Pep Talk

When we get adults we get this mentality that we can do what we want and when we want it. Yet, we set rules and standards for kids, yes, to teach them but also because it makes them feel protected and make their world more stable. How come we don't do the same for ourselves?

I've been going about life for awhile eating what I want. I set goals for myself but don't listen when I really really want something. When kids really, really want the whole bag of cookies before dinner we don't give in because it's whats best for them.

So I'm going to say that for myself. I'm not giving in. If I have to treat myself like a child, then I will. I'm not giving in.

I've been doing good on the healthy eating, smaller portions, and no sugar this week but it is only three days in (It feels like a month) and I'm wanting that bag of Christmas candy that has my name written all over it.

I have to get over this hump before I can allow myself to have what I want in moderation. I know this will get easier. (I hope those dreams I had last night of heaping portions of mashed potatos go away.)

I just needed to give myself a little pep talk.

What I'm reading

If you're looking for a good book to read...make that a series...you should definitely read the murder mysteries called Real Murders by Charlaine Harris. You might recognize her name from the Sookie Stackhouse novels that are now portrayed on the HBO show True Blood.

Real Murders is the first book in an eight book series. They were written way before Sookie Stackhouse and all of Charlaine Harris's fame (of sorts). My mom introduced them to me back in the Summer (I think) and I really enjoyed them.

They are murder mysteries that follow Aurora Teagarden as she encounters a murder she has to solve. I'm currently reading the eighth and last book in the series called Poppy done to death (Yes, the names are funny. Others include Dead Over Heels, Last Scene Alive, The Julius House...Oh wait that one wasn't as funny). They are fun and easy reads and they are helping me keep my New Years Resolution to read everyday. I want to read these and I look forward to opening it's pages everytime.

With all the snow on the ground here I can't think of anything better!

Well, I take that back...

Rain Boots

Due to the weather, I have to share a picture of my new rain boots I bought the other day. I knew about all this snowy weather coming our way and I (shamefully) do not own a pair of rain boots. Don't ask me why. I can think of a million other things I would rather have than rain boots but they are needed and convenient in times like these. I wanted a cute pair but a cheaper pair seeing I was spending Christmas money buying them. (Notice how I'm sticking with my New Years Resolution to Save Money...Go me! *By the way, Christmas money is not saving money for anyone who doesn't know*) I found a really cute pair at Old Navy for $29.99. They weren't too flashy or boring. Perfect for me.

*My cute new rain boots. Notice my shirt too. I bought it at Old Navy on Sale for $8.50.*

*Upclose you can see all the flowers*

Speaking of New Years Resolutions I'm really sticking to them so far...well most of them. I've been writing every day (which if you're reading this blog you probably already know that). I've been reading everyday and we've been saving and not spending. I haven't started taking a vitamin everyday simply because I forgot to put them on our grocery list this week and do not yet own any vitamins to take BUT they are going on the grocery list for next week. I worked out today (won't say how long it has been since I did this other than today it was shorter than I wanted and I thought I would die afterwards), ate smaller meals, and did not eat ANY sugar! Sadly the language learning hasn't started. I still need to work on how I'm going to go about that. If anyone has any suggestions please I need them.

P.S. you should know I had to look back on my previous blog of New Years Resolutions to remember them all.

They grow up so fast

Our little dog is growing up...*tear*. Since the day we got our dog, Maggie, she has slept in our kitchen at night. Every night we put her bed by the sink and put up the doggie gate (actually, a baby gate). She knows then it is bedtime and every night she jumps onto the couch and puts her ears back like saying, "Please let me sleep here tonight Mommy!" The reasons for doing this ritual every single night is because early on Maggie liked to chew and we found out the hard way many times. Coming home to an eaten box of Kleenex, or a destroyed doggie bed strewn all over the floor was not uncommon. We simply couldn't trust her to go all night without tearing something up.

*Maggie's puppy dog look when she wants something*

Zak and I started talking one day and realized Maggie hadn't torn anything up in awhile. Now take it, our box of Kleenex is high up out of reach and she did tear up some tissue paper from a gift under our tree at Christmas but I look at it as that was our fault for leaving it so available and tasty for her to get. On a normal basis Maggie does really well.

*Maggie and her bff Ella trying to get to the toy first*

After several attempts to do this and then backing out of it last minute (always me who backed out), we decided to try it for real, leaving her out all night to sleep wherever she would like and roam around as she pleased. I was a nervous wreck. I checked on her at least six times before actually going to bed myself. Zak was dreaming that night I checked on her and told him she was tearing up a pillow (which didn't happen) so, he was worrying too. The funny thing is, when we got up the next morning Maggie was curled up on the couch in the exact spot we left her. I don't believe she moved the entire night.

We've always joked that we have a teenager on our hands because she will sleep all day and is ready to play at night but this made me realize that just maybe our dog is growing up.

Tonight is Day 4 and so far so good. Let's just hope one night she doesn't decide to rebel and eat everything in sight...but you'll be the first to know.

New Years Resolutions

I'm a little late in the New Years Resolutions department. It isn't my fault. Two days into the New Year I came down with a cold. Not just any cold, but an 'I can't get out of bed, who cares about a shower', kinda cold. I'm still trying to shake it all off but at least I have ambitions now.

What's different about this year for me is normally I make one resolution and I always fail at it. This year I wanted to do something different. This year I'm making lots of resolutions in the hope that one will stick. If I accomplish one or several at least I've accomplished something. So, here it goes.

My New Years Resolutions for 2011!

Read More~ If I could read everyday I would...and I should. That's what I'm going to do. Even if I read one page in bed before I fall asleep, I'm going to read everyday.

Get Healthy~No more putting this off. I have to get healthy. I don't want to lose weight or be what the world says is thin. I want to feel good again. I want to have more energy and feel good about what I'm eating and feel good about myself.

Save More Money~ Zak and I have several big purchases we are aiming for this year. We hope to buy a car in a few months and after the Summer we hope to buy a house. We aren't bad savers now but it's time to buckle down and keep our eye on the prize.

Finish My Picture Project~ This is one that I've been working on for two years and I'm no where near finishing it today than I was two years ago when I started. For anyone who doesn't know about my project, I made it my goal to sort and print all of my pictures (the important ones) on my computer. Then label and date all of them. THEN organize them in order in photo albums. That is a lot. We are talking several years of pictures (college, birthdays, Maddie, holidays). Most people would think I was crazy but I know in the end I will be so happy to have it completed. *Side Note: This has been my one and only New Years Resolution for the past two years.

Learn Another Language~ I've wanted to learn another language for some time now. I looked into a few programs but never got farther than that. I want to learn Spanish seeing that is what I kinda, sort of, not really learned in grade school. I'm really ready to learn now.

Write More~ I really enjoy writing but never seem to do it. I started a book, then another, and another but never finished any of them. I have this blog but I geared it towards pictures. I'm changing that. I want to write more. I may not finish one of my books and I will still post a lot of pictures on here but every now and then I want to share my thoughts and hope someone will listen.

Take a Vitamin Everyday~ I tried doing this at one time and it lasted not even a week but I'm going to try to get into the habit of doing it everyday.

So, There you go. My Resolutions for 2011 in all its randomness!

Beth's 29th Birthday and New Years

For Beth's birthday, Paul took our whole family out to eat at Kobe's Restaurant. It was so entertaining going with a 4 year old. Maddie had a blast demanding fire from the chef and watching all the food cook. When we got home, we threw a party for Beth. We were all so full no one wanted cake but Beth liked all her presents she got. Maddie liked hers too. Zak and I stayed up til midnight to watch the ball drop back at our apartment and got to sleep in the next morning. We ate lunch with Zak's parents and met up with Beth and Paul in the afternoon to watch the new Harry Potter Movie. That evening we ate with my family and afterwards my Mom, Beth, and me made glass block nightlights. It was a lot of fun and they all turned out great. Mine is now sitting in our living room. It was a great end to 2010.

A White Christmas

We finally had a White Christmas and it was a good one. Zak and I went to my parent's house early Christmas day and spent the morning opening presents. By the time we arrived at Zak's parent's house it was snowing. It didn't take long for it to start laying and covering the grass. By the time lunch came around it was still snowing and everything was covered, even the roads. We had a great view out the window while Zak and I opened presents with his parent's. The dog's weren't phased by it. Maggie always prefers dry and warm to cold and wet. (I'm a lot like her) Zak was like a kid. He was so excited. He wanted to play and be in it the whole time, and he did.

Maddie's 4th Birthday

The night before Christmas...no I won't go there. Christmas Eve was a busy one for us. Beth, Maddie, and Paul were coming that evening and we had a birthday party to celebrate. My Mom made her chili that we all love and I made a birthday cake for Maddie who had turned 4. We had a lot of fun getting everyone together and Maddie was so excited with all her presents. Can you tell we love this little girl?

Long Lost Blogger

We're still alive!

I've been terrible at blogging! I just looked at my last post and it's been close to two months. This month has flown by. We've been busy here lately getting ready for Christmas and we are happy to say we're done with shopping for the year Woo Hoo! Zak and I both have Christmas Eve off this year and we are looking forward to spending the day together. I'm excited about being in the kitchen cooking, something I haven't been able to do in awhile.

I want to give a special shout out to our niece Maddie. She is 4 years old today!

Happy Birthday MADDIE!!

We will get to see her, as well as my sister Beth, on Christmas Eve and have a special birthday party for her. I can't wait for them to get here!

And since a post is just not as fun without a picture, I'll leave you with Maggie wishing you all a Merry Christmas!!

Girl Time

This weekend, my girlfriends from college came to Hickory to see me. Jeneane, Kyra, Zak, and me all went out to eat and played board games all night. We got up on Saturday and ate brunch before they had to leave. It was a lot of fun. Here is a picture of the three of us at Dos Amigos Friday night...

Zak's Birthday

On Saturday, I put together a birthday celebration for Zak's 27th birthday that lasted all day. When we first woke up I surprised him with a book I made. It was a 'choose your own adventure' book. He was given directions and choices and he decided what we did for his birthday. Throughout the book he got to open a present, he was given a coupon for a back massage, we walked in the park, and ate at his favorite restaurant, Chili's. Later in the evening my parents and Maddie came over to our apartment and we threw Zak a party. I made homemade pizza, Zak and Maddie got presents and then we had cake and ice cream. Maddie played with our dog Maggie the whole time and we all had a fun time. Here are pictures from throughout his day...