HAPPY NEW YEAR

New Year Resolutions

Every year I came up with a list of things that I want to accomplish during the upcoming year. What I have noticed is that half way through my list I end up giving up because most of those items were things that in reality were not really achievable or that were too time consuming and well daunting . I hated feeling like a quitter and always ended up feeling like I had failed myself.

Well this year I am changing the way I view my New Year resolutions and I am going to focus on three things in my life.

1. ME


2. MY MARRIAGE


3. MY FAMILY
   

ME: It might sound silly but the reality is that I am constantly forgetting about “ME” and making sure that I am happy. I always put everyone else above me and am constantly at the bottom of the list, if I make it at all. But I have realized that if I am not happy with myself than it affects my marriage and my family. For this reason I am coming up with a list of things that I am going to be doing for “Myself” each month. These are going to be small things and maybe just 1 or 2 major adventures. Most of the items on my list so far are kind of silly, but really they are things that really make me smile and that I know will make me a much happier person.

January:

4Taking 1 hour a week to myself. Go to the bookstore, coffee shop or even just strolling around the park, this time will be just for me and me alone!
4 Get a pedicure
4Buy a new Romance Novel
4Get my hair done
4Start exercising {Right now that means walking 20 minutes a day either on the treadmill or by going to the park}
4Writing on my journal every night. I want to make sure I remember all the little things that happen in our life and record it.
4Getting dressed every morning!!!!!!! Yes I know that I should already be doing this however some days if I am staying at home I will stay in my PJ’s almost all day. NO MORE …
4Stop criticizing myself and really start appreciating and loving my body. Yes I have many flaws and there are things that need to be worked on, but for now learn to say saying nice about my body each day.

MY MARRIAGE: After having a hard look at my life I also realized that in a lot of ways my marriage has suffered in the last 3 years. Our lives completely changed when we found out we were pregnant with our daughter and than later after her arrival. We need to once again bring our “relationship” to the courting stages. NO this does not mean that we don’t have a good marriage; it just really means that we are almost stuck in our ways and its time to shake things up a little. I want to learn to better communicate with Ryan, to enjoy time with him, to bring romance back into our lives.

My goal is to each week have “Something” special that Ryan and I will do together. These things will range for just talking, to making his favorite dinner and enjoy it after putting Olivia to sleep, to going away together for a weekend.

I am really looking forward to this since my friends are going to join me and every week so I will be posting these on my blog. I even come up with a name for our little adventure. "Romancing your Marriage" {I know I am a dork}

MY FAMILY: With another baby due in May of this year I really want to take time to focus on my family right now and enjoy every moment we have together. I think that it’s extremely important to remember and reflect on what a special “gift” God has given us and how much love we have for each other. My goal is to again have a monthly list of things that we will do together as a family.

January:

4Take time every weekend to stroll around town and go for a special treat afterwards.
4Buy a sled {Hopefully we will get snow sometime soon}
4Go to build-a-bear
4Movie Night
4Bake cookies
4Go to the aquarium
4Visit the Horse Farm
4Go to the Party Gym {Location with indoor swings/slides and other activities for children}
4Read a story together


And now last but not least I am really inspired by Ali Edwards and her “word of the year” challenge. She always comes up with a word that will be her motto and inspiration for the year and I have to say that this year I was really intrigued and can’t help but join in.

My word for 2008 is LOVE!

It really ties in to all of my goals/resolutions. I want to LOVE myself, my marriage and my family. And of course the reality is that without LOVE we really don’t have much!

P.s. I will be back later today and post our first “challenge” for Romancing your Marriage