Focus

Focus.  That is my word for 2013 for my New Years Resolution.  What does that mean exactly?  Well, several things.  (Determined was my word for 2012 and you can look back here to see what my 2012 resolutions were! I decided not to follow up on all those resolutions and report to the whole world what I did not did not do.  They were written for me, on paper, to look back on and reflect on over the year.  Do the rest of you really care???)  

FOCUS on my kids.  I want to really spend more time with them.  Once a month Mark and I are going to take each girl on a date night.  I will take Addison this month and Mark will take Lauren and we will switch next month and so on for the whole year.  We will FOCUS on one on one time with the girls.  

FOCUS on my next half marathon (April 13th!!!) I have been working on increasing my speed over the winter with a lot of success. I am going to FOCUS on some cross training and weight training to make my 3rd half marathon even better than my first 2.  Then I will decide on my 4th half marathon.  Oh yes, there will be a 4th...probably this year...it could be Hospital Hill since I am an official blogger!  Yea! 

FOCUS on being a great wife to Mark.  He says I am fine here, but I really think there is always room for improvement.  I will FOCUS on spending more time with Mark at night after the girls go to bed, and not just sit around staring at the TV or the computer.  If you notice I have cleaned up by blog roll getting rid of useless blogs that I wasted my time reading.  I kept some of my favorite running blogs, home improvement blogs, and parenting blogs.  

FOCUS on diet and exercise and toning up by body for our 10th anniversary trip.  Mark and I will be going to Mexico to celebrate 10 years of marriage and I have goals for that trip.  

FOCUS on what house projects we would like to do this year.  The sprinkler system will be installed soon.  The next BIG project will be the kitchen, but that is a few years down the road.  I would like to change the brass door knobs this year and replace the blinds in the bedrooms.  That does not sound too bad.  Here is what we have done so far and what we would still like to do.  This past year we updated the carpet in the girls bedrooms and living room, tiled the bathroom and entryway, changed out light fixtures and ceiling fans in the whole house, and got new spindles.  

FOCUS on how we can save even more money so I can get the kitchen of my dreams sooner than later.  We have already cut out a few things, but with the change in the social security tax it will not make a difference.  We will have to get even more creative.

FOCUS on time for me.  This is tough as a busy working Mom, but I think it is important.  Exercise will be me time and it will provide me with multiple benefits.  Stress management, relaxation, endurance for my half marathons, better sleep, better parenting...I could go on and on.

So hold me accountable  FOCUS is my word for 2013.

Determined...an Update

Do you remember my New Years resolution word?  Well here is an update...

That is my word for 2012.  Have you heard about the one word?  I see it on several blogs I follow.  It is my focus and my New Year's resolution.  I have thought about my word for several days/weeks now and I kept coming back to Determination.  When I saw this quote I knew I did not have to think any longer...


Time is inevitably going to pass and one year from today, you can find yourself in the exact same spot you're in now, you can find yourself further away from your goal or you can find yourself closer to your goal - so where do you want to be a year from now?

Determination fits for several reasons: 

1. To lose that last 5 pounds, well actually now 10 pounds, that I just can't seem to get rid of!  I am DETERMINED to do it sooner than later. I am happy to report I am down 5-6 pounds.  Depends on the day.  I have a goal in mind by Summer vacation.  Let's see if I can get there.  
2. To make a decision on whether or not to advance my career and become an Nurse Practitioner.  Did I tell you I applied to get my Masters and become an APN?  Probably not...I have not told very many people.  Mark, or course, and a few work people.  That is it.  I really don't know if I want to do it.  I am DETERMINED to make a decision in April when I get the acceptance, or maybe not, letter. Who knows, maybe I won't get accepted and the decision will be made for me!  Well I got accepted, and after several hours and days of thinking and weighing the Pro's and Con's I decided NOT to go back to school to become an APN.  I will expand more on that later.  
3. To make a decision on which races to run in this year.  I love that I have taken up running and I can't wait to do more runs this year.  I am DETERMINED to keep running.  It is great exercise and feels so good to be in such good shape. I have already done the Diva Dash.  I did the Trolley Run this past weekend and had a great time.  I am doing the Amy Thompson Run on Memorial day, maybe Hospital Hill again if I feel real crazy.  I am really thinking I want to do another half marathon this fall...
4. I am DETERMINED to be a better wife to Mark.  He is an awesome Husband and I feel like there is so much more I could do for him.  Did I tell you he brought home roses last week? Oh, and he spelled out I love you on the bed with rose petals...seriously he is an awesome guy and I am so lucky to have found him!  I might need to keep working on this one...Let me check with Mark! 
5. I am DETERMINED to get caught up on my journaling in the girls scrapbooks.  These are their childhood memories and I don't want them to be lost.  Lauren's scrapbook for age 5 is done!  Totally done, all journaled and up to date.  Addison's book is another story.  I am caught up on her scrap booking through February of this year, but I have not journaled a since thing since her birthday...back in October.  Thank goodness for this blog.  
6. I am DETERMINED to become a better photographer and take a photography class to do this.  Did I tell you I got 2 new lenses for Christmas.  Yes, 2 new lenses.  I will have to share them soon.  I have been using the lenses a lot and really like them.  I am still looking for a class to take.  
7. I would like to find a way to get into Addison's little head and try to manage her stubborn, fit throwing, three year old ways.  She is 3 right?  Normal stuff, right?  Man she is tough.  I am DETERMINED to keep her a good kid and make sure she knows who is boss.   Always and forever working on this one...
8. Lauren is awesome.  She loves Kindergarten and I am DETERMINED to keep that excitement for school alive over the summer break.  I have already learned of ways to keep up school work over the summer so she does not get behind and will be ready for 1st grade.  She is a smart kid and she will excel with her love of school. Lauren loves school and she makes this goal very easy to achieve.  She asks do to homework, she loves to read, she loves word searches.  I don't think I will have any trouble keep her up to speed over the summer.  
9. I would really like to produce a recipe blog.  I cook every meal that our family eats.  We rarely eat out, really only for special occasions and the occasional pizza night.  I would like to commit some time to producing a recipe blog to share with every one else.  DETERMINED. I have started this...that is about it!  
10. This may seem silly, but I am DETERMINED not to over spend at Target.  Seriously.  There are several  home upgrades we want to do this year that if I would just stick to my list I would probably keep my Target bill under $300 a month.  How many times have you walked out of Target wondering how on earth you just manged to spend $100 when you went in for a package of diapers and wipes.  Yep, me too!  I am doing better here, but there is always room for improvement!  
11. DETERMINATION  to relax more and just sit.  Sounds crazy with all these goals I have just set up for myself, huh?  But, I am a very high energy person.  I get a lot done in any given day, but I also don't sit and relax much.  I am going to work on that.  I don't relax much.  Except when I am blog surfing on the Internet.  End of Story.  

So there you have it.  My goals of 2012.  DETERMINATION is my word.  It is here for all of you to see and here and keep me on track.  I will keep you posted on my success.

So going back and reading these goals and giving an update is a great way to keep me accountable.  I actually forgot a few thing on this list, so I think I definitely need to look at it more and refresh my memory.