Drum roll, please...

Happy New Year!  I still have a few more "Missed Moments of 2012" posts, but guess what... We all survived the end of the world and because you are no longer worried about dodging zombies, I know you have been on the edge of your seat wondering if I kept all of my resolutions for 2012, right?

Resolution Check-In for 2012

1. Cross something else off of my Life List - I did!  I crossed off # 8 and #32 at the Train concert.  I also crossed off #33 and haven't looked back!
2. Reach my goal weight and maintain it (within 2½ lbs.) throughout the year - Turning 30 has not been kind to my body!  I did NOT reach this goal... ugh...
3. Sell my house and move into our dream home - See #1... I know, this is cheating (kind of).  It's ok though. The whole process was exhausting and totally deserves to get two spots on my list!
4. Read 40 books... including a re-read from high school! - I DID IT, YOU GUYS!!  I am so proud of myself for sticking to this!  This year-long challenge is definitely in need of it's own post.
5. Get caught up on the girls' birthday scrapbooks and our wedding scrapbook (finally!) - And this, my friends, is where I set myself up to fail.  Why on earth did I think I should cram THREE books into one number when I also had #3 and #4 to tackle?!  I met 1/3 of this goal by getting our wedding book completed... after our 6th year of marriage.
6. Live one day at a time - I'm really proud of myself for this.  This goal kind of goes with #7.  I have tried really hard to be more easy-going.  I have tried to leave bad work days at work and take a deep breath when I get home.  I feel that I have definitely met this goal.
7. Don't sweat the small stuff - Like I said, I'm trying really hard!  Little things can get to me sometimes, but if I try to take a step back and look at those little things as part of the big picture, they don't seem so big :o)
8. Make someone's day :o) - I'm very unsure on this one, but I'd like to think that I have succeeded.  I like to do nice things for people just because. I don't expect any thing in return.  I also don't expect praise or thanks.  It just makes me feel good as a person to do little things to help out other people.
9. Do what I love! - Every single day I do things I love and I do things I don't love.  This is a very vague resolution, but I feel like I'm working toward a life with more LOVES than not.  Actually, I really do feel like I'm there!
10. Draw something again. - I really want to put pencil to paper again.  The closest I came was painting Mike's cornhole boards.  That was so relaxing and fun!  I need to make time for myself to create more art.

So, because I did so well last year, I have upped the ante and created my list for the new year.

My Resolutions for 2013

1. Cross something else off of my Life List
2. Finish the Great Kitchen Project of 2013
3. Read 42 books... including the entire Harry Potter series!
4. Get caught up on Jaden's birthday scrapbook
5. Get promoted to Lead in my Scentsy business
6. Take my kids on monthly "dates"
7. Take a family vacation
8. Start AND complete 71 craft projects
9. SERIOUSLY lose 10 lbs and reintroduce exercise into my life regularly
10. BLOG MORE!

Well, I have 364 days to do these ten things... Challenge accepted!  Happy New Year!

Thinking about 2013...

Over the weekend, I told Mike one of my New Year's Resolutions.  He threatened divorce.

Resolutions for the New Year

Speaking of perfection, let's take a look at those 2011 New Years Resolutions, shall we?

1. Cross something off of my Life List - DONE! Actually, I crossed two things (#30 and #14) off my list this year and added two more people to #23!
2. Lose 5-7 pounds - Yeah... Not even close. I unfortunately weighed in at 6½ lbs. heavier than January 1, 2011... ugh. 
3. Get my freakin' family room ceiling fixed! - DONE! See the renovation here! 
4. Read 40 books - I was SO close!  I finished book #33 on December 30. 
5. Complete my 2010 Project Life album - Hahaha!! Yeah right! Hahahaha!!!

Because I enjoy setting myself up for failure goals for myself, I've compiled a nice, organized list of resolutions for the new year.  I present to you:

My Resolutions for 2012

1. Cross something else off of my Life List
2. Reach my goal weight and maintain it (within 2½ lbs.) throughout the year
3. Sell my house and move into our dream home
4. Read 40 books... including a re-read from high school!
5. Get caught up on the girls' birthday scrapbooks and our wedding scrapbook (finally!)
6. Live one day at a time
7. Don't sweat the small stuff
8. Make someone's day :o)
9. Do what I love!
10. Draw something again.

I know, I know... Not much change.  But, considering how badly I failed last year, I believe these are very good resolutions! - UPDATE: I added 6-10 later after thinking that I need to set goals to make me a better me!  Sometimes I get too caught up in life and everything involved in it.  I need to learn to live in the moment more.  Now, let's see how successful I can be at that!

So, what is your number one resolution for 2012?  If you need help setting goals for yourself, check out this site: http://moninavelarde.com/newyears/  It's pretty cool :o) 

Happy New Year!

New Year Resolutions... 3 Months Left!

Like the rest of creation, I made resolutions on January 1st.  I resolved to do/change five things that in turn, would make me a better person (?)  Well my friends, we have less than three months left.  Let's see where I stand:

1. Cross something off of my Life ListDONE!  Actually, I crossed two things (#30 and #14) off my list this year!
2. Lose 5-7 pounds
   Yeah... Not even close.  I'll work hard on this one for these last three months and hopefully achieve it, but with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas coming up, I doubt that will happen!
3. Get my freakin' family room ceiling fixed!
   Sorta in the works!  I have a handyman coming over tonight to look at it.  My goal is to have the entire room fixed by Christmas.
4. Read 40 books
   I'm on number 27.  I know I can do this!
5. Complete my 2010 Project Life album
   Hahaha!!  Yeah right!  Hahahaha!!!

So, I guess I could be doing worse, right?  What about you?  Have you completed your resolutions or did you give up by February 1st?

Happy New Year!

It's 2011!  Every year, I make it one of my resolutions to check something off of my Life List.  I figured, why not get this out of the way on day one of the new year?

Life List #30: Participate in a Polar Bear Plunge

As you can see, it was a little warmer than usual for January 1st.  Those 17 mph wind gusts were something fierce though!

My friend, Candy, was the only soul brave enough to conquer the icy St. Joseph River with me.  This was also on her Bucket List! 

Yes, that is a chunk of ice floating down the river we were waiting so patiently to dive into.

We all sang the Star Spangled Banner and took off running!

It was so cold, it HURT.

I felt like I was having a heart attack.

My chest was on fire.

I couldn't feel my feet.

It may have been the dumbest thing I've ever done...

and I CAN'T WAIT TO DO IT AGAIN!

I am SO making this an annual tradition!

In 2010, I crossed the following off of my Life List:

6. Plan a major event from start to finish

7. Start my own business

18. Collect all Statehood Quarters

27. Visit the Grand Canyon

35. Place a bet in Vegas

As far as other New Year's Resolutions go, in 2011, I resolve to:

1. Cross something off of my Life List

2. Lose 5-7 pounds

3. Get my freakin' family room ceiling fixed!

4. Read 40 books

5. Complete my 2010 Project Life album

Cheers to a prosperous 2011!

Oh yeah!  I have some winners to announce!  I randomly picked numbers using random.org, of course and the following people have won the featured prizes from my 500th post giveaway:

#15 - Renee wins the party hat and patch pattern from Becca at Blue Cricket

#27 - Jenny wins the charm and chain necklace from Sumo at Sumo's Sweet Stuff

#23 - Nikki wins the car air freshener from Jenny at Bisque It Pottery Painting Studio

#10 - Rachel wins the party hat and patch pattern from Becca at Blue Cricket

#20 - Lora wins the party hat and patch pattern from Becca at Blue Cricket

#7 - Kelly wins the octopus from Lorri's Etsy shop

#14 - Hobbyaholic wins the party hat and patch pattern from Becca at Blue Cricket

#29 - Cheeksb wins the party hat and patch pattern from Becca at Blue Cricket

#37 - Llama wins the gumball coin purse from Alycia's Yummi Etsy shop

#27 - Mrs. Huse Clifton wins Abby's Crafty Mama book

These 10 ladies, as well as the other 19 people that left comments will all receive a printable PDF of my Household Organizational Binder pages sometime this week!

Happy New Year!!

2010!?!? Seriously?

I really can not believe it is '10! This is the beginning of the (oh.my.god.) FOURTH decade I have lived in! That doesn't seem right considering I'm only going to be 28 (in 8 days!), but I was born in the 80s, obviously lived in the 90s and the ots (is that what they're called?), now I'm alive and well in the 10s! Good grief, Charlie Brown! Well, since almost all of my blog buddies have done this, I feel it is my DUTY as a blogger to present to you, my favorite photos of the year 2009!!

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

I can't believe how much J has grown this year! I'm SO looking forward to 2010 and all of the fun times with my girls :o) Happy New Year!!

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words...

...and boy, do I have a LOT of pictures!!

Well, I admit that I have been slacking in my blogging for a while now. I'm ready to catch up now! Enjoy the pics!

Jaden LOVED making some of her Christmas gifts this year :o)

She is concentrating SO hard!

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Mike's Birthday Celebrations...

Kalie and I celebrating Mike's 27th birthday out at Piere's.

It looks like Mike was enjoying the night!!
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Jaden and Marissa entertaining us at Mike's parents' house.

The girls helped Gramma Karen clean up after dinner.

Marissa was teaching Jaden some of her gymnastics moves.

Jaden helping her Dad blow out his candles.

On Mike's birthday, I surprised him with some monkey bread for breakfast and dinner at Takaoka.

Our cook was pretty impressive!

Thanks to the drunk newlyweds at our table, mike got a sparkly dessert!

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My goofy girl!!

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Our visit with Santa...

...didn't go as well as last year!

AFTER we left, Jaden was so proud of her picture with Santa (and Gramma J)!

She's a cool girl!

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Christmas with the Teders's

Jaden helping Great-Gramma Teders open her gift.

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Christmas at Gramma Ina's

Enjoying her new book.

Jaden and Marissa entertaining us again! This has become a regular (and enjoyable) thing when these girls get together! It is so cute to see J follow Marissa around and do EVERYTHING she does.

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The Ice Storm...

Mother Nature was not very nice to us this Christmas! The ice storm knocked out our power around 3:00 am on Sunday morning (I don't remember the date... before Christmas). I called Mom at 4:00 and cried to her. It was so depressing... Mike, Jaden, and I huddled in bed together to keep warm until about 7:00 and then called Mike's parents to see if they had power and if we could stay with them until our power came back on. They came over and helped us get Jaden out and to their house. Then, Mike and put all of our food into coolers and put them in the garage. We ran our faucets and headed out. I went next door to check on our elderly neighbors and make sure they had a place to go. The whole thing was like a nightmare.

Our trees were damaged along with our spirits. With each day that passed, I cried a little more and wasn't even looking forward to Christmas. Our neighborhood was like a ghost town.

We finally got power back around 7:00 pm on Christmas Eve. We decided to stay one more night at Ron and Karen's since it was already late and our house was still a mess and cold. Mike and I went home around 5:30 on Christmas morning to clean up and make sure Santa made it through the ice to get to our house. Grammas and Grampas came over around 8:00 for breakfast and to watch Jaden open her gifts. It was so good to be home for Christmas!

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Christmas at Ron and Karen's

Enjoying a little Christmas Eve BINGO before dinner.

Even brothers can be nice to each other on the holidays!

Jaden laughed hysterically at Grampa Ron's fart machine... Some boys never grow up!!

She got lots of goodies!!!

Marissa raked in the Hannah Montana loot thanks to us :o)

See, you would think that if she opened the clothes first, she wouldn't pay any attention to them and move on to the next gift... NOPE! Jaden LOVED the cheetah print pants and INSISTED on opening each gift after with them around her neck.

A Christmas Eve tradition passed on from my family... the girls got matching PJs!

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HOME SWEET HOME!!! The BEST Christmas gift ever!

Santa was VERY nice to Miss J this year!

She got a drawing easel!

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Christmas at Gramma J and Grampa Max's

Ok, now we have to have bungee cords wrapped around our neck...

A GEORGE BOOK!!!

Uncle Shane-O and Ashley got her a big Magna-Doodle! She loves it but guess what I have to draw for her all the time... ARTHUR!!

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Christmas at Gramma and Grampa's

She got some great new books from Tabitha!

Now Grampa Wayne wants to wear her clothes!!

She got a BIKE!!! George fits nicely in the front basket :o)

The gifts she painted were a huge hit!!

It was an exhausting holiday!! Notice George, Arthur, AND Clifford are all in the picture!
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Watching Arthur WITH Arthur at her new table! Don't worry, George and Clifford aren't too far away!

Jax came over for some holiday baking! We made some pretty good treats!!

She loves playing with her giant legos from Shane and Ashley.
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On New Year's Eve, Nix, Kalie, Mike, and I went to the legion... don't you love my feather!

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I remember when I was little and I stayed with Gramma and Grampa on New Years Eve and the next morning, Mom would always bring me her New Years Eve tiara. I was excited to finally get to bring Jaden one!

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Wow! Now I'm up to date... and exhausted! I am not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow after a long vacation! I PROMISE I'll try to keep up with my blog a little better :o) Maybe that will be one of my New Years Resolutions!! One last picture for you... Jaden painted a picture on her new easel tonight!

Happy 2009 everyone!!