January 26, 2012

New Year! New Me!

{pinned here}

This sign says it all!  I love that the New Year is a blank canvas full of promise.  It's a time to start over, recommit, and reevaluate the important things.   It's been awhile since I've done any sort of New Year's resolution list, so I thought I'd take a stab at a list of 12 things I'd like to focus on in 2012.  And since it's still January I'm getting my list in just under the wire!

1-Dive into God's Word
Now more than ever before I desperately want to be in and surrounded by God's Word.  Kelly and I have a huge responsibility to "train up a child in the way he should go" and it is my duty as a mom, wife, and follower of Christ to make sure we are intentional in providing a biblical foundation for Cole to grow on.  And in order for me to instill strong biblical principals in his life, I need to recommit to making it a priority in mine.  When my brother and I were growing up my Mom always had a biblically based answer for any of our trials or tribulations and I want to have those same answers for Cole as he grows up and begins to experience all the things this world has to offer.  I am joining a women's bible study at my office and today we are starting Beth Moore's series Believing God: Experience a Fresh Explosion of Faith (study of Isaiah). I'm so pumped!!  I also bought the daily devotional app, Jesus Calling, and plan to read it daily.

2-Volunteer at Church
For the past several years (yes, YEARS) Kelly and I have talked about volunteering at church.  We've tossed around a few ideas here and there of where we should get plugged in, but have never fully committed.  Well--here's my chance.  I'm making it a goal for 2012 to find a way to get involved.  I think I would LOVE to teach Kindergarten Sunday School {I think I missed my calling early on to use my creativity in early elementary education} or possibly volunteer in the nursery (now that I have a little in the nursery it would be nice to spend time with him). 

3-Stick to the diet/exercise plan!
I think this goal is directly in line with the title of this post!  2011 was one for the record books--a record breaking weight, that's for sure.  Yes--I know I was pregnant and I couldn't help the majority of the weight gain, but now that Mr. Man is here, I have no excuse (or desire) to let this weight just hang around.  I remember sitting on the couch when I was about 7 or 8 months pregnant and I couldn't wait for the day when I could get up and run a mile.  I wanted to get my heart rate up.  I wanted to break a sweat.  I wanted to have a red face!!  But, since I couldn't raise my heart rate above 150, I made myself a "motivation" board on Pinterest {found here}.  Here are a few of my favorite reminders.







So here's to an active and healthy 2012!

4-Train for and complete a 5k
In light of the previous resolution I felt the need to put a goal in front of me to jump start my weight loss/gym going journey.  A few of the people I work with signed up to participate in The Color Run on February 19, and I thought--why not?  It's soon enough that I won't lose sight of my goal, but far enough away that I can start training and not completely fail at running 3.1 miles consecutively.  I'm pretty proud of myself--day one of training is already complete!  WHOOP!  Here are a few more motivational posters from Pinterest:







5-Blog more
See my previous post for a little more insight into why I haven't been posting more frequently.  Now that I have a little one I want to remember all his cute antics, smiles, memories and milestones!  I want to blog.more.often.  I also want to learn how to make creative pictures.  Here are a few examples of what I'd like to be able to do.  Anyone out there want to teach me??




6-Redecorate my work office
I will dedicate an entire post on this once I know how I'm going to decorate, but in light of a "New Year! New Me!" I'm ready for some change.  Picture: modern glam (with some chevron pattern, of course)!


7-Buy what I love
Over the years I have earned the nickname "coupon queen" and I wear the title with pride!  I don't think there's anyone out there that loves a deal more than I do.  I've been known to buy something just because I can get it for a great deal or because its on a super sale.  However, this year I'm vowing to only buy something if I truly love it.  AND to not settle on a purchase just because it's cheaper.  If there's something that I absolutely love and I really want it, I'm not going to buy a different, but similar item just because it's on sale.  Don't get me wrong--this doesn't mean I'm turning my back on a great deal, I'm only vowing that I'll buy the shirt I really want rather than two that I only half way want.  :)


8-Be intentional with fashion
In my quest for a "New Year! New Me!" I want to step it up when it comes to my fashion choices.  I work in an office where "casual Friday" is "casual everyday" so I've gotten away from wearing (and buying) dressier clothes.  However, I feel better about myself if I take a few extra minutes to accessories or look a little nicer, so I'm aiming to be intentional with fashion.  I have a drawer full of scarves, a jewelry armoire with necklaces I've forgotten about, and earrings galore.  I just need to pull them out and wear them. 

9-Finish decorating the downstairs bath
Oh the poor downstairs bath!  I started redoing the half bath in the kitchen almost a year ago.  Then I stopped when I was pregnant because I was too sick and tired (literally) to finish it.  Then...when the nesting phase of the pregnancy kicked in, I wanted to get it finished before the baby came.  Thanks to the help of my wonderful parents I was able to get the majority of the bathroom put back together.  However, it still needs a little TLC and a decorative touch.  We'll see what I come up with!

10-Complete 5 of my "pins" from Pinterest
It's official.  I'm addicted to Pinterest.  I love having a virtual pin board where I can keep all my ideas organized by category :) But I actually want to find the time to complete some of the "pins" I've found.  There are so many crafts, recipes, decorating and fashion ideas I want to try.

11-Read 4 books (from start to finish!)
I have a bad habit of starting a book but never finishing it.  The cover catches my eye, and with each book purchase I vow to read it cover to cover.  So, I hope that I can carve out the time this year to actually finish some of the books I've started (some I've purchased and never even started!!):

The Help by Kathryn Stockett


Lineage of Grace: the five stories of unlikely women who changed eternity by Francine Rivers


Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp

And the jury is still out on the 4th book.  Any suggestions?

12-Create a 2012 family photo album
This year is sure to be an exciting year of firsts and one of the family traditions that I want to begin is a Family Photo Album.  I'm horrible about printing pictures and keeping photo albums up to date, but for Christmas I gave the grandparents a photo book of Cole's first month and it was a HUGE hit.  I was a little jealous that I didn't have one for myself.  I have a plan in place to download all our iPhone photos each time I take his monthly photo so that I can start working on the book early enough in the year and not wait until the last minute.  It's going to be tough to pick my fave photos--I just love them ALL!!

So there you have it.  My 12 in 2012.  What are your New Year's Resolutions?

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