Creating Good Habits

If you need advice or tips on cultivating bad habits, I'm your girl...I can tell you exactly what NOT to do. If you are looking for a little cheer leading on breaking your own bad habits or starting new ones- again, I'm your girl.
The trouble I have is starting and sticking with my OWN good + positive habits and letting the negative ones go.

That is the tough part and that is the part I need the most work on right now. Lord help me.
I know I am not alone.

I always have the best intentions, and usually keep the majority of these intentions to myself I might add, because who wants everyone else to know when they fail? Not me. Not every time anyway.
And sometimes they last for a few days... Or a week... or less.
Sometimes I really do stick with them- that actually does happen sometimes.
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When school started this year I decided that I was going to make lunches ahead of time(the night before) because I absolutely did not want to be making two lunches every morning, or even think about lunches at all in the mornings anymore.
I decided I was going to prep everything for the kid's lunches on Sundays and that they would pack their own lunches every night before school and stick them in the fridge... And guess what?
I started that in AUGUST and we are still doing it. Seriously.
I realize the super-organized, prepared mom would laugh at me for thinking that is such a big deal, but for me it really is. It works, it is so much easier on me and + the kids and it actually makes my life easier. And I have stuck with it for like 6 whole months. That is an actual miracle.

Tomorrow is the first day of a new month and brings with it the chance for a fresh start, in many areas for me.
Back to setting my alarm extra early and for daily personal challenges this month.
I really wish that  just deciding that changes need to be made was enough for me- But it's not. I think it takes a lot of starting over, pep talks to ourselves and trying again and again.

A goal of mine is for more writing-for my own enjoyment, for keeping track and for accountability.

Hope you had a great weekend- And a great January!

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A Tiny Step In The Right Direction

Hey there.
Happy Friday and an even happier weekend to you.
I am so, so ready for the weekend. The weather is supposed to be nice and there are a couple of little projects I am hoping to start.
Seriously though, is anyone ever not ready for the weekend?

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So today I was looking at my calendar, writing in the crazy amount of things we have going on in May and then I started counting up how many days it had been since Easter.
It has been 27 days since Easter.
Twenty-seven.
And you know what else?
It has now been 27 days since I have had a pop(you say soda, I say pop), the last one was on Easter Sunday.
No Dr. Pepper(my favorite), no Diet Coke, no fountain drink with the perfect little pebble ice from the gas station, no going through the drive-thru for a pop during the work day...
Nothing. Not even one sip.
That is huge for me... HUGE.
I decided I was going to go one week and then when I actually did that, I decided I would go two weeks, then I wanted to try for 21 days and then I'd let myself have one.
Well, 21 days passed and I decided I wanted to try for 30.
Now I am just a few days away from 30 and I'm super surprised and impressed with myself if you want to know the truth.

I didn't drink pop every day, but just too much, maybe every other day on average.
And I'm not going to lie, I love it. Love the taste of an ice cold Dr. Pepper, especially from McDonald's.
I am not at all thinking this will be a permanent thing, I am cutting back and to do that I decided to cut it out completely for a while because it was the best way for me.
So what have I been doing?
I have been drinking LOTS and LOTS of water. I already drank a pretty good amount of water anyway, but I have really increased my water intake by quite a bit.
I don't need lemon in my water but I do like it, it's got to be cold and it has to have a lot of ice in it.
The last few weeks I have been able to really tell a difference when I am drinking the amount of water that I know I SHOULD be... I just feel better over all.
I think- and I hope- that one small change will cause another small change...
And I will be able to make some small changes and just keep making them... and hopefully stick with them. That's the plan anyway.

So if there is something you are trying to do that you struggle with... Something you want to quit or cut back on, or even start doing.... I am telling you, if I can cut pop out for almost 30 days now, you can do it.
You can. I seriously have zero willpower, you can so do this.
I keep texting my sister to tell her how many days it has been since I have had a pop... And I remind her that I have to brag on myself because I usually fail at everything I try to do(when it comes to diet, exercise, etc). Sad, but true. Very true.

art by Zachary Smith via Dribble 

So I am good right now with just taking one teeny tiny step in the right direction,.
I think slow and manageable is much more realistic for me rather than drastic changes that leave one miserable and feeling deprived of pretty much everything all at once.
I think and I hope that is what works best for me.

If anyone has any advice, ideas, etc. to share I would love to hear it! I am also looking for recommendations for books(blogs, websites, etc)on making lasting change, breaking habits, changing your diet, etc. There are just so many millions of books out there, I would much rather get a suggestion from someone because just looking at Amazon is seriously overwhelming to me. Ughhh.

I will update next week after the 30 day mark.

Hope you all have a great weekend! 

2014 :: The Big And Little Of It All

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What a year it was.

Not fantastically amazing when I think about the year as a whole... 

But then there are all those hundreds of little amazing things along the way...

And when you really stop and look back at all of those little and big moments, 

You realize it was a pretty fantastic and amazing year after all, filled with ups and downs, good and bad.

And like most years, filled with lessons that maybe we didn't necessarily want to learn,

 but did anyway, and are probably better for it.

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Between school happenings, Birthdays, holidays, family time, work, 

learning to play a first instrument, trips, friends, family adjustments and growing and learning so many new
 things this year, there are a few things that have left an imprint on me this year for sure.

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When I pause to think about the "bigger" things that happened this year, a 

couple of things immediately come to mind.

My dad's stroke in November is undoubtedly at the top of that list.

I've thought several times since then that one day I will sit down and write a post all about that...
 but then I just can't bring myself to do it. One day though.

We had our first trip to the ER with one of the kids in May when Miss Charlotte
cracked her head open on a big rock while running outside wit her cousins in the dark.
Luckily it was just a cracked head that needed six stitches and my girl was a trooper, but wow, seeing all
 that blood and feeling so scared and helpless is a terrible feeling.
And all I could think of is all the mama's out there dealing with seriously and critically ill children.
My heart goes out to all of them so much.

I went back to work this year, like at a job outside of the home.
Part-time working, but working every day and it has definitely been an adjustment for all of us.
Lots of adjusting +  juggling... a big change for all of us, but mostly a good one.

Wyatt turned ten in October and that's still just kinda hard to believe and for this mama to deal with some days.
I look at how tall he is and how smart he is and how he just knows so much and I'm like: "What the hell?"

 { Some big and little snapshots form the year }



I am so thankful for this past year, for all of the big and little moments.
I am thankful for all of the hard stuff... and the good stuff, too.
I'm thankful for these two little people I get to try and raise every day.
I'm thankful for my family and for friendships and for all that I have learned this year.
Thank you for everything, 2014. 

I am ready to put this past year behind me and looking so forward to a fresh start in the year ahead.
I know it's really just the turn of the calendar page in some ways, but it has significant meaning to me.
A new beginning. A restart that I so very much need. I am so very thankful for that.

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Here's to 2015 and all that it may bring.

Why Hello There, January 10.

So when I looked at my phone this morning and saw that it was already the 10th of January, my heart kinda skipped a beat.
Just a tiny beat.
If it's already the 10th,  then I've lost over a week+ of the new year to decide how I am going to change my life this year.
Ha. Kidding there... kinda.

Kinda not.

You know how it goes....
You start the New Year off with so many goals and ideas and momentum and then quickly, way too quickly, it's gone.... and it's
only like the middle of February.
If you're lucky.
Or if  I am lucky... maybe you're not as bad as me when it comes to making changes STICK.

So it is Friday(yipppeee!) and I am home alone in a very quiet house today.
VERY QUIET... almost too quiet.  Almost. 
After 5,000 days off, my kids went back to school yesterday.
It was a good break, it really was, but it was also a pretty LONG break, with lots of snow and freezing weather.
But it was really good-  for me, for them for our whole family.

So I am going to take today and some time this weekend and think about what I really need to be doing in this next year.... there's a lot, of course,
always a lot. Which can be super overwhelming.
But I've got to start somewhere.
I do love reading all of the inspirational New Year's posts and articles, lists, videos, etc.
I really do love it although the pessimistic side of me wants to roll my eyes, and sometimes I do(especially at myself), the hopeful part of me likes
to cheer everyone else on and get inspired while I'm doing it.


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Here is a little bit of our week in pictures via Instagram....
{ I am Lucky13Amy on Instagram...}

It has finally stopped snowing here in the Midwest, life has resumed to pretty much normal around here.
We are leaving the house...and driving.... and it's a good thing.

But during our seclusion Super Mario Brothers, Rainbow Loom Bracelet making, lots of movies, forts, coffee, wine, drawing, painting and
playing out in the snow got us through.
Thank goodness for all of it.


HAPPY FRIDAY! Yay! 

My New BFF:

So, one of my goals (not resolutions) for this year was/is to eat better, exercise and lose weight. I didn't really get off to the best start with this one but as of now we are seriously working on this, both Eric and I. We re-joined the gym last week after canceling it due to no one ever going, and have really been trying to eat healthy. Apples, bananas, cauliflower, carrots, salads, grapes = my new BFF's. We are serious about this. In fact, Eric suggested we make it somewhat of a competition with weekly weigh-ins. That's all I needed to hear. Game on. Wish me luck!

And speaking of best friends, my real life BFF  is here in town for two weeks. Can you say Girls' Night Out?  And time to hang out with all the kids of course...but can you say Girl's Night Out?  I can!

And A Happy Little Morning To You, Too.

Today starts the first day of officially working on one of my (most important) goals: to regularly schedule exercise into my day. And today I got up...and I did it! Imagine that. I was up before everyone else, the house is freezing and dark-but let me tell ya, it feels so good to say I am going to do it and then actually do it. I have gotten so lazy since the time changed here in the Fall and it's cold and oh, so much harder to get out of bed, so this is quite an accomplishment for me. Besides getting up to exercise, I really need a little quiet time in the morning by myself so I am ready to get the day started....and now I think I am.

*Need a little inspiration, motivation on setting schedules/routines, working on goals, starting new habits, etc.? Check out SimpleMom, some great stuff there! And thanks to Maegan for the link, I have found some really helpful information there.

2010

For the last few days I have been working on my list of resolutions goals for the new year but I'm still not quite finished. Like I mentioned before, I am not really one to make grand resolutions, swearing off this, vowing to never again do that.....mainly because I know myself and I know I would not stick with things I resolved never to do again. Why set myself up for failure when I know in my heart these are things I will not follow through with?  But on the other hand I think that in the past I have used this as an excuse not to set goals for myself, to let myself off the hook, to take the lazy way out...I don't have to vow to always do this or to never again do that, what I am doing is setting goals for myself, steps to take, things to begin.
A few important areas I know that need work are: setting aside time/scheduling exercise for myself, organizing the house better and purging/donating things we do not need, meal planning and healthier eating for myself and my family.  Believe me, there are many other areas of my little life that need improvement but this is where I am starting.

I am excited about the new year and what it will bring. So bring on the new calendars, blank journals and fine-point sharpies because I'm ready for a fresh start.