I hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas! I hope you all enjoyed your holidays with friends and family as much as I did. Being a mom this time of year brings on a little more stress than usual, but I guess that is how it goes being an adult.

So excuse the less glamorous personal moment, but I am horribly bloated at the moment because my monthly 'gift' decided to come back at exactly 9 months from having Evie. Which is great she stayed away that long, but Ugh. I was hoping for a few more months. Such is life. Since we are done having babies its no fun to think about cycles and what we could make of them. Now its just tracking so we can prepare.

So now is the time of year when I consume all the rest of the bad crap in the house and attempt to make a "new years resolution" to be healthier. Well, really in the past I havent made any resolutions like this because I was either pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or just had a baby. So, whats the point, right? Well That logic, along with eating at the chinese buffet like 3 times a week before we had kids, has gotten me to about 215lbs. I havent weighed myself yet. Mostly because Im terrified it will just make me depressed and then things will get worse. I had started to lose weight. I was at 210, and got down to like 191. I fear that I am back up close to that 215 mark. Especially with all the freaking cookies. WHY did I bake so much????

Also, why is it so hard to create a meal plan that is healthy and just stick with it? I think the planning part is the hard part for me. I literally need a list to go to the store with or I wont get the right thing or enough food. Does anyone have a meal plan that they have used to lose weight? I really dont want to eat the same 4 things each day, but I kind of need something with only so many ingredients so that its easier to shop for. Plus Id have to make 2 sets of meals for the kids too because I dont want them to lose weight. They are by no means overweight. AND im nursing. So I dont want my milk supply to dip because Im trying too hard to diet.

I have a treadmill and need to get myself back on it. Maybe some extra B vitamins will help? Is that breastfeeding safe? I must go google. I need motivation to wake up in the morning to get on the treadmill and run before the kids wake up. Cause for some reason Im still not at that point where I am willing to sacrifice to make this happen. I want it to happen, I just haven't hit bottom yet?

Today I wanted to share my attempt at organizing my daily home life in regards to chores. I have a very cluttered (and sometimes actually dirty) house. There, I said it. I hate it. I wish I had some mild for of OCD that helped me keep my house clean. Granted, my house is much cleaner than many. But Its not where I want it to be. I struggle to find the energy to get things done that need done regularly. Then it all piles up and I clean like a mad woman for 24 hours until it about kills me and then I don't want to do anything else for another week. Sad, yes. When we lived in our old apartment I had made this chart that was magnetic that I could move chores to a certain day of the week depending on schedules and such. It worked really well for quite a while. Until I got bored I guess. But I want to try to do something like that again. So, I started by searching Pinterest for chore charts and home organization. I found a chart that I like that you can personalize. I am going to start with it and see how I like it and then maybe expand from there to something like I used to have. Here is that Pin. Its a PDF file that you can make changes to and then print so its pretty versatile. I made my changes and printed it and then lost it on my desk for a few days. (must.clean.desk.off) So once I find it I am going to hang it in the kitchen on the cabinet. Yes, not the prettiest place to hang something, but I will be sure to see it when I go in the kitchen. My fridge is packed full of stuff already so I cant hang it there. I also have seen people buy frames (dollar store ones would work great) and then use dry erase markers on the glass to check off things or write notes. I will have to find that pin too. It was really cute but took up a nice chunk of wall. I also have to find my Home Management Binder that I had made. It contained a chore chart, shopping chart, addresses, bill keeper, etc. I think I know where it is, just have to get it. It seems like there are SO many things I want to do and they seem so insignificant that I don't want to do it because it wont "make a difference." But I have to keep telling myself that all those baby steps are what make change happen. Just have to take the first step. Do you have any suggestions on housework and keeping it on a schedule?

And so it begins...

I am creating this blog for a few reasons. First to keep me a little more accountable for the goals I have. I can use all the support I can get. Second, to inspire others to achieve their goals, no matter how big or small. and Third, to keep track of the small things in life that many years (months, HOURS?) from now that I might forget. Is the coffee pot ready yet? Because I need a refill. So please, come share this journey with me as I try to better my life and the lives of my family. 

Goals for 2013: 
(yes, I realize its only December 3rd, but the sooner I make them, the sooner I can get things in order to actually achieve these goals)

1. Lose 40 lbs. I would love to lose 15 lbs by my birthday, March 31st. The rest ideally would be gone by August. 
2: Be healthier in general. Eat healthier, more exercise for the entire family. 
3: Be more organized. I need a routine. Because when I don't have one, I am way too lazy. Yes, I admit it. (husband, no peanut gallery comments please.) 
4. More financially responsible. I swear I don't know how we are broke all the time. Im tired if it. I tried playing the lottery when the powerball was insanely high. Surprise! We lost. 
5. Be a better mother to my children and a better person in general. Granted, I know I am not a bad mother or a bad person. But I am far from perfect. I know I have room to improve. 

These goals are very plain and generic for now. #3 has SO many things that I want to improve that I will be more specific later on. All I ask is that you don't judge me in a bad way for my faults. I am going to be brutally honest here about things that some may never have known about me. All I am asking for is some respect and encouragement on this journey. Maybe you can relate to some of the things I post? If you can, please comment with suggestions or personal stories of what might have helped you along the way. You may not help me, but you could help a fellow reader instead. 

My babies: