2012 New Year's Resolutions

So here we are at the close of another year...thinking about the year ahead, the joys to come and all the things we vow to do this year...and how this year is absolutely going to be the best year yet.

That's where the resolutions come in. EVERY year. (It's all about the intentions, right?)

Do you have yours made?

Here are mine:

1. Participate in one 5K race per month. In 2011, I did seven.
2. Call Mom once a week.
3. Call Dad once a month (guys aren't as talkative).
4. Call my brothers a few times a month (again, guys aren't as talkative).
5. Write/post 2-3 blog posts a week.
6. Cook at least one new meal a week.
7. Hit the gym at least 4 times per week. (Always aim for 5-6 though!)
8. Complete a round of Insanity.
9. Complete a round of Insanity: The Asylum.
10.. Have a one-on-one date with Tanner once a month.
11. Go on a date with hubby at least once a month.
12. Start a women's social workout group.
13. Super-organize one area of my house per month (and keep it that way!)
14. Take a family vacation.
15. Get a promotion/new position at work and become an official Boeing employee.
16. Quit energy drinks for good!
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Writing Prompt: The Year In Posts

2011...What a year!

I gained so many great memories to add to the time capsule that is my life. My son Breckin went through his first year (and all the milestones to boot!), Tanner started Kindergarten, I found a great job....these are just a few of the many wonderful things that happened this year.

And of course, in Blogland there has also been many great things...I've learned more about the art of blogging along the way and I've made some blogger friends. I've learned from other blogs about household decor, crafts, child-rearing, etc...this blogging thing is pretty great. I've even gone through some personal blog changes - new look, new name, new url...  And of course now there's Pinterest...don't even get me started about how much I obsess over love that site.

Anyway, I've continued to participate in Mama Kat's weekly writing prompts and this week I chose the following prompt:
This year in blog posts...choose a favorite post from each month of 2011 and share

Well, so here goes...I'll of course just post the link to each...feel free to click and read them at your leisure. I enjoyed taking a walk down memory lane going through all the posts I wrote this year!

January 2011
Scarred. - A Writing Prompt post that details one of my most memorable moments in my life 

February 2011
My Husband, The Romantic. - Shhhh, don't let him know I told you! 

March 2011
Love Is A Two-Way Street - Sometimes it's about admitting that neither of you are perfect... 

April 2011
Our Mommy/Son Date - Gotta show those kids some individual love and attention 

May 2011
Mom & Sons Beach Day - My first successful beach day with the boys all on my own! 

June 2011
I Always Get The Screamers - Just a blog post about how much I adore my loud children 

July 2011
Separation Anxiety - What can I say, they LOVE me. 

August 2011
Kindergarten Rocks! - Tanner's first day of school (tear*) 

September 2011 (I didn't have any good ones this month!)
Twitter-Pated - Follow me on Twitter! 

October 2011
"That's Your Wine." - A post about a drawing that challenges my credibility as a mother. 

November 2011
11 Days of Thankfulness: Day Ten - The best things in my life

December 2011
DIY: My Christmas Sign - Loving all the decor I'm seeing on other blogs and feeling inspired, there will be more from me on this blog as far as holiday decorating and home decor!

Well, so there you have it...my favorite posts from 2011. I hope you enjoyed reading them. If you did, please become an official follower of my blog via one or more of the options in the left-hand column. Thanks for reading! Happy New Year!

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Dear Santa (I've Been So Very Good...)

Dear Santa,

You know what I'd really like this year?

Actually, I should probably preface each item by telling you how extremely good and obedient I've been this year.

For starters, I exercised. I exercised A LOT. I participated in seven 5K races (which by default means I also donated to charities that same amount).. I went to the gym countless times. I did the Insanity workout...MANY times. I did all of this so I could ask for a wine refridgerator, stocked full of wine. So please, add this to my list - hint: I'm a fan of reds. (I'll also need the P90X 2 set...for the New Year.) 

I kept my house clean and organized (for the most part). I regularly sorted through things - donated to Goodwill, had a garage sale and trashed what could not be sold or given away. I kept up with seasonal decor, even going the extra mile by trying new things, adding special touches and taking on DIY projects. So Santa, for this good behavior, I'm asking for a new vacuum (let's just say mine's had it). A Dyson would be preferable.

I also worked a lot. I held a full-time job and worked overtime as needed. I even cleaned houses in addition to that. And more importantly, I still made the time to be a great mother to my children because that comes first. I went to Tanner's baseball practices and games, school events, took them both to doctor's appointments, had playdates, etc...and more importantly, I made it to all of these things ON TIME. I packed lunches with little notes for Tanner because he's learning to read...notes such as "Tanner, Your Mommy Loves You." I made sure Tanner's backpack and Breckin's daycare bag had everything they needed each day. I was a Room Mom for Kindergarten. I read bedtime stories, played games, planned and threw big birthday parties...and much more that could never be summed up in one small paragraph. So for all this, I'm asking for a nap. One really good one...three hours at least.

I realize you're quite busy, but I'd be so ever grateful if you could find the time to at least read and consider my list. I know you can't get every thing for everyone...so....

Please Santa, if nothing else, give me a nap.
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The Holiday Rut

The holidays are officially killing me.

Since Thanksgiving, I have not been to the gym ONCE. WTF????!!! To my credit, I have done a 5K (Reindeer Run) and a few days worth of Insanity workouts, but seriously, that just does not cut it for me because I know that tiny efforts such as those will never get me where I want to be in terms of fitness. I feel like a slob...laziness, lack of motivation, eating junk...seriously, who IS this person? It's not me. I worked way too hard to get where I am after two kids - so why am I seemingly throwing it all away?

You know how the longer you stay away from working out, the easier it gets to talk yourself out of doing it each time? Well, I've gotten in this rut of working from 6am to 3pm (which is reason enough to be tired!) and then instead of going to the gym after work as planned, I've had a mental battle with myself on the drive home after work each day over how I don't have time to go to the gym (even though just that morning, it was my main intent - gym bag in the car and ready to go) because I've got motherly/wifely/housekeeping duties that simply must be tended to, and with the holidays, those duties are practically double when you add in all the social events (and preparation), holiday shopping, etc etc etc...so I've been guilty of making that my excuse to not go...then I'll tell myself, well, I'll just get all of that done first, then I can do an Insanity workout after the kids go to bed... Oh, this has got to STOP. And I'm going to get ahead of the game and get started RIGHT NOW and not do what most of the world does, which is sacrifice their bodies by giving in to all the holiday madness and wait until the New Year to get it together.

So tonight, mark my words, I WILL be hitting the gym after work. And hard. I need to get myself through one good session to remember how good it feels and how much I love it...to get my motivation back.

What about you? Are you in a workout rut due to the holiday rush? What are you doing to keep motivated?

Be sure to check in on January 2nd, 2012 when I introduce the first weekly edition of Mommalicious Mondays. This will be a great meme to be a part of - there will be a weekly workout challenge, opportunities to share your posts with progress pictures, updates and stories of your personal workout journey. It is also an opportunity to gain a support group. It does not matter where you are in your journey at the start of this meme. I look forward to this new portion of my blog. (You do not have to be Mommalicious to join, you can be I-Have-No-Kids-alicious too.) :-)

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Three Generations of Smith Boys

Wanted to share a picture of three generation of Smith boys:
 

From Left: Jake's brother Jesse, his son Chase, Papa Bob, Tanner, Jake & Breckin



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Writing Prompt: My Most Memorable Thanksgiving

Linking up this Thanksgiving Day with Mama Kat for her weekly writing prompts meme.

I chose the following prompt: "A Favorite Thanksgiving Memory"

My most memorable Thanksgiving is without a doubt, my wedding day. Yes, that's right. Hubby and I tied the knot in a very private ceremony on Thanksgiving morning in 2007 on the beach on Sullivan's Island, SC. Our engagement was only a week long...so I didn't have long to get a dress, and we were lucky his dad is a minister. We got our license to wed that week at City Hall and proceeded with our nuptials while we had a few family members in town for Thanksgiving. The only regrets I have for that day are not having any of my family members present due to the very short notice. It was just Jake's immediate family, and our son, Tanner (age 2 at the time - which is why our engagement was so short. We figured, what's the point in waiting any longer to do what's right? We of course WANTED to as well!) However, we did throw a reception party six months later in May 2008 with about 100 of our close family and friends.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from that memorable Thanksgiving (of course, a week-long engagement didn't provide time to book a professional photographer either - another one of my few regrets, but in the big scheme of things, doesn't matter all that much):

Happy Couple

The Kiss to Seal the Deal

A Happy Bride

We "Do"

The Rings

Happy Thanksgiving to You & Yours!

11 Days of Thankfulness: Day Ten

11 Days of Thankfulness: Day Ten

I am thankful for: My Beautiful Sons

Where do I begin to explain how grateful I am for the two wonderful little boys I have been blessed with? I feel like the luckiest mother - my boys are handsome, sweet, smart and so special in their own individual ways.

Tanner is my eccentric little artist and philosophical thinker. He is so imaginitive and unique in the way he thinks about the world. He is so smart. He loves to be loved and brightens up a room with his sparkly baby blues and wide-open grin. He loves to laugh, sing and play. He will never know how much he truly changed my life for the better. He is the reason I have changed and improved. I wanted to be better for him because he deserves the best. I love him so much and I make sure to tell him every day. We often butt heads because we are so much alike, but I know we'll be great friends in the future because of it. Tanner is the greatest thing that ever happened to me.

Breckin is the happiest baby I have ever known. His giggle and mischievous grin just makes my heart melt. I can't help but crack up with him. His eyes are always full of wonderment when he sees something he wants or something he's never seen before. He wants to stay a baby as long as possible because he's over 15 months and won't let go to walk unassisted (I know he has the ability!) But I don't mind, because I want to cherish his last few months as a "baby". He's very much a boy - he loves to be outside and play wth anything that is or can be used as a ball. He gives hugs, kisses and sometimes little love bites (he saves those especially for me). He has been the most wonderful addition to our family.

11 Days of Thankfulness: Day Nine (Happy 4th Anniversary, Hubby) ♥

11 Days of Thankfulness: Day Nine

I am thankful for: My Husband

Today is the 4th anniversary of the day my husband and I said "I do."

We had a quaint little private ceremony at Breach Inlet on Sullivan's Island on Thanksgiving that year. Six months later, we had a reception with family and friends.

Thank you, my sweet husband, for four amazing years...looking forward to many more. You are the most wonderfully perfect man for me. Happy Anniversary, I love you. ♥



11 Days of Thankfulness: Day Eight

11 Days of Thankfulness: Day Eight

I am thankful for: Being an Artist

I have always loved to express myself through creativity. Ever since I can remember, I've been drawing, painting and doing crafty things. I really enjoy it. I even went to college for graphic design (though I do often wish I had taken the more practical road and chosen something like Business Management, but that's another story for another day). I always love for things to be full of color and constantly find myself attracted to bold and bright things...whether it be in my clothing, my accessories or my font type for my email signature (that last one was for my boss, who routinely gives me shit for it.)

I obviously don't have as much time anymore as I'd like to be crafty and creative since becoming a mommy, wife and full-time employee, but I try to grab hold of the opportunity whenever it does present itself. I find myself wanting to paint more pictures to put in my home as decor, or even consume myself in DIY home improvement projects or interior design and decor. I'm constantly changing up things in my house - it probably drives my husband crazy, but hopefully he will agree they are always changes for the better!

I recently got back into painting after quite the hiatus and find myself eager to do more. I've set up an easel area in my bedroom (gotta keep the paints out of reach of the kiddos as they are not the washable kind!) I am excited to redevelop my talent in that area (absence makes the hand go rusty, as I like to say).

I am thankful I was given artistic talent - it's such a beautiful form of expression. I hope to always get better and to share my art with others. I'm especially thankful when people actually admire my work!

Rose - 2001 (Chalk)

These are just a couple of my pieces, I don't have pictures of everything. I will have to take some and post someday soon.

11 Days of Thankfulness: Day Seven

11 Days of Thankfulness: Day Seven

I am thankful for: My Home

I am so thankful that I have a place to call home. I know there are so many people out there without a roof over their head. Some don't know where they'll get there next meal or where they'll end up sleeping each night. It is such a fortunate thing to have a home...something I'm sure we are all guilty of taking for granted. Not only do I have a home, my house is big enough to fit our entire family comfortably...we're blessed with a spacious home, enough bedrooms and bathrooms for all. It may not be the biggest house, but it is definitely big enough...and I love it. I love decorating it and I love all the wonderful upgrades Jake has done with his crafty talents.

11 Days of Thankfulness: Day Six

11 Days of Thankfulness: Day Six

I am thankful for: My Friends

I've had the privilege of having many friendships throughout my life. Some of them are still intact, some of them have faded and then there are of course the ones that are no longer. But I think we all have that. I have learned things from each and every one of my friendships. The have helped me grow into the person I am today. I am thankful for all of my friends...past, present and future.

From Left: Manda, Suzanne, Mia, Me, & Meg 2009

From Left: Corey, Me, Anne & Taylor at Charleston Fashion Week 2009

From Left: Me, Mia & Meg - St. Patty's Day 2008

Allison & Me - 2008



Blast from the Past: Kelly & Me - Halloween 2003



Corey & Me

Suzanne, Mia & Me

My Childhood BFF, Kellie & Me - 2007