resolutions.

lets just be honest here. i always fail on my new years resolution...hence why i don't really make one. but this year is different. i actually started my resolution part way through december.  ever since middle school i have struggled with weight. yadda yadda yadda. right? that seems to be everyones new years resolution [loose weight]. 

i started taking zumba in july and LOVE it.  the only downfall? it is around $40 for 6 weeks. boo. i would take it more than one day a week if i could afford to do so. but i do have a gym in the clubhouse of my apartment. now, it's not the best/up-to-date equipment. but it works.  now that i am back to work i had a hard time figuring out when i could go to the gym. see my week is a little crazy.

monday-free

tuesday-free

wednesday-Bible study

thursday-zumba

friday-small group

saturday & sunday-depends on my schedule

so the only free nights i could work out are monday & tuesday. but i have zero motivation when i get home from work at 6pm.  working with 16 three and four year olds can drain you.  not to throw around excuses, but the last thing i want to do is come home and go to the gym.  sooo this leads me to my brilliant [at the time] plan. wake up and work out before work [at 7am]. ick. tomorrow will be my first day of doing this. so we'll see how it goes.  

i am on the hunt for healthy snacks & meal ideas. i have several cookbooks & books on the whole dieting thing. but i like to hear first hand experience that has worked for someone else.
i read that it is good to keep a food journal.  well a co-worker of mine told me about loseit.com so i just joined. it is a digital food journal. i can even log my workouts in for the day.
but i am hoping with my awesome new planner will help me with this too. i was very leery about buying it because it has a pretty price tag. but i finally caved and bought it. hopefully i will have it soon! 
any tips/tricks/helpful hints are appreciated.


happy tuesday. 

last day of school break.

the time has come. time to go back to work. i love my job and teaching the kids, but it is nice to have a few days off. i have enjoyed my break immensely.  i have been super productive and had some fun along the way.  new years eve was fun. just went over to a friends house and played cards, mingled and rung in 2012 with high hopes that it will be a good year.  2011 had its ups and downs. of course no one likes the downs, but i have come to realize that the downs help make you grow.  at the time, they are not so fun and i can attest to that. if you were to ask me seven months ago, i would say you are crazy. i have grown so much over the last year [more so over the last seven months].  i know that God has a plan for my life and i am excited to see what He has in store for me.  time to get ready to head back to school tomorrow. only a 4 day week though :) 

treats i made for new years eve. 

my sparkly cupcakes which i loved. 

organizing my children's books.

this is going to make life so much easier when i need to get books for school.

up close.


via.

school closed = productivity on my end.

so. i have this thing about planners & calendars. i am obsessed with them and am always looking for new ones. in my blog surfing this weekend, i found this! it looks amazing. the downfall? it's $50 :( but i am seriously considering it. is that bad? 


i am working on goodies to take for new years eve.  the carmel pretzels were a  big fail. i left them in the oven too long and the carmel melted all over the place. buuut i may still take them. who knows. this afternoon calls for chocolate covered carmels & chocolate covered pretzels. 


i just downloaded the new matt nathanson cd "modern love." so far, it's amazing. worth a listen.


i am currently memorizing my 30th and 31st Bible verse. it's amazing how doing something like this is life changing. i never thought i would be able to memorize scripture like this. but so far, so good. fifteen weeks down :) 

a day of crafting with my best friend. 

result? signs that still need to be strung.

finally strung one of them. [at least it is the current season]

 hung on my coat closet door.

got to spend time with this kid.  not my nephew by blood, but i am still auntie rachel :) 

opening presents.

organizing my new [to me] desk. got it free from friends.

i have always wanted a roll top desk. and no, i am not an elderly person.

happy almost new years eve. have fun & be safe. 

I wish you a Merry Christmas.

maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more. -the grinch. 

Christmas.

Santa or Rudolph- Santa for sure. 

Stocking or presents- I do love stockings (usually gift cards which are always good) but love love presents. it's a fund tradition that we take turns opening presents one at a time. 

Egg nog or hot cider- i don't think i have ever had egg nog. so in that case, hot cider.

Angel or star- angel for sure. 

Decorating the tree or putting lights outside- well since i live in an apartment, decorating the tree. although i do love looking at outside lights. 

Warm cozy fires or sleigh rides- fire for sure. that is where i am doing this post from! in front of the fire at my parents. 

Family time or friend time- both. i love spending time with my family and all the traditions we have. but i also have some good traditions with my friends too. 

Expensive presents or from the heart- from the heart.

Snowball fight or snowmen- snowmen. 

Caroling or Christmas stories- both. 

Snowy days or ice days- snow. i hate driving with ice on the ground.

Red or green- red.

taken from the shine project.

i wish everyone a VERY merry Christmas. 

Merry Christmas!

a visitor from texas! so happy she is back in the mitten for a few days :) 

ch-ch-changes & failure.

shirt. cowl.

so, if you can't read the shirt since did the whole take-picture-of-myself-in-the-mirror-thing... it says "be the change you wish to see." 

so. i have made some goals for myself. i hope these are realistic. some of them are:

-do a fundraiser for my kids at school [i teach at-risk preschoolers].

-live a healthier lifestyle.

-have more women join Bible memorization at church. 

-learn a new trait/skill/hobby.

there are more, but none that i am ready to share.

i am scared of failure. i think this gets a lot of people in one way or another.  but i know that God will guide me in every aspect of my life. this past week i had a hard time with my verse for Bible memorization. i was super busy last week and didn't do my routine [i have the verse written all over the place in my house, car, school bag etc.] like i normally do. so i was worried since i didn't have it done on saturday night that i wouldn't be able to say it on sunday. but with some prayer and advice from a fellow group member i GOT IT! and wouldn't you know it, my verse for the week was about anxiety? funny how God plans things like that.

on a more happy note. only three more days and i am off of school for 9 whole days! hooray.

leigh is having a one-for-one giveaway. 

i won this 31 bits necklace from her a few weeks ago.

Merry [almost] Christmas!

winter wonderland.

the dog warming up by the heater...smart puppy :) 

winter has begun.

[new] long winter coat has been worn.

heat is on [for a while now].

snow has stuck to the ground.

Christmas tree & decorations are up.

shopping is [one present away from being] done.

Christmas cards are a work-in-progress.

cookies have been exchanged [thanks to my co-workers.]

one of my favorite children's books.

   

tree.

that's right, I have an N'Sync ornament..

enjoy the start of the new season.