My husband is NOT perfect...

but he IS perfect FOR ME!

We all know the saying that NO ONE is perfect, and yet we ll search for that perfect someone.
Early in our marriage, I found myself chit chatting with other wives and uttering the usual spousal complaints just to fit in the conversation, only to later to ponder "we're not like that, are we?"
I never truthfully knew the answer... until now.
After ten years together, I can say in complete confidence, we are perfect... for one another.

I knew he was kind when we met, knew he was a gentleman when we dated, knew he was thoughtful when we affianced, knew he was awesome when we wed, and learned through years of marriage and parenting that is IS amazing.  Over the years I have been able to see him in action rather than just trusting what I believed about him. He works hard and plays equally as hard. He is a great father to our three kids. He honors most of my requests and has a caring heart that is seen whenever someone needs help.

Don't get me wrong, our marriage is not perfect. 

Whose is? Liars that’s who.

Our marriage is beautiful, trying, frustrating, fun, challenging, exciting and mundane. It is all these things and so much more.

When we began our relationship, I was barely 22 years old, still a baby. Fast forward to the present and this beautiful (physically and in every other way) man still excites me, intrigues me, and makes me so proud.

So you see, my marriage is not perfect, but my husband is perfect for me.

I know this is true, because:
1. My husband is my best friend. I'm 110% myself, I feel free, and enjoy the little things in life together.
2. He is is the one I want next to me in my deepest, darkest moments.
3. We're capable of being away from each other, but neither of us like it one bit.
4. He is my #1 choice for the person I want with me when I splurge on my favorite treat, watch an embarrassing television show, or forget my manners at the dinner table because I'm too exhausted that day.
5. We compromise with each other.
6. I care about his needs more than my own.
7. We both recognize, understand and respect that throughout life we will change and grow, but you'll always change and grow together. Life is about enjoying the stages with each other.
8. When something happens—terrible, exciting or completely insignificant—he is always the first person I want to tell.
9. He balances me out, and I do the same.
10. I know that no matter what, he will always stand by me and be on my side.

I take a moment, sometimes longer, every day, to think about just how lucky I am to have found my most perfect person on this earth.

( Hub's FB - RunStreak ) Hub's Blog - The Run Streak )

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Body AFTER Baby

I am FAR from perfection, but aren't we all?
If I were to ask a super model how she looked so perfect, she might respond with a regime...but's she's probably STILL thinking about the flaws she envisions in herself!
Why are we (as women) always seeking perfection? Always questioning our own self-worth? Always judging and comparing ourselves to others?

I do embrace my "new" body as all the textbooks, doctors and brilliant fellow moms tell me to.  But, that clearly does NOT mean I am settling. I LOVE me, but I still seek to look stellar naked.  So as any busy mom would, I fit in a workout, a single exercise whenever I can. 

Dead Leg Plank Walks (Place each of your feet hip width apart & press into a full plank, hands directly under your shoulders. Keeping your hips even, "walk" your hands 10 steps forward and 10 steps back. Do 3 times consecutively, rest, then repeat the whole thing twice more.)

Stability Ball Pass (Start with your lower back pressed into the floor and don't allow it to come up. Pressing your back into the floor is part of what makes this a powerful exercise. Pass ball from arms to legs, then reverse. 30x through.)

Jack Knife (Hold a plank off a ball, then working up to bringing your knees to your chest. Shoot for 3 sets of 10.)

 Pilates 100s (As you pulse your arms up and down, inhale through the nose for 5 counts, exhale through the mouth for 5 counts. Repeat 10x (100, get it?)

 Pull Ups 

Wall Bridge (Lie on your back with your butt against the wall and arms at your sides. Bend your knees and plant your feet 3 to 4 feet up the wall. Raise your lower and middle back off floor, keeping your shoulder blades on the ground.)

Windshield Wiper (Lie face-up on the floor with your legs against a wall, the bottoms of your feet facing the ceiling. Slowly lower your left leg down the wall like a clock arm toward 9 o'clock, then return to the starting position & alternate legs.)

Toe Reaches (Lie on the floor with your heels pressed against the wall, your legs straight. Reach your right hand toward your left foot, allowing your right shoulder to raise off the floor. Return to the starting position & alternate legs)

Scissors (Begin with your butt close to the wall, knees bent, and your feet planted on the wall. Raise your hips up, place your elbows on the floor and your hands on your hips to support your lower body. Walk your feet up the wall so that your legs are straight.From here, lower your left leg toward your head, keeping both legs straight & repeat with your right leg.)

Knee Press (Lie on your back with your butt against the wall, knees bent, and feet planted 3 to 4 feet up the wall. Raise your butt and back off the floor and cross your right ankle over your left knee. Without moving the rest of your body, pulse your knee toward the wall 20 times. Lower your body, and repeat on your left side.)

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Not another Birthday!

 
Milestones.
We hear about them from other moms, doctors, magazines and yet some don't phase us at all. Then, out of no where. BAM!
One slaps you right in the face... ONE....
The first tooth is cute, first smile is amazing, first steps astonishing... all firsts that I have witnessed with pure joy in my heart, it didn't matter how young these milestones were reached.
That first birthday is a painful, sorrowful experience for this mom!
My oldest son's first birthday was THE worst. I felt like my baby was taken away from me...
My daughter's first birthday was ironically not as awful, while she was walking around and talking, she was still a bald-headed beauty... still my little baby.
My youngest son's first birthday is slowly breaking my heart, as much as I long for just. one. more. baby. I know it will be extremely difficult to get the hubs on board. So not only am I saddened by my little walking, babbling, brilliant baby becoming a climbing, screaming toddler and leaving his "months" behind, but I am also mourning the fact that our home may never again be graced with the presence of an infant.
It's HIS day, I know this...
I will continue to celebrate him and all that he is for YEARS to come, but for now, I am going to hold him for as long as he'll let me, and "pretend" he's 11 and 1/2 months old for just a little bit longer.

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Detoxing

Hi, my name is Jamie and I am a sugar addict.
There. phew. that feels better.
I need a detox. I need to kick this addiction. I need to become the me that I am supposed to be. Stronger, healthier, less tired, and NOT dependent on sugar!

According to Dr. Oz, "Sugar is the new controlled substance. The average American consumes up to 31 pounds of sugar a year, and a diet high in sugar can cause diabetes, obesity, and many other health crises. Our excess intake of sugar, from the white stuff on the table to the high-fructose corn syrup hidden in packaged foods, is not only making us sick, it’s making us fat and aging our skin."

If you can't get going in the morning without a sugary coffee, need a treat to boost your energy in the afternoon and have tried and failed to cut down on eating carbs, then you could be a sugar addict. 
It's no secret that too much sugar is bad for our health. It is recommended that we do not consume more than 70g of sugar a day for men and 50g for women but many of us are exceeding this.

Research shows that habits (ie my 3 day potty training, sleep training, beginning a workout regime, etc) form in 3 days...bad ones AND good ones. Based on that idea, a sugar detox should not take longer than that! 

In a LONG, hard, three days... I WILL be sugar free! I WILL be victorious! I will be healthier, happier and freed from my sugared prison! 

THREE DAY SUGAR DETOX PLAN

DAY ONE
Breakfast: Three scrambled eggs
Mid-morning snack: Nuts
Lunch: Grilled/Poached Chicken Breast with mixed baby greens and 1/2 an avocado
Afternoon snack: Sliced peppers with two tablespoons of spinach hummus
Dinner: Edamame, baked salmon with stir-fried broccoli and mushrooms

 

DAY TWO
Breakfast: Three eggs scrambled with sauteed spinach
Snack: Nuts
Lunch: Tuna salad
Snack: Sliced peppers with hummus
Dinner: Pork tenderloin, sauteed Brussels sprouts and mushrooms with lettuce salad and avocado

 

DAY THREE
Breakfast: Three-egg omelet with shrimp, sauteed spinach and tarragon
Snack: Nuts
Lunch: Grilled turkey burger with sliced tomatoes, lettuce, and sauteed mushrooms, plus kale chips
Snack: Sliced peppers with hummus
Dinner: Baked cod over bok choy and mixed greens

 

Drinks allowed over the three days: One cup of unsweetened black coffee per day, unsweetened green and/or herbal tea in unlimited amounts, minimum 64 ounces of water a day

For a more IN DEPTH detox:  21 Day Sugar Detox

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SELL it!

Part of the PURGE series......

1. Utilize the power of the INTERNET!

 There re Facebook groups, online newspapers, eBay and Craigslist. Get your STUFF out there!

2. Post good photos.

Use a “real” digital camera, not a poor quality camera/camera-phone.Take several different photos from various angles.

3. Write an accurate description and price accordingly.

Disclose any flaws that you know of. Avoid stating how much you paid for an item. 

4. Note what area of town you are in.

Everyone else in the world is not a zip code geek, so don't rely on that alone. State a brief location in comparison to major local cities (ie 20 minutes outside of Hartford)

5. Be ready to respond to inquiries.

If you’re not going to be able to check your email for some reason, you may want to include your phone number.

6. Don’t waste time on deadbeats.

If someone is already negotiating for a lower price, or has a hundred questions, don’t waste time on them unless they are the only inquiry. Although it is considered courteous to offer the item on a first-come, first-served basis, if there are more than a few responses skip over anyone giving an indication they will be difficult to work with.

7. Specify when you want to get rid of it.

Be wary of no-shows, and be ready to reschedule with others. Sometimes you will have someone not show up, or cancel, or decide they don’t want it. If you'd rather not, state a "must be gone by" day/time in the post.

8. Meet at a location other than your home.

You never know what kind of person is going to show up and it is easier to tell someone to meet you at the McDonald’s at a certain intersection than to give them directions to your home. Be sure to pick a place that is convenient for you.

9. Follow the rules and be courteous.

If your item doesn’t sell, re-post it according to the guidelines. If you’ve posted it twice with no response, it probably means no one wants it or you are asking too much, consider reducing the cost or moving the item to the donation pile.

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Eat yourself Fit

If you’re hungry in the morning, eat breakfast. If not, don’t… just make sure to eat healthy for the rest of the day. The fact is that there is no physiological need for breakfast. It does not “jump start” metabolism and there is nothing special about breakfast compared to other meals.

Many of the articles on nutrition in the general media suggest the right times to eat and the number of meals to eat to prevent weight gain. It is common to hear that eating late at night causes excess fat to be produced. This is not accurate — it is overeating at any time, not simply eating at night, that causes someone to gain weight, particularly if they're not exercising or expending enough energy during the day. It is often suggested that manipulating the number of meals per day could increase your metabolism and help you lose weight. Realistically, there is no magic number of times you should eat, nor are there specific types of foods you should eat or a particular time of day to eat to lose weight.

The bottom line is: eat when you're hungry and avoid overeating.

The number of meals you have per day and when should depend upon your schedule and the total number of calories you want to take in. If you lead a typical lifestyle, three meals a day may not work best for you.  Being overly hungry, or "starving!" as some might say, could easily lead you to overeat at both meals. Many of us not only overeat when we are too hungry, but we also end up eating too fast, which is bad for our digestion. For this reason, several small meals may help you control portion size overall.

Carrying healthy snacks with you during the day is a great way to avoid overeating at meals. Take a bag of carrot sticks, pieces of fruit, nuts and raisins, half a sandwich, or a granola bar with you during your next long day on campus. You'll find that when you don't deny yourself food when you're hungry, you'll be much more in control of eating the amounts that are right for you.

Remember, a healthy diet includes moderation, variety, and some tasty foods, too.

You can certainly experiment with the number and timing of your meals to see what keeps you satisfied and energized. If you enjoy having several smaller meals, there is no reason to eat three "square" meals each day, as long as you are getting a balanced mix of fruits, vegies, whole grains, and lean protein. Likewise, if eating three meals a day is working well for you, there's no need to buy into the fad of several small meals. Wishing you enjoyment in your eating,

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DOWN with digital!

I am constantly am chasing down my 1-year-old-phone-nabber to remove my cell phone or my husbands from his tiny little hands. And then it dawned on me,.. maybe his taking it away is a good thing... Maybe it's time to unplug. Maybe my child needs to feel more important than any electronic device.

I have spent the past few days, paying attention to other people and their cell phone usage...the children with the biggest smiles always seemed to belong to the adult without a visible cell phone... It saddens me to see a couple or family out to dinner, everyone pouring over his or her device, together but alone. Part of the fun of waiting is the time with pleasant conversation and anticipation.

I have begun to set rules for electronic use, and not just for the kids.
Mostly, I’m engaged with the children during the day. Mostly. Like all smartphone enabled parents, I keep an eye on email and, less importantly, social media. It’s not easy, balancing a part-time career with stay-at-home parenting, especially with several jobs and whilst homeschooling.

• No cellphones at any mealtime. 
• No immediate responding to every beep/ring (look for end-points, set a time limit...finish the work at hand and then check).
• No personal electronic devices between 8am and 8pm.

I want to be Supermom able to play make-believe, write memos, “like” Facebook statuses, and treat my children with patience and kindness, all at once and all the time. Of course, I can’t do it all. By valuing your time in the real world, you’ll teach your children to do the same.

We've all seen the images of the cell phone basket at parties with the cutesie little sign "be with those who are here"... but who's used it? Who's put their phone down for the party... the whole party?

My social life and work deadlines were stressing me out, and I need to unplug. Each day, I now feel  refreshed (and very popular) when I turned my phone back on and see dozens of texts and e-mails from people who apparently missed me.

I even set a blocker that kept me off social-media sites for eight-twelve hours. The temptation to procrastinate expands beyond Facebook to browsing viral-cat-video sites like Buzzfeed, binge-watching shows on Netflix or tapping away at addictive games like Candy Crush. Thankfully, I don't have a problem with all cellphone apps, so a single block works. It may be a bit much, but I tend to lean to the social media crutch to cub my boredom during nap-time...now I have to find better use of this time, like house-cleaning, working out or reading...

So if you’re one of the many who feel guilty about ignoring your family, or find yourself not living in the moment because you’re so busy posting pictures of the moment online, maybe it’s time to take a break and unplug for a few days. It’s all the rage, really.

And if you’re a parent, you might want to find a way to set digital limits for your children too.

But what are the best ways to beat iPhone addiction? Whether you’re trying to study or trying to be a good family member, here’s how you can go on that digital diet.

Check out the Quiet app, it blocks notifications and changes your status on things like Skype to “busy.” If you need  serious break, Delete the apps on your phone. There is an app called Anti-Social that blocks social-media sties. If your digital usage is more than just social media, try LeechBlock which blocks time-wasting sites, you can also target specific sites. If you feel like you are still in control and not yet addicted to your phone, set yourself on a schedule, with time limits... and follow it.

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Monthly Idea Bank

MONTH	THEME	ITEMS	Projects
January	Winter	Cotton ball, snow-flakes, pine cones, tinsel	Ice cream/marshmallow snowman Snow play dough
February	Valentine	Buttons, red stuff, red hots, hearts	Play dough w cocoa (chocolates)
March	St. Patrick	Green stuff, shamrocks, green rice, gold coins
April	Spring/Easter	Zip tags, flowers, Easter grass, eggs, peeps
May	Insects/Flowers	Dirt, rubber bugs, paper grass, rocks	Footprint ladybug
June	Ocean/Summer	Blue stones, fish net, felt fish, sun glasses
July	Independence	Flag, reds-whites-blues, paper confetti
August	Outdoors/summer	Dirt, twigs, rubber insects, leaves,
September	School/fall	Letter tiles, synthetic leaves, apples
October	Halloween	Glow in the dark, black beans, fake spiders, pumpkins, eye-balls, skeleton
November	Thanksgiving	Paper grass, pumpkins, gourds, mini Indians/pilgrams
December	Christmas	Colored rice, plastic lights, ornaments	Decorate Play dough tree Graham crackers, whip cream - polar express Ornament making
ANY	Transportation Ice cream Dinosaur Farm Pirate Weather Space Bath time	Pebbles, cars, black beans Tongs, pom-poms Rocks, min creatures Birdseed, corn, easter eggs, Beads, coins, shiny stones, black beans Rocks, cotton-balls, beads, pipecleaners, poms, sugar cubes, Super balls, marbles, spacemen Cotton balls, tweezers, duck	Blue glitter play dough

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I have THE BEST pants!

Fairly recently I had the distinct pleasure of trying out a pair of kick butt Capri work-out pants from GHSports I can HONESTLY say, they are the BEST I have ever worn, EVER! Sadly I only own one pair of these bad boys (right now anyway). I wore them to run 10ks, I wore them to boot camp, I wore them to Cross-fit, and I p90x-ed the HECK out of them. they have been worn, washed a re-worn well OVER  dozen times and STILL fit exactly the same as the first time I wore them! PERFECTION!


On a more "girl" note, they are cute too! And they have an awesome rear pocket that is "hidden" but can comfortably (seriously), fit an id, a credit card and one of those handy mini-tampons. They are lightweight, breathable, but don't feel like your soaking in sweat, when your soaking in sweat..
If you DON'T believe me, then your dumb... seriously, try them! The customer service ROCKS too, so no worries, this WHOLE company... winner!

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Finding the TIME to workout

Finding the time to workout is always my biggest challenge. As a wife, mom of three, home-schooler, work from home (with 3 part time jobs) and a home to maintain single-handedly, my fitness regime is NOT the top priority. Honestly, if someone doesn't offer to do one of the one million things I have to get done, I have to skip something to get my workout completed...like eating, or sleeping or cleaning or work... 

The best solution.....Morning Fitness. If I wake before the children, I can squeeze in a workout before they all begin to bark demands at me, and the endorphins created, energize me throughout the day. 

Yes the early morning for SUPER busy people is the answer! The early morning has only 1 ENEMY…the pillow:) .... Maybe 2, if like me you have a little cuddly baby next to you in the wee hours. 

Consistent workout routines have another serious limiter... ELECTRONICS. Limiting television viewing has a possitive effect on health in general, and certainly limits the idle time we have. Unless you can incorporate both a workout and a television show in the same "sitting". I know you have heard this a thousand times! Always remember nobody ever got in shape watching The Biggest Loser.

If you are a time manager you must prioritize your time and limit your distractions. Talking on the phone, texting, playing I phone games,and YES Facebook are sharks that eat up your valuable time. Eliminate and/or minimize your distractions. I am guilty of this too! I have set myself a rule in my house, no electronics without a purpose between 8 & 8.

I don't let other people down. As a general rule, I am committed to a fault. I am one of those, if I RSVP, I will be there barring some catastrophe. And now, I am committed to me... accountable for my very own self! I even schedule n appointment in order to stay on task... but, I am not opposed to group fitness, a fitness boot camp, or personal trainer.

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Sleep Training withOUT tears

I miss sleep. a lot. I don't mind the occasional wakings from a bad dream. Even the child up before the sun, I wouldn't mind... but both... simultaneously... and daily. I AM TIRED. I am tired of waiting to finish the cleaning and laundry and chores and work until all three of my little angels are sleep, just to be stopped before I finish to feed and rock a baby back to sleep, finally let to finish only to be awaken twenty (give or take) after I finally lie down and close my eyes and then every hour for the remainder of the night until the blasted sun wakes another child....UGH. That's IT! I am ready to read Samuel Jackson's rendition of "Go the F@#$ to Sleep".

When I read about the Cry it Out method, all I can think of is an overtired mom sitting cross-legged in the corner covering her ears and eyes with her hands, sobbing just praying for everyone to go to sleep. 
In my house its not the going to sleep thats a problem, that part is a breeze. its the staying asleep that we struggle with. There is always an initial complaint, but usually by days end, all parties are tired enough to resign to their bedrooms without excessive disagreement. The little guy puts up the hardest fight, he just wants his mommy to hold him just a little bit longer...

Teaching your baby to soothe himself to sleep and sleep through the night doesn't have to mean letting him cry it out (CIO). If you don't like the idea of leaving your baby to cry alone – or you've tried CIO methods and they didn't work for you – you may want to consider a more gradual approach that involves fewer tears. I cannot bring myself to letting a little one cry for longer than 3-4 minutes without beginning to sob myself.

On baby #3, I am still reminding myself that each child is different and what works for one child might not work for another. Figuring out an approach that's right for your family could take some trial and error.

Generally speaking, those who favor a no-tears approach over CIO methods consider leaving a child alone and crying to be unnatural, unkind, and a betrayal of the trust your baby is developing in adults and the world around him. In my opinion, its obvious that child and parent develop a bound well before birth and the complete trust a child has for his/her parent is a sacred bond. Bedtime offers an opportunity to connect with your child by developing quiet, cozy nighttime rituals and by quickly responding to your baby's requests for food and comfort.

Pediatrician and attachment parenting advocate William Sears devotes an entire chapter of The Baby Sleep Book to a critique of CIO approaches. Another no-tears advocate, Elizabeth Pantley (author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution), believes that CIO techniques can give your child negative associations with bedtime. Sleep experts who support the CIO approach disagree, stating it isn't traumatic for babies to cry alone for short periods of time with frequent check-ins by Mom or Dad – and the end result is a well-rested, happier child with no excessive need for dependency on comfort bedtime.

Practical tips for finding a no-tears solution

• Parents are urged to keep sleep logs, nap logs, and night-waking logs. 
• Encourage your baby to get plenty to eat during the day. He'll learn that daytime is for eating and nights are for sleeping. And he'll be less likely to wake up hungry in the wee hours.
• Establish a regular nap schedule. A consistent sleep routine during the daytime helps regulate nighttime sleep.
• Put your baby to bed on the early side, such as 6:30 or 7. Don't fall into the trap of keeping your baby awake so he'll be more tired. An overtired baby may actually have a harder time getting to sleep. Some experts say babies who go to bed earlier sleep longer, too.
• Make changes slowly. If your baby's on a later schedule, don't suddenly move bedtime from, say, 9:30 to 7 o'clock. Make bedtime a little earlier each night until you reach the time that seems best for your baby.
• Find a soothing bedtime routine and stick to it. I like our routine of a bath, then a book, then a lullaby, then bed, at the same time every night.
• Develop some key words, to signal to your child that it's time for sleep. It could be a simple "ssshhhh" sound or a softly spoken phrase like "It's sleepy time." Repeat the sound or phrase when you're soothing your child to sleep or back to sleep so he'll associate it with bedtime. I use a different phrase for nap than I do for bedtime, "Time to snooze" and "Little one, rest your head, it's time for bed"
• Create a comfortable sleep environment that's tailored to your child. Some babies need more quiet and darkness than others. Recordings of soft music or nature sounds or the sound of a gurgling aquarium can be soothing. Make sure the sheets are cozy (warm them with a hot water bottle or a microwavable heating pad before laying your baby down) and that sleepwear doesn't chafe or bind. Younger babies may sleep better when swaddled. Don't overdress your child or overheat the room. Of course this comfortable sleeping environment varies from child to child.My 1st liked a night-light and soft music, my 2nd silence and darkness, my 3rd static sounds and muted to no lights. 
• Don't respond to every noise your child makes. Learn to distinguish a real cry from a sleepy whimper. If you're not sure, it's okay to wait for a minute outside the door so you won't disturb him if he's actually asleep.

Many question which methods works best....Truth be told, no single sleep strategy is effective with every baby or even for one baby all the time.

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Survival Guide for Moms in a New England Winter

Brace yourselves, a-storm's-a-brewin'... 

Winter in New England For Mama's Survival Guide

What do you do with the kids when its too cold to ship them outside? When the leaves start falling along with the temperatures, it is time to rethink how to entertain the children. While I could just put them in front of the television from October to April, there are other things that to do to keep them entertained. The key is to think outside of the box and find things that the kids will enjoy doing and that will keep their interest. In my house, if they are being destructive, they are happy... I try to limit this.

As much as possible I engage them in constructive activities and play, always sneaking the learning in, under the eyes of the little one...

• Crafts
•  It is amazing what can happen when you let them flex their imagination muscles. From making ramps for cars to furniture for dolls to pictures, only limited by imagination.We follow themes, or create something associated with the season or letter of the day.
• Snowflake Garland
• Snow-globe
• spray bottles and water colors
•  home-made play dough
• macaroni jewelry
• Music
• A selection of musical instruments can be fun for ALL children. Turn on some music and let them play along or dance with the music. This can be a great way to release some energy and have fun with the kids (great workout too!).
• Make your own recycled instruments
• Camp in 
•  While most people think of camping as an outside activity, stringing some sheets across chairs, the table, or other furniture can make your living or family room into a campsite as well. Eat lunch in it, play games, or read with your kids to make it even more fun.
•  Science Experiments
• What did doesn't love blowing something up, setting it on fire or tasting yummy treats? The messier the better!
• Get active
• glacier jump or floor is lava

Winter doesn't have to mean the end to fun. By using imagination and letting the kids use theirs, you can come up with activities that can be fun and, in most cases, educational. Whether you come up with a detailed plan or you just let things unfold, you will find that winter can bring just as much fun as summer.

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New Year, New You?

The most common resolutions in the United States are:

• Lose Weight
• Volunteer
• Quit Smoking
• Get a Better Education
• Get a Better Job
• Save Money
• Get Fit
• Eat Healthy Food
• Manage Stress
• Manage Debt
• Take a Trip
• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
• Drink Less Alcohol

Many try and most fail....
Heck, I wanted to have greater patience and do less yelling.... and by noon, well lets just say I was already rethinking my resolution.
It really got me thinking...What's the last New Year's resolution you can actually kept?
If you're better than me and have cut down on your spending, effectively managed stress, or lost ten pounds and actually used that gym membership, than you can stop reading and leave...
For the rest of the honest folk, I am going to try to put things in perspective.

The first step to being successful at your New Year's Resolutions is be being realistic about yourself. First things first: we're all inherently lazy creatures, who often throw in the towel when life gets hard.

I am starting smaller this year...

1. Take a walk from screen time. 

Between 8 & 8, if you need to reach me, CALL ME... unless my kids are sleeping, I am OFFLINE. (This will be a hard one, and may take a learning curve, but I am in it for the long run. I think the benefits will outweigh the discomforts).
If you have a desk job, all day might be a far reach, so try to "log off" at lunch.

2. Embrace A Little Insecurity

I am not supermom, or superwoman or anything other than me... Not perfect, not even close.
Instead of faking it, embrace your limitations. People with a tinge of realistic self-doubt have a motivating force to improve--they're more open to feedback, and tend to make smarter decisions.

3. Skip The Coffee, And Hit the Stairs

Have you ever heard of "micro bursts?" Micro-burst are small buts of physical activity--taking a brisk five minute walk, a run up and down the stairs--that boost your energy levels in the long term.
Turns out the energy-boosting properties of micro-bursts translate to human interaction. So hit the stairs or call your mom the next time you're feeling sleepy instead of reaching for your coffee.

4. Wake Up Without An Alarm Clock

If you've got a couple of kids, this is an easy one! I haven't set an alarm in SIX years!!!! Your body wants to wake up in the morning (naturally), you just need to harness the power of your natural circadian rhythm, and put in your side of the bargain: consistency and trust.You may want to start on the weekend, or vacations and slowly ease your body into forming a routine out of it.

5. Live Zen

Everywhere you go, people are telling you to live a more "mindful life." Pay it Forward and smile more. Appreciate the little things. Gee, the kids spilled all your favorite lotion, BUT they spelled their names in it for the FIRST time!

6. Plan Your Weekends So You Can Relax And Revitalize

It's Sunday night. You're miserable. You haven't done anything this weekend!
If this is a familiar feeling, you're not alone. Bottom line: a good weekend needs a plan.

Want the perfect resolution?

Ask: “What would make me happier?”
It might having more of something good (fun with friends, time for a hobby) or less of something bad (yelling at your kids, nagging of your spouse). It might be fixing something that doesn’t feel right (time volunteering).
Ask: “What is a concrete action that would bring change?”
One common problem is that people make abstract, hard-to-keep resolutions, (Be more optimistic, Find more joy in life). Instead, look for a specific, measurable action, (recycle all the cans at weeks end, watch at least one show with Matt each week).
Ask: “Am I starting small enough?” Many people make super-ambitious resolutions and then drop them, feeling defeated, before January is over. Start small! Little accomplishments provide energy for bigger challenges. The humble resolution you actually follow is more helpful than the ambitious resolution you abandon.
Ask: “How am I going to hold myself accountable?”
Accountability is the secret to sticking to resolutions. That’s why groups like AA and Weight Watchers are effective. (If your resolution is too vague, it’s hard to measure whether you’ve been keeping it. A resolution to Eat healthier is harder to track than Eat salad for lunch three times a week.)

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