Halfway Through The Year!

I figured since it was half way through the year it would be a good time to reflect and see where I am in respect to my goals I set out for 2013! This was the original post that I brought in the new year with! I had said instead of making individual goals I needed to look more at the "big picture" and being the best person I could be! So how have I been doing?

So one of the first things I said was:

I want to get healthy, lose weight, take care of myself better, become more active, and establish a routine.

Well, since getting on a van pool I have established more of a routine. I am up and out of the house every morning at the same time and I get home roughly around the same time every evenings. I am not using leave each day to make up for the time I have lost in traffic. I have been working on making healthier choices. It is something I am always conscious of so that's a start. I haven't lost much weight since the start of the year, but I am working on it and have been making a conscious effort of weighing in every Wednesday even when I don't like the results. It has been a way that I have stayed accountable. As far as becoming more active......well this one needs more work. So all around with this goal, it's a work in progress and I will have to continue to work harder on them.

I want to finally unpack and get organized in this house. What a stress reducer that will be!

This is a big fat negative! But hey! I still have half a year left!

I want to be a better mother, focus on Hailey more and not take for granite each moment I spend with her. I want to be a good role model. Make sure she is learning healthy life styles and the importance of being the best person she can be.

This is something I do need to work on still! Sometimes my patience is just not where it needs to be, especially after a hard day at work. I need to work on separating that from my home life. I also need to work on yelling and keeping my cool a little more. Sometimes I just can't help it! So these things all need to be worked on. It is not Hailey's fault I am stressed. Though I need to work on these things, I do think we have been spending more time together. We have watched movies together and done things fun together. Now that school is over, I am able to spend more time with her instead of sitting in my room doing homework.

I want to be a better wife. I want to work on my patience and the way I react to things. Take a minute to understand Kenny better. To put more effort into communication. To complain less and listen more.

To be honest, I have really been working on this one. I think our relationship is in a pretty good place rigth now. I try to listen more instead of shooting down his ideas. We also have been doing a lot more of the things he is into. Luckily for the most part I like these things also, so it's not like I am just following behind him ready to leave. Though I don't always understand him, I do try to listen.

I want to be a better friend. RESPOND TO TEXT MESSAGES AS SOON AS I READ THEM (PS this one is for you Heather). I need to listen more and maybe offer advice less. I have learned that sometimes we know what the right thing to do is, but in fact we just want someone to listen. I want to make a point to keep relationships strong. I love the friends I have in my life,new and old,and I want to make sure they stay in my life.

This is something I have been working on. I try to sit back and listen more to what is being said. Sometimes I can't help but try to offer some words of advice and sometimes that doesn't go over very well. I have had some real ups and downs in friendships over the months and I really have had to let somethings go. I do plan on continuing to be a good friend and someone that can relied on!

In all I want to be a better person. I want to be honest, trust worthy, dependable, non judgemental, understanding, true. I want to be able to go to lay down at night and know that each day I gave my all and the best of me I could give.

This is something that I am working on. It's good to reread this and remind myself what I am striving for. Each elements in my life is a work in progress (well I haven't really done the whole organizing thing), but I am glad to be able to reflect and see that it's half way through the year and these are some things that I have been trying to be better at. Maybe it will help put the rest of the year in perspective for me.

So What Wednesday!

Today I am linking up with Shannon over at L.A.I.D for another edition of So What Wednesday!

This week I am saying So What! to.......

 

It was hot as hell last night in the house! The air conditioning is not working. I tried to tough it out and say we would be fine and that it was no big deal, but damn was it hard trying to fall asleep when it's 85 degrees in my room!

 

I ate way to much these past few days and it showed on the scale big time!

 

I need to save up leave at my job, especially when I plan on having a baby in the future (no maternity leave! Ugh), but it is so hard trying not to take a day off!

 

Kenny broke a part of his truck over the weekend and then this morning on the way home he wreaked his car after falling asleep. He was okay, but the car needs a good amount of work done too it. This is two vehicles in one week people! I already made him promise to be careful with my car since he is now borrowing that!

 

I got in a tiff with my mother yesterday. Then of course I felt bad.

 

I am using a new system to monitor my budget and spending. So far I am over on most of the categories. Opps! Hopefully July will be a little bit better.

 

The company I did most of my side work for has closed, which now makes me feel like I am out of a job too! Darn! But it was good while it lasted!

 

I need to make a Birthday card tonight for sure, and then I also have another birthday card and bridal card left to make this week! It would be so much easier to buy a card, but I refuse!

 

I had a watermelon I bought a month ago that just sat on my kitchen floor. I finally cut it up the other night and it tastes fine to me!

 

I need to go to the grocery store tonight.......enough said.

 

 

Weighing in Wednesday- Week 24!

This week's weight loss:

+3.4

Total weight loss since Jan. 2, 2013:

-10.9

Thoughts for the week:

I had decided I wasn't going to post this today, but in all honesty this is something I need to do for myself no matter what my results are. I gained a lot this week, but you know what, I admitted to it and now I know I need to work harder to get back on track. This is something I am going to deal with as the weather is getting warmer and we are out a lot more. So I need to admit that this week wasn't the best and focus on changing my current path. That's the only choice I have! So here is to a new week and better results!

See you next week!

10 Things on Tuesday!

 

1. This weekend was fun, but I kind of wish it would of been a beach with pretty water. I was thinking last night that we haven't had a vacation in 3 years. We were invited to Destin, FL with my Dad's side of the family the past two years, but haven't had the money to get there and then food while we were there. Plus I know work will not let me off this August! Our next trip will be a camping trip at the end of July in Virgina with a group of Kenny's friends, hopefully we won't melt to death!

 

2. While we were gone this weekend it stormed bad. We came home to a flooded garage and water in the basement again. After yesterday's storm our air conditioner decided not to work. I didn't realize until Kenny came in fussing that it was hot in the house. Parts will be in on Wednesday and hopefully it will be fixed on Thursday.

 

3. Thursday is Kenny's birthday! I am very excited! He won't tell me what he wants me to make for dinner, and of course he said he didn't need a cake. Huff! Men! Even if he is pretending not to be excited, I am excited for him! Hailey and I will have to figure out something special.

 

4. I am excited that Fourth of July is on a Thursday, that means Kenny is off. He hasn't be able to watch fire works with us for the fourth in like four years! Hailey will enjoy having him there!

 

5. Some of the people there this weekend were from Canada! Believe me I asked a million questions! Ha! We were invited to the meet in Canada in August, but Kenny said we can't swing that weekend either. Besides we have a wedding to go to! So I guess it works out. But how cool would it be to go to Canada! Especially that I am now better informed!

 

6. I need to go to both Kohls and Target this week for presents. Those are both very dangerous stores for me!

 

7. I'm still looking at master programs to take. But it is harder to decide what will fit in with my schedule and which ones I can make work. Both majors I am looking at have mandatory clinical and internships, which I am not sure if I would be able to do them with working. I have missed all the deadlines to register anyways. So this is me stressing for next February's applications.

 

8. Facebook has been really getting on my nerves lately. It is the sammmmme people who are posting the same types of things over and over. Didn't you just say you were going to quit FB?! Well then why have you just written 3 posts in a hour after your quiting post. If America (which is where you are from) is so terrible, then leave the damn country and go to the place you have been like twice and think is so much better! And didn't you say you were changing yesterday and that you were starting over your life? Then why is it two days later and you are going to change again? I mean come on people. I am ready to clean the friend list out. It's gotten to the point that I don't even sign on every day anymore. It just makes me angry.

 

9. How cool is the new video feature on Instagram?!? It took me forever to figure out how to make it work (luckily I had Heather's expert advice), but it was too cool afterwards!

 

10. This is the first year that I actually know what I am doing for Hailey's Birthday! I am on a roll, I tell you!

Weekend Recap- Raush Creek and NESM

This past weekend turned out pretty great. It was the weekend Kenny had been looking forward to since November. It was his North East Super Meet (NESM5) for his Colorado truck group. The turn out was awesome and the weather was amazing!

We started our journey bright and early Friday morning. Actually let me retract that last statement since it was 4:30 when we left the house and was no where near bright. The trip took about four hours and then we met up at Raush Creek Off Road park with about 10 other trucks. We aired down and hit the trails. We spent about 8 hours out on the trails, some were pretty difficult, but the Jeep got through them no problem. We had the top down and the weather was perfect! After we left the park we drove about 45 minutes south to the hotel where the group had a hotel block. We sat around and talked until after midnight, so it had def been a long day!

Pictures from Friday:














Saturday we got up early and headed to a really nice park. This is where the "meet" part of it was. The trucks all set up for truck shows and then the group started grilling some food. Lunch was served then they did some awards. Kenny came home with the Highest Truck award and the overall Best in Show by 1 vote. He was surprised and happy. Believe me, I am sure that just boosted his ego a little more than he needed! Ha! Afterwards we all went back to the hotel and hung out outside until about 1am. Then went inside and fell asleep!







Ya know, just the cops that happened to pull me over! I was the only one who got in trouble this whole weekend! Ugh! Luckily it was just a warning for "Careless Driving" for having passengers not secured or in his words "titanicing" out my roof.

He was cool though! He even pretended to do a group sobriety test with us, which none of us had been drinking, so they were just being silly!

Making sure Kenny's truck was under 30" and he lucked out at 29.75"

On Sunday we got up and packed then headed out. Our game plan was to go to Hershey park, but that ended up not being in our budget. I was kind of bummed since I had never been, but I didn't have the money for it either. We did stop at Chocolate World which was free to go into. It had a little ride that showed you how chocolate was made. It took like 15 minutes, but it was pretty cool! Then after we finished it dropped us into the gift store where I picked out something special for Hailey. Then we headed on home. After our four hour trip home, we switched cars and headed off to get Hailey and Pixie in Waldorf, which is an hour and a half away. We grabbed them and headed home and got there around 11pm. I was supposed to be to work on Monday, but thought I should take a day off to recuperate.

And here is my only picture from Sunday!

 

Hope you had a great weekend also!!!!

Weighing in Wednesday- Week 23

 

This week's weight loss:

-.0.0

Total weight loss since Jan. 2, 2013:

-14.3

Thoughts for the week:

Losing nothing is better than gaining something, but WHOMP WHOMP! Still disappointing! I will get there though!

See you next week!

10 Things on Tuesday!

 

Wahoo! We have made it to Tuesday already!

 

1. The weekend is right around the corner and I am starting mine early on Friday! We are heading to PA for the whole weekend for the North East Super Meet. You may be asking "what is that?" Well it's my hubby's truck groups huge meet for the East Coast. He has been talking about this since like September! He is so excited and I am excited for him. He has also arranged for an offroading meet on Friday morning so he is going to take his truck out and I'm taking my Jeep out on the trails. It should be a lot of fun! Plus my bestie and her husband are going with us and we pretty much never see each other, so it will be nice to spend the weekend catching up!

 

2. Milk out of those little paper cartons tastes horrible! I don't know why they haven't come up with a better way to sell milk!

 

3. I have been doing weight watchers and my fitness pal. We shall see, for some reason, I think this week is going to be a gain. I can just feel it!

 

4. I have a lot to do before our trip this weekend, but no energy to do it! Who wants to take the dog to the groomers and wash all my clothes?!? Anyone?!?

 

5. Next week will be exciting also! Hubby's birthday is on Thursday! Even though he doesn't make a big deal out of birthdays, I get super excited for them! Then Friday will hopefully (fingers crossed there is no reason to cancel this time!!!) be my origami owl party and I will get some time with the girls! Then Saturday is a Birthday party and then a Bridal Shower. We will finish the day off with dinner at one of the seafood restaurants so Kenny can have his birthday dinner of crab legs! Two exciting weekends in a row!!!!

 

6. I need to come up with work for Hailey to do during the summer. I don't want her to forget what she has learned all year! Maybe I need to invest in some work books or something! She also has a chart that was sent home for summer reading program. SHE has to read over 1000 pages this summer and I have to document it each time. When she takes it back to school she will get a prize and they will have a party! I think it's a great incentive to keep kids reading!

 

7. I would love to go to the beach! I mean REALLLLLLLY love it! But I don't see that happening. I was invited to my Aunt's time share in Destin, where my grandma lived, but since it is in August I know I will not be able to take off work. Also I don't think we could make the trip financially. OH POO!

 

8. We finally got some pool time in on Sunday! It was only an hour and a half, but it was nice! The water was cold, but we enjoyed it anyways!

 

9. My Grandmother told me something the other day that really upset me and is weighing heavy on my heart. Maybe I didn't want to believe that the situation had gotten that bad, or maybe I just have had so much hope that the outcome will change. I will just have to continue to hope and pray for a change.

 

10. I read earlier today that VA sales tax is increasing and on top of the state wide increase, Northern Virginia (where I work) will have an additional 1% tax added. I guess that will mean that I won't be running to the mall or CVS to grab stuff while I am over here. I will have to wait to get home where it will be cheaper! Craziness!

Father's Day Cards

In the past couple years I have really gotten into paper crafting! Then a friend introduced me into stamping so I have slowly been easing my way into that. I have created several cards over the past few months and have slowly been learning new techniques (now I have some extra time without school). There is endless possibilities off cool things you can create and one day I hope to make most of my cards! Until then I decided that I did want to make father's day card this year.

 

After a couple weeks of putting it off, I decided to get my butt in gear on Friday evening and get them done. Here is what I came up with!

 

 This was the card I came up with for Kenny, of course with Hailey's approval and watchful eye!

 

 

 

And this was the one I did for my Dad!

 

 

 

Hailey and I both wrote a special note to our Dad's on the inside to finish them off!

 

 

 

 

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day Kenny!

 

 

 

You and I have had our ups and downs, but I have never doubted you as a father. Hailey has had you wrapped around her finger from the moment she was born! And believe me, I am sure it will only get worst as she gets older. We hope you have a happy father's day and we love you very much. Hope you have a great day!
(Minus the part where you have to work all day!)

With Hope, the Odds Don't Matter

I received an email the other day from one STRONG Momma! She shared with me her story of dealing with a life threatening diagnosis, which came just 3 1/2 months after the birth of her daughter. I have heard of "mesothelioma", but didn't have a clue what it was or even that it was cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. She was 36 years old when she was diagnosed and given very low odds of survival. People who are diagnosed usually only live no more than 15 months. Her daughter is now 7 years old and Heather Von St. James is now cancer free.

She asked me to share with everyone the video that her and her husband made, not only to bring attention to mesothelioma (which is preventable), but to also show people there is hope. Heather's story brought tears to my eyes and just goes to show how never giving up or losing hope can help concur any obstacle.

 

Please take a moment to view her video and listen to her story!

 

 

http://www.mesothelioma.com/heather/

 

"With hope, the odds don't matter" - Heather Von St. James

 

So What Wednesday!

Today I am linking up with Shannon over at L.A.I.D for another edition of So What Wednesday!

This week I am saying So What! to.......

 

• That I am super slammed at work, but I wanted to take a second to do this!
 
• I didn't hit my 15lb mark like I should have today even when I worked really hard this week! UGH!
 
• I only went to the gym last night because I was afraid Heather was going to ask me and then I would feel bad saying that I didn't go! I didn't want to be told "bad girl" haha
 
• My job didn't pay my transit subsidy this month. I have sent 4 emails, let two voicemails, and now am sitting here trying to figure out what to do. All I know is I am not paying that $200 for the van!
 
• You would think if you wanted a huge grant and knew it was a very competitive competition with alot of applicants that you would follow the rules when submitting a proposal. When we say "no more than three pages for a justification" and someone sends in 28 pages then something is wrong here! FOLLOW DIRECTIONS PEOPLE!
 
• I really wanted a bowl of ice cream last night, but I told myself I couldn't have it. The truth was I was actually to lazy to get out of bed to go get it.

• I was in bed at 8:30 and asleep by 9:10pm! Def not my usual, but the sleep was very much needed.
 
• My house looks like a bomb went off. It has looked that way for a week and each day I add to the mess. I just havent had the energy to clean! I decide it's time to clean, then I look around and decide Netflix sounds like a better plan!
 
• Why can't I ever remember to take my RedBox back! Ugh $1.20 a day Nicole!
 
• I am stressed and grumpy this morning! Can you tell?

I am hoping my Wednesday gets much better!

So what are you saying "So What" to this week?!?

WW: Schools Out for the Summer!

First day of school!

 

 

100th day of school!

 

 

Last day of school!

 

 

 

Where has time gone?!?

 

Weighing In Wednesday: Week 22

This week's weight loss:

+.02

Total weight loss since Jan. 2, 2013:

-14.3

Thoughts for the week:

So I woke up pumped this morning because I knew that I only had half a pound to lose and I would be at my 15lb mark. I knew that today was going to be the day! I stepped on the scale and up 2 ounces. What the hell! I was sooooo disappointed. It had been a tough week, but I had worked hard. I tracked everything, stayed in my points goal, and even hit the gym last night! Not to mention all the water I have been drinking. I know that I some times you gain and sometimes you lose, but boy was it discouraging when I just knew that today would be the day! Ugh! Thanks for ruining my day scale!

See you next week!

Amazing Teacher!

I have mentioned several times how much I loved Hailey's teacher this year! She was absolutely amazing in so many ways. She was extra patient while Hailey adjusted to a new house, new area, new faces, and a new school. It was all just overwhelming for her and the in the beginning of kindergarten she needed a little extra attention helping with this. Mrs. Durham worked with the students and really made learning fun and made each kid feel special. She was great with the parents and you know how crazy we can be from time to time. I really appreciate everything she did throughout the school year and will really miss her!

The last day of school she outdid herself just a little more! She made each student a huge memory book. There was pictures, classwork, and all sorts of little things throughout the year. It was amazing the stuff that was in this book!

Bare with these photos because of course they are pictures of a the book, but I just had to share some!

 

 

 

 

 

Hailey's self portrait on August 21, 2013

 

 

 

It's amazing to see how much her drawing has changed since the August picture!!!

 

And then of course there was a note to parents as well! And I cried reading it the first time myself and then again to Kenny! Ha!

Then she also sent home a letter to the children telling them she wanted to make sure they really practiced hard over the summer on everything they had learned throughout the year. She included several sheets of papers and some envelopes and her home address. She told them that she was including all this so they could practice by writing her over the summer and she promised she would write them back.

I just thought all of this stuff was great! I was very touched by everything she did! Hailey and I will both miss her next year!