Eating my frog!

I am learning a lot about myself this first week of the new year as I stay committed to my resolutions. I am realizing that timing is everything and sets the tone for my day.

If I don't workout first thing in the morning, my day gets off on the wrong foot. It becomes my resistance and I become irritable until I get it off my to-do list.  My focus is not in the moment at hand, nor is it fully on my kids. I can't fully enjoy the little moments that make being a SAHM priceless.  Instead, I am easily overwhelmed by constantly thinking about what I still need to do, feeling unappreciated and nothing seems to go as planned. 

So my lesson learned is "eat that frog" first; coined by author Brian Tracy.  It applies to your most important task(s) that you hold dear to your heart. Get it out of the way so you can get on with your day! My frog is getting my workout done in the mornings and off my to-do list. 

It is not fun waking up from a peaceful slumber to pushing your body to its limits and getting your heartbeat pumping a mile a minute. But the alternative; to chance my day and daily routines of being disrupted, my mood being compromised, and my focus only partially there, I choose the first. I own the day and I'm going to make it a great one! 

Stay driven!

2016 Resolutions!

Happy New Year!

I am guilty!  Every year, I jot down a handful of resolutions and then stray away from them.  The ironic thing is, each year, they tend to be the same resolutions as the year before!  So this year, I am publishing my resolutions so that I am held accountable for them!  With this being said, I am going to be more thoughtful and selective as to what I want to commit to this year!  Hope it works.  We'll find out the end of this year.

1. Get organized, declutter.  My theme song this year is "Let It Go" 

As I look around my house, I wonder how did I ever let it get this bad!  There isn't a room in the house that doesn't need attention, and some rooms are out of control (e.i., office, closet, garage, basement, my seven-year-old's bedroom).   I wish I had that instinctive gene of being organized. Sometimes I even question whether I have hoarding tendencies.  Jokingly my husband might say that I do, but I don't.  

I am done with all the clutter of junk everywhere and I want it out of my house.  I know that it will bring me peace of mind, help me function better in all areas of my life, and I'll feel better about yourself.

2.  Make my health a top priority by working out 5 days a week and eating fairly clean.

I am leading by example.  I know there are eyes watching me.  My three musketeers, for one, are right there with me when I pick up my weights and press play.  I want to be here for them for the long haul, and see/do everything I can with them for as long as I can.  It's going to require me to stay strong and healthy.  I am also going to curb my drinking of alcoholic beverages.  This is a little sad for me, but I know that it effects my mood and my body in a negative way.  I am detoxing and replacing with superfoods from my Shakeology.  I'm excited to get my energy and glow back.  









































3.  Follow through to see projects through to the end.  

I have a handful of books that I started reading, but haven't finished.  I plant herbs and plants and by the middle of summer, don't take care of them.  Another example is organizing my photos to create albums and scrapbook; I have tons of photos and do nothing with them.  

4.  I am going to continue to grow as an entrepreneur, fitness coach and blogger.

I am going learn, plan, grow, and implement.  I want to strengthen my skills and have more confidence in the industries.  I am going to face my fears and put myself out there so that maybe I can inspire someone else to go after their dreams.  I want to develop strong friendships and really connect with like-minded people.        

Since I am documenting my resolutions, I'd better not got too carried away here.  I think this is a great start for my 2016 and I am going to work hard to see these resolutions through.

Merry Christmas 2015

This month has been emotionally hard on me.   We gained a couple of angels, battled sickness and even had an overnight stay at the hospital.  So I have been really looking forward to getting over being merry and bright.  

Even with the extra stresses, my family had an awesome Christmas day.  We truly enjoyed our time with each other and were content exploring the new presents that were exchanged with love.  My little family is everything to me.

I have to brag, my Santa took very good care of me!  My favorite gift is my iRobot, Roombu!  It's the closest I'll get to getting a maid.  So I am thrilled!

The most memorable moment this Christmas was definitely one that I want to remember forever.  My 3 musketeers made out like bandits.  My oldest got just what he wanted from his grandma and grandpa, a drone.  He took it outside with his dad, and they were gone for a while.  My husband ran into the house, changed out of his pj bottoms, and grabbed the truck keys.  The drone had flown into a nearby cow pasture, and they had to find it.  It started raining pretty hard.  I noticed my son coming back to the house and greeted him at the front door.  He was drenched; he was crying and his heart was broken because he had lost his new toy.  It was such a sweet, innocent moment.  Thankfully the story has a happy ending.  My husband continued looking for the drone in the rain until he found it, and was able to mend my baby's heart.

 

Happy Thanksgiving with Family

From our family to yours we hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  My parents and aunt visited from Florida to celebrate with us.

We had a feast and enjoyed our family!

A hunting we will go

For me, there is no better feeling than being one with nature and in the elements.  Sitting in a tree and being truly unplugged, listening to the leaves actually falling from the trees and the wind travelling through the woods, it gives me the calmness and peace like no place on earth.

Growing up in Florida, I didn't know anything about deer hunting!  I thought deers were cute and the most famous one I knew was Bambi.  That's about the extent of it.  Nationally, about 5% of the population hunt, and roughly the same percentage actively oppose hunting.  The rest of the population is predominantly neutral.

Once I moved up to Minnesota to be with My Paul Bunyan, I quickly learned about this ever so popular sport that is pretty much its own holiday season.  As a newcomer, I was shocked but the openness and acceptance of it all throughout the whole midwestern region!  And quickly,  I too was swept in by the "buck fever".  

Halloween Costumes

When it comes to holidays and holiday decor, I have a hard time parting with my money and really getting festive with it! I don't know if it's because it's temporary or maybe I'm too broke, or that I lack vision to come up with good ideas!  Whatever the case may be, I know I want to celebrate and acknowledge the holidays so that my three musketeers can get excited about them. Without breaking the bank.

Here are my twins and this year's costume choices.  As you can tell by the photo, they are super thrilled about this idea!

My gift

Celebrate what is right in the world! Take a look at your situation from another perspective. 

This little man is truly my gift. I struggle with confidence: in being a mom, a wife, providing and supporting my family, in my relationships with my friends, and as an entrepreneur.

But no matter how much I beat myself up for not being "good enough", or how much I hold myself back because of fear; this beautiful little boy is my proof that I must be doing something right. 

We celebrated his 7th birthday on the 22nd! I love you B, always and forever. Happy birthday love! Dream Big, Aim High, You can do anything you set your mind to!

P.S. The cake is made with broccoli and asparagus 😏
 

Fate brought us together..

There is no other explanation of how a Minnesota native meets a Floridian beach bum by chance and they fall in love.

We lived our individual lives in different states when we received our orders to report for Active duty to the US Army for Operation Iraqi Freedom III from our Inactive Ready Reserves (IRR) status.  It was a difficult year for both of us in so many ways, but it brought us together.

My 'Paul Bunyan' and I have come such a long ways in the 10 years we've been together.  We have so much to be thankful for!  We started our journey in a country with bare minimums, and have created a life together filled with love, a family with three amazing boys, and have grown so much personally and professionally.  Nothing compares to the support he gives me.  He believes in me more than I believe in myself and encourages me to catch my dreams.

Our story is FAR from over and we have so much more in store for us!  I am excited to see the next chapters of our lives together.  In the meantime, I want to savory ever moment!

What is love?..  It's supporting one another no matter what, because their happiness is what you wish for them more than anything else.

He isn't perfect, but he's perfect for me. June 21, 2008.

My Values

Family pictures

What is it like to take family pictures with twin 22 month old toddlers and a 6 year old?  It's like orchestrating a symphony with monkeys.  Crazy!  There is no such thing as perfect timing. It's all click, click, click and hope for the best.  Definitely hire a professional if you want clear pictures.

Photo by Andy Jackson

Photo by Andy Jackson