Happy New Year’s Eve everyone!! I hope you all have fun plans tonight.
We’ll be heading up to my parent’s house in a couple hours for a “mean party” with some of my siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins. It’s a very nice, nostalgic, low-key party that I look forward to every year. My mom has been having this same party at her house every year for most of my life! It makes me sad to see my aunts and uncles getting old. 🙁 I wish everyone could just age until they got to a nice, easy retirement age and then just stop. Wouldn’t that be great? We could all enjoy our Golden Years and retirement together.
Well, I’m happy to say that I just got back from a short walk/run with my doggie. It was very refreshing. I haven’t been on a legit run for almost 3 months because I injured my foot! It’s been a very looooonng recovery.
I started to think my foot would never heal!! I’m happy to say that I think it’s almost back to 100%!!! If I twist my foot just right, I can still feel the injury ever so slightly. So, I’m going to be very careful and really listen to my foot/body as I get back into running. I was supposed to run a half marathon with some friends in March, but since I’ve had this foot issue, I’ve decided I’m not going to do it. 🙁 First off, I don’t think my foot would let me and secondly, I know it wouldn’t be good for me to go out all “hard core” after an injury.
Soooo, Kev’s still going to run and our friend’s are still going to run. I will be their biggest cheerleader! BTW, they are running the Canyonlands Half Marathon in Moab on March 12th. It sounds like such a beautiful race and I’m seriously bummed that I won’t be running it. 🙁
Anyway, I went out on a little “test run” today to see how I felt. It felt SOOOOO good to my mind, spirit and body! Oh, how I’ve missed running. It is such great therapy. I hate running in the cold, but the cold air is kind of rejuvenating too. I didn’t get much of a run in because my doggie is still “PTSD afraid of cars” dog. He LOVES it when I ask if he wants to go on a walk; he gets so excited. BUT, every time he hears or sees a car, he….just….stops.
Like so….
I was able to get a little tiny bit of running in and it just felt good to my morale. I LOVED IT!
I’m hoping to start going on regular small runs very soon. I’ve decided that I’m just going to run for the “love of running!” I’m not going to run for speed, distance or training for a race. I’m going to run because I CAN and for the therapy. 🙂 It will be blissful and I’m looking forward to it. I hope my foot cooperates.
Well, Christmas came and went and it was great. Christmas is such a bittersweet holiday for me. I love it SOOOO much, but it always makes me a little sad as I remember “the good old days” of my childhood spent with my parents and siblings. Christmas is magical as a child. I also always wax nostalgic as I hear all of the old-time Christmas carols that tell of a simpler, easier time of life.
BUT, not to be a big bummer person, I still LOVE Christmas right now spent with my kids! It’s just an interesting holiday because so many memories and feelings are attached to it.
I’m happy to say we had a beautiful WHITE Christmas! It started snowing during the night and snowed all night long. The kids woke us up around 6:30 and it was still dark outside. I walked outside for a minute and it was so serene and beautiful; the perfect Christmas morning! I just soaked up that peaceful moment for a minute and felt so grateful.
Later, I took this cute picture of all my excited kiddos!
I love these people! I’m sad to see my cute kids growing up so fast though. Man, I’m really feeling sappy and nostalgic in this post, aren’t I?
We had a fabulous Christmas though and My sweet husband, bought me something I’ve wanted for years!!!
A mega blender! He bought me a Vitamix Professional Series 200 Deluxe; whatever in the heck that means. Ha ha. I’m just so happy to finally have a legit blender!!!! I’ve had a cute little $40 blender from Walmart for years and it’s done a pretty darn good job, but it was starting to break down. I’m so happy to have a Vitamix now and quite frankly, I’m surprised it’s taken me this long to get one!
I’ve used it every single day; sometimes multiple times a day, since I got it. I’ve been making green smoothies, protein shakes and a couple of soups! I’m so excited about the soup options!!! I haven’t found any soup recipes that I’ve loved yet, but I WILL! Or, I’ll create my own and share them with all y’all.
Oh, I also thought I’d share our Christmas card pic with you guys…
Yay. Christmas cards always stress me out, but I’m always glad we do them. I’m so happy we have an updated family picture, some more professional than others, every year.
I also have to say that I got these Christmas cards stuffed, stamped and mailed in a huff on Christmas Eve! I about had a nervous breakdown, but I got ‘er done. Next year, I will get them out earlier!!! Oh, and there were a few of our friends and family members who we didn’t have updated addresses for, and since we got them out so late, I didn’t have time to get the new addresses. Soooo, if you are a friend and/or family member of mine who has recently moved and you didn’t get a card from us this year, just know I LOVE YOU and will do a better job of tracking you down next year!!
Moving on….
Being that it’s the last day of 2015 and New Year’s Eve, I’ve been doing some deep thinking and soul searching as I’ve been deciding what I want to work on in 2016!
I’m sorry to say that my goals are a little bit unorthodox this year! I was going to come up with a killer exercise schedule and count MACROS in January, but I’ve decided I’m not going to do that….yet!
As I’ve been thinking, I’ve realized that my life is just too darn busy, too darn full of stuff that doesn’t really matter and TOO FULL of stress! I think life is just passing me by as I’m trying to check all the boxes, get everything done, run around like a mad lady and then go to bed to wake up to do it all again!
Well, things are about to change ’round here and I’m so excited ’bout it.
First off, I realized that my favorite man in all the world comes home to MY house every single night and too often we’re all too busy and don’t even hang out together. Well, we’re going to start hanging out together more often! Ha ha. I told Kev we need to find a “show” that we watch together. We used to watch LOST, then we watched a little bit of 24 and sometimes we watch The Bachelor now and again. Soooo, I’m going to find a new show for us that we can watch together and unwind together. That sounds nice. I just want to cut out all of the extra stuff so we can spend time together and enjoy life….not just DO life.
I also realized that my sweet kiddos are growing up so fast and ONCE AGAIN, I’m running around like a crazy lady trying to get “who knows what” done and I’m missing out on so many memories and time spent with my precious kids!!! I know that I will look back on these days as “the good ol’ days” and I will regret that I didn’t enjoy them more! Soooo, I’m going to spend time playing games, doing crafts, reading and just spending time with my kids. I’m going to let everything else slide if I have to!!!
I just want to ENJOY life and play a little more. Too often, I’m so concerned with all the “to-do’s” and I don’t really enjoy life. I’m a happy person, but I realized I’m missing out on SO MUCH!
Sooo, here’s what’s going down. Health and Fitness are going to still be a major part of my life, but they will be secondary to the more important things. I’m sure this will change as my life changes and the kids get bigger, but FOR NOW, it is vital to me that I make these changes. I will still focus on eating well and eating less, but I’m not going to set any “rules” or “parameters.” I’m just going to be healthy. I’m going to try to stay away from sugar, but if I decide I really, really, really need some, I WILL HAVE SOME. I’m just going to focus on taking care of my body and being mindful.
As far as exercise goes, I’m going to simplify my workouts! I’m going to strive to exercise a little bit most days, but it may only be a 15 minute Tabata workout! I’m just going to do what fits in each day and what sounds fun to me! Exercise is not going to be a chore…it will be fun and empowering! I’ll probably do a mixture of HIIT, Tabata, Yoga, strength training and hopefully running. My workouts will definitely be simpler and shorter. Again, I’m not going to stress myself out by making a strict schedule or anything. I’m just going to LIVE and exercise because I want to.
I’m going to focus more on my sleep and doing things I ENJOY! I’m going to start reading again, which I have really missed. I also bought myself one of these….
An adult coloring book! I’ve been wanting one of these for a while now. I love art and this sounds so soothing and stress relieving to me! However, I hadn’t found a book I really liked, UNTIL I found this beautiful one at Costco for $10.
Isn’t it so pretty!?
I love it and can’t wait to start coloring! My daughter already snagged it and colored a couple pages.
Sooo, I guess my goals for 2016 are going to be all about SIMPLICITY, ENJOYMENT, LOVE, HAPPINESS, FAMILY and Living Life to the FULLEST! Even though I’ll be cutting down on my workouts and chilling out on my healthy eating, I think I’ll be healthier because of it!
Down the road, I may change things up and become more “hard core,” but for now, this is perfect FOR ME! I’m still very interested in MACRO counting and hope to start doing that eventually.
I also thought I’d share a more hardcore exercise schedule that I created a couple months ago. It’s a great, albeit intense schedule. I may adopt this schedule again someday, but I for now I’ll just share it with all of you “Hard Core” folks out there.
Click here for the Microsoft Word Version:
Click here for the PDF Version:
Some of the exercises are hard to explain and I don’t even know the “official names” of some of them, so I tried to hyper-link to pictures of them so you’ll know what they are!
AND, if you don’t feel like being Hard Core, you can still use this schedule! You could just do Monday, Wednesday and Friday workouts for a couple weeks and then switch to the Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday ones. Whatever you want to do! I just like this schedule because it’s hard, effective and it changes it up!
Let me know if any of you have questions or if you have trouble accessing the files!
Well, I need to get ready to head up to my mom’s party! I sincerely hope each and every one of you have a wonderful evening and an even more wonderful 2016! If you’ve had a particular hard 2015, I hope and pray you will have a fabulous 2016!!! I love the NEW YEAR!!!
Happy New Year!!! I love your Christmas card picture 🙂
Thanks so much Jen! xoxo
You’re going to love the SIMPLE approach and a little less is more. If you’re ever looking for 30 mins or less workouts you know where to go 🙂
Oh. The vitamix? Best kitchen purchase ever!!
Peace and joy to you in the new year. xoxo
I really am looking forward to a more simple approach to health and fitness. It sounds so refreshing and motivating to me! Your blog and words are always so comforting to me and make so much sense.
So far I’m LOVING the Vitamix!!! I wish you all the best this New Year!
Love, love, love reading your words! You are a “realistic-motivator”! Wishing you & your family a continued happy & very heathy New Year!
Amy in Ohio 🙂
Amy, you are the sweetest. I can’t tell you how much your kind words mean to me. 😉 Thanks so much. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all the best for 2016!
Oh, I’ve been wanting a Vitamix! You’ll have to post some of the recipes you discover.
I’ve wanted a Vitamix for so long!!! I’m so happy to finally have one. I’ll definitely post any great recipes I find or create!!
Happy New Years Melanie! You have such a beautiful family God Bless! You are so lucky you had a white Christmas, here in New York was about 60 degrees like what! ?
Thanks so much! I can’t believe New York was in the 60s for Christmas! That’s crazy! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and hope you have a great 2016!!
Happy happy new year to you and your family! I feel so similar with Christmas time, I even get a little sad on Christmas Eve when it should just be an exciting day. I love the holiday season with family!
So happy your foot it doing better. Injuries are so frustrating, especially when they won’t heal. Good luck with your 2016 fitness!
I know, I love Christmas Eve almost as much as Christmas, but it’s always a little sad for me too! It’s just sad when it’s all over. As a mother though, I’ve learned that it’s a little nice to have it all over with too. Such mixed emotions.
I’m SO HAPPY to think that I might be actually able to run again!!! I’ve really missed it. I’m hope hope hoping my foot stays good! I wish you all the best for 2016!
LOVE your family photo ! Wishing you all the best in 2016 !
Thanks so much Karen! I hope you have a fabulous 2016 too!!!
What a lovely Christmas you had. It must have been so nice to have a snowfall. Christmas gets me a little sad too. We took down our tree and decorations today and it was like, it’s done already??
Your fitness plan sounds very doable and attainable. Best wishes in 2016!
Thanks Char! I think fresh snow always makes Christmas so magical. We just took down Christmas stuff yesterday and it’s making me a little sad. I do love a fresh clean house and a fresh clean New Year though!
WAHHOOO for that Vitamix!! I have one and I also have a Blendtec (because clearly we needed two blenders?) and I love them both!! I think my Blendtec is slowing down after five years though, the Vitamix is starting to win. I have noticed the running smaller and more often seems to be beneficial.
I am love love loving my Vitamix so much! I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to get one!!
I HATE when I have a pain in my body somewhere and I think it is NEVER EVER going to get better!! That’s the worst feeling in the entire world for sure! UGH! But I am thrilled to hear your foot is almost 100%! 😀
Happy New Years lovely lady!! 🙂
Thanks so much! I was beginning to think my foot would never heal. I’m so happy to be able to run again! Happy New Years to you too GiGi!!! So happy to hear of your engagement too! Congrats!