New Leaf #BlogWithFriends

Welcome to January's Blog with Friends post!! This is our first Blog with Friends round-up of 2019, and fittingly, our theme for this month is New Year. If you are not familiar with our Blog with Friends Round-ups, it really is a simple concept. We get together and choose a theme, and then we all create posts based on that theme. The posts can be anything that the theme inspires in the blogger. You may read a post and find poetry, a recipe, a DIY project, a craft, a sewing creation, a short story, or just random rambling. Any of the above, and any of a million other possibilities.

For some reason, whenever I hear the words 'new year', I always think of resolutions and change. So, when I read this month's theme, that is immediately where my mind went. Now, if you know me, you know that I am not one to make resolutions. I like to make goals, and then I like to work to complete them, but I don't hate on myself if/when I fall short. This is probably a bad thing, but it works for me. 

However, going into this new year, I definitely have some changes I want to see happen. I have been struggling with the grief over my father's death since September, and it has really led me to take a deep look at myself. I have decided on a list of changes I really want to see happen in 2019. I figure if I share them with the world, it may help me to stick to the process, to make them happen.

So, here are my goals for 2019.

1. Be a better mom. This is my biggest thing I want. I want to yell less. I want to laugh more. I want to do more. I want to complete the entire backlog, of all the activities I want to do. I want to do at least two activities for each holiday we celebrate. I want to mark off some of our do/see list. It is a list of places I want to go with Gigi. Each year it grows longer. I want to shorten it in 2019. I just want my relationship with Gigi to deepen. I also want to fill up at least one journal for her to read, once she is an adult. I wanted to do one a year, and gift them to her on her eighteenth birthday, but I have not accomplished an average of one a year. I want to do one whole on this year. When this year ends, I want to feel like I was a good mom. 

2. I want to finish off my tattoo list, with the exception of my Bob Marley tattoo. I have made progress on this. I got the owl dream catcher I wanted. I go on the 15th to get two other tattoos marked off. I go on the 18th to get a third marked off. So, that leaves the tattoo I want in honor of my dad, the fun tattoo I want of a random thing (long story for another post), and my Bob Marley tattoo. My Bob Tattoo is going to cost a fortune. It will need to be planned accordingly. I will get it. Most likely not this year though.

3. I want to become a better cook. I am not going to hold my breath on this one, or be too hard on myself. It seems rare that Chad and Gigi LOVE my cooking. I would like to end the year with a handful of dishes I can make, that they love. Fingers crossed. Also, baked goods do not count.

4. I want to end this year healthier than I start it. I definitely won't be too hard on myself. This is mostly out of my control. I just want to be better about that part that I can control. I also want to end the year able to ride my new bike really well. Fingers cross.

5. I want to do more me time. Time I spend actually working on myself, or doing something I genuinely enjoy. Not just time spent alone or quiet. I want to have productive me time. We shall see.

6. I want to end the year at peace with my daddy's passing. I may not be over it, anytime soon, but I want to be at peace with it. 

7. I want to have regular date nights. Obviously, Gigi will be there too, but I want to make the outing special for Chad and I, and enjoy the together time.

8. I want to have some girl nights. Maybe three or four total for the year. I do not know if I will succeed at this one, but I can try.

9. I want to volunteer more. This one does not need explanation. I just want to do more good.

10. I want to end the year, with a solid plan for celebrating my next birthday. I always say I am going to celebrate, and then I never do. I need to change that. A good friend told me I deserve to be celebrated. So, I hope to end this year with a plan for my next birthday (January 2, 2020). 

So, there you have it. I am hoping to write a post in December, about how well I did with these goals. Fingers crossed.

What are your goals or resolutions for 2019?! Do you have some?! I would love to hear them!! 

Feel free to hold me accountable throughout the year!!

Now, make sure you check out these other awesome Blog with Friends posts:

Karen of Baking In A Tornado

Orange Cognac Bread Pudding

Dawn of Spatulas On Parade

Sugar Free Pear Bundt with Vanilla Whipped Cream

Minette of Southern Belle Charm

Perfectly Imperfect

Lydia of Cluttered Genius

Go Mom 2019

Stay With Me #UseYourWords January 2016

Today’s post is a writing challenge. This is how it works: participating bloggers picked four to six words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once and all the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That is the challenge, here is a fun twist; no one who is participating knows who got their words and in what direction the writer will take them. Until now.

My words are:

searching ~ birthday ~ resolution ~ baby ~ sparkles

They were submitted by: http://www.renasworld.com/  

(Thank you for such wonderful, and oddly appropriate words!!!)

When I opened the e-mail with my words this month, I laughed. They are so oddly appropriate. Of course it is the New Year, so there are people adopting a resolution or two. I have been searching the internet daily, trying to find a short list of things I need. I am on baby watch for about five friends, and two just welcomed their beautiful babies. Of course with this time of year, there are sparkles everywhere. Sparkles in the Christmas decorations. Sparkles in the New Year decorations. That leaves me with the word birthday. Oh yeah, I just turned 29!!! Again. Yep, I had another birthday. Another 29th birthday. Hey, don't judge me, and I won't judge you!!! Besides, you do not look a day over 21. :) So, yes, I saw the words and laughed.

For the record, I am actually 33 now. Lord help me. Well, they say you are only as old as you feel, so that means I am 96. Hehehe! Seriously though, 33. How did this happen?! Yesterday I was 21. Time flies. 

Now, onto these words... This is what I have for you....


Hey, Baby.
That is how you always greet me.
With just those two words you send my heart into a flutter.
My eyes searching yours.
Looking for a clue.
Wondering how long you will stay this time.
Are you here just for my birthday?
Will you stay longer?
Maybe one day you will make a resolution to stick around.
Maybe one day you will choose me.
Doubtful.
I know you love your life.
I know you love the way your diamond watch sparkles in the limelight.
I know you love owning the newest cars.
I know you love to travel.
I just wish I could be enough.
I wish you could love me just as much,
maybe even more,
than you love all of those luxuries.
I wish I could be your luxury of choice,
for longer than just a few nights here and there.
Until then, I will enjoy this.
I will enjoy you.
I will enjoy us.
I will take what I can get, 
when I can get it.
With a smile on lips, 
I return your greeting.
Hey, Baby.
Stepping back, letting you in.
Back into my home.
Back into my life.
Even if just for a night.

Links to the other “Use Your Words” posts:

Baking In A Tornado

Spatulas on Parade  

Rena’s World

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

Not That Sarah Michelle

Confessions of a part time working mom

Southern Belle Charm

Someone Else’s Genius

The Angrivated Mom

Climaxed

My Brain on Kids

Goals and a Diagnosis... Secret Subject Swap January 2015

Welcome to January's Secret Subject Swap. This week, 14 brave bloggers submitted a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today, we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts, in the first Secret Subject Swap installment of 2015!!!

My “Secret Subject” is:

This year has just begun. What do you plan on doing and what do you plan on avoiding to make this one of your best years?

It was submitted by: http://sparklyjenn.blogspot.com/  

**Thank you for such a fabulous subject!!**

A new year, a new you! Isn't that how the saying goes? It seems that during this time of year, everyone is on a mission to becoming a better person. For some it is a successful mission, for others it is a not so successful mission. Some stick with it and others give up. Some set far too many goals, and only accomplish a few. Others set not nearly enough. At least, even if only for a brief time, we can all admit that we are not perfect.

Many people tend to have the "I'm perfect/I'm better than you/I don't make mistakes" attitudes. For some it is a permanent thing, and for some it is an every once in a while thing. I try very hard to always admit my faults. To own up to my imperfections. I view them, not as things that make me a failure or less than perfect, but as things that make me who I am. Things that build my character and reveal that I am merely a human. 

Being imperfect is not a bad thing. It is a "normal" thing. No person is perfect. I know, shocking information. Not even Matt Damon is perfect. I know, I know. I should have given warning before dropping such a shocking piece of information out there. 

I am personally far from perfect. A fact, that as the years have passed, I have become much more appreciative of. Not being perfect adds to my individual uniqueness, and it gives me something to aspire to. I can always change and grow as a person. I can always become better, and learn new lessons.

I quit making resolutions a few years ago. I tend to make goals. I think about what things I would like to change and/or accomplish in the near future, and I do my best to make that happen. Some of my goals take multiple years to achieve. Some never happen. Some change before they happen. Some I sit back and laugh at. Others I revisit and renew my desire to make them happen. Some happen and do not bring about the change I thought it would... sometimes for the better, and sometimes for the worse. No matter what the outcome, I do my best to turn each situation into growth.

We should always learn from our successes and our failures. Everything that happens in our lives, should impact us. Nothing should ever be in vain. I know... much easier said than done, but it is entirely possible. 

I recently found out that I have Lupus. I think I am still in shock. I really am not sure how I feel about it, other than scared. With the fear also comes relief. Weird, I know, though I never claimed to be even remotely normal. The relief comes from the answers the diagnosis provides. At least now I know why I have blood clots, why my memory is failing, why I am suffering from several physical ailments, and why I have all the chronic pain. There is definite relief in knowing the why.

I have discovered that there is also disappointment in the why. As odd as it may seem, I am actually a very optimistic person. Now knowing why, and knowing it is permanent, I realize that I had been optimistically hopeful, that I would be healed. Now, I know that healing is not possible. That is okay, because endurance is possible. Acceptance is possible. Coping is possible.

I tend to start thinking about the new year in November. I start contemplating what goals I will make for the upcoming years. Which goals I will carry over, which I will quit working on, and what new ones I need to make. I had come up with several for this year, but now that I know about the Lupus, I have completely changed my 2015 goal plan.

I want to accept that I have Lupus. Not just acknowledge that I have it, but actually make peace with the fact that I have it. I want to learn everything I can about it. I want to work closely with my doctors and come up with a successful treatment plan. I want to come up with a plan of action, to make living a good life despite the Lupus possible. I am sure this will be a goal for the next few years.

I want to make needed changes in my life, to make my life better. I want to completely organize our home. This way I can relax and just live. I want to come up with a system that works. One that helps me remember all I need to remember, and stay organized. Over the last couple of years, I have forgotten many things, which is not characteristic of me at all. I figured it was "pregnancy brain" and then "mom of a newborn brain". I now know that it is actual Lupus brain.

I plan on continuing my weight loss, until I achieve my absolute goal. I am almost there. Much closer than I was when I started. I plan on getting all my vitamin and mineral levels to an acceptable place. Currently, I am deficient in several. The healthier I am, the better I can live.

I plan on not letting myself get overwhelmed or discouraged. I plan on not letting myself give up. I plan on not letting myself make excuses. I plan on not letting myself give up on the things I want to do, just because they may be more difficult than originally anticipated.

I really want to take this blog up. Does that make sense? Haha. I want to make this blog better. It has been my goal for a few months now. I still want to continue with that goal. 

What about you... do you have any goals? Do you make them yearly? I'd love to hear what you want to do in 2015!

Happy New Year! I hope it is an awesome year! Thank you for reading!


Here are links to all the fabulous sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup (preferably of coffee), and check them all out. See you there:

  

Baking in a Tornado                    

Spatulas on Parade                 

Stacy Sews and Schools      

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy                     

Confessions of a Part-Time Working Mom  

Juicebox Confession               

Someone Else's Genius                

The Momisodes                                          

Climaxed                                 

Sparkly Poetic Weirdo                         

Cluttered Genius                               

Southern Belle Charm                  

Evil Joy Speaks