The Big White Farmhouse

Confession time: I’ve never been very good at praying consistantly for my kids.  I’ve tried different methods for incorporating specific prayer time into my day, but nothing has ever stuck for more than a few months.  2013 will be different.  This is my year of intention, and I’m determined to do better.  One look at my Pinterest boards and I found just the thing:

Day 5.  It wouldn’t be the new year without talking about the most cliched resolution out there, right?  Yup, we’re talking health and weight today.

To be honest, I debated sharing this part of my goals.  It’s personal and incredibly embarrassing.  But as a mother who fell into the “I have no time to exercise” trap, who then fell into the back-to-back (to-back-to-back) babies and no significant weight loss in between trap…well, I think it’s an important (and maybe helpful!) story to tell.

So here goes…My first step in this whole process was to let go of the shame.  Shame is a nasty, horrible, debilitating thing and I’m tired of it.  So am I a little embarrassed about my weight?  Yes.  Am I ashamed? Not any more.

My second step was to stop the excuses.  There will always be some reason why it will be hard to exercise.  But living with intention means that if its important to me, I’ll find a way.  And I intend to do that.

Last step: find a workout that sticks.  We received a Kinect as a family Christmas gift this year and I have been using Your Shape with good success.  I also like Just Dance Greatest Hits, even though I look like a lunatic!  (Cue the Elaine dance.)  These games are perfect for winter, but I’m hoping to get outside once warmer weather hits this spring.

Other fitness things to note:

• Using my pins: I am using these printables from Megan at Balancing Home.  You know how I love a list and checking things off!  Be sure to give her some love if you use them too…I think they are awesome!
• I have declared this a “lifestyle change” vs. a diet.  I’m choosing to focus on what I’m gaining (health, strength) instead of what I have to give up.
• Food is a big part of my lifestyle change.  I need more vegetables and less sugar.  I see SkinnyTaste recipes on Pinterest all the time and I have even pinned some myself.  I can’t wait to try her Top 25 Recipes of 2012.
• Another Pinterest link led me to 40 Healthy Snack Ideas.  I definitely need the inspiration since I don’t like to eat the same thing over and over. 
• My big goal for 2013 is to run races with my Dad.  He is a running superstar (I mean, who volunteers to run a double marathon?!) and I’d really like to not only run with him, but keep up!  Hopefully, I’ll have a few 5Ks under my belt by year’s end.
• To help with motivation, I’ve made a few stepping stone rewards for myself.  One is that I’m going to splurge for the “good stuff” aka Lululemon, which is huge for a cheapskate like me.  Can’t wait to get to that step!

Please chime in if you’re on this adventure too!  Do you have any good tips?  Any delicious veggie dishes?  Do you have a favorite workout video?  Let’s encourage each other on this year of health!

When it comes to Legos, my boys are like moths to a flame.  They are addicted.  They would spend hours in the Lego aisle at Target if I let them.  And you should see them with the catalog we got in the mail!  Let’s just say they have sets circled and their sweet little names written across the page. So yeah, my boys love their Legos.

I, on the other hand, have a love/hate relationship with them.  I hate the small pieces and the never-ending cleanup, but I do appreciate the unlimited creative possibilities.  I also like that Legos can be interesting to all ages.  If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right?
So with this pin:

An idea for structured family time was born!  From the website, Lego Quest is “a non-competitive, creative building challenge resource for LEGO loving kids that lasted for three years and resulted in 51 unique quests.”  So fun and easy.