Gotta Start Somewhere

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Having time to blog is a lot harder then I thought it was going to be!  Not only do I have my littles, hubby, house, and work to worry with...I also got sick this past weekend.  However, I used the little down time I had to figure out exactly what I wanted this year to bring AND to clean out my hall closet.

*FOR MY HOUSE:

    I want more organization!  I clean the exact same thing every single day.  Granted, I know that will happen with three littles running around, but there has got to be a way to not feel like my life is stuck on lather, rinse, repeat.  So, I will be teaching Evyn and Sylas to clean as they go and they will be straightening up their rooms at the end of each day. 
    The hubby and I are also in the process of re-vamping a lot of rooms in the house.  We just got done with the jack and jill bathrooms in the hallway, so next we are moving on to our bathroom.  Instead of buying all of our decor, I will be doing my best to make what I want (thank you, Pintrest!).
    I cleaned out my hall closet on Saturday!  Gotta start somewhere :)  While doing this, I discovered that I have quite a few framed photos that are just collecting dust and promptly decided that was another project to deal with on another day.  I did clean out some serious storage space.  I also have a bunch of blankets to donate to Goodwill! 

    Here are the before and after pictures:

*FOR MY LITTLES:

    We will have more structured days.  At some point this week, we will be shopping for some school-type books catered to their ages.  Evyn will soak this right up - she is dying to go to school. (Speaking of, I need to register her for pre-school this month!)  This will be more of a challenge with Sylas, since he is a HUGE busybody.  I am hoping this will help him learn to settle down just a little bit.

*FOR OUR DIETS:

    I have been looking into a "real food" diet.  I have done a little research and honestly, I'm bit overwhelmed.  I've decided to take it slowly...introduce one "real food" meal a week until I have built up a few menus.  I also am looking for a  real food cookbook that is kid friendly, as I think the biggest obstacle in this change will be Evyn.  She is an extremely picky eater.  I do have her excited to make our own chicken nuggets and b-bars (that is what she calls granola bars). 
    In addition to the new diet, I plan on prepping for meals and even making some meals in advance.  I'd like to chop two weeks worth of veggies (green peppers, onions, broccoli, etc.), portion them into labeled bags with different portion sizes, and freeze them.  So when I need them, I'll grab the size I need and thaw it out.  This will make dinner that much quicker at night!  I also plan on doubling some meals when I make them and freezing the second serving.  On nights that I don't feel like cooking or I have to work, there will be a meal ready and waiting in the freezer!  We recently bought a second fridge, so that will be helpful!
    I am also looking into starting my own garden.  But this means I will have to find space in the backyard around the trampoline and storage barn.  Sounds like a job for the hubby :)  In the mean time, I'm going to start an herb garden in my kitchen!  Hopefully by the next time I blog, I will have that started.

FOR ME:

    This is something I will have to work on very hard.  I have been pregnant for the majority of the past four years and have not had complete control over my body.  I am ready to take back that control and have the body that I want!  I am hoping our real food diet will help with a lot of it, but I also know that somewhere within my busy day, I will have to schedule some exercising.  My plan, for now, is to Zumba at home with my littles dancing with me and it start running.  I am not a runner.  Let me repeat, I am not a runner!  I have two faulty knees that I blame on my cheerleading days.  I don't have the patience for running.  I don't know how to breathe while running so that I don't feel like I'm dying from emphysema.  However, I have been told by two trustworthy people that the app Easy 5K (a.k.a. Couch to 5k) is an app for everyone.  I would love to be a runner.  I envy the runners that say it helps clear their mind.  I envy that they have that "me time" and I also envy their sleek bodies.  I plan to join that runner crowd this year.  To get me psyched up for it, I am currently saving up to buy some nifty running shoes!  I believe I will be able to buy them within the next 2 weeks. 

    Wow, I didn't realize how long this was getting...gotta go do some shopping for cookbooks now :)