Saturday=productive

One of the reasons I wanted to start this blog is because I want to be able to look back at this year of staying home with my daughter and see all of the amazing things we did together.  So far, this "One Year" project has been all my husband and myself.   However, I do have some mommy and B projects up my sleeve, so stay tuned!


We put some more touches on our first official "One Year" project.  I am slowly starting to declutter our house and this project will help us tremendously!  Another sneak peek:

Hm...what could we use this stain on?

I can't wait to share this with my one follower all of you!

This morning, my family went grocery shopping together....something we often do as a family, because my husband doesn't let me out by myself actually likes going.  The past couple of months we have used a meal planning sheet that I created, but today we did it a little differently.  I am planning a post to share all of the details on this and which way worked better.  Chalk this up as our "One Year" project #3.

So far:

Project #1- Secret...but it is really cool, and I feel really artsy, so stay tuned, k?
Project #2- Lose weight (always ongoing)
Project #3- Become a menu planning guru

Any menu planning tips?  

Does your family shop together?  Or, are we weird?

Losing weight...How much can I lose in a year?

One of the things I want to work on this year is losing weight.  I have been overweight for almost my entire life and I have been successful losing weight...I just haven't been successful in keeping it off!

Here are some pictures of me at different stages in my life...

One of my heavier times.

Wedding!

While losing weight

After completing our first half marathon with JoMo!  

 Did I mention that I used to run...well, run/walk?  I am not what I would call an athlete, but I played tennis in high school.  I love  hate  love to hate running!  I would often struggle and want to quit, but love the way I feel afterwards!  I love the sense of accomplishment.

At my smallest...right before I got pregnant

 I gained 80 pounds during my pregnancy.  I didn't even know that was physically possible!  I was sick and miserable the whole time and used food to comfort myself, I guess.  I also stopped running and doing much physical activity of any sort. 

And...now?  Our daughter is 20 months old and I still am up there!  Not quite where I was when I was pregnant, but close enough!  I am hoping that after I am finished with this year, I will have found success with weight loss again and I will be running.  I did start Couch to 5k last month, but then...I don't know, I lost the habit.

And I should mention, today is weigh-in day!  My husband and I are actually starting a competition to see who can lose more weight in percentage.  Feel free to offer him candy and steak if you see him!

What do you to stay in shape?  Have you ever tried running?

Life is short...embrace it!

I didn't work on the projects today, but my husband did.  

Today I visited a friend whose husband died at the end of August.  I certainly cannot imagine what she is going through, but she is handling her loss with such grace and strength that I am in awe. 

Reach out and call someone you have been meaning to see.

Not only is this a lesson in remembering to embrace your loved ones, it is a lesson to me to not sweat the small stuff.  You see, this friend and I weren't really talking and I wasn't there for her husband's funeral.  Today, we very quickly got through the issue.  The issue was real and I think it was valid, but what wasn't valid was how I handled it.  Instead of calling her or going to see her, I sent her an e-mail.  If I had handled it differently, I think we could have gotten through it without the huge lapse and more importantly, I would have been there for her in her greatest time of need.   

The point I am trying to make is that this year, as one of my projects, I am going to work to call and visit more.  If I have a problem, I have always been one to share how I feel, (take it or leave it-some have left) but I need to do it with more grace and strength, like my friend. 

Day 2-Why now?

Today was beautiful out!  It felt like fall and I hear Pumpkin Spice Lattes are available at Starbucks!  YUM!

Trying to pace myself...

I have a confession.  I do feel that this is a little early for me to be confiding in my blog audience, but here goes nothing...

Ready?!?

I have wanted to start a blog for a really long time.  I just didn't think I had anything interesting enough to say.  I was a teacher for six years and I always felt like there was something better for me to do, like grading (blech) and planning (eh).  Sitting down and blogging wasn't what I thought the best use of my time. Oh, and did I mention that we have a 20 month old?  It just didn't fit into the life plan.

Sometimes, we have time to eat or sleep...not both.  This is our beautiful daughter, B. 

 
Fast forward to, well...now.  Why now?  I am staying home to be with our daughter and I have some time to do those projects that have been nagging at me for so long!  We have lived in our house for a little over 4 years, and it definitely looks lived in, but there's no style, no pizzazz!


Here is a little sneak peak at the first project that we are completing in these 365 days! 

I will just say this...it does not look like this anymore!  

 

 

What do you do with your paperwork?  

We used to keep it in piles...well, everywhere!   Stay tuned to see what we do now!

Starting....now!

What can someone accomplish in a year?  Have you ever kept track?

That is what I am setting out to do!  I am starting this blog to remember the household and personal projects that I am attempting going to do. 

Have you ever pinned something as inspiration and then never looked at it again?  Come on, we are ALL guilty of that!  Unless you don't have a pinterest account, and in that case, stop reading.  We are no longer friends. (Hey, check out my pinterest for some possible upcoming projects! http://pinterest.com/Lauraoneyear/)
 
Have you ever started a list and then, well, lost it?  No?  Well...me either!

source

This is the place that I am going to keep track of all the things in my life that I have said, coulda, shoulda woulda in the past.

Keep watching!  You may learn something or you may get a good laugh along the way!

Upcoming posts:
Toy storage
Dining room desk
Filing system

What is one project you want to accomplish in the next year?  What is stopping you?