Journey to the new me -Goals

As you all know I’ve been doing things to help better myself. I’m unhappy and the only thing that turn that around is me – by taking steps to better my physical, mental and spiritual self. I need to do things with this life I’m given.

2016 is going to be a big year for me, if I get 2015 straight. I want to be healthy, educated, cultured, and a good mom, but that doesn’t come with what I’ve been doing. I keep saying this and that and x and y are stopping me from accomplishing things I want. My main goals BEFORE 2016 begins big and small.

• Loose 20 pounds though diet and exercise (not starvation or drugs)

This one is not to be confused with mainly losing weight superficially. I need to lose it for my health so I can be a good example for Ivy and to be able to be more lively with her hence why I got surgery 11 days ago to remove an abnormal bone growth from my ankle.

• Do something new every week(end)

This I stole from a friend. She moved to Denver (which is a lot more fun that Russellville), and made this goal for the summer.

• Get all As and Bs in my classes
• Read one book every month
• Be more social

I’m naturally a outgoing social person, but I start off in the back – to observe and evaluate. Then I warm up and you can’t shut me up.

• Become vegan

This one is going to be hard. I’m going to slowly transition, since there is a lot of animal products in my home. From not on I will only purchase vegan friendly food, shampoo, lotion, ect. I will miss cheese, but I will do it.

2016:

• Get a real job
• Learn to ride a bike
• Learn to run
• Continue veganism
• Get a new car
• Get my own place
• Start dating
• Make long lasting friends
• Take chances

Spring Break

I feel my life has been so hectic lately. I’m not doing hardly as much as other mothers or mothers to be, but school and life in general has had me preoccupied and in conjunction with my much anticipated new baby I feel really busy. It doesn’t help that I’ve had to dedicate extra 3+ hours to sleep a day to maintain sanity and happiness!

I can see how many can neglect relationships and responsibilities when you are expecting. Life seems to run away from you as you’re preparing for a permanent change in your life. I really wanted to take on as much school as I could, finalize as many purchases as I could, and be involved in family and friends as I could.

Unfortunately, I fell drastically behind in most of my duties! Ugh! That’s okay, because that’s why Spring Break was invented! Being the Virgo I am, I devised a plan to accomplish most to all of my duties. This means I made a list of my goals.

Why do I make lists of things?

I like to be inspired to do something when I have set a reward for myself once I have accomplished it. My daily lists are currently rewarded by an episode or two of House of Cards.

I’m dying to know what happened next!

Here are some tips I follow when I start a list:

1. Think short term and long term. Daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, ect.
2. Don’t be afraid to set seemingly impossible. If it seems to be too much, set shorter term goals to help gain more momentum and experience for the bigger goal. Saving in longer stretches to be able to go to on a dream vacation.
3. Write it down! This is big for me. Sometimes I have so many aspirations that I get lost in my own mental lists and forget a lot of stuff.
4. If you are uninspired to complete tasks that give little to no satisfaction or even one that isn’t instant gratification, give yourself something you really want a your favorite meal, a new outfit even some ice cream to drive you to accomplish the more daunting tasks. Or if your like me, Netflix.

I just wanted to share some of my tips, it’s probably nothing you haven’t heard before, but I know sometimes I need to be reminded from time to time.

If my tips suck check out one I was inspired by Virgin Mobile founder Richard Branson. Google also just gave me the great idea of using Excel next time! How lame am I that I’m excited to actually have purpose for my Excel now?

Happy tasking!!

What’s in a name?: How I named my first child

I started debating my impending child’s name as soon as I found out I was pregnant. I wish I could take it back because like I have admitted in a previous blog — I was convinced that I would give birth to Alexander Oz. 

When I found out I was having a daughter, I searched through names and had originally thought Lyric Monroe would be something I’d name my first daughter. However, the more I said it I realized that she wasn’t a Lyric. It searched over my 3 girl names I had searched and felt no connection.

To add to my hesitant feelings, my two best friends both agreed it sounded a bit too ethnic, and ethnic is probably not the correct adjective used to describe a child shared between a blue eyed, red-head and a Mother with a mild sun allergy who had been described, in fun, as a wearing “liquid paper” instead of face make-up.

A week after my gender reveal, I woke up and knew I was going to have a baby girl named Ivy. It was interesting enough to be considered ‘different’, yet practical enough to not worry about school yard teasing, perplexed looks, nor lack of future employment. It’s simple and clean with no ‘unique’ spellings like Ivee or Eyevee, that I personally find as unnecessary and annoying, but obviously that’s honestly my personal opinion! Different strokes for different folks!

It took me an additional month to decide on the middle name. I loved Lyric and Monroe so much, but I decided on Rose. Rosemary is my favorite aunt, so that added to my final decision as was the fact that Ivy and Rose are both present in nature. If it grows, it goes!

What I recommend to consider when naming a child (maybe even a pet!):

• Can you picture yourself saying this name on a daily basis in all emotions?
  “Ivy, will you clean your room, please?”
  “Ivy! Stop hitting the dog!”
  “Good morning, Ivy!”
• Does the full name flow how you would like it?
• Is there a reason your child could be made fun of, is it appropriate?
  Ben Dover, Anita Bath, Dixon Hand.
• Think beyond into adult hood.  It’s a nasty truth, but studies have revealed that employers were more likely to hire more Anglo-Saxon sounding names. 

Hopefully this helps in your search for the perfect name.

Until then, can’t wait until I meet my daughter, Ivy Rose .

Nameste.