So in my never ending quest to better myself I am going to be doing a month long better me experiment. This month will include trying to better me all around. I'll post updates weekly so you can see if you care my progress. I’m already dieting (let’s get real, when am I not dieting, I’m doing Jenny Craig so I am expecting good results), and going to the gym regularly. In addition to these I will also be trying out some suppliments to see if they change my overall health. I will be taking 2000mg of Evening Primrose oil per day, and calcium cuz’ my mom told me I have to. I will be washing my hair with shampoo and baking soda (1 part shampoo 2 parts baking soda, I’m actually really excited to see if this makes a difference). Drinking all the water I’m supposed to. Whitening my teeth with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide (via pinterest) and doing a bible study. Whew I think its gonna be a busy month!

I sat down and looked over my list of things that I want to accomplish in 2013. And I feel like I have a good start so far. I started Jenny Craig so hopefully I will be able to stick with it and get to my “magic number”! I penciled out a budget for January with a short term and long term savings goal so I am excited about that and am hoping that I will be able to accomplish what I’ve set out to there. I have so far only done 1 run on the couch to 5k. Work in progress. I will try harder, promise! Most recently though I went on a date with my Little Joe. On Saturday evening before we were going to bed he asked me if we could go on a date. I said absolutely and asked him what he wanted to do. He told me that he wanted to go to the book store which is where we went on our last date. I told him we would go on Sunday. So Sunday around 5 we went do the hill and had dinner at Panera and then headed over to the bookstore. Little Joe loves to look at the books and play in the kids area. We had a great time and he was able to get a pirate ship puzzle and I got him a little lego guy to add to his reward basket. We had a great date! This is definitely something that I would like to do on a regular basis. Mostly because it is nice for us to get to do something “out” just the two of us. He feels special when he gets to go on a date with momma and I just love having that time with him. Especially because he seems to be EXTRA good! Love that boy! xoxo, H.

I hate resolutions. I have every intention of keeping them I work really hard at them for about 4...hours and then I think maybe tomorrow. Needless to say, I have not lost the 10lbs. I wanted to for the last four years. I was not as crafty as I wanted to be, although I must say I did a couple kick butt things this year, and even surprised myself at how my vision for my cookie exchange desserts came out. Its really no fun to get halfway through the year and be discouraged because you didn't stick with your dumb resolutions. Last year my theme was "New". I did take this theme seriously. I got a "New" hair cut. A new job. I tried lots of new things. I thought my "New" theme worked out pretty well. A theme is much better than resolutions in my opinion. This year I would like to do something completely different. My theme for this year is "Inspire". I feel like there have been so many sad events over the last few months. People that I love are hurting and I feel at a loss in how to help them. I truly feel like God has put it on my heart to do something. Is this something new, no. I have felt this for about the last two years. But I have pushed it aside and not done anything about it. I think part of this years theme is that I want to inspire others, but also inspire myself. I still have a lot that I want to accomplish this year,and of course I'll list those things shortly but really I want this year to be about others. Hopefully I will look back at the end of 2013 and be pleased with this years theme. I don't have any details about how this theme will unfold, but I ask that you would please be patient and follow along and I am hopeful that it will be "inspiring"! Along with my whole inspire theme, I would really like to accomplish a few things. No these are not resolutions but they are things that I would be excited to get some of them done and checked off my list. It would make me happy! So here is my list of things I'd like to accomplish: 1. Hit my goal weight 2. Start and stick to a budget 3. Save money 4. Have more date nights with Little Joe 5. Do at least 2 large scale "craft like" projects that i have on my list 6. Couch to 5K (dang, I just put that in writing) 7. Do at least 2 bible studies 8. Really listen to what God is telling me 9. Blog more! 10. Be more positive in 2013 11. Have the bulk of my Christmas shopping done by October Each of these things can be accomplished. I just need to do it. What I plan on doing is a running list. This is the beginning with 11 things. As I check them off I'll add another. I may also add them as I think of them, but this is a start. I will try to hold myself accountable here :) I hope that you will follow along with my "inspire" theme. Let me know what you think. Anywho, two posts in two days. Already working on one of the things on my checklist! We'll see what happens tomorrow! xoxo

2012 started off pretty swell for us. My parents, Buddy and I flew to Chicago for my best friend Will's wedding. It was beautiful and AWESOME! We were so lucky to be apart of it! This was Easton's Valentine this year. I thought it was super cute! I loved it! ! We had an AWESOME Easter at my mom and dad's in San Dimas! Christ's Church of The Valley had an amazing service and we followed it up with an Easter egg hunt and BBQ. Buddy was very excited to meet some new friends! We went to Legoland and Disneyland for Buddy's birthday. Buddy turned 4! He is growing up so fast. Too fast! We had lots of fun over the summer! Adventures all over! Mamma (me) lost her job in July so I got to stay home for a month with Buddy and I LOVED every minute of it! Buddy got to go to his first Padres game! Got AWESOME seats in the Omni Premier club. Spent some time at the beach and Buddy started soccer! This was his first organized sport and he did fabulous!!! He loved soccer! I am so excited to see how much he grows from doing these sports! Buddy started school again in the Fall. He loves his school and all of his teachers! Buddy was a very cute Police Officer for Halloween! We spent Thanksgiving with mom and dad up North in El Dorado Hills with our family up there. Fun trip! Buddy met up with Santa too! There was lots of baking done over the holidays. Pumpkin bread, cookies, cookies, cookies for my annual cookie exchange. Mini Cheesecakes, and lots of other yummies So, as you can see we had an eventful year. I am focusing on the good and plan on having a great 2013!! oh and one last tid bit... Buddy changed his cowboy name and would now like to be referred to as Little Joe. So for now, from Mamma and Little Joe...Happy New Year!!!