Happy 2013!!

2013 seems....impossible!!


Ella looks so much older in this picture!


We've been very busy around the house the last few weeks...more cleaning and organizing. I am very excited about the progress that we've made decluttering. Feels good!!

I've picked up with my running again too. I took a couple months off because of hip and hamstring pain but I'm finding it actually feels better if I keep it moving. I've signed up for two 15k (9 mile) runs in March and April. I've got some training to do!
I love running in the winter!





We took Silas' birthday snack in after school started back up. That way it didn't get lost with all the class holiday celebrations. We made snowman cookies that I had seen on Pinterest. I love that site!


This coming weekend we will have the birthday party...better late than never, right?!?

Last weekend I ran and it was 64, in Ohio...in January!! By Monday it was back to 28 and by this weekend I think it's going down to the teens and single digits. Ouch.

Tonight we had a spectacular colored sky...I felt like I should be drinking a Mai tai with it.


I started 2013 of by sitting down and making a list of goals and things that I want to change and focus on. I had about 13 things. Some big, some small. I felt last year was too rushed and harried. This year I plan to slow it down and focus more. Concentrate on the things that mean the most in life.
#1 on my list was to have my parents over for dinner at least monthly. They live just a few miles away and yet I/we felt like we only saw them on holidays. Our first dinner was tacos. Nothing fancy but it was fun and we all enjoyed it!

There are many things on my list for this year that will take time and require that I actually focus a little bit...that might be tough. It's another YOSP for me/us!!
It's a big year in that Mason will graduate in May and start college somewhere (he's leaning towards staying close to home). We will have a big Younger family reunion here in July and then we will be looking at Fall and Christmas again!

We miss Zoe girl. All of us miss her. Silas told me it was too quiet without the nails clicking around on the wood floors. I agree, I notice that too. I also miss her when I come downstairs in the morning. I still look for her in her spot by the front window.

I feel like 2013 is going to be a great year. A couple friends have started the year with some very tough health news and I pray for them that this year turns out happy and healthy for them too.


- Posted using BlogPress (so hopefully all the pictures post okay...)

YOSP - 2011 Recap & 2012 Goals (Part One)

So, back at the start of 2011, I posted about having a Year of Significant Progress (YOSP for short). There had been many things sitting for WAY too long on my mental to-do list, or goals that I should have been spending more time working towards. I have a very bad habit of getting easily sidetracked and sometimes don't focus too well (who, ME?).  I thought that by putting these goals out there in writing, it would go a long way to keeping me accountable. 
In a lot of ways, it did. I'm fairly happy with the outcome of the goals below.  I'd give us a C in some areas, A's and B's in others.  We made progress - more significant progress in some, lots less in others.  Time and money...they kinda rule how much can be done in some areas!

So, to recap 2011 and our new or extended goals for 2012:

1. Get in better shape financially.
I wanted to accomplish several things here.  One, to get a better grasp on our spending, pay off some debt and be better with money.  Two, get particulars like our will updated. If I am generous, I will give us a C in this area.  I totally did not get the will updated.  What we did do is stabilize a portion of the income and that has helped budget and planning greatly.  One tool that I found that is fantastic is Mint.com.  Awesome tracking, planning, spending, debt tool and if you have a smart phone, it's all in the palm of your hand.  I can look at what I have in any account at any time right from my phone.  LOVE IT! And CreditKarma.com is another site that I love - track your credit report and score completely FREE!!


2012 goals:
- Get will updated!!!! No later than mid February.  Someone, hold me accountable for getting this done :)
- Pay off a significant chunk of debt.  This means really watching what we spend money on.  We are far from extravagant spenders and shoppers but I definitely get sucked into the Target and Sam's club spending. There is always a way to save and I need to take more time to find them!  Groceries and gas are killing us!

2. Get the house organized. 
The 2011 goal was to get rid of some of the clutter in the house.  To finish the basement and make room for our offices down there plus extra living space, move the laundry room downstairs and create a mud room in the 1st floor laundry area.  I think we get a B in this area.  Maybe even an A considering that this kind of stuff takes a lot of time and a lot of money.  And when you consider our financial goals, both time and money are tricky!  But, the basement is 90% finished.  All that is left right now is to get paint on the walls and flooring down.  We'll then be able to get the laundry room moved down there and most importantly, our offices!!!

This is how it looked in July:

And where we're at now!

We've got a bathroom in the left corner, laundry room and the furnace room.

And then the "living space" that curves around to the left to where there will also be built in storage and bookshelves, room for my wine and a small wine fridge, and then a door leading to our office and back to the crawl space.  No pictures of that space yet - too packed with tools...

I've spent a LOT of time on Pinterest looking at how to do the mudroom area - can't wait!!
My husband is amazing by the way - how he knows how to do all this stuff, and Uncle Tim too...quite incredible!!  Must be all the Natty Light fueling their brains!

2012 goals:
-finish up the basement and move in!
-start working on the kids' bedrooms.  They all need weeded badly and reorganized.
-get the mud room started and completed
-learn the art of clutter control!!
-figure out what we want to do to the front room and do it (Library/sitting area?)

3. Health and fitness...get into better shape!
Okay, this one I rocked (except for getting bike tires...I still haven't done that yet).  I give myself an A+ here.  I went to the Y on January 4th, 2011 as a non-runner (with the exception of 9th grade track because my boyfriend was also in track. I sucked.) and my only goal being to complete the Warrior Dash in June.
I ended up running and completing these races in 2011:

April - the Wilds Ecothon 5k
May - Race for the Cure 5k
June - The Warrior Dash - 3.5 miles with obstacles.  This is the race that started me running!
July - Rotary Club 10k - a little over 6 miles
Sept - Ovarian Cancer 5k in memory and honor of my friend Heather's mom
Oct - Colon Cancer Run - 5k
         Columbus Half Marathon - 13.2 miles!!
Nov - Flying Feather 4 miler on Thanksgiving morning - great run!!
Dec - Jingle Bell 5k with Ella.  So much fun - great run for kids!

I ran about 400 miles in 2011.  That's 400 more than I ran in 2010!  :)

2012 Goals:
-increase my miles and the number of runs that I participate in
-mix in some other exercise, spinning or something different.
-train smarter for the Half in May - I'd like to beat my last time (2:12).
-Check-ups - I need to get all my annual check-ups. I'm way behind!

4. Do more family activities. 
I'll have to  give us a C or B- on this one.  Time flies so fast and it always feels so difficult to get in all that we want to do. Maybe I'm being too hard on us.  We eat dinner together as a family almost every night of the week, we have movies nights, snuggle time (no, Mason doesn't snuggle much anymore!), play games, bake cookies.  I guess I'm thinking things like Indians games, amusement parks, etc.


2012 goals:
in addition to what we currently do I want...

-one trip to Kings Island or Cedar Point
-more family activities like biking and hiking
-family cabin trip to Hocking Hills (or camping finally - that has been on our To Do for 3 years now!)


More later on the rest of 2011 YOSP goals....Part Two coming soon!

Running Running Running

September and October were full of running - training, 5k's and finally, my HALF MARATHON!! Autumn weather is so fantastic for runs - cool and crisp and sunny.  It's intoxicating.

In September I ran the Ovarian Cancer 5k run with my neighbor Heather and her team of Carla's Rum Runners. This was in memory and honor of her mom, Carla, who passed away last year from ovarian cancer.  It was a beautiful morning, had a great run and celebrated afterwards with a rum and coke with lime (at 11am!) in honor of her mom. What a privilege to help a friend celebrate the memory of her precious mother.

 

In October, I ran the Get Your Rear in Gear for colon cancer.  What an emotional event.  Besides being there with Margie, which in itself is emotional, we met up with several friends that have recently lost siblings to colon cancer. Two high school friends (Stacey and Jenny), one was one year older than me and the other 2 years older - both lost their battles with colon cancer.  Stacey's brother, Tony, was there and I ran with him, and Jenny's 2 sisters, husband and 7 kids were there as well.  Incredibly emotional and wonderful to walk in their memory and for all the survivors.Tony made it a goal to beat his own personal 5k time, which he did in honor of his sister!

(Missy and I look like we "gotta go, gotta go, gotta go..." Really, we are just trying to not block the faces behind us :)

AND!  On October 16th was the Columbus Marathon!!  I really started to get nervous a couple days before.  I had been having trouble with my hamstring and my right hip/knee.  I only ran a few miles the week before the run and I used lots of heat and got a massage, which helped.
That Sunday morning I was up at 4:30am, ate a small breakfast, had my coffee and time to let it all settle.  We got down to the race around 7am and at 7:30 - away we went!!

 (L) Becky, Tracy, me, (R) Debbie and Anndrea

It was a chilly, overcast morning, the streets were completely lined with cheering crowds - many with funny signs like "this is the worst parade I've ever seen" and they really helped keep the motivation up.  I knew once I started that it was going to be just fine.  I felt great and I was so pumped to be there!!  I got teary a few times along the way too.  Just the fact that I was there, actually accomplishing this (especially given the fact that I was not a runner prior to January 2011!) and to run 13.1 miles...for me, wow.  And to also see so many people accomplishing their goals as well...it was a bit overwhelming but very inspirational.

 

I ended up finishing the race in 2 hours 12 minutes (click to see official race results).  I was very pleased with my time because 1. it was my first 1/2 marathon and 2. I wasn't sure how my hamstring, hip and knee would hold out.  I  managed to run the entire race with no pain! I learned some new things about how to prepare (or not to do!).  I plan to sign up for the Cap City 1/2 in May and hope to be able to get my time below 2 hours.

I'm also going to do the Flying Feather 4 mile race on Thanksgiving morning. When you cross the finish line, you get a bottle of wine!  Definitely my kind of run!

I bought this magnet when I went to pick up my race packet. 

Honestly, it says it all about most of the things I do in life. 

Once I start something, I'm pretty driven to finish. 

Getting me to take the plunge...not as easy!

 

I love, love, love running and am very excited to have started it.  I can't wait to get more involved in the races and hopefully a training group too to help me prepare for the May Half!

YOSP - February Recap

February was short but we got a lot done!  Here's the update...

1. Get in better shape financially.

• I wish it was as easy to see/make progress in this category as it is with the basement! This is a slooow moving process.  
• I'm working the "money system" that we set up.  This means that I opened a 2nd checking account that I can easily move money into from our other checking account.  Everything that is a "to zero" account (as in, the goal is to get these debts to zero) like credit cards, car/house, student loans, etc., gets paid from this account.  Other stuff gets paid from our regular checking.  This has really helped a lot.  I have a much clearer idea of how much money we have for the "discretionary" spending by separating them into different accounts.
• I picked up this book at the library: The Money Book for Freelancers, Part-Timers, and the Self-Employed. I'm about half way into it and it's a great book for those with irregular income and pay schedules.
• I'm trying to spend less on groceries. I still am not getting into a habit of using coupons. I don't buy a lot of brand name stuff though and I do a lot of our shopping for food at Aldi's and Sam's Club, which don't take coupons. But I know there is room for improvement here!!
• I've been following sites like The Frugal Girls and Money Saving Mom for coupons, ideas for cutting costs and just general motivation for getting by on less. I've probably gotten $100+ in free items from Shutterfly, Snapfish, Kodak which I've used to make photo books, cards and calendars.

2. Get the house organized. 

• I have sorted through no less than 20 bags and totes in the month of February.  All kid stuff.  Every last bunch of clothes that is too small for my kids has now either been donated or lent out (and when they are returned, they will NOT go back into our basement!)
• I've started organizing another shelving rack - lots of Halloween costumes, outside stuff for the pool, camping, life vests, etc.  
• Justin worked on the rest of the kitchen cabinets and our laundry room (again). They've been rearranged and reorganized. He fixed the lazy Susan so now it can hold cans again - so we swapped the pasta in the pantry and cans (again).

• I've Craigs Listed some of  the kids toys (stuff that they've outgrown). 
• Doing projects like this every weekend can make it really hard to keep up with the regular chores like laundry and general pick up!  There are areas of the house that are pretty rough right now - especially the front room which gets used as the holding spot for donations and items to get distributed.

3. Health and fitness...get into better shape!

• I am still running and still loving it. I've stopped increasing my distance and am concentrating on time and making sure I have better form.  I was getting shin splints and  knee pain.  It's better when I concentrate on keeping my legs/feet in better form and stop flopping around like the Elaine dance.
• I've been forcing myself to add in more weights a couple times a week. I'd like to take a class here soon, like yoga or pilates - I've got some strength training classes to use that I bought on Groupon (oh how I love that site!)
• I sweat my butt off - I am rather smelly afterward - I often hurt like an SOB when I'm done and for a day or two after, but it makes me feel great to push myself physically.

4. Do more family activities. 

• Still a lot of at-home family time and movie nights.  The weather was so cruddy the past few weeks, it makes it hard to want to go anywhere.I think it might be time to resurrect a family game night or something...
• Justin and Ella attended their father/daughter Valentine dance.
• We do eat dinner together as a family - all 5 of us - at least 5 of 7 days a week usually - I think that is pretty good. I know that will decline as the kids get older and into more activities but for now, it's quite nice.

5. Spend more time on our interests and hobbies. 

• Ugh, I am still not finding time to get out and take photos.  And I have not done any of the weekly photos like I said I was going to commit to. 
• I did take 3 online Photoshop classes in February.  I learned a great deal and now need to find time to practice what I learned!!  I'll try to kill 2 birds with one stone and work on  a couple pics to post for a weekly photo theme.someday.

6. Decrease my anxiety about death, dying and cancer. 

• comes and goes.  bad news, good news, feelin' good, got a headache. it's a brain tumor, don't be silly, what's that bump? time for a run and an extra dose of vitamin D.  I may need to be one of those people that avoids the news too - it's a real bummer.

7. Spend more time with my husband. 

• We went out to dinner (alone) to La Famosa - a Latin restaurant up the road.  It had very yummy food.
• We stood in line together (without the kids) for at least 30 minutes waiting to use our Buy One Get One coupon at Chipotle - that is quality time. 
• We have watched a lot of OSU men's basketball together lately and that has been a lot of fun.

7b. No more kids, so I have to watch just how much time I'm spending with my husband. 

•  Contemplating options.

So we are 2/12th (aka 1/6th) of the way through our YOSP.  We'd better get a move on it. Still LOTS to do!

YOSP - January Recap

January is done and we are 1/12th of the way into our YOSP.  I feel great about what we've accomplished in January.  Here is our recap thus far...

1. Get in better shape financially.

• I've updated to Quicken software since my "financial institution" decided to update their online banking and it's not compatible with MS Money and I wasn't too happy that they didn't tell me that before the transition! (Apparently I was the last person on earth to know that Microsoft is getting rid of Money).
• Have a meeting with a planner scheduled to help organize priorities, pay off debt plan and get a better handle on the business expenses for myself and Justin.  
• Ebaying unused items...$100+ so far in the last couple weeks :)
• Lots of juggling this month as the aftermath of the NY trips and Christmas hit the books.  We are using our Neat Receipt software and scanner to make sure that we are aware of what we spend the money on though.  It's very helpful to not only know that I spent $52 at Target but how much was necessity and how much was "oh, that is cute!"...
• We met with our financial planner, got a "plan" in place, made some changes to our bank accounts so that we can move money around between accounts and deal with the business accounts.
• I spend at least 10-15 minutes every morning tracking and downloading our account information into Quicken.  I spend more time on the weekend planning payments, incoming checks, etc.  
• We have made changes in our spending. One BIG area for me to work on is using coupons and saving on groceries.

2. Get the house organized. 

• started cleaning out the basement - we sorted through 2 shelving racks full of unorganized stuff.  A lot of it was the Christmas decorations, but also some other holidays, found some old albums (CCR and Nielson Schmeilson for Justin, AC/DC and Thriller for me :)  We have pulled a ton of stuff already that can be donated, some to be stored away for once we finish the basement and lots that is just plain old garbage!
• sorted and downsized the maternity clothes from 7 totes down to 2!  Those 2 can either be donated or consigned.
• Cleaned out the master closet. What a mess!  You can see before (left) and after (right) in the pics :)
• Each weekend I have made a list of what I want to get organized.  This past week it's been the dreaded corner in Ella's room, sorted through the mounds of books that we've had piled in the kids' rooms and set out about 5 bags of stuff for donation.
• Organized the upper kitchen cupboards, including the spices that were falling on my head each time I opened that cupboard door.
• Sorted and organized 2 more shelving racks in the basement. We have another huge pile to be donated, eBayed and "dealt with" in some sort of way.

3. Health and fitness...get into better shape!

• We've been been going to the Y 3 times a week.
• I have increased my running from 0 miles 4 weeks ago to (on average) 3.5 to 4 miles. My max so far was 5.5 miles on Saturday.
• Justin and I bought new running shoes that will help decrease, or possibly even eliminate, the pain!!  My left leg/knee/hip/hamstring has been very sore since I started running and looking at the video of my form (that they took at the shoe store) it's no wonder! I run like a duck!
• When you are walking/running on a treadmill, and it shows you how many calories you are burning...and then you consider popping a Twix or KitKat into your month, you realize that it will take 45 minutes of running to burn off those calories. It really makes you think about "is it worth it?" and I'd rather save my calories for wine! (oh, and healthy food too).
• Justin and I have both made great strides in this area. We are continuing to go to the Y, to work on being fit, healthy, eating nutritiously, shoving fruits and veggies down our kids' throats...
• My goal on Sunday was to run 4.5 miles.  I felt really good Sunday morning when I went to the Y and I ran 6 miles.  That is my personal best thus far. It has become totally addicting and I'm really looking forward to outdoor running once it warms up some. I could hardly walk down stairs for 2 days after...I continue to do too much too soon but I still feel good about it.

4. Do more family activities. 

• We haven't done any "organized" activities but we've had some movie nights at home.
• Ella started indoor soccer this week  - I think she'll really enjoy it!
• Family Y time now that we're going regularly again!
• We have yet to do any more organized family activities but with the weather like it's been, we spent a lot of time having movie nights and a sit-down family dinner almost every night of the week.
• I can tell you I'm NOT looking forward to the 7:30am soccer games that Ella has coming up!

5. Spent more time on our interests and hobbies. 

• Running has quickly become a new hobby!
• I know this sounds cliche...but I've given myself "permission" to enjoy more time for reading, blogging and photography (and now exercising as well).  I have a huge guilt complex when it comes to work because I work by the "billable hour".  So when I'm not working, I'm not getting paid. Changing my mindset has helped greatly.
• My friend, NetterB is doing a photo project - a weekly theme and posting of weekly photos.  I love the idea and have decide to do the same on my FotoBabble blog.  I did a Google search and decided to follow the themes posted on this site. I am 2 weeks behind but plan to catch up with the weekly themes tomorrow!
• This area has lagged.  I started doing the photo project but have struggled to find the time to get out and get photos. I'm still committed to the project though! I just need some time to catch up.
• I have had a lot of quality time with friends in the past week - my first Thirty-one party, a first movie/drink night with the girlfriends and book group on Sunday, as we move into our 9th year of being together!!  I think we need our own reality TV show :)

6. Decrease my anxiety about death, dying and cancer. 

• This seems to be taking care of itself...the more I workout and feel "healthy" the less I worry about it. 
• Sad news often affects me deeply. Sometimes my heart aches for folks that I don't even know.  This past week, good friends of a past client of mine lost their 5 year old son to cancer. It breaks my heart.
•  A blog that I have followed for a long time now (before their loss happened) just recently posted this beautiful video of their story. Since the day I read of their horrible loss (in 2008), I was significantly changed as a parent. I'm very grateful that they have shared their loss, grief and search for new joy.

7. Spend more time with my husband. 

• This has mainly consisted of quality "home organizing" time lately and going to the Y together.  
• Business is slow...we're spending a lot of quality time together ;) 

7b. No more kids, so I have to watch just how much time I'm spending with my husband. 

• So far, so good!
• Ditto!

One day last week, I was up making coffee, feeling good about life and proud that progress was being made.  For some reason I suddenly felt down and asking myself why I was feeling so smug about it...shouldn't we have been doing this kind of organized, healthy, financially responsible stuff all along? Why should I be so happy and proud that we're doing what we're supposed to do?  It sat in the back of my head that day but I think that I've run the cynical little voice off.

February is a short little month but I'm excited to see what we get done.