Party like its.....

We're gonna party like its.....1999 2012!! 

The Hightree Family has some big plans tonight to ring in the New Year!  

We will start the night with some classy Hors d'oeuvre's. 

 

Then we will head to the Movies with some friends. 

And pray that our favorite seats are available.

Then if we are feeling up to it we might go to a club and do a little dancing. 

After dancing we are going to have to figure out which party suits us best......

or 

Once we agree on a party we will raise a toast to 2013! 

I bid a gentle farewell to 2012.  We have had our ups and downs but in the end you were always good to us!  As a family we will Welcome 2013 with open arms and pray that we have an even better year than the past!  

I hope everyone has a Safe and Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing/talking/reading everyone's updates in 2013!

Until Next Time.....

Goals, Accountability, Encouragement

Why do we set goals?
Is it to stress ourselves out throughout the year?  To freak out when you haven't accomplished your goal within the time limit you gave yourself?  To set yourself up to fail?  That's what I used to think.  In the past I have never set goals because in my mind I knew I was going to fail.  I just knew it and you couldn't tell me otherwise.  Why?  Because I trained my brain to believe it.  I told my self that I sucked so I just assumed that I was going to suck.  Well, 2012 has shown me that I can actually accomplish somethings when I put my mind to it.  2012 has taught me that I am persistent and determined and that if I work my butt off I can actually accomplish some things.

So, with all of that, I am presenting to you some of the goals that I have written down that I want to accomplish in 2013.  I know, some of these are crazy, some of these should be things that come naturally and some of these things you will probably think are silly.  But they are not silly to me and there is a reason why they made my list.  I'm sure I will be adding and probably taking some of these away but I just wanted a record of my original goals so that I can always come back to them.

I have divided them up in categories, apparently I am becoming organized by the minute!

My Fitness Goals for 2013
-Make it to 199lbs
-Workout twice a day
-Eat Better, stick to 1500-1200 calories a day and keep logging into MyFitnessPal.
-Start running again and complete the C25K
-Run at least 1 5K (The Hot Chocolate Run in Chicago with Jen for sure)
-Feel better about myself

My Personal/Family Goals for 2013
-Get Organized
-Be a better wife and mom
-Make a Budget AND stick to it
-Work on getting out of debt
-Build a Savings
-Start a Christmas club in January so that I am not freaking out in December
-Feel better about myself
-Make at least one day a week Date Night
-Have a girls only day with Cady at least once ever other week
-Be in bed by 11:30pm on weekdays, even when school is out
-Craft more and build up my online business
-Read my Bible once a day
-Try not to over-commit myself

So, there they are.  I'm sure I will think of more as things start to unravel with the new year approaching, but I believe these are some of the most important items I NEED to accomplish this year.

I ask you to help keep me accountable.
If you see me buying up the whole Clearance shelf just because it is cheap and I MIGHT need it in the future slap me back to reality and tell me NO!  :-)
If you see me eating an entire package of oreos in one sitting slap me back to reality and tell me NO! :-)
If you see me online at 3am Facebooking, Blogging or Pinning slap me back to reality and tell me NO! :-)

Since part of this post applies to the Health and Fitness side of my life and it's Friday and I actually remembered to link up this week, I also wanted to link up with Jen at A Daily Dose of Davis for Health and Fitness Friday!

Have you thought about setting some goals yet?  If your interested in sharing your list I'd love to see it....since I'm kind of a goals newbie my lists can always use some help!

I trust you all had a Very Merry Christmas and I pray for a Safe and Happy New Year!

Until Next Time.....

From Our Family to Yours.

Silence.

Health and Fitness Friday (On Saturday...)

Today's Health and Fitness Friday Saturday is brought to you buy a girl who has a little less "chin" than she had last year!  

I never realized anything had really changed in my face until I saw these two pictures tonight! One of my goals is to only have one chin....the ONE we are supposed to have! LOL  And it looks like I am well on my way to smashing that goal!  These pictures were both part of our annual Fall Family Pictures, but one year apart.  I realize that I am wearing blue in both pics, my hair is the same, and we are standing in the same exact spot both times....but that's neither here nor there....in the second picture I am clearly sporting a smaller chin!  

And yes, that makes me SUPER HAPPY!! 

(that will make more since if you watch Ni-Hoa Kailan at all)

So, I do have a couple more updates to share: I have been drinking A LOT more water on a daily basis.  And by a lot, I mean more than 1 glass a day! ( I used to HATE water!)  I have been averaging between 6-10 glasses a day. If you are having trouble with your water intake I thought I would share my trick to drinking more.  I have been drinking ICE cold water in these:

There is just something about the straw and the ice and always having cold water that helps me to drink more, my cup holds 16oz so I only need to drink 4 of them to get the minimum 8 cups! It's super easy and cheaper than buying water bottles and you eat less because you are not confusing your body with the question of Am I hungry or just thirsty.  Win, Win if you ask me!

I have also recruited another one of my sisters to workout with us!  So now we have a trio, myself, Sister Sam and Sister Christen!!  It makes it so much easier to workout when you have someone there to help push you, keep you accountable and sweat and die alongside you!  My knee seems to be better daily.  I am able to do more during our workouts and work harder!


I've also been debating on joining a gym.

Are you a member of a gym?  Do you actually go?  Is it worth the money?  Would you rather just workout at home when its convenient for you? Right now I am just working out at home using different Aerobic, Abs, Cardio workouts on my tv and DVDs, but I think I need more.  What do you think?

This was shared in my fitness group on Facebook and I think it describes what my December goals are perfectly!  Do you have any December goals?  My Actual goal is to be in the 240's by the New Year which means I have at least 10 lbs to loose before then....I guess I better get my butt in gear!

Until Next Time.....