2022 Resolutions

 

I'll be honest. 

I'm not entirely sure that 2021 actually happened. 

Somehow, it is already 2022 and I have no clue how we got here.

Last night we celebrated the new year and I am so excited for this opportunity for a fresh start. I've always loved resolutions and lists and habit challenges and whatnot and this year is no different. I have a list a mile long and I'm going to write it down here so I can revisit it throughout the year and link back to it. 

Last night I was going through Facebook and a few friends were listing their accomplishments of the year and I loved reading through them! 2021 was all about surviving and I didn't journal, or blog, or post on social media, or really do anything to chronicle my accomplishments and now it is the end of the year and I'm coming up blank. I know I did stuff, buuuuuut I can't remember any of it (except Ashlie's wedding because it was amaaaaaazing). 

So my first resolution: blog more. Not for followers or anything else, just to have a freaking record of what the hell I did all year! Here is the rest of my list by category (it's going to be long because I love having broken down, tangible items I can actually check off): 

Health and Fitness:

-Be comfortable, joyful, energetic, and powerful in my own skin

-Get healthy for my boys

-Weight Loss

-Complete a full Sweat progression

Post Pregnancy

Low Impact

BBG

-Complete 2022 Run the Year Mileage

-Volunteer at TROT Races

-Bonus: Run 50K Habanero Hundred and/or 50K Brazos Bend

Parenting Goals:

I haven't quite flushed this one out. It is hard to make goals that are based on other people but my big goal is to be more present and stop hiding in the kitchen from my kids ;) 

Institute a Chore Chart 

Teach Bear to tie his shoes

Less screen time (need to figure out)

Teach twins to give themselves baths

Misc Goals:

-Organize Recipes

-Organize Photos

-Master baking a pie

-Read 10 NEW books and keep my weekly streak going 

-Complete 5 crochet/knit projects

Mom's Scarf

Phil's Blanket

A Hat

-Learn how to knit socks

-Blog Weekly

-Go see a doctor and treat my anxiety 

-Clean and organize whole house REDUCE STUFF

-Take a trip...somewhere?

-Date night once a month

-Take the boys out more (goal is once a month)

Financial Goals:

-Set Up Payroll

-Catch up on Taxes

-Pay off debt to a reasonable amount

-Buy House

-Buy second personal vehicle

-Increase our savings for fun stuff!

Company Goals:

-Buy second truck

-Set up Atlanta  

This is just a brain dump. Most of these items will have their own blog posts down the road and I might add to the list as ideas come to me but I wanted to at least get this post started!

So here is to the new year!!!!!!

-Ri

The Best Worst Day

Today has been...well truly there are no words. I have cleaned, planned for the next week, crafted, played with my boys and read many books to them. I even have chicken soup slowly, comfortingly, bubbling away in the crock pot. It's been a mostly productive day except...

My twins have not stopped screaming since four o'clock this morning.

So all these projects are half finished. Normally, I would have had a full blown melt down by now. I have snapped a couple of times, Bear Bear resided in time out for most of the morning, and I took five minutes to myself this afternoon to drink a cup of coffee and check Facebook, all the while my boys were fussing in the living room.

A couple of things have happened to make this day the day it has been. I managed to get rid of some large items in my home yesterday which has gotten me excited and hopeful about my home again (it's been a while). I planned the upcoming week which helps me feel less lost. And the next two things go hand in hand.

For a while it has been hard for me to really appreciate the time I have with my boys. The twins are at a difficult stage and Bear Bear is at an even more difficult stage (can you say terrible twos?). Sometimes I feel like I can't keep up and that I'm not doing right by my children. It eats away at you. Now I know I'm a good mom. That doesn't mean that I am impervious to mom guilt and scathing thoughts to myself. I beat myself up all the time and my children bear the brunt of that negativity.


I have had an idea rolling around in my head that I would try to turn my thinking around to a more positive outlook. I decided I would start with Bear Bear. Ever since the twins came home he has been the best big brother, but he has been acting out towards me and Barry. He is desperate for our attention and we give it when we can but for him he needs constant reassurance of our love since he tends to get into trouble roughly every 32 seconds. I decided I would start just by giving him a big smile every time he came into the room or every time I caught him glancing my way. If he did something good I would praise him and I would take the time to touch him as I passed him, even if it was just a gentle pat on the head. I decided on this course of action about two weeks ago and despite its incredible simplicity, I haven't done it.

Today, two things came across my Facebook feed. Barry's aunt posted about one of her friend's baby who is in the NICU and she included a picture. And we heard of a tragic miscarriage that aunt's daughter went through yesterday. I don't know the details because I didn't ask, I still can't handle anything bad regarding babies. But these two devastating events hit me hard today.

After seeing these posts I went and snuggled with each of my children and made them the promise that I would try harder. I promised that I would smile more, I would praise more, I would enjoy each day more. It has been a rewarding experience.

Today has been a horrible day. Two teething babies and a toddler on the rampage but I am proud of myself. I am calm. I am happy. Have no doubt, I'm frustrated as hell but I am taking it all in stride rather than taking it out on my kids.

So I challenge you to a very simple endeavor.

Smile. More.

If you need to quantify it, smile three times tomorrow for no reason. Smile at the person at the drive through window, say thank you and mean it. Smile at your pet. Smile at the blue of the sky, the wind messing up your hair, the ridiculous comment your friend made. Smile at your babies and your spouse. It will change your world.

 

 

Smile!

-Ri

My Bucket List

The title says it all.

1. Go Toobing. Duh!

2. Learn to Paddle surf? I think that's what it's called.

3. Go to the beach, early morning, with Kinsey, my black lab. The basic plan is to go early, walk the beach, play fetch, then come home for lunch.

4. Set up our hammock and actually enjoy it.

5. Go to a carnival.

6. Go to a cookoff. The Gibsons have a cookoff team.

7. Hang out by a pool.

8. Go to Howie's Crawfish Boil!!!

9. Swim in a lake. I really don't like lakes. Something about stagnant water just kills it for me. But I'm going to do it!!

10. Go Hiking.

11. Play a game of Frisbee Golf.

12. Take pictures of Fonde Park and add to Yelp.

13. Go to the movies. Movies have always been a summer thing for me. There's something about having sun burned skin and watching a movie in the cold and the dark.

14. Ok. This is going to sound stupid...and I can't find a picture of it. It's where you take a short surf board and you use it right where the water meets the shore on the beach. When the water recedes from a wave it leaves a small amount of water on the shore, you take the board, run, set it down (while running) and slide. That's the best way I can explain it. :)

15. Decorate the Seawall with Chalk.

16. Go to a sand castle building competition.

17. Wear a sundress.

18. Have people over for a game night.

19. Have a family-wide water balloon fight. hehehe.

20. Play volleyball on the beach.

21. Fly a kite.

22. Have a tye-dye party.

23. Go to Schlitterbahn!!!!

24. Go to the Mad Potter. It's a place in Houston that has pre-made pottery that you decorate with glaze, they fire it and you have a beautiful piece of pottery.

25. Play miniature golf.

26. Go to a Flea Market.

27. Go roller skating.

28. Go ATV riding.

29. Take an outdoor yoga class. This may be unavailable. It's like...105 degrees in the morning down here.

30. Go to a park and have fun!!! Slides!!! I want to find one with a see-saw.

31. Go canoeing/rafting.

32. Go on a hot air balloon ride.

33. Climb a tree.

34. Play paintball!!!!!

35. Go rock climbing

36. Go Zorbing!! I may not be able to do this, their nearest office is in Tennessee. Kinda far.

37. Play Twister!!!!

38. Slip and Slide. Need I say more?

39. Buy two pogo sticks and have a bounce-off.

40. Take a brewery tour. (Well, two really. St. Arnold's and Shiner)

41. Take a Twilight Bayou tour.

42. Go to a museum.

43. Go to the Miller Outdoor Theater.

44. Go to the ZOO!!!!!!

45. Play on a trampoline!

46. Karaoke!!!

47. Record a song.

48. Ride a rollercoaster

49. Take a picture of the night sky.

50. Go to a reenactment.
51. Start a Garden

51A. Have a paint fight.
52. Let go of a floating lantern.

53. Go on a stargazing date.
54. Visit George Ranch Park and Observatory.
55. Get a small tattoo that means a lot.
56. Have a flat stomach/a hint of a six pack. Should be fun after the baby.
57. Oh yeah, have a baby.
58. And maybe before that baby I should get married. :)
-Be his Bride
-Wear a beautiful wedding dress.
59. Go to Vegas with my Bestie.

60. Let my hair get really long.
61. Kiss someone at midnight on New Years.
62. Be married to the same person for 50 years.
63. Throw a dart at a map and travel there.
64. Kiss under a mistletoe.
65. Receive my Hogwarts acceptance letter.
66. Have a walk in closet.
67. Make out with the hubby with Pop Rocks in my mouth. :)
68. Go to Disneyland.
69. Go to Disneyworld.

70. Go into an airport and buy tickets for a random flight.
71. Spend an entire day watching Disney/Pixar movies
72. Build a blanket fort.
73. Attach a lock to a love bridge.
74. Sleep on a beach.
75. Experience Christmas in New York.
76. Kiss at the top of a ferris wheel.
77. Kiss under fire works.
78. Take cute kissing photos in a photo booth.
79. Countries/Cities to Visit:
-Paris, France
-Japan
-Eat Pizza in Italy
-See the Great Pyramids
-Ride a camel in Egypt
-Drink coffee in seattle
-Put a piece of gum on the gum wall in seattle
-Eat a philly cheeses steak in Philadelphia
-Hold up the leaning tower of piza
-Write on the Before I die wall in New Orleans
-Float in the dead sea

80. Learn to surf.
81. Skydive
82. Jump off a waterfall
83. Scuba Dive
84. Kiss underwater
85. Rock Climb
86. Buy something on Rodeo Drive
87. Own a pair of super expensive high heels.
88. Own a beach/river house.
89. Get a group of people to donate blood with me.

90. Watch a meteor shower
91. Watch all the Harry Potter movies in one day
92. Go on a road trip
93. Build a treehouse
94. Learn how to play guitar
95. Swim with sharks
96. Swim with dolphins
97. Visit all 50 united states
98. Visit abbey road and recreate the Beatles cover
99. Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

100. Attend a masquerade
101. Visit a Lord of the Rings set in New Zealand
102. Ride an elephant
103. Try dog sledding
104. See the northern lights
105. Be in a protest
106. Visit Ground Zero
107. Send a message in a bottle
108. Be a part of a flash mob
109. Ride in a taxi

110. Pet a giraffe
111. Attend a gay wedding
112. Ride every ride at Six Flags
113. Complete a Warrior Dash-like race.
114. Attend a TV taping.
115. Attend a Texans Football game.
116. Attend RenFest as a vendor
117. Be a Bridesmaid
118. Learn sign language
119. Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Galveston and flash my boobs

120. Bungee Jump
121. Mud Wrestle
122. Set foot on all seven continents
123. Plant a tree
124. Do something illegal
125. Drive down route 66
126. Go on a safari
127. See a play on broadway
128. Visit the Houston Rodeo
129. Shoot a gun

130. Have 5,000 10,000 20,000 dollars in my savings account.
131. Host a halloween party
132. Go zip lining
133. Own a ranch
134. Learn how to skateboard
135. See a cirque du solie show
136. Attend the Kentucky Derby
137. Attend a dog race.
138. See a tornado
139. Have a natural birth

140. Ride in a helicopter
141. Go on a real camping trip with a tent and everything!
142. Own a pug.
143. Compete in an eating contest.
144. Take on a food challenge and win.
145. Drive a super expensive car.
146. Visit a wolf sanctuary.
147. Watch baby turtle hatch
148. Go whale watching
149. Go snow tubing - I'm not even going to touch skiing.

150. Find a four leaf clover
151. Have my items in a boutique
152. Go skinny dipping
153. Ride first class
154. Party all night...and stay awake
155. Run a marathon
156. Complete a triathlon
157. Successfully two step in a honky tonk
158. Donate my hair
159. Play messy paint twister

160. Chase the end of a rainbow
161. Make a snow angel
162. Go Parasailing
163. Make a quilt
164. Make homemade jam/can something
165. Make homemade butter
166. Catch fireflies in a mason jar
167. Find out how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop
168. Write a letter to myself and open it in ten years
169. Do a nude photo shoot

170. Buy a house
171. Ride a rope into a lake
172. Stay at a bed and breakfast (I happen to think they're creepy)
173. Finish a whole tube of chapstick
174. Own something from Tiffany's
175. Spend money on something that I think is incredibly stupid. And not something funny stupid...something like a $30 cami from Lord and Taylor.
176. Tan on a nude/topless beach
177. Have a snowball fight
178. Use a fake name at Starbucks
179. Do a no h8 photo shoot with my pitt bull

180. Actually decorate my house with Christmas Lights
181. Own a muscle care
182. Spend the night somewhere haunted
183. Be debt free for at least a month.
184. Have an actual coconut drink on the beach
185. Breathe in helium and talk
186. Smash open my piggy bank when it gets full.
187. Make every single thing in a cookbook
188. Go on a roller skate date
189. Swim in every ocean

190. Go to a monster truck rally
191. Finish my Wreck This Journal
192. Touch an iceberg
193. Rent/Own a yacht. I'm not picky.
194. Keep one new year's resolution for an entire year
195. See the Houston Texans win a Super Bowl
196. Have someone famous wear one of my items.
197. Learn to pole dance
198. Own a full set of makeup brushes
199. Paint my dog's toenails

200. Shave my cat
201. Have a super soaker fight
202. Complete the gallon of milk challenge
203. Get high with Mom -she said yes!
204.

-Ri

Hi. My name is Maria and I'm addicted to planning. Thank you.

I think my title explains it all.

I've spent the last week telling Barry that "I'm so EXCITED!" Barry: "About what?" Me: SUMMMMMERRR!!!!! lol He tells me that it's like a kid saying that their excited because Christmas is coming this year. :)

So, I've looked at the past two years and evaluated myself and my planning.

Every year it's the same. During summer I'm so excited about fall and during the Jan-May part of the year I am SO excited about summer because let's face it, nothing happens in that part of the year except for Barry and Ash's birthday, the rodeo, and Howie's crawfish boil.

*drool*

My excitement leads to me planning things. I've already begun researching what I need to take on my tubing trips...even though I did the same thing last year and I haven't been able to change anything on my list because I was so ridiculously prepared last year!

I'm planning my wedding. I'm not engaged.

I need to understand that planning is only HALF the fun and not ALL the fun :) and I need to understand (I'm like 95% there) that sometimes, when things don't go according to plan, it's ok. I'm having trouble with the not leaving on time, that's the last five percent.

I've decided that I need to research events happening in the January to May area because if I keep getting excited about summer, summer is going to get here and it's not going to be as exciting. It happens every year. I get so excited about summer and then it gets here and for either scheduling or financial reasons summer is not what I imagined it to be.

This does not mean I won't be writing about summer every week. :)

There is a bigger issue to all this, not living in the moment and all but I am not feeling sufficiently eloquent to have that conversation right now.

For my first "be excited about what's happening now" moment:

I'm so excited about: VALENTINE'S DAY!

I will be decorating my house with little hearts, I can update my kitchen chalkboard and I can clean my house (in preparation for summer lol I can't help it!) and I can start working on my garden! Woo!

hehe

-Ri

Sweet Summertime!

This year I VOW to spend more time at the beach! Barry doesn't like the beach so these past three years I have only been to the beach two times a year. That is unacceptable. For me, Galveston is the destination I went to as a child with my parents. One summer, my father was contracted to redo the landscaping for the Victorian Hotel, right on the beachfront. For three months my brother, mother and I went to the beach nearly every day (the hotel put my father up in a room for the length of the job, we tagged along lol). My mother often says that that summer was the best time she ever had. My brother, who is very pale, hated every moment of it lol. He was sunburnt, like the whole time. Poor guy!

I would LOVE to live in Galveston. There are definitely a couple of places on the island that are similar to Third Ward, which is unfortunate, but all in all it is a beautiful, historic town.

I cannot wait to walk the Strand and the beach and the Seawall. I cannot wait for flip flops, tight abs (hopefully mine!), lean legs, tanned skin, short shorts, "sun-tanned toes ticklin' the sand", tank tops, and in Kenny Chesney's words: Sun, Sand, and Freedom. Ah!

To aid in getting Barry to the ocean I've decided to learn to Stand-Up Paddleboard.

Barry is really big on things that challenge his balance so this will A) keep him out of the sand, which he abhors and B) keep him occupied so that I don't have to see the "can we leave, yet?" look on his face. :) Love you baby!

The rental place has the board available from between 2-8 hours at $45-$95. They also have lessons but I'm a big fan of figuring it out as I go. :)

Hopefully it will be easier than surfing, which is nonexistent in Galveston cause there are no waves. AND since you are propelled by your own exertion...more calorie burning!!!

So I'm super excited! This gives me a great opportunity to have fun at the beach and stay occupied. I've found that, unlike when I was a kid, I can't just sit on the beach. I need something to do and since I don't have kids of my own, I can't

just hang out. I need a vollyball net, paddleboard, etc.

eee!

Alas, this photo is not of me. Just thought you should know. :)

My digital camera was stolen out of my truck around three weeks ago which has given me an incentive to buy another! Woo! This time, I'm going for the waterproof variety!

And so, I introduce the Olympus Stylus 1030SW:

There are some serious cool things about this camera: shockproof, freezeproof, WATERPROOF, crushproof and dustproof! Can I ask for anything else? Well, I can ask for more megapixels but let's not get picky.

And, though it need not be said, I can't wait for tubing. :)

-Ri