Happy New Year!

Happy 2013!

2012….. YOU ROCKED!  I know I speak for Ryan and I when I say 2012 was the BEST year of our lives so far.  The most obvious and significant reason being the birth of Sam the man.

Other important accomplishments were finishing our master bathroom renovation  addition, Ryan landing a full-time position at a top design firm and launching our Etsy shop, Beehive Artstudio.  What a blessed year we have had.

So how did we decide to celebrate New Years Eve on the best year of our lives?!  Yeah, I didn’t make it past 10:30pm.  Turns out having a 4 month old and a husband with the flu can make you pretty tired exhausted.  So, we had a nice, quiet evening at home.  Next year we both agreed we would spice things up a bit and at least have a glass of champagne ready.  However, the Chipotle we had for dinner didn’t disappoint along with the early bedtime.  But I’m not ready for my Golden Buckeye card just yet.

New Year resolutions are something I always try to commit to but like the vast majority of those who make them…. I don’t always see them through.  However, this year I’m hoping things will be different.  I’m hoping by posting them on the blog and updating regularly on my efforts will give me the will power to keep going!  I didn’t put exercise or weight loss on my list.  Those are two things I definitely have goals for but I’m not putting any stipulations on their success.  Kind of an… I’ll get to it attitude right now.  So here are my resolutions for 2013:

Blog at least 3 times per week

This is something I need to and will fix immediately.  Oh how I have missed blogging but the only time I have to blog is during the evening when Sam is asleep.  Instead of blogging I usually choose to relax and veg.  The thing is I LOVE this blog.  I love writing my thoughts out, sharing experiences and the feedback I get from those who regularly read it.  I am excited to really get back into the swing of things.  Plus, I can’t wait to hand a book to Sam one day made out of the posts from this blog.  Lot’s of topics to blog about in the coming weeks so stay tuned!  If you haven’t already subscribed to email updates, you should!

Switch to preservative free, Natural, organic food choices

When I was on maternity leave, I did a lot of research on all things baby, which then turned into all things period.  Ryan may even say “too much” research as it’s now affecting his daily life.  However, knowledge is power and I don’t want to stick my head in the sand on these issues.  I let him know what my our resolutions were this year and that switching over to natural food choices was definitely on the list.  His response, “Yeah okay, but that doesn’t include Cheez Its and other snacky foods we like, right?”  He definitely got the side eye from me on that one.  However, there are two exceptions that any Cincinnatian will understand and totally agree CANNOT be taken out of one’s diet.  LaRosa’s and Skyline.  It’s literally in my DNA and if I don’t get my fix every couple of weeks/months I get the shakes.  So, those are the two that will always remain.  However, everything else I’d like to switch.  My main goal is to get rid of processed foods in our home and get back to basics.  Buy products that are organic and preservative free.  No more artificial ingredients.  We put so much emphasis on buying meats and dairy products free from hormones and antibiotics but what about our own diets?  We consume so many toxins and preservatives in the food we eat because of the convenience they offer.  I will have posts throughout the year on food products we are swapping.  Such as, what is a healthy, natural alternative to Cheez Its?  Stay tuned.  Also, it’s not just about eating healthier.  I think too many of us look at a package that says “Fat Free” and we automatically assume it’s the best choice for us.  However, what makes up the product?  What are they replacing the fat content with?  They certainly aren’t just taking out the fat!   I’m excited to see where this takes us and how much we will learn from it. It’s definitely going to require more work and preparations on our part.  That is where this website will come in handy, onceamonthmom.com

Get my CCw permit

Very controversial topic and it’s pretty obvious which side of the argument I’m on.  For those of you that don’t know, CCW stands for carrying a concealed weapon.  After December 12, I’m done.  DONE.  I do not want to be caught in a situation where I cannot protect my children.  The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun.  Period.

What are your resolutions?

So those are my resolutions aka things I am hoping to accomplish this year!  I’m excited to start get started on all three of these goals and know that all of them benefit us as a family.  I’d love to hear what you are focusing on this year and any goals you have set!

We have so much to be thankful for this year and are so blessed.  God has been so good to us and we continue to praise Him for His blessings.  Tomorrow I will update with a sneak peek of future posts to come.  Exciting stuff!  Have a great day!