They say that setting a concrete goal increases the likelihood that you’ll actually reach it.  So, here I go: my goal for the next four months is to get into bathing-suit-ready shape in time for our family vacation to the Bahamas during our kids’ Spring Break.  I was inspired by Wifey’s #ProjectMe post to wear a bikini by her 40th birthday.  I am not so brave as to aim for a bikini (or as to post my weight for the world to see! GULP. ) but I figure this is a start.  Now, I wore a bathing suit several times last summer, but let’s just say I did NOT feel fabulous doing so.  I would love to get to a point where I can feel confident and comfortable in a swim suit.

Thanks to Jonesie, I signed up on My Fitness Pal last week and have been tracking my food intake.  I have to admit, my confidence levels are low. I’ve tried so many times before – what’s going to make this time around any different? The key for me is – and always has been – exercise.   I did tennis in November and December but it was hard to keep up with since it was Monday evenings at 7pm – smack in the middle of dinner/homework/bedtime with the kids.  I’m off to a good start though – I weighed in today and I am DOWN 3LBS!!

2010 was a crazy year for me.  Between work (and work travel), the breakneck pace of preparing for Blogalicious Weekend, and Chatterbox and Giggles entering new – and VERY ACTIVE – schools, my candle was being burned at both ends.  I spent most of the year feeling like I was living in a bubble, extremely removed from family and friends.  This has really caused me to feel out of touch with myself…and has made me vow to reconnect with those really important to me – from my cousins in Canada to my close girlfriends around the country - in 2011.  I’ve already started down this path and am looking forward to continuing in the coming months.

As for fitness – you know my story. It’s a continual struggle.  Look at me! 33 years old and “struggling with my weight” – SMH.  Let’s hope this time around I can truly integrate a consistent fitness regimen into my lifestyle. And that’s all I have to say about that because I am TRULY tired of talking about it.

What will be YOUR focus in 2011?

2007

2008

2009

2010 (??)

Ten days until Christmas and I have yet to take the Christmas picture for our 2010 Holiday Card. Nice.

Watching the zealous ice skaters at Citi Pond at Bryant Park.

Watching scenes from “Miracle on 34th Street” in the Macy’s Christmas window displays

Getting ready to ride Le Carrousel in Bryant Park

Posing with St. Nick in Santaland at Macy’s Herald Square

There’s nothing like New York City at Christmastime.  The lights, the energy, the decorations – it’s magical.  We spent most of Saturday evening enjoying The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park (= AWESOME) and then popped over to Macy’s to see Santa.  It was so cold that we ended up doing a drive-by of the Rockerfeller Center tree.  After a delicious breakfast in Tribeca on Sunday at Kitchenette, our visit with my friend’s family was icing on the cake. We had an awesome spur-of-the-moment weekend! Here’s to putting family and friends first in 2011.

Which means I owe Giggles a trip to the American Girl store.

Last week Justice Ny and I attended the Bounce Mom’s Night Out event in D.C. hosted by the lovely Jennifer James and MBC.  The event was geared to moms wanting to simplify and de-stress their lives (me! me!).   The food was amazing, as was the company, and the massages, but the real treat for me was meeting Hannah Keeley and her teenage daughter.

Hannah is a homeschooling mom of 7 (!) who by the way, looks totally great, at peace and happy.  She’s also a life coach for moms, published author and TV show host.  At the event, we got the chance to ask Hannah some questions about how she manages her family and household.  She started off the discussion by giving us some background, beginning at the point when she was overwhelmed, exhausted, overweight and generally miserable.  Interestingly enough, she started feeling this way once she had her third child.

Basically, she was me.

You may or may not know from my brief that I underwent a mini-breakdown sometime earlier this year.  I’ve been feeling exactly the way Hannah described for many months.  Of course some days are better than others, but for the most part, I’ve been feeling like I have no control over my life.  I don’t have control over the forces that require me to go to work; I don’t have control over the hours in the day that never seem to be enough to get all of things required of me done; I can’t keep up with my kids’ schoolwork and commitments; I’m too tired and have no time to exercise…you name it and I feel like I have no control over it and am stuck in an endless cycle.

So Hannah’s experience struck a chord with me.  And I was excited to see that each of us was sent home with a complimentary copy of her book:  Hannah Keeley’s Total Mom Makeover: The Six-Week Plan to Completely Transform Your Home, Health, Family, and Life.

It’s exactly what I needed.  I started reading it and doing the exercises that very night.  If I can end up looking and feeling like Hannah (and with my kids as well-adjusted as hers), then sign.me.up.  I’ll let you know how it goes!

Image credits: MomBloggersClub.com and Amazon.com.

This weekend I had a discussion with a fantastic Atlanta hairdresser who introduced me to some fabulous products (after I try them myself, I’ll share my thoughts) and schooled me on the importance of embracing my hair.  What was most memorable about our discussion was her advice about setting a good image for princess when it comes to loving my hair (and I will add, my weight, my skin and the way I present myself to the world).  She reminded me that as a sponge, princess will repeat and internalize what she sees me doing and therefore I owed it to her to present a positive healthy portrayal of the way I treat myself, including my hair.  So….I am beginning a new journey for her….

Second, she’s going to be doing this alone.  I’m tearing up as I write now because I’m scared for her, worried about her, excited and hopeful for what this means for her.  Did I make the right choice?  Is this school the right place for her? Will she be encouraged to sour and create and become herself?  Will she make friends? Will she like her teacher?  Will her teacher like her?  Will she be comfortable and feel safe?  There are just so many questions going through my head right now.  I may be more worried/sacred/nervous about this than she.  Actually, I know I am because she barely realizes what this means.  In fact while buying her uniforms over the weekend, I had a mini-meltdown (in the store) because the thoughts, fears, anxieties all came rushing at once.  How is she going to handle this?  How am I?

Third, I received a letter from her school tonight informing me that she will be starting school on Monday, 23rd – what????  I thought I had one more week, how, oh how did this creep up on me too?  Then, for some reason I only realized today that there will not be after school activities for the first week.  What does that mean – I have to pick her up at 3:15!!!!  OMG, 3:15, how in the world are working parents supposed to do this?

So much going on and only a few days for mommy to get it together and get a grip.  I’m wiping tears now and getting it together.

Although she had this huge celebration planned, you would probably be surprised to know that Aunt P. really had a hard time accepting the fact that she was officially a member of the AARP club.  In fact, when her AARP membership card came in the mail, its been said that she literally threw the envelop across the room when she realized what it was.  She even debated calling to find out just how they got her information. 

You see, Aunt P.  has not publicly acknowledged her real age since her 35th birthday.  Her friends and family have been teasing her about this  big milestone for months.  Rather than turn 50 feeling depressed about it, Aunt P. said she was going to fully embrace it and make it a national celebration.  This would be her weekend to celebrate herself, her family and friends, and all the many blessings in her life. 

The theme for the weekend? Fine and Fabulous @ Fifty.  Saturday morning was my favorite event.  It was a ladies only luncheon where 30-40 of Aunt P.’s closest friends/family/sorority sisters/college roommates, etc. had an opportunity to share a special story about Aunt P., or, offer her some pearls of wisdom.  

I think we all cried for about three hours as we listened to story after story about Aunt P.  Some were so funny you cried, others were so sad you cried.  But one by one, these women shared how/why Aunt P. was special to them. The words of  wisdom these women offered, priceless!  I looked around the room and women of all ages, from 22 to 87, and realized that they/we/you, are all fabulous regardless of your age and inspite of your age!  I was surrounded by so many  strong, accomplished, and positive women that I felt totally empowered and inspired by them. 

My hope is that I, too, can exude this level of fabulosity at some point in my life, especially by the time I turn 5-0 in 17 years.  And what a blessing for her to have grown up surrounded by so many fabulous woman!  Makes me really rethink the type of footprint I’m making on this planet– yikes! 

Happy Birthday Aunt P.!!

Guess which one is Aunt P!?

Youngest especially, loves the pool and is not at all afraid of the water. He swims with either a life-vest or his swimming suit with a built in floaty (the best invention on this planet!).  His thing is to run and jump into the pool at 50 miles per hour.  

So yesterday I’m at my in-laws spending the day helping my sister-in-law prepare for her son’s big first birthday bash which is today.  Between the two of us, we had five little kids to keep track of and a party to prepare for.  To be exact, there was one, one year old, two four year olds, one five year old, and an eight year old.  At some point it was just me and the kids outside swimming while my S-I-L worked her fondant magic on the five layer cake she was making herself. (YES, five layers, with fondant, three different flavors, all homemade.  She’s your next Food Network Cake star. Watch.) 

Long story short, we were  all finished swimming, everyone had taken off their life-vests, and we were picking up the pool toys. I had managed for the entire two  hours to only get my legs wet which was perfect because I’m not a fan of swimming. 

Next thing you know, Youngest made a run for it and jumped “like a superhero” into the deep end of the pool to get the goggles floating in the water.  The boy completely forgot  he was not wearing his life vest.  He sank all the way down and slowly managed to get himself up to the surface. I watched in shock trying to process what the heck was going on.  

Once again, with my jet pack on my back, I sprang into action, leaped across the pool,  jumped in, and pulled him out of the water-   soaked, head-to- toe. 

It’s a good thing my watch is water proof.  Actually, it’s a good thing my hair wasn’t done because we would’ve had a serious issue.

P.S. My Jet Pack is about out of gas. I’m over being the super mom.

When: Sunday at 10:31 am

What: Email dictated to hubby by princess:

Dear Princess: (apparently she wasn’t sure whether or not to send the email to herself)

 

I want to know because princess is learning how to write, so can you please try to bring me to a writing school because I want to learn how to write “dear princess.”

 

Why: I guess she’s sending me a message.  She wants to learn to write and she’s urging me (in writing) to get on the job. I don’t blame her, especially since Pre-K starts in 12 weeks and I still don’t have a school placement for her.