Unresolved in 2014

New Year's Day is THE day. The day that so many of us resolve to change our lives and our selves for the better. If I were to actually list all of the things that I need to change, we'd be here for days. No lie. Maybe weeks. Like much of the world population (only 8% according to Forbes magazine), I have never been good at keeping or achieving resolutions. So this year, I am not making any. Resolutions, that is. Changes, on the other hand, I would definitely like to see. Like being a better, more consistent blogger. 

Some of the areas that I want to see a shift in, and that I plan to blog more about, are (in no specific order)...

• my body (and body image), of course
• with the help of Plexus Slim
• hitting up the gym more consistently
• productivity
• accomplishing things at all times...even when sitting still (crafts, blogging, school work)
• FINISHING what I start
• my relationship with God
• has been non-existent, and I am ready for that to change
• myself in my marriage
• hard to explain...it's a blogpost in itself
• my savings account!
• myself in my profession
• TESS
• self-fulfillment
• if I am better at what I do, my students are better at what they do, right?
• socialization
• I have no life
• I need to get a life
• being more organized
• streamlining my household
• a more organized classroom (oh, that closet of mine)
• being a better parent

And the list could go on and on, but I will cease and desist with those. The first bloggy change you may notice is that I hope to do a Sunday Strategy every week. This weekly post will help me stay on track with a plan for each week. I already spend Sunday evenings doing school planning, why not add an hour devoted to 'life' planning? 

If you have resolutions, what are they? Are you a resolution keeper or a resolution breaker?

Oh, and 

Happy New Year 2014!!!

Wordless Wednesday, Valentine Edition

Excess

Excess = too much, overdone, indulgence, surplus...you get the idea.

It is the way of the world. Especially here in America. Including me.

I don't realize that I overspend. It isn't something that I set out to do. I know I have used the term 'retail therapy' a few times, but I don't really go on sprees very often. Yet somehow, it happens. The credit card bill at the end of every month shows it. No, I am not the only one that uses the card, and no I do not use it only for superfluous purchases. But I still feel guilty every time money is mentioned.

The majority of my extra spending is on the girls. I know this. I have a very hard time telling them no. The first ten years of their lives was a constant no, and it sucked. They are teenage girls, and they are constantly requiring this or that. I say requiring...I am sure that they wouldn't perish from not having a majority of those 'requirements,' but I do want them to be well-dressed and able to participate in whatever they choose. It gets expensive.

The card is used for everything except bills. We use it for groceries and household spending, eating out, online purchases, and 'extras.' It adds up. Apparently for the year 2012, it was over $36K. That's my salary. On top of the card, there are always other financial obligations...bills, household repairs, medical responsibilities, taxes, insurances...and they all seem to be getting larger by the day. Just yesterday, our homeowner's insurance doubled because of our distance from a fire station. REALLY?!?! They are just taking that into consideration after 10 years?

So every time some financial surprise comes up, or Chris mentions the credit card bill, or when he is paying bills...I feel like he is angry with me. Like I am the reason that he has expenses. Like he would have no monetary concerns if not for me. Like I am a burden.

I saw someone's New Year's resolution on Facebook was to spend only what was necessary. To make purchases only if it was necessary. To stick to that 'Wal-Mart' list and not stray from it. It got me to thinking. How possible is that? Could I do it? Not if I take the kids with me! However, how hard would it be to only spend/purchase what was necessary, or a true requirement? I would like to try it.

          
           
So with all of this in mind, I have a few questions for you. I would really like to hear your thoughts. It seems this is an area that I need help with.

• How do you budget your expenditures each month?
• Do you take your kids shopping with you? (groceries/household items)
• When do you indulge, and what do you indulge in/on?

Beachy Anniversary

Anywhere beachy is where I want to be. I love the smells, the sounds, the views. Everything about the beach and the ocean entrances me. Refreshes and rejuvenates me. Last year, our beaching was not so relaxing, as we had the kids with us and were only there for a couple of day trips. The beaches that we visited then were just not...our beach. This is our beach...

This year, we drove the twelve hours to get there. I loved every minute. For our anniversary, my Knight and I had six and a half days all to ourselves. Glorious!!! We tend to like to just look around and check things out. I love stopping at road-side stands and random shops or scenic places. We both enjoy looking at properties and real estate. I would be ecstatic to have a beach house of our own! Wouldn't you?!?! So, anyway, on the way there AND on the way back, we stopped at this little stand...

Specifically to buy some of these guys...

 They are called 'scuppernongs,' and I adore them! The are like a white muscadine, and so yummo! We also picked up some delish fresh peaches both stops (of which I made a peach crisp just this past weekend).

On this particular trip, we ate at the most phenomenal restaurant EVER! It is a little Italian hole-in-the-wall, and we will definitely be going back.

We also did a little deep-sea fishing (we brought some of that home too!)...

The ripple in the center of the picture above was actually a dolphin that kept following the boat...I just wasn't quick enough to catch her jumping and playing!

 












And of course, I spent a bit of time doing this...

On our way home, we stopped for the night in Vicksburg, Mississippi for some fun and a new experience (we'd never done this together)...

These were some of the views we had there...

Other crazy things on the way home...

Spooky school!!!

Corn field on fire. We could see the flames as we got closer.

Dust devils in the burnt up farmlands.

I so was not ready to come home. Until next time...

Retreat! Retreat!

Sometimes it feels as though life is a bit like a battle. It seems that there is a constant struggle whether it is over how to manage time, keeping peace among the natives, work vs. play, feeling good more than bad, even what to cook for dinner. The struggle isn't always apparent, and at time isn't even recognized as a struggle...but it is tiring just the same. There are occasions in a battle when even the most seasoned soldiers would cry "Retreat! Retreat!" Over the course of our relationship, I have found that periodically, my man and I need to take a moment to retreat.

Hubby had a big birthday in May, and it has seemed that since spring break, we have been going in opposing directions. It is not intentional or by choice; it's just how the schedules have worked out with various functions that the kiddos are involved in. I decided that for the big 4-0 birthday, we needed to just get away, regardless of schedules. So, I arranged a guided trout fishing trip for us. Our destination was here...

Bull Shoals Dam

I've never arranged a trip like that on my own before, so I was a little bit nervous about the entire thing. Thank goodness all I had to do was book the guide and reserve our room. 

The primary concern I had about the entire weekend was our lodging. It was Memorial Day weekend, so EVERYWHERE was booked. All of the resorts were full, I didn't want to stay at the 'Sleep Inn,' and I did want a view of the water. Oh, and not to mention, I was booking something sight unseen. Ulcer, anyone? Needless to say, I was so relieved when we arrived at our destination, The Mountain Memories Bed and Breakfast, and saw this beautiful place!

Our host was a lovely lady who was soo sweet and accomodating, even though she was swamped with three weddings that weekend! Our room was very private, and nicer than anything we have stayed in before. There was a beautiful view of Norfork Lake from our balcony (ours was the top floor balcony shown above), and the inside of our 'suite' was pure luxury!

Gorgeous antique furniture and replicas scattered around the room.

Spa tub and shower with multiple jets, heated floors throughout.

There was even a luxury toilet...

with a bidet!!! This cracked us up! No pun intended!!!

For our day of fishing, I chose to go with a trout fishing guide named Papa Bill, recommended by a friend of mine. He was AwEsOmE!!! Papa Bill had convinced the guys in the bait shop to sing Happy Birthday to Chris before we got on the water. I wish I had known ahead of time so that I could have recorded it! So we got on the water a little before 8, and here is a little bit of what we saw and did...

A Bald Eagle!!!

Three crane nests with babies!

Doesn't this look amazingly peaceful?

We fished until a little after 4 o'clock, only stopping for an hour to use the 'privy' and eat the fantabulous shore lunch that Papa Bill prepared for us. He filleted the fish right there on the shore, fried it up on a little gas cookstove, and brought homemade cole slaw, hush puppies, and baked beans that his wife had prepared the night before. It was YUMM-O! The elegant picnic lunch started out looking...

Like this.

It cooked up a little...

Like this.

The weekend 'retreat' was a good call on this lady's part! I learned new things: fishing with a spinning reel, trout fishing, drift fishing, and that you CAN fry trout! Most importantly, the two of us truly just enjoyed each other's company and had a weekend full of no-pressure, no rush fun. On the water. Together. Catching fish. 

Can't. Get. Much. Better.

Happy Birthday, Baby!