Goals for 2013

Every December towards the end of the month, individuals all around the world start reflecting on how well they've done on their goals throughout the year as well as what goals they may put into place the next year.

Well, Mike and I are no exception. Below you will find the goals that we've decided to work on, together and separately. 

If you have yet to decide what goals you will make over the next year may I suggest looking up Change Anything's post, "How to succeed where others fail." It has great advice on how to go about setting goals and reviewing them throughout the year!

-Ace the GRE

-Fix the truck (aka Vehicle #4)

-Read 2 books a month

-Don't drink my calories

-Journal regularly

-Exercise 4x a week

-Eat on smaller plates

-Blog More! -at least twice a month...

-Continue writing my Missionary Friend twice a month

-GET TO EUROPE!! (July/August)

-Become Debt free January 31st

-Completing all 52 dates on their to-do list this year!

Date Night

It's one of the repeated tokens of advice many newlyweds are given by prospering couples.

It is also one of the hardest things to plan for if your schedule is filled with work, school, and church.

 Ever since our marriage, Mike and I have tried again and again to make the Date Night an intricate part of our lives but unfortunately we have yet to make it a habit! So this year, in order to keep this cycle from repeating itself, we have created a  list (with the help of Mary Louise and her husband) of date nights to be used over 2012.

Date Nights
1. Sketch out a blueprint of your dream house

2. Make of list of must-haves in your dream home
3. Paint each other’s portrait

4. Deliver cupcakes, cookies, etc to friends, family, or nursing home

5. Plan our 5 year anniversary vacation

6. Make a map of places you have been and want to go. Make a list or places and sites to see.

7. Teach each other something new

8. Build a fort and watch a movie

9. Make/Watch home videos

10. Attend a festival

11. Go see a local band

12. Spa night!

13. Cookie bake-off!

14. Build out bucket list (as a couple and as individuals)

15. Make a work of art for the house

16. Tandem the River Walk 

17. Visit a Museum 

18. Paint your own hot chocolate cup at a pottery place

19. Go to the Farmer's Market

20. Go bowling

21. Go see Wicked

22. Go to the Cheesecake Factory (outside budget but that’s ok!)

23. Go to a bar/restaurant to watch a Laker game

24. Volunteer at the local shelter (homeless or animal! Everyone needs to help)

25. Have a water balloon fight with friends

26. Play board games

27. See a movie at the dollar theatre

28. Sample all 31 Flavors at Baskin Robins

29. Make a very specific list of things you love about each other

30. Go on a picnic

31. Go to a Goodwill or Thrift store and pick out one item for the other person. $10 budget.

32. Get up early and go eat brunch at the Communal

33. Historic walking tour (in SLC?)

34. Watch stand-up comedy all night (Comedy Sportz or Wise Guys?)

35. Go see a Laser Show

36. Take Mike's parents out for dinner (Golden Corral)

37. Make a 5, 10, 15 year “basic” plan (I say basic because life doesn’t always go as planned but it could be fun to dream it out!)

38. Go for a long walk

39. Make a gift for someone else. Just because.

40. Try a new work out
41. Cook an exotic meal or cook something we have always wanted to try (THE Cheesecake recipe).
42. Have a picnic at the lake
43. Go Country Swing Dancing
44. Play Laser Tag
45. Play video games all night
46. Pajama party! Pop some popcorn, make a pallet, and watch a cheesy show or movie.
47. Go to a basketball game/swim meet
48. Make a mix CD of songs that remind you of your time together.
49. Go for a long scooter ride to nowhere.
50. Watch each other’s favorite movies from childhood. 
51. Have a rapping contest ;)
52. Do nothing but enjoy being together.

And to help us stay accountable we will upload a picture and break down of each date on here!

Bountiful Baskets!

You may have heard of these and maybe even thought about getting one, and if you haven't already then you need to get your butt in gear!

This year in order to help me achieve my New Year's Resolution of providing healthier, more budget friendly meals, Mike and I have decided to participate in...

Bountiful Baskets

Bountiful Baskets is a co-op, where everyone's funds are pooled together to buy large amounts of produce at a discount. Anyone and everyone is welcome to participate! Baskets are available in 17 states, at various locations, take a look online today to see if there is a location near you!

Today Mike and I went to pick up our basket and we got the following:

lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, brussel sprouts, tomatoes, kiwis, pomegranates, pears, oranges, fiji apples and bananas

I would highly recommend everyone look into getting Bountiful Baskets!

2012

With the start of every new year comes resolutions, hopes/goals for the new year and new events on the Calendar...

Some of my resolutions for the new year are:

-Workout!

-Prepare a wider variety of healthy, budget friendly meals

-Write to my BF that's on her mission

-Learn how to thrift

-Write in my journal/on the blog on a more regular basis

Some of our hopes/goals for the new year are:

-Go to L.A./Vegas/Boise to visit family

-Get a new car(?)

-Having a weekly date (just the two of us) and a monthly adventure (on the scooter, maybe)

-Go to a Laker game

And some events that we are looking forward to:

-Going to L.A. for Susan's Baby Shower

-Mike Graduating from UVU

-Applying (and hopefully accepted) to P.T. schools

-Going to Europe (Hallelujah!)

-Girl's Camp and the Trek!

Last year was pretty great but I'm positive that 2012 will be a year to remember!

Happy 2012!

A Challenge

If you live in Utah, you've either heard of, participated in, or cheered s friend on who competed in the Dirty Dash.

But how many of you know about the Lick the Pole Obstacle Course? 

Held in the same place, and probably with the same obstacles that are in the Dirty Dash, the Lick the Pole Obstacle Course in the winter version of the much loved Dirty Dash and yours truly is registering to participate!

I recently joined a company called Change Anything, a website based on the book called, "Change Anything", in which I work as a virtual coach helping individuals achieve various Change Goals. 

As an employee I've started my own plan, a Coach to 5k running plan. 

Check it out! 

I'm really excited to get started and I invite you to join me! It should be fun and hopefully at the end, we can get our tongues stuck on the pole together! 

Er... or maybe not.

Good News!

Mike will be graduating... 

Spring 2012

from the

!

Sweet Sweat

So on Monday night when the hubby came home he announced that he was going to start working out every day of the week 

(well, except Sunday).

Apparently while at work he created a beautiful excel sheet to track his exercising...

At first, I thought "okay, whatever you say love", but then he stared me down as he proclaimed the second part of his plan... 

WITH OR WITH OUT YOU   

"OH NO you DIDNT!" 

was what I was thinking, but what I actually said was

"Oh, I'll be exercising with you..."  

Muah ha ha ha haaa (as the evil laughter track rolled in my head) and I will hold you to your CREED!!

"Good" he announced as he whipped out a measuring tape and started to wind it about his extremities.

Oh WOW, we are going the whole nine yards...

"Wait a sec, what are you doing?"

"It's no fun if you can't see the effect of all your hard work!"

Hmm, the hubby had a point. 

So we were measured. And while it was fun seeing just how big my neck and thighs were (and no, I"m not telling you) it was nice to think that maybe I could loose those oh-so-sneaky-newly-married-poundage that I had mysteriously gained over the last year (and  had denied the existence there of... that is until the bathing suit season began). 

And maybe, unlike any other regiment we try to stick to (besides our daily homage to the bube tube) we'll actually become steady exercisers... 

Well, atleast we were the last two days.