Bring it on 2014!! Running...Budgeting...Organizing..LET'S GO!

Every year MILLIONS of people sit down on January 1st...or 2nd depending on the level of hangover you may or may not have.......................and make their "New Years Resolutions"...Things they are going to improve in their lives in the upcoming year.  There are a bunch of lists out there of the top 10 New Years Resolutions...Guess what 3 are on EVERY>SINGLE>LIST.....

1. Lose weight
2. Get out of Debt
3. Organize my life.

Guess what 3 are also on every.single.list. of UNFULFILLED resolutions....................................................

Up untill last year I was part of that statistic...I would say...this year is it...I'm going to lose these 50 pounds of left over children I'm hanging onto...

Then life happened....please read...we could not stop making more children..........................................and I was never able to fulfill the ever popular WEIGHT LOSS resolution.

This year I can look back and finialy say....I FREAKIN DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!

I FINIALLY changed my life and the quality of life of my family....

Left: April 2013 after running my first mile

Right: December 2013 after running my 300th mile about 40 pounds and a shit ton of inches lighter!!

It's no secrete I'm incredibly proud of how I've changed my life in the past year...Having 3 kids under 4 is no freakin joke....and I knew I needed to be fit and healthy to give these little gremlins the quality of life they deserve...So I committed to it...and I did it...And I can FINALLY look back and say without a doubt I did everything I could to get me to where  I am.. 

I ran my ass off...literally... 

I ate better.

I put my need to be healthy way high up on my priority list.

And it happened.

I made a goal and worked my ass of to meet it...Yes I missed out on nap times to go for a run...and nights out with friends because I was running early in the morning the next day and I just wanted to go home, drink hot tea, and not wear pants............................

But I tell you what...accomplishing this goal FEELS AMAZING!

So I was thinking the other day...what if I could look back on 2014 and say the same thing about more than just my health?

What if I could organize my house like I've always wanted to...What if I could formulate a budget for our family that accelerated paying off our college debts...What if I could join the minority of people that actually stick to their "New Years Resolutions?" 

I've been searching Pintrest, Google +, and reading quite a bit lately on how to accomplish said goals..I've found some AWESOME resources...

I found the blog A Bowl Full of Lemons while I was pregnant with Tyler and I remember thinking...Yeah...that'll NEVER happen. Well my friends it's happening in 2014...I've already combined my TWO junk drawers into one organized one. Boom.

What am I going to do with my now empty other junk drawer? I don't know....there's just so much room for activities... So many possibilities!! 

Also happening in 2014....a wicked family budget...and by wicked I mean freakin awesome.  I have quite a few friends that follow Dave Ramsey and have had a lot of success.  I found this Debt Reduction Calculator that lets you list your debts and interest rates...then you can chose to continue paying the minimums, start a snowball, add extra money to your snowball...there's a bunch of different options and scenarios...and my favorite part...it tells you when you will have things paid in full and shows you how much you will be paying in interest over the coarse of the loan...  It's awesome. 

How can you write about paying off debt? That's such a personal thing!?! Yeah so is weight loss and I kicked that in the ass...I don't need to keep up with the Joneses...I am the freakin Joneses. 

I kid....But seriously...It all comes back to the quality of life I want to create for my kids...I wanted them to have a fit, healthy mom that can chase them around for hours, climb snow mountains, give piggy back rides home from the park, and pull their hefty bodies up gigantic sledding hills just so we can go down again. 

I also want them to live in a peaceful home...which includes not having to hunt for 15 minutes for ONE FREAKING GLOVE...............................I crave organization....like twizzlers.

I have a lot going on in 2014... 2 half marathons, a 25k (that's 15.5 miles for those of you grabbing your calculator), and MAYBE....MAAAYYYYYBE my first full marathon... MAYBE. 

My baby sister is GOOOOING TO THE CHAPEL AND SHE'S GOOOONNNA GET MAAAAARRRIED....I'm writing one hell-a-ba speech. I.cannot.wait.

My baby turns 1, my monster turns 3, and my big boy turns 5!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dana and I will celebrate 6 years of wedded bliss, 8 years of owning our own business, and make countless new memories of this life we love so much. 

All while staying healthy, organizing my life, and getting out of debt. 

Bring it on 2014....Bring.It.On.