I want to do it all and eat my bread too!

I'm not a patient person.  I am a instant gratification kinda girl.  That being said I'm having a hard time not wanting to jump to the projects that are set for other months.  My Sexy Husband and I read The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family by Patrick Lencioni last year.  We thought it was an excellent idea.  It has helped us a lot setting our priorities and being more focused as a family.

So I am trying to focus on My Happiness Project, at the same time I'm trying to stay on task with our Frantic Family goal for the next couple of months.  Then add the stack of books I have next to my bed to help me with my goals.  My brain started working overtime last night.  I am so excited about the end result I want to be Samantha and wiggle my nose.   In order to save my sanity I put away the book on food storage I was reading.   I need to stick to my two projects and not think about the others until it's time, which is really really hard, because I have some awesome books in my nightstand.  :)

I made sandwich bread today!!!  I made enough dough for 3 loaves.  We let it cool completely, sliced it and it's good!!!  Yay!  No more store bought for the Pierce family :) 

Here's a picture of the round loaf we have made a couple of times.  It's tasty and goes well with soups, salads, and just butter  :)

I know several of you would like the recipe, but I don't feel right posting it since I got it from a book.  I'm not sure how copyright works.  Here's a link to the book I used.  I love it.  It's easy. Thanks Mom and Dad for the gift card that bought this for me :)

I think today was a success.  Less processed food (shhhhh we won't mention the Krispy Kreme)... Well, maybe I'll call it even.  

Here I go.....

Wow!  I never thought I'd be a blogger.  I never thought I'd have something to say.  I never thought anyone would want to read what I had to say.  Now I find I have something to say and maybe some of you might want to read it.

A couple of months ago I read this book http://www.happiness-project.com/ that really made me think about who, what and where I wanted to be in this life.  I'm not unhappy with my life, but I feel that I need to re-evaluate and stop wasting the moments I have with my family.  I haven't been taking full advantage of what I have been given.

I started thinking how many times a week  I tell another parent that the kids are getting big too fast and how much I wish they would slow down.  Even though I wish for more time I am not taking advantage of the now.  How many times I brush off the boys telling them we will do it later and later rarely comes.  The hours I waste on Facebook, television or just silly things.  How many moments do I let slip away with out really appreciating the journey.  Like Gretchen Rubin says "The days are long, but the years are short." I want to make sure I'm living in the now.

I took Gretchen's challenge and started my own Happiness Project for 2012.  I listed all the things I wanted to change or make better in my life.  My Happiness Project for 2012

• January - Be Healthy
• February - Spirituality
• March - Being a Fun Parent/ Creating Memories/Parenting
• April - Marriage
• May - Family and Friendships
• June - Finding Me
• July - Simplicity, Minimalist lifestyle
• August - It's all about the fun
• September - Food Storage, Emergency preparedness
• October - Attitude
• November - Mindfulness
• December - Be Happy 

 My happiness goal for January is Be Healthy.  I chose being healthy because I am constantly dragging.  I'm tired all the time.  I have insomnia most nights.  I have really neglected myself for a long time.  For the month of January I want to...

• Go to bed by 10pm
• Drink more water
• Eat less processed foods
• wake up earlier 6:45
• Exercise 
• Drink Green Smoothies
• Make Doctor Appointments

So far I've been doing decent job with going to bed on time.  I have fudged it a couple of times if I've been in the middle of a show with my sexy husband.

I'm doing better about increasing my water.  I have struggled with drinking enough water my whole life.  I just don't like it.  It's not my favorite.

I'm cooking more of our food.  I just got an awesome bread making book that I've been using to make round loaves.  I'm going to attempt making sandwich bread this week.  I'm hoping by next week I'll be making all of our bread.  It's not really that hard to start making your own food, and it tastes better and is better for you.

I have failed failed failed to wake up early.  I set the goal so that I could see my sexy husband and the older boys before they left for school, and have some quiet time before the now 5 year old woke up.  So far the earliest I've managed to wake up and out of bed has been 7:45.  I just don't like it.  Especially on a day like today when it's raining outside and it's warm in bed.  I'm going to keep trying.  I might have to keep putting in on the list every month.

I haven't even attempted to exercise.  I was going to walk on days the now 5 year old went to school.  It's been cold so I haven't wanted to walk. Okay, I admit I'm also a tad lazy.  I'm thinking about breaking out the wii fit.  I can exercise and it won't be cold.

I've started drinking my greens. I found this great book Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko.  Every morning my sexy husband makes me a green smoothie.  The greens are blended in my Vita-mix with a few fruits to make them taste better ( although I'm almost ready to go mostly green ).  I've had kale, spinach, red leaf and romaine.  Is it working?  I think so.  I'll keep you updated on my green drinks.  :)
P.S. Don't worry I am also eating fruits and veggies.  This is in addition to what I already eat.

I've made a few doctor appointments I've been putting off for some time.  I have 3 boys that I would like to see grow into men.  I had my first pap in over 9 years and got my first mammogram.  Both came back normal.  :)  I still need to find a primary care doctor, dentist, massage therapist and a naturopathic doctor. I'll be calling and making appointments this week.  Fun times ahead.

After writing all of that I'm thinking maybe I started this blog for me.  Maybe I needed a place to put my thoughts and goals.  It seems more real here.  Wish me luck.