Resolution: Yoga

Here I am, a quarter of the way through the year, and I am excited to say I have crossed another resolution off my list.

Today, I took my first Yoga class. Technically, it would be my second, but the first was back in college and I barely remember it.

The gym I joined offers multiple Yoga classes and I tried out Vinyasa Yoga today. It was longer than expected at 75 minutes, but very relaxing. I did better stretching wise than I expected of myself, but the breathing was definitely the most challenging for me. I've always had trouble taking long deep breaths through my nose, given a deviated septum. I've been working really hard at concentrating on my breathing when running and I think Yoga might actually be a good way to help me improve.

While I enjoyed the class at the gym, there aren't many times they offer during the week that work with my schedule. Can anyone recommend a good home video for daily yoga lasting no more than 30 minutes or so?

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

One of my New Years Resolutions was to read one book per month for 2014. I know that may not be a lot to some of you, but considering I pretty much stopped reading when I had Sadie and Steve deployed, it's a good starting goal for me to pick it back up. If I have time to read more, I will!

My book of choice for the month of March was The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.




You can buy it on Amazon for only $9.00. Less if you have a Kindle.

I give this book four and a half stars. It was nothing what I expected, but when I heard that it was being made into a major motion picture and I just had to read it before the big screen grabbed a hold. I was not disappointed.

The book is about two teenagers, Hazel and Augustus, that meet at a cancer support group. Hazel is a three-year Stage IV thyroid cancer survivor and is on oxygen. She doesn't have many friends after leaving school for cancer treatment and keeps to herself. Augustus lost a leg to his previous fight with a tumor. They become quick friends, and of course there is a love story intertwined.

During the story, Hazel becomes obsessed with finding out the ending to a book she read titled "An Imperial Infliction." Augustus helps her on her adventure to find this answer.

The book may not seem too exciting to read, and I thought the same as I read the first few pages. But the characters unique personalities and will to live will draw you in.

I would recommend this book to anyone, but have your tissues ready! It was a easy and quick read and left me wanting more.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

A Book Review: The Five Love Languages

One of my new years resolutions is to read at least one book a month. I am happy to report I have already finished two and I am well into my third book. The first book I read was Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. It was an interesting book. It was very written but such a strange story.

The second book I read was The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman. This was a fantastic read. I don't consider Steve and I to have any marriage problems yet, as we are only 3 1/2 years into our wonderful marriage; however, I truly believe you always have to work on a marriage and what better way to prepare than before the problem starts?

The book talks about how there are five different love languages that we speak. Each of us has a primary love language in which we receive love. If you spouse can learn to speak your love language then your "love tank" will always be full and you will always feel love from your spouse.

What I love about this book is that it also mentions that children have a primary love language. As Sadie gets older, if we can identify her primary love language, then we will know how to love and support her in a way that she will always feel love to its fullest extent.

I encourage anybody in a relationship or with children to read this book. It is a quick read and Steve is now reading it. Five stars from me!

New Year: New Beginnings

We did it! We are officially homeless. The movers came back and loaded up the truck on Thursday and we were out of the house by 3pm. It was a bittersweet day.

Sadie's last day in her very first room! 

We stayed one night in Statesboro, GA. About an hour away from our {old} house. This is the little town we both went to college and where we met six years ago. It was a nice little visit, but the small town as grown so much! Steve went into work the next morning and I was ready for us to go as soon as he cleared from Fort Stewart. We drove that night up to my parents house in Braselton, GA. We will be here for a little over a week before we take our trip to Disney World!

In other news, we are officially in 2014 which of course means New Years Resolutions. I was so proud of myself for completing all my resolutions last year.

So here are my Twenty Fourteen New Years Resolutions:

1. Complete two 5ks. I was so proud of myself for running an entire 5k last year. This year I want to do two. Mostly so that I have a reason to keep my running going.

2. Read 1 book per Month. I finally started reading again at the end of last year and I realized how much I miss it. There's something about the way you drift off into a book that is so relaxing. Even a TV can't do that for you.

3. Take a Yoga Class. I have always said I wanted to try Yoga. I've taken one or two classes in the past during college, but it has been a while. I would love to try it again and maybe take a full beginners course.

4. Try the Whole30. This will be a tough one, but Steve and I are hoping to do it together. I know I won't be the person to completely change to a Paleo, but I would love to just give my body a rest from processed junk and even alcohol for one whole month. Gulp.

5. Find a Mommy Group at Fort Lee. I loved my Stroller Strong Group so much in Savannah. I wish I had found it sooner. That support as a mom is irreplaceable. I am determined to find some sort of Mommy Group near Richmond.

6. Find a Church. Steve and I haven't been to church much lately. Sadie used to be on a schedule where she napped right in the middle of the two morning services, so it was hard to take her. Now that she is on a one nap schedule, we absolutely need to find a church. Fort Lee will be a new area and I would love to find a Church that is as good for us as it is for Sadie.

7. Pay off our Van. This is a financial goal for us. We are very close having already paid more than half of what we bought it for. It sure will be nice when we have to make one less car payment a month!

I think I've made a pretty well rounded 2014 resolution list. I look forward to feeling when I accomplish each one of these goals!

“Don't let the fear of the time

it will take to accomplish something

stand in the way of your doing it.

The time will pass anyway.”

-Earl Nightingale