Let it Snow into the New Year

Christmas did not fall short this year! Throughout the entire month of December, we fulfilled our activity traditions, baked lots of cookies, shopped and wrapped gifts, placed that damn (I’m sorry for my French, but if you are a parent who has fallen into the trap of the Elf on the Shelf, I’m sure you can relate to Tony and I when we have laid in bed and realized that Elf has not moved yet and flipping coins to figure out who will have to movie him) elf on the freakn shelf and we have been able to spend time with our family and friends.

These last few days, we (in the Seattle area) have been blessed to have a white Christmas as it began to snow on Christmas Eve! Tony, Donovan and I were able to enjoy even MORE snow as we traveled from our beloved Seattle to Eastern Oregon where my parents live. So throughout this blog post, I have put snow pictures for you to enjoy!

Throughout this year, there have been a lot of changes. I switched careers in order to have a better schedule and that was a huge change for our family; some good changes and some bad changes. I had gained amazing friends, lost some friendships, and rekindled and strengthened friendships. We had watched Donovan grow over this last year from being a toddler to our best friend/buddy that I love to take out on dates and share memories with.

This upcoming year of 2018 will not only begin some new experience, fun trips and good weather, but it will also open new chapters and goals in my life and in my little family’s life as well. So here are the goals and decisions that I have to look forward to in 2018:

·         Adoption

o   Yes…after much praying, researching and talking to other people, we have decided to adopt. We will begin the process within the next couple of months and hope to be placed with a baby in 1-2 years. Please keep us in your prayers and ANY sort of advice is greatly appreciated!

·         Becoming more Behind the Camera (Photography)

o   All of the pictures that you see on my Instagram and blog (with the exception of my best friend, Shelly Kay Photography) have been taken by myself or I set it and Tony takes them. I began taking pictures for blog purposes however, as I have been getting into the industry of blogging, I have been finding that I LOVE taking pictures! As of right now, I am shooting with a Canon 50D and solely off of a 50 mm lense. Goal for this upcoming year is to get better and practice, practice, and practice enough so that I can become a family/lifestyle/blogger photographer! Through the next couple of months, I will be reaching out to people to practice my photo taking skills and taking pictures for free! (or if you read this post, reach out to me for more details!) I hope to become more familiar in editing, shadow, learn, and grow this skill.

·         Physical and healthy fitness (and honestly getting the body I’ve always wanted)

o   After a few years of weight training and a year or so of meal prepping, I have decided to hire a fitness and nutrition coach for the next 9 months. I have to say that it was getting pretty frustrating for me to do what I had been doing and not seeing the results I wanted, so I took a step further and decided to join an online coaching program. Now that I am 32 years old, I really wanted to take my health and fitness to a deeper level and this means that I have to work a bit harder. We will see how this will turn out in a few months!

·         Hip hop classes (not for me, but for Donovan!)

o   Donovan has been involved with t-ball and soccer and it never really clicked with him. Sure he loves to run around and play with his friends, but physical contact is not his thing! So Tony and I have decided for him to try hip hop classes. We are a firm believer that once you commit to something, you follow through with it! The goal is to have him perform in his very first recital in June…..fingers crossed! He begins his classes next week!

·         Stop Comparing Myself to Others

o   I have been a person who has always compared things from physical appearance to possessions to other people and it is EXHAUSTING. I want to find the “inner peace” and confidence that will allow me to enjoy everything around me! My goal is to see the positive in everything, shoot out any negative and judgmental feelings and love me and be content because to be honest and genuine with you, I struggle with this on a daily basis.

·         Send a birthday card and gift card to everyone one of my 5 sibling, my two nephews and to my parents

o   I set this goal every year and fail!!! My dad’s birthday is just right around the corner on January 18^th, and once I forget to send him a card, then I just don’t do the rest. But this year, I took it a step further and ordered a kit of 50 cards on Amazon and will follow through this year! I know this one is small, but it’ll be a good day next year when I can look back at the New Year and say I DID IT!!!

That is what I have to look forward to in 2018! Remember to live and love every moment this upcoming year has to offer because it will come and go in a flash!

Happy New Years!

XOXO

Tiff