10 Ways I’m Going to Make Myself Happier in 2017

I think I’ve officially had it with New Year’s Resolutions. I know it’s right around the corner, but I’m tired of focusing on one hour when the clock changes to do something about the way I feel, inside and out. I’m also tired of focusing on all the negatives. I refuse to do it anymore.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t things I’d like to change. There are things I would LOVE to change, it’s just that I’m looking at them differently. I’m looking at myself differently. I’m looking at life differently.

This year it’s all going to be about what I WANT to do. Not what I need to do. After some soul-searching it’s hilarious to find that they’re pretty much the same thing. The way you approach them makes all the difference though.

So, here is my list of ten things I want to see happen in the next year, and the things I’m looking forward to doing to make them happen (I’ve already started a few).

1. Smile when I walk by a mirror

I’m already doing this, and you want to know why? Because on my 34th birthday I walked into a fancy makeup store and spoiled myself. It was a game changer for me (oh that new lip stain oil, swoon!). It is incredible how much of a difference putting on some good makeup makes to my day, to how I feel, and it shows because I get stopped constantly by people asking what I’m wearing, or complimenting me on how it looks (big eyes could rule the world).

2. Put a smile in my husband’s eyes each night

I am all for spending my days at home in sweat pants and ripped up shirts while I’m cleaning and doing the laundry (it’s comfortable!), but 5 minutes before Bo gets home I’ll run upstairs and put something pretty on. He doesn’t have to know that I’m not that put together looking 24/7. I’m a girl that loves being in love, and part of that is seeing how much he loves me written on his face. When we were dating I would spend hours getting ready to see him, all so I could see his reaction. The least I can do is set aside five minutes to get that butterfly feeling again. Seeing him look at me the same way he did almost 17 years ago makes me feel like I’m on top of the world.

3. More girl’s nights

Go out more with the girls. Movie nights, dinners out, gossip at the coffee shop. I don’t care where it is or what it is, I want to get out and joke around more, and I want to have more confidence doing it. I have been stuck in Mom mode for 7 years, I know more about diapers than current events.

4. Fun with the kids

I’m going to run around and play more with the kids. This is an ongoing struggle for me – I’ve got arthritis already. I love the water, so I’m going to get back to going for a swim in the mornings, and hopefully that can be my catalyst to start improving overall. My kids are getting bigger, I LOVED running around all the theme parks in Florida with them this year, but the next day I HURT laying around the hotel. Next year I want to run twice as hard with no pain after (tall order, Oliver gives me a run for my money on the best of days!)

5. New hobbies

More hobbies, and less free time. Yeah, I know, CRAZY right? But the truth is, when I’m not being productive, I fall into a total funk, and it gets hard to pull myself out of it. I like being busy, and I LOVE learning new skills. I can sew now (not great, but I’m learning), and after Bo bought me a table saw (ok, so he may have gotten it for some work in the basement), I’m itching to learn how to make furniture. I want to totally re-do our office with bookcases and a built-in desk. Being busy makes me happy, and I’m always so proud of myself when I pull something new off.

6. Better eating habits

I want to go to bed feeling better. I have headaches so many nights it’s not even funny. The kicker is that I know exactly why I do – sometimes I suck at eating properly. The kids get three healthy meals a day, but I’m always running around trying to get “stuff” done. It’s lazy, and it’s taking a toll on me. There are some days where I get home from picking the kids up from school at the end of the day and I realize I haven’t even had a drink of water yet. I’m notorious for only eating dinner most days, and I’m constantly dehydrated. Changing this will mean that I’m feeling better when I go to bed, and when I wake up each morning.

7. Have fun clothes shopping

I love shoes, and clothes, and shoes. So does my Anna, and she’s already begging me to keep things of mine for her for when she’s older. But she’s a skinny mini, who plays hockey, soccer, and dances. She’s always going to be a skinny mini, and when she’s older, I want us to be able to go shopping together and joke around trying on clothes. I’m continuing to use alli® to keep me motivated on this path (but eating right is the key to it). For every 5 pounds you lose through diet and exercise, alli® can help you lose 2-3 more*. You can sign up for emails to receive a $10 off coupon if you’d like. I’m taking the slow and steady wins the race method, still enjoying eating, just less and healthier foods. The payoff will be amazing though, and I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble Anna and I will get into!

8. Play more music

I love dancing around the kitchen when I’m cooking, I love making up goofy songs for the kids, and I miss screwing around on the piano. I’m going to find time every week to play more, and hopefully it’ll get the kids wanting to learn how too.

9. Connect better

I’m so lucky to have a circle of friends and family that check in on me to see how life’s going (especially since the bumps we’ve had in the last few months), but I’m not always great at doing the same. Now that we’ve reached a point of normalcy in our day to day routine, it’s time to pay it forward and be more available for everyone who was there for me! Having people I can count on and lean on mean more to me than anything, and I want to make sure they know it!

10. More family photos

We literally only have one family photo up in the house. I’ve got a few of the kids, a couple of Sophie, and only 1 of all of us. One thing I hate about pictures with the kids though is how much whiter their smiles are than mine (ah, youth). So, I’m going to get my teeth whitened, one simple little step that will give me a lot more confidence in our family pics.

alli® is the only FDA-approved over-the-counter weight loss aid around and prevents about 25% of the fat you eat from being absorbed*, but it needs to be used along with a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet and exercise to help. It’s available online and in-store at Walmart, Target, Walgreen’s, CVS, Rite Aid, amazon.com, drugstore.com, and various grocery stores.

Don’t forget: Sign up for alli®email updates and get a $10 coupon on your purchase today here.

*alli® (orlistat 60 mg capsules) is for weight loss in overweight adults, 18 years and older, when used along with a reduced-calorie and low-fat diet. Follow label directions.

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