January 2017 Update

So normally I do a "What's Up Wednesday" post that kind of details the happenings of our life for the month. However, I can't be confined to the Wednesday time limit. I don't have time to sit down on a weekday and blog about our life for the month. I'll include some of the same topics, but without the deadline. I need flexibility in this. Creativity can't have a time limit. So here's what's been going on with the Browning's this first month of 2017.....

Health and Fitness:
We've done pretty well in this area so far. This was my first time back at camp on a consistent basis since this summer. I committed to 2 days a week at camp, and I made sure they were weight days since that's my favorite thing to do. I've been consistently working out 3 days a week. The third day is usually a home workout doing a Beach Body workout or lifting some weights in my garage. I've lost about 7 pounds this month just by doing an 80/20 diet and working out. I've gotten a little lax this last week or so, but CG Fit is coming up and I've got to be on point. Here are some fun times we've been having at camp so far:

First day back at camp and my workout buddy and I are once again reunited! I just love when she and I get to workout together!!!

When several of your crew cheat on their primary trainer (sorry, Robin) with you.....

So, I needed 2 buddy BINGO stamps and called upon the bonds of friendship when I asked these girls to drive from Plano to come workout with me. My one and only workout with Robin this camp.

When you get to workout with your squad (minus one)

The "other woman trainer" 

Listen, she gets me. When you do minimal running at your camps and it's all weights, you've won me over!

I must share my go-to breakfast: dark chocolate kodiak pancakes with a dollop of nonfat Greek yogurt drizzled with honey and cinnamon and topped with fruit. Throw in 2 scrambled eggs with turkey sausage crumbles and you've got protein for days!

My current obsession:

All. The. Lularoe.

This is a legitimate problem for me. Like, I'm buying things weekly! Pretty soon, Mr. B is going to have to vacate our closet and move his clothes to the other bedroom. Leggings, Carlys, Maxis. I. Can't. Stop!!!!

I'm pretty sure my collection has doubled since this pic was taken.....

Check out this funky outfit that I rocked this week!

What I'm loving:

My Shakeology and accountability group. My cousin runs these accountability groups that keep us all accountable with our shakes, eating, and workouts. I'm all in on this Beach Body health bet. It helps that the shake is so delicious. I've been taking daily pics of me with my shake to win this health bet!

Unsweetened vanilla almond milk, chocolate shakeology, natural peanut butter!

Fun times with my sweetie:

We haven't done very much this month. Our work schedules keep us pretty busy. We still try to find some time to cuddle up on the couch and chill. We are homebodies. Our couch is our favorite place to be all snuggled up in blankets with our two pups! However, starting in February we are doing a marriage study together. We are really excited to dive in to the study and strengthen our marriage. I may or may not be planning a date night for Valentine's Day.....

This was after a rare workout we were able to do together

couch cuddles: our favorite thing to do

Packers vs. Cowboys......I'm just going to leave my thoughts about his choice of team right here

The right choice

Clearly I was on the losing side of this fight this time around. I felt better the next week when his team got beat by the Falcons. All is well in Browning World now.

date night for the twins' birthday

my caption says it all

Thanks filter!

Fun with friends:

We celebrated the twins' birthday earlier this month. We had dinner at Misty and Adrian's (steak, green beans, and loaded mashed potatoes). We headed out to enjoy a concert by the Josh Abbott Band that evening. We always enjoy putting on our cowboy boots and enjoying some country music. #officiallyover30

From celebrating 21 together to celebrating 31 together. Love these girls!

Cowboy boots!!! Who do you think the odd one out is....? Here's a hint: It's the one who "tolerated" the evening for his spouse.

Me and my Christy

Me and my Misty

The pretty one

The obligatory silly one

The group! #yayforselfiesticks

Last night, we got to attend the Westside annual congregational singing. I look forward to this event every year. I've been going since I moved here. Singing is one of my absolute favorite things to do. It's even better when it's with hundreds of other saints singing praises to our Lord and Savior!

School Stuff:

I can't believe we are already into the second semester and the end of the 4th six weeks is almost here! I've had such a great year so far! Now we are getting into testing season. I'm a first timer when it comes to state testing, but I'm going into it with confidence. My sweet kids will be ready when May comes around. I've enjoyed hanging out with these fun 3rd graders. I work with fun people and have a great support system. This was the right move for me! I even participated in the Battle of the Books this year. That was so much fun!!! We also got our Chromebooks, so now all our 3-5th graders have their own technology. I've been really taking advantage of that. 

Team Bookaneers took 2nd place! Yeah, we're dressed as pirates

So far 2017 has been good to us. We are excited to go to Lubbock next month to celebrate Jude's 2nd birthday. We are still working on our journey to becoming parents. We haven't given up on that hope. February is a short month that we plan on jam packing with greatness!

2017 Goals

Yeah, I'm going to be cliche and do a post about goals. I don't care. It's my blog and I'll write what I want to. I had intended to review my goals for 2016, but I realized that I didn't do a post about them. I guess that was 2015 I did that. Oh well! I started thinking about this on Thursday as I was meal planning for the upcoming week because we all know I have a fitness goal like the rest of the world. I took out my brand new Erin Condren Life planner and got to work on January. Here are some things I thought I'd like to accomplish this year.

Spiritual Goals: This one is always a tough one for me. I know I'm not the only one that struggles with this area in their life. It seems I've been struggling more as of late. I'm not really sure why. But I know I need to make some changes.

• Daily Bible reading: My plan is to read through the New Testament in a year. I hope to eventually join my husband in his weekly Bible studies since they are about to dive into the NT
• Spend more time in prayer: I'm often guilty of only praying when I need something. I often forget to pray daily and thank the Lord for his blessings for the day....like the fact that I'm still breathing, have a roof over my head, a job I love, and a loving husband at my side.

Fitness Goals: Again, this one is always hard for me to stick to. I'm a fatty for life, I'm telling you. I've struggled with weight and fitness all my life. I don't know if I'll ever be able to get it right, but I know each day is a new fresh start.

• Weekly meal planning and prep: I plan on sitting down on Thursdays and planning out what I want for the next week. I'm one of those that does well with repetition. Eating the same thing daily helps me stay accountable.
• Drinking my Shakeology: When I was doing this regularly, I saw a difference. I had more energy. I felt better. It's a matter of finding the time of day I want to drink it and sticking with it.
• Working out: This was easy for me last year with early morning CG workouts, but not so much now that I have to be at work earlier. I hate waking up early and I hate working out when I get home. Clearly we have a problem. Currently, I'm committing myself to 2 days a week lifting weights at CG on Mondays and Thursdays in the evenings. I plan on doing Beach Body workouts the other days of the week.
• Loving myself for where I'm at: I've got to quit comparing my journey to that of those around me. I'm never going to be a size 2 and that's OK. I also need to stop putting myself down. I'll get there eventually. Fitness is a marathon, not a sprint. 

Reading Goals: I want to read at least one book a month. I'm not committing myself to self-improvement, nonfiction, fiction, or a series. I made the mistake last year of making a grand list of books I wanted to read over the course of the year. Yeah, I lost interest in that list pretty early on. I'm only going to look for recommendations when I need one. I've had to stop reading the blog that I used to for reading because I was getting overwhelmed with book choices. I definitely had to stop listening to her podcast, too. January's book (which I've already started reading because it's over 600 pages) is "The 6 Wives of Henry the VIII". 

Marriage Goals: I love my husband so much, so these are going to be fun for me to try to achieve. His happiness makes me happy. 

• Monthly date nights: Like I mean a mandatory night out. We get so lazy about wanting to stay in and do nothing but sit on the couch and watch TV. We are young and without children. We should be enjoying that life. I'm going to have to make myself put on pants and go out on the town with my handsome man. 
• Be nicer: Not that I'm mean, but I tend to push the envelope of teasing. I sometimes don't know when to shut up and leave things alone. I want to be encouraging and uplifting, not nagging and teasing. This one is going to be difficult for me because it's so entwined with my personality.
• Be patient: I recognize we operate at different speeds on some things, I need to calm down and let him do things in his own time and not rush to do it for him.

Life Goals: Survive! 

• Be patient: Yes, in life. I want things to go according to plan. I have a hard time adjusting when things go off course. I'm a girl who likes and thrives on routines and plans. There are things I want to happen in my life that I have to realize aren't in my direct control. God has a plan, and I need to stop thinking I know better than he does in regard to it.
• Pay off debt: With us getting raises, I'd like to see us pay off some of the debt we owe and quit acquiring new debt once we've paid something off. This one is going to be super challenging for me. 
• Make more time for friends and family: I want to keep up my monthly lunch dates with the twins. I would also like to find time for my thread life girls, too. Snap Chat just isn't enough. I need some face to face time with those ladies. I would also like to see my family more. I'm going to need them to come visit me more. I've got another trip planned to see them in February.
• Blog monthly: I do a pretty decent job of this with my "What's Up Wednesday" posts each month, but I would like to do one or two more posts a month. Maybe if I schedule them in my planner it'll make me do it......

Career Goals: I just want to gain a deeper knowledge in my current grade level. This next school year I want to be more efficient in my methods since I have a year under my belt now. I'm pretty good at adapting and changing what didn't work they year before, so I'm hoping this will come easier for me. I've also been toying with the idea for some time now to take my 4-8 Generalist test that would allow me to teach up to 8th grade. I'm not saying this is a "goal" because I'm still in my deciding phase on whether or not this is something I want to pursue, or even think I'd be good at. Let's get through my first year of third grade first......

Well, I guess that does it for me. It'll be interesting to see this time next year if I've met these goals. I can't wait to tackle them! I'm coming for you 2017!!!!