I did it.

I've debated writing a post like this (about my weight loss) for about 6 months now. It's a pretty vulnerable thing to do but I've decided to do it now. On the last day of the year when I'm looking back and pretty darn proud of myself for what I've accomplished this year. I was the QUEEN of excuses. If I can do this...anyone can. If you have any questions you can leave a comment and I will reply or email me at lindsayrosewoods@gmail.com. I'm by no means an expert but I know what has worked for me and I'm happy to share.

New Year's resolutions. Last year I did really good with them. I don't remember if I ever blogged what they were and I'm too tired right now to go and look, but I remember what they were. Because I only made 2 and I kept them both. I don't think I've ever done that.

My first resolution for 2014 was to lose weight. And I think my 70 pound weight loss (although I've gained a few over the holidays but that's okay) would say that I did that one pretty well.

How did I lose 70 pounds? Hard work. I got my butt to the gym nearly every single day and I ate less. I kept track of my calories on My Fitness Pal and moved more. Plain and simple but it works.

This is one of the first selfies I took this year. I was leaving for a birthday party for a friend and a few out of town friends asked to see what I was wearing. I was SO SELF-CONSCIOUS. I was not comfortable. I was about 2 or 3 weeks into my journey and down maybe 5 pounds? I can't remember. 

I was also sucking in and doing everything I could to make it look like I was way smaller than I was. 

This was the first comparison picture I did. The left was Emma's first birthday (October 2013) and the right was in April. I was down around 30 pounds and feeling so good.

Same timing as the pictures above but just a face shot. On the right was April also but at my brother's wedding.

I did anything and everything to motivate myself. I often had things on the kitchen chalkboard to keep me on track.

A few months ago I was looking for pictures of John and I and there was a few years where there were very few. This year we have so many and I am cherishing them. I hated HATED to have a picture taken of me.

My first big goal was to lose 50 pounds by my birthday on June 10. I accomplished that!

This is me on my birthday. haha! 

And that evening out celebrating my birthday. I loved (love) this dress. I was so happy to be able to fit into it.

This quote was constantly going through my head. And still does.

Anyone with significant weight to lose knows what a milestone this is...when I finally started to see my collarbones! 

This next picture of me is at my lowest weight this year. I had just lost 70 pounds. I was on top of the world and feeling so good.

That morning at the gym my sister sent me the sweetest video which made me cry. At the gym. 

Emma's 2nd birthday....we both changed a lot in a year.

So many things about this journey have been so exciting. One of them has been leggings and boots.

I got these boots for Christmas last year. They didn't fit over my calves. I was too embarrassed to say that so I said I couldn't wear them because they had a (very slight) wedge which hurt my ankles. I had sprained both of them a couple months before. I was so ashamed.

It's been an amazing journey. But I'm not done. :)

My second resolution was silly but something I wanted to do. I wanted to keep my nails painted every day. I can count on 1 hand how many days I have not had my nails painted this year. It's 4. And 3 of those are from a couple weeks ago. I thought my nails needed some breathing. ha! But I guess this one fell into the category of taking care of myself and making sure I looked nice. Plus it became relaxing to do in the evenings. There were many MANY days during nap time that I would paint my nails just to keep from snacking. Lame but it works.

I'm happy with where I am and who I've become this year. Next year I have the same resolutions plus a couple more.

1. This year I will reach my goal weight. Once I'm there I'm not sure what my next step will be. I have a few ideas but I have no idea what I'll want once I'm there.

2. Keep my nails painted every day. I loved this one. Going to do it again.

3. Read 2 books a month.

4. Run a 5K and 10K. I want to put a half marathon on this list but I'm too scared to. I know that sounds lame but I'm not ready to make that a goal yet. It may happen this year but I'm not sure yet. :)

Here's to 2015. I am so excited for the new year. I have no regrets this year. I'm healthier, smaller, stronger, and happier than I was a year ago. I'm proud of myself.

#woodslifeeveryday2014 week 52

Oh my goodness!!!! 2014 is over and I took a picture every single day this year. I am so glad I did this and I can't wait to do it again for 2015! If you want to follow along on Instagram my username is lindsaywoods_

Day 358: Merry Christmas Eve!

Day 359: Emma is flipping out over Sophia dress and Hudson is thrilled with M&M's. Merry Christmas! May the love of Christ fill your homes today.

Day 360: Lady is here! Opening presents was first on the agenda.

Day 361: Loving his new balance bike from Lady! Emma loves her bike too but was way too tired from partying all night to ride. ha!

Day 362: Yay for a flooded basement. 

Day 363: I'm being serenaded this morning with a lovely Christmas medley! #falalalalalala

Day 364: We took down Christmas today and I love the post-Christmas decorated house almost as much as a freshly Christmas decorated house. Does that make any sense? ha! One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the Christmas cards. And I keep them. All of this year's cards are punched and now on a ring for me to go back and look at. I love keeping them!

Day 365: Last family selfie of 2014! And #woodslifeeveryday2014 is complete. Happy new year, y'all!

weekending :: Lady edition!

We had a really great weekend. My mom came in town on Friday afternoon and we had a nice, relaxing day before she got here. Not that we hadn't done enough relaxing on Christmas day. ha!

Emma played doctor and poor Oliver was her patient. 

When Lady arrived with lots of presents it was hard to do anything but open them. The kids have had a steady stream of Christmas presents all December long. It's been fun to spread it out!

Emma and I both got a new necklace and bracelet from Lady. And she is just like me...every piece she opened she had to put on. I've been that way for as long as I can remember. So we snapped a pic of us in our new jewels. Thanks Lady!

That afternoon we played and dressed up in the fun new dress up clothes Lady gave them. That night we had leftovers and then of course, hot chocolate!

Saturday morning we headed out so the kids could practice on their new balance bikes. Hudson loved it but Emma was way too tired to enjoy it.

After bikes we went to lunch at Post Office Pies and had yummy pizza. I realized just now that I didn't do a great job documenting our weekend. That's one of my new years resolutions...to be better about documenting every part of our weekends. ha! Saturday afternoon while Lady and Hudson went to go see Big Hero 6, I was painting my nails for our date night and Emma wanted her nails done too. She picked blue to match her Elsa dress. 

Saturday night John and I went to dinner and then we saw Hunger Games. It was great! We love the Hunger Games movies. Again...didn't document anything. :)

Sunday we went to eat breakfast at Big Bad Breakfast....our new favorite breakfast spot in Birmingham. It's by far the best breakfast I've ever had. After breakfast we came back home and played for a little while before the kids napped. Oh...forgot to mention that John was off on Sunday so it was so strange to be out that morning and not at church. ha! Anyway, while the kids napped Lady and I went and saw Into the Woods. It was fantastic! And I saw 2 movies at the movie theater in 1 weekend! I can't even remember the last grown up movie I saw in the theater. haha!

Unfortunately our basement flooded this weekend from all the rain we got so John spent a lot of time down there pumping water out. Boo :(

Monday morning I was serenaded with a lovely Christmas medley while I was enjoying my coffee. Around 10 Lady and I headed out to do a little shopping in downtown Homewood. We picked up some lunch from Brick & Tin on our way home. So so good. Then that afternoon John and I had a day date! We went shopping...John wanted a new bow tie for New Year's Eve and I needed a dress. Then we ended our afternoon at Pottery Barn to get a few things for the house. On our way home we picked up dinner from Little Donkey. It was such a fun day! 

I ended my dad with a piece of Father Christmas pie from Emporium Pies in McKinney, Texas. SO good, y'all!

While Lady was in town, she slept in Hudson's room so H slept on the floor of our room. When we went to bed on Monday night he was in what looked like the most uncomfortable position ever. ha!

Lady gave us a Vitamix for Christmas. We have had it for 4 days and have used it at least 10 times. The kids love green smoothies and I love that they are getting tons of healthy things in them. Plus....cleaning a Vitamix is the easiest thing ever! If it's possible to be in love with a blender then I totally am.

We spent all day taking down Christmas. I love taking down Christmas almost as much as I love putting it up! People spend so much time and money on Christmas cards and it's one of my favorite parts of Christmas so I can't bring myself to throw them away. A few years ago I started hole punching them and then putting them on a ring. It's fun to go back through and look at all of them!

Christmas 2014

Christmas day this year was so so so wonderful. The kids opened their gifts slowly, we stayed in our jammies all day long, did whatever we wanted...it was great. 

They were so excited when they ran in and saw their new kitchen! 

Emma's favorite part of the kitchen is the phone. She plays with that phone all day long.

They immediately started cooking and preparing each other the strangest meals. haha!

They noticed that the reindeer were pretty messy and there were carrots all over the front lawn. Silly daddy. I mean, reindeer.

Checking out the note Santa left them!

This is probably my favorite picture from Christmas day. Hudson is jumping up and down over the M&M's he found in his stocking and Emma is flipping out over her Sophia dress that Santa STUFFED in her stocking. haha!

Selfies with Sophia.

We got them these Bilibos which are so strange but kids love them. They're pretty neat!

It wouldn't be a holiday without me cutting myself. This year it was while chopping fresh sage. 

Hudson is so obsessed with reading. He has known his sounds for a long time now and is able to sound a lot of words out. A friend of mine used to teach reading so she let us borrow some books to help him practice his reading. He is doing so well and spent a lot of time on Christmas practicing his reading.

We made a last minute decision to have our Christmas dinner as a picnic out in the sunroom. In our jammies. See...such an awesome Christmas day! We decided this would be our new tradition to do on the years we don't have any family in town on Christmas. 

At this point....there had been so much screaming! :)

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas with your loved ones. xo