What’s The Worst That Could Happen?

January 4, 2016January 4, 2016 / ktbuchs87

What's The Worst That Could Happen? | Life Healthfully Lived Ahhh. A new year. Can you smell it? The resolutions, the goals, the promises, the hope. It’s all still pretty fresh just four days into 2016. I’m all about setting goals and intentions for a new year, but I want them to be something more fulfilling than lose weight, exercise more, be more organized. I want them to be specific. I want them to have steps that I can take to reach them.

I want them to be something that will make me and my life better.

So whether you call those resolutions, goals, or intentions, make sure you choose something to direct your attention at. It can really help motivate you to do new and better things.

Last year I chose a word to define my year. I picked one word and tried to make my decisions and choices with that word in mind. I chose passion and I think I did a fairly good job of putting passion into everything I did. I’m going to do a fairly similar thing this year, but instead of one word I’m going to use one question to frame my goals. What's The Worst That Could Happen? | Life Healthfully Lived

What’s the worst that could happen?

This isn’t a nonchalant “Eh, what the heck, let’s give this a go” type of attitude. I frequently don’t do things because I’m afraid of what might happen. Mainly failure. I hate to fail and that fear has held me back from trying or doing new things.

Not anymore. What's The Worst That Could Happen? | Life Healthfully Lived

I want to approach this year with the idea that even if I do fail at something it isn’t the end of the world. At least I tried something new. And there is a really good chance that I won’t fail, that I’ll excel at my new endeavor and find new strengths and happiness.

So with that in mind, what do I want to do this year?

Dive deeper into yoga (maybe even become certified)
Expand my writing (maybe even some non-fiction works)
Be stronger (physically and mentally)
Nurture face-to-face relationships (the internet is great but so is being with someone in persn)
Create new things (recipes, art, love…. anything)

There are plenty of things that I am ready to dive into and some of them scare me a little, but hey, what’s the worst that could happen?

What's The Worst That Could Happen? | Life Healthfully Lived

Ready for 2016?

What are you ready to try in 2016?

Happy New Year!!

January 1, 2016January 1, 2016 / ktbuchs87

Most of you are probably still sleeping and with good reason. You stayed up late celebrating the New Year in fun ways I’m sure.

Our New Year’s Eve was a little different this year, both of us were in bed by 10 pm. Yup, we kind of missed ringing in 2016. But with good reason, Adam has a nasty virus and I’m doing my best to ward it off. We still celebrated a little. I made a ton of dip (see Wednesday’s post) and we watched Netflix until Adam decided it was time to pass out.

I hope that you had a little bit more lively celebration, but whatever you did I hope that 2016 is a great year!

I’ll be back on Monday and I’ll share my word for the year as well as get back to my regular posts full of delicious food and simple ways to be healthy. For now, I’m going to watch the parade and maybe a few bowl games and just relax!

Happy New Year!! | Life Healthfully Lived

Happy New Year friends!

The Last 12 Months

December 28, 2015December 28, 2015 / ktbuchs87

It’s typical this time of year to look back and reflect on everything that happened over the last 12 months. Often when you start to do this, it doesn’t feel like much has happened. But once you get going you realize that you accomplished quite a few things. And even if you didn’t have a crazy productive year, I doubt any of you just sat in a room for 12 months staring at a wall.

The Last 12 Months | Life Healthfully Lived

Lot’s of sweaty runs down the Lake Shore Trail

You woke up every morning for 365 days. That’s something. You put on clothes (hopefully) and went about your routine for 365 days. That’s something. You fed yourself (mostly), moved around, were HUMAN for 365 days. That is definitely something.

Lot’s of sweaty runs down the Lake Shore Trail

I am a person who constantly downplays everything I do. If it isn’t huge or momentous, then it doesn’t really matter. I walk around telling myself that I am just an average person, nothing special, nothing horrible, just me.

I bet I made him run.

I don’t know if it’s my deep need to please other people or my aversion to bragging, but I have a hard time seeing all the great things I have done over a period of a year.

I kind of love this city

But not this year.

Remember way back at the beginning of the year when I chose a word to define 2015? I chose passion. While every single day of 2015 might not have been lived with passion, I did attack my goals with a new passion. It was tough at first to put myself out there and try new things. What if I failed? I hate failing and often have the mindset of if I can’t do it perfectly, I’m not going to do it at all. It took some work to get over that frame of mind, but towards the end of the year I started taking risks and doing new things because, why not?

Look at me being a mermaid!

What’s the worst that could happen?

People could say no or not like it but it wasn’t going to kill me. Clearly, I’m still here and I’m glad that I made the leaps of faith that I did because I have had some awesome opportunities this past year. I have really expanded my writing, tried new things with my fitness, and worked even more on choosing to accept my body as it is in this moment.

All fancy at Jodie’s wedding

And I did it all with a passion that I don’t think I’ve used before. Nothing is going to be handed to me and instead of sitting around and whining or saying that I’m nothing special, I chose to get up and make new paths for myself.

I make a good bed

I hope that as you look back on your 2015 you are able to see all of the amazing things that you accomplished. Even if you didn’t scale a mountain, solve world hunger, or star in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, you still did things that changed your life and brought you to this moment.

Apple Picking in October in like 60 degree weather.

I haven’t chosen a word for 2016 yet, but I will soon and I hope you’ll join me. Enjoy the last few days of 2015 and get ready for another awesome 12 months!

Happy New Year from us weirdos!

Thanksgiving: Round 2

November 27, 2015November 24, 2015 / ktbuchs87

Like many people, I get to celebrate the holidays multiple times. Marriage opens up new families and traditions to be celebrated and that means twice the holiday fun.

Yesterday, I spent the day with Adam’s side of the family, cooking, laughing, drinking, and spending time together. It was a great day and I really do enjoy experiencing family gatherings with his big family. Adam’s mom is one of 10 and when you get everyone together there are easily 20 to 30 people crammed into the house. And that’s what Thanksgiving and Christmas are about right? Shoving as much love and happiness into a room as possible.

Today is the Buchanan Thanksgiving and while it is a smaller affair, it’s no less heartwarming or full of family. I love getting together with my family and sharing our traditions year after year. One of my favorites is signing the tablecloth.

Many moons ago, when Thanksgiving was exclusively at our house, my mom had the idea to get a plain white tablecloth and have the whole family sign it every year. It’s become kind of like a history book for us. I can look back and see when I couldn’t even write my name, remember when certain friends came for dinner, and watch the transformation of our family. I loved this idea so much that for our wedding Adam and I had our guests sign a tablecloth instead of a guest book.

I’m not sure what your day after Thanksgiving traditions are, but whether you are a black Friday shopper or have another meal to get to, I hope that you are enjoying your family time and celebrating your own traditions!

I Am Thankful For…

November 23, 2015November 23, 2015 / ktbuchs87

My husband who always loves me, even when I’m being crazy and weird which is more often than not. Who works hard to provide for me and always puts my happiness before his. Without him, I wouldn’t be half the person I am now. I Am Thankful For... | Life Healthfully Lived

My family who has shaped my very being. They know me better than anyone on this planet and support me in everything I do. They have taught me how to love and live and I cannot imagine me without them. I Am Thankful For... | Life Healthfully Lived

My Faith which is the driving force behind every decision I make, every action I take, every word I speak, and the source of my hope and love. God is good all the time and all the time God is good. I Am Thankful For... | Life Healthfully Lived

My basic needs which are unfailingly met. I have never ever wanted for food, shelter, or clothing. I have never wondered where my next meal was coming from, where I would be sleeping at night, and I have the luxury of opening my closet and choosing from a variety of clothes. Not everyone gets that security.

My freedom which has cost me absolutely nothing but instead others have paid for with their lives. I can say what I want, believe what I want, and pursue my happiness because of the simple fact that I am an American. In a world that is wrought with pain and strife, where people are oppressed and killed for their beliefs and opinions, freedom is no small matter. I Am Thankful For... | Life Healthfully Lived

My dreams that propel me to do new and sometimes scary things. Having a dream can be tough but so worth it. And having people behind you to support those dreams? That is something to be even more thankful for.

I could go on and on with things that I am thankful for because I am beyond blessed. I know it’s cliche to think about all the things we have gratitude for this week, but these are things that I give thanks for every single day. I often take these things for granted because they are so simple. But for those that don’t have them, they mean the world. I Am Thankful For... | Life Healthfully Lived