Today I read an article called the Anti Diet. It has some interesting thoughts, as in stop already with the fad diets, the pills, the miracle cure. Exercising like a lunatic to be able to eat a bite of chocolate. Of course the author explains it much more eloquently than I do, but her point of view is to change herself, her mindset and by gosh do it the healthy natural way. I love this idea of being anti diet. I have tried every and I mean every miracle diet out there, and I am still on the heavy side. I can feel it too. I know for 11 months now I have talked about losing weight and what my goals were. Well no more, now it is time for action. And I am taking a stand with the anti diet. I need to reconfigure my mindset. I need to figure out my emotions, and my mental state. I need to not fall into the trap of every miracle out there, and just. do. it. I can do it... I have before. And the way I did it before was not by denying myself, or cutting out carbs, or eating just protein, or the grapefruit diet. I did it by measuring my portions, watching my calories, cutting back on junk and indulging myself as a treat.
I teach or I hope to teach Baby Max, that food is for energy, and that we eat healthy to sustain energy and feel good. That dessert is a treat to be had on special occasions, not every day. I need to find that inner wonder myself and keep treats as just what they were meant to be a treat. Not an every day occurance.
So I decided to take a step back, and my husband made a deal with me. He would take me shopping at Christmas if I lose 15 lbs. I joined a maintain don't gain challenge at work today and got a starting weight. Yesterday I ate healthy, watched my portions, and would you know it, I lost a pound this morning. I stayed with the healthy eating today, signed up for SparkPeople to count calories, and read motivating articles. And today and yesterday I ran again. for the first time in a long time. My headache is seem to be gone, and I am not nearly as tired. So again, food for fuel. What a notion??? It is working... I also drank water today.
I haven't been to the local mini mart in two days now. I have saved at least $10. I am going to the grocery store tonight, and I am menu planning again. Tonights dinner is going to be a roast chicken, some potatoes for the hubby, and green beans with some bread. Very simple, but only about 350 calories.
I usually do good through the week and blow it on the weekend. Not this time. I have a plan for the weekend, and if I do indulge, it will be just a treat.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013
The Day After Halloween
It is the day after Halloween and Baby Max was wound up like a drum last night. He had so much candy, so much to do, and so much fun. I never liked Halloween, it was a dumb holiday to me. It was about too much money and people making me do things that I didn't want to do. I never stopped to observe the wonder of the child, and the excitement that surrounds the holiday. With Baby Max, I have gotten to take a step back and do a redo.
I got to experience Halloween with my son, through a 2 year olds eyes.
His excitement was contagious.
His politeness reminded me to be kind to others on this wonderful day.
He ate to much candy!!
And we enjoyed every minute of it. He is growing up so fast, and to be able to see his wonderment and joy last night has made my day. My baby had a great time, even if he didn't fully comprehend the concept. He thanked every person, he said hello to other people on the street, he made people smile. And if I remember in the raising of a child, to keep it simple.
Just remind yourselves as we go into this super busy time of year, take a moment to step back and rediscover the magic of the Holiday Season as seen through your child's eyes. It will take you back in time. Believe in Santa for a moment, believe in the power of being grateful at Thanksgiving and most of all, let your child experience the ghouls and goblins, and candy on Halloween.
I got to experience Halloween with my son, through a 2 year olds eyes.
His excitement was contagious.
His politeness reminded me to be kind to others on this wonderful day.
He ate to much candy!!
And we enjoyed every minute of it. He is growing up so fast, and to be able to see his wonderment and joy last night has made my day. My baby had a great time, even if he didn't fully comprehend the concept. He thanked every person, he said hello to other people on the street, he made people smile. And if I remember in the raising of a child, to keep it simple.
Just remind yourselves as we go into this super busy time of year, take a moment to step back and rediscover the magic of the Holiday Season as seen through your child's eyes. It will take you back in time. Believe in Santa for a moment, believe in the power of being grateful at Thanksgiving and most of all, let your child experience the ghouls and goblins, and candy on Halloween.
5 Minute Friday - Grace (With Lisa Jo)
Grace - the word brings up all kinds of images in my mind. And it almost makes me think of perfection. I am not sure what Grace really is, but I have to try really hard to make it not so that it is perfect. So in my mind, I see grace as something to strive for, something that is more of a feeling than something tangible. Something that will bring me peace, and a more spiritual awareness. Grace is something to aspire too. I actually had to look up the definition of grace before I started writing this, and two of my favorite definitions are: a virtue coming from God, and 2. disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency. Having grace, and striving for grace is a reminder to be kind, and that God has given us all grace.
Be kind to those around you today. You never know who might just need a smile and a "your doing a great job" reminder.
(Stop)
Be kind to those around you today. You never know who might just need a smile and a "your doing a great job" reminder.
(Stop)
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
October and Fall
It is a very happy time of year for me right now. I love fall, and all that it brings. Pumpkins, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and a New Year. Right now I am enjoying the cooler weather, and thinking of making pumpkin rolls. Baby Max's first pumpkin roll. It will be his second jack o lantern this year, and we are going to the pumpkin patch. It will be such fun. (I hope).
It seems that when I am happy, (and making my own happiness) I begin to lose weight, not spend as much money, have more patience, and don't feel as tired. Is there a correlation? I would think so. In the last week since I posted the article and trying to not use negative talk, or turn it into positive talk and not fall into the B.S. and to be kind my life has taken on a magical effect of happiness. I don't feel as tired, even with the 3 am wake ups, my house is cleaner and I am not spending as much money. It just feels like all is good with the world.
I hope to keep it rolling, and find kindness in my day, and to be kind. My Scentsy business is growing, slowly, but amazing that when I put my mind to it, and I work it, I am getting some business going. I took a training call yesterday and one of the points they made was to not hide your business. Be proud of it, and that is what I am doing. I will probably never reach the financial freedom that I desire, but I have always said that I am destined to do great things. So working at great things is getting it done. Instead of sitting on the sidelines wishing.
My weight is going down, I am feeling very happy right now, and can't wait to see what this next month holds. Today is Baby Max's 21 month birthday. 21 months!! And my new plan is to continue to give him extra love, and be patient with him.
Have a wonderful day!!
It seems that when I am happy, (and making my own happiness) I begin to lose weight, not spend as much money, have more patience, and don't feel as tired. Is there a correlation? I would think so. In the last week since I posted the article and trying to not use negative talk, or turn it into positive talk and not fall into the B.S. and to be kind my life has taken on a magical effect of happiness. I don't feel as tired, even with the 3 am wake ups, my house is cleaner and I am not spending as much money. It just feels like all is good with the world.
I hope to keep it rolling, and find kindness in my day, and to be kind. My Scentsy business is growing, slowly, but amazing that when I put my mind to it, and I work it, I am getting some business going. I took a training call yesterday and one of the points they made was to not hide your business. Be proud of it, and that is what I am doing. I will probably never reach the financial freedom that I desire, but I have always said that I am destined to do great things. So working at great things is getting it done. Instead of sitting on the sidelines wishing.
My weight is going down, I am feeling very happy right now, and can't wait to see what this next month holds. Today is Baby Max's 21 month birthday. 21 months!! And my new plan is to continue to give him extra love, and be patient with him.
Have a wonderful day!!
Friday, September 27, 2013
Five Minute Friday - True
The word true goes hand in hand with the post I posted this morning. What comes to mind is to be true to yourself, and forget all the negative voices in your head, forget all of the things that you said you were going to do, and forget what didn't get done yesterday. Be true and things will fall into place.
Being true to myself means that I have to quit being negative, quit finding all the excuses to not do something, to remember that I have dreams and hopes. And in the midst of all the chaos that comes to me through out the day, if I can remember to be true to myself, remember my goals, my dreams and my hopes then everything else is just background noise. I am the only person responsible for my own happiness, for my own luck. So if I just stay true to what I believe in, it will happen.
Being true to myself means that I have to quit being negative, quit finding all the excuses to not do something, to remember that I have dreams and hopes. And in the midst of all the chaos that comes to me through out the day, if I can remember to be true to myself, remember my goals, my dreams and my hopes then everything else is just background noise. I am the only person responsible for my own happiness, for my own luck. So if I just stay true to what I believe in, it will happen.
Interesting Article
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-bartolotta/happiness-tips_b_3956114.html
This article came with the title How to Get Flat Abs, Have Amazing Sex and Rule the World in 8 Easy steps... and it sparked something within me. When I read this, this morning, I was thinking of how overweight I am, how if I lose twenty pounds by Christmas I will be happier, if Baby Max would just quit throwing fits. Of course, none of this will make me any happier. In the article it states "We chase this idea of I will be happy when...." and then it goes on to say "if you can read this right now, your life is pretty awesome." And she is right, my life is pretty awesome. Then the last thing she says before giving those eight tips are: Because you are alive, everything is possible! WOW!! Just because I am alive everything is possible?? When did I lose that childlike sense of wonder and that all things are possible? So I am going to take her tips to heart, and remember the eight steps...
1 is stop believing your bullshit! Time to resurrect the dreams, and quit with the negative talk. I am good enough, I have dreams, and quit living like it is someone elses life. This is my life and it's the only one I got. I choose to be nice to me, and to believe in me. How else will I teach Baby Max to believe in himself, if I can't do it for me?
2 is to be Happy Now. What?? Be happy right now just because I can. The article says "It's a small, significant shift in perspective. It is easier to look at whats wrong or missing in our lives and believe that this is the big picture." And it is easier, misery loves misery. I am going to stop that right now, and just well Be Happy Right Now.
3 is to look at the stars. Remember you are a part of this Huge, vast universe. Enough said, besides the stars are beautiful to look at.
4 is to let people in. I do this pretty well, but I do admit to sometimes playing it cool. And I am very shy, so I tend to be really quiet when meeting new people.
5 is to stop with the crazy making. We invent problems that we can worry about all day long. Just quit and don't take things personally.
6 is to learn to apologize, sincerely. Nuff said.
7 is to practice gratitude. Sometimes I think this is really silly, but it really works. I am so thankful for a lot of things when I stop and really think about it. And usually the things I am grateful for are the things I am complaining about.
8 is to be kind. The author states, "if the biggest thing we do in life is extend love and kindness to even one other human being, we have changed the world for the better." Another wow, by being kind we can change the world. One kindness at a time.
So for today, I would encourage all of you to be kind and to be happy right now. It is all a choice we can make, and save the world one kindness at a time. I know that just for today, I am going to do it.
This article came with the title How to Get Flat Abs, Have Amazing Sex and Rule the World in 8 Easy steps... and it sparked something within me. When I read this, this morning, I was thinking of how overweight I am, how if I lose twenty pounds by Christmas I will be happier, if Baby Max would just quit throwing fits. Of course, none of this will make me any happier. In the article it states "We chase this idea of I will be happy when...." and then it goes on to say "if you can read this right now, your life is pretty awesome." And she is right, my life is pretty awesome. Then the last thing she says before giving those eight tips are: Because you are alive, everything is possible! WOW!! Just because I am alive everything is possible?? When did I lose that childlike sense of wonder and that all things are possible? So I am going to take her tips to heart, and remember the eight steps...
1 is stop believing your bullshit! Time to resurrect the dreams, and quit with the negative talk. I am good enough, I have dreams, and quit living like it is someone elses life. This is my life and it's the only one I got. I choose to be nice to me, and to believe in me. How else will I teach Baby Max to believe in himself, if I can't do it for me?
2 is to be Happy Now. What?? Be happy right now just because I can. The article says "It's a small, significant shift in perspective. It is easier to look at whats wrong or missing in our lives and believe that this is the big picture." And it is easier, misery loves misery. I am going to stop that right now, and just well Be Happy Right Now.
3 is to look at the stars. Remember you are a part of this Huge, vast universe. Enough said, besides the stars are beautiful to look at.
4 is to let people in. I do this pretty well, but I do admit to sometimes playing it cool. And I am very shy, so I tend to be really quiet when meeting new people.
5 is to stop with the crazy making. We invent problems that we can worry about all day long. Just quit and don't take things personally.
6 is to learn to apologize, sincerely. Nuff said.
7 is to practice gratitude. Sometimes I think this is really silly, but it really works. I am so thankful for a lot of things when I stop and really think about it. And usually the things I am grateful for are the things I am complaining about.
8 is to be kind. The author states, "if the biggest thing we do in life is extend love and kindness to even one other human being, we have changed the world for the better." Another wow, by being kind we can change the world. One kindness at a time.
So for today, I would encourage all of you to be kind and to be happy right now. It is all a choice we can make, and save the world one kindness at a time. I know that just for today, I am going to do it.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Meltdowns
I put Baby Max in preschool/daycare for the first time two weeks ago. September 9 was his first day of school. He then promptly got the flu and was sick for the rest of the week. So I took him the following week, and he seemed to do really good. But we are having major meltdowns when I pick him up, when I drop him off, and when I am home with him. He cries for his bottle, and we had almost given up the bottle before hand. This is only when we are at home. At Daycare he does what he is supposed to do, and he is loving it. He plays, he colors, he eats! These meltdowns are exhausting to me and I am not sure what to do to keep them from happening.
I am so looking forward to tomorrow! It is Friday, and it is my short day. I haven't had a regular Friday in three weeks now. I have Baby Max in school all day and I am going home to clean/organize and disinfect everything since our bout with the flu. It is going to be such a good day. I can't wait.
The holidays are coming up, and I am so looking forward to a clean house, and carving pumpkins, and doing mommy stuff with my little guy. I hope the meltdowns come less and less as time goes on.
I am so looking forward to tomorrow! It is Friday, and it is my short day. I haven't had a regular Friday in three weeks now. I have Baby Max in school all day and I am going home to clean/organize and disinfect everything since our bout with the flu. It is going to be such a good day. I can't wait.
The holidays are coming up, and I am so looking forward to a clean house, and carving pumpkins, and doing mommy stuff with my little guy. I hope the meltdowns come less and less as time goes on.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Fall
It is fall. I love this time of year, it gets me to wanting to bake something (anything) with pumpkin. So this weekend I have planned some pumpkin rolls, and pumpkin oatmeal. I can't wait. The weather is drizzly and getting cool/cold.
I can't wait for the pumpkin patch this year, with Baby Max. Carving pumpkins, dressing up for Halloween, Trick Or Treating, then getting ready for Thanksgiving, with cleaning and organizing. I am up for the task!!
I have put Baby Max in preschool, and I am taking some much needed time to myself. I hope this doesn't make me a bad mommy, but I have Friday afternoons off, and I am keeping him in school all day on those days so I can clean, do laundry, and all of the other things that don't seem to get done with a toddler running around. I am excited to have some time to myself to really dive in and get things done. I think all around this is going to make me a better mommy, because when my cup is full, everyone else's is full too.
Before having a baby, I was able to do all the things I wanted to do, which included just going to the store. I could go exercise at the gym, I could go out for a run on a rainy day, I could clean house, and laundry stayed somewhat caught up. With a baby, you have to schedule everything. I used to think that people with kids just made up excuses to not do whatever, exercise, grocery shop, clean. I was SO wrong... it is hard to balance out everything. And find daycare/babysitter/etc for exercise, cleaning, or just some down time for yourself. In the last 20 months, I have learned that me time is not selfish, it is important. I have also learned that I can say no, and feel good about it. I have also learned that I need to have adult time also. I love my baby unconditionally, but need to love myself also. Loving myself allows for me to have time to myself, and enjoy things like a hot shower, and a cup of coffee. And this in turn allows that love to spill over into taking care of my baby, my husband and my family.
Amazing what things we learn when we open our eyes!!
How do you get/fit in me time?
I can't wait for the pumpkin patch this year, with Baby Max. Carving pumpkins, dressing up for Halloween, Trick Or Treating, then getting ready for Thanksgiving, with cleaning and organizing. I am up for the task!!
I have put Baby Max in preschool, and I am taking some much needed time to myself. I hope this doesn't make me a bad mommy, but I have Friday afternoons off, and I am keeping him in school all day on those days so I can clean, do laundry, and all of the other things that don't seem to get done with a toddler running around. I am excited to have some time to myself to really dive in and get things done. I think all around this is going to make me a better mommy, because when my cup is full, everyone else's is full too.
Before having a baby, I was able to do all the things I wanted to do, which included just going to the store. I could go exercise at the gym, I could go out for a run on a rainy day, I could clean house, and laundry stayed somewhat caught up. With a baby, you have to schedule everything. I used to think that people with kids just made up excuses to not do whatever, exercise, grocery shop, clean. I was SO wrong... it is hard to balance out everything. And find daycare/babysitter/etc for exercise, cleaning, or just some down time for yourself. In the last 20 months, I have learned that me time is not selfish, it is important. I have also learned that I can say no, and feel good about it. I have also learned that I need to have adult time also. I love my baby unconditionally, but need to love myself also. Loving myself allows for me to have time to myself, and enjoy things like a hot shower, and a cup of coffee. And this in turn allows that love to spill over into taking care of my baby, my husband and my family.
Amazing what things we learn when we open our eyes!!
How do you get/fit in me time?
Friday, September 20, 2013
Five Minute Friday - She
She wiped my tears.
She held my hand crossing the street.
She held me when I was sick.
She held me when I was happy.
She laughed with me.
She taught me patience.
She taught me to be brave.
She taught me to be kind.
She taught me to stand up for myself.
She taught me the difference between assertive and being mean.
She taught me to believe in myself.
She taught me to believe in God.
She taught me that motherhood is no easy choice, or easy job.
She still teaches me....
She is strong, beautiful, self confident, and smart. She is always ready to listen, to offer advice, or just hold my hand when needed. She still wipes my tears, and holds me when I am sick.
She is my mother.
And now she is my son's grandmother.
My mother is my hero.
Five Minute Friday - She
She held my hand crossing the street.
She held me when I was sick.
She held me when I was happy.
She laughed with me.
She taught me patience.
She taught me to be brave.
She taught me to be kind.
She taught me to stand up for myself.
She taught me the difference between assertive and being mean.
She taught me to believe in myself.
She taught me to believe in God.
She taught me that motherhood is no easy choice, or easy job.
She still teaches me....
She is strong, beautiful, self confident, and smart. She is always ready to listen, to offer advice, or just hold my hand when needed. She still wipes my tears, and holds me when I am sick.
She is my mother.
And now she is my son's grandmother.
My mother is my hero.
Five Minute Friday - She
Monday, September 16, 2013
Being Sick and Having Faith
Wow, last week was crazy. I had a very sick baby. He came down with the flu after one day at school. So frustrating, to not be able to make him feel better. The poor thing. I was home all week with him. And then this morning, I was back at the doctor because he came down with a cold on top of the flu. I sure hope he starts to feeling better this week. It has been a long one. Sick babies are just no fun. And I am amazed that something so small can hit every blanket, sheet and towel in the house.
I went to a dinner on Friday night, and listened to a woman tell her story about surviving domestic violence. It was very interesting and inspiring. She says that all through her marriage to the man that was abusing her, she never lost her faith in Jesus. She knew that Jesus was with her all the time. It was just a matter of her making the right choices to get out of the situation. It always amazes me the people that have an unending amount of hope and faith. Where does that come from? How can you keep believing when such terrible things are happening. And this woman still has terrible things happening.... and she still has unending hope and faith. It just makes me wonder how? I have a really hard time with my faith when bad things happen. And I think I may have some misplaced anger too.... and an "it's not fair" attitude.
I have said before that I am not much of a church goer, and I don't have an endless supply of faith and hope. Where can that kind of spirit come from?
Now on to some more mundane business keeping items for myself:
Got to lose weight. It is slowly creeping up, and I am feeling every extra pound these days. I am swollen, tired, and getting acid reflux from very bland things. Time to hit the veggies... and I have to do it for more than two days. Of course having a sick baby last week, my priority wasn't quite with eating right, it was getting something hot on the table and taking care of my baby. The holidays are coming soon, and I don't want to be out of shape for that.
Saving money seems to be going well. So far....nothing really in savings yet but credit card is going down... which is always good, have money for daycare.
Organization: Work in progress. My thoughts were that I would put my son in school/daycare and I would take a couple of days for myself and clean and organize my house. With last week him being sick, I got my vacation, but not quite what I had hoped for. So it is a work in progress 15 minutes at a time.
I went to a dinner on Friday night, and listened to a woman tell her story about surviving domestic violence. It was very interesting and inspiring. She says that all through her marriage to the man that was abusing her, she never lost her faith in Jesus. She knew that Jesus was with her all the time. It was just a matter of her making the right choices to get out of the situation. It always amazes me the people that have an unending amount of hope and faith. Where does that come from? How can you keep believing when such terrible things are happening. And this woman still has terrible things happening.... and she still has unending hope and faith. It just makes me wonder how? I have a really hard time with my faith when bad things happen. And I think I may have some misplaced anger too.... and an "it's not fair" attitude.
I have said before that I am not much of a church goer, and I don't have an endless supply of faith and hope. Where can that kind of spirit come from?
Now on to some more mundane business keeping items for myself:
Got to lose weight. It is slowly creeping up, and I am feeling every extra pound these days. I am swollen, tired, and getting acid reflux from very bland things. Time to hit the veggies... and I have to do it for more than two days. Of course having a sick baby last week, my priority wasn't quite with eating right, it was getting something hot on the table and taking care of my baby. The holidays are coming soon, and I don't want to be out of shape for that.
Saving money seems to be going well. So far....nothing really in savings yet but credit card is going down... which is always good, have money for daycare.
Organization: Work in progress. My thoughts were that I would put my son in school/daycare and I would take a couple of days for myself and clean and organize my house. With last week him being sick, I got my vacation, but not quite what I had hoped for. So it is a work in progress 15 minutes at a time.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
September
September is here, and with it comes cooler weather, vivid colors, and pumpkin. I am so excited for the turn of the seasons this year. I can't wait to take Baby Max to his first pumpkin patch, make some really yummy pumpkin dishes, and decorate for Halloween. This is going to be a great fall, and hopefully a great time in my life.
With only a few months away from turning 41, I really have to buckle down and start doing something. The weight is still hanging around, the disorganization, the messes, and feeling like I have no control over anything has to stop. Soon!! Today!!
So today I am going to try to make September one of the best months ever starting with a healthier eating plan. (again). One of these days someone is going to read this and say wow she finally got it together. :) With a healthier eating plan, it seems that other things fall into place. Meal planning, grocery shopping, decluttering and keeping things organized. And it all has to start with me!
I wish I could be one of those stay at home moms that post beautiful DIY crafts and make wonderful healthy meals with their children. I feel so lacking in the home department, and sometimes even my work is disorganized and messy. I guess I am so down on my self because it seems that I never really get any kudos for the things I do get done. So I am going to list my kudos for this last week:
I took Baby Max on a road trip to see his great grandma. Memories for grandma and me...
I got the baby up, dressed, diaper changed, diaper bag packed, lunch made and didn't forget anything. All week!!
I made dinner twice, the rest of the time was sandwiches and mac and cheese, buy hey I didn't eat out.
I didn't run out of milk this week. Go me!! Meal planning at it's best.
So now on to try and add a few more minutes of cooking, and organizing to my nightly routine. With healthy eating I should have some more energy to do this.
How do you other mom's keep it all together?
With only a few months away from turning 41, I really have to buckle down and start doing something. The weight is still hanging around, the disorganization, the messes, and feeling like I have no control over anything has to stop. Soon!! Today!!
So today I am going to try to make September one of the best months ever starting with a healthier eating plan. (again). One of these days someone is going to read this and say wow she finally got it together. :) With a healthier eating plan, it seems that other things fall into place. Meal planning, grocery shopping, decluttering and keeping things organized. And it all has to start with me!
I wish I could be one of those stay at home moms that post beautiful DIY crafts and make wonderful healthy meals with their children. I feel so lacking in the home department, and sometimes even my work is disorganized and messy. I guess I am so down on my self because it seems that I never really get any kudos for the things I do get done. So I am going to list my kudos for this last week:
I took Baby Max on a road trip to see his great grandma. Memories for grandma and me...
I got the baby up, dressed, diaper changed, diaper bag packed, lunch made and didn't forget anything. All week!!
I made dinner twice, the rest of the time was sandwiches and mac and cheese, buy hey I didn't eat out.
I didn't run out of milk this week. Go me!! Meal planning at it's best.
So now on to try and add a few more minutes of cooking, and organizing to my nightly routine. With healthy eating I should have some more energy to do this.
How do you other mom's keep it all together?
Friday, August 30, 2013
Five Minute Friday - Worship
I am not a church goer, or do I have an unending fountain of faith in my being. So this is a hard topic for me. Worship to me is synonomous with grateful. I guess I tend to believe in a higher power, and for me that is enough right now.
Worship to me is a beautiful sunset in the evening while holding my sweet little boy. It is an early morning sunrise, while I drink my coffee and tell my son it is a good morning and what a beautiful day. It is the early morning run, listening to my feet pound the pavement, and thanking God that I have two feet, and two legs that can pound the pavement, listening to the birds giving their wake up call. Worship is those first few minutes when camping, that you are one with nature, and that something bigger than you is at work. Worship is seeing my sweet baby for the first time, and thanking God that everything was okay.
I don't need a church to pray. I pray and thank God for all that is good every time I see my sweet boy bend over and smell a flower. Or tell me good morning in his little voice that is just learning to talk. I see the miracles over and over, and sometimes I lose sight of what is really important.
Now, today I am thankful that all is well in my world, even though there are still dishes to do, toys to pick up, a diaper to change. We have a very small home, and it is always a mess. I am thankful that there is a mess to pick up.
Worship to me is a beautiful sunset in the evening while holding my sweet little boy. It is an early morning sunrise, while I drink my coffee and tell my son it is a good morning and what a beautiful day. It is the early morning run, listening to my feet pound the pavement, and thanking God that I have two feet, and two legs that can pound the pavement, listening to the birds giving their wake up call. Worship is those first few minutes when camping, that you are one with nature, and that something bigger than you is at work. Worship is seeing my sweet baby for the first time, and thanking God that everything was okay.
I don't need a church to pray. I pray and thank God for all that is good every time I see my sweet boy bend over and smell a flower. Or tell me good morning in his little voice that is just learning to talk. I see the miracles over and over, and sometimes I lose sight of what is really important.
Now, today I am thankful that all is well in my world, even though there are still dishes to do, toys to pick up, a diaper to change. We have a very small home, and it is always a mess. I am thankful that there is a mess to pick up.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Feeling Tired
I am feeling tired, beat up, and like there is never enough time in a weekend to get everything accomplished before the week starts again. This is kind of a whiny post, but it seems that the harder I try to keep things neat and uncluttered, the more mess I have to clean up. I spent all afternoon Friday, all day Saturday and most of Sunday cleaning house, picking up after my 19 month old, and this morning it looks like I didn't do a thing. I slowly am losing it. It seems that I have no direction for my life right now, and is all I do is pick up after my toddler, and try to get a diaper bag packed and his lunch made. By Monday morning. I don't get enough sleep, and I wake up already tired and grumpy. How do I get a handle on this kind of stuff, and get a routine in my life where I can get things done, and still have time to play with my baby. Family time is very important to me, but with work, housework, taking care of the baby, there doesn't seem to be much family time going on. I don't know how mothers of multiples do it.
So I have had this blog now for 8 months, and it seems nothing I set out to do has happened. Getting so tired of the day to day working at it and spinning my wheels. Like I say this is a whiny post. The one thing I am looking forward to is having my son in school, in January where maybe I can take a staycation and get things organized.
I have been called on Jury Duty this week, which seems to make things even harder because it is a day by day type of thing. It makes work even that much harder to do.
So I have had this blog now for 8 months, and it seems nothing I set out to do has happened. Getting so tired of the day to day working at it and spinning my wheels. Like I say this is a whiny post. The one thing I am looking forward to is having my son in school, in January where maybe I can take a staycation and get things organized.
I have been called on Jury Duty this week, which seems to make things even harder because it is a day by day type of thing. It makes work even that much harder to do.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Five Minute Friday - Small
When thinking of the word small, I seem to get something negative in my head. That is too small for me to wear, that is to small of a job for me to do. Small people... etc, etc. The list goes on. Then I started thinking what if small was positive?? What a concept, so let me explain.
It is the small things that make a marriage. It is in the every day minuta (sp) of marriage that the small things end up to big things. And making a marriage last. It is the quick kiss goodbye in the morning, a short hug on the way in or out, it is the I love you in passing in the hallway. Those are all small things that done on a daily basis add up to something very big.
It is the small things that make a house a home: A small dinner for two, a small picture on the wall, a small bouquet sitting on the table. Those are the small things that make a home.
The small things in raising a child: Stopping to play cars for 10 minutes... such a short time out of a busy day, stopping to take a deep breathe and be patient when he has just played ring toss with your eggs, and the twenty seconds it takes to give him a big hug for no reason. The small things are what will define and make him a young man someday.
So it is the small things that make a person happy. Not how much money you spend, not how much stuff you accumulate, it is the small gestures and I love you's that make something BIG.
It is the small things that make a marriage. It is in the every day minuta (sp) of marriage that the small things end up to big things. And making a marriage last. It is the quick kiss goodbye in the morning, a short hug on the way in or out, it is the I love you in passing in the hallway. Those are all small things that done on a daily basis add up to something very big.
It is the small things that make a house a home: A small dinner for two, a small picture on the wall, a small bouquet sitting on the table. Those are the small things that make a home.
The small things in raising a child: Stopping to play cars for 10 minutes... such a short time out of a busy day, stopping to take a deep breathe and be patient when he has just played ring toss with your eggs, and the twenty seconds it takes to give him a big hug for no reason. The small things are what will define and make him a young man someday.
So it is the small things that make a person happy. Not how much money you spend, not how much stuff you accumulate, it is the small gestures and I love you's that make something BIG.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Lonely
It has been a while since I posted anything. I can't believe how the time flies. It just goes, and goes, and then I realize that I am behind on everything. Again.
I ran across a blog that had a five minute writing assignment. Today's topic is lonely. I am going to write for five minutes on the topic, just to get my brain started today.
Lonely:
This word has very negative connotations with it for me. People who are lonely always seem to be "miserable" and or very unhappy. I think lonely can be a positive thing, if you allow it to be. I have been reading a lot of blogs lately on weight loss, and how you have to heal your inside so that you don't stuff yourself with food. Like a drug addict that needs that next cigarette, drink, or meth hit, food is also used as a drug. I have read blogs where husbands left, children have died, and I can understand the pain and lonliness that comes into something like that. Then trying, trying to make yourself feel better you turn to a bag of doritoes or a pint of ben and jerry's. You cover up the hole in your heart... and never let the outside world see that hole. And once that hole gets covered up, it gets deeper. So then you have to put down the shovel, and quit digging... but in the process you have become a shell of your former self.
When my best friend died, she left a hole in my heart, and some very real feelings of anger, and "how could she do this to me, leave me alone like this. I am just now starting to work through some of those feelings. And anger with God. How could he do this to me. So Lonely is quite an interesting topic to write, and feel. I know that I am becoming one of those people that self soothe with food. I gave up alcohol, never did drugs, but in my darkest days I probably could have. I am too naïve to find the right people.... so I self soothe with food. When I feel lonely, tired, angry, depressed, I try to make myself feel better with food. I am not obese yet, but am overweight and really need to figure out how to heal my heart, balance my needs with my emotions.
Onto a different topic, I signed up to do a cupcake contest at the State Fair. I can't wait... and will be baking some fun cupcakes this weekend. I am looking forward to it, along with some fall cleaning. Getting ready for back to school always makes me want to clean and bake.
I will give an update later on my goals... not going so well. I still spend to much money on wants, I haven't figured out how to get my business going, still have 40 lbs to lose, and I am still completely disorganized.
I ran across a blog that had a five minute writing assignment. Today's topic is lonely. I am going to write for five minutes on the topic, just to get my brain started today.
Lonely:
This word has very negative connotations with it for me. People who are lonely always seem to be "miserable" and or very unhappy. I think lonely can be a positive thing, if you allow it to be. I have been reading a lot of blogs lately on weight loss, and how you have to heal your inside so that you don't stuff yourself with food. Like a drug addict that needs that next cigarette, drink, or meth hit, food is also used as a drug. I have read blogs where husbands left, children have died, and I can understand the pain and lonliness that comes into something like that. Then trying, trying to make yourself feel better you turn to a bag of doritoes or a pint of ben and jerry's. You cover up the hole in your heart... and never let the outside world see that hole. And once that hole gets covered up, it gets deeper. So then you have to put down the shovel, and quit digging... but in the process you have become a shell of your former self.
When my best friend died, she left a hole in my heart, and some very real feelings of anger, and "how could she do this to me, leave me alone like this. I am just now starting to work through some of those feelings. And anger with God. How could he do this to me. So Lonely is quite an interesting topic to write, and feel. I know that I am becoming one of those people that self soothe with food. I gave up alcohol, never did drugs, but in my darkest days I probably could have. I am too naïve to find the right people.... so I self soothe with food. When I feel lonely, tired, angry, depressed, I try to make myself feel better with food. I am not obese yet, but am overweight and really need to figure out how to heal my heart, balance my needs with my emotions.
Onto a different topic, I signed up to do a cupcake contest at the State Fair. I can't wait... and will be baking some fun cupcakes this weekend. I am looking forward to it, along with some fall cleaning. Getting ready for back to school always makes me want to clean and bake.
I will give an update later on my goals... not going so well. I still spend to much money on wants, I haven't figured out how to get my business going, still have 40 lbs to lose, and I am still completely disorganized.
Monday, April 29, 2013
I want it now!!
So as I have been keeping this on line journal, blog, whatever it is one of my main concerns is money. And how to save it, and not spend it. I know I have been talking about it for two months now and not doing anything about it. So today I decided to see how much money I actually wasted, because I get thoughts in my head that I can't live on what I make. That it is too hard, and I want it now. If only I made more, if only my husband made more, if only, if only, then I could just buy what I wanted. Notice these are all wants... not needs, but wants. I experimented today and I made out a list of spending, a budget, and do you know I should be saving or paying down debt by $600 a month, which would still leave around $100 for misc. expenses. REALLY???
As I was questioning this and writing it all down, I went back through my bank statements, and see where I waste a ton of money. Mostly eating out... and some other things that are wants, that have become needs and I need to just quit. Like smoking. But that is a post for another day.
And I had to wonder why do I spend money like I do. Granted there are certain things that are needed such as groceries, gas, baby food, diapers and things like that. But looking back over my expenses, I can cut out quite a few things. Again this month, I have way overspent and received taxes. Those taxes should have kept me going for a while. But instead I chose to spend way more than I needed too.
I have to stop and listen to the voices in my head telling me to spend and not spend. I am making a list of things that I don't buy... while it isn't really saving money it will show me if I can really live without something. This goes into decluttering too. I have WAY TO MUCH STUFF. I have said it 100's of times before, but having all of this stuff is just overwhelming and I can't seem to get a handle on the housework or enjoy the time I have with my baby.
So now I think I have a plan and a budget, and I will see where I end up at the end of May. At the end of May I should be able to pay another $1000 on my credit card and have it almost paid off.... instead of in the 7 months I have planned. It is time to take control.
How do you keep your spending on track, in check and not buy a bunch of unwanted stuff?
As I was questioning this and writing it all down, I went back through my bank statements, and see where I waste a ton of money. Mostly eating out... and some other things that are wants, that have become needs and I need to just quit. Like smoking. But that is a post for another day.
And I had to wonder why do I spend money like I do. Granted there are certain things that are needed such as groceries, gas, baby food, diapers and things like that. But looking back over my expenses, I can cut out quite a few things. Again this month, I have way overspent and received taxes. Those taxes should have kept me going for a while. But instead I chose to spend way more than I needed too.
I have to stop and listen to the voices in my head telling me to spend and not spend. I am making a list of things that I don't buy... while it isn't really saving money it will show me if I can really live without something. This goes into decluttering too. I have WAY TO MUCH STUFF. I have said it 100's of times before, but having all of this stuff is just overwhelming and I can't seem to get a handle on the housework or enjoy the time I have with my baby.
So now I think I have a plan and a budget, and I will see where I end up at the end of May. At the end of May I should be able to pay another $1000 on my credit card and have it almost paid off.... instead of in the 7 months I have planned. It is time to take control.
How do you keep your spending on track, in check and not buy a bunch of unwanted stuff?
Thursday, April 25, 2013
April 25
I am still stuck with the 5 lb gain, but eating habits went right back to the old ways. Within minutes of finishing my 24 day challenge, and going on vacation I went right back to eating junk, whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. Last night, I made a dinner with pasta, and red sauce... I ate an ice cream bar, and girl scout cookies. This morning, I ate a donut (chocolate maple bar) a pumpkin spice muffin, a blueberry scone, and have saved a second donut (chocolate) for this afternoon. WTF is wrong with me that I think I have to have it all. I wasn't happy with just a donut, or just the scone, or just the muffin. I wanted it all. And all of that sugar and crap put me in a bad mood, made me feel tired, bloated, and cranky. I could barely keep my eyes open this morning. I couldn't seem to get anything accomplished, not even simple every day tasks. Then I went for a lunch break run, and I could not get my legs to move. They felt stuck in concrete, my belly jiggled in all the wrong places, and I had to walk a lot. The good news is the run made me feel better physically. I have a bit more energy this afternoon and can at least finish up some of my day to day stuff. And for lunch I had a salad which is helping.
More on the donuts, scones and muffins. I will admit it... I LOVE that kind of stuff. If it resembles cake in anyway I will eat it whether I like it or not. I have been known to scarff down carrot cake, and strawberry cake my two least favorite sweets. Ah hell, I don't even like carrot cake and strawberries make me gag. So the experiment this morning was to remember if I LIKED the food, or just ate it for whatever reason... because it was there. And the funny thing is, it didn't taste all that great. It was good, sweet, and fatty and oh so sweet. But I could have been happy with my sweet apple and some eggs this morning. And felt so much better. The scone was very dry, and crumbly, and it wasn't as sweet as the donut. Not great, not even really good. But I ate every drop of it. The muffin was dry, crumbly and left a funny coating on my tongue. Again, not great, not even really good. So 1000 plus calories in a morning, and I am still looking for something satisfying.
This was a learning scientific experiment. If I was to make a list of foods that I cannot live without, these would not be on it. So far my list consists of diet pepsi. Can't live without diet pepsi. So I think I am going to make that list... and I will see how it goes. Foods that I want to eat, foods that I have ate, and can't live without.
Why does sugar have to be so bad!!
More on the donuts, scones and muffins. I will admit it... I LOVE that kind of stuff. If it resembles cake in anyway I will eat it whether I like it or not. I have been known to scarff down carrot cake, and strawberry cake my two least favorite sweets. Ah hell, I don't even like carrot cake and strawberries make me gag. So the experiment this morning was to remember if I LIKED the food, or just ate it for whatever reason... because it was there. And the funny thing is, it didn't taste all that great. It was good, sweet, and fatty and oh so sweet. But I could have been happy with my sweet apple and some eggs this morning. And felt so much better. The scone was very dry, and crumbly, and it wasn't as sweet as the donut. Not great, not even really good. But I ate every drop of it. The muffin was dry, crumbly and left a funny coating on my tongue. Again, not great, not even really good. So 1000 plus calories in a morning, and I am still looking for something satisfying.
This was a learning scientific experiment. If I was to make a list of foods that I cannot live without, these would not be on it. So far my list consists of diet pepsi. Can't live without diet pepsi. So I think I am going to make that list... and I will see how it goes. Foods that I want to eat, foods that I have ate, and can't live without.
Why does sugar have to be so bad!!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Almost the End of April, Vacation, and Thoughts
I cannot believe we are almost to the end of April. The time goes by SO fast with baby Max. He is amazing to watch grow and develop. His personality is beginning to emerge and he is a talker. I went home for lunch today, and he just babbled on and on telling me all about his morning with his daddy. It was so cute, and then he waved bye bye to me.
I tried a new diet, called Advocare, and took the 24 day challenge. I finished the challenge and lost 11 lbs and 11 inches in about a month. I was ecstatic, and also know I can do better so have ordered another 14 day round. This stuff is expensive, so I won't be able to continue much longer at $100 every two weeks. But I am feeling really good, and love, love seeing that scale go down. So I was a bit skinnier when I left to go on vacation.
Ahh vacations are wonderful, but full of food and fun. So I got to my mom's house (finally) after a cancelled flight, and many detours. It was so much fun to watch Baby Max and his grandma run around together. I just wish his grandma would be more involved with him. Like my grandma was with me. I want him to know his grandma, and be close to her. But I guess that is up to her to make that decision. He is just growing so fast, before you know it he is going to be a big kid, and not want to hang at grandma's house anymore. It is kind of sad. It makes me sad. And I wonder if she didn't have some of the things in her life that she does, if she would be more involved.
So I ate to much, I drank too much, and I enjoyed myself thoroughly the whole time. Now it is back to the real life of work, more work, housework, and raising a toddler.
Hoping to end the next 14 days with another 5-10 lbs gone, and get back on track of losing about 40 lbs for the year. I need to get back to running too. My half marathon is looming in the future, with just about a month and a half to go. Gotta get to running.
Speaking of running, it makes me nervous to run races again. I know it is silly, but after the Boston Marathon Tragedy it just makes me wonder what has come over people. Why would you blow up a bunch of runners??? Why, why?? I am sure we all have those questions, but it sure is hard to go back at it. I won't quit, in memory of everyone that was killed, and to respect those survivors that did it. But it does make me wonder what this world is coming to.
So my goals for the next 14 days are to keep with the advocare diet plan: Lean proteins, fruits and veggies. No dairy, alcohol, grains. It is working well, so I am sticking with it for now. If anyone is interested here is how a day in the life looks:
Pre Breakfast: Vitamins, and a spark drink.
Breakfast: Meal replacement shake
Snack: 3 hard boiled eggs, (sometimes a cup of melon).
Pre Lunch: The rest of the vitamins, and a spark drink.
Lunch: Usually a tuna salad ( 1 can of tuna, lots of green leafy veggies such as lettuce and spinach, broccoli, tomatoes and half an avacodo. For dressing I use a ginger sesame vinigraitte.)
Snack: Apple, orange or 1 cup of berries or melon.
Dinner: 3 oz of lean protein, (a pork chop, chicken, or salmon) and as much steamed veggies as I can eat. I like aspargus, broccoli, green beans.)
And if needed, I have fruit for an evening snack.
So that is it in a nutshell. Very filling, and with the vitamins I don't have very many cravings at all. Without the vitamins, I have cravings.
Have a happy Wednesday!!
I tried a new diet, called Advocare, and took the 24 day challenge. I finished the challenge and lost 11 lbs and 11 inches in about a month. I was ecstatic, and also know I can do better so have ordered another 14 day round. This stuff is expensive, so I won't be able to continue much longer at $100 every two weeks. But I am feeling really good, and love, love seeing that scale go down. So I was a bit skinnier when I left to go on vacation.
Ahh vacations are wonderful, but full of food and fun. So I got to my mom's house (finally) after a cancelled flight, and many detours. It was so much fun to watch Baby Max and his grandma run around together. I just wish his grandma would be more involved with him. Like my grandma was with me. I want him to know his grandma, and be close to her. But I guess that is up to her to make that decision. He is just growing so fast, before you know it he is going to be a big kid, and not want to hang at grandma's house anymore. It is kind of sad. It makes me sad. And I wonder if she didn't have some of the things in her life that she does, if she would be more involved.
So I ate to much, I drank too much, and I enjoyed myself thoroughly the whole time. Now it is back to the real life of work, more work, housework, and raising a toddler.
Hoping to end the next 14 days with another 5-10 lbs gone, and get back on track of losing about 40 lbs for the year. I need to get back to running too. My half marathon is looming in the future, with just about a month and a half to go. Gotta get to running.
Speaking of running, it makes me nervous to run races again. I know it is silly, but after the Boston Marathon Tragedy it just makes me wonder what has come over people. Why would you blow up a bunch of runners??? Why, why?? I am sure we all have those questions, but it sure is hard to go back at it. I won't quit, in memory of everyone that was killed, and to respect those survivors that did it. But it does make me wonder what this world is coming to.
So my goals for the next 14 days are to keep with the advocare diet plan: Lean proteins, fruits and veggies. No dairy, alcohol, grains. It is working well, so I am sticking with it for now. If anyone is interested here is how a day in the life looks:
Pre Breakfast: Vitamins, and a spark drink.
Breakfast: Meal replacement shake
Snack: 3 hard boiled eggs, (sometimes a cup of melon).
Pre Lunch: The rest of the vitamins, and a spark drink.
Lunch: Usually a tuna salad ( 1 can of tuna, lots of green leafy veggies such as lettuce and spinach, broccoli, tomatoes and half an avacodo. For dressing I use a ginger sesame vinigraitte.)
Snack: Apple, orange or 1 cup of berries or melon.
Dinner: 3 oz of lean protein, (a pork chop, chicken, or salmon) and as much steamed veggies as I can eat. I like aspargus, broccoli, green beans.)
And if needed, I have fruit for an evening snack.
So that is it in a nutshell. Very filling, and with the vitamins I don't have very many cravings at all. Without the vitamins, I have cravings.
Have a happy Wednesday!!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
April - A new Month, A new beginning
I love the changing seasons, and here we are into Spring already. The time does fly. Baby Max is 15 months old today, and I am making some progress on my goals. The sun is shining, the weather is a mild 70 degrees and I am feeling a renewal in my spirit.
I got my tax refund today and have made some progress on paying down my high credit card. With only 1876.00 left to go, I should be able to do that by the end of the year. Which was my goal. I am still not saving money, but not using a credit card and paying it off will be saving in the long run. I hate money. I need to get a better budget in place, and keep track of where my money goes. But I am making progress.
Weight loss: Down 6 lbs. This is exciting, and frustrating all rolled into one. The advocare program is great and I lost the first 5 lbs really fast. But now I seem to be fighting every single ounce that comes off. I started day 11 today, and I added in a lot of vitamins, and a protein shake for breakfast. The shake is pretty good. I blended it with ice and water. Lunches are a green salad with lots of veggies and today I mixed it up and made a chicken stir fry, with broccoli, peas, and some cabbage stuff. I can't wait to try it.
Running: I got in a full 3 mile run without stopping on Saturday. I loved it, I felt great, it was an awesome run. So it is coming together, but probably won't be ready for a full half marathon run by June. I am hoping to just get to six miles and then walk run the rest of it. We will see how training goes.
So I am making progress, it just isn't fast, and I am an instant gratification type of gal.
I got my tax refund today and have made some progress on paying down my high credit card. With only 1876.00 left to go, I should be able to do that by the end of the year. Which was my goal. I am still not saving money, but not using a credit card and paying it off will be saving in the long run. I hate money. I need to get a better budget in place, and keep track of where my money goes. But I am making progress.
Weight loss: Down 6 lbs. This is exciting, and frustrating all rolled into one. The advocare program is great and I lost the first 5 lbs really fast. But now I seem to be fighting every single ounce that comes off. I started day 11 today, and I added in a lot of vitamins, and a protein shake for breakfast. The shake is pretty good. I blended it with ice and water. Lunches are a green salad with lots of veggies and today I mixed it up and made a chicken stir fry, with broccoli, peas, and some cabbage stuff. I can't wait to try it.
Running: I got in a full 3 mile run without stopping on Saturday. I loved it, I felt great, it was an awesome run. So it is coming together, but probably won't be ready for a full half marathon run by June. I am hoping to just get to six miles and then walk run the rest of it. We will see how training goes.
So I am making progress, it just isn't fast, and I am an instant gratification type of gal.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
March Madness
March has just about come and gone, I can't believe how fast the time goes with a little one. With all of the craziness of this month, I haven't done much at working on my goals. At least I have them. This month, the time just flew by and I didn't have time to do much of anything. I am not sure why my time seemed to be just sucked away.
The good thing is that on March 23 I started a new diet. 5 days into it and I am down 5 lbs. I am so excited, I have never lost this fast before and I feel great. I am doing a 10 day body cleanse which consists of fruit, more fruit, hard boiled eggs, veggies, more veggies and some lean proteins. No dairy, gluten, grains. And I haven't cheated at all. It is exciting. So maybe this is the jump start that I needed to get on a healthy track.
Workouts have been sketchy, made it to the gym only a couple of times this month. Really trying to make that a priority again.
Money... ah money. Wouldn't be nice to live in a world where money wasn't needed. So no saving, over again. I think maybe I have saved some in groceries since I am buying mostly fruit and veggies, nothing processed. Maybe in April I can get to the no spend month. I think I need to make a list of the things that are needs and a list of the things that are wants. This list is different for everyone, so some of my needs may be someone else's wants. But there you have it... I need to quit spending and start saving. Now just quit talking about it and do it.
Business: Nothing new here, and it isn't a priority like losing weight, getting healthy and saving money. Of course if I was making money at my business it would help in the saving part. But there is still alot of year left, so I will revisit this.
Now for some personal stuff. Baby Max had his first haircut on Friday March 22. I was kind of sad to see the baby curls go. But he is so handsome right now. He says Dada, daddy, bo(bottle), booh, and sometimes Mama. Oh and DOG pronounced doge. It is a long oh sound. Everything is DOG. So cute.
The good thing is that on March 23 I started a new diet. 5 days into it and I am down 5 lbs. I am so excited, I have never lost this fast before and I feel great. I am doing a 10 day body cleanse which consists of fruit, more fruit, hard boiled eggs, veggies, more veggies and some lean proteins. No dairy, gluten, grains. And I haven't cheated at all. It is exciting. So maybe this is the jump start that I needed to get on a healthy track.
Workouts have been sketchy, made it to the gym only a couple of times this month. Really trying to make that a priority again.
Money... ah money. Wouldn't be nice to live in a world where money wasn't needed. So no saving, over again. I think maybe I have saved some in groceries since I am buying mostly fruit and veggies, nothing processed. Maybe in April I can get to the no spend month. I think I need to make a list of the things that are needs and a list of the things that are wants. This list is different for everyone, so some of my needs may be someone else's wants. But there you have it... I need to quit spending and start saving. Now just quit talking about it and do it.
Business: Nothing new here, and it isn't a priority like losing weight, getting healthy and saving money. Of course if I was making money at my business it would help in the saving part. But there is still alot of year left, so I will revisit this.
Now for some personal stuff. Baby Max had his first haircut on Friday March 22. I was kind of sad to see the baby curls go. But he is so handsome right now. He says Dada, daddy, bo(bottle), booh, and sometimes Mama. Oh and DOG pronounced doge. It is a long oh sound. Everything is DOG. So cute.
Monday, March 4, 2013
March is Here!
February has come and gone, and now for the second month in a row I have not hit my goals like I had them outlined. I did not hit my saving money goals at all. I think I spent more the month of February than I have in months past. So March is going to be my no spend month. It is actually going pretty well.
I lost 4 pounds this month, so this month I am going to try very hard to stick with a healthy diet. The exercise is there, but not where I want to be. So getting to the gym and weighing and measuring portions are my goals for the month. Overall I am feeling much better losing some weight. Energy levels are higher, and I just feel better.
I stepped out of my box this month and attended several conferences. One of them was the scentsy spring sprint. I had a great time, and the speakers were really good. It made me motivated to get out there and start running my business as well a business. So starting to make some goals for that.
The other conference was The Women's Empowering Conference and it was really good. The speakers were great, and again it motivated me to understand where I need to be. As well as some good tips on what I need to do. My two favorite parts were "He's not your Girlfriend." Some great relationship advice, and what I walked away with was to give my husband room to be a dad, and a husband. Guide him but make sure I am giving him the win when he does it. Not right, just does it. So I was telling him about this portion of the conference, and my biggest pet peeve is that he won't give the baby a bath. That frees up so much time for me to do housework stuff, and the baby is engaged elsewhere and safe. So last night, he took it upon himself to give the baby a bath. I was ECSTATIC. And my husband got a huge win in the process. The second thing was "Burn the Boats." Talking about how things in our life take up space and we don't need them after they have fulfilled their use. I need to burn a lot of boats, and that plays into my getting organized goals.
I have a new goal after attending this conference and that is to find my purpose and value in this world. It may not be much, but I need to find myself again and figure out what I need to do. I always thought I was destined for GREAT THINGS, but great things just don't happen. You have to work for them, and most of the time it is very hard work. So starting small, I am going to find my purpose, my value and let the great things happen.
So Goals for the month of March:
Lose another 4 lbs by Easter. Losing Weight is one of my top priorities.
Saving Money - No send month. Don't spend on frivoulous stuff you don't need.
Getting organized - Burn my boats. I have to throw stuff away, throwing it away you don't have to organize it.
Business Goals: For this month: Facebook advertisements. At least two posts per week with new Scentsy products. Try to book at least one party for this month and get a party order.
Until next time!!
I lost 4 pounds this month, so this month I am going to try very hard to stick with a healthy diet. The exercise is there, but not where I want to be. So getting to the gym and weighing and measuring portions are my goals for the month. Overall I am feeling much better losing some weight. Energy levels are higher, and I just feel better.
I stepped out of my box this month and attended several conferences. One of them was the scentsy spring sprint. I had a great time, and the speakers were really good. It made me motivated to get out there and start running my business as well a business. So starting to make some goals for that.
The other conference was The Women's Empowering Conference and it was really good. The speakers were great, and again it motivated me to understand where I need to be. As well as some good tips on what I need to do. My two favorite parts were "He's not your Girlfriend." Some great relationship advice, and what I walked away with was to give my husband room to be a dad, and a husband. Guide him but make sure I am giving him the win when he does it. Not right, just does it. So I was telling him about this portion of the conference, and my biggest pet peeve is that he won't give the baby a bath. That frees up so much time for me to do housework stuff, and the baby is engaged elsewhere and safe. So last night, he took it upon himself to give the baby a bath. I was ECSTATIC. And my husband got a huge win in the process. The second thing was "Burn the Boats." Talking about how things in our life take up space and we don't need them after they have fulfilled their use. I need to burn a lot of boats, and that plays into my getting organized goals.
I have a new goal after attending this conference and that is to find my purpose and value in this world. It may not be much, but I need to find myself again and figure out what I need to do. I always thought I was destined for GREAT THINGS, but great things just don't happen. You have to work for them, and most of the time it is very hard work. So starting small, I am going to find my purpose, my value and let the great things happen.
So Goals for the month of March:
Lose another 4 lbs by Easter. Losing Weight is one of my top priorities.
Saving Money - No send month. Don't spend on frivoulous stuff you don't need.
Getting organized - Burn my boats. I have to throw stuff away, throwing it away you don't have to organize it.
Business Goals: For this month: Facebook advertisements. At least two posts per week with new Scentsy products. Try to book at least one party for this month and get a party order.
Until next time!!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Tuesday February 13
It is almost halfway through the month, and my money goals are not sticking in a way that I had hoped. I am spending, spending and on things I don't really need like $4.50 for a coffee. So I need to really buckle down and get that under control. It seems that I made a goal to not spend money and I am spending more than I would usually. So now I am going to try the 40 days so by Easter I will have a fat pile of money.
Workouts are going really good, and I will make my 21 workouts by February 21. I will have to power through the rest of this week and be diligent in making this a priority. But it is going well so far. Some of the benefits of all of the exercise is less appetite, more sex drive, less tired, sleeping better when I get to sleep. So this is going well. I have lost about 2 lbs so far. Eating is not where it needs to be, and that goes hand in hand with the money thing. So cut out expensive coffees, bring my lunch and breakfast and healthy snacks and I should start to see the scale fall.
So right after my birthday I had a blast from the past. It opened up some emotions that I haven't felt in a very long time and made me realize that I haven't put closure to a lot of the stuff from my past. And it needs to be closed. I can't take the heartache again. Or jeopardize the life I have now. So while it made me feel good to remember the good times, that is what they need to be. Good times... and I need to concentrate on making new good times with my husband and son. So I need to work on the inside of me, and especially concentrate on what I want out of life. This whole thing made me realize that what I have is good right now, and that my past was good too, but it doesn't have a place in the right now. And again, I can't go through the heartache of that time period again either. So enough of that... I just had to sort it out a bit.
So my next 40 day goals are to complete and stick with my workout schedule... maybe not as crazy as it has been the last two weeks, but at least 3 times per week and shoot for 4-5 depending on scheduling and daycare.
Finances: QUIT SPENDING MONEY! My husband and I need to save money and get out of debt. End of story.
Eating: Just start eating healthier and being mindful of what it is that I eat.
Do you have any 40 day goals, or celebrate Lent?
Workouts are going really good, and I will make my 21 workouts by February 21. I will have to power through the rest of this week and be diligent in making this a priority. But it is going well so far. Some of the benefits of all of the exercise is less appetite, more sex drive, less tired, sleeping better when I get to sleep. So this is going well. I have lost about 2 lbs so far. Eating is not where it needs to be, and that goes hand in hand with the money thing. So cut out expensive coffees, bring my lunch and breakfast and healthy snacks and I should start to see the scale fall.
So right after my birthday I had a blast from the past. It opened up some emotions that I haven't felt in a very long time and made me realize that I haven't put closure to a lot of the stuff from my past. And it needs to be closed. I can't take the heartache again. Or jeopardize the life I have now. So while it made me feel good to remember the good times, that is what they need to be. Good times... and I need to concentrate on making new good times with my husband and son. So I need to work on the inside of me, and especially concentrate on what I want out of life. This whole thing made me realize that what I have is good right now, and that my past was good too, but it doesn't have a place in the right now. And again, I can't go through the heartache of that time period again either. So enough of that... I just had to sort it out a bit.
So my next 40 day goals are to complete and stick with my workout schedule... maybe not as crazy as it has been the last two weeks, but at least 3 times per week and shoot for 4-5 depending on scheduling and daycare.
Finances: QUIT SPENDING MONEY! My husband and I need to save money and get out of debt. End of story.
Eating: Just start eating healthier and being mindful of what it is that I eat.
Do you have any 40 day goals, or celebrate Lent?
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Working Out
Good Afternoon! Today is a good day and it started off right with a really great workout last night, and then a follow up work out this afternoon. I have never gone to the gym and said I really hated that, I won't do that again. And I am ALWAYS so much more productive when I work out. And I feel great. I think this afternoon will be a very productive afternoon and I will get a lot of stuff finished up.
I signed up for a contest to see if I could do 21 workouts by February 21. I have 13 left and today is the 6th. I need to buckle down and make sure not to skip workouts. This is good, because it is all part of my half marathon training which is coming up in June. I have to run 13.1 miles, and I am not even up to 2 yet. It will get there, I just need to really focus on getting in my runs.
Thinking about cutting out all wheat products out of my diet. I am not sure if this will help or not, but an article that I read says that wheat triggers carbohydrate cravings. If this is the case, and I am a carbo junky, then maybe I would feel better and not have those cravings as often. I have seen other people really have success with this. Since I am trying to find a cross between healthy eating, and a diet, I am experimenting with different things. Weight Watchers is not really working for me. I can't seem to stay within the points system even with all the "free" fruits and vegetables. This is something I am going to have to REALLY work at and put the effort into.
Money/Finances: So far my no spend month, I have spent about $6 that was not budgeted. I bought a peanut butter chocolate frozen yogurt yesterday, and today I bought a salad for lunch. I had a lunch, but it wasn't enough to get me through the day. So hopefully that is all that I will spend. It is kind of weird, I am more mindful about what I spend, and if it is really worth it. It isn't impulse anymore. And I haven't found anything that I have to have.
Organizing: Did not get anything done last night. It was late when I got home, and I got dinner made, diaper bag packed and that was about it. So hopefully tonight, I will be able to spend at least 15 minutes cleaning and decluttering something. I know that I will feel so much better with more space, and not every available space taken up with something.
How are your goals coming along as we hit the second week of February?
I signed up for a contest to see if I could do 21 workouts by February 21. I have 13 left and today is the 6th. I need to buckle down and make sure not to skip workouts. This is good, because it is all part of my half marathon training which is coming up in June. I have to run 13.1 miles, and I am not even up to 2 yet. It will get there, I just need to really focus on getting in my runs.
Thinking about cutting out all wheat products out of my diet. I am not sure if this will help or not, but an article that I read says that wheat triggers carbohydrate cravings. If this is the case, and I am a carbo junky, then maybe I would feel better and not have those cravings as often. I have seen other people really have success with this. Since I am trying to find a cross between healthy eating, and a diet, I am experimenting with different things. Weight Watchers is not really working for me. I can't seem to stay within the points system even with all the "free" fruits and vegetables. This is something I am going to have to REALLY work at and put the effort into.
Money/Finances: So far my no spend month, I have spent about $6 that was not budgeted. I bought a peanut butter chocolate frozen yogurt yesterday, and today I bought a salad for lunch. I had a lunch, but it wasn't enough to get me through the day. So hopefully that is all that I will spend. It is kind of weird, I am more mindful about what I spend, and if it is really worth it. It isn't impulse anymore. And I haven't found anything that I have to have.
Organizing: Did not get anything done last night. It was late when I got home, and I got dinner made, diaper bag packed and that was about it. So hopefully tonight, I will be able to spend at least 15 minutes cleaning and decluttering something. I know that I will feel so much better with more space, and not every available space taken up with something.
How are your goals coming along as we hit the second week of February?
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Check In
It is now day 5 of being forty. I am sticking with my goals and trying very hard to follow my plan that is outlined in my previous post.
Diet: Still eating healthy, need to get more of a plan going and start measuring, weighing, and tracking. Ate too much junk over the weekend so trying to stick to it.
Finances: Still on the no spend track. I haven't bought anything unneeded. This is going to be a long process to see how much I can actually save.
Decluttering/Organizing: Such a work in progress. It is getting there, but it is so hard to do anything while Baby Max is awake. So last night I managed to get the diaper bag packed, lunches made, clothes laid out for today, dishes done and dinner cooked. So not as productive as I had hoped. Tonight is gym night, which puts me on track for my half marathon.
Half Marathon training: It still isn't quite a habit, but have managed to get in a few more workouts than before. The weather is still crappy so it is hard to get out to train with snow and ice on the ground.
Business: Not sure if this is still in line with what I want to do. While I love scentsy and their products, I am not sure that direct sales is for me. I would love to make extra money at this, but sometimes it seems like just more work to do in a schedule that already has no time.
Some thoughts on motherhood:
What is it that makes your baby scream bloody murder all.night.long then be perfectly happy when you finally make it to work the next day?
He is one, and I still can't seem to get a handle on what this is all about. It seems I spend most of the time second guessing myself and trying to figure out what is wrong. And it is never the same answer twice.
How can that precious being look so incredibly adorable when sleeping?
The love that overcomes me is so significant that sometimes it just swallows me up.
I guess he is teaching me patience, love, gentleness, and kindness all wrapped up into one.
For all the mom's out there, how do you have a sense of organization with baby?
Diet: Still eating healthy, need to get more of a plan going and start measuring, weighing, and tracking. Ate too much junk over the weekend so trying to stick to it.
Finances: Still on the no spend track. I haven't bought anything unneeded. This is going to be a long process to see how much I can actually save.
Decluttering/Organizing: Such a work in progress. It is getting there, but it is so hard to do anything while Baby Max is awake. So last night I managed to get the diaper bag packed, lunches made, clothes laid out for today, dishes done and dinner cooked. So not as productive as I had hoped. Tonight is gym night, which puts me on track for my half marathon.
Half Marathon training: It still isn't quite a habit, but have managed to get in a few more workouts than before. The weather is still crappy so it is hard to get out to train with snow and ice on the ground.
Business: Not sure if this is still in line with what I want to do. While I love scentsy and their products, I am not sure that direct sales is for me. I would love to make extra money at this, but sometimes it seems like just more work to do in a schedule that already has no time.
Some thoughts on motherhood:
What is it that makes your baby scream bloody murder all.night.long then be perfectly happy when you finally make it to work the next day?
He is one, and I still can't seem to get a handle on what this is all about. It seems I spend most of the time second guessing myself and trying to figure out what is wrong. And it is never the same answer twice.
How can that precious being look so incredibly adorable when sleeping?
The love that overcomes me is so significant that sometimes it just swallows me up.
I guess he is teaching me patience, love, gentleness, and kindness all wrapped up into one.
For all the mom's out there, how do you have a sense of organization with baby?
Day One of turning 40
Today is the day that I have turned 40. I feel like it is a turning point in my life and onto bigger and better things. I LOVED my thirties, it was probably one of the best times in my life. But now I have grown more and have new goals. I am starting this blog to document and keep myself accountable to the goals that I want to achieve. Journaling and writing have always helped me to do this, and maybe this time I will get to where I need to be in the next 10 years.
So to start my goals are:
*Get out of debt - 2 years max.
* Lose 45 lbs. - 1 year max.
*Declutter, get organized, and use my small space to its full potential.
*Put "Baby Max" in preschool. He is one now, by the time he is three.
*Run a half marathon. June 22.
*Build up my Scentsy business.
So to elaborate on each of these a little bit, I want to get out of debt. I am sick and tired of paying minimum payments and watching my paycheck go to unwanted bills. So I am going to use the snowball effect, pay off my highest interest credit card first, (while still making the minimum payments on my other credit card) and then combine payments to pay off the second one. I am going to use any extra money I get to pay this off!
In the long run, it is saving money. In the meantime, I am really trying to live a simpler, more natural way of living. I hate the word frugal, so I will use simple instead.
Lose 45 lbs. Last year, I gave birth to "Baby Max" and gained quite a bit of weight. I was already overweight to begin with, and now have 45 lbs to lose. With today being my birthday, I am not going to start a diet plan today. But tomorrow I am going to hit it full force and move into 40 with style, grace and ending up 41 as a skinny hot mama!! I want "Baby Max" to have a healthy mom, one that can play ball with him and run after him. I don't want to be sitting on the sidelines just watching. Some diet plans that I am researching right now are WHOLE30, and Metabolic Research Center Diet along with Weight Watchers. I am going to try to do it on my own for the first couple of months and hope to have lost 10 lbs by March 31. I think that is doable. I will weigh every week.
Declutter and get organized. I live in a very small space, and with the addition of "Baby Max" it is imperative that I get cleaned up and organized. Don't get me wrong, I am not like those hoarders you see on TV, but I have A LOT of clutter, and just stuff laying around. Stuff that is junk, and paper clutter is huge for me too. It seems that I am always bringing home paper clutter and junk clutter. So to get a handle on this, I have implemented a NO SPEND MONTH. For this year I am going to do that twice a year, the month of February - (it is a short month) and the month of June. I can only by necessities such as groceries, gas, and what I deem as necessary.
Necessary items:
1-2 32 oz diet pepsi per day. The rest of the time drink water.
Groceries - try to cut the budget by $20 every month.
Baby supplies. Nuff said.
Gas for the car
And my yikes, bad habit of smoking. Those are necessities still, but looking to quit when I get everything else in order. Baby steps.
Unnecessary items:
Coffee at a coffee shop
Eating out
Clothes, internet shopping, anything that doesn't fit in with my necessities list. I am a huge internet shopper, and I tend to impulse buy when at the grocery store. No more for one month.
Put "Baby Max" in preschool. Start researching preschools and get on a waiting list. This will cost money, so I need to budget for that also.
Run a half marathon: Make training a priority. This falls in line with my weight loss goals.
Build up my Scentsy business. This is far down on the list, but hopefully by the end of this year, I can increase my sales somewhat. My first thing to doing this is attending the Spring Sprint at the end of February.
New goals will be added, and old goals will be updated, but I think for this year I have a reasonable amount to work with and hopefully this won't completely overwhelm me. What goals do you have for the coming year? Would love to hear about your goals and attempts to get there.
Thanks for listening!
Char
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