Thirty-one

It's been a fantastic birthday so far. For starters, I got a bagel bucket this morning. Bagels are possibly my favorite food. Then I took Newb to the Farmers Market and happily spent my $48.73 in cash. I even got a deal on my final item--local honey because I only had $6 and some change left. The lady sold it to me despite the asking price of $8.

I felt kind of restless when I got home and the other two (N and Bit) were done with baking my cake, waiting for it to cool. So I took off on my own for a Target trip. I had been buying more bulk rice and stuff, so I wanted to get some containers to store it. I got the containers and after lunch, N put up the shelf in the dining room that I've been wanting to put up. And I washed and filled my containers. I'm quite pleased with the result. I just need a few more containers for couscous, beans, and sugar.

My cake is ready and I'm chilling, awaiting our parents so we can try the vegan carrot cake (nut free) and go out to dinner at my favorite local vegetarian restaurant. Whee!

Simplify.

I am feeling a bit out of sorts this week. It's probably because we were on vacation last week and I had to hit the ground running, getting Bit into a new daycare and trying to catch up on the chores that fell to the side when I was planning for the trip. I'm also really tired...probably just because I didn't sleep well sharing a room with Newb. She's cutting 6 teeth right now! I guess she's trying to make up for the fact that, at nearly 10 months, she's not crawling yet.

Anyway, I have the desire to utterly gut our belongings and simplify life as much as humanly possible. But 1) I don't know how my family members would feel about it. For one thing, I could never turn the TV on again and be happy. I could limit computer use to the ground floor and be happy. But the rest...not so much. 2) I have no time! I can't even keep up with everyday chores and cleaning, let alone make time for side projects...sigh. Oh well, I need to let it go and focus on the good things in my life. The rest will fall into place eventually.

Updated resolutions

So here are updated goals for 2011:

1. Organize/declutter. -- ongoing process
   
2. Continue meal planning/exercise/improved nutrition. -- ongoing process
3. Save money. -- ongoing process
4. Set up our wills by 1/31 and a college fund by 3/31. -- er, work in progress!
   
5. Paint the inside of my house. Hopefully we can get a home loan and (hire someone to) do some improvement projects. -- on hold
   
   
6. Complete "Couch to 5K" and do a 5K -- done! 3/27
   
7. Reach my goal weight and get free WW -- done!
   
8. Send photos for scanning (already half paid for) -- done!

Yikes!

I have a really busy month coming at work--I have to change my workout schedule as a result. I need to commit to an altered schedule.

Stick with it

I thought I'd just share this little tidbit I wrote to encourage a friend of mine (If this does not apply to you, move on--but I think it applies to many areas of life):

I have really struggled with food since Christmas, but overall I have lost weight!

I have learned this: life is hard! And Weight Watchers(WW) is a lifestyle--that means there will be times when food is not my focus. Sometimes my life/family/work/etc demand my attention and I have to accept that the food might slide a little--as long as I'm still aware of what I'm eating and I intend to get back on track, I've found that I do eventually get back there! Small scale--I gained 1 lb a few weeks ago...now I'm down 5 lbs! Because I stuck with it. Large scale--I joined WW in 2002 (yikes 9 years ago!) at 279...I plateaued, and quit and rejoined, but certain lifestyle changes stuck with me, so I never gained it all back. Since 2007 I've only been over 200 lbs due to pregnancy and I'm still amazed at the healthy lifestyle WW has given me. I'm so grateful and happy to have found my own inner strength--but that certainly does NOT mean I don't have hard periods where my food is out of control. So, bottom line, stick with it, baby!

2011 Resolutions & Lookback

Here are the resolutions I put forth in 2009:

1. Organize/declutter. The continuing saga...
   
2. Set up our wills and a college fund. Holy cow! I still haven't done this!!
   
3. Paint the inside of my house. The continuing saga...
4. Landscape the front. Done!
5. Do some bathroom fix-ups. Finally got the tub refinished last Sept!
   
6. Work on my stress management. Well under way
   
7. Continue meal planning/exercise/improved nutrition. The continuing saga...
8. Save money. The continuing saga...
9. Get pregnant. Done!
10. Work on my photo archive project. The continuing saga...

So, I completed 2 of the 10 (20%) and made headway on 70% of the items. Only 1 hasn't been touched in 2 years, yikes!

So here are updated goals for 2011 (2011!?):

1. Organize/declutter.
   
2. Set up our wills by 1/31 and a college fund by 3/31.
   
3. Paint the inside of my house. Hopefully we can get a home loan and (hire someone to) do some improvement projects.
   
4. Complete "Couch to 5K" and do a 5K
5. Reach my goal weight and get free WW
   
6. Continue meal planning/exercise/improved nutrition.
7. Save money.
8. Send photos for scanning (already half paid for)

o hai

I have been incredibly busy--which is not surprising for a mom of 2 with a full-time job and myriad other responsibilities, not to mention a semi-active social life. The holidays were hectic, but enjoyable. My poor N is just glad they're over so things can get back to normal.

I have made several resolutions, among them getting back to my goal weight (and free Lifetime member status with WW) and making sure I include N in my planning of our lives. I'd also like to work on our debt and do some work on the house if we can get a loan.

I started the Couch to 5K program today and it was tough! But I kept thinking, I want to run a 5K when I'm 30 (which I am until September) and show my kids how they can live a healthy, active lifestyle. The most important thing I learned on this first 29 degree run...wear gloves! Wish me luck as I continue the program!