New Year's Eve 2011

It's New Year's Eve.  The girls are at "Andma" and "Ampa's" house for the night and Chris and I are having some friends over to "play".  I planned too much food as usual but I planned it all to be warmed in crockpots so ALL the work is done!  :)  Smart me, for once! 

Target Practice = Couple Bonding time!
The day is so laid-back that even with people coming over, Chris and I found some time this afternoon to visit the shooting range.  I don't think I've done that since before B was born --- so roughly 5+ years!  all in all - I did pretty well, I think!  I shot my .22 handgun and Chris' .45 and .40.  I hate the .40.  It kicks like a mofo and the grip is just too big for my little hand but I absolutely love my .22.  It is totally a blast to shoot.  Considering how long it's been since I've shot ANYTHING - I was pretty pleased with my accuracy.  I'm no pro, but I did alright.  *catty alert!* way better than the pink clad vision that was shooting next to me who could barely hit the paper! 

I really enjoy target practice.  Always have.  When we were kids, we had a little .22 that we used to take to the lake.  Back in the day, our end of the lake was remarkably quiet and empty - especially in the spring and fall.  We would set up soda can pyramids and take turns laying down in the grass to knock them over.  I have such a specific and vivid recollection of putting that little bullet right through the center of the "O" in Mountain Dew.  It was sheer joy to have something that I was arguably as good at as my brother that we could do together. 

These days, I enjoy target practice for much the same reason - it's a rare something that my husband and I can do together that, again, I can arguably keep up with him in the inherent talent category.  I like that it makes me feel really well-rounded - it isn't something that I think most people would expect of me.  And I really like the swagger that I feel afterwards!  I'm not above that!

"Resolutions"
I fight the idea of "resolutions" and yet I have so many.  I'm looking for this blog, among other things, to be a way for me to create some sort of accountability for my current goals.  So - here are a few, in no particular order:

• Last year, I set a goal of Chris & I having one date night per month with each of us taking a turn planning the date.  We did OK at this though we weren't 100% consistent.  I think that this is utterly, completely crucial to us continuing to build a better and better relationship and I'm determined to maintain this as an ongoing goal!
• Keep Running!  I still can't believe that I'm running at all much less that I'm enjoying it as much as I am!  I am really excited about running another Ragnar this year and I have made the Fargo Half-Marathon my distance goal for the year.  I'm not quite ready to train for a full marathon at this point.  I just can't see myself making the time for the training commitment.
• Cook and eat at home MUCH more often!  I'm guilty of really, really enjoying paying someone else to bring me food!  But it is very, very expensive and since we generally live our lives paycheck to paycheck - it really isn't very smart!  And I do actually love cooking most of the time so if I just wrap my head around it, this should be easy.  We will still eat out now and again - but I am making it a mission that these are "special occasions" and they will be savored!
• Drink more water and less diet coke.  I am really very unhappy with the way that my body feels when I don't have a diet coke every day.  It's really frightening and very sad.  I will admit to being a diet coke addict and this does NOT make me happy.  I certainly do not like being dependent on something so ridiculous.  Gonna fix it! 
• Sew more.  I'm not sure what direction this is going to take.  I made the girls' Halloween costumes this past year and loved the way it felt to have them parading around in (if I do say so myself) gorgeous costumes that I made.  But in our little house - if I'm going to sew - i pretty much have to haul everything out...sew...and then stash it all back.  It's a royal pain in the ass, frankly.  So I need to think about revamping the table full of crap in our bedroom that was intended as my sewing space.  I have a quilt for my nephew to finish (poor kid will be 3 soon and it started as a baby quilt).  I have a bazillion burp cloths cut out and ready to put together that I want to start using as doula gifts.  And - I have B.E.Inspired that I really, really want to do something with (I will dedicate a post to this soon)
• Finish my doula certification.  I'm shocked at how long it is taking to get my certification out of the way.  I really and truly thought that I would be done with all the paperwork at this point and I'm still incredibly far away from the finish line.  I WILL FINISH! 
• Spend more planned, focused time with the girls.  I don't know exactly what this means - but I want to be more deliberate about the time that I spend with them.  not always - but at least several times a week if not once a day.  This may mean sitting down and really focusing on playing a game with them.  It may mean putting together a legitimate craft for us to do together.  It may mean baking together (which they love). 
• And last, but not least, EVERYONE's goal at this time of year - to lose some more weight.  Back on Weight Watchers I go - and I'm going to be really honest about my weight here - why hide it?  I have no pride left and it will help keep me on target to have people knowing precisely where I'm at! 

I think that's it for now.  It's kind of a daunting list but it encompasses things that are important to me:  My kids, my husband, my physical health, my financial health and my mental health.

An explanation for a blog...

So I've been thinking about blogging.  And I keep asking myself "why"?  It seems like the cool thing to do right now.  I have friends that are doing it, I've picked up on a few "professional" bloggers out there - and I really enjoy reading them.  And I think that's specifically why I have hesitated to start.  I've never been one to purposely follow a trend...I proudly purchased my jeans from Fleet Farm when I was in junior high / high school for goodness' sakes because I did NOT understand the idea of spending $50 for a pair of pants...never mind purposely tearing holes in them, pinning or rolling the ankles...nope - not a trend follower.  That being said, I also have never been a real trail blazer either...but I do enjoy writing from time to time.  That is, I enjoy writing as long as no one is going to correct my grammar or my punctuation.  And while I've often attempted to start keeping a journal, I have NEVER been successful. 

So I think I'll give this blog thing an experimental "try" --- because:

• I enjoy casual, stream-of-consciousness writing. 
• I already feel like little tidbits of my daughters' childhood that seem so important at the time are being lost to history and I'd love to have a better record for them and for myself.
• With Chris travelling as much as he does, I often find myself all alone with the girls for weeks at a time and it gets lonesome to not have someone to immediately share things with...maybe I can plug a little bit of that hole by writing it down?
• I have a multitude of hobbies and interests that could use research, tracking, sharing...a blog might help me to remain "on task" with some of my goals. 
• I feel a bit like a voyeur reading other peoples' blogs and feel like it might  be time for me "give back" by allowing some people into my head for a bit as well. 

I think that's enough reasons for now, am I right?  All that being said, I do not promise to keep this up for long.  As you can see - I tried this little experiment for a different reason over a year ago with very short-term results.  But - I am going to give it a shot. 

How long has this been going on???

OK - so I've been away from my blog...but not away from my "responsibilities". Here's where I am today...

Still taking all my supplements (though I'll admit to occasionally skipping the godawful B-juice in the a.m. 'cause it tastes retched)

Trying to eat "right" and mostly failing! I AM successful at having a protein and veggies for breakfast which I figure is getting me a good start to the day at any rate. Haven't missed a day yet on this point. Decided two days ago that I had to give up dairy again...and then promptly had Thai Wontons for supper...YUM. So - I AM giving up dairy again...with the notable exception of State Fair cheesecurds because I just don't think that I can give them up 2 years in a row. This morning I was 142.4. Ugh. Considering I WAS at 134...this is pretty disappointing. And I'm out of my Size 6's and INTO my size 12's (though they are a bit looseish).

I have been running the "Couch to 5K" program every other day and have been really enjoying it. I started Week 2 this morning and it was tough but not overly difficult. I plan to run the Turkey Trot...the big question is - will I be running alone or will I be lucky enough to have the challenge of finding care for the girls so that Chris can run with me?

I pooped on Friday...and I pooped yesterday. I know I'm not drinking enough water though I AM trying on this point and I'm drinking significantly more than I "Usually" do so I'm calling it a minor success for now.

What else? Oh - I'm TRYING to do yoga on the "off" days for the C25K program...but have you ever tried to properly execute yoga poses with a 1 year old crawling between your legs and a 3 year old standing on your foot? Tough. Some days it works...most days it doesn't.

That's what I know. HAPPY BIRTHDAY "Doctor H"!

so far...a good morning

Day 3 begins...

Slept really pretty well last night. I don't think I woke up until about 5:45. Went right back to sleep and slept until my alarm went off at 6:30. Yup! Set an alarm! I got up, got dressed and began Day 1 of Week 1 of a Couch to 5K program that I found online. I'm supposed to run 3 days a week for 9 weeks...and at the end, I should be able to successfully complete a 5K. The run was nice. I started off feeling like it was 'too easy' but I dutifully stayed with the guy on my podcast. Turns out - it was just about perfect. By the time I got done, I was sweating profusely (that hopefully has something to do with the amount of humidity & heat in the air already by 7 am), was redfaced and slightly winded...feeling good. I want to try to get Chris to do it every other day so that we can be running "together" but "alone" and can do the Turkey Trot together. My plan is to run every other day alternating with yoga.

Took all my supplements and have had 2 glasses of water and a big cup of mint tea already this morning. Had a hard boiled egg and a pile of veggies for breakfast.

Now - the toughest task for the day will be to figure out how to entertain two energetic little girls who desperately want to go outside and play...it's supposed to be mid-90's again today. ugh.

...and today Denise Austin kicked my ass...

Day 2...still...

Took all my supplements plus some extras to try to deal with this cold. I still say my pee looks like Mountain Dew. And - I just pumped some milk (I think I'm done nursing as of this morning) and it looked a little greenish as well. I pooped. A bunch. Of squish. And I've been uber-gassy for the last 36 hours or so. Not sure if that's herbs or somtehing else. I felt fairly ill when I got up this morning but was feeling better after some breakfast and a shower. I haven't been keeping track of how much water I've been drinking but I think I've had roughly 1 cup of tea (btw - the immunity tea was not good...but I think i screwed up and made it too weak. We'll try again) and 5 glasses of water which is 5 glasses more than usual! I also, of course, had 1 Diet Coke. no refills...that's something. Had my now 'usual' breakfast of chicken and vegetables. Ate 3/4 of a Chipotle burrito and only about 4 chips. That IS something! Truly! Can't remember the last time I didn't finish both. Had homemade pizza for supper with nummy basil, mushrooms, sauce and cheese. It was supposed to be made on the grill but we were out of gas. Oops. It was HOT today so I didn't like heating up the kitchen but it was nummy nonetheless. Chris took B to work with him today so it was just E and I! I got a bunch of work done, we got to play together just the two of us AND - while E napped, I took on the 20 minute yoga workout that K sent. And yes - Denise Austin kicked my arse. I was quite literally SWEAT from head to toe but it felt awesome. And Chris just downloaded a "Couch to 5K" podcast for me onto my phone. So - tomorrow morning I'm going to try running before it gets hot. We'll see. I really want to run the Turkey Trot this year but I've said THAT before, so...anyhew - that's hte update! 'Night!

Day 2

Recap Day 1:

Took all of my supplements (except that I missed the noon fish oil dose...oops).

Diet - I did....medium at best. Had chicken & vegetables for breakfast, roast beef sandwich and a couple of french fries for lunch, taco salad for dinner (homemade - greens, tomatoes, black beans, lean ground hamburger, cheese & dressing). Then royally screwed up and made nachos with leftover ingredients after the girls went to bed. Had 3 cups of tea and at least twice the water that I usually have (which, I know, is still not 'enough'), only part of 1 small diet pepsi and 1 beer.

Activity - B and I did the 10 minute leg burn yoga workout while E napped.

Felt OK all day until dinner time or so and then deteriorated pretty quickly. In short - I feel like poo again. This neverending cold had gotten a lot better...I was still coughing but felt fine. Now I have a raw throat and I feel icky and I'm NOT happy about it.

Day 2

143.2 lb which is NOT the right direction and a direct result of the aforementioned nachos. Didn't sleep well...sore throat kept me up...and Chris was hot and sweaty...E woke up once...and all the water kept me peeing. (BTW - I think my pee is a funny color. Chris disagrees. With all the water I was drinking I figured it would be pretty well clear but it looked a bit like watered down Mountain Dew. Is that the supplements?) Up with B at 6:30 this morning, tired and with a sore throat. I've had my supplements as well as my chicken & vegetables and water. I'm just about to gargle with the Wintertime Support stuff and make myself a cup of tea. On with the day!

Should have posted these with the last...here you see all of the 'stuff' that came in the magical box yesterday. It's an imposing pile!

And here is my breakfast this morning. Tasted a lot better than it looks. I've never been a big breakfast eater...eggs don't thrill me...cereal is 'meh'...I LOVE pastries of course but they aren' exactly good for me...somehow it never occurred to me to just eat "regular food" for breakfast. So - rotisserie chicken, cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers...5 pills...1 tbsp of cherry flavored 'stuff'...a HUGE glass of water and a HUGE cup of tea...ready for the day!