I have the hiccups.
Also, I am not very good at this whole blogging thing. Between work, my house, my husband and dogs, and just being tired, I have not blogged in over a month. My apologies. I did not give up, but I did get very behind (thanks for the encouragement Betsy!).
So, in a month, a lot has changed. Mostly, it was my own thought process and motivation to finally do something about not being happy with how I look.
First thing is first: Lent. I have a love/hate relationship with the idea. Yes, it is a good thing to sacrifice something, but I do get grumpy on Fridays when I can't have meat. I decided to try not to get grumpy about Lent and to look at it as a way to jump start the new, healthier me....and it's working. I gave up soda, candy, and most fast foods, since I relied way too heavily on them while I was working out of the home. I still go to Subway and Penn Station since I can just get a sandwich. For snacks, I try to eat healthier and my husband and I are cooking more at home as well.
I also started going to Friday night and Sunday afternoon Zumba. I always tried to go to Monday and Wednesday night, but a lot of times my work schedule would not allow it. Then I found out that the YMCA added Friday night and Sunday afternoon Zumba. I immediately started attending. To be honest, Friday and Sunday are my favorite times to go. There is one instructor who does those classes, and I like her the best of the 3 on the Zumba squad. I feel like I can't get enough Zumba.
In addition to all of that, I tried running on the treadmill. I am trying to train myself to run a little, even though I hated running all my life. I started out walking one minute, running two minutes, then walking two minutes. After a few trials, I wasn't that tired afterwards, so I bumped running up to three minutes. I did that for a few trials and the same thing happened, I wasn't that tired. I dared myself to bump the running up to four minutes one day when my husband accompanied me to the Y. That's where I reside as of now. That has been in a matter of about three weeks, and I am impressed with myself. Not to mention that I do this running thing AFTER I had an hour of Zumba with jumping and quick movements. I remember when I would be wiped after just Zumba...
Now for The Great Laundry Challenge, Take 2. I have cycled through jeans, workout clothes, and sleep socks. I have gotten rid of a few shirts and thrown away some socks and underwear that I just didn't like or that weren't comfortable. While thinking of this challenge, especially since this is the second time of doing this, I really am only doing this to get rid of shirts, socks, and underwear. Mostly. I do need to wear everything else to see if I can get rid of anything, but that's what it boils down to. So, onward.
Last thing. I mentioned that my husband and I have tried to eat healthier. I tried stuffed salmon from Sam's Club the other day. Now, if you know me, I HATE fish, except tuna. The taste, texture, and smell. Doesn't matter how you make it, I don't care for it. Now, this is probably the Catholic thinking in me, but I do not count shrimp, crab, scallops, etc (seafood), fish. It just isn't. My husband really wanted the stuffed salmon, so I said I would try it. Verdict: I loved it. I still think that it was because it was stuffed with shrimp, crab, and whatever else, so I liked that and would only take a bite of salmon with the stuffing. I'm making progress. Baby steps.
Ok, really, this is the last thing. I tried a "healthy sweet snack" tonight. Banana oat cookies. (Recipe here). All it is: 2 Bananas, 1 cup of Oats, and if you would like, add a handful of cinnamon, walnuts, coconut, chocolate chips, etc. I did a handful of mini chocolate chips in the batch I made tonight. Verdict: DELICIOUS. They are a perfect amount of sweet and pretty healthy. You should try some. :)
I will try to post more frequently on any progress I make. Thanks for reading!
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Pinterest Re-vamp
I've wanted to do this for a while but never took the time to do it. So today, I did.
I use Pinterest a lot. I mean a lot. I have gotten many craft ideas, home decor ideas, and LOTS of food ideas. I have tried several and I have many, many more to try. I tend to have a hard time finding recipes that I have tried from Pinterest on my "Looks Delicious" board as they don't all load at one time. These recipes are the ones that I tried, and worked/did not work. There are a few that I have tried that I would like to add to the blog, "Pinterest, you are Drunk" (which you can find here). By the way, the blog is hilarious! Anyway, I created a new board called "Tried and True" where I re-pinned what I have tried and how it turned out. So if you want to check it out, click here.
On another note, I started Zumba back up. I can't always go due to my crazy work schedule, but I go when I can and when I remember what day it is. I used to go twice a week but with work, the wedding, and holidays, I had not been in a long time. The past couple of times, I apparently did not try that hard since I barely broke a sweat. However, tonight was a different story. I was energized throughout the class and even after and I was sweating quite a bit. It felt good. :)
I use Pinterest a lot. I mean a lot. I have gotten many craft ideas, home decor ideas, and LOTS of food ideas. I have tried several and I have many, many more to try. I tend to have a hard time finding recipes that I have tried from Pinterest on my "Looks Delicious" board as they don't all load at one time. These recipes are the ones that I tried, and worked/did not work. There are a few that I have tried that I would like to add to the blog, "Pinterest, you are Drunk" (which you can find here). By the way, the blog is hilarious! Anyway, I created a new board called "Tried and True" where I re-pinned what I have tried and how it turned out. So if you want to check it out, click here.
On another note, I started Zumba back up. I can't always go due to my crazy work schedule, but I go when I can and when I remember what day it is. I used to go twice a week but with work, the wedding, and holidays, I had not been in a long time. The past couple of times, I apparently did not try that hard since I barely broke a sweat. However, tonight was a different story. I was energized throughout the class and even after and I was sweating quite a bit. It felt good. :)
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Death and Greek Yogurt
They don't go together. However, this is what my day has consisted of.
This morning, my grandmother who had Alzheimer's disease for several years joined my grandfather in Heaven. She lived in a special memory care nursing home for about 7 years. From what I have heard from the staff, my grandmother was the favorite resident in the home. She was so sweet, but if someone pissed her off, watch out! She was feisty!
For as long as I could remember, my grandmother has had this disease. That's all I knew of her. The "Real Grammy" was slipping away, but I do not remember her before the repetitive questions. My parents always told me while we were on our way to Florida to just go with her questions, that was the disease. That's what I did, and that's what I knew.
Luckily, I was able to make it up to Michigan to see her before she passed away. I got a text on Tuesday afternoon that her health was failing quickly. That night, Shaun and I were on our way. It was hard to see her that sick, but I was grateful that I was able to get up there to see her one last time. I sat in her room for three days and saw very gradual downhill changes. The time came when I had to leave and get back home. It was extremely difficult for me to leave knowing that this would be the last time that I would see her alive. I am not going to lie, I cried for a good portion of the trip home. I do have peace now knowing that she is not in pain and she is reunited with her husband in heaven.
Now for the Greek yogurt. I am still not quite convinced that this is the greatest thing since sliced bread like a lot of people are saying. I made a ranch dressing with it as the base...it's just okay. I also made Greek yogurt covered blueberries. Those are pretty good. Not too sure if I would try another recipe with Greek yogurt. Guess I may have to see what else is in it...
The Great Laundry Challenge: Take Two is still underway. Nothing big to report other than the fact that I did laundry today only to keep it from piling up in our closet. My clothes are in a container ready to be put in an upstairs closet where it won't be touched until I am out of that item of clothing.
In other news, I have been cooking more at home, so I am happy that I am trying to better our lives by eating at home more and less at restaurants.
Fin. :)
This morning, my grandmother who had Alzheimer's disease for several years joined my grandfather in Heaven. She lived in a special memory care nursing home for about 7 years. From what I have heard from the staff, my grandmother was the favorite resident in the home. She was so sweet, but if someone pissed her off, watch out! She was feisty!
For as long as I could remember, my grandmother has had this disease. That's all I knew of her. The "Real Grammy" was slipping away, but I do not remember her before the repetitive questions. My parents always told me while we were on our way to Florida to just go with her questions, that was the disease. That's what I did, and that's what I knew.
Luckily, I was able to make it up to Michigan to see her before she passed away. I got a text on Tuesday afternoon that her health was failing quickly. That night, Shaun and I were on our way. It was hard to see her that sick, but I was grateful that I was able to get up there to see her one last time. I sat in her room for three days and saw very gradual downhill changes. The time came when I had to leave and get back home. It was extremely difficult for me to leave knowing that this would be the last time that I would see her alive. I am not going to lie, I cried for a good portion of the trip home. I do have peace now knowing that she is not in pain and she is reunited with her husband in heaven.
Now for the Greek yogurt. I am still not quite convinced that this is the greatest thing since sliced bread like a lot of people are saying. I made a ranch dressing with it as the base...it's just okay. I also made Greek yogurt covered blueberries. Those are pretty good. Not too sure if I would try another recipe with Greek yogurt. Guess I may have to see what else is in it...
The Great Laundry Challenge: Take Two is still underway. Nothing big to report other than the fact that I did laundry today only to keep it from piling up in our closet. My clothes are in a container ready to be put in an upstairs closet where it won't be touched until I am out of that item of clothing.
In other news, I have been cooking more at home, so I am happy that I am trying to better our lives by eating at home more and less at restaurants.
Fin. :)
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Sister Hazel's Profound Words
Greetings, and welcome to my latest (and hopefully longest) blog.
I've been back and forth for several days on if I should restart a blog and what exactly it should be about. When I look at myself, like most people, I see things I want to change. Now, you are probably thinking, "easier said than done", and I agree with you. Just go with me on this...
First thing is first: here is a little bit about me. I got married on October 27, 2012 and I am a new wife. Everyday is a new challenge for me. How can I better myself, our home, our marriage? Nothing is "wrong" per say, but I do not want to become complacent, I want to constantly be better.
Several times I have tried to better myself, whether it be to eat right and exercise (hence my miserably failed blog in which I had three posts before quitting), to get rid of my clothing that did not fit, I did not like, or just to get rid of what I do not need, or to plan to clean/design/de-clutter our home. I have never really been that successful in any of these. My most successful attempt was "The Great Laundry Challenge". I actually wore everything in my closet and got rid of a lot of clothing, whether it was that it did not fit, I did not like it, or I was just tired of it.
The point of this blog is, more or less, to change my mind about how I feel about myself and what I want to change. One of my favorite bands is a 90s band, Sister Hazel. Ever since I first heard "All For You" I have loved them. I heard a song a while back called "Change Your Mind". The lyrics spoke to me. It seemed to sum up my thoughts and feelings and I could relate. Basically, the lesson is that if you are tired of battling with yourself, maybe you should just change the way you think about things. Since hearing that song, I have made it my motto.
This blog may not have a specific goal in mind, but at least it should become a challenge to myself to find new ways to better things I want to change. Within in this blog, I may have different things going on at one time. I will try to not make it confusing. :)
First on my list is that I am starting back up on the Great Laundry Challenge. My last load of laundry is in the washing machine (which now needs the dryer). Starting today, I will begin on the long, long journey of not wearing the same thing twice before I have gone through my closet.
Today, I am pledging (in writing) that I will better myself on any level I feel that I need a change. I leave you with this...
Hey, Hey
Did you ever think
There might be another way
To just feel better,
Just feel better about today
Oh no-
If you never want to have
To turn and go away
You might feel better,
Might feel better if you stay
[Pre-chorus]
Yeah yeah
I bet you haven't heard
A word I've said
Yeah yeah
If you've had enough
Of all your tryin'
Just give up
The state of mind you're in:
[Chorus]
If you want to be somebody else,
If you're tired of fighting battles with yourself
If you want to be somebody else
Change your mind...
Did you ever think
There might be another way
To just feel better,
Just feel better about today
Oh no-
If you never want to have
To turn and go away
You might feel better,
Might feel better if you stay
[Pre-chorus]
Yeah yeah
I bet you haven't heard
A word I've said
Yeah yeah
If you've had enough
Of all your tryin'
Just give up
The state of mind you're in:
[Chorus]
If you want to be somebody else,
If you're tired of fighting battles with yourself
If you want to be somebody else
Change your mind...
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