I went to the grocery store on Friday and picked up a few "green" products. Seventh Generation makes recycled products and cleaning products that are eco-friendly. They're expensive! But I found coupons on their website and decided to try the all-purpose cleaner. I have to say that I'm pleased.
The cleaner did a great job on my white counter-tops and there was only a very faint odor. I'm used to cleaning products that knock you down with the smell, but this was nice.
My other successful purchase was an organic spinach and mozzarella pizza. AWESOME!!!
On my weight loss journey. I'm loosely following Weight Watchers and just trying to eat better all around. I bought lunch meat, pita bread and feta cheese. I made sandwiches with those and lots of lettuce...they were very yummy. I'm also snacking on more fruit and drinking more water. I had a cupcake over the weekend at one of the birthday parties as well as a little thing of ice cream.
I'm losing slowly. I lost .4 pounds last week and this week am down .8. Slow but sure.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
I want to go green
For a while now I've been thinking about going green. I do some things already. We have a special thermostat and lightbulbs to help save energy, we use the high efficiency appliances, etc. I use reuseable bags at the grocery store, etc.
But I want to do more. I want to start eating more organic foods and using products that are good for the environment.
Part of the problem is that organic and "green" products are so much more expensive. And part of the problem is that there is just so much stuff out there...it makes my head spin to think about it. So I'm going to start small.
I think first, I'll tackle cleaning products. Next time I run out of something, I'll buy the "green" version. I expect some trial and error as I find products that I like and don't like.
So here I go on my journey to be "green".
But I want to do more. I want to start eating more organic foods and using products that are good for the environment.
Part of the problem is that organic and "green" products are so much more expensive. And part of the problem is that there is just so much stuff out there...it makes my head spin to think about it. So I'm going to start small.
I think first, I'll tackle cleaning products. Next time I run out of something, I'll buy the "green" version. I expect some trial and error as I find products that I like and don't like.
So here I go on my journey to be "green".
Monday, June 15, 2009
Vegas baby!
My Vegas trip was FAN-freakin'-TASTIC!!!! After a bumpy start...things were great!
Okay, so first for the bumpy start. My flight was supposed to leave at 8:55 PM. I got to the airport and found that my flight was delayed until 9:30 while we waited for a fresh flight crew. By 10:00 PM I'm sitting on a very full plane of people all ready to head to Vegas. They announce that there is a problem with the maintenance logs for the plane. They tell us to sit tight. Around 10:20 they announce that the plane is not going to be flying anytime soon and that we are going to DISEMBARK the plane and go to a new gate and new plane. ARRGGHH!!!
All 150 of us troop down to the new gate...moo...moo...bunch of cattle that we were. We get down there and they tell us to have a seat and get comfy...since we changed gates and planes we have to wait for yet another NEW CREW! Argghh!! We are now looking at a departure time of 11:10 PM. Yeah, right.
About 11:15 they announce that they have a new crew...and a new plane...AND a new TERMINAL. ARRGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Moo...moo...me and 150 of my closest friends troop down to the tram en masse and head to terminal A. Once there, they tell us that since we boarded and de-boarded (is that a word?!) the other plane we now have to get new boarding passes. It turns out that with all the delays they actually cancelled my original flight number and created a new one.
We finally go wheels up around 12:30 AM. If you aren't good at math...that's 3 1/2 hours late. I arrive in Vegas at the hotel around 2:30 AM...4:30 AM CST. I was exhausted and PO'd.
But the next morning...well, later the same morning...things started looking up. Had a nice breakfast, spent some time by the pool, walked around a lot, did some shopping, did some gambling, drank a bit, tried on a pair of $600 shoes (Jimmy Choos...wish I had a few hundred bucks to spend!!) and laughed more than I have in months. All in all, it was totally worth it!!!
After my awful flight to Vegas, I was dreading the return trip. But I guess I must have passed some sort of test because the flight home was a breeze. I walked right to the gate, got to my seat and we took off without an incident. We even arrived 30 minutes early in Dallas.
Jim and the kids met me and I took one look at my babies and burst into tears. I was so happy to see them!! Nicholas was more interested in riding the escalator than my being home, but Abby barely left my side the rest of the day.
I'm exhausted but happy.
Okay, so first for the bumpy start. My flight was supposed to leave at 8:55 PM. I got to the airport and found that my flight was delayed until 9:30 while we waited for a fresh flight crew. By 10:00 PM I'm sitting on a very full plane of people all ready to head to Vegas. They announce that there is a problem with the maintenance logs for the plane. They tell us to sit tight. Around 10:20 they announce that the plane is not going to be flying anytime soon and that we are going to DISEMBARK the plane and go to a new gate and new plane. ARRGGHH!!!
All 150 of us troop down to the new gate...moo...moo...bunch of cattle that we were. We get down there and they tell us to have a seat and get comfy...since we changed gates and planes we have to wait for yet another NEW CREW! Argghh!! We are now looking at a departure time of 11:10 PM. Yeah, right.
About 11:15 they announce that they have a new crew...and a new plane...AND a new TERMINAL. ARRGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Moo...moo...me and 150 of my closest friends troop down to the tram en masse and head to terminal A. Once there, they tell us that since we boarded and de-boarded (is that a word?!) the other plane we now have to get new boarding passes. It turns out that with all the delays they actually cancelled my original flight number and created a new one.
We finally go wheels up around 12:30 AM. If you aren't good at math...that's 3 1/2 hours late. I arrive in Vegas at the hotel around 2:30 AM...4:30 AM CST. I was exhausted and PO'd.
But the next morning...well, later the same morning...things started looking up. Had a nice breakfast, spent some time by the pool, walked around a lot, did some shopping, did some gambling, drank a bit, tried on a pair of $600 shoes (Jimmy Choos...wish I had a few hundred bucks to spend!!) and laughed more than I have in months. All in all, it was totally worth it!!!
After my awful flight to Vegas, I was dreading the return trip. But I guess I must have passed some sort of test because the flight home was a breeze. I walked right to the gate, got to my seat and we took off without an incident. We even arrived 30 minutes early in Dallas.
Jim and the kids met me and I took one look at my babies and burst into tears. I was so happy to see them!! Nicholas was more interested in riding the escalator than my being home, but Abby barely left my side the rest of the day.
I'm exhausted but happy.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Not quite 5 pounds
My total weight loss to date is 4.8 pounds...yeah!!! But more importantly, I can feel it. My pants fit more loosely and I have fewer "rolls" around my middle! LOL I still have a ways to go, but I'm making progress. And I'm trying to make my focus less about losing weight and more about creating new, healthier habits. I want this to be a life change.
I'm doing interval training several days a week. That's kicking my behind...let me tell you! All in all I feel healthier than I have in a long time.
The money situation...well, let's just say I'm exploring my options. I'm trying to tackle one budget item at a time. I can't really control utilities to a significant degree...we turn off lights that we aren't using, etc. Where I can try to make a difference is our grocery budget. However, grocery prices being what they are, even that's a bit of a challenge.
Anyway, fingers crossed for a good month.
I'm doing interval training several days a week. That's kicking my behind...let me tell you! All in all I feel healthier than I have in a long time.
The money situation...well, let's just say I'm exploring my options. I'm trying to tackle one budget item at a time. I can't really control utilities to a significant degree...we turn off lights that we aren't using, etc. Where I can try to make a difference is our grocery budget. However, grocery prices being what they are, even that's a bit of a challenge.
Anyway, fingers crossed for a good month.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Fat, muscle, budgets and money
I broke my vow and got on the scale yesterday. I made it from Thursday until Monday, so it's better than before. But here's the thing...my clothes are fitting better so I'm thinking that I must be down. I got on the scale and I'm UP .2 from Thursday. UGH!!!!!
I'm smart...I completely understand that muscle is more dense than fat and that someone who weighs 150 pounds with a low fat ratio can wear a smaller size than someone who weighs the same with a higher fat ratio. I get that...really I do. But is it too much to ask that the scale shows some loss of weight too??!!!
And then there's money. **sigh** Ah, on second thought...I don't even want to go there. Let's just say that my fingers are crossed that our plan for me to go part-time in August is in jeopardy. UGH!
I'm smart...I completely understand that muscle is more dense than fat and that someone who weighs 150 pounds with a low fat ratio can wear a smaller size than someone who weighs the same with a higher fat ratio. I get that...really I do. But is it too much to ask that the scale shows some loss of weight too??!!!
And then there's money. **sigh** Ah, on second thought...I don't even want to go there. Let's just say that my fingers are crossed that our plan for me to go part-time in August is in jeopardy. UGH!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sacrifices
Anyone who has reached adulthood knows a little bit about sacrifice. And if you're a mother you know A LOT about sacrifice. And in this economy we are all learning even more about sacrifice.
When I was pregnant with Nicholas I joined an online bulletin board for expectant mothers. We were all due in April of 2004. After our babies were born, seven of us bonded over similar sleep issues. After a while, we broke off and formed our own online bulletin board for just the seven if us.
We were from all over the country and the world even. Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Boston, Denver, Seattle, and England. We ranged in age even...with me being the oldest. For all of us except for one, this was our first child. And all of us except for two have had another child in the years since we first came together.
For several years we've talked about getting together in person. I've met two of the ladies in person and spoken to another one on the phone. As for the rest, they are just words on a computer screen. It may sound strange but I consider these ladies to be friends. We've "listened" to each other's rants and raves about kids, husbands and life in general. We celebrate and commiserate. We use each other as confidantes and sounding boards.
This week one of the ladies finally "pulled the trigger" as it were and suggested a meeting. So after lots of back and forth, checking finances and checking with husbands...at least five of the seven and hopefully all will be travelling to Las Vegas this June for a meeting.
All that brings me back to sacrifices. Jim and I are on a super tight budget right now (who isn't...right?!). Our plan for me to quit work and go part-time in August depends on us staying on track and on budget. But I really want to go on this trip in June...so...for the next few months, I will be spending as little money as possible. No more morning lattes (ouch!), no more chair massages (ouch again!) and I dropped my online Weight Watchers membership.
I hate sacrifice...but it's worth it.
When I was pregnant with Nicholas I joined an online bulletin board for expectant mothers. We were all due in April of 2004. After our babies were born, seven of us bonded over similar sleep issues. After a while, we broke off and formed our own online bulletin board for just the seven if us.
We were from all over the country and the world even. Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Boston, Denver, Seattle, and England. We ranged in age even...with me being the oldest. For all of us except for one, this was our first child. And all of us except for two have had another child in the years since we first came together.
For several years we've talked about getting together in person. I've met two of the ladies in person and spoken to another one on the phone. As for the rest, they are just words on a computer screen. It may sound strange but I consider these ladies to be friends. We've "listened" to each other's rants and raves about kids, husbands and life in general. We celebrate and commiserate. We use each other as confidantes and sounding boards.
This week one of the ladies finally "pulled the trigger" as it were and suggested a meeting. So after lots of back and forth, checking finances and checking with husbands...at least five of the seven and hopefully all will be travelling to Las Vegas this June for a meeting.
All that brings me back to sacrifices. Jim and I are on a super tight budget right now (who isn't...right?!). Our plan for me to quit work and go part-time in August depends on us staying on track and on budget. But I really want to go on this trip in June...so...for the next few months, I will be spending as little money as possible. No more morning lattes (ouch!), no more chair massages (ouch again!) and I dropped my online Weight Watchers membership.
I hate sacrifice...but it's worth it.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Week 2 Weigh In
Woohoo!!! I lost 1.5 pounds this week for a grand total of 4.2. Hooray!!
Today starts my scale hiatus...I will not get on the scale again until next Thursday...wish me luck on that! I may suffer from scale withdrawal and get the shakes or something.
On a broader note...I feel good! I was chasing Nicholas around the park on Sunday and it didn't exhaust me. I'm certainly getting stronger and I look forward to my workouts everyday. I'm working out five days a week at the gym. Monday through Friday I go to the gym after work and on the weekends, I give myself activity points for vacuuming and playing with the kids.
I feel like I'm on my way to better health.
Today starts my scale hiatus...I will not get on the scale again until next Thursday...wish me luck on that! I may suffer from scale withdrawal and get the shakes or something.
On a broader note...I feel good! I was chasing Nicholas around the park on Sunday and it didn't exhaust me. I'm certainly getting stronger and I look forward to my workouts everyday. I'm working out five days a week at the gym. Monday through Friday I go to the gym after work and on the weekends, I give myself activity points for vacuuming and playing with the kids.
I feel like I'm on my way to better health.
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