Why is it when I (and I have a feeling many of you do this too) have so much to get done I find my self wasting a lot of time doing other things. I avoid what needs to be done until the very last minute. I am such a procrastinator. We have a realtor coming over Saturday to see our house and come up with a plan for getting it sold and my house looks like a tornado has come through it.
I have laundry needing to be folded across the couches. Papers scattered everywhere. And lots of boxes filled with who knows what. We are currently going through everything to decided what to keep and toss and it always takes time plus it makes everything worse before it gets better. So, here I am sitting at my computer writing a blog, reading blogs, and stalking Facebook. I need an intervention.
What keeps you from doing what you need to do?
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Weight Watchers Points Plus--Love It!
Hello. My name is Julie and I am overweight. There, I took the first step. I admitted there is a problem. Now, I'm working on the solution, losing weight. I am not a dieter. I don't believe in doing the quick fix/lose weight yo-yo stuff. Several years ago I tried the South Beach Diet. I lost 20 lbs in 3 months but I had to give up everything I loved and I was miserable. The first 2 weeks were the worst. That was my first experience with dieting and my last. If that is what they are like, it is no wonder why people never stick with the plan.
There is a new fad diet out now called the "HCG diet". I know of several people who are on it and yes they are losing weight and they are doing it relatively fast. I can see how cutting your food intake to 500 calories for the first week or so would do it. Heck if we all did it we would all loose weight. I just don't think it is good to put a hormone in your body that gets you banned from athletics if it is found in your system. Just my thoughts though.
I have researched many different weight loss remedies over the years and have come to a conclusion. Unless you modify your eating behavior/habits then any weight you gain on your diet will be put back on when you stop dieting. What is needed is behavior modification.
So, with my goal in mind to loose weight I joined Weight Watchers. They have a new program out called Points Plus. Basically you are allotted a certain amount of points a day to consume based on your age, height, and weight. The goal is to eat all of your points but not go over. What I love is that fruits and most vegetables are 0 points. When configuring points they look at the amount of fat, protein, carbohydrates, and fiber and item has. Obviously you want the item to have more protein and fiber and less fat and carbs. You are also given a weekly points allowance (49 pts) for those little "splurges" you need.
I am modifying my eating habits. I am basically still eating the same food I love but I'm changing it up a bit. For example: I love having an egg sandwich for breakfast. I would scramble an egg (no extra stuff) and put it between two pieces of buttered bread. Now I still scramble an egg or egg whites and place it between slightly buttered lite English muffin. I also grab a piece of fruit. I find it very satisfying and filling.
One of my favorite snacks is dipping pretzels into cream cheese. Well, now I dip my pretzels into laughing cow cheese. To me the Laughing Cow Cheese tastes almost the same as cream cheese.
The idea is to have a more balanced diet. Eat more fruits and vegetables, have whole grains, and eat lean protein. I have been tracking my portion sizes and my stomach has shrunken. Eating more fruits has taken away a good chunk of my sweet cravings. When I do get a sweet craving I found that Extra bubblegum in a dessert flavor does the trick. The mint chocolate chip flavored gum is my favorite.
I love being able to eat the foods I love and still loose weight. Last week I still had my chocolate chip cookies, limited to 3 instead of my usual amount, and I had ice cream. In my first week on this new plan I lost 5.6 lbs. I know I won't loose this kind of weight every week. In fact it isn't healthy to do so. But it sure is nice to see results with out having to suffer to get them. I know this is a lifestyle I can adjust to and live with.
There is a new fad diet out now called the "HCG diet". I know of several people who are on it and yes they are losing weight and they are doing it relatively fast. I can see how cutting your food intake to 500 calories for the first week or so would do it. Heck if we all did it we would all loose weight. I just don't think it is good to put a hormone in your body that gets you banned from athletics if it is found in your system. Just my thoughts though.
I have researched many different weight loss remedies over the years and have come to a conclusion. Unless you modify your eating behavior/habits then any weight you gain on your diet will be put back on when you stop dieting. What is needed is behavior modification.
So, with my goal in mind to loose weight I joined Weight Watchers. They have a new program out called Points Plus. Basically you are allotted a certain amount of points a day to consume based on your age, height, and weight. The goal is to eat all of your points but not go over. What I love is that fruits and most vegetables are 0 points. When configuring points they look at the amount of fat, protein, carbohydrates, and fiber and item has. Obviously you want the item to have more protein and fiber and less fat and carbs. You are also given a weekly points allowance (49 pts) for those little "splurges" you need.
I am modifying my eating habits. I am basically still eating the same food I love but I'm changing it up a bit. For example: I love having an egg sandwich for breakfast. I would scramble an egg (no extra stuff) and put it between two pieces of buttered bread. Now I still scramble an egg or egg whites and place it between slightly buttered lite English muffin. I also grab a piece of fruit. I find it very satisfying and filling.
One of my favorite snacks is dipping pretzels into cream cheese. Well, now I dip my pretzels into laughing cow cheese. To me the Laughing Cow Cheese tastes almost the same as cream cheese.
The idea is to have a more balanced diet. Eat more fruits and vegetables, have whole grains, and eat lean protein. I have been tracking my portion sizes and my stomach has shrunken. Eating more fruits has taken away a good chunk of my sweet cravings. When I do get a sweet craving I found that Extra bubblegum in a dessert flavor does the trick. The mint chocolate chip flavored gum is my favorite.
I love being able to eat the foods I love and still loose weight. Last week I still had my chocolate chip cookies, limited to 3 instead of my usual amount, and I had ice cream. In my first week on this new plan I lost 5.6 lbs. I know I won't loose this kind of weight every week. In fact it isn't healthy to do so. But it sure is nice to see results with out having to suffer to get them. I know this is a lifestyle I can adjust to and live with.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Happy New Year!
I sort of took a several week long break from blogging. I seem to be doing that a lot lately. I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It was fun having the kids home for 2 weeks but it was also nice putting them on the bus this morning. It is much easier to keep my house clean when they are at school most of the day. I need to get used to keeping my house clean and picked up...I mean really clean and picked up. We are preparing to put our house on the market. It is a lot of work. The sad thing about it is I'm finally getting my house the way I have wanted it for the last 3 years.
This makes me think about one of my New Years Resolutions. I have the same I think every year. Every year I think "this year is going to be different, I'm going to really do it right" and every year I fail. I have some motivators this year. One of my resolutions is to get organized. Nothing like trying to sell your house to get you organized right? So, The Doctor and I have been going through everything and deciding: keep, sell, or thrash. I find it is much easier to get rid of things I have been holding onto with this move because we are moving to Alaska. Now the items have the potential of costing me more money to move them around since we will be charged by the space we take up when we move.
It is freeing to be getting rid of so much stuff. I love moving for the fact that I get to reorganize a brand new space but I hate it for all the work it is to get out of the old. What is it you like or dislike about moving?
This makes me think about one of my New Years Resolutions. I have the same I think every year. Every year I think "this year is going to be different, I'm going to really do it right" and every year I fail. I have some motivators this year. One of my resolutions is to get organized. Nothing like trying to sell your house to get you organized right? So, The Doctor and I have been going through everything and deciding: keep, sell, or thrash. I find it is much easier to get rid of things I have been holding onto with this move because we are moving to Alaska. Now the items have the potential of costing me more money to move them around since we will be charged by the space we take up when we move.
It is freeing to be getting rid of so much stuff. I love moving for the fact that I get to reorganize a brand new space but I hate it for all the work it is to get out of the old. What is it you like or dislike about moving?
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Malem Bedwetting Alarm Review
There are a couple of different models. Some just have a single alarm sound, some have variable alarm sounds, and others have vibration with alarms. I opted to buy the one that vibrated as well as had variable alarms, the Malem Ultimate. The benefit of this alarm is he can feel the vibration as well as hear the alarm. The variable sounds means every time the alarm goes off there is a different sound to it making it so he doesn't learn to tune the alarm out.
The first night he slept through the alarm 3 times. Each time I would hear it from my bedroom and go to his room and wake him up. The next night the alarm went off once and he slept through it. Night three when the alarm went off he stopped mid stream and made it to the bathroom for the rest. For about 2 weeks he was dry every other night and stopping mid stream when he heard the alarm on the other nights. After 3 weeks he remained dry every night. He would either wake up and go or be able to hold it all night. We had pretty fast results with it which I was quite pleased with. I believe the general guidelines Malem has set up is allow 12 weeks. We are now on week 9 or so and he has remained dry every night since the end of week 3.
If you have been wondering about purchasing a bedwetting alarm or wondering what to do for your child who is still wetting at night, I highly recommend this alarm. Prices vary depending on the models but you can expect to pay between $80-$130. I ended up getting mine at Amazon because I got the free shipping with it.
Now, if I could just get my two year old day potty trained. I wonder if I could use the alarm on that...?
Monday, December 6, 2010
Where does the Time Go?
Where does the time go? One minute I have 8 hours to do something and the next I have 10 minutes. Can someone please find my year? There are only 3.5 more weeks left in the year and I don't know what I did with the rest of it. Sure, there are a couple of big events that I remember...2 week vacation to Utah, and Arizona in the summer and a 2 week trip most recently to Alaska and Arizona. I guess I can fill in the rest with school, cleaning, and watching TV.
I thought once I got 3 kids into school life would be less busy. Boy was I wrong. My kids aren't even involved in sports or music lessons yet (this will come next year). I have found that the time I thought I would have has been spent trying to catch up on all the things I'm behind on. Which in turn puts me behind on the things I should be doing. Plus, I feel the need to volunteer at my children's school once a week, which takes a couple of hours. I started a crochet group that meets at my house once a week and that takes a couple of hours as well. At least when the afghan we are working on gets finished we can go to meeting once a month instead of 4 times.
At least now I can check Write on Blog off of my list of things to do.
I thought once I got 3 kids into school life would be less busy. Boy was I wrong. My kids aren't even involved in sports or music lessons yet (this will come next year). I have found that the time I thought I would have has been spent trying to catch up on all the things I'm behind on. Which in turn puts me behind on the things I should be doing. Plus, I feel the need to volunteer at my children's school once a week, which takes a couple of hours. I started a crochet group that meets at my house once a week and that takes a couple of hours as well. At least when the afghan we are working on gets finished we can go to meeting once a month instead of 4 times.
Having 3 kids in school also means having to remember the due dates of all their projects. Fortunately my Kindergartner doesn't have any but my pre k student comes home with a "family project" once a month. Don't get me wrong it is fun to do but when I get it on Friday and it is due Monday I have to re-arrange the weekend schedule to add one more thing. Na is in the gifted and talented program at school. I'm so happy my child is "gifted and talented" but this means more work on her end which translates to more due dates to remember and more work on my end. Currently we are trying to make a 3-d replica of The Forest Spiral building.
The guidelines for making it are as follows:
- Bigger than a shoe box but still able to fit on a desk.
- Make it from items you would find around your house = don't spend a lot of money.
- Make it impressive.
At least now I can check Write on Blog off of my list of things to do.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Surviving Black Friday
Black Friday has got to be the only day of the year I actually love to shop. I get a thrill from getting great deals and getting done with all my Christmas shopping in one day. What adds to my excitement is seeing how fast I can get in and out of a store. I typically try to go to just 3 stores, Lowes, Michaels, and Walmart. Lowes has the best deals for gifts for The Doctor. Michaels is of course for me. Then walmart I price match all the deals at the other stores plus take advantage of their deals. Here is how I survive Black Friday.
Thanksgiving day I lay out all the ads. I place the ones advertising items on my list in one pile and toss the others. Then I go through and see which store has the best prices on items. I will make a master list of the things I want, how much they are and at what store. When I go to Walmart I have all the ads with me and know which ad to price match for which item.
Once I know what I want I will coordinate with a buddy. Last year it was The Doctor and we had a blast. This year we will be with more family so there will be more of us which should make things easier. We divide up who is responsible for getting which items and then we meet back at the front to check out.
I usually arrive to Walmart an hour before their sales begin. I grab a cart and place all the items I am price matching in the cart and then I stash the cart down some aisle, usually cosmetics or even bedding. I carry with me a big bag that I can carry on my shoulder. Trying to push a cart through the crowds on black Friday is insane so I just put my items in the bag. I can weave in and out of people much faster. As I am making my way through the store I seek out the "hot ticket" items on my list that are sure to go fast. I then station myself by the most wanted item but in a way I can grab and go to the next place as fast as possible. Meanwhile my partner is at the other side of the store doing the same thing.
While we usually have the cheap movies on our list we don't stress if we don't get them because they can be a time warp if we try and maneuver around the hoards of people digging through them. Typically we have everything we want with in 15 minutes and are checked out in another 15 minutes giving us plenty of time to get to the next stores before they open. The last 2 years I have been in and out of all my stores and home in 2 hours. This gives me plenty of time to stash the goods before the kids wake up.
Black Friday holds the excitement for me that Christmas morning did for me as a child. I get such a rush and I enjoy picking out all the gifts at most excellent prices. This year I may even get in on the cyber Monday action.
Thanksgiving day I lay out all the ads. I place the ones advertising items on my list in one pile and toss the others. Then I go through and see which store has the best prices on items. I will make a master list of the things I want, how much they are and at what store. When I go to Walmart I have all the ads with me and know which ad to price match for which item.
Once I know what I want I will coordinate with a buddy. Last year it was The Doctor and we had a blast. This year we will be with more family so there will be more of us which should make things easier. We divide up who is responsible for getting which items and then we meet back at the front to check out.
I usually arrive to Walmart an hour before their sales begin. I grab a cart and place all the items I am price matching in the cart and then I stash the cart down some aisle, usually cosmetics or even bedding. I carry with me a big bag that I can carry on my shoulder. Trying to push a cart through the crowds on black Friday is insane so I just put my items in the bag. I can weave in and out of people much faster. As I am making my way through the store I seek out the "hot ticket" items on my list that are sure to go fast. I then station myself by the most wanted item but in a way I can grab and go to the next place as fast as possible. Meanwhile my partner is at the other side of the store doing the same thing.
While we usually have the cheap movies on our list we don't stress if we don't get them because they can be a time warp if we try and maneuver around the hoards of people digging through them. Typically we have everything we want with in 15 minutes and are checked out in another 15 minutes giving us plenty of time to get to the next stores before they open. The last 2 years I have been in and out of all my stores and home in 2 hours. This gives me plenty of time to stash the goods before the kids wake up.
Black Friday holds the excitement for me that Christmas morning did for me as a child. I get such a rush and I enjoy picking out all the gifts at most excellent prices. This year I may even get in on the cyber Monday action.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Talented People
I have found I am surrounded by talented people. Some I know some I do not. It is a little overwhelming to visit other blogs and see what these amazing women are doing. I am not uber crafty but I can craft. I enjoy doing them. I paper craft, knit, crochet, rubber stamp, mod podge...you name it I have probably tried it. Sewing is a talent I need to increase. One day I will get a new sewing machine...or fix the one I already have. Here are some blogs I have recently visited and they leave me feeling a little inadequate in my crafting/baking projects but they also leave me inspired wanting to do more. If only I had the budget and time to do them in.
Life Frosting
The Dainty Daisy
WhipperBerry
Prepared Not Scared
Life Frosting
The Dainty Daisy
WhipperBerry
Prepared Not Scared
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