tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-215149262024-03-07T03:34:43.575-05:00Grumpy's RamblingsRamblings of Grumpy the Happy Housewife!Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.comBlogger337125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-43718815096444413832015-12-17T10:55:00.001-05:002015-12-17T10:55:08.715-05:00Just Do ItHi! Long time no see. So in my usual rambling off topic way, I thought I'd welcome you back with what I was up to!<div>
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In August 2014, I went for a physical and got some not very good news - threats of obesity, thyroid, diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure, yadda yadda yadda! Made a plan, didn't stick with it. Felt crappy and just kept on doing what I was doing, with no change - DUH!</div>
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July 2015 rolled around and I felt a little guilty about not having made much success, except a few tiny changes to eating and drink. No more 100% Sweet Tea - instead I had reduced back to a 50-50 split and over time even that got sweet and now I drink either water or unsweet iced tea (ya I know GAK!) LOL! Believe it or not I lost about 4-5 lbs doing just that alone over 9 months. The other part was we started eating out less for lunch - and eating more at home, which required more ideas. The final change that I made in mid July is I started training intensely to run 3 days a week. At first I barely made 1 mi in 30 mins, - a little math calculation to what I was doing and I managed to slowly up it to 1.2 then 1.5 and eventually I stalled out 1.8. </div>
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In August, we drove the long haul up to the parents house with the kids, so for 2 weeks I had no access to the treadmill. Sure we did some walking, but not enough. One way or another I was not going to get diabetes, my thyroid would work a little better and the obesity label would decrease. Blood pressure and Cholesterol well, if I fixed the others they would happen too! </div>
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Home for a week after the family visit and then ran off to the beach for a month. After the 1st couple days there I told the kids that I would be a regular user of the fitness room the rest of the month. They were amenable to bringing their electronic babysitters or a book down to the fitness room and sitting in out of the way places should others enter! So for the 3 solid weeks, I walked up and down 14 floors to the fitness room, endured idle stares from geriatric crew (beach in August after the kids have gone back to school means the over 60 crown hangs out at the pool!) while I set the treadmill and did my worst! :)</div>
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Returned home and finally made that follow up appt with the Dr, for yet another physical in November! (ya, I'm not a procrastinator!) Better news this time. My thyroid, while not perfectly functioning is looking better the numbers are lower - and that was good news. I had kept off the measley 5 lbs, but hey it was 5 lbs better than a year ago and it hasn't come back. The thread of diabetes was back in check - not completely out of the woods but enough that diet and exercise will hold off threats for now. Blood pressure is stable - high but stable - and that was better than reaching for the top! The only icky was Cholesterol - and the dx was keep working on it, and if it isn't better by next time, we'll pull out the drugs!</div>
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So I have kept up the running for 5 months. I have officially lost 5% of the weight I started this journey with and am working to lower Cholesterol and Blood Pressure while keeping out of the reach of diabetes and thyroid problems.</div>
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So begins my adventures. While at the beach, I discovered an awesome app called <a href="http://zombiesrungame.com/" target="_blank">Zombies, RUN</a>! And have been using it consistently since October when we returned home. In early November, I decided to try the payware app of Zombies, RUN 5K, and can I say improvements are being made to my running. I managed to burn past the 1.8 mi that I was stuck at and am comfortably runnint 2.3 mi at a time.</div>
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I've decided to try and earn a shirt, from Avicci via the Runkeeper.com and I entered the Zombies, RUN 2016 Virtual 5K. Dang it, I'm gonna do what I have always wanted to do, I'm gonna run in a race, even if it is on my treadmill in my basement, with just me, Ethel (the treadmill, yes she has a name!) and my phone. </div>
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Right now, I'm not making the physical progress I would like to see on my body, but that's okay for now. I'm not trying really hard. What I am trying to do is make the physical connection with enjoying activity, and little improvements with my eating. Once those look better, I'll dig deeper, and at that point, I'm sure I'll start seeing faster improvements. Stay tuned, I might post more! LOL!</div>
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Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-39165740911400480292013-07-25T12:18:00.001-04:002013-07-25T12:19:34.699-04:00Waffle Fail to Waffle Perfection (with some adjustment!)<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I am totally not ashamed to admit and share my cooking/baking failures complete with photos!! I think they are worth a giggle and if they help someone else, well then my kitchen flubs are useful! :) So as my family ventures into a healthier lifestyle and I attempt to do more of the making and baking, I hope to share some more ROTFLMBO (rolling on the floor laughing my but off!) moments.</div>
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This morning's adventure begins a week ago, in which I wander into a hair brained idea! I've been scouring the web for ideas for lunches that we can use, either to pack and store in the fridge or on the counter - so when the lunch crunch comes, I have something ready made that is healthy and I just need to put on the table, or on days that are crazed with adventure - we can pack up and picnic wherever!!</div>
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A couple days ago I saw a site where someone had some strawberry shortcake waffles made from a homemade waffle iron! Lightbulbs flash in my brain... OMGosh! I have one of those! I bought one nearly 9 years ago, and after a few visual successes and flavours to my liking, FrogGirl (my oldest then 3) announced she preferred the store bought ones ... she told me a couple days ago that the issue was not taste or flavour - but the mere fact that they were square and not what she was used to!! </div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1004817_10151507642830919_756503117_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1004817_10151507642830919_756503117_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>My hope was restored! The waffle iron was collecting dust in my house somewhere and I knew just where too! So I dug it out. I then found a recipe for Gluten Free (because I'm trying go 'less' gluten) and top 8 allergen free waffle batter. Easy Breezy right! HA! This is me we are talking about! Pictured left here is the very first waffle hot off the iron after 9+ years of no use! *GRIN*</div>
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My girls now 12, 7, and 3, looked on and laughed when I wanted to cry. My 7 yr old clamoured... "But mum they smell awesome and I want to eat it anyway!" So I rolled it off and handed it to her! Not before snapping a picture and facebooking it first... which was met with the very first response: "<span style="background-color: #fafbfb; color: #4e5665; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">I would never, with a million guesses, guess that was a waffle.</span>" This made me laugh</div>
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The 12 yr old came next and said "I want some!" - she then proceeded to try and make a sugar glaze dipping sauce for hers!</div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/p480x480/994867_10151507657800919_453055879_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/p480x480/994867_10151507657800919_453055879_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>Attempt #2 was then demanded by the 3 yr old, who ate it with lots of mmmms and nnnmmms. By now I'm questioning the recipe which told me not to spray, it simply would not stick! (um I begged to differ!) So I figured I'd use some margarine - which I had hoped to avoid! I'm also starting to suspect that there is something missing from my iron - namely a little clip which didn't seem important - and had broken off sometime in the last 9 years!</div>
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Multiple questions are running through my head now. Is the recipe a dud? Is the clip really necessary. I ate the other half of GiraffeGirl's waffle, and while tasty it seems a little on the soft/undercooked side. Since there are no eggs in it, I'm not worried, but made a mental note to try it longer next time! So this time I decide to hold the iron closed which I believe the clip would do. I did not add more margarine, but did let it cook a little longer.</div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/p480x480/971154_10151507668430919_583738040_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/p480x480/971154_10151507668430919_583738040_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>Attempt #3 was scoffed by the 12 and 7 yr old. And it is starting to look like it should! YAY Me!</div>
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<a href="https://sphotos-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/1016854_10151507689350919_691225368_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://sphotos-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/1016854_10151507689350919_691225368_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>So Attempt #4. I broke out the Olive oil cooking spray and doused that baby with all it's chemical laden badness, all hopes of today's success blowing out the window in a fit of "THIS THING WILL NOT BEAT ME!" (yes I flickered a Jekyll and Hyde image!) I then took a towel and squeezed that sucker shut -growling the whole time! Until BirdGirl (7) yelled "It's oozing out the sides mum!" and her two sisters came to inspect a mid a flurry of "eeewwwws" and "gross-es!" Like a killed it! The light flickered off, and on a couple times, and the girls asked if I was gonna take it out. I said "Not yet!" I think they were scared at that moment! LOL! (kidding) I gave it long and then slowly popped that sucker open and YES! After 4 attempts and in a fit of total Lunacy - I won! Bird Girl and I split the last waffle - for now I can call it a waffle!</div>
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I learned a few things!</div>
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1. Despite what the recipe says - you will need a spray! (so I will find a non chemical spray to use!)</div>
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2. The clippy-thing, just might actually be important! (but not so much that I'll buy a new iron until I master this!)</div>
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3. The auto-timer on the waffle iron isn't really a timer, it's just a heat indicator that tells when the element is on, so I'll need to figure out how long to cook those beasts for real! :)</div>
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4. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Taste doesn't give a fig if it looks good!</div>
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Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-79644937878473228032013-07-10T16:16:00.001-04:002013-07-10T16:19:11.179-04:00The Nature BoxSo the Nature Box finally arrived a few days after my last post, but all that is my life has been up-ended by this silly move. Chaos, takes over at every opportunity! We aren't actually moving til the middle of August but there is so very much to do... and my house looks like someone detonated a mess making machine in it... oh wait, that's what three kids can do!<br />
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So anyway back to the nature box. Remember this is the family box, which means two of each package.<br />
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So this is what the box looked like on first open. Though the info card was buried a little deeper in the box. Once I took the extras out, there were 5 packages with about 4 small portion servings in them, basically enough for a taste and you'd need to beef it up with something else maybe a piece of fruit or some veggies or, well you get the idea.<br />
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<li><b>Tuscan Summer Mix.</b> I can't say this one is a favourite. I tend to like my nuts and sees with a tiny bit of salt and not much more, but theses have a hint of herbs and Romano cheese, which means the littlest didn't even get a taste of them. The two older girls weren't too keen on them either, I guess the flavour was all wrong for all of us! :)</li>
<li><b>Cherry Crumble Granola.</b> A favourite. I put some on my regular cereal a few times before sharing with the girls. I don't recall seeing what happened to the 2nd package or the rest of the first for that matter. This was gone in pretty short order! So ya, that was a hit!</li>
<li><b>Mango Almond Bites.</b> Another favourite. These were like little Rice Crispy Square (and i mean little) with bits of almond and Mango in them. Same thing happened with these as the Cherry Crumble, though I gave the girls first dibs on them. They had a couple as a small snack and came back for more. The package of these quickly disappeared too!</li>
<li><b>Tart & Tangy Fruit Medley</b>. An interesting mix of dried cranberries and apples. Only one of my kids like dried fruit a whole lot, so she dug into these and would have eating the whole bag but for the new braces she got! She liked them, I thought they were okay, but the two littles weren't thrilled.</li>
<li><b>South Pacific Plantains.</b> Okay these were very different. All of us have been having cravings for potato chips lately, and these were a neat variation. They were all wrong on first bite, but then I realized just how much I liked them... and had to steal t hem from my husband before he ate the rest. as it turned out he had half and I had half a package and we split the last package with the girls who weren't terribly thrilled with them, but then they don't like Baked Chips either.</li>
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All in all! I think it was a pretty good introductory to what Naturebox is about. We only really didn't like one item, but that is more a personal flavours thing than a problem with the package. I'm not sure it is worth the money I've paid for it, but I will continue getting more. I'm more interested in the variety and ideas in the package at the moment because our snacking and lunching repertoire is kind of limited and needs a face lift!<br />
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So there you have it...Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-83471019554258742752013-06-25T09:28:00.000-04:002013-06-25T09:28:45.564-04:00Health and MovingFriday my Small Fruit Box arrived from a local delivery service. I missed the delivery guy and they only packed the box with one extremely tiny already melted ice pack - which I return to them when my next delivery comes. I think next time I'll leave out a cooler and put my own ice packs inside.<br />
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I was pleased with the variety of organic fruits in the box. 3 of everything except the less used citrus fruit, plums and avocado. The strawberries were not in the best shape, I think I only managed to salvage half the box so I won't be adding them next time, they also tasted shelved (they were actually horrible), I think I'll keep my visit to the grocery store for berries and quick spoil fruits. Here it is only Tuesday and the girls and I have already devoured most of this selection. While this size box was designed to feed about 3 people (and we are 5) I don't think ordering a bigger box would be smart - because these are truly fresh (near peak) and therefore won't last long, definitely not 2 weeks but I can shop in between or add another box The fruit is tasty and clean but, I'm not sure that it was worth the amount I paid for it. I'll have to make a run to the grocery store this week and buy the same amount and kinds of fruit (organic) and find the price differential and determine if delivery is worth it (factoring fuel as well!) I must say this was worth the experiment and definitely has given me some ideas to add to our repertoire anyway!<br />
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In the mean time, we are furiously packing to move. In about 5-6 weeks we'll be changing homes. I've been packing since mid-May, and this room is finally nearly done. Some of these shelves were double lined with paperback and hardback books and this is all that remains. There are 2 additional similarly sized bookshelves on the other side of the room.<br /><br />I'm expecting my nature box in the next day or so. They emailed me to tell me it was on its way!</div>
Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-90229065752223138072013-06-18T22:44:00.001-04:002013-06-18T22:44:06.168-04:00Continuing on a Health QuestSo last week I posted about the new changes I'm making and this week is focusing on the little changes that make a difference. I've finally made a long awaited appointment with Dr. to find out where I'm at health-wise - I mean despite being overweight with high blood pressure, so a physical will happen shortly, including blood test and the like. This time it's all about me!<div>
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So no word yet on the Naturebox and when it will arrive. But it is only 1.5 weeks now since I put in my order. A little sad at the time it takes to get it moving but they did say 2-3 weeks, so hopefully I'll hear something soon!</div>
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The Co-Op is set to deliver a box of Fresh fruits this Friday - we added some Strawberries to the box since one of my girls is a Strawberry fiend and the contents of the box for the week is looking interesting! I can't believe I'm actually excited to try this... but since I'm not thrilled with the supply of fruits at the local grocery store, I guess that might explain it. </div>
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In preparation for the fruit box that is coming we went through the list of veggies that they ship too and they had things on there that I have never seen before. I'm not sure what a small box will really yield for us so, we'll see what we get and go from there.</div>
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In the mean time, my middlest is helping me make better choices. I think she is tired of the lunches we've been having, so she is making suggestions of her own and her's are definitely more nutritious (with some additions) than mine have been so, I consider her as my little helper! :)</div>
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Keeping on changing! Keep ya posted.</div>
Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-1682185295766059992013-06-11T00:19:00.004-04:002013-06-11T00:19:54.170-04:00Experimenting with HealthSo many false starts lately! :(<br />
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Of late, I've tried to get this blog going again with very little success. I've tried a weightloss challenge, I've tried a house habit challenge and it's just not keeping me going here. I think I need to redefine my purpose!<br />
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Wish me luck here I'm gonna need it!<br />
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So many changes are afoot in our house at the moment that it seems like a good time to make a fresh start! Moving day is looming, once the repairs to the new house are done and the old house is packed up, we'll have a new view of the world! And with that I've been thinking about my health lately and the crappy foods I've been eating, despite knowing they are bad for me, I do it anyway. My girls are learning bad things from me this way, so I'm hoping to make some positive changes. I'm supposed to be their roll model.<br />
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I suck at doing lunches and snacks at home. They usually consist of processed foods and things that aren't so good for us... so <b><u>Change #1</u></b>. I've been considering NatureBox for about a month now and finally took the plunge. What is it you ask? Well, before I give you the link, let me explain. It is a box of healthy snacks that are free of High Fructose Corn Syrup, Trans Fats, partially hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners, colours and flavours. It appears to be mostly dried fruits and nuts and the like... but we will see. My first box should arrive in 2-3 weeks. And I hope to review it at that time. Mine will be an unbiased review (save mine and my family's taste preferences) based on value for price. We've ordered the Family box, which is 10 FULL-sized packages of snacks each month (5 different snacks, 2 packages of each.) You can find more details at <a href="http://naturebox.com/">Naturebox.com</a><br />
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<b><u>Change #2</u></b>. follows the same idea, in that I've been looking to go more organic in our food choices, after having looked at the "Dirty Dozen" lists posted on the web. It would allow me to eat more healthy fruits and veggies and not worry about the ones that are highest in pesticides. So I've found an online co-op that will deliver to my door. Sometime in the next week or so I should get my first box of fruit. I'm starting small first, because I'm learning that doing things in the big way I normally do, usually spells disaster! (look ma, I'm growing up!) So I started out with a box of fruit and if it works for us, we'll consider moving on to a mixed box or add a box of veggies later. This can only be good for all of us right?<br />
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For the record, I'm currently overweight with blood pressure issues and likely cholesterol issues. So in addition to the above, I've decided that I need to visit my doc before I put these changes into effect, because I know he'll want me back in a couple months and I'll want to seem some dramatic changes! :)<br />
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So there ya have it... I'm trying to get back in the saddle and reign in some health for myself... and get this blog going in a health direction. I'm also looking to get back into digital scrapbooking and simply sharing some fun!<br />
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Wish me luck, and I'll try to keep you posted.<br />
<br />Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-3017601166417112852013-01-28T21:37:00.001-05:002013-01-28T21:44:50.416-05:00Reality CheckSo I came to the realization in the last 24 hours that I could be moving in six days, six months or sometime in the next six years and the concept frightened me beyond words. How much stuff can a family that grew collect in the short space of 10 yrs... and how much of it do I want to move??<br />
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Understand my house is not like those houses on TV - it's not Hoarders here, though sometimes I cast an eye around and feel like it could be. I lack storage more than anything. And I lack the discipline to put things back!<br />
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You see, I have lived in this house for the last 10 1/2 years. My oldest was four months old when we moved in. Three additional children later, all-girls I might add, and you have a recipe for disaster. Now throw in the fact that I'm a reforming packrat (that is a packrat that is trying to mend her ways!), and you begin to realize the magnitude of my problem. I am a knitter, crochet'er and sewer, which compounds the clutter. Yes, I have thrown stuff away in the last 10 years, and donated yarn, usually when my clutter got under my skin, but I homeschool too, and as homeschoolers tend to do, we have amassed a collection books - both school and general fiction, so the problems continue to grow! As a packrat thinks, I often say - oh well I can use that again for the next child ... not fully comprehending that it is only useful if I can find it again when said child is old enough - so it needs a place to live in the mean time.<br />
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For years, I have been trying to follow Fly-lady, and when I didn't see results with that, because I lacked the follow through and ability to follow routines, I would wander off to organizedhome.com or Cindy's Porch - which is now Cannywomen.com, so I have been doing stuff, just never with my full heart and intentions of getting somewhere, UNTIL NOW!<br />
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My clutter is getting to me! It's making me REALLY grumpy. I spent the last couple weeks stepping over stuff to get through the door into my laundry room, trying not to kill myself with the full clean laundry baskets on the way out again!<br />
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It's official though - I have decided that I need to finally bite the bullet and get myself out of this mess. There is nothing I love more than a clean surface and a clean area to sit down comfortably and just enjoy my surroundings. <br />
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I haven't posted on this blog regularly in recent months, I'm hoping to be better about that, I will be focusing on my efforts of decluttering, cleaning and simplifying our mess. And the occasional knit/crochet/sew project or two! Emotions are sure to flare as I pack away my stuff and get rid of things that I just don't need anymore.<br />
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So let's begin!! </div>
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This passed Friday, I received some Method soaps and detergents from Soap.com - we've been using them for ages, anyway, after school lessons today - I re-purposed the box - I used it to pick up all the mess of STUFF on the floor in the laundry room. I gave the floor a good vacuum and scrub. Got rid of the shoes the girls have outgrown or don't wear! Got rid of the empty bottles of detergents from the cupboards that I was going to refill with homemade detergents. In the end I got rid of a bag full of trash - no, none of it was reusable! Though what could be recycled was and a couple of shoes went into the Goodwill Bag.</div>
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I spent 2 hours in the laundry room, digging out stuff that needed gotten rid of and freed up some storage space for curriculum materials that I'm not currently using but know I will use for sure for the youngest! I also managed to clean up some other stuff that was lying around and tossed on a couple loads of laundry. </div>
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I'm throwing in the stuff I do on a regular basis as well, just because I'm working on routines! Laundry happens M, T, Th, F (and sometimes Sat,) my oldest does her own laundry now (W) because she refuses to put it away if I do it, so I made her responsible for her own, mess! </div>
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Tomorrow's goal is to empty my new "SOAP box" and deal with that clutter so that I can use it again for the next round of stuff that needs done. I'm hoping to declutter my home, one soap box at a time - 15-30 minutes a day (a la Fly-lady!!) :) I figure I can declutter for 15-30 minutes and then re-load my box for the next day's 15-30 minutes worth of stuff to declutter.</div>
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<b>New Habit:</b> So as of now, the tops of the dryer and washer need to be tidied each night after the last load is done! :) This needs to be how it looks each night! (21 days to a new habit!)</div>
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Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-13874804565765402972012-06-23T11:48:00.001-04:002012-06-23T11:48:33.519-04:00Potty Learning ProjectToday, I and my 3 yr old, are embarking on my 3rd and hopefully final, her first and hopefully only journey into potty learning.<br />
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She is my most stubborn child. But I have faith that she'll get there in her time, I'm hoping by the end of the day she will agree that NOW is the time. LOL!<br />
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It's odd that each time I have done this with my children it seems like a complete mystery to me and something that requires study and relearning on my part. I teach my children at home, but for some reason this potty learning poses a huge challenge for me to teach.<br />
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Without further ado, we begin! Wish me luck!!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-FFw2aShxZqd4cQbwU4cd2BBUahsO-jBb7qqunUJfrLOZXKa2LS6RsDjkvcRWS-IRxjYmife2waob6Y3wmPkYGQ_a9xEBRrdZWvVZ0N-Bs_LhhfX-UBI7PnOvLEYyIgRVzCQNQ/s640/blogger-image--1937125193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-FFw2aShxZqd4cQbwU4cd2BBUahsO-jBb7qqunUJfrLOZXKa2LS6RsDjkvcRWS-IRxjYmife2waob6Y3wmPkYGQ_a9xEBRrdZWvVZ0N-Bs_LhhfX-UBI7PnOvLEYyIgRVzCQNQ/s640/blogger-image--1937125193.jpg" /></a></div>Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-16691955607900266672012-06-20T13:34:00.001-04:002012-06-20T13:35:34.062-04:00Summer / Solstice - Wordless Wednesday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-5908485617519488882011-12-28T22:54:00.001-05:002011-12-28T22:54:17.193-05:00Day 22 - operation 295As predicted my plans to succeed over the holidays kinda fell down. But I have also been investigating a new eating plan! I love WW, love that I can track cals and eat with a specific idea in mind of when I've had enough.... but recent health issues have come up that I'm struggling with the whole idea. I've discovered that I need to eat wheat and gluten free... and while that isn't new to plenty of folks, its new to me and quite a challenge and quite a learning curve. I have room to play, I don't have to be super strict, but I do need to proceed with caution. So anyway, I'm looking at Eat Clean with a little WW thrown in just so I can track what is going on and what my comparisons are.<br />
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So I've got 2 of Tosca Reno's books and am reading through them trying to set things up to work with it. While balancing the girls on the other side. And that is where I'm at. Since I eat next to no fruit or veggies at the moment, I'm going slow and moving it in! I can do this!<br />
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I ate really poorly over the holidays... and gained some.... Weigh in on Sunday will tell me how much.<br />
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On the exercise front, I did none over Christmas, but this morning oDD and I went for a 2 mile walk, and despite the cold, I dragged the hubs and other 2 girls out late this afternoon for a fun walk 1.45 mile walk!<br />
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Tracking my miles here:<br />
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/<br />
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And I have tomorrow's oatmeal (Bob's Redmill Gluten Free Steel Cut Oats) in the crock ready to be turned on at 4 am! I'm getting ready!<br />
<br />Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-55582712792057234012011-12-19T01:43:00.002-05:002011-12-19T01:46:19.012-05:00Knitting / Crocheting for Special Olympics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So here is my first scarf for the Special Olympics. It is the 2012 Colours of Red Heart SOFT - Really Red (9925) and Navy Marine (4604).<br />
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I started it at 4:30-ish pm and finished it around midnight. Making dinner in between and watching TV! Hoping to get my kids involved with making some of these!Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-5472298765931868062011-12-19T01:42:00.000-05:002011-12-19T01:42:42.722-05:00Day 11, 12, 13 - Operation 295The eating OP isn't going so good, but we did take in a mile on Friday and another 1.5 miles today (even the littlest walked the whole mile - well she ran half of it! LOL!)<br />
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Since I'm not posting regularly it is tough to caculate the miles... but I'm getting in at least 2 a week I think!<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
Weigh in:<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
up <span style="font-size: large;">0.5 lb</span>s (boo hiss! but I knew that would happen!)<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
Last night's Lasagna, left me bloated and overfull - even though I didn't eat all of it. I think if that hadn't happened I would have stayed the same. Oh well. Roll on next week, and better laid and kept plans!<br />
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I'm printing my journal for the week and tomorrow morning planning out the menu. Dh's birthday is this week (so a party!) plus Christmas Eve, then Christmas and Boxing Day...<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
To all my weight losing friends good luck.<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span>Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-88284587599285445792011-12-15T10:18:00.003-05:002011-12-15T10:19:07.617-05:00Day 10 - Operation 295It is early in the day right now - so exercise hasn't happened yet! But I got started on this post early and hope to be back to finish it! :)<br />
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So after yesterday's slacking post, I really did print my journal for the week, and we really did have lunch, and we really did go for a 2 1/4 mile walk around the block (yes big blocks in the burbs!)<br />
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The weather is unseasonably warm, for December in our part of the world. So we took advantage of it and took that walk and my 6 yr old announced that she'd like to do that everyday - I think I've found a walking partner in crime! LOL! We hung at the park for a little while, the girls played and I shot photos. Got some really nice outside photos of the girls for my Project Life book! :) So pleased.<br />
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Thanks for keeping me honest.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Today's Mileage - 2.25 mile (yesterday) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Weekly Mileage - 2.75 mile (Goal 8 miles)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Overall 295 Mileage - 6.25 miles! (week 2)</span>Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-62899870632362620292011-12-14T12:29:00.001-05:002011-12-14T12:46:54.311-05:00Day 7, 8, 9 - Operation 295Ya, can we say slacking.<br />
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This is what happens everytime I embark on a weighty adventure, by the 2nd week I collapse in despair and give up - my whiney innerself complaining that it isn't happening fast enough! While my normally logical mind knows full well that it will take more than 6 months to get rid of the weight! My whiney innerself also stubbornly refuses to plan out a menu and go shopping. My whiney self doesn't want to take my 2 yr old shopping knowing full well that she won't sit in the cart. We look like a 3 ring circus in the grocery store lately and that just gets my ire up!! Yet my logical brain also knows full well that if I provide dh with a shopping list, he'll get what I need him to get and just what is on the list, this is win win right?!<br />
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No walking has happened. But lots of sleep is happening - no not really a good thing -- I so don't love this season! and when pressed the other day as to why, I really had no answer!<br />
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I find myself tucking into comfort foods of high sugar and salty foods and high fat foods too! I haven't even printed my journal for the week which I should have done, but someone reset my computer and we ended up leaving the house for most of the day on Sunday, and I just never got back to it!!<br />
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I've got plenty of excuses, but the buck needs to stop here. Now printing my journal for the week as I type here. Then we need to figure out a reasonable lunch. I think the girls and I will have lunch in a sec and then I'll drag them for a 2 mile walk around the block, it's such a beautiful day! A short stop at the park on the way home will also be in order.<br />
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Thanks for keeping me honest, and giving me a boot in the rump to keep on plodding. Today will be a better day!<br />
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FWIW, I said I'd post back on Sunday if we made it out walking, and I never posted. We did go out. Walked about 1/2 mile maybe, with me carrying the sleeping 2 yr old most of the way!<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Today's Mileage - 0 mile (so far!) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Weekly Mileage - 0.5 mile (Goal 8 miles)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Overall 295 Mileage - 3.5mile! </span>Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-332282706892345692011-12-11T11:26:00.001-05:002011-12-11T11:49:20.415-05:00Day 5 & 6 - Operation 295So Weigh in Day is Sunday even though it is only the 6th day of my week this week. <br />
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Anyway without further adieu... I'm down <span style="font-size: large;">2 lbs</span><br />
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Woohoo!<br />
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<u>Week in Review</u><br />
This week has been any eye opener. I can see where the little bits sneak in. Ya I'm eating pretty healthy most of the time, but the times I don't are like benders when everything goes to heck in a handbasket!<br />
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Our Monday Burrito routine while fun is detrimental if it happens more than twice a week, at times it has. When I run out of ideas, it easier to go out and grab something with mega calories than it is to just fix something at home, plus it gives me a change of scenery on days when we don't get out as much as we could. I have succumbed to the convenience of fast food and restaurants. I think part of me is also jealous that dh eats out everyday at work - and while his choices are healthier he still eats out a ton!<br />
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My love for sweet tea - though lightly reined in is still there and like soda/pop/coke it all catches up at some point. I'm still weaning here, and this week will be 75 un/25 sw<br />
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I managed 3 miles this week. 5 miles short of my goal, but that's okay! I didn't manage to walk as much as I'd hoped this week or even get in much exercise. So that is a place I need to pay attention and fix. I did manage to walk a little over a 1 mile yesterday, carrying 20 lbs, & snapping pictures!<br />
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<u>For this week my goals are</u>:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Continue to follow the WW plan and eating better (portion control and more veg & fr)</li>
<li>I'm aiming for 4 fruits and veggies daily! </li>
<li>I will make a conscious effort to walk 6-8 miles this week.</li>
<li>I will consume my 6 - 8oz glasses of water - daily!</li>
<li>I will plan better lunches!</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Today's Mileage - 1 mile (yesterday) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Weekly Mileage - 3 mile (Goal 8 miles)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Overall 295 Mileage - 3 mile! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span>I will update later this aft. Hoping to get out and walk with the family!<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span>Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-88401392383505308802011-12-09T00:07:00.001-05:002011-12-11T11:41:59.915-05:00Day 3 & 4 - Operation 2952 more days of staying on points. And still working down those extra points I indulged in on Monday - but they are balancing out! I'm still trying to get the extra fruit and veggies in, but struggling with that. Might have to resort to smoothies for breakfast to cover that aspect - which isn't a bad thing, with fresh and frozen fruit, no added sugar! I have a plan! I just need to make sure I measure! :)<br />
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Exercise is also not coming along this week. I'm not sure if it is the weather, lack of sugar (ya fellow addict here!) or just the season, but I have been really tired this week, yet getting up at the crack of dawn! Could be the fact that DH is leaving early too that is doing it... but I don't really know! A nice early afternoon nap has become the mainstay! hmmm maybe I should go to bed earlier! LOL!<br />
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I did sneak on the scale this morning, and was happy to see 2 lbs gone. I'm not counting on that as my 5 yr old turns 6 tomorrow! And has requested the one place where I'm likely to over-indulge for dinner. I suppose if I plan well, I could bring some home, and not eat too much, plus budget my points the rest of the day. We'll see what happens!<br />
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Thanks for reading! <br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Today's Mileage - 1 mile </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Weekly Mileage - 2 mile (Goal 8 miles)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Overall 295 Mileage - 2 mile! </span>Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-79516467664267202972011-12-07T00:51:00.001-05:002011-12-07T01:10:42.397-05:00Day 2 - Operation 295So today I managed to stay within my points range better, but I need to save some for Friday for my 5 yr old's birthday. She has demanded that Daddy go to lunch with us at Moe's, and that we take her out for Steak and Sushi dinner. <i>Major pointage</i>! There will be cake (unless oDD can convince her that birthday pie is the way to go! LOL! or maybe Fairy cakes! hmmm!)<br />
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It was a dreary, wet and rainy day outside. We started off with a quick trip to the post office to mail gifts. Some idiot, bashed his car door into my car while it was moving (worth a bag of M&M's but I let it go sans M&M's - told him he was an idiot, and left it at that!) Drove to the grocery store to get nutritious food for lunch and few staple items, but the 2 yr old had a major meltdown, turned into a raving lunatic, so we left without further thought. Dh happily brought us home food for tomorrow's lunch when he brought home dinner fixins!<br />
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Being wet and dreary, I decided not to walk outside today - figuring I'd get some time on the treadmill, but the couch sucked me in, deep and cozy, so I took a nap. Was so tired this morning I couldn't even keep my eyes open while doing math and reading with the middlest! (sad, I know!) <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>It's close to migraine time for me... so I wonder if this had something to do with it.... hmmm maybe hormonal, must watch that maybe the sudden vitamin kick changed something!)</i></span><br />
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We had a crappy lunch, but I planned out my points, and I knew what I was getting into. I budgeted enough for dinner, and added in a couple of snacks... so life was good!<br />
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I know Christmas/Holidays are a really bad time to start a life change, what with all the baking, fun foods and a holiday 100% surrounded by food! But I've been putting it off, and putting it off, and suddenly I feel that pull and need to succeed, very much inspired by Kara over at <a href="http://365daysand100pounds.blogspot.com/">365 days and 100 pounds</a> . I'm determined to do this!<br />
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By the end of the day, I will have met all of my water goals, 1/2 my milk (but I take a supplement), 1/2 my F&V intake. Not bad considering I haven't been watching these in eons!<br />
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Thanks for reading!<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Today's Mileage - 0 mile </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Weekly Mileage - 1 mile (Goal 8 miles)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Overall 295 Mileage - 1 mile! </span>Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-5116523430263856932011-12-05T21:10:00.001-05:002011-12-05T21:20:28.341-05:00Uncultured Book List (updated!)I'm feeling a little uncultured today so I thought I'd post the 100 Greatests! (yes new word!)<br />
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<span style="font-size: 85%;">100 Greatest books (according to <a href="http://www.nicholaswhyte.info/100books/bbcbigread.htm">Nicholas Whyte in 2003</a> - his take on the BBC Big Read)<br /><br />legend: <span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">black=Read</span>, <span style="color: red;">red = not read, <span style="color: #009900;">green=</span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: #009900;">on my book shelf!</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span></span></span> <br />
<ol style="color: red;">
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Lord Of The Rings, JRR Tolkien</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Pride And Prejudice, Jane Austen</span></li>
<li style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman <span style="color: black;">(read 1 of 3)</span></span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, Douglas Adams</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, JK Rowling</li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Winnie-the-Pooh, AA Milne</span></li>
<li style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">1984, George Orwell</span></li>
<li style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, CS Lewis</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 78%;">Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 78%;">Catch 22, Joseph Heller</span></li>
<li style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Rebecca, Daphne Du Maurier</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 78%;">The Catcher In The Rye, JD Salinger</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Wind In The Willows, Kenneth Grahame</span></li>
<li style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Great Expectations, Charles Dickens</span></li>
<li style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Little Women, Louisa May Alcott</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">War And Peace, Leo Tolstoy</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Gone With The Wind, Margaret Mitchell</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling (12/09)</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Middlemarch, George Eliot</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck</span></li>
<li style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">David Copperfield, Charles Dickens</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Persuasion, Jane Auste</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Dune, Frank Herbert (<span style="font-weight: normal;">hated this one... tried 3 times)</span></span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Emma, Jane Austen</span></li>
<li style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Watership Down, Richard Adams</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 78%;">Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 78%;">Animal Farm, George Orwell</span></li>
<li style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian</span></li>
<li style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett</li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Stand, Stephen King</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">The BFG, Roald Dahl</li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome</span></li>
<li style="color: #009900;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Black Beauty, Anna Sewell</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Mort, Terry Pratchett</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Magus, John Fowles</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman <span style="font-weight: normal;">(loved this one!)</span></span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Lord Of The Flies, William Golding</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Perfume, Patrick Süskind</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Night Watch, Terry Pratchett</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Matilda, Roald Dahl</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Secret History, Donna Tartt</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Ulysses, James Joyce</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Bleak House, Charles Dickens</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Twits, Roald Dahl</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Holes, Louis Sachar</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Brave New World, Aldous Huxley</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Magician, Raymond E. Feist</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">On The Road, Jack Kerouac</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Godfather, Mario Puzo</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett</span></li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Katherine, Anya Seton</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">Kane And Abel, Jeffrey Archer</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">(hated this one .... tried 3 times)</span></span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson</span></li>
<li> <span style="font-size: 78%;">The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 78%;">Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie</span></li>
</ol>
Woohoo - only 76 books left to read! LOL! (that means I've added 4)<br />
<br />
100 Greatest movies that I haven't seen (stolen from <a href="http://ignoremeitseasier.blogspot.com/">AmyDe</a> in one of her Februarywho stole it from someone else! LOL!)<br />
<br />
legend:<br />
<span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">black=seen</span>, <span style="color: red;">red = never seen</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">1. Citizen Kane (1941)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">2. The Godfather (1972)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 3. Casablanca (1942)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">4. Raging Bull (1980)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">5. Singin' In The Rain (1952)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">6. Gone With The Wind (1939)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">7. Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 8. Schindler's List (1993)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 9. Vertigo (1958)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;">10. The Wizard Of Oz (1939)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">11. City Lights (1931)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">12. The Searchers (1956)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;">13. Star Wars (1977)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 14. Psycho (1960)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">15. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">16. Sunset Blvd. (1950)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 17. The Graduate (1967)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">18. The General (1927)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 19. On The Waterfront (1954)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 20. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">21. Chinatown (1974)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">22. Some Like It Hot (1959)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">23. The Grapes Of Wrath (1940)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;">24. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;"> 25. To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">26. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">27. High Noon (1952)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">28. All About Eve (1950)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 29. Double Indemnity (1944)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">30. Apocalypse Now (1979)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">31. The Maltese Falcon (1941)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 32. The Godfather Part II (1974)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">34. Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (1937)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">35. Annie Hall (1977)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">36. The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">37. The Best Years Of Our Lives (1946)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">38. The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (1948)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 39. Dr. Strangelove (1964)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;">40. The Sound Of Music (1965)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 41. King Kong (1933)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">42. Bonnie And Clyde (1967)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">43. Midnight Cowboy (1969)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 44. The Philadelphia Story (1940)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">45. Shane (1953)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">46. It Happened One Night (1934)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 47. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 48. Rear Window (1954)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">49. Intolerance (1916)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;">50. The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring (2001)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">51. West Side Story (1961)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 52. Taxi Driver (1976)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">53. The Deer Hunter (1978)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">54. M*A*S*H (1970)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 55. North By Northwest (1959)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 56. Jaws (1975)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">57. Rocky (1976)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">58. The Gold Rush (1925)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 59. Nashville (1975)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">60. Duck Soup (1933)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 61. Sullivan's Travels (1941)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">62. American Graffiti (1973)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">63. Cabaret (1972)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">64. Network (1976)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 65. The African Queen (1951)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 66. Raiders Of The Lost Ark (1981)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">67. Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (1966)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;">68. Unforgiven (1992)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;">69. Tootsie (1982)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">70. A Clockwork Orange (1971)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">71. Saving Private Ryan (1998)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 72. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 73. Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;">74. The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">75. In The Heat Of The Night (1967)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;">76. Forrest Gump (1994)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 77. All The President's Men (1976)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">78. Modern Times (1936)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">79. The Wild Bunch (1969)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">80. The Apartment (1960)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">81. Spartacus (1960)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">82. Sunrise (1927)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;"> 83. Titanic (1997)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">84. Easy Rider (1969)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">85. A Night At The Opera (1935)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">86. Platoon (1986)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">87. 12 Angry Men (1957)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">88. Bringing Up Baby (1938)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;">89. The Sixth Sense (1999)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">90. Swing Time (1936)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">91. Sophie's Choice (1982)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">92. Goodfellas (1990)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">93. The French Connection (1971)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 78%; font-weight: bold;">94. Pulp Fiction (1994)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 95. The Last Picture Show (1971)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;"> 96. Do The Right Thing (1989)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">97. Blade Runner (1982)<span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 78%;">98. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)</span><span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span>
</li>
<li style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">99. Toy Story (1995)<span style="font-size: 78%;"><br /></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: 78%;">100. Ben-Hur (1959)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Woohoo - only 85 movies left to see! LOL!</span></li>Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-6504767664201668402011-12-05T20:28:00.001-05:002011-12-05T21:03:38.382-05:00Day 1 - Operation 295I'm both happy and sad to admit that today was really a fact finding mission. An eye opener. I learned much, but learning about your behaviours is the first step to correcting them right?! So even though it was half a loss, it was also half a win!<br />
<br />
Every Monday for the last <strike>little</strike> while, I have been taking the girls out for lunch to the same place, we love Moe's (Welcome to Moe's!) When we first started going, dh and I had difficulty eating a regular sized Burrito split between us, but eventually I just started chowing down and eating the whole thing. (ha, yes OINK! *blush*) By the time you have the burrito, add the chips & salsa, Tea, and cookie you're walking away with a 28 pt lunch (at least!) OMG, good job I had a light breakfast, drink unsweet tea (yes I have weaned myself off the sugared variety a while ago!) and we walked 1/2 mile there and 1/2 mile back (low intensity 40 min exercise - c'mon I'm walking with a 2 yr old!!)<br />
<br />
The girls don't eat the chips with lunch but have recently taken a liking to the black bean salsa (I prefer the verde variety!) So we bring home the chips, just in case the girls want a snack later, we often toss them, I don't seem to indulge after lunch (ha too full!)<br />
<br />
This afternoon however, I found myself happily munching on some of those chips, twice I stopped to ask myself if I was hungry and twice I was not, I found I was craving the salt on my tongue, so I put back the heaping handful that I took and stopped eating (yes I recorded it too!)<br />
<br />
In an effort to offset the big burrito lunches we've been having - if the weather is not too hot (heat-stroke variety) and not too cold (for my fatless children!) we've been walking there. As I said 1/2 mile there and 1/2 mile back, totaling a 40 min low intensity 1 mile walk.<br />
<br />
Today though, being one of the last beautiful days of the year, I decided to rake the leaves. The girls wanted to play outside, so I set to raking while supervising them and I set a timer for 1 hour on my phone, so that we could finish up some unfinished school work for the day.<br />
<br />
Feeling guilty about the lunch as it was presented in my worksheet, we opted for a lighter lunch of (gluten free - for me) Pasta with tomato sauce.<br />
<br />
I also managed to sneak in a couple fruits for the day. So while I was about 13 pts over my daily budget today, I'm opting to correct this over the rest of this week.<br />
<br />
<u>To change What I love</u><i> </i><br />
<i>I love the tradition of going out for lunch on Monday's with the girls, they look forward to it each week. I'm thinking we can still do it, I just need to find a way to reduce the pointage. I can - without difficulty half my burrito and save some for lunch the next day but that would leave me with 2 high point days no matter how I look at it! I can look into the salads, with better choice of options (hate salad dressing anyway - so save points there!) This would give me more veggies and might lighten the fare. Decisions, decisions!</i><br />
<br />
I'll keep ya posted, on what I decide!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Today's Mileage - 1 mile (+1 hr of moderate raking!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Weekly Mileage - 1 mile (Goal 8 miles)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Overall 295 Mileage - 1 mile! </span>Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-14046763079711469322011-12-05T20:04:00.000-05:002011-12-05T21:07:24.642-05:00Tad FilesSo the Tads are now swimming head down. According to the literature that means they're happy and adjusted! They are growing and getting easier to find!<br />
<br />
Funny M pointed out that when Tad arrived - he already had arm buds and was quite large judging by these little guys!Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-41043352842556986552011-12-04T22:31:00.001-05:002011-12-04T23:08:44.650-05:00Pledge To LoseSo here I stand, less than a week before my 2nd youngest child's 6th birthday, weighing more than I did when I was 9 months pregnant with her oldest sister (remember I've had 4.)<br />
<br />
I've gone back and forth for years (8 of them to be precise!) with being comfortable being labelled obese, and being sick of the extra 40 lbs I carry around. I feel awful. Simply put, I can actually feel the strain this is putting on my health both mental and physical.<br />
<br />
In the 11 yrs since I last did weight-watchers, I have learned that I'm allergic enough to dairy that drinking milk is unwise (to say the least!) I can eat nothing related to a cow. And now, that I quite simply might be wheat sensitive (allergic, gluten? - I dunno but its in there too!) My diet sucks, I eat next to no fruit or veggies... and I simply hate food - my palate is very bored.<br />
<br />
Well, ENOUGH is ENOUGH! Tonight, I'm hatching my plan (just like the darn tadpoles that hatched in Frog-quarium - 2 days ago - but that's another story) to get rid of this weight once and for all, and teach my girls the ideas of proper nutrition and exercise! I am currently walking between 2 miles and 12 miles a week, and my diet sucks!<br />
<br />
But I have goals.<br />
<ul>
<li>Over the next 295 days I will lose 40 lbs. (at least!)</li>
<li>Over the next 295 days I will improve my eating with nutritious food!</li>
<li>Over the next 295 days I will walk/run/exercise more to aid in my goal of losing this weight!</li>
</ul>
For this week my goals are:<br />
<ul>
<li>Follow the WW plan and begin eating better (portion control and more veggies & fruit!)</li>
<li>I will walk 8 miles this week.</li>
<li>I will consume my 6 - 8oz glasses of water - daily!</li>
<li>I will plan better lunches!</li>
</ul>
I hope to post my successes and challenges daily, along with other events that are happening in my life... like my Project Life Scrapbook, fun stuff the kids and I do and well about life in general. So if you're reading this, I hope you'll keep me honest, root for me, and wish me luck! :) I will be skinnier before I turn 40 (I turn 40 in 296 days from this post! I begin tomorrow!)<br />
<br />Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-42624522637394987082011-12-04T16:09:00.000-05:002011-12-05T21:04:17.237-05:00Tad FilesSo in May of 2008, we got a tadpole - from the Grow-a-Frog company! - whom we named Tad - not knowing if it was a boy or a girl! Tad has remained Tad and he is in fact a boy African Clawed Frog. A short period later, I ordered a habitat for him not knowing that it came with a live froglet. We named the froglet - Lily, also not knowing if she was a boy or a girl! Well low and behold she was a girl!<br />
<br />
Fastforward 3.5 yrs, Tad and Lily have mated a couple times, but did not produce offspring. This past week however was another story. 2 tadpoles survived. Here is one of them!<br />
(the little line, slightly off center - a 3 hour old tadpole)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbSad6zmCmMl4RVKJUf5FOsVDmRU9hbh9zbcqJ8D9nfZI_19Pl6uYOYlM4YNm7VIno-fV_9euTzmLu81f5tXvZ90uMvUECR53Grn8xWSZqwn1Q5dhfN24MA2wB-jffcZTy8BsbA/s1600/IMG_3315+%2528600+x+400%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbSad6zmCmMl4RVKJUf5FOsVDmRU9hbh9zbcqJ8D9nfZI_19Pl6uYOYlM4YNm7VIno-fV_9euTzmLu81f5tXvZ90uMvUECR53Grn8xWSZqwn1Q5dhfN24MA2wB-jffcZTy8BsbA/s320/IMG_3315+%2528600+x+400%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They are now 2 days old, and not much bigger, but thriving.</div>Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-87261522690709065502011-11-30T17:59:00.001-05:002011-11-30T18:01:45.496-05:00Wordless Wednesday - Nov 30, 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagkq5x0ll8A5za2xoyF90m-2KSlLJqQ2Zl8yKeExYSe7Ffx0q84W9liJca-hQefVWsNgupzquuE_ELGG4ZQ4Bm9t_ZAa1H8X5-sL-byqSyhBbkBfvISC-mL7OLZ4seRacSpbwHQ/s1600/IMG_3300+%2528600+x+400%2529+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagkq5x0ll8A5za2xoyF90m-2KSlLJqQ2Zl8yKeExYSe7Ffx0q84W9liJca-hQefVWsNgupzquuE_ELGG4ZQ4Bm9t_ZAa1H8X5-sL-byqSyhBbkBfvISC-mL7OLZ4seRacSpbwHQ/s320/IMG_3300+%2528600+x+400%2529+2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-60391413323709288322011-11-06T11:57:00.004-05:002011-11-06T12:04:00.628-05:00Backyard Chicken Movement<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So here is my question.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have a piece of property just under an acre. I choose to grow flowers to have a beautiful
garden. I cover my plot of land with FRESH
manure that I obtained from a local farmer.
Pretty, pretty smelly but really of no use except a mood booster, my
neighbors mutter under their breath, but nothing can be done, the county does not
have an ordinance against it, and save for the manure, my garden isn’t offensive! So I progress and decide to grow veggies in
my garden. Again I cover my plot with FRESH
<s>(fragrant)</s> manure from the local farmer.
The veggies grow and prosper. We
get a year’s supply of veggies and a happy family – and the neighbors can’t
complain, again there is no ordinance against the foul stench my garden caused!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300839_1985881491973_1391363524_31791142_2021766152_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300839_1985881491973_1391363524_31791142_2021766152_n.jpg" width="212" /></a>Move along. I erect a
little container in my backyard. It has
mesh wire and a little box. Inside are
little birdies. The birdies produce
eggs. They are quiet. The neighbor’s beagle bray’s at the nights
sounds, keeping my family awake. In the
morning the wild birdies not contained in my container… begin chirping and erupting
in squabbles around 6 am. They have
nested outside my bedroom window. My
little birdies they merely cluck quietly most of the time… sometimes like the
other neighbors children they squabble… but it doesn’t last long before they
calm. I keep the container clean and it
smells far less (if at all) than the veggie garden my neighbor has now taken on.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My family has eggs.
My neighbor complains. My
chickens must go, because apparently my pet birdies are offensive and governed by a county
ordinance that isn’t exactly supported by the state. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So explain to me why my neighbor can have a
Fragrant garden and get away with it, and the other neighbor can have a braying beagle, and I can’t have non-fragrant pet birds
because they are deemed livestock. What
if I had a pet pot-bellied pig… would I be subject to the same ordinance
issues??</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(this is not a problem I face, but the dilemma of a friend. I cannot see why in these hard economic times the county has issues with such things. Feeding a family and not relying on food stamps, isn't that better than the alternative? Should we not teach our children to be more self-reliant no matter what size property we own? For reference our county government requires that you have 2 acres - or pretty close to it - in order to own chickens.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Photo borrowed from my friend J. Pond ... please visit <a href="http://www.backyardchix.org/">Back Yard Chickens Alliance of Cobb County</a> to read more about his battles.</div>Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21514926.post-16788293080068099182011-10-29T13:58:00.001-04:002011-10-29T13:58:39.615-04:00Farewell Dead Weight!So now that the crafting frenzie of Halloween feels over, I can cruise into the Hallow and sail into that wonderful time of year to which I'm not a huge fan of. Relatives come and go - though usually the same old suspects (no pun intended!) It has gotten to the point that I do the bare minimum of cleaning before they arrive - that is to say make it look neat, but don't go out of my kind of thing. But now I have this urge to FALL clean - ya know I have to be different! Most people Spring Clean, right.... but no, no, dear old me has FALL clean! Maybe its a birth time of year thing or something. Since I was born in the fall my time of renew is fall... (well that's my story! LOL!)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/5132446617_94b5817eb1_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/5132446617_94b5817eb1_z.jpg" width="320" /></a>So, those of you that know me know that I have knit since I was 6, those of you that don't know me so well, know that I've knit as long as you've known me! LOL! Without giving away my age, that's more than 30 yrs now. A girl can collect a whole lotta yarn in that amount of time and a whole lotta ends of projects too! A girl born of an 'affectionately named' packrat, could store a whole lotta leftover projects in <strike>(and out of!)</strike> various bins around the house and still never have enough yarn to knit with (we won't go into the fabric stash and toy collections, just yet, but their time is comin!!) <br />
<br />
Well I'm proud to say that I freecycled 3 boxes of only acrylic yarns just this morning! YAY! I'm so proud of me! (<-favourite line from my favourite potty training book!) Sadly though, it isn't enough the drawer that I'm deputizing to be my yarn stash (yes a SINGLE DRAWER!) is still not as threadbare as I'd like to see it! LOL! Gads, did I really just say that? I have at least 1/2 a drawer more of stuff that needs to go but I must first get over the fear of letting it go, that I won't miss it, the project it was intended for won't miss it either because it has been lost in the abyss of my mind! LOL! It must depart my mortal hands and occupy someone elses!! <br />
<br />
The key here is lightening the bulge around the house! And one tiny project at a time is being accomplished!Grumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08093109838933716027noreply@blogger.com0