Thursday, November 25, 2010

Today is Thanksgiving, so, as I am sure many bloggers are doing, I am posting the things in my life for which I am most thankful.  The following are listed in no particular order.

1.  I am so thankful for my renewed relationship with God.  While I never lost my faith, I did lose sight of how important the presence of that relationship is in everything I do.  I am so thankful for the peace it has given me and the insight He has given me so that I know what is truly important and what is not.

2.  Where would I be without an amazing husband who loves me so much?  I never want to take for granted how wonderful it is to love and to be loved by a truly wonderful person.

3.  My first-born son - his laugh is good for my soul.  He is so sweet and lovable still.  Please stay this way forever.

4.  I am thankful for red wine. mmmmmmm....

5.  My last-born son - his mischievous laugh/growl and silly faces make me weak.

6.  I am thankful that we have what we need.  I see so many people in need of a place to live, food to eat or simply a friendly face and more often than I like to admit, take what we have for granted. I want to thank God everyday for all of the little things.

7.  Stanley, my basset, spinning in circles.   It cracks me up every time.

8.  Christmas coming up - I love everything about it!

9.  My baby's doll-like "mama".  It always makes me smile.

10. My BFF - thanks for being there!

11.  I am so thankful that my man can fix ANYTHING, whether it is in the house or in the car.  (Unless it is the kitchen faucet - that one is giving him some trouble).

12.  I am grateful for my family - I have learned so much for my parents - they have taught me selflessness, love, and sacrifice.  I am also thankful for my sister - I am glad for who she is and is becoming. 

13.  Red wine (oh, wait, I think I said that!) Well then, red wine AND dark chocolate.  A pair made in Heaven.

14.  For each of my nieces and nephews - while I was close to them when they were a lot younger - I am thankful that I am back in touch (thanks to FB).  I am so happy they are each so beautiful and good human beings. 

15.  I am so thankful for each and every blessing in our lives - small and large, trivial and tremendous.  I am so fortunate and I don't say so often enough. 

Today is a day we give thanks and spend time with those most important to us. Everyday should be like this!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Happy Feet.

Yesterday I got a pedicure.  I LOVE pedicures - and not just because my feet look great when it's done. I love soaking my feet.  I love the massage chair.  I love "reading" the fashion magazines that I refuse to buy because I only look at the pictures.  I love having hundreds of polish colors to choose from. I love the minty lotion that they use to massage my legs and feet. Oh, yes! The massage.  I LOVE the massage.

But the thing I love most of all is that, while I'm surrounded by the manicurists and other customers, I am still getting unadulterated "ME" time.  While my favorite thing in the universe is to spend time with my man and my two boys, I still need a little time to myself.  For some women, it's shopping or reading but for me it's a pedicure.  It's one thing I know that no one else in my little family enjoys and is all mine. (Note to self:  NEVER let my husband or children get a pedicure! If they do, they will be hooked and the act of getting a pedicure will not be "all mine" anymore.)

It doesn't matter that it's fall and I will be wearing (for the most part) closed toed shoes. It's not about my feet looking great.  And they do look great.  That's just a benefit. 

In this case, it is all about the experience. 

Monday, November 8, 2010

Today is Kick-Yourself-In-The-Butt Day.

Today is kick-yourself-in-the-Butt Day ("yourself" being me, of course).  My last post was about my weight loss or lack thereof.  This blog is about how I'm going to really lose the weight - and how it all starts with my finances.  Another problem I have.

My husband and I do okay in terms of our work but we can't save money to save our lives.  So, today, I kicked myself in the butt and wrote out a budget.  What I discovered was, (insert drumroll) we have to make some changes. BIG surprise. Not really. 

One place we are spending way too much is at the grocery store.  So...you see now?  This is where it all starts.  From now on (or for as long as I don't lose interest) I will attempt at making weekly menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks and only buy groceries for that.  I will be thorough, but will not overbuy, so that I don't spend to much money or get things I won't or shouldn't eat.  Notice I wrote that I will be planning out menus for lunch too.  This will help me save money on eating out at lunch too. 

If indeed, I keep up with the menu planning, I hope I will plan healthy, wholesome meals and save calories too. 

The recent change in the weather has also put some punch behind my self-inflicted kick.  It's cooler out which means I have no excuse to get some exercise in.  Today, day one, I walked at lunch and I will do the same tomorrow and the day after that.  I'll worry about warmer weather when the time comes.  Another thing the cooler weather has done is demonstrated my weight gain in very clear terms.  My cold-weather clothes are not fitting too well.  Really, what other motivation do I need?

I will not buy any new, bigger clothes.  I will not.  Unless they are workout clothes, which I WILL wear. To work out.

I hope this kick-yourself day feeling will stay with me for more than just this week.  Otherwise, I'm afraid my butt will grow so large I won't feel the sting the next time.

Friday, November 5, 2010

So much to blog about, so little time...

Since my last post, there has been so many topics running through my brain just begging to be written about.  I haven't settled on a one.  Of course, what I mean is there are lots of stuff I want to write about, but that doesn't mean I have anyone to read any of them.

But I am writing this blog for me right?  So here are the many things I hope to write about:

1. More on weight loss...or weight gain.  This depends on where I'm at.  God help me.

2. The way my little boy says "Mama" whenever my man gets him out of bed or picks him up after work.  Poor Daddy.

3. Or the laziness of my big boy.  Will he ever really like any sport AND actually partake?

4.  Food. I could have a million posts featuring all of my favorite recipes with pictures.  I LOVE pictures of food.

5.  About how I want to be a stay-at-home mommy.  I love my job.  I do. Still, there is something so alluring about being with my baby all day and being able to pick my boy up from school.

6. How about giving up "city" life and reverting back to living in the country?  As long as it is within 30 minutes of a Target.

7.  I could also write about my husband's amazing ability to fix anything and everything in this house.  He is so cool.

8.  Speaking of my husband, I could also tell everyone about his "...isms" - cute little redneck sayings that are so funny but also make perfect sense.

9.  I could certainly showcase my big boy's LEGO creations - everyone is interested in that right?

10.  My job -I could write so many posts on the amazing people I meet at my job. 

11.  My parents - they are both so strong but in entirely different ways and they are both the giving, sacrificing people anyone will ever meet.

I could go on and on, but I think this list will give me a good start.