Resolutions

So this is late in coming, but I did make some resolutions for this year.  I am not going to pretend I will be completely successful with these, as history has shown me that I never am.  However, I still like the idea of resolutions.  I think they allow me to reflect about the things I would like to do or change.  I don't think I need to do them only at the start of the year, but it always seems like a natural reset point.  This year, I have tried to keep it simple.  

Resolution #1: Communicate Better to Build Better Relationships

Somehow over time, and with the increase in technology, I have lost my love of communication.  I feel awkward having conversations with people I don't know.  Unsure of what to say since I don't have time to think of my responses for awhile like I do with technology.  I worry about what to say next, if I will sound stupid, and constantly worry that I am going to end up embarrassing myself.  I am jealous of my husband's ability to talk with anyone.  He genuinely enjoys it and is never worried or embarrassed about starting a conversation with a complete stranger. He teases me about being afraid to talk to people, but there is definitely some truth to that.  In society, we judge harshly and quickly, but I need to start realizing that more often than not, people are kind-hearted and aren't judging me like I think they are.

This fear wasn't always the case.  I used to love talking to people, on the phone and in person.  My parents will vouch for that as I was always going over my 15 minute phone time limit.  So, my plan this year is that I am going to answer my phone more (yes, I am one of those terrible people that won't answer when you call but will text you back awhile later).  I will reach out to those I have lost touch with.  I will try harder to have actual contact with those I do.  And I will work on building relationships with new people.  I will continue to challenge myself to start conversations with strangers.  I am also going to continue to be conscious of my cell phone use in the presence of others to avoid being this guy:

Resolution #2: Eat Real and Local Food

This is a tough one as I love junk food and I love a good deal (and we all know that processed food is cheap!).  What I don't love is how "food" is becoming less natural and more modified and chemical.  The more I read about food, the more disheartened I become.  Last year things began to change a little in our household and I would like to continue.  It will not be easy.  In fact, I think it is a lot of work.  It is hard to always make it to the farmers market, to read labels and decipher what is really in food, and to prep food yourself.  It is also expensive.

I am trying to switch slowly to see how it effects our budget.  For now, I buy as many organic fruits and veggies as I can afford and try to buy organic dairy.  I also try to buy locally produced food when possible. In exchange, I buy less junk in order to keep on budget.  It's a win win right now and hopefully it will continue.  Changing the meat we buy is next on my agenda.  I also remind myself that demand creates supply, so if I join the demand for better food, hopefully it will help create supply and bring down the cost for all.  

Resolution #3:  Be More Informed

This will be the hardest one for me. I feel that I have a lack of knowledge as to what happens in my own community.  I watch the news, but don't always pay attention to community/local elections or news.   To prevent this, I have decided to subscribe to our local newspaper.  My parents always knew what was going on in our town.  My dad was very vocal at town meetings.  I lack that.  And though it is unlikely I will become greatly more involved in the same manor as my parents, I still think I should make the effort to stay informed.

Hopefully I will have success with my resolutions this year since I have focused on just three important changes.  Do you have any resolutions this year?

A Few Back to School Ramblings

Wow! It has been 3 weeks since school started and it has been a whirlwind! I am loving my class, my coworkers, and the fact that it is starting to feel like fall.  Though to be honest, school has definitely been sucking up the majority of my free time.  Luckily, I get to take a relaxing break this weekend and spend some time with my hubby and some friends.  Needless to say, I CAN 'T WAIT!!

A few  things I have realized over the past couple of weeks:

1) I don't mind getting up early again, but it is an adjustment after the last 2 months.  Especially because I have such a tough time getting up.  It's not that I am not a morning person, it's that I am a don't-want-to-get-out-of-bed person. Once I am up I'm fine.  It's getting up that's the problem.  It is always a little bit of a shock to my system to have to get up each morning and go to work. I know, I know, that is what most non-teachers do all the time so I shouldn't be complaining :) 

2) I might be ready for back to school clothes and shoes, but my feet are not!  After being barefoot or in flip flops for the past 2 months, my feet are not loving my high heels.  They are taking longer to adjust then I am!  Luckily, no one seems to notice my change to sandals mid-way through the day.  

3) Eating well and eating clean is A LOT tougher when you have less time.  It is a struggle to avoid convince food when you have worked all day and still have errands to run and a home to clean.  The extra time it takes to plan and read labels seems to be an eternity when you spend all day answering the repeated questioning of 7 year olds.  

Overall, it has been great and I am excited for the year ahead.  I am always worn out the first couple of weeks and I know I will get in the groove (and my feet will get used to my work shoes)!  

Help, I need Somebody,

Help, not just anybody,
Help, you know I need someone, help.

~ The Beatles 

Oh how the words of this song have ruled my life the last five weeks.  Yep, that is how long it has been since I have my bunioectomy.  Those of you that know me well, know that depending on others is not a strong suite for me.  Over the years, I have grown to be fiercely independent.  It is hard for me to allow people to do things for me.  Thoughts run through my head like "I can do it myself," "Do you think I can't do it," What if you don't do it my way," or worse, "What if you let me down."  I find it is just easier less anxiety inducing for me to do it on my own.

In the last five weeks, I have not had the luxury of doing things on my own.  My recovery has left me unable to do most things without assistance.  Crutches prevent me from being able to carry most things, including my morning cup of coffee.  I've been unable to help with the majority of household tasks, so I need to rely on A to do everything from dishes, to vacuuming, to laundry.  And I haven't been able to drive anywhere, but need to find rides or ask people to pick things up for me.  This last one has been the worst most challenging for me.  

There are things to be learned from this experience.  I have had to humble myself and ask for what I need.  I have learned that people are kind and giving, and will lend a hand in any way they can.  I have learned that no one can read my mind, especially not A, and that I need to just use my voice to communicate what I need, instead of getting frustrated.

Hopefully, my recovery is nearing it's end, and for a month or so I will be able to do things on my own again.  During that time, I will rejoice in the ability to drive places, bask in the warmth of doing my own laundry, and happily carry my morning coffee.  Then, once again, I will need to ask for "Help!"  Maybe it will be easier the second time around.

Paying Myself to Workout

Yep, that's right.  I am going to start paying myself to workout.  My motivation to work out is pretty much nonexistence.  I love the thought of it and the benefits I would get if I actually did it, but I rarely make it off the couch to actually work out.  I have been inspired by something I found on Pinterest, which is really no surprise, that will hoepfully accomplish a multitude of goals. 

1. I will actually work out
2. I will spend less money on clothes, shoes, and various accessories (A will love this one!)
3. My self esteem will increase as my strength does  
4. A healthier me!!

This is how I plan on doing it.  For every half hour I work out, I get $1.  If I go everyday for a whole week, I get a $5 bonus.  The money I earn can then be spent on those items I don't need, but want, like shoes, clothes, and accessories!  Unlike my Pinterest inspiration, I have decided that I will not require myself to save up $100 before I spend any of my workout money, but that I can choose to spend it at anytime. 

Guilt free spending and a healthier me!  It's a win-win!        

A First for the New Year

I went to the gym a few weeks ago.  Yep, it only took me 16 days to talk myself into going.  I read something recently, on Pinterest of course, that said "Someone who is busier than you is running right now".  I am sure that this is true.  Many of my friends that are runners are some of the busiest people I know.  So the last two weeks I have repeated this to myself a few times each day, and I finally made it to the gym!

It has been about a year since I have worked out on a regular basis and though the numbers on the scale have not changed much, the weight has, well, it has redistributed itself.  This redistribution has settled mostly to my midsection.  The biggest issue with that is the tight pants syndrome I am starting to experience.  I hate when I have to struggle a little to button my pants :)  

Tight pants is only one reason I aim to make some changes.  I miss being "strong".  I love when my body feels and looks strong; when muscles start to define, energy is up, and I don't have to ask a guy to carry or move something.  I LOVE how I FEEL on the INSIDE when my BODY is STRONG on the OUTSIDE.  

So, my slow journey to a healthier weight is beginning now.  I say slow because realistically I know that I am not going to start out going to the gym everyday or changing how I eat over night.  Failure will come fast and swift if I make that my goal (this I know from past experience).  I am going to make small changes over time and hopefully improve my physical self.

What do you do to get motivated? 

The Imperfect Friendship

Friends play a pivotal role in our lives.  Some of us have many and some of us have one or two key players.  I find that I am somewhere in the middle.  I have friends who play different roles, but all are very important.

Recently I have been reflecting on the growing pains that come with any friendship.  Like any relationship, friendship is never perfect.  There are periods were things are wonderful and you can not imagine your life without them.  And then there are times when there is distance, or periods of absence, where the friendship is left to grow in the wild, untended.  And then we go back to it, pull up the weeds, trim away the undergrowth, and it is new again.

Many of those absences have been caused either by physical distance, or by the fact that we struggle with what happens in our own lives.  At times, it is hard to except the things that have happened to us.  There have been times of struggle, times of bad choices, times of things said that shouldn't have been.  We accept these mistakes in our friends.  I personally struggle with accepting them in myself.  I focus on when I embarrassed myself, or when I wasn't able to be by their side, or even when I haven't called in awhile.  I think, who would want to be friends with someone who acts like that.

It is just recently that I have been able to accept that my friends love me for who I am.  That even though I am far from a perfect friend, they will be there, and that is the joy of friendship.  Accepting the imperfectness of each other and facing life, knowing you have those who support you no matter what mistakes you may make.

Friends are what make the rough roads passable and the blessings even joyous.  

August in Review

Book Read: Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin and Goodbye, Jimmy Choo by Annie Sanders
I would recommend both (though the first one was a little tough for a newly married women to get through).

New Recipe: Crispy Bacon and Hash Brown Quesadillas with Eggs from Brunch at Bobby's
Love, Love, Love this recipe!  Bobby uses quail eggs but I used regular eggs and it was still delicious.  Beware of cutting the pablono.  I thought I washed my hands enough but when I rubbed my eye later, my eye soon felt like it was on fire.  It was a rough half hour.     

Crock Pot Recipe: Scalloped Potatoes and Ham (I halved it for just A and I)
10 Medium potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced               1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
3 cups cubed fully cooked ham                                      1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 large onions, thinly sliced                                            1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

In greased 6-qt slow cooker, layer half of the potatoes, ham, onions and cheese.  Repeat layers.  Pour soup over top.  Sprinkle with paprika and pepper.  Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours. Yield 9 servings

Other things to cross off my list: 

• went camping (only 3 to go)
• ate at Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty in WI Dells for first time (3:5 new restaurants) 
• make and follow a budget (getting better at both!)  
• completed our first Great Escape and it was a blast
• went fishing with A and realized I am way to empathetic to enjoy it.  I just feel so bad for the fish.
• herb garden is growing strong and I am going to try and keep it going inside this winter
• completed Relay for Life 
• make the bed every morning (with just a couple exception) 

Project 52 ~ 2 Month Update

It has been a two months since I made my list of 52 things to do this year.  I figured it would help hold me accountable if I shared both my successes and failures works is progress.  As you can see, some have been going much better than others.

Success!

• Attend trainings for work (MACC Conference; Intro. to Leading Others, Intro. to Fiscal Management)
• Try one new recipe a month (I even bought a new cookbook to make this even easier)
• Be a better friend to my girls - more calls, e-mails, etc. 
• Create an emergency fund so we don't need to rely on our credit cards (We have not only created an emergency fund, but have had to use it)
• Read one classic novel (Read Jane Eyre)
• Learn how to separate work and home 
• Start "The Great Escape" with my college girlfriends instead of just talking about it (Trip is planned for August)
• Get new glasses (Sooner than I planned due to necessity of eye allergy, see earlier post
• Use my crock pot once a month

Work In Progress...

• Pay off the Malibu 
• Pay off our credit card debit
• Go camping at least 4 times (We haven't gone yet, but we have two trips set up)
• Visit 5 new restaurants (We tried out JC Bogars and loved it.  Only 4 more to go!)
• Make and follow a budget (We made a budget, but we are still getting used to following one
• Take a daily multivitamin (Most days I am pretty good, but still working on it)
• Read 12 new books (Read 2 so far, 10 to go)
• Do a walk/run for charity (Set up a Relay for Life team and the event is in June)
• Start a One Line a Day journal (Started, just haven't been keeping up with it)
• Have a date night once a month (Haven't been very intentional about this one, even though we have done some things just the two of us)
• Make the bed every morning (Started out strong but the last two weeks have been an "Epic Failure")

Left To Complete 

• Work on scrapbooks once a month
• Read a book on management
• Get my passport
• Grow an herb garden
• Drink 8 glasses of water a day
• Learn to juggle
• Take a Segway tour
• Host Brunch
• Travel somewhere I have never been before
• Work out three times a week
• Write one Thank-You a month
• Purge our place of useless clutter
• Start doing yoga again 
• Go to a drive-in movie theater with A
• Buy a new piece of furniture 
• Go fishing with A at least once 
• Stop being so critical of myself and others
• Make bread from scratch 
• Make our faith a greater priority
• Make homemade granola
• Eat healthier - more fruits and veggies and less processed food
• Eat dinner at the table with the TV off most days of the week
• Watch less TV
• Pray Daily
• Learn to knit
• Get pregnant
• See a live performance (play, musical, concert)
• Go golfing with A at least once 
• Complete 5 random acts of kindness
• Laugh Daily
• Have more patience 
• Donate $5 for any item not completed