Vacation and Update

Saturday we returned from our Canadian vacation! It is always so nice to go away for a while but even better to return. I love coming home because really, there is no place like home. The week was short and the weather was okay but we made the most of it. We arrived on a rainy, windy day and it is always hard coming across the lake to a new cottage in the boat but the guys made it. Good thing we bring our two-way radios. The cottage was clean and homey so we could move right in without me cleaning. I especially liked that. We enjoyed the location, the extras – bunk house and boat house. We did not swim much (I did not swim at all) because of the cooler temperatures and the water was cold. John and Olivia braved the water though. Elliott was banned since his right foot was hosting six stitches. However, he was enjoying all the dock and boat time fishing. He is very content to just fish, fish and fish. The Big Rideau is the place to fish too. Elliott kept a log of what fish were caught, how long they were and what was used (worms, minnows, etc.)

We took time to go to Westport as they have a fudge shop that has delicious, smooth fudge. We bought maple, vanilla and cookies and cream fudge. While in town, we also went to the small bakery, a furniture store, the rock shop and a little tourist shop. Then it was back to the cottage and boat. At night, we played games – Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble. Olivia and John went out for another game and came home with Clue. Olivia won every game we played. She’s quite the detective!

Our last night there we enjoyed a fish dinner brought to us by Olivia and Elliott. Look at their fish! Olivia’s bass was 19 inches long and Elliott’s lake trout (his first) was 23 inches long.

The beach that we like to go to was empty one day. It is a small beach that is located on Colonel By Island but the docks are always busy but one day there was space at a dock so we docked and walked to the beach. Elliott was bored, but John went to get the float that Olivia blew up and Elliott got to snorkel. He was happy and his foot stayed dry.

We arrived home on Saturday and all of us were looking forward to getting Ruddie home as well. After unpacking the truck, John mowed until it was time to go get him. Olivia and Elliott went with him. Ruddie was happy to be home again and we had a nice reunion! After dinner and dessert and some tv time, we went to bed.

Sunday I was up early and woke Elliott at 8:00 am as I wanted to be at the ER by 9:00 a.m. to get his stitches out. After checking in, we were taken to a room and after a brief wait, the doctor looked at his stitches and sent a nurse in to remove them. The wound opened a bit but Elliott is stitch free. He was relieved and yes, the removal hurt at times, but it was nothing compared to getting the stitches. By the end of the week, he will be able to swim and he is cleared to go to football camp next Sunday. The boy is happy!

2013

Happy New Year!

I’m a little behind the ball, don’t you think?

Another year has come and gone and I shake my head because ANOTHER YEAR HAS COME AND GONE.  As my Aunt Meme would say, “Holy Nellie”.  That still brings a smile to my face. 

So, any resolutions out there?  Isn’t that what January is?  The month to make resolutions and the month to break them.  Well, this year, January is all about me.  I’ll be making the time to make changes and I can guarantee, I’ll fail, stumble, get back up and fall down many times, but it is all about perseverance.  Meeting my goals.

Here’s where I am coming from. Last year, I received an email about a book titled The Happiness Project. Did I want to join a happiness group to discuss the book and work on my own project?  After some brief research, I decided to join the group.  This was a step out of my comfort zone so one positive action taken already.  Then I bought the book and started to read it, took some notes and started working on my happiness goals.  To me, it seems like you are making monthly resolutions for a year and as each month comes, you build on those resolutions.  You note your goals for each month and build on them. So my January goals, I work on them in January, and continue doing them for the remainder of the year and each month, I start working on those goals or projects.  A progressive project tackled over the span of a year.  I see it as a huge domino-effect project.   Our group meets again on January 23, and although I have not decided on each months goals, I have January‘s goals identified and written down. I have even started working on them, after all, it is January! 

Now I am not unhappy by any means. I love my life. I live with a wonderful, caring, thoughtful husband, who is my best friend. We share our life with two incredible children (intelligent, humorous, beautiful/handsome, caring and loving) and a great dog (most of the time).  We love our Lord, each other, and we have a solid, happy home life. We are thankful for our blessings and we give thanks to the One that has blessed us.  Yes, life is good. But I want more, I want less, I want to make changes. In with the better, out with the bad, the clutter, the mess.

I am good at making plans and lists but when it comes to meeting my goals, I fail.  I thought this group would spur me to be accountable and so far, with our meeting date in mind, I am working at this project and taking the “bull by the horns”.  I need accountability. 

I have declared January to be my month.  As a mother, I need to take care of myself first in order to care for my family and home. And as a lot of mothers out there, I always put myself last on the list and if I don’t get to me, well, there is always a chance for that next time. Well Hello January 2013 – time for a change!  I am numero uno on my list this year.  Yep and boy, does it feel good (I’ve got to keep telling myself that)!  Cheer for me, cheer for me!  So with January I have decided to put my health and emotional well-being in the spotlight.  My list seems long but I am building a foundation. It has to be strong. I have to be strong physically, mentally and spiritually to function the way I want to. 

January’s happiness project list:

• Schedule a wellness appointment with my doctor as well as lab work.

• Make healthier eating choices and start eating cleaner. 

• Drink water, water and more water.  This is a huge challenge for me but I am working on this glass by glass.

• Exercise daily with one day off each week. 

• Once a week, pamper myself by enjoying a hot bath, a manicure or pedicure. Something that will reward me for my hard work and dedication.

• Spend time with God (I am reading the Bible daily even if it is just a chapter a day). This is the most important item on my list. To live forever, I have to know and understand God. I already love Him but need to know Him much better.  Do you know our Heavenly Father, the One who died for our sins?  Perhaps it is time to welcome God into your heart and life.  Believe me, life is GREAT when you have God in your life and He comes before everyone and everything else. 

I have scheduled my wellness exam (and got an appointment this month) with my doctor. I have started to write down questions and concerns to discuss.  I dread the appointment in some ways as I know what he is going to say. Lose weight, increase your cardio to lower my cholesterol and come back to see me in a few months.  I switched health insurance this year because the plan I had in the past was no longer an option. So I chose one that encourages you to see your doctor, work out (I have access to the university’s facilities and classes (pools, weight rooms, cardio equipment, group classes such as yoga, zumba, muscle pump) PLUS I can meet with the university’s dietitians, fitness consultants and personal trainers.  WOW!   But that is not all, insurance covers multiple wellness appointments with my doctor and the doctor will spend more time with me to discuss my wellness plan and with the access to dietitians, fitness and personal trainers, I should be set. NO EXCUSES! I am definitely motivated.  I have already started my eating log, I have a log to track my workouts and another one to log in my measurements and weight.  I am set to go and have already started. So far, maintaining a journal isn’t so tough.  Time will tell. 

The logs are keeping me on track and motivated as well as the cheers from my personal coach, my daughter. She is wonderful at encouraging me to keep working out, finish that workout, and her encouragement and support are not going unnoticed.  Thank you my precious one – momma loves you.

My personal relationship with God is growing as I learn more each time I read the Bible.  It is the greatest book ever written and I am enjoying re-reading it and learning more each time. 

I’ll be writing more about this year-long happiness journey.  In the meantime, I will continue to finish projects I started a long time ago. I am on R for my baking through the alphabet. I actually made a Raspberry braided sweet-bread but I cannot find the recipe so I’ve chosen another one.  Maybe this weekend I’ll knock some of those recipes off and get closer to Z? 

All in all, cheers to January!! Here’s to a new year, a year of healthy, positive changes.  I have a lot to accomplish. Wish me luck and send me any positive motivation you can – I’ll need it at some point.    

On our way to the playoffs???

It’s too early for me to be saying that, at least out loud.  I am hopeful.  Yes that will mean practices will continue. The long weeks will continue. But so will the excitement.  Excitement.

I get so worked up for these games. So much so, I fail to check battery life of various electronics.  So imagine my disappointment when I pull out the camcorder and press the power button.  Nothing. Black. It was dead. I missed capturing a great game on film. The team was hot. Elliott had four great tackles.  Three interceptions that were run for touchdowns.  Just amazing.  The final score was 54-0.  I was hoping the other team would score at least but our players did not give them a break.  Now you understand my disappointment.  The weather was rainy, then not, then rainy.  So maybe it was okay that the battery was dead and I missed taping it. I can say, the battery will be charged and I’ll be taping this Saturday’s game.  Count on it.  I intentionally left the camera home because I had the camcorder.  Double disappointment.

Elliott and John went home after the game.  Elliott said he had a headache and he was hit a few places that he did not tell us about until he got home. I was working the concession stand but had to answer the cell a few times. Here I am worrying because he has a headache and then he calls and tells me his hand hurts as well as his leg.   What?  Mom is in worry mode now.  His hand got smashed and was bruised. 

Me: When did that happen? Why did you not tell a coach?

Elliott: It was at the end of the game. So I played the last few minutes.

Is you headache better?

Yes.

You can put some ice on the hand? Can you move your fingers okay?

            Yes and I’ll get the ice.  How long?

5-10 minutes then take it off. Call me later. Did you get hit in the head? How’s your headache.

            No. It’s better.

Does it hurt  at all?

            No.

Okay. Call me later. You had a great game.  Eat some dinner. I love you!

I missed two calls.  I had Olivia call him back and ask him about his headache and hand. He said he was fine.  Meanwhile, I worry and want to go home to check on him.

The third game started and I watched Olivia cheer. I also talked with Elliott a few times.  He called to check on the result of the 9-10 year old game and to see what the score of the current game was. Again, I asked my questions and he assured me he was fine.

Olivia and I arrived home about 9:15 p.m. and settled in for the night. Elliott was fine.  No headache. He ate a good dinner. His hand had a small bruise on it.  He was okay. I relaxed. 

It’s not just my child that sends me into a mother-worry-mode.  One of Olivia’s classmates was hurt on the field during the last game. He was in pain with an injured knee.  They carried him off the field on a stretcher.  I wanted to cry for him.  I wanted to comfort him.  We prayed for him on the way home and he has been in my prayers since Saturday’s game.  I don’t think he’ll be playing any more this year.  Olivia will be able to give me an update tonight.  We have tough kids that play and unfortunately, some get hurt.  Football is a tough sport.  I pray we don’t have any other injuries this season.

A week later

Yesterday morning I received a call from the elementary school nurse. I always ask right away what is wrong. Yesterday the call was for Elliott as the “bug” his sister was hit with last Sunday night, hit him. I thought we made it but the phone call proved otherwise. I wanted to rush to get him but because I take a bus to work, it could take a while for me to get home. My employer does provide emergency transportation to those that bus to work, but I opted to call John. He left work and went to pick Elliott up. By that time, he had vomited three times and the nurse had washed and was drying his clothing.


Last night was a long night for me. I was up on the hour and when I heard him move, I was in his room. He slept with the bucket on a chair next to his bed. It was a good night in that he did not vomit any. He had two episodes where he thought he was going to but he did not. He gets upset so I calm him down and had him lay down and he fell back to sleep. His fever did not return either. So he had a good night. I am looking forward to an afternoon nap!

So this morning, Olivia got to sleep in as I would take her to catch the bus at 7:30. I had already started washing bedding. All bedding will be washed today. I’ll also vacuum, dust and mop. Windows will be opened again, even though it is not as warm as yesterday, but the fresh air will be welcomed. It’ll be a busy day for me. But I have gone green and I have the energy from my green to make it through the day. Here is what I have started having for breakfast.

It’s a Green Monster and I was skeptical at first but finally, I made it yesterday for breakfast and I was pleasantly surprised. It has flaxseed, spinach, milk (I use almond), a banana and ice. Yesterday we did not have ice so it was much better today! I am hooked.

Check out all the other varieties of the green monster. I’ll be trying them in the future. Just one more way to go green and be a little healthier!

Hot Workouts

A friend of mine sent me an email the other day about the holidays, baking and working out.

It read:
*** Today's Tip: SQUEEZE IN EXERCISE WHILE YOU COOK! (part 1).
During the holiday season, many of us spend more time in the
kitchen cooking and baking. You can work in some simple exercises
while you are waiting for water to boil, the oven to preheat, etc.
For example, try counter push-ups! Place hands on edge of counter….”

This is good news for us bakers. We have no reason to be out of shape. We can work off the calories prior to eating our delicious goods. Great news!

One batch of cookies, say 5 dozen, bake time 10-11 minutes – you have a good 50 minute workout for the day. And if you do a circuit workout, you burn more calories. Squats, leg lifts, counter push-ups, jumping jacks, ... (as long as you are not making a soufflé).

I’ll have to think more about this. Not sure how I should dress? Work-out clothes under my Christmas apron? Maybe?! After all, I’m in my OWN kitchen.

Just remember, push that hot cookie sheet back on the counter so you don’t burn your fingers!

Moving On

I have been stuck in time – at least here on my blog. Time to move on. Happy New Year!

I hope this year is all that you make it. Resolutions. Did you make any? I made two. I lack the discipline to stick to such things; therefore, I thought if I made only a few, perhaps my chances of accomplishing them would be greater. After all, like you, I want to be successful. They are no different from all the other resolutions people make. My resolutions are: To eat healthier and exercise daily.

Eating healthier. This doesn’t really sound hard but I have two children and a husband that sit down to the table with me every morning and night. Although the children are trying and eating a larger variety of foods, my husband is a “meat and potatoes” guy. So yes, it is a bit of a challenge. The only green food item our children will eat is broccoli and maybe a couple of green beans. That is dependent on their mood, their day, the other food that sits on their plate. Many factors. Factors I face every day. But alas, have no worries, my kitchen is slowly turning into a lab of sorts. I am an avid reader of cookbooks, nutritional books and magazines. I know you have heard about the book that will help you get those nutritionally-packed fruits and vegetables into your children (devious mothers raise your hands) and they won’t taste a thing. Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld. Check it out at your local library or stop by your local bookstore and add it to you own collection. It is a mothers’ guide to cooking and baking with pureed fruits and vegetables. Your opportunity to boost the nutritional value of the meals and goodies you make for your family. I am also working into our diets, a new way of eating. It is called clean eating and basically it is eating fruits, vegetables, low-fat proteins and whole grains without masking their flavors with fatty sauces, butters and every other bad thing we eat without thinking about. If you are interested in eating clean, just google Tosca Reno. Every recipe I have tried is delicious! There has not been one I have not liked. Buy her cookbooks. You will be glad you did and your body with thank you.

Exercise. I have been doing well with this one. I walk during my lunchtime almost every work day. With my employment change last fall, I have access to an indoor track so northeast winters don’t disrupt my lunchtime plans. No excuses. I don’t mind walking in the snow or colder temperatures because I can bundle up. But add wind to those weather conditions and I don’t want to go outside. Now I just walk across the street and into the building to access the track. I am very fortunate. Nice work perk! During the summer, as I work on a university campus, I have many trail options to walk – all beautiful. I take the stairs at work as my office is located on the 4th floor. Up and down. I have also been working out at home at night. Not every night – right now my goal is to workout 3 nights per week. Do-able. After the little ones are tucked in, the kitchen has been cleaned, our items are gathered for tomorrow’s trek out of the house. I dress to sweat. I have some DVD workouts that I love. I actually look forward to working out at the end of my day. Crazy, but if it works, don’t mess with it.

Little changes are easy. Little changes can become habit. Little changes can have great results. That is my ultimate goal – results. Eating healthier, exercising and feeling wonderful.

Slowing Down

We are easing in to autumn. Life is slowing down and I am excited, at least for this weekend. I have nothing that I have to do. Don’t get me wrong, my to-do list is long and I add to it before I cross things off it. However, swim lessons are over for this season. We don’t have to spend hours at the pool on Saturdays any more. The big man has fenced in trees to protect them from foraging deer. He has also arranged the storage sheds and prepared for winter, as it will soon arrive. Winter clothing and accessories have been hauled out of storage and have been placed in dresser drawers and hung in our closets. Kids have new winter boots, hats and mittens. I bought some chunky yarn and when time permits, I sit to knit myself a scarf. Our little man has declared he wants a scarf so when we are out, we’ll stop and he can chose what color(s) he wants his scarf to be and I will crochet him one (crocheting will ensure I finish it quickly).

I have been spending time pouring over my magazines and noting recipes I want to try. I add the needed ingredients to my shopping list and add the recipe to my 2-week menu. Slowly I am making changes to our diet. Slowly, I sneak in the healthier foods and new recipes. Gradual - that is how these changes occur. My attempts to avoid any kitchen riots. It is working! Both of the children seem to be moving out of their “I am not eating that” food stage and have been willing to at least let the new recipe sit on their plates and touch their lips. Inside I jump for joy! They are tasting it, picking through it and eating some of the ingredients. Eventually, I know they will eat what I put before them. In the meantime, I let them separate their food and eat what they will.

Delicious Breakfast

Tired of cold cereal? Do you like oatmeal? Try this recipe! It is delicious, easy to make and very satisfying!

2 cups old-fashioned oats
2 cups low-fat or skim milk
1/2 tsp. best-quality vanilla
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup dried cranberries or other dried fruit
1 large unpeeled firm apple, grated
4 Tbsp. maple syrup

Mix all together. Pour into a greased 3-quart dish. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes.

Yummy!

If you make this the night before, to warm in microwave, add a little milk to each bowl, mix with oatmeal and warm.

Stressed

New job. New routine. New schedule.

It has been a stressful September. I switched jobs. We put my dog down. My routine has been uprooted. I am settling in. I am adjusting. Or am I kidding myself?

Our economy – need I say more? I worked for an automotive manufacturing business. I enjoyed working for this company a little more than 12 years. I met my husband there. I made more friends than I thought possible. Those friends showered me with a bridal shower and two baby showers as well as yearly birthday cakes. Great friends and wonderful memories! The time had come - it was time to leave. Layoffs and down-sizing were common and I wanted to find a job, one that I chose, not one I was forced to take as a result of unemployment. I submitted resumes and interviewed twice. An offer was put on the table and after consideration and discussion at home, I accepted. In doing so, I said farewell to old friends and tried to train co-workers as best I could in two-weeks’ time, while still taking care of my responsibilities.

With a new job, there are changes. I have had to navigate through a campus and catch buses from a parking lot to an office building and turn that around each afternoon. Stressful! I have now opted to catch a bus near home and ride into the city. Our morning routine has changed. We have a shorter and now rushed morning. I drop the kids off at daycare instead of watching them get on the bus at our driveway. I get home later – only 20 minutes or so but that is time away from my family. I am now forced to create my two-week dinner menu and make sure I have all ingredients on my shopping list. (This is a good thing). I make sure I do more at night to prepare for the short mornings.

The new position is going well. I enjoy the people, the work and the environment – an Ivy League University. I am working in a great school and it has good benefits. One benefit, there is a library in the building I work in. Yes, a library or even better, the university’s library system is at my finger tips! (Feel the power.) It has a great selection of cookbooks and nutrition. I have visited twice and have checked books out. A small slice of bliss for me! With the bus ride to and from work, I have time, uninterrupted time (yes, I am selfish) to read. I had hopes to crochet or knit also but it gets rather crowded so I’ll stick to reading for now.

Change is good. It has been good for my stress level as it is now very low. My husband and I are not talking “shop” all the time and that is great for our family. I miss the ability to go see my husband whenever I want but it does make me appreciate our time together even more.

We are all adjusting and we’ll make it work. Time is ironing out the little changes I have been fretting about. Or so I thought…I have come to the conclusion that living with less stress may not be good for me!

Last night I boarded the WRONG bus. I sat down, took my book out and started to read. Then I realized the bus drove straight when the night before the bus veered to the right? Why were we going this way tonight? So I asked the lady sitting next to me, “Is this the T Transit?” Yes, but it was going to towns C&O NOT towns S&W. I would be dropped off one town beyond the town I park to ride. So I called my family and asked them to come rescue me. HaHa (only I was not laughing)! I did not have to wait long before the red chariot with three happy family members in it pulled over to pick me up! And we made the most of it. On the way home, we went to dinner at the new golf course clubhouse. We were the only people there and all they had was the typical fast food – hamburgers and fried stuff but it tasted good as I don’t make fried foods at home. The kids liked looking at the pool table, dart boards and we sat at a high table so they loved the high chair stools. Little joys!

Yep ~ other than that small adventure, it was a regular night. [I hear you laughing! That is good…laughter is good for your mental health – glad I could help].

Before leaving the house this morning, I said to our children, I would make sure I boarded the correct bus! So our Pre-K school boy told me his bus has a cat and a number on it and it matches his tag. Then he asked me, “Does your bus have that?” I had to say no but said maybe it should. Just to help me!

So, how is life treating you?

Liquid Sugar

I am an addict.

We all are to one thing or another. Addict: a person who is a slave or devotee to a habit. I have a habit. I enjoy it alone, with a good book, on a rainy, cold day. Doesn't really matter when or where. I am addicted to hot tea. Maybe it's not the hot tea but the spoonfuls of sugar. I use the tea as the vehicle for the sugar. When I am cold, I love to wrap my hands around the hot mug. It can be hot and I brew a cup of tea. I don't remember when I started drinking hot tea but I know I love it. It has to be hot, dark and then I add the poison - sugar. I drink tea daily. I am not a coffee drinker, although I love the smell of brewing coffee. If it tasted as wonderful as it smells, I'd be addicted to that. I know there are worse addictions and this really isn't bad - or is it?

Google white sugar. Sugar can be detrimental to one's health and here I am, pouring the stuff into my body. I am opening the door, or I should say, I have had the door open a long time. My welcome sign should read: Come on in, health problems. One of my hobbies is baking and cooking. I enjoy making healthy meals for my family. I enjoy teaching my children how to bake and cook. We talk about healthy food and those foods we should eat once in a while. Oh, and let me make another cup of tea. I am killing myself. I try to stop. One year for Lent, I gave up hot tea. I made good on that and the first thing I did after Lent? I filled my tea kettle! Back to the sugar...numerous effects on one's body. Raises insulin levels, depresses your immune system, helps fuel certain diseases, elevates triglyceride levels, makes one gain weight - ok, that is enough for now. Google it if you want to read more.

So, I have to ask myself, "Am I ready to change?" To make that healthy change I have been avoiding for years? I will try and I'll think of my methods over a cup of hot tea....don't worry, I have some herbal teas. I don't add sugar to those. Could that be the answer????

It's tea time again!