Wow....November....

Already???/ Really??? sheesh! where has Twenty-Ten gone? 

I am feeling the need to make a list (big surprise I am sure ;)) of my accomplishments for the year:

• I started running
• I completed 2 races, a fun run & have a 3rd race on the calendar for this Sunday
• I lost 15# (then gained 3 back)
• I inspired a neighbor & another friend to try the c25k program
• I got back into reading
• I participated in 2 girls nights outs
• I quit coffee in the spring, then started again when the weather cooled
• I put up alot of fruits & veggies from the garden & farmer's market for winter
• I have continued to get more positive outlook on everything, being more & more of a duck 'letting it all roll off my back' -even being dubbed (& accepting it) 'Miss Silverlining' :)
• I successfully decorated (& Un-decorated in a timely manner) for each holiday
• I organized & held weekly field trips for the local childcare providers this summer-we hope to expand it w/the Clarke county mom's group in Twenty-Eleven
• I bought myfirst stainless water bottle-a Sigg- & proceeded to beat the tar out of it LOL
• I found & stuck w/a chiro that listens, as well as believes the same things I do
• I learned to sew, can & make freezer jams
• I used facebook for constructive communication rather than whining, complaining & rumor spreading
• I organized & pulled off 2 successful crops
• I am still addicted to list making ;)
• I am boycotting alot of store bought items, mixes, canned goods, high fructose corn syrup, soy, & toxic people/relationships

ok.. done ;)  What does your list for twenty-ten look like?

ITS TUESDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

& YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.....

THAT'S RIGHT.. its time for some confessions...

• 90 pc bucket o saltwater taffy, 2 people, 24 hrs --seriously, what is IN that stuff????
• fried cheese curds--I didn't eat them all in one sitting but I did eat them all
• walkin' taco w/everything- I only ate half of it
• shake up lemonade-- yikes sugar overload
• 4 words to explain the above --Iowa.State.Fair.Food.
• feeling sorry for myself yday skipped my run
• miserably emotional Saturday morning I walked the last 1/2 of my run
• but I chewed myself out Jillian style all the way home!
• garden tomato & basil potato chips-WHAAAAAT? where did those come from?? ugh

That's the best I can do this week. not too bad, nothing overly done, just a few splurges. :)

what do you have to confess this week???

4 Simple Goals

inspired by Elsie, Elise & Kal I am setting 4 simple goals to accomplish the rest of the year.  My favorite part is that they are not to be do not choose result oriented goals, choose activity oriented goals. for example.... instead of "lose 10 pounds", choose something like "eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day". get what i'm saying? positive actions instead of just the end result! -quote from Elsie.  Some times I struggle w/an end result not being what I 'thought' it would so I have lots of partially finished projects laying around.

Ok on to my list:

1. Keep Running! I wasn't seeing anything before today (other than a few pounds every few weeks less on the scale which I am NOT complaining about). BUT TODAY.We took off on a walk to the Elementary School to tour & get the kids acquainted w/their classroom location. This is something I always try todo for them as I remember being the puking ball of nerves this last 2 weeks of Summer wondering where I was going, would I get lost, would I look like a fool, would anyone help me, etc. sorry OFF track....  so we are walking along & there are a couple of slow pokes hanging back so I send the helper w/the stroller up w/the speedier bunch & I hang back...  then the pokeys challenged me to a race to catch up.. I took them up on it & you should have seen their faces LOL so fun!  I was able to jog the whole block w/them & not get winded. GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WAS SO EXCITED *I* challenged some to a similar race on the way back - anything to get home to the a/c  faster ;)  again- not winded : ) I felt GOOD doing it.. I thought I'd be sore from running 3 nights in a row but I wasn't YAY.... oops again. OFF track... sorry
2. Lasagna Garden.  get started prepping the back yard in the areas we plan to have our garden next year.  I just printed that article for Tim to read so maybe he'll get it b/c so far he thinks I am fruity ;)
3. Keep Scrapping.  Seeems I have taken a break from it most of the summer & was giddy to find I 'hadn't lost anything' when I pulled 2004 4th of July photos frommy stash, packed up all of my red, white & blue, patriotic as well as family oriented goods & headed toa crop 2 weeks ago & was able to scrap the entire 11 pages from that celebration between 9am & 5pm! seeeeeee giddy!!! :)
4. Get Simpler. I am falling hard & fast for the simple side of life lately.  Sewing, gardening, canning, freezing, composting, rain barrel-ing, running, eating fresh whole foods, buying organic, local, fresh products.  a few things I have experimented w/& the rest I plan to soon!

if you follow suit PLEASE link back here!!!  its so easy! :)

woops!

its been a busy week but nothing really to write about .. summer is closing up & I am having mixed emotions!! I am not ready to be done w/all of our outside activities, I don't feel we got enough in, went to enough parks, or had enough picnics :( we may just have to schedule more than one activity each week for the next 2. :)  today is our last official field trip friday event... the vet clinic!! yay!! then we are going to a little city park that's reallly nice & almost new -my only complaint is no potties :( boo! 8 kids & no potties..not cool numbers!

personally, I have a ton to report!!! 

I am in full on ScrapPink organization mode!! whohoooooooooo  registrations are out & coming back in YIKES!  I need to get on some prize donations now!!  The Tshirt guy is working on a print for us-love having original shirts for our events!!

I have created a team & registered for my Second 5k in October! YIKES!! Come join my team & if you can't, please donate to the cause :) (My team will have both walkers & runners on it) I walked it last year & it is a very cool experience. I was humbled by being passed by running cancer survivors when I was walking w/no excuse other than being lazy & unfit to run. This year I am running!

I have located, printed & shared today the registration for my First 5k for September! AHHHHHHHHH now to send it in so I can't chicken out! :)  I am hoping to ease my mind a bit by going over & running the course b4 the race.. is that cheating or being prepared? maybe I should find out first! eeek.

I am back in QRS prep! I think all I need to do is find some quiet time HA & go thru my paperwork. I better get on it.. it takes a while to get our stipend back & that's what I plan to use for Christmas shopping money.

I did w6d1 of the c25k program Wednesday night & will do d2 over the weekend.  I think it might be contagious as Tim did w1d1 then w2d1 unintentionally.. somehow he didn't know how to run my mp3 player & did both of them back to back LOL the goof!  I was involved in my dvr'd shows so I didn't notice he was running longer than he should have. 

Yup.. personally, I have been & plan to be B.U.S.Y.  I guess maybe, I have taken this summer for childcare kind of slow to make up for the busy mind & evenings?   Right now its time for breakfast & picnic prep!! Have a great day & weekend everyone!!!

true confessions tuesday

Good Morning all!!  Yes I said Good morning! I feel Fantastic today! YAY!!!  Its True Confessions Day & I am going to take a good, bad, ugly approach this week..

Good:

• Friday night:  I only ate 1/2 my movie theater small popcorn
• AND I only drank 1/2 of my medium fountain mountain dew @ the same movie
• Then for drinks I only had one vodka/cranberry then a bud light draw
• Saturday: I kept my snacking to the healthy variety-veggies & gardettos
• Sunday: I did my w5d2 on the treadmill

Bad:

• Friday: I had popcorn, mountain dew, a vodka/cranberry & bud light draw
• Saturday: I only had a mccafe(iced caramel coffee) for breakfast
•  a slice of Casey's breakfast pizza for am snack
• I snacked all day
• then had Casey's bbq pizza & apple dessert pizza for supper
• And I only had 64 oz of water for the whole day
• I am still only walking the dogs on my non-running days

Ugly:

• Friday: I skipped w5d2 & napped b4 supper instead
• Saturday: I skipped w5d2 & napped most of the evening instead
• Sunday: I only had 32oz of water all day
• I didn't eat anything that would resemble a meal all day

What do you have to confess this week? good bad or ugly! lemme have it, you will feel so much better :)

A girl's weekend & my mouth

sorta. :)  Friday night was a group of us going to see Eclipse @ our local lil theater. SO FUN!!! Great Movie! cannot wait for Nov' 11 for Breaking Dawn to start!! :)  I haven't done a girls' movie night. EVER. definately something we agreed, we want to do more often!! After the movie we hit 2 bars.. coulda done w/o that part but it was still time w/the girls.

Saturday was an all day crop! I was afraid I'd not get my groove back after a 3 month hiatus but OH MAMA!! I pumped out all 11 pages of our 2004 4th of July!!! All between 10 & 5! GET OUT! I had to leave an hour early b/c I was out of pictures. That NEVER happens to me! lol  I had a great time catching up w/Steph, we haven't hungout since the PTCO crop in March & visiting w/some other girls I've not had the chance to get to know. we got a terrific binder & I won 3 door prizes!!! Over all, it was a GREAT TIME!!!

Sunday I was lazy! L.A.Z.Y. I hadn't eaten anything worthy in a couple of days & my energy level was an all time low. I didn't even care!!! I watched Burn Notice on the dvr :) then napped, then we watched The Bounty Hunter after Tim mowed the Ayers Property. GREAT MOVIE! I laughed so hard!!  OH & we watched the Christopher Titus stand up routine 'love is evol' Saturday night LOOOOVED IT!! but I loved his sitcom shows too.

on a good note- I did make myself get on the treadmill last night to get c25k w5d2 done! I was so close to blowing it off, putting it off until tonight, then doing day 3 on Wed, but that would put my 'training' off of my original schedule & I just hated that thought.  I am already fearful of not making the whole 5k in running/jogging mode, and having to walk the majority is so not in my 'plan'.  I have gotten so many others talked into joining me, that now I feel I have to be at my best (for the time) since they will be there. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut & done the first one alone. hmmm a lil late now.  Tho I am pretty sure I know how.  The Keeping my mouth shut part.  When I get excited about something -scrapping, running, c25k, sisterhood, drinking water, child development studies, camping, boating, canning, eating whole foods, bulk shopping, etsy, farmer's markets, etc- I share all that I know to anyone who will listen. :)

OH, speaking of the sisterhood, there is a new challenge going on!!  Down & Dirty in 30!!  This is my first team challenge @ the 'hood & I have to admit I am more than a bit intimidated! Plus, I heard the word SHRED *gulp* I am not sure I am ready to shred while doing the c25k program. I might have to bow out of the shred & do my 10 minute target sessions from  netflix to keep from killing myself in the next 30 days, yet not let my team down.

so there you have my past weekend & plans for the week.. its now taken me 3 times of sitting to get it all typed up .. ah Monday!  some are cranky, some are tired & some are just unhappy about the rain that's coming down out side preventing us from BEING out there. time to get the play dough out!! :)   I think I'll bake some banana muffins too.  Hope you have a GREAT week!!!

couch to 5k program

this program is AMAZING! *I* was not a runner. *I* hated cardio. *I* hated running & sweating & almost all things that made be breathe hard-get yer mind out the gutter, you know what I mean ;). but here I am to tell you that ANYONE can do this program!!! it is beyond words DO-ABLE!  highly recommending it to all my friends & even people who aren't ;) pretty much anyone who will listen is getting the spiel!! if YOU are even thinking about getting in shape, taking time for yourself, or wanting to learn how to run distance, THIS IS THE PROGRAM FOR YOU!!! 

I don't even remember why I started it, I just know I am on week 5 this week & LOOOOOOOOOOVING IT!!!  I am even planning to run 2 5ks this fall! ai yi yi! ME, the non runner, non cardio, lazy girl. I KNOW! how crazy is this crap?! eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I am giddy w/the knowledge & confidence that I CAN DO IT! :) *contented sigh*

Week 5?! what?! seriously!? I have run 3 days a week for 4 consecutive weeks? GET THE HECK OUT!!  i CANNOT BELIEVE IT! I am only gaining momentum as each week passes! definately loving THAT!

I am also learning how to eat to run.  For a former anorexic, learning how to eat is a daily lesson in life.  Funny how I can do great meals for the kids & others around me but feed myself crap & crumbs.  Learning how to feed the runner I have become is definately a lesson in loving myself, & yes, I am finally learning to love myself. I think learning to run was my first step.  It was a great one! so glad I tried it. I would never be here had it not been for the Sisterhood!!!

okie dokie.. now that this got way deeper than I had planned BUT good for the soul, I need to get on some breakfast for us all as we are headed to a park today for a morning full of play & a picnic lunch YAY!!!!!!!!  HAVE A FANTASTIC THURSDAY!

Happy Hump Day!!!

YAY WEDNESDAY!!!!!!

the past 2 days have been light kid days! Monday meant I got some extra laundry & cleaning done while they played or napped.  Tuesday meant I was able to work on editing all crop forms over from the spring PTCO crop to the fall Scrap Pink crop! & to be sure that no one is wondering what I did w/the kids during all of this time, they did eat their regularly scheduled meals & snacks, played w/play dough, danced to 3 music cds, & did yoga! :)   today I will have about 8 kids & a helper so hopefully the weather will stay dry so we can WALK!!! PLEAAAAAAAAAAAAASE let it stay dry for this morning at least!! tomorrow we are hoping to visit the county fair grounds & then field trip Friday is to the animal shelter!  our summer is definitely busy!

Yesterday I went the farmer's market & spent the most I have spent this year.  I spent $17. I got a pound of roma tomatoes & 3 big ones, a green pepper, a dozen ears of peaches & cream, a splurge of a plate of snickerdoodle cookies & 2 really long skinny burp less cucumbers.  it sure didn't feel like much but those tomatoes really add up :)

the running & eating right combined to the water consistency intake has been good to me!! I am finally seeing a drop on weigh in day (usually my drop is over the weekend then Monday morning I gain it all back & it stays thru the week). I am giddy that I am down 10 since April 1!!  tonight is running night & I actually look fwd to it!

WOW it took a while to get this weekend figured out!! our normal lake is 1 foot under emergency flood level so we  checked into a different lake, going online we finally figured out that they only had one reservable campsite left near a boat ramp. SOOOO after a semi-conference call(I called Lauren who was in the same room as Hupp who was on the phone w/Nick)  & decided to go back to ole reliable & if we can boat -great- & if not we will find other ways to amuse ourselves :) trails, playgrounds, water park, water play on closed boat ramps, shopping, sounds pretty relaxing to me!!! Now we just need to get thru the week!!! OH & find some dry firewood to take LOL

back in the scrap room last night! WOW that felt good!! I even thought about finishing the project from April that's been laying unfinished. but I was too busy settling the weekend plans  to focus.  Maybe tonight after running, supper, & loading wood.

a late one.

What a busy day! We got to go see Toy Story 3 @ the local theater @ a special viewing. Great movie!! I can't wait to get it so I can see the end b/c I as in the bathroom w/8 kids that swore they 'couldn't hold it any longer' so actually, none of them know how it ends LOL  Then we went home to run in teh sprinkler while I prepped a fun lunch.  A wonderful busy day! Then 3 left early!!!  I had an interview for a family to start this fall that I will have to think about.  Oh yea & we had a 118 heat index too. hoping some of these storms roll thru tonight & cool us off! we will need outside time tomorrow!! :)

For supper we enjoyed some Iowa grown Peaches & Cream sweet corn from the local Farmer's Market. YUMMMM w/homemade mac n cheese & cheesy hotdogs. not entirely healthy but quick & yummy.  Then I had a chiro appt. WOW! I mentioned I was running & that I thought I was throwing a leg out & sure enough, that hip was out, also the same foot the PF was threatening again! hmmmm connection?? my back was out in 3 places & my neck was also out both directions!! EEK!!!

Then I cam home & I did my w3d1 work out on the treadmill in the a/c due to that heat index.  I am so proud to report that I DID IT!!! I DID THE WHOLE THING!! I AM NOT A RUNNER BUT I LOVED IT!!!  w3= 5 minute warm up walk followed by 90 sec run, 90 sec walk, 3MIN run, 3 min walk, repeat then follow w/a 5 min cool down walk. I managed 1.35 mile in 25 minutes.

After cooling down from that Gus wasn't settling so I took him for a short walk to the garden &  back. Sam layed on the guilt trip waiting on us on his chain when we got back so I dropped Gus off, took Sam.  I intended to just walk our normal .5 mile route but sprinted from home to the corner (1/2 block) then walked a bit, then did antother short sprint, then walked a ways, & another short sprint, & walked the last of it home.  I can't believe *I* am sprinting! *I* am not a runner! :) Guess what?! I think I am!!

I am pretty confident we will all sleep well tonight, hoping for all night long!!!  I think I need to find some protein snacks to follow up my work outs w/.  Any suggestions??
Thanks for reading!

True Confessions Tuesday

oh boy.. here we go...

1. yes I am doing the c25k program & getting ready to start week3 but wow!!!
2. I must be doing something wrong b/c its still HARD!!!
3. I am easily frustrated w/my scale & body
4. Saturday was down 3# from Wed.
5. Sunday down another
6. Monday & tuesday right back up those whole 4! DAMNIT!
7. and I didn't change a thing but maybe ate better Sunday & Monday than Friday & Saturday
8. I am only consistantly getting .5mile walk in on the down days from C25K program
9. I know I need more activity on those down days
10. I know I want more results in the long run
11. I know I just need to make myself do it!
12. I am not much of a self starter I guess

busy weekend recap

the easiest for me to type & you to read will be a list so here we go:

• bible school program for neice & 2 nephews-ADORABLE
• Farmer's Market goods-LOVE!
• Shopping in Des Moines-Productive!
• Free lunch out -YAY!!!
• week2day2 of c25k-DONE!
• new gear to wear on run-YAY!
• watching the scale drop over the weekend-WONDERFUL
• seeing it back up today-BOO!
• visiting loved camp attendant while he was visiting the lake-AWESOME
• crying while visiting (he lost his wife in May)- miserable
• watching movies over the weekend-RELAXING!!
• not a photo taken! GET OUT!!

back to work! Have a great day!!!

ahhhhh a weekend!!!!!

today we are off to an all morning field trip YAY!!!!!!! East Lake Park -day2- Sun Safety training. then park play & picnic!! whohoooooooooooo!!! then home to nap time :) 

tonight I am going to nephews & neice's bible school program
tomorrow we are going to hit the Osceola farmer's Market then to DM to get Sam-man a bigger kennel & window shop @ a running store :) then back to hometown to grocery shop & I will get my w2d2 run in  sometime-probably evening.
Sunday we are planning on working on the front or side flower bed & maybe some fishing.

I just realized I never posted any 4th of July pics this week.. my bad.. maybe this afternoon or over the weekend..

I DID IT!!!!!!!

I DID IT I DID IT I DID IT!!! I DID week 2 day 1 of the couch to 5k program w/o puking or dying :) 

I was terrified of it & even considered doing week 1 again just to 'be sure I was ready to move on' b4 I took the chance of failing. but Brook (thank you!!!) talked me into just going ahead & 'not looking back'.  I am feeling slow, awkward & uncoordinated but I think I should pull out of that w/some more practice! needing some core exercises to do tonight I think. Maybe some gardening ;)

I joined The Daily Mile to have some place else to be accountable to. I was happy to see a lot of the sisters there from the 'hood! Great motivation!! 

for my Thankful Thursday thoughts I am thankful for the support & motivation of the girls @ the hood in getting me moving!!! thanks ladies!!! I really couldn't have done it w/o you!!!

We are discussing skipping the lake this weekend. The Sam-Man  is needing a bigger kennel & I am itching to get inside a real running store so I think that will be our Saturday plans. I have a wish list I'd like to set up as rewards for different levels of training I achieve between now & September.

For now we are headed out the door to the Library story hour!  Have a Great Thankful Thursday!!!

busy couple of days.

I love busy days! they really make me appreciate the quiet ones :) 

yesterday for child care we:

• went to story hour @ the library
• painted red & blue on coloring pages of the american flag-original I know!
• went for a mile walk
• made & ate applesauce oatmeal muffins
• played outside
• ate 3 pop ice a piece!! if anyone knows how to easily make these @home PLEASE let me know!

after work I:

• took the dogs on their .5 miler
• did week 1 day 2 of the c25k program
• found -THANKS JO!- & put on my mp3 player, the podcast that tells me when to switch pace so I can take it outside!
• cleaned the upstairs kitchen
• did laundry-4 loads
• started thinking about the pasta salads I will make for family dinners this weekend
• finished decorating for the 4th --hmmm nice & last minute :)

Today for childcare we:

• went to a mini carnival a provider had in her yard for us-FUN
• sent a sickie home w/a fever :(
• had leftovers/crazy lunch
• picked up the toyroom
• will be closed @ 4 today-- unplanned-who doesn't like an unplanned early day out???

2 parties, 2 family dinners, a parade, a house to pick up, & 2 yards to mow. looks like it might be a busy weekend too :)  This is my favorite holiday! How do you plan to spend your 4th of July weekend?

a blessed weekend to you & yours from me & mine!

HUMP DAY!!!!!!!!!

one day closer to the 4th of July!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!  my favorite holiday!! food, family & friends WHOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO I AM READY!!!  Just want to pull out a few more decorations today or tonight & we will be set :)

sooooooo in whining about my lack of motivation, I was pointed to the couch to 5k program (thanks Mendie) & have heard TONS Of positives about it.. so decided (w/some gentle prodding from BROOKE) to just do it. no need to freak out (she says) HA.  well, guess what?! THEY BOTH ROCK!!! b/c I survived it & didn't puke (or even wanna!)WHOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO here's the proof Mendie-style :)

looooooooovely :)) hahahaha but oh so proud!!!

and then... We tended the garden & took the dogs on their .5miler (which totaled 3 miles for me for the day counting the c25k) we all should have slept like babies but unfortunately we were up 3x thru the night BOO! but we are all up & running this morning!

What's keeping you from achieving your goals?