Slideshow of my summer for the first day of school

This photo album personalized with Smilebox

I make a slideshow for my students to see on the first day of school. It is so that they get to know me and my family.
Reflecting back my summer was filled with lots of learning. There is nothing wrong with it, but I think I took over 8 semester units of coursework, which is more than I have ever taken in 8 weeks! It was more stressful than summers past and because of all the stress at the end I have gained back 6 pounds. It makes me want to cry, but I will not. I will move forward and focus on that.
To make myself motivated I cleaned out my closet last night and put out any clothes that were too big for me. I am still a size 10 and I plan to stay there.  I  have to reset my goals, plan and carry out my plan. I just have been so tired and I have been sleeping in trying to catch up on the sleep I did not get this summer. With school starting for me it brings routine which I desperately need right now.  It will be tough, but better for me to stay on track.
I am back at the daily renewal to the committment of my goals.  I have to do this for myself. I need to get back to sleeping more, moving more and eating well.  I need to work smarter and remind myself that these small setbacks are just that, right? It is such a struggle to stay in balance and to stay on track with all that I do it is so hard to track my food, water and exercise, but I know writing everything down works for me. It brings that level of awareness up for me so that I don't go for that second helping or accept that bottle of beer or take more than two bites of that dessert. 
So do what you must to make it happen for you-
KEEP IT UP!
YOU CAN DO IT!
NEVER GIVE UP!
Always on the move- MER

Ahhhh - the Weekend

What do you have on your plate for this weekend? Wait - oh - wait - not your plate of food, but plate of fun, work, things to do - that kind of plate (giggle, giggle).

Ok - before I talk about my weekend - just have some at the top of my head thoughts about how things have been going for me. It has been sort of a weird start to the school year for me and my son. Last year I was dealing with 30 Scouts, leading all of them as a group, then doing a smaller group at my house once a week, I was on the board for my Parents Group and let me see, what else?? Things this year have totally changed. The Parents group fell apart - lack of support from the other 70 members. I now have other leaders doing meetings for the Scouts, other parents are stepping up to help with duties, and I don't feel overwhelmed. My son normally does soccer in the Fall, but one thing led to another and well let's just say it never happened. We won't do soccer until November now, and it might be fun because it is a indoor soccer leaque. So, in a nutshell - things have been nice since the beginning of school. We have not had to been here, go there, or be on the run after I got off of work. (I better be careful what I wish for - it can all change in a the drop of a hat).

The true treat has been doing my neighborhood walks with my little sis. She has been coming over and we walk around the neighborhood. My son is loving it!!! He gets to hop on his bike and ride ahead of us from time to time. I am not only getting a good workout out, but getting chit chat time with my sis and my son is out of the house away from TV, electronics and he is getting to spend time with me.

Well, this week took a bit of a twist. My sis has been busy with visiting family, so we only got in one walk so far (we are hoping to do one tonight), my son came down with a huge allergy attack that has had him miserable for the last three days and well, it has just been a wierd kind of in a funk week. See - I told you, things change at the drop of hat.

It just made me realize how truly blessed I am. How I have come so far!!! It might only be IS about 40 pounds, but what a great accomplishment. I am feeling good, want to keep going so I can continue to look good, have more energy, to keep up with my son as he continues to have tons of energy....just so much to be grateful for!!!!

The good part - the WEEKEND IS UPON US. My mommy duties are on hold until Sunday night. I want to do so much. I want to get in a workout, go get my nails done (and eyebrows too), want to pick up some cubby bookshelf things to add to my son's room, want to clean the house, get in another workout, going to a  a family function on Saturday night, read a book, enjoy a nice end of summer evening on my front porch, do the weeding in the front year, get in another workout.....the list goes on and on and on...

.....but, all this week I have been wishing for a date. Not that I really know anyone that would ask me out or that I am too sure of myself to ask someone out, but have you ever had that need to go out - out on a date that is? Maybe with a good girlfriend, but more so with your husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend (significant other)? A night to try a new restaurant, go to a comedy show, take a nice evening walk holding hands? What about finding a nice art gallery on a Sunday afternoon, then sipping ice tea at a local cafe and watching people come and go (oh, I love to people watch)....Or what about going dancing - DJ music or a good old fashion local band? Take in a movie that you really want to see, then talk about it afterwards while enjoying a nice summer sunset? Yep - that is a wish I had for this weekend. Oh, well, another time, another weekend ---- just wanted to share with you what has been on my mind.

I am looking forward to a very productive, fulfilling, socializing kind of weekend!!! Oh - and I am down 2 more pounds!!! Promise myself to not let it all come back!! What do you have planned? What did you do (if you are reading this on Monday)?

Staying MOtivated MO

Summer Vacations Ends- A New Beginning

It is  a bittersweet week for me. My summer vacation officially ends and I report back to work on Wednesday morning.  I have had a heck of a busy summer. I took 11 semester units of course work. More than I have ever taken in 8 weeks! I was only required to do 6 units, but I have always been an over achiever. 
On top of that I have been spending time with my fast growing kids. I became a teacher so that I could spend my time with my kids during holidays and summers. This summer was no different. We went to Happy Hollow every week that I could manage a 2-3 hour window. We went to Great America 3 times so that I could hang out in the Wave Pool all afternoon with my 5 year old. We had pajama mornings where we watched TV and hung out together.  Just being a "stay at home summer mom" will be something that my kids will remember where my goal was to enjoy my children during their childhood. 
We ended our summer with a visit to Blue Oak Knoll Ranch owned my dear friends. My daughter spent a week on their 10 acre ranch horseback riding, running wild, feeding baby goats, and having hours of free time to read and write.  And she did it technology free.  It was awesome for her to do that.  We got to spend a few days with them as well and it was so easy to just relax and watch the meteor shower in the night. Magical to spend time up with good friends, big sky and open land.  Nothing feels quiet freer than that!
Now both my kids are starting new adventures at new schools. My 14 year old is starting High School! She is at a school nearby and she will be the new kid since all of her friends are going to other schools.  She is outgoing and friendly so I know she will adjust and make new friends in no time. My 5 year old is starting at the neighborhood school. I registered him today.  He is excited to be going to school with his friends across the street and I am too. I am hoping to meet some parents in the neighborhood.  This opens up two new communities that we will be involved with. 
I am renewing my goals to be healthy and strong. I got lax with my eating habits, but now it is time to get back on it.  I know what I have to do. The six fist-sized meals is what works for me.  A protein and a carb with two meals with servings of vegetables and fruit. I like that I get one free day to eat what I want. That is the day that I can have a glass of wine or beer and dessert. 
I have the exercise habit down and exercise about 4-5 days a week with or without my bootcamp.  My bootcamp instructor did decide to stop, but the bootcamp ladies have decided to keep meeting on our own.  The only thing that may stop us is the strange men that show up around the park. Last Friday while walking a man in a truck slowed down, stopped and got out of his truck while we walked by. We crossed the street and stayed in the neighborhood. He made us feel uncomfortable.  Then, Monday while I was gone a few other ladies showed up to workout together and a half naked man was running through the park.  Both incidences were reported to the police, but we are all concerned and are actively looking for an indoor place to workout so we can feel safe.  I will not let this stop me even if it means that I jump rope in my courtyard or run around my block. I will find a way to exercise. I have asked to buy a bike trainer so that I can get some more intense cardio in since the running is proving to be hard on my body.  I am going to do this no matter what even if it takes me another year to lose the 25 pounds I will not quit until I get there!
So the new school year starts with a lot of personal adventures and work I am sure will have a few of its own. It always does, but that is the beauty of working with children and teachers. You never know what the learning will be like until you work with them and get know what makes them tick.  All I can say is I am looking forward to it.
Bring it on!
Let me at it!
Head on into the new school year!
Welcome 2011-2012!
I am ready for you!
Always on the move- MER

Just a Quiet Monday

Quiet Monday - not much to say (or write for that matter). I had a very productive and fun weekend. Friday night was a local Baseball game with the family. My son was given the opportunity to throw out one of the first pitches that night. He did an excellent job!!!! Right over the plate!!! I had most of my family with me, we had a good view of the game, it was Scout night and I saw tons of people I know - could not have asked for a better evening. And yes, I did enjoy a nice few bites of those Chili Cheese Fries with my son, but I did not have more then a few bites, and most times on the way home from an evening out I will munch when I get home - not this time. Overall a very successful, enjoyable evening. 

I am on track with my 28 days (14 + 14 = 28 for my number 14 August month). So far I have only taken one day off - Friday was just too busy, as well as waking up 60 minutes after my alarm went off. My sister and I have been walking in the afternoons. I am so glad, too. I was loving my morning walks with the neighbors, so having my little sis come over has been grand!!! We put in a long long walk on Saturday - almost 1.5 hours. Sunday I did yard work and I thought it was more then 2 hours, but it turned out to only be 1.5 hours - I think it felt longer because I decided to do it at 3 pm - the heat of the day...but I did get that front hedge trimmed, raked up the mess and did a full garbage can of trash. Tonight it might be the weeding and tackling the front rock area - if not, then a walk with Aman riding next to me - he is loving the walks because he gets to bike ride with me.

I did more cleaning of the mess of the spare bedroom - that Day Camp cleanup is never ending - The Elliptical just needs to be dusted off and I can get back to it. Have decided to keep it in the spare bedroom rather then move it by the TV - so going to have to find some good old fashion rockin music to keep me on it for a good workout. Can't wait to add that to my many other workout options!! Sometimes working out at home is much better then the gym - just make sure you use all that you have available to you!!

I did some balance ball crunches the other day. In the course of a varied 45 minutes workout I think I put in about 100 of those crunches. My middle hurt a bit for a few days, but that is no reason to not try it again - the pain is good for the soul and the body!!!!

Hope that you have a spectacular week!!! My goal by Sunday - giving away too big to even think about wearing again clothes pile.


Staying MOtivated MO

OH - and thanks to all that have been reading. We have hit over 5,000 views!!!!!!

A Successful Back of the Closet Moment!!

Have you ever had one of those days where you just don't know what you are going to wear? The day that you need to open up the closet, or pull open that drawer and find just the right pair of slacks, or the perfect button down shirt, pull out the iron and make it look all nice and such? Kind of like going out on a date with your loved one or a I-am-going-to-get-that-job-today interview kind of outfit. You know - the one outfit that you really take the time to put together? Today was such that kind of day for me, but it wasn't for a date. I was going to a funeral and I was bound and determined not to wear all black. A few years ago a good good friend of my Mom's - we called her Aunt - passed away and I was reminded that as much as a funeral is sad, that she wanted us to come in our reds, purples, pinks and blues to let her know that she was a color of sunshine! I decided that I was not going to go so dramatic with the color today and didn't want to go too fancy, but would find something suitable.

I pulled on my black pants and looked in the closet for a top that was not going to cause me to sweat too much and was going to fit in a good way. I was searching high and low, even had a moment where I was going to put on a dress, but no, I am not so sure I wanted to deal with the panty hose (my legs are very white - have to have those hose). I thought I had an outfit, but nope, it just looked too much like all black to me. I kept searching. I figured I am down a few sizes, why not search into the very back of that closet and see what I can find.  Oh, the pant suit with the blue - darn it, where are the pants to go with those - not here, where did they go - did I get rid of them? Keep looking....what about that black and white checkered kind of jacket pant suit outfit - no wait - you can't wear that - it has long sleeves - you are going to be hot hot hot - and look, there is no way you are going to fit into that anymore - two sizes too big - put it down. (AND don't forget to put it into the "give away" pile this weekend). Keep looking. What about this tan /brown top - it might work - but it is always so small in the bust - will it fit - does it look nice with the black pants? Search, Search, Search - not that, not this - oh, what to wear, what to wear??

Then - low and behold - there is a pair of brown pants. Hey, where did these come from and will they look nice with the tan top? Oh My Goodness - look at this - do these pants really still have the tags on them? What the heck? ........Have you ever been one that would go shopping, try on something new and totally convince yourself and say "I am losing weight, these pants are just about right, and look at the price, I am going to buy them and I will be able to wear them in less then a month." Yep - been there!!! ......The sad part is those pants must have been purchased more then 4 years ago, because well, I just have a funny feeling. Let's see - do they fit? YEP - Success!!! How about with the shirt? YEP - Success!!!! Now the shoes...oh, oh, oh - in the back of my closet are those brown heels. I could pull those off, right? Will they hurt?



The famous Imelda closet of shoes...just a few you know...

Just as a side note - I had to have styling shoes. This funeral I was attending was for the father of a good friend of my sisters. This friend has always had the best shoes. She has high heels, low heels, knockout shoes. Years ago I called her Imelda - for Imelda Marcos, the wife of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos - her extravagant spending and owning more then 2,700 pair of shoes    This friend would come home from those once a year weekend shopping trips and have several boxes of new shoes. I love giving her a hard time about it, but she loves her shoes. So, I had to have the right shoes - LOL

But, I am so getting off topic. Back to my outfit. It all worked. A new never been worn more then 4 years old pair of pants - walla!!! A stuffed in the back of the closet not worn in over (oh, let's not count the years) shirt - walla!! And a pair of heels (which by the way I have not worn in a very long time - my weight was always way too much for heels). Here is the product of my search:


More of a side view pic and this is minus the iron to the shirt, the my done up hair and the makeup

My sister said I looked great. Her friend said she barely recognized me. We had to walk a bit of ways from the chapel to the burial, but I didn't sweat, I was confident and the shoes didn't even hurt my feet after an hour of standing. I am so loving this losing weight system I got going on - woo hoo!!!!

What do you have in the back of your closet that you haven't put on in years?

You might be surprised what you find.

Staying MOtivated MO

Every Woman Should Know...

Sort of had a bad night - got an email I didn't want to get and will only say THIS - that I actually did have  a "match" from the speed dating, and well after one 45 minute phone call he believes we are just not "compatible". I won't lie - it sort of hurt.

I almost went to the refrigerator to eat away the pain. Go figure. Bedtime with Aman included Mad Libs. Do you remember those things? They give you a story with many blanks, you have to fill in words to finish it off - a Noun, Verb, Adjective, depending on what needs to be used for that missing space. We then had a good time laughing at how funny the story was with our own creative words. I realized that it was good practice for both him and I in our grammatical twists. We then had our nightly tickle fight. It sort of got me out of my funk. I feel asleep for about 20 minutes with Aman and upon crawling out of his bed instead of returning to the computer, the TV or the refrigerator I went to bed. I got in a full 7 hours of sleep - WOW !! Awoke this morning and did a good 42 minute workout - plus some (August is the number 14 - three times 14 = 42 - LOL)....then as I was reaching for my tall glass of water I saw on the refrigerator this little poem thing I have and I won't say that I needed to read it, but I am glad that I did.
There are other fish in the sea and this will not deter me!!!

I would like to share it with you today - oh, and sorry guys - more for the woman today, but you can share with friend or special significant other.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to live alone...even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

whom she can trust,

whom she can't,

and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go...

be it to her best friend's kitchen table...

or a charming inn in the woods...

when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she can and can't accomplish in a day...a month...and a year...

Enjoy your day - may it be spectacular!!!!!

Staying MOtivated MO

14 is a Magical Number

When you were little do you remember watching Sesame Street? Maybe you have a little one at home that has you seeing those fussy puppet characters all over again. I remember. It it a good memory - Oscar the Grouch, the Corner Store, Big Bird, Burt & Ernie (too cute), the Letter of the Day, and the Number of the Day. The one character I was not very fond of was THE COUNT. I don't know if it was the laugh or the fact that sometimes his segments went on and on. I mean, it was cute, but then you had the HAA HAA HAA in your head for the rest of the day because he finally reached the magical number of the day.

 Well, that same scenario came into my head today. My magic "Count" Number for August is going to be 14!!

I jumped on the scale this morning. I wanted to do it yesterday, it being the 1st of the month, but the first day of school kept me on my toes, so I didn't have time to "officially" weigh myself. This morning's number was not the greatest. However, I can honestly say that my month of  June and July turned into more of a maintenance kind of summer for me. I am officially up 2 pounds since the end of May. I am at 239 - according to my handy dandy scale. That number got me to thinking more about my August goals. It is really important to have goals each month as you are working on losing weight and I do believe you need to do the same with maintenance. Not only goals in weight loss, but goals in life, too!!

I saw that number and proceeded to think about it during my morning workout. What is that number? Where do I want to be by the end of August? What do I need to do this month in regards to my lifestyle changes? Where do I want to be in the next few months?

Why the Number 14? Many reasons, but my Mom and my God-Daughter came to mind. My mother passed away 14 years ago this July. 14 years ago this last Saturday I was then blessed with the most wonderful God-Daughter. The passing and the birth were just about 1 week apart. That little girl came into my life (and Mer's) just a few weeks early, and if I remember correctly she was close to a month early (I am sure Mer can help me out with this calculation). As sad as it was to see my Mom pass away at a very young age of 60 with Alzheimers, I do believe that she wanted to make sure I had a happy memory with her passing. Both have names that get shortened all the time, like a nickname. Less then 9 months later Mer was at my father's funeral when my Uncle got all weepy because he found out that his older sister (my Mom) shares the same nickname as Mer's little one. Mer then came to me and wanted to make sure that it didn't make for a sad memory for me. It is totally opposite of that. I love that I get so much joy out of having my god-daughter share such a special name with my Mom. So with that - I am dedicating my August 2011 to two ladies in my life.

Putting the 14 into full circle                                

• Going to drop another 14 pounds in August. When I hit that goal I will be down 50 pounds since beginning this journey back in January 2011!!
• 14 + 14 = 28 - going to work out 28 days in the month of August. Not a full 31, but that does give me three days of rest here and there. (two days down - 26 more to go)
• 14 + 14 + 14 = 42 - put in atleast 42 minutes of exercise a day. If I do another 14, then great - that is close to a full hour. Certain days I might have to break them up, but the goal is 42 to 56 minutes a day. (Ok, I don't have to be exact, but I liked the 14 concept there)
• 1 + 4 = 5....going to drink 5 glasses of water a day using my 16.5 ounce straw in the cup container (I drink more with a straw then just a water bottle). I am not drinking enough and need to do so. My goal is to get in those 5 all before I finish my work day and if I get 1 or 2 more in before and after work, then I am getting plenty of water for the day.
• Going to give away more then 14 shirts and might even find 14 pairs of pants/skirts hidden in the back of my closet to add to the pile (do I really have that many clothes - LOL). Why keep the stuff that is too big for me - I will never go back!!!
• Going to spend 14 minutes of reflective quiet time each day. Read a book or just have a peaceful moment remembering happy times, sad times, times of struggle, times of joy, time of inspiration, time to set more goals - time for me!!

At the end of the month - down 14 pounds - feeling good and all - I want to go into a store on the 14th hour  - pick up a pair of size 14 jeans/pants and see if they fit. I don't think they will, but I am going to see what happens. I am pretty close - even shrinking out of the 18 I have right now. My shirts are in the 16/14 range - so you never know. I won't be disappointed, but I can then see where I am clothes size wise and move onto my next set of goals!!


Staying MOtivated MO