Checkin' 'Em Off

This past weekend I got so much stuff done that I have been putting off. I love that feeling. Like the weight is slowly being flicked off your shoulders with each task checked off. I really wish I felt this ambitious every weekend but I don't.

I know I am not the only person with a house that doesn't seem to get clean. And if it does get clean, it doesn't stay that way. I spent most of my weekend going through paperwork, picking things up, dusting, dishes, scrubbing, putting away groceries, cooking and making my weekly menu. I felt so organized and the cleaner it was the more organized I felt. I even worked out on the elliptical for over 1/2 hour today. I haven't been on it for almost a year.

Maybe it is the exercise. I just feel better. I don't want to question it. I hope this feeling doesn't go away.

You Capture - Doorways

I had bigger plans for this week's You Capture but since it was bitter cold out and I really didn't have time I decided not to join in again this week because the doorways in my house are pretty boring.

That changed when I finally decided to hang this sign. It is a sign that I found a couple days before Christmas at a drug store in downtown Bis. It was on clearance for $4.80. My daughter loves birdwatching so when I see them, I think of her.

I originally had the sign on the wall, where the wrench bottle opener is hanging :) I backed up to look at it and realized how bare the wall above the doorway was. It is like it was meant to be there. So here it is, my doorway:

If you want to see more You Capture, head on over to Beth's.

New Alarm

This morning I woke up to something I have never woken up to before. My dog growling and barking.

Let me tell ya, when I wake up in the middle of the night because I may have heard a noise, I listen for his reaction to it. He is very protective and I know if someone were trying to get in he would let us know. When I heard him go crazy, I won't lie, it scared the living bejeezus out of me.

I flew out of bed and ran out to the living room and let him out of his kennel. At first he went crazy and started creeping toward the bay window as if he was hunting something. Then I noticed what he was looking at...our new digital picture frame. We got it for Christmas but last night I actually took the time to set it up. I don't know if it had just come on or maybe he just woke up and noticed it but it seemed that was what had him so upset.

I hope that is the only thing he ever has to alert me too. I am so thankful to have him, even if I don't always seem like it. Love my Cassius. (Isn't he adorable?)

Level 2, Baby

I moved up to Level 2 in "The Shred". If you are not familiar with it, "30 Day Shred" is an exercise program by Jillian Michaels that consists of 3 levels. Each level is a warmup, 20 minute strength/cardio/ab workout and cooldown. Total time is around 30 minutes. Also, one of my co-workers is thinking about selling his Wii so he borrowed me his EA Sports Active to try it out. If he does decide to sell I may buy the game. From the 30 minutes I spent using Monday night, I really liked it. The only things I didn't like about it was (a) the strap would fall off if I didn't have it strapped really tight and (b) it was clumsy using the controllers with the resistance band. Once I got the hang of it, it got better.

My weight hasn't changed much, if any, since my last post. I am still waking up early to exercise and it is worth it because I do feel better throughout the day. My appetite is starting to go back to normal. I guess hope it was an adjustment period.

A few years ago I joined the Y so I could join a weight lifting class. I started using the elliptical, lifting free-weights and Mark and I would run afterward. I always felt really good afterward. I don't really know how or why I stopped but I did. I never realized how much I missed it.

5:30 a.m.

That is the time I get up to do Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. I tried eating a banana before and cereal after Monday and Tuesday. Each day I would eat my weight in snacks throughout the day. I was never satisfied. Today I tried eating my Cheerios before and a hard-boiled egg afterward. No difference. I ate so much throughout the day. I am frustrated. Even though my weight was down this morning I do not like the feeling of being out of control. Just a couple months ago I could go all morning (after breakfast) with just a cup of coffee, now I have gone through all my calories before I even get home. The workout isn't easy but it isn't enough for me to be able to eat that much.

I hope my body just needs to adjust because I really do like getting up to do the workout. I feel much better throughout the day.

Cleanup

The weekend is over and I am wondering why I didn't clean on Sunday when I had a whole day to dedicate to it (I am really wondering why I didn't take care of that leftover green bean casserole I made Christmas Eve, don't judge please). It took me about an hour to finish the dishes...and I have a dishwasher! I started putting away Christmas decorations earlier today and may even finish putting away the tree ornaments (minus one, don't ever move something by tossing it toward a Christmas tree, things get broke).

I can't wait to reclaim my house, about as much as I can anyway. It seems like now that we have Amelia, it is her house and a very pink one at that. I look forward to a day when I don't have frosting, cake mixes, candy coating, containers and junk food lying around my house. It may take until Valentine's day but that day will come and I will miss the junk food. My scale will rejoice. So far since Thanksgiving I have gained 3 pounds. I wished I could have been better but it isn't SO bad if you consider every weekend plus the work week I have been surrounded by junk food.

Now, time to take it back off plus another 10-15 lbs. As soon as I get my house cleaned.

And just like that...

it is over. I know everyone feels this. 1/6th of our year is spent listening to Christmas music on the radio and seeing Christmas ads in the stores. I almost missed Halloween because of it. It is anticipated and talked about and shopped for and stressed over, then the day comes and it is magical but so busy that it is over almost as soon as it starts.

This year, we gave Amelia a Hello Kitty Karaoke machine among other things such as puzzles, books, a princess backpack and a couple DVD's. She had so much fun with it. She is quite the entertainer. I gave Mark a torque wrench and motorcycle lift which doesn't even compare to what he gave me.

He kept asking, "Do you wanna open your gift". Even the night before Christmas Eve. I kept telling him no. But he was really excited. I opened it and it was a diaper box packed with my old sweatshirts. I had something in mind that I thought it was but couldn't be sure. I got everything unpacked and there it was. My DSLR. The one thing I have been whining to have for about 2 1/2 years. My husband pretty much rocks.

Also, thank you to all my family and friends for everything you have given me. Not just the materialistic things.

Now, it is time to clean up the house because I am pretty sure that the man who delivered my groceries (yup, I am lazy today) was considering calling the hoarders show to see if they could get me on it because of all the boxes piled in the kitchen and goodies on the tables.

I will be putting pictures on here soon but right now I am a bit lazy.