Kind of a long title, huh?
But it is true!
Halloween is over, so now begins November.
In November, I make Christmas gifts.
In November, I attempt to write a novel (part of NaNoWriMo since 2011).
In November, I deep clean and purge the house getting ready for Christmas influx.
Mr. Curly has a list of November things too -
Yard work, church clean-up, Christmas lights and decor, and this year - MOvember.
Yep, he's growing a mustache (JUST a mustache, a new thing for him) to raise awareness of prostate cancer.
His father is a survivor, giving Mr. Curly double the chances of having this cancer as well. So we're pretty serious about it.
And this is a fun was to do it.
We're also giving the Curly Kids a cause this year - as they will each be filling a box for Operation Christmas Child. I'm excited to take them shopping for other kids, and hopefully start teaching them that Christmas lists are fun, but so is Christmas giving.
Showing posts with label challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label challenge. Show all posts
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
Weighty stuff
Blech. I weighed myself on our Wii yesterday. Something I haven't done since May 2012.
And in the past 10 months, I've gained 10 pounds. TEN!!! That is NOT what I was going for.
So, starting next week (in order to really get my mind around it), I'm giving up my snacks.
See, I have a snack EVERY afternoon while my boys are napping. I rush through lunch because we have to get Curly Girl to school, and I don't really taste my lunch. So once I get her to school, do preschool with Curly Boy, and get both boys down for naps, I want to eat. I want to TASTE something.
And I never pick a healthy snack. I mean, come on, who does, really?
And then, supper comes. And we spend most of supper convincing our kids to eat, to keep their silverware off the floor, to move their milk cups back, we try to squeeze in some family talk.
And I get the kids to bed and I do dishes, and I realize, I want to TASTE something. I was so focused on everything else during supper there are nights that I can barely remember what we had - and I cooked it!
So I snack.
And I'm sure those 2 snacks a day are where the weight is coming from. I mean, I work out, but not THAT much.
So next Monday, February 11, I'm giving up ALL afternoon snacking and MOST bedtime snacking. Because, honestly, there are nights when Mr. Curly and I really just need to sit down with some ice cream and relax. But we don't need to do it EVERY night.
I think, between keeping up my workouts (I attempt to run 3 miles 3 times a week, and I've added some cardio/muscle toning twice a week), and quitting the snacking, I should be able to lose that 10 lbs. fairly quickly.
And if I don't lose it (I am getting old after all), at least I will have healthier eating habits for when I get even older.
Let's hope it works!
And in the past 10 months, I've gained 10 pounds. TEN!!! That is NOT what I was going for.
So, starting next week (in order to really get my mind around it), I'm giving up my snacks.
See, I have a snack EVERY afternoon while my boys are napping. I rush through lunch because we have to get Curly Girl to school, and I don't really taste my lunch. So once I get her to school, do preschool with Curly Boy, and get both boys down for naps, I want to eat. I want to TASTE something.
And I never pick a healthy snack. I mean, come on, who does, really?
And then, supper comes. And we spend most of supper convincing our kids to eat, to keep their silverware off the floor, to move their milk cups back, we try to squeeze in some family talk.
And I get the kids to bed and I do dishes, and I realize, I want to TASTE something. I was so focused on everything else during supper there are nights that I can barely remember what we had - and I cooked it!
So I snack.
And I'm sure those 2 snacks a day are where the weight is coming from. I mean, I work out, but not THAT much.
So next Monday, February 11, I'm giving up ALL afternoon snacking and MOST bedtime snacking. Because, honestly, there are nights when Mr. Curly and I really just need to sit down with some ice cream and relax. But we don't need to do it EVERY night.
I think, between keeping up my workouts (I attempt to run 3 miles 3 times a week, and I've added some cardio/muscle toning twice a week), and quitting the snacking, I should be able to lose that 10 lbs. fairly quickly.
And if I don't lose it (I am getting old after all), at least I will have healthier eating habits for when I get even older.
Let's hope it works!
Monday, January 28, 2013
My Own Personal Trainer
So I have a new personal trainer.
Me.
Yep, you read that right. I have become my own personal trainer.
After 10 weeks doing an 8 week couch to 5K program, (and still not completing it per their goals), I've decided to do it myself.
See, around week 7, C25K expects you to run for 25 minutes, or 2.5 miles. Non-stop. I'm sorry, but going from a complete non-runner to running 25 minutes straight in 7 weeks (in my case 10)? I just can't do it. No matter how hard I try. I end up with crossed eyes and nearly falling off the treadmill from lack of air trying.
So I have a new goal now. 3 times a week, I run 3 miles. It doesn't matter if I stop to walk, or how long it takes me, I go for 3 miles.
Last Monday I did it in 40 minutes. Wednesday I did it in 36 minutes and 10 seconds. Friday, I didn't run. It seems by the time Friday afternoon comes along, I'm just tired and busy trying to get ready for the weekend and our family day.
So consistency isn't there. And I am stopping to walk. And I'm not flat out running until the last quarter mile. But I am completing 3 miles, at one time, without feeling dissapointed at the end because I couldn't go as far or as long as an app on my phone told me I should be going.
And I feel so much better about myself!
So watch out 5K - here I come!
Me.
Yep, you read that right. I have become my own personal trainer.
After 10 weeks doing an 8 week couch to 5K program, (and still not completing it per their goals), I've decided to do it myself.
See, around week 7, C25K expects you to run for 25 minutes, or 2.5 miles. Non-stop. I'm sorry, but going from a complete non-runner to running 25 minutes straight in 7 weeks (in my case 10)? I just can't do it. No matter how hard I try. I end up with crossed eyes and nearly falling off the treadmill from lack of air trying.
So I have a new goal now. 3 times a week, I run 3 miles. It doesn't matter if I stop to walk, or how long it takes me, I go for 3 miles.
Last Monday I did it in 40 minutes. Wednesday I did it in 36 minutes and 10 seconds. Friday, I didn't run. It seems by the time Friday afternoon comes along, I'm just tired and busy trying to get ready for the weekend and our family day.
So consistency isn't there. And I am stopping to walk. And I'm not flat out running until the last quarter mile. But I am completing 3 miles, at one time, without feeling dissapointed at the end because I couldn't go as far or as long as an app on my phone told me I should be going.
And I feel so much better about myself!
So watch out 5K - here I come!
Friday, January 4, 2013
As the world turns....
Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.... (Check out a great little Soap song by Carmen here - LOVE this song, so nostalgic for me!)
So after my quick Thursday post about possibly doing a new year post, I decided to write a new year's post! Just like last year, I'm the last blogger to get a new year's post written!
I've read a lot of blogs this past week listing goals and intentions, plans and projects. Usually at this point I would say "I don't really have any goals set...." except that I do.
Goals - (in no particular order)
1. Run a 5K. I'm currently in training for this, you can read some of those posts here.
2. Read through my Bible in a year. I'm following this plan put together by the Faith Baptist College and Theological Seminary. The LIFT ladies handed out bookmarks for this plan, and since I've never read through my Bible, much less done it in a year, I thought this would be a good place to start. Plus, knowing that my LIFT ladies are doing the same challenge encourages me.
3. Help my family be more consistent in chores and healthy eating choices. To do this, I'm following the 52 Weeks to an Organized Home plan and.... well, I don't have a plan for healthy eating choices. Though Mr. Curly and I have talked about adding veggie trays to our pizza and nacho nights, hoping that snacking on the good foods while the bad foods cook will help us eat less bad food. It's an idea, right?
4. Remember that I was a wife before I was a mother, and a friend before I was a wife. This sounds odd, doesn't it? Most moms are striving to be more and more connected with their kids, more present, more accessible, more pinterest-y.... and I want to be those things. But this year Mr. Curly and I will have been married 10 years and I love him to death. He's still my best friend, the one who can make me laugh even when I don't want to, the one who holds me when I cry, is strong when I am weak, and who encourages me to be stronger than I think possible. And I want that to continue. I want that for the next 100 years. So while I'm organizing our home, and making better food choices, and keeping up on chores, and planning all sorts of things fun for the kids, I'm going to remember that before their was a Mr. and Mrs. Curly, there was just two college kids, hanging out in the box (My MNU buddies will totally get this), eating pizza and ice cream, watching movies and quoting songs to each other.
Whew. That seems like a lot already, right? But, wait, there's more! I'm also joining another blog - The Bible In a Year and Beyond! Their button is at the right, and I will be contributing to this every other Monday, working through several books in the Bible with an in depth study. That site is also following the same reading plan my LIFT group is (thanks Tammy for taking that suggestion!), so I have extra encouragement there.
This blog has already been challenging to me, as I'm planning my post for Monday on Esther 4, but it is a good challenge. So while I challenge my body to run harder and faster, I'm now challenging my spiritual knowledge and writing skills to grow and expand.
So, yeah, I have goals again this year! Lots of them! And whether I meet them all or not... the beat will go on.
So after my quick Thursday post about possibly doing a new year post, I decided to write a new year's post! Just like last year, I'm the last blogger to get a new year's post written!
I've read a lot of blogs this past week listing goals and intentions, plans and projects. Usually at this point I would say "I don't really have any goals set...." except that I do.
Goals - (in no particular order)
1. Run a 5K. I'm currently in training for this, you can read some of those posts here.
2. Read through my Bible in a year. I'm following this plan put together by the Faith Baptist College and Theological Seminary. The LIFT ladies handed out bookmarks for this plan, and since I've never read through my Bible, much less done it in a year, I thought this would be a good place to start. Plus, knowing that my LIFT ladies are doing the same challenge encourages me.
3. Help my family be more consistent in chores and healthy eating choices. To do this, I'm following the 52 Weeks to an Organized Home plan and.... well, I don't have a plan for healthy eating choices. Though Mr. Curly and I have talked about adding veggie trays to our pizza and nacho nights, hoping that snacking on the good foods while the bad foods cook will help us eat less bad food. It's an idea, right?
4. Remember that I was a wife before I was a mother, and a friend before I was a wife. This sounds odd, doesn't it? Most moms are striving to be more and more connected with their kids, more present, more accessible, more pinterest-y.... and I want to be those things. But this year Mr. Curly and I will have been married 10 years and I love him to death. He's still my best friend, the one who can make me laugh even when I don't want to, the one who holds me when I cry, is strong when I am weak, and who encourages me to be stronger than I think possible. And I want that to continue. I want that for the next 100 years. So while I'm organizing our home, and making better food choices, and keeping up on chores, and planning all sorts of things fun for the kids, I'm going to remember that before their was a Mr. and Mrs. Curly, there was just two college kids, hanging out in the box (My MNU buddies will totally get this), eating pizza and ice cream, watching movies and quoting songs to each other.
Whew. That seems like a lot already, right? But, wait, there's more! I'm also joining another blog - The Bible In a Year and Beyond! Their button is at the right, and I will be contributing to this every other Monday, working through several books in the Bible with an in depth study. That site is also following the same reading plan my LIFT group is (thanks Tammy for taking that suggestion!), so I have extra encouragement there.
This blog has already been challenging to me, as I'm planning my post for Monday on Esther 4, but it is a good challenge. So while I challenge my body to run harder and faster, I'm now challenging my spiritual knowledge and writing skills to grow and expand.
So, yeah, I have goals again this year! Lots of them! And whether I meet them all or not... the beat will go on.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Keep runnin', runnin'....
Since the weather turned cold, I've been running circles in our basement. Our basement is split in two - storage area, and fellowship hall for our church (one of the, um, perks, of living in an old parsonage is that when the church was built, they just put the fellowship hall in the parsonage basement. It's not bad really, I've cleared it of tables and chairs to give the kids a place to run and ride their bikes this winter. So, yeah, maybe it is a perk).
Let me tell you, running circles in a basement is not that fun. It isn't a big circle, so you can get bored and dizzy easily. So I started saving my paper route money in hopes of finding a treadmill on craigslist or something.
After a week at the in-laws running on a treadmill, I posted this on facebook (where everybody disagreed with me):
The person who said it was easier to run outside than on a treadmill should've been forced to prove that as fact.
While on my in-laws treadmill, I discovered that my speed is anything BUT consistent. I had no idea how much I sped up and slowed down during my running times! Being forced to stay at one speed really worked me out.
I'm not entirely sure that I like that much of a challenge, but it probably is good for me, so I continued my search for a treadmill. And yesterday, I hit gold.
We had some time to kill before playdate (our errand running didn't take as long as I had planned for), so we stopped at Goodwill. This may seem odd, but I had hopes of either finding a) another 100% wool sweater to make into diaper covers or b) a good record for our newly refurbished record player.
While searching the records (in which I scored a complete copy of Handels Messiah for $2), I turned to see Curly Baby attempting to climb a treadmill. A treadmill for $50!
2 phone calls, 10 minutes, and $50 later, I was the proud new owner of a Lifestyler Expanse 600!
Mr. Curly went and picked it up for me. I took 11 trips up 2 flights of stairs to move our boxes from the basement to the attic, and voila! Storage area, now a work out area. Mr. Curly said he'd even set up a TV for me down there!
So this morning, I ran on my treadmill and discovered it needs some carpet under it (the cement floor is uneven, and makes it LOUD), and that, yes, my speed is still inconsistent. However, theoretically, I burned 315 calories and 99 fat calories, ran/walked for 32 minutes, and went 1.85 miles.
Not bad. Not great, but not bad. And at least I'm not getting dizzy.
Let me tell you, running circles in a basement is not that fun. It isn't a big circle, so you can get bored and dizzy easily. So I started saving my paper route money in hopes of finding a treadmill on craigslist or something.
After a week at the in-laws running on a treadmill, I posted this on facebook (where everybody disagreed with me):
The person who said it was easier to run outside than on a treadmill should've been forced to prove that as fact.
While on my in-laws treadmill, I discovered that my speed is anything BUT consistent. I had no idea how much I sped up and slowed down during my running times! Being forced to stay at one speed really worked me out.
I'm not entirely sure that I like that much of a challenge, but it probably is good for me, so I continued my search for a treadmill. And yesterday, I hit gold.
We had some time to kill before playdate (our errand running didn't take as long as I had planned for), so we stopped at Goodwill. This may seem odd, but I had hopes of either finding a) another 100% wool sweater to make into diaper covers or b) a good record for our newly refurbished record player.
While searching the records (in which I scored a complete copy of Handels Messiah for $2), I turned to see Curly Baby attempting to climb a treadmill. A treadmill for $50!
2 phone calls, 10 minutes, and $50 later, I was the proud new owner of a Lifestyler Expanse 600!
Mr. Curly went and picked it up for me. I took 11 trips up 2 flights of stairs to move our boxes from the basement to the attic, and voila! Storage area, now a work out area. Mr. Curly said he'd even set up a TV for me down there!
So this morning, I ran on my treadmill and discovered it needs some carpet under it (the cement floor is uneven, and makes it LOUD), and that, yes, my speed is still inconsistent. However, theoretically, I burned 315 calories and 99 fat calories, ran/walked for 32 minutes, and went 1.85 miles.
Not bad. Not great, but not bad. And at least I'm not getting dizzy.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
NaNo - no more?
Oh. my. goodness. I rarely resort to using that many periods in a sentence but there is just no other way to express myself in a g rating right now.
I started NaNoWriMo. Did really good the first day. Restarted my novel the second day. The third day got no writing done at all due to church projects and visitors and the fourth day Mr. Curly and Curly Boy got sick. The fourth day I planned another rewrite (I'm boring MYSELF with my novel this year, never good when you're only 4 days in), but on the fifth day Curly Baby got sick.
So here we are, on the sixth day and I have about 200 words written.
I continuously lament the death of the written word (did you know 2/3 of our world can't or won't read? Some people choose to be alliterate, meaning they can read, but they don't want to). I mean, Windows 8 has a picture passcode (no longer a word) now for crying out loud!
So if I'm going to lament it, I should do my best to pass it on, to keep it going....
But NaNoWriMo this year? I don't see it happening. I have 2 weeks until Thanksgiving, when I'll be handing out Christmas gifts to Mr. Curly's family and about 10 more gifts to create for that deadline alone! Not to mention everything I'm making for my family's Christmas get-together.
I just feel overwhelmed with things to do - keep the house up, keep cooking (because it is way cheaper than eating out), keep running (because I feel so much better health-wise and I am way less anxious when I exercise in the mornings), keep crafting (to save money on Christmas gifts), keep home-schooling (because Curly Boy loves it way more than I thought he would!).... and late nights writing mean more junk food, more caffeine, which leads to poorer sleep when I do get it, and bad exercise days, which leads to more anxiety...
I'm a mess, I know.
So, while tomorrow I may open Yarny back up and try again, I'm not pushing it. I really REALLY wanted to get over 30,000 words this year. But I really REALLY don't want to be a horrible, caffeinated, zombie monster to do it.
Ugh.
I started NaNoWriMo. Did really good the first day. Restarted my novel the second day. The third day got no writing done at all due to church projects and visitors and the fourth day Mr. Curly and Curly Boy got sick. The fourth day I planned another rewrite (I'm boring MYSELF with my novel this year, never good when you're only 4 days in), but on the fifth day Curly Baby got sick.
So here we are, on the sixth day and I have about 200 words written.
I continuously lament the death of the written word (did you know 2/3 of our world can't or won't read? Some people choose to be alliterate, meaning they can read, but they don't want to). I mean, Windows 8 has a picture passcode (no longer a word) now for crying out loud!
So if I'm going to lament it, I should do my best to pass it on, to keep it going....
But NaNoWriMo this year? I don't see it happening. I have 2 weeks until Thanksgiving, when I'll be handing out Christmas gifts to Mr. Curly's family and about 10 more gifts to create for that deadline alone! Not to mention everything I'm making for my family's Christmas get-together.
I just feel overwhelmed with things to do - keep the house up, keep cooking (because it is way cheaper than eating out), keep running (because I feel so much better health-wise and I am way less anxious when I exercise in the mornings), keep crafting (to save money on Christmas gifts), keep home-schooling (because Curly Boy loves it way more than I thought he would!).... and late nights writing mean more junk food, more caffeine, which leads to poorer sleep when I do get it, and bad exercise days, which leads to more anxiety...
I'm a mess, I know.
So, while tomorrow I may open Yarny back up and try again, I'm not pushing it. I really REALLY wanted to get over 30,000 words this year. But I really REALLY don't want to be a horrible, caffeinated, zombie monster to do it.
Ugh.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
NaNoWriMo 2012!!
National Novel Writing Month begins today! Are YOU ready?
I will be participating again this year. Last year I wrote 18,554 words over the month of November. Since the goal is 50,000, I don't feel like I did all that well, but I still enjoyed the challenge.
While I am working on my NF book right now, it has gone back to research stage, so I've decided to continue the research while I challenge myself to write a 50,000 word novel. I have an idea in mind and will begin writing this afternoon or evening.
To make a full 50,000 words in 30 days, you have to write 1,667 words a day. Last year that took me roughly 2 hours a day. I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to get up at 5:30 to run, get my chores done, run a paper route, cook meals, play with my kids, work on Christmas gifts and fit in 2 hours of writing every day. My beloved Pepsi might become indispensable!! Ha!
I will be using Yarny again this year to keep track of my writing. If you're participating, I highly recommend you check it out. It's online, it saves your work every 30 seconds, to quote Harry Potter "It's brilliant!" I don't have to remember my jumpdrive, or have my own computer - just a borrowed laptop and an internet connection and I can write wherever I am. (And no, I don't get paid to promote them.)
Wish me luck - and good luck yourself (if you're joining)!
I will be participating again this year. Last year I wrote 18,554 words over the month of November. Since the goal is 50,000, I don't feel like I did all that well, but I still enjoyed the challenge.
While I am working on my NF book right now, it has gone back to research stage, so I've decided to continue the research while I challenge myself to write a 50,000 word novel. I have an idea in mind and will begin writing this afternoon or evening.
To make a full 50,000 words in 30 days, you have to write 1,667 words a day. Last year that took me roughly 2 hours a day. I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to get up at 5:30 to run, get my chores done, run a paper route, cook meals, play with my kids, work on Christmas gifts and fit in 2 hours of writing every day. My beloved Pepsi might become indispensable!! Ha!
I will be using Yarny again this year to keep track of my writing. If you're participating, I highly recommend you check it out. It's online, it saves your work every 30 seconds, to quote Harry Potter "It's brilliant!" I don't have to remember my jumpdrive, or have my own computer - just a borrowed laptop and an internet connection and I can write wherever I am. (And no, I don't get paid to promote them.)
Wish me luck - and good luck yourself (if you're joining)!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I'm out of it for a little while, everybody gets delusions of grandeur!
Cake: Fashion Nugget: I Will Survive.
That song is right smack dab in the middle of my running play list. Which is good, because right after any song used in a Rocky training montage, it is THE song to get me moving faster. You just can't go slow to that!
But it is also bad, because it is right smack dab in the middle of my running play list. Which means, I kick it into high gear, and then remember I still have half way to go and now I've spent all my energy!
So while I feel like I can run as swift as a cheetah, I'm sure the people driving by are like "Wow, she's walking briskly."
Still, I made it through my first week of training, and despite the horrible diet of the weekend, started Week 2 training.
I don't think I'll move the song -after all, it isn't such a bad thing to push yourself to go farther after you've gone as fast as you can go.
Post Title Quote from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
That song is right smack dab in the middle of my running play list. Which is good, because right after any song used in a Rocky training montage, it is THE song to get me moving faster. You just can't go slow to that!
But it is also bad, because it is right smack dab in the middle of my running play list. Which means, I kick it into high gear, and then remember I still have half way to go and now I've spent all my energy!
So while I feel like I can run as swift as a cheetah, I'm sure the people driving by are like "Wow, she's walking briskly."
Still, I made it through my first week of training, and despite the horrible diet of the weekend, started Week 2 training.
I don't think I'll move the song -after all, it isn't such a bad thing to push yourself to go farther after you've gone as fast as you can go.
Post Title Quote from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Friday, October 26, 2012
Reader to Runner
My sports history is brief: I played soccer when I was 6 years old, and I was track manager my freshman year of high school.
That is it.
And yet, I'm planning on running a 5K next spring.
You did not read that wrong.
Isn't that crazy though? To go from never running ever (unless I have to catch Curly Boy in a parking lot) to doing a 5K? It is insane. And yet, I'm doing it. I have some weird internal motivation going on and Mr. Curly and Mrs. Kleeman egging me on.
I'm using the ever popular C25K app on my iPhone for training. I've made it through the first week where you alternate running 60 seconds with walking 90 seconds. The first day was awful, the second was really good, and today..... Well, today the running was ok (I wasn't as fast as I would've like to have been) but everything else conspired against me - the earbuds wouldn't stay in, the headband wouldn't keep my hair back, my gloves (fingerless with a little mitten flap) wouldn't stay in place.... But I made it.
My one concern is that the app is crazy. There is no way someone who has not been exercising at all can start out with this jog/walk cycle for 30 minutes right off that bat. In 2 weeks they expect me to jogging for 5 minutes at a time! No, 5 minutes isn't too long - but to me, who's breathing is labored after running 90 seconds, 5 minutes is insane. I'm glad that I've been walking a paper route since January, and walking with the same Mrs. Kleeman 3 times a week for a few weeks before beginning this training, or I'd be in trouble.
Anyway.
I'm running a 5K. In May 2013. Wish me luck.
That is it.
And yet, I'm planning on running a 5K next spring.
You did not read that wrong.
Isn't that crazy though? To go from never running ever (unless I have to catch Curly Boy in a parking lot) to doing a 5K? It is insane. And yet, I'm doing it. I have some weird internal motivation going on and Mr. Curly and Mrs. Kleeman egging me on.
I'm using the ever popular C25K app on my iPhone for training. I've made it through the first week where you alternate running 60 seconds with walking 90 seconds. The first day was awful, the second was really good, and today..... Well, today the running was ok (I wasn't as fast as I would've like to have been) but everything else conspired against me - the earbuds wouldn't stay in, the headband wouldn't keep my hair back, my gloves (fingerless with a little mitten flap) wouldn't stay in place.... But I made it.
My one concern is that the app is crazy. There is no way someone who has not been exercising at all can start out with this jog/walk cycle for 30 minutes right off that bat. In 2 weeks they expect me to jogging for 5 minutes at a time! No, 5 minutes isn't too long - but to me, who's breathing is labored after running 90 seconds, 5 minutes is insane. I'm glad that I've been walking a paper route since January, and walking with the same Mrs. Kleeman 3 times a week for a few weeks before beginning this training, or I'd be in trouble.
Anyway.
I'm running a 5K. In May 2013. Wish me luck.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Playing, playing....
So I've given myself this little 30 minutes of play time a day challenge.
Friday (June 1st) we had a tickle fight and read books.
Saturday.... honestly, most of Saturday was filled with garage sale stuff and then getting ready for Mr. Curly's sister to show up, and at this point I honestly can't remember what I specifically did. So maybe the 30 minutes wasn't there. But I did let the kids have strawberry ice cream for helping out with cleaning up the house.
With Mr. Curly's sister here, the kids are pretty enamored with her and her two dogs she brought along. This makes them less likely to need/want things from me. Which is making these few days pretty interesting.
I did get to play with them in the bubble bath and read them books last night, and this morning we made a worm puppet out of a brown sock and had a few minutes of giggles at breakfast. We'll see what else we can fit in.
Part of the challenge, at least for me personally, isn't really to have a full 30 minutes at once, but just to be more willing to get down on the floor and play or dance or whatever they want. To join their play with Curly Boy and Girl start nit-picking on each other and help diffuse the situation that way, rather than separating them or turning on the TV.
And to not put off their games until I'm done with my stuff, because by then, it is usually time for naps, or baths, or meals, or bed.
On with the games!
Friday (June 1st) we had a tickle fight and read books.
Saturday.... honestly, most of Saturday was filled with garage sale stuff and then getting ready for Mr. Curly's sister to show up, and at this point I honestly can't remember what I specifically did. So maybe the 30 minutes wasn't there. But I did let the kids have strawberry ice cream for helping out with cleaning up the house.
With Mr. Curly's sister here, the kids are pretty enamored with her and her two dogs she brought along. This makes them less likely to need/want things from me. Which is making these few days pretty interesting.
I did get to play with them in the bubble bath and read them books last night, and this morning we made a worm puppet out of a brown sock and had a few minutes of giggles at breakfast. We'll see what else we can fit in.
Part of the challenge, at least for me personally, isn't really to have a full 30 minutes at once, but just to be more willing to get down on the floor and play or dance or whatever they want. To join their play with Curly Boy and Girl start nit-picking on each other and help diffuse the situation that way, rather than separating them or turning on the TV.
And to not put off their games until I'm done with my stuff, because by then, it is usually time for naps, or baths, or meals, or bed.
On with the games!
Friday, June 1, 2012
YOU! ARE! A! TOOOYYYY!
So, I think I'm doing this challenge.
Over on I Can Teach My Child, Jenae is challenging herself to actually play with her kids 30 minutes a day - to fully engage with them.
And more and more I find myself pulling out activities so they can stay busy and I can do something else.
So while I've already missed day one, I figure if I have 10 minutes a day to use my new Tony Little Rock'n'Roll Stepper, I've got 30 minutes to do something with my kids.
Bring on the toys!!
Post title from Toy Story.
Over on I Can Teach My Child, Jenae is challenging herself to actually play with her kids 30 minutes a day - to fully engage with them.
And more and more I find myself pulling out activities so they can stay busy and I can do something else.
So while I've already missed day one, I figure if I have 10 minutes a day to use my new Tony Little Rock'n'Roll Stepper, I've got 30 minutes to do something with my kids.
Bring on the toys!!
Post title from Toy Story.
Friday, February 17, 2012
All Others Pay Cash
I am awful with cash. Awful. Ask Mr. Curly (or my mom) - if I have cash in hand for more than a day, I start looking for a way to spend it. OR, I try to keep it, and still, at the end of the week, it is gone - $1 here for a parfait, .80 there for a gas station pop refill..... I can fritter away $50 before you can say Bob's your uncle and have no clue where it goes.
Which is why the envelope system of budgeting is so good and yet so dangerous for me.
I've attempted this before. Mr. Curly gets paid each week, so we do a weekly budget, rather than a monthly budget. Each week, when I deposit his check, I withhold roughly 65% of what we have budgeted for food and necessities and I go shopping.
I spend the full amount, but have 35% still left to shop with, it is just still in the checking account. So when we change our meal plan in the middle of the week, no biggie, I still have money left in the budget, I take the old debit card and go shopping.
Lets say I have $25 left and all we need are hamburger buns.
I get to the store, I get hamburger buns. But if we need buns, we're having hamburgers, so we should get some lettuce for the burgers, and in seeing the lettuce I see the strawberries. Strawberries are a great dessert with grilled burgers. Shortcake and cool whip, obviously, go with strawberries. As do bananas. And nilla wafers and vanilla pudding (can you tell yet that I prefer fruit and sugar to all other food types?). And if I take home strawberries and pudding, Mr. Curly will say "Hey, where's the cottage cheese and doritos?" So I pick up some of that too.
Next thing you know, I've spent all $25, just to get home and realize we're out of milk (despite the fact that I bought the requiste 5 gallons at the beginning of the week).
Which means I go back to the store where we buy our milk, to, yes, overspend our budget, but we need milk, and there I find ice cream is on sale....
Needless to say, budgeting is hard for me.
But GOOD for me too, so we're trying the cash system again.
A little differently. Meet, the money box.
This box contains the money the Curly kids earn by helping me with their paper route (and any money Grandad might happen to slip their way), the paper route money (broken down by what we use for fun and what I put in the church offering), and soon, our grocery/necessity money.
I obviously can't be trusted to just carry around cash. So the plan is, to take the COMPLETE food/necessity budget out in cash, do the initial shopping, and put the rest in the box. When we need something midweek, I take the money from the box, and buy ONLY WHAT WE NEED (that will be the hard thing for me). The extra money, goes back in the box for the next need/week.
I'm sure there will be weeks where we fudge on the budget - where we run out of milk early and need it for pudding, or cake, or the kids just refuse to drink water anymore. But the plan is to only fudge if it is a true need, not just a craving/want.
Wish me luck.
Which is why the envelope system of budgeting is so good and yet so dangerous for me.
I've attempted this before. Mr. Curly gets paid each week, so we do a weekly budget, rather than a monthly budget. Each week, when I deposit his check, I withhold roughly 65% of what we have budgeted for food and necessities and I go shopping.
I spend the full amount, but have 35% still left to shop with, it is just still in the checking account. So when we change our meal plan in the middle of the week, no biggie, I still have money left in the budget, I take the old debit card and go shopping.
Lets say I have $25 left and all we need are hamburger buns.
I get to the store, I get hamburger buns. But if we need buns, we're having hamburgers, so we should get some lettuce for the burgers, and in seeing the lettuce I see the strawberries. Strawberries are a great dessert with grilled burgers. Shortcake and cool whip, obviously, go with strawberries. As do bananas. And nilla wafers and vanilla pudding (can you tell yet that I prefer fruit and sugar to all other food types?). And if I take home strawberries and pudding, Mr. Curly will say "Hey, where's the cottage cheese and doritos?" So I pick up some of that too.
Next thing you know, I've spent all $25, just to get home and realize we're out of milk (despite the fact that I bought the requiste 5 gallons at the beginning of the week).
Which means I go back to the store where we buy our milk, to, yes, overspend our budget, but we need milk, and there I find ice cream is on sale....
Needless to say, budgeting is hard for me.
But GOOD for me too, so we're trying the cash system again.
A little differently. Meet, the money box.
I'm sure there will be weeks where we fudge on the budget - where we run out of milk early and need it for pudding, or cake, or the kids just refuse to drink water anymore. But the plan is to only fudge if it is a true need, not just a craving/want.
Wish me luck.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Julia Childs would starve
Well, we've made it through Week One of the Great Food Budget Challenge (here on referred to a the GFBC). The Challenge? Two weeks worth of groceries on $100.
We have $10 cash left, though Mr. Curly did buy a loaf of bread and a box of off-brand cheerios with the debit card on Friday. $10 cash left to buy us milk, eggs, and probably more bread for the next week.
But I do have bread flour, so we can make bread, and eggs are pretty cheap. In fact, I think I saw them on sale in the Hyvee circular. I should check that out.
Anyway. What we ate Week One:
Baked Cod & Cottage Fries
Baked Ziti
Baked Potatoes (there's a whole lotta baking going on, huh?)
Pizza
DQ & Taco Bell*
Chicken Fajitas
Chili
What is planned for Week Two?
Porcupine Stew (not actual porcupine)
Steak & Potatoes
Chicken & Dumplings
Chicken Bowtie Pasta
Soup & Rice
Steak & Pasta
Frozen Pizza
Burritos, or Tostadas (depending on the tortilla solution)
See how we have more planned than there are days to make supper? That's a good thing, right? We hope so anyway.
*Friday night was supposed to be dinner with friends, which they were graciously going to provide. And then illness hit their family, so we had to improvise. Yes, we had frozen pizza in the freezer, but we had made home-made pizza on Thursday. Yes, we had chili in the freezer, but it was 5:30 on the warmest day in two weeks and chili just didn't sound right. Yes, we could've had burritos, but then we wouldn't have tortillas for the fajitas on Saturday. So the kids and I shared a chicken strip basket from DQ, and Mr. Curly ate from Taco Bell.
Also, this coming Friday is "The Annual Decorating for Christmas" night, and it is tradition to order pizza. We have yet to decide if we're going to actually order pizza, or if we'll eat our frozen pizza. I suppose we'll decide that night.
We have $10 cash left, though Mr. Curly did buy a loaf of bread and a box of off-brand cheerios with the debit card on Friday. $10 cash left to buy us milk, eggs, and probably more bread for the next week.
But I do have bread flour, so we can make bread, and eggs are pretty cheap. In fact, I think I saw them on sale in the Hyvee circular. I should check that out.
Anyway. What we ate Week One:
Baked Cod & Cottage Fries
Baked Ziti
Baked Potatoes (there's a whole lotta baking going on, huh?)
Pizza
DQ & Taco Bell*
Chicken Fajitas
Chili
What is planned for Week Two?
Porcupine Stew (not actual porcupine)
Steak & Potatoes
Chicken & Dumplings
Chicken Bowtie Pasta
Soup & Rice
Steak & Pasta
Frozen Pizza
Burritos, or Tostadas (depending on the tortilla solution)
See how we have more planned than there are days to make supper? That's a good thing, right? We hope so anyway.
*Friday night was supposed to be dinner with friends, which they were graciously going to provide. And then illness hit their family, so we had to improvise. Yes, we had frozen pizza in the freezer, but we had made home-made pizza on Thursday. Yes, we had chili in the freezer, but it was 5:30 on the warmest day in two weeks and chili just didn't sound right. Yes, we could've had burritos, but then we wouldn't have tortillas for the fajitas on Saturday. So the kids and I shared a chicken strip basket from DQ, and Mr. Curly ate from Taco Bell.
Also, this coming Friday is "The Annual Decorating for Christmas" night, and it is tradition to order pizza. We have yet to decide if we're going to actually order pizza, or if we'll eat our frozen pizza. I suppose we'll decide that night.
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Great Food Challenge Returns!
Remember when I was challenging us to live off of $50 worth of groceries a week? And then I took a break?
Well, the challenge is back!
A lot has changed financially since we first started this challenge. Some changes were good, some were bad, some.... well, the jury is still out on some.
Since August we've been budgeting $75/week for food and necessities (notice I said budgeting and not actually spending).
Thursday night, Mr. Curly and I went over our finances again and have decided to reinstate the food challenge.
So today, armed with $100 cash, I am going to buy groceries that are intended to last us 2 weeks. Mr. Curly's statement is "We have $100, if we spend it all and run out of something, well, we just do without. A fast might be good for us."
This means that when I go shopping today, I'm only spending $85 max. That ensures I have $15 for milk and bread the second week (we spend at least $10/week on milk).
I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck!
Well, the challenge is back!
A lot has changed financially since we first started this challenge. Some changes were good, some were bad, some.... well, the jury is still out on some.
Since August we've been budgeting $75/week for food and necessities (notice I said budgeting and not actually spending).
Thursday night, Mr. Curly and I went over our finances again and have decided to reinstate the food challenge.
So today, armed with $100 cash, I am going to buy groceries that are intended to last us 2 weeks. Mr. Curly's statement is "We have $100, if we spend it all and run out of something, well, we just do without. A fast might be good for us."
This means that when I go shopping today, I'm only spending $85 max. That ensures I have $15 for milk and bread the second week (we spend at least $10/week on milk).
I'll let you know how it goes. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
GOOOAAALLLLL
I have new goals for my new year.
Over the next three months I have set the following goals:
PERSONAL:
Lose that final 9 pounds (this will put me down to pre-Curly GIRL weight!)
PERSONAL:
Lose that final 9 pounds (this will put me down to pre-Curly GIRL weight!)
Write at least a paragraph a day (use The One Minute Writer and Daily Writing Tips for ideas if need be)
Try at least one new recipe a week (even if it means putting things together that seem totally out of this world)
Update the checkbook, balance the budget at least twice a month
Learn to make some of those super cute ideas in my new crochet books
FAMILY:
Potty train Curly Boy! (This will take more consistency on my part than anything for Curly Boy - he is ready!)
Begin homeschooling Curly Girl (Lessons at least 3 times a week!)
Have at least one conversation a week that doesn't have anything to do with our kids with Mr. Curly
Enjoy Curly Baby's coos and smiles and happiness to be setting by himself (without looking at that time as 'I really should be doing something else')
PROFESSIONAL:
Complete the church bulletin BEFORE Saturday bedtime
Organize a "missions moment" for the first two Sundays of the month in time to notify the missions president
Plan for Sunday School BEFORE Saturday morning
Re-work my cleaning schedule to fit my Curly Kids' new schedule (lessons, dance, play group....)
Wish me luck!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
My shot at Hint Fiction
Since I published this post about Hint Fiction, the men in my family have been shooting little stories back and forth via email, while I sit completely befuddled by my challenge.
I finally came up with this:
If she had known leaving would be this hard, her decision to stay after a visit 15 years ago might have been different. As it was, no one in the small town would ever be the same, herself included.
This is 39 words instead of 25, so it still needs some work, but I think it is all there. I think. What do you think?
I finally came up with this:
If she had known leaving would be this hard, her decision to stay after a visit 15 years ago might have been different. As it was, no one in the small town would ever be the same, herself included.
This is 39 words instead of 25, so it still needs some work, but I think it is all there. I think. What do you think?
Friday, December 10, 2010
I'm just a writer.... I only have words.
My brother will tell you that I wrote about 10 stories a day growing up. When I read back on all the writing I did, I think I actually re-wrote one story about twice a week. I'm not impressed with my originality, though I am impressed with my volume.
I've always loved writing. I've always wanted to write a novel, or a biography, or SOMETHING that could be published and people would read and enjoy. This blog is the closest I've ever gotten to that.
And then, one of the blogs I follow (The Penultimate Word) posted about short, tiny little stories inspired by Ernest Hemingway. Called "Hint Fiction" they are 25 words or less and yet a complete story.
See the entire post on Hint Fiction here.
I'm going to try my hand at these.
They may not be publishable, but they will be challenging. I think they will force me to grow as a writer, jump start something more original than I've ever written before, and maybe even lead to something that could actually be published.
Post title from Alex & Emma
I've always loved writing. I've always wanted to write a novel, or a biography, or SOMETHING that could be published and people would read and enjoy. This blog is the closest I've ever gotten to that.
And then, one of the blogs I follow (The Penultimate Word) posted about short, tiny little stories inspired by Ernest Hemingway. Called "Hint Fiction" they are 25 words or less and yet a complete story.
See the entire post on Hint Fiction here.
I'm going to try my hand at these.
They may not be publishable, but they will be challenging. I think they will force me to grow as a writer, jump start something more original than I've ever written before, and maybe even lead to something that could actually be published.
Post title from Alex & Emma
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Food Challenge Hiatus
Ok, so I'll just be honest. I have absolutely no idea how much we spent on food last week, and possibly the week before that. I'm not even sure where I'm at with this challenge.
Over the past 3 weeks we've been cleaning until midnight every night, packing, sorting, tossing through every room in the house to get it ready to go on the market. That means every receipt we find has gone in a large tub to be sorted and filed "in the new house."
So here's the deal. I still believe we can survive on $50 or less a week for groceries. I'm pretty sure we have been, in fact.
But until the craziness of cleaning until midnight every stinking night, driving back and forth on weekends, and everything else that goes with it ends, I won't be reporting on it.
I will keep challenging myself to say "Do we REALLY need that?" But I just can't keep track right now. If you need something to blame besides the crazy lifestyle, blame Curly Baby 3 who is insisting that I sleep, eat regularly, and sit down every so often to relax with the other two Curly Kids. :)
I know that last week, we only cooked with food we had on hand. That was awesome.
I also know, that travelling over the weekends and having limited stock in our weekend home has caused us to eat out more than we should.
Over the past 3 weeks we've been cleaning until midnight every night, packing, sorting, tossing through every room in the house to get it ready to go on the market. That means every receipt we find has gone in a large tub to be sorted and filed "in the new house."
So here's the deal. I still believe we can survive on $50 or less a week for groceries. I'm pretty sure we have been, in fact.
But until the craziness of cleaning until midnight every stinking night, driving back and forth on weekends, and everything else that goes with it ends, I won't be reporting on it.
I will keep challenging myself to say "Do we REALLY need that?" But I just can't keep track right now. If you need something to blame besides the crazy lifestyle, blame Curly Baby 3 who is insisting that I sleep, eat regularly, and sit down every so often to relax with the other two Curly Kids. :)
Friday, October 29, 2010
Hot Potato Hot Potato
So, awhile back, I bought 20 lbs of potatoes, peeled, cut (or sliced or diced) and froze them. This is part of my big attempt to cut our food budget down (I only paid $4 for 20 lbs).
The other morning, I pulled a batch of potatoes out marked "potato soup" and threw it in the microwave to thaw. I didn't turn the microwave on, this is just where we thaw things in case it leaks or whatever.
I got home that night to a bag of reddish-black potatoes and a red juice all over the bottom of my microwave. Turns out, when you thaw frozen potatoes, they do what apples do when cut and left out too long. Gross.
Mr. Curly was pretty sure we could still eat them, but I was angry and crying and no way was I making BROWN cream of potato soup!! So, I pulled another frozen batch out of the freezer and threw that in my boiling water.
And it turned out delicious. We had a great meal of hot creamy potato soup and corn bread. And I learned you can cook potatoes from frozen and not sacrifice any flavor or texture.
So, next time potatoes are on sale - stock up! They freeze and cook up great!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Food Challenge Week 5&6
Now we did good. Week 5 Food Money Spent: $29.70. Week 6: $35.90. If I can keep that up for the next few weeks, it will make up for my overspending!
Week 5 Menu:
Sunday Lunch: Pizza Hut. No cookware, remember?
Sunday Supper: Taco Bell. We were travelling
Rest of the Week:
Salad with breaded chicken. Bought: Salad, bread sticks ($4.37).
Burritos, had it all on hand.
BBQ pulled pork sandwiches. Bought: chips ($4.72).
Homemade calzone. Bought: pizza dough, pepperoni and canadian bacon ($7.37)
Friday Supper: Arby's (more travelling)
Saturday Lunch: Leftover pizza
Saturday Supper: Salmon and twice baked potatoes
Week 6 Menu:
Sunday Lunch: McDonald's (heading to a hay ride early!)
Sunday Supper: Hot dogs
Rest of the Week:
Monday Lunch: Grilled cheese (it was a holiday)
Monday Supper: Subway (we needed some meat in our house!)
Tuesday Supper: Nachos. Bought: Chips, meat, beans ($12.00 - I've lost this receipt, so this is a rough estimation)
Wednesday Supper: Spaghetti - had it all on hand
Thursday Supper: Chinese - Mr. Curly had an extra window washing job
Friday Supper: Culver's - travelling
Saturday Lunch: Beef stir-fry (had it all on hand)
Saturday Supper: Spaghetti Casserole, garlic bread, applesauce (welcome to the neighborhood gift from neighbor)
Week 5 Menu:
Sunday Lunch: Pizza Hut. No cookware, remember?
Sunday Supper: Taco Bell. We were travelling
Rest of the Week:
Salad with breaded chicken. Bought: Salad, bread sticks ($4.37).
Burritos, had it all on hand.
BBQ pulled pork sandwiches. Bought: chips ($4.72).
Homemade calzone. Bought: pizza dough, pepperoni and canadian bacon ($7.37)
Friday Supper: Arby's (more travelling)
Saturday Lunch: Leftover pizza
Saturday Supper: Salmon and twice baked potatoes
Week 6 Menu:
Sunday Lunch: McDonald's (heading to a hay ride early!)
Sunday Supper: Hot dogs
Rest of the Week:
Monday Lunch: Grilled cheese (it was a holiday)
Monday Supper: Subway (we needed some meat in our house!)
Tuesday Supper: Nachos. Bought: Chips, meat, beans ($12.00 - I've lost this receipt, so this is a rough estimation)
Wednesday Supper: Spaghetti - had it all on hand
Thursday Supper: Chinese - Mr. Curly had an extra window washing job
Friday Supper: Culver's - travelling
Saturday Lunch: Beef stir-fry (had it all on hand)
Saturday Supper: Spaghetti Casserole, garlic bread, applesauce (welcome to the neighborhood gift from neighbor)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)