Busy Bee!

My mission this week is to declutter the kitchen counter tops (and keep them decluttered) and organize the kitchen cupboards. I've made a start this morning but I'm not quite finished. I think I will have accomplished this mission by tomorrow :-)

I didn't sleep much last night, don't know why, but sometimes I have those nights where I just seem to toss and turn. I was awake pretty much from 2-5am, I then started nodding off about 5.20am and remember thinking "oh no, I'm going to feel exhausted when the alarm goes off at 6!" I woke again at 5.58, so I turned off the alarm before it went off and went downstairs - and yes, I felt exhausted! I still went to the gym though, after dropping Kristen off at school, then I did a quick grocery shop stocking up on more fruit and veggies for this week. Tonight we're having spaghetti and meatballs, but I'm going to have the spaghetti squash, cos I really want to make an effort to be good. I've lost about 4lbs since the beginning of December, and my aim will be to lose at least 6lb more, then I will need to just try and maintain that weight and continue with going to the gym and walking.

Speaking of walking, I did take Boo out on Saturday afternoon and did a quick walk around the neighborhood. It was actually only 15 minutes first time around. Boo has the not-so wonderful habit of going potty about 2 minutes after we set off (EVERY SINGLE TIME!) and I end up carrying a blue bag of poop around with me - delightful.... NOT!!! So after one quick circuit I dropped him off at home (and the poop!) and went out again for another 15 minutes. It was really hot on Saturday, sun shining and nearly 80 degrees! I didn't get out yesterday because we went over to Grandma's after church, and I haven't gone today because I've been to the gym and I'm busy trying to get the kitchen cleaned. No gym tomorrow so I will try to get a half hour walk in, if it's not raining.

Not much else going on today, so I'll hop off here and get back to it!

Quickest post ever!!!

It's Sunday, and we are ALL off to church :-) It's the first Sunday of the month which means no kids church, but that's ok. I want Kristen to get used to being in big church and practicing her 'sitting still' skill (seriously, she could do this better at age 3 than she can at age 7!).

After church we are off to Grandma's house for lunch. The weather has turned really warm, a high of 78 yesterday and today, so Papa is grilling burgers :-)

And later today I will start planning my menu for next week and coming up with a plan for getting lots accomplished re: housework and organizing in the coming week.

And with that said, (I told you it was a quick post) I wish you all a blessed and wonderful SONday.

It's the weekend. . . . . . .

. . . . . . . so why am I running around like crazy tidying up the house, vacuuming and doing laundry? Although I have to laugh at Sadie's mood girl - I can't remember the last time I hung out washing to dry! Sorry Sadie, I know how you like the wind billowing through your linens, but over here we just don't do that. I remember when I first moved in with Jason in England and he laughed when he saw me hanging out washing in the little back yard we had. He actually asked "what are you doing?" I thought it was obvious what I was doing, but he couldn't understand why I would do that when a perfectly working dryer sat in the kitchen. And so after that I just kind of started using the dryer all the time - after all HE was the one paying the electric bill, not me ;-)

But anyway, I'm doing housework, and it's the weekend! Something not right with this picture. I'm obviously behind on housework and the fact that Kristen was only in school 2 days this week hasn't helped. I blame the holidays too of course. Everything goes by the wayside when Kristen is off school. Not to worry though, I shall get caught up next week and will start to get back in to a routine, I've no doubt about it.

In the meantime... I thought I'd mention a blog I just found this week, from a link on another blog, on a blog, on a blog, you know how it is once you get surfing! ..... it's called Home Sanctuary, and Rachel the host has started something for the new year called 'Sanctuary is in the small things'. Each day she is giving you one small thing to do, and I've really been enjoying reading about these, and trying to do some of them. For instance the other day her suggestion was 'reintroduce your family to fruit'! A nice reminder for me as I try to eat healthy and try to get my family to do the same. I just bought some fresh fruit and veg that day and actually bought some cherries - one of Kristen's favorites or so she tells me. So I set them out on the dinner table as suggested, and we all munched away at them with our meal :-) Anyway, I'm enjoying Rachel's site, so I thought I would just share it with you. CLICK HERE if you'd like to visit Home Sanctuary.

Have a super weekend everyone.

A Good Read!

Would you look at this..... 5 new magazines, all in one week! I can't wait to put my feet up and read them. I usually only have one magazine subscription at a time, and usually that is the 'Today's Christian Woman' magazine, which I really like. But last year sometime (when I was in to yet another 'I want to get fit' phase) I subscribed to the 'Fitness' magazine. Then just last October I got the 'Paula Deen' magazine subscription as a birthday gift from my inlaws (it was on my wish list). And just last month I agreed to the 'Simple & Delicious' subscription cos, well it looked so yummy! The Weight Watchers mag I just bought yesterday when I got the groceries in. I'm by no means following any of their programs, but I do like their magazine and it helps motivate me to eat the right things. So, now all I need is - time, so I can read them all.

I think it is the last issue for the Fitness magazine and I won't be re-newing it. To be honest I've hardly glanced at the 2 or 3 previous issues. They just seem to have the same old stuff in every issue. I wasn't really impressed with it and certainly won't miss it in the mail each month. I love the Paual Deen magazine :-) Even if I won't cook half the recipes in there I like looking at them, and reading the other articles in there. It's a real 'homey and cozy' kind of mag. One you'd love to curl up with on a rainy day, with a hot drink in your hands.

I had to run some errands this morning so I went out at 8.30am wanting to be at the store (Best Buy, where I needed to return something) for 9am. I thought I'd stop in at the Barnes & Noble book store for a few minutes first, because I thought that opened even earlier. I got to the book store at 8.45am and it didn't open til 9! I had to sit 15 minutes in the car, cos nothing else is open at that time either. I popped in there at 9 for about 15 minutes, I was looking for a specific magazine but they still didn't have it in. Then I headed over to Best Buy, only to find they didn't open til 10am! Ok, so I thought I'd pop in to Old Navy right near by until then (by this time it was 9.30) but I got to their doors and they didn't open til 10 either. I'm getting rather fed up at this point. Just before Christmas these shops were open at 9am, but then it dawned on me that their opening times were obviously for Christmas shopping and not the norm. What to do for half an hour? Linens & Things was open, as was TJ Max, so I wandered in those 2 shops just to kill 30 minutes. Then I went back to Best Buy, returned the Halo3 game book that Jason didn't need with his game, and headed home, making a detour at the library to drop off some books that were due today.

And so, here I am 11.30am already, nothing done in the house and only 2.12 hours before I have to head out again to pick up Kristen! Seriously, there isn't enough hours in some days! Next week I want to make a concerted effort to not go anywhere. Only then can I get some serious housework and organizing done.

Hope you're all having a great start to your weekend.

+++ Re: walking - I only managed 10 minutes out with Boo yesterday :-( It was just SO cold, I could hardly breath. You know when it's so cold out and you are all tense, I was like that and my chest ached! Tomorrow is forecast to be mid 70's (whooohooo, now Christmas is over I'd like warmer weather again - just not red hot yet please, but 70 would be perfect) so I will hopefully get out more over the weekend.
And white strips.... I'm sitting here with them in again - urghhhh, have I mentioned how I hate wearing these! I didn't think to take a pic of my teeth, seriously who wants to see my dull 'coffee stained' teeth! Yuck! I'm not sure I'd even be able to get a good picture anyway, but perhaps I'll try?

It Feels Like Monday!

Kristen has gone back to school today, so I headed straight to the gym after dropping her off. After the gym I went to the grocery store and bought lots of fresh food and other healthy stuff. Today feels like a Monday, so I'm gonna make a start on my new healthy eating plan. Actually 'WE' are going to make a start, because I'm bringing Jason and Kristen on board whether they like it or not :-) I'm the one that buys the groceries, so if I don't buy 'rubbish food' they can't eat 'rubbish food'!

After unpacking the groceries I made myself some breakfast. I had two eggs scrambled with a SBD (Southbeach Diet) wholegrain tortilla wrap, 6oz V8 veggie juice and a cup of coffee. Eggs really fill me up and I find I don't snack as much when I've had them for breakfast. Mind you, they aren't my favorite kind of food so I won't be eating them every morning. As well as eating healthy I want to try and get out and walk every day, even on days I've been to the gym.

I'm sitting here with those yucky white strips on my teeth (trying my hardest not to look at the clock and hope that 30 minutes passes by really quickly, while I type this and surf around!). After I've taken them off I'll clear up the kitchen then head out with the dog for a quick walk around the neighborhood. It's freezing outside but I won't let that put me off. Unless it's pouring with rain I shall try to go out every day. It's getting out the door that's the hard part. Once I'm out I know I'll enjoy walking with Boo and I'll feel great for doing it too. I shall start to blog on my 'fit blog' about my healthy lifestyle from now on and not mention it as much on here (I don't want to bore you all with in depth details of what I'm eating and such on here every day).

OK, so time I was off, only 10 more minutes of yucky strips on my teeth :-)

Cleaning!

I can't think of a witty title! I'll be cleaning up around the house today, that's about it. That and knitting :-) Jason is just about to head out to work (it's 9am) I'm waiting to get in the bathroom after him so I can get ready for the day. At 10am I have the Pulte (homebuilder) guy coming to check out the items on our house inspection list. I emailed him before Christmas and he set up an appointment for today.

Not much else on the agenda. I will hopefully be getting back in to the swing of things (gym, housework, daily chores etc) tomorrow when Kristen goes back to school. I'm kinda sad that the Christmas breaks is over for her as I do get used to having her at home each day! But we both need the consistency of a schedule in our lives that's for sure.

I will let you know how the Olay eye derma-pods work out. It recommends you only use them 3 times a week and I've only used them twice so far. I'll keep you posted on what I think.

As for the Crest whitening strips! I bought the wrong ones - there were so many different packages for these. I had in my hand ones that said just wear for 5 minutes a day which I thought was great, but for some reason I kept looking at the other packs. The ones I'd tried before I had to keep on for 15 minutes twice a day. And for some reason, the package I eventually picked up (only a 14 day supply) says I have to wear them twice a day for 30 MINUTES!!!! I hate the feel of those gooey strips on my teeth to be honest, I would rather do it for just 5 minutes a day for a longer period than 14 days. But I will have to use these now as I've already bought them.

Pulte guy should be here in half an hour, so I'm off to clear up the kitchen.
Have a great day.

P.S. I forgot to mention, my headache has gone and I feel fine today :-) No cold or flu symptoms at all!

The Quietest One Ever!!!

It's January 1st, 2008 (of course you all know the date, I just wanted to type it out for the first time this year :-)

Last night was THE quietest New Year's Eve I can ever remember - and I'm sad to say I didn't even stay up til midnight to see the new year in. That is the first time ever that I can remember being in bed before 12 on New Years Eve. I think I was probably about Kristen's age when I was first allowed to stay up til midnight, and ever since then I have been with either family or friends and celebrated New Year. For many years I watched on tv as Big Ben struck 12 and for the past 10 years or so I've watched as the Ball dropped in Times Square. Not so last night :-(

Kristen went up to bed at 8.30pm. There was really little point in her staying up so late, and I doubt she would have made it, she was asleep by 9.15. I decided to watch Bridget Jones on dvd. It's one of my favorite movies and I especially love it at this time of year. It reminds me so much of home when she goes 'up north' to see her parents, and when her and her dad are sitting on Christmas night with their paper hats on from the Christmas crackers! Jason didn't fancy watching so he went upstairs and played on the Xbox. Once the movie was over I started getting rather tired, I guess the 3 glasses of champagne had something to do with that. By 11pm I had to head upstairs and tell Jason I was going to bed. I must have gone straight to sleep but I woke up at 12.02 and heard fireworks outside. I drifted back off to sleep again and woke at 8am!

I've taken the tree down today and packed all traces of Christmas away. Now I feel tired again and my head is aching. I hate to even type this for fear it might come true.... but I think I might be coming down with something! Either that or I just have a really bad headache from my sinuses. I didn't take a Claritin yesterday but I've taken one today, so I hope my head clears soon and I pray I'm not getting something worse.

Kristen is upstairs playing with Connor, but I've told her if they get too noisy, Connor will have to go home. I just want to rest and have some peace and quiet today.

I hope you all had a nice evening last night, whatever you were doing. I think I will make some blog visits while I sit and rest on the sofa, with my laptop.