I am newly going to our local Y after a prolonged hiatus due to many factors. I dipped my toes into exercising the way one might dip their big toe into a steaming hot spring. Unsurprisingly, I did not see or feel any results from my dabbling.
Here I am after, completing week one of exercising 5 days a week for an hour. I am also utilizing Sparkpeople, an online resource to track what I eat, what exercises I do, how many calories that exercise burned; as well as track my goals. My goals are to lose 25 pounds by May 1st, losing two pounds a week. I input all my data and goals and then it spits out what I need to know: 1) my range of calories, fat, carbs and protein I need to eat in a day and 2) how many calories I need to burn each day. I am able to set my workout schedule and menu and then thanks to their large database, enter my info in each day. It is a great accountability partner for me. There is so much on there I do NOT utilize, support groups, etc. that makes it a valuable site, in my opinion.
Here is one of my many observations from the Y: Many people have earbuds/head phones in/on while working out but nobody else is singing along with their music! Not even silently with only their lips giving away that they are totally busting a move inside! This is so odd to me. I find myself totally lost in song, moving my lips while I sing along to the song playing. Today, I finally decided they just don't have awesome songs on their workout playlist, like yours truly.
So, in honor of all those people, here is my playlist ( in order):
David Crowder Band "SMS (Shine)" 3:14 mins
David Crowder Band "The Nearness" 3:48 mins
David Crowder Band "Birmingham (We Are Safe)" 3:26 mins
David Crowder Band "Dance" 3:51 mins
John Cougar Mellencamp "Crumblin' Down" 3:36 mins
Queen "We Are the Champions" 3:02 mins (May change out without something faster in the next few weeks...)
Hank Williams Jr. "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" 3:30 mins
Mindy McCready "Guys Do It All the Time" 3:12 mins*
Shania Twain "I'm Outta Here" 4:30 mins*
Alanis Morissette "Hand in My Pocket" 3:42 mins *
Little Big Town "Little White Church" 3:06 mins
Jessica Andrews "Who I Am" 4:15 mins
Casting Crowns "And Now My Lifesong Sings" 4:03 mins
This gives me a solid 45 minutes of songs I love right now to workout to! I can't help but sing along to, "I gotta little change in my pocket, goin' jinga la a lang. I wanna call you on the phone, I wanna give you a ring..." and the beat with Mindy and Shania are perfect for a 3.5 speed on the treadmill! "Who I Am" is just what I need to finish strong, reminding me of who I am.
Here's to starting week 2 strong!
*my children don't listen to all of these songs with me... just in case you were wondering.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Growing Up
Here is my 17 year old gorgeous daughter, opening a letter from her 1st choice college:
Reading aloud to us:
With much excitement and help from her brothers:
The more she read, the more excited she got:
Until her joy just erupted into this!!!!!
"I'm IN! YAY!!!!!"
And then, one look at me and her happiness became tears of joy:
I'm not sure what my tears are of. Maybe just tears. Because, honestly, she's been a part of me as long as my husband has and my stomach literally hurts just thinking of her leaving.
For now, I'll support, love and encourage her and pray someone is here to help put me back together next fall when she is very very very far away from home.
Man, I'm going to miss my baby girl.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Norge
Welcome to my home, Norge!
Norge, our 1960 WORKING refrigerator was welcomed to my home today after many years of living with my brother.
Norge's life began in 1960 when my parents lived in College Town, Colorado. They were poor as church mice and my Grandma sent them $100 to purchase Norge. He's been a good friend.
He lived for many years with his original owners, my parents, until 1994 when he went to live with my brother.
Norge has been faithful, keeping our drinks cold and extra food as he sits safe in the garage (after he was replaced by a larger model as the main fridge). I prayed as they moved Norge that he would survive and turn on when plugged back in. He did!
Norge has door shelves and a veggie drawer, one metal shelf and and a freezer. He is in pristine condition.
Norge, I am so glad to have you join our home. As my parents and brother before me, I will love and care for you. I hope you live for a long time in my pantry.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
MEAT!
I just love a good savings, especially when it's on things we are going to buy anyway - like meat!
At my local Winco the other day I happened upon a fabulous chicken thigh special. It just sealed the deal on what I would make for my sons 22nd birthday dinner.
The savings varied so here is an example:
1.69 pounds that I paid $2.41 for making it 1.42/pound instead of $1.78
1.84 pounds for $2.30 = $1.25/lb (instead of $1.78
2.13 pounds for $2.66 = $1.25/lb.
On 5.66 pounds of chicken thighs, I paid $7.37 for all of them instead of $10.07! A savings of $2.70! That is 27% savings!
It's a true savings since we were already needing meat and all I had to do was bring it home and freeze it so that it would make it one week for our party tomorrow. What I also look for is meat that hasn't been frozen before; which this hasn't. While I regret that I couldn't buy organic meat this time, I was able to buy hormone and antibiotic free meat, no salt added and never frozen. So, I feel this is my next to organic option.
Always out for a deal; especially on things we truly need and will use... er, eat.
Yum-may!
At my local Winco the other day I happened upon a fabulous chicken thigh special. It just sealed the deal on what I would make for my sons 22nd birthday dinner.
The savings varied so here is an example:
1.69 pounds that I paid $2.41 for making it 1.42/pound instead of $1.78
1.84 pounds for $2.30 = $1.25/lb (instead of $1.78
2.13 pounds for $2.66 = $1.25/lb.
On 5.66 pounds of chicken thighs, I paid $7.37 for all of them instead of $10.07! A savings of $2.70! That is 27% savings!
It's a true savings since we were already needing meat and all I had to do was bring it home and freeze it so that it would make it one week for our party tomorrow. What I also look for is meat that hasn't been frozen before; which this hasn't. While I regret that I couldn't buy organic meat this time, I was able to buy hormone and antibiotic free meat, no salt added and never frozen. So, I feel this is my next to organic option.
Always out for a deal; especially on things we truly need and will use... er, eat.
Yum-may!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Honor Begins at Home
Staring tomorrow, January 17th, Redbox will have this available. If you reserve online, it still only costs $1 to rent from Redbox.
The Kendrick Brothers are real men, raising their families to love God. The majority of their actors and crew members are people from their church as VOLUNTEERS!!! Honestly, I've been tired of Hollywood for a long time. I love seeing real people on the screen.
Courageous is a movie that we will own and watch and resolve to live.
"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15
Sunday, January 15, 2012
What We Got
Christmas Eve seems like forever ago and yet it hasn't even been a month. To hightlight some of our Christmas time. check out the pictures below!
The long awaited Red Rider BB GUN!
Rest for the Papi
Lovings for Zorro:
Silly Kids with new Jammies:
New Christmas Dress & haircuts:
Some snuggle time between uncle and niece:
A digital camera of her very own:
A "new-to-him" iPod:
Table Cloth, Purse, samdwich dish, gown, dresser scarf, book ends, dog ornament, picture, picture of baby, hankerchief.
One gift was given per couple or family and many were made by hand. I don't know that we'll get back to how they gave gifts but we're headed in the right direction; drawing names helps!
From an uncle each of my four minor children received Dutch Bros. Gift Cards and I honestly think if this is all the had gotten they would have been happy!
From another they received CASH. Since we saving for a family vacation this summer, they were THRILLED!
Another gave them a book on CD which they love.
We gave our oldest son a coffee maker, coffee beans, creamer and mugs.
Our next to oldest son got PS3 games!
Our oldest daughter got a digital camera.
Our 14 year old daughter got a new coat.
Our 7 year old son got his BB Gun that he's begged for since he was 5.
Our 4 year old son got BOGS.
The little boys also got "new-to-them" iPods with lots of music on them, ready to go! (LOVE pawn shops for things like this!)
Our granddaughter also got a "new-to-her" iPod, all set with music. She also got a travel speaker so she can listen to it instead of earphones. It was fun to set the kids up with all types of music; including lots of Spanish kids music!
My hubby got work boots (BOGS) and work jeans (Prison Blues) which he LOVES!
I got a gift certificate from my man. Plus, a gorgeous Black Hills Gold necklace!
We fill the kids' stocking full of fun things:
- Orange goes in the toe
- all-in-one spoon/fork/knife
- gloves
- toothbrush and paste
- gum
- DVDs for girls
- socks for little boys
- orange peeler from Pampered Chef
- Lip Balm
- Renw Lotion
- Hotshot/Coolshot
- Soap
- Big Boys got pillowcases I made
I love having price limits and scoring big on sales so we can spoil our family a little bit. Most importantly, it was the time we spent together. We got out of town for New Years and you'll have to wait to read about that later.
Blessings Abound,
Mamacita
Friday, January 13, 2012
Conversations in the Tub
Growing up, we had one of these awesome claw foot bath tubs. I loved it. As a child, it was deep enough that I could play and not make a terrible mess even if one of my friends was in there with me! As I grew older, it was deep enough to really soak in and enjoy taking a bath. Ours was inside our home but I have to tell you, I have dreams of having one outside...
As a child, when my Mom was bathing, I would come in, sit on the toilet lid and we'd talk. I remember walking in on my Mom on many occasions while she was bathing and we would visit about who knows what.
This happened all of my growing up years. She never made me feel weird or intrusive or interupting her bath. Is it because I am her only daughter? Is it because after three boys she didn't know that other people didn't do that?
Why am I thinking of this now?
Why did I feel this was the best time to talk to her about really important things? Maybe because if I was going to be vulnerable asking, she was vulnerable sitting there in the tub. Subconsiously did I need to level the field a little? As a teen, did talking to my Mom while she was in the tub give me the courage to talk about things I might not have been courageous enough if we were both clothed in the kitchen? Perhaps.
Why I am thinking of this now?
As I took a long bath last night, I locked the door. I locked my girls out of an opportunity that was never off-limits to me. I didn't think of it while I locked the door but as I sat in the tub, soaking in the hot blissful bubbles, I thought of it. As I heard the girls talking outside my door, through the door, I thought of it. And honestly, it made me a little sad.
If it's my body I'm self-conscious about, add more bubbles! Maybe if they saw me more confident and not caring they'd be more confident in their own skin and not cower and cover when forced to change in front of each other. In front of me.
Needless to say, I've been doing some serious thinking. My Mom isn't perfect but she sure has done lots of things right and set an example for me to follow on how to be a moma. I just have to follow more closely.
So, here's a question for you mamma's with daughters: "Did or do you let your daughter come in while you are bathing or showering or do you lock the door?" If you lock the door, what was the most frequent time your daughter came to you about important, maybe sensitive, things? When did she see you as vulnerable if outside the tub?
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