Week 2

Level: Beginner

 

So, I still haven't found my BFF. Who can find one in a week? I have a couple of friends, some acquaintances, a few family members. All together, they provide a circle of support. I think that's pretty good. I have more than I think.
I have written in my diary once. I guess I should make more time for it. I am going to count blogging as one entry. Done!
I forgot my mantra. I had to look at my previous entry. Usually my mantra is praying to Jesus to give me strength to make it through something rough, whether it is a day full of seemingly endless annoyances or a truly soul-shaking time. Jesus take the wheel! My official mantra.
I did, however, make my bed every day. I was already in the habit of making my bed. Not one time did I do the hospital corners, but every bed in the house did get made. I just can't with the hospital corners. I don't know why. Maybe in time.
Now onto week 2!!
Week 2 seems to be a cleansing week. You are supposed to rid your wardrobe of any unflattering clothing, rid your mind of guilty and negative feelings, and stop comparing yourself to others. Learning to say no when you need to and ridding your diet of any food that weighs you down. Literally.
I have been working on all that. It does help me feel better. Comparing myself to others doesn't make me a better person. No two families are the same so there is no sense in trying to be like anybody else. You're better off to focus less on what other families do/have, and focus more on what your family needs to be positive, healthy, and happy. Same for your clothing and diet: it's better to wear something that flatters your body and makes you feel good. It's better to eat something that is good for you because you will feel better and healthier in the long run.
It isn't going to be every day that I preform perfectly, but as long as I can say I gave an honest effort, it's progress.

Gal Pal

the self-improvement spiel never ends, does it?

You will be happy to know that in addition to admitting that I am a hot mess and deciding to train for a 5k (again), I am now reading self-help books. If 'Bridget Jones' became a mom, that's basically me.

What am I reading, you ask?

Why, The Momstown Guide to Getting It All , of course!

it is broken down into a life makeover you achieve in 10-weeks. You read a chapter a week, and by then you should have your stuff together, according to the lovely ladies who wrote this.

yes, it has come to this.

you are only supposed to read a chapter a week, but I flipped through a little ahead, just to see what was in store for the upcoming weeks.

Interesting. As I go through this, I will be documenting my process and thoughts. Aren't you lucky.

Starting....now!

Week 1:

You are required to gather 7 tools:
1.Commitment to the process of becoming a GAL.  GAL = Getting A Life. I have a life, you say. I live it daily. Yes, you do. What they mean a life of your own. Outside of childcare and chores and work. My kids come first, so we'll see how that goes.
2. An adequate knowledge of the proper way to make your bed and the commitment to do it every morning. Yes, seriously. Their rationalization is that your bed is the focal point of many of life's pleasures so you should begin your day by making your bed. And not just straightening it and going about your business. Oh, no. There are in-depth steps to making your bed. That involve you taking everything off the bed, fixing the fitted sheet, putting everything back on the bed, etc. The term 'hospital corners' is used. Which I had to Google (don't judge me-turns out I knew what it was just not that it had the name 'hospital corners'...excuse me). Anyway, an in-depth 8 step process to making your bed?

 

But, as it is part of the process I will do it. Enough on making the bed. Moving on!

 

3. Finding a BFF to motivate you and share your moments with. I don't know about you, but I personally like to let my haters be my motivators. And if you have been around other stay-at-home moms, or even most moms in general, you know good and well that 99% of them are annoying. I once spent an entire half hour at toddler gym listening to other moms complain about their pet peeves. 15 minutes was on how one mom hates how people mispronounce her son's common and impossible to mispronounce name. I had to listen to what I should buy and where kids should take dance. It's so hipster. I know a place/brand/person so exclusive, you've never heard of it. Oh, your child is eating fruit snacks....ugh.

 

I like to dress cute and do my hair and makeup too, but some days that just ain't happening. And I don't judge people who are wearing sweats and look like they haven't slept in 3 days. That is real life, and it is a billboard for real motherhood. Don't mislead other not-yet-moms into thinking it's easy! Do I think you should care about your appearance? Yes. Do I think you should value your appearance to the point that it becomes the most important focus in your life? No. It's hard out there for a mom. I'm not rich and pretentious enough to be part of the elitist group. I feed my child healthy foods daily, and sometimes they even eat them if the mood so strikes them, it's okay. That's why vitamins and The Sneaky Chef were invented. Why am I defending myself to you people? Why are we being so uppity? Since when is that camaraderie?!

 There are others in the less savory category, and while I do not judge these people for I know not what they've been through, I just question their morals and integrity. That's all. I just don't think we mesh well. For example I didn't party all month while leaving my child with my mom, so I think we are tired today for different reasons. I'll leave it at that.

So, you see my conundrum? Finding a BFF who doesn't judge you, back stab you, take advantage of you, or Houdini you (disappear and re-appear at will) is not easy... In the meantime, I will stick with my kids being my bff's. At this age, they are not very judgemental of me and I'd like to enjoy that while I can.

4. The GAL Diary. This book requires you to keep a diary to write in a minimum of 3 times a week. You are supposed to confide in it and discover things about yourself. I already know I'm a mess so maybe I can figure out how to fix it without a team of professionals. It suggests to pick a journal that matches your personality. I went in search of mine. I found one. It's hot pink cheetah print. It was the last journal left at the store I went to. Who runs out of journals? Is everyone in my area reading this book? Hmm.

5. The GAL mantra, which you recite in times of woe. It's something you come up with, in 10 words or less. I have come up with:

*It's okay, you still have chocolate and 'Parks and Recreation'.

*Keep Calm and give them candy and cartoons.

*I have the power to love and kick ass.

I like the last one, I guess.

 

6.The GAL Truths. There are 10. You can't take care of anyone unless you take care of yourself (wanna bet?), Money is important (but not everything), busy people get stuff done, exercise for more energy, don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone, moms are in a powerful position, use the buddy system, you can do anything but not everything, Husbands don't get it (can I get an AMEN) and they never will so just be the mom and let him be the dad, and you can do great things despite your fears and setbacks and shortcomings.

 

 

I love some Richard Simmons, I don't even care. How could you not love him?

 

and...

 

The final and 7th tool: The Momstown Guide to Getting It All book. Obviously.

 

I know that there are a multitude of variations that this book can take. Single parents (who parent in overdrive) come to mind. It isn't just for stay at home moms, either. I think this can be adapted to just about anyone, from what I've read so far.

 

So, armed with these tools and the familiarity of the term 'hospital corners', I will embark upon my new journey. Seeing as how tomorrow is Thursday....um.  Can my week begin on Thursday? Should I wait till Monday to begin? What if I forget by then? Maybe since this week's assignment is covered I can just move on to Week 2 on Monday? Yes. Good plan.

 

 

Until next time!

 

 

 

 



Color Me Rad? Color me in

Exciting news! I am doing a 'Color Me Rad' 5k in September!
Have you ever heard of Color Me Rad? I hadn't until a few months ago. It seems like the most fun you can have with a 5k.

http://www.colormerad.com/

I can't wait to get coated in "color bombs"! It's also for a charity in my area, which helps motivate me to do it even more. If you don't want to race, you can volunteer to throw the colors on people as they go by- sounds fun! I now see why they encourage you to wear those brightly colored Ray-Ban type sunglasses. Although it's just colored cornstarch, you probably wouldn't want to get that in your eyes.

I have 4 months to prepare. I just got back into walking and I can barely walk up a hill without getting winded, so I hope this gives me enough time to at least get into trotting condition. You know, a half-walk/half-run pace. 

a day in the life

I can't with my parenting skills lately. Have I always been a half-ass parent and not realized it till now, or am I just especially lacking lately?
I still do what I always did. Kisses and hugs, activities and treats. But I am snapping, yelling and snarly quite a bit too. Not how I envisioned this whole stay at home mom thing. When I was working, I was tired but I got it done. Now I'm just like 'ughhh...no.' I know that I am depressed. I've known that for a long time. I've tried different medications, but nothing has helped. I kind of fell back into myself and wearily accepted that this is a battle that I will have to fight alone. I envy people who have found a 'cure' and are back to their peppy ol' selves. I keep telling myself that I can't let myself get in the way of being what my kids need. They are at the age where every word and action has more influence than it ever will. I need to set the better example. I'm not saying parents should be perfect. That is unrealistic and I refuse to buy into that whole charade. I am just saying that there is something inherently messed up inside my head and I don't want it to spill over into my kids lives. Anxiety and depression has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I don't want that for myself and I most certainly don't want it for my kids. Recognizing that it's gone on for too long and something must be done is part of what I hope will be a healing process. I don't know if a quick fix like a pill is entirely the solution. I know that medicine can play a key role in lifting people out of mental illness but I feel like it's time I took responsibilty in my well-being a little more seriously. I need to be more gentle and positive with myself and my children. I need to stop taking every ridiculous thing someone does or says to heart. I need to focus on improving the life quality of myself and my children, rather than worrying about how I measure up to unrealistic expectations. What I need and what my family needs are sometimes very different from what other people need. Let go of defining yourself.

 

 

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.

The courage to change the things I can.

And the wisdom to know the difference.

 

 

yummm

I just created a delicious dip. I don't know if I created it. There is probably a blog out there that you can find this recipe on, if you search hard enough. Or you can just agree that I created this bomb dip.

Fun fact: I googled 'Buffaloes in Greece' and got 'Yannis' as a result. Hopefully this is somewhat accurate, because I felt like Greek Buffalo Ranch Dip seemed a bit wordy for a title.

Yannis Ranch Dip:
*1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (I used Frank's this time)
1/4 cup ranch dressing
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

Mix well and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.

*You can add more hot sauce if you like. I think 1 teaspoon would have more of a kick. I just made it more mild for testing purposes. I'm going to make everyone who enters my home taste it. Some like spicy, some don't. So 1/2 teaspoon seems like a happy medium.

You can double this to make a larger batch. It keeps for about 3 days.

what have I done all day?

Since I have recently gone from working mom to temporary stay at home mom, my husband has been pondering that question. As in, what am I contributing to my family? What have I done that is productive? Well, let's see....
I have been taking a cheap vitamin C supplement, along with my daily multi-vitamins, everyday. My skin has never looked better. Well, I am sure it did maybe when I was like 5, but as of lately it has improved a great deal.
I am typing this as I sit in a quiet house, alone, for the first time in at least 2 weeks. The H has taken the lovies out since he came home to me still in my pajamas and in a foul mood. He also felt the need to ask if I had received my severance notice in the mail today, which I did not. Thanks for reminding me that I am jobless, we are poor and my ex-company is trying to stick it to me one final time. He then proceeded to ask me what I had done all day. Are you kidding me?
I am in my pajamas at 5:20 pm....
...clearly I have not been able to shower.
There is cereal in our bed. I have cleaned up said cereal from at least 3 other places in our house.
 I have done multiple loads of laundry, dishes, an art project that resulted in disaster, and then the nightly drama of little bath times.
I cooked, had to throw out too salty potatoes, had an issue with mac and cheese that turned out surprisingly better than expected.
 I cried because I found out that we didn't get the rental home we had wanted, brooded, wondered what kind of qualifications we lacked by not being able to obtain a single wide trailer, then made myself say multiple times that we will end up where we are meant to be. But damn it I liked that trailer, it was very Urban Cowboy with a Dolly Parton feel. Oh well, maybe we'll find a double wide next.
I had to deal with an annoying but well meaning text conversation with my elitist sister in law.
That is what I have done today. Oh there is more, but those are the highlights.
I was called a "leech" among other things (because I am just living the dream on your pay, H) and then since I didn't take the lovies out on our usual daily outing (which i am usually admonished for: gas is expensive, and our car is in need of some repair, you can't run it all over the place!) H proceeded to make a statement by getting the girls ready all by himself and taking them out somewhere because they haven't been out of the house all day. He pointedly stated to the girls multiple times that Mama is going to stay home. I managed to contain my glee until they were out of the house. Then, once I heard the car drive away, I ran to the bathroom where I pooped without anyone needing juice or asking me about my vagina. While on the toilet I talked out loud to make sure I was really alone in the house. I made up a song about being alone and what I could do in my alone time. I ended up straightening the house and washing dishes. Now I am typing this.
Do I love my kids? heck yes I do. I am loving my break, I can't lie, but I'll be happy to see them...later.
Do I love my H? I guess about as much as he loves me. Which is about the way you love your garbage pick up man. You love that he comes to take your trash away and you don't have to haul it to the dump yourself. That's a pain in the bum. You don't even have to tie the bags here. You just dump the trash into your city-designated can and haul it to the street when it's trash time. Then a truck comes, a little lift pulls up the can, dumps it into the undoubtedly foul recesses of it's back end, and puts it back down. You shuffle out to get it and put it back where you like to keep it, until next week. You don't have to talk to anyone, it's all done early and loud in the morning. And when you get stuck behind a garbage truck on a long back road and you're already running late and they don't seem to give a hoot because they are just doing their job here, you want to haul this crap away yourself? I think you see how this correlates to marriage.
Anywho, that's what I have done today. As I ponder upon my productivity, relevancy, and what I really bring to the table it seems to me that I should probably pray for God to lead me where I should be going with that. I really really want to finish my degree. I want to change it from Psychology to Business, with possibly a minor in foreign language? I feel like Business can be used for several different things and since Nursing is the only other popular option and I can't stand needles and blood, Business it is!

We shall see.

working out and cleaning out

I wish I had the money to join a gym that provides decent childcare. I would love to be able to work out and shower in peace. I would probably go every day!
Until that day comes, I have to make-do with home fitness. It's not so bad. I have actually done some impressive improvements to my body in the past with home fitness.
I have done some great workouts by Jessica Smith before, so I am excited to check this one out!
http://jessicasmithtv.com/2012/07/05/beach-body-pilates/

I have started making my own flavored water. One of my favorites is the raspberry/cucumber combo, and I also like the watermelon/rosemary one too. The one I drink the most is the Citrus one, and I always add between 1/4 to 1/8 cup of apple cider vinegar to each gallon I make. I may have already posted about the homemade "DIY vitamin water" but in case you missed it, you basically take a gallon of water, add your fruit/veggies, allow them to sit in the water for at least 4 hours, then remove the fruits/veggies. Drink it all, everyday if you can. Here is a link for more detailed instructions:
http://www.theyummylife.com/Flavored_Water
to save money, I take my huge soup pot, fill it with tap water, and boil it for about 8-10 minutes to 'purify' the water. I let it cool, then add the ingredients.
 Also, there are lots of benefits to apple cider vinegar, if you'd like more info: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5875/15-Reasons-to-Use-Apple-Cider-Vinegar-Every-Day.html
(FYI: I would only start out with 1/8 cup per gallon of water. Also, you should be cautious and check with your doctor before you workout or start drinking anything you've never had.)
Also, I would like to share something I experienced. When I began drinking ACV in my vitamin water, I felt the effects of being completely cleaned out, if you get what I'm saying. Not to be gross, I just wanted to mention this as a warning. After the first day or so, it wasn't like that! I felt refreshed and renewed after starting my ACV regimen, almost immediately I could feel the effects, so it was worth it!