21 days of me.

So I was thinking. This whole new me thing. This whole Go Big or Go Home attitude I've got for the new year. It's not such a bad idea. Might sound funny the way I word it. But 21 days into this year, and I am pop free, 3 lbs lighter, shiny sink each night, NO laundry on the floor, pickin' up after myself, attempting to budget and not blow each paycheck to the last dime kinda girl.

And I like it.

Don't get me wrong, it's great to be all those things. For some of you that may be an everyday norm. But for me it was hard to do each of those things.

Pop, sure we don't have it around the house, but if I was out, or in the mood. I would have it. 5 or 6 times a week, so it's still a sacrafice. Now it's water, coffee and o.j.

3 pounds. Well I am grasping at my 3 pounds with glee. I am taking it S.L.O.W.L.Y. I eat healthy...er... I eat healthy for breakfast, and lunch, I may or may not eat good at dinner, now I'm not sayin' a whole box of mac & cheese, that is SO 2009, more of small bowl of mac & cheese to humor me. Still 3 pounds and I'm still in the mental mindset to do this is awesome for me.

Shiny sink? Just ask the Flylady about that. She says she is proud of me and how I fly. She would be happy to know I have my dishes done, my coffee made with the timer set, table cleared so I can start my day shiny and new.

Laundry. Well if you read here at least once a week it seems I bitch about laundry. I loathe it. I get it, thought, it needs to be done. I am realizing that even with the 18 bags from just Spaghetti and I alone, not counting the 12 bags from Bagel, or 3 from Weaky, we still have a SHITload of clothes! BUT the rule is NO clothes on the floors! In baskets. Dirty or clean. I am getting better at doing laundry more often, (like everyday) because Flylady says if you don't it causes C.H.A.O.S. (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)

El budgeto. Well I am better, we have $51.95 in savings. And that may be too much info, but lets face it I'm all about to much info and on that note that is $51.00 dollars more then we had last year. I try to keep SOME money in the account, paying bills, BUDGETING groceries, and gas, and attempting to keep a bit o' bucks around for a freezing rain day.

Right. So, so far 2010 has been doing well. And I'm proud of me. So let's bring a few more things in. Like for one thing, a work out plan. Yep, Mamma needs to start crunching and sqatting this fat away, time to bring out the pretty Gaiam purple ball, my pretty purple yoga mat with squiggly design on it. And the fun purple (do you see a pattern?) yoga blocks my dad got me for Christmas. Oh and my grey (they didn't have purple) band. I LOVE the band! Even if it's some yoga in the morning, I need to get a move on! (speaking of, Spaghetti is finally on the same track as me, he is two days into his P90X work outs and diet again!)

I also am proud to say, I have 2 more recruits with me and my Stampin' Up! business!! Score for me! That equals 3 downlines. I love it! I want to teach them and help them work twards goals, even if it's just for the discount!

Speaking of SU! I was recently referred by my upline to a special program for business development. I will find out soon if I am accepted! I think it will be good for me to try to keep growing with this!

Am as proud of myself, for setting little goals and achieving them. I still have more, but don't we all? I still need to work on less fast food (I guess once a week isn't bad, but it's not good for the budget either!) I need to get my but to bed earlier then 11 pm, which means I need to make Spaghetti's food and iron his clothes before 10 pm!!

I also would like to throw in there more scrapbooking and sewing projects done! So how are you doing after 21 days?

I was on fire. So I pissed my pants

So no one reminded me that I never finished my NY Eve story, it's funny damn it. And it's got lots of pictures so it's easy to read. Leave me a comment damn it. I want some.

New Years Eve continued...

Here is Francis and Queen freezing there butsie cheekies off, outside my house. It a tradition we do every year, only the girls, but maybe next year Weaky will come with us too. Frances stayed only a minute, and her skinny ass snuck back into the house...

We even got Bagel to come outside with us and freeze her butt off, we yell "Happy New Year!!" to whomever is brave enough to freeze there butts off too.

So the point of going outside is to light sparklers. Yes we have them with our 4th of july things, and with our New Years things, I love to stick them in the snow. Bagel didn't want to hold it, because I taught her that fire was hot, so she went up by the door, Queen held one, and we swing them around enjoying some me and mom time.

Then I think, hey I should hold one in my left hand, and fuck it we're freezing, so lets just light the other 5 at once and hold them in my right hand. A fucking searing hot ember goes down my coat sleeve...

I scream like the flaming bitch I am (SLIGHT exageration here, It was a little sting) either way I am screaming, throw the sparkers down, and thus my mother keeps taking pictures, telling me it's funny to watch me burn and scream like a little girl, I then in return cry laughing, and COM.PLET.LY piss my pants (not like a oops I peed, like a holy soaked and now freezing to my legs pee my pants)

(as you can see the stripes on my hat, as I am bent over holding my crotch, crying, and laughing.)

Then laughing some more at my mom because she is taking a picture of the sidewalk where I threw the sparkers. Not into the foot of snow, but onto the one dry section of sidewalk so I burnt it. (see Queens toes on right edge of photo?)

Wow. It was one of those you had to be there moments, and yes my dad, sister, and children all laughed and pointed from inside the house watching us. Nothing says family fun, like a good pissing contest, a burnt sidewalk, and fire.

Happy New Years again, twenty ten!

Namaste

Good Morning!

For all of you that don't know, I am on the road to a better me! To put it bluntly? Lose the fat, lose the lazy, lose the overdrafting bum that was me! (starting today!)

I woke before my coffee! Coffee is set for 7:15, I was up at 7:03! It's big for me, I was getting up closer and closer to 9 am. And the kids would be the ones yelling for me to get up from their rooms!

So back to my exciting schedule... up, went downstairs, filled the dogs water, food bowls, then went to the basement to let them out, feed the cats, switch out laundry.

Carried up laundry, then did my AM Yoga on OnDemand, it's a short 15 minute wake up yoga. But it's a start.

Chugging my big water bottle, I will have coffee, that is not an available option for giving up right now. But I am giving up pop. (yikes! But if Spaghetti can, the guy who would drink 8 cans or more a day who cold turkey gave it up in September!!) And I don't drink but maybe a can a day. Be gone with you dirty soda pop! BE GONE!! (I will miss you. Mt Dew and Dr. Pepper)

So now what?

I am going to get Bagel from her room, we can shower, then go get Weaky for breakfast. I am actually hungry for eggs. I also need to go to the store, we are short on good foods around here.

So, I'm proud I got up early. I'm proud of my routine so far, and I have to take baby steps to get to where I'm going. Each day, hell each hour I have to check in with myself, and remind myself how proud I am that I didn't suck so far.

So Happy Official New Year Resolution Day!

If anyone cares 5' lil ol me is...
138.5 on 01/02/2010

One eyed Carrot Man on New Years Eve!

Happy 2010 Bloggers! I must tell you of my exciting night...

It was a great night, my parents the Queen and Carrots came by and my sister Frances too.

(side note, my father has full use of his right eye, he just choses to be a spaz for each and every picture I ask him to be in. So be it! For my sisters picture. Go here to understand)

Spaghetti had to work at the Video store, so we all just order Giordano's Pizza (deep. dish. I know those of you who KNOW what I am talking about. REAL Chicago pizza... mmm...)

The kids played with Carrots while the Queen read stories...

And it was a horn blowing good time...

singing song of a good time...

Scream Happy New Year!! of a good time...

Until Queen reminds us girls that it is a tradition that we go outside, freeze our asses off (it was about 7 degrees) and light sparklers in the snow!! And then...

To be continued...

2010's New and Improved me.

I've got some new and improved plans for 2010. I like that it's one of those even years. A big brand shiney new decade.

A decade of new starts.

I see alot of my friends on Facebook stating that they have no resolutions, just good hopes for a new year. I mean sure, if you don't have all the issues I do, I remember before kids, and when I was skinny, I didn't know what to say was my resolutions.

Oh but now that I have had a home, and kids, and so much on my plate. I am thinking that 01-01-2010 will be the start of something great.

Now lets cover my current status, and then what I need to do with that status, for those of you who are new here. I won't be beating around any bushes, so lets just be blunt.

I am fat. STOP saying I'm not.

I once was a very cute, petite, 107 lbs. Sure it's tiny but at only 5 feet tall that was a fun weight. I am now weighing in at... fuck I hate even typing the numbers... as of this morning... 141... I am 34 lbs more then I want to be. I am SO tired of the "well you did have two kids" great, sure I did but um the youngest is 20 months, and I am over postpartum so I am me again. And I am sadly 10 lbs heavier then when I went in for my 6 week check up after I had Weaky.

So below is a paint (I know, I know, mad paint skillz here) project I made. Of my fat ass, highlighed in yellow are the area's that need some...well to be blunt... lypo? Since lypo ain't in the budget, we can work on it the el natural way. starvation and insane work out routine

SO I have plans.

In the fantabulous blogosphere we have my new friend, Dual Mom, over at Were At Dad's That Week" who had the details on this whole Lose it Bitch idea.
I would post them here but I'd probably screw that up. Check her out, tell her Feisty sent ya. Oh but I do know to tell you to check in on my fat ass each Wednesday to see my check in results. If your a blogger and up for the challenge feel free to join in.

Alright, so here's the master plan... my diet will consist of these rules...

1. 
   
   Portion control. This is HUGE for me. I am a P.I.G. when it comes to food.
   
   
   
2. 
   
   Less carbs. No carbs isn't healthy and I don't think I would last 2 hours with out them.
   
   
   
3. 
   
   No pop. Alright thanks to my sister who hates pop, I too never really drank it as a kid. And since Spaghetti hasn't had a drop of pop since September (I am SO proud!) I think I can give that up.
   
   
   
4. 
   
   Coffee is allowed. Otherwise people will die.
   
   
   
5. 
   
   Lots of protien, I love chicken, yogurts are fun too. Eggs, salads are fun if you have to right stuff in them. So I can tweak the diet. I'm not getting all tofu and salmon pattie crazy here.
   
   
   
6. 
   
   Exercise. Alright so P90X was fun, but it was a bit much to start with. SO we will be starting with a mix of my own. A bit of P90X with a bit of On Demand Yoga and some of my favorite Giaim ball exercises. When we see the sun again and it's above freezing I would love to start walking again (but that is MONTHS from now)
   
   
   
7. 
   
   Declutter the house. Weird I know. But from what I read the less clutter we have, the easier it is to diet and be healthy. Like a healthy house, healthy me? Sure I'll buy it.
   
   
   

Alright that is just the weight loss resolution. Moving on.

Declutter. This is an ongoing thing. I started the process in the fall 2008. I have been doing good, I have organized and found a place for so many of my things. I still have LOTS to do. But it's coming along great!

Budget. Alright, so paying bills isn't budgeting. I am the accountant of the family I guess. Spaghetti makes it, I budget it. And not very well. With a bit of the numbers crunched I figured out that Spaghetti's main job at the Casino is $15 more then we have in bill each month. Sad I know. BUT that is why we have the Video store job. That is our food and gas $$. I just need to learn NOT to blow all the Video store money the second we get it.

I had a long talk with my dad last night about budget. It was good. And I asked him if I could check in more often about what I'm doing. Don't think Spaghetti doens't know, he does. But my dad is the master of budgets, and even though our budgets are a world apart. My dad did budget for a family of 4 on just his unemployment when my sister was just born.

It has to do with less of the debit card, and I have to have cash to go buy things. I think this will help me alot. I seem to have a small Carrots on my shoulder

when I have cash in hand. I am very good at not spending cash. (weird maybe?)

Family Time This one is big. I think it's going to be easier now that Weaky is bigger, and walking. I'm not saying we don't spend a ton of time with our family, but after such a devastating year losing both Spaghetti's Gramma Dorthy and Uncle T. that we have all wanted to make family time more important.

Frances has a Zoo membership, and Chicago has the free Lincoln Park Zoo. There is Starved Rock State Park, not to mention all the bike rides to the local parks we have around here.

A small big thing, is my store. My mom the Queen and I have been talking of our own store, of fun arts and crafts things, for years, and years. Maybe, just maybe... but I have to make stuff, to sell. So this year will be focused on working on my projects, hoping for a Etsy shop in 2011?

There's little things too. Like to keep staying organized in my Stampin' Up! business, to Scrapbook WAY more, to possibly procrasinate less, to send out Birthday cards, and thank you's (since I do that for a living anyway!) and to just really take in 2010 as a New and Improved me. To grasp the 31 year old me by the shirt and tell her it's time to get it together, and enjoy what you've got.

So hold up your drinks, coffee, water, wine, mine is a McD's LARGE coke (last one for a LOOOOONNNGGGG time) and cheers to new decade!

Happy 2010!!

Manic Monday on Saturday

What is the biggest mistake you made in 2008 and will not make again in 2009?
I had a blog. I started it in February of 2007. It had to go into hiding. There was to much angry comments made by me, about family. Resulting in me STILL getting subscriptions in my name to magazines, books sent to my door, and more brochures on travel then one could want. I did find out the person. It's my cousins dirty baby mama (not married, but they continue to accidentally breed) she hates his family and chooses to start drama. Nasty.

Since then I closed my old blog, and started up Spaghetti and Bagels. Hence all the nicknames for everyone. AND very few people read my blog that know me personally. Just Queen, Carrots, Frances, Aerial, Iowa, Maternal Mirth, All that Drama, and D. Mudd Pimp. I think a few others, Penguin, and Spaghetti at times.

I just really enjoy the random friends I have made here in the blog world, and would rather know what you have to say.

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Why or why not?
Sure do. I think it's good to make some goals in life. Not saying I will stick to them, but some sort of attempt is there.

Who do you nominate as “Man or Woman of the Year” for 2008?
Man of the year? Shocker. Obama.

Why? Well same reasons why this mama is for Obama, I truly think we can change this Nation. I know it won't happen over night, or in 4 years. He's got a lot of mess to clean up. I think he was amazing in all his speeches, and am proud that in just two weeks he will be the next President of the US!
What was your greatest accomplishment in 2008?
Birth of Weaky Spike Mc on April 25th at 4:06 pm.

That and being able to keep my sanity with two kids, two big dogs, two pissing cats, and a whole house to myself. Since Spaghetti works Nights full time, days partime, and sleeps inbetween, every baby shift, dog barf, cat piss, and dirty butt, are all on my shift. (98% of the time) he is very hands on when he can, but most of it's for me.

I give myself a big pat on the back, and even though there is clutter everywhere, and laundry out the ying yang, I am still working twards a better home.

My big ideas for 2009

Happy New Years Eve! As I sit in my cluttered home on the eve of a new year, 2009 holds promise for a new me, and a new home plan for us here.





So here it is. The big list. The list of things I am going to do, or not do, in this fantabulous new year. A year of projects and goals set just for me. I am not going to set out goals or projects that I don't think I can reach. But these are more guide lines for a better life. Starting tomorrow.

Eat better. Shocker right? Who doesn't have this one on there list. (one year I had it to NOT eat good. Go against the flow, worked well. I now have 28 extra pound due to that brilliant idea) Sparkpeople here I come. I am registered there. My Iowa friend says it worked great when she stuck to it. It's more of meal plan, and daily check in.

I know, I know, who's going to keep up with checking in everyday online? Well. Me. I want to try. It's really cool, and FREE, you can track your weight, size, and you get to choose what you want to eat off there menu. (I by the way will be starting this on January 12th, because of my Scrapbook getaway on the 9-11th, will be my last big weekend, until then I have planning to do)

Spaghetti and I need, and I mean NEED someone to tell us what to eat. That mixed with some working out, should do me some good this year.

Yes I said it. Working out. And not the gym like I have done before. I need something to work around being home with the kids. So there is some free Yoga and work out shows On Demand, so I can always go watch those. I actually have a goal of getting up before everyone else, doing morning yoga, drinking my coffee, and having everything perfect each morning. (did you just snort your beverage of choice out your nose too?) I know the hardest part will be getting up, so I need to start with my night routine (Flylady) and go to bed early! (like 10 pm early!)

I can't be negative or put down my ideas before I even try them. There will be many days where this won't work, but the days I have gotten up at 6:30 I am up before everyone, I get the dishwasher emptied, and thing set for the day. Now if I can just toss in some Yoga, what a great way to start my day!

I also would like to walk with the kids, and or dogs more. I have a HUGE neighborhood, and I could walk with the big double stroller. I want to set up Spaghetti's weight bench and we could both work out. I have some 3 and 5 lb weights to work with. Nothing crazy. But to tone my ever so jello like figure.

Budget. I do budget. I could always do better at this. And now with the taxes not being paid through our monthly mortgage payments, I seriously need to watch money. But we can breath better with things like this.

Scrapbook more. You need to make the time, and as much as I love to scrapbook, and take pictures, I need to use what I have and keep up with all my great ideas brewing in my head!

Take care of myself. Kinda goes along with the whole eat better, and work out plan, but I need to floss, and brush my teeth more, I need to just take the time and wash my face and put on lotion everyday (this pretty young face ain't gettin' any younger!)

Organize. Hee hee. Again on everyone's list. I started a HUGE project back in August to organize, and purge my house. I have LOTS of crap around here, and finding homes for it all is a bit time consuming, but that is why I started the "Where do I begin" blog, to keep track of what is going on, and how I am getting there.

We just have to much clutter, and stuff, and clutter, and gah, just everything here is to much. It drives me nuts but especially Spaghetti. I hate for him to be annoyed by the house he barely gets to spend time in. (and just so you know, I took over 100 lbs worth of clothes and house hold items to donate in December! Fly lady has you weigh your clutter, I lost 100 lbs in a month!)

I guess on the organize idea, I want to be able to walk out of the house, just grabbing a few things and go. Not the whole up stairs for a sippy, down the stairs for a blankie, up the stai... oh wait grab this real quick... now where was I going? Oh shit were SO late for this event! Yep that is our routine. By then Spaghetti is sitting in the car with Bagel and Weaky, while I do the crazy circle dance in the kitchen, listing out loud the items I have and need for a simple day out. So if I could plan ahead, or have a diaper bag just ready to go would be smart.

Emergency plan. Seriously with the two little ones, and my dogs, and my cats, if there was an emergency I would need to whisk everyone out the door, into the truck in minutes flat. I would want to have everything saved from our home, but realistically that won't happen. I do need to check and update the fire safe, be sure the picture CD's are easy to grab (in a file box on my desk) and have a emergency bag for all of us.

May sound a bit much. But when Bagel was 7 months old, the Carbon Monoxide detectors went off in the middle of the night, I called 911 and they came in all suited with special outfits and breathing gear, as they read our numbers (not sure what they were) but we needed to get everyone out. Now.

The dogs were let outside, and Bagel and myself went across the street to a neighbors house. After a few hours, we went back home, gathered up what we needed for the night, packed up cats, dogs, myself and Bagel and we went to my parents house. (before Weaky's time, and Spaghetti was working nights) We were able to go back the next day, the found it was our stove (only 4 years old!) had a leak in it. The levels were very high and dangerous.

I didn't have a getaway bag then, like I should, and especially with two kids, and all the pets, I need to be responsible and be ready for anything.

Business plan. As always I love my Stampin' Up! business and I want to keep working at improving my classes, and ideas for my customers. Stampin' Up! is the kind of company that always makes it super easy to do this. They have TONS of ideas, and tools to make this possible. And on that note, I need to track my expenses better for taxes!

Laundry.

I know. Laugh. No really. It's funny if you know me. If you know I STILL have 9 bags of laundry in Weakys closet from the people-are-coming-over-shove-all-the-clothes-in-garbage-bags-deal-with-them-later.

Riiiiiiiiggghhhtttt. Later as in when we are naked from the shower, have nothing to wear, and still need to do the spin around the kitchen dance to get everything to go?

So with Laundry comes the process of doing laundry before it is covering the WHOLE bathroom floor, spilling out of the laundry basket.

After washing it, put it in the dryer.

After drying the laundry, using the hanging rack and hangers in the basement, ACTUALLY use it to hang clothes. Take the laundry up stairs and PUT IT AWAY. No really away, dumping it onto the bedroom floor is not where it belongs.

I do need to purge and get rid of a TON of my clothes, I don't wear or fit into 80% (obviously the 9 bags in the closet) AND maybe if I can get my laundry shit together, I could actually iron, and put together outfits for Spaghetti to wear to work? Maybe? Let's just start with the knee deep laundry covering my bedroom floor, and the 9 bags still in Weaky's closet.

PICK UP AFTER MYSELF. No really, I suck SO bad at this. I can't leave an area with out making a mess, and leaving it there. I really have to out loud tell myself to clean up when I am done. It's a bit much but I am realizing I am a HUGE factor in the constant mess around here.

Any other ideas? I know it's alot to do, alot to change, but it's all real, and doable. I can get up early, do yoga, have things together, keep up with laundry, keep up with myself, and the kids, take care of myself and pets better, walk with the kids, eat better, feed my family better, run a better business, all while making time to scrapbook, read, and just stare at the wall.

Sure it's possible. I can do this. How? Because I believe in myself to do better for myself and my family. It may be the same speech we are all giving ourselves, but I need to do this for a happier family life for us Mc's.

Happy New Year everyone, may 2009 be a more organized and healthy year for all of us!