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Weight Loss Journey: New Year’s Resolution

January 1, 2010 By 6 Comments
(Week 16) Day 108/366 - Pride - I'm proud of m...
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I am ready.  Today is the first day of 2010.  It is the first day of a new me.  I have done a lot of sole searching in the past week to determine if I am really ready to loose weight.  It has required a lot of thought.  The first thing I decidecd to do was to list all of the things that my weight is holding me back from.  Although it is very personal I decided to share.  I figure that in sharing it perhaps it will help someone else stay motivated.  So here it is:

  1. I am in pain.  It is preventing me from living the way I want to day to day.
  2. I cannot hike with the kids.
  3. I am uncomfortable sitting in the movies because my butt is too big.
  4. Everything hurts… Sitting, walking, climbing the stairs, shifting in bed, and yes I mean everything!
  5. I cannot walk  without becoming winded.
  6. I cannot fly in a plane comfortably.
  7. I cannot go on roller coasters.
  8. I cannot dance with my girls.
  9. I cannot get off of the floor easily when I play with the kids.
  10. I cannot buckle comfortably with a coat on.

I will be beginning to cut calories today, tomorrow I will ease into exercise and in two weeks I will be joining weight watchers.  I have been successful before with the program and am looking forward to structure.  Until that point I will finish a jar of HerbaLife I have left over.  While HerbaLife will be a good jump start I have not found that I am able to stay on it for more then about a month.  Mixing things up should help!

I am sure that there are many more things that are not on my mind right now.  I need to do this for me.  I need to be alive again.  My weight is killing my body, my mind and most of all my spirit.  This will be the year that I take charge of me.  Who is with me?

P.S.  The scale picture is not me.  I am going to take on… but I will not post it until I am ready emotionally to put it out there!

Becca

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The Wizard of Oz: Celebrating 70 Years

September 30, 2009 By 3 Comments

This is the 70th anniversary of the “wizard of Oz“.  I watched it on TV the other night for old times sake.  It is a move that has find memories for me.

The first thing is that television when I was a child was not what it is today.  The “Wizard of Oz” was on once a year and that was it.   In our house it was an event.  An even that impacted me for my whole life.  Many times I remember going to my grandmothers and watching it.  We all gathered to share that joy that the movie gives.  The only bad part for me was that Grandpa G would not let us sing!  I love to sing and those are catchy toons.  My cousin and I would develop a show for after the movie where we could let out all of our singing and other talents… tap dancing was always a must!

The Wizard of Oz, filmed in 3-strip Technicolor

Other times we watched it at home.  We would pop popcorn and sit and watch it.  Each year my mother would retell the same story… When I was young we did not have a color television.  It was not until I was married that I understood why they called it the horse of changing color. ..

See what I mean we all have memories of this movie.  It is MAGICAL.  For all of the negative during production it has lived in all of our hearts year after year.  When Abigail turned 1 I bought a DVD copy of the movie for my father.  I wrote a note saying that this movie was always something special and now we can make the same memories.  Although all of the girls like the movie it is just not the same.  It can be watched any day of the year now.  It has lost a little bit of its magic.  It will forever be in my heart as a time when I was happy…  The hours of my life I have watched “the Wizard  of Oz” are full of joy!  Until the flying monkeys came and got you in your dreams that is.

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Back to School: What Do You Really Need to Buy?

August 27, 2009 By 4 Comments

We are only 6 days away now and back to school is all I can think about.  I will admit that it is because I am anxious to see the kids out of my house back at school.  They thrive under structure which the summer just does not provide.  So as we get closer and closer I started to think about the fact that I have done NO back to school shopping yet.  For a few moments I was really worried.  My heart beat sped up and the headache started to come on.  I was in a panic yesterday thinking about how I will afford all of it and how will I get it in the next few days.

The JanSport logo
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The more I thought about it the more I realized that there was just not a huge need, like I kept thinking there was.  So I made a list of what I needed to buy and what I wanted to buy.  I think that given the current state of the economy, I am not alone in my desire to separate wants versus needs.  The school does not help too much.  They want you to buy book sox.  I did find them in Walmart for $.50 each but come on.  Why is it that we do not reuse… You know the keys to a greener earth… Reduce, recycle and REUSE…?  Why do we have to buy something to cover a book?  I remember taking my paper grocery bags and spending time with my parents learning the fine art of book covering.  This was real bonding time.  Instead of this free option I had to add $2.50 to my budget.  Seems wrong to me.

Either way here is what I came up with:

Needs:

  1. All supplies on the kids lists
  2. A bookbag (we have decided to reuse old ones.  We are going to bedazzle them so that they are more fun this year)
  3. New shoes for Abigail: She grew like a flower this summer

I think that all in all that is all of the NEEDS we have.  Grandpa and Grandma were nice enough to buy about 90% of the school supplies.  So once I buy shoes my NEEDS are met.

Wants:

  1. New first day of school outfits
  2. New fall wardrobe
  3. New hair accessories to match all of their clothing
  4. New lunch bags
  5. A JanSport book bag for Abigail
  6. Winter coats
  7. Haircuts for the girls
  8. Fall jackets
  9. Book bag for Emma
  10. New shoes for Emma

The thing is that these are only wants.  It became clear the more I thought about it that we did not NEED these things.  I usually spend about $800 on back to school.  This year I estimate spending about $100.  I am sure that I am not the only one tightening my belt.  Abigail has a birthday in three weeks.  I am sure that between myself and her grandparents she will be the best dressed kid in 4th grade.  Most of the clothing out there for back to school is too hot for September anyway.  I will let you all know how this goes.  I am anxious to see how bad I am going to feel for not buying into the back to school.  I think that I may feel bad for a while but in the long run it will all be just fine!  The kids ARE going to live through it.  They WILL still be dressed nicely.  The most important thing is that it teaches them a lesson.  Money does not grow on trees…

LESSON LEARNED:  You do not have to buy into the commercial hoopla.  You can resist and live through it.

Becca

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Self Esteem and Peer Pressure

July 6, 2009 By 3 Comments
Cigarettes/Product Photography
Image by Saquan Stimpson/monstershaq2000 via Flickr

As a child we go through life acting like we should be different from who we are.  I am watching Abigail grow up and develop and am praying that I have instilled in her the ability to be herself.  I have never had the gift of just being me.   I guess I have spent too many years worrying that no one will like the real me.  As a kid it is hard to realize who you are and what you are about.  It is so easy to fall into peer pressure and go the wrong way.

I have spent the past 8 years helping my baby realize that we have to care for others.  I have showed her that we have to love in order to be loved.  I have tried to instill the idea that we feel good when we help others.  Most of all I have tried to remind her each step of the way in her short life that we all have brains and she has to use hers.

As she is blossoming I am starting to worry more and more about the lessons that I have taught her.  She knows that smoking is just plain bad for your health and stupid.  I have been sure to let her know that with just on cigarette she could be addicted for life.  I have tried to tell her about drugs and all of the bad things that they do to people.  It is not the people who are bad it was their choices.

I am sitting here in the summer before 4th grade hoping that she has the self esteem not to fall into peer pressure.  I am praying that she knows to say no as we have practiced.  I am praying that she knows that she can tell me anything even if it is bad.   I am praying that her walk down the teenage years is easier for her then mine was for me.

I am amazed how we give birth to these little angels and change them.  I do not know how to make sure that she stays safe other then to remind her each and every day that she has a mind of her own and pray that she is confident enough to use it.

Becca

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Birthday Quandry: Birthday Party For Three

May 8, 2009 By 7 Comments
A birthday cake
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So here is the question for today…

My nephew, my neice and Analiese all have May birthdays all within two weeks of one another.  Each year we do a family and friends party for each kid.  This year we thought that perhaps we should combine all three of them and do one family party.  This means that family will only have to come to one party.  This means that it will be one day in the full month of May to have to donate to these birthdays.

So here is the problem.  Rob thinks that it is wrong.  He thinks that then friends and family will be strapped having to buy three presents all at once.  He thinks that it is just wrong and has told me to back out of the idea.  The trouble is that it was my idea and I still think that it is a nice one.  The other problem is that we have already mentioned it to people and how do we cancel now.  I am not worried about gifts.  Analiese is turning 2 and already has all of the clothing, toys and stuff that any two year old could need.

I want to know what you think?  Is this party a bad idea?

Becca

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Is My Baby Blind?? Part 1

March 16, 2009 By 23 Comments

analiese-coming-home-from-h

In order to tell this tale I will have to take you back almost two years.  There are two reasons that this story has popped back into my mind this week.  The first reason is that, as I mentioned a few days ago, this month is disabilities awareness month.  The second reason is because in May my “baby” will be 2!

I have to take you back to when the baby was just that, a baby!  I already had two older kids who were now 3 and 6.  They were so excited to have a new little sister.  I remember when they came to the hospital.  Emma who was three at the time was so excited about this new responsibility being thrust upon her and Abigail acted like it was nothing new but she was still excited.

As the baby grew over the next few months I noticed a few things.  She would not look at me.  In my mommy heart I knew that this was not a typical thing.  Then I started to notice that she was not tracking things at all.  In my head I kept saying, “she is fine.  You are just worried because of Emma (who has CP).”  Then I had noticed that she wanted to be held all of the time!  She hated being in a swing and would scream like she was scared if she was anywhere but my arms.

Because she is my baby and most likely the last I was kind of happy about it.  I helped her more then the others and was happy to do so.  She loved it when I played music and talked to her as long as I was holding her.

As the months went on the fact that she was not looking me in the face or tracking the fun toys I was waving in front of her was more and more obvious.  She looked through me.  Certainly not at me.  She would smile a little but was not mimicking faces.  So by the time she was three months old I was worried!  I had decided to ask the Dr. what was going on.

So as we went into her three month appointment I began to worry more and more.  I went through everything with him and when he asked about concerns I blurted out that she is looking through me!  I was on the verge of tears and took a breathe.  Then I explained how she was not looking at bright objects, she was not looking at my face, she would not stay unless held and she was not tracking.  I blurted all of this out as quick as I could.  The next part was for him to tell me that I am being a paranoid mother and to go home.  Well that is not quite how it happened.  He began to wave a light in front of her and nothing!  Her pupils were responsive but it was like she could not tell he was shining a light right into her face.  She did not blink, her eyes did not tear, NOTHING happened.

Links to the Full Series

Baby Blind Part I
Baby Blind Part II
Baby Blind Part III
Baby Blind Part IV
Baby Blind Part V

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Pirate Party Time

March 13, 2009 By 7 Comments

For Emma’s Birthday Party this year we had a pirate princess party.  It was a lot of fun and we let our imaginations get away from us!  I had some friends help out from Floppy and Pals!  all of the kids had a great time.  Here a few of the things that we did:pirate-emma I cannot reveal all of my secrets though!

  1. We had a great scavenger hunt that led the kids all around the house in search of the treasure.  In the end the treasure was the Pirate Hat Cake. The kids were all so excited that it was cake time.
  2. We played a great game of freeze dance where the kids had to end up on their own island on the floor.  This was great because they got to jump all around and get out some of their pent up energy!
  3. We played pin the patch on the pirate.  This was a big pirate face that the kids were able to pin a patch onto.  The child who got the closest was aloud to pick a prize out of the treasure chest.
  4. We had the best face painter in the world painting princess and pirate faces on the boys and girls.  They always love a face painter!

There are so many other great things that you can do at a pirate party.  My nephew had a great pirate party too!  Here are a few activities from his party that were tons of fun.

  1. My sister in law filled balloons and some had winning tags in them.  The kids had to sit on the balloons and pop them.  Once you found a winner you could go and pick out of the treasure chest.  CAUTION do not do this if they are in bathing suits!
  2. My sister in law had a pinata which the kids love.  My husband is against it though so we never get to have them!
  3. At my nephews party they also had a treasure hunt because what good pirate party would not have you hunt for booty?
  4. The kids had a talk like a pirate contest.  They all had to practice using their pirate voices to get what they wanted.  The child who did it the best for the entire party won a little extra treasure.

There are so many other ideas for a pirate party.  Why not leave your favorite one.  This will give us all a chance to have a great pirate adventure right in our very own homes.

Becca

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20 Days Until Christmas

December 5, 2008 By 5 Comments
Jim Carrey as The Grinch
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OK I know I missed a few.  In the last 20 days I have been sick as have all of the kids.  Today is the first day that everyone made it to school and I am breathing a sigh of relief.  Needless to say I am way behind on my schedule.  I had wanted to be so much further along by now.  I have a bit of catching up to do!

I feel like the Grinch has stolen my Christmas! The house is not decorated, pictures of the kids have not been done, shopping is started but not complete, Abigail thinks that I am Santa Clause and no cookies are baked.  This weekend it the big one for us.  I would like to get everything decorated and all set.  This will leave time over the next week or so to do some baking.  I think that this will have me all caught up.  Wish me luck.  I think that I am going to need it!

Becca

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42 Days Until Christmas

November 14, 2008 By Leave a Comment
After the party.

Image via Wikipedia

Have a Christmas Party

This past week I did something great.  I had a PartyLite party.  It was nice for many many reasons.  I want to start by saying I do not sell PartyLite so I do not care if we talk about an At Home America Party, A Tupperware party or a PartyLite Party.  The point is that I had a party.  Why was it so great?

  1. It was fun.  The ladies and I had an evening to relax and unwind.  There was no pressure to buy.  I told everyone I do not care either way.  All I wanted was a night full of friends, laughter and fun.
  2. I Christmas Shopped.  You know what the best part of this for me was?  I did it for free!
  3. There are good deals.  This is the time of year that these companies are trying to make their extra money.  The are all offering deals.  My guests had two pages of half prices items to choose from.  They also could pick out any half priced item they wanted with the purchase of just one regular priced item.  Even if the regular priced item was $1.  They could also choose from a few other offers.  This made Christmas shopping for them discounted!
  4. I gathered some orders from outside the people who came.  This is a great way to boost what you will get for free.
  5. It was nice to entertain.  I never get a chance to have people over.  I am usually too busy.  I was able to have a nice time and enjoy.  We had some great snacks and cakes and laughed.  We all needed it.
  1. Other then the baby throwing up in the middle of it the party was a great success.  I was able to cross three people off of my list without spending anything and the whole time I was able to enjoy!  I would suggest you have a party this month and you will be able to Christmas shop for free too.
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52 Days Until Christmas

November 5, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Christmas lights

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When is the right time to decorate?

Year after year people start decorating earlier and earlier. It is something that continues to anoy me. I think that it actually annoys me more then the thought of retailer trying to cram Christmas down our throats. This is because it is the proof I need to see that it is working.

At what point in history was it acceptable to decorate the outside of your home for Christmas November 1st? Hey, I am an understanding person. I know that it is cold in another month. I know that perhaps hanging the lights now while it is still in the 50 degree mark is nice then waiting a month. This does not, I repeat NOT give you the right to light those lights. I know that this is a free country and we can do what we want but get real. By lighting the lights now you are takking away the holiday cheer the rest of us feel after Thanksgiving.

In my mind you decorate outside the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The are has a certain holiday chill to it. It is crisp and cold. While I know that no one likes to be cold, EVERYONE likes to come in to some hot cocoa and snuggle down to their first Christmas movie together.

So please, this season, just wait. It is three more weeks. That is it. Yes it may be a little colder but the memories that you are making for your kids is worth it all. Not to mention that, as I drive around, I do not want to see your lights! I will be checking!

Becca

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