Friday, May 28, 2010
Racing
So, I'm kinda thinking that I want to run a 5K. I want to have something to work for and I want to improve my cardiovascular health, and I've heard running is good for that. I have some friends we recently ran a 5K and I really admire them and wonder if I even could? I think I could. We usually go down to Utah for the 4th of July weekend and they have a 5K and 10K race in the morning and last year my SIL ran the 5K while her husband ran the 10K. I was very impressed. Of course, if I'm really going to do this, I probably should do some running before then, right? Looking at my schedule, that means probably in the mornings before Robert leaves for work. Luckily it is light then, but man, I am not sure about getting up earlier. It would probably be good for me, though, so I think I should just suck it up and go for it. Yeah, that's what I'll do, just go for it. Anyone have any advice?
Sunday, May 16, 2010
My Coffee Table
One of the goals that I've had for a while is to re-do my coffee table. I didn't like the color of the design and I wanted to make it more my own to fit my tastes. I had this idea in my head, but I needed Robert's help with it and we finally found some time for him to do what I needed. I think it looks pretty good. I didn't have enough of the resin that fills in the middles of the tables, so I'm waiting on some of that, but it is usable now and I like it!
I didn't get any of the resin on the matching end table, but it is all ready. I think they are going to look so amazing when they are all done.
I didn't get any of the resin on the matching end table, but it is all ready. I think they are going to look so amazing when they are all done.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Media Diet
Listening to some talks a while ago and also reading some things I realized that I spent way too much time with my electronic media. Too much time on the computer, too much time on the phone, too much time with the radio and the t.v. So, I decided to go on a media diet. I allowed myself a few minutes in the morning and at night to get online, but I cut out a lot of the fluff stuff that I used to do, including any games that I played. I turned off the radio in the car and didn't turn on my itunes in the house. T.v. hasn't ever been really big, so we didn't do too much changing there and the same goes for the phone.
I started this a few weeks ago and it has been interesting. The first thing I noticed is that I went through withdrawals from my music. Now, I know many people who will say music isn't bad and what is the harm of having it on during the day? Also, much music can be uplifting and inspiring, and I completely agree, but with all the background noise of the music, I was missing a lot of what my kids were saying and doing. I began to hear other things that I hadn't noticed before. The same thing went with traveling in the car. It was a lot easier to hear what the kids were trying to tell me and I didn't have to say "wait until this song is done" or "I just want to finish listening to what they have to say on the radio". Instead, we talked and sang songs. It was more of a bonding experience than previously. And then in the quiet moments, I had time to think and reflect and that was nice.
The computer ended up not being has hard to let go of as I thought it would be. I have just kept myself busy doing other things. Things like reading books to the kids, picking up the house, putting together puzzles, and going outside if the weather is nice. I found that I really haven't missed out on too much if I only take a few minutes in the morning and evening. There have been a few times during the day when I have needed to look something up and I've turned the computer on, but those times have been the exception rather than the rule, and once I'm done, I turn the computer off. Our home has been better since I quit ignoring the kids so that I could play a game or mindlessly surf for things I didn't need.
This has been an interesting experience. I think it is something that I am going to keep doing. I guess if we want more music in our home, we will have to make it ourselves, maybe that will inspire me to practice the piano a little more ;)
I started this a few weeks ago and it has been interesting. The first thing I noticed is that I went through withdrawals from my music. Now, I know many people who will say music isn't bad and what is the harm of having it on during the day? Also, much music can be uplifting and inspiring, and I completely agree, but with all the background noise of the music, I was missing a lot of what my kids were saying and doing. I began to hear other things that I hadn't noticed before. The same thing went with traveling in the car. It was a lot easier to hear what the kids were trying to tell me and I didn't have to say "wait until this song is done" or "I just want to finish listening to what they have to say on the radio". Instead, we talked and sang songs. It was more of a bonding experience than previously. And then in the quiet moments, I had time to think and reflect and that was nice.
The computer ended up not being has hard to let go of as I thought it would be. I have just kept myself busy doing other things. Things like reading books to the kids, picking up the house, putting together puzzles, and going outside if the weather is nice. I found that I really haven't missed out on too much if I only take a few minutes in the morning and evening. There have been a few times during the day when I have needed to look something up and I've turned the computer on, but those times have been the exception rather than the rule, and once I'm done, I turn the computer off. Our home has been better since I quit ignoring the kids so that I could play a game or mindlessly surf for things I didn't need.
This has been an interesting experience. I think it is something that I am going to keep doing. I guess if we want more music in our home, we will have to make it ourselves, maybe that will inspire me to practice the piano a little more ;)
Monday, May 3, 2010
Monday Miracles
1. Hot running water
2. Kitchen Tables
3. Warm Sweatshirts
4. Fuzzy socks
5. Pillowtop mattresses
2. Kitchen Tables
3. Warm Sweatshirts
4. Fuzzy socks
5. Pillowtop mattresses
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Getting Fit
I have a drive to be more fit.... well, sorta. I have a desire that I am trying to turn into a drive. I want to not only be thinner, but I want to have more muscles. I want to be able to not only fit into my old jeans, but also be able to keep up with my kids and do things around my place. We are starting our own little personal farm here and you know what, it's a lot of work! We have trees to prune and water. In the fall there is fruit to harvest. We have a garden that needs taking care of. I finally got a lawn, but that means watering and mowing. I still want some flowers around the place and I need to get out and do that. Plus, there are fences to mend and all kinds of other stuff that Robert mainly does, but I don't want him to have to do it all after working a long day at his job.
So, to be healthier and more fit is a many faced project. I need to get more physical exercise. I'm learning a lot about exercise. There is cardio, which serves one purpose, and strength, which serves another purpose, and you need both to be optimally fit. And don't forget to stretch! Now, activity in any form is good, but if I want to kick it up and be able to move and lift things that are kinda heavy, I need to kick things up a notch.
Another part of being healthier is diet. No, I don't mean eating only cabbage soup for a week. I mean diet is all the things that you do eat. Diet should be a balance of all kinds of things. Food converts to energy which gives you strength to go about your day, but it also supplies vitamins and minerals that help to keep you healthy, or not. Some foods don't have those good things in them. Those are foods you should avoid. Notice the word "should". I have some foods that I really like, that aren't really that great for me. If I don't have those foods in the house then I do pretty good, but if they are around, well, I eat them. Not only do I eat them, I have a tendency to hoard them. I don't want to share and therefore I eat almost all of them. So, in order to not eat some of those things that are not so great for me, I try to keep good things around me. If I'm the only one doing the shopping then we are okay, but if I try to take others, or if others do it because I'm unable to make it to the store, then it's harder.
Being fit and healthy shouldn't just be a phase, it should be a lifestyle. It should be good habits and attitudes. If you have bad habits and attitudes, though, it can be hard to change. I am discovering this as a family. As I offer different choices to my kids they are not so grateful for my consideration to their health. I don't know why they are rebelling over certain things all of a sudden, but they are. One child doesn't like peanut butter so trying to put peanut butter in celery for her, she won't touch it. She also doesn't like beans, and I do quite a bit of cooking with beans. My son barely touches any vegetables, no matter how many times we put them in front of him or how many different ways we fix them to be appealing. I'm hoping that by growing some of our own vegetables this summer that it might help.
The hardest part of any journey is starting. So here is to a great start for the summer and the rest of my life! I WILL strengthen my body, I WILL eat nutritious foods, I WILL set a good example for my kids.
So, to be healthier and more fit is a many faced project. I need to get more physical exercise. I'm learning a lot about exercise. There is cardio, which serves one purpose, and strength, which serves another purpose, and you need both to be optimally fit. And don't forget to stretch! Now, activity in any form is good, but if I want to kick it up and be able to move and lift things that are kinda heavy, I need to kick things up a notch.
Another part of being healthier is diet. No, I don't mean eating only cabbage soup for a week. I mean diet is all the things that you do eat. Diet should be a balance of all kinds of things. Food converts to energy which gives you strength to go about your day, but it also supplies vitamins and minerals that help to keep you healthy, or not. Some foods don't have those good things in them. Those are foods you should avoid. Notice the word "should". I have some foods that I really like, that aren't really that great for me. If I don't have those foods in the house then I do pretty good, but if they are around, well, I eat them. Not only do I eat them, I have a tendency to hoard them. I don't want to share and therefore I eat almost all of them. So, in order to not eat some of those things that are not so great for me, I try to keep good things around me. If I'm the only one doing the shopping then we are okay, but if I try to take others, or if others do it because I'm unable to make it to the store, then it's harder.
Being fit and healthy shouldn't just be a phase, it should be a lifestyle. It should be good habits and attitudes. If you have bad habits and attitudes, though, it can be hard to change. I am discovering this as a family. As I offer different choices to my kids they are not so grateful for my consideration to their health. I don't know why they are rebelling over certain things all of a sudden, but they are. One child doesn't like peanut butter so trying to put peanut butter in celery for her, she won't touch it. She also doesn't like beans, and I do quite a bit of cooking with beans. My son barely touches any vegetables, no matter how many times we put them in front of him or how many different ways we fix them to be appealing. I'm hoping that by growing some of our own vegetables this summer that it might help.
The hardest part of any journey is starting. So here is to a great start for the summer and the rest of my life! I WILL strengthen my body, I WILL eat nutritious foods, I WILL set a good example for my kids.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Monday's Miracles
I haven't done these in a while and I am feeling a little ungrateful.
1. Warm showers
2. Dirt
3. Ceiling fans
4. Chickens
5. Revelation
1. Warm showers
2. Dirt
3. Ceiling fans
4. Chickens
5. Revelation
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Insecurities
I am an insecure person. Whenever I hear of someone having a bad day or having their feelings hurt, I'm always worried that it was me. You see, I'm not very good with words. I can debate and argue okay, but conversations and trying to explain my heart, not so good. My words trip all over themselves and I just know that my intent is not coming across, so then I talk some more and it just ends up just getting more and more confused.
I had some good friends when I was in high school and college that for reasons I don't fully understand came to really hate me. One such person told how she wanted to smother me with a pillow and watch the life flow out of me. She was someone I really trusted and I don't know what happened to change our relationship. So now I fear getting close to anyone, even though I crave the closeness.
There is a part of me that tries to tell myself that I am doing the best I can. Yes, I will make mistakes, but I would never intentionally hurt anyone. All I can do is try my best to be a good friend and hope others see that. I try to tell myself that if I am trying my best to live my life full of integrity then what others think shouldn't bother me, but it does. I second guess what I've done and think of how I could have done things differently. They say hindsight is 20/20.
One of the things I've noticed about myself is that I want to make sure everything is okay. I want to be involved with everything my friends are involved in so that I can know what is going on and try to make their lives easier. Of course I can't do that. It tends to be viewed as butting in, and nobody likes that. So in the end, I end up creating what I fear. I hope one day to have the knowledge and wisdom to be a good friend. To know when to speak and when to keep quiet. Also, to be able to articulate my thoughts and feelings accurately.
I had some good friends when I was in high school and college that for reasons I don't fully understand came to really hate me. One such person told how she wanted to smother me with a pillow and watch the life flow out of me. She was someone I really trusted and I don't know what happened to change our relationship. So now I fear getting close to anyone, even though I crave the closeness.
There is a part of me that tries to tell myself that I am doing the best I can. Yes, I will make mistakes, but I would never intentionally hurt anyone. All I can do is try my best to be a good friend and hope others see that. I try to tell myself that if I am trying my best to live my life full of integrity then what others think shouldn't bother me, but it does. I second guess what I've done and think of how I could have done things differently. They say hindsight is 20/20.
One of the things I've noticed about myself is that I want to make sure everything is okay. I want to be involved with everything my friends are involved in so that I can know what is going on and try to make their lives easier. Of course I can't do that. It tends to be viewed as butting in, and nobody likes that. So in the end, I end up creating what I fear. I hope one day to have the knowledge and wisdom to be a good friend. To know when to speak and when to keep quiet. Also, to be able to articulate my thoughts and feelings accurately.
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