Life Is Beautiful

Tomorrow is Monday. It's also November 1st - making the calendar date look kinda cool: 11-1-10. Sure would be a great time to start something new, right? Personally, I love New Year. I like any time that allows one to start over. People make resolutions, and even with all the negativity and statistical information about how they don't last, they make lasting impressions on those who try, and try again. So, I am going to make some resolutions of my own for a Pseudo-New Year! 1. FaceBook posting shall be positivity ONLY. Comments shall only be added to encourage or console, but never to engage in debate. **If you only knew how much trouble I get in on FB when I assert my opinion.** 2. I will try to make time to call someone to just chat once a week. **I am no good and fostering friendships. I get a little hermit- ish because I stay home and am beginning to avoid social situations. That's not me...time to rewind!** 3. I will have ice-cream once a week. **All this...

We eat very little meat in this house. It's certainly not that I don't like meat - but have you seen those prices?? Other protein sources are much more cost effective for our large family. I was chatting with my doctor about a chronic pain issue that I have. Ever since I had Cameron (he's 18mo old!) my back has ached terribly with pain in my hips and radiating down my legs. We've injected it, I've chiro'd it and electric shocked it. I have bad days and good days. I have now developed a plan that incorporates Yoga and strength training to see if I can alter my structure and help myself. Doc agreed that I've got a good plan. I also asked him about eating Anti-Inflammatory Foods . Doc didn't seem to think there was any conclusive evidence to support these claims, BUT he did say that as a surgeon (for 30 years) he has noticed that Vegetarians always have the nicest tissues. He was careful not to tell me that leaving off the meat would make healthie...

"Transition is a battle, no question about it. You have to decide if the future matters. Because what you do right now, every day -- meals and exercise (or the lack thereof) will determine your future." ---- Tony Horton I saw this quote today and this - "You have to decide if the future matters." - really got to me. That's what it comes down to for every choice I make. DOES the future matter? Will it matter in the future if I smoke a cigarette today? Will it matter if I put toxins in my body like saturated fat and aspartame? Will it matter in the future if I do not exercise? Will my future be effected if I don't maintain an appropriate weight? I was never a future thinker. Nope, not me. Not gonna live past 25, I said, anyway. And I didn't care. In my teens and early 20's I was depressed and full of self loathing. I stood for nothing and blew any which way the wind took me. I tried it all and it all came up short for filling the void....

Wow - sleeping until 6:30am every morning is LIVIN'!! I have such a better outlook on life this week - it's amazing. Poor hubby is getting up at 5am to go to work - but it's not bothering me to much. ;o) I seem to be falling behind on my school work this week. Chaos abounds here at the Morton Big Top and I can't correct 8th grade math problems with all of that going on. Sadly, our 3rd grader has had a real problem towing the line this week and that only adds to my madness. On Tuesday, she spent from 12:30 - 3pm in her room. Rather that freak out on her, I just sent her away. When the prayer list in Sunday School came around, I put her on it. Daily, I listen for the Lord to tell me how to handle her. I've long since stopped any form of spanking, and have heard my instruction from Him on the yelling. Stop it. For a long time I was just a clanging bell. So now, my approach is more stealthy. Since she refuses to do her 30min of reading when we normally do it ...

I love going against the grain. I have been described by people that know me as somewhat...intense. I love a challenge, and the best way to motivate me is to inform me that what I am attempting is quite impossible. So it has been with my exercise and nutrition ventures. Running, lifting, doing more and more! Now I have decided to take on Tony Horton's P90X. I've been contemplating for some time, but with only 90 days left in 2010, it's time! Maybe, just maybe, I can loose these last 30lbs in that time. I have started a little blog to journal my experience - come along and see what's going on. http://pixie-p90x.blogspot.com/

Halloween. Ugh. I can't even take the kids in to Walgreen's or Factory Card Outlet and must avoid at least one aisle in every store this time of year. They literally have corpses hanging from the ceiling. Bloody, dismembered body parts, bats with fangs of blood, demons, ghouls, witches, cackling, howling, screaming. Candy that bleeds, huge insects, axes, swords, guillotines. My kids get scared. Fun? Not for us. Those things do not magically become fun on one day per year. And no amount of candy is going to change death, dismemberment and intentional evil into fun. I hear people say that they know the origins of Halloween, but they don't "celebrate it that way." "We dress in nice costumes" they say. "We only do it for the candy" they say. We know it's a Celtic Pagan Festival...we know that God says not to act like the Pagans do...but we just do it "for fun." To them I pose this question: If someone says they do not beli...

We don't have TV channels. Fortunately for us, we don't watch commercials and aren't disgusted and depressed by the nightly news, either. I do feel a bit sorry that I'm missing some quality Seinfeld re-runs, though. It all started when we didn't want to pay for cable. Then the conversion to digital took away PBS (yes, we did install a converter to no avail). Hubby and I decided we weren't missing much. We do have Netflix, and have purchased a converter that will allow us to watch our "Instant Que" on our television, as well as anything we wish to purchase from Amazon.com. Very convenient. They are continually adding new TV series and movies to the offerings. We have everything from Dr. Who to Spongebob Squarepants in the Queue. Our 12yo son spotted a new series to add - he's seen it at another person's house and apparently enjoyed it. It's fairly recent and from the History Channel, so I gave it a try. It's called "Pawn ...

I ran this morning. Not a beloved long Sunday run - but just 2 miles or so. My knee didn't hurt, and I think things may be on the mend. When I run I get the opportunity to think - alone - a complete thought. I was thinking about this blog and the fact that I haven't written much about running lately. Well, I haven't really run much lately - like about 10 miles in the last 3 weeks! After hurting myself (again) and really having to take the slow path, then the injections in my spine, I just guess I was a little mad at running, overall. I'm not a fast runner, but have maintained a respectable amount of mileage to at least feel like a "real" runner. Fifteen or so miles per week was getting to be the norm and as I took it farther, I experienced an injury. Made me mad. I even considered that maybe I "shouldn't" run anymore. Thought of buying a road bike and trying my hand at that...or rather my legs. But today I considered my running history...

As FlyLady says: put it away, give it away or throw it away.  I just HAD to take a picture...because as we all know...it will look back to "normal" tomorrow.

This what I started with.  It seems there was everything feom dishes, to computer software, to sunglasses that had been forsaken in the kitchen "Drop Zone."

Wow - what an incredibly terrible day for a person that is trying to live a healthy life. Boo. Unfortunately, it started out way to early with our youngest son around 5am. I managed to stay a while longer- the last 30min along with the little stinker. My poor husband got up with him and I shushed my alarm for 10 more minutes. Skipped my workout and wished for more sleep. Just felt sore all over and my back was inflamed to the max. I had my injections scheduled for today so at least I could see the relief coming. NOT. I had the worst experience with joint cortisone injections ever. These are the third ones since December - normally they hurt...but wow. The nurse came running in to see if she needed to help. She stood with me during the second one. I couldn't stop shaking and was (against my will) freaking crying. Crying. Theres no CRYING! Anyway, it's over. I'm still hurting like heck and having to run around at AWANA tonight probably helped for the long run, b...

We started our 3rd week of school, here at the Morton Home School. My 7 th and 3rd graders are doing very well at the readin ', writtin ', and ' rithmetic . I am doing well at keeping up with the grading and the tracking of the hours. I decided that, this year, I have to do it every day for that particular day, no excuses. Well, I plumb forgot yesterday - so I made darn sure to catch it all up today. It's a lot of work...and boy am I wiped out by 9pm (okay by 8pm). It's so worth it, though! My break from calorie counting is going well. I have "shared ice cream with the baby" more times than normal - however - I believe I am shorting myself during the day due to not really being sure of exactly how many calories are going in. Even with a 90% break from exercise last week, I managed to loose a half a pound. I do weigh myself every day and have still been observing a steady decline. On Monday, I did a weight lifting DVD that I've attempted many ...

Another pantry creation. I knew I should have snapped a photo straight out of the oven! Enjoy! Broccoli Rice Casserole 4 chicken thighs, cooked and de-boned *any left over chicken will do approx 3 cups* 1 package frozen broccoli florets *or fresh, approx 3 cups* 1.5c brown rice 3 cubes chicken bullion *or cook rice in broth* 1 can low sodium Cream of Mushroom Soup 1c. shredded 2% Colby Jack Cheese 1/2c. light sour cream 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1/2 c. bread crumbs 1 TBSP butter Instructions Preheat oven 350. Cook rice according to package directions, adding bullion cubes to water. Meanwhile, steam broccoli according to package directions. Chop de-boned chicken into small pieces and transfer to large mixing bowl. When broccoli is done steaming to tender crisp, put on cutting board and chop florets into smaller pieces, transfer to bowl with chicken, combine. Add soup, cheese, sour cream and spices to the broccoli and chicken mixture. Mix wel...

I have a bad attitude. I'm so tired of recording my caloric intake I could scream. I could tell you what I had to eat on any given day for the entirety of 2010. I have strayed, yes, there may be a total of 2 weeks in there where I didn't write it down. But on a whole, I have stayed true to the rigors of careful measuring and recording. I've lost 56 pounds. Now what do I do? I have 32 to go. I don't want to stop! But let me tell you, every time I access the Calorie Counter app on my phone, I do so with a sneer. I don't explore the Fat Secret website anymore, or participate in the challenges because I just don't care. I am sick to death of counting calories. I almost have myself fooled into thinking that I could take a break. Yep - me, the food lover - me, the aspiring culinary master - me, the person that can make eggs 8 different ways - I think that I can stop counting calories and continue to loose weight. Am I delusional? Maybe. But I think it...

I tried to strategically hide the little chew marks on these muffins.  Our 3yr old decided to take nibbles from the tops of them all.  Not bad for low cal/low fat banana muffins.

I had a cookie this evening at the mall. After a school day like this, I wanted to run, screaming from the house. So about 6:30, after supper, while I was fighting with my 12yo ds about doing the dishes (for the 42 nd time), I did. Well, I ran. No screaming this time. I went to the mall and proceeded directly to Bath and BodyWorks where I know everything is a perfect fit. I sprayed, I sniffed, I checked the specials. After quick deliberations, I came out with 3 of the travel sized bottles of body spray in some lovely new scents. Happiness costs around $10, by the way. Feeling a little better, I walked down the mall. I hadn't been to the old Westfield Shoppingtown in a while. It appears that they have totally automated their "Concierge Service." You want directions, look at a map. Need a stroller? Stick in your debit card or a fiver and the machine unlocks one for ya. No need to pay a person to sit there and do Customer Service. Nope, no need for that. I...

Most things that you set out to do will take some sacrifice. Simply living day after day, fitting in, following the herd - well, that takes very little effort. But to break out of a rut, go a little further, change yourself for the good...it can hurt. Whether the sacrifice be physical in nature or have to do with emotional sacrifice, a little pain can bring you a long way. What got me thinking about this was my recent bout of back pain. I have a recurring issue with a couple of joints being inflamed in my lower back and causing a whole lot of trouble. After months of physical therapy and then chiropractic, I finally saw a surgeon and had an MRI. Rather than surgery, he injected the joints and bought me several months of pain free bliss! Pain returns, I return for injections. On and on. I'm due again, but can't be seen for 2 weeks. Though they work nearly instantly, I DREAD these horrible injections. The needle used is several inches long, and has to be sort of "d...

My brother and I after running the 5k.  It was great to listen to this College Freshman talk to me and run slowly to support me.  Truly one of my favorite days!