See that ticker in the right hand corner? The one that says I'm three pounds into my second ten pound loss? Yup, it's a lie. It's was true when I last changed it, but not so much anymore! The ticker is supposed to help motivate me, but I only change it when I'm losing. When I'm gaining, I ignore it completely.
It's a fair mite off at the moment and that's why I'm going back to weight watchers in the morning. Yup, apparently, I'm back at a place in my life where I need to pay someone and step on the scales for a total stranger in order to keep myself accountable in the eating department. Pitiful, but what ya gonna do?
I'm actually pretty excited. My friend who is deaf is joining with me. I get to interpret the class for her and we'll try to motivate each other. I'm not a licensed interpreter, just a friend who tries to sign, but I LOVE it! Interpreting for her will be a fun challenge (I'm pretty good at church words, but weight loss words, not so much.)
Hopefully, I'll be able to make myself change the ticker to reflect reality soon, but until then, you can find me at weight watchers every week. A bit poorer, and slightly more svelte.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Gifts
I just turned 46 (thought I was gonna be 47 this year, but apparently I got ahead of myself!) My idea of the perfect gift has changed through the years and this year was amazing!
Here's a list of my favorite presents:
1. Girlie-whirl made the whole family out of popsicle sticks, new grandbaby, unofficially adopted daughter, and future daughter-in-law included! Don't ya love seven year olds?
2. Banana-girl made a box band. The thing hanging from the ceiling flashes psychedelic colors when it's turned on. I wish you could see the keyboard. For pipe cleaners, it's impressive! So fun!
3. Although he didn't want to go, and slightly injured himself in the process, my 15 year old son was pumped at the end of our run. We're racing together this summer and that kind of determination is a gift!
Here's a list of my favorite presents:
1. Girlie-whirl made the whole family out of popsicle sticks, new grandbaby, unofficially adopted daughter, and future daughter-in-law included! Don't ya love seven year olds?
2. Banana-girl made a box band. The thing hanging from the ceiling flashes psychedelic colors when it's turned on. I wish you could see the keyboard. For pipe cleaners, it's impressive! So fun!
3. Although he didn't want to go, and slightly injured himself in the process, my 15 year old son was pumped at the end of our run. We're racing together this summer and that kind of determination is a gift!
4. My son and daughter-in-law sent me this picture of my stunningly beautiful grandbaby! How cute is THAT?!
5. I got phone calls from my kids who are far away. Hearing their voices makes me happy!
6. And last, but not least, Hubders wrote me a poem! I LOVE it when he does that! His poems are few and far between, but they're sweet and sappy and hilarious. Nothin' better!
What are your favorite gifts?
Thursday, February 24, 2011
One More Time!!
Again with the math!
This son of mine (he's my number two and I adore him)
Plus this girl (who makes his heart go pitter-pat)
Plus a date in June here, all the way on the west coast this time (we may have to fly--thirty-two hours in the car may be past our limit!)
Equals one cute couple and a very Happy Mom!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Reading: Pass It On!
Annette Lyon over at the Lyon's Tale just did a great post on literacy. I have much more to say about the issue than is proper to leave in a comment, so below is a slight reword of one of my posts from last year on the subject.
Reading is one of my very favorite things, and so crucial to academic, social and spiritual growth. The big question is, as a mom, how do I foster a love of the written word in my children?
Here are my thoughts on the subject:
1. Read with them. Often! From birth to the day they leave home. It's a wonderful experience to introduce your young children to beloved picture books, but too many parents stop there. Some of my favorite moments as a parent have been spent reading novels to my older children.
2. Read good quality children's literature. I have only one criteria for determining if a book is good quality, but it's served me well. If I can enjoy reading a book repeatedly to my children, it's good quality. If the second or third reading makes me want to put it through the shredder, it's not. I try never to buy poor quality books. Why spend money on something I will loathe reading to my munchkins?
3. Make it interesting and fun. We've all been stuck in that history class where the aging coach reads the textbook day after day in his monotonous drone. Don't ever do that to your kids. You're in the privacy of your own home, ham it up, for heaven's sake! Give unusual characters funny voices, use lots of inflection, pause at the right places for maximum suspenseful impact, etc. Your voice will bring the story to life if there's life in your voice. Don't know how? Don't worry, it's a skill that can be learned with practice (and you'll never have a more forgiving audience than your wee ones). Note: Did you know that the concept of silent reading is a modern invention? In ancient times reading was always done aloud. Have you experienced the fact that your ears can tell you things about a story that your eyes can't?
4. Start reading novels to your children at a young age. Picture books are one of my favorite things. However, children as young as 4 can start to participate in the world of chapter books. You may need to talk frequently about what is going on and review the plot each time you pick it up. All the better! Encourage your children to ask questions. It will improve their communication skills. And don't be afraid to read books to your children that are a little above them. It's good for them to listen "up".
5. Have books in your home. Use the library on a regular basis. Purchase books for birthdays and Christmas*. You'll be surprised how fast your library grows! Having books in your home not only sends the message that books are important, it gives children the opportunity to peruse books at their leisure.
6. Read yourself. If you're like me, you don't need to be told this. Instead, you need to get your nose out of your book a bit more and take the kids to the park (or wash the dishes). But too many busy moms never seem to find the time to lose themselves in the written word. It's truly one of life's joys and our little ones should see our passion for reading.
The essence of my philosophy is this: A young child who has been to far away places, experienced high adventure, overcome formidable obstacles, witnessed hilarious antics and met fascinating people, all as your voice brings the words on page to life, may still have difficulty with the mechanics of learning to read, but they will not need to be convinced that reading is important. The desire to read will a part of them. They will be eagerly anticipating the day when they can enter the world of books on their own.
How do you help your children develop a love a reading?
* Books are expensive, so unless you know it's good quality, check it out of the library first. I almost never buy a book from a bricks and mortar store (although I love to look at books there). Most of my purchasing, however, happens at websites such as this one or this one, and even this one, where I can find new and gently used books for bargain prices.
Reading is one of my very favorite things, and so crucial to academic, social and spiritual growth. The big question is, as a mom, how do I foster a love of the written word in my children?
Here are my thoughts on the subject:
1. Read with them. Often! From birth to the day they leave home. It's a wonderful experience to introduce your young children to beloved picture books, but too many parents stop there. Some of my favorite moments as a parent have been spent reading novels to my older children.
2. Read good quality children's literature. I have only one criteria for determining if a book is good quality, but it's served me well. If I can enjoy reading a book repeatedly to my children, it's good quality. If the second or third reading makes me want to put it through the shredder, it's not. I try never to buy poor quality books. Why spend money on something I will loathe reading to my munchkins?
3. Make it interesting and fun. We've all been stuck in that history class where the aging coach reads the textbook day after day in his monotonous drone. Don't ever do that to your kids. You're in the privacy of your own home, ham it up, for heaven's sake! Give unusual characters funny voices, use lots of inflection, pause at the right places for maximum suspenseful impact, etc. Your voice will bring the story to life if there's life in your voice. Don't know how? Don't worry, it's a skill that can be learned with practice (and you'll never have a more forgiving audience than your wee ones). Note: Did you know that the concept of silent reading is a modern invention? In ancient times reading was always done aloud. Have you experienced the fact that your ears can tell you things about a story that your eyes can't?
4. Start reading novels to your children at a young age. Picture books are one of my favorite things. However, children as young as 4 can start to participate in the world of chapter books. You may need to talk frequently about what is going on and review the plot each time you pick it up. All the better! Encourage your children to ask questions. It will improve their communication skills. And don't be afraid to read books to your children that are a little above them. It's good for them to listen "up".
5. Have books in your home. Use the library on a regular basis. Purchase books for birthdays and Christmas*. You'll be surprised how fast your library grows! Having books in your home not only sends the message that books are important, it gives children the opportunity to peruse books at their leisure.
6. Read yourself. If you're like me, you don't need to be told this. Instead, you need to get your nose out of your book a bit more and take the kids to the park (or wash the dishes). But too many busy moms never seem to find the time to lose themselves in the written word. It's truly one of life's joys and our little ones should see our passion for reading.
The essence of my philosophy is this: A young child who has been to far away places, experienced high adventure, overcome formidable obstacles, witnessed hilarious antics and met fascinating people, all as your voice brings the words on page to life, may still have difficulty with the mechanics of learning to read, but they will not need to be convinced that reading is important. The desire to read will a part of them. They will be eagerly anticipating the day when they can enter the world of books on their own.
How do you help your children develop a love a reading?
* Books are expensive, so unless you know it's good quality, check it out of the library first. I almost never buy a book from a bricks and mortar store (although I love to look at books there). Most of my purchasing, however, happens at websites such as this one or this one, and even this one, where I can find new and gently used books for bargain prices.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Whippin' Sumthin' Up!
Do you love allrecipes.com as much as I do? It's my go-to web site whenever I'm looking for a new dish to try. There are so many recipe sights out there, but this one's my favorite for the following reasons:
1. You can search for recipes by ingredient. Got a whole lot of zucchini you need to use and and are plum out of ideas? Search for zucchini recipes and you're bound to find a boat load of zucchini recipes that you'd never even thought of.
2. Once you search for a recipe you can sort them by rating. The best rated recipes will be first on the list. If it doesn't have at least 4 1/2 stars, I don't even bother to try it. If it's got ratings AND lots of reviews, you know it's good!
3. The reviews. As I skim through them I get a feel for what it's like to make the recipe, where others may have struggled, and their suggestions for said struggle. If multiple people say the recipe is too sweet, then I decrease the sugar. There's a plethora of info there, which is nice to have before you try a new dish.
Today, hubders and I celebrated Valentines day. I know we're early, but I took a gander at Mondays calendar and it's not going to be conducive to romance. Today, however was relatively free and, with his bizarre work schedule, he could do a date in the middle of the day.
I made two recipes that I found on allrecipes.com. This one was my favorite. So quick and easy and sooooo good! Of course, it's hard to go wrong with strawberries and avocados!
Where do you find good recipes?
1. You can search for recipes by ingredient. Got a whole lot of zucchini you need to use and and are plum out of ideas? Search for zucchini recipes and you're bound to find a boat load of zucchini recipes that you'd never even thought of.
2. Once you search for a recipe you can sort them by rating. The best rated recipes will be first on the list. If it doesn't have at least 4 1/2 stars, I don't even bother to try it. If it's got ratings AND lots of reviews, you know it's good!
3. The reviews. As I skim through them I get a feel for what it's like to make the recipe, where others may have struggled, and their suggestions for said struggle. If multiple people say the recipe is too sweet, then I decrease the sugar. There's a plethora of info there, which is nice to have before you try a new dish.
Today, hubders and I celebrated Valentines day. I know we're early, but I took a gander at Mondays calendar and it's not going to be conducive to romance. Today, however was relatively free and, with his bizarre work schedule, he could do a date in the middle of the day.
I made two recipes that I found on allrecipes.com. This one was my favorite. So quick and easy and sooooo good! Of course, it's hard to go wrong with strawberries and avocados!
Where do you find good recipes?
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Accountability and Adorability
It's true confession time in the weight department.
I came home from my daughters wedding thinner than I'd been in years, but the last month and a half have included very little in the exercise department but more than average in the consuming department so I'm no longer as svelt as I was (dontcha just HATE that!?)
In an attempt to get it under control, I've made a couple of goals and am writing them here in the hopes that it will keep me more accountable.
1. Excercise a minimum of five days a week (I'm two for two so far this week)
2. Drink at least six glasses of water per day.
That's it. I'm keeping the goals small enough to be doable.
Now for the fun part.
Tough-guy and Cutie-pie (my son and daughter-in-law) have been truly wonderful to send grandma lots of pictures of their beautiful babe. And so, in true obnoxious grandma fashion, I've got to show you a few pictures of my grandbaby!
Enjoy! (everyone of them makes me happy!)
(Yeah, Cutie-pie is a professional photographer. Sweet, huh!?)
I came home from my daughters wedding thinner than I'd been in years, but the last month and a half have included very little in the exercise department but more than average in the consuming department so I'm no longer as svelt as I was (dontcha just HATE that!?)
In an attempt to get it under control, I've made a couple of goals and am writing them here in the hopes that it will keep me more accountable.
1. Excercise a minimum of five days a week (I'm two for two so far this week)
2. Drink at least six glasses of water per day.
That's it. I'm keeping the goals small enough to be doable.
Now for the fun part.
Tough-guy and Cutie-pie (my son and daughter-in-law) have been truly wonderful to send grandma lots of pictures of their beautiful babe. And so, in true obnoxious grandma fashion, I've got to show you a few pictures of my grandbaby!
Enjoy! (everyone of them makes me happy!)
(Yeah, Cutie-pie is a professional photographer. Sweet, huh!?)
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