Lazy Housewife

Today I am a sick housewife.  Three out of four kids are down.  The Punk is out of town.  Ugh.  Double Ugh.

There is also a full moon coming.  YAY. (Actually, I ADORE a full moon...it makes me feel at peace-probably because I'm batshit crazy every other day of the month.  *winks*)

www.flylady.net

That's your lazy housewife tip for the week.  Long ago, my life was in CHAOS.  That was when I was still married to my girls bio-dad, and I was pretty unhappy in general and my surroundings reflected my internal chaos.  We separated, and FLYlady helped me regain the control.  My gift to you.

Wordy Wednesday

I am once again struggling.  I try to be really honest here, so as not to paint a picture of perfection.  You should all know that I fall, and get back up again.  I stumble, and trip and have to regain my balance...on a pretty regular basis.

I'm struggling to be who I know I am.  I haven't been exercising.  I haven't been properly fueling my body.  I haven't been taking my vitamins.  I know all of these play into it.

Today-after the holidays are over (ok, so there is new year's...but my family doesn't really do anything to celebrate it...so it'll just be the ONE night of drinking with my "friend family") I am determined to get back on track.  I was hoping to run (because I haven't done it in...far too long) but it's raining.  I don't mind a run in a warm rain, but this cold icky stuff...no thanks.  Instead, I'll practice my Zumba routines, so I'll get a good hour long workout and burn almost 1000 calories.  That should help undo the 800 calorie breakfast I just ate (a doughnut, 32 oz of soda, and some cheese balls...ugh.)  I'm going to break the bad eating habit.  I gave in this morning because I'm a mood eater and I'm exhausted (three hours of sleep Christmas Eve and not much more than that last night.)  I had to get up super early to drive The Punk to the airport for a trip to see his family, and I gave in to the doughnut and the desire for caffeine.  It's raining, the boys will be locked inside with me all day, and they are both minorly under the weather with colds.  I need the caffeine.  But I should have opted for something better than the doughnut (like the veggie eggwhite sandwich I saw...)

Our vacation was GLORIOUS.  We had 3 days where it was right around 70 and sunny.  The 4th day we visited the aquarium and got to touch horseshoe crabs AND sting rays!  It was GREAT.  We also visited RideMakerz the 4th day and the boys made cars.  It's like Build-A-Bear, only it's hot rods.  It's pretty awesome.  It was an early 6th birthday present for Three.

Christmas Eve was wonderful.  My mom got to have all 8 of her grandchildren present-something that hasn't happened in a few years.  Then Christmas day was almost perfect, my great-niece and great-nephew got to spend some time with us too.  I am feeling very happy and content today.  :)

I hope to get myself back together today.  I hope to get a lot of things accomplished while The Punk is gone for the week (I have more "down" time.)  I plan to get back on this blogger bandwagon too, it's an outlet I need!

Skinny Housewife

I'm happy (no wait:  ecstatic is probably more accurate) to report I finally reached my goal weight!  My goal-which I set eighteen months ago...slow and steady right?-was to be the weight I was at when I got pregnant with Three (6 1/2 years ago!)  A few months ago, I actually stopped caring about the number on the scale.  I was two pounds from goal weight, and holding steady.  However, my body has totally transformed.  I can wear clothes in a size that I NEVER could have worn *at goal weight* before.  So, I decided the number CLEARLY didn't matter.  I did a body fat percentage calculation and (wish I had done that BEFORE, as well as taken measurements BEFORE) realized that I am only 2% from falling into the "fit" category.  That became the new goal.  I want to be FIT, and I wouldn't care about the number anymore-since muscle weighs more than fat, I might not lose anymore actual weight but that I could lose 2% body fat, and really love my new FIT body.  That was apparently bullshit, because when THAT magic number showed up on the scale...I nearly peed my pants.

However, then I began eating really crappy and went an eight day stretch without doing ANY exercise.  UGH.  WTF is wrong with this picture?  It is the hardest time of the year to diet, and well...honestly I SUCK at dieting any time of year, I LOVE food.  Love it.  I have been eating really poorly though, and not only do I feel more sluggish but my skin is currently in horrible shape.  *hangs head in shame*  I am going to start baking projects with my kids today, and we will finish on Saturday....since this is no time for dieting (we're going on vacation next week....the baked goods are intended to go with us, and we'll be eating out more, etc.) I have to really keep on top of the exercise.  I plan to run on vacation...and we'll be playing a LOT so that will be some cardio.  I can NOT lose momentum right here at the finish line.  I will NOT.

I have new goals, having reached goal weight, I still would like to lose more fat.  My body harbors fat right around my middle.  And it is really holding on tight.  Cardio isn't going to cut it alone!  I'm great with cardio, because it's fun-since I only do things I love (Zumba and running.)  I have to do some toning, and core work.  In addition to losing more fat, and hitting that 2% lower goal, I am doing a mud run mid March and I have to have more upper body strength for some of the obstacles.  I've been doing (sporadically) an upper body circuit.  I need to do it more often!  And, I just added this, this week (and dear sweet baby jesus I'm SORE!):


http://kayciesantics.blogspot.com/2012/03/300-ultimate-ab-and-core-challenge_22.html

Off to workout, before I start the making of the treats....Today's workout:

The above ab-core-challenge.
Upper Body Strength Circuit
30 minutes of Zumba
30 minute run

It totals to about 90 minutes.  Give or take.  I know not everyone has 90 minutes in their day to exercise.  It's something that has taken me awhile to make a real priority (and then, it's been slipping the last couple weeks...I need to grab on and hold again!)  However,  don't be discouraged.  Take 8 minutes and do the upper body stuff (with the one minute cardio in between sets!)  Take 15 minutes and do the ab-core challenge.  Take 30 minutes and just DANCE!  Something IS better than nothing.  Always.


*Addition* Soooo, I came back to edit because I decided it's been awhile since I did all the measuring and calculated body fat.  I did that this morning, and LOW and behold, I have actually lost enough inches now to fall into the FIT category I was shooting for.  In fact, I'm 4% away from being in the "athlete" category.  New goal:  BE an athlete.  Before I turn 37.  :)

Woot!

Wordy Wednesday

In an effort to have the best Christmas eVAH, I've pinned a ton of things to my "homemade Christmas" board on Pinterest.  And, now we're 4 days in and I've done almost NOTHING Christmas related.  I mean, we put up the tree, the kids got a new ornament on December 1 (a tradition for us,)  the weather was nice yesterday and The Punk got the outside decorations put up.  But we haven't done anything beyond decorating.

I'd like to have a project for every day until Santa arrives (which for us will happen on the 18th--if we know you in real life, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do NOT mention anything about this to my kids, or myself at any event where my children are present!)  Then I'll need a couple more projects to get us through until we celebrate with our family.  In order for this to be the best Christmas eVAH, I need to get my rear in gear.  My boys are both resting today and I issued a mandate to my girls about REALLY NEEDING THEM TO GET THEIR WORK CAUGHT UP BEEEEFOOOOOREEEEE Xmas break (which officially starts the 17th, BUT...we are planning a surprise birthday party for Two that weekend, sooo they REALLY need to be done by the 15th...again, no mention of the party--I'm really trusting you people) so while I have a little bit I'm typing this...and then I'm going to get to work on the countdown calendar.  I'll have to put blank pieces in the calendar for the days after Santa arrives, just to throw them off.

Our elf (on the shelf) has gone missing...I'm forlorn  but thankfully the boys seem to have forgotten about him (or given up hope since they did ask for the first few days after the tree was up-which is usually when he arrives.)  I "put him away" REALLY well last year.  Clearly.

The links I posted yesterday are where I'm pulling many of my countdown ideas from.  I want experiences not things--Our Santa gift is a trip, since none of us need more STUFF.  The only "gift" on the list will probably be a new Xmas book, but again, that's a yearly tradition for us, we have 20 xmas books currently. I take that back, there will probably be the gift of a new Xmas movie as well.  Many of our Xmas movies were on VHS.  Our VCR died this year, and I won't be replacing it since we already own a DVD player, a Wii, and a Blu-Ray player.  There will probably be the replacement of a classic Xmas movie.

I got a "date" with The Punk Wednesday night.  We hit Target and got a new movie and book for the kids to unwrap.  I also bought a lot of baking supplies and stocking stuffers.  I'm SO happy to report that as of December 6, 2012 I am 90% done with Xmas shopping.  I have to buy new PJ's for the kids, and one more present each for One and Two, AND my nephews, and niece and something more for The Bestie, and her kiddo's.  THEN--I'm all done.  Phew.

Two for Tuesday

A site I just found today:  Preschool and Kindergarten Worksheets  Three and Four both did worksheets from here this morning.

Christmas Countdown activities:

http://christmas.yourway.net/printable-advent-chain/

http://kimmccrary.blogspot.com/2010/12/activities-advent.html