Things I have accomplished:
Read 1 biography: My Fair Lazy by Jen Lancaster - It was an enjoyable read while I have been home sick this weekend... fun but also had moments where it was thought provoking.
Read 1 Children's book: Welcome to Camden Falls by Ann M. Martin. This is the first in the Main Street Series... I really enjoyed it - I included a few thoughts on the book in my goodreads review (follow the link).
I read a third book: After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick -It's a young adult book (though I would put it on the younger end of this age range -- middle school probably) so I can't count it towards my list because I already finished that category but I thought I would include it here anyway. It was well written and deals with a weighty subject without making the reader feel depressed the whole time they are reading it (though there were tears at the end). This book is a sequel to Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie which I have not read yet so they are definitely able to stand on their own.
I also made two new recipes - both of which I would recommend. As with many of my recipes I found them on allrecipes.com
Here they are:
Pasta Salad: I didn't actually include the chicken in this ( I was going to a party where I knew there would be vegetarians) and I left out the corn as I didn't have any but threw in some carrots because I had some shredded carrots on hand. The dressing was good and I think overall it was well received.
Turkey Burgers: Like a few reviewers said I added a small amount of bread crumbs ( I use panko) and I also had "fiesta ranch" dressing mix on hand so I used that in place of the plain ranch and it was really good... a little bit of a kick. It was a big hit in my house.
The only other task I accomplished was to attend one "Groove" class at my gym (out of the 3 that is my goal). I'm not very good at it yet but I think I will need to attend the 3 that I set out to do to see if I will get better and give the class a chance. It was a good workout and the hour went by pretty quickly. "Kick" is still my favorite though. Something about pretending to kick and punch things is nice after a long day of work :-)
daffodils
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Vacation....
This is actually my second week back at work now but I was away from work for so long it still feels like a novelty. I was out two weeks in July (one when my mother passed away and a second for a training) and then away the first two weeks of August for vacation. It's good to be back and back to some sort of normal schedule- though I could probably get used to being on perpetual vacation too.
Vacation was fantastic. I definitely had a lot of moments where I really missed my mom because I always called her a lot during previous road trips, checking in from all of our various locations. Traveling was also a good distraction for me though and I got to spend some actual quality time with the hubby which hadn't happened for quite a while. It was good to have the first week just the two of us exploring the country together. The second week was a ton of fun in a different way when some good friends met us for a week in Vegas. I didn't win big but I also didn't come home broke so I will call it a success!
So now the whole point of this blog: What did I accomplish from my list in the last few weeks/ while I was away... quite a few things actually!
Items completed:
69. Make a photo album/book for Hawaii trip
70. Make a photo album/book for Keys trip
*shutterfly - the service I usually use to print photos was having a 20% off sale on photobooks which is how I ordered the first one and then I got an email for a free photobook which I earned with my first order (I also ordered a few other prints) so I was able to get the second one taken care of as well. YAY! I actually really like the photo books instead of albums (I'm a librarian - I like books - what can I say?) because I can easily add captions etc and they look so nice on the bookshelf.
79. Spend the night in a National Park
80. See the Grand Canyon
*Seems I had some luck because the items on my list are getting checked off in pairs! I have always wanted to stay in one of the large national parks over night to really see and experience the park without having to rush. We were able to stay at a lodge in the Grand Canyon National Park which was fantastic because it let us see the sunset and sunrise over the canyon. It was a beautiful park... though VERY crowded in the summer which for me unfortunately took away from the experience a little bit. Hopefully next time we are there we will have the time and be prepared to hike (or take a mule) to the bottom and back up. We did hike a short distance down into the canyon but they really recommend that it takes two complete days to go all the way down (camp overnight) and then back up. They take their warning signs seriously!
83. Visit Bill and Beth (and new babies Violet and Henry!) -- we had a great time stopping to see old friends in Colorado. Henry and Violet are adorable and Bill and Beth were fun to watch as new parents. I am excited to say that the four of us took the wee ones on their first restaurant outing (which was delicious - I highly recommend Coopersmith's in Ft. Collins http://www.coopersmithspub.com/
95. Play a table game at a casino - It would have just been wrong if I hadn't been able to check this off my list while in Vegas. I played $1 blackjack at the Sahara. I lost about 10 bucks. The novelty of it was fun but I don't feel the need to do anymore table gambling ... I enjoyed the Deal or No Deal and Sex and the City slots just as much (maybe more) and I could play those a penny at a time.
This week I hope to:
a. get back to the gym at least twice
b. get back on the treadmill at least three times
c. read a biography
d. maybe make another attempt at a peaches and cream pie - I made one over the weekend but messed it up so I'm not gonna cross it off my list til I get it right :-)
Vacation was fantastic. I definitely had a lot of moments where I really missed my mom because I always called her a lot during previous road trips, checking in from all of our various locations. Traveling was also a good distraction for me though and I got to spend some actual quality time with the hubby which hadn't happened for quite a while. It was good to have the first week just the two of us exploring the country together. The second week was a ton of fun in a different way when some good friends met us for a week in Vegas. I didn't win big but I also didn't come home broke so I will call it a success!
So now the whole point of this blog: What did I accomplish from my list in the last few weeks/ while I was away... quite a few things actually!
Items completed:
69. Make a photo album/book for Hawaii trip
70. Make a photo album/book for Keys trip
*shutterfly - the service I usually use to print photos was having a 20% off sale on photobooks which is how I ordered the first one and then I got an email for a free photobook which I earned with my first order (I also ordered a few other prints) so I was able to get the second one taken care of as well. YAY! I actually really like the photo books instead of albums (I'm a librarian - I like books - what can I say?) because I can easily add captions etc and they look so nice on the bookshelf.
79. Spend the night in a National Park
80. See the Grand Canyon
*Seems I had some luck because the items on my list are getting checked off in pairs! I have always wanted to stay in one of the large national parks over night to really see and experience the park without having to rush. We were able to stay at a lodge in the Grand Canyon National Park which was fantastic because it let us see the sunset and sunrise over the canyon. It was a beautiful park... though VERY crowded in the summer which for me unfortunately took away from the experience a little bit. Hopefully next time we are there we will have the time and be prepared to hike (or take a mule) to the bottom and back up. We did hike a short distance down into the canyon but they really recommend that it takes two complete days to go all the way down (camp overnight) and then back up. They take their warning signs seriously!
83. Visit Bill and Beth (and new babies Violet and Henry!) -- we had a great time stopping to see old friends in Colorado. Henry and Violet are adorable and Bill and Beth were fun to watch as new parents. I am excited to say that the four of us took the wee ones on their first restaurant outing (which was delicious - I highly recommend Coopersmith's in Ft. Collins http://www.coopersmithspub.com/
95. Play a table game at a casino - It would have just been wrong if I hadn't been able to check this off my list while in Vegas. I played $1 blackjack at the Sahara. I lost about 10 bucks. The novelty of it was fun but I don't feel the need to do anymore table gambling ... I enjoyed the Deal or No Deal and Sex and the City slots just as much (maybe more) and I could play those a penny at a time.
This week I hope to:
a. get back to the gym at least twice
b. get back on the treadmill at least three times
c. read a biography
d. maybe make another attempt at a peaches and cream pie - I made one over the weekend but messed it up so I'm not gonna cross it off my list til I get it right :-)
Sunday, July 25, 2010
One Day At A Time
It's been a few weeks since I've posted an update...actually it's been a full month now that I look back at the date... and life has been hard. On July 10th I lost my mom and one of the best friends anyone could ask for and I'm still not sure I've come to terms with it. I often reach for my cell to call her like I would several times a day to say good morning, or tell her something silly her grand-dog had done and I miss those little moments like crazy. Knowing she doesn't have to struggle anymore and that she's with my nephew in Heaven is comforting and I feel so blessed that I was given the gift of saying goodbye and being with her and my family in those final moments. I have never ever witnessed the kind of bravery as I did in her that day.
The weeks following have been a blur. As hard as the week of mom's funeral was - I was lucky enough to be surrounded by family and friends and the love and support was overwhelming. Someone mentioned to me during that time that it was amazing to see how close my highschool girlfriends and I still were after 15 years and I am so grateful for that, they were there for me and my family each and every day making sure I ate, holding me when I cried or just sitting quietly with me. It was also wonderful to be surrounded by family everyday and perhaps the hardest moment for me was when everyone started going home and "real" life had to resume.
"Real life" however didn't really resume for me right away as the following week was spent at a work training, the "Maryland Library Leadership Institute" in Port Deposit, Maryland. Truly this was for me just what the doctor ordered... It was intensive and engaging and kept my mind occupied almost every waking second. I was lucky enough to have a fabulous group of peers to work with through the week (Thanks 46% Fairly Content!) and I must say it lived up to the praise of all of my coworkers who have gone before me through this program. I learned a lot about myself and how to push out of my comfort zone at work and hope that it will carry over into my personal life as well. Plus - the food was amazing!! The "meal" bell rang five times a day for breakfast, lunch, dinner and morning and afternoon snack. Fresh baked scones/tarts/and cookies between meals is something I will definitely miss but I'm sure my trainer at the gym will be glad was only for a week!
So now after a week of being able to distract myself I find myself back in the real world and it's definitely an adjustment...one I'm taking day by day as I work through my grief, prepare for a crazy busy week at work, and try to regain some focus on making myself a better person. I took a look at my list to see if I had in fact accomplished any of my goals in the last month and this is where I'm at:
a. I tried a new recipe (new to me anyway) and made dad some barbecue with mom's recipe. He liked it much better than when I cook with my own recipes :-)
b. I ordered fish at a restaurant and had tuna steak when we went out with Chad's mom 4th of July weekend. It was good... but not as good as the Rockfish I had in Ocean City!
c. I pushed my comfort zone by speaking at my mother's funeral. I didn't think I had it in me but I did and it was a blessing to be able to honor the woman who meant the most to me in life and I thank God for helping me get through it.
Today it's off to see my dad and hang out with the family...and tomorrow back to the library for the first time in two weeks...and whatever comes my way I'll just take it one day at a time.
The weeks following have been a blur. As hard as the week of mom's funeral was - I was lucky enough to be surrounded by family and friends and the love and support was overwhelming. Someone mentioned to me during that time that it was amazing to see how close my highschool girlfriends and I still were after 15 years and I am so grateful for that, they were there for me and my family each and every day making sure I ate, holding me when I cried or just sitting quietly with me. It was also wonderful to be surrounded by family everyday and perhaps the hardest moment for me was when everyone started going home and "real" life had to resume.
"Real life" however didn't really resume for me right away as the following week was spent at a work training, the "Maryland Library Leadership Institute" in Port Deposit, Maryland. Truly this was for me just what the doctor ordered... It was intensive and engaging and kept my mind occupied almost every waking second. I was lucky enough to have a fabulous group of peers to work with through the week (Thanks 46% Fairly Content!) and I must say it lived up to the praise of all of my coworkers who have gone before me through this program. I learned a lot about myself and how to push out of my comfort zone at work and hope that it will carry over into my personal life as well. Plus - the food was amazing!! The "meal" bell rang five times a day for breakfast, lunch, dinner and morning and afternoon snack. Fresh baked scones/tarts/and cookies between meals is something I will definitely miss but I'm sure my trainer at the gym will be glad was only for a week!
So now after a week of being able to distract myself I find myself back in the real world and it's definitely an adjustment...one I'm taking day by day as I work through my grief, prepare for a crazy busy week at work, and try to regain some focus on making myself a better person. I took a look at my list to see if I had in fact accomplished any of my goals in the last month and this is where I'm at:
a. I tried a new recipe (new to me anyway) and made dad some barbecue with mom's recipe. He liked it much better than when I cook with my own recipes :-)
b. I ordered fish at a restaurant and had tuna steak when we went out with Chad's mom 4th of July weekend. It was good... but not as good as the Rockfish I had in Ocean City!
c. I pushed my comfort zone by speaking at my mother's funeral. I didn't think I had it in me but I did and it was a blessing to be able to honor the woman who meant the most to me in life and I thank God for helping me get through it.
Today it's off to see my dad and hang out with the family...and tomorrow back to the library for the first time in two weeks...and whatever comes my way I'll just take it one day at a time.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
All about me...
So these last few weeks (at least as far as this list is concerned) have been all about me :-).
I had a massage, got a desperately needed pedicure, took up a running program (ok so its mostly walking and jogging) and joined a gym. I must admit, it feels really good to have "me time".
Life is stressful and I am trying to think more positively about ways to deal with stress and also to realize that in order to be able to help other people I also have to help myself.
I completed my time with personal trainer #1 who taught me just how far I have to go :-) and I joined a gym closer to home. I go to the gym tomorrow to get shown the ropes and also have the trainer there help me formulate a plan. I like to plan (hence this list!) so I'm looking forward to that.
As far as the running program - it's hard to believe but I am really enjoying it so far. It's not easy because I have never EVER been a runner. I can remember dreading running the mile in gym class as far back as middle school because I was never any good at it. I can't EVER remember running even one lap around the track without being totally miserable (if at all) but yesterday the Couch to 5k running program had me doing just that-- quarter mile intervals with walking between... and I did it ... and it seems small but I am quite proud of myself :).
The pedicure and massage were rewards for some stressful times--- I actually got the pedicure spontaneously as I waited for my second flat tire in about a week to be fixed (luckily the nail place was within walking distance from the tire shop - I think I deserved it!) and the added bonus is pretty feet that are actually sandal worthy now!
In the coming weeks I'm going to try to focus on continuing my me time by allowing myself quiet time to read or just think as well as focusing on making the running and gym a habit. I also realize that I think I am going to need to edit my actual list in the future - I've got a few new goals and a few goals that might not seem as interesting anymore. I know these lists are probably supposed to be static... but I prefer to be a fluid person and I will change my mind if I want to!
I had a massage, got a desperately needed pedicure, took up a running program (ok so its mostly walking and jogging) and joined a gym. I must admit, it feels really good to have "me time".
Life is stressful and I am trying to think more positively about ways to deal with stress and also to realize that in order to be able to help other people I also have to help myself.
I completed my time with personal trainer #1 who taught me just how far I have to go :-) and I joined a gym closer to home. I go to the gym tomorrow to get shown the ropes and also have the trainer there help me formulate a plan. I like to plan (hence this list!) so I'm looking forward to that.
As far as the running program - it's hard to believe but I am really enjoying it so far. It's not easy because I have never EVER been a runner. I can remember dreading running the mile in gym class as far back as middle school because I was never any good at it. I can't EVER remember running even one lap around the track without being totally miserable (if at all) but yesterday the Couch to 5k running program had me doing just that-- quarter mile intervals with walking between... and I did it ... and it seems small but I am quite proud of myself :).
The pedicure and massage were rewards for some stressful times--- I actually got the pedicure spontaneously as I waited for my second flat tire in about a week to be fixed (luckily the nail place was within walking distance from the tire shop - I think I deserved it!) and the added bonus is pretty feet that are actually sandal worthy now!
In the coming weeks I'm going to try to focus on continuing my me time by allowing myself quiet time to read or just think as well as focusing on making the running and gym a habit. I also realize that I think I am going to need to edit my actual list in the future - I've got a few new goals and a few goals that might not seem as interesting anymore. I know these lists are probably supposed to be static... but I prefer to be a fluid person and I will change my mind if I want to!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Me Running?? That's crazy talk!
OK so along with the torturous personal training session I have also completed week one of the Couch-to-5k running program with the help of a handy ipod-touch app. I love that it keeps track of the time for me... tells me when to walk and run in intervals and also lets me import a playlist of songs. The first time I ran I attempted to take the beagle with me. I figured she could use some off the couch time as well... but she didn't make it past the warm up before she started driving me crazy with her stopping to smell things or to mark her territory.... seriously she wants to own the whole neighborhood! So I sent her back inside and went out to finish the workout alone. I enjoyed being outside but the 2nd two workouts of the week had to be on the treadmill because it was either dark or too darn hot when I had time to fit it in. I realized after the first day that treadmill running is way easier than outside running so I decided to try to make it closer to outside running during my 3rd workout by upping the incline a little (not a lot - trust me!) and that seemed to do the trick.
I hope that this blog and making my goal of completing this 9 week program public will keep me focused and help me to actually push through and finish and not quit halfway through... so if you see a few weeks where I don't mention it ... please feel free to hound me about it!
Other than running, this week has been pretty busy with work and hanging out with the folks. Mom had a setback and had to go back to the hospital Tuesday night and should be released today to either home or a rehabilitation facility. Thoughts and prayers for her strength, healing, and calmness are always appreciated!
I hope that this blog and making my goal of completing this 9 week program public will keep me focused and help me to actually push through and finish and not quit halfway through... so if you see a few weeks where I don't mention it ... please feel free to hound me about it!
Other than running, this week has been pretty busy with work and hanging out with the folks. Mom had a setback and had to go back to the hospital Tuesday night and should be released today to either home or a rehabilitation facility. Thoughts and prayers for her strength, healing, and calmness are always appreciated!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Torture... I mean training.
Ok ... I could be exaggerating a *tiny* bit... but the personal training session this morning proved to me exactly how much I need the personal training sessions. I am out of shape and it's time to rectify the situation :-) I am sure the trainer this morning (who was lovely and kind - it's not her fault I'm miserable at coordination AND strength) thought I would run from the gym and never return but I made another appt for next Tuesday morning at 7am and will do it all again. I even have homework of exercises to do during the week. So YAY - I am participating in a fitness related activity and can check it off my list and gain the health benefits :-)
In other 101 list of things to do news I am currently reading my 5th book that will complete the "Read 5 Teen Books" item. I am reading A Certain Slant Of Light by Laura Whitcomb and I am really enjoying it. It looks at a lot of teen issues through the eyes of two spirits who have "taken" the bodies of two teenagers whose souls had left their body for different reasons. I won't spill all of the plot and details (plus I'm not all that good about putting these "supernatural" types of things into words anyway) but I am finding that I am having trouble putting it down.
I think that's all for now on the list front......
In other 101 list of things to do news I am currently reading my 5th book that will complete the "Read 5 Teen Books" item. I am reading A Certain Slant Of Light by Laura Whitcomb and I am really enjoying it. It looks at a lot of teen issues through the eyes of two spirits who have "taken" the bodies of two teenagers whose souls had left their body for different reasons. I won't spill all of the plot and details (plus I'm not all that good about putting these "supernatural" types of things into words anyway) but I am finding that I am having trouble putting it down.
I think that's all for now on the list front......
Friday, June 4, 2010
Getting Things Done...
Life is still undeniably stressful and exhausting but slowly things are getting accomplished! YAY me!
Ok so here are the things I can cross of the list/things that are in progress:
23. Clean and prepare sewing machine for use - I actually decided to sell both sewing machines that I own at the yard sale. Let's face it... sewing is not a love of mine anymore and now they hopefully will get use in someone else's house. Maybe I'll buy a new one one day... maybe not.
24. Sew something… anything! - Obviously I can't do this now that I have sent away my sewing machines... so maybe I will replace this with something else sometime... we'll see.
34. Take a fitness class or join a fitness related activity - My hubby won a gift certificate for 3 personal training sessions by answering a trivia question about Annapolis on facebook and he gave it to me! YAY! I would never in a million years have thought to shell out the cash for this or even have the guts to do this normally... I'm sort of a workout/gym novice but I'm going to take the plunge and give it a shot and I'm actually excited about it. The trainer was really nice on email... hopefully she won't be a crazy drill Sargent in person :-)
55. Sell fairy collectibles - Do I seem like the type to collect fairies? I guess at one time I did. They are gone now-- they all went to one lovely lady at the yardsale.
65. Purge house of unneeded things - Clutter = gone
66. Have a yard sale (or participate in one) -we had a yardsale at the hubby's mom's house and got rid of all that clutter mentioned above while making a few bucks. Anything that didn't sell we left with his mom to take to a charity. I wasn't bringing any of it back into my clutter free house!
I'm not sure how all of these things actually got done recently because it's been pretty hectic in my little piece of the world. Mom came home from the hospital this week (prayers for strength and recovery always appreciated) and I have been hanging with her and pop as much as possible and staying busy with work as well. I suppose I carved out time by not cooking or cleaning :-) Hey I said my house was clutter free - not actually dust free or clean!
Ok so here are the things I can cross of the list/things that are in progress:
23. Clean and prepare sewing machine for use - I actually decided to sell both sewing machines that I own at the yard sale. Let's face it... sewing is not a love of mine anymore and now they hopefully will get use in someone else's house. Maybe I'll buy a new one one day... maybe not.
24. Sew something… anything! - Obviously I can't do this now that I have sent away my sewing machines... so maybe I will replace this with something else sometime... we'll see.
34. Take a fitness class or join a fitness related activity - My hubby won a gift certificate for 3 personal training sessions by answering a trivia question about Annapolis on facebook and he gave it to me! YAY! I would never in a million years have thought to shell out the cash for this or even have the guts to do this normally... I'm sort of a workout/gym novice but I'm going to take the plunge and give it a shot and I'm actually excited about it. The trainer was really nice on email... hopefully she won't be a crazy drill Sargent in person :-)
55. Sell fairy collectibles - Do I seem like the type to collect fairies? I guess at one time I did. They are gone now-- they all went to one lovely lady at the yardsale.
65. Purge house of unneeded things - Clutter = gone
66. Have a yard sale (or participate in one) -we had a yardsale at the hubby's mom's house and got rid of all that clutter mentioned above while making a few bucks. Anything that didn't sell we left with his mom to take to a charity. I wasn't bringing any of it back into my clutter free house!
I'm not sure how all of these things actually got done recently because it's been pretty hectic in my little piece of the world. Mom came home from the hospital this week (prayers for strength and recovery always appreciated) and I have been hanging with her and pop as much as possible and staying busy with work as well. I suppose I carved out time by not cooking or cleaning :-) Hey I said my house was clutter free - not actually dust free or clean!
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