Finding Motivation in the Cold

This past week I ran three day.
   Monday - 1 Mile
   Tuesday - 2 Miles
   Wednesday - 2.5 Miles

On Thursday I was scheduled to run 3 miles. However, by 6pm I had a sever headache. I decided to forgo running on this evening determined to run on Friday/Saturday/Sunday. Now, it is Sunday at 2:23pm and I still have yet to do my 3 mile run. I hope that I will find the motivation to complete my week of running in full but I have a feeling the 3 miler will be rolled into next weeks running schedule.

This also goes to prove that I need to run when I have the chance, after work. Just gotta do it!

Home Cooked VS Take-Out

I plan meals that sound appetizing and healthy on Sunday. However, by the time Thursday rolls around the meal planned doesn't always sound appetizing. So, I am struggling how to find a solutions to planning meals but allowing for freedom when our cravings veer from our menu.

This week I am going to plan three meals. Hopefully, we will spend a few dollars less which will allow for us to pick something up on the side. So, here it goes:

Monday

Meat Loaf Sandwich w. Gouda

Cous Cous

Tossed Salad

Tuesday

Pork Chops

Mashed Potatoes

Creamed Corn

Wednesday

Tacos

Spanish Rice

Pico de Gallo Salad

Thursday

????

I may purchase a frozen pizza or a package of chicken tenders (these are cheaper than breasts!). This will allow us/me to cook wings, pizza, or these meals in any order and allow us an easy night of cooking. Now, to make my shopping list!

Update on DJ

I realized that I do not often update about the groom, otherwise known as DJ. Can you guess where he has been spending much of his free time? If you have known him for five minutes you probably guessed correct, the garage!

He decided, on Sunday, to begin rebuilding the transmission of his Mustang. The car is now up on jacks, with its' hood in the open position and tools scattered on the floor. He has found some of the bolts hard to unscrew but he seems to be enjoying the challenge regardless

When he is not in the garage, he has been working on additional certifications for work. And, on weekend snowmobiling. Excitedly, my parents will be out of town this weekend so I will have a sled to ride. Hopefully it will continue snowing and riding the sleds will be in our future. I am not sure that I will keep up with the "boys" for an 8 hour ride but, I would consider going out for a "stroll".

Training on Track

Mentally, I have come leaps and bounds in my thoughts on exercise. It no longer is a chore but something that helps me have more energy, feel better about myself, and sleep better! Also, during my runs I get to listen to fun Podcasts and learn something, it is a win/win.

Today is my long run, 3.0 miles. Yesterday I ran 2.5 miles and by mentally breaking it down into laps/"T's" or minutes on the IPod, these miles seem doable. I fear running 5.0 or 6.0 miles inside. But, getting to know/understand myself better I know that I will not run outside so I must run inside to keep-up with my training.

I have tossed around the idea of increasing my training from a 10K to a Half-Marathon (upon reaching the 10K goal). Races will not take place until May and I would have ample time to train for a Half-Marathon. I am afraid if I do not have a goal to train for, I will become stagnant in my running and need a goal to race for to keep my motivation up.

To Bad I Can't Blame It On A Full Moon

Last weekend, a beautiful full moon showed itself on Saturday evening. Comparing a full moon to the choices that students make, normally, is has a direct correlation. However, it seems this week that poor choices cannot be blamed on that.

Yesterday afternoon, I found myself jumping between the conclusions of "Rome was not built in a day" and "I am out of ideas to help you be successful". Youth should not be given up on, and I am not at that point, but I need to seek advice on other avenues and strategies to use with these students to help them be successful.

Gotta Beat This Cold

Dale and his parents went out snowmobiling this afternoon. However, I decided to stay behind to try and nurse this cold into remission. Hopefully tonight I will be able to watch some cable tv (funny how appealing that can be) and see a folk music group in Hart. The weather has lifted and the roads should be passable by 7pm tonight. When the snowmobilers return and I am back from the concert, I am sure Dale and I will spend a rousing night watching the Discovery Channel.

Tomorrow Dale and I will venture to the grocery store and try out our new amended budget. Our menu will consist of:

Monday

Taco Soup

Tuesday

Venison Medalions

Mashed Potatoes

Creamed Corn

Wednesday

Italian Carbonara

Rolls

Fruit Salad

Thursday

Mushroom Burgers

Tossed Salad

Baked Beans

Many of the menu items listed involve food items that we already have at our disposal. With Dale shooting two deer this year, we are able to provide a majority of our meat. A few perks of this include: knowing how it was processed, knowing our meat is organic/free range, and saving money on our grocery bill! It is a win/win situation, and those do not come around often.

School Is Back In Session

Tuesday marked the beginning of spring semester of my graduate program. This semester will only consist of three credits but, with weddings and all I suspect three is a good number. I fell into an old habit this semester, waiting until the last minute to purchase books. Now, I have to play the waiting game and hope the supplemental reading gives me enough info to post for class.

On another positive note, Dale and I have decided to begin the savings process for a house. And with determination coupled with perseverance, we will have a down payment by the end of our lease, August! It is exciting to see what the future holds for us, as a couple. Now to find a house that can hold both of us and Dale's cars!

Celebrating MLK Jr. in Style

     Coming from a small town in Northern Michigan, diversity can be lacking and holidays that celebrate those of diversity are not recognized. Although my school district does not recognize MLK Jr. day, I have taken off the day to spend time with DJ's family.
     DJ's family has rented a condo at Crystal Mountain Resort for the weekend which includes lift tickets. How could this be a bad combo! We were able to head out this afternoon and evening (after a short nap). This evening the hills had gotten a little icy and windy but, provided fun for the boys on the terrain park.
     At the end of this weekend I hope that DJ is recharged for the winter season, relationships are stronger due to time spent together, and that memories and stories wil be told for many years to come.
    

Unmet Expectations

I have heard a time or two, "Making lemons out of lemonade even though I am allergic to lemons". And, in life, there are many circumstances that call us to do just that. We are asked to put-up with a situation or circumstance whether it is tolerable or not. As adults we should do just this even if it is an unpopular decision. But, when do I get to decide if I truly feel like making lemonade? And, tonight I do not feel like making lemonade.

Crazy Is As Crazy Does

     I have often wondered, who are we truly? Is the way we act at work, home, or by ourselves the "true" version of us. While work is a place that I put my professional self forward and my crazy/inappropriate self on the back burner, I am finding my "alone" self and "friend" self turning into the same person.This may prove that I am becoming more comfortable with Dale and realizing that regardless of how I act, he will still love me. Now, the facial expressions of disbelief may still show themselves but, trust and love are at the heart of those looks.



   

So little time

How time flies! It amazes me how time on the weekends is slow paced, there is typically not a schedule to adhere to and yet things still yet done and I feel accomplished at the end of my three day weekend. However, when Monday rolls around and I know that I have work, exercising, cooking, chores, etc there just never seems like enough time. Or possibly there is enough time I just do not feel like fitting that ALL into the short amount of time allotted. I truly prefer the more leisure pace or possibly the South American pace.

Today I hope to finish typing this blog within the next three minutes, move onto folding clean laundry, shower, pack for the day (workout stuff) and copy down phone numbers I need to call on my way to work. And this will hopefully take place within two hours. That is CRAZY. We are expected to put to much into our days. I propose that we slow things down a bit, take a few responsibilities off our plates and truly enjoy each moment. Can''t I just sit and enjoy the aroma, taste, and texture of my coffee? When in reality it would be easier to have an IV so that I could multi-task as I am gearing-up for the day. As the saying goes, So Is Life.

I wish you a productive, leisure day at work and may you find time to fold your laundry while cooking a mean stew and watching Desperate Housewives all within your allotted 45 minutes.

Menu for January 10-16

Monday

• Pesto-Presto Chicken
• Couscous
• Grilled Zuchini

 

Tuesday

• Cherry Tomato & Ravioli Soup
• Bread
• Tossed Salad

 
Wednesday

• Beef Noodle Bowls with Venison
• Snap Peas

 Thursday

• Hungarian Style Chili
• Polenta

These recipes will, hopefully, create enough food for lunch left overs. I am hoping with Dale not purchasing lunch, he will find more money available for gas and other necessary things. To further conserve, our roomie Annie may split a few of these meals with us. Of the joys of splitting bills in three!!

Happy Weekend

Krazy Coupon Ladies

Today, I spent much time looking at blogs and videos of women and men who spend a few hours each week cutting coupons and saving TONS at the market. The women refer to themselves as Krazy Coupon Ladies. Now, I give them credit for saving SO much money but, I am not sure I have the energy to commit to such an endeavor. I do think that I could muster up the energy to save money on household items such as: toilet paper, laundry detergent, cleaners, and pet food. The hard part for me is deciding what is truly a good deal.


A very common coupon is $1 off the original price. Now, as I have learned today, the key is to find deals that both companies and stores run at the same time. How often does this happen? Can I find a good deal on laundry detergent? I will have to keep googling....

Regardless of finding coupons I have planned for tomorrow a trip to the local butcher, dairy, and baker. What will this do to our cost of groceries? I enjoy the idea of buying my food locally. And, come to find out they hold a Farmers Market every other Saturday INSIDE during the winter. What a great idea!! Here is where I will be visiting tomorrow:

• Frank's Market Meats & Sausage in Grand Haven

• Earthly Kneads in Muskegon
• The Cheese Lady in Muskegon

The farmers market will soon end-up on my list however, it does not reopen until January 18th. I hope to buy my vegetables from them! Can't wait to start shopping in this way. Now, I need to create my menu for this coming week so that I know what to purchase at these places.






 

Money Penny

One goal for 2011 is keeping better wraps on my friends. Tonight I am going ice skating with an old colleague. She lives fairly close and yet we rarely see each other, funny how that works and seems to be the trend. I have put some thought into why I do not spend much of my free time with friends and here are a few of my conclusions: I work an odd schedule 10am-6pm, I do not have that many friends in the MKG area, I enjoy time to myself, and I feel guilty leaving Dale out. I know that these all play a role in the amount of time that I devote to friends but, I still need to find a way, schedule, something, to keep me on track with friending.

Last night we had a slight FREAK OUT moment with the wedding. Do we have enough rooms booked? Many of our friends and family will be traveling from out-of-state and requiring a room. We now have 55 rooms booked but only 10 of those are under a $100 a night. Fourth of July weekend allow people to have the time off for traveling but room rates are outrageous because of the holiday. So, if you have not booked a room yet, do it soon!

Impressed with myself

Today will mark the third day that I have cooked something new out of my new Rachel Ray Cookbook. The recipes that I have completed so far have been nothing but delicious and Dale and complimented me on both!

Yesterdays dinner included Creole Meatloaf with Trinity Gravy, Spiced Spinach and Rice. I myself am not a fan of cooked spinach, however, it was simmered in chicken stock with hot sauce and onions. With a little salt it was delectable. I will definitely have to make this side dish again. The recipe called for Kale and during the summer months I hope to try this variation as well.

Dale is going out to eat with his mom so Annie and I, my roommate, are going to try Chicken Ragu. This recipe happened to call for all things that we had laying around the house and in the fridge. Another thing about Annie and I cooking together is our agreement on whole wheat pasta! We are using up extra food and creating new things with them. Could there be anything better?

Update on the Wedding

Over break I had two weeks to dedicate to the wedding. And, I used the time wisely. Listed are the things that I have accomplished:

• Photographer - Andie V.
• Dress - Dere Kiang
• Invitations - Vistaprint
• Florist/Table Decorations - Sue Hopp
• Blog - Here
• Blocking Hotel Rooms - See Wedding Tab
• Tuxes - Men's Wearhouse
• Brides Maids Dresses 
• DJ

I need to check back with my Ultimate Check-List to double check the items that still need to be crossed off but, the hard stuff is done!

Keep up with the enthusiasm

With the new year starting on a Saturday, it didn't seem correct to start my new year goals until a Monday or the 3rd of January. And, yesterday I kept all of my goals. I started the day off with a balanced breakfast, ate lunch with my colleagues, went for a run after work, and made a delicious dinner. Starting the week/year with these goals, hopefully, will pave the way integrating these new routines into my daily life.

Many articles discuss the ways and forms in which habits are created. The consensus is a procedure must be completed 16-21 times for it to become a habit.One article stated that, "if you want to turn something into a habit that you do everyday, you have to WANT to do it. If you don't, you will find a way to do everything but that. Make a firm decision to do this on a daily basis". This statement carries much validity but, I know there will come a time when I do not want to run or cook a balanced meal and it is my hope that by the time this hit I will have completed the task so many times that my muscles and mind will carry me through the motions.

Dale made a comment about having made a New Years Resolution but decided not to tell what that is. He said, "that way if I break it, it won't be such a big deal". I am not sure what his resolution is but because of his secrecy it must have some affect on others, not just himself.

What are your resolutions? Do you continue to make them or have you given up on the New Year New You mentality?