Discipline

Discipline. That's exactly what I need (in more ways than one). That's exactly what was in my horoscope today, not that I believe in them, but it kinda fits my situation. My big situation. The Last 15 has been bumped up to the Last 20. That's right.  I need to lose an extra 5 pounds now. I give up drinking pop (except for the one (or two) glasses I "accidentally" drank at my niece's b-day party two weeks ago) and gained 5 pounds. Whoa! Go back! Wrong Direction!  I don't really get why I couldn't have at least lost 1 pound, but I guess a big part of it would be no discipline.  No official plan. Not stickin to it. Well, better late than never. I will be doing something today whether it's walking, the elliptical or one of the many fitness DVDs I own. I will start making that meal plan to get rid of the Last 20.  I've set a goal. I've made a plan. I'm stickin to it. It's all discipline.

Horoscope

Scorpio (10/24 - 11/22)

Make a plan and stick to it -- the day does not reward flexibility. You can discipline yourself better than most, though, so don't worry if your people start to flake out or drift away.

Powered by Astrology.com

Project Life: Week 8

Week 8

My trusty "administrative assistant."

Trouble since day one.

Innocent until proven guilty.

Was once the "baby" of the family.

Sheds an entire coat every day (just look at my Dyson).

Ella's best friend. 

Misses her best friend (but not as much as I do).

Determined. Persistent.

Loving. Loyal. Family.

Phoebe Shirley Riley-Johnson

(yes, this is her real name: there's a story behind it).

Time Out

Time out.  I heard this phrase a few times yesterday told to our 4-year-old neice.  I thought to myself, "time out."  I could use a time out. And that is exactly what I did. I placed myself into time out. I seem to constantly be on the move or doing something. It's usually not something I want to be doing, but have to be doing. So last night after a day of activity-after-activity we came home, ate dinner, got ready for bed and I placed myself in time out. I am finally "caught up" on one of my favorite t.v. shows. Two months worth of DVR recordings.  Although it was not my ideal time out (100% uninterupted), I still took it. I didn't move until I was ready regardless of the few distractions and unmentioned family members trying to pull me away from my time out. This is one "kid" who wanted to be in time out.  I think I need more time outs. It will be something new for me to try to master. A tool to clear my brain and put my mind into a new place. Ahhhh....time out. Why didn't I do this sooner.

The Last 15

The last 15. That's what's left. It may not sound like a lot, but for me it is.  If I could lose that, I would be back to my pre-Ella weight. I originally started with needing to lose 30 pounds one year ago November, but have only managed to get down 15 of the 30. I am now trying harder to get rid of the last 15.  If I can pull that off, I know I'll feel better. Plus I have a full closet of like-new clothes waiting to be worn once again. 

My new aid in this journey: the elliptical.  I have only managed to use it once per week for 30 to 60 minutes. That's not going to work.  I am now vowing to use my new aid a minimum of 30 to 60 minutes, 3 times per week. I have other aids I plan to use in conjunction, but the elliptical has been most successful for me in the past. I've now cut out pop (well down to on-occasion) and my favorite chocolate treat.  I'm back to eating the not-so-tasty-but-better-for-you foods.  I'm willing to do whatever it takes. I know it's going to take a while. Afterall, I didn't put on all of this weight overnight.

So here's to a new me, once again. And here's to the last 15.

Hello new 'friend.'

Project Life 2011: Week 7

Week 7

Payphone.

I was with a group of women a couple of weekends ago

talking about things from the past that our kids

probably will never get the chance to see for themselves.

One of the items we were discussing were payphones. 

Remember those?

Better yet, do you even know what one is? 

I remember using a payphone at 14 to call my mom

to let her know I was done with work and was ready to be picked up.

Using the business phone was not permitted and cell phones hardly existed.

The cost then was 10 cents per call. 

We wondered if payphones even still existed.

Well, there are not many to be found , in Traverse City at least.

But there's this one.

The cost now is 50 cents per call.

Project Life 2011: Week 6

Week 6

Kitty.

Ella's favorite on the carousel, which Ella rode practically everyday for 2 months straight.

We're now down to once or twice per week.

$1 per ride.

Project Life 2011: Weeks 1 through 5

Week 1

This is the view out our front door during the winter.

It is a "new" view for us.

There are approx. 30 fewer trees than we're used to viewing.

Can't wait to see the change with each season.

Week 2

My well-worn keyboard.

I am a medical transcriptionist.

With that comes A LOT of typing.

And with that comes well-worn keys.

If you take a close look, you'll see some of the letter labels are worn off.

Week 3

The view of the front of our refrigerator.

Evidence a toddler lives here.

One of the many activities to keep said toddler occupied while meals are made.

Week 4

This is Ella's "blue baby."

She's rarely seen without it.

It was a gift from Ella's great grandma Ash.

Week 5

My Vasque's.

Purchased back in 1996 or 1997.

Didn't need to make a fashion statement.

Just needed a good pair of boots that would last many years and keep me

warm, dry and from falling on the LONG hikes from class to class on WMU's campus.

They cost a good chunk of change at the time,

but they serve their purpose and are well worth the price.

Project Life 2011: How it came to be.

On one of my many visits to Facebook at the beginning of the year, I saw a post from a friend asking if anyone would like to join her on a new challenge: to take one photo a day, every day, for the entire year. I instantly responded that I would be willing to take this challenge on without hesitation. I've already done this all of December 2010 for my December Daily 2010 project (which I may share when I find the time to do so), why not keep it going.  So far, so good. I have actually managed to take many photos per day, every day, since the beginning of this year.  

Being a scrapbooker, I can't stop at just taking photos. I need to record and display them in some way.  That's when I found Becky Higgins Project Life kit.  This is not the traditional scrapbooking technique I am accustomed to, but I really love it.  It is the perfect way to get the photos displayed with journaling to go with each one without taking a ton of time (an amount that I don't really have).

I have been taking a photo a day of my everyday life. So far, it includes people, everyday items and nature.  It includes my life.  I have always been good at recording the bigger occasions like birthdays, vacations, etc., but I have yet to have a record of my everyday life.  I am hoping one day a family member generations down the road will come across this record and learn a little more about me than they would from the bigger occasion records.  It's something I wish I had for so many of my own family members from generations past.

This is one of the reasons I started this blog. I wanted to record/journal everday life even if I don't get the chance to record it "every day." For the purpose of keeping my posts from being an eye sore, I plan to just post one photo per week on this little 'ole blog I've started.  If anyone would like to join me on this challenge, it's not too late.

So, here I am...

Okay.  So, here I am. Finally and with much hesitation.  Not sure if I will like it or even keep up with it for that matter. I tried to set up a blog a while ago, but never completed the task. My mind just was not into it.  I'm still not sure if my mind is into it, but like a friend told me recently (and she knows who she is after she reads this), "it's kind of therapeutic...it would be a good way to stay in touch with what's going on."

I follow a good handful of bloggers and after taking a closer look at what they are accomplishing and what my friend has recently started, I gave it a couple of days thought and said "oh heck, why not." Like I stated before, not sure if I will like it or even keep on it, but I'll give it a try. So, here I am.