Tired of Feeling Chubs

Feeling.  That's what T doesn't understand- it doesn't matter if i don't look chubs, it matters if i feel chubs. So, sadly, Monday, January 27th starts a stricter lifestyle. We'll see how stabby I get. This is probably a bad time to start as I have 4 print jobs for inviting to complete but I'm sure if I just time my snacks right, it will be fine.

After finding some Ballet Fit-ish videos on you tube and checking out the weather report for next week, the fitness portion looks like this:
M: video #1
T: videos #3 and #4
W: video #6
Th: video #5
F: Zombies, Run! 2.5 miles + Ballet Beautiful Bridge Series
S: video #2
S: Zombies, Run! 2.5 miles + BB Bridge Series

Here are the videos. We'll see how they/I do.

The dressing room has been cleaned, floor thoroughly swept, free weights found and dusted off, and I am ready for Monday.

I also made little daily health trackers, to make note of meals, water intake, fitness activities, whether I did stretching, weight and waist measurements. Because I'm crazy. If you want a copy (they print 4 cards / 8.5x11 sheet) leave a comment with your email address and I'll send the pdf to you.

As for those meals and snacks, this week I have planned:
Breakfasts
cranberry apple baked oatmeal
green smoothie (not appealing on cold mornings)
Lunches
pea soups or turkey chili from freezer
tuna sandwich (less mayo) on homemade bread
Dinners 
sesame honey chicken with rice and broccoli
...need another recipe... maybe a chicken curry, low salt
Snacks
plain air-popped popcorn
homemade chai latte with soy milk (snack)
toast slice with almond butter
diced apple with cinnamon
Drinks
water, water, water
lemon water (hot)
green tea (hot)
I hid the cocoa mix. :(

This is going to be an awful week but I need to share so that I'm more likely to stick with it. Days that I exercise, I get a heart sticker on my calendar. I want this week full of heart stickers. Need a sticker sheet for healthy eating, too. (Can't use gold stars; those indicate sales. It should go without saying that I want those every day, too.)

Farewell 2013, It's Been Fun

Today is one of my favorite days of the year; tomorrow is another one. I like to sit back and look at the year's goals & resolutions, to see what I've achieved and what I failed miserably at. There's no self-hatred though, not this day. It's just a time to review and see if my heart was really in it, or if I just thought that I ought to do something even if it's contrary to my true self. And if it's worthwhile, I'll add it to this year's list and try different steps to achieve it. No big.

Looking at 2013's list, I did quit my job and take inviting full-time, just a little later than I hoped. (Goal was 5-17, my 10 year mark at the firm. Actual date was 7-26.) That was the big one. The rest, well, I got better at running but wasn't consistent. Exercise in general was hit or miss. This year will be better- aiming to log 500 miles. Another one was to clear out the clutter. It's an on-going struggle, but I've gotten better; am way more ruthless than I used to be. Finally started going through the crafting supplies. Will start another Donation box and work on filling it in January.

Capitalism Magazine has a couple articles about New Year's Resolutions: Happy New Year. Happy Life and The Meaning of New Years Resolutions.

So on with the lists! Have a wonderful New Year's Eve!
Cheers,
ashley 

I'm not a Runner. It's a fact.

Nor do I ever intend to be "a runner." But what I would like to do is be able to run a distance without walking/stopping/dying. You never know when the bad guys will be chasing you / when you have to chase the bad guys:

Yup, no breather breaks / time outs there.

Happy 2010

Happy New Year, everyone!

Last year I made a list of goals. For laughs, let's see how I did!
1. Do more design work for stationery and invitations - Check!
2. Continue de-cluttering and be tidier - Not so much. Still a work in progress.
3. Be less boring in my wardrobe - Off an on. I try different things but still fall back on boring basics too much.
4. Cook more healthy meals; experiment more on my own - Off and on. Learning new things, but not enough.
5. Wake earlier and do yoga before breakfast on weekdays; go for long walks at least once on weekends. - Nope. As in not at all. I'll do really well for a while, then a bad weather day will change it and it will take forever to get back to exercising. Besides, let's be honest, there are just so many available titles on netflix!
6. Build up savings account; reduce debt even further - Savings? Well, there is $ in it. Not much, but enough for a few "oh shit!" moments, or maybe one ER visit. Reduce debt? 1 credit card. Could be worse. Couches are paid off tho, so that's nice.
7. Read more - Started off really well but am regularly reading before bed.
8. Be nicer - LOL. Well, off an on. Depends on who you talk to ; )

Goals for this year? Hmmm...
1. Work on my jogging/jumping rope/avoiding tendinitis in my shins so that I may consider going back to boxing classes come Spring (when it gets darker later. Class is east of downtown so that's a longer scooter ride home.) Also, get into a lower weight class.
2. Cook even more. Learn new things and make more vegetarian/healthier options. Eat less cheese? (I *love* cheeses. Would eat it every meal and snack if I weren't afraid of a heart attack at 30.) Maybe I'll work on that one. Maybe.
3. Double sales for inviting. Those goals are separate though.
4. Knock out remaining credit card.
5. Purge, purge and purge. I'm not a hoarder or anything, but I have way too much stuff.
6. Try to look nice every day. Life is too short to look like you don't care.

I hope everyone had lovely holidays and that their 2010 has started off great!

Btw, hop over to inviting's blog and enter the giveaway this month!

Lots of Reading Lately...

As I've been covering the receptionist desk this month, I've gone through quite a few books!
(Guess I'm doing well with that resolution)

Being Nicer and a Prepared Hostess

Resolutions Update: Being nicer just got a lot easier: the handles to the bathrooms at work have been removed and now the doors just push open. I can't laugh at people when they walk into the doors anymore! Sad; it was always good for a laugh.

Was reading some old posts on Apartment Therapy, this one about being prepared for unexpected guests. Decided that I'm going to clear a spot in my sideboard for a tea tray and have it all ready to go: tea cups and saucers, a small jar of sugar cubes, sweeteners and tea bags, a tea pot, and a small package of cookies or shortbreads.
Started taking down christmas decorations last night. Emma misses the tree.

New Year's Resolutions

Hmmmm... I'm not going to make typical goals like "lose 10 pounds, and keep them off" or "stop biting my nails," though both of those I should. Instead my goals for the year will be:
1. Do more design work for stationery and invitations
2. Continue de-cluttering and be tidier
3. Be less boring in my wardrobe
4. Cook more healthy meals; experiment more on my own
5. Wake earlier and do yoga before breakfast on weekdays; go for long walks at least once on weekends.
6. Build up savings account; reduce debt even further
7. Read more
8. Be nicer

I think that's it, for now. : )