The Happenings of My Life

A Lot Happens in a Year and a Half!

2014-01-24T11:40:00.001-05:00

So I found my blog!!
Lots of life events led me to forget about it for a while.....divorce, moving cities, a full time job and oh yes, a fantastic relationship :)

But I`m back, and I hope to use this blog again to keep track of my life adventures!

Unfortunately I`ve gained back lots of the weight I lost.. So I`m BACK at working out!! Time to see the scale move in the right direction again!

I`ve got some pictures from our trip to Jamaica to upload soon too!

:)

More Progress!

2011-07-19T18:47:00.000-04:00

I love seeing the numbers move!!! (well in one direction anyway)
The scale, sure. But the measuring tape....THAT's where it's at!!

I rode my bike 50km the other day with a friend, and his friend.
It was awesome. I felt SO energized.

It made me think "wow I haven't checked the scale in a while!" so of course off I went.

130lbs !!
Yep!
I lost 35 fkn pounds. And I'm so proud of that.
I've burned and sweat ~~and cursed~~, but it's toning me in all (well MOST....)the right places!!

I also decided to take my measurements, and sure enough my WAIST is down to 27 inches!!
HAHAHAH! That makes me want to dance around just seeing that typed out!

I went from:
165 and a waist of 33 and hips of 39.5
Down to :
130 and waist of 27 and hips of 35.

Not as big of a loss on the hips....but what do you want - I have baby-bearing hips ;)

So ~ as far as "goals" go, I've met all the original ones I had!!
Now I would like to "un-squish" my tummy, and be able to actually see some muscle tone there.
And I want to be able to do 10 pull ups, and 10 REGULAR push-ups ;)

Music

2011-07-11T11:16:00.001-04:00

Have you ever heard a song that you simply cannot get enough of?
I found that song for me.
Of course I can listen to my regular favourites like Pearl Jam etc - but I heard this song well over a month ago, and I just can't stop listening to it.

The lyrics don't do much, but the music itself I love. His voice is great.

Back in high school music used to be SO important, always in the background.
Life needs background music.
I've re-discovered my love of music. I feel like a kid again, which is good because I was starting to feel old the last little while with doing NOTHING but being "MOM".
Sometimes you just need a little break.
Music helps you escape too sometimes..... I love listening to my mp3 player so loud when I do the Kenilworth Stairs, though I must look nuts "dancing" up them rather than running LOL.

Mother Nature is a Feminist!

2011-07-07T14:50:00.001-04:00

Yes, I believe mother nature made this weather so beautiful so that I wouldn't be doomed to the domestic duties of a "house-wife" ;)
Ok so maybe not...but I can't seem to keep myself in the house long enough to get much done lately! Out the window with my fabulous organization from winter time!!!
I now spend my days playing in my backyard with at least 3 children and lots of music lol!
I've been jogging in the mornings with my friend/neighbour which has been awesome. Its nice to do it before it gets hot out, and to not be alone, though I do miss my old route passed the fire station ;)
I feel fantabulous lately :)
We are having an awesome summer break!
In the next week or so we'll be going to Wonderland with no kids, and then taking the kids to the Toronto Zoo :)

Almost There!

2011-07-02T08:53:00.000-04:00

I am at a point with my body I've never been at before! I'm.... comfortable!!!
I may have failed after a few weeks of P90X again lol, but I kept jogging, and I'm doing the Kenilworth Stairs again!
I'm feeling great aside from one stupid health issue lately - which oddly enough can be avoided if I just watch what I eat even more than I have been!

Recently someone actually accused me of doing this a very unhealthy way....actually they didn't so much accuse me as they did go behind my back and tell Dave and other people to make sure I WASN'T doing it a bad way.
That really hurt, not just because this person was supposed to be a friend but because I've been working my ass off, and now that I'm finally getting results I get people trying to bring me down.

Luckily I have a very supportive and loving husband and he knows me inside and out, he also knows how much I LOOOVE food lol. Starving myself is something I am a little bit too educated to do! It would be very counter-productive to put my body into starvation mode and attempt to tone my muscles! ;)

But live and let live. I feel great, and I'm almost at my goal.

I'm down to 134lbs. But that's not important, my measurements are ALL where I wanted them to be aside from my waist! And more jogging will burn the jiggly stuff there and get those numbers where they should be soon enough :)

I've learned a lot of patience with this whole weight loss thing.

I can't happen overnight, and if it does, you're not doing it right and it's PROBABLY going to come right back!

It's taken me 2 years to get from this : (July 2009)

To this: (taken yesterday!!)

If I can lose my baby fat, ANYONE can!! Just stay motivated, and don't give up on yourself no matter what anyone does or says!

And if you live close enough to me, I'll be your workout buddy!!! :)

Forgetful

2011-06-16T17:25:00.000-04:00

Since Dave has come back from Winnipeg for good-- I've been preoccupied.
Plus Google AdSense disabled my ads for a bogus reason so I was SUPER grumpy and couldn't be bothered to post anything.
But I HAVE to post about this.
I totally failed at p90x again. (that's not what I wanted to post about lol)
But I've been jogging and doing my own workouts and eating MUUUUCH better.

I'm down to 133lbs now and a size 7! Yes SEVEN! I bought a pair of shorts that were 9's, about 2 weeks ago, and they're FALLING off me already. I also lost another inch on each thigh!!
I love jogging. :) Screw the treadmill! Especially when my jogging route goes directly by the fire station LOL!

Banana Bread

2011-05-27T12:29:00.000-04:00

Would you like a delicious Banana Bread recipe that you will use over and over again? :)

Here's what you'll need:

1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/3 cup of milk with 1 tsp lemon juice
2 eggs
approx 1 cup of mashed bananas (I usually just use 3 large bananas mixed in my Magic Bullet)
2 cups of flour
1 tsp of baking soda (forget this and you make "Banana Brick" hehehe)

Then you'll need to:

cream together your butter and sugar
add the eggs and milk with lemon juice
mix in the eggs and bananas
slowly add your flour and baking soda
pour into a loaf pan, or 8x8 baking dish, doesn't really matter
cook at 350F for approx 45 minutes. If your oven is hot you might want to check it at 35 minutes.

Then you make the topping!! (the BEST part)

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup melted butter/margarine
2 tbsp milk
1/3 cup slivered almonds (optional)
I like to add a couple tbsp of maple syrup too

After you bake the banana bread, take this delicious sugary mixture and pour it over top - then put it under the broiler for about 5 minutes until it starts to bubble and take it out.
IF you can wait, let it cool, slice it up, and enjoy :) The topping makes the bread the perfect balance of sweetness and moistness, you don't even have to spread butter on it!! :)

Lucky!

2011-05-24T14:16:00.000-04:00

Dakota found a 4 leaf clover yesterday, of course it's all wrinkly and dried up now. But perhaps it'll bring us some good luck anyway :D

**************
As for p90x, I'm back at it! I restarted the 4th week of my 1st phase (each phase is 4 weeks) last night with Yoga-X.
Tonight will be Core Synergistics!!

Long Weekend Fun

2011-05-23T07:36:00.000-04:00

This weekend is a Holiday here in Canada. Fireworks, a day off work/school, it's the kickoff to summer :)
However, since Dave is still in Winnipeg we aren't going anywhere crazy, or far. But I did buy some sparklers for the kids and a few fire crackers too! I lit them off early when it was still pretty light so that Kady could enjoy them and then go to bed.
The other two stayed up til 11 watching neighbourhood fireworks.
And then promptly woke up at 6:30 this morning *pardon me while I refill my coffee*

In a slightly related topic --I've decided I need to reschedule my days.
I feel as though I'm failing at p90x. I have missed 5 workouts now!!!
For some reason I cannot get enough hours in the day lately to get everything done!
~~This might be in part because of the 3 books I got at the library~~
So, I am human.
Don't give up on yourself ever if you miss a week for a workout, or binge on junk food instead of eating properly.
I'm going to get right back at it! Somehow with this beautiful weather we've had the last couple of days I just get so distracted outside toot!
So much to do at the beginning of "patio" season!

took all furniture off the porch and scrubbed it down
washed the siding of the house
weeded my garden and pulled weeds in the yard too
mowed the lawns out front (my neighbours and I take turns doing each others, it's great!)
cleaned all the outside windows
cleaned the kids outside toys
RE-CLEANED my jogging stroller. (if you leave anything soft or plush outside around here it tends to get sprayed on by stray cats...so I've already had to do this once, luckily vinegar and dish soap with hot water works great)
set up the patio table and chairs in the backyard and adjusted the new gazebo

So, while watching Kady (because she only had a 20 minute nap on the way home from grocery shopping) I managed to get all that done this weekend, on top of all my regular housework and laundry.
Therefore----no time to workout. (or read even!)

Now that all that is done, I am going to get back on the wagon. So, if I can screw up and say "it's OK!" so can you ;o)

Here's some pictures of my munchkins having fun in the (much needed) sun this weekend!

Kady found some fluffy dandelions

she loved how they fluffy part blew away!

Kady hugging Jeremy

More Dandelions!

Kota riding her bike, Kady liked the sparkly tassels

My Munchkins <3

Kady sitting on the porch (after I cleaned it all up)

Dakota on the monkey bars

Dakota helping Kady down the slide :)

So, it has been a great long weekend.
Would have been better with a husband at home though. Also would have been better if they didn't stop doing a huge fireworks display up at Valley Park where we went every year since Dakota was born!
Oh well, not long until Canada Day and we'll be going to Dofasco Park! :)

Car Seat Safety

2011-05-19T17:18:00.000-04:00

Since car crashes are the #1 cause of death for children in Canada, I think this is extremely important, and I hope you are able to get some useful information from it :)

Let's go over some basic car safety rules for children shall we? I see a LOT of people not properly securing their children in their cars, as I'm sure you've all seen too - in the wrong car seat, facing the wrong direction, seat belt not properly done up or even no seat belt at all.
I'm sorry, but these people are idiots.
You may as well let your child play with steak knives or a lit candle, or better yet - leave them in the bathtub or pool alone.
Except when you're in the car, it's not your child that will have an accident or hurt themselves, it's you or another driver making one tiny little mistake. Your child could be gone - just like that.

Car seats and seat belts are there for a reason, not an inconvenience, so USE THEM!

First things first:

Infants:

5-22lbs should be REAR facing in a 5 point harness car seat that is on a 45 degree angle.
The shoulder straps should sit AT or BELOW your baby's shoulders.
The chest clip should be flat on their chest at armpit level & you should only be able to get 1 finger underneath it.
Never use with an active airbag!
Law states that a child must be MINIMUM 20lbs before turning them forward facing, but that is the bare minimum, but it is better to keep your child rear facing until at least 1 year of age (some experts are even saying 2 years) But you will have to buy a larger, convertible car seat for this.

Toddlers:

Always use the tether strap that comes with your car seat.
Be sure that your child is at least 1 year old and/or 20lbs before facing them forward (in a seat designed to face forward remember!!! you'd be surprised) They need to have neck strength to be able to hold their head upright too!
Put the seat in the car, attach the tether strap and then use your entire body weight to clip the U.A.S. straps down or secure the seat belt.
This time the shoulder straps should be AT or ABOVE your child's shoulders
Continue to use the 5 point harness until your child is at least 40lbs.

Preschool - 8 Years Old:

In Canada if your child is under 8, and weighs 40-80lbs, and is under 4 feet 9 inches tall they are required by law to ride in a booster seat.
Some convertible car seats can be used as a booster seat, simply remove the 5 point harness straps and guide the seat belt through the designated slots according to your child's height.

Remember, seat belts are made to protect people that are 4ft 9 inches or taller, a booster seat just lifts your child so that if there was a collision the seat belt would be resting on the right areas and not harm your child.

Also if you have ever been in even a minor accident you should replace all car seats/booster seats.

This is the seat we have for Kady

It's not a designer seat, but it IS safe, and it's a 3 in 1. We used it for rear facing, and now she is forward facing in it while still using the 5 point harness. Once she is older she will also be able to use it as a booster seat :) Saves you money in the long run to buy a 3 in 1!

Cabbage Roll Casserole

2011-05-17T21:49:00.000-04:00

Do you like cabbage rolls?
I love them!!
But I've never made them myself. Apparently it's an art lol.
Thanks to my fabulous next door neighbour, I can now make this delicious casserole, and it's just like I'm eating cabbage rolls!
You have to try it! :)

Here's what you'll need;

1 head of cabbage
2 cups of minute rice
1 can tomato soup
1 can tomato sauce
1 can tomato juice (i think it's a 1liter can of Heinz that I use, but I'm sure they have a store brand)
1-2lbs ground beef (I switch this for ground pork or turkey bc I can’t tolerate red meat)
1 chopped onion (optional)
+ your own seasonings.

Then you follow these super-easy steps:

Fry ground meat with onion and your choice of seasonings.
Remove tough pieces and core of cabbage, chop the rest and put in a large roasting pan.
Add rice, tomato juice-sauce-and soup.
Stir in ground beef mixture and bake at 375 for 1 hour.

YUM! :)

Mini-Break

2011-05-16T18:13:00.000-04:00

My hubby came home Thursday and we just got home from dropping him off at the airport.

He arranged a party for me Friday night for my 29th birthday (which was on Saturday)
He got LOTS of things done around the house and with the vehicles that needed to be done this weekend too.
And I had a much needed and deserved break :o)

Though during my break I did manage to totally empty out this one cupboard in my kitchen. It's a corner cupboard and it tends to get messy...quickly!
There's also a few small appliances in there that I have had in there since we moved in over 2 years ago and not used ONCE.
My motto (which I so desperately try to stick to) is that if you haven't used it in over a year, you PROBABLY don't need it.
Of course there are exceptions to this rule ie: memorabilia, scrap booking supplies, holiday ornaments etc.

I love de-cluttering and organizing things!! :o)

So, now that hubby is away, it's back to work!!!

Today is day 22 for p90x! Yoga! I'm on the last week of phase 1 !! Woo hoo!

Self Control

2011-05-10T11:39:00.001-04:00

I skipped my workout on Saturday.
The guilt I have felt is ridiculous. LOL!! I was too ashamed to even write a post because of it, honest, it was awful.

I know you may be thinking "so what, it's only 1 day" but things like this usually do me in when it comes to sticking with my GOAL. So I did myself a favour, and went back to my earlier post of what I've already done to Lose Weight. And I remembered to NOT GIVE UP!

I am coming to terms with the fact that on most weekends I just do not have the time to workout. I really don't. By the time I got the housework all done after a long and busy day with the kids it was 11pm. I was on the phone with Dave very upset because I didn't have the energy to workout. I needed someone to tell me it was "OK" to take a day off.

So I guess I'm not following the p90x exactly according to the calendar. Instead of having Sunday as a "rest day" I will use both days. But that doesn't mean I won't get exercise! I played outside with the kids like crazy, and if by chance I DO have time, or when Dave is home, you bet your ass I'll be popping that DVD in!! :)

This weekend is my birthday though, and I definitely plan on having some cake and goodies ;) I'll just watch my portions!!

We don't ALL have self control as good as Casper!!!

Are You In, or Are You Out?

2011-05-06T13:41:00.001-04:00

Really, I have been annoyed every single time I see this stupid beer commercial.
I'm pretty sure it's for Labbat Blue Light, or Budweiser. I'm so disgusted every time it comes I don't even pay attention to the brand!

I can't even find it online ANYWHERE to post a link to it, but if I do I will be adding it.

It basically starts off by asking "Are you in? IN is having fun and staying out late. OUT is getting up early for work etc" ....you see where this is heading?

Now, I don't drink. Not because I don't like alcohol, not because I'm an alcoholic, not for religious reasons, I just don't like the feeling I get when I drink. (re: Jeremy --> Stewie Griffin)

So seeing ads like this really makes me think "Wow are people really stupid enough to fall for this?" But the sad thing is, the younger generation WILL see this ad, and WILL think "I'm IN!"

It's a grown up version of peer pressure, only they're airing it on television! It drives me nuts!

They're saying that if you say "yes" to go out drinking you're going to have fun, and have friends...but if you decline - you'll be alone and bored and basically a loser.

How irresponsible for a company that does worldwide sponsorship of sports and other events that young, impressionable people will see.

All I have to say to them is, I'm OUT!

Hello Friday

2011-05-06T12:41:00.000-04:00

Fridays feel like Monday's.
I guess this is because all week long I get 6 hours with only 1 kid. And during that 6 hours, she naps for at least 1!
Weekends are stressful for me. Especially if the weather is bad and the kids can't play outside.

This weekend we are going to the Opening Day BBQ for T-Ball and Softball! The kids will get their uniforms (I think?) and find out which team they're on etc.
They're really looking forward to playing this year! Jeremy has never played and now that he's old enough I think he'll love it.

Then Sunday is Mother's Day.
Jeremy made me an adorable picture with his hand-print and a heart making a flower with a little poem pasted on at the bottom, and a sunflower that he planted for me! It's already about 5 inches tall! Last year he did the same thing, and I re-planted it in my garden, it grew to over 5ft tall! :-)
Dakota says she has something special for me at school too!

I finished Day 13 of p90x today! Legs & Back + Ab Ripper X.
I'm coming to terms with the fact that Ab Ripper is just NOT going to get any easier. *ow*
Tomorrow is Kenpo, great cardio!

Fitting that Sunday being Mother's Day is my "rest day" because I will indeed!!

Day 11 Yoga X

2011-05-05T21:03:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure why I enjoy this workout so much, I even look forward to it.
It's F***ING hard.
Some of those poses are just plain ridiculous. I feel like a pretzel.
First time I tried it I fell so many times and couldn't reach half as far as I was supposed to.
At least now I can do like 90% of it. But that "half moon" pose...HA! If my leg is supposed to be anywhere NEAR parallel to the wall....I'm sorry but I just don't bend that way :oP

I have managed to increase my flexibility when it comes to the "Royal Dancer" pose! Wanna see?

Don't judge....it's much harder than it looks ;)

I feel really good after I do yoga though :)

And again, I did it while Kady was napping :) So that means NOW I can go watch Grey's!! YAY, a wedding episode!

Before & After Pictures - 30lbs GONE!

2011-05-04T13:35:00.000-04:00

Ok, here's my pictures. I've been losing weight now for about 10 months now, but I included pictures from day 1 and day 10(today) of p90x as well. (just for record I'm doing the p90x LEAN routine, not the CLASSIC)

Here's me before I started working out and eating healthier

165lbs. Yep it's true....I actually just posted that.

Here I am at day 1 of p90x, and then day 10 underneath.

Down to 135lbs :)

In just 10 days I've lost another 1/2 inch on my hips AND waist!

In total I've lost :

1.25 inches from my arms

5 inches from my waist

4.5 inches from my hips

2.5 inches from my thighs

and 30 lbs!! :)

On to day 11, I can't wait for these 79 days to pass!!!

Day 9 - Cardio X

2011-05-03T14:50:00.001-04:00

I managed to workout today while Kady was napping...like I normally do on Thursdays.
Thinking about it, it's a good idea to do it on Tuesdays as well since I have to get all the garbage and recycling gathered and put on the curb.

I'm feeling fantastic!!
I used to feel exhausted after a workout, but the last few times I've felt energized. Almost ready to do something else!

Maybe I will do a supplemental workout tonight if I have time after I get the dishes done and garbage put out :)

I've noticed my flexibility has improved a LOT! And my appetite is ravenous! But I'm making (mostly) healthy choices and I'm watching my portions!

Bring it on summer, I'll be in a bikini proudly this year!!!

Did You Vote?

2011-05-03T10:28:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was Election Day here in Canada.

I'm not going to argue who you should or should not have voted for, or even get into who I voted for. I'm just curious IF you voted.

Voter turnout was a whopping 60%. Second lowest in our National History of voting.
3 years ago in the 2008 election we had a record low turnout of 58.8%.
That means that this year 40% of Canadians didn't think their vote mattered, or just didn't care.
People that I've talked to say "I don't like what any of them have to say" or "They're all liars, so what's the point"
Well the point is this : we live in a free country where we are ABLE to vote. It's one of our rights.
There are so many people living in such horrible conditions being ruled by violent and disgusting people. They don't have that right.
Think about those people on Election Day.
And get off your ass, put an X in the little box, and vote.

If you don't vote, you need to remember that you gave up that option, and therefore can't really complain about what the party in charge (be in nationally or in your own neighbourhood riding) is or isn't doing for you! So suck up those tears if you didn't cast your ballot!

Miles, Points and Rewards - Oh My!

2011-05-02T10:24:00.002-04:00

I love earning free things just for buying things I need!
I'm nowhere NEAR as good at this as MrsJanuary - but I still take advantage as much as I can!

In my wallet I have :

Air Miles
HBC Rewards Card
Shoppers Optimum Card
Esso Extra (these can be converted to HBC points!)
Petro Points Card (used to buy gas, anti-freeze, windshield washer fluid etc)
La Senza Bra Club
Mike's Subs (free sub after 5 stamps)
Midas - free oil change after 5 stamps card. (click the link for a $5 off coupon in Hamilton only)
Once Upon a Child - 20% off your purchase when you fill up the stamps, Wed. is double stamp day, and if you bring your black reusable O.U.A.C. bag you get an extra stamp!

There are amazing ways to use some of these cards! (again - see MrsJanuary) You can get hundreds of dollars worth of free stuff!

The cards I use the most are Air Miles, HBC, and Shoppers.

I cash in my Shoppers and HBC points during the Holidays for free gifts!

Our Air Miles are much more fun to use!!!
Every year we trade our Air Miles in for free passes for our whole family to the Toronto Zoo and Ontario Place!
We have a blast, and only have to pay for parking (stupid parking fees) because we pack a picnic lunch.

So, we get 2 full days of fun, for free just because when we shop we carry an extra card with us! Yes, I think I'll suffer the inconvenience of carrying that little card in my wallet!!! (can you taste the sarcasm?!)

Last year my mom came with us because Dave was (again) in Winnipeg...and yes she is short enough to ride the kids rides!!!

I can't wait to go back this summer!! :)

Do you use rewards cards??

Do You Gamble?

2011-05-01T09:35:00.000-04:00

I secretly long to go to the casino and play poker, or craps (is that really what it's called?) or even just the slot machines.

However, I know with MY LUCK, and also - knowing just how profitable casinos are...I'm not going to win.
That doesn't mean I'll turn down a trip once a year with a bunch of friends to celebrate my best friend/cousin's birthday at Mohawk Casino.

But I do have rules,

no bank cards brought in (resist temptation!)
and we have $40 limit each. Realistically that's what a night out will cost you anyway if you were to go to dinner and movie right? (well...only if you didn't have a coupon for the movie and got an expensive dinner!)
if you win, keep it! don't just pump your winnings back in hoping to double it! keep your profit, and go ahead and gamble the money you planned to spend anyway :) or vice-versa, that works better actually LOL

But yes, as far as "regular" gambling goes like "Lotty 649" or "Lotto Max" or even those super fun scratch cards....I have given them all up.
As much fun as it is to imagine winning 25 Million dollars - I have better odds of being killed by a lightning bolt. So I'll keep my $5 a week thank you.

What I do buy is a lottery ticket for the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation. This is a hospital here in Ontario that specializes in treating Cancer.
I think what they do is fantastic.
For $100 - you donate to that hospital, you get the chance (1 in 10 odds) of winning at the very least - your money back.
I don't think I'm going to win their grand prize show homes (well - last year I really did lol) but I am happy knowing that I am able to GIVE.
To me it feels great to be able to help others. I've been in a situation where I needed help, and I asked for it and received, and I am grateful. So if I can help others I will!

(another example of this is that I received 9 blood transfusions when Jeremy tried to pull a "Stewie Griffin" on me, so now I like to donate blood, to say "thank you"!)

So we have our ticket and I feel great being able to donate! :)

I've fiddled around with the address and removed the ticket # for this picture lol

Do you have a lottery that you play? Or a charity that you donate to regularly?

A Day In the Life of Me

2011-04-30T23:40:00.000-04:00

Lots of people have asked me how I "manage" with Dave gone away to Winnipeg for weeks at a time. People don't seem to understand how I can fit it all in to one day and do what needs to get done.

I think of single parents, and how they must struggle. At least I get to look forward to someone coming back to help me out in a few weeks. Though I don't have the luxury of most single parents I know, who have their kids babysat almost every weekend anyway. I don't live close enough to my family or Dave's family to have free child care *boo*

So I make do.

I often hear parents of one child...or (god help me) people with no kids - complaining that they don't have TIME to get things done, or they just couldn't get around to doing something because they were so busy.

Ahem...but.... screw you. Learn to multi-task and get on with it!

Now this doesn't mean if you have one kid or no kids that you aren't good at time management! I know some people with 6 kids who are better at managing their time than I am, and I know single people who don't even have a spouse who are better than I am.

This is just how I do it :)

A typical weekday in my house :

6:45am - wake up, get dressed and let Dexter out for a pee so he can stop crossing his little doggy legs. (trying to NOT disturb Kady who, by 4am, has crawled into bed with me)

7:00am - get Kady's clothes (that were laid out the night before) and bring her downstairs to get dressed and start her first of many bowls of cereal.
7:15 - wake Jeremy and Dakota up. Their clothes were already put out for them the night before as well.
7:30 - pour a coffee and watch it get cold while I get breakfast for both big kids, and another bowl for miss piggy -er- Kady.

7:45 - make lunches for Dakota and Jeremy if I didn't do it the night before. And refill Kady's cereal bowl lol.
8:00 - warm my coffee up, make sure Dakota's homework sheets are all signed, and Jeremy's book bag is in order too.
8:15 - brush Dakota's hair into french braids, and help everyone get their things ready to leave.

8:30 - walk the kids to school....sometimes this can be a game for them :oP

9:05 - walk home with Kady. (and sometimes Krista)
9:15 - play outside with Kady (weather permitting) and let Dexter outside again.

10:00 - bring Kady inside for a snack, and to try the potty.
10:15 - turn on Dora (God no....I'm one of THOSE people - I let my kids watch TV!) And while Kady watches Dora I do the breakfast dishes! Plus if you know Kady, you know she is obsessed with Dora.

10:35 - (Dora is only 20 minutes) pack a cup and some toys and take Kady for a walk.

11:45 (ish) - get home from our walk and make some lunch, and try the potty again.
12:15 - 12:30 - Kady will usually go down for a nap somewhere in this time frame.

12:30 - wash the lunch dishes, sweep and mop the floors in the downstairs bathroom, kitchen, dining room, living room and front hallway, scoop out the kitty litter, wipe down the upstairs bathroom, take Dexter out yet again .....and I can usually find some time for facebook or my blog :) (there is occasionally a day where I do a 90 minute workout while she naps....but that's just once a week so I make adjustments)
2:30 - Kady wakes up (yes, she naps for 2 hours, and I love it) She usually wants a snack and to play outside, and to go on her potty - again!

3:00 - we walk back to the school to get Dakota and Jeremy.
3:20 - get home, and tell Dakota to get her homework done and they both change out of their horrid-don't-get-me-started-on-this-topic- uniforms.
3:45 - Dakota's done her homework, they all have a little snack and if it's nice out - go out to play until dinner.
4:30 - (sometimes earlier depending on what I'm making) I get Kady to help me in the kitchen with some plastic containers or pretend cooking and I make dinner.
5:00 - dinner is normally early for us because of the early bedtime required for Jeremy, and because I have lots to get done after they're ALL in bed! It just works for us.

5:30 - they're all done eating and apparently dying to go back outside. However if the weather isn't cooperating, they play in the house instead. And sometimes, only sometimes, they actually get along!!

6:00 - I am able to catch 10 minutes of the news some days, and if they're still getting along I will rinse and stack the dinner dishes so they're easier to do later. And if I'm feeling extra ~~lazy~~ tired, I can just throw all the silverware in a cup full of soapy water and do it in the morning!(Thanks Jade)
6:15 - One kid gets a shower. I'm pretty much doing separate showers every night. With Dave gone the days of the 2 big ones having their showers and then Kady getting her little bubble bath are just not happening.
6:45 - Get the kids to help tidy up their toys, and head upstairs to get them ready for bed.
7:00 - Jeremy or Kady change into PJ's - whoever didn't have their shower I guess.(Kota has a later bedtime so I cut her some slack) and they all brush their teeth.

7:30 - Jeremy's TV is turned off (he's allowed tv in his from from 7-730 every night) and he gets tucked in, while Kady is (yes again) watching Dora and I am getting all 3 kids clothes ready for the next day.
8:00 - Kota gets PJ's, Kady's TV goes off (she refuses to sleep as early as Jeremy does anyway, and it's not her TV, she sleeps in our room)
8:30 - Dakota's TV goes off, Kady should be sleeping, so I get changed and pop in a p90x dvd.

10:00 - I throw a load of laundry in the washer, and wash the dinner dishes as well.
10:20 - I add fabric softener (thanks for getting me hooked on that waste of money mom!) and I set my coffee maker up for the morning. Then some nights I'll get the kids lunches ready and put them in the fridge.
10:40 - put the clothes into the dryer, head upstairs and shower because p90x = sweating like a porn star. Yep, I said it.
11:00 - after showering, drying and straightening my hair, I take Dexter out for another bathroom break, and then it's time to get some sleep, until Kady or Jeremy wakes up crying.

So there you have it. That is how my day usually goes - unless it's Thursday which messes things up a bit because I want to watch Grey's and I'm too cheap for PVR!!!

Having been a stay at home mom, and a working mom, and a mom that went to college and worked at the same time I must say that for ME staying at home full time is the most challenging. I won't say the most tiring, or the most difficult, or stressful....I think challenging sums it up nicely :)

And now, since it's past my 11:00pm bedtime....goodnight :)

Day 5 - Complete!

2011-04-29T22:14:00.000-04:00

Yep, watch me go! I'll look better as I leave soon anyway with all the ass-busting squats and lunges I did tonight!!!

Tonight was Legs & Back + Ab Ripper effin X. I don't know that I'll ever like that one. But again, I completed every single damn rep.

This is a pointless boring post - but I had to make sure I recorded the fact that Day 5 is over.
Now I'm off to touch my up roots, and put some more laundry away.... one of the joys of children. I really need to try this Laundry Party idea ;)

Day 4 - Yoga X

2011-04-28T09:51:00.000-04:00

I completed Ab Ripper X, every single stupid rep! GO ME!
The odd thing is that I feel fantastic today! However, I felt like I was going to vomit last night! Between the hour of arm & shoulder work, and then the 15 minutes of PURE ab work....it was very intense.

Today I'm going to skip my 5K walk since I'll end up in Kansas with this wind!!

So I'm going to just do the 90 minutes of yoga while Kady is napping. This way I get to workout, and watch Grey's tonight. Win-Win!
I love yoga!! I am super excited for today! 90 minutes of crazy stretching and twisting *fun fun fun*

Eat or Sleep? Tough Decision!

2011-04-27T22:31:00.000-04:00

Some kids out grow their naps when they're 2. Not my kids. Kady decided to not have a nap on Easter Sunday...and this was the result of that decision ;)