Reward System

On my last post I let you in on how my list has been almost non-existant. I started thinking about what I could do to motivate myself to get back on track. We had my son's first parent-teacher conference for the year on Thursday and they talked a lot about how they run their "reward system". I thought if stickers and candy work for 5 year olds then they have got to work for me. (ok maybe not stickers and candy).

I have had a lot of down time at work the past week and have been reading novels in just one or two days. I've practically read every novel from all my favorite authors. Number 86 on my list is Read The Bible. (remember I wrote the list in random order) My mother-in-law purchased Read The Bible in 90 Days and finished it again over the summer. She was gracious enough to loan me this Bible to read. For the record I've been reading off and on for two years and am only to 2 Chronicles. My new goal is not to just read the Bible, but to complete it by Christmas. I'm already on day 34 so this is totally achievable.

I've also set up a reward system for working out. I need to get back into shape so that I can complete #12,13,39,48,87 &91. Most of these could be checked off in 2011 if I stick with the program. So far I've exercised 3 times since Saturday. I need to exercise 3 more times and this week I get to buy a new makeup product I've had my eye on. Next week my reward is a home spa day with no interruptions. I decided that little rewards now will keep me motivated to hit my goals and get bigger rewards down the line.

Also this week we listed out house. YAY!! Hopefully we have people lining up to purchase our home so we can move and start a new project, but in the mean time I am really enjoying living in a super clean house.

Long Lost List?

If you have been reading,you know I have a list with over 90 items on it that I would like to check off, but I just am sooo not motivated to get moving on them this year. If you know me personally, you know that I am a planner. I'm not only a planner, but the kind of girl who has a plan b,c,d,e.. and so on. Well my plans are no more. At the start of the year I thought I would check off more than 13 items on my list, and it is just not going to happen. So far I've only checked off 3 (splits, zip line, going vegan) and one of them (splits) needs to be put back on the list. There are currently 8 items on my list that I thought I would have checked off in the next two years that I am now wondering if they even belong on this list at all. I'm mean it is my list, can I remove the things I'm not sure I even care to complete? I guess I really need to decide what's important to me. I have even hidden my list in a binder to try to avoid it, but it calls to me with it's muffled voice, "What about me? Shame, SHAME" I know, I should probably seek professional help.

I really do want to complete my list and constantly add new items to it, I just need to get out of my way. It's almost like I have an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other, and from the looks of things it seems like the devil has won.

Other than being a wife, mother, and employee, I have not worked on anything since my last post. Hopefully, this isn't the case for the next one.

Status Update

It's been a somewhat busy week. I started working out more consistently this week with the help of my wonderful husband. It's so much easier to get motivated when you have someone else with you.

Ed and I have been talking with the bank to see if we can qualify for another mortgage. And YAY we can! We have been super busy getting our house "ready" to go on the market. (Isn't it funny how some projects only get finished when you want to move) We ordered a new roof which will get started on Thursday, we spent Friday removing SIX bags of trash from the house. I couldn't believe we had so much junk. You will just have to trust that we are sooo not hoarders. After we complete a couple other small to dos we will list our home.

Ed and I have also been out shopping for a new home. When I say new what I really mean is dilapidated, moldy, maybe even have had a fire, kind of home. As long as the house looks sturdy, it could be our "dream home". Ed and I love renovation, and the price tag that goes with a home that needs it usually fits our budget.

Aidan was spiderman for halloween. He was so excited to go out to trick-or-treat! Towards the end of the night he looked into his bag and said, "I think I have enough candy. Can we go home?" What kid out there says "that's enough" when it comes to candy?

Anyway, this was my week. No items checked off the list, but we had a really good week.

I love B-12

Here's the update. When I said I was bummed and in a funk on my last post I was really minimizing what was really going on. I was trying to focus on being positive and glossing over all of my true feelings. The truth is I was just down right depressed. I would be in the car driving and suddenly burst into tears. Not because of a sad song, sad thought, something someone said or did, but for no reason at all. Every day I was feeling more and more down when I told Ed, "I think I need a therapist." If you know my husband than you know that he is totally supportive in everything I do, but my feeling so sad made him feel really bad. Aidan was always asking me if I was happy and in trying to be a good mom I would smile and say "of course I'm happy." After a while Aidan said "Mommy, please don't be sad." That's when I knew I needed to get help.
I was all set to find a therapist when my sister told me that on Monday nights our wonderful local Health Foods Unlimited has a doctor come in to administer vitamin shots.She was going to get a B-12 shot and asked if I wanted to go with her. I hadn't been taking vitamins lately (because of pure laziness) so I decided to go. We stood in a line that was longer than I expected, (because really who wants to get a shot?), when it was finally our turn. We got the last two shots that the doc had of the Classic B-12 2x. BTW the shot doesn't go into the arm like I had thought. I really didn't expect much from the shot, but the very next day I felt so much better. I no longer feel like crying, I have more energy, and am looking forward to life again. Could Tom Cruise be right? Do we really just need to take vitamins?
If you are depressed, you should totally seek professional help, but it wouldn't hurt to take your vitamins.

Gettin' Funky

I have been in a bit of a funk lately. Ok for the past couple months. I don't know why, but I've become extremely complacent. It's not because I'm completely comfortable either. There is an internal uneasiness that is a new constant.

I took a full-time job a couple of months ago working for a builder. I really do enjoy my job. I like to help people create their dream home and realize that Yes they can afford it! There are some drawbacks to the job. Sitting in a model home all alone can make me feel just a little creeped out and even my boss agrees that the hours stink. Because I now work on the weekends my family and I have not been to church in more time than I care to admit. There haven't been any search parties sent out from church so I guess no one has really noticed. Maybe I need to find a new church?

If you read my blog and are wondering about my progress with my list you are going to be sorely disappointed. I haven't completed anything. I even gave up running months ago and need to start all over again. If you are currently running do not stop. Starting over is sooo hard!! I started just exercising again last week. I only got two days in before the start of a nagging cold hit. Not the kind that is full blown and has you on the couch with tissues and tea, but the kind that makes you feel cruddy but able to still go to work. The kind that you feel any day now is going to take you out.

Aidan has been adjusting to kindergarten and my new work schedule. I love seeing him waiting for me at the door when I come home from work. This makes me happy:)

I'm not going to lie and tell you that I'm more motivated than ever to do everything I need to do to check off the list. I'm not. I am going to be honest about everything that is happening. I'll let you know what happens next week. Hopefully my gelatinous muscles will not hurt too bad to type!

Just Thinking...

Grown men should not wear velcro sandels. Especially when they have a size 15 foot.

5 Years Ago

Five years ago I received a wonderful gift. My baby boy, Aidan. I cannot believe how quickly the last five years went by. I was lucky enough to be able to stay home with him after he was born. I got to see all the firsts that every parent hopes to see. Even through there were trying times,like the "terrible twos", times were pretty good. Although there were times that I felt like I was failing as a mother and wanted to run away from home, I am so glad that I didn't. When I think about all the women out there who are desperate to pledge the "mommy club" but just are not able to, I am so thankful for the gift of my healthy, happy, wonderful boy, Aidan.



Happy Birthday Aidan! You are such a bright light in my life. You keep life so fresh and interesting. When I look at your smiling face, I can't help but smile myself. Your excitement over the small things in life make me excited about the small things as well. I will never forget the "Shrek" birthday we had for you this year and how you insisted on wearing your "ogre ears" when we sang Happy Birthday. Today your daddy gave you the whoopy cushion that you loved playing with at the store. Your excitement over that silly gift just made my heart do flips. I wish I could freeze time for just a little bit to really get to enjoy all our time together. Just know that I love you so much!