Hello March! Where is this year going? Time is flying by.

Updates:

Step 1: Reduce clutter. 10 more bags gone!!! Now, I did create a list of 40 spaces to keep up with over the next 40 days, though I don't think I'll be able to get a bag out of each. No worries though, since I'm so close to my goal already! (but we still have a lot to do...)

11 bags left to go...

Step 2: Reduce spending. I did get a haircut and eyebrow wax today, but no ancillary spending of any kind! Hopefully those credit cards bills will be paid off sooner than later...

Step 3: Drink Water, Pack lunches and change my eating habits. Water is yummy :) I did fall victim to a few soda's this week, but I stopped and did not go overboard. I am most definitely a stress eater and with the musical this weekend it shows, but I have been able to maintain weight!

Step 4: Exercise Daily. I love dancing :) It's been fantastic to keep up with my girls! Plus I'm looking into registering for dance classes in the Fall at the local college. It'll be lovely to dance for me again and not just for lesson planning.

Total pounds lost: 18!!!!!!!! 4 weeks until my 30th!!! Hope I can get to 30 lbs down :)

40 bags in 40 days

To get myself on track with finishing the 40 bags challenge, I made a list of places to check/edit every day from Ash Wednesday through to Easter Sunday (my 30th birthday!). I've done well so far, but thought this would give me some motivation to follow through.

40 bags in 40 days: 2012 edition

1. Laundry room

2. Kitchen drawers

3. Kitchen cabinets

4. Pantry

5. Under the kitchen sink

6. Refrigerator

7. Freezer

8. My closet

9. Jim’s closet

10. Rory’s closet

11. Jimmy’s closet

12. Under master bed

13. TV cabinet and movie baskets

14. Jewelry spaces

15. Bathroom closet

16. Under the bathroom sink

17. Makeup bag

18. Playroom toys- girl

19. Playroom toys- boy

20. Playroom books

21. Playroom wardrobe

22. Playroom alcove

23. Front porch

24. Front porch

25. Front porch

26. Front porch

27. Envoy

28. Mustang

29. Hope chest- living room

30. Hope chest- kids room

31. Dining room buffet

32. Dining room hutch

33. Bookshelves

34. Outside- side of house

35. Outside- back of house

36. Blazer

37. Camaro

38. Outside- side of shed

39. Shed interior

40. Shed interior

Disclosure: my house is only 1100 sq ft, 200 sq ft of which is an enclosed front porch, and we have a fairly empty 800 sq ft attic (4 boxes of Christmas decorations only), but we still have CRAP!

Happy President's Day weekend! I've been waiting for a 3 day weekend. Not to relax, but so I could have time to prop shop for our Spring musical! Less than 2 weeks until opening night... it's going to be AWESOME!

Updates:

Step 1: Reduce clutter. 5 bags gone!!! Good timing too, since Ash Wednesday is this week. Who knew Easter would sneak up on us?! It's also the kids birthday month, so we're finding room for new toys. I'm going with the "2 toys out, 1 toy in" rule, which is helping immensely. Plus it's teaching the kids to help support a local community organization, Women In Need (WIN).

21 bags left to go...

Step 2: Reduce spending. This weekend I splurged on magazines. No idea why- must be all the festive spring covers! It was bad, I know, but I can't complain since I spent no money this week!!!! :)

Step 3: Drink Water, Pack lunches and change my eating habits. Water is my best friend, a week's worth of lunches are packed on Sunday nights, and I eat clean during the week. Weekends are harder since we have tons of sugary/crack goodness around the house (my husband...) but at least 5 of 7 days are nice and healthy. I'm working on this little thing called, "will power" and hope I can use Lent as inspiration. I've never really given anything up before, but this might be the year to prove to myself that I can to anything :)

Step 4: Exercise Daily. Every weekday!!!! It's been fantastic dancing with my class. We are really pushing each other and are creating some amazing things. I'm so proud :) I did not keep up with Jillian Michaels, but she'll be my weekends. Zumba is on hold until the musical is over in 2 weeks.

OH! I'm down 15lbs now!!!!! YIPEE!!! It's an amazing feeling knowing that I am that much closer to my birthday goal. I know it'll move slower from now on, but this is a promising start. 6 weeks until my 30th!!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it...

Good evening! Tons of random snow and wind here today, which I didn't mind one bit! It's been a rather tame winter. Glad to see some white before all the colors of spring!

This year is flying by: mid-February already? Sadly I'm only down another 3 lbs, but I have to remember it's less than I was last month! We traveled to a wedding in South Carolina, which I thought I was prepared for food wise, but lo and behold I was not. Now that we're back home I'm jumping into going sugar free once again. I'm thinking of doing this for 10 days, then taking 2 off, then 10 days back on, etc. Thoughts?

Updates:

Step 1: Reduce clutter. Today I spent a good chunk of the morning in the playroom, yet again. Granted, it is a small playroom, but they have so many toys! The goal is to separate their bedrooms again this summer (we have a little bit of remodeling to do first), and I need to make sure that all their toys will fit, painlessly, into their new spaces. Only 1 bag of trash today, but 3 large toys are GONE! Those count as independent bags, right???

26 bags left to go...

Step 2: Reduce spending. I've been trying to locate the best food deals around the county, but I can't justify traveling to 3 or 4 stores just to do one weeks worth of grocery shopping. I think this summer we will rejoin Sam's club, but first we need a freezer... anywho, as of right now I've been able to stick to basic meals during the week, and make plenty of left overs for busy nights. I still carry around my glass bottle for water, and bring my own snacks, so no extra money is out of pocket during the week :) I did, however, purchase a 5 class pass for Zumba, but I am putting that to GOOD use!

Step 3: Drink Water, Pack lunches and change my eating habits. Already stated above, but yes to water, yes to packing lunches, and getting back on track with my eating habits!

*NEW*

Step 4: Exercise Daily. My dance class this semester is AWESOME. All Dance III/IV students so I've been able to push them creatively, as well as push myself! I dance every day (50 minutes), plus today I started the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred (20 minutes), and attend Zumba (60 minutes) once or twice a week. I really want to be healthy before the big 3-0 in April!

Sometimes you have to do what you don't like to get to where you want to be.
-Tori Amos

January Progress

Good morning! It's a beautiful one over here on the Chesapeake Bay. I hope you're enjoying the weekend and all it has to offer!

Here's a little update on my progress in 2012:

Step 1: Reduce clutter. I asked my daughter to help me go through her toys and donate some to the local thrift store (WIN: Women In Need). She was able to come up with 2 boxes! I am so proud of her. Plus this is great timing- her birthday is next month so at least I have the toys under control for a little longer. It's hard for me to tell if I've been slacking with this challenge or not. I've done 2 bags of clothes (1 for consignment and 1 for a friend's daughter), the 2 boxes of toys, and 6 bags of trash. My guess is that I'll accomplish a lot while on Easter break, but I'm trying to hide the procrastinator in me and get those bags done by March! Though that front porch is calling me... 30 bags left to go...

Step 2: Reduce spending. I track my spending every day. The large amounts I tag (food, gas, bills) but I was surprised at how many times I would spent $5-10 and not even realize! Bottled waters and candy bars have been my enemy. I've definitely curtailed this habit and usually go 5 days without spending a dime! That being said, I am treating myself to a pedicure tomorrow after work (my new dance class begins Tuesday and the family is in a wedding in South Carolina this weekend, so it's justifiable!).

Step 3: Drink Water, Pack lunches and change my eating habits. Water it is! And boy do I drink a ton of water every day. I suplurged and purchased a glass bottle coated on the outside with BPA free plastic (shatterproof!). It's my new best friend. I also drink 2 cups of blueberry tea a day, and pack my lunches! I cut out a lot of sugar and have gone from 248 to 238 this month! The first 3 weeks were tough, and I fell off every now and then, but this week was very clean. On the days that I do want chocolate, I spend a little extra and buy the sugar-free. It curbs my craving and I end up eating less because it doesn't taste as good ;) I've also cooked nearly every meal at home! I think my husband really appreciates this one! Also, I can count on 1 hand the number of times I've gone out to eat this month. Not a bad feeling!

5 months until summer, and 11 months left in this year. Let's make the most of them!!!!

The simplest things give me the best ideas.
-Joan Miro

Happy New Year!

My goodness! This year has really gotten away. As a matter of fact, the past 5 years have been some crazy whirlwind!

2007- got pregnant

2008- baby #1 and bought a house

2009- got married, got pregnant again!

2010- baby #2

2011- completed my Master's plus 30 additional credits

2012- Simplify my Life!

There's a great book out there entitled "Simplify Your Life" by Elaine St. James. It's currently in its 26th printing so it must be good! My mom's owned it since the 90's and I would read it every now and then. At this point in my life, it couldn't be more perfect!

Step 1: Reduce clutter. I love seeing on the blogosphere the "40 bags in 40 days" challenge. For me, this is too intense, so I'm starting a bit early. I am giving myself from January 1-April 8 (Easter Sunday and my Birthday!).

Step 2: Reduce spending. Again, as of January 1, I will no longer be buying items that are unnecessary, and really scrutinizing the items I do purchase. I want to get out of debt, pay off my undergrad and grad loans, as well as start living on 1/2 of what I earn so I can pay off my mortgage quicker. Yes, grand plans I realize, but everything starts with a small step.

Step 3: Drink Water, Pack lunches and change my eating habits. I drank so many sugary drinks and ate so much sugar over the holidays that I literally gained 8 lbs. Ridiculous! Since December 27, I've only had water, tea, or the occasional glass of milk. I've also made all of our food and started clearing out the overly processed items in the kitchen. Again, this will be a process, but I've enjoyed being able to cook every meal during the winter break. Cooking meals at home is a priority for me this year.

I hope everyone has a wonderful 2012!

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have,

but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

Fredrick Keoniq

Stop being fat.

I am fed up with me. This is ridiculous! I feel like crap, I crave crap, I feel as though I am an emotional disaster, and have developed stress induced asthma.

I yearn for the body and life I had 3 years ago, though I know I should be thankful for what I have now and where I am today.

Right now, I live for me.

My Fall resolution is to dance every day. I just ordered the New York City Ballet Workout which I did a few years ago. It's hardcore and fabulous. Since my daughter is taking dance class she will be able to do some of this too. Starting Monday, I will dance my heart out during the day (50 minutes) and then again when I am at home (an hour or so). Worst case scenario, I dance again during my daily planning period to keep up my stamina.

Ok, I'm done whining. This blog: take 3: ACTION!