Digging Up Archives--December

Like I did before, I want to review previous years blogging.  I found it fun and insightful to review my own history somewhat, at least what I blogged....

2007  I was doing some blogging about dieting and flip-flopping between losses and gains, but I was trying to  shift some of my thinking to more than just weight, but I still considered weight to be a HUGE part of "living well" and combined them.  I am saddened by the way I characterized myself as "abnormal" in this post....as I mentioned before I am trying to change the way I think about myself, my body, and dieting (something I hope to SOON blog more about)....but clearly I put a negative name on myself, and publicly no less.  I also did some random blogging, trying to find ways to blog more.  Like here, I used a one-liner joke to be a bit of a journal prompt.  Here, I just wrote about my weekend....sharing my life with the cyber world!  Clearly, I wanted to blog more and tried just random thoughts to downright sharing from the depths of my spirituality.  In addition, I posted one Works for Me Wednesday post that included a recipe that could be given as a gift.

2008  Much like the year before, I did some free writing, talked about jury duty....ahem, dieting (still)...and my 7 month old kitten.  I also wrote about getting my new-to-me car in the midst of CRAZINESS (still love this car...consider it one of my best cars EVER!).  And I did write about seeing a movie I really enjoyed (and it was/is a good movie!)!!

2009  I was finishing up year of Scripture memory with this verse and this verse.  I blogged about some thoughts about blogging.  Not a lot of blogging this year....if it weren't for the Scripture memory in which I blogged twice per month....who knows?  (Side note:  It was a tough year...Hubs lost his full-time, steady job in early April...and took part-time gigs here and there to try to make ends meet.  This struggle would continue for almost 2 1/2 year.  The first few months were the hardest....but the hard times continued for so long, our brains just adjusted.)

2010  The only post I made in this year was about goals, and I mentioned that 2011 would be a year worth remembering.  I know now that it indeed was....there was a huge shift that took place and I personally am still recovering from the ripple effect from it.  Adjustment happens, ya know?  So I hope to build momentum again for 2012.  In fact, I believe this momentum began on 11-11-11 and can't wait to review 12-12-12, just because the numbers are fun!

Dig It, Dream It, Do It Project--November

So....I came up with the name for my "project"....where I dig up from the previous year's blog posts for the month, then looking over those posts I then dream up a few goals for the month....and this post is to look in and see how I did for the month.  So....let's see....

BODY = CHECK....being nicer and gentler to my body is becoming easier and easier for me.  I have lots of work to go, but I know that I am doing better.  Plus, I moved lots....walks and yoga and a couple of dancing sessions.

MIND/HEART/SOUL = no check....I don't think I read much at all...let alone every day (sad face)....didn't journal at all in November....revisiting the budget is a bit of a check (I've been doing this lately anyway with the changes in our income now that Hubs is working full-time).  

SPIRIT = no check...no progress at all in this area....it needs revisiting!

EXTRA = CHECK...I did make the cake with icing mixed in (YUM!)....I did post one Works for Me Wednesday post...I did have one pumpkin cream cheese muffin.  I didn't say the affirmation....not once that I can recall.  But I did well on this category I think...

My Numbers

Thought this was really cute....emailed it to myself so I am not sure where it originally came from....but alas, here are MY NUMBERS:

5:30 – Time my alarm goes off in the morning

0 – Number of times I hit snooze

10:00 – Time I go to bed at night

60 - Minutes I spend commuting per day

35-40 - Miles I drive on an average day

15 - Minutes I exercise most days

3 – Number of co-workers I have

3 – Number of times I’ve cooked a proper dinner in the past month 

7 – Number of tabs I currently have open on my computer

Maybe 1 – Number of real push-ups I can do

10 – Number of real push-ups I’d like to be able to do

20 – Ounces of water I’ve consumed so far today

0 – Number of Band-Aids I’m currently wearing

3 (4 if I count each earring) – Number of accessories I’m currently wearing

5 or 6 – Number of things that have gone wrong in the past week

too many to count – Number of things that have gone right

WFMW: Simplifying Lunch

As per my dreaming session, I wanted to do at least one Works for Me Wednesday post this month.  I got to thinking about what exactly works for me...thinking I have nothing innovative to offer.  But then I have recently began something that I am kinda excited about.  The freedom and "peace" I had when I simplified my work wardrobe was really such a good feeling...and meal planning has always been a struggle and stressor for me.  I work four days a week and two of those are longer days...so lunches are needed four times and dinner is needed twice.  I have played hit or miss for a while now.

Then, I went to a book club meeting and the subject of lunch came up.  One lady said she has the same lunch every day and has now for 5 years.  She said it was fairly healthy, cheap, and easy.  I borrowed the idea, and so far it works for me....I love not having to think about it.  You may think it sounds boring....but when she said she has the same thing every day and has for 5 years....I figure I can give it a try.

So....here it is....my daily lunch:

• tuna mixed with a little dijonnaise and relish....I eat an entire can of tuna, which cost me 64 cents (not sure how much the condiments cost but not much)
• pretzels....a big handful to eat with the tuna....a bag of pretzels cost me $1.58 and makes way more than 4 servings worth but not sure how many because the extra become snacks and go in other lunches...I am guessing it would make at least 10 servings making it about 15 or 16 cents worth for the daily lunch
• yogurt...so many ways you can do this... I really like this way or you can make your own....or I found some for $1.88 for 4 which is about 47 cents at each lunch
• apple...depending on the apple you choose, they run about 50 or 60 cents per apple

While you can do all kinds of things to change this up to fit your lifestyle...this was a simple lunch that runs about $1.88 per day.  You could make it healthier and/or cheaper with your own personal tweaking.  I read lots of blogs and am trying to fit my mind around health and frugality....but sometimes, I just need simple and easy.  And....this works for me...

Check out what works for others over here and have a great Wednesday!

November Dreaming

As I reviewed previously blogged Novembers, I got a little excited....I mean, seeing where I have been can be really energizing!  I am now going to dream a little....and I do mean a little....because I want to see what I can do based on what I learned about myself!!!  Following one of my previous methods, I am going to divide it up into BODY-MIND-SPIRIT and add an EXTRA category just for fun and posterity!!!!

BODY

• I am so gonna be nicer to my body.  I have been experiencing a paradigm shift and all the dieting and the way I approached food was just plain abusive to myself (body and mind).  
• I am gonna do something I know my body likes....movement-wise....most days!  I haven trying to go for a walk every other day (some or all of my family --except the cats--walks with me).  I definitely feel a difference when I walk.  I also really like to do a few yoga poses....they feel so good sometimes.  And then there's these video games--we have one and two....they seem like fun....but I haven't enjoyed the like I wish I had.

MIND/HEART/SOUL (intellectual and emotional center)

• Reading....for fun and mental stimulation....I want to do this every single day!!!  I have been invited to be a part of a book club and that might be really fun!
• Journal....want to do this at least once per week!!!!
• Revisit budget, using principals learned with financial peace university!

SPIRIT

• This needs to be addressed big time....I can barely remember the spiritual person I once was...I want to pray and meditate more....I want to get myself into a good Bible study and soon!
• I wanna get back onto that memorizing Scripture thing, too....might be a bit late for the Beth Moore party, but it is good to get into me anyway....

EXTRA

• Yep, I am getting me at least one cake mix and one coconut-pecan icing tub!  
• I'm gonna do at least one Works for Me Wednesday post this month!
• Hopefully, if it isn't too late....I'm gonna get at least one more pumpkin cream cheese muffin from Starbucks!
• And every morning....I"m gonna say, "Something great is gonna happen today....can't wait to see what it is"--see this post!

Digging Up Archives--November

2007  I started blogging in the summer of 2007.  In November of that year, I was into blogging about my weight.  Food and weight issues were/are a huge part of my life.  That has been something I've been experiencing a paradigm shift about...will be blogging about that soon....it has become a big part of who I am.  Also that year, I learned an incredible parenting style that we implemented for a while at home and I've taught to many a client.  Hubs and I started a class at church.... Financial Peace University ...I had read Financial Peace when my kids were toddlers and we had implemented the envelope system.  Having taken the class and listening as much as possible to Dave on the radio, I am big believer in his program.  Money is a big, hairy deal....and just about everyone walking around has some alligators in their closet related to their money habits or problems.  These alligators can cause incredible anxiety and stress and nausea and vomiting and diarrhea and marital problems and, and, and....  Even before you are completely out from under big debt or other issues, having a plan can make such a difference.  Dave walks you through a plan that if you will follow it, your life will change!  (In case you are wondering, I am on a first name basis with Dave, although he doesn't know my first name....or pretty much anything about me....but I FEEL like he's my friend and on my side!)  I was doing some Smart Habit Saturday carnivals/memes (all these years later, I still am not clear on the difference between a carnival and a meme).  These were cool....trying to implement a new habit each week.  But I don't even think they exist anymore...  My favorite posts of November 2007 were about my 12 year old son putting a dime up his nose just because it was so memorable....and Checking in with Living Well, which was a different group of folks with an approach about losing weight but incorporating more areas of our lives....and I really liked some of the things I was implementing.

2008  I apparently used to write more and include more of my life in my blog...I so need to recapture that.  I enjoy reading it over and gleaning knowledge from myself.  As I was reading over November 2008, I see that I was getting into my "Boobie" issue....oh how that was a journey that I now know would end in surgery.  Diet drinks were creeping back in and they hit me HARD and I still struggle with them, even though I know the aspartame is not good for me.  It was November 2008 that I started the 101 Things in 1001 Days which was interesting and fun to come up with but crashed and burned mostly....though I learned a lot!  I was reminded about putting a coconut-pecan icing tub in a cake mix which I will need to try again.  I see my longing for Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins from Starbucks was in full bloom (seriously, these things are delish)!  Some commercial for oovoo was getting on my nerves, and now I cannot even recall what that was.  I was trying to participate in Works for Me Wednesday but I was running out of ideas (please note I still read and enjoy this bloggy feature).  My favorite 2008 post was What I've Done Meme and I just recently joined a book club, but other than that....no changes....fun nonetheless.

2009  All my posts in November of 2009 were either Scriptures I was memorizing (that might be worth revisiting) and weight issues.  I called myself  "outta control" and was trying so hard to get a handle on food.  These weight posts are hard to read because I was so mean to myself.  I didn't even realize it.  And what I wrote in my blog isn't the half of what I thought and said to myself.  Definitely will write more about my paradigm shift in regards to weight and food....soon!

2010  No posts at all in November....

That sums up the digging up archives for the month of November.  That was definitely fun....in another post, I will see if I can take from this and shape something....perhaps dream a little.....and put some things into action.  Maybe a good name for this....if I do it each month as I redefine who I am, who I want to be, and blog all the while...sharing more of myself....maybe revisit some things....  Oh yeah, back to the name....how about "Dig It, Dream It, Do It!"?  I so rock....that is cool, huh?

Change

It is time for change.  As a counselor, I know that adjustment to change is hard....even if it is a good change (marriage, pregnancy, new job).  Well, my family has had some good changes lately and adjusting is really hard.  I started a new job this summer....we are selling our house....we had to move....hubby got a new job... And the adjusting is taking its toll on us....well allow me to speak for myself....it is taking it toll on me, emotionally.

Also as a counselor, I know that we must act with INTENTION.  I need to focus on my own mental health with INTENTION.  And there are so many "parts" of me that need focus and INTENTION.  I want to use this blog as a tool.  I tried using it a lot to set monthly goals earlier this year....I'm not quite "there" yet....but I know I want to use this to help me organize and find my balance in life again.

So, I know there will be some change happening....and I know that there has been change. I think it would be helpful (and maybe a little fun) to review where I was with this blog in previous years.  I think I'll do that each month for awhile (ideally a year)....  If I can see where I was and the changes/progress made, maybe that will help me develop a direction for myself, my family, and my blog!  Not exactly sure what to call it....what would be "catchy"?  Hmmm....."Where was I This Time Last Year?" (although I plan to do more than last year)....or how about "Digging through the Archives"?  Well...we'll see....

Happy Fall Ya'll!