Motto

“If you get caught up in the worst case scenario and it doesn’t happen, you’ve wasted your time. And if you are caught up in the worst case scenario and it does happen, you’ve lived it twice.” -Michael J. Fox

2.22.2019

Gearing up for Mexico

We leave for Cancun, Mexico tomorrow and I can't wait for the warmer weather! 

CP and I contemplated cancelling the trip while I was furloughed but decided that even if I was still shutdown that we would go. The flights were made with points, the hotel is through a timeshare that my parents have, and my MIL was flying in from NH to join us on the trip. If I still hadn't been paid that just would have meant a lot of rice and beans for meals and probably just sticking to the pool instead of venturing out, but now we don't have to worry about that!

I had some birthday money and saw a few things that I thought would be super cute for our trip. The first was this swimsuit from Summersalt. I kept getting Instagram ads for the suits and they were intriguing but the suit is so cute! Thankfully when it arrived at my house and I tried it on I loved it!




I also saw this dress in a ModCloth Facebook ad and thought it was so pretty! Definitely something that I can also wear to work this summer. It's very flattering and I can't wait to wear it next week!



As you guys know I had plantar fasciitis for much of the year last year and as the weather gets warmer I plan on running outside more than I currently have been (3 times outside so far this year). Last fall I saw these flip flops on heavy sale at DSW and snatched them up. Are they the cutest flip flops I have ever seen? No, but the name (Cloudsteppers by Clark's) is correct- they are SO COMFORTABLE. Part of the problem with flip flops is that they have no support for your feet and these feel spongy and supportive.




Bring on the warmer weather!


As always I was not paid or asked to blog about these items. They are just cute things that I found and wanted to share with others.

2.21.2019

Day in the Life- Winter 2019

Oh man I totally forgot to do a Fall DITL. :-(


Day in the Life- Winter 2019
Saturday, February 16th
CP is 42.5 years old
NSC is 40 years old
Izzy is 5 years old
Wes is 2.5 years old
Marshmallow is 6 years old
Cocoa is 3 years old


Friday night- Go to bed around 11pm after deciding with CP that we would start Game of Thrones from the very beginning before the last season starts in April. We make it through the first two episodes- it is interesting watching it for a second time. 

Wes starts crying at 12:45am for some unknown reason so I head into his room. He complains about his foot hurting but I can’t find anything wrong. I bring him to the glider and start to rock him back to sleep. After about 5 minutes of rocking he is back asleep so into the crib he goes and I head back to bed.

At 6am Wes is yelling for us. I was in the middle of a very vivid dream so I’m pretty groggy. I tell CP “your turn” and turn over. CP goes in to Wes’ room but Wes yells at him “Go away! I want Mommy!” CP comes back into room but soon after puts clothes on and heads downstairs. 

I fall back asleep until 6:30 when I hear Izzy singing. I stay in her room while she gets dressed for soccer class and then head downstairs with her. Izzy starts to watch Wild Kratts and I read some Washington Post articles online.



7:30- I go up upstairs to wake Wes up so that he can have breakfast. He is groggy and also wet. I change him into soccer clothes, he insists on being the person to turn off his bedroom light and we head downstairs.

Groggy Wes


 Izzy is eating an “egg burger”.



Izzy teaching Wesley how to spell his name at breakfast



Wes doesn't want his picture taken at breakfast


My breakfast- coffee with sugar free creamer and a broccoli and cheese omelette

8am- I run upstairs for a quick shower. We herd everyone in the car and are off to soccer class, talking about the clothes we need to bring for our upcoming trip to Mexico.

8:30- We arrive just as soccer class starts. Wes is not really into class and wants to put on his bear sweatshirt (only on his head) so that he can run around as Batman. Halfway through he wants to participate only with CP so we switch and I watch Izzy's class while talking with friends. Wes decides he wants me in class with him again towards the end. 


"Batman" Wes


9:20- The kids run races against each other after class. We also make a bathroom stop.

9:45- We are home. I grab two bananas for the kids and bring them out to the car. CP and kids head off for clothes shopping as Wes is moving into 4t clothes and I'm unsure of what Izzy can fit into for our trip. I check Wes’ closet for size 10 shoes & sandals and he doesn't have anything. I also check Izzy’s room for shorts for our trip- unfortunately most everything is size 5t (aka too small).

Going through Izzy's closet


10:05- I get in my car and head for a wax appointment. Afterwards, I call CP to gauge where he is and how shopping is going. I decide I don't have enough time to run errands so I head home and read my Kindle book (The Marriage Pact) until CP and kids get back.

11:45- Earlier in the day we decided that we would head out to lunch since we don't have a lot of food in the fridge, so CP picks me up from home. I suggested Asian for lunch; kids want pizza. We have a coupon for pizza so we decide to do that. I end up getting BBQ chicken pizza....it was so tasty but I should have gotten salad. Halfway through lunch Wes screams that he has poop so I change his diaper in the bathroom. Izzy eats her entire pizza (!), Wes only eats two small pieces. The restaurant has free gelato for the kids so Izzy gets birthday cake flavor and Wes gets salted caramel. I take a small bite of Wes' gelato.

On the way home CP pretends to drive crazy and the kids love it. Wes says “it’s so crazy” which makes CP and I laugh. He also screams “Frozen on!” because he wants us to turn the Frozen soundtrack on. We remind him that he has to ask politely.

1pm- We are home and I bring Wes in the door screaming, bringing him upstairs for a nap. I read him a quick Thomas story and put him in his crib.

Izzy meets me in her room and we have a "fashion show" where she tries on her new clothes for me and we also try a few shorts on to see which ones she could wear in Mexico.

I then head downstairs to the basement to start the washer for kid clothes and sheets.

I decide to make some chai tea from loose leaves and it is delicious. CP lays down on the couch while Izzy is on her bean bag watching her new favorite show, Planet Earth.



CP is sous vide-ing our dinner


1:30- I leave house and call my mom who is on her way to their house in Michigan. We discuss having them over for dinner since we won't see them for a bit. I confirm that dinner also works for my dad. I then call CP who informs me that I need to get more meat- now. *sigh* I turn around and head to the grocery store. The store has some sample tables set up and damn- they have a brownie sample. I taste it and decide to get some for dessert tonight. I end up buying wine, lettuce, bananas, beef, and brownies.

Marshmallow and Cocoa hanging out

One minute later it is time to play


2:15- I drop the food off at home and finally I am off to do some shopping- Old Navy first. I find 2 shirts & a pair of skinny jeans for myself. I also find Wes 6 pairs of 4t pants, all on sale. Usually we get clothes from a friend but only had 1 pair of 4t pants handed down to us because her son ripped through the knees of all of the other ones.

3:15- Thankfully there is a grocery store in the same plaza as Old Navy as I forgot to pick up a lemon at the grocery store!

3:30- I head over to DSW and quickly find Wes new shoes and sandals in size 10. I eat an apple in the car ride home.

4pm- Just as I arrive home, CP is heading up the stairs to get Wes up from his nap. I also head upstairs to show Wes his new stuff. He likes the dinosaur sandals, but loves his new Lightning McQueen shoes even more and wants to wear them (he had the same pair in size 9).

4:30- I put in another load of laundry.

4:45- The kids go downstairs to the basement to play while I run upstairs to get workout clothes on. I grab water on the way.

5pm- I decide to turn on A Little Obsessed, Total Body Cardio, the precursor to 80 Day Obsession. I alternate focusing on my workout and yelling at the kids as they fight over various toys. I have about 5 minutes left in the workout when my parents come downstairs, so I decide to turn off the workout and stretch while talking to my dad.



Wes on the Barbie phone


The doorbell rings and it is friends dropping off clothes for Wes and Valentine’s for the kids. We talk for a minute or two before they leave. 

I set the table while talking to my dad and at 5:45 run upstairs to quickly shower. Dinner is ready as I come downstairs. CP made steak with mushroom risotto and asparagus. Wes complains about the meat being “picy” (spicy) even though it is just salt and pepper on it. We cut off the sides of the meat and he eats a bit. Izzy manages to fall off her chair (second time today). I enjoy my glass of Rioja with my meal. After dinner we all split up a big brownie for dessert.

Wes fights eating tonight


My mom does the dishes and I package up the leftovers. 

7:15- Izzy plays a game where she runs around asking people what she put in a gift bag. We all make silly guesses. The adults sit down to talk about some issues at my parent’s business and the health issues my dad’s sister is having while the kids run around the house.

Izzy "directing" Wes as usual


8pm- Wes heads up to bed with CP while the rest of us play "pass" with Izzy.




At 8:25 I tell Izzy she is heading up to bed at 8:30 and we have to start to calm down. She requests flying airplane and my mom acquiesces just once. Izzy requests that my mom puts her to bed- yes I get out of putting the kids to bed tonight!

Flying airplane


9:15- My parents leave. CP and I watch Game of Thrones Season 1, episode 3 and turn the tv to SNL at 10:30.

11:15- I am falling asleep so head upstairs, leaving CP sleeping on the couch. I don't turn off the light until 11:40- way past bedtime.

8759 steps
Did not count my WW points today

2.15.2019

2019 goals

Since it's almost March, it's probably time to write down my goals for the year. LOL.

1. Eat at least one vegetarian dinner every week. 
While we certainly have been eating less red meat with Weight Watchers, we are eating a lot of chicken. I would like to lessen my environmental impact this year.

2. Lose 25 pounds this year. 
I'm happy with the 25 that I lost last year and would like to lose 25 more to get down to my 
wedding weight.

3. Work out for at least 30 minutes at least three times a week. 
I have started strong so far this year, mostly with 21 Day Fix workouts. I am looking forward 
to Shaun T's new program when it comes out in March and when the weather gets nicer I 
will be spending time running outside.

4. Continue monthly dates with CP.

5. Get our credit card balance to $0 this year.
Recent news stories have me worried about whether we are going to owe taxes this year 
instead of getting a refund....that will certainly hinder our ability to meet this goal but I 
hate throwing money away each month.

6. Get a new job. 
I spent a lot of last year doing informational interviews and working on crafting a good 
resume. I have also spent a lot of time figuring out what exactly I would like to do and what
I have a passion for outside my current job. I have two paths that I am pursing and I would 
like to make 2019 my year to make the jump.

7. Continue to be politically active whether it is writing postcards to voters, contacting my
elected officials about things that are important to me, or participating in marches.

8. Run in at least three races this year including the Soldier Field 10 miler.
I have always wanted to do the Soldier Field 10 miler and I have some other friends on 
board to run this race with me. It's in May so I have some time to prepare.

9. Run one race with Izzy this year.
I need to find a 1 mile race to do with Izzy this year. I think that she would love it!

There we go! Now I have 10.5 months to get these done!


2.01.2019

Wrap up on 2018 goals

Since it is February, it's a good time to see how I did on my 2018 goals. LOL.

1. Continue our part vegetarian lifestyle through the year. 
We did great on this for the first half of the year and then fell off the second half. 

We certainly continued to eat less red meat but still ate chicken, turkey, and fish. 

2. Continue to send paper cards to friends for their birthdays. 
Success!

I hear from my friends that they love getting a paper card, so I will definitely continue this.

3. The usual lose weight goal.
Success! 

I got down below 200 before my birthday. I didn't lose any more weight due to the holidays, 
but I at least hit my goal for the year.

4. Be more consistent with working out.
Success!

I really like Beachbody on Demand because whenever I have time I head down to the 
basement to work out. I certainly can't and don't work out every day but would say that I 
work out 3-4 times a week.

5. Continue monthly dates with CP.
Success! 

I think we maybe missed one month all year? The trip to FL for a long weekend without 
the kids was sooooo great as well.

6. Pay down our credit card debt.
Still working on this.

Christmas didn't help....and then being furloughed made it worse....but thankfully I have 
gotten paid again and we are back to working on paying it down. 

7. Continue to be politically active and contact my elected officials when necessary.
Success!

My elected officials have heard from me on lots of different subjects this year. :-)

8. Create a better and more consistent bedtime routine.
Mixed success.

This is certainly tough to do on a consistent basis.

9. Run in at least two races this year.
Success!

I ended up running in three races this year after battling plantar fasciitis most of the year. 
The 5k that I do with coworkers, the 5k that runs right by my house, and a Thanksgiving 
5k that is in another local neighborhood.

Overall, I was much more successful this year in my goals than I have been in the past. I 
believe this was due to making manageable goals and checking in with them quarterly so that
I don't forget about them.

2019 goals in my next post.