Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Of Course...

I do have a crap load of stuff to report.

#1 I've been using my SparkPeople app on my iphone for the last week. I'm pretty happy with it. I like that I can journal my food intake on the spot, including looking things up if necessary. It's convenient, it's free, and it keeps my desktop and my actual desk top cleared off... so win win win. I'm trying to lose about 10-12 pounds, and so they have me at 1500-1800 calories, and working off a 150 calorie burn everyday. Sticking to that calorie limit is absolutely doable and no big deal, I am not actually hungry for more than that, and tracking just keeps me from doing something stupid that would push me over that amount. I actually worried I couldn't lose on that amount... but... they were right. I'm down one pound in one week, without stressing or even trying. And I've finally found the time that will work for my day for me to workout, and I am back to my 60 minute treadmill sessions, which is what I like. After our breakfast and morning lessons, I get my workout in before lunch. Most days of the week this works. So, I'm not stressing or making this a 100% or 0% deal with myself. I enjoy it, and really just needed to find the right time for it. Now that Kid is homeschooling, it's actually easier for me to fit the workout in, since I'm not driving all over town all afternoon anymore. And because I'm with both kids all day, I don't feel guilty about taking an hour out for myself. When I'm not hammering myself about workout every single day... I actually find myself working out a good 5 times a week and enjoying it. So, I'm using the SparkPeople app to track that, and I'm cutting myself the necessary slack in order to fit regular exercise into my daily life, without it being a battle for perfection. And, that attitude is the difference between my ability to stick to it, and my perfectionistic sabotage. I'm going to do it when I can (which is most days) but not stress out, and freakout, trying to cram it into too tight of a schedule, which spirals down into frustration, failure, and then quitting. Some days, I really am just too busy... and that is okay.

#2 I'm thinking of surprising Mr F with this guy...
Mostly, because when Mr F saw him his face lit up, he reminded him so much of his old cat Dusty. And that will bring him joy.

But also because his name is Washington.... which reminds me of this... (warning vulgarity police! This is not for you)

Which makes me laugh, because it is so absurd.... and because it is so damn catchy. And so whenever I see this cat I start singing "Washington, Washington" and that brings me joy.

So, in short, this cat = abundant Furious Family joy.

#3 Homeschooling is going well. Of course, the last two weeks we were on break ;)
Kid is over it, and is happily staying home. The work we are doing is enjoyable for both of us, and we seem to have a good balance. I'm really happy with the Sonlight curriculum. Really happy. In two weeks we start her day of extracurriculars that are offered for homeschoolers. Every Thursday she'll have a day full of Chemistry, Watercolor, Gymnastics, and Band classes, with lunch, and I hope she enjoys it, and we can make some new friends. I've also joined a homeschool group out by us, and starting next Wednesday they've set up a science class with a local MetroPark's nature center, and that is something that both Kid and Baby will enjoy. This group has also been extremely friendly, and as it turns out, there are 4 other 8 year old girls in it... which is awesome. We have our first playdate tomorrow. On top of all of that, Kid still has swimming and Brownies... so, socially, she's busy. In fact, I've cut out a couple of things this semester, so that we can focus on the things we really enjoy and lend themselves to forming friendships.

#4 Mr F did take the week after Christmas off and painted the entire time. Bye bye asylum. Really. What a difference having a different wall color, than the trim & ceiling color makes! Everything looks so much nicer... it's like a different house. And that is just the hallway. Pics to come, after we get all of our doorknobs replaced (and possibly doors...). Our hall lights look fantastic now. Fantastic. Baby's room is now pink (not ultra intense primary yellow!) and my room is next (although that might be months away if we're being realistic). Then we've still got to take down the border in the kitchen and paint the kitchen and then paint the big family room. We've still got some work to do, but the main impact spaces are nearing completion and once we get our Christmas decorations down, we can finally start hanging things and finish those rooms up.

That's it.

Oh, I'm hoping to start meal planning again soon (this week, please). Our new fridge (not new really really old) is a top freezer over fridge... and food just gets lost in there (vs a side by side for visibility). I've been spending 3x as much on food and throwing a lot a way. In Asheville I was down to NO food waste... so this is especially disappointing, and I need to get back on top of it. Meal planning is key, I'm thinking.

Oh, and look for our first $5 giftcard post on Friday. We're going to do the deed on Thursday (I am a little nervous) and hopefully manage to sneak a picture of our victim. It'll be fun. Or awkward... which should at least be funny... if at my own expense.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

while at the grocery store last night I thought of you and how I miss your menu planning. I think I am going to be making your tomato soup, pasta and turkey meatball dish this week. So good! haha.

justme said...

i love sparkpeople !!

Julie said...

Oh awesome...so this is how you are teaching Kid about George Washington? ;)

So great to see a long update. Love it.

Mrs Furious said...

julie,
I let Kid watch it once this morning when I was linking it (totally blocked out how inappropriate it was)... and she was like "I don't get it, why doesn't he save the British children?" So glad she picked up on that and not the 30 dicks ;)
Either way the kids can't stop singing "he'll save the children but not the British children." It is very catchy.

Cara,
I'm going to do it! (I hope)
We're having that tonight too :)


trifitmom,
I'm loving it. It's so much easier.

Brenda said...

Everything sounds so great! But I need to know more about this kitty... I think he is gorgeous and would be a great fit with your family. Of course, it won't be a surprise if Mr. F. is checking the blog... :)

Mrs Furious said...

Gigs,
Well, these days Mr F doesn't usually check my blog until he comes home. I was hoping I'd get myself motivated to trek out to the humane society and pick him up today... alas I did not. Washington is 2 years old and allegedly very cuddly. Tiger is badly in need of a playmate of the feline variety.
But... I might come home with a dog, too. You never know...

wootini said...

I'm making your beef stew tomorrow! :). I miss your menu planning posts too - they really inspired me and I'm a total convert now. It's the only way I make it through getting real dinner on the table during the week despite school, work and extracurriculars...

So glad to hear you've worked out a way to get your exercise in, and that homeschooling is going so well!

Deb said...

My tip on getting photos is to ask. We've run into the weird awkwardness with our project more than once. I used to take sneaky photos, but they were always unworthy of putting on the blog once I saw them, and I finally gave up and just started asking.

Love the cat! I'm afraid to watch the video, but 30 dicks does sound intriguing, so I'm going back.

Shirls said...

Washington is super cute, you NEED him in your life ;0) I'm so thrilled homeschooling is working out, sounds like Kid has quite the busy social life!

thought I'd let you know I have a totally new blog going with a totally new focus, it is at http://photolives.blogspot.com/ if you find the time...

I'm going to have to check out sparkpeople for the iphone, I had a membership before but didn't like that it wasn't portable at this time, so this sounds great!

P/F said...

I vote dog.

But cats have a harder time finding a home, probably because they don't show appropriate gratitude for saving their lives (I kid).

Mrs Furious said...

P/F,
bwahahaha. Hilarious.


Shirls,
I'll check it out! thanks for the update :)


Deb,
Oy! I'll have to work up to asking for the photo... We're doing it today. I feel strangely insecure about it?! I'm sure it will be fine. I just don't want the 1st person to be the stick in the mud.

HC said...

Twelve stories high, made of rad-i-a-tion.

Crap, I'm going to be humming that damned song all night.

Deb said...

I can guarantee you will run into someone who will make you want to cry or yell at them. We certainly have. (Don't get me started on the guy we met on Halloween who nearly made my little girl cry.) But for every one of those people, there are twenty or thirty who will thank you and gush about how much your gesture meant to them and how grateful they are that there are people in the world like you.

I've learned it's important for the kids to see both kinds of people. I think talking about it helps J to understand that just because someone is unhappy doesn't mean they're mad at him. He doesn't have to be a pleaser. Hopefully he can learn to shrug it off and say, "I tried" and focus on the other 90% of the world who is grateful for his efforts. I would consider our project a huge success if he gets that.

Good luck! I really can't wait to hear about it.

Deb said...

(I should also add that it's helped me shrug things off, too. Because you can't really yell at someone for being a jerk when you're trying to do something nice, at least not in front of the kids. So I've had to put on a happy face and say, "Sorry, we tried. Have a nice day!" and let that be my model for the kids.)

Mrs Furious said...

Deb,
We did it today... I'll post tomorrow... but, yes, not the ideal reaction. But, as you say, that is part of it, too. Not everyone can compose the right reaction in the 5-10 seconds you cross paths. While I'd like to be giving for the pure sake of giving... it's hard on the ego to swallow the part of it being "for the pure sake of giving". Secretly (and not so secretly) we all want to be honored... part of this is learning to let that go and humble myself up a bit. Deal with the reality of giving to give and not giving to receive (acknowledgement, etc). You have the fantasy of how people will react, and that is the part that is about you (me) and not about them. So this will be a process.

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