Braveheart

I'd never seen this ... just bits and pieces of it on TV here and there.

DisGrace loaned me her DVD and I watched it this week, in bits and pieces, but did manage to see the whole thing.

I actually really liked it, except there was more gore than I like.

I didn't know William Wallace was a real person, and that is awesome, even if some of the historical facts were incorrect. Like fathering the princess' baby. That didn't happen.

Owell

Friday Fave Five!!!

1. Not giving up on exercising when the shin splints hit hard. I came up with a plan which volunteered hubby to be on daddy duty while I work out in the mornings, and it's worked for both of us. He knows how important this is to me, and he is proud of me for sticking it out. I'm very glad he is helping, and so willingly.

2. I'm working during baby's afternoon nap these days. Guess what? With working out, I don't need two naps every day. lol.

3. Figuring out baby needs pajamas (even though he prefers to sleep in just a diaper) to keep him warm enough to sleep better at night. Thus, I can sleep in my own bed. Hallelujah.

4. Being told I look like I've lost weight. It's minimal, but I'm glad someone noticed.

5. Figuring out some of my triggers for overeating and avoiding them. :)

and... break!

It's been a weekend.

A long one.

OSIL was here visiting from out of state, and MIL and YSIL kept the drama going.

OBIL (man, I need code names for all of them) came and picked up a broken chair this morning to take to DI. Wondering if we'll find it at their house next time we go over. Not my problem, but it happens nearly every time I get rid of something.

Hubbers and I have been trying to avoid the drama because it does negatively affect our little family ... I'm not taking either of the drama queens' calls at this point.

Hm. Code names ... Drama Queen Senior and Junior will work for MIL and YSIL, except if I ever accidentally give any of them the blog addy. Bah. Any suggestions? It was so easy coming up with MY family's ... haha.

Okay, there doesn't seem to be a point to this entry. I guess I'll quit rambling now.

Friday Fave Five!!!!

1. Mosiah 2:41 and 2 Nephi 5:27 (I may have to double check these references, but my quad isn't handy). BE HAPPY! Our RS challenged us all to read the Book of Mormon again over the next 6 months and gave us each a calendar. Loving the result of feeling happier, calmer, and more at peace, even amidst drama and stupidity.

2. Kiddo's "fun run" today. The elementary school put on a run. She didn't ask me if she could participate, just came home at the beginning of the week with a map and a note and said, "I turned in my slip, so I need to be at the school early on Friday." Yeah, early, like 7:45. She had fun and did great, and didn't seem too disappointed that she didn't win.

3. I've lost 5 pounds in the last 2 weeks. Thank you "Mama Mafia" and no soda!

4. The guys at PC Provo found a key logger on hubby's computer this week plus cleaned it, and they fixed my laptop when it had the Trojan a while back. Thanks Paul. (if you use them, give them my name so I get 15% off next time we do something stupid ...) And when he says "affordable," he means it. Both times it ran around $50.

5. Being where I am in life. No, things aren't perfect. No, all of our problems aren't fixed. No, we're not magically financially sound. We are, however, happy and so are our kids, and hubby has been reading his scriptures and Ensign, too. We're all going to try and get to church again on Sunday. Plus, I do like my job (even if they didn't acknowledge national MT week for weirdness), and I love my little family.

Motivation

Rockelle asked for help with motivation ... Rockelle, you and I used to work out almost every night when we were neighbors. Do you have a workout partner now? Someone even just to go walking with?

I think motivation, and continuing that motivation, are the hardest parts for most of us. I know it is for me. The contest with my sewing forum is enough to motivate me personally -- I tell ya, I've been trying to cut soda and not eat fast food since January (I did successfully quit drinking Pepsi then, though, and don't drink caffeine anymore). But I haven't found the motivation until now to do this, and I knew I'd get extra points yesterday if I just drove on by Sonic. Plus, I have a group of about 6 sisters who go walking every morning. Not everyone goes every day, but we can always count on at least 2 other sisters to join us so we're never alone and bored.

So here's what my plan is: I challenge all of my readers who want more help/motivation in getting fit/fitter to join me in a contest. We'll start Tuesday May 26 (go have fun on your 3-day weekend) and go through June 30. Following the same rules as the contest I'm already in, everyone who wants to participate needs to choose 3 goals for yourself. I've started a separate blog for this challenge, so post your goals over on that blog in a response to the first entry. I will invite all responders here and there to participate in that blog so you can post at will. I'll explain the rules here, then post them there too. http://frootloopschallenge.blogspot.com/

Choose 3 goals you want to work on for the duration of this program. You get a point for each goal every day. Any day you achieve all three goals, you get an extra 10 points. So you have the potential of getting 13 points every day. I'll be choosing 3 separate goals from the contest I'm currently in.

I'll also post a challenge on the challenge blog on Tuesday night every week. Like, drink an extra glass of water every day this week. Or, eat one more serving of fruit every day this week. If you achieve the bonus, you'll get an extra 15 points.

If you post at least 3 times during that week, or post responses to the challenge blog 3 times during that week, you'll get an additional 5 points. You'll need to respond frequently with updated points; on Tuesdays, I'll post the point tallies for the week so make sure you've updated by then.

Here's an added incentive (in addition to feeling awesome and looking better!): I'll make a cute little Japanese knot bag for the person with the most points at the end of the contest (unless it's me, then the second place person will get it), in color/fabric of their choice. I'll show you pics of the fabric I have and you can choose from it. I'll post a picture of one when I can, but our other computer is in the shop and my photos are on it. As if that prize is not enough, *everyone* who participates will get a chapstick holder for their keychain. I've sold them for $5 each, so it's a pretty cool prize if I do say so myself. Participation means you actually have to DO the challenge start to finish, can't just sign up to get the gift. haha. If anyone else wants to contribute a prize, you are more than welcome to do so; just let me know.

How's that for motivation Rockelle? Any help at all?

Even BETTER!

I started walking last week, have kept going this week ... With that and the water and trying to eat better (and less overall), I'm down 3 pounds. Woohoo!

Woohoo!

I went walking with the sisters again. About 70 minutes total ... I'm tired but feel really good. YAY!

Also, the sewing forum I participate in is doing a fitness challenge from tomorrow through June 30. The three daily goals I chose for myself are to walk at least 15 minutes 5-6 days a week, drink 64+ ounces of water every day, and avoid soda completely. Hopefully by the end of June, I see some changes in how I'm feeling ... and how I look.