Posted at 06:33 AM in goals, plants, The Great Outdoors | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
Last week I read this post by Jason at The Jason Show. It intrigued me and it's been on my mind since I read it. All the comments were great too and one in particular stuck with me as much as Jason's post. It was by Jenn at Juggling Life, who inspires me quite a lot. If you haven't read the post yet you should stop by to read it when you have time.
Basically the idea is to pick a focus word to help with attaining goals. The word could be anything that means something to the person using it. Something that is a reminder to stay on track with what's trying to be accomplished.
After I read Jason's post I was trying to come up with a focus word for me. I pondered on Jason's chosen words of Release and Replace. I have already practiced Release in my life, I'm pretty good at it actually. I thought Replace could work, because I do have a couple habits I'd like to replace with different ones, but it just didn't feel right. I also checked out the whole list of words that singer Christine Kane posted last year. The one word that struck me instantly and has stayed with me the past few days is the word I read in Jenn's comment about how her word would be Strive. That word hit me like lightning!
There is so much I want to do, so much I want to accomplish. I need to exercise regularly to combat borderline high blood pressure, borderline diabetes and to lose weight. I want to learn to use Photoshop. I want to write everyday to improve my skills and tell my story. I have goals for my blog. I have other goals waiting in the wings.
I will Strive to accomplish things I need and desire to do.
The word Strive feels positive to me. It's a good strong word that makes me feel motion. When I say that word to myself it makes me stop and ask myself if what I'm doing is helping me Strive toward my goals. While getting toward the end of my work out on Monday I considering cutting it short. The word Strive popped in to my head and I knew I had to keep going. I knew I had to Strive toward regular (and complete) workouts.
The power of positive thinking has worked for me in the past and I know it can work for me now. The trick is to remember to use it!
(Click here to see my Rudy Tuesday contribution.)
Posted at 04:46 AM in blogs, exercise, goals, health, learning, words | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
***There is still time to enter the give-a-way I'm having, go here to comment for a chance to win!***
When starting down the path of blogging I definitely had big delusions ideas about how it would be. My main goal was to write everyday, treat it like a journal of experiences I've had as a daughter, mother, wife, Pearl Jam fan, etc. Maybe some funny stories. Maybe some confessions. I pictured posting long and interesting entries everyday. Very quickly it became apparent that being interesting everyday was a lofty and unrealistic goal. So instead of writing everyday, which is difficult for me btw, I found myself posting more and more pictures, which is very easy for me. I've strayed away from my original goal of writing everyday to improve my skills.
To get myself back on track I'm changing things up a bit. I'll still be posting photos on my main blog when relevant to the post. Other entries like Sky Watch Friday, Wordless Wednesday, etc will be posted on my photography blog, Photos of... Everything. For a few weeks I'll prompt you over there to see the pictures, hopefully it will be a regular stop you make to see what I'm seeing through my lens.
Another change is that I'm using my real name on my blog and when commenting on your blogs. You might have already noticed that I've change from imom to Tammy. I've been either an imom or a pjmom online for a few years now and I'm ready to just be me. I already changed my message board nickname, now this change... Next I need to change my aim nick!What do you think of the new look?! Hopefully I will figure out how to add modules on the side bar like I had with the other design! I'll work on that this week. I hope you enjoy the changes and stick with me for another year!
PS... You can find Monochrome Monday here.
Posted at 04:20 AM in blogs, goals | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
I've had a very interesting week. My son and his girlfriend broke up. The wolf moved out. I started my period 9 days late and barely noticed I was having it. I watched a movie called P.S. I Love You and thought there couldn't possibly be a sadder movie ever made. I read this post by Stacie and completely lost it. I'm an emotional wreck because of all the above things. Stacie's post was the straw that broke the camel's back. I feel like I'll be crying for the next week. Do you think they will notice at work if I'm a blubbering idiot? Do you think when I answer the phone all dripping with snot and tears the person on the other end will hang up because they think they have the wrong number, causing us to lose business?
Stacie did something amazing. Something that most people would never have the desire to do. I don't want to run a marathon. But I would like to set a goal, train or work toward that goal and achieve it. I don't know Stacie except through her blog. I don't know why this accomplishment of hers has moved me so much. I'm so proud of her hard work and determination. If you haven't clicked on that link and read her account of running a marathon go do it now. I'll wait! I know it's long, but it's so worth the read!
I'm overwhelmed by all the changes going on around me this week (I wish one of those changes was spring, but that's not happening yet). I'm sure most of my strong emotions are a result of this pain in the ass menopause I seem to be knee deep in. The biggest change of all is going on in my own body. I'm thinking I might as well add one more change to it. As much as I hate to say this, as much as I hate to do this, I'm going to commit to exercising. GAH! Did I just write that out loud? I know that exercise will help with all kinds of things that are currently ailing me. It will help with this funk I'm in. It will help with this stupid shitty menopause that I have to go through. It will help with the weight loss that needs to happen before my whole body shuts down.
I'm a very healthy overweight person. Good cholesterol, no diabetes, no high blood pressure, no medications, I rarely get sick. I know this can't last. For some time now a voice in the back of by head has been saying, "Get off your ass and move!" I've been very successfully ignoring that voice.
Stacie has motivated me to listen to that voice.
I'll keep you posted.
Posted at 07:43 PM in blogs, family, goals, menopause | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)
As I write this post the wind is howling, it has stopped raining for the moment, but I know it will return. It's hard to believe that spring is around the corner.
Since it's the beginning of a new month I am checking in with the goals I made for the year.
Try one new recipe a month - Here is the new recipe I tried in February. It was a salmon potato cake recipe I got it from Asthmagirl Cooks and it was delicious!
Use my camera everyday - Again this is going well. There was one time when I went out and forgot my camera and really regretted it, but other than that we've been inseparable. The big black blog has been taken care of too! No more touch ups on photos I want to share! It turns out it was some particles on the way inside mirror. The guy showed us how to set the shutter speed for unlimited time so we can get in there to clean when we need to. Best of all no charge!
I took my very first wide angle lens photos. I'm not sure I like it yet, but I think it takes some getting used to. I'm going to keep playing around with it.
So much gets into the photo with a wide angle. You can see parts of the chair in the top and bottom right of the photo, plus my work bag on the right side. Not to mention my and the chair's shadow. So much to pay attention too.
I don't know if all wide angles are like this but ours has a zoom too. These two pictures were taken from the same spot one regular, one zoomed.
The zoomed one looks more like a regular shot, I'll have to do a comparison shot between the lenses to see for sure.
Have a date night/day with Handy Man every week - Still working on this one. We did go out one night in February. We ended up sitting with Asthmagirl and The Old Goat at the bar, but I'm still calling it a date night. There were no children present, so that counts in my book. We also had a nice movie night at home with no children, so I'm counting that too. I noticed the pub was having some beerfest or something later this month and told HM we should go. He didn't understand why he would want to go (he doesn't drink beer all that much) and that I should find someone who does like beer to go with me. Here was our conversation:
HM - Why would I want to go?
Me - To be with me?
HM - But I don't like beer.
Me - Nevermind, you're missing the point.
I'm not giving up on this goal!
Take time for my kids - I've decided I'm already really good at this and I don't need to make a effort to be better at it. It's my nature to be very involved with my kids, I can't help myself. I do so much with my kids, they really are my life at the moment. I'm taking this goal off this list. I'm replacing it with a new goal:
Take better care of myself - Keep wheat and dairy out of my diet. Take my vitamins and herbal supplements every day. These two things are so important for my health and well being. I just have to do them! I'm starting a Wheat-Free Wednesday where I share wheat free tips and recipes with you. I hope this will keep me honest and away from wheat!
Make a blog post (almost) everyday - I adjusted this goal last month because I found the commitment of having to do a blog post everyday was stressful. I think I only missed two days of posting in February, both Sundays. One of them I wasn't feeling well and yesterday, well I just needed time away from the computer. That happens sometimes, computer overload. I'm keeping this goal as is. In reality I probably don't need it, because I love blogging so much I don't really need to work at it too much, but I'm leaving it for now.
Happy Blustery March Monday!
Posted at 06:34 AM in goals | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)
On January 1, I made this post about my goals for the new year. The first of each month I'll be checking in to see how I'm doing on acheiving these goals.
Try one new recipe a month. - Happy to say I did this with much success. Remember this soup?! I made it twice in January. Everyone loves it, except SWS but he doesn't like any food if it's not chicken nugget-y.
Use my camera everyday.
I did not do this, but I did take 127 pictures in January. If this was the old days that equals over 5 rolls of film! I'm happy with that. Days did go by without me picking up the camera, but I also had a cold for the first time in a couple years. I did experiment with settings and I used the zoom lens a couple times. I did not get the black blob fixed, but I learned how to get rid of it in iphoto.
I adjusted the white balance between these 2 shots:
Here is a zoom lens shot:
Have a weekly date night/day with Handy Man. - We ended up doing two things without the kids, but I wouldn't consider them date-ish. First we shopped for chairs and looked at an appliance store one afternoon. Fun but meh on the date factor. Same with the trip we made to Earthwise looking for a cupboard for the laundry room. I really need to work on this goal.
Take time for my kids. - I have a feeling that no matter what or how much I do for my kids, I will feel it's not enough. I did play DS with DD and we also watched a couple chick flicks together.
Make a blog post everyday. - I so did this!!!! Let me tell you it was hard. The main reason I made a daily post was because I committed to NaBloPoMo. I'm not committing this month. A couple of days I really had nothing mostly because I didn't feel well. I'm proud of myself for sticking to the commitment and posting, but I'm taking February off. If I happen to post everyday great, I'm not going to stress out about it if I don't.
Posted at 08:58 AM in goals | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
I don't make resolutions for the new year, but I do set goals. I know they're the same, but for some reason a resolution sets me up for failure, I have a bad attitude about resolutions. Having a goal is more hopeful. Saying I have a goal means I'm on a mission. Achieving a goal is so satisfying. Goals can be adjusted. Surpassing a goal is a great feeling of accomplishment. My new year's goals are usually fun and attainable. Here are some of my goals for 2009.
Try one new recipe a month - This seems really easy, but it's not. My family is very, very, very picky and I have food allergies. I don't even try finding a recipe that Star Wars Son will eat, it's not happening. I do try to find something that Handy Man, Dancing Daughter and I will enjoy. It has to be a recipe I can use fake milk and/or cheese in. It also has to have a minimum of (or no) wheat.
Use my camera everyday - I'm really excited about this goal. I have so much to learn about my camera, there are so many setting I haven't tried yet. I need to learn to use the zoom and wide angle lenses. (I need to get it into the shop to see what that big black blob is in every picture.) Note: I went to a New Year's Eve party last night and forgot to take my camera. I'm feeling extreme remorse about it. The party was a blast and there were many photo opportunities I missed out on. This can't happen in 2009!!
Have a date night/day with Handy Man every week - This one will be difficult and I'm not sure how to go about implementing it. Handy Man does not like to go out. It's difficult for Handy Man to spend money on things like eating out and movies more than a few times a year. (Hence the reason for the "try one new recipe a month" goal... I need some variety somewhere!) I've suggested a weekly date night before, but it hasn't happened yet. This year I need to make it happen. Wish me luck!
Take time for my kids - I already spend a ton of time with my kids, hence the need for date night with Handy Man. During the school week I make sure they get out of bed, cook breakfast for them, take them to school, pick them up from school and make sure they do their homework. I take and DD to the dance studio four times a week. We watch movies and tv shows together. I even sit around with them and their friends. What I sometimes lack and want to improve on is the "being present in the moment" type attention. DD is a mama's girl; she also sucks a lot of energy out of me. I frequently find myself being really impatient with her and it's not because of her it's because of my attitude about the attention she wants from me. There are some things I can do that she loves. I can go watch her at dance class on parent watch week. I haven't done that in years. I can play DS games with her! Fun for both of us. I can watch one or two tv shows with her that she likes, but I don't. I can listen (without commenting) when she just wants to bitch and moan about something... I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. I'll have to think what I can do better with SWS. He doesn't suck the energy out of me, he doesn't bitch and moan, he isn't always begging me for attention. We talk about everything under the sun. When something is bothering him he tells me. He asks me for advice. We have a great relationship.
Make a blog post everyday - I've already missed posting a couple of days since I started in December, so this might be a challenge. I like blogging even more than I thought I would. I thought it would be something I would do when I was bored at work, but it's turned into so much more. I do have plans for future posts in the back of my head. I have a series of posts about Pearl Jam floating around that I need to start composing and am very excited about. Being a Pearl Jam fan changed my life in so many ways that I just have to share!
There are my goals for 2009!
Do you make goals or resolutions for the new year, or do you just go with the flow?!
Posted at 11:02 AM in goals | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)