This is such a heart warming story about a women raising funds for Breast Cancer Awareness. She paddled 40 miles over 9 hours. In the story a whale joined her for 2 of the hours.
Click here to read about her journey with Larry the Whale.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Who needs Jillian
Heidi and I have recently become huge fans of the show Biggest Loser. I had caught a few episodes on random occasions over the years but never really watched it until the last season when I decided to try it out.
I was instantly hooked and inspired by the show. Having struggled with my weight since I was about 14 I can relate to these people.
I was shocked to see women on the show who were just a big larger than me.
I am a true believer in getting to the reason behind the food issues. I know mine. I deal with them on a daily basis.
I eat because I am board. I eat because I am sad. I eat because I enjoy food.
I fully realize the year I started to struggle with my weight was the same year my life was turned upside down.
I know if I was on that show Jillian would yell at me for crying. Then she would turn into Nice Life Coach Jillian and make me explain to a national audience all of the reasons why I get sad. I know that everyone at home would cry. I know at the end of the week I would get on the scale and have lost 27 pounds.
But I am not going to be on the Biggest Loser. I am going to sit at home on Tuesday nights and watch and cheer and cry and laugh.
And be motivated.
I don't need the show. I have my own life coach. Her name is Heidi and she gets me through.
And she makes me laugh. Like the other night when I was laying on the floor in the living room after having done a bunch of sit ups. She had been downstairs and didn't know that I was done.
She walks over and says "put your knees up, let me stretch out your back."
I comply.
Then she get right over my face and says "Ok! Let me see you do 100 sit ups! NOW! NOW! LET'S GO!"
I laughed so hard I cried. I didn't do any more sit ups but the gut wrenching laugh was better medicine than any sit ups would give me.
Thank you Heidi. Who needs Jillian when I have you?
I was instantly hooked and inspired by the show. Having struggled with my weight since I was about 14 I can relate to these people.
I was shocked to see women on the show who were just a big larger than me.
I am a true believer in getting to the reason behind the food issues. I know mine. I deal with them on a daily basis.
I eat because I am board. I eat because I am sad. I eat because I enjoy food.
I fully realize the year I started to struggle with my weight was the same year my life was turned upside down.
I know if I was on that show Jillian would yell at me for crying. Then she would turn into Nice Life Coach Jillian and make me explain to a national audience all of the reasons why I get sad. I know that everyone at home would cry. I know at the end of the week I would get on the scale and have lost 27 pounds.
But I am not going to be on the Biggest Loser. I am going to sit at home on Tuesday nights and watch and cheer and cry and laugh.
And be motivated.
I don't need the show. I have my own life coach. Her name is Heidi and she gets me through.
And she makes me laugh. Like the other night when I was laying on the floor in the living room after having done a bunch of sit ups. She had been downstairs and didn't know that I was done.
She walks over and says "put your knees up, let me stretch out your back."
I comply.
Then she get right over my face and says "Ok! Let me see you do 100 sit ups! NOW! NOW! LET'S GO!"
I laughed so hard I cried. I didn't do any more sit ups but the gut wrenching laugh was better medicine than any sit ups would give me.
Thank you Heidi. Who needs Jillian when I have you?
Monday, April 5, 2010
If You Only Do One Thing This Month...
I get 4 or 5 emails a day from Real Simple magazine with a quote of the day, a recipe, a tip on how to stay (get) organized, a product meant to make your life just that much better, easier, simpler.
I love these emails and I love this magazine so naturally I was thrilled when one arrived on April 1st called “The One Thing You Should in April”
I was giddy at the thought that in this very email the editors of Real Simple would make my life “Real Simple.” All I had to do was that one thing.
What would it be?
Was it a tip on how to organize my to-do list so I actually can get something crossed off?
Was it a tip on how to get cat litter out of the rug in the laundry room so it stops clogging up my main drain (I love and hate clumping cat litter!)
Was it a tip on how to get my child/two other children living in my house/husband/dogs/cats to pick up the back yard at the end of the night so all shoes and cups make it in the house?
Was it a tip on how to keep so darn much sand out of my dining room?
Nope.
If you do only one thing this month…
Wait for it…
Dust your houseplants.
Really?
Here is why I don’t dust my house plants. They just end up looking like this.
This is Heidi’s lovely plant, a gift from my brother and Dawn, after Daisy Mae trampled it.
How might the 120 pound dog trample a plant that appears not to be on the floor, you ask? Well, there was a random cat in the yard, of course! Random cats cause 120 pound dogs to think it is okay to jump into the bay window and crush, push, trample anything in the way.
And honestly, this is the only houseplant in my house. We had a small palm tree in our kitchen but Pete thought it was a cat treat. The palm tree now lives on the mantel at my brother’s house where it is safe from cats.
I think it is safe to say this is a tip I will send directly to the recycle bin. It is very unlikely this plant will be around long enough to collect any dust. And if it is I am sure Daisy will knock it off the next time a random cat is in the front yard.
I love these emails and I love this magazine so naturally I was thrilled when one arrived on April 1st called “The One Thing You Should in April”
I was giddy at the thought that in this very email the editors of Real Simple would make my life “Real Simple.” All I had to do was that one thing.
What would it be?
Was it a tip on how to organize my to-do list so I actually can get something crossed off?
Was it a tip on how to get cat litter out of the rug in the laundry room so it stops clogging up my main drain (I love and hate clumping cat litter!)
Was it a tip on how to get my child/two other children living in my house/husband/dogs/cats to pick up the back yard at the end of the night so all shoes and cups make it in the house?
Was it a tip on how to keep so darn much sand out of my dining room?
Nope.
If you do only one thing this month…
Wait for it…
Dust your houseplants.
Really?
Here is why I don’t dust my house plants. They just end up looking like this.
This is Heidi’s lovely plant, a gift from my brother and Dawn, after Daisy Mae trampled it.
How might the 120 pound dog trample a plant that appears not to be on the floor, you ask? Well, there was a random cat in the yard, of course! Random cats cause 120 pound dogs to think it is okay to jump into the bay window and crush, push, trample anything in the way.
And honestly, this is the only houseplant in my house. We had a small palm tree in our kitchen but Pete thought it was a cat treat. The palm tree now lives on the mantel at my brother’s house where it is safe from cats.
I think it is safe to say this is a tip I will send directly to the recycle bin. It is very unlikely this plant will be around long enough to collect any dust. And if it is I am sure Daisy will knock it off the next time a random cat is in the front yard.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
My Cure For The Blues
Friday was the anniversary of the day I lost my mother. It is a very hard day for me and my family. I was very blue but I made it through.
We went swimming at the community center.
We had family time.
We ate White Castle!
Lots and Lots of White Castle!
Have you ever had a crave case?
Yum!
And, no, White Castle is not organic. But they do make their bags 100% out of recycled paper so that's good enough for me!!!
We went swimming at the community center.
We had family time.
We ate White Castle!
Have you ever had a crave case?
Yum!
And, no, White Castle is not organic. But they do make their bags 100% out of recycled paper so that's good enough for me!!!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Bees, Bees, Bees
Last spring we noticed there were some bees hanging out by our front door. We don’t use our front door since it’s falling off the hinges so the bees quickly became out of sight, out of mind.
Summer came around and Heidi was enjoying a popsicle on the front steps. All of a sudden the bees were no longer out of sight and certainly not out of mind.
Shawn located the hive under the siding and sealed the entry point. No more bees hanging out by the front door.
Great! Wonderful! No.
They found a way out. Into the attic. Out of the attic. Into the bathroom.
Last fall we noticed there were some bees hanging out in our bathroom. We don’t use our bathroom… Wait. That’s not right. We do use our bathroom! Uh, oh…
We spent the rest of the fall checking for bees before we sat, before we stepped, before we showered.
We spent the rest of the fall running to the bathroom when Heidi would shriek “There’s a BEE IN HERE!”
We spent the rest of the fall waiting for the attic to get cold enough to kill the bees.
In the mean time we killed bees in the shower, we killed bees in the light fixture, we killed bees on the shower rack, and we killed bees that made their way down to the laundry room via the laundry chute.
As it started to get cold the bees started to get weak and appeared slightly drunk. Some of them would be so slow to react we were able to pick them up with a tissue and flush them. Others were crazy drunk fliers who would buzz from light fixture to light fixture causing you to chase them while looking directly into the light.
Then one day they were gone. It was winter and they were all dead. And since we don’t use our attic quickly the bees became out of sight, out of mind.
Until Tuesday. On Tuesday there was a bee in the bathroom.
On Tuesday Shawn went into the attic and sealed the entry point.
On Wednesday there was one lonely bee in the bathroom. Shawn ran to the bathroom when Heidi shrieked “There’s a BEE IN HERE!”
I cringed. I knew we were in for another spring, summer, fall with bees in our bathroom.
But, alas, Thursday there were no bees. I am left to assume the Wednesday bee was one lone bee who had been hiding out in the attic when the access point to his hive was closed off.
I am happy to say we are now bee free. At least in our bathroom.
I think I should get this ring to commemorate the experience.
(availalbe at Coach.com)
**Editorial Note: We most likely had wasp’s and not bees but we spent the entire year calling the bees and I like the story better that way…**
Summer came around and Heidi was enjoying a popsicle on the front steps. All of a sudden the bees were no longer out of sight and certainly not out of mind.
Shawn located the hive under the siding and sealed the entry point. No more bees hanging out by the front door.
Great! Wonderful! No.
They found a way out. Into the attic. Out of the attic. Into the bathroom.
Last fall we noticed there were some bees hanging out in our bathroom. We don’t use our bathroom… Wait. That’s not right. We do use our bathroom! Uh, oh…
We spent the rest of the fall checking for bees before we sat, before we stepped, before we showered.
We spent the rest of the fall running to the bathroom when Heidi would shriek “There’s a BEE IN HERE!”
We spent the rest of the fall waiting for the attic to get cold enough to kill the bees.
In the mean time we killed bees in the shower, we killed bees in the light fixture, we killed bees on the shower rack, and we killed bees that made their way down to the laundry room via the laundry chute.
As it started to get cold the bees started to get weak and appeared slightly drunk. Some of them would be so slow to react we were able to pick them up with a tissue and flush them. Others were crazy drunk fliers who would buzz from light fixture to light fixture causing you to chase them while looking directly into the light.
Then one day they were gone. It was winter and they were all dead. And since we don’t use our attic quickly the bees became out of sight, out of mind.
Until Tuesday. On Tuesday there was a bee in the bathroom.
On Tuesday Shawn went into the attic and sealed the entry point.
On Wednesday there was one lonely bee in the bathroom. Shawn ran to the bathroom when Heidi shrieked “There’s a BEE IN HERE!”
I cringed. I knew we were in for another spring, summer, fall with bees in our bathroom.
But, alas, Thursday there were no bees. I am left to assume the Wednesday bee was one lone bee who had been hiding out in the attic when the access point to his hive was closed off.
I am happy to say we are now bee free. At least in our bathroom.
I think I should get this ring to commemorate the experience.
**Editorial Note: We most likely had wasp’s and not bees but we spent the entire year calling the bees and I like the story better that way…**
Friday, April 2, 2010
April 2nd
Today is a particularly hard day for me.
Today I will cry on the inside but put on a strong face on the outside.
Today I will remember a wonderful lady who left us too soon.
Today I will celebrate a wonderful, strong man who did the best he could in a very bad situation.
Today I will remember who I am and where I came from.
Today I will celebrate my brother and how much he means to me.
Today I will remember the good times.
Today I will celebrate how strong I am.
Today I will remember the bad times.
Today I will celebrate my family.
Today I will celebrate the person I have become in the face of tragedy.
Today I will go on with my life.
Today I will hug my daughter, my husband, my brother, my dad.
Today I will be eternally thankful for all of life’s blessings.
I love you mom. You are missed.
Today I will cry on the inside but put on a strong face on the outside.
Today I will remember a wonderful lady who left us too soon.
Today I will celebrate a wonderful, strong man who did the best he could in a very bad situation.
Today I will remember who I am and where I came from.
Today I will celebrate my brother and how much he means to me.
Today I will remember the good times.
Today I will celebrate how strong I am.
Today I will remember the bad times.
Today I will celebrate my family.
Today I will celebrate the person I have become in the face of tragedy.
Today I will go on with my life.
Today I will hug my daughter, my husband, my brother, my dad.
Today I will be eternally thankful for all of life’s blessings.
I love you mom. You are missed.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Mmmmm... White Castle
Man, it's been awhile since I have been here! These last 5 months have been crazy busy. Much more so than normal.
I think most of my time went to my new job. I am at the same company, have the same boss, do almost the same thing, but it’s the next level. I had some major messes to fix and that meant a lot of time spent at work.
Heidi is doing great. She started Kindergarten on her 5th birthday. I will post about that soon.
Shawn is also doing well. He is enjoying spring break this week. I am enjoying the rides to work and clean house… If he goes on unemployment next fall maybe I will not have to wash dishes any more. Who am I kidding?
We, as a family, have also made some changes in our eating habits. Less dining out, more organic, really watching how much processed food we are eating.
I have also cut out most of the soda in my life. It’s hard but those little lemonade packets you can put in a bottle of water are a good substitute when water or coffee just will not cut it. And it’s all worth it since I have lost 15 pounds since January with just these little changes.
But today. Today, I am craving White Castle. Why? Well, that’s Victor’s fault.
Victor is a coworker of mine who is in the Florida office. They do not have White Castle in Florida.
On Monday Victor tells me he is going to take a 5 day weekend to celebrate Easter with his family. I inquire as to what he might do with his time off.
He is thinking about taking a day trip to North Palm Beach County to eat at Sonic. If he tells his girls they will get to hit the malls he thinks he can pull this off.
But what he really wants is White Castle. The closest one to him is in Nashville. Not a day trip.
This conversation seems harmless.
But it’s not.
This conversation sets Victor off on a mission to have something that will satisfy his White Castle craving.
This conversation is also the kick off to a large number of instant messages questioning is the local Royal Castle a good substitute, would White Castle’s taste as good if shipped from Minneapolis, why are the best foods located in “da hood,” and have you ever eaten at a Popeye’s Chicken?
And now I want White Castle. Are White Castle burgers by any chance organic??
I think most of my time went to my new job. I am at the same company, have the same boss, do almost the same thing, but it’s the next level. I had some major messes to fix and that meant a lot of time spent at work.
Heidi is doing great. She started Kindergarten on her 5th birthday. I will post about that soon.
Shawn is also doing well. He is enjoying spring break this week. I am enjoying the rides to work and clean house… If he goes on unemployment next fall maybe I will not have to wash dishes any more. Who am I kidding?
We, as a family, have also made some changes in our eating habits. Less dining out, more organic, really watching how much processed food we are eating.
I have also cut out most of the soda in my life. It’s hard but those little lemonade packets you can put in a bottle of water are a good substitute when water or coffee just will not cut it. And it’s all worth it since I have lost 15 pounds since January with just these little changes.
But today. Today, I am craving White Castle. Why? Well, that’s Victor’s fault.
Victor is a coworker of mine who is in the Florida office. They do not have White Castle in Florida.
On Monday Victor tells me he is going to take a 5 day weekend to celebrate Easter with his family. I inquire as to what he might do with his time off.
He is thinking about taking a day trip to North Palm Beach County to eat at Sonic. If he tells his girls they will get to hit the malls he thinks he can pull this off.
But what he really wants is White Castle. The closest one to him is in Nashville. Not a day trip.
This conversation seems harmless.
But it’s not.
This conversation sets Victor off on a mission to have something that will satisfy his White Castle craving.
This conversation is also the kick off to a large number of instant messages questioning is the local Royal Castle a good substitute, would White Castle’s taste as good if shipped from Minneapolis, why are the best foods located in “da hood,” and have you ever eaten at a Popeye’s Chicken?
And now I want White Castle. Are White Castle burgers by any chance organic??
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