I could be so lucky!

I knew early that my life was blessed. I was able to see from a different sort of lens that not everyone had the sort of things I had. And while I might not have had all the latest fashions instantly, or the most expensive everything, my family provided me with so much more.
Today, I often find myself in shock with the "not good enough" generation. And while I know that each generation probably felt at one time or another the same way. It does seem the current "young" generation has life "instantly" easy. As in even mac- n-cheese has hurried up the process so as not to make them wait a second more than they have to. And yet, often you will still hear a complaint. I think that is what gets me. Remember pagers (beepers)? Remember getting excited when you not only could get one- but could afford it? I remember my first one (it was black- duh, although my second one was teal) and the bill! I remember calculating out how much I needed to have to pay for everything so as "not to worry". I loved that stupid thing! I loved hearing from my friends and calling them back, or getting the "coded messages".  It was mine, something I worked for, and it was totally good enough.
Now days kids are given cell phones as a right of passage and act as though they should automatically get every bell and whistle offered. Heck, I just got internet leaving the world of "stupid phones" upgrading into "smart phone" world... 
My favorite is clothes! I live in reality. I know that is a shocker for some of you. But I pay real money for things. So it always cracks me up when my darling kids lock on to "brands" and can't let go for dear life. Ah, the peer pressures of growing up! Trying to convince a teenager that spending $50-$70 on a shirt is silly when they can turn around and look on the clearance rack and pay $10-$20- well I must be out of my mind! And don't get me started on shoes! This coming from the shoe queen... I am smart and thrifty so DON'T tell me you HAVE to spend $75-$90 on a pair of shoes! Seriously?

I am looking forward to the day when my kids see that they have ALOT, alot more than what others have, and they are lucky! I could be so lucky for the day to come for them to realize.... they didn't have so bad!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Priorities

I have long learned that life is all about having good priorities. Setting them can be hard to figure out. I think that can be one of life's biggest lessons. You are told certain things should be first in your life and that is how you will have what they consider balance. Often people put work first and shuffle other things as they can. What I always find interesting is where family falls in the mix. Some feel that if they are loved by family enough then their actions should just be accepted. Other people value their family higher than anything and put them first. However people prioritize their lives, I often find that it does say a lot about the way I interact with them. It may not be right to judge, but if you will be so cut-throat to bail or forget the ones closest to you, then where will I be in your life? Relationships are important to me, so while I may not get super close to those that have no value in true priorities which include family, I know in my heart, I don't need those people in my life. Seems harsh? Well- where will those people be in a few years? Chances are they won't even be speaking to me, so why spend the time now? Yeah, priorities! I've got mine... the ones that will drop on a dime for me... and the ones that are mine... family, that's what it's all about!

Super Hung-over

Happy Monday! Well for those who aren't blacked-out and enjoyed the last moments of the game (the football game). Anyone not in America we actually all stop what we are doing one Sunday a year to watch commercials one time a year and in between these big huge guys run up and down a green (sometimes real sometimes totally fake grass field) and try to kill (or not) each other. Then comes Monday!
At work the next day, people talk about the what... commercials! And highs and lows of the game... in some cases there are some, rarely are there many. The best part is when the biggest talking part is the lights going out and the -"what were you doing? " takes the stage... Everyone becomes an electrical expert on what caused the issue (yet a week ago no one in the office could figure out why the copier wouldn't print- ah it wasn't plugged in). There's your real men of genius!

So while many may have not had a lick to drink (me included) the Super Bowl does tend to leave a SUPER HANG-OVER feeling of "what now?". Most are spending their morning checking YouTube and other social media sites to pick their favorite commercial (told you it wasn't about the game). While others are humming the tunes of half time... "Single ladies, all you single ladies"... ah Destiny's Child... Looking good ladies!

My hope is that this time honored tradition becomes more to people than just another reason to eat chicken. Yes the order of 120 chicken whatever was sure funny! Even if I didn't get the sauce I wanted (whatever). I hope that people will look around their company and enjoy the time spent. Because the next holiday is well... St. Patrick's day... and we all know that there is generally little remembering for most "mature" adults (shame on some of you-lol). So dip the chicken in the sauce, enjoy your friends, root for teams that all season long you had NO idea about, and enjoy the game a little more, because after all- we certainly have made this a holiday!



 Ravens Win! (MSN.COM)



Try-out pressure

First post of the new year- really? Ahh its that time again... the great fresh air of try-out pressure. What am I talking about? There is nothing GREAT about parents thinking their kid is the next Derek Jeter or Jenny Finch. Let's get a few things straight...
One- My kids are "okay- to good". Are they the best player you will ever have NO! Because for 1- they are lazy whenever you let them be 2- they rarely have a coach that pushes them (see number 1) 3- they don't see sports as there ticket out (they don't really have an "out" to be concerned with to begin with)

Two- My kids enjoy sports. At this age (my kids range from 10-18) they are not playing sports to make money. They show up at a field and want to laugh, meet people, share a common interest and leave. (In case you forgot what laughing sounds like click here- Laughter). I know... weird uh?

Three- My kids enjoy learning- I know STOP the presses! But each year since they have started playing sports we have watched as they have barely been able to figure out what they were suppose to do, to now when they get it. Grant it, they aren't Derek Jeter... No Peyton Manning living under my roof... but they continue to improve... that's what its about!

Four- My kids LIKE getting dirty. I know there are people that just rolled their eyes at the thought of another load of laundry. Not me! I like the fact that on any given day my worst fear is trying to get out a stain from clothes not the couch. (I have the dogs to give me that head ache). I'll take dirty clothes over busted game controllers any day... ACTIVE- I love it!

Five- My kids have learned "its not fair". You don't always win, and not everyone gets a trophy. Calls don't "always" go your way (even if your Dad is the umpire!). And RESPECT is the only thing you can walk away with that YOU control. Doing the right thing, no matter how hard it is... makes things fair...

I might not be the best parent, and Lord knows I have made my share of mistakes... but I do know... that come try-out time each year my motto is always the same...
"Be Excellent in everything you do... its your name (number) out there... Show them who you are.. the rest well.. you can't control... make yourself proud! I already am!"

Lizzy Batting, Erik umpiring

Lizzy right before Tournament

Lizzy Catching, Erik behind the plate

Lizzy sliding into home....

My Blue.... Sectionals 2012

Skinny suit- TA DA!

It's the holidays! The time when you eat nothing but junk and regret it all come New Years. Then step on the scale New Years day (hung over for some) and say THAT'S IT THIS YEAR... yeah yeah yeah... well I decided (for those keeping track) this year (and I mean 2012) was going to be totally different. I am not referring to the drunk part!
I figured the whole wait to the holidays to make a life altering decision is just plan stupid. Besides last time I checked the holidays are the busiest, most stressful, and MOST delicious time of the year. Is that cheesecake? Sorry, I digress (what I am saying- this ADD laced blog is just one continuous reminder that Adults often blog off the top off their heads and if they write the way they think- it's WAY much more funnier!) as I was saying... trying to create, make, start a "diet" during the holidays is just plan STUPID! Besides who goes to a holiday BUFFET of the greatest food on earth created by your best friends and says, "Oh, thanks, but I'm only eating carrots". If they don't take you to the ER to have you checked out- they aren't your real friends- get new ones! Besides, if I went to all that hard work to put out a spread and you show up to my house and clear out the carrots on my veggie tray... get out! Seriously- get out! At least eat the celery too, that is just water- and totally meaningless to your stupid diet!

Okay back to me... so in my quest for all things perfect in my life. Cause someday that will happen, really stick around, just wait and see! I decided back in September (a totally safe month) to tackle my weight. See let's look at the months... You have October- Halloween HELL- Candy galore! Who can start a diet during a month dedicated to buying candy? Next up- November- Now if you are like me you know that the word "stuffing" isn't just a food. I mean how many people have gone to a place where they gave up on having the meal at the table because all the dishes cover the table? THAT'S a meal! And leftovers... do I need to say more? Then comes December! I don't know about you, but I know my calendar reads like a rolling food party with drinks in between! What a month! Cookies, treats, drinks, awesome foods, and that's just lunch! Okay, maybe not the drinks ;) (well pending the day). Then there are the "gifts". Good grief! Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a BOX of cookies, candy, and other SUPER yummy treats. Yep- totally a time to start a diet! But wait! I had a plan!!! Seriously! Stop laughing!!!!! I mean it!
Going back to September, you remember, non food holiday month... I mean who celebrates Christopher Columbus getting lost in the ocean cause he wouldn't ask for directions (typical man) then landing totally in a different place then where he thought he was (it wasn't the indies buddy) but the world wasn't flat either- good call- but you were totally south from where you thought too- only to then say you discovered a place that people were living- ah- you missed the part about "people already living"- I think that means they discovered it.... but I guess that's just details... who am I to talk history, anyway... GPS would have really helped ya! - sorry getting back kinda- So September- the no reason to eat because no real celebration month. There is a birthday in my family, but they're in Ohio (sniff) (we will NOT be discussing birthday's as part of this blog because well... that is just totally unfair!). Here's where I get real!
I had my son 16 years ago (I know shocking! I look way too young, it's okay). And my daughter 10 years ago... (I know still a shock- still with the young thing... it's okay)... I have never been able to lose my.... let's call it "baby fat". By the numbers- told you I was going get real!
Before Erik- 130, After Erik 210 (a bed rest did NOT help) I did get down as low as 150 but that was about it.... and never for too long.
Before Elizabeth 165, After Elizabeth 208 (amazing what love and support during a pregnancy can do).
Over the last 10 years I have yo-yo'd to the lowest at 150 (my sister's wedding).
This past September I stepped on the scale and a tear rolled down my cheek as I looked and saw 181.2 staring back at me. Talk about just yuck! I have never been real worried about the number, despite the fact that I step on the scale ah like every time I step into my bathroom (not healthy I know, don't bother telling me!). So it was then... I was done... I have a gym membership. I started to actually use it (good plan!). It was September! I decided I wasn't going to diet, those doesn't work. Instead, I'm just going to be smart. Eat breakfast, (duh- not donuts, but healthy stuff) eat healthy lunches (salads are actually good), eat small dinners, eat SMALL everything! Why when the "portion size" says one thing do we then eat 3 portions? We are just plain stupid- and fat! Oh and I was going to get my butt off the couch- even when I didn't want to. The holidays were coming, and if I had any chance of survival I needed to be ready...
They came! Halloween first... I love my Butterfingers! Twizzlers... YUM! But snack size! I started using Spark People to track everything back in September- and I mean everything! How much water I drank, exercise, food, and received great tips. That was the beginning. I knew everyday if I was "doing it" right, or missing the mark. I would get so totally excited, and it really made me start making better choices. I could EAT my Butterfingers, my Twizzlers... I just couldn't eat the WHOLE bag (dang it!). Oh, and the gym... For those that know me, I can be a sports nut. I'll try anything at least once. That said I am not afraid of the gym, just certain things about the gym. For instance, the treadmill and I do not get along. It's not that I don't know how to walk or run. But seriously, that is total pain- I mean it! Put me on an elliptical- I can give you a 5k any day! A bike... where are we headed? It's all about finding what works! And I have... Weights- no sweat! See my MS Blog for stories on my sweat/ heat issues... No joke- I don't sweat- seriously!
So here I am... Back to the holiday count down... Today is the last day of the year... Thanksgiving- over, Christmas- survived... and tonight the ball drops! This morning I had to go to work (totally bummer), and like any morning I went into my bathroom and like every other time I walk in there I jumped on the scale (this happens probably 10 times a day- no joke). What to my wondering eye would it say... 157! Now I am far from done- not even close, But every time I get a new number on a scale I try on some clothes I haven't been able to wear... (I know this is a LONG blog to get to the title- thanks for hangin').

So without further ado... I bring to you one of my "Skinny suits"

 Now I would be totally remiss if I didn't bring up one of my closest friends Megan (click her name for her journey) who constantly is an inspiration to me! Thank you for your brutal honesty and ability to put yourself out there!
So enjoy some holiday cheer this last day of the New Year, and remember... don't make any resolutions today, tomorrow... that is just plain silly!