Redefining Perfect

All Related Posts

I haven’t done weekly updates, I admit…but I HAVE gotten better about posting in general *LOL*  But, I figured weekly was too much.  I’m sticking to monthly updates.  It’s easier to keep track of the credit issues that way. So anyway, onto the goals and what I’ve done about them!

Goal #1 Body Image
1. I have lost six pounds.  I’m down to 151.  My jeans are fitting differently, but I don’t think it’s because of the weight so much as the:
2. I’ve started doing yoga just about every day. I did not exercise every day in January because there was the whole broken toe to deal with, and getting used to kids being home…but I did start it and really liked it.  This is something I’m keeping up with.
3. I have cut BACK on my pop drinking, but not enough.  I still have bad days that I drink a LOT.  I’m also not drinking more water.  Hopefully that will get better.
4. I have also cut back on my grazing.  I still do it, but not as much – I often try to replace food with a cup of coffee, but it doesnt always work.

In all I think this goal is going well.  It’s not perfect yet, but I’m happy with the baby steps I’ve taken. 

Goal #2 Finances
1. I did start keeping a check register…
2. And we started out strong w/ the budget
3. I’m still using the debt tracker spreadsheet…

But over all this goal went kerplunk before we got more than two weeks into January.  I blew my grocery budget, we only lived on ‘cash only’ for one week. We didn’t follow any sort of budget and I didn’t track the spending like I should have. 

Our goal is refocused for February.  We have our tax refund coming in, but we’re still going to live on the budget while we pay some things off, and fix our truck.  Hopefully we’ll do much better this month.

Goal #3 Home & Family
1.  I made vague meal plans – but didn’t write them down…
2.  I blew our grocery budget within a couple of weeks (not severely, but I definitely went overy by at least $50)
3. I’ve done fairly well with starting the cleaning.  The ktichen at least.  I’ve done dishes almost every day, and doen a good cleaning of it once a week.  I need to improve. I started doing the laundry once a wk (mostly) – but putting it away is not good.
4. And I’ve made tons and tons of breads…more than we needed some weeks.
5. We’ve had a few family game nights.  Not quite every week…but we’re working on it.

On a side note about this…this goal has evolved a bit.  I’ve decided to start homeschooling the girls – and am strongly considering homeschooling Brandon, too.  This has led to me doing some PT-HS w/ Brandon (it’s helped that we’ve had so many snow days).  So, as we approach that goal, this goal will shift and change a bit.  I may end up with my own goal set aside for homeschooling.  For now, I’m goign to keep on the track I’m going. 

In all, I feel our family unit is stronger already – and that was the main goal for this…so we’ll keep working on it!

Goal #4 Personal
1. I’ve started writing again – not quite twice a week every week, but this past week I’ve gotten closer.
2. On that end, I’ve rewritten 6 chapters of the novel and am pretty happy with what I’ve done so far.
3. I’ve gotten better about posting here again, even though I’m struggling some days for posts.
4. I haven’t officially re-opened my writing blog yet, but I’m close to it…I’m just wrapping up the site’s design and adding in some pages that I think are needed.   Hopefully that will come soon.

**********

Total wrapup: I’m feeling mostly good about how January went.  Not completely great because of the financial road bump…but over all with all four goals – I’m happy.  Baby steps is the point of this…so I’ll focus on my accomplishments and just hope to do better next month!! 

I used to be a dancer.  I danced constantly.  Had lessons about 4 hours a week, split between two evenings.  Taught on Saturday mornings with two hours of classes after (advanced class and solo).  I was always moving always going always doing.

I haven’t been going and doing for a while.  Two years ago I was waitressing and counted that as semi-regular exercising…at least it kept my weight down enough that I didn’t realize I was pregnant for five months (another story for another time).

Since Angel’s been born and my subsequent hysterectomy taking care of myself has been a side note that’s remained silent.  Exercise?  NAh.  Don’t do it.

So the stamina and body I once had are both long gone…

Last week I started doing yoga.  About three out of five days last week I started my day with yoga.  I enjoyed it, it was relaxing, and I could feel my muscles responding to it.

Saturday I went and signed up for a free week trial at the local gym thinking some cardio would do me good.  I really just wanted at the ellipticals, etc.

Last night I went.  I hopped on the elliptical and started at level one.  Within one minute…my thighs were screaming at me to stop.  I kept at it though for another fifteen minutes.  Then I moved onto the bike which my body accepted with a little more contentment (except for the hard-ass seat that has left my bum w/ bruises…seriously).  I spent another 25-30 minutes on that over two exercise runs. 

I left the gym with wobbly legs and the thought in my head, “That’s why they call it a ‘work’ out.  Because it’s a crap-load of work.”  I admire all of you that work out in the gym every day…I’m still not sure I’m going to be able to handle it.  I’m going to try…hopefully I’ll get to the point where I can spend more than ten minutes on the elliptical and still be able to walk!

Oh…and I’m going to abscond with ARchie’s ipod so I have something to listen to.  The whole watching close-captioned TV wasn’t enough…I need some tunes

Anyway…more yoga today has been completed…and tonight I go back to the gym.  I hope it’s not as busy.

Because I missed yesterday’s post because of my FANTABULOUS* webhost – you get a twofer today! 

**

First an update on Hell (or potty training).

Yesterday I leared that the secret of potty training is in the underwear.  When I went grocery shopping on Thursday night I swung by Wally’s baby dept to pick up some diapers and big girl underwear.  At home I knew we had Dora and generics…but I was prepared to get the same – until I saw them.  “My Little Pony” underwear.  The girls have recently gotten into their ponies so I snatched up a set of them.

Yesterday morning I started.  I showed them to Angel and got her on the potty.  After a while she went and we got up.  She started walking around pinching her knees together within about 10 minutes and went back on.  It was on and off for a few hours….but she had no accidents at all yesterday.  She went on the potty several times.  She hasn’t learned to cue me, we’re still going on on my determination, but she’s on the right track.

To add to the mix, Riley decided she REALLY wanted in on those pony panties…and started sitting on the potty, too!  We talked Daddy into going to Wally’s and picking up some for her…and he found TINKERBELL! Riley’s new PJ’s are Tinkerbell, so she’s all over that. 

So Daddy came home with Tinkerbell panties and a new potty chair so we could do both girls at once.  Riley had two accidents yesterday, but overall did well- and Angel had no accidents.  We’re going to stick with it over the weekend and pray for the best!

****

All Related Posts

A brief update here on what’s going on with this. 
1. For Body Image I managed to work out 3X (so far) this week.  I’m heading down to the gym in a couple of hours. I learned that I can do yoga, pilates and the ball alternating here at home, but I crap out on cardio. Going to the gym gives me a way to do that AWAY from here (i.e. an excuse to get away) – without being annoyed by too peppy hosts. Give me an elliptical!

2. For Finances: First week of living on a budget was tough. We aren’t used to saying “No, can’t buy it I have $5 left.”  The end result was happy, though.  It looks like at the end of the month we’ll have a little cash in savings.

3. For Home & Family: We had sit down dinners I think 3 times this week (I didn’t keep track).  I made dinner (taking pics of some of it) and cleaned as I went – the kitchen stayed mostly clean 3 out of 5 days.  We had family game night just last night.  For the cleaning portion, I found and adjusted for myself a chore list. I haven’t fully put it into effect, but I had Archie laminate it so I can reuse it. It will become a habit eventually, but it’s something I’m working toward.

That’s it for the week.  Overall I’m very happy with the baby steps I’ve taken.  Hopefully they will continue on. 

*****

*And by FANTABULOUS I mean awful, horrible,  no good, very bad…I’m very unhappy with them at the moment…and unless I’m granted a free year I’ll be taking the terrifying leap of trying a new host. 

Goal #1 was Body Image
Goal #2 was Finances
Goal #3 was Home and Family

 My last goals are egocentric, for me and me alone (okay, not completely…but mostly).  There are dreams I have…and other silly guilty (or not-so) pleasures that I’d like to indulge and include in my goals.  They are few, but I felt I had to include them.

Big Dreams
1. Publish my novel
2. Be able to make clothes and crafts quickly.
3. Never have to wonder ‘what should I make for dinner?’
4. Teach my daughters dance.

Baby Steps
1. Start writing at least 2 nights/wk
2. Re-open my writing blog to track progress and goals.
3. Continue working on all crafting skills (knitting and sewing first)
4. Make menu plans weekly
5. Keep finding new recipes (I’ve found some great ones recently)
6. Work on my Body Image goals to get back in shape so I feel capable of achieving BD#4
7. A little side goal is to get back into blogging. I’m challenging myself to post every other day here, and every other day at TwoBroomsUp.

And thus ends my list of goals (FINALLY).  I’m excited to do my first update this coming Saturday.  But until then, we’ll return to regular random posting.

 

Goal #1 was Body Image

Goal #2 was Finances

I decided to separate Home & Family from my personal goals. So there will be a fourth in this series, sorry! *G* This one sort of ties into Finances a bit…and it’s not as many ‘big dreams’ as the ‘baby steps’ part of it.

My family is wonderful, but there can always be improvement, right?  My big dream is to be June Cleaver…okay, not REALLY.  But I want to be the Mom that does things…and I’ve taken steps toward that in the past couple of months (minus sick time) – but I want to take better and more proactive steps.

Big Dreams
1. Be the Mom that does things – goes places and plans at home activities
2. Have family sit down dinners 6 out of 7 nights
3. Have a tween that talks to us, and comes out of his room more
4. Be a fine tuned grocery shopping machine
5. Have a clean, uncluttered home (more likely if/when we get a BIGGER house..but this is BIG dreams )

Baby Steps
1. Start making meal plans weekly, based on coupons and grocery flyer (and helpful hints from frugal blogs)
2. Set grocery limit of $350/mo for now, decrease as I become better.
3. Have family game night at least once a week (already started)
4. Start with kitchen – cleaning it fully once/wk. Dishes daily.
5. Continue experimenting w/ recipes, it’s been fun.
6. Make breads as regularly as possible – send out for new sourdough starter.

That’s it for now.  I’ll revisit it monthly and edit…just like the other goals!

One more tomorrow – Personal.  This will include my crafting ADHD and my writing (which I’m resuming).

Goal #1 was Body Image

Finances have always been a challenge at Casa de Perfect.  We’re impulse buyers.  I haven’t used a check register since I worked at the bank 3+ years ago (seriously…I do not keep a register).  We live paycheck to paycheck and shouldn’t need to.  We have no savings to speak of and credit card debt – not as much as when we got married, but enough. 

So, once again…my Big Dreams, and the Baby Steps to them.

Big Dreams
1. Pay off our Credit Card debt.
2. Get a decent size savings account.
3. Start paying toward principal on our mortgage
4. Get a newer second car (and give away the Mazda as it was given to us)
5. Get a bigger house (con’t from #3 ) – this is a big, faraway dream, like 2 years at least.

Baby Steps for January
1. Start keeping check register again
2. Continue tracking extra principal paid on truck
3. Track spending on a budget sheet
4. Live without debit cards – cash only
5. Using tracked spending as guide, set a budget for February
6. Get back to clipping coupons and making/following grocery list
7. Use debt tracker I found for excel (Loving it so far)
8. Gather all things needed to run taxes ASAP.

I have many many more dreams, big and little…but these are keynote for now.  The credit card debt, along with my weight, will all be tracked on another page here.  I’m working on setting it up now. 

Again, if you want to play along go ahead and steal the banner.  I’ll be doing weekly updates

Tomorrow’s Goal – Personal/Family.

I believe tomorrow will be the last…unless I come up with something else in the mean time

 

Check out who won the $75 Gift Card to Ridemakerz!!

*********

I have big dreams for 2009.  But I also have no will power.  So to achieve the end-game goals, I’m going to break everything up into smaller, more achievable goals.  I’m going to try to keep track every week on Saturday’s, here on this blog, with posts and a page just for the goals.  Hence, the banner.  It’s keeping myself accountable for successes and failures along the way.  So, without futher ado – Goal #1.

I was just going to put “weight” for this goal…but it’s more than just my weight.  It’s my whole body image, and treatment of said body.  I used to be a dancer so skinny I was asked if I was anorexic.  That wouldn’t happen today.  I don’t need to be that skinny again, but I need to like myself. 

Big Dreams

1. Get weight from 157 (*cringe*) down to a more acceptable 125-130.
2. TONE the acceptable weight of 135-130 – i.e. exercise regularly
3. LIKE myself again. Feel sexy again.
4. Get back into my size 6 skinny jeans (I’ll settle for my 8 skinnies)
5. Be able to wear my baby t’s again (not that I would – being able to and doing are two different things *lol*)

Baby Steps for January

1. Cut back to 2 pops a day MAX by Feb 1.
2. Drink more water.
3. Exercise on the 2 days a week Angel is at school w/ FitTV
4. Cut out late night grazing.

I don’t have a weight goal at all for January, only long term.  I want to make sure I set ACHIEVABLE goals, remember?  I think I can mange these 4 simple goals.  Weaning off the pop is a huge one. I’m a Dr. Pepper & caffeine addict. I have some flavored coffee to replace my morning pop…I just have to work on the rest of the day!  Last year I did this for January and my current pants felt loose at the end of the month.  It was such a good feeling, and I wasn’t even tracking weight. Unfortunately I didn’t keep it up and I’m now worse than ever.  So.  That’s my goal for January now.

Tomorrow – Financial Goals

(P.S. if you want to join in, you can swipe the banner and start your Baby Steps to Big Dreams!!  I’ll be posting every Saturday once Goals are set!!)

Don’t forget!!
Enter to win a $75 Gift Card to Ridemakerz!!

***********

And the chaos of the holidays is over.   It’s time to step back from the stress of cookie baking, present making (and wrapping, ugh), AND two weeks straight of sick children!! 

I’m beginning to look to the new year.  Not New Years (I hate that accursed ‘holiday’ almost as much as Valentine’s Day)…but the New Year.  It’s becoming 2009.  My girls will both be in school full time starting in April (well, until summer).  My boy is turning 11 in 3 weeks.  My girls will be 3 & 4 instead of 2 & 3. 

I’m also looking at myself.  I have changes I need to make.  Two pregnancies followed by a hysterectomy and becoming a SAHM has wreaked havoc on my body.  I now weigh MORE than I did when I was 9 months pregnant with either of my girls.  I don’t like what I see in the shower.  I don’t like habits I’ve obtained.

So for the new year I have not necessarily resolutions (blech), but goals.  Over the next week I’ll be posting each goal in its own post as I work them out in my head.  So that I have a record of them, and something to look back on, and something to note with progress (or failure). 

What about you?  Are you already looking toward the new year?  Or are you already sick of it??

Well, when you’ve been kicked, it’s hard some days to find the joy. After learning our car is terminal over the weekend I’ve been struggling with my usual cheery disposition (really, I am the optimist in this house, believe it or not!).

Over the weekend we went to the movies – $40 gone. I remembered I still have to buy a present for my nephew when I thought I was done with Christmas presents (looking at another $10 there at least). I have the expense of Christmast dinner (ham is EXPENSIVE!! Sheesh! And I thought our turkey breasts at T-day were bad)…and other random things. I’m looking at our currently stable savings (small though it is) and trying to figure out how long it has left to live. At this point I’m figuring 1 – maybe 2 – weeks before it’s DOA.

Erik calls from work says he’s going to pay on his account at work (he works for a water purification/water softener company – from which we regularly buy salt for our softener, and filters for our R/O)…and then take out $20 for his carpool buddy to help cover gas costs (he and I agreed $20/2wks)…and the $30 for my remaining Christmas presents.

In a panic, thinking of our cash levels, I pull up the account. I expect to see a certain moderate amount in our account (on hold until mortgage is paid on Friday)…instead I see $200 MORE than I expected.

Apparently Erik got a bonus at work. No one told him *lol*

So our random joy for today is a bonus!! It’s not a huge one (not like the one he got two years ago, unfortunately), but it’s bigger than last years crap…and enough to cover our date night this weekend, AND Christmas dinner!!

Now if UPS would show up with his present…and the other one would make it before Christmas I’ll be totally joyous! (One gift was mailed standard USPS on Saturday…God willing it will get here before Christmas day!!)

Our car went BOOM.

Our ONLY car went boom.

Our only car to pick up daddy in tomorrow went boom.

Our only car to take Molly to preschool and pick up daddy in went boom.

Our only car to take Molly to preschool, K to her CF Clinic, and pick daddy up tomorrow went boom.

Have I said…

CRAP