Husbands, rejoice!

I have to start by saying that I am, in most ways, not a very organized person. I once had a voice teacher tell me that peace can be found in order/organization (this was said as I was complaining about not having time to practice when really I just didn't want to practice what she wanted me to sing...but that's another story alltogether....)

I have been so caught up and excited about getting our family in a healthier position that I was sort of locked into my own definitions of health and 'fitness'. This takes us over to my husband, Shaun. Where I thrive in a state of "organized" chaos, he festers. Where I love "wait until the last minute and then get my sh!t together" kind of living, it makes him crazy. So, yesterday he made the assertion that I am demanding that he go out/over/beyond his typical comfort zone with these new family initiatives, but that I was not doing the same for myself. His argument was that for him (for his mental health) he needed organization. I should mention that this whole discussion was prompted by his quick glance into our refrigerator to find something to eat. Apparently seeing the two-week-old cauliflower gratin was just too much. Oh, and seeing the pile of laundry waiting not-so-patiently to be washed, folded, and put away. That definitely played a part......

So, this morning, very, very hesitantly, I agreed to incorporate organization into our weekly habits/goals. And that is how I was assigned the task of organizing the refrigerator. My first response was "two can play at this game, babe... You want me to clean the fridge? fine. I can have you eating vegan next week." (insert evil laugh here)

So for our house, I will add in a WK 1 addendum: Organize the fridge. Do it if you want. It's late in the game for this week so no pressure.

In other news, breakfast so far this week has been good, actually. I have yet to get the documentary done. I plan on watching Waiting for Superman or Forks Over Knives (?). I haven't done the walk yet either, but I did take down and drag our 9ft Christmas tree outside...that counts for something, right?

Putting it Out There

I didn't make it to an open mic night last year, but somehow this is much, much scarier. Here it is, either way. When you click on the link below, you get a chance to hear what I do when I've got the time. Music is very important to me, and I hope you like it. =) k8musik

Week 1: Breakfast Makes a Comeback

Happy New Year! My day started with a sore throat and a trip to work at 3am. After work I was greeted with the reality that I have strep yet again. &#!&*! If I was looking to the universe for a sign that I needed to take better charge of my health, it was handed to me this afternoon. I have really, really, really allowed myself to indulge this holiday season. It's taken its toll. Several years ago I was successful in losing about 30 lbs on weight watchers and it is definitely my "get real" method of choice when it comes to my eating habits. I attempted to reapply myself to this weight watching in November. Yeah. I've had better ideas. Needless to say, the holidays went by with a great deal of sweets, candy, fried business, good cheese, and many, many more things in excess. When I allow myself to really go for it and eat (or drink) anything that my sweet little heart desires, I certainly suffer for it - on several levels. I had vowed that the end of my festive feasting would come today; it's been hard already. BUT, it's a new day, and a new year. And we're all about new habits replacing the old ones. So here's our new habit for the week. EAT BREAKFAST! Why you ask? Why is this the first new habit of the year??? Well, for starters, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is also the most neglected. I tend to have a breakfast of coffee and milk everyday. I guess it could be worse, but it's time to give breakfast it's due. So, what exactly does this mean? Make breakfast a meal. Ideally, a good, hearty one is best, but you can start small. Today, mine was egg whites, a banana, some skim milk, and (of course) coffee. I could say that it took some effort, but really it just meant a trip to the hospital cafeteria at around 6:30. My suggestion, and what I plan to do at home, is to try hard to work breakfast into my meal planning. I'm gonna try to close the door on the box of cereal. Making breakfast a priority can reduce hunger later in the day and can get the day started on a healthy track if you've made healthy choices in the morning. It also gives you energy (and who doesn't need more of that?!). In addition to the new habit this week, I've got a few challenges for you. 1) Watch a documentary. It's just a good idea to learn something new. Netflix has a ton of good ones available, so that's a good place to start. 2) Go for a walk. I'll include exercise habits into this madness later, but for now - at least one time this week- go for at least a 10-15 minute walk. Get some fresh air. Do some window shopping. Be mindful. And get moving.

Getting Started

So, I should start by saying that today is my birthday. Today is my 31st birthday to be exact. Currently, my children are running around the house playing and fighting with each other with only their PJ bottoms on. My husband is playing on the xbox, and I am looking for a change. Christmas break has been great. It always seems to provide a much needed respite from the usual grind. In my case it's been especially nice because I get a break from school as well as the kids. While I was spending way to much time on the web yesterday I saw a post on pinterest titled "52 weeks to a more organized home". I liked it of course, but then I started thinking. I need a more organized home, sure, but I really need a more organized self. A more healthful self. A more healthful family. I will admit that I take a certain pride in looking for and buying minimally processed food, attempting to limit the TV my kids watch, and running (which by the way I haven't done since Black Friday...). While I do the right things some of the time, it's not nearly often enough. Last year I made 2 New Year's resolutions that I expected were realistic. They were 1)run a half marathon 2)Play my own music at an open mic night. I kept one of them. This spring I ran the coldest, rainiest 13.1 miles EVER. I never made it to that open mic night, though, and looking at the calendar, I don't think that it'll happen by tomorrow at midnight. This year, or for the next 52 weeks anyway, I want to do something big. Something that me, Shaun, and the kids can get excited about. It will mean good things for all of us. So, this Sunday morning after I get home from work, I will get things going with week 1. Each week will be a new habit. I plan to incorporate nutrition, exercise, family time/activities, and spirituality into these new habits. ALL of those things are important. ALL of them matter. Please join in, I would love to see what suggestions you might have for new things to begin/add. I am doing this with a certain plan in mind but would love to hear what you all have to say. So, here's to getting started.