Small Changes, Update #1

As I look at the calendar, I am surprised that it is already mid-March. 2013 is moving at a fast clip for me! I have been working really hard at my Small Changes. Some areas where I wanted to focus, I have completely abandoned! Other areas, I have been much more successful. I am sticking to small changes though and I am seeing some progress. I like that word, progress!

Healthy Eating

I have gone back to tracking my calories on livestrong.com and have been making very good healthy choices for meals and snacks. I have lost about 6 or 7 pounds with modifying my eating, tracking my calories and working out. Tracking calories can be difficult, but I love knowing that I am making better choices daily and that by doing so, I am also seeing a difference in my weight. Also, it is important for me to track my sodium intake, as I want to avoid developing kidney stones. {High sodium intake is associated with kidney stones}. 

Coffee Addiction

At the beginning of the 2013 (and for many years!!!)  I was addicted to coffee. The two biggest reasons for my coffee addiction are it gives me an energy boost {temporarily} and it keeps me warm during the chilly midwest winters. Are you ready for this small change? I have cut down to 1 cup a day. 1 cup, just one and no more!!! And I feel much better!! I am sleeping better and I have more energy throughout the day. I also get up more easily.

I also, have cut out diet soda (easy for me to do in the winter, not so easy in the heat of summer). If I feel the desire for another cup of coffee or a diet pop, I have something better instead....water or a hot green tea.

Spirituality

This is a very private subject for me. However, I am at a new point in my life with my relationship with God. And it is wonderful. I have a long way to go with my knowledge of the Bible, but I am eagerly seeking His word on a daily basis. I am trusting. It isn't easy for me, as I like to have a lot of control over a lot of things. I am learning to really believe, and it is so freeing. We changed churches and religions about 1.5 years ago and it was the very best decision for our family. We are now part of an awesome "Life Group" where we meet and pray for each other's children. {WOW!} Our attendance at church has  increased greatly. And we are just enjoying our spiritual journey as a family. And as a couple. I picked up this book last week and my husband and I are enjoying reading this together. Amazing book. Go get it and share it with someone you love! 

Home Organization

Nada. Nothing. Not happening here. Not yet. Maybe soon? Ski season just ended so there is some HOPE that something in the near future will be organized! Last week as I was hunting for a picture to send my mom for her 70th birthday, I had a mini panic attack as I realized that I haven't organized photos in photo boxes, nor the computer that holds upward of 9 years photos. Closets are bursting and drawers are disheveled. I am going to write "Home Organization" on sticky notes and place them throughout the house...maybe little reminders will get me going? Maybe as I see the sticky reminders all over the house I will feel the more motivated. I hope so.

Miscellaneous

When I was in the bookstore last week (a rather rare occasion now that I have a Kindle) I found this super cute series of books, Cupcake Diaries, for my little baker who is 10 years old. She hadn't been reading very much and I thought this might do the trick. Yep, she is on the second book and she is hooked on them! This would be a great gift in an Easter basket!!

How are you doing on your goals for 2013? I hope to hear from you. And if you live where spring has already sprung, go ahead an torture me with your warm temps and sunny pictures! 

Also, if you want to stay in touch, follow me on Instagram at cathymskier And we won't talk about my Instagram addiction, ok?

Hugs, 

Cathy

Small Changes for 2013, Part 2

So some of you have had more time to find your word for 2013 or make some resolutions. In my last post I said I was making small changes in 2013 and some wondered what they might be. 

I read somewhere that the #1 resolution by Americans was to lose weight. I love to eat! Over the holidays as more and more treats came into our home, I would snack on the high calorie treats that adorned our counters. Thus a little weight gain. 

Track Calories

My small change in this area is to be more active and to eat mindfully, which is a lot easier said than done. So the first small change I have made is to track my calories again. I am choosing foods that are higher in protein, less processed/packaged foods. I am also making an effort to have fresh veggies and fruits ready to be eaten. It seems when I want a snack, I don't want to take time to prepare it, so it really helps having the veggies washed, cut and ready to be eaten. My favorite go to snack is greek yogurt. If you haven't tried it, you should! It is a great source of protein and really delicious. Be sure to read the label as there are now a lot of varieties, with some containing too many calories. These are previous posts that I have written about healthy eating: here and here.

Be Active

The midwest winter months can really drag on, as those who live in the midwest know, all too well. I am aiming at being more active. I continue to ski with my family on the weekends. I have also gone back to tennis one day/week. I committed to working with a personal trainer in a group setting in February. I am using the rest of January to get ready for this huge challenge. I already logged the training dates into my calendar and I am committed to being in the gym at a minimum of two days per week.  I am also hoping to make a reacquaintance with my treadmill! 

Home Organization

Another small change I have made is in the area of organization. I am following A Bowl Full of Lemons, New Year's Home Revolution which is a 14 week home organization challenge. If you are interested in checking it out, go here. What I like about this challenge is that it can be as little or as much organization as that space needs that week. I figure even if  I clean a drawer a week in the space that they suggest, I will end up with a minimum of 14 clean drawers!! A small change that will lead to a bigger change! 

Before I started the New Year's Home Revolution "Organization Challenge"  I cleaned and organized my laundry/mud room. I am not quite done renovating this space, as I need to have a new faucet and sink installed and need new artwork above the coat hooks. I also need to find a way to hide the electrical cords from the washer and dryer, below the cabinets. I hope to dedicate one full blog post to this room, as it is a big part of the functioning of our family! Here is a peek at the progress so far from last spring: 

If you want to see what my laundry room looked like "BEFORE" go here and here.

A have a few more small changes for 2013 that I will share with you in another post. And to leave you on a note of other things happening at our house...a scheduled surgery for my son Foster, to repair an "acute ulnar collateral ligament"or thumb ligament, after he suffered a ski injury dubbed as Skier's Thumb...a similar injury his father also had as an 8th grader. Like father, like son.

Xray at orthopedic surgeon's office:

My kids love playing with the fun stuff at the orthopedic surgeon and using instagram:

I hope that your 2013 is off to a great start and that you are still enthused about the possibilities of great things to come in the new year! 

hugs, 

Cathy

Healthy Eating, Part 2 and The DC Trip

A few weeks ago I decided to start tracking my calories. I thought it would be easy. It hasn't been easy, but it has been rewarding. In less than a month I have lost 5 pounds! I simply signed up on www.livestrong.com. I found that I was eating too many calories for breakfast and that my daily sodium intake was far too high. A key factor in this has been changing my eating habits. The first one I had to change was breakfast. I found that eggbeaters are low in calories, have no cholestrol, have no sodium and actually taste good! Here is proof of a tasty low cal healthy breakfast:

I continued to eat healthy on my trip to Washington DC to chaperone my daughter's 8th grade trip. It wasn't easy, but the commitment to eat healthy while on "vacation" paid off for me. I didn't gain weight...it probably helped that we walked upwards of 10 miles per day!

All trips have highlights and lowlights. Let's stick with the highlights:

• I enjoyed seeing new, fascinating sights
• I am still torn on which monument is my favorite
• It was a pleasure to get to know these kids better; some have unbelievable stress in their lives!
• At times I was speechless & emotional while learning more about the history of our nation
• I loved taking photos of the kids. It took awhile to manage 10-15 cameras, but they will have the photos forever!
• Although we toured for 3 straight days and we were near exhaustion, we only saw a tidbit of our great capitol city. I will definitely go back with the rest of my family!
• I also learned that when your friend has your back, you have nothing to worry about!

Time for photos:

DAY 1

This is part of the group at the beginning of the trip in the Metro station, looking rested & ready to go. My daughter Ana is the one with her thumb up:

Me with Ana in front of the US Capitol Building:

What Ohioans do when they travel: O H I O in front of the Capitol Building

The incredible architecture inside the US Capitol Building:

A picture of the whole group minus chaperones (around 50 kids). What a job to keep that many kids and adults on track and moving in the right direction!

Always time for a quick hug before the 4d movie at the Newseum:

This is such a powerful message. I admit that it was quite humbling to read this and realize how fortunate I am to live in the U.S. where free speech and free press are allowed:

The Mostly Ghostly night tour in Alexandria:

DAY 2
Ana and me with George & Martha Washington at Mount Vernon and yes, my daughter is now taller than I am:

A cute photo of the kids at Mount Vernon:

Arlington Cemetery, beautiful, yet somber and thought provoking:

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the playing of Taps a little later was heart~wrenching:

At the Lincoln Memorial (this is a tough place to get a photo because it is crowded with people!

The Vietnam War Memorial:

DAY 3

A quick stop between the Holocaust Museum and the American Museum of Natural History, with the Washington Monument in the background, brrrrrr:

I loved the live butterfly exhibit in the Museum of Natural History:

The cherry blossoms were in full bloom at the tidal basin. I decided it was too cold for a pedal boat ride!

No description needed here:

The Jefferson Memorial:

I did miss a few photo ops like at the White House, National Archives and Arlington House. And it didn't seem appropriate at the Holocaust Museum.

I think if a trip changes your thinking in some way, then it is valuable. This trip was valuable in so many ways. I also learned that I have an amazingly sweet daughter. Priceless, wouldn't you agree?

hugs,