Small steps.

So its been an interesting past few days. I was sick for a few days last week and had to take a few days off from work. I was stuck in bed and aside from watching tv all I did was read different blogs.  I had a lot of time to think about what I hope to achieve in my life and my goals.   Now I mentioned in one of my previous posts that I needed to get started and be active in pursuing the things I want.  Truth is that I have been making small steps.   No groundbreaking moves but still something is something right?

I'm putting in more effort in keeping in touch with friends.  I am trying to be more involved with the kids schools as far as volunteering with other parents.  I have been trying to be more put together in what I wear and not being lazy.  I think if I start putting in more effort it will eventually come easier to me.  I'm trying to step out my comfort zone in all aspects of my life.  I will start baking and cooking with new recipes.  I used to love baking and decorating cakes with home made fondant but I just gave it up.  I think its time to start again.

 I'll be making more posts with more focus, details, pictures and reviews.  Hopefully when I look back in a few months there will be a significant change.  Making my husband and kids happy are my first and most important concern but I want to make myself happy too.  They are my greatest loves and accomplishment but I want to offer them more. I want to make them and myself proud. 

I believe it when people say that you're never too old to achieve your dreams.  I tell my kids that if they work hard then there is nothing they can not do.  So now its time for me to prove it to myself.

Have a great week...I know I will!!! :D

When Mom is Sick....

When Mom is sick........
When Mom is sick the house gets turned upside down
No one knows where anything is
Little mountains of mess appear everywhere and dont disappear on their own
Everyone decides they must all meet in moms room while she tries to sleep
Questions must be asked and only mom knows the answer
Homework doesn't get started until mom reminds them
They look at mom and she doesn't look too good
Its the day the siblings all get along and try to keep the noise down
My oldest daughter tries to do the laundry
My son cleans the kitchen
They go to sleep early
Mom is happy that they tried
Mom is happy that she is needed
Mom has to get better soon
They are the best medicine

Halloween!!!!

So Halloween is by far my favorite holiday.   I know there's no presents like Christmas but I love love LOVE this month.   Decorating the house and yard, scary movies,  ghots and paranormal shows, costumes for the kids and have I mentioned the FOOD!!! lol.

Ok...so I know my last post was about weight loss and I still have to update you on that at the end of 30 days....but for now lets just push that aside.   The food is fabulous!!  Funnel cakes, corn on the cob, pumpkin anything!!  CANDY!! Need I say more??? lol

Basically fall is my favorite season. I love the weather....not too cold but you can throw on your favorite boots and dress in layers! So many more outfit options than summer in my opinion.  The leaves turn beautiful colors. I get to snuggle with my kids under blankets on the couch and watch out favorite shows like The Walking Dead, Ghost Adventures, Halloween Wars on the Food Network, etc.  (don't judge me) :P 

Had a great time taking the kids to Eisenhower Park in Westbury for a fall fair.  It was very reasonably priced  compared to other well known places.  And it had everything we wanted.  Food, bouncy ride, haunted house, a little maze, pumpkin decorating and face painting.  They even showed a movie while we sat on bales of hay.  It wasn't packed and very close to home.  Definitely worth a look.

My husband and I decided to check out a more grown up version of a haunted house in Wading River called the  Darkside Haunted House.  It was definitely a trip to get there and the drive alone added to the excitement and atmosphere of the evening.  It was literally in the middle of NO WHERE!! No street lights, winding roads and at night it was pitch black!  The line wasn't too bad and the coast was 20 dollars for both attractions,  the haunted grave walk and haunted house.  It was DEFINITELY worth it!!  We had a fantastic time!! 

Looking ahead the rest of this month there is still much more fun to be had! Halloween parties and costume shopping. :) Also hoping to check out the Jack-O-Lantern display at Westbury Gardens.  From the online pictures it looks amazing! Hope everyone enjoys getting into the spirit of things this month and stays safe!

A new me!

So it's about that time of year when my clothes are getting tighter, my skin is breaking out from eczema, my asthma is at its worst.  I'm just unhappy with my weight all around.  Yes,  I've tried it all....master cleanse, eating healthy with exercise, weight loss pills, no carb all protein,  you name it I've probably tried it.  Now I will be completely honest...I've gotten great results...but as all the critics will be sure to say the "fad diets" don't work...at least not permanently.  What I will say is that they can be a great starting off point.  My problem is that I never continue eating healthy.  I am either at one extreme or the other.  I'm either super healthy and wont indulge in any treats at all and I'm MISERABLE or I'm binging out on bags of chips, packs of cookies, slices of cakes, a multitude of donuts...you catch my drift right?  (nom nom nom)   Oh yea...and STILL MISERABLE.

Now that I'm blogging I feel that its the perfect time to re-start with my weight loss.  I'm going to document this venture and hopefully this will keep me accountable and motivate me to stick to the program.  I'll check in after a week and list what I've done and any progress.  I'm going to try just eating healthy(healthier) not over doing it with the junk but not being a total scrooge either. Just portion control and being smarter about my choices.  No starving. No skipping meals.  I'll combine this with the 30 day ab/arm/squat challenges.  Wish me Luck!!

Starting Stats

Height 5'6"
Weight 179.2 lbs - OMG :/
Goal Weight  155 lbs

Time to get started

So its been a long week.  Running around with the kids, working,  home, etc.  But the real reason its been such a LONG week for me is the fact that this week I've been confronted by death and what it means in many different ways.  You know the saying that death comes in threes? Well for me this week it has.  Sadly a neighbor and close friend of my husband just lost his brother to a car accident this past Saturday.  Then on Monday I get the news that a classmate of my youngest daughter in pre-k, also died in a separate car accident.   Finally on Tuesday, the day I randomly decided to call my sons high school guidance counselor and leave a message,  I come home to get the news that she was not in the office because her husband passed away that morning. I feel horrible for all these different families and what they are going through.

All this week I've been hearing different views on life and death and how important it is to go after what you want while you have the chance.   Also about how important it is to tell people how much you love them when you can because there is never any guarantee that  you will live to see another day.  These are all things I know I have heard in the past and I try my best to at least make sure I tell my husband and children that I love them so much every day.

It does however make me realize that although sometimes I feel as if I have alot on my plate,  I can still do so much more. At least I think I have the potential to achieve much more and to be a better version of myself.   I joke often about "super moms". These are the women who seem to do everything so well and organized and stylish.  Whose children look like they are ready for a fashion shoot and appear to be headed to any ivy league college on a full scholarship.   I look at myself and try to console myself by saying how much more "realistic" I am and how I'm doing a damn good job especially considering my background and circumstances.

What I've come to realize after this week however is that I am capable of doing much more.  Ive been making excuses for not doing all the things I want and should be doing.  I have done a good job but I want to look back at my life and say to myself that I did a GREAT job.  I still have goals and dreams and I want to make myself proud.  I know my husband and kids are already proud of me but I have something to prove to myself. I really have to appreciate everything I have but make a real effort to improve on myself and my surroundings and what I have to offer.  Most of all I need to stop taking time for granted.  I cant put things off for later.  I have to get started now.  So off I go.  Talk to you soon!