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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Random Thoughts...

On the good side, still dessert free since Friday night.  I really am not even craving it.  Last night it sounded good--even though I was physically full--so I went and brushed my teeth.

On the bad side, my little one is waking up at night again.  UGGG!

On the good side, girls night tonight with Mom and Abby while Jason is hanging out with his dad.

One the bad side...umm...I've got nothing!

Cheers, Katie :)

Monday, February 27, 2012

Weekend in Review

It's been a good one, I'll say that. :)

Date night Friday was fun. We had a great time, lots of stories you only get to tell once so it's always fun to get to tell them again (how'd you meet/fall in love/propose, who/where are your family, etc), and great food. And of course, Abby did great. Friday night rocked.

Saturday Abby and I went down to Greenbrae to visit Jenny B. SO MUCH FUN! And so great to see her and catch up. Jenny and I took Abby to the Discovery Museaum and that was so fun. Abby had a great time and she's very entertaining. It was nice to see Jenny's mom too. Abby adores Jenny already...Linda was a close second that day.


And today...well...it's been a good one too. Hung out with Jason and Abby, watched "I don't know she does it" with SJP and loved it, and had Guad for dinner with my favorite people. Not too shabby.

I do need to report that I had cheesecake for dessert Friday night, going against my "no desserts for forty days" thing. But it didn't taste as good as it should have. Maybe because I knew I'd tried to make this goal...? Maybe because it just wasn't that good. Whatever the reason, I won't say that I was pressured into it. I just didn't say "no thanks." My bad. But here's what I am going to do: I am going to move on, not drop the plan just because of one mess up and not be all type-A about it. Perfection is not the goal. And ladies...that, for me, to not just scrap the whole idea because of one mess up, is huge for me. So...that piece of cheesecake is going to represent success for me, not failure. I haven't had dessert since and am sticking to the plan.

Cheers, Katie

Friday, February 24, 2012

Friday Five

Five things I'm looking forward to/excited about:
  1. Date night with Jason and new friends tonight.  And Abby trying out a new babysitter...I wish HER luck...Abby will be fine!
  2. Visit with my dear friend Jenny tomorrow.  Abby and I are going on a little road trip to visit for the day and I can't wait to hug that girl!  And introduce Abby to her family.  And hug on Jenny...did I mention that?
  3. Sunday...a day with no plans.  Oh what will that day bring, you ask?  I'm betting a trip to Costco and Target...maybe a cleaner closet?  Who knows.  I'm just excited about the lack of plans.
  4. 2 days down, 38 to go dessert free.
  5. 78 days until Hawaii!

Giving Up vs Adding...?

I gave up desserts for Lent.  Not for religious reasons...I just like the time frame.  And forty days of anything is worth chatting about, right?

Last night it did come to mind, though, that while the standard is to give up something, why isn't it to add something?  Why go without when adding something would be healthier/saner/add to quality of life?  If you're doing it for religious reasons, the idea is to deny yourself luxury items as a way to concentrate on what is really important.  Dessert definitely qualifies as a luxury item.

I came to the conclusion that it's easier to deny something that to add something.  Taking away means less work.  Adding means more work.  I feel bad that my life sometimes comes down to what's easiest (as a high school/college student, I can't say that I ever thought I would take the easy road on purpose) but as a wife, mom, employee, sister, daughter, homemaker and friend, I find the opportunity to take the easy road somewhat exciting.

So, I realized and totally understand that it would be a healthier idea to ADD a walk a day or ADD another serving of veggies a day.  But the SUBTRACTION of desserts, the conscious decision to not eat desserts, is easier.  I still want to add a walk and veggies but I can't commit to doing so daily with the feeling of any chance of success.  But I know that I can NOT eat desserts, that I can cut out something, that I can take one more thing off my list.

Does it come down to that?  Taking one more thing off my list?  LOVE IT!

TGIF!

Happy Friday Friends!

Two days without dessert--yep, I'm reporting success.  If you know me, you know that dessert is my love, my passion, and surly responsible for the cushion I've got going on in the rear area! :)  But as I wrote the other day, I am giving up desserts for Lent.

Yesterday I hosted my moms group for "Coffee Hour(s)" at our home.  It was great!  We figured out there were eleven toddlers and their parents.  The kiddos had fun exploring all of Abby's toys, Abby did a pretty good job with the sharing of her toys, there were good eats and drinks, and the conversation flowed.  I am so blessed to have them all in our life.  They've made this thing called motherhood much nicer.

Tonight we've gotten a babysitter and are having dinner with a couple we've never "dated" before.  I'm somewhat nervous but I'm sure it's just first time jitters.  I really like the guy--he works with Jason at Nugget, and every time I've gotten to hang out with his wife, I've felt the whole time we could be great friends.  Now will be the time to see if we're right, huh? :)  Anyway, it's kind of exciting to have something new to look forward to for the evening.

Here's to a great weekend, huh?! :)
Hope everyone out there is having success at what their working on too.
Cheers, Katie :)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Lent...and I'm not even Catholic!

I grew up around a lot of Catholics.  My dad's family is all Catholic, Aaron and I were baptised in the Catholic church, and we grew up in Esparto, which has a large Mexican community and lean towards the Catholic faith.  I have many memories of the ash on the foreheads of my friends and their parents.  And many memories of talk of what people were giving up for Lent.

I've always been intrigued.  Not really because I wanted to give anything up.  And not really because I was jealous of the tradition.  Just curious.  As I've gotten older, an adult, I've learned of a lot of friends who have practiced the tradition of restraint and restriction for their faith.  But I've also found that there are a group of people out there who "practice" Lent to better themselves, with no religious reasons at all.

A couple of bloggers I read have been talking about their goals for Lent and it got me thinking.  Could I participate this year?  There are definitely things I could work on, use forty days to practice, and make positive changes in my life.  And even though the religion I was raised in doesn't observe Lent, I respect and appreciate the idea of giving up something to bring you closer to your faith and beliefs.  And while the goal I have chosen will not make the world a better place for anyone (except maybe me), I like the idea of reminding myself that I am a strong person, able to take on these little goals and be successful, which will/can translate to encouraging me to take on bigger roles and goals that will affect and make better the world I live in.

OK...I'm giving up desserts.  I mean the desserts we all know and love.  Candy.  Cake.  Ice cream.  For the next forty days, desserts/sweets to me will include apples, pears and dates.  I will sweeten my life with the goodness that nature provides me.  And I'll be honest...it won't hurt the weight loss goals that have nothing to do with Lent! :)

Happy Wednesday!
Cheers, Katie :)

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

What I'm Loving Right Now

Well...lots of things.  I'm a lucky girl and I try to always be aware of this fact and thankful for all I have in my life.  But especially right now, I am thankful for my mom.  She should be getting to my house any minute to have a fun day with Abby.  Abby's missed her (she was gone this weekend) and was so excited it was Meemaw day.  And I'm looking outside and the sun is out and the sky is blue with some clouds and I just know that they are going to have an incredible day.

(at the zoo yesterday with friends Mariah and Sydney)

And because Mom and Abby are playing, I get to come to work, to a job I love with people who are great and clients who are fun.

Happy Tuesday!

Friday, February 17, 2012

Misc Details of my World

We're all sick.  Everyone said it would happen once Abby started school.  They laughed and teased and joked about all of our luck at health and how that was coming to an end.  I laughed right along with them--it's the nice thing to do, right?--but inside I was cheering our awesome immune systems and resilience...and hoping for a miracle.  Well, Abby finishes her second week of school in about an hour and, as of 655am this morning, when I left for work, Jason had coughed all night and was congested, I sounded like a 900 number with a cold and Abby has been sporting the greatest bunch of YUCK coming out of her nose for at least two days.  Fabulous.  Everyone wants to come over, right? :)

Well...I'm starring a three-day-weekend in the eyes and see NO PLANS.  If you know me, you know that rarely happens.  I'm going to use it to get all of our mojo back!  I'm going to cook big pots of soup and make sure we all get good naps and keep the house warm and wear "jammies" (Abby's current favorite word) as much as possible.  We will get better!  And we'll come out of this stronger.  Or I'll die trying! :)

On another note, I have a couple friends who are trying desperately to become parents.  Different ways, strategies, and paths for sure, but the end result is this wonderland called parenthood.  They have have been on my heart.  So heavy.  If you read this...you know who you are...know that I'm praying on you so hard right now.  For whatever reason, I am feeling you right now.  And you so deserve it.  You are amazing people and you make my heart sing and dance and you'll be perfect parents.  Just know you have a cheerleader in me and that you are in the fore-front of my mind and heart right now.

My world right now is consumed with all things healthy.  Well...I should amend that.  My world is consumed with preparing to be consumed with all things healthy.  Why is it that I just can't throw away a box of Runts?  I'll tell you why--my sweet hubby got them for me for Vday because he knew it was my favorite.  Basically, I'm finding myself consuming everything that shouldn't be in my path to start with.  Rather than destroy, throw away, waste, I'm cherishing and consuming it.  Oh well...as my dear friend Colleen said in her MUCH NEEDED AND MUCH APPRECIATED advice on my newest venture, "See everyday as an opportunity to succeed."  Love it!  Love it so much, I printed it out and have stuck it in as many as five different places.

And here's some pictures...hopefully it'll make up for the huge spots between my posts... :)

We went to the zoo last weekend with Rick and Debby.  So much fun!  Got to see the animals, specifically the lemurs, get their Valentines.  So cute.  Abby spent her fair share of time in the dump truck...had nothing to do with all the LIVE animals all around her but whatever.  Now that we're members, we can go whenever so we have a whole year to see the animals! :)  Dump truck it up baby!



And this is what she does with my mom!  I have to wash shoes every time she plays with Meemaw...and I love it!  We're so blessed that Abby and Mom get to play together and have such a great relationship.  And she does love to get dirty--they say it skips a generation... :)

Here's to a great weekend for everyone!
Cheers, Katie :)