Inside the Fishbowl

Review: January Goals, goals for February

Well, as I warned earlier, I would report on the progress that I made on the goals that I set in January.  I set two:

1.  Lose 3 pounds

2.  Create order out of chaos in my basement.

The Results

1. I am happy to report that I lost double my goal in January.  I'm down 6.4 pounds!  Unfortunately, I weigh so stinking much that it's hardly made a difference at all.  I have more hope for actually seeing results by the end of February.   

I have to tell you all about my favorite breakfast right now.  It's delicious, filling and very, very low points.  Just about every morning I eat a bagel, cream cheese, ham and either yogurt or half a banana. The points total?  3.5 points.  That's it!  I use the Western Bagel's Alternative Bagel (1 point) found by the cream cheese at Super Walmart.  Then I use Weight Watchers cream cheese (1 point for 2 tablespoons!).  Next I put on 1/2 serving of shaved ham (.5 point).  When I have yogurt, I eat a Weight Watchers yogurt (1 point).  Half a banana is only 1 point as well.  This breakfast gets me through until lunch at around 11:30 or noon without feeling hungry.  I love it!

2.  I did not preform as well in my basement organization projects.  Specifically I had wanted to purge the toy room, transfer leftover paint to smaller cans, get a charity donation ready to go and clean my studio.  What I did accomplish is purging the playroom which was number 1 on the list.  I got rid of about 1/3 of the toys.  The best part?  As far as I Know the kids haven't even noticed!  What was a i so scared of before?  My major coup?  Getting rid of the POlly Pockets.  I hate those things!

As for the rest, I did get a charity pile started, but not completed.  I didn't touch my studio or the paint.  I might delegate that job to Jeremy anyway.  I'm feeling a bit let down that I didn't hit this goal harder.  Does it count that I have a good excuse for not finishing the basement project?  I did, after all, throw out my back just as I was beginning work on the basement.  Then I had to deal with Alex's sudden eye surgery, I babysat my sick nephew for an entire day, and then I went to California.  With all that going on, two weeks was not enough time to get everything done.  This week is catch up week. I'm going to get it all done so I can start on my new goals.  When the basement is complete, I'll post some photos.  My mom will need proof that the basement is actually not just clean, but cleaned out!

February Goals

1.  Lose 6 pounds.

2.  Finish painting cabinet for kitchen.

3.  Buy new shelving for cookbooks and have Jeremy instal.

4.  Find new pillows for my new couches, and a big basket to put by the garage door.  (A fun one!)

5.  Have jeremy install the coat hook that I bought in January.  (Another fun one!  And one that I don't really have to do!)

6.  Tackle all piles and get everything in my house put away.  No more hiding!!!

7.  Make Valentine's Day gifts for kids.  This year they're getting felt food!  Check out these cute patterns from Etsy:  here, here, and here, and some of my favorite free patterns here, here, and here. For Valentines day they may only be getting sweets, but what better to have a lovey tea party with my two little loves?

Number 6 makes this a daunting list indeed.  Off I go to shower and get to work!  Stay tuned!

Piece by Piece

I've really been thinking about what I want to accomplish this year.  Somehow the idea of making resolutions just seems daunting.  After all, I have lots of goals, but little resolve.  So I've decided to set monthly goals, take small steps toward bigger results.  Since I'm getting a very late start this month I'm only setting two goals.

1.  Lose 3 pounds.  This is going to be a monthly fixture here at the number one spot.  I'm getting serious about losing all of my excess weight.  Yesterday I was at the Instacare.  I threw out my back on Saturday when I was trying to get my basement organized.  After an entire day on the sofa Saturday and several back spasms that had me in tears Sunday morning, I went in and got some prescription strength Aleve and, blessedly, some muscle relaxers.  Anyway, the doctor asked me what I did for exercise, and it was a truly humbling (or humiliating) experience to admit that I did nothing for exercise.  I don't think yelling at the kids from the couch counts.  So then after admitting that I do not exercise, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror on the back of the door.  Now, granted I had my hair back in a very messy ponytail, and no makeup on.  But looking at myself I was struck with the thought that I don't look like myself.  I feel terrible, and I dang it, I want to be able to wear white and look cute!  So this month it's 3 pounds.  Next month it will be more until I'm done.

2.  Finish cleaning the basement.  This includes:  purging the toy room, transfer leftover paint to smaller cans, get a major DI donation ready, and clean up my studio.

So there it is.  Now I'm accountable.  Now I have to report back on February 1st.  I'm sure you'll be glued to this spot until then.  Stay tuned! 

FMX--and a New year's Resolution

Last night Jeremy and I went the the Freestyle Motorcross in Salt Lake. Has anybody ever been? It was not something that we would have done on our own. Well, Jeremy probably would have gone, but I wouldn't have been interested. Since Jeremy's business partner, Dave, gave us the tickets for Christmas I felt that I should go. Plus I didn't want to pass up a chance to go out on a date with my husband! Surprisingly, it was pretty fun. For those who haven't ever been to one, first let me say that it wasn't a motorcross race. All they did was tricks. They rode around the arena, going up ramps and doing the most amazing tricks on and off their bikes. It was pretty cool. There was even one guy who could do flips with his bike. He won, or course. He was the only one doing them.

What I found amazing about the whole thing, however, is the variety of people at that event. Earlier in the day I had had my monthly massage and I was a little greasy. I had intended to come home to take a shower before we left, but my massge therapist was running behind, and the appointment took a little longer than I thought it would, and I didn't have time. My comment to Jeremy was, "Oh, well. I'm sure I won't be the only greasy person there." Pretty terrible, I know. I only admit to it because it shows that I thought a certain type of person would be there, and I'll admit, would constitute the majority of the audience. Was I ever wrong! There were people from every walk of life--from well dressed older women with their well dressed husbands, to gaggles of teenage girls walking around scoping out the teenage boys, to people like me and Jeremy, to families with young children, and everyone in between. I have known for a while that I am somewhat of a snob, and once again my snobbishness reared it's ugly head. This experience lead me to two questions and my first New Year's resolution. How did I get this way? Why do I have so many preconceived notions about things that usually end up being totally wrong? This year I resolve to stop being such a snob, to leave my expectations at the door and just allow myself to enjoy new experiences. The problem with my preconceived notions about things is that they seriously limit my ability to have new experiences in life, and, when I do open myself up to someting new, they limit my abuility to enjoy those experiences. I want 2007 to be my year of new experiences. Wish me luck. This one has been a forming for a long time. It's not going to be easy--in fact I don't know if it's possible. But, at least I can change the way I respond to my thoughts and not allow myself to make judgements about things which I know nothing.