Classroom Blogs

Lots has changed since I last posted. I landed a teaching position!!! This is a huge blessing for my family and I'm so grateful for this opportunity. I have been researching blogs like crazy and came across these two great ones: Classroom Compulsions and 3rd Grade's a Hoot These ladies are so talented and offer great ideas. Look them up!!!

Mini Weight Loss Goals

I've heard of people losing all kinds of weight, 50 pounds, 100 pounds, 10 pounds, 25 pounds, etc. My current goal is to lose about 30 pounds but I've broken that number down into mini goals: 5% loss, 10% loss, 15% loss, 20% loss. I took my original weight which was 174.8 and multiplied it by 5. This equaled 874. Then I divided that by 100 and got 8.74. My first mini goal is to lose 8.7 pounds or to reach 166.1. Then I work on my 10%, 15%, then 20%. So my weight loss looks something like this

5% Loss = 166.1
10% Loss = 157.4
15% Loss = 148.6
20% Loss = 139.9

My goal is to reach 144 but may feel differently once I get there. I believe when I look at these goals, the numbers don't seem so big and I feel like I can manage this along with everything else. I'm trying to look at this whole situation with realistic expectations and allow myself some grace. Bryan is doing everything he can to find a job and I am praying like crazy. I wanted to lose all my weight by Christmas but that may not be something I can do. Giving some wiggle room to my plan is best for stressful times. I do not want to stop losing but there are other pressing issues that deserve my attention. My post yesterday was full of emotion and I'm glad I wrote it. Each day I feel something a little differently. Today my mind is a bit more focused and ready for the task. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

The verse in my mind today : James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Life Just Threw Me For A Loop

My husband lost his job. Yes, you read correctly. My new husband of six weeks has no employment. HOLY MOLY. If there was ever a time to gorge on food now would be it for me. This is the "perfect storm" as some say. I'm not in control of the situation, I don't know what's going to happen, our world may be turned completely upside down, and survival mode has kicked into high gear inside me once again. Bryan said to me last night that he will probably lose twenty pounds because he works out when he's worried. I countered with the notion that I'll probably gain twenty pounds because I eat when I'm worried. Obviously I'm hoping this doesn't happen and I can be in control of the one thing I physically can do something about. But how??? I must remember my goal: I want to live healthier and feel better. I can't achieve those two things if I'm stuffing my face. I'm going back into "take each minute as it comes" mode right now and just trying to stay calm, breathe and be so very grateful I'm not dealing with this on my own. Bryan is here and is being very pro-active in his job search. He seems happier, as if a weight has been lifted off him. He hated the job he had so maybe this is God's way of moving things around for us. I've been asking Him to help us know what's right for our family. If we have to move, we move. If we need to downsize, I've done it before. All this has happened in my past and I'm not scared of it. But it is overwhelming to process and realize the changes that are occurring all around me. I've been reading some scripture lately and these verses keep coming to mind:

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about in anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

These help me feel not so insignificant and show me what I believe in is real. I have been through hell and back and know in my heart that if I was not a believer, I wouldn't have come through as I did. If you feel lead, please pray for my family. We're gonna need it!!!

Weigh-In Day

Does this day tend to stress anyone else out besides me?! I chose Monday because that's when I decided to begin this lifestyle change. But as I've gotten further into this process (and lost 7.2 pounds) I've decided to change my day. Our weekends are unpredictable and I tend to be a lot less structured with my kids, my sleep, my eating and it's okay!! I am doing this weight loss thing my way and decided Fridays are better for me to judge how I'm doing. This change is not to give myself a free pass to eat whatever I want on Saturday and Sunday, but to allow me to enjoy my lounge time and not think so much about food. Bryan and I have gone out the past few Friday nights and haven't eaten the healthiest meals. Splurging every once in a while is good but it doesn't have to be close to my "day." While the scale is not the ultimate redeemer of my weight, I can't really tell there is a change when I put my clothes on. So I step on the digital box.

What day do you weigh-in? Do you have any other ways you can tell if you lose or gain a few pounds?

So Very Thankful

My two younger kiddos wanted to play in the sprinkler so badly this evening. It's been extremely hot here and unfortunately we don't have easy access to any pools. After dinner Shelby and Jonah quickly changed and stood by the back door patiently waiting for me. As soon as I pulled the door open they were running to the yard, laughing and jumping around with excitement. I turned the sprinkler on and the kids acted like it was Christmas!! They were running around, skipping through the water, having a blast. While I sat on the back porch watching them I felt so happy and peaceful. Our lives have not been very easy and when I look back at the past few summers I am amazed at how life can change. My children are still young enough to not understand all of the hardships we've been through and also don't fully comprehend the love and commitment Bryan and I have for them. It's still difficult for me to fully grasp the fact that I'm married to an amazing, loving, devoted man! After my first marriage fell apart I truly believed I wouldn't find anyone else but here I am and my cup truly runneth over.

Favorite Cooking Tools

I used to be very creative in the kitchen before I had children. I would take joy in making new dishes, cooking for my friends, and attempting difficult recipes. Now my goal is to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible, prepare meals everyone will love ( this almost never happens), and get us moving in a healthier direction. I recently purchased two items that I use 95% of the time now to cook. They keep our kitchen much cooler and help me minimize mess and time.

 I LOVE my crock-pot. I used to have one but it broke during one of my many moves. This baby is so user friendly and my favorite part about it is that I can throw the food in during the a.m., go about my day, and dinner is ready in the evening. There are plenty of slow cooker recipes on the web but I found this Crock Pot Blog and have used several recipes. This woman has over 365 recipes to choose from and is extremely creative. And the great thing about making a meal to fill the crock-pot is that you will more than likely have leftovers which means one less night of cooking for you!!

This is my griddle/grill!!!

I love this appliance because it's a two-in-one deal. I make eggs and pancakes on the griddle and then flip it over to make bacon. There is a tray underneath to catch all the mess and this thing heats up fast! Mine is the Food Network brand from Kohl's (got it one sale) but I've seen higher end and lower end griddle/grill sets. I use this every morning to make my breakfast and I've also made grilled cheese, chicken, and grilled veggies.

I use my white toaster oven (in the background) to bake chicken, pork, and fish. This little appliance also puts off minimum heat and requires little clean up.

What are your favorite kitchen tools and appliances?

Don't Beat Yourself Up

Last night my husband and I had our first date since being married. I ordered pizza for the kids and their favorite baby sitter came over to play. While Bryan was getting ready my stomach was growling fiercely and I was smelling that delicious pizza and WHAM! Just like that I ate one piece, then another, then another....can you say overstuffed??? As we drove away I told Bryan what I had done. He shrugged it off and said "Well, just move on from it." Really? That's it? Sometimes I'm amazed at the way men think. During every one of my previous attempts to lose weight I would have an eating episode like this and beaten myself up for at least a day, having a nice pity part with me as the star. But I'm tired of doing that. This is going to be the time when I make different choices, more mature decisions, this is the time when I pull my big girl panties up and say, MOVE ON. So that's what I did. I drank water for the rest of the evening and ate light today. The pizza incident probably set me back a few ounces and helped me see how easy it is to slide into old habits. But by changing the way I react to the incident makes it easier for me to feel better about myself and not dwell on the mistake. No more beating myself up!!!