Name Change..Oooooooo

Yup, I changed the name....

Now, just to beat this flu and get my creativity flowing again.

Just Rewards

In all games of life there should be some type of reward. Positive reinforcement is great, as is recognition, but what about something to keep you motivated. A goal for a goal. A prize for hard work, and defeating the enemy.

Yes, I am looking for ideas to keep myself on track, a reward system to keep myself in check something to strive for OTHER than life itself. But here's the catch.... I'm really not materialistic.

Clothes are not a viable option, as they will be necessary. I will not be walking around wearing tents made by Coleman. In fact, the more weight I lose, the more options I will have at shopping at consignment shops. I'm rather excited about actually spending $15 for a pair of pants. Haircuts and mani/pedis are the same category. They are needed, therefore can't truly be used as a reward.

I am not a brand whore. Although I do like a Coach bag and I do like Tiffany Jewelry, can I justify the cost? A bag can run about $300. A Tiffany necklace can run about $150 for the sterling silver that I like. It's an idea, I just don't know if I can do it for myself.

I do like ink.... that being tattoos, and I have been longing for one. Should I throw that on my list? A trip to Massachusetts would be nice, even though I try to go "home" once a year, a trip to Vegas, a trip somewhere? By myself, with a friend or with the family?

I want to do something for myself. I just don't know how to or what to do.

So I ask, throw out some suggestions. I'm at a loss for rewarding the loss.

I AM going to do this.

Vicious Cycle

I have a life-long, everly continuing, to the death battle. It's a battle that I remember being brought to light by being dragged to a meeting at age 8. It's a battle that probably implemented itself within my genetics. It's a battle of Oreo or Quinoa.

I am a fatty.

It's seriously not by choice. I didn't choose to be like this. I didn't choose the torment that came as a fat kid and a fat teenager. It seriously is not my cupper, and I have been trying for YEARS to change it.

I've had success and failures (mostly failures), but this time I think I'm in the right place in my head to do this. I finally feel that I have the mental capacity to stick with it. I have the want to exercise every day. It's do this or die.

I'm doing a food journal. Writing down everything that I shove in my mouth. From Cheerio to Oreo it's on there. I also use my work breaks to walk, to raise that heart rate (now, while it's still cool), to burn calories that I know I will not have the time to burn when I get home. I am trying to use my time to my advantage, and also to be a mom and a wife.

So.... I plan to journal my journey. My ups and downs. My quest to figure out my body and why it clings on to carbs like Wonder Bread clings to the roof of your mouth.

I can do this.... mind and body. It's do or die time.

So, I've decided to come back to my little desolate place on the web.

It's only been a year, a year that I could have probably used this means to escape, vent, and free my mind of whats been ailing me.

A year and a ride. A year that had it's amazing ups and craptastic downs. A year. Another year older, maybe a little wiser, definitely not richer. A year. Twelve months of trials and tribulations.

I saw my family for the first time in over 20 years. I saw my cousins, 2 of which were babies when I left Massachusetts, two I had never met. All of which are beautiful, smart, fun, and awesome. I saw my aunts and uncles, whom I missed so much, and am so glad they are all back in my life.

I met friends, beautiful mommas who all have toddlers Beckett's age. Beautiful women who enrich my life daily. Beautiful women that I am close too, that I can't imagine life without, that are my sisters, and would be there at a moments notice if needed. Beautiful women that held me up when I was down, gave sage advice when I needed it, lent me a shoulder when I cried.

A year. a year that proved my strength, and showed me my weaknesses. A year that many decisions were made, a year that sent us, as a family struggling, but surviving. A year that set in motion the changes that will make us a stronger unit.

So, I'm picking this up again. There's a lot that's going thru my brain. There's a lot that I'm going to challenge myself to do. There's a lot that I want to bitch about.

It's nice to be back here :)

Oh, the weather outside is frightful....whatev's

It's amazing how one simple change can make people complain until there hearts bleed. In the summer you hear "It's SO HOT!", "Rain, AGAIN!", "Another Thunderstorm warning?", and they can't wait until winter. Well, winter's here people. QUIT YOUR BITCHIN'! Enjoy the 3 weeks of cool air that we've been blessed with, because in about 6 weeks, you'll be crying about the heat again.

I LOVE this weather. It's invigorating. It gives me a feeling of season. It lets me wear sweats and hoodies. Life is good right now :)

So I bring you a couple of pics of this weekends cold blast, which really is unfamiliar territory for true southerners, of which I'm not, but it really is fun to watch them scurry. Sweet rewards :)


This photo was taken by my friend Jen Peace who caught the "snow" on her screen.


Beckett is all ready for the "Snow"!!!!



Unoriginal, but, it get's the point across.




Me keeping my toesies warm thanks to my wonderful friend Amanda.... Love ya girl :)


I promise there's ALOT more going on, but this "weather event" is too much to pass.

~gretchen

Baby it's cold outside....

...So we bought you a space heater.

Someone tell me WHY my sons room is 20 degrees colder than the rest of the house. Even with the humidifier it's cold, and with the next few nights with temperatures dipping into the 20's, we broke down and bought one. I just toss on an extra blanket, and generally have a giant cat sleeping next to me, but I worry about Beckett getting a little too chilled.

I love this. I swear I have genetics from Frosty the Snowman, as to me, there is nothing better than a chill in the air. I find it invigorating, and a few days in the 20's-30's are a blessing to me. You can cuddle in the cold, it's hard to do in the heat.

When I grow up, I'm going to get a fireplace. :)

~gretchen

In the beginning....

What's funny, is that I signed up for this blog in 2007....so it only took me 3 years to get started, bite me.

So maybe I am jumping on the "blogging bandwagon", but honestly, it's a continuation. I blogged ALOT on Myspace. The format over there is set up better for blogging than Facebook, so I took a sabbatical while life happened. Life that I probably should have blogged about, to get it off my chest instead of bottling up and stressing out, but alas, I now have anger to write about. Everyone LOVES anger. Okay, maybe not so much anger, but hey, I have issues, and who don't love issues.

So, where do I begin after my so-called sabbatical? Well, considering the time and date, let's start with New Years Resolutions.

I am not a fan of resolutions, because they make most people feel like a failure. I think there's enough on the human psyche to enhance that feeling, so the addition of failed resolutions really isn't necessary. But, I'm game. I think if they are written down, I should be able to hold myself to them, as a constant reminder that I need to better myself, body, mind and soul.

#1: Weight Loss. In my 35 years of life, it is my #1 issue. I'm a chubby, will probably always be a chubby, but hey, that's okay. I just don't want to be Gilbert Grapes mom. (A recurring nightmare). I plan to find what's keeping my weight from coming off, and getting healthier.

#2 Finances. A six plus month of unemployment, and a current job that barely makes ends meet (a job that I am grateful for, and see advancement in), is making life real interesting right now. There's lots of changes in store for our family, but only for the better. There's a billboard locally that says "Life has a reset button" . Well we're considering pushing that.

#3 Marriage. I've been with Eddie 10 years this year. 10 whole years. Yeah, we may be possibly getting a little too comfortable with each other, and I want to change that.

#4 Family. I have the coolest kid, IMHO. But I also have cool cousins, aunts and uncles that have been absent in my life. I am currently bridging that gap. (Tobin Bridge LMAO).

#5. Mind and Soul. I consider the weight loss body, but enhancing my mind and soul will be a challenge. I do not take time for myself. I do not just call a friend and say "Let's go do some outlet shopping". I don't take the time to have a hobby. I don't take the time to pamper myself. I want to change that. I want to reconnect with friends, new & old. I want to prove life doesn't stop after children.

#6. Organization. I need to organize this Condo. I may be stuck here for a while, and I need to make it work for our family. IKEA may be a solution, but while I downsize, it could be interesting.

#7. Stop sweating the small stuff. Honestly, someone don't like me.... it's there loss. :)

That's it in a nutshell. This will be my journey. I'm interested in seeing where this road will take me, and hope you enjoy the roller coaster ride that is my life.

~gretchen