I've Made The Decision

My husband and I have been running, or at least attempting to run for the last 4 months.  We have gone every other day alternating so that we each get to go and we each get a break.  We started back in February and we were getting up at 5:30 am.  Now, I am definitely not a morning person, so I switched from 5:30 am to between 8-9 pm.  I don't mind going that late, except, I tend to miss my running time due to a multitude of reasons.  I actually prefer running at night, but I may have to start going back to the mornings again.  I am missing to many times and it too easy to make an excuse.  Recently, I asked my husband how he was able to get up at 5 am (he actually stretches out, which is something I need to start doing).  He said he just made the decision to do it and he does it.  Sounds simple doesn't it?

Well, for me it hasn't been that easy, but I have decided that I need to follow his lead and just make the decision to commit.  Now, when I say I need to make the decision to commit, I am not just talking about running!  I am making the decision to commit to running (getting up early or sucking it up and going no matter what, unless I am really, really sick), eating a meat free/dairy free/gluten free diet, making time to create, making time to donate, and making time to live the life I want to lead.

I am going to take the time to get organized, clean, and purge what I don't need.  I have slowly been purging things, but I don't think that I have been doing enough.  This is a huge piece of what is going to make my life easier.  The better organized I am, the easier it will be to have the time to do all the other things that I want to do.  I think that making this decision now is good.  I was never a tv watcher, but over the last number of years, I have started to get sucked into shows.  Now that summer is here and season finales are over, I am hoping that getting in a good routine will help me remain in a routine once the new season starts again in the fall.  I'm hopeful that I will be in such a routine, that I won't want to watch as much tv.

I am going to start researching recipes that are meat free, gluten free, and dairy free.  Myself and my oldest  son are gluten and dairy sensitive.  My oldest was also recently diagnosed with PDD NOS (he has high functioning autism) and seems to do much better when he doesn't ingest gluten and dairy.  My husband's doctor wants him to eat an animal protein free diet and from what I've researched, I've found that this is the best diet for me to eat given my BRCA2 situation, especially since I am leaning against having surgery!

I have a ton of craft supplies, and when I think about how much money I have spent on them, I get a little sick to my stomach.  I was a little crazy with buying.  Since I love to create and I have a lot of supplies to create with, my goal is to create with them and then donate them to different agencies.  I am hopeful that I can donate and get rid of some of my supplies, as well as feel good about taking time to create.

I am making the decision to follow through with my goals in life, instead of just having goals that I don't follow through with!

Amy

Wishcasting Wednesday: What is Your Spirit Wishing For?

It's Wednesday once again and once again I am joining in with Jamie at http://www.jamieridlerstudios.ca for wish casting Wednesday.  This week Jamie asks: "What is Your Spirit Wishing For?"


The simple answer is follow through.  I set all these goals and a lot of times, I seem to only maintain the goal or even working towards the goal for a short time.  I think my spirit needs me to set attainable goals, give myself credit for what I do accomplish, and to follow through with the goals that I set for myself.  I think, for me, by not following through, I am not being true to myself.  I also think that I don't follow through due to fear.  Unfortunately, there are probably a lot of things that my spirit is wishing for, but I think right now, follow through is a good wish to have.

What is your spirit wishing for?

Amy

Diet and Exercise and a Healthier Me

I have really been trying to follow what I believe in regarding my diet.  Have I been able to really follow it?  No, not really.  For some reason, I tend to give up rather easily on diets.  And by diets, I mean more like what am I eating vs a diet to lose weight.  By diets, I mean, life style.  At this point in my life, so close to forty (so scary to think it is only 2 years away), I am beginning to realize thta I don't need to diet, I need to change my eating habits for life!  I need to not make short term changes, but rather long term changes that are going to see me through the rest of my life and keep me as healthy as I can be.  I need to get back to eating mroe vegetarian/vegan.  I really need to give up dairy!  Every time I eat it, I tend too eat way to much way too often.  Then, I start getting digestive issues and I end up not feeling extremely comfortable.  What I really need to do is follow through with the elimination diet so that I can really figure out what my triggers are and stop eating them.  I have a feeling that I have food intolerances not food allergies.  Why this is hard for me is, I don't always get sick right away.  Sometimes it takes a few days for me to feel the effect.  By that tiemI have eaten more because pretty much everything that I have an issue with are things that I love to eat.  As difficult as it is, I will get to a point where I am only eating what I really should be eating, not eating things that I love to eat that make me feel sick.  I hope that I will also end up really enjoying the way I eat since I will be feeling healthier.

As for exercise, my goal is to run a 5K by the summer.  I started the couch to 5K last week and am on week 2 day 2 next.  I ended up skipping week 1 day 3 by accident, but felt good at the week 2 day 1 pioint so I am just going to move forward.  I was hoping to run today since it was marathon Monday, but alas, I don't think I will make it.  I am at work til 7:30 and then I have to put the kids to bed.  I may try to go out after, but I'm not sure that my husband would like me running that late by myself..  There's nothing worong with waiting til tomorrow or even the next day since tomorrow we have a few doctor appointments with the kids.  I am going to finish the C2 5K this time and I will run a 5K.  My goal has always been to run.  I remember in junior high school my gym teacher mentioned that I should run cross country.  I was too afraid to try out and ended up in the marching band.  I was still exercising, but I so wish it had been running.  Now here's my chance to run and do it on my terms.

Even though I keep writing about getting my diet right one day, I really will start eating the way that I want to.  Unfortunately, I may just need to keep writing about my failures or set backs as my husband calls them, until I actually meet my goals.  At least I know what my goals are, now I just need to follow through.

Amy

Trying to Follow My Beliefs

I am trying so hard to follow through with the reasons that I started this blog.  I don't always follow through, but I keep on trying.  I am still washing my hair, for the most part, with just water.  I do use a shampoo once in a while, but I make sure that it has no sulfates and is actually good for you to use as well as being good for the environment.  I try to use house hold cleaners that are good for you and the environment.  I try to cook things from scratch at home, but sometimes fail miserably.  I try to cook and eat healthy, but lately it seems that I am not doind as well as I could be.  I am trying to exercise, and will continue as long as the weather holds out.  I was supposed to complete day 2 of the couch to 5k today, but there was noway to do it with the rainy weather especially since I'm still getting over my cold, never mind have the kids.  I will complete it this year and I will run a 5K.  I am struggling with following through with not drinking any soda, but I have not had any for at least 1 month now!  I am trying to do better with making things.  I love to actually make handmade things, and I love to make them for others, but sometimes I just don't have the time.  The other issue is that I have this problem with being fearful that others won't like what I make, that they'll think that it's cheap ro cheezy to give a handmade gift, or that they'll just pretty much think it's worthless.  I made my daughter's Easter ooutfit, and I have to say, I don't think that it looks handmade.  I am pretty impressed with how it came out and it is making me think that I can acutally sew things for my kids without their clothes looking homemade. 

I really need to get my butt to a thrift store.  I really want to see what they have and what I can do with what I find.  I am hoping that I can find cheap items that I can up-cycle and turn into fun and funky clothes for cheap.  I just need to go and see what I find.  I wish I knew of more places to try.  The only one that I really know of is the Salvation Army on Rt 1 in Saugus.  If any of my local readers know of any places please, please let me know.  I am so inspired by http://newdressaday.com/.  I would love to find pieces and turn them into some of the things that she does.  Also, wardrobe refashion which is supposedly shutting down has some pretty inspiring posts also.

I will keep up trying to follow through with my beliefs.  As the weather gets nicer, I'll start posting info about my garden.  I will have both my flower garden as well as my veggie garden going again this year.  I am hoping that I will have more time to spend in the garden given that the kids are a little older and will hopefully play better in our yard rather than running off into others yards!

Amy

Living a Handmade and Natural Life

Am I really following through with how I want to live?  Am I really doing what I said I believe in when I started this blog?  Sometimes, I'm not sure.  I am really trying hard not to eat out.  Partly because it is so expensive and we don't have the money and partly because of health reasons.  I have not bought any new clothes for me or for the kids lately.  I would so love to go shopping, but a) I can't afford it b) I don't need it and c) I really don't want to buy anything until I am at the weight that I want to be at.

Christmas is on it's way.  I am really trying hard to make my gifts for people.  I really want to try to limit the amount of money that I spend at stores making Christmas, at least for me, a lot less commercialized.  I know that I will be buying the kids toys from the stores.  I know that there are going to b  gifts for others that get bought at the stores.  I just hope that I can make sure that the gifts that I give people, including the ones I buy, are meaningful.  I don't just want to give a gift to give a gift.  I want the gift to either say something about the person that I am giving it to or be something meaningful from me, or something that the people really wants.  So, for example, I got my kids a Toy Story Mr Potato Head for each of them.  They love Toy Story 1,2, and 3.  I mean they really love these movies, and I love them too.  Plus, it's a great teaching tool for them.  They use a Mr. Potato Head in Early Intervention and the kids really like it.  I am also planning on making them something just from me.  I want my husband to make them each a CO2 car.  They all love cars and we can decorate them for out daughter and our sons.  I haven't decided what I am going to make them yet.  I have a lot of ideas, but I'm not sure what exactly I will decide on.

I am trying to eat more healthy and sometime I do great, and sometimes, I do horrible.  It's always a work in progress!  I am trying new foods and new recipes.  I have decided that I really like curry spices and garam masala.  I just need to get more comfortable with these spices and enjoy!  I made a chickpea stew the other night and added both of these spices, even though they weren't called for and it totally made the recipe.  I loved every bite I ate.  I just need to continue to make sure that I keep it healthy, fresh, and fun!

Amy