HOW TO GET BACK FIT

why is getting out of shape habit so easy to get into???

And with all the January push to fitness, why can't I?   I just witness 2 runners and 1 walker go past my house on the corner.  As I sit here in my pjs.  Motivation!!!   but most of all Habit!!!  After being sick and being stuck it is most difficult to come unglued.

So I will write myself a how to

1.  Start with anything, anything at all that constitutes a fitness minute.  A walk, a run, a yoga dvd, the eliptical at the club or y.

2.  get someone else involved if that will make it happen.  Message K, ask N, text L

3.  do it sooner rather than later.  Now.

4.  Maybe the most important.  Make me a priority.  Make me first.  before house and kids.

5.  MAKE it happen, make it fun.  

so i am off to get dressed and go for a chilly walk!

Packing

I love packing for a trip!   All the thoughts about what might happen and all the memories of what has happened on previous trips.   I pray that I am taking the right stuff and if I am not than it will be provided.   Anticipation is half the fun.   Preparing for something new is half the fun.   And yes, even putting together vacation clothes is half the fun.   Ziplock baggies are a must!   I like using individual bags for mini adventures to store like items as well.   All the medications go in a small duffle, all the shoes in a tote to be reused as a beach caddy, all the swimsuits in a shopping clutch.   I guess it is a bit like a puzzle, putting together enough but certainly not too much.   Too much baggage is good for no one.   Oh another must include is a soft sided cooler type bag.  For picnics!  I hope I have everything I need.   But do we ever?

Happy New Year! 1/1/2014  It's 2014

Healthy!

Today we went to the Doctor.   Again.   And she wanted us to come back again for flu shots (which we did not do).    I also went to the pharmacy twice for medications.   Oh, and there should be one more waiting for me that came on the late shipment.

So yes, I am very thankful that the cough syrup helped my daughter.   And thank God she does not have strep.  But really, how have we fallen into the medical train?   It's almost like swimming upstream to not rush to the Doctor or the Urgent Care and get another prescription for another ailment.   A friend of mine is getting into the oils.   Maybe there is something to that.   My Dad never got sick....he just exercised all the time, and always took the stairs.   Same with my boot camp instructor.   And she is a flight attendant on the weekends so she gets exposed to EVERYTHING!

I am still taking 3 pills a day for the shingles I got on November 2.   I will be for the next 2 months.    It is not something I want to experiment with at this point!   But I do want to build health.    Exercise and diet are obvious answers yet in reality harder to do than say.   Wine?   I like that one!

I go back to my Dad's example.   Lots of little walks = one big walk. Always take the stairs.  (so I guess I am thankful for our two-story home).   Walk as much as possible!   Farther parking spots.   To the grocery store???   I wonder if I could do that!   

Maybe I should just study the medicine?   It can't all be bad.

mixed silver

do you ever wonder how Grandmothers would "mix"?   These are the real grandmothers that I am talking about.   My Grandmother and my husband's Grandmother.   they could cook!   Really cook, the kind of food that no restaurant serves.   Southern specials and dessert made from scratch.   Vegetables fresh from the garden and perfectly smooth and seasoned mashed potatoes.   The dinner table was not thrown together or buffet.   It was set.  I had graduated to the big table at my grandmas house and I had my spot.  My husband never got out of the kids table at his grandmothers southern home.   Flash forward to now.   We each have some silverware passed on to us from grandmas.  It isn't the real thing.  But it is full of real memories and character.   And we have mixed the two together thus making enough to use for our holiday meals (that is the only time we use it sadly).   We think our Grandmothers would have loved each other, maybe even been best friends!

And their kitchens were unequipped!   Neither had dishwashers or garbage disposables.   Both had gas stoves, my grandmothers was not level.   Linoleum countertops for each and not much space to work.  But both my husband and I used to hang out in the kitchen and visit with Grandma.   So there was space for what was important.  

What are we missing now?  Do we have something backwards with the gourmet kitchens and unused family dinning rooms?  Is using the good silver a lost art?   I do love that we mixed ours up.   And that we at least use it once a year.

PS.   I found my Grandmas set.   It is not mixed.   We were mistaken!!!   But, we plan to used the mixed set once a month for a real dinner with our small family :)

My thoughts are all over the place tonight! 

I think about this magical time between Christmas and New Years....which may not be so magical if you are one that needs to work, especially at a busy retail or restaurant spot.   The line at the pharmacy was at least 30 minutes today (and only had one employee) and my son and I actually had to wait for a table at IHOP this morning (not long, but we never have to wait for a table there).   My son amazes me.   He ate a huge breakfast including chocolate raspberry pancakes immediately before his workout.   If you are 17 I guess you can do these things.   He loves breakfast.   And when I take him to IHOP we have our best conversations.   Again, part of the magic is having time to do this!   But I am trying to be extra nice to those working these days.   And to everyone else as well.   It is very difficult for some people to be off the regular schedule and routine.  As for me, I just enjoy having the extra time and spending it with my family.   My husband and I are getting a lot of time together too, I am not really used to that!   But its really good.   We take a nightly walk with our 2 dogs.   Tonight we saw 2 other couples (who each had 2 dogs) doing the same thing.   Part of living in a cookie cutter neighborhood perhaps?    Or maybe just finding great ways to connect when life slows down a bit.    Right now, my amazing daughter and I are going to watch a movie.   Hopefully tomorrow we will customize my blog.   So the replacement thing will disappear!

How I buy a car

This is the best time of year, or one of them, right?  to get a great deal?   I am all about getting a great deal (and hopefully a great car).  So, today we purchased!

Step 1.  Research.   I love consumer report.   They have always been accurate in their assessment of products (especially cars) in the past.  Included in this step is figuring out our needs (this was the hard part for me and I probably incorporated a couple wants higher than necessary).  So figure out wants and needs and priorities.   


Step 2.  Shop.  Online searches are amazing.  The online price is unfortunately negotiable.  I hate negotiation.   Well, I guess I love it and hate it at the same time.   I want a great deal- but please no cheesy stress stuff going back and forth with the manager or whatever.

Step 3.  Narrow down 1-3 cars that work.  We called one, the salesperson was salesy and busy.   I told him to give me the bottom line price please, and we proceeded to drive to a dealer with a better equipped/less miles car for the same price.

Thats it.  We got a 2010 with 17,000 miles on it.   And hopefully we can drive it for a long time.   At least it did not drop value immediately as we drove it off the lot!

Honestly the purchase part makes me quesy - I hate spending that much money on anything!   I do think its important to get a vehicle before you have to get one....have some time to work with...and save if you can