5 Things You Might Not Know About Me

1. I prefer not wearing makeup.  Polished eyebrows, clear skin, and lip balm is my usual. 
2. I hate the sound of whistling. If I hear a stranger whistling, I will start a conversation with them just to get them to stop whistling.  And yes, I can whistle, two ways. 
3. Before Babyface was born, I barely sang Happy Birthday.  Now I can't stop singing to him.  I have good morning songs, soothing songs, dropoff at daycare song, pickup at daycare song, comforting song, and goodnight songs.  
   
4. In my early 20's, I was secretly living with a horrible boyfriend.  Until my mom (who was living in a different time zone) went to a psychic and the psychic busted me.
5. Whenever I hear or read the word Milwaukee, I automatically think, "Actually, it's pronounced "mill-e-wah-kay," which is Algonquin for "the good land." Thanks, Wayne's World.

Rise and Shine: Report 1

As I stated in my Spring Goals, I am trying to make exercise and writing what I do first thing so that they get done.  My goal was to get up by 5:15 am at least three weekdays and by 6:30 am one weekend day.  I  was up by 5:15 three weekdays this week.  I wrote and exercised for two of them. Then my horrible allergies kicked in and I just wrote instead of doing both.

Yesterday morning I was up and at 'em at 5:45 am (I went to bed ridiculously early on Friday night) and got in nearly two and a half hours of writing before Babyface was ready to start the day.  Creative Nonfiction retweets 130-character story tweets.

The more I write, the more I'm mulling about things to write and have more ideas.  So that's been great.  I've also been looking for publications that accept shorts.

5 Things I Learned: Mom Was Right!

Despite the profuse arguing, eye-rolling, and head shaving of my formative years, my mom never stopped giving advice.  I rarely took it then, but I'm glad I have it now.

Here are 5 pieces of advice I learned from my mom:

1.  The rules apply to you.  Like it or not, the rules apply to everyone.  It sometimes makes me cuckoo bananas when I see someone act like the rules don't apply to them.  The same can be said for my mom.  For years she loved volunteering to write tickets to people who parked in the handicapped spots without placards. And, yes, she'd show up at court when challenged (with Polaroids!).
2.  You don't have to sleep, but you do have to rest.  When I had a hard time sleeping, I'd want to get up and do something.  My mom taught me that even if I couldn't sleep, it was still important to lie down and rest.  You may not go back to sleep just lying there, but you definitely won't go back to sleep if you're not lying down. Though Babyface naps sporadically, he still has to rest during nap time.
3.  A joke is a funny story.  Along with my sharp-tongued siblings, we used words to cut to the quick, often wrapped as a joke.  "A joke is a funny story," mom would say, "not making fun of someone or at their expense." When someone says something mean in a funny way, it can be hurtful, whether it's intentional or not.
4.  Put some money in your 'something' fund because there's always something.  Just when I think I'm on top of my finances, my car needs four new tires or we have an extravagant vet bill or, you know, something. It's never an unexpected expense of $50, it's usually a swift kick to the wallet.

5.  If you don't ask, you'll never know. Where nerve and thriftiness meet, you'll find my mom.  She has the nerve to do things because she doesn't care if the answer is no.  Last year she knocked on our neighbors door and, long story short, we now have their toddler climbing equipment. When I was applying to college for undergrad, I was reluctant to apply to schools that I didn't think would take me.  "For $50, you let them tell you no.  You don't tell yourself no," she said.  Now I didn't go nuts and apply to Harvard, but I did apply to some schools that were a stretch.  My admissions counselor doubted I'd get into any of them, but I got accepted at two, wait listed at two and denied at two. I took the same approach when applying to graduate school.

Spring 2014 Goal: Rise and Shine

When I want something to get done, I do it first thing. I am not a natural early riser.  But over the past years, I have become one.  I've always had my best energy, ideas, and creativity in the morning.  When I was in graduate school, I separated my homework into AM and PM, the former for writing and analysis, the latter for reading.

When I got my first post-graduate school job, I rose early at least a few times a week to exercise.  Fast forward to when I first became a mom and was constantly sleep-deprived, once Babyface started sleeping through the night, 5am felt like heaven.  When he would sleep until 6 and I still got up at 5, I had one gorgeous hour to myself.

Since I started my new job in December, I've been getting up early to workout. In the winter, it was harder for me to rise earlier. So I started getting up closer to 6 than 5.  Now that daylight saving time is here (hello, sunshine!) and spring is slowly arriving, that makes it a bit easier. I've also been trying to maintain my same bedtime (within an hour) on the weekends.

My January Goal to have TV free weeknights was great practice in keeping me mindful of how I spend my evenings.  For about a month I was very consistent about only watching TV on the weekends.  Now it's been a few months and I've noticed that I watch less TV in general, even on weekends when I'm allowed.  Sometimes My Heart's Desire and I will watch a show on a weeknight and when that show is over (or half over, Dexter), I'm done.  I don't get sucked into watching "just one more." This has helped me go to bed earlier, which helps me rise earlier.

When I rise early in the morning, I do not fool around. I do what I got up to do.

So here is my Spring Goal: to rise early in the morning. Waking up early allows me to do the things that I want to do—like exercise and write. To be SMART about it, my Spring Goal is to rise by 5:15 at least three weekdays per week and by 6:30 one weekend day from now until Memorial Day.

Grateful Thursday

Today I am grateful for four seasons of approximately equal length, forsythia, daffodil, and hyacinth blooms, buds on the tree outside my window, open-toed shoes, being prepared, learning silly songs to sing with Babyface,  new ideas, friends near and far, my smartphone, and cuddling in the big chair with My Heart's Desire.

Slow Cooker Mushroom Soup

I had no idea that mushroom soup could taste like this.  I made this as a lark a few months ago to use up some leftover mushrooms and was surprised by how good it is.

Slow Cooker Mushroom Soup Ingredients:

1 container sliced mushrooms

1 big T minced garlic

3/4 cup of chopped onion 

1 Q chicken broth (or 4 cups of water and 1.5T of chicken better than bullion) 

1/2 cup milk (or half and half, or cream)

1/2 cup light sour cream

1/8 t black pepper

1t seasoned salt

First, saute the garlic and onions in hot olive oil, then add the mushrooms.  This will make your house smell amazing.  While I was doing this, some guys came to pick up our donated couch and both of them told me that it smelled really good.  And now we don't have a couch, we have two very comfy chairs side-by-side like Chandler and Joey.

Anyway, pour the contents of the pan in the crock with the chicken broth.  Let it cook on low heat for 5-6 hours.

Turn the heat off.  Take a 2 cup measuring cup and scoop out two chunky cups.  Then use the handblender and blend the remaining soup.  Add the 2 cups back in so that it has some chunks. If you like your soup smoother, keep blending until it's the consistency you like. 

Then add the milk (or half and half, or cream, I use 1% milk.), sour cream, salt and pepper and give it a good stir. Put the lid back on and let it sit for 10 minutes then serve immediately.  It's just as good the next day. 

Slow Cooker Mushroom Soup (from scratch!)

April Fools: 5 Things I Learned

My Heart's Desire and I married on April 1, 2007.  Happy Anniversary to us!

April fools in love

Here are 5 things I learned on our wedding day:

1. Things you didn't plan for can be a favorite part of the day.
About two hours before our wedding, the DJ called and told me that he couldn't play the song I wanted to walk down the aisle to.  So we went back and forth, me asking do you have this song, no, do you have that song, no, no...Finally I asked if he had "Can't Get Enough of Your Love" by Barry White.  He did and played it while I walked down the aisle.  I was afraid that if I walked down the aisle and saw people looking tearful that I would lose it.  When I walked down the aisle to Barry White, everyone was laughing.  I loved it.  And it's one of my favorite memories.

2. Roll with it.
Sometimes things go awry and you've just got to roll with it.  My wedding day mantra was: whatever happens, happens.  So I was able to stay cool.  I laughed when the limo driver got lost on our way to the ceremony.  We got there late but they weren't going to start without me!

3. Eat

MOH steals fries

I read in one of my myriad wedding books that it's important to eat before the wedding.  The hair and makeup people arrived around 7am and I didn't have breakfast. So at 11 am on my wedding day, I had a cheeseburger and fries.  Of course there was plenty of food at the wedding but I knew it would be a whirlwind (see below) and I might not get a chance to eat.  My Heart's Desire did not eat before the ceremony, had barely a chance to nibble, and to this day brings up how hungry he was on our wedding day. He loved the food at the tasting and was looking forward to having it again.

4. Time goes by so fast.
Our wedding day was one of the fastest days of my life.  Some things I can remember crystal clear, others are a blur.  Time seems to have sped up since I got married and even more so since Babyface was born.

5. Before the event is important too.

Excited > nervous

On the morning of our wedding day, My Heart's Desire texted me to remind me to take my allergy medicine. I loved holding hands with my family and BFF and saying a prayer before we left for the ceremony.  My sister helped me put my veil on properly. And of course eating the cheeseburger!

Prayer

What did you learn on your wedding day?

Silver Linings Playbook

I'm part of a group that reads books before film adaptations are released.  I loved The Book Thief, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, The Fault in Our Stars, Mockingjay, Wild, and Gone Girl. I also read but didn't care for This is Where I Leave You.

I loved the movie Silver Linings Playbook and when the book was offered as part of a two books for one credit promotion on Audible, I went for it.  While it didn't qualify for my group, I was still very interested.  I listened to this book in the car, walking to my office from the parking lot, while wearing headphones at the grocery store, and while working out.  I usually only listen to books while driving.

The novel is so much more than the movie, as is usually the case, and I was hooked as soon as I started listening to it.  The movie wraps up in a nice ending with a bow. The ending of the novel was also satisfying, but messier and more authentic. And I've been looking online for crabby snacks recipes. A

Grateful Thursday

Today I am grateful for finally getting adjusted to daylight saving time, a short commute, hot water, listening to library audiobooks on my iPhone, Green Monsters with protein powder, being able to go with the flow sometimes, listening to Babyface sing happy birthday (to pizza, usually), consistency, and Meetup.

Eat, Move, Sleep

Tom Rath's Eat, Move, Sleep tackles the three most important factors to living a healthy life. The book is very well researched and Rath is obviously passionate about the subject. In addition to learning facts and big picture ideas, Rath shares his personal, serious health issues.

The upshot of this book could be described thusly: Every single choice you make gets you either closer or farther from your goal.  And at the end of every chapter are challenges, from recognizing what your least healthy snacks are and replacing them with healthier snacks, finding ways to add easy daily activity, to having a technology-free hour before bed to help restful sleep.

None of the suggestions are radical or overwhelming.  In fact, Rath encourages readers to make small changes that are sustainable rather than attempting dramatic ones for a short time.  Last year I made small changes that equaled big results. I've built on all of these small changes and strongly agree that even the smallest change brings a healthy goal closer.

Interesting and motivating, I liked this book so much that I went on www.eatmovesleep.org and created my own (free!) personalized plan. And, me being me, I created a document so that I could see the questions and my answers. A

Spring!

I am ready for you!

The Book Thief

For my first meeting with my work book club, they pick was Marcus Zusak's The Book Thief.   I was on the list for it at the library but my name was nowhere near the top and the clock was ticking so I ordered it from Amazon.  I had sort of vaguely heard it was good but wasn't very familiar.  When I opened the package and saw a 500+ page book, I inwardly groaned.

I let it sit around for a few days then picked it up last weekend and gave it a start.  This book takes place in Nazi Germany in 1939 and is narrated by Death.  The more I read, the more I wanted to keep reading.  

The Book Thief

I read the first half of the book in less than two days!  Though the book is long, it reads very fast and the story is both interesting and written beautifully.  It's heartbreaking, emotional, and even funny at times.  I was afraid to reach the end but found it satisfying.  Get your hands on this book!

A

Yummy, Healthy & Easy Banana Bread

One of the things that's challenging about being sugar-free is that so many things are off limits.  It has taken a lot of label reading over the past six months to learn what's okay to eat and what to avoid (almost everything in packages).

I love banana bread and haven't had it in ages.  As you could imagine, I haven't found a store-bought banana bread or mix that wasn't just loaded with sugar or HFCS.

A few months ago I baked a banana bread that had no sugar at all (no artificial sweeteners, no honey, no maple syrup, etc) and it was, shall we say, less than a favorite? I sliced it thin and slathered it with peanut butter and Babyface liked it, but he was the only one.

Most banana bread recipes call for at least a cup of sugar.  I made this banana bread recipe with just 3T of sugar (less than a quarter cup).  Since it bakes into a 10-slice loaf, I figured I could live with this very small amount and have the bread as a treat.

So good we ate some before I could take a pic

The applesauce in this recipe not only adds natural sweetness, it also reduces the amount of butter needed.  I also used the mixer rather heavily, adding air. This recipe is super easy to make and doesn't have any unusual ingredients.

Yummy, Healthy & Easy Banana Bread Ingredients:
3T sugar
2T butter, soft
1 beaten egg
1/4c unsweetened applesauce
3 mashed bananas
1t vanilla
1 1/2c flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

First, here's a trick for mashing bananas.  Peel them, put them on a cutting board, then mash with a fork.

Preheat oven to 350*.

Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl and give it a few good stirs.

Cream butter and sugar for at least three minutes.  Add the egg and applesauce and mix for two more minutes.  Add the bananas and vanilla until well combined.  Add the dry ingredients half a cup at a time.  Pour into a parchment-lined loaf pan.

Bake for an hour or so at 350*.  The top gets golden but not very brown, so when a knife comes out pretty clean, it's ready.  Let it sit in the pan for 5 minutes or so, then cool on a wire rack. It's very moist and yummy.

Yummy, Healthy & Easy Banana Bread

Next time I would add some chopped nuts, pecans or walnuts.  I left them out this time because My Heart's Desire doesn't care for nuts in food.

It also freezes beautifully.  You can freeze slices, microwave them, then pop them in the toaster for that fresh-out-of-the-oven consistency.

Free Advice 8

Mom & Me & Mom

I loved listening to Maya Angelou read Mom & Me & Mom. Although who are we kidding, I'd love to hear her read a Pizza Hut menu.

As always, this book offered beautiful storytelling and was by turns heartbreaking, poignant, funny, and serious.  Starting from childhood when she and her brother were taken to live in Stamps, Arkansas, with their paternal grandmother (Momma) for ten years, the complicated relationship between Angelou and her mother is delved into deeply.  It's interesting to see how their relationship changed when Angelou became a mother herself at age 17. And how even as an adult, Angelou had revelations about the importance of mothering.

If you're already familiar with Angelou's other books, then this book is a little treasure.  If you haven't read any of her other books (why not?), this book wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable since you wouldn't know her story.  Start with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and go from there.

Grateful Thursday

Today I am grateful for morning exercise, clean water, folded laundry (!), the desire for simplicity, a short week at work, bargains, the nice library near my new office, comfy shoes, when Babyface calls himself banana boy, and trying new things.

My Healthy Role Model

I don't know her age, what she does for a living, or even what her name is, but my healthy role model (MHRM) is already doing the healthy things I want to be doing.  She's definitely closer to my mom's age than mine, has shortish red hair in a sensible haircut, and is very fit. MHRM must live near my neighborhood because I see her regularly. Whatever I'm considering, she's already got down pat.

When I belonged to the gym, whenever I got there in the morning, she'd already be there, lifting.  And not the light weights, either.  When I go  for long walks in Rock Creek Park, MHRM's already there.  I'm not exaggerating when I say she laps me.

I go to the grocery store, armed with my list, and she's already there, buying produce.  Later I sneak a peek in her cart and am not surprised to find it full of healthy foods.  When it's very cold outside, sometimes I see MHRM at the county pool, getting dressed as I arrive and hurriedly shove my bag into a locker. She's already done when I pull on my goggles.

MHRM is not a young woman and of course she has wrinkles and laugh lines. She is beautiful and strong and confident.  When I see her, I am inspired.

Easy Sunday Slow Cooker Baked Rigatoni

We are in the dregs of winter and the comfort food cravings have come a-knocking.  I make this slow cooker baked rigatoni and add veggies to pretend it's healthy.

Easy Sunday Slow Cooker Baked Rigatoni Ingredients:
Box of rigatoni
Minced garlic, I like a lot 1 heaping T or so
Onions
1 container mushrooms
Butter or olive oil
Jar of marinara sauce—I like Trader Joe's Traditional Marinara because it doesn't have sugar or HCFS and is inexpensive to boot
1 cup of shredded mozzarella
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can cream of mushroom soup*
1 cup chopped spinach
Salt, pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 cup grated or shredded Parmesan

Cook the pasta according to directions on the shortest side of the time range.  Drain and rinse with cold water.  Saute the garlic, onions, and mushrooms.  If you are short on time, you could skip this step but if I'm already at the stove making one thing (pasta), it's no big whoop to make this while I'm standing right there anyway.

Combine the remaining ingredients except the parm in a big bowl.  Add sauteed veggies and stir.  Add in pasta and stir. You could stop right here, put it in a giant Ziplock bag, and put in the fridge to cook later.  Or freeze it and thaw it and crock another day.

Spray the inside of a 6-7 quart slow cooker with Pam.  Pour contents of bowl into slow cooker.  Cook on low for 4-6 hours or 2-3 hours on high.  Then top with parm, turn the heat on high, and let it melt for ten minutes or so.  This is also great with leftover homestyle roast chicken.

Many slow cooker recipes (soups, stews, fajitas, pesto mushroom chicken thighs) can wait for you on warm for hours.  This recipe, not so much.  It should be eaten within the hour of it being done as the pasta starts to get mushy.  For this reason, and because it takes a pot and a pan and the crock, I like to make it on Sundays when I'm not in a hurry.  Also, I can make it in the afternoon so it doesn't have to rest on warm for ages.

I've made this TWICE recently and both times I forgot to take pictures! Drats!

*I use ricotta when I bake this in the oven but the cheese doesn't stand up well in the slow cooker. Usually I am loathe to use cream of whatever soups but other experiments failed.

UPDATE: A friend made this recipe with bison and sent me the pic above.

Bargain Day: Real Simple Subscription

Last year I bought a year of Real Simple on sale for $12—half of the regular subscription price of $24.  On a recent issue was a notice saying that my subscription was going to auto-renew at $33, a truly terrible price.  So I called and opted out of the auto renew. I enjoy reading it and have even made a few of their recipes, with varying success.  

Anyway, about a week later I got an email offering me the regular subscriber price of $24.  After some thorough Googling, I couldn't find a better deal, though it seems about once a year they offer a subscription at a low rate to add subscribers. 

So I sent an email and asked if they could offer me the $12 price again.  I figured not but it never hurts to ask.   I was prepared to wait for the annual sale so I could get a bargain. I was pleasantly surprised to get an email response a few days later confirming my Real Simple renewal for $12.  It never hurts to ask.

I also like to subscribe to Real Simple because they featured my answer to their question: "What would you do for an extra $100?" in September 2008. What would I do with an extra $100? I'm so glad you asked.

My 2008 answer:

$8 pineapple chunks from Whole Foods

$10 roll of quarters to keep in ashtray for parking

$12 greeting cards to have handy

$15 books glorious books!

$15 new umbrella

$40 lunch for two at Indian buffet

My 2014 answer:

$45 mani-pedi
$55 travel fund

What would you do with an extra hundred bucks?

Grateful Thursday

Today I am grateful for super warm socks, working by the fire, candy cane flannels, that spring isn't so far away, being genuinely happy for other people, pleasant surprises, that all home appliances work, that Babyface still naps (usually), that my wardrobe is shrinking as I lose weight, and that the Valentine's Day party for Babyface's class is tomorrow afternoon.

Free Advice 7

Heads In Beds

I bet Jacob Tomsky's Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality would have been an excellent feature article. As a book, my interest waned before I was halfway through. Tipping the front desk clerk to get a better room isn't breaking news.  There are some clever and funny moments but too few and far between.  C

And now, a published essay

In 2013 I did a lot of writing, mostly nonfiction short pieces and a few poems.  More importantly, I went on a submissions tear. I average a lot of rejections before I get any acceptances.  So every rejection just gets me that much closer to an acceptance. I average about 50 rejections for every acceptance.

And so the rejections came in, as I expected.  I felt rusty because it has been years since I did any serious submitting.  Imagine my surprise when an essay that I wrote about living in Los Angeles was accepted by Marco Polo, an online literary and arts magazine. It was published yesterday.

Read my essay here: Around in Circles

Grateful Thursday

Today I am grateful for morning workouts, peanut butter, sneakers, family visit to look forward to, life hacks, how cute Babyface is with his new haircut, everything counts, slow change is still change and that My Heart's Desire makes dinners Tuesdays-Thursdays.

Sisterland

I listened to Curtis Sittenfeld's Sisterland on Audible because the library wait was too long.  I really liked American Wife but her other books, not so much.  The writing in this long novel is so beautiful that I didn't notice at first that the characters are kind of flat and she doesn't get to the point until very, very far along.  The sisters are twins with ESP and the story is told exclusively by the less interesting of the two.

Free Advice 6

5 Things I Learned: Easier Mornings for a Working Mom

Since I went back to work and Babyface started daycare in December, it's been a whole new routine for all of us.  Mornings can be particularly challenging. 

Here are 5 things I learned about how to have easier mornings:

1. Planning meals.  So I've been planning out as much as I can in advance.  For years I've made weekly/biweekly/monthly dinner plans.  Now I've added lunches and snacks to it as well.  I was finding it tiresome to pack lunches daily.  So now on Sunday nights I make Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday lunch bags.  If I plan on having leftovers for lunch on Tues or Wed, I just note that on the bag so I can add it.  And on Mondays, I bring in a big bag with veggies, salad dressing, and an emergency protein bar. On Wednesday nights I pack bags for Thursday and Friday.  Since I make Babyface's lunches, I do the same for him.
   
2. Since I stopped watching TV on weeknights, I have more time in the evenings and I get to do things that I like to do more.  Because I'm not rushing to get things done or zoning out in front of Netflix, I'm also going to bed on time and that makes getting up easier too.
3. Get up earlier than everyone else.  I'm lucky because Babyface is usually a pretty great sleeper (knock on wood).  I like to exercise in the mornings and check it off for the day.  It also gives me quiet time on the treadmill or bike.
4. Picking out clothes in advance.  It feels a little silly to pick out five outfits on Sunday night, especially since I am not a clotheshorse.  However, it makes my mornings run much more smoothly since all of the decision making's already been done.  I pick out five outfits, put necklaces on the hangers, and write down which earrings to wear on what day.  
   
5. Set a backup alarm.  Sometimes when my alarm goes off at 5:08 am, I just can't get up.  This has been particularly true lately since it's been cold enough to use the electric blanket at night.  So I always set a backup alarm for 7, which is the latest I can get up and ready without rushing.  

Today as a Word Cloud

Grateful Thursday

Today I am grateful for kindness, all things relating to heat and warmth, covered parking, a new pair of glasses, modern technology, whole wheat toast, that the holidays are o-v-e-r, soothing sounds, and hearing Babyface sing itsy bitsy spider.

Big Boy Babyface

In what feels like the blink of an eye but was really two and a half years, Babyface's sleeping arrangements went from this:

Nursery Waits for Baby

to this:

Big Boy Bed with Quilt My Grandma Made

Since Babyface is a little climbing monkey, we had to transition him from a crib to a bed before he climbed out of the crib and hurt himself. My Heart's Desire converted his crib to a toddler bed.  We left the soft bumpers up though he doesn't fall off his cot at daycare.

It's so awesome to see Babyface change and grow and be able to do things like drink from a cup, dance, make little jokes, ask to use the pee potty and take off his PJ's.  At the same time, I've been sad to see Babyface leaving his baby milestones (paci, bottle, one-piece clothes, high chair) behind, one at a time.  I wonder if there is a word for this feeling.  Sort of happy longing? Proud and nostalgic? I'll have to ask my BFF if the Germans have one. 

TV Free Weeknights

My Heart's Desire and I usually watch TV after Babyface goes to bed.  Between On Demand and Netflix, we sit down to watch a show we like.  However, once we get cozy and under the blankets and start laughing, it's hard to turn the TV off.  Since I went back to work, it's been challenging to do all of the things that I want to do. I started feeling like all that TV watching was a bad habit.

$1 lunchbox

After dinner is when I make sure I am prepared for the next day by packing lunches/snacks for Babyface and me, prepping the next night's dinner (if it's my night to cook), have my workout clothes and grown up costume are ready to go, etc.  And since I rise well before daybreak, my evenings are already pretty short since I go to bed early. 

Last week (unbeknownst to My Heart's Desire),  I instituted a TV free weeknight experiment.  I was able to get so much more done during the evenings.  I had a nice chat with a faraway friend, created a photo calendar for my dad's birthday, and got a good amount of reading done.  I didn't feel like my evenings were so rushed.  I also went to bed earlier and that made my mornings more pleasant.  On Thursday night we did watch one show, at his insentience, then I turned the TV off. 

Here is my January 2014 goal: Do anything on worknights besides watch TV. 

I have a bunch of projects that I've had on the back burner, including updating Babyface's baby book and crocheting a baby blanket for a child (before she's old enough to crochet herself). I love reading and like to be able to read without falling asleep in the middle of the page.  

Small Changes, Big Results

While I've seen many people make grand resolutions and sweeping declarations of change for the New Year, I've found that making small changes can equal big results.  My January 2013 goal was to exercise every day.  Was this as grand as most of the resolutions that I've heard? No.  It wasn't going to change my life drastically.  This manageable goal was enough to feel challenged and it was measurable. And because I was consistent, I was able to keep it going throughout the year.

January 2013 workouts

I tracked my workouts on a calendar with big X's. I liked seeing all of the X's and felt accomplished.  I hung it where I could see it and that made it much harder to talk myself out of exercising.

I kept using the X method during the following months.  It wasn't my goal to work out every day, but I usually got in 5-6 workouts weekly.  Unless I was sick, I didn't like to see two empty squares back to back.

Now with bonus walks

 In September, I added a star for every ten minute bonus walk that I took. While a ten minute walk is nothing to write home about, it's the cumulative effect that makes a difference.

Later in the year, I started keeping track of minutes exercised, reaching for a goal of 4 hours per week. Though that goal is pretty challenging, I do meet it some weeks.  (I am still taking bonus walks, I just misplaced the stars.)

More important than the X's or the stars or the minutes is this: I am still keeping track of my workouts in a visual way that is very motivating.  What started out as a January lark turned into a yearlong habit that helped me workout more consistently.  That led to making other healthy changes easier.  I was able to lose weight, keep it off, and keep going!

And it didn't cost me anything as the calendar was free and I had a sharpie and stars already.

December workouts

Free Advice 5

2013 Greatest Hits

Oh, Baby!
Babyface continues to be the light of my life.  He does adorable things every single day.  Like trying to hug a moving cat.  Asking for a giggle (bagel).  Trying to catch bubbles. Babyface is a full blown toddler who talks up a storm and makes his wishes known.  He definitely looks like a little boy now.  He had his first haircut this year and it was followed by four more.  We continued taking our hippie parenting classes, with My Heart's Desire attending some of the classes.  Since I was home with Babyface in 2013, I found some groups on Meetup that were a good match.

The first Meetup event that I went to was a playdate at someone's house.  As I was bundling up Babyface and packing the baby bag, My Heart's Desire asked, "You're just going to show up to a stranger's house with our baby?" Yup.  That's exactly what I did and I'm so glad because Babyface and I were both able to have fun and make some friends. In 2013 I went to more than 40 events with the group.

Books

I read a lot of books that I liked this year, but I can't say that I really loved any of them.  I love to listen to books and have been getting them on CD from the library for years.  Then I figured out how to download audiobooks through the library consortium and listen to them on my iPhone.  What I do love is my subscription to Audible.  After several friends raved about how much they liked it, I signed up for a free trial, listened to my two free books and the rest is history.

Furiously Typing
I did more writing in 2013 than in the previous few years combined.  I worked on some existing prose and wrote some new poetry and prose.  I got into a groove and once I started writing, I started having more and better ideas.

I ambitiously signed up for National Novel Writing Month and wrote 15,000 words, not in the ballpark of the goal, but a respectable amount of writing for one month.  Midway through November I was offered a job and that shifted my priorities immediately.  In addition to all of the furious typing, I also submitted 16 pieces for consideration.  One was accepted and I'll post a link when it goes live.

Family Tradition
We maintained our family traditions of our Independence Day barbeque, getting Babyface's picture taken regularly, and My Heart's Desire taking Babyface to get his picture taken with Santa.

It's All Relative

Rye on a cheetah

This was another big year for family visits.  My parents visited several times and it's so great to watch them with Babyface.  My brother's daughter was born in March and I got to meet her when she was still teeny-tiny.

She's so light!

I saw my sister's daughter Rye twice this year, once in February and once at Thanksgiving.  Rye's birthday is in November and one of the first things she asked me was why I wasn't at her birthday.  My sister swears she didn't tell her to ask that.

My in-laws visited a couple of times to love on Babyface.  Both of my sisters-in-law were married in November which equaled two family extravaganzas.  

We also traveled to Florida to celebrate Christmas with Babyface's oldest relative, his great-great-aunt Auntie.  She is 102 years old.  Auntie was My Heart's Desire's honorary Grandmother since his passed away when he was small.  She was even old when My Heart's Desire was young! It's really special to see Babyface with Auntie.

Healthy Living
To my immense surprise, I gave up sugar in August. It remains challenging. I've never felt better.  I also took a healthy living class that was very valuable.  And I took advantage of free coaching and had several personal sessions.  I'm feeling good about my healthy habits.

Guilty Pleasure
Lying in bed, reading magazines, drinking a cup of tea, while My Heart's Desire takes care of Babyface.

Thrift
I am no stranger to the thrift shops and used bookstores in my area.  If I can get it for a song, I'm very happy indeed.  I also went to a slightly overwhelming children's consignment sale at the fairgrounds and scored some great stuff, including Babyface's Santa costume. 
The local library used bookstore sells children's books for $.50.  Which is where I got many books for Babyface, including his favorite, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I can recite it by heart.

Local Getaway
When my mom visited, she told me she was considering staying in a hotel since we have a pretty full house.  Then she offered to stay at our house and let My Heart's Desire and I stay at a hotel for a few nights.  We jumped at the chance!

We spent the days with my mom and Babyface, then My Heart's Desire and I had dinner together and stayed over at a hotel just a few miles from our house.  It's so lovely to sleep without worrying about hearing the baby.  It was a wonderful gift.

I have a friend who works at a hotel chain and we got the room at the friend price.  The thrifty apple did not fall far from the thrifty tree.

Good News and Good Cooking

December is usually a very busy month and this year it's been even busier than usual.  I started a new job earlier this month.  So far, it's been great.  Interesting work, nice people and a short commute.  I'm learning, asking questions and taking lots of notes in my notebook.  This job mostly uses my organizational skills. If you know me at all, you know I'm no stranger to lists, checklists, databases, forms or spreadsheets.

The transition to work has been pretty smooth.  And instead of wearing some variation of jeans and a black t-shirt every day, I wear my work clothes.  Shirt with collars!  Necklaces! Shoes without laces! It feels like I'm putting on my grown up costume. 

In an attempt to make dinnertimes easier, I cooked.  Though My Heart's Desire and I have divided the home chores and meals differently now, I wanted to make our evenings as easy as possible.  Babyface goes to bed pretty early and I wanted us to spend time with him rather than over the stove.

A few years ago My Heart's Desire bought a chest freezer (thanks, Craigslist) and both crocks worked overtime to pack it with meals. I filled almost two sets of Pyrex casserole dishes and plenty of plastic containers.  I made mostly standbys and tried one new recipe, light king ranch casserole. When we get to it, I'll let you know how we liked it.

December Dinners
Mac and cheese with broccoli casserole

Three bean chili

Mushroom quiche

Enchiladas

Enchiladas

Carnitas

Chicken fajitas

Pesto chicken thighs

Jambalaya

Jambalaya

Chicken tortilla soup

Chicken tortilla soup

Italian-style meatloaf
Light king ranch casserole

Balsamic chicken

Pasta bake

Grandma's old fashioned granola

In addition, I baked five chicken breasts and cut them up to use in future meals or to add to lunchtime salads.  I also made a big batch of Grandma's old fashioned granola for Babyface.

Having dinners ready to go really does make evenings easier. We also have dinner as a family more often, instead of My Heart's Desire and I eating after Babyface goes to bed.  I used to have breakfast with Babyface and My Heart's Desire would have lunch with him, but with our new schedule that doesn't work anymore.  So family dinners are pretty great.