Saw it coming

I think I knew deep down I wouldn't keep up with a blog as often as I thought I would. But just having one and knowing I make goals keeps them in the front of my mind, even if I don't "write down" my updates. As the new year begins, I do have goals for each of the main areas I did last year and hope to continue working toward bettering myself in those ways. So, just so I keep them in mind, I'm going to at least write out my goals for this year.

1. Spiritually: This may be vague, but I need to work on my prayer relationship with God... remembering him throughout the day and talking to Him often. Secondly, to read and study the Bible more- focusing on passages for days at a time to draw a deeper understanding and remembrance.

2. Physically: I do not intend to do intense work-out routines or anything, but my main goal is to tone muscles and increase flexibility. Brisk walking, pull-ups, push-ups, ab routine, and yoga. With eating, I intend to cut nearly all processed and sugar foods from grocery shopping and focus on buying lean meats, organic fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. No more sugary drinks- just teas, and lots of water.

3. Mentally: I realized pushing myself to make myself read did not work last year, so instead I plan on always having a book that I am reading but not putting a time limit on when to finish and start the next. I'm currently reading The Maze Runner and have a few other books in mind I would like to read this year.

4. Socially: Sending cards, notes, and gifts to people who need encouragement or who are sick. Also birthday/anniversary cards!!!! I'm so bad at this! I need to do better. My mom and aunt and granny are so good about it and I want to be the same way!

Creative Planting

So it seems all my recent posts have been about my plants, but besides work and school, that's about the only area I've been making progress in! I did get a job offer as an Interventionist in the Camdenton School District, so that's definitely exciting news and enough to keep me on my toes this school year!

Since it seems I've been acquiring more and more plants, and pots are too expensive for my taste, I've tried to come up with some cheap solutions for containers. I found these sand buckets at the Dollar Store and think they make nice little homes for my mint plants! Plus the shovel makes a good marker!

                                         

As for my other plants, two of my tomato plants now have several flowers, as well as two of my jalapeno plants! Next step, vegetables (*crosses fingers*)

My other herbs are in a large round container.

...And I guess they are doing pretty well. I added a sage, chive, and thyme plant that I got on clearance at Wal-Mart for $1 each. I've been cooking with a few already and I looove it :)

Now hopefully the next time I update, I'll be eating some homemade salsa with my tomatoes and jalapenos?

Will I have vegetables soon?!

 

Well, the weather has gotten much warmer and my plants are getting much bigger! In this pic you see (from the right) a cherry tomato plant, a beefsteak tomato plant, two jalapeno pepper plants (in the middle back), a zucchini squash seedling recently planted and coming up (in middle front), another cherry tomato, and a vinca vine with basil coming up, then my hanging basket. :)

All is still growing well... I can't believe I've kept them alive from tiny seeds! However, my current concern is that the tomato plants do not have any yellow flowers (showing fruiting) yet... and they should be about now! So I'm going to try a few things I've heard may help (stressing them by watering much less, tomato food, etc.) Will I have vegetables soon?! We will see!!!

Patio Garden Update

Here are some pics of my growing patio garden! I worked on it some today; did some repotting, added some new plants, added more soil, fed, tidyed up, etc. Unfortunately, the patio has been getting less sun lately...so I hope the plants keep doing well. Of course we'll be moving in a couple months, as well, so I also hope they make the transport and have a sunny home at our new place!

[Plants: flowers (germanium & loebelia), herbs (basil & oregano), vegetables (beefsteak tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, buttercrunch lettuce) and also a vinca vine!]

Mid-May Updates

Surprisingly, my plants are alive and thriving! The tomato plants are about 8-10 inches high... I will be amazed and ECSTATIC if I can get them to yield tomatoes this summer!

The most recent book I've started is The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan (first of the Percy Jackson series). I didn't think greek mythology fiction would appeal to me, but I am enjoying the read. Plus Rick Riordan just won a Mark Twain award this year and was voted one of the best author's by young readers, so I figure I need to get in the game here and see what he's about.

*sighs* My P90X routine has seemingly slipped into oblivion. But not to worry, I will pick it back up. I really liked the work-out while I was doing it everyday and it's definitely something I want to continue.

Also, I've been doing a few crafts here and there. Still have yet to begin the apron, but I have made two wreaths for Mother's day last week. They turned out super cute and surprisingly simple!

That's about all the updates I have! Let's see I covered my patio garden, books, fitness, projects, oh so HEALTH and BIBLE READING! I've still been incorporating lots of fruit and vegetables into our daily meals and loving it. Last night we had grilled pineapple (Mmmm...) with grilled chicken! And Bible Reading is going well as I am teaching the K-1 class at Eastside. That's a whole other story...but it's going well ;)

April Reading

This month I am continuing to read Patriots, since I slacked last month and didn't read much of it. Also for non-fiction I am reading 1801 Home Remedies published by Reader's Digest. It has a lot of great ideas for treating different health problems, burns, cuts, etc., to homemade cleaning ideas. It will be a light read and I'm looking forward to it!

They grow up so fast

 My Tomato babies ^

Basil as you see. Perhaps this year my green thumb will stay green! :) Maybe?!

Coming to life!

Well, they're springin up! Yaaay...hang in there little sprouts!

Noticeably Stronger

So this is nearing the end of week 3 of P90X, which I've actually been sticking to fairly well! And I have to say, I am already seeing a difference in the way my muscles look, feel and the way I feel overall. I'm loving it.

So far the biggest change I can see is in my arm muscles. I'm feeling stronger and I'm excited to keep going and get some really great results! :)

Books for March

I had to cram in my February book and found it's actually hard for me to make time to read with all the other things going on. But, it's now March so here's what I plan on reading this month:

Fiction: Patriots: Surviving the Coming Collapse, by James Wesley Rawles.

 This book was recommended by a friend of ours. It's a novel set when America's economy collapses, there are massive food shortages and hyperinflation, rioting/looting and basically everything is in chaos. Although it's fiction (for now), it provides real-life techniques, skills and information that would help if this ever...were...to happen....

Non-Fiction: The Survivor's Club: The Secrets and Science that Could Save Your Life, by Ben Sherwood. 

This book may or may not be good; I thought I'd just check it out. It's basically different stories from people who have survived outstanding situations and how they did it.

Garden Beginnings

Got some seeds and hoping in the next month or two it will be warm enough to put these little guys out on the patio :)  I have started to prepare the tomatoes and basil for sprouting, but am holding off a few more weeks for the zucchini and green onions. I'm thinking of also getting a large container to combine a few more herbs in; I would like mint (already looking forward to it in my summer tea!!!) and we'll see what else. For those I plan on buying them as plants rather than starting from seed. I hope I can keep them all alive....

[Row of 3 cherry tomato seedlings, row of 3 beefsteak tomato seedlings, and 2 basil seedlings, and in the red pot is my oregano going strong :)]

Week 2, What it Do.

Okay, well. I am inching along! I had to skip P90X over the weekend because of company... I think it's pretty much impossible to complete that program 90 days in a row without skipping, unless you never leave and have a lot of downtime.

But, I am picking right back up. At least I've had a few days to recuperate! I was getting pretty sore!!!

We have still been having some great foods with more fruit and vegetables, so that's good. I've been drinking hot tea most afternoons as well.

I have actually added another goal to my list, and that is to see if I can grow some vegetables on our patio! I've been reading about what plants do well in pots and it appears there are many possibilities to grow your own food even when you have limited space such as an apartment. I'm excited, but I haven't always been the best at keeping plants alive... so this might not turn out well. I'm thinking some tomatoes and lettuce to start, and possibly some squash or cucumbers. Anything I read more about that grows well in pots!

On a Valentine's Day...

Well, what better way to spend Valentine's Day than Day 1 of P90X!!!

Oh man. Well, it begins today. Wish me luck as I set my mind to this for the next 90 days. I'm already seeing some problems; such as going out of town on the weekends...and spring break. So it's very possible it will not be a straight 90 days. Hope that doesn't mess up the routine!

Friendly smile in every aisle!

Gotta love Hy-Vee! Ok so I did some grocery shopping today and am very pleased with the outcome!

Here's what I got:

• Grade A eggs [free!]
• 6-7lbs Chicken Leg Quarters
• 2 rolls Farmland Sausage
• Bread
• Organic Milk (that's right, Justin and Kelly would be proud!)
• Organic blueberries
• Organic apples
• Organic mushrooms
• Asparagus
• Onions
• Baby carrots [free!]
• Brown rice
• Organic green tea bags [most expensive item]
• Organic Flaxseed

I paid around $30 which I think is a great deal for mostly all produce and organic items. These things can be very pricey, but if I run across good deals I will buy natural. For instance, the organic apples were .77/lb which was the same price as the same non-organic apples. VERY good price! This still puts me way below budget for monthly groceries, because we will not need hardly anything else for a month! I got quite a bit of each item, and most all of what I got is freezable and will last for very many meals.

Here's to eating healthy, wholesome meals!!! Doing good so far!

Other Goals Defined:

Christian Walk:

• My goal is to read the Bible daily and try to complete a "year-long" reading plan. I will be using the plan from BibleStudyTools.com which is linked from the "Christian Walk" button. Other goals include daily prayer and reflection, and other personal 'daily walk' goals that I will strive for and sometimes update on this blog.

Sewing:

• Well, my mom got me a sewing machine for Christmas...so I need to put it to use! I haven't sewn in a while (psh, since high school!) so it will take me a bit to relearn some basics. But my first goal is going to be an apron, which I already have the pattern for, and we'll go from there. Also have some basic stitching and mending to catch up on! I will post pictures of my progress on my self-created website linked from How's it Sewing? above.

Books:

• My goal is simply to read at LEAST one fiction and one non-fiction book a month. Should be easy, but with school work and everything else going one...reading usually takes the backseat. I will be using Shelfari to keep my virtual bookshelf of the books I read in 2011!

Fitness:

• So I made a declaration to begin P90X, which I am planning to officially begin Monday, February 14th. Happy Valentines Day, haha. So embarrassing but yes I will be keeping track of my progress by making myself "check-in" and update every couple weeks on my YouTube account. Don't laugh. (ok, you can laugh.)

Eating Right:

• This goal was defined in full on a previous post, but again, this is just to make sure I incorporate some great power foods to our diets and really keep track of what we're putting into our bodies. I love, love, LOVE the LiveStrong.com site for keeping track of what I eat daily...as well as my other goals! Great, organized site...and I surely do love organization :)

Fill up my cup, mazel tov

Drinking the daily 8 isn't as easy as I thought. I pretty much have to remind myself constantly all throughout the day to drink water. So far today I've had about 4 glasses...which means to drink 8, I'm going to have to drink a glass per hour, from now til I go to bed. Haha..

I think I need one of these:

 

"The Daily 8" Water Bottle.. HAHA! I will look like a super silly carrying that around. I think they're funny. But it's also kinda pretty. ;) Maybe I will have to get one...

Dietary Goals Defined

[Ok, now it's time to expound upon my inital goals and define how I'm going to go about them.]

Great source of healthy foods and when you click on one, will explain why it's so great: World's Healthiest Foods

This is not an actual "diet." Just a healthier lifestyle and incorporating more wholesome foods!

Foods I will buy and incorporate into our weekly diet:

• Oats
• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• Leafy greens (spinach, greens, etc.)
• Green tea and plenty of water
• Black beans
• Brown Rice
• Almonds
• Flaxseed
• Fresh Garlic

 Foods we will limit purchase and consumption of:

• Dairy
• Candies/sweets
• Processed foods
• Non whole-grain pastas, breads, etc.

Sample meal ideas:

Breakfast foods:

• Oatmeal with fresh fruit
• Whole grain cereals
• Glass of milk/orange juice

Lunch foods:

• Salad (spinach leafs) with sliced bell peppers/olives, veg etc.
• Turkey sandwich on whole wheat
• Fresh vegetables with hummus/salsa/organic peanut butter
• Individual pizzas on whole grain english muffins, mozzarella cheese and vegs.

Supper foods:

• Whole grain pasta with red sauce, black olives, mozzarella
• Baked/grilled chicken with vegs/salad, etc.
• Stir fry with brown rice and vegs, etc.

Snack foods:

• Fresh fruit in plain yogurt
• Almonds
• Fresh fruit
• Vegetables with hummus dip
• Popcorn (not drenched in butter!)
• Dark chocolate

Ok, so there's just some sample ideas of what I'm looking to do. It's not drastic and I'm not eliminating anything altogether. We will still have our meat and potatoes every now and then! My favorite food is RIBS  and a good ol' loaded baked potato, you know!!!! I just know there are some foods that we don't eat much of, that I know we should. Hopefully writing this out will help me remember to shop differently at the store and put these great power foods in our diets!

Books I've Read 2011

January:

• Took a break. Unless textbooks count. Which they don't.

February:

1. Organized Simplicity, by Tsh Oxenreider.
2. Simple Country Wisdom, by Susan Waggoner
3. Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins (in progress)

Well begun is half done.

It's now February, but I am ready and determined to get my goals for the year in action. Hopefully this blog will help me keep track and stay motivated! As of now, these are the changes I'm hoping to make and keep:

• Exercise at least 30 min 3-4 times a week
• .........Complete P90X!!
• Drink at least 8 cups of water a day
• Eat a better and balanced diet
• Learn a new hobby (sewing)
• Read at least one book a month

And we'll just start there for now. Some of those goals have sub-goals that go along with it, such as the balanced diet; there are certain foods I would like to incorporate more of, and some that I would like to eliminate. I'll make sure to post details that go along with these soon!

Well, that's where I'm starting! Well begun is half done, right?