Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

January Progress Report

February 1, 2012

First of all, for all inquiring minds wanting to know – my birthday was fine. Matt came to visit and we had taqitoes (made by Chris and Becky) for supper and cheesecake with caramel sauce and strawberries (eater’s choice) for dessert. Actually, we celebrated on the Saturday before since my birthday fell on a Tuesday. The point was mainly to have everyone together – especially since my nest is emptying now.

Now for the report. I finally made myself a water schedule and it works! I drink a glass in the morning when I get up and a glass at night before bed – that was recommended in “French Women Don’t Get Fat” so I have been doing that for awhile. Then, I added in a glass every two hours – 8am, 10am, 2pm, 4pm – and knowing that at a specific time I have a glass of water keeps me on track. And when I say a “glass” I mean one fluid cup – 8oz – I use the small cups my kids drink out of and that helps me see it’s not so much to drink. I think that’s part of the disconnect – it seems like SO much water to try to get in and this way it’s very easy. So, that is one goal fulfilled – and yes I have been doing it all month so it’s just about a habit now – go me!

I read “Becoming More Than Just A Good Bible Study Girl” and it was very good! This is a book about cultivating a relationship with God and not just focusing on externals, but really getting into the heart of prayer and Who God is. There is no sap here and Lysa TerKeurst is not perfect and I can relate to so much of what she says here. So, if you are looking to transform your relationship with the Lord – give this book a whirl.

School is humming along nicely and I’ve been keeping up with the housework for the most part since that one day I took off to get it all pulled together again after the holidays. Still need to do some clutter clearing upstairs but that will get done over time. And honestly that really was all there was to this month. It was busy, but I also had to do some thinking too after that melt down. So, taking care of myself means slowing down a little bit.

So, let’s talk about February since this is the first after all. My new goal will be to get in more protein and cut down on my carb intake. Now, notice I said cut down and not eliminate. You still have to have the carbs to provide energy, and whole grains are the best way to go, but one step at a time. I need to figure out how to get more protein in – and maybe it’s as simple as making sure there is a protein on my plate at every meal so I get the alloted amount in. Snacks are my downfall – popcorn, crackers, cereal – I need to replace those with something different and fruit or veggies is probably the way to go. I’m also considering maybe protein powder shakes – nothing major just something simple to help boost that intake. Hmm – lots to consider here.

Lent is only three weeks away too and I need to think about giving up something and cultivating good spiritual habits. I have a book called “The Hidden Power of Kindness” and I may read that and start putting it into practice. It’s not that I’m a meanie (I do have my moments though), but I could be kinder overall. Something to think about over the next few weeks.

Well, I guess that’s it for the progress report this month. I hope that if you are making goals or trying to make changes in your life that you are progressing well too.

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A Special Post for a Special Day

January 25, 2012

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Gotta love used bookstores!

January 24, 2012

Over the weekend, I made a trip to our local bookstore – actually it’s our only bookstore now that Waldenbooks and the local used book “place” went under – and scored big! What pray tell did I find? THIS:

A practically brand new Nigella Kitchen!! Folks, this is a $35.00 book and it was only $7.45!! Don’t believe me? Here’s the receipt:

I thought about it for maybe a minute or two, but Matt told me I’d be a fool to pass that bargain up and I knew he was right. Besides, I LOVE Nigella Lawson so why not? I looked it over at home and I will use this cookbook often. Almost all of the recipes are straightforward and simple and there are also her fantastic tips and tricks and chatty wisdom. So, yes, I am very happy with this purchase!

One of these days, I’m going to get me a big cup o’something from Starbucks and just hang out at this bookstore and see what I can find. You never know what bargains you’ll run in to. Like books on Corvettes – oh yeah, that’s a whole ‘nuther blog post for another time :-).

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A Fresh Start

January 19, 2012

Yesterday I decided to take the day off school. I knew I needed to when Tuesday night I was so tired I was almost in tears because I couldn’t find something that needed to be mailed. After finally hopping in bed, I decided that I needed to do some other things that were screaming for my attention. So, I knew what I wanted to do when I got up yesterday morning and got right to it. Let me tell you there is nothing like getting the clutter cleaned up, floors vacuumed, and the filing attended to. After I finished everything, I decided to call in for take out for supper. There I was sitting on the couch in my clean uncluttered living room with only natural light streaming in from the window waiting for the food and I felt PEACE. The things that had been screaming for my attention weren’t and the kiddos were playing upstairs leaving me to just wallow in quiet for a little while.

Today it is back to school and I feel much better just looking around and knowing that things are done and it won’t be as rough trying to just do what I need to do. All in all a good fresh start to the day.

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I want my “mom jeans” back!

January 14, 2012

Yeah, that’s me all right – longing for the return of “mom jeans”. For those of you who are too young to remember back in the late 80’s and 90’s, these were jeans that actually sat at or slightly above your waistline and, in my opinion, fit SO much better than some of these modern cut jeans. In my opinion they were REAL jeans, not these denim pant things that they are calling jeans. It is so hard to find real denim anymore and I miss that too.

Lee had the best – absolutely. The fit was good and you didn’t have to worry about them showing stuff off when you bent down or over or even just sat in a freakin’ chair! They also had these little elastic thingees on the sides – not elastic all the way around, just a little bit – I think they were the then so called relaxed fit. I really liked those.

Then there was Chic jeans and they had the best fit if you were thinner. I wore those in my early 20’s and I loved them! I don’t even know if Chic jeans even exists anymore. They actually had petite and short fits which was great because I’m only 5’2″!

Now don’t get me wrong, I like the idea of the modern fit jeans, except that a lot of them don’t fit well and I feel like I”m always pulling them up. They are also made with spandex which is nice to a point, but they get stretched out kind of quickly. Maybe I am wearing the wrong size or something, I don’t know. For a woman with a larger body, finding clothes that fit is a trauma anyway. But I do know that I never had to worry about showing off my booty in those old mom jeans.

I need jeans and maybe I’ll just go look at Goodwill and find a good pair of those old mom jeans and wear them with pride! I can hear Stacy and Clinton screaming now…

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Commandments of Alice

January 12, 2012

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I personalized my planner to reflect some things I want to remember to help myself in this new year.

I read The Happiness Project last year and it was so eye opening and also life changing – made me really think about how I view people, things, money, and myself. And it was like a call to change what I could about myself which I’ve talked about before. But it’s hard to do that without a plan – this gives a plan of action. You can follow her resolutions or really think about it and make up your own – small ones and make them concrete not abstract – and change what you can about your life. Anyway, just read the book and you’ll see what I mean and make up your own mind.

So, in the book she came up with her twelve personal commandments – principles to help her as she moved through her life and through the changes she wanted to achieve. I’ve thought a lot about this over the last year and I finally arrived at mine. Here they are:

1. Be Alice

2. Don’t compare yourself to others

3. Act on problems as they arise

4. Let go of the past and forgive as you go

5. No one right way

6. No magic pill

7. Do the work to make things happen

8. Don’t be so hard on yourself

Another I had thought of later was, “Don’t panic first – see what needs to be done and form a plan”. That one kind of ties in to “Act on problems as they arise” because usually I panic first in a crisis. Sometimes it really IS a crisis and you have to act quickly, but usually we have time to think about what is going on and what we want to do about it.

Okay, so back to the planner. I loved the favorite things cover and I thought about writing down my favorite things, but it sounded like I was a 48 year old in a teenager’s body – kwim? Then I was going to get another cover, but it just didn’t feel right. That’s when it hit me – put down your commandments for the Happiness Project!! And that’s what I did and it came out beautifully and those things are starting to get into my mind and pop up when I need to hear them. My planner will not only serve as a place to put events, menu planning, and all those other organizing details, but also as a place to remind myself of who I want to become.

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Twelve Days of Christmas – Day 12

January 11, 2012

Okay, it’s past the 12th day which was Friday and Epiphany, BUT I really had to wind Christmas up on a high note!

Mike took the lights off the house Sunday and Monday we undecorated the tree – which is always a sad moment in our house. We are Christmas lunatics after all. I usually leave the stable up until February 2, but this time I just put it away – don’t ask me why it was different this year. It was a wonderful Christmas, except I lost my focus somewhere. When the presents were opened, the cookies eaten, and all was right with the world, THAT was when I felt like I was ready for Christmas to begin. I was relaxed, focused, and ready finally. Go figure. This year I need to be more balanced and I’m going to add some new traditions as well.

The one thing I wanted more than anything else – my Red Ryder BB Gun if you will – was an Erin Condren Life Planner. I received money for Christmas and decided, what the hell, let’s just do it! So I did. It arrived Saturday and I am SO happy with it!! It is personal, colorful, and it has TABS!! Yeah, I’m one of those people who is addicted to organizers, binders, notebooks, etc. and TABS made my day. So, let’s take a look at it shall we?

Here is how it arrived – in this gorgeous box – the pattern on the front of the box covers the back of the box. See, even the box is cool!

I opened the box and it was all wrapped in pretty paper and there was an envelope with complimentary gift stickers as well! And that business card? Really nice heavy cardstock – some day I’d like to get some of my own. But first I think I need to get out of the house and meet people :-).

Here it is in all it’s glory!

On the front it has my name, but also my 10 Commandments of Alice per The Happiness Project. I had chosen the favorites cover, but decided on something different – more meaningful to me. That’s another post though. Here is the inside:

The colors for each month are fantastic, there are two pockets in the back, AND a pencil case if you will. So, it now resides on my desk in the office ready to be filled and it brings me joy whenever I look at it.

This year I am going to use the envelope system to save $5 a month for my next one – that way it will seem saner to spend that much money on a planner. I even know which cover and what picture I will put on it too. See, I’m planning for my planner? I’m weird that way.

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Where oh where has my energy gone

January 4, 2012

In my nasty head cold – that’s where. I started to get a cold on Saturday and by Sunday it was much worse so I haven’t done much the last few days. Now, Monday was better and so was yesterday, but I still rested from time to time. Well, not much yesterday since we started school again. ‘Twas quite a busy day! But it was a good day – things got done and I felt pretty good. Then I woke up this morning with my head all stuffed up and an ear partially stuffed up – fun times no?

So, I’m up early and will hopefully get to watch an episode or two of My So-Called Life – remember that one from the 90’s? It was a really great show that I secretly liked because, after all, I was already 30 years old and why on earth would I be watching it when it seemed to be geared to teens? Now that I look back on it, it wasn’t just geared to teens but also their parents and it was written and produced by the same people who did thirtysomething – that meant drawing the audience in and also making them think. I liked that and after thirtysomething left the air, I could not find anything else that I liked so I didn’t watch much tv after that. We started homeschooling shortly after that and the tv really went by the wayside. So here I am back to So-Called Life and watching it without guilt. There was a song in the last episode – Dreams by The Cranberries – and it set off a whole chain reaction for me. It was like getting sucked into a time warp and going back to the past and I really started thinking about so many different aspects of my life back then. Back then being both in school and also what was going on in my life when this show was airing. BTW – I liked that song too :-). BUT, I think I’ll save all that for another post – or my journal at the very least.

What happened to the 12 Days of Christmas you might well ask? The cold happened that’s what. Oh, and I lost the SD card too, but need to ask Chris where it is and get caught up or at least finish it. But I am in good company, because the Bob and Doug MacKenzie 12 Days of Christmas song didn’t get through all 12 days either. I’m just trendy that way.

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December Progress Report

December 31, 2011

So, not only is it the end of the month, but also the end of another year. A year for us as a family that saw change as never before. A year for me personally that has found me looking forward and that I have not done in a very long time.

So, we all know that I haven’t made much progress in the weight department – or have I? I lost 3 pounds this month due to a lot of running around and that’s good. I also started to eat more and drink more water – both are sorely needed. You might say, but Alice, you’re overweight, why would you eat more? Because not eating enough packs the pounds on – your body goes into save the fat for energy mode. What I am aiming for is sensibility and it starts in my thought processes most of all. I need to make peace with food and not see it as good or bad but fuel for my body. And it is okay to enjoy what I eat too and that is the main theme of “French Women Don’t Get Fat” (really need to re-read some of that). My kids gave me a digital scale for Christmas and that is going to help me measure out foods so that I can be sure I’m eating enough but not eating too much. It will allow me to see what a true serving size looks like. SO, I feel like I’ve made progress even if I haven’t loss much weight.

I feel like I spent alot of the last few months of this year putting out fires and then needing to rest afterwards. I suppose it is becoming my way of doing things right now because sometimes I get overstressed or things trigger feelings and the depression starts looming again. It usually takes time to thing through things as well. I think this year maybe I really do need to journal because writing things out is proving to be very therapeutic for me as you can see :-). Not everything can be written down here though and a journal would be a safe place to do that.

I plan on doing my own Happiness Project in 2012 as well. While it will be MY project, I am probably going to take my cues from her for some of the months because it really is a good starting point. So, next month I will aim to boost my energy level – right now it’s lower than a caterpillar’s charm bracelet. I think using that formula SNEW could be good for that while also adding vitamins in as well. All of those things are proven to improve your energy and even mental clarity. I think it’s a good place to start without over doing it.

Well, I think that covers things for the month that I wanted to share. Obviously it was a busy month and I didn’t follow Organized Christmas as well as I could have. Other issues cropped up as well and made for a stressful month. Hopefully I can get a grip on my physical needs in January and it will help with the stress I’m under on a daily basis. So, that’s where I stand and where I plan to start (again). HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you and I’ll be updating the 12 days of Christmas as soon as I can find my SD card for my camera – UGH – it’s always something!

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12 Days of Christmas – Day 4

December 29, 2011

On the Fourth Day of Christmas in the Hackmann Family:

Four Pillow Pets

Three yo-yo’s twirling

Two Doodle Bears

And a bed chair for Mom to rest in

Today is the Fourth Day of Christmas and the Feast of St. Thomas A Becket bishop and martyr. He and Henry II of England were buddies until Henry made Thomas Archbishop. Thomas took his office seriously and wouldn’t play favorites with Henry which made the king mad. So, Henry (supposedly) uttered that famous line, “Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest” and four soldiers took him seriously and assasinated Becket.

There is a great movie called (what else) Becket with Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole which tells the story well. It is on Netflix Instant Watch so you might want to check it out. I think I’ll grab some popcorn tonight and watch it myself – it’s been a few years since I’ve seen it. Pray for us St. Thomas Becket that we too may be faithful to Christ and His Church!

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