ARU

Below zero temperatures a thing of the past.  Spring shoots bursting through the ground.  The sun slowly rising higher into the sky as the northern hemisphere slowly awakens out of a winter slumber-with emphasis on slowly!  Around these here parts one also knows spring is on the way when the basketball season gives way to baseball and softball. 
Another change that warmer climes bring involves the Garcia dinner menu.  For years, especially when I worked full time outside the house, I was not very good at dinner planning.  The extra money coming in was usually spent on going out to eat on a regular basis.  At one point, the effort was made to plan dinners a week at a time.  When I left gainful employment this effort became part of my 'new' fulltime job.  The menu revolves around Sunday dinners, sandwiches, soups, pasta and Mexican dinners with a night left open to eat leftovers or pizza-usually on Friday and usually pizza.  With warmer temperatures on the way soup yields to salads. 
I believe I started the weight loss journey at exactly the right time.  Years ago I gave up trying to lose weight right after the new year as I usually 'eat' my way through the dreary days of winter.  Up to this point I have lost 7.6 pounds.  With quite a few more pounds to lose, the reality of how long this journey will take has been acknowledged, responded to with maximum effort, and lastly and most importantly, understood.   

Motivation

Today began the beginning of a long, long journey.  Samantha, the oldest turns twelve in April while Shannon the youngest, turns eight in July.  At some point between July of 1998 and now I managed to gain fifty pounds and have successfully kept it on!  If I had that sort of weight problem it wouldn't be such an ironic statement.  As it stands, those fifty pounds are unneeded and eventually will be the cause of unwanted health problems.  In an utopian world, I would faithfully eat my vegetables and fruits, consume specific portions of meat and bread and the excess pounds would melt off within days.  In the real world, losing the weight, reaching an idyllic goal weight, will take months, maybe a year-hence the long, long journey.  I have also come to the realization that by altering my eating habits I will put my daughters on the path to a healthy lifestyle-hopefully one to last their lifetime. 
I weighed in today without my coat and by golly- it weighed six pounds!  I wonder how much my shoes weigh?

Magic Number

As promised and almost forgotten as predicted, I revisited the resolutions made at the beginning of the year.  Resolutions are now named 'life goals' in the anticipation of not making any next year- as those goals will be an ongoing process.  Of those, one has been attained- to a degree.  Since turning forty, my skin has acquired the redness as advertised by age.  Never one to keep a stritct skin regime, I decided to step up the maintenance.  A daily routine of cleansing and moisturizing along with the application of a base makeup has helped reduce the total area of redness.  With the accomplishmnet of one, I am setting out to check another off the list. 
Over the weekend I took Emma and Shannon to a waterpark where two older brothers and respected families had a suite.  The oldest brother and I discussed heritage and what to expect as we age.  Donning a swimming suit the 'writing on the wall' was visible as I watched family members swim and float and climb the stairs to the top of the slide.  Yesterday at a doctor's appointment to have some potentially cancer causing skin blemishes removed I weighed in at the magic number of 209 pounds with coat and shoes.  Really- how much can a coat and a pair of shoes weigh?! Not much as I found out when I got home and weighed again.  Why the word magic?  I had no intention of starting this goal until after spring break vacation with warmer weather ensuing and now- well now is the time.  As this goal will take a considerbale amount of time to accomplish expect weekly posts.  

Faces and Places

Time for a little bragging- to post out there for all to see.  My niece Paulina, Brad (my brother) and Chaundra's daughter, was made famous, at least within her social world, yesterday as her picture was posted to her school's website.  Chaundra emailed out the website and by the time I saw it the picture had changed.  Chaundra's brother found it once more by refreshing the page, and voila-there it is.  Paulina, of course, is the one on the left!

My youngest daughter, Shannon, is also in the news, of which I bragged about on Facebook.   A picture of her and friends was taken after an ice skating lesson and was used once before the Peoria Park District for its Playbook, singly, and now it used with two other pictures.  She is in the middle picture and she is the blonde in the middle.

Congrats to both girls.  You be so famous.

February-Enough Said

No, not really.  I have more to say.  This week the world decided to stop spinning on its axis for a few hours and dump seventeen inches of snow in a twenty-four hour period.  Following came days with negative to low temperatures.  Needless to say, but saying it anyway, the kids were home from school for three days straight.  I went to the gas station to get fountain drinks just to leave the house for a few minutes.  Although the temperatures are frigid the world is now white and the sun has been shining brightly.  Valentine's day is on the way.  I am attempting to make Valentine's to mail out this year.  I have the idea, the stamps and the ink.  Now to find and keep- the motivation to get them done on time to mail.  My next goal is to make Valentine cookies.  Yum, Yum.  The motivation to get those done won't be so hard to conjure!  Another facet I should try and conjure is a bigger fan base.  For now, for all those near, hang in there with the snow.  For those not so nearby, and probably in a warmer clime, don't forget to wear your sunscreen!

Remember the Why!

A few days ago during a movie I typed a number of New Year’s resolutions into my phone’s notepad. I’m not one to deliberate the outcome of my resolutions. During the past few years I’ve avowed to revisit these resolutions at the first of each month-which lasts approximately four months and then the kids get out of school! My goal then is to use this venue to keep on track.

This year I integrated my resolutions, i.e. if I do one then another benefits. The idea of publishing them to the world (or to my two followers) came after watching a morning news’ broadcast during which they advised that accountability will help in achieving one’s goals. Here goes… and then maybe I’ll revisit all year.

1. Drink more water

2. Exercise aerobically 30 minutes a day

3. Take better care of skin

4. Reduce weight

An additional resolution, not on the numbered list, is to ease up on the girls’ inability to keep their rooms clean. They are learning to keep their door closed!

As well as putting the resolutions out there for all to see, another point of advice was to ‘Remember the Why’ of your resolutions. So to all, set those goals, make those changes, and be better for it. Happy New Year to all!