Baby Steps

So here is what I have been doing to help acheive my goals.

- SAVE MONEY!! I need to buy a house. I did some calculations and I can still make the goal of purchasing for 30 birthday present but I need to stay on track and focused.

Goal: Transfer 75% of paycheck to savings account (the one that I cannot access with ATM or online and have to be in the bank to withdraw from. Love my credit union for having these options. :) )

I have resisted the urge to go shopping but have yet to transfer the funds.  Big plans for the weekend...

But hope is not lost becuase..


- LOSE WEIGHT I am unhappy with my looks and only I have control over it. It is time to shape up. Starting with small goals (again) and working out 3x a week. No more Dr Pepper (WORST PART EVER!!) and taking lunch to work.

Goal: Lose 20lbs by July 4th.

I have dropped drinking soad by 98%.  Ok I don't know if that is the exact percentage but I have kicked the daily Dr Pepper habit.  Hopefully I can continue with momentum.  Also I have been talking to ladies at work and we will be starting a 3 month boot camp at the begining of July.  Mon/Wed/Thu will be the days.  Hopefully I can surive. 


- GET ORGANIZED I have so many projects half completed and unidentified boxes around that I need to determine what I have, need, and should get rid of. Maybe have a garage sale and help build up the house fund.

Goal: Go through 1 box a week.

Well I haven't gone through any boxes but I have gone through my office drawers and my car.  I have the sapce needed to carry items from the donation pile to DI.

- BLOG MORE When I used to write at work, I found myself more relaxed and happier. While I am unable to blog at work (TOO BUSY!!) I still have options from my cell phone and at home.

Goal: Blog at least every Saturday morning.

WOOHOO!!  Blogging a day early. 

Goals

I have been thinking a lot lately and here is what I needed to do:

- SAVE MONEY!!  I need to buy a house.  I did some calculations and I can still make the goal of purchasing for 30 birthday present but I need to stay on track and focused.
Goal: Transfer 75% of paycheck to savings account (the one that I cannot access with ATM or online and have to be in the bank to withdraw from.  Love my credit union for having these options. :) )

- LOSE WEIGHT I am unhappy with my looks and only I have control over it.  It is time to shape up. Starting with small goals (again) and working out 3x a week. No more Dr Pepper (WORST PART EVER!!) and taking lunch to work.
Goal:  Lose 20lbs by July 4th.

- GET ORGANIZED I have so many projects half completed and unidentified boxes around that I need to determine what I have, need, and should get rid of.  Maybe have a garage sale and help build up the house fund.
Goal: Go through 1 box a week.

- BLOG MORE  When I used to write at work, I found myself more relaxed and happier.  While I am unable to blog at work (TOO BUSY!!) I still have options from my cell phone and at home.
Goal: Blog at least every Saturday morning.

My oh My...

how times flies!!!  I cannot even remember last time I posted and I know a million things have happened.  Things like a new baby niece!!  Madison Marie was born on October 1th 2011!!

Here are a few interesting facts:
-middle name Marie is named after me.  Yes I am that special. :)
-I am 26 1/2 years older than this child.
-she hates me. I babysat for a few hours when Lexy & Chris' work scheduled over lapped.  She was bawling the entire time.  Come to find out she had an ear infection but ever since that day, I cannot look and hold her at the same time.  She will start to bawl!!
-I am the only one who really calls her Maddie.
-Her initials are mmm.  Yes MMM! 

What else has happened?  I have failed my ideas already.  They were good while they lasted but I have thrown them out the window. 

School is gonig along.  I really enjoy my English class because the professor is REALLY liberal but it is fun.

Caitlyn and Jana are pregant.  Caitlyn is due in the summer and I think she is going ot have a girl.  Jana is due in November(?) and I think she will have a boy.

I am planning my company's non-company sponsored summer employee picnic.  It is still 6 months away but I feel the time just ticking away!!  There is SO much to do and so little time!!

When I logged in to blog, I had a million things to say and now I don't.

Moonshine...

Lately there has been some amazing beautiful nights full of moonlight.  The top photo doesn't show how brightly the "ring" was shining around the moon.  It was a cloudless night and super cold. I did some research and found out it is called a moon dog or winter halo.  Read more here.  The bottom left was just super pretty coming up over the mountains.  The bottom right is from the lunar eclipse.

So far...

it hasn't been a good 2012 and we are only on day 2.  Saturday night was so-so.  I went to a small gathering and had an ok time.  What made Saturday suck was being pulled over by State trooper for running a red light.  Yep. I have avoided being pulled over for nearly 10 years and here it is.  I have been telling others that 2012 will be better than 2011.  But the stop did happen in 2011 so it is just my own attitude that sucked.  Looking on the positive side, at least I can say that the stop happened last year! 

Sunday wasn't as nice as I would like because my Seahawks lost.  Yes we ended the season 7-9...a losing season. There was a chance we could have pulled out a win but we fizzled.  The positive to Sunday as a great meal topped with a cookie dough blizzard.  yummy!!

But with the New Year, attention shifts to resolutions.  UGH!! Instead of setting a resolution I will ultimately break (like losing weight) I have decided that I am I just going to focus on ideas.  There will be no goal line...or no real accomplishment to be made.  My ideas are just things I need to think on and will put some effort into making the ideas happen.

Idea 1:  blog more. 
Yep.  That is right.  Spend more time on the internet and hope I do not get distracted by Facebook.  While Facebook is fun and sometimes helpful, it distracts me from my real purpose.  To learn more and blog more.  Even thought my following is few, I would still like everyone to know what I am up to.  Plus when I blog, I vent all the emotions I keep bottled inside and then I feel better.  For my overall health, I need to vent emotions more and bottle them less. 

Idea 2: be selfish.
I have decided to be more selfish.  I am always doing stuff for others and take care of myself as an after thought.  I rarely say no and then bottle my annoyance because I am doing something I don't want too. 

Idea 3: ORGANIZE
UGH!! The worst of them all but probably the most necessary.  The up coming year will be busy.  Work, school, politics (tis an elecation year) and possibly a business.  I need to stay on top of everything so the major things don't fall through the cracks.  I need to get a desk in order so bills and important docs are just strung helter skelter over my room.  I need to get an planner to keep test/due dates highlighted and on my radar.

Idea 4: limit shopping
This is for a couple of purposes.  By limiting my shopping, I will save for my house faster.  I will have more room in my cloest. I will have more time for school/work/politics because I will be home more. I also need to purge my current wardrobe.  I have a full closet, and 2 dressers that are unable to contain all I have.  To be fair, I wear two seats of clothes a day.  My work clothes and the jeans and tshirt I change into for home.  That doesn't include the gym clothes I use a couple of days a week or my PJs.

Happiness!!

WOOHOO!!!  So happy to report I get a new schedule!  I have to be to work at the awful hour of 6am.  But do you know what tha means?  I am off at 3!!!  SCORE!!  I also found out that I will be working the day after Thanksgiving. But positive note to that?  I get paid time and half!!  AWESOME!!

I suddenly have the urge to watch the Teenage Ninja Turtles movies.  Yes I am proud to say I own them on DVD. 

300!!!

When I think 300 I think.....

 of Gerard Buttler

(another of my Misters)

but my second thought is this is my 300th post.  A milestone I would say.

How fitting that this milestone is about another milestone?

I have gone back to school.  It is official.

I am a freshman at the College of Western Idaho.

I am enrolled in just two courses: English 101 and Math 025/Algebra.

English I am not liking so much right now but math I actually love.

The math teacher is kinda stupid which means I get to learn at my own pace with the materials online.

English kinda sucks because it is an online course which is harder than I thought.  Because it takes forever to get clarification on a instructions (like word count) or a question.  But it is nice because I can do it quickly or slow.  It was really intimidating thinking,planning, applying, enrolling, PAYING, and actually going to class.  I feel like such an old fart.  I als think it is funny that 10 years ago at this time, I started my senior year of high school.  Kinda weird dontcha think?  I do.  But it is an adventure and I am not the oldest person in the class, thank heavens!  But that is my news.  Think it was worth of the 300 post?

Randomness...

So there has been things that have happened since the last time I posted.  In the interested of time and your attention span, I will just provide snippets of what is happening:

-Idaho Sen McGee got drunk and stole a car.  Mom created controversy.  There is another meeting on Tuesday and I am sure more controversy will happen.  Can't wait.  I don't like McGee.

-MICHAEL BUBLE CONCERT ON THURSDAY!!  FLOOR SEATS!!  SUPER-DE-DUPER EXCITED!!  I will be there a couple hours early even though it is assigned seat.  I am so so so excited so might as well be in my seat then trying to kill time getting there.

-I am still in love with the farmers market.  I have been trying new recipes and have been suprised at how successful I have been.

-Saw Joe Nichols in concert and feel in love.

-Going to see Eric Church in concert in a couple of weeks.

-School starts on Tuesday Aug 23rd.  Same day as Eric Church. Nothing important happens the first day right?

-There are days I wish I had my open place.  Especially at night when my room on the 3rd floor is still 85 degrees at 10pm.

Photography...

I have always enjoyed photography but lately it has really become a passion.  I have decided to pursue it further. I am looking into classes/courses to delve deeper into this facisnation I have.

Recently here in the Treasure Valley we have had some AHHHMMMAAAZZZING lightening/thunder shows...with a little rain sprinkled in.  I have been fiddling with the setting on Dad's Nikon D50.  I am in love.  Now I just need to get one of my own.  Which I should receive in 5 years.  Now I need to focus on school and saving for a house.   Just click on the picture to enlarge.

Taken on June 23 or 24th

Taken on June 28th

Taken on June 28th

God & Country Rally fireworks on June 29th

Anyone else see palm trees and dandilions in these? God & Country Rally fireworks on June 29th

God & Country Rally fireworks on June 29th

Wild weekend..

What a day Saturday was.

I purchased a Bountiful Basket and had to pick it up at 7am!!  OUCHIEE!!  But I hauled my butt to the pick up location and was pleasantly suprised how quickly I was able to get in and out. Maybe 10 minutes.  This week, there were appx 10 apples, 3 artichokes, 2 mangos, 2 cuccumbers, 5 ears of corn, 1 pineapple, and 2 green peppers...and a cantelope and 2 heads of Roman lettuce.I was impressed.  Now I just have to use all the stuff.  I have surfered the internet for some recipes and I am pretty excited to try them.  Now I just need to find the time to actually try them.

Caribbean Fruity Salsa
Chicken Artichoke Dip
Chicken Pesto Pizza
Chicken Artichoke Heart and ParmesanSandwiches

With veggies in hand, I head over to Lexy's to go garage saling.  That was kinda bust.  After a couples hours of little success we head to the Farmers Market.  It has moved locations so it has more but it doesn't have the same feeling. 

Once we had walked through the market, it was time for babysit Marlee while Lexy and Chris attended a funeral.  Marlee and I went over to Emma's and played for a little bit.  Kaylee and Tyler were there too so it was a fun time (with some fighting). 

Thankfully there was a nap before Lexy, Marlee and I went to the grand opening of the Nampa Hastings.  After browsing for awhile, it was time to drop off TJ and the fruit/veggies at home.  Then a mad dash to retrieve Kaylee and Tyler for a night at the movies.  Fast Five was ok but the original is best.

Thankfully today has been a veg out day.  Trying to recover from being sick and the crazy day yesterday. How wonderful it is.  I have caught up on my blog-stalking, emails, Facebook, and recorded movies. 

Nearly killed me...

So I have been feeling awful for the past week.  A small cough developed on Monday and Tuesday it was bad.  Wednesday I woke up and felt 1,000x worse.  I stayed home from work and went to the Dr.  I had coughed so much my side muscles were hurt!!  I was diagnosed with a sinus infection and acute bronchitus.  So I was perscribed an inhaler and antibiotics...at a cost of $54!!  OUCH!!  I was ready to forget that and just stick to coughing.  But thanks heavens the medicine is working.  I still have a cough but it is gradually getting better. 

It did suck because it has put the school testing on hold for a little bit but this week it is a must. 

Amazing news!!

OSAMA BIN LADEN is DEAD!!  When I heard the news tonight, the first thought that popped into my head was THANK HEAVEN!!  Second thought was "Ding dong the wtich is dead!!" (not really sure where that came from).

I had a great discussion with my parents about what this could mean in the future, what closure it must provide to the families from 9/11.  What hard work our military has been doing for the last decade.  How grateful we are for their sacrfice, a perpetual gartitude for every man and woman of the armed forced (and their families) from past, present, and future generations.

Of course threy was talk of the President and politics.  That is something that occurs daily in the household.  So before I go to bed, I turn on the TV and the President is giving his speech.  And I do have some thoughts about this.

According to the commentary from NBC the President was briefed to the death this morning.  But instead of announcing to the world of the accomplishment of the US Military, he plays his 9 holes of golf (the commentators even joked that he reduced it down from 18 he normally would have played because of the upcoming announcement).  I remember when the Trade Towers were hit, and Pres Bush was informed, the left were up in arms that he didn't leave the book reading and do something.  I had asked then, if he left what could he have done?  And the answer is nothing.  I would even suspect that as more details emerged, Bush would have been hussled to safety.

So begin the avid Facebooker I am, I post that comment.  Man did it light up a firestorm.  Comments ranged from "well I would rather he (Obama) wait til it was confirmed and got it right than announce prematurely".  I replied that this could have been avoid if Pres Clinton took that chance when first presented.  It was then commented that "we should be focused on uniting as a nation".  Which I decide not to respond too because it will just get ugly and facebook isn't the best place for that. 

But my response is: the nation was united until Pres Obama thought politics was more important that the American people.  He is the most divisive President.  The Congress seems to ignore the American people and follow the President.  I cannot believe how much legislation was passed when it seemed the country was against it.  I know that both sides claims they had the numbers but even the media with the polls showed how the majority was against Obamacare.  I thought the elections were rather telling that there was a shift in some of the power. 

Some additional comments were made that what I said were pop shots at the president and claimed we shouldn't be casting stones.  I agree.  Not that my comments were pop shots, because I believe they are valid, but that we shouldn't be casting stone.  I am not perfect, Obama not perfect. My FB friends are not perfect either.  However, I still voice my opinions becase we will never been perfect in this world so why shold that prevent me from presenting my opinion?  I am simply taking the logic that was applied to a previous President and apply it to the current one.  I also feel that Obama is forever casting stones.  I will be big enough to admit that I am petty and I am simply doing until others and they have done unto me. 

But from all of this I gather something alot more than a opinion of the Presidents behavior.  From this I have witnessed the true strength of the American spirit & military.  It is with continued sacrifices from men and women of the armed forces that I am allowed to voice my opinion.  That those who serve, have served, and will serve have a much greater strength, determination, will, love, hope, faith, courage, and bravery that I will ever posses. They are the greatest people in our history.  It is because of those who serve that we have the luxuries that we do.  That I can sit here in my bed, with my dog at my feet and type this.  While they are sleeping in tents, or trenches.  They should be written of in the magazines, instead of what starlet did this or who went to what party.  I am truly humbled by the actions that have been taken on the behalf of keeping me free.  The American military ensure that I can have a heated discussion with friend and coworkers.  They ensure that I can practice my faith as I see fit and others the opportunity not to practice.  While I may never support this President, I will always support the service men and women.  It is because of them, that such an accomplishment as been made.

Zoo Eggstravaganza

Today, Zoo Boise was hosting their annual Eggstravagnza Egg Scramble. I loaded up two of my neices, Kaylee and Emma, as well as my friend, Brehdi. It was so fun. We got to see the Tigers up close and also play. Then we also saw a baby....wambat or something. I think we were at the zoo for maybe 3-3.5 hours. It was great. :)

It's been awhile...

since there has been any pictures or mentions of TJ. So to make up for lost time..here are some random pictures. He got his hair cut on April 6th....just FYI.

And I moved.

In case you haven't heard, I have moved back in the with 'rents (aka parents). I had to move because the complex was settling and deemd structurally unsound. So the property management told me I had 2 weeks to be out. I was notified of the move on Febuaray 14 (Monday) and needed to be out by the end of the month. OH JOY!! I did it. The plants and the living room were the first to go as they were some of the most precious items. (Just FYI, the door was on my last day and everything was out..tear :( ) So into the old homestead. It was cramped for a couple of weeks. Because not only was I there, but so was my sister, her husband, and their 2 year old. Plus Mom and Dad. Then TJ. It was interesting. Finally sister moved into her house and I moved into my old high school bedroom. Which is fitting because I am headed back to school. I am enrolling in a local community college, CWI. I plan on studying business administration or something with computers. Who knows. But living with my parents not only allows me to go to school debt free, it also allows me to save for a home. There is a time frame on this project though. I will be out of here by my 30th birthday. That is 3 years from now. Hopefully something changes prior to that but right now that is the plan.

hate to break the news...

but I am not going to do the major post to catch up on everything that has happened.  you have survived without the pictures and details this long, you can surivie forever without knowing them.

but what you cannot surive not knowing is....

I am content.  That has been a feeling that has eluded me for a long time.  but today I am content.  job is going great...did you hear that I got a promotion?...i just worked extra hard at the gym today...I am going to dinner with the girls to celebrate (YUMMERS for Mexican food)!!

thought I would just share... :)

Blog overload ahead...

Sometime here shortly, there will be MANY MANY blog posting but I just haven't found the time yet.  Plus I still need to download the pictures too.  UGH!!  Too many things to do and not enough time. 

But here is what is on my MUST BLOG ABOUT LIST:
moving back to parents house - excited/UGH/scary/happy (PICTURES)

going back to school -  excited/UGH/scary/happy

Republican junk - Moms award/ (PICTURES)

101 Things - some accomplishments/back up and working

Valentine's party - (PICTURES)

Jana's birthday dinner (PICTURES)

Brehdi (PICTURES)

Red shoes (PICTURES)

Hectic update.

So life has been hectic but slow so here are just a few highlights.

-I am now Canyon County Republican Women Secretary.  That happened on January 22nd (I think)
-Major renovation at http://www.canyoncountyrepublicanwomen.com/ which I am very proud of.
-WOOHOO!!  I got a Droid phone!!
-Yesterday, today, and tomorrow I am working 630-1830 so I am beat!!
-Family is very active and healthy
-I cant wait for Monday because I have a day off!!

Slow me down, Lord....

Slow me down. Lord.  Eas the pounding of

my heart by the quieting of my mind.

Steady my hurried pace with a vision

of the eternal reach of time.

Give me, amid the confusion of the day,

the calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles

wit hthe soothing music of the singing streams

that live in my memory.  Help me to know

the magical restoring power of sleep.

Teach me the art of taking minute vacations....

of slowing down to look at a flower,

to chat with a friend, to pat a dog,

to read a few lines from a good book.

Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send

my roots deep into the soil of life's enduring values

that I may grow toward

the starts of my great destiny.

(that was from a plaque I am took down from my wall.  funnt...

while on the wall, I never read it all the way through.)

HANDBOOK 2011

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2010 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily -- and while you walk, smile!!

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least 3 people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So... be happy.

Mom forwarded me this handbook in an email.  I really liked it so I thought I would share.