"Easy"

Hello folks - the picture above is one of those things that I have been working on in my time after I jump out of my car from my commute. I am going to really work on taking more pictures and sharing more. It's has to be said that my thoughts and actions don't always translate into action. I am working on this...it's cost me a lot on the past- Memories, interesting relationships, and opportunites (I am sure)~ Yesterday while reading a new british magazine at the coffee shop I read an article about worry and how counterproductive it is. I have been really getting pretty good about being verbal, letting things and issues go and moving on. I am sitting here listening to internet radio and taking a short break. I just put a chai banana bread in the oven. The funny thing is that I have found that I have spent a lot of time obsessing and thinking of things that really are important but dont deserve or NEED obsessing about. By not obsessing about weight I managed to lose about 4 lbs last week. Eating sensible, moving more and drinking water ( making an effort for sure on the last item). The flowers are in my front lower flower bed. There are 2 one is elevated and one is ground level. The upper level is filled with coral petunias and they are pretty. My front sitting area has some fire engine red chairs that are making life easy and enjoyable as I watch the cars go by. The flowers are spreading, filling in blooming and moving forward. I am love how I put them down and God just does soo much work for my enjoyment. The front is now a good coffee and paper reading place, I have tested it out! God knows how to speak to me and tell me to slow down, speed this up and turn here. Working feverishly on not missing on bit of HIS directive... Tommorrow is Memorial Day. I have a lot of military men in my family. A LOT - some retired some have moved to the other side of life.. but they served. I've not forgotten what this day represents....and I hope while you eat, drink and rest you remember as well. And don't forget to smell your flowers too!

Maybe God is tryin to tell "ME" sumthin

I guess the eyeglasses are symbolizing "insight" okay... it's 7:51PM my time... and I have been home from work for several hours... I mean like several. I got of the interstate, went to the lawn and garden store, bought some stakes and ( just a few more plants) and then... changed clothes. grey yoga pants ( heck I was doing a form of yoga I think) and my long sleeve t-shirt that has duel purpose. It's a reminder of a goal I accomplished long ago and it reminds me that mosquitos like my blood - so protection is in order.

A few weekends ago I took the opportunity to walk and reflect in my favorite garden center it's like a mental oasis for me and talk about calming -it's a natural "relaxer"... when I drive up on the lot I get happy. No exaggeration here. I went there to get my favorite garden incense - this sounds extravagant but it's the best mosquito repellant ( which is it's purpose) that I have found, and I dont have to put it on me to be protected.

This evening I lit a stick ( which takes about 1+ hours to burn down , and got to work. I planted lemon and apple mint in 2 hanging baskets- up on the shepherds hook they went!
In the ground went 3 lambs ears plants. ( they prevent aphids from attacking the garden) but the main reason I got them was because I love to feel rub the leaves between my fingers so nice ( they feel like puppy and kitten ears- as for the name I have NEVER rubbed a lambs ear soo I better not say it feels just like....)
Then 4 cabbage plants, 3 sugar snap pea and 3 green bean plants later. I thought I was finished.... but then I started doing some "weeding"... and then I planted a begonia and watered everything ( though rain is threatening- afterall the weatherman is just "a mere mortal"!)

My title is based on the fact that I made quite a number of friends on you tube...but I stopped making videos right before a lot of things changed in my life which forced a change in my vantage point. I decided this evening that maybe I'd start back making vids again.. but I got on and tried to play some vids not working- found out they'd reformatted everything ( not interested in figuring it out) and decided thatI would call it quits. I am going to disable comments on all the vids and notify my "friends" and move on... I took it as God trying to tell me something - ther is more to life - ( not that, that was all I did far from it) but there is definitely some more for me to do... and my folks that I know I will keep in contact with them... as we already do....

I got the message loud and clear. :)
Toodles~

Perinneals vs. Annuals~ I now know what I am.

So I just finished doing my after work walk through in my garden. I have stated the order of my day, when I get home I go outside do a walk through - water and then stand there and get bitten by mosquito's ( new development) and then come in relaxed / decompressed. I got today's title because there are a lot of things going on in my life right now. I have had to pray this week for my nanny as she was having an issue which "appeared" to be a big deal. God is gracious and she is fine... I have had to bat down some feelings about some other things going on in life that just kinda make for an interesting soup but I know that HE can handle those as things as well. 2 lessons I have learned this year soo far ( the deep kind worth mentioning here - but they are all worth paying heed to). 1)Things work out no matter how it appears. 2)Treat each day and each experience with the respect it deserves~ An interested thing happened today with at my new workplace....a meeting was called with my manager and the manager's manager. I sighed and wondered... is all well? inmy mind I thought "things are going good " right? I never felt trepidation but I can't always trust the feelings casue they can fool you. When I left my last place I wondered about folks motives. I experienced first hand that all folks really want is "what they want", when they want it. Scary revelation. I went to my meeting, unsure of what to think. No feelings of trepedation - just all around uncertainty. I decided during my hiatus, I can do what can, I will do the best I can each time I do anything. It was all good, I left out of the meeting feeling valued and with an financial increase after 4 months at my job. I felt appreciated and I knew for sure that God's hands were all in it. Recognition came twice today in my private meeting and among my peers. I am blessed. Working unto God just doesn't hurt, ever. I am never far from thinking about creative stuff, right now it happens to be my garden and one of other personal projects. My gardens both flower and vegetable/herb. I have always wanted to grow stuff and to share it. I will tell you this. Each year we are told there are plants that come back every year Perrenials (sp). The other genre are annuals. Those you buy and they grow this season at frost you pluck them up after the frost kills them. Not so! I have proof, last year I planted vinca's in the ground. 2 have come back and they now have woody stems ( will it make a bush?)and are about to flower. Same with another flowering plant. If that were not enough I have Oregano from last year ( gone wild) and 2 chard plants ( from last year)which have produced 2 loads of chard this month alone. Now I notice the cucumbers planted last year have made a comeback on their own! All of these beds were cleaned and plucked except the oregano ( it was my personal experiment~ .. these are all plants that we are led to believe only last one season. I know better now. I decided with my good outcome today that I too am a perinneal. I have a growing season , it might appear that I was down and possibly out- but since the conditions are right. I am sprouting and bearing fruit/purpose. I am thankful to be able to experience this lesson. I am thankful that my season and my relevance is not over ~ Toodles.

HURRY UP AND SLOW DOWN~

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Hello all~ I don't really know who "all" is anymore...it's been another hiatus. I think it was a time for reflection- active reflection cause I am not sure we get to sit down and reflect on anything anymore. I feel forced to multi-task even though I am "no longer a fan". Some things just have their place and it does just not soo much, not right now. I have spent a lot of time hurriedly -hurrying. I could blame my husband for some of it... because I clearly was not in an anticipatory state all the time - or having to "stay ready" for this or that all the time prior to marriage... but I think we temper ourselves and we adjust and everything...I am in no means complaining about the fella or the institution of marriage. What I am doing here today is telling it as I see it and how I feel unfiltered and uncut. On the way home... I called home and asked the fella to chop up some veggies (*onions and bell peppers to be exact). Well It just was not going to happen for me.. Monday's are either the crockpot day or the fella is supposed to cook. The crockpot was not going... so... deduction is I got the stuff - you know what to do... that is what I MEANT by the statement - "it just was not to happen for me". I remember this scenario- my mom would tell us to do something - we'd calculate the time wrong and right when she'd be close enough to home that we'd not possibly be able to complete the task - we'd go into overdrive. 1 or 2 things would happen - I would get the exhilaration from pulling off the great task in record time... or I'd go into explain mode ( which always precluded a whipping). My husband stole something from my childhood playbook...as I stole a move from someone else's playbook ( my granny by another mother). She told me a while ago- to slow down , enjoy life and don't get strung out or up by things that just aren't that important. She told me this at a time when the fella were not in a good space. My pitch it all and start again thinking was surfacing... ( I reserve the right to scrap a plan in a minute- be it right or be it wrong). This evening after I got out of the car from my 45 minute commute;which I have finally calmed down and learned to kinda enjoy after 4 months. I got out of the car hopeful,I came in the house and realized that I needed to cut up onions and the peppers, cause the time was not calculated right. God is gracious tome. I put the entree together in record time! Then I made a decision... I would go outside after I got out of my work clothes and water my garden... just turn on the spigot and water away~ It felt good to get out there, to be doing something that was going to benefit in the future and was a benefit right now!Water w/ the hose felt like a treat; heck it was a non-caloric treat. I got stuff growing I'm already sharing from my garden with some of my friends at work - oregano filled houses chard enhanced dinners ... from my wee- "farm" This is the stuff life is made of - it's the God winks that we miss when we move soo fast that most things become a blur...I think I am enjoying slowing down... but I have got to tell you... I am by no means coming to a grinding halt... just changing gears. If my sister from another mother is reading this - ( and you "sho know who you are" I want to tell you - Thank you for the written letter you "sho hoped me"- as the old folks say) and I love you for knowing what to do, and when to do it... and then doing it... ( the next play book move, i'll be stealing)... I'm just sayin'. Toodles~

ALL or NOTHING! really? ~

Today is a good day for a revelation. The revelation made me smile on my insides. For most of my life I have been controlled by my thoughts of perfection. Everything was black or white no room for grey ( even though it's a valid color/concept and has it's place in life and society LOL). I had the baby and the bathwater syndrome. Very good at completing task, but always feeling "failuresque" if it could not be done "just right". I realize that I just made up a word in the previous sentence, bear with me.

I am doing laundry and several other things at once my new version of multitasking but on a different tip. I know that what I am doing does not require perfection - but it does require completion. What caused me to put up this post is that I have been exercising but it's not been like it used to be. I am finding I am not regimented, or self condescending for not doing everything perfect. As of late my times have varied but I noticed increased willingness to tell me that "some is better than none". This is ALL NEW in the response arena for me!

The issue::Just a few minutes ago I was looking at a magazine.I learned last year to pull out what I need and discard the rest. This magazine was going through demolition. Secretly I was wondering what made me buy it initially. I found 2 salvagable pages with 3 recipes. One of the recipes I would like to alter and make tonight as a side-dish. I looked at it to see what I'd need. Some of the ingredients can be costly and not something I will use regularly, I am soo not into waste. I decided that I would not make the recipe because I did not want to buy 3 of the ingredients and have them sitting around only to go "bad". Note to self "you will still have to cook dinner".I realized I was missing an op to try something different and new. My all or nothing had reared its ugly head somewhere else. I am finding that some thought patterns are pervasive - they have literally infiltrated every area of our being. I want to root this one out, I've missed out on being more "merry" because of it.

The solution:: I am going to one of my local ethnic stores as these type ingredients may be cheaper there. If they are not I am going bin shopping at the speciality market and only "get what I need" to make one serving of the dish. I decided that I want to try this dish and not "wonder" if it's good. I want to KNOW.

It's simple math to one other person and a conundrum for another. I think I just found the answer to this math problem. Nothing from nothing does indeed leave nothin, but a little bit of this and a little bit of that may produce a WHOLE LOT of merry in my world. I am all for increased "merry",I need to lighten up...

Toodles~

"My how the time fiies"...

Today's title is pretty much how I felt today. I have said on my vlog that I use a towel over the console of the treadmill when I am walking so I wont be fixated on it. Today was no different. I knew how long I was going to walk I just did not know what my outcome for my other numbers were going to be.

Anymore I have a goal for my workouts, this is different as my goal used to be to do it until I get too tired to continue. Now tired is a known part of the equation so my goal now is to reach "specifics". Today my goal was to have a 300cal workout. I wanted to offset my after workout power drink. I kinda knew what I'd be adding to it. ( all good stuff - spinach, frozen banana, 1/2C mango puree and the protein powder of course).

I noticed when I started exercising consistently in late summer I was staring at the treadmill console clock and anything else that told time- my watch, the wall clock- the clock on the television - you get the idea. It seemed like 30mins took forever. Now 30 min comes pretty quick. Time hasn't sped up but my attitude toward time when I workout has changed drastically. Time is no longer the "headliner" - my calorie burn and the length of my walks have taken the starring role. My calorie burn is coming from the use of one button - the incline. I love it....

I wanted to stop by and document one my best workouts ever- my goal is to beat one of the workout tapes I have that promises a 500 calorie burn in an hour. I think sometime next week I just might do it... and when I do- you all will know it!
Toodles~
*the pix is the console on my treadmill - 6% incline, 411 calories burned, 56 minutes, and 2.62 miles.* Thank you Jesus.

Write the Vision?

Ya'll it's countdown time... you know to what I won't even go there today. Yesterday what was impressed on me so strongly was a question I was asked during my recent interview. This is the scene: 2 women sitting there rapid firing questions at me. Not really a big deal,this was not the first time this had happened. The thing that I am making a big deal about today isn't new either. The question was,"where do you plan to be in the next 5 yrs?", I answered.

All over you-tube and in magazines - vision boards are mentioned. I have a modified thingee ( it's on my refrigerator so you know it's not big). I put this up there for things that I wanted for this house. It's a couple years old. I realized about 9months ago that the things on the board had been fufilled and I was able to mark everything off. It was soo smooth some of it I did not even realize my desires had been given to me. I also was upset with myself for not paying closer attention to my "list". We've had repairmen here in the kitchen, and guest here in the kitchen.I don't know if anyone knew what my list was, but I knew it was there. I wondered what would have happeded had I revisited it more often if I had paid closer attention to it. I bet things would have happened faster and my praise would have been more consistent.

I listened to a webcast this morning I had NO idea of the content but again God was leading/guiding his special kid ( that's me). When I seek him to "break it down" in elemetary terms to me He's faithful to do just that! This guest minister I have heard before and I love to hear him teach. I promise you I learned a long time ago- to listen to/look at the substance coming out of the container and not the container itself. It's only fair, I am repeatedly asking for the same courtesy.

I decided to refresh my miniature vision list. It's time. I want to have some new memorials and things to celebrate and look back on. I want some new things to be able to say "remember when God did such and such?" This is the stuff that makes me smile and gives me hope. While I am asking Him for stuff, I definitely plan on doing my best to stay on top of the things He's asked me to do as well!
http://vimeo.com/31511057

I am gonna get this done today- Believe that.

Toodles~

All laid back.

Today has been a good day for me. I am leaning more toward keeping my blog going and doin my vlog for the purpose it serves. I understand that there is something about my personality that is quirky, even funny. I don't know what it is... it just is. But I will say this... there is a serious side to me. If I am talking about something incessantly or thinking about something constantly ( noone will know that unless I get to talking about it) then it's something that needs my attention or that I happen to be giving a lot of attention. Right now my health is at the top of the list, a close second is my return to work ( a new job) and getting some of these " new life" plans into action. I love a plan but I get excited to when it's time to put it into action and I get to see if it really works or needs tweakin'.
Since July ( the tail end of it) I have really amped up the importance of exercise and improving my eating. I realized that not eating well and my habit of "not eating period" was not a good combo. My body was confused and it just held on to everything-I was not exercising at all. A sedentary job and which was highly stressful just made up the perfect storm.
It's been decided that 2012 and beyond is going to be happy and good time in my life. I want to know what I've envisioned will work. I am standing my ground and my laid back attitude kind of surfaced today... I have been waiting on that part of me to show up... the laid back self - I have not seen her in about 7 years..
I got a feeling I am going to like my laid back self. :)
Toodles~

So, Sew, Sow....

This morning I feel soo much better. I am about to workout in a bit but I have already done some work this morning. I took out the trash(modified weight lifting) and then I performed the Saturday morning ritual of changing the sheets; which is an activity that I have kept from childhood. I have one load of clothing that is in the dryer and one last load to wash. I will then be finito with the laundry. I have reached and lifted and swept and all those things this morning. I guess to some folks this is a "so" what? To me it's a signal that I feel good. My routines old and new are taking form and I am happy about this. I love a good plan- especially the kind that seem to be "doable". I failed to mention that I made our menu up through Tuesday ( this is normal) and wrote it on the erasable menu board in the kitchen. This is my secret effort to stave off having to answer the "what's for dinner?" question - sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

Yesterday my plan was to complete one of the sewing projects that I mentioned on my vlog. I got it pinned on... which sometimes is the part that gets on my nerves. I got amped yesterday because there are soo few pieces that I did not realize it! The problem ? I was soo energy depleted from my "nose war" that I could not sew. I had to concede and go and lay down. I coughed and hacked. I held up the white flag - which was actually a fresh tissue to blow my nose. My nose won that battle - I plan to sew today.

Now I am excited about going to church tomorrow. Don't ask me why... I have the same excitement about it that I felt when it got close to the New Year ... I am excited about life in general- but this year for some reason I have been REALLY EXCITED. I am excited I know for sure for all the possibilities. I am a giver and going back to work is going to allow me to sow into the lives of others the way I want to. I have been kinda slacking in this area in 2011 and I hated it. I do it because I am supposed to, I do it because nowadays folks don't love on each other as we should. I do it because it's an inherited trait ( Thanks Mom). I do it because it allows my hands to be free to do it again and again. The selfish part of giving for me is it makes me feel good.
So today is a for real a So, Sew, Sow day.
"Make God's will the focus of your life day by day. If you seek to please Him and Him alone, you'll find yourself satisfied with life". - Kay Arthur
Toodles ~

Fitness is a state of Body AND a state of mind!

Today I am just a bit frustrated regarding getting my workout in. I am doing everything I can to "shazach" myself into feelin' like myself and getting better all around. Stuffy nose, red nose, scabbed nose. Sputtering when I talk,( due to running out of breath) and the nasal sound of hoarseness just is not cute. I am not concerned about the cute part. I want to feel like working out.
The thoughts I am having now are sooo different for me. I almost don't know what to do with the thoughts I have about working out and my eating plan. I am going to work in a week, and I feel like these symptoms have cut into my plot to workout, and to do the other things I feel like I need to do...( the truth is-I was not able to workout ONE day) all this because I was not able to work out yesterday. I did not have the power to do it AND breathe well. Today I am going to workout no matter what -I will do a modified workout (tape or something).
I finally found a meal replacement bar that I can make for work. I have my workout clothes on alert. I got my crockpot ( for dinners that can start while I am on my way home). I am working myself through my wardrobe and finding all kinds of stuff. The issue is that I have been working from home and now I am factoring a "commute" and other things... I am excited and a moving forward with the normal trepidation that anyone in my position would feel.
I ate well yesterday even though I didn't feel good. I still did not feel like me though. I know that I am doing better today... but I want to get back to feeling like myself. The truth is my old self is dwindling away and a new improved me is emerging.I like her... but SHE is different...
On second thought -Maybe it is normal to want to exercise daily and to get frustrated when you can't. - maybe it is normal to know that you ate well but could have done better and start thinking about self improvement. - Maybe it is normal to be excited about planning for well being instead of waiting for the gauntlet to drop ( the correct word is proactive). Maybe it's normal to want to be Better!
Toodles~
"Health is not valued until sickness comes". - Thomas Fuller