Forward March

Life keeps moving forward at an alarming rate. Sean's college applications have all been sent - seriously? $600 just for the application process???? Now we sit back and wait...who will see what we know he has within him and bring him on board? Will the places on the top of his list offer him enough that it will be possible for him to go there? Lots of prayers these days. Meaghan's musical dreams are about to take off. By this time next year our home will have one less body living in it. I am always amazed at how many mom's look forward to that freedom...I find it sad, really, as for 98% of the time, we enjoy the time with our children! Yet another blessing we may not truly deserve! Today marks the beginning of Meaghan's journey into the real world of music...in the very safe hands of some really important and connected professionals. It's a time filled with excitement and trepidation! As parents, we are obligated to help our children reach their goals and dreams and help them to pursue what brings them joy and happiness in life. We do so willingly, yet it comes with the fear of "are we doing the right thing" and "have we given them the right tools to be strong enough to succeed?" Again, all we can do is support and pray that she finds happiness and discovers what the true plan for her life is intended to be. Knowing that those who want to help her along this road to discovery are truly good people. Now there is much to do to plan and prepare for all that this upcoming year will bring our way. The more prepared, the less stress, the more successful we will all be. Looking forward to the whole process!

Change can be scary....

But it can also be the best thing in life! I have had so many changes in my life and I can pinpoint the moment I began to toy with the idea of REALLY making a change. It was a spring evening up in Princeton, MA on the sidelines of the soccer field. I was chatting with my son's soccer coach - who incidentally has become one of my best friends - and he said to me "reinvent yourself. I love reinventing myself. I've done it a bunch of times." I thought he was nuts!

We'd been talking about all of the chaos and negativity in my life, especially where my career was concerned, and he said that like it was the easiest thing in the world. That moment stuck with me and I realized that I'd already been doing that for a while, but was still hanging on to the thing that made me most unhappy and I was doing so for others; for my family, for my students; for their parents; for the love of my alma mater. When had I stopped taking into consideration what was best for me? Why was I not even on the bottom of the list but not even on my own radar???

That night began what would be the summer that changed my life. I spent the summer working w/coach and loving every minute of it! I remembered what it felt like to be happy again. I enjoyed all of the ripple effect of that change - from my relationship with my children to my husband and I enjoying life together again - the transformation had be constantly aware of the joys of life.

After returning to my full time job for three days, I realized without a doubt that it was the cause of all of my troubles and stress. I also realized for the first time that I deserved better; my family deserved better. So I quit. I found a better job and am loving it. It is amazing how my life has become something that I feel blessed to be a part of again. The one change has domino-ed into many small changes. All have resulted in me remembering what my soul needs to be truly happy!

It all began with a simple yet profound encouragement from a friend for whom I will always be greatful - "reinvent yourself."

I highly recommend it to everyone!

Making Plans

Making plans for the following things will hopefully get me back on track.
1. bill/budget reconciling every Saturday 7-9am (Updating again on Mondays and Wednesdays)
2. Journey Girls updates Saturday 9am
3. Weekly meal plans Friday evenings
4. Food shopping weekly on a lightly shopped day to avoid crowds
5. Walking/elliptical on the calendar
6. Weekly updates on the college planning with Sean
7. Weekly time in office filing/purging/prepping for start of lessons
8. Weekly video taping for Meag - scheduled dates and times

My hope is that this will make life less hectic and stressful. Work is going to have to stay at work except for the conducting practicing. The rest of it will have to be done on the clock or not done.

Ladies! Check your email! Site moving.

Hi girls! I sent you all an email. I am moving the site/blog and explain it in the email. Please respond to that email asap and I'll finish the move!

Christine

No Rain

I am so glad that there has been no rain lately. YEA! no more getting soaked on my walks. I am currently working on speeding up my walking but doing the same distance. 2 miles everyday on my lunch breaks. That works out to be 10 miles a week...not bad. I plan on adding in two to three days of Jazzercise a week to that but haven't gotten off work early enough yet. Tuesdays and thursdays though they have a later start to class...there I go there's my two days. WHAT'S MY PROBLEM???

Sammy I am glad to hear that you are still loving WW.

Christine I am sorry to hear that you guys are still burried under snow!

Day 4 and I'm feeling good

Hello ladies here is an update! It is currently day 4 on Weight Watchers and I am feeling good. I am learning a lot of new things and I would love to share them with you girls. I have been sticking to my points like crazy. The great part is I have been eating food that I love. A cookie, frozen yogurt, popcorn from target, and a McDonalds hamburger. I'm happy haha. It's a cool little system and they have a mini facebook online so you meet people and gain a support group. Molly and Christine you are of course my biggest and best support group :)

As far as my activity I am still walking and my mom is even joining me! I also went swimming for the first time since my surgery. I spent an hour using the kick board and a noodle to do laps at the YMCA. I was exhausted after! I had to take a nap. haha So I am going to try swimming two days out of the week and I am going to continue walking. So far I feel good but I am waiting for that moment when something happens and I am ready to throw in the towel...I think that is when I really know if WW is for me. However I think with you ladies here to support me it won't hurt to bad and I will get over it. <3

Okay so one of the great tips I learned was from an article they had about using the scale. It says to be persistent so if you weigh yourself in the morning but then weigh yourself in the afternoon you will get numbers you aren't happy with. The main thing is to be persistent and consider the time of day and what you are wearing every time you weigh in. I have been known to scale hop haha. Also in the article I read was this great quote to remember!
"Weighing in is important it gives you a measure of accountability. But it is only one measure of your success."

Something to think about right? So just remember don't get to strung up on the numbers focus on your other successes! I'm ready to write that quote on a poster board or something and put it up by the scale. haha

How are you guys doing so far?

-Samantha

Groundhogs Day

Christine- when I saw on the news that the groundhog didn't see his shadow I thought of you. Here's to wishing you an early spring!!! I know you need it over there. Fun Fact: since 1887 the groundhog has only not seen his shadow 16 times. Wow!


I was able to walk on my lunch break today and I finally remembered to figure my distance. I am walking two miles. Not bad huh? I make it in half hour. If I can do this four or five days a week plus make it to jazzercise or shred it two to three times a week then I will be ready to live it up in a one-piece swim suit by June. I hope!

Hello Ladies

Hello ladies. Well this is the last day of January and I met my monthly goal of five pounds!!

Sammy I think that the walking article is great. I have started walking on my lunch break everyday(that it's not raining sideways) The walking article made me really want to stick to it. I am glad to hear that you are on your way to full/ good recovery. Keep it up Chica!! I also think that your goal of just being healthier and not focusing on numbers is a great idea!!!


So my February goal is to just be healthier....aim to do something active everyday and eat healthy. I will of course log it because, well it makes me feel good when my calendar is full of x'd off days.


Christine. How has the new year been going for you? Any fitness/health updates?



*Miss Molly

10,000 steps

Hello girlies!
First Molly I'd like to say I am definitely thinking about you and your dad. I am so happy to hear that he is on the road to recovery. Also I think taking him on beach walks would be perfect! You can spend time with each other and be active at the same time. Which brings you both closer to your weightless gaols!!

Speaking of walking I stumbled upon a great little article about walking and how it will improve ones health. As we all know I can't do nothing but walk right now so I found this to be very helpful.  It talked about having a goal of 10,000 steps a day. The article is a little dated but I say hey why not try it so I'm going to see if I can work my way up to that goal. Also with the help of my grandma and mom I'm going to hopefully start weight watchers online next month. I also have a doctors appointment on Thursday so I can see what else I can do for physical activity. I had a little meltdown these past couple days because I felt so holed up and useless because of my recovery, but with a little talk with my family I feel more excited and more inspired to get back on track.

My goal for the next couple months is to just live a more healthy life style. I'm going to try not to focus so much on numbers but to focus on the positives of what a healthy lifestyle will give me. It's a different approach so we shall see how it goes!

Finally I just really want to thank you Molly and Christine for all of your kind words and support you are both awesome.

-Samantha

The article I was talking about

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-04-05-walk_x.htm

HEARTS...they're a muscle. work them!!

Last Friday I got some terrible news. I told you ladies that my dad had a major heart attack two years ago and made it through...thank god. Friday he went to his cardiologist because his ankles have been swelling. Well, his heart is begining to fail him. He has the start of congestive heart failure. He is 54 years old! He needs to lose 60 lbs in the next 6 months to take some of the stress off the heart. After the attack he exercised for like two weeks then quit. NOT COOL. He needs to make the heart stronger by cardio exercise. Life depends on your body Litterally!!

The point is that even if we only work out to look good we are making every part of our bodies stronger. And even if we don't need to lose weight we still need to work our hearts. The heart is a muscle. The rule about muscles is if you don't use them they atrophy(waste away). This is especially true about hearts...So all the more reason to get off our butts and move.

Hello ladies I did it! I survived haha. So it's been awhile but I am happy to say that I am walking around without a walker, and I've been walking these past two days outside for at least 25 minutes. I am so sore! Haha just from those walks and it's something I want to continue. The weather is nice out here in California. :)

Molly how is everything going? I am so proud of you! You keep doing what you do! I am so grateful for this blog too. I feel that it is officially a just girls space. It's nice to come somewhere and just let your feeling be known by people who will understand. <3

Christine I hope you are doing well! I'm sure you must be super busy especially with work (spring musicals and concerts?) haha stay strong and remember to take time for yourself. Also did you see a version of Jane eyre is going to come out in theater's?! I can't wait to see it.

I'm thinking of you both and I thank you for the well wishes.

-Samantha

Thinking of you both...and January goals

Sammy I am thinking about you and praying for an easy surgery and a fast recovery!! Remember you are a young strong lady and you will be just fine.

Christine I am sorry to hear that you've got the bug. Ya that'll jumpstart your weightloss. So how about you resolve to only eat healthy foods when your body gets healthy again. Good luck with your January goals.


I am addressing this to "both" because we seem to be the only ones on the board. Jessica where'd you go girl?? If you are still here then how is it going? Very well I hope.

I have set a January goal of losing 5 pounds. Today is the 10th and I have done some form of physical exercise most days of this month. Today is a shred day, so Jillian is going to kick my butt good. I have renewed motivation and am really gonna go for it. 21 days to go until the end of the month. I will keep you posted on my progress.

Thank you for this blog Christine. I really love to have you ladies here to get support from and to have somewhere to vent. I resolve to utilize it more like in the first months because it really helps!!

Miss Molly

I'm doing it

Today I exercised and I also opted out of a fat filled lunch with a friend(chinese) to have some low cal low sodium very yummy soup. So I am doing it...I am taking back control!! I was doing so well and then I really slipped up but you know this summer is my 10 year HS reunion so I am not going to let this slip become anything more. I suddenly feel very empowered and motivated! Anyone else? My January goal is to drop just five lbs...I know I can meet that goal.

Goals and an update!

Hello ladies long time no see! Okay so I have a lot to talk with you about.  So my injury as you know was really 2 herniated discs. I have received an epidural shot but I'm afraid it wasn't working at all and so the pain management doctor said no more shots.  So my alternative is surgery. My surgery is planned for January 10 and it's luckily an out patient surgery.  SO I'm hoping for the best.  Since I found out that my back has been all screwy in Thanksgiving I have been unable to do any physical activity and I have been on some very heavy medication.  So i have gained back all the weight I have lost and I am back to being 188. I can't express to you my despair on losing all that I worked for.  It's really upsetting and I think the worst part is that there is nothing I can do about it. It's super frustrating to be 19 and be in the situation I am in. However I am looking forward to after my surgery where I can recover and get back to being active again. I will start from scratch but I think that's for the best.
My goals are to just recover and get back on track. Possibly look into weight watchers (have you seen Jennifer Hudson!!!!) and go to physical therapy to build a strong core and back.
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and I am looking forward to hearing about you experiences and stories while recover :))

Keep up the good work ladies!
Samantha

My Aran Squares - for Ravelry pics

I'm going to upload my squares as I finish them, here. I can then link them to my Ravelry group. I don't know how to get them up there other than this. When I figure it out, I'll change that.

Belanger square

Morioka Square

Burns Square

January Goals

Christine first I have to say that your Tuscany project is beautiful. You are very talanted.


Ok my baby step goals for January is to lose just 5 pounds...Why just five? Because it is a do-able goal for me. I plan to break my main goal up into three month baby goals of 5 lbs a month. I am only 15 pounds away from being at my final goal that I had set when we first started out. The holidays are over so the yummy food temptations are no longer an issue, I can get back to the way it was when I was on track and loosing.

Tuscany - Part Two

So, this project was started last Thanksgiving time - yes, I do mean 2009! I got about 10 inches and found a MAJOR mistake. I had to rip out about 8 inches to get back on track. In frustration, I put it down. When I went back to it, I forgot how to do it and screwed up several times before getting really cooking with this. Shortly after the post below, I ran out of yarn. Having purchased it in the summer of 2008, I called the store and they had two more skeins but said I had to bring it in to see if it matched. The Friday prior to Thanksgiving, just diagnosed with Lyme Disease and feverish, I drove the hour 40 minutes to the shop I'd bought it in. Serves me right for buying yard while at my son's goalie camp across the state!


From November 8, 2010
Okay, so in my alternate universe, I have a job that allows me to knit all day, I'm fabulously fit of course, and I travel. I wanted to make something special for some one very important to me. She has pretty much my dream life except that she doesn't knit! So, since one of her favorite places is Tuscany (we used to say we'd get there together some day) and she's always got these fancy parties to go to or host, I found this wrap pattern called "Tuscany!" I figured that was fate and hope to finish it to give her at Thanksgiving!

Anyway, of course the yarn wasn't even close! As I came out having purchased two skeins that did match, and resolving myself to the fact that I'd have to start from scratch w/the new yarn, Demian from Blue Heron Yarns called and suggested I rip out a yard and mail it to him. He thought that perhaps he could find something in stock that would match what I'd already finished. So....I did just that and worked on Mom's 1960's afghan instead from then till Christmas!

Patty's matching yarn came in about two weeks into December and I was able to finish her Tuscany shawl while she was up in CT for Christmas! This is by far my favorite thing I've ever knitted and it's also the first thing I've ever blocked in my life! I hope she loves it as much as I've come to love it over the past two years!

Here are the pics!
Blocking Tuscany

Patty in Tuscany!

Yea! Patty loves Tuscany and I love her!

Hopefully Patty will find some where fabulous and fancy to wear this. I bet it will look perfect with a little black dress or jeans!

Projects to keep me happy!

So, here's what I'll be working on this month! I have, like most knitters, accumulated a lot. A lot of yarn, a lot of needles of every type, a lot of books and patterns and A LOT of UFO's! (un-finished projects for you non-knitters!)

I've decided to allow myself 1 or at least 1/2 of a square from my Great American Aran Afghan project in between other UFO's that I need to finish. Here's what I've done so far.

In March, I really need to be able to pick up Meag's lacy sweater so that I can finish it for summer weather. I cannot work on it till the scarves and socks and such are done.

So here's my list in no particular order.

UFO's
Malabrio scarf for someone sweet (need by January 24)

Cashmere scarf for my favorite daughter

On-Hold Socks for Meag - from Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy D. Johnson

Socks for Dear Hubby - Two at a time - from the toe up - what was I thinking?????

Mystery wrap - scrumptious mystery yarn from Laurie - Directions, sit, cast on 100 (size 19), knit, BO, enjoy! There are 4-5 yarns in this hank so it will be quite fun seeing what it makes!

Baby Steps - or Attainable Goals for those who fell off the wagon!

Okay so these are NOT resolutions. I don't believe in them anymore. These are a few goals that I believe I can achieve, that will ultimately help me get back on track and that will hopefully become habit if I can stick to them throughout the month of January. If these have become habitual, then I can set a few more goals for February and so on.

1. I will make time to eat breakfast every day - and on weekends, it will be at a normal hour. Typically, I get rushed in the morning due to lack of night-time planning and if I skip something, it's always breakfast. Also, on weekends, we drag our feet around here and often have brunch or go right into lunch.

2.I will plan for and cook real meals more frequently. I often don't plan well enough ahead and am caught off guard trying to figure out what's for dinner while kids are coming and going for different things.

3. I will say NO more often. I will say this to myself to that extra fattening food item I am not hungry for and I will say this to people or things which take me away from my family and cause undue stress in my life.

Okay, those are my first three and I will add on or alter as I see fit!

Let the JOURNEY begin again! What will you do for yourself this year?