Lesli's Changing Life at 40 Journal

[toystoryduo]

Congratulations on the weight loss, Lesli! Keep up the good work!

I'm sorry to hear about the freezer. I hope the paperwork goes smoothly and everything works out.

Have a great evening!

 

[goldcupmom]

Good job on the weight, Lesli!

Sorry about the freezer. Hopefully the Ins. Co. will handle it quickly & easily!

Have a great Friday!!

 

[Lesli54]

Thanks for the thoughts on the loss paperwork. I still don't have that finished, but it should be ready this weekend.

My food plan was a bit off yesterday. We didn't have mayo for the tuna so I had 1/2 bologna sandwich and chips. Then there was the MilkyWay Midnight (bite size), those are good. I was starving when I went to get groceries, but I resisted grabbing anything quick. Had my rice cake, no tea, then was still hungry and had 2 pieces of cheese. Too much pizza last night, followed by a cinnamon roll. They are so addictive. Good thing the freezer doesn't go out all the time. I got in 70 oz water. My breaks for "exercising" were not quite 15 minutes, but I did try some stretching and was surprised at how out of shape I really am. I was also surprised to realize that I don't lift my right leg high even though I can. Since the knee doesn't bend all the way, for some reason I guess I thought I couldn't lift the leg much. I realized that I am lacking alot of muscle and strength in the gluts do to that "oversitght". At least I now can change that.

This morning DH and I were off running errands. I am looking for knew door knobs for the new doors (replacing old interior ones). The finish I am going for is Venetian Bronze or a Rubbed Oil Bronze, but I am having a hard time with deciding between round knobs or levers. Aside from the significant cost difference, I think the levers add a touch of elegance, but then the knobs are just as functional and I don't live in a mansion, so does it really matter? Either way, something new will be a vast improvement on the 50+ yr old ones we have now that are falling off.

Food today:
Breakfast - cinnamon roll, 1 c milk, 1 c grapefruit juice
AM snack - missed
Lunch - 3 tacos & part of a sprite (Taco Bell)
PM snack - cinnamon roll (getting tired and they are there, I know not a good excuse)
Supper - chicken strips, fries & corn (I will finally get this out of the freezer)

Goal for the day:
1. 50 oz water
2. Get to bed by 10:30pm

I didn't get to that prom dress so that will be this afternoon and I have to help DD18 figure out what to do with her hair. She is excited about going. Her boyfriend is too old to attend (21, not allowed), so she is going with one of her best friends. They are just going to have fun, so they are starting the weekend by getting pedicures this afternoon. Then they will go out to dinner with a few other friends tomorrow, followed by prom, which is supposed to be in a garden in a tent, so let's hope it isn't too cold. After that they are going to "After Prom" which is a lock-in at the school with games and activities.

Not much else planned today as I am dragging a bit, but that may be from going to bed late and the rain! Oh, I slept through the earthquake, but DH noticed it. Such excitement here in the Midwest. Everyone have a great weekend.

 

[goldcupmom]

Glad you slept thru the earthquake. That New Madrid fault is a doozie!! When I taught at SIU, we had earthquake drills.....very scary!!!

door handles....hmmmmm....not sure which way I'd go. With little ones, the levers are easier to open when you don't want them to, but yours are growing fast. And dogs are good at opening levers, too!

Hope you have a good weekend & DD has a fun Prom!!

 

[Lesli54]

Still no decision on the door handles. I am trying to figure out if the extra cost is really worth the asthetics. In the long run, I am sure that it won't really add to the value of the house, making the doors operable will. Of course, the asthetics may help it sell faster, but there is no guaruntee, so it is still a toss up.

Last night for supper, I ate as planned and only ate one chicken strip (doubled up on corn). I thought of getting more, but wasn't hungry. Later, I had some popcorn as we watched "Water Horse", which was pretty good. It felt good to take time out to actually watch a movie with the family. Of course, I also helped DD18 figure out the hair situation for Prom and I adjusted her dress. Went to bed late, but water was 50 oz.

Today, I acutally slept in past 9am. Now that is amazing, but it felt good to get the rest. Today I did some cleaning, laundry, made maps for DD18 to get to the restaurant and later Prom, covered the register at the store, prepared DD18's hair with products so we could style later (while she was on lunch), cleaned, laundry, washed my hair, helped get DD18's friend in her dress, took pictures, went to Grand March (the kids are introduced at the school in their fine clothing), went to the store, did a last minute dress repair for another friend of DD18, laundry, and now I am sitting here wondering where my day went. Plus tension is high between DH and DD10 right now so that is working my last nerves of the day. She is at the back talking stage.

Food for the day:
Breakfast - 1 egg, ham, 1 c grapefruit juice
AM snack - missed (breakfast was late)
Lunch - missed (ran out of cookout food and then I got busy so didn't realize I hadn't eaten)
PM snack - chips (very late and starving)
Supper - still not sure, I am hungry, but want it to be healthy, yet really don't care since I am tired. Maybe I will just get a bologna sandwich and call it good.

Goals for the day:
1. 56 oz water
2. Try not to go on a food binge since this day is thrown off.

So what is left on the agenda? I need to make alterations for yet another friend of DD18 so I can deliver that to her tomorrow (different Proms) and work up a last minute plan for the library budget on the new addition. That has to be done tomorrow as well and just found out. Of course, the laundry needs finishing, need to pay bills, and I also need to do a few other things on my desk.

Well, at least DD18 is off having fun tonight with her friends and then she is going to After Prom, after she stops her to change. I think she was planning on going to church, but we will see. Around here it is big for Prom kids to attend church the next morning in their dresses and tuxes to show them off. I thought she had a Marilyn Monroe look going on with her accordian pleated skirt and the short flipped up hair.

Talk to you all tomorrow.

 

[pearlieq]

Wow! What a day! I'm so glad to hear you got some good rest today.

I am always awed by how much you manage to cram into a day! I hope your DD and her friends appreciated all that you've done for them in the last few days, and I hope she has a wonderful time at prom. It sounds so nice--I love the idea of going to church the next morning in formalwear. How cute!

One bit of friendly advice about the door handles--the levers do tend to be percieved as more "upscale" and can look very elegant, but when I've been in a house that had them, I found they got caught on everything! Sleeves, ties on dresses, even pockets would get caught up in the levers, and then often torn as I moved away without realizing that I had been snared. That was enough for me to say no levers, ever! If you do wind up getting them, make sure you remember to check that you're not stuck before you turn away. I did a lot of mending around that time!

Have a great night and keep up the good work. Your idea to incorporate some moving and stretching into your day is a great one and it sounds like you've already realized how valuable it will be.

I hope you get a good dinner!

 

[Lesli54]

Thanks for the advice on the knobs, Julie & Pearlieq. A friend of mine was telling about the levers getting caught on things as well. She also said that they were easier to open if your hands were full, but I really haven't noticed that problem with the round knobs we have here, at least not to the point that it would be a strong selling point. And if I remember right, at our old house they were just easier to bang into. I do like the "upscale" look of the levers, but I am thinking that some of that will be achieved with the white (not bright, but off, there are so many shades) 6 paneled doors and the bronzed knob. Not completely the same effect as the levers, but I could still use them on the patio doors and the front door, if I so chose. The coloring of the knob is a soft black/brown giving it a traditional styling. I personally like simple elegance overall and I think I can achieve that without the levers. So the more I think about the door knobs, the more I am leaning towards the regular round knobs. Partially, due to the difference in price, but mainly because I just can't see that we will recoup much of this project when we sell. It will still look nice, besides I would rather put the extra money in the much needed updates of the kitchen and bathrooms. Now if I can finish this project and stop thinking about how to afford the kitchen remodel.

Well, I had about 1/2 a bologna sandwich for supper last night.....now I remember why I didn't keep buying Hellman's light, also had a few chips. Water was 54 oz. But......I....blew it. About midnight, I grabbed some Thin Mints and I meant to eat 2 but I think I ate 10! Call it frustation with DH, being very tired, trying to figure out how to change my life so that I can stop to enjoy things more, trying to finish a massive amount of laundry, and waiting for DD18 to come home to change for After Prom. Not a good excuse, I know.

Today, I wanted to sleep in but we had to get up for church. DD18 was just to tired to make it, which I figured, and there were only 3 that showed who went to Prom last night, but that is ok. She said she had a good time and was glad she went if for no other reason than the fact that it was the last chance to go. Although she is glad that she has decided to stay home while attending college instead of moving in with one of the girls that she drove to Prom, because this girl was screaming when they accidentally missed the parking lot of the Prom location and had to go around the block. Thank God, I am not a teenager. At After Prom there was a hypnotist and DD18 volunteered to be hypnotised. She doesn't remember anything and had to tell me what she was told by friends. Although, my best friend happened to be chaperoening and she has it on tape, so I am sure that I will get a copy. DD18 has a lot more guts than me on that one.

The rest of my day was spent running figures for the library since we are in construction phase 1 starting tomorrow. Then I had to do a photo op of the ground breaking. After that I went to a bridal shower for DH's side of the family. Took a short nap later. For supper we went to Pizza Hut and Now I am sitting here trying to organize a few things on my desk for this week. Oh, and I tried to finish the laundry.

Food for the day:
Breakfast - 1 egg, english muffin, 1 c hot tea
Lunch at the Bridal Shower - 5 kisses, 2 gum drops, 2 mints, a few peanuts (treats at the shower sitting in front of us), a good portion of fruit, pasta salad w/ veggies & light vinagrette, taco ring (Pampered Chef, taco meat in crescent roll) w/ tomatoes & sour cream, 1 c punch, piece of cake
Supper - glass of tea, 1/2 med thin crust Hawaiian pizza (overly full afterwards)

Time to get going. I will talk to you all later.

 

[toystoryduo]

Lesli,

You have been super busy lately. I hope you get some time soon to do something special just for you.

I hope you have a great Monday!

 

[Lesli54]

Today started out relaxing and I had planned to do some work around the house, but that quickly changed to errands. A friend of mine needed to run errands as well, so we carpooled. Who can blame you with gas prices? I got some GS patches for an event that we have in a few days, picked up vellum to make DD18's grad invites (works great as the "ink blot" paper on the inside of the invites and looks fancier), then picked up the door knobs. Of course, we ran the errands for my friend and did lunch, all with DD18 who had Sr. skip day today. It was very relaxing, just because you had a chance to get out and have conversation.

I did get the round knobs and almost came home to order the levers (they didn't have enough), but then DH mentioned some finances at the store and I decided that I will stick with the knobs. After all, they do function the same. Just like everyone else at the moment, it looks like I should hold off on anything major and just finish off the small projects we have. At least it is less to think about, right?

Breakfast - 1 egg, english muffin, ham, 1 c hot tea
Lunch - bacon cheeseburger w/tomato & mayo, shoestring fries, cottage cheese & pineapple ring, 1/2 my tea. (Steak & Shake)
PM snack - 4 thin mints
Supper - DH wants to grill.

Goals for the day:
1. 60 oz water
2. start prioritizing the activities I am involved in, want to continue, want to do, etc. (there just isn't enough time for everything)

That's about it for today. Talk to you all later.

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Lesli,

That's a great idea to carpool and get errands done! With gas prices being as high as they are, it's a great way to save some money!

Were you able to work on your priorities list yesterday? I know that I had to do the same thing a few months ago. There was just way too much going on and most days, I went to bed and my head was spinning. I'm sending some your way.....

I hope you have a great Tuesday!

 

[Lesli54]

Thanks for stopping Tracy. No I didn't work on my priorities last night. Guess I didn't make it a priority. Actually, I was very tired and every time I started trying to list things I couldn't think clearly so of course I found a reason to continue doing everything and just as many reasons to quite doing everything. So I thought it was best to go to bed and start fresh. Yes, I am tired of the spinning head when I go to bed and it seems as if I am only living day to day and not really getting anything done.

Well, supper was a decent meal. I had 1/2 a large grilled skinless chicken breat, sm portion of potato salad, lg helping of corn. Then there were 4 cookies and later, I was hungry (actually tired, but confused it with hunger) and had an english muffin. Water was almost 60 oz.

So time to start a new day, even though I am very tired today. I just don't think I slept well.

Breakfast - 1 egg, 1 c 1% milk, ham, english muffin, water
AM snack - yogurt
Lunch - tuna wrap & salad
PM snack - fruit
Supper - not sure, but I want something light and filling

Goals for the day:
1. 60 oz water
2. My priority list
3. Get my office back in order. It has kind of exploded with things lately.

There of course are a lot of things that need to be done today, but I think I am just going to focus on one thing at a time and try not to let things overwhelm me. Talk to everyone later.

 

[pearlieq]

Errands are always so much more fun with friends along. I do think it's cute, though, that your DD18 chose to tag along with you guys on her senior skip day! It's great that you all got to hang out.

Your grill supper sounds so good. Yay for spring!

I hope you can find some clarity soon on what you do and don't want to keep. Between a home, husband, 4 kids, and a business, I can imagine there isn't too much left over to go around! I'm still amazed at how much living you manage to sqeeze into one day. I can understand how overwhelming it can all get, and how hard it can be to let go, or to even temporarily hand over the reins. I really, really hope you can find a good balance so it's not all just work, but also some things that are meaningful and personally fulfilling for you.

I hope today winds up being a great day!

 

[toystoryduo]

Thanks for stopping Tracy. No I didn't work on my priorities last night. Guess I didn't make it a priority.

Thanks for the laugh, Lesli!

I completely understand what you are going through. My DH has his own business (can you say feast or famine? ) and I am a SAHM who homeschools. There is always something going on. A few months ago, I was totally burned out and had to cut some things out of my day. It was tough at first, but after awhile, I felt more peace and I actually found that I had more time in my day for things I wanted to do. Balance in life can be so very hard. I hope things work out so that you can have some time to do the things that you would like to do.

I hope you have a great evening!

 

[Lesli54]

Alot of living in one day? Well, I guess sometimes I do get a lof of living in one day. Sometimes is amazes me and I think it is too much, well, in fact many times, but I would rather it be this way than the opposite. Before I started posting on here and working towards being healthier, when I got overwhelmed I would take a lot of naps or keep putting off a lot of things. Now I try to stay active, but I definitely need to pare down.

Yesterday I din't get around to tackling the office, due to the fact that I was working on bills. Okay, maybe that is a small portion of tackling the office. I did get that prom dress done and fitted, but now I need to raise the hem a bit more so that is tonight's project. Then at the last minute, I took the kids to get sandals (Kohls had a buy one get one free). You can order clothes online easier than shoes, so we went. I had a GS leader meeting last night, but I was running late and by the time I got there it was over, but truthfully, I think only one other person showed. So sad. Of course, this should also tell me something about how involved I should stay in this organization.

I had some cookies last night, too many. Supper was 1/4lbr w/chees, tea, fries as we ran through after our shopping trip. Water was about 24 oz.

Today, I had to pick up DH after dropping of the van to get fixed. What originally started out as a $300 fix is now $1000. Typical. But it is cheaper than getting a new vehicle right now and it does have a newer engine, so should last awhile. Well, I guess that means we will be able to drive it more and put the SUV on the side lines in order to save gas.

Most of the day was spent finishing bills for the month, clearing the desk, making my list of all things needed in the direction of the ortho tomorrow, working on DD18's college plan, and anything else on the list that could easily be taken care of.

Breakfast - 1 egg, english muffin, 1 c cranberry juice
AM snack - missed
Lunch - tuna roll-up, chips
PM snack - sm bag BBQ chips
Anytime - too many cookies here and there
Supper - pizza

Goals for the day:
1. Water at 60 oz.
2. Go to bed by 10:30pm (up to late lately and it is catching up)

Time to get going, hope everyone had a great day!

 

[pearlieq]

Ah, the joys of car repairs. I hope that it for a while!

Maybe it's fortuitious that the GS meeting happened the way it did last night. Hopefully that helps you make the decisions you want to make about priorities.

I agree about getting to bed at a reasonable hour. The later I stay up, the more mischief I manage to get into. Getting to bed on time sounds like a very worthy goal!

I hope today is a great day!!

 

[Lesli54]

I forgot that I didn't make time yesterday to post.

Yesterday, DD10 got her braces on first thing in the morning. She was taking to them pretty well at first, then realized that eating was a bit different and things were starting to feel uncomfortable by the end of the night. This morning she woke up sore but DD18 has been through this and giving DD10 all the "tips" for dealing with braces. Maybe it will be a little bond that develops between the two.

Then I ran a few errands. The afternoon was spent getting ready for a GS event that we had last night. DD18 was bridging to Adult, so I had to write up some things to say about her which was fun and I almost made it through without tearing up. The event went well enough, but I was very tired after coming home. Mainly I think it is the stress of trying to figure out whether or not to stay.

Food yesterday was not good. Breakfast was 1 egg, english muffin, 1 c cranberry juice. Lunch was chips and a bologna sandwich, then a few cookies. Supper was 1 sm brownie and a square of creme puff dessert (the event was a dessert bar only). Back home, I was so tired that I had a few chips, a cookie and a bit of ham. Finally, I decided that I would do more damage and went to bed.

This morning, I finished altering the Prom dress that I had hoped to finish the other night and I got some stuff done for the store, but most of the morning has been relaxing. This afternoon I have to get DD20 from school, then I need to do some more bookwork. Tomorrow, I have to leave early in the morning for a DAR conference. If I am not too tired when I get home, I will post.

Today's food:
Breakfast - 1 egg, 1 english muffin, ham, 1 c grapefruit juice
AM snack - 2 cookies
Lunch - chips, don't know what else
PM snack - celery, carrots & cheese
Supper - grilled hamburgers, jello (for DD10), fruit, veggies

Today's goals:
1. 60 oz water.
2. get to bed early for some decent rest before driving tomorrow.

Gotta get going. Everyone have a great weekend.

 

[pearlieq]

Another one in braces, eh? Is it expected to be a long treatment? I hope she feels better soon--our mouths certainly don't like to have someone mucking around in there! I'm glad she has her big sister in her corner.

Congrats to DD18! I bet that was a sweet moment. And congrats to you for not going crazy on that dessert bar. You showed great restraint.

I hope today is a nice, relaxing day for you. Have a great time at the conference!!!

 

[pearlieq]

Just stopping by to say hi and send to some direct-from-the-mouse

I hope you had a great weekend!

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Lesli,

Hope you have a great day today!

 

[goldcupmom]

Hope you had a good weekend, Lesli, & that this week gives you a bit of a break from the hectic, always something, life!

Hang in there!