Mini-Post - Day 27 of 42

Yesterday was an okay day.  I still ate to lose, even though I never got a workout in.  I drank water, played with kiddos, got Prima her Halloween costume.  


Hey, have you noticed that girls' Halloween costumes are...well, scandalous?  Prima is 10 (as of yesterday, happy birthday my wonderful girl), and though she keeps getting bigger, the costumes meant for her age seem to be staying the same size.  As in, there's barely enough material there for a 4 year old's costume.  So, Halloween costume manufacturer's, what's up?  Why are you trying to dress my baby like a little prostitot?  Ugh!  Not to mention, We live in New England!  It's going to be CHILLY that night, if not freezing.  Yet, this year every costume was short sleeves, no sleeves, even strapless!  Tights, mini skirts, you name it.  So, my baby will freeze and look way too old for her age.  Thanks a lot.  Three store trips later, we finally found something we could both agree on, a lovely wingless fairy (which was also a tank on top, but we found a nice long-sleeved shirt to put under it).  Hallelujah.  


Anyway, that was yesterday.  All the kiddos have got their costumes; I've still got my sanity.  Overall, a very decent day.


"You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy?  Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again.  --Jean-Jacques Rousseau


all love, 


nik*

Mini-Post - Day 26 0f 42

Yesterday was a fabulous day.  I worked my butt off.  (For 72 whole minutes).  I ate to lose.  I drank water like it was my job (I always forget how much easier it is to forgo snacking when you're full to the brim with water!).  Also on this productive day, I took Secondo to get a Halloween costume.  (Prima is going tonight and the littles already have theirs).


All in all, a lovely day -- working toward a wonderful week.


"Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.  It is far better take things as they come along with patience and equanimity." --Carl Jung.


all love,


nik*


PS, this is the plan from here on out with these Minis.  I'm going to post (hopefully) in the morning about the previous day.  I always remember to work on it in the morning, but then realize that I haven't actually finished up for the day.  So, duh, here is the solution ;)

Love love love

Well, loves, it's happening.  Slowly, but surely, I am getting myself back on track.  I'm still in this 174-176 lbs range.  It's about time I got below 170, don't you think?  My bestest got me started on a weeklly challenge on MFD (though, to date I haven't managed to get through an entire week, blerg).  However, this is the week.  I feel it in my fingers; I feel it in my toes.  (Can you guess that movie reference?).  

I've been thinking recently about my original goals list.  I realize that I have been focused very heavily on my weight loss and exercise goals, and not so much on the others. I did join MFD and start working out, and I've bored you all to tears with the many updates on whether or not I'm sticking with them.  So, let's just say -- still a work in progress.


Well, one of the others - in fact, the one I thought I would struggle with most -- is complete (or as complete as it's ever going to get).  I am still totally smoke-free.  I think being in a musical is helping with this one.  Any time I feel the pull of that nicotine temptress, I just remind myself that I'm supposed to be singing with and in front of people.  This helps.  An even bigger help?  Remembering the price per pack!


So, #3, quit smoking -- check the "done" box next to that.  


Of the original list, that leaves "re-harnessing my creativity."  I've completed some of the items I laid out a few months ago.  I definitely auditioned for the play, am helping build and paint the sets, etc; you know all about that.  Also, I have put up some recordings on my Myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/mama_niki, in case you haven't checked it out).  But, I also said that I would have 5 new youtube videos up by my birthday.  Well, kiddos, that's next month and I haven't put up a single one.  I guess I'm going to be doing a bit of recording in the next few weeks, because I'm sure as heck not going to push it back.  That would be too easy and too much my old M.O.  So, look for that in the next few weeks.  I'm embarrassed to say that I still haven't submitted a single story.  I've got six days to do it this month, and by gum (I like that expression, don't you?) I'm going to!  No more just wasting what I've written on a file on some silly laptop where no one will ever read it.  (Just because I'm afraid that someone will read it...and hate it.  Or, worse, laugh at it).
  
"Every day I live I am more convinced that the waste of life lies in the love we have not given, the powers we have not used, the selfish prudence that will risk nothing and which, shirking pain, misses happiness as well." --Mary Cholmondeley

Like I said, I have been busy, busy with TSoM.  I am so grateful every day that my mother and sister encouraged me to audition.  They are a wonderful, talented group.  With just about three weeks left until the show, it is looking really great.  If you're in the area and you haven't bought a ticket yet, here's another chance:  BUY TICKETS TO THIS AMAZING SHOW!  It's going to be fabulous.  So, come out and support local theater, yo!  

In other news, I finished the scarf I've been intermittently working on for TWO YEARS.  That's right, two years!    About time, huh?   It's nothing too special, except that I made it myself and made it with love.  Prima's birthday is this week, and (as I've been making it for her all this time) it is part of her present.  

I've got about three other knitting projects going.  One of which is a baby blanket for Terza (Yes, yes, she is two.  So perhaps the baby blanket is a little late?).  Also in the mix, two more scarves.  Maybe I'll finish another of these projects this year (so, in the next two months or so?).  Who knows!  Stranger things have happened.  Nothing comes to mind right now, but I'm pretty sure...

Otherwise, my days and evenings have been jam packed.  Prima is still happily pursuing the saxophone and cheerleading.  Sec is still all about the basketball.  Terza and Quarto had one of those colds that just refuse to go away.  You know, the kind where unspeakable goo pours from the noses and clogs up their throats?  Thankfully, they seem to (finally) be on the mend.  Hurrah! 

So, as I try to wrap this post up, I would like to add a goal today.  One that I think is more important than all the others by far.  One that I try to work on already, but haven't actually put into words here.  

Goal #5: To show true love and appreciation to those around me, every day.  To my family and friends, to the world at large.  Too often I realize, too late, that I've taken a kind action or word for granted.  Or that I have reacted unfairly or unkindly or selfishly, etc.  Maybe I'm cranky after being up many times with the kiddos throughout the night.  Maybe I've got bills and other stresses on my mind.  Maybe I've just stubbed my toe, two babies are crying, the other two are fighting, and I'm no where near ready with dinner.  Maybe I'm running out the door with no time for anything else. They're all my usual excuses for less-than-wonderful behavior.  So, there you have it.  Love -- a work in progress. 

"It is only our bad temper that we put down to being tired or worried or hungry; we put our good temper down to ourselves." --C. S. Lewis



"To me, there are three things we all should do every day.  We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh.  You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy.  But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day.  That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week; you're going to have something special." --Jim Valvano


"I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." --Mother Teresa

So, let's go create something special for ourselves.  Wishing you all a lovely week.  

all love, 

nik*

Today is a good day, damn it.

So, I was feeling very down, because I caved and ate about four cookies.  Blerg.  That had me pretty miffed at myself.


However, instead of just feeling like garbage and telling myself it was too late in the day to do anything about it (ie. work out, eat right the rest of the day, etc), I popped in 30-Day Shred.  Well, hello, old friend!  Jillian Michaels, you kicked my butt today, and I needed it.  I did Level 3 for the first time and WHOO! it felt really great to sweat and really work.  I love doing new workouts.  I think that may be part of the problem with the P90X right now.  I know them too well, so (although they are still really challenging) I am bored.


Anyway, just wanted you all to know -- I made a good choice today.  So, boo to you cookies, today is a good day, damn it!


"Life is the sum of all your choices." --Albert Camus


all love, 


nik*


NOTE: I meant to hit "Publish Post" yesterday, but I must have forgotten!

Mini-Post Catch Up

So, my bestest lovingly reminded me today that I have NOT been keeping up with my mini-posts recently.  Which, as you know, is only too true.


That in mind, let me start with a small apology to those of you that check in with me daily.  Sorry for slacking.


Also, I haven't been doing tremendously well.  (Is this a big surprise for anyone?).  That said, even when I've made less-than-perfect choices lately, they haven't been terrible, show-stoppers anymore.  That's nice anyway.  At least my splurges are less, well, splurge-y.  So, real progress has been made -- even if it isn't as drastic or all-encompassing as I'd like. 


However, there's no day like today (thank you, Rent).  So, today's as good a day as any (better than tomorrow, that's for sure!) to recommit.  I'm going to have to work my a** off to meet that exercise goal.  But, I think I can do it...


Stay tuned, loves.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."  --Winston Churchill

all love, 
nik*

Mini-Post - Day 16 (the rest)

The rest of yesterday went well.  I ate a well proportioned dinner (though I wanted to eat much more) and a small, yummily indulgent serving of pumpkin cheesecake.


Now, I've woken up to a new day, and it's a lovely one.  I love bright, crisp Fall mornings. 


People always talk about Spring bringing  a sense of renewal and hope and the like.  But for me, it's always been the Fall.  There's something about that cool breeze, comfy sweaters and scarves, apple pies and acorn squash that brings me such a sense of comfort and joy, with new beginnings in the air.  And, let's be honest, I am always overjoyed to say 'goodbye!' to bathing suits.  


So, happy morning, loves.  Happy Fall morning, at that.  

"To awaken each morning with a smile brightening my face; to greet the day with reverence for the opportunities it contains; to approach my work with a clean mind; to hold ever before me, even in the doing of little things, the ultimate purpose toward which I am working; to meet men and women with laughter on my lips and love in my heart; to be gentle, kind, and courteous through all the hours; to approach the night with weariness that ever woos sleep and the joy that comes from work well done - this is how I desire to waste wisely my days." --Thomas Dekker

all love, 

nik*

Mini-Post - Days 15 & 16

Yesterday (Day 15) was a okay day, foodwise.  I still didn't get in any exercise.  


Today, so far, so very good.  I went and helped out at the scene shop for TSoM, which is always a fun time.  Afterward, I almost stopped for some kind of fast food (there is a McDonald's and a Burger King very close by).  However, I stayed strong (who's proud of this Mama?) and came home to eat a much healthier and more nutritious lunch instead.  


So, progress is being made.  Hooray for that.


Hope this weekend is treating all of you well.  May the rest of it be filled with love and laughter.


"To be happy, drop the words 'if only' and substitute instead the words 'next time'." --Smiley Blanton


all love, 


nik*

Mini-Post - Day 14 of 42

Well, loves, today was a better day.  I was so darn busy, I didn't have the opportunity to overeat.  I also didn't get the chance to do any formal kind of exercise.  However, I was running around all day; I've got the tired to show for it.


Logged all my food.  Went just 33 calories over.  Whoo hoo.  So, another good (not great, but still good) day behind me, I'm ready to get to sleep.


One of my favorites tonight:


"I have not failed.  I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." --Thomas Edison


all love,


nik*

Mini-Post - Days 12 & 13 of 42

Yesterday and today were a bit of a bust.  *sigh*  Tomorrow is another day.  Now, I'm going to go sleep so it can get here.  

"Rest when you're weary.  Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit.  Then get back to work." --Ralph Marston

all love and goodnight, 


nik*

Where the Heck Have I Been?

Well, seriously, where have I been?  Here I go starting this daily challenge, and **poof** not even six days go by, and I've vanished for nearly a week.

Sorry for that.  Entirely unintentional and unforeseeable.  

I had an extra baby here for a few days.  Uno has been on deployment in Germany for a few months now.  He called me a week and a half ago to ask whether or not I might be able to watch his fifteen-month-old son, so that his fiancee could go visit him.  They had a babysitter lined up for the trip, but they cancelled last minute.  

Well, I said yes, obviously.   Uno's son, let's call him Bambino, came on Wednesday night and...well, I pretty much haven't slept since.  At most, I've had about three hours a night.  Sometimes less.  Even the last two nights, after Bambino had gone home.  Unfortunately, Terza's got a cold and Quarto's nighttime schedule is all messed up.  Which all boils down to an exhausted Mama.

However, all whining aside, I'm glad I could help out.  Bambino is seriously cute.  Prima and Secondo got some nice time with their brother.  And, thank goodness, we all survived!  

Luckily, although I wasn't really able to exercise while he was here (minus a no-doubt-hilarious-looking trip outside with the three of them, Bambino and Terza in the double stroller and Quarto strapped to the front of me in a Baby Bjorn), I did take it easy on the eating, and I logged every flippin' calorie I ate.  (The non-flipping ones, too).

It was no coincidence that the only day my calories went into the dreaded "eating to gain" area was yesterday, when I made THIS:

So, that's where the heck I've been.  Expect me back, daily (with a vengeance), with those mini-posts.  

"All great masters are chiefly distinguished by the power of adding a second, a third, and perhaps a fourth step in a continuous line.  Many a man has taken the first step.  With every additional step you enhance immensely the value of your first."  --Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let's make it a great week, lovelies.  

all love, 

nik*

Mini-Post 6 - Day 6 of 42

So, yesterday was not as stellar as the two days prior.  Got a little derailed by, you know, life.  I didn't get any exercise in.  However, I didn't eat as much, so my calorie intake was okay.  So, whoo hoo!  Going to try to get in a "real" post later today.  Though, Quarto and Terza have been joined by another toddler for the next few days.  So, I'm not really sure if a long post is going to be possible!  Let's all cross our fingers for a community nap time today!


all love, 


nik*

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions.  Small people always do that.  The really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great."  --Mark Twain  


((Today's quote is directed to two very specific ladies in my life.  Mum and Shan, you are truly Great People.  Thanks for that.))

Mini-Post 5 - Day 5 of 42

Has it really been 5 days already?  Today was another really great day.  I ate to within one calorie of my daily allotment, and did the P90X - Cardio X workout.  I drank lots and lots of water.  Took my vitamin.  


It was a lovely day (though it rained all day, and both Terza and Quarto were miserable and sicky pants).


Now, time for some much-deserved sleep!


all love, 


nik*

"People often say that motivation doesn't last.  Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily." --Zig Ziglar



 

Mini-Post 4 - Day 4 of 42

Today was a wonderful day.  I worked out, I ate well.  (P90X - Core Synergistics, calories comfortably in my "to lose" range).  Only happy, smiling faces from MFD tonight.  Woot!  "If every day was like today, [I'd] lose 1.7 lbs per week."  Lovely.  Let the losing begin...again.  I'd like that; I'd like that very much.


all love, 
nik*


"Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward." --Robert C. Gallagher

Mini-Post 3 - Day 3 of 42

Day 3 wasn't so hot.  I ate about 2000 calories.  Sigh.  Dang it.  So, MFD (myfooddiary.com) told me that "If every day was like today, you would maintain your weight."  At least it didn't say I would gain anything.  Today is a new day.  After last night's sugar binge (curse you, Hershey bar!), I am feeling a little...mleh.  So, better eating today for sure!


I also did not work out, but that was intentional.  I plan on starting P90X this week (today, since I'm late getting this post up for yesterday) and wanted a rest day before I began.  


I'll update tonight!


all love, 


nik*


"Dont judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant." --Robert Louis Stevenson

Mini-Post 2 - Day 2 of 42

Sorry, I didn't get this post up yesterday, but it was a very busy day!


Anyway, I'm not going to count all of the activity I did yesterday into my six-week self-challenge (though I did count it for my calorie intake yesterday).  I was working in the set shop for TSoM from 9:30 to 3 yesterday, moving things, taking things apart, taping set pieces, etc etc etc.  So, luckily, I was moving most of the day.


I also took my little sister out last night to Chunky's.  Ouch!  I ate half of a dessert.  Sigh.


Still, overall for the day, I came out ahead, with a little over 100 calories left. Whoo hoo.  :)


I'll be back tonight with today's info.


all love,


nik*