my NOT to do list

I'm a trend setter.

Weeks ago, I refused to make any New Year resolutions.

Now, in the latest issue of Real Simple Magazine, they encourage readers to make a "not-to-do list." Hmmmm...sounds familiar.

So to welcome 2008, I am listing the five things I vow not to do in the next 365 days.

I will not:

1. Talk like a trucker. Curse like a sailor. I'd like the mouth that kisses Amara to be a bit more pure.


2. Beat myself up for not being the mom who volunteers at Amara's school. Those moms are blessed to have the time to share with the kiddos. I'm blessed to have my sanity. And I'd like to keep it.


3. Skip out on my favorite weekly podcasts. I need that time to unwind. Alone.


4. Make excuses for my laziness at the gym. But I won't feel bad if other obligations keep me away.


5. Sleep less than 8 hours. OK not less than 6 hours.

How are your resolutions going?

Or are you like me and decided to keep your resolutions at bay?

I resolve not to resolve

I'm not sure when it hit me. But I felt the wind knock me over, right onto my Asian derriere.

It's just over 2 weeks until Thanksgiving. We're just over a month away from Christmas.

A new year will then begin. And I have yet to resolve any of my New Year resolutions.

Nothing like starting the week feeling like some kind of failure.

My hundreds of recipes are still a mess, unorganized and untried.

That going to church every week thing? Yeah...not so much.

The scale still haunts me. (But my personal trainer says I've lost five inches overall in the last two months so I guess not all is lost.)

And I do have 22 days until the Reindeer Run. I guess there's still time for the 5K resolution.

I look back at the last 11 months and see a lot of changes for Amara's family. And after a week at the new job, I feel more fulfilled - ready to charge at the challenges ahead.

So why is it many of us take the time year after year to commit to change, knowing fully that plenty of resolutions go unachieved and broken?

And why must we wait until January 1st to resolve to take up a project or make a difference in our lives?

So as 2007 comes to a quick end, I am making a pre-holiday resolution. I resolve not to resolve. I will not put these horrible demands on myself, adding stress to an already stressful time of year. I will work towards change in Mom2Amara time. Are you with me?

no wonder I'm carrying 20 extra pounds

I've had food on the mind the last 24 hours.

This bout of nausea is made worse when I eat. But I love to eat. So the cake yesterday...yeah, not such a good idea.

And I'm having breakfast with friends at one of my favorite local joints...trail mix pancakes....yummy.

But I knew I must have something wrong with me when I started salivating over this tater tot surprise recipe.

Which reminds me -- at the start of the year I made a lot of New Year resolutions. Not many of them have I stuck with. But I swear, I will organize my recipes by summer...even if it kills me!

today's good: Need I remind you -- trail mix pancakes!

today's bad: I'm still feeling a bit under the weather. The tightness in my chest is there but it's not as bad. My head still wants to explode but I am work from home Mom2Amara today so no matter what, I have to drag myself out of bed. Anyone know a miracle cure to make me feel better?

Photo credit: Kanko
License: CC BY

barenaked and loving it

One of my favorite bands, Barenaked Ladies just released their new video for their song, "Sound of Your Voice."

You may be asking, "So what?"

You must see it to believe it. They took all of our favorite YouTube stars and gave them another 15 minutes of fame. Tres cool.

today's good: I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you. Seriously. OK maybe not really but let's just say I had the coolest assignment at work today that included wearing a bullet proof vest and lots of hot guys! I know, I'm a dork but seriously, it was fab.

today's bad: I guess this is an ongoing bad. (And no, I'm not talking my weight this time although I missed Weight Watchers for a second week because I can't stand the thought of being belittled at the scale.) For the first month of 2007, I feel like I'm being pulled in a lot of different directions. And I'm having a hard time with the choices I make, including how I prioritize my responsibilities. I just hate to see anything suffer. But when I'm this stressed out, I eat. And eat. And eat some more. See the issue?

change is inevitable

But if change is inevitable, then why the heck can't bite my tongue and control my temper?!?!

This week's CHBM prompt is "How I will be a better parent in '07."

I've talked before about my resolutions to take better care of myself. And thankfully, nearly two weeks into 2007, I have stopped eating my red meat (yes, I know there are people that disagree with this but I'm happy with my decision), added fruits and veggies to my daily diet, and exercised regularly. I feel so much better physically and mentally so I know I've been a better Mom2Amara already this year. I can chase Amara up and down the stairs and not get winded. And hopefully I'm setting a good example so Amara doesn't grow up thinking that the only meal she can eat is chicken nuggets and fries.

But now I want the virtue of patience. Why for the love of God can't I be patient with Amara?

We could be having a great Mom-and-Amara-day and then whammmy, she starts to get on my last nerve. I start to feel pulled in twenty directions and then I lash out on a poor 3 year old.

So I'm attempting to give myself a "timeout" anytime I start to feel a bit...annoyed.

I count to ten...and then hope that the urge to shake her silly has past.

And as a side note, I'm trying this out with other scenarios in my life -- you know the type: the idiotic boss, the teen that screws up your order in the McDonald's drive thru, and the Weight Watchers scale that says you haven't lost, but gained, a pound. We'll see if it works!

Happy New Year?

The countdown is on.

Yes, I know that the New Year has already begun. But rather than looking at the next 12 months enthusiastically, many people, like myself, dread the New Year's resolutions.

I was told today that studies conclude that many people fail with their resolutions by February. February? Pathetic to say the least. Will I keep my resolutions past Groundhog Day?

But think about it -- I fall into the category of ultimately pathetic because here I sit, nowhere near where I was mid-2006. Sad. Plus, like my cousin, I think I have a bit of the post-holiday blahs because the euphoria of Christmas has passed.

So is this new year happy? Only time can tell. But I'll take it with the good...and the bad.

today's good: I actally weigh less than I thought I did a week ago...way less. And I went running for the first time in months.

today's bad: I'm scheduled at work for several 5-day work weeks. While I realize that's a harsh reality for most folks, I negotiated a 4-day work week so that I could spend more time being Mom2Amara and less time being an ambulance chaser.

So I now resolve to make 2007 a happy, healthy, fun filled one for me and Amara.

New Year resolutions

New Year resolutions...how cliche!

But year after year, we do an obligatory look at our lives and determine what needs to be done to "fix" what is broken.

And while most of my resolutions never stick -- I always aim for the pie in the sky -- this year, I have told myself that things will be different.

In 2007, I want to be healthy. Not just for me but for Amara.

I have always thought about becoming vegetarian. But after watching a story last night on the Nightly News and then reading this article I think 2007 may be the year to at least lean more towards it. Now, I don't think I can give up seafood that easily and considering my Filipino mother never served my sister or I vegetables when we were growing up, it may be difficult. But in college, I gave up all red meat and felt the healthiest I had ever felt. So maybe that will be my starting point.

Then after our summer vacation, I stopped running. And I really did enjoy my daily runs. It was time for myself - time to rejuvenate. And I got to see a lot of my neighborhood, a lot of things that I would have easily ignored or drove right past. So I am also resolving to run more. Maybe I'll even get to my first 5K!

So that takes care of me physically, but I also believe in your mental well being. So I also resolve to blog more. Why? Because blogging is like an e-journal for me. And while I know not to divulge some intimate details (I do have family members reading), I can look at my posts and reflect on how far me, my dear hubby, and Amara have come.

So this year, my resolutions won't be cliche. I promise it'll be a way of life. Because a healthier me means a healthier mom2amara.