Cookies, cakes and more!

Prepping for my husband's milestone 40th birthday party tomorrow night. No idea how many people are coming. Could be small, could be big. This morning I baked the cake and cupcakes. I have a great plan for decorating them later if the kids don't dive in first. They had a sample so they should be satisfied.

I'm tired. I feel almost anxious. We are selling the last of our Girl Guide cookies today at another mall. I will be glad when the campaign is over Monday. I feel like we (D & I) have done so much for it already. Spent the last half hour dusting the living and dining rooms. More tidying, vacuuming and cleaning of the kitchen is next on the list. Still have to wash the floors and clean the bathrooms.

It's a P.A. Day so no work for me and no school for them. We haven't done anything as a family yet today. I shouldn't complain. It's only 12:15pm. I'm just wiped out. I have to learn to accept things won't be perfect.

I received a long awaited back order from Epicure today. Have to contact the hostess and deliver to Ajax. Not sure when I can do that. I know Sunday I won't be up for anything. Maybe tomorrow? Gotta get the kids to do homework this afternoon. Lots of laundry to put away. Hard to do it all myself. Kids helped a little but I guess I'd rather do it and have someone entertain them.

I should make lunch. Today I had a shake for breakfast - 1/2 scoop of whey protein powder, handful of grapes, peach yogurt and milk. Maybe that's why I am beat - no carbs and all that running around.

It's been a while ...

Okay, so with my hectic schedule, I suppose health is taking a back seat - again. I did have a great workout at 6:30am yesterday with my Just Dance 3 Wii game. Really makes you sweat!

I have been incredibly busy the past few weeks. I posted some items online for sale and sold two kids' outdoor toys my young ones have outgrown. That was a big deal for me. Ah, more space in the garage. I donated 5 bags and a box of clothing to Value Village too. Another sigh of relief that the clothes and shoes are now gone.

Got myself a new, short haircut and used my b-day gift card finally to get a sundress (those sizes at Old Navy are wacked - it's a size small and by the looks of me, I am not a small but in this dress I am so yay!) and a cute pair of wedge sandals.

This volunteering is wearing me out. I thrive on it though. Monday we were supposed to clean up the park for Pitch In week. It was raining so a last minute consult with one of my other leaders and we had our Brownies making up their own weather reports and writing songs about water, then presenting to the rest of the group. They learned a lot, had fun, even had time to play a fairly new game and finish on time. That was great! Tuesday was our advancement. My group took up 25 minutes to get their pins, certificates and photos taken. I have 21 girls going off to Guides in the fall. I will miss them. They are a great group of kids who have learned so much over the past two years with us. It's a shame I can't find a job like this. I had a lot of praise from parents of the girls who are moving forward and disappointment from the younger Sparks and some parents coming up to the group in the fall as I will no longer be a leader. D wants me to join her in Guides so I will. I suspect we may have some followers.

Last week was my night to plan Beavers. I arranged for a fantastic tour of a garden centre where the kids got to plan little plants, make tags, take home colouring sheets, seedlings and a packet of seeds. They loved it and learned something too. J had a good time because it wasn't just doing crafts at a meeting or running around.

I offered to volunteer in E's JK class next week. Think I'm off my rocker yet? Last Saturday I planned an Earth Day camp for our Brownies and we spent 7 hours hiking, taking notes, learning about water conservation and nature, cooking over the fire (and it was not just hot dogs - we cooked dessert and foil dinner packs too) and saw some wildlife.

Tonight my shift was cancelled for work. I am disappointed that not only do I lose money but I won't be able to work with the family. I think I have had a positive impact on them. Their mom seems pleased.

I did deliver some Epicure products already this morning, had a daycare child and will have him all afternoon and for dinner, and still have lunch duty at the school soon. An evening to clean and prep for the party here Saturday night. Tomorrow night I arranged for Red Cross to come to Beavers to do an emergency preparedness night. None of their volunteers can make it so Pres. Peter and I will take over. Thank goodness! I know it will be good.

Friday is a P.A. Day - baking, cooking and having a lazy day with the kids. Maybe I can sneak in some geocaching! The kids have been disappointed with it since we don't always find the caches.

So when to find time to go to the gym? I don't know. I need to go more than once a week. I also need to stop snacking at night (again) and drink more water. I am stressed and you can see it but it's a good stress. I enjoy being busy and helping out. I think I need some more "me" time. More couple time too and not just watching TV. We need to go out!

Hmm ...

What have I done lately in my mission to achieve health and happiness? Had more bad luck recently but whatever. Smooth sailing and rainbow will come. I know it will.

Today my exercise consisted of geocaching with the family for over an hour. Lots of walking and bending. I also loaded and stacked firewood (free) from a neighbour this morning. Did some house work, played with the kids and enjoyed the sunshine. I ate fruit, drank lots of water and read about Good Friday from the Bible to the kids for 1/2 an hour in lieu of having them sit through a long church service (because I know if we did that, there's no way I'd get them there on Sunday morning too).

Had to cancel two nights out this past week due to a little man's illness and it actually worked out well. We played board games as a family, relaxed and enjoyed each other's company without rushing through dinner to go out.

Have I been to the gym? Not in over a week. I had ongoing hip pain so I thought I should skip it. I feel better now apart from a drippy nose. Been active though and since January have managed to take off a few pounds. Keep working towards it slowly and it will come.

Monday's work out

Housework: 1 load of laundry washed

Errands: Picked up something for a friend

Work out: 40 mins. of adductor, abductor, Hammer Strength ab machine, triceps, squats, quads, calves, back extensions, chest press, torso twists with medicine ball, curls, body bar bent over rows, shoulder shrugs ... came home after a quick errand and then did 1000 sweat points (whatever that means ... 4 songs) with Just Dance 3 on the Wii. That was fun!

Early lunch: garden salad with 1 tbsp Caesar dressing, 1/2 tuna sandwich with reduced fat mayo on whole wheat bread, water, 2 strawberries

Snack: TBD - likely the rest of the strawberries, maybe yogurt

Volunteering tonight, sent work emails, working a couple jobs today. Craft time!

I'm back!

I keep getting off the wagon so to speak but climbing back on. Great weekend, although extremely busy. House is a complete mess - I haven't been home.

Saturday went to the gym for a weight lifting workout and spent 10 mins. walking the track with my daughter. Had some Party Mix as a snack late at night. Not good but whatever. We all need a break sometimes.

Sunday's dinner was full of veggies: salad, carrots, sauteed peppers and mushrooms, mashed potatoes without salt and some roast beef (small piece). Dessert was a small slice of cake. Had 3 glasses of wine.

Monday - today! Omelet with 1 egg, egg whites, red pepper, mushrooms, tomato and 2 tiny cubes of spicy cheese on a toasted whole wheat English muffin, water to drink. Off to the gym soon for a work out.

What I don't understand is the people who never exercise and lose large amounts of weight fast or steadily and even though I make bad choices sometimes, I am always active, rarely sitting for extended periods and trying to think about everything I put in my mouth. Damn genetics! I hope I can achieve my goal.

A snowy day

But not enough to build a good fort outside. Yesterday, Friday, was a great day! I did a pilates DVD workout before my Friday night pizza and garlic bread feast. My abs were still a little sore from Wednesday's workout. Thursday I walked 4000 steps downtown to run some errands and kept up a good pace.

Friday I cleaned out my dresser and closet. A nice pile of dresses, skirts and shirts to donate - all in great condition but they either don't fit well anymore (which is a good thing) or they just aren't me. I filled a garbage bags with other clothes that were stained, shrunk or stretched out. I even tried on 5 items that once were tight and now they fit! Hooray! Well, of course at one point they fit back then too.

I applied for 3 advertised jobs too. Feeling positive!

Saturday morning weights and cardio workout is around the corner. After that, some mommy and son time and then on to counting and compiling receipts to prep for tax time. I want it all completed tomorrow and ready to send. I need to get better organized in the receipt area.

Keeping track of drinking lots of water and eating well today.

Breakfast: whole wheat toast (1 slice) with peanut butter, banana and large glass of water. Multivitamin.

Post-workout will be a blueberry protein smoothie.

Thursday cardio day

I can't remember when I posted last - Monday? I had 3 salads that day. Tuesday I had light veggies beef soup for 240 cal for a big can. Yesterday was super healthy eating at less than 1200 calories. At the gym, I tried the Hammer Strength ab extension machine. You have to pull down, the seat moves to a crunch position. Kinda scary to be truthful. I did low weight and 2 sets of 12 reps to try it. My abs hurt today. Maybe that's because I also did the ab crunch for 3 sets of 20 reps at a slightly higher weight. I walked to the gym that day.

Today is Thursday. It's cardio day! Rather than doing a specific work out, I opted to walk downtown about 1 km or maybe more to do some errands. Kept up a good pace and walked over 4000 steps, burning 151 calories according to my pedometer on the iPod.

Breakfast was a breakfast burrito from the freezer and 6 oz of milk. Not high in calories but not as healthy as it could have been I suppose but with the cold and walking, I think my body was craving more substance. Water when I returned.

For wellness: went to a business meeting Tuesday night. One presentation was on personal image and branding. Great spiel about wardrobe, body type and accessorizing. I am inspired to finally clear out my closet once and for all from the items that are too big, too tight from way back before I had kids and there is no way my shape will ever change that much to be truthful, too shapeless, too blah or just old that I never choose to wear. Must go through my jewellery too.

For me: finished sewing 7 crests on a camp blanket last night at work #3 and read more of my Happiness Project book. It was a good night at work. Work #4 of the day - delivered an order, received payment for another order and had a small inventory order placed. Also had a ref. letter dropped off for me. Yay! Productive!

Job hunt? Sent 21 resumes since Jan. 27. I have to send more. Need inspiration.

Lots to do. I don't see how anyone could be bored at home. I think I am my hardest boss. I don't give myself many breaks, keep a to do list with deadlines for myself to follow, just so much to do in day. One day I would like my house organized, no piles everywhere, no emails to catch up on and some hours in a day to do fun stuff.

Tonight - volunteering!