Winter Break - Day 9

A rainy Friday...the last Friday of 2011!  On today's docket:

• Lunched and crafted with my pal, Ann.  Check out our creations!
• Had some dinner from Noodles & Co. with the boys.
• Caught up on blogging, Facebook, and doing the pre-class assignments for the scrapbook projects coming up.
• Watched American Pickers with Scott.
• Played a multitude of Words with Friends and Hanging with Friends.

Can't believe tomorrow is the last day of 2011.  This year went by really quickly!

Winter Break - Day 8

The sun was out and the weather mild.  Still, I could not convince Max to leave the house.  He adores being home.  I think the pace of the first semester just about wore the kid out.  His vacation is just being home.  I gotta respect that.

As you can see, I was busy piling things on to my plate.  I should not say it so negatively.  I am setting up projects for myself that I will enjoy completing and will keep the creative side of my brain from dying out completely.  So, two scrapbook projects, in addition to ones already in motion.  That's what 2012 will bring.

It was interesting, because the first part of the Move More, Eat Well project involved Scott and I coming up with 5 things that we are good at.  This was terribly hard for my hubby, which made me realize that he honestly believes the things he can list are things "anyone" can do if they just try.  Now, one would think he was just being irritatingly humble, but, in truth, this was a very challenging task for him.  We had--I guess it was a "discussion"-- about this for quite some time.  I did not want to give him the answers.  I wanted them to come intrinsically, as that is what the true spirit of the exercise included.  I had to be a very creative interrogator.  Eventually, I think five things came to the forefront.  More on this as the project unfolds.

I attempted to work on science grades today.  It'll get there.  I swear.

Did some Zumba. Great class.  I plan to try out my new Wii game on Saturday.  I think we will also be de-Christmasing the house on Saturday.

Scott is currently watching The Big Bang Theory on TBS.  Laughing his behind off.  Made me come see Sheldon/Ignatius.

I am still pining for snow.  I think I am out of luck.  Will this be one of those years where we get snow in April?  Because that will tick me off.

An Instragram Metaphor

Head on over to my crafty blog to read of my pursuits with Cathy Zielske's 2012 Move More, Eat Well scrapbook/life class.

So, I shot this photo with my iPhone before I ate lunch today, as it looked so tasty.

If you have used the Instagram app, you know that, once you snap the shot, you have an abundance of action choices, which is what is nice about the app.  Some of these actions would take either forever to come up with on Photoshop (if you are an amateur like myself), or forever to search for and try out via wonderful people who post them (and at times charge for them) on the web.  Instagram puts it all there, and you can browse through what its different actions do to your picture.

My mind went a little overboard with this today.  Some of the actions made the food look downright revolting, others washed out the brilliance of the colors, and still others found that right balance to make this look as appealing as it looked to me.  And, isn't that life?  Sometimes, we sabotage our abilities to eat well with the "actions" that go on in our own minds. We say, "Ugh, I have to eat a salad today for lunch."  This salad was made with Butter Bliss lettuce (I love this stuff a little too much), baked ham from Christmas, a sprinkling of shredded cheddar, and my own dressing (a few tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, a tablespoon of olive oil, 1/4 packet of Truvia, a bit of oregano, and a bit of garlic powder).  I also had a banana and some water with a bit of lemon juice.  Everything tasted delightful, yet my attitude could have harmed its taste.  It's all the perspective through which I look at this.

Move More, Eat Well will, I think, be a continuation for me, not a beginning. That helps, too.  I am not starting up some crazy January 1 thing, only to be pissed by January 9.  It's a documentation of what is already true, and an accountability to myself.  Plus Scott's doing it with me.  Which is awesome.  More later.  Gotta go to Zumba. :)

Winter Break, Days 6 and 7

OK, so yesterday apparently flew by in a blur.  Here's what I know to be true of the past two days:

• Ignatius completed a Cross Country running workshop over the last two mornings, held by Lake Run Club. Today he ran a mile in under 7 minutes.  He seemed to actually enjoy himself.
• I went to Zumba yesterday AND got Zumba 2 for the Wii.  Good times.
• Max is getting harder and harder to get out of the house.  He likes lounging and pretty much being a hermit. I am beginning to understand the attraction.
• I have been trying to keep up with water drinking.  I feel like my insides are floating, but it's flushed out the ookies.
• We got a wee sprinkling of snow, nothing major.
• Pizza night on Monday.  Hot diggety.  I love Pizza Hut.
• I watched a stupid show about Sasquatch on History Channel.  I also watched a series of American Pickers and Pawn Stars episodes that balanced out that stupidity.  
• I signed up for an Ali Edwards scrapbooking class focusing on my "One Little Word" for 2012: Strength.

Winter Break - Day 5

Today consisted of:

• Post-Christmas chillaxing.  Max played with his car wash and crayon maker.  He won't mix colors with the crayon maker, which cracks me up.  He will only melt the same color and make the same color, rather than creating a rainbow type of effect.  We go with his flow.
• I ran (jogged) 3.1 today.  It started out sunny and nice and ended up cloudy and chilly in the course of my 41 minutes of running.  We did some exercises when I came home as well.
• I worked on a wee bit of school stuff today.  I have been adding some audio to my website for students to follow along as they read.  That takes some time!
• My brother, George, called, and we chatted for some time.
• We all enjoyed down time, as no one had to be anywhere in particular today.  It was pleasant.  
• The night ended with some snow.  Not much, but a nice dusting to break the grayness.

A Very Merry Christmas - Winter Break, Day 4

Does this about sum it up?  We had Max getting his beloved car wash plus lots of other fun things, like a Slinky and blocks and a crayon maker.  Oh, and sour Gumi Worms.  Yum-mo!

Ignatius hit the jackpot, too.

Yes, I know you heard the heavens open and choirs of angels singing.  And you thought it was all about the Lord?  He acquired a new Dell Inspiron laptop with animation software and a Bamboo pad.  Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.  I am so excited for him...if we can get the blue screen of death to stop popping up.

What about mom and dad?  No complaints.  Santa left mom some cold hard cash and a variety of gift cards (woo hoo! I really do like gift cards a whole lot), not to mention a snazzy pair of gloves from the Coach outlet.  Dad got an aluma-wallet (not sure if he's keeping it, not big enough for all of his wallet needs) and various gift cards.  We all got good health and the finances to be able to have a nice Christmas.

We spent our traditional evening with the Nicoson family.  We exchange gifts and just chill to a delightful dinner and good friends.  In all, I am feeling pretty blessed, though I do miss seeing my PA contingency.

Winter Break, Day 3 - Christmas Eve

Today:

• Slept in again.  This time until 10.  My family is spoiling me a bit too much.  I won't be able to go back to work!
• Went for a run and then did some other toning exercises with Ignatius.  It was rough.  I have let myself get pretty "untoned."
• Went out and about.  I love Christmas Eve.  All the Black Friday suckers do not know what they are missing.  It's such a calm afternoon.  Returned Scott's broken gift with one that works.
• Had the best ribs for dinner.  Because of the unseasonable warm weather, Scott was able to use the Kamodo Joe.  Yum-mo.
• Ignatius continued his quest for world latch hook domination.
• Got all dressed up for church.  Snapped this pic of the family.

• Attended Mass.  Max was wondering what happened to the candles (Advent wreath).  He loved the addition of the trees and all the lights.
• Came home and popped open a bottle of Asti.
• Max is now in his jammies watching The Polar Express.  Love his reaction to it!  Perfect Christmas Eve movie.

Merry Christmas to All!