It's the first week of January... have you heard?

The first week of January always brings about change... get organized, lose weight, etc. And it's no different around here.  Some major changes need to happen.  Our life is full, and we love it like that, but we are at a point with the ages of our kids to help teach more responsibility.  If we can get organized together, it will help them in so many areas of their lives as they grow (physically, mentally and emotionally).  Normally, I'm a pretty organized person, yet, lately my house/garage seems to prove otherwise... yikes!

I'm aiming to do a project a day... I found a great site with a free printable that is keeping me focused (for the moment). I'd love to share it with you, but I can't find it... even with pinterest, I can't find it.  This is what I'm talking about... organization.  I think it's saved on my other computer... frustrating!

This week's organization help:
Sunday:: Think about who you want to be this year
Monday:: Set up a donation station
Tuesday:: Declutter the top of your cabinets and dust
Wednesday:: Declutter the top shelf of one of your cabinets
Thursday:: Go through your spices to discard expired and old ones
Friday:: Put all your cans together on a shelf
Saturday:: Go through your freezer to let go of old, freezer burned food

Simple and focused... just what I need.

So along with organizing this blog may become all about weight loss... it's that time of year to!

I found a blog I'm really enjoying and exploring daily... I can't do it all at once, but I'm incorporating ideas daily.  I want my kids to understand the importance of food and how it makes them feel and move.  I didn't ever learn this and I've paid for it.  Most of 2011 I felt yucky (for a very technical term)... I've realized that I'm the only one that can help myself so I'm starting in the food department.... one day at a time...  I also love visiting this blog for inspiration.

Simple & focused... I think I just found my 2012 motto!

The Daniel Plan 50 Best Brain Foods

1.  Almond milk, unsweetened
2. Almonds, raw
3. Apples
4. Asparagus
5. Avocados
6. Bananas
7. Barley
8. Beans
9. Beets
10. Bell peppers
11. Blackberries
12. Blueberries
13. Bok choy
14. Broccoli
15. Brussels sprouts
16. Cherries
17. Chicken, skinless
18. Coconut
19. Coconut oil
20. Egg whites -- DHA enriched
21. Gojiberries
22. Grapefruit
23. Green tea
24. Herring
25. Kiwi

26. Lemons
27. Lentils
28. Limes
29. Oats
30. Olive oil
31. Oranges
32. Peaches
33. Pears
34. Peas
35. Plums
36. Pomegranates
37. Quinoa
38. Raspberries
39. Red grapes
40. Salmon, wild
41. Soybeans
42. Spinach
43. Strawberries
44. Tomatoes
45. Tuna
46. Turkey, skinless
47. Walnuts
48. Water
49. Yams/sweet potatoes
50. Yogurt, low-fat, sugar- and artificial sweetener-free (sweeten with stevia and/or low-glycemic fruit, like blueberries, raspberries or strawberries)

Have you heard of the Daniel Plan?  I hadn't... it's all the same information... eating well, exercising, staying motivated, but there is a catch... the "cute" Dr. Oz is one of the founders.  Check it out! I know I need all the help I can get... maybe you can find something inspiring as well.

I'm over it!

I've always been a little obsessed with my coffee creamer... I affectionately call it "foof"... and then half a container of it was spilled on my kitchen floor.  The child wiped it up... I later mopped it... and I still have an oily film on my floor.

I had an "ah ha" moment... if the creamer is leaving this film on my floor then WHY AM I PUTTING IT IN MY BODY!?!!?!? 

So, I'm over creamer.  I guess I've just saved myself $6 a month.

I'm running?!?!

About 4 weeks ago I was feeling like I was at the depths of despair... okay, maybe not that low, but pretty darn low.

I had some choices to make... get medicated or do something to boost myself.

I chose to do something (although I'm not sure that I'm out of the woods... there is nothing wrong with medication... I'm just going through a lot of transitions and I'm trying to make the right decision for me)... I started running.

OR... maybe I should call it GULPING air! It was pretty awful at first. But I have to say, that surrounded by great friends I have kept at it. I am up to running at least 1.5 miles before I need to stop for a cleansing breath (I usually then walk about 1/4 mile and resume running). My goal has been to run 3 miles... to be able to head out and just run 3 miles. I'm scaring myself that it is getting very near. Last Thursday I went 5 miles... I didn't run all of it, but I ran A LOT!

I have always said... I will never run...

Ha... never say never!

Ugh -- I gave in

Crazy night at our house as I'm sure yours was as well. We had a limited amount of time for dinner and I was without a plan (very bad). So, after the speech appointment and before meeting the basketball coach and baseball practice I pulled the big, 'ole Suburban through Bur9er K1ng with the intention to 'just get something for the kids'. As I rattled off the order, I caved... 'and an original chicken sandwich'. We headed home and I pulled out the sandwich... I took two bites without thinking and then realized 'this doesn't taste good', but, it's dinner because I don't have a plan. A few more bites and I was still thinking 'yuck'! At that point, I'd eaten half of it... I was disgusted. I wrapped it up and tossed it into the bag and then promptly threw it away when I got home.

Why do I sabotage myself? Especially when I've been working hard. I was disgusted with myself when I got home. But, I had to realize that I had also done something good... I stopped and threw it away! Yeah for me. Now, I need to make it over the next hurdle to a) not stop and b) HAVE A PLAN! I tend to let my dinner plans go when hubby is traveling, but I just can't do that. I need to have simple, make-in-a-hurry meals for these kind of nights.

Just to add insult to injury, I looked up the caloric information on this site. Oh my goodness! I knew it was bad, but really...

okay -- here is the damage... 1/2 a sandwich
330 calories
20 grams of FAT
26 grams of carb
12 grams protein

Oh... and just to make me feel really good... to work it off I'd need to...

• 92 mins of walking
• 38 mins of jogging
• 28 mins of swimming
• 51 mins of cycling

Well, ladies... the conclusion:
1. Have a plan
2. Don't do it
3. Check out the caloric intake and what it takes to burn off the junk we put in our bodies.

All of that for 1/2 a chicken sandwich
that didn't taste good at all!