School Days (FMM)

It's almost time ... school starts next week! My oldest will be a senior in high school. I'll have two in middle school (the first year there for #3) and the two youngest (going into 4th and 2nd grade) will be starting a new school too. Our elementary has always been "year round" and I HATE it! We barely get adjusted to the routine when ... it's off track time for 2-3 weeks. And I'm a SAHM, I don't know how working moms do it! The kids don't get out until JULY, and then (depending on which track) they start back up in July too!. Where is summer? Anyway, after years of enduring it,  I went ahead and put in a permit at a different elementary school, one on a traditional schedule. The kids were approved, so we are making the move. I'm a little nervous. It's going to be hard on #4, he's like his mommy and doesn't deal well with change (but really, almost ALL his friends moved away this past year). I do think it will be better for us all in the long run.

I will be happy to return to the routine, especially now that it won't be broken (off track) in a couple of months. We've had a good summer, but at this point I do think the boys are bored and are ready to get back to learning and friends. Getting up early. That is going to be a real challenge after sleeping for a couple of months. With the change of schools, my morning routine will be a little more rushed than last year (the new school starts about 30 minutes earlier than the old one). I really like to start my day with a workout first thing, and I'm going to have to get up and at it if I want to get it in before making lunches, prepping kids and carpools.

How does the start of school affect your eating and exercise routine?

The topic of Friend Making Monday this week is "school" ... these questions come from the All The Weigh blog. Go check out others who have answered these same questions, and post the answers on your own blog and link up too!

School Days

1.  What was your favorite subject in school?  English. I loved reading and writing.

2. Did you attend elementary school and high school in the same town? Yes, and I still drive by my old schools from time to time (the boys have had basketball games at my Jr. High and High school. They tore down my elementary school and rebuilt it).

3.  Are you still friends with anyone that you met during school?  We don't get together a lot, but I'm still in communication with several friends (thank you Facebook). Some from college, high school and middle school, but a few I've know since elementary.

4. What activities were you involved in as a student? I was in Madrigals (choir) and drama ... the ol' High School Musical.  Also in a singing group in college.

5. Did you bring your lunch, or did you get it at school? I'm a super picky eater and always have been (see my post here).  I could NEVER take hot lunch. I brought a peanut-butter and honey sandwich every day elementary-Jr. High, then I burned out on them and haven't had one since.  I remember my friends and I would often bring a gallon of milk and cold cereal and eat that.

6. Did you enjoy shopping for clothing and school supplies?  I grew up in a practical family, we didn't get new clothes at the start of the year, we'd get them as needed. Same for supplies. I don't really ever remember "Back to School" shopping. 

7. Name a song or a band that reminds you of high school.  I didn't listen to the radio much ... the 80's songs all bring back the high school feeling for me. 

8. Did you like school?  I loved school and was very serious about getting good grades. It paid off with academic scholarships that paid for all four years of college.

9. How long have you been out of school? About as long as I've been married (I went to one quarter after to finish up) ... so over 20 years!

10.  What did you like most about school?  What did you dislike most about school?  I liked the social aspect, but I really did enjoy learning and the feeling of accomplishment when completing school assignments and getting a good grade.  I'm afraid I fall into the typical stereotype of a girl NOT liking math!

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This post was part of the Friend Making Monday Link-Up.

Come join in!

Have You Ever ... (FMM)

Friend Making Monday is a weekly post on the blog AllTheWeigh ... a topic is thrown out (sometimes weight/fitness related, sometimes not) and bloggers answer on their own blogs, then post the link back to the original post (HERE) in the comments section. It's a great way to connect with other bloggers on their own journey, and maybe find some friends and more motivation. Today's topic is ...

Have You Ever?

1. Jumped out of an airplane?  No ... and I'm not planning on it. Ever.

2. Lived alone?  No.  I went from home, to college roommates, to marriage. 

3. Met a celebrity? A friend and I went to see Will Swenson and AudraMcDonald in a fundraiser production at Hale Theater a few years ago. Many consider Will a celebrity as he's starred on Broadway and such ... he's just Will to me (we went to high school together, in fact he took me to prom). I'd seen Audra in the series "Private Practice" and the "Annie" movie, so that was cool to meet her in real life. 

4. Said something to someone that you immediately regret saying? Of course, who hasn't? 

5. Had a manicure/pedicure? I never had until after I lost weight the first time (in 2006). It was part of the whole "new look" ... tanned up, hair lightened and manicure/pedicure. I DO love the pedicures and have gotten several through the years. Sometimes I bang up my toes too much (so the nails are shredded). I actually have my nails done now ... I am considering giving them up. It is a lot of cost and maintenance. 

6. Gotten a hickey? I really don't think so

7. Owned a pet that was not a dog or a cat? I've had hamsters, canaries, parakeets, hermit crabs and of course some goldfish.  No pets currently.

8. Been outside of your home country?  Just barely, across the border to Mexico.

9. Kissed your best friend? Yes I've kissed Hubby.

  

10. Eaten food that fell on the floor?  Considering the cleanliness of my kitchen floor that answer SHOULD be no, but ...

11. Met someone online? I've have a bunch of online pals from my scrapbooking years that I consider great friends. I've found online friends through fitness too (WalkerTracker and MFP). I've actually connected with a couple IRL, but most stay just online.

12. Been on TV? Nope.

13. Had braces?  Yes, but alas ... my twisted teeth returned after I stopped wearing my retainer way too early.

14. Gone skinny dipping?  No ... way too self conscious about being naked.

15. Been to the opera? No, not a fan.

16. Been caught making out by a policeman?  No, but we were apparently trespassing during a date. The driver (not my date) did get ticketed. 

17. Sung in public? I was a singer ... a plethora of performances during my high school and college years. Still some church singing after I was married, but it's been years now since I've sung.

18. Handed out candy on Halloween? Yes, hubby and I alternate door duty and accompanying the kids duty. 

19. Been snowed in? We're tough here in Utah, it takes a LOT of snow before things shut down. But there has been a time or two we did get hit that hard. 

  

20. Fallen in front of other people? A few times I'm sure ... the most memorable was during a performance, a play when I was the ONLY person on stage. The floor is slippery after the fog machine!

21. Cheated on a test? No ... I was an academic over-achiever.

22. Regretted saying “I love you” to someone? Yes.

23. Finished a meal in a restaurant and realized that you didn’t have your wallet? No. One group date the boys PRETENDED they had (they had actually made arrangements behind our backs) and put us girls on the spot (do we dine and dash? do we offer to wash dishes? do we call someone?)

24. Shot a gun? Some target shooting, but I don't really enjoy it. 

25. Heard a song that was written for (or about) you? I wrote some songs back in the day ... I guess they were about me (my life). 

Ok -- it's YOUR turn. Have YOU ever?

10 Things That Make Me Happy (FMM)

What makes you happy? This was the topic of today's link-up from AllTheWeigh. For a moment, it was a little hard to come up with a list of 10 things, but then the ideas started flowing. Thinking about what makes me happy, taking the time to write them down and share them ... it was a worthwhile way to spend my Monday morning.  

Ten Things That Make Me Happy

1. Family: Hubby and my five boys. Sometimes just looking at them makes my heart hurt~ love overflowing. It's so fun to see them happy and interacting, or even just watching them sleep. When I started exercising, I hung up pictures in front of my elliptical and treadmill so I could have visual reminders of all the memories ... it's my happy place.

2. Being Alone: That sounds a little contradictory to the one above ... but as much as I love my family, there are those times when everyone is gone and the house is quiet. Blissful silence. I wouldn't want it all the time, but there are moments when it makes me absolutely giddy.

3. Books: I've always been an avid reader, but I went for years without really getting much in ... just busy with other things. Last year I discovered e-reading and it has made a HUGE difference. I have oodles of titles available at my fingertips and I can read anywhere/anytime (as I always have my phone with me). GoodReads is a great place to keep track of what you have read, what you want to read, and get recommendations and reviews.  I've started working in reading to my workout routines ... my Kindle fits perfectly on the stationary bike.

4. Sunshine: I love, love, love sunshine. A sunshiny day will lift my spirits, while I tend to struggle a bit when it's gloomy. I have a complete Pinterest board devoted to sunshine (HERE).  If there is no sunshine outside, sometimes I have to pop in there for my fix.

5. Yummy Stuff: What is it about cookies and donuts and chocolate. I actually feel happier when indulging... at least momentarily. I love to bake and share and see others enjoy as well. Food is so integral to so many happy memories.  It's a dangerous road ...

6. Flowers: I do love pretty flowers. Lilacs, roses, daisies, orchids, lilies, little purple pansies. I don't really like gardening, but I have a small flower bed (that's all I can commit to tending to). I spend a few moments every day among the flowers. I love fresh flowers inside to brighten up the house as well.

7. Exercise: Exercise wasn't something I did much of for years and years ... then it kicked in. I actually ENJOY exercise now. It is an escape - sometimes I just zone out, no worries or cares. And I don't know if there really are "exercise endorphins" but I know I always feel better on days I exercise ... and I feel off on days that I don't.

8. Music: Music is so powerful. Our Itunes library is so full of songs for every mood. I have an "up songs" playlist that I can't help but bounce around to.

9. A Clean House: Oh dear, if my husband happens to check out this post he is going to laugh and laugh and laugh! But it's true, I DO love a clean house. Looking at my house you would think I actually hate it. I don't ... I just really don't like cleaning.  Oh those rare occasions when I do accomplish the impossible (and a room is clean and stays that way for a few minutes) I find myself walking past and looking at it over and over with a smile on my face.

10. Accomplishment: This wraps up a LOT of things into one. That feeling you have when you have completed a project and you actually have something to show for it.  It can be as simple as a dinner for the family, a clean house, a scrapbook page ... or something bigger, like achieving a weight loss goal.

Friend Making Monday is a weekly post on the blog AllTheWeigh ... a topic is thrown out (sometimes weight/fitness related, sometimes not) and bloggers answer on their own blogs, then post the link back to the original post (HERE) in the comments section. It's a great way to connect with other bloggers on their own journey, and maybe find some friends and more motivation.  So what makes YOU happy?

Let’s Talk About TV (FMM)

Each Monday, as part of a link-up hosted by AllTheWeigh,   a topic is thrown out.  Sometimes weight-loss related, sometimes not. Bloggers answer on their own blogs and include the link back to the original post (here) in the comments section. This is a fun way to connect with others. So I'm a day late and a dollar short, but as TV watching IS a big part of my weight-loss journey, I did want to jump in here on this topic (even if it is a week behind). 

Let’s Talk About TV

1.  Share your current “Must-See” TV shows.  I don't watch a lot of "current" TV ... I  tend to wait until programs hit Netflix or DVD then watch an entire season.  But shows I have gotten attached to and DO want to watch as soon as each episode airs are ...

2.  Do you prefer reality shows or sitcoms?  Sitcoms seem to indicate comedy to me, which is ok, but I tend to favor action/drama. I really like serial shows that carry the story from week to week and keep me wanting to come back.  Other than Survivor, I don't really watch much reality ...

3. Who is your favorite talk show host?  I don't watch talk shows ... just never have.

4. Which network(s) do you turn to for news?  I don't watch the news either ... (I'll try to catch written recaps online). 

5. Do you have Tivo or DVR?  If so, which programs do you have set to record?  I used to have Tivo, but have now turned to other ways of watching (I didn't have the Tivo in my exercise room).

6. Have you ever started watching a show simply because you heard so much about it on social media?  If so, which one did you watch?  I heard a lot of buzz about Downton Abby, so I'm giving that one a try now (it's on Amazon Prime).

7. List any TV series that you own on DVD.  I tend to only want to watch shows once, so DVD collections at our house are more for hubby and the kids. We do own the entire series of Friends, Seinfield, Home Improvement and Full House. 

8.  Do you have a subscription to Netflix, Hulu, etc?  If so, what kind of device do you use to stream it?  We have Netflix and Amazon Prime (more for the free 2-day shipping, but I have been watching some of the shows too) and I also use a service called PlayOn which allows me to watch current shows (that are available online, and almost everything IS available online somewhere) on my TV in the gym. Before I got PlayOn I couldn't keep current with any show (as I only watch TV when I'm working out).  I LOVE my Roku! It is the best streaming box out there in my opinion (and I've tried many of the different options). 

9.  If you could star in a TV show that already exists, which one would you choose? I actually used to be an "actor/singer" (school and local theater) but this question is a hard one ... I admit to imagining what it would be like to be a contestant on one of the singing shows.

10.  If you could bring back one TV show that is no longer on the air, which one would you choose? I'll join the original poster in wanting to see more 24 ... that was the first show I watched when I started working out to TV. It was such a great show to keep me completely captivated and wanting to go downstairs for just one more episode (thus one more workout). And it was hard not to feed off the adrenaline as Jack would fight his way through the day. 

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What are your TV habits? 

Check out the original post (here) and see what others are watching.

I'm also keeping a list of what I'm watching currently HERE ...