Simple Steps progress and Rough weekend.

Well I've been having some success at the simple steps! I am now thoroughly addicted to my water. I do still have my soda once in a while and I'm hooked on my new coffee maker, so I have two or three cups a day, but still less calories than all that Coke! My main tricks to incorporate this into my life were this: First I drink a full glass of ice water before I drink anything with flavor; coffee, soda, juice or milk. second, I try to drink a full glass before each meal. That's an old dieting trick to make you feel full faster, but it also works to make sure that you've got your water for the day (1 full glass is about 12 ounces, times 3 times a day is 36 ounces and I'm trying to make sure I drink 48 ounces a day, so that last 8 ounces is easy!) I wrote down on my calendar drawers and such to organize, one a week. So far I have cleaned out and re-organized my Pot cupboard, my coffee cupboard, the little bin on my PC desk and my silverware drawer. Not bad!The best part of that habit is that the hubby notices. Sure, I like it tidy, it makes it easier to put stuff back and all that, but I just love it when he says: Wow this looks nice! :) I've been good about collecting loose dollars and popping them in an old tin, trying to average 2 dollars per day. It's funny how that habit has made me so much more conscious of coins and small bills. I tend to keep track of them now more than I did. I'm also a bit more reluctant to spend them.

We had a pretty rough weekend. My mother-in-law's wake was Saturday and it was a very good turn out, but draining. My hubby is still having a rough time with it all and it's frustrating that I don't know how to help him. I know that loosing a parent is one of the most traumatic things to happen in a person's life, but I haven't experienced it myself yet. He lost both of his parents in the span of a year. It has to be hard. I just wish I could find a way to help him, to carry some of the burden. What is it about big strong men? Any strong emotion gets turned into anger? He's not angry at me, but he gets angry at the drop if a hat, at anyone. I know its pain, but it just gets lost in the translation!

The month after christmas...

Twas the month after Christmas and all through the house

Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.

The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste,

All holiday parties had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!

When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).

I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;

The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,

The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese

And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."

As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt

And prepared once again to do battle with dirt...

I said to myself, as only I can

"You can't spend the winter disguised as a man!"

So....away with the last of the sour cream dip,

Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.

Every last bit of food that I like must be banished

Till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won't have a cookie - not even a lick

I'll want only to chew a long celery stick.

I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie

I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore-

But isn't that what January is for?

Unable to giggle, no longer a riot,

Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet.

Author Unknown

Simple Steps 2

Well the simple steps are going well! Tomorrow is the end of the first week and I've got the water habit down! Yesterday I actually drank more water than I needed without meaning to...5 16 ounce bottles - a total of 10 cups. Now I've got to figure out what my focus will be for this week. I think I'll take on two: saving 2 dollars a day and cleaning out one drawer/cupboard a week. The $2 a day should be easy - I'm just going to set up an auto transfer to a special savings account. Will they charge me if I do a tiny transfer everyday? I'll have to check that out. No sense in saving two dollars a day if it's going to cost me 1.50 in fees! The second habit should be fairly easy to establish as well, I'm going to set up my 2009 calendar and write on there what space I'm going to tackle each week this month. First is the pot cupboard, it's been driving me crazy, but every time I do the dishes I just cram things in there instead of doing it right. I need to get it together and that will be satisfying.

Other than that, I am really happy that school is back tomorrow. I love my kids but having all four of them running around has been hell on my house and I'm so sick of cleaning and re-cleaning all day long. Today is going to be a lazy day - I'm going to stitch a bit, read a bit and relax. Tomorrow I will whip this house back into shape and enjoy the two little ones; my little rascal 2 year old Ian and my sweet angel Gracie who is nearly 12 weeks now.