•Day 27 — This month, in great detail - Ok... finally done with the 30 day challenge. It took me 50 days but I got it done in typical Shawn fashion.
Quote for the blog....
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.
-- John Muir
Ok, going a little free form here... looking at months... A friend once told me the key to a good marriage is separate vacations. Honestly I think there is some truth to that idea. Having been a couple for fourteen years my hubby and I have completely different ideas of vacation. If we did a cruise I would want to go north to Alaska and he would go to the Carribean. We went to Las Vegas and I wanted to go hiking and visit the Dam and he wants to hang out at the sports book and have a few drinks.
We find it easier to pick family vacation destinations usually something around a baseball stadium and water park. So a few years ago I started going on ladies weekends into the woods to go hiking, skiing, cycling. The hubby gets his mancation with his buddy usually to Las Vegas. Joe just got back from his biennial Vegas outing so now it is my turn to look forward to the months ahead.
I love spending time outdoors especially in the mountains so I am gearing up and looking for places to go. I've got things narrowed down to late July early August for the date. My hiking buddies from college are going to NM for a long weekend hike so I may tag along on that trip. Other options are a road trip to Colorado or Northern Michigan to spend some time in the woods. Looking for good places to hike in these areas if you know some and a buddy or two to keep me company.
Already breathing deeply just thinking about the sounds of Mother Earth and blue skies on the horizon. :)
Showing posts with label 30 day challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 30 day challenge. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
30 Day Challenge - Day 28
•Day 28 — This year, in great detail
The 30 Day Challenge Blog goes on....
Another quote for the day… “If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward you are always in the same place. If you don’t have a dream, you’ll never succeed.” Nora Roberts
Just two more days left to cover after almost two months.
So as usual I am taking my topic idea and conforming it to fit my thoughts. So my year in great detail is pretty boring in the grand scheme of things so I will talk about some of the highlights that I am looking forward to over the next year.
April… time with my mom’s family at our first gathering since my uncle passed away. My daughter so enjoys playing with her cousins and I genuinely love time with my extended family. Oh and then there is that ½ marathon which honestly if you had asked me two years ago if I thought I would ever do one I would have laughed in your face. But I have busted my hinny getting ready for this and am excited to see how it goes.
May… Going horse back riding with my daughter’s GS troop. Abby loves horses so much and it will be awesome to see her eyes light up and how she does with actual real live horses. Road trip… off to LA for an Association for Women Geoscientists Excom meeting. I get to visit with my old camping buddy while I am out there and hopefully continue to make a difference for AWG. I have my first Olympic Triathlon race of the year… I have to put the garden in and oh yeah… there is the matter of another year getting added to my tally bringing me to 37.
June… Looking forward a family reunion with all the crazy relatives on my Dad’s mom’s side. The first one since my grandfather passed away. May do a triathlon in Madison with my cousin and teammates.
July… 4th of July weekend at the lake with my family is always great… please don’t rain or blow because last summer’s weather was crummy. Ok, time to get my butt signed up for that darn ½ Ironman. I REALLY want to do it so I just need to get it on the schedule once and for all. Then time for a road trip to the wilderness … maybe Colorado or Isle Royal, MI??
August… rest and stay cool… try to keep the garden alive… family vacation to Kansas City for a little baseball and fun. Then maybe hit the State Fair and send the kids back to school.
September… Labor day weekend at the lake to run the boat down on gas for the winter. My last Olympic Triathlon of the season in my childhood stomping grounds.
October… maybe another ½ marathon or if things get really crazy a marathon?? Just another step on the road to someday, maybe before I turn 40 doing an Ironman. Up to MN for the AWG Board meeting and the ever so fun Halloween.
November… the month of plentiful holidays and birthdays. Traveling to the in-laws for Turkey Day.
December… CHAOS … celebrate the birth of my daughter – eight years. Spend a week off with my family hanging out.
January… ramping up my training for the new Triathlon season. Ramping up the program for the next GIS-T conference.
February… Snowshoeing and Cross Country skiing galore assuming mother nature cooperates with us. Leap year bonus day.
March… CHAOS… St Patrick’s day is on a Saturday. YEAH! Road Trip to Connecticut for Vacation and AWG board meeting, AWG conference and trip to New York City
April… Road Trip to GIS-T in Colorado for a little work and play…. Which brings us back to May May May May… whew… took in a little Sound of Music there.
The 30 Day Challenge Blog goes on....
Another quote for the day… “If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward you are always in the same place. If you don’t have a dream, you’ll never succeed.” Nora Roberts
Just two more days left to cover after almost two months.
So as usual I am taking my topic idea and conforming it to fit my thoughts. So my year in great detail is pretty boring in the grand scheme of things so I will talk about some of the highlights that I am looking forward to over the next year.
April… time with my mom’s family at our first gathering since my uncle passed away. My daughter so enjoys playing with her cousins and I genuinely love time with my extended family. Oh and then there is that ½ marathon which honestly if you had asked me two years ago if I thought I would ever do one I would have laughed in your face. But I have busted my hinny getting ready for this and am excited to see how it goes.
May… Going horse back riding with my daughter’s GS troop. Abby loves horses so much and it will be awesome to see her eyes light up and how she does with actual real live horses. Road trip… off to LA for an Association for Women Geoscientists Excom meeting. I get to visit with my old camping buddy while I am out there and hopefully continue to make a difference for AWG. I have my first Olympic Triathlon race of the year… I have to put the garden in and oh yeah… there is the matter of another year getting added to my tally bringing me to 37.
June… Looking forward a family reunion with all the crazy relatives on my Dad’s mom’s side. The first one since my grandfather passed away. May do a triathlon in Madison with my cousin and teammates.
July… 4th of July weekend at the lake with my family is always great… please don’t rain or blow because last summer’s weather was crummy. Ok, time to get my butt signed up for that darn ½ Ironman. I REALLY want to do it so I just need to get it on the schedule once and for all. Then time for a road trip to the wilderness … maybe Colorado or Isle Royal, MI??
August… rest and stay cool… try to keep the garden alive… family vacation to Kansas City for a little baseball and fun. Then maybe hit the State Fair and send the kids back to school.
September… Labor day weekend at the lake to run the boat down on gas for the winter. My last Olympic Triathlon of the season in my childhood stomping grounds.
October… maybe another ½ marathon or if things get really crazy a marathon?? Just another step on the road to someday, maybe before I turn 40 doing an Ironman. Up to MN for the AWG Board meeting and the ever so fun Halloween.
November… the month of plentiful holidays and birthdays. Traveling to the in-laws for Turkey Day.
December… CHAOS … celebrate the birth of my daughter – eight years. Spend a week off with my family hanging out.
January… ramping up my training for the new Triathlon season. Ramping up the program for the next GIS-T conference.
February… Snowshoeing and Cross Country skiing galore assuming mother nature cooperates with us. Leap year bonus day.
March… CHAOS… St Patrick’s day is on a Saturday. YEAH! Road Trip to Connecticut for Vacation and AWG board meeting, AWG conference and trip to New York City
April… Road Trip to GIS-T in Colorado for a little work and play…. Which brings us back to May May May May… whew… took in a little Sound of Music there.
30 Day Challenge - Day 29
•Day 29 — Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
The 30 Day Challenge Blog goes on…. Here are a few quotes that seem fitting today that are taped into the front cover of my health journal.
“Happiness is not the absence of problems but the ability to deal with them.” Reverend Run
“Balance is the place to which we must return.”
“What a feeling it is to accept and own my life and not beat myself up for the mistakes I have made!”
365 Days… what I wish for myself
1. To continue to grow as a person, a friend, a mother, a daughter, a wife and a colleague.
Well, yesterday I was just stepping on the treadmill at the gym because it was snowing in April. I took one last look at my email on my phone for some reason and got a message from a friend I have known professionally for five years or so. I had sent a note or two over the last few weeks since we saw each other at a conference and hadn’t heard from him. Well his response made me do a double take because something I said had knocked our friendship off track. I immediately felt horrible for inadvertently hurting him which is not something I would ever do intentionally.
I was overly critical (me just saying thing things as I see them without thinking first) and without knowing any of the back story I took an experience that is clearly painful and emotional for him and essentially slapped him across the face with it. I have had a long row with health problems myself and I should have been more sensitive and spent more time getting to know what was going on. And so I learned a little through this process and I try hard every day not to judge people because we all have a back story that we carry with us that defines who we are. I am still waiting to see if he will forgive me and let me prove I can be the kind of friend/supportive ear that won’t judge but will be there when he needs me.
2. Continue to balance my health/fitness with my life.
Jeez… five years ago now (time files … ) I went through a period of pretty intense soul searching about myself that lead to more soul searching about my marriage that lead to a serious illness due to the stress of the things I found about myself and my partnership along with overextending myself and having a stressful job/workplace.
I learned a lot throughout those couple of years because I had lost myself somewhere along the way getting married, having a child and trying to fit a mold that most little girls grow up buying into that conflicted with who I really am…. Anyway a story for another day… Through those years and a health scare that literally knocked me on my butt for almost a year I have learned to listen to my body. Our bodies talk to us if we listen… they tell us when to rest, when to eat, when they like something and we just have to listen. So I continue to learn how to balance my family, work, kids activities, professional activities and all the stuff I just like to do that isn’t relevant to everything else… With eating what my body needs, exercising, continuing to learn how to deal with my lingering health junk and focusing on positive mental health.
3. To cross at least one thing off my bucket list each year.
I have a yearly book of days that I mind dump into about once a week (old school with pen and paper) and in the back of my book I have my short list of resolutions for the year (I usually do pretty good) and my bucket list of things I want to experience in my life. The list has standard things like places I want to travel, things I want to learn… but did you know I want to visit all the Major League Baseball stadiums or ride the train through the Rockies to the PNW… if you are paying attention you know get a tattoo is on the list. There are other things but I won’t bore you with the list today… I will let you know when I cross them off complete though.
4. Make a difference…
Pretty broad topic I know but this idea of making an impact has been niggling in the back of my mind for the last couple of years. I am naturally drawn to reach out to people. I enjoy being positive, sharing ideas, working towards a goal. How do I roll that into making a different for someone/something else? On some level we all want to be needed and gain approval from others for a task well done. But this idea really goes beyond that… I want to make a difference not because someone will pat me on the back, but because a difference needs to be made.
So for now here are two of the things I am working at to make a difference... easing into being a Girl Scout leader for my daughter’s soon to be Brownie troop. I have had a lot of experiences in life and for some reason seem to know a little bit about a lot of things so I want to help these girls have positive experiences in their lives in the same way that being a Girl Scout 30 years ago had on mine. I am also on a conference planning committee with a remarkable group of people who every year put on a conference that makes the attendees feel like family. Where we all come away with new connections and ideas so we can all go forth and make a difference at our jobs. I hope that a tiny bit of what I have to offer make things even better.
So those are some of the hopes, goals, and thoughts banging around in my head for how I want to live the next 365 days of my life. Best to you all. Shawn
The 30 Day Challenge Blog goes on…. Here are a few quotes that seem fitting today that are taped into the front cover of my health journal.
“Happiness is not the absence of problems but the ability to deal with them.” Reverend Run
“Balance is the place to which we must return.”
“What a feeling it is to accept and own my life and not beat myself up for the mistakes I have made!”
365 Days… what I wish for myself
1. To continue to grow as a person, a friend, a mother, a daughter, a wife and a colleague.
Well, yesterday I was just stepping on the treadmill at the gym because it was snowing in April. I took one last look at my email on my phone for some reason and got a message from a friend I have known professionally for five years or so. I had sent a note or two over the last few weeks since we saw each other at a conference and hadn’t heard from him. Well his response made me do a double take because something I said had knocked our friendship off track. I immediately felt horrible for inadvertently hurting him which is not something I would ever do intentionally.
I was overly critical (me just saying thing things as I see them without thinking first) and without knowing any of the back story I took an experience that is clearly painful and emotional for him and essentially slapped him across the face with it. I have had a long row with health problems myself and I should have been more sensitive and spent more time getting to know what was going on. And so I learned a little through this process and I try hard every day not to judge people because we all have a back story that we carry with us that defines who we are. I am still waiting to see if he will forgive me and let me prove I can be the kind of friend/supportive ear that won’t judge but will be there when he needs me.
2. Continue to balance my health/fitness with my life.
Jeez… five years ago now (time files … ) I went through a period of pretty intense soul searching about myself that lead to more soul searching about my marriage that lead to a serious illness due to the stress of the things I found about myself and my partnership along with overextending myself and having a stressful job/workplace.
I learned a lot throughout those couple of years because I had lost myself somewhere along the way getting married, having a child and trying to fit a mold that most little girls grow up buying into that conflicted with who I really am…. Anyway a story for another day… Through those years and a health scare that literally knocked me on my butt for almost a year I have learned to listen to my body. Our bodies talk to us if we listen… they tell us when to rest, when to eat, when they like something and we just have to listen. So I continue to learn how to balance my family, work, kids activities, professional activities and all the stuff I just like to do that isn’t relevant to everything else… With eating what my body needs, exercising, continuing to learn how to deal with my lingering health junk and focusing on positive mental health.
3. To cross at least one thing off my bucket list each year.
I have a yearly book of days that I mind dump into about once a week (old school with pen and paper) and in the back of my book I have my short list of resolutions for the year (I usually do pretty good) and my bucket list of things I want to experience in my life. The list has standard things like places I want to travel, things I want to learn… but did you know I want to visit all the Major League Baseball stadiums or ride the train through the Rockies to the PNW… if you are paying attention you know get a tattoo is on the list. There are other things but I won’t bore you with the list today… I will let you know when I cross them off complete though.
4. Make a difference…
Pretty broad topic I know but this idea of making an impact has been niggling in the back of my mind for the last couple of years. I am naturally drawn to reach out to people. I enjoy being positive, sharing ideas, working towards a goal. How do I roll that into making a different for someone/something else? On some level we all want to be needed and gain approval from others for a task well done. But this idea really goes beyond that… I want to make a difference not because someone will pat me on the back, but because a difference needs to be made.
So for now here are two of the things I am working at to make a difference... easing into being a Girl Scout leader for my daughter’s soon to be Brownie troop. I have had a lot of experiences in life and for some reason seem to know a little bit about a lot of things so I want to help these girls have positive experiences in their lives in the same way that being a Girl Scout 30 years ago had on mine. I am also on a conference planning committee with a remarkable group of people who every year put on a conference that makes the attendees feel like family. Where we all come away with new connections and ideas so we can all go forth and make a difference at our jobs. I hope that a tiny bit of what I have to offer make things even better.
So those are some of the hopes, goals, and thoughts banging around in my head for how I want to live the next 365 days of my life. Best to you all. Shawn
Monday, April 11, 2011
30 Day Challenge - Day 26
•Day 26 — Your week, in great detail
Lately my weeks haven't been consistent from one to the next. So I will just chatter here about the last two weeks. Two weeks ago I drove to Des Moines with the kiddos to go out to dinner with my folks and honey to celebrate my Dad's 60th birthday. Sadly it was the second birthday in six months overwhelmed by the news of a death in the family.
Then I was up to catch a flight to Hershey PA for the annual GIS-T conference. I missed the last two conferences due to lack of commitment to a DOT and lack of funding. But this group of people is like coming home to family. I look forward to travels for work (nothing like a little time away from the hectic day to day) and I especially look forward to this conference. I enjoy my visits with friends and learning what others are doing that I can take back to my office.
I felt some of my fire coming back at work. I had been in a bit of a holding pattern since winter started... I tend to be one who stirs the pot at work and pushes for change. I look at the big picture and try to figure out how to get folks pointed in a better direction. I had been lying low the last few months so it was good to get some new wind, new ideas, and new energy.
After five days it was back home and into shuttling kids to soccer practices and doctor appointments. I haven't stopped running since... literally and figuratively considering I am just three weeks out from my first 1/2 marathon.
A couple of days after I got back I was off on a single parenting adventure while Joe took a five day mancation with his old Air Force buddy. It is weird because when I am the only adult in the house, at least for this past week, I rocked the single parenting adventure. The kids were great... mostly doing what I asked. We were pretty much on time all week to daycare, work, the gym, soccer practice, appointments. there weren't even any major melt downs... I think we all brought our A games.
But alas... it was not to be. Joe came back and we are now falling into our old patterns. Juggling Joe doing a long day in field and me feeding kids and running to practices. The me off for two days to an in state conference with an overnight. I get back and the next day Abby and I go to Girl Scout camp for her first overnight Girl Scout camping experience. Then to squeeze in a Palm Sunday Mass and then another long training run before we start all over again in a new week.
So I guess for me each week is different and the same. I try to just take it all in and go with the flow most of the time. But alas.. it is after 10pm yet again and I have to get kids moving in the morning and have a full day so I am signing off. I think I only have three more of the 30 day challenge blogs left but I am already thinking up new things to share since the blog habit is forming.
Take care my friends and good night.
Lately my weeks haven't been consistent from one to the next. So I will just chatter here about the last two weeks. Two weeks ago I drove to Des Moines with the kiddos to go out to dinner with my folks and honey to celebrate my Dad's 60th birthday. Sadly it was the second birthday in six months overwhelmed by the news of a death in the family.
Then I was up to catch a flight to Hershey PA for the annual GIS-T conference. I missed the last two conferences due to lack of commitment to a DOT and lack of funding. But this group of people is like coming home to family. I look forward to travels for work (nothing like a little time away from the hectic day to day) and I especially look forward to this conference. I enjoy my visits with friends and learning what others are doing that I can take back to my office.
I felt some of my fire coming back at work. I had been in a bit of a holding pattern since winter started... I tend to be one who stirs the pot at work and pushes for change. I look at the big picture and try to figure out how to get folks pointed in a better direction. I had been lying low the last few months so it was good to get some new wind, new ideas, and new energy.
After five days it was back home and into shuttling kids to soccer practices and doctor appointments. I haven't stopped running since... literally and figuratively considering I am just three weeks out from my first 1/2 marathon.
A couple of days after I got back I was off on a single parenting adventure while Joe took a five day mancation with his old Air Force buddy. It is weird because when I am the only adult in the house, at least for this past week, I rocked the single parenting adventure. The kids were great... mostly doing what I asked. We were pretty much on time all week to daycare, work, the gym, soccer practice, appointments. there weren't even any major melt downs... I think we all brought our A games.
But alas... it was not to be. Joe came back and we are now falling into our old patterns. Juggling Joe doing a long day in field and me feeding kids and running to practices. The me off for two days to an in state conference with an overnight. I get back and the next day Abby and I go to Girl Scout camp for her first overnight Girl Scout camping experience. Then to squeeze in a Palm Sunday Mass and then another long training run before we start all over again in a new week.
So I guess for me each week is different and the same. I try to just take it all in and go with the flow most of the time. But alas.. it is after 10pm yet again and I have to get kids moving in the morning and have a full day so I am signing off. I think I only have three more of the 30 day challenge blogs left but I am already thinking up new things to share since the blog habit is forming.
Take care my friends and good night.
30 Day Challenge - Day 23
•Day 23 — A YouTube video
Ok, so the funny thing is I work with technology all day long. At work we push to try to keep up with the most progressive options... but outside of the office I have to say I am a bit of a slow adopter. It took me a couple of years and plenty of nagging from friends before I got a Facebook account. Of course now I am on FB almost every day and love to chat with my friend and family that way.
I don't really watch YouTube unless my hubby shows me some random "double rainbow" clip of this or that. I don't have a twitter account because I don't have time to follow anyone and I suspect that the 2 or 3 of you who read my blog is about all the followers I would have. :)
Well, in following of the spirit of the 30 (45) day challenge I did pick a YouTube video to share... My kids and I have been fascinated by the Eagle family. Tonight all three baby birds were flopping around in the nest while one of the parents fed the babies from the critters lying around the edges of the nest. I shared the link in an earlier blog, but here is the footage of the baby birds popping out of their eggs.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ries96
Ok, so the funny thing is I work with technology all day long. At work we push to try to keep up with the most progressive options... but outside of the office I have to say I am a bit of a slow adopter. It took me a couple of years and plenty of nagging from friends before I got a Facebook account. Of course now I am on FB almost every day and love to chat with my friend and family that way.
I don't really watch YouTube unless my hubby shows me some random "double rainbow" clip of this or that. I don't have a twitter account because I don't have time to follow anyone and I suspect that the 2 or 3 of you who read my blog is about all the followers I would have. :)
Well, in following of the spirit of the 30 (45) day challenge I did pick a YouTube video to share... My kids and I have been fascinated by the Eagle family. Tonight all three baby birds were flopping around in the nest while one of the parents fed the babies from the critters lying around the edges of the nest. I shared the link in an earlier blog, but here is the footage of the baby birds popping out of their eggs.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ries96
Saturday, April 9, 2011
30 Day Challenge - Day 30
•Day 30 — Whatever tickles your fancy - The wolf in me... I have always had a passion for wolves and done a careful study of Native American Culture. I was poking around today and found this story I thought I would share. May we all have the strength to feed our good wolf...
The Cherokee Legend
An old Grandfather said to his grandson, who came to him with anger at a friend who had done him an injustice, "Let me tell you a story.
I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do.
But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times." He continued, "It is as if there are two wolves inside me. One is good... he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, faith and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him, and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.
But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger,for his anger will change nothing.
Sometimes, it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."
The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?"
The Grandfather smiled and quietly said, "The one I feed."
The Cherokee Legend
An old Grandfather said to his grandson, who came to him with anger at a friend who had done him an injustice, "Let me tell you a story.
I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do.
But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times." He continued, "It is as if there are two wolves inside me. One is good... he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, faith and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him, and does not take offense when no offense was intended. He will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.
But the other wolf, ah! He is full of anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger,for his anger will change nothing.
Sometimes, it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."
The boy looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes and asked, "Which one wins, Grandfather?"
The Grandfather smiled and quietly said, "The one I feed."
30 Day Challenge - Day 24
•Day 24 — Whatever tickles your fancy
Well, now I am seven days behind finishing my 30 days of blog. I will persist and finish the list one of these days. Guess I just have to stay up past 10pm more often... tired tonight but with the mind working overdrive and a movie I haven't seen on the TV so here I am still up at midnight.
I know tomorrow I need to go take Abby to buy a soccer jersey at 9am because for some reason I am the only one who knows where anything is at in the house...and yet this one thing eludes me. Where did I put Abby's soccer jersey at the end of the fall season? I haven't a clue. I guess I have been a wee distracted ...
Hard to know where to spend my time and energy... keeping house and tracking on random laundry is certainly not very high up on my list.
How does one decide where to put their energy... for me the list of choices can be overwhelming. My family and my job draw from the bulk of my reserves but I wouldn't trade for either of them. All my other choices are just offshoots from those... kids - PTO, Girl Scouts, soccer Practice, Daycare schedules ... work - executive committees, conference planning, work groups... fighting the good fight... trying to make the world better or at least my small part of it.
Occasionally I factor in time for my hobbies (see past blogs for that list) and other activities. Finding the balance between everything/one else and what I need isn't always easy and some days I feel like I am about to tip over, fall off, throw my hands up in the air... but then balance is restored and I plod along with my day again.
May we all know what is most important to us, may we take the time to fill our reserves so we can be the best parent, employee, friend and most important be true to ourselves. Now off to bed with me and may we all continue to learn and grow and be better than we were yesterday.
Well, now I am seven days behind finishing my 30 days of blog. I will persist and finish the list one of these days. Guess I just have to stay up past 10pm more often... tired tonight but with the mind working overdrive and a movie I haven't seen on the TV so here I am still up at midnight.
I know tomorrow I need to go take Abby to buy a soccer jersey at 9am because for some reason I am the only one who knows where anything is at in the house...and yet this one thing eludes me. Where did I put Abby's soccer jersey at the end of the fall season? I haven't a clue. I guess I have been a wee distracted ...
Hard to know where to spend my time and energy... keeping house and tracking on random laundry is certainly not very high up on my list.
How does one decide where to put their energy... for me the list of choices can be overwhelming. My family and my job draw from the bulk of my reserves but I wouldn't trade for either of them. All my other choices are just offshoots from those... kids - PTO, Girl Scouts, soccer Practice, Daycare schedules ... work - executive committees, conference planning, work groups... fighting the good fight... trying to make the world better or at least my small part of it.
Occasionally I factor in time for my hobbies (see past blogs for that list) and other activities. Finding the balance between everything/one else and what I need isn't always easy and some days I feel like I am about to tip over, fall off, throw my hands up in the air... but then balance is restored and I plod along with my day again.
May we all know what is most important to us, may we take the time to fill our reserves so we can be the best parent, employee, friend and most important be true to ourselves. Now off to bed with me and may we all continue to learn and grow and be better than we were yesterday.
Monday, April 4, 2011
30 Day Challenge - Day 22
•Day 22 — A website
Not sure where to go with this one... but must catch up with my 30 day challenge and this seems to keep me up and delaying another fitful night of sleep. darn time changes and travels days crammed full yet not enough gets done.
Well, anyway to websites...
The one we are addicted to in our house right now is the Eagles of course.
http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles
Lately I am loving the Groupon website because who doesn't love a great deal on something you planned to spend money on anyway.
I spend a lot of time on http://www.care2.com/greenliving/ reading articles and reading through causes.
Something I don't get enough time to actually do regularly but do like to check out the new ones of...
http://www.geocaching.com/
And when I need a little environmental motivation I like to visit
http://www.grist.org/ or http://www.motherearthnews.com
For a little work time fun I like to recon pages from other DOTs successes. This is a cool one... http://maps.modot.mo.gov/timi/ or this one... http://dashboard.virginiadot.org/
That is probably enough random web pages... now back to my real addictions... gmail and facebook. :)
Not sure where to go with this one... but must catch up with my 30 day challenge and this seems to keep me up and delaying another fitful night of sleep. darn time changes and travels days crammed full yet not enough gets done.
Well, anyway to websites...
The one we are addicted to in our house right now is the Eagles of course.
http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles
Lately I am loving the Groupon website because who doesn't love a great deal on something you planned to spend money on anyway.
I spend a lot of time on http://www.care2.com/greenliving/ reading articles and reading through causes.
Something I don't get enough time to actually do regularly but do like to check out the new ones of...
http://www.geocaching.com/
And when I need a little environmental motivation I like to visit
http://www.grist.org/ or http://www.motherearthnews.com
For a little work time fun I like to recon pages from other DOTs successes. This is a cool one... http://maps.modot.mo.gov/timi/ or this one... http://dashboard.virginiadot.org/
That is probably enough random web pages... now back to my real addictions... gmail and facebook. :)
30 Day Challenge - Day 25
•Day 25 — Your day, in great detail
Skipping a couple of days in an effort to finally finish this round of blogs.
My day in great detail... hmmm
A typical week day...
5AM - Joe escapes to the gym and van pool to Des Moines
5:00 am - 6:30am get up early and workout in the basement a couple mornings a week.
OR 6:00am - 6:30am Get up and partake in a few minutes of quiet time before the kid wrangling begins.
6:30 am (usually earlier) JJ is up and demanding a banana and some juice and I am crawling up into a loft bed to drag my 7 year old out of bed. why couldn't she be a morning person.
Crawl into the shower and hope by some miracle Abigail actually gets herself dressed the first time I ask her... that is a RARE thing. Get out of the shower more awake and continue the crazy hustling of children into clothes, lunches made, dogs in and to their kennels and off to the daycare.
7:30pm race to work and begin what is usually a mix of meetings, working on documents, and actually GIS and database work.
noonish... A couple days a week I run to the gym to either swim or do my yoga/pilates class. Helps break up my day.
1:00 - 4:00 or 4:30 more of the same as the morning.
Some days I am out the door at 4pm for a run before I race to pick up the kids by 5pm.
5:00pm masterfully rummage in the kitchen for wonderfully healthy meals to make and feed my family.
6:30 hang out with the kids, playing and watching programs together on the DVR.
8:00pm wrangling kids into pajamas and story time.
8:36pm kids in bed and time for an hour to myself... today blogging, sometimes knitting, journalling, surfing...
10:00- 10:30 crawl into bed... maybe read or head straight to sleep.
Weekends
Would love to say I get to sleep in... JJ unfortunately stays on the same schedule every day so Joe and I take turns being the one who gets to sleep in until 7:30pm when the decibel level rises.
Joe and I negotiate to see who goes to the gym and who stays to pry Abby off the couch from the TV. Now it is soccer season so Saturday mornings we ride the sidelines. Triathlon season is coming so at least one morning is usually spent doing a long ride and running.
Somewhere in there laundry is done and parts of the house get clean, usually a team effort, dogs might get walked, the kids get played with, naps are had (that is an extra special day when I take the time for a nap) Then we start over again with Mondays.
Most of it I wouldn't change at all but sometimes I need a vacation.
Skipping a couple of days in an effort to finally finish this round of blogs.
My day in great detail... hmmm
A typical week day...
5AM - Joe escapes to the gym and van pool to Des Moines
5:00 am - 6:30am get up early and workout in the basement a couple mornings a week.
OR 6:00am - 6:30am Get up and partake in a few minutes of quiet time before the kid wrangling begins.
6:30 am (usually earlier) JJ is up and demanding a banana and some juice and I am crawling up into a loft bed to drag my 7 year old out of bed. why couldn't she be a morning person.
Crawl into the shower and hope by some miracle Abigail actually gets herself dressed the first time I ask her... that is a RARE thing. Get out of the shower more awake and continue the crazy hustling of children into clothes, lunches made, dogs in and to their kennels and off to the daycare.
7:30pm race to work and begin what is usually a mix of meetings, working on documents, and actually GIS and database work.
noonish... A couple days a week I run to the gym to either swim or do my yoga/pilates class. Helps break up my day.
1:00 - 4:00 or 4:30 more of the same as the morning.
Some days I am out the door at 4pm for a run before I race to pick up the kids by 5pm.
5:00pm masterfully rummage in the kitchen for wonderfully healthy meals to make and feed my family.
6:30 hang out with the kids, playing and watching programs together on the DVR.
8:00pm wrangling kids into pajamas and story time.
8:36pm kids in bed and time for an hour to myself... today blogging, sometimes knitting, journalling, surfing...
10:00- 10:30 crawl into bed... maybe read or head straight to sleep.
Weekends
Would love to say I get to sleep in... JJ unfortunately stays on the same schedule every day so Joe and I take turns being the one who gets to sleep in until 7:30pm when the decibel level rises.
Joe and I negotiate to see who goes to the gym and who stays to pry Abby off the couch from the TV. Now it is soccer season so Saturday mornings we ride the sidelines. Triathlon season is coming so at least one morning is usually spent doing a long ride and running.
Somewhere in there laundry is done and parts of the house get clean, usually a team effort, dogs might get walked, the kids get played with, naps are had (that is an extra special day when I take the time for a nap) Then we start over again with Mondays.
Most of it I wouldn't change at all but sometimes I need a vacation.
Friday, April 1, 2011
30 Day Challenge - Day 20
•Day 20 — A hobby of yours
I have way too many hobbies... So in no particular order...
Photography... I love taking nature shots and photos of friends and family. Lately I have been trying to find good shots to capture while on my runs... My cell does an ok job outside.
Reading... love a good biography, mystery, and any recommendation that gets me thinking.
Flying... Most people don't know this but I love to fly and am good at it but haven't had the funds to finish my license.
Earth Science... I love the study of science and since I don't use much science in my job from my Earth Science and Soils degrees I spend a fair bit of time trying to keep up with current Earth related research and news. I especially love rocks and pick up a small one from every trip to bring home.
Maps... I love collecting old maps, looking at current maps and have a bunch from across the country... plus obviously I love making maps too. I enjoy anything spatial and hate driving in cars with maps on the dash... way too distracting. :)
Fitness... I learned to swim really young and can work through a lot of mental gymnastics in the pool. Today I was told I am a runner too because I did 17 miles this week so far but it is funny I don't think of myself that way... just a person training for a 1/2 Ironman (yes I plan to sign up tomorrow... freaking out a little. :) I make fitness a priority for me and try to be a good example for my kids too.
Hiking, Kayaking, Snowshoeing... I love anything outdoors and never seem to have enough time to 'convene with the Earth' as I like to say. Listening to the wind and creatures...hmmm just can't get enough outside time.
Whew this list is getting long... Like I said too many hobbies
Music... I love listening to music and making music... I have played a lot of instruments in my time but really only mastered one. Need to dust off my guitar soon and see if I can master that too.
Gardening... I love to work in the yard mowing with the electric mower, tending my flower gardens, and growing veggies in my raised beds. I love being able to feed my family what we grow. I already have a herd of tomato starts growing in the basement.
Arts and Crafts... Besides fitness related activities this is probably next in line. I love making homemade cards, I quilt when I have time, I make jewelry mostly as gifts, and my special craft is knitting. Right now I am finishing off a sweater and gearing up to do several sets of socks which are my specialty. You know I care about you if you get socks from me. :)
I have way too many hobbies... So in no particular order...
Photography... I love taking nature shots and photos of friends and family. Lately I have been trying to find good shots to capture while on my runs... My cell does an ok job outside.
Reading... love a good biography, mystery, and any recommendation that gets me thinking.
Flying... Most people don't know this but I love to fly and am good at it but haven't had the funds to finish my license.
Earth Science... I love the study of science and since I don't use much science in my job from my Earth Science and Soils degrees I spend a fair bit of time trying to keep up with current Earth related research and news. I especially love rocks and pick up a small one from every trip to bring home.
Maps... I love collecting old maps, looking at current maps and have a bunch from across the country... plus obviously I love making maps too. I enjoy anything spatial and hate driving in cars with maps on the dash... way too distracting. :)
Fitness... I learned to swim really young and can work through a lot of mental gymnastics in the pool. Today I was told I am a runner too because I did 17 miles this week so far but it is funny I don't think of myself that way... just a person training for a 1/2 Ironman (yes I plan to sign up tomorrow... freaking out a little. :) I make fitness a priority for me and try to be a good example for my kids too.
Hiking, Kayaking, Snowshoeing... I love anything outdoors and never seem to have enough time to 'convene with the Earth' as I like to say. Listening to the wind and creatures...hmmm just can't get enough outside time.
Whew this list is getting long... Like I said too many hobbies
Music... I love listening to music and making music... I have played a lot of instruments in my time but really only mastered one. Need to dust off my guitar soon and see if I can master that too.
Gardening... I love to work in the yard mowing with the electric mower, tending my flower gardens, and growing veggies in my raised beds. I love being able to feed my family what we grow. I already have a herd of tomato starts growing in the basement.
Arts and Crafts... Besides fitness related activities this is probably next in line. I love making homemade cards, I quilt when I have time, I make jewelry mostly as gifts, and my special craft is knitting. Right now I am finishing off a sweater and gearing up to do several sets of socks which are my specialty. You know I care about you if you get socks from me. :)
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
30 Day Challenge - Day 19
•Day 19 — A talent of yours
Shoot... so I have been dragging my feet on this on for a while. I have lots of talents but haven't really mastered any of them...
For those of you who know me I would love to hear what talents you think I poses...
email me at mudnmaps@gmail.com
I will summarrize my thoughts and the feedback you all might provide... If I don't hear from anyone I will just know none of you are reading my blog. :)
Shoot... so I have been dragging my feet on this on for a while. I have lots of talents but haven't really mastered any of them...
For those of you who know me I would love to hear what talents you think I poses...
email me at mudnmaps@gmail.com
I will summarrize my thoughts and the feedback you all might provide... If I don't hear from anyone I will just know none of you are reading my blog. :)
30 Day Challenge - Day 21
•Day 21 — A recipe
I enjoy cooking and trying new things. I used to specialize in baked goods, but when I ended up eating half of everything I baked because everyone else lost interest I now only bake when I feel like it. My favorite things to bake are holiday cookies and sweet breads/muffins. I will rustle up a few recipes that have been 'handed down' by my family that I have tweaked to make them healthier.
Lately I have been on a recipe kick using my two new Moosewood lodge cookbooks. These are vegetarian recipes but pretty much all of the ones I have tried over the last few months have been YUMMY! I will pick my favorite one or two and post that too.
I also love things I can just throw together on a whim for a quick meal. I am not one of those people (like my husband) who follows a recipe to the letter. I am more of a little bit of this and that kind of person.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of my quick throw together meals... Buy a garlic and cheese loaf or baguette from the bakery section of the super market. Slice it in short slices like you were making bread for sandwiches.
Lay the bread out on a baking sheet and lightly butter. This will go in the oven at 350 for a few minutes to crisp up before you add the toppings.
Toppings... pretty much whatever is in the fridge.... Pick what you like and mix them all together in a bowl.
Several Tomatoes Diced(a can is ok too)
Olives sliced (we love black but sometimes get the greek stuffed variety)
Mushrooms sliced and sauteed
We usually go veggie or I put on smoked salmon but could also do some sausage crumbles too... nothing too big.
Put the toppings ingredients on the bread first (after lightly toasting the bread), then the meat if you are using some, then top with your favorites grated cheese... we have tried just about every kind so have some fun.
Put in the oven until the cheese is melted and starting to brown... Makes a meal all by itself, but can serve with fresh fruit too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So lets see...
What's for dinner tonight? Shawn's variation of a pseudo chili... Chili for me means veggies (can be carrots, celery, corn, spinach and always tomatoes), beans, and a little bit of ground turkey. Last time I made chili with dill pickles in it... Yum! So back to tonight. I did a pound of ground turkey with lots of seasoning. Since I sell Tastefully Simple I always have seasonings on hand... I used some red pepper, garlic garlic, bacon bacon, and of course wahoo chili. I put some in the crock pot and some in the meat while I sauteed it. I added a small container of frozen spinach (first time for this one so will see how it goes), two cans of organic tomatoes (I use fresh when they are local or in season the back yard), and beans... this time a can of black and one of pinto beans. I throw everything in the crock pot the night before and then fire things up on low in the morning. I am making some cheddar biscuits to go with it (also TS food).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rachel Rays' turkey meatloaf recipe is a huge favorite in our house so her is my take on that one.
* 2 McIntosh or Gala apples, peeled and cut into small dice (I've used Braeburn and Figi too)
* 1 tablespoon lemon juice (use this when I remember)
* 2 pounds ground all-white-meat turkey (I do one package of regular white ground turkey and one of turkey sausage which adds a ton of flavor)
* 3-4 ribs of celery, finely chopped (I use this when I have it handy)
* 1 medium onion, finely chopped (I either use fresh onion, or TS onion onion depending on what I have on hand)
* 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning (I only use TS spices here)
* 1 large egg
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper (usually skip this)
* 2 cups chicken stock (can use organic veggie broth here too)
* 2 cups stuffing mix (I have used stuffing mix, or breadcrumbs depending on what is in the pantry)
* 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
Preparation - (I do make this on parchment paper and then put half in the freezer once it is cooked for a quick and easy meal down the road.)
Pre-heat the oven to 400ºF.
In a large bowl, add the apples and lemon juice and toss together. Add the turkey, celery, onion, poultry seasoning, egg, salt and freshly ground black pepper.
In a medium size bowl, add the stock and the stuffing. Toss around, letting the stuffing soak up the liquid, then add it to the bowl with the turkey. Mix everything together well, then turn it out onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and shape it into a loaf. Coat with EVOO, transfer to the oven and roast until brown and cooked through, about an hour.
I enjoy cooking and trying new things. I used to specialize in baked goods, but when I ended up eating half of everything I baked because everyone else lost interest I now only bake when I feel like it. My favorite things to bake are holiday cookies and sweet breads/muffins. I will rustle up a few recipes that have been 'handed down' by my family that I have tweaked to make them healthier.
Lately I have been on a recipe kick using my two new Moosewood lodge cookbooks. These are vegetarian recipes but pretty much all of the ones I have tried over the last few months have been YUMMY! I will pick my favorite one or two and post that too.
I also love things I can just throw together on a whim for a quick meal. I am not one of those people (like my husband) who follows a recipe to the letter. I am more of a little bit of this and that kind of person.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of my quick throw together meals... Buy a garlic and cheese loaf or baguette from the bakery section of the super market. Slice it in short slices like you were making bread for sandwiches.
Lay the bread out on a baking sheet and lightly butter. This will go in the oven at 350 for a few minutes to crisp up before you add the toppings.
Toppings... pretty much whatever is in the fridge.... Pick what you like and mix them all together in a bowl.
Several Tomatoes Diced(a can is ok too)
Olives sliced (we love black but sometimes get the greek stuffed variety)
Mushrooms sliced and sauteed
We usually go veggie or I put on smoked salmon but could also do some sausage crumbles too... nothing too big.
Put the toppings ingredients on the bread first (after lightly toasting the bread), then the meat if you are using some, then top with your favorites grated cheese... we have tried just about every kind so have some fun.
Put in the oven until the cheese is melted and starting to brown... Makes a meal all by itself, but can serve with fresh fruit too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So lets see...
What's for dinner tonight? Shawn's variation of a pseudo chili... Chili for me means veggies (can be carrots, celery, corn, spinach and always tomatoes), beans, and a little bit of ground turkey. Last time I made chili with dill pickles in it... Yum! So back to tonight. I did a pound of ground turkey with lots of seasoning. Since I sell Tastefully Simple I always have seasonings on hand... I used some red pepper, garlic garlic, bacon bacon, and of course wahoo chili. I put some in the crock pot and some in the meat while I sauteed it. I added a small container of frozen spinach (first time for this one so will see how it goes), two cans of organic tomatoes (I use fresh when they are local or in season the back yard), and beans... this time a can of black and one of pinto beans. I throw everything in the crock pot the night before and then fire things up on low in the morning. I am making some cheddar biscuits to go with it (also TS food).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rachel Rays' turkey meatloaf recipe is a huge favorite in our house so her is my take on that one.
* 2 McIntosh or Gala apples, peeled and cut into small dice (I've used Braeburn and Figi too)
* 1 tablespoon lemon juice (use this when I remember)
* 2 pounds ground all-white-meat turkey (I do one package of regular white ground turkey and one of turkey sausage which adds a ton of flavor)
* 3-4 ribs of celery, finely chopped (I use this when I have it handy)
* 1 medium onion, finely chopped (I either use fresh onion, or TS onion onion depending on what I have on hand)
* 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning (I only use TS spices here)
* 1 large egg
* Salt and freshly ground black pepper (usually skip this)
* 2 cups chicken stock (can use organic veggie broth here too)
* 2 cups stuffing mix (I have used stuffing mix, or breadcrumbs depending on what is in the pantry)
* 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
Preparation - (I do make this on parchment paper and then put half in the freezer once it is cooked for a quick and easy meal down the road.)
Pre-heat the oven to 400ºF.
In a large bowl, add the apples and lemon juice and toss together. Add the turkey, celery, onion, poultry seasoning, egg, salt and freshly ground black pepper.
In a medium size bowl, add the stock and the stuffing. Toss around, letting the stuffing soak up the liquid, then add it to the bowl with the turkey. Mix everything together well, then turn it out onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and shape it into a loaf. Coat with EVOO, transfer to the oven and roast until brown and cooked through, about an hour.
30 Day Challenge - Day 16
•Day 16 — A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
There are a handful of songs that pull at my heart strings ...
It could be the powerful lyrics and music, or a place in time where that song was part of my daily 'background music'.
There are other reasons songs make me cry... Heavy Metal where I can't understand the words, super twangy country music where the dog died and the truck is broke, rap music full of nonsense and explicatives. Mostly just have a low tolerance for this kind of music.
Anyway... a few songs that I find emotional/passionate reminders of how love and faith are important in my life ... Some of these I have blogged about previously..
Lady Antebellum - "Need You Now"
Kris Allen - "Live Like We're Dying"
Five For Fighting - "100 years"
INXS - "God's Top Ten"
Anastacia - "I Belong to You"
Bob Carlisle - "Butterfly Kisses"
Michael W. Smith - "Friends"
I am sure more will pop into my head but for now... maybe you have found something new the moves you.
There are a handful of songs that pull at my heart strings ...
It could be the powerful lyrics and music, or a place in time where that song was part of my daily 'background music'.
There are other reasons songs make me cry... Heavy Metal where I can't understand the words, super twangy country music where the dog died and the truck is broke, rap music full of nonsense and explicatives. Mostly just have a low tolerance for this kind of music.
Anyway... a few songs that I find emotional/passionate reminders of how love and faith are important in my life ... Some of these I have blogged about previously..
Lady Antebellum - "Need You Now"
Kris Allen - "Live Like We're Dying"
Five For Fighting - "100 years"
INXS - "God's Top Ten"
Anastacia - "I Belong to You"
Bob Carlisle - "Butterfly Kisses"
Michael W. Smith - "Friends"
I am sure more will pop into my head but for now... maybe you have found something new the moves you.
Monday, March 21, 2011
30 Day Challenge - Day 18
•Day 18 — Whatever tickles your fancy - An Ode to Geocaching
A few years ago, right before my family moved back to Iowa, I found out about Geocaching. It is basically treasure hunting using a GPS to find site where people, all over the world, have left containers for you to find.
Whenever I travel somewhere I look for Geocaches I can pick up on the way. I am still learning all the lay of the land out there but have some friends who are very active Geocachers.
No you don't need to own a GPS to play. Many phones these days have GPS in them and will take you places if you ask. I have also used my portable car GPS to locate sites, but my favorite way is to my phone app that taps into my Geocaching.com account. My handle is mudnmaps in case you want to see where I have been.
Abby, my mom and even Joe once have been my Geocaching buddies. We pick a nice day to go out and wander the great outdoors. You find wonderful unknown parks and great history while looking for caches. We aren't always successful finding treasure but it sure is fun to look.
If any of you are in the area May 21st give me a shout and we can go do the Geocaching challenge with a bunch of other cachers in the Ames area.
So if you still have NO Idea what Geocaching is go check out the website http://www.geocaching.com/ and it will give you the low down on all the adventures you could be having. Happy Caching!!
A few years ago, right before my family moved back to Iowa, I found out about Geocaching. It is basically treasure hunting using a GPS to find site where people, all over the world, have left containers for you to find.
Whenever I travel somewhere I look for Geocaches I can pick up on the way. I am still learning all the lay of the land out there but have some friends who are very active Geocachers.
No you don't need to own a GPS to play. Many phones these days have GPS in them and will take you places if you ask. I have also used my portable car GPS to locate sites, but my favorite way is to my phone app that taps into my Geocaching.com account. My handle is mudnmaps in case you want to see where I have been.
Abby, my mom and even Joe once have been my Geocaching buddies. We pick a nice day to go out and wander the great outdoors. You find wonderful unknown parks and great history while looking for caches. We aren't always successful finding treasure but it sure is fun to look.
If any of you are in the area May 21st give me a shout and we can go do the Geocaching challenge with a bunch of other cachers in the Ames area.
So if you still have NO Idea what Geocaching is go check out the website http://www.geocaching.com/ and it will give you the low down on all the adventures you could be having. Happy Caching!!
30 Day Challenge - Day 15
•Day 15 — A fanfic... ok not fan fiction... how about who am I a fan of?
Well, this one got me to thinking. I am not really a pop culture kind of person and I don't follow sports closely enough to be a fan of anyone popular.
I will say though that I was reading something a few years back. When most people are asked what they look for in a friend is 'someone who accepts you for who you are'. So I am not going to disagree with this statement but I would take the idea a little further based on something else I read. A true friend is someone who accepts you but also helps you grow as a person.
So when picking people who you want to share your time with you don't want to pick a clone of you. Someone who things the same or acts the same but someone who is who you aspire to grow to be like. This book I read called them my "Board of Directors".
So to get to the point of my 'fanatic' post here... The people I choose to be in my 'Board of Director' are the people I am a fan of. The people who challenge my behaviors, who do things that I aspire to do, who take risks and aren't afraid to change for the better and follow their dreams.
Since I moved I haven't been in contact as closely with some of my board of directors, but that doesn't mean I have stopped challenging myself to grow as a person. So for all of you who support me and challenge me at the same time I say thanks.... you probably know who you are.
Well, this one got me to thinking. I am not really a pop culture kind of person and I don't follow sports closely enough to be a fan of anyone popular.
I will say though that I was reading something a few years back. When most people are asked what they look for in a friend is 'someone who accepts you for who you are'. So I am not going to disagree with this statement but I would take the idea a little further based on something else I read. A true friend is someone who accepts you but also helps you grow as a person.
So when picking people who you want to share your time with you don't want to pick a clone of you. Someone who things the same or acts the same but someone who is who you aspire to grow to be like. This book I read called them my "Board of Directors".
So to get to the point of my 'fanatic' post here... The people I choose to be in my 'Board of Director' are the people I am a fan of. The people who challenge my behaviors, who do things that I aspire to do, who take risks and aren't afraid to change for the better and follow their dreams.
Since I moved I haven't been in contact as closely with some of my board of directors, but that doesn't mean I have stopped challenging myself to grow as a person. So for all of you who support me and challenge me at the same time I say thanks.... you probably know who you are.
30 Day Challenge - Day 17
•Day 17 — An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
OK, so I am now five days behind so I decided to skip a couple of days and jump to some I could knock out quickly. So I have different kinds of art in my life. I love to create things with my hands but I will get more to that on hobbies. I do plan to share a couple of quilt photos when I update this post later today, but I wanted to share some special art from two very important artists in my life.
First my 7 year old who has a passion for horses.
The next one is my first set of abstract art from my little guy who just turned 2 this weekend.
I promise to add a couple pieces of my own 'art' to the blog in the next day or two. :)
OK, so I am now five days behind so I decided to skip a couple of days and jump to some I could knock out quickly. So I have different kinds of art in my life. I love to create things with my hands but I will get more to that on hobbies. I do plan to share a couple of quilt photos when I update this post later today, but I wanted to share some special art from two very important artists in my life.
First my 7 year old who has a passion for horses.
The next one is my first set of abstract art from my little guy who just turned 2 this weekend.
I promise to add a couple pieces of my own 'art' to the blog in the next day or two. :)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
30 Day Challenge - Day 14
•Day 14 — A non-fictional book
I am reading "Pitch like a girl - How a woman can be herself and still succeed."
I am only half way through the book but so far is spends time talking about thinking/behavior styles. It starts with men versus women and then talks about figuring out what your style is.
What is interesting to me is that my style has changed with time to some extent. I used to be more sensitive, friendly, interested in developing relationships... according to the book more pink.
Then through a series of hard knocks in primary and secondary school I suspect I became more tough and less likely to put myself out there.
Through my work experience I have learned to be more blue. I had to learn to be more demanding of what I needed, more to the point, more focused on the big picture with less time spent on the relationship building.
Now the challenge is to blend the best of both options. gotta keep reading the book... will add to this blog when I get there.
I am reading "Pitch like a girl - How a woman can be herself and still succeed."
I am only half way through the book but so far is spends time talking about thinking/behavior styles. It starts with men versus women and then talks about figuring out what your style is.
What is interesting to me is that my style has changed with time to some extent. I used to be more sensitive, friendly, interested in developing relationships... according to the book more pink.
Then through a series of hard knocks in primary and secondary school I suspect I became more tough and less likely to put myself out there.
Through my work experience I have learned to be more blue. I had to learn to be more demanding of what I needed, more to the point, more focused on the big picture with less time spent on the relationship building.
Now the challenge is to blend the best of both options. gotta keep reading the book... will add to this blog when I get there.
30 Day Challenge - Day 13
•Day 13 — A fictional book
Getting a little behind here.... I am reading a fiction book right now. It is just a mindless murder mystery. I like to read them when life gets a little hectic and I need something quick and fun to read.
This particular book is called Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke. This one is number nine in a series of 12 or so by the same author. It is about Hannah Swenson a bakery owner who solves mysteries in her spare time. The series is based in Minnesota so there is a lot of correlation between her stories and my background growing up in Iowa.
There are other authors with similar kinds of series on crafts, food and coffee that I also read for fun...
Getting a little behind here.... I am reading a fiction book right now. It is just a mindless murder mystery. I like to read them when life gets a little hectic and I need something quick and fun to read.
This particular book is called Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke. This one is number nine in a series of 12 or so by the same author. It is about Hannah Swenson a bakery owner who solves mysteries in her spare time. The series is based in Minnesota so there is a lot of correlation between her stories and my background growing up in Iowa.
There are other authors with similar kinds of series on crafts, food and coffee that I also read for fun...
30 Day Challenge - Day 12
•Day 12 — Whatever tickles your fancy - running a day behind now.
Ode to kiddos
First of all I want to share this fantastic link. It is of a pair of Eagles sitting on three eggs. The DNR expects they will start hatching around April 1st, but until then they are taking turns keeping their eggs warm through a range of temperatures, winds, snow and rain, etc. Makes you think of the dedication it takes to continue their species.
http://www.raptorresource.org/falcon_cams/decorah_eagle_xcel.html&medium=3064708
Fascinating Eagle Facts... maybe we as parents need to look at them as an example for rearing our young when they are small....
http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle-facts.html
Now to segway into my thoughts on my own kiddos. My two kids are just over five years apart and I am slowly rounding up memories from the first time around as I watch my youngest navigate the waters of walking (running really), talking, gravity, giving lovies to his family, potty train and entertaining himself with his imagination.
I can remember with my oldest thinking she was my little social science experiment. I encouraged her to walk, talk, use a potty, explore and play independently and then was sad when she grew more independent and wasn't as interested in hanging out with mommy.
It is a lot harder with two especially so far apart because I don't always have the time and energy to encourage my youngest the same way I did with my older child. It doesn't help that my older child is jealous of her little brother so it is hard to balance the needs of both of them.
Well, this blog has taken a different path than I anticipated, but I do love learning with my kids and adjusting and looking for that balance even on the days when they are both driving me crazy picking on each other or ignoring my requests. I wouldn't change any of it though. Children really are little blessings.
Ode to kiddos
First of all I want to share this fantastic link. It is of a pair of Eagles sitting on three eggs. The DNR expects they will start hatching around April 1st, but until then they are taking turns keeping their eggs warm through a range of temperatures, winds, snow and rain, etc. Makes you think of the dedication it takes to continue their species.
http://www.raptorresource.org/falcon_cams/decorah_eagle_xcel.html&medium=3064708
Fascinating Eagle Facts... maybe we as parents need to look at them as an example for rearing our young when they are small....
http://www.baldeagleinfo.com/eagle/eagle-facts.html
Now to segway into my thoughts on my own kiddos. My two kids are just over five years apart and I am slowly rounding up memories from the first time around as I watch my youngest navigate the waters of walking (running really), talking, gravity, giving lovies to his family, potty train and entertaining himself with his imagination.
I can remember with my oldest thinking she was my little social science experiment. I encouraged her to walk, talk, use a potty, explore and play independently and then was sad when she grew more independent and wasn't as interested in hanging out with mommy.
It is a lot harder with two especially so far apart because I don't always have the time and energy to encourage my youngest the same way I did with my older child. It doesn't help that my older child is jealous of her little brother so it is hard to balance the needs of both of them.
Well, this blog has taken a different path than I anticipated, but I do love learning with my kids and adjusting and looking for that balance even on the days when they are both driving me crazy picking on each other or ignoring my requests. I wouldn't change any of it though. Children really are little blessings.
