Sunday Preparation

Last week was a little hectic and boy did I feel it. I was tired every day and every night I fell into bed exhausted.

This week I decided to prepare a little better in hopes that this week won't be quite so taxing.

I made a menu plan and grocery list on Saturday and then went shopping today and spent two hours cooking to prepare tonights meal and two meals for this week and two meals for the freezer.
I made Hamburgers, fries and veggies
I made two sets of meatballs (to go with spagehtti)
I made two Lasagnas

So here is how my week should go:

Mondays - pick up the girl from the farm Family dinner night at the In-laws (god bless nonna)
Tuesday - Day off for appointments - Ham and Mashed Potatoes and veggies
Wednesday - Crazy Activity Night - Spagehtti and Meatballs, Garlic Bread and Spinach salad
Thursday - Frittata with leftovers from above
Friday - Lasagna, Garlic Bread and spinach salad
Saturday - We have a party to go to so we will order Pizza in for the kids and the babysitter

Saturday start planning all over again. whew!

Although I have been doing better at making a list and sticking to it I have been spending over $200.00 a week for the past three weeks. Now this is not too bad considering I have started buying diapers again, wanting to stock up a bit before the baby comes, however for our famly of 4.5 I really feel I should be able to do better.
I had a really small grocery list this week but somehow still managed to spend $222.00.

Goal for next week:
Menu plan
reduce grocery bill (I'm not even going to put a $$ amount to it just less than this week)
Meal Preparation on Sunday again

I'll let you know how I make out.

Shann
:)

Tips from Success Magazine

Shann and I both enjoy and read Success Magazine! It is a business magazine, but it is chalked full of positive attitude and living articles! One of the latest posts on their blog was the 12 Top Tips for 2009 and I thought I'd share a few!

You can check the full article here.

My favs are .....

8. Live in the moment. In the spring of 1994, Michael J. Fox began to accept Parkinson’s disease and live in and enjoy the moment. “Yesterday’s losses and tomorrow’s trials were no longer the only poles of my existence,” he writes in Lucky Man.

9. Make each day the very best. “There is no dress rehearsal. You can either lay in bed all day and feel sorry for yourself or you can get up every morning at 6 and try to make the best of the day.” —David Foster

11. Trust things will turn in your favor. “You may be going through great difficulties, and you’re tempted to think, I’m never going to get out of this. This is never going to change. I’m never going to win this situation. Stand strong. When negative thoughts come, reject them.” —Joel Osteen

Those are just three I like. Honestly LOVE the entire list. Its a good list to go look at!!! Remember attitude is everything! :) Living in the moment is not always easy to do but it is so essential for enjoying life! Too many people live life always looking forward or back. You need to look at the now and enjoy it! Making each day the best goes hand in hand with enjoying the moments! If you make every day the best day, you can't go wrong! The last one deals with attitude! If you think your doomed... you will be! If you think things will be okay and take the positive road, it likely will be that!

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

jenn

Had to giggle today....

I was going to blog about health, but I had an email that made me laugh out loud, so i've decide to switch gears and talk about it!!! What was it about. Well it was customer service (or lack of) oriented!

A NUMBER of months ago I had emailed my mortgage broker to look into some different options. I stressed that we really wanted to check some things outs and as soon as possible. Well that was September. Actually that was September 23rd and TODAY (as in January 27th) I finally received an email back. Not even a real answer, just a lets get together email. That was my first contact with this person since my initial email.

SERIOUSLY????

I don't think they really wanted our business much!!!

In the words of Shannon EPIC FAIL on customer service.

If I didn't answer one of my customers back until four months later, it would be safe to say that I would not have that person anymore.

I guess that brings to me customer service. If your interested in reading up on it, check out Jeffrey Gitomer! He is a guru on customer service and sales! He's written books and seminars on it! You can check out some of his books here! I've read most of them and never been disappointed.


Maybe I should send my mortgage broker (or shall I say my ex-mortgage broker) a copy of some of these books ;)





Certainly provided me with my eye roll and chuckle for the day. We moved into action and found someone to help us by the beginning of October. She missed out by three months. Big deal?? Maybe not, but to us we know who we will never recommend or use again. Word of mouth can travel fast and make or destroy a business. It is wise words to treat your customers well. They are a BIG part of your business after all.

Gratitude

Finally, I am feeling a little better. Still stuffed up but not wincing in pain every time I swallow. That's an improvement I am thankful for.

I can't believe that January is almost over, that's just crazy, but I suppose that is what happens when all you can do is lay low and hope the illness goes away soon.

I feel like my body and mind has been on "life support only" for the past 30 days, just doing what I can do to maintain daily necessary functions. Lunches, Laundry, basic cleaning, minimal cooking.

I'm going to give it a few more days of laying low, but then I am itching to get going!

For anyone interested our canine companion is still with us, he is slowing down some days, however there has been no change to the size of his tumor or his personality so we are taking things day by day with him. One day he will sleep a lot and the next day he will jump around the house like a puppy. He can't jump into the car or on the bed anymore and needs help for that. When he gets up from a long nap he weebles and wobbles a little to get his "land legs" again. Having been through this before, I realize these are signs of what is to come. But for now his eyes are still sparkling and his temperment is good so we are greatful for each and every day he is still with us.

I'm starting to get itchy (not in a bad way).

• I feel the need to stretch my wings and my creativity this year!
• I have to prepare for this new family member.
• I have boxes of clothes to sort.
• I have a child to move into a new room.
• I have supplies like diapers and wipes to buy now while I can afford them vs. after when I am poor and on EI. I use cloth diapers and cloths for wiping when I am at home, but for night time and travel I use disposable. I figure half way is better than nothing at all.
• I have almost everything I need as far as Equipment goes a carseat, a bouncy chair, a crib, a highchair. But we are going to need a new stroller as our last one was old to begin with and we got rid of it when the girl was done with it.
• I have a batch of birthday cards to make for April, May, June and July because I'm sure the last thing I will want to do in the few weeks before and after the baby is make cards.

A few more days of laying low and healing and then I need to "kick-it" if I am going to be ready for the rest of 2010.

Anyone have any suggestions for baby products that I need to know about. It's been 4 years you know I am kinda out of the loop!

Sunny Day

It is so nice out today.

I still am fighting a sore throat and headcold. I'm sure being up since 5:45...AM (that's THE MORNING) is not helping the way I feel. But I am determined to get the kids out while the sun is shining, even if I can only stand it for 30 mins, better than nothing. they won't dare get up so early tomorrow if I tire them out today.

Got a good jump on the laundry this morning and perused all the flyers and made a list for the grocery store so I guess I can be thankful for that!

But I really need a nap. Here's hoping Daddy will be home soon and the kids will settle in this afternoon for their Diego movie they rented from the library this week and I can get a little nap in.

Well, off to boil the kettle for some tea and suit up the kids for some play time outside and maybe a few photos.

Have a great day!

shannon:)

Things to be Happy about!

I received a calendar - 3650 things to be happy about.

Just thought I would share a few with you:

The spirit of reflection
using chopsticks
Scrabble (woo hoo)
deep-dish pizza
A warm cocoon of blankets
A Terrific Hair Day
A warmed up car
Time in the sunshine
Tomato soup in mugs
A spam FREE email day (does that happen anymore?)
Sunlight streaming through the trees
toasted cheese sandwiches (to go with the tomato soup)
bread fresh from the oven (mmmm with butter of course)
A love you can count on
The smell of popcorn
Pumpkin Spice Candles
the smell of baking apples
a deserted island (with a good book)
the courage to make art
baskets of flowers
moleskin notebooks
neatly made beds (in my dreams)
Four Cheese Lasagna

Do you see a slight food theme here?? I just ate 2 hours ago, I don't even feel hungry, but apparently I should think about a snack because my subconscious is already there.

What are you happy about today?

Shannon
:)

There is NO SUCH WORD AS THE WORD CAN'T

There is NO SUCH WORD AS THE WORD CAN'T.

I can remember my mother firmly telling me this as a child. So many times that I really believed her that the word "can't" did not exist in the English dictionary! It was not until about grade two or three that I realized that the word 'can't' did indeed really truly exist in the English language!

My mother would say, "Jennifer, there is no such word as the word can't there is only the word can". Little did I know she was instilling a belief in me that would help carry me through my life.

That I CAN do anything I that I put my mind too. I am very grateful for all her tirades on it. She never let up on it. I find myself doing it with my children these days as well.

Do you ever catch yourself saying; I can't; you can't; they can't, we can't. It really is a negative word. Why you say? Well think about it. When you say 'I can't' you are giving up, defeated, admitting weakness. My mother taught me that. If I truly could not do something, she'd say try again. Keep trying till you understand it or figure out WHERE to ask for help. Never giving up. The word "can't" allows you to give up. We should all take it out of vocabulary it would do us a world of good.

Thanks Mom for teaching me one of my most valuable lessons in life. That I can do anything. ANYTHING if I put my mind to it. Who knew that my mother was a pioneer in my life for positive thinking. She really was and for that I have a tremendous amount of respect and gratitude for!

Thank you Mom!
Love you!!!

quotes...

Those of you that read this often and know me, know I love love LOVE quotes. I send out a daily positive quote almost every day. If you would like to be added to that list you can email us at abalancedlifestyle@gmail.com or leave a message in the comments section!

I'll leave you with a few of my favs for this week!

How really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.
~ Earl Nightingale

Each of us makes his own weather, determines the colour of the skies in the emotional universe which he inhabits.
~Fulton J. Sheen

You change your life by changing your heart.
~ Max Lucado

Man is born to live, not to prepare for life.
~Boris Pasternak


:)
jenn

Lets talk health....

Okay switching gears on here, lets talk our HEALTH.

My husband and I are registering for a six month (yes o.m.g. you read that right 6 month) challenge on the X-weighted site.

You can head over here to check the challenge and sign up yourself! You do not need to get to one of the gym locations. They are setting it up that you can follow on line too. You have to be able to give in your measurements, weight and do their fitness test.

In six months time we will retake our measurements, weight and re do the fitness test to see if we met our goals.

OY is all I can say on this. However, the fact that he said yes and committed to doing this challenge with me was huge! I know have a partner to keep me honest, cheer me on and I can do the same for him.

If you live me near me and see me cranky over the next month, don't be surprised!!!! Hopefully it won't be that bad, but you never know!


Why are we doing this? We both have some weight to loose. Although I'm sure I have more then him! We want to be good examples to our children. I would like to keep up with my kids! My field hockey season is just around the corner and as much as I enjoyed getting into again last year after a 20 year hitatus, man I sucked a lot of wind! I need to get in shape. We see health issues going on around us all the time, between my clients and our family. Its just time. Then I saw this picture on the net.

Its an xray of a larger person vs a healthy weight person. Yep that was the final straw for me. I have a natural health background. I know my extra weight is bad for me. I know what it is doing to my insides.

So today is day one and honestly I'm not sure how we will do on this challenge. Our goals are different, but hey we are in this together!

Once in a while I will blog on how we are doing! If anyone wants to join the challenge (and I think its open to Canadians only???) you can still register today! Just go here. Let me know if your doing the challenge too!

Wish us luck!
jenn

Writer's Block

So many ideas swimming around in my head for 2010. Or it could just be that this cold from hell has blocked my brain with mucus so badly that nothing can get through.

What are your blocks? What would you like to hear about?

What topics inspire you?

What goals are you focusing on that you could usesome more information on?

Can't wait to hear from you!
Shann
:)

Happiness challenge

Its 2010 everyone is pumped up for a new start. Loosing weight, organizing, trying their best, well I thought I'd issue a challenge. A Happiness challenge.


TRUE happiness has no reason.

It's a CHOICE.

Today, find one reason for joy.

Focus on that for the day


We focus on what we want. Life is about choices.... choose happiness!!!


What is your joy for today???

Getting Organized

Since the holidays, I have put on a few pounds which only seems to have AMPLIFIED my already growing belly. Since I'm 1/2 way now, I suppose I should be more agreeable that "the belly" has popped and I now LOOK pregnant.

A few days ago I took advantage of the boxing week sales and bought some clothes for my preggo butt. Since I gave most of my other stuff away or lent it out. Silly me.

So now I had to clear out the stuff that I didn't want to stretch all out of shape and set up my closet to work for me for the next 10 months or so.

I could kick myself for not taking the BEFORE of my own armoir, but my daughter has the same one as me and it looks pretty much how mine looked so I used hers for the before shot.

I pulled everything out shelf by self and sorted what was a small or a medium (definately not for the next 10 months). Then I sorted out what was a large and decided if I would be heartbroken if it got stretched all to crap . Some of my long sleeved shirts are older and so some of them got to stay because they were on their way to the donation bin anyway and I may as well wear them instead of buying "maternity" shirts at $39 a pop. (don't get me started on THAT hiway robbery). Ususally I scour the consignment stores for Maternity clothes but this time around I find myself a little short on time and I have a maternity store very close to where I work.

Next I tucked all my small and medium clothes into a couple of bags and stored them in the bottom of my hanging side (left) for safe keeping, nothing worse than Medium sized underwear on a x-large pregnant butt. Nothing can withstand that stress!

I also sorted out t-shirts and started a donation box for the items that I will likely never where again due to style, size or color.

Then I started putting everything back in. Regular sized items at the back of the shelf and pregger stuff at the front of the shelf to get used first.

Now my armoir looks like this.

A little more space, all my suits and jackets on the left, notice my running shoes on the bottom shelf right at the front as a reminder to USE them as soon as I feel ready. Also on the bottom shelf are all my plus one or two size clothes that I will fit into right after the baby is born, hopefully I won't have to wear them for too long. Hence the positioning right beside my running shoes!

This took a good 2-3 hours today, but will be well worth it over the next year. It will also save my wardrobe which I just spent mega $$$ on this fall before I found out I was preggers. DANG! Cause if your like me, I always think I can fit into something one more time and I stretch it all to heck. Not good!

2010 is starting out well. I've had a bit of a rest and now it's time to start thinking about dinner tonight and dinner on Sunday for my SIL and DAD's birthday!

mmmmm what will I cook???

Shann

:)