Life is a Journey not a Destination

The girls went back to school yesterday so I’m gradually getting back in the swing of things. The new routines I set up for the girls are going well and there is a lot less yelling (from me) than usual. Went shopping this morning - got some more wool (to knit another scarf), picked up the book for book group, bought some bread (+ Christy’s favourite cheese rolls and some chocolate scones that Kevin had been asking for). Then went to Office Works and bought some more storage boxes for the scrapbook room, picked up some of my favourite rice paper rolls to have for lunch. I then had an appointment with a neurologist - I’ve been having pains and aches in my hands and feet for the last fews years but it’s getting worse. He couldn’t detect anything wrong so next step is a blood test and a bone scan (which is booked for next week), then back to see him in 6 weeks.

I’ve been feeling a bit down in the dumps the last few days - probably cause my eating has been pretty bad. Need to recommit to healthy eating. I haven’t even wanted to go to the gym (which is when I really know I’m feeling down) but have forced myself to go - and of course, once I’m there I enjoy my workout. At least Mum & Dad will be home on Sunday so I’ll have someone to talk to when I’m feeling like this.

Anyway, I don’t have to cook dinner tonight - Kevin wasn’t feeling well last night so didn’t eat his dinner so we’re having leftovers - vegetable paella.

Well, it’s Monday morning which means cleaning downstairs. Usually I put on music to make it more enjoyable. Today, however, with the kids home and Amy sick, the TV is on and I’m missing my music. It made me stop and think how important music is. While I also value peace and quiet music makes me feel happy. I always have the radio on in the car or a CD playing (except right now I’m listening the audio CD of Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix). I can remember really getting into music in about 1982 (when I was 11) when the ever popular compliation albums started coming out. However, my earliest love was Bruce Springsteen. I discovered (along with many others) in 1984 with Dancing in the Dark, and have remained a huge fan ever since. I’ve been to every Australian concert ever since - think there have only been 3. He was also a big influence of me and he inspired me to learn to play the guitar (gave it up at University). I also played in a band for a VERY short time.

At the moment I listen to a lot of Robbie Williams (who I only discovered last year) - he’s great to listen to at the gym. I’ve been a long time fan of Madonna - but I did go off her for a while. I don’t buy a lot of CDs but the following are automatic buys

* Enrique Iglesis * Ricky Martin
* Gloria Estafan * Jewel

I also like the Celtic Rock bands “Off Kilter” and “Wolfstone” . I’m sure there are othes I can’t think of at the moment.

Anyway, time to get back to cleaning….without music….

I don’t feel I’ve done much around the house during the school holidays but I have done bits and pieces. The girls helped me declutter and clean the family room, loungeroom and part of the kitchen - I’ve done the pantry, some drawers/cupboards and the fridge (but not the freezer). On Wed I spent the afternoon making a nice cover for my household notebook. I’m so happy with how it turned out. Now I just need to work my new daily routine and I’m all set for when school goes back on Tuesday.

Here’s the nice tidy pantry. Wonder how long it will stay like this.

Well, we’re back to buying as many organic foods as possible. I know it’s the best for us but sometimes I let the cost put me off. Here’s a list of what should be eaten organic and what doesn’t matter as much.

The Top Twelve - Don’t Buy These Unless They’re Organic

1. Peaches
2 Apples
3 Capsicum

4 Celery
5 Nectarines
6 Strawberries
7 Cherries
8 Pears
9 Grapes - Imported
10 Spinach
11 Lettuce
12 Potatoes

Bottom Twelve — Buy These, Remember to Peel and Wash Well

1 Onions (Least Contaminated of the entire list)
2 Avocado
3 Sweet Corn - Frozen
4 Pineapples
5 Mango
6 Asparagus
7 Sweet Peas - Frozen
8 Kiwi
9 Bananas
10 Cabbage
11 Broccoli
12 Papaya

For those in the Sydney/Illawarra area we get our organic produce from Doorstep Organics - they deliver right to my door and have always been great to deal wtih.

Yes, Amy is sick again. I actually had them both at the doctors on Wed night - what fun - we waited nearly 2 hours. Anyway, Amy has some virus that’s going around that makes you feel dizzy - nothing to give her besides Panadol. Christy has a middle ear infection. So we’ve had to cancel our plans for the last 2 days. Yesterday I cleaned in the morning and did a bit of scrapbooking and worked on a new jigsaw in the afternoon. Today I’ve spent nearly all day on the computer working on my new look blog. I did do some washing but the machine broke so had to take it next door to Mum’s. Have a rather sore back now so I’m going to sit and read for a bit till Kevin goes to pick up takeaway Indian for dinner.

Some more photos to share

Well, what do you think? Looks pretty good hey? I have to thank Kevin for setting it up for me. I have lost all my comments and the photos that were throughout my blog. I was going to redo the photos but it will take me forever so I think I’ll just post a few fav. photos over the next few days and go from there. Here’s a couple from our Disney trip.

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 Had a nice couple of days. None of us having been feeling that great so we had a very quiet weekend. Actually don’t think I went out at all. On Sunday the girls and I spent some time in the veggie garden (planting seeds) and Kevin worked, then cleaned the pool. We had a BBQ lunch then watched Open Season and played trivial pursuit with the girls. Yesterday the girls and I went up to the indoor pool at Mt Annan. We met Leanne and her girls and the kids all swam. Christy was most excited cause she was tall enough to go on the slide. It’s such a nice complex and the kids always have a FUN - oh, that words again. I was going to join in but last Summers swimmers had been binned. At least I thought about it. Today the girls went to a basketball clinic. I went to the gym and then got the groceries and picked them up. This afternoon I’ve done some scrapbooking, read e-mail and looked at my new scrapbook books that finally arrived (they were my birthday present to myself). Anyway, dinner is ready - Lentil Loaf - new recipes so I hope it’s nice (it was certainly easy).

The July challenge for my Heidi Swapp scrapbook course focus is FUN!!!! What fun means to us and how WE ARE fun. Personally I don’t think I am very fun. I used to be. As a teenager I was the life of the party. I think as I got older (and more overweight) I started worrying more what people will think. I remember a year or so back I was in the pool with the kids - normally I just float around, but this day I played with them and they just thought it was so wonderful. We had FUN. Normally I just don’t do things like that. I’d love to, but something holds me back. I do try and do fun things with the girls, we ride our bikes, go to the beach, but more often them not they are having FUN and I am watching them have FUN. I very rarely participate. So while I love doing this and it brings me a lot of pleasure it’s not really FUN. Last Sunday when I spent time with Kevin and the girls was FUN. Our holiday to Mexico and DIsneyland was FUN (I’m using photos from this trip for the layout). It’s obvious to me in writing this the FUN is in the doing, not the watching. I guess that where I need to focus - doing more with the girls, and with Kevin, and with my friends.

Okay, okay, I’ve gotten a bit slack again with the blog updates. I find I get out of the habit very quickly. Last weekend had a great time at my bookgroup on Saturday then on Sunday we had a family day out. We went to Berry markets - it was freezing believe me. Because of the windy weather a lot of the stalls were not set up. We bought Amy a nice beanie, and some yummy hot corn cobs and of course, the essentil fudge. We had planned to have lunch in Berry but it was so busy I suggested we drive to Kangaroo Valley. It turned out to be a great idea. We had a lovely lunch at a little cafe and then went the town Museum. Amy was so excited cause she’s right into Australian history at the moment. It was such a lovely day out and it made me realize that know that both girls are at school we can start to take them to more places - like the Museum. Next we might do Berrima Goal. We also decided to put aside $100 every month for a family day out like this.

Okay, on with the school holidays. Someone asked me today how I was coping with school holidays. I said fine, I love them. She went on to say most Mum’s don’t. Strange I think. I love not having to race out of the house each morning (mind you I’ve been getting up at 6.30 three days a week to go to the gym), and getting to go and fun things. They played with friends all day Monday and yesterday we went to a dog friendly beach for a few hours. It was Rosie’s first time and she loved it. The girls even went for a swim (it was a pretty warm day though I’m sure the water was still freezing). They played in the sand and we ate the sandwiches we took with us. AND we had the WHOLE beach to ourselves. It’s right near the steel works but when you’re facing the water all you see is the clear blue water. It was so beautiful. Today we had to do a bit of shopping - which included a new budgie (to keep Fudgie company)

Monday went pretty well. I was rather hungry though - not sure if it was doing cardio on an empty stomach first thing in the morning (not my normal routine) or it was carryover from free day or it was just one of those days. I managed to make it through okay but it was the first day in a long time I’d felt like that. Okay, where I’d like to be at the end of this challenge. This is where I have a lot of trouble. Having been overweight so all my adult life I have trouble imagining myself thinner. I would like to lose around 20lbs and be a size smaller in clothing. I know part of my problem has always been the amount of weight I have to lose