Happy 4th of July

I hope that all of my American readers have a fun and safe 4th full of fireworks, apple pie, and glow sticks.

Photo copyright of Blogging with Bump

Confessions of a Coke Addict

I managed to give up caffeine four times in my life.  Every time that I was pregnant, I gave up all caffeine cold turkey, and I didn't drink it at all while I was pregnant or breastfeeding.  After little boss was weaned, I slowly started incorporating caffeine into my diet again.  That was probably a mistake.

I don't drink; I don't smoke; I don't use any drugs and I try to eat healthily.
I am also addicted to diet Coke (preferably from a fountain, not can or bottle).

I know that it is bad for me, and that the aspartame is carcinogenic, and that it has no nutritional value.  I have seen the science experiments where a tooth is left in a bottle of Coke until it gets dissolved by the soda.  I know.

I also just really enjoy it.  It's probably not the best attitude to have, but, if I'm completely honest, I feel like I'm entitled to one vice. Just one.  One little indulgence that is just for me and the kids aren't allowed to even taste and that doesn't take any time in my very busy schedule.  Coca Cola is, after all, a Southern institution.  It is cultural, and unless you are from the South (especially the Atlanta area), I don't think you can fully understand how real and not at all joking that is.  I love old Coca Cola signs and the look of vintage Coke products.  I drink way too much diet Coke...and yet...and yet.... There's something beyond the unhealthiness that bothers me.  Should I really feel this devoted to a company?  Coke has shaped and continues to shape culture.  Our entire modern image of Santa Claus was based on Coke ads, which is more than a little ridiculous.

Mostly, I saw this image and wanted to share.  Take from it what you will.

Image borrowed from Upworthy and inspired by Banksy and, obviously, Coca Cola:
I don't think they would mind me sharing.
(I found the image here.  Then the creator of the image contacted me.  She didn't ask me to remove the image, so I won't.  I will give her credit, though, for great design work.  Click here to check out her website.)

Seven for 7: Role Models for my Daughter

Princess recently turned seven!

For her birthday, I wrote her this letter:

Happy Birthday!
You turn seven years old today.  I can still remember you as a tiny newborn baby in my arms, and how you were so perfect.  It's hard to believe how big you are now, and how grown up you are getting.  I hope that you like all of your birthday presents this year.  In addition to the toys and other goodies, I wanted to give you something else.  This book is about seven women who are good role models.  they are all women that I want you to learn about; they are all examples in some way.  You are so very special that I thought you would like to learn from these other special women.

Lots of love,
Mummy

Then I wrote up little sections about each of the following women (in no particular order):

1. Judith Leyster (She was one of the first famous and respected women artists.)
2. Amelia Earhart (She was a pilot, obviously, and, perhaps more truly, an adventurer.)
3. Marie Curie (She was an important scientist who is still the only person to win the Nobel Prize in both physics and chemistry.)
4. J.K. Rowling (Princess just started reading the Harry Potter series.)
5. Maria Mitchell (Among other accomplishments, she discovered a comet.)
6. Mary Whitmer (She was a hard-working woman of great faith.)
7. Jackie Joyner-Kersee (She is one of the greatest athletes of all time, and a noted humanitarian.)

Yes, having role models for little girls is a big deal.  There are so many issues I want my daughters to understand that are a big deal.

Here's a quick side note on the issue of beauty.  Click here to read someone else's blog post about the Dove Beauty campaign.  Even if you don't read the whole post, scroll to the bottom and watch the three videos (all made by the same company).  The ads speak pretty loudly for themselves.

Operation Get Healthy Post #1

I mentioned some resolutions in my last post.  So far I think I'm doing alright in 2013.  No, my house isn't always clean, and no, my bank account isn't healthy, but I think I am in a better, healthier place than I was last year.

One of my biggest goals for the year is to be healthier.  I need to lose weight, but--even more than that--I want to have a healthier lifestyle.  I wasn't particularly unhealthy before; I don't drink or smoke or have any particularly awful habits.  I just need to improve.

I have gone out running for the past four mornings in a row.  I use the term "running" loosely, as my running is probably slower than most power walkers and my endurance is still pitiful.  I tell myself the important thing is that I'm trying, and I'll eventually get faster and stronger.

According to my Nike app, I have gone 6.16 miles this week at an average pace of about 14 miles per hour (keep in mind that I'm running on the road in a hilly area).

Luckily for me, I do live somewhere pretty.  I also live near the water.  About a mile from my house, there's the beginning of a trail that follows the path of the lake.  We took a family run along it recently, and it was so much more peaceful than running on the road.  My goal is to be in good enough shape to consider the run to the lake as my warm up, and then do my actual run along the waterfront. 

Here are a couple of pictures from the lakefront trail:

 

I'm also trying to eat healthier. 

 

The past few weeks I have been eating a lot of quinoa, and not very much bread or pasta.  I have drastically cut back on cheese, and I'm trying to avoid refined sugar.

 

For breakfast, I usually have a smoothie.

 

I also made these vegetarian meatballs (only with less egg and cheese and more vegetables) and enjoyed them as much on a crunchy romaine salad as on pasta.

 

Current Weight: 223 pounds (that's hard to admit)

Current Size: 16-20 (depending on brand and style)



So long 2012..Hello 2013 Resolutions

This was my 2012 soundtrack.  These are the songs that pretty much sum everything up; the songs that I listened to over and over and over again; the songs that caught a mood or a moment or months somehow.  If my life were a movie (and we can all be thankful that it's not), this would be the 2012 soundtrack.




I'm a bit of a cynic when it comes to New Year's Resolutions, but I feel like I'm at a turning point that happens to coincide with the beginning of 2013, so I have set some goals.

1. Get Organized

Source: etsy.com via Keri on Pinterest

In some ways, I'm really organized.  In other ways, I'm a walking disaster area.  I want to get more organized, and include the family in my organization.

2. Write more

Source: amandaromanielloblogs.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Obviously, I'm not a regular blogger.  Sometimes I overwhelm the blog with new stuff, and sometimes I mysteriously disappear for months.  In the blogosphere and beyond, I want to write more.

3. Get Healthy

Source: fitnesscheerleader.com via Lizzie on Pinterest

I've spent too long being comfortable with bad habits.  This year, I want to make a change to a healthier lifestyle.  I need to lose some weight (OK, a lot of weight), get in shape, eat healthier, think healthier, etc.  For my sake and for my family, I want to get healthy.  At the end of the year, I want to look back at pictures and see a marked difference.  I want to think, "Wow, did I really look like that?" I want to have enough energy.

More art

An old painting by Angel and a drawing from Princess (I think from around Thanksgiving).

Weighing In

Little Boss weighs almost 30 pounds.
Angel is about 40, and Princess is 48.