43 Resolutions – Experiments in Self Improvement

I still need to write a REAL update on August.  But let me just tell you that I posted 12 (!) notes in Target in Lionville yesterday (you can see where and what exactly if you check the 43 Resolutions Facebook page).  I put notes in the ladies’ room, the dressing rooms, the mirror department, lingerie, juniors and even the ice cream freezer!  I was about to put one in the sunglass section when my iPhone decided to take an ill timed siesta…boo technology!

I also found 4 more letters yesterday.  Right now I have A, B, C, G (sort of), H, I, J (sort of), M, N, O, P, U, Y, and Z…so more than half of the alphabet.  Not success, but not a total failure either.  I will keep plugging away on this one – it is a fun project and I want to finish it!

Evening walks were a huge failure – just too stinking hot out to make it happen.  I am adding the nighttime walk to my September resolutions (to help get to 5,000 steps per day…which is SO not going to happen today) so to be continued.

I just now checked what I am supposed to be doing this month:

1) Current Events (I am getting back on that horse!)

2) CSA

3) 5,000 steps per day

4) No negative talk (yay!)

5) 15 Chick Flicks (yippee!)

I can do it…I can do it…

Tags: September, Updates

Where did I go?

Summer kicked my ass.

So much work, so little time.  So many things to do with kids.

So many letters to find (still working on that one).

So many inspiring notes to leave behind (still working on that one, too).

So many vegetables to eat.

So many current events to ignore (massive fail…pouty face…).

It’s the end of the month, but I can’t do my wrap up yet – I am planning to have a surge of activity later today.

Wait for it.

Tags: August, Blogging, Updates

1) Number of after dinner walks taken = 1.   May have to reschedule this resolution for a time when my entire family will not burst into flames if we walk outside.

2) Ability to eat 5 Fruits/Vegetables per day = not bad.  There are good days (when I eat truly valid vegetables) and days like today when I have to count the raisins in my cookie.  But I am certainly choosing the veggie option more often than I usually would.  Grapes for a snack…tomatoes on the side of the sandwich…

3) # of Letters found for the alphabet project = 1.  “M”.  Check my Facebook page to see it… I could have done more today but the rain was complicating matters.  Nature = boo.

4) Number of current events articles written = 0.  I looked at the news the other day, but nothing looked like something I wanted to know more about.  Serious backsliding on the world awareness front.

5) Quantity of CSA vegetables eaten = hard to comprehend.  I have taken to giving away the things I don’t think we’ll eat.  My friend was the beneficiary of my lack of enthusiasm for peppers, onions and eggplant.  My mom profited from a similar windfall and also gained a small watermelon in the bargain.  (Seriously, no family needs more than 2 watermelons in a week!)

6) # of Operation Beautiful notes posted = 9 (!)  Yay!!  This is way fun and I feel like an undercover agent of positive energy.  And I like it.

I have a baggie with a little pad of Post-It notes and a Sharpie in my bag and I am looking for every opportunity to post!

Sprout saw the one at the Chester County Art Association while she was there.  I asked her if it made her smile and she looked at me like I was somewhat insane.  I am curious what the reactions are from strangers who find them.  But since I don’t actually talk to strangers, I am unlikely to find out.

I am telling myself they smile and feel better about themselves for at least a little while.

Here are the first 8 – the 9th one is on Facebook – I forgot to transfer it over to the computer from the phone.

Tags: Alphabet, CSA, Operation Beautiful, Resolution #1, Resolution #14, Resolution #28, Resolution #29, Resolution #30, Resolution #31, Veggies

Since I am dropping the ball (did you hear that HUGE thud?) on writing these posts (I swear I will do one as soon as I can figure out something interesting to say about vegetables – or make some kind of progress on something more intriguing) I thought I’d point you toward my most fascinating Facebook Page.

I update something there every day or so.  And it is quite entertaining.  Really.

There are even pictures.

In the words of Bailey (on the Suite Life on Deck…and no, I am not embarrassed to quote her…much) – “It’s a ding dong riot!”

Tags: Bait and Switch, Facebook

Quick wrap-up on July – I am going to call all of these “Totally Worth ITs” – I think they were all good things to work on, even if I didn’t blow the doors off most of them.

Kid one-on-one time (#16) was a big hit!  Despite the reschedule from April, this was one of the funner resolutions to complete, although not without complications.  Tater and I had a nice weekend together and a whole week of mornings when his golf camp was cancelled.  Sprout and I did two girl movie nights (Ramona and Beezus tonight and The Karate Kid a couple of weeks ago).  It was fun to have just one kid to engage and entertain at a time.  The lack of conflict and presence of focus (on my part anyway) was a nice change of pace.  We should keep doing this.

Following the Komen Training Plan (#24) is a noble goal.  One I was unable to meet, but being aware of where I am supposed to be and at least making efforts to stay on track have to be good things.  I walked 10 miles this morning (should have been 12).  I am trying for 6 tomorrow (should be 7)…

On Time for Everything (#26) is yet another good goal.  This one is definitely a work in progress.  I am doing better about leaving earlier and being more aware of how long it actually takes to get places.  But I still keep having to randomly stop for gas (or birthday presents) on my way to wherever and that drags the whole operation down.  I vow to keep working on this one.  It’s definitely worth getting better.

Composting (#27) is a work in progress.  But I have the bin and now I know what to put in it, so there’s hope.

My numbers have gotten all out of order…drat.

So in one hour and 2 minutes, it will be August.  The month of my looming 43rd birthday (thus the strange number of resolutions…).  I am ignoring the getting older part for now and focused on my new projects.

First up we have participation in Operation Beautiful (#25).  I am going to write out 30 Post-its with positive thoughts for other women and during the month I am going to leave them in public places where other people will find them and feel better because of them.  This is my way to do random acts of kindness without being utterly paralyzed by my inability to talk to strangers.  Win-win!  I’ll post pictures of the notes as we go (maybe not all 30 – but I will tell you where I put them!)

Then we have After Dinner Walks (#28).  I am hoping to get my children (and possibly even my husband) to join me.  But even if they won’t go, I am taking the dogs around the block.  It might not be calming, but it will be a nice routine anyway!

#29 will be eating the recommended 5-7 Servings of Fruit/Veggies every day.  This shouldn’t be too difficult due to the reeediculous volume of produce pouring into my house from #14 (Join CSA).  Some days I do OK, some days I don’t.  Let’s see if a goal helps!

And finally for this month we have a fun project I have been wanting to do since I saw it in a magazine.  I am going to take my camera out into the world (perhaps on those evening walks or the training walks) and find all of the letters of the alphabet in nature…so #30 is a Letter Treasure Hunt.  I’ll share the pictures here as I find them and ultimately make a photo book.

So there’s the plan for this month…I am really looking forward to it!

Happy (almost) Birthday to me!

Tags: Resolution #14, Resolution #16, Resolution #24, Resolution #25, Resolution #26, Resolution #27, Resolution #28, Resolution #29, Resolution #30

If you can figure out how to walk for 4 hours, but finish it in under 2, I’d like to talk to you.

Tags: Resolution #24, Walking

I decided I should share some of the ways I am using up the bounty (positive spin v. “overwhelming volume”) of veggies we are getting from the farm.

Since each week we are supposed to be taking POUNDS of little “pickler” cucumbers (so far I have taken exactly 3), I thought this pickle recipe was worth a try.  Tater loves pickles and he helped make these.

From Real Simple Magazine:
Almost Hands-Free Dill Pickles

4 Kirby Cucumbers quartered lengthwise
3/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 small sweet onion (vidalia or Walla Walla) sliced thinly (I just used regular)
2 cloves garlic, smashed
2 Tbsp sugar
1 teaspoon Dill Seed (I have some if you want it)
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 bay leaf
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
3/4 cup hot tap water

* Place the cucumbers in a 1 quart jar or some other container with a tight fitting lid

* In a bowl combine the other ingredients and stir until the sugar is dissolved

* Pour the vinegar mixture over the cucumbers in the jar

* Cover a refrigerate at least one day before serving.  The pickles last up to a week.

Tags: CSA, Recipes, Resolution #14

Sprout and Mike went on a Father-Daughter Girl Scout camping trick with all of the other menfolk and little girlfolk of the family last weekend.  Tater was sad that he couldn’t go – but being neither menfolk nor little girlfolk, he didn’t quality to attend.

Poor Tater.

So we embarked on bringing “Everything Tater Wants to Do” weekend to reality.  And boy, that kid has some plans!

Friday we went and picked up our CSA stuff (which wasn’t so much his plan as something we needed to do – but he came along and enjoyed weighing things in the hanging scale).  Then we went to one of his very favorite places in the world – the FISH STORE!

My mom says he browses the cases at the fish shop like most kids check out toys.  And it is true – he ooos and ahhhs over the different choices and asks questions about what is what and how do you eat it and what does it taste like.  I am not a particularly great resource here because I pretty much like salmon and fish sticks.  But he ruminates over the lobsters, gazes longingly at the flounder, and eventually makes his decisions.  Frequently he requests multiple selections: “Can we have scallops and some flounder and a few fish sticks?”  And how can you say no to a kid who is asking for fresh fish?? I mean COME ON!

His dinner request for Friday night was Sea Scallops (sauteed in butter with garlic and lemon, please) with some Angel Hair pasta, Parmesan cheese he shredded himself, and some broccoli.  We got 1/2 pound of sea scallops, which is really just 5.  He ate all but one.  And he totally would have eaten mine if I had let him!

After dinner we went to Milky Way Farm for ice cream.  Yum.  He had vanilla with little peanut butter cups.  I had Tiramisu.

Then we came back home and watched Stuart Little until bedtime.

We got up in the morning and went to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast – 2 Boston Creams for my little man.  Then we headed to the Adventure Aquarium in Camden because he wanted to pet a Sting Ray.  And since it was “Everything Tater Wants to Do” Weekend, we had to make that happen!

We stayed at the aquarium until around lunchtime – looking only at what he wanted to, for as long as he wanted to, which is a completely different experience than any other time I have been there with multiple children running in different directions.  Strangely calm.

We stopped for lunch on the way back at Panera and then got ready to go to the pool for a while.  After the pool, we went home and cleaned up and then met some friends for dinner at Red Robin (his choice).  Following a lovely dinner of mac and cheese (him) and a veggie burger (me) we came home and read Harry Potter for a long long time.

Sunday morning our big plan was to go canoeing at Marsh Creek State Park.  So we put on bathing suits and t-shirts and a LOT of sunscreen and hats and sunglasses and waterproof shoes and headed over there.

Because there were strong winds, the nice man at the boat rental place (who didn’t laugh out loud when I asked to rent a boat, which I appreciated quite a bit) recommended that instead of a canoe we take a kayak.  Tater got a life jacket – and they shoved one for me into the nose of the boat (showing more faith in my ability to remain afloat in a disaster situation than I probably deserve) and then they handed us paddles and shoved our boat out into the water.

The wind was nice and cool across the water and, despite my burning shoulders as I paddled us out toward the middle of the lake, it was really nice and relaxing out on the water.  And so quiet.  Peaceful.

It was hard to coordinate our paddling and, since we had been advised to keep the boat going straight into the wind, we spent a lot of time trying to get pointed in the right direction.  But we had a really fun time doing something we wouldn’t ordinarily do and I was really proud of myself for doing something outside of the norm.

And the boat didn’t flip.  And I didn’t need the life jacket.  Whew!

After we were finished boating we came home and attempted some work in the garden, but it was far to sweaty to make a decent go of it.  We showered and dressed and got ready to go to Tater’s friend’s birthday party.  On the way there, of course, we realized we had no gift for the party (oops!) so I totally failed on my “be on time” resolution for that particular event as we had to stop and get something to bring along.

He went to his party…and then we went out for ice cream (as part of the party).  And then we came home and our other half were back from their camping adventure.  Tired and grubby and (Sprout specifically) covered in mosquito bites.

I asked Tater how he felt about “Everything Tater Wants to Do” weekend and he said it was “funnish”.  Which isn’t exactly the ringing endorsement I was hoping for :(

I was thinking of it as the ultimate kid one-on-one.  And I had a great time!

Tags: Kids, Resolution #16

Friday (7/16): P: 30 min crosstraining A: Treadmill 2.5 Miles

Saturday (7/17) P: 10 miles A: 10 miles (YAY)

Sunday (7/18): P: 6 miles A: Rest

Monday (7/19): P: Rest A: Rest

Tuesday (7/20) P: 3 miles A: 4 miles

Wednesday (7/21): P: 30 min cross training A: Nothing

Thursday (7/22) P: 5 miles A: Nothing (oops)

Friday (7/23): P: 45 min cross training A: 5.5 miles

Saturday (7/24): P: 11 miles A: Ha! Nothing!

Sunday (7/25): P: 5 miles A: 1 Hour Kayaking + 5 miles

Monday (7/26): P: Rest A: Rest

Tuesday (7/27): P: 4 miles

Wednesday (7/28): P: 30 min cross training

Thursday (7/29): P: 5 miles

Friday (7/30): P: 45 min cross training

Saturday (7/31): P: 12 miles (!)

Sunday (8/1): P: 7 miles (!)

The distances aren’t SO bad, it’s just that it takes SO MUCH TIME.  And it is SO SO SO HOT outside.

The last time we did a long walk, last Saturday, we started at 6 AM (!) and it was insanely hot and sweaty by 8:30.   To go 12 miles will take close to 4 hours (!) which means that we need to start a 5AM (!) to be done before it gets too hot to function.

I am trying to be open to being a morning person – but that is hardly even morning!

Tags: Resolution #24, Walking

It turns out my initial foray into composting was ALL WRONG.  Oops.

I figured I gather up my fruit and veggie scraps and throw them in the composter and VOILA…compost.

But no…alas there is science involved (SCIENCE!)  You probably knew that.  I sort of did.  But I didn’t read all of the directions in advance.  Boo on me.

So the first thing that SHOULD have gone into there was dry brown leaves and dead stuff.

Then a nice layer of cut grass and weeds and green stuff.

And THEN if I wanted to – I could bury some fruit and veggie scraps in the middle (where no critters would be tempted to snack on them).

The way I did it what you get is a pile of moldy fruit dragged across your backyard by various wild animals.

And bugs.

Yuck.

Now that I know the right way – I will try again.  Fail and learn…that seems to be my pattern.

Tags: Compost, Resolution #27