52-Week Challenge: Two For The Show

We are now two weeks into the 52 week challenge...  How did everyone do with the sleeping change last week?  I must admit it was hard for me to do every night.  Ronnie was in the field last week and the dish fairy seems to have lost my address, as has the laundry fairy and the clean the house fairy.  But I did my best and got as much sleep as I could most nights.  I do have to say, I felt better for doing it. 

Week three's change is something more overt:  move more.  The author goes on to explain that this is not a get to the gym more often challenge.  It is a move your body more throughout the day kind of thing.  Some examples she gives is to talk on the phone standing up, fold laundry while watching TV, park far out in the parking lots, and take a walk daily. 

Well, I'm kind of stuck on this challenge.  We have gotten several inches of snow the last few days, so walking/parking a far distance is out until the ice clears.  But I have decided to:  be less efficient and run individual things up the stairs when I see them.  I will also go and grab things that are upstairs myself rather than sending one of the girls to get it.   I have also decided to try out my exercise/stability ball as a chair for my classtime this week.  There is some evidence that you burn more calories by sitting this way...  though by just doing it now, I can already see and feel that my posture is better. 

So what way are you going to find to move more throughout the day?  I would love to hear about it!


Other resources:

The book we're following: http://www.amazon.com/52-Small-Changes-Healthier-ebook/dp/B0056J4ER0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325722556&sr=1-1

Jenn's blog: http://thewoogies.blogspot.com/search/label/52%20Small%20Changes

Exercise/stability ball info:  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/health/21really.html

28 ways to move more:  http://www.glucocardyouchoose.com/public/pdfs/28WaysToMoveMore.pdf

Snow Pretty!

We woke up to a beautiful layer of snow this morning!  Why is it that snow makes things so pretty and serene?  Even watching it snow is so peaceful.  Now, I'm sure my attitude toward the snow is going to change in a few days as we have a pretty massive storm off the coast.  But for now, I'm enjoying the white stuff falling from the sky.  Snow beats rain any day of the week in my book.  Here are some pictures from around our house.

Photo Friday

** Every Friday, I will post a picture from our life....  enjoy! **

Holly at 5 weeks old...  already had her daddy wrapped around that little finger of hers.

52-Week Challenge: One Down

So, did you float away with last week's challenge of drinking more water?  I already had a head start on this one since I've been focusing on what I put in my body for a few weeks.  But it was a great reminder to do something so basic...  A hydrated body burns calories more efficiently, thus making my workouts that much better.  As I'm writing this, I've already downed 12 oz of water this morning. 

Week two is a bit more of a challenge for me...    Get Your Zzzzzz's - get seven to eight hours of restful sleep every night.    Oh boy!  I'm on the night owl side by nature.  Ask my family if you can get anything out of me that isn't a scowl or growl before 9 am or before I have a cup of coffee in my hands.  Seriously -- even the cat knows not to mess with me until I have my coffee.  Since I'm not working right now, I have a bad habit of giving in to my night owl tendencies.  I'm going to bed way too late, leading me to want to linger in bed in the morning, take a nap in the afternoon, which then gets me in bed way too late again.

I need to get my schedule back on track after the Christmas break.  The girls headed back to school last week and I start back today.  Best time to make a change is when you are setting up a schedule, so that's my plan for today, though I started my sleep last night.  Ronnie is in the field this week, so I went to bed early last night. I was in bed at 9 pm, finished watching my show and it was lights out at 10:15 pm.  Not necessarily uninterrupted, but I feel great this morning... and it's 8:30 am - yes, I'm blogging at 8:30 in the morning! Holy smokes there just might be something to this.

So change those sheets today (because isn't falling into clean sheets the absolute best feeling?!?!), get everything done, and don't linger on that couch tonight.  Get your sleep and your body will be glad you did. 

Other resources:

The book we're following:  http://www.amazon.com/52-Small-Changes-Healthier-ebook/dp/B0056J4ER0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325722556&sr=1-1

Jenn's blog:  http://thewoogies.blogspot.com/search/label/52%20Small%20Changes

How to Sleep Better Tonight (articles and tips):  http://www.health.com/health/condition-section/0,,20187915,00.html

Photo Friday, Intro and week 1

A dear friend of mine has a wonderful blog and posts a picture from their travels every Sunday.  I've been drinking in her photos all year and have marveled at her talent. So much that I've decided to embark on my own project...   Photo Friday.  I want this to be a weekly thing throughout 2012 as a way to remember some of the more interesting things we've done in the 11 years of being the Oliver family. Here's the deal...  every Friday I'm going to head to my local random number generator and have it pick a number.  Easy-peasy since I have photos all named by their photo number.  HA!  Of course, you'll get an anecdote with whatever photo happens to be posted.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Without further ado...    week 1 of Photo Friday.  DSC01832:

Tiger Kingdom, Chiang Mai, Thailand, March 2011

Yes, that is a real tiger.  Yes, those are my daughters in there with the tiger.  Yes, they still have all their fingers and toes.  This was from our trip to Thailand last year and was the first photos taken of the girls at Tiger Kingdom.

You Say You Want a Resolution....

Well, you know, we all want to change ourselves... And that tiny earthquake was John Lennon rolling over in his grave.

New year's time always means making a resolution that I may or may not keep.  I mean really, what is so special about the first of a year that you *have* to make a resolution?  I think anytime of year is a good time to change...  and I started my healthy me focus back before Thanksgiving.  I've refocused on my eating habits, started hitting the gym on a regular basis, and went back to my preferred weight tracking method and I'm happy to report that I've lost 4 lbs since Thanksgiving and even lost 1 lb over Christmas.  Yes, it can be done, but you have to want it.

One of my good friends from Korea blogged about her experience with resolutions and her inability to stick with it.  It struck a nerve for me.  How many times have I done that exact same thing?   Well, she found a wonderful book that she will be following this year to refocus on healthier living and invited us to come along for the ride.   I jumped on board with her and now I'm inviting all y'all. 

Okay, now that you've all raised your hand and take the pledge, on to week one's challenge: drink more water.  The author recommends figuring out how much water your body needs by drinking the amount of water in ounces that equals your weight in pounds divided by two.  Easy enough right? 

The book can be found here and is available in e-book format:

http://www.amazon.com/52-Small-Changes-Healthier-ebook/dp/B0056J4ER0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1325722556&sr=1-1

And my wonderful friend (who is a fantastic *and published* writer...) blogs here, the link will take you to the challenge: 

http://thewoogies.blogspot.com/search/label/52%20Small%20Changes

Christmas 2011

We had a wonderful Christmas celebration this year.  I hope all y'all did too.  Again, I am so blessed by living up here near family.  And we took full advantage of it this Christmas.

After we got back from our ski trip, we kicked off Christmas by heading to Grandma Audrey's to spend the night and have Christmas Eve dinner.  The girls entertained both Grandma and Suzy, and we even got to Skype with Santa (otherwise known as my Uncle Paul).  After our Skype date, we had Christmas Eve dinner with my cousin Brennan, and my Uncle Tom and exchanged gifts.  All too soon it was time to get on the road to go visit more family.  My cousin Cindy hosted their gift exchange at her house.  We arrive just in time for the younger cousins to get in on the action.  The girls received some wonderful gifts!

Christmas morning came way too early, but it was oh so fun!  The girls got everything they wanted and more.  After church, we spend the rest of the day lounging as a family and enjoying some downtime.  

Normally, my Christmas post would end there, but not when you live up here and get to take part in some other traditions.  My grandma is a member of the Sons of Norway.  If you're not familiar, think the Elks Lodge but they are all Scanda-hoovian.  In Norway, they have a wonderful after Christmas tradition known as Julebukk, where after Christmas, families travel to visit one another, go carolling at their neighbors, and sing around the Christmas tree.  You know that scene in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas where the Whos down in Whoville start singing in the town square? Yeah, it's kinda like that. 

I got the girls dressed in their Christmas dresses and we went to the party.  We had a blast.  The girls danced and danced some more.  They did the Hokey Pokey and the Chicken Dance, all to an authentic Norwegian band playing live music.  Then it was time to dim the lights and just enjoy the Christmas tree.  The tree was so beautiful, and all the members started singing traditional Norwegian carols.  It was such a great time!  I hope my grandma invites us again next year.

Merry Christmas everyone!