A Year Without Meat

I give up something every year for just a year. I get a lot of "what's the point" or "I could never do that". The point is, "I can"; I want to challenge myself without making permanent changes. So, yes, it does matter, knowing that I can have a semblance of self control for a year, a whole year, well, it's quite liberating, not to mention empowering!

I had a hard time coming up with it. I thought about giving up Facebook, but that wouldn't work with my Etsy stuff, I have already given up chocolate one year (let's face it...that was THE HARDEST). I asked Tim and he threw around a few ideas. Then I thought, why not give up t.v.? Like, the whole family gives it up!

He said no. Absolutely not. Ha! But, then he surprised me and agreed to one of my earlier suggestions: meat. The one that he so casually dismissed.

Let me tell you something about Tim. He's a meatatarian. He loves to eat meat. I really think that he is addicted to it. One of his favorite meals is this stir-fry that I make. It's like 80% beef and chicken with minimal vegetables.

I can go a long time without meat. I am really just not that interested in having a main meat meal.

Alrighty, I'm done typing "meat". It's getting weird.

So that's what we as a family are giving up. I'm personally giving up t.v. for the year. I understand there are going to be times when I have to go to the other room so the family can watch a movie, but I was really hoping that if I gave it up, the hubs and kids would follow suit and be kind not to watch it when I'm home.

So far, it has been going well. We have been lounging around the living room with blankets thrown about and books in hand.

I hope that by not watching television, or movies (or clips, videos and such), I'll be able to read 50 books this year, I'll get accomplished on Etsy and this blog!

I have been enjoying my soda -which is what I gave up last year, along with not being passive-aggressive! I would like to think that I will continue to be assertive! So, fingers crossed and mouth shut!

I want to add that I don't think this makes us vegetarians! We, of course, don't know how we're going to feel about it at the end of the year, but we DO believe animals are for eatin'! Well, not all of them...and the quality of them has gone downhill. We are going to be eating animal products still, just not the meat (or fish).

New Yearly Goals

The New Year bring new goals! While I may not make resolutions so to speak, I do embark on some "goals" (not sure there is a difference, but...people just don't like the word "resolution").

Even though it's taken me this long to write about it on my blog I have been keeping my goals.

Here's my short list:

Goals for 2014:

No soft drinks

Organize Toys more often (and then teach the younger ones to do it)

Read my Bible in front of my kids.

Pay attention to the words in songs I am singing (esp. at church)

Write More Letters

Drink More Water

Send Out Birthday Cards

*100 Miles Workout* (facebook thing)

Buy a House, or rent an apartment

Build Better Friendships

We've been working on some here and there and not doing obvious ones (like no soft drinks).

My Box

I have immersed myself completely into my husband, my family, student loans, house searching, the Bible, church, Ladies class, friends and family (not really in order). I've done this slowly for the past two years. I was confused and angry and mean, anxiety was written all over my face when I graduated. I had left a friendship horribly, left a religion, and stepped away to a new scenario.

I mean, I came out pretty well. I have some more tools in my belt. I have a great relationship with my husband and love him and my kids too deeply to describe. I have made new friends, lost some, and made newer ones. I understand the Bible better, even though I get confused with a different doctrine sometimes. I took a step back from "the world" without knowing it and zoned in on me. I let myself feel everything I needed to feel. I have figured out honesty is best, and know how to speak it.

When I realized I didn't know anything that was happening out there, that I wasn't making friends around town, and that I basically didn't have any substantial long term goals, honestly, I was okay with it. I soaked in it. It was freeing. I loved being able to see things from an unbiased view.

There's always something that knocks you off your feet though. We were visiting with a friend and I realized I didn't know anything new. I mean, shoot, what a great way to feel so stupid: when you're conversing with a group of people. Ugh.

It's all great and dandy to know and love yourself and all this great stuff I'd been working on, but sooner or later I have to figure out what's going on around me. The thing is, I think I can do the things I have been doing and figure out how to learn some other things. What would it hurt to read some books every now and again? How about helping out and volunteering, or toting my kids around at the library more, to sports, and school functions. Exposing them to the harmless, and appropriate activities. Gosh, maybe whip my behind in shape like I've been wanting to for a year and a half?!

Maybe, since I have all the important stuff together, I can step out of the nice, tight square box I so willingly like to sit in.

On The Things I've Neglected

I have failed miserably at remembering that I have allotted every Tuesday this year as a "no sweets day".  I would be 100% successful at my goal if I had only remembered each Tuesday.  I suppose Tuesday was a bad day to do it and I guess if I started now I would be able to get in 40 days plus of no sweets. It's hard though...because I included artificially sweetened things too, like Diet Coke, but then sweet tea has sugar and orange juice and this list goes on! So, basically, all I can drink is water and while I like water, it's boring. I need a little pizazz to my cup!

I forgot to keep practicing to crochet, so now I have completely forgotten how to. I think I want to take a class, somewhere... I know the library here has a knitting class but that won't do. It looks complicated.
I think some ladies at church should start one up!

I bought some used picture frames this summer to make really cool DIY things with, and didn't do anything more than sand them down. They are in a box slowly decaying away. Actually,  I asked Tim to spray paint them a few months ago because I thought being pregnant, I'm not supposed to do it but I think I can.  Is that an old rule or still current? It's not his fault, I re-asked him again on Saturday if he could do it Sunday and he said he couldn't because his day was full.

I lost my mini clothes pins that I now need for a quiet bag because my children are very loud and active at church. I better find them!

I put off weaning Carson from the bottle to a sippy cup. I just can't do it. Really, I can and I will. I started today... I have only given him one bottle and I put a few away.  I have a few to wash before I can pack them up.  My plan is to put him on those silicone cups, the soft ones... and the sippy cups with straws. I hate the straws, but he likes them so whatever to that.

Lastly, I have seriously neglected Tim.  I haven't been giving him as much attention as he needs (and the same to him, lol). He also needs "alone time", something he has always gotten because I've made week long trips to Kentucky with the kids when he couldn't go.  He was able to basically do what he wanted without getting pulled in different directions. He won't get that nearly as often anymore so he'll have to deal.

Other than all this nonsense, I have gotten a lot done! Kuddos to me, and energy to me to get this other business taken care of.

My day of no sweets and how that makes me feel.

Shhh, do you hear that? SHHHHH.
That, my dears, is the sound of every piece of candy stashed in this room.
PICK ME!!!!
PICK ME!!!!
PICK ME!!!!!
PICK ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PICK ME!!!!!
PICK ME!!!!
I have gone for about 24 hours with no sweets, and my tooth is achin'!
They are all calling out my name, oh the wondrous pieces of chocolate, so delicately wrapped in their foil, staring at me from across the room.  They love me, and they want me to eat them.
But those haters are going to have to wait another 35 minutes, because I am NOT WEAK. I will NOT EAT YOU!!
Those Krispy Kreme Glazed Chocolate Pies, you know the ones.  The ones I got for Tim's lunch.... they aren't even going to know what hit them. I mean, ate them.
I can feel every sweet treat around me, I know the location of them all!!!!!
This is going to be wonderful.
Imagine me, Jenni, with that crazy look, sitting in the middle of my floor with all me sweets around me. Maybe not even eating them. Just staring at them. Touching them.

Who am I kidding?

This Should Be Good

These are my resolutions for this year.  I pray that I remember I made them and keep up with them.
For my blog:
-Blog Flashback Linking. Like, this one. It's my first post.
-Post recipes I have tried and LOVED. I have quite a few already
-Wordless Wednesday.  I read Lil~Kid~Things and she does it. I love it.
-Post more often.  We all say we will. I just hope I do.

For my personal self:
-Make my blog cooler. See above.  What I write does in a way speak for who I am.
-Lose weight.
-Read more books or whatever.  I am currently reading 5 different books.  Finish them.
-Find less gassy foods. Anyone know of tasty ones? My husband says I stink.
-Give up sweets one day a week. I'm doing this mostly on Tuesdays. Except for three Tuesdays this year.
-Drink only water on another day of the week. I think on Saturdays, so that will start tomorrow.

I have to feel completely prepared for the Food/Drink so I don't get all anxious.  Controlling that sort of intake is huge for a fat girl. Just saying. I could weigh 100 lbs and still be a fat girl. I'm so serious.