Back Among the Living

After 5 days, I finally feel like I am coming back to the land of the living.  On Tuesday morning, about 2:30am, I woke up to horrible stomach pains.  By 4:30am, I finally just got out of bed because there was no way that I could sleep.  All day Tuesday the pains kept coming accompanied by the other two "sicknesses" but nothing horrible.  The main problem were the pains.  The only way I know to describe it is that it felt like labor pains.  They were consistent, about every 10 minutes, and they just kept coming and coming.

Finally, I couldn't take anymore and I went to the ER.  Because they were in my stomach, and after checking every on-line diagnosis site there is, I was afraid that it could be my appendix, gall bladder or kidney stone.  So off to the ER I went.  I took along my new Bloggie and captured it here.

I was diagnosed with gastroenteritis or the stomach flu.  Apparently, this is totally different than influenza and I was very upset that all of this pain could come from the stomach flu.  Who has ever heard of having the flu but only have stomach pains and, besides that first day, none of the other yuckiness that accompanies the flu.

5 days later, today, I woke up and I am feeling so much better.  There are only very slight, slight pains.  I am so thankful that this thing is coming to an end.  I was so convinced that the doctor was wrong but it looks like I was the one who was wrong, thank God!

Anyway, now that I'm feeling better I feel like my 2011 has started and I can't wait to get going on all of my new projects and goals.

11 in 2011 Day 2: Favorite Holiday Memory

Today is Day 2 of 11 in 2011.  If you'd like to join in, click on the link below.

Today's topic is Favorite Holiday Memory

My favorite holiday memory in recent memory was Christmas Eve 2004, the day that I got engaged. 

     We always do Christmas Eve at Scott's sister's house.  This particular Christmas Eve my mom and dad came, as well.  After all of the gifts had been handed out and all of the food eaten, Scott came out with one more gift for me.  It was a scrapbook that he had had a woman at work make.  As I sat there turning the pages, there were pictures of all of our big moments together:  our first trip to Chicago, Mother's Day with Kanin at old Busch, Rams game, 4th of July.  Just tons and tons of pictures.  Not only was the scrapbook full of pictures but he had kept all of the concert tickets, Rams and Cardinal tickets, a cd jacket of our Prince concert, tons and tons of momentos and they were all in the scrapbook, too.

When I finally got to the last page, there was just a picture of a diamond ring and the title of the page said, "Will you marry me?"

OMG!  This was such the perfect engagement proposal for me because I have always had scrapbooks and photo albums.  I love that I not only have memories from that night but I have the actual scrapbook to look back on. 

It was the best Christmas Eve ever!

11 in 2011 Day 3: Favorite Work-Out Tips

This post is part of the 11 in 2011 Blog Party:

  {1}

I don't know if it is a favorite tip but I will say my most effective tip is don't skip the weights. 

So many people, especially women, are intimidated when it comes to lifting weights.  If you go to a gym and you don't understand or know how to use either a weight machine or weights, ask a trainer or a worker.

If you work out at home, buy some light weights to incorporate into your workout routine.

{2}

Choose an exercise that you like to do, you will be more likely to stick with it.

 

{3}

Buy an ipod and download your favorite music.

 

{4}

Don't push yourself too hard at first.  The last thing you want to do is have the motivation but be injured.

Traditional New Year's Day Meal

Growing up in a country, Southern household we always had a special New Year's Day meal:  Polish sausage, saurkraut, black-eyed peas, cornbread and macaroni & tomatoes.  Apparently black-eyed peas are supposed to bring prosperity, you can read about that HERE.  My Granny, and a lot of other people I know, eat hog jawl on New Year's Day but I just could never bring myself to do it, even though I think it is supposed to be something like bacon.  It is said that hog jawl brings good health, you can read about that HERE.

Growing up, though, my mom always made Polish sausage and so I have continued that tradition.  I have changed the macaroni and tomatoes, though, to macaroni and cheese.  While I love macaroni and tomatoes, Scott and the kids aren't that fond of it and I usually am the only one who ends up eating it.

On New Year's Day I always make my mom's southern cornbread, too.  During the year I will go ahead and be quick and make the cornbread from the box but on New Year's Day, I have to have the traditional cornbread.  Scott isn't a fan, he prefers "sweet" cornbread, but for this one day I make it for me;)

Scott's parents used to eat herring on New Year's Day.  I've never heard of that one but it was their tradition.

Do you have a traditional New Year's Day meal?

This is what it looks like when I put it on my plate.

But, like any true country girl, I crunch the cornbread all up and cover it with the black-eyed peas.  I even add some mustard to it.  Scott says it looks disgusting (he doesn't like any food to touch) but I keep telling him it tastes so good!

365 Day Project

As part of my 101 in 1001, one of my goals is to complete the 365 Day Project.  I will be doing this over at another blog:

I Spy With My Little Eye.

I'd love for you to come follow this project!

Today is the Day

Today is the day that I start my 101 in 1001.  I can't wait to get this list started!  You can follow my progress over on my side bar.

Here they are again:

Ok, after A LOT of thought and reading other people's lists, here is my 101 goals that I would like to accomplish in 1001 days.  To find out more about this project, you can go to:  The Day Zero Project.

The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.


The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).

START DATE:  January 1, 2011
STOP DATE:  September 29, 2013

Still to do
Italics=In progress
Red=No longer unattainable
Marked through =Completed

MY LIST
1. Take a photography class

2. Lose another 10 lbs

3. Take a cooking class

4. Run a 5k

5. Run a 10k

6. Run the STL Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon
7. Give up Diet Pepsi for one month

8. Create a work/craft space

9. Read 50 books
10. Learn to use my sewing machine
11. Learn a dance on my Flirty Girl Fitness pole and actually do it for my husband
12. Go on a girls weekend trip
13. Don't eat fast food for a week, 3 times
14. Volunteer rocking babies at a hospital
15. Get the piano tuned and learn a new song
16. Do 100 sit-ups 4 times a week for 6 consecutive weeks (0/6)
17. Organize all photos
18. Blog about met goals at least once a month (0/33)
19. Write Scott a love letter

20. Scan and organize Scott's childhood pics and pics of his mom and dad
21. Go on a late honeymoon
22. Take dance lessons together

23. Complete Gracie and Caleb's 1st year baby books

24. Write each child a letter to be opened on their wedding day

25. Take my kids camping-in a tent

26. Plant a tree in honor of each of them
27. Teach the kids "The Lord's Prayer"

28. Organize the basement

29. Get downstairs painted and decorated

30. Make at least 20 DIY/Craft projects
31. Either consign or donate all household goods and clothes that are no longer needed
32. Find a way to make extra money

33. Host a board game night for our friends
34. Make homemade gifts for all of the aunts and Mama for Christmas
35. Send a birthday card to my friends on their birthday instead of FB or e-mail

36. Take a friend out to a nice meal and pay for it

37. Walk in the Susan G. Komen walk

38. Donate blood

39. Sign license to be an organ donor
40. Donate $1 to a children's charity for every goal not met
41. Take all of my t-shirts/Scott's t-shirts and make a t-shirt quilt
42. Go on at least 2 trips alone together every year, even if just for a weekend.
43. Go to the gym/workout at least 3 times per week.
44. Make my bed everyday for 1 month.
45. Take my children to a multi-cultural fair.
46. Take my children to a historical site.
47. Take my children on a hike
48. Clean up all of the stuff on my computer.
49. Scrub all baseboards in the house and paint with primer
50. Buy a new dining room table
51. Re-upholster kitchen table set
52. Buy a canvas, paint something and use it in my house
53. Make a picnic and go spend the day in Forest Park with the family
54. Take my kids to the circus
55. Complete the 200 Sit Up Challenge
56. Drink 8 glasses of water everyday for a month
57. Learn more about affiliate marketing and how to make some extra money through blogging
58. Visit a nursing home
59. Have each child adopt a child at Christmas time and buy presents
60. Start or Join a book club
61. Visit friends in Colorado
62. Visit friends in Texas
63. Learn to make jewelry (not professionally)
64. Take my kids to the Farmer's Market and make a meal out of our finds
65. Start a dinner club with just girls and try a new restaurant one time a month
66. Take my children to the Renaissance Festival
67. Participate in a 26 Things Project
68. Stay in a bed and breakfast with my husband
69. Eat a cheeseburger in paradise
70. Get a facial
71. Get up and put clothes on every week day for one month and not lay around in pajamas all day (workout clothes count if I am going to the gym)
72. Go to Napa Valley with my husband
73. Go apple picking with the family and then make apple sauce
74. Make my bed everyday for a month
75. Answer the 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind
76. Complete a Project 365
77. Get my nose pierced
78. Go to a rock climbing class with Kanin and Scott
79. Go ice skating with the family
80. Meet a blog friend in real life
81. Become a volunteer for the Pujols Family Foundation working with Down Syndrome children
82. See Dave at Red Rocks in Colorado
83. Have teeth whitened
84. Plant a tree for each of my children
85. Go on a family vacation other than Disney World
86. Go back to Disney World
87. Re-Read "The Five Love Languages"
88. Create a cookbook of my mom's, Granny's and my favorite meals
89. Post some of the poems I have written
90. Take my parents to a show at the Fox Theater
91. Have an outdoor movie night with the neighborhood kids
92. Take my kids to the ocean
93. Make fresh salsa
94. Complete the 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels
95. Visit Yankee Stadium, preferrably a STL Cardinals vs Yankees but any game will do
96. Have the rest of my professional pictures framed and hang them up
97. Plant herbs and use them in cooking
98. Finally start a savings account for each child and contribute monthly
99. Take my kids to a pottery/ceramic decorating place so they can make gifts
100. Make a wreath for each season
101.  Complete this list and write another 101!

11 in 2011 Day 1: New Year's Resolutions

To start of 2011, I am participating in an 11 Day Blog Challenge sponsored by MJ @ Teaching in Heels and Kit @ A Step Into My Life

Day 1 is New Year's Resolutions.  Instead of doing resolutions this year, I am going to start my 101 in 1001.  I am really excited to get started on my list.  To read about the 101 in 1001 program, click HERE

MY LIST
1. Take a photography class

2. Lose another 10 lbs

3. Take a cooking class

4. Run a 5k

5. Run a 10k

6. Run the STL Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon
7. Give up Diet Pepsi for one month

8. Create a work/craft space

9. Read 50 books
10. Learn to use my sewing machine
11. Learn a dance on my Flirty Girl Fitness pole and actually do it for my husband
12. Go on a girls weekend trip
13. Don't eat fast food for a week, 3 times
14. Volunteer rocking babies at a hospital
15. Get the piano tuned and learn a new song
16. Do 100 sit-ups 4 times a week for 6 consecutive weeks (0/6)
17. Organize all photos
18. Blog about met goals at least once a month (0/33)
19. Write Scott a love letter

20. Scan and organize Scott's childhood pics and pics of his mom and dad
21. Go on a late honeymoon
22. Take dance lessons together

23. Complete Gracie and Caleb's 1st year baby books

24. Write each child a letter to be opened on their wedding day

25. Take my kids camping-in a tent

26. Plant a tree in honor of each of them
27. Teach the kids "The Lord's Prayer"

28. Organize the basement

29. Get downstairs painted and decorated

30. Make at least 20 DIY/Craft projects
31. Either consign or donate all household goods and clothes that are no longer needed
32. Find a way to make extra money

33. Host a board game night for our friends
34. Make homemade gifts for all of the aunts and Mama for Christmas
35. Send a birthday card to my friends on their birthday instead of FB or e-mail

36. Take a friend out to a nice meal and pay for it

37. Walk in the Susan G. Komen walk

38. Donate blood

39. Sign license to be an organ donor
40. Donate $1 to a children's charity for every goal not met
41. Take all of my t-shirts/Scott's t-shirts and make a t-shirt quilt
42. Go on at least 2 trips alone together every year, even if just for a weekend.
43. Go to the gym/workout at least 3 times per week.
44. Make my bed everyday for 1 month.
45. Take my children to a multi-cultural fair.
46. Take my children to a historical site.
47. Take my children on a hike
48. Clean up all of the stuff on my computer.
49. Scrub all baseboards in the house and paint with primer
50. Buy a new dining room table
51. Re-upholster kitchen table set
52. Buy a canvas, paint something and use it in my house
53. Make a picnic and go spend the day in Forest Park with the family
54. Take my kids to the circus
55. Complete the 200 Sit Up Challenge
56. Drink 8 glasses of water everyday for a month
57. Learn more about affiliate marketing and how to make some extra money through blogging
58. Visit a nursing home
59. Have each child adopt a child at Christmas time and buy presents
60. Start or Join a book club
61. Visit friends in Colorado
62. Visit friends in Texas
63. Learn to make jewelry (not professionally)
64. Take my kids to the Farmer's Market and make a meal out of our finds
65. Start a dinner club with just girls and try a new restaurant one time a month
66. Take my children to the Renaissance Festival
67. Participate in a 26 Things Project
68. Stay in a bed and breakfast with my husband
69. Eat a cheeseburger in paradise
70. Get a facial
71. Get up and put clothes on every week day for one month and not lay around in pajamas all day (workout clothes count if I am going to the gym)
72. Go to Napa Valley with my husband
73. Go apple picking with the family and then make apple sauce
74. Make my bed everyday for a month
75. Answer the 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind
76. Complete a Project 365
77. Get my nose pierced
78. Go to a rock climbing class with Kanin and Scott
79. Go ice skating with the family
80. Meet a blog friend in real life
81. Become a volunteer for the Pujols Family Foundation working with Down Syndrome children
82. See Dave at Red Rocks in Colorado
83. Have teeth whitened
84. Plant a tree for each of my children
85. Go on a family vacation other than Disney World
86. Go back to Disney World
87. Re-Read "The Five Love Languages"
88. Create a cookbook of my mom's, Granny's and my favorite meals
89. Post some of the poems I have written
90. Take my parents to a show at the Fox Theater
91. Have an outdoor movie night with the neighborhood kids
92. Take my kids to the ocean
93. Make fresh salsa
94. Complete the 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels
95. Visit Yankee Stadium, preferrably a STL Cardinals vs Yankees but any game will do
96. Have the rest of my professional pictures framed and hang them up
97. Plant herbs and use them in cooking
98. Finally start a savings account for each child and contribute monthly
99. Take my kids to a pottery/ceramic decorating place so they can make gifts
100. Make a wreath for each season
101.  Complete this list and write another 101!