I just clicked the submit button on my registration for the Toronto waterfront half-marathon in October. Which means, it's official -- 258 days from now, I'm running a half-marathon (and no, I didn't count it, there's a ticker on the official website).
21 kilometres, here I come!
(Yikes, what am I getting myself into?!)
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
The downside to being a stay-at-home mom
For all the good things I can list about why I love being a stay-at-home mom, I can list just one draw back right now (ok, I could probably list more but I won't). No sick days.
No lying on the couch in my pajamas watching bad TV and feeling sorry for myself while the work piles up on my desk. Nope, instead I have two kids who are promising to be good for me today while I feel sorry for myself and wish I could lie on the couch in my pajamas all day.
My problem is strep throat for the second time in two weeks. In other words, the first round of antibiotics I just finished taking didn't kick the infection. But at least the first time I was sick, Ryan was on holidays -- at least for the first few days, before the antibiotics kicked in and I started to feel better. Now, no such luck. It's just no-energy me and two high-energy kids.
Can we say movie day?
No lying on the couch in my pajamas watching bad TV and feeling sorry for myself while the work piles up on my desk. Nope, instead I have two kids who are promising to be good for me today while I feel sorry for myself and wish I could lie on the couch in my pajamas all day.
My problem is strep throat for the second time in two weeks. In other words, the first round of antibiotics I just finished taking didn't kick the infection. But at least the first time I was sick, Ryan was on holidays -- at least for the first few days, before the antibiotics kicked in and I started to feel better. Now, no such luck. It's just no-energy me and two high-energy kids.
Can we say movie day?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Birthday celebrations
A couple of days ago, I celebrated my birthday. It was a pretty low key affair, really, because once you pass the big 3-0 in my opinion (and you haven't hit the big 4-0) there's no real need to party. (Take note, when I turn 40, I'm having a party!) Especially when you have kids whose birthdays are also coming up soon. Knowing I have two kid birthday parties in the next few months makes for a quiet me birthday all that more enticing.
So, Ryan and I went out on a date on Saturday night for my birthday. A real dinner and a movie kind of date. Which, to be honest, is what made it so special -- it was a real date, the kind of date we don't get to do much anymore. Dinner and a movie for us usually means take out in the family room after the kids have gone to bed, a movie on-demand and a bottle of wine. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but a real date night out is definitely a nice treat.
So on Sunday, for my birthday, we didn't really have anything special planned. Just a day around the house. (Although I did take myself out for a pedicure -- my birthday present to me.)
But to the kids, a birthday isn't a birthday without a party, cake and presents. And, according to Alex, a decorated house.
About three days before my birthday, Alex suddenly decided that the house had to be decorated for my birthday. Makes sense in the mind of a 3-year-old -- we decorated for Halloween and we decorated for Christmas so we have to decorate for mommy's birthday.
Of course, all the Christmas decorations were still up (as was the tree) when she decided this.
So on Friday, Ryan took the kids to the dollar store to buy decorations and on Saturday we put away all the Christmas stuff. And on Sunday morning, when I woke up, the living room had been decorated by my kids. There was a Happy Birthday banner, colourful party streamers and even a mini disco mirror ball.
Monday, January 02, 2012
My pseudo New Year's Resolutions
I don't believe in making New Year's Resolutions. I used to, but years of setting the bar to high to simply fail in most of them within a month taught me otherwise.
But last year, I set goals -- things I wanted to do for myself, things I wanted to accomplish, or just things for the hell of it.
In 2011, I set out to do five things. Want to know how I did?
Run two 10-kilometre races: Check. I wanted to take my running up a notch last year -- after running a 10K race in 2009 and another in 2010. So, I ran 10K in May and in September of 2011 -- one of which was my best time by far.
Finally lose those extra 10 pounds. Check. I know this sounds like a silly New Year's Resolution -- the one that every other person makes on Jan. 1. The "this year, I'll lose weight." But last January, I decided that with an almost 3-year-old, I didn't want to be hanging on to the baby weight. And I was the heaviest I had ever been, with the exception of being pregnant. So, in the Spring, I lost 10 pounds. And it wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. But better yet, I felt good and I felt better about myself. And so, in the fall, I decided that I could stand to lose a few more. As of Jan 1, I'm 16 pounds lighter than I was last Jan. 1. That's the same weight I was when I got married -- and I haven't been that weight since, well since I got married.
Get organized. Hmm, this is where I over-stretched a little. It is, afterall such a broad statement. So maybe I'll tell you where I am more organized. I finally purged all the old kids' clothes that I've been hanging on to and can now actually get into the storage closet under the stairs. I emptied out a junk room and turned it into an office. But there's so much more I wanted to do.
Get the house painted. Nope. I hate the paint in my house. It's flat, it's cheap, it's boring beige and in places it's dirty as hell. I didn't like it when we moved in 7 years ago, now I really don't like it. But other than in my new office, not a drop of paint touched a wall in this house last year.
Read only books on my bookshelf. Not quite. Sounds like a silly goal, really. But it was just a personal challenge. You see, I suddenly realized that I had more than two dozen books on my book shelf that I've been wanting to read, yet haven't for various reasons. So I told myself, no shopping for books allowed. But I did buy three books this year -- just three, which is pretty good for me -- and I did read each of them right away, so that's got to count for something, right? (By the way, if you want to see what I read, check me out on Goodreads.)
So there's my 2011 in a nutshell. Here's the things I want to accomplish in 2012.
Run a half marathon. I blogged about this one last month, so there's not much more to say. I do think I'll register soon though, so I can't back down.
Keep the weight off. Now that I worked so hard to lose it (and did I mention I bought smaller jeans last week!), I intend to keep it this way.
Get organzied. Hmm, sound familiar? So I'm going to be a little more specific. This time, I want to organize and clean our file cabinet and turn as much as I can into paperless. (Yes I know, we're still not paperless and get all our bills the good ol' fashioned way.)
Paint. Seriously. This year, I really want to get it done.
Scrapbook more often. I like scrapbooking. And even though I blog (here and over on my family blog) and post online photo albums to share with friends and family and to 'document our lives', I still like to have and do scrapbooks of our lives. I started the year Austin was born and have plans of doing one every year. The problem? I'm woefully behind -- and only now am I ready to start 2010. That's right, here it is, January 2012 and my scrapbook life is back in January 2010. So my goal this year is to start and finish two scrapbooks -- 2010 and 2011 -- by December 31.
So that's it. Nothing earth shattering. Just a few things I want to do this year -- among all the other things I do in my every day life.
But last year, I set goals -- things I wanted to do for myself, things I wanted to accomplish, or just things for the hell of it.
In 2011, I set out to do five things. Want to know how I did?
Run two 10-kilometre races: Check. I wanted to take my running up a notch last year -- after running a 10K race in 2009 and another in 2010. So, I ran 10K in May and in September of 2011 -- one of which was my best time by far.
Finally lose those extra 10 pounds. Check. I know this sounds like a silly New Year's Resolution -- the one that every other person makes on Jan. 1. The "this year, I'll lose weight." But last January, I decided that with an almost 3-year-old, I didn't want to be hanging on to the baby weight. And I was the heaviest I had ever been, with the exception of being pregnant. So, in the Spring, I lost 10 pounds. And it wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. But better yet, I felt good and I felt better about myself. And so, in the fall, I decided that I could stand to lose a few more. As of Jan 1, I'm 16 pounds lighter than I was last Jan. 1. That's the same weight I was when I got married -- and I haven't been that weight since, well since I got married.
Get organized. Hmm, this is where I over-stretched a little. It is, afterall such a broad statement. So maybe I'll tell you where I am more organized. I finally purged all the old kids' clothes that I've been hanging on to and can now actually get into the storage closet under the stairs. I emptied out a junk room and turned it into an office. But there's so much more I wanted to do.
Get the house painted. Nope. I hate the paint in my house. It's flat, it's cheap, it's boring beige and in places it's dirty as hell. I didn't like it when we moved in 7 years ago, now I really don't like it. But other than in my new office, not a drop of paint touched a wall in this house last year.
Read only books on my bookshelf. Not quite. Sounds like a silly goal, really. But it was just a personal challenge. You see, I suddenly realized that I had more than two dozen books on my book shelf that I've been wanting to read, yet haven't for various reasons. So I told myself, no shopping for books allowed. But I did buy three books this year -- just three, which is pretty good for me -- and I did read each of them right away, so that's got to count for something, right? (By the way, if you want to see what I read, check me out on Goodreads.)
So there's my 2011 in a nutshell. Here's the things I want to accomplish in 2012.
Run a half marathon. I blogged about this one last month, so there's not much more to say. I do think I'll register soon though, so I can't back down.
Keep the weight off. Now that I worked so hard to lose it (and did I mention I bought smaller jeans last week!), I intend to keep it this way.
Get organzied. Hmm, sound familiar? So I'm going to be a little more specific. This time, I want to organize and clean our file cabinet and turn as much as I can into paperless. (Yes I know, we're still not paperless and get all our bills the good ol' fashioned way.)
Paint. Seriously. This year, I really want to get it done.
Scrapbook more often. I like scrapbooking. And even though I blog (here and over on my family blog) and post online photo albums to share with friends and family and to 'document our lives', I still like to have and do scrapbooks of our lives. I started the year Austin was born and have plans of doing one every year. The problem? I'm woefully behind -- and only now am I ready to start 2010. That's right, here it is, January 2012 and my scrapbook life is back in January 2010. So my goal this year is to start and finish two scrapbooks -- 2010 and 2011 -- by December 31.
So that's it. Nothing earth shattering. Just a few things I want to do this year -- among all the other things I do in my every day life.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
We wish you a Merry Christmas
To my real life friends and family, to my bloggy world friends and to anyone who happens to stop by: Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and a Happy New Year!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Another year, another pat on the back
This week wraps up another full year of working for myself. Another year where I've learned to balance being a stay-at-home mom and work-from-home entrepreneur. Some days it's easy and other days I wish I had another 12 hours in the day -- or at least a daycare to send the kids to.
This year has been my second complete year of working for myself. I've learned to manage my time to a tee. I've learned that movie afternoons are sometimes not only acceptable, they're a necessity. I've learned that the second you pick up your work phone to make a business call, the kids will, without a doubt, need your attention and need it right now. I've learned to try not to feel guilty for ignoring the kids (in other words, letting them play by themself or letting them sit in front of the TV) when I absolutely have to get work done. I've learned to make the most of my days with them when I don't have a lot of work on the go -- or a lull in the work that is on the go. I've learned to sometimes live on less sleep.
I worked hard at my business this year. This will sound strange, and I think I've said it before, but I never dreamed I would be doing this. Aside from the easy part, which is writing and editing, I'm learning to smooze and network, sell my strengths and convince complete strangers to sit down and meet with me. In other words, I'm doing so many things I was never very good at and never had the confidence to do.
All while getting to do my dream job -- which is being a stay-at-home mom (all comments about how some days I want to put the kids on the front deck with signs around their neck that say 'free, take me home' will not be included in this post).
I worked hard this year. Last year at this time, I really only had three main clients, with some odds and ends other work on the side. This year, I have the same three core clients -- two of whom sent a lot of work my way -- and another dozen or so other contacts who have sent work my way. It really has been a word-of-mouth kind of business and I'm certainly not complaining.
And I'm proud to say that I brought in almost the exact same income as last year -- actually $66 more. Although I worked harder for every dollar this year than I did last year -- this year, I took a few jobs which didn't prove to be as profitable as I would've hoped. But I guess I can say that's another thing I've learned. I've learned to try not to sell myself short and to make sure that the job is actually worth the money.
As I move from part-time to full-time in Septemer 2012, my contacts and client roster is growing so I should be in good shape.
And what I'll definitely have by then is time. Because once the kids are in school full-time, I won't have to feel as guilty about balancing my mom job and my job job.
This year has been my second complete year of working for myself. I've learned to manage my time to a tee. I've learned that movie afternoons are sometimes not only acceptable, they're a necessity. I've learned that the second you pick up your work phone to make a business call, the kids will, without a doubt, need your attention and need it right now. I've learned to try not to feel guilty for ignoring the kids (in other words, letting them play by themself or letting them sit in front of the TV) when I absolutely have to get work done. I've learned to make the most of my days with them when I don't have a lot of work on the go -- or a lull in the work that is on the go. I've learned to sometimes live on less sleep.
I worked hard at my business this year. This will sound strange, and I think I've said it before, but I never dreamed I would be doing this. Aside from the easy part, which is writing and editing, I'm learning to smooze and network, sell my strengths and convince complete strangers to sit down and meet with me. In other words, I'm doing so many things I was never very good at and never had the confidence to do.
All while getting to do my dream job -- which is being a stay-at-home mom (all comments about how some days I want to put the kids on the front deck with signs around their neck that say 'free, take me home' will not be included in this post).
I worked hard this year. Last year at this time, I really only had three main clients, with some odds and ends other work on the side. This year, I have the same three core clients -- two of whom sent a lot of work my way -- and another dozen or so other contacts who have sent work my way. It really has been a word-of-mouth kind of business and I'm certainly not complaining.
And I'm proud to say that I brought in almost the exact same income as last year -- actually $66 more. Although I worked harder for every dollar this year than I did last year -- this year, I took a few jobs which didn't prove to be as profitable as I would've hoped. But I guess I can say that's another thing I've learned. I've learned to try not to sell myself short and to make sure that the job is actually worth the money.
As I move from part-time to full-time in Septemer 2012, my contacts and client roster is growing so I should be in good shape.
And what I'll definitely have by then is time. Because once the kids are in school full-time, I won't have to feel as guilty about balancing my mom job and my job job.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
To go to bed, or to not go to bed
I have a really bad habit when Ryan's out of town. I stay up way too late.
I don't know why I do it. When Ryan's home, he usually goes to bed before me (because he gets up at 5) and then I usually come up to bed around 10:30-11 p.m. Sometimes earlier. Sometimes he goes to bed later, and so we both turn in at the same time.
But when he's away, I can't seem to convince myself to go to bed. I can always convince myself to watch just a little more TV. Or do one more thing. Or, when I do finally manage to convince myself that I have to go to bed, I'll read just a few more pages.
So my usual weeknight bedtime just gets later and later and later. Until I realize that by the time I'm turning my light off, it's well after midnight. And unless I get to sleep in (which is just a dream when you have kids), going to bed after midnight is not enough hours of sleep for me.
As I said yesterday, luckily he doesn't go away often. And he rarely ever travels for work (I think I can count on one hand the number of times he's travelled for work since we've had kids. Actually, I think I can count using just a finger or two.) So, when he does go away, it tends to be on a weekend -- a guys weekend, or something like that.
And that's ok. A late Friday night, all day with the kids, a late Saturday night and then on Sunday he's home again.
But since this trip was unexpected and it's during the week -- here it is Thursday and I'm finding myself pretty damn tired. And it's my own fault. I haven't been to bed before midnight all week -- yet I'm still up just after 6. It's stupid really, and the only person I have to blame is myself. If I would just go to bed when I'm tired instead of staying up for an extra hour or two just because he's not home, I wouldn't be so tired.
But the crazy thing is, no matter how tired I may complain I am right now -- I'll still end up staying up past midnight tonight. Why is that?
I don't know why I do it. When Ryan's home, he usually goes to bed before me (because he gets up at 5) and then I usually come up to bed around 10:30-11 p.m. Sometimes earlier. Sometimes he goes to bed later, and so we both turn in at the same time.
But when he's away, I can't seem to convince myself to go to bed. I can always convince myself to watch just a little more TV. Or do one more thing. Or, when I do finally manage to convince myself that I have to go to bed, I'll read just a few more pages.
So my usual weeknight bedtime just gets later and later and later. Until I realize that by the time I'm turning my light off, it's well after midnight. And unless I get to sleep in (which is just a dream when you have kids), going to bed after midnight is not enough hours of sleep for me.
As I said yesterday, luckily he doesn't go away often. And he rarely ever travels for work (I think I can count on one hand the number of times he's travelled for work since we've had kids. Actually, I think I can count using just a finger or two.) So, when he does go away, it tends to be on a weekend -- a guys weekend, or something like that.
And that's ok. A late Friday night, all day with the kids, a late Saturday night and then on Sunday he's home again.
But since this trip was unexpected and it's during the week -- here it is Thursday and I'm finding myself pretty damn tired. And it's my own fault. I haven't been to bed before midnight all week -- yet I'm still up just after 6. It's stupid really, and the only person I have to blame is myself. If I would just go to bed when I'm tired instead of staying up for an extra hour or two just because he's not home, I wouldn't be so tired.
But the crazy thing is, no matter how tired I may complain I am right now -- I'll still end up staying up past midnight tonight. Why is that?
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