Monday Missions {week 2}

Good morning friends!

Here we are, at the 2nd week of our Monday Missions.

First up, did you get your mission done last week?  If not...guess what?  You could always make that your mission for this week.  Life can be interesting and throw us curveballs...so things don't always happen as we would like them to.

My mission....

Accomplished!

Plus, for good measure...I threw in a bit more organizing.  The organizing included hole punching Christmas Cards that we received from the past two years and putting them on binder rings--which will serve as decorations next year.  And a great way to hold onto cards other than them just sitting in a box.

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This week, I'm going to put something I bought recently to good use.  But first...a question.  Am I the only one that has a habit of buying kitchen appliances that generally only have one use and then not using them?  I sort of had to promise my husband with this last purchase that I wouldn't waste it.

In the effort of building a habit, my mission for this week:

To use my smoothie maker at least three times.  I tried it out for the first time yesterday, with a banana-peanut butter smoothie.  It was pretty good, but I'm ready and willing to try out some new recipes.

Now, I'm off to fire up pinterest and find some recipes. I have a 'smoothie love' board, and I better start using it.

* * *

So, what is your mission?  Share it in the comments below or on our Facebook page.  Even better,  you could share it on Instagram, and let us know the link. And of course, if you'd like to blog about it, feel free; just pop the link to your post in the comments below or on Facebook.

Source: etsy.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Can't wait to support you this week and hear about your successes next week.

Monday Missions {week 1}

I feel an idea coming on.  Bear (or bare?) with me as I start some rambling.

Mondays.  The beginning of a new week.  A blank slate (much like the beginning of the new year, yes?).  Often a day we lament, because it means a return to work and school and an end to that relaxing time we call 'weekend'.

I want to make it be a day we look forward to instead of dread. I hope you'll join me; and the best news is you don't need to have a blog to join in.

Just choose something to be your mission for the week.  Something achievable.

You know that never ending to do list you have in the back of your head? This mission could be to get one of those things checked off this week.  Or you could pick something new you want to try (new exercise class or video, new recipe...you get the idea).

Source: Uploaded by user via Jenny on Pinterest

This can be something big. It can be something small. Just make sure you are willing to do it and get it done.

That way when next Monday rolls around, you'll be looking forward to it because:
        a.  You achieved your goal.
        b.  You know you'll have the chance to achieve something again that coming week!

AND we will can all share our missions for the week.  Lets just start out doing it in the comment section here on the blog or on Facebook.  If you have a blog and want to link-up, feel free to provide the link in the comments and I'll plan on stopping by.

Lets do this!

* * * 

Oh, I guess I'd better share my mission, right?

Here it is:

That?  That is our Christmas tree (and other Christmas decorations).  I literally carried it up as it was to our third floor guest room, which is a room that rarely gets used,  a few weeks ago.  I joked on Instagram (I'm jenlives there) last night that I would keep it up all year, but since we are spending Christmas back in our "home" state of Minnesota this year, I'd better get it packed up.

So that's my mission.  Get all Christmas decorations packed up and tucked into the closet.

* * * 

Now its your turn!  What's your mission?

Who knew an iPhone could teach me about life

This week my iPhone was incapacitated for two days.

48 hours.

There it is. In a bowl of rice.  

I never thought NOT having my iPhone available would teach me something, but it has.

1. Life will go on without it.  
That's it.  Pretty simple, but true words.

2. There is always a worst case scenario, and really--even that is usually not too bad of a scenario. 
For me, the question was 'what if my iPhone doesn't dry out enough and it stops working'?  What am I going to do?  Well, I have an iPad for most of the things I use the iPhone for (email, social networking, games, kindle app, and the like).  So what I'd be missing is texting and the mobile phone.  And where I'm at right now those two features rarely get used.  Therefore, worst case scenario is that I just go get whatever cheap flip phone option my cell phone carrier has as a replacement.  Not so bad, right?

3. Patience is key & quite possibly can be learned. 
Many of the articles that gave advice on the rice drying out method advised me to wait 48 hours to turn the phone back on.  48 hours?!?!?

I did it. And it was pretty darn easy...especially after the first three or four hours where I was kicking myself for putting my iPhone into this predicament were over.

4. Many things can be done quicker without the distraction of the iPhone. 
Duh.  Lesson learned.

5. Learn the signs Jenny.  Learn the signs.
Seriously, I took this little accident as a sign from the big Master saying, "Hey lady!  Put down your phone and your iPad and pay attention to life.  You can't find your good life just by watching everyone else's stream by."

With that...I'm coming up with some technology resolutions.  Things like limiting the number of times per day I check in with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  Trying to only play games like Words with Friends and Dice with Buddies a few times a day.

We will see how it goes, but I am hoping that this can be a learning experience for me.

The good news?  My phone works.  Mostly.

On healthy living....

As I mentioned in Sunday's post, one of my goals for this week was to share something new with you.  This is where I'll do that.  So, check that one off the list!

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I've been writing about living healthy on this blog ever since I started it, I think.  I've started my diets/lifestyle changes over and over again.  Lost weight, and then gained it all back again.  Over and over and over and over and over and over again.  I could probably add in some more overs, and be good...but you get the idea.

So here is the story.  I'm taking that discussion off of this blog for the most part.

I want this blog to be a positive place the majority of the time.  I want it truly be about living a listful and listfull life. About being attentive to my children, husband, friends and family.  About taking ahold of life, and really living it.  About checking items off of my bucket list, my 34 in 34 list, my reading list and sharing those stories with you. And maybe just about random, goofy subjects too.

Source: mycrazy-beautifulife.tumblr.com via Jenny on Pinterest

And to be frank--the journey to losing weight and living healthy isn't always a fun and happy journey.  There are some deep seeded things in my psyche that I think affect my resolve and ability to reach my goals.  I want to process those somewhere, and so I created a new blog.

I was going to make it private, because this journey can be a personal one.  Especially when I start working through some of those 'deep seeded things'.  But, that isn't fair.  There are other people on this journey too, that I think might benefit from reading my story.  Learning that they aren't alone.  And my hope is eventually its a place where I can share recipes, exercise information and the like.

The blog is called Jen Lives Healthy.  For now it is pretty 'bare bones', because I'm focusing on the writing.  You can click above or below on my pic to get there.  And feel free to subscribe by email or on your blog reader to keep up with the journey.

Source: jenliveshealthy.blogspot.co.uk via Jenny on Pinterest

That picture above? From our recent trip to Minnesota in November. I love it because it represents a time when I was feel VERY healthy and confident.  I was 'going strong' on Game On, got almost a perfect score-even while being on vacation for ten days.  I was actually using the fitness room in the hotel...it was epic.  Ha.

But no...really.  I want to get back to that place, and stay there.  That's my goal and my intent for 2013.

I need to 'kuit' them.

It started with the Beverly Hillbillies and Sanford & Sons.
It continued with Beverly Hills, 90210 (the original, thankyouverymuch), Blossom and Friends.
It remains with Parenthood, Grey's Anatomy and The Good Wife.

Source: google.com via Nancy on Pinterest

"It" is my addiction to television.

Perhaps its not an addiction.

Evidence?

• I can stop watching at anytime.  Really, I can.  
• I don't even subscribe to one of the streaming services that brings U.S. television straight to my computer in Scotland.  
• I've only subscribed to one season pass on iTunes this television year (that'd be for aforementioned Parenthood).  

It might take up too much of my time right now, but a girl needs something to help fill her days when the sun barely comes out, and when the sun does come out its for about SIX whole hours a day. TV is better than some things, anyways.

Not a huge deal, right? 

But.  BUT. The day came.  

I said it never would. 

Source: usmagazine.com via Us Weekly on Pinterest

Keeping up with the Kardashians.  Khloe & Lamar.  Khloe & Kim take Miami.  

What is it with these people?  I always said, "I'll never watch that show.  Follow them on Twitter or Instagram or {insert social media here}.  They are famous for nothing. Every single kid's name starts with the same letter." Oh.  Wait.  That last one was never a reason.    

The fact remains that January 2013 has become my downfall.  I blame it on the UK E! network. Just about every other hour you can find an episode featuring one of the sisters.  Why am I sucked in?  Have I learned anything from these episodes?

No, not really.  

Well, I take that back.

Bruce gave Kourtney a piece of advice on one of the shows yesterday, "your relationship is never going to be better than it is when you are dating.  Marriage doesn't make anything better."  Nah, don't agree. 

And then there was the time he told Kim, "a house is to make memories in."  Duh. 

Okay, so yeah..I've learned nothing.  Um.  Intervention needed. Now.  I need to quit kuit the Kardashians.

But first...I'm off to see how if the launch of Rob's dress sock company is successful.  

No spoilers please.  {wink}

Five Minute Friday: Opportunity

Eeek.  Two posts in one day?

Don't get used to this people.  {smile}

BUT today is Friday, which means Five Minute Friday and I love a good Five Minute Friday. Plus, I was thinking...Lisa-Jo describes this as a 'flash mob'.  I have 'being part of a flash mob' on my bucket list.  Do you think this counts?  Ha.  Okay, maybe not.

   This week's prompt?  Opportunity. 

* * 

"You think too much," my husband says.  

Hopeful, I reply, "I know. I'm trying to change that.  Trying to take a break from it."   

And 2013 lays open like a blank canvas.  Waiting for me to paint that different picture for myself.  One that includes less thinking and more doing.  Maybe some planning, but putting the notes down and not over thinking them. 

This year is ripe with opportunity.  Opportunity to take advantage of the blank canvas that is our lives and forge ahead to create the perfect landscape.  

I know its not all in my hands, and that makes it even easier to leave some of the thinking to someone else--He doesn't even need to think, because He already knows how the painting will look.  

* * 

The idea is to write for five minutes, unedited and hit publish.  Link up over here: 

ENOUGH. Again.

First off, I have to tell you something.

It makes me a happy person to have not set resolutions this year.

I say that, but of course I still plan to lose weight. Duh. And I'll do it this year. Just you wait and see. And I think my word of the year is going to help me.

Before I get to the word though, I'll admit that this isn't the first word I decided on.

I had been planning on the word 'commitment'. Why commitment? Because basically I suck at follow-thru. Not all the time, but when it comes to things like eating right, losing weight, dental hygiene, etc...I find myself staying on track for a few weeks (or even months) and then seriously 'falling of the wagon'.

And as I thought about it some more...the reason I think that I falter with those things is because I generally beat myself up WAY TOO MUCH. I am 100% too hard on myself. How can I stick with things if the second I do the wrong thing I am down on myself.

Negative thoughts + negative feelings = negative results. 

I've had self esteem issues since, hmm...probably 1st grade? I had a classmate ask me if I dyed my eyebrows (imagine a girl with VERY blond hair and VERY dark eyebrows). Since then, I've worried what people are thinking. And I usually don't imagine that they are thinking good things.

* * 

Not sure what it is, but something has just clicked for me in the last few days, and I'm feeling even more strongly about the post I wrote on Wednesday that we all need to take it easy on ourselves.

So. 

My word of the year for 2013 will be:

ENOUGH 

I am enough.
Enough of thinking too much.
I have spent enough time being hard on myself.
Enough wasting time. Enough excuses. Get IT {no matter what it is...including losing weight} done already.

* * 

I've got a bunch of changes that I'm making, but I am introducing them slowly.  Instead of attacking the year with gusto, I'm making one or two small changes each week so that by mid-February I'm doing all of the things I want to accomplish and have set a goal of committing to, behaviors that will have me acting like the Jenny that's in my head and that I aspire too.

But until then, and even if I don't accomplish all of that, I know that I'm enough.

Anything new just makes for a 'new & improved' Jenny.

There isn't anything wrong with the current model, but everyone needs a change once in a while.

2013. I am enough.

Here's the story.

Just like a lot of folks out there, each year I've come up with resolutions that I don't end up keeping much past January 12.

Even when I went a different route in 2012 and chose the word 'brave' as my word of the year, I accomplished about 2.5 of the 10 ways I outlined I'd be brave.

This year?  I'm going to start out with a different idea.

Source: wipkits.blogspot.com via Jenny on Pinterest

Here is my question for you (It's also the one I've been asking myself for the last few days):
Why do we need to start every year thinking of how we need to fix ourselves?

So often, resolutions are things that we think we need to improve about ourselves. It seems self defeating to start the year off with an attitude that adjustment is needed, when really...just about every person {especially those reading this blog} are pretty darn good people.  Exactly as the person that they are today.

That means you.  Yes.  You.

I dare you to join me.

Sit back and just enjoy the clean slate.  Imagine the opportunities to come in 2013.

Make some plans, get your calendar and planner ready.  But don't go making 101 changes today.  Take it slowly.  Work yourself into it.

No, I'm not giving up on the whole idea of resolutions or having a 'word of the year'.  In fact, I am beyond excited about 2013, its opportunities and the clean slate tht it provides.

And I have big plans. But more on that later.

For now?

Source: Uploaded by user via Tracy on Pinterest

And yes. You are too. You are smart enough. You are good enough. And if you're reading my blog, than surely I must like you, right?