In no particular order…

1. Take 5 pictures a day that are not self portraits.
2. Appreciate what I have.
3. Live in the moment.
4. Love myself by taking care of myself.
(no smoking, eat right, get exercise, laugh more, be mad less)
5. Show my family that I love them regularly.
6. Have a clean & organized house.
7. Listen to more music.
8. Walk the dogs at least once a day.
9. Eat in more than out and at the table as a family.
10. Be on the computer less.

Yesterday, I was supposed to start eating better, and exercising. Something happened though, so I didn’t go walk. Oh, I know what it was. I didn’t get to shower before I took the kids to school, or immediately when I got home because Jeremy was in there. If I don’t get int he shower first thing, my whole day will be screwed. I will sit at my computer in my jammies, until I have to take a shower and get the kids from school.

Today, I showered before I took them though, and then Jeremy and I went to Jamba Juice. I got that one you eat with a spoon, with strawberries, peanut butter, bananas, granola, and I don’t know what else. Anyway, it sucked ass. I ate a tiny bit of it, and threw the rest out. I should have just gotten the regular one I normally get. I came home and did a couple Carmen Electra work out video’s on OnDemand. One was a stripper dance thing. LOL! I was cracking up at myself, with my large round body doing these seductive moves. On one video she is on her back and brings her knees to her chest, and grabs around her knees. She’s skinny so they fit up there. I am doing this and my knees are like 12 inches form my chest, and not because I am not flexible. I am, but because I have an enormous amount of belly fat, and my fat boobs (who I affectionately refer to as pig tits..lmao!) where in the way.

I probably did about 30 minutes of exercise…but I don’t feel I gave it 100%. More like 75%.

So, I was starving my ass off this afternoon, and ate like 3 handfuls of those new Lays Cracker Crisps. Bad, but it’s not like I had a McDonald’s breakfast Jeremy originally wanted to have. Then I had a handful of microwave popcorn that I made Sheldyn when she got home.

Then that damn yogurt. I don’t even like yogurt all that much. I pretty much choke it down. So, that’s what I had today. Not much of anything good. I need to get to the store though, and pick up some healthy items to eat. I’m not intentionally trying to starve myself, but my stomach does need to shrink a bit.

I’m thinking I might go on a short walk tonight also. Nothing crazy, maybe just 15 minutes to get me into it again. I told myself if I exercise all week, that next week I can buy myself a tanning package and get tan this summer also.

As torturous as being at my brother’s work was on Saturday, it made me realize that I HAVE to lose weight, if I want to be happy at all…because I will never be happy at this weight.

Reminds me, I need to take some “before pictures” and weigh myself…and get the exact number down. I already know that I am in the 170’s. It’s the fattest I have ever been in my whole life. Fatter then when I was pregnant each time. Fatter then when I was unhappily married, and thought I was huge. Just fatter.

So, here goes!

I have been extra lazy all week. I didn’t do a single thing around the house. Not one, besides cook dinner all week…which was all grilled and easy!

I finally tackled the mountain of dishes in the sink and counter. Seriously, everything we use regularly was dirty besides 1 spoon. An hour later, they were clean! Yay! I hate doing dishes by hand though. It takes so long, and I get all hot and sweaty. I also am dumbfounded on why I wait so long to do them, rather then take 10 minutes at night to do them all.

I’ve washed the kids clothes, got their bag all packed. I’m waiting on their whites to finish so I can put some socks in there for Chase.

These is a couple fly’s in the house. One keeps landing on Betty. It’s annoying the hell out of her. Everytime it lands on her butt, she jumps and turns around all fast trying to catch it. It’s cracking me up.

Here she is waiting for that mofo fly to land on her again. She wants it dead. Ha!

Jeremy just got home about 10 minutes ago. I need to grill some hot dogs and sausages for the kids and us, and then we are headed to L.A. to drop them off, but first we are going to go and hang out with my brother and Agnes!!! She just flew in from Paris on Tuesday, and called me this afternoon to come hang out. So, I am excited about that. I haven’t seen her in a couple years. After the kids leave we will hang out for a while…maybe do something.

So, that’s cool.

My Madre is coming down June 12-15th, then my sister is coming down the 18th-27th…then I am flying to North Carolina July 5th-12th. I can’t wait to go and visit! I just wish Jeremy could go with me, because I will miss him so while I am gone.

Anyway, that is all.

My kids are starting to reprimand me for going to the grocery store now.

While they were in school today, I went to Ralphs #1, Vons, Ralphs #2, and back to Ralphs #1 again.

And it was fun? Ha! I’m sick.

So…here’s my breakdown…

Shelf Value: $290.82

Out Of Pocket: $129.45

Saved: $161.37

Here’s what I got:
more…

So, last week was my first week with The Grocery Game.

It went like this:

*Total off the shelf price: $191.00

*Saved: $88.00 (46%)

This weekend I printed my lists and did my shopping with Jeremy, and here is my breakdown:

*Total off the shelf price: $494.00

*Saved: $263.00 (53%)

It is a little time consuming right now, as I am trying to juggle my list and coupons…but I am going to get a binder, and photo album inserts to put my coupons in so I can see them and stuff. I’m sure I will get faster the more I get used to it. I am actually having fun shopping. It really is like this game, getting the cheapest prices, and stocking up on stuff for cheap.

Yesterday, I kept teasing Jeremy and saying “Isn’t this fun?” and he was sarcastically saying “Oh yeah, baby! This is great!”.

Then we walked out and he looked on his receipt, and said “Okay this is kinda fun!” LOL!

The best is I bring him, and the coupons I have double of, I give him the doubles, and have him check out with the double products so we get the double coupons, and I don’t have to make 2 trips. It cracks me up though watching him…this tattooed guy using coupons. LOL!

Now, I’m a freak and want a deep freezer. LOL! I think in a month or so, I am going to get one, once my stockpile grows and I am spending less at the store for food all together.

Here’s my stockpile for 1 full week:

more…

To go grocery shopping!

So, today I got 2 of the Sunday L.A. Times and excitedly tore through it to find the coupons. There have been a few times in my years as a Mom to where I clipped coupons, and I used them for a bit, but the savings really wasn’t worth the hassle.

Well, today I printed two of my lists from The Grocery Game for Vons and Ralphs. I highlighted the items I had coupons for, which was more then I anticipated for one week. It’s going to take a few weeks to build my stash of coupons so I have one for each item on the list, so I can get everything I need. I took out the coupons I will need out of my pile, and printed some more coupons off of The Grocery Game website. Well except for one, because it wouldn’t work. I’m going to have to work on that tomorrow before I head out.

I have never, ever, ever been excited to grocery shopping until today. I can’t wait to go in the morning, and get the things on my list to start my stock pile.

Some things I am going to get are:

more…

I find myself becoming a tight wad where money is concerned.

Usually everyday I don’t go anywhere so I don’t spend money. I love when 3 days have gone buy and I haven’t spent any money on anything with the exception of food.

more…

Okay, so cupcakes are one of those things that I absolutely loooove! I’m not even a big cake fan, but there is something about a cupcake that makes me capable of doing some major damage and eating many of them. On top of the deliciousness of a cupcake, another thing that I absolutely adore about them, is making and decorating them. It’s so much more fun to decorate cupcakes then it is cakes for me. I’m not sure what it is about theses little cupcakes that makes me feel happy, but they do. I actually was thinking about baking some today also! It’s almost a crafty thing for me to do. I get to bake, then decorate, then take pictures, and then the best part…eat them! Mmmm! I hate that i can’t send the kids to school though with a cupcake in their lunches…because you know how that will turn out? Into a squashed mess! Well, I have found a solution! I found these cupcake holders! They are perfect for something along those lines! I love them! The kids would appreciate them also! go check out their website, as they have a lot of really awesome gift ideas!

I made it to 2008!!! Yay!!!

I woke up in a good mood today. Last night was really nice. Hee. I have a lot of things I want to work on this year. A lot of changes I want to make.

I plan to work on:

• Me. Physically & Mentally. I just want to be a healthier person all around. I want to be happy in my mind. Not so negative. Closer with my Mom. Seriously forgive her for everything and start fresh. Be the best Mom I can be. Be the best girlfriend I can be. Stop feeding my face with crappy foods, and drinks. Exercise and get to a weight where strangers don’t ask if I’m pregnant. So, I plan on riding my bike, and eventually getting some Yoga DVD’s. Any DVD’s anyone can recommend would help greatly.
• Finances- I want to start saving money. Try to get my credit on the track to some sort of recovery, although I’m not even sure that would do anything for a very long time.
• Keep up with the House- I want to clean regularly. I used to be such a good cleaner. My apartments where always clean and decent. Now, I really let it go to hell, andhardly ever clean.
• Stop being lazy- Really I’m lazy in every aspect of my life. I think this is the one key to a lot of stuff that bothers me about my life. I am lazy about every single thing.
• Do PPP every single day (including weekends) until I have enough money to buy a laptop.
• Which in turn will make me blog more.
• Quit Smoking! Both Jeremy and I. Tomorrow is the day!!! Honestly, I have little faith in myself or Jeremy. I know that’s a bad way of thinking when you want to accomplish something. Yet, I really, really like smoking. Like a lot! It is so intergrated into everything I do, that it’s so hard to even think about not smoking. I know it’s expensive, gross, and unhealthy. I have a whole list of reasons to not smoke, and the only reason I have to keep smoking is I like it. I’ve tried to quit before and failed. Jeremy said he tried once a long time ago. I have a little more faith in myself then in him though. Maybe he’ll surprise me. That would be a great accomplishment though. Financially it would be so rewarding. Like close to $450 a month rewarding. Craaazy! This I think has a huge affect on me and my laziness. After my first cigarette of the day, I feel tired and like I need a nap. Every day. I will be wide awake even have energy, and I smoke and then I just want to sit and go on the computer or wtch t.v. It’s weird, but I know quitting will help inmy lazy factor.
• Have sex more often then every few months. I think sex definitely has a positive effect on people. After sex you always feel happier, sexier, and a little bit on your game. Or something like that?
• Clean the backyard!!!!
• Fix up the Bug, like I wanted to!
• Photography- I want to seriously push myself to learn more about photography and take more pictures. I want to take pictures every day of not just my face sitting in then chair. I know I have it in me, and can be a good photographer, but for some reason I can barely grasp any of it. It’s confusing and hard, and no matter how many times I read about things, they don’t stick. I also want to put out major effort on the last 6 months of my 365. I usually take a picture of my face sitting in my chair, because my camera is ont he tripod right nect to my chair. It’s always at like 1am too. So, I am making myself take my picture during the day. I don’t know how I am able to turn something I like into a nusance. I seriously believe I’ve made it this far. Here’s to making the last 6 months awesome, and something to be proud of.
• Take a picture of the kids every week for a year.

It was a nice holiday! All the crazy preparation it took to get there was well worth it all.  It wasn’t even that bad having my ex-husband and his girlfriend here. Maybe a little uncomfortable, but not bad. We made it through, the house is super clean, the dinner was awesome thanks to Jeremy, and it is a memory for the books. Now the stress of Christmas! I love the season, but I am growing to hate the holiday. Financially it sucks, because I don’t have credit cards. So, everything I buy is with cash. Which is actually a good and bad thing. Although I would say more good then bad, as I am not in debt after Christmas. Yet, if I don’t have the cash, I can’t get the presents. It will all end well, I just hate the stress of it all, and wish I could just enjoy it. I look forward to the point where the kids have opened all their gifts, and are satisfied. That is a huge sigh of relief!