1-11-12 happy brain
I'm happy that Ann has a goal to get more healthy. I couldn't imagine my life without her and I want her around as we age!  We can do this together.~Judy

Healthy Habits 2012

My turn to chime in on getting healthy. Yes, 2012 is my year to be more active and unlike Newt Gingrich, I plan on losing the baggage I’ve packed on over the last 10 years. Sorry no pics here, but I’m sure there is an error or two in my writing.

I was thinking how to do this, Molly has a challenge to walk via miles and now minutes. She has done and excellent job in 2011 w/ her activity and pounds. Sue is swimming and walking, string bean Judy is shedding the pounds that I hope to lose … haha. New habits, well it reminded me of a class that I took in college, 1984, developing new habits.

In a nutshell, the new habit was wearing my seat belt. Back in the 80’s, did everyone wear seat belts? I devised a plan that I would use the radio button as my reminder switch. I would turn on the radio after I buckled up and when I unbuckled, turned it off. If I found myself without the tunes on, more than likely, my seat belt wasn’t fasten. I gave myself 30 days and for the most part, it worked. I was driving my little blue Subaru Bratt at the time, oh how I loved that mini-truck. I remembered from the class and from nursing school, it takes 30 days to develop a new habit.

So for 2012, my new habit is to be more active and eat smarter/healthier, which in turn, I should shed some pounds. That got me thinking of the keys to developing a habit. Here are a few key points that I found on the web with some adjustments.  

>30 days, focusing on small change instead of large ones.

 >Using a trigger to help condition the new pattern.

>Use the KISS method, keep it simple stupid!

> Write/log down the commitment to the habit.

>Use check points/milestones along the journey, readjust as needed.

 >Make a public commitment, post changes somewhere.

Goal - create the habit to increase my physical activity, walking and eating are the keys to success. 

Activity – daily walking then after 2 months, group activity, hopefully Zumba.

Trigger – my radio which is set to NPR. Can’t listen unless I have walked.

Since I spend more time at work that I would like to admit, the details:

>Arrive at work 7 am, 30 min walk before 8:00

 >Drink water/ice tea before my am coffee

>Oatmeal for breakfast, take a multi-vitamin

>5 min walk at 10:30

>30 min walk at 12:30

>15 min walk at 3:00

 >Limit my sugar intake, wont’ be that hard 

>Limit pop/soda to, no more than 2 x per month

I’m off and running, started the walking on January 5^th, adjusting my food intake on a daily basis, ginned up for Get Health America and Molly’s challenge and have put the walking time on my outlook calendar at work. As for pop/soda, I’ve only had 2-3 diet coke’s since my December 1, 2011.

And today is January 11^th, happy birthday to my little brother who is turning a big milestone this year.  Let’s all make 2012 a good year.

Chat Later

That Girl, Ann Marie

Fun food in 2012

1-10-12 healthy brain

HERE is an interesting recipe for my foodie friends. Not sure I could pull this off, but I do have agave in the house now, thanks to Molly.

Johnna is quite adventurous with food!

http://52sweets.blogspot.com/2012/01/520-sweets-chocomole.html

Monday in the mood to blog

1-9-12 happy brain

I enjoyed my week in KC with Greg and Clover cat, but due to the warm weather, it was hard to believe this was only the first week of the New Year….. i t sure seemed like March!

Last week in KC I did a lot of walking, also due to the warm weather, and due to one of my goals for 2012 is to get more active. I’m also giving up sugar as much as possible Monday-Friday. (Eat more vegetables!) Only on the weekends will I allow myself to have dessert or a sweet something or other. Maybe with these two things I can finally firm my middle age belly fat.

For 2012, I’m also continuing my Peace Art. HERE >>> http://onesmalldailypeaceofart.blogspot.com/

I decided I just had to- because, not only was I have fun doing it, but I also believe this daily time creating made for one of the most healthy years I’ve had in the last 20 years. It could be the creative outlet helped me deal with stress and/or the fact I was focusing on spreading something positive out into the universe- PEACE!

Besides the Peace Art, I’ve also been playing around with more pixel art. Here I had one laid out, but I think I will move it onto a bigger canvas so I can use more of the bright pixel pieces I’ve created….. anyway you get the idea.

On Saturday, Molly and I went shopping, as Greg enjoyed time outside washing his car…. That is his therapy. I was looking for something new for the DM living room, since I had moved the large ottoman down to the KC house, which matches the loveseat in the KC living room. I found an “artsy-fartsy” table at TJ Max. Molly gave it a “thumbs up” when I was unsure. Now that I have it back home in DM, I really think I’m going to like it. Now a new project- find some fun material to sew some new pillow cases which will help blend the table colors into the rest of the room.

There is close up of the finish/paint job on the table.... interesting huh?

TGIF

1-6-12 January brain?
During our walk yesterday after work, Greg and I came upon what I think might be crocus coming up in a yard? We enjoyed the 65 degree, sunny day!

If you want other surprising sight, take a look at the Iowa Caucus process.

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Moving my body in January

1-5-12 awake brain

Today's weather is suppose to be warm again, expected in the 60's today...... so I got up early in order to have time to walk after work in the daylight. This will be day three of walking. Molly has started a "walking challenge" for her friends all over the country. She is challenging us to walk 500 miles in 2012.

This idea came from my God-daughter Chelsea, who last year set a goal of running 1,000 miles in 2011. Chelsea achieved this. I'm glad Molly decided on 500 miles instead of 1,000. The goal of 500 is obtainable if I walk 2 miles a day; 5 out of the 7 day week.

Otherwise, not much new going on here. Having a good week with Greg and Clover. Reading the Steve Job's book at night and just relaxing. No big projects here this week.

Wednesday GUEST Blog from Ann

1-4-12 missing brain
I was not in town to attend the Iowa Caucus this year, but I learned, via Facebook from a neighbor, that my precinct when 33% with Romney. Of course many of my other neighbors were at the Democrat side of the Caucus. Here is Ann's experience this week. ~Judy

WHY IOWA MATTERS:

What an exciting time to be an Iowan. Did you caucus last night? Did your candidate win, show or place? Was the pundits right? Well you know I’m a Perry supporter and was asked to be a precinct leader, which means you help out on caucus night and speak on behalf of Gov Perry. To get my mojo set, I took time over the weekend to follow Gov Perry in Central Iowa.

 First up, 12:30 rally at Boomers Coffee shop in Fort Dodge on NYE. Before the rally, I dropped in at the local drug store and struck up a conversation with the druggist. I tried to negotiate off a $1 item, only to have him roll his eyes, then we talked politics. I walked away with a beautiful decorated Christmas tree. I made a friend there.

 The rally started on time, 50 media and 100 supporters. I had a close up and personal view of the Governor. Yep I chatted with him and took a picture with his lovely wife Anita. Then it was off to the Giggling Goat in Boone. The crowd was much bigger and he delivered a good stump speech.

 Monday evening, I drove to Perry, Iowa for a great rally at the Hotel Patee. Larry Gatalin was the warm-up act with Gov. Bobby Jindahl and Gov Sam Brownback saying a few good words to the large crowd. I left the event feeling inspired, just maybe … just maybe I can convince a few to vote my way.

We caucused at a Baptist church with 328 voters showing up. I followed a surrogate for Ron Paul, his grandson Ben, age 15. He was very cute and said a lot of nice words about his grandfather. How do I follow that?

Here’s my speech:

We have an important decision tonight.  Like many of you, I have followed the candidates closely, I was looking for a candidate of faith, family, executive leadership, a person of moral conviction and of good character, one that will be consistent and job ready the first day in office.

I found that person in Gov Rick Perry, and I saw that over the weekend while he was in Fort Dodge, Boone and Perry. I’ll give credit to one of the candidates wives saying “if you want to know what a person will do in the future, look at their past” That is so dead on.

Gov Perry came from humble beginnings, grew up on a farm, studied animal science in college, joined the Air Force then went back to Texas to farm before entering state politics. He has walked the walk. 

Gov Perry is a proven leader, with real-time executive leadership, a fiscal conservative who has the experience of creating jobs, balancing state budgets, working hand-in-hand with elected officials to get the job done. He has a track record of growing the economy in Texas while protecting the citizens of Texas and the border.  This is why I am caucusing for Gov Rick Perry.

Day one in the oval office, Gov Perry has committed to, by executive order, eliminate regulations and red tape so that business owners can do what they do best, build and create. (This includes repealing of mandatory healthcare), This translates to jobs, goods and services moving, money in our pockets, real commerce. That is job one in my book.

Gov Perry will work to make government work for you, reduce the size of the government, balance the budget, eliminate the agencies that are inefficient and/or obsolete (energy, commence, education), work to make congress accountable for their actions. ( I rather like the part-time congress), allow states to make the laws that work best for that state, update the tax code, protect life and marriage.

One size does not fit all – and that is what we have in Washington. It’s time for a new leader that is from outside Washington, one that does not have a record for supporting this, voting for that and now have to explain. With Gov Perry, the democrats will not be able to use that line. 

Tonight, Iowa matters, your vote matters. Look beyond the rhetoric, the polls, the pundits. I ask that you join me in casting your vote for a great American, a true conservative, a proven leader, Gov Rick Perry.

The results in my Ankeny 12 precinct (didn't quite) mirror the state-wide outcome: Romney and Santorum tied at top with 25% each, Paul close with 21%,  Gingrich 13%, Perry 10%, Bachman 5% and Huntsman 1%.

           

I’ve had a lot of fun over the last few days, on the campaign trail and at a coffee shop downtown. Morning Joe was live at Java Joes . Oh how I had fun and will write more later with a few pics. That’s a wrap!

Chat Later,

That Girl, Ann Marie

Happy New Year

1-3-11 refreshed brain

I've been off work for only a week, but today as I started back to work- it felt like I was gone for at least two weeks. I guess I packed a lot of activities into that week, so it felt like more time off than just a week.

Ann will be filling me in (and you) on the Iowa Caucus activities tomorrow, since I chose to stay in KC this week and miss all the excitement. My brain is still really relaxed and thus I am not all that motivated to blog, but I suppose it will just take getting back into the groove.

For today, I'll just post a few pictures.

My New Years Weekend included NY Eve at the neighbors for dinner and game night. I also got to have lunch with my God-daughter Chelsea, along with Teresa and Molly. Chelsea is doing well with her new job.

I also agreed to attend a football viewing of his Cleveland Browns game on Sunday at the usual Browns Backers Club bar: Buffalo Wild Wings. I drank 1/4 of a beer.... really living it up !

Other pictures I saw on Facebook where pictures from my sister's family.... which gave me a smile.
CJ's girlfriend came for a first visit to their family..... this could be serious?

 I guess Catherine handled the dog better than I would! I don't think Chunks was happy in his hat.