A Catalyst for Change

I had an epiphany this morning. Those schedules I make and can't stay committed to, the workout regimen I say I'm going to stick to and I don't, those are all things that I don't want my children (when I have them) to grow up seeing. I don't want them to grow up seeing someone procrastinate, someone not stay committed to a task, someone not live a healthy life.

These unborn children of mine that I won't have for probably another 5-6 years or so are already playing a roll on my life I'm living today.

These unborn children are my catalyst for change.

Or, at least, I hope they are.

I say that because I know it will take committment on my part to changing my lifestyle and making a habit out of staying committed, not procrastingating, getting off my booty that's glued in front of the tv in order to accomplish those things that need to be done around the house, and living a healthy life. A healthy life not only needs to be just working out on a regular basis, but eating healthier too.

So, here's a cheers to change, to shifting my lifestyle in the right direction, and to making a habit of living a lifestyle that I hope will be a model for my children!

Scheduling

So, in a much more previous post I mentioned trying to get together a cleaning schedule. It didn't work, which is of no surprise to me. Although, I always schedule things out like that knowing in the back of my mind that I'm not going to follow through with it. Which, as a side note, makes me think this may be another contradiction of mine. I have a HUGE pet peeve for people who can't follow through with commitments and plans! And, I failed to follow through with my cleaning commitment, but I guess since it's a commitment to myself and I pretty much knew I wasn't going to follow through, then I can let myself slide on that one, right?

Anyway, onto the purpose of this blog...

So I try to schedule things out so I can manage my time better (i.e. exercising, cooking, cleaning, (and soon - school work), etc.) But most times, like the cleaning, I don't follow through with those commitments. I was doing very well though with cooking and menu planning before we moved to Savannah and never got back into the swing of it. Well, this week has been different. Because our budget until pay day was getting very low, I figured we better start utilizing what's left in the pantry. This week's menu has been:
Sunday:
Taco Soup

Monday:
Breaded Baked Chicken
Parmesan Garlic Risotto
Green Beans

Tuesday:
Hot Dogs with chili & cheese
Left over Taco Soup (for my husband who is anti- chili/cheese on hot dogs)

Wednesday:
Homemade Pizza

Thursday:
Breakfast for dinner -
Fried/Scrambled Eggs
Boiled Smoked Sausage
Toast

Friday:
Spaghetti

Saturday:
Chargrilled Chicken

And, another side note: I mentioned school work would soon become something else I would have to schedule in because....(drum roll)

I'VE BEEN ACCEPTED TO SCAD'S MASTERS OF ARTS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM!!!!!!

Until next time.

I'm Just Full of Contradictions

I began thinking lately about how contradictory I am as a person...

The first is this:

I've mentioned many times before that I'm a planner. To me, however, planning is almost equivalent to wishing your life away because you're constantly looking to the possibilities and hopes of the future and never enjoying the moment. Despite recognizing it that way, I love planning for the future and creating an image, in my hopeful mind, of what will be. This means I look forward to the future, right? Well, not exactly...

You see, I'm terrified of growing old and "no longer existing". This is something I don't ever think about unless someone else brings up in conversation. If said person does bring up this conversation, I bluntly say "I don't want to think/talk about it" and quickly move on. I'm so uncomfortable with it that, if you didn't notice in the beginning of this paragraph, I grazed over the fact of dying by making it sound more acceptable and phrasing it as "no longer existing." I remember nights when I would walk to my mother's bedside crying and telling her I didn't want to die. A child in elementary school should not worry about such things. A woman my age should not worry about such things. But, alas, I do. So why you ask am I always looking to the future? Yea...can't explain that one.

The second is this:

Again, this deals with the fact that I'm a planner. I love to plan any and all things. However, I would LOVE (so much I can't even express how much) to be that person that spontaneously decides to pack up her things and go on a trip, unplanned. My parents used to do that-just pack up, go on a trip without a hotel reservation and, probably, sometimes not even an exact idea of where they were going. While right now financial woes prevents this from happening, I hope that one day when I'm financially able I'll let loose and go take trips on a whim.

The third is this:

I'm an only child. I, for the most part, got what I wanted growing up. I didn't want for anything, always had sleepovers when I wanted, had the type of birthday party I wanted, got enough Christmas gifts for a family of 5+, and so on. Most only children get used to the idea of getting all the attention and thrive on it right? (I assume this because my only child/dog "Moose" is an attention hog and does not like when he's not getting it, even for a minute). Not me. I despise/loathe/hate, whatever you want to call it, being the center of attention. I can feel the heat rising into my face as it turns coke-bottle red when my name is called in class, someone approaches me with a question of which I can't prepare an answer for, when the words "Happy Birthday to you" begun being sung to me on an (not so) annual basis. I don't enjoy it. I do, however, begrudingly admit that I do like getting what I want and not ever having to hear the word "no." Eh, not so proud of admitting that one :-/

But, that's me, full of contradictions. I'm sure there are MANY more, but those are the ones I'm aware of and can recognize at the moment.

Personality Profile

I love tests that are scientifically proven to give you an overview of your personality, etc. I took a test in highschool that determined which of 4 colors you were. Each color identified a personality type. While I don't remember all of the colors nor the name of the test, I do remember that I was "blue." Then, when I was working at UWG we did a strengths test that determined our top 5 or 6 strengths in the workplace. That was interesting; I was the only one within the office who had the strength of being "futuristic." I guess it plays to my planning obsession. Those results play well into the results of the test I took today.

This morning I took a Myers-Briggs personality test for work. I took it twice thinking I was answering the same way the 2nd time, but apparently I wasn't because I got a slightly different result. I, personally, feel that each pretty closely describes me so I think I'm borderline between being an extrovert and introvert, because that was the one initial that changed between each result.

I can't paste into my blog, but here are the links to the personality and career profiles:
ESFJ:
http://http://www.personalitypage.com/html/ESFJ.html
http://http://www.personalitypage.com/html/ESFJ_car.html

ISFJ:
http://http://www.personalitypage.com/html/ISFJ.html
http://http://www.personalitypage.com/html/ISFJ_car.html

And, get this: I'm married to an INTJ!
http://http://www.personalitypage.com/html/INTJ.html
http://http://www.personalitypage.com/html/INTJ_car.html

The main difference between Kenny and I is this:
ESFJ's "need approval of others to feel good about themselves." ISFJ's "need positive feedback from others. In the absence of positive feedback, or in the face of criticism, the ISFJ gets discouraged , and may even come depressed." INTJ's (Kenny) "is not overly demonstrative of their affections, and is likely to not give as much praise or positive support as others may need or desire."

Yea, perfect match! But, we accept and love each other for our differences, right? :)

What's your personality type?

Girls Trip!

The weekend to Hilton Head was a success! Lunch went beautifully and tasted delicious! (will share the recipes below)

Here are some pictures from the fun weekend:

Here are the recipes from Friday's Lunch:

Fruit Dip:

1 package cream cheese, softened

1 jar of Marshmallow Fluff

Mix together thoroughly

Cheesy Onion Dip:

1 C Parmesan cheese, shredded

1 C Provolone cheese, shredded

3/4 C - 1 1/2 C Onion, finely chopped

1 C Mayonnaise

1 T garlic powder

Mix all together and bake 30-40 minutes until cheese melted and slightly brown

Pita Crisps:

1 pkg. Pita pockets

3/4 C olive oil

Ground black pepper

1 T garlic powder

1 t dried parsely

Slice the pita pockets into 8 triangles

Mix all other ingredients and spread onto pita pockets

Bake at 400 F for 5-7 minutes

Chicken Salad Sandwich Paninis:

1.5 lb chicken tenders (will make about 7-8 sandwich servings)

Mayonnaise (as much as desired)

1/4 onion, finely chopped

2 T celery, finely chopped

1 t dried basil

1 t garlic powder

Italian bread slices

Olive oil

Cheese of your choice

Lettuce & tomato, if desired

Boil the chicken, let cool down, then shred

Add in all other ingredients

Put chicken salad & cheese between 2 slices of italian bread, spread olive oil on both sides of the sandwich (only one outside slice of each piece of bread)

Place on Panini Maker for about 5 minutes (enough to slightly heat & melt the cheese)

Add lettuce & tomato, if desired

Lemonade Tea:

1-12 oz. pkg. frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed

3 quarts water

9 tea bags

1 C sugar

1 Orange

1 lemon

Boil the water in a dutch oven

Add tea bags, remove from heat, let steep for 5 minutes

Add sugar and thawed lemonade concentrate

Sit in refrigerator to cool. Once cool, pour over ice and add slices of orange and lemon