I love Sundays.

Sundays mean that my week comes to an end but it’s the perfect beginning to what’s to come for the next.  On Sundays I like to take it easy and try to squeeze in personal time if possible.  Because I work so much and because I like to dedicate my Saturdays to spoiling the kids when I’m not working, Sunday is my personal-refuge day to regroup and take it easy.  Ørjan often lets me sleep late and/or take a nap, I often try out new recipes or bake something yummy for us, or I try to catch up on unfinished projects and crafting.  I am also trying to use my Sundays to materialize my goals and resolutions.  Today I feel accomplished and confident.  Today I feel like I’ve crossed many things off my list and I’ve definitely had some quality time with the kids. If only I felt the same way about Mondays.

Today we all slept in, I made Sunday waffles for the kids, and I tried out a new mango-melon smoothie recipe.  As the kids napped away I’ve managed to do a detailed cleaning of the kitchen, washed the floors, and there’s a pot of homemade beefstew on the stove simmering away.  I have a few loads of laundry to toss in, a few lists to write out, and a few letters to start writing, but it’s nothing that is stressing me out because big shock – I have Monday off!  Before the day is over I’d like to start brainstorming ideas and possible menus for Magnus and Sophie’s birthdays but we still have a few weeks yet.

I love days like these.

I made a promise to myself to do nothing on my day off but I completely broke that promise around 1pm.  Usually on my days off I try to clean, exercise, shop, bake or cook, or even run some errands, but today I just wanted to relax and do nothing.  I thought I might even try taking a nap (I’ve been sleeping very little in the past two weeks) but it just never happened.  I had House on in the background while I did a detailed cleaning of the living room in an attempt to keep me relaxed.  Instead of avoiding my usual list I kicked my own butt and stuck to my usual routine without too much guilt.  I did my usual cardio and pilates, cleaned, and even managed to have dinner ready on time.

I’ve been thinking about changing my exercise routine because lately I feel it’s not as challenging.  I feel that I’m definitely in better shape than a couple of months ago and my flexibility and stamina have improved but I demand more.  I expect more.  By March/April 2010 I’d like to be about 10 kg lighter than I am now.  I don’t think it’s an unrealistic goal but I know it’s going to be somewhat of a struggle the first 4 weeks because I know I need to kick two things: sugar, and smoking.  I haven’t really said much on here but I’ve started smoking at work.  3-4 cigarettes a day doesn’t seem like so much but add up the week and subtotal the month and it’s way too much.  It’s an expensive and dirty habit that I kicked for many years and I feel very disappointed in myself for lapsing back.  I want to get healthier and smoking is not going to help at all.  Uff.  As far as sugar goes I know I need to stop nibbling on chocolate.  I don’t scarf down a whole chocolate bar or “candy bar” but the fact that I have cravings tells me I need to cut it out all together.  Sugar and smoking do not equal weightloss.

Anyhow.  Back to House and then maybe some late-night pilates before bed.

I stopped making resolutions a long time ago but I still make goals whether they be mini or mighty.  I do consider myself a perfectionist which is usually a good thing, but it doesn’t mean that my husband has the patience or stamina for my demands.  This year I’ve decided that the goals that I set for myself will be about me, but I’ll also try to include my family in the progress and rewards.  Here’s what I’ve got planned for 2009 in no particular order:

• Lose 10 more kg and shape up – I’ve slowly been taking off the weight since I gave birth to Sophie and would like to continue to reach my final goal.  (I’ve yet to define what that will be.)  I’m actually less than I was after I gave birth to Magnus, but I see how my body has changed.  I consider myself to be in ok shape and healthy but I’d like to improve on it.  I walk everywhere but I’d like to actually run everywhere.  This morning I buttoned up a much smaller pair of jeans and surprised myself, but I still want to fit comfortably and not just squeeze into my pre-wedding jeans.  THE jeans.
• Go back to the working world – I’ve been a stay at home mom (SAHM) for over two years now and I can’t tell you how ready I am to get back out there.  With Ørjan’s current work situation I’m more eager than ever to bring something new and exciting to this place.
• SAVE SAVE SAVE – We get by and I feel that we’re comfortable, but I’d really like to have more savings.  The other day I saw Suze Orman on another episode of Oprah and almost died.  We have no credit debt, no student loans, but still have a minor loan and the mortgage to pay off each month.  I can’t say we’re facing some of the horror stories that I’ve seen, but it would be nice to have the luxury of not having to worry if something happened one day.  There’s also that vacation we’ve been talking about… but who knows!
• Being thrifty is nifty – I’m already quite the thrifty girl, but this year I would like to be more involved in finding ways to save more money for our home
• Stay in better contact with others – Family, friends, and all the others.  I should try to stay better conected with my close friends and not just with quick messages online.  It’s a bit hard when so many of us live in different time zones, but with us being over here we’re usually sleeping when they want to chat.  Oh well.
• Read more – I’ve wanted to put this on my to-do lists forever, but I knew I’d never accomplish this.  I have so little time but I do miss being able to jump into bed with a good read.  In the past year I bought a few dozen magazines with the intention of reading and tabbing them but I’ve barely flipped through them.  My first goal is to read the few Norwegian pocket books I picked up at Ark last year and finally put them into the finished pile.
• Take time for myself – Our Christmas vacation in Canada really made me realize just how much I’ve aged in the past couple of years.  I wouldn’t go as far as to say I’m one of those before mother’s you’d see on an Oprah makeover episode, but I’m getting there.  This year I’m going to invest in some fashion staples, dye my hair at least once, and yes, I will buy some makeup from Lancome at some point.  I’ll also try to make the time to write about the progress of my current goals.
• Take a class? I’d really like to take a class of some sort… Anything at this point.  Language, cooking, art… anything!
• Make friends with my camera – Ørjan bought me a NikonD60 this past summer but I haven’t had the time to go through the settings and practice.  I’d really like to take better photos (especially for food) and be more involved with my groups and clubs.
• Being green IS easy – I’d like to think that I’ve always made environmentally conscientious decisions in my life and home but this year I’d like to step it up and really pressure/encourage Ørjan to get on board as well.  He’s already using the produce bags and envirosax that we bought at Christmas, but there’s still more converting to tackle.  This year I’d really make the leap and toss out all the unnecessary chemicals and cleaning products, replace possible waste with better products and storage, and buy/use more organic products not just limited to food and t-shirts.
• Get more rest – I really need to go to bed earlier and make an effort to get more rest.  I probably sleep 5-6 at night and have a full day.  I’m sure if I had more sleep I’d feel better and have much more energy.

I haven’t bothered to weigh myself yet but my jeans fit like a glove and my stomach looks much smaller already.  Whatever I’ve been doing must be working and it only makes me more motivated to keep going and push myself.  Today while I was trying to take practice shots for my passport photos (I cannot have another nightmare photo for five years like my previous one) I noticed that my face has also slightly thinned out.  Crazy but true.  Now I don’t feel so guilty about stealing the T-O-B from a mini toblerone at 4am this morning.  I was having some serious hunger pangs and it was the only thing I found in the fridge that didn’t require cooking.

In other news – I actually feel good today.  The past three days have been pure hell.  My uterus has been playing a cruel joke on me after I got my IUD inserted.  It just might be time to find another form of bc.

I have no idea where August went but at least the to-do list is almost complete and I couldn’t be more happy about it.   This month seemed to be even a busier month than July was for no reason other than there were more unexpected events and tasks to deal with. Even with so much to do my schedule has definitely improved since I’ve been pushing myself to go to bed earlier in order to wake up earlier.  I know that I really do require more rest but I think I’m managing for now.  Bedtime is usually after 11pm, and I wake up at 6am when Ørjan’s alarm is in full snooze-mode.  Waking up early to eat breakfast and exercise has been somewhat of a struggle since I really don’t feel so hungry that early in the morning nor do I have the motivation to burn my butt with squats, but despite feeling less than excited I’ve still been pushing myself to do both, and each day that I cross those two off my list it only becomes easier.

I’ve also been making an effort to stop spending unnecessary money and save it when possible.  It’s not that we’re going through rough times but I realize that I need to make more of a sacrifice if I want to take full advantage of our trip to Canada.  I can’t really remember the last time I spent money on beauty products or clothing, but I know I spend a little too much on the items I consider to be investments or must-have items for the home.  I’m sure neither of these terms apply to them, but hey… I’m a rat.  It’s what I do.  I spend very little on myself but I generously lavish and spoil my loved ones, and I always try to maintain and perfect my home.  Now I’ve made a promise to myself that I won’t buy anything that isn’t at least 40% off, that isn’t essential or an item that we would all have use for, and I’m going to stop buying my favourite ginger-pear ($2.50) bottle of water when I’m out.  Hopefully when December rolls around we’ll have some extra money for ridiculous spending and we won’t have to just rely on Ørjan’s holiday pay.

I’ve been keeping myself extremely organized with my plans and goals by keeping daily and semi-daily records of everything I do and consume.   I haven’t kept a journal(s) since I was young but I love it!  Call it silly but writing it all out by hand, highlighting the important details, and drawing conclusions at the end of the week makes me feel somewhat more accomplished.  Seeing my life/our lives on paper has provided a more detailed and realistic view if that’s even possible.

Pssst:  I haven’t mentioned it at all before, but there’s now a planned trip to China as it’s now not just a desired travel destination but also a reward for one of my goals.  We’re both excited about this even if we know it’s still very far away.  Life is like that and I love planning for it.

(Maybe if I have time later I’ll put on Eat Drink Man Woman)