My lifelong friend Jenny at L.O.T.S of Love presented me with my very first award. Isn't she sweet! It's the LUV award.

Here are the rules and such to keep the LUV going!

1. Put the logo on your blog or post. (You can highlight the photo and text of this post and copy/paste wherever you need to...start your highlight from the bottom up to get the photo)

2. Nominate 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received the award.

I am not a huge blog reader -- so to keep the LUV going I am going to nominate 5 blogs that I think are very LUV-able!

1. The Queen B

2. The Simple Wife

3. I'm an Organizing Junkie

4. Andi's Perfect Gravy

5. The Token Fat Girl

another way to improvise...

Tweak recipes. Instead of frying foods, bake or grill. Use whole grain pasta and brown rice instead of white. Incorporate fresh vegetables whenever you can. Use egg whites instead of the whole egg while cooking. Use fat free or reduced fat cheeses instead of whole. These changes are do-able -- in my opinion, they taste just as good (sometimes you can't even tell) and it's amazing the calories it can save you. Baby steps....

today's tip

Pick a workout you can live with and put it on your calendar like an appointment...no like a job. This eliminates that question in the morning..."should I workout today, or not"...if it's in your schedule, you go. If something UNAVOIDABLE comes up, than you make up the work. It has become an obligation!

My torture of choice is spinning. Although, for me it isn't torture...it has become more like an addiction. And I don't like exercise. Spinning is fast-paced, exhilarating and the calories that I burn per class alone is enough to keep me coming back for more.

I spin on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings each week (then I try to throw something in at home on an off day to get 4 days in). On these days, I know what I have to do, and I do it. And even though some days it's a little harder than others to get myself to the gym (especially the freezing cold days), I go and feel great afterward. I pull on my cycling shoes, strap on my heart monitor and suit up for work. Hard work.

So I must go now, and psyche myself up for the cycle and put on my garb. Spandex...nothin' but spandex! I'm kidding.

one tip at a time

These days, I don't seem to have an entire blog post in me -- but I think about writing all the time. With my focus still being on my resolutions (which is pretty impressive for me way into the middle of January)...becoming more fit, organizing my home, making more quality time for the kids, putting more effort into my important friendships and being more efficient and resourceful with my money...I have a lot to think about.

Too much almost -- so I've been trying to focus on one small thing at a time. Once that is mastered I can move on to the next. I take tips from things I read, things I hear from other people or just tips I make up for myself that I know I need to do. So instead of trying to spew out a blog post, for now, for extra accountability, I will put my tips in writing.

My worst time of day for the possibility of over-eating is the afternoon (especially when my youngest is napping) so today's proposal is: For lunch always eat a fruit AND a vegetable first before allowing myself to have anything else.

I've been at this one for a couple of weeks and it does seem to fill me up a little to deter me from over doing it on something else that is not as good. Hopefully it just keeps getting easier...

wordless wednesday...

pledges still in tact

Over a full week into the new year and I must admit I am doing quite well with sticking to my resolutions. I have returned to the gym and my beloved spinning class, I'm back to counting points -- and I've lost 3 pounds this week. Also, my house has never looked better!

It has turned out that my "organization declaration" has been the key to most of my other promises. Starting last week, when I have some free time, I take the time to get something in my home in order. I work on drawers, or closets or areas of a room like the laundry room or playroom. I take it a little at a time so that I don't get frustrated. Anyway, I am doing this instead of what I would tend to do with a free block of time -- sit, watch TV, start feeling bored, and EAT.

Also, as part of my "order in the house", I have been keeping it picked up all the time. I used to get a little lazy, if something was out of place -- toys, dishes, dirty clothes, clean laundry -- I'd let it build up (or put it on the stairs) until I couldn't anymore and then have to take a lot of time out to put put things back in place. Now I do it as necessary and have found myself with more large chunks of time for hanging out with the girls doing what they want. (also many more trips up the stairs, which is beneficial toward the getting fit resolution!)

So here's to keeping on track with these important pledges with the hope to soon be able to focus on my other 2009 promises! Wish me luck....

wordless wednesday...