Our Blog Thing

Jensen and Maddie are changing so fast and I have to face that they are growing up. It's not going to happen tomorrow but it is happening. There are changes everyday. It's all so bittersweet. What a perfect word. I wonder how many parents have used that very word.

textbookI loved the textbook for my Marital Life Cycle class. Many times I found myself saying "Wow" in the course of my reading. I like to share my wow moments with my friends.

My biggest disappointment with this text is that it has not been updated in many many years but the book is a compilation of different authors work so I guess updating would be very difficult. The text is an "industry standard" for this class. Universities across the nation use it. Moving on.

The Process

Weekly

My neighbor gives me his inserts from the Sunday paper so I can clip coupons. I go through them hunting for the products I use while trying to avoid noticing awesome coupons for expensive products that I won't be able to afford without the coupon. They're so sneaky!

Shopping Day

Coupons: ChoysterI go through my coupon holder pulling out coupons that

• have expired
• are on my list
• will be added to my list
  

I write a note on my list "Don't forget coupons" and put them in my purse.

Moments Before Getting in Line

Sometimes I read something and then savor the WOW of the moment.

Authentic HappinessThe belief that we can rely on shortcuts to happiness, joy, rapture, comfort, and ecstasy, rather than be entitled to these feelings by the exercise of personal strengths and virtues, leads to legions of people who in the middle of great wealth are starving spiritually. Positive emotion alienated from the exercise of character leads to emptiness, to inauthenticity, to depression, and, as we age, to the gnawing realization that we are fidgeting until we die.

WOW!

I had a WOW in my reading today and wanted to share.

A little bit about the terms first. Cognitive complexity is simply the ability to perceive differences among people so cognitive simplicity would be the inability to do the same.

Ok, so now for what made me laugh...

"Research has confirmed personality differences in terms of cognitive style. People high in cognitive complexity are better able to make predictions about other people's behavior. They more readily recognize differences between themselves and others, are more empathic, and deal better with inconsistent information in constructing others than do people high in cognitive simplicity (Crockett, 1982).

Grilled Steak: posted at MetromixRecently I saw a segment on the Early Show that freaked me out. I've heard the warnings about red meat and cholesterol for half my life but I never really paid attention to any of it mostly because I LOVE red meat! I have low cholesterol so what do I care?

Then the Early Show told me that there is a direct link between a high intake of red meat and DEATH! Ehhh, what? According to the study we can safely consume no more than 5 oz of red meat PER WEEK! Are you kidding me? I could eat that much before dinner.

I’ve been very excited by the prospect of joining the YMCA and Jamie’s new job allows us a few luxuries in the budget so we decided to go for it. As the mother of two small kiddos I’m determined to be able to run around a yard with them without passing out from exhaustion. Thus, exercise is required. That’s great motivation for joining the Y but I’ll confess it is not my primary incentive.

I’ve been overweight (read FAT) for about 13 years now. Yeah, most people don’t realize I used to have a waist including my husband. Still, I’m terrible with motivation. I can’t get started. I won’t get started. I’m procrastinating. I’m lazy. Whatever. I am however not claiming a thyroid problem or that I’m big boned. I did it. I have to undo it.

ProcrastinationIs procrastination a euphemism for laziness? Or perhaps it indicates lack of commitment to a goal? Ooo, ooo, I know, it's an illness that we can't avoid.

I've been a procrastinator my whole life. Not about all things. Just about things I didn't want to do. Imagine that! It's time to kick the habit. I'm nearly 40. It's time to grow up. This is NOT a New Year's resolution. It's a life resolution.

So, I'm asking for some help. Share with me why you procrastinate and how you motivate yourself to conquer procrastination. Do the yucky stuff first? Make lists? Ask someone to hold you accountable? What works for you?

This video kills me. I want to give this guy a standing ovation in my living room!