We've got a plan!

Alrighty..... George and I are going to start house hunting. Well... technically I will do the hunting since he is not here.

Lots of programs out there that require no money down. I looked up the "first time buyer" program and we qualify.

Anyhow, I've been waiting for David to graduate high school and figure out what he plans to do and where he will be. But now that the car is paid off, we can bank that. After David turns 18 I will lose child support for him and that will be a big chunk out of the monthly income.

It's kind of scary because George's job is not consistent. Right now he has work, but that could change next year, or next month even. One never knows. My job could be gone too. I found out some of the reasons for the high stress and closed doors and such here at work and there is a chance we could lose our certifications which would put us out of business.

So that's not so great. Anyhow, I have put it in the hands of a higher authority than myself  to guide me to where I'm supposed to be. I'm sure I'll end up where I need to be. Meanwhile, it's fun to plan ahead.

I only have two "must haves" on my list..... I want a big kitchen, and a big master bedroom.

Ok, I better get to work. I'm wasting time here. Not good. LOL

Miss you Mom

Do I look like her?
I wish I was as thin as her.

Miss you mom.

GREAT diet program

This guy has helped a lot of people lose a lot of weight. Most of them in the 300 to 600 pound range. Thank heavens I'm not that bad off, but I'm bad enough off. This is the year to get in control.

I wanted to do Hcg again, because I had wonderful success the first time. However, it only works once. You can't keep doing it. Plus it did something bad to my gall bladder.

So, this is about eating a freaking TON of food each day. (seriously, I have to force myself to eat it). I eat 5 meals a day. I cycle the carbs. So I have a High carb day and the next day is a low carb day. Still 5 meals a day. Still a ton of food. All of it very healthy. LOTS of veggies, lean protein, brown rice, quinoa, couscous, whole grains. No processed stuff, no sugar, some fruit.  And exercise. But not tons. I get to start at 12 minutes a day and work up. That is so very do-able.

Sunday is my 'free day' where I can eat anything I want. So if I get a craving mid week I have found that I can control it by saying "If I still want this on Sunday, I can have it."

I've definitely noticed more energy. WAY more energy.

I'm only on Day 5 but I really do like it. I think this is definitely something I can stick with.

I started watching Season 1 of the "Ghost Whisperer" on Amazon. I just do it while I'm on the exercise bike. It is great.

Anyhow..... I don't expect miracles to happen overnight. It's going to be a process, but I may have found a way of eating that really truly will work for me for the rest of my life. This is not a "d-i-e-t" that you do and stop. This is how I will eat forever.  Lean protein, veggies galore, salads, fat free dressings, good fats like avocado, EVOO, whole grains, lots of water.

Example of a High Carb day (which is today)....
7am Breakfast - a shake made with one scoop of protein, a banana, water, and unsweetened almond milk.
10am - steak, onions, green peppers, and 1/2 of a potato topped with marinara sauce.
1pm - ground turkey, diced red pepper, corn, black beans, and salsa all mixed and served on lettuce.
4pm - greek yogurt with granola
7pm - chicken breast, green beans, brown rice

Example of a Low Carb Day
7am - Breakfast shake as above (breakfast always has carbs)
10 am - asian wrap (ground turkey, water chestnuts, onion, tomato soy sauce wrapped in a lettuce leaf)
1pm - Chicken Cobb Salad - 3 cups of veggies which include lettuce, cucumber and tomato, mixed with grilled chicken breast, two egg whites (hard boiled), 1/4 of an avocado, 2 oz of shredded cheese, and 3 TB of fat free Italian dressing. (That one is my FAVORITE!!)
4pm - egg white omelet with tomato, spinach, onion, mushrooms salsa
7pm - I had another asian wrap.

Exercise includes some modified sit ups, push ups, weights, bike riding. I say "modified" because I do NOT want to herniate a disk in my back by pushing myself too hard. So I am doing the very easy ones that he designed for the 600 pound people who really can't move.

Anyhow..... so far so good. I will keep my progress posted. Kudos to me for finding the thing that just might work!!!

She's all mine!

George and I have been saving up and I just made the LAST payment on the car (which was actually 4 payments combined but I couldn't wait). So it's all paid off.

that being said... she better not develop any problems.

It will be nice not to have that payment every month. And I can lower my insurance.

whew.

WARNING: RANT

I used to love my job. We were like a family here. Then there was a scandal, and a big change in management. New people brought in, old ones laid off.

For the past three (or four) years we have not received raises. Oh wait... let me rephrase that.... those of us who actually DO most of the work have not received raises. However, the big wigs.... have and they didn't tell us.

Not only have they got raises, but they have got huge bonuses. How do I know this? Because as a stockholder in the company I was able to read the report they put out because our share holder meeting is coming up in February.

Our high mgmt go raises EVERY year the past three years while the rest of us did not. And these people are already making HUGE amounts of money. (over $180K per year).

I know how much the Board of Directors receive Just for sitting on the board. I know how much the president of the company makes. I know how much the VP of Reg is making. I know how much our new CFO is making (and he got hired on at $20,000 higher then the guy who just left.)

It's not fair. It is NOT fair that those of us who make less have to deal with rises costs of things to the point where we're strapped or on a tighter budget, but these guys are still making oodles of money.

It's not fair that they tell US we CANNOT get a raise because the company can't afford it. But they all got raises and bonuses on TOP of the 250,000 dollars a year they make.

I'm sorry. It's wrong.

Two people I know here are going to quit. I am seriously considering making it three.

Happy New Year 2013

I go over the hill this year.

Had a very nice Christmas. I love my children and I loved having them over and watching them open presents and see my little grand baby play with her new toy. Got to spend time with my man. He heads back to Hawaii tomorrow.

I'm on a very strict regimen this year. Downsizing everything. Especially ME!  One more car payment and then that is free and clear.

Getting rid of a bunch of junk at the house. Well, some of it is not junk, but it is stuff I never use. I will offer it to the kids first, and if they don't want it.... off to the D.I.

I raised vending prices at work. Got in trouble for it. I should have "discussed" it with the management since it affects the "whole company."  Blah blah blah. Whatever. I was trying to save the company money, but FINE... if they want to keep writing bigger checks each month, who am I to stop them?

ok. I'm done witching.