Project 50 - Day 15

Yesterday wasn't too bad. My morning routine went well. My eating was ok. I had eggs and toast for breakfast, soup and crackers for lunch, and half a chicken club sandwich from IHOP for dinner. Chad, Sean and I went to see a movie about an hour after I got off work, but I was able to read my 10 pages before we left. I had a plan to finish the last few pages of the chapter before I went to bed, but that didn't happen. My exercise and crochet happened at the same time. I walked in place while I crocheted. This isn't the best option, but it gets the job done. I don't know how long I will be able to do it though because the blanket it getting heavier, bigger, and more cumbersome to work on while walking in place. It felt good to be completely back on track with everything, and I'm impressed how much can get done with consistency. The book is almost done, the blanket it further along than it would've been otherwise, and I have lost some weight. I may keep these habits when this little experiment is over. 

Project 50 - Day 14 (Fail and Redo)

Saturday, I failed at getting everything done for this challenge. I completed my morning routine and crocheting, but my reading and exercise goals went out the window. I procrastinated a lot of the day away then went to see Les Miserables with my friend at a dinner theater. Between dinner and the play, it didn't get out until after 10:30. I could have finished all my goals before I went out, but i didn't. Side note: when I was married to my first husband, one time I went to a play date in the middle of the day and left folded clothes on the couch. I got home a bit after he got home from work and was chastised for not finishing my chores before I went out with my friends. On the other hand, I left Saturday with clothes in the dryer and Chad's clothes folded for him to put away. Chad folded that last load of laundry for me without me having to ask or anything said by him other than to inquire if I had fun. This bounced around in my head all day yesterday. What a difference it makes to be married to someone who lifts me up.

Yesterday, I decided I was going to redo day 14 of this challenge. I hate challenges that make people start over when they fail. That's a big reason I don't finish most of the challenges I start. My morning routine was just interrupted by a call from my daughter while she was getting ready for church. I always answer her calls when it's possible. I love that she wants to talk to me. So my morning routine was shortened considerably, but for a good reason. I read a chapter that was 10 pages in Eleanor Roosevelt's autobiography about her second trip to the USSR. It is so interesting to read these firsthand accounts and impressions of countries like this. I did an hour in the Gazelle while watching a movie with Chad and crocheted for the second half of the movie while he was on the Gazelle. It was a satisfying day. I'm almost done with my book which makes me a bit sad. Hopefully, I will learn from the next one as well. 

Project 50 - Day 13

Yesterday was my most productive day in a while. My morning routine was great as always. As I do this every morning, I can feel my relationship with the Lord growing stronger. My eating was atrocious. There is no other way to describe it. I essentially snacked all day while I worked and had spaghetti that Sean made for dinner. I am going to make a meal plan for next week. Hopefully, that will get me on the right track. For my exercise, I went on a walk for about 30 minutes with Chad while my bread was doing its second rise. Then, I walked in place for about another 30 minutes with the bread in the oven while I worked on my crochet. The other half hour of crochet was done while watching the Barbie movie. I read more than 10 pages from Eleanor Roosevelt's autobiography and learned a lot about how people were conditioned into compliance post WWII. It's very eye opening and confirms my resolve to not follow any political party specially because we could fall into the same traps if we are not careful. This book has been so eye opening! I have learned not only about this amazing woman, I have learned about parts of history that aren't talked about and aren't known anymore. I would love to find more autobiographies that were written is this time period to learn more about the world at that time. If history classes taught real stories like this, I may have paid more attention in high school. 

Project 50 - Day 12

 Yesterday was one of my easier days this week. I started they day off with a good morning routine and was feeling positive about the progress I have been making while doing this little experiment. For breakfast, I had eggs with cheese and toast. My lunch was soup and crackers. For dinner, we had baked potatoes. It wasn't the best day for my diet, but it also wasn't my worst. Once again, I hopped on the Gazelle after work and watched the news for an hour. I walked away feeling the accomplishment of having kept a commitment to myself and the gloom from having watched the news. I may need to figure out something else to watch while doing that. After Chad got home from work, I crocheted while we watched an episode of a show we had recorded over the weekend. After dinner, I rounded out my day by reading my 10 pages in Eleanor Roosevelt's autobiography. I am really loving reading her perspective on what is now history as it was happening! I really like autobiographies because I get to learn about the people, but this has that added benefit that makes me even more delighted to read it. I don't know why I stopped reading it for a bit this summer, but I'm glad I picked it back up. I can't wait to see what else come out of this little project.

Project 50 - Day 11

Yesterday, I felt accomplished. I pushed past the feelings of not wanting to do things and past the feelings of things being too hard. The morning routine of course went great. I enjoy knowing that part of what I am reading each morning is the same as many people around the world, the Old Testament. Even when I don't understand it, I know there is someone who does. I can research and learn more if I desire. My eating is ok, but not great. I had eggs and toast for breakfast, leftover tater tot casserole for lunch, and chicken with rice, peach slices, and corn for dinner. Those things don't seem too bad. The snacks throughout the day are my weak spot. I'm going to have to figure out how to curb the cravings. When it comes to exercise, I have a Gazelle which is like an elliptical in a way. I worked out on that for an hour while watching the news and talking to my daughter. It's not the most fun way to work out, and I really just wanted to relax and watch the news after work. I knew that I would have kicked myself if I had done that later that evening, though. I'm glad I did it when I did because after dinner, I was working on getting new car insurance because outlets was being canceled due to a mixup when Noel was in her accident in August. It took and hour and a half to get everything figured out and quotes to compare. I had already done my reading in Eleanor Roosevelt's autobiography while making dinner and only had mosaic crochet left for the day. By the time everything was taken care of and dishes were washed it was after 9pm, but I still got the crochet done. It was a long day of fitting throngs in when I didn't want to and pushing through when tired and frazzled, but I completed all of my goals. I love knowing that I was able to do this even with the stress and struggles of the day. 

Project 50 - Day 10

It's hard to believe I am this far into the challenge. There are days than harder than others. Monday started off great. I got almost everything done before Eric came to dinner. However, I never got the exercise in because he stayed so late. Honestly, I would rather spend time with him since he only comes over about once a month. The good news is that my eating was better than it's been. I had apples with breakfast and lunch, and for dinner Chad made tater tot casserole with green beans and orange slices on the side. It was probably one of the best meals we've had since all of his health problems started earlier this year. I am still reading the wonderful Eleanor Roosevelt's autobiography and learning so much about her and details about history I wouldn't know any other way. I'm going to feel so lost when I finish it. My crochet has gotten harder. I feel like I'm having to pull out and redo a lot, but I guess that's the point of learning a new skill even when it is building of an old one. My morning routine is still going well. I don't see than changing any time soon. I love spending my mornings praying, reading my scriptures, and soon my journal. It is a quiet time I get to reflect on my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the direction they would like me to take my life. Even though Monday wasn't as successful as I would liked, it was a good day. Next time Eric is supposed to come over, I will get everything done before he gets here.

Project 50 - Day 9

 Yesterday was hard but good in the end. I fasted 2 meals, so what I ate came down to dinner. For dinner, Chad made macaroni and cheese with tuna in it and  some zucchini cooked in butter and herbs. Then, we had ice cream for dessert. My crochet project threw me off for a while. The first row I tried, I figured out my count was off when I was almost to the end. I had to take out most of the row to correct the mistake. I put it to the side for a few hours and watched the Broncos game instead. After dinner, I got up the nerve to try the row again. This time I got it right. The next row gave me similar problems. It was harder to figure out where the mistake was, but I got it figured out and powered through to the end of the row. Because of these issues, it took longer than an hour to get through those rows. Then, I happily read my 10 pages in Eleanor Roosevelt's autobiography about her work in the Human Rights Commission. She was such a fascinating woman! I can't believe I have less than 2 weeks left of reading about her. For my exercise, I walked around the living room and kitchen for an hour. I wish that messing up on my crochet project hadn't thrown me off so bad, but I'm glad I showed myself that I can move past such things and still accomplish my goals. 

Project 50 - Day 8

Yesterday wasn't too bad. I finished my morning routine and was able to do the reading and journaling at the table which is a rare treat. For exercise, Chad and I walked to the ballot box at the town center which is about a 30-minute walk each way. It felt so good to be out in the cool fall air. I need to remember that feeling and get out more often for walks. My eating was both good and bad. I had leftover pizza and an apple for breakfast, chicken noodle soup with an apple and crackers for lunch, and homemade Jack-O-Lantern pizza for dinner with ice cream for dessert. I easily got through my nonfiction book. I read about Eleanor Roosevelt's experience as a delegate in the first UN assembly. I did my mosaic crochet after dinner as a wind-down activity while Sean and Chad did the dishes. It was a good way to end the day. I would have to say that I am enjoying this challenge even on days in which I drag my feet to finish all of the tasks. It's giving me the sense of accomplishment that I so badly need right now.