Duct Tape & WD-40

Yummo!

It doesn't really look like this. It comes in a small carton and you add water to the mix to make "eggs". My old dog, Emily, has discovered that all it takes is one easy bite to the top of the carton and delicious egg substance powder spills out. It makes her doggy day.

It makes me mad; not because she has just eaten $2.53 in food. I'm mad because that dog is one skinny dog. She can eat anything she wants. But she wants to eat my diet food - the only food that I can eat!

It is not just the dog. My kids beg for my food. They want to eat my fudgy (not really) granola bar after they have just eaten a package of six Oreos.

It just burns me up when the three little Prince's of Pop Tarts eyeball my breakfast "cookie".

I tell them to eat right and exercise and they will never have to eat Mom's powdered food.

Dieting makes me grumpy in the beginning. I'll get over it.

The Internet Connects You to the World

This is pretty cool.  I have been a member of Two peas in a bucket for several years.  2peas is like Mecca for scrapbookers.  It is THE site that serious scrapbookers go to.  They have shopping, message boards, layout galleries, tips and tricks, etc.  This is where many of the "scrapbook celebrities" got their start.  Well, all this time, I have just been a shopper and a lurker (lurker is the term given to people who just read things on sites, but never comment or participate on them. I know that I have several lurkers on this blog).

Thursday, something inspired me to post some layouts in the 2peas gallery.  Like I said, I have never done this before.  Well, lo and behold, I got three or four comments on everything that I posted.  This isn't actually the cool part, because many people who post on 2peas get nice comments.  The part that I thought was so cool was WHERE these comments came from.  I had a comment from Sydney, Australia; British Columbia, Michigan, Southern California and Alabama.  I connected with people from all over the world.  That is so neat.  It makes the world seem so small.

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How long does it take me to go to hell in a handbasket?  I'm thinking between four and six weeks.  Since the beginning of Dec., I have gained 11 pounds.  I stopped exercising and I overdose on sugar almost everyday.  I not only know this is bad for me, I feel awful.  All my muscles are tight. I have a headache almost everyday and I can't seem to get rid of a sinus infection that I have had.  It sets up a terrible cycle.  I feel bad, so I eat comfort food and don't want to exercise.  I eat bad food and do not exercise and keep feeling bad.  I have got to put the brakes on this.

Starting big diet with my mom on Monday.  I am also going to start going to bedearlier so that I have time to exercise at least 30 minutes a day.  Hopefully, this will give me the push I need.  It is hard to believe that just a month ago, I was feeling so much better.

P.S. You don't have to go to 2peas to see my layouts.  I already have them posted on this blog.

Do!

In this week's Ali Edwards Newsletter, she talks about selecting a word to represent her goals for the coming year.  I could explain it all to you, or you could read about it HERE in her entry called "One Little Word".  My word for this year is, Do. 

The Walt Disney World Company has an award that it gives to elementary students called the "Dreamer and Do-er" award.  It is given to students who do good works both in school and out of school.  I tend to think of the phrase dreamer and do-ER in a different way.  I think the world is filled with adult dreamers.  We are the people the who have good ideas or big goals.  But, somehow, we just don't do it.  We stay stagnant because "doing" is scary and risky.  The few adult doers actually act on their ideas.  Sometimes they fail, sometimes they are wildly successful.  The difference is they keep doing.  They keep pursuing.  They keep risking.

This year my word it Do.  I am actually going to do something.

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I want to clarify something I said in my last blog entry that may have been misunderstood.  I wrote, "I must also be sure that my children understand what I am doing and how blessed (and lucky) they are to be born white, male and middle class in the United States."  I in NO WAY intended this to be a jingoist or racist comment.  Really quite the opposite.

I believe that being born white, male and middle class in the U.S.A. gives you an automatic advantage - a step up that you didn't do anything to earn.  Don't agree?  Well let me ask you this.  Why have we never had a black or female president?  Why is it that the vast majority of all political positions, upper management positions and corporate board positions are held by white men?  Did you know that they greatly outnumber all minorities combined in these positions?  The ratio is highly disproportionate.

When a white, male baby is born in America, there is reason to believe that he could be president.  A female or minority baby may be able to believe with hard work and determination he or she might become the FIRST female or minority president.

My boys were given this advantage without struggling, without hard work and hardship.  They were just born that way.  I want them to realize that they are lucky to have this advantage and realize that many, many others do not. By God, luck or chromosomes, they were born with some power.  I want to teach them the right thing to do with it.

I Resolve to Go To Bed Earlier (just kidding!)

Our schedules are so out of whack.  We all woke up this afternoon(!) at about 12:30 p.m.

So, technically I didn't post my 2007 resolutions on New Year's Day, but in my mind, I did.  You see, my day lasts from when I wake up until when I go to bed.  Even though it is Jan. 2nd on the clock, it is still Jan. 1st to me because I haven't been to bed yet.  Welcome to Lori world, can I get you a drink or light snack?

And yes, Gary, if I stayed up for an entire week, it would just be one super long day in my mind.

Anywho.  I have thought of several resolutions.  Many of these are measurable, so I won't be able to slide by on vagueness like I did in 2006.  Since I became a Mom and lost all resemblance to a short term memory, I don't remember anything unless I write it down.  I have thought of a lot of resolutions, but this is the first time I am writing them down.  So, I may not remember some until several days from now.  I'll just add them to this list in a different color so you will know to read more.

Number One

I resolve to write our wills and financial plan.  Our children are most important... yadda, yadda, yadda... thier future... yadda, yadda, yadda, no guardian good enough as parents, so I will stay alive...  yadda, yadda, yadda, Can't plan for the future without a financial plan.... la, la, la keep track of all spending... la, la, la, make investments... and so forth and so on.

Number Two

The dreaded weight loss resolution.  I didn't make one last year, because, quite frankly, I was already losing weight and pretty happy about it.  Still happy about it BUT, I never reached my goal weight.  plus, I got kind of slack and 10 lbs have crept back on.  So, I resolve to loose 25 lbs starting tomorrow - that is, when I wake up after going to bed.  25 lbs = 10 lbs I gained + 15 lbs to goal weight.

Number Three

I resolve to treat each one of my kids as individuals and help them pursue and explore as if they were the only child I have.  Luke and Jack are getting to the age where they want to be involved in activities like baseball.  In August, they will both be in "real" school.  I must give them the same opportunities that I give Cole.  It will be hard if they all three go in different directions, but they deserve that.  That means trying different sports, having kids over for play dates, etc...  I won't say no because it is easier on me.  I think the coming years will show me what a Stay at home Mom really is.  I resolve not to back down (and write everything on a calendar)!

Number Four

I resolve to Ebay.  I have two boxes full of things (mostly scrapbooking supplies) that I have set aside to sell.  Also, I am constantly buying projects that I would like to sell.  I have so much stuff that it is getting in the way of last year's resolution to simplify my life.  I have been procrastinating because, although easy, listing and selling is a pain.  But, I must do this.  Also, I need to complete many of the projects because they make great gifts.  I could do a little show close to Mother's day and make a little cash.  Why??? to buy more scrapbooking stuff.  I mean ... to contribute to our financial plan.

Number Five

I resolve to buy at least one piece of property.  I just don't get the stock market.  I mean, of course I get buy low and sell high, but that is about as deep as it gets.  There are so many exceptions and tangents.  My little ole mind just can't think about that.  I like property.  I can touch it.  I can see it.  It is mine.

Buying at least one piece of property is pretty broad.  It might mean a new house for our family or an investment piece to rent or maybe a condo at the beach.  But, this year, the Hudson's are going to make an investment in real estate.

Number Six

I resolve to play on a tennis league.  I have been taking lessons for almost two and a half years now.  It is time to step up and play.  I am nervous because a league means playing doubles and that means having a partner.  What if my partner hates me because I suck at tennis???  This resolution means that I have to get play ready in the next three months because leagues form in the Spring for next year's play.  So lots more practice and lots more working out.  Luckily this fits nicely with resolutions number one.

Number Seven

I resolve to keep my heart and mind in the right place when doing volunteer charity work.  You may or may not know that I am a board member of a group called Femmes de Coeur (you'll notice that we don't spend any of our money on fancy websites). We are a fundraising organization that raises money for local charities - mostly women and children's causes.  I admire this group of ladies.  I am proud to be a part of them, but sometimes I get so focused on the work I am doing for the events that I forget why I am doing it.  For example, our next big fundraising event is called the Sweetheart Affair in February.  The proceeds from this event will benefit the Health Care Center for the Homeless and more specifically, the mammography fund.  When I am designing and mailing and coughing up money for tickets and silent auction items,  I must remember this.  I am doing this for Orlando's homeless.  The homeless children who didn't even dream of getting a Nintendo Wii for Chirstmas like a child of mine.  The women who die of breast cancer because they were diagnosed too late or not at all.  How can this still be a problem in this most prosperous country?

I must keep my eye on the prize, which is helping those less fortunate.  I must also be sure that my children understand what I am doing and how blessed (and lucky) they are to be born white, male and middle class in the United States.  I must live and teach one of my favorite quotes (from Spiderman of all things!) "With great power, comes great responsibility."

Yes, there are a few more resolutions, but I must go to bed.  I will write the rest tomorrow (when I wake up).