Spicy Motivators 2025: January, February, March

February 9, 2025
1. Exercise 3x week: I was able to do a couple days of exercise this week. I had some relaxation at the spa too, nice day spent with my younger son.
2. Reading 1 book a month: My newest read is not in yet, hoping for this week.
3. Spend quiet time with hubby everyday: This has been the easiest task to do. We spent a lot of time together this week making some decisions, had some tears and some belly laughs!
4. Organize my house, starting slow with 1 task per week: Yah, I cleaned out a whole box of old clothes and took them straight to the collection bin.
 
Karen, how awesome for you! Congrats on making progress with your goals. Small steps count too! I need to follow your lead in getting my house organized lol. :)
 
Keeping my Goals for 2025

Scrapbooking:
*ABSOLUTELY getting ONE page DONE in FEBRUARY

Cards:
*mailing birthday and anniversary cards every week

Life in General:
*journal daily
*log my meals
*5 Minute Office Break Workouts during class changes
*LazyFit twice a day

Feb 16 - So glad you’re enjoying some special time with hubby, Karen, and getting your reading and purging done! Not doing so well in that category. I am reading a really good book right now. Be Who You Came to Be by Tara Renze. I’m in a book club with my SU upline. I love that it’s such a quick read because the chapters are short. Easy to pick up and put down when you don’t have much time to read.
Now I’m looking for more books to read, so if you have any other recommendations for me, shoot them my way.
I really do have to get busy on purging myself. I’d be happy with even one box or bag a week. I think about everything I could get rid of if I did that. It’s just finding the time and “energy”. smh
This last week was okay. Just work and home. Sorta what the upcoming week looks like too. ha!

Love and Blessings!
 
Thanks for the update, Carla! That does sound like a good book. Is it self-help? I do appreciate short chapters. :)

This week I got my 3 days of exercise in! And I even reached out to siblings, thanks to the drama with my mama. I didn't read for fun as much as I would have liked though--I'm having trouble getting through this non-fiction book on the life of a female Renaissance poet. It's kind of for school and kind of for fun. I did finish all my schoolwork for the week. Only 2 weeks left in this class! Where did the time go?
 
Keeping my Goals for 2025

Scrapbooking:
*ABSOLUTELY getting ONE page DONE in FEBRUARY

Cards:
*mailing birthday and anniversary cards every week

Life in General:
*journal daily
*log my meals
*5 Minute Office Break Workouts during class changes
*LazyFit twice a day

Feb 23 - Sort of self-help, Ane. Self-improvement, life-help. During our book club last week we decided that the author is obviously “young”. While it is a very good book, she seems to live is a little bubble of “this is how life will work”. It’s kind of funny actually that even though she’s had several bumps already, she doesn’t seem to get that there are a lot more bumps in the road that don’t allow for exactly the way she puts things. Like “you can control who you listen to and take advice from”. Well sure, to an extent. But what if who you’re listening to is family (your DD) and they’re trying to tell you something that is important to them, but they’re trying to instill upon you their opinions (not political) on you and make you take them as your own. Yeah, you kinda do have to listen. You don’t have to take them, but you do have to listen and validate, but you do have to listen. Anyway…
It was a good week-ish. We had Monday off for Pres Day and then a flex day for the cold. (and it was COLD!) Actually got quite a bit done in the remaining three days, but I’m so far behind that it’s still stressful. I’m probably going to have to bring some work home next week. I haven’t had to do that in a long time, but it’s necessary to get this posted by the deadline. Oh well.

Love and Blessings!
 
Ah, OK Carla. I get it (the book). And I agree, there is more wisdom found the older one gets. I wouldn't have considered my 20-year-old self wise, for example, even though I'd experienced plenty of hard knocks by then. I normally try to follow the advice given to me by older (and wiser) men and women. Like church leaders in responsibility over me, for example, who may not be older but are far wiser because of life. There is usually wisdom in those types of people as well. I understand about the listening part too, as it relates to family. Like I am not an expert on my grandchildren like my son and DIL are, so I validate them by listening to and following their advice as it relates to their children (I don't want to wreck their hard work). Long story short, I got you. :)

This week I didn't get to the gym at all. I did do some exercises with my exercise ball on Wednesday. I did some reading, but need to follow up with my brothers about my mom. I have some homework to finish today, but it's all done besides that. After I dink around online for a bit, I'll practice my clarinet and do that homework. Maybe I'll even get some scrapping done. That would be great.
 
Keeping my Goals for 2025

Scrapbooking:
*ABSOLUTELY getting ONE page DONE in MARCH

Cards:
*mailing birthday and anniversary cards every week

Life in General:
*journal daily
*log my meals
*5 Minute Office Break Workouts during class changes
*LazyFit twice a day

Mar 2-12 - March already??? Ooops! I was supposed to check in yesterday. Well that didn’t happen because it couldn’t. Dang, this forum shutdown is really funky. Who knew that we’d go through such withdrawal?
I’m getting ready to leave town on March 12th. TODAY!!! Heading down to Raleigh, NC for our annual Stampin’ Up! OnStage convention. I’m SO excited. I’m making cards, and cards, and cards, and cards! Well, 30 cards for swaps. 10 card parts for a shoebox make-and-take and 5 alternative Paper Pumpkin ideas for a contest. I’m having a ball!

OMG… The forum is back!!! I am in love! I know that there are going to be glitches, but I just love the neat and clean look. And it seems, idk… bigger to me? Am I imagining that? Whatever, I like it. I think they did a great job and I know it was needed. Haven’t tried to play in the gallery yet, but it looks great. I haven’t scrapped in ages; one of my goals… still. Maybe I’ll get to that after my trip TODAY!

Love and Blessings!
Carla
 
March, 2025
1. Exercise 3x week: I have been on the treadmill a handful of times and son took me to the YMCA for free night. I did some machines for strength and liked the hot tub afterwards.
2. Reading 1 book a month: I have a new read from one of my favorite authors, James Patterson but have not started it yet.
3. Spend quiet time with hubby everyday: This is getting harder to do as he is in more pain and is sleeping a lot. I hope he improves with a new medication change.
4. Organize my house, starting slow with 1 task per week: Yah, I cleaned out a wardrobe drawer and will be taking to the women's shelter this week.
 
I'm trying...
1- Diabetic trying HARD to not eat sweets and starchy foods. Seem to "taste" now instead of eating whole thing.
2- Exercise/stay standing longer really hard with my bad knee and lower back pain with compressed disc
3- Journaling My daughter bought me a book for Christmas "What I want to know about you, Mom". I got almost 1/2 the book finished. Hope to finish it in a couple of months.
4- Scrapbooking Haven't gotten back into this yet. It was so much easier when I had my desktop, now I have to take out my laptop, plug it in, turn it on. Well, at least I'm coming here more often than I did last year!
 
I have been doing well with my daily exercises using Youtube videos. There have not been many days that I have missed. I actually miss when I do not do it. My ritual is that everything stops at 4pm when I set up my exercise mat and have the laptop on and choose one of the saved videos I use. I have them categorised in times now.... 15 minutes, 20 minutes, over 20 minutes. It is mostly the 20 minute ones I use.

My eating is still not the best.... I am determined to stop eating bad snacks!!!! 😋
 
Welcome back, everyone! I love the new forum and gallery look. I'll have to get working on some things to post in the gallery!

Reaching out to family- Haven't done this for a few weeks. Think I'll reach out to my brother via FB and ask for more grandkid photos. One can never have enough of those!
Exercise- I have been really spotty the last few weeks. Not sure what's going on. I'll blame it on perimenopause.
Reading for fun- Haven't done much this month so far. And book club is less than 2 weeks away! Or is it next week?!
Homework- Getting it done! Started a new class last week. It's interesting so far.
Practicing clarinet- Not doing so great at that. My personal clarinet is in the shop, so we rented one for me to use. It's ok, but it's not mine.
 
Happy St. Patrick's day everyone!
Ane, playing clarinet sounds interesting.
This month my goals are pretty simply exercise (qi gong and yoga), drink water instead of coffee and get back my scrapping mojo.
 
Keeping my Goals for 2025

Scrapbooking:
*ABSOLUTELY getting ONE page DONE in MARCH… Got TWO DONE!!!

Cards:
*mailing birthday and anniversary cards every week

Life in General:
*journal daily
*log my meals
*5 Minute Office Break Workouts during class changes
*LazyFit twice a day

Mar 16/23 - OMGosh, isn’t James Patterson the bomb?!? Are you starting The Writer? It looks like a good one. Really spooky! I am so sorry that it’s getting harder to spend time with Doug and that his pain is worse. So sad. Even if you’re there while he’s sleeping… you’re there. Maybe read your book to just be beside him. Sending my love and more prayers. I include you both in my daily prayers, Karen <3 Glad you got the wardrobe done. I’m not doing so well in that regard, but I did get three old laptops taken in to be destroyed yesterday, so that made me feel good.

How sweet of your daughter to think of that now, LilyAnn! Our eldest tried to do that with my mom several years ago, but didn’t get very far before dementia set it too much. She got some things down and I filled in some other stories that I remembered Mom telling me over the years. Maybe she’ll think about giving me a book like that before I lose it. LOL You have to give yourself some grace, my friend. Life is harder as we get older and these nasty infirmities get to us. It’s not all our fault. Now we simply do what we can with what we have. You are okay!

Good for you Anne-Marie! I’m really trying to eat better too. Not going as well as I’d like, but I’m trying to be mindful.

Isn’t it interesting how an instrument can be the same one, but it’s really not, Ane? Good luck with practicing until you get yours back.

Good luck with your goals, Grace. I’ve actually been able to move away from soda at work and only drink water. Quite proud of that.

Spent last week in Raleigh, NC at our Stampin’ Up! national convention. OMGosh, what a trip, literally. LOL It was awesome. 3000 ladies (and a couple gents) all hangin’ out, playing with paper, glue and scissors. Talking about new colors and stamps. We got the new catalog a full six weeks before anyone else. We got to put in a special preorder three weeks before any other demonstrators. EEEEEEEK! Mine has already showed up and I’m already playing! I am SO tired. It took three days to recuperate.

But I'm home and happy. Miss hubby. Really did.

OH!!! And I created a scrapbook page! A paper one, but a page! And then I created another one yesterday for a team challenge that we’re doing for the month of April! WOAH!

That’s all I got. Chat later.

Love and Blessings!
Carla
 
Congrats on getting 2 pages done, Carla! Woot woot! You're getting a lot done! :)

I still haven't reached out to my family. Sigh. We need a family chat or something so people (me) don't panic when something drastic happens. But I've been practicing my clarinet regularly, reading for fun, and getting my homework done. So those are good things and I hope to do more of them.
 
Keeping my Goals for 2025

Scrapbooking:
*ABSOLUTELY getting ONE page DONE in MARCH… Got TWO DONE!!!

Cards:
*mailing birthday and anniversary cards every week

Life in General:
*journal daily
*log my meals
*5 Minute Office Break Workouts during class changes
*LazyFit twice a day

Mar 30 - I’m so tired. So glad this is Spring Break week and we’re not doing anything. What I’d really like to DO is pack up and move and not leave a forwarding address for anyone! (mainly our “children”... who are acting more like two-year-old… teenagers, than adults, but I won’t bore you with all that)
So, I am going to ENJOY the fact that I have NOTHING to do all week and just play with paper.
It’s snowing right now and I am so grateful that I do not have to go outside. It was 70deg out on Friday. WTheck?!? Oh Spring in MN!

Love and Blessings!
Carla
 
Carla, I'm glad you have Spring Break to relax a bit! I'm sorry about your children! That is a pain in the neck for sure--been there, done that! (((HUGS)))

Still haven't reconnected with my family. I know, it's so easy. Homework has been insane lately, just ask my poor hubby. But maybe he's not too bad off, because he gets free dinner tomorrow and Tuesday. So he will be away from me for most of those 2 days. But I digress. I've been playing my clarinet more, which is good, and getting my homework done. I'm even reading more, though it's for school. I get to read a classic this week--Frankenstein. Looking forward to it. :)
 
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