LADDventure

Wordless Wednesday - Redeemed Tour Part 1

You might remember that my brothers are in a band, Citizen Way, with another set of brothers. Their second single off the new album is on the radio and itunes or amazon now!  Well they're also on tour currently with Big Daddy Weave and Chris August.  I interviewed them here about life on the road, and thought you might like this video glimpse behind the scenes by my brother David.

http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/pw5qLepgKV0&source=uds

WAIST Management - Week 12

Current Weight:  177.4

Weight Lost This Week: 0.6 lbs

Total Weight Lost:  8.9 lbs

I've heard it said that motivation is what gets you started, but habits are what keep you going.  I am finding there is a big difference between motivation and habits. I'm definitely motivated to lose weight.  I have not slipped back into any sort of "I don't care: slump.  But, I do not yet have the habits in place to make consistent progress. Exercise is an occasional occurence that I have to majorly gear myself up for instead of a regular ritual as it should be. I don't need motivation to exercise.  I have that in the form of swimsuit season looming in the next couple of months.  What I need is a habit in place to make sure I do it.  Even tracking my daily points on Weight Watchers is not yet a habit for me.  I have days where I do great and track everything that enters my mouth and other days where I just wing it for no real good reason other than it's not yet second nature for me to do it.

So, I wanted to know some tangible steps I can take to start forming new habits and did what everyone does - Googled it.  Here are some common sense steps, taken from this blog post I found:

Seven Steps to Developing a New Habit

First, make a decision Decide clearly that you are going to begin acting in a specific way 100% of the time, whenever that behavior is required. For example, if you decide to arise early and exercise each morning, set your clock for a specific time, and when the alarm goes off, immediately get up, put on your exercise clothes and begin your exercise session.

Second, never allow an exception to your new habit pattern during the formative stages. Don’t make excuses or rationalizations. Don’t let yourself off the hook. If you resolve to get up at 6:00 AM each morning, discipline yourself to get up at 6:00 AM, every single morning until this becomes automatic.

Third, tell others that you are going to begin practicing a particular behavior. It is amazing how much more disciplined and determined you will become when you know that others are watching you to see if you have the willpower to follow through on your resolution.

Fourth, visualize yourself performing or behaving in a particular way in a particular situation. The more often you visualize and imagine yourself acting as if you already had the new habit, the more rapidly this new behavior will be accepted by your subconscious mind and become automatic.

Fifth, create an affirmation that you repeat over and over to yourself. This repetition dramatically increases the speed at which you develop the new habit. For example, you can say something like; “I get up and get going immediately at 6:00 AM each morning!” Repeat these words the last thing before you fall asleep. In most cases, you will automatically wake up minutes before the alarm clock goes off, and soon you will need no alarm clock at all.

Sixth, resolve to persist in the new behavior until it is so automatic and easy that you actually feel uncomfortable when you do not do what you have decided to do.

Seventh, and most important, give yourself a reward of some kind for practicing in the new behavior. Each time you reward yourself, you reaffirm and reinforce the behavior. Soon you begin to associate, at an unconscious level, the pleasure of the reward with the behavior. You set up your own force field of positive consequences that you unconsciously look forward to as the result of engaging in the behavior or habit that you have decided upon.

Most people say it takes 21 days to make a new habit.  According to those steps, there are 2 things I am going to do every single day for 21 days and see how it affects my weight loss -
1.  Track everything all food and activity choices (no exceptions).
 2.  Get some form of exercise.
Something I've been good about is the third step, which is to tell others (hello world wide web), but the second step, never allowing exceptions during the formative stages of a new habit is the key for me right now I think.  I can rationalize anything, and it shows. 

This past week, I lost a little over a half pound, but did not make it to my 10 pound weight loss like I had wanted to.  Never fear, I am also learning that not achieving goals does not mean they should go away.  Just set a new one and keep going.  So my goal is to reach that 176 mark by Easter Sunday.  (and then possibly reward myself with a Reese's PB egg or three.  Just keeping it real, but I promise to track the points for all three of them.)

photo credit: EvelynGiggles via photopin cc

Google Map Masterpieces

I was determined to use two old frames I had with 3 small 3x3 inch openings each.  I was also determined not to spend any money doing it.  So, I typed all of the addresses we have lived in since we've been married into Google Maps, printed them off, trimmed them, and filled up the first frame.  One had our first cozy hobbit hole of an apartment in Wisconsin, the second the first house we bought there, and the third our current house in Arizona.

For the other frame, I just wanted it to be filled with places that hold a lot of important memories for us, so I typed in the college house that Mr. Ladd lived in, where all of our best college memories are centered.  I also used our honeymoon spot in Niagara Falls, and our favorite hotel on our trip to Maui 2 summers ago.

 

And voila - instant, free, personalized art to add to my skinny hallway gallery wall, which I will show you when it's complete!

How to Host a House Guest

Spring is perfect weather season in Arizona, and one of my favorite parts about living in a vacation destination is having more than just our smiling faces to draw people to visit us.  We usually have a few rounds of house guests in the springtime, and I really do love hosting.  Hosting others can seem like a lot of pressure, but here are some easy things I always try to do to make guests feel welcome and at home.  I think the little touches are important in hospitality.

The guest bedroom...

INVITING SPACE

Our main guest room is just a fairly simple neutral space.  A queen sized bed, 2 simple nightstands, and an IKEA dresser are all the furnishings.  Eventually we would like to get a small t.v. in here as well as a vintage luggage stand, but for now as long as guests have a clean, comfortable place to rest, and places to set down their things, that is all that matters.  I think keeping it clutter free is really important, as guests suitcases take up room, and they need clear surfaces to comfortably spread out their personal things.  We have extra towels in the bottom drawer of the dresser, which also frees up room in the linen closet, and the middle drawer even holds some things that regular visitors (Mr. Ladd's mom mostly) have just left here so they don't have to pack them all the time.

The photos on the wall were bought in Flagstaff at a local photographer's gallery.  They are gorgeous, and lend some southwest flair without being cheesy.  Eventually I would also love to start a gallery wall above the bed with pictures of guests on their visits here, which can just continue to grow over time.

WELCOME BASKET

On top of the dresser, I always try to have a welcome basket.  I just use this same basket and fill it with goodies that I think my guests will like or need.  For example, this last time when my parents were here, I filled it with granola bars, peanuts (a favorite snack of my dad's) and Fig Newtons (for my mom), a magazine for each of them, sunscreen (the sun's kinda crazy here), aloe (Wisconsinites don't always believe me), pocket tissues, chapstick (it's dry here), gum, mints, etc.

FLOWERS

Another nice touch is fresh flowers on the nightstand.  I just picked these up at the grocery store when doing final shopping for their visit.  They don't have to be expensive, just colorful and inviting.

The guest bathroom...

FRESH FLUFFY RUGS

I'm kind of crazy about this one.  Nothing says welcome like clean fluffy bat mats.  For this reason, I never buy the mats with the rubber backing, but the ones that are just cotton so they can be thrown in the wash and easily fluffed.  If your bath mats are a hot mess, and beyond anything the washer and dryer can help with, then it's time to replace them.  They are not meant to last forever.  T.J. Maxx or Home Goods is a great place to get high quality ones very inexpensively. 

GUEST TOWELS

My number one tip for the guest bathroom (or the shared one when guests come) is to get a set of towels that is only out for guests.  They don't have to be fancy, but they should feel nice.  If they are not in your everyday rotation, they don't get nearly as much wear and tear.  No guest wants to use the threadbare towels you got for your wedding 15 years ago, or the beach towel you've had since college.  I've found that T.J. Maxx or Home Goods is also the best place for these.

NECESSITIES

I have another basket in the bathroom that I fill with wash cloths and an extra hand towel along with things guests might need or have forgotten like toothpaste, hairspray, gel, soap.   Next to it are two little ceramic herb pots I got for $1.00 a piece filled with Q-tips and cotton balls and some air freshener.  Don't think you have to buy an actual matching bathroom toiletry set.  In fact it's much more homey if you use containers with some personality.  I also make sure the shower is stocked with the basics, so regulars around here know they don't have to pack those kinds of things if they don't want to.My thinking is that I want guests to feel almost like it's a spa or hotel with every detail thought of and no need to ask for anything.

GREETING


I always like to pick guests up from the airport with a bottle of water and a snack of some sort.  Sometimes it gets to be a long day traveling, and I know for myself I am often hungry and/or thirsty by the time I deplane and haul my bags to the curb.  So I try to put myself in their shoes.

I guess in general, that's my bottom line philosophy of hospitality.  Think about how you would like to be treated as a guest and then go a little above and beyond that.  People will always remember how you made them feel.

WAIST Management - Week 11

Current Weight:  178

Weight Lost This Week: 2.2 lbs!

Total Weight Lost:  8.3 lbs

Weighing in yesterday, I was thrilled to see 178 on the scale.  My short term goal is to reach 10 pounds lost (176) by the end of next week, which meant I needed to lose at least 2 pounds a week this week and next, and I am on track for that!  I did not do yoga or walk quite as often as I wanted to last week, but I did do an all day marathon cleaning session on Friday before Mr. Ladd came home from being away for work, and burned a whole bunch of points with that one.  Actively cleaning for sustained periods of time actually is a good form of exercise.  So, laziness the rest of the week actually paid off in the form of a calorie burning sweaty cleaning session.  I tend to live like a college bachelor when Jeremiah is gone, leaving dirty clothes laying about and eating random things I mindlessly pull from the fridge, but this week I was actually much more mindful of preparing decent meals for myself and intentional about keeping track of what I was eating.  Now to work off the Guinness I consumed this weekend to see that 176 on the scale next week!
 

When Mom Comes to Visit

My mom and dad were here from Wisconsin for their annual visit a couple weeks ago, and we celebrated my mom's birthday while she was here.  Her actual birthday is February 29th, Leap Day.  So, she only gets a real one every 4 years.  She's like the Olympics.  While they were here, we took a little overnight trip to the mountains so we could truly catch her birthday...that elusive fraction of a second between February 28th and March 1st where her real birthday lies. We showed them Prescott and Jerome, and stayed at the Prescott Pines Inn Bed & Breakfast, which is definitely a favorite of ours. 

My mom is my favorite coffee buddy and one of the few people I like to do some serious shopping with.  Usually I prefer to shop alone, but my mom and I have it down to an art form.  I have inherited her big smile, obsession with throw pillows, and her manic energy when it comes to decorating, especially for Christmas.

Something I've always loved and admired about my mom is her creativity.  She sewed clothes for us when we were little, crocheted, and seemed to always be making some project for the house long before the days of Pinterest. To this day the smell of Hobby Lobby - eucalyptus and unfinished wood - reminds me of the many hours I spent wandering amidst the fabric and art supplies at her favorite craft store.  Now she's pursuing art more seriously and has turned my old bedroom into her studio, and gifts from her almost always include something handmade.  She started it out of necessity I think, because it was cheaper to make clothes at the time, and she needed fresh ways to spruce up the house without spending much money.  I don't think she realizes the gift of creativity she has passed down to us.

While I miss my family back in Wisconsin almost daily, there are benefits to living far away and getting to spend a week at a time with them.  I love when they come visit, because I get to see a different side of my mom.  She got married and started a family very young and sacrificed a lot of herself at times to stay at home raising four of us.  It was probably just survival mode at times with us growing up.  But, she was commenting just how much she is enjoying being a parent now to grown kids.  She loves her new role as friend, advisor, and Nana.

We were sitting around the table talking the first day they were here, comparing the sunny morning to the snow back home in Wisconsin, when she told us how she noticed a snowflake land on her sleeve the other day.  She said it was the first time she had noticed one with the perfect symmetrical detail people speak of.  My dad and I were a little shocked that this was the first time she had ever noticed it, and she was saddened by the realization that she had missed so many magical snowflakes in her life.

My mom has been through a lot, and did not grow up in the best of circumstances.  It's exciting to see her at a point in life where she is really enjoying it.  I feel like she's seeing things with fresh eyes these days - parenting, art, faith, snowflakes, and I'm enjoying getting to know my mom in new ways from across the country.

Thankful Thursday - Spring is Perfection Here

Right this minute I am crazy grateful for...

• March in Arizona.  Picture the perfect weather.  That.  All month.

• Orly's nail polish in Terracotta on my toes - my favorite orange-y coral for spring

• Coffee date at The Coffee Shop with one of my favorite teacher friends this morning who is seriously as loveable as a labrador retriever. (I'm looking at you, Mrs. Johannes) I miss working with her face every day.  

• Lots of productivity with the office to myself and dogs who have been stuck to me like glue while Mr. Ladd is away for work this week

What are you thankful for today?  It's impossible to stay grumpy while thinking of things you're thankful for.

Wordless Wednesday - Citrus Blooms

WAIST Management - Week 9 & 10

Week 9

Current Weight:  178.6

Weight Lost This Week:  1 lb

Total Weight Lost: 7.7 lbs

Week 10

Current Weight:  180.2

Weight Lost This Week:  Gained 1.6 lbs

Total Weight Lost:  6.1 lbs

Week 9 was the week of the parental visit.  I did great actually.  I lost a pound that week even with the extra eating out and treats that come along with house guests. I ordered fruit instead of fries, had one egg at lingering breakfasts instead of two, and ordered an In-N-Out burger with no cheese or sauce and again no fries (a large accomplishment for me).

Week 10 in contrast did not go so well.  Inconsistent tracking, far less exercise and PMS brought about a gain.  Boo.  I am a major water retainer, but still, I have lost weight even during the dreaded week in the past and know it can be done.  The problem for me is saying no to cravings and yes to exercise.  I was a carb and cheese monster this past week and that does not help the number on the scale.

I've also decided I need some SMART-er goals when it comes to my weight (thanks Jackson from Biggest Loser).  So I spent some time thinking about that this morning, and here is what I've come up with.  For now I'm just focusing on making the next 2 weeks better than the last 2 weeks.
  
 Over the next 2 weeks

• I will weigh 176 for a total of 10 pounds lost by March 24th. (4 lbs lost in the next 2 weeks)
• I will track all food and activity choices every day on Weight Watchers Online for the next 2 weeks.
• I will go for at least a half hour walk 4 times a week for the next 2 weeks.
• I will do my yoga DVD at least 4 times a week for the next 2 weeks. 

Catching Up and Construction

Hi friends.  I have been on a bit of an unintentional blogging break as my parents were visiting from Wisconsin for a week.  Their visit included lots of catching up in beautiful weather, and a mini trip to Prescott and Jerome. They gave me plenty of moments to write, but I am just distracted and would rather sit on the couch with an extra cup of coffee chatting when we have guests.  Also, I am in the beginning stages of a blog redesign, so thanks for being patient with me.  I am carving out lots of writing and redesign time next week, so stop back on Monday, and I will have lots of new goodies for you.  In the meantime, here are some pictures of what life has looked like around here lately...