Expanding Horizons

Wordpress...when I have time!

2010-03-19T19:33:00.001-07:00

I decided to set up a wordpress account because I find it easier to add items and make it look "prettier".

Here is the address: http://charmtime.wordpress.com

That being said, I've had little time to do anything with it but I'm trying!

Thinking about expanding my horizons in another way

2010-02-20T16:40:00.001-08:00

I must admit I haven't played with Blogger very much but I find it hard to use (I'm pretty tech savvy with software, as I mentioned). No offense to blogger but I don't think it is for me.

So I was thinking about trying out a Typepad page. I've used typepad in the past but I've never tried the free, single site version.

I know a lot of people also use Wordpress but I don't know anything about it.

Does anyone have have any suggestions?

If I switch things over I will definitely post the link here - not that anyone is checking!*lol*

I'm not impressed (with myself!)

2010-02-18T19:17:00.000-08:00

I've loved this weather - it has been a really mild winter and, as a warm-weather type gal, it has been brilliant.

The changes in the weather....well, I haven't loved them quite as much!

I fell yesterday - smashed my back on the steps. I'm in a lot of pain and not at work.

(I'm sure they all think I'm a complete dolt at work)

I am hoping the swelling will go down. On the couch I felt okay - once I got up it was a different story.

So I'm just trying to be quiet and lie still.

They say things come in 3s but I'm hoping it is not the case with my falls!

Sleepy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T09:34:00.001-08:00

Hubby and I both have had trouble sleeping lately - I've been waking up at 4:30 in the morning when I could easily sleep for another hour or so before I get up for work! Last night I thought, "I'll stay up REALLY late and then I'll be so exhausted I'll finally get more sleep." Not my most brilliant plan! I stayed up until about 2 am and went to sleep and up I woke with a start at 6:30 am!

Needless to say, I'm exhausted! Hubby hasn't been sleeping quite as poorly as me but I know he hasn't been getting the proper sleep either.

So today we are having "Sleepy Valentine's Day" - we aren't doing much except having an early night today!

Happy Valentine's Day all!

Happy Camper!

2010-02-12T18:05:00.000-08:00

Well, my hubby is a happy camper! He finally got a new tower to replace the one that died (luckily my family member let him borrow the other one for a couple of weeks)!

He is happy to have Windows 7 and kept talking about all the great hardware on his new pc - until he looked at me and said, "You have no idea what I am talking about, do you?" and I had to admit I had no clue! :P

I won a beautiful Valentine's Day basket from Northern Mama! It came yesterday and included a bottle of wine, a big cookie (it was a great debate on who got to eat it so we decided to share it!) and some pretty cards and great Glade candles!

My girls are also thrilled that a play table arrived that I had won!

Hubby is complaining there are too many boxes in the house so I'll have to break them all down - but the boxes are a small price to pay for such wonderful things!

Now just to get myself back to the gym..... :P That is tomorrow!

Getting better..

2010-01-31T11:50:00.000-08:00

Since I posted yesterday about our recent household dilemmas, I thought it made sense to post an update today (not that I'm sure if anyone is actually reading this!*l*).

My leg is starting to feel better, though it is still sore. I still feel really stupid for taking a fall but we are going to make sure the steps are properly cleaned and de-iced from now on to avoid any future tumbles!

Hubby's computer is toast. He did a lot of putting things together, taking things out, trying again, cursing and doing more (I love computers but he is the true "techie" of our couple)! He thinks it is the motherboard but he's not sure. Right now he's borrowed a computer from our family and that will have to do until he can get his fixed!

Other than that, not much going on here. Very quiet (which works for me)!

Keep on Trucking (no matter what life sends you!)

2010-01-30T08:16:00.000-08:00

It has been an interesting couple of weeks since I last posted.

I have been to the gym a few times but I haven't been consistent (there is absolutely NO excuse). The great motivator I have found is finding great reading material though - if I can find something that I love to read that it does provide me with an incentive to go!

I've also been blessed to win some great giveaways through blogs that I am really excited to both keep and share with the people I love! I actually find it pretty relaxing to sit down, check out other people's blogs, enter some giveaways and enjoy reading about the lives of others! I actually went to enter a giveaway of a gal who was expecting, chose to follow her on Twitter and found out that she literally JUST had her baby! It was so cool!

The pitfalls were a couple of things that hopefully can be resolved soon. I had an accident the other day and managed to get banged up. Luckily it seems like nothing is long-term and I just needed some R&R to reduce the pain and feel better! The other pitfall involves my husband's computer. He went to turn it on last night and it has decided to die! He thought it was the fan, fiddled around with it quite a bit but it doesn't want to respond! It is a tough call because it's not in our budget and he is trying to decide if he should get it looked at (which might be throwing good money after bad) or try and hang in long enough to get a new one. He really needs one so I might have to forgo my ventures online while he uses mine - though mine isn't really ideal either. That is something we'll have to deal with this weekend.

Anyway, I hope people are still reading! I was thrilled by the comments to my second post and then it was like I got too excited because noone posted again (except about the great lip-balm making kit for my girls, which was SUPER COOL and arrived yesterday!).

Happy Saturday all!

WOW - people have actually read my blog!

2010-01-17T15:16:00.000-08:00

I must admit I was shocked when I came in to post and found that a couple of other bloggers had actually read my post! Thanks guys! It was not something I had expected but I'm thrilled to see that others are reading my thoughts and providing me with encouragement!

I have had some setbacks (of my own doing) and some successes this week!

I made it to the gym last Sunday and Monday and found, on Thursday, that I had lost 3 lbs! Yeah! That being said, I am finding it hard to find the drive to go to the gym. I must admit that I don't particularly like the gym I'm attending but I'm tied into it until this summer. Oh well - the upside is that it literally is about 5 minutes from my home so I need to drag myself in there are soon as I get home from work each day!

I did make it back to the gym today and found that it was okay - I spent an hour on the exercise bike. I know I need to incorporate other machines into my workout but I figure even if I get into going each day that I will then add more machines than the bike and the treadmill at the end of the month.

On the blogging side, I am AMAZED at how many great blogs there are out there! Though I started looking at blogs to enter giveaways, I have put a number into my Google Reader and on RSS feeds and I'm really enjoying what others have to say! It amazes me how I could not realize these amazing blogs existed and I'm hoping, in time, to build up my own blog. I won't be doing that for a long time though!

Happy Sunday and thanks again for reading!

Positive Starts (some more than others, but all positive in the end!)

2010-01-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Well, I've started the New Year with a bang in some ways and a whimper in others!

I set myself some goals related to entering blog contests and weight loss. I decided to post today because I've made some progress on both goals, though one has gone really well and the other one - well...not so much!

I've been entering blog contests. I really like doing them though I have to keep reminding myself that I don't have 20 hours a day to do so! I do work full-time and I have things to do once I'm at home that means I have to fit the blog contests in where I can.

I've had some amazing wins already though and that has sparked my interest in entering blog contests! I was lucky enough to win a Flip camcorder from a Canada-only blog contest. I was SO thrilled to wake up on New Year's Day and find out that I had won! I have already told the little kids and they are really excited too! Now I just have to wait for the camcorder to arrive. I also won a gorgeous necklace that I was very excited to win. I had actually bookmarked the company's site after I entered because I loved the necklaces and thought they might make for an interesting fundraiser at work. Imagine my surprise to find out that I had won! I haven't gotten the necklace or the Flip yet but I excited that will be coming!

My second goal involved losing some weight. The year started out well but I managed to gain 5 pounds in the matter of a week! I hit the highest weight I've been in 10 years (180 pounds - I hate saying that) but it has lit a fire under me to get back to my old regime!

I started back at the gym today. I managed to complete 20 minutes on the treadmill at 3.5 mph and an increasing incline. I then spent 35 minutes on the bike at a random setting and Level 1. I obviously have to work on this front to increase my speeds and my intensity levels but I was pleased that I had started back again!

I am going to use this blog to track my progress in terms of my exercise and weight as well as other reflections I make. I think it will serve as an inspiration for me!

Happy Sunday!

Trying to expand my horizons

2009-12-28T12:59:00.000-08:00

I must admit that I'm heavily into consistency and routine. It is almost embarassing for me to say that I can't stand change and really like things to continue on their merry way each and every day.

So now I'm trying to expand my horizon as I head into my 39th year (oh I hate saying that - it actually made me wince as I was typing)! I've decided to try a few new things and I'm using this blog as a platform to track my progress.

My new plans include:
-entering blog contests --> I had heard about these but just started trying them in the past couple of weeks. It is actually lots of fun and I'm learning a lot about cool products I'd never heard of before!

-tweeting about blog contests --> I've been using Twitter since the summer for professional pursuits but never realized how much fun it was to connect with other people through posting blog contests!

-weight loss and exercise --> yes it isn't as fun as the first two but I'm hoping it will be in time! I've completely fallen off the wagon in terms of my diet and exercise but I'm working on a complete plan. More to come later in this blog!

A brief start but a good beginning with more to follow.