I’ve been feeling a little like Agnes from Despicable Me recently. At first glance, Agnes and I might not seem to have much in common, but bear with me and I’ll explain. First of all, she’s the little sister. She has older sisters who lead the way and look out for her. I have an older brother who looked out for me when we were kids, and sometimes still does. This was especially true when our parents weren’t around. Next, Agnes was adopted. Hey, me too! Of course my story and hers differ in lots of ways too, but right now the reason I feel most like Agnes is her exuberance. She is one excitable little girl. Agnes knows what she likes and shows great joy when things go her way. Right now it really feels like things are going my way, and I can’t help thinking of little Agnes, and smiling. I can almost hear her voice in my head proclaiming, “Im so excited!” This is a really good time for me both personally and professionally, and I want to celebrate. Maybe I’ll get myself a fluffy unicorn in honor of little Miss Agnes.
Category Archives: Other Thoughts
Oreo Habit
I am the girl with the Oreo habit. Ok, not a girl anymore, a full-fledged middle aged woman. I’m much too old to have an Oreo habit. But really it’s not an actual Oreo habit, it’s a sweet habit. No, that’s not even it. It’s a food habit. And it’s more than a habit, it’s an all out obsession. There, I said it. Will that make it go away? Of course not. I wish it were that simple. A public declaration, a little shaming and humiliation, a few minutes of feeling bad, then presto change-o… no more problem! I would do it. I really would. You want me to wear a sign for a day?Put it on the blog? Confess my sins to a talk show host? Fine.
I tried out for the Biggest Loser. I put on a dress that both made me look cute and made me look fat. I did my hair and make up , to the best of my ability, then toddled off to a local mall with folding chairs and my sweet boyfriend (who LOVES a big woman, lucky for me). I sat in line for hours, filling out forms and chatting with other fat women. Then I got my chance. I filed into the private space along with about a dozen other fat people and sat at the table with a giant grin pasted across my face. “Look at me! I’m fat! I have personality! Pick me, pick me!” But they didn’t. Secretly I was relieved. After all, I have a kid and a dog and a boyfriend and a job and a life. How could I jet off to “the ranch” to reinvent myself? And deep down the bigger question, how could I possibly face the humiliation of trying to do it on national t.v.?
I was terrified that they might pick me. After all, I had plenty to lose, I’m reasonably cute, and I’m pretty articulate. I reasoned that they didn’t want someone who would just cry and mumble the whole time. Not that I wouldn’t cry. I’m sure I would cry buckets. In fact, I had already decided that Jillian and Bob were too intense for me, so I would HAVE to be on Dolvett’s team. Do you think they take requests?
Anyway, that was over a year ago, and America managed another whole season of Biggest Loser without me. I didn’t watch. Well, not much anyway. I tend to feel too guilty. I much prefer Extreme Weightloss. One episode and it’s over. Besides, I like the one on one approach, and who could possibly resist Chris Powell? With him training me I would have to succeed, right? Maybe it’s time for another try out.
Geeking Out About My Challenge
In all fairness, I have to say that organization is not exactly one of my strong points. I understand it and crave it, but don’t always achieve it. I think it’s because I have a few little packrat tendencies. NOT hoarding, mind you, just sometimes I find it hard to part with things that are useful even if they don’t get used all the time. That being said, I do like to be organized. It makes life easier and more pleasant, but it just looks better, don’t you think? 
That’s why decluttering is one of the items on my 47 for 47 Challenge list.
As Marla Cilley, the Flylady says, “you can’t organize clutter.” She also talks about “CHAOS- Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome.” It’s good stuff if you’re looking to clean up and organize. A few days ago I decided that I needed a spot to keep track of my progress on the 47 for 47, so I geeked out a little and developed this Excel spreadsheet. Of course it doesn’t have 47 items on it, but it does give me a place to track the items that I’m trying to incorporated into my life more regularly, and a place to add additional information, so at the end of the year I can look back over it and remember where I’ve come from and how much progress I’ve made. So far, I like it. So far, I have a serious lack of fruits and veggies. Hmmmm.
In additional geeky news, I purchased a thread rack the other day and organized my spools. Yes, I know this is seriously nerdy, but I love it. I love seeing all the beautiful colors arranged in front of me, beckoning me to sew. It’s the little things that make this girl happy, and this colorful, organized thread rack does just that.
BulgingButtons 