Compliments are Amazing ...

Is it sad that it takes a journaling challenge to get me to blog?
I'm sure that I will get back into the swing of things soon.
What would I consider one of the best compliments that I have received?
There's the typical ones based on appearance. Then there's one of my favorites "You don't look that old".

But overall ...
The best compliments I think are related to the kids. That they are intelligent, caring, creative (and it never seems to happen when it's just me) well behaved little creatures.
Now, to just get them to behave at home, or let me use the bathroom in peace.

Accomplishments #knowingyourselfchallenge

Most days, I feel like I haven't accomplished anything.

I see people I went to school with.
They have awesome careers, amazing houses.
The somewhat stereotypical American Dream type of thing.

And I look at my life.

I was doing good for a while.
Bought a house and brand new off the lot car.
While this may seem weird, they were goals of mine.
Got my debt to a manageable level.
Improved my credit score.

Still.
I don't have a career.
There's no opportunity for advancement.
Living pretty much paycheck  to paycheck.

BUT 

I have three awesome and intelligent kids.
They are kind and caring.
Respectful.
They are weird -- just like me.

I DID buy a house.
I bought a car.
I completed a nutrition program.
I've been a GNC manager for almost 8 years.
I lost 120 pounds. Even though I gained some of it back.
I had a successful decal business.

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Imagination #knowingyourselfchallenge

Goals [2017] #knowingyourselfchallenge

Goals.
I've always been really bad at setting goals.

I think I am getting a bit better in the short time that I have been using my passion planner.

So.
My Goals for 2017.

- Get healthy again
- Get my own place in Canada
- Go back to school
- Reconnect with my Canadian family

Short and sweet.
But this is what I want to accomplish this year.
I think getting my own place and going to school is going to be the biggest challenge.

I know I can do it!

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New Start #knowingyourselfchallenge

I've always been afraid to branch out and start over.
But that is exactly what I am doing!
Still makes me a bit nervous.

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Let me Introduce Myself #knowingyourselfchallenge

It's the start of

a new year!
I love starting things at the beginning of something.
Which sounds weird and obvious that way.
It just seems like things work out easier if I start  at the beginning of the week/month/year.

So.
Me.
I am Melinda.
Call me Mel.
I can be random and change the topic mid thought.
You have been warned.

It's 2017.
This past year has brought about  a lot of change.
Divorce. New Relationship. Decided to move back to Canada.
Pulled off Christmas, Holidays and Birthdays on my own.
Fixed my bathroom sink and dryer -- on my own.
I even fixed a small xmas eve dinner.
Kudos to those who pull off dinners on their own. I think a pot luck type of bring your own dish is totally the way to go.
Started talking to my dad again. Which I'm still on the fence about.
Had an amazing visit with my mom and sister when they came down.
It was nice to just be myself.

I always introduce my self as an awesomely average nerdy girl.
Mom to three kids: Ehren Brye, Freedom Reilly and Teghan Éire.
They're pretty awesome.
And that's not just the obligatory mom talk.

I'm 33.
I am told that I don't look my age.
While I love that compliment, I avoid sharing the meme on facebook about looking younger so I don't sound conceited. Being carded to buy alcohol makes me feel amazing.
I feel like I am young at heart.
I love to goof off with my kids.
I have a fascination with owls, narwhals and squirrels.
Those little things are just so cute.
I'm a total cat person.
Smart girls get cats. It's a meme or something. 
I have two kitties, Hermione and Asimov.

I love to take pictures.

I enjoy weird/inside/random jokes that no one else gets.
Or are outdated.

I was called a cool mom by some middle school boys.
Who knew that Futurama and Pokeman was all it took.

I am drawn towards SciFi.
I was raised on Star Trek and Doctor Who.
Mixed in with a bit of Get Smart and many many hours of talking about aliens and conspiracy theories. I lived on a farm in the middle of nowhere in Canada. We had a swimming pool, so that made it better.

I have no idea what I want to do with my life.
In the next year, I want to go back to school.
For what??
Who knows.
Biology, biotechnology, environmental science and earth sciences all seem interesting to me.

This year I want to focus on me and the kids.
Self Love, Self Care.
Do things that make me happy and give my nerdlets a better life.

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Plans for a Healthier Self

As I was looking through some old blog posts, I came across this one from February of 2014.
Which, made me kind of giggle.
Why?
I was desperately trying to get to 135 pounds.
Why 135?
I have no idea.
I ended up getting pregnant that summer and gaining 50 pounds.


Overall, I weigh 10 pounds less than I did this time last year.
So ...  that's a plus.

I can never seem to get my fitness and nutrition to line up.


Starting today, I WILL strive to be healthier.
I WILL take better care of myself.

I do not plan of giving up my diet coke though.
Just cutting back. I need my carbonation.
Everything in moderation, right?!

photo credit: sirwiseowl Set Goals. Move it! via photopin (license)

So my plan?
-Eat 1461 calories a day, based on Scooby's Calorie Calculator.
-Track said calories using MyFitnessPal.
-Exercise at least three days a week. My current plan is Strong Lifts 5x5. They even have an app for your phone. Which is awesome. Means no having to keep up with weights and reps.
-Eat fruit and/or veggies at least twice a day.
-Try to get to where I only have two carbonated beverages a day.
-No more than two pizza nights a week. One is ideal, but having a kiddo with SPD, I have a lot of pizza around.

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