Some claim 9/9/09 is special.  If you’re like me – well, I guess it is.

Today I turn 39!

I’m wondering if maybe I should go to Vegas or something!

Happy Birthday to all the rest of you with your birthday on this beautiful 9/9/09!

But since I’m not getting any younger, now is the time for me to – - not T R Y to lose weight – but to actually lose weight.

I will be blogging on my weight loss experience on Momprovement’s sister site Health Smart Mom.

I’ve decided to join Weight Watchers®, for my weight loss journey. Not only is it reasonably priced, it still lets me eat what I want (just not as much as I normaly would!) and with the Weight Watchers®  at work and Weight Watchers®, Online I’ve found it is a great way to get to know my co-workers better as well as utilize all the online tools and support.

My first official “weigh-in” will be Tuesday, September 1st – but I attended a courtesy meeting on the 25th and had a “courtesy” weigh in. I started out at 197 earlier this month, by my “courtsey” weigh-in I was 192.2. My ultimate goal is 130.

I will give periodic updates here, but again for the play by play visit Health Smart Mom.

 To join me and do Weight Watchers®, Online , click here.
So what are your weight loss goals?

Ah, those four simple words could have saved me a serious mom-mistake yesterday.

My 9 year old daughter and I were at WalMart yesterday getting some organizational supplies for our new house.  As we were walking down one of the aisles, she asks “Mom, what is a stipper?”.  I pause, then, thinking that she had somehow heard about Miley Cyrus’ little pole dance from some friends of hers, I say “well, dear, a stripper is a girl who takes off her clothes for money.”

To which her reply is “ewww, gross, mom – no that’s not what I meant – this aisle here says it has paint and strippers.

Yikes, wrong answer! Let’s see if I can save this.

 ”Okay, well, ignore what I just said.  That kind of stipper is a chemical that takes paint off of things.  Sorry about that.”

To which she replies – “gee mom, I think when I’m grown up and my kid asks me  a question, I’ll ask what they mean before I give them an answer like that.”

I really blew it on this one.  Here I was afraid that my 9 year old had been exposed to the worldly things, only to find out that she was perfectly safe until I opened my mouth!

And for a limited time, if you enter the coupon code “CAROLINA” then you can save an additional $7.50 off of an order of $15 or more. 

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For an additional 15% off of the minerals, use the banner below.  I will report back when I get my makeup and let you know what I think!

I’ve heard all my life how important it is to set goals, to make them measurable, attainable, and write them down.  And I’ve done just that and had pretty good success.

Then I got to thinking – I’ve never actually done that as a mom – I mean what are my goals as a mom – and how can I measure that.  Sure – some – like making sure my kids know they are loved aren’t that wasy to measure (or are they – I guess I coudl just ask!!)  But surely if I put as much time and energy into my mom goals as I do my other goals   – well  – I don’t know what would happen.

So I’ve been sporadicaly posting to boards and such that very question – What are your goals as a mom?

I’ll post later on the results of that – but feel free to put in the comments below what your goals as a mom are!

If you have ever experienced either situation, you need to change the way you respond to your inner dialogue.  Instead of obeying your negative commands, you can use positive self-talk to counter the negativity and overcome nearly all anxious thoughts.

Setting Goals and Sticking to Them with Positive Self-Talk

Are you initially filled with excitement when you first set goals for yourself? Are these thoughts then followed by self-doubt and self-defeating thoughts that stop you in your tracks before you even get started?

It can be difficult to make the most of your life when you are constantly talking yourself out of being a success.  It can be frustrating and discouraging to have these thoughts constantly plaguing you. Many of us, in fact, don’t even realize we have them! All we know is that we don’t have the confidence to stick to our plans and reach our goals.

But there’s another way!

Positive self-talk is an effective way to set goals and ensure that you stick to them, even if you have never been able to do this before.  The way this works is that you decide what goal is important to you, and then you plan the logistics of how you are going to attain this goal.  When self-doubt starts kicking in, you will respond with affirmations that prove your success without surrendering to the negative pressure. Since you’re reading this article, it’s clear that you’re no quitter and you’re certainly not a failure, so start believing in yourself!

Re-Programming Your Mind

Affirmations are essentially positive statements that re-program your mind for the positive. The moment you have a self-defeating thought you’d be able to counter the negative with a motivating statement. An example of a positive affirmation is: “I am worthy of great success,” or “I see myself in the winner’s circle.”  What this does is replace negativity with thoughts that will help you move toward your goals instead of further away from them.

Positive self-talk is easier to implement than you might think. You may not be aware of the severity of the negative dialogue currently within your mind. However, once you begin with positive self-talk, you will suddenly realize that you are self-sabotaging the goals you set for yourself from the minute that you make them. This process can open your eyes to exactly how much this inner conversation has been interfering with your life. You’ll feel hopeful that you can now set goals and surpass them.

Through positive self-talk you will be able easily set long and short-term goals for yourself. And when you use affirmations, you’ll have accessible tools to help you push yourself further than ever before. Learning to quiet negativity with positive thoughts is a great move toward setting and attaining future goals with ease.

If I steer my vessel in the wrong direction, I can find a map and chart out a new course.  Stopping is not an option. I will find my way as long as I keep my eyes on the prize.

Success is a journey, not a destination. That is why I strive to make each step count. A positive attitude helps me move forward and, even when I am unsure of where I am, I am not lost. Instead, I choose to become a trailblazer. The generation coming behind me will have access to another route thanks to my resolve to stay the course and forge a new path.

When I come to a fork in the road I trust my intuition to guide me. Being spontaneous in this way helps me release my inner self and experience success in a new way.  Spontaneity gives me freedom.

Missing a turn causes me no panic because I know that I have countless options; I am not limited to only one way. A wrong turn may lead me to find a new way. The opportunity to explore the unknown excites me.

Although it feels daring to get off the fast-paced highway of life and take the scenic route, detours can be worthwhile because they lead me to discover the beautiful things in life that I otherwise may have missed. The road less traveled is filled with the most stunning sights.

Flexibility allows me to prosper despite failure. Being flexible gives me the strength to keep going when I would rather stop.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. What do I do when I reach a dead end?
2. How might I become less rigid and more flexible?
3. What changes can I make to ensure that I enjoy the journey just as much as the end reward?

Cleaning out your cabinets on a regular basis will do more than provide you with much needed space in your cabinet. Depending upon how old food stuff and medicines are, getting rid of them could also keep you and your family healthier.

Recently reports have circulated around the internet about a young man that died because he ate pancake mix that was expired. Old food can grow mold spores that are hazardous to your health, especially if you have certain allergies. Since you want your family to stay healthy, cleaning expired foods from your cabinets can go a long way to keeping them that way.

How do cabinets get cluttered in the first place? Many grocery stores have “buy one, get one free” sales that are too good to pass up. The next time you go to the grocery store they have more of the same items on sale and so you buy more. The newer items are placed in front of the older items. Later, after you’ve used the newer ones, you reach back for the other box. Unfortunately, because you didn’t use the older box first, you could be opening a box that has expired.

Be sure to go through your cabinets often to remove old, opened boxes of cereal, crackers, or baking mixes. Besides opening up space in your cabinets, it could also save the life of someone you love.

Take everything out of your cabinets when you clean them, going through each item to ensure it is still good. Throw out anything that is old, expired, or opened that hasn’t been used in a while. Organize the food in your cabinets by moving the items with the nearest expiration date to the front and use those items first.

Go through the cabinet to see what’s still inside that’s good and make a list of the items you need to replace. When you come home and begin to put groceries away, be sure to put the new items behind the older ones. This way you’ll use up the older food before it has a chance to expire.

It is important to clean out your medicine cabinet as well, since expired medicines lose their effectiveness. Some medicines could also become more concentrated the longer they are past their expiration date and could cause serious problems for someone taking them.

Cleaning out your cabinets – food and medicine – is a great way to dispose of things that have expired. Not only can you make more room in your cabinets, you may also keep yourself or someone you love from getting sick.

There are a number of companies that manufacture bins of every shape, size, and material.  You may have heard of companies such as Rubbermaid, Space Saver, and Sterlite, but if you search around you can also find others.  In fact, you can find bins for any organization and storage need you may have.

If what you need to organize is small, look for clear plastic bins with lids on them.  Not only will your items be organized, the lids will keep them from coming out if the box falls and will stop the items from becoming dusty, as well.  Storing like items will make them easier to find, so you may want to stack small bins with similar items in them.

Many people have music collections.  Look for bins that can be hung on a wall as storage.  You can find ones that hold CDs in various numbers.  Organize your collection into styles and then color-code the bins so you can more easily find the CD you’re looking for.

There are multiple bins available that can be used for organizing craft materials.  Scrapbooking, arts supplies, tools and supplies for beading, and other crafts can all be kept in bins.  You can find many that are made specifically for crafts in craft stores, but they can be expensive.  There are cheaper bins that would work as well if money is an issue.

Larger bins and totes can be used for storing clothing that is out of season.  You may want to label the bins so you have an idea of what is in each one.  Bins with lids will keep out water and bugs if they are stored in a basement.  This size bin can also be used as a toy box for your children’s larger toys.  Get a wooden case with open areas to organize and store smaller toys such as building blocks, cars, or doll’s clothes.

Use open bins to help organize the shelves in your kitchen cabinets to keep smaller boxes, spices, and flavorings together.  You can also use tall plastic bins with lids to store different varieties of noodles so you can quickly find the right type for cooking.

Storage bins can be used in virtually every area of your home for organizing.  Use shallow open bins for organizing office supplies in your desk drawers.  These types of bins can also be used in the bathroom to keep your medicine chest in order.  They can even be used in the garage to help keep small items like nuts, bolts, screws, and nails handy and organized.

If you want to get your home organized, bins can be a great way to accomplish this.  Look for the best bin for the job among the many to choose from.  Bins and totes can be found at discount stores, dollar stores, as well as in home improvement stores and on the internet.

If you’ve had clutter in your home for very long you may have become “clutter blind”.  You may not even realize how bad it is but your family members may become irritated and resentful because the clutter is keeping them from inviting guests over or being able to find what they need.

Clutter does more than just wear on your family’s emotions.  It may become a way to avoid dealing with what is going in your life – a way to insulate you from something that has hurt you.  Some people hold on to clutter because they’ve had tragedies in the past and are afraid to let go.  Letting go, however, is necessary if you want to reclaim your home, your family, and your life.

Many people with seriously cluttered homes may want to clear the clutter from their homes, however, they are overwhelmed by the amount of “stuff” and don’t know where to start.  Starting to de-clutter is often the hardest thing, because they know that after getting started, they then have to face the task of letting go.

Families that have a lot of clutter to live with may experience any of the following:

* Frustration and anger over the amount of clutter
* Family battles over getting rid of things
* Shame or guilt to the point they won’t let anyone come into their home
* Depression and feeling stuck in a situation of their own making
* Feelings of being overwhelmed by the clutter and life

After the clutter is cleared away you may find that you feel relief, appreciation for the items you’ve kept, appreciation for your family and home, more clear headed, better able to make decisions, more focused, and productive.

There will also be less tension and fighting among family members.  It’s amazing how much more people are able to relax when the home is clutter free.  You’ll also be amazed that you’ll actually have more time for your family because you won’t be wasting so much time looking for things.  What’s more, you and your family will be able to actually invite friends over without fear of embarrassment or being ashamed because of amount of clutter in your home.

Clutter makes your home an unorganized stressful environment.  When you are able to let go of the clutter and organize your home you’ll be thrilled at the transformation that takes place.  So start today, and just get rid of 10 items of clutter.  That’s all, just 10.  Store them, donate them, or just plain throw them away.  In no time, you’ll have an organized home and a happy family, and you’ll feel much better about yourself.