Happy New Year

Since the new year has come and gone...I feel I must make resolutions...because it's customary.

So...drum roll please!

1. I need to drop some serious poundage. Hey. I want to get married someday...and I think it would be beneficial for that cause.

2. I am going to try not to get mad at my roommates. I have just met them...they are all 19 years old...and come from wealth...in the words of the little engine that could, "I think I can, I think I can."

3. I really want to run a half marathon. Biggest loser has inspired me, and I'ma gonna go for it! and no...this has nothing to do with goal #1, although it does assist.

4. I'd like to audition for some sort of show group...something to get me out of my narrow minded box.

5. I want to go to the temple 50 times this year. minimum. That is one reason for choosing the apartment I did.

That's it. That's all she...or um...I wrote.
I hope that this year is better than the last. for all.

chiristmas spirit.

I am not in the
mood for Christmas.
Is that terrible? I know!
I am trying, but the schedule for the new year
is getting more and more daunting.
Christmas is simply, most definitely coming TOO fast!
Christmas means I will be returning to school.
It means I possibly spent too much money on gifts I may never give.
I don't want to ask for gifts because I need other things so much more...like braces.
I want to do so much, but there simply hasn't been time.
I wanted to finish a quilt for my secret Santa project, and well...truth be told I am not very good at quilting.
I wanted to make homemade candy for his stocking, but it has simply come down to the fact that I will have no time to do so.
I wanted to finish the dress that I was making for myself for school.
I wanted to practice my ear training, and play the piano more.
I wanted to study music theory.
I'll be lucky to get even one of if any of those done.
I want to have Christmas spirit...and I do...sort of....maybe
Why does the
New Year
have to be so
close to Christmas?
Whoever worked out this schedule seemed lack the
concept of time management...or maybe I lack the concept
of time management. Or maybe I just think of myself too much.
Whatever the case. Christmas is coming fast and this mood must change! bah humbug!

In any case! I hope that you are already having a
merry christmas!!!
And a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Soda.

I have made reoccurring attempts to manage my weight. Especially during the holidays where the temptations are all encompassing. The most recent excursion is a "No Soda" pact...or agreement/challenge with my little sister. We have gone almost 2.5 months without soda (breaking only once for Thanksgiving Sparkling Cider).

Every time I am tempted to drink some I think of how my little sister is doing this silly challenge with me, and how I don't want to be the first to break. My competitive side refused to back down, and my compassionate side loved that we were doing this together.

It's not a big thing, you know...it's soda...

When I am on my own...I don't drink it, because I don't buy it. I don't buy it because I don't want temptations in my house...

Well...at home we have soda in the house on a very regular basis. When I came home the first thing I did was gain 5lbs...those 5 which I spent literally a hundred hours in the gym trying to work off...so this no soda gig was simply an attempt to manage the intake of temptation.

Well...tonight was pizza night... everyone crowded in the kitchen for pizza & soda... and she broke...my little sister decided she'd had enough of the no soda life and threw in the proverbial towel.

I agreed not to drink soda till May. Well...today I broke my promise too.

There it was... sitting on the counter saying, "I am yummy, drink up!"
...and I drank a sip.
One sip.

The taste was not good. It tasted like failure mixed with a hint of frustration, and a cup of sugar.

After that sip. I was quite discouraged that I would so easily falter at this challenge simply because I did not have a companion as back up. I can walk my own road. I can stand on my own two feet.

Well, after all the guilt subsided, I decided that I don't need to drink failure.

I simply don't need that in my life. Juice is fine. Water is Great!
So...until further notice...I am simply removing soda from my life.

I also found some interesting facts on soda to help inspire my decision:

"Drinking soda has been shown to contribute to tooth decay...the sugar consumption involved in drinking is cited for causing tooth decay. However, the acid in has been shown to erode tooth enamel, leading to dental cavities as well. In fact, the acid in soda can begin damaging enamel just 20 minutes after drinking soda... Another unfortunate health effect of drinking soda is the weakening of bones...Diet soda drinkers are still vulnerable to the acidic effects of soda. Furthermore, some artificial sweeteners, commonly used in diet soda, may contribute to serious health issues as well."
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-health-effects-of-drinking-soda.htm

"Soda is a mixture of high sugar & fructose corn syrup, which can be a reason for excessive weight gain and heart rate.
You can become a soda addicted because it contains caffeine content.
Excessive soda intakes can make you feel insomnia, stress, restlessness etc."
http://www.articlesbase.com/drinks-articles/harmful-effects-of-drinking-soda-850381.html


"Side Effects of Drinking Soda
Soda has been known to comprise certain chemicals that make you feel dehydrated. This is the reason why, even after drinking lots of soda, you continue to feel thirsty.
There is high sugar content and too much fructose corn syrup in soda. Too much consumption of it can easily make you put on excessive weight.
Soda does not have any nutritional value. Drinking it regularly means that you are just adding on empty calories.
Excessive consumption of soda can result in high blood sugar, which can lead to faintness, rapid heart rate, and dehydration.Since soda contains too much sugar and acid, it can play havoc with your oral health. Not only does it dissolve the calcium out of tooth enamel, but can also cause lots of cavities. Soda is also loaded with caffeine, which is a stimulant, the reason why it develops into an addiction soon. Caffeine removes calcium from our bodies. If you are drinking too much soda, you are also ingesting too much calcium, which ultimately will affect the strength of your bones.
Irritability, restlessness, tension, insomnia, excitement and gastrointestinal disturbance are some other side effects of caffeine, which often result from high consumption of soda."
http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/side-effects-of-drinking-soda-2866.html


Caffeine content in beverages.
FROM THE : National Soft Drink Association, US Food and Drug Administration, Bunker and McWilliams, Pepsi.

12-ounce beverage AND milligrams of caffeine
Red Bull (8.2 oz) 80.0
Jolt 71.2
Pepsi One 55.5
Mountain Dew 55.0
Mountain Dew Code Red 55.0
Diet Mountain Dew 55.0

8-ounce Beverage milligrams
Hot cocoa 14
Diet Coke 45.6
Shasta Cola 44.4
Shasta Cherry Cola 44.4
Shasta Diet Cola 44.4
RC Cola 43.0
Diet RC 43.0
Dr. Pepper 41.0
Diet Dr. Pepper 41.0
Diet Sunkist Orange 41.0
Mr. Pibb 40.0
Sugar-Free Mr. Pibb 40.0
Red Flash 40.0
Sunkist Orange 40.0
Ruby Red 39.0
Storm 38.0
Big Red 38.0
Pepsi-Cola 37.5
Pepsi Twist 37.5
Diet Pepsi Jazz 37.5
Diet Pepsi 36.0
Wild Cherry Pepsi 38.0
Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi 36.0
Coca-Cola Classic 34.0
Cherry Coke 34.0
Lemon Coke 34.0
Vanilla Coke 34.0
Diet Cherry Coke 34.0
Canada Dry Cola 30.0
A&W Creme Soda 29.0
Barq's Root Beer 23.0
A&W Diet Creme Soda 22.0

While these sources are not completely credible sources, they are enough for me.
Kinda makes you want to brush your teeth huh?

Dear Santa.

After reading Natalie's 'Dear Santa' I pondered on the things that might be on my christmas list this year. Here is the result:

Dear Santa,

I have not been the best this year. I tried. I studied hard, and around every corner tried to combat stress. I hope you will overlook my flaws as you read this letter.

Please santa...if it has to be winter...I can take the snow...but this cold is unbarable...is there anything you can do about that?

Also...I seem to have lost my "secure" job for january, and need a replacement. I am pretty sure that student grants are in the same isle as jobs, so while you are there can you pick up some of that too?

It might be more beneficial for me to ask for a husband while I am feeling so needy. Nothing too fancy, but choose with care.

I wouldn't mind if you slipped some confidence into my stocking beside my orange and apple. Please no candy...I can't handle the temptation.

That is all...wait...one more thing...could you bring my family happiness...It seems we have been blessed with abundant stress, and we need some happiness to counteract it.

Also...as a small side note...I know that money does not buy happiness, but I'd be willing to test that theory!

Thank you, and have a Merry Christmas.
AmyJo