Bless the weekend

I'm so glad it's Saturday!
I've not been able to shake the flu and it's kinda had me feeling burnt out all week. The new contract position is working out well - but the deadlines are tight and don't really allow for sick days. I did 50 hours this week and I've been promised 40+ hours each week till the end of February (an extension of the original 3 week arrangement).

With limited time, I've not been very organised. I didn't go grocery shopping so ended up with no food for lunches this week. Which wasn't really that bad since I only had lunch 3 times anyway - the other couple of days I worked right through. I also ate out twice - once at the pub on Wednesday night, and the other was pizza last night. I'm annoyed because I promised myself to stay away from the takeaway/pubfood, especially on Friday night.

The one thing that I did do right, despite my flu and crazy work hours, was walk. I walked at least 1/2 and hour every day, and doubled that on 4 days. I think that this is the reason for my loss this week. I weighed in today at 65.3. So another 0.9kg off. Woohoo.

This week is bound to be just as busy. I have deadlines to meet by Wednesday - and I suspect there will be a few more late nights at the office. My man, his siblings and I are off to the Big Day Out on Thursday. I'm crossing all digits and limbs that I will also be able to take Friday off. BDO is traditionally a BIG day for me (lots of drinking, dancing and guaranteed sunstroke) and having the day after off is quite essential - but this year I may have to conserve my energy and stay away from the rays as there is a possibility that I will be working. I will have this confirmed for me on Wednesday.

Anyway, that's my little update. I've finished voting in the triple j top 100 song comp and am about to go for a short walk followed by a shower and then taking my car to get fixed. This weekend should be another quiet one - I have lots of book work to finish (BAS due next week) and lots of rest to catch up on.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Cath xx

Still focused... but with the flu

Damn it all! I finally pick myself up out of the pre-Christmas rut I was in and then I get sick again! I hate being sick - I can't really take advantage of sick days as I don't get any, and I don't want to jeopardise my new contract this early in the piece - so it's work for me regardless, of how I feel.

I discovered the sore throat at about 9:30 pm on Friday night. I tried to pretend it wasn't really there - I even got up and went for a long walk on Saturday morning, but I ached all the way and realised the flu was setting in. Despite this, I went to a BBQ last night, had a lovely time but by 10pm I was ready for bed. It had started to rain - I would normally never even consider a taxi home from newtown (it's only a 15min walk), but last night I couldn't fathom the idea of walking and getting home wet. Bed was a welcome sight!

I slept in a bit this morning. I've just taken a couple of tablets to try and mask the pain and restore the energy - I have a lot of work to get through today. But while they are still kicking in, I thought I'd blog my results for this week: a loss! Woohoo. Last saturday morning I weighed in at 67.8. Yesterday morning, before my walk, I was 66.2. These are nude weights, but still, a loss is a loss right? And that very loss has prompted me to keep doing what I'm doing.

I've realised that when I'm organised, tracking during the week is relatively easy. I'm giving up my Friday night pub meals as they are starting to cost too much anyway - I'll plan a cooked meal and 2 glasses of wine at home instead. Saturday will be my night off.

I've finally started reading blogs again. I get a little self absorbed when I am busy, but I have missed reading the blogs and will make more effort to read and comment once or twice a week.

Speaking of being organised - my office transformation plans are in place & I'm nearly finished my filing. By the end of today my filing should be done, my books up to date and the 3 or so billable hours planned should be complete. Pretty optimistic when I'm feeling crap, but I know I'll feel much better when these things aren't hanging over my head.

Finally, I grabbed this little alphabetical from Suzys blog - hope you don't mind!. He're my responses:

A is for age: 25
B is for booze of choice: Normally: Gin and Tonic. This week: Verdi Spumanti - cheap, sweet & low alcohol.
C is for career: Graphic Designer
D is for your Dad's name: Steve (or Kiwi to some)
E is for essential items to bring to a party: DJ JTOB (Justice of the Beat - my boy!)
F is for favorite song at the moment: Dare (Gorillas)
G is for favorite game: Sex Scrabble and Killer Bunnies
H is for hometown: Nelson NZ
I is for instruments you play: dabble with keyboard & Guitar - crap at both
J is for jam or jelly you like: Not a fan of either...
K is for kids: Maybe one day
L is for living arrangements: I live with my boy in teeny apartment
M is for Mum's name: Marion
N is for name of your first crush: I think it was Simon in yr 3. I can't remember the last name
O is for overnight hospital stays: I broke my arm & dislocated my elbow when I was 7 - stayed in hospital for three nights.
P is for phobias: Flying, Spiders, Moths
Q is for quirky fact about you: I was born with a slightly rotated hip and was severely pigeon-toed for years
R is for relationship that lasted the longest: 3 years. My current beau.
S is for sexual preference: My man...
U is for underwear: boyleg
V is for vegetable you love: tomatoes, potato
W is for weekend plans: bookkeeping, work (sad)
X is for x-rays you've had: Arms, hip, foot
Y is for yummy food you make: Toasty pies (I'm no cook!)
Z is for zodiac sign: Gemini

Focused

Hi gals. Thanks so much for your comments on my last few posts. I'm slowing getting round to my catch up reads. I promise I'll get to yours soon!

I'm well and truly back in the work routine now. 'Holiday' lifestyle is out the door, replaced by 6:15 alarms and worrying if my clothes need ironing or not. The thrill of ringing the fun out of the last hours of sunlight has also been replaced by public transport and flaking on the couch. I remember looking at my clock this morning thinking it was around 10am and it was 1pm - time just flies by.

I'm still feeling motivated this week - I've only had 18.5 points the last three days.(the hangover of eating sooo much each day of Christmas)I'm sleeping well and am having breakfast before I leave for work to avoid the urge to buy raisin toast and coffee each morning.

The new contract is going well so far. Not too much pressure and there is enough to keep me going 8:30 - 5:30. Anything outside these hours is overtime so I have no complaints. Officially, I am there for 3 weeks but there is already talk from the creative director to extend the contract. I've got some time to think about it - I don't really want to work there for too long, but the reliable income is such a tease!

Despite the rain, I'm walking to Redfern station and back each day (30mins each way) to count as 'exercise' when I can't really fit official exercise in. I'm kinda sweaty by the time I get to the station, but my new 'day eyes' are holding on well. I'm going to try and go for a longer walk on Saturday morning - it may give me time to think about how to stay focused for the weekend - so hard!

Anyhoo. I'm off to sit in front of the fan.

Reestablishing healthy habits

Who would have thought it would be this hard! I haven't officially counted anything in about 3 months, there have been a few 'good weeks' in between, but mostly I've been pretty slack. And the scales are there to remind me. I'm too embarrassed to go back to my ww meeting - I'm about 2kgs over goal at the moment and my clothes are getting tight again.

I tried each day last week to eat healthy. And each day I had failed by lunch time. Bloody hell. No will power. Not even a smidge.

Today is different. I'm sitting on 18.5. I'm feeling hungry and light headed but that will hopefully only last a couple of days. I'm also feeling organised, or semi-organised. I have a whole bunch of exciting goals this year. A lot of them are woven into my work, but work has become a lifestyle for me now. Here's a list, if I can check even half of them off this year, I'll be happy!:

1. Lose 4.5kg. (ie, the 3 I put back on + the 1.5 that didn't budge last year!)
2. Get organised with my lunches - I've gotten so lazy working in the city
3. Set up my work space so that I am comfortable and productive
4. Get up to date with my filing
5. Save $100/week (??)
6. Get 2 new clients - have already found 1
7. Take a short holiday to Melbourne
8. Buy a new computer
9. Print my business cards (aghhhhh... a designer with no cards - terrible)
10. Get a pedicure
11. Update my website
12. Create a new design for my blog

These all seem a bit trivial now that I read through, but I'm such a procrastinator. And a list is a procrastinators best friend. Once I'm organised, I can function again.

Now, on a slightly more fun note. I got MAC'ed on the weekend. No, not Big Mac'd! I had my face done over by the girls from MAC in MYER (Makeup Artistry Cosmetics). It was great fun, and I learnt some cool techniques on how to make my eyes look more defined. I also spend $320 on makeup! (I've NEVER spent that much on makeup in one go, not even close!). Anyway, I came home and chucked out all my crappy palettes and old cakey lipsticks and made some room for my new party eyes and day eyes and stuff. Great fun.

Next up is my annual Really-Expensive-Haircut-That-Grows-Out-In-Two-Or-Three-Weeks. I'm hoping to book it in within the next couple of weeks. Soon, Cath V06.x will be complete. Hopefully all in time for my 26th birthday in May.

Woah. I'm waffling again. I've had a good day. Hope you guys have too.

Ciao for now.

Cath