You may have noticed a different look around here. I have a short attention span and get bored easily, and I was tired of the name Sweat and Sparkle. I was kicking around ideas for a new blog title when I came across the image of the butterfly with stained glass wings, and I loved it. Boom! New blog title and look.
Is there a better mascot for change and improving yourself than a butterfly? I can’t think of one. Fragile, pastel butterflies on delicate flowers are not really my thing, so I loved finding a more gothic and unique butterfly look for my blog.
This past Saturday’s weigh-in was a good one. I managed to drop 1.5 pounds. Since my weight ticker on MyFitnessPal hasn’t worked for months, I set up a new one on a different site and added my ticker to my blog, to keep it front and center that what this is really all about is losing weight, getting healthy, and getting back into shape.
I had planned to hit the gym this past weekend, but even though I never saw the inside of my gym, I got plenty of exercise. I slathered on sunscreen and headed out for an afternoon of yard work on Saturday. Four hours later, sore and exhausted, I dragged myself into the house for a shower.
I got so much done! When my stepdaughter saw the pile of pruned branches, pulled weeds, and yanked-out vines piled at the curb for pick-up, she said to my husband, “Wow, she’s been busy.” And my older stepson is not always the most observant individual, but even he said something about all the work I had done. For him to notice, and to say something, is impressive.
The kids have so much instability at their other “home”…or I should just call it their other residence, since they have been bounced around so much, I don’t think they see it as their home at all. I don’t ask the kids questions about their other residence, because I know it’s a much-needed respite to be at our home and to not have to deal with that crap for a little while, and also because they are grilled and interrogated about us non-stop over there. So I give them a break and don’t ask anything. If they want to talk about anything, we are always here, but we respect their privacy, unlike others in their lives.
The kids tease me about being so particular about the house, but in a way, I think they like it, too. We are consistent. We take pride in our home. Their dad and I are always working on something, inside or outside. I think those things mean a lot to the kids when Psycho refuses to work, refuses to do anything for herself or for them, provides no consistency or stability for them. The kids are old enough to know she is living like an irresponsible and dependent child, and to be embarrassed by it. I can’t do anything about Psycho’s lack of work ethic or pride. But I can keep making sure our home is a safe, secure, stable place for the kids to land, let go, and feel happy.
Sweat & Sparkle 