Monday, January 14, 2013

My Review: eMeals


Disclaimer: I have not been asked to write this review. These opinions were not requested by any of the websites mentioned.  The link used for eMeals is my referral link.

Have you heard about eMeals?  If you've listened to Dave Ramsey, you've probably heard a commercial for them.  I've heard their commercials and Dave's endorsement for the company for years, but still I was weary.  Then a friend posted something about it on Facebook.  I thought, "Hey, here's a real person who uses this product that I know and respect. Maybe I should check it out!"  So I did and I'm so glad!  There are several types of meal plans (low carb, classic family, portion control, paleo, etc).  I just picked the type of meal plan for us, picked the grocery store from the list, and print off the menu/recipe and shopping list.

I was a little hesitant also because it is a paid service.  You can sometimes find coupon codes online to make it a little cheaper.  Also, for three months worth of menus (that's 84 meals!), it's only $21!  That's less than it costs for my family to eat out once.  If this program can save my family from eating out just once, it was totally worth it!

I now have a binder with page protectors.  In each page protector is a week's menu and shopping list.  The current week's menu is in front with a schedule of when we'll eat each meal in a page protector in front of that.  We don't eat the meals in the same order they have printed.  Some nights need a crockpot meal, where others work well for a longer prep time.  We're starting our second week with eMeals, and I'm in love!

If you'd like to try this out, just click on the image below.  Check out the sample meal plans then sign up for the one that's best for you.  You can even sign up for more than one if you can't decide.



Sunday, January 13, 2013

Update on Bucket List

I've been trying to work on my bucket list.  Here's how it's going so far... (my comments in italics)


1. Order my books for the spring semester
2. Stay on top of my studies, maybe even ahead - School starts Monday!
3. Check at least my fasting glucose levels daily - Not quite, but more than before
4. Exercise at least three days per week - Plan to start tomorrow. Bad cold made it hard to breathe
5. Stop worrying about the scale. Worry about how I feel. - Easier said than done!
6. Set up study times like office hours and stick to them - Still need to set those up.
7. Blog at least 2-3 times per week. This blog and my book review blog. - Umm...
8. Plan this year's vegetable garden
9. Plant said veggies
10. Tend to the garden
11. Can as much as possible from the garden
12. Finish my résumé - Oh yeah...
13. Submit résumé
14. Sort through kid clothes to prepare for garage sale
15. Actually have a garage sale
16. Keep calendar updated - So far so good, but it's only January 13th
17. Declutter
18. Add unwanted clutter to garage sale
19. Have garage sale (yes, I need to have that twice as a reminder)
20. Play with my children every day. Even busy days.
21. Read with my children. Even if we're reading our own thing. Make DEAR time - drop everything and read
22. Make dinner on weekdays when I'm home - I've actually been doing good on this! I think eMeals really helps (more on that later). I've even been prepping meals for nights I work. The crockpot has become a staple again.
23. Make more crockpot meals
24. Make a menu - Subscribed to eMeals. More about this later.
25. Plan when to eat out. Not because we didn't plan something for dinner - Doing better!
26. One night a week devoted to family, not homework
27. Time with just hubby every week - We saw Les Miserables at the movie theater yesterday
28. Family vacation
29. Family walks
30. Walk to the farmer's market weekly during the summer, even if not buying
31. Walk to grocery store if list is small
32. Use cloth bags for groceries on a more regular basis
33. Make sure to revisit this list weekly - Ok, took me a little over a week to review it.
34. Bookmark this page on desktop to make 33 easier
35. Figure out Windows 8 - It's getting easier!
36. Transfer needed files from old laptop to new
37. Pray daily - Even a five second prayer is a prayer!
38. Meditate
39. Listen for that still small voice
40. Take time for me
41. Don't feel guilty for #40 - I'm a mom; this one is a toughy!
42. Figure out my own answer to life, the universe, and everything
43. Embrace turning 43 this year
44. Learn to say no
45. Say yes to things that are meaningful to me
46. Start riding my bike
47. Stick with my educational goals
48. Take the time to spend with each child one-on-one
49. Tell my children daily that I love them
50. Email my parents and siblings more often
51. Eat dinner at the dining room table - Even ate breakfast there this morning!
52. Love life!

I feel I'm making good progress.  It's helpful to revisit this list so I remember what's important.  Do you have a list of goals?

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Calling All Type 1s! (#dblog)

If you have Type 1 diabetes, you're at least 13 years old, and you have mild to severe food and body issues, including overeating, stress eating, eating to avoid hypoglycemia, insulin omission, restricting food, or any other disordered eating or body image issues, join, participate, contribute to this important research project.

Lee Ann Thill is working on doctoral research.  At this time, the study centers around people with Type 1 diabetes with food and body issues.  She is utilizing social media and arts-based expression to make things better for people with diabetes (PWD).  Maybe once this research is done, she can extend this to all PWDs.    Type 2s, don't feel left out!  This type of project needs a narrow focus before a program can be extended.
If you meet the target audience, please click here to help make a difference! 

To read more about Lea Ann's project, click over to:  VIAL Project: Voice - Insulin - Art - Life.  Arts-based social media for people with diabetes and food & body issues

Help me make it so! Spread the word!

Friday, January 4, 2013

Video Friday

As the mother of five, I can relate (though my "drink" would be a Diet Coke).  My husband actually got me Martina McBride's CD "Eleven" that has this song "Teenage Daughters".  Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

A Reflection on My Bucket List

Yesterday I made a list of 52 things I'd like to accomplish in 2013. After I completed the list, I was somewhat surprised how few references to diabetes were included. There's actually only one item that is directly related to diabetes: "3. Check at least my fasting glucose levels daily"

For someone who feels like diabetes sometimes seems to overshadow so many parts of my life, it was refreshing to see that I could come up with a list without diabetes being the focus.  Sometimes even I need a reminder that my life is so much more than my illness.  Yes, there are several items pointing to a healthier lifestyle, but that would be the same for most people.  Most people need improvement in that area.

Do I need to work on my diabetes management? Of course I do!  However, I feel that other items on that list, such as exercising and planning meals, will naturally help me achieve my diabetes-related goals.

Here's to a great 2013!  A year of change, adventure, and the unexpected!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

52 for 2013

Happy New Year! Typically at the start of the new Year, people make resolutions. Of course we all know a majority of those get broken by... oh the first week. So I've decided to borrow an idea from a friend and make a list of things I'd like to accomplish in 2013. More of a bucket list than a resolution list. Here we go...


1. Order my books for the spring semester
2. Stay on top of my studies, maybe even ahead
3. Check at least my fasting glucose levels daily
4. Exercise at least three days per week
5. Stop worrying about the scale. Worry about how I feel.
6. Set up study times like office hours and stick to them
7. Blog at least 2-3 times per week. This blog and my book review blog.
8. Plan this year's vegetable garden
9. Plant said veggies
10. Tend to the garden
11. Can as much as possible from the garden
12. Finish my résumé
13. Submit résumé
14. Sort through kid clothes to prepare for garage sale
15. Actually have a garage sale
16. Keep calendar updated
17. Declutter
18. Add unwanted clutter to garage sale
19. Have garage sale (yes, I need to have that twice as a reminder)
20. Play with my children every day. Even busy days.
21. Read with my children. Even if we're reading our own thing. Make DEAR time - drop everything and read
22. Make dinner on weekdays when I'm home
23. Make more crockpot meals
24. Make a menu
25. Plan when to eat out. Not because we didn't plan something for dinner
26. One night a week devoted to family, not homework
27. Time with just hubby every week
28. Family vacation
29. Family walks
30. Walk to the farmer's market weekly during the summer, even if not buying
31. Walk to grocery store if list is small
32. Use cloth bags for groceries on a more regular basis
33. Make sure to revisit this list weekly
34. Bookmark this page on desktop to make 33 easier
35. Figure out Windows 8
36. Transfer needed files from old laptop to new
37. Pray daily
38. Meditate
39. Listen for that still small voice
40. Take time for me
41. Don't feel guilty for #40
42. Figure out my own answer to life, the universe, and everything
43. Embrace turning 43 this year
44. Learn to say no
45. Say yes to things that are meaningful to me
46. Start riding my bike
47. Stick with my educational goals
48. Take the time to spend with each child one-on-one
49. Tell my children daily that I love them
50. Email my parents and siblings more often
51. Eat dinner at the dining room table
52. Love life!