Monday, October 11, 2010
Wanna win it...
Know what else I love? I love that the world seems tinier because of blogs. I was LITERALLY last night re-reading my April 2010 Country Living magazine and Kayce and her family's home was featured. I had a few of their pages folded down for future reference. This morning there's this post...small, small world.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
L.O.V.E...
Thursday, September 16, 2010
What i'm wearing this fall...
Old Navy
Old Navy
Target
Target
Target
Piperlime Old Navy
Old Navy
Target
Target
PLUS...
Yep, this is from Target too...
My cute target bag that I bought as a diaper bag-turned-purse three years ago has handles that are ripping. They are literally hanging on by threads. I'm ashamed to even be carrying it around it's in such bad shape. So this is what i'm going with. I'm thinking i'll also do something in either silver or a darker gray. I plan on having a plum or peacock wool coat (time for something besides black) and think the orange will work with either one. Maybe this one:
So what are you wearing this fall?
Monday, September 13, 2010
Wowee...
One final note, it's September and we've got a Thunderstorm Warning here and a Tornado Watch north of us. What's up with that?
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Nine more weeks...
Argh...
160.4 (just in case you were curious).
Thursday, April 15, 2010
This would be awesome...
Thursday, April 8, 2010
It's all okay...
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Down it goes...
Ryan started his new job on Monday. Tonight i'm going to dinner with their "peeps." This includes all of the local people here that i've never met. Um...i'm way nervous. Of course my main concern is that I don't have anything appropriate to wear. My next concern is that i'll break out into my red blotchiness that's oh-so-attractive. My last concern is that I simply won't know what to say. That's silly, I know, because I talk to people all of the time. And i'm in social situations where I don't really know people all of the time. But this is his "new" life and I want him to fit in. So I want to help. It will be fine, I know it will, but I can't help worrying.
Speaking of worrying, i'm worried about our house not selling. Of course I love it more than ever now that we've got some stuff in storage and it's neat and tidy all of the time (just in case). And I want to find someone who will love it as much as I do and take care of it while they're here. I thought we found the person but she hasn't called us...sad. It'll sell eventually. Last night I buried a statue of Joseph from our nativity scene in the front yard. Ryan's aunt said that the ladies at coffee swear by this trick. So I hoofed it downstairs, found the nativity, wrapped him up in a Walmart sack and buried him in the front landscaping. We'll see what happens! (mine is porcelain and not plastic so I hope that doesn't matter!) Anyway, if you've got friends in the market, send them here: http://1715jefferson.blogspot.com/
Have a fantastic week!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Happy spring...
(photo from natures-desktop.com)
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Just plain weird...
"Best Occupational Category"
You're an ORGANIZER
Keywords
Self-Control, Practical, Self-Contained, Orderly, Systematic, Precise, and Accurate
These conservative appearing, plotting-types enjoy organizing, data systems, accounting, detail, and accuracy. They often enjoy mathematics and data management activities such as accounting and investment management. Persistence and patience allows them to do detailed paperwork, operate office machines, write business reports, and make charts and graphs.
ORGANIZER CAREERS
Suggested careers are Administrator, Secretary, Printer, Paralegal, Building Inspector, Bank Cashier, Private Secretary, Statistician, Operations Manager, Financial Analyst, Bookkeeper, Medical Records Technician, Developer of Business or Computer Systems, Clerical Worker, Proofreader, Accountant, Administrative Assistant, Banker, Certified Public Accountant, Credit Manager, Store Salesperson, Actuary, Dental Assistant, Business Education Teacher, Food Service Manager, IRS Agent, Budget Analyst, and Underwriter.
ORGANIZER WORKPLACES
Your very careful, conscientious, conservative nature gives others the confidence to trust you with handling money and material possessions. Structured organizations that have well-ordered chains of command work best for you."
Weird no? The only thing that's TOTALLY wrong is that "they often enjoy mathematics...accounting and investment management." I definitely do NOT enjoy these things. However, the suggested career of "Administrator" is freaky right-on. Try it out!! You might figure out you'd be happier somewhere else? :)
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Spring is coming...
I can finally feel spring is on its way here. The boys are getting more and more restless which makes me think that they know something I don't. Like they can feel the impending spring and are just starting to get impatient.
After some tweaks and the addition of my running program (i'm running a race in May), things appear to be on the downhill slide! Tuesday i'm having my Mirena removed and hope that that will increase the losses even more instead of making my body think that it's pregnant! Eeeek! I think that March and April will be even more productive than February after getting into more of an active routine and now counting points.
I ordered the cutest spring jacket in begonia, a flowery umbrella and some black medallion flats on Saturday. Eddie Bauer was having a 30% off of everything sale!! I can't wait to wear everything!! This pair of flats is on my birthday list:
Finally, i'm making this dress (the short sleeved version) for my meeting in Chicago in May. I think i'll use a menswear fabric and some red pumps for impact:
Enjoy your week, hope it's successful and full of sunshine!!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Week four...
Not sure what to do now, I feel a little bit lost. Three weeks ago I was determined that I could lose 12 pounds by the end of February. It was too much and I knew it. But I put it out there. The only thing I have to show for it is 3.6 pounds lost. Where is my inner cheerleader? I'd tell anyone that 3.6 pounds is better than none. And it is certainly better than gaining. But i'm not happy. I'm not happy with myself for getting lazy about the weekends, when I don't track what I eat. I'm not happy with myself for not having a consistent workout schedule. I'm not happy with myself for being unhappy with myself. So it's time for a new plan. (Hey, i'm not one to stick with something if it doesn't seem to be working.)
-2 pounds per week. By March 29 (5 weeks from now) i'd be at 158.6
-Eat somewhere between 1200 and 1400 calories per day. Less than 1200 seems to be telling my body to do the opposite of what I want it to!
-Starting my 5K training program today and want to do Jazzercise twice a week (min.)
So there is really only one true "action" that I need to change/add (since the first is merely a goal and since i'm already eating and writing down what I eat (yes, this will include the weekends from now on), i'm just eating a bit more. The third will be the hardest. Starting a new habit is tough for me, especially since it's one that I don't particularly enjoy. Oh well, it's good for me and will eventually be worth it right?
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Catching up...
Monday, Feb 8: through lunch 683 calories (no dinner posted)
Tuesday, Feb 9: through lunch 420 calories (no dinner posted)
Wednesday, Feb 10: 1034 calories
Thursday, Feb 11: 942 calories (I was full, I promise!)
Friday, Feb 12: 1635
Last night I decided that I wanted a junk-food dinner! So we had McDonalds. I had one of their new Big Mac Snack Wraps. It's only 330 calories but TOTALLY tastes like a Big Mac. And I was thrilled with dinner! :) Fries (and soda) included!
That's all for now!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Week two...
And yesterday was eggs and bacon (lots of it), frozen pizza for lunch and then the Super Bowl. BBQ wings, pigs in a blanket and tortilla chips with cheese. Horrible. And I'm trying to figure out why I didn't care. But for some reason I didn't.
Okay, I know you're waiting for it. Today I was 168.6. So all in all not too bad. Gee, what would it look like if I hadn't been weak? That's a question that won't be answered. Can't be answered. This morning i'm feeling like I might have the flu. Just typing what I ate made me a little nauseous. So we'll see how this week goes. I'm not down by any means but i'm not hyped up like I was last week. It's probably just not feeling good. The good news is that I didn't lose much ground, and I need to keep things in perspective.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Look what's keeping me company...
Look at all of the lovely yellow! My flowers are doing wonderfully well after nearly 6 days. Ryan bought them at the store for me. I love taking the inexpensive Wally-World flowers and creating a happy, beautiful arrangement. I got up to get some coffee and as I went to sit down I realized that not only are the blooms yellow, but so are both of the files/folders that i'm in this afternoon. So fresh and springlike, even when the weather outside is snowy and slushy. Oh well, i've got sunlight and flowers, beats sitting in the cube.
Have a good weekend!
Day five...
But I digress...
So it happened to me this morning. The scale didn't say what I wanted it to and I was mad. And yet .1 pound is not something to obsess over and biological fluctuations like this can't be helped. I know that. I have a big brain. I'm a high-functioning individual. But I ate a good breakfast just to prove I was above this!! Take that you stupid scale! (Might have something to do with not doing a single activity yesterday no?)
Breakfast
1/2 of a nature valley crunchy peanut butter granola bar (90)
2.5 egg whites + .5 egg yolk (that was tricky) (80)
1/2 T extra virgin olive oil + 1 T blue bonnet light margarine (110)
green peppers, onions and mushrooms (33)
no cheese or toast, i've got a date tonight!
Running total 312
Back soon with more updates!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Day four...
Ah yes, the perfect summery dress. For whatever, whenever, easy, breezy, beautiful...
And so to day four: 169.8 this morning even after all of that pasta last night. Isn't it funny how it's not enough? It's NEVER enough. You can lose "only" one pound in a week and yet why are we disappointed? It's a loss girlfriends! It's better than a gain. And even though we are rational beings (most of the time), if we get just a little, we always want more! More and faster...sounds like a line from a dirty movie. (Sorry!) So my thought is this, if you are given two choices, A) lose one pound or B) gain one pound, which one are you going to choose? Duh! You'll always pick A. And that, my friends, is how to look at it. Not that it's only one pound, instead that at least it's not a one pound gain.
So for today i'm eating really poorly. Lots going on and not enough time to get in an actual lunch.
Breakfast
Lean Cuisine Denver Egg Panini (new and very yummy) (270)
2T of coffee mate (70)
Running total 340
Snack/Lunch
Special K Chocolate Bar (90)
Running total 430
(by the way, 8 glasses of water before 1pm thank you very much)
Another snack
6 cups of Orville Redenbacher's 94% Fat Free Kettle Corn (90)
Running total 520
No sure i'll get time to do the treadmill tonight but we'll see! I think Ryan likes this new, focused on the prize, me!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Day three...
So here's my food journal:
My cheerio breakfast, including coffee (243)
Plus an apple for a snack (81)
Running total 324
Wow, can I already be thinking about lunch? Ugh.
So here's lunch:
Omelette (one egg, two whites, peppers, onions mushrooms cooked in Olive Oil), 1/4c shredded fiesta blend cheese and a slice of toast (with ICBINB spray) (421)
Running total 745
Snack
Hunt's snack pack (130)
Running total 875
Dinner
Spaghetti feed at the VFW...really hard to estimate but I figure:
1.25 c of pasta (247)
3/4 c sauce (120)
1 slice garlic bread (150)
1 3x3 slice of white cake with white frosting (211) and TOTALLY NOT worth it
Running total 1603
Later
Yogurt (100)
Total 1703...I told ya, not a 1200 calorie day!
15 minutes of my Wii fitness coach and 15 minutes on the treadmill at 3.5mph while watching Project Runway. Whew!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Day two...
Woo! These babies are changing the way I look at breakfast! I actually ate before heading to work today. It was a good thing...I didn't eat a bagel for once. But I did have my usual french toast coffee. Yummm! So here's the day:
Cheerios and milk (173)
Coffee mate (140)
Express Quaker Oatmeal, Golden Brown Sugar (200)
4 oz Roast Beef (336)
3 oz Schwans Quick Bake French Fries (150)
3/4 cup corn kernels (121)
And i'll end the day with a Keurig Cocoa (60)
Total for the day 1179
And for exercise walked for 35 minutes (first 5 at 3.0, 25 at 3.5 and 5 at 3.0)...i'm exhausted and ready to watch some Dexter.
Day two seemed to be easier than day one. Here's hoping for a good day 3!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Moments of brilliance...
Mine came Saturday. Max gave us a gorgeous, hand-made 2010 calendar for Christmas. And for the past month or so it's been hanging by it's binding, from a plain nail in the kitchen. In the past my calendars have hung in a holder, kinda country but who cares? It's at least attractive. My calendars are the timeline of our family, the cute things my kiddos say or do, milestones that are met, that kind of thing. So I knew it had to go up. But the calendar was too narrow and not long enough to fill the space. On Saturday I had had enough! I headed to the basement for the scrapbooking paper. I was determined to make something beautiful out of my calendar holder to incorporate the already beautiful calendar my thoughtful and creative kindergartener had made for us. The results are fantastic!! I love it...giving each month the spotlight on a gorgeous background had me smiling all weekend. I just had to share.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner...
1/2 cup of skim milk (43)
Running total 176
(P.S. The chocolate cheerios are new and to DIE for!!)
Gloria Jean's Hazelnut coffee for the Keurig (0)
2 T Coffee Mate, Hazelnut (70)
Running total 246
One slice of Pizza Hut Pan Pizza, Cheese (270)...had a board meeting
Running total 516
McNugget Happy Meal minus one nugget courtesy of Owen (520)
A little more coffee mate (70)
Total for the day 1106 (and I wasn't even hungry at bed time)
Exercise:
Walked for 30 minutes (first 5 at 3.0, last 25 at 3.5)
Why weight...
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Maybe if I write it down...
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Quit your whining...
I was shopping yesterday for these little "relief kits" we're putting together for my son's school. Handtowel, washcloth, 6 bandaids, a bar of soap, an adult toothbrush, a comb and nail clippers. Nail clippers...yesterday, the bane of my existence! No store in our little town of 12,000 seemingly had any. Five different stores AND it was 20 degrees outside AND I couldn't find any gloves or mittens AND what on earth was I complaining about? That I couldn't find nail clippers? That I had to get in my CAR and drive down a STREET with potholes in it and be COLD while wearing my coat and cozy shoes? At one point I thought, "Who am I to complain about this? People don't have homes, their friends and family are dying all around them, they are missing loved ones." I decided i'd go to 100 stores if I had to and shut my mouth and not complain. But as luck would have it, in that 6th store, there was a whole bin of 50 cent nail clippers. And while I was watching my 5 year old organize and build his kits, my heart was warm as the sun, knowing that somewhere along the way he learned compassion and love, for strangers he's never met. We're doing something right.