Whirlwind!

It ended up being a good but busy weekend! Friday night was calm and relaxing, and David and I had a lively evening making dinner and just talking. Saturday began early with a facial and then going with Kim to pick up her dress. I also picked up Mia's and will be taking it to her. (Gorgeous dresses!) then Kim and I ran to Target so she could get some goodies for her new apartment. When I got home, David and ran to Target (thank goodness I never get sick of going there!) and bought a new digital camera with some gift cards we got as wedding/shower gifts. We have one, but it pretty much crapped out and we needed a new one.

After the Target trip, we worked around the apartment and then got ready to go to Christy and Rich's combined birthday party. We had a great time (food catered by Cool River - YUM!) and it was good to just get to go hand with my Matron of Honor! My shower is two weeks away, and I can't wait! My wonderful bridesmaids have put a lot of time and money into making this special, and I am very grateful! :)

Sunday was good...we got up and went to breakfast and then came on home so David could start getting ready. He left for Vegas this afternoon (after some long weather delays!). I went to Fry's to find a memory stick for the new camera, and then ran to Wendy's to pick up some wedding stuff we've been working on. I didn't have a watch on and my afternoon got very derailed, as I visited with Wendy for much longer than I anticipated, so I was a very bad daughter and missed time with my mom working on wedding stuff. We've rescheduled for Tuesday, and I'm okay with that. I spent the evening trying to relax. I've been really stressed with wedding stuff and needed some time to unwind quietly.

I hope everyone had a good weekend!!

A Good Weekend Ahead

Ever just have the feeling that it's going to be a good weekend? I have that feeling! We're not even doing anything crazy...just going to have a nice weekend. :) Tonight I am getting my hair cut (YAY!) and then David and I are going to make sandwiches for dinner and relax. Tomorrow I have an appointment for a facial, I am going to go with Kim to get her dress (and pick up Mia's for her!) and then David and I are going to work in the second bedroom to clean it out. And then tomorrow night is a birthday party for both Mr and Mrs Falcone! (That's Christy and her hubby!) They have birthdays that are very close together, so they celebrate with one big party! And Sunday I take David to the airport and he's off to Vegas. Mom and I are going to work on wedding stuff on Sunday. It's going to be a good weekend.

We took my wedding dress to Wendy's last night to start the alterations. I got to put it on again, and I just love that dress so much! I hope I feel like a princess on my wedding day. :) Everyone has been so generous with their time and efforts into making this wedding something special. I think we may have a bigger turnout than we expected, but it's going to be wonderful!

64 days until I get married!!!

Holy cow! It's coming up quick! David is home right now putting the postage on the response envelopes. We're going to tuck them into the invitations, and as soon as our gold seals arrive in the mail, we'll seal the invitations and mail them. (So the invites will probably go out right before I leave next Thursday for Vegas!)

Exciting stuff! I hope everyone has a great Friday! And Happy Birthday, Rich! See you at your party tomorrow! :)

I Officially Know It All

Yes, I have completed the seventh Harry Potter book. No spoilers here...just simply saying it's nice to have been able to sit down and read the whole book. I don't know how JK Rowling comes up with that stuff, but it's amazing to me.

It was a busy weekend. My soon to be neice, Morgan (aka Mo-Mo) turned two, and we celebrated with a birthday gift and some homemade cupcakes. :) It was fun!

I "helped" Kim move some stuff on Sunday. I think I was more of a distraction. We moved some stuff from her old place, and then we went to the mall. Yeah, I'm a helper! After the mall, we went to the 7-11 that has been temporarily turned into a Kwik-E-Mart in honor of the Simpsons movie coming out. It was pretty cool, but WAY too crowded. We wandered around the store as much as we could and then left because there were just too many people. But now we can say we've been to the Kwik-E-Mart. :)

David has been with his colleagues who are in town, and I have been invited to join them for dinner. This is exciting! I've not gotten to go to one of his corporate dinners with his whole team like this, so I am looking forward to it! Grampa and the parents are coming for dinner tomorrow, and then Thursday begins the dress alterations! :) Once that is done I need to decide where to do my bridal portraits. Tonya, the coolest photographer ever, is helping with this. :)

So that's about it. I head to Vegas a week from Thursday. David is in a meeting up there, so I am flying up on a free ticket on Southwest and we're staying up there compliments of his company! :) Yay! So it's a VERY cheap trip for us. I'm looking forward to the getaway!

Have a good Tuesday everyone!

Friday, You've Been A Long Time Coming!

Seriously, this has been a long week!

I'm having one of those days where I am having hair issues, I don't like what I wore to work today, and I am tired. I'm not in a bad mood, just ready to go home. David and I have a nice evening planned, and I am looking forward to it. We're going to a yummy pizza place for dinner and then coming home to enjoy a Netflix selection. We have a busy day tomorrow, and hopefully it won't be rainy.

I don't much to say today. Kim is busy moving to a new and bigger apartment, so without her emails it has been quiet. Mia and Kevin and I had lunch, and that was nice. :)

Everyone have a great weekend!

Panic Mode

I just got a call from the reception venue, and the wedding coordinator I've been working with for a year now has resigned. So now I have a new coordinator. My previous one was wonderful! We had a wonderful working relationship built, and I knew she got my idea of what I wanted. I'm nervous about having to build a new relationship with Heather, my new coordinator. If I had more time to get to know her, I would feel so much better about that but right now all I can think of is weather or not things will run smoothly. Jackie had come so highly recommended, and we just had an amazing connection.

I know it will be okay, but this really rattled me. You'd be rattled, too, if it was your reception. It's so important to me that my guests have a wonderful time and enjoy themselves, and I just want it all to run seamlessly.

71 days until the wedding. Holy cow!

Life is Good!

First of all, the Cinnamon Sun Chips are great!! If you need a sweet snack, that's a good choice!

We met with our wedding DJ last night, and I just love her! We got the reception music planned, and we are going to have the time of our lives!! (Anyone coming better get your booties on the dance floor!) David and I are getting ready to sign up for dance lessons so we can wow everyone! :) I really need the help. I am not so graceful! (But with my dress, I don't really need to worry...no one can see my feet!)

We are going to finalize flowers today, and then we are meeting with the church organist after that to select our ceremony music. I am in wedding Heaven! :)

I hope everyone is having a great day!

Potential to be the Holy Grail of Snacks

I have a real love of those cinnamon-sugar coated pita chips. I do...I love them! But I can't buy them because I will eat them. (I know that's the point, but I don't need to eat a whole bag of them!)

I may have found the answer. Sun Chips has just come out with Cinnamon Chips. I love Sun Chips because they are a little healthier, and now that they have cinnamon chips? Heaven help me! The good news being that they come in individual serving bags. I bought a bag from the deli this morning, but I haven't eaten them yet. (It's 8:24am...not the right time!) I have high hopes, though. :) I'll let you know what I think!

In other news, it was a good weekend. I did my first trial run on bridal makeup, and I really loved what she did! Paula, my esthetician, is wonderful! She is doing all my facials and brow waxing, and she has a love of MAC just like me! She is an absolute genius with makeup, and we decided that we may need to take a trip to the MAC counter together soon. (I love this girl!) I have a bunch of stuff to recycle and trade for free lipsticks, so I am planning to go this week regardless. :)

Hmm...I haven't mentioned WW lately, have I? I'm struggling again. I didn't go on Saturday, but I did get workouts in at the gym, which is the thing that keeps me from totally blowing it. I know that WW has revamped their program and I am supposed to be able to eat more food, but I don't want to do that. I am trying to re-focus on making smarter choices, so I am going to the old points system. The system that worked so well for me two years ago. I know...I keep struggling, but I just refuse to give up on myself. I did it once...I can do this again! (Right?)

We saw the new Harry Potter film...loved it!! The book comes out this week and I think I need to buy myself a copy. It's the last one and I can hardly wait to dig into it! We also watched Last King of Scotland, which was a very interesting film. Amin did terrible things to the people of Uganda, and this movie gives you a look at what kind of man he was. He was awful. But the film was great, and Forrest Whittaker is a very good actor!

I think that's about it for me. I hope everyone has a good Monday!

Thursday Randomness

I discovered that Target.com has a bridal section, with some very pretty wedding dresses. They also have flower girl dresses for $13.99 each. I paid $45. Go figure. If you are about to embark on wedding planning, go to target.com and search for "bridal".

It's going to take a LOT of motivation to get me into the gym today. I am bloated and crampy. Yay. I promise to be pleasant when David gets home from Houston tonight.

I got another reminder of why my family is awesome. When someone in the family is having a tough time, we (our whole clan!) band together like no one's business. Ashley, we've got your back, girl! (She doesn't read the blog, but I am putting that out in the universe!) Ash is 12 and needs some unconditional love, and this village is all about raising her right. Girl, you are awesome and don't forget it! We love you without exception!!

I got two new purses yesterday, compliments of David's company. :) It pays to marry a footwear rep! I love them, but they are fall bags and I was hoping for a white one for the summer. Wait...they were free and I'm bitching? Someone slap me.

This is post number 450. Yes, I have put 450 blurbs about my life out there for all to laugh at. Here's to the next 450!

I am getting married in 78 days. 78 DAYS!!! I have a lot to do between now and then.

Okay. I think that's enough mind-numbing randomness from me today. I just had some soup and a baked potato, and now I need to get some work done. Everyone have a great day!

Where Do I Want to Be Today?

Yep. I wish I was in Paris today. Sitting on the steps of Versailles. Or maybe walking around London...

If you look carefully, you will notice I have some sort of crazy white-girl 'fro happening on top of my head. I wonder what was up with that? I would love to be there right now...there's a sort of surreal excitement when you step off the train and take your first steps in a new city. Especially when it's London!

I am not enamored with my job today, so I am dreaming of being in other places. But mostly I am missing traveling and the adventure of going somewhere new. I want to go next summer so badly it hurts, but after the wedding we are trying to save for a house. This means no trip to Paris for Jen. At least, not next year. Is it possible to feel "homesick" for a place you lived for only seven days?

"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris…then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, because Paris is a moveable feast." - Hemmingway

Amen to that!

Fun with Cheese!

Okay...yummy recipe if you love brie cheese:

1 sheet of puff pastry dough
1 8oz wheel of brie
1/2 cup raspberry jam
1/3 cup pecans
1 egg

Crack the egg and scramble in a small bowl. With a pastry brush, brush both sides of the puff pastry with the egg. Cut the rind off the top of the brie wheel, and lay on center of puff pastry sheet. Spread jam on the brie, and then sprinkle pecans over the jam. Bring all four corners of the pastry togther so that it wraps up the brie like a package. Back at 375 for 20-25 minutes. Serve with crackers. YUM!

I made this for David's family get together on Sunday and it was really good! :) I am such a fan of brie! And no, this is in no way a low fat recipe. I made it for a family gathering, so it was a special occasion. :)

I don't have much news. I got all the wedding invitation envelopes addressed, so now we just need to start buying postage. Cha-ching!

I think that's it today. No big news. I have a slight headache, so I am feeling blah. Nothing to worry about. I think it's the weather! Ugh!

Have a good Monday! :)

I Must Really Be Old Now

What did my Friday night consist of? A trip to the gym, heating up leftovers for dinner, and watching "A Prairie Home Companion". (Which wasn't good.) That's it. That's what I did. Yawn.

I am about to start working on addressing envelopes for wedding invitations. We did get a wedding gift in the mail today, though! (Thank you to Joe and Pascha!) I can't unwrap it because David is out of town and I want him to be here to share the fun of opening a gift, especially since it was sent with love from two of his very good friends!

In other fun news, I got the word from David that his company is sending all the reps a case of sample handbags. Yes, I am getting a large box of leather handbags! I have no idea what all they are sending me, but isn't that cool?? I think they will probably be fall bags, and I really need a good white summer bag. Maybe they will slip one in there for me! :)

I spent last night with Mom and Wendy working on the bridesmaids gifts...I can't say much, but they sure are cool! :)

I guess that's about it. Not much on tap for the weekend. David comes back tomorrow afternoon, and I am going to go work out in the morning. I have some relaxing scheduled, and I will pick up David around 3pm I think. He'll let me know for sure. (If he needs a ride from the airport!)

Everyone have a good rest of the evening!

Oops!

I didn't mean to take such a long blog break! All is well in my world...it's just been really busy. Yesterday was nice...we got in some pool time at Angela's before the storms blew in. I got a little pink on my shoulders, which I now have to watch since I don't want tan lines for the wedding!

Speaking of weddings...we're under the three month mark now. Yikes! David and I talked about the budget last night and things we need to be sure to do before the wedding. We have a fair amount of stuff to do! This week we are printing the response envelopes and starting to purchase postage. We're going to be addressing invitations since they go in the mail on the 27th of this month!! Wow...it's really starting to get close!

It's going to be a nice week...I have an abbreviated work schedule so I will be enjoying the holiday. We're going to David's parents house on Wednesday, and I am making a couple of things to take. (Thanks for the recipes, Paula Deen!) I feel the need to prove that I can cook for their son, although no one has ever said that I couldn't!

So that's it for today. Have a good Monday everyone! :)

Happy Birthday to Me

Yep, it's my birthday...I'm 35. I think I feel old.

My 12 year old cousin, Ashley, asked me last night if I enjoy "modern ice cream". What?? I asked her what she meant, and she proceeded to explain to me that when I was born there were only a couple of flavors of ice cream. Seriously, this is what she thought. I told her there were at least 31 flavors. (Hey, we lived close to a Baskin Robins!)

Ugh!

Anyhow, happy Friday to all! Have a great weekend!

I Have an Unusual Problem!

Well, I've got my dress!! I've tried it on, and all my worry about not looking pretty went out the window! I love my dress, and I love me in the dress! The only problem? This is the first time in my life something was too big in the bust! We have to have the bust brought in...a lot! :) No worries! My very dear friend, Wendy, is going to do my alterations. (She actually really wrote the book on wedding dress alterations for a major department store!) So I am very excited! I have the dress here at home because David is out of town and won't see it. I'll take it to Mom's on Friday before David gets home...I want the dress to be a surprise! I have pics of the dress on my cell phone, but I will wait until Wendy emails me the pictures she took...they will look much better! Once I have them, I will be happy to share!

So it's been a lovely evening. Mom and Dad came to the fitting, and I think they really love my dress. It's beautiful, and doesn't look like every other dress out there. And it's all mine!!

I own the dress I'll become a married woman in...weird!

Wear Your Stretchy Pants to the Reception!

Oh, we are going to have some very yummy food to eat! We had our menu tasting last night, and the food is amazing! We have all kinds of munchies, carved roast beef, salmon, shrimp, mashed potatoes, and some awesome appetizers! We've laid out the room arrangement, figured out how we're exiting the reception (very stylishly, I might add!), and now we just have to decide on favors and whether or not to throw bird seed or rose petals. I'm on a wedding high!!

At 5pm today I will go try on my wedding dress for the first time. I feel nervous...I hope I look pretty! I've struggled with WW (still plugging away with it, though!) and I was hoping to be a little smaller, but it's ok. My dress will still fit. I just want David to think I look like a princess. (I hope that's not too vain...I just want him to think I look beautiful!) I'll take pictures, and if anyone wants to see, you can email me and I will share. I just can't post here, as my future husband stops by the blog from time to time. :)

I had a massage during lunch today! It was my treat to myself, as my birthday is on Friday!! :) I got a funny shock yesterday...David has a step-daughter, Dara, from a previous marriage. She is 4 1/2 months pregnant (and she's only 19 and her husband is shipping out to Iraq in July!!). David has remained close to her, and he is the only father she has really known. So essentially, David is a sort of "Step" grandfather. In a crazy universe, that makes me a step-grandma! It's a bit of a stretch, but we've had a good laugh out of it! I do need to make it clear that the first person to call me "Grandma" gets a knuckle sandwich.

So that's my news! I'll let you all know how the fitting goes! Wish me luck!

UPDATE: Kim made a good point...David's step-daughter wasn't the shock...I already knew her and I think she's adorable! :) We're bummed because her due date is September 29th. :( She can't come to the wedding!

99 Days

Wow! 99 days until the wedding! Where does the time go??

Tonight we are going to the menu tasting to decide about the food for the reception. I have been looking forward to this!! We have a list of things to chow on, and we're going to have such a great time! Our coordinator is a doll, and she is going to make this so much fun!

Tomorrow is my dress fitting, and I am nervous. I hope I look like a princess in my dress! :) No pictures posted, though...I need to save that for the wedding! :)

Happy Belated Father's Day!

I didn't have a chance to post yesterday, so happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! We had a nice day yesterday. We visited with the family and then took my cousin, Ashley, shopping for clothes for her volleyball camp this week. (Shopping $$ courtesy of mom!) We got home around 6-ish, but stopped for a quick dinner at a yummy Chinese restaurant that we enjoy. We went home and watched some TV and then called it a night...we were sleepy! (And all the rain just makes me sleepier!)

So I hope everyone had a wonderful day yesterday! (Jerilyn and Blonde, my thoughts were with you both!)

Have a good Monday!

Happy Birthday Mom!

It's my mother's birthday today, and in her selfless ways she spent her birthday with me shopping for wedding stuff! We were with our friend Wendy, and we got three absolutely beautiful flower girl dresses, the gorgeous fabric to make the ring bearer pillows, my garter, some wedding jewelry for my junior bridesmaid, and in the midst of all this I got the call that my wedding dress has arrived and is at the store being steamed! I got to see it and try it on for the first time on Wednesday night, and I can hardly wait! I'm actually going to see the dress I will wear when I become a "Mrs."! It feels so surreal!

I went to WW today, but didn't get on the scale. It was a good meeting, and I am feeling energized and strong...I'm ready to have some success this week! I am hoping to go to yoga on Monday night, but it depends on if we go see David's parents. It's been a busy week, and next week promises to be just as busy. We have the menu tasting on Tuesday and the dress fitting on Wednesday. It's a wedding week!!! :)

So that's it for now. I need to get ready to go pick up David at the airport. He was supposed to be here, but his flight was very late due to the weather. Everyone have a good Saturday night!

The "Peaks and Valleys" Speech

I remember years ago my dad telling me that life has peaks and valleys, because without the valleys, we would never appreciate the peaks. One of my blogger friends is in a very low valley right now, as she has unexpectedly lost her father. Her grief is just beginning to pour into her blog, and I know she has a long path to feeling "normal" again...and normal for her is forever changed. I don't know the depth of her pain. I think it's only something you understand when you are going through it, and no one can sympathize unless they have been there. I'm lucky...I haven't been there, but I know people who have (including my own parents). I've watched people lose a parent, and it's awful and horrible. But I've also seen what happens as time passes and the grief isn't as life consuming as it was...and that's when you can revisit the loving memories without sobbing your heart out every time. (You still do it sometimes, though.)

Unfortunate Serendipity's blog is beautifully written, and I am grateful that she is brave enough to begin sharing a little bit of her grief with her readers. She's a wonderful person. How do I know? Because even though we've never met, she has become a friend to me. We email on occasion, and she's even offered to help me during fashion dilemmas. I don't have to have met her to know that I like her and respect her. (Hey, the woman has great taste in shoes!)

So my blog today is just about my friend and how even though there are no words to ease the pain, maybe the collective healing energy from those who read my blog and send her good thoughts will provide some comfort.

Jerilyn, you are in my prayers.

Wow...I Actually Have No News!

It's true...I have nothing to contribute to the world today. It's been a boring day at work and I am sleepy. (I hung out with my mom way too late last night!) I haven't been overly productive or anything. Kinda pathetic!

Mom's birthday is Saturday, so that might be classified as news! (Happy 29th birthday, Mom!) I need to get a manicure, and I have a massage scheduled on Wednesday. That's about it!

So everyone have a good Wednesday! I'm going to Grampa's tonight for dinner, so I know it will be a good day!

After Much Thought...

I have decided that I am feeling differently about the Sopranos finale than I was yesterday. The more I think about it, the more I think I liked it. TV spoon feeds us stories and endings, and for once we are now left to think about what has happened. I have a few theories on what happened to the Soprano family, but I also kind of like the idea that I don't really know. I hope that they eventually decide to do a movie, but mostly because I enjoyed the series so much that just a little more would be a wonderful treat. However, there is apparently very little likelihood that it will happen. So we are left to mull over the fate of Tony Soprano.

And back in the real world, there's not much news to share. David headed out for south Texas today, and he'll be back Saturday night. Saturday is Mom's birthday, so I am thinking of a good b-day gift for her. She comes back from Austin today! :) Dad left for the coast yesterday for his annual fishing trip, so until tonight I am holding down the fort!

I'm sleepy today...I was so warm and cozy in bed when the alarm went off. :( Getting up is no fun! I hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday!

Sopranos Finale: Who Got Whacked?

The viewers did! I won't go into detail here just in case any Sopranos fans haven't seen the finale yet, but what the heck??

It was an interesting way to end the series, but me? I think I would have liked to see something different. Just an opinion.

Ugh!

Okay, Maybe I Did Have A Brush With Fame

When I picked up David from the airport last night, I did get to see Eva Longoria! Of course, she was whisked by on one of those little carts, but she seemed very unpretentious and looked happy. (No one saw her but me...no one else knew to look for her!) She was in jeans, a black t-shirt, and red high heels. She also had a headband in her hair and big sunglasses on. But she was smiling and chatting with the cart driver, and she looked like she was enjoying her conversation. My impression on her? She looked like she was enjoying herself. David said she was letting people take her picture on the plane, and I think that's nice. She could have been a real b*tch about it, but she chose to be friendly and pleasant to her fans, and that makes me like her! (I wish I could have asked her about her wedding plans!)

So anyhow, I did get have a brush with fame!

Catching Up

Wow...it's been a little while since I had time to blog! It's been a busy week. I overslept for WW this morning. :( Although I wasn't feeling like it would be a good weigh in, I was planning to go. However, I did go to the gym so I am feeling good. I am also really feeling like I am back on my game, so hopefully the pounds I am revisiting will be on their way back off soon.

Mia and I went to the mall to check out the new Sarah Jessica Parker clothing line, and it's pretty good! We picked up a few things after a light lunch, and had a lot of fun walking the mall. Mia is getting ready to go to CA, and Kim is there right now. Everyone is travelling! David is on his way back from NYC right now. Actually he just called me about 5 minutes ago to tell me that Eva Longoria is on his flight! Pretty cool! He waved at her as he passed through First Class and she waved back. I told him to give her a "Go Spurs" if he sees her again! Pretty neat! He also met Oscar de la Hoya at his hotel across from Madison Square Garden. I didn't meet anyone famous this week. :(

A week from Tuesday we have our menu tasting for the reception food, and my dress will ship out on June 14th, so things are really moving along. Mom's birthday is a week from today, and my birthday is approaching, too. 35. Yikes! However, having oily skin is keeping me young looking, as no one seems to believe I am older than 27. Hey, I'll take it! :)

I think that's about it for now. I need to clean and get ready to pick up David in about 4 hours. I can't wait! :)

Have a good weekend!

Glamorous!

David and I had our engagement pictures made on Sunday, and if I may say so, I think we looked great! I can't wait to see how the pictures turn out! It was humid so I hope our photographer can photoshop out a few sweat beads. :) But it was a lot of fun and she took a lot of pictures!

It was a very productive weekend! I got my invitations put together, the programs are done, we found a dress for my junior bridesmaid, shopped for a new phone for David, and looked at a kitchen table. I also got my hair highlighted and went to WW. WW wasn't so good, but I knew it was going to be a gain. For the last two weeks my eating hasn't been good, but I am back on track now. I am working with Susan this afternoon, and then I am going to Yoga with Kim tonight and I am very ready! I need it! I haven't been in a couple weeks because of being sick and then last Monday being a holiday. So I am probably a little regressed, but I am back on it, baby! :)

So here we are on a Monday morning. Is it 4pm yet? I am so ready to hit the gym!

Everyone have a great day!

A Small Victory

While getting dressed this morning I put on a dress that I bought a bit too tight and could not wear. Well guess what? I'm wearing it today!! I love it when this happens...it's really motivating! I needed a little nudge, and that helped. I also got a really good workout in yesterday. My trainer was off, but I still worked my legs really good, and David and I went to the gym last night and I got some good cardio in as well. David also grilled us some salmon and we had a salad...we were very good!

It's hard to get back into the swing after a long weekend. We had a nice time...it was good to get to spend two days with David in a row! He has to head out of town tomorrow but comes back on Saturday night. Next week he's off to NYC. The travel will wrap up at the end of June, so that's something to look forward to. :)

That's really about it for today. I'm trying to get a few things done because I have a long meeting today. (Ugh!) I'm looking forward to dinner with Grampa tonight.

Everyone have a good Wednesday!

On the Mend

Oh man, I have been so sick! I've had a monster of an upper respiratory infection and it hasn't been much fun. I missed a few days of work, but I am better. Still coughing and fighting the phlegm, but definitely better.

My kitchen shower last Sunday was great! Wendy went all out and we had a great time. My friends and family are so very generous! We got lots of wonderful stuff, and we had a good time going through all our goodies after I got home. :)

It's been a busy week with work. Today is nice because I only have to work a half day, so Mia and I are going to bum around and have some lunch. I got to have dinner with Christy last night, and it was nice to get together. (We went to the MAC counter!!) She wants to have a bridal shower for me in August, so we talked about that. August will be busy for me...bridal shower and bachelorette party!! Woo-hoo! My girls are planning a trip to Austin for that, so it should be a blast!

Saturday night I am hostessing an engagement celebration for Kevin and Samantha. It's easy - it's a pot luck dinner, so we'll have lots of yummy stuff. I'm going to get to see lots of friends I haven't seen in a while, so I am really looking forward to that. David will be home Saturday night, so I'll get to show him off for a little while at least! (He's in Denver right now.)

So I think that gets me caught up. I haven't done well with my eating this week, and I haven't been able to exercise because I have been so sick, so even though I am going to WW tomorrow, I am not going to weigh in. I need to go and get pumped up at the meeting and then be back on track again, so don't look for a weight loss total tomorrow. We're just going to say that I maintained and leave it at that. The thing is that I am okay with this. I ate some stuff I shouldn't have eaten this week, and now I am getting myself back into my groove. Actually, I see this as a positive - I'm back in control and ready to work out next week! So I am feeling good about this. That's the nice thing about WW...it's never too late to get back on track!

Have a great Friday everyone!!

A Little Under the Weather

I'm sick with an upper respiratory infection, but I'll be back to blogging soon!

Me vs. The Scale: I Win!

Yes, I lost 4.2 pounds this week for a new total of 17.6 pounds gone!! Everyone told me the four-tenths of a pound gain wasn't me, and it really wasn't! So I am feeling rather spectacular! I still don't know what to reward myself with when I lose 20 pounds, though. I found a super cute Coach wristlet that I fell in love with today, but it would be a better 50 pound off gift. I need to think a little smaller for 20 pounds. Maybe a massage... :)

David will be home soon, and tomorrow is my bridal shower! I am so excited!

The "Make America Sparkle" Campaign

I had a weird revelation a few minutes ago...next month I will be old enough to run for president. Not that I am making any plans to do so, but if I did, what would my campaign be like?

• Mandatory shopping holidays (deep discounts and paid time off from work included)
• Cleaner cities - we need to make America sparkle!
• People would need to exercise courtesy and good manners in public (cell phone etiquette, hello!)
• Hugging would be the proper form of greeting people

I'm sure there are more important issues at hand, but it's not like I'm actually running. BUt as of June 22nd, I could!

On a less "fluff" note, tomorrow is weigh in. After my .4 gain last week, I don't have a clue what the scale will say, but I've done a good job this week of tracking what I ate and of making good choices, so what else can a girl do? Hopefully I will have good news to report. I have also been drinking green tea all day. Good for the insides!

Sunday is my very first bridal shower! Do you know how hard it is not to peek at my online registry? Yeah, I don't know either...I peeked! :) But I won't peek any more this weekend. I bought nice hostess gifts for Wendy and Maureen, who are hostessing this wonderful party, and I can't wait to give them their gifts! I also found the absolute coolest bridemaid gifts, but I obviously can't talk about them here. After they get the gifts in September I can spill the beans. But they're so cool!! If you need a really cool gift for a girlfriend, email me and I can tell you all about it! (Unless you're one of my Fox Force Five...then you have to wait!)

That's it for now. Have a good Friday everyone! I'm going to dinner with the folks and then going to buy my Thank You cards, so it should be a very nice evening. :)

Take That, Scale!

After my devastating four-tenths of a pound gain (I know it sounds silly, but when you work this hard you want measurable results!), I had my trainer take my measurements. I've made good progress in all areas, so I am now officially convinced that my weight gain was muscle. :) So there, scale! Ha!

Other than that, no big news. Oh, except that my very first bridal shower is this Sunday! I can't wait! (and I get married in 133 days - eek!) I am trying not to peek at the registry to see what people have bought for us...it's hard not to do that!

I still have plenty to do for the wedding. Next month, I am working on invitations and programs. I need to get the table cards finished before the end of this month for sure. I think I am going to work on that this Friday night.

We're almost unpacked from the move. It's nice to have a bigger place, and it does feel like home. We have an upstairs neighbor with cement feet, though. I keep thinking I will go up there and apologize for making so much noise. When they look surprised and say they don't hear us, I will say something like "oh yeah...it must be you then!" I probably won't do that, but it's fun to fantasize!

So that really is it for today. David is feeling a little better, but is still getting over his upper respiratory infection. Poor guy! He has to travel again tomorrow. But he'll be home on Saturday night! :)

Have a good Wednesday!

Denied!

I was so close to my 15 pound mark, but my body decided to gain .4 pounds. GAIN??? The only reason I can come up with for that is gaining muscle, as I worked out really hard this past week. I am trying to move on and have a good week this week and hopefully have a loss on Saturday morning. I was really frustrated!

Poor David is really sick. He is congested and coughing, but being the man he is, he isn't going to the doctor. I wish he would, but hopefully he will feel better. He's had to travel so much it's not surprising that he is feeling so crummy.

My very first bridal shower is this coming Sunday! It's so surreal to me that there is a party like this being held in my honor! (Is it wrong that I checked my registry to see what people have bought for me? I'm going to try not to do that again...I'd like to be surprised on Sunday!) It's really neat to think that people are so wonderful and are gathering to celebrate my wedding like this. I really do feel so honored! :)

Tonight I work out with Susan and then I have Yoga at 7pm. I am looking forward to working out. We celebrated Mother's Day and I ate some chocolate cake (not a whole piece, mind you!) and I am ready to work it off my body. I also discovered that since i don't eat such things these days, it kind of made me feel icky. That's a good thing, right?

Christy is home from her honeymoon. She left me a message, but I had missed her call. I was happy to hear her voice and I can't wait to hear how her honeymoon was! (I just want the G-rated details!) It's so funny to think that the next wedding I attend is my own!

135 day away...I bet the time will go by quickly!

Friday Has Arrived!

It's been a long week! I am so ready for the weekend...and for weighing in tomorrow! It's been a good week, so I expect good things from the scale. :) I need to make sure I get some treadmill time in after work, though, just to be sure.

No real news today. I need to work on some wedding stuff tonight. It's only 138 days until the wedding. I know it sounds like a lot, but it really isn't. Not when I think about all the little things I need to do. The most important thing to me is that people see us in the details. I want people to walk away from a fun evening feeling like they saw our personal touches in all the little things. No one will really pay much attention to the fact that I am making all the table cards by hand, but if for just a moment they hold their card and think to themselves that it looks like something David and I would pick out, then I will be happy. I want our day to be full of laughter and love and family and friends. If a flower girl puts her dress over her head, it will be one of those funny things people will laugh about later. (Bridesmaids, keep your skirts at your knees! That's not funny! ;) ) For me, the day will be perfect if everyone has a good time and enjoys themselves.

That's it for today! Everyone have a great Friday!

Waterbed Has A New Meaning

Yeah, I was so tired last night after working with my trainer and then an hour of Yoga that I actually fell asleep in the bath tub. Yes, that's pretty tired. Apparently we had some loud storms, but I slept through that as well. (Not in the tub...I did wake up and dry off and go to bed) I am about to work with my trainer some more. I am officially a glutton for punishment.

Oh, and my arms are killing me from lifting weights yesterday. We are going to see Spiderman 3 tonight. I'll probably fall asleep. Ugh!

No big news. Hope all is well with everyone. Lucky Christy...she and her new husband are lying on a beach in the Dominican Republic!

A Little Less of Me

WW is going really well! I lost 2.4 pounds for a grand total of 13.8 pounds gone! I didn't expect to do that well, so it was a wonderful surprise for me! :) I am feeling good and can hardly wait until I can see a difference!

Christy got married this weekend, and it was wonderful! there ceremony at the Bontanic Gardens was lovely, and the reception was a lot of fun. It's hard to believe that the next wedding I go to is my own! (That feels strange to even think about!) I have a lot to do and time is starting to tick away!

David came home on Sunday and I was so glad! I missed him so much and I get to have him home until Thursday. :) I'm so happy!

Tonight is Yoga night and I am looking forward to it. I didn't much exercise last week because my allergies were giving me so much trouble, but I am feeling good and ready to get back into my groove. I should be good and sore tomorrow!

Have a good Monday everyone!

Thoughts, Ideas...Anything?

I need a little help from everyone. I am trying to think of a good reward for myself for when I reach the 20 pounds off mark. Nothing food or dining out related, and nothing hugely expensive. For 10 pounds gone, I bought myself a Yoga mat and a bag to carry it in, so now I am looking for my next reward. Any ideas are greatly appreciated!!

No big news. David left this morning for Omaha, and he will be back Sunday evening. This week is shaping up to be busy, with Christy's wedding happening on Saturday. I am still feeling kind of crummy, but I am definitely feeling better. It really sucks to have allergies!

So that's really it for today. Mostly just trying to figure out what to do for myself as a treat. :)

Slightly Delayed

Sorry to be late in posting an update...it was a busy weekend! Friday night David and I went to dinner and we were going to go see a movie, but we were both so tired we opted to stay home and veg. He was home all week long, and that's kind of rare for us so we took advantage of the time and snuggled. It was really nice!

Saturday morning...I'm a loser! I've lost 11.4 pounds now, so I got to get my new Yoga mat as my reward for having lost 10 pounds now! I also went to Yoga on Saturday morning with Kim, and afterwards we went to lunch and then she ordered her bridesmaid dress. :) Saturday night was the engagement party, and it was a wonderful evening. It was just wedding party and family, and it was wonderful - Angela really knows how to throw a party! :)

Sunday I was really having allergy trouble, but we went went to the DMA and the Nasher to see the Henri Matisse exhibit. (I wanted to see his paintings in Paris but the were being cleaned!) We had lunch at the Spaghetti Warehouse and then came home and relaxed. I felt just awful yesterday. My allergies are giving me a really tough time. I had to miss Yoga, but I am feeling better today. Not great, but better. I think I might be on the mend.

So that should bring you up to speed. My birthday is next month...I'm going to be 35! Where did all the time go? Ugh!

Clean Bill of Health

My fur baby, Cleo, got her teeth cleaned today. She got a clean bill of health, and her chompers are in good shape. Not bad for a 14 year old girl, huh? (She's 72 in people years!) This is a big relief for me, as I am incredibly attached to this cat and I am always afraid that something bad will happen to her...I cried while we waited for blood work because I was afraid she might be sick...mind you, it was routine blood work and she was fine!

Tomorrow night is my engagement party, thrown by Angela. It's just family and wedding party because that's over 40 people right there. (David has a lot of family!) I'm excited and can't wait! David is also taking me to the Matisse exhibit this weekend, and I am thrilled! I missed his paintings in Paris because they were being cleaned. :(

I step on the scale in the morning, so I am thinking good thoughts and have high hopes that I might break the 10 pounds off mark. If I do, my treat is to buy myself my very own Yoga mat. :) Might be lame to you, but I am totally getting into this Yoga thing. Actually, Kim and I are going to Yoga at 11am tomorrow. And then we're going to meet Jen at the bridal shop and order their bridesmaid dresses. I'm so excited! Everyone is picking a different dress and they will all look so beautiful! I'm very lucky to have such wonderful friends!

So everyone have a great weekend! I'll post tomorrow and let you know about my weight loss!

Byron Nelson, I Hardly Knew Ye

So cool voicemail this morning...I won tickets to the Byron Nelson this week! I am trying to see if I can take Friday off, and if so then Kim and I are off to fairway! I found parking and all, now I just need the OK from my boss. It's a little iffy...we have people out this week so I am crossing my fingers. I've never been and even though I am not a golf fanatic, I think it would be pretty neat to get to go and see all the fuss. Now I am wondering if I should have just called in sick Friday. Nah..I would have ended up on TV and gotten busted on Monday. It's not worth it to lie! So hopefully I can make it. I can't go Saturday because it's my day to get ready for my engagement party! And Kim and I are going to go get her dress ordered, too, so there is just too much to do on Saturday. And on Sunday David is taking me to the DMA to see the Matisse paintings on exhibit. Matisse is my favorite painter, and I missed his works at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris because they were cleaning his paintings. So here's my chance! We thought it would be fun to see the exhibit, have lunch, and buy a couple of prints to hang in the apartment. So it's going to be a wonderful weekend!

I went to Yoga last night and I am sore this morning. But I could tell that I did a little better than last time! However, but foot made a squeak noise on the floor as I moved my foot into the Warrior II pose, so now I'm afraid everyone will think I am the girl that farts in Yoga class. Great. Hopefully next week it will be forgotten. It's always something embarrassing with me.

So that's about it. it's been a busy day so far, and it promises to stay busy all day. I am going with Jennifer tonight to help her pick out her bridesmaid dress. Hopefully the weather won't get crappy...it's supposed to be severe during rush hour. Welcome to April in Texas!

I think that's it for today. Have a good Tuesday!!

158 Days To Go!

Holy cow! 158 days until I get married!! Where does the time go? Christy gets married in less than two weeks now. We had her bachelorette party Saturday night, and she had a blast! She got to wear a veil covered in condoms and little plastic penises, and she got lots of attention at the bar. While everyone else drank, I was the good designated driver and drank club soda with lime all night. Also, since I am being very focused on WW, I didn't want to drink. Oh, I lost 1.8 pounds this week! That makes for 8.4 pounds gone, I think! :) So it's slow, but it's working. Mom lost 4 pounds and I am very proud of her!

It's been so hectic with the move. David came home yesterday and he is going to finish up at the apartment for me since I've done so much this week. I'm so grateful!

Tonight I work out with Susan, and then I have Yoga at 7. I didn't make it to Yoga last week because I could barely move after a couple days of moving. But I'm ready to do it again tonight! I like the instructor, so I am looking forward to it. Kim can't make it tonight, but I am going to be brave and go by myself. I'm a little nervous but I'll be so glad I went!

So big congrats to Kevin and Samantha on their engagement! I am going to hostess a party for them later next month, and I am excited about it. I thought it would be easy to do a pot luck dinner for them, and it's always fun to enjoy other people's recipes.

Speaking of parties, this Saturday night Angela is hostessing an engagement party. We kept the guest list down to just immediate family and wedding party members because I didn't want to totally flood Angela's house with people. (Besides, that's around 40 people right there!) It's our first party to celebrate our engagement and I am really excited! I've been so busy throwing parties for other people that it will be nice to have one for us. :) Selfish, yeah...but I want to celebrate our engagement, too!

That's it for today. I hope everyone has a great Monday!

Sheer Exhaustion!

It has been a really tiring weekend! We began moving on Saturday, and had to take a break long enough for me to hostess a bridal shower for Christy on Sunday. After that it was back to moving, and the movers came to move the big stuff on Monday morning. We still have a lot of little stuff at the old place, but it is really nice to be in the new place with more room!

I lost 1.6 pounds on Saturday's weigh in for a total of 7.6 (I think!) pounds gone now! Not too bad for three weeks worth of work! :)

I don't have much news other than moving. That's pretty much all I've been doing. David is out of town until Sunday, and I have Christy's bachelorette party on Saturday night. I never stay out late any more, so I hope I can make it past 10pm!

Everyone take it easy! :)

Excitement is Building!

Moving day is almost here! We found out that we can paint the apartment, so we've picked out a color for the living room and a color for the master bedroom. We're doing two walls in the living room and one accent wall in the bedroom, so this should go pretty quickly. I'm excited that we can make it our own since we plan to be here for about two years. (Our next place will hopefully be a house!) But we have an awesome golden color for the two walls in the living room, and a washed out olive color for the bedroom. I'm not sure I have ever been this excited about painting. I will pick up the paint on Saturday and we're going to paint Saturday night.

We still have a fair amount of packing to do, but we've gotten a lot done. We're moving boxes down to the garage tonight to get things out of the way since I have Christy's bachelorette party on Sunday afternoon. This weekend is just nuts!

The movers come on Monday, so we have time to get things done. David leaves on Tuesday and comes back Sunday night, so I am doing most of the unpacking. When he comes home he'll do most of the rearranging, though. (He's got a better eye for putting stuff together than I do.)

So that's the excitement for now. My body has finally recovered from two personal training sessions and my first Yoga class. I think I am really going to like Yoga, and I am definitely going back next Monday. It did me a lot of good!

That's it for now. I'll try to blog on Saturday to update you on my weigh in! Think skinny thoughts!

I Can Barely Move

Not only did I work with my trainer yesterday (she super set my arms - the pain!), I went to my very first Yoga class ever. Actually, it was my first exercise class I've ever been to, and even though I was clumsy and couldn't do everything, I made it through the whole class! Kim wen with me (Thank you Kim!!!) and I was glad she was there. Somehow having her there made it easier, because let me tell you...I was very nervous about trying this. I was afraid people would judge me or stare at me, and you know what? It turns out that none of the people there came to judge me! They simply came to do Yoga for themselves. :) The instructor was really nice...she came over to encourage me more than once, and afterwards we had a chance to talk with her and she really made me feel glad I came. So from now on, Mondays at 7pm I'll be doing Yoga with Kim! :)

However, getting up this morning was a whole other story...I am so sore today! But it is all so worth it, and it will be even more worth it when I get on the scale Saturday morning at WW. Seriously, I think I'm on the right track now!!

Everyone have a wonderful Tuesday!

I'm A Loser Again!

My Saturday morning weigh-in was full of good news! I lost another 3.4 pounds for a total of 5.6 pounds gone now! Yeah, I think I am on the right track. The key is to stick with it, but I'm really focused on this so I think this is going to have a happy ending. :) I've worked out hard lately, so I think it's going to pay off. Tonight I am starting a Yoga class. Kim is going to meet me at a 24 Hour Fitness location that's in the middle for both of us, and she's going to do Yoga with me. I have never done Yoga so I am nervous, but it does help to have a friend there with me. So send me good Yoga vibes at 7pm tonight! (And Thank You to Kim for holding my hand and going with me!)

We spent most of our weekend packing since next weekend we get the keys to the MUCH bigger apartment! I can hardly wait! I am also throwing Christy a lingerie shower on Sunday...it's going to be a crazy weekend, but I am so happy to do it for her! May 5th is her wedding day, and it's just going to be wonderful. :) So this week is going to be insanely busy with coordinating shower stuff and moving, but we'll get it all done! (Thank goodness Mom is helping with the shower!)

I hope everyone had a joyful Easter weekend!

One of Those Weeks

Wow...it's been really busy this week! I'm also having trouble with my allergies...not fun! But it has been a nice week. I got to attend an Employee Recognition lunch yesterday to celebrate my 5 years with the company. It was a very nice lunch and I got to chat with our CEO, who seems to be a pretty cool guy. I've done well this week on WW, but I am afraid that Mother Nature may have an effect on my weigh-in, but we'll see. I thought that last week and it didn't seem to be true!

David and I are packing and getting ready to move. We get the keys to the apartment on Saturday the 14th, so I am very excited! The movers are coming on Monday the 16th, so I have a couple days to move clothes and lightweight stuff first.

I had to take my precious Cleopatra to the vet on Monday because she has been favoring her front leg. I worry about everything because she is getting close to being 15 years old, and I cannot even bear to think about my life without my precious cat. But she seems to be ok. She and Kaylee got into a little row the other night and I think that's when she did something to her leg. This morning she seems much better, though. We're keeping an eye on her for now, and I take her back on the 14th for routine blood work. Since she is getting older, we just want to check and make sure everything is functioning normally. When we get the results back, we can schedule her teeth cleaning...my baby has tartar buildup! So I want to be a good kitty mommy and make sure she is as healthy as possible. So it looks like she's fine. She seems to be her old self...a little grumpy sometimes, but very loving and sweet. Below is a picture of Cleo trying to sleep, and Zak just staring at her. He seems to be so fascinated with her, but she just wants very little to do with him.

So anyhow, that's it for today. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday! (At least tomorrow is Friday! Seems like everyone but me is off tomorrow.)

Good News!

So after my first week back on Weight Watchers I lost 2.2 pounds! It feels good to be on the right track. The hard part is keeping it up...or at least that seems to be the hard part for me. I've done okay over the weekend, and I am prepared to do well today. So keep sending me good vibes...they are working! :)

It was a nice weekend after the torrential rains we had! We sure needed it, though. I hadn't seen rain like that in years...the creek behind the apartment was full and moving very swiftly. I can see how people get swept away when they aren't careful.

Mom and I had brunch with Grampa Saturday and it was great. It's always so nice to spend time with him. After that Mom and I ran errands and had a good time. (By the way, she lost .2 pounds! Every bit counts, and I am very proud of her!)

So that's it in a nutshell. David and I had dinner at his parents house yesterday and that's about all we did. We were lazy!

Have a good Monday!

Is It Friday Yet?

Man, it's been a busy week. I am exhausted, and Friday can't come soon enough! I need to just take it easy tomorrow night...and that's what I intend to do! No plans, just rest. I've had too much going on, and I just want to watch movies and work on my wedding table cards.

We bought our cake server set last night. I hadn't seen anything I liked until last night at Dillard's and we found a Lenox set that is just gorgeous...little pearls in the handles...you can Google it under Lenox Jubilee Pearl dessert set. :)

Tonight Mom and I are working on wedding stuff. We're ironing pieces of the gift bags that Wendy is making for my bridesmaids. These bags are so neat...I won't describe them here, because I know the Fox Force Five (my five awesome bridesmaids) stop by to visit from time to time, and I want these to be some sort of surprise. The bags will be filled with fun things that I know they will love. :)

I am also mailing out the invites to Christy's Bachelorette Party today...yay! Dawn and I are working out the details...we're renting a big van that we can decorate and have someone chauffer us all around so no one has to be the designated driver...although I am trying not to drink right now...cutting back on the calories. I have quietly re-started WW again, and this is my first week back and I am trying to be good. I am about to start and I can feel myself retaining water, so this week's weigh in probably won't be great, but the one after that should rock my socks off! So I may actually have a gain my first week, but I am still going and facing the music.

That's it for now. Everyone have a good Thursday!

Getting Stuff Done

So yesterday I got all the paperwork completed for the move to the new apartment. Since it's owned by the same company that owns my current complex, I can transfer over without having to put down any new deposits or filling out another application. (Yay!) They just had to make sure that I hadn't torn up my current apartment. So after I got the paperwork from my current place, I ran it over to the new place and dropped everything off. Now all I have to do I show up on the 14th to sign the paperwork and get my keys! :) One less thing on my list of stuff to do!

I made dinner after that and then ran over to Wendy's to pick up some wedding stuff that she is helping me with. I ended up staying much later than I thought I would (I always do...she and I could talk for hours!) So I got home around 10:30 and went right to bed. (And I am sleepy today!)

Tonight I am having dinner with Grampa. David is giving a seminar at one of the malls in Dallas, so he won't be able to go with me. But I am looking forward to seeing Grampa since I was sick last week and couldn't make it.

So I don't have much other news. Hope all is well with everyone! Have a good Wednesday!

I'm Back!

Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been really busy at work and our internet connection at home is having issues, which makes it very hard to log online at night. It's just been crazy busy with work and wedding stuff. Just this past weekend we got the flower girl dresses, my veil, and the bridesmaids jewlery. Sunday was Christy's bridal shower, and it was just lovely. She had a large turnout and got a LOT of gifts! (I don't know how that girl got stuff home!) Her future mother-in-law just adores her and I think it 's wonderful. Christy's mom was there and is doing really well after having breast cancer and going through chemotherapy. She has one more treatment to go, and she looks just wonderful!

I have also been under the weather for a chunk of last week...that stomach virus was nasty! I was off two days last week because I was sick. I hate taking time off when I am sick! I'd much rather be out having fun or relaxing with my girls!

The whole month of April is freaking me out...I have Christy's bachelorette party, her lingerie shower, our engagement party, and we're moving. Man, I don't know how it will all come together, but I have some wonderful friends who are such good support for me. Not to mention my awesome family...I'm a lucky gal!

So I just don't have much time, but wanted to pop in and say hi. It's been a while since I blogged and it was about time!

Have a good Tuesday everyone!

TGIF!

Thankfully, it's Friday! It's been a very busy week here at work, so I am looking forward to the weekend. Tonight David is going to see "300" with his brother. It's not my cup of tea, so I am staying home to clean and pack some more. (We move 1 month from today!!) It's nice to have some quiet time to get stuff done. Besides, one of the cats (Kaylee!!!) gakked on the floor this morning and I know it's waiting for me to clean up, so here I go with the carpet cleaner! :)

Tomorrow Mom and I go with Wendy to buy fabric for the flower girl dresses and ring bearer pillows. I can't wait! I'm also sending out our Save the Date cards tomorrow. (I am finishing putting labels on them this evening, too!) I have lots of little projects going and the time will pass quickly.

Tomorrow is also St. Paddy's day! So kiss an Irishman (or woman!) and have a beer. David and I are of Scottish descent, but we're happy to celebrate anyhow! :)

So everyone have a great weekend!

Wedding Planning

Wow...mom and I met with the coordinator at the church yesterday and we did some planning. Now we're trying to figure out the rehersal dinner. Turns out that Buca di Beppo wanted an arm and a leg for dinner. We're back to square one, but I have some ideas!

Work is good. It's been really busy, and I would much rather be off enjoying the lovely spring weather. David comes home today and I think we should celebrate by going for a walk. It's too pretty to be exercising indoors today! My new promise to myself is to exercise 5 days a week and to make good food choices MOST of the time. That allows me to indulge on occasion, as long as I am eating smart the majority of the time. It makes sense. Who can live with absolutely NO CHOCOLATE?? That's not my kind of lifestyle!

Dinner with Grampa was nice. Mom and Dad came, too. Grampa got new hearing aids in both ears, and he was enjoying his improved hearing last night. Now I have to remember that I don't need to speak up when I talk to him...he can hear me just fine now!!

So that's about it for today. Everyone have a good Friday!

200 Days

It sounds like a lot of time. It's not at all. I have a lot to do in 200 days before the wedding, and it's a little scary to think about!! It will all get done, though.

It was a productive weekend. I got to see Joseph Friday, which was so nice since I don't think I have seen him since before Thanksgiving! We got a bit to eat and just hung out for a while. I'm really glad I got to see him. :) Saturday I went to breakfast with mom and dad and then we went to Paper Planet, where I am buying paper supplies for different things I am doing for the wedding. After that, it was home for me, then housecleaning and going to the store. David got home Saturday night, and we had dinner and pretty much called it a night. Sunday we spent cleaning out the garage and packing up a couple of boxes. Since we're moving in a month, we're trying to get rid of the stuff we don't want or need. We took a bunch of stuff to Goodwill, too. To reward ourselves, we went to On The Border and shared a dinner and had a margarita. The weather was great, and we sat on the covered patio. It was really nice when the rain moved in! Wish it would have rained harder and for a long time...we need it!

So that was my weekend in a nutshell. I am sleepy...this time change is hard on me!! Everyone have a good Monday!

The Ball is Officially Rolling

I did it! I ordered my wedding dress last night! Mom, Wendy and I went to the bridal shop and ordered my beautiful dress. I wish I could post a picture, but since David drops in to read the blog from time to time, I just can't do that. But trust me, it's really pretty! And it's different...it's really special. It's sleeveless, and my arms are not really good for sleeveless, so Wendy is going to do the sleeves or a wrap or whatever we decide to do so that I don't worry about my arms all day long. Also, my waist has gotten smaller since the last time we measured me at the dress shop, so that was good news for me as well. :) After the dress shop we went to get some dinner and talk wedding stuff. Wendy is generously offering to make the flower girl dresses, help with mom's dress, make me some sundresses for the honeymoon, and make some really cool tote bags for my bridesmaid gifts (they will later be filled with lots of fun things!). Oh, and she's also doing the ring bearer pillows, flower girl baskets, and tissue box covers (for the weepy ones at the ceremony). This woman is one of the most gifted pattern designers I have ever seen, and I am so honored that she wants to participate in all the wedding stuff! Mom and I are so excited!! So now we're down to 206 days until the wedding...it's going to go fast!

David is on the road again and comes home on Saturday. We are hoping Craig and Jen can come over and hang. :) I haven't seen them in FOREVER!

That's the news for now. I am on a wedding high at the moment, and it's all I can do to focus on work!

212 Is The Magic Number

212 days until the wedding. Sounds like a lot, but it really isn't! Things are under control, though, so it's all good.

Tonight David and I are grilling. Yum! He leaves tomorrow morning for Abilene and comes home on Saturday evening. I am going to try and have something yummy made for dinner. Cross your fingers that works out! :)

I am really glad tomorrow is Friday. It's been a busy and stressful week for me and I am ready to kick back. I am having dinner with Kim and Mia tomorrow evening, and I really need it. Just girl talk and good food. :) It's good for my soul! Monday Christy is doing my hair. My roots are awful right now! I am really going gray, and thank goodness she can help stop the obvious signs of aging! (along with my massive amounts of anti-aging creams and serums!)

There's not a whole lot more to tell right now. I am sore from my workouts this week. I am going to try and go for a walk tonight, but it's Gray's Anatomy night. I worry for that show. I love it so much, but the cast seems to be wrought with problems...they can't seem to get along very well. I think it will cause an early demise for a show with so much potential. I'll live...there's plenty of junk I record in my DVR. :)

Okay...I think that really is it. Have a good Thursday everyone!!

Oh, the PAIN!

After working out Monday and Tuesday with my trainer, I am a very sore girl. I pretty much went home and went right to bed last night. David is out of town so I didn't need to worry about dinner for anyone, so I drifted off to sleepy land. :) I needed it!

Dinner was fine Monday night. David's parents are much more reserved and quiet, so I always feel like I'm kind of loud and silly when I am around them. I think my parents are wonderful and I am always proud to introduce them. My parents have always been very well liked/loved by all my friends and David really loves them, too. :) That always makes me very happy!

Tonight I am having dinner with Grampa. Mom and Dad are meeting me there, and if David gets home in time he'll come too. He is flying in from Corpus Christi this afternoon, so I am not sure he will be home in time. He leaves again on Friday and comes home Saturday night, so I am having dinner with my girls on Friday evening. I love my friends! :)

So that's it for now. I hope everyone has a good Wednesday!

Meet The Parents

Tonight David and I are really merging families: we're having dinner together with both sets of parents. We're going to a restaurant in the West Village (I love that part of town!) and we've heard great things about this place. I'll review the food tomorrow. This should be a very nice evening, and I am looking forward to it. (There's a Paciguo's over there, so we may need to cap the evening with a little fat-free sorbetti!)

WW has stalled out for me. Our work meetings are over (it was a 16 week program) and now I am going to try on my own for a while. I talked with Angela about it in great length, and I think I can do this. I do have to order my dress in the next week or so, but it's ok. I am going to keep working out and working to make good food choices. I really can do this, I just have to dig deep within. It's there, I know it is! (I did it before!)

We had fun watching the Oscars last night. I always love the dresses and hairstyles. I thought Gwynneth Paltrow looked so very beautiful! I didn't see too many people who looked bad, although some DJs were talking about it on the radio. I'll have to go online later and look.

That's it for now. I am having lunch with Mia today, and I am really looking forward to it! :)

The Weekend Recap is a Little Late

Yeah, I'm running behind all over the place. Sorry I've done such a poor job of blogging lately...it's just been so hectic and I haven't had much time. I think most everyone out there understands!

David and I had a nice weekend. We drove down to Austin and just relaxed for the evening. It was a really lovely evening, and we needed to recharge, for sure! The night before, (Friday night) David's brother Greg came over and we went to see Ghost Rider. It's a little far fetched in some places, but it was entertaining and I had a good time. We say the preview for 300, which looks like some kind of gladiator movie. I'm really not interested, but Greg and David told me I have to go see it with them, so apparently I am not getting out of going. (I plan to try, though!)

It's been really busy at work. I am moving into a new position (yay!) and I am having to train new people (boo). I'm not a very good trainer, and I always make sure to tell people this. It doesn't help that the other two people on my team aren't very bright, so it's really being left up to me. It will be about a month or so before I can move into my new position, and I really hope it goes by fast!

I had my first wedding nightmare last night. I dreamed that David didn't bother to go get a tux until the day of the wedding, so no one had matching tuxes. I think I am stressing myself out about the wedding. I am also having body issues (I love the dress I have picked out, but it's sleeveless and I don't love my arms.), trying to finish getting addresses from David, and starting to think about the flow of the ceremony. All of a sudden it hit me last night that I have a lot to do and the time is really starting to move quickly. I did the invitations and the RSVP cards printed last night. (In case no one knew this, I am doing the invitations myself.) I need to finalize a couple of details and then I can print the inserts with the reception and accommodation information on it. After that, I'm going to have friends come and help assemble these things, and then they will be ready to be mailed out in July.

So really, everything is under control. I just need to remind myself it will all be okay!

I hope everyone has a good Wednesday!!

Happy Birthday, Kim and Mia!

Today is Kim and Mia's birthday! They are both thirty-faux today (we're all of a certain age that we don't really need to say exactly how old we are anymore!) and they are fabulous! So celebrate in style, girls! :)

No big news to report. We had a lovely dinner last night...David made ribs and they were awesome! We had a relaxing evening, and we deserved it. Tonight my parents are taking us to dinner and we are really looking forward to that, too. (Thanks in advance, mom and dad!)

Tomorrow night David's brother Greg is coming over, and hopefully, so is Jen. Craig has a soccer game but I am hoping Jen can still make it. I haven't seen her in a while and I need to hug her. :) (and Craig, too!) We're planning to see Ghost Rider at the movies.

That's it for now! Everyone have a good Thursday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you all have had a great day! Remember that you are all special to me!

Grammy Recap

No, I'm not recapping the winners....I'm recapping the fun! David and I cleaned house during the day, and went to the store. We have official Grammy watching munchies, and here's the menu for fun!

Grammy Award Winning Nachos

2-3 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 bag dried cranberries
1 bag corn tortillas
1 wedge of brie cheese

Place the chips on an oven safe baking sheet (we use a piza stone). Cover with diced chicken, black beans, dried cranberries, and shredded brie (freeze the brie first so that it will be easier to shred). Then bake in oven until cheese is melted. YUM!

Cocktail of the Year

1 cup champange
1/2 small individual sized can pineapple juice
2-3 tablespoons grenadine

Pour over ice and serve with cherries as a garnish!

And that was the menu! Fun food to watch the Grammies with! We had a good time giving our opinions on the performers and playing fashion police. :)

Happy Monday everyone!

Where Have I Been?

Going crazy! (short trip, I know!) Seriously, it's just been super busy for me lately. Work has been crazy, and home life has been busy, too! David is out of town again, so I am having some me time. I had dinner with Grampa last night, and tonight I have to run and do some returning/exchanging of clothes and shoes. I am having dinner with mom and dad, and then mom said she'd keep me company while I run up to the mall to return shoes and exchange some clothes. My goal is to be in bed at a decent time again tonght. A full night's sleep is a very lovely thing!

This weekend is the big Glitterati Birthday Bash. Kim and Mia both turn thirty-faux next week, and we're sushi-ing it up this weekend. It should be a very good time! (It's so neat that two of my very best friends have the same birthday!!)

Special note...if you have given up commenting because the system is giving you a hard time, that should be fixed. Anyone is welcome to comment now, I just get to approve the comments before they post. (Only because I don't want spam comments all over my blog!)

So that's it for now. I hope everyone is have a great day!

(And a special thanks to Blonde...your email was so nice!! I needed that!)

Inspired

I lost a pound. Just one, but it's significant in that it means I am on the right track. I thought a lot today about ways to keep myself motivated and inspired. I also wondered why this is such a struggle...a wedding dress isn't enough? The fact that I lost 78 pounds in 2005 (and managed to gain a big chunk back) doesn't motivate me? I wondered if there was a book out there that might speak to me. So I went to amazon.com. How does one weed through all that mess? I don't need some author to tell me HOW to do it...I already know how. I need something that sparks me, really speaks to me. The Rice Diet was not it. I don't even know what a rice diet would be like except that maybe you eat a lot of rice?

I thought back to when I began blogging almost two years ago. I was on the right path, getting ready for a trip to Paris, and caring for my Gran. My Gran. She embodies so many of the very qualities I admire in my mother, and the qualities I hope to find in myself. And then I thought further...my Dad, who has always been there when I had a broken heart or a skinned knee. When I was about to move home from Seattle and had no money and didn't know what to do, my Dad flew up to help me come home. And seeing him coming toward me in the airport terminal was one of the greatest moments of my life because my Dad was there and I knew he would make everything okay. That's what he does. He supports me in every way possible, and there are things we've talked about that were difficult and he never judged. He listened and hugged me. I hope to be like that, too. So where can I draw inspiration? From my Dad, who never gives up on me.

Where else can I find inspiration? I have amazing friends. Kim, Mia, Angela, Christy, Jennifer, Joseph...the list goes on and on. (If you don't see your name, it's because I can't begin to name everyone who inspires and encourages me! Don't think you weren't thought of while I was writing this!) Everyone in my life seems to always find a way to cheer me on when it's tough. For this, I am so grateful. And David...who loves me just as I am, but encourages me to be the very best me I can. Which doesn't always have anything to do with weight, but everything to do with being a good person.

So after an evening of thought, I found my inspiration to keep on working hard. I found it in myself, but it's there because all of you believe in me and believe I can do this.

Thank you. What else can I say? You all mean the world to me.

Wednesday Cuteness

Okay...I think this is pretty great! This is a picture of two of our kitties, Zak and Cleo, doing what they do best: Zak is stalking Cleo and Cleo doesn't care. :)

I love this picture!

So no real news today. David leaves today for San Antonio/Austin. (The Austin part is especially good...that is where my ring is being made!) Saturday is a shoe shopping excursion and I think that's everything I have planned. I worked out my lower body yesterday with Susan and I am one very sore chica today! Walking up/down the stairs killed me...but it's all in the name of progress! We took my measurements Monday, so in a month we'll measure again and see what kind of progress I am making. :)

That's all for now. I hope everyone is having a great day!

Happy Birthday David!

It's David's birthday today! :) We had a nice, quiet weekend and it was definitely much needed. We watched movies and vegged. Yesterday, David's parents took us to the Malachite Room at the Intercontinental Hotel for brunch. VERY nice! I would hate to know what the brunch cost, but the food was outstanding! Tonight, my parents and my Grampa are taking us out to celebrate David's birthday. We have a favorite local place we love, and that's where we are going.

Other than that, it was a very quiet weekend. There hasn't been a lot going on lately, but that's ok. David is travelling Wednesday-Friday, so I will miss him. He's trying to organize his travel so that he isn't gone quite as long on his trips. :)

That's it for now. Everyone have a good Monday!

The Luckiest Girl...

...has to be Christy! She found her wedding dress tonight and it will be in a month before her wedding (May 5th!). I was sure she'd have a hard time being able to order something this close to the wedding, but success! And she looks beautiful in it, too! We both got misty-eyed when she came out of the dressing room. I can't post the picture here because Rich might drop by, but trust me, she looks wonderful! It's going to be a great wedding! Sadly, my date won't be in town, so I will go stag and have lots of fun! :)

Not much new to report really. I worked with Susan yesterday and today, and I am sore! She is definitely doing her job! :) It's good to be working with a trainer again. :)

That's about it for now. Told you there wasn't much to report. Oh, except that I get my ring on February 17th! David has been have my ring custom designed. It's made from my Gran's ring, so it's incredibly special to me. He has designed the ring himself and it's being made right now. We're celebrating Valentines on February 17th so that I can be formally proposed to and we can have a long, romantic dinner. I have appointments for a facial, brow waxing, a French manicure, and Christy is trimming and styling my hair. I have to look good! :) I know some of you may not understand the whole ring coming after the wedding has been planned, but really, I don't mind. The commitment has been there all along, and that's the most important part. The ring is just the icing on the cake. And trust me when I say that it will be posted here the next day! :)

So everyone have a good evening!

250 Days and Counting

That's right...250 days until the wedding. Sounds like a lot of time, right? It's really not. I have been thinking of the time in terms of how many paychecks there are left, and it's only 17. We're having quite the wedding and reception, so we have agreed that frugality is the word of the day at our house. :) But we don't mind. We're having the wedding we want and we'll be surrounded by our wonderful friends and family. That makes it the wedding of our dreams! After feeling worn out and sluggish all weekend, I made it to a bridal show on Sunday and it was good to see my vendors. My baker had yummy samples of my cake and I was once again reminded of why I chose her...that's some mighty fine cake! :) I really went to see the bridal fashion show. Lots of pretty dresses, but I was checking out the bridesmaid dresses and saw a bunch that look beautiful. My bridesmaids are all going to be beautiful! (They each get to pick out their own dress...I'm not about to make them all wear the same thing!)

So that was my weekend in a nutshell. I was glad to have some sun yesterday. I am really tired of the rain and cold temperatures. You can bet that I'll regret that remark when it's 105 in July.

Mom and Dad have both been really really sick, and I think they are both on the mend. They've had that awful intestinal virus, so I haven't gotten to see them except for dropping off broth, Popsicles, sprite, and apple juice and leaving it on the porch and ringing the doorbell. I got to wave at them through the window. (I'm not about to catch that awful stuff!!) It's hard to not be able to go and hug them! :(

So that's it for now. I hope everyone has a good Monday! (Is there such a thing?)

Winter Blast!

Wow...we've had a heck of a cold snap here! My office was closed yesterday, and we didnt' have to come in until 10am this morning...what a nice treat! Daivd was supposed to fly to Amarillo yesterday but after sitting on the tarmac for 2 hours, they finally took themback to the gate and cancelled the flight so David came back home and we vegged all day. It was nice! :)

Today is a short day for me since I am only here until 4pm. No complaints here, though! I'll be grabbing some lunch around noon and then getting back to work. I have to put together my performance assessment for my annual review. I hate doing that, but I have to. Yuck!

So that's it for now. My WW meeting is cancelled for today, so no weigh in for me. I did start with my trainer on Tuesday, and my arms are so sore! I really like Susan and am excited to be working with her.

Everyone be safe! I hear we may be in for more sleet tomorrow! Good grief!

Cabin Fever

We've been in the apartment for two days now. It's cold and icy outside our building, so getting out isn't very appealing. So home we've stayed. We vegged yesterday, but today I worked on the table cards for the wedding, and we cleaned the apartment. It's been a nice day. :) Tomorrow will probably be just as uneventful since we're due for more freezing rain. But since we live so close to a movie theater, we think we're going to walk to the theater and see a movie. (if it's not rainy)

The cats have enjoyed our being home. They're snuggly and everyone seems to be getting along.

There's not really much news since we haven't gotten out. It's just been nice to be home and have David here! Everyone stay warm!

My Own Mouse Hole in the Rat Maze

We're moved into our teeny-weeny cubes now. The only good thing I can say is that I am back on my old floor with a lot of people that I like, and that does help. It's noisy up here and I don't have the storage space that I used to have. But someday I will have a grown-up cube again! Until then, I have a mouse hole in what looks a lot like a rat maze.

This is my home away from home. *sigh*

But the good news is that David comes home tonight!! Hopefully his flight won't delay...every time he flies American it gets delayed for some reason. I am crossing my fingers that it won't be delayed tonight. I'm working out after work, then going to the store and then heading home to clean both myself and the apartment. It helps pass time until I go pick him up. :) I think we're going to hibernate this weekend. It's going to be cold and yucky and right now, I don't see myself wanting to get out.

Oh, I put the deposit down on the honeymoon! Look out, Jamaica! Here we come!

So that's it for me. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Home Alone

Yes, David has been gone since Sunday and I miss him. This last-minute business trip to San Francisco has left me home alone with the kitties, and we are totally missing him!

I am off work tomorrow. Yay! They are moving my department to another floor, and they don't want us in the way so we get to stay home. :) I am going to the gym and then to my WW meeting, and then I am going to work on wedding stuff. It's a dream day for me!

So I am spending the bulk of my day packing and getting my cube ready to be moved. To a smaller cube. I'm not happy about that, but really that's old news and I don't feel like being mad today. I am crampy and bloaty and that doesn't help. So anyhow, I am moving to my new digs tomorrow. Woo-hoo.

That's really about it. Everything else is good. Christy is kicking her wedding planning into gear, so we're going to look for her dress on Sunday. She needs to get the cake/dessert ordered, but she'll have time for that. I mainly worry that she might not have enough time for her dress to be ordered, but I think it will be ok. I'm just happy to help her! :)

Everyone have a good Wednesday!

Getting By

That sums up the weekend...just getting by. It was a hard day. We sent Little Bit on to Heaven, and it has been tough. Mom and Dad's house seems a little empty without my furry brother. And on top of that, David left early yesterday morning on business, so I wandered around the house yesterday doing the old mindless munching, which makes me mad. So I've worked out hard today and hopefully reversed some of the damage. I weigh in on Thursday, so we'll see how things go. This just wasn't my favorite weekend.

It's a busy week at work. They are moving us to another floor so I have to pack my cube before the end of the business day Wednesday. They are moving so many people that it would be better if we weren't in the way, so I get a day off on Thursday, which is reallya nice treat. I am going to get up early and hit the gym and then go weigh in. I need my meeting this week.

I don't really have a lot of news today. Feeling a little blah. I have been driving Cleo, Kaylee and Zak nuts hugging, kissing, and petting them. I'm just needing to snuggle the kitties right now.

Getting Ready to Let Go

When I was 17 years old, a two-year-old scrawny, hungry marmalade colored tabby cat wandered up my parent's driveway and decided to adopt us. He's a sweet, loving cat who over the last 17 years has bought our family a lot of joy. He loves us and has taken care of us for many many years.

Now, he is 19 years old, and his arthritis is very painful for him. He is deaf and can't hear us tell him we love him, but it's obvious that he knows. He has a cancerous cyst on his mouth that doesn't appear to hurt him but it can't feel very good. The most loving thing we can do for him now is to let him go. He'll be going to heaven tomorrow morning, and the sadness weighs on us heavily.

"Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together."

... Author unknown

We love you, Little Bit.

I Didn't Bring The Holidays With Me Into 2007

I weighed in today and only had a .2 pound gain, so essentially I didn't gain weight over the holidays! (two-tenths of a pound does NOT count!) I am feeling pretty great about this, and so I begin the new year on a very happy note. :)

I am also looking forward to working out tonight. David won't have time today, so that puts me back ahead in the challenge. I am getting ready to start with a new trainer in the middle of the month. Her name is Susan, and I like her. She is the manager of the fitness center here at work, and I think she really understands how to motivate me. We talk a lot, and she has been really helpful. We've talked, and she's had to battle a weight proble, in the past. You'd never know...she looks great! So I am going to work with her twice a week for 30 minutes each to start with. I'm going to order my wedding dress a size smaller, so I have to make sure I can get into it! :)

So that's it for today. David and I are starting to plan for the honeymoon. We're going to put the deposit down this month! (Going to Jamaica, mon!) I get married in 268 days now!!!

Everyone have a great day!

A Sign Of Things To Come

So I was really refocusing yesterday on getting back on track with WW. And then I looked at the calendar...January 2. It was January 2 of 2005 when I started WW and had a lot of success, so I think this is a forecast of the good things to come in 2007. I'm going to mirror my previous success, but then I am going to keep moving forward to my goal. :) So this is going to be a very good year! (Obvious events aside, of course!)

No real news today. I got in my first workout of 2007 yesterday. 30 minutes (short, but hey, I worked out hard for those 30 minutes!). So when I got home, David asked me how long I worked out, and then went to the gym and worked out for 45 minutes. I am no longer telling him how long I work out since we are competing to see who works out the most each month! I am having dinner with Grampa tonight, but I am working out big time tomorrow!! And maybe I'll just tell David I only worked out for 30 minutes again...but I'm working out for an hour!!!

So that's it for now. I hope everyone is settling into the new year. It's going to go by fast for me!

Happy New Year!

Wow...2007 is here, and I can't believe it! 2006 has passed so very quickly, and 2007 is almost a day old now. This is a very big year...I am getting married this year!

Every year I often wonder will the year ahead of me will bring. 2007 will be very busy!

• Christy is getting married
• I will celebrate the 5th anniversary at the same job (not sure that this is something that thrills me)
• I am getting married
• I am starting back with school
• David and I have a workout challenge that will keep me in the gym a LOT!
• I am giving myself a fresh start with WW (although I haven't been off it)
• I am going to do more volunteer work in the community

So those are the things I am concentrating on for the new year. What's the gym challenge for me and David? Every 4 weeks we will tally up our individual hours logged at the gym or exercising and the winner collects $40 from the loser. We're making this an ongoing challenge. I am already planning what to do with my first $40. I am thinking a trip to the MAC counter at Dillard's. :)

So you better believe I am going to keep you posted on the challenge! I hope everyone had a safe New Years. Don't make resolutions this year. Just decide to be the best "You" you can be. Resolutions just get broken. I spoke with a girl this weekend who is in a really bad relationship and has been for a long time. She is miserable and wants to meet someone else, but she can't seem to kick this guy out or break it off with him. I told her that only she can choose her happiness, and that when she was really ready to turn her life around. I say the same to you, friends. If there is something in your life you want to improve, make the decision to do it. But do it for you, and not for anyone else. I am chosing to make this the year I really get weight off and keep it off. But I am doing it for me, and because I want to be as healthy as I can be. Love yourselves, because there is much to love in each of you.

Happy New Year everyone!