Weekend Update

It's been a busy weekend! Friday night I hosted study group for a test in Spanish class. That was fun, and I made chicken tacos for the girls. Saturday was WW (I lost 1.4 pounds for a total of 28 now!), and then we went to the Farmer's Market in Dallas. I love buying lots of fruit there. They have some of the best oranges, watermelons, and cantaloupes!! After we got home I made a yummy Crunchy Avocado Salad (recipe courtesy of Bobby Flay) and we took it over to our friends Jake and Diane's house to enjoy some fun pool party action. We got home late and slept in on Sunday, which I never do! It was fun to sleep late, and I guess my body needed it. :) We made a yummy fruit salad for breakfast and spent our afternoon so far cleaning. Tonight is more studying and making dinner, but it's all good. :)

I have a Spanish test tomorrow, but it should go well. I hope everyone else has had a good weekend!

NSV

In Weight Watchers lingo, that means Non-Scale Victory. In other words, something that reflects success besides the number on the scale. I had an NSV this morning! I was able to put on two different pairs of pants that I had bought last August and couldn't wear. Not only do they button, they fit nice! One pair of pants has a matching suit jacket, and that fits, too!! I was so happy that I stood in my closet and cried while David hugged me. :) All this early morning workout stuff is paying off, and I am feeling great!

That's really it for now. It was just such a nice surprise I just had to share!

Okay, So Spanish Might Not Be So Bad...

There were a couple of people in class on Thursday that weren't there on Wednesday, one being a really cool girl named Sara who is much closer to my age, and we hit it off, so now I have a friend at school. :) I think I'll make it through the summer! LOL!

So I weighed in yesterday and have officially lost 26.6 pounds now!! I had posted it on Facebook and got lots of positive comments, so I am feeling pretty good today. I'll be going to the gym here shortly to work out. I am doing my 5K on June 13th, and that isn't too far away, so I have got to spend time on the treadmill for sure today.

It's been a nice weekend. Not too terribly productive, but I spent Friday night sleeping on the couch all evening, and it was wonderful! David had gone to Greg's so I have the place to myself and I was so lazy!! I hadn't slept well the night before. My blood work came back from the doctor showing that my triglycerides were high and my A1C was elevated and my HDL was too low. But all of these are things that should improve with the weight loss, so I am not going to let all that news get me down. I know I'm doing all the right things. :) I'll just keep it up.

I think that's about it for today. My brother in law and his kids are coming over later and we're all going to head to the pool and get some sun. I'm looking forward to that!! Have a good one!

No Me Gusta la Classe de Espanol

Yeah, I'm not jazzed about my Spanish class. I'm the oldest person in my class, apart from the professor. Everyone in there appears to be relatively fresh from high school. And then there is the whole having to get up in front of the class and I hate doing that. We had to learn to introduce someone to the class in Spanish, and I felt really self-conscious. Honestly, I'm only there to fulfill a degree requirement. I miss having a buddy in class. One of the things I really love about going to TWU is that there are lots of people my age who are there to be focused and are also friendly. TCC? Yeah, this isn't my crowd at all. And of course, I'm the old chick, so that isn't helping. I always make friends quickly in class, but this one may be more of a challenge. And I'll need to make friends, because we're going to have to do a couple of group projects/oral presentations. This all makes me think that next time I am in class with someone older, I am going to go up and make friends with them on the first day of class. It's no fun feeling like this, and I totally know this is just my own issue, but I just hate it. At least it should all end quickly. And most of these people will be in the second summer session with me so it's not like I'll have to start all over again.

Ugh...enough. David spent the day yesterday sweeping and really cleaning the patio. It looks so good! We bought some beautiful new patio furniture and we have lots of plants, so he went the extra mile to make it really nice out there. He also made me dinner and cleaned the kitchen, which was a huge help for me! He told me that since I work all day and then go to school he wanted to make sure he did what he could to help me out. Seriously, I love this man so much! He takes such good care of me and I feel so special! It's nice to know he cares so much. :) It helps that he enjoys cooking so much, so I know he'll be helping with dinner and making things easier on me when he can. I'm so blessed!!

I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday! If this work-week was any longer I don't know what I would do! Hang in there, everyone...we're almost to the weekend!!

It's Back To School For Me!

Tonight begins a summer full of school. I start my Spanish class tonight. Bueno! I'll take the second Spanish during the second Summer session, and I also plan to take my speech class then, too. If I pull it all off, I'll have 11 hours out of the way this summer, and that seems worth it to me! I'll be in class Monday through Thursday, and no break between sessions, but it's really okay with me. Class is from 6-8pm, so I still get to kick back for a bit after work, and I'll still have time to goof around before bed. (But not much time!) I'm just glad to be getting stuff out of the way!

No big news. It was a busy holiday weekend, but a good one. I'm really having a case of the "don't wannas" at work this week, but it's all good. I've been good and worked out like I should, so things are moving along there, too. :) I went to the doctor yesterday and still managed to get the weight lecture, but I'm doing something about it so I won't feel too badly. The hardest part is sticking with it, and I'm doing that!!

I really don't have much news at the moment. I hope everyone's day is wonderful!!

Anxious

I have been a good girl all week...ate carefully and worked out as I should, but I am anxious about my weigh-in this morning. For some reason I feel like it's going to be a week where the scale won't move, and it's not my fault. I hate those weeks, but they happen. I have eaten carefully and worked out 5 days this week, so I know I am doing all the things I should do. I just want that scale to budge in the right direction!! But if it doesn't, I'll just keep plugging away. I have to keep reminding myself that it's a marathon, not a sprint. But when you work hard at something, it's a bummer not to get the results you hope for. But I know my body, and I did have a large loss last week, so it's about time my body plays catch-up. And I am also building muscle, so there's that, too. Mom is going to come take my measurements today so that we can track things that way, too. Sometimes that is where I see results, not the scale. So anyhow...I'll update later with how it went. I've lost 21 pounds now, and I'm really happy about that. Especially since I did it in a month!!

UPDATE: I lost 2.2 pounds this week for a total of 23.2 pounds gone! I am quite pleased with this, and really happy to have lost this week!! :)

40 Before 40

I was thinking recently about where my life is going. I like my direction, and I feel really good about things. So I couldn't help but start to think about what I wanted to accomplish before I turn 40. I don't have a complete list but here goes...

1. Graduate with my BA in Psychology
2. Start Grad school
3. Buy a house
4. Do the Breast Cancer 3-Day
5. Get to my goal weight
6. Go whitewater rafting
7. Do a zip line tour at a tropical location...maybe Jamaica or Antigua

That's what I have so far. All are very do-able. And I plan to do them all! It's cool to be putting this list together. I think I am capable of achieving all of this, I just have to set my mind to it. and making it public means that it's out there in the universe and I have somehow managed to commit to doing it. So here goes!

Slowly But Surely, I'm Getting There

So I had a great weigh-in Saturday morning! I am proud to announce that I have now lost a total of 21 pounds! (I'll post a weight loss update again when I've lost a total of 40) I am hoping to have a total of 30 off by my birthday, so I have to keep up the workouts. Eating right seems to finally feel normal to me. I was at the Dallas Farmer's Market yesterday and bought some beautiful fruits and veggies. (I bought into a CSA, which is a community owned local organic farm, and each week I get fresh goodies grown on the farm. I went in with Samantha and Kevin so we all share when we get each week. It's really cool!) Anyhow, after going to the market, we went to a vegan diner called Spiral Bakery. It was absolutely amazing! I had a wonderful veggie wrap, Sam had the tofu scramble (VERY tasty!) and Kev had the veggie burger. Seriously good food!

I went out with a group of old friends last night and had a wonderful time! It's been forever since I've really even gone out like that, so it was good to get to see everyone. David was flying in from Houston and couldn't make it, unfortunately. But we had a blast and saw the new Star Trek movie, which is awesome so go see it! We had dinner at Uno's Pizza downtown, and I had the gluten-free veggie pizza and a glass of red wine. YUM!!! :)

Enjoy your Sunday, everyone!!

Friday Fun

TGIF!! It's been a long week, but it's been good. I have caught myself enjoying my job more, which is a vast improvement from how it's been. It's still a means to an end for me, but I want to be able to tolerate it until I am done with school.

I bought Twilight on Blu-Ray last night and watched it. I like it...didn't love it, but that's because I usually prefer the book to the movie. The book has so many intricacies that the movie just can't cover. But I still enjoyed the movie, don't get me wrong.

Tonight after work, I am going to go to the gym. I didn't go this morning because I wanted to have time for a full hour, and I was carpooling today. I'm looking forward to just hopping on the treadmill and getting into my own world. Maybe I will load a movie onto my iPod. That's GREAT for making the hour pass faster! Tomorrow I am taking Cleo to the vet for her follow up to make sure her meds are working. Little prayers for Cleo, please!!

I also have WW in the morning. Hopefully the scale moves in the right direction this week!!!

That's about it in a nutshell. Everyone enjoy the weekend! The weather is supposed to be nice!

Twilight and Other Things

First of all, have any of you read the Twilight books? I hadn't until last week, and I have just finished book 3...I can't put them down! Rarely does a book(s) do this to me, but I am absolutely obsessed with reading them! Thankfully, my cousin Beth is right there with me and she understands. And like every other 16 year old girl, I am swooning over Edward! *sigh* (Not the movie Edward, the one in the book...I like the Edward in my imagination much better.) So I am about to start book four, and it's the last one. That makes me sad! I wish it took me longer to read to I could stretch it out!

On to bigger news...got my grades for the semester and I have a 4.0 GPA! Now I get to be on the Dean's List again, and this time with a special 4.0 designation!! I worked my booty off to get there, let me tell you. My finals really took it out of me, but it's all good. :)

And yes, I am still working out at 5am...I'm dead serious about sticking with that, too. Apparently it's my body's optimal time to go. At least it's out of the way early!

That's it for now. I sure am glad tomorrow is Friday!

Beat Down and Brain Dead

I have worked all weekend long on six assigned papers for school, and a 10 question take-home essay test. I am mentally exhausted. I still have 2 questions left on the test to write, but everything else is done. And I am completely whipped. Not to mention I have upped my workouts from 30 minutes to an hour now, so now I'm really wiped out! I did 60 minutes on the treadmill yesterday, and I did 40 minutes of weightlifting and 20 minutes on the treadmill this morning. I am tired! Oh, and I'm cramping. Lovely. But I'm trying to power through. :)

It feels good to be working out, and I really think it's becoming part of my routine. I'm doing a 5K on June 13th and I am trying to improve my time. Last time I did a 5K I did it in an hour and eleven minutes. Not a great time others, but not bad for me. But this time I am trying to get it under an hour. I have a bit to go, but I think I can do it. No one cares about my time but me, and but it's important and it's one of those goals I can measure. After no movement on the scale, I need to be able to mark improvement somewhere!

So today I take my papers up to school to turn in to Dr. Hall. I like being in his class, and I have him for Crisis Intervention in the fall. I think it's going to be a good class! I do need a little break, though. I don't start summer school until the 27th, so I have a little time. (Yay!)

Have a good Monday, everyone!

Frustration

So I weighed in this morning after a disciplined week of careful eating and faithfully working out and what did the scale do? Absolutely nothing. I didn't lose an ounce!! Everyone has quickly reassured me that after the tremendous loss last week that this is normal. I know, I know. And top it off with it being "that time" of the month, I should have known, but the shock and disappointment were overwhelming. I'm okay and not depressed but I was just really disappointed. I know I can't let it get me down, but it's a little hard not to. But my body isn't fighting me, it's just learning to let go of the weight. I know how it works...been there before. It's just a bummer, that's all. So I'll keep at it and be just as determined this week. And who knows? Maybe next week the news will be better! (I do plan to try and kick up the workouts a notch, though!)

I helped my mother with a wedding reception for her friend's daughter today. It was a good amount of work but it went off very well. The bride was very pretty and it was a lovely afternoon. I allowed myself to share a piece of cake with mother, and it was worth it! (Very tasty strawberry cake!!!) I am going to go grab some dinner and then get back to writing essays and papers. My deadline is drawing near and I am getting into crunch time, but that's when I start to really do well. Somehow, I just do well under pressure. I hope that remains true!

Everyone enjoy their weekend!!

Becoming Who I Want To Be

I've always wanted to see myself as more of a physically active person. Maybe even athletic, although none of that has really ever described me very well. It was something I wanted but I never really worked for it, so I guess I didn't want it too much after all. I have always been the heavy girl, and somehow I learned to live with that. I wasn't okay with it, but I managed to accept that because I had friends who loved me for who I was. (Am I am so thankful for that, believe me!) I am blessed with a husband who loves me for me and I allowed myself to just accept that.

Until now.

Now, I am really wanting to see myself make those changes. I really WANT this so much...I want to see myself differently. It's not about aesthetics this time. It's about being healthy and active. And athletic. I still have fears about going to classes at the gym. There is a Sunday Yoga class that I'd like to try, but I'm really just not ready yet. The difference is that I know I will get there when I am ready. I can feel my attitude about fitness changing. I think I might be evolving slowly into someone who refuses to miss her workouts. I was concerned this morning that with David gone and not there to help motivate me at 4:30 in the morning that I might not get myself to the gym, but I did it!! I hit snooze once, but I did it. And that is a HUGE change for me! The old me would have decided that no one had to know, but the new me says that even if no one else knows, I will know and I am only in this for myself. No one cares as much about my weight loss as I do, so I would only let myself down. And I went, and it felt good!!

Now I am at work and enjoying a breakfast of cottage cheese and an orange. I have my meals planned out, and I am feeling really on top of things. I have wondered why I waited so long to get myself back into this place, and I don't have an answer for that. But I only care that I am in my zone now, and going strong. Maintaining that mindset won't always be so easy, but the key is pushing through. I sometimes imagine Jillian Michaels in my head when I am on the treadmill. Sometimes I just want to stop, but then I hear her telling me that a quitter would never reach her goals.

I'm not a quitter. Not this time. I'm finally in the right frame of mind and I'm in this for the long haul. And I like it!

Besides...for once in my life I'd like to my husband's arm candy! ;-)

A Day Of Rest

My body needed the day off from working out, so I slept in to a more human time this morning. (aka 6am) It felt good, too! But I know I'll be hitting it again at 5am tomorrow. It feels good to really be developing a routine and actually not dreading the alarm! I think it's paying off, so I'm happy to go with it!

Not much news this week. I will be buried in papers and exams until the 12th. Then I have a little time to relax before summer school begins. I'm taking Spanish both summer semesters, and I am excited to get that knocked out! I need to start prepping myself for Algebra. Going to take that this spring at TCC and get that done, too. I really need to finish my GEC coursework, but I am working on it. Slowly but surely!

WW is still going very well, and I am still very focused. I am having to make sure I eat my daily allotment of points...it's actually harder than I anticipated since I am so careful about what I eat!

David is enjoying his week in Denver. He'll be back Saturday evening, and I will be happy to see him!

Stay dry today!!

Hungry!

Okay, so I was up at 6:20am and we met my Dad at the gym this morning to workout. He headed off to the pool and I headed for the treadmill. My body was a little more worn out today, but I got in a good solid treadmill workout and then lifted weights, so I put in a strong hour at the gym. However, I have only been working out for 30 minutes at a time and my body is in a little bit of shock! Apparently it's not used to burning so many calories at once, so I have been hungry today! We ate fruit and yogurt for breakfast, a whole wheat turkey wrap for lunch, and I have been prepping dinner for later. I've had to snack on oranges and some raw veggies. I'm not used to being quite so hungry! I think I need to start adding in more protein to my breakfast to sustain that. It's just funny...we've both been pretty hungry today!

It's been a great weekend. Dad's party yesterday was lots of fun and we had a wonderful turnout to celebrate his retirement. David and I pretty much just chilled last night. We had shrimp cocktail for dinner and went to bed early. That rain was making us sleepy!

So it's been a wonderful weekend. I've got to get laundry done because I am going to bed early to get to the gym nice and early! I'm on a roll! (I doubt it will be another 9.6 pound loss for this coming week, but I want to stay on track!!)

Everyone enjoy the cool weather!

Surreal

I am having such a feeling of disbelief...but this is good, don't worry! I went to WW this morning and could not believe how much I lost this week! I have been working out at 5am and pushing myself to do more, and holy cow did it pay off!! I'm not ready to share the overall total yet, but this week alone I lost (brace yourself) 9.6 pounds! In one week!! HOLY COW!!! I feel so strong and empowered! Seriously, 30 minutes on the treadmill coupled with very careful eating equals results! Now, I know this is not going to be the norm, but it sure felt good this week. I have to prep myself for next week - that will be a tough act to follow for sure. :) But that's okay...I'm rocking the treadmill and eating healthy and feeling the most clear-headed and healthy than I have felt in a long time. And none of this is feeling like a sacrifice at all! It's feeling like a victory!

So while it all feels surreal, it also feel pretty freaking great!!

Catch-Up

It's been a whirlwind! Okay, first things first: Cleo is going to be fine! She has a very overactive thyroid, so we began treating it with a once-a-day pill. While she doesn't love taking a pill, it's a small price to pay for good health! Next up, we have a re-check in two weeks to make sure she is responding to the meds, but the doctor seems to think things should be looking good and she should start to gain her weight back. Thank you, God!

The other big event yesterday was Dad's retirement party at Lockheed-Martin. He had a big turnout, and it was really cool to spend the day out there and celebrate. He works with some really nice people, and I met people whose names I have heard for most all my life. Dad's work BFF was retiring the same day, so that was neat. They processed out together, and that was it! After that, Mom, Dad, David and I went to Chili's for a celebratory drink (I had lunch and some water...trying to be good and all!) and we had a great time. I called Dad today and he is spending his day relaxing. Just as it should be! He was so sweet and filled mom's gas tank up before she left for work. Hear that, men? It really is just the smallest thing that can make a woman's day!! :) Tomorrow is the lunch that mom and I are doing for him, and we've got a nice size crowd coming from all over the DFW area to enjoy lunch and celebrate Dad!

So that's all the news I have...it's been a great day and I have much to be thankful for. Don't forget to count your blessings today!!

Waiting

I don't like waiting. I am definitely a "I need to know right now" kind of girl. But I am finding myself waiting. Waiting for the blood work to come back on my cat. You can mock me if you want, but this cat means more to me than I know how to tell you. She is almost 17 years old, and has been with me through everything. She's road tripped with me, flown on airplanes with me, survived an earthquake in Seattle with me. She's seen the ups and downs of my dating life, and she snuggles me when I am sick. This cat isn't just a cat to me. She is my love.

Lately she seems to want to eat but hasn't been eating much, and she's gotten pretty thin. David took her to the doctor this morning, and she has lost a lot of weight, which sent me into a crying jag when he texted me this information. My precious only weight 5 pounds, 6 ounces. That's down 3.5 pounds since two years ago. But the doctor, who is a very trusted man in my family (we've been taking animals to them for 31 years now), was reassuring, saying that he thinks there is a good chance it's her thyroid. Whatever it is, he seems to feel that it will likely be treated with meds and diet. Oh, I can live with that! Regardless, no one thinks she is going to the Rainbow Bridge any time soon. Music to my ears! But of course, we don't know anything for sure until we get the blood work back. Dr. K will call me tonight with the results, and we'll go from there.

I love this cat more than anything. She means the world to me, and there is almost nothing I wouldn't do for her. I'm just not ready to let her go. Thankfully, it looks like she's not going anywhere. (But I'll keep praying until I know for sure!)

Heading In The Right Direction

We had a health screening today at work, and although there is a lot of work to be done, there was good news to be had. My cholesterol is excellent, so I am pleased about that! :) The other numbers didn't upset me because I am a work in progress and so far I am doing great. I was up and at the gym at 5:15 this morning (again!!) and it really makes me feel good all day long. I think I am finally understanding the benefits of exercise and finding the right time of day for your body. As it turns out, I might be more of a morning person than I thought!

School is going well. After this week I have two more weeks and then I am off for a short time. I'll be in summer school both sessions (trying to get through as quickly as possible!) so it will be a busy summer. And seriously, I can't believe it's almost May! Where has the year gone??

Anyhow, that's really about it for today. Hope everyone made it through the thick fog safely!!

Tired and Frustrated

David and I walked for about 4 miles yesterday, and I was exhausted by the time I got done! I was frustrated about that because I used to be able to do that, no problem. I've just been out of regular working-out habits for a while, and now that I am back to it, it's hard to recondition my body to do what I could do so easily before. I know I have to have patience, and I am trying. Oh trust me, I am trying. It's hard to be back at what feels like square one, though. But I'm powering through and pushing myself to do this. I want to do the Breast Cancer 3-Day in 2010, and right now the ability to do that feels like a long way off. But hey, a year and a half can make a big difference! WW is challenging its' members to do a 5K this summer, so I am part of a group that is training for that every Saturday after my WW meeting. That should help, except that I have to miss the first training this weekend because of Dad's retirement party - but that's a valid reason and I don't mind!! I'll make up for it on Sunday and get out and walk. A 5K is 3.1 miles, and I can do this. Those who finish a 5K will get a charm, and as silly as it may sound, those kinds of rewards work well for me. Whatever works, right?

So that's about it in a nutshell. It was a good evening. Got my hair cut on Friday (had to go to a new guy since Christy is on maternity leave). It's good and I am happy. Getting the color redone on Wednesday, and I am very happy about that...my greys are making an appearance and we don't need that!! So I am trying to maintain myself. I am not a cheap gal!

Everyone try not to float away with all the rain!!

Here We Go Again...

...with all the "rah rah rah" and positive energy talk. Yes, I am still doing well with WW, and feeling great! I was telling a coworker today how clear-headed I feel, and how I can tell that I have gotten rid of some of the toxins stored in my body...I just feel better and brighter and all that silly stuff. :) It's a good feeling, and I love feeling in control of everything! I am aiming to get up at 4:45 am tomorrow to get in a workout, and I love it!!

Saturday after my WW meeting, my mom is coming over for some retirement party planning for dad. I'm also going to have her take my measurements (ugh!) and then in a month I'll do it again and see where it's starting to come off from. I don't expect miracles, but it's nice to be able to track all this. Slow and steady wins the race, right? I'm feeling that old determination that I felt back in 2005. (Check blog postings from 2005...I was very successful, but fell off the wagon.) All that strength and will is coming back to me. It helps to have a very supportive husband (who seems to love me as I am right now!), and he goes to the gym with me and never minds eating healthy. Hey, we like veggies a LOT! I am surrounded by people who are cheering for my success - Kim, big shout out to you on this one! I was thinking of my friend Holly, who used to give me cards and flowers, and when I lost 50 pounds, she gave me $1 for every pound I lost. (Holly, I wouldn't ever be able to forget how supportive and kind you have always been to me!) And then there is my family, who seems to love me and be proud of me all the time. I count my blessings daily, as I have much to thankful for. Thank you so much, mom and dad, for always being positive. Hopefully this will be one more thing I do that makes you proud. (Although I have to be clear to all who are about to say it anyways....I really am doing this for me!)

And here I am again...at the starting line and ready to go. Except it's not a race. It's a long walk, but I'm absolutely determined to cross the finish line this time. I have a very long way to go, but it's just like the old saying goes: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. :)

Worn Out

For the last two mornings, David and I got up at 4:55am and went to the gym and worked out. It's a great feeling, but I have to tell you that I am exhausted! We decided not to get up this morning because both of our bodies are absolutely worn out. Today I am going to the gym here at work and doing some resistance training to change it up. I just couldn't get up that early today...but I'll be doing it some, just not this week. We tried it out because Mondays and Tuesdays are school days for me and I knew I wouldn't want to work out at 7:30pm those days. But I am very grateful to have a gym here at work so I can keep on track!

I have been back on WW for a short time now, and so far so good. I don't want to post my weekly losses, I'd rather post when I lose 10 pounds. I'm just going for increments of 10, so hopefully I'll have a report soon. :)

Tonight David and I are going to go see the new Earth movie. I have a love of baby animals, and the previews have been full of them, so David is taking me to see it tonight. Yay! He's heading to New Orleans tomorrow morning and comes home Saturday evening, so this is going to be our date night. I made a WW recipe for beer and beef stew in the crock pot that we'll be having for dinner tonight, so it's dinner and a movie for us!

Dad's retirement is a hair over a week away now, and I am super excited for him! We get to go up there to join him for the reception, and I am looking forward to that. It's been ages since I've gotten to go up there, and it's going to be the last time I can go. (Dad works for Lockheed-Martin.) David has never been there, so it's going to be pretty cool for him, too.

That's it for today. Everyone try and stay cool in the 90+ heat we'll be having today!!

How Do You Know You're Serious About Something?

When you get up at 4:55am to go work out. Yep, I did that this morning and I liked it!! I've never been THAT much of a morning person, but I decided that losing weight is just that important. Now, this won't be an every day occurrence, but I am doing it tomorrow and Wednesday as well. It's the best way for me to get a workout in since I have school in the evenings Mondays and Tuesdays. I love that I've already gotten 30 minutes of the treadmill out of the way today! David has his 20 year reunion this October, and while I won't be at my goal by then I can be smaller and look a little cuter, right? :) Besides, we have a number of trips we'd like to take, all of which would be more enjoyable if we were in better shape. Who wants to take a safari trip to Africa and be tired walking around? Not me!! (BTW, we do actually plan to take a trip to Africa in a few years!)

So I think that old me from 2005 is back...the one that was focused and loved feeling healthier. This is a very good thing!!

A Miracle Happened Today

Christy gave birth to a healthy baby girl today! At 1:03pm, Abby was born, and everyone is well. When I got the news from Rich, all I could do was cry tears of joy...my BFF and her husband are parents!! It's so wonderful, and they are so happy...it's so amazing that they created this tiny little life!!

I'll get to hold this precious girl tomorrow when I go up there, and if I get the OK from mommy and daddy, I will post pictures here. (They may want to be the first to show pictures, and I don't blame them!!)

And to be even more sappy, here's a short exerpt from a very fitting song:

"Ordinary Miracle" - Sarah McLaughlin

It's not that unusual
Everything is beautiful
It's just another ordinary miracle today.

Welcome to the world, Abby! So many people have been in love with you and have been waiting for you to get here!!

I'm an Auntie!!!!

Waiting

Tomorrow my best friend, Christy, is giving birth to her baby girl. Seriously, this has got to be the most exciting thing ever! I can't believe how misty I get when I think about it, but she and her husband are so ready to be parents and this is just such a blessing! So they have to be at the hospital at 6am tomorrow, and they're going to induce labor. I know it will be a long day for them, but at the end of it all they will be holding their precious baby girl. What a miracle!

I plan to go see them on Friday, and I can't wait to post a picture!! Please pray for a healthy delivery for little Abby!!

Happy Easter

Just a simple message today...I hope you are having a great Easter and enjoying the beautiful weather!!

Having "Conversations"

I fully realize how petty this sounds, but has anyone else noticed how often politicians like to use the word "conversation"? As in, they want to have real conversations with Americans about the economy. Or how Oprah now says she wants to have real conversations about the city of Chicago and bringing the Olympics there in 2016. I don't know...it just makes it sound like no one is talking about anything. I know in my circles, we talk about everything!

Everything is going pretty well. School is keeping me pretty busy, but I am doing well. Finals are in a few weeks. May 11 and 12 to be exact. Where does the time go? I register for Summer school next week. It's going to be a busy year!

I don't have much news. Still waiting for Christy to give birth. Most likely it will be next week, so I am crossing my fingers for the 16th. (That's the date I picked for the baby pool at work!)

Really, that's about it. Everyone enjoy the Spring weather!!

It's Back!!

I heard through the blogosphere that the Bedford Bennigan's is being resurrected! Great news for the locals, and now I don't have to only have my Turkey O'Toole sandwich in Las Colinas any more!! Looks like they're going to reopen in about a month, so for all you mid-cities folks who have been missing cheap beer and tasty nibbles...you won't have to miss it much longer!

Today after work I have to get a new tire for David's Jeep. But after that, I am going to Central Market to do some shopping. Yum!

That's it for today. I'm outta here!

** Update ** I have a feeling I bought into an April Fools Day joke, so just ignore this post. (Just a feeling...no proof yet!)

Nothing Much

That sums it up right now. Just nothing much going on. Christy had her baby shower this past weekend, and that girl cleaned up!! She isn't due until the 28th, but she started have some VERY slight contractions today. I don't think Baby Abby is going to wait for 28 more days! We've started a pool here at work. I picked the 16th. We shall see!

I managed to slice my finger last Friday. I was being a good wife and putting a pot roast in the crock pot. I was cutting one more potato when it rolled off the cutting board and I somehow managed to stab my wedding ring finder. Seriously, I have never seen a cut bleed so much! I really freaked me out! It's okay now, just bandaged and tender, but I survived.

David and I bought some plants for the patio this weekend. We bought a hibiscus, some tomato plants, and two other plants that I don't remember the names of, but are just beautiful! I can't wait until things start blooming! I need to water them today and give them some TLC. I haven't historically had a very green thumb, but I am working hard to take care of these guys!

Honestly, that's about it. School is going well. I register for the fall semester on Friday, and I register for summer school on the 15th. It's going to be a very studious year!!

Almost At The Finish Line...

That's how it feels...tomorrow is Friday and we're almost there!! (Thankfully!) It's been a long week and I feel really tired. Nothing big happening in my life, just all the usual stuff. Except for my 14 year old cousin, Ashley. She got into trouble recently (peer pressure got the best of her) and now she's in a pickle. It's a story for another day, though, but she is on my mind constantly right now. Okay, basically she let a little friend of hers talk her into doing something with some very serious consequences. We're still waiting to see how this is going to go. I don't want to give details here, but she's physically fine. (No drugs or teen preggo stuff.) She just made a really irresponsible decision and now she's going to have to suffer the fallout. I hope that this is a lesson learned. I think kids today really do have it harder. There is more access to temptation than when I was that age. Cell phones, computers...all of it makes temptation a text message away. I am thankful I grew up when I did. It just seems like it was easier to be a regular kid and not having to contend with some of that stuff. That, and my idiot moments didn't end up on YouTube. :) But again, my idiot moments were mostly me being a dork. So all that to say, Ashley is a good kid, makes good grades, and I love her to pieces. Still do, just disappointed. And don't ask me to post the details, because I won't. I just needed to put this out into the universe and hope for good things to come back. Mostly, I am just praying for her to have wisdom and the courage to stand up to her peers when her gut tells her something isn't right.

So that's it. I think I am going to go to Central Market tonight and find some yumminess for dinner. I want to cook, but I don't know what just yet.

Allrighty. I'm outta here!

Things That Make Me Happy

Because things have been so stressful with work, I decided that I should make a list of things that make me happy so I can re-read the list and get a big smile from it. Here goes:

Family
Friends
School
Chocolate
Lipgloss
Singing
Travel
David's "Championship Ribs"
Cleo, Zak and Kaylee
Pictures of my Gran
Hugs from my nieces and nephews
Shopping for baby stuff for Christy!! :)
Ladybugs
The color pink
Listening to Brahms' German Requiem (in German...never in English!)
Black patent Mary Janes
Soft pajama pants and a t-shirt
Blackberries
Buying school supplies
Collecting Christmas ornaments with my hubby
Champagne and Brie soup from JR's
Cherry Blossom candles from Bath and Body Works


These are all things that make me happy, and all for different reasons. I guess this is my version of stopping to smell the roses. :)

What makes you happy? You don't have to tell me, but just stop and take a moment to remember them.

Spring Break Is Over

I was sad that Spring Break was over, but really...I still had to work and do other things so it shouldn't be that big of a deal. I saw the Vagina Monologues with Mom Saturday night. Interesting. It was part of a day-long "Whole Woman" festival. My takeaway was that apparently there is a perception that when it's a woman's festival, all women want to buy is hippy artwork and incense. Just an observation, not knocking anything. The production itself was very interesting. Mom and I left laughing at ourselves at the end of the evening. All I will say is that no matter how much it may take away from my inner Goddess, there are just some words I won't say. Sorry. (Mom, you know I just CAN'T!)

Sunday was full of studying. I have a test in my Human Sexuality class tomorrow, so I am trying to be prepared. I also got advised for Fall '09 today. It's going to be a full semester. Taking Crisis Intervention, Humanities, and History. I still have some GEC courses to knock out. I am registering for Summer next month and will be taking both semesters of Spanish. Yes, I am a VERY dedicated girl and if I handle Summer I well, I will add my communications class for Summer II. Seriously, I am ready to have my BA done so I can move on to Grad school. I am not loving my job, and every day I have to go and put up with more BS, I am reminded why I am working so hard in school.

Dad is retiring in a little over a month now. I think it's great! He's worked for a long time and deserves to enjoy himself now. Dad has always taken such good care of us, and it's time for him to enjoy his life. I hear he is planning to volunteer at church, maybe participate in the men's Bible study, and work out a few days a week at the gym. Go Dad! I'm so excited for you! Maybe once in a while he can sneak in lunch with his favorite daughter...

That's it for now. I'm going to head to bed and rest up. David heads out again tomorrow, and I have that test tomorrow night. Good vibes will be welcome at 4:30!

Girl Gone Wild

I have made the executive decision to take a day off tomorrow. It's Spring Break, dammit, and I need a day to enjoy myself. Therefore, I am giving myself a three day weekend. What's on tap for tomorrow? Nothing but things that make me smile. This will include no alarm waking me up, a trip to Starbucks for breakfast, and who knows what else. But I'm going to enjoy my day. :) (I will probably do some laundry in there somewhere, but I don't mind doing that. And it REALLY needs to get done!)

David comes home tomorrow night, and I am really looking forward to that. Saturday is my long-overdue hair appointment, and Saturday night mom and I are going to see the Vagina Monologues. I will definitely report in on that one. Sunday is study day. I have a test on Tuesday and I really want an A to keep my status for the Dean's List. We ALL know how important that is to me, so I won't go on about that any more.

That's it. I'm outta here!

Sorry For No Posts...

Yeah, I know everyone waits with baited breath for one of my posts. I've been busy, and then I just got a little lazy with the posting. It's been a hectic week, and a full weekend with family birthdays. We ate dinner at JR's Steakhouse...I insist on people eating the Champagne and Brie soup - a.ma.zing! We had brunch at the Park Cities Club in Dallas, too. Again, some serious yum...and bottomless mimosas! Double yum!

Got my iPhone this weekend, and I am loving it. I knew I would...it was that or the Blackberry Bold, and I got sucked in by the iPhone. :) No regrets! If you ever buy one, do it at the Apple Store and make an appointment. You get the star treatment! Seriously, loving the phone.

It's Spring Break for me, but I still have work so it's not much of a vacay. And I am blogging while taking a break from studying. I have a test next week, so there goes the whole goofing off for a week, you know? It's all good. Eyes on the prize.

Christy is having her baby in about 6 weeks, so that's a big deal and very exciting! I am getting my hair cut/color Saturday morning and I can't wait! It's in bad shape, for sure. I have been neglectful with the hair, and now it's taking revenge on me by being uncooperative. Sorry, hair. I keep telling Christy she would be ashamed to be seen with me, so she worked me into the schedule, thankfully! :)

Things are going well. I had a horrible night's sleep last night and I don't know why. I am optimistic about tonight, though. I'm tired.

My Sister-In-Law (Lea Anne) is with her hubby this week and has bribed me to come for dinner tomorrow night, and I accepted. She is going to do something yummy with fish, and since I didn't have school I thought it would be fun to hang with her and my two nieces so it's going to be a girls night and I am looking forward to it. Kristen and Morgan (aka Momo) are a riot, and they're growing up so fast! Lea Anne has also found the perfect Yoga class for me and I am giving it a try next week. I always have a lot of anxiety about trying new classes, but I think it's a good idea and it's close to home. I'll report on it next week and talk about it in more detail.

So that's really about it. Oh, and I didn't make it to WW last week. There...honesty and full disclosure. I am going this week. I have to. I will report after I go. :)

Time Change

This is a really tough time change for me. I love my sleep and am sad that I lost an hour, but I seem to be doing okay so far. I made it to work early, but I am a yawning, sleepy mess right now. I hate that I am having to power through on a Monday...it's my long day with school and I have a test tonight, so I am hoping that I can shake off the sleepies soon. I am feeling a little out of sorts and I have got to get it together since it's a busy day!

I hope everyone had a good weekend! I don't have a lot to report. David got home yesterday and I was glad to see him. :) The kitties were all VERY glad he was home and started acting like little fools running around the house and being crazy. But everyone settled down and bedtime and we all got a good night's sleep. (I think I am recovering from being out late last weekend. Yes, I am old and it takes me longer to recover.)

So that's it for today! I hope everyone has a good Monday!

Happy

That's me in a word. Happy. :) Things are going well with school, and at home. (Work isn't my favorite so we'll skip that topic, although we found out today that we'll be getting our annual bonus next month and it's going to be a good one!) I am really proud of how school is going, and I am on track to be on the Dean's List again for this semester. I just really need to keep up the hard work. I made an 88 on my Intro to Counseling test and a 93 on my Human Sexuality test, so I am doing well. I have another Intro to Counseling test on Monday, and I should do well on it, too. Although I will be spending a LOT of time getting ready for it. I would love to make an A on this test, so I am going to work hard to make that happen.

Back in January I talked about my three areas of focus for this year. Here's the status so far:

• Finances - We are SO on track to be debt free by June! We've paid off several credit cards and are building up our savings account so we're very proud!
• School - I think you all know by the beginning of this post that school is going great! :)
• Fitness - This is the area that has had no progress. But I am NOT giving up, so don't think for a moment I have. I am going to go to a WW meeting this evening to get myself back on track. However, I don't plan on making a big deal of it. It's time to just get off my rear and do it, so tonight I will. Tonight will be the start of getting that last part of my "2009 Focuses" underway. I am actually looking forward to it!

So there's the update. At least I am honest, right? But I am not discouraged or frustrated with myself. I just know what I need to do and it's time to do it. And it's all good. :)

Austin In A Nutshell

Let's see...we ate plenty, drank plenty, and had a ton of laughs. It was wonderful to spend time with my friend Bryan. It had been about 20 years since I had seen him! He is getting his PhD at UT, and I couldn't be more proud for him. He's an amazing guy and he's worked so hard on his education. :)

I am so sleepy today. We stayed up late each night in Austin, and then I couldn't sleep last night so I am a bit bleary eyed today. I need to snap out of it since I have school tonight. I'm keeping it short today, but I do have pics to post when I get home and can upload them.

I hope everyone has a good Monday!

Anticipation of Fun Days To Come!

Tomorrow is going to be a really great day! First of all, I get to meet David down in Austin for a little getaway. Secondly, I am riding down with Joseph and Dima! How fun is that? If there wasn't a third thing all this alone would make for a fun weekend. But there IS a third thing! I get to spend a bunch of time this weekend with a long and not-so-lost friend from junior high!! My wonderful friend Bryan is in Austin working on his PhD and we reconnected on Facebook. We actually spoke on the phone last night for an hour and we laughed and giggled about old times...I can't wait to see him tomorrow! He's going to meet up with all of us for dinner and hang out. We have so much to catch up on! It's been at LEAST 19 years since we've gotten to see each other, so this is great! He was always a good friend and a very talented singer. I'm really glad he's doing well. He'll fit right in with the group. :) And to top things off, we get to have dinner Saturday night with Joe and Pascha, so it's a weekend I have been waiting for. We'll be snapping lots of pictures and I'll post a few here. Not all, though. Things might get crazy, and what happens in Austin might have to stay in Austin! (What's the likelihood of that??)

Anyhow, I have a LOT to get done tonight, so that's it for the blogging until Sunday night. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

Proud Day For Me!

Yesterday was the Dean's List Reception at school. I have never been on a Dean's List in college, so this was a huge deal for me! I took the day off and headed over to school. The reception was wonderful, and I felt so proud of my hard work to get thse good grades. And I worked HARD for them! (If I only I were taking easy classes...) My friend Anne made the list, too, so our mothers (who have been BFFs since they were 12 years old) came to celebrate with us. Each discipline was celebrated separately, and my advisor, Dr. Pugh, presented for psychology. She calls us all Psychos...maybe there is some truth to that! Anyhow, I felt warm and bubbly inside when she called my name and I went up to accept my certificate. I did it! It's just for one semester, but I did it! And I plan to keep it up each semester, too. That's one of my big three focuses for the year, and it's definitely on plan. I am looking into qualification for the Departmental Honors, as I am definitely on par with grades. This would put me graduating with honors if I keep it! What's really neat is that I really love school. I wish I had been this excited about school when I was 18 or 19, but I am now and that's okay. I'll be one of those cool women who feels like life begins in her 40s. (Because I'll be finishing grad school in my very early 40s)

So yeah, I am on Cloud 9 today. And I'm going to try and sustain the feeling as long as I can!

The Oscars

David and I had our annual tradition of watching the Oscars and eating our once-a-year treat: brie and cranberry nachos!! If you think these don't sound good, they are amazing! It's diced chicken, cranberries, black beans, and grated brie cheese warmed under the broiler until the cheese melts (not long at all!) and these babies rock!! So we only eat them once a year while we watch the Oscars. Don't know why, but it's our thing. :) I would go into what I loved and hated from the red carpet, but so many people are much more eloquent than I about all that, so I will leave it to others. Carmen always does great recaps, so click on her link on the right and keep an eye out for her recaps...I usually always agree! (But I am going to give thumbs up to Anne Hathaway and Kate Winslet...both stunning and classy ladies who know how to do the red carpet right!)

It was a busy weekend, and that's okay. I got to see my Cuz this weekend, and that was awesome. It's been a while and as always, we have a blast! Love you, man! David grilled up some ribs and I made mashed potatoes and we stuffed our bellies. Good times!

It's back to the grind today. I really don't want to be here, but here I sit. It's a long day because it's a school day, but I am off tomorrow. There is a Dean's List reception at 12:15 tomorrow, and you better believe I am going! (I would work a 1/2 day tomorrow, but apparently since I am a salaried employee if I take off more than 2 hours I have to just take off the whole day. Whatever.) David heads to Austin/San Antonio tomorrow, and I am a little bummed he can't make the reception, but I certainly understand. Friday I am heading to Austin with Joseph and Dima, and we're going to meet up with David and have a fun weekend. We're going to have dinner with David's friend Joe and his wife Pascha, and somewhere in all that I get to see my friend Bryan. Now, getting to see Bryan is a real treat because we went to junior high together and were choir nerds. He's a really cool guy and I cannot wait to see him! Thanks, Facebook, for reconnecting me with good friends!

That's it for today. I have a ton of things to do, so I need to get on it. Happy Monday, friends!

Wise Words

I recently had a chance to see "He's Just Not That Into You". I read the book when it came out, and yes I was one of those girls that really got something out of it. I think it should be mandatory for anyone who is dating to read. It's nothing new or earth shattering, but somehow it really helps you have that "a-HA!" moment. So I didn't know what to expect from the movie since the book is essentially a light self-help book. I liked the movie, but the best part for me was the end and listening to the voice over. The wisest words in the world are simply the following: "Be your own happy ending." It's true! It doesn't matter who we end up with, we have to love ourselves and be happy with who we are. We are our own happy endings. I love that!

So to anyone who is looking for their happy ending, you have it! It's you!

So that's it for today. I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday!

Checking In

Good morning to all!

It's been a busy week, and I am just stopping by to say hello. It was a busy but good weekend. We had a lovely Valentine's Day. We always stay in and cook (my preference!) but with so much going on this weekend, we opted to go out to Taverna for dinner. David's sister, Lea Anne, and her husband joined us and we had a wonderful time. I didn't know how I was going to feel about sharing the evening with another couple, but we laughed so much and had a really good time. I'm so glad we did!

I spent almost the entire day with my friend Anne yesterday. We've been studying for the two tests we have today and tomorrow, so I am feeling pretty beat right now. Mom is coming over and we're going to spend some time together today. I don't actually have the holiday but I took the day off for some mental health time. Last week was just awful at work, and need a break. Hopefully it will get better soon...I'm just keeping my mind focused on school and trying to get through. I constantly remind myself that this job does not define who I am, it's simply what I do right now. This, too, shall pass.

So I hope everyone is well. Have a good Monday!

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday Kim and Mia!!

Jillian Michaels Kicked My Butt

So a few weeks ago I bought the Jillian Michaels workout game for Wii, and I finally broke it out today to give it a go. Seriously, this was worth the investment! I got a great workout in my own living room, and I didn't slack off! (And she didn't yell at me!) If anyone out there is looking for a good workout, get this one for the Wii!! I came panting into the office and told David he needed to try it too. The cool thing is that we can both do it together, so this may be the thing that helps me get my workout in when I don't want to go to the gym. :)

It's been a good weekend. We were supposed to go to dinner with my parents last night, but mom was sick so we stayed home and did our own pork stir fry, and then we went to the Melting Pot for dessert. We had wonderful martinis (try the Sparkling Pear!) and the chocolate turtle fondue...YUM! So a good night was had by both of us. :)

Tomorrow it's another day at the office. David heads out to somewhere I can't remember...Lubbock? Anyhow, I am going to be busy with school, so I will be plenty occupied. I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend!

Back in Paris, If Only For A Moment

Kevin and I had lunch today and stopped by a creperie close to work for a bite of something sweet. What I got took me back to a day on the streets of Paris where I had my first real crepe...it was hot and filled with Nutella, which is a chocolate hazelnut spread that is divine. When I took a bit of my crepe today, I closed my eyes and remembered the gentleman who made my crepe in Paris from a cart on the street up from the Folies Bergiere. I wish I was there again, but this tiny little place in Irving managed to get me there for just a few seconds. It was wonderful! I can't do that too often, but a once in a while treat is going to have to be in order.

It's been the week from hell, and I am glad it's ending. I really need to rest this weekend from the stress of the work week, and believe me, I will. Mom and Dad are taking us to dinner tomorrow night for David's birthday since last weekend was full. He and I are both really looking forward to it!

I hope everyone has a wonderful evening!

Hello Kitty!

So Tuesday night was FUN! I raced home after school and changed into my jeans. I had every intention of looking much better than I did, but after a full day of work and school, I don't think I cared. David and I hopped into the car and headed to the MAC store for the invitation only party for the Hello Kitty launch. You know why I got an invite? Because I spend WAY too much money there, but that's beside the point. Once we got in, they were serving pink cocktails and passing yummy chocolate cookies. Here are some pics:

This is me waiting in line to get in. That's my invitation I'm holding up. My word, I am a dork. Oh yeah, the glasses don't help me look less dorky. I have GOT to get new contacts!!

This is me sporting my stick-on Hello Kitty tattoo. I may be too excited, but ask me if I care! I was having fun!

Here's David and the shirtless Hello Kitty, uh, guy. Yeah, it's weird but it was funny so David was a good sport and let me take his picture. He got about a gazillion husband points that night for being patient and actually enjoying himself. Oh, and enjoying the sparkling pink lemonade and vodka cocktails. Those helped!

Me and my cookie. Yes, I had already taken a bite, but it was really good!! I can't explain the buck-toothed look on my face. I'm a colossal dork. Deal with it. :)

Honestly, we had a ball! And of course David was the one running into people he knew, not me! I bought a bunch of MAC goodies, so I was one happy girl. :) We had dinner afterwards and then headed home. It was a late night, but ever so worth it!!

The Lite Version of Monday

I think I am going to begin referring to Tuesday as Monday Lite. I am finding myself frustrated with work, but hopefully it's a phase. Honestly, I am working like a dog to get myself through school as fast as I can...I'm ready to move on to something that is meaningful to me. Most days, this job isn't it. But it is a good job and I am very grateful to have it. This isn't the time to act like an ingrate, I know. Just having some frustrations. This, too, shall pass.

To put things into perspective, click on "The Russo Corner" and visit Jessica's blog. She had quite a scare with her 4 month old, Corbin. Her babies are so precious, and even though I am not a mother I can certainly feel at least a fraction of the fear she must have felt. Corbin is good, and I do believe the power of prayer moved through him. Sorry, but there are just days when I have to stand up and shout out to the world that God is amazing! Jess, you know my heart has been with you and I am so glad it's all OK!! Hug those little boys for me!

Tonight I have school, but I am excited to go do something fun afterwards. I got an invitation to the MAC store in Dallas for the launch party for their new "Hello Kitty" collection, and I am going to go! I can't wait! I've been saving my pennies for a treat, and this is it! It feels very foo-foo...it's an invitation only cocktail party to preview and purchase items from the new collection...I've seen pictures and I can't wait! (Anyone who knows anything about me knows that makeup is one of those girly things I love, and MAC is my brand, babies!) So I am going to rush home from school, freshen up, and head over! I can't wait!!!

So that's it for today. I hope everyone has a good Monday Lite!

Celebrating David's Birthday

David's birthday was the 29th, but we've been celebrating for days now, and we've had a ball! He got lots of fun presents from Williams-Sonoma from me, and we had dinner with his parents on Thursday, I took him out to Uncle Julio's Friday, and Saturday night we went to Boi Na Braza with his brother, Greg, and Greg's wife Katie. (By the way, amazing food!) Today we went to David's parents house for a Superbowl party. Greg was there, as well as my parents, and we had so much fun! It's been a really wonderful weekend, and I am sorry the festivities are over. Although my parents are taking us out to eat next Saturday night, so we can enjoy the birthday one more night.

Back to the grind tomorrow...I have work and school so it will be a late night for me. I hope everyone else had a wonderful weekend!!

Brrr!

Well, I guess you could say we've had some sort of weather event here. Yesterday I was at my work meeting in Ft. Worth and we left at 9:30am. (Total waste of makeup.) My friend Sandra and I decided to stop and have breakfast at IHOP in Bedford, so that was nice. Mom joined us and we had a good time at the girls breakfast. I pretty much spent all day at home yesterday vegging under the blankets with a fire in the fireplace. David made hot chocolate and we watched movies. But by 8pm last night, I was BORED! We went to Cheddars for dinner as the sleet began to fall, so we ate quickly and came home just in time. It got nasty out there!

This morning we got the call to just not even bother trying to get to Ft. Worth for the last day of meetings. We were only going to be there a half day, and we don't usually go back to the office after that, so we just planned to stay home anyhow. Turns out they ended up closing the office, so no one had to go in! So David and I went out to brunch today, and now I am entertaining myself with Facebook and blogging. Honestly, I have some stuff to do at work so it's not too awful that I am going in tomorrow. I am ready to get out for a while! I think I will go to the gym, too. This afternoon I am going to give the Jillian Michaels Trainer for the Wii. I tried Madden 09 yesterday...that's going to take some work!

Stay warm, everyone!

Peaceful Weekend Ahead!

This weekend promises to be a nice, low key one. David is spending a chunk of his time up at the DMC for the women's market, so I will be having some quiet time. How will I be spending this lovely time? Studying. Yup...very exciting. I got my Economics textbook in the mail yesterday and now I can read and really prepare myself for my quiz. (I have four chapters to read...there will be much coffee!) There will also be a couple of trips to the gym this weekend. I have GOT to make that happen!

I am getting ready for David's birthday next week, and have some really fun things planned for him. I made a change from the original cool plan I had, and now have some really fun stuff planned, but I'll share those after the birthday! But I have three days of festivities on the schedule for him, and the cool thing is that I get to enjoy all the fun, too! It's all capped off with dinner Saturday night (next weekend, of course) with David's brother Greg and his wife Katie. The four of us are dining at Boi Na Braza (this is not a secret) to celebrate, and I am really looking forward to hanging out with Greg and Katie. They're crazy busy like we are, so we don't get to see them much, but they got a babysitter for Ben and Rosemary, so the grownups can whoop it up! And of course, the Superbowl is the 1st, so David gets to finish it all off with a football game. :) He'll have a good weekend! I went shopping for birthday presents last night and had WAY too much fun!

So that's it right now. I am looking forward to some relaxing tonight before I kick off the Economics study-fest tomorrow. Four chapters of that stuff...wow.

Everyone have a great Friday!

Today

I think it's an exciting day, no matter what your political views. Our nation gets to embark on a new year, and it's neat to be a witness to history. I am hopeful that Obama can do good things for our country, although I am also a realist and know that it will be hard for him to do everything that everyone wants him to do. I think the thing we can all do is to want the President to be successful, because when he succeeds, we ALL succeed.

And in much less publicized news, I start my Human Sexuality class tonight at 4:30pm. I've reviewed the textbook, and I really got an eye full! Sitting in a class and talking about it is going to be interesting. :)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday!!

Cheer Competition

So I spent the bulk of my day yesterday watching a cheer competition. My 14 year old cousin, Ashley, is on a competition team, and this was a beat-down like no other! While I loved watching her team's 2.5 minute routine (and can I say that Ash was awesome!!), it was not as much fun to watch the other 2 hours worth of teams. They had 7 exhibition teams of what looked like 3 or 4 year olds in addition to the junior level teams, and that just dragged it all out. It wasn't as cute as a dance recital, I have to say. But if her team comes to town again, I'll be there yelling for her. She's good at it, and she wants to make her high school squad. She really seems to like it, and I am all about supporting activities that teach discipline, responsibility, sportsmanlike behavior, and physical fitness. Go girl!!

Today is kind of busy...I am going to lunch and a movie with some friends and then I have to get home right after that to get to the store and then make dinner for company coming at 5:30. But I still have Monday and Tuesday to relax. :) Oh, except school starts Tuesday, but I am looking forward to it!

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone!

The Tax Man Cometh

Yes, it's getting to be that time of year. For me, it's also accompanied with the treat of getting to pass out free "I told you so" lines. Remember that stimulus check everyone was so hot to get their hands on earlier this year? Yeah, when that came out I told people that it wasn't free money and that we'd be paying it back at tax time. Guess what? I've had a couple of people tell me I was right! Yes, brace yourself...that stimulus check was an advance on your refund. So now it's time to pay it back. Lovely. I didn't want it to start with. I think if Obama wants to do that again I am going to write to my congressperson and ask if we can opt out. I didn't want it in 2008 either. I don't know that it even did much for the economy anyhow.

I've been gathering possible 2008 deductions. I think we have enough to offset the stimulus payback, so hopefully we'll still get some sort of refund. I'll take $1 if I don't have to owe the IRS anything! (Can I get an "Amen!"?)

David comes back from Waco today. He only left yesterday, but it's nice to have him home. :) The kitties and I miss him when he's gone. But as happy as I am to see him, I am leaving him to dine on his own tonight. Christy and I have had dinner on the schedule for quite some time, and tonight is the night! She and I are having dinner at our favorite place tonight, and I can't wait! We haven't had dinner together in eons!

I guess that's about it for now. Everyone have a good Thursday!

Technology is Finally My Friend!

So I finally feel like being on Facebook has paid off! I have been reconnecting with old friends from high school and church, but I got two good friend requests yesterday! One is a friend from high school who was in the US as an exchange student from Germany, and the other was a really good friend from junior high. I have wondered about both for years now, and was ecstatic when I heard from them both in one day! What a wonderful treat! Both guys look like they are doing well and happy, so it's nice to reconnect. :)

I honestly have nothing noteworthy to share. It's been pretty quiet. Work is very slow right now, but it will pick up soon. School actually begins tomorrow, but my professor for my online class already posted stuff for the first week. (This is my economics class) So I read everything and did the first assignment and got it posted. Yes, I am just nerdy enough to have already turned in my homework before the class even begins. My classmates are going to think I am a dork, but I actually have so little to do at work right now that I was grateful for homework!

I think that's about it. It's been quiet lately, and I have enjoyed it. We've been laying low at home, just cooking dinner and relaxing. I made a pork tenderloin for dinner last night that was a huge hit with David, so I am keeping the recipe to add to our recipe rotation. :) But that is really about it!

So on that note, I hope everyone has a great Tuesday!

Warm Weather!

It's a beautiful day! I sure wish I had seen the weather report...I wore a turtleneck sweater today. Oh well...I'll change into something cooler when I get home. :) I do like the break from the cold, though. I did read that we may get an arctic blast next week...brrr! Some weather sites say we'll have 50 degree weather and some saw 30 degree weather. It's Texas...we won't really know until it hits!

I am so glad this week is winding down! It's been a LONG one, and I am ready for the weekend. Christy is doing my hair tomorrow (Yay!) and then we're having dinner with David's sister Lea Anne. She and her husband are taking us to Houston's for dinner, and I have never been. I checked out the menu online and I think it sounds delish! It's an early b-day dinner for David, so it's a special occasion. Glad I'm getting my hair done! (It's time for the blond highlights to go away for a few months!) I'd love a new outfit, but we're on a spending moratorium. We have a mission, and we're hanging on to our money to get everything paid off. We're doing so well, too! Again, I know it's only 9 days into the new year, but if 30 days makes a habit, then we only have 21 more days until we can say this isn't just a fluke!

My father is retiring at the end of April, and I am so excited for him! He's worked harder than anyone I know for a very long time, so I hope he thoroughly enjoys the relaxation he's earned. Growing up, I never needed anything, and my parents made sure I had opportunities to do things I wanted. (Everything within reason, of course!) But Dad always made sure I had nice things and he took good care of me and Mom. I can't imagine a better childhood. I am a very lucky girl! (Thanks, Dad!!)

That's it for this beautiful Friday. For some reason, my manager has decided to call a meeting...who knows why. So I am heading off to see what's up there. (Nothing much, I am certain.)

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!

Yawn!

You know how it is...you're in the perfect spot in the bed, all cozy and warm, and then that ugly alarm clock sound rips you out of your sleep and you have to get up. Yuck! I wish I was still in the spot in the bed! I was sleeping so well. *sigh*

Anyhow, I have very little news today. I got home yesterday and David and I went for a walk. It was a short one because I am lame and was getting tired, but we got up and moved yesterday, so I am proud of us both. :) We tend to be a bit lazy so we're trying to change that. Tonight I am planning to clean out the fridge and the closet on the patio. Both need to be done desperately!

I was going to work out up here today but I managed to forget my gym bag. Actually, I forgot to repack it after getting my shoes and workout clothes out of there yesterday, so I will be sure to do that tonight. I like getting my exercise in early so I don't have to do it later. I did manage to pack fruit and yogurt, though, so that's my accomplishment for the day. I usually pack a lunch, but I am going to lunch with a couple of co-workers today. I am allowing myself one lunch out per week, and this is my one for this week. See? I'm doing better already! Eating healthy AND saving money!! I'm so proud of myself - I just have to keep it up for longer than a week!

I am also fighting the shopping bug. I have gone to my favorite websites and changed my settings so that I don't get all the email notifications about sales. See? I am proactive about avoiding temptation!

On another note, David's friend Jeff email me some pictures he took at our wedding and I love them! He sent me three but he has lots more that he's putting together. In case I didn't rant about it here, our wedding photographer lost most of our wedding pictures in a hard drive crash. Please don't ask me about backups and all that because I already asked and apparently there were no backups of my wedding pictures, so I have some, but not many. It makes me very sad if I think too much about it, but it is nice to see pictures people have taken, and I love what Jeff sent! (BTW, if any of you were at the wedding and took any pictures, we'd sure be grateful if you'd send them our way!) Bottom line, Jeff sent us some awesome pics and I can't wait to see the rest of them! :) Thanks, Jeff! You rock!

So that really is about it for today. A bunch of rambling and silliness. But that's me! Have a great day everyone!

Seven Days In...

Yes, a whopping seven days into the new year, and I am still maintaining my focus. I know, I know...it's only seven days, right? Yes, but I have to celebrate taking things in small chunks, and one week of eating better, not spending extra money, and getting off the couch and moving more. I have menu planned, shopped carefully, and done more around the house rather than doing too much vegging. (Some vegging is allowed, right?) So yeah, I'm pretty proud of my first week in!

Mom and I decided that with trying to pay things off and put money in savings that we're going to postpone our NYC trip for now. It's not cancelled, just put on the back burner for a while. We're both trying to put money in savings and pay off credit cards, so it just makes sense right now. But when we do go, look out NYC!!

Other than all that, I don't have much news. Things are good...nothing big going on. David's birthday is at the end of the month and I have been planning fun things. He knows I am taking him to Boi Na Braza for his birthday dinner, but he doesn't know what else fun is planned! I'll spill the beans here after his birthday. Hey, I don't want him stopping by and finding out!!

That's it for today. Everyone have a great Wednesday!

Back To Work

Ugh...it's hard to look at the upcoming week and know I have to work all five days! But the new year is here and it's time to get back to it. How can I complain? I had plenty of time off and took a cruise and had a great holiday!! So I guess now it's time to get on it.

We worked HARD this weekend. Saturday we moved the spare bed out and cleaned out all the junk we could. Then on Sunday after church we headed out to IKEA and bought two desks and get them set up last night. (Oh, and we had to make a second trip to IKEA to pick up some hardware we forgot on the first trip!) It's not near complete yet, but David and I both now have a desk. He desperately needed an office and I needed a place to study and do schoolwork, as well as budgeting and bill paying. Now we have all this! We need to get rid of the old computer desk and get a futon to put in there, and as soon as we have some decor up on the walls, it should be complete! We have ideas, we just have to get it all done. But we're almost there!

So far, I have been doing well with my focus for the year. We've eaten very healthy, and although I haven't been to the gym yet, we've been very active at home getting things cleaned out. My body is so achy and sore, but that's a good thing. :) Today I am going to the gym here at work and am putting in 30 minutes on the treadmill. Hey, I am still sore from the weekend, so 30 minutes is good for me! We didn't go out to eat, so we've saved money. The bummer is that we went over budget on the stuff for the office, but I think we'll be fine since we're eating at home more. It will balance out.

School begins a week from Wednesday!! I'm actually excited about getting back into school...it means I'm getting closer to graduating! It's going to be a busy year, but a good one. I am planning to attend summer school to get my Spanish out of the way, so that will be a challenge itself: summer school is M-Th from 6-10pm. A lot of work, but in 10 weeks I can knock out 6 hours. Not a bad gig!! So while this is going to be a challenging year, I can do it! :)

Well, I guess I better eat my yogurt and get back to work. I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!!

Focusing on 2009

I refuse to use the "resolution". I never keep them, so I won't make any. What I am doing, is deciding where my focus needs to be for 2009. Here's my list of things I am going to work on this year:

1. Weight - yes, I know how tired everyone here must be reading about how I am yet again embarking on the weight loss journey. Sorry, but I refuse to give up on myself. But I am taking a new approach with myself, so I will post periodic updates here as I am ready to do so.
2. Finance - This is a new one for me. David and I have an awesome plan in place to have all debt (yes, I mean ALL) eliminated by June. I will post an update to that in June and let you know how it's going. I expect this to be a great success, as David and I are a really good team and are very focused on this one. We have other goals that will follow once that is accomplished. :)
3. School - This is ongoing for me. I am taking 9 hours this semester, so I am going to be busy, but it will help me graduate sooner. That's the big motivator! Oh, and along with school, I plan to keep myself on the Dean's List. That's a list I enjoy!

That's my three. I don't want more than that because they are three big ones, and are of utmost importance to me. It's going to be a good year, and I am excited. One year from now I look forward to patting myself on the back for being so disciplined, and hopefully I'll be within a year of graduating!

What are you focuses for this year? I'm curious to know what is of importance to everyone else!

Happy New Years!

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years! We went to Jeff and Lyn's annual party, and as always, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! We always pack our jammies and just spend the night so that we don't have to mess with the drunks on the road. After we got up this morning, we went over to Joseph's catch up with him. They are doing well, and he is loving his new job.

It's a nice, laid-back day today. We stopped at Central Market on the way home, as we are grilling a special dinner of tuna steaks, asparagus, portobello mushrooms, and sliced avocado tonight. It's a new year, and we are ready. David and I have made commitments for the year and we're looking forward to accomplishing our goals. (I refuse to refer to them as resolutions...I never manage to keep those!)

So I hope that whatever you wish to accomplish you are able to achieve this year. I think 2009 is going to be good!

(Oh, and go check out http://www.therussocorner.blogspot.com/! Jess is doing her very first Oprah-esque "Favorite Things" giveaway!! :) She's my MAC soulmate!)

Home

We're home and settled back into real life. This is a very short post, as we have a ton of things to do, but I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!!!

Loving This Vacation!

Hello everyone!!

I am going to make this pretty brief because they charge $.55/minute and their computers are so slow! I heard through the grapevine that I managed to miss the icy weather! Crazy! I am in Roatan, Honduras today and the weather is wonderful!! We took the island tour and did a jungle tour and saw lots of native fruits and veggis as well as beautiful trees and even a few small animals. People in Roatan are wonderful, and when the ship pulled into port this morning the natives were in costume dancing for us on the pier...very cool! We were in Cozumel yesterday and swam with the dolphins. What an amazing experience! Tomorrow we will be in Costa Maya for some beach time and snorkeling. I can't wait! I've been good and haven't sunburned yet, so I am hoping that stays the case for me. I must say that the food here is wonderful! We ate lunch at a restaurant in Cozumel yesterday and I loved it! Lots of authentic food that was very tasty! Food on the ship is excellent! I thought I would gain a ton of weight, but so far I am doing well...I haven't been able to be sedentary...we've been up and running a lot! I sang karaoke Monday night and made the cut to perform on Saturday evening, so who knew that would happen? It's so much fun and there is always something to do on board.

When we got to Galveston Saturday, we drove over to Bolivar and the devastation from Ike is horrifying. It's still a mess in some places in Galveston, but nothing like across the ferry. I'll post pictures when I come home...it's heartbreaking, and as I saw it all I found that I didn't even know how to express what I was feeling. There's almost nothing recognizeable there.

Enough about the sad stuff. It's beautiful weather here! Oh, and funny thing...as we got on the elevators to go down and disembark in Roatan, there was a very familiar couple on the elevator. It was Kevin Alexander's parents!!! What a hoot! It was great to see them and I hope we bump into them again!

It's ben hard adjusting to the rocking of the boat. No seasickness, I'm just walking like a drunk everywhere I go! (Yes I have had my share of the "drinks of the day", but I've been sober!!) It's funny on land when you have these odd sensations like you're still at sea even on land. I think I will have to reacclimate when I get home. We've taken tons of pics and I will post them when I get home. There's a good one of me with a parrot on my head and David next to me holding a HUGE iguana! Yeah, we party like animals!!

I think that's it for now. I don't know if I will post again until after I get home, but I'll try. Seriously, if you've never cruised before, do it! It rocks!

Twas The Night Before Cruisemas...

Tomorrow we head down to Galveston!! It's been a rush the last two days just getting everything done. I am finally getting packed tonight, and it's exciting! It's hard to pack...I always have a habit of bringing a little more than I need, so I am trying to pare down but that's not easy.

We had a lovely lunch today with David's parents. It's his father's 75th birthday so we took them to Maggiano's for lunch. YUM! Then we made the mistake of stopping at Williams-Sonoma afterwards. $65 later we left with cookie cutters, a snowflake shapped spatula, a hot chocolate pot with a frother, and a $10 donation to St. Jude's (probably the most worthwhile way to spend any of that money!). But we will make hot chocolate tonight to try our new pot out...it's way cool! And we do love the hot chocolate when the weather is cold! :)

So 48 hours from now we'll be on our way to Cozumel! Warmer weather, here I come! Check back during the week, as there is an internet cafe on the ship and I will try to blog at least once or twice!

Dean's List

I am posting late, as I just took my final in Adolescent Psych and I have made an A in the class! Couple that with my B in Dynamics of Mental Health and that equals the Dean's List for me!!!! I am a VERY excited girl!!

Now I can finally focus on getting ready for the cruise! Oh, and this means I also have no school until January 19th!! Woot!

One Down, One To Go

So I got my Dynamics of Mental Health exam out of the way now, and I think it went pretty well. (yay!) Now I have to spend my evening getting prepared for my Adolescent Psych exam tomorrow night. This is the class I take online, so my exam is online and I have until 10pm tomorrow night to take it. I just want to make sure I am as prepared as possible. If I feel ready, I may take it tonight but I doubt it.

I am off work beginning Thursday, and I don't have to come back until the 29th...this is exciting to me! I started pulling clothes out of the closet to try and figure out what to wear on the cruise, but I felt like I needed to keep my focus on school. I'll start really getting ready to go on Thursday. :) I am taking my friend Wendy to lunch on Thursday as a belated birthday treat. She is kind enough to be watching the kitties while we are away, and I know they'll be in good hands. (But they're going to be mad at us for leaving, that's for sure!) Friday we are taking David's parents to lunch to celebrate my FIL's 75th birthday. We head on out to Galveston on Saturday morning. I am eager to see how things look down there after the hurricane wiped everything out. We got word from our travel agent (insert shameless plug for Memory Maker Travel here) that the Port of Galveston is open and we're leaving from there, so we're happy about that. We have reservations at a hotel that finally has it's phone service back and is ready for guests, so everything is going according to the original plan. Yay!

With the shape of the the economy, we hadn't been planning for David to get his Christmas bonus this year, but they got word yesterday that they will be getting so we are VERY excited about that! We're going to chunk most of it into savings, but we'll be using some for fun! We've decided to issue a challenge to ourselves for 2009...we're going to try and live on just one income and sock the other away into savings. I think we can do it, we (translation: me) need to cool our spending as we've done our part to boost the economy lately. As long as gas prices stay down, I think we should do pretty well! It will be fun to see where we are at the end of next year!

That's it for today. Lots to do since tomorrow is my last day in the office until after Christmas. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday!

Final Exam #1

Tonight is my final in Dynamics of Mental Health. This class has been good, but a real challenge for me, so I am trying to make sure I get an A on the final. If I do, it will pretty much solidify a B for me, which I will be okay with. I am pretty sure I'll make an A in my Adolescent Psych class, so if I get an A and a B this semester, I will make the Dean's List which would make my day! Yeah, I'm a school nerd and I love it. :) I spent the day yesterday studying for my test tonight and I do feel ready. I just need a calm day at work and for nothing to distract me during my test.

I started trying to figure out what to take on the cruise last night. When I went to Paris, I way over packed and I am trying not to do that this time around. However, I think I am already on that track, so tonight I am going to sit down and actually put outfits together and see what really makes sense to take. I am getting excited, but I am having to stay grounded so I don't lose my focus on school. I can cut loose after Wednesday, though! I am off work beginning Thursday morning, and I am excited! I am taking Wendy for her birthday lunch, Shanna's girl's are coming over to make chocolate dipped marshmallows for her classmates, and I think Friday we may be taking David's father to lunch to celebrate his 75th birthday. We have a busy week this week! It should go quickly, but in a way I don't want it to...too much to get done!! But it's all good. :)

I think that's enough for today. I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday! (Is that possible?)

The Belated "What I Am Thankful For" Post

I try to do this and this year I just forgot! However, I still think it's important to list those things I am thankful for:

1. Family - Where would I be without you guys? I am a lucky girl to have the husband, parents, "cuz", grandfather, step-grandmother, aunts and unlces, etc. that I have. I love you all!

2. Friends - I am so grateful for you guys. It's been a trying year for me with school and stuff, and your patience is not only needed, but appreciated! I know I don't get out as much as I used to and I'm not available for ladies' nights these days, but I don't love you any less. You all mean the world to me.

3. Job - I am thankful to have a good job. There are days when I don't love it as much as other days, but I am happy to have a place to go and a good paycheck. :)

4. Cruisemas - Yes, this one is totally selfish. I am looking forward to our cruise in two weeks! Dave and I call it "Cruisemas" since it's the week before Christmas. Clever, right? Besides, it's coming the week that I finish my finals and I am going to need it!

5. School - Yes, as much work as it is, I am grateful to have the chance (and the desire!) to go back to school. I love it, even though I have no life anymore. :) But one day I will be done and I will be able to do something meaningful. I owe my chance to mom...thanks so much!! (I don't have to pay my tuition thanks to her!)

That's my top 5. I'm grateful for much more than that, but that's enough for now. I hope all of you had a chance to think about what you're grateful for!