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.