I'm A Loser Again!

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

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

I hope everyone had a joyful Easter weekend!

One of Those Weeks

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

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

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

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

Good News!

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

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

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

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

Have a good Monday!

Is It Friday Yet?

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

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

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

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

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

Getting Stuff Done

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

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

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

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

I'm Back!

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

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

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

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

Have a good Tuesday everyone!

TGIF!

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

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

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

So everyone have a great weekend!

Wedding Planning

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

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

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

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

200 Days

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

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

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

The Ball is Officially Rolling

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

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

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

212 Is The Magic Number

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

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

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

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

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

Oh, the PAIN!

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

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

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

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

Meet The Parents

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

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

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

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

The Weekend Recap is a Little Late

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

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

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

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

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

I hope everyone has a good Wednesday!!

Happy Birthday, Kim and Mia!

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

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

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

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

Happy Valentine's Day!

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

Grammy Recap

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

Grammy Award Winning Nachos

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

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

Cocktail of the Year

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

Pour over ice and serve with cherries as a garnish!

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

Happy Monday everyone!

Where Have I Been?

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

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

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

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

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

Inspired

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

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

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

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

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

Wednesday Cuteness

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

I love this picture!

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

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

Happy Birthday David!

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

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

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

The Luckiest Girl...

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

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

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

So everyone have a good evening!

250 Days and Counting

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

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

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

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

Winter Blast!

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

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

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

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

Cabin Fever

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

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

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

My Own Mouse Hole in the Rat Maze

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

This is my home away from home. *sigh*

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

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

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

Home Alone

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

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

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

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

Everyone have a good Wednesday!

Getting By

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

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

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

Getting Ready to Let Go

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

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

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

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

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

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

... Author unknown

We love you, Little Bit.

I Didn't Bring The Holidays With Me Into 2007

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

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

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

Everyone have a great day!

A Sign Of Things To Come

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

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

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

Happy New Year!

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

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

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

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

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

Happy New Year everyone!

Holiday Break

I think it's been forever since I posted anything. It's been uneventful, so I decided to take a little break before the new year begins.

We had a very nice Christmas. Would have been even nice if the Cowboys had won, but we don't need to go there. I got to have Christmas Eve brunch with Kim and Mia...that was really nice. Hopefully it will become an annual tradition for us.

I feel really tired. I'm finally getting over my allergies, but I'm still sniffly and quite frankly, I feel worn out. Every day has had some sort of running around and I would like very much to just get to go home and veg. I got another season of Friends for Christmas, and I would really like to go home and get in bed and watch some episodes. Maybe I can do that tonight. Nah...the apartment is a mess and it's driving me nuts. I started to clean last night but it was getting late and I was tired. I think part of my problem might be that I need to get better about taking a vitamin.

So really there isn't any news. No WW meeting this week, so I am going to be very very good and be ready for next week's meeting.

Everyone have a good day!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Hope everyone is well! Just a very quick note to say hello, as we are off to have Christmas #1 with David's Family.

I hope everyone has a very special and wonderful Christmas!

Much love,
Jennifer

Angry, Angry Girl

Have you ever been so disappointed or angry that you just felt black inside? Some of you may have read my post yesterday (before I deleted it) about how excited I was to be getting transferred to a new position. Well, I called HR yesterday afternoon (they didn't call me, mind you...I had to call them.) to get the new details about when I could start (because I am hating-and when I say hating, I really really mean that-my current job), only to find that no one bothered to check my pay scale, and I make more money than the top end of the new position will allow. So no new job for Jennifer. I went all the way through the interview process - 2 interviews and a team lunch with the potential new team members. I felt like I had been kicked in the gut. I had to get away from my desk for a while. It was all I could do not to cry because I was so upset. I feel absolutely stuck in a job I can't stand. I am 100% vested in mid-March, so after that I may begin looking for something else. I'm trying to just get through until after the wedding. How do you not remember to do your basic job functions when you get a new candidate for a position? How do you not check to make sure that the salary range is a fit? How does this get missed? I'm a good employee. I work hard and lots of people choose to come to me when they run into an issue because they know I can help. But the one time I made a mistake a few weeks back, I got hung out to dry for it. This chick will skate on through with barely an "oops...sorry" and no one will say anything to her. Why? Because I can't make waves in the event something else ever opens up internally, I don't want to be known as "that girl". So I have to suck it up and just be okay with it. I'm not okay with it. I'm really not. I'm pissed off to an infinite degree. I know most of you will porbably tell me to quit whining and move on, and I will...eventually. But today I get to be pissed. Really, really pissed. And infinitely disappointed. I even find myself wondering if this is the karma I created. I work at the Food Bank, I collect food for needy people, I raise money for breast cancer, I try to be the best friend I know how to be and somehow the universe rips the rug out from under me. I really don't understand.

Don't worry. This is the only post dedicated to my whining. I'm done now.

I doubt I will have a chance to blog again for a few days. It's going to be busy. I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas, a happy Hannukah, and a safe and blessed new year. Next year is going to be a busy year with wonderful things to come. I'm getting married to a really amazing guy. I guess when I take a step back and look, my life is really good, and I am very thankful for all of my family and friends. Thanks to all of you who come by my little corner of the online world and take the time to see what I am up to.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

My New Obsession

I don't know why I am so obsessed with Ugg boots now, but I really am! I think it comes from seeing all the women in NYC wearing them with jeans and they looked so great! Now I really want a pair! (Why now, when it's close to the end of the season and the stores are limited with styles and sizes??) I love these so much!!

David knows the Uggs rep, so we're going to work on getting me a pair for fall next year. These look so awesome with the top off the boots folded down so you can see the shearling! But of course, he says Born is coming out with some great stuff in the fall, so I may sport the Born boots instead. We'll see! :)

I am still feeling pretty crummy. My allergies aren't giving me a break at all. I even went to bed before 9pm last night. I just hope I'm over this by Christmas! Is there anything worse than feeling like crap for Christmas?

I don't have any other news. I hope everyone is doing well! Have a good Wednesday!

Allergies Are No Fun

Yes, I am battling some major allergies. Runny nose, sneezing...lots of fun! But I am better, so I should be happy. :) However, the allergy medicine makes me feel rather spacey. Thankfully, it's a slow week here at work.

Not a whole lot of news, except that my cousin, Jen, is having a little day procedure this morning, so I am sending her good thoughts. I know she will be just fine. She was going to host Christmas, but with her thing today, we agreed that it's going to be a little too much for her, so we're going to do Christmas at Mom and Dad's house. I told Mom I would come help get things ready, and she's happy to get to pull out her Christmas china and use it this year. :) It's very pretty china...I'm glad she gets to use it, too.

Tonight, mom and I are going to finish up some shopping. We have to buy for our men! Also, we're going to be picking up ribbon and package toppers, as I have run out and need to put the finishing touches on the gifts from David and me. It's going to be a busy evening, but a good one. So that's it for now. (Told you there wasn't much news!)

Everyone have a great Tuesday!

Finally I Have Time to Post!

So it has been a really busy week and now they changed our security at work and I can't post from work any more. It's been ahrd to find time in the evenings, but I have a few minutes so I am here to update.

NYC was great! It was a packed two days and I was so sore from all the walking. We saw the Statue of Liberty, Groud Zero, Rockefeller Plaza, Times Square, went to mass at St. Patricks Cathedral, and did a LOT of walking. It wasn't too cold, and we had a really fun time.

We pretty much finished up our Christmas shopping today. I just need to get some ribbon and a few little things and we're done. However, David and I are feeling crummy (sinus congestion) and we have spent the evening laying around. We went and got soup at Jason's Deli, and it tasted good. David is off work for the next three weeks, so at least he can relax. Some of us still have to work!

Friday was Girl's Day, and we had a really good time. Mia, Kim and I had lunch in Southlake and wandered around and had a blast. Jen and Angela couldn't make it, but hopefully next time! We're shooting for February, so with some advanced planning maybe all the ladies can make it!

There is so much we need to do and not enough time. I finally got my Christmas cards ready to send and David will take them to the post office tomorrow. We need to clean and finish the packages, and I think David is smoking the pork for Christmas, so we need to get that bought and prepped. Jen and Craig are hostessing Christmas, but I am worried it might be too much, as she is having a little outpatient surgery on Tuesday. I'll be checking on her, as I don't want her to feel pressured to do too much. She is a great hostess and I want her to just recover and not feel the holiday stress.

So that's it for now. The year is starting to wind to a close and I am reflecting on how much my life has changed this year. Every time I move to a new apartment, I always wonder to myself, "what will happen in my life while I live here?" Since I moved last year, I have gotten engaged to the absolute love of my life. That's so amazing to me. (286 days by the way!) So many good things have happened, and through the journey I have been surrounded by the best friends I could hope for. I've been a very blessed girl, and I don't take that for granted. So for my friends I am so very grateful. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!

The Things You Hear on the Streets of New York...

"Crackers are just crackers!" - random black man dressed in cammo pants and flak jacket outside Toys R Us in Times Square

"You don't want a black man. They'll beat you." - overheard on the subway

"Fuggetaboutit!" - total mob-looking guy to big haired, gum smacking girl


Yes, we're back and it was a wild trip! We had a blast and I promise to get pics posted ASAP. We saw a lot, but we just ran out of time to see everything. I'll do a better job posting tomorrow, but for now I am taking my very tired, very sore and achy body to bed. It's been a long day!

Travel is great, but it's good to be home!

New York State of Mind

Less than 24 hours now, and I'm on my way to NYC! David called last night to say he was very cold standing outside talking to me on his cell (they were at a bar and it was too noisy for him to hear inside). Now I am worried that it will be colder than I have ever experienced...I forsee a lot of coffee on this trip!

Tonight is Bridesmaids Cocktail Party night! I bought stuff to make yummy snacks and after work I am picking up a bottle of vodka and some cranberry juice for drinks tonight. (The cranberry juice is for poinsettias - champagne and cranberry juice) I bought cute paper plates and napkins, some fun little party favors, and a new sweater for me. (I can't help myself...I'm a shopaholic.) I am looking forward to having the girls over. I am in much need of girl time!

So between that and packing, I have a very busy afternoon. I had one more hour of untaken time off, so I am leaving the office at 3pm today to get stuff done.

So if I don't get a chance to blog in NYC, I will certainly post when I get home! However, David has his laptop and I think we will have access to a wireless connection, so I will blog if I can.

Have a wonderful weekend and I will post again on Wednesday, if not sooner!!

No Weigh!!!

Although I am going to my WW meeting today, I am not going to step on the scale. It's been a very challenging few weeks with no meetings (holidays, inclement weather) and I know the news isn't good. So rather than beating myself up, I am going to the meeting to get re-energized and refocused. I am also working out this afternoon, and I have already made a good breakfast choice today, so I am on the right foot this morning. I feel like this is a good decision for me. Next week I will have to get on the scale (can't pass on weighing in two weeks in a row!) so I'll be better prepared next week. I'm proud of my resolve to get back on track, and I refuse to give up. :)

I leave for NY in less than 48 hours now! It was fun to think that when I kissed David goodbye this morning that the next time I see him is when we met up in Manhattan!! How fun! (By the way, David called to tell me he is sitting with Herb Kelleher on his flight! Southwest messed up both David and Herb's ticketing so they are both on a later flight than expected! Apparently ticketing problems don't just happen to the little guys!)

Tomorrow night I am having a bridal party cocktail gathering. I have bought the goods to make Cosmopolitans, Apple Martinis, and Pomegranite martinis, as well as a few bottles of wine. I am making snacks, and everyone is bringing a snack as well, so we'll eat, drink, and be merry!

That's it for now. I hope everyone has a great Thursday!

...And Found

Yes, my purse is safe. I am an idiot. Apparently when I got home Saturday, I put my purse on the back of the chair and then put my jacket over it, so I totally missed my purse. I was so upset all evening! I couldn't think of a worse week for losing my purse, being that I am flying on Saturday. At least I have a passport in case of emergency, but it's all good now. And I am going to take as little as possible to NY with me just in case I get pickpocketed! (Hey, Dima lost his wallet there, but some kind soul found it and returned it to him with all the contents in tact!)

So I am focused on my trip. I am having a very small bridesmaid cocktail party Friday night (boo...Jen can't come!) and I am looking forward to that. I need to find some yummy (but healthy!) treats to make.

It's going to be a busy week. David leaves Thursday, and then I join him Saturday. I can't wait! That's it for now. Have a great Monday everyone!

Lost

I'm stressing because I am without my purse right now. I paid for dinner last night and then we came home, so I am pretty sure it's at the restaurant. Sadly, we ate at an Asian place last night and they are closed on Sundays, so I won't know for sure until tomorrow. There aren't any charges on my bank account, so I think I'm ok. I am glad I have a passport since I am flying next Saturday on the off chance that I don't get my purse back. I have 3 of my favorite MAC glosses in there, too. Damn.

It's been a VERY busy weekend, but we finally got registered. We spent Saturday getting that done, which took way longer than I thought it would. But I am happy...it's done! However, if you check the Dillard's registry, please don't pass out when you see the cost of some of the things we registered for. It is a wish list, after all! (And we registered at Target, too!)

So we made it through a busy weekend and we're on the countdown to the NY trip! I can't wait!

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Brrr! It's Cold!

It was nice to stay home yesterday...my office was closed so David and I trekked out to IHOP for breakfast, went to the grocery store, Blockbuster, and home! We had fun bundling up and going out on the patio to watch the snow fall. We napped, watched tv, and David even grilled ribs last night! It was a great day! I was really hoping that we'd have a delayed opening this morning, but no such luck. But at least it's Friday! But we did get to make a snowman yesterday. He was small enough to sit on the rail of the balcony.

And here we are, bundled up for our self-portrait:

Tonight, David and I are planning to go to the movies. And tomorrow, we're going to finish getting registered. Yay! Over the next couple of weeks we're going to finish collecting addresses so we can send out our Save The Date cards to our wedding guests.

David leaves for NY next Thursday, and then I will be meeting him out there a week from Saturday! We're looking forward to our trip, even though it's going to be pretty short. It should be a blast!

So that's it for today. Everyone stay warm..it's pretty cold out there this morning!

Back at Work...and Not Loving It

I wish I was still at home in bed. It really stinks having to come back to work after being off for a week. It was a good vacation. Very busy! I didn't get everything done that I needed to, but it was still productive.

This week is going to be spent catching up at work and cleaning at home. I have a feeling that the holidays are going to fly by!

I haven't done well with my eating over the holiday, so I have really got to get with it. It's good to be back at work for that reason...it's easier to stay on my routine when I am here. Besides, we had to have Thanksgiving for two days and that's tough!

I hope everyone had a good holiday!

Hello From Vacationville!

Yes, it's nice to be off work! I am off this whole week and really enjoying spending time with David. We haven't had a lot of time together over the last 6-8 weeks, so we're happy! David took me on a date last night to dinner and to see Casino Royale. I actually liked this one! It was a good Bond film. We ate at the Indigo Grill at the Metro Theater in Colleyville. A little pricey, but the food was good. We also went to Target yesterday and bought our Christmas stockings and a few Christmassy things. Today we are going to clean the apartment thoroughly and then take an inventory of ornaments and lights to see if we need to get anything else. We have tog et to the grocery store today, too, as we have a good bit of holiday cooking to do tomorrow. Thursday is "turkey day" (also known as Dad's birthday!!) and we want to make sure we have everything done in plenty of time.

So that's about it. We've had fun relaxing and today we're going to be productive. I hope everyone has a great day!

What Did The Scale Say Today?

It says I LOST 2 pounds!!! This makes a total of 10.6 pounds that aren't coming to the wedding!

Whew...I thought I was going to gain! Thanks again for another week of support from everyone! I can't do it alone! :)

Just A Number

I know the scale just represents a number for most people. For me, it represents progress, discipline, and hard work. However, I am scared that today it may represent extra water weight. Many of you know how personally I take a gain of any kind, so I am very nervous that my body hasn't cooperated with me even though I have done a good job of eating carefully. I thought about using a pass and not getting on the scale today, but that's the first step in just plain chickening out. I refuse to do that, so on the scale I will go at 11am today. I am very nervous, but I'll be fine no matter what.

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is one week from today! The holidays truly are upon us now. Next weekend we'll be putting up the tree and decorating. David and I were talking about how both of us are really starting to feel the holiday spirit, which I haven't truly felt in a few years. It's nice to be excited about the holidays again.

So that's it for now. I'll be posting around noon to let everyone know what my body decided to do this week!

Our Very First!

David called to tell me that we got our very first wedding gift! He is in Austin staying with his very good friends, Joe and Pascha. They bought us a lovely picture frame, and I can't wait to have a good picture to put into it! It was so exciting to me...I got off the phone and felt a little silly, as my eyes misted up just a bit. How sweet of them! I have already written a thank you note, and now I just need to get their address!

I don't kow about the rest of you, but with the high winds we're having, I am feeling kind of crummy. Lots of drainage and coughing. I am supposed to have dinner with Grampa tonight, but if this doesn't clear up soon I may call to reschedule. I'm no fun when I am feeling under the weather!

I get to go shopping! David's former step-daughter, with whom he has more of a father-daughter relationship, has a birthday this weekend. I am going to put together a birthday box to send to her (she just move to California). I thought a Gap or Old Navy gift card, some bath goodies, and a small box of Godiva chocolates would be ideal. I'll pack them in colored packing and confetti and send it on it's way! I like shopping for fun things like that! :) My big dilemma is deciding where to buy the bath stuff...Bath and Body Works or Sephora? Probably Sephora. How fun!

That's it for today. I hope everyone has a great Wednesday! :)

Oh Lordy, That Was Some Good Eating!

David and I had dinner with one of the execs from Born. We met for dinner at Kirby's, and I forgot just how good that place is! We started with drinks and then got our table. We had appetizers of fried pickles (that was Ron's choice...crazy out-of-towner!) and a crab cake that was beyond phenomenal! (David and I ate that!) We moved on to salads, and I had a tomato and blue cheese salad that I could barely eat half of. Then came the main course...a 22oz porterhouse. Wait-I ordered the grilled pork chop! So while the gents ate their steaks (I told them not to wait!) I was apologized to many times and finally got my pork chop. It was amazing, but by that time my food had settled and I was already very full. Since both of the men were hitting the road today, they insisted on boxing up the leftovers and sending them home with me. No problem there! So I have some very tasty treats in the fridge for this week while David is finishing the last of the heavy travel. I dropped him off at the airport this morning, and he's off to Austin. One nice thing about this leg of the trip is that tonight and tomorrow night he is staying with a very good friend of his in Austin, so he doesn't have to be stuck in a hotel (or have to pay for a hotel!).

Tonight I am having dinner with my very good friend, Wendy. I get to share all my wedding planning stuff and show her pictures of my dress and lots of fun stuff, so I will be in wedding heaven! :)

Also, don't forget to vote for Emmit Smith tonight on Dancing with the Stars! He's done a great job and is a worthy opponent!

Countown to the Holidays

Wow...can you believe Thanksgiving is next week? I am excited because I am taking next week off. I haven't seen much of David and he'll be done with his travel on Saturday, so we'll have a whole week together next week! :) He came hone yesterday afternoon from Denver and leaves tomorrow morning for south Texas. Today, one of his colleagues is in town and they will be visiting the Macy's stores. The cool part is that tonight his colleague is taking BOTH of us to dinner at Kirby's Steakhouse tonight. YUM! My plan for not blowing my WW plan tonight is to have the grilled salmon (no butter!) and steamed asparagus and a tomato salad. I should be just fine! :)

It was a busy weekend! I hostessed a jewlery party Saturday and spent time with Angela Saturday evening. Sunday I went to church and then out to lunch with mom and dad. Friday night I was going to see Marie Antoinette, but after eating dinner with Dima and Joseph, I was way too sleepy for a 10:15 movie. How lame am I? Ugh!

So anyhow, I am working out after work and thenr ushing home. I want to run and get a dress so I can look nice tonight...I hope I have time since dinner is at 7:30!

I hope everyone has a good Monday! :)

What Can Be Better Than A Friday?

I am so glad the weekend is here! It's been a busy week and I am ready to have some fun! I am going to the movies with Joseph and Dima tonight. We're going to grab some dinner and then go see Marie Antoinette. I haven't seen a movie in ages, and I am looking forward to going.

I slept better than I have in a long time last night...I put myself to bed at a decent time and woke up refreshed at 5am. So I got up, scooped the kitty boxes, showered and dressed, and even had time to get gas before picking up friend Leah that I carpool with. Go me! I am sure i will be tired early because of it, but that's OK.

Christy is trimming my hair and giving mom a perm tomorrow morning. Oh, HUGE news! Christy's mom had her mastectomy Tuesday and it went very well. She was in surgery for 13 hours, and they removed the breast and some lymph nodes. The lymph nodes were totally clean (no cancer!) so Pam won't even have to have chemo or radiation! They went ahead and did her reconstructive work as well, so she is done and on the road to a full recovery. So big thank yous to all who said a prayer for her. :)

David is doing well on the road. He's had some elevation sickness, but he is better this morning and ready to get to the stores and host his Born event. He's doing very well and still #1 in the company! I'm so very proud. :)

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

Ta-Da!!

I lost another 4 pounds for a total of 8.6 pounds gone now! :)

Yes, it's true...I rock. ;)

Seriously, thanks to everyone for the support! You guys are the best!

It's That Day Again

It's weigh-in day again! I am nervous, as usual, but optimistic. The problem may be that I may be retaining some water, so if the scale is cruel today, I know I did everything I could to make smart choices this week and it's nature, not me! So please send me skinny vibes at 11am today.

Mom picked up more paper for me to work on my tent cards. I plan to work on those tonight. It's really soothing to do that. Gives me an activity and I feel like I am making progress toward getting stuff done.

David spent the night at the Stanley Hotel in Colorado last night. Not familiar with that hotel? It's where "The Shining" was filmed. It's also supposed to be one of the most haunted hotels in the US. He was looking forward to it, but it creeped me out to think about it! I had a weird experience last night, too. I always watch channel 5 in the morning when I am getting ready for work. When I got home last night (around 9:30) I turned on the TV and went right to the DVR function, not changing the channel. When I got done watching a recorded show, I went back to the TV and it was on channel 65. That's the sci-fi channel, and the show on was "Ghost Hunters", and they were at the Stanley Hotel! They showed a couple of things that really creeped me out, so I called David and left him a message to call me. Seriously, I'm sure there is a perfectly good explanation for this, but it really did make it hard to go to sleep! (Especially with the cats making noises in the other room...spooky!)

Tonight I am making myself some dinner and then making tent cards. Exciting, right? I'm going to pop in a movie and relax...I need a little down time! Everyone have a good Thursday!

Oh, and I will report in when I get back from WW...the big news will be posted at noon! :)

A New Day For Congress

So the Democrats did it...but now they have to really get down to business. What I really wish is that all the crappy political barb-tossing would end and everyone could get down to the business of running the country responsibly. Maybe that will happen. I hope for the best!

One more day until my second weigh-in. I'm having my pre-weigh in jitters again. But I've been good and I know the scale will reflect that. (How's that for positive self-talk?) I'm already 4.6 pounds lighter...I wonder what tomorrow will bring? I'll be happy if it's .5 pounds. As long as it's going the right direction. I'm so focused on a smaller wedding gown size!

Speaking of wedding, I've been working on the table cards for the reception. I'm proud of how they are turning out! I'm not good at the DIY stuff, but this has been fun! I made 10, so I only have to make about 140-150 more! (yikes!)

Tonight I am having dinner with Grampa. He had to get a new transmission for his car. it's only 3-4 years old and has 22K miles on it...does that seem right to you? Yeah, the warranty just ran out on it too. But I think it's already fixed, so he doesn't have to worry about it.

As a little treat for me, David gave me a shoe card for a free pair of shoes. I was going to order some shearling boots for our NY trip next month, but they were $169 and the card is only good up to $130, so I ordered a pair or really great shoes that are lined with shearling and have a great sole for walking. They will keep my feet nice and warm while we watch the skaters in Rockefeller Plaza! I also want to be a total goober and stand outside the window of the Today show and see if we make it on TV! :) David has mentioned a carriage ride in Central Park, and I am looking forward to that, too. It's going to be a short trip, but a fun one! My airline ticket was free and he has hotel points so our room will be free during our stay. It's a cheap trip! :)

That's it for today. I hope everyone has a great Wednesday! :)

Elbow Grease Creates A Need For Muscle Rub

I went over to Kevin's new house Saturday to help paint (along with some of his church friends) and we worked really hard and got lots done! His house is going to really be great, especially when he has the flooring down and all the small details done. It's in a cozy little neighborhood and I am so excited for him. :) It was funny...I dreamed Saturday night that Kevin was engaged to his awesome girlfriend. Was it a premonition of good things to come? Who knows! :)

Speaking of Saturday night, Kim and I went to the Cosmic Cafe. It's good...very tasty stuff! Their bread alone is worth going for! :) However, after a day of painting, I was very tired so dinner was all we were doing. I was home by about 9, and in my jammies asleep before 10:30. I was worn out! (It's nice to go to bed early! I did the same thing Friday night after making dinner for myself and just vegging!)

Sunday morning I wasn't feeling great so I stayed home and rested. David got home around 1pm or so...I was happy to see him! He has to leave again on Tuesday for Denver, and he'll be gone until the following Sunday. After that, he'll have almost no travel for the rest of the year. But we're going to New York in December for a few days! He has a sales meeting, so I am going to fly up and meet him for a few days and we'll see a few sights and enjoy a very Christmassy New York! :)

So that's it for now. Not a lot going on, but it was a very good weekend.

Still A Little High On Life

Yes, I am still floating on air - especially now that I am 4.6 pounds lighter! And Angela lost 4.8 pounds this week! Yes, we are totally "rocking the scale"! (Love that quote - thanks Kim!) It feels good to be on track. Dad took me to my favorite Japanese place for dinner last night (MK Teriyaki is AWESOME!) and I had yummy California rolls and a baked salmon roll. :) We went back to the house and I worked on cleaning out some of my old clothes and stuff that need to go to Goodwill. Joseph invited me out with him and Dima and their friends, but I think I may stay in tonight and relax. I would love a tasty treat from Subway and I have a Netflix movie to watch. Besides, I really need to clean the apartment because I am making breakfast for Mom and Dad tomorrow - homemade blueberry Belgian waffles and turkey bacon! MMMMM! (come on...you know I am going to be good about what I eat! I have a WW recipe for the waffles!)

Tomorrow I am helping paint at Kevin's new house during the day, and then I am meeting Kim for dinner at the Cosmic Cafe. I haven't been there but the menu sounds very yummy (it's a vegetarian restaurant) and I am looking forward to eating somewhere new. David may be coming home late Saturday night, but most likely not. I think he is going to be home Sunday, so I am going to go to church with Mom, Dad, and Grampa, as I haven't been in a long while and I don't mind going at all! :) (And I get to peek at the chapel where we'll be married in 330 days!!) So it's going to be a little busy this weekend, but it's all good. :)

That's it for me. Everyone have a great Friday!

And The Scale Says...

I lost 4.6 pounds!!!

I'm so proud of myself! It feels good to be on the right track! :)

And one more thing...can I just say how awesome my family and friends are? They are incredibly supportive! I am having more fun with all the congratulatory emails right now!

I just told my Glitteratti Girls that it's 4.6 pounds of me that won't be attending the wedding! :)

It's Weigh-In Day!

Today is the day...weigh-in number one! It's like my own personal confessional...anything I did right or wrong will show up on the scale today. But I checked over everything I ate in the last week (it's ALL written down and accounted for!) and I was very good all week long. I know the scale will be my friend today. I've exercised and drank all my water, ate lots of veggies and cut out unhealthy snacks. The question now is...how much did I lose?

Stay tuned! The results will be posted by 12:30pm today!

The Day-Before Jitters

As good as I have been all week, for some reason I have a lot of anxiety about my weigh-in tomorrow. What if I wasn't as good as I thought I was? What if somehow I tracked all my points wrong? Even though both of those statements aren't true, I am so nervous about weighing in. I hope it goes well. Even losing a pound would be wonderful! :) Poor Kim has had to soothe me today about all this. I am a basket of nerves!

It's been a busy day here at work. I am ready for 4pm to get here so I can go to Grampa's and have my martini!! David will be joining me tonight, too, so we'll have a good time. David has to get packed up to head down to Houston tomorrow. He'll be gone until Sunday, so I am making breakfast for mom and dad on Saturday. I am also going to head over to help Kevin paint his new house! He's having a work day to come and help, and I owe him for all the times he has helped me move or fixed my computer, so now I can start the payback process. :) Besides, work is much more fun when you have your friends there to help!

So that's the scoop for today. Not much new really. Just a lot of the usual, which isn't too bad. I hope everyone has a great Wednesday!

Happy Halloween!

It Tuesday, and I have my first weigh in on Thursday - I can't wait! I've done so well! I made a Mexican Chicken Casserole for dinner last night, and it was awesome. :) (It was also a WW recipe!) It's been a while since I made a successful dinner, so I was very happy. (David liked the dinner, too, so that made me feel even better!)

No big news. I don't ever get Trick-or-Treaters so I didn't buy any good candy. I did buy some Finding Nemo gummy fish just in case. I know I won't eat those, so it's safe for me to have them in the house.

Seriously, that's about it. No news at all. Everyone have a fun Halloween!

My Favorite Time Change

I love getting the extra hour over the weekend! Since I am up at 5:30 am and at work early, it's nice to see the sun on my way to work. I know, it does suck that it will be dark so much earlier, though.

It was a good weekend. We did a lot of relaxing, which needed to be done. Saturday morning we met mom and dad and Grampa for breakfast and then visited with all of them for a while. Then David had to run to NorthPark to drop some work-related stuff off, so we walked the entire mall and then had a light lunch at PF Chang's. (Hooray for WW-friendly lettuce wraps and steamed dumplings!) Then we went to the store and went home. It was a great night to grill out, and that's exactly what we did. Sunday we watched some cool FBI crime solving shows on the Discovery Chanel, made breakfast/lunch, and then cleaned the apartment. Went to Chili's for dinner (Hooray for the WW-friendly Guiltless Grill!) and then got home to watch the Cowboys play. I fell asleep on the couch with 9 minutes left in the game and woke up to a stunning Cowboys victory! Go Romo! :)

So anyhow, here it is on Monday, and we're all back to the grind. Christy is getting ready to open her salon space on Thursday, so if you are needing a very good hairstylist email me and I will give you her number. She will be in the North Richland Hills area, and seriously, she does a great job! She is going to lower her prices since she is in business for herself, so more good news for us consumers!

Have a good Monday, everyone!

A Moment To Brag...And Not On Myself!

Can I just say how proud I am of David? He was told today by his boss that he is the #1 rep for his company right now! :)

I am so proud of him! :)

Day One - Success!

I know it was only one day, but I did so well! It's one day at a time, right? And yesterday was a great start! I didn't like what I saw on the scale, but I will never see that number again. When it's all said and done and I am at my goal, I will be more inclined to share that number, but not now.

I made a WW cupcake recipe last night that is very easy and VERY yummy!

1 box cake mix - any kind! I used a Duncan Hines yellow mix
1 can pumpkin
1/2 cup water

Mix together and pour into muffin tin. Bake at 350 for 17-20 minutes.

These are 1 point each (don't know the calorie content...sorry!) and VERY tasty! All the fiber from the pumpkin is what makes it so WW-friendly. David and I each ate two last night. And no guilt! :) Next time I might experiment with a cinnamon cake mix. (But the yellow mix is very very good!)

Tonight we are grilling a lean meat and some veggies. You can bet I'll have a cupcake for dessert! I've brought healthy things to eat today to get me through in case I feel weak. (Yay for sugar free Jell-O, yogurt, and soy chips!)

A big shout-out to Angela who started back on the program last night! We're in this together!

And a very special thank you for my friends (both near and far!) who emailed their support yesterday. Please keep it coming...it really does help! :)

I Did It!

I went and weighed in. I have to tell you that it was hard to do, and the number on the scale was very, very ugly. I am not happy about that. What I AM happy about is that I will weigh less next week. I am going to take time tonight to make a plan. I'll plan ahead what I am going to eat for the next week and stick to it. I felt so good and so much healthier when I was doing this last year. And I saw results pretty quickly, too. I'm not going to feel sorry for myself, I am going to be strong and dig deep and be disciplined.

So I went and I weighed. And now I can be on my way to success! Next Thursday's blog will be about how many pounds I lost, and I can't wait to share that with you guys! :)

Moving Forward

Today is a very important day for me. They have organized a Weight Watchers at Work group, and I am going. How do I know I am actually going to do it? Because I had to pre-pay for 16 weeks. I am already financially committed and I don't like to waste money. Besides, I can't quit...too many people I know here in the office are going, and if I quit they'll come harass me! So today I am starting fresh and not looking back at all. I ran across my weigh-in booklets from last year and started to look through them...and then I put them away. I want to keep them as a reminder of success but I am not going to look at them for a long time because I start to get upset with myself for stopping. I was doing incredibly well, and then when my Gran passed I used it as an excuse to stop being responsible for my own actions and I just fell off track.

No more. I want to be 2 dress sizes smaller when I order my wedding dress next February/March. I can do this!

So this time is different. I'm ready to be successful again. I'm ready to feel proud of my achievements again. And every Thursday at 11am I am ready to be accountable and step on the scale at my meetings...and share the good news (and sometimes not so good news) with you guys. So if you don't see a Thursday weigh-in post? Feel free to ask me what's up. I'm ready to get healthy and feel good! I have bags and boxes of clothes just waiting to be worn again, including a pair of jeans that looked really great on me...my Levis low rise boot cut jeans. I will wear them again. Until they become too big!

So once again, I am joining WW. But this time I am sticking with it and doing it just for me!

Catching Up

It's just been super busy! I'll start with last Friday. I got to have dinner with Christy, and it was great to get caught up. Christy is about to leave the salon she is currently at, and will be leasing her own space elsewhere so as soon as she is up and running I will post her new info here. She's an amazing hairstylist, so if you are looking for a very good one at reasonable prices, let me know!

Saturday was almost a blur! Except that I managed to sleep through the Susan Komen Race for the Cure. I am impaired with the alarm clock, so that's all I can say about that. At least I raised money for breast cancer research! Then I went to the store and did a bunch of shopping, went to David's niece's 3rd birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's (that place is LOUD!), dashed home after staying longer than I planned, got my stuff together, Jen came and got me and took me to her place to get ready for the Halloween party (we were running behind!), and then got to eat drink and be merry for the rest of the evening. David came home and then came on over to Jen and Craig's for the party. We had a few drinks and opted to stay in their guest room, so we came home Sunday morning and vegged. Actually, we wasted most all of Sunday just sleeping and being lazy. It was great!

So last night we took David's parents to dinner to tell them we are getting married. (No, they didn't already know...they travel a LOT and we wanted to sit down with them and tell them over dinner.) It went well, and they seemed very happy. :)

So that's about it. We are having dinner with Grampa tonight, and then tomorrow night we are going to meet with the DJ to get everything finalized with her. It's been a busy week so far!

I hope everyone has a good Wednesday!

AWOL

Where have I been? Going crazy, that's where! I don't have time to post today but I am going to try and do it tonight. Lots of catching up to do!

Super Awesome Quote of the Day

"We have enough youth. How about a fountain of smart?"

I love this quote! It's so very true!

Hey, Did I Just Pass Myself?

I swear, I feel like I am just coming and going it's been so busy. Work has been insane (doing site testing-ugh!), David is traveling so he's not home this week, the cats were acting like a bunch of crazies last night, and I am a little short on sleep so I'm grumpy.

Fun day, right?

I am going to have coffee with Joseph tonight. I need to unwind! It's just been too busy for my liking. Saturday is going to be my super-uber-crazyday. I have the Race for the Cure, my future niece's 3rd birthday party, and preparations for the Halloween gig at Jen and Craig's place. It's going to be nuts! But it's all good. :)

So that's it. A short post from me to say that I am still alive. I doubt I will have a chance to post again until Monday, but if I have time I will. Or if I have anything interesting to share.

So have a good Thursday!

Dreary Monday

I could have happily stayed in bed all day. It's wonderfully rainy, and I am blah to match. (You know...cramps and mood swings. Fun!) I had a great day off last Friday. Mia and I had fun just running around. I got to see my wedding dress in person, and I can confirm that this one really is "The One"! It's beautiful! My bridesmaids have seen the picture and so have my parents. Everyone else gets to wait until September 29th! It's just beautiful, though!

After looking at dresses, we headed over to Snider Plaza and had lunch and walked around looking at things we can't afford. We found a yummy place called DoughMonkey. It's a bakery, and they make some very tasty treats! From there, we headed over to Preston Plaza to meet up with Kim. We were going to do the dance class, but Mia wasn't feeling good and Kim was developing a headache, so we met at Javalatto and then went to Snuffers. After that I had to head on and go to the store. David got home around 8:45 and we spent a lovely evening sitting on the patio and enjoying wine. Saturday was a lazy day, but I did get up and get my nails done at a very cool place in Colleyville called the Nail Bar with Mom and Angela. They did an amazing job on my nails...they needed some TLC! Then mom and I went on to TJ Maxx and shopped a little bit. Saturday night David took me to Dragonfly for cocktails and appetizers-seriously, YUM! The atmosphere is swanky and fun. It's a great place to peoplewatch! We were going to go to Taco Diner from there for dinner, but it's apparently closed and gone, so we were silly and went to the Hard Rock for dinner. The last time I was at one of those places was in Paris! We had fun and after our late dinner, we went home and called it a night.

And Sunday was just as it should be...spent snuggled up on the couch watching movies. With the rain and cold, it was a perfect day to spend indoors. :)

So that's it. We had a great weekend. David has to leave again tomorrow and he's gone until next Sunday. :( I'm going to miss him so very much! But after this week he is home for a week and a half, so that will be very nice for me. And for him too!

Everyone have a good Monday! Be careful out on those wet roads!

A Humbling Experience

Yesterday was Community Day at work. During the afternoon I went with my team and worked at the North Texas Food Bank, and let me tell you that was no walk in the park. We lifted, packed and stacked boxes of food to go to families and senior citizens in need. We worked our butts of for about 3-4 hours and when we were done, we had packed and readied enough food to feed needy families for 2 weeks. My body is so sore today, but every time I feel an ache or pain, I am reminded of how fortunate I am. I have food, a home, and a steady income. I am a very blessed woman. But there are a lot of people who are not as fortunate as I am. I was moved when I heard that one of the programs that specifically assists senior citizens is in danger of losing it's funding from the federal government. What will those people do when there isn't that box of food coming in to their homes? It's scary. And the food bank needs more volunteers to help get boxes ready to go out. They are open one Saturday a month for volunteers that can't come during the week, so I think I am going to try and go in November. Anyone care to join? Email me and I'll get you the details.

I was worn out when I got home last night. I was in bed by about 8:30. I talked with Jen and with David, and then I called it a night. I am looking forward to Friday...I am taking the day off, along with Mia and Jen, and we're just going to have fun!

Everyone have a good rest of the day!

Doing My Good Deed Today

Today is Community Day at work, and after noon today I will be working int he warehouse at the Food Bank. Every year my office does this, and everyone is assigned a team and goes and does community work. Afterwards, we all gather back here in the office and have a catered dinner to celebrate how giving we are. It's nice to get out of the office, but it's so rainy today that I would rather have stayed home and slept...which doesn't really offer much to the community.

David is on his way to the airport this morning. He's heading out to Amarillo/Lubbock. He stayed home one extra night to be with me, and it was so nice! :) I can't wait until he comes home Friday! He comes in later, like around 7:30-ish, and I am planning to go to the gym with Kim and Mia to sweat out some calories. Actually, Mia and I are taking the day off and my cousin Jen is coming over and we're going to just have a relaxing day of fun. :) We ALL need it! There are a couple of bridal shops I want to look at so I can see my dress in person. Yes, the latest "The One" dress. This one is seriously it. (I think.) I am getting VERY good feedback from everyone who has seen it. This is a good sign!

So anyhow, that's about it. I'm loving the cooler weather and the rain...wish I could be home in front of a fire in the fireplace and be snuggle up with the kitties! (And David, too!)

Have a good day, everyone! Stay warm and dry!

I'm Never Excited About Mondays

I would like for the weekend to have been a little longer. Friday night at Paper Planet was fun! Mom and I had a great time and I bought some pretty paper, as well as the topper for our wedding cake (which, thankfully, David really loves!) I had breakfast with Mom and Dad Saturday morning, and then Mom and I went on to look at the latest "The Dress", which may seriously be the one. We found a small boutique in Hurst that carries couture wedding dresses, and they are ordering a sample in my size for me to try on. I can't wait!

I got to spend my Saturday afternoon with Angela, and it was wonderful. I haven't gotten to hang out with her in so long...we had lunch at Chipotle, did a little shopping, and found a fun place to get manicures so we have appointments next weekend. :)

Saturday night I picked up David and we had dinner at one of our favorite Chinese places. Then we went home and enjoyed a bottle of wine on the patio. Sunday was wonderfully lazy! We watched some TV, watched the Cowboys lose (does Bledsoe play for us or Philly? Ugh!), and then enjoyed our favorite Sunday shows while enjoying pizza. It was a good evening. David is trying to push his flight back to tomorrow so we have another night together, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. This weekend in our date, and he has something very special planned. :) He's taking me to Dragonfly at Hotel Zaza! (Very nice!!) I am excited that he has put so much thought into planning our date. :) It makes me feel very special.

So that's it. I'm at work and having some allergy trouble, but otherwise all is good. Hope everyone else is having a good day!

Damn You, Maggie Sottero!

I shouldn't even look at dresses right now, but I have found yet ANOTHER wedding dress website chock full of dresses I am in love with. Ugh! Maggie Sottero is a designer, and her dresses are stunning! I found one that might be my newest "dress crush". Thank goodness for my ladies I can bounce ideas off of!

I'd post pictures here, but obviously I can't in case David pops in to read the blog. I may have to start a separate wedding dress blog just to get some feedback. If I do that, I'll send the link out, fear not!

Tonight I am going to Paper Planet with Mom to look at stuff to make escort cards for the wedding reception. They are also serving snacks and giving massages...we are SO there!

David comes home again tomorrow. His sister, Lea Ann, called to tell him there is a house for sale in their neighborhood that we should look at. I am thinking this is not the time to buy a house, but David and I need to talk more about that when he comes home. I'd like to wait a little longer...like until after the wedding. I don't think I am ready to be a homeowner. (I think he has the fever since most everyone we know has a house or just bought one!) We'll talk more, but I just don't see this being the right time.

So anyhow, that's it for today. Everyone have a good weekend!