Catching up

Here it is less than a week before Christmas and I have resigned myself to the saying, "It is what it is". This was not the Christmas I planned for this year, not in a million but with or without me, Christmas is going to get here so the thing I need to remember the most is it is NOT about being organized and having everything perfect. In fact, maybe it has meant more to me that God sent this little baby in this world because I am NOT perfect and God needed Him to be perfect for ME.

The last six weeks have been a blur of emotions for our whole family. Taking care of my uncles estate, doing it right and doing it quickly has been my number 1 focus. My second focus has had to be work. My boss retires a week from tomorrow and I still don't know that I really feel ready to take on the other things she did. The deal is, I want to keep MY job and do the things I have always done and so the roles are really changing. To top it off, my assistant and I have committed to making the LIHEAP department work with two people instead of three. Until we get our rhythm down, that may be scary too, I just don't want to miss something I am supposed to be doing. In the midst of this, sometime in the next month, we need to move offices around.

So, most Christmas' I make all my friends homemade gifts, homemade goodies, take homemade goodies to my church kids, send homemade Christmas cards, decorate the outside of our house, decorate the inside of our house and have this grand Christmas. Early in November I had picked my "song of the year" for Christmas--Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and that is exactly what we are having this year. Fact is, I am planning on finishing the estate stuff tomorrow evening which really puts it in to perspective that this IS worth what didn't get done around here this year. Last year, I got sick the day before Christmas eve and ended up spending more time running back and forth to the hospital than I did at home. I am feeling really good this year and part of it is because I have to learn where to draw the line and I may not like it but it is better for me.

Now, that all felt like downer stuff and I am really not down about any of this anymore and I have honestly been more in the "Christmas Spirit" since a week ago last Monday, getting ready for our sisters weekend.

So now, we move on to "the good stuff". I left Friday morning for Fairview Heights, did some final Christmas shopping and went to the hotel at 2 to see if I could check in early because I had a coupon for a free upgrade if it was available at check-in. You are not supposed to check-in until 3, but the Drury Inn down there is always great about early check-ins. So, sure enough, I got us a suite. Just icing on the cake. So, I went and did a bit more shopping then talked to Sis, and figured she would be there around 3:30. We sat and visited for a while, then I drug her to one more store and then to Chili's for dinner. A guy I had sold Junior's cars to had told us to go to Lotawata Creek for dinner but when we pulled in there was no less than 200 cars there. I want to try it sometime but we decided that was not the night. After Chili's we drove to Our Lady of the Snows Shrine to look at the Christmas lights. They are always just simply beautiful. We used to make a road trip every year when Robert was little because they have lots of other activities, especially for kids. They have added a laser light show since we used to go so Sis and I went to see it. We were only going to go to the traditional one but the people coming out convinced us that we had to see them both. Okay, the Christmas story told to the tune of Bohemian Rhapsody and Jack and Diane, I have seen it all......

We then went back to the room and talked until about 11, WAY past my bedtime. Saturday morning we got up, I went to exercise, we ate breakfast, went to the JC Penney outlet, then to the Spaghetti factory for lunch and then the highlight of the weekend--WICKED!!!  The show was great as usual, Sis loved it which tickled me. She had never been to the Fox so that was a new experience for her too.

 

 

 

So, we both made it back to our own houses about 7:30 Saturday night, great weekend, I SO NEEDED THIS!!

 

 

Sunday we did our Christmas Caroling at church, we used to have so many people to go see, this year we went 4 places, so many of our older congregation have passed on. That part seems sad until you realize who they are singing with. We had a very nice after party at Gary and Sharon Jackson's, just made for a really nice weekend.

 

 

Throw a little Weight Watcher's in for good measure, I was down a pound Monday. Still heading for the 35 but back on the right track, I am 8/10th's of a pound from 35. I go weight Monday at 9:30 and yes, I am shooting for the 35.

 

 

Last night was our AWANA program at church, so we are winding down the steps until Christmas. The program was really cute and the kids worked hard. Our boys had the opening which they were very happy about, they were seen but didn't have to do that much. Perfect for them.

 

 

Tonight, we are going to Plainfield's cantata, I love cantatas. I miss our church having a choir but holding out hope for someday.

 

 

Tomorrow is our Christmas play day at work, I also have a phone interview with a guy who is writing his thesis on Poverty and Energy. I was fine with helping him out until I found out he is going to school at Harvard. That's a little intimidating but I am really just enthused that something in his life has made him realize we have a whole population of people who get overlooked on a regular basis. So, looking forward to that too.

 

 

I haven't heard from my stove yet. Andrew got the new face put on my dishwasher so I know have a black fridge, black dishwasher and a white stove...patience.....I must have patience.  

 

 

I think that is it, I am caught up. At least it feels good to be caught up on "paper" if nothing else :-)

 

 

I have big plans for next year, we will see how hard God laughs at them when the time comes.

 

 

Happy Thursday everyone.

Saying goodbye to a huge part of me

Some people know my "growing up years" were some eventful times. My 7th grade year, my dad had a massive heart-attack, my 8th grade year he died and my Freshman year, my mom ended up in the hospital from October until December, twice we were told she wouldn't live. I had some amazing support staff through family and church during that time, which in a way, is to be expected. I had even more support staff through some of my teachers. One of them being Carolyn Domineck.

I guess  I feel to some extent that your family and even your church family are a little pre-biased to believe in you. But when teachers, who get paid the same whether they go that extra mile for you or not do, you feel like there might be something there worth believing in.

During my freshman year when Mom was in the hospital, Miss D didn't let two days go by that she didn't pull me aside and ask if I was doing okay or if we needed anything. There were days she just let me sit in her office and talk, I learned right then, listening is one of the best gifts you can give someone.

She also taught us though that there is strength in friendships and bonds and that was what we had as a band, we were stronger as a group than we could ever be by ourselves.

I have to tell you my last real memory though happened Robert's freshman year of high school, homecoming day. I had played in the alumni band and Robert had played in the Newton Marching Eagles for his first homecoming. After the parade, Robert and I ran to the grocery store. June Weiscope had brought Miss D in. She was already going through a lot of memory loss because of the Alzheimer's but that day, she walked in the door and saw me and said, "Mindy! wasn't today great?" she went on to talk about how much fun we had in California and just during band. She then asked if Robert was in band and he of course, piped up and told her he played trumpet. She said she knew any kid of mine would have to be musical. It was a great little visit. Around 4:00 that evening Bruce or June one asked her who she saw at the grocery store and she said Mindy Reisner, but by time for the football game that night, it was gone. It will never be gone for me.

Yes, I loved Miss D, we all did and we all have so many things to be thankful to her for. The experiences we had changed our lives forever. I would be amiss though if I didn't mention Sandra Nichols in my band experience. They both believed in me but somehow Sandra knew how to push me. The first day of my freshman year, she handed me a sheet of music, it was the flute part to the Stars and Stripes Forever. She asked me if I could play it, I told her I knew I could by tomorrow. I went home that night and memorized it. To this day, I can still play the first 4 or  5 measures by memory.  One year she handed me a contest piece, it was the hardest thing I had ever seen, it had a name on it that I didn't recognize, come to find out, it had been one of her contest pieces when she was in high school.

I have to tell you that after everything that happened during my high school years, part of me really thought I would aspire to work at a fast food restaurant or be a checker at Walmart the rest of my life. I did both of those and they brought in a paycheck so they are definitely nothing to discount. However, yesterday, as the post were running on fb about Miss D, I was sitting in a meeting in Springfield. I normally don't talk about my job and the specifics because it is really cool and I don't want to sound like I am bragging-- but I am the coordinator for a program to help low-income families and this program is still in its infant stages in the state. The state asked 4 people out of over 50 coordinators to come and sit on a steering committee to help make the decisions as to how this program works. I am one of the four. I have made a name for myself at the state level and I feel much of that is because I had years and years of people telling me I could do more than I thought. Carolyn Domineck and Sandra Nichols were two of the biggest influences.

So, thank you Miss D, may you see this from Heaven, and thank you Sandra, while you are still here, alive and well (and my friend on fb!).

I was telling my AWANA guys last night about one of the scariest times for me in the last few years....I was choir director at our church and Stella Aten passed away. Her kids wanted the choir to sing and they had called Sandra Nichols to be the accompanist. So, I would be directing her. Yes, I shook. Afterwards, she said, "Did you think I would really call you out on something?" Well, yes, I did and she would have and I wouldn't have expected any less.

I had some really rough times though my growing up years. I think it helps me be a better youth group leader to kids the same age because those years are so magnified. I know it helps me be more understanding to people in tough situations.

I know I owe a big part of who I am today to these two ladies, thank you, I truly am forever grateful. Nobody Does It Better.

Onward and Upward

Rough week in the WW world, I was up 1.2 lbs last night, that is nothing compared to the SIX pounds that showed up on the scale Wednesday morning. I really didn't know what I had done but it took me the rest of the week and getting through our company Christmas party to get back to the 1.2 up. Ironically, and as normal, I am down over 2 lbs this morning. So, work harder this week, stay focused and head toward the goal. I originally wanted to have 40 lbs off by the New Year. I thought this coming Monday would be my last regular weigh-in so I had resigned myself to trying to stay between 30 and 35 and just get through the next three weeks. Last night, I asked how we were supposed to handle weigh-ins over the holiday and found out they are going to be there at the 10 o'clock meetings on Christmas eve and New Year's eve. That put a whole new perspective on things I have a chance to hit the 40 lb mark, especially with the weight loss this morning. So, we are going to work HARD for the next 4 weeks. I CAN do this!  I am laying out my detailed plan because I still have the trip with my sister this weekend, a Christmas party Sunday night, a Christmas program with finger foods on the 19th, and of course Christmas on the following week as well as my boss' retirement party on the 27th. .

I started week 1 of the C25K again yesterday, I am going to do week 1 all through December, every other day. I am going to either do Leslie Sansone or walk on the treadmill the days I don't do the C25K. I also committed last night to doing 10 minutes of exercise in my office over my lunch hour. I downloaded some 10 minutes Leslie videos to make that happen. Every time I get to week 4 or 5 of the C25K, I start having problems with the UC, I thought maybe the combination of taking it slower and the weight coming off might help that, we will see.

So, that's the plan, gotta get off of here to get it all done!

It's gonna be an exciting week so will probably be blogging for other reasons this week.

Happy Tuesday!

The Weekly Weigh In

Down another 1.8 lbs. I was really wanting to be down 2.6 but of course I won't turn my nose up at the 1.8. I am 6/10th of a pound from 35 lbs. I am wanting 40 by Christmas but our last weigh-in before Christmas will be the 17th of December. That means I need to lose 5.6 lbs by then. Not sure if that is going to happen because I don't want to get in that trap of feeling like I am on a diet. That would honestly probably sabotage my goals because when I feel deprived, then when something goes wrong, my first thought is to not mess with this anymore and eat what I want. So, I guess I will focus on hitting the 35 next week and then readjusting from there. I might not hit 40 officially by Christmas but I bet I hit it by Christmas eve here at home and we will take what we can get.

Tossing the bucket list

I am NOT a quitter but I know when I have to concede that I have too much on my plate. That time has come so to relieve undo stress on myself I am tossing out my fall bucket list. When I made it, I wasn't expecting some of the events in my life that has happened over the past few weeks to happen. A LOT has changed and I don't want a repeat of last Christmas where I was sick and probably mostly due to stress. So, it's gone, we aren't going to worry about it anymore.

I still have several goals to reach, number 1 is to get the Estate stuff for my uncle all finished up before Christmas. That is the main reason I am scrapping "the list". It seems every time I turn around there is something else to think of, remember, take care of. Yesterday it was cancelling the car insurance. I am kicking myself because I should have done that two weeks ago and didn't even think about it until I had two of the cars sold. Hopefully Monday or Tuesday an auto auction company will come and pick up the two cars which means I have to meet them, give them the titles, a copy of the will showing I really have authority to do this and the keys. I will be glad when this is over. Robert and Mom are loading up MOST of the rest of the hogs this morning. We will be down to three sows and 10 babies after today.

I am also downsizing Christmas again this year. I have the mantle done and hope to have the tree up by the end of the day. I will go upstairs and get my Christmas floral arrangement for the coffee table in the living room as well as the baskets of pine cones, sticks and the poinsettia tree for in front of the fireplace. I will change the table cloth because Mom bought herself one at Goodwill and it was way too big for her table and it is beautiful and I plan to put my garland on my porch outside and I think I will call it done. I am just not in the mood this year and the fact is, nobody is coming until Christmas eve around 10 and then they will be leaving around 10 the next morning. My guys couldn't care less and so I believe I just think I have to do what I have to do to keep up with what a person is supposed to do. Anyway, hopefully by the day's end, my decorating will be done.

Honestly, I feel like I am depressed, I'm not really excited about anything right now. I think just getting through the rest of this year and getting on with a new start will be a good thing.

The Weekly Weight Watching

I'm back on track, woo hoo!!!  Down 32.6 lbs last night, my goal is to hit 40 by Christmas. One of my BFF's just made it over the 50 mark. So very proud of her too! Way to go Dani! She is very close to where she wants to be.  I also measured this morning, I have lost 4 inches off my hips, 4.5 inches off my waist and 6 inches off my chest since July 30th.

I made my Christmas plan this morning, I want to be down 40 lbs by Christmas and I know if I set my mind to it, I can do it.  My activelink has gotten a workout the last few days, I have hit 100% everyday since Friday and my plans are to do that at least 5 out of 7 days every week. That makes it easier for the weight to feel like it is falling off.

I know I have mentioned the ultimate goal before, size 12. When I hit size 12, I am buying myself a car. I am thinking new but if I find the exact one I want used and can save some money, I will probably go for it.  Here is a picture of actually, a used one, identical to what I want....

I will save what it looks like with the top down when I get closer to goal. I am really kinda shooting for my birthday next August.  For the first time in years though, I can see it is possible to do this. I have never put my mind to it like this before and quite honestly I have just never put my personal well being that high on the priority list before and eventhough it feels weird to worry about what I want and need, I really do know it is healthier than putting it all off and not caring. I think my biggest thing is this is the first time I have EVER lost weight without some form of drugs involved. I used Phen-phen when Robert was little, I made it to a size 10, just to watch myself gain 10 lbs in a week when I was off of it because I never learned to eat differently, just to let the pill say I was full when my body wouldn't. When I went off the pill, I went right back to my old ways. This time, I am making my own new "old ways" which is really a feeling of accomplishment all by itself.

Blue Man Group

I think you could say we had a perfect Black Friday. Robert and I left around 10 Friday morning and headed to St. Louis. Our first stop was St. Louis Mills, which is apparently now "St. Louis Outlet Mall", don't know what happened there but the stores are still the same so I guess it's no big deal. We went and ate at Chevy's, I ate too many chips, way too many chips, which explains why I had shrimp for lunch, a french dip from Arby's for supper, got 150% on my activelink and was STILL up 2 lbs this morning. Today I am going easy on everything as far as eating, I have got to get this under control before Monday! 

After lunch we walked the entire mall, if you have ever been there you know it's huge. We found a few bargains at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Bath and Body Works, and the Croc store. We went to play black light mini-golf and then I whooped Robert in air hockey (7-0, yep, I still got it!). After a visit to Cinnabon (Robert ate, I didn't), we moved along.

We went in search of Harbor Freight and I did some actual Christmas shopping for the kid as well as hitting Family Christian Store and finding tons of bargains.  We still had a little time left and I remembered that years and years ago, there was a JC Penney outlet store somewhere. I found it and picked up a few more great deals.  After eating supper at Arby's we headed for the Fox. The last two times we have been there, we have found awesome spots in the parking garage just across from the door we always come out of. This time was no different, we were probably 20 steps from the door to the van.

So, we go in, find our awesome seats--5 rows back, two off from center and wait to start the show. At the very beginning of the show, there are these big lighted message boards. So it starts out, "May I have your attention please, may I have your attention please, if I have your attention, please yell". We did. So it went on to tell us there were some very special guests in the audience, Olympic medalist Laura somebody--sorry, can't remember, we all told her congratulations. Then we moved on to this guy who was one of the first civilian visitors to space, also telling him Congrats. Then they pointed out this guy name Philip who was just an ordinary Joe but we told him we were glad he was there. Then the freaky part happened.

The board says, "We have heard that Mindy Browning has a headache, let's all help Mindy get rid of her headache," Everybody tell Mindy to shut her eyes, "Shut your eyes Mindy", now tell her to pretend she is in a meadow, "Pretend your in a meadow", now tell her there is a cow, "There is a cow", now tell her to kill the cow, "Kill the cow". Okay, yes, the whole thing was more than a bit surreal and yes, it really did happen. Directly after that, they started the show.

I was asked to take pictures but they wouldn't let us. They had a meet and greet afterwards but we had done that when we were in Chicago and we knew we had a 2 hour drive home so we skipped it. So, here is a picture of me and Robert at the Fox....

and here is a video of one of the parts we saw (this was in Orlando but it was exactly the same....







It was a really, really cool night and then to top it off, we pulled in the drive at 11:55, thankfully, Robert drove home so I had a nice nap to boot.

Up a pound

I really didn't think that was bad for everything I had going on. I will work harder this week. I was really allowing myself two pounds so in some warped little way, this was a victory!

Anyway, short and sweet, but past my bedtime.

Silence

Very seldom a word in my vocabulary, it is what it is and the last few days it is what I have felt like. I use the "10-second" quote so much but truly, a week ago last Friday morning, on November 9th, I had a 10 second moment. Robert and I had just finished reading Our Daily Bread for the morning and was just getting ready to pray when the phone rang. 7:10 a.m., when I looked at the number and saw it was my mom, there were no alarm bells or anything. I assumed she wanted to tell me she was off to somewhere and wouldn't be at home at 7:30 when I called on my way to work. As I answered the phone I could tell her first words were filled with tears, so my thought then was something had happened to her dog. Mandy is fine, my Uncle Junior was not. Her sentence, "they found Uncle Junie dead". I don't really remember anything except saying I was on my way, telling Robert, running in the bedroom and telling Andrew and then I was out the door. What a shock to the system. I actually think we all went through the next few days on autopilot, looking back, I remember things but it was really a big blur.  So, over the last week, I have sat down several times to blog and just didn't even know where to start.

My uncle was very special to me, we often butted heads but I think we both made a sport out of it, I can't tell you how much I will miss that.  To top it off, he left the business of taking care of his estate to me. My uncle may have looked like a country bumpkin but when it came to his finances, he kept good care of stuff and had things in good order. The fact that he trusted me with making sure everything was taken care of after he was gone has been an honor. I worried about how things would go until I went to the lawyer and as I said, he had done everything right, he had a will, he had already deeded all the ground separate from the will and it looks like once the pigs are all sold, we can pretty well wrap things up.

So, I have so many things I would love to say but I just won't. It is time to move on and find my new normal, and more importantly help my mom find hers because she had not went 48 hours without seeing her brother for a long time and she is going to have a lot of gaps to fill.

Last week, I went to Weight Watchers. I had really been good through the weekend and even after the dinner that Mike Saathoff had for us, I had hit my 30 lb mark. This last week though, I just quit caring, I didn't want to workout, I didn't want to track, basically, I wanted to eat and sleep and that I did. Tonight I get to pay for that. I wasn't going to weigh, I was just going to go, but I think a part of me needs to see what 1 week of not caring can do to me because I am going to have to care for the rest of my life. So, I am hoping it is not more than 2 lbs but I am also giving myself permission to accept it and go on, making this coming week one of the best I have had for a while.

So, now that I have made this post and broken the silence, I can go on.

and I will....

What is up with the Bucket List?

Haven't checked in on the bucket list for a while, so  I thought I better update:

1. Tree cut out of front yard
2. Robert's car scrapbook FINISHED
3. Set aside a regular scrapnight, I'm thinking Monday
4. Decorate my house and yard for fall done
5. Redo the patio area from Summer flowers to fall flowers (meaning plant mum's in flower bed) This I didn't do because most of the summer my cut flowers looked dead, they picked fall to really be beautiful so I left them
6. Exercise room finished
7. Laundry room finished
8. Scrap area cleaned up
9. Go to Covered Bridge
10. Go to the Hillclimb
11. Make Robert's vest, getting time for it, maybe I will do it now.
12. Finish our headboard with Andrew (or stay on Andrew to get it made!)
13. Plant trees
14. Redo the kitchen floor
15. touch up paint on inside of house.
16. Make Christmas presents for friends
17. Get a manicure and a pedicure
18. Start making plans for front bathroom
19. bulbs dug up.
20. Clean out closet and switch from Summer to Fall.


Okay, so I have a lot left to do, in my defense, I took on another project at work that takes me to Springfield once a week which means everything I was barely getting done in 5 days, I have to fit into 4, which means I have spent several evenings at work.

Saturday, I asked God why I wasn't able to get as much done in a day as I used to and his response (it might as well been said outloud because I heard it that plainly) was "Because you decided you didn't have time to spend your first waking moments with Me". So I went back to my own Bible Study of a morning instead of the just the 10 minutes I spend with Robert doing Our Daily Bread and it made a difference even just yesterday.  SO, I have a new resolve to get all of these things taken care of!

 

10%

Anyone who has went to Weight Watchers in the past few years knows that your first major goal with them is to lose 10% of your weight. Last night I hit that mark, went a little over it even. 

So I got the keychain that I can add my 25lb washer to. At the meeting I am 4.2 lbs away from being back to what I weighed when I started work at the Greenup office. I am less than 30 away from where I was when I started work at the Olney office.

I have to say, I have not felt deprived, or like I have sacrificed anything. Last night, I figured out that I could have a small loaded baked potato bites from Arby's and a double cheeseburger from Steak and Shake and still stay under points. They were good, really good and even though I felt like I was sinfully cheating, I knew I wasn't. The scales showed down 2 lbs just from yesterday. That will fluctuate over the week and I know it but I love the fact that I have the freedom to eat exactly what I want and still lose weight. It just takes planning.

A couple of weeks ago, I ran across this article "What Weight Watchers doesn't tell you". I had to laugh because all the stuff they said Weight Watchers didn't tell you--which boiled down to "you will have to do this the rest of your life if you want to keep the weight off", Weight Watchers DOES tell you. They even let you come for free as long as you stay in your goal weight and then if you have gained, you only pay until you get back there.

For me, this time, losing weight is not just something I want to do for the moment. It is who I want to be for the rest of my life and you can only go two ways there, you can get up every morning, take the best care of yourself that you can, exercise, eat right and live life to the fullest or you can get up, say, "I don't care" and watch the weight come back. I have finally reached the age where I realize the first one is not being self-centered, it is being responsible.

So, next week, I need at least 1.2 lbs to reach my next goal. At this rate I am seeing maybe a size 18 by the first of the year and yes, I will have to venture out and see if I can really were an 18 in regular clothes. Of course, an 18 would still make me overweight, seeing as how I am 5'2" but it would be the start of where I want to be. My original goal before my car was to not be wearing plus sized clothes, I have changed it though and want to be at least a size 12 before I get my car. I think ultimately I would like to be back to a 10. I wore a 10 when I lost weight with Phen-Phen, two years after Robert was born, of course then I quit smoking and let myself gain it all back and then more, and then more.

I am not giving myself a set time frame for the 12 or 10 either one because even though I am going pretty quick right now, I have a lot to lose. When I get closer to goal, I know it will slow down and I am prepared for that.

Since I have been going, 15 weeks, I have had one week that I gained, all the others I have lost. On that same note, I take the birth control pills that you only have a period once every three months--wanna guess which week I gained? I knew what it was, pushed right on through it and the very next week I was down 3.8 lbs.

Today, I have the day off, Andrew is off, Robert gets out of school at noon and we don't have church tonight. I am planning right now for dinner out with the guys tonight, planning on getting some walking in this morning and planning for a great day.

My biggest secret is not keeping it a secret. Wow, had I known what a difference that would have made, I would have told the world every time I started to Weight Watchers.

For me, failure is not an option--that apparently only holds true when someone knows I fail!

Happy Tuesday everyone--GO VOTE!!!

Just checkin' in

So November is upon us, what a year it has been. And so incredibly fast. Of course, the first of November, I kick into "gearing up for Christmas" mode. I usually start planning stuff like designs for my homemade cards, what gifts I am going to make to keep at the door during the holidays, little things like that. So, Thursday morning, I started looking for Christmas card ideas and I have had this strong sense of "you shouldn't be doing this". So, with much fussing with myself, I have decided that one thing I can compromise on are the cards. I want to have time to do them and I know I could get them done if I set my mind to it but I really just decided to give myself permission not to make myself crazy this Christmas.

Last Christmas, because I was having a really bad UC flare, my mom fixed Christmas dinner at the last minute. For a few years, there were 14 of us for Christmas day and that kinda necessitated my house but the last few years it has just been the 6 of us so Mom's works fine. I honestly think she was happier and I know the guys were happier because I wasn't stressing out over dinner--of course, I was honestly too sick to care and ended up making three trips to the hospital for numerous tests (my doc is overly cautious about C-Diff with me). So, this year, I just asked Mom if she wanted to do Christmas dinner and she said yes. Whew! one more thing not to stress out about. I will still have my sis and Richard for overnight and will fix something for us to nosh on while we open presents but the them of my Christmas this year is going to be laid back. In fact, I "accidentally" heard my first Christmas song last night (I went to Walmart today, so of course,  I heard more but that's beside the point). I was listening to the best of Kenny G while working late last night. Right smack dab in the middle of that CD is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Each year I have a "theme song" for Christmas and I am pretty sure this song will be it. Now slow down, I am not getting the cart in front of the horse, just saying that when it's time, that will be the song and you have to admit, this is the month to "plan" things.

That being said, I have several things going in November that I am looking forward to. Wednesday I make another trip to Springfield, its turning into a once-a-week thing, glad I get to go but wish we could make some headway in what we are trying to accomplish.  On the 11th, we are having our Harvest Home celebration at church. Since it is also Veteran's Day, I am doing a PowerPoint of our Veteran's, looking forward to having that one done.

My momma will turn 73 on the 15th, I was planning on taking the day off but with the steering committee still meeting every week, I decided not to even chance it and made plans to spend the day with her on the 17th.

The day after Thanksgiving, Robert and I are making our normal midnight run and since we had such a great experience in Evansville, we are going back.....Now here's the kicker. We are going to Evansville, coming home, taking a little power nap and then heading to St. Louis to see Blue Man Group. Yes, as a matter of fact we are crazy, both of us and yep, we like it that way.  To top it off, our seats are in the 5th row, two off from center, how cool is that?

Andrew turns 48 on the 27th, he has already told me and Robert several things that is "the only thing he wants for his birthday", we shall see.

Today I went to have my hair done, I had her color it darker and I love it (get on facebook and see it, it is my profile picture now). Mentioning that, if you are not my friend on fb, feel free to friend me. I don't friend people very often, just funny that way but I love having friends :-) so be my guest.

Andrew and I also went to the Amish store today, one we had never been to but that we will definitely visit again. we found Lebanon bologna and Birch Beer, two very neat Pennsylvania treasures that you just don't normally find around here, we also found Sweet bologna which is also native to the area we lived in 19 years ago. Now if we just had some Grandma Utz potato chips, life would just be grand.

On our way to the store this morning we were reminiscing about us before we were us and just worked together at Wallyworld. It's funny, seems the whole world knew we were going to get together before we did, I'm just glad they were right!

Happy Saturday y'all, enjoy your extra hour of sleep tonight!  I sure will!

Life

To say it has been crazy the past few days would be the understatement of the year. I'm still lovin it but wow, am I ready for some downtime! 

On the Weight Watchers front, I hit 25 lbs Monday! 25.4 to be exact. I was at 27 last Saturday morning but a well deserved trip with two of my BFF's took us to the Cheesecake Factory, and yes, as a matter of fact, it WAS worth the pound and a half because it is a rare treat and I knew what I was doing. My pumpkin cheesecake experience will last me for months.  So, now I am heading for 10%, I am expecting it soon, very soon. Yes, do the math, not ready to say how much I weighed when I started but I never hit the 300 mark so you can pretty well figure from there.

On the AWANA front, we took our 1 High Schooler that showed up last night and borrowed Robert and went reverse trick or treating, calling it "Truth and Treat", we took candy, tracts and invitations to church out to some folks in the area. I think we had a really nice time. I had planned on making these little pumpkin peanut butter balls. I knew I would be pushing it to get home at 4:30 and leave at 5:30 so I asked Andrew to mix up the dough for me (I did at least lay everything out for him). At 3:00, I realized I wasn't making it home by 4:30, so I asked him to make them too, he did a great job, these are the leftovers:

aren't they cute?

On the work front: We spent a day in Springfield Tuesday that I really felt like we weren't able to get a lot accomplished. If we could make people who don't do our work everyday realize that none of us are motivated by money but by taking care of our clients, I think things would go a lot smoother. We go back for Round 3 next Wednesday. I am really honored to be on the steering committee but that mixed with my assistant being sick, my boss in interviews all day, along with being responsible to give each interviewee a test, topped with all the work I had to make up from being gone Tuesday made for an EXTREMELY crazy day yesterday. I never, ever, ever, use the F word and don't worry I didn't but I usually don't even use substitutes for the F word and yesterday I did. I shocked one of the fieldworkers and she emailed me apologizing for me having a bad day. That really kinda humbled me into remembering who I am.

Another one of the fieldworkers sent me a message at a quarter til 4 telling me how amazing she thought I was and that she didn't know how I did everything I did. At that point in time, I was really ready to cry. I can do everything  I do because I work with these amazing people who can accomplish more in a day than some people do in a life, because I have a back-up system at home that can make even the most waylaid plans still go right and most of all because I serve this AWESOME GOD who has chosen this path for me and reminds me daily that this is nothing compared to what it will be like to be in his presence.

Can't go without mentioning my weekend, I left the house at 6:30 Saturday morning, picked Tammy up in Heyworth at 9, and met Dani at the Cheesecake factory at 11:30. We talked, and ate and talked and then we went to IKEA for two hours, then to the Container store, then we said our goodbyes to Dani and started back toward home. Tammy got home around 7:30 and I walked in the door at 10 til 10. What an fantastic day!  We are all three doing Weight Watchers and between the 3 of us have lost 103 lbs. We are planning a trip hiking at Starved Rock in the Spring because we will be that much more fit. Think we need to plan at least one thing in between but we will wait a while on that.

So, tonight I am spending the evening at the NCHS Pops concert with my mom. Can't wait to see what Mr. Finley has accomplished with the group, he too had big shoes to fill but I am looking forward to great things. Saturday I am hoping to rally the guys early enough for a trip to a different Amish store and then I have GOT to get my hair cut and colored, the gray is peeking through way too much.

That's about it for now,

Happy Thursday!

What a day!

In my last post, I told that I had been asked to sit on the PIPP steering committee. Today was our first meeting and I am SO GLAD I went. I believe the four of us there who are PIPP coordinators opened more eyes to what we have going on than any of them ever realized. I honestly feel like we have made change for the better today (okay, so now, if you are a WICKED fan, you are hearing the song FOR GOOD, going through your mind, anyway, I am).

We go back Tuesday morning and I am looking forward to seeing what happens since the suggestions made today have had time to digest.

Also going on today, 21 years ago today, I had the day off, I got up at 8:00, gave myself a facial, plucked my brows, deep conditioned my hair, gave myself a mani and a pedi and virtually spent all day getting ready for what was 21 years ago tonight...my first date with "Drew" as I called him then.

To top it off HE posted YESTERDAY on facebook that today was our 21st anniversary of our first date.....no, I didn't tell him and yes, him remembering things like that is just another one of the million reasons that he is perfect for me.

I should write more but gonna unwind a bit and go to bed.

Happy Thursday!

The Big Sigh.

What a week! Seems like it has been more of a roller coaster than normal. Of course, Monday was weight watchers night and I was down a lb. I had struggled and so I was really happy. I have struggled even more this week so I am not expecting anything. I have went 12 weeks though and lost every week so I really don't have any reason to be upset if things don't go my way this week. I am kinda considering this a "regrouping" week. I have not been as faithful to exercise these last two weeks plus I had to up the prednisone, that combination and losing weight just isn't the best. Gonna try to go back down to the 5mg this week though and make a new commitment to working out again.

Tuesday Andrew and I took in the Covered Bridge Festival. Some of my friends had said it wasn't as great this year and I have to agree. I went looking for braided rugs, a dark colored afghan and bath salts. I came home with scarves, coffee, tea, a Christmas ornament and a calendar. The best part is I came home with money, always like when that happens but wish I would have found what I was looking for. On top of everything else, I guess Robert got home from school at 10:00 that morning, if he would have known, he would have just went with us.

Wednesday was AWANA, I am hoping this coming week to have our other boy back with us ats football got over last night. We had a guest speaker, this lady from Effingham who acts out Bible characters. She is fabulous, wish I could remember her name but she did Merriam, Moses' sister and it was very good, the kids were absolutely captivated. I have to tell you, this year, I am taking 3 little girls to AWANA. For the past 20 years I have taken a van-load of kids but 90% of the time, it has been a van-load of boys. It is a totally different atmosphere taking girls. The age the girls are now are the age the boys would have farting contest to see who could make me roll down the window the fastest. The girls bicker (they are all sisters) but most of their time is consumed with singing at the top of their lungs. Robert had made them a CD and the one they sing the loudest is "I'll Fly Away", kinda cool because I sing right along with them.

Thursday was a red-letter day for me. After about 2 months working for ERBA, I realized I wanted to do more than fill out the applications, I wanted to help be a voice for our clients when it came to how to administer these programs. I have worked in various capacities that have had an impact on the programs but Thursday afternoon, Maria, from DCEO called with an invitation to be on the PIPP steering committee. I am very honored to have the opportunity. This means that I will have a voice in how we do what we do with the PIPP program. To top it off, my friend Kathy, from our sister agency, CEFS, was asked also, which means I have someone to make the trips to Springfield with. In fact, there were three LAA's asked to newly participate in the steering committee. The other one was Community Contacts, whose coordinator is Nancy Kane-Richards, we call each other sisters from another mister, so I have very good company. Next Thursday, we will meet in Springfield, I am looking very forward to it.

Yesterday we had FCD recertification training. FCD is Family and Community Development. Our FCD training is to help us learn how to give a hand up, not a hand out; how to integrate our clients with their community and give them a sense of belonging and accomplishment as they pull themselves out of poverty. It was a good day spent with a lot of co-workers. I feel like I always grow when I come out of an FCD training. I have homework to do before I receive my recertification and I should have just done it this weekend but with the week I have had, I decided not to. I brought home the work that needed caught up because I missed Tuesday and that is probably enough. Of course this coming week I will try to get everything I can finished before Thursday and I believe we have another meeting the next week so everything should keep me on my toes.

So, now you understand the big sigh. Newton's Band Classic is this morning and I am going with my mom. Part of me really just wanted to stay in bed but I really do want to see the bands, and in a way it will be relaxing.

Happy Saturday everyone!

My latest reads

I have read a two really great series lately, one of them isn't complete, (anyone who personally knows Lynette Eason--tell her I am ANXIOUSLY awaiting the next book). Somehow, the fact that for a few years of my life, I strongly, strongly debated going back to school for law enforcement triggers me liking Lynette's books. When I caught shoplifters for Walmart, my mentor was ex-military intelligence; had I not started dating Andrew and had the whirlwind courtship and marriage, I may have ended up down that path. Anyway.....

 There are unanswered questions and "When A Heart Stops" just came out October 1, I preordered and was thrilled Monday morning when it was on my nook waiting for me :-). But now I have another wait.......

The other series I just finished was also brought on by Lynette Eason, I actually read her book first and then had to go back to the beginning and read all of them, so I read hers twice because I wanted everything to be in context.  I would LOVE for this to be a television series, I could see this family having many adventures but you could take the first couple of seasons just getting through the books as is. Wouldn't it be a novel idea to have a television series based on all Christian books.....maybe the Hallmark channel should pick them up. Just a thought.

This is the Fitzgerald Bay series, there are 6 books by 6 different authors, which was different but I always marvel at how people can spin a life out of these characters--something that I have to admit I am jealous of everyone who can do that. I have a good imagination but not good enough to take several lives, make them intertwine and make sense.

I also just found out that one of the other Lynette Eason book I read is also part of a continuity series by Love Inspired-- I read Threat of Exposure, but now need to read all the other in the Texas Rangers series.

I made it to 20!

Usually whatever I weigh on Monday morning with my clothes on is exactly what I weigh on Monday night at weigh-in. I was a little upset this morning when I got on the scales and it was giving me a 2.4 lb weight loss. I needed 2.6 to hit my goal of 20 lbs. I have learned a lot from my past mistakes with weight watchers and I spent the day telling myself a 2.4 lb weight loss was nothing to sneeze at.

When I got to work, we were celebrating a birthday. My first instinct was, "I have to weigh tonight, so I am going to avoid the whole thing", then I thought, no, this is life, deal with it. Luckily someone had brought pineapple, grapes and orange slices and somebody else brought raspberries. I filled my plate with fruit, and stood and ate with everyone else--you can have all the fruit you want on WW with zero points plus values. At lunch, I ate my sandwich, my two cheese sticks and my banana. In the old days, I would have starved myself on weigh-in day knowing how close I was to my goal. I have found out though that starving myself just leads to a binge which leads to a setback and .2 lbs was not worth it. If I did normal stuff today, I will still do normal stuff tomorrow and the .2 will be gone along with some more next week.

When I got to my weigh-in, I told Janet, my "weigher", that even if it flashed blank.blank pounds for a second, I wanted it. Janet is older and has a very dry sense of humor. She said, "It's not flashing, it's just sitting there.". Which meant I DID IT!!!!!

I bought a new outfit Saturday evening because it was a size smaller. I went from a 22 to a 20. First of many to come. A friend of mine has lost a lot of weight and cleaned out her closet, she gave me a bunch of her 20's, 18's and 16's. I have worn two of her size 20 dresses to church. I have several more I can fit into. I went on a mini shopping spree in my attic Sunday morning and came down with more size 20 stuff. It is official, I wear a 20. I am hoping to wear an 18 by Christmas.

If you read the beginning of this journey, my goal, first BIG goal anyway is to be out of plus sized clothes so I can buy myself a convertible. I am very close to hitting my 10% though and at that point I will have to pick my ultimate goal. I think it will be 125 lbs. I don't remember ever weighing 125. I weighed 135 in jr. high and 150 in high school. When I got married I weighted 145. I have so many goals now though that I can hit. another 14.4 and I will be what I weighed when I started working at Greenup, add another 25 to that and you see what I weighed when I started working for ERBA.  Take 16 lbs off that and it is what I weighed the day I came home from the hospital from having Robert and the list goes on.

So, now, I know I have over 100 lbs left to lose so I am far from being able to really give anyone advice but let me tell you about my experience with Weight Watchers. First off, I went out to eat last week, several times. Saturday I went out twice, to the bowling alley for lunch and to Cracker Barrel for supper. It was a successful day because first off, I planned, second, I figured out the things I wanted and the things I could do with out. I wanted Chicken livers at dinner. I love chicken livers so I figured the points on those, which is figured at a cup of fried ones. Then I decided I could have a baked potato and carrots. When she asked about bread I said I would just prefer her not bring me any. My mom is diabetic and doesn't do bread well either so she got chicken and rice and asked for no bread either. When my food came I made a fist and figured out how many of the livers I could have, (a fist is about the same size as a cup), I sat two big livers aside. I took the butter off my potato because a little had melted on it and put about a third of my sour cream on it. I ate all my carrots first (zero points), I ate about half of my potato and all but two of my livers. I asked for a doggy bag and truly brought the liver and the potato home to the girls. They got to eat Cracker Barrel that night too. The coolest thing is I had traveled on Thursday and Friday, so I ate out then too. It is all about choices. I have always loved Arby's chicken cordon bleu sandwich. Friday I found out I loved the roasted version even more. I love the potato bites but decided they weren't worth starving over. One of these days, I will just order the potato bites for lunch. So. along  the way I am learning, learning a new lifestyle, one that is doable for the rest of my life.

So, onward to the next goals, I signed up for the 8 weeks to Thanksgiving challenge and have committed to 2lbs a week so normally my goal is 5 lbs in the next 3 weeks, but this time it is 6 lbs in the next three weeks. When I make goal, I will be down 36 lbs by Thanksgiving. How cool would that be!


Happy Tuesday everyone!

A peak at the bucket list...

I have been so busy at work that life here at home has taken a back seat, I'm ready to start in around here again so I decided I better check back on the list and see what I have going on.

1. Tree cut out of front yard
2. Robert's car scrapbook FINISHED
3. Set aside a regular scrapnight, I'm thinking Monday
4. Decorate my house and yard for fall==I have a good start on this, couple more things I want to do but want to wait until the first of October.

5. Redo the patio area from Summer flowers to fall flowers (meaning plant mum's in flower bed)
6. Exercise room finished
7. Laundry room finished
8. Scrap area cleaned up
9. Go to Covered Bridge
10. Go to the Hillclimb--A week from tomorrow, we ALL can't wait!
11. Make Robert's vest, getting time for it, maybe I will do it now.
12. Finish our headboard with Andrew (or stay on Andrew to get it made!)
13. Plant trees--1/2
14. Redo the kitchen floor
15. touch up paint on inside of house.
16. Make Christmas presents for friends
17. Get a manicure and a pedicure
18. Start making plans for front bathroom
19. bulbs dug up.
20. Clean out closet and switch from Summer to Fall--this is done!

So, I am thinking, this coming week I will see about finishing the exercise room, cleaning my scrap area and make some real progress on Robert's scrapbook. Also, think I will call the guy about the tree. Andrew planted his three mesquite trees, but I am still wanting a weeping willow and a douglas fir, got to do a little more research and see if I want to do that now or in March. My mom always says you can plant a tree in any month with an R in it, but I'm not sure which kinds of trees you can plant when.....off to look that up right now.

The real thing

Sometimes I want to kick myself for not posting more often and then things pile up and I can't remember everything I want to say. Since the 4th of September though I had spent every evening, except Tuesday's and Wednesday's, going back or staying at work. That put me in a tired funk but between Head Start computer projects and LIHEAP computer projects, it had to be done. Last Thursday evening, Robert came up and helped me get the last 4 computers done, now all I have to do is get them to their new homes, which will happen on Friday afternoons for a while.  I actually officially got caught totally up with work Tuesday evening at 4:00. It was the first time since LIHEAP started that I was ready to turn off the lights and walk out on time. Yesterday, I wasn't feeling great and so I left at noon, I kept an eye on the emails though and it shouldn't take me long to get caught back up this morning. So, I may be on the schedule I want to be on now.

This week, the weight loss was a good one, 2.2 lbs, which I had worked for. All the late nights the week before cut into my workout time, which left me with a whopping .2 lbs to show for the week. I was bound and determined not to let that happen again. I had kept my average at 2 lbs a week and the stupid .2 caused it to drop to 1.9 as my average. I think this will be a good week because I was down a total of 17.4 lbs and am really determined to get to the 20 lb mark this week, so I have worked at it, and when I really set my mind to it, it really does pay off. I am also getting ready for a new 8 week challenge through the weight watchers site, it is the 8 weeks until Thanksgiving challenge and I am setting my goal to lose 16 more pounds by then. I have so many goals right now, the first one is the 2.6 lbs by Monday, then I am just 8 lbs away from my next WW goal, when I reach it I will be just 6 lbs from what I weighed when I started working at Greenup, yes, I have gained 34 lbs since then. The worst part is I have gained a total of 59 lbs since I started working at ERBA. Anyway, as I say, lots of goals to focus on.

Life around here has been interesting too, Last Thursday the Muny announced they were having a garage sale on Saturday. In looking at the pictures, they had a bunch of lounge chairs exactly like I had been looking for. So, Saturday morning, Robert and got up and was on the road at the crack of dawn. I was planning on being there before 10, when it started but first there was more construction on 70 than I planned (to the tune of 64 being completely closed when you came into St. Louis, then I thought, no problem, I can go through downtown, only to have to detour around not 1 but 2 walks for good causes). We ended up getting there at 10 after. I knew I had missed my chairs because there was probably 1000 people there already. I knew from pictures on fb where they were, we walked staight to them, I grabbed one and Robert grabbed two and we had our chairs.....for a whopping total of $6. They need a little TLC and I knew they would but I had priced one at Garden Ridge just two weeks before and they wanted $90 and it was clearanced. I saved probably around $250 because I will have to put a few supplies into getting these up to par but still.

 

 

See the three white chairs with the blue cushions? They are now mine. I also got three posters of programs, one being from 2007, the first year Robert went to the Muny. I spent a grand total of $21. We were only there about a half hour, which apparently means I got the best of everything because the people who were there early stood in line, some of them for over an hour.

 

 

Our AWANA club was a little slow getting started but we got started, that's the important thing. I was hoping for 4 this year, night one I had zero. The second and third nights we had one and hopefully in a few more weeks we will be back to our faithful two. My other guy has football and band and Wednesday is the only night he doesn't have a school activity. He has promised as soon as he gets through football though, he will be back.

 

 

I guess that's it for the main things, as I said, I waited too long to post and have probably forgotten some exciting things like getting the tickets to Wicked for December 15th. I have a two day trip planned with my sister. Can't wait. Also waiting patiently for Blue Man Group tickets to go on sale this Saturday. Robert and I are going to see them the day after Thanksgiving.

 

 

Maybe now that's all.

 

 

Happy Thursday everyone!



"mini" blog

So out of time lately, will try to post a "real" post tonight. Still losing though, 17.4 lbs as of last night,  trying to get the 2.6 off this week to not miss next week goal of 20.

Busy, busy, busy.....

AWANA!

We start back in the AWANA groove tonight, I'm so ready!  I THINK I am going to have girls this year!!  I have had boys only for the last 3 years and am looking really forward to having the scales evened out. I love having boys, and that fact that High School boys, who are supposed to be all rough and everything make the effort to spend Wednesday nights learning about what God wants for them. I am looking very forward to the new dynamic (and not being outnumbered!). Tonight is our planning/getting to know you night so it will be fun and interesting. Praying for a really great year for all our AWANA clubs as well as those over the rest of the world.

Happy to say we made it through September 11th again. I believe it will always be tough. Robert was in third grade and that was the day that me being able to say, "Things like that don't happen in our country" ended. I felt like it took some of his innocence and I know it took some of his security. I think what I find saddest is what it took to turn our nation to God and how quickly we have already looked away. I can't choose parties easily because of my job, I truly have to look at each individual person and what they stand for and many of them are Democrats, however, what happened at the Democratic convention broke my heart and scared me all at the same time. People, God will never turn his back on us, but if enough people turn their backs on Him, I am afraid we will see the results. We already do in so many ways but I don't remember ever seeing such a public outcry against our Lord. That scares me, REALLY scares me.

Just my two cents.

15!!

Right on the money, 15 lbs last night and in the two weeks instead of three. So, new goal is 5 more lbs, or 20 lbs by October 1.
I feel a little guilty and I'm not sure why. It is so easy this time. I have done so many things differently though. First and foremost, I'm TELLING people. I have always kept it a secret which made it easy to quit and easy to cheat and easy to just plain out not do it some days which created major setbacks. I track everything, even if I get a spoon of peanut butter, I now use a measuring spoon. The beauty of it is, I can get that spoon of peanut butter if I want and I have learned a TBSP, eaten slowly is just as good as several eaten without thinking.

Another thing that is different is the activity, it is a struggle some days and I am doing the activelink challenge, which is working me up to doubling my activity in 12 weeks so as I progress, it gets harder to get 100%, it's frustrating some days but apparently, well worth it.

I did something I have NEVER done Sunday though. I admitted to my guys just exactly how much I weighed when I started. That was hard, especially since I very obviously outweigh both of them by a lot. Andrew said he had it ballparked around the same weight, I think Robert was just shocked.

It's done though and it's all there for the world to see. My friend, Dani, who inspired me to go back to Weight Watchers just hit her 45 lb mark. She has to be getting very close to her goal. Maybe that in itself is what clicked. When we were in high school, she fluctuated between a zero and a 3, she always wanted to gain weight and of course, I always wanted to lose. I guess I realized that when you get a certain age, you do one of two things, you watch your weight and take care of yourself or you don't. Sorry if that seems harsh but I was in those shoes for way too long. When Robert was 3 I went from 219 to 145, it was great but then I let other things become the priority and before I really paid any attention, I passed the 219 mark--I did it, it wasn't my "biology" or "just the way I am" or anything--it was me not making me a priority. Somehow I had this warped sense that I was not supposed to take care of me because we are supposed to put Jesus first, other's second and ourselves last, I just thought I was really good at that but I have had a rude awakening that God wants us to take care of what he gave us, including our bodies. My UC isn't because of my weight but the weight definitely aggravates it. The diabetes IS because of my weight. I made the statement on facebook the other day for young moms to make sure they make it a priority to take care of themselves because that helps them take better care of their families. One of my guy friends, who lost his mom WAY too young, when he was little, made the statement that if his mom were here, she would say the same thing. I found it very profound. So once again, take care of you. Your body is the temple that God gave you.

My last note on this. The very first time I went to weight watchers, Robert wasn't even a year old. I went for a few weeks and we came home for the weekend (we lived in PA at the time). When I went back after the trip, I had lost 2 lbs and was so excited I had handled the trip and still lost weight. One of the older women says, "It will catch up with you". I didn't go much after that and I quit. I will never be that woman. Don't be that woman. If you see a friend trying to do better, encourage them, be the one who makes that person's day.

That's all for now.

Happy Tuesday!

The Weekly Weight Watching

So, our Monday meeting was cancelled because of Labor Day. I found out that Gina, our leader has a meeting in Casey on Tuesdays though, Casey is only 10 minutes from work so I went after work Tuesday evening. I had been down more but Tuesday morning when I got up, I was up a little from the weekend, there was truly no explanation that I had done anything wrong and it was still a loss but not as big as it had been. When I got to the meeting last night, I weighed exactly what I weighed that morning and as I said, it was a loss, so I was happy, another 1.2 lbs down. 11.6 is the total right now. Yeah me! Getting a little closer to my car everyday!

My major triumph this week was Saturday. Robert and I went to St. Louis for the day shopping. I had my normal yogurt for breakfast and I wanted to go to Red Robin for lunch. I LOVE their hamburgers, especially the Blue Ribbon burger, which happens to be 26 points. I hadn't used any of my weekly points, saving them for that day, so I knew, if I wanted the whole sandwich, I was going to eat it, track it and not feel guilty. I also knew that I am not used to eating a huge lunch so there was a possablity that I wouldn't want the whole thing. When it came, I asked for a knife and cut it in half. I also sorted my fries in half. We had onion rings for appetiziers, Robert ate 5, I ate three and counted them at 2pts a piece (I took the big ones). I used my appetizer plate for my "extra" meal and ate and enjoyed my burger. When I finished the first half, I was satisfied, so my points went from being 26 and 11 (for the fries) to 13 and 6, add the onion rings and my lunch total was 25, add my 3 from breakfast and I was at 28. I have a daily of 37 so I hadn't even touched my weekly extra's yet. We shopped and shopped and walked and walked, and then before going to the Fox decided we needed supper but didn't want a lot so we went to the food court at Union Station. I had Panda Express. I knew the main thing I wanted was Crab Rangoon, at 3 for 5 points, so I ordered steamed vegetables (2 because of the oil), mushroom chicken (3) which gave me a total of 10. so right at the moment I went over by 1. We stopped on the way home from the show and I got a dipped cone from McDonalds, another 6 so my total for the day over was 7. Now get this, my activelink registered 4 activity points for the day so my grand total over for the day ended up being 3!!! This was a SO "I'm doing it" day!

This morning when I got up I am down 2 lbs from yesterday, whatever water was hanging on is back gone but it gives me a really good start towards the 3.2 I have to loose for my next mini-goal of 15 lbs.

We have nothing major going on so this should be a pretty run of the mill week eating wise. Praying for good things!

From one bucket list to the next...

So, I didn't accomplish everything on my summer bucket list. I tried and somethings just didn't end up happening, some I changed my mind about and some, well some, I just didn't do. So some things go back on the Fall bucket list and some things are out of sight, out of mind. I still like having the ideas of having goals. Each new years I would sit everyone down and we would discuss what we wanted to accomplish that year. I would spend the next 12 months nagging the guys to do what they had said they wanted to get done. With my bucket list, there may be a few things on here that depend on them but mainly, it's about the things I want to get done and I honestly think it helped me so I am going to write out my new fall bucket list. I am NOT going to do another reading list because I get too caught up in other books and decide to read them instead.

Here's how it turned out:

1) Paint the porch- waiting until next year because of getting new siding
2) Sign up for a 5K (yes, I would have to be doing better physically, but may do it anyway)-didn't do
3) go geocaching with our AWANA kids didn't get done :-(
4) buy a lounge chair for the back yard and take a nap (actually did that yesterday!)
5) have a yard sale- decided I didn't WANT to do
6) Visit Springfield's Lincoln Museum 6-18-12
7) Coordinate a Girl's day out with my HS BFF's- 7-28-2012
8) make Andrew licorice caramels 6-16-12
9) organize the garage
10) get a pedicure
11) catch up on my scrapbooking- didn't get done, but am doing
12) make a summer reading list posted 6-15-12
13) start a new Women of Faith Bible Study
14) Go to at least 1 auction
15) Make a scrapbook of Robert's car for him- working on it
16) Visit New Harmony-didn't do
17) have a picnic- "kinda" did but not the way I meant to
18) take an aimless road trip- also, not the way I meant but I think I will count it.
19) make nutella fudge bars
20) make our name out of pictures that I have found- took the pics, haven't done anything with them yet.
21) Visit Indianapolis-didn't do
22) 2 crochet projects done (for my pay it forward promise from fb)-didn't do
23) revamp my laundry room- worked on
24) help Andrew make a new headboard- plans drawn out, he is buying the lumber this week
25) sew Robert a vest (it's cut out, just not started)
26) Visit the Muny
27) Visit the Fox
28) Make myself a new outfit- would have like to have done this, just didn't
29) revamp our exercise room-started, not finished
30) try my hand at making a necklace ( I used to, just haven't forever)

So, here goes the Fall 2012 bucket list:
1. Tree cut out of front yard
2. Robert's car scrapbook FINISHED
3. Set aside a regular scrapnight, I'm thinking Monday
4. Decorate my house and yard for fall
5. Redo the patio area from Summer flowers to fall flowers (meaning plant mum's in flower bed)
6. Exercise room finished
7. Laundry room finished
8. Scrap area cleaned up
9. Go to Covered Bridge
10. Go to the Hillclimb
11. Make Robert's vest, getting time for it, maybe I will do it now.
12. Finish our headboard with Andrew (or stay on Andrew to get it made!)
13. Plant trees
14. Redo the kitchen floor
15. touch up paint on inside of house.
16. Make Christmas presents for friends
17. Get a manicure and a pedicure
18. Start making plans for front bathroom
19. bulbs dug up.
20. Clean out closet and switch from Summer to Fall.

Only 20 things this time, tomorrow starts my busiest time of the year (and most stressful) so I don't want to lay too much on myself. I think my bucket list will run through the 15th of November, and then I will start a winter one.

Had a fabulous day Saturday with the kid, went to St. Louis shopping and to see The Lion King at the Fox. Wow, it was good, REALLY good. Today my list is long of things I want to get done. I am hoping to get back into a routine of getting things done of an evening but I also know my body likes some rest so we shall see.

If today goes well though, by the time I go to bed, my food cabinets, my fridge and my closet will all be cleaned out.

Happy Monday y'all!

Peanut Butter Pie

I had a request for the recipe for Peanut Butter Pie and since I hadn't posted anything to pinterest for a while, and since I have tweaked this recipe to make it faster than the one I originally had, I thought I would just post it here.

First off, here is the original recipe, from kraft.com. I haven't changed it a bunch, just made it easier to get it put together quicker and with stuff I have on hand more easily.
So here's mine:

1 Oreo pie crust
1 pkg Oreo cookies (Peanut Butter ones, if available)
2 pkg. cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 8 oz. pkg. Cool Whip
chocolate syrup (in a squirt top bottle--aka, Hershey's syrup)

I get the pie crust in my own pie pan by carefully lifting the tinfoil lip, turning it upside down and carefully lifting off the tinfoil. I then hold on to the plastic as I put my pie plate over the crust and flip it over. That being said, with the bigger pie plate, I smash the sides down into the bottom more and then line the edges of the pie plate with Oreos. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cream cheese, peanut butter and sugar until smooth and well blended. Using a large spoon, fold in Cool Whip until smooth and well mixed.

Spoon into pie crust, starting in the center of the pie, let the chocolate syrup just drizzle out of the bottle in a gradually larger circle. Take a toothpick and lightly draw through the circles from center to outside to make a web pattern. Place 8 Oreos on the top, equally spaced.

Chill for at least 4 hours, serve. Makes 8 servings.

Weekly Weight Watchers post

10.4 lbs....I made it the first 10! and a week early. This was no small feat considering Saturday we celebrated Robert's birthday with Bdubs and a peanut butter pie (17 points for 1/8th of the pie but I deemed it "worth it"). The thing is, the pie was gone by Sunday night but I stuck to my one piece, which contributed to the 1.8 lbs I lost this week. Seriously, you know on Survivor, how they have ate practically nothing for a few weeks and then have a feast and then are sick? Well, I have ate plenty the last month but nothing really rich, the pie really didn't sit that well.....especially since Robert wanted to wait until he got home from work to eat it, at 10:00 Saturday night. It was good, but I have no desire to have any more any time soon.

I also did measurements yesterday, I have lost 2.5 inches off my bust and 1 inch off my waist. That is pretty normal for me, I can always SEE the weight come off first in that area right under my bust, the place where nobody but me ever sees.....oh well, my hips didn't change but I also expected that so I am happy about the movement anywhere.

I set new goals for myself for this week. Weight watchers doesn't harp on getting 8 glasses of water in, just 8 glasses of liquid, but they still say water is always best, so I have a water bottle that holds three cups, my goal for this week is to drink it dry twice each day, that teamed with my morning coffee, should insure my liquid intake. I am also making sure I get my milks in. I eat a yogurt every morning, unfortunately, my favorite yogurt is Yoplait, which comes in a 6 oz container. Weight Watchers wants a cup to be called a milk requirement, so I am eating my yogurt and putting 2 oz of skim milk in my go cup of coffee, then of an evening, I can make a smoothie or drink another glass of milk, but those are my 2 good health goals for this week. The fruits and veggies are a real challenge because of the UC, I may never make it to eating as many fruits and veggies as WW would like, but I know what I can tolerate and I will do my best.

Workout wise, I made 100% on my activelink everyday but one last week, Friday and it was 94%, I had went to work two days in a row and should have went out and walked the driveway Friday night to get the other 6% but I was just too tired and went to bed so I got 6 out of 7. Yesterday I did 101% so I am off to a good start for this week.

We bought new family bikes Saturday, Robert and I went out Sunday morning and had planned on yesterday morning but it was raining, I am hoping he is planning on going with me here in a few minutes but if not, I will go myself.

I have set my new weight loss goal at 5 more lbs (for a total of 15) by the 17th of September. I know if I keep up what I am doing, I can do this!

Busy week at work, this morning, I am installing two new computers in our southern offices, tomorrow, 2 new ones in our central offices and Thursday, two new ones in our northern offices. Next Tuesday kicks off the new LIHEAP year and so it goes.....

Happy Tuesday everyone!

The Birthday Boy

I am no longer the mother of a teenager....sad and glad all at the same time.

 

Somehow the only picture I got of an actual present and then my hand is over half of it. Oh well....He got some new shirts, a couple of travel cups that he was wanting, some slim jims, and the busted knuckle garage sign he has here. He also went on a shopping spree at Harbor Freight last week and got tools, those were birthday too but they needed to go to school. And yesterday, he ended up getting a new bike (yes BIcycle, not MOTORcycle) too. Not a bad haul for 20.

When I asked if he wanted a cake or an ice cream cake, he grimaced and said, "neither??" I told him he had to have SOMETHING and he said he wished he could be like Dad and get a cheesecake,  I said no problem so Peanut Butter Pie it is!

Andrew and I bought ourselves new bikes, one speed, island cruiser style, ours match and then Robert got one too, it looks like a ratrod, perfect for him.  We actually took them out yesterday afternoon, then Robert and I got up at 6 this morning and went for a bike ride. He may change his mind by tomorrow but right now he thinks he will do it again. He went back to bed though so we shall see.

Busy day today, Church this morning, going to work this afternoon and church this evening.....

Happy Sunday!

Weight Watchers

I lost 3.2 lbs this week!  I am SO excited, my goal to hit the first 10 lbs by September 3rd just got really easy!  In fact, I just made it my goal to hit the first 10 lbs by the 27th, I believe I can.  I am at 8.6 right at the moment so I have less than a lb and a half. I was actually there this morning but I will fluctuate over the week so we shall see.

Always before when I went to WW, I would kind of binge on Monday night after the meeting, then it would take me three of four days to recover from that damage. I am not doing that this time and I love these Tuesday mornings waking up and weighing less than I did at the meeting Monday night.

Also, my activelink is a BIG help. I thought I was moving more than I actually was. I thought my half hour on the treadmill should count for 2 points but the fact is, because I don't go as fast as the book tells, it isn't, so I'm not doing as much as I thought.

My goal for this week is to get 100% on my active link every day. I went outside and walked up and down the driveway last night at 9:00 just to get me to my 100 for yesterday, but I did it and the scales tipped my way this morning. 

One other thing, I know the dress is forgiving but I DID wear a size 20 dress to church Sunday. I normally wear a 22 and a few of my clothes are 24's but I really consider myself a 22. I am thinking probably when I hit around 25 lbs off, I should fit squarely in a 20. Of course my goal is to be out of plus size clothes all together and my ultimate goal is back to a size 10, I DO have clothes of mine in the attic that are 10's so I could do it. I have a ton of hand me downs from a friend of mine that are 16 to 18's so I have lots of motivation to get there and new rewards as soon as I do.

So, bring on another week. Looking for that 1.4 lbs next Monday night.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, heck with that, I'm me!  I KNOW I can!