fat tuesday

my company is having TWO functions today, because of mardi gras, and i'm partaking in neither... why you ask? because i needed my points for pizza - someone i work with is leaving so they threw him a party with pizza and cake today (which i had zero slices of and heard it pretty much sucked anyway)... papa johns isn't my favorite pizza but i selected two slices and stopped there, even though i'm sure i could've eaten 4-5... this is the 2nd time i've had pizza this week too... on saturday, eric and i enjoyed an oldy but goody - chef boy-r-dee pizza from a box... i grew-up having this on friday nights so we thought it would be fun to try it and see if it's still the same - i'm happy to say, it is! i piled lots of veggies on my half so considering it wasn't the most healthy option for dinner, i did what i could to make it better... AND i succeeded at keeping track of my points this weekend too so yay me! :o)

i made it to spin class on saturday and found out mr. hairy man is now the weekly instructor - the guy that used to teach, no longer works there and i'm really bummed! this guy just doesn't do it for me (exercise wise) and his music blows but i don't have much choice... it's either that or hop on the elliptical/treadmill which is what i do during the week so i guess i'll just have to deal... as for the rest of my saturday - i helped eric take pictures of some motorcycle parts he wants to sell on ebay, then we hit home depot to look at ceiling fans, and then we hit the grocery store... movie this weekend: harry potter and the order of the phoenix - i know i'm a bit behind on this one but i really enjoyed it! :o)

sunday i did some cleaning and then my mom came over so eric could work on her car... since i'm the family-designer, i had to help her with a flyer and then we ran over to thrift store to see if we could find anything good... for once i didn't buy any clothes but did pick-up a rug for in front of the kitchen sink... eric made his famous chili for the superbowl and i suggested making bread but we started it pretty late... so as a result, we didn't have dinner til almost 9:30! as for the game - i didn't think it was all that good until the last 5-minutes and the commercials sucked except for the animal ones (clydesdale esp.) and the talking shirt-stain... i laughed until i cried while watching that one! :o)

work has been busy so that should help make the week go by fast... eric left for san diego this morning (free trip with his brother!) so i get to watch norman for the week... he's normally not a cuddle-bug like max so i was surprised to find him sleeping on the bed last night... i'm sure max isn't very happy about that so we'll see what happens tonight... :o)

and on a very sad note - one of our fellow bloggers, anne, has decided to move-on and not blog anymore... her website was one of the few that i found when i first started my journey almost 3 years ago - i learned a lot from her, as well as from many of you, so please take some time to wish her well... question: have YOU ever thought about when you will no longer blog? i know there will be a day when that happens to me, i'm not sure if i'm ready for it yet but i know it's coming... i mean, do you guys really care what movies i watch over the weekend? ;o)

happy fat tuesday...

p.s. i caved and went to the 2nd function (i know, i know...) and had a small hot pretzel, some crab dip, and some veggies... no dinner for me tonight!

TGIF

just got back from the gym - i hate when the good treadmill is taken because the other ones suck and are much harder to run on... i got 20 minutes in and then i was able to hop on the good one but by then, i was wiped out... total workout was only 30 minutes but it's better than nothing, right? i will be going to spin class tomorrow so i'll make up the difference for sure... :o)

how many of you watched LOST last night? i'm feeling good about this season but hate to think we're only getting 8 new episodes because of the writer's strike... i won't give away any spoilers but i'm enjoying the flash-forward scenes... ;o)

work has been busy but quiet, i'm just glad it's friday... i'm going to dinner w/a girlfriend tonight and i chose mediterranean - a pretty healthy choice i think... their menu is online too so i was able to check-it out and plan my strategy: lemon tree salad with romaine and iceberg lettuce, crumbled feta, fresh tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, olive oil, and house dressing... and probably a falafel with fava beans, chickpeas, spices, salt, served with salad, tahini sauces, and pita bread... mmm mmm i'm hungry already! ;o)

other than dinner tonight, my weekend is looking pretty lowkey... eric's going to change my mom's oil on sunday and i have to help her w/some red hat society flyer which should be interesting... both my mom and sister are my worst clients! anyway, we're going to stay-in for the superbowl and maybe have some people over, maybe not, we'll see... i should get eric to make chili anyway because it's just so darn tasty... my goal for the weekend: KEEP TRACK OF POINTS... :o)

have a great weekend, everyone, and happy friday...

weigh-in

good lord... i know i went overboard on sunday but doubt that would cause a 2.6 pound gain this week - perhaps my carefree weekends are catching up with me after all... or perhaps it's because after friday, i stop keeping track and using my eTools... it could be a lot of things but i certainly don't want that number to keep going up, so my goal for this week is to be more responsible... and even though i still haven't decided on when to stop weightloss-wise - i DO know that IF i want to lose a few more pounds, i have to be accountable for what i eat... just writing that seems daunting but it's true - if you set a goal, you're never going to get there unless you work at it every, single day... anyway, just some random thoughts for this wednesday... :o)

a few days ago, i was contacted (as i'm sure most of you were as well) by a new weightloss community website called wegohealth... i haven't dove into the site very deep but there seems to be a lot of good resources, message boards, and links to other blogs... check it out if you have some time... :o)

i know it's been a while since i've reviewed any new items but i did notice that hungry girl has a whole list of new products worth checking out - one item being the new flatbread melt from lean cuisine... weight watchers has also come out with a new line called fruit inspirations that contains real fruit... and last but not least, i found a new fiber one bar last night while shopping at target - oats & caramel - can't wait to try it later (afternoon snack)... :o)

happy hump day...

update: (1) just had my afternoon snack and have to say, the new fiber-one bar is good but i think i prefer the peanut butter flavor... (2) ran 4 miles today on the treadmill in under 43 minutes - i feel great! :o)

seems awfully light in here

i spent the night at eric's and woke up this morning thinking it was pretty light out, for being so early... ha! it was 7:15 (the alarm should've gone off at 6:30! WTF!)... who knows what happened but i bolted out of bed and was ready in about 20 minutes - it wouldn't be such a huge deal but i like riding in with him and if we leave after 8:00, there's no way in hell that i'll be at work by 9:00... talk about an exciting way to start the week! geesh! good thing it doesn't take me long to get ready (and yes, that includes hair AND make-up)... :o)

my weekend was good, did the spin class on saturday and it was mr-hairy-back-man again - his music was a bit better this time but not by much... class was full so good thing i was there when the gym opened... as for the rest of the day, i packed-up my christmas decorations FINALLY while eric set-up my new computer (thanks again, darlin!)... it's amazing how much faster it is and how better everything looks - yea, i'm spoiled by macs now - sue me! my apartment is now empty and bare - i hate the first few days after putting the decorations away but it will wear-off soon i'm sure... ;o)

we watched 2 good movies this weekend - good night & good luck and eastern promises - i highly recommend both... i also watched carson's show on friday and think i related to this episode more than any, so far... her body reminded me of mine (minus the boobs) and what he was saying about letting "this much of your leg dictate how you feel about yourself" was really true... i mean, i hate my thighs (always have) but in the grand scheme of things - they're like 1/8 of my body... just makes you think about things in a different way - I LOVE THIS SHOW! :o)

i got an automated response from the HS this morning so at least i know my resume was received... i probably won't mention this again but i'll let you know if anything develops!

food has been okay, nothing stellar... i've noticed that i tend to go off-plan during the weekend and it really hasn't affected things too much but i'm afraid the pattern will eventually catch-up with me... like yesterday - i made yummy eggwiches for breakfast with 15-grain bread and turkey bacon but for lunch - we stopped at this place near his brothers and pigged-out... i just HAD to order chips & salsa, then we had soup (i had chicken tortilla), and then we had tacos (2 hard and 2 soft)... holy cow! we were so full but we were also starving which is another no-no... we didn't have dinner but i munched on some lime tortilla chips last night - just couldn't help myself... it's like once i start w/the mexican food, i can't stop! :o(

happy monday!

TGIF

so after i made such a big deal about going to the gym yesterday, it's just not happening today - i went to bed late (so i could finish my website) and have a terrible headache (damn weather)... but i'm not worried since i'll be going to my spin class tomorrow morning so in the end, it all works out anyway... i know when i'm being lazy and when i'm not feeling well and working out will not help this situation - hopefully the sinus meds i just took kick-in fast (and the skinny mocha should help!)... :o)

so my website is done, my resume has been updated, and my submittal was emailed about 5 minutes ago... one good thing about working in the pubs department is you have access to editors, so i had my friend read over my cover letter just to make sure everything looked/sounded good... can't hurt that my sister is president of her local humane society so i had to make sure that i listed all the work i've done for them in the past year... anyway, i'm hopeful but will not lie-awake wondering if i'll get a call - if it happens, it happens... :o)

plans for the weekend include: spin class, taking down my christmas decorations, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, and moving stuff off my pc so eric can setup my mac... the only thing that's staying is my music and he should be able to move that with no problem - i can't wait to start using it... i was thinking, with this 'rebate' we're all supposed to get in may/june - i just might have to buy myself a bigger monitor... :o)

hope you all have a great weekend and don't forget to watch mr. carson tonight... ;o)

happy friday...

i survived panera bread

NSV #1
i went to dinner last night with two of my girlfriends (the ones that have 6 kids between them!) and they chose panera bread, because of location and time... knowing this ahead of time was a bonus because it gave me the opportunity to check-out their website and find the most healthy choices off their menu... so what did i end up getting? i went with the soup & 1/2 samich option and chose onion soup (sans cheese and croutons) and the smoked turkey on multi-grain bread (sans the mayo) and am very proud of myself... yes, i also had a piece of their multi-grain baguette but c'mon - how can you not have crusty, warm bread to dunk in your soup? anyway, all was fine until my one friend gave us homemade cookies - i only had ONE and plan on throwing the other one away (shhh, don't tell her)... :o)

NSV #2
i had 2 meetings today, one at 1:00 and another at 3:00 and i normally go to the gym around 2:00... i wasn't sure how long the first meeting would be so when we got out early, i sat at my desk pondering, "should i go for 30-minutes, go after work, or skip it all together?"... knowing myself, going after work was just not going to happen esp. since i found out something today that i will share below... and i didn't think skipping would be good either so i grabbed my bag and had a great, 30-minute jog (with hills) and some ab work... so when you think you don't have enough time but can really squeeze 30 minutes in - DO IT ANYWAY... yay me! :o)

not that it's any big news but last fall i had been playing with the idea of looking for a new job, so i updated my website and my resume but never finished because this thing called WORK got in the way... well, i was just cruising some sites today for fun and found a posting for a senior designer for the humane society near where i live (have i mentioned i LOVE animals?!)... most of you know that i take public transportation to work (metro) and it's not cheap but it's still cheaper than driving and less hassle... well, they made their biggest fare increase in the beginning of january and i'm now paying $4.50 each way and $4.75 for parking at the station, which comes to a grand total of $13.75... that's a lot of money, just to go to work everyday, so my goal would be to find a job closer to home and this posting was like a dream come true... the only thing is, i have some major work to do in the next few days, so i can get my site done and apply for the job... how exciting!

happy thursday...

eat smart scale contest giveaway

Check out Roni’s new contest! I can win a Nutrition Smart Scale from Eat Smart and so can you! Click here for details!

weigh-in

forgive me for complaining about NOT gaining weight this week but i certainly don't think i deserve a 0.6 pound loss... after my weight-workout last week, i was unable to walk without wincing in pain til at least sunday so yesterday was my first day back to the gym... i was also out of town this weekend at my sister's and we all know how that goes - between a pantry full of chips and cookies, and my mom decided to make bread pudding one night... holy moly... anyway, at least the scale is moving in the the right direction and getting me closer to my goal... :o)

speaking of goals - how many of you are 5-10 pounds away and find yourself pretty happy/content where you are right now? would losing 5 more pounds make that much of a difference in your clothes? or is getting to that ideal number more important to you? i've found myself struggling w/this as of late because even though i'm still exercising - my diet has not been 100% perfect since before the holidays and i'm still in the same range... i feel good and i think i look pretty good so when does a person say, "when"... just throwing that out there for discussion, really haven't decided anything yet... :o)

work has been busy and my weekends have been busy, went to see my sister and dad this past weekend because i had monday off... it was ZERO degrees there on sunday night and cold is not the word for it! holy cow, it was freezing! i got to spend some time w/my nieces and we all shared some good laughs, including going through my old fisher-price stuff that my sister has been storing for me... my dad is doing okay, no worse and no better, so at least i got to spend a few hours with him... :o)

i still haven't taken my christmas decorations down but that will be happening this weekend... it makes me sad just to think about it but i think i've overstayed my holiday welcome, so to speak... i will miss the tree lights for sure... :o(

oh, a quick note - eric was over on friday night and i wanted to watch 'how to look good naked' so he watched it with me... not only did we watch an episode but we watched TWO of them - he actually said, "this is a really good show" and i agree... even though it's still a bit high on the cheese-level, it's helping women think about the positive things instead of all the negative things about their body... just thought i'd share - it's not just women that think it's a good show... :o)

happy hump day...

snow and bye-bye LA Weightloss

thought i would share a picture of what i found at the metro station tonight... thankfully, the roads were just wet so driving home was manageable... kinda pretty, right? the snow is very heavy and wet - would make a purrfect snowman... :o)

and i just read that LA Weightloss is officially out of business... i'm not sure how many of you had gone down that road but i'm not afraid to admit i signed-up back on NYE 2004... they suckered $350+ out of me and then proceeded to badger me about buying their products (what's so special about THEIR bars anyway?)... and ontop of that - their plan sucked! i was hungry ALL THE TIME... i think after 3 weeks, i said, "screw the money, i need to try something else" and the rest is history... i do realize that many people have had success on their program, it just wasn't for me...

anyhoo, back to catching-up on my blogs... have a good night! :o)

no pain, no gain

to say that i'm sore today would be an understatement - had it really been THAT long since i lifted weights? holy moly, it hurts just to sit down and stairs - throwing myself down them would be much easier... but like they say - no pain, no gain, so i'm going to bear the soreness today and get back to the gym tomorrow (cardio would just kill me at this point)...

it's been snowing all morning but think the rain/sleet will be starting soon - should make for an interesting drive home... i'm lucky enough that if the roads are too bad for me to drive (i'm a huge scardy-cat), i can hop on a bus and it drops me off right outside my complex... course my car will still be at the metro but so far, i've had no problems leaving it there - i can always get it tomorrow... i wish they would leave us go home early but that will never happen! :o(

not much else going on today... work is slow so i'm enjoying the un-craziness but tomorrow will be busy - i have THREE meetings! as for tonight - i'm looking forward to going home, putting on my pjs, having some dinner, and watching 'celebrity rehab'... wonder who will get kicked-out first...

happy thursday...

p.s. has anyone tried starbucks skinny mochas? they are SO yummy and only 3-points for a grande... :o)

weigh-in

the scale showed no loss/no gain this week and i'm amazed considering i was totally off-plan this past weekend and only exercised 3 times... just goes to show you how your body reacts to different things... i'm not sure how many of you keep track of your progress via charts or spreadsheets but it's a good way to see how your body has a pattern re: gains/losses... usually for me, i'll have a big loss and then either maintain or have tiny losses for a few weeks and then BAM! i'll have another big loss... anyway, i'm happy so onto another new week... :o)

not much else going on right now, work is busy, and i skipped the gym yesterday because i was waiting for something to be printed in the mailroom... guess when it showed up on my desk? 4:50pm! by then, i just didn't feel like going after so i went to the grocery store instead... i WILL be going today though, come hell or high water... ;o)

happy hump day...

for the love of god, slow down

i was too busy to post yesterday but made it to the gym, felt like i needed to run 20 miles after this past weekend... i always have good intentions of eating well but it just doesn't happen, so i'll probably see a nice gain this week... no biggie, i'm back OP so that's all that matters... we had a good time in pittsburgh regardless, my secret santa got me the lands end bag i wanted, as well as a square, cast iron grill pan - i can't wait to use it... i'm not sure about the bag though, i saw it online and thought it would be perfect for winter but it's too small for all my work stuff (purse, shoes, workout gear, etc.)... has anyone ever returned something to them w/out a receipt? the weather was pretty good though we hit some rain/snow on the way home and man, is it ever cold today... holy moly, winter is here to stay...

here's a funny story... my family has a speeding-habit (dad used to drive stock cars when he was younger) so it was no surprise that my sister (aka betty andretti) called me last month, in tears, because she got pulled over for speeding while going to see my dad... my nieces were in the car so that didn't help and she didn't want her hubby to find out because he would just ream her out, so i had to send her money to help pay the ticket... then eric got pulled over last week for speeding, on his motorcycle, on the way to work... AND when i got home last night, i found that i had been caught by one of the cameras not a mile from his house, on new year's day, for going 46 in a 35 zone... what the hell man... and just when you think things can't get any worse - eric got rear-ended in his mini this morning... some girl wasn't paying attention and ran right into him, messed his bumper up but nothing too serious thank-god... talk about bad luck! damn!

i missed 'how to look good naked' on friday, was it any good? i thought i had set the show to tape but once again, i must be dumber than i thought and messed something up... i hate when that happens...

though i suck at using my VCR, i DID successfully file my federal taxes last night (turbo tax is free to use and free to e-file for 1040EZ) and should be getting a refund in 2 weeks! yee haa! that check is going straight into my ING savings account (i highly recommend having one of these, by the way)... so what are YOU planning to do w/your tax refund this year - if you're lucky to get one that is?

happy tuesday...

TGIF

just a quick post before eric gets here and we hit the road... was up early to go to the gym - did a 25-minute jog and then 25 minutes on the elliptical, not bad for my day off... weather here is cold, rainy, and pretty foggy so the drive west will be interesting today (lots of mountains)... most of the festivus activities will be tomorrow so tonight should be pretty low key at his parents - i made spinach dip and oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies to take along... i'm sure they won't last long considering there will be 20+ people in the house, give or take a few... it's always a good time, need to remember my camera... :o)

well, i need to do a few last-minute things (like take the garbage out) and try to read a few blogs before i'm outta here... have a great weekend, everyone, talk to you on monday...

happy friday...

p.s. did anyone catch the new reality show celebrity rehab? i thought it was both disturbing and very interesting, may need to keep watching...

weigh-in

i was having a conversation with max this morning (my cat) and said that i would be happy with a 1-pound loss this week... i mean, why expect more and then be depressed when it doesn't happen, right? for me, having lower expectations seems to work out better in the long-run, at least for weight loss anyway... but low and behold, 3.6 pounds have disappeared - it's not quite what i gained during the holidays but it's a great start nonetheless... now the true test will be to see if i can KEEP it off because since we're heading out of town this weekend, my eating/workout schedule will be out of whack... i can't worry about it though - family is more important than gaining a little weight so i'll make the best choices i can... :o)

i'm on day 3 of the WW zero point soup - still enjoying but wonder how many days in a row i could actually eat this... i remember my leader (years ago) told us that she had a cup of this every, single day - can you imagine? i can't think of anything that would be good enough to eat every single day... what about you? is there something that you DO eat everyday or COULD eat everyday and not get sick of it?

work is much quieter today so i'm looking forward to the gym later... :o)

my coworker's bday is on monday so we're having a pizza party, god help me... :o(

happy hump day...

product review

i'm sure i've mentioned these before but if not, i found these awesome wraps at the grocery store (weis) near my mom's house... for a store that's in the middle of nowhere, they sure have some great items... the wraps are a pretty decent size and for only 2 points - they made a great base for pizza... just slather on some sauce, some veggies, and some cheese and you're good to go (i used my pizza stone which made the wrap a bit crispy)... to find a store near you, check out their website... :o)

i didn't make it to the gym today because i was slammed with conference emails and making changes to the website... i was also working on those damn videos and think i FINALLY have them working (after learning i had to buy another program in order to export properly from final cut pro, ugh!)... anyway, once i get those finalized tomorrow - the rest of my week should be pretty easy and of course, i'm not in friday so it's a short week for me... :o)

trying not to think about it but i hope my weigh-in is decent tomorrow... we'll see...

happy tuesday...

p.s. eric surprised me with red roses today - sort of an early, 3-year anniversary present... thank-you darlin, they are be-au-tiful... :o)

300 and counting

thought i would share a pic of my zero point soup from last night, there was enough for 4 lunches (i'm taking friday off)! since i knew soup wouldn't be enough, i also had cottage cheese and blueberries - quite the healthy lunch, if i do say so myself... and it was the easiest recipe ever - i just dumped all the ingredients into to my slow-cooker, put it on high, and let it do it's thing for 5 hours... :o)

yesterday was good - spent some time w/my girlfriend and her 3-month old baby, owen... he is adorable and she seems to be handling motherhood quite well... we used to work together and it was always me talking about getting married and having kids - she wanted no part of the 'raising children' thing... then her hubby turned 40 and she was on the verge of turning 36 so they decided to give it a try - 2 months later, bingo... anyway, it was good to see her and catch-up on things...

the rest of the day was spent shopping w/eric for his family's christmas presents since we're heading to pittsburgh this weekend for their festivus... i bought some starbucks gift cards for his nieces and tried their new 'skinny' latte, which makes it much easier for me to order my usual grande, skim, no-sugar vanilla version... eric was also trying on colognes so by the time we got to the car, he smelled like the men's fragrance dept... goof-ball...

and regards to football - both games were good but neither the skins nor the steelers could pull-through and win at the end (the skins just got creamed!)... i'm going to miss my sunday football games so it's time to find something else to do... good thing racing starts next month... ;o)

as for today, work was busy but i made it to the gym and was able to jog for 45-minutes... since the tv in front the good treadmill does not get the channel with ellen, i have to watch as the world turns - talk about amusing... nothing like watching a good, trashy soap opera to distract you while exercising... :o)

happy monday...

p.s. happy 300th post to me! incredible! :o)

would YOU pose naked?

happy saturday, everyone... i've had a good day so far - started off with a great spin class and then made myself a nice, healthy breakfast (scrambled egg with fresh chives and laughing cow cheese on a lite multi-grain muffin)... had to run max to the vets for some shots and nail trimming so i decided to stop by and see my mom... we ran to the store and i spent close to $100 since it's been a while and i needed all the basics: fruit, veggies, salad mix, whole wheat wraps, chicken breasts, milk, low-fat shredded cheese, cottage cheese, beans, etc.. i had to get all the supplies for my soup recipes and i also grabbed two cornish game hens for dinner tonight, which i'll make along with fresh asparagus... mmm mmm - can you tell i'm enjoying eating healthy again? ;o)

the rest of the weekend will be pretty mellow - going over to eric's later to watch the skins and steelers game tonight and then i'm going to visit my girlfriend tomorrow morning, who had her first baby back in october... can't believe it's been that long, my how time flies... we may also watch the latest harry potter movie tomorrow and then it's back home to make my meals for the week...

how many of you watched that new carson kressley show last night, on lifetime (how to look good naked)? i thought it was pretty good and am glad that it's only 1/2 hour because a full hour would've been too much... isn't it amazing how women see themselves so differently than everyone else? i loved how he made her chose where to put herself in that line-up and how she added 6" to her hips because she thought she was much larger... been there, done that... anyway, i'll probably watch it again so we'll see how next week's episode turns out... :o)

enjoy the rest of your weekend... :o)

i think my fingers are turning blue

day 2 back OP and it feels pretty good, minus the fact that i didn't get to the gym today (too busy learning a new video-editing software program) but i WILL be going tomorrow... it's probably best i skipped anyway because my knee was quite sore yesterday, might've been from the jog on tuesday... good news though - the principal emailed me back and told me the path was around 1/3 mile so multiply that times 8 and you get a little under 3 miles... sure felt like a lot more but then again, it's been ages since i've done anything on pavement... i'll shoot for 9 laps next time... ;o)

the weather has been utterly FREEZING here, i hate winter, i hate winter, I HATE WINTER... :o(

i just updated my WW points online and printed 2 soup recipes - zero points slow cooker soup and spicy black bean soup... i'll be making one of those this weekend for sure because then i'll have it for lunch during the week... my fridge has been seriously empty so i had oatmeal and yogurt for lunch - pretty funny huh... snacks were 2 clementines and a peanut butter fiber one bar - god, they are SO good! :o)

well, it's time for my bath and i just got the new fitness so i'm going to go thru that tonight (esp. since most shows are still repeats)... i started a magazine notebook a while back and as i'm going thru each issue, i write down any interesting quotes, books, clothing, workouts, and/or websites that i want to look at in more detail... it's a great way to keep things organized and speaking of - i found a nice weekly planner at staples but it was $20 and i'm not sure if the days are big enough for me to write-in... i'm so picky about stuff like that so i may try barnes & noble or office max over the weekend...

happy thursday...

weigh-in

i seriously thought about skipping this morning's weigh-in, especially after having a crackers & cheese and christmas cookie 'snack' last night around 10pm... stupid movie (kill bill vols. 1 & 2) but anyway, i sucked-it up and got on the scale and my current weight is 158.6... hard to tell what it would've said, minus the binge, but either way - this is where i'm starting for 2008... that leaves me 9.4 pounds til i reach my goal and by god, i'm going to get there! :o)

i went for a jog yesterday but have no idea how far i went because it wasn't your standard middle school track... actually it was more of a path around the lower ball fields - my guess is it was longer than 1/4 mile but certainly not a mile so i found their website and emailed the principal... someone has GOT to know so i hope he responds because i'd like to make it a more frequent exercise route... i also went to the gym today and did 40-minutes on the old elliptical (no moving arms) so i'm back OP with food and exercise and it feels great! :o)

and in case you haven't heard about the latest blog-contest, orville redenbacher wants to spread the word about their new natural line of popcorn... to help them spread the word they are offering a new box (6 bags) of popcorn to the winner each month for a year (flavor of your choice) AND Orville will fit the bill for a 1-year 2-movies-at-a-time netflix subscription... how awesome is that...

to enter - you must (1) have a blog, (2) link back to roni's blog here, and (3) link to orville's website here... good luck! :o)

plans for tonight: buy a 2008 weekly calendar - i'm all out of whack and need to get organized... i can't stand not having something to write my weekly weigh-in results on (yes, i do WW online but it's not the same thing!)... maybe border's will have something cute...

happy hump day...

happy new year!

happy new year, everyone, and welcome to 2008... it still doesn't seem like a new year to me but then again, it's only be 12 hours and i have the rest of the day to let it sink in... eric and i had a quiet night at home - we watched 'pirates of the caribbean 3' (could that movie be ANY longer?!), had leftover beef stew and homemade bread (thanks to my brother that gave us a bread machine - they rock!), had a few rum & cokes, and then watched dick clark's countdown to the new year... i told him this morning that i felt like a beached whale, god knows how much i've gained this holiday but today is a new day and i'm starting from zero... i already called the gym and since they're not having any classes tonight - i plan on going for a nice, long walk/jog later... the weather is sunny and cold but not THAT cold that i can't enjoy being outside so i'm looking forward to it... :o)

celebrating new years can mean different things, to different people... some view it as a way to say goodbye to the old and hello to the new (whatever that may be) but i would put money on it that most of us say, "this is the year that i'm going to change _____"... maybe it's to lose weight or to quit smoking, maybe it's to find a new job or buy that house that you've been dreaming of, or maybe it's finally taking responsibility for your life and where you're going with it... whatever IT may be, there is really nothing to stop you from getting what you want - except YOU... it's easy to blame someONE or someTHING when things aren't going the way you want them too but is that right? is that fair? not really because you're only hurting yourself in the long-run... taking a chance is the only way you can grow and as the saying goes, "you learn from your mistakes" right?

take this day, january 1, 2008, as a day of reflection - where are YOU in life? are you where you want to be? if not, what are YOU going to do about it? and are you happy? if not, what are YOU going to do about it? you need to take ownership of your life and for once and for all, accept who you are, right here, right now, because it's the only life you have... take advantage of the opportunities around you - maybe you can't see them but they're there, just waiting for you...

so today, maybe you should buy a paper and look at the classifieds, or call a friend and go for a walk, or throw away the holiday food that's been taunting you, or clean out your closet and throw away those THINGS once and for all... what are YOU waiting for? what is stopping you? maybe you need to begin there and see what's holding you back... once those are written down and dealt with, everything else will be a piece of cake... taking the first step is always the hardest but i know you can do it... :o)

if you need/want more inspiration, see what other bloggers have been saying... enjoy! :o)

pasta queen
"I am far from perfect. Sometimes I wish it was all over and done with, but I also know that's a lie. You're never really done. You don't just get thin and stop. You have to keep earning a healthy body every day. Sometimes you're up and sometimes you're down."

kim
"It continues to amaze me what a journey this has been. So much more than seeing the numbers on the scale move downward. I know that there is still a long way to go, with much much more to learn. I hope to do my best to embrace the lessons instead of resisting them."

stephanie
"I still don't know exactly what my life purpose is but I I found a clue in thinking about what I want my legacy to be when I leave this earth. I want to be known as someone who was loyal, who was real, and who helped others. I want to be known for my creativity, my humor, and my insights. I feel great joy when I have done something that helps someone else have a better day or better life."

roni
"In the past I put too much pressure on myself and I made resolutions that even if I kept I'd hate doing. Now I know better. Now I set goals and do what works for me to reach those goals. Not only what works for me but what is fun and possible for me to do. It may not seem like a big deal but unrealistic resolutions create a sense of failure when you don't know achieve them. However, realistic goals create a sense of confidence when you do."

happy tuesday...

why eat 1 cookie when you have 3

gotta love saturdays that are started with a good, spin class (yay me!)... i could've easily not the set alarm and stayed in 'vacation' mode but i didn't - i've been eating WAY to many cookies... i will be throwing away a lot of food today as well and will be stocking my fridge w/more healthy things, including a fresh pineapple... if i wasn't home, it wouldn't be such an issue but alas - they call my name at the strangest times... ;o)

i did some more shopping after going to the gym, picked-up a few xmas bargains but nothing major - i also scored some flannel sheets for myself and for my secret santa... i also ordered some gloves online, for the same person, and am officially done w/my shopping... i had to buy a new keyboard and mouse for the mac yesterday and as much as i love my cordless stuff at work - i couldn't justify spending $50 more esp. since i will have to buy a lot of software... hopefully eric will be able to connect my printer but if not, i will have to buy a new one of those too... such is life...

eric and i went to see 'alien vs. predator requiem' yesterday and i thought it was so-so... i prefer the straight sci-fi versions because once you starting mixing present day humans with these things, it adds a level of cheesiness... if you're still inclined to see it, i recommend going to see a matinée - save yourself some money...

today, i'm sticking around the apartment, doing laundry, and taking care of little things... i could always start putting away my xmas stuff but i like to leave it up until after eric's family's weekend and that won't be for another 2 weeks in pittsburgh... besides, i'm still enjoying the lights so who cares...

happy saturday...

weigh-in

the scale finally showed the results of my not counting points and lack of exercise, i was up 2.2 pounds this morning but that could also be the result of christmas (wine, big dinner, etc.)... either way, i'm heading back to the gym tomorrow and getting back to some sense of normalcy, even though i'm off until next wednesday... i ordered a new 10-minute solution pilates DVD so maybe i'll give that a go one day... i can't let myself be a complete lazy-ass this week even though it feels really good not setting the alarm... ;o)

my brother hosted our family christmas today so we headed north to hanover and hung out w/everyone for the day... he made a huge ham and i made a very cheesy cauliflower/broccoli casserole (which i still have 1/2)... we exchanged presents and had some good laughs, my sister is quite the comedian when she gets caffeine in her system... my refrigerator is so full of leftovers right now, i won't have to cook/bake for a week - plus, i have a ton of cookies, caramel corn, and peanut brittle to eat so i'm really going to have to practice moderation... i'm usually not the type to keep sweet stuff in the house but when it's around, i eat it - not a good thing...

well, i'm off to watch 'alien vs. predator' which is perfect timing since eric & i are going to see the sequel on friday...

happy wednesday...

merry christmas to all

hard to believe that christmas day is almost over - seemed to come and go so quickly! regardless, it was a great day with eric and my mom - i fixed dinner here so she wouldn't have to bother with cooking (even though she's been a cookie-making, candy-making machine!)... eric and i exchanged presents after breakfast (as you can see, max helped me wrap), he already got his main gift last week so today i gave him some smaller, fun things... but his present topped them all - he got me a mac mini... i had been talking about getting a mac for home EVENTUALLY since i'm spoiled at work so what does he do? he buys me one! he thought it was funny how i was drooling over them last weekend at the store so he knew that i would be really happy... he's a crazy man but i love him for it - i can't wait to use it (i just need to buy a wireless keyboard and mouse so the unit is complete)... THANK YOU DARLIN! I LOVE IT! :o)

my mom came over around 1:00 and we had brie covered in cranberries, apricots, walnuts, and brandy wrapped in puff pastry - talk about delish! then for dinner i made stuffed flank steak with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic herb cheese, twice-baked potatoes, and fresh asparagus with scallions... for dessert, i made apple and cranberry turnovers, topped with vanilla ice cream, carmel sauce, and walnuts... i'm pretty full, to say the least, but only had a small serving of each (minus the brie of course, who can resist that!)... :o)

after my mom went home, we checked the movie listings and ran to see 'i am legend' - i was surprised at how crowded the theaters were so we were lucky to get a seat... i really liked the movie and because i'm such a dog-lover, i cried in several spots, but still enjoyed the movie - the special effects were awesome... next up will be 'AVP2' and 'cloverfield', which is directed by the guy who does LOST...

so that was my day and tomorrow, we're heading to my brother's for dinner and i'll be seeing the rest of my family... as for the rest of the week, i have no idea what i'll be doing but as long as i'm not at work - i think i'll be okay... ;o)

merry christmas!

jingle bells

happy christmas eve, everyone, and yes - i'm one of the chosen few that had to work today... i don't really mind since i'm off until after new year's and it's been pretty quiet (though busy for some reason, what's up with that?!)... they are letting us leave at 2:00 so i'm going to head to the gym and then head home... i have a ton to do tonight, including: cleaning, wrapping presents, and getting a head-start on my dinner for tomorrow... eric's coming over w/norman and then we'll be going to the christmas eve service at my mom's (and my old) church at 10:00pm... what are your plans for tonight?

my weekend was busy, did some running around w/my mom on friday but didn't really accomplish any shopping since most of the stores were more antiquey... had to grab some gift cards, etc. on saturday and even though we talked about going to see 'i am legend', that never happened - i helped eric unpack and setup his christmas present in the garage... it does look rather good, i have to say - there's something about a brand new, shiny, black, craftsmas tool chest that can make a man look manly... we did watch another movie called 'deja vu' with denzel washington, it was pretty good...

yesterday, i had to run to kohl's for a few things, then the grocery store for my cookie and dinner supplies... i made 3 kinds: sugar, almond, and chocolate crinkle - i'm going to give them away as presents on wednesday, when we go to my brother's for dinner... i had pizza for dinner and watched the redskins kick the viking's asses - whooo hoooo! :o)

food has been okay and exercise has been minimal... i haven't worried about it, or let it bother me, because i know it's just temporary... last year, i had foot surgery in january and i was unable to do real cardio til almost april so at least i know, whatever i gain over the holidays, will come off much quicker this time!

i hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and that you get everything you asked for... :o)

happy monday...

weigh-in

weigh-in:
holy smokes! sorry for being MIA this week (will explain below), didn't realize it had been that long since i posted... but being today is wednesday, i had to face the music (and my blogging-buddies) for weigh-in... the scale showed no loss/gain which is a TRUE christmas miracle, in my book, so i'm pretty happy... i actually thought i had gained but when i got to work and compared it to last week - i breathed a sigh of relief... :o)

flu:
i caught the latest bug that's floating around and was deathly sick from early sunday morning thru most of monday... we're talking throwing-up, chills, heat flashes, aches, pains, and lots of tears (because i hate feeling THAT miserable)... dr. eric put me on the couch sunday, under a ton of covers, and we listened to most of the steelers game, and then i went home still feeling pretty miserable... i slept A LOT that night but was awake for the redskins game (die-hard fan, what can i say) and then called in sick monday just so i could rest... now eric has it but is on the mend, thank-god, i would hate to be sick over the holidays and my vacation (which starts friday even though i'm here monday but only until 2:00)... :o)

norman:
eric had to take norman to the vet on thursday because he was having 'issues' - turns out, he had a urinary blockage and was diagnosed with cystitis... they say it's pretty common w/indoor cats who may be less active as outdoor cats, but it also could be the result of the type of water they drink, how much, and what their diet is... we thought he was coming home on saturday but the vets were still concerned so we went to see him and as usual, i was in tears, because i hate seeing animals in a cage... he was purring though and looked good so we just took the vets advice and let the medicine and new food do it's thing... when eric picked him up on monday night and they said norman was still having issues but it could be because he wasn't at home (gun shy perhaps)... first thing eric did was take him downstairs and reintroduce him to the litterbox - like magic, norman went w/no problem and has been using it ever since... i can't tell you what a relief it is, to have him home and doing better - though we have to change a few big things (water, food, etc.), it's worth it... :o)

work:
the website went live on friday and so far, so good (http://gmm.ici.org)... i will have to add things along the way - like video - which means learning yet another program... anyone have good things to say about final cut pro? anyway, i'm onto the next project - a blacktie 'save the date' - that has to be in the mail the week we get back from new years... we need to get the president's approval by tomorrow, we'll see if that happens...

food/exercise:
have pretty much been on the back burner, esp. with being sick... i had no appetite from sunday morning til about mid-afternoon on monday and then BAM! i wanted food and i wanted pizza (my comfort food)... rather than making myself guilty or eating something i didn't really want - i went to the store, got what i wanted, and that was that... i had cereal twice yesterday (breakfast/dinner) so perhaps i should try a real meal tonight when i get home... i also haven't exercised since last monday so i'm looking forward to the treadmill or elliptical today, i haven't had the energy but think doing a bit of moving will help... :o)

biggest loser:
i'm so bummed that julie didn't win but honestly - is a woman EVER going to win this when it comes to the highest percentage of weight loss? i thought she looked INCREDIBLE (not that the others didn't) and totally thought she had it... don't get me wrong, i think every contestant looked amazing but maybe they need to have 2 prizes - one for male and one for female...

anyway, i promise to not have such a huge gap in my posts - with work winding down and being on vacation til new years, i will be around to post more often... i will also try and catch-up on everyone else's blogs - i've posted very randomly so it was nothing personal if i didn't comment on yours... :o)

happy hump day...

weigh-in

just wanted to post my weigh-in for today... i'm up .8 pounds this week and am too busy to be upset about it - i'm still under my 155 goal for the holidays and that's a good thing in my book... besides the website project that is still 'in progress', i have to design a black-tie invitation by friday so the president can approve it before the holidays... one would think that's an easy project but when you're like me and hate being rushed, it just adds more stress... anyway, it will get done - i have faith but it's just not something i like to have on my plate especially when you have this thing called CHRISTMAS just around the corner... even though my family doesn't really exchange presents anymore, i still like to get little things for everyone and so far - what i have to buy is much more that what i've gotten so far... oy vey... at least tomorrow is thursday and that means, only 2 more days til the weekend... it can't come soon enough!

happy hump day...

thanks for nothing

my web project is still NOT finished and no one seems to care, or respond to my emails for that matter... it just pisses me off that i came in early and stayed late all those days to do my job AND stick to the deadline, and THEN have to deal with unresponsive people... i'm 99.9% sure it's not going to happen today either - we have a mandatory 'town hall' meeting w/the president at 2:00 and then i'm leaving for a doctor's appt. at 3:00... they'll just have to wait til tomorrow i guess and at this point, i could care less... :op

the rest of my weekend was good, eric and i didn't help my mom with the christmas tree because of the weather so we took advantage and had a lazy day at home... he made a batch of his awesome chili for the steeler's game and i, of course, made chocolate chip cookies because his friends have bigger sweet-tooths than some girls i know... crazy i tell you... i did my best to eat well but when you have chili, you have to use cheese right? there was also a few pieces of fresh baquette, chips, dip, etc. - so you get the picture... it wasn't a stellar WW day but really, is there such a thing around this time of year? ;o)

today i'm going to see my ob/gyn and he's a great guy - young, cute, funny, and always has something to say about my hair (he has great taste!)... he used to make fun of my piercings and tattoos but that has since passed, thankfully... my appt. is at 4:15 so that means i'll be in the waiting room for an hour and then in the exam room for another 1/2 hour - anyone care to take bets on when i get outta there? i did bring my gym clothes so in case i get out of there early, i can hit a spin class but we'll see... if not, i'll just go home, and start working on my xmas cards... :o)

don't forget to watch biggest loser tonight, it's the last one before the finale next week...

happy tuesday...

ho ho ho

hello everyone, hope you're enjoying the weekend so far... i'm in a festive mood so i thought i would update my photo and include some christmas cheer (i also got my haircut so ya know)... i did some shopping today, trying to pick-up a few things here and there but still have to get a list from eric... why are men so difficult when it comes to what they want? i mean, i can totally buy him things that i THINK he needs (which is normally on-the-money) but i'd like to have SOME idea of what to buy him (ahem!)... i hate waiting til the last minute but such is life when you're dating a huge procrastinator! ;o)

my week ended pretty well, the web project is almost complete and should go live on monday (fingers crossed)... we had an off-site meeting on friday afternoon and it couldn't have come at a worst time - we're all so busy so it was hard having to sit and listen to the vice president ramble when we knew there was a ton of work to be done back at the office... anyway, there will be a lot changing in the next 12-18 months and that includes a lot of work for the communications area so it should be interesting to say the least... sadly, one of the women i've become good friends with is putting in her two-weeks notice on monday - she just can't deal with my boss's old boss anymore so she's moving on... :o(

i haven't really talked about weight loss or anything related to that lately (sorry!) - things have just been so crazy for me but i hope to get back on the saddle soon... food has been very good but exercise has been lacking because of my workload, i took my measurements this morning but don't have last month's to compare so i'll have to post the changes next week... i do have to say, the jeans i am wearing today weren't as loose last time i wore them so that's pretty cool... :o)

well, i need to go and do some shopping/looking online and then head over to eric's - he was in philly for the day (working on the ship) and we haven't seen each other since last weekend... i finished the swags for his windows last night and will hang them up tomorrow - too bad i'm not around more to enjoy them... anyway, he's making his awesome chili tomorrow for the steeler's game so i'm looking forward to that, and seeing some of his friends that are joining us... speaking of football - HAIL TO THE REDSKINS! what an awesome game thursday night - it's about time we won a game! yeee haaa! :o)

happy saturday...

weigh-in

i was happy to see the scale move back down this week, 1.8 pounds to be exact, so i'm back at an even 25-pound loss... didn't quite lose everything that i gained but i'm working on it... work has been long, stressful, and taking over my life - so much so, that i was in tears today trying to figure out some stupid list code for this website project (anyone know how to fix list alignment issues in IE???)... anyway, just 3 more days and it will be over - for now anyway - and then it's back to my normal workload... good thing i have off between christmas and new year's because I AM GOING TO NEED IT...

i miss reading your blogs and hope to catch-up over the weekend...

happy hump day...

going, going, gone...

the weekend's almost over (2 hours) and it's back to work, unfortunately, tomorrow... and it's raining - perfect! my posting/commenting may be few and far between this week because of work so bear with me until this website project is up and running... :o)

i had a great weekend with lots of R&R with eric, as well as spending time w/my mom... the christmas joy event was fun but more so because i was able to help-out my mom's friend - she must've had 2 truckloads of greens/holly and it had to be cleaned-up and hauled outside for people to take when it was over... if i hadn't been there, i have no idea how this woman would've done it considering no one else was helping (and it was a church event, go figure!)... anyway, i was able to make 2 wreaths - one for me and one for eric's front door - and am very proud of my first attempt... i brought home 2 garbage bags, full of greens, so be doing my swags and arrangements sometime this week... :o)

as for the rest of the weekend, eric and i watched 2 movies - 'the departed' and 'young frankenstein' - both were excellent, though i need to watch the departed again since there was so much going on... we also watched 'robot chicken' which is a goofy show on comedy central and the usual sunday morning talking-head shows... after that, we hung christmas lights on the front of his house and around the tree in his front yard - it looks so nice! we also raked/mowed the front and back yard but have much to do in the flowerbeds - they need a good clipping before winter...

sadly, the redskins blew yet another game today - gibbs, what were you thinking?!?! calling 2 timeouts in a row! come on! buffalo could've missed that 2nd field goal attempt and then we would've won! i really thought they had it, especially since it was the first game after sean taylor died, but they just let it slip out of their hands... again... i'll just have to route for the steelers tonight and so far, they're winning... :o)

happy sunday...

this week's been a big blur

holy moly, what a week it's been... today is the first day that i feel like i can relax and not be so stressed out because of work... the website i'm working on is supposed to go live next friday but several of us don't think that's going to happen - should be interesting to say the least... what i do have so far is coming along nicely, as it should be, considering i've been here early every day this week (and sometimes stayed late too)... :o)

on wednesday, eric and i went to see 'no country for old men' - it was a late movie and i was pretty tired but the violence/gore kept me awake, that's for sure... it was good but i think if i had read the book, some of it would make more sense... i'm excited about seeing 'i am legend' next month, with wil smith - i think he's a good fit for sci-fi movies... :o)

my weekend plans are full, at least for tomorrow anyway... i'm going with my mom to a christmas joy/craft day at her church - we're going to make all sorts of stuff like fresh wreaths, jewelry, etc. and it's cheap! they're providing breakfast and lunch so once again i'm going to be tempted with yummy things - just have to see how it goes (maybe i'll eat beforehand)... after that, i'm going to stop by and visit w/some friends that i haven't seen in a while and then it's back to eric's for the weekend... sunday, i'm really looking forward to sleeping-in and watching the redskins game - should be an emotional one due to the death of sean taylor #21 this week... GO SKINS!!!

it's been a while since i've done a top 5, so i'm going to list some holiday things i found to be fun (thanks to rachael ray's holiday issue)... enjoy!

—do the earth some good this holiday and buy 100% post consumer recycled paper christmas cards
—these beautiful jewel bud vases would make great gifts for your girlfriends
—we could all use a little more hope this time of year
—know someone that's always cold? buy them a goose down vest for only $25
—use these adorable coasters at your next holiday party

i hope you all have a great weekend, stay warm! :o)

happy friday...

weigh-in

since my last weigh-in, 2.6 pounds have found their way back and though i'm not thrilled, i'm not upset about it either... it's very important to be honest with yourself on this weightloss journey because if you aren't, you're in for some surprises along the way... kidding yourself that a bite here, and a bite there isn't going to hurt - is only going to bite you in the ass later (bad pun, sorry)... and if you're even THINKING about not going for that walk/jog today, don't do it - just 30 minutes will put you in better spirits and your body will thank you... :o)

so besides not exercising, i was not accountable for what i was eating, and probably indulged way too many times, so seeing a gain, isn't that much of a surprise... if anything, it just makes me more determined to stay on track throughout the holidays so this gain, doesn't turn into 5 or even 10 pounds... i'm lucky that i don't have any holiday parties to go too (besides work and i can chose my meal) so i'm not worried that i can at least maintain my weight, if not lose what i've gained and then some... it all comes down to what YOU want to achieve this holiday season - being honest w/yourself is the best way to get thru it... :o)

happy hump day...

NSV

i don't have time for a real post today, since i'm slammed at work, but i just wanted to share something that just happened... i was over at the president's office and as i was walking back, his assistant stopped me in the hallway... she goes, "i never know what someone's going to say, because i don't know how they're going to react, but i just wanted to tell you that you look fabulous - have you lost a lot of weight?" and for the first time i responded, "yes, i have and thank-you!"

i usually have some lame comment because i'm horrible at receiving compliments (just ask eric) but this time it was different ... i KNOW i've lost weight and i KNOW i've worked my ass-off to get where i am... granted, it's taken a while but who cares - i'm in such a better place now than i was 3-years ago and it feels really great... eric's sisters also noticed my weightloss over thanksgiving so i guess it's becoming obvious to people that i've lost weight... i've been wearing more form-fitting clothes too maybe that's part of the reason - who would've thought that wearing the correct size can make you look good... ;o)

happy tuesday...

le sigh

it's back to work for me today and i'm glad because my eating has sucked big-time and my exercise has been null and void since last week... i always have really good intentions, as we all do, but it never works out the way i planned and then it keeps snowballing... having a week-off was great though - i got all my decorating done and got plenty of R&R so coming back hasn't been that hard... i actually came in early to hang christmas lights around our office doors - they always seem to put people in a better mood... :o)

our thanksgiving trip was fun - we delivered the daybed to his brother and then helped-out around his parent's house before leaving for state college on wednesday... the family stays at one hotel so we can hang-out together before and after the big dinner on thursday... the count was around 85 this year and there's always enough food for double that amount - i only when thru the line once and took teensy-tiny pieces of maybe 3 desserts, so it wasn't that bad... but later - out came the potato chips, cheese-its, nuts, chocolate covered pretzels, and beer - so much for staying healthy... i had also had my share of gas station cappuccinos - i often wonder how much sugar is one cup because it has to be A LOT! we were back in town on friday and i spent a quite night at home with the kitty...

on saturday - my mom and i met up with my sister and nieces in ellicott city, which has a ton of antique stores and artsty-type shops... the weather was nice, though chilly, so i didn't mind walking around (exercise! yay!)... we had lunch at a local diner and then headed to the columbia mall which was a JOKE - between parking and the crowds, it really turned me off to holiday shopping... thank god i don't have to buy for a lot of people because dealing w/that would drive me insane, and to think i used to work in retail! crazy!

yesterday, i enjoyed a nice sleep-in and then went over to eric's to watch the redskins lose, yet another football game... i'm hating them right now so i will be routing for the steelers on monday night football... :o)

eating is back on track today and i'm looking forward to a nice, long run on the treadmill... wednesday's weigh-in will not be pretty, i already know this, and i'm not going to starve myself or do anything crazy to help the scale... what happens, happens and i'm not going to worry about it - whatever i gain, i will lose again... end of story... :o)

happy monday...

time to decorate

hi everyone, sorry i haven't posted since last week - friday was super busy for me (since i'm off this week) and then i got talked-in to going for a drink after work by my boss and a few other coworkers... one glass of wine turned into three, then there was bar-food, and then there was champagne - holy moly... i really struggled with whether i should go or not, besides not wanting to spend a lot of money on alchohol, i also see it as empty calories and a big deterrent on my weightloss... is that bad??? i've never been a huge social-drinker anyway so most of the time, i feel uncomfortable being around those that do because i'm not partaking in the "let's drink til we get drunk" thing... i guess it was just how i was raised and the friends i hung-out with - we just didn't do that sort of thing... anyway, it WAS fun and luckily - no hangover found me on saturday so all was good... :o)

saturday, i spent the day at my mom's helping organize the spare bedroom so eric and i could take the daybed to his brother's this week... i was there ALL DAY and then headed over to eric's saturday night for some much-needed R&R... yesterday, we had a quiet morning and then headed back to my mom's to take apart the bed, load it into the truck, and then help her w/a few other things since the more hands, the better... she made turkey potpie for lunch and it was SO GOOD - nothing like a home cooked meal to make you feel good... we then went home and watched the skins play an AWESOME game against the cowboys - i know they lost but i feel they played their guts out and deserve many kudos! :o)

eric had to work today so i did some things around his house this morning before coming home and tackling my christmas decorations... i have lit garland on my balcony, around my fireplace, and on my hosier cabinet, and my tree is lit, but not decorated - think i'll finish that tonight... my goal is to hit the gym for the 5:30 spin class so i need to get going soon, and then i may hit big lots to see what sort of decorations they have (i'm in such the christmas spirit now!)... we're leaving for pittsburgh tomorrow morning, then we head to state college on wednesday for his huge, family thanksgiving (100+), and then it's back home on friday...

i hope you all have a wonderful thanksgiving and for those that have to travel, please be safe...

happy monday...

vacation is only 1 day away

i'm in an easy-going mood today considering the rainy weather today - i was up early, came in to work, and began my day w/a cup of hot coffee and my usual, sugar-free hazlenut creamer... i've made progress on the website project but can only go so far until i get copy - such is the life of a designer... they expect you to 'create' when there's nothing to create with, do they not understand that?!?! anyway, i'm hoping to have at least the homepage done tomorrow since i'll be out for a week, and that will give them time to work on everything else... and if not, i'm not going to worry about it! :o)

plans for this evening include going to see 'bladerunner' w/eric since it's the last night they're showing this special edition on the big screen... i'm not sure if we'll have time to grab dinner beforehand but i'm looking forward to hitting that vietnamese place i talked about a few weeks ago... i know i can have a really healthy and inexpensive meal there, plus have leftovers for lunch tomorrow so who can complain about that...

speaking of food - when i was at the store the other night, i picked-up barilla's new whole grain pasta (3-points a serving!)... so for dinner - i cooked frozen shrimp w/garlic and butter, and then tossed them w/the penne, some olive oil, some parmesean cheese, and dried basil... i think the whole meal came to like 6 points (i also had a side salad) and i was completely satisfied... :o)

i couldn't stay awake for 'life' last night but managed to watch paula deen make an amazing pumpkin cheesecake and pear fritters - i swear, how can she NOT weigh 500 pounds! she also did pecan chicken but i would so chose the cheesecake over that any day! mmm mmm...

happy thursday...

weigh-in

quick post today since i have a shitload of work to do on this website project... once again, i was amazed at the scale this morning and expecting a gain, especially after this weekend... but no, it was being very kind and said i was down .6 pounds so i'm pretty happy... i know the closer i get to goal, the slower the weight will come off so i'm going to enjoy these losses as much as i can... :o)

i watched biggest loser last night and i'm glad they got rid of amy - she was such a downer... yea, she tried to make-up for it by becoming part of the black team and working out w/julian but she just seemed so negative all the time... i WAS impressed however, with her progress after the show - here kids were adorable! :o)

good luck to everyone else who's weighing-in today... :o)

happy hump day...

i hate rainy days

weekend:
eric and i had a nice, short visit w/my sister this weekend - stopping by to see my dad on the way... we played some games for a while like go fish and tabletop bowling - he seemed to enjoy it... i'm not sure if he really recognized me or not but it was still nice to see him... after that, we went to lunch w/my sister and nieces to this place near canaan valley which is a big ski area in west virginia... it was too rainy/foggy to go hiking so we headed home and made a quick-stop at these new $900k townhomes on the lake near their house... i swear the bathrooms were bigger than my living room - one having a shower that could fit at least 15 people and a sunken tub that could fit maybe 5... sunday, we did the church thing, grabbed lunch at subway, watched most of the steelers game, and then headed back to see my dad for a while before heading home... :o)

food:
i probably didn't make the best choices this past weekend - pizza on saturday, one too many pumpkin spice cappuccinos, bbq chips w/lunch on sunday, and a small piece of pineapple upside down cake... but it could've been worse since my sister has all sorts of 'stuff' in her pantry for the girls so maybe the damage won't be so terrible on wednesday... then again, i won't be upset if i see a gain because that's what this process is all about - accepting the bad weeks as much as celebrating the good ones...

misc:
if you're a big fan of sephora, one of my coworkers sent an email re: a friends & family discount... you can receive 20% your purchase by using the code FF2007 at checkout (til november 21)... and according to their website, you can also get free shipping if you order over $50 so happy shopping! :o)

and thanks to all who played-along w/the 5-interesting-things game... it's always fun to learn something new about my fellow blogger-buddies... :o)

happy tuesday...

5 things

i have been tagged by trish to play a game - i know it's been going around the blogworld so i apologize if the people i've listed/tagged, have already played... :o)

here are the rules:
1. link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. let them know they are TAGGED by leaving a comment on their blog.

5 interesting/weird/boring facts about me
—i take a bubble bath every night (more so in the winter)
—my toenails are always polished and never go naked
—my dream job is to be a wife and mother
—my closet is color coordinated from black (left) to white (right), and i rotate items front to back when worn
—i bought my honda civic because the dashboard lights are blue

now it's your turn --> stephanie, greta, mandy, angelfish, and pastgirl

###

i'll post my weekend recap later... :o)

nothing better than warm chips

i love cold and rainy fridays... not... i hope it's not going to be like this the whole weekend - eric and i are heading to my sister's tomorrow.. she told me this week that they've already had snow... S N O W people, and it's maryland! that's just wrong! guess i'll be packing my down coat for the trip... :o(

man his week flown-by - guess being busy at work has helped... i made progress w/my conference design, now i just have to go thru the chain of command (all the way to the pres) and get final approval... once that is done, i can start designing the website for launch in early december... i've been researching javascript stuff since i'm not a fan of using flash for menus - so far, so good... :o)

food/exercise have been good this week, minus last night - eric and i had dinner w/some friends and we had mexican (my downfall, as we all know!)... i had one light beer, some chips & salsa, a wondeful salad that i split w/eric, and the crab & shrimp enchiladas... i will have to be extra careful w/my points this weekend since i'm sure i used most of my flexies on that meal but such is life - i have no regrets because it was really good... :o)

i haven't done my top 5 in a while so here's some frozen food items that you may find interesting (and make for a quick meal)...

—healthy choice has come out w/a new line of cafe steamers
—jimmy dean is offering d-lights breakfast samiches (1/3 calories and 1/2 fat)
—looking for something organic? maybe amy's has something you can try
—if you love eggnog, then you'll love edy's slow churned ice cream (3 pts serving)
—looking for something quick? maybe lean pockets can be an option (ww points are listed too!)

GO REDSKINS! GO STEELERS!

hope you all have a great weekend... happy friday...

weigh-in

when people are sick, most people tend to lose their appetite - such is not the case for me (nor when lovesick over a guy!)... i was pretty shocked at the scale this morning, especially after being home for 2 days last week AND going to that food show this past weekend... i've lost another 2.4 pounds and have hit my 25-pound mark so i'm pretty happy... and that makes only 4.8 pounds til i reach my goal so WHOO-HOOO CARROTS... :o)

biggest loser was pretty good last night except i hate the fact they make the show longer just so they can have more commercials and more "ways you can blah blah blah"... that ford escape hybrid was pretty, damn nice - i'm glad that team won! :o)

work continues to be busy - i was in here early today just to handle other little projects... i haven't even thought about my personal website/resume since i've been so busy here, so maybe once things calm down - i can finish everything and get it posted... i've also made a point to go to the gym everyday because it not only makes me feel better, it helps me relax and get away from the computer for an hour...

after work, i'm heading to the consignment shop to drop off more clothes and then to the grocery store - my fridge is looking a bit empty these days... i hate not having healthy snacks here at work, so its time to replenish my supply of fiber one bars and fruit... one of my favorite snacks is a sliced apple w/some natural peanut butter - mmm mmm...

happy hump day...

halfway back to normal

hello, all... thanks to all who sent me well-wishes while sick - i'm feeling better but am still pretty congested and coughing... i didn't do much of anything yesterday at eric's besides watch the skins game and then the colts/packers game later (which was really good!) but on saturday, i went to the food show w/my mom... i wasn't feeling much like myself but think being out i the fresh air and out of my apartment might've helped me feel more normal... paula's show was fun to watch but we barely made it because they were very unorganized and not prepared for such a crowd (the line was unbelievable)... over 2,500 people crammed into a section of the convention center to watch her make gumbo, hearty cornbread, and pumpkin ooey gooey cake - talk about mmm mmm good... and yes, she used a LOT of butter... :o)

for the rest of the day - we walked around to all the booths, tried a lot of samples, watched another cooking demo, sat-in on a flower decorating class, and had MORE samples... the only thing i bought was some curry sauce and 2 biscottis from this cute little bakery, not bad in my opinion considering what was there... not sure if i'd go again but we'll see who they have next year...

in other news - i found out that alton brown (also from the food network) is going to be doing a demo AND book signing at our annual meeting next year... i about feel off my chair this morning in a meeting when i heard that - i love him and love his shows so this will be tough... do i look for a new job or stick around 6 more months so i can meet him? decisions decisions...

i'm going to be slammed for the next 2 weeks so my postings may be pretty sporadic... besides coming-up with a design for the annual meeting - i have to design AND build a website to promote it ... it normally wouldn't be a huge deal but they want it done by the end of the month and i'm out the week of thanksgiving - can you say stressed-out?!?!

happy monday...

down for the count

just a quick post, i am home sick again today - didn't really feel good yesterday but went to work anyway... you know how you if you shower and get dressed, you'll feel better? well, that didn't work so by the end of the day my boss basically told me to stay home since things were quiet... and that's what i did - my head is so stuffed-up, i can barely breathe, and now i have an irritating cough... i usually don't get sick but i guess it was just my time so i hope i feel a little better by tomorrow... my mom and i have tickets to see paula deen at the DC cooking and entertainment show - even if i don't, i'm STILL going... i'll just pop some extra cold pills for the trip... :o)

anyway, i know some of you look forward to my weekly top 5 so i apologize for not having one today - maybe i can get to it on sunday... i'm going to go lay down now, have a nice weekend...

happy friday...

why oh why

i went to work today even though, i probably should've stayed home... my throat and glands arent as sore but i just feel 'blah' so we'll see how i feel towards the end of the day and maybe i'll head-out early... i treated myself to a starbucks pumpkin spice latte this morning and between that, breakfast, and lunch - i'm already at 20 points... ugh! stupid 6-points for a latte - i need to cut that back... i brought my gym stuff and really wanted to go - just don't know if i have the energy... looks like i'll be dipping into the flex-pool early this week which sucks since i like to have most of them for the weekend... course, after last weekend - i plan on doing much better so maybe i'm worrying for nothing... :o)

i had THREE trick'o treaters last night - 2 batman and 1 crying spiderman... i saved ONE peanut butter cup for myself and stuck it in the freezer but now i have almost an entire bag to deal with... i may just take it to eric's OR stick them all in the freezer - they sure are tasty when cold for some reason (watch your teeth though!)... :o)

there's not much else going on - i worked on my resume this morning (to match the new website) and just need to have someone review it and make sure all the wording and punctuation are correct... there's nothing worse than sending one out w/a typo (i never have, thank-god) so it's good to be extra careful... :o)

happy thursday...