Reflections

Moving

2009-03-30T06:41:00.000-07:00

My new state of marital bliss has not only led to a physical movement (from my parents home to the house I now share with M) but a move in the blogsphere. From now on, my posts can be found here . I hope to see you there.

Wedding Recap

2009-03-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

My wedding celebration began on Thursday - March 19, when my close friends and family got together and threw me a lingerie shower. Jess W., the bridesmaid who organized the event went above and beyond my expecations. All of the ladies in attendance enjoyed great food and lots of laughs.

After the shower, Stephanie - another bridesmaid - gave pedicures to myself and Jess W. Then we headed to the reception site to finalize the decorations. It made for a late night but it was worth it.

On Friday morning, M's grandmother held a "bridal breakfast" for the family and bridal party who were in town. We dined on pancakes, grits, eggs, and biscuits with jelly. It was nice to have all of our family together before the big day. After breakfast, my bridesmaids and I convended at our house to get ready for a "Girl's Day Out". I took the girls out to lunch at a little place called the Garden Cafe. Then we ran errands around town. With just an or so to spare, we made it back to town to get ready for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

Wedding Day came bright and early. My bridesmaids and I were up at 8:00 a.m. and in the salon by 9:00. We enjoyed our breakfast while my stylist Amber made us all beautiful. We finished with hair around 12:30, moved to the church for make up, and started photos at 1:00. The next few hours went by in a blur as we took hundreds of photos. Thankfully M and I had a few moments to ourselves before the actual ceremony took place. It was wonderful!.

I will leave you with photos.

And They Lived Happily Ever After

2009-03-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

Last Minute Wedding Details

2009-03-17T05:28:00.000-07:00

Last night my matron of honor and I went to the home of one of my bridesmaids. Our goal was to put together all 60 of my centerpieces. We laid out all of our materials on the dining room table and ready to work. Only a few seconds in we discovered that the candles we purchased did fit into our vases - oh no! My bridesmaid Jessica nearly had a melt-down. I remained calmed and unfazed - which was quite surprising. Jessica's mother came in and we began tossing around alternatives. Soon Jessica, Lane, and I were racing to town to get the dollar store before it closed so that we could buy up their entire inventory of stock in ivory votive candles. The staff was nice enough to wait on us, even when we got their after closing. We picked up the votives and then an order of pizza. We got back to Jessica's and managed to get half of the centerpieces done - the other half will get finished on Friday once we get more votive candles.

I will be leaving town today for a work conference, and am giving up control of the wedding preparations. M has a small list of things that he needs to accomplish. And I have entrusted a few details to Lane, my matron of honor, and of course Jessica the bridesmaid/decorator. I will be returning on Thursday afternoon and Thursday night have my lingerie shower. Per Kathy's advice (see comment on post below) I have decided that if something is not done by Thursday night, then it just isn't going to happen - with centerpieces being the one exception - because I want to be able to enjoy my time with M, our family, and our friends.

I will try and post a few pictures before/during the honeymoon. But I am not sure what our internet access will be like in the mountains of Tennessee. So be sure to check back on March 30, for lots and lots of pics from our big day!

Disappointment

2009-03-16T06:51:00.000-07:00

Last night I checked my voicemail and had a message from the mother of my maid of honor. She stated that it was an emergency and asked that I call her as soon as possible. I immediately disconnected from voicemail and dialed her number. Mrs. Carolyn answered and then informed me that Morghan, her daughter and my maid of honor, was in the hospital fighting a severe double kidney infection. But moreover, Morghan is so sick that the doctors do not expect to release her before Wednesday and they have banned her from driving or taking any roadtrips. Morghan will be unable to attend my wedding - and she is devestated.

This is classic Morghan. She is one of those rare people with a heart so big, that she puts everyone before herself. Her mom said that Morghan had been fighting flu like symptoms for two weeks but had got seen the doctor because she was too busy taking care of her job, her students, her family, and trying to plan for my wedding. I reassured Mrs. Carolyn, as I will do with Morghan when I can speak with her, that I prefer having my best friend healthy for a liftime, than her to risk her health to be with me for just a day. I will admit that I am dissappointed but that is overriden by my concern for my friend. I am praying that this episode will help Morghan to learn to put herself first....and that it can serve as a reminder to me (and anyone else) that if we aren't healthy then we are of no use to anyone else.

If you would, please say a prayer for Morghan that her body mends quickly, and that her spirit is not to weighed down by her disappointment in missing the wedding.

Home Alone

2009-03-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

M is out of town for the weekend. A few of his buddies from work are taking him to a race down in Florida. Since he will be away, I have made an extensive list of cleaning projects that I want to get done in preparation for wedding day.

I must admit it feels weird to be the one at home - as I am normally the one who leaves for various work related activities. I hope that this is one of only a few times I get left behind.....

Home Improvement Projects

2009-03-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

When M and I started planning on wedding, I was sure that there would be setbacks and snags along the way - and there have been. But planning the wedding was the easy part... figuring out how to join our two lives together has been much more difficult.

I guess I should pause to clarify that I am not referring to the actual marriage, as I know that learning to live together will be a life long proccess. Rather I am referring to how we are going to put all of my stuff with all of his stuff - and still have a house that is livable.

Over the last few months, M and I have paired down our respective collections of things. We then created a list of projects that we wanted to complete on the house - projects that would ease the transition into sharing spaces. And even a few projects that are purely cosmetic ( like painting the kithcen). We have planned, planned and planned these projects. But it is just now, a mere 11 days out, that we are putting the plans into practice.

As I type, my kitchen is a war zone. My Uncle Dewayne has taken over the area as he has stripped two layers of old vinyl wallpaper off, mudded, patched, sanded and resanded the walls. Today he is going to put on the first coat of our new wall color, Tidal Basin Blue . Tomorrow he will put on the 2nd coat and paint all of the trim to coordinate. Hopefully by Thursday, I can get into the room to put it to rights and clean up everything.

The other big project has been determining closet space. M has a lot of clothes, and I have even more. So we knew there was no way we could share the small 6 foot closet in the master bedroom. We had been discussing converting the "sitting room" oustide the master bath into a walk-in closet. And last night M did just that. Hanging more than 8 feet of rod for me to use. I took the time to go thru my wardrobe and pair down to just those items that a) fit, b) looked to be in good condition, and c) that I have worn in the last year. I was able to donate nearly 2 bags full of clothing - and I still used every last inch of those 8 feet. :-)

Tonight M and I will continue working on our project list as we go thru his clothing. We will also be hanging some decorative items. Then this weekend, while M is away on his boys weekend, I have organized a work party to tackle the clean up of our carport and yard. Hopefully by Sunday afternoon, our house will be neat, tidy, and ready for us to make it our home as man and wife!

Wedding Website

2009-03-06T10:22:00.002-08:00

I've talked about it before....but here it is, my personalized wedding website:

Kim and Mikey

This contains the story of our proposal, photo galleries, and links to our registries, for those of you who want to know. :-)

More Wedding Details

2009-03-06T07:29:00.000-08:00

A dear blogging friend commented on my previous post and wanted more details regarding our big day, so I thought I would take the time to share a synopsis of the day.

Friday - March 20: Rehearsal at 6:30 and Rehearsal Dinner at 8:00

We are going to have our ceremony at the First Baptist Church in our hometown. This is the church that I was a member of growing up, and where my parents are still members. In an ironic twist of fate, the church provided a wedding coordinator for us, she happens to be my old Sunday School teacher - who was always praying that we girls would find good Christian men someday. I guess God was hearing those prayers. :- ) Our rehearsal supper will be held at the social hall of our current church, which is also the church that M has grown up in. We wanted to include both church's and church families - and I think this is a beautiful way to do it.

Saturday - March 21: Wedding Day

My bridesmaids and I will be up around 8:30 for breakfast and than a trip to the salon where we will be primped and pampered all in preparation for the photos and other events of the day. At 1:30, the entire wedding party and our families will meet at the FBC for photos. Our photographer is wonderful and has plans to get all the shots we want done before 4 p.m. The church is just 1 block off our downtown area (think old brick buildings, a park, old theater), so assuming the weather is warm enough, the majority of our pics will be taken outside in the Spring sunshine.

The ceremony is slated to begin at 5:00 p.m. and will be a very traditional ceremony with one or two twists thrown in. The special music will be performed by my sister and M's sister-in-law (who is also my matron of honor). They will be singing "Because You Loved Me by Jo Dee Messina" and "Some People by Leann Rimes" respectively. After the ceremony, we will have as staged exit as to allow set up time at our reception site. We will then take the limo for a spin around town before arriving out our reception site for a banquet dinner and dancing into the night.

After the reception, M and I will spend our first night as husband and wife here . Then on Sunday morning we will leave for week long honeymoon in the mountains of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, with a side trip to Atlanta.

What other things would ya'll like to know?

Bling for the Bridesmaids

2009-03-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

Sooo excited! When I got back from lunch today there was a package on my desk. The jewelry that I ordered for my bridesmaids has arrived. That's one more check mark on my "master list" and one less thing for me to worry over. And just because I know you are all dying to know, here is a pic of the earrings they will be wearing:

I need a brighter smile

2009-03-04T09:05:00.000-08:00

With wedding day just 17 days away, I've started thinking about the pictures and all the smiling I will have to do. That lead me to evaluate my smile. Years of braces have left me with straight teeth and a great smile, but I can't help feeling that the smile could be just a bit brighter. So I am wanting to whiten my teeth. Do you readers have any recommendation on which products work the best?

Guess Who Got an MP3 Player????

2009-03-04T06:46:00.000-08:00

Me, me, me! M came home from work on Monday and told me he had a suprise for me. We had been discussing purchasing MP3 players for quite some time - as we knew they would come in handy once we take our runs outside - but we had not gotten around to purchasing anything. So when I walked into the living room, I was suprised to find M standing there holding 2 Sony Walkman 4GB MP3 players. I was so excited!!

I can't wait to set mine up and use it on my run tonight. :-) Do you have any recommendations on songs that I should add to my playlist?

Monday Musings

2009-03-02T11:34:00.001-08:00

19 days to go till Wedding Day – and with each day I find myself getting more and more excited, and more nervous. Although, M and I have had a relatively short engagement, we have put a large amount of time and effort into planning our wedding. And the wedding is not designed just to be about us, but rather has been planned as a party that of our nearest and dearest can enjoy. So it goes without saying that I want everything to be perfect. But I am also realistic and have made my peace with the fact that something will go wrong – or at least I keep telling everyone that - my sub-conscious says differently with all the wedding related nightmares I’ve been having.

Over the weekend, we knocked a few more items off of our wedding to-do list. Friday afternoon M and I made our selections for the tuxes – I had originally had my heart set on the guys wearing tails, but the short jacket with very pleated pants wasn’t a good look on ANY of our groomsmen. So M chose a classic black 2 button tux. I got to pick “the trimmings” and chose harvest gold vest with a striped Windsor tie in harvest gold. The color is a great compliment to my ivory gown and the bridesmaids chocolate brown dresses.

On Saturday, I got together with my bridesmaid Jessica, who is also decorating my reception hall. Together with her grandmother, we measured and cut ten 18-foot runners for my reception tables. We also finalized design choices in regards to the centerpieces.

This week will involve more tasks to be completed; like, finalizing the playlist with the DJ, reserving our hotel room for Saturday night, renting our limo, and talking with the photographer with regards to a timeline of activities. We also have to track down those guests who have not RSVP’d, so we can get a firm count on those who will be attending, so we can purchase the food for the meal. And somewhere in the midst of all this – M and I both want to go running at least twice, lift at least twice, clean up around our house, and most importantly spend quality time with each other. Guess it will be another busy week around here!

Issues with Table Linens

2009-02-27T06:55:00.000-08:00

The wedding planning has (up to this point) been relatively stress free. However, things hit a major snag yesterday afternoon. Two weeks after M popped the question we contacted a potential vendor regarding renting table linens. At that time, the vendor assured us that they had 40 ivory table cloths in stock. They advised us to call back once we had finalized a date and location and they would reserve the linens for us. Fast forward a month or so, we called the vendor and they told us that the woman in charge of reserving the linens was on vacation. But once again, we were assured that they could handle our order of 40 ivory table cloths.

So today, M calls to finalize the deal and we are told "Sorry we only have 40 ivory table cloths". WHAT???? My overall them for the reception has centered on having 40 ivory tablecloths. I was panicked. M calmed me down and asked if there was another color we could use - perhaps splitting thing up 20/20. I then asked if they had gold table cloths - gold is one of our accent colors and would still blend with the chocolate brown table runners. No such luck! UGH!!!! Finally, I asked do they have any brown ----

After about 20 minutes M called me back. They have exactly 10 chocolate brown table cloths in stock. So now, I have to revamp the design - 30 ivory tables, 10 chocolate tables. Now I have to figure out what table runner I am going to use for those chocolate tables.

It is more than frustrating that this happened. But luckily we are getting a discount on the linens, so that has smoothed the waters somewhat... but only a little. Here's hoping this is the last big fiasco before the big day.

Until eating disorders are history.....

2009-02-27T05:16:00.000-08:00

This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week and I wanted to tell you all about it. For those who may not know it, I was once a person who battled an eating disorder. Nearly 4 years of my life were claimed/consumed/wrecked/destroyed thanks to the horrors of bullimia. I've been "free" of my eating disorder for nearly 3 years. It took lots of hard work on my part and the support of my amazing family and friends. I am one of the lucky ones though, many never get help and pay the ultiamte consequence -death.

So this week, let's remember that even though we not be 100% happy with the way our bodies our - they are still our bodies and we should love them. We should not abuse them and we should NEVER resort to an eating disorder. If you have a daughter, niece, sister, friend in your life, she is probably watching you and how your own body image - and that could influence her later in life. Be a positive influence! And if you think someone who know has an eating disorder, reach out to them!

For more information, visit this site.

Diet Coke Detox, Day 1

2009-02-26T06:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, was Day 1 of my Diet Coke Detox, and it went surprisingly well. I have a case on 20 ounce diet cokes in my mud/utility room - and it has been my habit to grab one on my way out the door for work. The habit continued yesterday, I picked up the bottle without thinking about it. But I remembered as soon as I got in my car, so I kept it sealed, stopped at the local gas station to get a bottle of water, and gave the diet coke to a co-worker.

I managed to make it thru the morning without caving. I even downed 24 ounces of water in little over 2 hours. Lunch time rolled around and I had the beginnings of a caffeine withdrawl headache, so I sipped a little bit of tea with my lunch. Then it was back to water for the rest of the day.

I was quite surprised that I did not have a headache for much of the day. But I did noticed I was much more fatigued, perhaps all that caffeine was making up for my lack of sleep. My goal now is to get a solid 8 hours of sleep a night. My body needs it, my mind needs it - and it is high time that I give myself what I need.

My Sacrifice for Lent

2009-02-25T07:33:00.000-08:00

Let me begin this post by saying, I am not Catholic (not there is anything wrong with that). It is merely a statement because when I have told friends about my sacrifice for Lent, they respond with "So your Catholic?".

Nope, I am a card carrying member of the Southern Baptist Association. (Okay so maybe there is no card). But the denomination of the church is not as important as the fact that I am a born again believer in Jesus Christ.

Over the last few years, I have developed a love of reading a few blogs written by great ladies, wives and mothers who just happen to be Catholic. And each year, I am amazed as they offer a sacrifice during this time - as a way to honor the ultimate sacrifice made by Christ.

And so this year, I am joining a lot of my fellow bloggers in during this same thing. For the next 40 days, I am giving up Diet Coke. For those that know me, you know that Diet Coke is my lifeline. A close friend often quips that he should just hook me up to an IV of diet coke - and the scary thing is my consumption of Diet Coke is very close to that image.

Diet Coke isn't good for me - I need to be drinking more water. So I am going to take this time to make a healthier me, and in doing so hope that I can become a better person, and a better Christian.

Countdown

2009-02-24T06:19:00.000-08:00

Back Home

2009-02-23T07:35:00.000-08:00

I am back home after a 3 day work trip. While I did manage to log time on the hotel treadmill and elliptical trainer - I didn't eat very well. The scale shows it as I am up 4 pounds from where I was at my weigh in on Wednesday. (Sigh)

But I'm back home - have my meals planned out and my workouts scheduled. Time to refocus and recommit.

In other news, the wedding is just 26 days away ---- lots of little things left to work out. I meet with the florist today at 2 p.m. to finalize floral details, the groomsmen will order tuxes on Friday, and M and I have our second counseling session on Thursday. Each day takes us one step closer..... I can't wait!

Working Out while Out of Town

2009-02-18T07:50:00.000-08:00

Today I will leave for 2 day work trip. The some what unexpected trip has thrown a kink in my workout plans for the week. I was suppose to lift with M tonight, run with him on Thursday, have my dance lessons, and do the 30 day Shred. Now I am crossing my fingers that the hotel has a decent exercise room, so I can at least log some time on the treadmill.

Wedding Favors

2009-02-16T11:58:00.000-08:00

Help!!! My future MIL wants us to give out wedding favors at the reception. I am fine with that - in fact I feel bad I haven't thought about it before. But I don't want traditional favors or ones that appear cheap. Do you guys have any ideas about awesome wedding favors?

Sneak Peek

2009-02-13T11:14:00.001-08:00

Here's the inspiration for my tablescape for the reception.....

Things that have made me smile today

2009-02-13T08:30:00.000-08:00

1) Bachelorette Party - My girls are coming up with such good ideas. And while I don't know all the details, I know it is going to be a blast!

2) Personalized T-shirts for the Bachelorette Party

3) Discussing Reception Decoration Ideas with my bridesmaid who is also an interior design major and is going to handle all of the planning/decorating of the reception site while I'm out of town for work.

4) Cute Valentine's Day Cards

5) Mini-candy bars (I only had 1 but it was yummy!)

RSVP

2009-02-12T07:32:00.001-08:00

Is it silly that I get all giggly and smiley when I get an e-mail noticed that another guest has RSVP'd for my wedding?

My Wedding Dress

2009-02-09T09:20:00.000-08:00

I picked up my wedding dress on Saturday. It fits perfectly no alterations needed - in fact the shop told me that if I was lose too much weight (more than 5-6 pounds) the dress might be a touch too big. That made me feel great.

The dress is now hanging in my closest at my parents house, the door kept locked so that nosey fiances and Daddies can't go peeking. The two most important men in my life won't see that dress till the big day.

40 days and counting......

My Weekend in Numbers

2009-02-07T19:10:00.000-08:00

6 - The numbers of hours I slept last night. Two of my dearest friends and I had a "girls only" night at the home of one of the gals - we stayed up till nearly 2 a.m. fixing each other's hair, gossiping and generally acting like teenagers.

20 - The number of minutes I worked out today ( at least as verifable exercise).

45 - The number of minutes I spent playing on the 20 foot inflatable slide at my niece's birthday party. Does climbing up and down the slide while carrying kids count as exercise?

2 - The number of pieces of cake I had at the birthday party.

11 - The number of thank you notes I have left to write.

75 - The number of thank you notes I have written.

8 - The number of hours of sleep I hope to get tonight. And with that....I'm done.

:-)

Octuplet Mommy

2009-02-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

It isn’t very often that I wade into the pool of current affairs and offer my opinion. Perhaps I am like an ostrich who buries their head in the sand, but more likely it is the fact I am too busy living my own life to worry about the lives of others. (Note: I do worry about our national leaders and our soldiers, but tend to keep my opinions to myself). But after reading this story . I had to offer my thoughts.

1. Why is a woman who is on disability for a severe lower back injury having 6 children? Documents state that her injury limited her ability to care for her first child. Why would you then have 5 more? It would appear to me that the responsible thing to do would be to not have more children UNTIL a point that you are healthy and able to fully care for them.

2. Why, why, why is a person with 6 children undergoing a procedure that has the risk of multiples?

This whole situation just feels wrong and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. What do you think readers?

Goals for the Month

2009-02-05T08:13:00.000-08:00

Fitness Goals

1. Complete all the workouts for weeks 3 thru 6 in the Couch to 5K Plans – For those who are not familiar with the plan, that translates into 3 “training sessions a week”
2. Complete dance classes at least 4 nights a week – both modern and ballroom

3. Do the 30 Day Shred at least every other day – Many of my fellow BLBE challengers are trying to do it every day in February. But with my history of knee injuries – I think the impact of running coupled with the dance classes is a lot for my knee to handle. So I am going to limit the 30 day shred.

4. Complete at minimum to weight lifting workouts with M per week.

Nutritional Goals

1. Drink 8 glasses of water a day

2. Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day

3. Limit my diet coke intake to 2 per day.

4. Work towards eliminating chocolate from my diet.

Wedding Goals

1. Finalize design ideas for floral arrangements

2. Finalize and obtain all necessary decorations for reception.

3. Finalize menu for reception

4. Pay vendors the balance of their accounts

How does Child Abuse like this go unnoticed?

2009-02-04T11:23:00.001-08:00

While reading the news today, I came across this story. My heart aches for this child, and I wonder how this went unnoticed for so long?

Thank You Card Etiquette

2009-02-04T08:10:00.001-08:00

Okay readers, I need your help. After two showers, the thank you cards that need to be sent are racking up (we are close to 100 already – and have 2 showers left to go). With that being said, I wanted to ask “Would it be rude to type the message on the inside of the card?” Each message will be personalized for the gift and the giver and will have our signatures.

Thoughts?

Wedding Dress

2009-02-02T10:40:00.000-08:00

Since my last post was a bit on the negative side, I decided I need to post something HAPPY. So......

My wedding dress has arrived!!!

I go for the fitting on Saturday. Hopefully, it will fit as great as it did when I tried the model on at the dress shop....and no alterations will be needed.

I am so excited, 6 weeks and 5 days till "I do!!!!"

The Scale is Not My Friend

2009-02-02T10:39:00.000-08:00

For the last month, my future MIL, SIL and I have been working out in preparation of my upcoming wedding. We all want to look as great as possible in our respective dresses. Moreover, we want to be healthier. I work out with them 4 nights a week – alternating the 30 Day Shred DVD and dance classes. Additionally, M and I have started back up with our 5K training – which is at least 3 nights a week, with the occasional lifting workout thrown in. One would think that with all this activity, I’d see the numbers on the scale go down…. Not!

Today, I weigh the exact same thing I did last month. Grrrrr! Now before you say it could be my diet, let me tell you the following things:

•My MIL is doing Weight Watchers, so I have been tracking my own points religiously, and have only gone over my daily allowance once.
•I am eating 4 to 5 servings of veggies a day, lean proteins, and whole grains.
•I have given up diet sodas.
•I’ve even given up chocolate.

But alas, the scale is not budging. I am getting my measurements done tonight. Here’s hoping they changed for the better….otherwise I am going to be really frustrated.

I've been Interviewed

2009-01-31T06:25:00.000-08:00

Janet at Love is Blonde has chosen me as her first blogger interview. Here are her questions and my responses. To keep the interviews going, leave me a comment if you want to be interviewed.

1. I noticed you've been blogging for years - what has been the key to not giving up the blog, even when you don't feel like it?

I have found the key to not giving up the blog is to allow yourself to take small breaks. If I try and force myself to blog every day - even if I have nothing to say - then I begin to resent my blog. Over the past few years, I have taken breaks and then came back to the blog with renewed vigor.

2. Your wedding is fast approaching! (Squee!) What quality do you love most in your future husband?

It is hard to pick one just one quality about M that I love - but since I have to chose I would say it is his dependability. He is always there to help those who need him - friends, family, Me. He is like a rock!

3. Have you already picked out future baby names, and BONUS: care to share? (I warned that I'd ask this... :) )

Yes, we have picked out future baby names. Okay, I've picked the names and he has just listened. If it is a boy, he will be Micheal Lenwood Lee, III. While Lenwood isn't my favorite name it is M's grandfather's name - and he was a great man, so if my future son lives up to his names then he'll be wonderful. For a girl, I love the name Rebecca Morgan.

4. Where is the best place you've taken a vacation?

The best place I've been on vacation was the Florida Keys. I loved being able to snorkel in both the Atlantic and the Gulf. The sunsets were amazing. And the food...oh my gosh....the food was unbelievable.

5. When you go to a deli-type place, what kind of sandwich do you usually order?

I usually order a ham with pepperjack cheese and extra heavy on the veggies.

Mid-Week Musings

2009-01-28T15:50:00.000-08:00

It is just ebefore 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening and I find myself feeling quite content. Work was steady today but not too overwhelming. Even though the weather oustdie is nasty (dark, cold, and rainy) I am happily wrapped up in a warm blanket with a pot chili in the slow cooker. I will attend church in a little while, and help our youth group prepare for the Valentine Dinner they are hosting. Then it is back home for a run on the treadmill, then a long hot shower. Some days it is the simple things in life that make all the difference.

Happy Hump Day!

Engagement Picture

2009-01-27T14:47:00.000-08:00

Google Meme

2009-01-27T11:36:00.000-08:00

So I've done this before but this one is a little different and a little more fun. If you try it out, let me know! :)

Type in "[your name] needs" in the Google search.
Kimberly needs all five of her riders around her at one time. (No clue what this one is about)

Type in "[your name] looks like" in Google search.
Kimberly looks like an adult sized cupid. (Last time I checked I wasn’t running around with wings and arrows….but maybe someday!)

Type in "[your name] says" in Google search.
Kimberly Says you can’t but your arms around a memory. (This is very deep…it makes me sound very intelligent J )

Type in "[your name] wants" in Google search.
Kimberly Wants to publish her journal. (Sorry folks, my blog is all your are going to get. The things in my journal are too personal for such a public forum..)

Type in "[your name] does" in Google search.
Kimberly Does it again. (Not sure what I did the first time, but I did it again)

Type in "[your name] hates" in Google search.
Kimberly hates Bush (This is not even the slightest bit true. I happen to like the former President quite a bit. )

Type in "[your name] asks" in Google search.
Kimberly asks do ya think I’m sexy? (Well, do you?)

Type in "[your name] likes " in Google search
Kimberly likes to wear dead animals. (Ewww.. the only dead animals I wear are my leather belt, and I try not to think about it even then. )

Type in "[your name] eats " in Google search.
Kimberly Eats a banana. ( I do in fact, one every morning in my oatmeal)

Type in "[your name] wears " in Google search.
Kimberly wears a wig. (Have you seen how much hair I have on my head, I have no need for a wig!)

Type in "[your name] was arrested for" in Google Search.
Kimberly was arrested for aggravated unlicensed operation. ( Any lawyers want to explain to me what I did. )

Type in "[your name] goes" in Google search.
Kimberly goes low in the first round of the draft (Who knew, I was a stellar athlete after all)

Workout Plans for the Week

2009-01-26T12:11:00.000-08:00

I am finding that with my busy schedule, if I don’t make my workout plans in advance – they don’t happen. I have even gone so far as to put them in a planner – and for those who know me, you know that I live by my planner; it has all my important “To-do’s”, things to remember, appointments, work tasks and more. So now that my workouts are in my planner (and color coded), I figured I would share my plans with you.

Monday:

6:00 p.m. – Couch to 5K, Week Two Workout #1

7:00 p.m. – Dancing lessons with my future MIL and SIL (we are learning moves from Dirty Dancing as well as classic ballroom dancing. Hopefully we can showcase the moves at my wedding reception)

Tuesday:

6:00 p.m. – Upper Body Routine w/ M

7:00 p.m. – Level 1 of the 30 Day Shred

Wednesday:

8:30 p.m. – Couch to 5K, Week Two Workout #2

Saturday:

12:00 – Couch to 5K, Week Two Workout #3

Sunday:

8:00 – Upper Body Routine w/ M

I am not working out on Thursday or Friday because I will traveling for and attending an all day work conference. It is a 7 hour drive there and back, so any free time I do have will be minimal at best and devoted to sleep.

What are your workout plans for the week?

First Week of Couch to 5K

2009-01-22T08:17:00.001-08:00

Last week, I posted that I was going to resume my running after a seven month hiatus. I decided to start over with the Couch to 5K plan, as it was the plan that got me running in the first place.

This week is my first “official” week on the plan. Monday was the first workout. The first few minutes were rough, as I got accustomed to being on the treadmill. But about 10 minutes in, I hit a stride and the running intervals got easier. Then M commented that he was impressed that I was running at 5 mph. I looked down at the display and sure enough I was running at 5 mph. I was shocked. Last year, I had only been able to run at 4.3 mph. It appears that my cardio workouts, while not runs, have given me some endurance. Wednesday was another training day, in 20:22 I logged a distance of 1.5 miles. If I can continue that pace, I would be able to complete the Pi Mile Road Race (3.16 miles) in just about 40 minutes. And that’s the worst case scenario.

My goal is to complete the race in about 35 minutes, and I have no doubts that if I plan to work and work my plan, I’m going to cross that finish line in my goal time.

Wedding Anxiety and Honeymoon Planning

2009-01-22T08:03:00.001-08:00

My wedding day is fast approaching. It is only 58 days away. I find myself beginning to get anxious. While the major details are set, and the minor ones are falling into place – I worry that I am going to forget something.

For the past two weeks, I have had this reoccurring nightmare, where I start to walk down the aisle – only to find that I don’t have on my dream dress, instead I’m in jeans. I look at my bridesmaids but they are not there. And things just spiral downward from there. I think the nightmare stems from the fact that only 3 of my bridesmaids currently have there dresses and my dress is yet to arrive.

On the upside of things, I did get my weddings invitations in the mail, the d.j. is booked, our engagement photos came back and are beautiful (I’ll post a pic later) and the wedding website is up. M and I are now trying to plan our honeymoon. We will be delaying the trip by two weeks, so that I will be out of my 90 day probationary period at work and can take paid days off. We are planning on visiting the Gatlinberg/Pigeon Forge area. Do any of you have recommendations on places to stay, eat, or things we just absolutely must do? If so, please leave a comment….

Inauguration Day

2009-01-20T06:31:00.000-08:00

Today the 44th President of the United States will take office. Barack Obama, with family and friends standing watch, will make the solemn oath that 43 men have made before him.

I did not vote for President-Elect Obama. He and I do not agree on political policies. Yet, I can respect him for the position of authority that he will assume. I can recognize the historical impact that today has for our nation, and quite possibly the world.

And so, while I do not agree the policies, I will pray for the man. I will ask God to give him wisdom as he guides our county. I will pray for safety for him and his family – as there may be those who wish to harm the Obama family. And above all I will pray that God continues to Bless America.

Learning to Run....Again

2009-01-15T13:36:00.001-08:00

About this time last year, I began to entertain the idea of running in a 5K. The only problem was that I didn’t run….at all. In fact, the last time I had ran was at 13 when the neighbor’s dog was chasing after m. I did think that I was good at running – I had no endurance, and it hurt. Attempts to overcome these obstacles while in college failed, so I stuck to aerobics and Tae-Kwon do for my daily dose of exercise.

But the perfectionist in me was still bothered by the fact that I was not cut out to be a runner. I detested the fact that I had “failed” at something. So after getting dumped, moving home, and finding a great new man (who is soon to be my hubby), I decided to train to run a 5K. I found the Couch to 5K training plan – and pretty soon M and I were both training to run.

I was making great strides (pun intended) in my training when disaster struck. Well, it was an inflamed knee with severe tendinitis. But it felt like a disaster as it cost me nearly a month of training and almost kept me out of my first race. However, thanks to a knee brace, a shot of steroids, and pre-race Tylenol, I completed my first 5K.

And then I stopped running. I allowed life, family, friends, work, the change of the seasons – any possible excuse come between me and my running. And for awhile I was okay with that. But now as anniversary of my first 5K looms on the horizon, I find myself wanting to run again. I think back on high I felt post-race and the plans I made to be run in many more races.

So last night, I drug M into the exercise room, and made him talk to me while I jogged on the treadmill. Right now, I am only able to run for about 3 minutes at a time. I alternated 3 minute runs with 2 minute walks from about 20 mins. It felt…no great! So much in fact, I plan on doing it again tomorrow. I think I’m going to dig out the Couch to 5K plan again, and get back on track with running. And this time nothing’s stopping me.

Just Updating

2009-01-13T09:00:00.001-08:00

My last post was nearly four day ago. I had every intention of blogging last week….but every time I would sit down to type – I would get distracted with something I needed to finish, and the post would fall by the wayside. Last week was a busy one, as I began a new job and a new workout routine at the same time. It was quite the challenge settling into the new routine.

Now instead of getting up at 8 or 8:30 (ah, the joys of working from home), my feet hit the floor at 6 a.m. I was quite sleep-deprived for the first few days. But by Wednesday, I found that waking up earlier afford me the opportunity to prepare for my day better. I get up, fix a yummy breakfast, take a shower, do my hair and makeup, tidy up the house a bit (laundry, wipe down the table, etc), then get dress and head to the office. And in the evenings, I am not rushed to catch up on household chores – which means more time for working out, wedding planning and spending with M.

Work is going great. I love my new job and all the opportunities it affords me. I am already learning new things and stretching my skill sets. J I still have a lot to learn and need to really get my bearings, but I see bright things in my future.

In terms of working out, I have added 2 new workout DVD’s to my routine. I blogged about 30 Day Shred in my last post. The other dvd is “Dirty Dancing”. It is a dance workout that teaches routines based on the moves and music in the classic movie. My future SIL, MIL and I did the intro and 2 of the routines on Sunday afternoon. We were drenched in sweat but laughing and having a great time. I love the new routine, but I still need to add in strength. I admit that 30 day Shred does use weights and what not, but I do not feel it is quite enough to get me where I want to be. Therefore, M and I are going to start lifting together at least twice a week. J

The wedding is in a mere 67 days and the invitations have yet to go out. But that’s another story for another time. If I don’t post again till the weekend, just know I am either a) working out, b) sleeping, or c) stuffing invitations into envelopes over and over and over…..

Have a great week everyone!

30 Day Shred

2009-01-09T18:51:00.001-08:00

I order the 30 day shred DVD right after Christmas. After much anticipation on my part, the DVD arrived on Wednesday. Last night, my future mother and sister-in-law joined me to give it a try.

All I can say is WOW. I tend to think of myself as pretty fit. I have been lifting for awhile, and I can run a 5K. But even the Level 1 workout was kicking my butt! But I loved every minute of it.....so much that I did it a 2nd time last night.

Then tonight I was feeling daring and curious, so I popped it in the player and did the Level 2 dvd. I had to do all of the modifications......it was tough.....but I made it thru!

Now the DH-to be and I are whipping up a pot of Chicken Enchilada Soup for supper. Yummy!!! I hope you all have a great night.

The Good, Bad, and Ugly - Thursday Edtion

2009-01-08T18:47:00.001-08:00

Good: Waking up earlier so I can make oatmeal for breakfast..instead of grabbing a candy bar at the store on my way into work.

Bad: Eating a cream-filled pastry for lunch because I did not want to take the time to go and purchase something healthy.*

Ugly: Me while during Jillian Michaels "30 day Shred"......I was huffing/puffing, sweating and cursing. But it felt great!!!

*The lunch choice was not good. But I logged the calories in my food journal. And I ate a lighter supper to compensate. Tomorrow's goals is to make time for a healthy lunch!

**To my fellow Team Angie members....I am trying to make it to everyone's blogs but it is a slow proccess. Please be patient as I get there!

Biggest Loser Blog Edition, Season 2

2009-01-06T17:54:00.000-08:00

The new "season" of BLBE will be starting up on Sunday. This time around we have been divided into teams. I am on Team Angie, and sooo excited. My wedding is in 74 days (gasp) and want to be as healthy as I possible can on the big day. And I'm counting on BLBE to help me get there.

Year in Review 2008

2008-12-31T18:13:00.000-08:00

At beginning of the year, I blogged about going home. In February, I got dumped and finally did what I had been thinking about for quite some time. The ides of March came and went, and I witnessed a a couple join their lives while I was falling in love with M. Spring was ushered in in April. And I began training for my big project . The project was training for a 5k and it took up most of my free time in May. At least it did, until I injured myself . But I rallied from the injured and finished the race knee brace and all. While May and June had been all about plan, July was all about work. I turned 26 in August , had a family member get seriously injured. We took a family vacation where I got this . With the cool fall weather came a surprise, as M popped the question . The holidays came with Thanksgiving and Christmas.

2008 year was a great year for me. And I anticipate 2009 to be even better. I wish each of you a Happy New Year full of love, laughter, and good things.

Elements of a Bad Night's Sleep

2008-12-31T06:11:00.001-08:00

Take one slightly sick and very wiggly 3.5 year old. Add in one hyper puppy who changes positions every 15 minutes. Place both on a living room couch. Toss in one very exhausted Aunt who keeps waking up at the slightest movement or sound. Let the elements mix for 7 to 8 hours.

Trevor, my oldest nephew, stayed with me last night while his mom takes care of his younger brother in the hospital. Normally, Trevor would stay with my parents. But since he is recovering from strep throat, the doctors advised that Trevor shouldn't be around my Daddy. Daddy is still at risk for infection and complications from his surgery. Therefore, I've been designate as babysitter. That in and of itself is not a problem, the trouble comes at night - I live with my parents - since Trevor can't be around Daddy, he can't stay there......so Trevor and I were forced to spend the night at M's house. M graciously offered his bed. But I knew that he had to be up at 4 a.m. for work, so I decline the offer. Therefore, Trevor, our puppy Bailey, and I all made our bed on the couch last night. Trevor must have kicked the covers off every 5 minutes, rolled over every 3, and carried on entire conversations in his sleep. When Trevor wasn't moving, Bailey was shifting positions - from behind my knees to above my head and back again. When you factor in the creaks of the old house that I am not use to - it was a looooonnnggg night. Keep your fingers crossed that Trevor takes a super duper nap today. His Aunt Kim needs one too.

Preparing for the New Year

2008-12-30T07:18:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, I will be starting a new job at the beginning of the year. I had already scheduled vacation time from my former job for this week. Therefore, I find myself with 5 whole days to spend anyway I choose......

Yesterday, I slept in till nearly noon. I then got up, took a leisurely shower, played the Wii for 3 hours and even did a few loads of laundry. Once M got home, we hosted the family for dinner. Afterwards, I had tons of energy so I washed more laundry - put it all away - cleaned up from dinner AND bathed the dog.

Today I am babysitting my oldest nephew. My younger is in the hospital for pneumonia. I picked him up at 8 and by 9 we had run several errands. Then we came back to my house. He is happily watching a Barney DVD (Help!!) and eating Rice Krispies. That left me without anything to do. So I decided to tackle some cleaning projects that I had neglected. I now have a freezer full of chopped veggies, a sparkling clean fridge, cabinets that are smudge-free, and a freshly mopped floor.

I love the feeling that comes with completing a project - especially when it is cleaning. The house smells wonderful and I feel better knowing I can start the new year with an organized home.

Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T11:55:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that tomorrow is Christmas. The hours till the big celebration will be quite busy. I just finished making a pumpkin cheesecake (a healthier version). Now, I am babysitting my nieces while their parents finish wrapping gifts. The girls are watching Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, and I am starting a pot turkey chili.

Tonight we will all attend the Christmas Eve Service at church. Then the family is coming over to M and I's place to eat chili and make smores. Then it will be off to bed so that Santa can make his grand arrival.....

To each of you I wish you a very Merry Christmas!!

Ch...Ch.. Changes

2008-12-23T13:40:00.001-08:00

2009 is shaping up to be the year of lots of changes for. First of all, I will be leaving the world of singledom behind....and join the ranks of the happily married. (87 days and counting!!!). Second of all, I will be making a career change.

On Friday, I was offered and accepted a position as the Controller of a small hospital in my hometown. I began this new career on January 2nd. I am looking forward to the opportunity.

What changes do you anticipate in the new year?

Year in Review

2008-12-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

Was 2008 good for you? It was a great year for me!!

What was your favorite moment of the year? 10/27/2008 - the night that M popped the question.

What was your worst moment of the year? 02/01/2008 - the day I got dumped. At the time I thought my world was falling apart.

Where were you when 2008 began? My apartment in Rincon, GA.

Who were you with? I was alone.

Where will you be when 2008 ends? More than likely I'll be at our Church service.

Did you keep your new years resolution of 2008? I don't think I made any.

Do you have a new years resolution for 2009? Nope

Did you fall in love in 2008? Yes, madly in love.

If yes, with who? With M, of course.

Are you still in love? Yes, and I always plan to be.

Did you breakup with anyone in 2008? Nope, I was the one to get dumped.

Did you make any new friends in 2008? Yes, quite a few new friends.

Who are your favorite new friends? Stephanie would be tops on the list.

What was your favorite month of 2008? October

Why this month? It was the month I got engaged.

Did you travel outside of the US (or your home country) in 2008? Nope

How many different places did you travel to in 2008? 5-6

Did you miss anybody in the past year? All of my friends who live far away from me.

What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2008? The Dark Knight

What was your favorite song from 2008?  Love Story - Taylor Swift
 
How many concerts or plays did you see in 2008? Zero--- I'll have to work on this in 2009.

Did you have a favorite concert in 2008? Nope

What was your favorite book in 2008? The Riddle of the Rock

Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year? Nope.

What was the biggest lie you told in 2008? Hmmm....I guess it would be when I told the ex that I didn't have any hard feelings towards him. Lol, yeah right!

Did you treat somebody badly in 2008? I am sure I hurt someones feelings along the way. But nothing specific is coming to mind.

Did somebody treat you badly in 2008? Yes

What was your proudest moment of 2008? The day I got my new job.

What was your most embarrassing moment of 2008? Falling off the stage at youth drama practice

If you could go back to any moment of 2008 and change something, what would it be? Nothing, every moment shaped me in some way.

Where did you work in 2008? Mostly from home....:-)

 Favorite TV shows(s) of 2008? Biggest Loser, Top Chef, Project Runway, anything on TLC

Favorite Band(s) of 2008? Anything country

Favorite Food in 2008? Pizza

Favorite Drink in 2008? Diet Coke

Favorite Place in 2008? M's house

Favorite person(s) to be with in 2008? M, Lane, Lacey, London, Trevor, Trenton, Mama and Daddy

Favorite person(s) to talk to in 2008? M, Lane and Stephanie

Favorite trip in 2008? The trip M and I took to Atlanta for our 9 month anniversary.

Favorite stores in 2008? Belk's, JC Penney's, B&N

Hardest thing you had to go through in 2008? Getting dumped and finding my true self again.

Most exciting moment(s) in 2008? Meeting M, Falling for M, getting engaged.

What were you answers???

I'm still here

2008-12-19T07:17:00.000-08:00

I apologize profusely for not blogging in the last week or so. But life has taken on a break-neck pace, leaving me little time for anything that is not work, taking care of Daddy, eating or sleeping. The few moments I can steal for myself I have devoted to working out - as right now it is the only thing keeping me from going insane.

I am very much a type A personality - I crave control, order, and get very frazzled when my carefully laid plans go haywire. And Daddy's surgery definitely shifted things around. Thankfully, he is out of the hospital and resting at home. Now the focus moves to teaching him how to live a lifestyle that is vastly different than the one he has lived for 60 years......and I have been appointed teacher/mentor. Wish me luck.

Christmas is just around the corner and thankfully I have managed to purchase all gifts. And they are even wrapped!! Now I can really focus on spending quality time with family/friends. We have our Sunday school party tonight, Christmas Choir Concert on Sunday morning, and the youth drama on Sunday night. I am sooo eager for all of it.

So what are your big plans leading up to Christmas?

Daddy

2008-12-12T15:13:00.001-08:00

5 Bypasses later, Daddy is resting comfortably in the Intensive Care. He tolerated the surgery very well. We are blessed. Thank you for the prayers.

Update

2008-12-12T09:15:00.001-08:00

Five hours and Daddy is still in surgery. The nursing staff tells us that "no news is good news", so we remain positive. I will update when I know more.

Prayer Request

2008-12-11T06:24:00.000-08:00

My father underwent a hearth cath this morning. The procedure revealed at least 1 artery that is between 75-90% closed. This is to extensive a blockage to be repaired by a stint. He will undergo bypass surgery either today or tomorrow (they have to find an availalbe surgeon)....

M and I will be making our way to the hospital as soon as possible. If you would, please keep my family in your prayers. I will post more details as they become available.

BBQ Steak Wraps

2008-12-08T17:00:00.000-08:00

This was quite a yummy dish - filling and tasty. The recipe is below, but no pics though - the batteries in my camera died (booo)

1 green bell pepper, cut into strips
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 yellow bell pepper, cut into strips
1 small onion, cut into strips
1 lb. well-trimmed boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into strips
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. black pepper
3 Tbsp. lite soy sauce
1/2 cup Barbecue Sauce

HEAT large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat. Add bell peppers and onions; cook and stir 6 to 8 min. or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Transfer to large bowl; keep warm.
ADD meat, garlic and black pepper to same skillet; cook and stir 3 min. Add soy sauce; cook 1 min. or until meat is cooked through. Add barbecue sauce; cook until heated through.
SPOON meat mixture into bowl with vegetables; toss gently.

*I didn't have a yellow pepper, so I just doubled up on the red. I was also out of onins, but I didn't miss it.

**The nutrional information: 330 calories per serving, 6 grams of fat, 4 grams of fiber. This is just for the steak and peppers. The wraps will add calories.

What's Cookin, Good-Lookin?

2008-12-07T19:54:00.000-08:00

This past week, I found out that my father who has suffered from one heart attack has a few more blocked arteries. In addition to the worry and anxiety this news has caused me (and M), it has prompted us to re-evalute the way we life -- especially the way we eat.

M's father, like my own, is over-weight. And M's family (with whom we eat the majority of our meals) does not always eat in the healthiest manner. So M and I decided to volunteer to start cooking for the entire family. They would supply the meat, we'd supply the healthy recipes.

I am excited to give it a go in kitchen. Not only will I get to practice my culinary skills, but I'll be helping our family (I am marrying M in 103 days, so I guess I should start calling his family mine too) to eat healthier.*

Tomorrow's Dinner will be : BBQ Steak Wraps. Check back to the recipe and pics.

*Before anyone asks why I am not doing the same for my Dad. I am sharing all the recipes I find with my parents, who in turn will prepare as needed. But since they are empty nesters, my parents tend to eat small meals in the evening and usual out - i.e. salads with grilled chicken, Subway etc. M's parents, Grandmother, and Brother and sister-in-law all live within minutes of our home. And since I eat all my dinner's with M - it seemed only logical to include his family. Whew, that was a lengthy explanation, but hopefully you all followed me.

All Aglow

2008-12-05T15:15:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2008-12-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

My Christmas Village

The fireplace all decked out, minus a roaring fire, which I've had quite a few of lately.

Our tree.

I'll be sure to post more pics of everything all lit up.

Quick Update

2008-12-04T19:51:00.000-08:00

I'm still here. Life is just extremely busy right now. Take today for example. I was up at 6:30 to start working on e-mails for work, hit the road at 10:00 to travel to work meetings, in meetings till 3:30, met a friend for a quick coffee from 3:30 to 4:00, back on the road to travel home, quick stop at Wal-mart and then I was home at 6:30. Then it was dinner prep, eat dinner, clean up from dinner, and then workout. It is now 10:53, and my day is finally over.

Given all the activity in my life....blogging has once again fallen by the wayside. Bear with me readers (if there are any of you left), I will be posting regularly soon.

What I have been up to...

2008-12-01T13:36:00.001-08:00

1) Thanksgiving dinner with M's family - Lots of yummy food followed by football in the yard.

2) Thanksgiving dinner with my family - After all the food at M's family, we didn't have room for much more. So Thanksgiving dinner was more like Thanksgiving dessert. Yummy apple pie and whipped cream.

3) Shopping on Black Friday - M's sister-in-law and I met up with her sister and mother to brave the masses. I managed to score gifts for everyone on my list and stayed under budget.

4) Georgia Tech vs. UGA football game - On Saturday, M and I (plus my parents) sat in rainy weather for some clean old fashioned hate....which is otherwise known as a rivalry football game between my alma mater and the University of Georgia. We beat them 45-42.

So that's what I've been doing....what about all of you?

Giving Thanks

2008-11-26T06:20:00.000-08:00

Bloggers across the blogsphere are posting the things that they are thankful for, so I am going to follow their lead and share my own list.

1) My Salvation thru Jesus Christ.

2) An amazing fiance who always stands by me, supports my dreams, loves me unconditionally, and still puts up with me when I am moody snappy ill-butt.

3) My Parents who've sacrificed over the years so that I could have the things I wanted and do things I wanted to do.

4) My family - sister, brother-in-law, two adorable nieces, Granny, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins - they are always their to help.

5) M's family - which treats me as though I am one of their own already.

6) My awesome friends who have helped me to create a million wonderful memories of crazy times. And who've been my shoulder to cry on and the voice of reason when I was going nuts.

7) My Church - especially our rock on fabulous youth group.

8) To live in America

I know that there are hundreds more things to be thankful for.....food, clothes, job car..... this post could go on forever. But I'll end it with this:

Happy Thanksgiving!

117 Days to Go

2008-11-24T13:26:00.000-08:00

The wedding planning has taken a backburner recently - as I've been focused on work and preparing our home for the upcoming holidays. But now that the Christmas tree is up, the holiday dishes are unpacked, and our holiday plans are finalized, I can refous on the wedding.

Today was all about our wedding website. Unlike other couples, who often host their site thru a major wedding webiste (which I won't mention here), M and I wanted something different. Lucky for us, one of my dearest friends runs his own web design company. And as a wedding gift, offered to design and host our site fo us.

He and I had been conversing at lenght about my vision for the site - colors, themes, schemes, you name it. I am sure of all my requests had him nervous, as when he e-mail me the preview he said "Please don't hate it."

So do I hate it? No, I absolutely love it. The site's design exceeds even my wildest dreams. He has incorporated our colors, our florals, and us into an awesome site. The full site should be up and running by week's end, at which time, I'll link it here.

Mark one more item of the ever growing to do list. Now, I have to find a great d.j.

Comfort Food - The Healthy Way

2008-11-22T12:17:00.000-08:00

The frigid winter weather has found it's way to South Georgia. And with it comes the urge to burrow under layers of blankets, sip hot coffee and indulge in lots of warm comfort food.

The winter season (and the holidays) tend to be a rough time for me - health wise. It seems as though I forget all the hard work I've been doing all year long, and start doing everything wrong. My biggest tempation is the comfort food that makes it appearance during this time. After all, it is hard to picture eating salads when it is 30 degrees outside.

So once again, my body is yearning for someting warm and feeling to eat. And I am giving into those urges, but with healthier versions. Take today for example.

Instead of drowning my oatmeal is loads of butter and brown sugar, I opted to take a page out of Angie's book and added a tablespoon of Peanut Butter and a few chocolate chips to the bowl. Wow! It was even better than the old version.

Tonight we are having a chilli dinner at M's brother and sister-in-law's home. I am brining my turkey chilli - high in taste, low in fat.....and oh so perfect on a cold night.

Do you have comfort foods that you must have in the cold months, but aren't the healthiest? If so, how do you make them better for you?

Firsts

2008-11-19T13:33:00.000-08:00

1. Who was your FIRST prom date?

Matt R. - he was the son of a Sunday School teacher and a year younger than me. We took his truck to Jr. Prom, but I had to drive since he was only 15.

2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love?No

3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink? Captain Morgan and Coke

4. What was your FIRST job?Babysitting!

5. What was your FIRST car?A 1996 silver Ford Tarus.

6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today? M. He texts me first thing every morning.

7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?M.

8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?Mrs. Zickert Petterson.

9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane? Omaha, Nebrasksa for the College World Series

10. Who was your FIRST best friend and are you still friends with them? Jessica C. and we keep in touch.

11. What was your FIRST sport played?Ummm, does t-ball count?

12. Where was your FIRST sleep over? Jessica's

13. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today? M

14. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time?My cousin Barry's.

15. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?Checked my voicemail.

16. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to?Dave Matthews Band

17. FIRST tattoo or piercing? First piercing would be my ears as an infant. My first tattoo was in September. It's the mascot of my alma mater.

18. FIRST foreign country you went to? That hasn't happened yet.

19. What was your FIRST run in with the law? Speeding ticket my sophomore year of college.

20. When was your FIRST detention? 7th grade- my Daddy was the teacher who gave it to me.

21. What was the FIRST state you lived in? Georgia!

22. Who was the FIRST person to break your heart? Jamie....loser!

23. Who was your FIRST roommate? My sister, Kari.

24. Where did you go on your FIRST limo ride? That hasn't happened yet.

Consider yourself tagged!Link back to me and leave a comment here when you post so I can be nosey... Please?!

Beyond the Wedding

2008-11-07T18:28:00.000-08:00

Tonight M and I hosted a dinner party for our parents - the purpose of which was to discuss wedding plans. Somewhere along the way, M's brother, two nieces and their dog arrived. That made for 7 adults, 2 kids, and 2 dogs plus lots of noises.

But as I was running between the kitchen and the living room, admist all the noise, it hit me that this was what our "big day" was really about. It isn't the pomp and circumstance of the ceremony. It's not about have the right shade of brown for the bridesmaid dresses, the flowers, or anything else. It's about family.

And how M and I are uniting our two families for all time, and in the proccess taking the first step to starting our own.

Music

2008-11-06T11:01:00.000-08:00

M and I are both avid fans of a variety of music, were band geeks, and have extensive music collection. So we knew that music would play an integral role in our ceremony (and again at the reception). We've picked the songs for our soloists (his sister-in-law a.k.a. my matron of honor/best friend and my sister) and I think we've picked our recessional. But we are stuck in terms of a processional. We are debating between traditional or non-traditional.

Thoughts, tips, suggestions???? Help!!

The Devil's in the Details

2008-11-05T11:46:00.000-08:00

It has been 1 week and 2 days since M popped the question. And in that short time, I've (i mean we've)
1) Picked a date and time
2) Booked a Church for the Ceremony
3) Decided on a reception site
4) Decided on food for the reception
5) Picked a color scheme for the wedding
6) Found flowers that we liked and shown them to the florist
7) Built our budget and are planning accordingly.

The color scheme for the wedding is chocolate brown, ivory/white, and old gold. The old gold is salute to my alma Georgia Tech, the other colors just compliment the gold. Here are my floral ideas

What do you think?

Election Results

2008-11-05T06:22:00.000-08:00

I tend not to discuss politics on this blog. The primary reason being I am not that well versed in them, but because I have also seen how quickly polite conversation can turn when politics are mixed in.

But on the morning after a historic night in our country, I felt the need to post. Let me just lay it out there, I voted for John McCain. I found that my political leanings and personal beliefs were more aligned with his than Barrack Obama. So when my candidate lost, I felt disspointment, and posted such on MySpace. What happened next horrified me?

I was deluged with messages, some of them from "friends" that I had to angry to "see a black man in power" and labeled me a racist. I am floored, shocked and hurt. I readily admit, I grew up in a small southern town where the race lines were present but never discussed. And I probably had some racisit views. But at 18, I met a greaty guy name Benjamin Roberts who helped me to learn about African Americans in ways that I hadn't previously, and who helped me to leave my myopic thought proccess behind. So it hurts that someone who quickly label me a racisit, simply because I voted for the other candidate.

I didn't vote for Obama. But he is our President-Elect, and when he swears in and takes office, he will be our President. And I will support him in that role - that is what Americans do - we stand behind our country and support her and her leaders.

But the interim, I hope that my voting choice does not continue to subject me to insults and accusations that are unfounded. And I pray for those who this morning are bothered by the results because of Obama's race - because that is wrong.

This post may be rambling, I am upset--- so I will end with this "God Bless America!"

The Big Day

2008-11-02T20:03:00.001-08:00

M and I have decided to have a short engagement. After all, he is 29 and I'm 26, we've waited long enough to start our lives together. So when's the big day you ask......

March 21, 2009

Yes, I will be getting married in 139 days.....YIKES!

The Bling

2008-11-02T16:59:00.000-08:00

A few of the readers requested a picture of my ring. While this isn't the best shot, it is the only one I have at the moment. The ring is a 1.09 carat round cut diamond in a catherdal setting and white gold band.

The Proposal

2008-10-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 27 had been a rough day for me. I had missed work on Friday because I was sick, which meant I was way behind on e-mails, research and other projects. And the day just got busiers and busier. My mid-afternoon the constant phone ringing, e-mails coming in, and all around stress was too much. I broke down in tears. I e-mail M to vent. He told me to relax and that he would be home soon.

So, in order to calm myself down, I went to my favorite pastime -- looking at engagement rings. I had found a gorgeous sapphire and diamond one when M came home. I showed it to him, and asked him if we could go to the store this weekend to take a look. He was non-committal but he usually is with regards to rings, so I shrugged it off. A few minutes later he asked me to come sit with him on the couch.

Laying beside him, I kept talking about the ring. After a few minutes, he slid off the couch and onto his knees beside me....and the following convo happened

M: So would I diamond do?

Me: Huh? Uh, yeah a diamond would do? Why?

M: No reason.

Me: Yes, you've found a ring you want to buy me haven't you?

M: Maybe.

Me: Yes, you have. Tell me tell me tell me.

M: Maybe.

Me: That wasn't a random question. I know you too well. You've found a ring.

M: What if I have? Why should I tell you?

Me: So I can't stop daydreaming and just relax and know that it will happen.

M: So will a diamond do?

Me: Yes.

M: Then say you'll marry me.

Me: Of course I will marry you when you ask me.

He then looks me square in the eyes and says, "No say you'll marry me"

Me (slightly confused and still clueless): Yes, I'll marry you.

M: Look in my pocket.

Then I finally realized he was proposing. I started crying, shaking, screaming, and saying "Oh God..." over and over. I put my hand in his shirt pocket and touched the ring but was too emotionally to pull it out. I finally managed to get it out of the pocket. I was shaking like a leaf in the wind. He took from me and slipped in on my finger.

I just kept crying, screaming, and saying yes..yes...yes... (and of course kissing him).

So there it is folks...my proposal story.

Going to the Chapel....

2008-10-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

It was just an ordinary Monday. No, it was an awful, terrible, no good very bad Monday. Then the man of my dreams got on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Now it is the best day of my life.... :-)

BLBE Update

2008-10-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

I wish that I could start this entry by talking about my huge loss this week. But I can't. I wish I could say that I have faithfully been journaling my food, making healthy choices at every meal.... but that would be a lie.

I can say that I have worked out at least 3 days a week for the last 3 weeks. But that's it. Somwhere along the way, I have lost momentum. I am still reading the blogs of my fellow BLBE'ers....but I am not blogging myself. And I want too.

So this week, I refocus... and try again to make the changes I wanted to make.

I feel famous

2008-10-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

I have recently fallen in love with the blog Cute Day. It has challenged me to spice up my outfits, and dress cute even if I am just running errads.

On a whim, I sent in a pic of one of my cute days....and looked what happened .

Twitter

2008-10-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

I caved and joined....now you can follow me here

I couldn't resist

2008-10-20T13:54:00.001-07:00

Since I've decorate everything else in my life for fall....why not my blog?

Fall has Fell....

2008-10-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

The weather has turned decidedly cooler here in South Georgia. While the thermometer may read 70, the crisp winds make it feel much closer to 60. And I am loving every second of it.

Today was the first day that I was able to break out my classic fall item - knee high boots. These year's pair are a soft brown leather, with button detailing on the side. The best part is the study but small heel and the fact that they cost me less than 25 dollars. (Gotta love bargain shopping).

I donned them today with a pair of dark denim jeans and 3/4 quarter length sleeve sweater while running in errands in town. One of those errands included buying a few more fall decorations including a beautiful table runner, pumpkin scented candles.

Now, my house and I are both decked out for fall. What are your favorite fall traditions?

**I'll add pics once I get my fire wire back from my best friend. She lost hers so she is borrowing mine.

Activity = Achievement ?

2008-10-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

The above equation is something I've been pondering lately. My life is uber-busy. I am working not one job but two. When I am not working, my time is divided between working out, housework, spending time with my family, going to Atlanta for Georgia Tech football, and making time for friends.

I often feel like that for every item I mark off my to do list, a hundred more are added. And I am not sure that I am really getting anywhere. And things that I love to do - read, blog, chat with friends - have fallen by the wayside in the pursuit of clearing my to-do list.

So next week, I am throwing the list away. I will take care of my work responsibilities and I will continue to work out as I am committed to my health. Beyond that, I am making no plans. If I have free time and feel so inclined, I might clean the house or I might read a book. One week of no housework won't cause the world to stop spinning. Instead, it is likely to leave me feeling refreshed and recharged.

And after next week, I am going to find ways to do things I need to do.....and the things I want to do. It just might mean everything does not get done...RIGHT NOW --- and learning that it is okay if that happens will be my challenge.

Clean House

2008-10-14T10:35:00.000-07:00

One of the benefits to working at home, is that when there is a lull in phone calls, e-mails, or research project - I have a few extra moments to complete household tasks. I have begun making it a habit to devote those moments to completing household tasks. For example, after my conference call this morning, I used five minutes to fold a basket of laundry. Right before lunch, I vacuumed the bedroom and the home gym. At lunch, I cleaned the master bath and swept the front porch.

It is not mid-afternoon and I am 95% with my cleaning for the week. I will need to sweep/mop the kitchen and vacuum the living room again before week's end since those are high traffic areas. But the bulk of my chores are done....and it is a great feeling.

Happiness Is...

2008-10-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

1) A Venti Mocha Light Frappcuino – Yes, I realize it isn’t the healthiest option. But is so yummy and good. And after avoiding all the pitfalls at work this week, I’ve earned it.
2) An empty e-mail box
3) An empty voicemail box
4) Elvis tunes playing on my radio

What things have made you smile today?

Prayer Request

2008-10-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

Today, my Mama told me about this story from my hometown. If you have a moment, can you offer up a prayer for the families involved. The driver was the baby's mother.

I can not imagine the heartbreak that she is feeling......and she is so young herself.

Temptations Abound

2008-10-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

I managed to steer clear of the candy corn on my co-workers desk. Then I turned down the offer for BBQ by a manager. I EVEN managed to refrain from eating the breadsticks that came with my catered lunch.

But when my co-worker offered me mini-candy bars....I caved.

There is so much food floating around the office this week, that I could gain 10 lbs if I let myself. And that's the key....not letting myself. I pick and choose my moments of weakness.

After all, I can't isolate myself from the rest of the world in order to be healthy. I have to learn how to live in it.

New Workout Plan

2008-10-07T17:03:00.000-07:00

Sunday night, while wandering around Barnes and Noble, I stumbled upon the new book "Making the Cut" by Jillian Michaels. For those not in the know, Jillian is one of the trainers on NBC's Biggest Loser.

Jillian has an awesome body and is very driven on the show. I bought the book and spent all of Sunday night reading it. The book contains a 30 day workout plan that is suppose to help you get a more defined body and lose 10 to 20 pounds.

I started the plan last night. And I am sore. I've been lifting consistently for the last month, but I have never been as sore as I am today. I think that's a good sign. I am eager to continue this plan and see the results that I get.

Bonus: The book has tons of yummy low-fat receipes for me to try.

Finding the Silver Lining

2008-10-07T05:53:00.000-07:00

My last two posts have had sometime of a negative undertone. I've been complaining about being in Atlanta and away from home for a week. And while it is okay to be a tiny but upset about, I shouldn't be wallowing in self-pity. So today, I have decided to focus on the positive things about my week long-stay in Atlanta.

1) Staying in a hotel means I don't have to make up my bed.

2) Atlanta has Starbuck's.....lots of Starbuck's....there are 3 within a 5 minute drive of my hotel. And while I don't need to drink a lot of them. It will be easier to treat myself at least once this week. Back home I would have to drive 30 minutes.

3) Atlanta is home to several of my closest friends. From my college roomie, to my best guy friend, to Sarah - the first of group of girls to get married and become a Mommy.-- they are all here. And I will get to spend lots of time with all of them this week.

Finding the positive makes me feel better already!

HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY TO "LIFE WITH MY SPECIAL Ks"

2008-10-06T06:22:00.000-07:00

Renee at Life with My Special Ks.....is celebrating her blogversary today. And in honor of the big day, she is hosting a Giveaway.

Go check it out!

I am feeling:

2008-10-05T17:00:00.001-07:00

Irritated - at the people who stop in the middle of the aisle at Wal-mart, Target, or Kroger. I realize that sometimes you need to look at something, but the courteous thing to do is put your cart on one side of the aisle while browsing.

Stuffed - my friend K.D. and I went to eat at the local pub and watch football. And while I did try to eat healthy, the portions were huge. And I did not have the will power to resist the sweet potato fries......or the chocolate mousse cake.

Sore - The fitness center at the hotel is less than stellar.....the weight machines don't work. So I picked up resistance band and DVD at Barnes and Noble. I just finished the upper body portion, and my arms are already achey.

Lonely - I do not mind being by myself. Part of my job is traveling, which requires spending time away from family, friends, and M. But the first night in the hotel is always a lonely thing. Instead of cuddling up on the couch with M, I am surfing the web and trying to find something to watch on t.v.

Good, Bad, Ugly - The weekend Version

2008-10-04T17:14:00.000-07:00

Good - Being able to come to Atlanta with my parents and M for Tech football
Bad - The money spent on gas....ouch!
Ugly - Getting stuck in Atlanta traffic for more than 2 hours on Friday night.

Good - Tech shutting out Duke, 27-0
Bad - A noon start time for the game
Ugly - My tan lines. I wore a short sleeve shirt and forgot to put on sunscreen.

Good- Having Yummy Mexican food for dinner.
Bad - The slow service at the restaurant.....it took 10 minutes to get refills.
Ugly - The number of calories I consumed. (I should have skipped the chips and cheese dips)

Good- Sharing an amazing time with my parents and M (and a few friends).
Bad - Time going by so fast.
Ugly - Being stuck in the city for a week long conference, while M and my parents go back to our hometown. I hate feeling lonely. :-(

I sure ain't Venus or Serena

2008-10-01T06:05:00.001-07:00

Sunday, M and I went to play a few games of doubles tennis with a couple that we are friends with. I have only picked a tennis racket up three times in my life - and all three times were during lessons. And those lessons were nearly 4 years ago. So I knew that I would be bad...... I just didn't know how bad.

I was fine warming up as M and I volleyed the ball back and forth. I was decent on returning other serves. But when it came my time to serve, my performance went downhill fast. I couldn't get it over the net, then I got it over the net but not the proper box....and if I did manage to get a proper serve, I'd botch the return. At one point, I got so frustrated - I tossed my racket and stormed off the court.

It was a fine display of temper but it didn't solve anything. I cooled my heels for about 20 minutes then returned to the court. I stopped trying to play the game perfectly or by the rules, and just focused on moving and having fun. And I did.

M knows that I tend to have a perfectionist streak in me, so he has offered to work with me to improve my skills. Monday night we spent the better part of an hour at the courts, working on serves/returns/other nuisances of the game. I am sure I won't be playing in the US Open, but if we keep at it, I might be decent after all.

If nothing else, it counts as cardio.....lots of cardio.

A Meme

2008-09-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

What is something you'd love to say to your younger selves of 2, 5, 10 and 15 years ago?

2 years - 2006 -Get out now. He's not sure now, and he won't ever be sure. He isn't worth suffering over. Trust me, there is something even better waiting for you.

5 years - 2003 - Stop hurting yourself. Admit that you have an eating disorder. Let Kim D. help you. Don't push her away, you'll miss her when she's gone.

10 years - 1998 - High is hard. But you won't be 16 forever. You'll outgrown the nerdy stuff and your classmates will be blown away by the changes.

15 years - 1993 - Don't walk on your cast - there is a reason the doctor's gave you crutches. You won't get your appendix taken out - but you'll get to spend a week in the hospital. And believe it or not, you'll get sick of jello.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

2008-09-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy Monday morning. I woke up early, logged onto the Internet, and got an e-mail from a friend telling me that Wachovia has just gotten bought out by Citigroup. This prompted me to consider closing my Wachovia account. I haven't been happy with the service for quite awhile, and this was the final straw.

But where do I go if not with Wachovia? Another national bank? A regional one? Or something smaller, a locally owned bank?

On top of all that, I have to figure out the following:

1) What color am I going to paint M's kitchen?
2) Do I have enough time during my lunch hour to mow the back yard AND go practice my tennis game?
3) If, I do one or both of the things in question two,when am I going to eat?
4) More importantly, what I am eating for lunch?
5) When am I going to take care of my banking issues (i.e. make a withdrawl, transfer the funds to new account, set up new automatic bill pay)
6) I need to start thinking about the things that I am going to take with me for my week long work trip to Atlanta

Needless to say my head is swimming at the moment. It's gonna be a busy week.

Finding Ways to Be Active

2008-09-27T19:37:00.001-07:00

Last night, M and I hosted a Wii party. I was excited about having friends over to play games. But I was nervous that along with the friends would come lots of food -- and in a few days, tighter pants. Not to worry. M made yummy southwestern chicken wraps (grilled chicken breasts, fat-free tortillas, sauteed corn and black beans). After supper we played the Wii for several hours - and while it might not be the same as running, it is moving and it got my heart rate up.

The tonight, we had dinner at M's brother's house. After supper, we all got in the yard and ran sprints --- for 20 minutes. It was fun, we were running, laughing, and burning calories without thinking about it.

I think that is the key to long term weight loss success -- finding ways to work physical activity into every day life. So, do you have any ways you "sneak" in activity?

Fabulous Friday

2008-09-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

It is Friday....only 3 more hours in my workday. And I've had a lot to be happy about

1) Getting to sleep in today (for the past 3 days I've been up at 6ish. I slept in till 8 today).

2) Met M for lunch.

3) Yummy Chicken Enchiladia Soup at lunch.

4) All my housework is done....which means I can work in the yard tomorrow.

5) I have the girls (Stephanie and Lane) coming over to lift ater work.

6) M and I are hosting a Wii party. Guest list includes: M's brother (Jason) his wife/my best friend Lane, our good friends Stephanie and Rusty, M's two nieces Lacey and London.....and the four legged guests Bailey (our pup), Boss (Lane and Jason's boston terrier) and Rex( Stephanie and Rusty's American bulldog). While the human's play inside, the boys will be in the backyard playing with the ropes, sticks, chew bones, and each other.

What has made you happy today?

Rolling

2008-09-25T07:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Jeannie , I have an awesome new food journal. It is an Excel file that pairs nicely with my Excel spreadsheet that I use to track my workouts.

Sometimes being geeky is a great thing!

Finding Strength In Numbers

2008-09-24T05:28:00.000-07:00

I have always been able to exercise on my own. In college, I would often rise at 5 a.m. to head to the Student Rec Center for a long ride on the stationary bike, time on the elliptical trainer or the step machine. But I often noticed I never pushed myself as hard if I went it alone. Perhaps it is my competitive nature, if I am working out with someone - I want to do it longer, harder, faster, better. (I personally blame it on being the daughter of a football coach, but that's another post).

In recent years, I have been creative in finding ways to exercise with others. For awhile, I was workout partners with my Aunt - but injuries kept her workouts restricted. Then I joined taekwondo. After that M and I trained for a 5K run.

Now, I am the unofficial trainer for two of my closest friends. Starting this week, the 3 of us are lifting 2 days a week and doing cardio 3 days a week. Our first workout was Monday night. I spent my lunch hour Monday researching and developing a weight workout that would challenge all of us, since we are at various fitness levels. It took 45 minutes to do it and by the end we were all drenched in sweat and feeling our efforts.

Two days later and I am still sore. It is a great feeling! I am pushing myself. And I am helping people I care about. I can't wait for our next workout tonight.

Biggest Loser Blog Edition

2008-09-21T17:50:00.000-07:00

Last week, I signed up for Angie's Biggest Loser Blog Edition. When I told a close friend about it, she rolled her eyes and said "Why, you are not overweight, what's the point?"

No, I am not overweight. But I am not happy with the number on the scale or the way I look in the mirror. I have been working on changing both these things for quite awhile. And for a time, I do good - I eat right, I workout, I see results. And then I let other things get in my way. "Work is too crazy". "I am too tired". "I am sick".

One day turns into two and then it is a month of no workouts. One bad meal choices, turns into a total splurge day, then a week and then 5 more pounds on the scale. I am tired of yo-yoing.

And I think this challenge is going to help me get to where I want to be.

A Good Reason Not to Do the Dishes

2008-09-19T11:49:00.000-07:00

This morning I was starting to wash the breakfast dishes when I noticed a scorpion crawling on the sponge. He was headed straight for my hand. Yikes!

I beat him to death a spoon. I am on strike from dish washing!

HYC Week 37

2008-09-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

It has been quite awhile since I checked in with the Healthy You Challenge. I would like to tell you that I have managed to stay on track, follow my meal plan, and exercise regularly. I would like to tell you that I have continued to eat less, move more and that it has resulted in weight loss. But I can't. Because I haven't.

Somewhere along the way, I have let - work, friends, family, life in general - get in the way of my pursuit of a healthier me. I have excuses for why I haven't worked out consistently. "I've been traveling a lot for work", "My workout partner cancelled on me", "I was sick". But that is all they are excuses.

Last week, I was on vacation with M and his family. And I managed to work out for 4 days straight. If I can do it while on vacation, then I can make it a priority in my everyday life. So here I am, recommitting to pursue a healthier me.

This is my plan for the week:

Monday - Lift w/ M and 20-30 mins of Turbo Jam with Lane. (Done)
Tuesday - 30-40 mins of Turbo Jam with Lane.
Wednesday - Lift w/ M for 1 hour.
Thursday - 30-40 mins of Turbo Jam with Lane.
Friday - 30-40 mins of Turbo Jam with Lane.

Other goals:

1) Eat between 1300 - 1900 calories per day
2) Drink 8 glasses of water.

I've planned to work, and now I am going to work my plan. I hope each of you has found continued success in my absence. And if not, I hope that you will join me in recommitting to this challenge.

Trip to Texas, Part VII (Thursday and the Trip Home)

2008-09-15T06:53:00.000-07:00

Thursday was a pretty relaxed day at the Wade household. M and I worked out with his Aunt at 6 a.m. Then we returned home to dine on a breakfast of potato pancakes that his Uncle made. I was unsure about the dish until I had a bite of M's.....divine. I then had 3 of my own.

After breakfast, we started to pack up and prepare for our departure later than night. After lunch, M and I joined Leslie, Lane, and Jason for a quick shopping trip at Sam Moon. M was sweet enough to buy me a few gifts.... I am a lucky girl.

We returned to the house to finish up some laundry and to begin loading the R.V. At 6:15, M and I took his motorcycle for one last run in Texas. We went to watch his little cousin Colt's baseball team. Colt had the winning hit. After the game we met the rest of the family at the Cotton gin for dinner.

After stuffing ourselves with yummy country kitchen, the Lee family piled into the R.V. and headed back to Georgia. I feel asleep somewhere around 11 p.m. Texas time, I woke up when we crosses into Louisiana. The poor roads had the R.V. rocking and I was afraid that Lacey would tumble out of the loft she was sleeping in ( along with M and I). I was in and out of it till about 3 a.m. when we stopped for gas.

It was at that point we noticed that M's motorcycle had fallen over. The Lee men headed out to strap the bike back down. Leaving the women inside, trying not to freak out over the fact that we were in a less then desirable neighbourhood.

We got back on the road, and M and I took our shift of driving/navigating. We crossed into Mississippi about 5:15 a.m. M had me check on the bikes, which were getting loose, so another stop was made at the Mississippi welcome center. That's when the trouble hit. M left the park lights on.....the battery went dead......road side assistance did not answer......we called a tower.....and Lacey woke up.

M and I decided to walk Lacey around while we waited on the tow truck. The welcome center is right next to the river. So Lacey got to see the Mighty Mississippi in the early morning light. There was also a cannon nearby, so we let her "shoot the bad guys". Finally the tow truck arrived, jumped us off, and we were back on the road.

We arrived home about 7:30 - nearly 21 hours after we left Texas. And we were quite happy about it.

The trip was tons of fun. I can not wait till next year!!

Trip to Texas, Part VI (Wednessday)

2008-09-13T08:41:00.000-07:00

Much of Wednesday was decided by the "elders" - the affectionate nickname given to M's parents and his Aunt & Uncle. Since the elders wanted to go riding that morning, they decided that we would all go to the Kennedy museum that afternoon and have dinner in downtown Dallas.

Since the elders were riding, we needed to find a way to entertain Lacey and London. It was decided that we(Lane, Jason, M, Leslie, and I) would take the girls to Chuck E. Cheese. I was apprehensive about going - I envisioned a restaurant full of kids - in short lots of noise and drama...not what I wanted for my vacation. Surprisingly, the place was pretty empty. We ordered our meal and set out with the goal of "winning tickets for the girls". But pretty soon, we were playing the games as much for our own amusement as anything else. I was racking up tickets at the "Deal or No Deal" game,while M played the "Shoot Em' Up Game". Mix in greasy pizza, a few rounds of skeeball, and prizes and you had a great afternoon.

While Jason and Lane took the girls back to Aunt Diane's, Leslie, M, and I went to pick up her kids from school. The original plan was for all parties to meet back up at the house and then head to the Kennedy museum. But when we arrived, the elders informed us that they would babysit and let the 5 of us go on our on.

We arrived at the museum at 4:30 - and spent the next hour and a half reliving one of the darkest days in our nation's history. The 6th Floor Museum is a powerful tribute to Kennedy's legacy, and a stark reminder of his death and the turmoil that followed. Once we finished up inside the museum, we walked along Elm street to take photos of the grassy knoll and the window (Photos are not allowed in the museum). While walking, we encountered a 'tour guide' who gave us the real truth about Kennedy's death. I am sure that what he told us was not truth , but it was entertaining none the less.

After finishing up our tour, we loaded up in Leslie's car and set out in search of bronze cows. Dallas has a 4.2 acre area that contains 70 6 foot high bronze cows and 3 cowboys that are herding them. It is a tribute to the Texas cattle drives of days gone by. We kept calling the elders for directions. You would think that it wouldn't be hard to find bronze cows in the middle of downtown Dallas...but it was.

While making one of loops, we were stopped at a red light when ....BAM.... we watched a man get hit by a car. The 5 of us were stunned as the accident happened less than a foot from us. We called 911, the circled back to the scene to give our statements. Once that issue was taking care of, we set off in search of those cows.

We never found them.... we finally succumbed to hunger and went in search of food instead. After all, we had another day in Dallas to find the cows.