tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55998785126942098532024-03-08T03:05:01.996-08:00Carrots Should Taste Like Cheetos!Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-58761317231855924062009-08-03T12:11:00.001-07:002009-08-03T12:12:38.724-07:00Movin' on Up!BIG changes - relocation, new style, etc.<br /><br />My friend Becca and I are teaming up to make this blog bigger and better - and hopefully more entertaining! To do so, we've also gotten our own domain. YAY!<br /><br />So here it is - <a href="http://carrotsshouldtastelikecheetos.com/">our new location!</a><br /><br />Join us over there - I promise it will be a daily post kind of place. :)Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-8450001163239123822009-05-21T16:04:00.001-07:002009-05-21T16:04:32.317-07:00Pound For Pound Challenge Widget<script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/4923379b59a36435/4a15ddfe9c54fba4/4923379b59a36435/e436642d/widget.js"></script>Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-38619825318958275212009-04-03T07:12:00.000-07:002009-04-03T07:16:11.990-07:00Contest!!!My lovely friend over at Suburban Scrawl is hosting a contest for New York City themed prizes!!! Check her out <a href="http://thesuburbanscrawl.blogspot.com/2009/04/this-is-not-just-any-old-blog-contest.html?showComment=1238767740000#c4149734673539884594">here</a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/?action=view¤t=Scrawlcontestphoto.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/Scrawlcontestphoto.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-45114062333310655052009-02-11T12:24:00.001-08:002009-02-11T12:54:57.516-08:00The Volunteer-Yourself-Meme....So I volunteered for this sorta-meme. No tagging people - just volunteering. So if you want to do it, let me know! :D<br /><br />Basically, you're randomly assigned a letter, and you come up with 10 things you adore that start with that letter.<br /><br />I got the letter C. Uh....ok, we'll see where we wind up with that letter!<br /><br />1. Children - or at least, mine. They're hilarious. They already know how to use sarcasm. They love to tell jokes and laugh and be goofy. They appreciate a good episode of Psych, and will even watch House with us at times. My younger son's favorite song is So What by Pink right now, and my older son's favorite song is Paint it Black by the Rolling Stones. How much cooler could 2 kids ever be??<br /><br />2. Chocolate - any true piece of chocolate. Strangely enough, I do NOT like chocolate cake, frosting, icing, or fudge. It's just off somehow. But give me a piece of Godiva, or a Hershey's Kiss, and it's BLISS! I can be having a truly horrific day and a nice dark chocolate bar will soothe my savage soul.<br /><br />3. Crocs - YES, they are hideously ugly. But they're divinely comfortable. And they're cheap, considering they last for well over 2 years. And they never, EVER smell bad. Seriously - I have foot issues. If I wear shoes without socks, it's the death knell for those shoes. But I can wear Crocs without socks on a blisteringly hot day in 90% humidity - and they will not smell. Fabulous. And not only that, but they make my knees happy. Bonus!<br /><br />4. Computers - Call me a nerd, but my laptop is my lifeline. I make money there, and I ease my insanity there. I can play games, chat with friends, and I can write. Ahh, perfection. <br /><br />5. Coffee - My day is off if I don't have at least one cup. Two spoons of sugar, and enough half and half to make it that beautiful cafe au lait color. I like trying different types, roasts, and flavors, but I prefer buying whole bean and grinding myself. There's a coffee maker I'm planning on buying my husband for Father's Day that grinds it fresh every time, and with a burr grinder. I can't wait. That, and a subscription to Storyville Coffee would be heavenly.<br /><br />6. Cardio - I love working out if it's moving fast, with great music. I hate lifting weights. I know I should do it. But I prefer getting my heartrate moving and enjoying the music and the challenge of pushing myself to go faster, better, longer. Weights, not so much.<br /><br />7. Candles - I love the way they smell, the glow, all of it. I've gotten out of practice of burning them because with kids, it's just been too dangerous. As they get older, I've been able to burn them more. I love the warm feeling I get when I light one after cleaning a room.<br /><br />8. Cats - there's something about their fuzzy warmth that makes me happy. Our current kitten is a nut. He's too funny. He'll run around chasing his own tail, catch it, freak out, then run away from said tail, not realizing the thing is attached. He'll stop, thinking he's safe, only to relax a touch - and see his tail out of the corner of his eye, and jump in fear. It's so worth the cleaning of the litter box.<br /><br />9. Chilly weather - not COLD, chilly. Like, in Fall. I love the crisp, 50-56 degrees range. You can walk around with a light jacket or sweater, and enjoy a toasty fire in the house or bonfire outside. It's nice to do yardwork without sweating profusely. It's nice to get chilled and come inside for a cup of tea. And I love cuddling up under a fleecey blanket, or sleeping when it's colder (but not frigid, mind you!). <br /><br />10. Cheetos - well, hell - look at the title of the blog! Really, this last one could include all bright-orange-cheese-flavored snacks. I love crunchy cheesey snacks. Yummm. Cheetos are fantastic. They go with anything. Delicious. Still wish they were nutritionally equivalent to carrots.....Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-6052031804580825352009-01-09T09:58:00.000-08:002009-01-09T10:12:29.311-08:00New Year.....Happy New Year to the blog-o-sphere. Been quite a year so far. I've set some goals for myself, and haven't been able to start on them. I'm stuck in the house with vertigo, but thankfully, after 12 days, it is finally starting to get better. Hopefully, I can start driving again soon.<br /><br />Setting goals is a time honored tradition in January. And yet, so many people don't follow through with even half of their goals. I am proud to say that of the 3 goals I set for myself last year, I followed through on 2 of them. That's saying a lot, since I'm normally one of those people who by Valentine's Day is blissfully unaware there even were goals set.<br /><br />I like cycles. I like the idea of starting fresh, trying something new for no other reason than the date changed. It makes it feel more momentous. This year, I have a few projects that I want to complete around the house in order to help with my main goal of "Healthier Life." The projects include organizational and redecorating tasks that will help me to feel more settled and calm in my house, which is also my office. <br /><br />I also have a few things I'm going to do that I've always wanted to do. One is learn to play the guitar. My husband actually bought me an acoustic guitar for Christmas 2 years ago for this purpose, but I was unable to find doable lessons (time or money) since. And I tried self-teaching, but yeah - failed miserably. So for Christmas this year, my parents bought me a gift card of lessons at a place nearby that has really good hours for lessons! They're even open during the day, which is easier with the kids in school and all. So now I have no more excuses. I'm pretty excited. I am musically talented, I played the organ (no naughty thoughts - the keyboard instrument that you typically hear at hockey games, people!) and competed in state music competitions, and did pretty well if I do say so myself. So I hope that the guitar will be something I can enjoy, and then be able to play for others and then they in turn can enjoy as well. I love camp fires, and I just have always wanted to know how to play a guitar to be able to make music while outside under the stars in front of a beautiful fire. You can't exactly drag a Wulritzer out back, you know?<br /><br />Another thing I want to try this year is going back to school. I swore up and down for the last 14+ years that I would never, ever, EVER go back to school. I hated college, it was so boring/a waste/pointless/insert other whining here. I, unfortunately, got a stupid degree - in Finance. You can see how very marketable this is in the current US economy, no? One of the careers I had wanted to do, but came upon too late to change and still graduate on time, was becoming a nurse. So this summer (since the class I was going to take this quarter filled in about 10 min during registration) I'm going to take 2 classes to see if I might be inclined to become a nurse. We shall see. If that doesn't pan out, I figure I can always take some writing courses and pursue that other dream of mine. And possibly unearth the old novels....hmm...<br /><br />My usual goal of getting to a healthier place physically is always in place, but a new year always renews my energy on that front. Unfortunately, the aforementioned couch rest hasn't helped me out there. I suppose by the time I can drive and work out again, I'll be stir crazy enough to work out a couple times a week? One can only hope....<br /><br />Oh, and as an added bonus - we finally recovered our photos (see previous post) and without spending a third of an average person's salary to do it. I think maybe I should start a business doing THAT for people from home - and charging significantly less than the schmucks who gave us that insane estimate.Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-11817051820243948632008-12-22T10:22:00.000-08:002008-12-22T10:40:10.426-08:00ALWAYS Back Up Your Pictures - PLEASE!<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span>, Public Service Reminder - BACK UP YOUR DIGITAL PICTURES! And videos, if you have them.<br /><br />Sure, music and movies and games suck to lose. But let me tell you - this hurts so very very bad.<br /><br />We just lost nearly 5 years of photos. My second son's first smile. His first tooth. My first son's first day of school. First Christmases, new home, Easters, graduations from karate, Kindergarten, you name it - gone in an instant. It's as if we've had a fire, and all of our photos are gone. This is just so horrifically painful. And there's a few people we can blame.<br /><br />First and foremost, I blame myself. I am always admonishing people to back up files. And I normally do burn pictures to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">CDs</span>. Except that for the past 2 years, we've backed up photos onto 2 other computers, instead of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">CDs</span>. Well, we thought we had. But, oops, no - the files we thought were there - AREN'T! And the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">CDs</span> I had to meticulously burned prior to that, labeled and filed - missing. Can't find a singled one. We don't know if they got thrown out, or they're just lost. I had them last year, I used them, in fact. But they're not there now. Not when I need them to ease some of the pain.<br /><br />I also blame my husband. He is a computer whiz. He builds them, fixes them, heals them. He's even found lost, thought long gone, files for OTHER families! Other moms who thought those precious firsts were never to be found again - crying - have thanked him profusely. But he can't do that for me, somehow. And he built the new server for us, a supposedly fail-safe place to store all our files. It was supposed to back itself up. It was supposed to never, ever fail. But it did. Brand new, supposedly fully functional, and suddenly, the new drives are no longer working. We finally got them to talk to the motherboard again, and yet, they won't allow the files to be retrieved. It's heartbreaking, knowing the files are there, and yet, beyond reach.<br /><br />And finally, I blame <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Seagate</span>. They made these drives. They made this supposed fail-safe system. This self-back-up system. They claimed to have a warranty. And then they have the complete audacity to want to charge $10,000 to get these files off these drives. That is the price of a CAR. They're insane. It is THEIR fault. We followed their instructions, their rules of installation and operation, and THEIR drives were faulty. And their backup system FAILED. This was 100% the fault of their drives. And yet, we're to pay this insane amount to get all these precious memories back? Insanity.<br /><br />We're hoping to run photo recovery programs and system scans to recover files off my laptop, as well as the hard drives on which we used to have the photos stored. I'm sure we won't find everything. There is no way to even know, as I'm sure my memory of every picture we've taken since buying our first digital camera in March of 2004 is faulty. I'll be thankful for every single one we find, that's for sure. And I'm thankful for the family web site I have, where I haven't deleted any of the uploaded photos. I'll also be tearing apart the house to find those lost <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">CDs</span>, to at least have the pictures up to 2006.<br /><br />I will also be investing in an external drive for backing up pictures in the future, because I am not trusting any company's claims ever again. There is no such thing as fail safe. So I'll say to everyone - back up your pictures NOW, because losing everything is horrible. You can replace the movies, you can replace the music. But the pictures - they can never be replaced. Sure, I can get pictures of my kids at every age, even every holiday, from my mother. But they won't be the same as those precious favorites I've taken. They won't be the silly family shots we all have of the sweet time we all spend alone. It will not be the same. And for that, I am so very, very angry and hurt. Please don't let it happen to you!Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-17172535377304077392008-12-12T14:12:00.000-08:002008-12-12T14:23:34.370-08:00Wish I Didn't Know Tasted Like Heaven....Yup, I have another food item to add to the list of "Things I Wish I'd Never Tasted." We all have that list. The one where people tell you, Oh, you MUST try such-and-such. And you just know it would be dangerous to try it, because if it's as good as they say, you know you're going to want one every week. Or day. Or hour. Or, heck, you're going to find yourself face down in a pile of said food, stuffed to the gills, thoroughly embarrassed but still in hog heaven.<br /><br />I have quite of few items on my list. Chocolate covered potato chips. Rolo pretzel goodies another (a treat I only make at Christmas). I added yet another one this week. Starbucks' <span class="subheaderblu">Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate. Oh. My. GAWD. Yeah, it's that good. The guy who told my husband about it said in the email subject line, simply, "Oh mama!" Yeah, he's right. <br /><br />Seriously, I'm not a huge Starbucks coffee fan, but I like their specialty drinks. Blend it, put whipped cream on it, sure, I'll drink it. But nothing, and I mean nothing touches THIS drink.<br /><br />When I first heard of it, I though, eh, salted? I mean, really? Aren't we taking the sweet-and-salty thing a tad too far? NO, sweet holy chocolate gods, we are NOT. Imagine creamy chocolate and silky caramel on the bestest whipped cream ever. And then top it with salty peanuts. Yeah - there. YUMMY. It was like drinking an ice cream sundae. Or drinking a really, really good Turtle candy. <br /><br />So yeah - I suggest that if you're trying to lose weight, you steer clear. But if you're working on adding a few pounds, hey - have at it. Or if you like to live on the dangerous side. But whatever you do, do NOT, I repeat - DO NOT, look up the caloric content. You might faint.<br /><br />I might try to duplicate this one at home....mmmm.....drooooool.....<br /></span>Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-61671965050098862132008-12-08T10:34:00.000-08:002008-12-08T10:56:55.925-08:00We Aren't the Only Sentimental OnesOver the weekend, I learned that I'm not the only sentimental one in the house. I'm the only female in the house. I'm the only one who wears pink, I'm the only one who likes Barbies, and I'm the only one who likes pedicures, but I'm not the only one who gets emotional over holiday memories!<br /><br />Friday night was hubby's office holiday party, at the Double Tree Hotel Oak Brook, so we were spending the night at the hotel. The boys were getting a nice treat - sleepover at Grandma's house! All was ready, bags packed, dress in the car, etc, and I was dropping off my second grade son at school when it happened. He stopped dead and looked up at me. <br /><br />"Mom!"<br /><br />Uh oh, now what??? He all of the sudden realized that he wasn't going to be home tonight. Which was bad for two reasons. First, and most important, was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent_calendar">advent calendar</a> I put together. I found an amazing little wreath of round boxes that I filled with good candy (instead of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pre</span>-filled ones that have the crap-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">tastic</span> chocolate - why waste the calories, am I right?) and we open it for dessert every night. I told him either we would just get to have double the chocolate on Saturday, or maybe Grandma would take him by the house on the way home from school to get it, and yes he and his brother could double up and have all 4 pieces. The other problem was the <a href="http://www.notelay.com/articles/fun/elf_on_a_shelf/">Elf on the Shelf</a>. How would he know to leave and come back if no one is home? Again, easily explained - magic.<br /><br />But these weren't even the kickers for the weekend. We were at breakfast the next morning, feeling better after our night of, ahem, indulgence - with a little help from some strong coffee, and of course, bacon, when hubby's cell rings. It's Mom - um, did we remember today is St. Nicholas Day?<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">DOH</span>!<br /><br />TRIPLE <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">DOH</span>!!<br /><br />Crud.....ooops....my mother always put something in our stockings on December 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> in honor of <a href="http://www.wf-f.org/st.nicholas.html">St. Nicholas Day</a>. So I continued the tradition. And with no help from ANYONE, our 7 and a half year old remembered out of the blue all about it, and asked if Grandma could take him home to see if there was something in his stocking!!!!!!<br /><br />OH NO!<br /><br />Thankfully, Mom is nothing if not a good liar....she proceeded to tell him that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas#Saint_Nicholas_the_festive_gift-giver">St. Nicholas</a> didn't know that the kids were with her, and had thought they were with us at the hotel so he left the gifts with us - so WE had the presents....good cover, Ma!!!<br /><br />So scramble though we had to, we went and got those little gifts, because it was just so dang adorable that he remembered it. He remembered that this was something we did each year. <br /><br />At least someone in our family does!<br /><br />It warms my heart that the little things I do each day during the holiday season make such a difference to my boys. They're such little loves, but sometimes they're such guys. It's nice to be reminded that they do remember and care about the things we do as a family, and that the traditions we do year to year are treasured by them, and might become traditions they do with their own kids.Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-65660345506036910622008-11-17T15:56:00.000-08:002008-11-17T16:09:14.495-08:00Tell it From the MountainMy scale weight has see-sawed a bit - back and forth, back and forth. But I shocked myself today. I grabbed a belt because I had determined that my jeans had stretched out. See, we women are, of course, completely insane. We convince ourselves that just because the scale either hasn't moved, or hasn't moved enough - we haven't lost a single ounce of fat. Nah, all that time on the Spin bike - not doing a thing. Wii Fit? No tone, nada. My jeans falling off as I walk? Yeah - that's because they're stretched out. I bought them September 24 (for my anniversary, which is why I know the exact date, ha!). So just under 2 months....and from washing them, they're somehow stretched out. My mind amazes me sometimes.<br /><br />Well, yeah - so my "stretched out" jeans needed the aid of a belt this morning - one I haven't worn since about February. As I buckled this puppy, I realized that the mark from where I USED to wear it was not where I was fastening it today. I was fastening it 4 INCHES smaller!!! I've lost 4 inches in my WAIST??? DANG! I couldn't figure it out. I honestly stood there, slack jawed and completely flabergasted. I am sometimes an intelligent person, but somehow when it comes to my body and fitness and weight, I'm a complete idiot. I shouldn't be surprised, since I am 20+ pounds lighter than I was in February. So uh, DUH! You'd think that I'd remember that. I'd forgotten where I was a year ago in my despair at where I thought I was. And all at once, with the help of one small strip of leather, I'm on top of the world. I'm amazingly bubbly and optimistic and thrilled with where I am. I'm accomplished, and I'm in good shape, and I've lost weight - not failed to lose weight.<br /><br />It's a beautiful thing, this perspective thing. We all should practice it.<br /><br />I do believe that MAYBE, just maybe - my jeans might.....MIGHT, I say....not have stretched out, and may be too big because <span style="font-weight: bold;">I</span> am too small for them.Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-89608009033608400732008-10-15T11:48:00.000-07:002008-10-15T11:58:40.651-07:00What happened to Fall???I heard the craziest thing on the radio today. There is a station in St. Louis that is ALREADY playing Christmas music 'round the clock. As in, right now. In October. Before Halloween.<br /><br />Are they out of their minds? I mean, come on! It's not even Halloween! What happened to FALL?? At the stores, we go from Back to School to Christmas! All the mass merchandisers already have trees, ornaments, cards, lights, you name it! <br /><br />Do we really need 3 straight months of Christmas? I adore Christmas - but AFTER Thanksgiving. I refuse to buy a single thing prior to Thanksgiving.<br /><br />They've all lost their minds. As if having it for too long will make more money. More likely it will make people so sick of the holiday that they won't buy anything!<br /><br />I may be a bit biased, because I love Halloween, and by putting all the Christmas stuff up now, it detracts. At KMart, they have 1 aisle of Halloween, but the whole Garden Shop is already all Christmas! I just can't figure it out.<br /><br />Am I the only one???Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-42082191219566695232008-09-26T15:42:00.000-07:002008-09-26T15:59:12.954-07:00Hair Debacle 2008I've not had a great week. But at least THIS part of the week is hysterically funny, in a painful, I looked-like-crud sort of way.<br /><br />I tend to do drastic things to my hair. I'll grow it out for 2 years, only to chop it all off. I'll go dark, or light, or red. Highlights, lowlights, all-over color - I'm not scared, I'll try it. After all, it's just hair. It'll grow back or out.<br /><br />There are now TWO times that were (are) complete and utter disasters. One time, about 7 years ago, I had a 3 month old, was heavy - and had been called ma'am and not carded. I was depressed, and wanted to "look younger." So I decided to go lighter. But uh, I chose a really bad color. It turned out yellow. As in, crayon yellow. I can't find a picture at the moment - suffice it to say, it was awful. And my poor friend's wedding was 2 weeks after. Her pictures eternally recorded that one. Lovely.<br /><br />This week would be number two. I've always wanted to go a bit darker. A nice light brown, maybe a medium brown. My natural color is a light brown with all sorts of weird highlights and lowlights. And I had some serious roots. About 5 inches of roots, to be exact, and the bottom was both chemically and sun lightened.<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/?action=view&current=080919101.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/080919101.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Nice look, eh? </span></span><br /><br />So I wanted an all over brown.<br /><br />I bought (yes, on clearance - shoot me!) two boxes of what was SUPPOSED to be medium golden brown. It had a color results picture on the box for "dark blond/light brown" hair - and looked exactly the shade I wanted. Perfect! And both boxes for $4! Yippeee!<br /><br />So I went through all the instructions. I left it on the exact amount of time. And this is what I got:<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/?action=view&current=080919108.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/080919108.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:78%;">GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></span><br /><br />Notice the absolute horror on my face! I got out of the shower, and it looked a bit dark, but then my hair is always darker wet. So I proceeded to blow dry it. And as I stood up from drying upside down, I nearly fell over when I saw that! OH. MAH. GAWD. This is what the words shock and awe were meant to describe.<br /><br />So I thought, hmm, maybe if I get used to it? Except that my son, when I went to pick him up from school, didn't recognize me. He walked right past me. People were doing double takes. One woman said, "It's not that bad. And you know, Halloween is coming!" Oh good gravy, I look like Morticia????<br /><br />I ran straight to my laptop and posted pictures on the bulletin boards I frequent. I figured, if they don't have advice, at least they'll have a laugh!<br /><br />Thankfully, this is NOT the end of the saga. A darling friend of mine suggested I use a prodcut called Color Oops. They should call it miracle in a bottle, or God's gift to daring but idiotic women....<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/?action=view&current=photoproductcoloroops.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/photoproductcoloroops.png" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bought it, used it this morning. Best $13 EVER. This stuff could gag a maggot, it stinks so bad, but it works. Amazingly! I'm sure if I followed their "use again if full effect desired is not reached" but at the moment, I think I'll stick with what I got THIS time:<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/?action=view&current=080919112.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/080919112.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ahhh, much better! Ironically, this is the exact shade of red I have wanted in the past, and never been able to achieve with dyes. We shall see how long the red lasts. Maybe I'll always have to buy that dark color and the oops?Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-23709624230641780572008-09-13T10:00:00.001-07:002008-09-13T10:02:54.315-07:00On Voting....I'm not normally a person who tries to wax philosophical about politics, not one to tell people who, where, when to believe something. But coming across this clip of Craig Ferguson, of a new citizen to our country, talking about our right to vote - it's inspiring. And I love that he makes fun of the media, as well...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qCSIkmzkoNc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qCSIkmzkoNc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I'm not taking a public stand on which person to vote for - but I love his point about it being a duty as an American to make yourself heard.Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-88821031244771405722008-08-17T07:03:00.000-07:002008-08-17T07:19:26.680-07:00But You Can Call Me....I was thinking about nicknames, and the sorts of things people like to be called, or call each other. I was at a party last night, and one of our friends just had a baby girl. We all got to talking about what they call her. Her first name is Alexandria. And they call her Alex, Allie, and Al. And I laughed, because my younger son is Alexander, and we call him Alex, Allie, and Al.<br /><br />But we also have a whole host of other things we call him. Like Lections - this is an older one, it's from when he was about 6 mos old. He was born in 2004, so we were calling him Alex-tions, like elections. And it became Lections for short. Then there's Loo. I call him Loo a LOT. And that was born from "Little Allie Loo Loo" and a song I made up that goes, "Loo loo loo I want some apples, loo loo loo Al wants some too, loo loo loo he is my Alex, Allie lee lee loooooo!"<br /><br />Yes, I'm crazy. I know this. <br /><br />He's also called Leggador. He had the CHUBBIEST legs as a baby - you could just squeeze them! He's also Eagle, but then, that's from his spirit totem.<br /><br />Then there's our older son, Joseph. It's no wonder this kid tells everyone at school, "My name is Joseph, but you can call me Joseph." He's a riot. But I'm sure his desire to be called his REAL name stems from the multitude of weird things he's got as nicknames.<br /><br />Obviously, there's the usual - Joe, Joey. But we called him JoJoe for a long time - still do. It fit him when he was tiny. We'd also say JoJoe with a strange accent, almost French - like, dragging out and roughening the J sound. Did I mention we're crazy?? He's also been called LoLoe, PoPoe, DoDoe - the list could go on for a while with that.<br /><br />The strangest one he has is Tumper. This was my husband's work. He was calling him JoJoe Jumper boy....and somehow this melded and became Tumper. Tumper was also sometimes morphed into Tump-a-Toley. He's Bear, as well, for his spirit totem.<br /><br />And I'm sure we have many, many more names that we call the kids that we're not even aware of calling them. And I'm sure that there will be many more in their future.<br /><br />So what are some of the weirder ones your kids have?Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-2973616829060749422008-08-14T06:42:00.001-07:002008-08-14T06:47:48.623-07:00Like Manna From HeavenThey're delicious. They aren't messy. And they'll give you the kind of energy needed to do an hour of Spin and still be hyper!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/?action=view&current=jf-sugarbabies-782638.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/jf-sugarbabies-782638.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />Caramel Apple Sugar Babies. I found them at the grocery, bought a few boxes, and shared with the instructor, who promptly fed them to a few of us in class. <br /><br />I felt like a toddler who'd had 5 espressos. I am sure I drove most of the class insane, and most likely the teacher as well. Doh! But wow. They work better than Amp, or Red Bull, or any of those hideous-tasting things. <br /><br />My recommendation? Have a few at home, at work, in the car - for those moments you just need to add a little pep. Though, forewarned - it'll be a little more than a little pep. <br /><br />Oh, and uh - beware the appley burps. Reminded me of Apple Pucker shots...<br /><br />So yeah - try these, they're very very yummy.Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-20987717289610428062008-08-13T08:51:00.000-07:002008-08-13T08:58:16.249-07:00Awesome Giveaway!Bargain Bri, a really good friend of mine who blogs about bargain shopping and getting the best deals possible, is having a giveaway! She's giving away Jessica Seinfeld's book, Deceptively Delicious! YAY BRI!!! So <a href="http://bargainbriana.com/2008/08/my-first-giveaway-deceptively-delicious-by-jessica-seinfeld/#comment-169">click here</a> to check out her blog - and her contest!!! <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-32787807274429239222008-08-07T08:04:00.000-07:002008-08-07T08:09:52.181-07:00If You Think He's Sexy, Come On Sugar Let Me Know!Last night at Spin, people were discussing Rod Stewart. And they were talking about how hot he still is. And I got just plain old squicked out. I told them all that I needed a shower just listening.<br /><br />So then the instructor brought up Wolf from American Gladiators.<br /><br />I'd never seen him, so I decided to search him out online. Uh, yeah - squickable as well.<br /><br />I can't figure out women. How in the world are these men considered sexy? Let's discuss - lay it on me. Is it just me who is wondering why why why??? And - which one is less (more?) sexy??<br /><br /><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/?action=view&current=wolf.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/wolf.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a> <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/?action=view&current=RodStewart.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/Buttons77/RodStewart.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /><br />Side by side, for your pleasure....Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-41552997412135324892008-07-31T11:54:00.000-07:002008-07-31T11:57:26.618-07:00Bargains!Look at me, two in one day! LOL!<br /><br />BUT - I wanted to link everyone to my favorite Bargain Hunter's blog - Briana and I have been friends for a long time, and her Bragain Briana Blog is fabulous for those hoping to find the tricks to saving tons of money on groceries and shopping!<br /><br />I am her guest blogger for the day, since she needed something about Aldi. <a href="http://bargainbriana.com/2008/07/aldi-a-bargain-shoppers-paradise-by-guest-blogger-deanna/">Click Here</a> to check me out in all my guest glory! :D Also check out her wonderful advice on when and where to shop, and how to use the CVS card to your advantage, as well as coupon do's and don't's!!!Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-79947973713948826392008-07-31T08:13:00.000-07:002008-07-31T08:26:11.143-07:00Feelin' CrunchyI had several ideas for a post today - and they have one thing in common. They make me sound crunchy-granola. Which is funny. I'm not a very crunchy person. I mean, I try to do my part - but I also like my conveniences!!!<br /><br />Crunchy past-time number one: Hanging the laundry outside to dry.<br />I've been doing this for 3 weeks now. I actually enjoy it. I'm lifting weight going up the stairs with a basket of wet clothes. I'm out in the sun, smelling the freshly laundered sheets and clothes. It's wonderful. But unfortunately, it wasn't my idea to do it. I didn't decide to try to make the world a better place by using less energy. In short, my dryer broke. And I'm too cheap and annoyed to call a repair man, when I KNOW my husband can fix it. He just was out of town for a week and then we were busy last weekend. And will be busy this weekend as well. It will get fixed eventually. In the mean time, I'll continue my little good deed and keep hanging the clothes out to dry. I love the smell of sun-and-wind dried fabric. It's fantastic. And ironically, on the days we've been having here (90+ degrees) the stuff is drying faster than in the dryer! Funny stuff.<br /><br />Crunchy past-time number two: Using less gasoline in the car.<br />Except this one is sort of sad - I just haven't been going anywhere! No hybrid, no hydrogen car. I'm just being lazy and staying home a lot more! Hehehe...<br /><br />Crunchy past-time number three: Acupuncture.<br />I tried this for the first time yesterday. I hadn't planned on it. Once again, I fell into doing something different! I go to the chiropractor for my neck and knee issues (my chiro is AWESOME, he's into rehab and helping me avoid surgery and making my life as pain-free as possible without any medications! Love it) and also for my migraines. I told him yesterday that I've had an increase in frequency and duration and intensity/symptoms in the past month. He was actually a little miffed at me that I hadn't said anything sooner. Well, you know how it is - I figured it would stop being more frequent on its own. Anyway - he basically did a bunch of work on adjusting my neck and some pinched muscles in my shoulders to help fix the problem. Then he took me for my muscle stim, and said to his assistant, bring me the acupuncture needles. <br /><br />SAY WHAT??? UH, I hate needles. Of any kind. I torment myself twice a day with the epi-pen that delivers the medication I'm on for my weight. So yeah - the thought of needles all over? GAH!!!!<br /><br />I tried to remain calm, and not tense back up all the lovely work he did for the past 30 min. I closed my eyes, and figured what I couldn't see, I wouldn't feel.<br /><br />Acupuncture is SO different. So weird. But awesome, too. It didn't feel like a needle stick. It felt more like he'd hit my funny bone, only in small spots on my hands, eyebrows, scalp, and ears. It's WILD, is what it is. And it helped tremendously. I was able to make it to Spin for the first time in 3 weeks. BONUS!<br /><br />I'm going back for another round tomorrow. I'll let ya know how that goes....heheh! <br /><br />Go me and my new crunchy habits! Hehehe!!Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-6359508913172400242008-07-28T12:02:00.001-07:002008-07-28T12:07:25.929-07:00Be The Change....One of my favorite quotes of all times is, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi said that, and I do believe he has a wonderful point.<br /><br />I just found a fantastic web site that tracks all the small, seemingly insignificant things people do every day to make a difference. You know the ones - where you feel silly, because you feel like you're using a tear drop to put out a forest fire? Except that, when you combine the people all over the globe who are doing that very same thing each day - you find a deluge instead of a tear drop.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wearewhatwedo.org/">We Are What We Do</a> is a wonderful site, and you can track the "little things" you do each day. You can also find ideas for new "little things" to try out, as well. Well worth the click, if you ask me!Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-37748831711276108912008-07-19T13:48:00.001-07:002008-07-19T13:50:00.091-07:00Need A VestRight, so across the street, Lt. Dan Band and the opening acts are warming up. People are starting to get to the concert. I'm considering standing out on my driveway and charging $20 per car to valet park cars on my driveway. I'd make like $160 or so.....hmmm....Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-18883441715990606432008-07-16T06:09:00.001-07:002008-07-19T13:50:53.644-07:00Logic - What a ConceptReading snippets of news on Yahoo is part of my morning routine. Some of my favorites are the weight loss and healthy eating articles. Most of the time, it's just not news. It's logical. Our society has so completely confused the average person with regards to what to eat or not eat, what to do for exercise, what's good, bad, and in between, that if you asked 100 people how to lose weight - you would get such varying responses it would make your head spin.<br /><br />I happened first upon <a href="http://health.yahoo.com/experts/eatthis/10189/the-most-sugar-packed-foods-in-america/">this article</a>, discussing the amounts of sugar in popular foods. And although I'm not shocked by the fact that processed foods and restaurant foods are filled with sugar and calories, I AM shocked at just how much more than in a home-made baked good. I can bake cookies and muffins at home, and they're delicious. And they don't contain even half the fat, calories, and sugar that those purchased at a chain bakery would be. How is that possible? I don't skimp, I use butter and sugar. But my recipe has a shelf life, first off. And secondly, I don't use the cheapest of the cheap ingredients. Sure, white sugar isn't the healthiest thing you can ingest - but it's a lot, a LOT, A LOT better than high fructose corn syrup. Label reading is becoming a huge past time of mine, and I've decided that the only treats and desserts we'll have in our home are the ones I make myself, period. I can make it better, tastier, and healthier at home, and since it takes time to bake a cookie - I guess we'll have to REALLY want it to be able to eat it. No convenience packaged cookies, easy to swipe and stuff. And I guess the thing is - isn't it logical that those additives are what's causing our health and weight problems in this country?<br /><br />The second article I read was <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20080715/hl_time/arefatcaloriesmorefatteningthancarbs;_ylt=AhFZI.FLtUtlrQ23De2Tb_YazJV4">this one</a>, which talks about fat calories versus carb calories. What they're basically saying here, in regards to weight loss, is a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. Period. You cut back the number of calories you eat - you lose weight. Doesn't matter how you're choosing to cut back, you will lose. BUT - the real question is whether you're going to keep the weight off. And the answer, resoundingly and logically, is NO. If you "diet" by the current sense of the word (in other words, you follow a plan that cuts back on one thing, or you follow some wacked out eating plan that makes no nutritional sense, or use pills, or crash cut your calorie intake) you will lose, at first. But then you will find that you gain back. Because you cannot expect to lose eating one way, and keep it off eating normally. So low-fat, and low-carb, and the grapefruit diet, and any of those weird and strange food-combination or ultra-low-cal diets have one thing in common. It is this - rare is the person who can eat like that the rest of their life. And once a person stops eating the way the diet says to eat, the pounds will come back. And often, the pounds you lost will bring friends with them.<br /><br />The bottom line? LOGIC. Except somehow, we have to retrain ourselves to think about food rationally and logically. Basically, eat food. Don't eat too much. If you have pizza, have pizza - but 2 slices, instead of 4. Incorporate fresh, unprocessed foods as much as possible, both for the benefit of filling you up with less calories, but also for the healthful side effects. Eat to be healthy, not to lose weight. Eat to be balanced and have energy. Food is fuel. You deserve premium.Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-48815292902252095622008-07-11T17:45:00.001-07:002008-07-19T13:52:28.590-07:00Just Like the SeasonsAmazing how much life changes. When I was in high school, I didn't really think about how very liquid your friendships can be. We all thought we were best friends, to the end, never thought we'd lose touch. And yet, some friends can move through your life like a swift river. They come, they leave their mark for better or worse, and they go. They carve out a piece of you, leaving you changed. I think the changes, no matter if done with love, hate, or indifference, always bring about beauty. I think that no matter how badly things might be when you part ways, there's still a lasting beauty left behind. There's the beauty of the good times, of course. But there's also the beauty of the strength and change that happens within you from anything that goes badly. We all grow and change as a result of the people who leave us.<br /><br />I have always tried to live my life while keeping in mind that I would rather have that bad parting or that fight or that ugly blow up, if it means I had the beautiful part of the relationship. I would never give up my wonderful memories to avoid the painful ones. Never. And that, I think, is how a person keeps from becoming bitter and nasty to people, old and new.<br /><br />Yes, I have a few people from my past for whom I still have some anger and yes, one even has (deservedly so) my antipathy. But for the most part, I try to let that go. I try to see the results of the worst of it. I try to see how much more love I have for the people who truly care about me. I try to see the strength of my friendships that I retain, how much deeper and more amazing because they weathered a storm or two. And I try to see how my judgment and personality have been formed by those who are no longer within my sphere.<br /><br />So it is the wounds that highlight the best in our lives. I truly do feel that I would not appreciate what I have today if yesterday had not happened. I would not appreciate comfort if I had not felt pain. I would not appreciate life if I had not faced death. And I would not appreciate the friends I have if I had never lost the ones who are gone.Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-4380947362789160332008-07-08T15:55:00.000-07:002008-07-19T13:51:44.166-07:00Not As Bad As I Thought...I'm in a medical weight loss program. Which sounds like a lot more than it really is. My husband started seeing an endocrinologist at the Bariatric Center at our local hospital. He wanted to find out options that weren't surgical, and try those. He was quite heavy. And his mother died from complications due to bariatric bypass surgery. So we want to exhaust all non-surgical methods first, as one could guess.<br /><br />Anyway, to show solidarity, I started going too. They have us trying an insulin-controlling medication, and we're having pretty good results. We're both happy with it.<br /><br />The one thing about these centers, though, is that it's a whole being approach. In other words, you don't only go see the endocrinologist. You also have to see a nutritionist, an exercise expert, and a few others I have yet to need to see. I saw the nutritionist at my first visit, and duh - it was all information I knew. I KNOW it. I just don't always DO it. Like, for example, at 11pm in the kitchen when I have a mad case of munchies and only peanuts or something equally salty and fatty will do. THAT is the moment I need the nutritionist to step in. But obviously, they do not pay house calls.<br /><br />So today was my appointment with the exercise expert. It was a fairly comical meeting, to say the least. I actually looked forward to her reaction to me. You see, I'm tall - 6 feet, to be exact. I'm also built in the "sturdy" or "bigger" method of people....you know, big bones, decent musculature even when I don't lift weights - that sort of thing....<br /><br />I weigh - uh, let's just say, a lot. But I'm also fairly fit. I told her first about my knees and neck, though. And then she asked me what I do each week for fitness. This is where it got comical. Because, honestly, I do a lot for someone who is my weight. I told her about the 2 hours of spin I normally do a week, and the 3 hours of karate I do at MINIMUM. Add to that the half hour of rehab weight lifting each Wednesday with my doc, and she kinda just stared at me. The look on her face was priceless - a somewhat amazed, bemused look, that said, "Why the heck are you overweight then??"<br /><br />Ahhh, priceless....<br /><br />So we discussed some things I can do to modify weight lifting in order to increase my muscle mass - it's the one place I've been floundering because of my knees and neck.<br /><br />AND then .....<br /><br />cue dramatic music....<br /><br />It was time to test my body fat percentage. OY. VEY.<br /><br />I was terrified, I will not lie. First off, the electronic body fat testers often run wacky on someone with higher muscle mass. The scales that test body fat will tell me I'm something like 65% body fat (uh, sure, yeah - I'll go lose 130 pounds, k? Not....accurate, eh?? I mean, I have bones, no? And organs?? Those have to weigh more than 100 pounds...) Secondly, I just did NOT feel like being depressed today...<br /><br />This tester was awesome. It measures at the bicep. I carry my fat in my midsection, and have skinny arms and legs (for a chubby gal). WOOHOO! It also asks 7 questions which it takes into account for results. Things like, what frame are you? How often do you work out? For how long? Double woohoo!<br /><br />I am in love with this machine....it told me I'm ok! woot! I am 28.7% body fat. Which is UNDER the obese category - happy day! I was expecting like 40% with it being the electronic ones...but WOW, it was fairly accurate! She said I should be about 22%, so I've got 6% to work on. This is far less daunting than the ones that told me I had to lose about 45%....<br /><br />So I guess it was a good visit. I think she was impressed with my fitness knowledge (former instructor, I should hope I know how to do stuff! LOL! ) And my attitude....so I see her in October again - she said she'd test my body fat again....can't wait, actually!!!Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-3984366966009367872008-06-24T18:39:00.000-07:002008-07-19T13:51:57.461-07:00Little Pitchers Have Big Ears - AND Mouths!As any parent will tell you, kids will listen and retain what they hear around them, even if they are seemingly completely in another world. They will parrot what they hear back at the most inopportune moments, as well. And in the case of our 7 year old, they will stick to their story, no matter how wrong they have it. And no matter how many adults refute them. Or maybe it's just him.<br /><br />He decided to tell his grandmother, who is a McCain supporter, that McCain is a bad man because he will force everyone in the US to go to church.<br /><br />I heard him start to say this, and I thought, OH MY GAWD. No, please no - tell me he isn't saying THAT.<br /><br />Yes, he was saying that.<br /><br />And then he went and blamed it on his FATHER. Little booger even had a scape goat! Thankfully, my mother #1, knows her son-in-law and the level of his intelligence, and #2, knows how 7 year old boys are, and THEIR level of intelligence.<br /><br />So she said, there is no way your father said that.<br /><br />And here's where it got interesting!<br /><br />So Joe decides to argue the point with her, and tries to back up his argument with "information" as well. But he mixed up names of people, and even blamed some sort of church-going foul-play on Hillary Clinton, as well. And despite both my mother's and my telling him he had heard wrong, and that he was mixing things up, as well as saying something patently false and unfair and somewhat insulting - he argued on. My mother and I looked at each other, and just amazingly, we had to be thinking the same thing. That he takes after every SINGLE male in our family. OY.<br /><br />I finally got him to listen to us, and to hear us. We also told him that being wrong is not such a horrid thing, and that he isn't stupid if he's wrong. We also told him that, in fact, he looks stupid only when he clings to an idea and refuses to back down.<br /><br />I'm hoping he learned at least to just keep his mouth shut a bit more and listen to adults. We're working on that one, because, apparently, we adults are pretty uneducated, dull, and slow in his eyes.<br /><br />And hopefully, he figured out too that saying political things just gets him in trouble.<br /><br />I would so love to hear the actual stuff we were saying that he heard and scrambled in that granite block of his....Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5599878512694209853.post-83263979341797829812008-06-16T12:00:00.000-07:002008-06-16T12:18:22.208-07:00Summer is for Losers<p class="MsoNormal" style="">Losing pounds, that is...<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Summer is a wonderful time for doing things outdoors, and for finding new ways to get a little exercise in.<span style=""> </span>As we begin the summer vacation, and hotter weather, I keep trying to find creative ways to get just a little extra in each day.<span style=""> </span>I call them random acts of fitness.<span style=""> </span>It is an interesting challenge to find a way to get in a few squats on the playground without looking like I have lost my mind, though.<span style=""> </span>I am sure that I am an amusing sight to the other moms and dads.<span style=""> </span>Or else they think I am the town nutcase.<span style=""> </span>All of that aside, I still try to do it.<span style=""> </span>The hotter weather reminds me of how much I hate shorts that don’t fit quite right, and how much my thighs chafe when I am at this weight.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><o:p></o:p>It is amazing the tiny differences and changes that you barely notice when you are either gaining or losing weight.<span style=""> </span>I notice that as I lose, I can walk in shorts easier.<span style=""> </span>I do not have to keep pulling the legs of the shorts out of a bunch between my legs.<span style=""> </span>I do not walk bowlegged from time to time to get the fabric to fall straight.<span style=""> </span>If anyone else has ever had to do this, you will understand completely what I mean when I say I am ecstatic to realize halfway through doing these things that it is not necessary to perform this ritual.<span style=""> </span>Every time I tic off another size or pound gone, I try to remind myself how far I have come.<span style=""> </span>It is much easier to despair of how far I have left to go, since that is such a distant future.<span style=""> </span>Where I was is not nearly as enjoyable as where I am now, and I know where I am going will be a grand, wonderful place, filled once again with buying off the clearance rack, and not having to ask for a bigger size.<span style=""> </span>I am starting to drool just thinking about that place.</p><o:p></o:p>So I keep trying to find ways to trick myself into working out without realizing it.<span style=""> </span>It is a big contest to see if I can work out for a half hour without noticing the time.<span style=""> </span>So far, I have found that I can do an hour if I am in a challenging class or have good tunes.<span style=""> </span>And all those little random acts of fitness I do in a day start to add up.<span style=""> </span>Which is good, considering how fast 2 hours of the day care at the gym fly by! I don't get in a lot of weight training yet. But then, the aerobic is more important right now.<br /><br />Add in the gardening I'm doing to "save money" and heck, I should shock the other moms at school next fall!Deahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07593766471744418635noreply@blogger.com0