Progress

Baby Steps.  Baby Steps.  That's what I keep telling myself!  The first two weeks of truly "trying" to lose weight and be healthier have been going really well.  Thank you all so much for the encouragement on my last post.  I've only missed 2 days of working out, and even controlled myself when the hubs and I went out to eat at Outback!  Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to order broccoli instead of a baked sweet potato loaded up with cinnamon butter and brown sugar?  HARD.  But I did it, and I actually felt really good about it.  And, just a side note...I haven't been impressed with their food the past few times we've gone (over the past year), but someone must have gotten that memo because the food ROCKED this time.  Yes, even the broccoli. 

I also tried Zumba for the first time in my life.  And I'm still here typing about it, so I'd count that as a success in itself!  I did realize, mid-way through, that the shirt I was wearing was (very unfortunately) one of the ones that had "lingered" in the washing machine for a tad too long.  Yeah, it stunk.  REALLY bad.  And that gross mildewy smell does not mesh well with sweat.  It was pretty funky.  I trucked it out of there the second the music stopped.  I'm hoping my next attempt is a little less smelly. But on the bright side, it was sooo fun.  I laughed the entire time.  Chris did ask me if it was because I could see myself in the mirror, but I just let little comment slide :)  I am not the most coordinated girl on the planet, and I admittedly looked like a complete idiot.  But, still...super fun.  I definitely plan on going again.

I've also decided that while I don't WANT to give up Dr. Pepper, and I don't want to change too many things for fear of giving up altogether b/c it's just too hard to stay committed, drinking 150-300 of my calories a day is just not going to work.  So, I will be limiting that.  Day 1 of no Dr. Pepper has been successful so far.  But...it's only 1pm.  Hmmmm.

My progress is this:

5 lbs lost

My clothes fit!  No, they're not too big.  They just fit again.  Yay!!

I can do the elliptical machine for 30 min straight without dying.

I went to Zumba by myself and didn't run out the door during the first break.

I'm motivated, more energetic & feeling happier.

I can do this.

Dream Vacation

Last Christmas, Chris and I decided that we'd go on a trip this year instead of really getting each other "presents".  Originally, we thought Hawaii would be our destination (we think BIG!).  We downsized a little, and changed the plan to the Napa Valley.  That quickly changed to Fredricksburg, TX (the Texas Wine Country), and now... his leave was cancelled so we won't be going anywhere.  Such is military life in all it's glory!  Ha!

Though I'm sad that we won't be going to Texas (we planned on celebrating Micah's 1st birthday with family while we were there), I think it was actually a blessing in disguise.  As much as I feel like I need a "break" sometimes, I think I'd miss the kiddo's if we were away for too long.  And it'd be even harder since Micah's not quite a year yet and is still taking bottles, and 2 naps, and is on a pretty regular schedule.  I mean, of course the grandparents (all 7 of them!!) would still LOVE it...but it will be a lot easier (on everyone!) when he crosses the threshold of a year :)  

We haven't given up hope though, just changed the plan a little bit...such is the story of my life!  We've decided to try again in late April or early May.  But, where should we go???  Where would YOU go???  We'll have a babysitter (fingers-crossed), some money saved up (YAY for tax-free deployments!  It's the only thing about deployments that I can say YAY about!!), and a plethora of options.  Don't you love that word?  Plethora.  I think it's fab!!

So here's my top 6 choices, in no particular order.  And remember, they are DREAM places...not necessarily true options at the moment!

1.  Peru ~ I want to go to Macchu Picchu so bad I can taste it!  It is my absolute TOP choice of dream destinations.  Someday I WILL go.  Someday.

2.  Canada ~ Toronto/Vancouver or Montreal.  I just think those would be fun places to visit.  Plus, I love cold weather and I'm pretty sure those cities would fit the bill :)

3.  Napa Valley ~ I think it would mix romance & fun seamlessly.

4.  Seattle, WA ~ I've just always wanted to see Seattle, it's so different than anywhere we've ever been.

5.  Grand Cayman Cruise ~ I love cruises, and I've heard that Grand Cayman is gorgeous!  

6.  An Alaskan Cruise ~ This should probably be closer to the top.  Actually, it's right up there with Peru.  But, like Peru, it's way too expensive & would take us away from our babies for far too long.  But, one day.  It's definitely a bucket list bullet :)

Where would your dream vacation be?  Have you already been there, done that?  If so...where was it?  I know we've been blessed by the military, and have already been able to see so many amazingly beautiful places.  To this day, my favorite vacation was the one we took to Bavaria.  I'm not sure that any other place could top the experience we had there.  But living overseas definitely gave me a longing to travel, to see the world and to experience different cultures and types of people.  We, for sure, can't do Peru this time...or Alaska, or Grand Cayman.  But, we may make it to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, or up to a little cabin in Vermont.  Wherever it is, I'm sure we'll love it because, let's be honest, it'll be a vacation....and I've never had a BAD one of those :)

Raleigh Days

We went to Raleigh a few weeks ago for a street fair type event.  It was pretty cool, different...but cool. People camped out all weekend to do chalk drawings up and down Fayetteville Street.  I'm sure there was a "cause", we just never found out what it was :)

The above-right picture is a huge 3-sided chalkboard that said:

"Before I die I want to________________"

My personal favorite was "be a ninja!"

What would you put??????

This was such a fun craft that we copied it for Elli's birthday party.  You get to paper plates and decorate the underside of them.  You then fill one plate up with dried beans and rice and place the other plate on top.  Then you just staple all the way around the plate and you've made your very own "shaker".  We also added crepe paper streamers...super fun!

Next up was brunch at Beasley's...yummmmm!!  And yes, I know it looks super unhealthy....and it was, but WOW was it good :)  And then onto Pullen Park to ride the train, the mini-boats and the carousel.  I LOVE Pullen Park, it's such an awesome place for kids (and parents)!!

And then we finished up the day with some ice cream at the Raleigh Farmer's Market.  I love that place.  We have so much fun every time we visit!  All in all, it was a great day out to the "big city"...as Elli likes to call it :)

 

County Fair

I got a date with a girl, a pretty ranchers daughter,
Green eyes and golden hair.
Gonna pick her up at 8 after some soap and water,
And we're headin' to the county fair.

~ Chris Ledoux ~

I remember listening to that song in High School, and I couldn't help but sing it to myself yesterday when we headed to the County Fair.  Fairs are so much fun.  Something about the lights, the people, the food, and sounds...it just makes me miss being a kid. 

 A quick picture before we left :)  

 Someone's excited!!

 And there it is....

 Nothing says County Fair like milking a fake cow!!

 Mr. REALLY liked the goats.  He thought they were hilarious!

 Elli thought this was pretty cool.

 Gearing up to go on the Ferris Wheel...when did it get to be so expensive!!  Geez!!

 There they go....

Elli got to ride the Wiggly Worm all by herself :)

 At this point, Micah was DONE.  He almost never cries, and about 2 seconds after this picture, he started bawling.  And about 2 seconds after we got in the car...he was OUT!

It was a great day!  We had so much fun making memories with our kids...well, memories that "we'll" remember :)  Ha!  Can't wait for next year!

You Are My Sunshine (A Birthday Montage!)

You Are My Sunshine, 

My 1st born Sunshine, 

You make me HAPPY, 

When skies are grey.

You'll never know dear, 

How much I love you, 

Please don't take my Sunshine away.

 

   

 

Just in case you were wondering...here are some vendors/tutorials:

All Paper Goods ~ Totful Memories

Yellow "Lemon Head" Wreath ~ The Crafty Scientist

Cupcakes, Cake Pops, & Cookie Favors (not shown) ~ Bake My Day Bakery

Centerpieces (Super easy!!!) ~ You Tube

Princess Bounce House ~ Ram Rent All

32 by 32

I have a birthday coming up.  Well, in a little under 6 months, but still...it's coming.  And I will be 32.  I remember thinking 30 was old.  Actually, I remember thinking 25 was old.  Oh, it'll all be downhill from there, I thought!  Geez.  And now that I'm a year past 30, I can honestly say that I see things completely differently now.  I can't really think of an age that's "old".  I mean, I think there is truly something to be said for the adage that, "you're as old as you feel".  And that leads me to my point...

I can't ever remember being really happy with the way I look.  I'm not looking for sympathy, pity or even support with that statement, it's merely the truth.  Even in High School, when I was thin-ish, I remember being very uncomfortable in my skin.  I always felt big, whether I was or not, I felt that way.  I'm a picky eater.  And when I say picky, I mean...I like fried chicken.  A LOT.  And fried okra, and fried pickles, and fried onions.  All relatively okay things...until you fry them!  And my love of all things fried, combined with my obsession with Dr. Pepper, has helped me gain a significant amount of weight over the past 7 years.

And now, on this 6 month-ish eve of my 32nd birthday, I am finally ready to change.  I don't feel old.  I look at my children, and sometimes feel as if my life is just beginning.  I'm not an outdoorsy kinda girl, but I want to go outside to explore with them.  I've never liked to run, but my daughter LOVES to...and I want to encourage that.  I ate horribly for the first, well, 31 years of my life, and I don't want my kids to go down that road.  I want to model confidence for Elli, not self-destructive behavior/eating habits or poor self-esteem.  (And let me just say that I think that's a very slippery slope, and there's enough to be said about that one seemingly small topic to fill up many, many more blog posts!).  I want Micah to see me participating in activities, not just sitting on the sidelines.  And if I'm honest with myself, I don't think I can do any of those things with confidence until I get my weight under control.  

I'm not trying to blow the situation out of proportion.  I know I'm not huge and, to some, it may not even seem like I have that much of a problem.  But I know how I feel when I step on the scale.  I know the agony of trying to decide what to wear every day.  I know that my eating habits are FAR from healthy, and that I absolutely loathe working out because I'm so out of shape.  So it doesn't really matter what it looks like from the outside...I know in my heart that I need to change.

And finally...3 paragraphs later...my point!  I have decided, committed, promised myself to lose 32 lbs by the time I'm 32 years old.  It's a number that is attainable, maybe not easily attainable, but attainable nonetheless.  It's a good weight for my height, it will bring me down a few pant sizes (maybe?!), and I think it will honestly change.my.life.  I won't be dieting, per se', just making better food choices.  Cutting out Dr. Pepper's just won't work for me...so I'll be limiting them.  I love me some chocolate, so I'm not planning on cutting that out either...just making it more of a treat than an every night indulgence :)  And I've joined a gym and have succeeded in working out (however grudgingly) 4 out of 5 days this week.  I've committed myself to 5x/week, so I'll be going on Saturday to make up the day I missed.  I think it's just as much about making time for myself (in a healthy way), as it is about losing the weight.  I want to stay "young" by feeling young...and I'd love your support as I start this journey :)