Learning to Love Myself...and a Give-away!

I have labeled 2009 the year of acceptance. Too many years have been wasted beating myself up over the most ridiculous things. Things like eating too many cookies, not exercising enough, watching too much mindless TV, lazing around when I should be cleaning the house, etc. Near the end of 2008 I had an epiphany. I came to the realization that no one is the boss of me. Who's to say 15 double-stuffed oreos are worse than 10. (The fact that I should not eat them in the first place is not up for discussion today. Like I said, no one is the boss of me.) I mean, come on. If you are going to eat them, enjoy them. Besides, total fat grams for 15 cookies is only slightly higher than 10 cookies. Why constantly walk around running mental math equations calculating total number of fat grams, weight watcher points and total calorie count. Yes my friends, I am a master of all three. I can't remember phone numbers, my mother's age or my children's social security numbers, yet I can give you the nutritional information...or lack there of...of most edible items. Geez, I can possibly even give them to you for several inedible items. I've been known to wake from a deep sleep recounting what I ate the day before, doing mathematical gymnastics to see if I fell within my daily calorie alotment. But I digress. The point here is that it is high time I learn to accept that I am human. That I am flawed. That I have strengths and I have weaknesses - just like every other human being. That I will never be a size 4 and that is OK. So I am taking a good hard look at those things which I have never really liked about myself and finding ways to...uhhh...love them.

Today I've decided to work on embracing the most random of things. My focus is in the area of vanity. Of course there are far more important and meaningful areas on which to focus, but this is where I choose to dwell. Again, no one is the boss of me. It is a particular body part that haunts me. No, it is not my ever-growing, gonna-be-bigger-than-the-broad-side-of-a-barn-if-I-keep-it-up backside. Truthfully, this girl has some junk in her trunk! Funny as it may seem, I'm over worrying about my tush. It is what it is. But there is one part of my anatomy that I cannot come to terms with. The secret anatomical bugger is...(drum roll please)...my feet! I have been blessed, or cursed, depending on how you choose to frame it, with "Fred Flintstone" feet! Laugh if you must, but for years I would concoct schemes to avoid showing my feet. The one and only time I wore sandals to high school, let's just say it's a wonder I didn't break my toes trying to curl them under so no one would see. Talk about awkward and uncomfortable walking! Sheesh! And despite my efforts to hide my ginormous toes, leave it to a smart-mouthed upper classman, who shall remain nameless (only because I can't remember his name) cracked a joke about them and proceeded to point them out to anyone and everyone who would dare take a gander. Sad, isn't it? *sigh*

But those days are over. It is time to embrace my lovely, little...uh, I mean big...piggies! I thought and thought about the best way to do this and I came up with a plan that I think will work. I am going to post a photo here on the ol' blog . Yes siree, I am going to throw them out there for all the world to see. And if I get a few snickers, so be it. Wonderful thing about communicating via the net...I don't have to hear the giggles. I can pretend that everyone is smiling and saying "Oh, they aren't that bad"...yeah, right!!!

So without further stalling on my part, I present to you the infamous "Fred Flintstone" feet!

May they continue to carry me through all that life has for me and from this day forth I pledge to love them for what they are...a super-strong, wide foundation for that super-wide, not-so-strong butt of mine!!!

And now for the give-away! I have an extra Key To My Heart kit from Close To My Heart that I would love to pass on to someone very special. The stamp set is one of my favorites. Sorry for the bad photo. I had to shoot at night with limited light. Even my new-fangled baby was struggling with this one.

In honor of this "loving thyself" attitude, I challenge you to leave me a comment letting me know what you have had to learn to accept about yourself. Don't be shy...ain't no one gonna tell...as long as no one shares with that loud-mouthed upper classman! You have until Sunday night at midnight to participate. Hope someone is able to top my fat feet...but I'm not holding my breath! And if you are one of those perfect people who has nothing wrong with you, please just make something up so the rest of us will feel better. OK?

Have a fantastic weekend ya'll!

***I have received a few emails letting me know that blogger is up to its old tricks and you may not be able to post a comment. If it won't allow you to leave a comment and you would like to participate in the give-away, please send me an email. Sorry for the inconvenience!***

It's All About Me...well, not really

I cannot believe it is already Wednesday night! I knew I had a very busy week, but my goodness how time has rushed by! By the way, does anyone else walk around all day wondering what day it is? LOL! I seem to be doing that more and more lately. It is Wednesday, right? Is it an age thing, or a sign of brain overload? Probably a combination of both.

Now for the "all about me" part. All the busy-ness I just mentioned has nothing to do with anything other than placating and pampering me! Time with MY friends. Trip to MY not-so-local scrapbook store. Two hour gym sessions. Manicure and pedicure. Travel to Athens to see MY baby girl and MY man! What, pray tell, have I left out? Is there any other thing I could possibly do just for me...hmmmm.

Oh yeah! Remember that I mentioned a recent purchase I made just for me? The thing that had me so excited I was about to burst. Well, I think it is high time I share. If you love this scrappin' hobby as much as I do, you will understand my enthusiasm. Ready?



That's right, friends, I am the proud, very proud, owner of a brand new Canon EOS D40! I did countless hours of research and worked diligently to juggle my budget in order to make it happen. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I was able to register for Karen Russell's photography class starting in June! This is such a hard class to get into...super long waiting list. But I have secured my spot and I am working very hard to learn as much as I can about my new toy before class starts. Good thing I didn't get in the March class, huh?

If you knew me, you would know how hard it was to pull the trigger on this purchase. I rarely, if ever, make big purchases that are for my benefit only. I didn't even get on the digital bandwagon for years because I couldn't justify the cost. But this new phase of life I am in - the part where I am redefining who I am - has me thinking that I need to now focus on some of those things that I've always wanted to do. Perfecting my photography skills is high on my list. So...new camera in hand...photography class coming up...and I am on my way to marking one thing off my bucket list!

Because I am making this post all about me, I thought I would throw a question out there for all you scrappy ladies. The reason I made the 45-minute trek to my not-so-local scrapbook store is because of a challenge they are currently doing. I have only participated in something such as this one other time but this one sounded too fun to not participate. The challenge requires the use of one of 2 new Basic Grey lines, Marrakech or Porcelain, Core-dinations card stock and any item from Technique Tuesday. The question I pose to you is, which line do you think you would enjoy scrapping? Guess you can tell I couldn't make up my mind. Anyone have a favorite? BTW, the winner of the challenge gets $100.00 - $50.00 cash and $50.00 in store credit! Pretty good, wouldn't you say?

Happy day to you all!

P.S. Just so you know I am definitely NOT an all-about-me kind of girl, I would love to do a give-away with a fabulous stamp & paper kit. However, given my recent issues with blogger and the inability to post comments, I thought it best to wait and see if the issue has been resolved. So stay tuned!

Let the Fun Begin!

Remodel. Update. Modify. Whatever you want to call it, it all means the same...hard work! This weekend, Keith and I began the process of re-doing my house. We are still patiently waiting for so many of the balls that we have in the air to come to a resting place. We won't know where we will live until we get some answers to some very big questions. Our first choice is this house here in Asheville. But pending the outcome of the unresolved issues with Morgan's mom, we may have to live in Atlanta. Either way, my house could stand to be brought into this decade...I guess that would mean it actually needs to be brought into this century??? The house is ten years old and if I do say so, it doesn't look that old. One thing that does date it is the wallpaper. While I still like the wallpaper, I thought it might be nice to switch to painted walls. So you know what that means...yep, stripping the old wallpaper. Joy. Fun. UGH!!!!

Our first project is the master bath. I never knew how large this room was until we began taking down the paper. There are actually 18 different walls if you take every angle into account. As you can guess, it took us awhile.


I must confess, we actually had fun working together. It is so nice to have someone with whom you can enjoy doing the most mundane, un-fun things. Someone with whom you can slave away a weekend and still come out smiling. Keith truly is my superman. He has commited to working one weekend a month with me in hopes of completing several of our projects. We are secretly wishing the work will be for our enjoyment, but should we have to sell the house, we hope the changes will strengthen its appeal.

I haven't taken after pictures for several reasons. The number one being the unfinished walls are just plain ugly. So you get a peak at the before shots. This look is what I have known for a long time. But change is fun and I can't wait to see our finished product! I have yet to decide on my paint color. I guess I had better get on that. I have until next month's work day to decide so I think I can figure it out. I'm hoping to find a nice compliment to my master bedroom's "baby poop green". That was the label given by the painters when we were constructing the house. I guess the last laugh is on them. I have kept that color for 10 years and I have received numerous compliments. Guess folks are quiet fond of baby poop...I'm just sayin'.

By the way, check back in a few days. I have a little present I bought myself today that I cannot WAIT to share with you! I'm so excited I could pee my pants!!!

Hope you all have a marvelous Monday. And just so you know, my private parts are back to being quietly private...no more screaming "I Hurt! I Need Attention! Don't EVER Do That To Me Again!"

***I've been experiencing issues with readers being unable to post comments. I think I've fixed the problem. I am soooo technically challenged...I'll just cross my fingers and hope for the best. Sorry for the snag!***

My Private Parts Hurt!!!

OK, so this isn't the most glamorous of titles, but it is the truth. The cause of my current state of uncomfortableness is last night's spinning class. For the past 6 months, I have been consistent with my early morning workouts and the past 2 months have mostly revolved around weight lifting and toning. The results have been exactly what I had hoped in terms of toning up, but I still need to shed a few pounds. Basic science tells me that in order to do this, I need to expend some calories...especially since I'm choosing not to reduce my intake of said calories. I have been so motivated by all the bloggers who are logging numerous miles walking and running that I decided to re-acquaint myself with my treadmill. I always refer to my treadmill as my "friend". Something about it soothes me. Yes, I'm weird! Well, my dear "friend" has passed on. The motor is fried! We had a long and wonderful relationship, but it is over. Not wanting to spend the money on a new one just yet, I figured it was time to darken the doors of the gym again.

I had intended to stop by after work and log a few miles on the treadmill there, but the second I pulled into the parking lot I knew the likelihood of that was slim. All the cardio equipment was occupied. Not wanting to waste my resolve to burn those extra calories, I eagerly jumped in on the spinning class. Hey, I've been working out...should be no problem. Now I'm not new to spinning, but it has been a while. Being the eager beaver, I claimed the bike in the middle - right in front of the instructor. She was this perky little thing that spent time "getting to know us" before the class began. I had no intention of drawing too much attention to myself, but I certainly wanted her to know I might struggle to keep up. I made it clear that this was the first time in a mighty long time I had climbed aboard a bike. The other class members were regulars except for me and a brand-new spinner who happened to be a teenager, so she doesn't count. I mean, when you are in your teens, you are supposed to be able to keep up in any cardio class...right? Right! LOL!

Class began well - a mix of 80's music and a fired up instructor. What more could you ask for? Obviously, alot! I made it through the first 2 songs, sweating and only gasping for air a few times, all the while thinking "Not so bad. I think I can do this". Then the fun began. What I didn't realize was the first 2 songs were just the warm-up! Throughout the class, the instructor kept checking in on the newbies, you know, making sure we were OK. I always responded with a thumbs up and a smile, muttering through clenched teeth, "I'm dying here! Get me some oxygen!" Forty or fifty simulated sprints and hill climbs later we were done. I was sweating profusely but I was feelin' good! So good, in fact, that I decided to stay for the boxing class. Like I said earlier, I'm crazy. Fortunately for me, it was a beginner's class, but it was still a butt-kicking session. I left relaxed, happy and committed to returning next week for both classes.

But today I am rethinking that decision. I hurt in places I didn't even know I had. Do we really have muscles around our knees? My bum hurts, my legs ache and we won't even talk about the pain I'm feeling in my nether region! I had forgotten how that cycle seat does a number on...ahem, our most private places. I'm hoping my awkward walk will be attributed to my recent episodes of vertigo. We'll keep the real reason between us friends. OK? OK!

Go DAWGS!

My Valentine's Day...let me re-phrase...my Valentine's morning - very early morning - was spent at a cheerleading competition. And it was not just any competition...it was THE world's largest cheerleading competition. Over 800 teams were there, meaning over 16,000 cheerleaders! That would also mean over 16,000 cheerleading moms! LOL!

My daughter has been involved in competative cheerleading for over 10 years. I took her to her first tumbling class when she was in 3rd grade and she has been hooked ever since! So I have spent many a weekend in gymnasiums and conference centers battling large crowds, chaotic traffic, expensive hotel fees and mind-numbingly loud music just to get the chance to see my girl perform for a grand total of 3 minutes! Good news is most competitions are two day events so I guess you could say I get 6 minutes of viewing pleasure. Yippee!

Seriously, I must admit that I enjoy watching her team compete. When she was younger, there were episodes of the stereotypical cheerleading mom syndrome (would not have been me, no siree!) that had to be dealt with, but overall it was a very good experience. I made some great friends and amassed some fantastic memories from all our travels.

Keri is now in college and we thought competition days were over. Lucky for her, Georgia has a club team that competes and Keri made the team. They've done well this year, but as you can guess, the true feather in their cap would come from winning this one particular competition. They arrived Saturday morning to discover a team member had actually broken her foot at Thursday night's practice and the routine needed to be re-worked...they had roughly an hour to make the adjustments...no alternates on this team so it was tricky. Despite the set back, they performed well. There were 6 teams in their division and they were in 2nd place after day one. The team in first place had a show-stopping routine with every high-flying, jaw-dropping stunt you could imagine. They were from Ontario, Canada and have won this competition 3 years straight. We felt honored to be in such good company.

Sunday's routine and the team's reaction were a testament to what this is all about. The Georgia Dawgs gave it everything they had and presented the performance of their lives! They even succeeded in outscoring the number 1 team for that day. Sadly it wasn't enough to take the 2 day lead, but they were so proud of themselves. My heart warmed to realize that while the 1st place trophy was certainly the goal, this team kept their perspective and was thrilled and content knowing they had done their best.

I thought I would leave you with a little viewing pleasure of your own. The competition hosted a "So You Think You Can Tumble" competition on Friday night. Take the time to watch, it only lasts maybe 30 seconds. Trust me, this is a freak of human nature at its finest! Happy Monday!

***Edited***

I couldn't get the video to load like I wanted. If you would like to see this you will need to click the link below, make sure you are viewing the male finalists and scroll down to view Meek Green from Freedom All-Stars. I've seen some great tumblers, but this guy blew me away!

http://www.passionation.com/

More layouts from the weekend

Thought I would post additional pages from my great scrap weekend. I can't stress enough how much I've come to love using kits from my monthly kit clubs. I have always created "kits" of sorts whenever I've gone to crops in the past. Now the work is done for me...how cool is that! Everything is right there packaged so neatly. All I have to do is grab the kit, my tools and I'm good to go.

The first two layouts came from the Scrap for a Cure kit, She's Such a Girl. I love all the bright colors. They work so well with these crazy pics of my daughter and her friends.

The following layouts of Keith and Morgan were made using older Scarlet Lime kits. If you haven't checked out Scarlet Lime, you may just want to treat yourself to a peek at their site. I fall in love with these kits each and every month. They are product heavy and Christy does a terrific job of finding such unique items to include.

These last two layouts of Keri and Morgan were made using miscellaneous product from my stash. The photos are really washed out and I was unable to correct then to my liking in PS, but you get the idea.

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend and here's wishing you much time and merriment with those you treasure most! Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm Suffering From Withdrawal...

...and it isn't pretty! This wonderful, new best friend of mine (said with MUCH sarcasm), Vertigo, has decided to take up permanent residence. At least it feels that way. I have been spinning, tilting, wobbling and stumbling for over 4 weeks now and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. In fact, at work I am now known as "Wall Banger". Lovely, just lovely. I've been to the doctor several times, been prescribed various medications and still very little relief. Anxious to try to ease the symptoms as much as possible...cause let's face it, while walking in a not-so-straight manner is quiet funny, driving in a not-so-straight line isn't...I asked about dietary changes and such. Oh how I wish I had not asked the question! I was told to limit sodium...not so easy, but nothing I can't handle...and CAFFEINE! Eeeeekkkk!

Forget that kicking the caffeine habit has been a goal for mine for, oh, let's say...my entire adult life! But, man, I want to do it on my own terms. You know, ease into it...take it slow...limit myself to 2-3 servings a day...and then see how it goes before I cut consumption further. I don't think that approach will work here. So I've resorted to weighing the pros and cons of each...here is my list...in no particular order!

Kick the Habit:
1. Healthier mind
2. Healthier body
3. Reduce symptoms of vertigo
4. Reduce PMS ---Keith, if you are reading this, there is no truth to this claim. I will still need caffeine in abundant supply during THAT time of the month. *wink. wink.*

Keep the Habit:
1. I just LOVE the taste of an icy cold Diet Dr. Pepper.
2. I just love the taste and smell of a hot cup of coffe.
3. It's still cold weather here and I can easily cover the bumps and bruises caused by running into walls, chairs, tables...for that matter, anything that gets in my way.
4. I haven't had an accident driving so far...odds are I can keep it in a straight line if I just concentrate???
5. I will get headaches of an excrutiating magnitude without caffeine.
6. I will be grumpy.
7. I will feel lethargic.
8. I don't want to quit!

After reviewing this list, I realized the reasons to keep the habit aren't important enough to hang onto the habit. In fact, I think most will agree that I was "reaching" with several of my reasons. I think Keep the Habit reason number 8 is the root cause of reasons 1-4.

So, as of today, no more Diet Dr. Pepper. I did decide to give myself, and all those who come in contact with me, a break. I plan to have one cup of coffee a day for a little while. That should help with the withdrawal symptoms and keep me from becoming a certifiable maniacle witch. For whatever reason, I'm not as hooked on coffee and should be able to wean myself off of it quickly. But I miss my Diet Dr. Pepper. In fact, my mouth is watering at the mere mention of it. Just to let you know how much I love this stuff...I can tell you all the convenience stores between here and Atlanta (a 195 mile commute) that keep their coolers at the desired temperature to produce a wonderful icy treat. And it must, Must, MUST be in a bottle. Yeah, I know, I'm a beverage snob.

With much regret, here is to my health and well being...So Long, Farewell, Au Revoir, Sayonara...*sob*...goodbye old friend! Rest in peace.

The Current State of Scrappiness - Part 1

Welcome to my scraproom, otherwise known as my place of "scrappiness". This is not to be confused with, but can be synonomous with, my place of happiness. Yeah, a bit corny, but it rhymed and I thought it was cute. All kidding aside, being in this room does make me happy. Something about being surrounded by all things crafty makes me smile.




A few years ago, I took over the guest room and made it my room. Prior to moving into this room, I housed my supplies in a 6x9 room off of our TV room in the basement. It worked well...for a while. But of course I outgrew it. So I moved upstairs. The color I chose didn't exactly turn out as I had hoped and I plan to repaint one day. Alas, one day never seems to arrive. In the meantime, I'm not offended by the color, it was just supposed to be "softer". I bought a desk and chair, purchased storage cubes from Crop In Style and set about creating my ultimate scrap space.

It took me a full day to put these cubes together. It wasn't complicated, just time consuming. The cubes house my albums on the open shelves, while the drawers hold punches, paints, other colorants, Quickutz and mini albums, both complete and incomplete.

On top of the cubes is where I placed my CD player, all my CDs and a fun phone and lamp I found at Target. I also found this super cool bulletin board at Target. It is meant to be my inspiration board. For the longest time, I found much of my inspiration in tags. I took a class at a local scrapbook store where we created a multitude of tags. They were complete works of art. For whatever reason, I never used them on my pages. That store has since closed, but I love seeing the tags. They remind me of all the fun I had hanging out at the store on crop days and during classes. Many of my current friendships were formed at that store. Off to the right of the cubes are some stackable drawers where I keep all my extra adhesives and tools. They are within easy reach, but out of the way at the same time.

This is a close-up of my "vintage" phone. Sure, it's an imitation, but I still think it's fun. And I love the lamp. Ain't it great what you can find at Target?

This chair is in the corner across from my desk. My mom bought this chair for me for Christmas in 1986. How can I remember that? It was my first Christmas as a married woman. The color wasn't a good match for my room (as if anything from 1986 would be) so I had a slip-cover made and voila...a perfect fit! I love to curl up in this chair and flip through my idea books, which happen to be in the bookcase that didn't show up in this photo...LOL!

That's it for part 1 of camp scrappiness. I have much more to share and would welcome any and all suggestions as I go along. Thanks for looking and Happy Tuesday!

Hooray for kit clubs!

Let's hear it for monthly scrapbook kit clubs! I discovered my first kit club about a year ago and I have been in love ever since. I know I'm not alone in this, but when new product is released, I feel slighted if I can't run out and purchase it right away. It's an addiction of sorts. I keep waiting for news of a recently formed SA (Scrapper's Anonymous) group...a group I am sure my friends and family would encourage me to join. But I would be one of those who would prefer to live in denial of my addiction. There have been times when I've felt more like a collector than a creator. I have traveled to nearby, and not-so-nearby, cities to get my greedy little hands on the latest and greatest, all the while convincing myself that I would most certainly find the time to use my ever-growing stash...you know, one day.

Then reality came crashing in. I could no longer live in denial. Finances changed and I decided that "one day" had come. It was time to put a halt to my excessive purchasing and start using what I had. But a girl can't go cold turkey, now can she? So I found myself in a dilemma. Kit clubs became the solution to my problem. The concept behind them is pure genius! Each month I anxiously await the delivery of my goodie box. Heck, it's Christmas 12 times a year! And the beauty of it is, most of the kits consist of newly released products all coordinated and ready to be scrapped. How cool is that!!! This weekend, I got to spend some time with my much loved kits. An entire weekend devoted to my favorite past-time...I was on a scrapper's high!

Here are a couple of the layouts I created. From a previous post you should be all too aware that I have yet to master the art of taking & uploading the photos of my layouts. It was well into the "dusk" time of day when I finally had time to take my pics. I had to hurry to get the last bit of remaining daylight. I was just anxious to post a few layouts so please turn a forgiving eye to the quality of the photos.

The first layout was made from a kit I purchased from Scrap For A Cure. I love the idea that a portion of the purchase price of the kits goes for cancer research. This picture was taken a couple of years ago. Morgan was only spending weekends with Keith at the time and all she could think about was spending time with Claire, the little girl up the street. I talked Keith into letting the girls have a sleep over, Morgan's first ever sleep over. They were so excited! They were more than happy to pose for a pic.

The next few layouts are all from past Scarlet Lime kits. On the first one, I used one of my favorite pictures of Keith. He is such a clown and this picture really shows his crazy side.

I love this next page even though the picture leaves something to be desired. The pic was taken at Keri's graduation this past May and the layout simply states exactly how I felt that day...I wanted her to step out into to life...to dare to fly!

This layout is super simple, In fact, they are all falling in the simple category. I think I'm getting a bit lazy. lol! But again, I used a favorite photo of my son, Taylor, and his girlfriend, Leah. They are so sweet together.

I know this is alot for one post, but I got alot done this weekend. In fact, I completed several more pages. Whoo hoo!!! I'll share those on another day.

Hope everyone has had a very happy weekend! Ta-ta for now!

A Man in a Woman's World

I just have to give my man kudos for what he did last night. The boy/man had to do something no boy/man should have to do...he attended a "coming of age" class with his daughter, Morgan. Since becoming a full-time dad, with no notice mind you, over a year ago, he has continually amazed me at how well he has adjusted to juggling the many hats single parents must wear. But this hat...let's just say he would have given anything to place it right on my estrogen laden head. Although Morgan attended a maturation class at school, an additional, more thorough, class was being held in the evening so parents could attend with their adolescents. Oh how he moaned and groaned about going, yet he knew how important it was that he attend. Not so much for Morgan's sake, but for his own. So he sucked it up and went to what he called "Tampon Training".

Mind you, he has been witness to the shifting and surging hormones in women, yet he would not be what we call an expert on the subject. To Keith's credit I must tell you he is extremely compassionate and caring. He offers foot rubs, back rubs and stocks up on M&M's during this most uncomfortable and trying time. But he is still male...and from time to time, despite my warnings of possible impending hormonal rage, he sticks his foot in his mouth and provokes the beast within me to rise up and roar. Wanting to get a better handle on why otherwise sweet, innocent females become weepy, angry beasts, he thought it best to get educated. Here is his account of the evening.

Me: So how did it go?
Keith: Oh...I was one of about 3 men in the whole place?
Me: Did you learn anything?
Keith: Yeah, I learned alot.
Me: Like what?
Keith: Did you know you can exercise while you are on your period? Exercise makes you feel lots better.
Me: Yeah, I knew that. Did you learn anything else?
Keith: Not really.

You think he's looking for a way out of those foot rubs? I'm guessin' next time the monthly visitor comes calling he will just say, "Hey, baby, you wanna go for a run? I'll see you when you get back. And by the way...I ate the M&M's."

Working Out & Girl Time

Month 2! That's right, baby! Getting started on month 2 of my extreme workout routine. My friend, Lydia, and I started way back in October working out 5 days a week at 6:00 am. The goal at the time was to just get through the holidays doing minimal damage to our waistlines. Secretly, I had hoped to actually lose some weight...a wish of most women most of the time... but no such luck. Even still, I was feeling better, actually beginning to feel more toned and I survived the holidays sans weight gain. All in all, I would call that a success. But I wanted more. Enter Chalean Extreme. To explain, I have to reveal my obsession with infomercials. OK, it's not really an obsession, but anytime I come across anything that offers me a complete body transformation, I'm hooked. And for any of you who have ever watched the Beach Body infomercials...well, who wouldn't want to look like that?

Fast forward from October to January. Time to get serious. We made it official. We met at Starbucks and over a cup of coffee mapped out the next 90 days. We planned each workout session, stated our goals and decided the best way to be accountable to one another. I weighed, took my measurements and calculated my body fat percentage. And just so you know, it was a most humbling experience. As for the pictures from every imaginable angle...didn't go there. First of all, I can hardly photograph myself from head to toe...that darn tripod just takes too long to set up. And heaven forbid I bare my cottage cheese ravaged body to anyone else. Just NOT happenin'! And so it began.

So far so good. In 5 weeks, I have only missed one workout and that was due to this silly vertigo problem I am still battling. I guess you might want to know how things are going as far as results. Weeelllll, I guess it is all in how you measure success. lol! Truthfully, I'm disappointed and happy all at the same time. That 15 pounds weight loss I dream of...didn't happen. But I did lose 3-1/2 pounds and lost 1/4 - 1/2 inch on each body part. The biggest boost came when I realized I had lost 3% body fat! This month I'm working hard on eating better...something I only half-heartedly did last month. Baby steps, baby steps. But I'm getting there.

On a scrappin' note, I'm excited to be spending the weekend with my scrap buddy, Pam. We are going to play Friday night and all day Saturday. Yea for girl time! I have a Valentine's project to finish for my sweetie and I plan to tackle my lastest Scarlet Lime and Studio Calico kits. I hope to post some of these on Monday. I guess I'll have to wait to post Keith's Valentine's surprise...he discovered my blog and he gets a kick out of reading it. He says he feels like he has been let into our secret club. Don't tell, but I think he is a closet scrapper....will probably get in trouble for that one! lol! Happy weekend!

He is so worth it!!!

Take a look at my guy and tell me if it wouldn't be worth it to you. These days I feel as if I never have time for anything. I begin my "daily grind" at 5:30 am, getting up to workout before leaving for the office. After spending the day crunching numbers, shuffling papers and trying to keep my boss happy, I come home, shuffle more papers, crunch more numbers, do laundry, occasionally cook dinner, crash and start all over again. Nothing unusual there...that's the story of most folks. Living the life of a wage earner through the week and then using the weekend to catch up on household chores, rest, socialize and otherwise restore some form of individuality to a work-worn soul.

Being in a long distance relationship changes all that. First comes the loss of time commuting. For me, that means I lose 6 waking hours every weekend to the interstate...3 hours each way. Surprisingly we have been doing this for over 2 years and we have spent very few weekends apart. I was shocked to realize that added up to over 700 hours driving time. There have been times when I go to Atlanta more often and other times Keith does more of the traveling. Then there are those times we go back and forth several times within a few days. All in all I guess it balances out to be fairly equal. Either way, that is a heck of alot of time behind the wheel.

The time together is incredible. We have the best time regardless of what we do. But the fact remains that someone is in "travel" mode...living from a suitcase and never being home. Right now, due to circumstances involving Morgan, I am doing most of the commuting. No complaints, just tired. This is when I get overly anxious for things to be settled...to be able to get married and get on with our life together. Being a family on the weekends then returning to solo-living through the week is challenging.

But this I know...God is in control. God has a plan. And God gave me this wonderful, loving, caring hunk of a man to make it worth the wait! So I'm here for the long haul...pun intended...because he is so worth it!!!