Lovin' Fall & Expectations of Others

Well, I did it again. I opened this big ol' mouth of mine and proclaimed a life void of wackiness. You know EXACTLY what that means. Craziness of every kind has found me! I'm not sure I had fully released the "Publish Post" button when I became surround my nuttiness. All good but wacked out nonetheless. Tons of deadlines at work ...a major crop at Serendipity ...computer issues of the worst kind ...that would be only a smidge of what has enveloped me. Isn't it just like a computer to act up when you need it to behave the most??? Kind of like a little child, huh? But you can't bribe a computer with a new toy or piece of candy...not that I ever did that with my kids.

Lots of changes have occurred in my world over the past 3 months. I haven't written about them yet, but I plan to soon. You will have to stay tuned. Lots of drama. My life could be a prime time soap opera complete with all the requisite heartaches, back stabbing, cat fights, sex (well, maybe not), hot sexy men (yep, that's right), fantastic gal pals and an exciting wardrobe (I treated myself to more retail therapy). I will admit to having debated starting a new blog...under an assumed name...where I can write about my antics. The life of a single girl over 40 kinda requires some anonymity if you disclose everything...

OK, so that wasn't what this post was supposed to be about but it's my blog and I can write what I want. LOL! I really wanted to post a few layouts I've done lately.

First is my Fave Things layout. This time it's all about our favorite season. Mine is unquestionably Fall. Everything about it makes me happy! So much so, I couldn't encompass it all in a single layout. So I made a mini album. I used products from this month's Serendipity Altered kit.









I hope you will participate in our challenge. You have until the 31st before the next challenge is posted.

The next few layouts were also done with my October Serendipity Altered kit. This is a gorgeous kit full of Pink Paislee's Amber Road and Scrap Within Reach products. I completed the mini (included in the kit) and 3 other layouts with so much product left over. The full altered kit has sold out, but you can get a mini version.

This first layout is a tribute to my dad. He is the hardest working person I know. Even at 64 he is still going strong. Although his up-bringing makes it hard for him to express his love in words, he has always worked hard to make my life easier.



I had fun with the next one. It was fun (not exactly...haha) making the half circle border. If you have anal tendencies and a strong need for perfection, I suggest you NEVER give this a try. LOL! It looks simple but my quirky personality flaws got in the way. I eventually took a deep breath and just let it go. I think it turned out OK. Funny thing, I have more crooked titles and tilted photos than I care to count. I try to turn a blind eye to them and just enjoy the process rather than seek perfection. But those little circles got the best of me, I tell ya!



My last layout from the kit is a hodge-podge of all the items in the kit. My kids have an incredible relationship with their cousins. While they don't get to see them as often as they would like, they are as much friends as they are family.





My final layout is for the current prompt at Forward Progress. The prompt asks us to explore the expectations of others and how we handle them. Do we allow them to effect our decisions? My journaling was very simple this time. This topic was a major source of struggle in my life when I was younger. I was so caught up in meeting other's expectations, or at least what I thought was their expectiations. But they say with age comes wisdom and I find that to be true with this subject. Once I let go of the expectations of others, life became so much simpler...easier.

Try to overlook the poor picture quality. The little "perfection" demon is having a hey day with me today. I'm not happy with anything I've posted today...just a barrel of complaints:).





Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read my ramblings. I will be around soon to say hello.

Hugs and love,
L

Don't forget to comment on THIS post to be eligible for my current give-away!!!

Wacky Wednesday

***Go HERE for my current give-away***

Poppin' in to post about the wackiness in my life. I posed a blog challenge to the ladies at Serendipity Scrapbooks, asking them to do a Wacky Wednesday post. Weeelllll, I didn't consider that I would need to do the same. LOL! Actually, I did. I assumed it would be an easy one as there is ALWAYS something wacky going on in my world. But as luck would have it, not one crazy, zany, wacked out thing has happened this week! Huh? Yep, my life is a total snore. LOL! Sooooo, my wacky fact is my life is totally void of wackiness!!!!

(Lame...I know. But what's a girl to do????)

Hugs to everyone!!!!!
L

I Want What She's Got

Several days ago Julie mentioned Susan Boyle on her blog. I had written this post in early April and for whatever reason, I had never posted it. Thought I might share it today.

Yep! It's that time again. Time to pull out the ol' swimsuit and wrangle myself into it. I have only one word for this...U-G-L-Y! Pasty white, excessive flesh being wrestled into submission...ugly. Losing the battle to cover abundant wads of dimpled skin with a few strips of cloth...also ugly. Leaves me wishing like heck I had passed on all that cake. And I am now on a mission to find the perfect streak-free sunless tanning product 'cause we all know tanned fat is waaayyy better than un-tanned fat! DUH! Dear, oh dear, it's that time of year!!!

Last year I was lucky enough to skip swimsuit season! Don't know how I did it, but it was quite nice. However, that mini vacation from this hellish ordeal has left me in a much worse state than before. Donning the bikini usually serves as a wake up call. A slap in the face, or a kick in the enlarged fanny, telling me to sew my mouth shut for a few weeks and shed my winter pudge. Without that little warning bell last year, I am now burdened with the task of dumping the results of 2 years of excessive eating. It's either that or I need to go in search of a flattering muu-muu! All of this has left me with a recent bout of crabbiness...swimsuits make most women crabby, don't ya think? But this little battle of the bulge vs. bikini bliss lead to a revelation. Another notch on my lovin'-myself belt. Have you ever noticed how some people carry themselves with confidence? No matter their physical state of being, they are just freakin' confident. No worries, no fears of what others think. They are just happy!

Of course, this caused me to stop and really think about the differences in me and those other folk. A perfect example of "the other folk" would be Susan Boyle. Right now, most all the world knows of Susan Boyle. For those of you who have been hiding under a rock lately and missed it, she is the break out celebrity with the phenominal voice on Britian's Got Talent.



Not your typical celebrity, Susan is what most would describe as homely. Not a beauty in the traditional sense. But this girl has got it goin' on! When I first watched her audition, I was taken aback by her confidence. She had a swagger. A fierceness within her. An unspoken voice that is stronger than even her amazing singing talent that screams...I LOVE MYSELF! No matter the snickers from the audience, no matter the patronizing glares and comments from the judges, she knew she was special. And oh was she special! That beauty of a soul opened her mouth and out came the voice of an angel!



Chills ran down my spine and I was in awe. As was each and every person who heard her! After she completed her song, to a standing ovation, she waved a thank you and turned to leave the stage. She didn't wait for the judging. And while I'm sure that was just a mistake...a bit of nerves...I found it to be utterly symbolic. She did not need the judges' comments or approval. She KNEW she had done well. She had accomplished her mission of wowing the crowd and she needed nothing else. What an incredible thing to witness!

So how does this tie into my recent woeful swimsuit episode? For all the worrying and fretting over how I look in my swimsuit, why on earth should I really care? Is it really all that important that I need approving glances from others? I am certain Susan Boyle has her demons. We all do. It is part of being human. But she has found that inner peace that, at least to the rest of the world, keeps the demons in their tiny little cage. And all that shows is the beauty of her strength of self. Her ability to focus on her strong points and forget the rest. Today I want to be like Susan Boyle. I want to hold my head high and walk with an air of inner peace. And when the time comes, I want to be able to wear my bikini and be glad of the fact that I have wonderful friends and family with which to share the sunshine. And to heck with the rest of it!

To see a vidoe of Susan's performance, click HERE.

Beyond Frustrated!!!

Arghhh! I'm getting ready to do battle with Internet Explorer! Of course, it would help if I actually knew something about it. It's hard to create a plan of attack when you don't know the first thing about your enemy. Right now it is IE - one...me - zero! Seems IE doesn't want to let me play. And that makes me very unhappy. All work and no play makes Lisa one grumpy girl! The aggravating little browser is refusing to open my favorite blogs. It "aborts the operation"...direct quote! I've been trying to catch up on the happenings in your worlds and IE is not cooperating. Just wanted you to know I am reading your posts via google reader but cannot comment. If there is a way to comment, would someone please tell me how. Either way, just know I am visiting but not saying a thing...and you KNOW how hard that must be for me! lol! Hopefully the problem will be corrected soon.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday weekend. I'm spending the weekend and extra day off at the "Howard Hilton" in the Great Smoky Mountains with my man. OK, so it is really just a camper in Gatlinburg, but it is a mighty nice little "retreat" even if I do say so myself! lol! I'll be back Monday with pictures...I hope. IE has even been booting me off my own blog. Here's to a wonderful weekend with those we love. And to a holiday to pay tribute to the mighty men and women whose sacrifices allow us the freedom to celebrate as we choose!

{HUGS}

P.S. I am on a mission and I need your help. I'm currently looking for a new kit club and some wonderful challenge sites. If you have a fav, would you mind sharing your reasons it is your numero uno? Thanks in advance!!!

I Have A Tummy Ache

Ever do something you know you should never do, but you do it anyway? You know the consequences are going to be painful and ugly, but you just can't help yourself. That would be me tonight. After work I had several errands to run. I was trying to hurry home in order to eat dinner at a reasonable hour. Given that I am on a life long quest to lose weight, I am in a perpetual state of hunger. And the roaring sound emitting from my stomach was all the proof I needed that it was dinner time. Of course, one of those errands included a trip to the grocery. I only needed dog food, bananas and a box of tissue. I left $52.00 poorer and I am probably 5 pounds heavier.

After carting my purchases to the lot and unloading them in my trunk, I quickly glanced from side to side and over my shoulder in order to ensure no one was watching what I was getting ready to do. What the parking lot crowd did not realize was that as I loaded the bags in the car, I strategically placed them where my unintended purchases would be easily accessible. Fairly certain I did not have an audience, I nabbed a carton of frozen mini cheesecake bites and tucked them inside my sweater. I'm not really sure why I felt the need to sneak around with the food I paid for. It wasn't like I had stolen the goodies. They were technically and legally mine. No matter, I proceeded to quickly climb in the car and lock the doors. Yeah, like that would stop any one from seeing the carnage that was about to take place.

You know those wonderful plastic wrappers designed to protect consumers from possible food tampering? Well I had war with one of them. The more I tried to rip off that wrapper the more stubborn it became. It finally succumbed after a few rounds with my car keys. And then, my friends, I indulged. Never mind that the mini cheesecake bites looked freezer burned. I ate. And I ate. And I ate. Forgot to mention they were chocolate mini cheesecake bites...need I say more? To my credit, I exhibited some restraint and stopped after eating only half the carton. However, the chocolate left a very visible reminder of my parking lot picnic. I had it on my face, my cute new white T-shirt and under every one of my finger nails. Well, most of my fingernails. I was actually able to suck the crumbs from under a few of them.


Now you would think that would be enough. But no! Once I got home, I also ate half a container of Ben & Jerry's Americone Dream. THEN...I ate dinner...a delicious, fat-free turkey dog on a low calorie whole wheat bun. A girl's gotta save those calories wherever she can!

Four Tums and two Gas-X later and I am still miserable. Oh well, I should have listened to that sage advice that everyone is always sharing...Never, EVER go to the grocery store hungry!!!

Have You Ever...

Have you ever complimented a total stranger and truly meant it?

Have you ever wanted to be famous, if only for a day?

Have you ever gotten caught telling a lie?

Have you ever wished someone else could walk a day in your shoes?

Have you ever been rude and not apologized for it?

Have you ever truly felt God's arms around you?

Have you ever apologized years later for a wrong done?

Have you ever wished upon a star?

Have you ever wondered what heaven will be like?

Have you ever had your heart broken?

Have you ever cried happy tears?

Have you ever wanted to be one of the Brady Bunch, particularly Marcia?

Have you ever worried you aren't a good mother?

Have you ever literally felt your heart swell with pride?

Have you ever longed for a "do over"?

Have you ever secretly explored cosmetic surgery only to recoil in fear at the thought of actually doing it?

Have you ever prayed for another day with someone you love?

Have you ever felt your shoulders sag from all the responsibility?

Have you ever dreamed about winning the lottery?

Have you ever wished someone could make all the decisions for you?

Have you ever laughed until you cried?

Have you ever envied someone else?

Have you ever had regrets?

Have you ever danced like no one is watching even when you knew they were?

Have you ever felt at complete peace with yourself?

The answer...

..."Yes, I have."

In True Random Fashion

Let's start with the fact that I have been tagged...twice! Both Kristii and Jocelyn tagged me in this fun little game of "let's see just how bad I can look in a photo"! Just warning you. If this picture leaves you scarred, don't blame me...it's all their fault!!! lol!

Actually, I think this is a pretty cool idea. The point is to grab your camera and take a photo at the exact second you realize you have been tagged. Well, lucky me! I was at work without a camera when I discovered I had been tagged. Of course I waited until I got home to snap this lovely little photo. And you know I had to ham it up a bit. Even with some lag time to prepare myself, the thought did not occur to me to touch up my makeup or slap some color on my totally colorless lips. I think it's obvious I am not a connoisseur of Revlon Colorstay 12 hour makeup. lol! And since I cannot tell a lie, this is actually the second (ummm, maybe third) photo I took. The other two really were frightening. I had this wonky eyebrow thing going on. Don't ask...you really DO NOT want to know.

So now it is my turn. I tag Antonella, Lisa Spiegel, Lisa Houpt, Peggy, Mandy and Ellen. OK, chickies, let's see them mugs! I'll be stalking your blogs more than usual in anticipation of seeing your lovely little faces!

In other random news, Lydia and I were finally able to begin month 3 of our ChaLEAN Extreme workout. We are two weeks late starting due to the fact that Lydia had to be out of town for work. We continued to workout, we just repeated workouts from months one and two.

(Pause for commercial break.) If you want a hard core workout, one that gives results like no other, one that is as fun as it is empowering, then ChaLEAN Extreme is the one for you! (Back to our regularly scheduled program.)


This is a pic of all the weights I use. Yes, I can be a bit anal. I do keep them all lined up. Just makes me feel good. Notice how they are not only lined up, but turned so the numbers are all facing the same way? For those of us with obsessive compulsive tendencies, this rights every wrong in our world. Can I get an amen? To prove just how strong I've gotten doing this workout, take a look at this next pic.


That's right. Twenty pound dumbbells, baby! All of my chest, back and lower body exercises are done with these big guys. If you think I am bragging, all I can say is, you bet your sweet patootie I am. This has been the hardest I've EVER worked. And I've had a few personal trainers in the past whom I've labeled Workout Nazis. So please forgive my moment of self infatuation...I've sooo earned it!

Before I leave you for today, I must also give a bit of blog time to my newest friend. Meet ...uhhh...the treadmill?!?!? OK, so I stink at naming inanimate objects. But I love him/her/it just the same. After saying my farewells to my last running machine, I realized just how much I missed taking out my frustrations on this highway to nowhere. So I bit the bullet and bought a new one. This is my way of reaching my goal of running a 5k this year....late, late, late this year. I'm really, and I do mean REALLY out of shape cardiovascularly.

I guess I will be signing off for now. BTW, if anyone has any suggestions for a name for my treadmill, I'm all ears. I'm thinking a studly name might make me want to climb aboard and give it a go a bit sooner than a girly name. But I'll leave it to you guys to help me out with that one. Thanks, as always, for all the incredible comments! You guys absolutely rock!

P.S. Late breaking news!!! GO HERE NOW for a fun giveaway! And please tell Pinky the crazy lady sent ya...that would be me! But you actually knew that, now didn't ya!

Assume The Position...

Women are notorious for requiring multiple potty breaks when traveling. I would not be an exception to that rule. With all the traveling to and from Georgia you can guess I have scoped out the least germ infested potties in which to go...well, potty. I have even trained my bladder to perform on command at this somewhat sanitary stop. And the best part is that it is at the half way mark requiring only one stop on my 190 mile trek.

Via

This trip my bladder decided to have a mind of its own. About 50 miles prior to the half-way potty station, I had an overwhelming need to pee. I tried talking my bladder into submission, but it wasn't having any of that. And of course, the thought never crossed my mind to stop else where. To be honest, there weren't that many options anyway. So I suffered my way through 50 miles of squirming in my seat, doing everything except holding myself. Well, I may have even done a bit of that, but that will be our secret.

When I pulled into my relief station, I felt exactly that...relief. I tried not to give away the fact that my eyeballs were swimming, but I think my awkward walk/run straight for the ladies' room might have tipped a few people off. As I turned the corner, I practically died on the spot. The john was closed for cleaning!!! What the ....!!! Shouldn't they be doing that after hours? I walked in circles trying to appear to be making a snack selection, hoping like heck the dude in the ladies room would hurry up!

After what seemed like an eternity, he spotted me and spewed forth what I think was an apology but he spoke in what I think was Spanish and I no hablo espanol. He stepped out as I frantically rushed in. As you know, another 100 miles would not be so swell in a soggy seat. He didn't even close the main door, but what did I care. I hurriedly claimed my stall and assumed the position.

Now this is the part of the story that begs the question, "Have any of you ever had the following experience?"

After precariously perching myself over the toilet, I could finally begin to relieve myself. It was such a sudden rush of relief that I might have actually moaned an audible ahhhh! I continued to hover...and hover...and hover. My ahhhhs became ohhhs and eventually uhhhs! No amount of lunges or squats had prepared me for the marathon pee session that seemed to never end!!! I could only guess what the total strangers in the other stalls were thinking. Could possibly have been something along the lines of "That chick sounds like a freaking race horse!" Of course I finally finished, but what had been a walk-with-my-legs-squeezed-together waddle into the store became a hobble-like-I-had-spent-three-days-on-horseback hike back to the car.

So tell me ladies, has this ever happened to anyone else or am I the only one plagued with the inability to fully assume the position? I'm just wonderin'.

Happy Weekend!

Just wanted to wish everyone a very happy, healthy, Spring-like weekend! I am celebrating!!! Last of the corporate tax documents have been mailed. Two overwhelming and challenging projects are complete. I finally feel like I can eat without up-chucking. Boss is away for a week. And most importantly, I'm headin' to Hot-lanta to see my very hot honey in 1 hour and 27 minutes. But who's counting!

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.

I think I need some help...

If anyone is reading, listening, or just in the general area and feeling philanthropic, I need help. For the most part, I am quiet self-sufficient. If I want to learn how to do something, I learned a long time ago, the instructional information is out there somewhere and if I look long enough and hard enough, put the time in actually reading the material, I can figure most things out. So why, please tell me why, am I not able to scan in my scrap projects? If you think I'm sounding a bit desparate...you would be right. I am also totally, completely and utterly frustrated! And, yes, I am whining. I understand scanning the right and left side of my page, dragging and dropping into layers in Photoshop, altering opacity of one layer in order to line up the two side, restoring 100% opacity and flattening the image. Sound like I know what I'm doing? Yes, but no. I've completed all the steps, but for the life of me, NOTHING will line up.

So I resorted to taking pictures of my pages. No luck there either. I'm at work during the daylight hours thus no good light for my photos! Add to the mix that I have a virus that causes episodes of vertigo and a photographer's nightmare is born. Either I was taking crooked photos or I was seeing crooked. Beats me. Just couldn't get a straight shot to save my life. Wait a minute...could it be that my pages WERE lining up when scanned only I saw them sideways? Nonetheless, I want to post some pages, but they are gonna have to wait until someone comes to my rescue or my world stops spinning! Both would be nice.

Sidenote: I was prescribed Meclizine for the dizziness.
Directions state: "Take 1 tablet 4 times a day as needed for dizziness."
Warning states: "May cause dizziness".......huh????