30 Day picture challenge

I realize I posted this on Facebook first but realized this is a better spot for it.  So this is a repost, the rest will all just be here.  Oh and I already don't like this picture, geez my hair is worse than I thought :P  But I promise to not remove it or change it just because I'm critical of myself. 



This is the 30 day picture challenge!

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts
Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show
Day 04 - A picture of your night
Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory
Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item
Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh
Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most screwed up things with
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate
Day 12 - A picture of something you love
Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you
Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity
Day 19 - A picture and a letter
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change
Day 25 - A picture of your day
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss


Day 1:
1. I hate taking pictures of myself so this is an accomplishment
2. I'm a lefty and I love that
3. I love to take baths and can't wait til I can soak in my own tub
4. I could eat pizza every day if I could get away with it (and cheese fries)
5. I actually enjoy working out now and that's something I never thought I'd say
6. I'm lucky to have married my best friend
7. I love to read and really enjoy the Nook
8. I hate coming up with 10 facts this is all Krystle's fault
9. I rarely complete these type of things when I start so remind me please
10. I have no idea what's for dinner.

The mirror vs my mind

I found it odd that today I looked in the mirror naked (EEK!) and thought, when did that happen?  I've been wearing pants that are definitely too big for me because I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that I really am losing weight.  Sure things are flabby and stretched out (thanks kid) but there's just LESS of me. 



I need to start wearing pants that actually fit my current size so that my brain can catch up to what is really there vs what my mind thinks is still there. So I'm wearing a pair of pants that is the correct size today, even though I think the cut is like a mom jean (eww) but at least it is a step in the correct direction. I'm wearing a sweater I haven't fit into in I don't even know how long.  Now if I could find tops that were long enough I'd be even happier.  No one needs to be seeing those stretch marks.  I have been taking pictures as I go along so we'll see how brave I get if they ever get posted (tank top and jeans).

I feel so much different now.  I'm actually more okay with my body now than I ever was even when I was a size 8 and Playboy material.  I'm happier with myself.  I'm more confident in myself and I actually like the workouts sometimes.  Who would have thunk?

I've tried new foods and new recipes that I never thought I would enjoy.  I've tried new exercises and look forward to trying more of them.  Of course I'm looking forward to some REALLY hot clothes but more than that I'm looking forward to not huffing and puffing if I have to climb some stairs (I already can do two flights without dying now).  I'm looking forward to being HEALTHY, the hot part is a bonus.  The best part?  My hubby has always thought I was hot and that is the best motivator of all! 

One of those days

Image via Wikipedia
We've all had one of those days.  The kind of days where your child(ren) drive you crazy and make you want to pull your hair out and make you realize why lions eat their young?  Yeah that kind of day.


Gabe  is a smart alek, he thinks he's funny and knows everything.  He thinks he's a BIG boy and can do what he wants when he wants.  He fights us tooth and nail on everything some days.


Today though, geez kid did you have to scare your poor mom half to death TWICE (which I think means I'm dead anyhow?).  First we are checking out furniture and he decides to run out the front door of the store IN TO THE PARKING LOT!  I ran screaming like a crazy woman to him and grabbed him up pretty darn quick.  We had a (semi)calm conversation about why mommy was upset and why it was something he shouldn't do.

Then later I'm making dinner and my mom is in and out into the attached garage.  She comes in to use the bathroom and Gabe is still outside in the garage, no biggie he does this a lot.  Then Mike goes out and doesn't see him.  So Mike goes looking around the house, STILL doesn't see him.  Now I go out and start yelling for him and he STILL doesn't answer us.  The next yell of his name came out sounding like a banshee screaming his name because now I am worried.   I then hear BOO from the garage.  He was HIDING UNDER THE SHELVES!!!!  I admit I yelled at him, A LOT.  Made him come out and look at me and gave him a huge hug and told him again why listening was so important.  I think he was pretty upset too at this point.  I just want him to get it, I know he's not even 4 yet but geez kid. 


If I wake up with a head full of grey hair tomorrow now you know why.  Tomorrow will be better right?

October

You know what I like about October? The fall colors, pumpkins to be carved and TRICK OR TREAT! Gabe has been asking about it lately. I'm hoping he fits into the skunk costume my Grandma made for one of the grandkids many years ago. Otherwise I'll have to think of something.

For me I'm figuring the vampire get up will come in handy again. I do need to look for a black peasant skirt for myself once and for all though since I'm always in need/want of one.

I'm hoping October lasts forever. I'm hoping that it doesn't snow for Halloween. I'm hoping that it's not freezing either. A real fall that lasts a long time would be super nice.

I'm horrible at this game...

Sorry I have been slacking badly about updating. I promise I'm still alive.

The basement! Here are some pics of the windows:


1. The Basement is coming along nicely. My dad and brother helped get both the windows in and there is a ton of sunlight down there now. There are two windows, one in the bedroom and one in the living room. They are both 4 feet wide by 5 feet tall.

2. The plumber has done step one and we need to finish two walls for them to get the rest done. I'm dying to get into my heated bathtub!!

3. We're almost done with studs so anyone who wants to help (read PLEASE HELP US!) we will need to set up a weekend for doing drywall. I'm hoping to have the electrical stuff done in the next two or three weekends, so it looks like the end of Oct or early Nov will be drywall.

Me:

School is going well this semester. I'm taking Microbiology, Economics, English, and a health study course. Everything but Microbiology is online and I really enjoy the online options because it saves me a ton of time.

I've been eating well and exercising my butt off (literally). I'm down 18lbs so far and up to 30 min on the elliptical machine 5-6 days a week. I REALLY need to up the weight training but I only have teeny tiny weights and no place to do them all by myself right now.

Gabe:
He's a stinker lately and thinks he's so funny. He's learned some one liner jokes but half the time they come out crazy. "Why did the chicken cross the street" "Get to the other side" But sometimes it's about a car, a duck, a block anything and the answer is still the same. Then we were at dinner the other night and he's wearing bib overalls and my mom tells him that she likes them. He says "I have little bibs and mom has big bibs" Then proceeds to show us his nipples and smack me in the chest. MEN ;)

He has been going sporadically on the potty, mostly right before bed and waking up dry fairly often. Slow going but we're making progress.

Mike:
Uhh he has his own blog but never updates (hint hint) and he should tell you if there is anything exciting going on but he's still kicking.

So I started

I started a change. I wasn't going to post about it here but I think I should. I started walking every evening. I started actually paying attention to what I put into my body. I started losing weight. This is going to be a marathon and not a sprint people but I'm doing it. I have disclosed my weight for several people but I won't here ;) I will tell you that in just 5 days I lost 6lbs. I know that's mostly water weight but I'll take it. I'm going to TRY and only weigh in once a week but we'll see if I can hold out next week since I didn't this week.

I'm using www.myfitnesspal.com to track my food and exercise progress and its super easy to use and has an iPhone app to use when I'm out.

I will say that I have about 75lbs I want to lose. HOLY COW! That's a lot. So I'm breaking it down into pieces. My first goal is for Maurice's Modeling thingy that I'm doing. The next one is my 10 year reunion. After that I'll have to think of something fun.

My goal is 2lbs a week which means I'll be down to my goal by mid May next year. Not too shabby really.

I FEEL different this time. I feel ready. I WANT to be smart and healthy. I'm trying new foods and finding a few that I like (who knew Tilapia was good?!) I'm on the hunt for some new healthy recipes and ideas for any meals from breakfast, lunch and dinner to new snacks. If you have any share them please :D

Also I'm going to need ideas for what to do in the winter when it's too cold to walk outside. I have an elliptical that I'm going to have to be friends with but no treadmill (BOO! I want one). Maybe I can get luck and get a free month gym membership somewhere too.

So turning 28 turned over a new leaf. A new ME leaf. A new journey in my life. It's not going to be easy and I'm sure I'll trip and fall along the way but I WILL get back up and keep going. I will do this for me, for my health and my vanity.

Here's to hot clothes and a cute swimming suit next summer!!!!

A day in the life...

Image by Just Add Light via Flickr

Yesterday was my 28th birthday, go me! So we went to the Dells to see our friend Skip and his family and RT and his son Connor were there too. We spent the day at the Wilderness resort and had a blast in the water parks.

I had such a proud mommy moment too. Gabe is TERRIFIED of water on is face, it makes a bath a hellish experience when I need to wash his hair. Yesterday though he spent the day in the wave pool taking big waves in the face and laughing the whole time. We went down the Mammoth, a huge family tube slide where he ate water at the bottom. He wanted to do it again! So we did. He played, splashed, and swam the whole day. He says he really liked mommy's friends. He wants to go back sometime already.

We got home and he was sound asleep in the car the whole ride home (even with a stop for gas) and slept in til EIGHT this morning. I think that's the latest we've ever slept in.

Today it's raining but we're going to my Grandparents for the collective birthday cake eating for Steve, Kori and me.

It was a good day yesterday!

A lot of things have changed this last year. My birthday last year was not so great with the housing fiasco we were still in the middle of, we were homeless for awhile, and Mike was switching to first shift then too. I didn't even know that I would start school in the Spring at this point last year and now I'm itching to get back to class in 3 weeks. I'm going to be a nurse someday and that makes me so excited to think about. So while I don't feel older (other than the muscles) I do feel a little wiser and more prepared. I feel like things are moving along well and I can't believe how fast this last year went.

Two years til the Skydiving birthday ;)