Finally....

What a week! Well I finally approached the "Big Boss Lady" about the possibility of full time employment and the type of work I want to do and she (after a long and wonderful discussion) said, "well we'll have to see what we can do to carve out a more permanent role for you in the University." OMG...I could have kissed the woman!!!
Now, I'm not going to get my hopes up too much until it actually happens but I feel like the tide might finally be starting to turn : )

In other awesome news I have finally, finally broken my dreaded weight plateau and hit the 10 pound mark! I know it may not seem like much but with my metabolism it is a huge milestone. And I really feel like the new change in diet it working for me. It hasn't been easy but with my husband's support and the amazing changes I've already noticed in my body I am super motivated and feeling great! I've been at the gym faithfully and lately have been doing one minute interval sprints at a 7.2 and my leg is holding up well...I finally feel like things are getting better and I am so happy.
Its about damn time!!!

Memoir

I have found the most rewarding outlet for the stress I deal with care giving for my father. This blog, or story as its shaping up to be, is making me realize so much about myself. I am also realizing how this pivital moment in my life truly shaped the person, or adult, I was to become. I know some of you are current readers- for those of you who are not, I invite you to ready my memoir- Raising Dad...

So...I've decided....

SCREW THE SCALE!

I lost another inch in my waist and more off my hips and thighs this week...and I am back in my pre-honeymoon jeans...apparently the scale has temporarily lost its damn mind.
And...after Brit's encouragement- I got me a sexy new do !!! Long bangs and all : )

curly do and straight do

(so I was getting all this new hair growth around my crown and thought the long bang would be the perfact solution, and as I get older my hair is getting straighter...so viola...my new, big girl grown-up hair!)

Goal for next week: kick it up to 6 days a week and keep being fabulous!!!

What the FREAKING hell?!?!

Well, well, well somebody needs the smack put down on them...oh yeah, my mortal enemy, is at it again...
So, for no apparent reason in the last two weeks my INR (coagulation level) has taken a nose-dive despite being on an extremely high dose of Coumadin...after 8 weeks of being level, and safe, my blood is super thick suddenly for no apparent reason. Oh yeah, nice. So, that means right now as I write this I could be forming a clot...
I thought my leg had been a little extra achy lately...
I just attributed the 'heavy' feeling in my leg to the increase in exercise, which yes I've continued to kill myself with to no avail on the scale...still...after 5 weeks. I've even cut out sugar and eating past 7:30pm...do you think it has had an impact? Of course not. Now this...

I swear, I get that "keeping at it" will eventually pay off but seriously tell me who would be motivated to "keep at" anything with all this working against them?!?!? I have been die-hard about everything for the last two weeks, and have "stepped it up" and still nothing has changed...and now with my blood this thick it is simply not safe to work-out that hard...great...just...perfect...

And to top it off I hate hearing how easy it is for some other people, "Oh, I've never really had to watch my weight," or, "I don't know how you can exercise that much, I just stopped drinking pop and 10 pounds came off" or "Wow, ya know you should try drinking more water."
Ok, first of all- good for freaking you, second of all-exercise is good for everyone and you can be a size two and still be nothing but bones and fat, and three-I drink 60 oz. of water a day-
so KISS IT!

Ok, vent over.

Movie Review 4: Push

PUSH

Almost forgot to post the review for this one, I saw this last weekend with the hubby, my mom and step-dad. It was a mediocre movie. If your into the show Heroes you'll probably like this movie somewhat. The premise is not original, nor are the characters- but all things considered it was at least entertaining. I wouldn't drop the dough for it at the theatre though, this one is definitely a rental.

Two and a half out of five stars.

What's in your bag?

Ok, so taking this idea from Danielle's blog....after three hours of studying this fits the bill!!!

1. Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. And whats in it? No cheating!
2. I want to know how much it costs. And this is not to judge. It is for entertainment purposes only. So, spill it. And, if there is a story to go along with how you obtained it, I'd love to hear it.
3. Tag some chicks. And link back to this post so people know why the heck you're showing everyone your bag.

This is my bag- It is a Jacklyn Smith, whoever the hell she is, and I got it at KMART...yes KMART. I am really more of a shoe-whore and rarely splurge on a new bag, seriously, I can carry the same bag for years and did! This is my first new bag since 2007...
Anyway, it was $11.oo on a 50% off clearance two days after Christmas. My husband helped me pick it out.
I love it because its cute and looks like it costs way more than it did!
Do I really need a reason to love it anyway? lol!

Now, what's inside the bag is way more interesting as I am known for carrying a lot of shit in my bag! The front zipper contains all the things I need to carry for my father; his insurance cards, credit card, ID, medical information etc... also in the front zipper happens to be a lock for the gym, some old photos and a pair of ear-rings I removed at the club a few weeks ago...
The tiny zipper inside contains emergency feminine products ; )
And on to the main compartment; a small planner, my RX pill case, my keys, cell phone, hand lotion, lip balm, lip gloss, some pens, hospital discharge orders, random work papers, clear nail polish, spare change, a huge black wallet with even more crap in that!
and...a face powder compact and small bottle of IB profen.

Come to think of it, I should really clean this thing out!!!

Alrighty, I tag...
Lori at Nothing Else Matters
Andrea at Rambling Thoughts
Rachel at Life as I know it...

Adventures of Sugar and Spice: Episode 1

Thank God for my adorable cats, they bring so much comic relief...as I was getting ready to leave for the nursing home to get my father settled this morning (a stressful and incredibly long process to say the least...), my girls had some entertainment for me in the form of...

The Battle over the Carpet Strip

The battle begins at the top of the couch, were a carpet strip has been brought...both opponenets view the prize as worthy and decide they want to take the prize for themselves...

...the battle continues as a full on tug-of-war breaks out between our medium weight and fly
weight opponents...little Spice holds her own with the strength of her razor sharp claws...

...not to be outdone, Sugar uses her brute strength to bring the fight, and the strip, to the bottom of the couch... were the battle continues...

...the fearless opponents assess each other, wondering if the other is ready to give up the fight...alas the opponents are both still equally determined...to win the carpet strip....

...the fly-weight Spice is forced to the ground...yet she hangs on with a Champions-determination...
...but despite Spices' determination, Sugar makes the final play for the carpet strip, pulling it back onto the couch....
...and Sugar is victorious!!!
She sits with her prize at her feet...proudly.

...and poor Spice looks on as her opponent enjoys the spoils...

A few hours later the opponents realize they are more alike than different and decide...
to snuggle : )

THE END

25% of the way there...

So, I am continuing on my health quest. I wouldn't quite say that I am discouraged at this point, or encouraged...I think impatient is the word that fits best. When I set out on New Years Day to lose the weight I have gained in the last three years, I set out to lose 20% of my body weight. So far I have lost 5% of my body weight after only 6 weeks. I would like to set a time limit on reaching my goal, but I know that is not wise and can only lead to discouragement. So, I am trudging on towards my goal despite set-backs and plateaus. I know I'll get there eventually, I just don't know when.

I know I may talk about weight a lot, but it is, and always has been, a central factor in my life. At the end of high school I tipped the scales at 191 pounds and at 5'2" was on my way to diabetes and a shorter, sicker life. I dropped 65 pounds; 30 the first year, 10 the second year, 10 the third year and 15 the last year- that's right, it took me four years but at the age of 22 I finally reached my goal.
Now I lay somewhere in between my goal and my top weight, but because of recent health issues, and the desire to one day have a child, I realize its time to get back to a healthier weight and a healthier lifestyle. I just need to keep reminding myself that its not how long it takes you to complete the race that matters, but that you do, indeed, cross the finish line.

Day 1 and Day 42

Day 1 and Day 42

UGH!!!

I'm so frustrated with myself. I've been kicking ass, kicking my own ass literally with working out. Doing it 5 days a week...religiously, at a pretty high intensity. I never leave without putting in at least an hour. However, my will-power when it comes to food... sucks!!!
I am seriously like an addict, one small step of the wagon turns into an all-out binge! I can't just have a piece of chocolate- I have to have 6. I can't just have one bowl of ice cream...well you get the idea...
It is this fact no doubt that has left me at a plateau, silly me I thought you could actually make up for what you eat by burning calories at the gym...well in my case, you can't.
It takes far too long to take it off and far less time to put it on.
I guess that's it, no splurging allowed, not even a day.
It will be hard, but its what I gotta do I guess.
At least I tone up and build muscle quickly, I do have to say that is nice. After all I'd rather be larger and firm than skinny and flabby...

Our beautiful girls

I adore our cats, they are like my children. They have their own unique personalities and they are so affectionate and loving. I seriously can not picture my life without them! Fred and I adopted Sugar and Spice in November of 2007 when they were 5 months old. They are sisters.

Sugar is the chubby, affectionate, trouble-maker. She loves to eat and can be persuaded to come anywhere if food is involved. She is also the one that loves jumping on top of furniture and knocking things off. She sleeps right between Fred and I at night and loves to roll on her back and have her fat belly rubbed. She likes other people and usually comes to company for some lovin'.
This photo is of Sugar in one of her favorite spots, under the dining room table.

Spice is the sensitive one with the loudest purr !! You can hear her purring a room away. She generally likes to be held, but will only cuddle on her own terms. She loves to run and play with her toys and can usually be found (as in these pics) perched near a window. Spice is a mamma's girl and does not really care for company- most people don't believe we have two cats because Spice always runs and hides!

Week 5

Ok, so I've completed week 5 of my new years resolution and things are going ok- not great, not bad- but ok. Yes of course I'm talking about my weight.

Successes:

a) I worked out 5 days this week and ran 1/2 a mile three days

b) I included two days of moderate weight training to my workouts this week

c) I have not eaten chocolate in four days !!!

d) I replaced my pop with coffee which is a healthier option

e) I drank at least 5 glasses of water daily

Areas for improvement:

a) I hope to be able to stick to my diet better on the weekends, only allowing one day, not my usual two, for a calorie splurge

b) I hope to continue to avoid chocolate

c) I hope to finally break my damn plateau

5 week stats:

• 8 lbs lost (I've been at the most horrible plateau for three weeks and really can't wait to break through...so annoying!!!)
  
• 5 1/2 inches lost

Hello Food Bloggers!!!

Well, of course anyone that really knows me knows I don't cook much; well really at all. I just don't like to. It takes too much time, too much preparation and I am well...just too impatient, especially when I'm hungry. However, this being said I greatly appreciate it when others love to cook, and especially when they cook for me ; )
Sometimes I get the urge to cook, but like most things, practice makes perfect and since I don't do it often...well you get the idea. I am the maid in the family I do the laundry, clean the house, minor sewing jobs etc...my husband is the cook. And as he, and some others I know, is always on the lookout for good GF (gluten free) recipes I found Katrina's Kitchen. A great resource for people who eat GF and cook GF for their children. Click the link above or the nifty icon to be taken to the site.

So, I'm getting old...

Last night I was out with my girl Courtney for a night of drinking, dancing and (not really) debauchery. It was a mutual friend, Kristina's, birthday and we went to Club 22 (Dino Ciccarelli's club). The club was cool, and played a mix of music- even threw in a little AC/DC and Def Leopard to my delight. But man, the cigarette smoke, smoke machine (why do they always have these at clubs?) and 4 drinks really did a number on me. I feel soooooo hung over today, and I was not even drunk. I am happy to say that my leg held up well despite the hours of dancing and the first ever outing with my new boots!- which were a huge hit by the way...
I guess its a good thing I have these outings rarely...how did I ever manage back-to-back nights in Canada when I was 19 ?!? Oh, that's right...I was 19.