6/30/11

Woohoo!  I'm back on track!  -1.2 lbs  I'm almost back down to my lowest weight this time around!

I feel there is a couple contributors to this awesomeness.

First of all - working until 5.  Usually I'd get home after leaving at 3:30 and have serious munchies.  Working later means its time to start dinner almost immediately after getting home, so I'm not going to mess with junk.  The downfall to this is that Randy is starting to expect dinner soon after he gets home!!

Second - my LiquiFusion. I guess it seems to be working (as long as I don't take it too close to bedtime - LOL!)

Third - going for walks.  I broke out the arm & ankle weights last night & drug Randy out with me around the park - around 2 miles.  So an extra 3 lbs on each leg & 1 lb on each arm.  I'm sure I looked like a total dork, since I was a bit dramatic swinging my arms and twisting at the waist.  But I could really feel it in my backside & hips.  Luckily, I felt fine this morning, so I didn't overdo.

So I'll just keep on doing what I'm doing over the weekend.  The girl is going up north with her aunts, so just Randy & I will be home. We don't have any exciting plans. Monday we're both doing radio comm for the parade, then hanging out at Mom's for a while.  I plan to take this....Red, White & Blueberry Trifle... it looks amazing!!

Antique store find

I couldn't resist.  I had to go back and get the deer print.  I love Mom & Pop places like that, she didn't have change so I got it for $40 !!!

This is about 21.5 inches tall x 13.5 inches wide.  

There's just a few chips in the finish of the frame.

From the side - you can see the curved glass. 

I posted pics of these on the Halloween Forum & I got a PM from one of the other "haunters" who does historical costuming & offered to send me a couple patterns for real 1890's dresses.  I just got them today.  She told me that the evening dress would be easiest to make and that just so happened to be the very dress that Angel liked!

That seems pretty ambitious, tho.  I may just take her to the Salvation Army & we'll find something there.  Obviously not Victorian, but something nice.  She'd be more likely to wear that more - at least around the house (she's weird like that !!)

Redemption!

I have redeemed myself.  I am no longer the Bad Puppy Mom. 

At the cost of an insane amount of $$, I took Jackapoo to the vet.  He got his vaccines - a poke and a squirt up the nose.  He got 2 vials of blood drawn - to test for both heartworm and any possible cooties from that tick.  He got his ears cleaned out - and they found another yeast infection in the one.  The vet checked his leg & had me walk him up and down the hall.  She thinks its an orthopedic issue and was going to refer me to a specialist. 

I have a problem with that..... * I * have my own referral to an orthopedic specialist & haven't gone, so there's no way he's going before me !!!  

So instead he's got an anti-inflammatory instead.  So we're going to try that and the glucosamine I've been giving him for a while.  He got a new stash of Revolution, soothing ear cleaner & medicated ear drops. 

Evenings are now quite the production.  Maggie gets her blood pressure medicine and some soft food, because she's spoiled.  At the same time, Jack gets all his stuff.  Whew!

Learn From My Fail....

Yes, I know I already posted my FMM today, however I was thinking about this post all last night.

Saturday I got my FireBall Liqui-Fusion in the mail.  I took one at lunch and then forgot to take them with me when we ventured out to the NWS for Field Day (A ham radio thing).  Sunday was better.  I took 2 at lunch and almost forgot at dinner, so I took 2 more around 8:30 last night.

Here is my LFMF moment.  Don't do that !  There is a reason it says on the bottle to "begin with one (1) softgel to assess individual tolerance."  I got about 1 1/2 hours of very light sleep last night.  It finally dawned on me around 3 a.m. why I was still awake. <<facepalm>> 

btw - Randy is the craziest snorer !!!  And the dog snores & woofs in his dreams - a lot.  And the cats use the bed as a super-highway in and out of the window, walking as close to my head/face as possible. 

On the plus side (or maybe not), here it is almost noon and I haven't crashed.  I don't feel like a zombie or anything. 

The bottle says to take 2, twice daily.  I wonder if it'll be better to take 2 at lunch & 1 at breakfast & dinner - so that little episode doesn't happen again?  I'll see how I feel today & maybe try that tomorrow.

Friend Makin' Monday - What's in your frig?

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: http://www.alltheweigh.com/2011/06/friend-makin-monday-which-character-would-you-be/www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

FMM: What’s in Your Fridge?

1. List a few common items that can always be found in your fridge.  Coke & Coke Zero (we're Coke addicts - LOL!) milk (2% & skim) eggs, fat free French Vanilla coffeemate, veggies, fruit - nothing fancy, pretty boring.
2. What kind of milk do you drink? Skim
3. Do you prefer fresh or frozen vegetables? Both
4. What do you currently have to drink in the fridge? Water, milk, Coke, Gatorade, a 6pack of elderly Labatt's Blue Light
5. How often do you clean out your refrigerator? When I notice its getting gross - mainly before grocery shopping 
6. What’s the healthiest thing in it right now? fruit & veggies
7. What’s the most unhealthy thing in it right now? The mini-Reece's cups in the door.  
8. What do you wish you had in it that you don’t have now? lots of stuff!  I need to go to the store.
9. How often do you shop for groceries? Once a week because I hate going.
10. What’s the weirdest thing in your fridge right now? gigantic tortillas that I could probably wrap my cat in.  That's what I get for asking the hubby to stop and pick some up!

Now it’s your turn!

The Love Critters - Volume 1

Skeeter

We got Skeeter when he was a baby. shortly before Angel turned 3.   His mama had adopted Mom & Dad up north and presented them with 3 kittens shortly after.  I chose this guy who came to be called Skeeter.   He has always been my boy.   He will be turning 11 sometime around July 11. 

When Randy asked me to move in with him - I told him I was a package deal - kid & cat ! 

Skeeter sleeps with me most nights.  His favorite position is stretched out next to me, with his belly against my hip, a front paw draped over my knee and his back foot on my stomach.  He's in the right place where I can rest my hand on his side.  He always has to be touching me somehow.

Last time I checked, Skeet weighed in at 19lbs. 15 oz.  He's a big boy!  He's very talkative and is the only one who occasionally gets to go outside.  

 August 2000 - before he decided plants were tasty!

 

This was his idea of fun in the apartment...using the underside of the couch to pull himself around.

 

This was part of the fun - peeking his head out from under the couch!

 

Monorail Skeeter at the aquarium station.

Snoozin'

Photobombing courtesy of a very young Miss Angela.

Monorail Skeeter has reached the end of the tracks.

Chester likes to snuggle with and occasionally groom Skeeter. 

 

One of the few times Maggie has snuggled with either of the boys.

"This Space For Rent" 

Aaw!

This is one of my favorites.

 They're always so damn cute when the bed's not made!

 All I have to do is sit down & call out that I have a lap & look who appears to get in it!

Chester - Volume 2

Jack - Volnme 3 

Maggie - Volume 4

6/24/11

-1.4 lbs last night.  It's nice to have lost almost all that I gained last week - and I know that TOM is lurking because I am PMSing really bad. 

~LOOK OUT~

I don't feel bloated & blah, but I swear I can't see my feet because of the 2 huge melons under my shirt.  Not liking that at all!  And even tho I wasn't hungry, I had one of the Friday morning bagels at work.  A cranberry bagel with blueberry schmear. 

No, actually I think the grumps have left.  I'm going out tonight to meet with a couple friends from high school.  One of them lives in Atlanta & can't make back up here in October for the class reunion, so it'll be nice to see him again.  I'll stick with light beer.

Still waiting to get my Fireball stuff from Vitamin World.   I'm curious to see how that works.

Supposed to be nice & cool this weekend, so I'm going to get the grass cut & maybe a Halloween prop or two made.  Saturday night I'll be going out to the National Weather Service office to visit Randy & the other hams playing at Field Day and of course the visit will coincide with dinner.  They usually grill burgers & dogs and there will be salad & fruit & desserts, too.

Alrighty!  Pulling up my big-girl panties and making sure to track & measure!

I am a bad puppy mom!

I feel so bad!  I called Jack up on the couch next to me last night to visit for a while.  As I was petting him, I noticed a bump on his back, thru his fur.  I couldn't tell what it was, so I grabbed a flashlight & called him into the bathroom.  A quick glimpse & I called for Angel to grab me the tweezers - he had a big ol' nasty tick !!!  Luckily it pulled right off intact so I could get rid of it.  EW ew EW ew EW !!!  I still have the heebie jeebies from that !!!

He's got an appointment at the vet Saturday - besides being due for some shots, I want them to check out his hip, he's been limping off & on since Easter.  It's worse when he first gets up and usually works out.  But we went for a walk last night & it really looked like it was bothering him, so I'll take him in.  Poor little guy!

Grr and now my pictures won't upload on the work computer.  Guess that's a hint !  ;)

edited 6/24 because it bugs me not having pics !!!

 Baby Jack  December 2005

 Jack the bathroom speed bump

This is the face I see almost every morning.  

He's on his back and will scoot his way across the floor the entire width of the bed.

aka "Bat Dog"

Oh JOY !!!

Last night Randy asked if I thought I could take July 8 off work for our 5th anniversary !!  I do believe he's plotting something ~wonderful~ that may involve going away for the weekend!!  I have no idea what it could be, but I know it'll be awesome!!

SQUEEEEE !!!!

Confessions

I have 2 confessions to make. 

Saturday....I ate like a freakin' pig & didn't track a darn thing.  Angel & I went to watch niece Lisa at a 4-H horse show, so we stopped at McDonalds on the way.  FYI, a large sweet tea from that place is 8 PPs.  Insane.  Then I also got hashbrowns & 2 breakfast burritos.  At the show, I got 2 hotdogs & a regular Coke.  I also helped Angel with her nachos.  That night we took Randy out to dinner for an early Father's Day to Texas Roadhouse.  I only had 3 of the addicting little rolls with cinnamon butter, a salad with honey mustard dressing (OK, that wasn't too bad) a 6 ounce sirloin & grilled shrimp & veggies.  I'm pretty sure the veggies are cooked in butter, tho.  Of course the excuse they put on their website is "all the food is prepared by different individuals & it is impossible to accurately post the stats" (my words - not theirs - because OMG, their website isn't working!!!).  Oh - then we went & got ice cream.  Medium chocolate cone dipped in chocolate.

Second confession - I just went on the Vitamin World website & ordered some Fireball Liqui-Fusion which is a "thermogenic, metabolic stimulator".   Hopefully this will give me that little extra kick that I need!   I've tried some other stuff before, but you needed to take it 1/2 hour before you ate & I always forgot.  This you take with meals, so that will be easier to remember! 

On the plus side.....we did a lot of walking in the sun Saturday and I did a bunch of yard work yesterday, so its not like I just sat on my butt & ate.  And I am now forced to slow down with my eating because I lost one of my temporary crowns after dinner / before ice cream on Saturday evening.  And my dentist isn't returning calls, so I'm sitting here with a naked stump that is ~extremely~ temperature sensitive.  Neat. 

So anyway, there is a chance of storms all week until Friday, so if I don't get out to walk, I will use the Wii Fit or a Walk At Home DVD. 

Friend Makin' Monday

I'm making some new friends on http://www.alltheweigh.com/ !!

FMM: Yes or No?

1. Do you use coupons? No.  I have a hard enough time returning bottles!
2. Do you like football? Not really, me like hockey!  But I will watch the Razorbacks if I have to.  As for pro - we have the Lions.  No further explanation needed.
3. Are you in a relationship? Yes, happily married for almost 5 years, been together over 9.
4. Is your phone always within arm’s reach? Most of the time- when the daughter doesn't have it in her sweaty little paws.
5. Do you like thunderstorms? Yes. And I am a Nat'l Weather Service certified SkyWarn weather spotter
6. Can you cook? Yes. But Paula Deen has nothing to worry about!
7. Are you – or have you – lost weight? Yep, around 50 lbs so far
8. Do you know how to read a map? Yes.
9. Do you wear makeup? Yes.  Some, but it never stays on long.
10. Do you read regularly? Yes, all the time!
11. Are you publicly affectionate? Yes.  I have been known to grab the hubby's butt at random - because I have a license for that - LOL!!
12. Do you like picnics? Yes
13. Do you have a/c? Yes.
14. Have you ever been out of the country? Yes. A few times - I was in the Navy for 8 years so I got to see a few places I normally wouldn't choose as a vacation destination.
15. Do you know how to ride a bicycle? Yes

Happy Father's Day !!!

Yeah, I could post about my Dad, RIP, because he obviously had a huge impact on my life.  But I'm not.  This is going to be about my sweetie, Randy.

I took this one during our honeymoon trip to Niagara Falls in 7/2006. 

I met Randy in January 2002.   On Yahoo personals, as a matter of fact.  He wasn't like anyone I'd ever gone out with before.  He was a self-proclaimed computer geek and frankly, an average looking guy on the chubby side. (I know - like I'm really a supermodel!)  I finally met him in person when my computer crashed & he offered to come over to check it out.   Of course we weren't ready when he got there.  Angel was 4 and was running around the apartment naked after a bath.  I was dressed, but barefoot, trying to catch her.  He said that endeared us to him. 

He proposed to me while on a cruise.  We'd gone on an excursion in Cozumel, Mexico.  Horseback riding thru the jungle to see Mayan dancers in the bottom of a cavern, then riding back to the farm for real Mexican food & margaritas.  We were almost to the barn when I pulled up my horse (Holxux - means Damn Horse - I loved him!!)  to look back for him.    LOL! Anyway, Randy came trotting up on his Justa - which impressed me because he'd only been on a horse once before.  Right as he came up next to me, he asked.  It took a second to register what he'd said & then I am lucky that Holxux or Justa didn't shy away, because I almost leaped out of my saddle toward him to hug him & say yes!

 He hadn't gotten a ring for me, he wanted me to pick out one that I really wanted.  I found it on our cruise ship - Carnival Inspiration.  It's tanzanite, because it's so much more spectacular and unique than a boring ol' diamond.  Anyway, I found out later that he'd gotten Dad's permission!!  We'd taken Mom & Dad out to dinner as a thank you for watching Angel while we were gone.  He waited until Mom & I left the table & told Dad that he didn't know when he was going to ask, but he knew it was going to be that trip.  Dad was tickled pink!

Oh wait - Father's Day....not darling hubby day!  Here I think he is totally amazing, because when I met him, he was totally OK with the fact I had a kid.  And a cat.  So when he asked me to house hunt with him, I reminded him there was a package deal.  I would not give either of them up.  And I still haven't, altho I've been tempted to sell the girl to whatever troupe of gypsies or circus is near.

So anyway.... even tho he didn't have to, he became Dad.  He's been there to help Angel learn to ride a bike, he's sat thru all of her dance recitals (and hasn't complained much about the $$ involved there).  He helps with homework, he listens to her excessively rambling stories.  He's let her talk on his radio.  Luckily she's not dating yet (for another 10-15 years) but when she does, he's already plotting on how to scare the hell out of any poor guy that may show up at our house.

Yes, sometimes they clash.  I swear he could be her bio father, because they have the same degree of stubbornness.  But I clash with her, too.  She is a teenager now, ya know!

Our wedding was perfect.  I don't think I could have asked for a better day. 

Us with Pastor Kevin

Him & Angel dancing while I danced with Dad.

Anyway, Randy is a great husband...funny, goofy, smart, (TMI alert!!) amazing in bed, a wonderful provider, a good son to his Mom, a wonderful Dad to Angel.  I am so proud to be his wife. 

dressed as "static cling" for Halloween

being goofy!

No more bottles!!

OK, maybe a couple more.

We went to watch niece Lisa at a 4-H horse show today and told myself I was totally stopping on the way home at this antique store I've passed 1000 times before.  They have an outside area with a lot of salvage windows & wrought iron fencing & yard art.   Inside I swear you could look for a week and still not see everything.  Mainly because it was a huge freakin' mess.  Paintings stacked against the wall, stuff hanging from the ceiling, stuff everywhere, just crazy.  But I found out in the barn / shed / fire trap a couple shelves of old bottles.  I swear I have more than enough for my potion bottles, but these are just too awesome. 

 I mean - look!  A little brown jug that the lady swears must have been waiting for me, since a high school drama teacher had been in 2 weeks before, specifically looking for that item - and didn't take it!  The big green bottle is 1/2 gallon size.  The smaller clear one originally held bluing & the smaller green one was hand-blown and is super thick and heavy.  I can't belive I paid $5 each for those, but my next purchase made up for it.

This is *supposedly* from the 1860s and it in horrible condition.  Plaster & paint have chipped off the frame and the portrait has a huge nasty stain.  However, it is 21x15 inches and has that awesome bubble glass.  They originally were asking $65 for it, but she gave it to me for $35 !!!   I have a non-Halloween plan for this, believe it or not!  I am going to research Victorian clothes & hairstyles and (after restoring the frame) have a portrait made of Miss Angela and have it done in that sepia tone.



I have to think for a little bit - because they had another one of these bubble glass frames with a nice deer print - in MUCH better condition with an unusual shape, rounded across the top & flat on the bottom - for $45.  Don't know what I'd do with it, tho.

I chatted with the owner for a bit when she asked what the bottles were for and told her my Halloween plans & she asked if I'd seen the wrought iron fencing out by the parking area.  As a matter of fact, I had!  It was 6 foot tall and had several sections, I didn't look at how many.  Very ornate & cemetery-like.  The tag said $300, but she was ready to give me a deal on it.   I like that idea, but probably will pass on that.   I don't think Randy would be very open to the idea of a permanent cemetery fence in the front yard!

Dress Rehearsal - Ignite Your Light 2011

Yeah, its going to be pretty amazing.

The stage

 Competition Jazz

Squee!  They're all together!!

Lyrical

 

 

She's the only one who could do her left splits.  She was pretty tweaked about that.

 Jazz

 

 

 

 ballet

 She's in the middle.

 

 

 

  waving her invisible flag.

 What a cute ruffly butt!

Competition tap

 

 

 

 

 hip hop

 

  LOL - there are NO words!!! ^^

  Love the bright blond streak thru her pigtail!

 

 company production

 

 

  the back of her shirt

  They're really not doing the YMCA !!!

 

During the final bows, they're out in the audience dancing to Katy Perry's Firework

Stephanie, Maloree, Angel