Friend Makin' Mondays - Makeup Favorites

Not a very exciting weekend - I thought to be very ambitious, since the hubby was out of town. I really wanted to clean out the closet while he wasn't around to stop me from getting rid of some of his clothes.  That didn't happen.  The girl & I watched the NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday & the game itself yesterday.  I think this has become our new tradition!  I also got her to try a smoothie with spinach in it.  She wasn't impressed.  Pppth - more for me!

Now it’s time for FMM! This week’s topic is courtesy of Bella, One of the lovely ladies that makes FMM so great. You might know her already, but if you don’t, you should so stop by her blog, http://bellaonthebeach.wordpress.com/ today and get to know her.

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 over at: 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: Makeup Favorites

1. Do you wear makeup everyday? I don't wear a whole lot, but I put on the basics for work. 
2. Does your routine change if you’re going out with friends/on a date/to a party? I will put on more if I'm going somewhere special. 
3. Are you loyal to one brand, or do you use different brands for different things? I mainly use CoverGirl stuff.  I don't really know why.
4. Do you wear primer/concealer? If so, what’s your favorite kind?  I use the CoverGirl wand type concealer. 
5. What’s your favorite brand of foundation? Don't wear it. Since I started using Oil of Olay at night & morning, my skin tone has evened out nicely. 
6. Do you use blush and/or bronzer?  I don't wear it.
7. Do you wear eye shadow/eye liner?  The last time I had eyeshadow on - my daughter & niece were giving everyone "makeovers".  So it was scary.  My eyeliner of choice is CG Exact Eyelights in Radiant Sapphire. 
8. What’s your favorite kind of mascara?  I just got mu first tube of LashExact Waterproof.  I'm still not sure about it.  I think I like the Maybelline in the pink & green tube better.
9. Lipstick? Lip gloss? Both? Favorite? For some reason, color seems to bleed off my lips, so I just stick with ChapStick.  I also like the lip balm from Yankee Candle - it smells so good!
10. Do you wear nail polish regularly? If so, share a few of your favorite brands/colors.  I very seldom put it on my fingers - it just chips so quickly & I just don't think about touching it up.  In the summer, I do my toes in colors like bright blue or green.
11. How do you remove your makeup at the end of the day?  I use regular facewash.  Clean & Clear I believe.  Then I use my Oil of Olay firming for nighttime.
12. Do you feel prettier when you’re wearing makeup?  Yes, since it also covers the occasional blemish that still appears.
13. Do you have any beauty tips that you could pass along?  Ummmm.  No. 

Funny story - when my daughter started wearing makeup I had to keep telling her to go easy on it.  She didn't need to look like Mimi from the Drew Carey Show or Dee Snyder from Twisted Sister or Tammy Faye Bakker or Alice Cooper.  (At one time or another she looked like each of them!!)  Then dance recital time would roll around and they'd tell her she didn't have enough on! 

Now it’s your turn to answer the questions! Don’t forget to say hi to Bella and a few other bloggers! And also be sure to come back and leave a link to your FMM post in the comments! Happy Monday friends!

The A to Z Challenge

I don't normally peruse the "Blogs of Note" section on my Blogger dashboard, but one day in early January I did. 

I found the April 2012 A - Z Blogging challenge.  I was intrigued & read all about it.  Basically, if you don't count Sundays, most years there are 26 days in April.  The challenge is to post every day, but with an alphabetical theme.  So starting April 1 (this is the only Sunday you need to post this year), your topic should begin with A.  April 2 is B.  April 3 is C.  And so on.

After much thought, I've decided to sign up.  With all 3 of my blogs. I still haven't decided if I am totally nuts, or just really ambitious.  But it should be fun.   


Although it's not necessary - I have already planned what my topics will be.  I made up a spreadsheet with a tab for each blog.   Then made a column with a general word for the topic. The next column was more detail about that topic. I'm sure I'll start actually writing them soon & schedule the posts for the appropriate date.  

So wish me luck and why don't ya'll join in?

 

Maple Grove Cemetery- for all things Halloween

The Life of Lisa - my weight loss journey

Random Ramblings  - just randomness

Friend Makin' Monday - Short Answers

I have to confess that I did not track anything on Saturday!  I spent most of the day at the Palace of Auburn Hills (home of the Pistons) watching herds of girls dance at a competition.  There is not a whole lot of good choices to be had there.  Sadly, our Utica dance teams didn't place, altho I personally thought they did awesome.  But there were some really good teams there. 

Sunday I got back on track.  I tried a Green Monster Smoothie for the first time.  I didn't have vanilla Chobani, so I used plain that I had on hand & tossed in a few frozen strawberries to compensate for flavor.  Just a reminder - red mixed with green makes brown!  So it looked rather nasty, but tasted OK.  I could taste both the peanut butter & strawberries.  And it makes a LOT!!!  Next time I'll try to stay more to the recipe.

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 at: 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: Short Answers

1. Mac or PC?  I've never used a Mac, so PC.
2. Do you paint your own nails?  Yes, when I wear it.  I hardly ever do my fingers, but my toes are usually done in summer.
3. Beach or mountains?  Mountains. 
4. What’s the title of the book you’re currently reading?  The Border Lord's Bride by Bertice Small.  I enjoy her historical romances.
5. Do you dance?  I used to all the time when I was in the Navy.  But now the hubby has all the rhythm of a wet noodle, so we never go.  I could try the Just Dance 3 game for the Wii.....  Anyway - my daughter has been dancing since she was 4 - I can't comapre with that!!  I tend to dance goofy in front of her - just to make her laugh.
6. CNN or Fox News?  Neither.
7. Do you ride a bicycle?  I have one, but haven't been on it for a while.
8. Do you get a yearly flu shot?  Yes
9. Best movie you’ve seen in 2012?  I'm not big on watching movies or going to the theater - so none there.  However, the girl turned Secretariat on NetFlix last week & I was riveted.
10. Do you prefer to workout at home or at the gym?  I haven't had a gym membership in forever, so at home.
11. Last airport you were in?  Detroit Metro a couple years ago. Coming back from a cruise, I think. We drive when we go to Arkansas.
12. Married or single?  Happily married for 5.5 years.
13. iPhone or Android? neither.  Ask me again in June, tho!
14. Do you prefer to be in pictures or taking pictures?  I'm usually the one taking pics.
15. Favorite brand of sneakers?  My last couple pair have been Champion.
16. Do you like snow?  I live in Michigan - so I guess I have to.  I just don't like driving in it.
17. Do you have/want to have kids?  I have a 14 year old girl.  I would have liked more, but that didn't happen.  Now I think I'm too old (38) to start over with sleepless nights & diapers.  Little ones are too high maintenance! 
18. Summer or Winter? I actually like Spring & Fall better.  But if I have to choose - summer.
19. Do you know how to swim? Yes, love it!  It makes you feel so light & free! 
20. Do you prefer to shop in store or online?  Depends on what I'm looking for.  Clothes - I have to try on, so stores.  Home decor or gadgets - usually online. 

Have a great week!

Whoooooooowoooooooo!

Just chugging right along!! Down 1.2 lbs at weigh in yesterday!!!

I really don't know why I didn't start using the alarm on my phone months ago. Its something I always have with me so it just makes sense.

The meeting yesterday was fairly interesting.  Carol talked about the 10 food items you should always have in your house.  I'd just gone grocery shopping,  so I had 7 out of the 10.
1. boneless skinless chicken breast - check!
2. unsalted dry roasted nuts - nope
3. frozen veggies - check!
4. fat free broth - check!
5. lean ground beef - check!
6. fresh basil leaves - nope
7. extra virgin olive oil - check!
8. can tomatoes - nope (but I do have fresh ones!!)
9. chicken sausage - nope
10. whole wheat pasta - check!  In fact that's all I get now.  Regular tastes funny.

So I guess I"m just going to keep doing what I'm doing. 

My sister was over tonight to go with me to watch Miss Angela dance at a basketball game- and stayed for dinner.  Mmmm crockpot lasagna!  Afterward, Angel was showing her one of the especially dorky dances on the Wii Just Dance game.  Laurie asked me if I'd tried any oft hem when no one was home.  I hadn't actually thought about it, but I might.  With the Wii, you can cheat tho.  As long as you do the arm motions, it can't tell if you move your feet, so you can just stand there. Maybe I'll just stick with my Walk At Home or WalkSlim DVDs with Leslie Sansone.

Tomorrow I get to go sit at the Palace of Auburn Hills (home of the Detroit Pistons) all day and watch herds of girls dance.  It's the Palace Classic Pom Competition.  It should be pretty neat, even if it is all pom.  The winning teams get to dance at halftime of the Pistons game tomorrow night.

Here's tonight's hiphop.  Man, I wish I could still move like this!  Angel starts out in the back center of the circle.

Weigh in day!

I'm actually looking forward to getting on the scale tonight!  Hopefully TOM isn't kicking my butt too badly.  I may not have done to well with my choices last night - I really need to go grocery shopping!  But I filled up on a good salad & had much less of the breaded fish sticks / mac & cheese that the rest of the family had.  And it all got tracked!!

Neat!  I was just over reading Kenlie's blog and she's co-hosting a Healthy Valentine Swap  with  Janna!!  You sign up on either of their pages and you will get matched up with someone to exchange giftys!  I've done something vaguely similar on the HalloweenForum & its a lot of fun. 

Sometimes strangers choose better gifts than family!

Yay!  Go on over & sign up!

FMM - Weight Loss Tips

Pardon me while I have a WTF moment.....I was looking at my blog stats and last Thursday I had 151 hits! 

including....
63 hits from some celebrity gossip site that I never heard of, even if I did read that stuff!
52 hits from googlecorrection.com
36 hits from justforlaughsgags.tv

and someone found my blog by searching for "little girls in ballerina outfits".  O_o .  I should change my profile to a pic of me carrying a large firearm. 

Anyway... now that I'm seriously disturbed.....let's do something fun!!

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: 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: Weight Loss Tips
These are just things that I do personally that help in my weight loss journey.  There are gazillions of  tips out there, but these work for me!

*If I think I'm hungry, I either chew gum or drink some water.  The chewing gum thing works when I'm at work, since I occasionally get the boredom munchies.  Or I'm confusing being thirsty with hunger.  Either one prevents me from stuffing my face needlessly.

*Watch out for trigger foods.  Mine is cereal.  I can nom on 2 or 3 bowls at a sitting, especially Life Cereal. 

*Look for recipes you can make healthier.  Most of the time, the rest of the family is OK with it, but  I still can't fool them into thinking steamed cauliflower is actually mashed potatoes, tho. 

*I set the alarm on my phone to go off 3x a day as a reminder to track.  Even over the weekend.  And I put a sticker on the calendar for every day that I track 100%.  It makes me happy to look over & see all those little stars in a row.

*I try to stop eating before my plate is empty.  But if we're sitting at the table chatting as a family, I find myself picking at what I left.  So I feed it to the dog, having him do tricks & stuff.  There's a reason his nickname is Hoover!

*Consider exercise time as "me" time.  This is a tough one for me, since I'd rather goof off at the computer or have my nose in a book in my free time!

So go over to Kenlie's site & share what you've learned!

Back on track!!

 

This is the sweater I got myself for Christmas.  I've worn it to work twice & have gotten tons of compliments on it.  Guess I should wear funky prints more often!!

 I was pretty happy to begin my downward trend at weigh in tonight.  -.8 lbs.  That's OK - I'll take it!!  Have to start somewhere!

I set the alarm on my phone to go off 3 times a day to remind me to track my food and also as a reminder to take my AM/PM daily cleanse tablets.  I figured I needed a good detox after the holiday season feeding frenzy.  Anyway, the alarm is really helping to remind me to track.  YAY!!!

I almost had heart failure last night!  We stopped at Wendy's for dinner.  I got a grilled chicken sandwich, small fries & a Sprite. (OK and the smallest possible Frosty.)  I really thought I made pretty decent choices, seeing as how I REALLY wanted a Baconator.  I got home and plugged it all into my eTools & almost fainted.  31 points!!!!  I am so glad that all my weekly points reset today, since I only had like 6 left for the week!!  

I also put in some time on the Wii Fit last night, too.  I did 10 minutes free walking & another 25 doing yoga.  Not a whole lot I know, but more than just sitting on the couch!

Some other drama in the Love Shaque...I got a call from the principal at the girl's school Tuesday afternoon.  She'd gotten into a fight with another girl between classes!!!  So when I got to the school, first I made sure she was OK, since he said she'd been pretty shook up.  Then she told me her version of the story.  She was at a friends locker after 4th hour and this brat basically told her to move, she needed to talk to the friend.  Of course Angel got snotty right back, so the brat shoved her.  So it became a shoving & hair pulling match.  The principal told me that there had been words between them last Friday & it just festered.  Anyway, they both got 3 day suspensions. She wasn't even allowed to go to practice for dance team!  I personally wish that Angel had gotten a couple more good hits in, since it sounds like that brat needed it.  She's one of those people who are just unfriendly & nasty to everyone.   Does that make me a bad Mom??   But anyway....I've gotten a lot of stuff done around my house these last 2 days!!  All my laundry done & folded yesterday.  Trash taken out, her sheets changed & a variety of other minor stuff done today.  Tomorrow I think I'll just have her concentrate on studying for exams next week and gathering together a bunch of stuff to donate.

 WOOHOOO!  Congrats to Jimmy Howard on 100 career wins & Coach Babcock on 400 career wins!!  LOL, I had the Red Wings game on.   I love my laptop!

Friend Makin' Monday - getting to know me!

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 at 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: Getting To Know You

1) What is one of your favorite ways to spend a Saturday?  Hanging out with the family, maybe doing a geocache or two.

2) List your top three favorite TV shows.   I don't watch a lot of TV.  If I do, usually it is Top Gear, How It's Made and Mythbusters. However,  I really enjoyed watching the TeenWolf series on NetFlix this weekend with the kid.

3) Would you rather be in pictures or take them?  Take them!  There are other family members who are proficient at photobombing, so I don't need to!

4) Why do you blog?  I have 3 blogs of different topics, so they're a way to talk about different things without making my family crazy.

5) Share five websites that you visit regularly…
FaceBook
Blogger
Dottie's Weight Loss Zone
WW eTools
various email sites

6) If you could have lunch with one person from your Twitter list who would it be?  I don't twitter.

7) List a few of your favorite snacks.  various 100 calorie snacks, WW bars, and if I'm feeling rebellious, the maple pancake roller thing from 7-11 (at 8 P+, I don't have them often!)

8 ) Do you have a pet? If so, what kind?  A Beagle named Jack, 2 cats (Chester & Maggie) and 3 fish tanks.

9) Which three material possessions would you struggle to live without?  My new laptop, my iPod nano and my biteguard (I grind my teeth at night and will be in horrible pain if I don't wear it!)

10) What’s your favorite drink?  Crystal Lite Strawberry

11) Do you enjoy cooking?  Yes

12) Do you have children? yes, a 14 year old daughter, Angela (Angel)

13) What are your favorite hobbies?  blogging, cross-stitching, geocaching, walking

14) Would you consider yourself to be shy or outgoing? I can be both.

15) If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?  My lack of style.

16) Who is your favorite actor/actress?   Ummm.  I don't know really - Simon Pegg?

17) What’s the coolest thing you’ve done this week?   Went to watch Angel dance during halftime at a high school basketball game.  It was the Chieftain / Eagles vs cancer game. So all 4 games (both boys & girls, varsity & JV) the players wore special purple shirts and they all played for someone or in remembrance of someone.   It was very touching.

18) Do you live near your family or far from them?  We live close to all my family in SE Michigan, but my MIL lives in Arkansas.  And I'd move there in a heartbeat if needed!

19) List three of your talents. Uhh, <<blinking rapidly>> umm.  I'm creative.  I have personally made most of my props for my annual Halloween display.  I'm a good speller (without using spell-check!)

20) What is your greatest attribute?  A tie between honesty & loyalty.

Now it’s your turn to share your answers. Don’t forget to go to Kenlie's page and link up in the comments! Happy Monday!

1st weigh in of 2012!

OK, it was Thursday night, but I didn't get to post then!  I love my new laptop that Randy got me for Christmas, but all my pics are still on the desktop!  Pppth.

Anyway, I was up .4 lbs.  I'm actually quite happy with that, since I was expecting a whole lot worse!  And I was expecting the meeting to be packed, but it wasn't too bad.  There were a few new people and one who'd been going the first time I'd started!  So I chatted with her for a few minutes before leaving. 

We had a sub leader.  He wasn't one of the most exciting person I've ever heard speak, but he did had a bit of dry humor that nobody (except me!) caught.  He stood in front of the room and just said..."I'm not Carol".  I cracked up but everyone else just had blank looks on their faces.  My favorite quote of the evening?  "Everyone is here for one of two reasons.  To get healthy or to get hot."  LOL!!  Love it!  Personally, I'll take both.

Anyway, we did a acrostic poem (I had to ask the girl / look up the name of that - LOL!) for the word BELIEVE.  It's pretty inetersting.

B - believe you can (lose 1 lb this week)
E - extend it (1 lb per week times 10)
L - live it (set reminders on phone to remind me)
I - inspire yourself  (I really need to find my Navy photo album when I was pre-childh!!)
E - embrace the new you (love the progress)
V - visualize your success (picture what I'd look like and feel like at goal)
E - erase the past (try to forget old habits)

So anyway - these are the most recent pics of me.  At least while I'm not doing anything dorky.

I can't believe I didn't have the photographer delete this one. 

The idea was cute, but I had no idea that I had old lady jowls!!!

Friend Makin' Monday - 2012

Welcome to the first FMM of 2012!  And because it’s a brand new year, I’m sure you won’t be surprised by this week’s topic: goals. 

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 at: 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: Goals for 2012

Oh my.  This will require some thought!  Not all my goals are weight-loss related.

* Try to find the motivation I used to have when it came to tracking!  I'm doing pretty crappy already today - but every single thing has been noted in eTools!
* Get back to listening to my Enjoying Weight Loss CDs. 
* Get my house under control & keep it that way!  I had a nice start today - I had to work, but the girl had dance team practice from 10-12, so I left work, dropped her off at practice, then went home to clean instead of back to work.  I got the Christmas knick-knacks packed away & out to the garage.  Ornaments off the tree.  A bunch of stuff together to donate.  The monthly cleaning cycle ran on my washing machine & the dryer vents all vac'd out. Then still had time to get gas in the car on the way to get her.  I don't know why I get more done when I'm home alone!  But I love it!
*Do some sort of movement at least 3 days a week.  More would be nice, but I'm being realistic.

I think that is a good start for 2012 !!   Happy New Year!!