8 weeks and 12 lbs. lighter!

Week 8 of Weight Watchers is officially over. That's 2 months of staying on plan and sticking to this new way of eating which I've grown to love. It's just eating healthy, no gimmicks. So today at weight in I was down 1.4 lbs and that puts my total weight loss so far at 12 pounds! I'm feeling really great about this!

This is an average of 1.5 lbs. lost per week. Obviously i didn't lose that much every week. Sometimes it was less, sometimes it was more but that's a healthy weight loss per week which signifies that I'm doing this correctly. I'm excited to see what another 8 weeks may bring me! My goal is to hit 20 lbs in another 8 weeks. I've got 8 pounds to go and that's an average of 1 lb per week. That's attainable and I hope that I can also exceed that. I do know that realistically, the amount of weight loss will dwindle down the longer I do this and that's why I'm setting my goal at 1 lbs per week. It's manageable and it's realistic.

So, I hope that on the last week in April, i'm able to type in here that I've lost 20 lbs since Jan. 3rd. That's what going to keep driving me to continue on!

Tuesday Shmoozday!

Another night alone tonight! My plan is to get in some good exercise and get to bed early. I'll be very glad when Brandon starts his new job. Just a week and a half now and he won't be working all day every day at the stinky Vitamin Shoppe! He'll still have to work late some days, but not 4 times a week! We barely see each other long enough for meaningful conversations! Plus, it's lonely at home with just Lexi and I.

Results!

I've hit my first target goal as of this morning! I went to the early meeting because I have a few things that have to get done today. In 7 weeks I've lost a total of 10.6 lbs! I'm really stoked and excited to keep on going. I feel good, I feel energized, my clothes are fitting better and most are getting too big! LOVE it!!!

Brandon

I'm incredibly proud of Brandon! He's overcome so much adversity and come out on top! I'm excited for his new start and can't wait for him to begin his new journey!!!!

Get over it

This is what I need to tell myself. Just get over it. Don't care about it anymore, just get over it...

no words

Amazing Grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch, like me

I once was lost
but now am found
was blind, but now I see


I'm continually amazed at the blessings God brings in to our lives. Even when I fall, He's always there picking me up, as long as I ask. He never fails, His love never ends, even when I don't listen or take the time to learn, He shows me that I am priceless. He teaches me through His word, He teaches me through those around me, and He teaches me in the silence. In the depths of my soul. I fall short more often than not and I put other things before Him (shamefully) often, but I'm always welcomed in. The compatibility Brandon and I have on all levels is a daily reminder of the hand of God. I love him so much and he consistently shows me and tells me that he loves me. He meets a majority of my worldly needs and I'm so happy we have each other forever!

I know, mushy, but I can't hold it in. He's growing in his life as well and reminds me to "be still" and encourages me to trust in Him.

Restaurant Review: Brio

I love food. I love the social aspect of food, I love the flavors, I love the conversations that insue when eating, I enjoy everything about the experience. I also enjoy trying new places and have decided that when I do find something I like, i'll write a review about it. This weekend I went to Brio. I happened to go to the one in Southlake but there are a few others in the metroplex. This was my 2nd dining experience here and I got something totally different than last time.

I instantly liked Brio because of it's location. I enjoy Southlake Town Square. I like the idea of strolling to your restaurant. I like the open seating area that is maksed with large white sheets tied together when it's warm outside. This allows the breeze to blow through and you do feel like you're in a different place. I like the regular part of the restaurant as well. When you walk in, there is a large bar with several seats and tables available. The decor of the restaurant is something like I would expect out of a restaurant in Tuscany. Kind of a rusted, old world decor.

I started my dinner with a glass of Kiona Riesling from the bar. I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of people at the bar as we all anxiously waited for our table. We started off the meal with some fried calamari. It came with 2 dipping sauces. One was a creamy alfredo and the other was the traditional marinara. The outside of the calamari was a bit more fried than I prefer, it had a heavier feel but it was very delicious. I decided to order the Bistecca salad with my dinner which was a large wedge of lettuce topped with gargonzola cheese, pieces of bacon, and a creamy parmesean dressing. I ordered Chicken "under the brick" for dinner which consisted of a grilled chicken breast, mashed potatoes, and grilled vegetables. I was attempting to go for a lighter fare but something that I would also enjoy. It was good. Brandon had the gargonzola lamb chops and said they were incredible.

I was way too full for dessert but their chocolate molten cakes looked magnificent. I'm sure it tasted even better.

Overall it was a great dining experience. They have a lot of different types of cuisine to choose from and I look forward to going back and trying something more "italian" than what I ordered. For this restaurant, although the food was good, I prefer the atmosphere and can see myself going back to feel as if I've been whisked away to another place for just a moment!

Irresistible!

Ir⋅re⋅sist⋅i⋅ble 

–adjective
1.
not resistible; incapable of being resisted or withstood: an irresistible impulse.
2.
lovable, esp. calling forth feelings of protective love: an irresistible puppy.
3.
enticing; tempting to possess: an irresistible necklace. –noun
4.
an irresistible person or thing.

Brandon brought me some roses yesterday. Roses are my absolute favorite flower and forever will be. I love flowers any way, and think all types are beautiful, but roses really do it for me. Lexi seemed to think that daddy brought her roses. She's not supposed to get on the tables but from the ground she could see these perfect red "bundles" of joy with little leaves of purple and yellow poking out to the sides. I bet in her mind, she thought, this is the best day ever!! I left the room for just a short minute and she had already started to indulge in the irresistible greatness of the roses. I had to take some pictures because she's just so darn cute!!

Movie Review: Confessions of a Shopaholic

On my own scale of 1-4, 1 being the best, I give this movie a 2. It was entertaining enough and worth the hour and a half but it won't be one that I add to my collection. I didn't have any expectations going in to the movie as I've never read the books. I just wanted to be entertained for a while and it served it's purpose. There are no astonishing monologues or surprise twists, it's pretty much just a story of a girl that spends too much money but the unrealistic part is that she sells everything and makes enough to pay off all her debt. We all know the value of things goes DOWN once we buy, it doesn't remain the same. Either way, there's of course a love story, a story of quarreling friends, and the "group" that helps get her out of the mess she's created. Cute enough. There is a scene in the movie though that is dear to me as it unfortunately feels like part of my life currently but without the happy ending that happens in the movie. I prefer not to expand on that thought at the moment but the main character is wearing the outfit below during this part of the movie.

It's a feel good movie and who doesn't enjoy seeing fashionable things? By the way, Miami looks absolutely gorgeous in this movie!

eh...

Only 1 pound this week. Not thrilled, but i'm okay with it. It's still a nasty little pound I had last week so now it's gone. I will ramp up the exercising this week and hit 10 next Saturday!!

Have a happy period?

Seriously, this is the slogan Always has come up with? I know it's not a new slogan but the fact that they're using it for new commercials is completely absurd. Happy should not be included in that sentence. Have a pissy period, I can see that, but not happy. Nothing about your stupid pads makes me happy. If Always keeps using this slogan, it's going to ALWAYS make me angry.

Deep clean

I did a deep clean on the apartment this weekend and it's hard for me to do because I don't like the place. But since I'm there for another 6 months, it was definitely over due. I slaved away scrubbing on my hands and knees (at least it helped me get some frustration out) and trying to keep Lexi off the mopped floors and when it was all done, I loved how it looked. I do this every time. I ask myself why I can't maintain this. It would be so easy. I could dedicate myself to cleaning 1 room a day that would take maybe 10-20 minutes depending on the amount of stuff to dust. That would make my life so much easier and I would be happier about the place. It sounds so easy in theory and I have no idea how 2 people and a small cat can create such a mess but we definitely can. I'm going to work on keeping it up. Again, it shouldn't be difficult, but I know how I am! "Oh I'll do it on Saturday" Then I end up working, or have somewhere to be and it doesn't get done. This would solve that!!! I would never have to spend all day cleaning again! At least not in my small square feet of space!

Another victory

Victory may be a strong word but I had another loss this week! 1.2 lbs for a total of 8 pounds in 5 weeks. It may seem like slow progress but I'm still losing and more importantly, I'm learning to get the good healthy guidelines in each day. I find myself make smarter choices for my body than I ever have before and really understanding why I need these nutrients over others. It's so much more than the actual weight, i'm learning life lessons.

I've cooked more than ever and realized that there are so many flavors in different vegetables and fruits that I never cooked with or ate. Don't get me wrong, I still like the good stuff, but I'm more receptive and willing to try the strange looking vegetables. For example, this year i've learned that I like:

-bell peppers (raw and cooked)
-baby spinach- i never had too much of an issue before but I can eat it out of the bag
-onions- all kinds, raw, grilled, sauteed
-mushrooms-real mushrooms-not the slimy ones in the bottles, ick!
-mustard-this is HUGE for me, I hated mustard but can now enjoy healthier meals b/c I like it!
-lean red meat- had digestive issues but the more often I eat it, the better my system is. Also provides a lot of nutrients
-hot green tea- full of anti oxidents

There are many others but these are the ones that stand out right now. Still looking forward to dinner with some friends at Monica's but I think i'm going to for go The Bomba and find something else to tantalize my taste buds!

Hunger Bug

It's 12:10 and I just finished lunch. I had a sandwich I made with wheat bread, deli roast beef, piece of fat free cheese and mustard. I also had a reduced Sodium chicken soup at hand AND a clementine! When I write it all out it sounds like i've eaten tons but I'm still crazy hungry today! (I didn't list out breakfast) I've got some apples and carrots to hold me over until dinner where I will be feasting on Chick Fil A since Brandon is closing yet again. I haven't had chick fil a in a while and I saved up "points" to go and enjoy something yummy but reasonable!

I'm expecting to see a decent loss this Saturday (between 1-2 lbs) so that I can stay on target with my goal of losing 7 lbs per month. The goal was initially 5 but since I exceeded that my first month, I figured why not reach for more. I didn't quite hit 7 in January but was only .2 shy and I think I can make up for that this week. Only 31 lbs to my goal weight! If I can lose 7 lbs a month, I will be ready in 5 more months, that's the end of June!! I hope I stick with it and don't get burned out. I'm taking it slow and cooking things I enjoy and that aren't a burden so that I can work on making this a lifetime change, not just for now.

I am excited about my cheat dinner at Monica's Aca y Alla this Saturday night! I will enjoy some queso with some great friends and may even spring and get a marg. instead of wine!!

Parrothead

So they just announced on margaritaville.com that Jimmy Buffett is making his way back to Dallas on 4/18! We love to go to this concert! It's so insane and you go hours before hand and tail gate until they let you in. Anyway, tomorrow is the pre-sale and i'm stalking the internet to get the presale password. The tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 and then again on Monday at 10 to the general public. They're generally gone within 5 minutes so i've gotta have fast fingers! At this point, this is the closest I'm going to get to a beach until May of 2010!! (5 year anniversary!) I better get some tickets!

Call me crazy

I thought Jennifer Hudson did a wonderful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner. The control she has of her voice is amazing. I don't remember her being that good on American Idol at all, but she is very talented. I really wish I could win the Bahama/Atlantis trip from Kidd Kraddick. I would love to go and I would enjoy seeing Kelly Clarkson. I feel like i've been with her since the beginning. (well since the first AI- not all the stuff before that).

I've really been wanting some cowboy boots. There were so many cute ones this weekend at Billy Bob's and I think they're adorable with summer dresses (some, not all). I think when I hit half way to my weight goal that I will reward myself with a pair. Maybe they'll help me keep shuffling on to reach the end! Brandon and I are planning on learning how to country dance this year. It's so much fun to watch the twirling and whisking around. I would LOVE to learn how to do that.