Saturday, October 22, 2011

Measure Me!

Alright the challenge was fun, but I guess it's about time for a real update!

Most importantly, Clint is having knee surgery on Tuesday. This is an old injury (like 6 years old) that he never got taken care of. A couple times a year his left knee pops and swells up and after a few days it's back to normal. It did it again a few weeks ago and was more sowllen than I've ever seen it. It didn't get better as fast and he finally decided to do something about it! So we went to the local dr, who sent him to get an MRI and referred him to an orthopedic surgeon. He has a pretty bad "bucket handle" tear on his meniscus. It's pretty gnarly lookin'. Its definitely something that's gotten worse ove there years, and was probably just a simple tear initially. But there's no telling really. So he can either deal with it or have surgery. Obviously we chose surgery. It's scheduled for Tuesday morning. He gets to "go under" for the first time! The doctor says he'll be off for 4-6 weeks but Clint doesn't think it will take that long. I'm afraid he'll go back to work too soon and hurt himself. But I guess the doctor won't clear him to go back until he thinks its okay. We have short term disability coverage and we can supplement with his vacation that he hasn't used, so we should be okay money wise. Not great, but we won't be losing any vehicles or anything. LOL. I'm kinda excited for him to get it fixed and not have to worry about it so much anymore! I am hoping he'll feel like he'll be able to do more things. Like whenever I mention going skiing or something, he brings up his knee. So I'm hoping he'll feel more comfortable with something like that. Not that we ever do anything like that anyway. LOL
Oh I guess I should mention it's a pretty simple, out patient surgery. :)

As for me, I'm doing good. Still losing weight, but more slowly than before. HOWEVER, I am realizing that the weight isn't as important anymore. I'm gaining muscle so it's making me lose pounds more slowly. I'm still losing fat just fine, I think. So it's making it harder to guage how I'm really doing. So I've started doing measurements every other Wednesday (IDK why I chose Wednesday). I'm trying real hard to make sure I measure the exact same way each time. I think I'll just go for full disclosure and post my inches (*blush*):

[b]October 6:[/b]
Weight: 218
Waist: 49.75
Chest: 38.5
Bust: 45.5
Torso*: 41
Thigh: 25.5
Arm: 14.5

*Torso is at the smallest part of my torso, just for shits and giggles. :)

[b]OCtober 19[/b]
Weight: 216
Waist: 49
Chest: 38.5
Bust: 45.5
Torso: 39.25
Thigh: 25.5
Arm: 13.5

So only 2 lbs lost in 2 weeks BUT as you can see I lost 3/4 of an inch in my waist and my torso and an inch in my arm. I find it interesting that the wasit and torso seem to go at the same pace, and that my chest and bust do as well. I wonder if they will always be like that.

On [b]June 22[/b], I did some measurements. I'm not sure that I measured the same way I do now, but let's see anyway...
Weight: 257.25
Waist: 54
Bust: 49

So I think I'm making good progress! I wish I would have measured back in April when this all started!

So anyway. I really didn't intend to do all that. What I was gonna say is that with the muscle gain, I'm not sure what I want my ending weight to be. Pounds aren't important anymore. So I'm not sure what matters. I guess just being happy with my body, getting out of plus sizes. I still for sure want to get under 200 (15.6 lbs away). So I don't know. We'll see how I feel I guess!

So speaking of all that muscle mass I've gained. I LOVE finding new muscles!! Obviously I know where to flex to see my arm muscles. And I can make my boobs move with my chest muscles (hehe) but I found my torso muscles.. I guess that's my obliques... I put my hands on my torso and lean one way or the other and I can clearly feel muscle that I've never felt before. So yesterday I tried to feel my abs and I have to squeeze my hand into the fat real hard and thrust (it looks pretty dirty, good thing I'm not a guy!) and I can totally feel my abs! It's oddly exciting!

Today I went through all my clothes again. This time I included winter clothes. I've been wondering what I have in the way of winter clothes, and guess what... I'm set! All my sweaters that I bought when I worked at Lane Bryant (2006) fit great. And I've got a couple long sleeve shirts. Woot woot! So I (almost) filled a bin with "fat" clothes (and swimwear), but I've still got a bunch of stuff hanging in my cloest that's really too big. Why? Because I just wear them around the house and they're comfy and well I guess I might as well get my use out of them! I'll add them to the "fat" bin when they get annoyingly big. And no, I'm not getting rid of the stuff in that bin just yet. I don't know how long I'll hang onto it. But that doesn't mean I think I'll go back to being that big. I really DON'T believe that I'll ever get that big again. But its just hard to let go of, and some of it will make good maternity and post-baby clothes. So there's my justification. :p

I hate that all I seem to talk about anymore is my body! But it's what I've got going on right now, so deal with it! ;-p

One more thing... If you ever find yourself on a weight loss journey... TAKE PICTURES!! I LOVE looking at my first picture (which I plan to share at the end of all this). I was so fat! And comparing it to my most recent picture is just awesome and fills me with pride! :)

Okay I'll stop babbling now. I think I've said all I've got to say...

Till next time...

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Blog Challenge Day Fifteen

Day 15: What were your highs and lows of this past month?

I'm assuming this doesn't mean October but means the last 30 days.

HIGHS:
Baby Blaine was born (my new nephew)!
I got to see my MIL.
We had a blast at Melissa's wedding last month!
I fit into (and look good in) XL shirts finally!

LOWS:
I had some dietting downfalls.
Clint needs knee surgery.

**********

And that ends my blog challenge! I've had fun! I'll try to do a real update soon! :)

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Blog Challenge Day Fourteen

Day 14: What did you want to be when you grew up? What are you now?

In this category, I have so far failed my younger self. I never REALLY knew what I wanted to be. I toyed with the ideas of vet, teacher, photographer, even retail management like my mom. I think realistically I pictured myself in some kind of office. But I never had a clear cut plan. BUT I always planned to work. My mom raised me to be independant and not rely on a man. She has never put herself in a position where she relies on a man. So I just *knew* I'd always work. The one thing I always knew I wanted to be was a mom. I even thought I wanted to be a single mom for a while because I was raised by a single mom and she did great, and I didn't think I'd want to share my children!

What am I now? A homemaker without kids. Obviosuly I plan to have kids. But I don't really plan to be a working mom anymore. I'll go back to work if I have to. If Cling gets laid off or we are just so broke. I'll do what is needed to take care of my family. But if we can afford for me to not work, I don't plan to. I sometimes feel like I failed myself, and my mom, in that aspect. I know my mom is proud of me and has faith in my marriage and in Clint. She has never made me feel like I'm doing the wrong thing not working, or like she is disappointed in me. But she didn't raise me this way and there's a part of me that thinks she wishes I would be a working woman. What if something happened to Clint and I have no way to support myself and the children we may have? I don't have any qualifications that would get me into a good paying job. I guess it's just one of those things that you don't think will ever happen to you. Clint will be fine, our marriage will last forever, and I won't be in a situation where I'll have to provide for myself completely. That's just the things we tell ourselves to make life a little easier, I guess.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Blog Challenge Day Thirteen

Day 13: If you could go back and tell your 15 year old self something, what would you say?

Here's a handful of things I'd say:

"Don't be such a dork."
"He is never gonna love you."
"Don't eat so much crap, it will make you fatter!"
"Smile more."
"Don't cut up, write on, or add stickers to pictures. You'll regret it someday. Also don't scribble out faces or write mean things in your yearbooks."
"Learn to do your hair and make up. Better yet, experiment the way other girls do even if it looks ridiculous."
"Don't be so insecure!"
"Find a way to go to prom, or at least homecoming."
"Don't be so standoffish. People will like you!"
"Don't be embarrassed by your love for NSYNC and Justin!"
"Appreciate your mom... and your brother."

Monday, October 17, 2011

Blog Challenge Day Twelve

Day 12: Bullet your whole day

Okay here's a normal day, Mon-Sat. (Times are "ish")

8:30-9:00: Get out of bed, get dressed
9:00-10:30: Watch TV (DVR recordings or NetFlix)
10:30: Time for breakfast (oatmeal or cereal, eaten in front of TV, of course)
11:00: Gym time! Elliptical for 25 minutes, weights for about 45 and treadmill for 12.
12:30: Shower
1:00: Lunch (Lean Cuisine) and TV
1:30: Light housework (dishwasher, counters, laundry if necessary, etc)
2:00-4:00: Whatever I want. Usually scrapbooking/card making (while watching Netflix or listening to music)

If Clint is on nights:
4:00: Wake Clint up, start dinner.
5:00: Eat dinner
5:30: Clint leaves
5:30-7:00: I clean up, water yard
7:00-10:00: TV, internet, etc.
10:00: Bedtime, reading, internetting, etc till I fall asleep.

If Clint is on days:
4:00-6:00: More of whatever I want, eat a snack, etc.
6:00: Water yard if necessary
6:30: Get dinner prepped
6:45: Clint's home, start actually cooking
7:15: Dinner time. Watch Clint's shows till bedtime, unless I have two on at a time, then we watch mine. :)
9:00: Is usually bed time when he is home. He crashes out quick I read, internet, etc till I fall asleep

Yes I'm aware I watch too much TV. But at least I go to the gym.

I thought about bulletting paydays and Sundays but I'll spare you. :)

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Blog Challenge Day Eleven

Day 11: What is your favorite movie and why?

I don't have a lot of depth with these things. Pretty Woman is my favorite ever movie. It's been my favorite since I was about 10 years old. Why? Because "It's the best" I guess. :)

Other favorites include, but are not limited to:
*Beaches
*Grease
*Moulin Rouge
*The Object of My Affection
*Cruel Intentions
*Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
*Where the Heart Is

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Blog Challenge Day Ten

Day 10: Give a picture of 5 of your favorite famous people and explain why you like them.


1. Justin Timberlake


Because he is so hot and awesome and I've been in love with him since I was 14 and that kinda thing doesn't just go away!

2. Ellen DeGeneres

Because she is so funny and just a great person. She does so much good for people, and if all rich/famous people were so generous, I think the world would be a better place!

*The first two were easy, this is where it gets harder and probably a little less sincere*

3. Ryan Murphy



Because he created Glee AND Nip/Tuck!

4. Guiliana & Bill Rancic



Because they have been so open with their struggle to have a baby.

5. Taylor Swift



Because I'm still a teeny bopper at heart and I think she's awesomesauce. She writes her own music about her real life, and I think she's a good role model (except for that whole John Mayer thing.. what was she thinking?)

Friday, October 14, 2011

Blog Challenge Day Nine

Day 09: Describe someone who fascinates you.

Hmmm... this is hard. I don't think I'm easily fascinated.

I'm gonna say... The Sister Wives family.

It's not a lifestyle that I could ever see myself in. But it's so interesting to watch them. How the sisterwives interact and seem to really love each other. How allllllll the kids really seem to get along and enjoy being part of a big family. I don't get what's so great about Kody, the dad, that all these women want to be married to him, though. He seems like a big kid and would, get on my nerves! I think it's kinda nice to see a polygamist family that's not like Warren Jeffs and his creepy stuff. The Brown family.. the wives.. have all chosen to live this lifestyle, and they take the good and the bad and make it work. And that's what all families are about, right? The children get to choose, when they're older, whether or not they want to live the polygamist lifestyle. Their parents aren't trying to force them to follow in their footsteps. It's just all very interesting to me.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Blog Challenge Day Eight

Day 08: What is one of your favorite TV shows? Explain.

Seriously just one?! Wow. Okay, this is gonna be tough for me!

Well I have to go with my all time favorite that will surely be my favorite forever: FRIENDS!

Friends is an awesome show. The cast was amazing, it was well written and it was just so funny. It's the only show that no matter how many times I've seen an episode (and I've seen each episode dozens of times), it's STILL funny. Even when I know the line that's coming next, I laugh. And it's serious too! When Monica and Chandler couldn't get pregnant and decided to adopt and he describes Monica as "a mother without a baby," that part makes me cry every time. Each character is unique and adds something to the show. Ross being the dinosaur obsessed nerd. Phoebe the ditzy hippy. Rachel being spoiled and fashion obsessed. Monica the formerly fat neat freak. Chandler with the job that no one knows what he does. Joey the usually out of work actor who is good with the ladies. And then the recurring guest characters like Richard and Janice. Without each one of those characters, cast by the right actor, the show wouldn't have been what it became and it wouldn't have lasted near as long. It's just the best show ever, and I can't imagine I'll ever get tired of it!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Blog Challenge Day Seven

Day 07: Describe your relationship with your parents/siblings.

First a little background:
My parents divorced when I was a baby and my mom moved us from Arkansas to Arizona. I have an older brother, Chris. My mom met my step dad when I was about 5 and they were long distance for many years, and finally married in 2005. My dad remarried also but it didn't last and he is married again. Neither of those women are like a mother to me.

I will start with my mom. We have always had a close relationship. I may have kept things from her growing up, but now I know that I can tell her anything. She will never judge or make me feel bad about things, she'll only give me the best advice she can. And she's usually right. She lives in Oregon and we don't get to see each other nearly often enough. Twice a year at the most. But we manage to maintain a solid relationship, and are awlays there for each other.

Chris is 3 years older than me. Growing up, we fought like crazy. But that's pretty normal for a brother-sister relationship, I think. I believe that moving as much as we did kept the three of us close as a family. Starting when I was 8, Chris became my after school babysitter. He was really my main male role model, which is kinda weird. But he is the only male I was aruond often. Growing up, we always covered for each other. I remember when I was about 11, he and I were fighting and I threw down the electric mixer in anger and I broke it. He came up with a lie to tell mom about how it broke. We really never tattled on each other. I don't think that's normal for a brother-sister relationship, but I'm glad it's how we were. Now that we're grown, we remain pretty close. It's tough because he lives in Arkansas and I haven't seen him since my wedding (June '09). He has a almost 6 year old daughter whom I haven't seen since she was 17 months old. I hate the distance. And we don't talk enough. But somehow we're still close.

Something I love about my family is that we communicate well. My mom can always be counted on to smooth things over. If I'm having some kind of issue with Chris, I just have to talk to her about it and she can help me see his point of view. And if it's necessary, she can talk to him and everything will be okay. We are a very emotional group, the three of us. I don't know if "emotional" is the right word, but we're not afraid to say/show how we're feeling. I think that's a good thing.

Then there's my dad. Well, we lived far from each other. Chris and I went to Arkansas for about two months every summer. I'm not gonna lie, I never really felt like I fit in in Arkansas, with my cousins and everyone there and all the outdoorsy stuff. It just wasn't me. I think it took a few years for me to warm up to my dad (I started going to Arkansas when I was about 5). I always spent a lot of time with his wife-at-the-time, Twyla. Now that I'm all grown up, I realize that we don't have a very close relationship. He doesn't know me like my mom does. But we have talked more often over the past couple years, and I feel like he is making more of an effort to keep in touch, which is nice. In the future I hope to be able to have more "real" talks with him, but for now we're good. :)

I feel like I should mention my step dad Keith, because he was a father figure to me. But like I said, they were long distance so he wasn't around every day. But we saw him once every other month or so, I'd say. He is a quiet man, doesn't show much emotion. But I know without a doubt that he would help us out whenever we needed it. He's a good man!

***This was my 100th blog post!***

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Blog Challenge Day Six

Day 06: If you could have any job in the entire world, what would it be and why?

I would love to work for The Ellen Show!! Or somehow in the entertainment field, where I get to meet lots of celebrities, and get all kinds of inside gossip and freebies and get to travel! Obviously this wouldn't fit into the domesticated life I have and plan to keep. But in another world, I would love to be in the entertainment industry somehow, NOT as the talent, of course, but behind the scenes. I say The Ellen Show because she seems like she would be so fun to work for, and maybe I'd get on the show from time to time... be one of the people she sends out to surprise families with new cars or do funny red carpet interviews. That would be an awesome job, I think! :)

Monday, October 10, 2011

Blog Challenge Day Five

Day 05: Do you have any favorite websites? What are they?

Well this one is easy!

1. Facebook (duh!)
2. The Mommy Playbook (TTC Forums)
3. Just Mommies(Scrapbooking Forum)
4. My Fitness Pal (I mainly use the mobile app though, it's been a huge help!)


So yeah... those are the ones I use on a daily basis.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Blog Challenge Day Four

Day 04: Put your iTunes on shuffle and list 10 songs that pop up. How do they describe you?

I'm a little confused because it doesn't say the FIRST 10 songs that pop up. Does that mean I get to pick & choose?
Well I will try to find meaning in the first 10, but may skip a couple.

1. "Not Myself Tonight" - Christina Aguilera: Okay, sometimes I want a girls night out and I act a little goofy and crazy.
2. "Drink & Dial" - James Otto: LOL This doesn't describe me anymore, but there was a time when I would drunk dial and always regretted it! Ah, memories...
3. "Listen" - Beyonce (except this is the Glee version): This describes me because it doesn't! I've been lucky to have never had anyone trying to tell me that I'm less than I am, I've always had my own voice and been my own person.
4. "My Girls" - Christina Aguilera (again?!): Okay this doesn't sound much like my friends and I but I call my friends "My Girls" so there. And this song is so fun.
5. "Only Fooling Myself" - Kate Voegele: This is another that doesn't describe me anymore. But in my single days I was big on daydreaming about the guys I liked liking me back. I guess in that respect, I still daydream about things. Just different things now (like being thin!)
6. "Permanent" - David Cook: I love this song! It describes me (wel, us), because we are permanent. "When all you know seems so far away and everything is temporary, rest your head. I'm permanent."
7. "Two is Better Than One" - Boys Like Girls & Taylor Swift: Describes me because.. two is better than one! And I'm happy to be in a twosome. :)
8. "Take It Off" - Ke$ha: This doesn't describe me at all, lyrically. But Ke$ha is great to exercise to, which is very much a part of who I am now!
9. "Wolves" - Garth Brooks: I think this song describes a lot of people nowadays! The wolves are knocking at all our doors. We have debts that we are dealing with, but the wolves aren't pulling us down anytime soon! :)
10. "Lucky" - Jason Mraz & Colbie Calait (but this is the Glee version): This describes me because Clint really is my best friend, and I am very lucky to have him.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Blog Challenge Day Three

Day 03: Discuss how you hope your future will be like.

Well, how far into the future are we talking? Let's see...

In 10 years, I hope to have two kids, a boy and a girl. Hopefully they'll both be school age by then. Clint will be in a better, supervisory position here in town. (I'm gonna emphasize that this is what we HOPE for, so it doesn't have to be entirely realistic, right?) We'll have a boat and lake property. Maybe even some kind of off roader for here in town. We won't be rich by any means, but we'll be well off with a savings account and all the things we need, and not living paycheck to paycheck. We'll have a second dog, a Boxer. I'll stil be a scrapbooking fool, but I'll also have a nice garden. I'll surely be a better housekeeper by then (ha!)...

When we reach retirement age, we'll go live on our lake property, which by then will have nice big trees and a big-enough-for-us house built on it, with lots of windows. Clint will spend his time fishing and I'll spend mine... scrapbooking? gardening? shopping? gossiping? Not sure! Our kids will visit often with our grandkids. Visitting us at the lake will be a fond memory that our grandkids will cherish forever. We'll just be a happy, old married couple! :)

Friday, October 7, 2011

Blog Challenge Day Two

Day 02: Share 30 interesting facts about yourself.

I can't guarentee they'll be very interesting...

01. I wear a size 10-11 shoe. (ew!)
02. I didn't get drunk for the first time till I was 19.
03. I moved around a lot growing up, and hated it.
04. But now I feel like moving around kept us close as a family.
05. I'm not that into shopping.
06. I lost my virginity when I was almost 19.
07. My first car was an '86 VW Cabriolet convertable and I loved it!
08. Is it possible that you don't know that I used to be obsessed with NSYNC?
09. And I still love me some Justin Timberlake!
10. My first job was at Subway
11. When I'm driving alone, I crank the music up and belt it out!
12. I didn't get my license till halfway through senior year.
13. I don't tan easily, especially my legs, which have been described as "clear" instead of white.
14. I never watched Fraggle Rock... apparently that's weird.
15. When I was 14, I won Third Eye Blind concert tickets on the radio.
15. Growing up, I always had crushes on my brothers friends. Some of them lasted for years.
16. I'm afraid of losing too much boob.
17. In 6th grade I frequently got bad grades on homework, and was supposed to have something signed, but I never wanted to show my mom so I had detention for weeks at a time till the teacher forgot.
18. It always took me a while to make friends, but once I did, I kept them forever.
19. Even when I got good grades, I often didn't show my mom my report card because it would remind her to ask for my brothers report card.
20. I am lucky to have married into a pretty awesome family.
21. I never used to be outdoorsy until Clint came along.
22. I watch way too much TV.
23. I recycle and try to be "green"
24. My first concert was Brooks & Dunn when I was 11.
25. I have an ex boyfriend that stole my credit cards.
26. I'm not even a little bit religious.
27. My brother and I used to fight like crazy, but we always covered each other when we broke something or did something wrong.
28. I haven't gone to the movies since 2007, ot maybe it was 2008. The Simpsons Movie. Yeah...
29. When I was little I wanted to be a vet.
30. My first kiss was when I was 13 with a boy named Dan Hickey.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Blog Challenge Day One

Day 1: Describe your current relationship.

What to say about my marriage? I am happily married to Clint....

We met Nov 12, 2005. His sister Robin and I were friends and were having a birthday party at her house for our friend Rheannon. She invited her brother. At the time I wasn't looking for anything serious, so when we hit it off I thought it would just be a fling. Wrong! We ended up "dating" until February 2006, when he decided to take a job about 5 hours away and at the time I thought I wanted to live in Prescott forever. In May he moved back and we got back together right before my birthday. We moved in together in August, but that only lasted until October. I'm really not sure what happened then. We just weren't getting along and decided we were better off apart. He moved out of town again and I ran away to my mommy (in Oregon!!) Before I even got to Oregon, though, he realized he just couldn't live without me and made plans to follow me to Oregon. I got there at the beginning of December and he got there the day after Christmas. That lasted 2 weeks! Seriously, we were really rocky for a while! So he hauled his butt back to Arizona and I stayed in Oregon and tried to get on with my life. I'm not sure how long it was (a month or so?), but he texted me out of the blue one night and we started talking again. I visitted AZ in April and got to see him and in May (2007) (right before my Bday, again, lol), he flew out to help me drive back to Arizona. And we haven't broken up since! (okay, once for a few hours, lol). We finally realized that we are better together and agreed that breaking up isn't an option. Not over stupid stuff! We got engaged Christmas 2007. We finally got married in June 2009. We have had our ups and downs and have grown stronger over the years, and we are solid. I can't see anything coming between us.

Over the last couple years, I've noticed that we communicate so much better than we used to. When he gets mad he doesn't get so worked up about it, doesn't throw things (he never threw things at me, just threw them). When I am upset I'm pretty good at telling him why. When either of us have an issue we are pretty good at discussing it. We don't always agree but we can usually find some common ground.

Our marriage isn't perfect. We have our problems, financial and such. But what's most important is that we have each other, we love each other and our little dog. We ultimlately want the same things out of life. So we are happy! :)

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Blog Challenge starts tomorrow!

So because I am a copy cat and have to do everything my SIL Robin does, I'm doing the 15 day blog challenge! Although I can't guarentee I'll do it in 15 days (but I'll try)! Here's the challenge:

Day 01: Discuss your current relationship.
Day 02: Share 30 interesting facts about yourself.
Day 03: Discuss how you hope your future will be like.
Day 04: Put your iTunes on shuffle and list 10 songs that pop up. How do they describe you?
Day 05: Do you have any favorite websites? What are they?
Day 06: If you could have any job in the entire world, what would it be and why?
Day 07: Describe your relationship with your parents/siblings.
Day 08: What is one of your favorite TV shows? Explain.
Day 09: Describe someone who fascinates you.
Day 10: Give a picture of 5 of your favorite famous people and explain why you like them.
Day 11: What is your favorite movie and why?
Day 12: Bullet your whole day
Day 13: If you could go back and tell your 15 year old self something, what would you say?
Day 14: What did you want to be when you grew up? What are you now?
Day 15: What were your highs and lows of this past month?

Check back tomorrow for day 1!