Lost

My life has gone through yet another huge upheaval.  I wrote several months ago about my husband leaving me for another woman and I had things under control for a short time, but things are changing yet again.  I will write more about it later when my head is in a much clearer space.  I haven't been that great with my eating as of late or taking care of myself for that matter, period.  I have been completely knocked off my center again and I am gripping as hard as I can to stay in control and find my center once again.  I am going to take it one step at a time and get myself back on the saddle and continue to lose the rest of my weight.

*Remembering 9/11*

I have lit red, white, and blue candles in honor of all those who were lost on 9/11, as well as for the survivors left behind to deal with the wreckage, both physically and emotionally.

I know I have not blogged in a long time; I have taken a break as there have been a ton of things going on in my life as of late! I will be back shortly!

Menu Plan Monday: 8/15/2011

Monday: Honey Mustard Chicken, Green Beans
Tuesday: Grilled Steak Tips, Rice, Salad
Wednesday: Teriyaki Chicken over Whole Wheat Couscous
Thursday: Talapia stuffed with shrimp and herbs
Friday: Pizza with LOTS of veggies!
Saturday: Marinated Pork Chops on the grill
Sunday: Spaghetti with homemade sauce

Its a new dawn.. Its a new day...

and I'm feeling good!!!!

I feel so much better this morning after writing this post about how I was feeling and reigning things back in!  So far so good!  I have already had a decent breakfast, made a healthy lunch to take to work, and already know what's for dinner! YAY me!!!

I also had a pretty serious revelation last night about the craziness that has been going on in my life over the past few weeks and that was a HUGE help for me to get back in the saddle.  This morning I feel good and feel like I can tackle anything that comes my way! Its going to be a busy, busy week - I am animal sitting for a friend who has 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 3 reptiles, as well as working double the amount of hours that I have worked since the beginning of June, plus taking care of my sweet daughter who is such a hoot! Phew... I am tired just thinking about it, but its all good!   Here's to a GREAT week!!!

The Back to Work Count-Down has Begun!

:(

Yep, that's how I feel right now.  I am heading back to my full time teaching job in just 3 short weeks.  I am looking forward to the cash flow, BUT money is NOT everything.  I am so so so sad to be leaving my sweet girl to go back to work.  We have had an amazing summer and have done so many fun things!  I was looking back over her blog and its been amazing how busy we've been that it should be no surprise to me that its nearly over.

I have been having difficulty in the last week or so keeping my eating under control, as well as being pretty anti-social with my friends IRL (both of these things are for sure signs that I am stressed and down) and I realized today how very sad I am to be returning to work.  I have realized I have been doing some emotional/stress eating due to the upcoming changes.  I have not done stress eating in a long time and that's a major victory for me, but this week has been tough so I need to reign it in!  I am embarassed to admit all I have eaten this week and need to RECOMMIT once again to being on the wagon so I can keep off the weight I have worked so hard to maintain this summer!

Tomorrow is a new day and it all starts as soon as I open my peepers in the morning.  This week is going to be a nutty week with work at my part-time summer job, so I need to plan, plan, PLAN!  I am going to sit down a bit later and come up with a food plan for the entire week so that I can be successful! Once I have it I'll be back to share!

My Topsy-Turvy Garden

I have a Topsy-Turvy Planter that I bought last spring.  Last year I had some ok results from it, but this year has been GREAT!  I have 4 plants in it: mini-yellow bell peppers, orange bell peppers, early girl tomatoes, and grape tomatoes.

The early girl tomatoes are off to a great start! I have about 1 dozen of them growing and a bunch of flowers blooming!  The grape tomato plant has a bunch of flowers, but no tomatoes to speak of, but I am sure they are just around the corner!  

The mini bell peppers are growing GREAT and I have 4 good sized ones and a bunch of smaller ones that are just starting to grow.

The regular sized bell peppers are growing really well too; a few big ones and then a bunch of smaller ones!

There is something so satisfying about growing your own food!!!!  I can't wait until they are ready to harvest!

Beat the Heat Challenge: Week 5

Goals:

1. Lose 8lbs

2. Exercise 3x a week

3. Clean, purge, and organize more in my house

4. Read, read, read

5. Scrapbook 2 pages week

Positive Picture:

My little munchkin at a family fun night put on by our local library.

What have you done this week to work towards your goals?

I lost -3.2lbs this week(G1)! YAHOOO!!! I think I am back in the saddle again!  I exercised once this week(G2); still not doing great on that front, but I am working at it.  I did a TON of cleaning and purging in my basement(G3).  I threw out a TON of junk and wasn't sure if my trash pick-up would take it, but they did! I had just gotten out of the shower and was in my towel when they came by; I so wanted to run out there and KISS them for taking it all! LOL!!!  I am about half way through the book Handle With Care and I am loving it!! Its so thought provoking and intense(G4).  Did not do any scrapbooking this week(G5).  Boo.... :(

What have you done to make yourself feel fabulous?

I colored my hair!! YAY!!  

How are you finding your goals this challenge? Do you still think you can achieve them?

I think I am doing well with them for the most part.  As for achieving them - most of them are on going goals so as much as I hope to achieve them in the future, I know I will not achieve them all in this time period.

 Freebie! If you want to change one goal change it. Explain your decision even if you don’t change any.

No changing any of my goals here.  These are the goals I have been working on since pretty much the beginning of the year and as I mentioned in the last question they are on-going!!!

Fun Question: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Your funds are unlimited!

In all seriousness, I would stay right where I am.  Most all my family is around me and I couldn't live with out them.  However, I'd love to have a vacation home, maybe in a place like Ireland or Figi or.....  and of course if I had unlimited funds, I would build a custom house right here in New Hampshire, etc, etc. 

Re-birthday!

I have officially been on this journey for a year now (as of July 23).  WOW! What a ride it has been.  I remember in April of last year how I saw a picture of myself with my co-workers and realized, "Wow.. I am HUGE!"  At just barely 5'0" I weighed about 184lbs.  I began following the Weight Watchers program on my own with materials I had from the last time I signed up and failed (been there done that like 4 times); I lost some weight on my own and then in July decided, along with my mum, that it was time to officially go back on program and REALLY step up my game. I was 33 years old at the time with a beautiful daughter who I wanted to be a role model for.  I didn't want her to become fat like me and struggle with weight.  So my starting weight at WW that first time I stepped on the scale was 178lbs.  Now here I am, a year later, and I am down 41lbs! WOO HOO! Back then I could barely walk for any distance with out getting winded; I couldn't run to save my life if I had to; my body was rolls upon rolls of fat; I had no muscle definition anywhere on my body; I was in a size 16 jean and a large for shirt; I felt REALLY crappy about myself and really didn't like who I had become.  Fast forward to today, I can walk for long distances with NO problem and even run for FUN; I still have some jiggly parts to my body but they are getting smaller and less obvious; I have muscles that show in my legs and arms that I had no idea were there; I am now in a size 10 jeans and size medium (and sometimes even small) for a shirt; and most importantly I am really beginning to truly love myself for the first time ever.  I still have about 10lbs until I hit my goal and let me tell you, these last 10 have been the hardest to lose!  I WILL make my goal and I will learn to maintain my weight safely and in a healthy manner! Yay for me!

Beat the Heat Challenge: Week 3

Goals:
1. Lose 8lbs
2. Exercise 3x a week
3. Clean, purge, and organize more in my house
4. Read, read, read
5. Scrapbook 2 pages week

Positve Picture:

I am working really hard to forgive someone very important in my life right now.

What have you done this week to work towards your goals?

     I lost -1lb this week(G1)! YAY!!  I exercised only once last week, but its better then nothing right(G2)?  Didn't do too much as far as the G3 this week, but plan on lots of it during the next week.  I am still reading Handle with Care(G4).  I did scrap two pages(G5)!!  I haven't scrapped in forever and it felt great to get these two done!   

Sunshine and Papa replacing a few pieces of decking on one of our
 small decks.

Sunshine and her buddy Evan went to our local splash park! Such fun!

What have you done this week to make you feel fabulous?

     Hmmm.. I threw a fabulous birthday party for my daughter!!  Just seeing the looks of awe and happiness on her sweet little face are enough for me!  I also went to see Harry Potter!!!  It was FAB!

Do you have any gadgets that help you to your goals or are you a low tech kinda person?
Oh, I so love technology!!! Hehe... I have two pieces of tech that I like to use to help me towards my goals.  The first is my iPod; I have the Weight Watchers app to help me track my food on the go.  I also love my Wii and this is how I do about 75% of my exercise.

We are half way through the year, what have you achieved so far (in all aspects of life)?
Boy, this is a loaded question for me.  I am in such a different place now then I was back at the beginning of the year.  Back in January I was strictly in survival/panic mode.  Now 7 months later, I have learned how strong of a person I a really am and how I can survive no matter what.  

Fun Question: Tell me one of your secrets to achieving goals and living a happy life?
Be true to YOURSELF first and foremost! 

Birthday Party Sneak Peek!

Tomorrow Lil' Miss Sunshine (my daughter) turns 4 years old at exactly 6:22 PM! I can NOT believe it! I have planned a bash for her on Saturday and here is a sneak peek of the decorations I have created with my Cricut! I can NOT wait!!! 

Click on the image to see it lager!