I love to redecorate. Ask Sean, he'll be the first to tell you that I'm known for moving furniture around and changing color schemes at least once every 4-6 months.
Well, I've been itching to redecorate lately. It could be because spring it upon us, a time of refreshment and new beginnings. It could be because we had a very nice change of scenery over the weekend and I feel the need to simplify our living space. It could be that it's just in my blood.
How to redecorate on a budget? Well, there's my challenge. I refuse to spend a ton (or even a moderate amount) of money on new things. So I need to figure out my vision for each room, and then scheme how I can use things I already have to give each room a facelift. The first thing that needs to happen is a cleanout of "stuff". You know what that stuff is. The clothes that you never wear anymore, but can't seem to let go. The piles of dishes or bills or unrecognizable rubbish that seem to accumulate in each corner...
There are many ways to make an old space seem new. Switch the curtains from room to room. Change the throw blankets on the sofa and chaise and bed. Find some photos and frame them to hang on the wall. Dust off the blank canvases and do some painting...
There are many things I can do, which I plan on doing before considering buying anything new. For the time being, I have given this blog some color. I am going to work on customizing this a bit in the near future...I'm thinking a personalized header, some background imaging...So many possibilities.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
A Quick Getaway
I'm heading out in about 20 minutes for an overnight jaunt to Pennsylvania with Sean and a friend of ours. Our friend who lives down there is in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which I have never seen an actual production of. So it'll be wonderful to see her and the show, and another girlfriend who is meeting up with us there. It should be a fun weekend! I'm very much looking forward to getting away, even if it's just for an overnight.
Enjoy your weekend, whatever you may be doing! Can you believe March is almost over?
Oh, and I saw crocuse (croci?) on the way home from work yesterday. Score!
Enjoy your weekend, whatever you may be doing! Can you believe March is almost over?
Oh, and I saw crocuse (croci?) on the way home from work yesterday. Score!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Cake and Taxes
Because cake is preferred to death.
I finally finished my taxes and e-filed last night. It was such a relief. There was nothing stopping me before except the daily procrastination to finish things that seems to follow me around everywhere I go. I honestly had my taxes 89% completed back in the beginning of February, I just put off finishing the State end of things with my car tax payment info. I couldn't tell you why I put it off for nearly two months, but I'm glad it's done and filed. Now I can eagerly await my refund.
Have you finished filing yet? I feel bad for people who have complicated taxes. I worry about being audited, afraid I've made a mistake somewhere along the way, but it's quite easy for me. I don't own a house, I'm not married (yet!), I don't have children, I don't own a boat, I didn't make any significant charitable donations this year, I am not disabled, a veteran, unemployed, or over 65, and I don't live on a farm.
And I could really go for some cake.
I finally finished my taxes and e-filed last night. It was such a relief. There was nothing stopping me before except the daily procrastination to finish things that seems to follow me around everywhere I go. I honestly had my taxes 89% completed back in the beginning of February, I just put off finishing the State end of things with my car tax payment info. I couldn't tell you why I put it off for nearly two months, but I'm glad it's done and filed. Now I can eagerly await my refund.
Have you finished filing yet? I feel bad for people who have complicated taxes. I worry about being audited, afraid I've made a mistake somewhere along the way, but it's quite easy for me. I don't own a house, I'm not married (yet!), I don't have children, I don't own a boat, I didn't make any significant charitable donations this year, I am not disabled, a veteran, unemployed, or over 65, and I don't live on a farm.
And I could really go for some cake.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Idol Picks
I can't hold it in - Adam Lambert is CUTE! When you can see his face, the boy's got good looks, ladies. And a killer vocal range to boot. I hope America sees him as more than "the boy who wears nail polish and sings weird stuff", because he is talented.
So obviously, he's one of my top picks now. With him of course are Danny and Allison. Danny wasn't amazing this week, but I'm glad he didn't sing another power ballad. And he has so much raw energy. And Allison is just phenomenal. Forget age, she's just an incredible performer. She's polished and doesn't hold back. I love her.
I was also happy with Matt and Chris. Anoop is just such a cutie pie.
Now....who's going home? I hate to say it, but Scott needs to be in the bottom 3. He just isn't as good. He's a sweet, talented pianist but his vocals just aren't there with the rest of them.
Lil? Eh.
I still love Megan's voice, but she butchered that song tonight. I think she could be a good modern recording artist, like Colbie Caillat or Ingrid Michaelson, but she's not really an "Idol".
Michael....I think he'll be going home tomorrow. He was in the bottom two last week, and he just doesn't have the enthusiasm or fan base behind him.
Megan or Michael, but my money's on Michael.
So obviously, he's one of my top picks now. With him of course are Danny and Allison. Danny wasn't amazing this week, but I'm glad he didn't sing another power ballad. And he has so much raw energy. And Allison is just phenomenal. Forget age, she's just an incredible performer. She's polished and doesn't hold back. I love her.
I was also happy with Matt and Chris. Anoop is just such a cutie pie.
Now....who's going home? I hate to say it, but Scott needs to be in the bottom 3. He just isn't as good. He's a sweet, talented pianist but his vocals just aren't there with the rest of them.
Lil? Eh.
I still love Megan's voice, but she butchered that song tonight. I think she could be a good modern recording artist, like Colbie Caillat or Ingrid Michaelson, but she's not really an "Idol".
Michael....I think he'll be going home tomorrow. He was in the bottom two last week, and he just doesn't have the enthusiasm or fan base behind him.
Megan or Michael, but my money's on Michael.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Weighing In on Tuesday, I Guess
Well, I'm not even going to post the stats this week, I was up another .2 yesterday at weigh in, and I know I need to buckle down, eat less fatty meats, and kick up the fitness a notch. I know I am not the first, nor will I be the last, to say that weekends are my personal demise.
I am so good during the week with food. I eat a small but healthy breakfast every morning, a well portioned lunch with snacks mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and a somewhat bigger dinner. I know there are adjustments to make with dinner (like having pizza every week in the past month - no more!). There's always room for more vegetables and less starch, but with Sean's allergy, the restrictions can get difficult. I need to just suck it up and eat a salad each night before dinner to fill up some of that extra space.
Weekends...I love weekends. Weekends and I go way back...But for some reason, all caution gets thrown to the wind. All tips and streaks and motivation just kind of falls flat at my door, and if I want to eat something, I eat it. It's usually something that's not necessarily bad (hibachi this past Saturday night), but it's not great. And don't even get me started on the wine. I love wine, and I will always make room in my points allowance for a glass if I want it, but I need to limit that to one correctly portioned glass. This past weekend when my friend came to visit, we literally each poured half a bottle into a huge merlot glass. It was hilarious, but dangerous.
Sunday, I bit the bullet. I took myself for a good walk at the lake since it was sunny (but cold!), and hen I marched my tush to Target and picked up Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. It's 3 levels of workout, and you're supposed to spend 10 days on each level, with no break in between days (for maximum results). Each day you have a 2 minute warm up and cool down, and three 6-minute segments broken down into
3 minutes - Strength
2 minutes - Cardio
1 minute - Abs
The point is that you don't start moving and you are actively engaging all of these muscles in one workout to maximize the effectiveness of each move. And let me tell you, for a 22 minute video, I'm huffing and puffing. And I thought I would be ok since I've been going to the gym and working on my 5K training. Heck no, she pushes you, and the moves are killer. There's no other way to put it. I could not feel my thighs yesterday after I did it. I had to do yoga to get some extra stretching in.
I will keep you posted on results. I'm keeping a personal photo record so I can visually see any progress made, but I just cannot post those here. Me in stretchy pants and a sports bra does not belong in the internet.
The things we do to look pretty on our wedding day and hot on our honeymoon...
I am so good during the week with food. I eat a small but healthy breakfast every morning, a well portioned lunch with snacks mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and a somewhat bigger dinner. I know there are adjustments to make with dinner (like having pizza every week in the past month - no more!). There's always room for more vegetables and less starch, but with Sean's allergy, the restrictions can get difficult. I need to just suck it up and eat a salad each night before dinner to fill up some of that extra space.
Weekends...I love weekends. Weekends and I go way back...But for some reason, all caution gets thrown to the wind. All tips and streaks and motivation just kind of falls flat at my door, and if I want to eat something, I eat it. It's usually something that's not necessarily bad (hibachi this past Saturday night), but it's not great. And don't even get me started on the wine. I love wine, and I will always make room in my points allowance for a glass if I want it, but I need to limit that to one correctly portioned glass. This past weekend when my friend came to visit, we literally each poured half a bottle into a huge merlot glass. It was hilarious, but dangerous.
Sunday, I bit the bullet. I took myself for a good walk at the lake since it was sunny (but cold!), and hen I marched my tush to Target and picked up Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. It's 3 levels of workout, and you're supposed to spend 10 days on each level, with no break in between days (for maximum results). Each day you have a 2 minute warm up and cool down, and three 6-minute segments broken down into
3 minutes - Strength
2 minutes - Cardio
1 minute - Abs
The point is that you don't start moving and you are actively engaging all of these muscles in one workout to maximize the effectiveness of each move. And let me tell you, for a 22 minute video, I'm huffing and puffing. And I thought I would be ok since I've been going to the gym and working on my 5K training. Heck no, she pushes you, and the moves are killer. There's no other way to put it. I could not feel my thighs yesterday after I did it. I had to do yoga to get some extra stretching in.
I will keep you posted on results. I'm keeping a personal photo record so I can visually see any progress made, but I just cannot post those here. Me in stretchy pants and a sports bra does not belong in the internet.
The things we do to look pretty on our wedding day and hot on our honeymoon...
Friday, March 20, 2009
Gratitude
Among the many things and people I am grateful for in life, I am grateful for The Modern Gal's post regarding this article on the psychology of happiness from USA Today. Not only is it an interesting and insightful article, but it got me on track thinking about the people in my life who I would without a doubt consider to be "happy", and what causes my own happiness in life...
Involved The people who I consider to be happy are people who get involved in things that they find enjoyable, worthwhile, and most importantly, serve a higher purpose. In other words, they do things for others without a thought for themselves.
The nature of such things tend to be service oriented. Whether it's taking time to volunteer at a shelter, or to lead a team or group, it's being a part of something that produces results. You build a child's self-esteem through tutoring, you participate in the arts, which entertains and enlightens. You shovel your older neighbors driveway in the winter and cut their grass in the summer. You are causing someone to feel joy or gratitude, which reflects on you.
The times I have felt the best about life have been when I was a part of a service team in school or through church. I did Alternative Spring Break in college and spent a week in Phoenix volunteering at the St. Vincent de Paul Center. A solid week of organizing clothing and household donations, preparing and serving meals to the homeless, and interacting with people who were thankful for a hot meal was one oft he best weeks of my life.
Attitude In life, attitude is everything. Life is nothing without gratitude and forgiveness. Think about those who do not concern themselves with what material things they have, but with the simple joys they get out of life. Think of those who walk around unburdened. They are "lighter" because they are able to let go of life's woes. They are able to forgive others or themselves of transgressions and keep living their life. They walk around with a smile on their face or a bounce to their step. They get a good night's sleep and don't seek out the faults of others, but the goodness.
When I think of attitude, I think of my grandmother. I strive to be like her every day. She lives simply. She doesn't own a tv, just a radio to listen to NPR and broadcasts of the Red Sox games. She doesn't own a computer and probably couldn't email to save her life. She might seem like a modern day pilgrim. She eats a mostly organic diet. For years up until recently she kept her own vegetable garden and lived off of the fruits of her labor. Her day to day entertainment consists of doing the crossword puzzle in the newspaper, working on 1000-piece puzzles, volunteering at a local farm, singing in her church choir, and crocheting up a storm. Every time I see her, she is smiling. She won't hesitate to give me $20 for gas and will take me for ice cream in a heartbeat because life is too short to count calories every minute of the day.
I encourage you to think of the happy people you know. Think about why they are happy. Think about what makes you happy. Tell me what makes you happy!
Also thanks to The Modern Gal (I think I will dub her MG here), I have been introduced to Grace In Small Things, which will be a daily opportunity to pause and express my gratitude in life, and as they say in their tagline, "Waging a battle against embitterment since 2008". Love it.
I hope you all have a wonderful first day of spring. And it's Friday, which is even better!
Cheers!
Involved The people who I consider to be happy are people who get involved in things that they find enjoyable, worthwhile, and most importantly, serve a higher purpose. In other words, they do things for others without a thought for themselves.
The nature of such things tend to be service oriented. Whether it's taking time to volunteer at a shelter, or to lead a team or group, it's being a part of something that produces results. You build a child's self-esteem through tutoring, you participate in the arts, which entertains and enlightens. You shovel your older neighbors driveway in the winter and cut their grass in the summer. You are causing someone to feel joy or gratitude, which reflects on you.
The times I have felt the best about life have been when I was a part of a service team in school or through church. I did Alternative Spring Break in college and spent a week in Phoenix volunteering at the St. Vincent de Paul Center. A solid week of organizing clothing and household donations, preparing and serving meals to the homeless, and interacting with people who were thankful for a hot meal was one oft he best weeks of my life.
Attitude In life, attitude is everything. Life is nothing without gratitude and forgiveness. Think about those who do not concern themselves with what material things they have, but with the simple joys they get out of life. Think of those who walk around unburdened. They are "lighter" because they are able to let go of life's woes. They are able to forgive others or themselves of transgressions and keep living their life. They walk around with a smile on their face or a bounce to their step. They get a good night's sleep and don't seek out the faults of others, but the goodness.
When I think of attitude, I think of my grandmother. I strive to be like her every day. She lives simply. She doesn't own a tv, just a radio to listen to NPR and broadcasts of the Red Sox games. She doesn't own a computer and probably couldn't email to save her life. She might seem like a modern day pilgrim. She eats a mostly organic diet. For years up until recently she kept her own vegetable garden and lived off of the fruits of her labor. Her day to day entertainment consists of doing the crossword puzzle in the newspaper, working on 1000-piece puzzles, volunteering at a local farm, singing in her church choir, and crocheting up a storm. Every time I see her, she is smiling. She won't hesitate to give me $20 for gas and will take me for ice cream in a heartbeat because life is too short to count calories every minute of the day.
I encourage you to think of the happy people you know. Think about why they are happy. Think about what makes you happy. Tell me what makes you happy!
Also thanks to The Modern Gal (I think I will dub her MG here), I have been introduced to Grace In Small Things, which will be a daily opportunity to pause and express my gratitude in life, and as they say in their tagline, "Waging a battle against embitterment since 2008". Love it.
I hope you all have a wonderful first day of spring. And it's Friday, which is even better!
Cheers!
Happy Spring!
I have been eagerly awaiting this day for at least the past month and a half, and it has arrived!
With snow flurries!
No joke. Driving into work this morning, about halfway there, I drove into snow flurries. And I just had to laugh. The weekend and week ahead are looking to be a little warmer, with some rain towards the end of the week. Hopefully this means spring flowers will soon follow.
I am going to be a gardening fiend, it seems, this spring. Our landlord granted us permission to dig up the three huge stacks of elephant grass (the stuff that scratched up my arms last weekend), which he will pick up and plant at his own house. In it's place, I want to plant lots and lots of flowers. I want color! Sean's only request is sunflowers, which I think we can do. I need to do some research and consult my aunts and uncles, who have more seasoned and greener thumbs than I, and find out what flowers would be best for the sunlight we get. Ideally I would like to plant perennials (bulbs which come back each year), but I think you're supposed to plant them in the fall...
Are there any gardeners or flower enthusiasts who can shed some light and make some recommendations. If my memory serves me correct, the garden area gets the most sun midday, and it's mostly shaded in the morning and late afternoon.
I am envisioning tulips, gladiolas, lilies (maybe some lily of the valley?)...maybe some wildflowers?
And let the research commence.
With snow flurries!
No joke. Driving into work this morning, about halfway there, I drove into snow flurries. And I just had to laugh. The weekend and week ahead are looking to be a little warmer, with some rain towards the end of the week. Hopefully this means spring flowers will soon follow.
I am going to be a gardening fiend, it seems, this spring. Our landlord granted us permission to dig up the three huge stacks of elephant grass (the stuff that scratched up my arms last weekend), which he will pick up and plant at his own house. In it's place, I want to plant lots and lots of flowers. I want color! Sean's only request is sunflowers, which I think we can do. I need to do some research and consult my aunts and uncles, who have more seasoned and greener thumbs than I, and find out what flowers would be best for the sunlight we get. Ideally I would like to plant perennials (bulbs which come back each year), but I think you're supposed to plant them in the fall...
Are there any gardeners or flower enthusiasts who can shed some light and make some recommendations. If my memory serves me correct, the garden area gets the most sun midday, and it's mostly shaded in the morning and late afternoon.
I am envisioning tulips, gladiolas, lilies (maybe some lily of the valley?)...maybe some wildflowers?
And let the research commence.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
You get to see cool things...
...when you follow celebrities on Twitter. Thanks to my following Ryan Seacrest, I got to see this video of an underwater volcano erupting... I tried to embed it and couldn't. I think you need to be a subscriber to the AP.
If I were on that boat I would GTFO! But still, very cool.
If I were on that boat I would GTFO! But still, very cool.
Idol Follow-up: Spoiler Alert!
I can't really "follow up" because I didn't get a chance to make my picks publicly yesterday, but I predicted over lunch that it would be either Alexis or Michael, so I guess I was right on. I knew as soon as she started singing last night that she wouldn't be saved. She was out of tune for 95% of the song, and it just sounded so strained. I was disappointed, because she was such a strong contender from the semi-finals, I was looking forward to hearing her sing this season, but she really seemed to crumble this week.
I must say, I watched Idol in 20 minutes last night, and it was so much more enjoyable! We had a couple of the guys over (more on that later) and so I didn't get to fire up Idol till about 10:45. I fast forwarded all the commercials, all the judges hullabaloo, the "music video (is 3 minutes of a water balloon fight set to music really all that necessary?) and only watched the contestant results and the two performances. There is no reason why these results shows have to be stretch out to an hour. It is a waste of viewers time, and as I saw last night, the essentials of the show can fit into 20 minutes if they would just cut out all the extra babbling, bickering, recapping and shenanigans.
I'm glad Michael gets another week and another chance, and I am really excited for this top 10. I might actually try to get tickets when their tour comes my way this summer. Hell, the place they perform at is 5 minutes down the road from my house, it's worth a shot.
Oh, and that song that Brad Paisley performed last night? Loved it. And I think Carrie Underwood is a robot. Seriously, she's flawless, and it's not fair.
I must say, I watched Idol in 20 minutes last night, and it was so much more enjoyable! We had a couple of the guys over (more on that later) and so I didn't get to fire up Idol till about 10:45. I fast forwarded all the commercials, all the judges hullabaloo, the "music video (is 3 minutes of a water balloon fight set to music really all that necessary?) and only watched the contestant results and the two performances. There is no reason why these results shows have to be stretch out to an hour. It is a waste of viewers time, and as I saw last night, the essentials of the show can fit into 20 minutes if they would just cut out all the extra babbling, bickering, recapping and shenanigans.
I'm glad Michael gets another week and another chance, and I am really excited for this top 10. I might actually try to get tickets when their tour comes my way this summer. Hell, the place they perform at is 5 minutes down the road from my house, it's worth a shot.
Oh, and that song that Brad Paisley performed last night? Loved it. And I think Carrie Underwood is a robot. Seriously, she's flawless, and it's not fair.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Last week: -1.2
This week: .2
Total Weight Loss on WW: -3.4
Total Loss since 1/1/09: -7.5
This week was a gain, but I don't feel too bad. Well, I do feel bad, because I know I could have been so much better. However, given that I can't change the past week, I'm taking it for what it is. Yesterday and today I spent pretty much the entire day on the couch with a migraine, so I was drinking a lot of fluids, not paying too much attention to the food I was eating.
This week my goal is to get back to the gym, hopefully tomorrow night and Thursday. Wednesday night we're having the guys over, and Friday my friend is coming down for the weekend, so I'll try to get out for a walk during lunch.
I am also considering buying a video that's getting rave reviews on the Getting in Shape board on The Knot: Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred. It's hardcore and will make you sweat more in 25 minutes a day than most gm workouts. I'm thinking of ordering it off Amazon (Only about $9), I'm always looking for something new or challenging.
Not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. The headache has subsided for the past couple hours, but I need to take another Aleve around 11 and then see how well I sleep tonight. Last night I was very restless, I woke up every couple hours.
Hopefully I'll have something more interesting to write about this week.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Breathing Room
This weekend is much needed. It follows up a completely busy workweek that slapped me in the face several times, and it precedes 2 very busy and full weekends, both of which I am very excited for!
Next weekend, my girlfriend from home (and maid of honor) is coming to visit for the weekend. She's the first of any of my friends to come see me down here, and I can't wait. It will be a very girly weekend full of shopping, drinking wine, maybe playing tennis, and chilling out browsing through wedding magazines. If my save the date postcards come in next week, we'll probably assemble those too.
The following weekend we are going down to PA for our friend's show. She landed a Narrator role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I have never actually seen this show live, so I am excited for that, with the huge added benefit that I know a lead! It'll be fun to get away for a weekend, the road trip should be an adventure, and the Martin's are very fun and hospitable.
As for this weekend? Sean and I have been vegging. I'm working on my master music list to load into my new iPod Shuffle (it is so tiny and cute!) while he obliterates things with the Wii. Tomorrow should be a nice day so I am going to start tackling the yard. But it should be a generally laid back weekend, which is just what I can use right now.
Cheers!
Next weekend, my girlfriend from home (and maid of honor) is coming to visit for the weekend. She's the first of any of my friends to come see me down here, and I can't wait. It will be a very girly weekend full of shopping, drinking wine, maybe playing tennis, and chilling out browsing through wedding magazines. If my save the date postcards come in next week, we'll probably assemble those too.
The following weekend we are going down to PA for our friend's show. She landed a Narrator role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I have never actually seen this show live, so I am excited for that, with the huge added benefit that I know a lead! It'll be fun to get away for a weekend, the road trip should be an adventure, and the Martin's are very fun and hospitable.
As for this weekend? Sean and I have been vegging. I'm working on my master music list to load into my new iPod Shuffle (it is so tiny and cute!) while he obliterates things with the Wii. Tomorrow should be a nice day so I am going to start tackling the yard. But it should be a generally laid back weekend, which is just what I can use right now.
Cheers!
Date Night
For the first time in what felt like close to 2 weeks, Sean and I had a whole evening to spend together last night. So what did we do?
We registered!
It's pretty early, but he was really excited for it, and it sounded like a fun, different thing to do to get out of the house. So we headed down to the local Bed Bath & Beyond and got to work. Our sales rep was very sweet and helpful, and we registered for a quite a few nice things that would be nice to have someday when we have a house.
It baffled the two of us how tiring the whole experience was. I knew it would take a while, but I didn't expect it to take three hours. It felt like we were making some really important life decisions, like what kind of dinnerware we would be using for the rest of our lives, what kind of stemware we would want to bring out for special occasions once we have a family and host holiday get-togethers. How many kids are we planning on having? Do we want to own a house? Will you have a guest room? Well, best to have an extra set of good sheets. And will we have a nice bathroom? We should probably get a nice bathroom set. We even picked out the tablecloth for the dining room table we hope to someday have.
It is complicated and my brain hurts.
For every bit that it was overwhelming, it was also very fun. Sean threatened to scan anything and everything with Billy Mays face on it. We have some tweaking to do (Am I really ever going to use a pressure cooker? No.), but each checkmark off the list of things to do is a sigh of relief and makes me more excited to get married!
Don't even get me started on the honeymoon...
We registered!
It's pretty early, but he was really excited for it, and it sounded like a fun, different thing to do to get out of the house. So we headed down to the local Bed Bath & Beyond and got to work. Our sales rep was very sweet and helpful, and we registered for a quite a few nice things that would be nice to have someday when we have a house.
It baffled the two of us how tiring the whole experience was. I knew it would take a while, but I didn't expect it to take three hours. It felt like we were making some really important life decisions, like what kind of dinnerware we would be using for the rest of our lives, what kind of stemware we would want to bring out for special occasions once we have a family and host holiday get-togethers. How many kids are we planning on having? Do we want to own a house? Will you have a guest room? Well, best to have an extra set of good sheets. And will we have a nice bathroom? We should probably get a nice bathroom set. We even picked out the tablecloth for the dining room table we hope to someday have.
It is complicated and my brain hurts.
For every bit that it was overwhelming, it was also very fun. Sean threatened to scan anything and everything with Billy Mays face on it. We have some tweaking to do (Am I really ever going to use a pressure cooker? No.), but each checkmark off the list of things to do is a sigh of relief and makes me more excited to get married!
Don't even get me started on the honeymoon...
Idol Follow-up
I had the best of intentions to follow-up Wednesday night, however babysitting got in the way of access to a computer, work has been fairly nuts this week, and last night I had an adventure with Sean. So here we are.
HAPPY FRIDAY, WORLD!
I cannot say I was at all surprised with Idol's results this week. Sadly, the first one or two to go are usually forgotten in the next couple weeks, and Jasmine and Jorge just didn't bring it. They weren't ready for the big stage. I am glad Anoop is still in the running, I think he has a lot left to give, he just needs to pick the right song from here on out. I love Megan's voice, but she's such a niche singer, I'm not sure how much longer she'll last. Or if the judges will save her...
Which brings me to the new rule. Does anyone out there like it? I do. I think it'll bring a new twist to the show. While winning Idol doesn't necessarily mean you'll come out the most successful contestant (Hello, Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson), it will be nice to see someone given a second chance, if they deserve it.
But, what if America gets it right every week? What if for some strange reason, we have a top 5 of the best of the best for once? What will we do?
I could see them holding out for Danny, Adam, Lil, or Allison. Anyone else is pretty much just ok and to bring out my inner- Simon, not really worth the second chance.
Except maybe Scott. He could really blossom as a singer in this competition.
We'll just have to wait and see!
HAPPY FRIDAY, WORLD!
I cannot say I was at all surprised with Idol's results this week. Sadly, the first one or two to go are usually forgotten in the next couple weeks, and Jasmine and Jorge just didn't bring it. They weren't ready for the big stage. I am glad Anoop is still in the running, I think he has a lot left to give, he just needs to pick the right song from here on out. I love Megan's voice, but she's such a niche singer, I'm not sure how much longer she'll last. Or if the judges will save her...
Which brings me to the new rule. Does anyone out there like it? I do. I think it'll bring a new twist to the show. While winning Idol doesn't necessarily mean you'll come out the most successful contestant (Hello, Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson), it will be nice to see someone given a second chance, if they deserve it.
But, what if America gets it right every week? What if for some strange reason, we have a top 5 of the best of the best for once? What will we do?
I could see them holding out for Danny, Adam, Lil, or Allison. Anyone else is pretty much just ok and to bring out my inner- Simon, not really worth the second chance.
Except maybe Scott. He could really blossom as a singer in this competition.
We'll just have to wait and see!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Idol Picks
Let me just say that I have so many favorites this season, I did not vote last night. Among those favorites are Danny, Allison, Matt, and Megan. Danny and Matt are vocally the strongest and most versatile, I would say. And they're not too hard on the eyes, either. Allison is great. She knows her style, she has so much confidence and stage presence for a 16-year-old, and I'm excited to see her in the coming weeks. Megan, while I feel like she is far from the most talented on the show, has such an interesting quality to her voice. It reminds me of Duffy or KT Tunstall. She has her own sound. That could make or break her.
Not so good? Well, Lil Rounds is talented, but she brings nothing really new or interesting to me. She'll probably go far though. Jasmine is gorgeous, but you need more than marketable looks to make it on that stage. Chris (Kris?) was not memorable. I honest to goodness could not remember his performance when we were discussing AI over lunch. Maybe I fast forwarded him by accident? But that goes to show that I wasn't dying to see him in the first place. Jorge, Jorge, Jorge...My sister-in-law messaged me last night that it seems like he wants to be a singing porn star. 'Nuff said.
Kudos to Scott, Anoop, Alexis and Mike for good performances, if not great.
Who'll go home tonight? My prediction is Jorge and Jasmine. They said there will be a twist, and my money is on it being A) The lowest vote-getter and B) A judges choice. We'll have to wait and find out!
Not so good? Well, Lil Rounds is talented, but she brings nothing really new or interesting to me. She'll probably go far though. Jasmine is gorgeous, but you need more than marketable looks to make it on that stage. Chris (Kris?) was not memorable. I honest to goodness could not remember his performance when we were discussing AI over lunch. Maybe I fast forwarded him by accident? But that goes to show that I wasn't dying to see him in the first place. Jorge, Jorge, Jorge...My sister-in-law messaged me last night that it seems like he wants to be a singing porn star. 'Nuff said.
Kudos to Scott, Anoop, Alexis and Mike for good performances, if not great.
Who'll go home tonight? My prediction is Jorge and Jasmine. They said there will be a twist, and my money is on it being A) The lowest vote-getter and B) A judges choice. We'll have to wait and find out!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Weighing In a Day Late
Despite having eaten a large portion of crappy, high fat, slothlike behavior inducing food over the weekend, I woke up yesterday feeling like someone hit the reset button, and I forced myself to weigh in at my meeting. I was going to go but skip the weighing part, given my poor eating over the weekend, lack of exercise, and that glorious time of month this week, but something told me to suck it up and step on the scale.
Last Week: -2.4
This week: -1.2
Total Weight Loss on WW: -3.6
Total Weight Loss since 1/1/09: -7.7
Don't as me how. I do not know. I was shocked! After a month of being "good", I took one weekend of binging and lost?! I was happy, of course, but really wasn't expecting the scale to move in that direction. It was just the kicker I needed to refresh my motivation and start this week anew.
Some girls on TK (theknot.com) have been recommending the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred video. It has varying levels, about 30 minutes a day for 30 days and she really pushes you (as much as she can through a DVD) to work your hardest and to not give up. I might order it off Amazon, it's only $9 that way, instead of $20 from Target.
I will leave you with my leaders thought for the week: "You will never find time to workout. If you want time, you must make time."
Last Week: -2.4
This week: -1.2
Total Weight Loss on WW: -3.6
Total Weight Loss since 1/1/09: -7.7
Don't as me how. I do not know. I was shocked! After a month of being "good", I took one weekend of binging and lost?! I was happy, of course, but really wasn't expecting the scale to move in that direction. It was just the kicker I needed to refresh my motivation and start this week anew.
Some girls on TK (theknot.com) have been recommending the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred video. It has varying levels, about 30 minutes a day for 30 days and she really pushes you (as much as she can through a DVD) to work your hardest and to not give up. I might order it off Amazon, it's only $9 that way, instead of $20 from Target.
I will leave you with my leaders thought for the week: "You will never find time to workout. If you want time, you must make time."
Saturday, March 7, 2009
#8 Winter Melts Away
I love the smell of one of the first days of spring. It's a very distinct smell. It is fresh and light. It smells of melting snow, and new growth and warmth from the sun. It is about 55 degrees outside, and I triumphantly opened as many windows as possible to let the fresh air into the house. I am even contemplating taking the plastic down in our bedroom and living room. I looked ahead at the coming week's weather. Thursday and Friday look to be in the 30s, but that's really not so bad for only two days.
The opening of windows and taking down of plastic is always met with caution in New England. We did, afterall, have a blizzard on April 1 when I was in middle school. However, I can't help but squeal with delight that I can go outside today without a jacket and not be shivering. I'm even contemplating forgoing the gym, doing a workout at home so I can shower and get out and enjoy the day.
As you can see in the picture, there is still snow on the ground, but it is fast retreating and soon there will be grass to cut, a garden to plant, and the ever glorious season of Major League Baseball.
Friday, March 6, 2009
#7 Young At Heart
I babysit a couple times a month, and I am constantly reminded of what it is to be young, innocent, and full of joy. The two families I sit for are really sweet and loving, and it is reflected in the kids. Some people ask me why I still babysit when I'm 25 with a full time job. Well, I do it because I really enjoy it. I've been around these families for almost three years now, and they've become like an extended family to me.
Wednesday night I was sitting for the family from my church. They have a girl who will be 9 next week and a boy who will be 7. The boy has autism. They are both great kids, very sweet, funny, and they love to play and dance and have fun while I'm there.
It was a quiter night, but the girl told me when I got there that she had lost a tooth and the Tooth Fairy was "late". She had been waiting for two days for the Tooth Fairy to come. Well, conveniently, there had been a big snowstorm Monday night, so I told her the Tooth Fairy probably couldn't go out Monday night since it was so cold and snowy, it wouldn't be good for her wings. And maybe her driveway hadn't been plowed.
Then she told me she thought that everyone must have their own personal tooth fairy, because what about when the tooth fairies get married and have babies? There must be an overabundance of tooth fairies in the world.
I almost died from the cuteness.
So later when I was helping the kids get ready for bed, I had to get a tissue from the girl's nightstand. I glanced down and saw a little note scrawled on lined paper:
"Dear Tooth Fairy,
Could you please bring me a pack of Pokemon Trading Cards instead of money? Thank you very much.
love,
_________
p.s. Please sign here to prove it was you _________________"
What I wouldn't give sometimes to be that age again.
Wednesday night I was sitting for the family from my church. They have a girl who will be 9 next week and a boy who will be 7. The boy has autism. They are both great kids, very sweet, funny, and they love to play and dance and have fun while I'm there.
It was a quiter night, but the girl told me when I got there that she had lost a tooth and the Tooth Fairy was "late". She had been waiting for two days for the Tooth Fairy to come. Well, conveniently, there had been a big snowstorm Monday night, so I told her the Tooth Fairy probably couldn't go out Monday night since it was so cold and snowy, it wouldn't be good for her wings. And maybe her driveway hadn't been plowed.
Then she told me she thought that everyone must have their own personal tooth fairy, because what about when the tooth fairies get married and have babies? There must be an overabundance of tooth fairies in the world.
I almost died from the cuteness.
So later when I was helping the kids get ready for bed, I had to get a tissue from the girl's nightstand. I glanced down and saw a little note scrawled on lined paper:
"Dear Tooth Fairy,
Could you please bring me a pack of Pokemon Trading Cards instead of money? Thank you very much.
love,
_________
p.s. Please sign here to prove it was you _________________"
What I wouldn't give sometimes to be that age again.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
#6 Life is Precious
I wasn't sure if I would post this, because in no way do I want to exploit anyone's pain or grief for my own posting. For that reason, no names will be used. I have been very pensive the past few days. Thinking of what, you may ask. None other than babies.
I cannot take one moment in life for granted. Like Ferris Bueller said, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it." I have seen a huge span of life in the past 3 months, through 4 babies.
My niece was born at the beginning of December, and a week ago Sunday, she was baptized. I have had the joy of watching her grow and change, ever so slightly, through the pictures my brother and sister-in-law post, and in the few visits I've been able to squeak in. She takes my breath away. She has started smiling recently.
Last week, a friend of mine had a baby girl. The baby is now the youngest of four, with one boy and two other girls. The baby is currently in the NICU for lung development, as she was a couple weeks early. My friend has had 4 babies. The first, the boy, was two months premature, due to pre-eclampsia. Seeing what a baby can come through being so small, dependent, and new, I am constantly amazed by the capacity of the human body.
This past weekend in Boston, a friend of a friend was in a car accident, along with her mother, and they both died. Their car spun out of control and hit a snow plow early Sunday morning, before the big storm even hit. The girl was 25 and five months pregnant. There was a baby, who had not yet taken a breath of air, and it's life was taken away. It wasn't any one's fault, just a sad occurrence of hitting a patch of black ice on a tough road. It could have happened to anyone.
Life is fragile.
I was working at my desk today and a coworker friend of mine came in. We hadn't really had a good talk in a while, but she sat down for about 15 minutes and we caught up. She is due to have a baby girl in three weeks. She told me about her pregnancy, how excited she is, and how she is taking three months for her maternity leave. She has a little boy, about three years old, and she always wished she had enjoyed her maternity leave with him, because it goes so fast. She wants to soak it all in. She said with a smile that this baby will be their last, so they are going to enjoy every moment.
I don't mean to be sad or morbid or sentimental. I've just been thinking about how we only really have the present moment to enjoy our lives. I think of this often, but with all these babies, it becomes clearer and clearer how much I need to walk the walk.
To leave you on a happy note...I love being an auntie.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Weighing In on Monday
Last Week: -2.4
This week: +.6
Total Weight Loss on WW: -2.4
Total Weight Loss since 1/1/09: -6.5
I'm not taking +.6 as a gain, I drank so much water today, and although I did go to the little girl's room before weighing in, I know it's just water weight. I stepped up the intensity at the gym this past week, now I feel like I need to get there 1 or 2 more nights each week. I also know areas where I can make adjustments with my food. I allowed myself a bit more than I really should have this past week.
Now that it's March and I've been ofiicially working on losing weight for 2 months, I am proud of the overall 6.5 I have lost. I feel confident that I'm doing this the right way by losing slowly, making sure it's bad habits that I'm breaking and learning how to live a healthier life.
Keeper from my meeting: My leader, Karen, always leaves us with at least 1 little phrase to keep in mind during the week. This week, she had two, both of which I really liked and wanted to pass on...
"If you leave a little behind, you'll have a little behind." That one made me laugh, I loved it.
"The elevator to success is Out of Order. Take the stairs: One Step At a Time."
Monday is pretty much over. Have a great week, folks!
#5 Signs That It Is Still Winter
It's hard to believe that it was in the mid to upper 50s on Friday, and this is the scene outside at this current moment.
You can't see the snow whipping down and around (this was taken with my phone) but it's actually really beautiful. I can't complain. As I was driving into the parking lot, a guy was watching his German Shepherd play in the snow on the side of the building where there's a lawn. The dog was huge and was having a ball diving and darting around, trying to eat snowflakes and crashing into trees.
I got out of my car and the dog came bombing over to me and jumped on me. I actually wore work clothes today (I really should have just worn jeans. Damn the man!) and the dog jumped up and almost got it's paws on my shoulders. We're talking big, tall, strong dog. I was so happy though! I was in such a grumpy mood coming in today, but that big dumb dog brightened it just enough to make the hour commute worth it.
Now that I'm actually here at my desk, that's another story. Now all I can think about is how much I want my own big dumb dog to play with on snowy days...;)
#4 Reconnecting
I don't have a picture for this one, but on Saturday I received a wonderful phone call from my best friend from college. She has been in Scotland since September 2007 getting her masters degree, and just returned to the U.S. the first week of February. We've been playing phone tag the past few weeks, and we finally were able to talk on Saturday, for the first time since last April when she was home and visiting.
It was so awesome to catch up with her, she will be here until the fall when she's hoping to return to Scotland for a few years. She told me about her boyfriend, what she's been u pto and what she's hoping to accomplish in the next few months. We chit chatted about friends we've seen or lost touch with. And it was brought up that she is to me, and I to her, one of those people who is a constant. Meaning, it doesn't matter how much time passes between our conversations or visits, she is one of those people I will always consider to be a best friend. Some people in our lives come and go, but our friendship remains. It is always refreshing to hear her voice, and I am always happy to see her. We got through a lot in college together, and I know that no matter what distance separates us, we will always hold each other close.
I told her our wedding date, and said I understand if she can't make it. I would never expect her to pay for a flight here and back from Scotland. She told me come hell or high water, she will be at our wedding. I love this girl. I couldn't imagine my wedding day without her.
It was so awesome to catch up with her, she will be here until the fall when she's hoping to return to Scotland for a few years. She told me about her boyfriend, what she's been u pto and what she's hoping to accomplish in the next few months. We chit chatted about friends we've seen or lost touch with. And it was brought up that she is to me, and I to her, one of those people who is a constant. Meaning, it doesn't matter how much time passes between our conversations or visits, she is one of those people I will always consider to be a best friend. Some people in our lives come and go, but our friendship remains. It is always refreshing to hear her voice, and I am always happy to see her. We got through a lot in college together, and I know that no matter what distance separates us, we will always hold each other close.
I told her our wedding date, and said I understand if she can't make it. I would never expect her to pay for a flight here and back from Scotland. She told me come hell or high water, she will be at our wedding. I love this girl. I couldn't imagine my wedding day without her.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
One of my favorite things about Weight Watchers is that every time I go to the gym, I get to eat MORE!
If that's not reason enough to go to the gym, I don't know what is. I just had probably the best workout I've had since going back to el gimnasio. I did a 10 minute warm up on the treadmill, 30 minutes with the exercise ball doing strength exercises, push ups, crunches and leg work, and then 45 more minutes on the treadmill. Get this: I told myself that when I started jogging, I wouldn't stop until I really felt like I had to. After a 5 minute fast walk warm-up, I jogged for 25 minutes straight. I have NEVER done that before. I was almost shocked, I had been watching TV (one of my other favorite things is watching the Food Network while I workout) and I didn't even realize how much time was going by. I think I've just been giving up to soon when it starts to feel hard.
So now I'm home, desperately need to shower, and I'm going to make a chef salad because it sounds soooo yummy right now.
Peace!
Oh, and I know I owe you a Lent reflection from yesterday, it's coming!
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