Oh the Anticipation!

I can't wait to see the results of this week's pedometer challenge! I think I did pretty well this week since on Wednesday I logged over 10 miles! I was on a trip to Madison, Wisconsin and had some hours to burn on Wednesday afternoon. Well burn, I did! It was a gorgeous, sunny 80 degree day. I did some exploring, met my friend for dinner and my uncle for after-dinner drinks. What a fabulous day!

It's been a busy busy past five days. With a whirlwind trip and some other family issues going on, I really had a nice (and somewhat emotional) time off. I'm totally procrastinating getting back into work, too! I ate well, and last I had checked, I lost the 3 pounds i've gained over the last few weeks. If I can keep up with the exercise regimen, and making good food choices, I think I can keep the momentum of not counting points, making wise choices and only eating until i'm full.

I unpacked most of my summer clothes this weekend and two pairs of capris I couldn't wear at the end of last season did fit. That's a good sign. I'm eager to keep going.

I had the realization this morning in my car that i'll be 30 in about 7 months. I promised myself I'd be 40 pounds lighter on my 30th birthday than on my 29th. So I have about 30 pounds to go. Time to get crackin!!

Anxiety!

I am really really stressing about some life decisions and some important things happening this week. So far, i've done really well channeling that into exercise in the last two days.

That is all!

The Good and The Bad

I guess i'll start with the bad here, so I can end on the good!

I had grand plans to go to the gym this morning. I went to bed at 10pm, set my alarm for 5:20, had my gym clothes ON, my ipod, shoes, glasses and water bottle set out and ready to go. And this morning at 5:20 am? I reset my alarm for 7 am. I guess i'll be going tonight instead!

I can say that the good part is the reason for the bad though!

I have a new cousin! And my phone started ringing off the hook at home, and the text messages were flying from 11pm - 1am. My youngest uncle who is only four years older than me (he's younger than Chris!), and his wife Bridget had their second child last night. Their first will be two in July (Eddie). So they really are going to have their hands full!

The reason our phone rang off the hook is that everybody in the family (my aunt, my grandma, my brother and my uncle) all wanted us to know that they named him William Henry - after my Dad! At first it made me a little upset. Chris and I have talked a lot about naming a son William someday. My Dad sure has been a big influence in my life. But they sure did beat us to it! And I'm really really happy that my Dad has this honor. My uncle actually texted me to say that he hoped I wasn't mad at him for the name. I couldn't be happier though!

HOORAY!

I made it back to the gym tonight after a long hiatus - and I feel awesome!

I walked the dog before I went, and that fresh air really helped me. I did 40 minutes of cardio, and lower body weights. I came home feeling energized and breathing easier.

Isn't it amazing what a workout can do for you? Tomorrow my plan is to work on designing a web page - my first ever. And to pilates, and make a good tofu/veggie stirfry.

I realize that if I can just keep up my workout regimen I WILL lose weight. My eating isn't perfect, but it isn't awful either. I did pretty good today, with the exception of some cheez-its right before the gym. As long as I keep my fridge stocked with healthy snacks and meal options, i'm doing alright. For me, it's all about pre-planning and keeping up the workouts!

Happy Monday!

A Fun Friday Night!

All eating talk aside (because it wasn't good), I had a fabulous night out with friends from work on Friday night. We had a happy hour for my friend Christine, who has moved onto our IS department. Afterwards, six of us rented a two-bedroom suite downtown and had a very girly slumber party. It was lots of fun.
Here are a couple of photo highlights:


Chris arrives to join the fun. We had hardly seen each other all week!


My two favorite people from the office!



The unstoppable (former) design team!

Things on the Horizon

I realize i'm pretty elusive when it comes to things in my life about work, goals, kids, etc on this blog. I wish I could share more of what I've got going on sometimes, but I'm so afraid of who might stumble across the thing. Family, coworkers, etc. I don't have my last name attached to this blog, and when I google myself, my blogs don't come up like my original blog did, which i retired a couple of years ago now.

I wonder if there's any sort of way to protect myself. I guess I can password protect the site. But that's no fun, either. I love finding out there's someone new reading along.

I guess if something really BIG happens, i'll announce it here, but until then, i'll continue to be a bit indirect. ;)

Pampering Myself

I don't get haircuts nearly as often as I should. I'll admit it. Having naturally curly hair, I just tend to let it go, because it's really hard to tell.

Chris encouraged me yesterday to do something nice for myself, because I have some things on the horizon that are stressing me out and exciting me all at the same time, and he felt like i needed it. And I do.

So today, I paid a visit to lovely lovely Muna. And she cut and flat-ironed my hair, which I always love. Here's the cheesy photo booth shot for y'all.



I took the 23rd-25th of April off of work, for some of these things on the horizon, and I scheduled a manicure for the morning of the 23rd. I can't wait!

I've been making really good food choices all this week, but I have to admit, that the weather's been too nice to go to the gym. I've been spending time outside in the fresh air, walking the dog. It's been awesome. I know i'm not burning the calories I should, but I'm sleeping like a baby, and that makes all the difference.

Pilates tonight though! And back to my workout routine for sure this weekend. Next week I haven't scheduled a single thing for myself after work, and I plan to plan and cook good healthy meals and work out!

Cleveland LOVES Don Henley

We had a really really fun weekend in Cleveland. And to qualify my headline (my husband will be proud!), we heard Don Henley/The Eagles all over the place up there. After a long drive up there Friday night, we went to bed around midnight, only about 45 minutes after we arrived.

Saturday morning, I had to be up to be at a 9am photo shoot about 45 minutes from my friends' house, where we were staying. I was quite a nervous wreck about the whole thing, and didn't sleep really well. I worried for nothing, because it all went really well, and I was back to our friends' house by noon.

We left for lunching at the Willoughby Brewing Company. It was excellent. Kelly and I split a portobella wrap and fries, and our boys each got their own personal heart attacks on a plate. Afterwards we went bowling. We had a blast. I realize I am totally immature by starting this, but it sure made the day fun. We started the "that's what she said" game. By the end of the second game of bowling, my sides hurt from laughing. It's way too easy when you're bowling especially. For example, Frank said "man, I just can't seem to find the right spot with this ball." THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!!

Okay, maybe it was funnier if you were there!

We also went out to dinner that evening, and I fared well with king crab legs and a salad. Then came dessert. And Chris refused to share his. Yes, they were that good. So I ordered my own and made everyone share it with me. For the record - it was one of the best cheesecakes i've ever had.

Sunday we drove back early, so Chris and I could both attend separate evening engagements that I won't even go into.

Today though? I'm in my points range. I walked the dog tonight, and i'm heading to the gym. I'm going to the grocery store afterwards to stock up on some food for the week. I'm going to have a great week. I can feel it!

On another note: I found out that Chris is apparently reading this blog from time to time. But I bet he's too shy to say hello!

Don't give up on me, i'm trying!

I'm going to take a hiatus for a few days, because i'll be traveling this weekend for work.

But i'll be back Monday. And I'll be positive and ready to go. I promise. I can't beat myself up every day anymore! Please hang in there with me.

Somehow knowing that people are reading this is encouragement. It keeps me accountable, and it keeps me going on this journey. And I really appreciate the comments, the insight and the kind words when I get them!

I had a good day today. And I am not talking about eating. I sent off a BIG concept presentation today. I got to go to IKEA. I had a good board meeting tonight and saw a friend passing by tonight whom I just adore - and who always just knows how to make me feel good about myself by just smiling at me!

I have such a little girl crush on this guy (that my husband knows about). I am excited for Chris and I to get to know him more - hopefully soon. I'm still working up the nerve to ask he and his partner out for dinner sometime - even though in his last email to me, he signed off "I adore you," so I think he'd probably enjoy the company, too. Here's to new friends!!

New Motivation? I sure hope so!

I just saw some photos of myself from a couple of weeks ago and was horrified. This was from an event I hosted for my professional organization, and I felt really good about myself that day. I look at them now, and I want to cry. I just don't understand how I got here sometimes, and it's so funny how i see myself so differently than the camera does.

Sleeping last night helped me a LOT. I need to get back on the horse today at the gym, and watch my eating carefully. It's tiring though. I feel like i'm in a constant war with myself. Every single day, and every time I put something in my mouth!

Recap of a fun weekend!

Wow, I have been MIA from this blog.

I really have been trying to think of something meaningful to say here. I realize I put too much pressure on myself to be entertaining in this arena though.

Chris and I had a really fun fun weekend. I made good food choices for the most part. We ate out entirely too much though, and I realize that's the root of most of my problems and why the scale seems to be stuck. It's something I need to work on. We have been cutting back on our spending, and we've been surprisingly successful at that - we've just had an abundance of free meal offers lately, and that can be hard to pass up!

Yesterday, after I weighed in (at the SAME weight - after three nights in a row of eating out, but having worked out 4 times last week - yay me), we spent the day downtown for Reds' opening day festivities.

It was a day of over consumption. I must have had 6 or 7 beers and two margaritas. Along with a veggie burger, chips, potato salad a slice of pizza and waffle fries. Boy oh boy. I feel like i'm in full-fledged detox mode today. On the upside, we rode the bus yesterday, so we walked a LOT, and i'm sure we got in some good calorie-burning offsets there! At least for a beer or two.

Today I woke up feeling like hell from what I hope is just my allergies - and not a head cold. I'm too beat to go work out, and i'm not sure if I should. I plan to do a little cooking to plan some meals for tomorrow, follow-up on some email, and then lay in bed. Sounds nice doesn't it? I feel terribly guilty though. I know I should work out. Or clean my house. Or work out. Ugh.

On the up side of things - I sucessfully worked under 45 hours last week. That won't be the case this week since I have to travel and work this weekend, but I do plan to work my alloted hours, and just tell my boss what I can't get done in that time. Not only am I severely burnt out, the HVAC system in my office is being replaced, and it has been (no lie!) 87 stagnant degrees in my office for a few weeks. I'm done torturing myself in more ways than one at that place!