Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Playing Catch-up

I'm finally getting back into the swing of things.  I had a great long weekend.  For now, I'm playing catch-up at work and in my Google Reader.  Just thought I'd jot down a few things.

  • M left late yesterday to head back to the West Coast.  :-(  We had a great time while she was here, hanging out, catching up, going out and enjoying the beach.  I am now making it my mission to find her a job on the East Coast.  

  • My mom got me a sewing machine for my Birthday!  M gave me a crash course on it and then we made a pillow.  If you have any suggestions for a beginner, I'm all ears!   Any beginner projects you would suggest?  Do you have tutorials or sites that post lots of tutorials?  Any suggestions for where to get fabric?  Anything you couldn't live without for tools, supplies, etc?  Any blogs you'd suggest?
  • I won a giveaway at Linny's Vault to Sunglass Warehouse.  I could definitely use a new pair of sunglasses, I just can't decide which ones to get.  Which ones are your favorite?
  • We're heading to NYC next weekend.  If you have any site-seeing or restaurant suggestions while we're there, let me know.  I have basically nothing planned, which is so not like me at all.
  • I have to make 50+ bridal shower invitations to go out early next week.  I have to manually cut each one and I haven't started yet.  Yikes!  
  • Thanks for all of the Birthday wishes this weekend!  
  • I just found out Lady Antebellum is going to be in town a second time this summer.  I can't wait to get tickets!
I know it's weird to say this on a Wednesday, but I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Hopefully I'll catch up on my blogs soon and leave some comments.  Have a great day, we're halfway to the weekend!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

The big 2-7!


Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me-e-e…..HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Whoa! The big 2-7!

In my mind, I am now officially in my late 20's.  I've got mixed emotions, today it is excitement.  There are lots of new things ahead of me this year.  I've only lived just over a quarter of a century, and cannot wait to live a few more quarter centuries! 
So, here's 27 things about me to celebrate!
  1. I was 9.0lbs when I was born, my dad used to call me the sausage roll when I was little.
  2. I got to name the dog we had as a kid and named her Rudy after my favorite show at the time, 'The Cosby Show'.
  3. Sometimes during the summer in middle-school, I'd read at least one Baby Sitters Club book a weekend (and repeat them!)
  4. I was a band geek and started playing the flute in 4th grade and all the way through High School, even summer marching band.
  5. I participated on the High School Whiz Kid team, and I don't think I answered more than 1 question right in our competitions.  Thought we were so cool on TV in our button-down jean shirts.
  6. I won the Superlative for 'Most Athletic' in High School, playing Soccer, Basketball and Softball, every season from 7th grade to 12th.
  7. I hate it when people call me by my last name (maiden or married).
  8. I set the alarm at least 20 minutes early so I can hit the snooze button twice
  9. I absolutely love ice cream, I would eat it every day if I could.
  10. If I lived alone, I would probably eat plain pasta or a salad and baked potato for dinner every night.  
  11. When KC goes away for the weekend sometimes I spend my Sunday afternoons watching movies on TBS (or Lifetime) and eating Air-Pop Popcorn
  12. I don't have a favorite color, I like shades of purple, blue and teal.
  13. I don't like pink, mostly pastel-y pink.  I can deal with a darker pink, but if I ever have a baby girl, her room will not be pink.
  14. I fractured my hand last year (2008-2009) on NYE playing dizzy bats (Yes, drinking was involved, enough said).
  15. I always thought I would grow up to be a teacher (I used to think it was because I have neat hand-writing), sometimes I think about going back to school to be a teacher now.
  16. I am very particular about the type of pen I like.  Pentel RSVP Fine Tip please!
  17. My friends say I have OCD because I like things to be cleaned and picked up.
  18. I make To-Do lists just so I can cross things off the list.
  19. I would love to open my own business (I have no idea of what) but I'm too afraid of failure/risk (my husband is the risk taker).
  20. I used to drink regular Pepsi, until I gave it up for Lent, then I stopped drinking Pepsi and switched to Diet Coke, but I don't like regular Coke or Diet Pepsi.
  21. I love strawberries and if it has mushrooms in it you can count me in!
  22. I like cake (preferably funfetti) but would rather have it without the frosting.
  23. I love white-chocolate, like milk-chocolate and don't like dark-chocolate
  24. I love a nice hot glass of hot cocoa on a cold morning, but not from Starbucks, yuck!
  25. I never read blogs until I started planning my wedding and was too chicken to start one until after.
  26. I've been a New York Yankee lover for as long as I can remember!  
  27. I'm a country music girl!
Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Thankful on a Thursday

Lately I've been doing lots of thinking and I realized that are lots of things that I'm thankful for and I don't always say it.

{1} For all my mom and dad who have shown me what's it's like to growing up in a loving family.

{2} For my friends, even though I found out they took bets on how long after the wedding it would be before we were pregnant (most of them have lost already).

{3} For M who is coming to visit and spend a long weekend!!  (That's the last time I mention it, I promise!)
{4} For everyone who has donated to support me when I participate in the Komen Race for the Cure next weekend.  

{5}  For Maya, who is always excited to see me when I get home, no matter what hour or kind of the day it is.

{6}  For my little sister, who moved out of our house a few weeks ago and is carving her own way in this world.


{7}  For my grandparents, celebrating 54 years of marriage next week.  An inspiration to KC and I and hopefully to other newlyweds!

{8}  For the blogs I read and readers who comment, thanks for sticking around.

{9}  For KC, there are too many reasons to list them all!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

the post about weight


I've been drafting this post in my head for a while now. As is the case with many bloggers I've read and many ladies in my life, there's always a battle with weight.  It seems every woman has insecurities about her weight.  I was never really insecure about my weight until mid-way through college.  In High School it didn't seem to bother me.  I knew I wasn't one of the smallest girls in class, but that's why I played soccer, basketball and softball and wasn't a Cheerleader.

These days, I tend to gage my weight by how well my clothes fit.  When I graduated college, I put on a few pounds but refused to buy new clothes when my old sizes weren't fitting me.  If I have to go up a size in something, if I don't need it that bad, I probably just won't get it.

This morning, I put on some capris and well they didn't fit that great.  No bueno.  Not happy.  I'm at a crossroads right now.  I'm running and don't do much exercise outside of race training because I want to follow the routine as much as possible.  The thought of maybe starting a family and not being able to lose that weight is scary.

About 3 years ago now (those college pounds had crept up), I did a program at the fitness center at my company that worked amazingly for me.  They measured your RMR and helped you to determine your calorie intake and how much calorie intake per day for 1 lb./wk loss, etc.  It was a 10 week program, with a weekly class.  We learned about making changes and substitutions as well as triggers for our eating and how to deal with things.  I lost about 12-15lbs and kept the weight off for a year.  

Over the next year or so, I gained some of it back (~8-10lbs) but have tried to maintain.  I'm not quite at my heaviest weight as when I started the program but I know I need to make a change to stay happy.  I tried to use the iPhone - 'Lose It' app a few months ago, but became frustrated, I don't measure my food portions well.  I know what I should and shouldn't eat in terms of kinds of food and try to stick with them now.  It's a lifestyle change, I realized that back then.  I've done fairly well at eating more on the healthy side of things with a few small indulgences here and there, but I haven't been able to stay where I should be.

I know I need to go back to tracking my intake and controlling my portions, so that is my first step.  I'm considering a few changes to make as well:
  • Body Bug
  • Cutting back to 1-2 Diet Cokes a week vs. 1/day
  • When drinking (alcohol), limit to 1-2 beverage maximum.
  • Not doing 1/2 marathon training and working towards gym visits and workouts instead
  • Accountability - I've tried to make deals with myself before, no shopping, no this or that until, but it doesn't work.  I'm thinking more of when I get here, then I can do this/get this.
Right now, I'm on a path to figure out what is going to work for me to make me comfortable.  I don't have goals of being 'skinny', I just want to be comfortable and happy.  It's not really about the number on the scale, but about the way I look and the way my clothes fit.  I've done it before, I know I can do it again.  I just need to find my commitment to it.

I won't be blogging much about getting there, so don't worry, this hasn't turned into a weight loss blog, but it is something that is going to play a big part in my life in the coming months so don't be surprised if you see a few posts about it.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Summer TV

From September to May it's a battle to keep up with all the shows we watch/DVR.  I enjoy when the summer comes around and there is a lot more time to spend outdoors, playing sports, doing yard work, BBQing with friends and bonfires to occupy the nights.  There are a few shows that are on during the summer that I enjoy watching and I'm looking forward to them this year as well.  


Returning Shows
Army Wives on Lifetime
I am not an Army Wife, but I love watching this show.  Not only do they discuss the issues of Army Wives but they cover other real life issues (i.e. domestic violence, marriage troubles and miscarriages).  


My Boys on TBS
I've mentioned before how sometimes my group of friends reflects many of the characters of My Boys.  I'm drawn to this shows because of the 'randomness' of it and the lives of the groups of friends.


Flashpoint on CBS
I've watched practically every cop drama/show there is.  Some might say that this is just another one, and I would agree, but the personal mixture in this one along with the 'cop' nature make this one a little more appealing to me to keep watching.  I like the 'flashback' nature to this show as well.


If you're looking for some new shows to add to your summer line-up, I'd recommend both of these.


New Premieres
Losing it with Jillian on NBC
This year I started watching the Biggest Loser and I started seeing the ads for Losing it with Jillian.  I think the appeal to this show is people are trying to make changes in their lives for the better.  It premieres tonight on NBC, so I'll let you know in a few weeks what I think of it.


I tend to not watch a ton of reality shows which is why you don't see The Bachelor or Bachelorette, America's Got Talent or So You Think You Can Dance, but I'm not entirely opposed.  I have mixed feelings about watching the Gosselins again, though I will admit I have watched them previously (please no mean comments).


Any shows you watch over the summer I should check out?  Any new premieres that you're looking forward to?