Here I go again...

So I was doing SO well with my diet etc... until I missed my monthly goal and got kicked out of my diet group..... (SEE HERE) and I am sorry to say I am up about 10 lbs. :(

It is mainly around my waist that I am noticing the difference- I can still fit in my smaller pants etc. but I don't want to wait for it to get worse...

So I noticed a colleague of mine has really shaped up after having her twins a couple of years ago and she referred me to her trainer Alex. So I sucked it up and called and scheduled a consultation.

While I REALLY liked my old trainer, he didn't push me enough. Plus I haven't worked with him in about a year, so I am going to try this new guy.

The good news is that I am ahead of the game bc I am about 30 lbs. lighter than before.

I decided to start now rather than wait till January and all those New Years resolutions- why wait? That attitude alone is WAYYYY better than before!

I am also planning on checking out that new book Eat for Health by Dr. Joel Fuhrman- saw him on Dr. Oz the other day and was impressed by his ideas.

I am kinda pissed at myself for letting it get to 10 (or so) pounds, but am not going to dwell on it like I would've before- I am taking action!

No more excuses!!!

A letter to college aged me

Dear Barb,

Now that I am in my 50's I thought I'd share some things I've learned along the way...

1. Continue to use sunscreen and moisturize your skin regularly. Trust me- you continue to do this and your 50 y/o self will thank you. You will look younger than anyone else at your 35th high school reunion.

2. Stop obsessing about your weight- learn to judge yourself not by a number on the scale but how you look and feel.

3. Don't stop exercising! It is so hard to get back into it- I know you hate it but it will help with #2. No one ever said "Gee I'm sorry I did that work out!"

4. Follow your dreams- do not settle.

5. Make time for yourself once you get married and start a family.

6. Save money- plan for your financial future- retirement really will be there before you know it!

7. Take time to smell the roses, life will get hectic so make sure you take the time to appreciate it in the moment. Life goes by so quickly savor every moment!

8. Don't worry so much about what other people think, as long as you can look yourself in the mirror each day and know that you tried your best- it's ok.

9. Pray- keep up your personal relationship with God.

10. Take chances- sometimes when you do you will meet someone wonderful or find something you love.

11. Always have dogs- they bring you such joy!

12. Realize that it's ok to say no sometimes.

13. Travel more- because once you get to your 50's you won't always be as willing to travel far distances.

14. Cut yourself some slack-if you screw up, fix it and move on... learn from it.

15. Don't stress the small stuff- and most of it is small stuff!

16. Don't strive for happiness because that can be fleeting- strive for peace of mind.

Anyone have any other suggestions?

Christmas lists

The following email was sent out yesterday to my three children, the married one got double duty- as per the "P.S."... I also cc'd my mom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Subject line: Extremely Important Please read!!!!

We need Christmas lists! (A.S.A.P.)

(knowing you guys will slack on this I felt the need to add the ASAP in the hopes of attaining  lists prior to Thanksgiving)!

Preferably stuff that can be ordered online- I can coordinate with Gram so you can provide one list which she and I can disseminate/discuss over Thanksgiving.

Please include colors, sizes … links to websites etc.

The better the lists- the more likely you will get stuff you actually want! :)

You snooze you lose!

Santa is not above giving coal out to those who do not provide lists!

Love you guys,

Mom

P.S.- Jenny you are responsible for Mike’s list ;) 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think that will work? 

* Side note cheergirlie (child #2) had a list already prepared (including pics & graphics!) and responded within 15 minutes of receiving my email! :D

30 Days of Photos-Outtakes

This photo challenge was been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see all of the talented participants over @ Ziva's Inferno.

Outtakes

I really enjoyed participating in this challenge- not only did I get to meet some great people and find some new wonderful blogs but it got me blogging more often. 

Here are some pics taken, but not used...

I missed the autumn prompt in preparation for Sandy not sure which of the next few I would've used

Probably this one...

It's been great guys! I'm so glad to have met all of you! :)

Blackout

This never ending photo challenge which is drowning most of the participants has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see all of the masochists eating m & m's in the dark , watching video's trying to stay dry  and photographing their hearts out over @ Ziva's Inferno.



Blackout

All you could see was the dogs eyes...

We made it through Sandy with no problems *knock on wood*. Thanks for all of your good wishes! We were fortunate- others locally were not so lucky!

The City

This never ending photo challenge which is drowning most of the participants has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see all of the masochists eating m & m's, watching video's trying to stay dry  and photographing their hearts out over @ Ziva's Inferno.



City
I am cheating today as I do not have a picture of the city of Philadelphia. We are awaiting the landfall of hurricane Sandy. The entire city is essentially shut down today. I live approximately 45 min. northwest of the city and we are expecting power outages and flooding as the northeast portion of the storm (the strongest winds) pass through. We spent the bulk of yesterday preparing. Moving lawn furniture- getting to the store to stock up on food, water, batteries etc. They are compaing this storm to "the perfect storm" typified by the movie of the same name (George Clooney was in it) We also have another storm headed our way from the west which will join forces. Needless to say it is wet!

My school has been cancelled for today and most likely will be closed tomorrow as well. NJ & PA have declared state of emergencies and people are being told to stay home unless they need to evacuate. Airports, bus service, train service, are all closed. Here at my house we are hunkered down and taking advantage of the day off- for now it's simply a bad storm with high winds, but they have told us the weather will deteriorate by evening.

Philadelphia skyline taken from a bridge along the river

Heart

This never ending photo challenge which is drowning most of the participants has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see all of the masochists eating m & m's, watching video's  and photographing their hearts out over @ Ziva's Inferno.

Heart 

This sign is over my kitchen sink, I've had it for over 25 yrs.

Found it at a craft show- the letters and heart are carved out of the wood.

Video

This never ending photo challenge which is drowning most of the participants has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see all of the masochists eating m & m's, watching video's  and participating by linking up @ Ziva's Inferno.


Video

I found this video on Pinterest and thought it was adorable!!!

 Here is the link to it

m & m's

This never ending photo challenge which is drowning most of the participants has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see all of the masochists eating m & m's  and participating by linking up @ Ziva's Inferno.


m & m's

Finally... a prompt I can REALLY enjoy!!!!

Every last one of them ;)

Underwater

This never ending photo challenge which is drowning most of the participants has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see all of the masochists participating by linking up @ Ziva's Inferno.

Underwater

Leaf, underwater on the bottom of our pool

again... same leaf

Neutral

This never ending photo challenge has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see all of the masochists participating by linking up @ Ziva's Inferno.

Neutral

These boots are what I would consider a neutral shade... not brown or black, they go with everything including skin. I took this a couple of weeks ago when I went to visit my younger daughter at college. Many of the young ladies at the football game were wearing boots- I guess it's a southern thing b/c it was in the 70's. Unfortunately these cute thin little legs are not mine *sigh*... oh to be 20 again!

Broken

This photo challenge has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see everyone
participating by linking up @ Ziva's Inferno.

Broken

Just one of many things around the house that needs fixed

Nails

This photo challenge has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see everyone
participating by linking up @ Ziva's Inferno.

Nails

I have have an obsession... my nails...

I have had artificial nails going on 18 years now. I started out with acrylics, and for the past five have had "gel" nails. I almost always get a french manicure. Only very occasionally will I get a color on them. I tried to grow my own nails about 8 mos. ago- I kept the gels off for six whole months!

My own nails are very weak- always have been, so I figured six months was a fair amount of time to give growing my own a try.

I caved about a month and a half ago. 

My nails are one thing on me that I like the way they look- I am very particular how I want them to look and I have found a manicurist who does them "just right". 

I figure I could have worse vices... and don't they look pretty? :)

STEEL

This photo challenge has been developed by Mike and Ziva, blah, blah, blah....@ Ziva's Inferno. 
STEEL

 legs on a student chair

QWERTY

This photo challenge has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see everyone
participating by linking up @ Ziva's Inferno.

QWER·TY /adj.

Of, relating to, or designating the traditional configuration of typewriter or computer keyboard keys.

Qwerty is also evidently a movie about a scrabble tournament..here is a review of it

Coins

This photo challenge has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see everyone
participating by linking up @ Ziva's Inferno.

Coins 

All I had in my wallet... usually I have 3 to 4 x this amount and TRY to get rid of them

Sorry for the crappy quality.... 
I stayed up late watching the debate and had to snap a quick pic this morning with my cell phone.

Bullshit

This photo challenge has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see everyone
participating by linking up @ Ziva's Inferno.

BULLSHIT... the amount of crap sent to me via email by SOME co workers...is bullshit.

Email CAN be great, but sometimes people will send emails and vent and complain... take a minute and think- would you speak to me face to face the way you have via email? If the answer is no- then DON'T SEND IT>>>> it's BULLSHIT. 
Grow a set and  speak to me one on one- don't hide behind an email.

 

Secret

This photo challenge has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see everyone
participating by linking up @ Ziva's Inferno.

Secret 

I'll never tell

Calm

This photo challenge has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see everyone
participating by linking up @ Ziva's Inferno.

Calm

This beautiful lady was my gift on our 20th anniversary. She is/was not your "typical" yellow lab. Forget Marley... my Buffy was the polar opposite of that dog.

Typically, Labradors are athletic and love to swim, play catch and retrieve games, are good with young children, elderly, and for protection. Labradors mature at around three years of age; before this time they can have a significant degree of puppy-like energy, often mislabeled as being hyperactive.

My Buffy was not your "typical" lab. 
She has always been an 'Old Soul". 
We bought her from a breeder at 7 weeks, the breeder said she was really laid back- and he was right. 

Only dog I've ever seen who fell asleep during her first well puppy exam. Most puppies would've been jumping all over the vet- but not Buffy. She sat calmly and cocked her head and waited for the vet to come to her. He told me that in 30 yrs. of being a vet he had NEVER seen a lab as calm as she was.

She has been calm all of her 8 years so far- she will play and get excited, but she always seems to keep herself in control. I have been told multiple times that she would make an excellent therapy dog. I wish I had the time to pursue this, but unfortunately do not.

She loves long walks, going to our cabin in the mountains, being with her daddy and swimming in our pool during the warm weather. She is also just as content to lay her head on you and snuggle.  Our other one Cali is 5 years younger than Buffy and she helps to keep her young, but she is not nearly as calm.

Two seemingly calm dogs... Cali (L)- Buffy (R) the REAL calm one is on the right ;)

I know this pic is officially too "old" but I just love it!

Five

This photo challenge has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see everyone
participating by linking up @ Ziva's Inferno. I cheated on this one because  my five are not all together....we are all living at different places...so some of these pics are older than Sept. 1st- but since there are no real rules... *shrug*

FIVE
The five most important people in my life...

The first four are in this first pic.... (minus me in the blue), my hubby and three kids. They mean everything to me. I would die for them, they are my life. Followed by my fifth- my mom. The best woman I know. Love you Mom!

 

Stef, (me), hubby, Jenny, JJ

Best mom in the world... mine:)

A collage of pics I HAVE taken of my five recently...

#2 child a senior in college

ok so they are not in my
"5" but these are my babies left at home

our youngest with me & hubby

The love of my life... my hubby of 28 yrs. but we've been together more like 36 yrs.

our oldest and her new hubby

my "guys"

# 11 HEAVY

me... heavy July 2011

me now 2012 version- 35-40 lbs. lighter- not skinny but not as heavy

This photo challenge has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see everyone
participating by linking up @ Ziva's Inferno.

RIP ~ Ashley

Ashley- best hunter ever! Mice, birds, bunnies... you name it- in her prime she was the sh*t... She is in retirement and nearing 20 so she is more a lady of leisure these days

Ashley passed this morning at the ripe old age of 20 something. She will be deeply missed.

30 Day Challenge... Rules

#7 Rules
This photo challenge has been developed by Mike and Ziva, you can see everyone
participating by linking up @ Ziva's Inferno.
 I have this up in my office- the quality isn't the greatest so I copied the wording below. I didn't have a chance to use was too lazy to bring my Nikon and used my cell phone camera.

 

RULES TO LIVE BY…

1.    THIS IS YOUR LIFE.  DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND DO IT OFTEN.

2.    IF YOU DON’T LIKE SOMETHING, CHANGE IT...    

3.    IF YOU DON’T LIKE YOUR JOB, QUIT.

4.    IF YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME, STOP WATCHING T.V.

5.    IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE, STOP; THEY WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU WHEN YOU START DOING THINGS YOU LOVE.

6.     START DOING THINGS YOU LOVE.  

7.     STOP OVER ANALYZING.

8.    ALL EMOTIONS ARE BEAUTIFUL WHEN YOU EAT, APPRECIATE EVERY LAST BITE.

9.    OPEN YOUR MIND, ARM, AND HEART TO NEW THINGS AND PEOPLE; WE ARE UNITED IN OUR DIFFERENCES.

10.                      ASK THE NEXT PERSON YOU SEE WHAT THEIR PASSION IS, AND SHARE YOUR INSPIRING DREAM WITH THEM.

11.                      TRAVEL OFTEN, GETTING LOST WILL HELP YOU FIND YOURSELF.

12.                      SOME OPPORTUNITIES ONLY COME ONCE, SEIZE THEM.

13.                      LIFE IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU MEET, AND THE THINGS YOU CAN CREATE WITH THEM SO GO OUT AND START CREATING.

LIFE IS SHORT,

LIVE AND DREAM AND SHARE YOUR PASSION.