Tie it up Tuesday

How are you guys doing today? So far so good for me. I did not get any notable exercise in last night. I made salmon for dinner which is always good. I decided to make some chocolate chip cookies for some of the guys at work and I ate 6 of them... blechhh... It has gotten to the point where I really need to stop buying these trigger foods. I guess I was in denial a bit about my ability to control myself around some of those items like cereal, crackers, peanut butter and baked items in general.

I got a note on my door that they are increasing my rent to $1,225 starting March 1st. It is a $30 increase which is not too bad as there is no rent control in Santa Clara.  Now that I am living by myself it is a little more stressful coming up with that every month. I am really starting to enjoy my independence but circumstances may change and I may need to move into my mom's house but I am just not ready to do that yet for a lot of reasons. I want to live alone but clamoring around her house by myself doesn't sound appealing either. The cost savings would be substantial though so it remains to be seen...

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Soothing Lotion They claimed that you would notice a reduction in redness within a week. Well, they were right. It is by far one of the best products I have used to date. While there has been a significant reduction in the redness, there is still a light pink shade to my cheeks but nothing like it was before using the product. My cousin Amy is going to get some samples of the Clinique product that Shannon and Enz recommended so I will let you know how that works too. Until next time...

Man-o-Manischewitz Monday

How y'all doing this morning? I am doing pretty good so far. The winner of the Souper You Giveaway is Sarah at Onmyweightohappiness Congratulations Sarah! If you would like to print a coupon for $1.25 off of four cans you can do that here but hurry if you do because the coupon is available for a limited time only.  I will be doing another giveaway this week so stay tuned for that.

It was a good weekend overall for me. Saturday I spent the day getting organized and doing some heavy cleaning like cleaning behind the fridge, mopping the floors etc. It was hard to get around the fridge (I'm 5'2") so I took a broom handle and put a rag sprayed with 409 on the handle part and it worked wonders. 

I got my bike out Saturday and rode around the neighborhood and it felt FANTASTIC! I really do enjoy riding my bike and I have missed a lot. I even rode to the grocery store and did some shopping. I have a backpack as well as a basket so I was able to pack them up easily for the ride back home.

Sunday morning I did some Wii before leaving for the day. I used the Wii Fit and did the test before moving on to the games. I was happy that I have almost perfect balance. I know I have improved my balance because when I started using using it there was a definite favoring on one side. This is one of the benefits of strengthening your core.

When I was at Target last week, I picked up some 5 lb. hand weights. I used them on Sunday after doing the Wii. I had been using the 2 lb and 3 lb weights but 5 is definitely different. My arms are feeling stronger too. A little sore but stronger.

The rest of the day on Sunday, I went with my cousin Amy to look at alternate living situations for my momma. There are a number of options available we just need to make a decision. My brother is not working and so he is not able to come and help me right now so I need to buck up and take care of it. It really helped having somebody with me. When people offer to help, I try not to take them up on it as I don't want to inconvenience or impose but now I am accepting others help which takes some of the pressure off of me. Until next time...

Rihanna - Cheers (Drink To That)

Cheers to the freakin' weekend
I drink to that, yeah yeah
Oh let the Jameson sink in
I drink to that, yeah yeah
Don't let the bastards get ya down
Turn it around with another round
There's a party at the bar
everybody put your glasses up and I drink to that
I drink to that.

Life's too short to be sittin' round miserable
People gon' talk whether you doing bad or good, yeah
Got a drink on my mind and my mind on my money, yeah
Looking so bomb, gonna find me a honey
Got my Ray-Bans on and I'm feelin' hella cool tonight, yeah
Everybody's vibin' so don't nobody start a fight, yeah-ah-ah-ah

Cheers to the freakin' weekend
I drink to that, yeah yeah
Oh, let the Jameson sink in
I drink to that, yeah yeah
Don't let the bastards get ya down
Turn it around with another round
There's a party at the bar everybody put your glasses up and I drink to that
I drink to that.

'Bout to hop on the bar, put it all on my card tonight, yeah.

Might be mad in the morning but you know we goin' hard tonight
It's getting coyote ugly up in here, no tyra
It's only up from here, no downward spiral
Got my Ray-Bans on and I'm feelin' hella cool tonight, yeah
Everybody's vibin' so don't nobody start a fight, yeah

Cheers to the freakin' weekend
I drink to that, yeah yeah
Oh let the Jameson sink in
I drink to that, yeah yeah
Don't let the bastards get ya down
Turn it around with another round
There's a party at the bar everybody put your glasses up and I drink to that
I drink to that.

Cheers to the freakin weekend
I drink to that, yeah yeah
Oh let the Jameson sink in
I drink to that, yeah yeah
Don't let the bastards get ya down
Turn it around with another round
There's a party at the bar everybody put your glasses up and I drink to that
I drink to that.
And I drink to that.
I drink to that.
And I drink to that.

Stronger - Kelly Clarkson

You know the bed feels warmer,
Sleeping here alone,
You know I dream in color,
And do the things I want.

You think you got the best of me
Think you had the last laugh
Bet you think that everything good is gone.
Think you left me broken down
Think that I’d come running back

Baby you don't know me, cause you're dead wrong.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone.

What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger

Just me, Myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone.

You heard that I was starting over with someone new,
They told you I was moving on over you,
You didn't think that I'd come back
I’d come back swinging

You try to break me but you see
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn’t mean I'm lonely when I'm alone.

What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause your gone.

Finagling Friday

Yay, it's Friday!! As a working gal I live for Fridays.

I got on the scale this morning and it was back down to 250 so I am going to take it. I was able to eat within my normal calories yesterday and drank lots of water so that helped too I am sure. 

I went to the meeting as planned. I won't give you all the details but let's just say it was one of the toughest conversations that I have ever had. One thing my mom mentioned to me was "How proud of me" she was.  I think every child longs to hear that no matter how old they are. I told her it was the way I was brought up and that she would do the same for me.  The next plan of action is to look at some locations for her to rehab at. It is not a permanent situation which made me feel a lot better.

After I got home last night I was hungry so I decided to make some eggs with spinach. I love the combo of spinach and eggs. I had purchased some egg substitute as I had never tried it before. I just wanted to see how different it was from real eggs. It seemed like they took a little longer to cook but the taste was good so now I know I can use them as an option. Plus, it lasts a long time. The one I bought is good until March!

It is supposed to be in the upper 60s and even low 70s in some places this weekend. I would really like to hop on Phoebe (my pink beach cruiser) and ride the trails. I need to do some grocery shopping as well. Hope you all have a great weekend! Be kind to yourself. Until next time...

Life, Lipstick and Lbs.

I had an okay night last night. I ate leftovers for dinner which was fine but then I broke into the cereal again. Ughh... It was straight up stress eating and self-sabotaging.  Needless to say I am up on the scale. I'm at 252 which is 2 lbs. gained since two weeks ago. It could have been so much worse so I will thank my lucky stars and move on. Food is NOT the answer Katie...

Tonight I have an appt. with my mom, the social worker and another gal to determine what our next step will be for mom's living arrangements.  Mom is doing better which is great news.  She was so cute when I talked to her yesterday. She said "I am so thankful you are here to help me because you are so smart and have such a good memory plus your pretty!" This is not going to be easy but it needs to be done so there is no weaseling out of it. The appt. is at 6:00 p.m. tonight.

I have a Loreal lipstick that I absolutely love. Of course, it was discontinued some time ago and I have bought a few off of eBay but it is virtually impossible to get it now.  I did see one for $24.95 but I don't want to pay that much. I was able to find a pretty close match yesterday and was thrilled. I have bought countless lipsticks that just weren't the right color.  I think it would be fantastic if they could come up with a way to color match lipsticks like they do paints at Home Depot. You just bring in a sample of your fave color and they could replicate it for you at a reasonable price. You could even have different formulas to suit your needs. Wishful thinking I guess but a girl can dream right? Until next time...



P.S. Did you enter the giveaway? I will announce a winner on Monday.

Souper You (Giveaway) and Stuff

Disclosure:  The Progresso^® Souper You^® prize pack, information, coupon, and giveaway have been provided by Progresso through MyBlogSpark.

I am pleased that MyBlogSpark contacted me to do another Progresso "Souper You" giveaway.  Progresso has 40 flavors that are 100 cals or less so you should be able to find one that appeals to you. They graciously provided me with a gift pack that I can pass on to one of you which includes: (2) VIP Coupons for Progresso Soup AND (1) copy of "The Biggest Loser" 30 Day Jump Start DVD .

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me which flavor you would most likely eat and make part of your weight loss regimen.  For an additional entry, you can Tweet about this giveaway. Don´t forget to use the hashtag #MyBlogSpark and mention Progresso on your posting. You can also like Progresso on Facebook for an additional entry. I will chose a random winner on Monday, January 30th, 2012. This giveaway is open to US Residents only.

So last night for dinner, I made chicken with BBQ sauce and mashed potatoes. I wanted to try a method of removing the skin that I had seen on an email from my friend Sally (Hi Sal!) to see if it in fact worked. Well, it did! Now, mashed potatoes are not my fave way of eating potatoes and I actually prefer the skin on but this was an interesting experience nonetheless. Here is the video in case you wanted to watch. Some of you will recognize the actress and some of you might not. Until next time...

Biceps and Beaming

I had a good night last night. I had a gentlemen friend come over for dinner. It is so much better to cook for someone other then for just yourself. I made pork chops, spinach, broccoli rice and apple sauce.  It was good and apparently R liked it a lot because he had seconds. I used the Panko breading which is the greatest stuff. It makes even dull meals exciting. I use it on fish and poultry alike.

Well, as I planned, I broke out the Resistance bands and did some basic exercises. I used the yellow one which is the 3-6 lbs. My biceps are sore this morning but it feels good! I will work with that one and then scale up from there. Apparently the attachment goes on the door knob from what I can tell. The instructions are in a micro font and the picture that is displayed as a sample is also micro. I will google it today and find out how it works. Meanwhile, I can still use them just as they are but it will be good to add a variety of exercises. I encourage you to pick one up. They really are effective and an inexpensive way to get some resistance training in.

I am really enjoying spending time with my friend R. We went to Jr. High and High school together.  We started talking last summer and have kept in touch ever since.  He is a nice distraction in the chaos of my life for sure. He is handsome, smart, funny, caring and sweet. He is very supportive of me and is rooting me on all the way. It is a great feeling having someone in your corner, you know what I mean? Anyways, it will be interesting to see what the future holds. Until next time...




P.S. Please stop by Hyla's blog, Hourglass Red. She has lost 100 lbs!

Binged and Bands

Hope you had a good weekend. Mine was decent. I got a lot done around the apt. on Saturday. I had a little trouble getting myself motivated so I decided to do the timer method. I set the timer for 15 mins. and started working on the room, sorting clothes, dusting, putting clothes away etc. When the timer went off, I allowed myself to watch a Bravo show for a little while and then set the timer again. It works for me so I will keep doing it as needed.

I did do some stress eating on Saturday night with cereal. I had three bowls in a couple of hours. Then it was toasted almonds and glazed walnuts. While the items are a bit healthier then what I used to binge on, it was still a binge nonetheless. Sunday, I went to visit my mom and bring her some clothes. She was having a bad day so it was a little upsetting. After I left her, I went to the bar and watched the 49er game. They were serving spaghetti which I don't eat so I just had salad and bread. I drank a few beers and then called it a night. I did not stay to the end of the game. On the way home, I decided to get Taco Bell which I have not had in at least a year if not longer. I had a bean burrito and nachos with no meat. Needless to say I am belly aching this morning. It is going to be at least another year before I go to Taco Bell again... blerghhh...

My plan for tonight is to stay home and do some resistance training since I got my flexcords in the mail today.  It even has a hook you can put in the doorway which hopefully I can hook up on my own. I am only 5'2" but I do have a foot stool though so I can reach in cabinets and top shelves so I think it will be okay. Until next time...

Train - Drive By

Drive By

On the other side of a street I knew
Stood a girl that looked like you
I guess that's deja vu
But I thought this can't be true
Cause you moved to west L.A or New York or Santa Fe
Or where ever to get away from me

Oh but that one night
Was more than just right
I didn't leave you cause I was all through
Oh I was overwhelmed and frankly scared as hell
Because I really fell for you

Oh I swear to ya
I'll be there for ya
This is not a drive by
Just a shy guy looking for a 2-ply
Hefty bag to hold my love
When you move me everything is groovy
They don't like it sue me
The way you do me
Oh I swear to ya
I'll be there for ya
This is not a drive by

On the other side of a downward spiral
My love for you went viral
And I loved you every mile you drove away
But now here you are again
So let's skip the "how you been"
And get down to the "more than friends" at last

Oh but that one night was still the highlight
I didn't need you until I came to
And I was overwhelmed and frankly scared as hell
Because I really fell for you

Oh I swear to ya
I'll be there for ya
This is not a drive by
Just a shy guy looking for a 2-ply
Hefty bag to hold my love
When you move me everything is groovy
They don't like it sue me
The way you do me
Oh I swear to ya
I'll be there for ya
This is not a drive by

Please believe that when I leave
There's nothing up my sleeve but love for you
And a little time to get my head together too

On the other side of a street I knew
Stood a girl that looked like you
I guess that's deja vu
But I thought this can't be true
Cause...

Oh I swear to ya
I'll be there for ya
This is not a drive by
Just a shy guy looking for a 2-ply
Hefty bag to hold my love
When you move me everything is groovy
They don't like it sue me
The way you do me
Oh I swear to ya
I'll be there for ya
This is not a drive by



P.S. Train is a local group and this song is off of their upcoming album

Anna Nalick - Breathe

Breathe

2 AM and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake,
"Can you help me unravel my latest mistake?,
I don't love him. Winter just wasn't my season"
Yeah we walk through the doors, so accusing their eyes
Like they have any right at all to criticize,
Hypocrites. You're all here for the very same reason

'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, girl.
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe... just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe

May he turned 21 on the base at Fort Bliss
"Just a day" he said down to the flask in his fist,
"Ain't been sober, since maybe October of last year."
Here in town you can tell he's been down for a while,
But, my God, it's so beautiful when the boy smiles,
Wanna hold him. Maybe I'll just sing about it.

Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable,
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table.
No one can find the rewind button, boys,
So cradle your head in your hands,
And breathe... just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe

There's a light at each end of this tunnel,
You shout 'cause you're just as far in as you'll ever be out
And these mistakes you've made, you'll just make them again
If you'd only try turning around.

2 AM and I'm still awake, writing a song
If I get it all down on paper, it's no longer inside of me,
Threatening the life it belongs to
And I feel like I'm naked in front of the crowd
Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud
And I know that you'll use them, however you want to

But you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable,
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button now
Sing it if you understand.
and breathe, just breathe
woah breathe, just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe.

Back to Business

I had a good visit with my mom. I brought her some clothes and brought her laundry home with me.  I want to thank you for all the comments and support on that subject. I know they probably are not the easiest posts to read but it is my reality and it helps to have a venue to put those emotions/feelings. 

After I got home from our visit, I wanted to do some resistance training while I watched Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice and realized that I no longer have my resistance bands. I gave Dave a set thinking I had another one but low and behold I did not so I went on Amazon and found these. They retail for $79.99 usually but I got them for $24.95! Woot! Woot! They will arrive on Monday.

From their website: Enjoy a dynamic full-body workout anywhere, anytime, with this Flexcords resistance band set. An affordable alternative to a home gym, the Flexcords set comes with six total resistance bands, each with a different tension. The bands--one yellow (3 to 6 pounds), one orange (7 to 12 pounds), one green (12 to 18 pounds), one red (18 to 28 pounds), one blue (28 to 40 pounds), and one white (40 to 55 pounds)--give you complete control of your workout. Simply choose the tension that's best suited to your exercise routine, and then alter the resistance when you switch exercises.

I really want to get back to business with losing weight and getting healthier.  I am grateful that these life occurrences have not thrown me into a tailspin with my eating but I have not been getting any notable exercise and that needs to change PRONTO. I feel like I have been in a holding pattern for months and I need to break through this. Exercising would be not only physically beneficial but mentally as well. It is not like I don't have the time to do it. I am worth the time and effort!

Have a great weekend! Until next time...



P.S. I will be posting some giveaways soon so stay tuned!

Reprieve and Realizations

I have decided to give myself a reprieve with my weigh in today. I am up on the scale a few lbs. but I think most of it has to do with my pee pill predicament. I know I did not consume that many excess calories.

I did not go to see my mom last night as planned but I did speak to her on the phone. I asked her if she still wanted to go home after her release. I felt like a martyr pushing for her to be able to go home based on her wishes. Well, last night she admitted that she can no longer be at home and take care of herself. It was one of the hardest conversations ever but I told her I was proud of her for being honest and letting me know how she felt. It was a huge relief because everyone else was suggesting it but I wanted to respect her wishes and fight for her. I have learned SO many lessons while going through this and one of the biggies is about being honest with yourself and others about your needs.

It is not going to be an easy transition. My mom lives in the house I grew up in and it will be super hard but I don't think we will need to sell the house right away. The brunt of the responsibility falls on me because I am local and I am her Power of Attorney plus my brother lives in Colorado. Like I told my mom's neighbor, Louise, this is all character building. Until next time...

Pee Pill Predicament

Had a decent night last night. I made myself chicken that I marinated in Italian dressing. Turned out yummy.  I did get laundry in so I have clean work clothes now. I did fall asleep with them in the dryer so I fluffed them up this morning and I was good to go.

I take a pill for High Blood Pressure called Hyrdochlorothiazide. I was taking two other BP meds that I was able to ditch because of the weight loss. Well, I ran out of them so it has been 5 days since I took any. I did get them in the mail yesterday so I am back on them this morning. I did get on the scale to assess where I am at and I am up a few pounds because I have not taken them.  It could explain why I am having leg cramps as well. Well, needless to say, I will be making lots of trips to the loo today.  I have really tried to be more diligent about my water intake too. I have met my water quota (64 ozs) for the last few days so that is a big improvement. More on that soon...

Tonight I am going to see my mom at MO. They have a support group/meeting that they encourage the family to attend. I have not seen her since she was admitted on Saturday and while I feel a little guilty about it, she has not been alone at all because she has had visitors daily.  I just needed some time to sort my thoughts/feelings on this whole situation. I want to respect her wishes but everyone seems to have another plan/opinion on the subject. BIG sigh...

I think I may have a cold. It could be allergies acting up too but I definitely have a stuffy head.  I was washing my hands last night and I remembered an old friend of mine, who was a dental hygienist, telling me that you should sing Happy Birthday twice as the appropriate amount of time to get rid of germs. I honestly don't think I wait that long while washing my hands but it would be an easy enough adjustment so I will try remembering to do so. A simple enough step to help avoid cold and flu germs. Until next time...

Head Above Water

Yesterday went okay. My mom called me and asked me to come and get her which was heartbreaking. I know this is the best thing for her and I wanted to do this before (in Sept.) but it still does not make it any easier. She also thinks I am mad at her for some reason. I told her I wasn't at all.  I could not get it together (mentally) to go and see her yesterday. My cousin went twice and my mom's neighbor went also so she was not alone. Thank you all for your kind words, thoughts and prayers.  It really does help and it means a lot.

I ended up eating salad for dinner. It was the Fresh Express Asian Salad. I added a few dried cranberries to jazz it up and it was delish.  I did take out some chicken for myself tonight and I also got a package of Just for One from Green Giant which are handy and pretty darn tasty. They are 0 points on Weight Watchers. This is what is stated on the website: Portable, single-serve vegetables are ready in minutes in the microwave. Great for lunch on the go, a quick afternoon snack, or individual tastes and needs. Available in a variety of delicious low-fat, low-calorie sauces and seasonings, and endorsed by Weight Watchers®.

I still did not do any laundry! I just couldn't get myself to do it last night. It is sorted though so I will do it tonight for sure. I am wearing pants that are 4 sizes too big but I sit at a desk so no one really sees them. I held onto this particular pair to have as comparison when I get to my goal weight.

I'm just trying to keep my chin up and get through this. Having a support system like I do is really helpful. I am still trying to adjust to being by myself and processing the changes from Dave moving out. I told my mom's neighbor (I have known her 43 years) that all this stuff is character building! Until next time...

P.S. I finally started writing on my "other" blog. It is all about my adoption story. It is called Finding Renee Marie Renee Marie was the name I was given by my biological mother.

Down and Delegated

Hope you all had a nice weekend. Eating was hit and miss for me. I haven't gotten on the scale over the last few days but the pants I am wearing today for work are looser then the last time I wore them so that is a good thing. I was actually kind of worried they would be snug and it was the last pair hanging in the closet. I did not do any laundry this weekend so I have to do it tonight. Guess I got pretty spoiled having Dave do my laundry for the last 6 years.

For some reason, my hips and legs are aching. It is something I have never felt before. I thought it might be related to my recent sciatica so I have been treating it as such.  Hopefully it will just go away on its own with the proper treatment. I spent the majority of the day yesterday with my heating pad and my legs elevated.

My brother and I took my mom to the hospital on Friday afternoon and they determined she had a UTI which can cause confusion and anxiety. Who knew huh?  Not sure how long she has had that going on but she also had one back in October before she came home from the care facility. Then on Saturday, my brother decided she needed to be admitted to the satellite hospital where they handle behavioral health.  Apparently, he thought it was urgent so they transported her by ambulance poor thing. She is already doing better which is great news. However, she may have to stay there for a few months. The reality of that has not quite sunk in yet. The last time we went through this (1999) it was for a few weeks not months. They have very limited visiting hours but fairly flexible phone hours. I can only visit from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. I am still in shock, honestly. She is safe and is getting the help she needs which is what matters. Until next time...

Tag - You're It!

I have been tagged by Leigh C over at Poonapalooza. She is a sweetheart and if you have not read her blog then by all means, hop on over there. This was a fairly time consuming task but hopefully we get to learn more about each other...

So here are the rules:

1. You must post 11 random things yourself.
2. Answer the questions the tag­ger set for you in their post.
3. Create 11 new ques­tions for the peo­ple you tag to answer.
4. Go to their blog and tell them that you've tagged them.
5. No stuff in the tagging sec­tion about ‘you are tagged if you are read­ing this.’ blah blah blah, you legitimately have to tag 11 peeps!

**Not that there is too much you don't already know about me but here goes...

1. I have never driven a stick shift and don't know how
2. I did not learn how to cook until my early 30s
3. I have never been married and have no children and at least where kids are concerned, I will never give birth to one. I am not opposed to adopting or being a step mom if the situation presented itself.
4. Three out of the four cars I have ever owned where white. I like white cars
5. My favorite fruit is strawberries
6. I don't consider myself a writer but I have always had A LOT to say
7. I have an AA and a BS in Business/Marketing
8. I don't like gravy
9. I don't like my food to touch
10. I have 6 watches but I rarely wear them
11. I used to have my right nipple pierced about 8-9 years ago. I took it out a few weeks after because I was going to travel with my mom and I did not want her to see it. I tried to put it back in after a week and it wouldn't. There is still a hole there.

 Leigh posed these questions to the people she tagged.

1. What was your favourite food when you were a child? Shish Kabobs
2. What is one of your favourite quotes? Have a little faith!
3. What is your favorite body part? My chi-chis
4. If you could stay a certain age forever, what age would it be and why? 35 because you know so much more about the world at that age but can still get away with doing youthful activities.
5. If you could chose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor? Oprah
6. If you could meet anyone living or dead, who would it be? I would like to meet Oprah
7. What celebrity do you get mistaken for? Like that happens... bwahahahahahaha
8. What would you name the autobiography of your life? Ups and Downs - The Tales of Katie J
9. What was the first thing you bought with your own money? The record album, Grease
10. What was the last experience that made you a better person? I am learning to be more patient dealing with my mother.
11. What was the last movie, tv show or book that made you cry or tear up? Extreme Home Makeover on Friday night.

My questions that my tagged recipients need to answer

1. How old where you when you had your first kiss?
2. Do you prefer cats or dogs?
3. What is your best physical feature?
4. What part of your personality do you like the best?
5. Did you go to college?
6. What is your favorite food?
7. Have you ever been out of the country?
8. Do you have siblings?
9. If you have siblings, how many?
10. What is your favorite vegetable?
11. Do you have a green thumb?

So the people I am tagging are:

1. Maren at From Cow to Wow
2. Becca at 290 and Down We Go
3. Suzi at Spunkysuzi
4. Draz at It's Me, Drazil and Sheniqua
5. Simone at In[Fat]uation
6. Sarah at On My Weigh to Happiness
7. Michelle at Getting Healthy One Step at a Time
8. Mary at A Small Loss
9. Sable at Squat Like a Lady
10. Kristi at Losing, Loving and Living in TX
11. Conne at Fat to Fit Mommy

Friggatriskaidekaphobia

Are you Friggatriskaidekaphobic? What is it you ask? An estimated 17 to 21 million people in the US are affected by a fear of this day. Some people are so paralyzed by fear that they avoid their normal routines in doing business, taking flights or even getting out of bed. It is the fear of Friday the 13th. I never have been too fearful of Friday the 13th. Now, full moons are a different story but that is a whole other post.

Thank you for the comments on yesterday's post. I still struggle with posting such personal business but it helps me immensely to see it in writing to help me sort my thoughts. I also love the feedback and different perspectives you guys have when you comment and if by my posting this helps someone going through something similar then that is another bonus.

The sciatica is acting up again too. Yipee skipee huh? I am at work and brought my Advil with me. I am walking sideways and it looks pretty silly but oh well. It is the only way I can get around right now.  I will try to take it easy this weekend but not sure if I will have the opportunity. It remains to be seen. Until next time...

Prepped and Ready

I swear it feels like it should be Friday but alas, we have one more day.  Since Thursday's are my weigh day, I will get that out of the way. I stayed the same this week, 250. Honestly, I am just thankful I did not gain with the excess snacking that happened this week. I went to the grocery store last night and spent $180 and I am well prepared to cook even if it is just for myself.  No peanut butter, chips or crackers made it in the cart either. I just can't be trusted with those items so out of sight, out of mind, right?

As I was writing this post, I got a call from my mom. I was at work and she needed me to come to herhouse and help her with showering. I have never seen my mom naked. We were brought to be modest and even with all her surgeries (breast cancer and heart bypass) I had avoided it until today. She is suffering from depression and is overwhelmed by everything. She reached out to my brother yesterday and he is coming here (lives in Colorado) for the weekend. He is offering to help but he has offered before and has not come through. He can offer his opinions and help but when he leaves it goes back to her and I.  He is of the mindset that she can no longer be at home (with the caregiver) and we should consider putting her in a facility. I do not agree. I have been through this before and once she gets over the depression hurdles then she will be okay at home.  It is not going to be an easy task but I will fight for her no matter what and try to remain calm and collected about it. I must separate my issues with him and do what is right for her. I am going to make some calls to her doctors and see what our options are. BIG sigh... Until next time...

Flaking Out

I am in a better head space today. Amazing what a good night of sleep will do for you. I felt like I was in a fog all day yesterday. If you have been here for any amount of time, you can see my dysfunctional patterns. I have grandiose plans to do all sorts of wonderful things and then when it comes down to it, I lack implementation. I do acknowledge that I do that so that is the first step. I need to retrain my brain to follow through on what I set out to do. For example, buying the Personal Training, setting up the appointment and then canceling before I am supposed to go. WTH?!?! I was looking forward to it and then I chickened out. I will call and schedule something for next week but sheesh!

Last night I got home from work and basically grazed until I went to sleep. I have not gone grocery shopping for awhile so I was just eating what was available like cereal, yogurt, cheese and crackers. Not a sustainable dinner for sure. I am going to go tonight FOR SURE. I really do miss being able to cook for someone but that is no reason not to prepare decent meals for myself. It's not as if I don't have the time to do it. I am worth it.

Have you ever seen the show on A&E called Intervention? It is a pretty heavy duty show but I do enjoy it. The other day, there was a young lady who was a meth addict and while she was going through rehab, there was a message written on a whiteboard that said "You are not defined by your mistakes" That statement has stuck in my head ever since. I am really trying to let go of my past transgressions and just focus on my future and I keep repeating that statement to myself. It seems to be working so far. Until next time...



P.S. I was tagged in a post from Leigh and will post my response on Saturday :-)

Liars, Cheats and Thieves

Instead of going home like I was planning on, I went and had dinner with my mom. Her caregiver got food poisoning and did not come in yesterday.  We went to the Fish Market and it felt like eons since we had been there. We both had Shrimp Louie's for dinner.  She ate heartily which was good. Sometimes it is hard to get her to eat. I got home and watched RHOA and RHOBH.  I got a little snacky so I opened up a bag of chips that was in the cupboard. Did I not learn my lesson from Saturday??? Well, I threw them in the garbage and smashed them to smithereens so I am no longer tempted. I will not be buying chips anymore(actually Dave bought them) Blechhh...

To fill in some of the newer readers, My biological father, Bruce, passed away December 26, 2010. I had met him only one time in October. Since the internment in February, I have been waiting to receive his personal effects, which included a watch and some other miscellaneous items. I was working with a gentlemen by the name of Peter W. who was a deputy for the District Attorney's office. Well... I stopped getting communications from him and started to wonder what was going on but could not get any answers. To make a really long story shorter, Peter is being brought up on criminal charges for theft on people's estates that he was working on! They raided his home and the home of another deputy and found 100s of boxes of stolen goods. Some of the estates were worth millions of dollars. I was told this by the City's legal counsel who was very sincere and was honest with me about what happened. There are other items of Bruce's in their warehouse which I will have access to but the watch is considered evidence and it may take months for it to be located and distributed. What a bunch of hooie huh? All I want is something tangible of his to show he existed. I am his only offspring and only heir. Not that he had money or anything but it is pretty cut and dry really. Until next time...

Katie Killed Her Keurig

How are you all doing today? I am hanging in there. My weekend was okay but kinda stressful.  First off, Saturday I ended up binging out on potato chips and feeling belly sick on Sunday morning.

Then, I went to make a cup of coffee and my Keurig was flashing lights. This is the 2nd one I have purchased. The first one I gave away on Freecycle and ran out and bought a new one right away. Well, I decided to call their customer service line and told them what was going on and they had me do a few tests and decided that they would send me a new one free of charge in 3-7 days! Yay! All I have to do is send them back a part postage paid and that is it!

I spent the majority of the day with my mom. Her caregiver has changed her schedule to every other weekend off. We went to breakfast and Michael's to get some flowers for my dad's grave. (They are having a buy one get one free sale on silk flowers btw) We got some blue hydrangeas for January and red roses for Valentine's day. I did not plan on staying with her the whole day but she was very nervous and shaky so I stayed until the early evening. It is hard to see her so fragile. I called her 3 times after I got home to make sure she ate and took her meds. 

Nothing scheduled for tonight. I am hoping to do some laundry and exercise and then go to bed early. I did not sleep all that well last night (which is unusual) so I am extra tired today. To give you an example, my friend came over on Saturday morning and rang the doorbell 5 times and also knocked and I did not hear it. The CPAP machine puts me in major REM sleep so I am completely zonked. I do wake up rested but it's kinda scary to be that asleep that you don't hear knocking or doorbells. Until next time...

Five Fine Fragrances

I love to smell nice which probably sounds like an oxymoron because I am also a smoker but I have always had an affinity for fine fragrances since I was a young girl. I thought I would share with you my top 5 fragrances of all time.

1. Angel by Thierry Mugler

Angel is my absolute favorite perfume. It is long lasting and smells just divine. It contains bergamot, tropical fruits, vanilla, caramel and patchouli. It is ironic that it has patchouli because I seriously can't stand it but it is not at all evident as far as I can tell.

2. Kills Love Softly by Ed Hardy

My second favorite is Kills Love Softly.  A color explosion of fruits opens the scent including tropical mango, wild strawberry and ruby red grapefruit. Vintage floral with a rock n' roll edge brings a dark sexiness including black freesia. This contrast of floral merges into a background of hot skin musk and warm soulful amber. It is a delicious and very addictive fragrance statement.

3. Be Delicious by DKNY

This is a newer acquisition and I think it is more spring like but I have been using it all year round. Described as notes of American Apple, Cucumber, Grapefruit, Candid Magnolia, Tuberose, White Muguet, Rose, Violet, Sandalwood, Tender Skin Accord, Blonde Woods, White Amber.

4. Cashmere Mist by Donna Karan

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I bought this fragrance on the cruise ship last summer. Since it was Duty Free, it was a lot cheaper then retail. I had spotted it the year before on the 1st Alaska cruise and saved up my money to buy it. It is described as fresh floral jasmine, sandalwood & vanilla
 
5. Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This was actually an impulse buy but I totally dig it. I was standing in line at Kohl's and saw it on the display.  It caught my eye from the pink box :-) Described as honeysuckle, gardenia, jasmine, praline, amber, caramel vanilla, sandalwood
 
Most of these fragrances retail for $65 or more depending. Places like Ross, Marshall's or TJ Maxx offer them at a reduced cost.
 
Until next time...
 

Fried Friday

Whew! We made it to Friday! Even though it was a short week it did not feel that way at all. We got some very sad news yesterday (can't elaborate) and it made for a pretty somber evening. It affected my hunger too so I just nibbled on some lunch meat and cheese and then celery and peanut butter for evening snack. 

I ended up going to bed at 8:30 p.m. and was able to finish A Place of Yes. What a great book! I am too fried to give you a review of it so I will hold off until I can do it properly. I started reading Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp I personally attended two different weight loss camps in my teens so I think I will totally be able to identify with her experiences. I need to write a post about the second WLC I went to where I met Carnie Wilson and her cousin, Jonah. Fun times...

No big plans for the weekend.  Part of me just wants to hibernate until Monday but that is not an option. I will see my mom on Saturday most likely. She needs a new fridge and dishwasher and is overwhelmed at the task of picking one out and purchasing it. She is the shopping Master so it is surprising that she is hesitating at all but times have changed apparently.  She is trying a new medication so hopefully that will provide some clarity for her. Hope you guys have a great weekend! Until next time...

Rip Off the Band-aid

Hope you are all doing okay on this fine Thursday morning. Nothing notable about yesterday on the food front. We made tacos out of the leftover roast I made in the crock pot the other day.  I was so tired that I decided to go to bed at 8:30 p.m. I was up at 5:30 but stayed in bed since it was so cold.  I did get on the scale this morning since it is Thursday and I am the same as last week, 250.

Dave had been staying at my apt for a few days since his friend where he was staying was out of town.  While I enjoy his company, it was emotionally taxing. I mentally prepared myself but it still was not easy. It is like saying goodbye to a best friend and not knowing when you will see them again.  I have not had a lot of time to be by myself yet so now that the holidays are over, things should settle down. I'm still a little raw on the emotional front but time will heal.

Everyone has their own scale habits. Some people weigh daily, some weekly and then others weigh monthly or don't do the scale thing at all. What has enabled me to maintain my weight loss (-67) so far is by keeping tabs on my weight and getting on the scale daily or every couple of days. When I first started blogging, I was obsessive about it. I would get up in the middle of the night to pee and weigh myself and then again when I got up for work. It was bad. I finally found the groove that works for me. I do think it is important to keep tabs on your weight because it can spiral out of control pretty quickly. IMHO, It is better to rip off the band-aid instead avoiding it.  I spent too many years in denial about my weight and gaining and I WILL NOT go back there again. Until next time...