2nd Day of Summer

I had a great birthday! Thank you for all the birthday wishes! I felt like a rock star from all the attention and love! I got flowers in the morning from Danielle and then Dave got me a dozen long stem roses from the same florist. One of our friends opened a floral shop recently so this is the first I have seen of her arrangements. I am impressed :) I have both bouquets at work since it is sweltering hot at home. We do NOT have A/C - just fans so it is rather stuffy. Plus I am here the majority of the time anyways so now everyone can enjoy them.

Flowers from Dave :)

Me at Elephant Bar

Temperature when we left the Elephant Bar

Dave, my mom and I went to the Cheesecake Factory as planned. I was still full from lunch so I decided just to have a small salad and edamame and saved my calories for CHEESECAKE. I had 3 bites and a big strawberry and that was it. I shared it with mom and Dave and I was not overly stuffed like I have in the past. I actually peeked at the scale and it was a good number so keeping fingers crossed.

I recently tried this Vanilla Chai Tea from Bolthouse Farms and it was dynamite!  I have tried other soy beverages and was not particularly fond of them but this was great. This is what their web page said: Always on the go? Our Perfectly Protein® Vanilla Chai Tea will is the perfect pick-me-up. This nutritious beverage is packed with 19 grams of heart healthy soy protein (in every 450mL bottle) with a smooth vanilla chai flavor unlike anything you've tried. If you’re looking to add more vitamins to your diet, drinking Vanilla Chai Tea will also give you the added benefit of Vitamins C, B6 and B12, just to name a few.

To continue with the pampering I have been doing lately, I am going to get a Champagne Peel tonight. This is what it said on their website. Champagne Peel Facial -- The gentle nature of the champagne enzyme combined with the effective exfoliation makes this facial ideal for sensitive, congested, dull, and easily offended skin. It lasts for an hour.  It is usually $120 but I got it for $49!  I am going right after work and hope to be home by 7:00. I want to get out on my bike or walk or SOMETHING. I really want to have a loss this week and want to do what I can to make that happen. Hope you guys are having a good week! Until next time...



P.S. Don't forget to enter my Summer Giveaway!

First Day of Summer Giveaway!

Flowers from Danielle

Happy First Day of Summer! Today is my 45th birthday! Woot Woot! Hard to believe that I am 45. I don't feel it really.  I feel better now then I have in YEARS! Most people think I am in my 30s so I will hold onto that as long as I can LOL!

Last night was devine! I loved getting all that pampering! My feet are no longer cute so no pics but I did a fuschia on my toes. Did not do the manicure and my hair is dark (will try to take pics at lunch)  Did just fine on food yesterday - thank goodness. Today is going to be walking a tightrope. We are going out to lunch (co-workers) at Elephant Bar and then tonight, my mom and Dave will take me to the Cheesecake Factory. I have looked at their menus and had made a plan of action. I will be sharing cheesecake with Dave and I doubt we will be able to finish it in one sitting but we will NOT be taking it home I decided. No need to have the temptation at home.

Since it the first day of Summer, I decided to do a Giveaway to celebrate! Included in this giveaway:

A copy of the Biggest Loser Fitness Program Book

Two wine/water glasses

Latest issue of Shape Magazine

A bottle of Mio Water Enhancer. Flavor of your choice

A $20 Gift Card to Amazon 

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite part of Summer is. If you would like additional entries, you can post about the Giveaway on Facebook or Twitter. Just post the link if you do. I will announce the winner on Friday, June 24th.  I want to take this opportunity to thank you ALL for the support and encouragement you have given me. I would not have been successful without y'all! Until next time...

Slimmer This Summer - Week 2 Results

Here is my update for the challenge:

• Weight: I gained 2 lbs. this week. Back to 250. I am not surprised...
• Measurements: I did not take measurements
• Water Consumption: I failed at water this week.
• Activities: I did not try a new class. I did not get 10K per day.

Last week was a major fail for the Challenge. I was doing some stress/emotional eating plus minimal activity = weight gain. It sucks but there is not a whole bunch I can do now. I just need to suck it up and keep on keeping on right?

Chicken Kabobs

This is the dinner I made last night for Dave. I served it with rice and it was delicious.  I just love those skewers too. I got them at Big Lots but never found them again.  They work great on my little bbq because it is small and round.

Tonight I am going to get glamorized. I am getting my hair colored, a mani and a pedi! Woowoo! I am going to do my best this week. Since tomorrow is my birthday there may be some celebrating going on so I will make good choices and not overindulge. I do plan on splitting a piece of cheesecake with Dave at the Cheesecake Factory tomorrow night.

I have a giveaway planned and I will announce it tomorrow. Until next time...

Sarah McLachlan - Ice Cream

Your love is better than ice cream
better than anything else that I've tried
and your love is better than ice cream
everyone here know how to fight

and it's a long way down
it's a long way down
it's a long way down to the place
where we started from

Your love is better than chocolate
better than anything else that I've tried
oh love is better than chocolate
everyone here knows how to cry

it's a long way down
it's a long way down
it's a long way down to the place
where we started from...

Frazzled Friday

Happy Friday! I am glad we made it! Seems like it has been a pretty long week hasn't it? Thank you for the comments yesterday on taking Turbo Kick. I did not go loser but I am not afraid to try it now. I have a feeling I will like it because I like to box but it is the strength and stamina part that concerns me.

I have been feeling frazzled the last few days and it definitely affected my eating. It is a culmination of things really but I need to nip it in the bud now before it gets out of hand. I will be taking some time this weekend to sort some things out and that will help. I also spent time last night going through paper work and putting things away and that always makes me feel better. Organized Katie is a happy Katie!

Today, I am going out to lunch with my extended family for me and my mom's birthdays. Mine is the 21st and hers is the 30th. Actually, her and my dad shared a birthday but he was 3 years older. I only have an hour but it will be nice to see my cousins and aunt. Have a wonderful weekend and Father's day. Until next time...

Great Intentions...

I went and got my eyebrows threaded as planned and then went home to have dinner with Dave before he took off for his game. He made chicken with the Panko breading and we had rice and a salad to go with. It really was crunchy and I will definitely use it again and try it with fish also. I may never use "regular" bread crumbs again! LOL!

I had intended on doing the Zumba DVD but that did not happen. Instead I sat on my arse and grazed until 9:30 p.m. Must have been the full moon! It was not a binge like the "old days" but it was still more then I usually consume. Almonds, graham crackers, cheese sticks and Popsicles so it wasn't horrible but certainly not what I should have been doing. I often have great intentions on doing things and then flail when it comes to the action part of the plan. I am not going to beat myself up about it though. In the past that would have derailed me and I would have said "Screw this!" and reverted to my old behavior but I am not doing that. Today is a new day and I am back to business.

Not sure what my plan is for tonight. I KNOW I will not be doing a repeat of last night. I had thought about doing a Turbo Kick Class at the gym but this is what it said: Learn kick boxing skills choreographed to energizing music. Using no equipment, this kick boxing workout incorporates a number of upper body punches and lower body kicks.  Most suitable to participants of medium to high fitness levels, but newcomers are always welcome – just let your kick boxing class instructor know. It just sounds intimidating doesn't it? I just don't know if I am ready for that. Until next time...

Wednesday Words

Happy Hump Day!  Nice that we are on the downhill slide for the week eh? Last night I went to Fish Market with my mom and had a Shrimp Louie. It hit really hit the spot! It was in the upper 80s so it was a good dinner to have for a warm night. I took her to the grocery store and also did her pill drill. The pill drill is what I call putting the pills she/we have to take in the weekly container. Since she has a heart condition, she takes quite a few medications and supplements. Makes mine look like diddly squat by comparison...

I went looking for a new pair of pants for work yesterday and found a pair on sale. Yay! I also found a cute flowy top 50% off.  While I was browsing, I actually saw a cute dress and decided what the heck, I should try it on.  I have not tried on a dress in over 15 years. It was a deep purple and had beading under the breast area.  I would have taken a picture but my phone was charging at work.  It was sleeveless but still pretty flattering. I don't have any occasion to wear it but I survived trying one on so that is a step closer to getting one. I would not go sleeveless though. I would wear a shrug or cardigan or something...

I am going to get my eyebrows threaded right after work. Then my plan is to go home, eat dinner and then Zumba baby! I got my DVDs in the mail yesterday so I am ready to go! Speaking of mail... I am planning another giveaway so stay tuned for that. Until next time...

Gadget Girl

Had an uneventful evening. I made Salmon for dinner with roasted red potatoes and spinach. Next time, I want to try some panko breading that I got. Panko is a Japanese bread crumb that is coarser then regular bread crumbs so it makes a delicious crunchy coating for chicken or fish. I will let you know when I make it.

I have had a Garmin Heart Rate Monitor on my "wish list" for quite awhile. I kept thinking that I wasn't active enough to justify the expense and only "real" athletes or very active people used them. Well, I decided that I can be athletic and active! I can optimize my workout time by reaching and maintaining my ideal heart rate. It was $65 on Amazon and it should be here tomorrow. I am excited to test it out. I am feeling a little like Gadget Girl between the Fitbit, my iPod and the Garmin.

Tonight I am going to dinner with my mom and take her to the grocery store. We are both adjusting to this situation and it has been a little rough on both of us. She feels lost without her car and the things that bring her enjoyment like reading the paper and emailing her friends have become more challenging. She is not the most patient person in the world Bwahahaha but we making it work. Until next time...

Slimmer This Summer - Week 1 Results

How was your weekend? Mine was rather unusual but I will get to that in a minute. I wanted to to do the update for the Slimmer this Summer Challenge. 

• Weight: I lost 2 lbs. this week and have reached a new decade!!! This also means that I have less then 100 lbs. to go from here. It is still a long way off but it IS possible!
• Measurements: I did not take measurements but I will do it this week.
• Water Consumption: I am getting more water in lately. I am not at 60 ozs. yet but close.
• Activities: I did not try a new class. I did not get 10K per day.
• Other: I did take bathing suit pictures and hope to see MAJOR improvement by the end of the summer.

 My goals this week are the same. I WILL try a new class this week for sure. I wanted to do a swimming class but that will have to wait for a few weeks.

Friday night I got a wild hair and decided it was time to fix my "old" tattoo on my left thigh. It was a sun but it was done over 10 years ago so it had faded and spread. The place is called House of Pain which is aptly named lol. The guy's name was Mike and he did a really good job of fixing it and I am happy with the results. I will take pictures BUT I want to wait until it heals. You don't want to look at it when it is scabby. It is a sunburst with reds and pinks.  It looks WAY better!

Saturday I did not do much but lounge around and read and nap but Sunday I wanted to get active so I asked my neighbor Nikki if she wanted to go on a bike ride with me. (She is 11) She had actually been on the trail with her family before but I had not. So we took off and it was really a cool ride. I especially liked the tunnels and would scream like a little kid every time we went through one.  When we got back home I hopped on Daily Mile to see how far we had actually gone and it was 11 miles! 11 miles is A LOT for me.  I feel okay this morning. I am a little tired but not too sore (except for my tattoo) We even did some Just Dance 2 after the bike ride. I really enjoyed myself and hope to go on the trail again soon.  Until next time...

Missy Higgins - Where I Stood

I don't know what I've done
Or if I like what I've begun
But something told me to run
And honey you know me it's all or none

There were sounds in my head
Little voices whispering
That I should go and this should end
Oh and I found myself listening

'Cos I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cos she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood

See I thought love was black and white
That it was wrong or it was right
But you ain't leaving without a fight
And I think I am just as torn inside

'Cos I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cos she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood

And I won't be far from where you are if ever you should call
You meant more to me than anyone I ever loved at all
But you taught me how to trust myself and so I say to you
This is what I have to do

'Cos I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cos she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
Oh, she who dares to stand where I stood

This is a fitting song for me and my thoughts right now. Thought I would share...

Finally Friday!

What a week this has been... I have been all over the place with my emotions. I am looking forward to this weekend to get some things done and to just enjoy the sunshine. The weather here has been unseasonably cold so now that it is warmer, it is time to get OUTSIDE and enjoy it. I want to get on Phoebe and go go go! There is a trail nearby that I want to try and I am just going to go for it even if I have to go alone.

Last night I was feeling crafty so I did a painting project. I had some license plate frames on my Corolla that I wanted to put on the Avalon but felt they needed to be shinier in order to "match" I am OCD about things matching So, I bought some metal fleck spray paint and painted them. Here are some pictures.

I am pleased with how they came out plus it helps me identify my car in the ocean of other silver cars out there. For the last 20+ years I have had a white cars so having the silver Avalon throws me off a bit.

The winners of the Mio Giveaway are Jen, Mary and Rae Rae J. I have emailed them and let them know. I have been brainstorming about another giveaway so stay tuned.


I will update my weight on Mondays during the challenge since we started on a Monday. Hoping for a new decade! Hope you have a good weekend! Until next time...

Life is Fleeting

Yesterday was an emotional day. A friend of mine passed away on May 28th and I learned about it via Facebook.  She was only 53 and her daughter is 20 years old.  We had lost contact over the last few years due to distance and life but she and her daughter Lesley were a big part of my life for a long time. She was one of the most caring, kindhearted people I have ever met.  I am sad that I did not make the time to go and see her while she was sick. But, I also know I would not have been very helpful.  I am such a crybaby (we had that in common) that I don't think it would have been right to just go there in tears.

That reminds me of a funny story though... Debbie and I went to see Titanic in the theater and a man sitting in the row behind us asked if we were "sobbers" We replied "No, of course not!" but we did have a large box of Kleenex with us. Well, while the ship is sinking and we start crying, I am doing everything to not be heard but I was seriously sobbing and could barely breathe and Deb was too. We were obviously not the only ones but to tell him we wouldn't was rather ironic coming from us. Anyways, it just goes to show you that life is fleeting and you really do not know how long we have on this earth. So my suggestion to you is to hug the ones you love and tell them how you feel.

Haircut 6/8/11

I got my haircut after work and I am pleased with the results.  He was really nice and seemed to really listen to what my needs/concerns were. He took his time and I was there over an hour.  I will definitely be seeing him again.  I am hoping I can stick with him for awhile. Seems like I haven't found an ideal stylist in awhile. Food was fine, in fact I was rather low on calories. Until next time...



P.S. I am guest posting at Mizfit's place and you still have time to enter the Mio giveaway.

Wonky Wednesday

Happy Wednesday! Even though I woke up thinking it was Thursday... oh well...I also left my Fitbit on the charger - that seems to be when I forget it the most... It does not need to be charged but needs data uploaded. I will get in the habit sooner or later! LOL!

Had a good visit at Planet Beach. I ended up drinking an Ensure before I went and it carried me through the appt. I got to try the facial this time and it was awesome! The chair did a thorough massage from head to toe while the light therapy worked on my face.  I have one more appt. in July and then I will find out how much it "really" costs. I really like the hydration and would consider doing that intermittently. The tanning and other services don't appeal to me.  Speaking of appts. I am getting my hair cut after work today with a new guy. I usually have female stylists so this will be interesting. I was referred to him through the Security gal in our building. The salon is called Alchemy and it is in downtown Willow Glen which is a cute little trendy area in San Jose.

I really need to find some pants to supplement my wardrobe. All of my pants are too big and some of them have come close to literally falling on the floor. While I am ecstatic about the progress, it isn't always easy to buy pants each time you go down a size, so I have been holding out. The most important thing for me has been updating my Bras and Panties. As long as they are cute and they fit, it makes me feel a whole bunch better. Having saggy butt panties makes me feel icky so I have been updating them as the size changes. I get a lot of good deals on eBay.

Thank you for your comments and support on yesterday's post. It was hard for me to post those pictures but I think it will help me get over my fears of being in public in a suit. By the way, I got that suit from Just My Size. It was not the one I originally ordered but it is the same style so I was okay with it.  Good luck to all the fellow Slimmer this Summer challengers and let's kick some booty! Until next time...



P.S. Did you enter my giveaway? You still have a chance to enter. Just click here

Giveaway and Gabbing

 

Had an uneventful Monday night. Dave was actually home for most of the evening. I watched a little tube and then went to bed to read. I am almost finished with my 2nd book on my Kindle. It is Can You Keep a Secret? by Sopie Kinsella. She is the same gal that wrote Confessions of a Shopoholic. Fun, lighthearted reading. My next book was recommended by one of my colleagues at work. It is called the Hunger Games. It is going to be a movie in 2012.

Tonight I have my second of three appointments at Planet Beach. THIS time, I am going prepared though so I can stay for the duration. My first appt. was cut short due to my not eating and getting low blood sugar. It won't take as long either because I know the drill now.  Speaking of Spas, I signed up for another Living Social Deal. Can we say addicted! Sheesh! They really are such good deals it is hard to pass up. This one is for a Champagne Peel Facial. Regularly $120 for $49.

So here are my bathing suit pics for the challenge. I will refrain from bashing myself. I am looking to see the transformation by the end of this summer! The good news is this suit covers my inner thighs which are not pretty in the least bit so I have a smidge more confidence in this suit vs. regular ones. It is all one piece.

I did not get a chance to do the measurements so I will do them ASAP. Hard to do by yourself lol.

Did you have a chance to hear about my Mio Giveaway? If you haven't please leave a comment on the giveaway post telling me which flavor you would like to try? I will announce the winner on Friday, June 10th. You can get additional entries if you mention the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook. Until next time...

Challenge-Zumba-Mio

How are you guys doing? Hope you had a good weekend! Mine was a whirlwind and definitely had its ups and downs.  The up was that I sold my Corrolla on Saturday. I ended up selling it to the maintenance guy in our office building. It is the 1st car I ever sold. He got a really good deal and that car is going to last for a longggg time. As for the rest of the weekend, I was a freaking grubbing machine. Can we say self sabotage!?! I have not binged out like that in quite awhile but I am dusted off and back on the horse as of this morning. I am still feeling full and it is 10:00 a.m! Blergh...

Dave had games all day yesterday so I did not have a chance to capture my measurements and the dreaded bathing suit picture.  I will do them tonight and post them tomorrow.

I decided to buy myself a present for my birthday which is a little tradition for me. I ordered the Zumba DVD set on eBay. It was $59.95 and it includes the following:

• Zumba Fitness Basics Workout
• Zumba Fitness 20-Minute Express Workout
• Zumba Fitness Sculpt & Tone Workout
• Zumba Fitness Cardio Party Workout
• Zumba Fitness Live! Workout
• Zumba Fitness Flat Abs Workout
• 2 Zumba Fitness Toning Sticks 

Have you guys heard of Mio? It is a liquid water enhancer made by Kraft. I just heard about it over the weekend so while I was at the grocery store, I picked up a bottle. The flavor I got was Strawberry Watermelon. The cool thing is you can flavor it as much or as little as you want. Each bottle contains about 24 servings and retails for about $3.99. I think it is worlds better then the powdered mixes because it is so hard to control the strength and sometimes it has a bad after taste.  I will be giving away a bottle of Mio to three lucky winners and you get to pick which flavors. You can choose from Berry Pomegranate, Fruit Punch, Mango Peach, Peach Tea, Sweet tea or Strawberry Watermelon.  Just leave a comment on this post telling me which flavor you would want to try. I will announce the winners on Friday, June 10th. This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only. If you would like an additional entry you can post about the giveaway on Facebook or Twitter. Just leave me a comment with the link, letting me know that you posted it. Don't forget to leave me your email if you don't have a blog so I can contact you if you win.  Good luck!

Cheers to all the challengers and here's to a great summer! I want to rock this summer! Until next time...

ABCDE...Foods

A: is for Apple, what’s your favorite variety?
Granny Smiths and Galas

B: is for Bread, regardless of nutrition, calories, or whole grains what is your favorite type to have a nice big piece of?
Whole wheat and the nuttier and grainer the better

C: is for Cereal what is your favorite kind currently (just one!)
Cheerios

D: is for Doughnuts, you might not currently be eating them but what kind do you fancy?
I haven’t had a donut in years but I liked maple bars when I did

E: is for Eggs, how would you like yours prepared?
Scrambled or poached

F: is for Fat Free, what is your favorite fat free product?
Jello Pudding

G: is for Groceries, where do you purchase yours at?
Safeway or Save-Mart mostly

H: is for Hot Beverages, what is your favorite hot drink?
Coffee!!!

I: is for Ice Cream, pick a favorite flavor and add a fun topping.
Strawberry Cheesecake with Strawberries

J: is for Jams or Jellies, do you eat them, and if so what kind and flavor?
Strawberry or Apricot

K: is for Kashi, name your favorite Kashi product?
Never tried it!

L: is for Lunch, what was yours today?
I had sushi

M: is for microwave, what is your favorite microwave meal/snack?
Popcorn!!

N: is for nutrients, do you like carbs, fats, or proteins best?
Proteins, then carbs, then fats

O: is for oil, what kind do you like to use?
98% of the time I use EEVO.

P: is for protein, how do you get yours?
Beans, soy, chicken, eggs

Q: is for Quaker, how do you like your oats?
Not runny

R: is for roasting, what is your favorite thing to roast?
Eggplant and Onions

S: is for sandwich, what’s your favorite kind?
Tuna fish

T: is for travel, how do you handle eating while traveling?
The last few trips I went on I either maintained or lost. I try my best to make the right choices. Biggest thing here is avoiding alcohol…

U: is for unique, what is one of your weirdest food combos?
Pretzels with cream cheese

V: is for vitamins, what kind do you take?
Currently, none

W: is for wasabi, yay or nay?
I like wasabi in moderation

X: is for XRAY. if we xrayed your belly right now, what food would we see?
Sushi


Y: is for youth, what food reminds you of your childhood?
Peanut butter. My mom always thought it was me that ate all the peanut butter but when I moved out it was still disappearing. The culprit? My dad!

Z: is for zucchini, how do you prepare it?
Cut up in stir-fry’s, sautéed

That was fun! You should try it too! Until next time...

Lee Dewyze - Hallelujah

I have this song on my iPod and iPhone done by 6 different artists... This is one of my favorite renditions though. Enjoy!

BYOC Friday! My 1st one!

It’s FRIDAY – which means it’s BYOC – Bring Your Own Crazy over at  It's just Me, Drazil and Sheniqua  You just answer a couple of questions to get to know each other better and give your blog brains a break which sounded great to me! Copy and paste to your own blog if you so desire…and ENJOY!!

1. If you could pick any name on Earth for yourself – would you change yours and what would it be?

I actually like my name but I really like the name Summer. I was born the first day of summer (June 21st) so I think it would be appropriate.

What is ironic about this question for me is that I was given a name at birth and then given another name by my parents. Renee Marie was my name at birth and when I was adopted I became Katherine Ann. I go by Katie J or Kate depending on my mood and who it is. On rare occasions, I use Katherine.

2. If you’re a worker-outer…what time do you partake in such activities? There are SO many theories about when it’s best and not best to work out….like the morning is better since you have an empty stomach or the night is not good because you won’t be able to sleep…etc, etc. – so I’d like to hear your theories.

I currently do my exercising in the late afternoon/evening when I get home from work. I would like to get to a point where I can fit it in in the morning but until then... I think starting your day with activity is ideal.

3. If you drive a car – what kind is it and if you could drive any car – what would it be?

I have been driving the Avalon and L-O-V-I-N-G it! The only drawback is that it gets 21mpg vs. my Corolla which gets 28mpg.

My dream car is a 450 SL Convertible Mercedes in White with Red leather interior. Sporty baby!

4. Can you be totally honest in answering this next question and tell me what you think of tattoos? More importantly – what do you think of the people who have tattoos – specifically women?

I have had a tattoo since 1985 which was way before they were considered "trendy" There definitely was a stigma about them and you were essentially labeled as a hard ass. My own brother called me a biker chick!  It was a heart with a lightening bolt through it. About 6-7 years ago I had it redone and made into a hibiscus flower

I have another one on the back of my left thigh that is a Sun like the picture shown below. It is about 10 years old now and I want to get it redone/modified.

I would also like to get some ladybugs somewhere but I have not decided where.  My only objection to tattoos is if they are racially offensive and I personally would not put any tattoos on my hands or arms but that is just my opinion.


5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in blog land and in real life.

Real life has been a little tough. I am trying to figure out how to handle my situation with Dave.

Blog life was good. I really enjoyed all the recaps of Fitbloggin and am determined to go next year so I can meet everyone, learn a few things and get some major swag!

Well I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. It is going to be funky weather wise but I am hoping to get to the gym and get some other activity in as well. Until next time...

Slimmer this Summer!!!

As I mentioned yesterday, I have decided to participate in a challenge and it is the Slimmer this Summer Challenge which is being hosted by Debbi at Debbi Does Dieting and Princess Mir at Two Years to Happy Weight After. Officially, the Challenge starts on Monday, June 6th but I thought I would plot out my plan ahead of time. The challenge runs for 12 weeks. I would like to be down 100 lbs. by the time the challenge is over so it would mean I need to lose 2.91 lbs. per week on average or a total of 35 lbs. I think it is achievable albeit a steep goal. My only foreseeable roadblock is me...

The beauty of this challenge is setting your own goals which I have outlined

• Weight: I would like to lose 35 lbs. by the end of the challenge. Average of 2.9 lbs/week. Lofty goal but my thought is shoot for the moon. Even if I don't achieve my goal, it can't hurt to try to reach it.
• Measurements: I will take measurements June 6th and August 28th.
• Water Consumption: I will slowly increase my consumption to 60-80 ozs. daily
• Activities: Try new classes at gym weekly. Increase daily activities and steps.  Quota 10K per day
• Other: Picture in bathing suit at beginning and of challenge. Yikes, this is not a requirement of the challenge but rather something I want/need to do.

 I will give weekly updates on my goals on Fridays when I do me weekly weigh in. If you are interested in joining the challenge there is still time. With the support of everyone and my renewed mojo I am hoping to rock this summer and make it memorable! Plus I will be giving myself the best gift possible which is health and wellness. Ready, set, GO!!!! Until next time...

June Baby!

Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future - Steve Miller Band

Does that song date me? LOL!  

Happy June to you! Another new month, a clean slate, an opportunity to make a change.  Regardless of how we feel or think, time will go by and why not create some new habits or get rid of old ones. You don't have to take everything on at once. The key for me has been to just keep trying to move forward, even if I took 3 steps back yesterday, I just keep pushing through. Persistence pays off! 

My goals for this month are to increase my water consumption and to add more activities. I would like to take a Cardio Kickboxing Class, HipHop Dance and AquaFitness. The only one I have tried is the Aquafitness but it has been YEARS since I did it so I want to try again. I want to do these classes BEFORE the 21st. I am going to be involved in a Summer Challenge which I will elaborate on tomorrow.

Hoping we all have a kick ass June!!! Until next time...

Monday Part II

Coming back to work after a Monday off feels like a double Monday but the good news is it is a shorter week. Did you guys have a nice weekend? Mine was fairly uneventful really. I did finish reading The Help. I am looking forward to seeing the movie in August. I did get some activity in but not as much as I should have. Eating was on and off throughout the weekend. I did not binge but I did consume more then my usual. Back on it this morning with my Fitbit!

Speaking of the Fitbit, since I started using it, I have lost 10 lbs. (since April 26th) which I am thrilled about. Just knowing the numbers, regardless of what system you use, it really helps. Knowledge is power!

I am hoping to have a successful June too. My next short term goal is to reach 70 lbs. lost. I will be rewarding myself with a Vera Bradley purse. This is the one I am thinking of. It is called "On the Go" in "Blue Rhapsody"

I just love the colors and patterns they have. They travel really well and are washable too so you get more mileage out of them.  I usually gravitate toward the pink ones but thought this is such a pretty blue. Well, I have time to decide...

I feel like June is going to be a good month! My birthday is in 3 weeks and I haven't made any concrete plans but I may go to Santa Cruz for the weekend before. I am going to be 45 on June 21st!!! It is the first day of Summer and the longest day of the year. Also, it is Prince William's birthday too. Have a great day! Until next time...

Freedom is Not Free

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze;
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform,
So young, so tall, so proud;
With hair cut square and eyes alert,
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought ... how many men like him
Had fallen through the years?
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilot's planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers graves?
No ... Freedom is not Free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still;
I listened to the bugler play,
And felt a sudden chill;
I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend;

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands...
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea,
Of unmarked graves in Arlington...
No ... Freedom is not Free!


-- Kelly Strong