Happy Hair and Happenings

What a difference a day makes! I ate on plan yesterday and felt so much better. I do not miss that yucky, sluggish, foggy feeling. It is so easy to slip back into bad behaviors once that floodgate is opened. Blerghh…

Today I am getting my hair cut. Yay for happy hair! It is longer then it has been in quite a few years. I do like it short but it does look more feminine a little longer. I also scheduled a 60 min. Aroma facial and eyebrow waxing afterwards. I like threading but the last time Shobha did it, they were crooked. No crooked eyebrows for Katie J! Nicole does a fantastic facial and does the best eyebrows IMHO. It does cost more but I am worth it ;-)

So, Dave got his staples removed and is heading to Redding today. I did cry for a minute this morning but we also laughed while I was crying so it was fine. I have looked forward to today for a long time but honestly it is a little bittersweet. I still care for him and want him to be happy. I just know it is not with me.

To distract myself from everything going on, I went for some retail therapy on my lunch hour yesterday. I initially went in to get some knee-highs and came out with a whole lot more lol. One of my fun finds was these jammies.

How fun are those! Flip flops AND they're pink! What is great about these is I did not have to hem them! I think they are intended to be a capri style but since I am pushing 5'3" they are the perfect length for me. Yay for not having to hem. I do not hem myself but take them in to be altered. Until next time...



P.S. Shannon, the alarm is totally working for my PM Pills! Thank you!

Moody Monday

If you are looking for a cheery post you may want to skip this one...

Our friend Dick passed away on Saturday morning at 1:26 a.m. He was with his family in Washington at home which was a blessing. He had slipped into a coma a day or two before and never regained consciousness. Danielle is flying up there today to help make the arrangements and attend the funeral. They will bury him there next to his wife, Jennifer. There will be a memorial done here once Danielle gets back. He was a widely known man and I imagine it will be quite a gathering.

I never went to my mom's which is okay. Bob was there to be with her and I wasn't up to it anyway. I was kinda on standby waiting to see if Danielle needed anything so I hung out at home.  I ended up grubbing out of boredom and sadness. Did it help me any??? Ummm that would be a NO!

Dave is getting his staples removed from his knee surgery today at 2:30 p.m. if all goes well. His plan is to leave tomorrow and take the train to Redding to stay with an acquaintance named Jody. It is not a permanent option. His family lives here and I know he would rather stay but this is just for a few weeks or a month or so.  I already cried this morning about it. The bottom line is we are friends and I am going to miss him. Change is good and I do have some plans for my future so I need to keep focusing on that. If you think about it, I broke things off with him a year ago and we are still not separated. Sheesh.... Longest breakup ever. It goes to show you when you cohabitate it is like being married and therefore separating is like divorce. Until next time...

I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz

**This is dedicated to R.

When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
There's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it

No, I won't give up
'I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not

And who I am I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
Still looking up.
I won't give up on us (no I'm not giving up)
God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)
We've got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved)
God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it) I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough I'm giving you all my love I'm still looking up

 

June Baby!

Happy first day of June! Happy Friday too! This has been an odd week with the holiday and all. I am still wondering what day it is! With it being a new month I have mustered up new resolve to get crackin on my WL again. This dog paddling is getting me no where quickly. I would like to make some serious progress this month.

Another thing that I want to do is paint ceramics again. I used to do it quite actively but it has been since last summer! I recently found a bowl at OSH that I would like to replicate.

This style is called a footed cereal bowl. I do like this style of bowl and it is fairly easy to work with. I would prefer not to pay retail for them and I do have a free firing so we will see if I can track some down locally.

Looks like it is going to be another weekend at my mom's. My brother is driving up tonight and I will go over there tomorrow a.m. There is still work to be done with the power washer and I will continue purging drawers and cabinets. I don't want to spend the entire weekend there like before but I will definitely make some progress. I would also like to swim. The heater is on but we did not have a chance to use it. It is warmer here then it was a few weeks ago so it should be ideal. I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I was in that pool so I am looking forward to it. Hope you have a fab weekend! Until next time...



P.S. Thank you Shannon for the alarm suggestion! Great idea!

PM Pills and The Aerobed

Had a nice evening. After work, I hopped on my bike and rode to the grocery store to get some items for dinner. I bought some salmon and got enough to have two meals. While I was at the store, this siren was blaring and it was very annoying. Apparently one of the guys hit the sprinkler system so it triggered the alarm. Hard to think when you have an alarm blaring in your ear. The fire dept. did not show up until 20 mins. later. After dinner I hopped on my bike again and rode around the neighborhood for a mile or so. It was cool but pleasant.

I have some pills I need to take in the evening and I have been having a hard time remembering.  I have my routine in the morning down. I call it poke and pill. I do an insulin shot and then take my assorted meds/supplements within an hour or so of waking up. The PM pills are hard for me to remember. Maybe I should take them when I eat my dinner or right after... I did write myself a note on my whiteboard so we will see if that helps.

I bought an Aerobed over the weekend. I have wanted one for a long time but they are spendy so I held off. It is actually too low for Dave to sleep on so that did not work. Even the doubly thick one is only 22" so it would be hard to maneuver. The one I got was 14" I did not have an opportunity to test it out until last night. Oh my word, it fills up in like 60 seconds and stops automatically. There is also a wand that allows you to increase or decrease air as needed. As far as the deflation, it is pretty fast as well. Folding it up was not difficult and putting it in the storage bag was not hard either. It is a little heavy but the storage bag has a big strap to help carry it. It will come in handy for sure. I don't want anyone to sleep on the new couch so if I do have a houseguest, this is where they will be sleeping although after Dave's departure, I think it will be awhile before I have any houseguests, LOL! Until next time...



P.S. See you at lunch time Kathy!

Weirdly Wednesday

My newest garden addition

It just does not feel like a Wednesday to me. This holiday week threw me I guess. I am slowly emerging from the haze of my overeating. I did much better yesterday. Not 100% but it was progress. I am sure today will be better.

There was an SaberCats (Arena football) player that was found dead across the street at Mariani's. He was only 26! They have not determined the cause of death yet. He leaves behind a 2 year old daughter. He had just scored three touchdowns, including the game-winner, in San Jose's 84-77 win on Saturday and had just joined the team on May 9th. Here is a link to the news story. Very sad! They don't think there is any foul play though.

Did I ever tell you that I spoke to the Area Manager at 24 hour Fitness about the incidents that happened last month? It was a good conversation and he actually listened to my complaints and appreciated my input and suggestions. That is all I wanted from the beginning really. The sad part is that I have not darkened the doorways since. I'm usually not easily intimidated but now I am hesitant to go back to that location. There are other comparable locations fairly close but this was the closest one. Maybe I will start going to the Sunnyvale location. It is a Super Sport and has only been open about a year. Funny, there is another 24hr really close and it is super janky but they get about 30K workouts a month and the newer locale gets 40K. No janky club for me... eww...

I think I will make salmon for dinner. It is going to be a warm day (80s) so I will most likely bbq it. Still loving my bbq. I highly recommend it if you are in the market. Maybe I will get walk or bike ride in as well. Until next time...

Snap Out of It!

Seems like forever since I posted but it was only 3 days ago. Maybe because I wasn't able to post Wednesday or Thursday because of my hand. It is feeling better by the way. Not 100% but much better.

I want to announce the winners of the Camelback Giveaway: Kriggers and MB. I don't have an email for you Kriggers so please contact me with your address so I can mail your bottle.

The weekend was a F-A-I-L. I have no one to blame but myself. I let my current circumstances etch away at my resolve and I ended up gorging on assorted items that I had no business buying or eating like cookies or M&Ms. I also did not want to cook so we had pizza and junk food too... bleccchhhh... I feel like crap today... food hangover... yuck... and to think I spent years feeling like this all the time... gives me a new appreciation for my healthy eating.

What I need to do is Snap the Hell Out of it! Eating like that is not solving anything and it is making me feel worse emotionally and physically. I have goals to meet and plans to make and this is getting me NO WHERE! I am worth the time and effort it takes and I need to be MY priority. No one is going to do this for me and I should not let anyone hinder my progress. It is not selfish to take care of yourself, Katie J!

The good news is I have my food and snacks all packed for work and I have my pink Cambelback next to my coffee cup so I am prepared to have a good day. I also am getting a pedi after work.  Until next time...

Craptastic!

Did you guys miss me?

I had the most random thing happen to me on Tuesday afternoon. I was talking to some OOT visitors and telling them some local spots for a bite to eat. I was leaning against the opening of the elevator talking to them and all of a sudden the elevator door was closing on my hand! I was able to pull it out and I actually did not cry. They were corporate folks and I did not want embarrass myself by crying although I think they would have understood. It swelled up like a balloon so I decided to have it checked out. I went to the Occupation Health clinic and they had me get x-rays and all. I was excused from work for Wednesday and Thursday and I am back at the office today. It is still hurting but it should get better soon resting and icing it.

In other news, I am a dumb ass. This has been verified by my lovely coworker and friend, Lori. I got a call from Dave last night. He said they are releasing him today and they will NOT be sending him to a rehab facility. He does not have insurance so they won’t accommodate him anywhere. Sooo… guess where he will be staying for the next 10 days??? You guessed it!!! I am a sucker and I know it. I was just beginning to be able to breathe again and then he called and burst my bubble. His stitches will be removed on Monday, June 4th and then he will be leaving to stay with a lady friend in Redding named Jody. She is going to drive down and pick him up and then take him up to her place to let him recuperate at her place.

He is not going to be able to sleep on my bed (too high) and I don’t want him to be camped out on my new couch either so I am going to get an Aerobed. I have always wanted one and can use it to go camping so it’s not a waste. I may even have Dave split the cost with me as they run about $50-$100. I want a Queen sized one.

Since my week got all screwed up, I am going to extend the giveaway until next Tuesday which is May 29th. I will announce 2 winners instead of just one.

No big plans for the weekend. I think I will just take it easy. The weather is going to be really weird. They are predicting thunder and rain yet its 75-80 degrees. That is typical for you Midwesterners but not for California. Bizarro… Hope you enjoy your weekend! Until next time…

 

Garlicky and Gone

Last night I tried a new recipe. It was for Garlicky Grilled Pork Chops. I am not kidding when I tell you that these are the best pork chops I have ever had. They were super easy to prepare too!

Garlicky Grilled Pork Chops
Hands-on: 10 min / Total: 20 min / Serves 4

3 garlic cloves minced
3/4 tsp salt
4 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried sage
1/4 tsp pepper
4 pork loin chops

1. Preheat grill
2. In a bowl, combine garlic, salt, oil, rosemary, sage and pepper. Spread on chops.
3. Grill chops over medium heat with lid closed for 10 minutes or until done turning once. They should be slightly pink in the center.

Cook's note: Serve chops with sliced tomatoes and garnish with your favorite fresh herb

Per Serving: 300 cal, 1g carbs, 30g protein, 18g fat, 95 mg chol, 390mg sodium, 0g fiber.

The recipe came from a circular in the local paper called DASH but they also have a website Next time, I want to try the lime chicken Kebabs with Mango salsa. Yummers!

I got Dave dropped off at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. this morning. I am generally up at that hour but not driving. He did not seem too nervous and I did not cry too much so that was good. They are supposed to call me when he is done with the surgery so I can alert his family. I will most likely wait until tomorrow night to go see him. I can't imagine he will be up for too much today. He got everything packed up and put into storage so that was an accomplishment too. Now I need to Katie-fy my place again. A cleansing of sorts :-)

My weight has been holding steady even after drinking on Sunday. Now that a lot of pressure is off I can really focus my attention on ME. I can't be helpful to others if I don't take care of myself. One thing I did yesterday for Danielle and myself was buy 10 sessions of Bikram yoga. I am going to channel my inner Kelly and break out of my norm. I have never really taken a formal yoga class except for the gym offered classes and even then it's been years. I need to check their schedule to see when we can go. Until next time...



P.S. One more day until I announce the winner of the giveaway, have you entered it yet?

Affairs in Order

This weekend will go down in the history book of my life. This post is not going to be cheerful one so you have been alerted.

Friday night my mom ended up in the hospital. Her blood pressure was really low so I called her cardiologist to see what we should do. They said to take her to the ER so we did. Turns out she has a UTI which actually can cause confusion and fluctuations in her BP. I stayed for about 2 hours then excused myself since Bob was there. I told him I have been there sooooo many times that it was his turn to stay with her. They ended up coming home around 1:00 a.m.

Saturday went well at my mom's. We had 1-800-Got-Junk come out and they loaded their truck 2/3 full so it was $454! Whoa! But, what a difference it makes having all that stuff gone. They were even kind enough to even sweep up after themselves. Albeit the fact it was expensive, I think it is a great service and would recommend them to anyone. They start at $99 and go up from there. I also cleaned out some of her cupboards and drawers. I got tired and called it a day in the afternoon and then went home and went through paperwork and did some filing and sorting etc.

Yesterday, was just a sad, sad day. First off, I went to my mom's to put her Advanced Directive together. In light of her new diagnosis of Dementia, it was time to finalize her wishes while she is coherent enough to make decisions. It was hard on her and I understand why it was upsetting to her but it will help us all in the long run. I told her that even Bob and I have them just in case. Every adult should have one regardless of their age IMHO. It makes it easier to respect the persons wishes when they can't decide for themselves. I have even started writing the obituary. It may seem totally morbid but honestly, it will be one less thing I have to put together when she passes.

I left my mom's before noon to say goodbye to our friend, Dick a.k.a Blinky. He has terminal cancer and just has a few more weeks to live so he is going home to his family in WA state. He came down to the bar so people could say goodbye. I thanked him for all he has done, that I love him, to have a safe trip home and that I will help Danielle and watch out for her for him. He said "Love you too Kate" It was sad but having the opportunity to say goodbye is priceless.

Tomorrow Dave is going in for knee surgery. I swear it seems like this day would never come.  I need to help him put together his Advanced Directive too in case he dies on the table or what have you. Not that I am expecting the worse but better to be prepared eh? Through the last 5 months, he has stayed with me on and off and there hasn't been a month were he was not there at least a few days so even though I broke up with him last July and he "moved out" in January, I am still striving to be on my own again and be able to move ahead with my life. What a concept huh? Until next time...

P.S. There is still time to enter the giveaway. If you have not entered go here.

Zzzzzzzzzs Please...

Originally posted in August 2010

As most of you know, I have sleep apnea. Another lovely side effect of morbid obesity. I use a CPAP machine (almost) every night when I sleep. Albeit the fact that it helps me sleep and that I wake up rested and with energy, I hate that friggin machine. I have strap marks when I wake up in the morning. I have skin irritation on my forehead, nose and above my mouth. It royally bites and I can't wait until the day I do not need it anymore.


While I was on the cruise I did not use it. I had it with me but shampoo splooged in my suitcase and got all over it. Then when I got home I washed all the parts but then lost the nose piece. Well last night Dave said that although I did not snore, he heard me gasping for breath and was concerned. Sleep Apnea is very serious and can be fatal. Well in the interim, I ordered another nose piece and I got it today. Whew! I am tired and can feel the effects of not using it the last 10 days.

Am I at Risk for Sleep Apnea?

 

Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, even children. Risk factors for sleep apnea include:

• Male gender 
• Being overweight
• Being over the age of forty
• Having a large neck size (17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women)
• Having large tonsils, a large tongue, or a small jaw bone
• Having a family history of sleep apnea
• Gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD
• Nasal obstruction due to a deviated septum, allergies, or sinus problems

 What Are the Effects of Sleep Apnea?

 

If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a growing number of health problems including:

• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks
• Diabetes
• Depression
• Worsening of ADHD

In addition, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for poor performance in everyday activities, such as at work and school, motor vehicle crashes, as well as academic underachievement in children and adolescents.

 

Common sleep apnea symptoms include:  

• Waking up with a very sore and/or dry throat
• Loud snoring
• Occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation
• Sleepiness or lack of energy during the day
• Sleepiness while driving
• Morning headaches
• Restless sleep
• Forgetfulness, mood changes, and a decreased interest in sex
• Recurrent awakenings or insomnia

If you have any of these symptoms, it would be worthwhile to have it checked. The polysomnigram is an easy test they use to determine your oxygen levels while you sleep. I even did mine at home.

 

CamelBak for Katie J + Giveaway

Happy Friday my lovelies! What a freakin week it's been huh? I am ready for the weekend for sure, although it will be a "working weekend" at my mom's. It is supposed to be lovely this weekend... upper 70s and then rain starting Monday. We are still under our quota for rainfall so it does not bother me.

For the majority of this WL journey I have struggled with drinking enough water. There are so many benefits to drinking water and adverse affects of not drinking enough like kidney stones which let me tell you, they are VERY painful.

The key for me getting in enough has been the Camelbak bottle. I first learned about the Camelbak products when I started reading blogs. I entered a Giveaway that Scalewarfare hosted and I won a bottle and she absolutely swears by them. I will be honest with you and it took me some time to get used to it. You basically have to bite the tip slightly to drink.  They have done studies and have determined that Camelbak users drink 24% more water on average which is a considerable amount.

So on to the fun part! I will be giving away a 32 oz. (1 Liter) Camelbak bottle to the winner plus I have some other surprise items to include in the package.  This giveaway is open to the USA and Canada only. The only thing you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite color is.  For additional entries, you can Tweet the giveaway and if you have never commented on my blog (hello lurkers!) you are eligible to get another entry. I will announce a winner next Wednesday May 23rd. Good luck to you and hope you have a great weekend. Don't forget your sunscreen! Until next time...

Morale Booster

As I mentioned on Tuesday, our Annual Banquet was last night. Reception started at 6:00 p.m. and the dinner was served at 7:00 p.m. I went home to freshen up and change and then arrived at 7:00 p.m. Here is the blouse my mom bought me for the occasion.

Close up of design

Earrings to go with (they were 1/2 off!)

Self portrait #876,394

It is always enjoyable (this is the 7th one) to see everyone because we don't get to see other but once a year. I didn't get anyone to take my picture but I did try to show you the detail on the blouse. It is navy not black by the way.  It was a morale booster last night as well. Quite a few people complimented me on how I looked and one gal even said I looked incredible! She said "Wow, Katie, you have lost a bunch of weight" She asked me how I did it and I told her portion control and exercise plus my fitbit.  I also got comments like I am an important part of the organization and thanking me for my hard work and that I am strong and they are proud of me. It was really what I needed to hear. Sometimes, I just don't give myself enough credit. I am not tooting my own horn but it is a reminder to me that I am doing okay and to keep on keeping on.

We did not finish until after 10:30 p.m. and by the time I got home and unwound it was midnight so I am one sleepy puppy today. It is definitely going to be an early night.  I also need to rest up because we are pulling another 2 day shift at my mom's. I need to start looking for patio furniture for her backyard which should be fun and we turned on the pool heater so we can cool off in the pool. Hopefully I won't see Bill but I will be on alert for sure. Until next time...

The Messenger

I had an entirely different post planned for today but it will have to wait. Late yesterday afternoon I got a call from one of my mom's doctors. He informed me that she is exhibiting signs of early Dementia. I was not surprised but it was still a blow. I have done quite a bit of research and that has made me feel better (knowledge is power) about what caused it and how it can be treated. She will be 79 next month so it does make sense based on the health issues she has had over the last 12 years. She had breast cancer in 2000 and a triple bypass with valve repair in 2007. She has also had a mild stroke which happened in September 2011.  Plus she suffers from depression.  All those things plus the fact she used to be a drinker and smoker bring us to where we are today. The good news is that it is not caused by Alzheimer's which is one of the major causes of Dementia.

Well, I had to be the messenger and tell my mom. Big sigh... She was a little overwhelmed by the news and I did try to explain it the best I could. The plan is to make an appointment with her doctor and I will go with her and they will prescribe meds that will help with the memory issues.  He also stressed the importance of keeping her mind active and getting social stimulation.

It is heartbreaking to watch her mental health decline but it is a part of life. Her and I have been through the ringer together especially since my dad died. There were a few weeks recently that I avoided going to her house but I had to come to terms with her situation on my own. We did talk about it over the weekend and she understood that it was not easy for me and thanked me for all I do for her which was great to hear. Until next time...

Hayes and Ways

I'm posting later then usual because I had a big project to finish at work. We are having our End of Year Banquet and I was typing up place cards. We have over 500 employees but only like 350 are coming. It is in the same location as last year (since 2005 actually) Since I work in the Region office, we have to be there to represent. I ordered the Vegetarian option which is Portobello, Eggplant and Tomato. I'm hoping that it doesn't go for too long with speeches etc. Last year it wasn't over until almost 11:00 p.m. I am usually in bed by 9:30 p.m. so it is a stretch.  Here is a picture of the venue. It is called Dolce Hayes Mansion

Our event is held in the building on the left. Cocktails are not served but they have a reception from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and then dinner starts at 7:00 p.m. I usually pass on going to the reception and just go to the dinner.

Tonight I am going to shop for an outfit to wear. Every year my mom has bought me the outfit since my birthday is in June.  When we have our Holiday Party she gets me one too. This year, she won't be shopping with me but she is still buying it for me. How sweet huh?

I have been snacking at night and it has to stop. A way to remind me was to write it on my white board which is on the way to the kitchen. I was heading to the kitchen last night, saw my note and looked at the clock and forbid myself from having one since it was past 8:00 p.m. I survived it and I feel much better in the morning when I don't eat late.

Dave got word yesterday that his surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday the 22nd. They need a specialist there to oversee the procedure. He will be getting Disability and may even get retroactive funds. I asked him if he got the retro pay to pay for my plane ticket to Fitbloggin'12 and he said he would. I told him since I have listened to him complain about pain all this time (7 years)  that I deserve it bwahahahaha... If you took one look at him, you would know he was in pain. It is that obvious. Until next time...

Friends Flashbacks Fantastic Foam

How was your weekend? Mine was great actually. I spent the majority of the weekend with my mom and brother and boy howdy were we productive! On Saturday, I started out by cleaning out her utility room cupboards. I have been wanting to do this for YEARS but she would not allow me to but my bro and I have a Don't Ask Just Do policy. She watched me and told me it made her nervous but I told her it needed to be done and if it bothered her then to go in another room in the house and of course prefaced it by saying that I meant no disrespect.  There were cleaning products in there that were older then me :-o I swear. Some of the packaging was downright hilarious!

Then I started working on the shed and garage. As I was moving things around, I found a friend. I named him Larry. Hi Larry!

Then I found Bill the Black Widow. He was hanging out near the roof but when I sprayed the wall with the hose, he came flying down. I did not see exactly where he landed but shortly found him on the pipe.  Bill is NOT my friend! My brother suggested squishing him! I was like, ummm no, I don't want to hear him crunch. Blechhhhh! Bye bye Bill!

As we were cleaning the cupboards and drawers, I was having major flashbacks to my youth.  Utensils we used for certain things, a pancake batter holder, certain cups, etc.  It made me happy to think about all those things. In fact, I felt like my dad was there in spirit with us as we gave the house some much needed attention. Plus, my dad loved the backyard and it has basically been neglected since he died. I intend on spending more time out there now that we have done the work. We are planning to do more next weekend so I will take more photos then.

My brother spent 90% of the time power washing the backyard. What an amazing job that thing does, like holy cow. Look at this! The top portion is the before and the lower part is after! Whoa!

Left sidewalk

Redwood Deck - After

View from bench on the Deck

We took my mom out to dinner on Saturday night to the Fish Market. I had an entree which I have not done in eons so it was good. I also tried this Pear Martini that was incredibly tasty! Will definitely have one of those the next time I am there.

After doing all that manual labor for two days, I was sore. I have a foam roller but I have been only using it marginally but last night it was sorely needed (pun not intended) So after I took a long shower, I laid down on the yoga mat and rolled my pain away. I was especially sore in my shoulders and calves so that is what I focused on. I slept like a log that's for sure. Until next time...

Bra Care

I originally posted this here but thought it was worth a repeat. Hope you are having a good weekend.

Wash, Dry, Replace?
When you buy a bra, it has that bright and new feeling. You want it to always look as beautiful as it did the day you brought it home from the store. Unfortunately, unless you take care of your bra you will find your bra needs to be replaced sooner rather than later. Many people just toss the bra in the washer and dryer, thinking this is going to be okay. Yes, you have heard before that you should be hand washing and line-drying your bras, but you don't have time to do that and want an easy solution to the bra care problem

The heat from the dryer is really bad for your bra. If you have an entirely cotton bra, it can even shrink a little, making it more likely for underwires to poke through, no matter how reinforced the bra is. There is never a good time to put a bra in the dryer. But if you still want to save time, you can get away with washing your bra in the washing machine. Here are a few tips to clean your favorite bras more quickly than the somewhat overwhelming hand wash, line dry theory.
If you toss your bra in the washing machine, make sure you switch your washer to the "delicate" cycle.

• Hook the back clasps on the bra. It prevents twisting and makes it less likely for the underwire to get twisted in the bra. Consider tightening the shoulder straps as well so there is less to get tangled around another bra or piece of clothing in the washing machine.
• Set the rinse for cool or cold. This can make the elastic in the bra snap back to its original shape as long as the bra isn't too old.
• Do not put your bras in the dryer. No, really. It ruins the bra. Hang it up to dry in your laundry room, or in the bathroom, or somewhere else. Leave the back clasped and fix the cups before hanging up to dry.
• Remember, delicates are called that for a reason! Bras are made with elastic and possibly lace as well as other very sensitive fabrics within the bra. The plastic clips or metal hooks need to be taken care of properly, as well, so they don't melt, warp, or wear out prematurely.

Switch up Bras on Various Days
Avoid wearing your bra for two consecutive days. Your body exudes heat and heat makes the Lycra in the bra stretch when it is warm. Wearing your bra for more than one day in a row will cause it to deteriorate faster. Lycra needs at least 24 hours to cool off --- so alternating bras each day will go a long way towards good bra care.

Never Machine Dry Bras
All-around bra care is important. Whether your bra is under wire or soft cup, putting it in the dryer will severely shorten its life and distort its shape. Instead, hang your bra over your shower rod or on an outside clothesline to dry naturally. This will help to keep the shape of your bra and extend its life longer.

Store Bras Properly
Caring for your bras properly also means taking measures to store them correctly. In many cases, bras are haphazardly placed into a lingerie drawer with other bras and lingerie items. This contributes to wear and tear on your bra because the hooks and snaps on your intimate apparel can snare the fabric and cause tears in your bras. It is best to store bras in a separate drawer, folded neatly so they can stay in top condition.

Washing Intimate Apparel
Invest in a delicate care wash bag for your intimate apparel. A delicate care wash bag allows you to wash your intimate apparel in a washing machine without damaging sensitive fabrics. If hand-washing is not an option, this wash bag is the best way to ensure that your intimate apparel
won't be damaged in the washing machine. After spending the time and money to be fitted and searching for the perfect style, caring for your bra properly is important. Wash bras on the delicate cycle and protect them with a lingerie wash bag. Rotate among three or four of your best bras. This might seem like a lot of effort, however, if you invest time in caring for your bra and other intimate apparel, your collection will last much longer.

Rock Mafia - The Big Bang

Bonus points for knowing what show uses this as their theme song :-) I know Kelly knows!

Friday and Fitbloggin'12

Happy Friday! Woohoo!! My favorite day of the work week. It has been a pretty good week and I am hoping it is a good weekend. My brother is coming up and we are going to work on my mom's yard by adding tan bark and planting flowers. I am picking out the flowers :-) that we will be planting. I chose Gazania's because they are drought resistant, hearty plants and they come in great colors like these:

I think it will look great and add some color to her yard. It looks pretty sparse now but this will really liven it up.  I will be sure to take some pictures.  We will be taking her out to dinner on Saturday night for Mother's Day. She only wants cards and I found a really cute one a few weeks ago so I am set there.

Speaking of yards and flowers, here are the dahlias I planted

Here are the flip flops that I made :-) I am not sure if they look better together or staggered like they are below. What do you think? I will try them different ways and see how they look.

I signed up for Fitbloggin'12 yesterday! I am so excited! There are so many people I want to meet like TJ, Sue, Kelly, Carla, Karen and of course, Jack! This will be the 1st time I have ever been to the East Coast. I have been to Florida but I don't think that really counts. I paid for the conference and reserved my hotel room and now I just need to book the flight. At least I know for sure that I will not be needing a seat belt extender. I am fired up now to get to my next goal of losing 35 lbs by conference time.

Hope you all have an excellent weekend! To all of you that are mothers, Happy Mother's Day!  Until next time... 

Clumsy Success

Last night I made Salmon for dinner with a baked potato and green beans.  It was tasty as usual. I should branch out a little with my fish as I do like all kinds, except for Catfish. They taste like mud to me. I do prefer a meatier fish vs. a flaky one. Halibut, Orange Roughy and Swordfish are some of my favorites.

Last night as I was coming in from my porch I was holding the door open for HG (visiting) and I thought he had it but he didn't and it swung back and hit my ankle. It took a chunk of skin off and I thought it was not bleeding but woke up this morning and it was. It still hurts too. Kinda reminds me of the Swiffer incident LOL! Clumsy Katie J! I will ice it tonight and that should help.

I have been holding steady with my weight and while that is good it is not where I need to be. I was thinking back to when I was successful and what was I doing to achieve it. The first thing that came to mind was tracking calories diligently and posting them here on my blog. The foods I eat have not changed too much but portions have grown a little bit so those should be scaled back too. While my activity level has increased some, I really need to do more. I am still shooting to lose 35 lbs. by Sept 21st for Fitbloggin12 That is less then 2 lbs. a week which is totally achievable. I signed up for conference and booked my room so now all I need to do is make the plane reservations. I have never been to the East Coast so it should be a fun experience all around! Until next time...