Days 118-120: Impractical Jokers

Finally. A weekend to relax. No responsibilities, no kids, no husband. Don't get me wrong...you all know how much I love my kids and family, but this mamacita needed some time to regroup.

Cleaned the house for a couple of hours on Friday so that Daddy could enjoy his weekend at home in a clean house, then headed up to Lake City with the BFF. She goes up to her dad's farm to sit with her mom who suffers from Alzheimer's while her dad goes out of town. I go with her to help her maintain her sanity.

Unfortunately, our sanity was short lived. In the first 10 minutes, her mom disappeared... she decided to leave the property and take a walk up the side of the highway. Talk about an adrenalin rush. It was dusk and getting dark very quickly. We all split up, took off in cars going both directions...

By the grace of God, I found her walking along the side of the road, and managed to coax her into the car by using her daughter's name. She doesn't recognize me anymore, but she does respond to my BFF's name. Alzheimer's is such a horrible disease. It breaks my heart.

After an hour or so... we gathered our emotions and managed to have a fabulous weekend. Pedicures, online poker, RuPaul's Dragrace marathon (her mom LOVED this one), sunbathing and we discovered a new favorite show ...it's called "(Impractical) Jokers." We laughed until we had stomach cramps and almost pee'd our pants. Here is a link to one of the clips: http://www.trutv.com/video/impractical-jokers/come-on-people.html

I feel recharged, refreshed and ready to take on the world. Thanks for reading. Peace out.

Day 117: Fight Fire with Fire

Thursday, or better yet, quoting my friend, Shawna - it's Friday-eve. I've always said that if you're feeling low on energy, do the opposite of what your brain is telling you to do. Your brain will tell you to get more rest, but your brain is wrong. Taking a brisk walk when you're feeling an energy deficit will actually help increase your energy level. If you're in this category, try it. I challenge you. Once you see it for yourself, you will be a believer.

I woke up this morning with extreme pain in my toes and my fingers were sore too. Only now, there is a spot on my kneecaps that hurts as well. What's covering your kneecaps? Skin? I haven't taken a human biology class since high school. Maybe there is some connective tissue of some sort. I'm sure I'll be googling it after I finish this post.

I'm baffled as to what is going on. I asked Daddy to pick up Lil C from Karate tonight so that I could go to the gym. Whatever it is, I figured I'd try to take the same concept that I mentioned above and apply it to this pain. It's a risk, but what's the worst that could happen? More pain? No biggie. I'm tough.

I took it a little easy at the gym and started slower...taking longer to ease up to a 3.8 on the treadmill while watching the final Season 6 episode of Grey's Anatomy. I knew someone was going to die...thank goodness it was the newbies. I also think I figured out why I love the show so much. These characters push themselves to levels they don't believe in their minds that they can reach...and most of the time, they succeed.

That's the only way to live your life. Try to do something once a week that you don't think you can do. If it turns out you can't do it, then you've lost nothing. Give 100% and you can't lose.

If you're a committed follower of this blog, you know that I've had a rough month. Not blogging every day like I promised, sick kids, husband out of town, daughter's wisdom teeth extraction, fevers, vomit, packing boxes, and now this arthritis scare.

Life happens. Deal with it and move forward.

Daddy has offered to hold down the fort while I spend the weekend with the BFF in Lake City at her dad's farm. Nothing but pedicures, peace and quiet, reading, poker, wine and soaking up the rays for a bit. He's pretty awesome like that.

Out of the blue the other night, he came to me and told me that I should write a book. He's been reading my blog and thinks it's pretty darn good...maybe it was because I blogged about how awesome he was. Hmmmmm. This may not seem like a big deal to most people, but you have to know Charlie. He doesn't hand out compliments on a regular basis. It's on very rare occasion that he offers an unsolicited compliment to anyone. Felt good.

Photo is where I'll be Saturday morning...drinking my coffee and reading the rest of that book.

Days 115-116: Falling to Pieces

Woke up Tuesday with sore toes...shouldn't have done so much packing in flip flops, I guess. Worked out Tuesday afternoon and watched the 2nd most horrific episode of Grey's Anatomy to date. There was a shooter in the hospital and he shot almost EVERYONE!!! And when I say "shooter" I don't mean an assistant photographer!! OMG, there was blood everywhere. A few times, I know that I gasped pretty loud because the three people who were in there working out all looked up at the same time.

Wednesday woke up sore again...this is now day 3, and it's getting progressively worse each day. I'm starting to get a little worried. I'm not a complainer when it comes to my own body aches. I have a fairly high tolerance for pain. Charlie thinks I need to get checked for Fibromyalsia, or whatever that disease is. My back has been sore since November. That's 5 months. MRI scheduled for Friday to check my discs. It really sucks getting old. My older sister told me that things just start to fall apart at 40. Well, I have 2 more years to go before I'm 40. This isn't looking too good.

Drove out to Brandon to see my parents and my baby sister, who just so happened to land a job that day...Congrats, Sis!!! We ate Babe's Pizza and drank some red wine on the back porch overlooking the peaceful lake that we grew up on. No workout Wednesday...hurting all day...toes, fingers and knee caps. Plus I didn't want to see what happened on Grey's Anatomy. Someone is going to die. I can feel it.

Did a little investigating on my family medical history and discovered that my mom's twin sister was diagnosed with a rare form of arthritis. She wasn't much older than I am right now when she received that diagnosis. She can't remember the exact name, but I'll certainly find out what it is and hopefully save years and years of misdiagnosis. Bloodwork on Friday. Cross your fingers.

Photo is of my piggies from 2010. If I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, I want to remember my toes like this. Young and pretty. No comments on the fat toes. ffffttttt. None.

Day 114: Back to the Future

This day could not have been any better (for a Monday, that is).

I purged 50% of the crap from my closet, packed up the rest, hit the gym for a quick 45, made dinner, watched the movie "Wild Hogs" with the family, learned that 'Wilfred' was coming back on the air for a 2nd season and then Daddy agreed to hold down the fort while I go have some girl time with the BFF in Lake City this weekend...Nothing but sleep, pedicures, poker, Vitamin D, and sleep.
..hopefully in that order each day.

It doesn't get any better than this.

Day 113: Peace and Quiet

Enjoyed a lazy Sunday morning...

Daddy cooked breakfast for everyone, like he does every Sunday morning... then headed up to the BFF's to partake in some Vitamin D while the kids swam, and the big boys shot bow & arrows at the pine trees.

Well, Lil C didn't actually swim. He's like me. I won't get in unless the water is at least 85 degrees. BBBrrrrrr...it was only 77. My first purchase once we're in the new house will be a solar heater for the pool.

Nothing much else to tell ya, other than today was therapeutic ...a nice segue into TAKING BACK TWENTY....again.

I'm down 10 lbs from January 1st. Feels great, but the honeymoon phase is wearing off. Time to focus on the next 10. Gettin' this rear back in gear, people. Put down the chocolate cake and step aside.

Day 112: Crossing the Bridge

Daddy finally made it home. Whew~ I often don't give him enough credit for all that he does around here to make life go smoothly. Here's to you, Charlie!! You are the best husband ever.

Today Lil C crossed the bridge to become a Tiger Cub. He was so proud. Once the ceremony was over, he dove right into his new handbook, checking out all of the cool things he'll get to do on his way to becoming a full fledged Boy Scout.

I spent the entire morning packing up several boxes and helping to keep Sierra comfortable. She swelled up like a chipmunk this morning...even more than yesterday. She's so cute...thank goodness the nausea subsided and she can eat more soft foods...she lived off of mashed potatoes and ice cream for the first two days. Unfortunately, so did I...and it did a number on my digestive tract. I remember now why I vowed to ease up on the carbs and sugar. They taste yummy going in, but once they're there, it gets ugly...bloated up like a puffer fish.

Things are finally settling back to a normal schedule. Sickness is gone, Daddy's home and Sierra is functioning on her own. I think I can see the light at the end of this long, crazy tunnel that I've been in for 2 weeks.

Days 110 - 111: Chipmunk Cheeks

Daddy is still out of town. Realized why he takes the garbage out of the house so quickly when I throw empty meat containers away. I spent a good part of an hour trying to figure out why my kitchen smelled of decaying flesh when I woke up Thursday morning. It was the packaging from 10lbs of chicken that I put in there on Tuesday. It was definitely vomit worthy.

Then baby girl had to get her wisdom teeth out...all FIVE of them. This is the first time I've ever cared form someone who is coming out of anesthesia. Wow. Scared me a little when she wasn't back to normal an hour later...but doc said it was normal.

!!! GROSS STORY ALERT !!!!!

We learned a valuable lesson tonight, Sierra and I. Do NOT take prescription narcotic pain meds on an empty stomach. I tried to help her get to the bathroom in time, but instead, we both slipped in her projectile vomit and almost added ER visit to our day. We were able to catch ourselves on the wall and bathroom counter, so no one was hurt. Thank God.

She didn't laugh right away...but once it was all cleaned up, we laughed about it.

Good times.

Days 108-109: Single Mom

Daddy is gone this week. He takes the dog out at 6:30am, gets Sierra off to school at 6:45am, makes my coffee in the morning, takes the trash out, cleans the litter box, waters the garden, takes Lil C to Cub Scout meetings, and entertains the kids in the evenings. It has been a little rough on the homefront, but we are managing.

I spent the majority of my days packing up my office/storage room. There was a TON of stuff in that room, and it was definitely a workout.

I was so motivated by the large pile of "donation/trash" I created by cleaning out the office that I dove right into Lil C's room. Three large garbage bags later, his room was cleaned. He hardly noticed. I also now know how he was so fast and efficient at cleaning his room. He'd shove it all into his closet...toys, laundry, garbage, whatever. At least I didn't find another booger collection.


What hurts the most? My back. What hurts the 2nd most? My toes. I made the terrible mistake of doing 12 hours of packing and stretching and lifting and box moving in $10 Wal-Mart flip flops.

A friend from CA who just recently moved told me that she did the same thing and is still paying the price. Packing is a workout. You bend, you stretch to reach things, you lift heavy things, you carry heavy weights, you sweat... My recommendation: wear tennis shoes.

Now that I have those rooms all cleared out, I feel much better about the rest of the house. My body is in a little bit of pain, but I'm still down 10lbs. My workouts have become a little more domesticated these days, but sweat is sweat, and sweat feels good!

Days 105-107: Snapped

It's the name of a show on television... the Oxygen Network

I am almost there. Not literally, but I can certainly relate to the ladies on this show... Never heard of it? It's pretty interesting. Click Here

This weekend was non stop. Reunited with the treadmill after 9 days of seclusion with a 7 year old boy and cartoons, Poker Night, Real Estate stuff, Birthday Party, Real Estate Stuff, Cookout, Real Estate stuff and then finally crashed, only to wake up to Monday morning.

I think I need a time out.


3 days of speed packing and my back is killing me, too. Note to self: Do not wear flip-flops while packing boxes.

Aren't you glad you clicked the link to read this? Now you know how I feel.

Photo is serene...a lake near my house. I will stare at it for a few hours, and drink a couple glasses of wine.  That's should fix things. Or maybe it's where I threw the body...muuaahahahaha. JUST KIDDING!!!


Peace out.

Day 103 - Abducted by Aliens

Who are you and what have you done with my husband?

In the same day, my husband, whom I often refer to as "Daddy,"

1.) Offered to babysit the kids so that I could get out of the house and socialize with my adult friends

2.) Called me from work JUST to tell me that the chicken that I had grilled the night before was absolutely perfect and very delicious

3.) Only called me one time while I was spending time my friends (and it was only to verify the amount of medicine to give to Lil C, so it doesn't really count), and

4.) Had the dishes done and the kitchen cleaned when I got home.

Suspect, I tell ya, but I'll take what I can get.

He might actually feel bad for me since I've been stuck inside for 7 days with sick kids, or he might be seeing signs that I'm about to crack and he'd rather take the offensive and be proactive than be on the receiving end when I actually DO crack.

No, I didn't work out today. I DID, however, do 20 kitchen counter push ups at the BFF's while her hubby opened a bottle of wine for me. I can't really count that as exercise, though. I was just warming up for my 8oz bicep curls.

On an AWESOME note, I'm down 10 lbs. Yep, you read it correctly. 10 lbs. AND, my belly button ring has come out of hiding. I'm celebrating by wearing a tube-top tank today. Yay me.

Photo is of my jeans. I think it might be time to retire the fat jeans and go shopping.

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Day 101-102 - Institutionalized

I have spent the past 7 days stuck in this house with sick kids.

Knowing that I would not be able to get to the gym, I did random kitchen counter push ups through out Day 101 and then speed cleaned on Day 102.

When speed cleaning, if you have two shoes to carry from the living room to the bedroom, take one at a time and walk twice as fast. Continue with each and every item that needs to be put away.

I wish I had actually counted the push-ups. If you start at 9am and do 20 of them every hour or so, you can manage 160. It's so easy, and it burns so good!! That pound that I gained last week was gone this morning (technically day 103). Kind of diggin' that.

I've always heard that the longer it takes you to take the weight off, the longer it takes you to put it back on. If my math skills are as sharp as they used to be, and if I live to be 90 years old, I SHOULD be able to eat right and exercise for the next 26 years, and then splurge for my final 26 years??? I like my math. These are the things that I think about when I'm stuck at home for 7 days. Feeling a bit institutionalized.

Photo: Coloring Eggs on the Tuesday AFTER Easter. Better late than never!!

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Day 100 - Spongebob: My Inspiration

Wow. I've been at this for 100 days. I'm down a total of 8 lbs. It would have been more, but I started to slack.

I think that I was happy with the 8 lbs that I had already lost, therefore becoming complacent:

 [com·pla·cent (k m-pl s nt). adj. 1. Contented to a fault; self-satisfied and unconcerned]. 

While being complacent has its place in life, it has no place in Taking Back Twenty.


I celebrated this day with 100 kitchen counter push-ups, and they kicked my complacent butt. 


If you're a committed "Taking Back Twenty" reader, you know that we're in the process of selling our house, moving, buying property, finding a place to rent and building a new home. Talk about stress levels through the roof. My new found complacency has allowed me to fall right back into my "Lose, Stop, Gain" pattern. It's a vicious cycle that ended today. 

I'm not going to get down on myself because that will lead to more avoidance and fear of failure. That is the hardest thing to remember. This process is not a win/lose or pass/fail situation. Just like everything else in life, there is a cycle, and it's time to ramp it back up... If it means the laundry isn't caught up or the house isn't spotless, or the beds aren't made, then so be it. 


Quoting my positive influence, Spongebob Squarepants, "Now it's time to briiiinnnngggg it around tooowwnnn."

If you haven't experienced the funny and positive nature'd sponge man-boy, please check it out here: "Bring It Around Town by Spongebob Squarepants"


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Day 97 - Back to Square One

I have no spare time. We have been scrambling for 10 days now...getting paperwork done, taping boxes getting ready to start packing, doing due diligence on the property that we want to buy, and now for the past two days, tending to two very sick children. They each had a separate illness, and now they have traded and each has what the other had the first two days.

Today, we met with a builder to discuss pricing, which did nothing but raise Charlie's blood pressure...we may have to find cheaper property to build the house that we want.


I've gained a pound back, but it feels like 10. However, I DID find a wonderfully delicious comfort food snack at the grocery store tonight... cheesecake filled chocolate graham cracker cookies. Holy crap. I will have to ban them once I've eaten the entire bag.

Sitting here after midnight typing my blog because it's the first time today that I've actually had time to stop and sit uninterrupted. I think I'm going to close this post out right now, go back to the beginning and re-read my own blog. Mentally, I feel like I am back at square one. Physically there hasn't been much change. I think that's the beauty of losing it the old fashioned way...you get a longer grace period before having to pull out the fat jeans.

Days 94 - 96 : Crazi-Daze

I apologize to those who were hoping for some funny antics about my workout, or about something funny that happened these past few days, but we have been scrambling getting everything ready for our closing, PLUS trying to sketch a design for our new house and secure the property we want to buy.

With all of that going on, I also have 2 sick kids.

Forgive me. I will get back on track soon, and then blog about how life happens and we will all fall out of our routine every once in a while.

Day 93 - White T-Shirt Contest

Did you really think I would enter a white T-Shirt contest? Ha! Not even at 18. I was the one watching, thinking to myself, "OMG - who raised you?" Now I'm the one telling my daughter, "Don't be that girl."

I had a nice relaxing weekend in Daytona with my sister and the girls, but today was about getting back on track. I was feeling a little thinner this morning, so I decided to try on the white tank top. I tend to avoid wearing white tank tops because of how they accentuate the curves that aren't supposed to be there. You all know which curves I'm talking about. The ones on your belly that look like the Michelin Man. Yeah - those. Well, today they were less noticeable...especially if I stood up REALLY straight and tall.

I hit the gym around 11am, which made me feel really young and fit. I was surrounded by 6 old people who were probably there on Dr.'s orders. I hooked up the iPad and clocked 45 minutes at 3.8, which is a comfortable pace if you're watching TV at the same time.

I got a text from my sister today around 4:15p that said she was on her way over to my house to do P90x - Oh CRAP!! I had forgotten that I had committed to doing this with her 4 days a week. Instead of jumping in head first, we did the stretching video today and all I could think about was how dirty my floor was. But I enjoyed it...felt great...and the guy in the DVDs is hilarious. He reminds me of Jim Carey.

Days 88 - 92: Daytona Beach Spring Break 2012

What a fabulous weekend. We got an offer on the house on Thursday...an offer that we couldn't even think twice about refusing. They offered $3K more for the house than we paid for it 4 years ago. So, needless to say, we accepted the offer and should be closing on the house within 45 days. Let the fun begin. This put me so far behind in my editing that I was up until 3am finishing my final edit before I had to head out of town for the weekend.

Spent the past few days in Daytona Beach for my daughter's Winterguard Competition. I brought my laptop with me to keep up on the blog, but Hilton Oceanwalk charged $10/day for internet service. They also charge $20/day for parking, $6.95 for a side of sausage with your breakfast, and $6 for a can of soda... What a ripoff.

Other than that, the WRHS Winterguard show was amazing. CLICK HERE to take a peek. We stayed 2 nights so that the girls could experience Daytona Beach Spring Break 2012. I came home expecting to have gained 3 pounds, but I didn't...no gain, no loss. LOVE IT!!

Now on to trying to find a new place to live, or rent, while we find our perfect homesite!!! Nervous and excited all at the same time!!! Have a great, productive week...going to hit the gym every day this week...I have lots of make-up calories to burn off!!

Photo is a self portrait of me, my new "Housewives of Wesley Chapel" hat and a glass of wine in a paper cup... in the Hilton Oceanwalk Elevator. 

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Day 87 & 88 - Abbr.

Day 87 - Worked out. 45 minutes. Treadmill.

Day 88 - Spent some time in the chair with Master Danny and had to reset my cell phone so I lost tons of contact numbers. Did NOT work out.

Day 86 - The Big Bad Wolf

I let the acrylic on my big toes grow out for an entire month longer than they are supposed to, and my Two Little Piggies started looking like the Big Bad Wolf. After my Mini-Pedi, I was going to go hit the gym before Lil C got home from school, but I didn't want to mess up my shiny new nubs, so I waited.

Instead, I dove head first into my editing. I have two sessions to edit this week... it's probably going to take me a few hours to finish each batch. Thankfully, I was able to fix dinner in the gaps between editing batches while the images uploaded to my editing software. I'm a great multi-tasker. Some might say that I'm borderline ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). There is a VERY THIN line between the two, you know? If you are a multi-tasker who can't seem to get anything done, you're not a multi-tasker. You have ADD. On the flip side, if you have been diagnosed with ADD, yet have a knack for getting a lot of things done in a day, you don't have ADD. You're a master multi-tasker.

OK - I'm bored with this now.  ADD? Who cares. If so, I don't want any meds. Life would be one big bore if I had to focus on any one thing for more than 15 minutes.

Thank goodness for Grey's Anatomy episodes on Netflix...that's the only thing that keeps me on the treadmill for 45 minutes. Two days in a row...that's 400 calories: gone. If I keep this up, I may actually start losing again. It seems like I've been stuck at 8 lbs for weeks...until yesterday...but then again, I've been wussing out more than normal too. Do you think the two are correlated? Hmmmm.

Check out this calculator to see how many calories you burn in a day (it's a general idea...not exact): http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/calories-burned.php

There's no trick or secret code, people. Less in + More out = Weight Loss

My magic number is 2140. I burn 2140 calories just during my daily routine.
Scientifically speaking, a human must burn 3500 calories to lose 1 lb of fat.
If I eat 2140 calories each day, plus burn an extra 200 calories a day (which I do by walking for 45 minutes), it will take me 17.5 days to lose 1 lb. (200 x 17.5 = 3500)
HOWEVER.....if I reduce my caloric intake to 1840, plus burn the additional 200 calories, that puts me at a total deficit of 500 calories per day which means it would only take me 7 days to lose that same 1 lb. (500 x 7 = 3500).

That's a 300 calorie difference. Do you know what has 300 calories? One single serving of Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies. No joke. It's a very delicate process. Peace out - brain is tired... took much thinking about one particular thing.

Day 85 - Hunger Pangs

Enjoyed a nice lazy Sunday morning, thanks to our extremely late night last night. I feel like I have been wussing out on my workouts lately, so the 1 lb loss this morning was a very nice surprise. I decided to measure myself again and discovered another 1/2 in loss on my neck and on my arms. This is one more reason to not beat yourself up over not working out for a couple of days when you know that you should have. That was my goal when I started this little venture. It was MY time and I would do the best that I could to take back what I needed to both stay sane and reduce my waistline.

I do miss the times when I could lose 10 lbs in a week, but that never lasted more than a few months, always resulting in a return of the lost weight and then some. I'm finding that it's a very delicate balance, and by slightly adjusting what you eat along with slightly adjusting what you do physically, you can lose weight. I'm down 9 lbs total in 85 days and I haven't been over exerting myself by any stretch of the imagination. Changing that tomorrow.

On the food front, I've started a slow and gradual decrease in processed foods and increase in whole, GMO-free foods...focusing on the things that we use on a daily basis. So far, I've replaced Lil C's chicken nuggets and corn dogs with turkey sandwiches, apples sauce, bananas and yogurt. I've eliminated soda, corn oil and Splenda and replaced it with water, grape seed oil and raw agave sweetner, respectively. I used to drink a 2 litre of soda every day...it took me 3 months to break myself of that habit. I tried switching Lil Charlie's cereal, but I made the mistake of letting him see the box. Lesson learned!! Thanks to Aunt Rhonda, I'll be mixing it with our remaining "Cinnamon Toast Crunch" cereal and then eventually completely replacing it in an old "Cinnamon Toast Crunch" box...stay tuned for whether that works or not. Fingers crossed. Going at it slowly, I have yet to see an increase in our grocery bill.

This afternoon, I joined the gang for a matinee movie: Hunger Games. I haven't read the book yet, but after seeing this movie, it is definitely on my list of books to read this year. It had some bloody violence, but it was survival violence, which I view differently than evil violence.

I brought the sippy cup with me and taught my new friends a very valuable lesson in sanity preservation. I learned from the master. She knows who she is.

Hope you all have a wonderful week. Thank you so much for reading. I wish you would leave me more comments. {o.O}

Day 84 - Midnight Madness

Two photoshoots today. One at 9am and one at 11:30am, then had to clean the house because we were having a party this evening. However, before the party, we headed out to a 50's style sock hop to help raise money for a local kids theater group. I've been trying to talk Lil C into joining, although he really doesn't have any time in his schedule. He refuses. No way, no how, he says.

While at the sock-hop, he was hula hooping like a rock-star...swingin' his arms and shakin' his rump in front of what was probably an audience of about 100 people. Totally hamming it up. That kid has no fear...and apparently he has no insecurities because on the ride home, my BFF asked him why he didn't want to join the theater. His reply: "I'm way better than all of them." I love his self-confidence, but I think he might need a great big slice of humble pie!!

Post Sock-Hop: What I had imagined would be 10-12 people turned into 24. Twelve kids and twelve adults...but I wouldn't have it any other way. We hung out in the kitchen, swapping laughs and then played a friendly game of Spoons, which ended in one of my new friends sliding head first across my huge kitchen island, almost falling over the edge and nearly losing his pants as someone tried to same him from sustaining serious head trauma. Totally diggin' my new friends. How often is it that 6 couples could hang out together and EVERYONE gets along. I'm still trying to memorize which kids belong to which couples...guess that will come in time.

Photo: The twelve kids. They were better behaved than the adults.

I'm writing this on Monday. I'm fairly certain that I hit the treadmill between cleaning house and the Sock-Hop, but I can not confirm that with 100% confidence.

Day 83 - Friday Night Family Fun

No exercise today, but I certainly took back TWO HOURS tonight. Here are two videos to help you understand how we spent our precious Friday Night!!

Day 82 - おいしい料理

Today was the BFF's birthday... the day that she finally catches up to me so that we can be the same again. However, if you ask her, she'll tell you something different....something along the lines of, "No, I'll ALWAYS be younger than you." Hahahaha. It's our thing. I try to make her older than she is and she rubs it in.

I joined her for lunch today at a local Japanese hibachi restaurant. I couldn't believe the prices. They were half the price of the dinner menu and you get the same amount of food. You can order the chicken dinner for $8. It includes the hibachi chicken, fried rice and vegetables, soup and a salad. The No. 7 McDonald's meal is almost $8. Scheesh!!

I know where I'm going to lunch from now on!!

I made my way back home and then set into my routine for Thursday evening... get Lil C from the bus stop, start dinner, go to Karate class, come back home, eat dinner, do the dishes and crash. But, before I submitted to "the crash," I decided to put on my tennis shoes. Although it's more than likely psychological, when I put my tennis shoes on, I immediately feel a renewed sense of energy. A second wind. So I hopped in the car and headed to the gym.
 
When I got there, I could see that there were about 7 teenage boys working out and I just wasn't in the mood to deal with that, so I went back home and did some Pilates-type exercises (called: Closed Kinetic Chain) along with some stretching on the floor, as I watched a Grey's Anatomy episode. Sounds easy, huh? Try getting onto your hands and knees and kick your foot back and then up towards the sky. Do that 100 times and your rear end will be en fuego. (On Fire) Then, from a lying position, lift your upper body and your legs off the ground at the same time, balancing on your rear end. Do this 10 times for 10 count holds. En fuego, I tell ya. En fuego!! ( yes, I know my Spanish is terrible...after taking 2 years of it, the only thing I remember is cierto la puerta because I sat right next to the door in the back of the room and she asked me to close it every single day.

Looking forward to the weekend!! Enjoy yours!!

Photo: The card I gave her for out BFF-iversary

Day 81 - Is This For REAL?

I hereby dedicate this post to my Lil Man, Charlie Vincent Monaghan IV. Today he brought home a letter from the Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce congratulating him on being one of a handful children chosen from his school to be honored.

I'm struggling with guilt and pride. I was so surprised when I read the letter that I had e-mailed her asking her it it was "for real." For some reason I always pegged Lil C as being the class clown because he's so snarky and sarcastic, hates going to school and hates to do his homework. (Hold your comments, please.....Yes, I know EXACTLY where he gets it from... I thought I was writing my own biography in that last sentence)

Regardless, I had already come to grips with being satisfied with having at least one out of my two children excel in school, so this is just icing on the chocolate cake!!

My "Twenty" tonight was spend doing a circuit in my living room and kitchen while watching Survivor with my baby girl. It looked something like this:

20 Kitchen Counter Commercial Push-ups
10 Floor Push-ups
10 Sit-Ups
10 Floor Push-ups
20 Kitchen Counter Commercial Push-ups
10 Floor Push-ups
10 Sit-Ups
10 Floor Push-ups
20 Kitchen Counter Commercial Push-Ups

Are you taking back twenty???

Days 76 - 78: Farm Girl

I had no computer this weekend to do my blog, so here is my condensed version.

Spent 3 hours cleaning the house on Friday morning. No, we weren't showing the house. Charlie was working from home, and if I let him see me sit on the couch, eating Bon-Bons and watching my soaps, he's send me back to work, for sure!!

After the first 45 minutes, I had sweat dripping down my back, so I know I got a fairly good workout on Friday. There's a trick to burning more calories while doing housework... things like, if there are a pair of shoes that need to be put away, take one at a time, speedwalking back and forth. It works, I tell ya!!

That afternoon, the two Charlie's & I headed up with my BFF (Julie) to her parent's farm in Lake City. It's a 2 1/2 hour drive north from where we live...just south of the Florida/Georgia border. As much as we enjoy going to the farm, I know that it's never an easy trip for Julie. Her mom (in her early-to-mid 60s) has Alzheimer's. If you've never seen it first hand, it's hard to comprehend. All I know is that my BFF is stronger than 20 men.

On Saturday, after a few rounds of target practice with Charlie's new .22 Rifle, we DID manage to walk the perimeter of the yard 4 times for a total of approximately one mile. We guesstimated that one lap was comparable to one lap around a 1/4 mile track. Although it was still the last few days of Winter, it was a sweat fest for sure!!

Shortly after, we suited up and soaked in some Vitamin D, played a few games of online poker and X-Box video hunting, scarfed down some St. Patty's Day Corned Beef & Cabbage, then crashed around midnight.

Sunday was a lazy morning, getting packed up, cleaning all of our messes and waiting for her Dad to return from his hunting trip, and finally shipped off on our 2.5 hour trek back home. While I didn't go to the gym Sunday as I had planned, I did hammer out some Kitchen Counter Push-Ups and then some Sitcom Sit-Ups before cooking dinner for my two sisters and my sister's friend Sunday evening. Topped off the night with a Dance Central competition on the X-Box Kinect. Structured or not, burnin' calories is burnin' calories.

It was a completely non-productive weekend, and I loved every single minute of it.

Day 75 - Golf

I haven't played golf in months, so shooting a 117 wasn't too shabby for me.

For the past 3 years, my mother has always arrived before everyone else and picked up the tab. Well, today, I arrived before SHE did, so I took the opportunity to pay for her round of golf today. It's the least I could do to try and make up for the past 3 years of free golf. So, the man behind the counter pushed a few buttons on a register and said, "That will be $84.00."

<<<<<insert GASP>>>>>

WTH???  I was committed by this point. What could I do? Nothing - which is exactly what I did. Swiped the card and played some golf. I hope Charlie doesn't pay this much when HE plays golf.

Plus - they charge $42 per person and they don't allow you to bring your own liquor??? Thank God my mother knows how to break a few rules. She showed up with a bottle of Goldschlager hidden in her golf bag. I love her. She rocks.

My Twenty today? 18 holes of Golf and a sunburn. As crappy as I shot, I'm sure I walked a good 2-3 miles...and definitely got a nice farmer's tan in the process. I lost 3 balls and par'd once. I also woke up another 2 pounds lighter than I was two days ago. Booyah!

Have a great weekend, peeps. Headed to Lake City for some R&R and I'm sure I'll be shooting one of Charlie's new guns out in the cow pasture. Photos and blogs to come.

Day 74 - Discombobulation

Day 73 - Pimples & Periods

She's BAAAaaaaaaccckkkk.
The grouchy monster has arrived... right on schedule. While this means very bad things for those around me, it means 4-5 days of sassy, spicy blog posts for YOU! Starting tomorrow, of course.

I was going to head out to the gym tonight after dinner. Instead, I was side railed by a large pimple on my shoulder blade, just out of my reach, brought to my attention by a chuckling 37 year old man who lives in my house, sleeps in my bed and shares DNA with my son... this, coupled with a missing tube of Neosporin and a house full of people who refused to go upstairs and get it for me.

I finally got my Neosporin and Lil C applied the camouflage band-aid for me because no one else would come near me. He hasn't been around long enough to recognize the fact that it was clearly time to run. Big C (Daddy) coincidentally started his exercise regime tonight, and Sierra decided to hang out in her bedroom after I scolded her for leaving her radio on all day long, running up the electric bill.

I didn't make it to the gym, but I did manage the following while watching Cougar Town and New Girl. Perfect timing, ABC. ....... THANK YOU!

40 Kitchen Counter Push-ups
40 sit-ups
30 Planks
30 Sit-Up style Leg Lifts
25 Side Leg Lifts

Most people complain about this time of the month, but I get more done in these 4-5 days than I do the rest of the month.

Day 72 - BFFs & Sweaty Chocolate Cake

Oh yeah. Today was a rebirth. After getting hit with that super-bug last week and into the weekend, it felt GREAT to wake-up today feeling 95% well. The BFF took the day off so I grabbed the rest of my Birthday money and we hit the Hard Rock circuit in the morning.

We love poker. She's better than I am. She's rock solid. Poker is an endurance game, but not in the sense that you might normally hear the word "endurance." It's more of an emotional and psychological endurance.... especially after sitting at a table for 3 hours.

I came home in time to get the house cleaned, get Lil C from the bus stop, fix dinner and hit the gym.

It was good to get back into the gym....flipped on the iPad and caught up on Grey's Anatomy. I'm almost through with Season 6...it's getting better as the season goes on. I started sweating and I swear I tasted chocolate cake. (That was for you, Matt). I am actually starting to enjoy the heat and the sweat. I get hot, and then I sweat, and then I get cool again. It's becoming a cleansing ritual...like a shower from the inside out... only, you need another shower afterwards. While I was walking, I noticed this big football player sized guy next to me. He was plugging away...just like me...watching his own show on his teenie weenie iPhone. I felt bad for him. He must be reading my blog. Hahaha. Wouldn't THAT be funny!

Photo: Me and the BFF - Circa 1990

Day 71 - Harry Potter meets The Beverly Hillbillies

Sunday. Charlie and I decided to go check out the Gun Show at the Florida Expo Hall. I really don't know why I was so surprised by what I saw, but that was a freaky group. What scares me the most is the fact that all of those people were gun-carrying citizens. Some didn't look intelligent enough to get through life, much less have the money to purchase expensive weaponry.

There were those who were clearly hunters, decked out in their camouflage. Then, there were those well-dressed folks who I assumed might be collectors. Aside from those two groups, it looked like Harry Potter meets The Beverly Hillbillies. I think Gandalf from Harry Potter was there...he was wearing overalls.

We didn't stay long.

When we got home, I felt very tired and so I decided that I would rest one more day before jumping back on the wagon full force. My body was telling me something and so I listened. Good thing. I slept for about 2 hours on the couch. I should be good to go tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

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Day 70 - Resurrection

Finally. Saturday night. After spending 4 days and 3 nights on the couch, I finally emerged back into society and enjoyed a nice quiet evening at the BFF's house hanging out with all of my favorite people, eating my favorite foods and playing my favorite (mostly) non-contact game: Poker.

Whatever I had this past week was atrocious. I am still coughing stuff out of my lungs, but I'm on day 5 of antibiotics. Normally I take the first 5-6 days of antibiotics and then stop when I start feeling better. For the first time in my life, I think I'll keep taking it for the full dose. I'm not going to take any chances that this nastiness comes back. I feel like I haven't been to the gym in forever, like I'm starting all over again. It's not a good feeling, but I still haven't gained any weight back. That, in and of itself, is a miracle.

In the past, if I had lost weight using diet pills or other means of quick weight loss, then taken a fall like this for a week, I would have already gained every single pound back and then some. Not this time. I'm starting to think that going at it long term allows for stumbling blocks like this, keeping me from being dragged back to square one. I dig it.

We stayed up until 1am, which was probably not the best idea, but we were having a blast. We'll see how this decision affects my day tomorrow.

Photo is my wine glass. A gift from the bestest of besties. I keep it at her house.

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Days 68 and 69 - The Leper

My first double post. These two days ran together for me. I haven't been off the couch for 2 nights and 3 days unless it was to use the restroom or get some water. Slept there day and night since Wednesday night. Normally, when I get sick, Charlie gives me the bed and he takes up residence upstairs so he doesn't get sick. This time, I just so happened to be on the couch when I fell ill, and I never moved.

When we first lived together and he did this for the first time, I was totally offended. Now, I get it. In the almost 15 years that we have been together, he has been sick, maybe 5 times. I get something every 1-2 years. He also does everything he can to keep the kids away from me. One phenomenon in our house is when I'm lying on the couch, it creates a gravitational pull and the kids always end up on top of and all around me. Dad manages to stay on top of it and yell at the kids to get off of the leper, but they sneak in every once in a while when Dad's not looking.

Just for a little entertainment, as Big C (Daddy) was getting ready to head out to he gun range, I picked up his ear muffs and coughed on them, then turned them over and coughed on them again, then opened them up and coughed on them. He freaked. It took him a few minutes to find the Lysol and spray them down to get all of the germs off. Hey, I have been on the couch for 2 days. I needed a good laugh.


Image from: http://lowimmunesystem.org/how-to-prevent-your-body-from-infections/

Day 67 - Snot and Thin Mints

Sick.

All day.

Turns out Thin Mints Girlscout Cookies cures a headcold. Just chase 'em with Sudafed and a big glass o' milk.

Day 66 - Truth, Love & Consequences

I'm back on my daily wagon, but, boy, am I feeling the repercussions of eating fast food three times last weekend. My wedding band is tight and I can feel the swelling all over my body - especially in my face...around my eyes and cheeks. If you're a chronic fast food eater, there is no way to sugar coat it. You need to stop. On a monthly basis, we might eat "fast food" three times, with two of those times being pizza from Bosco's or Marco's. This weekend, however, I ate fast food 3 or 4 times. We were going non-stop all weekend and fast food was easy and cheap.

In the past, I would blame it on my busy schedule, however, now, I know that it's not because of a busy schedule. It's a simple lack of preparation on my part. It's not difficult to pack a lunch and a few snacks in a cooler and throw it in the back of the car. It would take less than 10 minutes to prepare lunch and snacks for the entire family, pack it in a cooler and put it in my car. Pure laziness. SMH. I'm paying for it now. I'm hoping that if I drink lots of extra water this week, I can flush out the swelling and get back to feeling normal.

I hit the treadmill again today. Managed 45 minutes before my episode ended. While I was walking, an older gentleman opened the door and just stood there. I watched, curious as to what he was doing. Turns out he was holding the door for an older heavyset lady, who I assumed was his wife. She came into the gym on a motorized wheelchair. My heart broke. Here is this man, who loves his wife so much that he loads her into the car, drives her to the community gym, helps her out of the car and onto her wheelchair, and then helps her squeeze into the gym (it's a tight entrance...but I'll be up there tomorrow to re-arrange the equipment for her). He goes to, what I can imagine, a great extent, just so she can do pull-down exercises while sitting in her wheelchair. You could tell that they had been at this routine for a while because once she was in, he let her go her own way. She did her arm exercises while he did the elliptical. They didn't speak. They didn't smile. Then they left.

I don't want to be that couple. When Charlie and I retire, I want us to be physically healthy. I want to go on cruises and travel the world, not be confined to a wheelchair. I want to believe that 2012 will be my turning point. 300 days to go.

Photo courtesy: www.sodahead.com

Day 65 - Squeezed It In

For those of you following me on Facebook, you might already know that I have been taking a Photography class at USF. I already have a Bachelor degree in Business Management, so I am toying with the idea of going back for a MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) in Photography.

Tonight was my last night of class for the course I'm in and so I spent 8 hours today putting together my project which counted as my Final Exam. I'm pretty sure I nailed it. I didn't learn much in this class. It was geared for those who are just getting started in Photography. I learned more from the side conversations with the professor than I did from the content of the class, so it wasn't a total waste of money.

If you've been following my blog, you might be wondering why I haven't "really" exercised in 3 days. If you're reading this blog to help motivate you, then I am very sorry to have failed you this weekend. It's all part of the cycle. When you declare that you are "on a wagon," it is only natural to eventually fall off that wagon. The only reason I am not going to allow this failure of a weekend to completely sabotage my plan is because I have removed myself enough to be able to see the big picture. In a 366 day year, what's 3 days? It's .008 to be exact. A mere blip on the radar. To put it into even greater perspective, if I were to commit to a 5 year plan, those 3 days would represent .001. I love Math.

Here is the equation I am testing in 2012:

Less Calories In + More Sweat Out = Pulling My Skinny Jeans Out Of Storage

After getting Lil C to the neighbors for a ride to his Cub Scouts meeting, I had 45 minutes before I had to leave for class. Normally, if I don't have a 30 minute cushion in between things I have to do, then I generally avoid doing them or put them off until the next day. Same goes for exercise. Not today, though.

Once I dropped Lil C off at the neighbors, I threw on my sweats & tennis shoes, grabbed a change of clothes, deodorant and my Final Exam project for class and then headed to the gym. It was going to be a tight race, but I was able to walk for 40 minutes while finishing one of my Grey's Anatomy episodes, then sprinted to the clubhouse bathroom to change and went straight to class. I "squeezed it in."

My apologies to the girl sitting next to me. Unfortunately for you, my exercise is more important than your olfactory senses.

Photo: My drive into class tonight... directly into the sun.

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Day 64 - Out of Control

Had to spend another couple of hours cleaning the house today for another realtor. Scheesh. Hours of cleaning for a 15 minute walk-through. Hardly seems worth the effort. Finally finished cleaning, slicked the hair back into a tight pony tail in lieu of a shower and headed out to Brandon to meet an old friend for lunch. That's the beauty of old friends. They don't judge. She loves me, dirty hair and all!!

Here it is. My moment of truth: Onion Rings and a Juicy Burger or Soup and Salad?

Based on the fact that in the past 3 days I have had greasy pizza, taco bell and Chinese food, I went with the soup and salad. French Onion from Barnacles - Photo Above. Wow. Not sure about the health factor, but I'm sure it was healthier than what I almost ordered. 

After lunch, I headed over to my parent's house and had a glass of wine and chatted while they ate dinner. It's amazing how as a teenager, I did everything possible to NOT hang out with my parents, and now I try to hang out over there every chance I get.

We had a realtor scheduled to show our house at 4pm, so I had to time my afternoon carefully so as to avoid the awkward turtle situation when complete strangers go snooping through your closets. I left Charlie at home to be the greeter. I don't feel bad. I cleaned it.

Wrapped up this insanely out-of-control busy weekend with zero gym time, a few push-ups here and there, every chance I got, but I didn't keep track. However, what I lacked in Taking Back Twenty, I more than made up in quality family time with my awesome kids and husband.

Day 63 - Guard & Ambush

What a crazy busy day. Spent four hours cleaning my house so a realtor could bring his clients in for 10 minutes. Ugh. Then had to drive to Pinellas County to help chaperone Sierra's Winter Guard competition. It's insane the amount of preparation that goes into a 3 minute performance. We were there for 6 hours. No joke.

Grabbed some Chinese take-out on the way home. Probably not the best choice, but I was tired and famished. Finally made it back home, a hot mess from sitting in the sun and blustery wind for several hours in long sleeves and jeans. I really need to check the weather channel next time.

Here it is. My moment of truth.

I've been missing the BFF lately because our schedules have been off track. I had the opportunity to throw on my sweats and tennis shoes and head up to the gym, but instead, I decided to call the BFF and invite her over. She was out to dinner with a few other people so I told her to "bring the gang." That gang turned out to be a small army of 6 adults and 6 kids. I love impromptu parties with cool people.

I'm starting to feel the guilt of not working out for 2 days in a row, but I needed that mental break more. Taking care of your body is important, but taking care of your mind trumps everything else.

Day 62 - Donation Day

Days like today are the reason that I started this blog in the first place. Days like today are also the days that would throw me into a downward spiral, bringing my workout plan to a screeching halt. Nothing about this day was dedicated to me. Today it was all about cleaning the house so that a Realtor could bring his client by and show it, driving to Brandon and back in 5 o'clock traffic to drop off some camera equipment so that a client would have a photographer for her Christening on Saturday, shopping for groceries so that my family would have food to eat, and spending the evening with Big C at the Karate school so that Lil C could test for his Blue Belt (which he earned). OK, so I DID enjoy watching him perform, but I certainly didn't burn any calories doing it.

The positive side of all of this: I have a house to live in, a car to drive, money to pay for gas, camera equipment to do what I love, food in my pantry, two very healthy, talented children AND I'm almost ready to put my "fat jeans" back into storage. If I'm still at this on December 31st, I may just throw a TBT "Fat Jeans Burning" Bon-Fire party.

Photo: Lil C's Goofy Smile Face after earning his Blue Belt.
Here is his video clip:  Lil C's Karate Video


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Day 60 - IN YO' FACE

I spent much of today getting my two photography blogs up and running, with tags and keywords and content and photos and links and OMG. I was so drained by 4pm that I could barely keep my eyes open. Managed to cook Charlie some dinner, chat with the BFF for a few minutes, make plans for the weekend and then had to head out to my 8:15pm hair appointment.

As soon as I got there, I was graced with 5 minutes of free time before she was ready to get started. BAM! 25 push-ups. She finally finished wrapping up with her previous client, started my foils, and then about 3/4 of the way through, she had to leave and go mix another small batch of color. BAM! 25 push-ups.

She finished the foil and then headed out to make a few phone calls while my "highlights" processed. BAM! 25 push-ups. She came back in a few minutes later to check the color. "Two more minutes," she says. Guess what... BAM! You guessed it... 25 more push-ups.

Now, if my calculations are correct, that would be a total of 100 push-ups.

BAM! (Or as my 7yr old would say: "IN YO' FACE")

The only problem is, because I was so preoccupied with getting my push-ups in, my stylist and I had some sort of miscommunication and now I'm a brunette. Oh well. I'm down another pound. Still just a total of 7 because of my shenanigans last weekend.

7 lbs in 60 days, not dieting, just eating smart proportions 85% of the time, and eating chocolate cake and ice cream the other 15%. WINNING!!!

Day 59 - Our Big Fight

So Charlie and I had an argument tonight as I finished my last set of 80 Kitchen Counter Push-Ups. Instead of me going to the gym to do my treadmill, he suggested that we go on a walk together. YAY!!! And it only took 59 days.

When I walk around the neighborhood, I generally walk a huge block within our neighborhood ...it's almost a mile all the way around.

Well, Charlie wanted to walk straight out of our neighborhood, down the road another half mile, and then walk back. This was our argument. With the exceptions of early mornings and the times when he is driving my car while I sit in the passenger's seat, this is as heated as it gets around here.

Clearly he doesn't understand Taking Back Twenty. My time, my game and my rules.

I'm not mean.... really. A little bossy at times, but never mean. My point for wanting to stay close was the fact that we were leaving Charlie and Sierra at home alone (7yrs and 16yrs) and if I were to get an emergency call, I wouldn't want to be a mile and a half up the road. By walking the mile block, I could be home in 45 seconds flat, running full speed from the furthest distance.

I'm not sure what his argument was, but I'm sure mine made more sense.  We walked around the block twice: 30 minutes total.

Thank you for joining me on my Twenty, Babe!! xoxo

Photo: I tried to get a picture of him before the walk, but he ran out the door before I could get it. Literally. You can see his foot at a wonky angle and an arm pushing off of the wall.

Day 58 - In Memory of Dana Prchal

Today I learned that my friend Dana passed away. She was diagnosed with Breast Cancer the same week that we met... She has 3 children and my heart is aching for them. It's just not fair.

Rest in Peace, Dana. Your smile and strength will be missed.

Day 57 - The Hang Over

I am hearby dedicating this post to my awesome husband, Charlie. Poker night last night at the BFF's house was BIG FUN...too much fun to be more accurate... so much fun that I decided to spend the night there instead of jail or the morgue. And while I was having fun with my new friends, Daddy was camping with Lil C and his cubscout troop...in the cold and rain. Poor Daddy!!

My headache this morning was directly correlated with how much fun I had. Did I say it was BIG fun??? It was REALLY big fun. I did absolutely nothing all day today, unless I could do it while lying on the couch. I took two naps, watched the last half of 3 separate movies, snuggled with my kids who were more than happy to keep me company all day on the couch...Lil C in his underwear and Sierra in her pajamas. Daddy even brought me food and fluids all day without complaining once, although he did snicker a few times...  He is my hero.

I haven't had a hangover in a very long time, and I will certainly revisit this post before our next Poker Night festivities, as a reminder of the repercussions of having too much fun.

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Day 56 - Poker, Pizza and Push-ups

Had an amazing night of poker playing up in Dade City at my BFF's house, even though I didn't win. Also met some very cool people, two of which live in my neighborhood in Wesley Chapel. It's a small world, for sure!! I had the entire day to myself and did NOT go to the gym. Regretting that, since I decided to munch on all of the Poker Night goodies, which I'm sure were NOT low-fat or even in the neighborhood of being "healthy."

I DID, however teach one of my new friends how to do Kitchen Counter Push-ups. He made fun of me as I did sets of them in between stuffing my face with bites of greasy pepperoni pizza, so I challenged him to try a few. His arms were hurting the next day. Told ya so, Kevin. They're not for weenies. Try doing 200 of them. My "guns" might be water pistols right now, but come summertime, I'll be packing heat for sure.

It's not often that I meet people that I actually like, so to meet 6 new people in one month - and actually like them all, it's a friendship miracle.  Yay friends!!! Julie is still my favorite, though.

Day 55 - Push-ups, Burps, a Baby and a Mariachi Band

I didn't feel like going to the gym today, so around 2pm, I decided to start hammering out some Kitchen Counter Push-ups. When you do them in sets of 25, it's amazing how many you can do in a 4 hour period... 200 to be exact.  Yes, I kept track.

You may laugh, because they're not "real" push-ups, but I have the guns to prove that they are just as effective as a "real" push-up. I'm on a mission to get my armpits back. Not to mention, I'll be purchasing my first hand gun soon so Charlie and I can enjoy some adult time at the gun range... and I'll need the strength to control the kick back.

When Charlie got home from work, he took us out to Vallarta's Mexican Restaurant in Wesley Chapel and ordered a beer that was in a huge mug. It was as big as, or bigger, than his own head. 

Lil Charlie and Sierra fought like little kids and we enjoyed the talented Mariachi band that walked through the restaurant playing Mexican music. Sierra is determined to get her own Mariachi Band outfit. Good stuff.

There was a couple that sat down next to us with a little baby girl who was total perfection....absolutely gorgeous. So, I handed her mom my business card and told her how beautiful her baby was. I'm a photographer, for those who may not know...and I NEVER pass up a cute baby!!


All was great until Daddy decided to let an atrocious burp escape his body. Given the circumstances of Mexican food + a HUGE beer, it was to be expected. I should have seen it coming.

I wish I knew that lady's name who I gave the card to. If you know someone from Wesley Chapel with a cute, black-haired little baby girl and they post something about a photographer who gave them a card and then her husband burped really loud, let me know so I can send her a friend request.

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Day 54 - Birthday Mission Completed

Today is my Birthday. I'm 38. I'm ok with that, but ask me again in two years and I might still be 38. My mother has always told me that her 40's were the best times of her life. She said something happens and you start thinking less about what others think, and more about what YOU think. Sounds good to me.

So today, my friend Amanda suggested I walk 4 miles and then get a pedicure. The conversation went something like this:

Amanda: Happy birthday!!!!! Treat yourself - walk 4 miles & get a pedicure ♥

Me: I'm thinking 2 miles and a new pair of kicks.

Amanda: no. i said 4.

Me: Challenge accepted.  

I don't take challenges lightly. I am competitive to a fault. Always have been, always will be. It took one and a half episodes of Grey's Anatomy to get there, but I did it. My legs felt like jello when I finished, but I did it. I had to pull out my inhaler when I got home, but I did it.

Plus, I did it in my brand new kicks!!! I went with Saucony Pro-Grid Guide 5, and donated my old shoes to charity.  Putting my Birthday money to good use!!! Check out my video below.

I wish I could say that maybe I'll lose an extra half-pound, but I know how much pizza and chocolate cake I ate yesterday. I might be back at square one, but I had chocolate cake, so I'll call this a "Win." 

My new kicks:  <3 PINK <3 (And they match my ear buds!!)

My new kicks IN ACTION:

Day 53 - SURPRISE Party

Had an awesome night with (almost) my entire family. Both parents, both sisters, most nieces and nephews...and of course, my own kiddies and hubby!

I did not work out at all today, with the exception of the hour I spent at Physical Therapy this morning for my back (which I torqued back in November 2011). Surprisingly, I DID work up a sweat while I was there.

Tomorrow is my Birthday. I will do what I want, when I want and where I want. Who knows what the day might bring. I'll be sure to take pictures....Should be an interesting blog post tomorrow. Stay tuned!!

Day 52 - Time Travel Camera

Light is a funny thing. You can't see it, but without it, you can't see. Plus, when you take a picture of yourself in the mirror with light coming in from the back, it lets you see into the future. I snapped this photo this morning and the light bending around my waist took off a good 3 inches. Don't be fooled. Those jeans are size 13.

It's a fabulous camera trick, if you can get it just right. I once lost half of a bride's neck in a very similar situation. It wasn't an important shot...so she never saw it. Ha!

I had 45 minutes to exercise today, (and by that, I mean that I procrastinated up until I only had 45 minutes left), so I used every single minute that I had left, truckin' with Grey's Anatomy. I'm almost finished with Season 6...then pulled back into the garage just as Lil C was getting off of the bus. Whew!

I still can't believe I'm walking for 50 minutes at a time, and it's a breeze. I remember the day when it took everything I had to stay on for the entire 20 minutes that I started with, and I can't imagine where I'll be on December 31st, 2012. Hopefully looking something like I do in that photo up there!

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Day 51 - Fried Cheese

I skipped breakfast AND lunch today...surviving on 3 cups of coffee and a diet pill. No joke. Oh, you don't have to tell me how bad that is, I know exactly how bad that is for me...but the fair only comes once a year and so I sacrificed my health for one day in the name of caloric intake. No biggie.

Today had to be hard core because I knew I would be going to the Pasco County Fair with the BFF and kiddies... and I knew I'd be eating some fried bits of heaven. Corndogs and Fried Cheese to be exact. Oh yeah. I did it. I'll probably gain a pound or two...but I have 316 days left in the year to adjust for it. That's .000632 pounds per day. I think I can manage.

Talk about a freak show. If you're in the neighborhood and are into people watching...you have to check out the Pasco County Fair. I have absolutely NO idea how some of these people survive daily life. Lots of crack or lots of inbreeding. Makes me thankful for my crazy-normal life. Love you all. Have a wonderful week!!!

Be sure to check in tomorrow to see how much a corndog and fried cheese can wreck your diet.


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Day 50 - Catch Me If You Can

Somehow, I missed a day somewhere, so here is my "catch up" post. 

Ha.

You know you laughed.

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Day 49 - Big Fat & Juicy

Wow. Now THIS is something new. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with all of the physical activity I've incorporated into my life, but I'm thinking it might. After taking my "twenty" (which is now "50") on the treadmill watching McDreamy throw the Chief under the bus in an attempt to take his job, Charlie and I made plans to meet some of our best friends for dinner at Gator's Dockside out by USF. Did I order a salad and vegetables? Heck no!! I ordered the fattest, juiciest BBQ Bacon Burger on the menu. However, when the lady started listing my choices for side items, I should have stopped her at fries, because when she got to "veggies," my conscience kicked in and I couldn't very well order the fries knowing that veggies was an option. So, I got my burger and chased it with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and squash.

I ate half of the burger at the restaurant and finished the rest at 10pm that night. Normally, when I eat something of this magnitude, I wake up feeling bloated and literally 3-5 pounds heavier...water retention I'm sure. This time, however, I woke up and weighed myself only to find that I was the exact same weight (to the tenth) as I was the day before.

Does this mean I'm going to start eating big fat & juicy burgers all the time? Nope. But, it sure does feel good to be able to do it once in a while without the guilt that I would normally carry with me the next day. The guilt that would then begin the cycle of failure, which would lead to more burgers and less exercise. Not going down THAT road again.

Photo: Not my photo. Found using google search. It IS, however, the big fat & juicy burger that I ate.

Day 48 - The Arrival

It has arrived.

Day 48.

The day of the invalidated excuse.

Today I spent a good part of the day sorting through receipts, e-mails and bank statements preparing things for my tax accountant (Mr. Joe Pitcher, for those of you looking for an awesome accountant).

Unfortunately, the feeling of relief that I felt as I entered the final document did not last long. I decided to check my voicemail from the day before, only to hear a message from a realtor who wanted to show my house in 3 hours. Wha???? So now, instead of spending the next 3 hours resting my eyes and brain, I spent it running from room to room, cleaning up all of the messes in the house, scrubbing toilets and sinks, vacuuming and mopping floors, etc. It lasted for a good 2 hours, and I was sweating.

Technically I could have claimed this time as my "twenty," but I didn't. I had a fully acceptable excuse NOT to go to the gym, but I didn't use it. I set the excuse aside, grabbed the iPad and my headphones and headed out the door. (Photo of McSteamy, my Grey's Anatomy workout buddy)

I win.

Day 47 - Gun Show Haiku (Warning Adult Language)

My butt is smaller.

Developing a bicep.
This $#%@ is working.

The End.


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Day 46 - Used Earbuds???

I just purchased my very first (ever) pair of earbuds....and they're PINK!!! I've never been really big into music, to the point where I would need to purchase a CD or a song for my iPod. I don't even own an iPod. Every other member of my family does...even Lil C. Plus, the old hard earbuds never fit in my ear...even the ones that "guarantee" to stay in your ear. What's the guarantee? They refund your money if they don't fit. I don't see what the big deal is with a guarantee like that....Doesn't EVERY company allow you to return earbuds if they don't fit? Maybe not...that would be kind of gross...buying 'used' earbuds?? Ewww.

Now, an iPad on the other hand...don't think I could live without one now. (Thanks for the iPads Meme & Papa). Heading up the the gym shortly with it...... and my new pink earbuds. 

Well, I finally made it back on the wagon. Not sure if it was 2 or 3 days that I went without "really" putting in the time and the sweat. I know that this started out as me just taking 20 minutes for myself...doing whatever I wanted to do, but I've at some point I started holding myself accountable for the effort that goes into my time. We had lots of family in town this past weekend and I suppose it took me a day or two to get back into my rhythm. But I'm back on top now and decided to add 5lb weights into the mix as well as add .3 speed to my pace. For 45 days I've been trucking along at 3.5mph for 50 minutes, so I'm upping the ante and will start pushing 3.8mph from here on out...maybe. Hey, it IS my time. As for the weights...eehh...if I feel like it, I'll use 'em. I'm down a total of 6 pounds in 46 days. You can do the math. I'm outta here.