Life As of Now.....

So, whats new with me? Well, for starters I have gotten really good at neglecting my blog. I plan to rectify that, and spend more time updating my blog. I really enjoy blogging, so I'm not sure why I don't do it more often.

Right now I am enjoying a break from school and find myself getting bored. It only takes me one day to clean the house really good, then the rest of the week I pick-up in the morning and I am bored for the rest of the afternoon. I need to find a hobby or something! I bought the supplies to make a knot blanket for a friend who is having a baby in March. I haven't started it yet, because I'm nervous! I just don't want to mess it up. I need my Mom to help me get started, then I will be OK to do it on my own. Other than that, nothing new is going on.

My weight loss is progressing and I feel better than ever. I am trying to get on an exercise routine, but I've been lazy. It's too cold to go to the park and walk, which is what I really love to do. I have a Wii Fit, but exercising in the house isn't any fun, so I put it off every chance I get. After school starts next week, I plan to get into a routine and then start exercising.

That's all for now.
-BB

No Hiatus Here.....

I'm still here, I've just had a lot going on that has prevented me from sitting down and writing anything worthwhile.

I'm happy to report that the little furry guy is doing great, and growing like a weed. I took him to get his pictures professionally made in his Halloween costume. They came out great, as soon as I get access to them I will post one. It's obvious that I have no children, because if I did - I would not be spending money to get professional pictures made of my puppy! He is like my child though....

Next semester is still unknown. I am having a lot of trouble at work with unrealistic expectations and crazy demands. It seems as though the "boss" thinks I am not worthy of receiving an education, therefore she is trying to make it nearly impossible for me to take classes next semester. I'm determined to win, and I'm fighting hard - so wish me luck. I am supposed to register for classes on November 11th. I'm planning on registering for the ones I want to take, and hoping that it all works out.

The next couple of weeks are the down-hill slope of this semester. I have several assignments due that will take up most of my free time. I am very relieved that this semester has flown by so fast, because the stress was starting to get to me.

My weight loss is still progressing. I am now down a little more than 47 pounds and wearing a size 10. Yes, you read that right....a SIZE 10!!! I haven't worn a pair of pants this small since I was 15 years old, and it feels great!

Happy Wednesday. I'm on the countdown for Friday! :)
~BB

Goals

As most of you know, I started Weight Watchers on April 1st. In 5 short months, I have lost 40.8 pounds!

When I started weight watchers, I:

• was slowly losing confidence in myself
• was gaining a negative self image
• despised shopping for clothes, especially shirts
• knew if I lost weight, I would be happier with my body
• wore a size 20 pants, and a size XXL shirt

5 Months Later, I:

• have gained a lot of confidence, so much that I do not wear such baggy sweaters
• like to look at myself in the mirror and view the transformation my body is going through
• love shopping for new clothes, but I have more to loose - so I'm not shopping a lot yet.
  
• am a lot happier with my body
• wear a size 12 pants, and a size L or XL shirt - depending on the brand
  

Hitting 40 pounds was big for me because I was a member of Weight Watchers several years ago, and I lost 35 pounds and just gave up. This time is different, I made it to 40 and I'm taking it one day at a time....just wait until I hit 50 pounds....boy what a celebration that will be. No cake though!

I have found losing weight to be so much easier this time, mainly because I plan ahead. I buy fruit on the weekends and bag it individually and place it in the fridge. Every morning on my way to work I grab 2 bags of fruit to take with me. I also mainly eat Lean Cuisine entrees for lunch, because I have to eat at my desk since I am taking classes. I used to think there was too much sodium in Lean Cuisine, but it's not affecting my weight loss. In fact, Lean Cuisine has the Weight Watchers points value printed on the box!

Eating out is not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. A lot of restaurants offer healthier options. At McDonald's I can generally eat a 6 piece Chicken nugget for 6 points, and apple dippers for 1 point. Sometimes, when I'm really hungry, I'll get a fish fillet for 9 points and apple dippers for 1 point. Wendy's, Chick-Fil-A, and Jack in the Box have healthy options too.

Grocery shopping is important. The menu for dinner is planned in advance, then I know how many points I can eat during the day, so I have enough points left for dinner and a snack late in the evening if I'm still hungry.

I'm happy, and that's what is important. I can't wait to reach 50 pounds and tell you all how happy I am then, too!
-BB

Organization is Key

In order to be successful, and have the minimal amount of stress possible.... I must be organized.

I feel like I'm organized. Last night, I made a list of everything I needed to remember to bring with me to work today. I managed to bring everything on my list, imagine that! An unorganized Monday is bad enough, but an unorganized Monday and first day of the semester is disastrous!

Of course, the menu is planned for the week as well....

Monday - Dinner Out (Japanese, yum!)
Tuesday - Class Late. Chicken Nuggets & Apple Dippers from McDonald's
Wednesday - Grilled Chicken Sausage with Artichokes & Mozzarella, Au Gratin Potatoes, Corn
Thursday - Class Late. Fish Fillet & Apple Dippers from McDonald's

Do you see how busy = no cooking? I don't have time! I wont be home until after 9 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. On Monday evenings we go to Weight Watchers and don't get home until 7 or later. It looks like Wednesday will be the only night to cook a good meal and relax. Of course, there is always Friday too. Usually on Friday, we eat the leftovers in the fridge from Monday - Thursday. This week, it will probably be pancakes or something quick and easy!

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about starting this semester and completing 4 more classes. But, man...is it going to be a slow wait for finals in December!

-BB

Meow

This little girl showed up last weekend, and she's still hanging out.....
I can't keep her, because my dog thinks she's a snack. I have to bring her in to let him out. It's really just a zoo around my house right now. I have been feeding her, and we gave her a flea bath the other night. So, she smells good and is well nourished for her new owner. Hum...not I just have to find her a suitable home!

Weigh in was great on Monday night, I was down 1.8 more pounds - for a grand total of 36.6 pounds lost so far!!

Tomorrow is Friday!!
-BB

Monday Madness

I had a busy weekend, and I am paying for it! Two days at the lake makes for a sore, sore body on Monday morning. I have a bit of sunburn, even though I applied plenty of sunscreen. I can't ever win that battle. After tubing and swimming for hours, I have sore muscles that I have never felt before, seriously! Each and every muscle in my body was used this weekend, I assure you. We had some family visiting, and really enjoyed ourselves. I should have taken today off to recuperate.

School goes back in 2 weeks. Am I ready? More than you know....I just want to get it over with. I hate waiting for things to happen, I'm ready to start today.

This week is going to be nice and relaxed, with no appointments or after work meetings. It will be nice to go home, cook dinner, and relax. I need to catch up on my laundry and house cleaning from the weekend, as it was neglected to enable me to partake in fun activities. I was glad to get some grocery shopping done last night, and plan the menu for the week:

Monday - Take Out/ Eat Out (the decision will be made on the way home from Weight Watchers tonight)

Tuesday - Crab Cakes, Scalloped Potatoes, Green Beans (7 points to total)

Wednesday - Turkey Cheddar Brats, Mashed Potatoes, Sauerkraut (5 points total)

Thursday - California White Pizza, Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette Dressing (8 points total)

Friday - Spinach Filo Pie, Sweet Corn (8 points total)

Because we work so far from home, we rarely have time to make anything from scratch. Although, I did buy the new Hungry Girl cook book (200 Recipes Under 200 Calories), it should arrive in the mail on Wednesday, so next weeks menu may contain actual recipes, I said may.

The crab cakes are from Wal-Mart, and they are only 4 points each. The Turkey Cheddar Brats. are also from Wal-Mart, and are made by Johnsonville. They are 3 points each. The California Pizza Kitchen White Pizza is store bought, frozen thin crust pizza, at 6 points for 1/3 of the pie. It's delicious, and quite filling. Lastly, the Spinach Filo Pie is a Trader Joe's product. We haven't had it before, so we are looking forward to trying it.

Weigh in is tonight, I'm hoping to hit the 35 pound mark, I only have .2 pounds to loose to get there. Cross your fingers for me!

Happy Monday!
-BB

Taking a Time-Out

I'm incredibly busy at work today, but I'm taking a quick time-out to blog. I'm bad, I know!

Vacation/Surprise was very nice. Everyone was surprised and happy to see us. We rushed home on Monday, just in time to weigh in at Weight Watchers. After a 4 day vacation, I am proud to report that I am down 3 more pounds. It wasn't hard staying on track while we were away, I actually found it to be easier.

On another note, McDonald's had the teeny beanie babies that I think are absolutely adorable. I can tell there are a lot of happy meals in my future, yum! Chicken nuggets and apples!

Happy Wednesday everyone! I'm counting down until Friday!!
-BB

Goodbye 30 Pounds!

It is hard to believe that on March 30th I weighed 30 pounds more than I do now, it was only 3 1/2 months ago. I can tell you this though, it feels great!

I am very self conscious about my personal appearance, so when people compliment me I don't know what to say. Don't get me wrong, it's nice - but I'm not a very self-gratifying person. I don't stand in front of my bathroom mirror and say "Damn, I'm hot!" You know what I mean? So when someone says to me "You look fabulous!" or "Wow, you are lookin' good slim!" I have no idea what to say. I want to say "It's hard work", but I don't want to be negative either. I generally just resort to the normal "Thank you".

I thought about what I wanted to share with this post. I decided that I wanted to give people a reason to decide to take a chance and attend a Weight Watchers meeting. When people ask me how I'm doing it, I always tell them that I'm attending Weight Watchers meetings. The normal response is "I can't do it" or "I don't have time" and my personal favorite - "It's too hard." First, let me tell you this, if I can do it - anybody can!

There are 3 reasons I decided to join Weight Watchers:

1. I wanted to improve my self-image and gain more self-confidence. (A.K.A. I didn't want to feel ugly in a bathing suit)
   
   
2. I wanted to learn how and what to eat. This one is especially important, because in order to loose weight and maintain your new healthy lifestyle - you have to learn to like and eat healthy foods.
   
   
3. I wanted stress relief. I know it sounds silly, but I stress about everything - even things I cannot control. Weight loss was something that I could control, so it seems to be a stress reliever for me. Every time I step on the scale and I loose a little weight, I feel more confident, energized, and less stressed. Of course, if I ever gain I will stress. But I won't give up!
   

Part of the success I have experienced is due in part to my Mom. She is also attending Weight Watchers meetings. I have found that the "buddy system" truly works. It is nice to be able to talk to her about my frustrations with what to eat or how much to exercise. She has been a very positive influence on me because I have seen her shed weight and look fabulous - so I know it can be done. She doesn't have as much to loose as I do, but she doesn't let that deter me or her. She is always pushing me to do my best, and I am doing the same for her. Having a buddy to do Weight Watchers with you is motivating. To date, my Mom has lost 25 pounds.

So, I am going to end my 'sales pitch' here and thank all of you who have encouraged me and continue to encourage me. My journey is not over yet, in fact - I have 43.2 more pounds to loose. I am looking forward to the day I hit my goal weight!

Loosing weight makes shopping fun!
-BB

Blogging Interruption

Sorry about that! I have no idea what happened, but I submitted my issue to the Blogger help team, and I'm back!

It's sad, but without my blog, I felt a little out of the loop! I couldn't read my regular bloggers, and I couldn't post anything.

Now that I'm back I'm going to do a little Weekend Update.

After last week, a.k.a. the week that felt like FOREVER, I needed to rest this weekend. Friday night was nice and quiet with a quick trip to Taco Bell for some yummy fresco style low-fat tacos, and a stroll around the grocery store to grab a few necessities.

On Saturday we had doggy doctor (vet) appointment bright and early. The worst part was it was hot and the dog cannot ride in the car with the windows up. He is a Great Dane. Big, huge, slobbery dog! Eh, but I love him anyway! In the evening I had planned a night out with friends, and as expected - it was fun! With all of our busy lives, it seems like we never find time to get together and just hang out anymore.

Sunday was a lazy/busy day. It was supposed to be lazy, but it ended up busy with some shopping that needed to be done for an upcoming trip. Yes, a "vacation" of sorts.

On Friday, my Mom and I are driving 9 hours to the north (our hometown) for a family get together. We're not telling anyone in our family because we want it to be a surprise, and even more so - if we tell them they will all want to make dinner plans, and our "vacation" will turn into a busy whirlwind weekend with no rest and relaxation. And, if I recall correctly, aren't you supposed to rest and relax on your vacation?

I'm sure it will be fun, hectic, and exhausting! I called and made the hotel reservations today, and sometime this week I will need to find the time to do laundry and pack a bag.

Hustle Bustle, as always! Weigh-in tonight!!
-BB

What a week, it's a blur....

Monday was a horrible day, I'm just going to be honest.

I had the hardest time making it though the day with a slight headache and an urgent need to sleep. I barely kept my eyes open until 5 pm, then Mom and I went to Weight Watchers.

The best part was that I was down 1.2 more pounds, for a total of 29.4 pounds. I am now able to fit into some jeans that I absolutely love, and it's very obvious that I have lost a good amount of weight.

Friday we went to Sam's Club and bought lots of fruit and bagged it in individual 1 cup servings. Yum! It makes the best snack ever. We bought Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Watermelon and Strawberries. If you're watching what you eat and trying to loose weight, I recommend having fresh fruits and vegetables prepared and ready to eat, otherwise you may be tempted to eat something fattening, that's quicker to prepare.

I absolutely could not pry myself out of bed yesterday, I still had an intense headache. Then, there was the lack of sleep from having such a headache, so to top it all off I was sick to my stomach. I called in and slept until 10 am. Then it was time to get up and go to the chiropractor for an adjustment, which finally alleviated my neck/headache pain. He didn't seem too surprised that I was in a pain, and he was able to pinpoint exactly where the pain was the most intense. It gave me hope that he will be able to help me, and one day I may not have to pop Excedrin like it's candy. I hate taking medicine, I know how bad it is for my liver, not to mention I have a very hard time swallowing pills. After the doctor, I came home and laid on the couch all afternoon with ice on my neck. It was nice to relax, just me and the dog.

I'm back at work again today, getting a lot done too. I feel much better, I'm still very tired - I don't think I'll ever get enough sleep.
-BB

Ouchie.....

My doctors appointment on Thursday went well. They took x-rays at all different angles and determined that I have some alignment issues. I am going to see a cervical spine specialist today, hopefully they will be able to help me find some relief. While I was at the neurologist, they went ahead and did a steroid injection into my neck muscles. It was 3 different sticks of a VERY large needle. Ouch!!! It was painful, but I had relief all weekend, until this morning. I'm glad I'm going to the specialist this afternoon! In 4 weeks I go back to the neurologist for a check-up, and if I haven't gotten relief, we are going to explore other avenues, including doing an MRI. I really liked the neurologist, he seemed genuinely concerned and ready to do whatever was necessary to make me feel better, and better yet - he didn't just hand me a prescription and send me home...he ordered imaging, and referred me to a specialist! This has been going on for 4 years, and I finally think there might be a light at end of the tunnel!

I have to tell you again how amazing Keith Urban is. If you like country music, you absolutely must go to one of his concerts. If you don't - you are definitely missing out.

My summer class is over this Thursday, and my exam is next Tuesday. Can you say excitement?!?!? I have 2 big assignments due on Thursday, one is 3/4 of the way finished, and I haven't even started the other one - I'm such a procrastinator. It will all get done in time though, I am sure of it.

Mom and I weighed in last night because my class got out early. I lost 1.6 pounds for a total of 26.2 pounds. I was so excited to hit 25 pounds, I nearly cried. It is exciting to hit a milestone. My next "goal" is to loose 10 more pounds, and go from there. It seems like setting small goals helps me stay focused on the prize...which is - wearing at least a size 10, or smaller. I'd love for it to be smaller.

That's all for today, nothing too exciting - just a quick update.
-BB

Sunday Post?!? What!

I had a bit of free time, so I thought I would make an attempt at a Sunday post.

I've already walked/ran for a good while this morning, I'm not sure of the distance because it is not marked at the park - but it was long enough for the dog to decide he needed a nap. He's laying on the floor next to my chair panting. He is so wore out, he doesn't even want a drink of water - poor guy! I guess I'll have to leave him home next time. I remember when I first started going to the park, I felt like that too. I'm glad I've gotten my body in better shape and I can handle a little walk/run without being absolutely worn out.

I'm getting ready to eat a quick bite for lunch, then I'm headed to EBF's house to lay by the in ground pool and soak up the sun for the afternoon. There is a perk to maintaining a friendship with the Ex's family, and in this case it happens to be that his Mom and Dad love me, I'd venture to say a little more than him - and they practically beg me to come swimming in the summer. I rarely ever take them up on their offer, but it's hot today - and I'm ready to swim!!

I'm off to get ready!
-BB

Made it through the weekend....

Where did the weekend go? Seriously, it went by way to fast. I didn't get half of the things accomplished that I had on my "to do" list.

Friday night was an uneventful dinner out and mandatory Wal*Mart shopping trip for necessities, such as nail polish and foot creme to give myself an at home pedicure. It was nice, and much cheaper than going to the salon. Of course, it was work! I wear sandals or flip flips almost everyday, so it is very important that I have pretty feet. I have a foot soaking machine that vibrates and has rollers to massage my feet. It seemed like a silly purchase at the time, but it was worth it - my Mom and I both use it a lot.

Saturday was a nice, relaxing day. A good friend brought her little girl over. We had a girls lunch date, along with a trip to the park to feed the ducks. In the afternoon I went to get my eyebrows waxed by my favorite hairdresser, and while I was there I made a long overdue appointment to get my hair cut for real, like 1 inch or more. Seriously, it is getting so long that the split ends have a style of their own. It doesn't look too bad, but that is only because I'm a 'magician' when it comes to styling my hair, and concealing all the ugly parts.

After my eyebrown appointment, my brother, SIL, EBF, and I went out on the lake for a few hours. It was nice and breezy, and the sun was out so I had a chance to work on my tan. I am as white as I've ever been, this is the first year I haven't laid in the tanning bed to get a base tan before spending weekends on the lake. Saturday night was just lazy. I napped, watched recorded shows on the DVR, and cleaned up a bit.

Then today started with an early trip to the mall, and home to take an afternoon nap to sleep off the headache I developed. My throat was sore most of the day, and the headache still won't let up. I gave up on sleeping it off when it only got worse and made me feel sick to my stomach. I ate a light dinner, then my parents and I headed to the park to get in some exercise.

Notice I haven't mentioned homework yet? Yup. I didn't do any of it until late this evening after doing some grocery shopping for the week. I sat down and started on it, but I didn't get it all done. Tomorrow is another day.

I'm still sad that the weekend went by so fast. My car didn't get cleaned, and I didn't get as much homework done as I wanted to. However, it was nice to spend a relaxing day on the lake Saturyday, and buy some smaller clothes today.

I'm weighing in on Friday's now since I have class on Monday night. I lost 4.4 pounds last week to bring my total weight loss to just a little over 23 pounds. I've officially lost a great percentage of my total body weight, and I am down 2 pants sizes. I'm not going to go buy all new clothes, I will just look like a "bag lady" for a while, wearing all my larger clothes. I don't want to splurge on a new wardrobe when I have more weight to get rid of!

Better get to bed, morning comes far to early!
-BB

Buried

That's right, I am buried under piles of stuff. Stuff to do, stuff to see, stuff to make, stuff.... lots of stuff.

On top of being crazy, insane busy, it is also crazy insane hot here, see Exhibit A:
The reason I am so busy, is entirely my own fault. You see, I decided that I would take a 4 week summer class that meets every evening Monday through Thursday. I did not expect the instructor to cram an entire semester into 4 weeks, but she did. I'm doing the work and neglecting other things - like my blog.

Then of course, I have volunteer work that I do. We have a big event coming up next month, and I am doing a lot of the pre-planning. Naturally because the event is in 4 weeks, I've got a lot of loose ends to tie up and meetings to attend every Thursday night after class. When I have a meeting after class, I have to literally run from my class, to the parking deck and drive exactly the speed limit all the way home to get there on time (I don't speed, it's dangerous).

Then, there is life in general. You know - showers, sleep, food, and socializing with friends and family. I have to actually plan my evening so I can get a shower and get in bed before 11. I have planned to work on homework every single Saturday this month until the class is finished, and on Tuesday nights - I plan to lay around in my pajamas and do NOTHING. Yup, I have to plan stuff like being lazy and showering. That's how busy I am. Pathetic - I know.

I got fed up with being busy last night and rebelled. I went to visit EBF's Mom, who is like my second Mom. Her sister is in town visiting and I just adore them. They are so laid back, unscripted, and a breath of fresh air. Sitting on their porch in the wicker furniture with a glass of tea eating Amish Friendship bread was the best hour of my week so far. They really helped me relax. I didn't tell them I was feeling overwhelmed, or even talk about my life. We just talked about shopping, dogs, shoes, and other random stuff. We relaxed and enjoyed each others company. It was nice! I need to make time to do stuff like that more often.

They are night owls and could sit up all night and talk - the even mentioned staying up to watch reruns on TV Land. But, I had to go, it was 10:30 and I had to get up early this morning for work. My brain wouldn't shut down so I stared at the ceiling in my bedroom until 3 am, then I got up at 6. Now I'm sitting here trying to stay awake with black rings under my eyes.

The good news is that I'm wearing an outfit today that I haven't been able to wear in quite a while. I'm officially down 1.8 more pounds for a total of 19.2. I can't wait until Friday to see if I hit the 20 pound mark!

No FTF this week, too much going on.

-BB

Time Management

The older I get, the worse I am at properly managing my time. There never seems to be enough time in the day to fit that nap in that I crave - when I was in High School, I always had time for a nap when I got home. Now, I run in the door at 6 pm or later, and I'm ready for bed by 8 - but force myself to stay up until 10 so I can get some stuff done around the house, and feel like a contributing member of the household. I know I'm not the only one in the house who feels like that - but darn! I wish I had more time to just relax!

I was planning to go for a walk tonight, and burn off some excess calories, but I have a meeting after work that begins at 7:30. It's my own fault, yet another one of my "extracurricular" activities. Now, I have to rush home, eat dinner, change clothes, and go to my meeting. Then, the meeting won't be over until 9 or 9:30 - I will have to rush home, get a shower, prepare for tomorrow and hopefully get into bed by Midnight. I just hope I have enough time. I cannot procrastinate between now and 7:30. I must leave work promptly at 5, hope and pray that some impatient driver hasn't caused yet another accident during my 40 mile commute, and prepare dinner, eat and clean up all before 7. Then change clothes, and relax for 10 minutes before running out the door! Whew. I am winded just thinking about it.

Good news? I lost 0.8 pounds last week. I was elated to have lost because I have been loosing at least a pound every week - so I figured it is bound to catch up with me, and one of these weeks I'm going to stay exactly the same in my weight. The even better news is, that I am wearing one of my smaller sized skirts today and a lady who works in my building, but not with me, commented that she thought I looked different. I proudly told her that I had been watching what I'm eating and trying to shed some weight for summer. It was nice to be recognized!

I'm off to work my butt off until 5, then home to run around like a chicken with my head cut off!
-BB

Monday? Already?!?

The weekend went by far to fast. It feels like it was just Friday, and now it's Monday!

I had a very relaxing and eventful weekend. First, it rained off and on all weekend, so I didn't get a chance to clean my car very well. I washed it, then 20 minutes later we got a downpour, then the sun was out again. Welcome to the South!

On Sunday I went downstairs to the basement and went through bins of clothes that were from my skinnier days. Nothing like a little motivation! I had several pairs of pants that now fit me, so I brought them up and washed them. Then I cleaned all the "bigger" clothes out of my closet and moved them to the basement. It felt great!

Other than that, I did a lot of shopping and only bought a pair of shoes, sunglasses, and a shirt. Nothing too exciting!

I weigh in tonight - wish me luck!
-BB

Random Tuesday Tidbits

The beach was fun, but it's back to reality!

I'm out of school for 2 weeks, then summer classes start, and I'll be back in school for a month before another short break. It will be nice to get my summer class over with and out of the way. I got my final grades for the 2 classes I took this semester, I got an A and a B. I'm very happy with those grades, even if 2 A's would have been better. I'm just glad I'm done with those classes!

More about the beach....the weather was beautiful, and the water was cold. However, our hotel had several heated indoor and outdoor pools that were very nice, and we got a lot of use out of them.It was a very fun, relaxing trip.

Today I have long list of things to do at work,and at home. I'm off to clean and organize my office and our storage room. Hopefully I get everything done today so the rest of the week is relaxed....wishful thinking!

I weighed last night, I was down 1.6 more pounds for a total of 16.6!

It's Tuesday! Only 3 days until Friday!
-BB

Reminiscing

Sometimes, when I get bored I read old posts. You see, I have been blogging since 2006, just not on this blog. My other blogs weren't very private, so I decided to start this one and keep it completely private and not reveal my identity, so I don't have to blog in fear.

For me, blogging is like writing in an online diary, except you get feedback from great blogging friends, and advice from people who don't judge you based on the way you look or the house you live in. Get it? I love blogging.

Anyway, reading old posts made me feel good about myself. I could see myself then, and where I am now - and I truly believe I have accomplished a lot. Including getting EBF out of my life, and on to another poor unsuspecting victim.

Speaking of accomplishing a lot....I am moving along on my never ending list. I need to get a lot accomplished at work today since I am only working 4 days this week. I got one of my final grades this morning, it was an A! I take my last final on Thursday, and I'm hoping to get my final grade by Monday morning.

On the Weight Watchers end of things, according to the scale last night I am down another 3.6 pounds, for a total of 15 pounds.

I don't notice it as much as I would like to, I am one of those people who always want more, but in reality - I'm not going to fit into a size 6 overnight. However, my jeans are fitting a lot looser, and people are commenting on how you can really see that I've lost weight mainly in my face. Apparently I had a fat face, which is now disappearing. Hum..I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not. Ha ha.

I'm off to get more done at work, then lunch with a group of friends who I haven't seen in almost a year! :)
-BB

Menu Planning...

Adventurous is going to describe my Menu. That's right, I know it is Wednesday and planning your Menu and Grocery list in the middle of the week is a little strange, but I got paid today - hence the reason for a menu, I can now afford to go to the grocery store! :)

Wednesday
Kashi Pancakes
Turkey Sausage

Thursday
Hot Dogs
French Fries

Friday
Dinner Out

Saturday
Scrambled Eggs, Turkey Sausage and English Muffins for Breakfast

Slow Cooker Chicken Burritos
Southwest Style Corn

Sunday
Wild Blueberry Muffins for breakfast

Pasta with Spaghetti Sauce, and Turkey Sausage
Salad with Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette Dressing

Monday
Dinner Out

Tuesday
Marinated Grilled Chicken
Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans

Wednesday
Dinner Out

Thursday
Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs
Rice

This is the plan for the next week, then I'm beach bound, yet again, for three glorious days!

If you want any recipes, e-mail me at miss.beach.bound@gmail.com and I will gladly e-mail them to you. I have them all saved on my computer for easy access. I'm one of those people who has to cook with the laptop on the counter, away from the liquids, of course!

It's supposed to rain here for the next 4 days! :(

-BB

Changed Woman

After 6 years of wearing glasses, very fashionable glasses, I have switched to contacts. I love them! I always feared I wouldn't be able to get my finger close enough to my eye to get the contact in, but so far - I haven't had any trouble. It takes a little bit of patience, but with each passing day it gets easier. If you have glasses, and you are thinking about getting contacts - go for it! They're great!

I can wear regular sunglasses, and even better - I don't have a glare on my computer screen anymore. :)

The beach trip was awesome. We really relaxed and just enjoyed it. We didn't see anything related to the wildfires except for a few helicopters. The area of devastation was mainly a gated community, so you couldn't get in to see anything. I enjoyed it so much that I am planning another trip in 2 weeks with a friend. I love the beach!

On another note, I was down 1.8 last night, for a total of 11.6 total! :)

Hope your Tuesday is Fabulous! :)
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