My bestest friend, Jennifer, has challenged herself to read 52 books in 2007. She writes reviews of the books and posts them here.
She has added a fun little challenge for herself where she will select one of us to choose her 30th book to read. The best part - she will send us her copy of the book once she's done! A free book, and a well-written review! What's better than that?
I hope you'll join me in entering the contest. All you have to do is write a comment on this post by Friday. Easy-shmeesy. And I promise, Jenn doesn't bite. :)
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
I've Never Been So Excited About A Keyring
I've reached some major weight loss milestones.
First, I am down a size in pants and shirts. My old jeans are pretty much falling off. I have been adjusting my belt 4 notches from where I used to be.
Second, I am over half-way to my weight loss goal.
Third, I have lost 18 pounds in 9 weeks - that is a 2-pound-per-week average.
Fourth, two people who I haven't seen in months have taken one look at me and said, "Wow - you've lost a lot of weight!" That makes me happy, because it's hard to see the difference on myself since it is gradual.
Fourth, I have lost over 10% of my original weight. With the 10% loss, Weight Watchers gives out a keyring.
I'm so damn proud of that stupid thing. :)
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Happy Birthday to My Son
Today, Ethan turns 3.Where has the year gone?
Into mud puddles, and belly laughs,
into super snacks, and Buzz Lightyear,
into squeezy hugs, and climbing monkey bars,
into being a great friend, and loving preschool,
into a new favorite color (pink), and spaceships.
I can't wait to see where the next year will go.
Birthday breakfast to Ethan's specs: Rice Krispies with 3 big strawberries (stems cut off, Mom!)
The "Birthday Boy" hat
Ethan's lunch request: Sunshine PBJ with carrots and crackers (the dip in the middle is yogurt)
"I'm THREE!"Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Nine is Fine
Nine years ago today, I woke up after a very restful night of sleep.
I walked out of my room to the "today's the day!" sign my Mom had made for me.
I danced in the living room with my Dad.
I got my hair done with my Mom, bridesmaids and nieces.
I arrived at the church in my Dad's button down shirt and a pair of shorts.
I got fully dressed in the priests' vestibule.
My friend Amy put a penny in my shoe for good luck.
I watched the bridesmaids and groomsmen walk to the front of a beautiful church with our loved ones there.
I watched Mark walk down the aisle between his parents, waiting for me with a small smile on his face and tears in his eyes.
I listened to the music change.
I took my parents' arms and walked slowly down that same aisle.
My heart was leaping and I could only focus on the man waiting for me.
My Dad stepped on my dress. :)
After what seemed like forever, I finally recited my promises to Mark.
After what seemed like forever again, I finally kissed my husband and walked back down that aisle.
It was simply amazing.
Happy Anniversary to the man who still looks at me with that small tearful smile, and still makes my heart leap.
I walked out of my room to the "today's the day!" sign my Mom had made for me.
I danced in the living room with my Dad.
I got my hair done with my Mom, bridesmaids and nieces.
I arrived at the church in my Dad's button down shirt and a pair of shorts.
I got fully dressed in the priests' vestibule.
My friend Amy put a penny in my shoe for good luck.
I watched the bridesmaids and groomsmen walk to the front of a beautiful church with our loved ones there.
I watched Mark walk down the aisle between his parents, waiting for me with a small smile on his face and tears in his eyes.
I listened to the music change.
I took my parents' arms and walked slowly down that same aisle.
My heart was leaping and I could only focus on the man waiting for me.
My Dad stepped on my dress. :)
After what seemed like forever, I finally recited my promises to Mark.
After what seemed like forever again, I finally kissed my husband and walked back down that aisle.
It was simply amazing.
Happy Anniversary to the man who still looks at me with that small tearful smile, and still makes my heart leap.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Garage Sale Philosophies
Garage Sale Mantras
Mark: Put a "25 cents" sticker on it. It'll sell! [a.k.a. EVERYTHING must go!]
Trista: If the sale is neatly organized, everyone will buy more. [We got at least 15 comments about how this was the most organized garage sale people had been to.]
Abby: If it's an item of girls clothes or shoes, and I have ever worn it in my life, it's still mine and you can't have it!
Ethan: Wow.... look at all these toys!!
The end of the Garage Sale
Day two of garage sale. Final day.
First customer wanders in at 9:15.
Big items sold: 2 highchairs, my mom's comforter set, countertop dishwasher.
Little items sold: A TON more clothes (how in the heck are half the clothes still there???), housewares.
Day two total: $282
Grand total: $897 (including $100 owed to my mom and my neighbor)
Who would have ever thought we could make $800 at a garage sale???
First customer wanders in at 9:15.
Big items sold: 2 highchairs, my mom's comforter set, countertop dishwasher.
Little items sold: A TON more clothes (how in the heck are half the clothes still there???), housewares.
Day two total: $282
Grand total: $897 (including $100 owed to my mom and my neighbor)
Who would have ever thought we could make $800 at a garage sale???
Friday, May 11, 2007
Man, am I tired
Day one of the garage sale.
People started showing up at 7:30 (the sale didn't officially start until 9:00).
Big items sold: 3 exersaucers, the swing, the crib, 2 strollers.
Little items sold: A TON of clothes, lots of toys.
Day One Total: $615.
Holy cow.
People started showing up at 7:30 (the sale didn't officially start until 9:00).
Big items sold: 3 exersaucers, the swing, the crib, 2 strollers.
Little items sold: A TON of clothes, lots of toys.
Day One Total: $615.
Holy cow.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Busy busy busy
I've been incredibly busy lately. One of my priorities is a garage sale I'll be having this weekend.This is the official "we are done having babies" sale. We gave ourselves a deadline of Ethan's birthday (in 2 weeks) to have a match or adoption placement. Since it doesn't look like that will happen, we are cleaning out our house of all of the stuff that goes with babies and toddlers!
Included is 40 boxes of girl/boy clothes up to size 3T, a crib, swing, exersaucer, stroller, infant car seat, bottles and sippy cups, tons of toys, etc. It's all going to leave my house one way or another! ;) I'll let you know how I do!
Friday, April 27, 2007
10.5 in 4
WW results: Down 10.5 pounds in just 4 weeks! Woohoo! My clothes are definitely feeling looser - I can't wait to buy new things in smaller sizes.
I LOVE this program. I am no longer eating beyond being hungry. And I eat foods that are much healthier. AND I even eat dessert every single day! What's not to love??
Mark has also been doing well - down 6.5 pounds!
I LOVE this program. I am no longer eating beyond being hungry. And I eat foods that are much healthier. AND I even eat dessert every single day! What's not to love??
Mark has also been doing well - down 6.5 pounds!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
WW Update
The good news: I'm down 7-1/4 pounds from last week.
The bad news: I had the stomach flu.
Coincidence?
I think not.
[I do estimate that about 2-1/2 pounds was true loss, while the other 5ish pounds were flu-related - probably mostly water. Boo.]
The bad news: I had the stomach flu.
Coincidence?
I think not.
[I do estimate that about 2-1/2 pounds was true loss, while the other 5ish pounds were flu-related - probably mostly water. Boo.]
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Friday, April 06, 2007
WW Progress
I'm into my 2nd week of Weight Watchers. At my weigh-in on Wednesday, I discovered that I lost 3/4 pound! This isn't a huge weight loss, but it's significant because I had two birthday parties to attend this past weekend (with lots of foods that are worth lots of points). I still lost weight - and I even ate birthday cake at both parties! Woohoo!
The biggest self-discovery over the past week has been that I often eat beyond being hungry. I will eat until I feel "stuffed" instead of just "full." That's my problem at meal-time. Another problem is grabbing food when I'm bored, or it's just sitting in front of me, despite my hunger level. And my third big problem is choosing really high-fat or high-sugar foods over healthier options.
I feel good about my progress. We'll see what week 2 has in store for me!
The biggest self-discovery over the past week has been that I often eat beyond being hungry. I will eat until I feel "stuffed" instead of just "full." That's my problem at meal-time. Another problem is grabbing food when I'm bored, or it's just sitting in front of me, despite my hunger level. And my third big problem is choosing really high-fat or high-sugar foods over healthier options.
I feel good about my progress. We'll see what week 2 has in store for me!
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Bye bye, cheese
You know my cheese cooking challenge? I'm going to have to give it up.
I have been feeling really, really tired this past winter. More so than usual, although I always feel run down when winter comes. I have had my thyroid checked in hopes that there might be an explanation. But everything is normal.
I have figured it must be extra weight I am carrying, paired with lack of exercise. All of it only exacerbated by a less-than-ideal diet. So, Weight Watchers seemed the way go to.
I joined Weight Watchers last Thursday. And honestly, I don't feel deprived of food at all. I feel great! And I am now very conscious of eating when I'm actually hungry for food instead of just bored.
If you don't know, the "flex plan" of WW is based on a point system. I have so many "points" to spend each day on food, plus additional discretionary points to use throughout the week. So, I have been heavily researching what foods are worth what point values to see what foods I am willing to "save up" points for and which can be let go. In my research, I discovered that my normal Steak 'N' Shake meal costs almost 3 days worth of points - - - all in one meal! (64 points, for those WW fans!). Bye bye, Steak'N'Shake.
It's been really good, and I'm really confident I can lose weight on this plan. I'm excited! I'm really blessed, too, because Mark is doing it with me, which helps me out so much. There is no temptation to eat a giant piece of cake if Mark isn't eating one in front of me. I can hardly wait to weigh in tomorrow!
I have been feeling really, really tired this past winter. More so than usual, although I always feel run down when winter comes. I have had my thyroid checked in hopes that there might be an explanation. But everything is normal.
I have figured it must be extra weight I am carrying, paired with lack of exercise. All of it only exacerbated by a less-than-ideal diet. So, Weight Watchers seemed the way go to.
I joined Weight Watchers last Thursday. And honestly, I don't feel deprived of food at all. I feel great! And I am now very conscious of eating when I'm actually hungry for food instead of just bored.
If you don't know, the "flex plan" of WW is based on a point system. I have so many "points" to spend each day on food, plus additional discretionary points to use throughout the week. So, I have been heavily researching what foods are worth what point values to see what foods I am willing to "save up" points for and which can be let go. In my research, I discovered that my normal Steak 'N' Shake meal costs almost 3 days worth of points - - - all in one meal! (64 points, for those WW fans!). Bye bye, Steak'N'Shake.
It's been really good, and I'm really confident I can lose weight on this plan. I'm excited! I'm really blessed, too, because Mark is doing it with me, which helps me out so much. There is no temptation to eat a giant piece of cake if Mark isn't eating one in front of me. I can hardly wait to weigh in tomorrow!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
JUST.SHUT. UP.
Why in the *bleep* are we Moms so judgemental of each other??
Take this woman I am friendly with in my Moms Group. She is wild and crazy and hilarious. She is kind and friendly. But I sometimes just want to tell her to SHUT. UP.
On more than one occasion several of us moms have been discussing potty training. Although Abby and Ethan are now pretty much done with potty training, it took a loooooong time to get there. And it was the most frustrating parenting task I have had to complete. So these discussions with other moms (who share their own potty training woes) usually make me feel better about my own situation. I am definitely not alone.
And then my spunky friend (let's call her Sonya) always jumps in.
"Potty training after age 2???" she always asks, shocked by such a concept. "My kids were all done by their second birthday. And the longest it took me was two weeks to potty train."
At times like that, I want to tell her to JUST.SHUT.UP. Unfortunately, there are other instances when Sonya opens her mouth when it should remain closed.
The other day, my friend was sharing with the group how she was locking her son into his room at night because he had gotten up a few times in the middle of the night and gotten into dangerous things before his parents discovered him. Her pediatrician recommended locking him in for his own safety. (Boy, can I relate!)
Sonya pipes up with, "My kids wouldn't dare do that. When I tell them no, they listen!"
Again, I want to tell her to JUST.SHUT.UP.
I don't think Sonya intends to insult us. And really, it doesn't make me feel badly about my parenting abilities when she says these things. But I recognize that as Moms, we are all vulnerable at certain points in our parenting. Sometimes comments like these can push us over the edge. They can make us question our decisions. And make us feel like we're doing a rotten job. Not exactly the pick-me-up that we so often need.
So whenever I hear a "Sonya" spouting off about how their kids would never do "X" or about how easy it is to get your kids to do "Y", I silently think JUST.SHUT.UP.
And then I get an evil smirk on my face as I hatch a plan to send Abby to her house for just one week. I bet she'd change her tune. ;)
Take this woman I am friendly with in my Moms Group. She is wild and crazy and hilarious. She is kind and friendly. But I sometimes just want to tell her to SHUT. UP.
On more than one occasion several of us moms have been discussing potty training. Although Abby and Ethan are now pretty much done with potty training, it took a loooooong time to get there. And it was the most frustrating parenting task I have had to complete. So these discussions with other moms (who share their own potty training woes) usually make me feel better about my own situation. I am definitely not alone.
And then my spunky friend (let's call her Sonya) always jumps in.
"Potty training after age 2???" she always asks, shocked by such a concept. "My kids were all done by their second birthday. And the longest it took me was two weeks to potty train."
At times like that, I want to tell her to JUST.SHUT.UP. Unfortunately, there are other instances when Sonya opens her mouth when it should remain closed.
The other day, my friend was sharing with the group how she was locking her son into his room at night because he had gotten up a few times in the middle of the night and gotten into dangerous things before his parents discovered him. Her pediatrician recommended locking him in for his own safety. (Boy, can I relate!)
Sonya pipes up with, "My kids wouldn't dare do that. When I tell them no, they listen!"
Again, I want to tell her to JUST.SHUT.UP.
I don't think Sonya intends to insult us. And really, it doesn't make me feel badly about my parenting abilities when she says these things. But I recognize that as Moms, we are all vulnerable at certain points in our parenting. Sometimes comments like these can push us over the edge. They can make us question our decisions. And make us feel like we're doing a rotten job. Not exactly the pick-me-up that we so often need.
So whenever I hear a "Sonya" spouting off about how their kids would never do "X" or about how easy it is to get your kids to do "Y", I silently think JUST.SHUT.UP.
And then I get an evil smirk on my face as I hatch a plan to send Abby to her house for just one week. I bet she'd change her tune. ;)
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Lunch and a Show
The kids serenaded us over lunch today. Enjoy!
Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos
Photo Sharing - Upload Video - Video Sharing - Share Photos
Friday, March 23, 2007
Our First Adoption Question
We have always been open with Abby and Ethan about their adoptions. We "discuss" it with them (more like a monologue, actually). We have pictures of their birthfamilies on the fridge and talk about them. I've even used other women's pregnancies to bring up the subject of how babies grown in tummies, and Abby and Ethan grew in M's and S's tummies. I've often wondered how much has been getting through.
Wednesday, when we arrived at preschool, we spotted another mom with her child entering the building. Something about her must have looked familiar to Ethan. He then asked me, "is that my birthmom?" I explained that no, it wasn't his birthmom, S.
Now that the door is opening, I'm curious to see what other questions are going to come out.
Wednesday, when we arrived at preschool, we spotted another mom with her child entering the building. Something about her must have looked familiar to Ethan. He then asked me, "is that my birthmom?" I explained that no, it wasn't his birthmom, S.
Now that the door is opening, I'm curious to see what other questions are going to come out.
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