Freezing….

Why does it seem when I cut calories I freeze? No matter if I’m working out to the point of drenched or sitting on my butt driving the bus I am cold? I cut calories, I cut fat, I eat healthy and my body freezes. I’m not impressed with being so cold all the time. I mean I live in Minnesota where being warm this time of year takes lots of layers but even with my wool socks, my long johns, a t-shirt and a sweatshirt I am still cold. UGH!!!!

Weigh in was today. Down 4 lbs. I’m going to continue with the bland diet next week because my stomach is finally starting to feel normal again. I’ll add a few more calories then I was having but they will still be bland. I was having such stomach pains and heart burn and all it has felt awesome to not being having that. It also makes a difference I am back on my tummy meds but just OTC stuff, same brand but less dosage. As long as the pain is gone and the weight is heading in the right direction.

Tomorrow starts my triathlon. 2.4 miles in the pool which is 85 laps (up and back) in our pool at the gym. I am figuring 3x a week, 15 laps each time and I’ll have this down in just under two weeks (I’ll try for more) The will come 112 miles on the bike. 3x a week for 3 weeks will mean I have to ride a bit over 12 miles each time. This I will hate each time because …. well Michele knows what I think about riding bikes …. bike riding isn’t my favorite sport. Then will come 26.2 miles walking/running, 4x a week for the last week at just over 6 miles each time. 7 weeks to complete. I’m not positive why I signed up for this other than I know I needed to kick start my exercise again and what better way then to try and win something in the process.

So it’s onward and downward with the scale and upwards to a new week, new challenges and learning some useful life skills in the life of a thinner person. Not a skinny minny, that’s not for me but a healthy chunk of a woman.

Blessings my friends.

Hungry, hungry….hippo….

You know that hungry dude on the commercial, that cute cuddly orange guy? Well my hungry dude doesn’t look at all like that mines more like this:

Go ahead and piss this dude off. You should hear him, he growls, screams, farts and wants to eat…not just now but all the time. I have been ignoring him since the 1st about noon time and boy is he upset. Now I’m doing my damnest to just ignore him but he’s loud, really really loud.

I have been following the plan, to the letter…no cheats at all… and plan on keeping it up. I have packed my lunch and supper already. I have a basketball activity this afternoon/evening so won’t be home to fix anything and I know better than to think I’ll wait until I get home to eat. I am leaving at noon and getting home at 8 so I’m planning. Here’s what I got…

8 oz of fruit. Banana, cutie and apple.

 

Eggs and tomato.

For Breakfast it’s SF instant breakfast and 1% milk. And to keep the hole full it’s 100 oz of water.

I’m going to go and work out but nothing to stressing with these few calories, just enough to get me moving again. I’m thinking 30 minutes walking and 30 minutes swimming which according to the activity calorie counter it’s about 400 calories used up.

My fingernails are gold. I had to paint them with something and since I only have some very bright fingernail polish from a project, I picked a color that didn’t scream look at me, but covered them up so I hopefully will just keep them out of my mouth. You know, when you think about it, putting my fingers in my mouth to chew on a fingernail is really, really gross but for some reason I’m not thinking about that when I’m chewing. YUCK!!!! Gotta think, GOTTA THINK!!!

So all this means I’m on track. Working hard and getting back into what really shouldn’t of been left behind. Can’t change that, can only plan for the future and live in the day. So that’s what I’m doing.

Today I found a plane ticket for $311 to get Mike home the end of February. I am still hoping to find it a bit less and than with a rebate Mike got because his flight missed his connecting flight I can afford to get the Lakes Express to bring him home from the airport. They have a 1/2 off thing going on right now so for $45.00 they will pick him up in the cities, bring him to Brainerd, pick him back up in Brainerd when it’s time to go and take him back to the airport. I can’t drive down there for that plus he’s coming home while I’m working and don’t want to take a day off if I don’t have too. He will get to celebrate his 21st birthday at home with friends and family, the way he wanted to (me too).

So it’s onward and upwards (except for the scale that better be downwards, –2 this am so far). I’m heading out the door shortly but wanted to stop and check in. Hope that the new year is treating you kindly.

Take care and God Bless!!

These are not on my can eat right now, but later maybe….

We’ve all been there: hunger striking before the dinnertime clock, a sudden craving for something sweet, the need for a quick energy boost before working out. The solution? A small and satisfying snack that won’t tip that calorie count over the edge. The problem with snacking is when a quick nibble turns into enough calories to count as a meal, yet our list of healthy, low calorie treats can please any palate.

This list is filled with sizeable options enjoyable enough to devour guilt-free without any diet damage. And while most of these snacks pack a nutritious punch, a few are clearly set out to satisfy that sweet tooth (see #23!). But hey, at 100 calories or less, it’s worth the splurge.

1. Mini PB&F: One fig Newton with 1 teaspoon peanut butter.

2. Chocolate Banana: Half a frozen banana dipped in two squares of melted dark chocolate.

3. Frozen grapes (any color): 1 cup (about 28 grapes), stuck in the freezer for 2+ hours.

4. Honeyed Yogurt: ½ cup nonfat Greek yogurt with a dash of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon honey.

5. Spiced Orange: One orange— about the size of a tennis ball— sprinkled with cinnamon.

6. Grilled Pineapple: 2 ¼-inch thick pineapple rounds (about 1 cup), grilled (or sautéed) for two minutes or until golden.

7. Berries n’ Cream: 1 cup blueberries with 2 tablespoons whipped topping.

8. Stuffed Figs: Two small dried figs with 1 tablespoon reduced-fat ricotta stuffed inside. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

9. Oats n’ Berries:  ⅓ cup rolled oats (cooked with water), topped with cinnamon and ¼ cup fresh berries.

10. Dark Chocolate: One block, or three squares.

11. Nut-Stuffed Date: One Medjool Date filled with one teaspoon natural unsalted almond butter.

12. Chocolate Milk: 6 ounces skim milk mixed with 2 teaspoons chocolate syrup.

13. Cinnamon Applesauce: 1 cup unsweetened applesauce. Or, try this homemade version!

14. Citrus-Berry Salad: 1 cup mixed berry salad (raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and/or blackberries) tossed with one tablespoon fresh-squeezed orange juice.

15. Maple-Pumpkin Yogurt: ½ cup non-fat regular yogurt (go Greek for extra protein!) with 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree and 1 teaspoon maple syrup… like this!

16. Chocolate Pudding: One 4oz package. Try a fat/sugar free version or a homemade one!

17. Chocolate Covered Strawberries: Five strawberries dipped in two squares melted dark chocolate.

18. Tropical Juice Smoothie: ¼ cup pineapple juice, orange juice, and apple juice, blended with ice.

19. Vanilla and Banana Smoothie: ½ cup sliced banana, ¼ cup nonfat vanilla yogurt, and a handful of ice blended until smooth.

20. MYO Banana Chips: One sliced banana dipped in lemon juice and baked.

21. Baked Apple: One tennis ball-sized apple, cored, filled with 1 teaspoon brown sugar and cinnamon, and baked until tender.

22. Fruity Waffles: One 7-grain frozen waffle toasted and topped with ¼ cup fresh mixed berries.

23. Skinny S’more: Two graham crackers with one roasted marshmallow and one small square dark chocolate.

24. Cinnamon Graham Crackers & Peanut butter: Two graham cracker squares with 1 teaspoon peanut butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

25. Cereal and Milk: ½ cup rice krispies with ½ cup skim milk.

26. Milk n’ Cookies: Five animal crackers with ½ cup skim milk.

27. Warm Spiced Cider: 6 ounces apple cider with sprinkles of cinnamon and nutmeg, warmed.

28. Citrus Sherbet: ½ cup lime sherbet (about one standard-sized ice-cream scoop) with ½ sliced kiwi.

29. Café Latte: 8 ounces steamed skim milk with 1 shot espresso.

30. Jelly Beans: 25 of ‘em! Although we don’t recommend these.

31. Marshmallow Pear: ½ pear diced and topped with 1 tablespoon marshmallow fluff.

32. Protein Shake: One scoop protein powder with 8 ounces water (choose from tasty powder flavors like cookies n’ cream and chocolate peanut butter!).

33. M.Y.O. Popsicle: 8 ounces lemonade frozen in an ice pop mold, or use a small paper cup as a mold.

34. Apple Chips: Munch on ¾ cup of kinds like these, or use this recipe!

35. Carrots n’ Hummus: About 10 baby carrots with 2 tablespoons hummus.

36. Pistachios: A couple handfuls— about 25 nuts (Crackin’ them open will take more time and avoid grabbing 25 more).

37. Cheese n’ Crackers: Five Kashi 7-grain crackers with 1 stick reduced-fat string cheese.

38. Dippy Egg: One over easy egg with ½ slice whole-wheat toast, sliced (to dip in yolk!).

39. Cheesy Breaded Tomatoes: Two roasted plum tomatoes sliced and topped with 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

40. Curried Sweet Potato: One medium sweet potato (about 5 inches long) cooked for six minutes in the microwave and mashed with 1 teaspoon curry, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

41. “Cheesy” Popcorn: 2 cups air-popped popcorn with 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast— it’ll taste like real cheese!

42. Guacamole stuffed Egg Whites: Halve a hardboiled egg, remove yolk, and stuff the empty space with 2 tablespoons guacamole (avocado, lime, cilantro and salt).

43. Grilled Spinach and Feta Polenta: 3 oz polenta (about the size of a deck of cards) cooked with 1 ½ cups water and topped with 1 teaspoon feta cheese and a handful spinach.

44. Soy Edamame: ¼ cup boiled Edamame with 1 teaspoon soy sauce.

45. Dijon Pretzels: Two pretzel rods with 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard.

46. Crunchy Curried Tuna Salad: ½ cup canned tuna with 1 teaspoon curry powder, 1 tablespoon chopped red onion, and two ribs celery (chopped).

47. Greek Tomatoes: One tomato (about the size of a tennis ball) chopped and mixed with 1 tablespoon feta and a squeeze of lemon juice.

48. Shrimp Cocktail: Eight medium sized shrimp boiled and served with 2 tablespoons classic cocktail sauce.

49. Smoked Beef Jerky: About 1 ounce— look for low sodium versions!

50. Cheddar and Tomato Soup: ½ cup tomato soup with 1 tablespoon shredded low-fat cheddar cheese.

51. Kale Chips: ½ cup raw kale— stems removed— baked with 1 teaspoon olive oil at 400° until crisp.

52. Sweet Potato Fries: One light-bulb sized sweet potato sliced, tossed with 1 teaspoon olive oil, and baked at 400° for 10 minutes.

53. Cucumber Sandwich: ½ English muffin with 2 tablespoons cottage cheese and three slices of cucumber.

54. Turkey Roll-Ups: Four slices smoked turkey rolled up and dipped in 2 teaspoons honey mustard.

55. Mixed Olives: About 8 olives.

56. Antipasto Plate: One Pepperocini, a ½ inch cube of cheddar cheese, one slice pepperoni, and one olive.

57. Pumpkin Seeds: 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds, sprayed with oil (just a spritz!) and baked at for 400° for 15 minutes or until brown. Sprinkle with kosher salt.

58. Choco-Soy Nuts: 3 tablespoons soy nuts with 1 teaspoon cocoa nibs.

59. Wasabi Peas: About  ⅓ cup of these green treats.

60. Balsamic Veggies: 3 cups raw peppers (any color!) dipped in 2 tablespoons balsamic reduction.

61. Cheesy Roasted Asparagus: Four spears (spritzed with olive-oil spray) and topped with 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese, baked for 10 minutes at 400°.

62. Cucumber salad: One large cucumber (sliced) with 2 tablespoons chopped red onion and 2 tablespoons apple-cider vinegar.

63. Spinach and Feta Egg-White Scramble: Three egg whites scrambled and mixed with ½ cup raw spinach and 1 tbsp feta cheese. Cook in frying pan or zap in microwave until egg whites are no longer runny (about 1-2 minutes).

64. Crunchy Kale Salad: 1 cup kale leaves chopped with 1 teaspoon honey and 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar.

65. Chick Pea Salad: ¼ chickpeas with 1 tablespoon sliced scallions, a squeeze of lemon juice, and ¼ cup diced tomatoes.

66. Grilled Garlic Corn on the Cob: One small-sized ear brushed with 1 teaspoon sautéed minced garlic and 1 teaspoon olive oil, grilled until tender.

67. Pretzels & Cream Cheese: 15 mini pretzel sticks with 2 tablespoons fat-free cream cheese.

68. Bacon Brussels Salad: Seven brussel spouts thinly sliced and mixed with one piece lean bacon, chopped.

69. Rosemary Potatoes: ⅓ cup thinly sliced potato tossed with 1 teaspoons olive oil and a teaspoon of chopped rosemary.

70. Spicy Black Beans: ¼ cup black beans with 1 tablespoon salsa and 1 tablespoon non-fat Greek yogurt.

71. Caprese Salad: 1 ounce (hockey puck sized) of fresh mozzarella with ½ cup cherry tomatoes and 2 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar.

72. Goldfish: About 40 fishies…try the cheddar kind!

73. Chips n’ Salsa: 10 baked tortilla chips with ¼ cup salsa.

74. Mini Ham Sandwich: Two slices honey-baked ham with 2 teaspoons honey mustard rolled in a lettuce leaf.

75. Lox Bagel: ½ whole-wheat mini bagel with two thin slices of lox.

76. Chocolate Trail Mix: Eight almonds, four chocolate chips, and 1 tablespoon raisins.

77. Apples and Cheese: 1 non-fat mozzarella cheese stick with half of a baseball-sized apple (any variety), sliced.

78. PB & Celery: 1 medium celery stalk with 1 tablespoon peanut butter.

79. Cottage Cheese Melon Boat: 1 cup melon balls with ½ cup non-fat cottage cheese.

80. Carrot and Raisin Salad: 1 cup shaved carrots with 2 tablespoons raisins and 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar.

81. Tropical Cottage Cheese: ½ cup non-fat cottage cheese with ½ cup fresh mango and pineapple, chopped.

82. Blue-Cheese Stuffed Apricots: Three dried apricots with 1 tablespoon crumbled blue cheese.

83. Rice Cake and Almond Butter: One rice cake (try brown rice!) with 2 teaspoons almond butter.

84. Sweet n’ Spicy Pecans: Five pecans roasted with 2 teaspoons maple syrup and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.

85. Apples n’ Peanut Butter: ½ an apple, sliced and dipped in 1 teaspoon natural peanut butter.

86. Chocolate Hazelnut Crackers: Four wheat thins dipped in 1 teaspoon Nutella (or other hazelnut spread).

87. Strawberry Salad: 1 cup raw spinach with ½ cup sliced strawberries and 1 tablespoon balsamic.

88. Cacao-Roasted Almonds: Pop in eight almonds like these!

Mike is gone…but for 58 days…

This really was a different kind of good-bye today. Jim came with us today, the first ever, and it really was awesome. He took us out for breakfast at Cabala's which used to have a wonderful breakfast buffet but now just a grill but we still have a good lunch and conversation. We made it to the airport and where I usually go in and sit with Mike and one time even got a gate pass to go with him until boarding, we dropped him off at the front doors. IT WAS HARD!!! I thought since I knew Mike is coming home in 58 days this wouldn’t be as difficult, well I was wrong and I cried and cried. It was just as hard as the first time, more so since I was leaving my son at the front door of an international airport. And then after he gets his boarding pass and all, they tell him his plane is an hour late, which makes it so he won’t be making his connecting flight in Denver. UGH!!! Want to make for a panicky mama. Damn those airplanes. He’s still not home, but he is being taken care of. He talked to customer service and they have him on the next flight to Cheyenne at 6:50 and he should be home by 10:00 or so. However he heard that yesterday all the flights to Cheyenne were cancelled because they got lots and lots of snow so now he’s worried about getting to his suburban and getting to drive the hour drive back to Laramie. However, for all this mess that’s going on, they are giving him a $50.00 rebate on his next flight which will make getting him home for his 21st birthday just that more easier. I have saved $200.00 for this flight and the tickets are going for $320 or so this should help me get them just a bit faster. So we’ll just keep hoping and praying this flight works out, when he gets to his suburban it’s been snowplowed to so he can clean it off, lock in the 4-wheel drive and head home safely.

Mike had some concerns about his 21st birthday. As much as he loves the fact he’ll be able to have a drink legally he just didn’t want to spend his 21st birthday with a bunch of college students looking for a reason to get hammered. He’s not a drinker, though he will have something at a party once in awhile even though it’s not legal yet. He wanted to have his first legal drink here at home with his dad and I. So for his birthday I am flying him home one more time before he graduates in April. There’s also the hidden agenda of the mama not having to wait 4 months to see Mike again.

My guy.

Mike and Scott this past week trying to go sledding. We borrowed two snowmobiles from a daycare parent and like most sledding experiences we’ve had you ride for a couple of hours, you work on the sled for 30 minutes and repeat and repeat and repeat.

So that’s that my friend. I’m missing Mike but will survive and keep counting down the days until he’s home again. And then it will be 60 more days until graduations. I will be driving out for that in April to watch him graduate and my nephew will be coming too and on the way home we will take Scott to Mount Rushmore, the black hills and I am hoping we can see the Terri Redlin museum.

But 1st, the 58 days now.

Blessings!!!

My goal for 2012 and my partners….and now 2013

Remember my goal for last year? And my partners? Well I wanted to check in to see how everyone did. My goal was to run/walk 650 miles for the year and I was able to get in 1055 miles. How did you do? After you check in I will do a random pick and I have a goody to send you.

Care to join me this year? My goal will be 1500 miles, walking, running, hiking, biking, swimming, anything that makes you move. If you’d like to join me, I’d love to have you.

And my partners for 2012 goals were….

• Melanie at upinthecosmos.
• Angela at adayinthelifeof ang.
• Debby at debsdailylife.
• Pam at Emptynest
• Corey Loree at cupcakestocardio

This year, lets use this picture for our reminder….

And my partners are:

Coming……

BLESSINGS!!!!!

2013

 

So it’s a new year. And with it always comes some new thoughts and ideas. I will be the first to say last year wasn’t the best year for me but it also wasn’t the worse. I did one super great thing in the fitness part, I made my goal of running/walking 650 miles which I changed to 1000 which I ended up at 1055 miles. Now that was a huge goal busted and I am very proud of me. I did terrible in the weight loss part. I am at the exact same weight I was 1 year ago. I’m back above the 200 lb mark and at one point in 2011 I made it to 180. So that means I gained back almost 1/2 of my weight I had loss and that just isn’t going to fly. I can look back and see just exactly where it all turned, it was December 28th when Mike told me he was leaving for Wyoming for college. Now that isn’t a bad thing, in fact it was an awesome thing….for Mike, for me it was like losing a huge part of me. But in this year of change I have learned a few things. I can exercise alone. I can go hiking and fishing and biking alone. I can almost enjoy my own self (I’m still learning that). I can do lots that I didn’t figure I could. So now that it’s 2013 I’m going to take myself into a new phase and learn to move forward. You can’t go back and really why would I. It really wasn’t a terrible year, so many wonderful things happened too so we’ll just move forward and just start over.

I have 3 goals I’m going to set for myself.

1. Lost 25 lbs before Mike graduates on April 25th and than keep it off for the remainder of the year. If I can lose more on Allan’s challenge, I’m game for that too.

2. Take my running/walking goal to another level and set it for 1500 miles. I am going to sign up for at least 3 5K and I will try to have a better time of 44:12. That was my time for my last 5K this summer.

3. I am going to quit biting my nails again. I quit like back in 1995 but for some reason I started back last year and my hands are ugly and old and the nails look like crap. I have very small hands with short fingers that right now look like Vienna sausages. Not my best trait at all and I see my hands all day long on a steering wheel and hate seeing them like that.

So everything I have set for myself are reasonable and doable as long as I get my brain in the right place. I will be honest and say my challenges will start on the 2nd, not today. Today we are taking Mike out for one last buffet  breakfast at Cabala's in Minneapolis before we put him on his plane back home. I will not over indulge I will eat wisely and when we get home after our trip I will get my butt out and get a walk in. I will start Allan’s challenge on Wednesday along with signing up for a Triathlon at our local gym. It’s called Tri-Hallett. It will be 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of biking, 26.2 miles of running. It starts Monday January 7th and runs tell February 17th. I thought both Allan’s challenge and this triathlon will get me back on track and headed in the right direction for my loss before Mike graduates.

This blog will still be a bit of this and that. I won’t have much for daycare goodness any more, in fact I am pretty sure daycare is just going to be more of a baby sitting service now and then or on an as needed basis. So that will also bring with it another job of some kind. So maybe there will be goodness to share there. Of course I have my bus driving and the challenges that come along with keeping 56 students ages 5-13 happy, safe and corralled. I want to share some crafts, some baking, some pictures, lots of family and more.

So join me as I learn to move forward as an empty nester. Join me as I learn to lose this weight and keep it off. Join me as I push my body to just see what it’s capable of. Join me as I learn from you and share with you and enjoy this wonderful community we have in blog land.

Take care my friends. May this new year bring you lots of goodness. The Lord doesn’t promise us easiness or all roses and warmth but we can do this. We can make life good, happy and healthy and when it doesn’t go that way, you guys are out there to give me a boost or a kick in the butt when I need it. I promise to do my best to give you the love, encouragement, support and praise and also the kick in the butt when needed. Blessings my friends!!!

Good morning….

It’s a new day, it feels wonderful, amazing and hopeful. It has been the top of the world having Mike home for Christmas. Our Christmas was so relaxed and calm and not over the top. We each got stuff we needed terrible and something we didn’t expect. Scott has been staying here with Mike and that makes the house even better. Daycare has been here and one more day of that. Our daycare Christmas party was great and the kids had a blast with each other and their gifts. Tonight I’m taking my mama, daddy, Scott, Mike to Brainerd to the Sonoma Winter Wonderland and then we have to go stand in line at Kohl’s and exchange a sweatshirt I got for Mike that is just plain to small. That boy has grown taller since he’s been gone. He left at 6’2” and is now 6’4” and quite slim. He’s handsome, more grown-up handsome. What left here 9 months ago was a young man with some anger issues, father issues, life issues and has returned a grown up with a handle on all of these things. He has finished up his major at school with an 88% grade point and perfect attendance and will now go back for motor chassis fabrication (welding and anything to do with what’s under a truck) and April 25th will graduate and just see where life will take him from there.

I think I have finally calmed down and relaxed and am finally at terms with so much that was happening in 2012. It wasn’t my best year at all and it is something you can see in my appearance, my way of holding my body, the way I handled lots of things but with a new year on it’s way things will only get better and I even have some plans for that. I’ll share in a bit.

I have some pictures to share with you today. They are self explanatory but if not will add a caption. You know I have to share, it’s just the way I am and my blog is.

I’ll be back soon with what’s up and what’s going to be happening but until than I wish you all the very best the rest of this holiday season. Take care and Happy New Year!!!

 

See those little pins on Mike’s badge? Those four mean 4 phases of perfect attendance. I am very proud of him. Come rain, snow, hail, a fever and more he went to school each and every day.

My wee ones. This is more than likely our last daycare Christmas party. It was the perfect party with the worlds most awesome kids.

There’s a helicopter flying in Mike’s picture, can you find it?

So that is that for now my friends. I have a give away happening shortly. A new life style change. And a few things I will share about why or how I think things have happened and 2013 will be a really an awesome year. Full of goodness, sadness, hopefulness, adventure and so much more. I hope you will join me in all of this.

Take care and relax and rejuvenate and enjoy. We’ve got work to do soon. Blessings!

I can’t do it all so….

For right now my blog has to go on the back burner. I will be back after the first of the year with a plan from Jan 3rd to April21st to lose 20 lbs. I will be back to share some of the awesome crafts I learned this holiday season. I will be back to share and learn and be part of this wonderful community. But for now I just can’t do it.

I want to wish you all the most awesomest, blessed, wonderful holiday season.

I want to pray for everyone that has been effected by the terrible things that have happened this year and mostly last Friday. We are a great world but have some bad things in it and though I can’t do much about any of it, I can offer my prayers, my thoughts and love and just hope that somewhere along the lines it can offer some comfort.

Take care all my wonderful friends. I love each and every one of you. Thank you for being such huge part of my life.

Blessings,

Julie

Someone or two is awesome!!

Today in my mailbox was two packages. I haven’t ordered anything, not in the star right now, however there were two packages from Amazon. I asked Mike, nope not his … I asked Jim, nope not his … they were in my name but you just never know. So since they were addressed to me I opened them.

The first one was a pack of beautiful headbands, 7 to be exact. All colors and a really sweet material too. Someone knows that I hate my hair in my face and sent me these. Who? I haven’t a clue but thank you my sweet friend.

The other package …. well this one, this one unbelievable. And it had to be one of you because you guys are the only ones I told/asked about Rachel and Abby’s bedroom.  In this package were not just one but two super cute, super soft stuffed animals. One is a purple cow … for Rachel and the other a cute pink horse for Abby. How do I know this? I told you guys about helping Rachel and Abby redo their own rooms and Abby wants anything pink and Rachel wants cows and the color purple. WOW, I can’t wait to give these two them.

Want to see?

Another super good deed, Lalie … a reader I didn’t even know I had, sent Abby some pretty pink drapes and she made both Rachel and Abby bunting the colors of their rooms. I don’t have a picture to share of these, my camera is out of batteries but Jim’s bringing me some home tomorrow. Just believe me when I tell you, this was awesome.

These girls are going to be so surprised and happy and in awe that people we don’t even know sent them goodies for their new rooms.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. For everything! You guys are really, truly awesome!!!

This week….

I wrote my aunt a letter telling her about this week. I’m going to share it with you because…well it’s easier to cut and paste then retype it all.

Hello my dear aunt. How are you doing with all that's been going on in your life? How's the cardio exercises going? Are you and you hubby feeling better now? Are you all set for winter? Did you decorate for Christmas? Have you started your Christmas cards? What's new?

Life here was a very busy week. I spent as much time at mama and daddy's as possible. We got the house decorated and the outside and spent one day cleaning. Mama is doing pretty good but does hurt if she doesn't take her meds. She was having problems with the pain pill so I sorta figured out if she takes 1/2 every four hours she doesn't get weird feeling instead of the full one every six. However today she told me the extra strength Tylenol works as good most of the time. I fixed many meals this week for them and really had a great time dining with them.

Then came Friday and work had to step in. On Fridays I work a full day of bussing and then today too. Tomorrow is breakfast out with Jim, grocery shopping, shoveling a ton of coal and a sewing project for Jim's grad project he's building for Mike. I have called and stopped in after work so know that they are okay.

I did do a couple craft projects this week. I made Brenda's birthday present. I took a broken very old earring and turned it into a dragonfly. And I made a snowman out of an old bedspread and buttons (thanks to Kim and her creative ideas). I'll see if I can send the pictures with this email. I also took some egg shells and made a sorta crackled project. Oh daddy and I went out and got Christmas trees too. I have found out I have to do other things along with work and taking care of mama and daddy or I'll just crumble and since that's not something that would be good for anyone I try and do a bit of this and that.

Now next week I need to start back on my weight loss journey. I have let it go for to long and now my pants are getting tighter and I have lost some major muscle mass. So it's back to tracking and getting to the gym and really working out. When I go to Mike's graduation in April I would like to look and feel good. So though I'm not going to worry about the weight part I am going to lose the 10 lbs that have come back and get back into shape and round, well that's not the shape I want.

Mike is doing great in school. Still perfect attendance and a 3.6 grade point average. He is excited that this portion is just about over with and he'll be home for Christmas. When he goes back to school it will be for his minor in Motor Chassis Fabrication (his major was Diesel Technology). He has had some issues with his roommates, mainly 1, but have seemed to finally just gotten to the point they exist together but not together. Mike's made a couple good friends and lots of acquaintances. Mike flies home on the 21st and I'll be picking him up in Mpls at 10:00 pm. When he goes back on the 1st, I'm planning on bringing mama and daddy for a visit but that time isn't here yet so nothing written in stone.

I had Rachel and Abby here for Thanksgiving evening and Friday so they helped me decorate for Christmas. It was a bit hard not having Mike here but am trying to adjust to the empty nest. Most days it's okay, not all the time but mostly. I do get to talk to Mike 3-4 times a day which is nice for us both. I let him do the calling so I'm not the bothering mama. I have a big project to start on next week. David (Rachel and Abby's dad) has two snowmobiles he's going to borrow Mike and Scott during Christmas vacation. However one of them needs a seat rebuilt. I don't think I'll be sewing him a new seat cover right now but I'm rebuilding the bottom and sides and will use some duct tape on the bad spots. After Christmas I'll see if I can fabricate something that will work.

Life with Jim has improved a million percent. I guess just sharing me with his son wasn't in his life plans. And though I can't change what was I can make sure that if Mike moves home for a while things will be a bit different. Not positive how yet but will make sure that Jim feels connect to us both as well as keeping the connection with Mike.

Well, I think I have caught you up on what's what here. I hope you can view the pictures. They are taken with my cell phone so not great or full of color but you can get the idea.

I hope you are feeling great and getting stronger. If, if....something happens and mama and daddy don't come down on the 1st, we will be coming down soon. Reason I am saying this is, just maybe since Jim is off on the 1st he'll be coming with to send Mike off and I know that mama and daddy won't come then. However I'm off the next two days after that so can always drive down once more to see you. But for now we'll just wait and see.

Love you. Have a great weekend. Bye for now.

Love Julie

So my friends, that was my week and what’s happening next. However there’s a bit more… I am planning a dinner with a friend on Monday evening, cleaning the big house on Tuesday (about a 4 hour job), taking my dad to Christmas Music in the Park on Wednesday evening, Thursday cleaning the dance hall and in-between all of that a couple of hours 3 times this week of exercise and taking care of mama and daddy every other spare minute. And….some type of crafting.

I hope that you all are having an awesome weekend. I took the boy basketball to Pierz and they did very well, got home and took a nap, did the chores, fix dinner and am now relaxing.

Take care my friends. I’ll try and stop by and visit. Like Pam, I so love your idea of putting a book together for up-coming parents. Jill, your Thanksgiving and family is awesome. Deanna, with all the exercise I’m betting the scale is saying all those new muscles. Mir I hope your feeling better and your new weight is wonderful. Angela, I really love your Friday’s letters. You are one terrific mom/friend/spouse! Nell, I hope your family is getting better. Kalei's best friend, your pictures, your life, your outlook is one we all should look up to and into. Kim, you have some mighty awesome crafting talent and every day skills you share, thank you! Amanda’s, getting married soon…really soon, December 7th. WOW!!! It came fast. Michele, you dedication to your family and health, I wish I had 1/10th of your strength. Karen, praying for you. Betty, wedding…soon? Noelle, you can do it…take a nap and my dear, your daughter is the most amazing and beautiful little one ever!!  And more but haven’t gotten there yet.

Blessings my friends. Sorry for the long post…but it’s been awhile.

Pictures…..

 

My try at egg shell art.

  

My snowman.

Brenda’s dragonfly pin.