This has been an amazing spiritual weekend! We started our small group yesterday by watching Fireproof... and today we had the most amazing sermon about Raising Kids God's Way. The second item warrants its own post that I'll try to get written tomorrow.
I want to tell you how much I loved the movie Fireproof. It was a WONDERFUL movie, and if you haven't seen it - RUN... don't walk... and get a copy. I promise you that you will be changed by this movie. The story of what happens to the couple in the movie is nothing short of a miracle... I don't want to give the story away so I'm not truly going to review the plot line of the movie. (Just take my word for it... you MUST see it!)
I have to say that there are parts where the acting isn't good, and you can tell it's not a big budget movie - but honestly - get over that, and watch the story. I'm not kidding when I tell you that it will change your life.
Renee and I laughed because it's hard for us to take Kirk Cameron seriously as a dramatic actor after his days as the hunky guy on Growing Pains... and well the years of my childhood that I planned on being Mrs. Cameron. It is amazing though to see his faith, and he did an amazing job in the movie.
This was our first meeting with our group - which has grown significantly since last fall... we have about 13 adults (possibly 15) - I know it's an odd number but one family has opted to have one of the spouses attend while the other takes care of the kids at home. ANYWAY - we watched the movie together last night and had an amazing dinner. We borrowed my brother-in-law's recipe for grilled chicken... and I'm telling you that it TOO will change your life. I'll post more about that later as well.... but lets just say that I have a date with some leftover chicken this evening.
We will be starting the Love Dare Bible Study this week with our group, and I think it's going to be exciting... I'll try to post about as much of it as I can as we go through it - but some of it looks to be pretty personal... so there might be some places where I skip over the lessons because this is a family blog. (blushing) I am excited to watch what this study is able to do in our marriage - as well as in the other 5-6 couples in our group. The stories I have heard of people that have done this study are amazing. If anyone wants to run out and get the study before Thursday - let me know, and I'd love to be praying for you.
If you know of any couples that need a bit of a rebirth in their marriage - go get them a copy of this movie and study... seriously - this just might be the lifeline they need.
It also is a pretty busy time in our lives with everything that will be happening over the next 40 days - so there might be some time when I am only able to do some general weekly wrap up posts about the various topics... because in the next 40 days we'll be doing: Love Dare, IUI Fertility Treatments, an exercise challenge... and anything else that comes up!
I would like to remind anyone else that has been thinking about joining in on the exercise challenge that it isn't too late... just drop me a comment or an email and let me know that you'd like to participate. The idea is that you will commit to making exercise a priority for 30 days in the hope of making it a habit for bettering your body. I will be doing the EA Sports Active Challenge on my new Wii game - but other members of the group are doing different things. Summer is doing the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels... other friends are committing to walk/swim... so it's not as much about what you do as it is the fact that you do SOMETHING for 20-30 minutes a day. So join in with us - and find an activity you love... then make yourself a priority for 30 minutes a day! You still have the remaining 23.5 hours of the day to take care of everyone else. *WINK*
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Announcements
Alright - I know, it's been a while since I've actually posted multiple times in one day... but I wanted to give everyone as much time as possible to decide on the second item before the official kick off!
So... LISTEN UP FOLKS!!I know you teachers and former teachers know that trick...
I've been talking about it for a little bit...but I actually did it! I'd like to proudly announce the opening of my Etsy Store!! You can also click on the graphic to get there as well. There are only 21 items listed as of this moment, BUT I have a bag full of stuff at home to get listed... so expect many more items as the weekend/week progresses. (I also have a wardrobe full of beads in the craft room - so hopefully I'll get up there and make some new stuff too!)
For those of you that don't know, I used to do this as a side business with a website that I managed back in 2005-2006. The sales couldn't meet the demand/cost of keeping the site active and the merchant licenses active... so we had to close it. Honestly, making it a business took some of the creativity and fun out of it as well.
That's where Etsy comes in - because my plan here is to not manufacture items, but create one of a kind pieces that can be a beautiful addition to your wardrobe. So, a few things that are classics might get repeated as they sell - but most things will be kept at one of a kind creation status. Unless you specifically talk to me about the availability of making multiples... I've created pieces for entire wedding parties as well as recreated some things from magazines - so the sky is the limit!
I'd love you know what you guys think of the items as they are listed. I will put a permanent box on the blog so that you can click over at any time... and as new items are created - I'll probably blog about them, and remind you that you can go over to the store and see them. I tend to get excited when I get crafty and want to show everyone what I'd done.
Starting on Monday (for the month of June) - I'd like to invite you all to join me in a 30 day workout challenge. I will personally be doing the 30 Day Challenge on the EA Sports Active game, BUT I don't want that to limit anyone.
So... LISTEN UP FOLKS!!
I've been talking about it for a little bit...but I actually did it! I'd like to proudly announce the opening of my Etsy Store!! You can also click on the graphic to get there as well. There are only 21 items listed as of this moment, BUT I have a bag full of stuff at home to get listed... so expect many more items as the weekend/week progresses. (I also have a wardrobe full of beads in the craft room - so hopefully I'll get up there and make some new stuff too!)
For those of you that don't know, I used to do this as a side business with a website that I managed back in 2005-2006. The sales couldn't meet the demand/cost of keeping the site active and the merchant licenses active... so we had to close it. Honestly, making it a business took some of the creativity and fun out of it as well.
That's where Etsy comes in - because my plan here is to not manufacture items, but create one of a kind pieces that can be a beautiful addition to your wardrobe. So, a few things that are classics might get repeated as they sell - but most things will be kept at one of a kind creation status. Unless you specifically talk to me about the availability of making multiples... I've created pieces for entire wedding parties as well as recreated some things from magazines - so the sky is the limit!
I'd love you know what you guys think of the items as they are listed. I will put a permanent box on the blog so that you can click over at any time... and as new items are created - I'll probably blog about them, and remind you that you can go over to the store and see them. I tend to get excited when I get crafty and want to show everyone what I'd done.
Starting on Monday (for the month of June) - I'd like to invite you all to join me in a 30 day workout challenge. I will personally be doing the 30 Day Challenge on the EA Sports Active game, BUT I don't want that to limit anyone. Another friend mentioned doing the 30 Day Shred... so the idea here is that we get up and move for 20 to 30 minutes a day, EVERY day for 30 days. You can do whatever activity suits you best... walk, run, jog, treadmill, swim... videos, video games, or just the open road... I'd love to share in this journey with as many of you as possible... so please let me know if you plan on joining us.
It's not like I'm going to whip you if you can't get through it... just commit and see where that leads. Even if you stumble for a day - don't worry about it - just pick back up and keep going. What I would like to do though is set up an email group so that I can check in with everyone every day or two and see how it's going.
So drop me a comment here and tell me that you'd like to join, and make sure that I have your email address.
I can't wait to see what happens over the next 30 days!
Friday Favorites 5
This week, we have Joanna... we are new friends in the bloggy world, but I absolutely adore reading her stories about working out and parenthood. She is a very sweet soul, and I hope that you'll pop on over and give her some blog love too. (Shoot up some prayers for her as she's finishing up the 30 Day Shred!)1) Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I’m a sinner saved by grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While the journey is rocky, I strive to honor Him in all I do.
I’m a Southern girl with Alabama roots that has lived in Texas for many years. I married a sweet Tennessee man and after eight years of infertility and loss, God blessed us with our precious daughter, Grace. I am thankful to be a SAHM while my husband works as a high school principal. Before having a child, I enjoyed being a teacher (band director) and an elementary school counselor. Both jobs reinforced to me the high calling of parenthood and how important it is for moms and dads to be loving, firm, and the main influence in their children’s lives.
2) Tell us your mission/goal for your blog:
My blog started in April 2008 as a way to document the important happenings in our life for various family/friends around the globe. I also wanted a written record of our parenting journey that Grace can read in the future. My blog readership is slowly growing and developing into a community that encourages others in a variety of topics that are close to my heart including parenthood, homemaking, weight loss/fitness, infertility, and loss.
3) Tell us about your favorite post or your best inspiration:
I recently finished a bloggy book study on Ginger Plowman’s “Don’t Make Me Count To Three!”. I took thirteen weeks to go through this book, chapter by chapter. It was a great experience for me to learn more about biblical parenting while fellowshipping with other moms.
I also started a weight loss/fitness journey this past February. For accountability purposes, I started a weekly “Monday Milestones” post that documents my progress. This series has turned out to be a great encouragement to me!
4) Tell us one thing you can’t live without: (this could be animal, vegetable, or mineral – it’s up to you)
Well, for years I thought that I could not live without having a child. Parenthood is an admirable goal…one that God created us (especially women) to desire. That in itself wasn’t wrong…but my heart was often in the wrong place. I let this desire become an idol in my life and it broke me. Despite my sin, it pleased God to eventually show me that my joy and contentment can be found in Him alone. And it pleased Him to give me a child, although by that time we had come to accept a closed womb. Funny how God works, isn’t it?
On a lighter note, I’m not sure that I could live without my piano, my crock pot, my air conditioner (it’s HOT in Texas!), Sonic Happy Hour (AMEN SISTER!! oops sorry - I hijacked her answer for a second.), or Taco Bueno bean burritos with extra salsa!
5) Tell us something funny/interesting about you:
I have a wicked sense of humor and sarcasm is my favorite weapon (though I TRY to control myself). All those years of band directing toughened me up a bit. But, boy do I love teenagers…it’s my favorite age to teach! Raw emotion, fear about what other people think, knowing it all, youthful energy…it’s ME without any self-control! Working with kids in the schools is what I miss most about being a SAHM. Well, that and the extra paycheck….
6) Tell us how we can find you to read for ourselves: (your blog address)
You can visit me at www.graceinthehome.blogspot.com
Pop on over and visit Joanna - you will be so GLAD you did!
You can also be featured on Friday Favorites - drop me an email or leave a comment on this post with your email and I will send you the survey to fill out. I'd love to be able to feature more blogs as the summer continues.
Also - anyone that wants to direct people to this post is appreciated... I'd really love to spread the word about these blogs that I love to as many people as possible. I read some of the most inspirational stories from women everyday - and it would be a shame for someone to miss a message that they desperately need to hear for their own journey.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Good News Finally
I've been waiting all day to report back on my blood work... it was another crazy stressful day at the office, and I think I'm hitting a breaking point with all of that. The good thing was that at least by the time I left - I did hear "E" tell me that I had done a good job... so at least we're getting through this storm and hopefully tomorrow will be relatively stress free.
The doctor's office called me just a few minutes ago, and my testosterone level has dropped back into normal range again! YAY!
This means that we can move forward. The plan for now is that John is going to get his testing done on Monday, and we'll have to wait a week before hearing the results on his tests. We wanted to go ahead and get that done before spending the money on the treatments for me - just so that we can know for peace of mind that we aren't doing all of this in vain.
Basically, we want to make sure that we don't spend the money on my treatments if there is a possibility that he'll need some treatments first... I highly doubt anything is wrong with him - but before we spend $1,000 on injections and another $1,500+ on ultrasounds and inseminations... it would be good to know.
The other option was to wait until time for an actual insemination and let them test him then... but that just seems backwards considering we'd already be out all the money for my treatments.
ANYWAY - it looks like it'll be about the 8th before we'll have his results - then we'll order the injectable medicines and get started. Until we get the injections delivered - I will stay on the pill to keep my testosterone levels down.
The doctor's office called me just a few minutes ago, and my testosterone level has dropped back into normal range again! YAY!
This means that we can move forward. The plan for now is that John is going to get his testing done on Monday, and we'll have to wait a week before hearing the results on his tests. We wanted to go ahead and get that done before spending the money on the treatments for me - just so that we can know for peace of mind that we aren't doing all of this in vain.
Basically, we want to make sure that we don't spend the money on my treatments if there is a possibility that he'll need some treatments first... I highly doubt anything is wrong with him - but before we spend $1,000 on injections and another $1,500+ on ultrasounds and inseminations... it would be good to know.
The other option was to wait until time for an actual insemination and let them test him then... but that just seems backwards considering we'd already be out all the money for my treatments.
ANYWAY - it looks like it'll be about the 8th before we'll have his results - then we'll order the injectable medicines and get started. Until we get the injections delivered - I will stay on the pill to keep my testosterone levels down.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Worth It?
You ever have those days where you wonder if it's worth it? Or well, really what the point is...
Today, qualifies as that for me.
After yesterday's drama with the doctor's office - at least that is moving again... a minor detour from the main route... but enough to physically and emotionally exhaust me beyond what I was really capable of yesterday. Ask John, I literally was asleep on the couch by 8:30... and if there hadn't been ice cream to be eaten - it would have been earlier than that.
You'd think that the morning would bring bluer skies and happier moods... but apparently today at my office is the day that everyone chooses to crack down on me at once. I've got so many people needing something from me right now - I don't even know what end is up.
Accounting needs me, E needs me, C needs me... so on and so forth.
The kicker though is that you can rock along in this place for a while and everything seems fine - but then one day they turn on you... and suddenly for that one day - you are incompetent... or at least that is what they tell you.
Don't you love it when someone literally asks you: "why does it take so long to get this done?" and you're just left looking at them like - seriously?! - do you have any idea what comes at me on a daily basis?
I don't know if we have a perception problem or what... but it's amazing how I'm supposed to magically appear to have reached a goal by reading someone else's mind. I mean sure - I can get you there... but tell me what that looks like. If you want me to create you a spreadsheet that lists all the different types of fruit by color (exaggeration for effect) - no problem... but TELL ME THAT! Don't just pose some random question and expect me to figure out that you want the spreadsheet. Clearly, that isn't working.
Whew! Oh, and it's great that you think I have all these resources to get these projects done... while said resources have zero responsibility or drive to help me... I'm supposed to motivate people who could care less if I get hit by a bus. In fact, if I'd leave them alone - I think a couple of them would drive that very bus - just to shut me up. I mean someone that they actually report to is going to have to make this a priority for them - because clearly hearing it from their coworker isn't getting there.
Needless to say, I'm extremely tired - stressed out - emotionally drained - irritated - did I mention stressed out?... oh and apparently, incompetent. You see, I'm the kind of person that if someone doesn't want to help me... fine... no problem... I'll just work around it and get it done myself. Somehow though, at this place... I get in trouble for that - because at my level (just a hair above pee-on) I am not paid to actually do the data entry.
Oh okay... great - well if the "resources" I have been given aren't going to get it done - and it's my responsibility to get the project done... is there any one else out there that would just start doing data entry as fast as their fingers would let them? Geez!
Alright - I'm ending this rant... but can I just tell you that if I could stay in my cocoon in Cypress with my husband all the time... I know that I'd be much happier, less stressed, and my blog would be much more entertaining? Ok, the last one might be a stretch - if I were blissfully happy - there probably wouldn't be much blog fodder... but it sounds GREAT.
Have I ever told you guys my theory about the world? It's a crack-pot theory... but seriously - if I never go to the mailbox, answer the phone, or leave the house... nothing bad will ever happen. No one will be knocking my door down for money - or calling me to harass me for a donation... I could just live happily in my little bubble forever.
I know that's a nice pipe-dream... but today - I'm wishing that it could come to fruition.
Sooo...how's your day?
Today, qualifies as that for me.
After yesterday's drama with the doctor's office - at least that is moving again... a minor detour from the main route... but enough to physically and emotionally exhaust me beyond what I was really capable of yesterday. Ask John, I literally was asleep on the couch by 8:30... and if there hadn't been ice cream to be eaten - it would have been earlier than that.
You'd think that the morning would bring bluer skies and happier moods... but apparently today at my office is the day that everyone chooses to crack down on me at once. I've got so many people needing something from me right now - I don't even know what end is up.
Accounting needs me, E needs me, C needs me... so on and so forth.
The kicker though is that you can rock along in this place for a while and everything seems fine - but then one day they turn on you... and suddenly for that one day - you are incompetent... or at least that is what they tell you.
Don't you love it when someone literally asks you: "why does it take so long to get this done?" and you're just left looking at them like - seriously?! - do you have any idea what comes at me on a daily basis?
I don't know if we have a perception problem or what... but it's amazing how I'm supposed to magically appear to have reached a goal by reading someone else's mind. I mean sure - I can get you there... but tell me what that looks like. If you want me to create you a spreadsheet that lists all the different types of fruit by color (exaggeration for effect) - no problem... but TELL ME THAT! Don't just pose some random question and expect me to figure out that you want the spreadsheet. Clearly, that isn't working.
Whew! Oh, and it's great that you think I have all these resources to get these projects done... while said resources have zero responsibility or drive to help me... I'm supposed to motivate people who could care less if I get hit by a bus. In fact, if I'd leave them alone - I think a couple of them would drive that very bus - just to shut me up. I mean someone that they actually report to is going to have to make this a priority for them - because clearly hearing it from their coworker isn't getting there.
Needless to say, I'm extremely tired - stressed out - emotionally drained - irritated - did I mention stressed out?... oh and apparently, incompetent. You see, I'm the kind of person that if someone doesn't want to help me... fine... no problem... I'll just work around it and get it done myself. Somehow though, at this place... I get in trouble for that - because at my level (just a hair above pee-on) I am not paid to actually do the data entry.
Oh okay... great - well if the "resources" I have been given aren't going to get it done - and it's my responsibility to get the project done... is there any one else out there that would just start doing data entry as fast as their fingers would let them? Geez!
Alright - I'm ending this rant... but can I just tell you that if I could stay in my cocoon in Cypress with my husband all the time... I know that I'd be much happier, less stressed, and my blog would be much more entertaining? Ok, the last one might be a stretch - if I were blissfully happy - there probably wouldn't be much blog fodder... but it sounds GREAT.
Have I ever told you guys my theory about the world? It's a crack-pot theory... but seriously - if I never go to the mailbox, answer the phone, or leave the house... nothing bad will ever happen. No one will be knocking my door down for money - or calling me to harass me for a donation... I could just live happily in my little bubble forever.
I know that's a nice pipe-dream... but today - I'm wishing that it could come to fruition.
Sooo...how's your day?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Infertility Sucks
I have once again been given the incorrect information by my freaking doctor's office. I'm stuck in a combination of anger, hurt, and extreme sadness. Maybe a small crisis of faith too... but this too shall pass - someday.
So anyway, the injections that I was told would be $60 a vial... and that I'd need two vials... wasn't exactly accurate... sounds like it'd be $120 for the cycle plus all of the other tests. We were prepared for that... but once again - it ends up being another story.
Instead I will need 2 vials a DAY... hellew... bit of a difference in cost there, friends. Thanks for giving us ALL the information up front - because you guys are always so lovely like that.
So now it's back to the drawing board... we're going to have to figure this out again in terms of what we can afford and how it's going to work.
I am grateful that I have a good support system and a wonderful husband that can help me figure it out and deal with the emotions that come along with it all. Without them - it would be FAR worse.
I go tomorrow morning for my blood work to be drawn to see where my hormone levels are - so I'll keep you informed as things happen.
In light of this - I'm not going to do Q&A Wednesday - I just don't feel up to it. I hope that you guys understand. Feel free to send me your questions, and I'll save them up for when I get to a place that I can answer them.
Keep us in your prayers.
So anyway, the injections that I was told would be $60 a vial... and that I'd need two vials... wasn't exactly accurate... sounds like it'd be $120 for the cycle plus all of the other tests. We were prepared for that... but once again - it ends up being another story.
Instead I will need 2 vials a DAY... hellew... bit of a difference in cost there, friends. Thanks for giving us ALL the information up front - because you guys are always so lovely like that.
So now it's back to the drawing board... we're going to have to figure this out again in terms of what we can afford and how it's going to work.
I am grateful that I have a good support system and a wonderful husband that can help me figure it out and deal with the emotions that come along with it all. Without them - it would be FAR worse.
I go tomorrow morning for my blood work to be drawn to see where my hormone levels are - so I'll keep you informed as things happen.
In light of this - I'm not going to do Q&A Wednesday - I just don't feel up to it. I hope that you guys understand. Feel free to send me your questions, and I'll save them up for when I get to a place that I can answer them.
Keep us in your prayers.
Road Trip
So, it's no secret how much I love Renee and her family... but with them moving, (everyone at our church is moving lately!) youth group events, and life lately... we haven't been able to hang out nearly as much as we have wanted to.
So, when they said... we're having a spontaneous road trip and we're kidnapping you... what can you do but just happily go along! The lack of plan went against generations of my family history... but it was so much fun to just get in the car with these special friends of ours and see where the time took us.
So here are some pictures that I took along the way...
Our pilot and co-pilot... a funny couple of guys...
The happiest traveler of them all... and cutest too, I might be partial though.
A view of the boardwalk... I took several of these because 8 short months ago - this area was completely wiped out by Hurricane Ike.
Hysterical photo of the family...
Another view of the boardwalk...
John enjoying the view...
Our tiny traveler enjoyed waving to the people on the boats.
Renee and K... the most fun couple we've ever known!
John and I along with L... I could totally keep her! :-)
The "pirate ship" - we thought it looked similar to Capt. Sparrow's ship from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
Boardwalk 3...
A flower from along the way...
For this kid - everything is perfectly fine as long as she is with Mr. John... or as she calls him Miss John. She gets confused, but it couldn't be more adorable!
What is more perfect for me than a Sonic cup? We stopped there on the way and on the way back...so our trip was sponsored by Sonic.
John was relaxing while L took a potty break during the trip.
We drove down to look for hurricane damage, but it was getting dark... these sunset photos make me happy though. I like these better without editing - Photoshop made the colors more muted and blue... but I love the pink tones more than that.
Another sunset shot.
So, when they said... we're having a spontaneous road trip and we're kidnapping you... what can you do but just happily go along! The lack of plan went against generations of my family history... but it was so much fun to just get in the car with these special friends of ours and see where the time took us.
So here are some pictures that I took along the way...
Our pilot and co-pilot... a funny couple of guys...
The happiest traveler of them all... and cutest too, I might be partial though. 
A view of the boardwalk... I took several of these because 8 short months ago - this area was completely wiped out by Hurricane Ike.
Hysterical photo of the family...
Another view of the boardwalk...
John enjoying the view...
Our tiny traveler enjoyed waving to the people on the boats.
Renee and K... the most fun couple we've ever known!
John and I along with L... I could totally keep her! :-)
The "pirate ship" - we thought it looked similar to Capt. Sparrow's ship from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. 
Boardwalk 3...
A flower from along the way...
For this kid - everything is perfectly fine as long as she is with Mr. John... or as she calls him Miss John. She gets confused, but it couldn't be more adorable!
What is more perfect for me than a Sonic cup? We stopped there on the way and on the way back...so our trip was sponsored by Sonic.
John was relaxing while L took a potty break during the trip.
We drove down to look for hurricane damage, but it was getting dark... these sunset photos make me happy though. I like these better without editing - Photoshop made the colors more muted and blue... but I love the pink tones more than that.
Another sunset shot. We had a great time, and did see some hurricane damage. It wasn't nearly as bad as we thought it might be though - it looks like they've done a LOT of work getting things ready for the summer. The area of Galveston called "The Strand" is a downtown area where they had some amazing shops... that still needs a lot of work, and sadly the only place that I remember vividly is this old ice cream shop that had a soda fountain... it was very old, but it was completely destroyed by the water... so they are having to gut it and redo everything.
It was a fantastic day - and I'm so glad we got to hang out. I haven't laughed that long or hard in a very long time... and I hope that this is just the first of MANY trips like this.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Crafty Photos
Okay, so I'm a bit tired today - I had my second major carb coma of the weekend this morning and have been having a hard time recovering. I'm convinced it was the sugar free syrup - because if I have a waffle with just butter... I'm fine. If I have real sugar - I'm fine... but when I have sugar free syrup... I immediately have to take a 3 hour nap!
Anyway, these pictures posted backwards... but you'll get the idea of the little bit of work that I got done scrapbooking this weekend. Not nearly what I expected to get done, but this weekend was full of challenges and surprises. (We'll get to some of that in another post.)
There is one layout missing here that I did as well, but it was of Renee's daughter "L"'s birthday... and after I took the photo - I realized that it gave out information that she doesn't post on her blog... so I decided that I'd leave the picture off this post out of respect for keeping their anonymity.
This is the layout I did for our pumpkin carving adventures last fall... I'm about 8 months behind on the scrapping... but I'll get caught up someday. I loved the stickers that I found for this layout - and the background paper is a giant spider web...so I didn't really do too much in terms of creating a layout because the stickers and paper did it for me.
I had to go through about 4 drafts of these letters, but they turned out really well. You can't tell, but I used Martha Stewart Glitter Markers (which come in a Warm Color Set and a Cool Color Set). I used the warm color set as you can tell, but I have both. The marker is very similar to a paint pen, and the glitter in all of them is silver - so it's a sliver glitter effect on the background color. I loved it - and it really went well with the photo I had of the sunset before the storm hit.
Here is where it's obvious that my photos posted backwards... but for miss Brooklyn's birthday - I have a double layout. I just had so many cute pictures of her from the party - and didn't want to waste them. So this is the right side of the layout. Her name spans across both of them.
Here is the left side of the same layout.
Now this - I didn't make... but I got as a gift from one of my friends at church, Laura. She makes these as a hobby and we're in the process of setting up an Etsy store for her... I absolutely love how it turned out - it's a cream and black design - which is perfect! We're thinking that we've found the perfect spot for it in our entry way. John needs one more thing to get it hung, but I can't wait to see how it looks. Isn't it pretty?! I'll post a link to Laura's Etsy store when we get it completed - because she does these in all sorts of colors and designs. I really think this would be a cute addition to a nursery, but we'll have to cross that bridge when we get there.
Anyway, these pictures posted backwards... but you'll get the idea of the little bit of work that I got done scrapbooking this weekend. Not nearly what I expected to get done, but this weekend was full of challenges and surprises. (We'll get to some of that in another post.)
There is one layout missing here that I did as well, but it was of Renee's daughter "L"'s birthday... and after I took the photo - I realized that it gave out information that she doesn't post on her blog... so I decided that I'd leave the picture off this post out of respect for keeping their anonymity.
This is the layout I did for our pumpkin carving adventures last fall... I'm about 8 months behind on the scrapping... but I'll get caught up someday. I loved the stickers that I found for this layout - and the background paper is a giant spider web...so I didn't really do too much in terms of creating a layout because the stickers and paper did it for me.
I had to go through about 4 drafts of these letters, but they turned out really well. You can't tell, but I used Martha Stewart Glitter Markers (which come in a Warm Color Set and a Cool Color Set). I used the warm color set as you can tell, but I have both. The marker is very similar to a paint pen, and the glitter in all of them is silver - so it's a sliver glitter effect on the background color. I loved it - and it really went well with the photo I had of the sunset before the storm hit.
Here is where it's obvious that my photos posted backwards... but for miss Brooklyn's birthday - I have a double layout. I just had so many cute pictures of her from the party - and didn't want to waste them. So this is the right side of the layout. Her name spans across both of them.
Here is the left side of the same layout.
Now this - I didn't make... but I got as a gift from one of my friends at church, Laura. She makes these as a hobby and we're in the process of setting up an Etsy store for her... I absolutely love how it turned out - it's a cream and black design - which is perfect! We're thinking that we've found the perfect spot for it in our entry way. John needs one more thing to get it hung, but I can't wait to see how it looks. Isn't it pretty?! I'll post a link to Laura's Etsy store when we get it completed - because she does these in all sorts of colors and designs. I really think this would be a cute addition to a nursery, but we'll have to cross that bridge when we get there.This sort of gives me the opening to tell you guys that I'm also creating an Etsy store for my jewelry that I make. Most of you probably don't know it, but back in 2005 - I opened a business and had a website that sold my jewelry. We did really quite well, but the sales couldn't sustain the cost of the website and the merchant licenses after the first year... so the business closed about a year and a half after it opened.
I still however have a lot of jewelry that I made, and of course some designs that I love... if I can still get the supplies - I'm going to add them to the store as well. Some things I'll make as they are ordered, and others will just be things that I have on hand as left over inventory. Of course, I'm going to let everyone here know about the store when I get it completely finished... but hopefully it will be just a small little way to make a little extra money for some of my hobbies... or to put away for future fertility treatments as needed.
Finally, I have some wonderful prayer warriors out there that read this blog, and you all know how I feel about prayer... you can never have too much. So I've got some prayer requests that I'd like to put out there.
Finally, I have some wonderful prayer warriors out there that read this blog, and you all know how I feel about prayer... you can never have too much. So I've got some prayer requests that I'd like to put out there.
- For my blood work to come back in normal range this week so that we can FINALLY move forward with our treatments.
- For all my girls out there that are in the process of trying to conceive... I put ALL of you on our prayer list at church this week - specifically by name so that our prayer team can pray for each of you specifically. Every one of you has been on my heart this weekend... Summer, Nicole, Becky, Jenn I., Jennifer D., Natalie, Jenn S., Misty, Jill, Eve, Hannah, and several others... I pray that God will bless us all with children according to his timing. I know that it will be a bigger blessing than we can imagine when it does happen.
- For some friends of mine that are having marital problems... pray that their problems will be resolved quickly and peacefully.
- For our small group as John and I finish the plans for our kickoff next Saturday - we're starting the Love Dare Bible Study and couldn't be more excited to see the power of God working through the marriages in our small group.
- For my health - this weekend has been a battle at times with me having a fever, and I woke up a little stuffy this morning... I'd really love to NOT get sick if at all possible.
- For my workouts - I'm still planning our 30 day challenge - so be thinking about if you'd like to commit with me and some other ladies... please drop me an email if you're interested, because I want to be able to email everyone involved daily so that we can encourage each other.
That's about it - I'll be posting again in a bit with some photos from the surprise portion of the holiday weekend.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Holiday Fail
Sometimes, it feels like Murphy's Law has come and settled in at our house... it is less than 24 hours into this holiday weekend, and I'm praying this isn't an omen for how the rest of it will go.
- I came home yesterday, and saw that it was about to rain. (or so I thought) Since John had been working at our church all day helping get things set back up from the remodel... I thought it would be fun to surprise him by mowing the lawn for him. Did you catch the word surprise... as in finishing and him not knowing until he gets home... surprise. Did that happen? Oh, no... I got about 85% finished and the darn thing ran out of gas! Since I've just barely learned to start the thing - I had to call him in distress on how to get it filled up with gas and ask which gas can to use... FAIL
- When it is a holiday, John typically likes to make a special breakfast... he's a breakfast person... I could leave it just about everyday - but my protein bars do get my body going and are tolerable. ANYWAY, John made us some sausage and waffles this morning - which was really sweet, and tasty... but then a horrible carbohydrate coma came over me... and I had to go take a 2 hour nap. So here it is 1/2 way through the first day of my 3 day weekend... and I've done nothing other than sleep! FAIL
- I just woke up from my nap, and realized that I have a fever... WHAT is THAT? I have so many plans for the weekend... come on! FAIL
So, I'm trying to finish our grocery list and make it to the grocery store before it rains again - or I pass out again. I'm thinking it's definitely a day that I'll be swinging through Sonic for some of their magical unsweet iced tea... okay, and probably something else... I just don't know what the flavor of that "other" poison will be just yet. Some days are corndog days, others are cheese stick days... and then there are regular plain old burger days. Or who knows, by the time I get there - it might just be a tea kind of day... it all depends on how I feel at that moment of the day.
I'll keep you guys posted as to if we've ridded ourselves of Murphy later on in the day.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Five Word Friday 2
Here we are again with the Five Word Friday... and the topic this week, Summer! Funny - because I could describe the season... or my WONDERFUL blog friend... but I think the intention here is the season.
So Five Words about Summer:
- Water - there is nothing that says summer like being out in our boat. Of course with my skin and it's ability to BURN like no body's business... it also means that I'm usually under the covered portion of the boat.
- Heat - where we live, BELIEVE me when I tell you heat and humidity are words synonymous with summer. From about March through November the heat can be unbearable - but I've found that since my surgery... the heat isn't quite as bad.
- Hurricane - oh yeah, that is summertime on the Gulf Coast... the season runs from June 1 until November 30th. Last year we experienced Hurrican Ike in a major way, so we will all be taking a bit more precaution in terms of buying supplies to have on hand. I made the mistake of going the day before the storm for supplies - and had our power been out longer... seriously we would have been eating cold spaghetti o's and peanut butter. And I am not kidding when I tell you that you couldn't find beer or wine ANYWHERE in the city - which isn't a problem for me... but I just found that as odd. I mean - a major hurricane is coming - and you're going to get drunk? (I know - Meggs - you take hurricane parties seriously! HA!)
- Ice Cream - how else do you beat the heat? Homemade strawberry ice cream is the best... and I dearly love making it with my husband. We only do it about once a year, but it is always a welcomed treat. I wonder if Memorial Day weekend sounds like a good time to do it? Maybe we'll wait until 4th of July - since we still have a HUGE ice cream cake from my birthday in the freezer.
- Reading - this is the time of year that I get the majority of my reading done. Since there aren't any new television programs during the summer months - I expand my mind with some fun murder mysteries.
What 5 words make you think of summertime? Be sure to link back to Jenn's post with your responses.
Friday Favorites 4
So, you guys - put up a post and give everyone popping over to your blog a little welcome with this graphic when it's your week to be featured.This week, we have Jenn... she is a friend from our old church - a fantastic organizer, entertainer, friend, mother, sister, daughter, wife, scrapbooker, cook, and she can sew a mean dress for her daughter too. As if that isn't enough - she's also a survivor of infertility... and is going through it all over again to try to have a second child. I pray for her daily in hopes that she will be granted with another child to raise up with Kiera. So without further delay... meet Jenn:
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
Most days I can be found either designing my website, a new scrapbook page, or lately, a piece of clothing for my daughter. Although I would love to let my creative side swallow me whole, I do tend to other responsibilities! I am the CEO of My Home. My main projects include my amazing husband and my sweet two year old daughter. I enjoy feeding them delicious meals and making family memories with them. One of the perks of my job is that I get many vacation days (thanks to my hubby) and many of those are spent traveling the world (thanks to his job)! When not tending to the family, I can be found working for the Lord. I am the Executive Director of Cypress Calling Ministries which is a non-profit organization that helps mothers in need with a strong concentration on teen moms. I enjoy leading my team and helping women along the way. When I find balance between all the balls I juggle, I try and fit in a Girl's Night Out or even a Girl's Weekend with my friends. I am very social and enjoy being surrounded by those I love!
Tell us your mission/goal for your blog:
My main mission is to record my thoughts and the events of my family. I have always been one to journal and now enjoy the creativity that comes along with blogging.
Tell us about your favorite post or your best inspiration:
I love to capture the moment of a Kieraism! My daughter, Kiera, is full of funny things and there is no better post than telling a story through her eyes! My all time favorite post was the first time she held an umbrella. She thought it was a big hat and had no idea its purpose. (Here is said post - on her old blog address.)
Tell us one thing you can’t live without: (this could be animal, vegetable, or mineral – it’s up to you)
I wish I weren't so shallow and could tell you its my Bible. Unfortunately, it has a layer of dust keeping it company these days. I suppose it would be hard to live without my computer or my phone, but I could do it. Heck, I might enjoy life without it. But, what could I absolutely not live without? People! Mainly my loved ones. I am a people person. I need feedback. My love language is Quality Time and Words of Affirmation. Without people, my love tank would be empty.
Tell us something funny/interesting about you:
Hmmmm.... I am a very funny & interesting person, but now that you ask, my mind went blank! I suppose it is interesting about my daughter and her being conceived.....
Back in 2005, as I begun my infertility journey, it was discovered that I had a very large ovarian cyst (again!) and endometriosis. I couldn't continue on with the Fertility meds until I had surgery. The fall of 05 was a very gloomy time for my husband and I, as I recovered from surgery and we had to decide how aggressive we were going to be with our emotions and our wallets when it came to having a child. I distinctly remember Christmas Night in 2005, and my mom, my sister, and I were sitting around the tree amongst all the torn wrapping paper talking about the holiday. They started talking about how Christmas is for kids and we should only buy for the kids...blah blah blah! I was so mad that my anger was boiling over and tears were streaming down my face. I blurted it out: Christmas CANNOT just be for kids! What if I don't have any? Will I just miss out? I was so hurt and irritated. My sister (who has been through IVF as well, for different reasons) looked at me and said she knew how hard this all was. She told me that so much was up in the air, but I should rest in the fact that in just one year, by Christmas of 2006, I would know whether or not I was going to have a child; and if I didn't, I would probably be well on my way to adopting a baby. Either way, I would know what was going to happen. Well less than two months later we started our IVF journey (thus starting the blog) and when I found out I was pregnant in mid April, you know what the EDD was? December 25, 2006! No lie! What a gift from God Kiera has been!
Tell us how we can find you to read for ourselves: (your blog address)
www.simpsonsightings.com: The Daily Journey is where I put my day to day blog!
Pop on over to see Jenn, and read about the latest adventures at Simpson Sightings.
If you're new to my blog, but would like to get in on the fun of being one of my Friday Favorites - leave me a comment with your email address, and I'll send you over the questions to be answered. I love learning about new blogs to read, and love sharing them with my friends even more than that! We are all here to encourage one another!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Silly Things
So yesterday, Jenn wrote this post... which has left me wracking my brain to think of anything funny, endearing, entertaining, or remotely silly about my childhood. Believe it or not, I was amazingly boring! So I'm just going to write and see what comes to my brain...
I have a knack for saying really airheaded things at the most ridiculous moments... for instance: My sophomore year in high school, the drill team at our school got the opportunity to perform at Epcot in Florida. Which of course meant that we all got to spend a week at Disney World... it might not have been a week... but it was great anyway.
I know what you're thinking... how does the girl that is terrified of being seen get involved with the drill team?! Yeah, they need people to be managers - who make the props and costumes... those sorts of things... it's REALLY glamorous.
Anyway, so we get to Florida - get on the bus... and in front of ALL of my girlfriends... I spout the most ignorant statement while driving from the airport to the hotel. (You know the one, where immediately after it leaves your mouth - you pray that everyone suddenly becomes deaf.) Yes, that is when I brilliantly said "They have cows in Florida?!" - as if they wouldn't... yeah, I'm a total brainiac!
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When I was about 5 or 6 - we lived in Brenham on a farm... we had horses and all that fun stuff... but we also had a 4-wheeler. I loved that thing! Well, one day someone thought it would be a good idea to let me either drive the thing alone or steer it without much supervision... and I ran it smack into a fence post! I think I broke the axle or something too because if memory serves... we couldn't turn it back straight afterwards... the whole steering section of it was turned to the left.
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As a younger child, I was obsessed with playing house... but sometimes didn't have a friend to play with... like when we were vacationing at our family lake house. We did however have a golf cart that I could play with... so I'd drive around for HOURS playing like I was driving my kids to school or soccer... or whatever... until I'd run the battery out and have to go back for a recharge.
Is the irony of this lost on anyone that I was at a LAKE - with boats, jet skis, swimming pools... but I was out driving up and down the driveways of the neighborhood?! In my defense - I do sunburn like CRAZAY!
So anyway, one time in particular... I was driving and ran off into a ditch... had to walk back to the lake house and get some help pushing the thing back out.
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I also was obsessed with becoming a teacher. I would go to the half-price bookstores or even the book sales... okay, and scour the trash at school to gather teacher's edition books to take home and play school with. Sad, I know. I always thought it was so cool that they had extra writing and stuff in them... with projects for students to do, questions to ask with answers... you know the drill. I thought that being a teacher was pretty glamorous back then.
I'd play school all the time - in one house we had - I had a huge walk in closet that took up one whole wall of my room... it was a really long an narrow closet. My desk fit in there at one end, and I'd line the walls/doorways on both sides with dolls and stuffed animals. I would teach them everything I knew.
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One year for my birthday, my Dad took one of my sisters and I (the other one couldn't go, long story) on a road trip from his place in Arizona to Disney Land in California... by way of the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and several other stops.
It is rumored that I was totally unimpressed by the Grand Canyon and didn't want to get out of the car... I was in like 2nd grade though - so what did I know?!
Anyway, I remember that trip because my sister and I constantly battled over who would be able to sit up front... okay, really - it was probably just me... but after that trip - I learned that the person in the front wasn't allowed to nap or rest during the trip because it was their job to make sure that Dad didn't nap... or anything else.
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I have a knack for saying really airheaded things at the most ridiculous moments... for instance: My sophomore year in high school, the drill team at our school got the opportunity to perform at Epcot in Florida. Which of course meant that we all got to spend a week at Disney World... it might not have been a week... but it was great anyway.
I know what you're thinking... how does the girl that is terrified of being seen get involved with the drill team?! Yeah, they need people to be managers - who make the props and costumes... those sorts of things... it's REALLY glamorous.
Anyway, so we get to Florida - get on the bus... and in front of ALL of my girlfriends... I spout the most ignorant statement while driving from the airport to the hotel. (You know the one, where immediately after it leaves your mouth - you pray that everyone suddenly becomes deaf.) Yes, that is when I brilliantly said "They have cows in Florida?!" - as if they wouldn't... yeah, I'm a total brainiac!
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In high school, I befriended a lot of people that didn't have cars... which for where we went to school was odd. (Some kids had a different car for every day of the week - no joke, one guy really did!) So, being the sucker that I am... I had a carpool going that would rival most of the HUGE SUV's of today... but I drove an Osmobile Achieva! It was a 4 door sedan, BUT I picked up like 7 people every morning before school... so we'd have arms and legs going everywhere! (Clearly that was before the seat belt laws went into place.)
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While driving around in high school - we did the dumbest things:
- Roll down the window and ask, "Do you have anything grey I can poop on?"
- Roll down the window and yell to someone on a bike, "Your back tire is spinning!"
- Speed up while driving over a road hump and scream at the top of our lungs "Road HUMP!"
Did I mention that I was then and am now, a brainiac?
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Ok, I think that's about all I can come up with for now... if I think of any others - I'll do an amendment.
Mutiny
I think that my legs have decided that they're going to revolt and cause as much pain and anguish as possible! (they are screaming in mutiny!!) I've been hearing via Facebook that by Day 3 things typically get better.... MAN, I hope these people are right!
Last night when we went to bed - I even made John feel my leg... it's like they're on fire... and have a fever or something - you can feel heat on my legs! Another thing, why is it that when something hurts - that is the exact place where the springs of the mattress are going to put pressure? I mean really, getting into bed is usually a happy and relaxing feeling... last night though it was like being stabbed with a spring coil!
I've been sitting here all morning, praying with every fiber of my being that I not have to:
1) Get up out of this chair
2) Be forced to move quickly
3) Have a need to use the restroom
4) Somehow without any of the above happening...my office to be moved to the first floor!
Yeah, none of it is going to happen - but when any of the above does happen... do you have any idea how painful it is?! No, I didn't think so...
It's now clear to me that I've never in my LIFE used the muscles on the front of my legs...above the knee... because they CLEARLY don't know what is happening to them. No pain, no gain though... right? GEEZ!
I'll probably stick with my custom workout for tonight and give the squats and lunges a try again tomorrow. Last night's workout was pretty fun - I focused more on the running, walking, dancing, basketball playing, volleyball playing, baseball playing, tennis playing, and boxing cardio moves... which were all pretty fun. I can safely say though that I am much better at ALL sports virtually... because I can't hit a ball or a basket if I tried! Much less hit a target with a baseball!
I'll be back later on today... I'm desperately trying to write a post inspired by Jenn over at From the Desk of a Princess... but I can't seem to come up with any silly stories about my childhood!
Last night when we went to bed - I even made John feel my leg... it's like they're on fire... and have a fever or something - you can feel heat on my legs! Another thing, why is it that when something hurts - that is the exact place where the springs of the mattress are going to put pressure? I mean really, getting into bed is usually a happy and relaxing feeling... last night though it was like being stabbed with a spring coil!
I've been sitting here all morning, praying with every fiber of my being that I not have to:
1) Get up out of this chair
2) Be forced to move quickly
3) Have a need to use the restroom
4) Somehow without any of the above happening...my office to be moved to the first floor!
Yeah, none of it is going to happen - but when any of the above does happen... do you have any idea how painful it is?! No, I didn't think so...
It's now clear to me that I've never in my LIFE used the muscles on the front of my legs...above the knee... because they CLEARLY don't know what is happening to them. No pain, no gain though... right? GEEZ!
I'll probably stick with my custom workout for tonight and give the squats and lunges a try again tomorrow. Last night's workout was pretty fun - I focused more on the running, walking, dancing, basketball playing, volleyball playing, baseball playing, tennis playing, and boxing cardio moves... which were all pretty fun. I can safely say though that I am much better at ALL sports virtually... because I can't hit a ball or a basket if I tried! Much less hit a target with a baseball!
I'll be back later on today... I'm desperately trying to write a post inspired by Jenn over at From the Desk of a Princess... but I can't seem to come up with any silly stories about my childhood!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Q&A Wednesday
Here are the questions for this week answered.
Kim asked:
My question is from a Christian standpoint. How do you deal with a fellow employee who is supposed to be your friend but is a "one friend" kinda person, meaning, when she has someone else in her life, I take a backseat? Also this person is pre-menopausal and subject to getting her Crazy on and getting rather mean and emo. I have no idea how to deal with her! (This is the same person who I had the Christmas drama with because my hubby said something she took in a way he didn't mean it and then she stuck me in the middle if you recall.) Consider yourself my "Dear Abby" for the day!
Whew, Kim... I have had a friend like that before, but knowing what I already know about this person - she has issues and they go far beyond you... or anything you can help her with really. I think that what I'd do is sit back when those flare ups in her personality happen and evaluate. Not evaluate her, but evaluate the situation - was there anything that you did to cause the situation? Is there something valid for her to be upset about? Is there anything you can do immediately to change it?
My gut feeling in most cases - no - there isn't much you can do when someone is being irrational because of their hormones. Our sermon this weekend was on conflict resolution... and it really brought some things to light for me.
You see when conflict comes up - you need to pray about it above all else... if you need to walk away for a little bit and pray about it... that's okay, but really seek God in the moment. The next thing to do is reconcile... which is rebuilding the relationship. It is very different from forgiveness...which is the act of dealing with the action itself more so than the relationship.
Now, is this someone that you are truly friends with...or is it someone that is there out of convenience? Because it sounds like she drops you when something better comes along, and to me that doesn't sound like true friendship.
I think you have to step back and look to see if you need to forgive the action or if you need to reconcile the friendship... from there - you'll figure it out. The other key to reconciliation is both parties owning their portion of the problem - so if I am The Brit (her husband for my readers) and I'm constantly late for dinner... I, The Brit, need to own that it is disrespectful to you that you don't know where I am or what time to have dinner ready... and you, Kim, have to own that sometimes it is out of his control. Together you have to come up with a solution that you can both work with.
Relationships are messy, and people are constantly hurt in the process of living life. People are going to let us down from time to time - that is just a function of being human... the only person that won't let us down is God. Look to him for guidance on how to move forward with this particular friend.
I also believe that you can only control yourself... your own actions, feelings, and responses... so as long as you are doing the best you can and are trying to react as God would have you react... there isn't much else you can do. She is going through something hard, and is choosing to take it out on you - or put you in the middle of it. That isn't fair, but maybe the only thing to do is hang on for the ride until she gets through it. Maybe writing her a letter validating her feelings while explaining your own is the way to go... I don't know... I know that you have a history with avoiding conflict - and you have to deal with that too.
I'm here for you though - so email me if you need to and I'd be happy to talk you through it as much as I can.
Christi asked:
What is one form of exercise that you enjoy? Even if it is impractical - such as snow skiing in Texas, ain't gonna happen but it still could be fun.
I honestly don't know - I guess the funny thing is that if I enjoy it - I don't think of it as exercise... so the concept of enjoying something that is also exercise is crazy! I would love to go back and try snow skiing again though...
It's silly, but I guess I'd say swimming - which is totally practical - but since I haven't owned a bathing suit since 1988... it is impractical at the same time. (it has been 21 years!) I'm going to try to get over my fear this summer and buy one... but that won't get me in a public pool...
Now for a thinking question, do you have a "life verse" (or a couple of them - I find it hard to narrow it down to only one. So I cheat. and have more.) And if you do have one, what is it?
I've said that my verse is Ephesians 3:20 - which I got after reading Kelly's Korner... it says "Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope."
That is exactly true - I find that when I sit back and look at my life - a lot of the good things are there purely by his grace... because I would have never thought to ask him to make John the Assistant Worship Leader at our church...
I would have never asked him for so many things that we have - blessings that I couldn't have hoped for... that is how I know in my heart that when he does bless us with children - it will be better than I could ever imagine. The struggle we've gone through to get there will only make it that much more of a praise to Him.
Remember that you can enter your questions to be answered next week in the comments section... start today!
General Admission
Humiliated, party of one...
Oh yeah - that's me today! We went last night and picked up the new workout game, for those that haven't seen my other 200 posts about this game - it's called EA Sports Active. Any of you that were around a year ago, know that I was every bit as excited about getting my Wii Fit last year at this time... and I loved it.
This game and I might have a love/hate relationship... the jury is still out.
I will tell you that this is not your children's workout game... this sucker is hard, and really more geared toward the people that truly are looking for a way to work out and have the benefit of a personal trainer that can give you some feedback on how your form looks. (on most things... we'll get to that)
So being the idiot that I am, I put the thing in the Wii and off I went with workout one... OIY! In case you missed it - let me say it again... OIY!
It starts out all nicey nice... and lets you do a little walking/jogging to get warmed up... then it immediately goes in for the kill...
After the two lap walk/jog - it went right into squats. When I tell you that John was cracking up at this point - it's not even a joke. For some reason I couldn't get the thing to register that I was squatting low enough - so I must have done like 20 before it even started counting them! ARG! At one point, John got up and was trying to help me squat lower... and actually pushed me down to the floor.
It might NOT be an understatement to say that I have zero muscle control... so my legs are feeling like jelly already at this point... but I continue on... and we do lunges. Nice...
(I can't remember exactly the order of the exercises... but there was some good upper body work as well as lower body... and cardio too)
So shortly after the squats and lunges... she has you back on the track to do this nifty move where you're running but you kick your legs up high in the back - like running while kicking yourself in the butt. Sounds glamorous, right?
Yeah, this is when it gets really bad... so I THINK that I'm going to be alright and I can't seem to get the brain to communicate with my extremities - so I sort of modify it and walk and kick myself in the butt. John, being the coach that he is... tells me that I'm not going fast enough... so I suck it up and try to do the run... only it doesn't work out.
I sort of hop to get myself off the ground into a run... and kick my one foot up... but when I go to put it down and get on with the second leg... the jelly legs take over and I fall completely on my butt. Insert hysterics... because John and I are laughing so hard that we can't even breathe. He couldn't even ask me if I was okay for a LONG time... and I was sitting there trying to breathe, laugh and cry at the same time. (the crying was a result of the laughing!)
Eventually - I pick myself back up and finish the rest of the workout - there was another round of running, walking, high knee walking, squats, lunges, boxing, and lots of arm work...
When I was done - I was sweating for sure! My muscles were certainly feeling the burn... and I knew right then that I was in BIG trouble. It's going to take me a little bit of time to work up to the 30 day challenge... Laurie and I are talking about starting it next Tuesday, but we'll just have to see if I can walk by then. HA!
I'm not kidding when I tell you before I went to bed - every muscle in my body from my neck to my toes hurt... and I fell asleep in the tub!
The sore muscles were there this morning, but I truly didn't start noticing it until I had to get up and down out of a chair 15 times like I have this morning... and when I went to go DOWN 2 flights of stairs... I'm not kidding ya'll... it was nuts. Picture me in a back stairwell - thank goodness I didn't try to use the main one where the whole building would have seen this... but there I was holding on to both sides of the railing... trying to will my legs to cooperate! It felt like a total out of body experience... like I had zero control over my legs.
Have any of you seen those cartoons where it looks like the person's body is a million miles behind their legs while they are walking... like they're leaned back and walking... that's what I think it might have looked like!
The muscles in my back are screaming too from some of the upper body stuff that I did with the resistance band... my legs and back seem to be the two areas that are the most offended by the workout moves from last night.
Anyway, I'm not sure what I'm going to do tonight - but I'm thinking that it's going to involve me designing a custom workout and avoiding squats, lunges, and the butt kicking run... at least to give my legs a day to recover.
I NEVER had this experience with the Wii Fit... so I already know that it is a much more quality workout... so long as it doesn't kill me.
Have I scared you guys off, or is anyone rushing out to get one??
If anyone wants to get it and do the 30 day challenge with us - let me know... we could push it back to June 1st if needed potentially. Speak now or forever hold your peace... or well hang in there and laugh when I start writing about it. HA!
*** Edited to add: I just found a review on Yahoo that talks about Wii Fit vs EA Sports Active
Oh yeah - that's me today! We went last night and picked up the new workout game, for those that haven't seen my other 200 posts about this game - it's called EA Sports Active. Any of you that were around a year ago, know that I was every bit as excited about getting my Wii Fit last year at this time... and I loved it.
This game and I might have a love/hate relationship... the jury is still out.
I will tell you that this is not your children's workout game... this sucker is hard, and really more geared toward the people that truly are looking for a way to work out and have the benefit of a personal trainer that can give you some feedback on how your form looks. (on most things... we'll get to that)
So being the idiot that I am, I put the thing in the Wii and off I went with workout one... OIY! In case you missed it - let me say it again... OIY!
It starts out all nicey nice... and lets you do a little walking/jogging to get warmed up... then it immediately goes in for the kill...
After the two lap walk/jog - it went right into squats. When I tell you that John was cracking up at this point - it's not even a joke. For some reason I couldn't get the thing to register that I was squatting low enough - so I must have done like 20 before it even started counting them! ARG! At one point, John got up and was trying to help me squat lower... and actually pushed me down to the floor.
It might NOT be an understatement to say that I have zero muscle control... so my legs are feeling like jelly already at this point... but I continue on... and we do lunges. Nice...
(I can't remember exactly the order of the exercises... but there was some good upper body work as well as lower body... and cardio too)
So shortly after the squats and lunges... she has you back on the track to do this nifty move where you're running but you kick your legs up high in the back - like running while kicking yourself in the butt. Sounds glamorous, right?
Yeah, this is when it gets really bad... so I THINK that I'm going to be alright and I can't seem to get the brain to communicate with my extremities - so I sort of modify it and walk and kick myself in the butt. John, being the coach that he is... tells me that I'm not going fast enough... so I suck it up and try to do the run... only it doesn't work out.
I sort of hop to get myself off the ground into a run... and kick my one foot up... but when I go to put it down and get on with the second leg... the jelly legs take over and I fall completely on my butt. Insert hysterics... because John and I are laughing so hard that we can't even breathe. He couldn't even ask me if I was okay for a LONG time... and I was sitting there trying to breathe, laugh and cry at the same time. (the crying was a result of the laughing!)
Eventually - I pick myself back up and finish the rest of the workout - there was another round of running, walking, high knee walking, squats, lunges, boxing, and lots of arm work...
When I was done - I was sweating for sure! My muscles were certainly feeling the burn... and I knew right then that I was in BIG trouble. It's going to take me a little bit of time to work up to the 30 day challenge... Laurie and I are talking about starting it next Tuesday, but we'll just have to see if I can walk by then. HA!
I'm not kidding when I tell you before I went to bed - every muscle in my body from my neck to my toes hurt... and I fell asleep in the tub!
The sore muscles were there this morning, but I truly didn't start noticing it until I had to get up and down out of a chair 15 times like I have this morning... and when I went to go DOWN 2 flights of stairs... I'm not kidding ya'll... it was nuts. Picture me in a back stairwell - thank goodness I didn't try to use the main one where the whole building would have seen this... but there I was holding on to both sides of the railing... trying to will my legs to cooperate! It felt like a total out of body experience... like I had zero control over my legs.
Have any of you seen those cartoons where it looks like the person's body is a million miles behind their legs while they are walking... like they're leaned back and walking... that's what I think it might have looked like!
The muscles in my back are screaming too from some of the upper body stuff that I did with the resistance band... my legs and back seem to be the two areas that are the most offended by the workout moves from last night.
Anyway, I'm not sure what I'm going to do tonight - but I'm thinking that it's going to involve me designing a custom workout and avoiding squats, lunges, and the butt kicking run... at least to give my legs a day to recover.
I NEVER had this experience with the Wii Fit... so I already know that it is a much more quality workout... so long as it doesn't kill me.
Have I scared you guys off, or is anyone rushing out to get one??
If anyone wants to get it and do the 30 day challenge with us - let me know... we could push it back to June 1st if needed potentially. Speak now or forever hold your peace... or well hang in there and laugh when I start writing about it. HA!
*** Edited to add: I just found a review on Yahoo that talks about Wii Fit vs EA Sports Active
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Excitement
I am so excited to be going to pick up the EA Sports Active game tonight - it's going to be a great challenge... and hopefully will be just the thing I need to get back into a rhythm of working out consistently. Lord knows that I need it with all the bad eating I've been doing!
I've been doing some reading today, and not only can you do workouts on this thing - but it also has a 30 day challenge... how exciting is that?
I've been doing some reading today, and not only can you do workouts on this thing - but it also has a 30 day challenge... how exciting is that?
There is supposed to be a video here, but I can't tell if it's going to work...
Click the 30 Day Challenge link in the above paragraph if the video doesn't load.
I can't wait to see how this works tonight - and I'll FOR sure report back tomorrow on how sore I am! :-)
Back Soon
Good Morning Internets!! I've got a bunch going on at the office this morning, an email mailing list to run and I've got to train the untrainable too - so until I get back...
I wanted to get the reminder up for Q&A Wednesday first thing. Last week's response was phenomenal, and so much fun!
So what do you have for me this week? Leave your questions in the comments, and come back tomorrow to see the answers!
I wanted to get the reminder up for Q&A Wednesday first thing. Last week's response was phenomenal, and so much fun!
So what do you have for me this week? Leave your questions in the comments, and come back tomorrow to see the answers!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Work Celebrations
Today was the office celebration for my birthday - and it was a fantastic day. My department went to lunch at Bayou City Seafood where I had the most amazing Greek Salad with grilled chicken on it. I'm not kidding - it was EXCELLENT. I will be going back over there in the future FOR SURE!
The day was pretty quiet - lunch lasted from about noon until 3 though - but it wasn't all lunch time fun... we sort of had a little bit of a staff meeting at the same time. It was perfectly lovely though, and I enjoyed myself.
Shortly before I left - they brought in anyone they could find in the hallway to sing for me... which with a big departmental meeting going on - meant that really all they could find were a few assistants.
I'll show you the rest in pictures...
Some of the Executive Assistants that work in the office.
The cake... oh ya'll - it was amazing. It was chocolate with a chocolate frosting and butter cream accents... it was soooo good. But the sugar level was high - so I had to get John to drive us home... I was afraid that I might react, but surprisingly - I didn't. (I'm not kidding when I say that I DO NOT get the typical dumping syndrome after weight loss surgery)
This is "E" and me... she's the one I told ya'll about... my Vice President, who thinks that John and I are going to have a litter of kids the first time and then become overly fertile... we joke about that all the time.
The day was pretty quiet - lunch lasted from about noon until 3 though - but it wasn't all lunch time fun... we sort of had a little bit of a staff meeting at the same time. It was perfectly lovely though, and I enjoyed myself.
Shortly before I left - they brought in anyone they could find in the hallway to sing for me... which with a big departmental meeting going on - meant that really all they could find were a few assistants.
I'll show you the rest in pictures...
Some of the Executive Assistants that work in the office. 
The cake... oh ya'll - it was amazing. It was chocolate with a chocolate frosting and butter cream accents... it was soooo good. But the sugar level was high - so I had to get John to drive us home... I was afraid that I might react, but surprisingly - I didn't. (I'm not kidding when I say that I DO NOT get the typical dumping syndrome after weight loss surgery)
This is "E" and me... she's the one I told ya'll about... my Vice President, who thinks that John and I are going to have a litter of kids the first time and then become overly fertile... we joke about that all the time. That wraps up the day - I've gotten Photoshop loaded on the computer this evening - and I'll start playing around with some shots soon. Tomorrow will mostly be testing the new Wii game, but I can't wait to check it out and report back.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Pictoral Weekend
As promised - here is the pictoral view of the weekend's festivities...
The flowers that were waiting for me when I got home on Friday... courtesy of the dogs. HA!
Saturday morning, John replanted my hanging baskets for me... they look great!
Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
Garlicky Broccolini
Apple Stuffed Pork Loin Roast
Crunchy Asian Coleslaw
Here we are at the table... my inlaws joined us along with Renee and "L"
Ahhhh... ice cream cake... sweet cream ice cream and devils food cake... YUM! Funny thing though - they gave us the wrong size cake - so it's HUGE! Is it gross to serve it in two weeks for our dessert at small group?
Getting ready to blow out the candles...
"L" helped me blow out the candles.
And we reposed the shot because John didn't get it. :-)
Opening gifts - Starbucks and Hobby Lobby gift cards... doesn't that sound like the perfect day? I got a Starbucks card from my Mom too - so I'm all set!
"L" enjoying her cake... she's allergic to chocolate so we cut the actual cake off of her piece and made her some Snickerdoodles to go with her ice cream... I love that kid so much - I CAN'T not have some dessert that she can enjoy.
This is out of order - but I got it today, and I can't wait to start learning to edit my photos!
Renee and her family got me some GREAT scrapbooking stuff - I'm really into Martha Stewart glitter stamp stuff... so she got me an assortment. I am all set to do some serious scrapbooking next weekend... lets hope that I actually make it happen.
"L" is helping me open my gifts... she was so excited about the white box!
WOO HOO! John got me my EA Sports Active (remember when I told ya'll about it?) ... we'll pick it up on Tuesday. I can't wait to tell you guys how I like it.
John also got me the Jim Shore Advent Calendar that I spotted over the holidays and loved.
This is what it looks like after you've opened all the doors and gotten out all the ornaments. It also plays the 12 Days of Christmas... it's FABULOUS!
Here we are just hanging out and talking... "L" was enjoying time with "Her Mister John"
The shelves that John and I hung in the craft room yesterday before the big dinner party.
My glitter collection now has a home... I think I need like 6 more colors to have the whole Martha Stewart glitter collection.
My Cricut cartridges... I love that machine... it is so much fun to make my own scrapbook letters! I'm thinking of ordering a few new ones with my birthday money. (I do have two others that didn't come in boxes - so I've got to order some generic boxes to keep them in too)
All of my paper and stickers... I'm seriously all set up for a weekend of crafting!!
The flowers that were waiting for me when I got home on Friday... courtesy of the dogs. HA!
Saturday morning, John replanted my hanging baskets for me... they look great! Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes Garlicky Broccolini
Apple Stuffed Pork Loin Roast
Crunchy Asian Coleslaw
Here we are at the table... my inlaws joined us along with Renee and "L"
Ahhhh... ice cream cake... sweet cream ice cream and devils food cake... YUM! Funny thing though - they gave us the wrong size cake - so it's HUGE! Is it gross to serve it in two weeks for our dessert at small group?
Getting ready to blow out the candles...
"L" helped me blow out the candles.
And we reposed the shot because John didn't get it. :-)
Opening gifts - Starbucks and Hobby Lobby gift cards... doesn't that sound like the perfect day? I got a Starbucks card from my Mom too - so I'm all set!
"L" enjoying her cake... she's allergic to chocolate so we cut the actual cake off of her piece and made her some Snickerdoodles to go with her ice cream... I love that kid so much - I CAN'T not have some dessert that she can enjoy.
This is out of order - but I got it today, and I can't wait to start learning to edit my photos!
Renee and her family got me some GREAT scrapbooking stuff - I'm really into Martha Stewart glitter stamp stuff... so she got me an assortment. I am all set to do some serious scrapbooking next weekend... lets hope that I actually make it happen.
"L" is helping me open my gifts... she was so excited about the white box!
WOO HOO! John got me my EA Sports Active (remember when I told ya'll about it?) ... we'll pick it up on Tuesday. I can't wait to tell you guys how I like it.
John also got me the Jim Shore Advent Calendar that I spotted over the holidays and loved.
This is what it looks like after you've opened all the doors and gotten out all the ornaments. It also plays the 12 Days of Christmas... it's FABULOUS!
Here we are just hanging out and talking... "L" was enjoying time with "Her Mister John"
The shelves that John and I hung in the craft room yesterday before the big dinner party.
My glitter collection now has a home... I think I need like 6 more colors to have the whole Martha Stewart glitter collection.
My Cricut cartridges... I love that machine... it is so much fun to make my own scrapbook letters! I'm thinking of ordering a few new ones with my birthday money. (I do have two others that didn't come in boxes - so I've got to order some generic boxes to keep them in too)
All of my paper and stickers... I'm seriously all set up for a weekend of crafting!!That is about it for the weekend - it has been wonderful, and I've enjoyed it. I covered all of my food bases over the last two days - which of course makes everything better! John has spoiled me rotten, and I've enjoyed special messages from tons of family and friends - so I am truly blessed. May my 31st year bring us a pregnancy!!
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