Thursday, April 29, 2010

A whole bunch of stuff going on

hey there ~

Welcome to today's edition of Weight Watchers Wednesday...well, on Thursday. I am happy to report that I actually lost weight last week at my weigh in...just .4 but it was down, and not up, so that is positive. Unfortunately it doesn't make up the the pound I gained the week before or for the fact that I have no idea why I am gaining weight. Ok, let me put that a different way...the scale is going up, but I believe it is muscle weight, not fat...yeah, yeah I know sounds like an excuse, but seriously it is muscle. I have hit my point target every day, I do cardio kick boxing 2x/week and started the Couch to 5K running program and am running/walking 30 minutes 3x/week. Plus, my clothes are falling off...literally...so I can only hope that all this muscle will start burning the fat and the scale will start going in the right direction.

On another note, I am so hoping to get into my craft room next week to have projects to share. I have a real bad habit of starting 500 things at once and then being so overwhelmed I don't even know which way to turn. This week is no exception.

A few weeks ago, Kelsey broke off the faux front of a cabinet under the sink, so instead of just nailing it back on, I had the crazy idea of ordering tilt out drawer kits to replace the faux fronts. Well....that would have been fine and dandy if I figured, well if I am doing that I might as well just paint the cabinets and replace all the hardware too...so I started...and about 3 weeks later I am still working on it. Problem is, I have a house full of people coming on Sunday for JT's first communion and I am not done (the silly paint needs to dry 8 hours between coats and I can only do 6 cabinets at a time!) I am sure I will finish, but in the meantime, the house is a disaster, I can't find anything in the piles of laundry that need to be folded, my husband had to wear the wrong color socks with his uniform this morning, you can't even walk in the kids' rooms and I still need to make invitations for JT's birthday party on the 15th. In the meantime, we still need to get to our activities, Bob needs to hang the cabinets (that still aren't finished), Home Depot was short 3 hinges, I need to buy JT a birthday present and Kelsey handed me an invitation today for a party on Saturday???? so I need to figure out when to get the gift for that too. Oh, and I can't forget that Monday I am changing a bulletin board over at school and have to cut out 22 watermelon pieces and make a picnic blanket...whew...that is what my life is usually like - oh and Bob has to work this weekend, so I am going it solo.

I see a spa day in my future...probably not the near future, but definitely before the kids get out of school in June...but can one really relax when their mind is running in 100 different directions, I certainly hope so.

Have a wonderful day...I know mine will be eventful,

Tracy

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Just another part of life

hey there ~

No crafty stuff to share today, I am up to my eyeballs in projects that I haven't been able to sit down and relax, never mind enjoy the therapeutic release I get when I am in my scrap room {sigh}. It is Wednesday though and my plan was to bring you another edition of Weight Watchers Wednesday, and in the meantime update you on the rest of the chaos currently encompassing my already hectic life, but that will have to wait until tomorrow, as I have something else to share.

On a sad note, I have to share that we lost a dear family member on Monday morning. This is the first time I have been able to sit down and write about it without tears streaming down my face (although in those quiet moments, when no one is looking...oh yeah, they flow). Sammy, our 12 year old yellow lab lost his courageous battle with bone cancer. We knew it was coming, but he was diagnosed in September 2009 and we were told he probably wouldn't make it til Christmas, so having held on this long, one puts the thought out of their mind.

I was aware that something was wrong early Monday morning and was thankful that I prepared the kids that it would probably happen soon before they left for school, they were able to spend some alone time with him in the morning. Shortly after I came back from bringing them to the bus stop things rapidly went downhill and I gave him as much comfort as I could while waiting for my husband to come home and get him to the vet.

Sammy has been with us since he was a puppy and both kids don't know anything but having Sammy in their lives. He was my faithful companion during the day for the past 5 years that I have been fortunate to be home and although he slept alot during the day, it was a comfort knowing he was either at my feet or just in the other room.

Sammy will never be forgotten and always an important part of our lives. When I am up to it, I am already envisioning the layout to honor our dear friend, so I will share it when it is complete.

Whew...that felt good to get out, and I had planned to update you on everything else, but I think I will save that for another post tomorrow....so until then,

have a wonderful day,

Tracy

Thursday, April 15, 2010

CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop

hey there!


If you are just beginning this month's hop...sit back, relax and enjoy! If you came from Wendy's blog then you are heading in the right direction.


This month we are featuring My Reflections Paper Packs found in the Spring 2010 Idea Book. There are so many wonderful patterns and designs to choose from (and hint hint, wait 'til you see the Summer Idea Book...lovin' it!). Since I had to pick just one, I choose the You Rock My Reflections Level 2 paper pack. The collection is jam packed with fun papers in crazy colors, and it worked just perfectly for the layout of my little darlings at the playground.


Here is the full 2 page layout:


and the left page:


and the right:
Next up on your inspirational journey today is Danielle. We have 15 blogs on our hop today and I am sure you will find something to make you go grab your paper packs and get crafty! If you find something you don't own & just have to have, be sure to contact your CTMH consultant, and if you don't have one, please feel free to contact me. Now sit back, relax and get ready to be inspired...but before you go, please take the time to tell me what you think...I would love to hear from you.

have a crafty day ~

Tracy

{a trip to the park} materials:
Paper: CTMH You Rock My Reflections Level 2 Paper Pack (X7122B); Stamps: CTMH Notice the Details (D1378)~ past stamp of the month, Unity Stamp Co. A Pocket Full of...; Ink: CTMH black, dutch blue; Embellishments: Badge Buttons (Z1159), Craft Buttons (Winter, Autumn, Basic & Holiday)
PS...you should be able to hop from blog to blog...but, if there is a broken link or you get lost along the way a full list of bloggers is on the post below this one.

April CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop Order

Below is a list of blogs participating in the April CTMH Product Spotlight Blog Hop. If you get lost along the way or hit a broken link, please refer to this list the continue on your inspirational journey.

Wendy K. – My Scrapbooking blog
Tracy O
Jenifer Bener
Danielle Chapman
Mary
Melissa Burch
Kristie http://www.goofyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Helen Onulak http://www.hookedonstamping.com/
Adeline Brill http://www.adeline-brill.blogspot.com/
Haley D. http://www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Jena DeVries http://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com/
Paper Crafting Princess http://www.papercraftingprincess.com/
Lori Brown http://www.savingmine.blogspot.com/
Amy Edwards http://www.paisleysplayhouse.blogspot.com/
Carol Horton http://www.carol-scrappininparadise.blogspot.com/

Friday, April 9, 2010

eating healthy in the land of picky eaters

hey there!

I ran into a sweet friend at the grocery store yesterday and got to chatting about weight, fitness and life. She mentioned how she loves reading my blog because it makes her feel normal, so I figured it was about time to "weigh in" on my weight loss journey.

Last week's weigh in saw me down another 2.6lbs. Moving in the right direction. My first goal is to get back to 26 lbs down, which is were I was before I got stupid and figured I could fake my way through this. Everyone who is trying to loose weight has their own program that they swear by. I have tried several and while I won't knock any of them (except for maybe the grapefruit or cabbage soup diets). I have found that Weight Watchers works the best for me. It only works though when I follow the program, which I did and thankfully have been doing. It can be a huge struggle, and there are so many times that I want to (and have) given up. I love food, I just need to learn to love food responsibly.

Living in a household of picky eaters doesn't make things any easier. My husband does not eat anything that remotely resembles a vegetable unless it is slathered on a burger or poured over pasta. My son only eats meat (any kind and flavor but only meat) and my daughter will eat broccoli, green beans or baby carrots but other than that she is a pasta and rice kind of girl. They surely take after dad in their food preferences. I have become a pro at reading a recipe and telling if my family will eat it or if I can alter it for them. My tastes in food are much more widespread than my families. Many times I will make a recipe and plate only those parts that they will eat. I always make sure there is something that they will eat without cooking another meal. It gets tiring and old and I have to find ways to cope so that I don't just throw in the towel and eat their way.

Since my tastes are so diverse I used to fall into traps at resturaunts and didn't always choose the healthiest item on the menu, but something that I would not be able to make at home and then I eat ALL of it...if I could lick the plate, I probably would. Lately I have been cooking food I prefer at lunch which controls my cravings and allows me to eat the way I like, at least two mels a day (breakfast too). This has helped tremendously with my weight loss efforts as I don't feel deprived any more. I had the yummiest halibut with baked asiago fennel for lunch yesterday, my mouth is still watering {yum!}.

So that was probably a little more than you needed to know but at least you know where I am at, and where I am heading...in the right direction. More updates next week after I weigh in again.

Have a great day...

Tracy

Friday, April 2, 2010

Some"bunny" {hearts} FWF!

hey there ~

I am so excited to be back with you all on Fridays with FWF. My craft room was a major disaster and nothing inspiring was coming from it for such a long time...nothing at all could come from it as I coudn't see the floor never mind the desk. So I kicked my bottom into gear and cleaned it and low & behold what do you think I found hiding under that mess? My creativity, inspiration and a whole lot of therapy! I have since created 2 layouts...so excited as I have been wanting to get back to scrapping for so long, and have a whole bunch more planned for the weekend.

So, with Easter being on Sunday I created a quickie little card for you today and a layout from Easter 2008 (the year I am currently trying to tackle). Both projects use the beautiful bunny image from Unity's January KOM. The layout also uses part of the journaling stamp from the March KOM.

First my card before I pop it in the mail for my Gramma:
and my layout which was inspired by a layout in the March/April issue of CK by Kim Watson:

I do apologize for the pics of my layouts...I find it better to take the pics outside but it is still too damp & windy. I have to figure out how to get good layout pics inside...guess I should add that to my to do list!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out all the other creativity flowing on this beautiful Friday. Just hop on over to the Unity blog to get the full list of participants. You will want to visit each blog to see who has the hidden blinkie for your chance to win some Unity goodness!

Take care and have a wonderful weekend,
Tracy

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