Weight Watchers Wednesday...and fashion (or lack of it)

Ok, so this isn't really a post on weight loss, well maybe it is.

Last week during my obsession with reading blogs I happened upon (again) Lyndsey at the Pleated Poppy.  Besides having a cute store and fabulous blog she does a great linky party on Wednesday's titled What I Wore Wednesday.  The whole concept started when she decided to take a little more pride in her appearance and put a little more effort in her wardrobe choices each day.  She posts pictures of herself each day during the week and indicates where the clothing came from (which is great btw....guess I need to check out Target more often!)  Then other people link up and do the same thing.

Ok, bear with me...this does have something to do with Weight Watchers Wednesday, promise.

So, being the ultra unfashionable person that I am (I won't buy new clothes because I don't want to be at this weight) I thought this would be a great opportunity to start taking pictures and posting them to show a transformation in myself...until I took the first picture.  I happened to be wearing a super cute top and a pair of jean shorts (to the knee).  I felt great in the outfit and super cute...until I took the picture.  Holy Moly!  Who the heck is the fat chick and why is she in my picture?????  Honest, the top is super cute, just not on me!

I know I haven't been following WW perfectly (ok, not at all) and I have slacked on my running a bit (no time and too hot...yes excuses, but it is what it is) but my goodness I didn't think I blew up that fast.

So, I know what I want to wear, I feel my style and it is calling my name.  I have poured over catalogues, cut out pictures, dog eared, tagged and circled magazines...checked out some of the super cute moms on Lyndsey's hop and now...well, let's just say that if those styles even came in my size, I wouldn't dare wear them, because it just wouldn't be fair to the clothes!

So, I am on a mission, I have a goal...I want to join the linky party!  I want to shop for new clothes (before the Spring line is in and the Fall/winter line is out).  So this past Saturday was a new weigh in, a starting over point (I did say the school year would bring about a new me).  Wish me luck and I will faithfully update my progress.  yeah, I know I think I have made similar statements before but I never had a picture staring me in the face of what I really look like...I am scared, sad, embarrassed, ashamed...alll the above...but I am ready to change.  There is a skinny chick inside me screaming to get out and I need to quit shutting her up with cookies.

Tracy

What I have learned

The kids went back to school this week and I had grand plans to get my house in order.  I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish each day.  I spent all day Monday cleaning and got a whole bunch of laundry put away, my bedroom in liveable shape (it was the laundry dumping ground) and J's room almost cleaned...that took almost 4 hours in itself!  Then, well, nothing.  I had great intentions and I did cross off a few things, but nothing that made a dent in what I wanted to get done, just the normal everyday tasks (like bill paying).  Why?  Well here is what I learned:

I spend way too much time engrossed in other people's lives via the wonderful world of blogging.

I am addicted...seriously. 

I have wonderful intentions of just checking in on the few (well handful) of blogs that I love,  but then, when they have linky parties I have to check out the other blogs and before you know it I have 100 windows open and I am totally engrossed.  drawn in. obsessed.  HELP!

I do have to admit though that there are some amazing women out there!  Some are great moms, great people, fabulous decoraters, survivors, crafty goddesses and some super stylish dressers...the list goes on and on.  I do have a purpose in all this obsessiveness.  I am trying very hard to make my house a home, to find my style, and to do it on a very small budget.  That is where the land of blogs is great...I have found so many wonderful ideas and can't wait to try them out....when I can actually get off the computer and focus on what I set out to do.

What else have I learned?

I am not alone, there are many other women out there just like me.  I know because there are at least 4 blogs I read on a daily basis that are written as if I am sharing my thoughts, views, stories and craziness.

Eventhough sometimes I don't think so, I am a good mom.  There are many of the moms in the blogging world that I look up to that have the same views, theories and challenges that I face and they deal with them in quite the same way I do.  Plus as I write this post, I have my snugglebug cuddled up beside me in my bed.

I can't decorate to save my life (but I can copy other people, so I think that is a start)

Spray paint can fix anything

That I seriously lack fashion sense (I will get into that on Wednesday's post)

That I am not the only crazy, over extended, do too much, don't have enough time for my kids mom out there....and I am also not the only one who is trying to change that (it is all in the attitude my friend!)

That I am unique, I am special, I can make a difference and I need to find and be me.

That there is an amazing support structure of women around the world that I can connect to from my own home, who I have never met, but through their stories and adventures I can feel as if I have known them my entire life.

That I spend too much time reading blogs about what I want to do than doing it.  I can't say I will change that, but I do need to control it....starting Tuesday, I am taking the weekend to just be with my family and enjoy a semi free weekend together.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

Tracy

firsts and a wnner

today was the first day of school (only snapped one pic...the kiddos were NOT cooperating)

it was also the first day since early June that I have been alone in the house for more than 1 hour (I soaked in the peace and cleaned my heart out!)

it was the first day of my new exercise/diet plan (got up early & ran, stayed on plan)

the first day of my Operation Organize plan (in the purge phase...but folded 300 & put away about 300 loads of laundry, filled up 2 trash bags in JT room, and scoured the upstairs bath)

the first day of my Operation Make My House a Home plan (cleaning & purging...but as I was doing that I got tons of crafty, creative, DIY remolding ideas...)

it was the first day of our new schedule (the kids don't like it, but I do...it will grow on them)

it was a new beginning (when my plan is full force life will be simpler, less hectic, calmer, filled with more me time, etc. etc...just good)

more to come....

and....we have a winner from my GIU week last week. Congratulations Kristi of Kristi's Paper Creations. You won yourself some Unity goodness.  Please email me or leave a comment with your email address so we can get your stamps in the mail.

Tracy

Growing in Unity Day 5 on FWF Friday

Hey there ~

I cannot believe today is the end of my GIU week.  I have had so much fun creating and sharing.  I couldn't think of a better way than Friends with Flair Friday to end the week.   But just because my GIU week is over, I do hope you will come visit me again!  I can't promise crafty inspiration every day...but I can promise a little bit of this...and a little bit of that with some crafty inspiration sprinkled in here and there.

I wanted to thank you all for the sweet comments you have left all week long on my blog...reading them has made me smile a little brighter each and every day.  I also wanted to thank you all for your comments yesterday...it is so true, experiences like that just restore your faith in all that is good.

That being said, today I have a little wickedness going on...but the fun kind!  When I was going through my stamps I put my finger on one of my very first Unity stamps (actually I think it was my first) and it is still by far one of my favorites.  I know it is only August...but I just had to play with this Halloween sentiment now (plus the paper just happened to be sitting on top of my desk)!  Fall is my favorite season and I love everything that falls within that time.

Thank you again for sharing my Growing in Unity week with me.  I hope I was able to spark a bit of inspiration.  Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win Unity stamps.  I will be selected a random winner on Sunday.  And...since today is FWF you will have even more chances to win Unity goodness.  Hop on over to the Unity Blog and be sure to visit each of the FWF participants.  Someone has the mystery blinkie....find it and leave a comment for your chance to win!  Don't ya just love Unity???

Happy crafting,

Tracy

Sketch is based on Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #88 and I am linking up there as well.

A stranger's generosity and Growing in Unity Day 4

Today is day 4 of growing in Unity!  I have a card to share, but first a little story.  One that truly makes you step back and take a look at your life, be thankful for what you have, and give that little extra each and every day to be kind and loving to those around you.  This isn't a sad story...although I will tell you that when it happened to us, it made me cry.  I wasn't crying tears of sadness, but because of how this one stranger was so thoughtful, kind, selfless and how it touched my heart so very much.

Last night my family and I attended a Dine to Donate event at our local Applebee's to raise funds for the youth football program in town, that my son is a member of.  I figured the place would be mobbed (which it was) and that the wait would be long (which it was) and since Kelsey & I had hair appointments at 8:00 I asked Bob to go right from work and put our names in.  The kids and I were at football practice and planned on meeting him as soon as practice was let out.  

There was already a wait when Bob arrived so he put our names on the list and sat down at the bar.  Now he was coming right from work so he was still in uniform.  He sat down next to another man and as guys do over a beer they started talking.  Not about anything in particular.  The gentleman asked him why he was in uniform (which he explained as I did above) and about his family.  No biggie.  In the meantime we arrived, our table was called and Bob ended his conversation with the man. 

During dinner we were approached by a waitress (or could have been the manager, bartender...not sure) who handed Bob a gift card and told him it was from the gentleman at the bar.  He had already left and didn't want his name revealed, nor any thanks.  He just wanted to thank Bob for his service and their conversation and wanted our family to enjoy dinner on him (this is where I started crying...right there in a packed restaurant).   Let's just say that this man was very generous and his gift paid for our meal and drinks.  Since the woman that presented the gift card knew this gentleman personally, we did ask that she thank him profusely and to please make sure he knew how grateful we were for his kindness. We have gone several places with Bob in uniform before and this has never happened to us as a family (he had a similar experience in Wisconsin a few weeks ago on a military trip), not that I would ever expect it to.

I am still without words.  People in this world can be so mean, and this one man, with his act of kindness put many things in perspective for me and allowed me to teach my children a very valuable lesson in kindness and generosity.

I wish we could thank him, but since I don't really know how I could I will pay it forward at the right time.

In honor of his kindness and beautiful spirit, I created this card for GIU Day 4...enjoy!

Images are from Bevy of Butterflies and the design is from Mojo Monday (#153).  Don't forget to leave me some bloggy love for your chance to win some Unity goodness.  I will pick the winner on Sunday.

Please take the time today to go out and do something kind for someone,

Tracy

Growing in Unity Day 3...Unity Addicts Challenge

Wow!  Day #3 of GIU already!  I am having such a great time.  Today, I pulled a card out from the archives.  I have had such a great time creating but when I found out the Unity Addicts challenge was black & white with a pop of color I knew I already had the most perfect card for that! 

I used one of the beautiful lamp shade images from Shine On! This is one of my favorite Unity sets for it's elegance and simplicity.  I just happened to have the perfect coordinating DP and my "pop" of color is a ribbon I salvaged from a chocolate Easter Bunny package this past Easter (I am thrifty like that!)

If you are just joining me today go back and check out my GIU posts for Monday and Tuesday and be sure to leave me some love for your chance to win some Unity goodness at the end of the week.  I will be posting Thursday and Friday also so come back to see what else I have to hopefully inspire you to go create!

Happy Crafting,

Tracy