Update...

I know I haven't posted much lately, but honestly I've been on the go pretty much non-stop over the last month or so. I finally realized I needed to stop wallowing in my sorrows and get off my butt and start having some fun, so I did. The good part is that I'm rarely bored, and I'm having a lot of fun. The down side is that I'm a little sleep-deprived these days. A typical night consists of a bedtime around 3am, which is completely bizarre to me! For someone who has always needed about 8 hours of sleep each night, I'm actually functioning pretty well on about 4 hours a night. But I have incorporated a nap into my routine on Saturdays or Sundays, so I'm sure that helps. :) I've been meeting up with a bunch of old friends, and it's pretty cool to see everyone as adults. We go out to the bars, play darts, play Wii, watch movies, hang out and whatever else sounds like fun. I've also been going to my niece and nephew's ball games. My niece is an 8th grade cheerleader (took after her aunt Cami!), so I've been going to watch her cheer on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's fun to watch her do many of the same cheers I did back in middle and high school...brings back some great memories! My nephew Luke is on a basketball league for 10-year-old boys, and I just saw him play on Saturday afternoon. He had 2 points and 2 rebounds, so I was proud of him. I've been out of state for so long, so I really enjoy getting to go to these things.

Other than all that, I've been really good about my workout routine. I created a spreadsheet to help me keep track of the frequency of my workouts, as well as what particular exercises I'm doing each time. In looking at the spreadsheet this morning, I was proud to see that I'd only skipped two days of working out during the entire month of January. While I admit that it's very hard for me to drag my butt out of bed every morning at 6:30, once I get on my bike and get moving, I'm so happy to be doing it. As of today, I've lost 70.5 lbs from my highest weight and 57.5 lbs since April 08'. Additionally, I'm losing inches like crazy and toning pretty much everywhere. I'm really starting to like my new body and am enjoying the boost in confidence from all my hard work. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually looking forward to bathing suit shopping this year -- although glad it's still a few months away. :) In the last two weeks, I was super excited to fit into cute juniors size jeans again, which I happily bought (2 pair) and have worn everyday! Ideally, I'd still like to lose another 10-15 lbs, and I'm confident it'll happen. But honestly I'm just happy to be in a healthy weight range and to be feeling as good as I do. I've come to realize that working out will always be a part of my lifestyle going forward, and I like that. I know that I have to hold myself accountable, and that's important to me now, unlike before. My mindset has completely changed during this last year, and I finally realize that I'm important, and I need to take care of me.

Well that pretty much sums up what's been happening with me lately. My 30th birthday (yuck!) is coming up in two weeks, so if I don't post before then, I'm sure I'll have a b-day post with pics of my wild and crazy time. :)

Quite possibly the best invention yet!

Because the weather is so awful here right now, I'm pretty much stuck inside, and I AM BORED. One might suggest that I do something productive -- like exercise, but I'm already ahead of you there. I rode a total of twenty (that's 20!) miles on my stationary bike today, not to mention that I did 75 crunches and various other exercises. So needing to find something else to occupy my time, I came across a SkyMall magazine that my mom obtained over two months ago. I'm sure you've seen these magazines if you've ever flown anywhere....They're full of hundreds of overpriced, unnecessary, yet completely desirable items. Anyhow, while flipping through the pages and creating a mental list of all the totally awesome things that I suddenly realize I need, I come across this, and I wonder where this amazing product has been all my life:



It's called "the 'keep your distance' bug vacuum", and I've been hoping for something like this my entire adult life! I never knew it existed, but I so could've used it all these years.
I've always been scared of spiders and had my parents kill them for me when I was growing up. But I had to do it myself when I got out on my own, and I've always HATED it. I usually have to grab half a roll of paper towels (to ensure the spider doesn't get remotely close to touching my skin) before even attempting to kill a spider. And then there's a 50/50 chance that I'll either A.) successfully capture the monsterous creature while trembling and fearing for my life (yeah, I'm a bit of a drama queen at times) or B.) it'll fall to the floor and go MIA, in which I then worry constantly about it tracking me down and crawling on me while I sleep, so that I end up not sleeping at all. Neither of these are wonderful outcomes to me, so I seriously think this may be the best invention yet! Here's a link, if you would like to see more about this glorious invention: http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=102248756&c=10430.

I know what to ask Santa for next year! :)

Sad day...

As you know, I'm a huge Indianapolis Colts fan. And I was so excited for the start of the playoffs, the first game being last night against San Diego. I was proudly sporting my new Peyton Manning jersey, drinking from one of my Colts cups, and chilling with my cozy Colts blanket. Although I fully expected it to be a close match up throughout, I was so ready to see an Indy win. But unfortunately just as anything else in life, things don't always go as we want them to. While it was a very close game up to the end (tied at 17), the Colts defense couldn't hang on, and the Chargers took the win minutes into OT. I admit that I was pretty disappointed and wanted to curse my team. But after I mellowed out, I realized that it could have been worse...I could have been a Browns fan. Ugh. Or a Lions fan. Double ugh. So while I'm bummed that the season is now over for my beloved Colts, I'm proud at how well they did this year. Finishing with a 12-4 record is anything but bad. And I'm still very proud to sport my Manning jersey, considering he's now a three time MVP. For entertainment purposes, here are a couple pics of me in my jersey before the game...

New Years webcam shots :)

I was bored last night, so I snapped a couple of shots on the webcam...

...modeling my "naughty but nice" tee early in the evening (lol)

...closeup of the pearly whites :)

...in my workout clothes

Holiday happenings

Since I haven't posted much lately, I figured I better give an update as to what's been happening with me. I've now been in Ohio for over 7 weeks, and I'm enjoying quality time with my family and best friend. I'd like to say it's been completely wonderful, but to be honest, it's been hard being away from Eric -- especially during the holidays. The longest we'd ever been apart before this was 3 weeks. We still talk every couple days, but I'm making a conscious effort to make myself a priority and focus on what I want and need. Overall, I'm doing well and have so much to be thankful for.

While I'm disappointed to say that I haven't lost any additional weight since leaving Idaho, I am proud to note that I haven't gained any back either. With all of the holiday chaos and yummy snacks consumed over the last month, I'd say that's an accomplishment. Additionally, I'm excited to say that Santa (aka Mom and Dad) brought me an exercise bike for Christmas, which is something I've really been wanting to get me through the winter months. I've started using it over the last week, and I love it! I miss being able to ride my bike outside, but this will definitely help to fill the void while it's cold. Now that the holidays are over, I'll be stepping up my workout routine and getting back to eating like before. I jump started the new year with a great workout today...8 miles on the bike, 100 jumping jacks, 20 push ups and 20 crunches. I may go for round 2 tonight if I get bored. :)

On Christmas day, my parents and I went to my brother's apartment about 10 minutes away. We got to watch the kids open their gifts, and it was a lot of fun. They opened presents at home with their mom in the morning and then came to their dad's the rest of the day. I think they were very happy to get to spend time with both their parents on Christmas. Mom and I prepared a yummy meal of ham, cheesy potatoes, corn, beans, rolls and dirty dessert. We were all stuffed! Here are a couple pics of the kids opening their presents and posing for the camera...

In addition to my exercise bike, my parents got me a couple of exercise tank tops, a pair of jeans, a couple shirts, some bras and panties, an Indianapolis Colts lamp and some toiletries. Plus Eric sent me an awesome "girlified" Peyton Manning jersey that I love. I'll post a pic sometime soon, since Ill definitely be wearing it for Saturday night's playoff game against the Chargers. :) I am so lucky to have people who love and spoil me! I also attended a Christmas Eve service with my mom at her church, and I know she enjoyed having me there with her. It was a really nice service. Oh yeah, a couple weeks ago we attended a Christmas party for a subcontractors' association that Mom's company is affiliated with. This is a crappy pic, but since nobody has seen me in a dress in the last few years, I thought I'd share...

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, and I wish you all a peaceful and prosperous 2009!

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!

Brief update

Okay, I keep saying I'll post some new pics of myself soon, but then I never get around to it. So here's a new pic that was taken by my mom this morning...

This pic was taken before I ventured out to make some sales calls for Mom's cleaning company today. Fortunately I don't have to get too dressed up, since I have virtually no nice clothes that fit! After stopping at a few places, walking a couple jobsites, and leaving some business cards, I came home for about an hour. Then I was off to decorate Christmas ornaments with my brother's kiddos. This will be their first Christmas since their parents divorced, so we're trying to make the best of it and get them excited. Mom and Dad got Arron a small tree, and we (Mom, Dad, Arron, me, Kaylie, Luke and Jacob) spent a couple hours making/decorating ornaments with stickers, glitter glue, markers, pipe cleaners, etc. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, and I'm glad we all got to spend a little family time together.

Happy holidays!

Uneventful weekend

I wish I had something fun to share with you, but other than changing my blog background, watching TV and surfing the web, I didn't do anything this weekend. Instead of getting over my week long cold, it got worse. I ended up going to an urgent care on Friday, where I learned that I have an upper respiratory infection (I guess that's fancy wording for a cold) and bronchitis. I was given a high dosage of steroids and sent home with two prescriptions -- one for an overpriced nasal spray and one for a yucky cough medicine with codeine. Because I'm so annoyed about still being sick, I've been diligent about taking my medicine and done virtually nothing but rested. At least I got to watch football today, and despite how pitiful they played, my Colts won (woot woot!). I can't say I was pleased with their performance, but hey, a win is a win. There were quite a few close games today, which keeps things interesting I suppose. Now I'm just sitting here waiting until I can shove another dose of crappy cough medicine down my throat before I head to bed...can't do that until midnight though. Good times.

Well I better sign off before I bore you to death. I hope you had a much more fun-filled weekend than I did. :)

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving! I was fortunate to get to spend Turkey Day with family -- many who I haven't seen in about 9 years. We visited, laughed a lot and ate a ton of yummy food. I'm so grateful to have such an awesome family. Yet, while that was great, I must admit that I'm feeling lonely today. It wasn't so bad when everyone was here, but now that they're gone, the sadness has crept in. This is the first time in 8 years that I haven't spent the holiday with Eric, and it's not easy. I guess I can't expect it to be. The holidays just don't feel like a happy time this year. So in the spirit of the holiday, and in order to stop feeling sorry for myself, I've decided to list some things that I am thankful for (in no particular order)...

1) My family - They've sacrificed a lot for me over the years, and continue to sacrifice in order to help me get back on my feet. They laugh at my silliness. They forgive me. They stand behind me ALWAYS. They value my opinion. They encourage me. They love me unconditionally. They want nothing more than for me to be happy. I know I can always come "home" and feel welcome. They respect me. They help me in any way they can. They are the best!

2) My best friend, Michelle - She is selfless and supports me no matter what. She always finds the time in her very busy "mommy" schedule to call and let me know she's thinking of me. She encourages me when I need it most. She listens without judging. She keeps me grounded. She tells me I'm beautiful when I feel ugly. She lets me vent and cry whenever I need to. She understands me. She reminds me that I deserve to be happy and loved. She shaved my legs for me when I was too sick and depressed to get out of bed...that's a true friend, and I love her dearly!

3) My good friend, Stephanie - Although I've only known her for a year and a half, she has helped me through some rough times. She helped me maintain some sanity in Idaho when I had nobody else. She's caring. She laughs at my craziness. She listens and shares. She welcomed and accepted me into her life and home from the day we met. She relates to me and my feelings. She's compassionate. She has a mouth like a trucker and makes me laugh! :)

4) Eric - Despite the current situation, I feel so grateful to have had Eric in my life these last eight years. He's given me so much to smile about. He's the best snuggler. He pretty much supported me financially for the last 2 years...always made sure I had everything I needed, even when we couldn't afford things we wanted. He encouraged me on my weight loss mission, because he wanted to me to be happy. He put up with my many mood swings over the years. He has beautiful, loving eyes. We've had so much fun together, often just hanging out being silly. He didn't get upset when I'd beat him at Wii bowling, Swing Away Golf, or Monopoly. :) He was my prince charming when I was at a really difficult crossroads in my life. He laughs at my silliness and makes me laugh as much. He loves me.

5) My life experiences - Even though there have been plenty of ups and downs, I am so grateful for the many experiences I've had. I've gotten to travel throughout the US, and to Canada, Jamaica and Mexico. I've met so many amazing people throughout my life...When I moved to California, some very generous friends let me stay with them for a couple months for free. They helped get me a job and meet new people. They helped me establish a life. I'll be eternally grateful for their kindness. My job at Western Air (Trane) opened up so many great doors for me...I made some really good friends -- co-workers, customers and vendors, got some amazing job experience, learned how to work hard and handle big responsibilities, and gained a lot of computer, marketing, sales, hvac, and business knowledge. I'm even thankful for the bad things I've experienced, because they've helped to make me who I am.

6) My education - I'm grateful for the education I received at Dalton and the couple years of college at Wayne. I learned how to be accountable for my own actions. I learned how to make friends. I learned how to speak in public. I learned enough to help me through many levels of Smarter Than a Fifth Grader and Cash Cab! :)

7) Miscellaneous - I'm thankful for sunshine, nature, hugs and kisses, dogs, music, technology, the feel of sand between my toes, makeup, slippers, holidays, french fries, seeing my niece and nephews smile, football, having a roof over my head, love, my colts blanket, the beach, toilet paper and indoor plumbing!, water, old friends and relationships, electricity, funny movies, having common sense, clothes, sweet treats, good health, compassion and sensitivity, the internet, the innocence of children, memories, laughing til my tummy hurts, gifts, summer thunderstorms, my weight loss, a warm bed to curl up in, kleenex to dry my tears, rainbows, coloring books and crayons, compliments, bike rides, my Jeep, cough drops, hot showers, passion, a sense of humor, eye candy, and much more.

...In reality, I see that I have a lot to be thankful for. I could keep adding to my list, but it's getting late, and I'm still struggling to get over this nasty cold. As an FYI, if you're reading this, I'm also thankful for you. I sincerely hope you had a nice Thanksgiving.

Siblings...

For those of you who don't already know, I have one real brother and 4 other "siblings". I've posted a pic of my brother and his kiddos before, but I thought you might want to see the others too. There's Angel (half St Bernard, half Rottweiler - age 5), Chubbs (St Bernard, rescued from a really bad life, age 4), Chy-Anne (St Bernard, just rescued from a really bad life, age 2), and Sassi (St Bernard, spoiled rotten, age 1). They're all so spoiled already, but they seem to enjoy the extra attention they're getting from me!

ANGEL

CHUBBS

CHY-ANNE

SASSI (2 PICS)

DAD WITH HIS BIG BABIES (2 PICS)