Weigh-In

I woke up this morning bloated from two days of PIGGING (sorry Squiggy) out.  I realized that I cant stay on track if I dont know how many calories I've consumed and how much I weigh.  So, I jumped on the scale this morning.  It was NOT pretty, but at least I know how much I weigh again.

And then I realized that I need to minimize what I eat again.  So, instead of having eggs and toast for the 3rd day in a row (not good for my cholesterol anyways,) I will have my 1/2 cup of oatmeal with a tablespoon of honey for breakfast (but only when my belly grumbles.)  I'm not sure what I will have for lunch, but dinner will be leftovers.  My mom sent us home with SO MANY leftovers.  It is kind of nice, because we are trying to eat everything we've got in the fridge before Friday when we leave to go to Florida. 

Oh, and I hope to take the puppy out for a walk around the block today and do some work outside on the red raspberry bushes and flower containers (I havent cut anything back yet.)

So...the weigh-in, a day late.
I GAINED a few pounds.  I am now down only 8 lbs since the beginning.
I FAILED at losing 20 lbs by Thanksgiving.  But today is a new day. 
I would like to lose 5 lbs by Friday before we leave to go to Florida.  That may sound like a lot, but I think that most of the weight I gained is water weight from not drinking enough, and eating too much ham that was sent home with us.  I think 5 lbs should be just right.

Wish me luck!

Children & Marriage

Lately, Todd and I have been talking about how we believe children should be raised.  For the first time in our 5-year relationship, we have open conversations about children.  For most people, I assume these topics would (should) have been discussed before marriage, but for us, it wasn’t.

I’m not sure what the change of heart is in each of us.  Todd always said that he wanted kids if I wanted children.  Well, I didn’t want children.  Our relationship was so rocky that I couldn’t even imagine having ANOTHER child to deal with (yes, I thought of him as a child.  He acted like one!) 

There has been a huge turn in our relationship together over the past 6 months (maybe when I stopped seeing him as a child?)  I truly, honestly am in love with my husband.  If I started this blog a year and a half ago, it wouldn’t be so lovey-dovey.  No way, no how.  We were just existing with one another.  He wanted out, and so did I.  We were miserable together. 

I’m not sure if marriage is this rough for everyone the first three years, or if it was just us, but I’m glad we went through it.  Yes, we were miserable, and we didn’t come together on a lot of things, but we have just gelled together and we fit so perfectly.  In the beginning, I couldn’t take his corny sarcasm, and now…I am the corny sarcastic one!  If you cant beat ‘em, join ‘em!  We communicate about what is important to us without jumping down one another’s throat.  And because of this, we have been able to see eye-to-eye about children.

We agree on what we would want of our children.  I was surprised when Todd was OK with the fact that I would want to home-school our children.  He was surprisingly OK with me not wanting the children to be involved with the TV (if it were my choice, I’d say get rid of the TV’s all together, but that wont happen with Todd around.)  It was just a back and forth conversation about what we’d like of our children and what we wouldn’t.  It was refreshing and it made me love him that much more knowing that we want the same thing (for the most part.) 

There is still a question about Todd being able to have children and my health, so for now, we will have to continue to talk about what we want and wait.  I want to be out of debt with a bit of an emergency fund, get an “OK” from the doctor, and THEN we can start trying.  If it is God’s will, then we will have children. Otherwise, we are perfectly happy with being with one another (or possibly adopting!)

Weigh-In : Postponed

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I know I sure did. 
That being said, I am NOT weighing in today.  I dont really feel like crying this early in the morning. :-)  I ate so much.
Right now, we are deciding what to do today.  We may just stay home (I would prefer that,) or we may see the in-laws.  I guess time will tell.  I can tell you one thing we ARENT doing, and that is shopping.  No way, no how. 

I hope to go to the library (or send Todd over for me) to get Eat, Pray, Love that was waiting for me since Wednesday, finish up the Christmas cards, possibly put up the tree with Todd, play the Wii, and spend some quality time with the animals.  Oh, and read the rest of a book that I've had for a while.

We are one week away from our trip to Florida, so I also want to pack my little backpack and be set to go!

I pray that everyone has a great one today with family and loved ones just as yesterday.

Christmas Eve 2010

Mom and I have been talking about our Christmas plans for this year.  Usually, Todd and I go to his half-sister’s house on Christmas Eve to spend time with them and his family.  Then, on Christmas, we have Christmas at our house in the morning, and then head over to my dad’s house to watch Natalie open her gifts, and then to my mother & father-in-law’s house to celebrate there.  By the end of the day, we’re exhausted, but then we wake up the next morning and go to my mom’s house for the weekend to celebrate there.

Because my mom has lived over 4 hours away for the past several Christmas’, it’s been tough.  This year, they live only 2 hours away.  Apparently, Doc has to work at the hospital on Chirstmas Day this year, but has off on Christmas Eve.  I told mom that we could come down Christmas Eve and spend the day with them.  Mom mentioned possibly picking up my niece, Annabelle (my only blood-brother’s daughter) and coming to OUR house for Christmas Eve.

Once she mentioned this, I got so excited (enough so that I had a hard time getting to sleep!)  I really love to have people over to the house.  Not many people come to see us because we are “out of the way.”  I am just happy everyone comes to our 4^th of July BBQ every year.  At any rate, I think it would be a blast to have little miss Annabelly (as I call her) and my mom & Doc here at the house.   For the first time ever, they get to see our 12 ft. tree that Todd always decorates beautifully, and we get to spend time together at OUR home.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is a quick message to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving spent with family and loved ones.

I am so excited about today! For the first time in our relationship, Todd and I will be having Thanksgiving at my mother’s house.  It has been over 6 years since I’ve had Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day with my mom.  This year, we are spending time with Doc’s side of the family (his two sons and their families.)  It will be great to spend this time with all of them.  I hope to take lots of pictures and eat lots of yummy food.  I pray that everyone else out there reading this will do the same.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Book Review: Rachel’s Contrition by Michelle Buckman

Rachel’s Contrition is a book about a woman who lost a child (two if you consider her son who wants nothing to do with her,) is in the middle of a separation from her husband and in the midst of a nervous breakdown to name just a few.  I felt for Rachel from page one.  I felt like I knew her and wanted to help and comfort her through all of the hardship she’d experienced. She never had anyone to really support her through the tough times other than a quirky teenager who came and went as she pleased and was very puzzling throughout the book. A mysterious death of another person she knew well kept the mystery going in the book as well as stories of Rachel’s past.   

There are many twists and turns in this book and “who done its.” Even three quarters of the way through the book, the reader is left wondering what truly happened to her daughter.  Will Rachel learn to let go and let God take over?  You will have to read and find out for yourself!

The book was very descriptive and a pleasure to read from cover to cover.  I enjoyed it and look forward to reading other works by Michelle Buckman!

Disclosure:
I received this book free from Sophia Press Institute as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Prepareing for our Trip

 As you can imagine, Todd and I are getting more and more excited for our trip to Florida.  I have received an itinerary from the wholesaler that we won this trip through, and it is making the trip even more real.  We were informed that each room has a furnished balcony with a water view!  Not to mention plush robes are provided and a microwave and fridge in our room! 

I am still working on the parking situation for Cleveland Hopkins Airport.  I am torn as to who to choose for parking the car for nearly 4 days.

Todd and I will both have a carry-on to help save money.  Otherwise, we would have to pay $25 per bag we check.  When we went on our honeymoon in 2007, the airline lost our luggage. Luckily it was on the way HOME! We don’t want that to happen on this trip, nor do we want to pay to check a bag.  Todd is planning on taking a leather duffel bag on this trip and I am planning on taking our backpack. 

We have several rolling carry-ons, but they are not very convenient, in my opinion.  Plus, we like to take our backpack when we travel anyways, so this will cut down on what we take.  I like taking a backpack on our daily excursions because we can put snacks, camera, our Garmin and any souveneirs we pick up along the way…on our back!  I am not taking my purse at all. 

I have decided that I am going to K-I-S-S on this trip.  I am going to be packing the following in my backpack for the trip: 2 pairs of shorts, 3 shirts, 1 pair of PJ’s, 3 pairs of panties, 1 extra bra (yes, I wear my bras more than once between washes), 2 pairs of socks, slip on shoes, toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, hairspray and deodorant rock), iPod and camera.  When we get to the hotel, I will put everything in the dresser drawer, and we’ll have an empty backpack for our daily excursions.  I am not taking my laptop on this trip (Todd is bringing his NetBook) nor am I taking any books.  A lot of times, we pack so much into a day, we don’t have time to read!  By the time we get back to the hotel, I am exhausted and go to bed.  If I DO have time to read, I put some books on my iPod in case I want to read on the plane or at the beach.  If I want to check my emails, I have my iPod, or if I want to write a blog, I have the iPod or NetBook. 

When I mentioned to Todd that the rooms have a fridge and microwave, I was thinking we’d go pick up some snacks at the local Walmart (2 miles away from the hotel.)  I was thinking a nice bottle of wine, some popcorn, apples, granola bars and poptarts (breakfast is not provided at the hotel from what I understand.)  Todd brought up an even better idea.  He is talking about ordering a few large portions of Chinese or Mexican take-out and taking it to the hotel for mini-meals when we are there.  It would be a lot less expensive to eat at the hotel than to eat at all of these nice restaurants.  We will also bring my Kleen Canteen so we can fill it up with water and not have to pay for $1+ pop.  Another thing to put in the backpack on our excursions!

When we travel, we like to eat a continental breakfast at the hotel (usually for free!) and then we pay for a late lunch/early dinner.  This normally holds us over until the next morning.  That will change on this trip.  I am thinking poptarts or oatmeal will be eaten in the morning before we head out of the hotel, then we’ll have our snacks as needed and then eat a 1:00 lunch or so.  Maybe a snack/mini-meal when we get back to the hotel.

Do you have any other suggestions for us to help save money on this trip?

New Mortgage

We are now 2 months in on paying for our new mortgage.  I have NOT been paying the additional $150 to make it a 10 year mortgage thus far; however, when we get our debts paid off and have our emergency fund funded to at least 3 months of expenses, I will start to add well over the $150 to make up for lost time and pay the mortgage off within 10 years or less.

When I looked online today, I was able to see how much is going toward the principal and how much is going toward interest (something I was not able to do when we had the line of credit.)  Right now, 55% of our payment is going toward principal.  That doesn’t sound like much, but it was over 60% going toward INTEREST every month when we had the higher interest rate.

Even though we refinanced at a higher amount than we owed (to cover the closing costs,) I am happy we did this.  The closing costs will be paid off from the principal within the first year assuming we do not pay anything extra on the mortgage. 

Diet

This past week was a rough one for the “diet.”  A friend of mine had his birthday on Tuesday, so I treated him to lunch and Wednesday was Benihana day. Oh, and not to mention Aunt Flo decided to come and visit for the week. On Tuesday, after lunch, I felt absolutely awful.  I ate so much (even though it was a fraction of what I used to eat as the “norm.”)  I was ill for the rest of the evening.

Wednesday, I did better (I ate only 1/3 of the Benihana lunch) but still felt sick to my stomach for most of the day.

Today, Thursday (November 18^th,) I feel SOOO much better.  I had a small breakfast, coffee when I got to work and a half of a tuna sandwich for lunch.  I will have my apple or carrots in a couple of hours and maybe another before I go home for the day.

What’s my point?  I think my stomach is shrinking!  So when I overindulge, I am MISERABLE.  I have to keep this in mind next week on Turkey-Day!

I really attribute my lower cholesterol to the fact that I’m not eating as much.  I am still eating what I like to eat, but not nearly the quantity.  And do you know what else I have noticed that this has helped?  Not only am I now in control of my eating habbits, but I feel like I am more in control with the organization at home and finances! It’s funny how these completely different things have gone hand-in-hand.

Clothing

Would you look at somebody differently that wears the same clothing 8 business days in a row?  There is a woman at work (not the same one that talks to herself,) that frequently wears the same clothes for extended periods of time.  I’m not talking black slacks and a dress shirt.  I’m talking neon pink shirt and camel-colored cords.  In the past, it was bright blue slacks and the neon pink shirt.

This would be different if we knew she didn’t have any clothes or couldn’t afford them.  But she is wealthy.  She also has enough outfits to last a full 2 weeks here at work.  I’m not sure why she does this.  I don’t know if it is something that is acceptable from her culture (she is from Russia,) or what.

I have tried to wear the same exact thing two days in a row here to work, but had to change before I left the house.  I just couldn’t do it.  Maybe it is because I am selfish, or maybe I AM materialistic or worried about what others may say.  I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.

If you had a closet full of clothing, would you be able to wear the same exact pants and blouse for 8-10 business days?

What Would You Pay?

I love new, innovative vehicles.  That’s why I got Bianca as soon as she hit the lots.  She was so different from what I was used to and what I’d seen out there.  I don’t mind being “different.”

Todd and I have looked into electric vehicles for years.  We have gone so far as to researching making Bianca into an electric vehicle!  However, with my commute to work (45 miles each way,) it is just not fathomable.  No electric cells would go that far and back on a single charge.

That being said, the Nissan Leaf  is coming out in the next year.  This is an all-electric vehicle.  The question is, at what cost? Nearly $33,000!  If you were to purchase this at 3.99% interest for 5 years, the payment would be $607/month!!  And that is a low interest rate!  OK, they say there is a $7500 tax credit, but I don’t count those in (if I did, it would be a $470/ month.)

My car payment on Bianca was $215/month.  She is paid off (and has been paid off for over a year.)  I spend approximately $30/week on gas to drive 450 miles.  $30.00/week x 4 weeks a month = $120.  $215+$120=$335 .  That is nearly HALF of the payment of the Leaf.  We did not take into account the price for electric.

I understand it is a 0 emissions vehicle.  I want to reduce my footprint on the earth just as everyone else does.  But the question is, at what cost?  I used to love the Honda Insight that came out in 2002.  I was going to purchase it as my first vehicle, but I could not rationalize getting out of college and getting a $25,000 vehicle!  I also like the Prius.  But guess what?  The price of a low-end Prius is $22,000.  That is $10,000 more than Bianca was.  And you know what else?  It gets only 6-10 miles better per gallon than Bianca.  Todd figured out the time-frame to break even if I purchased a Prius, and it was over 12 (or was it 15?) years.  Not to mention, Bianca is a lot cuter!

Would you pay this amount of money for an electric vehicle?