Skinny Mama: Update!

I haven't posted about this in a few weeks mainly because there hasn't been anything exciting to report.  I hit the dreaded plateau that I seem to hit every couple of weeks and it tends to last for about 2 weeks each time.  But, I'm happy to report that I lost 1.5 lbs this week bringing my total weight lost up to 15 lbs since the end of January.  I really need to go shopping and get a new pair of pants or two because my current ones just hang on me now.  I look like I have no butt and I'm starting to lose my hips.  Well, I guess they're still there, just smaller now.  :)  I'm 5 lbs away from my FIRST goal of 20 lbs, so I'm incredibly excited about that.  I'm hoping by the end of April I will have shed those last 5 lbs, so I can move on to goal number two.

And, this is what my current workout plan looks like (for anyone who might care):

40 minutes of cardio (every other day)
Squats, triceps, biceps and abs (on the alternating day)

Sunday Survey

1. When was the last time that you went out dancing?

 

I think it was when Jacob was about 6 weeks old when I went out with the girls for a "Girl's Night".  I don't get out much, lol, but when I do it sure is fun!

 

2. Have you ever had an argument with a teacher?

 

No, not that I can recall ... I was always kind of a suck-up with my teachers, hehe.

 

3. Do you have a tough time remembering people’s names?

 

No, I'm actually really good with names and remembering dates.  Weird, I know.

4. Would you rather change your past or know your future?

 

Change my past, for sure!

5. What’s one thing you feel you must do in your life before it ends?

 

Travel.  There are so many awesome parts of the world/US that I really want to see! 

6. How many credit cards do you have right now that have a zero balance?

 

We have one and it always has a small balance.  It's best for your credit to carry a small balance every month.

7. What is the most expensive thing you purchased this year?

 

Probably my cell phone I just got a week ago.

8 . If you're married, this probably doesn't apply to you, but: Are you mindful about getting tested for STDs/HIV at least semi-regularly? Why/why not? Married people: Were you mindful about this type of thing when you were single? Why/why not?

 

I was not mindful of it when I was single because I wasn't sleeping around, so it wasn't really neccessary, but since I've had two babies now, I've been tested for every STD under the sun with both pregnancies and everything has always come back negative.  :)

9. If you could ask the president of the United States one question, what would it be?

 

Nothing ... I can't think of one thing I'd want to ask.

Sunday Survey

1. Have you ever felt that you needed to just forget an ex-lover?

Nope.  But, then again I don't really have any.  :)
2. Spring picnics and cookouts are here! What would you want to have on your plate as you head back to the table?

Cheeseburger with ketchup, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles on it, corn-on-the-cob, baked beans and potato salad.  Yum!
3. It's St. Patrick's Day, March 17th! Do you celebrate? Drink Green Beer? Go out?

No.  I would, probably, if we didn't the kids, but then again .. I'm not Irish, so therefore I don't really feel the need to celebrate on March 17th.  :)
4. Did you remember to wear green today?

I actually did, but I didn't wear it.  I wore green to work on Friday since I wasn't going to really be out and about on Saturday.
5. What phrase or saying do you over use?

"So, anyway ..."
6. If you could (or could have) change(d) something about your relationship with your parents, what would it be?

I would like us to have been closer while I was growing up.  I'm close with my mom now, but I wasn't the whole time I was growing up.  :(
7. If the NCAA Men's or Women's Final Four basketball tournament was played in your hometown arena or within easy driving distance from where you live, would you try to attend one of the games?

Hell no.  I could care less about any kind of basketball (pro or college).  Same goes for baseball (though I would go see a baseball game).  I am a football and hockey fan, only!
8. No matter what's going on in your life, what always makes you smile?

My babies, of course!
9. We've asked this before: What else is on your mind? Go ahead and rant.

Just a bunch of personal stuff ... don't wanna go into it right now.

Let's Do 52 - Week 11

This week's themes were: Beauty in the everyday details or Teeny Tiny

Here's a picture of my new Spanish vase/pitcher that I got from Home Goods yesterday.  I love it and it's "everyday beauty"!  Supposedly it was handpainted in Spain, also.  :)

Sunday Survey

This week's theme: Indian Reservation

1. Have you ever had a romantic breakup that was easy?

 

Nope.

2. When was the first time that you felt betrayed?

 

I actually don't want to discuss that right now, but I will say it wasn't all that long ago (a little over a year ago, maybe).

3. Do you feel religious beliefs should have a role in politics?

 

Nope.

4. Are you doing anything special this weekend?

 

Well, this weekend is just about to end, and we didn't do anything too exciting.  John and I had a date night on Friday night, and then the rest of the weekend we just hung around the house.

 

Next weekend, we'll do our bi-weekly grocery trip to BJs and probably some other misc. shopping and go out to eat once or twice, but other than that, I don't know that there is anything else planned.  We lead pretty boring lives.  lol

5. Oreo cookies turned 100 years old this week. How do YOU eat an Oreo?

 

Dunked in white milk.  Yum!

6. If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?

 

I wish I were a more patient person.

7. Describe a time when you should have tried harder.

 

A few different occassions in high school, maybe?  Can't really think of anything else.

8. What is your favorite baseball-related movie?

 

A League of Their Own, definitely!

9. What is one lesson you have learned in the past year?

 

It's not something I learned in the past year, really.  I've been learning it over the past few years, but it finally sunk in just in the past year, and that is that I don't follow through with things.  I'm learning to do so, and so far this year I'm kind of impressed with myself.  :)

Reading Corner ~ Book 4 of 12

It's only March 10th and I'm already one book ahead of schedule! YAY!

This book was just sort of dropped in my lap.  I had never heard of the author before, so I was kind of apprehensive about reading one of her books.  I'll say this much ... it wasn't terrible, but it was definitely a difficult read (for me, anyway) for the fact that it's only 150-something pages.  I'm not sure if I'll be reading any more of her books or not, to be honest, I just wasn't too keen on this one.  But, read the synopsis at the bottom of this post to form your own opinion.  :)

Black Water ~ Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates has taken a shocking story that has become an American myth and, from it, has created a novel of electrifying power and illumination. Kelly Kelleher is an idealistic, twenty-six-year-old “good girl” when she meets the Senator at a Fourth of July party. In a brilliantly woven narrative, we enter her past and her present, her mind and her body as she is fatally attracted to this older man, this hero, this soon-to-be-lover. Kelly becomes the very embodiment of the vulnerable, romantic dreams of bright and brave women, drawn to the power that certain men command—at a party that takes on the quality of a surreal nightmare; in a tragic car ride that we hope against hope will not end as we know it must end. One of the acknowledged masters of American fiction, Joyce Carol Oates has written a bold tour de force that parts the black water to reveal the profoundest depths of human truth.

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Let's Do 52 - Week 10

For whatever reason this week there weren't any themes listed on the Let's Do 52 website, so I'll just be posting ones I took this week of random things.
First, our friend, Adam, came for a visit last Sunday and brought his sweet dog, Little Bear, with him.  This dog is seriously the best dog I've ever met.  He rarely barks, he lets my kids jump all over him, pet him, etc., and the best thing of all is that he goes for walks outside with no leash because he's just that calm and obedient.

Notice he's cuddled up with Henry's Raggedy Andy doll?  lol

My new love is Scentsy!!  My sister got me a plug-in warmer for my birthday and I've been in love ever since.  I hosted an online party a few weeks back, and here's my first warmer that came via UPS earlier this week.  I have more coming this week that I cannot wait to get set up ... and I have a ton of new scents to try out too!!

And, here are a few pics I took this afternoon of my guys (you didn't think you'd get through an entire post without seeing their cute faces, did you?)

 

Henry after his nap today with his bedhead.  lol  So cute!

 

Henry with his cute little "O" face.  He does this all.the.time, and I was finally able to snap a pic of it!

 

My little pirate!  Here he is doing his "aaaarrgghhhh!"  *hehe*

Skinny Mama: Week Six

Another awesome week for me!!  Down another 4 lbs from last week - thank you, Raspberry Ketones.  There isn't a doubt in my mind that if it weren't for them I would not be losing so much so quickly.  Losing this much so fast isn't really that great for me, but I'll take it.  I don't plan to gain it back.  I'm making lifestyle/diet changes and I plan to stick with that once I get to my goal weight, so I guess I'm just not that worried about gaining it all back.  So, totals after six weeks of dieting/exercising - 13.5 lbs lost or 5.3% of my total starting body weight.  :)

Sunday Survey

This week's survey is in honor of Davy Jones.  RIP Daydream Believer.

Look Out Here Comes Tomorrow

1. How much do you worry about your future?

 

Some.  I don't sit here worrying about it every second of every day, but I do still worry, and I try to plan for as much as possible.

2. Do you believe that anyone could be perfect?

 

Nope, I don't believe anyone is perfect.

3. Regarding your future, what is the best thing you could hope for?

 

To have a long and happy life.  That's all I really want.  To be around for my kids while they're growing up ... see them go off to college, get married and have kids of their own. 

4. What's the greatest extent you've gone to help a friend in need?

 

About 5 years ago when my very good friend got a DUI, I drove out to her house almost every weekend (it was probably 20-25 minutes from our house) to pick her up and bring her to stay with us for the weekend.  That's probably the extent, though ... I haven't had to do anything to out there for a friend, but I would if need be.  I loved having her stay with us almost every weekend, I miss those days!

5. What did you do lately that was really brave?

 

Umm, I can't really think of anything ... give birth?  That takes some guts.  lol

6. Tell us one thing you wish you hadn't let yourself do.

 

Get so fat.  :(  I hate looking at myself in the mirror, which is why I'm SO adamant about losing weight.  My goal is by next summer (2013) to be the same size I was in high school.  I wasn't fat then, though I thought I was.  I look back at pics of myself and think "damn!  I looked good!"  lol

7. Who is the wisest person you know?

 

I can't just choose one person, really.  Both my parents, my in-laws and my husband are all really wise, smart people. 

8. What's the most tasteless joke you've ever heard?

 

Oh, if it's "tasteless", I'm not going to repeat it.

9. What does your answering machine / voice mail message say?

 

"Hi, it's Heather.  Leave me a message and I'll get back to you."



Reading Corner ~ Book 3 of 12

Well, I'm doing awesome for my reading challenge so far this year.  I wanted to do one book a month and so far I've done 3 in the first two months.  I'm kind of impressed with myself, but I guess if I wasn't working out as much I wouldn't have the time to read nearly as much.  Anyway, I finished book two of the Hunger Games trilogy:

Catching Fire ~ Suzanne Collins



Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

All I can really say about this book is that you definitely want to read the entire series.  I thought this one was slow going in the beginning, but about a quarter of the way in it started to pick up and I couldn't put it down.  I can't wait to start the third and final book ... Mockingjay.

Let's Do 52 - Week 9

Wow, I can't believe it's already the ninth week of 2012!!  This week's themes were:

[Framed] or Is that you, Spring?

I didn't get any pictures for either theme because, well ... we were just too busy with work, school and daycare to get to take many pictures.  I wish I had remembered to take my camera with me a few days this past week because we had some VERY Spring-like weather.  Oh well .. I did get some cute pics of my guys, though, so I'll leave you with those.  :)

Someone now enjoys dressing up like a fireman, too.  :)

This is what we call "gettin' spit-shined". lol

Skinny Mama: Week Five

WOW!  This week was amazing.  I'm VERY proud!!!  This morning's weigh-in revealed that I am down another 3.5 lbs from last week.  So, so far for anyone who is keeping track that's 9.5 lbs lost (MFP rounds up, so that's why my ticker to the left says 10 lbs) or 3.75% of my total starting weight.  I'm pretty proud seeing as how I've only been at this for 5 weeks.

I'm exercising for 30-45 minutes 3 or 4 times a week.  And, I'm really watching what I eat and how much I eat.  It's been rough at times, but I'm still moving in the right direction, so I'm really feeling motivated!  I also started taking a Raspberry Ketone supplement on Tuesday that has helped curb my appetite some and really control those mid-day/mid-evening cravings.  It's also given me a lot more energy which I really believe is helping to burn off extra fat. Stay tuned for next week!  I can only hope that I'll have that great of a loss to report.  :)