I haven't been here since June! What a busy few weeks it's been! I spent 2 whole weeks in LaPine, returned to the garden of weedin, helped Tom clear the cherry trees he cut down from Carol's side of the fence and oh yeah, we bought a house! Okay, technically we are in the process of buying a house, but it will happen soon. Another opportunity to buy the house next door to our property presented itself (this is the house formerly known as "Norm's House") and thanks to good karma and clean living the agent offered it to us at the same price as the high bidder. Because he liked us. And Tom fixed the sprinkler head problem. See, sometimes it pays to be a nice guy! What this means is, the something less for the future will be spending. We have never been extravagant, but we have enjoyed a comfortable lifestyle for quite some time where if we really want something, we just buy it. Now we need to be a little more careful in that regard to manage 2 mortgages. I am confident that with careful planning and the raises we are both getting that this will all be absorbed and there will be no cause for panic, but anytime we make a major purchase I hold my breath a little bit. Call it my frugal roots...

I am still juicing and being careful about what I eat...exercising when I can. Still stuck at 160, which I fear may be my weight. It's not entirely bad for my height and my body conture seems to be changing...clothes are fitting better, but it's that damn number on the scale that gets me! Oh well...healthy is the goal. More later...

Costco!

Well after years of just saying NO to Costco, I succumbed and bought a membership. It was peer pressure, I tell ya!!! (just kidding). Tom has long liked many of their products, and so have I through the Eagle Bargain Outlet. I've always been of the mind that I can do better shopping around, which on some things I can, but as for other products I can not. Like my yeast. A dollar cheaper than my best price. Great price on olive oil. And they carry Bob's Red Mill products too. So I'm pretty happy I decided to stop being resistant and joined the throngs who make the pilgrimage to Costco. Had the $1.50 polish dog dinner and it was delicious! We are still on the juice and I did Zumba this week. The weights kicked my butt, in a good way. Looking forward to next week! And vacation!!!

Weight Loss?

What weight loss? Got on the scale after Zumba and it appears I am back up where I started. What? Feel a little discouraged, but that doesn't mean give up...it means keep trying. We did some toning with weights tonight at Zumba. Must remember to bring weights next week. Wow,the rain is really coming down...welcome to Juneuary!

Smoothies!

I've converted Tom to smoothies in the morning! And he's doing juice for his break at work! Yay!!! I'm hanging in with the plan...we'll see what this Wednesday brings???

Keurig has changed my life...

Or coffee and juice...that's all I need! Bought a Keurig coffee maker on Friday and OMG, what a concept! The coffee and tea are exceptional and it's super easy. I got the adapter to use our own coffee, but as Tom said after I made him a mocha..."Why?" We did a major shopping trip because I was out of juicing material and bought some Copper River salmon for dinner. I cooked it on the Traeger with some fresh squeezed lemon, Muskegee seasoning from Penzey's (thanks Chief for knocking the bottle off the table and breaking the lid...Jerk!) and made an amazing salad with salad greens, watermelon, strawberries, dried cranberries, feta cheese, glazed walnuts with a drizzle of chocolate balsamic vinegar. Okay, maybe the coffee and juice proclamation was a little premature! Dinner was outstanding! Let's see how the scale feels about that on Wednesday. Today will be mostly juice (and coffee) and I think I ordered a salad for dinner tonight. No headache this morning unless you count Jo! Went to bed with an awful kink in my neck thanks to falling asleep in the recliner. Reading is the best Sandman!

No Zumba

But the front and back lawns are mowed! Yay!

Tired

10 hour workday-no juice-hard to stay awake-wanna nap...Zumba? I don't know...

Wednesday Weigh in

Down 2 pounds!!! Progress!!! Yesterday was a big time suck all around...so stressfull! We were outbid for the house and truly in a way I'm relieved. No need to tighten the belt...figuratively. Makes me want to go thrift shopping! But I need to get on the rush embroidery job...grrrrr!!! Damn you Michael Silva!!!

Interesting...

Tom brought home a pack of smokes and I had a few with him yesterday...the rash seems to be returning...hmmm. Guess the line between the two is pretty short. Other than that disgression I was pretty good yesterday...Did my 1/2 hour on the bike and ate well. Catherine made this awesome Swiss Chard tart with potatoe crust...kind of like spanakopita without the puff pastry...delicious! Today we put our offer in on the house and will know by tomorrow...scary and exciting all at once! Fingers crossed!

Memorial Day

Thank you to our military service people who keep us safe every day and remember those who have sacrificed that we might have freedom. It's a grey day here,,,I thought summer had finally arrived, but evidently not. Woke with a slight headache this morning, but feel it is most likely due to a face full of pom as I sleep. I'm probably allergic to dog dander! Go figure! Coffee is helping to erase the headache. Tom is home so I can introduce him to the green juices. I think he will be pleasantly surprised as I was. It's my Friday, so looking forward to a weekend. Also atwitter at the prospect of maybe buying Norm's house. If we get it will I forever call it "Norm's house"? Dunno. I am trying not to get too excited so I won't be disappointed if someone else gets it. We still have a beautiful piece of property right next door, prime for building our own house. But 4 acres...a beautiful custom cedar home, already built, landscaping done, paved driveway...stop Mary, your hyperventilating! The cat is being crazy...I need to go grab her and trim her nails. Laters, Baby!

Super Sunday

Woke up again (way too early...thanks Jo) without a headache...nice...rash gone...nice...new haircut behaving nicely. Made a kickass apple carrot ginger juice for lunch 2 GS apples; 4 carrots; 1" knob of ginger...perfection! Meant to throw in some spinach...tomorrow. Exciting news of the day...Norm's house is on the market and we may be able to swing it! If it's meant to be, it will happen! Activity report: I walked 3 miles last night while watching a movie and did 1/2hour interval training on the bike this morning! Go me!!!

Quick...Write it Down!

Best green smoothie ever!
1 Granny Smith Apple
2 Carrots
1 Hopper full of Spinach
1/2 cup fresh pineapple chunks
1 inch knob of ginger

Juice and enjoy! Mmmmmmm.........
guess I shoulda took a picture!!!

Day 4

At some point I shall stop numbering the days. Just not today! No headache this morning! Woohoo! Whining Pom, squeaking Kodi and tap dancing Sam at 4:30 am though. Gaa! Last night I got the vegetable juice right-3 tomatoes, 1/2 green pepper, 1/2 dozen little peppers, 2 carrots, 1 stick of celery and a bunch of spinach. Oh, and a little less Sriracha sauce. Yummy! Millie even approved! Rode the exercise bike for 1/2 hour while reading Catching Fire. I continued to read after the bike ride until I was finished...good book. Now the stupid qwerty keyboard is split... WTH Steve Jobs???

Day 3

Original title, eh? Nod to the Canadians in class...woke up with another slight headache (my usual). I went to Zumba and was glad that I did. I made a version of V8 for dinner and again overshot my proportions of veggies. I used 2 carrots; 3 cloves of garlic; 2 stalks of celery; 1/2 cucumber; 1/2 green pepper; 1/4 vidalia onion and 1 tomato (I didn't have room for any more tomatoes). A dash of sirracha sauce completed the mix...okay it was more than a dash...must be more conservative with the hot sauce! Note to self...juice tomatoes first and then add the extras for a more tomato flavor. Made a pineapple/coconut milk smoothie with a few rogue strawberries thrown in for good measure for dessert after Zumba...mmmmmmm!!!! Felt hungry when I awoke, but not starving. Granola and toast for breakfast and clam chowder and salad...plan to try a new concoction for dinner.

Day 2

Woke up feeling slightly nauseated with a mild headache. Blah! I was very good at dinner last night...a serving of jambalaya, some cucumbers an onions in rice wine vinegar, cottage cheese and fresh pineapple. And only 1 biscuit! The good ones too. I savored every bite, and the truth is I wasn't really hungry for another one...they just taste good. I came home from the fire station, did my chores and it was already 9:00 pm by the time I finished. I sat down to watch Modern Family with all intentions of reading Cstching Fire for awhile before going to bed. The recliner sucked me in again...recliner+warm blanket=night night...I woke up about 12:15 am...took the boys out to do their business and headed to bed. My left knee hurts today and my left toes have that fiery feeling. I noticed a small rash developing "down there"...shit! Working a 10 hour shift today and thinking about all I have to do overwhelms me. Hope to get out early enough to gas up the car and feed Kitty Troute and go to Zumba tonight. It would be really easy to blow it off, but I think for my well being I should make it a priority. Feeling kind of blah...wet spot noticed on the seat when we arrived at work...Sam??? Jo has crapped twice since we got to work...once IN the office! Is this a test?

The Journey Begins...

Where to start? I guess I'll just regurgitate what's been on my mind and sort it out as I go. I have been slowly packing on the pounds for the last 10 years. Happy pounds, I tell myself. Happy indeed, because I am so blessed to be travelling this road with the love of my life (albeit a rocky road at times...I think the ruts have been smoothed out!); a beautiful family that has grown by one amazing little boy; I have a job that I like to go to that allows me to bring my yapping little furbabies to work; I have a sewing/embroidery business that keeps me busier than I care to be, but my clients are always so grateful (and bring me more work Dammit!) My latest job was some alterations for a gal at work who somehow had just lost a bunch of weight...miraculously...without a lot of fan fare. When she came to pick up her clothes, I asked her what she had done and she turned me on to the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. She said it inspired her to get more healthy because she was starting to feel like she was on the edge of being too heavy, etc.  I have also experienced times of joint pain, rashes, itchy skin...odd little symptoms that the etiolgy is unclear. So I put the documentary in my NetFlix Queue and gave it a go...watching that put a little bee in my bonnet and so here we go...

I bought a juicer today. I have been a smoothie fan for some time now and many times a week a fruit smoothie is breakfast. But green smoothies...ugh...not too sure about that! Well, I made my first green smoothie today and it was delish!!! Here's my first, which with a little tweaking will probably become a favorite:
  
2 Granny Smith Apples
1 Carrot
A hopper full of spinach leaves (they were big leaves-4 or 5)
2 inch knob of Ginger root

In retrospect I think 2 inches of ginger was a little bold...I may try 1 inch next time and add another carrot. The drink had a lot of zippity do dah and I was surprised how filling it was. I took the pulp out to Millie goat and wished I had brought my camera. She liked the offering but wrinkled her nose up a bit (Millie concurs...too much ginger). She ate it all and would have ate the plastic bag had I let her!

Anyway, here's where the rubber meets the road...goal time...

I would realistically like to lose 10 pounds by the end of summer (20 pounds would be awesome, but lets live in the real world, not fantasy land)

I would like to be more active, have more energy and not hurt!

The stats:
Current weight: 161 pounds
Chest 37.5"
Waist 33"
Hips   42"
Thigh  25"

Weigh in Wednesday...I think once a week weigh ins are a great idea and since I am starting on a Wednesday (and it makes a cute title), Wednesdays it is!!!

That's the (or less) part.  The something more is about honoring myself and my dreams. Recently it hit me that my days are numbered. No, I'm not sick or anything. I think if you are lucky enough to live long enough, you realize that "Crap, I better start prioritizing because I have a bucket list a mile long!" And let's face it...it ain't all gonna get done! So time to pick the important things on the ol' list and let somethings go...
Things I want to do:
Read more...I loved reading as a child and while I do read, it's not a priority.
     Goal: Read a minimum of 1 Book a month (done for May...yes 50 Shades counts!!!)
Sew more...
     Goal: Complete a minimum of 1 garment for myself a month

Okay, I'm going to stop here...for now. I have a few more goals in the works and I will expound on them later...right now I think that's plenty to chew on. Let it begin...