I feel so much better this morning. At least the hormonal buildup is over, and PMS can start to subside. I was ready to choke the life out of people yesterday, which is never a good thing to follow through on. And at least I didn't journal last night when I was stewing over toxic thoughts- betcha I would have sent a lot of people running from 3FC totally. LOL.

Last night we skipped the grocery shopping because it was STILL pouring. Who's got those "build your own ark" instructions, anyway? I've got a lot of manila folders & hanging file stuff here, so I think I could at least get started on a mini one. Anyhow, hubby picked up Quizno's subs for dinner- the only thing I will eat there is the light turkey on whole wheat with swiss cheese. No lettuce, no tomato, just turkey, cheese, bread, and red wine vinegar with italian herbs. I had half the sub (about 5") for dinner, and I brought the other half for lunch today. Shopping tonight is out of the question because hubby has late appointments and won't be home until about 8pm. I'll be able to get a longer workout in, since I'll have time to kill.

There's more good news....the loan consultant I work with is not coming in today. Sigh of relief....she can make me crazy at times...like, every time she's here. I really needed this break from her, considering she came in very early yesterday & ruined my whole day.

This will be nice- I'll have peace & quiet & can get things in order, and catch up on tracking & maybe even get some new files added to our client database. Wouldn't that be lovely? Productivity, in spite of myself

Today's Plan of Attack

AM exercise- done- 1.5 miles WATP
(I hit sooze once to many times & was 9 minutes past where I needed to be, so the last half mile went by the wayside. Had I known Monica was not going to be in at all today, I would have done the 2 & been 5 minutes late.)

Breakfast
1 apple & cinnamon cottage double
1 strawberry yogurt Zone bar
600mg Advil
iced decaf earl gray w/ ff french vanilla creamer

Lunch
Leftover half of Turkey sub on whole wheat
fresh pineapple chunks leftover from yesterday

PM Exercise
at least 2 miles WATP
30 minutes additional workout- either UB, bike, resistance bands

Dinner
TBD

That's the day so far. Once I get the workout done, I really need to get another assignment done for Info Design. I've got to map out 4 webpages & do the wire frames for it from the flow chart from the last assignment. Basically, it'll be easy once I sit down & actually get the templates laid out. Then it'll be easy to plug stuff in & get it turned in. I wish I could work on it here, but nope...no access to photoshop to draw out the wireframes, etc.
And Paint just won't cut it. LOL.

Elisha- great news on the interview, girlie. I'll keep fingers crossed for you. And what would people do without all us geeks? The geeks will inherit the earth. Sorry if I wasn't clear about the middle #. Basically, since none of us weigh 92 pounds, we've got 3 digit weights. Let's take Julie's # of 169 for example. Her "new middle #" would be at 159. Kind of counting off 10 pound increments, and since I've got a while to go until the first digit changes, it gives me a little bit of incentive to work towards. And that new middle # always seems to give me an extra spring in my step, because I don't want to see a blip up back to the old #. Like the difference between 199 and 201- I know which we'd all rather see, right? It's all mental- 159 is "better" than 160... it's that darned "middle #" I hope that helps...maybe it's just another one of my weird little hangups. LOL.

Julie- you mentioned oatmeal raising cookies, and wouldn't you know, hubby had a bag of them in the house last night? Once you mentioned them, with PMS & all, they sounded soooo good. And yes, I did have oatmeal cookies with hubby, after my turkey sandwich. Damn PMS & the power of suggestion! It's all your fault! (Just kidding! I have to give you a hard time since you'll be away soon!)

Mmmmkay, off to refill this water, and skip around the office full of glee. I'm going to make the most of this day without crap and aggravation, and smile until my cheeks hurt.

Happy Hump Day!

Hello all! Well today is just starting for me really… I’ve been up for maybe an hour and a half… decided to sleep in today…. No exercise today… yet. No exercise yesterday. I don’t remember drinking any water either! I want to go to the pool or something today. No beach with that stupid hurricane or whatever that is. That weather totally sucks… The sun is beaming again.. Right now.. But I know that at any time…. It could start pouring… My hubby cut off all of his hair!! Woohoo!! I wanted to show him how much I liked it…. but… my daughter never went to sleep! At least she didn’t before we did! Ha, ha! She wont sleep in her toddler bed now..but we are gonna change that! Sometimes I think I’ve got a split personality… but maybe not! I had terrible, terrible nightmares again last night…. They really bite! I think that is a big part of my problem… now if anyone can tell me how to get to the route of THAT problem… I’d be happy to oblige! I’ve tried the stupid medicines from the doctor.. But they don’t work. So of course when you have a sleepless and bad night.. You wake up cranky…. So sorry chickies! Anyways we got about 10 bucks in our checking account… but I sure wanted to go buy me a swimsuit at walmart.. They are on clearance for 5 bucks! They are like a cotton-like material though… wonder what would happen if they got wet…hmmm… I’m just thinking that the boobie part won’t be enough room! Probably not! My favorite swimsuit broke at the beach.. Did I tell you all that?!? But luckily I caught it before my boobs popped out! I want to fix it… but it has that stupid plastic thing.. I was sooo blessed…. I had some safety pins inside of it… So for any of you with a two piece.. Always put a safety pin inside of the top just in case… I kinda like going to the beach… there are people there that you might say are too big to where a bikini! and there are people that are too skinny to wear a bikini!! So… who cares… I don’t… no cute guys either! Just my ol’ husband…(which is a cutie.. But doesn’t count!!! ) who doesn’t even pay attention… so no reason to be embarrassed! At least I could care less! Anyways….. I might go write a check…. Walmart usually takes about a week before they cash them anyways!! I’m so bad!!! I’m a baaad girl!!!! Well anyways I better get to doing.. Something! I need to get a move on because I gotta cook today…. Anyone want the recipe?!? It’s supposed to be a kid based recipe.. It sounds weird.. But I though.. What the heck…

Campbell's® Golden Sauced Meatballs
Prep/Cooking time: 30 min.

Ingredients:


1 lb. ground meat OR 1 lb. turkey
1/2 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
1 tsp. onion powder
0 dash worcestershire sauce
1 egg
1 can Campbell's® Golden Mushroom Soup
1/2 soup can water
1/2 soup can milk
1 tsp. worcestershire sauce
1 green onion, chopped OR 2 tsp. dried chives
1 tsp. minced garlic OR 1 tsp. garlic powder
1 packet artificial sweetener OR 2 tsp. sugar


Directions:

Mix thoroughly ground meat, bread crumbs, onion powder,
1-2 dashes Worcestershire and egg. Shape into small
meatballs.
In large skillet in a little hot oil, add meatballs and
cook until browned. Drain off fat. Mix together soup,
water, milk, 1 tsp. Worcestershire, green onion, garlic
and artificial sweetener. Add to skillet and simmer till
thick. Serve over cooked bow tie pasta, egg noodles or
mashed potatoes.
Tips If desired, stir in 1 can mushroom pieces (drained)
or 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms.



Anyways I will come back and comment later…. I gotta get a move on.. I will probably exercise later… Hope everyone is having a great day!

Angry, angry lucy over here. Today is supposed to be my day off, but instead I have this B.S. orientation thing (which I've been ehre for 2 weeks and thus don't need it anymore so that's great) from 12-5, and I R MAD. GEH! I just want to sleep... might bug the parents to hitch a ride tomorrow so I can sleep for an extra hour or so.

Not much else, update later tonight.

Jaymi, I shouldn't laugh at the boob popping, but all I could think of was Janet Jackson & her "wardrobe malfunction" Hope you were able to get yourself one of those suits- at 5.00, I would be soooo tempted. I wonder if ours have them on clearance too? In FL, it's almost always swimsuit season, though.

Lucy- sorry you had to go in for orientation. Give it 2 more weeks & you'll be running the show, if I know you. Will you at least get paid for those 5 hours?

Came to log in my evening exercise, and stupidity du jour. Hubby is working late, I had some time to kill, so I did the 3 mile WATP Express DVD with the stretchie. OMG- Leslie Sansone is insane. Tricep kick backs with the stretchie? And now that I have this fricking harder hot pink one? If I didn't think I was going to collapse before, with PMS in full raging swing...man, I'm not a bright one.

I sucked it up & did the full 3 miles, but this DVD is going to be used on weekends only. It's 8:15pm, and I'm still too hot to eat, and it's getting to the point where if I wait much longer, it will be too late & then everything will just lay there & go right to my ***. Kiss that new middle # goodbye then, right?

All right...time to refill my glass again- so overheated that I've gotten 48oz in since 7:30, and I'll be beating a path to the potty for a while. This probably sounds crabby, but I'm laughing...really I am....laughing because I should know better by now, not to try this. See what happens when hubby leaves me unattended?

Have a great night, chickies! Logging my 3 miles, and going to go collapse for a while.

Evening chicks!

So I go to my training class today. Didn't learn a damn thing, except that most beauty advisors are mean, nasty, ugly old hags who wear the completely wrong makeup, use the completely wrong skin care, and have no fashion sense whatsoever! On the plus side, if they can sell cosmetics, I should have no problem meeting my yearly goals. At least I don't look like a freak of nature, or a horrible melodramatic theater makeup accident. *shrugs*
And you know what free product I got today? A bottle of men's cologne. Fan-freaking-tastic.
It actually does smell pretty good though. All I have to do is find a man to make wear it.
Hey, at least I got paid for going, right?

The food was terrible, as I predicted it would be. I think I blew my entire calorie budget for the day at breakfast, and then there was still lunch, and I was starving when I got home. I've had really bad cramps all day, I've been in a pissy mood from being around all those pissy people, and so I just decided to write off the entire day. I get one of those days a month. Usually it's Arby's chicken strips, curly fries, and either cheese sticks or onion petals. This month it was a crappy hors d'oeuvres buffet, a chicken alfredo enchilada (a yummy little improvisation of mine--Mexican and Italian at the same time!), and way too much coffee.
Water was good though.

No exercise, surprise, surprise. That's ok, plenty of time. Oh, and I did get some veggies in today, and even fruit!

Jennifer--Thanks for explaining that. I feel like an idiot--duh, middle number--but at least I won't have to wonder anymore.

Lucy--Retail is great. Today I was actually told that since I've only been in Cosmetics for a little over a month and haven't technically been through the orientation program, I don't know how to use a moisturizer. *rolls her eyes*
Apparently they all think that until they show us specifically, we'll never figure it out on our own.
Never fear though, because in about a week they'll expect you to know everything, including things you've never heard of before.

Ok, I'm going to go veg for a while. I was frustrated, but I think my little eating binge cleared that up, and now I'm just sapped. Three hours of sleep plus 18 hours of being awake is a little taxing on my system. Nighty night chicks.
~Elisha

It's Thursday.....ahhh! Today is my mother in law's 65th birthday. I have to call her this morning & sing off-key. She's having a hard time with 65- getting the AARP card was the real kicker for her. This Saturday night we're going to dinner to celebrate with her. It'll be some stearkhouse my father in law picked, and as long as I can get a chicken breast & plain baked potato, I'll be ok. And doing this at a restaurant means there's no italian MIL forcing appetizers & snacks & goodies & desserts on me while we're there. It's a win-win.

I was supposed to measure on 8/1, to get my new #s, but we never got a chance. Hubby said we'd do it this morning, but poor thing worked until 8pm in the field, and then came home, didn't even eat dinner until after 11pm, and then I fell asleep after midnight, waiting for him to come to bed. Needless to say, he was still out cold when the alarm went off the first 4 times, and at 6:30, when I finally dragged myself out of bed, there was no way he was getting up to help me with the measuring tape & #s. I did the 1st mile of the 2 mile WATP express this morning. Thankfully, the stretchie band doesn't start until mile 2, so I got off a little easier. Those tricep kick backs with the band were a surprise yesterday. Yowza!

My pain in the butt is back today, but thankfully, I am totally caught up on work, and will get to spend a little time planning for a marketing event happening on 8/21. Will at least make the day go a little faster. And it sure beats sitting here watching dust settle. I need a hobby I can do at work. LOL. Well, at least I remembered to upload the flow chart/website map so that I could start hand-sketching the wire frames for this next assignment. Maybe I can get something accomplished, even if it isn't all "work" related.

The plan for today-

AM exercise- done- 1 mile WATP

Breakfast
1 apple & cinnamon cottage double
1 fudge graham Zone bar

Lunch
3/4 cup whole wheat elbows
3/4 cup meat sauce
sprinkly parmesan
4oz fresh chunks of cantelope

PM exercise
2 miles WATP, minimum
UB workout with resistance bands & hand weights.

Dinner
TBD

Last night, dinner ended up being a Zone bar & cottage cheese, just because I knew I had to eat something & it was already after 8pm. Dinner will be earlier, and something more substantial tonight.

Elisha- what cologne did you get stuck with? Does it at least smell good? I LOL'd at your description of these women...I love seeing the 87 year old woman with the pancake founstaion & orange line at the jaw, with "rouge" spots on her cheeks, and the caked mascara. Ok, well aparently that looked good through your cataracts, but could you think about blending??? LOL. And they always smell like they took a bath in some of the very old Avon fragrances.

Jaymi- ok girl, you wanted someone to yell at you. GET IT IN GEAR, GIRL!!! Don't make me get that tazer again! I'll have to set it to full blast & start chasing you with it to get your 30 minutes of exercise in. I know you have your hands full...if you can carve even a few minutes away, go for it. You are almost there, chickie!

Well, it's time to prepare for a 10:30 conference call- colossal waste of time, but I've got to sit through it without losing any brain cells. Happy Thursday!

Jennifer - Today is my son's birthday!!! What a nice coincidence! If I know you, you won't let that pink stretchy get the best of you . I am, as always, proud of your consistent exercise!!! Go Jennifer!

Jaymi - Hi! Good luck at Wal-Mart, and with your goals for today . I know you can do it!! Wal-Mart just wipes me out, but I buy my groceries there, because they are the cheapest place in town, plus they price match other stores!

Elisha - Hi! I LOVE makeup! I wish you could give me some pointers!! I really like lipsticks - have a huge collection!! Last night I wore my hot pink lipstick on my date with DH (the hot pink is his favorite ), and somehow I pull the color off!! I hope you got rested up!

Julie - How are you, chickie?? Maybe I can talk more with you next week!! Hope the sun is shining on you .

Lucy - Hang in there . Hope you have a good day!

I am quite the tired one today. Well, if you must know the truth, both DH and I have a big hangover. Good grief, I thought those days were behind us . We had the most FABULOUS DATE LAST NIGHT!! We went to an upscale amphitheatre for a concert. We went for my friend's birthday surprise. Her husband had our meal catered outside (terrific food), and there were candles, wine (lots of wine!), dessert, the whole bit. I am sorry, but Berringer White Zinfindel is my favorite, and I almost drank the whole bottle. Talk about going over my calories! I can't say I'm sorry. It was worth the big old blip on the scale!! We got all dressed up...the whole nine yards. We didn't come home until midnight! My Mom spent the night with us to take care of the kids. I felt like a Queen - it was so much fun!

So...that was not a good diet thing, but a good thing for my marriage! But, today is another story. Gotta get in my water and everything else.

And, how could I forget to tell you this??? I broke my toe this morning. I took my son to meet his new teacher, and he stepped on my toe (I was in flip-flops), and I stumbled...and you should see my toe. It is definitely broken. It is really painful, and is all purple and black...ouch!! I have broken a toe before, and the doctor really can't do a whole lot for it. So, I will just save my money and treat it myself.

I wonder if I could focus on upper body toning or something until it heals some??? We'll see. This means doing extra good with my eating and with my water!!!!

Howdy chicks!

Today is going.... eh. I just finished my workout for todday--35 minutes on the stairclimber! Woot! Don't know what food is going to be like.

Breakfast: coffee with creamer, V8, browned potatoes, egg, wheat toast
Lunch: probably water, light alfredo, and hopefully some protein
Dinner: who knows? Possibly more alfredo, or a cheese quesadilla

Oh crap! I keep forgetting that I'm supposed to go out with friends from work tonight. A few of them are leaving town within the next week or so, so we're going out to celebrate. We're also going to dinner on Sunday to celebrate, but I can't really afford that financially or calorically either. I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet.

I really need that new job right about now. Every once in a while I'll take a look at my financial situation and realize what a mess I've gotten myself into. And then I get depressed because I can't afford to move out, and I can't afford to do this or that or whatever. And then my whole day is ruined. *rolls her eyes*
But tomorrow is payday. I won't get as much as I'd like, and probably not even as much as I need, but it's better than nothing.

Ok, I'd better get going. Shower time, then work. Bleh...
Have a great day, chicks.
~Elisha

Hey, all!! I'm around, for once!! *gasp* I MIGHT work out today, might not. I'm undecided at the moment. Feet are sore, and I have to close tonight, so I'm just not sure yet.

Work has been good -- orientation DID pay me yesterday, and I didn't really learn a whole lot (uh, wow... you mean customer service is a GOOD thing?! NO. REALLY. I'm not freaking certified in it and it's not like I'v ebeen doing it since I was 7 or anything.) but it was a good waste of the day.

Anyhoo, down to 172.0 this morning, which is progress all the same!! WOOHOO!! You guys have no idea how happy this makes me... I'm finally traveling downwards!! YAY!

Hubby came up to me last night and was hugging me (more like holding me down and tickling me) in the kitchen, and he kept poking me in the ribs and then said "hey, you're getting really skinny there! All I have are ribs!" and i was so happy! Also happy because some of my shirts are fitting me a little better and look uber-cute on me. There's this one specific black shell that I _REALLY_ want to wear, and it's a little too tight, still, but SO CLOSE!!

Anyway, if I get paid enough this Friday, we're going to take a quick hit at shopping sunday afternoon Need some more pants and walmart has some really cute plaid flare-leg pants for $14, and I want to get a few pairs. I know the size 9 in those won't fit, but if I get a couple of just tiny bit smaller sizes, I'll be in them in no time.

Also, met the store's asst. manager the other dya. She came specifically to see me, heard good stuff about me, wanted to meet me face to face. WOO!! I'm putting in a few apps today for a permanent position in specific departments in the store, so hopefully I'll be somewhere great full-time, locked in on a basic schedule VERY SOON.

Other than that, I'm still undecided about the whole working out this morning thing. I'll do some squats, the situps, and perhaps some arm workout, too... but I don't want to do stuff on my feet. MAN I'm lazy!! Anyway, off I go to tackle the dya and hope I make $180 in sales per hour today haha!

Hope you guys are all having a rad day, and I'll check back and actually read everyone's entries later on!!!

OK, well I will try again! I just lost a huge post I just typed! Today is my Friday as Kaleigh and I will leave tomorrow at noon for Ohio. We are meeting 3 other families with whom we travelled during her adoption. The girls will all be 5 in October so it will be interesting to see how they react to one another! We have seen only one other of the girls (a few times) since the adoption and the other two families have seen each other since, but the 4 have not been collectively together!

I was a little stressed about food during travel because, well...old habits are hard to break! I used to travel when I was in college to go back home...about 3 hours one way and would stock up on junk and just eat the whole way! Geesh! I wonder why I was overweight???? LOL! But anyway...I have a plan and will bring a small cooler with some fruit and misc. items that will not set me over the edge. I need munchies so I should at least have healthy ones. I am thinking...a FEW cashews, grapes, cantelope, Zone Bars (for Breakfast) and some baggies of Smart Start! Also gotta bring my low carb creamer for my AM coffee! We will probably be making a few stops for gas so will get water whenever we stop! Probably a diet coke, too! We will be in the car most of the day tomorrow and Kaleigh is really looking forward to the hotel with the pool! She's a fish!

When we stop at fast food, I have decided since most of them have salads, I will just order the salad with chicken or if Wendy's...a baked potatoe and chili! Yum! No frosty's or shakes! No french fries (ok I might have a few from Kaleigh)

I have a lot to do tonight, so I am not going to comment on everyone's post, but know that I read them and am thinking of all of you! Keep up the good work.

I am also going to try to get in some exercise (tomorrow am for sure) and Saturday at the hotel. Probably will take Sunday off! Did not get any formal exercise in this morning...woke up late again!!! Gotta get to bed earlier! But I got plenty at work today. Residents went on a picnic and I loaded and unloaded the bus with residents into and out of their wheelchairs 4 times!!! I also pushed one of the residents across the grass and up this hill on his scooter because his battery died!!!! I told him I was grateful for that because at least I got SOME exercise today!! LOL!

That's it for now! I gotta go get some work done! Hugs to all!

It's early....I just wanted to get here early & wish Julie a very safe trip this weekend. We'll all be thinking about you- Be careful driving & have a wonderful time! (((( Julie ))))