This turned out to be a pretty decent weekend. The shopping on Friday wasn't nearly as painful as I had thought. I actually found four tops, and three can be worn for work. One I just bought because I totally deserved a new, fun something for myself.
Yesterday my sweetie and I spent some time at a local garden center, and we picked up some really pretty shade plants. Our yard is coming together slowly but surely, and the yard work makes for some different, fun exercise. Even though we were out and about quite a bit during the day, I was still short of steps by the evening. I started walking around our cul-de-sac while my sweetie set up the sprinkler on the lawn, and then he joined me for a nice walk. It didn't even talk all that much convincing. I think we're starting to make a habit out of this!
Today was pretty relaxing. My husband is a serial shopper, so I had plenty of steps by the time we got through Target, Costco, Target again and Lowe's. We also headed out as a family to see The Forbidden Kingdom. Jet Li and Jackie Chan... what more can I say?! We had a lot of fun, even though I definitely ate too much popcorn. Afterwards we tried out a new Thai restaurant. I was so proud of the princesses for giving everything we ordered a shot.
So, food wasn't 100% perfect, but my attitude is a whole lot better. Some sunshine, some gardening and a bit of retail therapy seem to have done the trick. Thank goodness!

Arabella, grats on two really great days. What exactly is a woods woggle? Sounds like fun, no matter what.

Kat, mind sharing some of your cleaning energy? And I'm glad you got to spend some time with your night friends, but I'm thinking maybe a lunch or something on their day off next time you are feeling all nostalgic... Can hardly wait to hear how your WI went. You are doing so well!

Anagram, sounds like you are in a really good place! How could it be helped with dogwoods and tulips?

I'd better scatterzoom outta here for the night. My sweetie wants me to help him place some solar outdoor lights before we go to bed. Take care!

Andria

...and a rainy one at that! No lunchtime walk today, but I plan on hitting the gym this evening. The Biggest Loser challenge has started, so I'm on hyper overdrive to kick this process up a notch!

WW WI yielded a one lb loss, but my scale says two, and that's what I'm going by on my ticker. Either way it's a fluffy or two off, and I'm happy about that!

Sounds like you're back on track, Arabella! I'm finding that, anymore, the recovery time after a tumble off the wagon is so much quicker than before and that sticking close to the palace has been HUGELY helpful in that regard. I'm ever so thankful to my fellow s for the support and acceptance that is always available here!

Andria... Yard work is my favorite kind of exercise! Now the hard part is to find the time to do it! Sounds like a wonderful habit you and your honey are 'cultivating!' PS... mmm, Thai food!

Anagram... how's that mood holding up? I hope the rain isn't putting a damper on it! You're in the same weather pattern as I am, so I know you're flowers are getting watered too!

wsw... I'm hoping that your technical difficulties have passed. Keep smiling, we'll be waiting for your return!

Now, where did our other queens go? There's always a candle in the window for you girls... Come back soon, we miss you!

I've just been informed that neither child will be home for dinner...

WHOO HOO! No cooking for me! Hubby can choose from the "left over buffet" currently residing in the frig. I'm going to fix a delightful salad for myself, if I can find the recipe again. Something like, spinach, pears, walnuts, avacado, roquefort cheese... oh, my belly's growling!

Gotta get moving here... Sending good wishes and positive vibes to all!

I know the day isn't over yet, but I think I can safely say it has been a successful one! I'm at 7600 steps so far for the day (daily goal this week is 6k), and food has been good. My sub job today was to monitor a hallway while students were testing. It was so boring that I made a point of getting up every 30 minutes and walking back and forth for a few minutes. It not only helped keep me awake, but it felt good to be doing something positive for myself.

Kat, Grats on losing another pound! You are really on a roll, girl! And you know, my family wants steak tonight, but I'm really craving a salad. I think I'll steal a play from your book and make my own big, happy salad instead. It is just too warm for me to want anything that heavy. Also, you made a really good point in your reply to Arabella. It is so much easier and faster to get back on the wagon if I don't wander too far from the castle.

THANK YOU to all the s for that!

Arabella, 3 days journaling is quite an accomplishment! Have some good refresh time, especially the yoga. The sheets sound like a wonderful treat! Our HOA won't allow us to hang anything out. Reminds me, though. I do have a nice ylang-ylang myrrh linen spray from Bath and Body Works.

To all the other ly types out there, hope you are well and your crowns are riding high and proud on your brow!

Andria

Hello all!

Well, all I can tell you is this...... Last week, I awoke at dawn to the absolute worst stomach flu/virus I think I might have ever had in my whole life.
No warning, no time to run, just ..... you get the picture. All day long. Till about 9 pm. The next day, just laying there, drained, aching, .....

I went back to work the 3rd day but still have to be super careful about having food on my stomach b/4 coffee, etc, etc. Even this afternoon I was sipping gingerale.

We leave Sat for our Grand Canyon trip. I have been piecing together enough casual slacks/shorts to get me thru. I am too short legged to wear capris so I have been struggling to find something lightweight that will stand up to the dirt, etc in the Canyon.

So I have been seeing lots of dressing rooms after work each evening and let me tell you....well, you know already.....



Hope everyone is doing well.

I have to hang up some clothes just washed so I can pack them so I must be off.

I will do my darndest to stop by before I leave town.

*******
Thought of the day:

"I still believe that love is all you need. I don't know a messge better than that."
Paul Mcartney

Question of the day:

"What is your favorite Beatles song?"

**********


Tralaa....

Yikes! Where has another week gone? Glad to see some faithful s about and working towards goals. I've been most naughty - busy week after four days away and am heading out again tomorrow for another 3 in Pville.

Enjoy, enjoy, Kaylets. Hope you're feeling better.

You too, Arabella. I know the feeling of battling other's situations as well as my own. DD been still probleming and I'm not at all happy about some situations with DSIL (who's really a sweetheart overall). Both having med problems as well as some med things with princesses and.....................
Esp. feeling them yesterday so went out and planted 32 marigolds (still too early in this neck of the woods so I'm gambling) and a new butterfly bush. Then headed off to get haircut which I SHOULD have waited until today to do so it would look better over weekend. But I just NEEDED to do it yesterday.

Loads of things needed to be accomplished. I did get in a nice walk and a little yard work today. But have been terrible on food. Have agreed to settle on lawsuit which will bring me more peace at some point soon, I hope.
that's one of the steps I've taken to try to get me back under control. I know I can't get to where I need to be until that's taken care of. Knew it was taking a toll -expected it would = but finally realized a few weeks ago it was a factor in my overeating. That and DD and various situations there.

I'm happy the way yard is beginning to shape up. Was looking just terrible. I may have lost my painter but at this point,, don't care. Too much else to deal with.

Had car in for work today and while waiting, I cruised around the lot. Am considering another as this one is just about where it's going to start costing me. Today was a good example. And I just don't want to keep putting money in. Want to buy another - no hurry but it's one more thing on the long list. I'll probably just get another Camry as I've liked this one and I'm much too lazy to start looking at all sorts of others. Of course, I don't part with bucks that easily and I'll probably put the purchase off until I do get time to do the research, etc.

Must start focusing, too, on July trip. DS made flight reservations but I must do room, etc. I'm beginning to look forward to it. Also planning a 2 night trip to WV casino w/friend - and,of course, it's right before the other trip (when her vactaion time is). But, folks, it's moving out a bit and another step on the road to ..................wherever.

I'll see y'all in a couple of days.

Sorry I haven't been around for a couple of days. The problems I've been having breathing jumped up dramatically, and all my energy has been going toward handling that issue. I haven't had trouble like this in over twelve years, and it is really frustrating! I guess something I'm taking, or all the stress over not breathing, has been working hard against weight loss as well. I've been watching the scale climb steadily every day, and nothing I'm doing seems to stop it right now. That said, my food has been extremely good, and I've kept up my steps as well. Might as well get the good habits down solid, right? I really am trying to stay positive, I promise.

Arabella, grats on good hair, and even more so to a great attitude. I know it's hard, but you know you are doing the right thing for yourself by dealing with the emotions instead of letting them eat at you. *HUGS*

Kaylets, I am so sorry to hear you were sick! Take good care of yourself and rest as much as possible so you can really enjoy your trip. We expect all sorts of fun stories when you return. Beatles music... there were so many songs I grew up with but had no idea they were sung by the Beatles.

I'm kind of caught up, and it is time to go take another breathing treatment. All the fun for me!

Take care, my royal friends.

Andria

Well, all that talk about feeling emotions and I let stress get me DGS' babysitter was 2 hours late picking him up and I was trying to work. He's very interactive, so ... stress. As soon as they left I ate the rest of his piece of toast and jam and made myself a toasted cheese and tomato sandwich. Organic whole wheat flour and very grainy but wheat and cheese nevertheless. Not Core, not remotely. Anyway, that was breakfast and I intend to behave properly for the rest of the day.

Andria, I want to recommend ginger tea -- I found when I had bronchitis that it really seemed to open things up. Hot stuff helped too, as hot as you can handle.

Oh, that's the worst feeling in the world, not being able to take a good breath!

Anagram, thanks for popping in! Things will ease up and fall into place soon, I think. Camrys are nice cars. We're pretty happy with our four-year-old Corolla, too.

lies! Let's make this a good one!

***My apologies if this posts twice! It logged me out while writing, and when I logged back in again, I got a weird message. Reposting since I don't see it up.


Still not breathing properly, but I was so happy to see that the scale didn't move up again today! 7 pounds up isn't the kind of stress I need added to my life, ya know.
The day is looking good so far. I often fall short on steps when I work at this particular school, so I'm going to take a stroll around the building during conference period. I've been packing salads and healthy snacks all week, and I've even been upping my water intake nicely. It feels good to be focusing on that and know the other will come back together when it is time.

Arabella, Thank you for the ginger tea suggestion. I'll pick some up on my way home today. I had actually forgotten how much hot drinks can help. I desperately want this under control as soon as possible. DH is talking steroids if this doesn't shape up fast, and he is the type who doesn't throw meds at things to make them go away. Oh, and I forgot to ask if you wouldn't mind sharing the brown rice cracker recipe. Sounds intriguing, even if a bit dangerous.

Anagram, we seriously posted right on top of each other last night. I like your gardening therapy solution. I'll admit to having planted things too early or too late before just because it felt so good to do it. Do you think it has something to do with literally "grounding" ourselves? We've also been out looking at cars. In fact, I just did a test drive on a Prius Wednesday. It was so cute! The hybrid Camry is awfully nice as well. The Camry's new styling is just dead sexy. If we didn't need something hardcore gas conscious, we'd be looking at the Camry for sure.

I've got to get out of here or I won't have any time left for a walk.
Keep taking care of yourselves!

Andria

Wow, this week went FAST! I can't believe I haven't been here since Monday! I stayed over at work a few days, just to get caught up. I know I'm still new, but I really want to finish a pile of charts in one day's time! No one there expects it from me, but I expect it of myself! And? Overtime! Whee!

Plus, the weather has been kind of punky lately, so I haven't been doing much outside, but today is my day to hit the dirt. Rain or shine. <all signs pointing toward rain, at this point!>

I asked dh if he had made any Mother's Day present-y type plans (to which I would reply that I didn't want flowers, I really want a shrub (shrubbery?) , though maybe it's actually a small tree. I want to say Japanese maple, but I'm not sure if that's what it's actually called. It's sort of a dark maroon color, feathery looking leaves, with a kind of squat and spreading shape. When I looked up "Japanese Maple," I saw pictures of large trees, though they were the same color, leaves not as feathery... ) ANYWAY, his answer to me was that since he was working next weekend, he had planned on taking me to my favorite nursery today or tomorrow. Aw, does he know me or what? He's a keeper!

We went to see "Ironman" last night. I had no expectations whatsoever, except that I love Robert Downey Jr, and WOW! What an entertaining, really good movie! Two enthusiastic thumbs up!

Food was pretty iffy this week... not horrible, more like pre-menstrual ravenous hunger for something anything... I tried to stick with decent choices, just ate too much! Yesterday's scale showed me up a pound, not bad, considering. Just gotta get back to business, that's all.

DD is hanging around, looking at computer longingly, which means it's time for me to relinquish the seat. I'll be back tomorrow after WI, to report whatever happens...



PS, Kaylets... I am a total Beatles fan... love every single Beatle song ever made, never get tired of hearing their music. I especially love If I Fell and Norwegian Wood... so many more, but those two sprung to mind immediately.

So yesterday turned out to be one of those wash type of days, and I'm not talking laundry!
My sweetie wasn't happy with how my lungs sounded, even after a breathing treatment, so he sent me off to Express Med with a cute little typed up sheet of my symptoms and current medications all in doctor speak. I got to Express Med just before 8:30, and I left almost exactly 6 hours later. I have been officially poked, prodded, x-rayed, and given a shot in each side of my hind quarters. Went from there to the store so I had a chance of picking up my new prescriptions the same day, came home to eat dinner, watched about half of a movie with the family, and it was already time to go to bed! On the positive side of things, I can breathe pretty cleanly this morning. I know there is a chance of some weight gain from the steroids, but by yesterday I was more than willing to accept that as a chance. I'll just have to keep everything I can working the right direction, and after this month of meds is up, I'll be the better for it all the way around. Good habits are still good habits, and to me, reaching a balance means being happy with where I am, not where I might be or could have been. Please feel free to point me back toward that last statement if necessary.

Kat, Sounds like you are loving throwing yourself full-tilt into this job! Congrats on the early Mother's Day nursery trip. Sounds like a fair trade. You gave him babies once upon a time, and now he gives you baby plants. The plants are definitely easier to care for! Oh, and thanks for the Ironman review. Maybe I can talk my sweetie into taking me tomorrow.

wsw, So glad to hear you are doing a bit better. I was starting to get worried. Not sure if this is a helpful suggestion or not, but there are some voice recognition/typing programs out there now that are supposed to work very well. DH has tried out a couple, and he was really surprised at how well they picked up his voice. His normally doesn't register well on electronics, and the newest programs were almost 100% for him. Hope that doesn't sound pushy or anything; I just want you to be able to stay in contact with us when things are rough.

Time for me to go do another breathing treatments. I know this sounds whiny since they help me out so much, but I really, truly dislike having to do this sort of thing. Still, if I want to get out walking again anytime soon, I'd better, huh. Blah. Logic wins again.

Andria