Thirty Days of Thanks -- Day 6
I am thankful for my faith and that I live in a country that gives me the freedom to worship and think as I please.
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Saturday, November 05, 2011
Friday, November 04, 2011
Thirty Days of Thanks -- Day 4
I am thankful for my children
Diet Update
I am staying on track and making full use of myfitnesspal.com. It is the easiest calorie tracking site I have found yet. I have managed to meet all my goals within reason and feel good -- although a chocolate chip cookie would be really good right now but I don't have any so problem solved.
So, trying to keep thing light and upbeat here are a couple of chuckles to keep things in perspective! Enjoy!
I am thankful for my children
Diet Update
I am staying on track and making full use of myfitnesspal.com. It is the easiest calorie tracking site I have found yet. I have managed to meet all my goals within reason and feel good -- although a chocolate chip cookie would be really good right now but I don't have any so problem solved.
So, trying to keep thing light and upbeat here are a couple of chuckles to keep things in perspective! Enjoy!
Thursday, November 03, 2011
3 November 2011 -- Famous Birthdays on this Day
Ok, second (or fourth, depending on how you look at it) post for the day. A while ago I discovered a really interesting, fun website called Brainy History. It is full of all sorts of fun facts about all the days of the year. I hadn't visited for a while so I thought I would today -- you can tell I am having a slow start to the day! So, this is what I learned about some famous birthdays on today's date.
Godzilla, Japanese monster, 1954
Kate Capshaw, Fort Worth, Texas, 1952 -- a hometown gal!
Roseanne Barr, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1952
Last but definitely not least -- Lulu -- 1948 -- Scotland -- well known for her performance in "To Sir With Love" one of my all time favorite movies!
This one --
not this one!
There were many others, of course, but these are the ones that appealed to me.
Ok, second (or fourth, depending on how you look at it) post for the day. A while ago I discovered a really interesting, fun website called Brainy History. It is full of all sorts of fun facts about all the days of the year. I hadn't visited for a while so I thought I would today -- you can tell I am having a slow start to the day! So, this is what I learned about some famous birthdays on today's date.
Godzilla, Japanese monster, 1954
Kate Capshaw, Fort Worth, Texas, 1952 -- a hometown gal!
Roseanne Barr, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1952
Last but definitely not least -- Lulu -- 1948 -- Scotland -- well known for her performance in "To Sir With Love" one of my all time favorite movies!
This one --
not this one!
There were many others, of course, but these are the ones that appealed to me.
BTT, Thirty Days of Thanks, and -- groan -- The Diet
Today's question is "All other things being equal, would you rather read a book that's hard/challenging/rewarding or light/enjoyable/easy?"
This a difficult question because I think it depends on the book. I love historical fiction and sometimes that gets very involved and difficult to keep up with yet, in the end, it is very rewarding. There are some days, however, where something light/easy is just what you need. I read for entertainment and pleasure and I don't need too much of a challenge -- this isn't school, after all.
Thirty Days of Thanks
Day 3 -- I am thankful for my husband.
THE DIET
Ok, I will admit -- I have always had weight issues. Even when I was a teenager and appeared thinner, I still had issues. Part of it is my build -- I always tended to have longer arms and legs but my body was short and a bit squarish. I was always envious of my mother's short, yet proportionate, stature. I was always a bit out of kilter. When I would sit next to my mother, we were the same height, however, when I would stand, I was several inches taller than she, thanks to the long legs. I always likened myself to a kiwi bird -- short, stocky build (thanks Dad) and long arms and legs (have no clue where they came from). So, even if my weight was normal, which it was most of my life, my shape was just a bit wonky. I was never happy, even when I was a size 5 when I was about 23.
I have gained weight twice in my life and I have seriously dieted twice in my life and I lost the weight by portion control and exercise. Note to anybody who might be reading this with the same issue -- trust me, if I can do it, anybody can do it. The first time was right after we were married -- I gained some weight not unlike the "freshman 15" but more correctly the "newlywed 20". Well, I got a look at myself in the mirror one day and knew something needed to change so out came the calorie counter, the notebook and onto the floor I went doing the pilates routine I did in my college dance class. I lost the 20 and a lot more. I was pretty happy until I saw a photo and didn't recognize myself. My little round face bore all the signs of a raging anorexic -- so did the visibly prominent hip bones. It didn't matter because shortly thereafter, I was pregnant and it wasn't a problem anymore. I only gained a little with the baby and it was gone immediately. I went home from the hospital in pre-pregnancy clothes and all was right with my world. Four years later I delivered my second child. I had gained too much weight, went home in maternity clothes and struggled from then on. At one point, when the baby was about 6 months old, I had my thyroid checked, it was overactive. The situation was never addressed and nobody ever mentioned it again. So, I plodded along through any number of family/personal "situations" and the weight just gradually, but steadily, crept up. About seven years ago I read a book called "Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat". It involves a diet of 1000 calories a day for 28 days followed by a number of calculations to determine how "under active" your thyroid is as an explanation to your weight issues. I did it, I lost a lot of weight, I did the calculations and whoa -- my thyroid was working at 150%. Back to the hyper business. But, in true Melissa form, did I had to the doctor to get tested again? Nope. I stayed on the diet for nine months, losing a LOT of weight, until one day I decided I was hungry, actually feeling ill, and that was the end of that ball game -- not unlike the recent World Series for Texas Rangers fans. The weight all came back on, minus about 20 pounds, and I am back to square one. I am not happy -- actually, miserable would be a good adjective to use here.
Fast forward to Halloween. I dressed all in black with cat ears and a, drum roll please, tail to go to my daughters little shindig. Well, my dear hubby seemed to have forgotten the cardinal rule of no photo taking of Moi -- future generations will just have to be satisfied with high school photos of me. Well, the photos were downloaded, I looked at them, and here is my summation -- Hubs needs some photography lessons, particularly in regards to lighting, and I need to lose half of me. I was one fat cat. So, here I go again.
I have tried getting back in the calorie counting routine any number of times, each requiring some new recording supplies -- cute notebooks, special pens -- color coded even -- an app for my nook -- I even tried Weight Watchers -- twice. Guess I just wasn't in the mood. Well, after the Halloween photo shoot my mind was changed so I went online trying to find some sort of easy calorie tracking program. I thought I had tried them all but apparently not. I ran across my fitness pal and set up an account. It is so easy. I have actually kept up with it for a couple of days. It is very user friendly and straightforward. I think I might be able to do with this program for a while. I weighed in this morning and am down 1.5 pounds. I don't ever intend to disclose my beginning weight -- use your imagination -- whatever a fat cat would weigh -- but I will record my loss here. Maybe if I share it I will be more successful. Maybe it will be like weight watchers meetings -- haha -- never would go to one of those! So, anyway, from time to time expect an update on my latest endeavor. It shouldn't be a surprise that this would be my next step in building my new, frugal life, now should it? I mean, it is just another type of frugality, isn't it? We will see how it plays out.
Ok, must go get my Thursday started. It is cold out and quite dark even though it is after 7 a.m. I will be glad for this weekend with the time change. I could use a little more sleep!
Today's question is "All other things being equal, would you rather read a book that's hard/challenging/rewarding or light/enjoyable/easy?"
This a difficult question because I think it depends on the book. I love historical fiction and sometimes that gets very involved and difficult to keep up with yet, in the end, it is very rewarding. There are some days, however, where something light/easy is just what you need. I read for entertainment and pleasure and I don't need too much of a challenge -- this isn't school, after all.
Thirty Days of Thanks
Day 3 -- I am thankful for my husband.
THE DIET
Ok, I will admit -- I have always had weight issues. Even when I was a teenager and appeared thinner, I still had issues. Part of it is my build -- I always tended to have longer arms and legs but my body was short and a bit squarish. I was always envious of my mother's short, yet proportionate, stature. I was always a bit out of kilter. When I would sit next to my mother, we were the same height, however, when I would stand, I was several inches taller than she, thanks to the long legs. I always likened myself to a kiwi bird -- short, stocky build (thanks Dad) and long arms and legs (have no clue where they came from). So, even if my weight was normal, which it was most of my life, my shape was just a bit wonky. I was never happy, even when I was a size 5 when I was about 23.
I have gained weight twice in my life and I have seriously dieted twice in my life and I lost the weight by portion control and exercise. Note to anybody who might be reading this with the same issue -- trust me, if I can do it, anybody can do it. The first time was right after we were married -- I gained some weight not unlike the "freshman 15" but more correctly the "newlywed 20". Well, I got a look at myself in the mirror one day and knew something needed to change so out came the calorie counter, the notebook and onto the floor I went doing the pilates routine I did in my college dance class. I lost the 20 and a lot more. I was pretty happy until I saw a photo and didn't recognize myself. My little round face bore all the signs of a raging anorexic -- so did the visibly prominent hip bones. It didn't matter because shortly thereafter, I was pregnant and it wasn't a problem anymore. I only gained a little with the baby and it was gone immediately. I went home from the hospital in pre-pregnancy clothes and all was right with my world. Four years later I delivered my second child. I had gained too much weight, went home in maternity clothes and struggled from then on. At one point, when the baby was about 6 months old, I had my thyroid checked, it was overactive. The situation was never addressed and nobody ever mentioned it again. So, I plodded along through any number of family/personal "situations" and the weight just gradually, but steadily, crept up. About seven years ago I read a book called "Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat". It involves a diet of 1000 calories a day for 28 days followed by a number of calculations to determine how "under active" your thyroid is as an explanation to your weight issues. I did it, I lost a lot of weight, I did the calculations and whoa -- my thyroid was working at 150%. Back to the hyper business. But, in true Melissa form, did I had to the doctor to get tested again? Nope. I stayed on the diet for nine months, losing a LOT of weight, until one day I decided I was hungry, actually feeling ill, and that was the end of that ball game -- not unlike the recent World Series for Texas Rangers fans. The weight all came back on, minus about 20 pounds, and I am back to square one. I am not happy -- actually, miserable would be a good adjective to use here.
Fast forward to Halloween. I dressed all in black with cat ears and a, drum roll please, tail to go to my daughters little shindig. Well, my dear hubby seemed to have forgotten the cardinal rule of no photo taking of Moi -- future generations will just have to be satisfied with high school photos of me. Well, the photos were downloaded, I looked at them, and here is my summation -- Hubs needs some photography lessons, particularly in regards to lighting, and I need to lose half of me. I was one fat cat. So, here I go again.
I have tried getting back in the calorie counting routine any number of times, each requiring some new recording supplies -- cute notebooks, special pens -- color coded even -- an app for my nook -- I even tried Weight Watchers -- twice. Guess I just wasn't in the mood. Well, after the Halloween photo shoot my mind was changed so I went online trying to find some sort of easy calorie tracking program. I thought I had tried them all but apparently not. I ran across my fitness pal and set up an account. It is so easy. I have actually kept up with it for a couple of days. It is very user friendly and straightforward. I think I might be able to do with this program for a while. I weighed in this morning and am down 1.5 pounds. I don't ever intend to disclose my beginning weight -- use your imagination -- whatever a fat cat would weigh -- but I will record my loss here. Maybe if I share it I will be more successful. Maybe it will be like weight watchers meetings -- haha -- never would go to one of those! So, anyway, from time to time expect an update on my latest endeavor. It shouldn't be a surprise that this would be my next step in building my new, frugal life, now should it? I mean, it is just another type of frugality, isn't it? We will see how it plays out.
Ok, must go get my Thursday started. It is cold out and quite dark even though it is after 7 a.m. I will be glad for this weekend with the time change. I could use a little more sleep!
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
The FaceBook Thing
There is a "thing" going around Facebook -- 30 Days of Things to be Thankful for. I won't participate on FB but I thought it might be nice to add to my blog. It started yesterday but I didn't even get online yesterday so I knew nothing about it until today so I will have to make up for lost time! So, here goes.
November 1 -- I am thankful for the time I had with my grandfather. He passed away on November 1, 1969.
November 2 -- I am thankful for such a nice, day today in spite of the cold front.
In other news, it has been pretty busy around here. We were invited to visit a pumpkin patch with my daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter and my son-in-law's parents who are visiting. It was a good time but it was cool and breezy and that is never good for all our allergies.
Then, of course, there was Trick or Treating. My daughter decided to host a little party but since it was on a school/work night, not many people came but great fun was had by all who did.
Granddaughter seemed to know exactly what to do in regards to trick or treating and she even shared her haul with the little lion in the stroller! Very generous little chicken, I would say.
So, now, I am on a diet -- more about that tomorrow.
There is a "thing" going around Facebook -- 30 Days of Things to be Thankful for. I won't participate on FB but I thought it might be nice to add to my blog. It started yesterday but I didn't even get online yesterday so I knew nothing about it until today so I will have to make up for lost time! So, here goes.
November 1 -- I am thankful for the time I had with my grandfather. He passed away on November 1, 1969.
November 2 -- I am thankful for such a nice, day today in spite of the cold front.
In other news, it has been pretty busy around here. We were invited to visit a pumpkin patch with my daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter and my son-in-law's parents who are visiting. It was a good time but it was cool and breezy and that is never good for all our allergies.
Then, of course, there was Trick or Treating. My daughter decided to host a little party but since it was on a school/work night, not many people came but great fun was had by all who did.
Granddaughter seemed to know exactly what to do in regards to trick or treating and she even shared her haul with the little lion in the stroller! Very generous little chicken, I would say.
So, now, I am on a diet -- more about that tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
25 October 2011
Update -- the closing is done, they had the funds, the utilities are turned off and the insurance is canceled. We went to dinner to celebrate and brought dessert home. We are now going to enjoy Tres Leche cake and watch a scary movie. It is a good day. Well, except for the scary movie maybe.
Update -- the closing is done, they had the funds, the utilities are turned off and the insurance is canceled. We went to dinner to celebrate and brought dessert home. We are now going to enjoy Tres Leche cake and watch a scary movie. It is a good day. Well, except for the scary movie maybe.
25 October 2011
Discovery
I think I have discovered why I am getting up so early. Since Hubs retirement, the flow of my days has changed -- it isn't what "I" am doing anymore but what "we" are doing. I enjoy that, to a point, but having grown up an only child and having spent a lot of time alone what with his traveling and all, I sort of miss my alone time to do with what I want and I think my early rising is an effort to recapture some of that time. I spent some of my alone time, this morning, reading blogs. I really enjoy reading blogs, I feel like I have made real friends through these blogs and have really gotten to know people. I love the photos and just hearing about people's days. The more I read blogs the less I like the social network sites. Blogs are just less manic and more real. I don't understand Twitter at all even though I have an account but I forget I have an account so I don't think it matters much. I feel like Facebook has the potential to be dangerous. I digress.
While reading one of my favorite blogs -- Angela's Tracing Rainbows -- I discovered a new site that I hadn't seen before called PomPom's Ponderings. I decided to give it a look and was completed charmed! So cute and creative -- I will visit again soon and have added her to my blogroll. You can find Tracing Rainbows on my blogroll as well.
Well, today is starting out promising. Supposedly we will close on the house this morning and possibly celebrate with lunch or dinner out -- who knows. I think I am getting past my creative slump and feeling a bit more energetic this morning -- that is what reading blogs does to me. It gets me going and now, after reading Joy's blog about fountain pens, I want a fountain pen complete with cartridges. You can find this discussion at Supply Cabinet Chronicles also listed in my blogroll.
So, with a renewed interest in things and my mind going a mile a minute, I think I should go get ready for THE CLOSING. If it doesn't happen, I am sure you will be able to hear me screaming wherever you might be. I will let you know what happens -- wish us luck although luck really shouldn't have anything to do with it at this point. More on that later.
Have a wonderful day, everyone!
Discovery
I think I have discovered why I am getting up so early. Since Hubs retirement, the flow of my days has changed -- it isn't what "I" am doing anymore but what "we" are doing. I enjoy that, to a point, but having grown up an only child and having spent a lot of time alone what with his traveling and all, I sort of miss my alone time to do with what I want and I think my early rising is an effort to recapture some of that time. I spent some of my alone time, this morning, reading blogs. I really enjoy reading blogs, I feel like I have made real friends through these blogs and have really gotten to know people. I love the photos and just hearing about people's days. The more I read blogs the less I like the social network sites. Blogs are just less manic and more real. I don't understand Twitter at all even though I have an account but I forget I have an account so I don't think it matters much. I feel like Facebook has the potential to be dangerous. I digress.
While reading one of my favorite blogs -- Angela's Tracing Rainbows -- I discovered a new site that I hadn't seen before called PomPom's Ponderings. I decided to give it a look and was completed charmed! So cute and creative -- I will visit again soon and have added her to my blogroll. You can find Tracing Rainbows on my blogroll as well.
Well, today is starting out promising. Supposedly we will close on the house this morning and possibly celebrate with lunch or dinner out -- who knows. I think I am getting past my creative slump and feeling a bit more energetic this morning -- that is what reading blogs does to me. It gets me going and now, after reading Joy's blog about fountain pens, I want a fountain pen complete with cartridges. You can find this discussion at Supply Cabinet Chronicles also listed in my blogroll.
So, with a renewed interest in things and my mind going a mile a minute, I think I should go get ready for THE CLOSING. If it doesn't happen, I am sure you will be able to hear me screaming wherever you might be. I will let you know what happens -- wish us luck although luck really shouldn't have anything to do with it at this point. More on that later.
Have a wonderful day, everyone!
Aunt Dimity Digs In
Today's teaser is from page 28.
I could scarcely believe it myself, much less explain how it worked, or why Dimity's spirit lingered in the cottage long after her mortal remains had departed the earth -- but I couldn't deny the evidence of my own eyes. The skeptic within me fell silent each time Aunt Dimity's words appeared, written in royal-blue ink in her fine copperplate, on the blue journal's blank, unlined pages.
So, there you go. I wish I had a blue journal that somebody would write to me in.
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