GETTING READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Well here we are again, the holidays are upon us. Wow, it seems like this year has just flown by! I'm in the throws of shopping (late as usual), and of course, I have no idea what to buy anyone. I have to tell ya, John is no help in this area. I ask for ideas for his family, Dad, kids, grandkids, and he says gift certificates. The man has an aversion to shopping. He breaks into a cold sweat in the mall. Being that I'm a little bit stressed out myself this year, I'm just going to go with it. Gift certificates all around. I have made a dent in the shopping for my side. Something else I'm doing this year, making some of the gifts. I love receiving home made gifts. I hope the people like what I make. Can't say here what I have made, in case someone I give gifts to is reading.

On 12/15 (tomorrow), we have our annual progressive dinner with the Craigs, Richards, and the McClaskey clan. Should be fun! I got main dish this year. I have a lot to live up to, and I don't think they realize that I'm not that great of a cook. I refuse to stress about it though. I'm making an Italian lasagne, and a Greek lasagne. Easy enough to prepare ahead. I'm really looking forward to it. We always have a GREAT time.

Well that's all for now folks. I'll be back soon!

Hello! and Happy Fall!!

I can't believe Halloween is 3 days away. I did a bad thing today, I re-found the candy in the hall closet.....Sadly, I caved and had 2 Snickers. Why, why, why did I buy Snickers?!? I actually need more candy because we get a zillion and one trick or treaters. I live in the "city"....so laughing to myself, because it really isn't a city, but in the Waldo Ohio realm, this is considered the city, and all the people who live further out bring their kids in to trick or treat. Sooooo, we give out oodles of candy. It is nothing to pass out 400+ pieces.

Our lawn is absolutely covered with the neighbors leaves. I know, how do I know they are our neighbors leaves? Because ours have not started falling yet. Now the big challenge is to make sure that John does not get the leaf blower and blow them back into their yard. That neighbor has caused us some grief, so keeping John from retaliating is always a challenge.

As I said in my last post, I went to the Ohio Beaders retreat last weekend. I always come away with a renewed passion for jewelry making. We are having our Christmas Gathering this weekend, here in Waldo. We have an exchange and I got that done last night. Phew, glad thats over with. Plan on making quite a few Christmas gifts as well so need to get supplies ordered for that.

My other challenge for today, booking tickets for the Michigan Speedway for next June. Everyone knows I'm a big Jeff Gordon fan, and these next few weeks are going to be soooo stressful! He is in first now and I hope he stays there. This is his year!!!

Well, thats about all for now! Hope you have a great day!

Kim

Hello Again!!!

Well, how is everyone?!? Things are fine here in Waldo, Ohio. I have taken a long hiatus from my blog, but thought I would pop in and say hello! I had a wonderful weekend this past weekend. I belong to a beading group in Ohio, and every year for the past 3 years, we get together for a weekend and have a retreat. This year's retreat was in London Ohio at Alexandra's Bed and Breakfast! It was really cool. We arrive on Friday between 4 and 5 p.m. Find your room, drag in all the crap you brought (and you only realize then that you brought way too much stuff for one very short weekend), and then the party starts. Friday night we have a pajama party and a gift exchange, and then do some door prizes. This year I won the absolute BEST prizes! I won a carrying tote for my beads, and then won a 1 year subscription to Bead Bugle, an online beading place that offers free patterns, etc. How lucky can I get!! Saturday was a day filled with classes. First a chain maille class on the jens pind weave, then a precious metal clay class, and then finally a copper wire bracelet class. Then dinner and more door prizes. After that, just hanging out having a good time!! By Sunday the events and the lack of sleep have caught up with us and we reluctantly drag ourselves out of the place for the drive home! Nobody ever wants to leave! We do have the next one planned for next year at Indian Bear Lodge in Walhonding. This one will be a little further away for me!

News on the home front.....John is great, loving his new job at Lawn Greenkeeper. He is a project manager and safety director.

Travis is great. Went to homecoming a few weeks back and is just finishing up cross country. They made it to the regional meet in Pickerington this weekend. Hopefully then they will move on to state.

My parents have been away for 2 weeks in Florida. I'm used to talking to my mom every day so this has been a little bit of an adjustment.

Well, that's it for now! I promise I won't wait this long next time!

I'm Back!!

Hello There! So its been a couple weeks huh? Sorry. The delay is mostly because I could not get onto the blogspot website from my normal computer. Dang I hate when that happens. I would prefer to type this update on that one than this laptop. More disturbing is the fact that I think something is wrong with my main computer. It is the one I use most often and it is really acting up!! On Sunday when we got home from my moms, it kept rebooting itself. Nice...........

SO HERE'S THE POOP

ON Weight Watchers: The week before last I maintained, and I was sort of okay with this. Maintaining is not such a bad thing. Then last week I gained. Total and complete bummer! I'm hopeful this week is better though I will admit to all reading, there were several occasions that I didn't make the right food choices. I promise I'll be updating this at least once a week. My whole reason for writing this blog was to be accountable, and I'm such a slackah!! I still love this program! It works.....its just I have to MAKE IT WORK!

ON Me: I actually had a fun week this week. My good friend Peggy Jack was in Marion to do some training so we hooked up on Monday night and went to Mia Jalepeno.....I'm just gonna say it right now.....not a good choice! LOL. The meal was bad enough but then the drinks on top of it......Thankfully that was on a Monday, is all I can say about that. Then Tuesday, another good friend from Youngstown, Carrie Ambrose was in Columbus with her family, passing through on the way to Cincinnati. I got to see sweet little Connor James who is 3, and Christina, who I didn't even recognize because she is so mature and grown up. She is just beautiful. It was great seeing them, and again..... meeting at the Olive Garden was probably not the best choice, although I love their salad! It was great to see you Carrie and Jim!!!

ON John: Please keep John in your thoughts as he is contemplating a job change. He has one that he is extremely interested in that is in the works. Please keep your fingers crossed that it comes through. He is hoping to hear something this week.

ON Travis: Still working at Wendy's and still whining and complaining about not being able to come and go as he pleases. When he really gets on my last nerve with this, I take the time to remind myself that I'm just happy he is here to whine and complain. He has a doctors appt Monday for an accident recheck and to see if the boy is prone to concussions. He has had 3 already with a possible 4th a couple weekends ago. He is dying to play football this year after sitting out last year because of a concussion. Concussions are a scary thing! At the end of the day though, he is very smart and will likely get a scholarship for his grades.....I don't want him to mess that up by playing football and getting hurt.

ON This Weekend: I am so stinkin bored! With working at home, by the time the weekend comes I just want to get out of this house! The Gepper and I are going to try something fun to do!

I will post Tuesday, after I weigh in. Lets hope for a great week!

Love, Me

WHOOO HOOOO, I LOST THIS WEEK!!

This week was a great week at the scales! I lost 2.8 pounds! Whooo Hooooo, I Rock!!.....Doin the happy dance!

You know, weigh in day really is such a stressful day. And just how stressful depends on how well I did the 6 preceding days. Sometimes good....sometimes not so good *hanging head in shame.* This week I did good ;o). Here is a picture of how my Monday's go. I wake up at my normal 5:15 a.m. to be at work (across the hall from my bedroom) at 5:20. It can be a rough commute to work, especially if I can't find my slippers or if I happen to run into some traffic in the hall speeding towards the bathroom. So I work away, and think hmmmmmm.....wonder how my weight looks. Off to the scale. Take off every possible thing that is removable and hop on. Crap, I thought I lost more than that. Go sit back down to work, stewing over why I didn't weigh less. Another hour or two goes by. Hmmmmm, wonder how my weight looks. Off to the scale again, remove everything (I know, TMI) and hop on. Hey, now that looks better! Back to work. Lunch time rolls around. Crap, I'm scared to eat. Do not want to do anything to mess this up. I raid the fridge trying to find something that won't weigh me down. I settle on some grape tomatoes and 1/2 PB and J sandwich while watching the Young and the Restless. Back to work. Another hour goes by. Hmmmmm, wonder how my weight looks. Hop on the scale. At this point, I am dressed in what I'm going to wear to WW because it is time to get an accurate weight. Mind you, I have searched to find the lightest possible thing to wear, so it won't affect the scale. Well shute, those clothes added a pound. Or was it those darn grape tomatoes? Back to work for an hour or so. Phew, done working! Time for a quick walk around the neighborhood. Hey anything has GOT to help, plus Jackson Gepperheimer lives for his walks, and pretty much has me running the whole way. Back home. Back on the scale again. Okay not too bad. I bet I lost about 3 pounds. I'm pretty happy with this because I have been playing around on WW for the last few months, and it is high time I got my butt in gear! I gather my things and head for the meeting. I arrive and my leader is there. She tells me to hop on the scale. In my mind I'm thinking, do I have to go to the bathroom??......what jewelry did I wear that I can take off?? This WW name tag is weighin me down, I know it....hee hee, Just kiddin! So I hop on.....please show a loss, please show a loss, and whooo hooooo I did. Sometimes I don't but this time I did! My scale at home always weighs me less than the ones at WW, but I think it is consistent. I keep meaning to check that though. Then I hop into my position as a weigher at the meeting. It is so fun. The people who go are so nice, and so are the people I work with. I really enjoy that job! After the meeting I head home, and by this time I'm about to fall over from starvation! I run in, barely taking the time to tell John or Travis what I lost. My husband is pretty awesome and often has dinner on the table. Of course I never mind going out to eat on Mondays either. I'll be frank, I never mind going out to eat any day......but realistically, due to finances and weight loss, going out at the beginning of the week works well. Anywhoooo, that's my Monday in a nutshell. I have to say, they are always much better when I'm moving in the right direction! Have a good one Everybody!!

The Curveballs Life Throws....Sometimes they Suck!!

LIFE SUCKS!!

It's been one heck of a week and I feel like this poor little kitty! I'll elaborate more later.

On a good note, stuck to my WW program well this week. I'm hoping for a good showing on the scales tomorrow! Till then........

ACK, Now I've Been Tagged, Thanks Helen!!

Well I was informed by Helen that I was tagged today!! Being that I only know a couple people who have a blog at this time, and they were included in this "tag", I will have to wait to tag others until I get to know more before I can pay it forward. I thought it would be fun to play along anyhow! I sure hope I did this linking thing correctly, but chances are good I did not. Linking to *melanie*earthenwood

What were you doing 10 years ago? Ten years ago I was living in New Middletown Ohio. Travis was 6 years old and it was just Me and Trav going it alone. I was working at an occupational health facility called WorkMED, truly one of the best jobs I have ever had.

What were you doing 1 year ago? Basically what I am doing now. Working for OSI transcription, living in Waldo, and happily married to John.

Five snacks you enjoy: This just kinda depends on if I'm actually following Weight Watchers or not!! Right now I am so Microwave popcorn, low cal/low fat ice cream sandwiches, lite butterscotch pudding, and various fruits/veggies, such as bing cherries, watermelon, strawberries, as well as cherry tomatos. If I were not doing WW, the list would be much different!! Of course at the top would have to be potato chips.....my very favorite snack in the whole world!!

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics: Okay, trying to think off the top of my head. AND DON'T LAUGH!! Drops of Jupiter, Under the Boardwalk, New York New York, Play That Funky Music, Who Says You Can't Go Home (My new fav by my old fav Jon Bon Jovi).

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire: Pay off my house, Pay for Travis' college, share with our families, buy a boat, and probably buy and RV for John.

Five bad habits: Eating incorrectly, not exercising, stress eating, never taking time to do something for myself, no organization!!!

Five things you like doing: Making jewelry, camping, watching Travis play any sport he is playing, spending time with my family, traveling.

Five things you would never wear again: Hmmmmmm, wow, there is a long list, but heck, I don't want to rule anything out for when I make my weight watchers goal. I think it is safe to say I will proby never wear a bikini though.

Five favorite toys: Hmmmmm, I just don't know what to say for this one. I'll have to think on it.

I'm BAAAAAACK

Hello Again~



It's been a long time since I posted. I realize I probably should be keeping up with this much better than I have been! I started this blog as a way to hold myself accountable for my weight loss, and well, as you can see, LOL, it didn't go very far! I'm still doing Weight Watchers. In fact, I am now a weigher for Weight Watchers. Funny though, ever since I became a weigher, I have struggled with my weightloss!! I feel like I do so well motivating others, and here I am doing nothing, playing with the same 2-3 pounds, gaining, losing, gaining, gaining, and then gaining again. WTH?



Well I have decided that I'm going to follow the program seriously again! This is probably what brought me back to this blog! Starting tomorrow 6/20/07, just one month shy of a year from when I started Weight Watchers, I am starting over. These are my affirmations.....

• I will journal everyday.


• I will do some form of exercise everyday.


• I will eat to live, not live to eat ;o)


• I will drink my water every single day.

I will be going on vacation to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan at the end of July. I would like to set a goal of a 10 pound weight loss by then. I just wish my life didn't revolve around my weight. What do skinny people worry about anyway?

So there you have it. My defining moment!

In other news, John and Travis are fine. John and I are both on vacation this week. Travis is working at Wendy's now. So far so good. He seems to like it!

Well everyone, make it a GREAT Day!!

Love, Kim