3 years

3 years.  It's been 3 years since my last post.

So much has happened in 3 years that my head starts to hurt at the thought of trying to remember or rather relive some of the pain and anguish that the last 3 years has brought.

There have definitely been some good times and some rainbows after the serious storms.  I've considered myself to be an optimist for most of my adult life but to say that the limits of my ability to see the silver lining in most situations have been pushed to the brink would be quite the understatement.

So much to record.  First step...complete.

Product Review: Kiki's Nation swim wear for kids

Disclosure/Disclaimer: I was provided 2 products by Kiki's Nation for my unbiased review.  I did not receive any other compensation for this review nor did these free products influence my review in any way.

Summer is in full force and if your family is like mine, you try to stay cool by spending a lot of time at the pool!

On this particular outing to a local water park, my girls were ready to head back to the car when we decided to try out a new product that I recently received for review.

Kiki's Nation produces 3 lines of after swim wear that are sure to become favorites of kids and parents everywhere!  The skirts, pants and jammers are made of actual towel material, which is not only comfortable but absorbent.

I was sent the Multi Peace Sign Skirt for my youngest daughter and the Jammers towel shorts for my oldest daughter.  My girls loved the patterns and vibrant colors!  They also like the fact that the samples really fit their personalities.  My youngest preferred the skirt, while my oldest was more comfortable in the jammers shorts.  I really liked the facts that the clothing ran true to size and we arrived home with car seats that weren't wet!  The absorbency of the towel material was great and my girls have been asking me to be sure and pack their new cover-ups every time I pack a pool bag now.

The designs are fun and will appeal to a wide range of kids, young and older.  Kiki's Nation also produces some cute towel bags that would be fun for the pool or beach.  You should check them out on their website, Facebook page or follow them on Twitter!

June FMS PhotoADay Project

On my table.  Our kitchen table is normally full of emptied back pack contents, stray pencils & whatever papers haven't yet made it to the recycling bin.  This morning, the table also housed the dolls of 2 very excited girls who were ready for a first day of camp.

#fmsphotoaday

www.fatmumslim.com.au

June FMS PhotoADay Project

A moment.  Little A loves her iPad!  It amazes me how quickly she's mastered it.

#fmsphotoaday

www.fatmumslim.com.au

June FMS PhotoADay Project

B is for Booking Disney vacations which is a new adventure that I began this week!  So far, this new job has been all I imagined and so much more!!

#fmsphotoaday

www.fatmumslim.com.au

March 2013 Photo a Day Project - Day 4

Lucky. I'm lucky to have a very comfy bed to snuggle in with a sweet, red dog when I'm not feeling so great.

March 2013 Photo a Day Project -Day 3

Key. These are just a couple of key members of our family. Our 4-legged family members are important to us! Leaf & Roman.

March 2013 Photo a Day Project - Day 2

I made this! (Or rather, these. My 2 sweet angels!)

March 2013 Photo a Day Project - Day 1

L is for... Leisurely nights curled up by the fire.

Progress Update on 101 Things in 1.001 Days

My goal is to update my progress monthly on my second round of the 101 Things in 1,001 Days project.  Here’s where I stand after January 2013.

13. Read 1 book every month - Jan 2013 “Diary of a Stage Mom’s Daughter”, “Fifty Shades Free” & “When You Were Mine”

74. Plan and go on a date with hubby every month for a year - Jan 2013 We went out for lunch & a movie for FREE thanks to gift cards & reward programs!

82. Enter at least 1 contest online every day for a month - In Jan 2013, I entered a Disney trip giveaway every single day.  I’m anxiously awaiting a FedEx truck to appear at my door with good news one of these days!

85. Send a bag of clothes to ThredUp - Completed January 2013

89. Organize the playroom and declutter it - Completed Jan 2013!  6 hours of work, but well worth it!

3 tasks complete and progress on 2 more.  I’m off to a good start!

Imagination Station

One of the things that I love most about our girls is their incredible sense of imagination. They create elaborate playscapes throughout our house and play for hours together with fits of giggles and maybe a squabble or 2.

I finally managed to capture one of their scenes before it disappeared. This is the night that a train arrived in our kitchen. And lucky for us, hubby and I got to take a ride on the train before it departed back into the minds of our little girls.

These are some of the memories that I hope never fade away.

101 Things in 1,001 Days - The Next Project

Today begins my second “101 things to do in 1,001 days” project. My official start date is 1/2/2013 and my end date is 9/30/2015.  Here’s my fresh “to do” wishlist!

1. Replace our roof
2. Add a storm door to the front entrance
3. Replace the carport door
4. Add a rug to the living room
5. Get bookshelves for the living room
6. Finish putting together and decorating the craft room
7. Build flower boxes for the front patio and back deck
8. Plant some flowers around the mailbox
9. Plant a container vegetable garden with the kids
10. Get a plan/budget together to replace the carpet in the basement with wood flooring and install a wood stove
11. Enter a photography contest
12. Make a quilt
13. Read 1 book every month
14. Read all of the Harry Potter books
15. Join a local book club
16. Learn to knit or crochet
17. Knit or crochet a blanket
18. Craft with friends at least once a quarter
19. Learn how to use my sewing machine
20. Sew a dress for each of my children
21. Learn a new language
22. Enroll in a pottery class
23. Print my blog in book form for 2008
24. Print my blog in book form for 2009
25. Print my blog in book form for 2010
26. Print my blog in book form for 2012  
27. Enroll in a cake decorating class
28. Take a photography class & learn how to use my camera
29. Cross stitch the Rainbow Bridge poem
30. Finish a heritage scrapbook for my mom
31. Finish a heritage scrapbook for my dad
32. Do a 30 Day Photography project on my blog
33. Take a cooking class
34. Run a 5k
35. Lose 10 lbs
36. Lose 20 lbs
37. Lose 30 lbs
38. Lose 40 lbs
39. Lose 50 lbs
40. Lose 60 lbs
41. Lose 70 lbs
42. Lose 80 lbs
43. Purchase a new wardrobe after meeting my weight loss goal
44. Go on a horseback ride that involves galloping
45. Take my dog on a walk twice a week
46. Play in a disc golf tournament
47. Cook 2 new dishes each month
48. Get a tattoo
49. Get a professional bra fitting
50. Get my passport
51. Take singing lessons
52. Finish my will
53. Ride in a limo
54. Watch a movie at a drive-in theater
55. Buy a pair of boots  
56. Get my Mickey Mouse watch repaired
57. Book a trip to London
58. Sing karaoke at a bar/club
59. Use my bread maker
60. Send my grandma a card once a week
61. Send my Aunt Susan a card once a week
62. Be debt free (except for the house)
63. Apply for membership with the DAR
64. Dye a blue streak in my hair
65. Have a professional photo shoot done of just me
66. Save all of my coin change for a month & deposit it into my kids savings accounts
67. Print my blog in book form for 2013
68. Print my blog in book form for 2014
69. Update the family scrapbook through 2012
70. Make handmade gifts for all my immediate family members one Christmas
71. Take a family trip to Wilderness in the Smokies
72. Take a family trip to Colonial Williamsburg
73. Join the Junior League
74. Plan and go on a date with hubby every month for a year
75. Go on a zip line tour
76. Go on a Disney Cruise
77. Spend a weekend at a B&B
78. See a Cirque du Soleil show
79. Update the family scrapbook through 2013
80. Update the family scrapbook through 2014
81. Participate in the 10 on 10 project on my blog at least 4 times in a year
82. Enter at least 1 contest online every day for a month
83. Have a mommy date with each of my daughters every month
84. Have a mom date with my BFF at the painting party place
85. Send a bag of clothes to ThredUp
86. Eat breakfast every day for a month
87. Go on a canoe day trip
88. Go rock climbing
89. Organize the playroom and declutter it
90. Hang up the family organizer station and try to use it to keep us organized
91. Sell some clutter on eBay
92. Finish sorting the pictures from my grandparents & put them into albums
93. Clean and stain the back deck
94. Get an umbrella and stand for the back deck table
95. Spend a month sticking to the cleaning schedule I created
96. Finish a cross stitch piece for Ailey
97. Update Ashlyn's room decor for her 10th birthday
98. Buy myself a pretty cocktail dress & wear it somewhere special
99. Swim with dolphins
100. Send a card to a random friend once a week
101. Write a new list of 101 things in 1,001 days at the end of this project

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

We are looking forward to a fantastic 2013!

The final wrap up of my 101 Things in 1,001 Days Project

In April 2010, I came up with a list of 101 things that I wanted to accomplish in 1,001 days. I didn’t accomplish everything on my list or even nearly as much as I would’ve liked, but the experience was great and I’m definitely going to start a new list.  Here’s how my final list wraps up as of 12/31/2012.

Home Improvement Goals
1. Decorate my house - This particular goal was pretty broad, so I’m going to own this one by calling it complete as of Dec 2011.  I finally managed to decorate my entire house for the holidays and it felt great!
2. Clean desk - I cleaned it in Dec 2010.
3. Keep desk organized for 3 months - I didn’t succeed in keeping this for 3 months in a row, but I made strides on keeping things more organized for longer periods of time, which is progress!
4. Finish remodeling the kids bathroom - I think I’m marking this one complete by default.  I wrote this with my old house in mind and since that house is under contract with potential new owners, I don’t see us making any additional improvements.  At my new house, the kids bathroom is in great shape, thank goodness!
5. Change the living room paint colors and window treatments -Completed in June 2010 at old house
6. Get a window treatment for the kitchen window - I wrote this with my old house in mind, but the kitchen window at my new house needs a window treatment also, so I’ll have to add this to the new list!
7. Create a manageable house cleaning schedule - I accomplished this in April 2011 and had hubby laminate it for me and everything.  I should have added that I need to implement the schedule on a regular basis.
8. Have fresh flowers on the kitchen table every week for a month -Completed December 2010 and plan to keep this up because I loved having flowers on the table
9. Decorate inside & out for Christmas - Completed December 2010 and loved every minute of it

Hobby Goals
10. Enter a photography contest - Didn’t make it happen.
11. Make a quilt - Didn’t make it happen, but found some fabulous things on Pinterest to help me accomplish this goal in the future.
12. Read 100 books - In August, I read “Gone Girl”.  (2012 book count - 11; Overall book count - 29)  This gave me some serious perspective on how fast I reader I thought I was.  This wasn’t a realistic goal and now I see that.
13. Go to a book signing - My BFF Shannon & I went to see our FAVE author, Jen Lancaster at a book signing in Atlanta in May 2011.  It was AWESOME!
14. Read all of the Harry Potter books - I have finished books 1 through 4 and am currently reading book 5.  I’ve been “reading” book 5 for MONTHS now.  It’s the longest in the series and the most boring, in my opinion.  However, I’m determined to finish the series, so I’m going to keep pushing on and will eventually finish this!
15. Join a book club - I joined an online book club on Goodreads in October 2011.  I’ve waned on keeping up with the group and am happy to be joining a local book club in January.
16. Learn to knit or crochet - I bought a book to teach myself and actually sat down and started working at it.  I need to devote more time to it and then I feel like I’ll pick it up quickly.
17. Knit or crochet a blanket - Not yet!
18. Craft with friends at least once a month - Got together with friends on several occasions to craft but not with consistency each month
19. Finish my Wreck This Journal - Did not happen.
20. Learn how to use my sewing machine - Did not happen, but I found a local store who offers inexpensive classes that I’m hoping to take sometime in the near future.
21. Sew a dress for each of my children - Did not happen.
22. Learn a new language - I’m determined to save up for some Rosetta Stone software so I can learn Spanish at home.  I also want to learn French!
23. Finish the cross stitch piece I started for my wedding - I finished it!!!  February 2012
24. Enroll in a pottery class - I had it booked at my alma mater and they cancelled the class the day before it was supposed to start.  Boo!
25. Print my blog in book form - I printed the book of entries for 2011, but I still want to order the other years of entries.  It’s a little pricey, but I’ll get there eventually!  
26. Enroll in a cake decorating class - I checked into this several times and could never work out the timing with my ridiculous schedule.  I’m hoping that while the kids are in camp this summer that I’ll be able to fit one of these classes in.
27. Take a photography class & learn how to use my camera - Same problem as the cake decorating class.  I’m hoping to be able to fit this in sometime next Fall from our local community college.
28. Blog twice a week - I did this sporadically throughout the project.
29. Cross stitch the Rainbow Bridge poem - Did not happen
30. Finish a heritage scrapbook for my mom - Did not happen
31. Finish a heritage scrapbook for my dad - Did not happen

Health & Exercise Goals
32. Get a massage - Completed August 2010
33. Stop biting my fingernails - Completed August 2010
34. Take a cooking class - Did not happen
35. Start a skincare routine - Completed August 2010 (but need to do a better job of keeping up with it regularly)
36. Exercise 5 days a week for a month - I did this in April 2012 and feel so much better!
37. Run a 5k - Did not happen, but am really hoping to do a Color Run next year.
38. Treat myself to a massage after losing 30lbs total - I did this in April 2012!
39. Treat myself to a massage after losing 60lbs total - I haven’t lost the weight yet.
40. Enjoy a new wardrobe after meeting my weight loss goal - I haven’t lost the weight yet.
41. Donate all of my old clothes after meeting my weight loss goal - I did donate a lot of my old clothes that I never wanted to get back into.  I look forward to donating even more as I continue the weight loss journey.
42. Get down to 120lbs - Not even close yet.
43. Maintain my goal weight of 120lbs for at least 3 months - I have to get there first!
44. Go on a horseback ride that involves galloping - Did not happen
45. Take my dog to the dog park once a week - Did not happen.  I’m such a bad dog mom.
46. Take my dog on a walk twice a week - Did not happen.
47. Play in a disc golf tournament - Did not happen
48. Go 7 days without eating junk food snacks - Completed September 2010
49. Eat 5 things that I've never tried before - I tried guacamole in October of 2010.  I tried zucchini for the first time in August 2011 and it was ok.  I tried asparagus in February of 2012 and I liken it to eating weeds.  Bleh.  I ate broccoli (raw & cooked) in April 2012.  I like it raw!  I tried hummus for the first time this year and it wasn’t half bad.  

Outdoors Goals
50. Go camping - My husband & Girl Scout co-leader talked me into taking my Daisy scouts camping in April 2012 and I’m very surprised to say that I enjoyed it!  This was my first time camping since I was about 12 years old.  Yay, me!
51. Grow an herb garden - Bought an herb garden in May 2010 and managed not to kill it for a month which is progress. Plan to actually plant an herb garden at our new house eventually.
52. Start a compost pile in the backyard - Did not happen
53. Landscape my front yard - Completed in June 2010 at old house
54. Build a flower box & plant flowers in it - Did not happen

Personal Goals
55. Get a tattoo - I picked out the exact one that I want but I haven’t taken the plunge yet.
56. Get a professional bra fitting - I want to lose the majority of weight before I do this.
57. Get my passport - Hasn’t happened yet.
58. Volunteer at an animal shelter - I took my Daisy Girl Scout troop to a local animal shelter in October 2011 and we made food toys for the cats and dogs.  It was awesome!
59. Become a published author - I’m totally claiming a win here since I printed my blog in book form and it’s professionally bound and pretty with a dedication page and table of contents and the whole nine yards.  That’s not too much of a stretch, right?!
60. Throw a dinner party - Completed November 2010 when we hosted Thanksgiving here for some wonderful friends who are like family
61. Watch Gone with the Wind - Did not happen
62. See Josh Groban in concert - Completed in June 2011 and he was GREAT!
63. Start a review blog - Completed in April 2010
64. Take singing lessons - Did not happen
65. Move to a bigger house - Completed in July 2010
66. Finish my will - Did not happen.  Shame on me.
67. Inspire someone else to make their own list - Completed in April 2010
68. Learn to drive a stick shift - Did not happen
69. Go whale watching - Did not happen
70. Ride in a limo - Did not happen
71. Go to see 2 concerts - Went to see Kings of Leon with my BFF Shannon in November 2010 and August 2011; Went to see Bon Jovi with my friend Valerie in May 2011
72. Volunteer in my community - I have been volunteering a TON with my kids school, so I totally think this counts.
73. Stay organized for 3 months - This was too broad of an item.
74. Watch a movie at a drive-in theater - Did not happen
75. Buy a pair of boots - Did not happen
76. Learn to wear/walk in heels - Did not happen and I no longer have the aspiration to make this happen.  
77. Buy a watch & actually wear it - I bought a cheap watch at Target, in June 2011, and I wore it faithfully until it kicked the bucket.  I need to get my nice Mickey Mouse watch fixed!
78. Go to Disney World with my hubby & kids - We went in October 2012!!
79. Get the interview with my grandparents converted to DVD - I finally did this and picked up the DVD’s in January 2012!  This means a lot to me because this is the only video that my family has of my grandparents.  My grandfather passed away more than a decade ago and I’m glad that I now have something to show my girls what a great person he was.
80. Book a trip to London - Did not happen
81. Assist in growing our Kindermusik program by 100% - I helped accomplish growing our program significantly before I left in August 2011.  It was a tough decision to leave, but the best for me & my family.
82. Apply to be on the Amazing Race - Did not happen
83. Play my own lottery numbers - Completed in May 2010
84. But a ticket for a dream home giveaway - Did not happen and probably never will now since we’ve bought a fantastic home that we never want to leave!
85. Sing karaoke at a bar/club - I need to do those singing lessons first.
86. Use my bread maker - Did not happen
87. Send my grandma a card once a week - Did not happen, but I’ve bought the cards and will make a concerted effort to make this happen next year.
88. Be debt free (except for the house) - We’re making progress but still have a ways to go.
89. Apply for membership with the DAR - Hasn’t happened yet, but the wheels are in motion
90. Own a minivan - I am the proud owner of a Toyota Sienna as of August 2011!!
91. Dye a blue streak in my hair - Missed the opportunity window last summer, so this is definitely going to happen next summer
92. Go 3 days without getting online - Completed in July 2010
93. Go an entire day without watching tv - Completed in July 2010
94. Have a professional photo shoot done of just me - I want to lose the weight first
95. Buy myself a Dooney & Bourke or Coach purse - To reward myself for surviving Week 1 of this new diet, I bought myself a Coach purse that I’ve had my eye on for 2 years!
96. Go on a horse drawn carriage ride with my family - We took a carriage ride together in Charleston, SC in July 2011.
97. Play miniature golf - Completed in November 2010 when hubby & I played the new "Glow Golf" course in town and had a blast
98. Take dinner to a friend - Completed in May 2010
99. Give a compliment to a complete stranger - I told the drive-thru barista at Starbucks that his glasses looked nice, in November 2011.
100. Save all of my coin change for 3 months & deposit it into my kids savings accounts - Did not happen, but definitely will be on the next list
101. Write a new list of 101 things in 1,001 days at the end of this project - The new list will debut in a couple of days!

2012 - A Year in Review

I've done this meme for the last 2 years, courtesy of inspiration from a blog that I enjoy very much called Playgroups Are No Place for Children. Here is my 3rd installment of this fun look back on the year!

1. What did you do in 2012 that you'd never done before?
I started working at a bakery and made items that people bought and enjoyed.  It was very fulfilling!

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
I'm going to echo exactly how I answered this last year.  I successfully marked some things off the 101 Goals list that is ongoing, but I've stopped making resolutions for the most part. Something about setting myself up for failure has grown tiresome.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My oldest friend (meaning that I've known and loved her for over 30 years now) gave birth to her second child this past November. I actually know several people who had babies this year, which is great because I love to live vicariously through them since we're done with having babies.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
I made a couple of trips to the funeral home this year, but not for anyone that was close to me.

5. What countries did you visit?
I didn't step outside the USA this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
More financial stability and dedication.

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The end of November because Jake was called out of town at the last minute, resulting in the girls and I decorating our Christmas tree alone.  The tree fell 3 times, shattering almost every single glass ornament that we owned and had collected over 18 years together.  It broke my heart, but I'm learning not to put so much stock into holding onto things.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Going to Disney World with my family and seeing my girls truly enjoy the experience.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not making the dent in our debt snowball that I was hoping to make.  Medical debt seems like a hole we're never going to climb out of.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
My bulging disc gives me trouble every now and then.  I developed a horrible skin infection after our trip to Disney World, which nearly resulted in surgery to resolve, but thankfully it finally cleared up.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My favorite new acquisition this year was my iPad, but it was a gift from my Dad.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My youngest daughter put a gift under the Christmas tree for us this year that was 100% from her beautiful heart.  It was addressed to mommy & daddy and it said "I love you very much and I wish to never grow up".  I'm a big Christmas morning crier anyway because nothing makes me happier than seeing the joy on my kids faces.  However, when I saw my hubby tearing up before he handed me my daughter's note, I knew I was in trouble!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Politicians routinely appall me and since this was a major election year, there are just too many people to choose from.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Bills, bills, Disney World, bills...

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Our Disney World trip this past October!

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?
"I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a)happier or sadder; b)thinner or fatter; c)richer or poorer?
I am sadder, a little thinner and poorer.

18. What do you wish you had done more of?
Gone to the gym.

19. What do you wish you had done less of?
Overscheduled myself.  I need to learn that slowing down doesn't mean I have to go into ultimate lazy mode.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas morning was spent at our house, opening presents with the kids and then my parents came over for a big breakfast with us.  That evening, we had dinner at my parents house after my brother & his family came in from out of town.  It was a lovely day.

21. Did you fall in love in 2012?
We fell in love with the newest member of our family, Scotty!  He is Big A's dog and an adorable long-haired red dachshund.

22. What was your favorite tv program?
This is a really hard one to answer because I watch a LOT of tv.  My favorite new show would have to be Duck Dynasty.  That show is HILARIOUS!

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
There are people I strongly dislike, but I don't hate anyone. And nobody new for sure.

24. What was the best book you read?
This year it was "Room" by Emma Donoghue.  Such a sad story, but very well written.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I am a new fan of Phillip Phillips, the guy who won American Idol this year.  I was also delighted to discover that Little A is a pretty good piano player as she started lessons this year!

26. What did you want and get?
A trip to Disney World!

27. What did you want and not get?
To work on the landscaping at my house and replace my roof.

28. What was your favorite film of 2012?
It would have to be a tie between "Brave" and "Dr. Seuss's The Lorax".  Both were seen with my kids and both made all of us cry (in a good way).

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 37 this year and it was pretty much just another typical day.  I think hubby & I went out to dinner, but I'm not 100% sure.  I have officially given up on getting a surprise party now.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being significantly closer to getting out of debt.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2012?
I'm all about the comfort!  Jeans and t-shirts for this girl.

32. What kept you sane?
Spending so much time with my Girl Scout troop and working towards our family Disney trip.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?
I don't let many political issues get me riled up.

34. Who did you miss?
I miss seeing my nephew grow up.  Spending the last few days with him has been great, but reminds me how much I really miss him when he's 10 hours away.

35. Who was the best new person you met?
My bakery co-worker, Tammy, is the best new person I met.  She's very down to earth and funny and I enjoy working with her so much!

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.
"The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them." - Maya Angelou

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"The trouble it might drag you down, If you get lost you can always be found, Just know you're not alone, Cause I'm going to make this place your home." - Phillip Phillips

1 Shade of Gray

I've said for years that vanity isn't really my thing.  I don't wear makeup.  I don't use hair styling products or tools.  Most of my clothes are between 3-7 yrs old and came from Target or Old Navy.  I'm just not very concerned about being stylish.  Or at least that's what I thought.

I'm coming up on my 37th birthday next month and I'm a little distressed that with each passing day, as I look in the mirror, I seem to spot just one more gray hair on my head.  And while the first few didn't bother me too much, I'm now officially REALLY bothered.  And I can't decide if I'm more bothered by the gray hairs themselves or the fact that they are making me feel old all of a sudden.

I take it as a sign that I received a Living Social deal today for a cut, color & style from a local salon that I've been wanting to try for quite a while.  And so, I'll call tomorrow and schedule the appointment that will officially segregate my life into 2 distinct time periods:

Angie B.C. - Before Coloring
Angie A.D.J. - After the Dye Job

The Sunday Skinny

It has been a TOUGH week.  If you look up the term "stress eater" in the dictionary, you will see my picture with a blue ribbon because I was the champ this week!  Here's a sample of some of the things that were eating me, causing me to eat everything in sight.

1. My house (and everyone in it) had to be treated for head lice.

2. My microwave has been out of commission for 11 days now and looks to be down for at least another 7 days thanks to the perpetually crappy service that Best Buy provides.  Have I mentioned recently just how much I despise Best Buy?  And just how much I use my microwave on a daily basis?

3. My youngest child was diagnosed with her 2nd UTI this month and is now awaiting further tests to determine if she'll need surgery to fix a potential kidney valve issue.  She's been vomiting up her antibiotics and running a fever that is worrying to me.

4. Thanks to a lot of unexpected expenses (and lack of work hours available), I'm afraid we're not going to be able to pay for our big Disney vacation payment that's due next month.  (And yes, I realize that this is a "first world problem".  It still sucks.)

5. Aunt Flo decided to visit early this month.  That bitch.

I wish that was everything going on, but sadly, it's not.

This week just has to be a better week and I have to figure out a way to manage my stress that doesn't involve my eating habits.  So, let's try this again.  My goals for this week are:

1. No more than 3 carbonated drinks this week.
2. Exercise at least 3 mornings this week.
3. Try to eat at least 1 serving of fruit every day this week.

I'm hoping for a much more upbeat and positive report next Sunday!

Ten on Ten: July 2012

This is my first time participating in 10 on 10, hosted by a bit of sunshine.  The project is to take a picture an hour, for 10 consecutive hours on the 10th of the month.  Here's my day in pictures.

Getting ready for my morning workout

Arriving home as the sun begins to peek through the trees

These girls are ready to go to camp!

Doing a little paper shuffling at the office

Maleficent is so demanding!

Packing up for the day's later activities

Sully, my buddy

Lunch with friends is always tastier

The storm clouds are about to open up

My happy campers!

Shortcomings

As the mom of 2 girls who are pretty close in age, I find myself struggling with the balance of building up their self-esteem but understanding that failure is a part of growing as a person.  I want them to know how proud I am of all their achievements.  I want them to know that as long as they choose a path in life that makes them happy, I will always be proud of them.  I want them to know that I love each of them equally, for different reasons, and strive to never hold one of them to a higher standard than the other.  I hope that they never look back on their childhood and feel like they disappointed me with any kind of regularity.  

I say all of this because as an adult, I struggle heavily with feeling like a failure at most things, especially when it comes to anything having to do with my parents.  My childhood, while it had many good things, had more than its fair share of moments when I was made to feel like I was a huge disappointment to my parents.  Much of it had to do with my younger brother being put on a pedestal and treated with what seemed like a complete different set of standards.  Some of it was brought on by my own stupid adolescent decisions in certain situations, but it seemed like there was a huge amount of pressure put on me from an early age to reach a certain standard.  And not reaching that standard resulted in yelling, belittling and taking away things that were given to me as gifts because I didn’t perform as expected.

I can remember taking tours of Ivy League college campuses from the age of 13.  Yet when it came time to tour colleges that I was actually interested in (and could possibly gain admission to), it appeared more of a bother to my parents.  A let down.  I’ve often felt that no matter what I accomplish in my life, it will never be the standard that my parents expected of me.  And this feeling is perpetuated when I hear my parents bragging about how proud they are of my brother and his graduating from an expensive name-brand university and his powerful career and the fact that my father is parading him around to his business colleagues because “this kid is going somewhere”.

I’m really hoping that this feeling dissipates over time because it really sucks that I can’t even make it through a family dinner without spending an hour crying in the bathroom over my father criticizing my choice of dinner venues.  Those are some deep-seeded issues.  And I’m sick of feeling this way.

The Sunday Skinny

I've been a major slacker with my weight loss posts over the last 2 months.  Ok, maybe 3 months.  The good news is that I'm in the same size clothes that I was in during my last post.  The bad news is that the good news is simply miraculous because I've fallen into some old (i.e. horrible) eating habits and my exercise level isn't where it needs to be.  So, I'm getting back on the blogging bandwagon to hopefully give me some accountability.  However, I'm changing things up just a bit.

In an effort to avoid becoming even more obsessive about the number on the scale, I'm taking a break from recording my weight.  I've felt for quite a while that if my clothing size continues to move down, then I'm happy.  I keep reminding myself that last summer, I was wearing a size 20 shorts.  This summer I'm wearing a size 14.  That's fabulous!

So, my goals for this week are:

1. Work out 3 mornings

2. Don't drink more than 2 carbonated drinks

3. Make a conscious effort to eat healthy snacks instead of junk food