4.30.2012

Scale Tales

Last Week: 258
This Week: 258.8
Difference: +0.8

So I gained a little.  But it is that time of month and water retention never fails.  I wasn't horrible food wise.  Although the wisdom teeth removal made it kind of a weird week foodwise.  But I tracked 6 out of the last 7 days.  That is totally a huge score in my book! My goal this week is to track everything, good, bad and ugly.  And hopefully the scale will show me good results!

I'm also totally loving going to meetings.  I definitely didn't like someone else seeing that I had gained this week, which is the exact feeling I was hoping to have when I had a gain.  I'm really thinking this is exactly what I needed!

Wedding Flowers and Invitations

So, when I was coming up for a budget for my wedding, I basically listed splurge things I had to have, and everything else.  The things I was willing to splurge on was, Dress (thanks to my parents for buying it, although it wasn't as expensive as budgeted for), photography (who we booked a week ago!), and venue (which we already know I love).  The 'everything else' list was things I knew I'd have, but didn't want to spend lots on.  Flowers were on that list.  Yes, flowers are pretty, but they also die and don't last very long. And I didn't want to spend hundreds on something that would die a few days later. 

So, I decided to do silk flowers. I honestly had no idea where to start.  Could I do them myself? Did I know anyone who could help out?  Luckily, I happened to come across a listing on Etsy for bridal party flowers in my colors, orange and purple.  I was in love immediately.  This is actually a new listing, but features my exact flowers, if you're curious to the entire wedding party set.  The owner of the shop was fantastic and asked about my opinion along the way as she created them.  They actually came in the mail last week, and looked better than the pictures, and so real!


My Bouquet


Bridesmaid Bouquet

Invitations was also one of those things that I couldn't see me spending hundreds on.  So, thanks to a livingsocial deal, I paid $15 (I think) for $50 worth of product from Vistaprint.  A couple weeks ago, Vistaprint had a 50% off sale on wedding stationary.  I knew I had to take advantage, even if the wedding is still 5.5 months away.  So I ordered invitations, rsvp cards and thank you cards, with envelopes.  Reguarly, the total would have been about $150.  I paid $50, and shipping was free. I call that a damn good deal!


Now off to do a little work.  WW meeting tonight. Fingers crossed for a loss!

4.24.2012

Scale Tales

Last night was my second weight watchers meeting and I lost 1.8!  I'm really liking meetings!

I had my wisdom teeth taken out today, so I've been sleeping off and on.  I'm already ready for real foods again.  My food intake today consisted of a Frosty from Wendys, 2 jello cups and 2 popsicles.  Oh, and a little mashed potatoes (after I let them cool off).

I'm excited for mushy foods tomorrow, at least they will fill me up a little!  Now I'm off to put an ice pack on my face and watch a little tv before I crash.

4.18.2012

Updates

Work has been so crazy, and I haven't even had a chance to think about blogging the last couple days.

But, Monday night I went to my first ever WW meeting.  I really think I'm going to like it.  The leader was very energetic and helpful, so hopefully that is what I need!

I'm going to essentially start over with my weight, as of Monday night.  Its going to take a little time to get used to having to WI at night, and not first thing in the morning, but I'm sure I'll manage.

Weight as of 4/16: 259.8 (up about 3 lbs from my Monday morning weight--I still weighed myself Monday am this week)  But I know we all fluctuate throughout the day, so I'm not worried.

4.16.2012

5 years later

I remember this day, 5 years ago, like it was yesterday.  I skipped my class that morning, and I was woken up by my cell phone ringing. It was my grandmother calling to make sure I was alive (literally).  I had no idea what had happened.  The first incident happened in my dorm, a few floors down. and she had recognized the name of the dorm.  She woke me up about 9:15, which was about half an hour or so before the second incident happened across campus.

My mom had tried to call too.  Except when she tried to call, the cell phone servers were beginning to get jammed, and she had trouble getting through.  But she did.  She was a basket case, which was to be expected.

My roommate, being a good student, went to class that morning, and I had trouble getting through to her, as well.  She was walking in front of Norris Hall, and heard some of the shots.  I never got through to her cell phone, and was freaking out until she was finally able to make it to the dorm about 11 or so.

Both my roommate and I had decided to go home for the night, to give our parents some satisfaction. We ended up having to walk to the Inn at VT to meet our parents.  I remember hearing someones parents crying down the hall, probably after getting the news no parent would want to get.  I remember the look on my moms face when she got there.  A look I will never forget.  I tear up everytime I think about it, just like I'm doing now.

I'll always remember the out pour of support from dog people that called to check on me.  I remember calling one person and I could tell she was fighting back the tears.  Small things like that are going to always stick with me, I think.

I found out later that night that one of my good friends was one of the lives lost.  I had almost every class with her, as we were in the same major at the time.  Around 1 am the next morning, my cell phone woke me up to a number I didn't know, so I didn't answer.  I check the voicemail, and it was Good Morning America wanting to talk.  Apparently they had somehow found out I was friends with Emily, and wanted to interview me.  Reall?  Screw you media.  The next thing happened the next day.  A news station had called my dorm phone, and wanted an interview. 

When I got back to campus the next morning, the media was crazy.  You couldn't turn around without seeing someone from the media (national and local).

I'll never forget how everyone came together, being a Hokie or not.  The out pour of support for the university and community couldn't be topped, I don't think.



"We are Virginia Tech.

We are sad today, and we will be sad for quite a while. We are not moving on, we are embracing our mourning.

We are Virginia Tech.

We are strong enough to stand tall tearlessly, we are brave enough to bend to cry, and we are sad enough to know that we must laugh again.

We are Virginia Tech.

We do not understand this tragedy. We know we did nothing to deserve it, but neither does a child in Africa dying of AIDS, neither do the invisible children walking the night away to avoid being captured by the rogue army, neither does the baby elephant watching his community being devastated for ivory, neither does the Mexican child looking for fresh water, neither does the Appalachian infant killed in the middle of the night in his crib in the home his father built with his own hands being run over by a boulder because the land was destabilized. No one deserves a tragedy.

We are Virginia Tech.

The Hokie Nation embraces our own and reaches out with open heart and hands to those who offer their hearts and minds. We are strong, and brave, and innocent, and unafraid. We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be. We are alive to the imaginations and the possibilities. We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness.

We are the Hokies.

We will prevail.

We will prevail.

We will prevail.

We are Virginia Tech."

-Nikki Giovanni


4.11.2012

A Bit of a Change

I made the decision yesterday to start going to WW meetings. I've never been to a meeting before, so I'm kinda nervous about it.  But I think I need the accountability that meetings can give me.  Hopefully it goes well and I feel like I can connect with the meeting and leader.  I'm excited!

4.09.2012

Weekend Recap

This was one of the best weekends I've had in a while.  Clayton and I had a picnic on Saturday.  We went to a small overlook on the parkway and spent about 2 hours.  It was wonderful.  We just sat and talked.  We've decided to do first look pictures before the wedding.  I'm super excited about that. And I have the perfect place at the venue in mind!  We also decided on clothing for the men in the wedding.  Now I need to go bridesmaid dress shopping with my ladies!

Clayton also asked if I'd start staying at his house more during the week.  I wasn't expecting it, because some of his family is very religious, as is he, to a point, so it was out of left field. I was a big fan of this conversation.  It will be very beneficial to our relationship, if we get more used to living together, and me not just staying a few days a month.  So I'll probably start staying some during the week in a couple weeks. I'll have to start moving some of my stuff (like kitchen stuff I've accumulated) because I'll need it.  So come May, I'm sure I'll be there a lot more often.  Granted my commute to work will go from 15 minutes to 55 minutes :(  I need to find a job closer to where I'll be living!  An hour commute each way will not be fun!

Saturday's picnic also brought on my first sunburn, and blisters, of the year. Not cool.  But I'll survive. It already doesnt' hurt as much, but it still pretty red.  Yay for having really pale skin, not.

This was definitely a good weekend.

Scale Tales Monday

Last Week: 256.2
This Week: 256.2
Change: 0

We always hope for a loss, even when we know we haven't had the best of weeks. That is me this week. Of course I hoped for a loss, but maintaining is so much better than a gain.  I had too much cake this week, Mexican for lunch yesterday and not enough water throughout the week.  I did get in a couple days of activity though!  This week will definitely be better food wise.

Now to go do some work.  Hopefully a post later today with some happenings from the weekend!

4.05.2012

Happy three day weekend!

And to start out my weekend I won $50 on a scratch off lottery ticket. I just randomly decided to buy one. Glad I did!


4.04.2012

Rough Week

This has been a rough week.  Sunday would have been Marlin's 8th birthday.  For those that don't know, Marlin passed away 2.5 years ago after a very quick battle with juvenille renal failure.  He was my heart dog, and it was devastating to lose him so early in his life.


Marlin, July 2006

Yesterday was our consultation with the vet school about Marin's thyroid tumor.  Unfortunately, the oncologist confirmed what we knew, that it is cancer.  Treatment is hard on dogs. Just like people with cancer.  Where the tumor is, there is no way that the surgeon can get it all, it's too vascular.  Typical treatment would be surgery to get as much as possible then full course of radiation, consisting of 19 straight days of have to be put under anesthesia. <--That is what the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends as treatment.

The vet school recommended surgery, then chemo (no mention of radiation).  There are some weird numbers on the bloodwork associated with her pituitary gland, so it could mean it has spread (which we don't know for sure, and is a factor in if we do treatment or not).  The genius's at the vet school wanted to do surgery, then bloodwork, if the number is still off, THEN do an MRI to see if it has spread. Why not do the MRI before surgery?  That is what common sense tells me to do.  They should want to do all of the diagnostic testing before cutting on her.  I've also heard that the vet school here is very cut happy, even if it isn't in the best interest of the patient.  You think? 

So, while some won't agree, we are probably just going to keep her comfortable until it's her time.  Treatment would make her sick.  And we have no idea  She's had 11 wonderful years and is one of the best dogs someone could ask for. I want her to be herself for her entire life, no matter how short or long it may be.  She won't suffer. The first signs of suffering and we'll have a decision to make.  But that goes for any treatment. I don't want her to suffer through treatments either.


Marin, Summer of 2010

4.03.2012

March Wrap-Up and April Goals

March wasn't a great month for me.  I didn't meet any of the goals.  But I was down a net -0.2, so that is a plus.  I just didn't give March my all like I know I can.  I didn't work out at all. I didn't try new recipes, I ate out more than I should, and I didn't lose what I wanted to.  But...it's ok.  Life will go on.


----

April Goals
1. Lose 6.3 and get out of the 250s for good. A hefty goal, but one I can hit if I really focus.
2. Work out 3-4 times a week.  I ordered a couple new DVD's and they are still in the shrink wrap waiting to be opened. 
3. Track.

I'm going to really keep myself accountable this month.  I want to have a great spring and get ready for summer!

Here's to a great April for everyone! *Cheers*

4.02.2012

Scale Tales Monday

Last Week: 258.6
This Week: 256.2
Change: -2.4

I'm extremely happy with that number!  Confession: That loss was just by watching my food and being mindful. I didn't workout once (except a couple training sessions with the puppies, but I don't count those). 

Here's to starting off April on a good note!