HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL!

I hope everyone out there has a wonderful Mother's Day. Laura and I celebrated last night since Pat works on Sundays. Laura grilled burgers and corn on the cob and fixed a caesar salad. It was yummy!

Today Laura, Cheyanne, Damian and I are making our 2nd trip to a Farmer's Market near downtown. Laura went on line and found some for us to check out, but this is the only one that makes sense for us due to the distance. They have in in one corner of a very nice park so that is nice. We tried it last Sunday but didn't get to check it out alot. We want to spend more time looking today and seeing what all they have.

Anniversary Celebrated!

Yesterday, Mike and I celebrated our 7th anniversay on the 7th. We had a wonderful evening. We stayed at home due to finances, but I have to say this was much better than going out and spending alot of money. We had a very relaxed evening. Both of us love racing games so we raced using a game Pat loaned us and shared some very good wine. Then we fixed a recipe I found on Kraft website "Country Dijon Shrimp Saute" and had a very good loaf of bread to go with it "Rosemary Peppercorn and Corn". We made it with peel and eat shrimp and used the bread to sop up the sauce instead of serving it over rice. We had a bottle of wine from Napa Valley that a co-worker had brought back as a gift to me. I think this was the best celebration we have had. We calculated that it probaby cost less than $25. Going out would have cost a lot more for what we had. It was absolutely delicious. Of course, the fact that I was sharing it with the man I love made it taste so much better. Plus I was able to just relax in lounging pj's.

Maintaining!!

I would rather lose than maintain. But considering Wednesday was my birthday(I did very well actually) I can't really complain. I did have ice cream earlier in the week and that is something I just really need to stay away from because the only one I really like is Ben & Jerry's. I treated myself to a blueberry scone for breakfast on my birthday and Dirty Chips Salt N Vinegar chips later in the day. Last night even though I ate before Laura and I went grocery shopping I had a snack and wine around 10pm which I know is not good for me. So I am really surprised I didn't gain this week. But I gave myself an even better birthday present before breakfast. I decided that was a good day to get started back on my gazelle. So, all in all, I would have to say I am pretty satisfied with myself this week. I am still starting to feel better and that is really the main goal! Lisa, I totally agree with your comment on your other site and I think you are making tremendous progress. Stressing out makes it worse and changing our habits is what is important. So I say, let's all keep up the good work. Laura I know you have started back on the treadmill, so congrats and keep it up.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Well, another year! I decided to do something nice for myself and took the day off from work. I think this is the first time I have ever taken my birthday off. It has been a very relaxed day. Laura, Cheyanne and I went to Starbucks this morning. I figured I would splurge for my birthday and have a blueberry scone with my iced latte. It was yummy. Then we went to just look around at one of my favorite stores "Whole Foods". I finally have the ingredients now to make the olive oil crackers. Lisa, when you made the garlic crackers, did you just sprinkle garlic powder on them? I bought some flax seed to put on some of them. Mike is taking me out to dinner tonight. I haven't decided where I want to go yet. I was planning on fixing dinner at home, but he insists, so we will go out! What a nice guy! I am so glad I have him.

I just can't believe I am already 57 years old. It just doesn't seem possible, the time has gone by so fast. Also, I just don't feel like I should be yet. I guess that is a good thing! I hear a lot of people say they feel a lot older than they are. I feel a lot younger than I am.

This is the new addition to our family that I said I would post about a week ago. Sorry for the delay. His name is Buddy. He really is adorable. I will have to say, after being adamant about not having another pet, I am enjoying him much more than I thought I would. Most cats pick one person they really like, but he seems to be equally happy with Mike and me. Mike continues to claim he is not a cat person, but I think the picture above says it all. he he. He really has quite a personality already. He loves to play but he also likes to cuddle with Mike. He doesn't care much for me holding him, but he snuggles up with me on the couch and our bed.

Friday's weigh-in

I forgot to post Friday about my weigh-in. I lost only 1/4 lb, it's not much but it's better than gaining. I was consistent all week with my morning exercises and keeping track of my calories most of the week. I kept my calories between 1530 to 1928 per day. Now, if I could just get myself back on my gazelle. I don't know why I have been avoiding it so much. I feel better when I use it so you would think that would be enough motivation!

Seven Weird Things About Me

Oh my, do I have to limit it to 7 things? hehe Lisa tagged me to do this, so here it goes. Also, I have gotten to where I don't care if people think I am weird anymore. Growing up people used to think I was weird just because I was part of the "Philhower" clan. In my forties looking back, I think kthey were just jealous because no matter what problems our family had, we stuck together and we did alot of things as a family. So here goes!

*I keep a regular plate, saucer, bowl and a set of utensils at work to eat my lunch on. I don't like to waste paper or styrofoam plates.

*I don't like to sit around and watch a lot of TV. It doesn't relax me, it bores me and I get fidgety. I prefer just to watch the programs I enjoy and then do something else.

*When I run errands on weekends, I don't care if I don't wear powder and blush, but I have to put on earrings or I feel "naked".

*I like to eat leftover steak cold. Sometimes I prefer it over eating it when it is freshly grilled. I don't think this is weird but alot of people think eating cold steak is weird for some reason.

*I don't dry most of my clothes all the way. I dry them enough to fluff them to get the wrinkles out and then I hang them up to finish drying.

*Living in a hurricane state hasn't gotten me used to them, instead I get freaked out about getting separated from Mike or Laura, Pat and the kiddos.

*I prefer the looks of a hard working, calloused hand man over a pretty boy manicured hand looks.

Well, I did it. I had to do more thinking on it than I thought I would. Given time, I am sure I could come up with alot more weird things abou me. Now I am going to tag
Laura and Cathy.

More progress

I did my Friday morning weigh in this morning and was very pleased. I have dropped two more pounds. Last week I didn't lose any but at least kept stable. I have gotten back into my calorie counting this week and that helps alot. Mainly it helps me in being accountable for what I am eating. When I was calorie counting before the holidays it was working great and then I started feeling tired after about two months and wasn't losing weight as easily. Looking back, I realize that is when I got the "brilliant" idea that if I was cutting back on calories maybe I should cut back a little more. I think for my build and weight I was cutting back too far. I am keeping my calories between 1400-1800 a day and I feel great. I noticed the change is when I decided "Oh, let's see if I can keep them down to 1100-1200 a day." Not a good idea for me. Watching "Biggest Loser" has made me more aware of how important it is to keep the calorie count at a good level.

I brought my kitty, Buddy, home Sunday evening. He is settling in very well and likes to play and snuggle with both Mike and me. He likes to sleep snuggled somewhere between Mike and me. I will try to post a picture of him sometime this weekend. He is really cute!

I Have My Car Back!!!!!!!! Yippee!!!!!!!!!!

I have been without my car since January 9th. The oil light kept coming on so Mike replaced a number of things. Since this engine is so difficult to get to things(as are most of the newer engines) he wanted to go ahead and replace the oil pump, water pump(which in the process of disassembling the motor found out it was bad anyway), main bearings, rod bearings and bolts, and the front motor mount(again because he found it was broken in two). We don't have a garage, so he had to work around the weather, his job and throwing his lower back out of place working on the car. But once again, he did it. I am so blessed having a husband that is so handy. My car is up and running.

Thank you Laura for getting Cheyanne up early every morning and you two taking me to work. I also have a very nice friend at work that went out of her way to take me home almost every day. My supervisor helped me out with a ride a few times also. I am grateful to all of them.

Good Weigh-in Day!

I weighed in this morning and was very pleased. I lost 1 1/4 lbs of my "holiday and stress" weight! Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel like I am getting back on track finally. I am starting to feel better too. I always do when I am eating healthier and exericising more, so it is beyond me that I think other stuff is worth it so much! hehe

It's A Small World!

Or a confirmation of sorts to encourage me that no matter what has happened so far to further delay our plans of moving, that it will happen! I picked up one of the many, many books that my next door neighbor gave me called "The Sweetest Thing". I was reading it again in bed last night and a receipt for it fell out of it. It was purchased on May 14, 1999 at the PDX airport(in case you don't know where that is, it is the airport in Portland, Oregon.) I know, I get pleasure out of some of the smallest things, but I just thought that was neat.

Time to get back in touch with some things!

I have a very bad habit of getting so focused on stress and what needs to be done that I do believe I hamper a good many things. I am trying to change this. It keeps me from enjoying a lot of things. So I did something yesterday that I hadn't done in a long time. I put on a pot of beans to cook instead of buying canned beans. It is the first time I have cooked black beans though. I had forgotten the simple pleasure of the smell of them cooking as you walk back in the front door after being outside for a bit. I can come up with all kinds of reasons why I haven't done things like this, but when it comes right down to it they are only excuses not valid reasons. Then I made my homemade red chili for burritos. This time I put the chili on then topped it with freshly cooked black beans(w/sea salt) and topped that off with shredded cheese and sour cream. Oh boy, was it good. Mike told me a number of times how good the burrito was and that I had outdone myself this time. Reading Lisa's posts and some of her friends post made me realize how much I really do want to get back to basics. I kept telling myself how hard it sounded and how time consuming it seemed to be. But really, how hard was it to cook beans? Yes, it takes a while, but the only thing I have to do is check on them and stir them. hehe Then the best part is I made up four bowls of black beans and topped them off with the leftover chili and froze them. Now I have also started another thing I have wanted to do. Freezing up portion sizes for my lunches or quick evening meals when I don't want to cook. This is so much cheaper and better for us than ordering in. I think my next thing is going to be homemade chicken noodle soup. I don't like canned soup for a number of reasons. Here are the main 3 reasons: 1. Way too much sodium. 2. Not enough protein in it for me. 3. I don't like the vegetables they put in it. So, I am going to make it like I did in Clovis when the girls were little. It turned out really thick, almost like stew instead of soup, but oh was it good. I used broccoli in it. So, I may make that next Saturday. Mike doesn't like soup, but this way I can make it up and freeze it for myself. Who knows, maybe he will try some. I just found out last night that he likes posole though. So guess what else I will make?

I haven't wanted pets for a long time. I have used excuses for this too! They are too much trouble, who will care for them if we aren't at home, I am allergic to their dander(which is true, but I am allergic to alot of other things I can't get away from) and on and on. Deep down I have known the reason for a long time. I have lost so many pets over the years, dealt with dogs and cats of the girls getting run over, wounded in fights with other animals and so on. The last pet I lost though we believe was from someone being vindicive. Lisa and Laura, I am sure you know I am referring to Midnight. Laura gave me this black lab mix because she didn't want me to be lonely since Lisa was already gone and Laura was gone alot of the time. Midnight mysteriously got off our property(which he didn't even like to do when I would try to get him to.)Lisa, Lawrence, Laura and I kept looking for him and Lisa and Lawrence found him just off the main highway. He had been struck by a vehicle and died. We will leave it at that, other than I am still grateful for Lawrence's help in taking care of the matter and Lisa, Lawrence, and Laura's support in dealing with the loss. It still makes me cry as I am typing this blog. But it is time to move on. Loss is a part of life and I can't avoid that without losing pleasure in other areas. So, I will be coming the owner of a cute little kitty named Buddy. He is the runt of the litter that Laura & Pat's cats had. They are keeping him for another week or so then Mike and I will bring him home. I have always preferred cats over dogs. When we bring him here, I will have Mike take a picture of Buddy and I and I will post it for you to see.

What Kind Of Christmas Tree I Am

You Are a Traditional Christmas Tree

For a good Christmas, you don't have to re-invent the wheel. You already have traditions, foods, and special things you bring out every year.

What Christmas Tree Are You?

New Shoes!

These shoes are a Christmas present to myself from my Christmas bonus! (The picture only shows one, but rest assured that I did get both shoes. hee hee!) I have never had a pair of clogs so I have been wanting to try them. Of course, for some reason, I thought all clogs were open at the back. I didn't realize it was the style of the shoe. This pair is the Wanda style from the Dansko line of Sanita. I got them for a really good price. I wanted to try this style with the open back because I have a problem with my feet getting hot very quickly. I thought since they aren't totally enclosed it might work better. I got them in a week ago Monday and couldn't wear them until this Monday because it was up in the 80's again last week. I got to wear them Monday and Tuesday and I just love them. They seem to be the thing for me because my feet didn't get too hot. Of course today I am back in sandals because it will be in the mid 70's today.

My next pair of shoes I am going to try will be a pair of clogs that are a full shoe. Maybe I can use them on my gazelle. I love Dankso shoes now because my feet don't hurt after wearing them all day. It is the bottoms of my feet that start hurting and they hurt in tennis shoes too. That is why I am going to try to use the enclosed pair when I get them to use my gazelle. Maybe the bottoms of my feet won't hurt.

Weekly Weigh In News

First of all, I would like to thank Lisa for the christmas tree picture so my blog fits the season.

Next I want to report my progress. I have lost another pound for a total for 9 1/2 lost pounds that I don't ever want to find again. I am now down to 213 3/4 from 223 1/4. I am soooooooo happy. I am feeling much better already. I even bought a new pair of jeans last Saturday. I didn't have any good jeans that weren't getting pretty baggy. So this pair and some older ones the same size will get me by until I drop down another size. It is so great when people actually comment that I am slimming down. Not only is the calorie counting paying off, but so are my daily exercises!!!!

Changing My Outlook on Weightloss

For those people that know me well, you know how I have struggled with my weight over the years. Here is the kicker though! I have finally come to realize that up until the past 10 years, the struggle has been with my mental image not my physical body. I have looked back at pictures of myself and can see that most of time I wasn't overweight. In fact in a lot of the pictures I have I am downright slim. Imagine that!!!!! Unfortunately during my high school years I took to heart a few careless comments made by my dad and a very close friend. Now that I can "hear" those comments with a different perspective, I realize they were only teasing. The problem was as a teenager I didn't realize that.

Now I am overweight and I am not happy about it, but I am not so hard on myself when I take backward steps. I have more reasons to want to get back into shape now. I want to be around (in good health) to enjoy more outside activities with Mike, I want to have enough energy to play with my grandkids, and I want to be able to spend a lot more years with my wonderful daughters and their hubbies and enjoy seeing them raise their children.

Up until recently, nothing I tried worked because I got bored with it to quickly. Well, Laura and I have been watching Biggest Losers on TV. I didn't really care for it at first, but then I started thinking that if these people that needed to lose a lot more weight than I do could stick with it then maybe I could. Also Laura suggested I try counting calories like they do. I always thought that would be too much trouble, but I decided to try it. Since I tend to think things out logically and it is very basic logic that in order to lose weight you have to take in fewer calories than you burn off, it is working for me. "Thank you Laura!!!" I stick to a pretty healthy diet(I hate that word) but I am learning that doesn't always mean it is low in calories. I feel much better when I eat well, so that helps too. I am smart enough to know you need a little of everything in your daily diet. I have never been one to follow fad diets. But now that I am getting the hang of calorie counting, I am finding some of the things I would think would be low in calories aren't and vice versa. So some things I thought I would have to limit more I don't and some things I don't want to waste my calories on are things I don't enjoy as much anyway. So as you can see this seems to be a win win situation for me. I am getting pretty good at guessing the amount of calories now too. I am losing the weight slowing, but I would rather do that because your body adjusts to it and it's easier to keep it off also. I didn't go overboard for Thanksgiving, but I did indulge a little more than usual, but I was surprised at how easy it was to get right back at it on Monday. So here is what I have lost so far. I started at 223 1/4 lbs and I am down to 214 3/4 lbs. Yea, 8 1/2 lbs lost so far. I didn't want to post this until I got under 215 because no matter what I have tried I couldn't seem to get below 215. I know a 1/4 lb isn't a lot, but it is still under 215. My clothes are already fitting quite a bit looser too! Mike keeps telling me all the time how much better I am looking. Also, I started out just with stretching exercises, but as I have gotten more energy and more motivation, I have started adding a few more extra exercises here and there that I do daily. And I alternate daily with and without small weights. I also bought new tubes and brake pads for out bikes so Mike can get our bikes up and going so we can start bike riding again.

It feels so good to finally have found something that is working for me and even better that I it doesn't seem a big chore to follow it. I am already feeling quite a bit better physically and have more energy. I also am enjoying seeing the physical changes in my body. You are never too old to change things!!!!!

Updated Blog Site!!! YEA!!!

So, how do you all like the new look of my blog? I picked the template and then Lisa modified it for me and put the picture in. Lisa, there is just one problem. I can't go to your link from here. Also, I forgot to ask you if you could put in a link to The Urban Homesteader also. It would be much appreciated if you could do this for me! I really like this look much better.

New Coffee Shop

For those that know me very well, you will understand why I am writing a blog about a new coffee shop. The importance of a coffee shop that I feel comfortable just hanging out relaxing started when Lisa & Laura were in high school. This was my opportunity to sit and relax and just visit with my daughters. I think they both know how important that was to me and it still is. I know it's a bit more difficult now with them having little ones of their own to go and just hang out at the coffee shop. But the significance of it is probably why I still love the atmosphere of a coffee shop. But it can't be just any coffee shop, it has to have the right atmosphere. I had been going to Scupa's(sometimes with Laura, Laura, Pat and the kiddos, and sometimes with Mike) for about 4 years if I remember correctly. Earlier this year, due to family member health problems, Johnny sold Scupa's and the new owner is strictly in it for the money. Yes, I know people go into business to make money, but Johnny loved visiting with his customers and treated them like family. He is an older Italian guy and is just a great person. He loved seeing all of us come in together, because he really enjoyed seeing families spend time together. So I think you can see why I have missed that so much. About a week ago one of my co-workers was googling something and asked me to come see a website she ran across. Yeah, it was for a coffee shop she thought I might be interested in. It has an unusual name "The Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar". I think I have found my coffee shop again. It just opened up the day she found it on the internet. Not only is it a relaxing place, but their coffee drinks(except for soymilk, etc) are made with organic milk. They serve veggie, vegan and organic foods. I am not into the first two, but the organic part I do like. So I have finally found another place I can take a book, have a latte and sit and relax. Finally!!!!!!!!!! LOL

8th Annniversary at my job!!!!

I can't believe it: 8 years with this company. I would never have envisioned being with them that long, but I have been. I have seen alot of changes take place and I have seen alot of people come and go over the past 8 years. I was going over some of the things that have happened during those 8 years. Here are a few.

1. I have gained 3 more grandchildren
2. Mike and I got married
3. I have obtained my Associates Degree in Accounting
4. Went thru 9/11 with the rest of our country
5. I have lost 4 family members, 2 very dear long-time friends and several other friends
6. I have met alot of wonderful people at work and away from work. I am fortunate to have
a number of great relationships with people I work with.
7. Mike and I have paid for our trailer and have purchased the land it is on(still paying for it
of course. lol)
8. I have my dream car; a 2001 Sebring convertible, gold w/black cloth top. We are both
really enjoying it.
9. We just got Mike a good truck this year. 1996, red, F-350 Ford, turbo diesel with dual
cab and utility bed.
10. I have been thru a lot of personal growth and have much more confidence in myself than
I used to have. I have also learned to be much more accepting of myself.
11. I have done a lot of traveling. Numerous cross-country trips to see Lisa and her family. A
number of trips to New Mexico to see my mom while she was still living.
12. Our family held it's first Family Reunion.

I could go on and on, but I think I hit the major points.

I received a very good evaluation this year. My supervisor took me to lunch(we always get an
anniversary lunch) and it was very enjoyable. Mike and I went out to celebrate last night and had a wonderful, relaxing evening.

I would like to thank everyone that has been part of my life, especially these past 8 years, since that what this post is about.

Now, on with the next 8 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY VISIT!!!

I had a wonderful visit with Lisa, Lawrence and the girls. It was so wonderful being able to celebrate Lisa's birthday with her.

It was a very, very busy week. We went to my favorite breakfast place there, which is The Wildwood Cafe. They have fabulous french toast. I got to find a tanglebox with Lisa and the girls. (You can check out her blog to see what that is.) I wish there had been time to look for more of them. Friday morning Maddy and I walked downtown and had breakfast together at Cornerstone Coffee. Then she helped me find Lisa's birthday presents. We did a lot of walking to get them, alot of it in the rain. I enjoyed this time with Maddy and it was nice to be able to walk in the rain without worrying about lightening like you have to in Orlando. Friday night we went to the exhibition from Art Conspiracy that Maddy was in. Her watercolor pictures were great! She did a watercolor of chili peppers for Lisa's birthday that was really good. You should see the house she made a model for in her architecture class. I had alot of fun playing Quiddler with Maddy and Maddy and Lisa. Isabel and I had fun while we played Crazy Faces(a child's version of crazy eights.) I finally watched the new "Phantom of the Opera" with Isabel. This is her favorite movie. Juliana is a riot. She repeats everything the other two girls say and mimics what they do. Not that she doesn't have her own personality. She is very much her own person. I had fun just watching all three of the girls together.

Lisa's birthday party was a great success! She is a wonderful hostess and as we all know a fabulous cook! I helped with what I could, but she gets all of the kuddos for the success of her birthday party! It was great and the weather held up nicely for it. You should try the Frozen Honeydew Mojitos she made. Yummy! and very refreshing too! I want the recipe for her Herb Potato Salad. I am not big on potato salad anymore, but this is fantastic.

I didn't get to spend much time with Lawrence this year, but the reason for it is a very good reason and I am extremely happy for them. Their business is doing very well and he was very busy. This is a very good thing!

I had a very good time with all of them! Of course, as always, it was very hard to say goodbye! If all goes as planned though, Laura, Damian, Cheyanne and I will be up there in May for James and Sarah's wedding.

Another Step Towards Our Goal!!!

We paid off another credit card this weekend. That makes two paid off so far. On to the next! It feels so good to be making this progress.

Two weeks from today at this time, I will be in the air on the way to see Lisa and her family. I can hardly wait. It will be so nice to spend her birthday with her.