8.24.2009

First day jitters

Today was my first official day @ the preschool! I was surprisingly calm about the whole thing, probably because I know I have a good two weeks with Stephanie to prep me for the first day with kids (which I am DEFINITELY nervous about).

The day went nothing like I had planned, but in a good way. Since the preschool is switching ownership this year, they've had to go through a lot of changes this summer, including licensing. The licensing lady is coming in tomorrow, and there wasn't much put together. I was able to stay for the entire day to help organize everything. I enjoyed it because I got to see where everything belongs and how everything is set up and because I got to know Stephanie a little better. I'm lucky to work with such a great girl, and every hour I felt a little more at ease about the upcoming weeks.

It's been awhile since I've been in the education circle. I'm a little rusty, but my passion for teaching is slowly being dusted off, and my anxiety is being replaced by anticipation the more prepared I become. I'm totally OCD when it comes to planning, so hopefully I'll have everything ready to go once September 8th rolls around and I get to see all those beautiful faces in my room!

8.22.2009

Peace be still

This summer has been completely ridiculous, schedule wise. I didn't work much, but I managed to stay unbelievably busy. Here's the kicker....in 2 days, I start my new job at the preschool and begin to ACTUALLY work 5 days a week. My business is going to get a swift kick in the behind!

Yet here I sit, in the middle of my living room, enjoying the peace of a slow Saturday. All my babies (the hubs included) are napping and the only sound I hear is the white noise of our ceiling fan. I have a million things to do: major cleaning, laundry, home projects, getting things ready for school, etc....but instead, I think I'll enjoy the peace while it lasts. Ahhhh.....

It's the calm before the storm.

8.19.2009

Weight Loss Wednesday

Ah....welcome to my weight loss journey! I've been so motivated and busy, I haven't blogged about much since last Wednesday. But, let me catch you up.





I know this is it. I can feel it in my bones. I don't want to be skinny, I want to be healthy! I want to feel comfortable in my own skin. I've been working so hard this week....I've been at the gym EVERY DAY except Sunday (even God rested!). Let's first check in with the goals I set last week:

1. Drink more water.
Not only have I been drinking a ton more water every day, it's been the ONLY thing I've had to drink all week! =]

2. Do 200 sit ups/crunches a day.
I'm incredibly proud of myself here, because the first two days were tough....but I've done more than 200 a day (except Sunday, of course). This week, I've totaled 2,700 (if you're keeping track, that's a daily average of 385.71)!! =]

3. Eat smaller portions.
My entire life, I've been trained to finish my plate. This is a tough one, cause I don't really think about it til my meal is finished and I'm too full. However, I've been not only trying to eat less (starting by just putting less in front of me) but also eating slower and stopping when I start to feel full. =]

4. Break one sweat a day.
I can't believe how much I've sweat this week. Even Sunday, I broke a sweat doing major house cleaning. **I realize this is a little OCD, but it's really a motivational thing for me to know my week's total, so deal with it.** Here's the breakdown of what I've done:
2,700 sit ups/crunches
61.34 miles of biking
8 miles on foot
I've also done various arm exercises, and 1 hour of cardio kickboxing
=]

Drum roll please.....

WEIGH IN:

X* - 6lbs!!!

*X is my starting weight, which I'm still not ready to reveal....ha!

I've had highs and lows all week. I haven't had any trouble (YET) getting up and going to the gym, and I feel great after sweating like a disgusting pig. But it is so frustrating to work so hard and know that it's gonna take awhile to see the results I really want. (Don't you wish you could just get rid of it all with one great workout?!?)

Okay, some new goals this week:

1. Keep a health journal.
2. No eating after 9pm.
3. No buying anymore clothes til I lose at least 10lbs.
4. Cut my slurpee intake to once a week (In case you didn't know, slurpees are my downfall!)

WISH ME LUCK. See you next week!



8.14.2009

Life School Musical

I watched my precious children on stage for the first time ever tonight singing "I Love Bugs" during the Children's Musical @ church.

They did a fantastic job (all the kids, I mean...not just mine, though they were particularly cute to me!) I admit that I definitely teared up a few times during the show - I can be a blubbering idiot sometimes!

Hopefully, I'll get to post pictures and perhaps video soon.

8.13.2009

Weight Loss Wednesday

Okay, okay. I know it's Thursday, but hear me out.

Yesterday was a day I thought I would never let happen. I was getting dressed, struggling to put on otherwise cute clothes that used to fit. After I squeezed into them and got ready, I looked in the mirror....and started to cry.

The day came when I looked in the mirror and didn't recognize myself. It crept up on me, and suddenly someone else was looking back at me. A version of myself I did not like. How did this happen?!? It's hard to admit being at my heaviest weight and realizing it's completely my own doing. I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin. I was looking in the mirror at a BEFORE picture...

Well, I've had it. I've been in a place before where I wanted change, wanted health, wanted to feel comfortable in my body. I'd be great for awhile (last year, I lost 25 lbs....but gained it back plus some), but this time is different. While staring at my reflection (I think it was me, I was in there somewhere) I realized that I can't change on my own. I need accountability. I need to keep myself accountable and I need the encouragement of others, and their accountability. And I need the strength that only God can provide.

So, with the help of some inspirational friends, I'm dedicating Wednesdays to keeping myself accountable for a healthier life style, hopefully finding weight loss as a positive bonus. Let's begin with DAY 1 of my journey:

WEIGH IN:

*yeah right, like I'm going to tell you that! Maybe once I reach my goal, I'll tell you my starting weight! =]

I started at the gym yesterday, and biked 16.84 miles and did 400 sit ups!!! PHEW. Then, I finished my evening with 400 more!!! That's more than I've ever done in my lifetime, I'm fairly certain. But I don't want to crash and burn. I want to keep some reasonable goals for the week:

GOALS:
1. Drink more water
2. Do at least 200 sit ups/crunches a day
3. Eat smaller portions
4. Break one sweat a day

So far so good. I'll weigh in next week, but at least today I've kept it up with 400 more sit ups, 3 mile run and 4.5 mile bike. But I need the encouragement and I'm not afraid to ask for it. Please follow me on my journey....

...because, darn it, there will be an AFTER picture!


8.11.2009

Mission: Possible

I've been meaning to update my blog about this over a week ago, but life has been busy...

For those of you that don't know the story of my kitchen, here's the recap: In February I had a lovely flood in my kitchen. When the tore out the cupboards to dry everything out, they found that pretty much down the studs, the whole wall of the kitchen was rotted out. When the hubs decided he was going to do the work himself, I remember vividly saying "I just don't want to go without a kitchen for 6 months".....to which he replied "There's no way it would take that long."

We all know that God has a sense of humor....because last week marked 6 months exactly that I hadn't had a running sink or dishwasher in my kitchen! But, alas......MY KITCHEN IS FINALLY FUNCTIONAL!!!!!!!

Not everything is complete. We still need to trim the window and put up the rest of the back splash, but I don't even care because I no longer have to do dishes in my bathroom sink!!! I've actually caught myself several times last week walking toward the bathroom to drain something or take a dish, and then thought, "Oh right, I can be normal now!"

Anyway, here's the update picture of our kitchen:

Still has a little way to go....but it's coming around. The hubs has really done an incredible job, I'm so proud of him!

Now, I'll go load the dish washer before the nostalgia wears off....

8.07.2009

Birthday Bliss

If you had asked me a few months ago how old I was going to be this year, I would have really had to think about it...I'm not keeping track anymore, sometimes I really do forget how old I am!

But for record's sake, I turned 27 yesterday. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was able to celebrate with some sweet friends that have made this summer one of the best! Last Sunday, everyone came over to our place to celebrate with cake and ice cream and, of course, Rock Band! Then yesterday, Vicki and I had a combined birthday lunch (her birthday was last week) with our favorite mutual friends. We went to Red Coat Tavern in Royal Oak - if you've never been you HAVE go to for their burgers...AMAZing - and went to downtown Birmingham to see "Away We Go". It was a great afternoon. More praise team recording followed for Thursday evening, and then more Rock Band!

My celebrating is not done (gotta do it right!)...I am still looking forward to celebrating with my family on Sunday, and having a birthday date with the hubs on Sunday evening (to hopefully see G.I. Joe!!) But I'm trying to keep up with all the picture taking this week:

Me, Vicki, Dana, Teresa

The birthday girls - me and Vicki

Sarah, Kara, Kristen, Holly - sweet girls!

Me, Vicki, Teresa, Mindy


8.03.2009

St. Louis

I can't believe it's already been a week since we were driving home from St. Louis...and yet it feels like it was weeks ago! And I'm just now getting around to posting pictures! It's been a crazy, non-stop week!

Anyway...last Saturday, we set out on a 10 hour drive to St. Louis - The hubs, myself, and the Knutson's - to sing for a friend at a rally. Even though we only stayed one day and drove for two days, we still had a ton of fun! Tried some St. Louis pizza from Imo's (yummy), stopped for a group breakfast @ IHOP, and got a chance to visit the arch. I'll tell the rest of the story with pictures:


Gettin' our praise on @ Florissant Church of Christ + 300 kids = Awesome


Some of my best friends - my life would not be the same without them!


Visiting the arch with the hubs


Stoppin' in downtown St. Louis before heading home

There's still so much to write about this past week: Like recording, which has been tons of fun, late night run to Applebees with some awesome peeps, getting to see one of my best friends from Florida on Friday, having friends over last night for an early birthday celebration....so much has happened.

AND, I'm pretty much booked this week:

MONDAY
am: Catch-up day. Already paid bills, cleaned the house, finalized plans for the rest of the week, laundry, dishes, etc.
pm: PT practice @ the church

TUESDAY
am: lunch with a friend
pm: work

WEDNESDAY
am: possibly a combined birthday lunch with Vicki and our mutual friends, and a movie
pm: church

THURSDAY (aka My birthday)
am: birthday lunch (if wednesday doesn't work)
pm: PT recording

FRIDAY
am: Trip to the Zoo w/ our play group
pm: PT recording

SATURDAY
am: spend some time with the hubs. Take a deep breath.
pm: Work


Somewhere in there, I have to find time for a date with the hubs for my birthday so we can see the new G.I. Joe movie that's coming out!!! So much to do, so little time!

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