New house!

Its official - we closed on the house Thursday afternoon.  We're now first time home debtors!

I'm excited but its a little daunting - there is quite a bit of work to be done.  Jay has some repairs to take care of (some he's fixing himself, some he is contracting out) before I can roll up my sleeves and get to work.  As you can imagine, there is a ton of cleaning for me to do, since the house has been vacant for several months. 

So for those of you Saturday bloggers out there I've got a question for you.  Right now the duct work on the HVAC unit isn't connected, which means some (a lot) of the heat is going into the crawl space instead of the house.  That also means that dirt from the crawl is being blown into the house.

So what order should I do things in?  Jay seems to think I should clean first, so when the ducts are replaced, we don't get the brand new ones dirty.

I think that its pointless to clean until the ducts are replaced - its just gonna get dirty again any way.

There is still plenty for me to do, I just can't seem to drag myself out of bed this morning to start packing/cleaning.

Rethinking 2010

So why am I posting the Monday project on Friday?  Cause that's the way I roll yo.

Or else that's just the way it works.  The project is assigned on Monday and we have all week to work on it.  Its some pretty deep stuff this week, but internal inspection usually is.

What about 2009 (and beyond) did not work?
Eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted didn’t work. Cheat days didn’t work. Weekend breaks didn’t work. 1200 calories a day didn’t work.



What were my goals?
I wanted to lose 13 pounds and get back down to 125 pounds. I wanted to run an entire 5K, then later in the year a half marathon. Mostly, though, I wanted to lose weight in my bottom half to even out my out of proportion body .


Did I fall short of achieving them? If so, why?
I met all of my running goals and got down to 125. I’m still not content with my top half being two sizes smaller than my bottom half, but I’m starting to learn that no matter how much weight I’m going to lose I’m always going to be a little out of proportion.  Still a work in progress though.


What were my biggest obstacles?
Getting the appropriate number of calories down was a huge obstacle. For the longest time I bounced around in the 138-134# range. Four pounds wasn’t a big enough difference in my book to warrant all the calorie counting and exercising. Once I found my calorie goal should be much higher than what I was actually eating, the weight came off easily.  (Thanks April!)


What was my “rock bottom” moment?
I didn’t really have a rock bottom moment to begin with; I just got sick of people telling me that I was going to gain weight because I was married. I can’t stand when people make those kinds of assumptions, so I set out to prove them wrong!  I guess rock bottom for me was getting almost to the point of quitting.  Without some of my Sisters helping me up, I probably would have quit


What are my bad habits?
My Dr. Pepper and fast food addiction. The only way I can resist is to stay far away and keep myself too busy at lunch to run out for a quick bite of heart attack in a sack.  Apathy is also a big obstacle for me.


What has worked?
Being strict with myself. I’m a by the books kind of person, so I actually enjoy when I’m able to have a strong discipline/will power. Having a training plan in my calendar keeps me on focus working out. I writing my calories in red in my calendar also keeps me honest. During the best times of weight loss I’d average my calories for the first 5 days of the week to see what I had left for days 6 and 7.

I hunted around for some good before and after pictures, and I really couldn't find any.  I settled on race pictures.  The first is a picture of my first ever race.  Can you see it in my eyes?  The nervous anticipation - would I be able to run all 3.1 miles without stopping?  Would I be the very last to finish? 

Then there is the picture that was taken of me a couple weeks before my half marathon.  I was down 10 pounds - and had just completed a 10 mile hilly run when this picture was taken.  Maybe I have my chubby glasses still on, but I can't really tell much of a difference between the two pictures, physically at least.  Emotionally I've changed drastically since then.  Who would have ever guess I would be that happy after the most difficult run of my life?

Just to add as a PS - I wanna brag on myself for how dramatically my tastes have changed.  Yesterday I was discouraged at my weight and decided to just have what I wanted for breakfast - two eggo (okay so they were Kroger brand) waffles and kyro syrup.  I had purchased the waffles for another purpose but I just dove in yesterday.

And they weren't that good.

This morning I had one waffle, added a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of peanut butter and enjoyed every bite. 

I love it when good for me (or at least kinda good for me) stuff tastes better than complete crap!!

Christmas Adventures - the Pineapple Pile of Crap Cake

Since graduating college, I've always contributed in some way to family dinners.  I started as the two liter drink girl, then graduated to the mac & cheese girl.  This year I wanted to contribute more, so when my mom gave me my list to bring for Christmas brunch, I was a disappointed and offended.

I was intructed to bring a dozen eggs and a container of juice.  Not scrambled eggs.  Not fried eggs.  A dozen raw eggs.  To be cooked by someone else upon my arrival.  I had a coupon decided to at least say I made something, so I went for the juice from concentrate rather than just grabbing a jug at the store.

Everything I offered to bring in addition to those things were shot down.  Cranberry scones?  Over kill considering we'd be having biscuits and french toast.  Breakfast casserole?  Nope, we're having scrambled eggs and three kinds of pig pork.

So when my sister started planning her Christmas dinner meal, I immediately saw that this was my opportunity to step up to the plate.  As we exchanged emails discussing non-traditional items that would be super yum for the dinner. 

Ham...what goes good with ham?  Pineapple.  Ooh, I'll make a pineapple upside down cake!

Please keep in mind that I've never made one before.  And my last attempted at holiday baking ended with kitchen fire.

My sister knew I was wanting to make somethink like every other adult in our family so she put me down for cake.  Her apple pie is tradition every year, so she would be making that too just in case my cake was an epic fail.  Which is was.

I made the cake Christmas Eve, because the receipe said it was always better the next day.  I wanted to do the step by step picture thing that a lot of you do on your blogs.  I think it looks cook and at the very least I could get a blog out the experience right? 

I searched high and low for Jay's camera.  Even went outside in my jammies in the cold to look in his work vehicle, but still couldn't find it. Little did I know...

My first moment of panic came when I noticed the receipe called for All Purpose flour.  I buy self rising, but had a little left after the cookie incident.  (The cookie  receipe just called for "flour" and I used AP instead of self rising.)

Thankfully I did have 2 cups of AP flour that the receipe called for - but just barely!  Then it came time to mix up the pineapples and the brown sugar glaze.  I had a can of pineapple chunks - the recipe called for crushed.

I updated my facebook status as I fumbled around baking the cake and a friend of mine  (Laureen) suggested I just crush the pineapple - by telling it that it would never amount to anything.

As I was mixing the cake batter - I had a real oh $%&* moment.  My hand mixer just stopped working.  I know that mixing and stirring by hand aren't the same, but at the time I didn't see that I had much of a choice so I tossed the mixer and got on with things.

It seemed to mix okay, so I poured it over the pineapples and left it to bake for 40 minutes.  In the mean time I took care of all the dishes I had dirtied in the process.

Look at the picture again.  Is there anything you notice that seems odd to you?

That's right - I own a stand mixer.  Something that complete escaped me as I was panicing about the dead hand mixer.  My in-laws had a renter to leave it behind in a home they own.  Since she already had one, she cleaned it up and gave it to me a few months before Jay and I got married.  Since I'm not really a chef/baker, I don't use it enough to remember that it exist. 

Although I do have to pick it up every time I wipe down the counter. 

Just in case you didn't notice, I found the camera.  Right under my nose - just like the stand mixer.

Okay so back to the cake.  It finally finished baking and I let it cool as directed before I turned it out.  That's when it all fell apart.

Quite literally.

I let my sister know that it looked like a pile of crap and I wouldn't be bringing it for Christmas dinner, but Pollyanna would have none of my straight to the garbage can talk.  "I'm sure it tastes great, even if it doesn't look good.  At the very least bring it so we can all have a good laugh."

So I took it.

And no one ate it for dinner.  My niece did make herself a bowl for a late night snack (she's very self sufficiant for a 5 year old) and ate every drop.  Then again she thinks her Aunt Boo is the best ever, so I'm sure it had nothing to do with the actual cake.

My sister's neighbor stopped by for a few minutes and had a piece, but I'm pretty she was just curious after reading all of those facebook updates.

When it came time to come home - I divided it between my sister's family and my parents.

Jay and I never had a bite.

Weigh-in Wednesday - Refocus

I was out of town, and didn't get a blog up for the Thursday's 3 homework - so here are my goals/rewards for the upcoming challenge:


1. Get down to 124 (lose 4 pounds) lowest weight on record 
I'm sure I was skinnier in high school/college, but i never weighed.
2. Bicep curl 15 lbs – 3 sets of 8 right now the 3rd set is killer!
I did it this morning, but my form sucked.  So I'm going to hold out on rewarding myself till my form improves.
3. Post a PR at my next 5K (33:58 or less, preferably 32)
The race is coming up next Saturday (the 16th).


My rewards for meeting my goals:


1. New pair of Gap size 4 trousers
2. Weight lifting gloves
3. Long sleeve wicking top


Reward for meeting all 3:


30 minute back rub from my darling love 
He offered because he wasn't thrilled that the other rewards cost money, but how am I supposed to give myself a reward that doesn't cost money?  Rub my own feet one evening?


Yesterday, I had my wellness assessment at work and wasn't thrilled with the results.  My last assessment was in the beginning of October, and since then I've gained 3 pounds.  My body fat percentage stayed the same, (great that it didn't go up with my weight gain) but I was hoping for it to go down a hair.  I'm sitting at 22%, which is right on the low end of "average".  21% would put me in the "lean" catagory. 


We're not going to talk about the push ups - that was an epic fail.  I'm retesting myself this weekend because I'm sure there had to be outside factors that made me do so badly.  Maybe.  Hopefully.


Okay...now the numbers that you've been waiting for!


starting weight: 128
goal for this challenge: 124
today's weight: 129

I have to admit I'm a little surprised.  I was expecting to maintain, not gain.  But in reality I only had two days of tracking what I eat and two days of exercise.  The rest was (mostly) out of my hands.  I will do better next week.  I have to do better next week!

I'm really trying not to be bummed out.  After Monday's lifting and elliptical, yesterday's run, and today's lifting and running intervals, I'm back on track.

Right?

Right?

*sniffle*


Edited to add - When I opened my music for this morning Third Day's I will hold my head high was the first song cued up...interesting no?

Okay enough of that...now its time to head over to the Sisterhood and see how your first week of rethinking went!

True Confessions Tuesday

• I spent the weekend with the in-laws and ate like crap the entire time.
• Most of the crap I didn't enjoy.
• For once I wish I had some rum & diet coke instead of chocolate rum cake
• I wanted to go for a run, but had been too busy packing snow gear I didn't.  (And it never snowed).
• I love those All Bran fiber drink mixes and had one yesterday...
• As a result I was the "phantom pharter" on the elliptical last night.
• I snooped and watched the girl beside me enter her weight...
• And was surprised that it was 125.  Without knowing that I would have told you that I wish I was as small as her.  I guess I have to rephrase that I wish my 125 was distributed like that.
• After my two workouts yesterday (weights & the elliptical) I was all pumped up for more.  Sorta disappointed that today is "just" a run day.  I might do my 10 minute ab tape to suppliment tonight when I get home from work.
• I had an extra cheddar biscuit last night that wasn't within my calorie allotment.  But it was good and I didn't care.
• I finally feel like I'm back on track with no obstacles ahead.  I refuse to let moving be an obstacle - if anything it'll be a great extra calorie burn.

What do you have to confess?  Head over to the Sisterhood to see that you're not alone!!

Wild?, Wonderful?, West Virginia

I took Thursday off so that Jay and I could head up to West Virginia to visit his family.  His parents live in Ohio, but all of his mom's family live in northern West Virginia - right on the river that borders Ohio.

The weather had been calling for snow, and we were expecting 20 inches in some part of our travels.  I got excited because we rarely see snow around here - I borrowed my mom's ski suit.  It hadn't been worn in a decade, but it was either that or borrow a pair of Carhart overalls from Jay.  My fear was that the overalls would either fit me perfectly or be too small for the thunder thighs.  Remind me again why I married a skinny boy?

We would be there 4 days and 3 nights, and I ended up packing in the same bag I took on our week long trip to California.  I had a wicking base later for every day, a long sleeved t-shirt, a sweat shirt/fleece, and then a shirt to change into after all the snow playing fun.

I was glad that we were able to get a jump start on the snow and didn't have to drive through a storm.  When we arrived at our destination it still wasn't snowing.

Jay's parents were already at Papa's house (pronounced Paw-Paw) when Jay and I got there.  Papa is in his 80s and insists on living at home by himself, even though he's not in the best of health.  Jay swears that he's in better shape than I give him credit - I swear Jay fools himself into thinking his Papa is in better shape then he really is.

Either way, visiting old people is hard. He won't wear his hearing aid and so conversation has to be made at a yelling voice.  Which means when speaking to him it never goes beyond one or two sentences.  

Between stories of his time as a POW in WWII, we're pretty much left to entertain ourselves.  Jay's mom is a great cook, who loves serving people, so she takes care of the food while we're there.

Can you imagine your life without responsiblities, obligations, or chores? 

Don't beat me, but its not as wonderful as you would think.  This WV town is tiny, so there isn't anything really to do.  The TV stays on Fox News or ESPN the entire time we're there. 

I was excited thinking this trip I'd be able to get outside for a few hours each day and play in the snow.  Only the 10 inches of snow never arrived.  We never got more of a dusting of snow and it certainly wasn't enough to play in.  Needless to say I was disappointed.

Books were my backup plan. And magazines.  This trip I read 4 magazines, 3 books - and started my 4th.  All in within a 4 day time span.

Jay teases me that I don't like his family - but that's really not it.  His parents try their best to make me feel at home.  I actually told Jay I'm not sure if its his dad or me or both, but when we start chatting about something our conversations last forever!

One morning Jay said "Isn't it nice how people are quiet and you can sleep as late as you want?" 

Immediately on the defensive I told him that I tried to be quiet at the house getting ready in the mornings.  He assured me that by closing off all the doors I was very considerate.

So he means my family - and he's right - when we visit my sister no one gets to sleep in.  The little man is awake by 5:30 and playing with his roaring dinosaur toys.

Have you ever stopped to wonder what your family is like to your spouse?  What crazy inlaw stories he has to share with his family/friends/blog?

I started thinking about my family and wondered what about visiting them keeps me more entertained than in WV?

There, of course, is the obvious.  With an 18 month old and a 5 year old there is never a dull moment.  But what were we like before the kids?

If you haven't notices already I'm a little scatterbrained this morning - jumping from here to there.  So I'll shut up now and leave you with a few questions.

What do you do for entertainment when visiting family/inlaws?

For my diet concious friends - how do you cope when you're eating habits are completely different than those you are visiting?

Hope everyone has a great time ringing in the New Year!

Christmas Day - Part 2

I lured Jay out of bed with the promise of breakfast – corn pops and reheated wassail made by my mother. We had to get our Christmas morning rolling if we were going to make it to my grandmother’s by 11 for brunch.












We had set a $50 limit on gifts ($10 for stockings) and we both had a challenge staying within the limit. Realistically, that only gets you two gifts, so we got creative. I had purchased Jay a book he’d asked for and a pair of binoculars. While I was shopping with some friends of mine for an under privileged family, I found a pair of pants on sale dirt cheap (under $10) at Old Navy.









As I said before, Jay desperately needs non-old man pants, so I went ahead and got them even though I was over the limit. I would have bought them if it was April and there wasn’t a holiday. I figured this way he’d have something extra on the tree.









For my “free” gift – I printed out 10 business sized coupons and wrapped them. Some of them are romantic – like a trip to Big Rock (a romantic secluded river overlook in the National Park). Some are more fun – like the pioneer date (where we have to go the entire night not using electricity). The rest are just chore type things that let him off the hook.









I had already found my SPI belt (small personal items belt – for running) when I got the mail the day it arrived. My other two gifts from Jay were a gorgeous wooden recipe box and probably about 30 pressed pennies. I collect them on vacation because they are a cheap/easy to store way of bringing a memory home with me. He had taken and entire Saturday afternoon going up and down the streets of Pigeon Forge getting me pressed pennies.









I also had a note under the tree telling me to go into the garage and look at my table. My sewing table was a project he’d started last year – I had purchased it at the Salvation Army for $20. It was covered in ugly paint and chewing gum. Unfortunately, I don’t have any before pictures – but he striped it down completely, found a beautiful wood inlay, and refinished it. I’ve already got a spot picked out for it in the farm house.









“Test the handle to make sure I’ve got it back on right.”









I pulled on the drawer and found a couple pieces of paper clipped together.









101 Things I love about Brooke Middle Maiden Last.









He’d stayed up on Christmas Eve compiling the list. He’d only made it to #50, but I had a note promising me that he’d observe me for the next year and would give me the rest of the list for Christmas 2010. By the end of the morning he’d already hand written in numbers 51- 54.









After checking our stockings, we decide to make an agreement for future Christmases. We’d spent less than $100 on each other – and had a wonderful morning. We decided that hence forward we will have a $100 or less limit (stockings included) on one another. Subject to change due to inflation. We also decided to keep the one free gift idea.

Then it was on to my grandparent’s house for brunch. This was our first year not having a big lunch, and it took a load off my grandmother. As my grandparents age (he’s 77, she’s 74) our traditions are changing. It makes me sad, but I understand why it has to happen that way.

My sister had decided that she wanted her kids to spend Christmas at their house all day – and not e dragged away before they’d had a chance to enjoy themselves. So after brunch, my parents, Jay & I headed north towards my sister’s house. She lives about 2 hours away, and while we normally car pool, Jay had to work the day after Christmas so we drove separately.


My niece loves me and never has a problem letting everyone know. Whenever she sees me she takes off running toward me and jumps in my arms. My nephew is a different story. He likes my mom & dad better than me, and sometimes he likes Jay better than me. So it was wonderful to see him on the stairs dancing with happiness when he saw me round the corner.


We did presents first, and my niece (who’s 5) wanted everyone to open their gifts from her first. For the past few years, she’s had her mom take her to the dollar tree and pick out gifts for everyone. Adding her name to the gift tag from her parents just isn’t good enough.


This year Jay and I each received a Christmas coffee mug as well as dream catchers. My sister had given me a IPod Shuffle before my half marathon as an early Christmas gift, but she went ahead and got me another gift to open. (She officially went over the $15 gift limit.)


I got a cute pair of leggings and a soft white undershirt from them. Jay got a new pair of corduroy pants and a pair of flannel pj pants.


Then it was time for dinner.


No one touched my pineapple looks like crap cake.


Of course I don’t blame them – my sister made a gorgeous apple pie.


I had forgotten that mac & cheese was on my list until right before dinner was served. I had left the box out in my car (Shells & Cheese thank you very much) and offered to go out and get it. Since there was an abundance of other food, they said that mac & cheese wasn’t necessary.


After dinner we had some wine and played with the Princess and Little Man’s new WII. My alcohol fueled bowling streak continued - I got 5 strikes in a row. My WII bowling score was 211.


I was sad when Jay had to go home the next morning (after we bought out Target getting Christmas decorations for the farm house), but I stayed behind because the princess was the half time show at a basketball tourney the night of the 26th.


I only wish I could post pictures of the dance – she was a natural!


By now I’ve probably read about most of your Christmases on your blogs – I hope it was as wonderful and bless as mine was!