saggy pants

my pants are sagging.  and it looks bad.  and i hate to buy more, just to get rid of them soon...but it's necessary.

so i went to savers (a local thrift store) to pick up a pair of jeans that fit.  i wasn't really sure what size to try on, so grabbed a few. 

TWO SIZES SMALLER THAN I WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR!

(and i could button up an even smaller size - but not wear them and breath comfortably at the same time!)

it feels good.  really good.  (but if you see me wearing the same pants time and time again...just know that i launder them frequently!)

10 lbs gone in the last six weeks, and i plan to do 10 more in the next six weeks.  :)

and oh...if your birthday is today, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! i hope you are celebrating a little extra this year :)

my first quilt

fabric

sewing machine

ribbon

fluffy insert

scissors

give or take 12 hours

=

 

QUILT/Duvet Cover

my friend is an avid quilter.  she may have gotten me hooked on yet another crafting ability.  i wouldn't say it is my absolute favorite project - at least not yet (probably because i am not an expert with the sewing machine!), but i LOVE the results.

i had full intentions of making my first quilt for my bed.  i was going to get it professionally quilted after i finished piecing it together, but then had another idea.  i have always wants a fluffy, soft, comfortable bed.  the kind you don't want to get out of in the morning, the kind you sink in to and is perfect for cuddling.  

yeah, doesn't that sound amazing!

we wanted that.  and for some reason, having a thin heavy quilt didn't fit bill.  so i decided just add a back to the quilt and make it a duvet cover instead.  

i bought layer cakes (pre-picked fabrics) so i can't take credit for the amazing color and fabric combinations, but aren't they neat.  so perfect for john and i and they fit right into our bedroom decor.  for the back of the duvet i decided to use a sheet instead of buying 9 yards of fabric.  it was cost effective and i got two pillow cases and an extra fitted sheet out of the purchase.  plus, it's reversible and easily washable!  and i bought the insert for $24 at ikea!

 

[i made a pillow out of the extra squares]

[pumpkin loves it!  see how plush and comfy it looks]

[instead of buying just a plain sheet, i found this one at target that has the perfect design to blend into the theme on the front of quilt.  i used cute ribbon to tie the duvet closed along the shorter side.]

it brightens up our room and matches our large picture too!  and one day, it will look even better when we get a bed frame :)

cake and steak

a little advertising...

my sister is the cake decorator at the smith's on 12th street.  she does a fantastic job!  this cake was for my dad's birthday (my dad is an avid golfer, if you didn't guess). :)

on another note...

our friends bought beef.  a LOT of beef.  (i can't remember if it was half a cow or the whole thing) they offered us a share.  we didn't take much, but i'm so glad we bought the variety we did - it is delicious!

yesterday we grilled up the t-bones.  they were huge, juicy, tender and SOOO good.  my weight watcher conscious self only ate half last night, so i get to have the other half for dinner tonight. yum!

and another topic...

i read a friends post on weight loss today.  she put into words everything i was feeling before i began really trying to lose weight at the beginning of this year.  it can be hard to put emotions into words, especially those you dislike or completely deny or even feelings you don't realise you had until you look back.  denial that you are as overweight as you really are, digust that you would let it get that far, sadness for the image that is being protrayed, fear for the road ahead and pure lack of motivation to change.  i'm thankful that my eyes have been opened and i'm on the road to being fit and healthy.  excited for the friends and family that are on that road with me.  we all need all the support and encouragement we can get!

i keep reminding myself that it is one choice at a time, one day at a time.  it will not happen overnight.  but time goes by so fast that i will be where i want to be before i know it!  it is hard to say no, quite honestly, it sucks to turn down a cookie or a second helping of delicious food.  but that one decision will be totally worth it when i stand on the scale on friday.  and days like today, when i can't resist the peanut butter cups, it's okay, as long as it's just a treat and my next choice is better ;)

storage and things

i've been poking around with a new look for the blog for a couple days now, not quite getting the look i wanted.  so i decided to keep it simple and just create my own header.  i'm very pleased with it!

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happy president's day!  hope we get a better one soon :)  john and i spent the day together.  ran a few errands and began collecting for our very own food storage.  we live in a state that has multiple resources for mass storage, built in home cold cellars and a section in most grocery stores of bulk or freeze dried items.  john and i have never really taken advantage of this, our home does not have a large cement room to store hefty quantities of food, but we decided we should be better prepared just in case something (any number of things) happens to go wrong.  we have total faith that the Lord will provide if there is ever a natural or economic disaster - but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be smart with the resources we have and be ready to provide for our family if need be.  so in our little space under the stairs, buckets of rice and oats and many more things are starting to stack.  cool!

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i have discovered 'words with friends'.  slightly addicting.

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john and i sat in on a youth sunday school class that is studying biblical womanhood and manhood.  we were asked to come, as a young married couple, to chime in and answer questions and such.  it was good.  convicting.  always a little comical to see what the Lord has to teach me over and over.  it was so neat to see these kids be excited and knowledgeable about God's will for our lives.  looking forward to another week!

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weight watchers has been hard.  bad week last week.  hopefully a better one to come :)

my valentine

the Lord has blessed me with this man.  a man whom i am still discovering new things about everyday.  a man who is complex, full of ideas and dreams. a man who surprises me at most turns and never ceases to care for me.  i am blown away at the goodness of my God to give me such a man.  

so, on valentine's day, a day to celebrate the gift of love, we did just that. 

 

i secretly planned a delicious dinner and dessert, lit lots of candles, we exchanged gifts, played a game, laughed, talked and well... ;)

it was the most celebrated valentine's we have probably had and will have for the next few years to come.  we enjoyed every minute of it! 

sadly, you can't see the amazing mint oreo truffles i made!

warning:  if you want to smell desirable for a special occasion, grilling is probably not the way to go about it :)

i made the shrimp and spinach salad from applebee's.  it was pretty good.

 

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weight watching

i joined weight watchers three weeks ago today.  i really started trying to lose weight last april...well, really, sort of.  exercising and eating better.  there was some success.  6 lbs.  but that was off by june and then nothing the rest of the year.  i know i could do it on my own, but i needed a bit of motivation and a LOT of accountability. 

and there is nothing more accountable than standing in front of someone, wearing the lightest clothes possible, waiting while they report to you your progress for the week. and the meetings/motivation sessions are good too.

so far...it has been great!  i have lost 7.6 lbs!!  in three weeks!!  it feels great to be going in the right direction.  pants are starting to feel loose and i can begin to see a new me in the mirror.  i'm looking forward to the day when i need to buy new clothes because i look like a bum in my baggy ones!

here's to a skinnier, healthier me!  32.4 more lbs to go until i'm where i want to be :)

february already

february!  can't believe we are already in the second month of the year.

john had an interview last week with another position working for the state. it would be good.  like AWESOME good.  we are praying and waiting to hear...

he also has been sick for the last couple days, so between not feeling well and anticipating 'the call' there has been a lot of moaning and groaning within these walls!

i, on the other hand, am taking full advantage of my new working schedule.  [monday, tuesday, thursday]  for a while there i was all over the place, totally wasting my days off and still having to do all the chores on the weekend instead of getting to enjoy the time with john.  but now i've got it down! 

wednesday is my house day.  cleaning, laundry, meal planning, grocery shopping and errands.  friday is my play day.  [play=pretty much anything I feel like doing!]  i feel so much more productive and on top of things and my mind is free to enjoy my weekend.  i can pour myself out creatively and not have to worry about vacuuming and laundry! i know it's not an ingenious plan or anything, but i'm lovin' it :)

a few things that make me feel great and de-stress my week:

• zumba (no matter what! unless i'm sick or have something planned.)
• plan meals for the week
• take a little time to read
• listening to my audio daily Bible reading - a whole new experience
• fresh air
• walking the dog

btw...weight watchers is going great!  can't wait to weigh in tomorrow :)  progress to be announced...