Zumba 3x!!! Yay for K!!!

I did great this week on my maintenance and my Zumba:) Woot!

The girls:)

Birthday girls!

Last night was a birthday celebration with my lifetime friends. They treated me to a pedicure and a wonderful dinner at The Olive Garden. It was a special night with a lot of laughs and friendship. I repeat this often, but we have been friends since we were 12! 43 years...pretty darned amazing. Unfortunately we never got around to taking a picture all together:(  I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and did not have any of the chocolate layer cake or apple crisp with ice cream. I did not want the sugar sickies again. It feels good to just say "no". I am a cheaper date than my friend who also celebrated her birthday. She had a dessert, a bottle of wine...and a mani / pedi! She's recently lost 16 lbs doing weight watchers. I am happy for her too. I really felt good about how I looked last night, last year I was in the early stages of my weight loss. I have repeated this often too....What a difference a year makes! I really feel like I am back in control and it feels good! I'm sure I will have my "screw ups", but I find it easy to jump back in. 

 

Now here's a picture of my "hip scarf" for Zumba. 

Zumba Zumba:) 

So, usually there are about 10 women out of 60 or so that are wearing the hip scarves. I just ordered them for my friend and I and was excited to try it out. I get it on, wait for my friend to get there, look around, my friend doesn't show, and NOT one other woman in the whole gym has one on:) Really? The day I decide to shake my booty with my new scarf and no one else, including the instructor wears one? I'm glad that I'm not afraid to be different! I have to say that it really does help with the booty shake and I intend to wear it each time now. My friend's son had a baby last night so she had a really wonderful reason to miss! 

I hope everyone has a wonderful joy filled weekend! I know I plan to!

Blessings and happy scales!

One day at a time....

Stressful evening so I forgot to weigh this morning. My Mother fell in her garage and landed squarely on her nose. That's actually the good news because she didn't really hit anywhere else. Her nose is broken, but no concussion or head injury. She had to spend the night here so I could wake her up every 2 hours to check her. She looks like someone really beat her up good. My brother wasn't available so she had to call me. I'm glad I could help, but there is so many elephants in the room, that is is odd to be with her. I don't know if I have said this before, but she is finally moving up close to the nursing home that my sister is in. It's a good thing. My mom has decided that everything that she does not want to take with her, she is selling at an estate sale, for pennies on the dollar. My painting was my gift to not question her. We won't be told when the estate sale is, just my brother. She would rather have pennies than give anything away. I pray that I am never like her. NEVER. If she didn't have lots of things that she acquired when my Dad was alive, it wouldn't bother me. It's the things that I remember from him, that makes me sick. Oh well...lessons to learn on how NOT to be.
Jeri had asked about upper arm exercises, so I found this link. Personally I think bicep curls are amazing tools and repetition vs heavy weight. The tricep exercise on here is great too. If you don't have weights, use soup cans:)
http://www.livestrong.com/article/411601-the-best-arm-exercises-for-women-at-home/

Bedroom and Kitty

Here's a pic of our bedroom. The colors don't really show, but it is a light gray with a darker gray on the headboard wall. My "always kiss me good night" sign wasn't up yet here either.

Our trees are blooming and they are so beautiful. Last year a storm came through right when they bloomed and blew all the blossoms away. I forgot how gorgeous they look. Our tree almost blew over 2 years ago and my husband won't take the stakes out:( We actually had my daughters Honda CRV parked in the yard with a tow rope holding the tree up until the landscapers could get here! It was a wild time and a fun memory.
BFC wise, a yummy dinner....scrambled eggs with spinach/tomato/turkey and monterey jack cheese. I was never a cheese fan until I found monterey jack...I should just not buy it! I certainly don't need the extra calories. I have had a headache off and on since my sugar overload. I am starting to think I am detoxing again. Crap! What a stupid mistake and one I won't repeat soon.
It's official, my daughter is preggars! She is due the end of October. The baby had a strong and fast heart rate today. She is about 12 weeks, so I am really hoping we are past the bad times. Woot!
Blessings and happy scales....

Happy Saturday:)

"Don't trade what you want the most for what you want at the moment."

I really liked that quote from Minichick. It really is good advice! If we are blogging about weight loss, I am assuming that all of us want a healthy body weight the "most". Therefore, STEP AWAY FROM THE COOKIE!!! What tastes good at this moment, will not feel good tomorrow! 

I can happily say that I am back on track with my BFC. I am more in maintenance mode than weight loss mode, but it is working. I feel a lot better than I did this time last weekend! I went to Zumba 3x last week...yay...I moved around furniture in my daughters old room so I can actually work out in there....the best laid plans:) We will see if I actually do it. Wish me luck:) Or kick my butt...either is OK! 

We had a beautiful day today and it reminds me why I want to wear t-shirts comfortably and sleeveless shirts...oh my!!! It's time to do a few exercises for the old arms! Tomorrow is supposed to be really nice so I am hoping to get some sun. I always feel better with a little color on my skin. 

Our house is back together and it looks amazing. Our baseboards are all white and when our floors were refinished a couple of years ago because of water damage, they got stain on the baseboards. After having them come back 3x to fix other issues we finally just said....don't ever come back!!! Having them bright white again is refreshing. I really believe we got our monies worth and that feels good too. My husband has really liked what they have done and has started talking about several other things. I'm just glad that he is in the update mode. Maybe the fact that he is actually around all the time and notices changes is a good thing. I really hope if he gets another job it is a non travel job. I really like having him home with me. He is still selling his collectible cars on ebay and loving it! Good for him:) 

Thanks for reading my ramblings:) I hope everyone has an awesome weekend! 

Blessings, K

Day 3 and still at it:)

Here's pics of the changes in our house! I am so excited. Each thing that is finished makes it a little more special. The lighting has made a huge difference and for  not that much money. We did not have the luxury of ordering matching things, so we spent a lot of time trying to find similar things. The one light going up the stairs is really different, but my husband loved it. It turned out cool. I love, love, love the paint colors. Our bedroom is still not back together. Night 3 of sleeping in my son's room. I am still really liking the sheets! 

scaffolding

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BFC update: I did go to Zumba and loved it. We are doing a new song that is a tango. Funny!!! My friend that is joining me lately has twin's too. She has 2 girls that are freshman at WSU. One of the girls tried out for cheerleader last weekend and did not make it. I don't know who is taking it harder, my friend or her daughter. I have been there with my kids before, so my heart feels for her. All I keep telling her is how much money they will save! She said that she needed me to snap her out of it (sadness) so I pretended to slap her face:) Aren't I a nice friend?:)

Food wise I am doing good. We had pizza hut tonight, but I basically pile all the toppings on 11/2 pieces. We also added hot wings...yum! I did have eggs for lunch with spinach in them, that was healthy:) 

One last picture of the most exciting part of the remodel for me....the granite and back splash!

The granite has lots of pockets of quartz and bits of mica. The cream tile has little sparkles in it to match the sparkles on the accent tile. So exciting, but I am sure it will be very messy!
Blessings and happy scales...and thanks for reading my blog:) 

Day 2 and I have journaled:)

OK, I like to eat the same things over and over, so I am weird! But....according to myfitnesspal I was close to goal both days. I have really needed to get some fiber back in my diet and the Healthful muffins do that. I started taking a probiotic after my peanut fiasco, I'm not sure they are really doing a lot yet.
I made a ham on Sunday and then Potato soup on Monday. I ate it for dinner and then breakfast, lunch and dinner today! I told you, I am weird! The only reason I went over in sugar today is because I had a cutie orange. I need to get some berries again. I personally don't think the cutie orange will kill  me, because there are some health benefits in there too.
Our house continues to get it's makeover:) Our room is painted, but the carpet needed stretched, so the room is still torn apart. We slept in my son's old room last night. The bed was quite comfortable and it had flannel sheets on it, which I loved. I did not have a hot flash all night in the flannel sheets??? My husband hated them though so I guess we won't be getting any for our bed.
I have to say that I am really getting TIRED of having someone working in the house every day. The painter gal is really sweet, but I like to go potty with the door open etc, cramps my style. The builder guy pops in right when I am gassy....I know TMI.... but I am used to an empty house. It will be worth it in the end, but today I found it annoying. I am mean:(
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/16/quadruple-amputee-to-undergo-surgery-after-afghanistan-blast/
This is my daughter and son in law's good friend. Prayers would be awesome. They have quite the battle in front of them. Since my son in law is an infantry officer, it has really opened up a conversation of what could be. Hopefully he is another year away from being deployed anywhere. Hopefully....he's mad right now and would volunteer to go tomorrow. These men and women who protect and serve our Country are pretty darned amazing!
Blessings and happy scales:)

I am doing AMAZING so far!!!

Today is my day to start my food journaling again. I have done AMAZING so far! It is 7:30 in the morning:) Let's go ladies...it's going to be Summer soon and we all want to be our best.
Zumba, Zumba!!!
136.4 today....my low was 132.9....Yikes....and yes it does make a difference in my clothes:( 3.5 lbs of butter slathered across my body:(
I don't plan to really change "what I eat", just go back to the good things that I eat, and less of the bad things that I eat. The only thing that I have truly given up is sugar....and sugar is POISON!!!
Oh...one more quick note...I made chocolate chip cookies with my new food processor for my hubby. It took like 30 seconds. He LOVES them. Pretty darn exciting because now he won't complain that I bought something I will never use:) The recipe is on my pinterest for anyone that is interested!
Go Monday!!! GO FIGHT WIN Monday:)
Breakfast will be a Healthful english muffin with PB and Nature's Hollow. It works well for me when I Zumba:)

Dreams do come true:) Never stop believing!!!

Poison!!!

First off a BFC story in case anyone wants to quit reading early! I POISONED myself yesterday. Hubby and I went to Panda Express because he is always bugging me to go there and the only things I like are high in sugar. Well, we went, I ate my favorites. We then went to Cold Stone and got ice cream because we had a 15.00 gift card. I had this:

I felt fine until about 1:00 today. OMG, head pounding, shakes, nausea. I had to go to bed. Seriously was so sick. I haven't even really craved ice cream. I still have a Clemmy O that has been in the freezer forever and some Clemmy's ice cream. I truly have learned a lesson. TOO much sugar is very, very, very bad. I needed the reminder!

Beyond Autumn Gate

Now to "dreams coming true". If you have read my blogs, or haven't, my Mom and I have not had a relationship for over 18 months. Recently she told me to just "remember" what she used to be like. Then today she brings me this:
I sold her this piece of art in 1994. It is one of Thomas Kinkade's most sought after and collectible pieces. CRAZY right? She said when I sold it to her, I asked her if she would leave it to me someday. She is moving to a smaller place and decided to give it to me now? Heart swells:) She does really love me!

Secondly...I was a single mom for many years. I had 4 kids and I made about 12,000 a year on my good years. I drove a Renault when all of my friends had mini vans. It is NOT about "stuff", it is about dreaming and believing. I always knew that if I never gave up and truly believed, that someday, I would live differently. Jeremiah 29:11-13....I knew that there was a "normal" for me. 13 1/2 years ago, in the Thomas Kinkade Gallery, that "normal" found me. My husband walked in the store and we have been together since. He is an amazing man, and a constant reminder that God loves me....He gave me my hubby:) Anyway....when you are in a position like I was, poor, with mostly rich friends, you dream of what you may have someday. It feels good for someday to be here. This may not make a ton of sense, but I have always wanted granite counter tops, and not just any granite, to die for granite. We are getting granite counter tops:) And the builder really listened when I told him what I wanted and the back splash tile he picked was perfect. Just perfect:) I am so excited. We haven't done any updating in our home in the nearly 12 years that we have lived here. Now we have new paint, a new kitchen coming, and a new powder room. (which I use every hour on the hour I swear) New lighting through out the house, new paint etc. I'm in OMG thankfulness overload.

Now here's my dining room, the paintings aren't back up yet because the walls were just finished today. The Living Room has gross furniture, but we are never in there, so we got the furniture for our family room instead.  The walls were white, every where...white.

New living room wall color.

And the minimal mess they leave:)

I know that this may not make sense to some people, may make some think I am materialistic, I am NOT. I am THANKFUL for a life, at times, I can't believe I deserve.

And to top it off....my daughter and I made it 50 minutes for lunch and had a nice conversation:) Woot!!!
We get to sleep in tomorrow because the painters are taking the day off. It will be nice to dream happy dreams:)
Thank you for listening once again to my ramblings....Kay's  "kayotic" life isn't so chaotic right now!
Blessings and happy scales.