Let the Countdown Begin...

So the other night I couldn’t sleep so I parked myself in front of the computer and started perusing my favorite crafting blogs…from which I clicked through to a bunch of other blogs…

BIG MISTAKE

Now I MUST have chalkboard paint – I saw so many cute things that were done using chalkboard paint…from masking a plastic charger so you can have a cute colorful chalkboard for your kitchen…to painting small wooden boards to be used as door hangers. I got this GREAT idea from seeing all the chalkboard items…but I must wait to actually do it :(

Anyway – I have been crafting up a storm…I am finally finished with the holiday craft fairs – I participated in 3 of them this year – I did OK – I hit the goal I set for myself – I was hoping to surpass it but I will take my goal…

I have a few orders of some items to finish up – hoping to complete that this holiday weekend – as for the first time in 5 years we are not traveling – I could stay in my PJ’s the ENTIRE weekend if I wanted to…

I did want to show you a special project I have been working on. I found the best little site on-line for vinyl designs – My Vinyl Designer that I mentioned the other week. They are currently having a great sale on all there designs – 25% off (use the code: holidays) and best yet – immediate download. They also provide a weekly freebie as well.

The site has been running a contest each week – with getting ready for the craft fairs I wasn’t able to set aside the time to participate – but when this past weeks came up I had an idea that went "Ba-Blam" in my brain…

So this past week was to take one of their Advent calendar designs and create something with it…
I took CA007, a metal baking sheet, red, green, yellow and white vinyl, a few fonts, fancy holiday ribbon, a wooden star and a magnet and came up with this….



I managed to snag the baking sheet at a local craft store for under $2 and had TC drill a hole in the top.

When I imported the Advent calendar into my Silhouette Studio software it was a breeze to use…I simply did the layout to get to the size and shape I wanted it to be based on my baking tray – I decided to use the back of the tray so it would sort of sit out a bit from my wall when hung. I was able to split the images so I could cut the numbered balls and wording in red and the top and bottom of the tree in green.

I went a quick step further and cut out the top of the tree in a scrap of light yellow and trimmed it so I had the star shape that I layered over the green.

I used a snowflake dingbat font to cut some snowflakes in white to scatter and made a fancy bow to cover the top lip of the baking tray and used the excess ribbon to form a loop for hanging.

Now the number holder – I found a small already painted yellow star at one of the big box craft stores – slapped a round magnet on the back (didn’t even need to pull out my glue gun – Craft glue dots are the best things ever) and VIOLA…it becomes my day tracker. Before and after X-mas it nicely resides at the top of the tree.


I think it turned out quite nifty if I do say so myself – and my girls LOVE it…I was thinking of bringing it to my workplace but I don’t think my girls will let me do that – they want to hang it in their room.

Now to complete my orders so I can craft for myself some more…

The Holidays are Coming...the Holidays are Coming...

Scary isn't it...

It seems just like yesterday I was claening up pine needles and putting away all my snowmen...and now it is time to get all those snowmen back out...

Time sure flies doesn't it...

This isn't going to be a long post - just wanted to pop in and let you all know about a very cool site - I am sure many of you have stumbled upon it before - but Cool Mom Picks

Well they have there 2010 Holiday Gift Guide up - lots of great ideas for everyone in your life - from family to friends to co-workers to teachers, you name them they have an idea for a gift...so check be sure to cruise on over and check them out

A Fat-Ass update…

I know it has been quite awhile since I blogged a lot…and I am sure one of you may be wondering what is happening to my ass…has it shrunk any?

Back in the beginning of the year I wrote a post about Baby Steps. - where in a nutshell I discussed about changing the way I eat rather than focusing on WHAT I am putting in my mouth…

So all these months have gone by and I really haven’t lost any weight…but rather than being upset or sad I am fine…I mean sure I would love to be 20 lbs less – I mean who wouldn’t…but I have made a big impact on what goes into my body and what I use my body for.

Do you know I haven’t had a soda since the middle of January…TEN MONTHS…not to say I have cut out caffeine – because I as addicted as ever to my morning coffee…but I was more concerned about all the other stuff that was in soda…all the things you can’t pronounce…

Now does that mean my family has given up soda…no – but they have drank significantly less this year – for one I rarely buy it so if it isn’t in the house it isn’t an option…on the occasions we do drive through and the girls have a choice of course they are going to choose soda – and I am fine with that as having a small soda a handful of times a month I am not going to sweat it…

As for other things – I have been eating far more natural, non processed items - things like pasta and bread – yes I will eat them but I try and make better choices – higher fiber, whole wheat pasta vs blanched white pasta – whole grain breads vs “enriched” white bread…even with all that I would say I might have had pasta once or twice a month (and mainly in soups) and breads 2-3 times a week (mainly in the form of a high fiber English muffin topped with two egg whites for breakfast - NOM NOM NOM)

Does that mean I don’t eat anything bad for me – ummm Hella No…life is life people and if I want that mini Almond Joy from the kids Halloween Candy stash – I am eating that sucker (I was very sad that they didn’t collect any York Peppermint Patties for me to steal) – but I am not also eating that 3 Musketeers, that 5th Ave. bar and the Butterfingers…

Another part of the equation is exercise…this past spring I learned I really enjoy kickboxing…so I bought 2 kick boxing DVD’s and had myself a grand old time…worked up a sweat, stretched some muscles…

THEN….a great gold glow showed up one day…a GOLDS GYM moved into town…about a 5 minute drive from my house – and best of all since it is an express gym the cost was only $9.99 a month…SIGN ME UP….

So since August I have been hitting up the gym 2-3 times per week…you would think I would see something on the scale move in a downward way – ummm nope…BUT there is a difference in my shape…and I have lots of energy to boot (don’t get me wrong – I still enjoy a lazy Sunday just sitting on the couch watching reruns of Teen Mom and What Not to Wear)…

The main thing is I want to be a role model for my daughters…I want them to see me making good choices for the bulk of my food choices…but not to sweat it if they have a piece of chocolate or a sweet treat every now and then… I tell them mommy isn’t on a diet – I personally think diet is a bad word…I tell them mommy is exercising and making good food choices so I am around for a long long time…

Sure when I am at the gym I look around and see someone who looks 20-30 lbs lighter than me and think “One day I would love to look like her” – is she all supermodel skinny…nope she is a mom – she has a pooch (albeit a smaller pooch than mine) – her calves are just as big as mine – she has the same dark circles under her eyes – the same small little wrinkles popping up…but overall is just a bit smaller…But then I think to myself as I look around and see women who are larger than me and I have to think to myself – out there there is someone who is looking at me saying “One day I would love to look like her”

So I embrace who I am, what my body dictates it wants to be…and I will just continue to try and make better eating choices and make sure my muscles get used for something other then sitting down and getting up from the couch….

I think I birthed a Corleone…

So faithful readers of my little blog (all, what 3 of you??) may remember around this time last year PWG attempted to do a little Elf extortion

Well, every year we attend our church’s Holiday Bazaar. At the Bazaar they have a room where kids get to shop for {insert sarcasm here} simply lovely {end sarcasm} holiday gifts for family. Most items are $2 or less and the kids emerge with the gifts fully wrapped (i.e. brown paper bag and a few staples). The girls love doing this as they pick out the gifts on their own and TC and I are dually surprised come Christmas Morning (no matter how many times I drop the sucker the Tweety Bird Bell refuses to break).

In the past we have provided the girls with $5-6 to buy gifts – however for the past 2 years they have been receiving an allowance – so we decided this year they have to use their own money to purchase gifts…

Ummmm yeahhh – while the tightwad TW has quite a bundle in her wallet – the more carefree PWG is only sporting a few bills in hers…

So she told us she would do extra chores in order to earn extra money and as such presented us with this price list last night…



Personally I think .50 cents to clean up cat crap is a downright bargain…considering we have two cats and a litter box that needs scooping every day…

But my favorite is “Cleaning up Dead Things” – TC said he would take her when he goes hunting because he needs some help when he shoots his deer…PWG response was “that will cost extra…you have to read the fine print”

Now just to put your mind at ease it isn’t like we have a plethora of dead things around our house…I can only assuming she is thinking ahead to the Elf and what might occur if there is no candy…

To brighten your Monday Blahs

So I have mentioned my fabulous, awesome Silhouette cutting machine before.

And after almost a year with it – I am still absolutely in love with it. They recently released a new software package to use with it – makes it 100x’s easier to use when creating my own quotes and manipulating images. I have made A LOT of shelf blocks with quotes on them for some upcoming craft fairs – those pictures will be coming at a later date.

Last week I was introduced to a new website – My Vinyl Designer - While I have access to the Silhouette store and a ton of images and phrases one can always have more…right???

What I love about My Vinyl Designer is you can buy images in a variety of formats – so if you have a Circuit or a Silhouette you can buy the file that is right for your machine. My favorite part is the fact that this site sells individual images as well as packages of designs. Also once you buy the image it is yours for immediate download + you can use it to create wonderful things to sell…that is right you have access to use the images and sell those items…something that is not available when I use Silhouette store images.

So I decided to try out a design and used TX and PWG as guinea Pigs…

I saw Alphabet 6 and loved it. So I bought it…(at 25% off too…use the code holidays) and what did I do with it…

Well first we went to the Big Box craft store and bought some 8x8 canvas and some Acrylic Craft paint…We used Apple Barrel Paints in the colors of Kiwi Green, Lagoon Blue and Hot Pink.



We painted them up – it took about 4 coats for a nice solid look – although I did like the wash through look of only 1 or 2 coats on the canvas as well…



Then I let the girls (sort of) pick their vinyl colors –

TW picked Dark Grey for her letter and white for her name – she also picked the font she wanted for her name (Fontdinersparkly)

PWG started to pick some weird colors of vinyl that really didn’t go and I was able to sway her to a Rose Red for the letter and a Chocolate Brown for her name and was able to sway her for the font (Merced) – because I loved the way the “N’ swooped.

I adhered the vinyl to the canvas – this can be a bit tricky since the canvas isn’t fully smooth – I have found if I apply pressure the underside of the canvas as I rub it works better – I still have some issue but if you go slow it should be fine.

We finished it off with 2 thin layers of Matte Modge Podge to seal the vinyl to the canvas…



Hope you like… I haven't yet decided what I am going to do with my Hot Pink painted canvas...but I envision using this alphabet A LOT...This would make a great new baby gift...or a wedding gift - put the Brides and Grooms name in middle...or use multiple canvas frames to spell out a name and use an adjective to describe the person in the middle.

A very Happy Holiday indeed

Merry Glee Christmas 5x7 folded card

Make a statement with custom Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year…Thanks to Shutterfly

Don’t get me wrong I LOVE the holiday season…bright colored lights, holiday songs on the radio 24/7…buying or making the perfect gift for a special friend or family member.

BUT

There is soooooo much to do…and as a woman, wife, mother – a lot of it falls on my shoulders.

Decorating – sure TC will get out the ladder and hang the lights, he will go get the tree with TW and PWG and set it up, he will get out the inflatable of Santa and the reindeer playing poker (yes we actually have this) and get it set up…but the rest is up to me…which means other than the lights and blow up things we only have a few other decorations scattered around the house.

Gift Shopping – ummm all me…I am sure if I asked TC to go buy something he would…but in my mind it is far simpler for me to go and pick it up and be done with it and know it got done…So not only does this encompass shopping for my family – but also assorted nieces and nephews and yes even TC office…I love it when he comes to me and asks “so what are WE giving this year”

Holiday Cards – all me….for the past 5 years or so I have lovingly hand stamped and crafted our holiday cards…all 75+ of them. Let me tell you that is a lot of cards…as I looked about this year – between the girls school work, sports and other activies, my craft shows and working – I was just dreading making all those cards…

THEN….

I came upon SHUTTERFLY

Oh happy day…

In the past I have received cute photo cards in the mail during the holiday season and many years ago I actually made one up and sent it out for the holidays one year. The problem I had all those years ago is the fact I only had about 10 templates to choose from and none of them really floated my boat…

So I wasn’t expecting much when I went in search of a cute template for a photo card.

Well color me surprised…

I am so not a “traditional” Holiday person- dark reds and greens, holly sprigs, cardinals, realistic Christmas Trees – sorry they don’t do much for me…I am so much more a “mod” holiday person – give me the pinks and greens and aqua’s and I am a happy girls. You can save that fancy loopy script – give me some funky fonts.

Well I found the MOTHERLODE of cute and fun holiday Photo cards at Shutterfly – they have plenty of designs for you more “traditional” folks but if you are like me you are going to be in heaven. There are over 300 different templates – 300 people…if you can’t find one you like then you have some serious design issues…

Here are a few of my favorites:

They have a variety of sizes and styles – they have a nicer cardstock based photo card and your less expensive photo paper photo card. I know that sending Holiday cards can get expensive…so my plan this year – to put together TWO holiday photo cards…one using the nicer cardstock base to send to close family and friends and one using the less expensive photo paper to send to those acquaintances where the Holiday time is just about the only time letters and information is exchanged (come on we all have that list) – this way everyone gets to see the wonderful pictures of my family but it is a little easier on my wallet.

But – what I love is in addition to the HUNDREDS of templates for Holiday cards they have a ton of other types of photo cards.

Need a Birthday Party Invite – they have all sorts of cute templates – for ages 1 to 100

And the best thing – take a bunch of pictures at the party – upload to Shutterfly – create not only some wonderful Thank You Cards - but go ahead and make a cute and stylish photobook of all the fun.

Shutterfly is going to make the girls next birthday super easy for me…

But going back to the Holidays...because you know it is creeping up on us like a pair of too small underwear...

In addition to the photo cards and photobooks Shutterfly has some wonderful gifts to create for the holiday season – think about it - you could get a bunch of gifts bought in one simple afternoon – and what is so great about the gifts – you design them and it is something that is special to you and your family and friends…

One of my favorite gifts is the Photo Mug - you can create a whole collage of pictures – this makes a great gift for a grandma or a grandpa…just grab about a dozen pictures of the grandkids you have taken throughout the year – and click to add them to mug…something that is practical and personal all in one fell swoop. Grandma can look at her darlings every day. I will say I put together one of these to give to the girls godmother…and then wound up keeping it for myself – now I get to look at my cuties every morning when I drink the elixir of the gods (aka coffee…the vodka doesn’t factor in until later in the evening)

Another great gift is a Desktop Plaque. Like the mug you are able to use more than one photograph. But what a great gift this would make if you have that PERFECT photo…you know the one in a million shot where everyone looks simply fantastic…TC and I went to a wedding this spring and someone managed to snap an awesome shot of both of us…I am so getting myself a Desktop Plaque of that picture to remind me that every once in a while I clean up quite well…and since it is basically its own picture frame you don’t have to buy anything else – what a great gift at a great price.



So thanks to Shutterfly I am going to be able to spend a few hours crafting and creating on my computer and in the end I will come away with my holiday cards and a number of really cute, very personal gifts for family and friends…

Back...Maybe?

I know it has been a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time since you have seen my face, er...read my most intimate thoughts I want to share...

Life has been busy...Life has been hectic...Life has been, well life...

I have spent the past few months dealing with kids and home and work, which has left me very little ME time...and I have been feeling not so hot about myself - so I need to do something about that...I need to make ME time - I need to start doing things again that make ME happy...

In looking back, I enjoyed writing the blog...sure I may not have to many followers (if any) - but it has been an outlet for me to talk without bothering anyone in person to the point they will avoid me at all costs...{here comes that crazy lady to talk about some craft or what her kids did yesterday}...but thanks to the power of the 'net - I can spill all sorts of things and those that don't want to hear or see it - well they don't have too...

So starting fresh again...once again - I hope I don't disappoint the 3 of you that may actually read my blog...it will, like always, be a mish-mash of things - one day I might talk about crafting and show you a simply awesome craft thing (and with the holidays coming up - I have some doozys up my sleeve)...the next I may be telling some utter cute {well at least to me} story about my kids...then I may be lamenting on my Fat-Ass (oh I have so much to say about that...)

So with a renewed optimism - I give you this...I PROMISE I will post at least 2x's per week until the end of the year...sometimes you may get more...but you won't get less

My Fat Ass Review: EA Sports Active – More Workouts

As the 5 people who actually read my blog know I did a previous review of the original Sports Active. For those that don’t want to go back and read it – my bottom line on that game was that it is a FUN workout that really pushes you and makes you sweat – thumbs up all around.

For Christmas this year I received the Sports Active – More Workouts. Note you do not need the Original Sports Active in order to “play” More Workouts – BUT the More Workouts does not come with the leg strap or the resistance bands – so if you don’t have the original you will have to purchase the Accessory pack for the Sports Workout – they can be found most places for $19.99 – one note they do make a knockoff accessory pack that you can get for $12-15 – I would highly suggest spending the extra money and going ahead and buying the REAL version – I took a long look at the knockoff version and found that the pouch on the leg strap isn’t as tight as the original and could lead to the nun chuck jumping around and therefore not providing an accurate reading…also the resistance band is not as long as the Original – which when I tried it I couldn’t get it over my head for over the shoulder presses.

It is set up much the way the Original Sports Active was - preset workouts, the ability to create your own workouts from individual activities, journal and a workout Challenge. If you already have the Original one – when you put the new one in it will import all your fitness data.

How is it different than the Original Sports Active?

Instead of a 30 day Challenge it is now a 6 week challenge…in order to stay on track with the 6 weeks you need to do 4 workouts per week..not that hard to do considering each workout doesn’t take much longer than 30 minutes to complete.

All NEW exercises and sports – they keep the same format of upper body, lower body and sports but also add in an Abs section to work your core muscles…something absent in the original one.

Upper Body Exercises – for the most part you are using the resistance band to work your upper arm. For the most part the exercises are the same as the Original with some slight twists in the way you move your arms or the way you use the resistance band. I have noticed in a few of them you have to stand in a modified lunge position – which also helps with stretching out your leg muscles as well as holding your core muscle.

Lower Body Exercises – all new moves – still throw in lots of lunges and squats, just in a different manner of doing them

Ab workouts – These are new and really work those Ab muscles - they have both regular crunch type exercises as well as reverse type crunches.

Sports – as with the Original the Sports are what I really like and More Workouts doesn’t disappoint. There is Boxing, Squash, Paddle boating, Waterskiing, Cardio Running, Step Aerobics and an Obstacle Course. They all can be done without the use of the Wii Fit board but if you have one many of them have incorporated the board into the workout.

Boxing – like the Original you have a few different versions to choose from – with the More Workouts they incorporate a few more exercises using the legs – either through kneeing targets or kicking targets. They also incorporate the use of ducking and dodging. I wish they had a longer version of this available – almost like a 5 or 10 minute version as it is a lot of fun to do and when it ends I get a little sad…I guess I might need to pony up and buy the Wii Gold’s Gym as I understand that is mostly Cardio boxing.

Squash – much like tennis in the original you are basically hitting a ball…HOWEVER with Squash you are also incorporating lots of side and crossover lunges in order to get the shots – the first time I did it I hated it – now it has become one of my favorites to do

Paddle boating – one of my least favorites, mainly because it makes you work – you have to hold the wiimote much like a paddle and well paddle…and paddle and paddle…you also have to squat at various times

Waterskiing – this is basically the Rollerblading from the Original set on water – you squat and then jump up on the ramps to catch flags…there is an addition of having to shift right and left to grab flags in-between the ramps.

Obstacle Course – a fun thing to do – they have different lengths where you run for a bit of time then stop to do something – be it lunges, strides, jumps, etc…since the whole game is set on an island you are running along the beach to do the various activities.

Cardio Running – in the original all the running activities took place on a track and quite frankly I had to push myself to finish sometimes…because going around a track is boring…they have fixed the boring part of this - there are 2 main cardio running programs – Island outrun and Training…in the Island Outrun you start out doing a light jog and then the system prompts you to sprint to pass another runner – this pushes you because it is like you are actually competing against someone else…slow down and they will pass you. With the Training one – it is you and the trainer side by side doing running, high knee, kickups, walking…but I will say the island view is a lot better than just running around the track…yes I am out of breath when I am done, but I have yet to feel like I have to push myself to finish – I am so focused on passing another person or keeping up with the trainer on the screen I don’t even realize how far or how long I have been doing it.

Step Aerobics – my FAVORITE – I have enjoyed the bit of Step Aerobics that are in the Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus – so much so I even sent an e-mail to Nintendo asking for a Wii Step Aerobics (still holding out hope)…I bought My Fitness Coach solely for inclusion of using a step for certain workouts. More Workouts doesn’t disappoint…you get a good solid workout – the only complaint is I wish they had expanded the exercises for the step – as they are mainly made up of the March, Leg Kick, Leg Curl, High Knee in either singles or repeaters of 3…don’t get me wrong it keeps me moving but after a few months I have a feeling I may become bored…In the preset programs they have 30 minute Step Aerobics already set up in Easy, Medium and Hard Intensities– 3 intervals of 10 minutes each and once the set goes – there is no stopping – it is 10 minutes of moving…I did a 30 minute set on the medium intensity the other day and according to the calorie counter I burned over 250 calories…

One caveat about the Step Aerobics…it can be done without the Wii Fit board but it may not accurately get your steps…and even with the Wii Fit board it is only but so high so the burn rate may not be that high. They do make step enhancers/platforms for the Wii and I did look into them…one of the biggest complaints is that they all have deeper wells where the feet go so when you step sometimes it doesn’t accurately record your movement – some people have put poker chips in the wells to allow for better contact with the feet…

My solution – well I already owned a nice big plastic step (I am guessing mine was made some point in the 80’s as it is just a big plastic rectangle rather than some of the contoured ones I have seen available now-a-days) – put it down and lo and behold the Wii Fit board fits perfectly on top…In reading some of the reviews for the Wii step platforms a few people mentioned they should have just made their own wooden box platform…so something to think about if you are handy and have some extra wood laying around…I will say that by placing the Fit Board on my step I definitely feel it more in my muscles…

Over all a great game and workout just like it’s predecessor. I wish however they had done it more like how Wii Fit did with Wii Fit Plus…that you had the ability to comingle both the old and the new together to give a wider array of choices and workouts.

But if you liked Wii Sports Active- you definitely aren’t going to be disappointed to spend your money on More Workouts.

I recently ran across a great website that talks about using the Wii for Fitness and has a number of reviews for Wii Fitness Games - including screen shots and videos…here it is for you – NutWiiSystem

Because of his review of Just Dance…it is currently on it’s way from Amazon to me as I type…be sure to check back for my Fat Ass Review of that in the coming weeks…

Pretty Little Things...

I love earrings...all types - but my favorite of all are french hook ones.

I am lucky enough to have a great friend who does wonderful earring work...I have even made a a pair or two myself...

Add into the fact that just about any local craft fair you go to there are usually a handful of crafters who do handmade jewelry at very reasonable prices...the last purchase I made from a craft fair was 3 pairs for $18...

But french hooks don't lend themselves to storing well...hard to just throw in with other earrings because the hooks grab on to everything...add in the fact that many of mine are long so they have a tendancy to get tangled.

In looking on the 'net I came across a variety of frames used to hang earrings...some had a mesh insert - others used a jersey like fabric - and others plastic canvas. I thought easy enough to make...so I decided to do just that on my Home Alone weekend...come along with me...

Grab a Frame or two - scour your house for an unused frame...or do as I did and hit up your local thrift store - my score below of two frames cost me a whopping $2.15 - 1.25 & .85 cents - one was empty and the other had a god awful picture of some flowers...one thing you do want to make sure of is that it has a ledge that the backing can sit on.


Then paint them up - I HIGHLY recommend to use some sort of spray primer - makes painting on paint a lot easier and far less coats needed

You will need some plastic needlepoint canvas - this can be found at just about any big craft or fabric store - they do come in various stiffness - I choose an Ultra Stiff plastic canvas - I bought a rather large piece (maybe 16x20) for under $2

I then cut a piece of canvas to fit the back of the frame...the frame above had no clips in the back to hold the canvas (many cheaper frames will have little "pins" that can be folded back and forth to remove the backing so you are able to replace the picture) so I had to use some Household epoxy glue to hold the canvas in.

Add some whimsy and hang it up...one of the things I made sure the frame I bought had was handging hardware already on - makes it so much easier...

I painted this one the same color as my bedroom wall - I didn't want it to be a big focal point and overshadow my earrings

I also did some fun stuff with what you see below...but that is a post for another day....

It’s all in the baby steps…

A new year…a new you, right?

Aaaaahhhh not so much. The first thing most everyone pledges at the beginning of a new year is to get organized, start exercising, eat better…think about it – I know at least one of those things has popped in your head over the past two weeks or so.

Let’s take exercising and eating better – because every year I say the same thing…and every year I do manage to make some sort of small change…but my ass is still fat….

Today in my “talk” I am going to focus on eating better…(sit back and relax this may take a while)

I have always been an overweight person…I never grew out of my baby fat – it just stayed with me…didn’t matter that I was an active child, playing sports and playing outside – growing up we had 5 channels…no cable for us…although I do cop to having an Atari…so I am sure there were some long Frogger or Pitfall sessions.

When I hit high school I was overweight…I have discussed this before…if you are going by weight alone I weighed more in high school at my peak than I weigh now…lovely isn’t it.

DIETS…there is a reason you can’t have Diets without DIE…the thing about diets are – if you follow them chances are good you are going to loose weight…why? Because you are more cognizant of what you are doing on a day to day basis…what you are eating…how you are moving.

The basic tenant of weight loss is burning more calories than you take in – simple as that, right? WELL, not really – genetics does play a part in body composition and weight loss. Here is the thing – I could loose 50 lbs – but I will always be a curvy girl…it is the way I am built – no amount of restricting calories or working my ass off will change my bone structure. Considering my sister who is 4 inches taller and has a flat stomach wears a size 10 because of her hips (about the only thing we have in common) I know I will probably never see a size on my body that is less than double digits – I AM OK WITH THIS…..

Add into body composition there is a genetic factor in your metabolism…some people are born with extremely fast metabolisms – others not so much. My BIL stands about 6 ft and can shovel things in his mouth left and right and not work out and he is still skinny as a rail…whereas my husband is far shorter and should he shovel things in his mouth right and left he would quickly become a square – as wide as he is tall…

So what is one suppose to do…I have been on quite a few DIETS in my life…I started back in High School with Physicians Weight Loss – a program where you go and meet with your “counselor” once a week – get weighed in – talk about appropriate food choices – get sold some supplements and be on your way. Very akin to Weight Watchers in a smaller individual setting…

Did I loose weight….YES – I actually lost about 50 lbs…why – because I was watching what I was eating and making smart decisions about what I put in my body AND what I did with my body, as I had also joined a gym. Calories in – Calories burned = Weight Loss…

That simple..right…

You know that 50 lbs I lost…Over the years it found me again – then I would loose it and sure enough it would find me…one thing after another…although I did manage to keep the bulk off it off for a number of years – even thorough my college years…I am guessing the 1/2 mile walk up a hill everyday to get to class negated the beers I drank freshman year…then later all the very bad white girl dancing at the bars negated all the 7&7’s I drank…

I have done Weight Watchers a few times…did it work – YES it did – once again I was watching what I ate…

All these “diets” – WW, South Beach, Atkins. Mediterrian, etc…they all WORK because they all force to you control what goes in…so that in a typical day you burn more than you consume – even if you aren’t going beyond your normal day…it takes 3500 burned calories to loose a lb…so if in an average day on a “diet” you are taking in 1500 calories and burning 2000 calories – then in an average week you should loose 1 lb.

But like I said not everyone is built the same…one person with a high metabolism can burn through those calories like no ones business – I am told there are people out there that actually try to GAIN weight – crazy talk I say…

Something else that can affect how calories we intake are burned is the food itself – the more “pure” and natural a food is – the faster your body will break it down into the nutrients it needs, thereby consuming it in a faster manner and could allow for a higher metabolism ultimately “burning” the calories in any given day…

One of the main thinking with most diets, like WW, South Beach, Atkins, etc…is fairly simple – low calorie, cut out sugar, cut out processed food – then each one has it’s own little quirk – for some they advocate no carbs…for others no fats…and others still no sugar…

But the thing is our bodies NEED carbs…they NEED fats….they NEED sugar…it is the TYPE that you have to watch out for…

Over the years I have adjusted things – I got rid of a lot of “white” carbs…switched to wheat pasta, wheat bread, wheat flour – I rarely drink sugary drinks – soda, fruit juice (take a look at some of those fruit juice labels) – I stay away from Alcohol (except in party situations…which in my life I can count on one hand the number of parties I go to in a given year).

I drink a ton of water and eat a lot of fresh veggies and fruits and partake in a lot of lean protein – chicken, fish, etc…

I have learned there are GOOD fats…GOOD carbs…GOOD sugars…it is just a matter of reading and researching and making good balanced choices to fuel your body to the best of it’s ability.

So after this long winded typing…it comes down to this learning what things are GOOD for you and how to eat them in combinations that help your body to the best of it’s ability.

The other day I ordered Jillian Michaels new book – Taking Charge of Your Metabolism – is it a “new” way of thinking…NOT AT ALL…it purports the same thing most every other plan does…cut out the bad stuff…eat less…burn more…WHAT I am hoping I gleen from this book is the proper way to eat – what foods work well together for optimal intake.

Since we are doing the $40/week grocery plan for January (only spent $38.40 this week…) – trying to use up stuff in our deep freeze and pantry my plan for February is a food overhaul for our house…(cause we will need some after eating it all up in January)

I only got a chance to skim through the book last night (cause DUH…Biggest Loser was on…at least for the 1st half of the season it makes me feel better…the last half just makes be feel like a big fat sea slug…) and I came across a section where Jillian talks about not eating anything after 9pm…so that your body has the time to process food and sugars before you lay down and go to sleep…that your body trying to digest food while you are sleeping could effect your sleep patterns or habits…

So my baby step for this week is to not eat or drink anything, but water, after 9pm…My thinking is if I start small and slowly incorporate this and that into my life then it isn’t a burden…it isn’t a “PLAN”…it isn’t a “DIET” …it’s a change, a LIFE CHANGE….

What's your baby step for 2010?

My Husband is Leaving Me...

and taking the kids with him....

I should have about 48 hours to myself - alone in my house...

Now I have had this happen before - the last time was a few years ago...during which about hour 2 of my aloneness my stomach started to twitch...and not in an excited good way...but rather a "got hit by a bus" way...and I spent most of my weekend alone alternating between my bed and the bathroom.

But not this weekend by golly...I resolve not to eat sushi this weekend...

What I do resolve to do is some crafting....some Wii'ing....some Chick Flickin'

So very glorious...no one to tell to brush thier teeth....no one to argue over what time bedtime is...no one to force "just one more bite of dinner"....

I sort of miss them already...sort of...

Is it insanity or a new way of looking at things?

After the hustle and bustle of Christmas passed (BTW I got a Keurig machine – that thing rocks my socks…) and New Year’s slipped away – I was trying to adjust my pantry to fit things in (namely boxes of K –cups) and I was moving stuff around between our freezers and realized we could live off of what we currently had for a month…

Now I am pretty frugal and use coupons and shop with specials – but even so I end up spending between $75-90 every week on groceries…mainly due to coupons and sales…hey Chex cereal for $1.50 – load me up…Del Monte canned veggies for .30 cents each…throw them in my cart…

So all of this has ganged up on me…I have about 8 boxes of cereal…enough veggies to eat a can every day for then next three weeks, boxes of pasta and sleeves of Saffron rice starting at me when I open the doors…and don’t even get me started on the army of Chef-Boy-R Dee I have lining my shelves…

In addition I have chicken, shrimp, sausage, fish and a whole turkey in my freezer – a WHOLE turkey – do you know many meals a family of four can get out of a whole turkey…I won’t go all Forrest Gump (turkey noodle soup, turkey tetrazzini, hot turkey sandwiches, etc., etc., etc.) but it is A LOT…

So I have decided that January will be the month of $40 or less grocery weeks…I am going to attempt to spend no more than $40 a week for all of our household needs – I was going to set it lower – but we really love fresh fruit and veggies to snack on and well – heck enough to feed us for a week can cost $10 or more…add in bread and 2 gallons of milk a week and you are up to about $18 – thereby leaving just a bit over $20 for anything else we may need during the week

I do realize this will take a little bit of willpower from me not to stock up when I see a good deal…it may mean we run out of something and have to put off buying more for a bit of time…it may mean that by the end of January we are eating Pancakes every night (for some odd reason I have three unopened boxes of Hungry Jack pancake mix…must have been a sale + coupons…) and TC taking PB&J’s for lunch…(4 jars of peanut butter+ 3 jars of fancy homemade jelly) .

So far this week we have spent $12.12...but we are out of fruit and bread so I have to make a quick trip to the grocery tonight...

So we will see if I can actually pull this off or if I am a crumpled heap come Jan 31st whimpering “Please sir, let me use my coupons…”