Happy New Year!!!

Well, here we go -- the end of 2006. A lot has happened in this year. Our family welcomed the most awesome baby, Chloe, into the world. I met Mike. I lost a lot of weight and a lot of inches. And lots of other great things. My friends have had some awesome things happen to them too. Yeah, there have been some down times, but all in all it has been wonderful. I look forward to 2007 and all the things it has to offer.

I do have to brag on myself for a minute though. I did a work out with Ryan today and we reassessed. So, here is my progress -- from last year at this time to now.

Then: Now:
Chest: 40 inches /33 inches
Waist: 39 inches /30 inches
Hips: 44 inches /38 inches (yeah, the hips didn't really want to go down any....)

Total weight lost: 25 lbs
Total Body Fat Lost: 10% (was 35%, now 25%)

Seriously, if I can do it, anyone can!!!! I hated working out and didn't think I could give up my chocolate. I love working out now and can easily fit chocolate into my eating plan, without feeling deprived. It was hard, but I feel like it was an accomplishment that I can keep going with.

Now I need to get ready to go to Mike's for New Year's Eve. We are taking it easy tonight. He is doing his night security job at his apartment complex. So, while he works, I will be drinking champagne and watching movies. I figured as long as I can kiss him at midnight, it doesn't matter where we are.

Have a wonderful New Year's Eve and a great beginning of 2007!!!

My forgotten review of the Office

With the excitement of last weekend (car tow, holiday parties, etc), I TOTALLY FORGOT to give my review of the best show on TV. The Office Hour Long special last week (and actually, last night too) was everything I had hoped for in the show. It was funny, it was sweet, it just ROCKED!!! NBC repeated it last night so I think I am on my 4th viewing of the show. And I laughed each time. I was happy to watch it again since I can now pick up little things I missed the first, um, 3 times......... So, yes, it was a great Christmas present for me. From NBC. Aren't they sweet! If anyone missed it and has a desperate need to see it, then I have it recorded. And I will probably watch it a few more times this weekend. I am that dorky. Be proud that you know me :).

My Last Work Friday of 2006

Friday afternoon! The Friday before Christmas. The Friday before my week long "vacation" begins. I put vacation in quotes, because this next week will be spent home in Dallas, no place exotic. But that is perfectly okay. More than likely I will do girly things like Manicures, Pedicures, facials and massages. Oh yeah, and spend time with Mike....... :). I will also spend a little more time at the gym since I will have more time. I really need to go now because lunch has made me very full. Plus, Paradise Bakery has some yummy cookies. It is in my calorie count and I made a conscious choice to "cheat". It was very worth it. So that probably means no wine tonight though! It is all about trade offs. Funny Downtown Dallas sighting. I was walking to the Bank of America building and ran into my Dad. On the streets of Downtown. I think he almost walked past me. Mom, hit him for that! :). I still look the same with my hair pulled back! He doesn't normally work in Downtown (although when he does, he is in the other Federal Building) so it was kind of a surreal thing :).

3 hours and I get to leave. I don't think we are getting out early for the holidays. They don't shut the office down. Although there is nobody here and the parking lot is slowly emptying. I could take off early and use PTO, but really, there is no point. I am off all next week anyway. I have all my Christmas shopping done. I can't wait to see what I got and to give mine away! I really can't wait to see Mike's reaction to mine :). I think it is pretty awesome. I hope he loves it. If not, well, I can always use it!!!! It was a flash of brilliance that I am very proud of :). Can I build this up much more!!!??? He, he.

If I do not get to blog over the next few days, I want to wish everybody a wonderful and safe Christmas. I am planning to meet Jen and Mia for a Christmas Eve brunch (which, actually would make an awesome tradition. Although I guess we need to do one first.............). That will be awesome. Then whatever from there. I do want to go to a Christmas Eve church service as well. I think we have that one pretty much taken care of.
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while only a few people will get why I am posting the words to Santa Baby, I am still gonna do it!

Santa Baby
written by J. Javits and P. Springeroriginally
sung by Ertha Kitt
"Santa baby,
slip a sable under the tree,
for me
I've been an awful good girl
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa baby, an out-of-space convertible too, light blue
I'll wait up for you dear
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Think of all the fun I've missed
Think of all the fellas that I haven't kissed
Next year I could be oh so good
If you'd check off my Christmas list
Boo doo bee doo
Santa honey,
I wanna yacht and really that'sNot a lot
I've been an angel all year
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa cutie, there's one thing I really do need, the deed
To a platinum mine
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Santa baby, I'm filling my stocking with a duplex,
and checks
Sign your 'X' on the line
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's
I really do believe in you
Let's see if you believe in me
Boo doo bee doo
Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring
I don't mean a phone
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry down the chimney tonight"

I need a helmet

I appear to be very prone to hitting my head on things. I did it today at lunch and I did it a few weeks at Jen's apartment. So, while telling this story to Mia and Jen, Jen says I need a helmet. Actually, very true. Luckily it hit me on the hard part of my head so it really didn't hurt. I was a work lunch though. Nothing more embarrassing than being clumsy in front of the people you work with on a daily basis. And then the restaurant people are looking at a table of OSHA people thinking "uh oh...". It was my own silly fault, and they did make sure I was okay. :).

Really nothing else is happening today. Okay, so it is 4:00 and something could magically happen, but I am just hoping this is a low-key evening. I am going to work out with Ryan, let him kick my booty and relax at home. Top Chef might be a re-run, but that is okay. I am still gonna watch it.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Don't ask why there is no space between paragraphs in my posting! I tried. It won't show them in the published results. I am not a dork, I promise!

No title.........

This picture was taken with my cell phone last night. Simon gets all cute when it is time for bed!

I doubt anything will be interesting for a long time after this past weekend. You will just have to deal with a boring blog today! The only thing really to report is that I am super sore today from working out with Ryan last night. It has been awhile since I have felt like I can't move -- we've been working on flexibility and balance, so there have been no super weights that kick my booty. I actually missed the soreness -- kind of glad its back :).

I did get a gift card in the mail for the company that I do the dance classes through. I forgot that if you buy a class in Dec, you get a gift card ("for yourself or someone else" as they said). And it was in the exact amount that my dance class cost -- the one I missed Friday due to the horrible traffic. I really thought that was cool and a very nice surprise. So, sometime early next year, I will try this all again!

Have a great Tuesday! I know it is rainy and dreary, but it is still a good day :).

Dude, where's my car???

Warning -- this is pretty long!!!

The weekend started early on Friday morning with a good workout, then meeting the gals for a day of shopping and fun. We had lunch and browsed Southlake for some great bargains. Luckily Ann Taylor Loft was having a sale, because apparently I was destined to get a new outfit from there. I did actually buy stuff for other people too... I wasn't completely selfish :). We got our nails done at the Nail Bar (Jen has previously written about this place). It was a pretty cool place. You sit up a bar and they give you wine if you wish and you just relax. The people working there were very nice and I enjoyed talking with everyone! The plan was to leave at 5 and make it to a 7:00 dance class in Dallas. It usually only takes me an hour to get home from that area. Yeah, not Friday night. 2 hours later, I am pulling up at my apartment. So, even if I ran in, changed, ate something quickly, and left, I would have still been pretty late. I missed the class. Not really happy about that, but what can you do!

I went to dinner with Mike, his two cousins, and my brother on Saturday night. Sushi is awesome :). I went to Mike's apartment during the day and parked in what I thought was an appropriate parking spot (Mike just moved to a new apartment in the same complex.). We will get to that later on. Went to dinner (Mike drove) and had a very nice time. We get back to his place, look in the spot where my car is supposed to be and well, no pretty green Jetta. Um, well, where did that darn thing go!!!! Mike springs into action trying to figure out what the heck happened. There is no broken glass (to indicate someone stealing it) so we begin to wonder whether I got towed for being in the wrong spot (keep in mind, Mike said it was okay to park there....... :)). I call Mesquite police and yes, I was actually towed. So, at least it wasn't stolen. Not the best situation, but I can handle a tow better than a stolen car! Mike calls the tow company, we find my car, but it is going to cost some money to get out and they don't take credit cards. So, the late night ATM run takes place. We find an ATM, Mike gets out money, and we make our way to get my car. We finally spring it and I go home to try to sleep. I am kind of wound up by this point! But Mike was great in finding my darn car and I appreciated the fact that he was trying to keep me from getting hysterical! I only cried once :). I thought that was pretty good.

Sunday was a much better day. Due to lack of sleep the night before, I actually slept most of the day. Sunday night, Mike and I went to a Hanukkah party at his Aunt's house in Frisco. She lives far, far away. The party was very interesting. The food was bagels, lox/cream cheese spread, egg salad, and latkes (with either sour cream or apple sauce). His aunt Ellie made most everything. For dessert there was bread pudding, and an assortment of little breads (gingerbread was my favorite). The bread pudding was awesome!!! And she made that homemade too. Apparently she used to own a tea room............

When Mike's cousin arrived with his two kids, they lit the Menorah. It was the 3rd day (I knew that one!) but they had 4 candles. That kind of confused me. (One is to light the other ones. They were very open to me asking questions.). It was very sweet because the 2 1/2 year old (held by his father) lit the candle and "led" the blessing. Part of the blessing was in Hebrew and the other part was in English (it was also on a disc so they followed along to it). It was actually very moving because it was an outward symbol of the Jewish faith -- I guess you'd equate it to the nativity scene for Christians. But generally at a Christmas party, you don't have that outward sign of what the holiday is about. Does that make sense? It was very moving and I could tell very special to them.

They then brought out presents for the kids (and there were only 2 of them, so the kids racked it in!!!). There was a lot of Elmo. So cute. We did white elephant gifts and I ended up with Rubber duckies, bathroom confetti (not silly string), and an alarm clock (it was Mike's, I stole it and he really doesn't want the rubber duckies so I get all the gifts.:)). The rubber duckies are actually going to CA for baby Chloe. I think they will get more use there with her!

I am very tired this morning and trying to figure out when I can sneak away to Starbucks to get the latte. I didn't get home until about 11 and fell asleep even later. After all the excitement of the weekend, I probably need another day to just sleep!!!

Have a great Monday!!!

Holiday Cheer

Well, I can say that there was no lack of wine and alcohol at are Holiday Party here at work! No, we didn't drink it here on site at the office! We did a gift exchange (Chinese, Yankee swap, white elephant -- what ever you want to call it!). I ended up with a bottle of champagne, so that is one less thing I have to worry about on New Year's Eve. There were bottles of wine, a pomegranate drink mix, and even a 6 pack of Corona! Yeah, we know how to party here... The food was awesome and the decorations were very cute. It was pretty fun and I really enjoyed it. I have one more White Elephant gift exchange this weekend with Mike's family. We'll see what the major theme of that one will be :).

Today is my Friday and I am starting to feel the end of the day come on. It doesn't help that I feel very full from the lunch. I am working out tonight and that will be a good thing. Then I get to head home for the Office! Don't bother calling between 7 - 8. I won't answer................ :)

Later!

Question

In the song "Most Wonderful Time of the Year", why is there the line "There will be scary ghost stories"? I tried to google the song and meaning, but all I get are the lyrics. If someone can help with this I'd be very happy.

Tomorrow is the Christmas party here at the office. I have to bring a salad and I will be bringing a white elephant gift (I think I will be picking up the liquor filled chocolates -- that really should go over well here!). That should be fun. Tomorrow is also my Friday, since I am taking off the day Friday to do some shopping, lunching and manicuring with my gals (Jen and Mia in case you are thinking on that one!)

And tomorrow is also an HOUR LONG EPISODE of "The Office". I am so freakin excited. You might think you know my excitement, but you don't :). Merry Christmas to me :). And I have heard it is awesome. I hope so -- I have such high hopes for this! I know, I know, you think it is just a TV show. You just are missing out!

Later!

Friday Afternoon

Well, the week is over and I am very happy for that. I was pretty productive today. Not only did I get some actual work done, I even got some gifts ordered online. I think I have the perfect gift for Mike, but since he reads this blog, I am not saying anything else! Mia and Jen know what it is though and they think it is good. So there. (Mom, I can tell you later :)). One more week before my brother comes home! So cool. I still have to run and get his present. I am not sure if he reads my blog or not, so I won't say what I am getting him either. I do know what I am doing though. Wow, just a blog of secrets today, huh!!! I did get my doll house for the Angel Tree here at work. I started with a Barbie Princess house, but I decided that to make that fun, I'd have to get her a Barbie too. And than she'd only have one doll..... so, I went and found a really cool doll house that has all the parts and 4 little people and a doggy. And it was reasonably priced and actually what you would picture a dollhouse looking like. I would have loved it at age 5. I do need to find a Toys for Tots to give the other doll house to. I know I could take it back, but some little girl would enjoy that toy.

This evening is Jen's bridal party gathering at her place. I am really looking forward to it. For some reason I have been wanting Champagne and darn it, I am taking it tonight. Mia apparently has had the same craving, so it is all good. It should all be fun. Getting us all together is usually a riot. And there is nothing better than bonding with girlfriends to give renewed energy. Plus, lots of good food and drinks :). I am sure I will have plenty to write about later on.

I need to get some things done before I leave for the day. Mike is next door at the Convention Center doing registration for the "Rock" marathon on Sunday. I am going to see him before heading home. Then I have to make the brownies and go by the store. Luckily I don't have to be at Jen's until 8:00, but I do want to get in some rest time! I am actually going to skip the gym tonight -- I really do need a rest!

Later!

yay Thursday!

I had a good day considering I had to sit in a cube all day long. I like being in a training environment -- whether teaching or being taught. I just like it, especially if it is a good class with an engaging trainer (and of course, I am always an engaging trainer :)).

I had yogurt covered pretzels and yummy mint holiday things at home after work. Thanks to Mike. It was so sweet! I was expecting the pretzels, but the mints were a nice surprise :). And very yummy after a workout. Don't worry, I didn't scarf them down as to negate the effects of my workout. Just to get a taste!!!

I worked out with Ryan tonight and I thought it was pretty tough. All good. I did see a gal training at the gym (with a trainer) who was just doing everything wrong! And the trainer wasn't correcting her. She was doing half ass lunges, crappy bench push ups, and really bad squats. I kept looking at Ryan like "help her!" (obviously since she wasn't his client, he can't do anything). I find it funny that now it just really bothers me when I see someone out of form while working out. If I have to do everything perfect, I just think everyone should :). I know Ryan is tough and very picky on my form, but I also know that it is why I have seen the results I have these past few months. I know, I know, I shouldn't really be concerned about the workout of someone else..... I will mind my own business!

Okay, time to get ready for bed! Later!

The Mid Week Review

Howdy! I just spent Tuesday and Wednesday in Medic First Aid and CPR training class. Why two days to learn CPR??? Well, I was becoming a CPR/First Aid certified trainer. So now, I am not only certified to perform CPR, I am able to train people to certify on CPR. And First Aid, and the AED. It is actually pretty cool. The plan is to go to our Area offices and teach these things -- much cheaper than bringing in an outside vendor. I keep thinking there is also a good little side business that can eventually be done with this thing!!! But tomorrow I do get to go back into the office and see what fun has occurred while I was gone. I can only imagine.

Other than that, it hasn't been just too exciting. I finally got my car washed today (and lucky me, Wednesday is a special manager price. I was excited!). I have been in serious PMS mode, so yeah, hormones have been a little out of whack. Not good at some points :/. But it is all good. I am looking forward to girls night on Friday night at Jen's. Gotta figure out what goody I am going to bring! I think I am going to find a yummy fat free/low fat cooking to bake. There are a couple of meringue cookie recipes that look good, but I have never made meringue in my life so..... should I attempt it now? Probably. To be adventurous :).

Well, I am going to get ready for bed! My workout this afternoon just really kind of whipped me. I did cardio but did 45 minutes of intense elliptical. All good, but my body is just tired. I have Ryan tomorrow night and then I really think Friday is going to be a rest day. I probably deserve it :).

Great Surprise

Yesterday afternoon was pretty cool. My mom called to let me know that my Aunt Beverly and two cousins Amy and Brandy from OK were in Allen at the outlet mall. So I drove to Allen to spend the afternoon with them. I hadn't seen them in forever so it was pretty nice. Cousin Amy is pregnant and this is the first time I got to see the pregnant belly. She looks so cute! And she is due on or around my birthday. Just thought I'd through that in :). I didn't buy anything for anybody else. I did find a great coat for me, so of course I snatched that up. It is just yummy feeling. And a couple of shirts from the Ann Taylor outlet. That was a nice outlet store and possibly my favorite :). I also got a couple of tank tops for working out in and some kitchen stuff. I found so many awesome kitchen gadgets, but seriously, I have no place to put them. I think I can actually make due with what I have for now........ :) I left Allen at 5:30 because Mike and I had a Sushi night date. And the sushi was wonderful of course. We then went home and watched the 2nd season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm". Some seriously funny stuff!!!

Today is my low key day. I may venture out the the grocery store so I have some lunch food for next week. Other than that, the big thing is to hit the gym for cardio. Cardio is my friend, cardio is my friend............ Have a wonderful Sunday!!!

Finally.... the switch to Christmas Music

It is Dec. 1st, so I feel it is okay to finally switch to the Christmas station on the radio. I heard the Hippopotamus song at lunch so I was very happy. Mike has yet to hear this song. He will think I am even crazier than he already does...... :). I don't care. It is what makes me so lovable!!!! I actually know what I am getting most people for Christmas so I am good. I just need to go buy the gifts. I think I have also given sufficient ideas for me. All is happy in present land. Except, I don't know what to get my brother. Oh, he is coming home for Christmas!! Yay! I don't tell him enough (or ever...) but he is a cool brother and I am pretty proud of him. He seems to have no fear in trying new things and learning more and more. Wow, a Jon love fest. Would he be embarrassed or happy? :)

Okay, the winner of the worst excuse for staying home from work award: My apartment parking lot has ice and I can't get out...... seriously. This was actually called in today. I want to ask her at what temperature water freezes. I don't think she gets the concept. And even if you didn't feel safe at 7:30 AM, every thing was pretty much thawed by 10. And this is the same woman who will moan that she does not have any PTO for Christmas time. And, the excuse makes her look very dumb. Even if that was my real reason, I think I would have lied....... like I am sick or something. Seriously..... when I thought she couldn't get any dumber......

Now onto my favorite thing of the day (besides the Office, which was pretty funny last night, btw): Yummy Bath and Body Works - Wicked Hot Chocolate bubble bath/body wash. Sinful smell that just makes you think you are washing with real chocolate. And the smell lingers for a long time. I go into my bathroom and I can still smell it! My second favorite is the Apple Spiced Cider body wash. It is amazing what they can do these days with bath products.

Okay, Friday afternoon is almost over. I have done my big thing for the day (register for a class next week), so I might just Christmas shop...... or maybe actually work :).

Later!