End of July

Last week was very busy for me at work. I think I worked something like 50 hours, even pulling two 12-hour days back to back. We had a big audit by a huge potential client (has anyone heard of Samsung before?!) on Thursday, so we were frantically trying to get our shop looking marvelous. I think we pulled it off, lol. I won't know if Samsung liked what they saw and will be sending us business anytime soon, but at least all the craziness is over.

This past weekend I went to San Antonio to spend Saturday night with a friend from North Dakota as it is her birthday this upcoming Wednesday. We went to dinner, and I got to play with her 11 month old daughter. Of course we talked non-stop. It was nice to take a drive away from the city.

On Sunday I went grocery shopping while Marshall slept. All summer he's been preparing meals, cleaning, and doing house projects while I've been at work. I decided I would take something off his list while he slept. This week for dinner we're having:
*Lasagna with eggplant, vegetables, and ground turkey
*French onion soup
*Eggplant Parmesian
*Lemon chicken with stir fry pasta
*Grilled chicken breasts with fruit salsa
*Cobb salads

I also started working on presents for Melissa's baby shower that I'm hosting on August 7th. So far I made a receiving blanket that doubles as a towel and 2 bibs. I need to go get some more thread so I can finish up more sewing projects for her. :) I'll post pictures when I have everything completed.

Tonight has a relaxing night. We watched Sunday's episode of True Blood together. I made pico de gallo while Marshall put together the lasagna. Can't wait to have some in a little bit! Tuesday night I have a personal training session at 6pm. Wednesday is free at the moment, and Thursday is the big day--Marshall's 28th birthday! I have one present for him that he's going to love. His bigger birthday present is a murder mystery date downtown on Friday night. Shhh, he doesn't know this but his parents are coming up from Houston as a surprise. We haven't seen them since April, so it will be a really great evening with the four of us together.

Saturday I'll go to the gym after my WW meeting, but other than that the weekend is still wide open. Sunday is our one year anniversary of our wedding in Idaho. I can't wait until we move there in 8 years, lol. :p We haven't decided on what we'll do on Sunday together yet. I guess we better get crackin' on that, huh?

July is always a good month, but I feel that the end really signifies the beginning of the climb towards the holidays. Kids will be counting down the last few days of summer while parents save up to buy school supplies. Then it's all about dec'ing out the house for Halloween. We'll probably stay in Austin for Thanksgiving since I want to run the Turkey Trot 5K on that morning, and I've volunteered to work the day after Thanksgiving incase my co-worker Emily wants it off. Then of course the big event of my birthday is next--I'll be 25--followed closely by Christmas and 2012. This year will be another good one for us, but I can't wait until '12 because then we're closer to Marshall being finished with school...and babies. :D

Back from vacation

I had a great 4 days visiting my best friend Heather in North Carolina last week. I flew out on Wednesday morning and came home on Sunday afternoon. Yes, that means I've only worked 4 days this month so far, lol. I had a great time though. I got to meet her friends, so now I can put faces to names. I got to see her house, which she's had for just over 2 years now. I met her pets Baron and Milo. Most importantly we had time to talk, ramble, giggle, and even cry happy tears. She introduced me to spaghetti squash and beat me 2 out of 3 games of Scrabble. We got our hair cut and had pedicures (isn't that the definition of Girls' Weekend?); I even colored my hair. It now has a slight red tint to it. She helped me style my new shorter hairstyle, which my husband calls my pixie cut. It was a complete surprise for him, hehehe.

I hadn't seen Heather since my wedding almost a year ago, so this was really fun. It meant a lot to me that she was part of my bridal party and flew all the way to Idaho for the weekend. I'm glad I got to take a turn and visit her this time. :)

Buff Mamacita

I wanted everyone to know that I'm really enjoying my personal training sessions at the gym! My trainer is an awesome guy, and we have the same sense of humor, so our sessions go by really quickly because we're always cracking jokes. I've done a total of 6 training sessions, and I can see (and feel) the improvement in my muscles. I'm making more and more progress each day. I can't wait to find an outfit that will flatter my new body once I reach my goal.

The reason I am doing Weight Watchers is do develop a healthy lifestyle for myself and a healthy body before I become a mother (2013?!). My training sessions compliment this lifestyle, and I'm so proud of myself for diligently striving to reach my goal. I'm going to be a buff mamacita one day!

How Time Flies

It was 4 years ago today that I met Marshall my husband. I find it amazing on how you can't remember something from yesterday, but you'll never forget the vivid memories of meeting someone for the first time.  From that first day I knew Marshall was going to have a place in my life. Now he owns my heart. :D

Puppy Mode

So I did something that is so unlike the old me--I put myself first. I signed up for another 11 training sessions with Paul. That's right, I spent a lot of money on just me; nobody else really benefits from it but me. Although I still feel awkward that I have no idea to what extent this investment payoff will be in comparison to other ways the funds could have been used, for example, paying extra principle on our mortgage results in less interest paid to the bank. Regardless, I'm optimistic that learning how to exercise and use my body as a machine (more importantly one that I understand and can control) will benefit me for the rest of my life. In the grand scheme of the universe, it's a small price to pay for knowledge. I'm going to be in what I've dubbed "puppy mode" because I'll be following Paul around the gym (right on his heels), probably feel like I'm bigger than I really am (meaning that I can take on more than I'm physically able to), and being in a growing stage.

My goals are to do two resistance/strength training workouts per week, continuous cardio activity for 30 minutes (+/-) three times per week, and on a daily basis, work on stretching, increasing flexibility, and/or strengthening weak muscles (without a doubt my lower back). If I can get more activity in, it only adds to the positive end results. As ambitious of a person that I am, I need to take the time to listen to my body to see if I'm ready for more or less.

Probably my best stretching resource is going to be my pilates DVD with the resistance ban. For doing cardio (inside the house) and working my muscles just a tad bit more, I'll resort to my Punch! DVD. If it wasn't so freaking Africa hot right now, I'd play tennis with my husband outside. When I go for walks or jogs, I'm going to being the jump rope so I can pause intermittenly and give the ol' ticker a boost before continuing on. I'm going to research some creative and fun ways to bring sexy back to balance. =D

On Saturdays after my WW meeting, I'm going to the gym. It's less than a mile away, and I'll feel great for having such a productive morning!

oooo, That's Sore

Last night we went to the gym for the first time since February. We worked out with the machines. Yeah, this morning I could tell that I had gotten the major muscle groups. I'm so sore, but I'm so proud of myself for taking charge at the gym. Hopefull this upcoming week I can start my personal trainer sessions (three free ones with my membership). I hope I heal quickly!

I Think I Finally Get It

I've been doing Weight Watcher's PointsPlus Plan since the beginning of the year, and I've lost over 25 pounds, which I'm really proud of. The first two weeks of May I wasn't enthused about doing any exercising. Instead I focused on painting our kitchen and second living room. The week of May 16th I kicked myself into gear. Monday night I did the WW Punch! workout DVD and went for a 2.3 mile walk. Tuesday morning Marshall and I went for a 1.5 mile walk. Thursday night we jogged the majority of our 1.5 mile neighborhood "track." Friday morning I did Punch! again before work. Needless to say, my exercises for the week focused on muscle toning and cardio.

This morning at my weigh-in I went up .2, and to be honest, it don't bother me because I knew that it meant I had increased my muscle mass while at the same time loosing fat. My meeting leader Pam is helping all of us overcome our behavior of letting the "little black box" or scale determine if we had a successful week as a fit and healthy person in the fat burning mode. I finally experienced what she has been stressing.

I am going to continue walking, jogging, and Punch! (kickboxing) DVD because I want to strengthen and tone my muscles. I want to fit into smaller pants. I want to wear tank tops and not even think about how my arms look. I want to get a bathing suit for my trip to NC for when I go to the beach. Even if I don't see my weight change very much over the next few weeks, I hope I can celebrate the positive physical changes I'll be seeing.