Friday Hops

First I'm heading over to Follow Friday Four Fill In at Hilary's

This week’s statements:
1.      ____always tastes better_____
2.       I predominately read _____
3.       I have brand loyalty to ____________ and ____________
4. When I feel sad, I like to ___
My Answers:
1)      Turkey always tastes better when when it's smoked. 
2)      I predominately read textbooks right now.

3)      I have brand loyalty to my coffee and won't even try other brands.

4)      When I feel sad I like to be alone.

Then I'll go on over to Mama M's for 5 question Friday:

1. Do you apologize to your kids if you're wrong?

Definitely!

2. Do you have a class ring, letterman's jacket, or similar obscenely priced high school "must have"?

I do have a class ring and it's one of my prized possessions - although I haven't worn it in years

3. If you could be one age for the rest of your life, what age would you choose?

I'd love to be in my 30's again.

4. What is your favorite (unused) baby name?

I've always liked the name Jade.

5. If you could make your child like something what would it be?

I'd be happy with whatever they choose. Everybody is different and you can't make your kids like what you do.

Week 2 Day 3

It's Thursday morning and I just thought I'd touch base.

Monday night - I DID tae bo
Tuesday night - I DID tae bo
Wednesday night - I DID tae bo

And I can feel the muscles tightening up already.

I also have been using "My fitness pal" to track my food and exercise. It keeps telling me that I'm not eating enough calories and my body is going to go into starvation mode. I'm not hungry. I'm eating the same things I've always eaten. For instance - my food log from yesterday -
 
breakfast - apple
lunch - Casey's cheeseburger without the bun
dinner - grilled chicken thigh, wild rice, brussel sprouts
snack - coke freeze (icee)

Does anyone else use My fitness pal - seems like someone posted something about it.Just wondering.

Wednesday hops

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

Time to head over to Joyce's for Wednesday's Hodgepodge. Here goes:

1. It is officially fall here in North America...I realize not everyone who participates in the Hodgepodge lives in North America, but if you do what's your favorite memory of Summer 2011? If you're not in North America, what's your favorite memory of the season just ending on your side of the world?

I'd have to say my favorite memory would be the phone call from my son and dil letting me know I was going to be a grandma! I will always remember the excitement in my son's voice and his playful way of telling me.

2. Your favorite nut? You know I mean the edible kind, right?

Brazil nuts are my absolute favorite! It usually works out for me as most people pick around them - more for me!

3. What activity puts your sense of balance to the test?

Right now I'd have to say tae bo. I have a bad leg from a car accident years ago and have some trouble balancing on it to do the side kicks.

4. How would you describe your sense of humor?

Warped would be a good word for it.

5. September 28th is National Ask a Stupid Question Day...what's your stupid question?

Stupid question? Do the schools not teach kids to write proper English anymore? It annoys me to no end to read some of their posts to online discussion questions - and these are GRADUATE CLASSES!

6. Roller skates~hula hoop~jump rope...which activity would you most enjoy? Yes, you have to choose.

Roller skates - although I haven't been skating for years.

7. What's your most sentimental possession?

A whiskey bottle shaped like a horse that my dad gave me years ago.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Random thoughts? Seems like all my thoughts are random anymore. How about this: 87 days left till Christmas and not enough paychecks in between. 

Now I'll head over to Patrice's for a little chat on her porch. I do so love sitting on the porch with friends chatting about anything and everything.

Questions

1. Would you rather cook or clean house?
2. Who do you resemble in your family?
3. Have you tried e-books yet?
4. Do you collect anything?
5. What's your favorite fall tradition?

My answers:

1. I'd rather cook. It seems to me that the older I get, the more I enjoy cooking. Ironic in that the older I get, the harder it is to lose weight.
2. I'd like to be able to say my dad, but in reality I do look like my mother.
3. My daughter has a nook and absolutely loves it. My DIL has the Kendall and loves it. I've been debating on which one I want to get.
4. I collect snowmen. there's nothing like a jolly old snowman to give your spirits a little life.
5. Decorating for Halloween, Thanksgiving and then Christmas! The smell of apple pie, pumpkin, cookies.................  It's just a cheerful time of year.

Week 2 day 1

I'm so glad to be able to report that I DID tae bo last night! Woke up this morning with some sore muscles - sore in a good way though - nothing that will interfere with life - just my body telling me that I need to do this a lot more.

The Tae Bo Story

My niece introduced me to tae bo about seven years ago. She came to my son's going away party when he was going into the Air Force. I commented that she looked great and she told me about tae bo.

A few weeks later I happened to be in Dollar General when a "Tae Bo - Billy Blanks" VCR tape caught my eye. It cost $1.00. I figured I couldn't go wrong with a buck so I took it home.

That night me and my daughter did tae bo for the first time. It was actually fun and you could tell you were working muscles not normally worked. I went back and bought more tapes. My daughter and I kept it up and I lost 26 pounds - quickly. I stopped doing it.

 Then came my daughter's wedding a few years later. OMG - I had gained A LOT - and for some reason I thought I HAD TO BE THE SAME SIZE AS MY DAUGHTER for her wedding. After all, there were going to be pictures taken - I couldn't look FAT. So back to the tae bo I went. I ordered the DVDs and started doing it every night - and it worked. I lost 63 pounds from January to June.

The wedding was over - I slacked up  and slowly put the pounds back on-although not ALL of them :).

Last year at this time I joined a "biggest loser" contest here at work. Did the tae bo - lost 17.5 pounds in 8 weeks.

Quit doing it. - gained some back.

So here I am now doing the Christmas Dress Challenge and I know what I have to do - Plain and simple - the weight will come off if I do the tae bo. And I really don't mind doing it - just need to force myself to make the time.

Christmas Dress Challenge

The scale was not good to me this morning. Weighing in at 169.2 - a measly .8 loss for the week - but I guess it's better than a gain. I'm hoping that it is partly due to the salt that I had yesterday. As far as the week goes:
I did keep track of my caloric intake and kept it <1400 on 5 out of the 7 days.
I did not do tae bo at all.

My goals for this week:

1. I will do tae bo
2. I will do tae bo
3. I will do tae bo

That's it for me - hope everybody else did better!

Saturday projects

I've been very busy today! First I made this

Pomegranate jelly. Making jellies and jams is one of my favorite things to do - which is a little weird because I don't eat any of it - just like making it. Biz eats a lot of it and I usually end up giving a lot away. I like to do baskets at Christmas filled will mini loaves of bread and a variety of jam and jelly. I've been doing it so long, people have come to expect it and usually let me know what their favorite flavors are. I wanted to try pomegranate because I knew it would be a little on the tart side. I did have to sort of "cheat" on this because we don't have pomegranates around here but I found some 100% juice and had to do it. Biz says it's really good. We'll see how everyone else likes it.

I'm always looking for new flavors so if anyone has any ideas let me know. So far this year I've done:
blackberry, blueberry, black raspberry, red raspberry, strawberry, peach, apricot, corn cob, green tomato, jalapeno (which is one of my most requested), and this pomegranate. I found recipes on Friday for both dandelion and honeysuckle jelly - sadly won't be able to try those till next spring.

Then - after doing all the laundry for the week (which involves multiple trips up and down the stairs and then to the clothesline and back), doing all the vacuuming and other household tasks and taking the dog for a walk ( trying to justify these as exercise because I still have not done tae bo) - I finished this.

And then I started another baby blanket.

Then I came and sat down at the computer to do some homework - finished!!  :)
This post is my reward for getting everything done!


As far as the diet goes, haven't been bad today but like I said - still haven't done the tae bo. We'll see what the scale says on Monday morning

Friday Hops

Found some new hops to do: First up is Hilary's Follow Friday Four Fill-In

This week’s statements:

1. When I was little, all I wanted was a _____

2. I always want to love to ____ but no matter how hard I try, I don’t.

3. The ___________________ of it all was that ______________________

4. The mist around the mountains makes me

_______________

My Answers:

1. When I was little, all I wanted was a to be a mommy!

2. I always want to love to exercise but no matter how hard I try, I don’t.

3. The irony of it all was that I used to be able to eat anything at all and never gain weight - now I have to count every calorie.

4. The mist around the mountains makes me homesick.

 

Next is Five Question Friday from Mama M. at My Little Life. 

Rules for Five Question Friday: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then watch for the linky post to appear Friday morning! Also...and this IS IMPORTANT...have fun!!!

Thank you all for making this such a fun, successful blog hop every week!

Questions for Friday, September 23rd:

1. Dream job...realistic and completely unrealistic.

2. Do you fart in front of your significant other?

3. What's the furthest you've ever traveled from home? How far and where was it?

4. How do you celebrate birthday for your kids? Family only or friends? ... Alternate for those without kiddos: How did you celebrate birthdays as a kid?

5. Fave thing about fall?

My Answers-----------------------------------------------------

1. Dream job...realistic and completely unrealistic.

Realistic: To simply make enough to pay the bills and live comfortably.

Unrealistic: To be an independently wealthy stay at home grandma!

2. Do you fart in front of your significant other?

After tolerating being on the "receiving end" of that behavior for long enough, I think you have to retaliate once in a while.

3. What's the furthest you've ever traveled from home? How far and where was it?

Texas for my son's wedding or Florida  years ago on spring break.

4. How do you celebrate birthdays for your kids? Family only or friends? ... Alternate for those without kiddos: How did you celebrate birthdays as a kid?

A family party is the only way to go.

5. Fave thing about fall?

The leaves turning colors, a little bite in the air, great sleeping weather, building a fire in the firepit and roasting hot dogs.

New Sonogram Pics

Grandbaby! What else can I say? I guess they know the sex now and I must admit that I'm wavering a little about wanting to know/not wanting to know.

From A to B

See my new banner! I was pretty proud of myself when I figured out how to do that.

A - This is where me and my daughter are (40 miles apart but not far enough to show a "B").

B - This is where my new (and FIRST) grandbaby will be in Feb/March of next year.

Gotta come up with a plan - how do I get from A to B? How much do I have to save every payday to do this? Is it even possible to do this?

I can - I WILL - There are times in your life when you just gotta do what you gotta do!

Yesterday-day 3 of Christmas Dress Challenge

My wt this morning was 167.8 - up a pound from yesterday. I counted 1251 calories yesterday which isn't too bad but my food choices were not so good. Mac & cheese, a bag of peanuts, a glass of wine and a slice of ham - nothing I ate was really good. Granted I didn't eat much of it - but still bad choices. I think my problem was that I gave blood Tue which always leaves me starving and really tired the next day. I also need to start taking a fiber supplement because I'm feeling bloated already - could account for some of the gain.
All in all - the first week is going ok - could be better but could be a lot worse. I love reading everybody's posts and think this will help me in keeping myself on track.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's Wednesday - time to head over to Joyce's for the weekly hodgepodge so here goes -

1. Do you like chili? Red or white? Beans or no beans? Spice or no spice? Toppings?

I love chili but only when the weather turns cool (or cold). I make mine with deer burger, both chili and kidney beans, my own home canned tomato juice and whole tomatoes and LOTS of spices. As for toppings, you can't go wrong with cheese.

2. Red-orange-gold...your favorite fall color?

I love the fall colors but only in groups. I don't really care for any of them by themselves but put them together and they look great.

3. Who did you idolize when you were growing up?

I can't really remember idolizing anyone - maybe my dad - I was the classic tomboy and followed him everywhere.

4. When was the last time you did something 'arts and craftsy'? Share please.

As far as arts and crafts go - does crochet count - been doing that forever.

5. What's a place that makes you really nervous?

Anywhere that I have to get up in front of a group and speak - ties me in knots.

6. Horseback riding...yay or nay (neigh?)

I love horseback riding. My bf has horses and I really miss them since I moved. I did live just 5 miles away.

7. What's your favorite cliche?

I guess my favorite cliche would be "going to hell in a handbasket." I do catch myself saying that one quite a bit.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Random thoughts - Christmas is less than 100 days away. With the weather turning cooler I find myself digging through decorations and planning what to use. First there's Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and then the day after thanksgiving, the Christmas  decorations go up. It's always a highlight of my year.

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch

It's time to head over to Patrice's for the weekly chat. I truly love these chats, they remind me of sitting with my bf on her porch before I moved. She lived just 5 miles from me and we spent lots of time chatting, canning, gardening....... It's always so much better when you have friends around.

Here are this week's questions:

1. Do you have pierced ears?
2. Do you have a porch?
3. If you could have a wish for someone you know, what would that be?
4. There are less than 100 days to Christmas. Have you started shopping yet or doing anything to prepare?
5. What song is going through your head lately? If you aren't being pestered by a particular song, then what are you likely to sing or hum while you work?

My answers:

1. Yes, I do. I have multiple piercings (in my ears),and when I wear earrings I usually wear 2 pr, unfortunately, that is not very often.
2. I do have a porch, but not one as nice at Patrice's or my bf's either. But I still find myself sitting out there just about every night when the weather is good.
3. I wish my daughter would get pregnant. She wants a baby so bad - and was so upset when her brother told us they were expecting. I told her that we had 2 weddings within a year, maybe (keeping my fingers crossed) we'll have 2 babies within a year.
4. I've done a little bit of shopping already - not nearly enough. I'm at a loss as to what to get my son and daughter in law. I know they will need lots of things for the baby but it's really hard to ship things overseas - and sending money just takes the fun out of it.
5. I tend to get some of the old country songs in my head - George and Tammy usually - I was raised on country music and still love it - the new stuff doesn't hold a candle to the old classics.

So far - so good

Ok, day 1 of the challenge was ok. I had 2 apples at work, then had to go to Biz's mom's house for dinner but I did ok. I had 1/2 of a pork steak, some brussell sprouts and a few fried potatoes - I turned the pie down. When I got home I had some grapes before bed. This morning I weighed in at 168.4 which is a 1.6 loss from yesterday. That may sound like a lot but it's not. With me, I've found that the first 5 pounds comes off really quick when I stop using salt. I didn't have time to do tae bo last night because of the dinner but I plan on doing it tonight. I've also parked at the far end of the parking lot these past two mornings so I have to walk a litter further to get into work - every little bit helps (I hope).

Christmas Dress Challenge

I also am the type of person that sometimes needs a little push.  Or a challenge.  Last year I dropped 17 pounds by joining a "biggest loser" group at work. This year I am taking a part in the   Christmas Dress Challenge over at Thursday's Child. Here are the rules:

• The challenge will run from Mon September 19th - Mon December 19th.

• You must define a goal(s) at the start of a challenge.

• There will be a check-in once a week, everyone must take part in the check-in. 

1.  My main goal is to get back into this dress. 

This is the dress I wore for my daughter's wedding two and a half years ago. I bought it in February - the wedding was in June and I had to drop 63 pounds to get into it but I did it. My profile picture is of me wearing this dress, posed with my daughter and my son. Since that time I have put 40 of those pounds back on-but I did it once - I can do it again.

2.  I will exercise - Tae bo got me into this dress once so I'm hoping it'll do it again.

3.  I will stay completely away from salt as it tends to be my worst enemy. I will also stop using the flavored creamers in my coffee - I drink a LOT of coffee and those calories add up fast.

My starting weight is 170 pounds I need to be at 150 to even be able to get this thing zipped - and 136 to actually wear it (and be able to breathe).

So I guess that's it - we're off! Good luck to all of us and I look forward to watching everyone's progress!

Remodeling pictures

 

 This is where I used to live- pretty much out in the middle of nowhere - I loved it but due to a lot of issues, had to move

This is the house I bought - in a small town - it's the same distance to the town I work  in but 40 miles closer to my daughter - but it is IN TOWN - hard to get used to.

I miss my truck!

 This was the kitchen when I bought the house.

 This is the kitchen now- stripped all that awful paint off the cabinets and this is what I found. I still need to do something with that backsplash.

 This was my bedroom.

This is my bedroom now

 This was the other upstairs bedroom

This is it now

 The stairs

Those stairs now

 The living room before

And now

 Dining room/entry before

Dining and entry way now

 And this is the computer room - actually another bedroom. It's next on the list to do.

 Here is the bathroom - it will be after the computer room

And this is the built in cabinet in the entry - it didn't get painted because I want to strip it. I can tell that it is supposed to open from both sides but the kitchen side is walled over with this knotty pine paneling (last picture) - I will be pulling that off as soon as I get brave enough - Any suggestions on how to go about stripping it?

Why I haven't posted for a few days

• September 12, 2011

• 12:00 PM Module 3 due

• September 13, 2011

• All day Quizzes 1-4 END (& DISAPPEAR) TONIGHT MIDNIGHT!

• September 14, 2011

• All day Group Discussion 1 ENDS TONIGHT MIDNIGHT!

• September 15, 2011

• 8:00 AM Unit 1 Exam

• September 16, 2011

• 11:00 PM - 11:59 PM Server Maintenance Window

• September 17, 2011

• All day Unit 1 Exam CLOSES 8 pm tonight!

I think that about sums it up. This "getting a Masters degree" thing at my age, while working full time and trying to do some remodeling on my house is starting to wear a little thin. Seems like all these upper level classes want you to do is: write papers; read countless articles, books, etc.; watch documentaries; discuss said articles, books, documentaries; and take exams (which usually consist mainly of essays). I'm tired!

Chats on the farmhouse porch

1. Are you a morning person, someone who does best in the middle of the day, or a night owl?
2. Do you take vitamins or supplements?
3. If you were a dog, would you be a) a Poodle, b) a Retriever, c) a Sheep Dog, or a d)Chihuahua?
4. Please tell us about what you're reading now.
5. Okay, here I go with that magic wand! If I came to your house and could fix up one room with the wave of my wand, what would you have me renovate/redecorate/refurnish? (BTW- If I only could! That would be such fun. Then we'd sit on your porch and visit.)

My answers:

1. I guess I'm definitely a morning person. I'm always at work an hour and a half early so I can get things done and even have a hard time sleeping late on the weekends. I think it comes from the 8 years I spent working a weekend job as well as my full time job. I would open the local convenience store at 4:30 a.m. As soon as my daughter graduated college I said "enough" and quit, but I still get up early.
2. I only take supplements if I'm trying to lose weight - which is scheduled to begin again next week.
3. I'd be a sheep dog - just because I have always loved them.
4. The only thing I have time to read these days in textbooks - right now that includes "Riding the Waves of Culture" and "Management." For pleasure reading my favorite author is Sharon McCrumb. Her ballad series is set in the Appalachian Mountains, right around where I'm from originally.
5. I'd have you redo the bathroom. I have 2 rooms left to do in my house and it is one of them; at this point, I'm not real sure what direction to take so it's all yours!

Check out Patrice's porch to see everybody answers.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. What do you do at the first sign of a cold? Will you get a flu shot this year?

It doesn't usually matter what I do - if a get one sniffle, I can pretty much count on two weeks of misery. I will definitely get a flu shot.

2. What advice can you give about how to conquer fear?

I usually just jump in with both feet - sink or swim.

3. Share two good things about your life right now.

I'm going to be a grandma!!!!!!!!!

and

I have a job - whenever I have a bad day at work, I try to think back to when I was unemployed 

and didn't know what the future held.

4. A hot fall fashion trend for 2011 is a return to sixties style...tunics with pants, shift dresses, pencil skirts, cinched waists, bold prints, high necklines and short lengths to name a few. How does this fashion trend fit with your wardrobe and personal sense of style?

I don't do short short anymore either but I absolutely love tunics, especially the ones that help 

hide your midsection (if you know what I mean).

5. Were you involved in scouting as a kid? How about as an adult?

I did Brownies for one year when I was a kid. My only involvement 

as an adult came from my kids' participation.

6. Apple, pear, plum, pumpkin...your favorite fall flavor?

Pumpkin, although I do love apples, and pears, and plums.

7. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher?

I think teachers should actually like children. I've seen some people get their teaching degrees and decide they just couldn't deal with the kids.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Fall is here! Temperatures in the 60's, lows in the upper 30's. The leaves will soon be turning to beautiful colors, then they'll all turn brown and fall to the ground, and we'll have to rake them up.:(

Head on over to Joyce's to see the rest.

Flagpole

 Just in time for the anniversary of 9-11-2001.

Flagpole went up last weekend and the light went up today.

Porch lights

 These are the porch lights that were on the house when I bought it. I tried to clean this one and gave up on it.

 They both looked like this. As you can see I got quite a bit of the crud off of the other one - just not enough.

 Gone!

Side bar - does anyone know how I should go about cleaning this roof. It's made of those fiberglass-like panels that people used to use in barns around here. I'm afraid to get up there because I think they would break if I put any weight on them.

 I found these at a yard sale back in May. Paid $5 for two of them. Biz took them apart and painted them - they were white and the paint was chipped off in a lot of places.

 Now they look like this.

And this. Big improvement!
I asked MULTIPLE times through the summer for these to be put up. Last weekend he decided to paint them - without me saying a word - and this weekend he put them up! Guess he was just waiting for me to give up on it.