Man, this past week (and weekend) flew by! It's amazing how fast it is going now that we've got Lindsey's wedding to look forward to. I can't believe it is less than three weeks away!!! I also can't believe that all of my out of town family will be here so soon! It seems like so long since I've seen you all so I am super excited.
My week pretty much went as follows: work, work, work, dentist appointment, doctor appointment, more work, weekend finally... but then work at home. I actually had a really nice weekend. On Friday night I went out to dinner with my sisters and two of their friends to celebrate Becky's twenty sixth birthday. We went to The Melting Pot and had some wine and some cocktails and ate on the back patio to enjoy the gorgeous weather. I sometimes feel like the old lady of the group around all those youngin's but we I had a great time. It was fun just to hang out with the girls.
Saturday I got up gung-ho, excited about the gorgeous weather we were forecast to have. I did a little light cleaning in the morning before changing into my bathing suit and heading outside. Joe pumped up the pool floats and we ventured in the pool. Then we realized we may have been a little too over anxious to start pool season because the water was fa-reezing! I tried to tough it out and float around on my raft soaking up the sun but every time I moved a centimeter the cold water would rush onto my raft and I'd break into Lamaze breathing. So, after about a half hour we gave up and decided to do some much needed work in the back yard instead. I took all the screens off my windows and washed them down and vacuumed out the tracks and washed the windows. I also bleached and scrubbed my patio chairs and swept off my back porch. The bonus is I stayed in my bathing suit while working and got a little sun anyway.
After all that hard work Joe and I headed out to our home away from home, The Home Depot. We're discussing our next project already and wanted to take a look around. We think we're going to tackle landscaping next. The bad thing is that neither of us know anything about landscaping. We need to know what kind of plants we can basically ignore and not kill. But, they also have to be dog friendly and pretty. Right now we're looking for stuff for both our front and back yards. We are leaning towards hibiscus in the back yard along the front of our shed because the flowers are big and come in lots of bright colors, they are easy to trim into a hedge that will block our hideous shed, and they are pretty much indestructible. So far on the front yard we know we want a palm tree... and that's about all we've decided. I think we're going to seek some professional help for this project.
That brings us to today. We got up early and went to breakfast then to WalMart for all our weekly shopping. Buying healthy food is freaking expensive! Those damn fruits and veggies really add up. After that we had the whole family over for a BBQ and cake for Becky's birthday. Like usual the babies were the main attraction. My sweet little nephew found the dirtiest things in my back yard to play with and had a great time. There was also a little birthday back stabbing. Lindsey decided it be a good idea to push the fully dressed birthday girl into the pool. Which, if you remember from earlier in the post, was freaking freezing. I'm interested to see what kind of payback will come from that one. But, it was a big ol' day of family fun.
Now we're just winding down getting ready for the week ahead. I hope you all had a glorious weekend and hope you make it through your week without any major drama. TTFN!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Making progress
I've been going to the gym for almost two months now. When I started they did a body evaluation which included measurements, body fat composition, and lean mass calculations. No, it wasn't fun but it was necessary to give us a reference point for future evaluations. Well, my second evaluation was today. I've had mixed feelings about this looming second evaluation. I feel like I've been working hard at the gym but know that my nutrition has been really bad and the numbers on the scale haven't budged. I was worried that at my evaluation there would be no change and that I would've wasted a month and a half at the gym.
I went dragging in to the evaluation today and shared my concerns with my trainer. She told me not to worry because even if the numbers weren't great, we can always tweak things to make a bigger difference. With that said, the evaluation went great! I wasn't expecting huge changes in my numbers but was hoping to see some change and I did. I'm not going to tell you guys what my measurements were or are because they still aren't anything to brag about but I will tell you how much everything changed because I am super proud of myself. Here we go...
Neck- reduction of 3/4"
Shoulders- stayed the same
Chest- reduction of 1/2"
Natural waist- reduction of 1/2"
Waist at belly button- reduction of 3/4"
Upper hips- reduction of 3/4"
Lower hips- reduction of 3/4"
Thigh- reduction of 1 1/2" (!!!!!)
Calf- reduction of 1/4"
Bicep- increase of 1/2" (check out my guns!)
Forearm- stayed the same
The biggest change for me though, my body fat composition. I decreased my body fat by 3.7%!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so freaking proud of that!!! I also increased my lean muscle mass by 7 pounds and decreased my body fat by 6 pounds. The scale didn't move but I've definitely gained muscle. Another good thing was my resting heart beat which went from 69 to 61. That means I'm making my heart healthier too.
All in all, I'm very happy about the progress I've made. I'm getting stronger and healthier and a little bit leaner. My trainer and I discussed ways that I can speed up and increase my progress too. She suggested working out five days a week instead of just three and also working out my nutrition. The working out is no longer the hardest thing for me. I truly enjoy going to the gym and having that time to myself and sweating out all my stress and frustration. The food is still my vice. I've been discussing nutrition with Joe and hopefully we'll be able to make some positive changes together. That's really all that's holding me back at this point. Any suggestions on how to eat healthier? I know it's a lot easier said than done.
But, you know, for tonight, I'm not going to worry about what else I could be doing and be proud and focus on all the good stuff that I have been doing. I'm really proud of myself today and can't wait for the next evaluation!
I went dragging in to the evaluation today and shared my concerns with my trainer. She told me not to worry because even if the numbers weren't great, we can always tweak things to make a bigger difference. With that said, the evaluation went great! I wasn't expecting huge changes in my numbers but was hoping to see some change and I did. I'm not going to tell you guys what my measurements were or are because they still aren't anything to brag about but I will tell you how much everything changed because I am super proud of myself. Here we go...
Neck- reduction of 3/4"
Shoulders- stayed the same
Chest- reduction of 1/2"
Natural waist- reduction of 1/2"
Waist at belly button- reduction of 3/4"
Upper hips- reduction of 3/4"
Lower hips- reduction of 3/4"
Thigh- reduction of 1 1/2" (!!!!!)
Calf- reduction of 1/4"
Bicep- increase of 1/2" (check out my guns!)
Forearm- stayed the same
The biggest change for me though, my body fat composition. I decreased my body fat by 3.7%!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so freaking proud of that!!! I also increased my lean muscle mass by 7 pounds and decreased my body fat by 6 pounds. The scale didn't move but I've definitely gained muscle. Another good thing was my resting heart beat which went from 69 to 61. That means I'm making my heart healthier too.
All in all, I'm very happy about the progress I've made. I'm getting stronger and healthier and a little bit leaner. My trainer and I discussed ways that I can speed up and increase my progress too. She suggested working out five days a week instead of just three and also working out my nutrition. The working out is no longer the hardest thing for me. I truly enjoy going to the gym and having that time to myself and sweating out all my stress and frustration. The food is still my vice. I've been discussing nutrition with Joe and hopefully we'll be able to make some positive changes together. That's really all that's holding me back at this point. Any suggestions on how to eat healthier? I know it's a lot easier said than done.
But, you know, for tonight, I'm not going to worry about what else I could be doing and be proud and focus on all the good stuff that I have been doing. I'm really proud of myself today and can't wait for the next evaluation!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
And the winner is...
Da...Da....Da....Daaaaaaah!!!! The back splash is in!! Whew! What a journey this kitchen has been. We're actually not quite done yet. There is still the matter of under cabinet lighting that needs to be addressed but the back splash was the biggest piece that was still missing from my kitchen. We just finished grouting today and got everything all cleaned off.
We decided to go with the marble tile instead of the glass. When I wrote about this last time I told you all that the glass tile was running $28 a square foot or three times what we'd budgeted for our back splash. Well, after a little more investigation we found out that that price didn't include shipping and handling which would add another $25 a square foot!!! I almost died. With the shipping and handling the tile to do our kitchen would've been $1855!! That's more than we paid for our granite counter tops. So, that was the kiss of death for the glass tiles. We went with the marble, which was still pricey, but Becky was able to hook us up with a small builder discount so that was nice.
We picked up the tile on Thursday after work and started putting it on the walls yesterday. The tile came on 12x12 sheets so that made laying it interesting. In a way it was good because we didn't have to lay each 1x2 tile by hand but the sheets were a little awkward to fit on the wall. We did the wall behind the stove first since it was all just the 1x2 bricks. Then we moved to the side with the sink. That wall was pretty easy as well until we got to our decorative inset over the sink. Joe and my math skills were put to the test as we tried to figure out how many of the 3x4 tiles we needed to cut off the sheet in order for it to fit inside the border we selected. But, we put our minds together and made it work and it turned out great. It was tough piecing the 1x2's around the inset but we managed.
We're both really proud of ourselves today because this is the biggest thing that we've done in the kitchen all by ourselves. My dad wasn't here at all to help us with this one. We were all on our own and we did a great job. I even laid some tile too! It's nice to look at a project and admire how good it looks aesthetically but it's an even better feeling knowing that you did it yourself. We're so proud of all the work we've done to our house. It really makes this house feel like ours and it really reflects our style and tastes. I know we've always considered this our "starter" home but it is going to be hard leaving this house someday with all the hard work and time and effort and especially the memories that we've put into it. It's a really special house and I'm really proud to live in it.
Of course there are pictures in the album so check them out and let me know what you think. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!!!
We decided to go with the marble tile instead of the glass. When I wrote about this last time I told you all that the glass tile was running $28 a square foot or three times what we'd budgeted for our back splash. Well, after a little more investigation we found out that that price didn't include shipping and handling which would add another $25 a square foot!!! I almost died. With the shipping and handling the tile to do our kitchen would've been $1855!! That's more than we paid for our granite counter tops. So, that was the kiss of death for the glass tiles. We went with the marble, which was still pricey, but Becky was able to hook us up with a small builder discount so that was nice.
We picked up the tile on Thursday after work and started putting it on the walls yesterday. The tile came on 12x12 sheets so that made laying it interesting. In a way it was good because we didn't have to lay each 1x2 tile by hand but the sheets were a little awkward to fit on the wall. We did the wall behind the stove first since it was all just the 1x2 bricks. Then we moved to the side with the sink. That wall was pretty easy as well until we got to our decorative inset over the sink. Joe and my math skills were put to the test as we tried to figure out how many of the 3x4 tiles we needed to cut off the sheet in order for it to fit inside the border we selected. But, we put our minds together and made it work and it turned out great. It was tough piecing the 1x2's around the inset but we managed.
We're both really proud of ourselves today because this is the biggest thing that we've done in the kitchen all by ourselves. My dad wasn't here at all to help us with this one. We were all on our own and we did a great job. I even laid some tile too! It's nice to look at a project and admire how good it looks aesthetically but it's an even better feeling knowing that you did it yourself. We're so proud of all the work we've done to our house. It really makes this house feel like ours and it really reflects our style and tastes. I know we've always considered this our "starter" home but it is going to be hard leaving this house someday with all the hard work and time and effort and especially the memories that we've put into it. It's a really special house and I'm really proud to live in it.
Of course there are pictures in the album so check them out and let me know what you think. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!!!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Yeah Right
Curiosity got the best of me today. I was standing in line at the grocery store picking up some Stove Top stuffing to go with our BBQ chicken dinner and saw the Jennifer Lopez People magazine cover. There she was, looking all glamorous and made up, with her two adorable twins. I couldn't resist, I had to buy it. I had to see all the details of the babies and the nursery and hear all about the pregnancy and birth and blah, blah, blah. I know, I just get sucked in to that crap. I heard People magazine paid like $6 million for the pictures and story so it had to be juicy stuff, right?
First of all, the kids are cute. Not that it matters, but they are. The pictures are just so so. I mean, don't get me wrong, they're beautiful but how many mothers of one month old twins hang out around the house in an evening gown, full make up, an up-do and huge diamond earrings? I guess I would've liked to have seen a toned-down photo shoot ala Nicole Richie. The nursery is so gaudy. I don't think they could've fit one more ribbon or frill or crystal chandelier in the damn room. But again, it doesn't really matter. They are first time parents (well she is) and they are rich beyond belief so I guess if they want chandeliers in their nursery, so be it.
My problem with the article is the interview. Her pregnancy was sooo easy and she didn't have any cravings or any morning sickness yada, yada, yada. Really? You're pregnant with twins and you just woke up everyday feeling just as fierce as you did every other day of your life? Ok, whatever. And now their lives are so great and they don't sleep, they just stare at the babies until 6am. Ok. I understand you are enjoying your babies beyond belief but I find it hard, if you're really the one getting up and taking care of both of them, that you're just wide awake staring at them until six in the morning. I don't have kids but I know moms and I know that staying up until six in the morning just staring lovingly at your baby isn't quite realistic.
I think the thing that burned me up the most though is her description of how she got pregnant. She said in the article that they tried to get pregnant for three years. Ok, that sucks and I'm sure was very frustrating. But, she insists they never used fertility treatments. WHAT?! You mean to tell me that at 38 years old and after trying, unsuccessfully, for three years to get pregnant that you just miraculously got pregnant with twins on your own? I call BS on that one J.Lo. What a slap in the face to women going through fertility treatments. Why not just come out and say that she used fertility treatments? Why lie and make it seem like it was some natural, miraculous thing. She's basically saying that if you keep trying, even at almost 40, you too could get pregnant with twins. F-you Jenny from the block.
I guess it just pisses me off because someone with her level of fame could really bring a lot of exposure to the problem of infertility. It's dumb, but celebrities somehow have the power to get into Washington and meet with law makers and influence them to pay attention to certain issues. If Jennifer Lopez could get in with someone and pressure them to start making insurance companies recognize infertility as something they need to pay for, that could help a lot of women out there who will probably either go deep into debt to try to conceive a child or just end up childless because they have no insurance coverage to help them achieve their dream.
You know, I understand that infertility is embarrassing and hurtful but even if she didn't go into detail about her struggles and just admitted that she had help conceiving it would be a lot better. At least then she's not putting false hope into a bunch of women who are looking at her saying, "see she had children naturally and late in life, I can too". Shame on you Jennifer Lopez!
First of all, the kids are cute. Not that it matters, but they are. The pictures are just so so. I mean, don't get me wrong, they're beautiful but how many mothers of one month old twins hang out around the house in an evening gown, full make up, an up-do and huge diamond earrings? I guess I would've liked to have seen a toned-down photo shoot ala Nicole Richie. The nursery is so gaudy. I don't think they could've fit one more ribbon or frill or crystal chandelier in the damn room. But again, it doesn't really matter. They are first time parents (well she is) and they are rich beyond belief so I guess if they want chandeliers in their nursery, so be it.
My problem with the article is the interview. Her pregnancy was sooo easy and she didn't have any cravings or any morning sickness yada, yada, yada. Really? You're pregnant with twins and you just woke up everyday feeling just as fierce as you did every other day of your life? Ok, whatever. And now their lives are so great and they don't sleep, they just stare at the babies until 6am. Ok. I understand you are enjoying your babies beyond belief but I find it hard, if you're really the one getting up and taking care of both of them, that you're just wide awake staring at them until six in the morning. I don't have kids but I know moms and I know that staying up until six in the morning just staring lovingly at your baby isn't quite realistic.
I think the thing that burned me up the most though is her description of how she got pregnant. She said in the article that they tried to get pregnant for three years. Ok, that sucks and I'm sure was very frustrating. But, she insists they never used fertility treatments. WHAT?! You mean to tell me that at 38 years old and after trying, unsuccessfully, for three years to get pregnant that you just miraculously got pregnant with twins on your own? I call BS on that one J.Lo. What a slap in the face to women going through fertility treatments. Why not just come out and say that she used fertility treatments? Why lie and make it seem like it was some natural, miraculous thing. She's basically saying that if you keep trying, even at almost 40, you too could get pregnant with twins. F-you Jenny from the block.
I guess it just pisses me off because someone with her level of fame could really bring a lot of exposure to the problem of infertility. It's dumb, but celebrities somehow have the power to get into Washington and meet with law makers and influence them to pay attention to certain issues. If Jennifer Lopez could get in with someone and pressure them to start making insurance companies recognize infertility as something they need to pay for, that could help a lot of women out there who will probably either go deep into debt to try to conceive a child or just end up childless because they have no insurance coverage to help them achieve their dream.
You know, I understand that infertility is embarrassing and hurtful but even if she didn't go into detail about her struggles and just admitted that she had help conceiving it would be a lot better. At least then she's not putting false hope into a bunch of women who are looking at her saying, "see she had children naturally and late in life, I can too". Shame on you Jennifer Lopez!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
These are a Few of My Favorite Things
This past week has been kinda crazy. The time change and staying up all night to watch the shuttle launch really threw off my sleeping pattern. I've been really tired and groggy and a little cranky. But, this week has also reminded me of a few of my favorite things. I wanted to share them with you all.
Pink skies. It doesn't matter if the pinkness comes from a sunrise or a sunset but I can not get enough! My gorgeous sunrises that I'd gotten so accustomed to seeing on my way to work are gone due to the time change but I discovered that I will sometimes get the opportunity to see something that is just as beautiful and breathtaking. I get to see dawn. This week I saw THE most beautiful dawn I think I've ever seen. The sky was the most amazing shade of hot pink. It fanned out on the sides to a light pink and then to peach and then into blue. It was just gorgeous. I couldn't help but smile and stare and think how lucky I was to be able to see something so amazing. I took a picture with my cell phone camera through my car window. The picture doesn't do it justice at all but here it is anyway.
Orange blossoms. I think orange blossom may be my all time favorite scent. It's sweet and warm and a little salty smelling and you only get to experience it one time a year. Well, now is that time. I always know when it is officially spring when the orange trees start to blossom. I was outside throwing the ball to the dogs the other afternoon and the breeze blew by and I was just hit with the intoxicating scent of orange blossom. My neighbors tree has tons of blooms on it right now. Whenever I open the back door I get to smell that amazing scent. I was driving the back way to Merritt Island the other afternoon through all old orange groves and I was in heaven. I had the window open and the air was warm with just the hint of a cool breeze and the orange blossom scent filled the air. Again, I just smiled and thought about how lucky I am to be able to experience that even once a year.
The beach. I hadn't been to the beach since we moved into our house almost four years ago. I know that I should be ashamed of myself but we have the pool and it's just so much easier than trekking out to the beach. I was reminded today of how much I take the beach for granted. I wanted some sea shells to put in a glass vase on my coffee table and, being that I live ten minutes from the beach, I couldn't bring myself to buy shells from the store. So I recruited Becky and Pierce to go to the beach with me today to get some shells. We had the best time. The weather was GORGEOUS! It was in the 80's with hardly any clouds in the sky. There was a nice cool breeze and the water was perfectly clear. It was still a little chilly but refreshing to "splash off" in. I just layed on the beach and looked out on the ocean and smiled. I really want to make it a priority to get out to the beach at least a couple of times a season. I got some really amazing shells too. Authentic shells, for free. Which brings me to...
The first sunburn of the season. I didn't get crazy sunburned today. Those days are pretty much over for me. I use a lot more sunscreen nowadays than I used to. But, I did manage to get just a little bit pink today. Right now I have the post-sunburn warm skin feeling. It's not so much a sting as it is a radiating heat. I love it though because it reminds me of summer. The summer days where you can wear tank tops and flip flops and a bathing suit all day. The sun gives you just a little kiss of color on your skin. It makes me look and feel happy and healthy. Must be all the vitamin D. But, I feel the heat on my skin and it makes me smile.
I guess I could probably go on about my other favorite things but these four are especially bright in my mind because I've experienced them all this week. I always say that summer is my favorite season but I think spring is coming in a close second.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Blast Off!
I had the most amazing night last night!! At work they give out a small number of car passes to employees to watch the space shuttle launch from on center. They do it as a lottery. If you're interested in going to see the launch, you send your name in then they draw names to see who gets the passes. In my company they give out eight passes but there are probably 200 or so passes given out center-wide. Well, yours truly was lucky enough to get one for the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour last night!!!!!!
I have been dying to get a pass since I started working out at the space center and was so excited to be selected. I've seen two launches so far since I've been working there but they have been from outside my office building. While those were amazing to witness, having the car pass was an incredible experience. The launch was at 2:28am which made seeing it even more spectacular. There is truly nothing as beautiful and awe inspiring as a night launch. I haven't seen one in over ten years so last night was a very special experience for me.
It was also really nice that I was able to bring along Joe as my guest. I was actually allowed to bring up to six guests with me but, unbelievably, none of my friends or family wanted to join us. I understand it was at 2:30 in the morning but I couldn't imagine NOT being there. We did have one extra person join us though. She is a friend of a friend who is home from Tallahassee for spring break and was thrilled beyond belief that I invited her to come with us. It was really cool being around someone who was just as excited about the launch I as was. It was also cool hanging out with a fellow Seminole.
We loaded up Joe's truck last night with three chairs, three blankets, and our digital cameras and headed out to the center at 11:15pm. We got through security and got parked and prepped for the long countdown. I am convinced we had the absolute BEST spot in the entire lot. We were front row overlooking the Banana River with Endeavor directly across from us. I don't know for sure but I've been told the actual distance is 5 miles. We set up our chairs in the back of the truck, got some coffee and our blankets and just hung out waiting for the launch. One of my favorite parts of launch day at the space center is that they pipe the communications with the astronauts and mission control over the loud speakers. So, you can hear everything that is going on. It is so neat to hear them go through the list asking different people if they're, "go for launch" and hearing everyone chime in that they are.
It was a long three hours but we were able to pass the time by joking around and talking and listening to the loud speakers. We were even fortunate enough to get a little show from a dolphin that swam by right in front of the truck. The night was just gorgeous with low humidity and temperatures in the 50's. Towards the end of the countdown some clouds rolled in and blocked off a portion of our launch view but I didn't care one bit.
Once we got through the final hold at nine minutes, the countdown flew by. There was so much excitement and electricity in the air as they counted down from ten over the loud speakers. Then we saw the sparks ignite under the shuttle and the plume of white clouds come out from the engines. The shuttle was off the pad and all I could do was smile and scream and jump up and down. The sky lit up like it was high noon. It was gorgeous! When we lost the shuttle in the clouds we were still fortunate to get the deep rumbling booms as it climbed higher and higher into space. It is so intense that it shakes everything around you.
Needless to say, I'm pretty tired today. But I would take sleep deprivation any day for the unbelievable night I had last night. Unfortunately I don't have the best camera but I did get one pretty good picture I want to share with you guys. Being that there are only about 10 launches left until the shuttles are retired for good, I feel like I was truly a part of history last night. Enjoy the picture but know that it is nothing compared to being there and experiencing it first hand!
I have been dying to get a pass since I started working out at the space center and was so excited to be selected. I've seen two launches so far since I've been working there but they have been from outside my office building. While those were amazing to witness, having the car pass was an incredible experience. The launch was at 2:28am which made seeing it even more spectacular. There is truly nothing as beautiful and awe inspiring as a night launch. I haven't seen one in over ten years so last night was a very special experience for me.
It was also really nice that I was able to bring along Joe as my guest. I was actually allowed to bring up to six guests with me but, unbelievably, none of my friends or family wanted to join us. I understand it was at 2:30 in the morning but I couldn't imagine NOT being there. We did have one extra person join us though. She is a friend of a friend who is home from Tallahassee for spring break and was thrilled beyond belief that I invited her to come with us. It was really cool being around someone who was just as excited about the launch I as was. It was also cool hanging out with a fellow Seminole.
We loaded up Joe's truck last night with three chairs, three blankets, and our digital cameras and headed out to the center at 11:15pm. We got through security and got parked and prepped for the long countdown. I am convinced we had the absolute BEST spot in the entire lot. We were front row overlooking the Banana River with Endeavor directly across from us. I don't know for sure but I've been told the actual distance is 5 miles. We set up our chairs in the back of the truck, got some coffee and our blankets and just hung out waiting for the launch. One of my favorite parts of launch day at the space center is that they pipe the communications with the astronauts and mission control over the loud speakers. So, you can hear everything that is going on. It is so neat to hear them go through the list asking different people if they're, "go for launch" and hearing everyone chime in that they are.
It was a long three hours but we were able to pass the time by joking around and talking and listening to the loud speakers. We were even fortunate enough to get a little show from a dolphin that swam by right in front of the truck. The night was just gorgeous with low humidity and temperatures in the 50's. Towards the end of the countdown some clouds rolled in and blocked off a portion of our launch view but I didn't care one bit.
Once we got through the final hold at nine minutes, the countdown flew by. There was so much excitement and electricity in the air as they counted down from ten over the loud speakers. Then we saw the sparks ignite under the shuttle and the plume of white clouds come out from the engines. The shuttle was off the pad and all I could do was smile and scream and jump up and down. The sky lit up like it was high noon. It was gorgeous! When we lost the shuttle in the clouds we were still fortunate to get the deep rumbling booms as it climbed higher and higher into space. It is so intense that it shakes everything around you.
Needless to say, I'm pretty tired today. But I would take sleep deprivation any day for the unbelievable night I had last night. Unfortunately I don't have the best camera but I did get one pretty good picture I want to share with you guys. Being that there are only about 10 launches left until the shuttles are retired for good, I feel like I was truly a part of history last night. Enjoy the picture but know that it is nothing compared to being there and experiencing it first hand!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
The Downside of Good Taste
Well, our back splash drama continues. Who would've thought that we would still be trying to find a back splash that we like. These 35 square feet of walls are bringing us so much pain!! We did finally find some tile that we both really love this weekend. I went to a local specialty tile store and found lots of pretty things. I actually brought home three samples and we really like two of them. That's the good news.
The bad news is that the one we REALLY, REALLY love is about three times more than what we budgeted for. Yes, three times. Damn our good taste and bad financial planning!! We had hoped to finish our back splash for under $300. That would put the price per square foot of tile at around $8 a square foot. Well, the one we want is $28 a square foot or around $980 to do our kitchen. I'm shaking my head with disgust as I type. I honestly think the price is ridiculous! So much so that I really can't justify spending that kind of money on our tiny little kitchen in a house that we're not going to live in forever..... Or can I?
This is the dilemma we've been facing all weekend. Do we say, "screw it all", and go with the one that we love or do we think resale and equity and try to find something cheaper? Ugh, the drama continues. Not that I expect you guys to make this decision for us because I know we're the only ones who can make this decision BUT I did want you all to see pictures of what I'm talking about. I've attached a picture of our definite favorite and a picture of our second choice. Which, by the way, is still over our budget but is much more reasonable at $15 a square foot.
So, here they are. The one on the left is our dream back splash. It is a glass subway tile that goes perfect with the modern feel of the kitchen, it blends with our colors and, most importantly, is soooo pretty! The one on the right is our back up. It is a marble tile, which we liked from the beginning, but it hasn't been tumbled as much as the ones we'd seen previously so it looks more modern than rustic. We would do the brick type (1x2) tile for the majority of the back splash then do a picture frame using the VA/PE border and do an insert of the 3x4 rhomboid shaped tile over our sink. I think the "back-up" way would be gorgeous, I just can't get past my first choice. (I've placed these pictures in the renovation album also so you can see the details larger and hopefully be able to see the words on the picture on the right)
I would really love to hear what you guys have to say about our choices. Ultimately, it'll be Joe's and my decision but sometimes it takes an objective opinion to really see clearly.
I had a pretty interesting weekend and have some exciting stuff coming up this week so hopefully I'll post a couple new blogs this week. I hope you all have a great week!!
The bad news is that the one we REALLY, REALLY love is about three times more than what we budgeted for. Yes, three times. Damn our good taste and bad financial planning!! We had hoped to finish our back splash for under $300. That would put the price per square foot of tile at around $8 a square foot. Well, the one we want is $28 a square foot or around $980 to do our kitchen. I'm shaking my head with disgust as I type. I honestly think the price is ridiculous! So much so that I really can't justify spending that kind of money on our tiny little kitchen in a house that we're not going to live in forever..... Or can I?
This is the dilemma we've been facing all weekend. Do we say, "screw it all", and go with the one that we love or do we think resale and equity and try to find something cheaper? Ugh, the drama continues. Not that I expect you guys to make this decision for us because I know we're the only ones who can make this decision BUT I did want you all to see pictures of what I'm talking about. I've attached a picture of our definite favorite and a picture of our second choice. Which, by the way, is still over our budget but is much more reasonable at $15 a square foot.
So, here they are. The one on the left is our dream back splash. It is a glass subway tile that goes perfect with the modern feel of the kitchen, it blends with our colors and, most importantly, is soooo pretty! The one on the right is our back up. It is a marble tile, which we liked from the beginning, but it hasn't been tumbled as much as the ones we'd seen previously so it looks more modern than rustic. We would do the brick type (1x2) tile for the majority of the back splash then do a picture frame using the VA/PE border and do an insert of the 3x4 rhomboid shaped tile over our sink. I think the "back-up" way would be gorgeous, I just can't get past my first choice. (I've placed these pictures in the renovation album also so you can see the details larger and hopefully be able to see the words on the picture on the right)
I would really love to hear what you guys have to say about our choices. Ultimately, it'll be Joe's and my decision but sometimes it takes an objective opinion to really see clearly.
I had a pretty interesting weekend and have some exciting stuff coming up this week so hopefully I'll post a couple new blogs this week. I hope you all have a great week!!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Gym personalities
I've been going to the gym for long enough now that I've been able to pick up on some very distinct gym personalities. Not everyone will fall into a category but I've discovered that many do. I don't know if it's an extension of a person's behavior in a "normal" setting or if just being in a gym brings these personalities out but I started pondering this today while sweating my ass off on the elliptical machine.
One of the most encountered personalities at my gym is the Nosy Nelly (or Ned). NN isn't as much concerned with his/her workout as he/she is with yours. NN is that person next to you on the elliptical machine or treadmill that wants to see what settings your machine is on. They'll stare over at the display on your machine for what seems like the whole workout just watching what you're doing. This will sometimes bring out their competitive side and they'll start trying to "out-do" you. All I know is that it is annoying as hell. Mind your own business NN! Back up off me before I squirt you with my water bottle.
The next one that I've seen a lot of is the Equipment Hog. There is one old guy at my gym who is reeeeeeaaaaalllly bad about this. I think he thinks the whole gym is just for him. Instead of moving to the side so I can get past him to get a stability ball he just hogs up the whole space and makes me wait. Then, when I get sick of waiting, I practically have to crawl on top of him to get by because he still won't freaking move. Another type EH that drives me crazy is the person that hogs up the elliptical machine. We have tons of treadmills at my gym but it seems like the equipment of choice is the elliptical. We only have about 7 of those and they're almost always full. There are people who will get on a machine and stay there for like an hour! I understand you gotta get your cardio but come on! I say 45 minutes should be the max and even that is pushing it. There are also people who will get on the machines, go for about 5 minutes and then stop, stand there, and watch the TV. Then they'll go for a couple more minutes and repeat the same routine. If you're not working out, move your fat ass!
But, I think the gym personality that annoys me the most is the Social Butterfly. SB comes in many different incarnations. The first one is the SB that practically yells across the gym to get someones attention so they can say hello. Seriously?! Wait until they see you then wave, don't be an idiot. Another SB is the type that has to go from machine to machine to say hello to everyone. I've seen the annoyed looks on some peoples' faces when an SB comes up to talk and interrupts their workout session. Some people go the gym with the actual purpose of working out! The SB's don't do much working out. They're too busy flitting around talking to people. The absolute worst SB I've seen in the gym (and I've only seen her once) has got to be the cell phone SB. I swear to you, this lady talked on her cell phone for the ENTIRE time she walked on the treadmill. It had to be for close to thirty minutes! I have no idea what is that important that it can't wait thirty damn minutes! Get over your dumb self and stop disturbing the rest of us!
There are a couple other personalities that I've seen like 80's Lady, who works out in a full face of makeup and "done" hair, and the Wanna-Be Body Builder, who grunts and flexes in front of the mirror, but the three I've described above annoy me the most. I do work out with normal people too but they don't catch my attention nearly as much.
What category do I fall in, you ask. Definitely not one of the above but I do have a pretty distinct gym personality. I guess it could be described as Intensely Silent Girl. When I go to the gym I want to get in, work out, and get on with my life. I don't have time for anybody in there but me. I am focused and to the point 100%. When I get on that elliptical machine and get my MP3 player turned on I am in the zone. For the next thirty minutes it's just me and the music. I'd love to see a video tape of myself working out though because I think it'd be pretty hilarious. I go through different phases during my work out from intense, brow furrowing concentration when that elliptical goes from resistance 3 to resistance 8, to smiling when a great get-me-through song comes on. In my head, I am an awesome cheerleader for myself. I talk myself through my entire workout. I'm like, come on Tricia you can do this... it's only 2 minutes... you could do that with one hand tied behind your back... you got this... you're half way done! It's funny but it really helps.
The music has been an incredible help too. I still don't have a set play list yet. I just set it to random and see what pops up. I think my best get-me-through song so far has got to be "U Got the Look" by Prince. I seriously smile like a big retard when that song comes on. People probably categorize me as that weird girl who smiles for no reason but I don't give a crap, it helps me. My two favorite lines are, "I've never seen a pretty girl look so tough...BABY" and "Your face is jammin' your body's heck-a-slammin". Awww yeah, good stuff. I do love Flo Rida's Low, Kanye's Stronger, and Black Eyed Peas' My Humps too. Those get me goin' so good that I sometimes have to whisper along.
All in all, I'm loving the gym. My trainer is great and has really been helping me. I've been increasing my weights and reps and trying new stuff. She even tells me it looks like I've "toned up". I don't really think so but it was nice of her to say. I'm actually thinking of increasing my workouts to 5 days a week. I've really noticed that on the days I work out that I come home in a much better mood. I'm energized and relaxed and have a clear head. I feel good about myself and what I've accomplished. It's pretty great.
One of the most encountered personalities at my gym is the Nosy Nelly (or Ned). NN isn't as much concerned with his/her workout as he/she is with yours. NN is that person next to you on the elliptical machine or treadmill that wants to see what settings your machine is on. They'll stare over at the display on your machine for what seems like the whole workout just watching what you're doing. This will sometimes bring out their competitive side and they'll start trying to "out-do" you. All I know is that it is annoying as hell. Mind your own business NN! Back up off me before I squirt you with my water bottle.
The next one that I've seen a lot of is the Equipment Hog. There is one old guy at my gym who is reeeeeeaaaaalllly bad about this. I think he thinks the whole gym is just for him. Instead of moving to the side so I can get past him to get a stability ball he just hogs up the whole space and makes me wait. Then, when I get sick of waiting, I practically have to crawl on top of him to get by because he still won't freaking move. Another type EH that drives me crazy is the person that hogs up the elliptical machine. We have tons of treadmills at my gym but it seems like the equipment of choice is the elliptical. We only have about 7 of those and they're almost always full. There are people who will get on a machine and stay there for like an hour! I understand you gotta get your cardio but come on! I say 45 minutes should be the max and even that is pushing it. There are also people who will get on the machines, go for about 5 minutes and then stop, stand there, and watch the TV. Then they'll go for a couple more minutes and repeat the same routine. If you're not working out, move your fat ass!
But, I think the gym personality that annoys me the most is the Social Butterfly. SB comes in many different incarnations. The first one is the SB that practically yells across the gym to get someones attention so they can say hello. Seriously?! Wait until they see you then wave, don't be an idiot. Another SB is the type that has to go from machine to machine to say hello to everyone. I've seen the annoyed looks on some peoples' faces when an SB comes up to talk and interrupts their workout session. Some people go the gym with the actual purpose of working out! The SB's don't do much working out. They're too busy flitting around talking to people. The absolute worst SB I've seen in the gym (and I've only seen her once) has got to be the cell phone SB. I swear to you, this lady talked on her cell phone for the ENTIRE time she walked on the treadmill. It had to be for close to thirty minutes! I have no idea what is that important that it can't wait thirty damn minutes! Get over your dumb self and stop disturbing the rest of us!
There are a couple other personalities that I've seen like 80's Lady, who works out in a full face of makeup and "done" hair, and the Wanna-Be Body Builder, who grunts and flexes in front of the mirror, but the three I've described above annoy me the most. I do work out with normal people too but they don't catch my attention nearly as much.
What category do I fall in, you ask. Definitely not one of the above but I do have a pretty distinct gym personality. I guess it could be described as Intensely Silent Girl. When I go to the gym I want to get in, work out, and get on with my life. I don't have time for anybody in there but me. I am focused and to the point 100%. When I get on that elliptical machine and get my MP3 player turned on I am in the zone. For the next thirty minutes it's just me and the music. I'd love to see a video tape of myself working out though because I think it'd be pretty hilarious. I go through different phases during my work out from intense, brow furrowing concentration when that elliptical goes from resistance 3 to resistance 8, to smiling when a great get-me-through song comes on. In my head, I am an awesome cheerleader for myself. I talk myself through my entire workout. I'm like, come on Tricia you can do this... it's only 2 minutes... you could do that with one hand tied behind your back... you got this... you're half way done! It's funny but it really helps.
The music has been an incredible help too. I still don't have a set play list yet. I just set it to random and see what pops up. I think my best get-me-through song so far has got to be "U Got the Look" by Prince. I seriously smile like a big retard when that song comes on. People probably categorize me as that weird girl who smiles for no reason but I don't give a crap, it helps me. My two favorite lines are, "I've never seen a pretty girl look so tough...BABY" and "Your face is jammin' your body's heck-a-slammin". Awww yeah, good stuff. I do love Flo Rida's Low, Kanye's Stronger, and Black Eyed Peas' My Humps too. Those get me goin' so good that I sometimes have to whisper along.
All in all, I'm loving the gym. My trainer is great and has really been helping me. I've been increasing my weights and reps and trying new stuff. She even tells me it looks like I've "toned up". I don't really think so but it was nice of her to say. I'm actually thinking of increasing my workouts to 5 days a week. I've really noticed that on the days I work out that I come home in a much better mood. I'm energized and relaxed and have a clear head. I feel good about myself and what I've accomplished. It's pretty great.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Shower me with your love
Lindsey's shower has come and gone! It was a wonderful, beautiful, and very happy and fun night. All the planning paid off and everything went off almost without a hitch. I hope to have some pictures for you soon. I had one of my co-workers, who moonlights as a professional photographer, come and take pictures of the shower so as soon as I get those pictures I'll post them.
We couldn't have asked for a better night! The weather was in the sixties and it was clear and beautiful. We held the shower at one of the bridesmaid's aunt's house on her gorgeous back porch. Our theme was "Love is Sweet" and we featured a buffet of different deserts, a chocolate fountain, and a signature "Lindstini" cocktail. All of the guest dressed up which made it really festive. Lindsey really has some amazing bridesmaids who came together to make the shower really spectacular.
One of the highlights of the night was a little game we played with Lindsey. It was a variation of The Newlywed Game. A couple of weeks ago we filmed Jeff answering some basic questions about himself and about his and Lindsey's relationship. Then last night we asked Lindsey those same questions to see how close their answers were. For every question she got wrong, she had to chew a piece of bubble gum. Obviously the object is to get her mouth full of gum. But, she did really well and only missed 5 questions out of 18. We all deemed her worthy of marrying Jeff. Not that she wanted or needed our opinions. But, the best moment of the video was a special message Jeff recorded for Lindsey telling her all the reasons he loves her and is happy to be marrying her. It was very touching and there were quite a few tears.
With the video came one of our only hitches during the entire event. For some reason we couldn't get the video to play on the TV in the living room so the whole party had to cram into a bedroom to watch it in there. I was a little mortified at first but it ended up being really cute having everyone in there together. We got a really nice picture of the whole party together on the bed too. The only other hitch came by way of the decorations. We hung Chinese lanterns from the screen enclosure and around the porch. During the night 3 of those fell down but whatever, shit happens. I think everyone was sufficiently buzzed by that point anyway.
Overall, I give myself three snaps around the world for another successful party. It's kind of selfish but I really do enjoy the praise and encouragement I receive from people who attend the parties. I guess it's just reassurance that I do a good job and that all my stressing over the details really pays off.
Like I said earlier, I will post pictures as soon as I get them so keep checking the family album. I haven't been getting many pictures from you all lately so the family album hasn't been updated as much as usual. Keep those pictures coming! I did update my renovation album though. I did a little "Design on a Dime" in my living room. We changed pillows and tables and curtains and lights and added a rug to freshen up the room and bring in more color. We're really happy with the results so check it out! No updates on the kitchen yet. We're in back splash hell! We can not choose one so we're on standby until we find something we like.
Until next time...
We couldn't have asked for a better night! The weather was in the sixties and it was clear and beautiful. We held the shower at one of the bridesmaid's aunt's house on her gorgeous back porch. Our theme was "Love is Sweet" and we featured a buffet of different deserts, a chocolate fountain, and a signature "Lindstini" cocktail. All of the guest dressed up which made it really festive. Lindsey really has some amazing bridesmaids who came together to make the shower really spectacular.
One of the highlights of the night was a little game we played with Lindsey. It was a variation of The Newlywed Game. A couple of weeks ago we filmed Jeff answering some basic questions about himself and about his and Lindsey's relationship. Then last night we asked Lindsey those same questions to see how close their answers were. For every question she got wrong, she had to chew a piece of bubble gum. Obviously the object is to get her mouth full of gum. But, she did really well and only missed 5 questions out of 18. We all deemed her worthy of marrying Jeff. Not that she wanted or needed our opinions. But, the best moment of the video was a special message Jeff recorded for Lindsey telling her all the reasons he loves her and is happy to be marrying her. It was very touching and there were quite a few tears.
With the video came one of our only hitches during the entire event. For some reason we couldn't get the video to play on the TV in the living room so the whole party had to cram into a bedroom to watch it in there. I was a little mortified at first but it ended up being really cute having everyone in there together. We got a really nice picture of the whole party together on the bed too. The only other hitch came by way of the decorations. We hung Chinese lanterns from the screen enclosure and around the porch. During the night 3 of those fell down but whatever, shit happens. I think everyone was sufficiently buzzed by that point anyway.
Overall, I give myself three snaps around the world for another successful party. It's kind of selfish but I really do enjoy the praise and encouragement I receive from people who attend the parties. I guess it's just reassurance that I do a good job and that all my stressing over the details really pays off.
Like I said earlier, I will post pictures as soon as I get them so keep checking the family album. I haven't been getting many pictures from you all lately so the family album hasn't been updated as much as usual. Keep those pictures coming! I did update my renovation album though. I did a little "Design on a Dime" in my living room. We changed pillows and tables and curtains and lights and added a rug to freshen up the room and bring in more color. We're really happy with the results so check it out! No updates on the kitchen yet. We're in back splash hell! We can not choose one so we're on standby until we find something we like.
Until next time...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
