I'm leavin' on a Jet Plane...

Even though I'm not the most consistent blogger. I thought I'd let you know that I'm headed out of town for a little vacation with the hubby.

Just in time.
It's currently -22 windchill. BRRRRRR

So....

Source: Uploaded by user via Patrick on Pinterest

being sick is stupid

Source: mirdinara.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

I am so sick of being sick. I haven't been blogging to save you all from hearing about it.

I don't feel like sharing anything with you except for how awful I've been feeling.

Seriously, being sick is stupid.

Everything has been sucking lately.

• I had to use two sick days before my eight day vacation. 
• I had a stomach bug then sore throat, body aches, and sinus infection
• The NP I've been seeing for almost 12 years left the clinic to work at a local university. Boo!
• I have no energy so I've been keeping the schedule of a three year old. Up at 5 and sleeping by 8.
• My husband has been sleeping on the couch because he doesn't want to get sick so Whidbey goes between us during the night waking us up. I think he's worried. Whidbey. Not Bill

I am drinking lots of water, taking my vitamin D and black elderberry root extract.

I see the light at the end of the tunnel... I think.

Ugh.

This illness business that's going around is for the birds! Stomach bug earlier in the week and now have sore throat. Seriously?! This stinks! If anyone needs me - I'm going to be downing the vitamins and trying to stay positive. Only a week before FLORIDA!

Source: fitsugar.com via Elisha on Pinterest

Preppy

I know that I was "preppy" growing up. I liked my button up shirts and khaki pants with my penny loafers. In fact, I loved my penny loafers. I had black ones and I actually had a dime in them because I thought that silver looked better with the black.

I noticed the other day that a lot of the outfits that I post on Pinterest are very preppy or have a preppy feel to them.

outfit info here

I wish I had every piece in the photos above. Jackets are my go to item of clothing when I'm feeling "not-so-skinny." I also love dresses. And boyfriend jeans rolled up. And boots...

I feel like going shopping...

Miscellany Monday

Random.

1. BRRRRRR!
    Yes, that does in fact say -44 degrees wind chill!! Redonk!

2. Bill's show on Friday night was so fun! It started with me sitting behind the tallest guy in the place

So, this was my view. Luckily we could just scoot our chairs over for a better view.

3. I even did something with my hair on Friday night. Anyone who sees me often knows that my hair is usually in a plain old ponytail. Well, check this out - I curled it and did something real fancy with some bobby pins. Ummm, not as cool as I thought it was going to be (and a little off center) but, it's progress.

3. With our new eating lifestyle we eat delicious food like this... REAL food!

4. I've been working away every single free minute on the Unglued show that's coming up. I believe I made over a hundred of these rosie blooms this weekend!

Plus, filled a bunch of orders. I love my little business!

Enjoy your day...and if you're from around here - STAY WARM!

High Five for Friday

This week flew by so fast! I don't know how that was possible. As I look back through the week it was very uneventful. So uneventful that I had a very difficult time coming up with five highlights of the past week. Sorry, but, I included a pic of Whidbey. Yes, lame.

1. I had the privilege of attending a seminar on Alzheimer's and Dementia with Erin Bonitto. It was amazing. I love being a part of a long term care facility (where the Early Learning Center is located). 

2. Bill and Eric have a show tonight! I'm very excited as this is the first show of his I've been to in a long time - like years! I'm also going to go out with friends for dinner and then to the show.

3. Whidbey. I told you my week wasn't very exciting!

4. My purchases at ULTA this week.

5. Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. So good. Seriously. It's a (YA) book about life, love, and learning along the way.  It moved me to tears in places and made me laugh in others. The way the author describes the way she is falling in love is very well written. So much so that it makes you remember the first time you felt that way. It's so hard to describe without giving too much away. If you need a quick and easy read check it out. It's only $3.99 on Amazon for Kindle.

Enjoy your weekend!

Diary of a Former Skinny Girl

*Disclaimer - I was crabby when I wrote this post. When you read it you'll learn why. Sorry for the negativity...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Body Rant ~

I have a major body image problem.

It's not what you think.

I have this issue with thinking I'm still skinny. I even look in the mirror and don't think I look that bad. Then I put clothes on and it hits me like a ton of bricks. I'm a fatty. I don't get it. I really don't.

I used the cartoon found  here. I added my own words

I've been feeling really good about myself...until yesterday morning when I couldn't button my favorite jeans. Yes, they had just come out of the wash and weren't worn in - but still. It's ridiculous.

After work I decided that I needed some new pants. So, I'm at the store last night and I pick up a couple of pairs of jeans in different sizes and brands. I am not shitting you - NONE of them fit  - too long, too short, way to tight, way too loose... you get it. We've all been there. I just needed to find that pair that made me feel like I was a size 2. It just wasn't happening for me last night. (BTW, is it "to" or "too?")

How can I be that disconnected from the way I actually look? How come my body has not changed AT ALL when I cut a TON of sugar out of my diet as well as stopped eating fast food and eliminated a lot of processed foods. I'm eating lots of fruits and more veggies than what I used to eat. I'm actually eating meals rather than just snacking on junk all day. I've been doing this for two weeks. You'd think there'd be some sort of body change.

Needless to say, I didn't find anything that looked good on me so I went to ULTA. Everything at ULTA fits.

Source: data.whicdn.com via Chloë on Pinterest

Thank you and enjoy your day.

Heart Honesty

I have to come clean. I used to HATE hearts. The shape, not the organ. I hated heart jewelry, hearts on clothing, and especially heart artwork. No "Bless this House" on a heart shaped plate. Nothing. I think it has something to do with the fact that I had not one but two boyfriends that gave me heart shaped rings. Neither relationship lasted. They both ended up breaking my heart. Looking back, it was a good thing they did because we weren't meant to be together. (But, that's beside the point.) I think that's when my dislike of hearts came to be.

Twelve years later...

I now adore hearts.

/ 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 /

I don't own anything with a heart. Not one single thing. I'm planning on changing that.

Miscellany Monday

Random.

1.
I love this bright and happy fabric.
I used it to create some rosie blooms and some scrappy flowers for the Unglued Craft Fest on February 22nd and 23rd. It's my second "fest." I'm really excited for this one because it's going to be completely different from the Junk Market I did in the fall and hope to do again in the summer!

2.
We were supposed to get a winter storm on Friday and Saturday. I was so excited.
It was icy and windy with a little snow. Not so much a storm. I was bummed.
My Christmas tree on the deck looked so pretty covered in snow. And, yes, the Christmas tree is still up on the deck and so pretty with the lights.

3.
Some of you asked about what I've been eating lately.

1. Key lime greek yogurt with chia seeds.
2. Oatmeal for breakfast is so much better in a pretty mug from Anthropologie.
3. Strawberries and cottage cheese and a salad with olives, spinach, etc.
4. My favorite snack - apple, cheese, almonds and walnuts.

4.
My hubby (in the hat) and his friend/music partner were rehearsing for an upcoming show and had a friend shoot this video. You can view it here.

 

Have a great Monday!

Friday Five.

/ 1 /

Whidbey likes watching Animal Planet.

/ 2 /

Bill discovered these fabulous tortilla chips. So much better than corn chips.

/ 3 /

It's gonna STORM!

/ 4 /

My two guys chillin' at the vet

/ 5 /

It was a tough week staying on track with eating. I didn't cheat but, it was hard. {via}

Ch-ch-ch-Chia!

Do you remember these? The one and only Chia Pet!

I don't grow the chia seeds into some sort of animal. I eat them. Yes, folks, there's a new health kick out there and it's Chia Seeds. I'm jumping on the bandwagon - thanks to advice from my sis-in-law who happens to be a Naturopathic Doctor. These tiny seeds - which feel so cool if you stick your (clean) hand in the bag - are packed with Omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, and protein. They even contain more antioxidants than the all powerful blueberry!

Buy here

Chia seeds are an unprocessed whole-grain that can be absorbed by your body - unlike whole flax seeds. There are no studies that show this is a magic seed of any sort - it doesn't necessarily help with weight loss but, it does help to keep you feeling full longer.

I love to put 2 T. in my yogurt for a little crunch. They don't have a taste so it won't change the flavor of whatever you decide to add them to. Bill adds them to a 1/2 c. of 100% fruit juice to make a gel. It's actually very cool!

{via}

Adding chia seeds to yogurt, baked goods, oatmeal, or cereal is a great way to get added nutrients and whole grains.

Want to read more about chia seeds?

• Do Chia Seeds Deserve Their Health Hype? - Huffington Post
• The Powerful Health Benefits of Chia Seeds - Washingtonian
• The Top Ten Health Benefits of Chia Seeds - Livestrong.com
• 10 Uses for Chia Seeds - Wellness Mama

Want to check out a couple of recipes? 

 Chia Seed Pudding

Source: fooddoodles.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Magical Blueberry Vanilla Chia Seed Jam

Source: ohsheglows.com via Domenica on Pinterest

Healthy Strawberry Oat Squares

from: Oh She Glows

You can find additional recipes here - on Pinterest

Diary of a Former Skinny Girl

Have you read "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" books? I swear I own these pants! Over the past couple of years I've gained a bit of weight yet, many of my pants still fit. They are a bit tighter but, they still fit. Strange. With the lifestyle change Bill and I are making with food I hope they get to be too big for me.

One thing we started to do again is to keep track of our weight. To do this we broke out the dusty old Wii Fit. We actually had quite a bit of fun with it this weekend - not the weighing part - but playing balance games.

I was laughing pretty hard when Bill decided to try juggling while balancing on a ball - he has some major circus moves! Check out the fabulous shoes too!

We even added Whidbey. Here's our pudgy Wii Fit family photo - I guess Bill was chatting with the cat.

As of today I've been on this new life plan for one week. I haven't cheated once - except for the delicious brownie that Jess brought me on Saturday (it was 100% homemade - so no processed yuckiness).

Yesterday was the first day I was actually hungry. I was craving something but couldn't put my finger on it. So I ate some cheese, a cutie (little orange), and 1 cup of popcorn. It did the job. But, it sure wasn't a chocolate shake and fries!

My goal for this week is to make up "snack packs" to take to work with me so that I'm prepared when hunger strikes. I'll let you know what I decide to include.

For now,
Enjoy your day!

It's Not Going to Be Easy

Last week Bill and I began our journey to better health.

One thing I know for sure about this little journey is that it's going to be HARD. I know I'm not going to just wake up tomorrow without a craving for a delicious cookie, cake, candy bar... you get the point. I imagine it's going to be one of the most difficult things I've ever done.

My starting goals: I think it's important to start with just a few goals and add more as you go. I'm starting with three goals.

1. Eat less sugar! Sugar is one of the most addicting substances on the planet that isn't banned. Yes, it's just as addictive as cocaine and heroin. This goal is going to be the hardest goal for me to achieve because my favorite meal of the day is dessert.

2. Eat three full meals a day + three nutritious snacks. No grab and go nonsense. None of this "I didn't have time" crap. Three meals and at least three snacks throughout the day.

3. Drink more water. I always have a glass of water nearby - whether it's on my desk at work or the end table at home. But I imagine I only drink about 24 oz. a day. That's not great. My goal is to drink 80 to 100 oz. of water a day. Beginning with drinking lemon water as soon as I wake up in the morning. I'm sure I'll be visiting the bathroom more often - I'll be cleansing my system out.

So, those are my three goals.

As I type this I can't help but think of the things that I going to miss eating. Luckily, Bill and I watched a great documentary called "Hungry for Change." You can stream it on Netflix. Watching these health experts talk about dieting and sugar addiction was a wake up call. Don't get me wrong, I know diets don't work and I eat way too much sugar. What I didn't realize was that sugar is so addicting. I'm envious of those people who "just don't crave sweets." That's ridiculous. 

One of the things I took away from that documentary was that by telling yourself you can't have something you only want it more. I learned that if you tell yourself that you don't want something because.... for whatever reason you will stop feeling so "robbed."

In the coming days/ weeks / months I'll be sharing some "treat" alternatives and meal plans that my husband and I are following. 

*Bill is actually doing a 6 week detox while I am not doing a true detox and just changing the way I eat.

Enjoy your day!

Source: simplifiedbee.com via Katherine on Pinterest

Friday Five

Had a pretty great week. It was only three work days so it couldn't be really bad... except for the fact that the FLU is going around like crazy cakes! Yuck. It's spreading so fast around here so, I'm vowing to stay out of major retailers for awhile.

Here's a couple of the great things about this week:

1. It was great to chill at home over Christmas/New Years break with Bill and Whidbey.

2. Bill surprised me with a Kindle Paperwhite! I kept telling him that I didn't need a new one - I have the original Kindle and it works fine - but I am so glad he surprised me!

3. I did a little fabric shopping - this is one of my favorites

4. Bill and I started eating real food this week. We are eliminating processed and take out foods. This is one of my staple breakfasts - oatmeal with apples.

5. It's 2013!

Source: catchmyparty.com via Leslie on Pinterest

Have a wonderful weekend!

I Love Pinterest

Pinterest is my favorite time waster.

I may never own a home large enough for a library, large mud room, luxury laundry room, deluxe home office, or a fabulous kitchen like these...

Source: hautemamasfaves.tumblr.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: thisoldhouse.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: via Laura on Pinterest

Source: beingbrook.com via Laura on Pinterest

And I may never bake Creme Brûlée or cook a 5 course meal but, there's a couple things I  have made. Check it out!

Source: thecafesucrefarine.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: ohbiteit.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: allrecipes.com via Laura on Pinterest

I enjoy the inspirational quotes and funny e*cards.

Source: justinmarantz.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: thetravelingcupcake.tumblr.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: ohmyfreakingstars.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

And browsing the clothing on Pinterest gives me inspiration to get my body back to the way it was 5 years ago.

Source: psilovefashion.indiedays.com via Laura on Pinterest

Source: ishandchi.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

I "pin" several things every day. I am thankful for the secret boards because, now everyone who follows me doesn't have to be annoyed by all of my pins. I have three secret boards. One is for a baby shower that I'm getting ideas for this spring. The other two are for Stuff and Unglued Market.

Do you love Pinterest? What are your secret boards called?

Do you want to check out my boards or follow me? Just click here.