Another LO today...

of my niece and nephew.

A little crazy...

is how I'm feeling right now. I have been eating like crazy for two weeks and haven't really felt like doing much. I have really been trying to figure out what's going on that is bothering me enough to make me feel this way but I just can't seem to think of anything. I hate this! Hopefully, I will pull out of this funk before my trip to Louisiana (so that I will at least be eating because the food is awesome, not because I am emotionally eating, ha ha!). Maybe I will be able to figure something out at therapy tomorrow. Sorry for the downer.

I haven't even done much scrapping this week. I did one LO yesterday but it is for the DT and can't be uploaded until 12/1. Here's my LO of the day, of my nephew:

On a positive note, I spent a lot of time with my niece this week. I took the pics below when I was babysitting her the other day. She held and chewed on that pickle for ~45 min.! She loved it. So cute!

Oh! I also got my hair cut on Tues. but haven't taken pics yet. I will try to do that tomorrow.

Christmas Trees

My sister and I worked on these for three days (OK, I spent much of that time playing with my niece and nephew). It took way longer than we expected but we are very pleased with the outcome. Here's a pic of mine (not the best pic but you get the idea):
















Cute, huh? It was nice to spend all that time with my sis and her kids, too. If anyone is interested, here is the supply list:

• styrofoam cones
• wooden dowels
• flower pots
• lots of christmas-themed patterned paper
• tacky glue
• Mod Podge
• reg. and decorative scissors (scalloped edges used on the one in the right)
• Ink pad (used on the scallped edges)
• mini jingle bells
• acrylic paint
• glitter
• ribbons and fibers
• tags
• Spanish moss

If anyone wants more specific directions, let me know and I will try to help out.

I completed a LO last night but it is for a design team challenge than can't be uploaded until Dec. 1. Hopefully, I will do some scrapping today after I go to the gym, attend the temple, and vote. Busy day, better get goin'!

I am such a glutton!!!

That's me. Tonight, Jared and I ate at Winger's, where I gorged myself until it literally hurt to breathe and I felt really sick. Why do I do that to myself?!? I just couldn't stop. I knew I wasn't hungry anymore but I just couldn't stop putting the burger, fries, and wings into my mouth. I'm trying not to hate myself right now but I feel like such a slob. I must make this into a lesson for next time--if only I knew how to do that!

OK, on to something happy. My sister and I made the cutest Christmas decorations today--well, they're not totally done yet. We got the idea from Creating Keepsakes (a scrapbook mag for those of you non-scrapbookers). Here's a pic of the page from CK:

Cute, huh? I will post pics of ours as soon as we get them done--we are supposed to work on them again tomorrow. It was fun to be crafty with my sis today! It was so much fun, in fact, that I decided not to watch the LSU game--VERY rare for me!!! My brother called right after the game and told me what an awesome, close game it was; my mom called right after that to tell me the same thing. We ended up beating Tennesee 28-24 in the last nine seconds. My brother said he was still shaking when I called me, hee hee! Hopefully, we will be back in the top 10 this coming week. GEAUX TIGERS!!!







Here's my LO of the day of my niece:

Pie!

So I did really well at eating healthy all day yesterday UNTIL I went to Enrichment (an LDS women's thing--we get together and socialize, learn things, and do service). One of the demonstrations last night was on pie making. Aaaaah! There were several different kinds of pies and I just HAD to try the French apple and pumpkin. Oh well. It was worth it because they were scrumptious! BTW, I was able to take a piece home for Jared and he gave me a few bites of it tonight. MMMMM!

I went out to lunch with 3 friends today--all former co-workers. I had so much fun that I didn't realize we had been at the restaurant (Pizza Factory) for 2 hours! It was fun to catch up. Since it was a fun lunch with friends, I allowed myself to eat what I wanted. OK, OK, I'm lying--I emotionally ate because it was right after my therapy session. But I don't care, it was a fun lunch with girlfriends.

Here's my LO of the day (I didn't get any LOs done yesterday--I know, what a slacker):
















---my adorable niece and nephew

LOs 11/1

Here are the LOs I did today:

Halloween Night

Last night was the first Halloween in a while that I didn't dress and/or go somewhere. I just stayed home and gave out candy. My niece and nephew came over in the early evening so I could take some pictures. It was after 5pm, so the lighting was definitely not prime, but here are some pics (I had to work on them quite a bit in PhotoShop):
























































Aren't they the cutest? It was a chilly night here last night but that didn't stop us from getting several other adorable trick-or-treaters last night--most from our church. I love to see all the kiddies in their costumes--can't help but smile! :)

I can't believe it's already November. I leave for Louisiana in exactly two weeks! Aaaah! So much to do before then! Can't wait for Thanksgiving!!!

Post Office

Anyone else hate going to the Post Office? Just the thought of it makes me cringe--and I always procrastinate that task like there's no tomorrow. Well, as you can guess, that's what I finally went and did today--mail a couple of things from the Post Office. It actually wasn't that bad today--I didn't have to wait 45 min. like it seems I usually have to do.

I also went and picked up some pictures that I had printed--some pics of my niece, nephew, and sister that I took here at my home (these haven't been cropped):





















I used a vinyl background and natural light--mid-morning in front of a window on the west side of the house. This was my first attempt at home studio photography. I need to try a different time of the day so more light comes in and/or buy some lighting devices. Let me know what you think.

I only completed one LO today, which I'm not really fond of (plus the colors wouldn't scan right) but here it is:



















Other than that, I didn't do a whole heck of a lot today, besides visit teach, because I had a headache all day. But I am relieved that the Primary program is over! It was yesterday and it went really well, except for the fact that I wish it would have lasted about 10 more minutes. But all of the kids did really well with their parts and OK with the songs (they could have sang louder but we did get comments that they sang clear and could be understood). I was a very proud Primary president! :)

Fall pics

I've been wanting all month to go for a drive up the canyon to get some fall pictures. Most of the month was kind of overcast and gloomy and other days I just couldn't go or didn't feel like it. I finally went today but all of the aspens have lost their leaves already. I did get a few pretty pictures, though, just not the awesome fall photos I had hoped for (these are straight from the camera):

~Challenge--Easter~

The challenge today is to share my thoughts on Easter. As a faithful follower of Christ, Easter is very special to me. I can honestly say that I am always grateful for my Savior, and think about him every day throughout the year, but this time of the year gives me some added focus. I try to focus not only on His ressurrection, but also on His life--the wonderful example He showed us of unparalleled compassion and service, the miracles, the teachings, and the unfailing and unconditional love.

As far as celebrating the special day, DH and I go to church, of course--at which I sing in the choir. This Sunday, I also have the privilege of teaching an Easter lesson to the children. After church, we usually have family over for a turkey dinner (always my sister and her family) and sometimes others, as well. This year, we will have my sister and her family, my other sister and my brother (both now live in our basement apt.), my MIL, BIL, and SIL (DH's yongest two siblings). We might have a small egg hunt for my nephew, who is five. My niece is only 1 year and doesn't yet walk, so I don't think she will do much in the way of an egg hunt and my BIL is almost 13, so he is getting a little too old but I bet he will join in and have a little fun w/ my nephew. It should be a fun, special day, which I am so anticipating. I still need to buy the turkey and all the fixin's, though!

~Challenge--First thing that comes to mind~

1. Harry.... Connick, Jr.
2. Black.... white
3. Delicious... yummy
4. Funny... bone
5. Green... red
6. Ribbons... fibers
7. Internet... site
8. BBQ... chicken
9. People... kids
10. Quirky... fun

That was fun. It is almost 11:00 and I have still not made it to the gym; if I don't go soon, I will have to wait until after I give the three piano lessons this afternoon. I haven't done much this morning. I think I am feeling a little overwhelmed with my new church calling as Primary president (for those of you who aren't LDS, that means I am over the children's program at my church--Sunday school, activities, etc.). I just love the children so much and hope I can teach them what they need to know and, most importantly, instill the love of Christ in them. I feel very humbled that I am entrusted w/ this special calling but I am excited at the same time. Primary is so fun! Anyway, I really need to get the gym, so off I go. Have a great day!!

~Challenge--Fave Ice Cream~

Like my dad, I just love ice cream, so it's hard for me to choose just a few favorites, much less one! And I really shouldn't be thinking about ice cream, since I have been eating so well and losing weight. But here goes.

I usually don't go for fruit-flavored ice creams but anything else goes (and I do mean anything), especially anything w/ chocolate and/or nuts. I love Rocky Road, Choc. Chip Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter cup, etc. If I had to pick one that I crave the most, though, it would be Cold Stone's Amaretto--plain, no mix-ins. I just love anything almond, the taste and the smell--yum! Well, I'm off to bed; I'll be dreaming of ice cream, I'm sure...

Hurts so good

Weight training w/ a personal fitness trainer. Tough but I love it! I am so terribly sore this first week. But I kind of like it because I am constantly reminded of the effort I am putting in and the progress I am making.I wonder if I will always be this sore. I signed up to work out w/ a personal trainer for a year! This first month, they will teach me all of the work-outs I need to know, then the rest of the months I will work out on my own, w/ help here and there from them, and have one full session w/ a trainer per month. I'm excited and cannot wait to see what I will look like and, most importantly, feel like by the end of the year! My main goal is to have my back and neck pain lessen and not worry about how my back will be if I get pregnant or adopt a baby. That truly is one of the things I worry about. As much as I want kids, the thought of having to hold a baby all the time really troubles me. I mean, I can't hold a niece or nephew for more than a couple of minutes w/o being in agony. SO, hopefully strengthening my whole body and my back will help that.

The personal trainer is also having me eat LOTS of protein--170 grams per day! It's actually challenging to get that much protein in. I have to really plan my meals and drink lots of protein shakes. All the meal planning will be harder for me to keep up than the working out.

It is storming here today--really windy and rainy. April showers, I guess. The wind bothers me because I have a phobia of a tree falling on the house or something--could be because lightning hit a tree when we were camping up in the mountains a few years ago and it came crashing down right where we were standing. If we hadn't run away so quickly, we would have been goners! The rain doesn't bother me, I just wish it didn't have to rain on the one day of the week I have to travel ~40 min. to teach piano lessons. Oh, well.

OK, off to eat some protein! :)

Whoa

I so suck at keeping a blog updated! It’s been 2 months since my last post. Here are some of the highlights of the last 2 months:

· I’ve lost 23 lbs. since mid-Jan

· I now have 10 piano students (aiming for 20)

· I bought lots of scrapbook goodies at the Provo Craft and Making Memories warehouse sales J

· I played basketball and racquet ball each a couple of times (something I wouldn’t have done before I lost some of this weight)

· I started a monthly scrapbook group at my house for the women at my church

· I got a membership at Gold’s Gym, instead of staying w/ the rec. center

· I started working out w/ a personal fitness trainer (I’m still sore from Friday!)

· LSU men and women made it to the Final Four (but the men just got stomped by UCLA tonight L ) I’m just still ecstatic that we beat Duke!! Hee hee!

I’m really excited as to what the next month will bring, especially in regards to working out w/ a personal trainer! I’m sure it will be challenging, yet rewarding. Wish me luck!

Procrastinator!

Talk about procrastinating! I have been married over 6 1/2 years and I just changed my name on my social sec. card today! I just never took to the time to do it when I was working. I was so mad because I called on Monday and asked them what I needed and they said my marriage certificate and driver's license. Well, I went to the office yesterday and waited in line for them to tell me I needed my marriage license, instead of certificate! I was ticked! I had to drive back to the office today and the wait was even longer but I am happy to say I finally got it done!

My pic of the day is from the Switchfoot concert last Monday (1/23) in Park City; I went w/ my sister and one of her friends. It was an outdoor concert and it was FREEZING! We were literally standing on a pack of snow and had to ride a snow lift to get up to the resort where the concert was! I think I was dangerously close to frostbite but it was a good concert and I would do it again. :) Here's the pic: