March 25th was my Dad's 62nd birthday!

We celebrated by going to his most favorite restaurant that he frequented (sometimes going in twice a day).  One of the waitresses I met for the first time when my dad was in the E.R. when he'd had the stroke, and then she visited him several times in the rehab center, and she was at the hospital the day he died too.  So I wanted to go in and see her, and then all the other employees came over and told us how much they loved my dad and they were so happy to meet the grand-daughters he'd talked about all the time.  Even the chefs wanted to show their fondess of my dad, by sending over little strawberry shortcakes for the girls after we'd finshed our breakfast.  It was so nice.

In other news:  The weekend before that I was shopping at Target, determined to ONLY buy the things on my list (I am always determined to do that and it never happens), when I saw something I desperately needed: a new duvet cover set w/ shams.  

The last duvet cover I got was from Target, and I loved it so much but it just got ripped all to heck.  I sewed it up several times, but eventually it was just a lost cause.  So I'd been on the hunt for a new one, but Target didn't have that same print anymore, and I hadn't ever seen any nice prints there, I checked Macy's and Ross and JC Penny etc etc, but nothing was what I wanted.  I've said before how much I love my down comforter, so sleeping under it without it being in a pretty cover like it deserves was bumming me out.  

Then I walked into Target and there was this beauty, sitting there on the clearance rack all by it's lonesome! On sale and looking all pretty.  It was, however, two sizes too big.  It was a King!  But I couldn't get a smaller one, cause like I said it was on clearance and it was the only one.  So I got it anyway, hoping it would work (how much bigger could a King actually be?  I'm a size 9.5 shoe, and sometimes I can wear a 9 or a 10, so it ought to be the same).  I got it home and tried it out and it was WAAAAAYYYY too huge. The poor comforter got completely swallowed up and lost inside of it, and it hung over the bed and onto the floor and it was ridiculous.  BUT I cut it up and sewed it and now it works perfectly and I love it with all my heart.

When I googled it, before I cut it up, to try and see if I could get a smaller one online, I realized that the print was called "shabby chic hydrangeas" and then I KNEW why it had been love at first sight.

(I had yet to iron it, hence the wrinkles)

But doesn't it just scream "hit the snooze button and oversleep"?  To me it does.  So plush & comfy.  I have hit the snooze button and overslept every day since I've gotten it.


Also:   I planted some yummies!

(Side note: I was going to write: "the good news is I planted some yummies.  the bad news is they all died while we were on vacation".  And that reminded me of a few weeks ago on a Friday when I picked the girls up after work, and I tried to break some bad news to them using that same method.  I said "the good news is you don't have to do your chores tomorrow because we'll be busy all day!  the even better news is that we're going to do them tonight instead!".  Mallory grunted, Arissa rolled her eyes and then got to work, and Mariah threw a fit like you wouldn't believe that lasted well into the night.  Needless to say I've been careful since then of how I use my "good news, bad news" technique.)


Anyhoo, my plants:






like I said, they all died.  So now I have to replant & it saddens me.  Apparently strawberries and tomatoes and this particular basil are real sensitive, because the cilantro, basil, & jalipenos that I have growing in a different area all survived our absense during our vacation and are growing like weeds.


And finally:  I've devloped a recipe for the most delish pizza ever ever ever, in my taste & opinion.


I get some yeast rising, make the dough and roll it out.







No marinara, but a little drizzle of balsamic:








And on this day, just because I was feeling fancy, I added some of this:










I sent Mariah out to get some fresh basil:

Those are the jalipenos she's reaching for....the basil's on the left.  She eventually found it.  Except I love basil and I realized that to have enough for the two pizzas I was making would leave my little basil plant bare, so I added some store-bought as well:












Sliced up some romas:










Added the cheeses!  Just a teeny tiny sprinkling of mozarella, but mostly feta:








And if I want it to taste extra yummy (which I always do) then I add goat cheese also (can't tell the girls it's called "goat" cheese if I want them to eat it):








It looks SO pretty when it's all ready to be cooked:









Made a separate one for the girls:

This was the 2nd time I made it, and the first time I didn't use the balsamic or the champagne dressing or anything, I just put the toppings down on the bare crust.  And I think I prefered that taste better.

FAQ

#1 question I get asked (almost daily) nowadays: have you lost weight?




Somedays that makes me smile and feel like I conquored life's biggest & most important challenge (cause that's how people act when they ask it).



And other days all I hear when people ask that is "Wow not too long ago you were really, really huge! It's really a miracle that you're close to an acceptable size now!" (which I realize may be a true statement but, nevertheless, still doesn't feel pleasant to hear).



The answer is yes, since September 28 of last year I've lost a total of 68 pounds.





#2 question that always follows is: how did you do it?




I usually try to walk away before people can ask me that, because I don't know how to answer it. Because when the weight started coming off, it wassn't even intentional....but people don't understand that, and since they're not being paid to be my therapist and listen to all my woes, I usually just say "Hm? Oh, you know....I exercised. Ate less. Whatever.".



I could say what I really did, what works for me and what doesn't, but I'm not qualified in the least to give any advice on the subject, and talking about it at any length makes me feel uncomfortable.




I did exercise, that part's true. I didn't make any goals, I just started running because nothing else I tried would clear my head and give me peace.

I started walking at first, but my mind still wandered.

So I picked up the pace and still every time I do it, for about a mile all I can think about is how uncomfortable I am, how I'd rather be sitting on the couch, or how silly I must look in my workout clothes.





But then I reach a point where ALL I can focus on is the music in my ears and my breath. And that was what I needed all along, and why I keep doing it. It's still not ever really enjoyable when I start, but for some reason the discomfort of it and feeling totally exhausted at the end of 3 miles feels GOOD. So I keep on doing it.

I am thankful I found a hobby that makes me feel good. And I'm thankful I've avoided injury while running in these hazardous things:

These ugly things have got to be close to 4 years old.....maybe more. That's OLD...especially for running shoes. One of the laces broke in half and then frayed, and so to even tie them into a bow is kind of a challenge. Actually it's impossible. Also, they're technically men's shoes. So they probably don't fit the way a running shoe is supposed to fit, but they're comfy and they get the job done. I'm on the hunt for new running shoes, and I can't wait to lace up shoes that are more comfortable, increase my speed, and keep me injury-free.

Aside from my beat-up shoes, the other things that have kept me moving are:

Music. I can NOT run without my ipod. I can walk, but I find it SO much harder to pick up the pace and run when I'm not listening to something. It has to be the right music too. I have different playlists for when I'm in the gym and for when I'm running. My favorites for either playlist are the kind of songs that I could never ever listen to in the car when I'm with the girls. So they're like a guilty pleasure:

Another big motivating force: Arissa Ronell, Mariah Grace, Mallory Mae. I like the feeling that I get when they watch me make healthy choices. I like how every once in awhile they join in on doing pilates with me on the living room floor. And watching Arissa dance and do her crazy flips reminds me of what I used to be capable of (well I was never capable of doing the stuff she does, even when I was her age, but I was more flexible & active at least).

So that's that.....wayyyyy more than anyone ever wanted to know about me & my issues!!

:o)

Somebody suggested I scrapbook some before and after photos....but when I went to look for some, I realized that I've pretty much avoided photos both before AND after I lost a few pounds. :) Plus for some reason I don't really like the idea of photo comparisons like that. It would make me feel like I was less-than okay before.

I am working hard to base my attitude about weight on what attitude I want my girls to have.

I hope my girls focus on health and how it feels to run and jump and be strong and happy......not on weight.

I hope they never count calories.

I hope they never feel like they have to exercise 'x' times a week or else they've "failed" or been "bad".

I hope they never ever establish a magic number on the scale, which they feel makes them acceptable if they're below it, and scared to death of being over it.

I hope if they ever get to a point where they decide they need to lose some weight, that they don't feel like they'll only be okay once they do lose it.

And I figure if I want those things for them, it's possible that someone might want the same for me and if nothing else: I can want it for myself.