Paradise Found

  

A Little Slice of Heaven

Putting It Out There

I know this is supposed to be “Wordless Wednesday”, but this photo needs a little explanation. I have been really working to lose weight for a little over a month now.  I posted about my plan of attack in July, but I didn’t hit it really hard until mid-August.  I have been running, lifting weights, and watching calories, and I have lost 13 pounds.  So, while this number is still about 35 pounds higher than my goal weight, I am proud of it for now.  My scales have not shown this number since before I got pregnant with my now 3 1/2 year old—so what? Over 4 years, right?At this rate I should be right around 130 (my goal) right around the new year. :)

Mexico Moments

This is a repost of one of the first stories I wrote for this blog.  I need to write about Thelma and Louise again soon.  But in the meantime, I thought some of you would enjoy reading this now that you have gotten to know us a bit better.

O.K. we have to admit, sometimes our funny stories roll out of the M-O-S-T embarrassing of situations; we are sure many of you girlfriends out there can relate. This particular running-to-the-bathroom-story is so embarrassing that we have made a pact with each other to never let out which one of us it happened to because, well, you will TOTALLY understand when you get to the end...

Let's just say there is a hotel cleaning lady in Mexico still cursing our names. It all started in 2003 with a trip we took to Ft. Lauderdale (There are some stories there too!) when we spent the week talking about going parasailing but never did. Once we arrived back home, we both regretted not taking advantage of the opportunity to fly high over the ocean. We promised each other and ourselves that if the moment ever presented itself again, we'd dive right in and not let it pass. Ok, jump ahead four years--a wedding and a child later. We, along with our husbands, finally took that trip to Mexico we had been talking about for years. Before we even left, we decided this was it; we were going to parasail over the Carribbean. How beautiful and tranquil, right? So, finally the last day of our trip we did it, and it was an experience neither of us will ever forget. EVER.

Nerves were building as our scheduled parasailing time crept closer and closer. One of us even tried to back out, but, true to our friendship, the other part of the duo twisted her arm and reminded her of the promise she'd made years ago and guilted her into holding up her end of the bargain. (You thought I was going to say something sweet about providing support and encouragement, didn't you? Yeah, that didn't happen.) Our husbands, being the supportive men they are--who are we kidding; they wanted ammo on us--bought a seat on the boat. So there we were, on the boat full of people who were also going parasailing. After the first person took his turn, we were up. The guide had told us each turn would last around 15 minutes, what sign to make to come down early, and that they'd try to bring us in so we'd land on the platform but there was a chance we'd end up in the water. Getting into the air was no problemo; it was smooth sailing (after all of the screaming and prayers on the way up). Our experience started off as we had envisioned--beautiful and tranquil--then it all went south in more ways than one.

We couldn't have been in the air for more than five minutes, maybe not even that long, when it hit--quite literally. Have you ever seen Sex in the City: The Movie? Remember Charolette's experience in Mexico where she did everything she could to avoid consuming any of the water only, when she accidentally did, she went running for the nearest toilet only to find herself unable to hold it any longer? Well, we are here to tell you, those "Mexico Moments (MM)" really happen, and this one happened to one of us 500 feet into the air! So, there we were in quite the predicament. The "accident victim" begged the other one of us to make the sign for an early landing and prayed we'd end up with an ocean landing (Who cares about the possibility of attracting fish and maybe even sharks? Landing in the water might at least give us the chance to get out of this situation with a little dignity). No such luck. We landed on the platform and were welcomed by questioning looks from our husbands. We did the only safe thing we could do in that situation; we said one of us was feeling sick. Now the trick was to get the boat to the dock and fast. The problem? There was still one person on the boat who hadn't had their turn not to mention the guides who's English was limited. At this point we can't even recall how the conversation went, but somehow we convinced the driver we need to get back to shore. And as luck would have it, a couple on the boat with us told us of a close bathroom once we got to the dock--the VIP lounge.

We both took off to the VIP lounge as soon as the boat got to the dock. I'm pretty sure neither of us had ever run that fast. We burst through the lounge and into the restroom. Let's just say there was no salvaging the bathing suit--never mind the HOURS it took to find that suit--so luckily she was wearing a cover up as well. And then another "MM" hit. She was in luck, right? We were in a restroom with a toilet right there. Well, if you have ever been to Mexico, you know the toilets don't flush like they do here. (At least this has been our experience.) So to make a long story short the toilet got stopped up. So there we were, one of us sick at this point, a toilet full of well, you know, and a RUINED bathing suit. What do you do in that situation? No amount of life experience could prepare you for this, right? Like any good girl would do, we PANICKED. (Here is where the bathing suit cover up came in handy since the swimsuit was now IN THE TOILET right along with--well, you know.) We ran out of the VIP lounge as fast as we could and across the resort to our rooms, where we stayed for the next three hours. We just knew somehow the hotel people would find the culprits.

Now we are sure you understand why we wish to keep this story anonymous. We promise this really happened; we couldn't make this story up if we tried.

Make Yourself at Home—Part 2

First it was a tour of my fridge and deep freeze.  Now, I invite you in to see my pantry (or pantries).  I don’t really have a pantry per se.  I’d kill to have a good sized pantry, but until we move I’ll just have to dream. (In my dream I also have an island in the kitchen, beautiful countertops, tile that does look dirty 5 minutes after I mop it, plush, cozy carpet, a big laundry room where I can actually do laundry, great, big walk-in closets, a huge, relaxing master bath, a bonus room for the boys play area, and a maid to clean it ALL. But I digress.)

So for now we have made this book self in the garage work for us.  It mainly is used to store our canned goods. We go through a significant amount of tomato sauce and paste, so we always stock up on that.  The boys like their fruit.  We’ve been buying a lot of fresh, but we like to keep some canned on hand in case we are out.  The ravioli is a quick, easy lunch when we are in a pinch.

Inside the house, I have a couple of sets of cabinets (Oh and a basket) I use for the rest of the pantry type foods. One set is above the microwave.  It has cereal, pop tarts, fiber one bars, oatmeal, & that kind of stuff in it. The Bisquick is now gone thanks to Elle the Heiress pigs in a blanket craving on Twitter the other night.  She had several of us craving them by the end of the night.

Another set of cabinets has our coffee, tea, jello, cake mixes, pastas, and such in them. Apparently I have Hamburger Helper.  I forgot that was even there. And it is almost cornbread weather! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE me some Jiffy corn muffin mix. I can’t make it better from scratch.

 

And we of course have a snack basket above our fridge. Don’t you to?  This is where we store the travel snacks.  You know?  The ones moms grab in case they need saving while running errands with the hellions monkeys children.  Goldfish crackers, animal crackers, graham crackers, regular crackers.  Are you seeing the theme here? We also keep our chips up in the basket too. Or sometimes they are beside the basket if it is overflowing, which it is right now.

That’s really it.  I think it’s pretty normal stuff that we have. Now let’s be nosey and see what Elle the Heiress and Katie over at Cleared for Takeoff  have in their pantries.  They are giving us a tour today too! But my real question is what’s in your pantry?  Care to show me around?

That’s What I Call Progress

Thought I’d write a weight loss update in case any of you are wondering how that’s going. Well, it’s going.  Slowly but surely.  Since I began trying to lose weight and get healthy back in May (I didn’t really hit it hard until the second week of August.), I have lost 12 pounds and am almost down one size.  But I am also building muscle—lifting weights, running.  I can see more of a difference than my scales portray. 

My arms are not nearly as flabby.  My waddle when I wave—you know what I am talking about—is smaller.  Now that it is getting cooler out, my arms are looking good for sleeveless shirts! I’m come to terms with the fact I will always have big thighs.  It’s something my family has passed on to me.  But I decided I would rather have big, muscular thighs than big, fat thighs.  The running has started making a HUGE difference in this already. 

I was surprised how quickly I was able to work up to running two miles.  I don’t do it very quickly and sometimes it isn’t pretty, but I can run just a little over 2 miles without stopping.  I don’t do this everyday.  Like today, I was lucky to get a mile in before I had to stop and walk for a bit.  I just wasn’t feeling it this morning.  Not sure whether it was the humidity or the constant multitasking between my run and my boys in the stroller.  Some runs are like that.  Then there are the mornings my husband (Who I am so thankful for.  He has been my biggest cheerleader through this process.) is home and I get to go for a run by myself.  Without kids. Without the monster stroller.  Now those are the mornings I really enjoy my run. Those are the mornings I can really push myself.

Now to really start focusing on my belly.  Oh my how that area of my body has been neglected.  I’ve always had a little pooch there and now, after two kids, Mamma Mia! I’ve been doing some Pilates and ab work, but I really think it’s time to kick it up a notch (or two or three).

So, yes, I have made progress. Quite a bit actually.  I have a ways to go yet, but this has been the best start on getting fit and healthy I’ve ever had. Wish me luck on the rest of this journey.

Fantastic Friday-9/3

I love this idea!  What a great way to look back at the week and remember the positive and be grateful. Thanks Cameron Crazy Mom and Elle the Heiress for turning me on to this FANTASTIC idea!

Great things that happened to me this week:

1. Got to go have a girls night out and play bunco with my much missed teacher friends last night.

2. Weighed yesterday morning and I am officially down to my pre-baby weight.

3. Having a date night with hubs tonight.

4. Looking like we probably will get my oldest into the school district I’d love for him to be in. (After camping out overnight.)

5. My boys are playing more and more together. It’s so much fun to hear them laughing with each other.

6.  I got my fridge and deep freeze cleaned out and organized!

7. My oldest is getting better and better at learning the “basics” of soccer. The whole family played in our street one evening.

Okay, I know there is more. Next week I’ll keep track as the week goes. :)  What made your week so fantastic?

Parenthood Craziness

This is crazy. I am sitting in a long line full of other people to try to get my 3-year-old into a school for NEXT year.  Yes, that’s right. The 2010-2011 school year.  My oldest will be going into Pre-K.  The craziest part of this is that I have been in line—technically my chair as been—since 9:00 last night.  I have been in the back of the Explorer tweeting, eating ice cream & sleeping (for a whole hour) up until now.  I am number 86 on the unofficial list to get my kid in here.   But I’m number 27 on the Pre-K  list. The people at the front of this line have been here for a week. Yes, a week. They have pitched tents and barbequed food.  I drove by here Friday night, and there was a smoker going in the parking lot.  The superintendent of this district even provided port-a-potties.  Craziness, no?

We won’t know for sure until May whether we are in or not. I’ve been told by the other parents out here who have done this before that being 27rd we have a pretty good shot. I’ll try not to get my hopes up though. We’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed until then.