Sorry it has been so long since I've updated my progress on my 30 before 30 list. I've either been busy or out of commission! But, things are getting back to normal, so it shouldn't be 4 weeks before I post again (hopefully!). However, progress has been made in those 4 weeks, so here goes:
3. Pay off two credit cards - done! We used our tax return to do this. However, seeing as how we still have about a zillion more to pay off, I figure I'll leave this one on and just add the word "more." As long as it's on the list, maybe I'll be more conscientious about it and driven to accomplish it!
4. Lose weight - so far I'm down 12.2 lbs! Granted . . . about half of that is due to my gallbladder surgery and eating like a bird for a week or two because food didn't really sound good. I expect I'll gain a bit of it back now that I'm eating like a normal person again, but hopefully that will be the "jumpstart" I needed to make some serious progress. Fingers crossed.
5. Visit someplace new - not yet, but we have plans to go to Maine in the Fall for a wedding, and we've never been there! =)
11. Tithe regularly - while I am ashamed to say it's not "regular" yet, it is certainly happening more than it has in a while. And, while it may not be the "proper" amount, it is something and I know that God certainly knows how to stretch my dollar and make it grow!
12. Drink 8 glasses of water a day - not there yet, but making progress. While this isn't daily yet, I have had several days recently that I've had 6 glasses of water. May not sound like much, but when you're used to drinking between 2-4, 6 is a big deal!
15. Read at least one new book a month - In March, I read The Horse and His Boy, The Magician's Nephew, and The Last Battle, the last 3 books in the Chronicles of Narnia series. Loved them all!
21. Cut my Dr. Pepper consumption by half - I'm not sure if it's by half or not . . . I haven't really been keeping track, but it probably is since I was drinking one a day and now it's only when we go out (which is 1-2x a week), but I've only done this in the last week or so (well . . . probably more because all I really wanted after my surgery was water or gingerale). Anyway, I don't have DP in the house anymore, so this should help me to drink more water and less DP.
22. Do one outdoor activity a day in the Spring, Summer, and Fall - well, while it is technically spring, it is still cold and snow has been falling this week, so I'm holding off until the weather feels like being nice and not cold and snowy!
28. Resolve my gallbladder issues - RESOLVED!!! I had my gallbladder removed on March 8 and haven't had any trouble since! Not gonna lie, it took me just over a week to recover and I felt lousy for most of that week. But, as of last Wednesday I've been feeling really good! Still a little sore, but all in all, almost back to normal!!! Yay!
So there you have it. Eight weeks into this and definitely making progress. Pressing on to the goal!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Valentine's Day Gift
So, after I posted on Facebook that I had almost finished making Andrew's Valentine's Day gift, many of you asked for a picture, so, this is what I made him:
I found this idea on a blog called cozy cottage cute. She actually punched out cute words from a "tattered, old book." I didn't have any tattered, old books, nor could I bring myself to destroy a book that way, so I typed up some love poems (Elizabeth Barrett Browning, etc) and then punched out words from those. I think it came out pretty cute. =)
And, after our traditional "fancy" homemade dinner of tenderloin steak with gorgonzola and herbs and grape tomato and garlic pasta with arugula and basil, we had dessert! A new one called Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes, and boy, was it tasty!!! Here is a pic of that:
It's layered mini strawberry champagne cupcakes, champagne buttercream frosting, champagne soaked strawberries, and chocolate ganache served in a champagne flute. And, it's all made from scratch! (I think dessert actually took longer to make than dinner!) YUM!!
And, after our traditional "fancy" homemade dinner of tenderloin steak with gorgonzola and herbs and grape tomato and garlic pasta with arugula and basil, we had dessert! A new one called Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes, and boy, was it tasty!!! Here is a pic of that:
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Weeks 3&4 Progress
3. Pay off two credit cards - continuing to make payments and attempting to shrink balances
4. Lose weight - I joined Weight Watchers on February 13 and, as of my weigh-in today, I have lost 8 lbs!
11. Tithe regularly - I tithed last Sunday!
12. Drink 8 glasses of water a day - yeah . . . so far the best I've done is 4 and the worst is about 2. Still working on it though!
15. Read at least 1 new book a month - well, February is almost over and I have read The Voyages of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair (all from The Chronicles of Narnia), as well as The Five Love Languages. Yep, I LOVE to read!!!
16. Organize my life - today I organized my purses. I decided to get rid of a bunch I don't need or use and only kept the ones I really liked. Life organized - no. Purses organized - yes! One small step for man . . .
17. Do a light clean once a week - so far I've accomplished this one every other week. I had great plans to clean last week, but the day I had planned on doing it I was sick and busy every other day! But, for now, I'll take every other week. At least (for the most part) our apartment is clean.
20. Have friends over for dinner once a month - well . . . no one's coming over, but we are getting together with friends for dinner, so that sorta counts, right?
26. Do 100 sit ups/crunches a day - Success! I started on February 12 and the only days I've missed were Valentine's Day (forgot until after I was already in bed and didn't want to get out) and the day I was sick.
28. Resolve gallbladder issues - as I said in my previous post, my surgery is scheduled for March 8! And none too soon as I had another attack last night! Not awful, but still kept me up for almost 2 hours in the middle of the night. So . . . in 12 more days I will be sans gallbladder! Woo Hoo!
Four weeks in and making progress . . .
4. Lose weight - I joined Weight Watchers on February 13 and, as of my weigh-in today, I have lost 8 lbs!
11. Tithe regularly - I tithed last Sunday!
12. Drink 8 glasses of water a day - yeah . . . so far the best I've done is 4 and the worst is about 2. Still working on it though!
15. Read at least 1 new book a month - well, February is almost over and I have read The Voyages of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair (all from The Chronicles of Narnia), as well as The Five Love Languages. Yep, I LOVE to read!!!
16. Organize my life - today I organized my purses. I decided to get rid of a bunch I don't need or use and only kept the ones I really liked. Life organized - no. Purses organized - yes! One small step for man . . .
17. Do a light clean once a week - so far I've accomplished this one every other week. I had great plans to clean last week, but the day I had planned on doing it I was sick and busy every other day! But, for now, I'll take every other week. At least (for the most part) our apartment is clean.
20. Have friends over for dinner once a month - well . . . no one's coming over, but we are getting together with friends for dinner, so that sorta counts, right?
26. Do 100 sit ups/crunches a day - Success! I started on February 12 and the only days I've missed were Valentine's Day (forgot until after I was already in bed and didn't want to get out) and the day I was sick.
28. Resolve gallbladder issues - as I said in my previous post, my surgery is scheduled for March 8! And none too soon as I had another attack last night! Not awful, but still kept me up for almost 2 hours in the middle of the night. So . . . in 12 more days I will be sans gallbladder! Woo Hoo!
Four weeks in and making progress . . .
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Week 1 & 2 Update
In my last blog I made a list of 30 things I want to do (or habits I'd like to actually be able to call habits) before I'm 30. So, after 2 weeks, here's what I've accomplished:
3. Pay off two credit cards - not paid off by any means, but making payments and shrinking total amount due.
4. Lose weight - nope, not yet. But, we have switched our gym membership and actually gone twice! I know, that's really not much, but considering we haven't gone since October (ok, really it's more like August if we're being totally honest here), 2 times in 2 weeks is an improvement! We'll keep working on this! =)
6. Finish wedding scrapbook - I've been working on it and it's getting closer!
7. Finish honeymoon scrapbook - I've also been working on this, and it is closer as well!
9. Andrew - done! ;o)
15. Read at least 1 new book a month - January, I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian (hard to believe, but I've never read The Chronicles of Narnia - I'm really enjoying them!)
16. Get life organized - no, my life is not organized yet, but my closet is! Yay!
17. Do a light clean once a week - by light I mean dust, vacuum, cleanser sinks, clean toilets, clean mirrors..., Well, I did this one out of two weeks so, I wouldn't call it a success per say (but it's not a fail either!). I still need to work towards establishing this habit!
24. Clean out clothes - I kinda did this when I organized my closet, however (due to small closets here) I was only able to do my winter clothes. My summer clothes are in storage, so I'll have to go through them when it gets warmer here. And, I still need to go through my drawers and stuff, so ... started, but not accomplished yet.
28. Resolve gallbladder issues - I am happy to say that I have scheduled my gallbladder surgery for March 8 - 1 month from yesterday! Yikes!!
30. Have a t-shirt quilt made out of college tees - I have picked out the shirts I want to use, so now I just need to find a place and give them my shirts (o yeah, and have money to pay for it . . . thinking this one may be accomplished as a birthday or Christmas gift from mom and dad!)
Obviously, I still have a ways to go towards accomplishing my list, but I've got lots of time to do it and feel like I've made a pretty good start 2 weeks in. Yay me! ;o)
3. Pay off two credit cards - not paid off by any means, but making payments and shrinking total amount due.
4. Lose weight - nope, not yet. But, we have switched our gym membership and actually gone twice! I know, that's really not much, but considering we haven't gone since October (ok, really it's more like August if we're being totally honest here), 2 times in 2 weeks is an improvement! We'll keep working on this! =)
6. Finish wedding scrapbook - I've been working on it and it's getting closer!
7. Finish honeymoon scrapbook - I've also been working on this, and it is closer as well!
9. Andrew - done! ;o)
15. Read at least 1 new book a month - January, I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian (hard to believe, but I've never read The Chronicles of Narnia - I'm really enjoying them!)
16. Get life organized - no, my life is not organized yet, but my closet is! Yay!
17. Do a light clean once a week - by light I mean dust, vacuum, cleanser sinks, clean toilets, clean mirrors..., Well, I did this one out of two weeks so, I wouldn't call it a success per say (but it's not a fail either!). I still need to work towards establishing this habit!
24. Clean out clothes - I kinda did this when I organized my closet, however (due to small closets here) I was only able to do my winter clothes. My summer clothes are in storage, so I'll have to go through them when it gets warmer here. And, I still need to go through my drawers and stuff, so ... started, but not accomplished yet.
28. Resolve gallbladder issues - I am happy to say that I have scheduled my gallbladder surgery for March 8 - 1 month from yesterday! Yikes!!
30. Have a t-shirt quilt made out of college tees - I have picked out the shirts I want to use, so now I just need to find a place and give them my shirts (o yeah, and have money to pay for it . . . thinking this one may be accomplished as a birthday or Christmas gift from mom and dad!)
Obviously, I still have a ways to go towards accomplishing my list, but I've got lots of time to do it and feel like I've made a pretty good start 2 weeks in. Yay me! ;o)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
30 Before I'm 30
I've seen one of my friends blogging about this, and I've been inspired (thanks Michelle G!). The general idea is to make a list of 30 things you'd like to accomplish before turning thirty. So, I thought I'd give it a try and see what happens. I'm actually only 28 now, but I figure I'm such a procrastinator that I should "start" now. I've been keeping a running list on my phone for basically this entire month and finally figured out my 30th thing last night, so, I thought I should go on and post it now and attempt to get started (keep me accountable, y'all)! Keep in mind as you read the list that some of these things aren't so much going to be accomplishments as they will be habits I'd like to establish in my life. So, here it is, my 30 before I'm 30 list:
1. Have a baby (this should surprise no one)
2. Move to a house OR be actively looking for a house
3. Pay off 2 credit cards
4. Lose weight (no real plan on how to accomplish this one yet, but I'll figure it out, and yes, I do have a number in mind)
5. Visit someplace new
6. Finish our wedding scrapbook (as my friend Michelle G would say, Don't Judge!)
7. Finish our honeymoon scrapbook (again, Don't Judge!)
8. Travel to a new country
9. Andrew (he should be on this list, and I can't have a baby without him!)
10. Frame my TX certification
11. Tithe regularly
12. Drink 8 glasses of water a day (sure hope my bladder can handle this one . . . I think I've been dehydrated for most of my life)
13. Learn to sew
14. Accumulate some savings - preferably $1000+
15. Read at least one new book a month (love reading, so this shouldn't be too hard...)
16. Organize my life! (I know this is broad, but it needs to be done just the same)
17. Do a light clean once a week
18. Do a deep clean once a month
19. Cook a four course meal
20. Have friends over for dinner once a month
21. Cut my Dr. Pepper consumption by half (gasp!)
22. Do 1 outdoor activity a day in the Spring, Summer, and Fall (sorry Winter, but you're just too cold)
23. Organize my craft supplies
24. Clean out my clothes and get rid of ones that don't fit/haven't been worn in over a year
25. Go through college papers, etc. and toss or organize
26. Do 100 sit ups/crunches a day
27. Make a budget and stick to it (the sticking to it will be the hard part)
28. Resolve my gallbladder issues
29. Start running (ugh)
30. Have a t-shirt quilt made out of my Baylor tees
Well . . . there it is . . . 30 before 30. I'd like to think I can actually accomplish all of these things in one year and 6.5 months, but we'll see. I tried to only put "doable" things on my list (I know my limits!) and I'd say the one I'm most concerned about is starting to run. I truly wish I liked running, but I absolutely hate it. Inside, outside, it doesn't matter. I'm not a fan. But, neither have I given it a real chance. So, I figure before I'm thirty I should at least give it a chance. I actually told my brother this last summer that I hate running so much, I would only run if I was being chased, then I thought about it and said, "no, not even then . . . I'd probably just let the person catch me!" so I think out of everything on my list that will be the most challenging habit to start. We'll see. I'll keep you posted on my progress. Wish me luck! =)
1. Have a baby (this should surprise no one)
2. Move to a house OR be actively looking for a house
3. Pay off 2 credit cards
4. Lose weight (no real plan on how to accomplish this one yet, but I'll figure it out, and yes, I do have a number in mind)
5. Visit someplace new
6. Finish our wedding scrapbook (as my friend Michelle G would say, Don't Judge!)
7. Finish our honeymoon scrapbook (again, Don't Judge!)
8. Travel to a new country
9. Andrew (he should be on this list, and I can't have a baby without him!)
10. Frame my TX certification
11. Tithe regularly
12. Drink 8 glasses of water a day (sure hope my bladder can handle this one . . . I think I've been dehydrated for most of my life)
13. Learn to sew
14. Accumulate some savings - preferably $1000+
15. Read at least one new book a month (love reading, so this shouldn't be too hard...)
16. Organize my life! (I know this is broad, but it needs to be done just the same)
17. Do a light clean once a week
18. Do a deep clean once a month
19. Cook a four course meal
20. Have friends over for dinner once a month
21. Cut my Dr. Pepper consumption by half (gasp!)
22. Do 1 outdoor activity a day in the Spring, Summer, and Fall (sorry Winter, but you're just too cold)
23. Organize my craft supplies
24. Clean out my clothes and get rid of ones that don't fit/haven't been worn in over a year
25. Go through college papers, etc. and toss or organize
26. Do 100 sit ups/crunches a day
27. Make a budget and stick to it (the sticking to it will be the hard part)
28. Resolve my gallbladder issues
29. Start running (ugh)
30. Have a t-shirt quilt made out of my Baylor tees
Well . . . there it is . . . 30 before 30. I'd like to think I can actually accomplish all of these things in one year and 6.5 months, but we'll see. I tried to only put "doable" things on my list (I know my limits!) and I'd say the one I'm most concerned about is starting to run. I truly wish I liked running, but I absolutely hate it. Inside, outside, it doesn't matter. I'm not a fan. But, neither have I given it a real chance. So, I figure before I'm thirty I should at least give it a chance. I actually told my brother this last summer that I hate running so much, I would only run if I was being chased, then I thought about it and said, "no, not even then . . . I'd probably just let the person catch me!" so I think out of everything on my list that will be the most challenging habit to start. We'll see. I'll keep you posted on my progress. Wish me luck! =)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Blizzard 2011
Brrrrrr! It is cold outside and it's been snowing since about 10:00 last night (it is now 11:15am). There is so much snow outside . . . never really thought this Texas girl would be snowed in or caught in a blizzard, but here we are. When I open the blinds to look out the windows now, the bottom third of the window is covered with snow. So, since I am "snowed in" today, I think it will be a good day to watch movies and perhaps take out the wedding scrapbook that I have yet to complete and work on it. Kinda wishing we had a fireplace today . . . it would be nice. Unfortunately, Andrew is planning on going to work today (apparently he has something to do that'll take 8 hours and HAS to be done today) but I'm not sure that's gonna happen. Certainly not before the snow has stopped or the parking lot has been plowed. Anyway, here are some photos of the blizzard!
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| out of our bedroom window |
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| tree outside our bedroom window |
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| bikes on our patio |
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| looking out to the parking lot from our patio - my car is in the middle, Andrew's car is on the right |
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| Tanner looking at the snow out of our patio door |
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| bush covered in snow |
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| from our patio |
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| hurrying to get back inside - snow is too cold!! |
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| puppy paw prints |
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| sweet Tanner's pawprints |
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| wind chime covered in snow |
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| tree with snow on the branches |
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| on our patio |
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| utility door on our patio - to give you some perspective of the depth of the snow |
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| outside our bedroom window |
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| outside our bedroom window |
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| tree outside of our bedroom window |
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!
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| while it was still snowing |
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| still snowing . . . |
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| snowing . . . |
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| snowing . . . |
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| snowing . . . |
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| snowing . . . this was towards the beginning of the snow - some of this snow was already there from over Christmas break |
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| snowing . . . |
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| I love the look of snow covered branches. so pretty |
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| outside our patio |
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| outside our patio |
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| look at all of that snow! my car is the one in the middle...it was there for the whole snowstorm! |
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| gorgeous! |
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| this morning around the complex |
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| this morning around the complex |
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| this morning around the complex |
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| this morning around the complex |
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| this morning around the complex |
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| this morning around the complex |
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| beautiful |
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| snow covered tree |
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| snow covered berries |
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| so pretty - winter at its finest! |
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