Monday, February 28, 2011

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST

tahoe sun/wind bathing in the snow

After many sleepless nights due to the tornado speed winds coming from the canyon by our house, I have finally made it through the month of February and my goals!
I lost 9.2 pounds on the cinch! diet plan. 
I have read 2 books: The 5 love languages and The Screwtape letters.
I went to the temple once.
Now on to March and the new goals! 
I am still fine tuning them, so hopefully by tomorrow, I will have them all ready to be accomplished! 

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

S T A T I S T I C S


Sad as it is, it definitely happened and it is definitely true.
(i know this is long, but it is worth the read. I promise)
OK, so hold on to you belly (laughing uncontrollably makes it more fun when you hold your belly like Santa) and cover your mouth (partly for the gasp effect and partly for the burst-out-loud noise it will make when reading this post), because this story is funny! Slightly embarrassing actually! But still funny!

Last night our ward was to do sealings at the Draper Temple at 7. Sweets called me at 6:20 saying he was running late from work and would need to meet me there. I quickly finished getting ready, fed Tahoe, grabbed both our bags and hopped in the car.  

MISTAKE 1- I was running frantically to get out the door and to get there on time thus elevating my anxiety levels...

Just as I was coming around the corner to the temple entrance, Sweets calls me in a panic and asks if I somehow remembered to bring his pants that were hanging in the laundry room and NOT neatly folded in his temple bag. (How was I supposed to know.) My response was no. He called the temple super quick and they mentioned that had an emergency pair for him.

MISTAKE 2- I felt responsible and felt the need to fix the problem so in the mean time of his calling I was worrying about whether or not I should go back to the house and get the pants, and if I did go back, would I make it back again to the temple in time. Furthermore, this caused a heightened anxiety level which further depleted the only remaining sugar I had left in my body.  

So basically, you see where this is going. Sweets borrows an emergency pair of pants from the temple, we get dressed and start the sealing. There were a few peeps there so it was long, or at least it felt long to me. When it was our turn, Sweets made a comment of how he passed out last time to the room so we were to be on guard. As funny as that was, I looked at him and said I may be the one passing out! A few minutes later, literally about 2 minutes later, I PASSED OUT!!! I couldn't even believe it. I was overcome with sweat and heat and turned ghostly white. Before I new it I was hunched over still holding Sweets hand so I wouldn't fall backwards on the floor. He carried me to the side and a lady went and grabbed me some apple juice. While I was regaining consciousness, still shaking, she was pressure pointing my hands trying to get my blood flowing faster.

MISTAKE 3- I was a little depressed about the way my eating and dieting has gone lately that I decided to go back on the 5 day 5 ingredient challenge. So, not having too much food in my system, and still managing to exercise running 2 hours earlier, I was not adequately prepared with food for the temple. 

Once I felt better, they started back up with a new couple and believe it or not, SHE PASSED OUT!!! In the same exact spot and at the same time mind you! The room was halted again and laughter started breaking through the silence. She was carried back to the chairs and drank her apple juice. At that moment, I whispered to Sweets that it was time to go and that I needed to get some food. We broke away from the group and headed down the stairs. As I was leaving I saw the Sister who passed out after I did and she mentioned to me, "I don't know if it was not getting enough sleep, or not eating enough that made me pass out, but that has never happened before. Maybe it was watching you pass out that made me pass out"! I couldn't believe that I was, in a round about way, a potential cause of her passing out. I honestly couldn't help but chuckle at how random this all was.

MISTAKE 4- Apparently I am just so dang awesome and amazing that all people want to be like me! I never should have been a 'leader' last night and maybe then the domino effect might not have taken place. I sure hope whoever the couple was trying to get married actually did get married, because I sure as heck don't want to be yelled at on the other side! (J/K)

So you see, I became another STATISTIC last night at the Draper Temple last night!  

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

CHOOSE CHANGE



Change happens. Change is inevitable. While I don't love it, I am learning to accept it with a happy face (most of the time) and feelings of peace in my heart. Without Change, there would be no forward progression in life, and I am all about moving on!

You see, I am not too happy about the Changes in my life the past few months. These Changes, at first, didn't just happen over night. They were gradual, but when they caught up to me I denied them and didn't accept them with open arms. I just couldn't. It was scary. Different. New. 

I have been in a constant push-and-pull relationship with my body. Weight gain, weight loss, and back to weight gain. Needless to say, it is not subsiding. No matter how hard I try to work off the extra L.b's, the scale keeps on getting higher and when I use new tactics that are supposed to alleviate my lower back pain and the stress on my hips the more my A.S. (ankylosing spondylitis) flares up! Having said that, I have been getting better about accepting this new Change and internalizing it to mean something positive in my life. Like a representation of a new stage of living. 

Changes were made last year. Big ones. A marriage and a move. But there were subtle, personal bodily Changes too. All the cellulite and stretch marks (unpleasant and sad...I know) are a testament of the progression that I have made with myself both spiritually and physically over the last year. My body is dealing with Change in the best way it knows how, and I can't compare anything else to it. I can however, love the Change that my mind has made. I can love the Changes that I have made to better my spirituality and the relationship that I have with my husband. I have never been here before. It is foreign. I need to learn to accept it, understand it, and only then will I be able to grow from it.

I am going to make Changes. The kind of Changes that can make life better. Changes that put a smile on my face and give me hope that the future is bright. Basically, I am going to own up to it and love it.

I will CHOOSE CHANGE!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

WE BE JAMMIN'

That's right...we were jammin' out at the MONSTER JAM TRUCK RALLY
this one is just so dang cute with the horns...love it
I seriously love going to the monster jam. It is so much fun to see just how huge the trucks are, watch the trucks compete against each other and jump cars, people gaze at the white trash peeps there and listen the loud roaring hum of the engines. (If I could capture that sound for my car, I would be so happy!) We had a blast and I couldn't have asked for a better activity on a Friday night. Although I didn't get a pic of all of us there, we did have quite a group; my brother and his family, Mic and his family, Sweets and I with the Martin girls (our nieces) watched the rally with excited. All our cheers were for the GRAVE DIGGER! 

maverick (white truck) is from west jordan!
"grave digger" during the freestyle competition 
bounty hunter

Friday, February 18, 2011

{GFB} ONE YEAR OLDER...


 Every quarter the lovely ladies in my family celebrate each others birthday with a dinner out on the town! Last night, just so happened to be that special day. We celebrated Susan's birthday (jan. 9) and Marie's birthday (feb.15) at Trio on 6200 S.  

marie
susan
angie. carolyn. amy. jules. marie. susan. kimberly.

I just love my sisters and think the world of all of them! We chit chatted for hours, shared stories, ate delicious foods, started planning our girls' trip in October and laughed over nothing at all with one another! I am so grateful for the wonderful life that we share together as family and appreciate the close sisterhood bond that I have with them.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRLIES! Until next time...  

Thursday, February 17, 2011

ZZZZZ...


every morning sweets are i are racing to get out the door and to work on time.
we have been snoozing a bit longer than we should have.
not for lack of sleep, but for the purpose that we just can't get out of our amazing bed.
you see, our bed is the most comfortable bed.
it is soft, cushiony, plush, posture perfect and relaxing.
it is practically made of hopes and dreams.
we have to drag each other out of it kicking and screaming!
i love our bed and i love intelli-bed for making the worlds best mattress.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

AND THE WINNER IS...


yes, i know. it looks gross and you are probably gaging at the sight of this. however, before you get all heaved on your computer, let me tell you the goodness that is involved with this shake! 
It is from CINCH! and it is amazing! 
 if you like oats, chocolate chips, pears, ginger and milk...then you have a WINNER for breakfast! I have been drinking this the last 3 days for breakfast and have seriously been full for hours, satisfied with the taste of practically dunking an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie into milk and getting my chocolate fix! who can resist this for breakfast? 
I seriously encourage you to at least try this. i promise you will love it...and if you don't, then i feel really bad for you and your non-functioning tastebuds! (wink)

1 small pear
1/4 cup oats
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1 cup milk
1/2 tespoon ginger
(mix all together in a blender and enjoy)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

CATCH UP!


w.j.t. adams gulch


 Weston and I went to Sun Valley 1 week ago to celebrate our anniversary! It felt great to get away for a quick day and there is no other place on earth that I would rather be than in SV with my sweets! We went hiking with T, took a sleigh ride to a cabin for dinner and did a little shopping. Thanks for the get-away...Luffs sweets! 
j. sleigh 
w.j. trail creek cabin (sorry about the PDA)

We had a few friends over to our place for the fantastic game of the Super Bowl! We had so much fun catching up with each other, watching the game and commercials, eating yummy food and treats and playing buzz on the PS3 afterwards! Thanks peeps for the 'good times'! 
mark sian. bryn. ryan erin. lindsey dave. kerstin eric. sweets.
chili. chips/dip. veggies/fruit. desserts. 


Sweets and I went back on baby-sitting duty this past weekend and it was so fun! I just love all my nieces and nephews and so when I get asked to watch them, I always jump for joy! This time, we watched my brothers' 4 children for a few days. We took them to the aquarium and out to dinner, and the wonderful W took them by himself to the children's discovery while I had church meetings. Overall, we were sad to let them go, but happy to get some sleep again!  

charlie. j. 
james. abby. anna. j.
tahoe. bear.


Finally, sweets and I celebrated Valentine's Day! He surprised me with a wonderful gift(s) and fun-filled dinner in Park City. I am so lucky to have such an thoughtful husband! I on the other hand, couldn't grasp the concept this year of telling him how much I love him in a card and then getting a gift. For some reason, it wasn't doing justice in my head, so instead I decided to tell him why I love him. I made him a basket full of "love reasons why I love you" and included gifts to correlate.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

ON THE LIST

I just love these items and I am drooling over them as I write, and have been for months now. Maybe one day I will be able to get these things and use them to beautify myself and my home! They are just so dang cute and full of flavor! 

 company c
 ballard designs
 z gallery

 fossil
shabby

Friday, February 4, 2011

WE DID IT!

I love my sweets in so many wonderful ways!
I can't believe it has been 1 whole year already! 




Here is to many many many more wonderful and exciting years together!
Happy Anniversary Sweets

Thursday, February 3, 2011

THE CINCH! UPDATE

things have been good. 
monday was good. no complaints. yogurt isn't my favorite.
tuesday was hard. i was hungry. i was tired.
wednesday was great. no problems. had a ton of energy. not hungry during the day.
thursday is off to a better start. i feel good. i look good.  
tomorrow is the last day of this 5-day fast forward.
i'm looking forward to eating more than 5 ingredients for the remainder of the month.

i started monday morning.
i'm down 5.3 lbs.
1 day left.
24 days to go.

if you are interested in learning a bit more about this program...check this website out!   

Weight Loss: Lose 10 Pounds This Month with the Cinch! Diet Plan

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

CHUGGA CHUGGA...CHOO CHOO!

And I am off! The "train"ing for my Winter Quarter Goal has been going full speed ahead! I couldn't be happier with the dedication that I have made to working out, eating right, and completing my goals. I am getting more comfortable on our Kreitler Roller during my workouts, but with this weather, I really need to be biking outside! There is such a difference with working out inside as opposed to working out outside. So far, my legs are holding up, but my bum is not. I guess I am not used to sitting on a slim piece of metal with no cushion except for the black material! OUCH! Otherwise I am chugging along and will hopefully make the goal of biking 50 miles next month!  



I have been following this plan 3 days a week so far and it has been a great one! After this week I am switching programs to something a little more intense and longer. Pray that soon, we will have a good 40-50 degree weather day, so I can take this "train"ing outside...


Minutes
Level
5
Warm up at an easy level (10 to 12 MPH)
2
Moderate effort (12 to 14 MPH)
2
Easy
2
Moderately hard (14 to 16 MPH)
2
Easy
2
Hard (16 to 19 MPH)
2
Easy
1
Hard, then reverse the order back to start

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

BLUE EYED BOY!


My sweet sister and her husband are the proud new parents of Samuel Todd Martin! He was born December 29th and weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces. He was 19 inches long. Even after a month, he has the most gorgeous blue eyes! 
I am so excited that I am an Auntie Juju again! This makes number 21 with still another on the way to make 22 in the spring!