Simon 20 1/2 months

The new ME!!!

I look a bit different now then I did when Hugh left 7 months ago. I have been working very hard to restore myself to the shape/size I was when I got married. I am not embarrassed to admit that I had quite a few pounds to shed. I guess I just knew it was not something I was going to be able to do with Hugh around. So I took advantage of this fine opportunity, as I did with my skills, to "shape up"! And that is what I did!

How did I do it? It was a big learning process. I have a "diet" that I have done 2 times before where I was successful with losing some pounds. The first time I did it I lost 15 pounds in about 1 month. That was while Hugh was in training for his job and the kids and I were living with my Mom back in Jan. of 2008. Yes that was fast. But somehow it just worked that fast that time. I had put that weight back on and then some because then I got pregnant with Simon. The second time I did it was Aug. to beginning of Oct. of last year and I lost 20 pounds. I was able to keep that off. Hugh then left and I got into gear. With much help and support from my sister I have been eating healthier and exercising. We also have a blog together where I have been having to report to her how my eating was that day and how I did with exercising. It was the biggest help for me. I do not think I would have been able to do it without her support and help. That is the first thing I would suggest to anyone wanting to lose weight, get a good support system. It does not have to be a big one. Just find a friend who can help you stay strong. So on this third time of my system (slightly adjusted this time and I learned new things) I last another 30 pounds. So from Aug of '09 to Sept. of '10 I lost a total of 50 pounds!! 50 pounds!! HOLY COW!! That's 2 Simon's!!! That is a lot of extra baggage I was carrying around. I went down 4 pants sizes!!

I know you are dying to know exactly what it is I did. Well I can't tell you. Because it drives me crazy when people ask what it is I did, I tell them, and they say "I could never do that!" The best quote that fits with that is "Whether you think you can, or you can't, you are right!" If you already start with the attitude of saying you could never do that then you are right! You will not succeed. If you really want to know what I did and you really want to try it out for yourself, I have no problem telling you. But I am going to tell you now, I did not do Weight Watchers, or Jenny Craig, I did not count calories AT ALL, I did not pay a company to tell me something I already know (eat healthy). I did non of that. I gathered info from others who have lost weight and gathered more info of my own from other online sources and came up with a plan that fits me. I am one that needs to be told what to do on a daily basis. And it worked for me.

The best and most motivating part about all this is that Hugh had no idea what I looked like. He knew I was losing weight and I would even tell him on occasion that I had lost more weight. Even at the end it seems like all I could talk about. I was so excited for him to see me. He had not seen even a picture of me while he was gone. It was like one of those revealing moments you see on TV when he first saw me. It was awesome!

Homemade Goodies

So while Hugh was away, I got to play!! Ok really, I took this as my opportunity to grow as a person and try to learn new skills. One of the things I have learned and has come in very handy is making homemade tortillas. While I am far from being a pro at it, it has been fun to do and I just can't get enough of these!! They seem simple enough to make, so far I think I have only had one really good batch, and that was the first time I made them, and my teacher was teaching me how to make them. Don't get me wrong, every batch has been yummy tasting, but it just has not been the same as that first one. I learned from someone from Mexico who learned how to make Tortillas when she was 6. Can you believe that!! 6!! Katie is 6 and I still won't let her near stove when it is on! She was a great teacher and made me do everything authentically. I had to mix the dough with my own hands. Not even a spoon. I am so glad to have a new skill and I am still working on getting it right.



Another skill I learned was canning. I have canned freezer strawberry jam, shelf strawberry jam, peach freezer jam (didn't set so I have peach syrup), and pickles! I am so excited about the pickles. It is a recipe I got from a neighbor here who even grows her own pickling cucumbers. And they are delicious. The picture is just before I was going to pour the hot juice over the cucumbers. And it has been great not having to buy jam and knowing what went into my jam. I am hooked and I can't wait for next years season so I can make enough to last hopefully a year. I just moved our last frozen jar to the fridge and then we will be starting on out shelf jam. I also want to try canning peaches next year and taking another go at peach jam. Not sure what else I will try.

Fall cleaning

Let me take you on a tour of my house.

This is our living room.

This is the other side of my living room where we keep the toys and such things.

The formal dining room. I would like to put the computer somewhere else I just do not know where it should go. It used to be in the living room where the rocking chair is.

The cooking area. Its a little small but it works.

Less formal dining are and what we like to call the tall counter.

The Master Suite.

The Master Suite Powder Room.

Guest Powder Room.

Guest Room 1 AKA Leo's Room.

Guest Room 2 AKA Katie's Room

Now why isn't my house always this clean!?!

Chicken nuggets, anyone?

And THIS is why I do not ever want to each chicken nuggets again.... or anything processed for that matter!

Home Sweet Home

The house is ready...

The signs are ready...

Leo is ready...

Katie is ready...

Simon are you ready?

We're all ready!

HERE THEY COME!!!

Salute the flag during national anthem...

DADDY!!!!

Even Simon leaned in for a hug.

I missed you, too, sweetie.

Yippy, Daddy's home!!

Together at last.

I know most of you did not know, Hugh has been deployed for the last 7 months. He is home safe and sound now. We are glad to have him back. It was quite the journey and I learned many things along the way. But for now, he is home, and I am happy.

Saddened

My own computer is currently out of commission until I get approval from the Hubby to use it again. So no pictures until then. And I have so much to blog about. Ok not really, but I have come across a few things. Like Katie can now hula hoop pretty good. I got a hula hoop yesterday and she spent a good while practicing and I think she's got the hang of it. And its not even a small hula hoop. Its a bigger one fro me.

Guess that's all I really had to talk about.

This was a good Sunday. Things just went very smooth. I even got a short little cat nap in. And it has been raining this afternoon. We so needed it! Other than that we are just hanging out. I have been working hard to get my house cleaned and organized the way I would like it. I just wish the progress I made everyday would stay put. I seem to just get the toys cleaned up and dishes done just to start another day and it all start over again. Well, till next time my blogging world.