In the Jungle...

This afternoon began with an appointment at the vet’s office. Today was a special day; it was the first time I took both Capi and Roxie on the same day. I knew it would be an entertaining experience; I just didn’t know how entertaining. I began the animal round-up by leading Capi into the pet carrier. Then to her unexpected despair, I lock the door behind her. She usually likes it in the carrier because it’s cozy and dark. However, she hates it when the door is closed. She likes to know that she can come and go as she pleases. Once that door closes, she panics, bangs on the door, and meows like there’s no tomorrow. You’d think that she was trapped in a dungeon with the largest, meanest dog in the world. Poor thing never saw it coming.

Next, I send Roxie outside to go potty. She races back in, tail wagging with excitement; because she knows she gets a treat. As I distract her with that treat, I slyly reach up and grab her leash off the table and hook her up before she has a second to run. You could see the fear on poor Roxie’s face, as she looked up with those big brown eyes that seemed to say, Why Mama, why? Generally, my animals take off and run at any sign of trouble. You can find them under the bed, under the couch, or crouched down in a dark corner somewhere. I’ve learned a few tricks over the years due to all of the scratches, bites, fierce hisses, and hostile snaps I’ve incurred. You can’t blame them; they’re homebodies like their Mama.

I grab up my stuff in my left hand with the handle of Roxie’s leash around that wrist. Then, I pick up the pet carrier with my meowing cat in my right. It takes a while to get to the car because I have to put down and pick up the cat several times to complete the ‘leaving the house’ tasks, like locking and shutting the door. Finally, everybody’s in the car; the meowing cat’s in the backseat of my two-door car, Roxie’s under (yes, under) the front passenger seat, and of course there’s me. I breathe a sigh of relief because getting the pets into the car is half the battle. I make my way to the vet’s office about 20 minutes away while listening to a meowing cat and checking the dog every couple of minutes to make sure she hasn’t strangled herself under the car seat.

Once we’ve made it there, I grab the dog’s leash before she has a chance to escape into the wild unknown. Then, I get the meowing cat out of the backseat, and together we all journey into the vet’s office. I put the cat down on a bench while I check us in. The cat weighs about 15 pounds with the carrier. Roxie goes over to the scale to be weighed, then pees all over it because the tech touched her. She’s very sensitive when she’s scared. Now that my child has shamed me, I apologize for her behavior. We are sent into one of the rooms; it’s just me, the cat in a box, and the scaredy-dog on a leash. For some reason their music is playing extremely loud, but luckily the cat stopped meowing, at least for now. The tech comes in to get the cat out of the carrier so she can be weighed; it’s like pulling teeth out of cement. Just visualize a serial killer pulling their latest victim through a door as the victim clinches the door with all four limbs.

The rest of the appointment is pretty normal, except for the panicked cat trying to escape and the scared dog trying to climb up onto my shoulder over and over. An exorbitant amount of money later, we’re on our way out into the monsoon that has so graciously passed over us today. I roll my eyes as the lady at the front desk tells me to, “Try and stay dry.” Really? Look at me. I brought the zoo with me. Am I gonna hold the umbrella in my mouth?

We make it to the car, and everyone and everything is gently tossed inside. The cat begins her frantic meowing, and the dog hysterically crawls under the front passenger seat. I take a second sigh of relief, because getting everyone back into the car is the other half of the battle. We journey back home in the same manner as before while the rain pours on. Once we get home, I let the dog go because I can trust her in our yard. I grab the carrier and all of our stuff and make a beeline for the front door because the torrential downpour is still in effect. The dog stares up at me with a hasty look on her face while the cat meows non-stop as I struggle to get the wet key into the wet doorknob. I frantically open the front door; the dog runs in, and I quickly release the cat.

Just as if nothing had ever happened, everyone is happy in their favorite spots; Capi’s on her pedestal, Roxie’s laid out on the back of the couch, and I’m propped up on the couch with a glass of tea.

Once again, all is well with the world…

In a Heartbeat...

Once a month, I check in with my doctor. I always go in the morning in an attempt to avoid the long wait that has accumulated by the end of the day. It’s always something: a late patient, an unexpected delay, an unruly vein that doesn’t want to give up the blood (like mine today), or an unforeseen complication with equipment. I make the drive over, stomach aflutter. As many times as I’ve been to the doctor, I still get nervous. It’s weird because I don’t know why! I have the best doctor in the world. She’s kind, funny, understanding, and above all, she listens. I met her four years ago when I first needed a general practitioner in the area. Right away, I knew she was an awesome doctor!

About nine months ago, I addressed my weight issue. I told her I was ready to lose some weight, and her reaction was, “I think that’s awesome.” She had never brought it up to me. She’s so smart. Had she said something, I’m sure I would have clammed up, and probably would have been scared away. That’s when she told me about her weight loss program and sent me home with a couple of assignments. Her approach to weight loss is information. She gives her patients the information and tools that they need to make educated decisions about diet and exercise. She got me excited about losing weight. She showed me that she cared by requiring me to fix the problem within myself and my association with food. She helps her patients change their lifestyle and not just the number on the scale.

I read the book, French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano. It was very refreshing! I’ve read several weight loss books, and they are all so clinical and uninspiring, but this book was different. She tells about her experiences as an exchange student in America and the weight gain that she experienced, along with her journey losing the weight. In addition, I wrote down everything I was eating in the form of a food journal. That’s when I realized something; if you are ashamed to write down something you are eating or even how much, you probably shouldn’t be eating it. I mean, there’s a big difference between eating a cup of popcorn and a whole bucket! That’s when I realized what I was doing to my body. Once I stepped away from myself and looked in, things were so much clearer to me. She also had me watch Super Size Me. What a revelation! For a few months, I wouldn’t eat a morsel of fast food. I still haven’t had McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets since I watched that documentary. I still have fast food every once in a while but nothing like I had before.

By the time I went back to see my doctor in November, I had already lost a few pounds without much effort. The next assignment was to add more fruits and veggies to my diet and to watch the documentary, Food, Inc. Watching this is startling and eye-opening! I was shocked to see where our food comes from. Such extreme measures are taken to mass produce our foods. This is when I really started changing the way Justin and I were eating. I began making everything from scratch, using more herbs, and finding exciting new ways to cook food. I started buying lean meats, more fresh fruits and vegetables, and more whole grain products. I quit buying as much processed foods as possible, i.e. the NASA experiments (see In the Bag...). Once I got started, I began watching Rachael Ray on TV to get cooking tips. If you know how to cook, you can make vegetables taste good, you can make your own take-out from home, and your family will actually like the taste of the food! Practice makes perfect. Now, making dinner is a game for me. I have this, and I have that. Now, what can I make out of it all?

I began exercising more (see In a Timely Manner...) and becoming more active on the weekends. My life has changed because of my doctor. I’ve lost 35 pounds since it all started, and I know I’m a million times healthier. I’m so grateful that she cares so much. She gives me a double high five every time I come in for losing more weight. She’s done what no one, no book, no talk show, has ever done for me…she has helped me change my connection with food. The best thing is that I’ve never felt deprived, unlike all the times before. If I want the chocolate, I eat a piece…just not the whole bar. I still have a ways to go, but I’m confident I’ll get there and keep it off!

My best tips:
• Everything in moderation: Have an actual serving, not 2 or 3.
• Cook healthy meals for your family: Don’t use a meal in a box of any kind.
• Eat out once a week or less: Eating out will surely make you overeat and consume way too many calories.
• Have dessert every night: If you have a sweet tooth, something simple like sugar free pudding will satisfy you.
• Move your body: Exercise moderately, and then increase as you get stronger.
• Stay positive: Having the right attitude will make everything you do easier.

There is no diet, no pill, or no one that can do it for you…

In a Tizzy...

I love birthdays! Not only do I love my own birthday, but I love the birthdays of my loved ones that I can share in every year. There is something magical about a beautifully wrapped package, a heartfelt card that uses kind or funny words to say how you feel, and a dinner date at a special place. Sometimes when the opportunity presents itself, I can surprise the birthday girl or boy with a cake or a special party. I just enjoy making people happy and doing nice things for them. But, then there’s a dark side to birthdays that no one ever talks about…What the heck do I get for you?

Today is my mom’s birthday! My mom is a very special lady. It doesn’t matter what I give her; she loves it! The problem is…she is the hardest person to shop for. She is always so busy thinking about everyone else that she never talks about anything she wants. So, it is always crazy trying to find something for her. Get her a gift card, and she’ll take forever to use it. Get her flowers, and they die. Get her clothes, and they won’t fit right. Get her something for the kitchen, and dad uses it. Get her a knick-knack, and dad complains about all the dust it collects. Get her a movie, and she never gets around to opening the package. The point is to get her a gift that she can enjoy, right?

I’m sure mom has no idea how much us kids rack our brains over what to get her for Christmas, Mother’s Day, then her birthday. (I guess she might now if she’s reading this.) One thing I’ve learned over the years is…no matter what the gift ends up being, it’s always perfect! My mom is the best gift receiver in the world. Over the years, I’ve given her crayon drawings, noodle paper plates, a hug, a cake, a hand-made card, VBS painted ceramics, needlework boxes, mixed cds, a candle, an oinking pig motion detector, an outside table and chairs, a record player, and even a little surprise 50th birthday party. She is always so grateful no matter how large, small, or bad the gift might be. But, the best gift she ever received was back in 1982 when I was born a couple weeks after her birthday‼ Haha…

So, this year, I sent her a sweet, humorous card in the mail for her birthday. Since, I’m going to see her this weekend, I’m going to hand deliver her gift…which gives me a couple extra shopping days. Tomorrow is the day. I’ve got to go into town, so I’ll be running frantically from store to store looking for just the right thing. I’m not sure what will catch my eye, but I am confident it’ll be boring and fall into the category of: Traditional Forgotten Gift Collection.

When in doubt, purchase a candle…

In the Bag...

Today is grocery day. I hate grocery day, but at least it gets me out of the house. Grocery day begins on Thursday. I walk around with my pad and pen scribbling out the things I see we’re running low on. Laundry room…check! Kitchen and pantry…check! Bathroom…check! Then, I pull out my trusty coupon book full of perfectly clipped coupons that will save me $1.00 on this and 50 cents on that. I pull out the coupons that are relevant, and sometimes the coupons remind me of an item I forgot to put on my list.

So, now it’s Friday. After my typical morning routine, I get ready and run out the door with my reusable bags in hand. I started using reusable bags about a year ago. I was just throwing all the plastic bags into the trash anyway, which ultimately dooms them to an eternal life in the landfill amongst a bunch of nastiness. The occasional plastic bag that follows me home gets recycled now courtesy of my local grocery store! I drive the 20 minutes or so the store. Then, I drive round and round looking for a parking spot, dodging the cars parked in the way of traffic. Then, I finally get into the store and test out shopping carts. I mean nobody wants the one with the squeaky wheel or the one that veers to the left. Once you’ve selected that misfit cart, you’re stuck!

I journey down the aisles of dry goods first, excusing myself while others stare blankly at me as I pass by. Then, I jog past the employees offering me samples of food. It’s always hard to tell them you don’t want to buy the 5 lb bag of already seasoned fajita meat when they are so cheerful. Next, it’s on to the perishable items, such as produce, meats, and dairy. Did you ever realize the fresh items that we all should be consuming more of are on the outer aisles? I’ve been keeping away from most processed foods as much as possible. It’s part of my new healthy lifestyle, and it’s really not that bad! After a couple of months you won’t even miss that mac and cheese. If your food label sounds like a NASA experiment, you shouldn’t be eating it! Now that I’ve gathered all of my items, I journey to the front of the store where I’m confronted with the task of selecting one of the 4 open lanes in a sea of 20! Some thoughts that cross my mind:

• Which line is the shortest?
• How full is the last cart in the line?
• How old is the checker? (Too young and they’re rude, too old and they’re
slow.)
• Which line is closest to the door I need to exit from?

I make my selection and wait… Sure enough my instincts are wrong. Every other line is going faster than mine. (*pout*) After a few minutes, I’m up to the register and placing all of my items on the conveyor belt. I’m greeted…or not, rang up, asked for my coupons and my money, and then sent on my way (umm…kinda sounds like an illegal exchange if you know what I mean). I push my heavy cart to the car and unload everything into my trunk. I rejoice all the way to the house ‘cause I hate grocery day. I make it home, unload the groceries yet again, which usually takes about three trips as I fight off an extra enthusiastic dog. I unpack the bags, put the cold stuff in the fridge, and leave just about everything else on the counter. I’ll get to it later ‘cause I definitely deserve a glass of iced tea and a rest on the couch. And Justin wants to know what the big deal is…

Reasons Friday is Grocery Day:
• The shelves are stocked up for the weekend, so there is more food on the
shelves.
• The crowd is a lot smaller during the week, rather than the weekend.
• If you have a lot of food in the house over the weekend, you are less likely
to go out to eat (which is good for the waistline and the budget).

Highlights of Today’s Trip:
• There was a man and woman screaming and cursing at each other through rolled
down windows ‘cause the man was parked in the way of traffic. Yeah, he’s
annoying, but is it worth all that drama? I couldn’t help but laugh to
myself and shake my head as I walked through the parking lot into the store.
• As I was selecting my giant block of mozzarella, I heard an absurdly loud
gentleman with a backwards hat near the biscuits exclaim, “Wow, that’s a low
price‼‼”(as seen in the Staples commercials). I laughed out loud
along with most of the people in the area. It was even a hot topic in the
checkout line!

Next time you’re in the grocery store, I hope you think of me…

In a Timely Manner...

I got up early this morning, laced up my running shoes, and fought against the temptation of procrastination! I’ve been exercising pretty diligently for about 6 months now. A friend of mine suggested we do a 5K (3.1 miles) together. When you are completely out of shape, this requires training! So, I started walking thirty minutes five days a week. (Just for the record, it was January and about 35 degrees outside.) Once that was a breeze, I started jogging and walking in intervals of 15 seconds and 45 seconds respectively. I gradually worked my way up to 30 second intervals. At this point, I was doing three miles a day, which took about an hour.

Seven weeks after I started my training, race day was upon me! Justin was my support system and drove me to the race. We left about 5 am to get there in enough time. I was excited about the race even though my friend couldn’t make it. I made a commitment to myself, and I was going to stick to it. I was excited to get my race bib. It made me feel special, a part of something! Justin helped me attach it to the front of my shirt along with my chip timer that looped around my shoe laces. We watched the marathon runners take off. I felt a little overwhelmed thinking, maybe I can do that one day.

I got in line for my race along with thousands of others. I knew there was no way I would win, but I set a goal for myself, and I was determined to meet it! I wanted to finish in 50 minutes. I felt a little insecure with all of these thin people around me in their spandex. I had two thoughts in the back of my mind, please don’t let me come in last, and shamefully, I hope I’m not the biggest person here. Until you’ve lived through it, you have no idea how being overweight can affect every thought in your mind. If you’ve ever been the biggest person in the group, you know how small it can make you feel. After all, big is not beautiful (according to the world today).

The race began, and we took off! It was exciting being a part of the race and not watching from the sideline. I knew this was the beginning of something special! I had my ear buds in place listening to some hoppin’ tunes, as I did every time I walked/jogged. I was in my own bubble. I didn’t care how fast everyone was going; it was all about me for a change. Quickly people were jogging past me one-by-one. Did I care? Not at all! I had a mission…50 minutes or less! My eyes were on the prize. Once I started my intervals, I started jogging past other people. I said What? to myself as I did a double-take. There were a lot of people that were walking the entire 5K, which is not any small feat! Completing a 5K is admirable no matter how fast you go. However, I was proud to know that I wouldn’t be last.

I continued to bob and weave as Michael Jackson told me I was bad, Will Smith told me to get jiggy wit it, and Fall Out Boy encouraged me to dance, dance. I teared up as I rounded the last corner, tired out of mind, and saw all of the spectators cheering. This motivated me to jog it on home! The time on the big clock was over 50 minutes, so I was a little disappointed; but at the moment, I just had to get across that finish line! I was thisclose to puking, my side was hurting, and my heart was about to pound out of my chest. As I crossed the line, I got lost in a sea of people. I just wanted to catch my breath and find Justin. We finally got to each other, and that’s when it hit me…the time on the clock was the gun time! The sound of the gun starts the race, but of course, not everyone can cross the starting line at the same time. It took me about four minutes to get to the starting line because I was so far back in the crowd, which meant I was going to have to wait to see what my chip time was for an accurate assessment. The chip that went on my shoe times just me according to when I cross the start line and then the finish line. It made me a little excited to think I may have met my goal, but I really just wanted some water and to sit down!

I had to wait until I got home and online to see the results. I threw my arms in the air and cheered as I read my official time…49:47. Not only did I finish a 5K, I also met my goal. That was such a proud day for me. I knew I’d do more 5Ks and this was the beginning of a healthy lifestyle for me! Since then, I have done one other 5K and blew that goal out of the water! There are not a lot of 5Ks over the summer since it is so hot. I’m still jogging and plan to continue racing in the fall!

Justin got me a sticker while I was running the race with these words written on it:
”You don’t have to go fast, you just have to go.” Words to live by…

In Lieu of Flowers…

In lieu of flowers, please send motivation. By the time I’ve done everything around the house I need to do every day, I don’t feel like doing the fun stuff. Or I should say, after I’m distracted by soap operas and Farmville all day, I’m too drained for creativity. For a very long time, my good intentions have been suspended by my lack of motivation. For instance, I asked for a sewing machine two Christmases ago, got one, and have never used it. Really? With all this time on my hands? I love to do all kinds of crafty things but never seem to get around to doing very much. My intentions for that sewing machine include:

1. Creating some super awesome fashions that actually fit my body
2. Mending clothing and pillows, etc. that have been mistreated over the years
3. Producing some of the most unique pillows ever seen
4. Discovering unconventional things that can be sewn, i.e. cards

Sounds fun and creative, right? There’s just one thing missing…motivation. So, from now on, this blog is my motivation! It’s gonna get pretty boring with me just talking about blah, blah, blah all the time. So, I figure as a way to share my creativity, I’m going to have to start doing creative things more often. I'm falling behind on giving Martha a run for her money! (Random: I hate that gonna isn’t a word yet, according to spell-check!)

Other creative things I like to do that have fell off the radar lately:
• Making jewelry
• Designing light fixtures
• Converting trash into treasure
• Creating art (not like Picasso or anything)

Other things I hope to dabble in once I find said motivation:
 Woodworking
 Crocheting
 Gardening

Stick around to see me take a stab at pincushions (both puns intended)! They say pincushions are a good beginner project…

In a Nutshell...

I was made in the ‘80s. I grew up in a family where we didn’t have a lot of money, but we had a lot of love. I was raised in a small town of about 1000 people, in a little neighborhood by the lake. I have memories of a simple childhood with my older brother. Those days were full of Barbies vs GI Joes, forts in the woods and in the house, and fighting over Saturday morning cartoons. Creativity and imagination were vital in those days! We didn’t get everything we wanted and are better for it. I enjoyed the simple things then, just as I do now.

My biggest struggle in life, then and now, has been my weight. I was the chubby kid without very many good friends, teased a lot of the time. I was extremely insecure and shy for a long time. Somehow in high school, I broke free from the shell somewhat and became involved in a lot of things. I played the flute in the marching band and was a majorette aka baton twirler extraordinaire. I played tennis and was a member of several clubs. I made good grades and graduated 3rd in my class of 54. I was the nerd that earned four years of perfect attendance, a feat not earned by very many! My fondest memories of high school are the crazy ones I made with my best friend, Melissa. Nevertheless, I always dreamed of getting out of my small town; somehow I just felt like I didn’t belong.

I worked and paid my way through junior college, close to home. I met some amazing friends that gave me a second chance at the friendships I missed out on early in school. While in college, I began dating my husband, Justin. He is the best and brightest thing that ever happened to me. We fell in love instantly and knew we’d be together forever. After dating for one year, we took a short trip to Galveston to celebrate our anniversary. While there, we visited Crystal Beach, and thus began our obsession with the beach town life.

Justin began trade school, and I finally moved away from the small town headed for the big city for college, just like I always planned. But, that’s where the plans changed. I hadn’t counted on falling in love. After a semester at university, the money ran out which was a good enough excuse to come home to Justin. Eight months later, we were married in a quaint but beautiful little ceremony at our church. We lived in the tiniest little shack. Our means were small in the beginning, but our love made up for what we lacked in possessions…still does!

A few years later, Justin finished trade school, and together we moved to the big city where I finally got to finish college. It was hard, definitely the toughest thing I’ve ever done. Architecture/Interior Design School is no joke. You have to be committed, so Justin supported me while I finished school. From beginning to end, it took me nine years to graduate from college. It was very disappointing to realize that after all of my hard work, I would be graduating in the hardest year of the worst recession since the Great Depression. My field is a luxury, so employment opportunities are few and far between. So for the last year, I’ve exhausted myself looking for a job…any job, anywhere. After a very brief, disappointing job for a (*gasp*) interior decorator, my heart just wasn’t in the search anymore. People often interchange the terms interior decorator and interior designer. I assure you they are not the same thing. I’ll jump on that soapbox later!

I’ve used the year to get to know myself a little better, work on my health, and catch up on some one-on-one time with the hubby. Now, we are at the position where we have some decisions to make. Believe it or not, we’re not fond of the big city. We want to go back to our country roots, but we have to be careful that there will be future employment opportunities wherever we end up. We think we’ve decided where we want to be. So, we’re in the process of making moves to make that happen if it is God’s will. We choose to let God lead our lives and follow the directions He gives us.

That’s me in a nutshell…definitely a coconut shell!

In the Beginning...

My wish for this blog is to reach others through words. I long for a connection with the world outside of my bubble. When you spend too many hours distracted by silence, you can feel invisible. Words can be very powerful, and I think the words we exchange will change our lives. I’m sure that to start with, this will only be read by family and friends, but I hope some will share my thoughts and ideas with their friends.

I’m hoping people will read this and find some inspiration, whether it be creative, spiritual, or simple day to day encouragement. I’m nothing special. I didn’t come from a broken home or tough neighborhood. I haven’t faced any extraordinary hardship. I don’t have some amazing story to tell…yet! I’m simply a housewife trying to find myself amongst a fast-paced world where I feel like I’m standing still. I’m not great at any one thing, but I’m good at a lot of things. I enjoy writing, don’t have a lot of people to talk to, and thought maybe this would be a safe place to share my thoughts. Maybe if I come to know that someone cares what I have to say, I can find some peace within my own journey.

I enjoy architecture and design, do-it-yourself projects, music, movies, books, cooking, baking, and shopping. I can’t leave out that God is a big part of my life! If not, I would have already lost my mind by now… I love my husband more than anything, but I’m hoping this blog will help me find a way to define myself as something other than Justin’s Wife. Don’t get me wrong; it’s a great title…there’s just gotta be something more! All of these things will pop up in my blog. I hope to share what I love with you, so that you, too, might find an interest in those same things. Maybe you already have an interest, and my blog will inspire you to seek out more information or to try something new! I’ve learned that trying new things opens you up to new possibilities!

Stay tuned for some amazing thoughts from the corners of my mind!