Diary of 5 Week 2

I am seeing..Dusk settling in for the evening

I am hearing..The nightly news

I am smelling...chicken baking in the oven

I tasted...Fresh pears

I am feeling... Discouraged with all that is going on in the family
Ya the daily documentation didn't quite make it so will attempt a weekly listing

Diary of 5 Day 1

I am seeing...Bright blue sunny skies

I am hearing...My neighbor mowing his lawn

I am smelling...the fresh cut grass

I tasted...Trader Joes balsamic vinaigrette on my salad

I am feeling... Tired after my bike ride

I decided to restart the Simple Woman's Day Book. It was a great exercise to list what was going around me on a daily or weekly basis. She has a new site Diary of 5 in conjunction with her original site. I think this will be so much easier to keep on top of and will help to make me aware of my surroundings and feelings.

Day 2 of new diet plan is going fairly well. I am craving Reece Peanut Butter Cups ha Good thing I had eaten them all yes every last christmas tree, bell and mini cups before I started this new me makeover!!! So I ate breakfast yuck hate breakfast unless it is at a restaurant and they have eggs, hash browns bacon pancakes waffles, well you get the idea. Water consumption is down today compared to yesterday and again yes I hate water, milk, Crystal Lite but I love coffee and Diet Pepsi so as I say not enough water yet. Forgot mid morning snack oops but had my salad with veggies and protein. Oh yeah I get an afternoon snack and another big salad with meat tonite Can hardly wait. On a positive note I have gone on a bike ride yesterday and today so that is good. I am sure I will be less grumpy :) as I get used to eating breakfast/smoothie and salads for lunch and dinner. And I am really positive that the hoped for outcome will be well worth the sacrifice so dramatic yes I know:)
Somehow putting it on my blog for the whole world to see makes me much more accountable and if the snack box would sell out of the Reece Peanut Butter Cups before I go to work tomorrow life would be ever so much better

Welcoming 2012

Happy 2012 to my Family and Friends

Well it is time to say good bye to 2011 and welcome in 2012. Seems such a short time ago it was welcoming in 2011. As I look back to all that has happened this past year I still see so many positive uplifting things that sustained and carried me through the more recent stressful heart breaking times. Our family remains strong, faithful and blessed that even though there are some tough medical issues happening we are still all in the present.
I was so blessed to spend Christmas with TJ and Jen and her family. We welcomed a new guest this year Tal, John's twin brother joined us. A great time was had by all of us with many jokes played on poor Sadera and lots and lots of rivalry playing games.

I don't make yearly resolutions as I don't keep them, enough said. But I am starting this New Year with a positive attitude and a determination to lose this weight that is slowly creeping up on me. Probably the Reeces Peanut Butter Christmas Trees attributed to that greatly:) So to that end I have shopped for healthy food choices developed a plan with the help of my daughter who has lost weight and looks magnificent. I have new containers to keep food fresh and to easily take to work with me. I am resolved to getting back on my bike at least 3 times weekly and riding that canal again. Will see how this goes. I am determined to take better care of me, letting go of unhealthy relationships, choosing wisely what I choose to do with my free time, staying closely connected with friends and family. If anything this past year I have learned time is way to short and we need to surround ourselves with family and friends that lift us up, support us, accept us, and love us just for who we are.
Since my parents aren't on FB I am adding a few Christmas photos for them to see.







Off to a healthy happy 2012

Merry Christmas

Wishing all my Family and Friends a very Merry Christmas.

Ready For Christmas

That title is certainly misleading! Ready I am not, getting closer but still a ways to go . Most of the gifts are purchased just a few difficult ones to look for, menu is planned and most of the decorating is completed. My Christmas album for 2011 is finished as of this morning and I can't wait to take the photos and put in it.
I was at Craftfusion most of the day yesterday working on this beautiful album taught by Suzette Ricks. We had cookies , doughnuts, pizza and home made fudge from Barb to keep our energy levels going. It was a fun class and I was able to complete most of the album there. This am I finished up embellishing the pages. I think this is one of my favorite albums ever well except the one she taught last Christmas.

The Stockings Were Hung

I hosted a small group for a Christmas Stocking Swap. I kept the group small due to my time and work constraints and deadlines I was facing. My idea for the swap came from a wonderful online class I took with Nancy Maxwell James of Sugar Lump Studios. I really enjoyed her class and all her helpful tips and so the idea was born.
I assigned secret partners, to each of the members as well as a Dec 10th deadline. Christine suggested we all wait and open our boxes on the same day. So today is the reveal. The stocking are gorgeous and it has been fun as the photos came in to see how each of us interpreted the theme. We designed and filled our stockings with goodies and then mailed to our partner.
Below are the photos of our stockings and a little thank you I sent to each of the gals. The stockings are in no particular order just how they came up on the computer. I am already thinking of next year :) and what we could do and to being more organized time wise so I can invite more gals to join.
A special thank you Julie, Denise, Christine, Mary, Teah, Karen and Colleen for joining. All of your stockings are just so beautiful.

Little Christmas cones I made for each of the participants

Denise's Stocking

Julie's Stocking

Teah's stocking

Mary's stocking

Karen's stocking

Colleen's stocking

Christine's stocking

Mine

And Another Milestone is reached

So Hard to believe that my Grandson Anthony is 11 already. Time has a way of just slipping by so quickly. I am very proud of the young man he is becoming, funny, goofy, polite, caring, and an all around great kid
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANTHONY. Big wishes for a great year ahead

Happy Thanksgiving

So many things big and small to be grateful and thankful for this year.
Wishing all my family and friends a Happy Thanksgiving