Death by Doggie

I went running again on Friday night.  This time I decided to take my husband's dog, because he never gets to play.  He totally loved running with me.  He's a little dog too, but he sure kept me going.  There were only a couple of moments when I thought he was going to kill me.  :)  Like when he stopped to take a dump and I had to do the dance/jump maneuver to avoid trampling him.  He also wanted to go see every dog who barked at him.  Good thing he is tiny or he might have pulled me places I didn't want to go.  lol  I didn't go as far this time, but I ran more of the time, and now I think I got a route down that I can time myself to see when I'm improving and when to add more distance.  It's a really good course too, there are some inclines and a nice downhill at the end before the slight incline up my street.  I really should have gone last night, but I was feeling drained after the hectic weekend we had, so I sat on my butt in front of the computer.  Oh well, there's always tomorrow.  I was going to add a picture of the dog, but my stupid old slow computer won't let me.  Jeez, I need a new one!  The dumb thing won't let me add any pics today!  I was going to go with the baby in the jogging stroller, but I desperately had to go to the grocery store.  Because if I let my husband go it.....well, the house would have been full of man junk food.  I sometimes wish he'd understand how hard it is to try to eat right with a house full of crap.  He actually told me that he's comfortable at his weight.  All I will say is that he weighs more than I do, and I'm waaaayyy overweight.  Even for a guy of my height.   The kids are slowly on their way to becoming overweight too.  I wish he would understand that I'm trying to become healthier, not just loose weight, and that I'm doing this for myself and my family.  Men.  Sorry about the lack of pics today, maybe later I'll edit it to add some, but I do have to work so maybe not!  Have a good nite! oxox  PS  I got to add a pic of Apoloo today, isn't he cute?

Still Alive

This is me at the Pumpkin Classic nexst year!

Well, I'm still alive.  My brother and I ran/walked 2.11 miles in 42 minutes!  It was really nice to talk with him while doing it.  The time flew by and it didn't seem like I was working out!  I've been thinking back to all the workouts I tried over the years and the only one I ever stuck to was running.  I ran for about 2 years while I was in college(for the first time) at ISU.  I don't know why I ever quit running.  I know why I stuck with it at first. At the rec center at ISU it was free to run the track.  The aerobics classes cost money, and being a poor unemployed college student I could'nt afford to go to aerobics, so running was free.  Plus there was the added bonus of hot boys playing basketball in the center of the track. It was nice to watch.  :D   My dorm neighbor, Julie used to go with me, it was nice to have someone to run with.  I would get my running tape and put it in my walkman and go!  Yes, I had a walkman!  (shows my age a bit huh)  One day Julie and I were running along and I just didn't stop when I was tired, I kept right on running with her and I finished my first mile ever!  Before that I had never ran a whole mile in my life!  I used to cheat in PE in HS.  Our PE teacher, who shall remain nameless, would give us each the amount of popsicle sticks that was equal to the amount of laps we had to run, if I could mamage I would drop some down the volleyball net holder holes.  It was totally cheating, but it worked.  Now I've come to the descision that I actually like running.  It's easy and requires no special skills or equipment.  My brother swears I'm going to run the Jingle Bell Run with him....hhhhmmmm, maybe, maybe not.  We just need to see how ready I am at that point.  I'll keep you posted!

Run Forrest Run

I've finally decided on a course of action for my life.  And I have an awesome goal, a year in the making.  I'm taking up running again, and I want to run in the Pumpkin Classic next fall.  That is my goal.  I've never ran in a race before, but I figure better late than never.  I'm really freaked out by this, but I am determined to do it.  I used to be a runner.  When I was in college at ISU I would run 1mile a day and 2 miles every other day, and time a mile once a week.  Believe it or not I could run a mile in 8 and a half minutes!  This from the girl who barely walked a mile in high school.  I had a great coach and motivator.  Which brings me to my new coach and motivator, my little brother, Nick. There he is after finishing the Pumpkin Classic on 9/17.  I am so very proud of him, and hopefully next year it will be me at the finish line with that great sense of accomplishment on my face.  In fact my first run is going to be tonight after work.  My brother is coming to get me and he said he would run/walk with me, but I'm not sure how fun that will be for him.  I'm really hoping that I don't die tonight because this is the first time I've really worked out in FOREVER.  I know I'm really out of shape too, because I get winded walking up an incline.  So please wish me luck on my new endeavor, and remember that I;m determined, and if I can do it, anyone can.   

Ikea, Chicago and The Giant Pickle

Chicago was a blast!  we started our day out at Ikea, a fabulous home stuff superstore.  I had never been there(yes, really) and I was totally in awe.  It is the biggest single store I had ever been to.  And

believe it or not, I actually ran into someone I knew, from around here!  We spent about 2 and a half hours in there, and we ate lunch, and I only managed to spend $101.34.  Which is not too shabby for my first time.  Right?  I actually had the Swedish meatballs for lunch.  They serve you a plate of 15 with a single serving of mashed potatoes and a salad and drink for $5.99.  Then I had to work it all of walking around right?  My daughter didn't do so well, she ate some of my meatballs and some of my friends.  I guess she was hungry, growth spurt right?  Besides the coffee and muffin from Starbucks for brekkie I didn't do too bad.  Then came the pizza!  Chicago style thin crust, is not real thin crust!  It was soooo good though, and I got mine with veggies, so it had some health value.    The rest of the weekend was spent downtown, we went to the American Girl Store at Watertower Place Mall.  It's like doll heaven.  My daughter couldn't decide what to look at first!  It was pretty cute.

Her friend was in major meltdown mode before we got out of there.  And I only spent $50.  Not bad considering most stuff is $30 plus! The doll, who's name is Nellie, got her hair done at the doll salon, and she could've gotten her ears pierced, but Reilly decided to wait until next time.  We moved on to the Lego store, where they had built a model of Chicago out of Lego's.  It was impressive. We moved on to eat a nice lunch outside at Potbelly Sandwiches.  That's where Laura got the "Giant Pickle".  Ry was so jealous that she didn't get one too.  We had a lovely day in Chicago, ending with a play at the park with some Chicago friends.  I thoroughly enjoyed the walking and talking the train, so did Reilly, because ya' know we're not city girls...(even though I will always want to live there)  I'm gonna stay here in my little town of Peoria Heights.  Where I can drive my car to the store, and ride my bike for fun, and visit Chicago whenever I want, because it is only a couple hour drive.  Here's a couple of more cool Chicago pix for ya.

Lego Chicago

The "Giant Pickle"

Our beautiful girls and best buds!

Ikea, here I come.

I want to start out this post with a realization...I was getting ready for work yesterday and I was putting on lotion when I realized that my skin felt different.  I guess it's something that only a fat person notices, but my skin felt more together.  Like it wasn't so stretched.  You see, lately I've been feeling very tight.  Almost like it had gotten so big that it didn't want to stretch anymore and I was going to burst.  It's actually a really good feeling!  It really makes me feel like all this hard work is paying off finally.  I haven't weighed myself in a week or so, but my scrubs are even looser so I must be doing something right.  I've been very creative lately and to promote my little etsy shop, I'm participating in a giveaway on a blog in Oct.  I made this adorable fall dress to give away to hopefully new fans (and customers).  I have debated on making one for my daughter, because she thinks she is grown and sometimes kinda picky.  Sometimes.  Most of the time she still likes the stuff I get her. I'm

lucky that way.  I really love creating things. Especially for the ones I love.  Which brings me to my newest endeavor...tomorrow I'm going to an Ikea store.  It will be my first trip.  I'm so very excited!  I have already went online and shopped to my hearts content and made a list and printed it out!  I'm such a dork sometimes!  But, I'm being very proactive this year, and I'm starting teacher Christmas gifts super early.  I've got a great idea for some Ikea stuff, for example, that stuff right there.   I'll let you know how it turns out.  Cute, hopefully!

Those are such a steal at $0.49 for the whole set too.  That's what I use at my house so as to not scratch the non-stick coating on my pots and pans.(Which I need new ones anyway, but that's another post)  I'm hopefully getting a stand mixer today too. I'm very excited about it, because i have never had one before.  This should make baking so much easier(I hope)and more fun.  I love to bake, but I hate to mix the batter.  Reilly will enjoy it too.  She loves to help in the kitchen.  Maybe everyone else will get baked goodies for Christmas?  Do you hate me because I'm planning for Christmas already?  I hate me sometimes.  I get all my shopping done so early that sometimes I keep adding stuff and spend waaaayyy toooo much.  Last year I was great because I stuck to a budget.  Each kid only got a certain amount spent on them.  I'll tell you more about that in a later post though.  We're driving to Chicago, so we have lots of trunk space for all the cheap little trinkets we're going to buy.  I'm getting some serving dishes, and picture frames(I heart picture frames).  A hanging swag light for Reilly's room, and a pop-up tent for the baby to play in(again, for Christmas) and serving trays, and all kinds of neato stuff!  I'm really, really, really excited!  I'm also hoping that I don't spend too much....and, I was told that Ikea serves Swedish Meatballs. YUM.  I love Swedish meatballs.  I hope I don't gorge myself with a ton.  I guess if maybe I do I will be walking it off shopping, right?  Or downtown on Sunday?  I won't be posting much for the weekend, due to being out of town, but I will post pics when I get back, and I will let you know how Ikea went, and If you don't hear from me that means I died and went to Ikea Heaven(if only).  Ttyl....

Bike Riding Baby

I was somewhat productive today! Yay!  I sewed some girl pants from an old dress, and I took the baby on a bike ride.  Then I posted some stuff to the Peoria Area Online Garage sale, oh yeah, and some nice lady came over and bought some other stuff.  It has been a nice day with just me and the baby.  It always is...when the others are home I can't get stuff done.  My husband does his thing, and thinks that I got the baby, and I do my thing and I think he's got the baby, when in actuality no one's got the baby. So the baby causes a ruckus.  The dd wants me to do everything she's doing, which is not possible, then I have to cook and clean up, etc, etc, etc.  I don't want to seem ungrateful, but it is so nice when everyone is at work or school.  Aaaaaahhhhhh...the nice quiet house.  Anyway, back to my day...I started out with a little bit of sewing.  I had intended for these pants to be capris for Reilly, but there just wasn't enough material, so I made them into a cute pair of 3t pants for my etsy shop here.  So some lucky little girl is going to get some soft comfy knit pants.  Then I decided on another project.  I have a little red dress that I made yesterday that needs a hood and a ruffle, but maybe tomorrow.  There is also another Halloween dress to do, and a fall dress for a giveaway.  Who doesn't love giveaways!  There is just not enough time in the day to get this all done. Whew!  And to top it all off I have to eat healthy? Wow. Sometimes I feel like I am just setting myself up for failure.  Yesterday we had an impromptu cookout with the neighbors.  It was nice. We had steak on the grill with Nana potatoes and watermelon and veggies with dip.  I have to say that the steak I ate was way too big, and the S'mores I ate for dessert didn't help either, but my one redeemer for the chocolate and marshmallows was the bike ride I took after everyone else had left.  It was so peaceful, gliding down the quiet twilight street.  So today I decided to take the baby for a ride.  We live right by part of the Rock Island trail(I think that is what it is called) so I thought I would ride up the street and get on it and ride to Knoxville and then back home.  Weeeeelllllll...I haven't ridden a bike in forever, and I am most definitely out of shape. out. of. shape.   We (I, he just got pulled) tried riding towards Knoxville, and I guess it's on a slight grade.  So no gliding for me.  I was breathing hard and sweating profusely, it was pretty funny if you ask me.  I couldn't take it anymore and turned around to go the other way towards Glen.  That was much easier.  Finally when we got back to our street I was so wiped out that I had to walk the bike up the street.  My legs were so tight and burning.  I got the baby out of the trailer and my legs about gave out on me!  Lol, I'm going to have to take this biking thing slow I guess, but I've made a good start.  Now he's asleep and the house is really quiet until about 3:20 when the big kids come bursting through the door excited to tell me all about their days.  My dd wants me to go on a ride with her this afternoon.  I'm not sure how far we will ride, but I will make my best effort.  Now I've gotta rest up for that later...

My thoughts exactly...

Happy Labor Day America

This is my new bike

I got a new bike!  It's the most awesome bike ever.  It's a beach cruiser and it was only $50.  It's shiny red and has pedal brakes.  I'm not really fond of 10 speed bikes.  I never really understood what to do with all those extra speeds.  Sometimes I felt like I was pedaling really hard, and other times it was really easy.  Very confusing you see.  So I fully intend on riding this bike everyday, with the baby.  I also got an awesome deal on a baby bike trailer.  He loved riding in it yesterday.  Now I can ride it to the grocery store for small trips and to the little shops on Prospect.  There is also a part of the Rock Island Trail that runs behind my house, and I think it might run all the way to the Goodwill!  Be still my heart!  I can get exercise and go thrifting all at the same time.  I'm really looking forward to saving gas money and getting some much needed exercise.  After Reilly finally learns how to ride we can go on family bike rides!  She never really wanted to learn before.  She had a bike with training wheels on it when she was in kindergarten and first grade.  One of her friends had a birthday party at Safety Town(a cool bike riding city with road signs and traffic lights) and she didn't want the training wheels on it.  So when Daddy took them off and she fell once she wanted nothing more to do with riding a bike, until now.  She was outside all afternoon trying to learn.  I was very proud of her.  I can't wait!  Today is Labor Day and I don't have to work it.  It's kinda nice to be at home.  I have some sewing projects that I want to work on, as well as my eating habits.  I just can't seem to get it anymore.  I struggle every day, and it has become more and more difficult.  I even started taking my lunch to work and that has proven helpful, but not foolproof.  I've discovered that some days I do excellent and the rest are crap.  Once I fall off the wagon I'm done for the day.  My mom used to tell me that if I was hungry to go drink a glass of water.  I used to look at her all crazy, like whatever mom.  Little did
I know, she was actually right about that!  Most of the time when we think we are hungry our body 

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is actually telling us that we are thirsty, or bored.  Very rarely are we really hungry.  When your stomach growls it just means that it is empty. If you fill it with a glass of water or a soda or some kool-aid it will stop and you will feel better.  Voila, no extra eating.  When I first started The Food War my tummy growled all the time, now that I'm used to eating less it has become comfortable with it and therefore doesn't growl.  But when it did, I would go into the kitchen and have a big glass of something diet, or sugar free.  It would fill up my tummy and keep me from eating anything.  So remember fellow Food warriors, on this lovely holiday, don't eat stuff you will regret later.  Stuff that will make you're body unhealthy and sluggish, no matter how good it tastes.  Happy Labor Day America!

Fly your flags proudly America!