Friday, July 20, 2007

Cruise....2 More Days, Oh, My!

I have been thinking of this cruise since May, hard to believe it is here! I still have so much to accomplish before we leave for Galveston tomorrow.

Packing for the boys and myself has not even begun, need to finish laundry first. I need to make sure RacerDad has things to eat while we are away. I would like to clean the house....with the biggest mess makers gone for a week I could actually come home to a clean house. Need to pay bills. Cowodie has one more day of music camp, with the performance this evening. WW tomorrow morning. Oh it might be nice if I look up where we are going. I know Galveston, but where in Galveston??

But the most important thing?? I need to decide what knitting I am taking! I figure there are 4 full days that we are at sea, major knitting should be able to happen. Cooking, cleaning, and laundry are all the responsibilities of someone else. There is a "club" for the boys to attend and my MIL is not one that wants constant entertaining. So there should be plenty of "me" time. I have two single socks that desperately need a mate, Smoda's blanket that I haven't touched in over a month and MS3 that could go. Currently the socks are winning...my thoughts... it is the tropics so it would be way too hot to work on a blanket and there would probably be too many distractions to attempt lacework (it is my first lace project).

In other news....

I am so excited. I have been chosen as Loser of the Week! The girls at Tales from the Scales have put together a great motivational site for anyone attempting to lose weight. Wanting to make a change?? Check them out.

For those of you wanting to see my "new" hair....

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket


Week 10 of the May Day Weight Loss Challenge. The challenge was two weeks old when I began and I didn't want to share with all of you that I was doing it. So many times in my life I have begun a diet, exercise program, etc and then gone down in flames days later. This time I figured if I kept it under my hat maybe I would have better success.

I must say, after 8 weeks on Weight Watchers I am truly excited about my lifestyle change. As of Saturday I had officially lost 20.6 pounds. My goal for the entire challenge was 20 pounds. I am looking forward to seeing where I am in September when the challenge ends.

I have been amazed at the differences I can already see in my body. I have lost six inches in my waist and eight in my hips! Woo Hoo!! I am down three sizes in pants. And best of all, tonight as my middle son gave me a bedtime hug, he looked up at me with a big smile and said "I can put my arms all the way around you and clasp my hands. I used to only be able to touch my fingers." Who wants a brownie after a compliment like that??? NOT ME!!

Thursday, July 12, 2007

AAYBA World Series

We are in the middle of some SERIOUS baseball. My oldest son's team is competing in a World Series tournament against 39 other teams. It has been a lot of fun so far. We are seeing teams that we haven't played before which is always more entertaining. After pool play, they were ranked (seeded) number 6, which put them in the Platinum/Diamond division. Yesterday, as the coach said, they had their worst win ever. For 5 innings we were losing and losing badly. Then in the sixth the boys decided to play ball and ended up winning the game....that's why we call them the Cardiac Kids! That win put them in the top 8 for the overall tournament.

Today's game will be quite a bit more challenging. I am a bit nervous because there is a good chance B will be pitching. Oh well, I am nervous just about every game...if he is not pitching then he is catching. He does well under pressure. Mom doesn't!

I am knitting a pair of socks while watching the games. Just a plain vanilla pattern, no counting or chart required. I am using Online Supersocke in the Summer colorway. Everyone has been so impressed with the stripes. I just have to laugh because I have had people ask where the other balls of yarn are...they only see one and can't believe that the yarn stripes on its own.

I will probably only get one sock completed before the end of the tournament, but at least this is mindless knitting I can get done quickly!

Monday, July 02, 2007

Shorter, Lighter and Overwhelmed

I know, I know it has been awhile. If anyone is still out there and interested in what is going on At my Hearth..thanks for hanging around!



Shorter....on a quick note I cut my hair. May not be a big deal for some, but the back of my neck hasn't seen daylight in over 15 years, unless you count ponytails. I used to let my hair grow long and cut it short on a regular basis...then I met RacerDad and I met him in a long hair phase. What is it with men and their obsession with long hair??? He always told me that my hair was one of his favorite things about me. How could I cut it off with that thought? Well lately I have been in major "Mama overhaul" and the hair had to be redone. So it is now in a "stacked bob". Rather cute if I do say so myself. I have received several compliments on the cut...makes you look younger (gotta love that one). I also had a visit with the color artist. Unfortunately she translated my "I'd like it light brown with natural red highlights" to "copper penny". It was definitely shocking at first. RacerDad likes it and most of my friends that have seen it like it as well. It is beginning to grow on me. One of the things I have a hard time with is looking in the mirror and seeing my grandmother. This is the exact color her hair was.



Lighter...I began Weight Watchers on Saturday, May 26. A very big deal for me. I like to eat. I love chocolate, breads and comfort food. Of course these items to not lend themselves to a thin, svelte form. I saw a picture taken of me on Mother's Day and needless to say it was the impetus to begin. It has also been the motivation to continue. As of Saturday, June 30th I have lost 17.2 pounds. Not too shabby...people are beginning to notice. My clothes are fitting better and the double chin is going away. I have a long way to go, but I didn't put this weight on overnight...I also want to keep it off, so slow and steady is the way to go. I am also doing Leslie Sansone's Walk away the Pounds. These are two major changes in my life diet and exercise which leads me to....



Overwhelmed....the rest of my family is very proud of me for sticking with the changes, but they do not necessarily want to change the way they eat. So I am having to come up with two dinners, two lunches, etc. Double the work! Exercise has taken up a lot of my computer time. But I figure if I am moving my whole body as opposed to just my fingers, I have to be burning more calories...right??



Then again there is the sweet new puppy. I am not sure why I didn't remember that a puppy is a lot of work. I guess for the same reason moms don't remember childbirth. If we had strong memories of these things the popluation would be much smaller and little boys would not grow up with puppies! Actually, Muttley (RacerDad won) is a very sweet dog and he has also encouraged me to move more. Someone has to make sure he goes to the bathroom outside and I KNOW that I actually watch and verify the procedure, unlike my dear sons.



I have been doing (read that attempting) alot with my mother's embroidery sewing machines. I have learned quite abit. But for everything I learn there is SOOO much more. It is fun, and you can definitely complete a project much faster than knitting, but it is not my passion. RacerDad is chomping at the bit for me to be able to turn projects into profit....just not sure I want to do that.



I have been knitting up a storm. I have finished some Mason Dixon bibs, a Baby Genius burpcloth, begun a purse and MS#3, and worked on socks.

I would love to post pictures of all these things, but I am working on my desktop and do not have the capabilities to publish pictures! I will try to be better about posting. Things are beginning to settle into a more normal routine. But then again...I am headed to Wichita Falls to help my MIL after her cosmetic surgery and then my son is playing in his division of the World Series and finally the cruise the end of July.