I just watered my little garden, and boy, it has grown like crazy over the holiday weekend. Update: I bought a little kiddie pool for my turtle to play in, but she can climb out of it and escape and run through the house, so the kiddie pool got re purposed into (tada!) a patio garden! (And my turtle is stuck in her tank for the summer, unless I can figure something else out...) In the pool, I have white onions, in 3 rows (I will have WAY too many onions), and 1 plant each of garlic chives, oregano, sage, and rosemary. I also have 6 grape tomato plants in there right now, but that will change after this next weekend. I'm taking out 4 of the tomato plants and taking two to Vyvien and two to my mother in law, then I will be bringing home two broccoli plants and a cauliflower and a bell pepper plant from my mom's overflowing garden.

Neglected...

My dear little blog, I'm so sorry that I have neglected you! I was so busy this past weekend. We had Hannah and Tim's wedding on Saturday morning, and Elizabeth, G, and her parents were in town for the wedding all weekend, so we spent quite a bit of time hanging out with the old crew. We went wedding dress shopping for Elizabeth, and I think she found "the dress". She also decided on colors for the wedding (wine and burnt orange) and the style bridesmaids dress. It was so nice to see everyone again, that I am truly sad to see everyone go back home.

I got all the groceries today, and am currently doing laundry and waiting for Nate to get home from working on the tower. I need to get some dinner made when he gets here, I'm starving! We will be having pork chops, and baby red potatoes with some home grown dill. OH, that reminds me, my tomato plants are blooming! I had to bring them inside the last two nights because of frost warnings, but they are happy and thriving, and I'm expecting yummy tomatoes in the very near future! I took so many photos this weekend that I can't decide which ones to leave you with today...

A CLEAN APARTMENT!

Well, I just got done vacuuming, dusting, organizing, the bedroom closet, and doing laundry, even changed the bed sheets today. I ROCK! On to the kitchen next. And, since i just gave the kitchen a good scrubbing last week, i'm just going to wipe a few things down, and I'll be set.

I think the girls (the cats) are enjoying the fact that I have been cleaning because I can hear them tearing around in the bedroom like mad kittens. They were amazingly good with the vacuum cleaner today, usually they freak out, but Allison even got brave and sat on a chair to watch me. They should sleep good while we're gone tonight, and be wild and raring to go again by the time we get home.

Nate and I were invited to dinner at my aunt's house tonight. My Great Aunt is in town, and aunt Barb thought that she would have us over so we could all catch up. I'm a little worried about what she will serve for dinner, because I know she really loves to cook, and she always has sweets available, but I'm hoping that with Nate there I will be reminded to eat smaller portions and to not pig out. I've been doing REALLY well with my eating habits so far, and I don't want to break my winning streak.

Well, since Allison is trying to sit on the computer I guess I will leave you with a lovely photo of her as a baby, and I'll get back to my cleaning.

off to the gym!

As soon as Nate gets home from work we are headed off to the gym. Its my plan to do a good thirty minutes of cardio/fat burning on the treadmill. Then I want to work my whole upper body, I also want to work on my thighs today. When we go to the gym tomorrow I will focus on the rest of my lower body, and my abs.



I think I've done a pretty good job of eating today. I had two cups of coffee for breakfast, along with a 100 calorie kudos bar. then, for lunch I had a salmon spread sandwich on that high fiber bread stuff. I also ate another kudos bar, and a 100 calorie pack of cheez-its. I'm not sure what we have on the menu for dinner tonight, but i'm thinking that maybe subway is in order! I haven't gone to McDonald's in TWO DAYS! believe it or not, that is a huge acomplishment! I almost always stop by some sort of fast food restaurant to get a small fry or a cheeseburger. (not the best decisions). But, I'm making a conscious effort to avoid any place with a drive thru until at least Friday.

healthy shopping

Today I had to go get groceries, and I've heard that if you shop the perimeter of the store, you get a lot less of the processed foods, you end up with healthier foods. Today, I DID IT! The majority of the things in my cart were produce. The only thing I had to walk down an isle for was diet pepsi.

I also purchased a few tomato plants, a dill plant, and a catnip plant (for the kitties). I planted them in hanging pots on the little deck for our apartment. I planted the tomatoes hanging upside down, so we'll see how that goes. I've always wanted to plant them upside down, but never tried it before. It supposedly takes a lot of the pressure off of the stem and allows the tomatoes to grow better because they are not pulling the plant over and sitting on the ground.

I have to run to another store in a few minutes here to get some of this bread that Nate really likes for sandwiches. Its called Arnold's sandwich thins (or something like that), and they look like flat hamburger bus, but they're really great, whole wheat with added fiber, and they're only like 1 point for weight watchers.

I also need to get some baguette because I am making beef stew for dinner, and you need a good bread with beef stew.

First day of weight loss challenge

Today I decided to do a "biggest loser" weight loss challenge with my mom and my husband. My goal is to be down to 115 pounds by may 1st of 2010. I am currently... bum bum bum 218.5 pounds. eek. So my plan is to follow the weight watchers point system, and go to the gym AT LEAST 3 times per week, doing a half hour of cardio, then 1 hour of resistance training.

My current measurements are:
waist: 43.75"
upper arm: 15.75"
thigh: 30"
calf: 16.75"
bust: 45.75"
hips: 51"

I guess I'll just post the required "before" photo, then I'll sign off for the day.