Excited for the kitchen makeover to be done...

OK - this is totally a non-weight-loss related post, but as I've mentioned, we're having some pretty major painting done in the kitchen... so, just as a "tease", here are a few pictures of the new hardware we're putting on the cabinets... The "twig" drawer pulls go on all the drawers, including in the bathroom and laundry room... and then the The fork-knife-spoon openers are on the cabinets in the kitchen. They make me SO happy when I look at them!!! Little silly things, you know... And the best part is I got them on Ebay (and they were CHEAP but great quality - satin nickle)

Once the painting is completed and I can get back to uploading my pictures, I'll post a different kind of "before" and "after"!! However, it might not be for a while though as we're going on vacation next week...

~*~*~

Oh - and as usual, thanks to all of you for your kind comments on my last post - this is such a great community we're a part of!

IT'S TIME!!! Honesty, slacking, running and a BOOBS Challenge/Request...

Time to bust out the I-pod, headphones and sports bra. Time to start running again. I just read Jen's (A Southern Girl's Journey's) post today, and her goals are INCREDIBLE.... 10K's, half marathons.... all before the end of the year. I remember when I used to get posts about how I inspired people to run. That still blows my mind. Honestly, me?!?!?! Haven't you people figured out that I'm somehow a poser, or a slacker, and somehow not really worthy of bandster recognition?!?!? (BIG, BIG sigh... for those of you who have followed for a while, I think mean Sarah is visiting tonight.) Honestly though? Sometimes I feel like I really am not worthy of this. I feel like a bandster failure, in that even though I've lost 80 pounds, I still don't love exercise, and don't want to do it every day (yes, my sane side knows this is nuts). And I find myself falling back into those old habits (Glass or two of Chardonnay, anyone?!?!?). Somehow though, I feel like I'm not living up to being a role-model to others, although damn-it, I AM HONEST with myself... and with you... So, it's time to be keep on being honest. Why stop now, after 15+ months, right?!?!

*~*~*~*~*

So, here goes. I haven't run a race since March when I did the Ukrop's Monument Ave 10K. And I honestly haven't run much since mid-April at all. Chalk it up to laziness, vacation, school ending, any excuse possible. And yes, it is HOT. 76 degrees this morning at 5:30 AM. 104 degrees when I got home from work. And yes, I still haven't actually RUN (i.e. all the way) a full 5K.... well, it is time to re-start and re-focus. I WANT TO RUN A 5K. Not have to walk part of it - not even 2/10 of a mile. I want to run it all. SO.... I walked 2 miles this morning, and will be out at 5:45 to meet my amazing running buddies, Chip & Ali, who haven't stopped running (unlike me) tomorrow morning. Yes, it will probably be a lot of walk-run-walk-run-walk, but it is better than nothing. And this week, I'm signing up for my races to get me to my goal of 37 miles before turning 38... And for you new bandsters? The "Head-Games" don't stop just because you get banded... just a thought...

*~*~*~*

So... the Challenge/Request: Who's in for RUNNING whatever 5K with me in September at the BOOBS get-together?!?!? AND WHO IS IN FOR KICKING MY ASS TO FINISH IT ACTUALLY RUNNING?!?!? I will be running something on Saturday morning in Chicago, even if it just the Miracle Mile by myself (not Sunday - my plane leaves too early to have to figure out showering after a race). And I need something to work toward!!!! And BOOBS committee?!?!? If you're reading this, I need an update please!!! Let me know what 5k to sign up for to have people to run with... or what the updated plans are - I'm SO excited to meet everyone!!!

Great Weekend... & Bra excitement

(Dad - if you're reading, proceed at your own risk - but you're watching Lucia this week so you shouldn't be reading my blog anyways!).

We picked Lucia up from camp Friday night... we had a bit of time to kill, so grabbed dinner on our way to camp and still had about 1/2 an hour. We were right next to Nordstroms, and I have desperately needed to be fitted for a while, so I popped on in, and managed to find an available clerk - wha-la... got fitted. The verdict? I'm down 7+ inches and at least a cup size from my highest... Back in the day I was measuring a 44D... now I'm a 38C. I'll admit to being a bit confused as she said I measured a 36 (do they go a size up?), but regardless, the bras felt great. Their semi-annual sale starts in a week, so they let me pre-order some Wacoals and a Spanx bra (OMG - SO Comfy!)... they'll ship next week. Yay! I knew that I needed new bras - LOTS of room in the cup and also they were on the tightest hooks and not tight at all... So yay! Haven't been under a 40 in a LONG time.

*~*~*~*

We headed north to NJ on Saturday morning, and brought Lu to my folks house... had a nice weekend... Got to see my Grandmother who turns 92 next month, spent some good time with my folks, and yesterday we went over to PA to see one of my best-friends, Kristin... We hung out at their pool and bbq'd all afternoon - SO fun! She has a little girl that Lucia gets along with wonderfully, and we were able to spend about 4 hours just catching up on each other's lives. Not nearly enough time, but I'll take what I can get. When we got home, we took my GM out to dinner with my parents, then decided to brave the fireworks. Got a great place and really had fun. The worst part was going home - lots of traffic, so Dad decided to take go another route to avoid the backup, and we ended up going thru Camden, NJ (think the worst parts of the Bronx or Jersey City and you get the picture)... at any rate, it was interesting. Got to see a WHOLE other kind of firework display (i.e. gunfire)... glad we got home in one piece! This morning, Dennis and I headed home, leaving Lucia up there at Camp G&G (Grandma&Grandpa) for the week (sniff!). I miss her already, but I know she's going to have a great time. Food-wise, I have NO IDEA how I did... I tried to make decent choices where possible, but it isn't always a reality for me up there. I'll see tomorrow AM...

*~*~*~*~*

The painting in the kitchen/family/mud/bathroom should finish up in the next few days. The trim is done (Thank God - Oil Paint - the smell is finally starting to go away). I can't wait for it to be done so I can get my house back in order! We're going to start installing the hardware (got fork/knife/spoon door pulls) tonight. Also ready for it to be done so I can upload pix and show you the results because everything has been unplugged and shoved in my living/dining room area...

*~*~*~*~*

That's it for now - have a great week back to work for those of you who aren't on vacation!

A few things before the long weekend

Just a quick post... Up 0.5 this week... Will keep on plugging away at the goals I listed. I tried on a few things in my "grow-in-to" stash, and I can get some 14's on, BUT they do NOT look good (picture an over stuffed sausage). So, I think that it is a good goal for me! ~~~ We pick Lucia up tonight at camp... I've missed her and can't wait to hear all about it! Then tomorrow, we're heading to NJ for the weekend and Lu will stay up there next week for Camp G&G (Grandma & Grandpa). She is excited about that - I know she'll be fine, but I'm kind of sad that she's leaving again! At least we get the weekend together with her. I'm looking forward to seeing one of my best friends who I really haven't seen in a while (at least 50 pounds)... looking forward to the reactions! ~~~ Side note - not sure if others of you got an "annonymous" comment with random links embedded on your last post, but I wonder if it is a virus of some kind? At any rate, I deleted it (trash can icon below the post)... sorry if it was legitimate, but the content wasn't relavant and I'm not taking any chances!

Almost 200, Mini-goal check in and new goal to add...

I am 1, count it, ONE follower away from having 200 followers!!! I never thought I'd get there when I started blogging - hopefully someone will get me OVER that number!

~~~

So, I'm checking in on my short-term goals today, and I give myself an average score of a B / B-. I guess I've done okay overall, but some areas are not great... however, I also have not failed completely. Room for improvement, which I will re-focus myself on! Because in needing to be completely honest, here is where I am with the mini goals (my end date is July 4th):

1. 72 ounces of Water per day. Score = A (I've hit this goal every day)
2. No alcohol. Period. Score = B- (I've had the equivalent of about 3 drinks in 11 days. That is pretty darn good for where I was prior to June 19th... But it isn't none. However, I also didn't drink more than 3 sips with my SIL the other night which is a HUGE accomplishment.)
3. Run 10 miles / 6 hours of exercise. Score = D- (only done 2 miles / 1 hour or so to date)
4. Take better care of me, especially while Lucia is at camp. Score = B (went out to dinner with some girlfriends last night and hopefully will have food porn to share next week when the painting is done and I can upload pix... tonight is dinner with Dennis on the porch and just getting my stuff together in the house - quietly - or loudly - doesn't matter!!!)
5. Protein First, but also get in the fruit & veggies. Score = B (I've really been focusing on getting those veggies in!)

Clearly, I need to work on the exercise. Big time. It's been beautiful here, with no humidity, so I think I'll go for a walk tonight and/or run tomorrow morning since Lucia is still at camp. At any rate, I did have another point, and that is what Jen pointed out today on her blog... Specifcally, as we get lower on the scale, the weight loss is slower... and maybe instead of getting frustrated about that, we should be thinking in a parallell manner about another non-scale-number goal. So in taking a cue from her, I'm going to state that my next goal (which the above mini-goals will help me get too) is the following: to fit in a solid size 14 pants. I am wearing 16's now... some skirts fit in 14, but because they are "flowy" (i.e. don't fit tightly on the hips)... I'm going to dig out a size 14 from my "grow-in-to" clothes, and hang them up as motivation! ~~~ Happy 4th of July to everyone - hope you all have a great long-weekend!!!