Hello! I've been a blog-slacker!

Hello, friends!

Sorry for the long, long, LONG time in between posts. I have no excuse. I know. Sorry!

I have lots to catch up on, so lets get right to it!

When I last posted, we had just celebrated my husband's and my birthday. Alot of fun, and some things checked off the Day Zero list. Since then I have checked off a few more, but we will get to that in a minute!

On November 14th, we added another member to our little (big) family:

This is Vala. She is approximately 12 weeks old right now, and a little fireball! We love her very much, and she has adjusted very well into our family, case in point:

She is the queen bee around here right now!

November was a busy month for us, and we were really excited to have the opportunity to see two of our favorite teams in one month! The first was Florida State vs. Maryland:

Here I am decked out in Florida State gear.

Final Score: Florida State - 30, Maryland - 16!

Prayer Circle post-game. Very cool.

The game was a blast! We were seated right behind Florida State's bench, and we were SURROUNDED by fellow Florida State fans which was SUPER fun! We had a really good time.

The second game we had an opportunity to see was actually Thanksgiving Day in New Jersey - we got to watch the Cincinati Bengals take on our Jets! Unfortunately we lost our camera but I did manage to get a picture of the stadium with my cell phone:

The stadium is HUGE, amazing, gorgeous and it was so much fun! We got a little worried in the first half, but we came back and ended up kicking their butts! It was a great (but FREEZING) night!

Now, we get to the two Day Zero goals I get to cross off my list! Number 1 is:

#33. Complete a 5K race.

On December 5th, I participated in a local 5k benefitting our local Humane Society. I trained using the Couch to 5k program, but I don't feel like I truly completed the program, so I'm not ready to check off number 32 on my list just yet. And I won't be able to check it off for a while, but I'll get to the reasoning behind that in a minute! The race itself was easier than I thought it was going to be, and I ended up finishing faster than I thought I was going to: final time was 42 minutes 43 seconds. I thought it was going to take me about an hour. It was COLD but it was alot of fun. I had a few friends running with me, and they helped me across the finish line. Here is a photo of us after the race:

We were also able to bring Marty and Vala along and my friends got to meet my puppies, which was really cool. I am thinking about training next year and running the race again with Marty next year, which should be a blast!

The reason why I can't run until then is fairly simple and is #88 on my Day Zero list:

I am going to be a mommy!

88. Have a baby

I found out two days before Christmas that I am pregnant. My hubby and I have been trying for this for almost a year, and I am so excited for it to finally be happening! I waited and surprised Hubby on Christmas morning with a Christmas card with a picture of the positive test inside. He was so shocked and totally did not see it coming! We are both super excited to be parents and it certainly seems like nine months is SO long to wait! I'm sure it will be here before we know it.

My first appointment is January 4th, where we will hopefully get an official due date, and possibly an initial ultrasound to determine how far along in my pregnancy I am - unofficially (if you go by what they normally go by to determine due date) our little one should be arriving on or around August 26th, 2011!

So, in progress still are a few of my Day Zero goals. I went through and deleted the goals that just dont seem reachable now that we know that a baby is on the way. I'm not so much concerned about completing every single goal, I just like having goals to strive for.

With that being said, I have begun the path to healthier eating (and drinking) now that I am pregnant. So far I have done pretty well with cutting out soda (#28) and only have a soda maybe once a day. That is a BIG improvement trust me. Next on the list is eating breakfast every morning (#30) and brushing and flossing. (#31) Dental hygene is very important during pregnancy so I need to get on the boat and FAST. I have also gotten a yoga dvd (#34) because I read that yoga is a great exercise to do while pregnant, so I am going to give it a try this week. I am still working on my recipe book (#45) and it should be finished soon. Around tax time this coming year #70 should be complete: paying off the storage unit. Soon after we should be able to do our yard sale. (#58) I'm still working on the world's longest sodoku puzzle, (#82) and I just need to print off more blank puzzles in order to continue.

This has definately been an awesome Christmas season and I can't wait to see what the new year will bring for us! I promise to keep you posted more often! It will be much easier now that we have moved the desk out to the front room to make room for the baby furniture in our spare room! See we plan WAYYY ahead, and I wonder if that is a good thing or a bad one! We are just so excited!

Will update soon, friends!

Two birthdays and a ketchup post!

Ok, so it has been a LONG time since I've posted on here and I have some great stuff to tell you!

First, back on October 5th, my husband turned 26! He says he is now officially old, but I don't think that's true. His parents took us to the opening of a new restaurant in town called Logan's Steakhouse, and even though it was the second day and no one could get free to come sing to the hubster, we still managed to embarrass him:

And here is us, and his parents:

It was so much fun!

Next, it was my turn for a birthday: two days ago, on November 6th, I turned 26 and joined the "old people ranks". My friend Amber took me for my very first mani-pedi (#93 on the day zero list - done!) and for sushi! Here is our gorgeous plate:

It was sooo yummy! We also got these interesting ice cream pods for dessert:

I don't know if I would ever order another one, but it was cool to try something new.

For the mani-pedi I went with Ruby Pumps by OPI. It is bright red with red glitter! I love it!

So, that brings me to the ketchup part of today's post:

Since posting last I have read two more books:

Both were super good, and I can't believe that Fern Michaels is continuing the Sisterhood books - so excited!!

I have recently started working on #32 - Complete the Couch to 5K program. I am currently on Week 3, Day 3. I won't be completely done by the time the race that I'm signing up for comes around on December 5th, but I'm pretty sure I'll be ready anyway. So that will complete #33 on the list: Complete a 5k Race. The race benefits our local Humane Society, and I am super excited for that.

Also, #45 Finish recipe book, is almost complete. I finished writing in the recipes from mom's book and my campbells book. Now all I have to do is write in the recipes I have saved on the computer and on tastykitchen.com.

I have also successfully completed # 71 - pay off my car! I sent in the last payment on October 31st, and will hopefully be getting my title any day now. Woohoo for lowering my insurance costs!

As I said earlier, I also completed one other item, #93 - get my first mani-pedi! So fun, and will definately be doing it again!

Getting back on the weight loss wagon, and other stuff...

So, after looking at the most recent photos of me, I have decided that I really need to get on the ball about losing some weight. In most photos I now have a slight double chin, and I am no longer happy with what I see in the mirror from day to day. Currently, I am sitting at the 205-210 range: the heaviest I have ever been. A healthy, medium build, 5'5" woman like me should be between 136 and 150, so I am overweight by about 60 lbs. On my Day Zero Goals it has my goal weight being 145, which is right around where I want to be; but the first goal is to get halfway there - to 180.

As far as motivation goes, I am going to be taking before photos and 1 month progress photos, although I probably won't share them with you. The thought of me in my workout clothes posted for the world to see gives me the willies!

I have re-started our Netflix account and found the Jillian Michaels Yoga dvd I am going to try.. I am also going to start the couch to 5k program as soon as I find a safe place to run. I was also thinking about the P90X or the 30 day shred (which I also put on my netflix list) and plan to see how that goes as well. I don't have any weights, but I think I can find something heavy enough to use, maybe milk jugs with water in them or something until I can afford some weights. I'll add the 100 push up challenge to the end of that workout every day, with days off on Wednesday and Sunday. I am also cutting out soda for good, except for on Sundays as a reward if I make it through the week. I am also going to start eating breakfast every morning, as I think that is part of my problem of hunger throughout the day. I am going to start getting up with Mike in the mornings (which is at 9am) and work my way toward 8am wakeups: I'm not quite ready for that yet. I think I have a plan set in place and I am ready to start tomorrow! Tomorrow, since I don't have my Jillian Michaels dvd yet, I will do the Zumba Dance dvd that I have. I am super excited to start!

In other Day Zero news, I finished off two more books:

They were both really, really good. I will probably be getting the third book in the Bride Quartet here in the next few days, and I still have one other book to finish. (the combo-book on my list)

And on a final note - because it's football Sunday and our Jets pulled out a HUGE win versus the Patriots I say:

J! E! T! S! JETS! JETS! JETS!

One more post about wrestling...

One comment: It's about - damn - time!

That is all =)

First post of three tonight...My Husband Rocks!

I know, I know, it's pretty much three days late. That's just how I roll.

My husband rocks this week because he got tickets for THIS:

We had so much fun! The wrestlers were all really really awesome, and without further ado, I will share some pictures with you now!

Madison Rayne and Mike - Abyss and Mike

Kazarian and Me - The Pope D'Angelo Deniro and Mike

Me and Mike with Velvet Sky

Me and Mike with Don West

Mike and Me with Jeremy Borash

Me and Mike with Chris Sabin

Me with Jessie Neal of Ink Inc.

The Founder of TNA - Mr. Double J, Jeff Jarrett! (so awesome)

The other love of my life, AJ Styles =)

Mike's Infatuation, Velvet Sky

The totally modest and fantastically awesome, Jeff Hardy (who threw his armband to me woo!)

Don't ya just love my hubby's photography skills on that last one!?

I have to say just one thing: TNA Wrestling practices what they preach. They are definately the most fan-friendly company today. They treat every fan like gold, and they respect the fact that without us, there would be no TNA Wrestling. They take the time out to say thanks, and really give their fans the one-on-one experience and it's just - plain - awesome. My hubby and I can't wait to go again!!

So, that is why my hubby rocks =)

Seems all I do is read these days...

Hello there!

Life has been pretty crazy this past week in our household getting geared up for the new football season. I have ultimately decided that I will join my husband this year and root for the J! E! T! S! Jets, Jets, JETS! I still love Payton Manning, but I am just in love with Mark Sanchez and I am totally 100% behind the team this year, and forevermore! It is my first educated football decision - and I am standing behind it, because I really didn't know who I was picking when I started watching football. So, anyway, yay football!

I'm still being lazy in my blogging and my Friday My Husband Rocks posts, but I'm working on it I swear! I did however, finish another book last week called Mr. and Miss Anonymous:

I completely enjoyed this book, and all of its twists and turns, although I think that there could have been JUST a bit more drama in it for me. But it was a good read, and I do recommend it!

I also went out with my best friend for a shopping day last Thursday so I am going to count that as my "girls night" for this month. I know technically it was a day, but I make the rules - so there =)

I discussed the living room "family wall" with Mike today and I think we are in agreement that we are going to combine the wedding and family wall and do four shelves (two on either side of the tv) and then just randomly put photos and memories up there as well as a "(Last Name) Family est. July 5, 2009" wall hanging above the television. We might even consider another shelf underneath the television for the tv boxes to sit on so that we can get rid of the bulky table that is there. Here is what the tv wall looks like now:

And here is what I'm thinking I want to do with it:

(I know the drawing is a little crude, but hey all I have is paint on my computer!)

I think with any luck I can make it look really nice!

I am so close to checking off number 71 and 72 - they should be done and over with by the end of this month! I only have about $600 left on my car, and then Mike and I have decided that if we are able to we are going to trade it in. We're hoping to find a decent used  pickup truck of some kind. We've got a system for our budget that seems to be working, so if we're doing ok at the end of November I think I'll go ahead and check that one off too! So exciting to be almost all caught up! I also started a journal of my happy thoughts and thankfuls, but I haven't been doing well with it, I was going to complete them each night before bed, and I'm going to try to stick to that. I just need to get caught up.

That's pretty much it for the update for now. I will write more soon!

Official Outbacker!

Well, first off I need to apologize for my absence! These past few weeks at Outback have been crazy getting through class and passing my menu test (yes, you heard that correctly!) and finishing my on-the-floor training. I left you last right before my first night on the floor officially, and I just have to say this:

I - DID - NOT - KNOW - WHAT - I - WAS - MISSING. Seriously. If I would have known that I could make the money that I have been making, then I would have left Applebees first chance I got and I would have been an Outbacker the past 5 years!! I don't know what I was thinking, wanting a sit-down 9-5 desk job, because I have made more money in ONE week at Outback then what Allstate was paying me for TWO weeks of pay!

I love my job: my co-workers are great, the customers are great, I've gotten a few of my regulars back already, and I am loving how easy the cleanup at night is! I literally am done on the floor and out of there in 20 minutes! And I still have my days off with Mike on Wednesdays and Sundays (although I have picked the occasional one up right now, in order to catch up on bills) which is amazing.

I would have to say that the ONLY downsides are having to pick up shifts on Thursdays and Fridays if I want to work, and the fact that when I DO work, I don't see Mike from 9am to almost 10pm. It's hard not being able to see each other as much as we used to, but I look at it this way: This is temporary. Eventually we're going to get pregnant and start a family, and possibly move away, and maybe I'll be able to find a better job where we're going, or maybe I'll go back to school for some kind of medical job (maybe coding, since transcription has kinda filtered out to voice recognition software) in the future. Either way I know that serving won't be forever, and I am making awesome money in the meantime, and it is a GREAT backup plan for extra spending money or ::IF:: I ever get to be a stay at home mom, I'll have something that I am good at that makes good money that I can do one or two nights a month to get out of the house for a bit.

I am so grateful now that I took this job instead of holding out for the "management" position I interviewed for, because when I called them they said that they were still taking applications for the position and that they would call me when they make a decision. Well, that said to me that they weren't impressed enough with me that they still wanted time to look for someone better, and just didn't have the guts to tell me that I wasn't right for the position. But, I think it all worked out in the end.

So, getting back to the excuse for my abscence - I have just been exhausted, just plain exhausted. I come home, eat, and crawl into bed and then I am lazy until it is time to go to work. I know it will get easier over time, and it already has, but I have just not felt up to even getting on the computer, much less blogging about anything. I haven't done the My Husband Rocks Fridays yet, but I do believe I will do my first one tomorrow, since I am off work. I promise to come around more often from now on.

On a side note, I haven't done much on my Day Zero list, but I did finish off another book yesterday. It was the newest of the books from the Sisterhood Series, and I am super excited to read the next one, because the Sisters finally got what they wanted and I totally want to know what happens next! But, I have to wait until October for the next book. That's pretty much it! I will be back tomorrow (later today as it is 2 am right now) for my first installment of My Hubby Rocks Fridays!

"Ketchup" continued...

Hello again!

Super excited for today, I've got lots to do plus tonight is my first night serving (officially) but I wanted to take the time and finish my post on my Day Zero Challenge:

I believe I left off with #40:

40: try 2 new recipes a month - I'm am SO far behind on this. I should have 24 recipes in already but because of the break I took I only have 3. I hope to get cracking on this soon!

41: I'm (hopefully) going to get one of these out of the way this coming weekend, depending on my schedule! Laurel and Tom are hopefully coming over for dinner, I just have to make sure I'm off work and they are too.

42: I don't know when I'm going to do this, as classes cost money, but hopefully soon - I think it'll be fun!

43: Will be taken care of this November, because even if I don't have a full blown party, I'm still baking this cake for myself!!

44: I'm not sure if I'll do this this year, or next - but either way it will be simple because it will only be for the two of us.

45: My recipe book is in progress - I decided on which one I wanted to use, and have started filling it in, but some of the recipes I want to try before writing them into my book, since I only have so many pages

46: Bread is one of those things I am totally afraid of in the kitchen because it's so easy to mess up. I hope to get up the guts to do this soon, so that we can stop spending money where we don't need to.

47 and 48: Pending funds to buy them.

49: Birthday cards have always been a hard thing for me. I always forget until its too late. (like today is my best friend's birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS! but alas, no card sent) I'm trying to work on it.

50: I can't WAIT to send out Christmas cards, even though Mike thinks its totally pointless.

51: Girls night out once a month is going well, I seem to just keep up with this goal without really trying. Mostly if Mike is going out I'll find something to do with a girlfriend.

52: Dunno when, dunno who.

53, 54, and 55: These are in the designing/planning stages. I still have to determine which pictures I want and what will look good on that size of a wall. Hopefully I'll have some plans soon.

56 and 57: These two will probably be done some time next spring, because I don't want to plant my tree this late in the year.

58: The yard sale will probably have to wait until next year since we don't have our storage unit paid off yet.

59 - 68: These are all in the future. Don't have the money right now.

69: Date night is good - Mike and I are actually planning to go more than once a month, probably closer to twice.

70: In the works. Need money.

71: Have two payments left! WOOHOO

72: I don't think we'll trade my car in right away. We have to get some money back in case they want more of a down payment (since my car isn't worth much)

73 - 76: Not really working on these so far, but will get to work soon now that I have a steady job again.

77: Haven't started on this yet.

78: I've found a pattern that I like but it is hard to read, so I may have to choose another one. I will also have to buy the colors a few at a time, so it will be a process.

79: again - need money.

80: I've got a great idea (write about what you know) and I will probably end up posting bits of it here to get an idea on if it's any good or not.

81: I love to read, so this one is easy.

82 and 83: these are going well, but I haven't worked on them lately.

84 and 85: I haven't started doing this yet - I'm thinking maybe I'll start on Thanksgiving? That seems appropriate.

86: This has been started but I haven't worked on it lately - again, need money to print off the pictures

87: This one is so hard, because Mike is a very narrow interest guy - sports and gaming. That's, about, it.

88 and 89: In the works, but no luck so far.

90: Actually this one should be 2/6 so far, I'm down one for this past year, and for this current year so far.

91: Ha! Nowhere near starting this right now, need money for the program

92 and 93: These will hopefully happen for my birthday this year, that's what I want.

94 - 101: Not started yet, or waiting on money. Nothing to report on those goals.

So you see, I have alot started, just not alot to show for it yet. I'm super excited for all these goals, and I hope I get some of them checked off soon!

It's 2:08 am....

...and I am sitting here at my computer screen. My kitties are laying all around me, (they've been relegated to the spare room every other day because Marty does not understand that they-are-NOT-food) now sleeping after peppering me with pleading meows for food and fresh water and of course, lovin. I'm tired but not sleepy, I'm sure you've all felt that way a time or two, so I decided to get started on my "ketchup (catch up) post."

First, I'd like to talk a little about my new job. Over the past five years of Mike's and my relationship, I have held five jobs counting this one. I started at Applebees, as a server/expo/bartender/togo runner/host - you name it, I did it. (except cook, which is suprising to me now that I think about how much I want to learn to be a good cook) I was there for four years total. Then I tried my hand at retail, with Friedmans Jewelers. I would probably still be there, (hopefully) as a store manager, if they hadn't have gone out of business. After that, I got a job as an insurance agent. I took a side job at a pizza place at the same time for a few months while I was put down to part time hours. Recently, I lost that job, and have had to go back to where I started - serving, this time for Outback Steakhouse. And let me just say two things:

1. It is SO much different from Applebees and the pizza place. Applebees was MUCH more fast pace oriented, and the pizza place was just badly organized and had a horrible front manager who did NOT know what she was doing. (Not to mention she was immature and had a MAJOR attitude problem)
2. I can NOT believe how rusty I am! I come home and my feet hurt, my back hurts and I feel like I'm coming apart at the seams. I end up going to bed and sleeping like a baby, and it sucks! I know eventually I will get used to it again, but the adjustment period is going to be SUPER hard.

Besides all that, though, I do have to say that I already love it there. The people are great, the atmosphere is GREAT, the organization is on point, and the management team are on top of things. It's laid back and fun, but still structured. There are a few familiar faces, from when I served before, and that always helps. I'm hoping to reconnect with a few of my regulars and to get a bunch more! Because that's what it is all about, meeting people, taking care of them, getting to know and care about them, and making sure that they have a good time while they're sitting with me.

I officially start on the floor on Monday, and I am super excited!

-----

Now, next I want to get into my Day Zero Challenge. I originally started this project at the end of August of last year. Since then I've done two major revisions to my goals. I'm hoping to stick with these goals until the end, because even though it's not really a "RULE" I'm pretty sure that I'm not supposed to be changing my goals as my interests change. But, hey it's my list and I'm making the rules now!

So, I've already completed thirteen of my 101 goals, which isn't bad for the first year, although it could have been better. I've got quite a few in progress at the moment, and a few that I should be working on but just haven't seemed to be able to get started on them.

14 and 15. Scanning and renaming photo files: I've been slowly working on this, but I haven't really taken too much time with it. Every time I get on the computer I seem to get sidetracked. I really need to get this done, though, so I can free up some space on our (ancient) computers harddrive.

16. Beat The Lion King for SNES : I could never get past this one part in level 2 for the life of me as a kid, and I recently looked it up online how to get past it, and it is SUPER hard. I'm getting there though. I haven't had much time to play lately, and I don't even have it set up in the room yet, seeing as we just moved and haven't quite finished unpacking everything yet.

17, 18, and 19: Right now Mike and I are watching Stargate Universe, so I haven't been watching these other shows, plus I need to start the Netflix back up to complete TNG and Gilmore Girls. In the works, but not a priority at the moment.

20 and 21: Haven't even had time to watch the first few movies I got off of the AFI list, and I'm still compiling my personal list, which I always seem to be adding to. I'm thinking I might have to revise these or just pay the $5, because it doesn't look like I'll be finishing them by May of 2012....but we will see.

22, 23, and 24: I am putting on hold for now, as they are financial in nature, and I just now got back to making money.

25: easy - this is my journal and here is post number 2 for the week! I'm holding myself to this one, I think it's important for me to keep myself accountable.

26: My Husband Rocks Fridays is something I came across on a blog. Every Friday I will be posting about a reason my husband rocks my world. (which there are many of course) I didn't do one this past Friday because of training, but I plan to start this Friday.

27: I tried to do this earlier in the year, but had very little success. I am putting this on hold until I get a professional camera (which is #22)

28-31: I am having a hard time with these. I just can't seem to get up in the mornings like I want to because of the late nights I constantly have. Eating breakfast shouldn't be hard, but it is. Soda is super hard to cut out, as I am trying to cut out tea, too. I'll have to do that anyway if I get pregnant, so the sooner the better.

32-39: On hold at the moment, although I am going to start working out again soon if the pounds don't come off from the increased activity from work.

Well, the husband is wanting to go to bed, so I will pick back up where I left off maybe on Monday or Tuesday. Have a great weekend!

Another Day Zero Update

So, I haven't done too terribly much this week when it comes to my goals - but I did finish another book:

It is the first in the In The Garden trilogy by Nora Roberts, and it was a good read, although I was a little upset with how slow it started and how FAST it ended. I think she could have paced the book a little bit better, but all in all it's good. I am now reading the second book in the trilogy, called Black Rose.

I will be updating books like this quite often now, because I found about eight books a the flea market last Sunday for about a dollar a piece! It was fantastic and now I'm looking forward to trying to find more good deals like that! My hubby also found a jersey he'd been looking to buy for a STEAL! Literally like HALF the price of what it should be! We were excited.

Speaking of excited, I am SUPER excited, because this movie came out today:

I have been waiting for this day for MONTHS! I only got to see the movie in the theater once, unlike Twilight, which I saw three times I believe. So I have been itching to watch it again and now I can! I'm going to get it this evening and then stay up late tonight and watch them both in a row =) I can't wait!

And now for the Day Zero portion of this post:

I am now officially getting back on the daily task wagon a.k.a. getting up at 8:00 each morning, eating breakfast and brushing my teeth after EVERY MORNING. I am going to do it and stick with it this time! Most of this reasoning is because I was late for work one day last week, and I almost got fired over it - at least, that's the way it felt, and I'm not going to let that happen anymore! So, that all is starting on Monday. I'm also going to start going to bed at 12:30 every night - NO EXCEPTIONS.

I covered my book reading already.

Daily photos are not going well, I have barely touched my camera lately. I will have to take some pictures on our little trip tomorrow to Chambersburg, and I will try to do better with this.

I watched The Time Travelers Wife with my sister last weekend and I have to say it was very accurate with the book, but I was a little disappointed that they added an additional scene at the end that wasn't needed, and they cut out the very last scene of the book which I thought was essential. Other than that, they followed the story very very well, and it was much less confusing than the book - but I followed the book ok, too, so that wasn't really a problem with me. They always say the book is better than the movie, but this movie came really close. I was impressed.

As for the movie list, I will work on getting it typed up this week, and will post it on my side lists for you to follow and me to keep track.

I think that's it for this week, other than I wanted to say that I'm going to start back up with the "My Husband Rocks" posts, but instead of on Saturdays, I'm going to try to start doing them Thursday evenings.

Until next time!

Day Zero Update

I got my new planner for the year today, and got down to business!

Some things that I'm going to be working on in the coming month:

~ My cross stitch project - I only have half of a color, and the backstitching left to do and then it will be complete! I'm so close I can taste it, and it's been bugging me because I've been working on this darn thing since I was in the 8th grade!
~ My daily photos - I haven't even STARTED on March's photos yet, but that's ok because I will have plenty tomorrow! I am going to a meeting for my job, and on the way home I'm going to meet on of my Knot.com friends, Ida for lunch! I'm so excited because we live so close, and we've wanted to meet up for a while! AND, that's my girls day out for this month too! CHECK! =)
~ Book reading - I am almost done Why We Suck, but I'm sharing it with my Hubby so it seems to be taking alot longer than normal for me to finish it.
~ My personal movie list - I just got The Time Travelers Wife in the mail today and I'm so excited that I'm probably going to watch it tomorrow night! I will eventually post this list and keep you updated on what I thought of each movie.
~ Planning our Chicago vacation and starting to save for it.
~ Working on my sodoku puzzles
~ Working on a budget and a payment plan/calendar for the kitchen wall so that we can keep track of what is due when and how much.
~ I haven't decided for sure yet, but I think when I finish my cross stitch, I'm going to start on my GS vest and fix the patches that are on there, and sew the rest on.
~ Daily things that still haven't been started.
~ Continue on my weight loss journey, and my eating right, and not drinking soda.
~ Continue with Rescue Me, Gilmore Girls, and Star Trek
~ Continue (not) working on my story - seriously its all in my head I just haven't started writing it yet! I'm afraid it's going to sound like a 5th grader wrote it.
~ Continue work on my recipe book, decide which one I am going to use, and stick to that decision.

Ok I think that's enough for now...I don't think I'll be any closer to completion of all those, but it's a good goal to have and it will keep me busy.

Wow. Just Wow.

So, this past wednesday I had to go to Manassas for a continuing education course that was being offered. I have a friend that I met on the knot.com, Ida, who met up with me for lunch afterwards and man did we have alot of fun, and that is an understatement! The lunch was fun, and we got to know each other and had a great time! Then, it was time to leave, and I couldn't find my keys - I freaked out. Oh no, I left them in the car. I even said to myself before I got out of the car to go in to the restaurant, "DON'T leave your keys in the car, Rachael!" But did I listen? NOOOOO. So the next fourty - fifty minutes (I'm not sure how long) Ida's fiance and his best friend (followed by a random homeless looking guy) tried to use a coat hanger, a wooden wedge, and a stick to get my car door open, until a fourth guy finally came over with a slim jim and managed to push the button on my automatic locks to get it open! It was embarrassing, but it's a funny story that Ida and I can relive every time we get together now! Here is a picture of us at my car waiting for Josh to come with the coat hanger and wedge.

So, the next day I come to find out that the credits for that class were only valid in MD, and DC - not in WV. So I went to the class for nothing, got my keys locked in my car for nothing! PLUS, (warning: irony coming at you full steam) I realized last night that I have an extra key in my purse, it's just not where I thought to look at the time.

MAJOR FML.

So, that was this weeks adventure. Stay tuned, I'm sure I'll do some other rediculously stupid thing in no time.

Oh, and totally off subject but AWESOME, my nephew is officially walking! =)

Just a fun little survey...

I stole this from a fellow Blogger, Heather from over on Heather Drive.

Instructions:Copy the list, bold the ones you've done (with explanations if needed), share with friends.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars (in Girl Scouts when I was a kid)
3. Played in a band (if concert band in high school counts yes!)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (my church's christmas contata - I was probably about 12)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm (all the time!)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (cross stitch)
15. Adopted a child (I won't do this unless we can't have children)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (I'm adding this to my Day Zero List!)
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run Didn't play ball, and will never get another opportunity
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person (My eighth grade Enrichment Trip!)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - mom's adopted.
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen the Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (I've had it sketched at an amusement park)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (Thanks Dad! When I was a kid, my dad was the instructor for my Tae Kwon Do class)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (Duh! Lifetime member baby!)
62. Gone whale watching In Massachusetts and North Carolina
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (in high school)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check Haven't we all at some point?
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (I have my yellow bear that was in the incubator with me, and my first real teddy bear still sits on my bed)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle (Poker runs with Dad was the BEST!)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (First day of kindergarten with my best friend - we were getting off the bus together)
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox Yep, in Kindergarten
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Tons of wrestlers!)
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Peanuts and Cracker Jacks

Ok so, here's my good news for the week. Hubby and I are going HERE this summer:

And while we are there we are going here:

I am so beyond excited! Not only because I FINALLY get to see Wrigley Field and stand in front of the big red sign but because I am checking off TWO of my Day Zero goals! (#34 - visit Wrigley Field and # 47 - take the honeymoon Mike and I never got - JUST THE TWO OF US) And it's fitting because we are going ON our anniversary (Probably looking at a five day or so trip, because we are actually going to drive there.)

I am so stoked!! I can't wait, and I kinda thought it was a little cheesy and un-romantic to spend the anniversary of your first year of marraige at a baseball stadium, but this is the reason why we are who we are, and I love my husband, and I love my Cubbies, and I can't wait to see Chicago!!

Day Zero Update (twenty-seven weeks)

So, let me start off by saying - SORRY!! Oh my gosh, I haven't written but once this month, and I know I promised to update every week, but to be honest I just haven't had the passion to blog this past month. I suppose it is phases that I will go through.

I'll try to keep this as short and sweet as possible so that maybe I won't bore you too much.

Today is Month 7, Week 27, Day 191 of my 1,001 day journey! (WOW. Already?)

So, I have decided to re-vamp my 101 list: (1) because there are some things on there that I put in for filler, and really don't have any desire to do and a few where the situation has changed and I can no longer complete them because they are unrelevant to my life now, and (2) because there are now some things that I DO want to do that are not on that list!

I've decided to "tweak" the photo a day project. I am having too much trouble trying to take a picture a day, and it is more failure than success, so instead, I'm making a promise to myself to take more photos of everything that goes on, still break it down monthly, and TRY to fill it with as many pictures as that month has in days - for instance, February will have 28 pictures, but it won't matter how many are from the same day, or if I go over that amount or have under 28, either. I think I'm making an effort to document my life more, and maybe next year I'll try again.

Since I last updated I have read two more books. The first is called Vanishing Act by Fern Michaels, and is the next installment in the Sisterhood Series. I love this series, and I highly recommend it to ANY woman of ANY age! The other one is the first in Nora Roberts' Bride Quartet - Vision in White . I have a feeling I am going to LOVE this series! The current book I am reading is called Why We Suck by Denis Leary - IT.IS.HILARIOUS! A must get for a good laugh, just DON'T take him seriously - he's a comedian fa cryin out loud!

I also want to update on my girls nights: In January I had my best friend over for an evening of reminising through our old yearbooks, which was alot of fun. This month, I am going out with a few of my old friends and my sister, to see the movie Dear John, and then go to Ruby Tuesday's afterwards to eat. It should be a fun time! I can't wait!

I'm waiting on getting a calendar this year to be able to tell you what I plan to do when, but I do have some good news that I will share with you tomorrow! =)

Updating - sorry!

So, I haven't been on here since about the first of the year, and to be honest I have really slacked off on my goals and keeping up with this blog, and giving you all updates on my progress, but there is a good reason! I am now back on the weight loss wagon! I am not taking my Zumba class anymore for right now, until she switches the routines again, because the one she is doing right now is more muscle building than cardio, and I really need cardio. So, I have been doing an hour on the elliptical three days a week, and I have already lost two pounds in the last two weeks! I know it doesn't SEEM like alot, but if I lose a pound every week then by next year I will have lost 48 pounds - healthily! I don't want to do this quick I want to do it RIGHT so that it STAYS off! And I really just love that hour to myself that all I do is listen to my mp3 player and NOT think about ANYTHING! It's great. I'll work on the eating better here in a few weeks, but I'm going to cut soda back out, I've been bad lately. No more soda, only water, and I'm going to try to eat better without cutting out the things that I really love. The biggest thing is starting to prepare dishes at home. We have been working on it, but there are nights when NO ONE wants to cook, and we end up ordering out.

Now, as far as everything else goes - the photo a day thing is not really working out. I decided not to post the photos here, so they are on my facebook. And I am behind - again. So, maybe this photo a day thing just isn't going to work out for me. I don't have the kind of camera that I can carry around with my every day, and it's honestly a pain in the butt to load ONE picture on to facebook every day...so I think I'll get caught up and I'll give it one more month, and if I'm still having trouble, then I'll call it quits. I like the idea, but I'm just not that creative and end up taking picture after picture of my kitties, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but isn't the point of the project.

I started work on my #3 this week - getting my wedding album and photo guestbook together. I have some of the wedding photos in the album, but they are probably not in the final order yet, because I still have alot of photos left to print. It's kinda expensive LOL.

I am happy to report that #43 - redecorate the bathroom is almost complete! I have had the same horrible pink beach scene shower curtain since I was a senior in high school, and when Hubby and I got married the first thing we did was pick out new stuff for the bathroom. I finally ordered my new shower curtain and a soap dispenser for the bathroom with my leftover gift card to Bed, Bath and Beyond from the wedding. I love it, and I had some creativity come over me and I think my bathroom is the cutest room in the house right now! All I have left to buy is a lighthouse themed white towel to hang on the rack behind the toilet and I will be done! So 95% complete!! Yay! =)

I have good news about #44 - plant a garden: I have one at the new place right out front! And I'm going to make a little vegetable garden around the side of the house I think =) I'm so excited about this!!

Hubby and I have offically completed season 1 of Star Trek: The Next Generation! I love it so far! They already killed off one character, wrote off another, and season 2 is great so far! So excited!

I also had a semi-girls night with my MOH, Jess a few nights ago. We just sat around and chatted, and looked through our old yearbooks. It was fun. So, girls night for this month is complete!

Other than that, there's really not much going on. I promise to try to keep you updated better

I've been a reading FOOL!

So, I have some catching up to do. First, I have read six books since I last wrote, the last one that you know of is Lone Calder Star by Janet Dailey. It was a very good book about a family who owns a ranch who's head guy gets run off by a rival ranch in the area, and the struggle to outsmart the rival and regain control of the land, ranch and town, and fall in love along the way. I was a little disappointed with how FAST the two main characters tell each other they love each other, but all in all it was a good book. The next book I read, was Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. I enjoyed the book very thoroughly, and I am excited for the movie.

The next book I read was called French Silk, by Sandra Brown. Honestly, I want to find more of her stuff because I read two of her books and she is amazing! French Silk is about a girl with a lingere line, who gets caught up in a murder investigation of an evangelist. There are lots of twists and turns, and a few steamy romantic scenes and let me just say, READ IT. After that, I read another of her books called Breath of Scandal. It is about a girl who is raped her senior year of high school, and basically flees the town, only to come back and get revenge on the men who raped her, which also happen to be the only family who owns any of the businesses in town. She brings in a big factory and gets the revenge she deserves. It was a fantastic book. The next book I have read is called Gentle Conqueror. It is set back in the renaissance era, and it is about a young maiden who's castle is conquered and she is forced to marry the man who now reigns. She ends up falling in love with him, and there is plenty of action in this book as well. It was a good book, although it wasn't exactly my kind of writing style. The last book I have read was called The Lucky One. I won't go into too much detail, but it is basically about a soldier who finds a photo of a girl in Iraq, and it brings him good luck, so when he comes home he goes on a cross-country trek to look for her. I loved it, and it is a must-read. It was a Christmas present from Byron and Sarah - thanks guys! So my book count is now up to 17/50, and I think it will stay there for a while.

I think that's all for tonight, I'm tired. More tomorrow!

2009 Recap

2009 was good to me, I can't wait to see what 2010 brings!

1. The biggest day, of course, was my wedding! It was a wonderful, fun-filled, family-filled day and I couldn't ask for anything more than what I got - my HUBBY =)

2. Trish and Eric's wedding took place one month after mine, and I was so excited to be a part of it! It was so fun, and I think the beach wouldn't be such a bad place to live =) Maybe someday!

3. I started my Day Zero goals, and my blog. I love having a place that I can go and write things about my life and what is going on, so that I can look back on it later! It's like having a virtual diary and I love it!

4. I got back on the weight loss wagon. Yes, I took a pit stop for the holidays, but I'm back on track starting Monday! I hope that I can drop the weight for good this time!

5. My nephew, Gabe, celebrated his first birthday this year. It is a wonderful thing watching him grow up, and so far I have seen him crawl, stand up on his own, and he has started babbling and now says "mom (mamamama)" and "dad (d-d-d-d-d-d)" I can't wait to see more firsts with him!

6. I FINALLY got to put up my Christmas tree this year! I know it's silly, and a little CRAZY considering we were moving THE WEEK AFTER, but I couldn't help it! I love Christmas, it's my favorite holiday, and I have been waiting for FOUR YEARS!

7. I got to meet my favorite WWE wrestler, Batista. Yes, I acted like a 5th grader with a crush, but WHO CARES?? It's BATISTA!!

8. I got to see KISS in concert. OH-MY-GOD. I will never forget it! I mean, they do almost the same show every year, but that's what's fun about it!! They are amazing, and I wish they could keep touring until they're 95 years old! lol

9. I went to my very first NFL football game this year. Granted, it was preseason, (it was the Jets we had alot of fun, and it was definately an experience I will not readily forget!

10. I have met some great people over the course of this year, that I am thankful for meeting. All my girls from the Knot.com thank you for supporting me and helping my plan my wedding in 60 days! Sarah, Jacqui, Kati, Ida, Ashely O. - I hope we will get together someday! I'd love to meet you ladies!

So there you have it! I wonder what this year will bring? Maybe a baby? Who knows!