It's a Christmas Miracle!

I'm down to 197.3. Totally blew through my expected goal of 200 by year end. And, I've had social obligations where eating and drinking occurred. I've been eating really clean between social commitments, being active, everything. This is working for me, and I'm going to keep at it. 

Weight Loss Journey Has Begun

Over the summer, I went to my gyno, because I was having really irregular periods. I was on the doctor's scale for the first time in years. My state of denial of what I really weighed was shattered in an instant. I weighed 224 lbs. That's more than my Dad weighs, and he's 6 feet tall. Then, even more bad news. My gyno tells me that I'm most likely in peri-menopause, brought on by my obesity. This is what every 35 year old wants to hear. My blood pressure is also high. Honestly, I felt like shit walking out there that day.

I had been in denial since my youngest was born in 2007. I didn't gain anything really during that pregnancy, but I started the pregnancy at 193 lbs. I was up to 195 at my heaviest, and actually walked out of the hospital at 193. But, then, I went back to work quickly, had three kids ages four and younger, and a husband who was never home. The older kids were/are picky eaters. It was no surprise that I cooked comfort, carb heavy foods, and the weight started piling on. Fast forward to 2013, and I'm barely able to button a size 18 pair of jeans, and most of my t-shirts don't fit. I feel gross. I hate my body and I hate myself. It's awful.

The first thing I did after leaving the doctor on that day in August was to swear off fast food. Since August, I have not eaten french fries or anything else that I can buy through a drive through window. This means I've been making my lunches and taking them to work. Upside- it saves money. Downside- it's boring, and when I forget, I wind up eating oatmeal. The good news- 13 lbs fell off quickly. But, I plateaued.

Step Two- a month ago, I joined Weight Watchers. The online tools make me aware of what I'm eating and make me make better choices. But, I fall off the wagon during the weekends. Therefore, I'm putting this out there on the internet for everyone to read and keep me honest. During this holiday season- from Thanksgiving week to today, I'm down 7.8 lbs, to 203.6. Today I wore the same pair of size 16 jeans to the meeting that I wore to my first meeting. The first meeting, those jeans hurt they were so tight. Today, they went on and buttoned easily. I'm not down a size yet. I can't claim to be in a size 14 yet, but I'm getting there. My first goal is breaking that 200 lb barrier. I hope to be there soon after the first of the year. According to the BMI chart my highest healthy weight should by 146. I still have a long way to go.

Bring Back the Words- Favorite Foods!

Love this prompt-

Prompt 1:

Make us all hungry–what are your top 10 favorite foods (individual foods, or full meals, your choice)? (Ginger's Bring Back The Words)

1. Lobster. Boiled lobster with butter to dip it in. Freshly boiled is divine. But I also like to eat very cold lobster in hot butter. The temperature difference makes it even better. My absolute favorite food of all time.
2. Strawberries. Fresh. 
3. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
4. Steak. Barely grilled. Filet is nice, but doesn't have the best steak flavor. Rare to black and blue for temperature. Over-cooked steak is a travesty. If you're going to get it Well Done, you might as well eat a shoe.
5. Apple pie. My Mom makes the best one in the world. Macintosh apples, strussel top.
6. Fried egg. I love a good fried egg. Just a touch runny in the yolk. 
7. Gnocchi. 
8. Caviar. I'm a horrible person, but I love really expensive, black Osetra caviar. We had an amazing tasting menu at Cesar's Palace in Vegas, and the caviar course was the thing that dreams are made of. 
9. Tuna sashimi (again with the raw)
10. Sweet Italian Sausage, with peppers and onions. Served as a sandwich or alongside some soft polenta.

Bring Back The Words- Where Have You Lived?

From Ginger's Bring Back the Words- Right here!

Prompt 2:

A getting to know you list–share all the places you’ve lived (and if you want to, how you got there, and why you left). Bonus points for expanding on whether you plan to stay where you are now, or if you have a dream location you still want to get to.

Aug 1978-June 1999- Weymouth, MA. A quaint town of 50K+, with one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the area. I grew up there, on a suburban almost farm (we had chickens and horses). It was a nice place to grow up. I had lots of friends, tons of family around. I met my husband during our senior year of high school, in November 1995. 

Sept 1996-June 1999- Amherst, MA. Does college count? Because I went to UMass Amherst. Got a degree in accounting. Continued to date husband long distance (he went to Johnson & Wales in RI). It was fun. I coasted through college. It was easy. Especially because I did not want to be a CPA.

June 1999-July 2001- Providence RI. Did an internship at a company in Rhode Island. Husband had quit college after his associates degree, and had an apartment. I moved in with him. He supported me the last year of college, while I commuted from Providence to RI twice a week for my classes (100 miles each way, door to door), I continued to work part time for the company that I had done my internship with. They would hire me at graduation for a full time staff accounting position. Husband and I got engaged in January 2000, and married in October 2000. The years in Rhode Island were really fun. We had a lot of disposable income, and very few expenses. Husband knew a bunch of chefs in the area, so we were always going out to eat, and meeting with people for drinks. Providence is small, and our area of the city, Federal Hill, was even smaller. We walked everywhere. We vacationed a lot. But knew that we didn't want to buy a house in Rhode Island, so we were looking to relocate somewhere. In June and July 2001 I took a bunch of job interviews. Took a new job, and relocated.

July 2001- Present- Phoenix, AZ. We moved because I got sucked into a too good to be true job offer, in the then booming mortgage industry. Of course, it was a failure. But, by the time that company failed, we had purchased a house, and I was pregnant. And, the husband had started working for the Sheraton company in a venue that was starting to generate a lot of press. So, we hung on. Then, got pregnant for a second time. Sold the first house, bought the second house. Then, got pregnant for a third time. Husband now works for a very large food service company providing food services for an even bigger technology company. I manage a landscape company. The kids are all in school. We're stuck in the desert, and I hate it. We are holding out hope that husband's company transfers him anywhere but here (and New Mexico. I'm not moving to New Mexico).  

Cut Down on Spending Money Week 1

I've put a goal to myself to stop spending money on work lunches. This week I brought my lunch from home 4 out of 5 days. The day I missed, I actually made my lunch, but forgot about it, and left it in the fridge (Mondays, they're a bitch).

Money that I Spent (outside of necessary items, like household food)
Monday- Lunch from Q'doba- $7
Wednesday- It was my turn to buy the office candy- $20
Thursday- Bought The Brothers Sisters from Amazon, Kindle Daily Deal, $1.99. I heard it was good.
Friday- Breakfast sandwich- $5 (we ran out of eggs when I put together a bread pudding last night)
Total: $35.99

Things That Are Going To Screw Up My Budget

Philosophy. They have a good sale going on, and while I don't exactly NEED anything right now, I WANT some things right now. But, I'm resisting. So far.

Old Navy. Again, things I WANT rather than NEED. So, I've been doing the old fill up the online cart, and then forget about it trick.

So, why am I saving money? Well, the time has come to take my darling children to Disneyland. We've promised them this trip for Christmas 2014. That gives me a little over a year to sock away money, and do this trip right, because we're only going once. I have no love lost for Disney. The thought of spending thousands of dollars on this trip to hang out in lines with horrible screaming children- my own and other people's- basically gives me hives. To even begin to deal with this, I'm taking my parents along for moral support. That means we need three hotel rooms, or a family suite and a room. I can't sleep for a week in the same hotel room as my kids. I just can't. So, it's adjoined rooms or a family suite for us, and a separate room for my parents. My Dad also has limits, and staying in a hotel room with children is one of them. My Dad also will not be going to Disney. He'll hang at the hotel pool or find other things to occupy his time. He did Disney with us when we were children, he has no want to do Disney with his grandchildren.

What’s your very earliest childhood memory?

This is part of Ginger's Bring Back The Words Prompts

I'm not taking part in this on a regular basis, but my Earliest Childhood Memory is really specific, and strange, so I thought I'd share with you all.

My earliest childhood memory is from when I was about 3 years old. We apparently went to Disney World for the first time (I've seen pictures, I was there for sure). But, the only thing I remember is getting off the plane and walking across the tarmac. It was so hot, and the smell of asphalt was so strong! I remember nothing about Disney- this is why I've waited so long to take my own kids, I'm not dropping thousands of dollars on a trip I'll hate and they'll not remember. But I remember walking across the tarmac.

I really don't remember much about my childhood. Honestly. There are a few memories that stand out, but things are pretty blurry until maybe 10 or 12 years old. At the same time, certain things will trigger very clear memories of very specific events when I was much younger than 10 or 12. For example, when we buried my grandfather in 1998, I got a very clear flash of going to that very same cemetery with him. We- my brother and I- were playing around the graves, and I remember watching my grandfather plant flowers on his mother's grave. I was only 4 or 5. I can remember what I wore that day. What we ate for dinner. What he wore that day. But I can't remember Christmas of that year. It's strange.

So You Want To Get A Job?

The company I work for frequently gets walk-ins who are looking for a job. With these people in mind, I have put together a helpful list of items/pitfalls to avoid that potential job applicants might find useful.

1. Be sober. Don't come looking for a job application when you are drunk or high. Especially if you come in at 8 in the morning. If you can't be 100% sober, at least don't use whiskey as a mouth wash. If I feel like I'm getting a contact high from the fumes emanating from your body, your application will be shredded as soon as you leave the office.
2. Wear shoes. Now, I know you CAN wear bedroom slippers outside of your home when they have some sort of substantial soles, but it doesn't mean you should. 
3. Know what the company does. For example, I work for a landscape company. We don't have any job openings for waiters.
4. Don't bring your Mom in to fill out your application. If you can't put your name and phone number on a piece of paper without Mom's help, we won't be trusting you with big pieces of machinery with sharp blades.
5. (Maybe 4a?) Mom is not your best choice for a reference. But, surprisingly, your Probation Officer is a good choice.
6. Don't complain about how long it took you to get to the office. You'll be starting and ending each work day at this office, so if it bothers you so much, find someplace closer to your house to apply.
7. Don't complain about how hot you got just walking down the street. This is a labor intensive job, done OUTSIDE. You don't like the heat, move to another state. 
8. If you must bring your children along to pick up an application, at least be in control of them. Don't let them wander around the office unsupervised or let them trash the bathroom. 
9. You might think your hat with a pot leaf on it is a good look. It's not.
10. Don't have a phone argument while you're sitting in the waiting area. Calling someone on the phone a "crazy bitch" and yelling other obscenities at her isn't giving us the best opinion of you. 

This list shouldn't be considered the be all, end all of all How To Get A Job blogs, but I'd like to think it's been helpful in just a little way. 

Is There An Emoticon for Slightly Homicidal?

I had a quick trip this weekend to Massachusetts. Left on Thursday night, came home to Phoenix on Sunday night. After yesterday's flight I was feeling slightly homicidal. I had to go into the airport an hour early, because my aunt's flight was an hour before mine, and it wouldn't be fair to my parents to make them do the Logan drive twice. That wasn't so bad- hung out at Boston Beer Works, and watched the hockey game.

Then, I get on the plane. I'm next to this Alzheimer's patient and her caregiver. The patient is freaking out about something, and proceeded to have loud verbal outbursts and panic attacks the entire flight. Honestly, it was really bad. And, this was their return trip home to Phoenix. This woman was in no shape to be flying, and whoever ok'd the flight in the first place screwed up. Noise cancelling headphones can only do so much.

Behind me was a very tall man. I couldn't put my seat back, because of his legs. No big deal. He asked me nicely, I complied. However, that didn't stop him from digging his knees into the back of my seat every 15-20 minutes during the last two hours of the flight. Somewhere over Colorado I turned around to him and called him out on it. Then when he wouldn't stop, I got passive aggressive and pushed back against him whenever he moved his knees. We're probably both bruised this morning, and I know that had I been a man and a foot taller, he probably would have punched me outside of the airport. As it was he called me a bitch and I told him to fuck off at the luggage carousel.

Don't get me wrong, I was happy I was able to get back for the weekend, but damn, I'm sore and tired this morning!

Kid's Writing Prompt

My kindergartener's teacher does a daily writing prompt with them, just to have them get in the habit of writing sentences. I got the April booklet home yesterday, and I was looking at them with my daughter. My favorite was "If I Won a Lot of Money." Avery's response was classic Avery:

If i wone alot of mony i wold bue a car. Becus mom is meen and wont bue me a car.
Translation: If I won a lot of money, I would buy a car. Because Mom is mean and won't buy me a car.

Avery is 5. We've not yet had the car discussion with her. I don't know where her response came from. I clarified with her that she meant a car to drive, not a play car. So, she still has 11 years before that happens. My husband and I died laughing at this one. The logic and scheming of this child is frightening. She will probably rule the world one day.

Birthday Party Goodie Bags

Dear Readers-
Last weekend, I made a shocking and momentous decision. I refused to spend an ungodly amount of money on goodie bags for my daughter's 10th birthday. Now, I know what you're thinking "But how did you manage that? Did you not care what the **other** parents will say about you? Do you want your daughter's friends to think you are a cheapskate?" And, the truth is- everyone can go fuck off.

The birthday party itself put us back about $250. But it was $250 well spent. My three kids and a dozen of my daughter's friends went bowling. Two hours of unlimited bowling, pizza, soda and a cake. The best part was NO ONE CAME TO MY HOUSE. Yup, I didn't have to clean a thing. And, there was a definite start and end time, so I wasn't stuck with extra kids for extra hours. On top of that, built in activity! So I didn't have to plan anything. Greatest birthday party ever.

Then, the gift bags. I don't know about you, but extravagant goodie bags seem to be the norm out here. Probably $5-$10 per kid, per bag. That's ridiculous. And, my kids (and probably yours) do not need piles of candy and crappy plastic toys. Toys that break on the way home, or are abandoned in the family room two minutes after they get home, and I have to throw them away without the kid seeing or much drama ensues. So, I bucked the trend. The birthday package included bowling pin shaped goodie bags. I got some, not much, candy on clearance at Walmart. Gave each kid 6 pieces of snack size candies- Milky Way, Butterfinger and Take5- and that was IT. I'm done with extravagant goodie bags. Done with them.

Please parents, join me in the goodie bag revolution! No more crappy plastic toys! No more pounds of candy!

Stand Strong!
New England Girl

Google Reader- So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish

Apparently, Google Reader is shutting down in July 2013. This makes me very sadface. But, in the mean time, it will give me a chance to check out some of the RSS readers out there. I'm starting with Bloglovin. Mostly because it's trending on Twitter today, and I am nothing if not a follower.

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5174963/?claim=xgw6bwwm8ak">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Why I'm Happy Today- February 12th Edition

I weighed myself on Sunday, and since New Years, I'm down 9 lbs. Now, that doesn't seems like a lot, but it's actually the first time that hasn't involved child birth, that I've managed to lose more than 1 or 2 lbs. Not only that, but I put on a pair of size 14 jeans this weekend- first time in a LONG time.

What I'm Doing Right- eating more vegetables, eating less carbs. Going for walks or jogs 2-3 times a week- averaging 16 minute miles. Drinking lots of water. Bringing lunch from home to the office helps too. No drive through foods.

What I Need to Improve- I still crave carbs, especially in the mornings. Oatmeal is better than a bagel, but not much. I need to eat more protein in the morning, because in the long run, it's more filling. I need to be more active. 3 miles 2 or 3 times a week is great, but it should be more like 3 miles 4-5 times a week. I'd like to get my mile time down to 10 minutes by the end of April.

Getting to Know You

Do you have any strange phobias? Not phobias as much as PTSD. I found way too many rotten milk sippy cups over the years, and I will not touch any cup or glass that has had milk left in it for more than a few hours. The kids poured it, they can clean it.
 
Do you sleep with or without clothes on? Usually undies and socks (I have really cold feet ALL THE TIME).

If you are outside, what are you most likely doing? Yard work or swimming in the summer 

Simple but extremely complex. Favorite band? 311. My husband and I have seen them live over 20 times since 1995.

Do you believe in karma? Yes. I do believe in karma. It might be subtle karma, but eventually, people get what they deserve.

Who is your celebrity crush? I have a thing for Jeremy Piven. And Evan Handler. And, if sports people count as celebrities, I love Jacoby Ellsbury- he plays for the Red Sox.

What’s a sound you hate; sound you love? Hate: The noises that pigeons make. Seriously, our neighbors have a pigeon problem, and I've been woken up by the sound of vigorous pigeon sex more times than I'd care to remember. 
Love: Ocean waves, my youngest daughter's laugh (she still has a full on baby belly laugh, even at age 5, it's adorable).

Choose: East Coast or West Coast? Hard to say. I love both coasts (and yet, I live in the Arizona desert). I love the dramatic Pacific Northwest. I love the coastal California towns. I love New England. I love the south eastern coastal towns. But not Florida. I hate Florida.

What was the last book you read? I'm quickly working my way through Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness mystery series. I finished book #3 Royal Flush last night, and I started Royal Blood last night. It's a mystery series set in England/Scotland in the 1930's. Strong female lead. Sketchy historical correctness. But a joy to read.
 

Do you like the smell of gasoline? Nope.

Do you have any nicknames? A few of my friends from high school call me KB.

What was the last movie you saw? At the movie theater, we saw This is 40. It was uncomfortably great- as in the main story was too similar to my marriage for comfort. At home- We watched something stupid....crap....(checks Netflix)...Trouble With The Curve. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't memorable.

What’s the worst injury you’ve ever had? I've lucked out. I got a concussion in a car accident. Broke a finger skiing. Broke another finger falling into a pool at a swim meet. But those are all minor.

What’s the last thing you purchased? I bought a bagel and a diet coke for breakfast. Friday is my splurge day. The one day a week I don't eat oatmeal for breakfast. 

 
Can you touch your nose with your tongue? No. However, my Mom can.

Is there anything pink within 10 feet of you? My earbuds for my computer are pink.

What’s your favorite animal? Rugby players.

What were you doing last night at 12 AM? Sleeping. The husband and I are training for a 5k. We did our run last night at 9 PM. I came home and passed out.

What’s a song that always makes you happy when you hear it? The Beatles Ob La Di Ob La Da, Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel

What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far? Deciding to buy the extra ticket to see the Blues Travelers play on October 13, 1995. If I hadn't done that, I'd have never met my husband. I just realized that it was a Friday that 13th that has changed my life dramatically.

What’s the last song you listened to? Die Young Ke$ha (guilty pleasure, I love to turn this song way up and sing along)

What is your current desktop picture? A map of NYC and Boston.New York- Because we want you to know where you are and where you are going. Boston- Because fuck you. Little bit of hometown pride (I'm from just south of Boston)

You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow you with the super-power of your choice! What is that power? Flying

You can re-live any point of time in your life. The time-span can only be a half-hour, though. What half-hour of your past would you like to experience again? Easter 1999. I'd like to be able to really say goodbye to my Grandfather. He died a few weeks later, unexpectedly.

You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go? Barcelona, Spain. With the husband, without the kids. It's a destination on our bucket list. 

Link in the comments if you play along!

48 Questions

Full Disclosure- I stole these questions from Building a Kingston Castle

I love me some survey questions, because they let me talk about myself, without having to come up with a writing prompt.

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope. My parents found my name in a baby book. I would have been Keith if I was a boy.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I can't remember. I don't cry a lot.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? No. It's chicken scratchy

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Turkey

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Three daughters who simultaneously delight and horrify me on a daily basis.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Probably. I'm fun to be with most of the time, and I'm not needy.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? What is this sarcasm you speak of?

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Fun fact- I only have one. The other one never grew in or something.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Froot Loops- straight out of the box. Even better, put them in a sandwich size ziplock bag and it's like 2nd grade all over again.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes, I think so.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Strawberry, most of the time. But I can't keep Ben & Jerry's Late Night Snack in the house, or I'll eat a pint in a single sitting. Oh, and there's this little ice cream store near me called Scooptacular that does a killer Oatmeal Cookie ice cream

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their face? I guess? I'm good with remembering if I've ever met someone before, even if I don't know their names. It does make for some strange conversations however, because I'll start talking to people in the grocery store, because I think I know them, while I've only ever seen them in passing (at places like the grocery store).

15. RED OR PINK? Ah, pink? I guess?

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I have a problem dealing with emotions. I get very uncomfortable when someone is emotional.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Hmm. I was lucky enough to have all four of my grandparents until I was 20, and only last year lost the last of them. Other than that, I haven't had any real losses.

18. WHAT IS THE TECHNIQUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THE MOST? I'm not crafty, so I don't know. I kind of suck at wrapping presents.

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? These white, red and black plaid slip-ons

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese (my breakfast 90% of the time)

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Not sure. Something over the cubical wall from my co-worker's radio

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Cornflower blue (oh! fun fact! My sister won one of those "Name the New Crayola Color" contests back in the 1990s Brink's Pink was her color, and it was available for a few years).

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Chanel No. 5, apple pie baking, vanilla

24. HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS TO YOU? I am quietly political. However, I avoid political conversations since I tend to be the most liberal person in the room.

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE? Beach for sure. There's nothing better than listening to the waves

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Baseball. Because I am secretly a 65 year old man.

27. HAIR COLOR? A dirty blond color that is getting darker as the years go on

28. EYE COLOR? Blue

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Not yet. I suspect I'll have to in the future.

30. FAVORITE FOOD? Lobster.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I hate scary movies. But I do love crappy sci-fi. Monsters and disasters are some of my favorite things. I like a HEA.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The Watch. Not what I expected. Not very good. I expected a suburban comedy. I got fucking aliens.

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? light blue t-shirt under a lighter blue v-neck sweater (I work with mostly men who refuse to let me turn on the heat in the office, so layers are essential).

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? If I didn't live in fucking hellish Arizona, I'd like the summer. But, I guess I like winter?

35. FAVORITE DESSERT? Bread pudding (again, I'm a 65 year old man in disguise)

36. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO? Ugh, neither? My husband is trying to make me a runner

37. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION? Computer

38. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Dead Girls Detective Agency by Suzy Cox. It's YA. Interesting premise. I kind of like it. (Friend me on Goodreads! keen23)

39. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? A calendar and my company logo

40. FAVORITE SOUND? I like white noise. I can't sleep without it.

41. FAVORITE GENRE OF MUSIC? 1990's college rock. That ska-punk era. Horns, bouncy songs. old No Doubt, Reel Big Fish, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, etc.

42. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Quebec, Montreal (from Arizona), Cancun, Mexico (from Massachusetts)

43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I read really quickly?

44. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Boston

45. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW? Hell. AKA Laveen, AZ

46. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE? Brown. Just like every thing else in Arizona.

47. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR? Silver. Actually, now that I think about it, both of my cars are silver- my commuter car and my MomVan

 48. DO YOU LIKE ANSWERING 48 QUESTIONS? Yes, for sure

Sunday Stealing (Done on Monday, Because That's How I Roll)

From here : Sunday Stealing

1) What side of the heart do you draw first?
Left. Not sure why.

2) Can you dive without plugging your nose?
Yes. I was on the swim team in High School, if you can believe it, and I was actually quite good.

3) What color is your razor?
Black. It's some type of disposable, and I really need to replace it, since I took off most of my shin this weekend.

4) What is your blood-type?
B-positive. Meaning I'm at less of a risk for sickle cell anemia, and that it's a somewhat rare blood type for white people like me.

5) Who would you want to be tied to for 24 hours?
Oprah. Because, well, she's Oprah.

6) What is a rumor someone has spread about you?
Well, I graduated High School in 1996, so I really can't remember crap that happened way back when.

7) How do you feel about carrots?
Love them in many forms

8) How many chairs at the dining room table?
10. We have a huge ass table.

9) Which is the best Spice Girl?
Scary Spice

10) Do you know what time it is?
9:25 AM Arizona Time

11) Do you know all the words to the Fresh Prince Theme Song?
Probably. "the license plate said fresh and there were dice on the mirror"

12) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator?
Hit the emergency button and then hope that there was a signal on my cell phone.

13) What’s your favorite kind of gum?
Wintergreen

14) All’s fair in love and war?
It is what it is.

15) Do you have a crush on anyone?
Many. See #5

16) Do you know how to use some words correctly, but not know the meaning?
Huh?

17) Do you like to sleep?
Sometimes. But I get insomnia in the winter.

18) Do you know which US states don’t use Daylight Savings time?
Yes, because I live in one.

19) Do you know the words to the song Total Eclipse of the Heart?
Probably not.

20) Do you want a bright yellow ‘06 mustang?
No. I don't think Mustangs have been good looking since the 60's. And, while it might be easier to find a yellow car in a parking lot, I don't really want to own one.

Things I Want to Do in 2013

These are not resolutions. I don't like resolutions. Let's consider these goals.

1. Eat better. Track calories - Sparkpeople has a fantastic, easy to use app for all smartphones. I already have it on my phone. I just need to USE IT DAILY.

2. Stop spending money on stupid things. The kids have enough crap, they don't need a $10 toy just because we went to Target because we were bored. They also have enough clothes to clothe a small European nation, and don't need any more shirts no matter how much they complain. I also do not need any more black t-shirts, even if I do wear them every single day.

3. Dress like a grown-up. Even though "stupid spending" has just been banned (see above), I need to actually have a grown-up wardrobe. A pair of dark wash jeans and a black t-shirt are not "business casual." Even with a black sweater over the mess, it's still not "business casual." Invest in shoes that I'll actually wear that aren't sneakers or flip-flops. The faux Tom's from Target can be cute, but are they grown-up?

4. Menu planning. This helps out 1 and 2 above. In that it makes me eat better, makes me pack lunches ahead of time, and saves money in the long run, since I won't be going to Fresh & Easy on my way home and grabbing pre-packaged dinner options.

5. Learn a new cooking skill. I'm a decent cook. This year, I want to learn how to pickle vegetables. I fricking love pickled carrots, pickled cauliflower, pickled beets, etc. If I could figure out how to do this, think of the healthy snacking options I'd have on hand!

6. Get more active. Walk/run at least three times a week. Consider joining a gym, even though have a phobia of the machines, want to do water aerobics. Maybe the Y has them? Look into it.