So, Valentine's Day (AKA Be Nice to Your Waiter)

I'm married to a chef. You know what they call Valentine's Day in the restaurant business? Amateur Hour. You know why? Because everyone who doesn't go out to dinner the other 354 days a year decides to go out on this one night of the year AND they have high expectations. So, if you are one of those people who goes out on Valentine's and expects it to be The.Best.Night.EVER, it won't be. You want good service, and good food, pick any other day of the year (well, maybe not Christmas, Thanksgiving or another holiday, but Arbor Day might be fun) to go out. Not only will there be less people, you'll get better service. If you do insist on going out, be nice to your server and don't blame the kitchen. Blame everyone sitting around you (and yourself, just a little bit).

This brings us to Valentine's Day in our house. Well, we don't do anything. That's not true. We exchange cards. But, that's it. We do not go out on Valentine's Day. Even now, since my husband has moved from restaurants to corporate kitchens, we don't go out.

Weight Loss Has Made My Boobs Deflate

So I'm down a few more pounds. Officially, 197.2. Which, I hit on my scale at home on Christmas morning, but Christmas and New Year's indulgences pushed me back up a few pounds. But, the official Weight Watchers scale says 197.2, and I'm keeping it. For reals, I'm down a pants size. I'm in 14's now. Comfortably in 14's. They fit, there's room in the butt, room in the legs. Let's say they aren't sausage casings. It seems however, that the largest part of my weight loss has come off my boobs. This isn't the best. I was a 42D. Now, I'm a 38 B/C. My boobs are seriously deflating. I love my kids, but 18 combined months of breastfeeding has certainly taken it's toll.

Winter Wonderland Tag

From Laura, at The Diniwilks

Here's the Winter Wonderland Tag Blog, the blog craze that's sweeping the nation, except, well, it's not really-

1. What do you like best about winter?
I live in Arizona, so Winter isn't as impressive as it is in other parts of the country. I like that there's less kids activities on the weekend that we have to rush to. I like that I can declare a lazy Sunday, and no one has to do anything except occasionally go into the kitchen to nosh. Before kids, and before Arizona, Winter Sundays were an excuse to stay on the couch all day, watching football, and then going out for an early bird special dinner. 

2.  Scarves or beanies?
Scarves for sure. I love a long infinity scarf. It can double as a hood in a pinch. But my hair is awful in the winter- static, dry, etc- and hats just make it worse.

3.  What's your favorite holiday movie?
From childhood- Emmit Otter's Jugband Christmas. It's the Tale of the Magi, told by Muppet creatures that live in a swamp. It's awesome. I also like Scrooged, Elf, and A Christmas Story.

4.  Favorite winter nail polish?
I don't wear nail polish ever.

5.  Favorite Starbucks holiday drink?
The only thing I ever drink at Starbucks is a Chai Latte.

6. What are your top three winter essentials?  
1. Extra sweatshirts everywhere. I stash some in my car, at work, and all over my house. I'm always cold. 2. Really good face moisturizer. Winter air and heat in buildings is harsh on my face. I like Hope in a Jar by Philosophy. 3. Fleece pants. Love them for weekends. So cozy!

7. Name one item on your wish list this year.
Well, that's tough, because I didn't really want anything. But, I did get a baker's scale that I was quite happy with. 

8.  Favorite holiday song?   
OK, so I'm an atheist, but I love Christmas hymns. In years past, I've been known to go to Catholic mass on Christmas Eve, just for the singing. The act of singing with a group actually makes me think better of human beings in general. 

9.  Are you going Black Friday shopping this year?  
NOPE. 

10.  Must have winter lip product:
Carmex, in the little pot. I love that stuff.

11.  Will you be rocking an ugly sweater this year?
I wore a fabulous green vest with all sorts of Christmas appliques, over a red and green plaid jumper, red snowman tights and a green snowflake turtleneck. I was rocking the ensemble. Too bad it was 70 degrees and I was sweating my ass off at the same time. 

12.  Have you ever had a white Christmas where you live?
Childhood, in Massachusetts, for sure. Here in Arizona- never. It just doesn't snow in Phoenix.

13.  Favorite winter candle scent?
I don't do candles. They give me migraines.

14. How will you be celebrating this holiday?   
Secular Christmas at my house. Presents at 7 AM. Skype with my parents on the east coast while opening gifts. Made a turkey and everything else for dinner for 8. It was nice and low key, and back to work the next day.  

The New Year's Quiz That Everyone Has Done

I'm jumping on the bandwagon with this one. Why not right?

1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?
Went to LA. I think that's about it. It was part of the California leg of my husband's Great Baseball Quest.  Tried beets- I'd never had them before. While I like them, I don't like making them. I pickled some carrots. I bought an iPhone.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I'm not really into the whole New Year's Resolutions things, so no and yes or simply N/A?

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My sister-in-law (married to my youngest brother) had a baby boy! The first on our side, after five girls between my sister and I.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandmother. She was old, and it was her time. A peaceful passing. She'll be missed. My husband's grandmother died this year as well. But I wasn't close to her, having met twice in the 18 years I've been with my husband.

5. What countries did you visit?
Does Guadalupe, AZ count as part of Mexico? Otherwise, nowhere other than the USA.

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A waistline.

7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Oh gods, I have no idea. It was a pretty low key year. No super highs and no super lows. For a couple of weeks in April, it seemed like we'd be transferred to Texas, but that didn't happen. Maybe my brother's wedding in May.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I'm down 11 pounds since Thanksgiving week. Go me!

9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't know. Like I said, it wasn't a bad year. DH & I got into it pretty bad in February because he was being an asshole for a protracted period of time. Maybe we weren't the nicest to each other for the first quarter of the year.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing huge. The regular aches and pains of being in my mid 30's.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
We used our tax return to buy a brand new set of Caphalon pans and a few LeCreusets. They're AWESOME.

12. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, daycare

13. What did you get really excited about?
The same things I always get excited about- no kids during the summer. New books by Terry Prachett and Julia Quinn. The first box of Thin Mints of the year.

14. What song will always remind you of 2013?
Blurred Lines, Royals

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

– happier or sadder? Happier.
– thinner or fatter? Thinner
– richer or poorer? Richer

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Cardio

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Eating crap from the drive-through

18. How did you spend Christmas?
At our house. I refuse to leave the house on Christmas. We were up by 7. Did presents, skyped with my parents, made cinnamon rolls from a tube. Cooked a turkey. Had over some relatives and neighbors to eat dinner with us.

19. What was your favorite TV program?
My shameful secret- I love TV. The Office ending was so sad and happy at the same time. Now I need to find something else that I love as much as I loved this show.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
Eleanor & Park 
Where'd You Go, Bernadette? 
Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore 

21. What was your favorite music from this year?

I loved the summer music. Blurred Lines was awesome to car dance to. Discovering the magic of Lorde. It was also the year of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?
Frozen. It's really going to be a Disney classic. It was SO GOOD.
Fast & Furious 6
Don Jon
Warm Bodies
The Heat


23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned the big 3-5 in August. The husband and I went out to dinner at some point, I think.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't know that I have an answer. It was a good year. It would be hard to improve on it.

25. What kept you sane?
For better or worse, my husband

27. Share a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.

I have a pretty damn good life, so I shouldn't take it for granted. My husband puts up with a lot of crap and is a much better person than I am all around.


28. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
From Thrift Shop- "This is fucking awesome."

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.