hitting the road

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I will be taking a bit of a break from blogging.  Tomorrow we head for the North and "home" to Pa.  Long drive, but we do it often and hubby likes the drive.  Go figure?  I miss my family so much, have the need to see them and be with them.  Mom and Dad have been doing better, Mom is still re-covering from her hip break/surgery.  She still uses a walker and has a way to go...but improving.  I just need to see her with my own eyes...the last time I saw her, she was still in the re-hab center.  She doesn't think she is progressing, as she is.  It is hard for her...

I am always sad to leave my dogs, my good friend is watching Bella for me.  She will be with 4 other dogs, so she will be happy.  Now Cisco, he will go to be boarded, and this will be the first time he will be alone in the run.  Before he had Rocky and they could keep each other company. But I love the vet I got to and I know he will be well cared for. 

So I will see you all soon, and I wish you all well...xo

happy valentine's day

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Happy Valentine's Day...
I am having a bittersweet day today, today is Rocky's birthday.  He has been gone for 4 months.  Is that possible?  I still miss him so, I always will.  When I got him, I thought it was so funny he was born on Valentines...and almost named him Valentino...so glad I didn't!  It wouldn't have fit him at all...Rocky was the perfect name for his comical personality.

My Valentine treated me to something very special, his words...from his heart, written in my card.  I nearly melted.  I love him... My big ole' Oil Field man, is not a mushy, romantic type.  So this was a special treat.  We don't always celebrate this day in a special way, usually just cards and sometimes dinner out.  This one was special...and for all the right reasons.  I hope your day, was equally blessed and a loved one touched your heart...or you touched someone's.

vintage books = art journals

So, I am not an art journal'er...there I said it.  I have taken classes, I have bought fabulous art supplies...I do not "feel" it.  I just don't.
I am really enjoying my Body Book, art journal...that I am making from Brave Girls, Body Restoration.  In fact, I think I love it...I open it and look thru it many times.  I wish I could show you, but I wouldn't want to breech any regulations.  I think I am enjoying it, because I have the idea of what to do on my projects.  I have the images..and can see Melody's book.  Many times I incorporate my own style here and there, or use my own images.  So I think this is the difference.  I already have my direction.  Melody's way of Prepping the art journal, was genius.  At first I thought this is so much work, why am I doing this.  Now I am glad I did.  So when I get these ready to prep...I will share that.
I found these at the Goodwill for 1.00 each.  I love the sizes and the weigh of the pages.  I like the idea of letting some of the pages show through...these will be my next journal, if in fact I try again.

I love the age of the books, and distress of the binding and the pages.  They are well loved and I think of the many little hands (or not so little hands) that have turned the pages to enjoy the books.

 So, if and when I decide to attempt my own version, of what I think my journal should be...I will share it with you. 

measurements, check

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whew..
So, I think I have been saying for a month or so now, that I would indeed take my measurements.  I could see the difference in my clothes and in the mirror, but those pounds are hanging on for dear life.  Damn them...
I think I had to get to a place of comfort, in knowing this is in fact working and my hard work and commitment to the gym is paying off.  So much of the credit I do feel, goes to yoga.  The part that makes me "see" the changes.  Yoga is hard work...sure some of the benefits are the resting poses and de-stressing...and finding your spiritual side....but those strength poses...are hard core.  And when you can go to the next level in them, you find you are sweating up a storm.  So going into this commitment, I might have gasped at the numbers.  I WOULD have...but now, I do wish I measured first.  I would be smiling at these numbers from today.  Knowing I am getting there, made me say today...go and do it!!!
It is a bit daunting to get that tape measure out and do it...but I finally did.  I have my numbers recorded and next month I will do it again.  I did step on the scale again, and lost 2 pounds since the last time...but that was weeks ago.  So for now, I will look at the numbers next month and go from there.  It took a few years to collect these pounds I now carry, so I will not expect them to come off quickly.  As long as they are coming off.  Doing my best each day, with no expectations... that's all!

today's thoughts...

Morning Sunshines...
I think I needed all day yesterday to unwind, and just let it all sink in.  You know how it feels when you are anticipating something exciting and you are just waiting for the day to arrive.  And then you have the day or the event and it is over so fast?  Well that is how I felt as I said goodbye to my friend Sherry Wednesday night.

I have a very, very happy heart. (Sherry took the photos, and I don't have them yet to insert , so these will have to do.)  When I saw her in person and we hugged...ahhh, yes, she IS for real.  I could go on and on, but I will say this.  We had a fabulous day of doing nothing really special, as far as filling the day with places to go and see.  She wanted to see a few of my junkin haunts, and we did, but mostly we talked, and talked, and talked.  So many things to say.  So we went to the lakefront and sat in a little gazebo, the day was beautiful and the sun was shining...and my heart was so warm.  We talked for a long time, had lunch, swept her thru the Drive-Thru daiquiri place and we came back to my house to chat more over our cocktails.  Later her husband Al, I call him Al-ster, came by and we went to dinner.  Fabulous day and memories I will hold close to my heart forever.  I am so humbled that they would drive out of the way, to see me before going on their planned trip.  Now I can say, I laid eyes, and hugged deeply one of my "trues"...(stealing this word from Melody at BG.)  Sherry,  love you and thank you for making this happen.  I will see you again, this I know.

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Now, onto this...I will say that I am so happy that I have been 94% on track with my healthy eating/fitness lifestyle.  I wont say diet, because as we know, if this is to stay, we don't stop...that much I know for sure.  I have lost the taste for sweets, WHAT?  I might every once in awhile, crave sweets a bit and I will buy something...most of the time, I don't finish it.  I am satisfied.  Now some of this credit goes to Cymbalta, this time taking it I have no appetite really.  Now that may be because the eating had been altered way before I began the drug again.  Who knows... But I think it is more, I know what I want to do, how my body now feels and I am taking in all I can from Body Restoration.  My anxiety is so much better, I still have those days, but we all do!  I eagerly go to the gym, again WHAT?  I know how much "lighter" and better I feel when I go and afterwards.  I can't tell you how this effects my mood and my feelings of self.  I have lost weight yes, and I do have a ways to go.  But by "lighter" I am not only talking in terms of weight-loss.

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I love the days when I go to yoga, today in fact...at noon.  I have come to appreciate not just the class, but the instructors and what they have taught me.  Not just the poses... the serenity and calmness.  There are few ladies who go regularly as I do, and we had a wonderful chat the other day, it was one of those "God things" for the lessons I took away.  Every day I am seeing that nothing is by chance...
Wow, didn't expect this to be a chapter...but these words were on my heart and I wanted to share them.  Have a wonderful day, and weekend.  It is Mardi Gras in these parts...we have some local parades this weekend, weather is a bit cool...and spotty rain.  My friend Bridgette invited me to the parades this weekend...so we will see.  I don't do rainy parades any more.  But I know I would have much fun with her.  Steve is offshore, so her hubby might not be so happy...xo *evil grin*

so excited...

So, I am eagerly anticipating the arrival of my Canadian chica...my soul friend [I like to call her] the one and only Sherry Smyth....You would think the Queen herself is coming.  I can hardly stand it...
I am not even sure how long I have known Sherry.  It feels like in some way I have known her forever.  I met her online of course, through her blog.  Many of you know her and love her.  It is easy, she is the best.  I can't begin to tell you how she has helped me find my way.  She is more than my friend, she is my mentor in many ways.  How can you love someone whom you have never laid eyes on?  Well, it is easy.  In this day of technology... it is not as unusual I guess.  But back in the days of our early friendship, there was no Facebook...now there is and it is a great way to keep up with our friends.

Sherry and her hubby Al, are driving from Canada...for a 2 week adventure.  She was planning a trip to Florida and made the decision to take a jog over to Louisiana to meet me.  I am so happy, I know it is so out of the way...but I am humbled that they would take this detour.  We will only have 1 day (tomorrow), but I bet we fill that day with wonderful memories...no matter what we do!  I can't wait to lay eyes on her...and just "be".  She has taught me to just "be"...I am learning...This is defiantly a "bucket list" entry... I am a happy girl.  Can I still say girl?  YES, I can. xo

As you might see, I removed the sidebar for the Photo of the Day...I feel bad, but I wasn't fully embracing it and if the weather permits, we will be leaving for a trip North (home) in a week or so...and I wouldn't be able to keep up anyways...maybe next time.

feb. 6 - dinner

Oh my, I seemed to have missed a few days...ALREADY!
Feb. 6 DINNER
Feb. photo of the day

I must admit, this is not a great dinner...but hubby isn't home.
I have been running all day, and just left Starbucks after having a white mocha and girl time with my friend.  Off to yoga for 6:00...so this is it.  The power bar before and the cereal for after...lol!