Cookie anyone?

I love that picture & saw it on another blog so had to share it here! Too funny!

Soooo much going on as you'd well expect! My wedding is 30 days away now & I can hardly believe it!!! How about an old fashioned recap?

Wedding:
*I had a dress fitting last weekend & it fits PERFECT!!! The only alteration needed is to add a simple french bustle. The train on my dress is not long at all so that did the trick. No hemming, taking in or anything! The lady laughed & said that NEVER happens. Though she did warn me to not lose alot more weight or it would be loose. 5-7 is safe or I'll have to get a bodysuit/corset type thing to help hold it up!

*Invitations for the reception arrived yesterday & are so fun. We are assembling & addressing them this weekend to be mailed.

*My friend is providing me glam services for the day of the wedding..hair, mani/pedi & make-up! A very generous gift & she's not even in the wedding. Such a sweetheart..she's actually dating Kevin's old roommate :) I'm getting my MOH a mani & some others are coming as well!

*I found out that someone at the Luxor upgraded us to a luxury suite for the days leading to the wedding & also got VIP access to Cathouse the night of the wedding to continue the celebrating! They have been FABULOUS!!!!

Fitness front:
*In grand style of my body, my weight bounced back to where it was so I gave up on the whole dieting thing thinking it was one less stress on my plate until after the wedding. Oh, good call...what happened you ask? Oh, I started dropping weight overnight! I got on the scale this morning & am down for this week again! It's insane but a smart friend said it's probably because I'm happy & finally let it go. My body has not cooperated in a very long time & now it decides to do it & so close to the wedding! lol I guess it's just God's timing & is getting me ready for the next step ;) So weight loss is fine & I'm just hoping to not drop much more before the wedding. The bridal shop will alter my dress for me though if necessary before the reception. I hope that won't be necessary but it's certainly possible at this point!

*My training & cardio have been spot on! I'm starting a new program with my coaches next month & cannot wait. It's similar to a program I did with them in the past. I carry a significant amount of muscle & while I don't want to build anymore (already did post-contest), I would like to maximize what I do have so this will give me that opportunity! Can't wait!

Biggest Loser
I'm sorry to say that I'm just NOT feeling this season again. I really don't know why. It's not because I'm busy with wedding stuff either. I block out that time with my best friend to watch but am just not getting into it like I've done in the past. I will say that the red team is so manipulative & I do not care for them at all. She's Tracy from last season all over again though dare I say she's worse. And what's up with the green team? Something HUGE is going on under the surface there too. They need some help!

That's enough for now. If I missed something, just ask :) And I'm wondering how you are all doing on your goals for the year?

Wow.

I find myself saying that alot but time is flying & I need off the crazy train! Things have been busy to say the least. Mostly with wedding planning, of course but also with trying to move my stuff to Kevin's house. I'm only home a couple days a week anymore but poor sweet kitty is still at my house. So what happens when I'm home? He becomes a lapcat. Yes, my adorable sweet 15 pound cat curls up in my lap...even when the laptop is there. He'll be moving to Kevin's house the beginning of February. He can bond with Daddy! hahaha

Honestly though, things are coming along. I'm such a frugal bride that I found a great pair of bridal shoes at Payless. Ready for it? For $10!!!! I was afraid they were going to be too high giving me a couple inches on Kevin but they worked out perfect! Yay!

Dad also gave me a check today to cover expenses up until the reception. I gave him a number & he gave us a little extra. I think he feels my number might be off & he could be right. But it was appreciated. I really do appreciate him paying for the wedding! I know we are spending less than had my Mom been alive though I bet he does not realize that!

What else....

Biggest Loser is now on week 3 & I'm just not feeling it again. I feel like they just keep bringing bigger contestants for the sake of ratings but it's concerning. I touched on that before so I won't harp on it but anymore it's just about that. I will say that I do believe that Bob & Jillian are truly wanting to help people but the producers are going for ratings.

As for the contestants, I'm not feeling a big connection to anyone. I liked the white team at first but not any longer. Maybe the girl in the purple & maybe the pink team but that's about it. Red team? That woman is starting to remind me of Tracy & her fibs about not throwing the weigh in are just annoying. It's a no brainer...train, follow your diet & you will drop weight. I love that they busted her out last night!

I guess that's about it. I'm just busy & it's hard to keep up with the blog but I'm trying! I'm also sucking at keeping up with reading. I can't tell you the last time I actually was able to sit & read my faves. Most of my free time here at work is spent on wedding stuff, time at my house is packing & time at Kevin's is vegging with him. I should be back to normal in April! hahaha

38 days........

Snowflakes are winter's butterflies.

Sweet huh? I guess it would be more fitting if the Region didn't look like this....
(picture from today's edition of the NWI Times)
Yes, once again the area is getting dumped on not by one but 2 storms. Actually it's the big storm moving across the Midwest at the moment. BUT it's going to stall out over Lake Michigan, pick up some friends & dump up to another foot of snow in parts of the area. What parts you ask? Oh, the part where I live! lol There are several counties that get the brunt of the lake effect snow & I happen to be in one of them. Dad always laughs because he lives just 13 miles SW of me. I will call & tell him of the foot we get...him? Nothing but a few flakes.

Onto the Biggest Loser...

I'm not really sure what I think of this season yet. It's actually scary to see contestants getting bigger & bigger. With that it's a relief to hear Bob & Jillian express more concern. The show was amazing & still is but their quest to find the biggest in America is scary. I hope they focus more on health like they did starting a couple seasons ago. I was happy they started focusing on lifestyle stuff. I think Tara was a pre-cursor to that with her OCD dieting. A bad found good.

I'm impressed with the white team. They have alot of work to do..especially the kid. His Mom of course got to my heart talking about not wanting to repeat her Mom's mistakes. Why? That's my goal too. It's why I do what I do. I can NEVER put Kevin through what my Dad had to endure with Mom. It was heartbreaking. I know anything could happen & we could still face times like that but I will never go down without a fight. Wow, digress much ;)

Things with wedding are moving right along. Will be ordering reception invitations in the next week, dress fitting is January 23 (they are putting in a bra & need a bustle..it fit like a glove if you recall) & trying to put wedding stuff into place. Payments for that stuff are due in just a couple weeks. EEK!!!!!

So that's a brief recap. I'm off to brave the roads home though Dad said they are pretty empty. Schools were either cancelled or early dismissed. Thankfully when BIG storms like this come *most* people are smart & stay home. I'm grateful for that.

Be safe & stay warm!

Protein shake ponderings.....

Well, that sounds a whole lot more complicated that it is. I'm currently have a protein shake (already ate the apple with PB) & thinking. Do you ever turn into your own worst enemy? Do you overthink things SO much only to realize what you had going was what you already needed?

I've really enjoyed this holiday season. A new niece-to-be made it fun with her first Christmas. My Dad & his friend (okay, girlfriend) enjoyed both Thanksgiving & Christmas with my soon-to-be family (8 weeks, if you wondered), a visit with my cousin & his now fiance then one more Christmas with my family. We had ALOT of family time this year & I loved every minute of it. Along with those times came ALOT of really tasty food. My family loves to cook & one of my great uncle's married into an Italian family. HELLOOOOOO! Have you had dinner with italians? Oh the yumminess! My Aunt Renee made gingerbread elephants (so yum!), my Aunt Pat's lasagna, Kevin's Mom's 7-layer bars (several batches actually), sweet potato casserole that was like eating candy. Need I go on? lol

So with all of that brings a little guilt as I got on the scale after the full 2 weeks ended. Then my head starts going to different places..you know..."I should do this" & "I should do that." Why? I dunno...maybe because I've spent so many years of my life "dieting." I have a coach. She has a VERY sensible program. Her workouts kick my butt & I get my cardio in like I'm supposed to. It's a great program. So why on earth do I start second guessing? Is it because I'm a woman & that's what we do? Who knows but it was driving me batty.

Yesterday, I got my head screwed back on straight. I'm back on program...the one that I know works for me. Our holiday festivities ended on Saturday. I was back on program on Sunday. I trashed the rest of the cutout sugar cookies that were left in the freezer too. Have you trashed the junk?

This may have turned into a bit of a rambly post but something tells me that you understand. Are you ready? Ready to face this year willing to do what it takes to make things happen? Are you willing to grab the bull by the horns, take control & do what is necesary to reach your goals? Resolutions are for people who quit. Set goals & make them happen.

I'm facing a very busy few months ahead of me but I'm going to do my best to make this MY year to shine. From fiance to wife, I will make it happen.

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN???? What will you make of this year?

Saddle up friends....we are ready to ROCK!!!!!

ps..I'm sick of snow & don't forget Biggest Loser starts tonight!!!!!!

Are you ready?????

Did you see that????

It was 2009 & it passed at the speed of light! hahaha Really, where'd it go?

So, I'm just under 2 months from my wedding & stressing a bit. I know it'll fall into place (so they keep telling me) but I have ALOT to do. Most of it revolves around packing up my house & moving it to Kevin's. I have managed to sell all the furniture that needs to go. I'll donate the dining room table & toss the bed when the time comes.

I plan to move the cat over to Kevin's about 2 weeks prior to the wedding so he can adapt before we run off to Vegas! Some of you may wonder why we aren't living together already. I mean we aren't teenagers, right?!? I had a very odd conversation with my Mom about a month or so before she died. She pretty much gave me a laundry list of things to remember & one of them was to "not live with someone again before you get married." So that's why. We stay together most of the week but not full time.

I got my truck back all fixed but still need to take care of the door. It might have had an accident with the garage wall. Hmmmm. Yea. lol

We had a nice Christmas with Kevin's family. Ate lots of good eats for several days & are currently in detox before we start over again! NYE we have a VU men's b-ball game & are just grabbing a quick bite to eat before that. Then for my BIRTHDAY (New Year's Day) we are going to a brazilian steakhouse then hitting the boat (Blue Chip casino) for some gambling & fun! I'll be the big 3-8 & am feeling great about that! I'm considering stopping at 40 though! hahaha

On Saturday, we have another VU game & my family's Christmas too! The onslaught of food just won't stop until Monday & I say so be it! I'm still training, doing my cardio & eating well on the "off" party days. It's all that can be expected during the holidays! This is life right?

Who's ready for THE BIGGEST LOSER??? Don't forget they start again on Tuesday!!!!! I'll resume date night with my best friend then as well!

I think that's it for now. I *hope* to be better about blogging in the new year. I know things are becoming busy with the wedding, moving, etc so alot of it may turn into me bitching about something, venting or whatever but that's what this is for right? lol

While I'm at it...what are your GOALS for the new year? Not resolutions...we girl's set goals!!!! I think mine are self-explanatory! haha

Happy New Year to you all!!!!! Catch you in 2010! It's going to be a GREAT year ;)

When it rains, it pours!

I thought I better get in here before the hecklers start leaving random comments on my Facebook page! haha

The weekend was good! We got our grown up furniture delivered for our bedroom. It looks amazing! We still have the old bedding on there because I want to save our new bedding until we are married. Some think that's odd but it's what I want :) Some of our shower gifts have made their way to through the house like the downstairs bathroom decorations, some kitchen items (like our new dishes, mixing bowls, scrapers, glassware, etc) but things like the waffle iron & a few others will wait. We have to save some things for marriage right? ;)

A couple updates...

1) First & foremost, my cousin's little girl remains hospitalized in Atlanta. They are testing her for something called PTLD & they say that is the most serious condition that occurs post transplant. If that is what they find, then she'll likely be diagnosed with lymphoma. Our prayer is that it's just an infection. Did I mention that she's going to be 4 in January? She had a heart transplant when she was just a couple months old. Please continue praying for her!!!

2) I am still without my vehicle. The poor Blazer was in sad condition with no heat. Apparently, the heater core was just clogged & that was a "cheap" fix, however, it was discovered that the poor girl also had a leaky intake valve. Thankfully they found that before it blew (resulting in a cracked engine block) BUT that is a pricey fix. And it HAS to be fixed. So the grand total for repairs is $778!!! My Dad has been VERY generous giving me my Christmas present early & more than he'd given me otherwise. Just really bad timing for the repairs with Christmas coming & me needing to do stuff for the wedding!

In other news, I'm starting to feel a bit stressed about the wedding. I have alot to do just related to the wedding but also related to getting my house cleaned up. I think we have someone that will stay there so it's not sitting lonely but that's not a done deal yet. But regardless, I have to get stuff cleaned up & out of there! I listed a dining room set on Craigslist, sold the mini-fridge & probably the compact chest freezer. I also have a fair amount of Mary Kay stock that I want to get rid of! If anyone is interested, leave me a comment & I'll get with you! I'm just selling stuff at wholesale (my cost) along with shipping!

I guess that's all for now! Nothing much else going on other than getting ready for Christmas! Kevin's sister comes in next weekend & the madness will begin! Woot! Our last "non-married" Christmas.

Hope your week is off to a great start!!!