Bad Angel!

Yes, I am a bad blogger. You may flog me now. Throw the stones. Done? Good, update time!

As you know, I've been dieting and working out. I have found a new site that I'm more than a little addicted to. It's called Spark People. It lets you track your calories, exercises, and other things. It helps you find exercises that fits you, and it has a feature called Spark Recipes. While not a very original name, it's a great tool. It helps you find recipes of lower calorie dishes, which is really important to me because I get bored with food easily. And perhaps my favorite thing: the groups. They're actually called Spark Teams and they've really kept me going. The people I have encountered have been so supportive! It also has a little page you can customize and write blogs in as well. Very cool site.

No, I don't work for them, and to my knowledge they don't even know I'm writing this. I'm just a fan. If you have an account on there, or if you decide to create one, my username is ANANGELMOM. I'd love to have you as a friend! My blogs on there will help keep you even more updated.

Anyway, that's all I have going on. Not much lately except more dang snow. ( The snow gods are ignoring me again. ) If we're having snow, a lot of you might be too? So, everyone take care and bundle up!

Going well

Well, I've been tracking my nutrition according to Spark People's  guidelines and exercising every other day just like I said. I do feel a difference but I don't see one yet. Of course Travis has. He lost 3 lbs. in the first week. But feeling better is what's keeping me motivated. For the first time in a couple of years I can go up a flight of steps without getting winded and my legs burning.

In other news - Mae has been behaving better. I hope I don't jinx things by saying this, but I can't help it. I'm a proud momma! James is talking up a storm. I'm having to work on his temper tantrums though. Reid has been having tantrums too and it's actually harder with him because he doesn't understand a lot of things yet. This makes it harder than ever to take them out in town by myself, but some things just can't be done on the weekend when Travis is here to watch them.

It snowed a lot again. Everything is covered (like 4 inches) and Mae is probably going to be out of school all week. This is extremely rare for where I live. That must be why people are acting like it's going to be the end of the world by running out and buying up bread, milk, water.. that sort of thing. It's like they don't know the snow will melt? It cracks me up. I get going and getting a couple of things you're running low on so you don't have to get out when it's really bad, but at my local store I went in and the entire bread isle had one loaf of bread left! Umm.. yeah.. dramatic much?

I've also gotten a start on planning the kids' birthday party. See, we give the kids their gifts from us and a special dinner etc on their actual birthday, but we have one big birthday bash for them in July. I know I'm months away from it, but trust me, it'll take that long. At least it did last time. I go all out since it's party x 3. (We do a balloon release for Michael every year.) And just for fun, here's some pics from their 2010 party.

As you can see it was an "under the sea" theme, and most of it was hand-made. Really the pictures don't do it justice. People still talk about which just tickles me pink! I did the entire thing for right at $100 (Not including presents). This year it will be a circus theme. It should be wonderful and my family is already excited about it.

Well, that's about it. What all do you have going on?

That's better

Good news! As of right now anyway, I am feeling tons better! Still not 100%, but hey, I'll take what I can get. I can actually turn my head and swallow liquids without wincing. Solids are still touch and go though. I'm also not hurting all over and have a little more energy. Go me! Or rather, go gabillion pills the doctor gave me! Anyway, that's all for today. I still have a lot to do, I just wanted to do a quick update. Good night!

Just another craptastic day.

I have bronchitis.

Bron·chi·tis [brong-kahy-tis]

–noun Pathology .

acute or chronic inflammation of the membrane lining of the bronchial tubes, caused by respiratory infection or exposure to bronchial irritants, as cigarette smoke.

 

Well guess what. Mine is from when I QUIT smoking! Yeah. To be quite honest it's making me more mad than I'm letting on in person. I just keep saying, "Well, I don't regret it. I'll get over being sick and will still be a non-smoker, so it's all good." I do mean that, but it's not all good. It frickin' sucks. I stopped smoking to improve my health, ya know? 

 

My doctor said if #1- I hadn't already had a cold and #2- If I hadn't waited so long to go in that it wouldn't have gotten so bad. Well I suppose that makes sense. But it was a slight cold, I didn't know about it effecting anything, and really - I don't know that I would change when I stopped anyway. It's always been some excuse with me. No matter the time, I stopped. End of story. And the second one? Does anyone know how many appointments I have on any given week? At least 4. (Sometimes upwards of 12, and that doesn't count any other errands I run.) Every single week. With two toddlers. So the thought of adding another one while being sick also isn't a very appealing thing to me. I'd rather eat potato salad .

 

Oh, and by the way Mr. Dr. Sir, the last week of it was your fault because you went on vacation and had your appointments all backed up so when I did call you didn't have anything for a week! Butthead. So yeah whatever. I get a shot in my a** a prescription, and was booted out the door. (Probably still trying to play catch up from being on vacation.)

So, I dropped off my Rx and went home. That night I kept waking up coughing (like every other night for 3+ weeks, which is yet another reason I'm exhausted). I coughed so hard I pulled a #@$^!*/% muscle (are you ready for this?) in my murther truckin' throat. I didn't even know that was possible! It hurts worse than anything else honestly. Talking is painful, it's painful from the outside, swallowing is painful, but eating... ohhhhhh... eating feels like someone is ramming an icepick down my throat. And I've even been eating soggy cereal and soup! Whatever. 

 

When you put in me dieting, which makes me a little cranky since I'm starving and all, and working out, which makes me feel like I've been run over by a semi truck, I'm not a happy camper. Someone shoot me? 

Oh, and another school related gripe! Today it's already 40 degrees here, and it looks like it might have rained a little during the night. It did a dusting of snow yesterday around 3pm that didn't even stick a tiny bit. So of course, they decided at 5:30 THIS MORNING to have school be two hours late! When it looks like this outside why oh why would I check to see if school is out? So Travis too Mae to school this morning. Then had to pick her up, after a raunchy little call from the school. But he's working, so he can't take her back. I understand that completely, but that means I have to do it. Yay? Ridiculous. It's just the school board being lazy and not wanting to come into work today. 

Oh, by the way, did I mention it was my birthday? Um.. yeah. And you'll never believe what my present was! A wonderful... exciting... spectacular... pair of hair clippers? And of course I can't tell my dear sweet hubby that it's a let-down b/c he was so proud. "Look honey! You've been saying you needed new ones for a while now! It comes with a mini one too!" Yes, dear. I have been saying "I" need one... for YOUR hair! Well, and Reid and James' hair too. It's like getting socks for Christmas! Thanks hun. Just what every girl dreams of. A $50 gift she gets to use on someone else. *SIGH* Men. 

 

 

So yeah, so far (and unless some kind of miracle happens it will stay this way) my day has been and probably will be just another craptastic day.

 

 

 

ACK! I forgot!

Well, for all those (including me) who thought this would be me

I have news for you. As of yesterday, I have officially been a non-smoker for one month! Yes, yes, I know. I'm great... as a matter of fact, I'm

Muahahaha! Love it! I need a shirt that has this on it haha. I'll have to find one soon. Anyway, just wanted to share my super fantabulously awesome news. Hope you all have a great day!

Early Resolutions

So, I already quit smoking.. yes I am still sticking to it, and yes, I'm still awesome! But, it has had good and bad effects. The bad is that I now feel the need to lose weight, and my lazy butt don't wanna do it. The good news is that I feel the need to lose weight and I actually halfway feel like I can do it. I am considered obese. I am truly my biggest critic, and to myself I only look chubby. Still, I have a long way to go.

But the way I see it is that every pound lost is an achievement by itself. It's one more step toward being healthier. So, good news is that I have a little help. I have an online friend (who I've been friends with for about 3 years) that recently lost about 80lbs. and is passionate about helping others get healthier too. Lucky me! I now bug the crap out of her all the time, but I do know it'll calm down as I figure things out a little more. Poor Cait... having to put up with my badgering. Honestly though, I'll risk annoying her to get some help b/c goodness knows I need it!

I hate dieting, but I hate exercising even more. I'm so out of shape and even a little exercise wears me out. Cait told me to wait a month or so to start so I can get used to the eating less/healthier first. This is one of the main reasons I'm starting early. I'm trying to test the waters as far as the food stuff goes, and arming myself with knowledge about both topics. I'm one of those people that the more I know about something the more likely I am to succeed at it. Still, exercising still seems so daunting. Ugh.

Anyway, I'll keep you updated on how I'm doing. Hey, I stopped one bad habit that was really really tough to quit, I can do this right? Right! Goooooo Angel!

What's your New Years resolution?

Merry Christmas!

Sorry I've been a little MIA. I'm sure you all know how it gets around the holidays. I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas! I hope the holiday season has filled your heart with joy, and I hope you get everything you wish for.