100 Day

Being a first grade teacher we celebrate lots of different things during the school year. One of our celebrations is in honor of the 100th day of school. Well I have a personal celebration at it is to mark my 100 pounds lost!

I've battle with my weight since I was in grade school. I was an obese child, teen and adult. Being obese leads to a lot of personal, medical and emotional issues. It has been like I said a battle. I have tried many, many, many diets. Anywhere from Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, green teas, diet pills, grapefruit diet, etc... You name it, I probably tried it. Some gave me some results, but over time led me back to where I started. Some didn't work at all and would upset me! I was looking for something to help, something that would give me that boost I needed to lose the weight.

I decided to look into the Lap-Band. I didn't want to go the surgery way, figured that would be taking the easy way out, but as Chris said to me "What if it is what works for you?" "What if you are successful with it?" It got me thinking. Does it matter? Does it matter if it gets me to where I need to be and allows me to lead a healthy life? I then made the decision that it didn't matter. So I signed up to go to a seminar about the Lap-Band in January 2008. Chris joined me for it, he is so supportive. After the seminar Chris and I sat down and discussed the benefits of possibly doing this. We decided it was well worth everything. Thankfully our insurance covered the procedure. I just had to follow a six month diet with my doctor and jump through a few hoops. By August 2008 I was approved for surgery and had a date set for August 28, 2008. I was so excited. This marked the beginning of a new journey. Here are pictures of me the morning of surgery (I usually wear contacts, but had to wear my glasses that morning.):

Having the Lap-Band has made me eat smaller meals (I only have three 4oz. meals a day.) I fell fuller longer and I am able to enjoy life without being or thinking about being hungry. The food I eat has changed too. Carbs are harder to process through the band, so I don't eat a lot of carbs. No more soda pop, carbonation can stretch out the stomach the band creates. So a few changes in what goes in the mouth mixed with exercise and I have the "me" of today (almost 12 months later.) Here are some pictures to show you the change:

It has been an exciting journey, but it doesn't end here. I have started training to run 5Ks, my goal is to run one in the fall. I have been asked to speak at my doctor's local Lap-Band seminar in September (the same one I went to, to begin my process.) Losing the weight is what I wanted to do before Chris and I added to our family. I'm not where I want to be yet, but it is exciting knowing that when we do have kids I will be around to enjoy them and be able to keep up with them.

So here's to 100+ pounds gone and to the ones that will be gone soon!

Birthday Bash

I know I am not a mom, but will be one day. I am in love with everything baby! I can go shopping for a friend's baby shower and be in the baby section for over two hours. I love looking online at all these blogs and shops for children. I know one day our family will be blessed with little ones, so I am looking now.



For all of you moms reading this blog, check out Tip Junkie. They are having a birthday bash and are giving away a lot of cute, useful and cool items. ENJOY!

Summer is Here!

I know it isn't offically the first day of summer, but in the teaching world the first day of summer comes after the last day of school. Guess what, yesterday was the last day of school and that makes today the first day of summer. Summer break comes with some great plans. Here is what is going on this summer:

• Starting Monday I will begin doing "Couch to 5K." For those of you that don't know what I am talking about, it is a week by week plan that trains you to run a 5K in 9 weeks. I will start week one on Monday.

• I have a summer job planned, well I don't know if you would really call it a job. I got an offer to help with our school's daycare program. I will be teaching two classes over the summer, one is jewelry making and the other is yoga. The best part is I got to pick what days and hours I wanted to work. So I will work Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am-12pm only in the month of June. Bonus: I get paid my hourly teaching rate!

• Chris and I will celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary this year. We have planned a trip to Marco Island, FL to celebrate. We will drive through the Florida Everglades to get there. Then we have a weekend stay at the Hilton, with a Gulf view room. I can't wait to spend the weekend relaxing with my WONDERFUL husband.
  
  

• Chris and I also planned a car trip for the summer. We will drive to Arkansas to see family. We are so excited to make our trip to Arkansas, seems how it has been forever since we have been there. It is about a 17 hour car trip. In the past, we have driven all 17 hours in one day but we haven't finalized our trip details yet. It will be an exciting and fun time with family. To read more about Chris' family check out his sister's blog here: http://www.mystorykimberly.blogspot.com/

So needless to say, I am EXCITED that summer is here. Of course there will the be the usual getting together with friends, laying out, shopping and just enjoying myself. These are just the big events going on. Check back often to see what else the summer has in store.

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!

Chris and I are firm believers in buying quality, especially when it comes to shoes. I was excited when I discovered Kim Kardashian's shoe society known as "ShoeDazzle!". Here is how it works:

First, you log onto www.ShoeDazzle.com
Next, you fill out a thirty plus question questionnaire.
Then, you wait a day or so and celebrity stylist will pick out shoes for you.
Last, you order your favorite shoe out of their selections.

This is a woman's dream come true. All for only $39 a month (this includes shipping and handling.) I joined in March after hearing about it on TV. I am impressed. Here are photos of my first two pairs of shoes:

March's Shoes

April's Shoes

Chris and I both worried about the quality of shoes, for only $39. I have to admit they are wonderful shoes. I have enjoyed them so far and can't wait to see what is to come later in the year. I have already ordered my May shoes. Here is the picture featured on the website:

May's Shoes

So this is something where the price doesn't determine the quality, because $39 a month is not a bad price to pay for a quality shoe. Check it out!

Technology Update

We like to brag about how long things last in our home. For example, my husband wears clothes that are ten years old, we have a tv that is seven years old and until a little over a year ago we were operating on a Windows 98 (Second Edition) computer. So needless to say upgrading is something we don't do much, unless there is a need, and it doesn't bother us at all.

Last week I decided to upgrade my cell phone to the IPhone. I had been tossing the idea around and looking between that or the Blackberry. Holding an IPhone made me finally decide; it is just too much fun! So Chris and I went to our local AT&T store and upgraded my phone. While there the woman asked Chris if he would like to upgrade his phone too. He was completely happy with his Nokia that he got over four years ago. He told her no and we went on our way, while I played with my new phone.

That visit became the worse visit ever for Chris...I am going to bust out my eighth grade talk here....we "jinxed" his phone! He began to lose his signal frequently, for days at a time. His phone would no longer ring, just vibrate. Worst of all, it wouldn't keep a charge. So he dealt with this for a week and decided it was now time to get a new phone too. He started shopping around and was very disappointed. Why you ask? Well here is what he wanted his phone to do: DIAL AND MAKE PHONE CALLS. He didn't want a camera, didn't want to connect to the internet, no text messaging, he didn't want any GPS features, etc... So how do you find a phone that just calls the person you want? Well you don't....you just settle. He finally found a Sony Ericcson phone with a lot of options, but it was FREE! He is still discovering what all it can do.



Two phone upgrades in less than a week! My poor husband, these things always happen to him. Why him, I don't know, but I feel it is what makes him so much fun to be with!

Where Do I Start?

Yes, I have decided to enter the blogging world. I decided it was time to share the going ons in our family. Sometimes we have the funniest, craziest and saddest moments in life and now I can share it with everyone. Hopefully you will enjoy reading these moments as much as we love living them!