Dining Room- getting somewhere

Here are some pics of my dining room.  We have not been using it b/c the table was broke while in storage.  Well, my handy-dandy husband has fixed it and I am so happy to be eating at a real table in a real dining room!  Next up- I am hanging some sheers my Mother gave me and making some curtains.  I keep looking at curtain material and I only like 3 colors- black, white, and red.  Hmmmmm.  What to do?  Also, Jack is going to re-stain the table to match my dark wood cabinets and floor.  And look at this mirror!  It looks so SMALL!  Trust me- it is not that small.  Some of you have seen this mirror in person and you know it is not as small as it looks in this picture!  Do you think it is that big white wall making it look so tiny?  Goodness, I can't believe I have it up there.  I am going to have to hang 2 things on either side of it aren't I? What could I hang?  I like things that are symmetrical, clean-looking, and black, white, or red.

While I am talking about the mirror I will tell you....  Anna and I had a heck of a time putting it up!  Jack suggested that I have her come over b/c he knew that if he hung the mirror w/ just me there that the next day Anna would come over and insist it should be 2 inches lower!  So we had Jack stank holding the 50 pound mirror on the wall.  Then we had him move it up 2 inches, down 2 inches, up 4 inches, down another 2, down another 2, then up 2, then down 4, etc.  Then Anna suggested that her and I go outside and practice walking into the house and looking at the mirror w/ a fresh prospective each time.  So we had Jack move it to each of the various places while we walked in and out looking at it.  Then we had him hold it vertically.  This was all very difficult.  But I am happy to say we got it right where I want it!

Have a great night all!  I am going to hop in the treadmill!  Ta-ta for now.

Temptations

I've been getting my running in just fine.  No problems there.  However, I've bee having a difficult time w/ food.  It seems like I eat one thing that I shouldn't and then my whole day is shot.  In "The Thin Commandments" he says "Cheats should teach you.  Not defeat you."  Ha! Well, at this point I am being defeated!  One of the problems is- when Jack is home there is junk in the house.  When he is gone I just don't keep it here.  But when he comes home I feel it is his home too and he should be able to have the food he likes here.  Well, its here!  Its everywhere!  Here are some of the temptations lurking in my home.

Hershey Bars in the pantry.  I don't eat a ton of chocolate but this will work in a pinch if I haven't ate in like 6 or 7 hours!

Christmas mints.  Yes- the kind that become soft as soon as you bite into them.  I like the consistency.  I put them on this high shelf so they are out of my line of vision.  They are 60 calories for 3 pieces.  That is 900 calories for 15 pieces in case you are wondering. (That is a math error in case you noticed. I am leaving it there b/c it is rather silly of me.)

Marshmallows. Fig Newtons. Tostitos. Can you guess which on is a problem for me?  Yes the Tostitos. They are so salty.  This is mainly what I have cheated on.  I can feel all the water I am retaining!  To be fair- the marshmallows are for Lisa's hot chocolate. And the figs are for the kids.  Although Jack has been eating both too.

Oh- and what do we have hear in my dishes cabinet?  Mike and Ike's.  Now I haven't ate a single one of these but that doesn't mean I won't!

I have got to figure out what to do about all this junk!  Yesterday I told Jack he was going to have to get rid of it all.  But then I changed my mind.  I just don't think that is fair either.  I will be thinking on what to do about this and get back to you.  Right now I am headed to the treadmill for a quick jog.  Have a good day!

Sorry...

I've been a little distracted here folks.  I can't believe it has been a week since I last blogged. Well, has been going on.  We are pretty much moved into our new home.  We really love it.  There is so much more space.  I am adjusting to the new amount of time I have to spend cleaning!  I've been looking at things like curtains and draperies and such.  I've been a little overwhelmed the past day or two. 

The Thanksgiving holiday was great!  We enjoyed a visit from my parents over the long weekend.  It was so much fun to have them here.  The kids were soooo happy to see Memere and Pepere.... as were the adults.  (Thanksgiving photo.)

In weight news.... my loss is being maintained nicely.  However, I am worried about the holidays.  Mainly the food.  I am committing myself to running 20 miles a week through New Years.  No excuses.  And I am trying to keep my calories in check so that I can be at the lower end of my weight range.... just for some wiggle room during the next month.  Geesh!  What's a girl gotta do to look good around here?!

Moving On

My dining room... the cleanest and most organized room in the house.  Notice the absence of a dining room table.  Yes- my dear, beautiful, solid wood dining room table was a casualty of the move.  (Actually- it was broken in storage- by me.  But that is a story for another day.)  Jack promises to be fixing it soon so we can put it where it belongs.

The breakfast nook is where we are eating for now.  You can see all my beautiful dining room chairs around my.... sewing table!

This is messy.  It has become a bit of a catch-all in here.  I know...  Lets play hidden picture! Can you find- a drill, a foam roller, a bowl of popcorn, a silver vase, a candle on a candlestick, a cell phone charger, a picture frame, a broom handle, some venison, 2 tied Wal-Mart bags, hand soap, and a bar of soap?  All of these items are in this picture.

Our bedroom.  This place is trashed.  Our bed is not made and frankly... that is the least of our problems here. Especially since I am off to bed now.  Good night everyone.  Hope you've enjoyed a look into our mess.  I am so happy w/ my new home that it doesn't bother me at all!

Moving Along

This is a picture of my living room in North Carolina.  Yes- we are here.  No- I can't find my sons dress shoes for Mass in the morning.  I am so happy to be here.  It is beautiful and the neighbors are great!  We've been unpacking and organizing for 2 days.  I've been a little overwhelmed at times but for the most part it has been fun.  I have not run or ate anything but chips and salsa and oatmeal cookies for 24 hours.  Geesh!  I'm okay w/ it though... I've got a lot to do around here.  I am exhausted- more later.  Peace.

Lunch in the cold

Now that winter is almost here and the cold is definitely here I've changed my routine.  No, I haven't given up my special salad I eat everyday.  But I have added my Progresso soup.  Instead of an Enchilada or frozen pizza I eat a low-calorie Progresso soup w/ my salad everyday.  They are delish!!  There are tons of Progresso soups to choose from but I only get ones w/ 100 calories a serving or less.  There are only 2 servings in a can so this makes them no more than 200 calories a soup at the highest.  There are some w/ 70 and even 50 calories a serving.  I could go on and on about how good they are but you really need to try them for yourself.  My favs are French Onion, Minestrone, Southwestern-style Vegetable, and Chicken Noodle.  There is also one w/ wild rice.  YUM!  I could go on.  Try them you'll like them!  Peace.

What Style am I? What about you?

Style is not something I am very good at.  Dressing stylish, being stylish... these are not things I do well.  I have no fashion sense to speak of.  I know this b/c my 3 sisters have unbelievable fashion sense- each a little different from the other- but each so stylish.  I have complete confidence that they could each get dressed for a major event w/o ever consulting anyone... and they would all look perfect.  But alas- I am the one sister who did not get this gene.  In the past few years this hasn't mattered much b/c I've been so overweight.  When you are heavy you just dress to conceal.  Conceal your size, conceal your weight, conceal your personality so you just blend in w/ everyone else.  I don't really want to dress like this anymore.  I feel like I am not myself dressed in this style.  The problem is... I don't know what style I am!

Enter Mom- She gave me "The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style".  (Thanks Mom.)  I am loving this book!  It lists 10 basic styles that pretty much cover all looks.  It tells you what clothes and accessories you will need to dress in each style.  It shows you how to put them together and how to mix and match.  It gives examples of famous people and regular people who wear these styles.  And it is not like you have to go out and buy a whole look-- b/c really, you can see parts of your wardrobe w/in the styles.  The book does not list costs of clothing or where to find certain items b/c it is not a catalogue and is not really trying to sell anything.  I cannot put this book down.  It is so good!

I've listed the styles below.  With each one I put a picture that captures it as much as possible.  I was going to write out explanations for each one but it could get lengthy!  I've got a few questions for you-- What style are you?  What style do you think I am?  I know a lot of us are just dressed in jeans and t-shirts everyday BUT- what style are you naturally drawn too?  If you could get out of the clothes you wear everyday- what would you be wearing?  Think about it. Goodness knows I'm thinking about it!

Euro Chic

California Casual

Rock and Roll

Posh Eclectic

Mod

American Classic

Bombshell

Bohemian

Arty Slick

Gamine