I'm Back....with a whimper!

Wow! Hi there! I've missed everyone and I hope I haven't fallen completely off of the blogosphere radar - however I wouldn't be surprised if I did since I just sort of disappeared after my last HAYSAY post. I couldn't help it though because life just sort of bitch-slapped me right across the face. It was a doozie, I tell you what.

What, you ask, happened and what exactly did I do doing during my hiatus? Well, I wiped up about a million gallons of snot from runny little noses, wiped away zillions of tears, took two sick, miserable kids to the doctors three times in one week, gave out about 50 doses of Tylenol and other medications, missed a full week of work, and then came down with a whopper of a cold myself. So, yeah. The last week or so has really sucked and I am really glad that February is almost over. The Month of Love my ass - more like the The Month of the Plague. I am happy to report though that everyone is finally feeling better and back to normal and I am almost caught up at work.

Now that I am finally writing a new post, I have to say that it feels strange - like I'm really out of practice or something. I feel rusty. Not like I was ever super sharp in the first place,but you probably get my drift.

Anyway, my little "vaca" from my blog gave me some much needed time to ponder some issues I have revolving around my blog. Because of issues with work and other things, I didn't have much time to blog in the first place and when I did, it was to post my HAYSAY update. But I am really tired of posting what I call "non-updates" - you know the "hi, nothing new here...again. Same weight, different day" type of posts. For this reason I have decided that I'm going to take a break from HAYSAY for a while and when I finally start seeing some results worth sharing, I will show my face again.

In the meantime, I am going to try like hell to post more consistently about all topics and issues that take up so much precious square footage in my brain. I have all kinds of ideas for future posts so please check back often - I promise I won't disappear again...unless March has some nasty little trick up her sleeve!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

HASAY UPDATE - Week Something or other - Attack of the Chocolate Hearts

Hi! How ya all doing? I've been reading some awesome HASAY updates and I figured I should get off my butt and throw something up here on my little blog.

I have noticed that some of my fellow HASAYERS have made some awesome progress this past week, and for that I commend you! Especially since it was Valentine's Day "week". Others like me are still treading the choppy HASAY waters - just barely staying a float.

Actually, I shouldn't really say that because I did a pretty good job this week. I watched what I ate, went for a really long run over the weekend, did weight-loss yoga several times and chased the boys in the backyard - I just didn't lose any weight. In fact, if HASAY was a "maintain your current weight" challenge, I would be the hands down, uncontested winner. Unfortunately it's not - it's a "weight-loss" challenge and I do know that.I think my body didn't get that memo.

However, I am going to refrain from bitching about not losing any weight this week because wow - did your kids bring home a ton of Valentine's Day candy too? I really can't believe the haul my pre-schooler brought back from his school's Valentine's Day party. It was like a Halloween repeat. His Valentine's Day "box" is so packed with chocolates, suckers, gummy candies, and so many other goodies that I'll be rationing it out for weeks to come. I'm surprised that I didn't gain 10 pounds just by being around so much candy!

I remember when I was a kid, Valentine's Day at my school consisted of just the little cards and maybe some of those crappy Necco heart candies and that was it. Apparently things have changed.

HASAY update - same S&*! - different day

Wow - I sort of just dropped off the blogger radar didn't I? One of my New Year's resolutions was to step things up with my blog and post every other day but instead I let things slide - big time. Ah well, all I can do is pick up from where I left off and keep on trucking, right? That seriously seems to be the theme of my life right now - one step forward, two steps back.

Okay, so let's talk HASAY, shall we? I don't know about you folks, but it appears that my body and its fat have become such close friends that they no longer want to separate. It's maddening really because I do watch what I eat. I cook healthy meals and I don't snack on lots of junk food. I don't sit in front of the tv and eat chips or ice cream. I don't drink soda. I don't eat huge portions of food either, AND I exercise at least three times a week. But nothing seems to be working.

I told myself at the beginning of the year that I was not going to focus on "losing weight" per se, and instead I was going to focus on being as healthy as I could possible be. But I'm starting to get a little panicked, because we finally bit the bullet and purchased our tickets to Hawaii for my husband's little sister's June wedding. I don't think "focusing on being as healthy as I can possibly be" is going to get me to a point where I feel comfortable enough in my own skin to bear being around people in the negative size range. I'm gonna have to wear a swim suit people!At the beach! I almost faint when I think about it.

So, I guess it all boils down to this. I have 5 months to whip my ass into decent enough shape so that I won't have a panic attack if we go to the beach. I'm not sure how I'm going to do it though - I guess I'll have to step it up even more by doing more of the things I'm already to doing right and then look for ways to improve where I can. I know I need to drink more water and get more sleep. And it would probably help a ton if I upped my cardio by adding running and increased my strength training routine as well.

So there. There's my plan. Yet another plan. I have no idea if it will produce any results. I want to say it won't right off the bat because it seems like nothing I have done since I stopped nursing has worked. It really feels like I'm grasping at straws!

I also know that in the end I should just be thankful for a having a healthy body and for being able to do what I like to do. But just for once I would also like to NOT feel like the biggest girl in the room. Is that too much to ask?

My absolute favorite commercials

Jumping on the Wagon

I know my last post contained a bunch of random nothingness but I just can't help but do it again. And this time I have "permission" so to say from Keely over at the Un Mom. I know people - I still don't know how to link - deal. Anyway, if you're hankering to join in or you want to check out her bit of bloggy coolness just click on the Un Mom on my sidebar - that ought to do it.

Anyway, I have been feeling so, oh I don't know - scattered? Mentally chopped up into a zillion pieces? Anxious? Unsettled? I just can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it's because every time I listen to the radio I hear about more and more layoffs and how the "worse times are still a head of us". Shit. It's just so very depressing. I'm not doing what I love by any means - but I guess I should just be damn happy I still have a job - for now.

My little one's surgery is next Monday. It's been rescheduled four times already so maybe this time it will actually happen. I still have to figure out what to do with The Captain since we are leaving in the wee early hours of the morning to get to Portland for his 7 am check-in. I'm nervous and relieved about the whole thing all at the same time. I think he'll be much more comfortable once it's over and done with, but damn that's going to be a hard day!

I love Etsy.com. From now on I'm going to buy all of my girlfriend's b-day gifts and Christmas gifts from there. There's so much cute stuff at completely reasonable prices and the best thing of all - nothing is made in China! I found some totally cute clothing made by Katie and her shop is called "Little Overcoat". Thank God I don't have a little girl or I would be in serious trouble - it's already bad enough that she makes stuff in women's sizes too.

Why is that nothing has gone my way when I've tried to exercise this week? This morning I was going to get up and get my sweat on with Bob, but my alarm must have hit snooze all by itself. I woke up way too late to exercise and get ready for work so another day down the drain. I had even planned on going for a walk at lunch, but now it's snowing. WTF?!!!

Speaking of exercise, in my last HASAY post I mentioned that I was considering purchasing the Malibu Pilates Chair. I found more reviews on it and they weren't positive so I put the kibosh on that idea. I guess I'll just try to find some more workout DVD's instead. Any suggestions?

I love cooking with crock pots. I made a fantastic Black Bean and Chicken soup recipe I found on another blog called crockpot365.blogspot.com. It was so good in fact that The Captain proclaimed it his new bestest favorite food. Quite a compliment I should say.

Am I the only one who was STUPID enough to open her 401K statements? Holy shit. I know they say we'll be okay if we aren't retiring soon - but when over half your money disappears - it's still hard to swallow. No matter what.

Speaking of money - I'm interested in hearing what things other folks out there are doing to save more of their greenbacks. I have to say that as a fmaily we do a lot to conserve money - pack our own lunches, use coupons and grocery shop with a list, buy used clothing/toys for the kids, do home haircuts, use dial-up, have only basic cable, (our household sounds like a ton of fun, doesn't it) but I know we could probably do more. I would be interested to hear any new ideas!

Okay - all rambled out for now. Hope you all have a great week! Thanks for listening!

Random babblings

I have been wanting to throw up some posts about a whole lot of different things lately and I just haven't had the time to sit down and really put a lot of effort, thought, or creativity into writing anything. So, I decided that I'm just gonna throw a whole bunch of stuff up all at once, and hopefully I'll quiet the loud trilling sound in my brain at the same time. Here goes.

I have to pre-register my little one for his surgery...again. This particular surgery isn't life threatening but it's something that needs to be fixed so under the knife he will go. It's been a very frustrating experience pretty much from the start - it's been re-scheduled 4 times already because of one reason or another. But this time it's looking like it just might happen, which makes me relieved and scared at the same time. Now if I can just get him registered. I left the phone number I need to call on the counter this morning. I just spent over half an hour getting bounced from one department to another because apparently I was speaking Latin or something and no one could understand what the F(&*&*& I was saying. So I gave up before I got really pissed and threw the phone out the window.

You have ever stopped to look at just how much shit is made in China? It's freaking amazing. Practically every single thing I touch in the store these days is made in China. Or Korea. Or the Philippines. Or Thailand. Is anything made in the USA anymore? Would it be possible to buy ONLY American made goods? I think I'm going to do a little experiment and do my best to buy only American made stuff. It's going to be a challenge but I think I can do. I know I'll probably save a ton of money.

I hate Sony. Our $995 Sony HDTV, that was only three years, old died a week or so ago. The picture tube went out so it was going to cost as much to replace it as it would be buy a new one. I called Sony and told them what had happened and that even the Sony repair center said it shouldn't have gone out this early. They pretty much flipped me the "bird" over the phone and said that since I didn't purchase the extended warranty there was nothing they could do for me. Or more like nothing they wanted to do for me. I was hoping that they might want to, oh you know, stand behind their product or maybe try to do something, anything, to keep life-long Sony customers as customers, but apparently not. So, F&^&% you Sony. We're never buying another piece of Sony crap ever again.

Usually when we have big purchases to make we avoid using money from savings if we can score one of those "no interest for 12 months" credit card deals. However, our latest ordeal with the Walmart card had me seeing red. After above mentioned tv went kaput, I hopped online to apply for a Walmart card because they had the no interest deal for purchases over $250. We picked out a TV we wanted and applied for the card. The TV was $678. I was approved for $600. Are you kidding me? I called a rep and asked her why such a low credit limit. I told her I haven't had such a ridiculously low limit like that since I was in my 20's. Again, there was nothing she could do for me since it "was all computer generated, Mame". I got off the phone and ordered my credit score from all three credit agencies. 793 baby. Take that and feed it through your computer, Walmart - we're taking our business elsewhere - forever.

And finally, is it just me or does anyone else feel like their days just blend into each other? One day just melts right into another. Get up, go to work, do the same thing at work, get off work, go home, do the same thing at home - day in and day out. The only thing that varies is what your kid may or may not whine about on any given day or what she may or may not eat for dinner. I need some excitement in my life - or least a really good date night! How about you?

HASAY update week 13 - FLUSH

I did great with the HASAY challenge last week. I actually lost 3 pounds and all it took was enduring three days of a mutant stomach flu, or E-Coli poisoning, or something along those lines. Whatever it was, it turned anything I ate or drank into molten lava that came flowing right back out through any opening it could find. Yeah I know, TMI. I'm in a sharing mood today.

So, yes, my pants are looser and I feel lighter on my feet. That's a good thing. My stomach has also finally stopped hurting and making gurgling noises so loud my husband kept mistaking it for distant thunder. Things are looking up.

And to keep the numbers on the scale from going back up, I now have to get back into my exercise routine. Luckily for me, I think I may have stumbled upon the perfect thing to deliver the swift kick in the butt I need. The Malibu Pilates Chair.

Has anyone heard of it? I would copy a link right HERE for you - but since I don't know how to do that yet, and don't have time to figure it out, then you're just going to have to believe me when I say that it looks pretty awesome. Susan Lucci told me all about it during an infomercial I happened to see in between jaunts to the bathroom. I would have ordered it right then, but I only had enough strength to lift the remote to turn on the tv. Anyway, I did some research yesterday and it actually has quite a few good reviews I think I'm going to give it a try.

My gym membership ends in March and I don't plan to renew since summer is just around the corner. And I was looking for some good Pilates videos to do at home so I think this might be a winner. We'll see - all I have to do in the meantime is avoid any more mutant stomach buys, or E-Coli laced food.

Hope all of you have a great week with HASAY!