Christmas Tour of our Home

I have been slack about posting the Christmas decor pictures.  My mother-in-law and father-in-law helped the hubs and I with Christmas decorations the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  This has been our little tradition since 2005 and it works well for us.  My father-in-law brings the tree up from the storage room, my mother-in-law and hubs decorate.  You may ask what I do while they decorate...  I am usually being the "bartender" and fixing a yummy dinner.  It works perfectly.  My mother-in-law has an awesome knack for decorating, but most especially at decorating for Christmas.  

So, without further ado...

Welcome to our home!

My mother-in-law made this awesome wreath for us.  Isn't it pretty!?!

Details on each side of the front door...

Santa and reindeer on the foyer table.

The "sports"/UNC tree in our office 

Our main tree with lots of pretty packages

I love this Santa!  He is the perfect addition to our hutch.  Even Santa loves a good martini!

Our dining table setting.

My other favorite Santa... He keeps me company while I am baking.

Friend Makin' Monday - Have you ever?

FMM: Have You Ever?

1. …traveled outside of your home country?  Nope...  We were going to get off the cruise ship in May in the Bahamas, but the hubs' wheelchair wasn't cooperating.

2. …performed on stage in front of at least 1,000 people? Not on a stage, but I would count the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  During my sophomore year in high school, our band traveled to Macy's.  You perform a very short 3-minute show right in front of the store.  So cool!

3. …watched an episode of Jersey Shore?  Never

4. …baked a cake from scratch?  If so, what’s your specialty? Yep.  I have tried to recreate my Granny Brown's chocolate cake and Jason's Mimi's Chocolate Pound Cake.  Unfortunately, both tasted ok but just weren't the real thing.  I have decided to stick with cookies.

5. …worked in a grocery store?  Nope

6. …dated someone who was your best friend first?  No.  

7. …made a difference in someone’s life during Christmas?  The hubs and I feel like we are doing something special each year when we adopt angels from the Salvation Army Angel Tree.  We usually adopt a brother and sister.  We have the most fun picking out clothing and toys for them.  The only thing that would make it better would be to be able to keep in touch with the family all year and buy throughout the year.

8. …been on TV?  Not sure, I don't think so.

9. …had cosmetic surgery? Not yet.  I would love to have some surgery to "put things back where they go" after I lose some more weight.  I am just a big ole chicken though.

10. …learned a second language?  If so, what else do you speak?  I took French in high school and Spanish in college.  Needless to say, I know just enough of both languages to get me in trouble.

Christmas Traditions

I read lots of blogs...  Some are healthy living blogs, some are mostly recipes, and others I read just because.  Anyway, there's an awesome little Christmas questionnaire going around and I thought I would join in on the fun!

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate?  Hot chocolate.  I have only had eggnog once and it just wasn't my kinda thing.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or leave them under the tree?  When I was young, I remember that Santa always left my presents unwrapped under the tree and/or on the couch.  Santa wraps gifts now :-)

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?  The hubs and I have white and colored lights on our tree.  The tree is pre-lit with white lights and we added a couple strands of "old fashioned" colored lights for some "spunk".

4. Do you hang mistletoe?  We have a "kissing ball" (mistletoe) between our entrance area and great room.

5. When do you hang your decorations up?  We decorate the Sunday evening before Thanksgiving.  Since the hubs uses a wheelchair and I am not Super Woman, we invite the in-laws over and make an evening of it.  My father-in-law gets the tree from our storage room and puts it up, my mother-in-law and hubs do most of the decorating, and I provide the alcohol and a yummy dinner.  It is perfect :-)

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (besides dessert)?  Hmmm...  I would have to say ham.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?  I have so many great Christmas memories, but one general one is about all the visits.  Most of my family lives in one county and the Christmas holidays involved visiting everyone.  Yes, we did a lot of riding in the car from one end of the county to the other, but I loved it!  If I had to name a specific memory, it would have to be the year I got a new bicycle. I had been given a hand-me-down bike and I just "couldn't" ride it.  I tried and tried, and just could not do it.  On Christmas day it snowed, and Santa happened to bring me a new bike.  Needless to say, the incentive of a new bike (versus a hand-me-down) had me out in the snow pedaling away.

8. What is on your Christmas wish list?  Nothing terribly exciting - lounging clothes, gift cards, LL Bean duffle bag, new earbuds, etc.

9. Do you open any gifts on Christmas Eve?   When I was in high school, my parents and I started opening our gifts on Christmas Eve.  I am not sure how we started that, but I always appreciated the little bit of extra sleep on Christmas morning.  Now, the hubs and I do not open gifts on Christmas Eve.  Everything waits until the next day.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?  I don't know how to describe our tree.  It is colorful - think bright pinks, reds, greens, blues, etc.  There are also lots of ornaments from various trips.  It may be a little of a "mish mash" but I love it!

11. Snow.  Love it or dread it?   HATE, hate, hate it!  It is pretty for about 15 minutes and then I am done!  I do not like driving in it.  I don't like being trapped in the house because of it, etc.  

12. Real tree of fake tree?   Fake!  It is a lot easier to decorate and ends up being a lot prettier than a real tree.  

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?  I have no clue...  I do have one gift that I will never ever forget.  I was about 5 years old and inch worms were all the rage.  I guess I had begged and begged for one.  I remember opening my inch worm that my PawPaw Brown gave me.  Oh, memories...

14.  What is the most important thing about Christmas for you?  The opportunity to spend time with family, relive memories, etc.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?  It isn't really a holiday dessert, but it will always be my favorite - Granny Brown's chocolate cake!!

16. What is your favorite tradition?  I wouldn't call this a tradition, but I do love going to look at Christmas lights.  I remember riding around and looking at lights with my parents as a child.  I am hoping that the hubs and I will go to see the "Meadow Lights" this year or at least out to Lake Myra.

17. What tops your tree?  I don't know what they are called...  There are sticks with balls, and glitter, etc. sticking out of the top.  It is really classy and whimsical at the same time.

18. Do you prefer giving or receiving?  I love to give gifts!  My favorite part is to watch someone open something that I picked out for them and see their look when they open it (and hopefully love it!)

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?  I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

20. Candy Canes, yuck or yum?  I might eat one or two each holiday season, but they aren't my fav.

21. Favorite Christmas Movie?  Oh geez....  It is a tie between A Christmas Story and Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase. 

22. What do you leave for Santa?  Nada... Isn't he supposed to leave presents for me? 

23. Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?  The hubs and I are over at my in-laws for Christmas morning.  We start the morning with Bloody Mary's and a late breakfast. After breakfast, we start opening packages and keep enjoying Bloody Mary's.  It usually takes until early afternoon because we just take our time and enjoy it.

24. Do you prefer to shop online or at the mall?  It really depends on what I am looking for.  I do not mind shopping at the mall, but if I know I can get it a lot cheaper and/or without a ton of hassle online I am not opposed to ordering it.

25. Christmas letter, or Christmas card?  Unfortunately, neither.  The hubs and I do not have kids and we aren't terribly interesting... So, no cards or letters from us.

Gettin' back in the saddle (err...running shoes)

I haven't had a really good run since the Turkey Trot 8K on Thanksgiving.  Looking back at my calendar, I think I may have run maybe once since that day.  Like I said in a previous post, I have been working out but not running.  It isn't for lack of trying though!

The Disney Princess Half Marathon is on Sunday, February 26 - 72 days away.  Needless to say, I need to get back into running and my butt in gear for serious training mode.  I am so excited about running this race that I can hardly contain myself.  1) The hubs and I love going to Disney World.  It is the perfect vacation spot for us.  We get to the airport and from that point on, everything is taken care of.  2) This was the race that started the whole running thing.  This was the race that was my #1 to accomplish in the very near future.  Now it is becoming a reality.  Seriously, look at the course!  How could you not be excited about running from Epcot, around one side of the Seven Seas Lagoon, through the Magic Kingdom, around the other side of the Lagoon, and back through Epcot to the World Showcase??!!??!!  The only reservation I have about the race is running it by myself.  There is a group on the DisBoards/W.I.S.H that meets up and forms pace groups, etc.  I heard about the group through a person I volunteered with at a race.  Since I am normally one to "stalk" message boards as opposed to participating, I am not sure if I will meet up with the group or not.  Also, since it appears the iPhones/music are not forbidden on the course, I may just get the hubs to load me up with lots of good tunes!  Who knows...


So, I have been working on my training calendars for the Princess Half and through several spring races.  Since December is almost over, I am not going to insert my calendar.  The plan for the rest of December is to run 3 to 5 miles at least two times a week, then a long run each weekend.  I am hoping to do 8 miles this weekend and get up to 9 or 10 in the next two weeks. What do y'all think about my training?  Tweaks, changes?

Busy, busy, busy - and a new car!

Yes, I am still here...  The past week has been extremely busy!  On one hand, life just gets busy at this time of year.  Then I have been dealing with my car stuff at the same time.  


There are so many great things going on though!  Christmas is in the air...  You can see it in the lights on the tree, in the decor on people's homes, in the yummy Christmas scented candle, etc.  How can one not be happy at this time of the year?  I am looking forward to finishing our Christmas shopping and celebrating with family.  


As far as an update goes...  I have only run once since Thanksgiving.  Last year, Sarah and I were so consistent with our running schedule on Monday and Thursday afternoons.  Unfortunately, this hasn't been the case this year.  I am planning to run somewhere between 6 and 8 miles with Debbie on Saturday - we'll see how that goes.  I have at least been going to the gym consistently.  I normally do 25 to 30 minutes on the elliptical, ARC, or stairmill followed by the express circuit/weight workout.  I can feel myself getting stronger from lifting on a consistent schedule.  Feels so good!


I have been thinking about getting a new car for a while, but I wasn't quite ready to deal with the hassle.  My little Nissan was approaching 10 years old.  It didn't have anything wrong with it, but I just wanted something a tiny bit bigger and newer.  Well, my wreck last week made that decision for me.  After the adjuster came out to look at the car, he suggested that I take it to a collision center for a more thorough inspection.  The collision center found a total of $3200 worth of damage and the car was only valued at $3500.  So, needless to say - it was totalled.  My little Nissan and I parted ways on Tuesday afternoon.  I think it is a little silly, but I kinda got teary-eyed when I left the poor car at the collision center.  That car was my first "big girl" purchase after graduation.  I did all the research and negotiation with the dealership on my own - with a lot of phone consultation with my Daddy.  

Mazda5 in "metropolitan gray" that I test drove

When I realized that I was going to be forced to get a new car sooner than I thought, I started thinking about my requirements - small but bigger than my Nissan, a little higher off the ground, a decent amount of room for others, hatchback, and big hopes that Jason's wheelchair would fit.  We initially thought about a Honda Element.  After we found out that Honda was no longer producing the Element, my research honed in on the Mazda5.    I cannot come up with the proper words to describe it.  It kinda looks like a hatchback-wagon style car and a mini-van had a baby - it is hatchback, but has sliding rear doors.  I have a running buddy that has one.  When saw hers this summer, I was quite curious.  I did a lot of research on Monday and Tuesday.  Tuesday afternoon, I went to Capital of Cary for a test drive.  That evening, Jason and I went back to the dealership to see if he would be able to get into it, etc.  Yes, we have the Dodge Entervan, but sometimes it would be nice to be able to go somewhere in something different!  Jason didn't love the color of the one that I test drove (above), so the dealership checked on different colors.  We were lucky that they had a black one in stock.  So, yesterday afternoon, I signed on the dotted line and purchased it.    

Terrible picture of me after signing on the
dotted line :-)

Again, the best part?  Jason can ride in it easily.  He can transfer to the front seat from his wheelchair and I can use ramps to roll his wheelchair right into the back seat.  Even with his wheelchair in the car, there's still room for people and stuff!  We are talking about taking a road trip to Florida toward the end of the summer.  We have always been very conservative with trips in the van because we didn't want to put a ton of miles on it, especially since it doesn't get great gas mileage.  Well, it looks like a trip to the "Trop" (Tropicana Field), where the Tampa Bay Rays play is in order!  While we are there, we can take a trip to see Margaret in St. Cloud, visit Disney World, and do lots of other fun things!  YAY!

This week

Well, in good news...  The recommitment to tracking in WW and MyFitnessPal is going well.  I have noticed some interesting differences in the amount of WW points versus calories and vice versa.  I think this will prove to be beneficial in meal planning.  Not only have I been tracking well, I have been more committed to actually getting up and moving.  I have gotten up every morning and done a 30-minute Walk Away The Pounds video.  In the afternoon, I also have gone to the gym to do more cardio and/or the 30-minute weight-lifting circuit.  


Until yesterday...


Yesterday afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., I was on the way to my gym.  I was driving on a very familiar road, minding my own business.  The traffic had been stopped for a light at an upcoming intersection.  The traffic started moving slowly and I started moving forward too.  The person in two cars ahead of me slammed on their brakes, then the person in front of me did the same - I obviously missed the memo and didn't slam on mine fast enough.  Then the person behind me bumped me and had the nerve to leave.  Needless to say, after that little fiasco, I didn't make it to the gym.    


Anyway, I am good.  I am a little sore, but not really any more than a really good workout.  If anything "hurts" it is my ego - I am so annoyed that I "messed up".  I have had a few scares in the past from using my phone in the car, and the last month or so, I have made a concerted effort to not use my phone in the car.  Yesterday, my phone was in my purse, the radio was barely on - virtually no distractions - and I get in a wreck.  Oh well, I can't do anything about it now...  The adjuster for my insurance company is coming tomorrow to look at the car and give me an estimate.  The plan after that is to forward the estimate to a coworker of my husband to see if her husband's body shop can do something for me soon.  Once I hear from him, I will work with the adjuster to get payment and get my car fixed very soon because it isn't terribly pretty right now.  


Either way, I might be in the market for a new car soon.  My car was my first post-college purchase.  I remember the entire negotiating process like it was yesterday.  I remember that I did it all on my own and I was able to actually talk the salesperson down on the price.  It is a 2002 Nissan Sentra XE, nothing fancy but it was the perfect car for me right out of college.  My little car and I have been through a lot in the 11.5 years we have been together.  However, it just might be time to let my car have adventures with someone else.  


I am interested in looking for cars in the coming month or so.  I need to really figure out what I really want/need.  I like the little small cars, but I kinda want to be higher off the ground.  I don't want to spend a lot of money, but I want something nice.  I don't want new, but I don't really want the issue of possibly inheriting someone else's problems from buying a used car.  I also need to keep in mind that I only drive the car back and forth to work.  If there is a possibility of transporting the hubs wheelchair easier in my new vehicle, we may use it more often, but that's kinda up in the air right now.  We'll see...


Pictures of my poor little car...  Things could have been a lot worse, but the pictures are hard to see...

 

 

Friend Makin' Monday - I am...

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers.  The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

FMM: I am…

1. I am good at…cooking, baking, organizing...

2. I am happy when…I am on top of staying healthy and spending time with those I care about the most.

3. I am working on... trying to "let go" a little more.  I am quite the control freak and sometimes it gets in the way of my having a good time.

4. I am interested in… learning more about creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, traveling, learning about the "rest method" for exercising

5. I am always… happy to go to work, but happier to head home!

6. I am enjoying… my updated attitude toward my goal of a healthy life!

7.  I am in… North Carolina!  I don't plan to leave the state until the Disney Princess Half in February.

8. I am reading…nothing.  I started Listening is an Act of Love but haven't made it past the first few chapters

9. I am concerned about…getting my Christmas shopping done and wrapping all the gifts pretty!

10. I am looking forward to…  seeing my parents this weekend, celebrating Christmas in Raleigh, the heading to my hometown the weekend after Christmas!

Now it’s your turn! Don’t forget to link up at www.alltheweigh.com. 

Pushing "Reset"

I am pushing the "reset" button on my weight loss - starting today.  The past few month has been a little off.  First I was preparing for my second half marathon.  After that was over, I started dealing with some fairly serious low blood sugar issues.  During the past month, I haven't crossed over my "I don't ever want to get back to that number" weight, but I am getting close.  


Yesterday sealed the deal...  I had two episodes of very low blood sugar - 52 and 40 - after eating a balanced lunch.  There's no rhyme or reason to it.  It is beyond frustrating and is taxing on me, but also on my relationship with my hubs.  He is beyond supportive, but the fact that it is happening at all frustrates him to no end. 


So, here's to starting anew.  Some of my goals for the week:

• Track every morsel that goes into my body in Weight Watchers and MyFitnessPal
• Only drink coffee, water or Crystal Light
• Get up and move for a minimum of 30 minutes per day - runs at lunch, gym after work, walking video at home before work...The possibilities are endless
• Keep with the "rule" of "If I don't pack it, I can't eat it..." - no mindless snacking on miscellaneous goodies brought into the office  

Friend Makin' Monday - Holiday Shopping

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. 

Friend Makin’ Mondays: Holiday Shopping

1. Do you like to shop? Most of the time
2. Have you started shopping for Christmas gifts yet?  Yep.  I try to start picking up things in September/October.  I need to get to wrapping though.
3. Did you shop on Black Friday?  If so, what did you buy?  Not this year (Thank goodness!)
4. List a few of your favorite stores. Nordstrom, Belk, Crate&Barrel, Anne Taylor, Banana Republic
5. What is the last thing you purchased for yourself (food and drinks excluded?) A new pair of cute Toms from Island Traders
6. Do you prefer to shop in-store or online?  Usually in-store
7. If you could purchase one thing that you don’t need at all for yourself today, what would it be?  Hmmm.... A nice, pretty new outfit.
8. Does your significant other shop with you?  Do they love it/hate it? The hubs loves to shop, probably more than I do.  I don't know what I would do without his help when it comes to clothes!
9. Do you shop at thrift stores? I have, but I get frustrated when I can't find anything.  I should probably give it another shot though.
10. When you’re holiday shopping, do you make lists?  I tend to keep a general list on my phone with ideas.  Sometimes I stick to it and sometimes I don't.

Now it’s your turn so copy and paste, add your own answers then go to www.alltheweigh.com and link up!  Happy Monday friends!

What am I thankful for?

So many things....

• I am thankful for my husband.
• I am thankful for my best friend.
• I am thankful for my family.
• I am thankful for all my friends, past and present, as they have shaped (and continue to shape) me.
• I am thankful for my health.
• I am thankful that every single day, I have the opportunity to be better than I was the day before.
• I am happy for the beautiful sun that shines, the rain that falls, and all things that make me know there is a greater being.

Bottom line...  I am thankful for all the blessings that have been bestowed upon me.  I am not deserving of all the blessings, but I do my best to cherish them.  Enjoy this time with your family and friends, wherever you are.  Be thankful for your blessings, even when they don't seem like blessings.  

Be thankful!

Thinking about being thankful - my best friend

As I continue to reflect on the things for which I am most thankful... 

My best friend, Margaret, comes to mind. While I am thankful for all my friends, there is just something about her that I can't imagine being without.

Margaret and I met sometime in 1982.  Her parents had moved to Beaufort and bought a home just in front of the neighborhood where I lived.  We both ended up at Miss Kay's "day care".  Margaret was about 6 months old and I was about 15 months old. Miss Kay kept lots of children, but from what I understand Margaret and I were pretty close from the beginning. This was the start of a lifelong friendship that I can describe as nothing short of amazing.

Margaret and I have been polar opposites from the start.  No matter our differences, we have had so many wonderful times together.  I could sit here and rehash every memory, but suffice to say it would likely embarrass us both.  Those are memories that I love to replay in my head - always followed by a long laughing session.

• She is my confidant.
• She is the person that I may cry to when I have no clue what I am crying about.
• She is the person that an laugh right in my face and I won't get offended.
• She has no problem telling me when I am being an absolute spaz and need some sense talked into me.

She has tolerated my being quite opinionated and never faulted me for it. In fact, we still giggle often about my pointing out that a birthday cake her mom made when she was really young wasn't that pretty... Oh what a little opinionated girl will say.

I am so glad that Margaret's parents chose to move to Beaufort all those years ago.  I am thankful that even though she lives in Florida, we talk several times a week and see each other a few times a year - never once skipping a single beat.

Can't wait to see her this weekend!