Diet Update #2

Thank you everyone for your comments on my last post!  I now know I am not alone in my battle!  It is not easy I tell you. lol.  Your words of encouragement helped tremendously in this first week. So thank you :-)

Well, I have officially been on my diet for one week. I found an app for my phone called My Fitness Pal in Playstore.  If you click on the name you will be taken to their website to check it out. I basically count my calories with it.  You enter everything you eat each day and it keeps track.  You can also keep track of your exercise and water intake too. I have been trying to walk but the shin splints and hip pain have slowed me down a little.  But the last walk I took was 45 minutes. Go ME!!!! I'm not going to say I didn't indulge twice :-/  I LOVE Moolatte's from DQ so I went and got a medium caramel one and WOW! did it blow my calories out of the water.  A medium is 600 and some odd calories!!!! Then I paid for it as my stomach got upset and cramped up on me.  So, I decided no more.  I believe I am having an intolerance to some dairy.  That being said I bought almond milk, which I really like, but have still been eating Greek yogurt and cheese without issues... I think.  The reason I say that is my stomach has been giving me issues now.  I felt as if I had a ball or an air pocket in my epigastric (right below the breast bone) after eating certain things like citrus, dairy, and now beef.  Not good because I LOVE my orange juice and pineapple!  I also had a really yummy dessert that Steve made with Oreos and Cool Whip.  So I did cheat a little :-( 

Other than that I was feeling pretty good.  Was being the key word.  My body is now beginning to betray me.  I had to go to my doctor on Monday for a medicine check to get my fibro and asthma meds refilled when I discovered I have a few other things going on.  The good news I lost 2 ounces in 3 months! LOLOL I was actually 149 the last time and this time I was 148.8. Anyway, they did my blood pressure which was fine BUT my pulse was 110. A normal one is 60-100. When they told me I didn't give it much thought. I was taken to my room and after waiting the doctor came him.  I used to work for him so we have a good relationship. We discussed a few things and I told him it seems as if I have been getting short of breath, hence the diet thinking the extra weight was causing it, when I go up a flight of steps or walk long distances. I told him about my stomach issues and that my fibro seems to be settling in my back.  He looked and asked if I was nervous because my pulse was up. I said no not really.  How about anxious? Can you feel that your heart is pounding? Why yes now that you mention it I do I told him. I ignore a lot of things my body does and pass it off as my fibromyalgia. Anyway, long story short, I ended up with a heart EKG and bloodwork. There is either something wrong with my heart or thyroid. I'm still waiting on my results of the bloodwork. It is now Thursday and my pulse rate has yet to come down to normal. Yesterday at work I had lightheadedness, shortness of breath, anxious, pounding heart, and just felt exhausted.  I know it's because my heart is working extra hard. So, hopefully the doctor will let me know soon what is going on so we can fix it.  Until then he sent me home with Omeprazole for my stomach to try for 8 weeks. 

In the meantime, I think I found my new calling.  Instead of being a paramedic I want to be a smoothie maker.  I have found that I LOVE them.  I'm coming up with new recipes all the time.

This is a banana/strawberry smoothie 1 banana 1 cup frozen strawberries 1/4 cup Greek vanilla yogurt ice and a little water to thin it. 208 calories

This rascal hurt my stomach but it was yummy!  1 banana, 1 cup fresh pineapple, 1/2 cup coconut milk, 4 ice cubes. 370 calories you could cut the calories by only using 1/4 cup coconut milk just increase your ice.

I made a blueberry/banana one today that is ok.  I need to perfect it.  Not quite what I want it to taste like. LOL.  I also want to get some spinach to add in too.  I need to go grocery shopping so that will be on my list.

I finished stitching my final patriotic pinkeep yesterday.  Now I can finally finish up some more new patterns.  I'm also working on a special order doll for fall.  I have the best customers!  They sometimes have more confidence in my abilities than I do.  Hopefully I can finish it up and show you soon.  Until then have a great day!

Weight Loss Journey Day 1

Happy Thursday!  Have you ever thought to yourself where the heck did all this weight come from? I've never had an issue with weight why now? I've been asking myself this for awhile now.  Up until about 4 1/2 years ago I never had an issue with weight.  I was wearing size 4 or smaller (30 waist in men's work clothes)  and actually could not put on weight.  I didn't worry about what I ate and didn't have to do any exercise. Life was awesome! lol  I of course was 34 at the time too.  I am now 38 almost 39, 20 lbs heavier with not a muffin top but a spare tire. I'm also that many years post divorce, a developmentally disabled daughter who was in her important years in school, fibromyalgia diagnosed with medication, and big eater since Steve is a guy who loves food, working full-time with irregular eating times so fast food was my friend. When I sit down I can feel the rolls and it makes it uncomfortable to sit.  I have gone up to size 12 or 14 in women's pants and 34 waist in men's (my work clothes size).  I don't like the way I look even though Steve tells me he likes a woman with meat on her bones :-/ uggghhhh What happened?????? I made excuses, that is what happened.  I've decided that today I'm starting a new chapter.  I now have an 18 year old and 14 year old and it is time for me to take care of me.  I'm going to make changes for me!!!! 

So, what does this mean?  It means that once a week I will be posting my progress good or bad.  I'm not using a scale because I will get discouraged if I don't see a change. Plus, I don't even own a scale.  I also do not own a full length mirror.  I will use my clothes as a guide.  This will be my personal diary.  I know I will fall off the band wagon I'm sure, but I'm going to try my hardest to get right back on.

Let's get started shall we...

I can't believe I'm going to show you pictures, but it will get me motivated now that I know you will all see what I truly look like.

This picture was May 27th my daughter's graduation...  I know it doesn't look like I need to lose weight, but as I've been researching I found that my BMI is 29 which is obese for a 5'5" 148# woman with a small frame. :-(  I don't feel good at this weight either.

Now these are today... please ignore the dirty mirror lololol.  see I'm even to lazy to clean that!!!!  I have been so lazy for a long time.  I blamed my fibromyalgia by saying I hurt to much or I was tired, but I will no longer do that.  I got myself to this point. 

I am a good camouflage artist... big baggie shirts....

Stretchy pants that hold the spare tire in...

 

The spare tire... ugghhh yuck!!!!!

Excuse me ma'am are you pregnant?!?!?!?  check out the tire....

 

This now holds me accountable since I've put it out all over the web. lol.  I conquered the biting my nail thing and hope I can do the same on this.  I have walked about 30 minutes the last two nights.  I will need to build that over time as my hips have become sore from the walking.  They are already tender from the fibro, but it will not hold me back.  I am researching better eating choices like yummy smoothies for breakfast, fruits and veggies (which I love) for snacks and nutritious meals other than processed foods.  I'm going to try and cut out white flour and some dairy.  I've been getting stomach problems recently and not sure if it's related.

I found an application on my phone to help keep track of my calories and started that today.  It says I need to keep my calories around 1400 calories a day to lose 1-2 lbs a week.  I'm not off to a very good start as Steve ordered a potato pizza last night for dinner and there was left-overs so I just HAD to eat them. :-(  lol  I will go grocery shopping tonight for the things I need to get started.  So, as I embark on this journey wish me good luck. LOL  I know I will need it.

More New Stitcheries

I've been working hard on new designs in the patriotic themes.  I have 3 more and have one last one in the works.  For some reason I really got into these pinkeeps this year.  I haven't had time to finish the patterns yet, but hopefully I will this week.  I also had an order on another one I already made and finished up that last week while I was on vacation.  These are the newest ones.

This last one was stitched by a good friend on Facebook Reeta Hackler.  I just didn't have enough time to stitch that one.

I also decided after reading Pamela's blog, Our Pioneer Homestead, that she liked stitching on prairie cloth I decided to get some.  I really like the thickness and how it looks like linen.  It appears to be like stitching on 28 to 30 count cloth.  I took a picture with my phone (bad I know) comparing linen to the prairie cloth.

The prairie cloth is in the middle.  The top and bottom are linen that I had in my stash.  Click on it to see it bigger.  A few of us had a discussion on Facebook as to whether it will take stain or not as one of my stitching friends said she attempted to coffee stain it and it didn't take very well.  Pamela told us that she uses walnut ink or stain and hasn't had an issue.  I'm also told it ravels pretty easily.  So, I may need to use a little masking tape or run a stitch around my piece to prevent that.  It'll be interesting when I start to use it.  I have some coffee stained hardanger to use up first.  I will let you know when I try it out. 

We have another meeting with my daughter's job specialist from the County Board of Developmental Disabled today since she turned 18 on Saturday.  The job hunt will begin.  We believe we have narrowed it down to working with animals, for now. LOL.  I'm sure it will change but it's a start.

Hope you have a great day!

New Patterns

I have managed to come up with a few new cross stitch patterns recently.  They are quick and easy patriotic pinkeeps.  Just email me to order.  You can also find my patterns at The Fabric Peddler in Wadsworth Ohio :-)  I'm working on a few more as we speak!!!!

The pattern is $7.50 for PDF version and $10.00 for printed copy includes shipping. Both version include color photo, chart, and color legend. Each sold separately!!! If you buy all 3 at once in PDF version you only pay $18.00 now through June 30, 2013

New Finds and Decorating

I thought today would be a good day to break away from talking about my kids to show you some new to me things I've acquired and how I'm using them to decorate.

First off, since putting up my new faux blinds (which I can't remember if I showed you) these are plastic ones I found at Menard's.  I really really wanted wood, but wowee!!! are they expensive. Steve talked me into these and I have to say they were much cheaper and I LOVE them! But if you'll notice from previous pictures I took down my quilt hanger above the window.  For the longest time I couldn't decide what I wanted until last week.  I decided on a ladder.  I've seen them in other people's pictures hung over kitchen islands or in front of windows with baskets hung from them.  I don't want to hang it from the ceiling since I rent.  The ladder is a bit wide for my shelves so I went to the basement and found some spindles I had in the garage that were just the right width and just laid the ladder across.  The little black table is an old tool box turned up on end.  As you can see I didn't have much space and it fit perfectly.  So think outside the box when you see things at yard sales, flea markets, or antique shops.

A little closer look... I found the wrought iron basket tree at the flea market $7.50, the yellow basket up top GW $.50,  the next one down,red/pink looking basket GW $.50, the blue one I painted but a GW $.50, the gourds I bought from a friend, the dried green beans I bought awhile back, dried sweet annie and dried flowers, there is also another basket in the back you can't see GW $.50.  You CAN decorate with very little money. 

My next find at the flea market was this thread keeper.  I LOVE anything old and wood!!!! I love the carved detail in the drawers.  It was marked way down in the booth I found it in.  You better believe I snatched that baby up!!!!

I also got the round wood boxes on the top shelf from some friends on Facebook.  They wanted rid of them and I was happy to have them!  Let's call them pantry boxes :-) lol

Moving on I now have a fetish for egg baskets.  I just can't have enough when I keep finding them really cheap!!!!  By the way the Americana pinkeep is available for sale $10 plus shipping (made by me) and the star box is 1 of 3 boxes that is also for sale (painted by me) $20 plus shipping.

I also found this great quilt rack at the flea market for really cheap! I just don't have a home for it yet. But for the price I couldn't pass it up.

I think that's all I've acquired recently except a few more gourds.  I've really been trying to stay out of the stores and not buy a thing.  But occasionally a girl has to do what a girl has to do.

I'm on vacation this week as my daughter's grad party and 18th birthday party is this weekend.  Hopefully I will be back this week to show you some more things I've been working on.  Have a great day!!!

The 8th Grade Farewell Dance

I've had so much going on these last few weeks of May I just haven't had time to post. Things have settled down for a bit and I can relax a little.  I think what I'll have to do is go back and start from the beginning.

A few weeks ago was my son's 8th grade farewell dance.  I was informed it was a "formal" dance and that he was not allowed to wear jeans.  This was about a week before the dance.  He told me it was no problem as he had dress pants.  I asked if he was sure and he said yes.  I told him he'd better try them on to make sure they still fit since he hadn't worn them in quite awhile.  Sure enough 3 days before the dance he tries them on and lo and behold he was waiting for a flood. Grrrr.... So after work one morning I went shopping for new pants without him.  He told me size 14 would be fine.  OK I tell myself. Well, without him with me, I wasn't so sure.  So to be on the safe side I bought 14 and 16 at Kohl's.  I checked at Goodwill no dice.  I sure as heck didn't have time to take them back if they didn't fit before the dance.  (As a side note... Kohl's gave me a credit card.  I'm on my way to rebuilding my credit as it has been a year since my bankruptcy.)  Anyway, long story short we had an outfit.  He was now a size 16. Sheesh!!!!

My son went with his "girlfriend" to the dance.  He went and picked out a corsage for her, which she was the only one of two girls to have one. :-)  He was threatened by me he had better act like a gentleman and open doors for her. To my surprise he did great!  My son hates having his picture taken, but here are a few pictures of them.  I LOVE this awkward stage... they don't want to really touch each other... lol  I sure hope my son grows a little but his family genes may say otherwise.

They used the prom backdrop for their dance.  Great idea... Under the sea I believe it was.

They had a good time!  I'm so not use to the texting thing with them yet as I never really went through it with my daughter.  lol. The are at it all day long!  These two have been trying to hang out a lot these past few weeks.  I really like this young lady and so does my son.  She has been to our house 2 this week and he is with her and her Mom today.  They are well aware of the boundaries that myself and her Mom have set and they both are ok with it.  They are not to be left alone at all! Her Mother has informed my son it is ok for him to kiss her, but I don't believe that has happened yet. lol

I've finished a couple new stitcheries that I will try to share with you later this week.  Have a great weekend.