8/19/11 Back To School Fool

OK, why did I think things might slow down a little when we got back from vacation?!...FOOL!  And BTW, anyone who thinks that vacations with the families are totally relaxing for a Mom has a maid, a personal shopper, a nanny, a personal assistant, and most importantly, a wife.

After the vacation unpack, the back-to-school rush hit us head on.  Both boys had major projects/tests due the week after we returned; translation = me with a red pen (I'm the official 'English' proofreader in the house)...DS1 for a summer college class and DS2 for summer work for an AP HS English class.  In our vacation mail was a notice from DS2's high school stating that they are finally going to change their policy of not weighing AP class grades until Junior and Senior years (and will now start Freshman year...like every other HS in America)...fine print...starting with the class graduating the year after my son (now a Sophomore...and yes, you have to start in AP classes your first two years to get into them your Junior year)...lovely...thanks.

We also had our follow-up appointment for all DS1's medical testing done this summer (from his surgery last fall, yes, I'm protecting his privacy with little detail) to get the results and being the health advocate anal Mom that I am, I spent many days online looking at all the possibilities and getting together my list of questions (this has seriously been keeping me awake all summer).  Let me just sum all this up with we got the best news possible...it was all very unexpected as the odds were very slim that it would turn out this way, so we were surprised and thrilled.  Although he's not got a guarantee of the future, and there's one re-test to do, and another probable minor surgery in his future, we follow up with the Doc in six months and the prognosis looks good at this point.  There's nothing worse than watching your child go through medical issues, is there?

Somewhere in here I eeked out a few minutes for some home projects (yeah, I should be writing a DIY blog, sorry).  I finally found a crystal chandelier for DD's old room reno. (for over the corner end table...I'm making this my 'girly-frou-frou' room to escape to when all the male testosterone in my house gets to be too much, so anything shiny or decorative goes) and made my first Craigslist purchase...here was the pic on Craigslist ($25)...


*Note to self:  Ask for close-up pics and don't assume that you'll "easily be able to paint all the brass that shows white".

Here is what I was left to deal with before painting (the only metal in the room is brushed nickel and I decided white would work best)...it took me a full day to untwist all those little brass wires that went through each flower and held the clear arm covers in place and then I had to undo the center pieces as well. 


Finally I was able to spray paint it all white...DH nicely replaced all the brass electric wiring (that also showed along side every arm) with new white cords and a new white chain to hang it and then it was time for reassembly...NO WAY was I going to rewire all those arm covers, so out came my glue gun and easy-peasy, back together...I restrung all the hanging crystals with some new silver wire (so about $50 in new supplies), and it's about done..it was missing a few crystals, and I broke one undoing everything, so I've ordered some on eBay and I just need to add four around the center top.





I have also been contemplating the fact that my kids have been saying that the 'new' headboard looked too much like the old crib ends...so I added six small wood embellishments to the tops.  Here's half the headboard top now...not sure if it helped LOL, but more frou-frou! 


Oh, and somewhere in here I lost my small vacation gain...plus some...145.5 this morning...it's a new low by 1 lb. (must be all the recent stress LOL).

Then DS1 announced that he would be going back to school a week early and wanted to paint his Frat house room...and that the Frat was paying for him to build a new loft for his bed (OK, I'll admit the one that was in there looked like someone made it out of matchsticks and it must have originally been built for another room as it blocked off a big corner in a tiny room).  So off we went to buy school supplies, food, toiletries, paint, paint supplies, and a new mattress...have I mentioned that the Frat decided to spray the whole house down over the summer while no one was there for the frickin' bedbugs?!...yes, even though they've only seen them in two rooms, and he's never seen them in his, I've been boiling everything he owns each time he comes home...all BUGS FREAK ME OUT...biting bugs...OMG!...I'd seriously be moving out of our house...yes, I've been checking his room here and everyone's mattresses like the almost-OCD Mom that I am.  I know what you're thinking...all you Boob's that were planning to come visit us in our hotel room...and don't worry Boob's roomie-Donna, I promise not to bring any with me...and we can all only hope that the hotel is as almost-OCD with cleaning as me...personally...I'll be checking my mattress (I'd recommend that you do NOT watch the TV program we saw this week...'Bed Bug Apocalypse')!
 

After we sent DS1 off for the weekend to tear out the old loft, paint, and get measurements, I designed a new loft for his tiny room and made a plan and supply list.  We spent a day here cutting boards and pre-drilling holes for the ladder and then off he and DH went to PSU to install it together.  Here he is installing it in the new 'Penn State Blue' room.

So DS1 is now settled at school and DS2 and I are working on all his back-to-school things for the last two weeks of his Summer...he's got his 'tuba test' with the Band teacher next week (after some debate, he decided to sign up for band again even though the guitar is his new love), so the house sounds like a German pub right now.


My youngest sister called yesterday crying as her youngest was on the bus for his first full day of first grade...Me?...I'm looking forward to Labor Day and then...BACK TO SCHOOL!

2/26/11 The 300

I want to thank all of you who are following...my groupies...my friends. I appreciate it more than you know. It's amazing to me that you've stuck with me and continued to join in, even when I'm not able to spend as much time putting together entertaining blogs, or even any kind of daily blogs anymore. I want you to know that I do my best to follow and keep up with you (send me a note if I'm not following), and I read a lot, even when I'm not always commenting. You so often inspire a thought for me to write about...it's great to hear other perspectives...our journeys are each so unique. Without fail, even when I haven't said so here, it's at the times I start to question myself that I'll always get such wonderful comments or emails from one of you to keep me going. You can only hope that some small part of what you share has helped someone else and it means so much to actually hear that, so thank you.

We are an army in our war against obesity. The information we share with each other makes us each wiser and better able to wage our individual battles. The support we give each other forms an impenetrable line that works to hold each of us up at the times we are faltering. Together we are so much stronger than we are alone.
So hold tight and sharpen those blades; keep asking...keep telling...keep learning...keep teaching...keep open...keep supporting...keep aware.

The battle is never over...but it does get easier with each success...and remember...you're never alone.

Love to all!

2/14/11 Ode To My Band

*Post Deleted for Book
---------------------------
I love you all! Happy Valentine's Day!!!

1/18/11 Three New Bedrooms

As expected DH and I spent a few hours Saturday morning and then 5 hours on Sunday finishing up the installs down at DD's new apartment. She's got a few boxes left to unpack, but we're finally done. I forgot to take pictures of the living area downstairs, but here's her new attic bedroom.

The stairs up are on the other side of this half wall (we put a sound reducing curtain at the bottom for a 'door'). Lots of low 'knee wall' ceiling space in her room and not a lot of it where you can stand up, so figuring out furniture wasn't easy (and I can't tell you how many times my 6'4" DH hit his head). Here's the newly repainted and recovered chair, dresser (you can only stand by the dresser before the slope begins) and bookcase (and we added a board between for a computer desk).

The rest of the tour continues counter-clockwise. Here's the top of the stairs on the far right (crap to go home at the top of it), bins and cupboards and closet door. This is her old desk and she bought a mirror that fit perfectly, so we painted it all plus a chair and now it's her vanity (full bath door to left of it and here's one of the newly beaded lampshades).

Here's the tall dresser (she can just stand in front of it) and a peek at the metal and ceramic new white knobs we bought for all the old furniture. We forgot the curtain rod that will cover this furnace closet doors...so I guess we're not quite done LOL.

Continuing counter-clockwise is the bed in the main sloped area, with the new bedding and tufted headboard...

...and here's the bench we recovered with the baskets underneath.

Here's one of the two old couches we gave her...with a slipcover and the new pillows. The ceiling gets so low we had to pull the couch out about 10" or you couldn't sit on it...leaving a weird gap behind the couch...so I put a long shelf on the wall (extra storage under the shelf and a pic gallery on top).

And here's the last look of the dormer window.

And back at home DS2 was off school yesterday so we spent the afternoon figuring out and making covers for the kitten beds we bought (he picked 'Beatles' fabric, and I picked 'PSU' for DS1's cat).

What's that sticking out you ask? Why these aren't just kitten beds anymore...

We made them with a pocket so they're a whole kitten bedroom!

So there are my THREE redecorated new bedrooms...DONE!

10/15/10 Stiff and Tight

D*mn...PCP appointment on Monday (soonest they can get me in). I was just sitting early evening yesterday and my neck started to feel stiff. It ramped up quickly until I couldn't turn my head by the time DH got home...nerves zinging in the upper left back and down the arm. I took some OTC pain reliever, put on the heating pad, and shared some wine with Sandy. I was able to sleep until a little before 3am...up until 7am, then I took a short nap...ughh.

DH thinks this is the result of my ladder fall as I can't trace the neck back to anything else, not even sleeping funny as I didn't wake up with it (and it's on the left side, which is the shoulder I fell on). Geez, I thought I was out of the woods with a few bruises and skinned appendages...four days later? Could it really take this much time for an injury to start? Funny thing was, I was planning to blog about how quickly I recovered from that fall and how that never would have happened 100 pounds ago...jinx. I do have that Osteoarthritis in my neck that was affecting my same shoulder (went to Physical Therapy 1.5 years ago for it). I wish the Doc could have gotten me in today...I may be better by Monday (fingers crossed)...but I may be rifling through the old prescriptions tonight *sigh*. OK, enough whinefest...No worries, it could have been so much worse!

*Portion of Post Deleted for Lap Band Blog

Have a great weekend all...If you need me, I'll be in my self-medicated coma LOL...come join me...I have whine wine ;-)

10/12/10 5th Fill...Chasing the Sweet Spot

*Portion of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book

OH, and can I just say...WHAT THE HECK WOMEN??!!! I tried on about 4 outfits before finding one that fit OK this morning...yes, I'm having fat days again. I wore a new top, no coat over it. Do you know how many women I passed today...in the parking lot, in the ladies room, in the stairwell, in the waiting room (where I was called to the window three times), three different nurses during my appointment. I was wondering why I was getting stares and was starting to take it personally that I look like a stuffed sausage in these jeans.


COULD ANY OF YOU HAVE TOLD ME THAT I HAD TWO LOVELY *SHINY* TAGS WITH THE SALE STICKER HANGING ON MY BACK?!!! *sigh* ...and I'm guessing some of you were fellow banders...*double-sigh*

10/10/10 Ten over Ten to the Tenth

Kind of an ominous date isn't it? I wonder how many weddings happened just because of the date? It certainly is a beautiful weekend here. DH brought the sun back with him from his week away; just left early this morning for another week of travel (I hate it when he has to travel on the weekend, but that's life). It might just hit 80 degrees here today!

Here's some pics of DS2's first Homecoming...He's pretending here that parent's don't exist (and was he ever shocked that everyone's Dad's and Mom's were at the girl's meet-up house to take pics...he thought we'd be the only ones LOL).

Guess who decided to link arms and is mumbling jokes under that smile?

We lucked out and the before pics were in our neighborhood...at the gazebo (I love that the girl's plan everything now that I'm down to my last boy; dinner, dance, and a bonfire after...yes, I waited up for him...he had a blast and he's still sleeping it off).

Don't the girls look beautiful?!

One of the Mom's yells 'Do something funny!'...What does my kid do? Jump into the arms of the guy next to him!

10/1/10 Who Told You You're Allowed To Grow Up?!

We spent last afternoon and evening at three stores getting DS2 a shoulder to toe outfit for the Homecoming Dance next week...suit, shirt, tie, socks, belt, and shoes...I said 'shoulder to toe' because he wanted a top hat...yes, a top hat...Where would one even buy a top hat these days? He said he wanted a cane too and that he wanted to go as Mr. Peanut...funny boy....I informed him it wasn't a Halloween costume party.

Just one thing I want to know...WHO TOLD YOU YOU'RE ALLOWED TO GROW UP?!

What happened to my little baby (second from the left below)?!!



Yes, thanks to your suggestions (thank you) and then 4, count them 4 trips to the Target Photo Place (after getting some of them done on the Staples-not-so-photo-quality copier) to redo the bad ones (over and over because the Target scanner sucks and left smudges and lines every time...you wouldn't believe me if I told you what I went through...let's just say the gal felt so bad that she gave me a full refund and I didn't even ask or complain)...the hall is done (thanks again Diane for the wall quote).

OK, almost done...I'm still considering the quote for the other wall (there's my baby again second from the right...God I feel old). As my youngest sister reminded me...we'll be moving soon...every house that we've lived in, the minute I hang a wall of kid photos we move...so I waited 9 years and this is the longest we've been in any home...wonder where we'll be moving...somewhere warm I hope...it's freezing here, but I digress...

OK, he's still my baby...see...this is how he really felt after hours of shopping with Mom (and then I made him try it all on again at home)...Do I dare tell him to tie his shoe...I think not...he's got to have some level of independence now that he's in High School...
...do you think he'll let me chaperone the dance?...hee-hee.

Happy Weekend all!

9/16/10 Coloring Outside The Lines

• The painting spree has continued...uggh. I got all the external doors painted (harder than it sounds as several are glass...front door; all panes...it's a pain!). Yes, I still have hours of scraping the excess paint off every pane left today (inside done, just the outside)...I've always said that 'I never color inside the lines'...guess that's biting me in the butt. I called my parents to thank them for my Art Ed degree.
  
• The quote went up on the hall wall (look how cute Diane, thanks!) and I spray-painted 25 of my old picture frames black (wow, I haven't had these up since house #3 where I had the obligitory kids photos going up the stairs...DS1 wasn't even born then LOL), I just need the photos...
  Yes, I make patterns of my pics and nail through those to hang them perfectly (no, they're not lined up yet)...I'm anal, remember?!
  
• I officially hate technology...and I don't care anymore that saying that makes me sound old...technology can get me in a four day super mean mood (DH can't even do that)...my DH's been taking the brunt of it as he's tried to help me. Trying to print black & white photos for those frames...new computer downstairs where the scanner is...bought several large sizes of photo paper and then new ink cartridges...downloaded new photo programs...three different ones...then the scanner won't do anything but jam paper or 'pretend' that it's printing (making all those lovely sounds back and forth) just to taunt me while it's not printing...yes, I called my IST Sophmore at college who tried to help me over the phone, but I swear he was speaking a foreign language...four days later and I'm taking my photos to Target today for them to print...d*mn I'm stubborn...I need a TAM class (Technology Anger Management).
• *Portions of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book 
• Fall has decided to arrive here...cold and rainy...OK you Aussie's, I'm sending you Spring d*mnit! 
• Oh, and DD's new job is going well...I packed her lunch the first day and had deja vu of her first days of school. I got a call the first morning 'It is Monday, isn't it Mom?'...she was 15 min. early and no one was there yet LOL. She's been going to a lot of meetings with clients...went to a 'walk through' meeting at the new hockey stadium where they're doing the signage. It sounds like they're swamped and need to get her up and running as quickly as possible...yay job!

It's just another week in BG-land!

9/9/10 Updates and Luck

Busy, busy, busy...and our luck is turning...it's all good.

• WOOT! DD got the job! She starts Monday with a Environmental Graphics Design company as an Account Manager. The 'Environmental' isn't a green thing, it's that they plan/complete signage for 'environments'; major buildings, parks, etc. (they take the blueprints and figure out how to number rooms and what signage will be needed for the whole place, including the big signage outside, and take it through completion). They do some things in town (ie. they did PNC Park- our baseball stadium) and a lot outside the state (ie. they've done some jobs for Disneyworld and they're doing some big parks out west now). It's the perfect fit for her as she got the creative gene from me so she'll love being in a creative environment, there's some travel involved, which she loves, and she'll be busy managing up to 30 jobs at a time so the job will change daily...a great fit for her. Thanks for all the good vibes!

• Hell has finally frozen over. DH finally bought a snowblower! It only took him being snowed in last winter with snow up to our hips and the neighbor rescuing us with his snowblower for him to get one. I'm just glad it has a push button start as he's usually out of town when it snows. He also lucked out as we received a great coupon for the store this weekend and when he went to order it, it was on a major sale...ended up being over $300 less than the original price and he couldn't believe his luck.

• We had a 'laboring' long Labor Day weekend. DH decided that 'we' should do some touch-up painting around the house. I must have lost my mind as I know 'we' and 'painting' really means 'me'...d*mn that Art Ed. degree (OK, it really needed to be done...I've been putting it off)! I'm still painting (I've punished him with making him wash down all the trim and doors). The 1st floor walls and upstairs hall walls are done and I'm still working my way through touching up the trim and doors. Here's the good news...that new painters tape with 'edge lock' you've seen on the commercials...it actually works! The stuff costs a fortune, but try it...I've painted a lot and I'm super picky about straight edges and I swear it works. My Dr. Suess quote from Diane may go up today if I get the doors done first. I know, I must be the only person who gets excited that the handprints and scrapes have now disappeared from my stair walls and trim.
  
• We took a break and had an evening out with neighbors this weekend and had a blast.
  

• The company DH works for just got officially turned over to the Saudi company that bought them. He called me to fill out insurance questions...weight and waist/hip measurements...good thing I'm back to being a pear!

*Portions of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book
I'm off to paint!

8/27/10 Drivel Scribbles- Title?

*Post Deleted For Lap Band Book

8/24/10 Hello BG, It's The World Again...

OK, either the World is sending me 'messages' again, or I'm just a gullible sucka whose getting punked again (Erika, is that you?!). You all know I don't get 'subtle'...in fact I don't usually get 'hit me over the head with a 2x4' either. Oh NO, it takes me having many horrific PBing moments before I finally am sitting there thinking (and re-chewing my regurgitated food in the middle of a fancy restaurant) 'Hmmm...Wasn't there a rule about chewing well BEFORE you swallow?'

So there's a point to all this somewhere...oh yeah, 'messages'...stick with me, I swear this will get good at some point...well you know I've been taking somewhat of a hiatus from the writing...not all by choice, summer, 3 kids, life happens, and it should....but next week when the rest of the kiddies are back to school I've actually been looking forward to finishing up the book proposal and starting the process of sending it out...so this week, now that things have finally started to slow down, I decided it would be my 'pull together all the motivation I'll need, collect proposal layouts, and start getting my plans to finish the book together' week.

Here's what's happened...OK, first of all I received a wonderful gift...I'll remind you that recently, one of my sister's and I had been discussing Dr. Suess/books...in fact, I had mentioned to her that at one point I had looked at a vinyl lettering quote, like she has up in her kitchen (they are like rub on stickers), and I was looking at my favorite Dr. Suess quotes to go in my hall upstairs (on the way into my office/our Hobby Room). Fast forward about a week and I get this same vinyl letting/rub on quote in the mail...I excitedly called my sis (not there) and left a thank-you message...a week later or more I hear back that it wasn't from her...HUH?! Mystery gift?!!...I finally solved the puzzle and it's from my good friend and LBer Diane. OK, she's been so busy (working girl), and then I left for vacation, kid off to college, life again, that we haven't had time to discuss this, but it's freakin' me out...did I mention my "hall plan" to her?...I think not!...messages from the world?!...here's the quote:

Too cool for words...just WHAT I needed, WHEN I needed it! Now I have to repaint the hall before I mount the words (10 years later, it's time to be repainted, thanks for that motivation too), but it's going up as soon as I paint (I'll take some after pics to show you)...so, thank you Diane...you know me so well (and I hope you get done working soon so we can talk)!! It will inspire me daily as I walk down the hall to the office to write to the best of my abilities (I would put it over the computer area as you suggested in your note, but those walls are Hunter Green...I'm thinking the black wouldn't show)!

Now get ready for 'messages from the World' 2 and 3.

So Monday morning as I'm pulling up info. on proposals, I took a moment to check my email...hmmm...someone from Lap Band Talk...and what's this?! Although I've run across 'advertisements' on Lap Band Talk (and a few who have put advertisements as comments on my blog/deleted), I've never been directly solicited, until this week. I really thought that my first 'solicitation/request for product endorsement' would come through this Blogger site as it's more 'out there' in the world and all that (and I've seen others here get 'endorsement requests'...and I'll be honest that it turns me off when people actually do them). So this request came through LBT, not Blogger...very vague (complimenting me on how my transformation is one of the best he's seen yet and asking if he could use my pics for a 'major campaign'...OK, I was happy it wasn't a product endorsement request), new member, from a marketing firm, so I was very wary. After looking up the marketing firm and a few emails back and forth I find out they want to use my before/after pics and a testimonial from me about how my life has changed for an add campaign...for...wait for it...the Realize Band! Me?...I chose the LB/Allergan!...so although I'd do anything to help pay this forward and help promote the Band, I can't do a campaign for the Band I don't have.

I'm typing up my 'so sorry, can't do, I have the LB/Allergan' email to the marketing firm guy when a new message pops up in my email...also through Lap Band Talk...it's from a health journalist who is writing a short article for the LB/Allergan site about things we can now do after getting off weight (she'd read about my Grand Canyon trip). If it wasn't for the fact that I hadn't yet sent my email telling Mr. Marketing that I don't have a Realize Band and couldn't do this, I would have thought these two things were connected and he'd given my name to the journalist. But still; Coincidence?! You know me, I asked. Yep, she (Hi there! Yes, I looked you up too...she's a very legit and well published/award winning journalist...name a health magazine and she's written for them...also 'O' magazine...no, Amy W., Oprah didn't call me next LOL) assured me today it was just coincidence...and so I'm looking forward to doing the interview (and I'll keep you all posted on the 'article'coming out this Fall).

The World is sending me messages again...with a 2x4...Yes, I could take this as 'LBT sold my name to a bunch of people' (including my friend Diane), but remember, I'm an optimist and my rose colored glasses are gigantic...I'm taking all this as 'Messages from the World' just when I need them that doing the book is the right thing to do (being a newbie writer...it's like being a newbie Bander...lots of doubt...there are days where you say 'WHAT WAS I THINKING?!!!'). So I've found new faith and belief in my 'messages' that I'm really going to be able to help other Banders with the book and I'm off to get the proposals out and hopefully finish the book!

The book, for me it's like my LB...at some point you just have to believe that you were meant to do this and that it will all work out. You just have to believe in yourself first.

8/12/10 The Versatile Blogger and Blogs to Follow!

1. Thank you Pamela at "Less Than Fat - The Fantasy" here: http://lessthanfat.blogspot.com/

Pam was just banded Tuesday, so pop on over and congratulate her!!

Pam also said I can be a member of the Black and Beautiful club (with my fake tan). I love that she describes 'us' as Chocolate (skin)...you know how I love Chocolate...so that's the color I'm aiming for Pamela (DD was howling that I used almost a whole giant tube of the tanner at the shore...HEY, 'chocolate' takes some doing when you start out 'eggshell'). Thanks sista'!

Pam is in the pre-op phase of her LB process (approved-YAY!)...and Pam, WL, it's not going to be a 'fantasy'! Pamela is a breast cancer survivor (double YAY!)...so courage in the LB process should NOT be an issue! Thanks again Pamela!

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person giving the award.
2. Share seven things about yourself.
3. Nominate 15 newly discovered blogs.
4. Let your nominees know about the award.

2. Seven things...let's see, I'll try to make them 'new', but that's hard because I tell everything...hmm BG trivia:

1. I had two 'chocolate' roommates my freshman year in college (one was 'Miss Black Ohio'). They used to laugh at my naivety about black people and it was a great experience (ie. I was fascinated by how much goop could disappear into their hair...likewise we tested me...goop + white hair = looks like you haven't showered...ever).

2. My favorite color was pink when I was little...it was red when I became an adult and then about 10 years ago I switched back to pink...Up until recently my closet was mainly these two colors...and LOTS of black.

3. I've always wanted long beautiful fingernails but I usually cut them very short because I garden so much (they break easily and I was way too hard on them for acrylics...tried it). However, I usually have a beautiful pedicure...even in the winter.

4. I have a beautiful herb garden, but there's only one thing I use from it, basil (you know how I love to cook). I have about 25-30 basil plants and I make pesto and caprese salad a lot with DS2's tomatoes (took basil, tomatoes and mozzarella balls and made a huge casserole dish of this at the beach and it was gone in days). DH cooks with herbs and some of my neighbors have come to harvest when they need things.

5. I have a label maker and I'm not afraid to use it (OK, that one's not so new)...I have labels everywhere...I hate what I call 'rework'...put it back in it's place and my 'almost OCD' is happy...my kids think I'm crazy...I am.

6. My two oldest kids and I all have worked part-time summers (not at the same time, she's now retired) for a lady in our neighborhood that made stained glass to sell (something I learned to do a long time ago at our Community Center). I'll have to blog about what DS1 is making right now.

7. I'm a decent artist, but I have none of it hanging in my home. It actually embarrasses me to share it. I haven't painted in a long time...not sure why. Hmm...maybe in my spirit of 'doing the uncomfortable' I'll do a blog showing some old art work.

3. OK, this will help me get some of my 'following' up to date. Dag, this took a lot of time to find, but I found 15 bloggers with less than 50 followers, most have less than 20...so get thee thyselves over there and show these Banders some support!

1. Mrs. C - http://therestofmylifelisa.blogspot.com/

2. Darlin1 - http://lookinforless.blogspot.com/

3. Jennifer *BEING BANDED TODAY* - http://mylovelylapband.blogspot.com/

4. Brie - http://weightlossbandit.blogspot.com/

5. Dahlia - http://daliagarces.blogspot.com/

6. Midwest Meg - http://wimeg.blogspot.com/

7. MissMaryMert- http://missmarymert.blogspot.com/

8. Jo - http://joslapbandweightlossjourney.blogspot.com/

9. Karen- http://karen-landofthelost.blogspot.com/

10. Becky- http://beashiningstar.blogspot.com/

11. Christy- http://smilies63.blogspot.com/

12. Thea- http://truffleshufflegirl.blogspot.com/

*Thea, I had problems leaving a comment as I couldn't see the whole word verification or scroll down...I'll try again.

13. Nicole- http://mynewreality-nicole.blogspot.com/

14. Trixie- http://weightlosssurgeryblog.blogspot.com/

15. Tracie- http://tracie515.blogspot.com/

4. OK, I'm off to do #4!

8/11/10 Cape May

I'm home! Here are some pics of our vacation in Cape May (went to visit DH's sister and her family at their new place).

I figured out, while I was there, that most of my new 'fun clothes' have empire waists and are flowy...most of them I bought before I lost all the weight and I was still in my old habits of buying 'camouflage clothing'...look, they're mainly black too LOL. I wore this with my silver/diamonds everywhere 'gladiator' sandals.
We rode bikes (rented ours for the whole family for the week) or walked miles every morning (just the adults were up that early of course) and we'd stop and get breakfast. We ate dinners out every night but one...they have great restaurants there and we tried three new ones I loved...and I'll pass on the names for anyone who goes there. Here we are after eating at 'Fresco's' (owned by their next door restaurant '410 Bank Street'...also a great place). Try the fried olives appetizer...amazing.

On the beach with DD...see, I wore the bikini!

My tribute to 'Shark Week' on Discovery.
Our last day there it was SO foggy they didn't let anyone in the water until it cleared. The crazy part is that this was at 1pm and it was HOT...even the lifeguards said they've never seen anything like it (it finally burned off around 1:30 pm). Here I am with my SIL and we made some castles and lagoons with the boys (you can see the lifeguard stand in the background that they pulled into the water...it's not very far away from us, that's how thick the fog was and this was after some of it was gone).

Here we are going out to 'Peter Shields' restaurant (on Beach Street)...very fancy old home and you'd never know you were at the ocean (the asparagus/mushroom soup was to die for).

Here's the family on the deck of my SIL's family's new place (you can't see it in this pic, but they have a great ocean view and it's behind me in this pic). We went to 'The Pier House' and sat outside on the patio for dinner. It was the perfect evening (cool and it's on the Beach Street) so we listened to the waves crashing) and a great meal.
I gained at least 5 pounds...kinda surprised me as we got a lot of exercise, but also a lot of 'liquid calories'. I'm not too worried about it...at least today LOL.

I'm off to do the 100 loads of laundry...the SIL/family arrive on Friday for a college visit here Saturday morning (they have two kids- my niece about 9 months younger than DD and she just graduated from PSU, and my nephew who will be a HS Senior).

8/1/10 Happy Feet

First, we've received our first SWA Challenge entry here: http://2010snewlife4me.blogspot.com/2010/08/swa-follow-me-im-begging.html Check out the toe rings!...or...whoops...those are toe cuffs anchoring you permanently to your scale, right? What a great tip for all our SWA members Sandy!...d*mn, wish I'd thought of that! I wonder how much it would cost to get them installed post scale-build?

I hope you're all thinking of some posts for the SWA Challenge (click on the logo at the top of the sidebar for details, and check out our new page at the top here/one of the tabs next to 'home')...you've got a whole month to work on it, so I'm expecting a lot...informative, funny, clever, thought-provoking, piggie pics...you know...your regular, wonderful selves! Oh, and I bought my first 'prize canvas' to start working on when I get back...here's a clue...let's just say I didn't buy it at an art store.

My two-headed toe and I are getting ready for our beach trip and that involves lots of sunless tanner for my pasty white stomach (bikini...yikes) and of course I bought a few sandals...no, not for in the sand...with a little 'bling' (see, I told you bling was my thing) to keep me warm for those cool nights in the restaurants with a nice bottle of wine...and they're flat for all that walking and shopping in Cape May (heels don't work with all the walking we do there)...the perfect compliment to a casual sundress...there's nothing like fun shoes to make you happy.

Oh, and BTW...my 'Barney Rubble' feet have shrunk...so start taking new measurements on your feet too (thank G*d my kids all got DH's beautiful long skinny hands, fingers, feet and toes...although they each got a 'slight' two-headed one as well)...so I needed these (these are 8 or 8.5 and I was in 9 or 8.5W).

These are zip heels and look at all those gems...DH says they look like a Gladiator...'For Sparta!'

These are ruffled and blingy...
Because Diamond's are a girl's best friend...