Christmas Wish List

Disclaimer:  I can skip this part, right?  Surely y'all know me well enough by now to know that I don't feel entitled nor deserving of anything, realize that receiving isn't nearly as great as giving, and I'm just doing this because my mom and sister have both asked me to give them ideas of things I'd like...right?  Ok, good.  :)

1.  Vera Bradley Purse (Glenna)-  I'm sorry, but call me grandma...I just don't care.  I will be the last person carrying one of these purses in the free world, I guess.  But you just can't beat a good Vera purse.  The pockets, the POCKETS (worth repeating) are amazing.  They are sturdy, can be washed and still hold their shape, and I love some of the patterns offered on the website.  This one is Plum Crazy.

                   
2. I'm slightly obsessed with perfume.  I think I get perfume almost every year for Christmas.  Last year I got Lollia from Anthropologie.  This year, I would like to have Ivanka Trump's perfume.  Now, I neither like or dislike the Trumps, so I'm not endorsing this because it's hers.  I just think it smells good.




3.  Old Navy Pajama Pants- THE most comfortable ever!

4.  Bow-Tie Ballet Flats from Old Navy

5.  Gift Card for clothes



I'm So Excited, and I Just Can't Hide It!!!!!!!

Click here.  See #7???  I'm checking that off in March.  He's coming to the Ryman in Nashville and I have tickets!!!! No idea who will go with me, but I definitely plan to be there.  I've wanted to see him for YEARS and he always plays in towns that are too far away.  I.am.so.excited.

Corn Dip (Best Ever!)

This weekend my sister, a friend, and I decided to go all out and make some "football finger foods" since two very big games happened to be on television.  My favorite of everything we made was this corn dip.  I could eat it every day for the rest of my life and not get tired of it.  It's that good!

Corn Dip

2 cans Mexicorn
1 can yellow and white corn
1 cup mayo
1 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
green onions, finely chopped

Mix all of the above together and serve with tortilla chips or fritos.

That Went Well.....

Yeah, so that diet post just below...that worked out great, didn't it!?  Oh my stars.  I'm still trying friends.  It's an every.single.day. thing.  I have been getting up three days a week at 5:45 in the morning to walk since August 1.  I'm trying to make exercise a priority, even though I'd rather eat dirt than do it.  I'm still struggling, but I will never quit trying.  Keep those prayers coming.

In other news, school has started back.  I've never been so exhausted in my life!  The first two weeks were brutal, but my body is finally getting used to the new schedule and new routine.  I love my job, so it makes it a little easier to get up in the mornings.

Nothing much else going on in my world these days.  I'm going to the American Idol Concert this weekend.  Some friends and I make the trip every year, so it's a tradition.  I'm looking forward to it. But more than that, I'm looking forward to Labor Day...and the absence of any sort of labor I plan to do on that day.  Cue the hallelujah chorus.

Hope you all are well.  :)

Weight Loss Wednesday

Thanks to those of you that commented on my last post.  While not as many as I'd like to keep me accountable, I have to do this for myself regardless.  I haven't done as well as I'd like.  I haven't done nearly as well as I'd like.  I have only been home two days in the last week and as I said before, that throws me off severely.  I'm excited about a new week.  It WILL be better.

This week I lost: 2 pounds (exactly)

Total weight loss: 2 pounds

I'll take it.  It's better than nothing.

Here I Go Again...

I'm embarrassed to say that I have failed at yet another diet.  In the winter/spring, I was fairly successful at eating clean and counting calories.  I lost about 15 pounds and was feeling good.  But then life happened.  School was out for the summer, and I completely lost control and ruined the progress I had worked so hard to make.  I've learned that when I'm home and on a routine, I do fairly well.  But when I deviate from that, it goes downhill fast.  For example, I was at Impact for almost a week this summer.  I lived in a hotel room without a fridge, so everything I ate was fast food or junk they provided in the cafeteria on campus at Lipscomb.  Also, when my sister and family come to town, I stay at my mom's with them...and she makes cakes, cookies, huge meals, etc etc etc.  It's.too.hard.  But the fact is, that's life.  I will never live in a world where everyone around me is dieting and refuses to eat things that tempt me.  I need to learn to deal with reality and avoid the temptation.  I need to stop using food to fill voids in my life.  It doesn't work- in so many ways.  I'm sick of feeling unable to be my true self and being held back by my appearance.  I'm tired of Satan using it against me and making me feel unworthy.  I'm tired of buying into those lies.  I have to try (for the millionth time) to fix it.

Sooooooo, my idea is this:  I'm beginning Weight Loss Wednesdays.  Each Wednesday, I'm going to weigh in and reveal on my blog the results of the prior week in my effort to lose weight.  I will tell how much I lose or how much I gain.  I promise to be 100% truthful, good or bad.  I just simply need the accountability.  I need to know that people are reading and supporting me.  I haven't decided for sure how I will go about it.  More than likely, I will do a combination of calorie counting and clean eating.  I'm going to try and eliminate most processed foods, eat more fruits and veggies, etc.  I know how to do it, I just need the strength to do it.  My body always fights me when I diet and my metabolism must have died before I was even born.  It's just super hard for me.  Nevertheless, it won't happen if I don't try.  So, here I am again.

I am not soliciting praise, nor am I pleading for you to write cheers or chants to scream at me daily.  I do ask that if you read my blog regularly,  just comment with your name (at least).  Knowing there are people I will have to answer to will help keep me motivated.  So, please please please take a second and comment with your name.  If I don't feel anyone is reading my results, it will defeat the entire purpose of this attempt.  Also, if you struggle with dieting or anything else you'd like to be held accountable for, I would love to help you, too!  Life is too short to have regrets, so I'm trying once more to make myself proud.

I love you all, friends! Thanks in advance for your encouragement and support!

P.S.  I will weigh in the morning and still reveal the results Wednesday, even though it won't be a full week.  I also have to figure out what to do the 20-27 when I go to the beach.  How do I diet then?  I will have to make a plan...

Sweet, Sweet Summer

I decided early on that my goal for this summer was to slow down enough to actually feel like I'm on vacation.  I typically find something to fill almost every single day during my time off and end up going back to school in the fall not feeling like I've had any rest or days to myself.  I was determined to change that this year and friends, I have been very successful at that thus far.  This entire week I have stayed in my pajamas until mid afternoon, gotten a shower late, and either spent the evening watching my favorite reality television shows or hanging out with friends.  I've done laundry.  I've kept the kitchen clean.  I've cooked dinner.  I've done everything on my own schedule.  It's fabulous!  However, it's about to come to an end for two or three weeks.

I guess it's safe to publicly announce that I will be an aunt again in November!!!  My sis is pregnant with #2 and we find out in just a couple weeks if she's having a boy or girl.  I absolutely cannot wait!  I just hope this little nugget sleeps better than ST and doesn't have colic.  Bless.  And speaking of sweet Sarah Taylor, Mom and I are keeping her for a week beginning Saturday!  Cort and Trey are going to the beach for their five year anniversary.  I'm excited to spend the week with  my little princess and spoil her as much as I can.  She's quite the character these days.....hilarious.

I've also accepted a position at church working with the youth group this summer.  I'm super excited and look forward to what God has in store.  We begin VBS Monday and I'll be leaving in a couple weeks for a week long youth camp.  Gone are the days of pajamas and rest for a while, but it will be well worth it.  I'm hoping God will use the trials I have experienced lately and the battles I've fought against Satan to help some of those sweet kids.  He does work in mysterious ways.

So, until the end of the month, my sitting around in my pajamas watching my favorite daytime talk shows is over.  I welcome the change of pace though.  Cabin fever is starting to set in, so the timing is actually perfect.  

I hope you're all enjoying the sunshine.  Keep praying we have no snake sightings around these parts.  So far so good.  ;)