The last day of -24 or colder!

We are on a warm up till Saturday when temperatures go from this mornings teap of -24 to 45*F. Steve did a fun science experiment yesterday. He threw a cup of hot water into the cold air and it turned to a cloud. I took a video, not sure it will play? 

 I can't wait till it feels warm outside and I can go cross country skiing. Of all things, we are going to have rain on Sunday, which will not be good for the cross country skiing snow. Good thing we are getting more snow the following week to freshen up the ski trails. 

Wearing clothes I haven't worn in a long time. Fitting back into my small warm jacket and leggings that didn't feel great on since they were extra tight before I started losing weight. I'm liking having more clothes options once again. I was kind of wearing the same three outfits just because I didn't want to buy more fat clothes. I'm mostly excited about being able to wear all my workout clothes, tank tops and form fitting clothes once again with out them feeling and looking awful. 

I still have no idea of what I weight. I did take some tape measurement of my waist, hips, arms and thighs a few days ago. I will compare those numbers on Monday when I reach day 15/ 3 weeks of my fasting diet. 

Last night, Steve made some delicious lemon chicken. He used a little olive oil, pan fried the chicken breasts he cut in half, added white wine, garlic some herbs, capers and lemon juice and zest. We had our chicken with root veggies, roasted carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips, beets and some pan cooked brussle sprout shreds. I ate all the brussle sprouts up since they were super low in calorie, cooked with a tiny bit of light olive oil and water in a pan. I still figure I stayed with in 500 calories for the meal. My cell was dead so I didn't get to take a photo of the chicken but it was really good! Once again, I felt like I wanted to eat a night time snack. I just had more flavored water and when I get home from working, I have a big cup of low calorie hot chocolate. I usually, just have one a day of the hot chocolate or two depending on how I'm feeling. 

I've been making lots of rice crispy bars for my customers and family the past two weeks. Its easy to make and give away. I love rice crispy bars with Peanut butter! I have not been tempted to even taste them. Its best to just not go there! I do enjoy baking and being on a diet won't stop me from what I like doing. I just won't eat any and just give it away! 

Day 10 REwArd!!

Day 10 of my intermittent fasting/500 calorie diet. REWARD DAY!!! I'm getting more lashes!!

 I think this has been the easiest diet I've done. Other then time not passing fast enough to have noticeable weight loss, its' going great! I do notice a small change in my weight. My pants are getting looser, I have less stomach fat and I feel better over all for sticking with my diet plan and actually losing weight each day. 

I eat normal meals at dinner, but just a lot less! Last night we went to Steve's parents for dinner. I had a beef tenderloin, potatoes/root veggies and asparagus. I even tried a tiny bit of grain bread with three types of cheese and a small bite of pumpkin/chocolate tort for dessert. I didn't feel deprived at all. I still tasted the foods I want to avoid, like cheese and deserts. I just limited it to a small taste and that was enough! I even shared a little of my tenderloin with Zoey. 

Next big goal day, is one day at a time but on Day #15! I'm treating myself to a much needed pedicure! I'm looking forward to more noticeable weightloss!! 

500 calorie diet and weight loss and before pictures!

I've been on my 500 calories per day or less weight loss diet for 9 days. Still going strong and determined to lose at least 15 to 20 pounds! I'd love to wake up one morning and feel like I've lost a lot of weight. So far, I've noticed a little weight loss on my stomach/waist. I haven't weighed myself so I have no idea what my weight loss is. I'm okay with not knowing since I feel like I've lost at least 5 pounds. I sure would like to see a 9 pound weight loss but a pound a day is probably not realistic.

I really need to take a before picture. I probably have a few in my photos that I can use once I do lose more weight. I will have to check on that or have someone take a before picture.

It took me over 6 years to put back on weight that I lost. Even with exercise, and running the weight crept back up. I will really have to stay focused on eating less as I age. After 50 the weight just wants to stick around.

I have a big Day 10 goal day coming up tomorrow. I'm rewarding myself today with a Movie and tomorrow, I get my lashes freshened up for a super 10 day reward of sticking with my diet. Day 15 is my big pedicure day reward. It's good to have non food rewards for small goals along the way. The big goal over all is to be able to wear a swim suit this summer, fit into my summer shorts and jeans once again. I want to feel and look good at 50 this summer!

I've changed up my mornings a little on my diet. Instead of waking up at 5am. I'm sleeping in till 6 or 7 to make sure I'm fully rested. Dieting is tough. Zoey, has been sleeping in with me.

Found a before pix in October 2018

 Before pix August 2018

Snow Day!!

We got snow last night! About 6 to 8" of the white fluffy stuff. It's still snowing and cold, like -6*F. School was canceled for both kids today due to weather. Kind of nice for them. I still have to work. I could delay my work for today too, but the next few days the cold will still be really bad. No reason to delay working if it won't be any better! The roads have been plowed and Steve is in the process of getting our driveway cleared.

The end of the driveway is the worst with the plow pushing the heavy snow into our driveway. We shoveled most of the driveway and the snow blower will take care of the bottom of the driveway. The snow was pretty light and fluffy but its just bitterly cold out! I'll have to bring gloves and a hat for the car to be winter ready! 

Zoey usually likes to go out and jump in the snow when we are out there. She wanted no part in any of that today. She quickly went out and came right in. This is her favorite place to be, in the office window, looking out nice and warm by the heat vent. 

And the snow keeps coming down. I think it's suppose to stop snowing soon!

1 week weight loss!! Done! Yippee. I was trying to figure out how fast I lost weight a few years ago when I lost 40 pounds. I started to diet right before the State Fair in August around  the 27th? So that's 4 days in August, then all of September, October. By the end of October, I was pretty much at my weight loss goals. I probably lost another 5 pounds when I started to work out at the gym in November and I was cross country skiing once we got some snow mid November. I pretty much skied every day until spring. It was a great ski season that year. So basically I lost 40 pounds in 64 - 70 days of fasting/eating under 500 calories per day. Which turns out to be around 5 to 6 pounds per week of weight loss. Less then I was hoping but also encouraging to think that in 8 weeks, I can lose 40 pounds by staying on track. I'll keep posting to figure out if I can do this again! 

Looking back at week number 1. Day 1 seems so far away right now. Glad I figured out once again what works for me to lose weight. It's not for everyone. You have to figure out what diet works best. For me, its to lose weight quickly as possible with out feeling tired or to starve myself. I have to eat a little each day to keep up the energy and it works best to not eat all day. I'm never hungry in the morning so it makes sense to save my one meal for dinner when we all eat together. I don't want to miss out on family together time. I think the only hard time I had with the diet was sometimes after dinner. When I'd feel like I wanted to keep eating, like have a after dinner snack. Or when something stressed me out after working and I wanted that comfort food. I realized that a low calorie hot chocolate does the same trick and helps me feel satisfied and full to wait till dinner to eat. I also realized, I need to make dinners or pre plan my food. Makes it easier if I'm the one cooking dinner to keep me busy then waiting and starving to make poor food choices. 

Last night for dinner, I made chicken lettuce wraps. While they had both sugar and rice in the recipe, I limited my plate to 1 serving. After this picture, I added more raw carrots and a little cilantro on top and a little more lettuce. I'll be having leftovers for dinner tonight on day 8. 

Day 8, Week #2. 

While I haven't noticed a lot of weight loss just yet. I do feel a lot better and a huge accomplishment on my part to feel diet success on my first week. Going into week two feeling good about this diet and making more progress. I'm sure by the end of the week my clothes will start to feel more loose. 

Last week, I managed to do planks at least 5 times. My goal this week is going for 7 days. Plus, it should be warm enough outside to cross country ski on Saturday at the temp will be back up in the 30's and not below zero. More exercise and more burning calories!!

Success! One week!

I did it!! Made it to 7 days /1 week of my fasting diet! I need to figure out a non food reward! Not sure what that will be,maybe new earrings?

Here's what I found out from fasting one week! It was not that bad. It's something that feels easier for me to lose weight this way, waiting till dinner time to eat a meal, then allowing myself to eat throughout the day. After dinner, I only have 2 hours till bed time so its not many hours to control my eating or not eating. Once I start to eat, I usually want to keep eating, like having a night time bowl of ice cream or afternoon snack of popcorn or some cookies. Now that I wait till dinner to eat, this gives me time to think about what I'll be eating and pre-plan a little. Plus, I've been trying to slow down eating and enjoy every bite. I don't feel hungry till after around 2:30/3pm but it's only a few more hours till dinner and easy enough to wait. I just have a low calorie hot chocolate or drink lots of my flavored waters to fill me up. Going out on the weekends, I thought would be my down fall. While, last nights meal was not that healthy here's what I did to make better choices. 

1. I did not have anything to drink with calories. I didn't order a cider. That saved 200 - 400 calories. I just brought my hot chocolate low calorie mix and some flavored water packages to add to water at the restaurants. I also split the meal with Steve. We shared wings and a burger. Even though the wings are fried, I did not eat the skin. I did eat the crunches off the wings and ate only 5 small dummies total.  We split a half pound burger with bacon, lettuce and an onion ring. I peeled off most of the bacon and had zero fries. I did indulge in ketchup on my burger. This way if we go out to eat, I don't feel like I'm on a diet that I can't have food. This has to be a life style change. Since we enjoy going out to eat this system works best for me. While I ate more calories Saturday night, I'm probably always going to have one night during the week where I splurge a little on calories. I'm just focusing on what I did right and not concentrate on the bad choices of eating fried food. 

Monday, starting out fresh again on week #2 of my diet. I thought on day 10 I would want to weight myself to see my weight progress. I'm not sure I want to do that any more. I'd rather go just by the way my clothes fit and how much fat I look like I'm losing. I don't want to be disappointed if I didn't lose as much weight as I think I should have for all my efforts. I just need to focus on keep going forward on my diet plan. 

This week, I will make diners so I can plan healthy meals and what time we eat. I'd rather eat at 5:00/5:30pm since I'm only eating one meal a day. 

Saturday afternoon, I made a chocolate cake from scratch, and drizzled the outside with chocolate gnash, topped with a cream cheese/butter cream raspberry frosting and chocolate happy birthday letters. It looked more like a water fountain, but I'm sure it will taste better then it looked. I have to say, the chocolate ganash drizzled on top really looked pretty before I added the frosting. The entire cake was perfectly coated in a smooth, glossy chocolate.

I spent Friday night with Evan and had a sleepover at our house. We made some pretzel candies and he decorated them with sprinkles and M & M's. He requested Mc'd's for dinner at the big play-land. A fun night to spend one on one with Evan. 

Just a little pollution cloud on my drive home. Looked a little like a mushroom cloud. 

5 Pounds Down!!

Day #5 of my fasting diet. I'm taking a wild guess and saying I could have lost 5 pounds! I will weight myself at day 10 and see how much I actually lost. 

Yesterday I did not eat breakfast, lunch or a snack. Dinner I had roasted pork, coleslaw with a little balsamic dressing, mashed potatoes and mushrooms cooked in olive oil. I kept the mashed potatoes to one small ice cream scoop size and pork was a deck of cards size portion. I'm guessing that added up to 280- 300 calories? Plus, I drank lots and lots of water, flavored 5 calorie water and a 25 calorie hot chocolate.

On Day 5 it's my reward day for staying on track with my weight loss goals. Not sure what my reward should be? I've been trying to come up with something to buy myself or a treat like a pedicure? I'll save the pedicure for day 15 as that's a huge accomplishment! Something to look forward to and a much needed treat! Paint for the office? That might be a good treat since I really want to cover up the red walls with a gray/blue!

My weekend plans are going to be a little tough on Saturday. I don't work, but I do have house project plans of painting our doors and sanding the buffet and staining the edge gray to match our kitchen counter edge. This should keep me busy and burning calories throughout the day.

I have Evan over today for a sleep over. Looking forward to spending some time with my favorite grandson. My only grandson! I planed some easy baking project of making almond bark pretzels with m & m's for a treat. Maybe we'll go to the MOA and do something fun? Its far too cold out so it will have to be an indoor activity! Or maybe we will just hang out here and play games?

Sunday, I work in the morning. I'll get at least two hours of exercise while I work. After we have no plans but I'll be making cookies for my customers. Probably doing more door painting since we have 11 doors to finish painting white upstairs.

We always like to go out some where to eat on either Friday or Saturday night. I'm guessing we will save the going out to eat for Saturday night. I'll just keep doing my same diet. I'm not going to deprive myself of going out for my diet. Just make better food choices, share food, eat less portion size, stay away from fried foods. Limit myself to one drink or no drinks! Probably zero drinks since the calories are around 170 per glass of wine or cider. Its always a good idea to pre-plan a meal and think about what you'll order before going to a restaurant. This way I won't have any laps of decisions about my food choices and portion size.

Happy Weekend!!

Speed up Time!

I would really like time to speed up right now. I want 15 days of dieting to go by super fast. Why is it when your trying to lose weight, time really slows down?

I'm having fasting success! Day 4 and I'm still on track making hourly and daily progress! It feels great to stick with my weight loss goals/plan. I need to keep it going for 11 more days.

My plan for food on Day 3, no breakfast, no lunch and No snacks! I did have plenty of 5 calorie flavored water and a low 30 calorie hot chocolate in the afternoon. I needed to warm up because its been super cold here. Plus, a good drink to keep me occupied and not think about eating in the afternoon was just what I needed. 

Dinner consisted of smoked clams at 180 calories. I love these little protein packed clams in cotton seed oil. I need to look up cotton seed oil and see if it's a healthy option. I made mushroom and cheese ravioli for dinner and of course wanted to have some. I ate one of each with a little tomato sauce. I made myself a small bowl of coleslaw, with a balsamic dressing. I kept the dressing to a minimum. Filled me up but I was kind of climbing the walls for a bit after dinner wanting to eat more. I stayed busy by cleaning up the kitchen and then washing towels, folding and then finally sitting down to watch some TV with my flavored water. I just kept reminding myself that I only had one hour to bedtime. I could do just one hour with out eating more. Its not that I was hungry, but I just wanted to eat something. I noticed when I get stressed, or want to have some relaxing down time, that's when I grab food or want something to eat as a stress reliever. I'm going to try doing some yoga and having a hot drink instead for a stress reliever. It's been working so far and now to make that my new habit so I won't go back to old coping ways. 

It's going to be a super cold day. I think it's around 11*F but with the wind it could be -25*F. We also got a little more snow, maybe an inch? Still not enough to ski and its far too cold this week to even venture out to ski. Zoey refused to go outside this morning. She backed away from the door when I opened it and the cold blew in. I can't blame her, I don't even want to go out there today! I have a busy work day too so I have to get out there! I'll be bundled up!! 

How do I feel on day 3 fasting?

How do I feel on day 3 of fasting? 

Great! A little hungry this morning. Losing weight isn't easy, Not losing weight is even harder. So I'm moving on and keeping on my fasting day. I was reading while fasting you can lose a pound a day. Not sure if that's true, but I'll go with that for now. At least the first 10 days. I'll weight myself again and see if its true for me. 

Day 2, I didn't feel hungry. I waited till 6pm to eat. Steve and I went out to Doolittles for dinner. Restaurants can be tricky to maintain a diet. I pre-thought out what I would be eating. Rotisserie chicken wings with out the skin only 3 wings. We shared a thin flat bread chicken, mushroom, tomato pizza. I had three small slices and I small slice of bread with butter from the bread basket. Drank water instead of having a high calorie cider. Plus, I did not dip back into the bread basket. I allowed myself one slice and ate it slowly. This way, I don't feel deprived and I still maintain my low calories for the day. When we got home I was pretty cold so I made myself a low calorie 25, hot chocolate. Tasted good and was a nice way to end the night with a tasty drink. 

 I've been adding 5 calorie flavored water packages to my water bottles. Its nice to have some flavor when I'm not eating during the day.

My shoe inserts are working great! I got up from a 2.5 hour movie yesterday afternoon and my heal didn't hurt at all. I could walk normal right away with out having to stand for a bit and then walk out in pain. This is working!!

We have snow once again.  Just enough to make everything white but not enough to cross country ski. I'd need another 3 inches. We might just get more on Friday/Saturday! Fingers crossed as I want to ski again!!! Until I can ski, I'll be doing some indoor biking at least 30 minutes. Plus doing my daily planks/dumbbell weights.

Today, I'll be working for three hours, burning lots of calories, finishing up our business taxes and staying on track to lose weight. Dinner plans are to eat some clams while everyone else has ravioli for dinner. I'd rather have protein at 160 calories then cheese and white wheat noodles.  Its all about choice! I'm choosing to take care of myself and feel good again!

Three pounds down and 12 pounds to go! I can do this!!!

Fasting update

Day 1 Success on my fasting diet. I did eat 1/3 of a slice of cheese quiche I made for dinner last night. I scraped off the crust so I cut out those calories. The rest of the day I sipped water with 5 calorie Raspberry Lemonade. The water helped curb my mind into thinking I needed food. In all fasting on day 1 was not exactly easy from 3:30 - 8pm but I did it. I just kept reminding myself that it's only a few hours and I can eat in the morning if I'm overly hungry. I think the small slice of quiche saved me from being overly hungry and lasting till the next day. 

Day 2, I decided I must weight myself to really know how much I'm losing. I didn't weight myself the last time I lost weight and went on a 100+ day diet. I just kept thinking I should have lost more weight then I actually did lose. Probably because I weighted more then I thought. Well, not this time. I know exactly where I am and what I need to lose. Starting with just 15 pounds. I would like to lose more but I need a closer goal weight right now. Just taking one day, one hour at a time on this fasting diet. Fasting is my idea of just staying under 500 calories for the day. This way, I still can eat and not feel like I was not successful. Its' unrealistic to think I can not eat for days and lose 15 pounds. I've tried other diets where I try to cut back but I have this afternoon down fall every day where I can't keep it together. This diet of fasting works best for me. I lose over 40 pounds in a little over 2 months doing this type of diet. I wasn't tired, and I wasn't hungry either. I was super motivated to take the weight off. I need to be that motivated once again. Summer is coming and I want to wear all my cute summer clothes, wear my swim suit, go biking and be happy with the way I look. I don't want to avoid summer fun due to being unhappy with my weight. I have plenty of time January, Febuary, March, April and May to drop weight slowly so I can reach my long term weight loss goals. Right now, just one day, one hour and one pound at a time to reach 15 pounds! I read, that it takes a 10 pound weight loss to drop one size and for anyone to start noticing you've lost weight. I think after I lost 20 pounds the first time people started to notice and at 40 pounds, everyone said I looked great! I'm excited and determined to get back to my pre- weight loss weight! I need to do this for me!

Trying a new Fast Diet

I started my diet today. Just focusing on one hour, one day at a time. I'm going to try fasting. 

So far, this morning was easy. I'm never hungry in the mornings. So not eating is simple. I start getting hungry after work, which is usually around 12:30/1pm. I only have 6 eating hours of the day from 1 to 7pm. I surely can fast for a few hours. It's now 3:30pm the time where I want to cave in. Where I have the hardest time to lose weight because I want to eat in the late afternoon. I'm committed to going just one day fasting to jump start my diet. I keep telling myself that I can eat first thing in the morning. Day 1 is always tough. 

Here's what we did on our Sunday. Steve and I finally checked out a new Cider place, Urban forage. This was delicious cider, with spices. 

These bars do not look good from this photo. I finally made pecan pie bars with a short bread crust. Much better then pecan pie crust. They turned out really good and tasted better with some vanilla ice cream. Of course they are sitting in a pan waiting to be eaten. I just keep telling myself, that I can make them again some day since they are super easy to make. No need to eat any today.

Foot and Tape

I'm all taped up for the next 3 to 5 days! After I get to put shoe inserts in for 3 weeks and do some exercises for my planter factitious. 

I can't get the tape wet, so I'll be wearing a plastic bag on my foot when I shower for a few days. My foot already is feeling better. The doctor also wants me to wear shoes all the time. So no bare feet for me!

After the doctor, I had a little time to kill before going to work at 11. I ended up at TJ maxx and found a new pictur/painting for the front entry. I replaced a faded out painting. 

I also found these white wooden decorative wall hanging. I didn't want to put back the outdated wine bottle painting and the wall light I took off the shades. I think it looks better like this. I just need to adjust the wall decorations since I just used the existing nails to put them on the wall. Adding just a few more 2019 changes to the house. Now to get moving on the office and paint!

Mid week..

Zoey is looking good. She is all cleaned up with a shorter fur coat. She didn't even freak out when I was driving her to the groomer. She walked right in and got to play with a few other dogs that were waiting to be picked up. I think that's her favorite part. She was pretty excited to see me and definitely wanted to go home. 

Today's agenda is getting my left foot fixed. Although, now that I'm actually going to the doctor, my foot has been hurting a lot less. Go figure! It's not 100% and I'm not sure anything will be done but at least I'll find out if anything can be done or if it's up to me to just wait it out! At least I'll know my options if any!

Dieting has been failing in the afternoons for me. I have to change what I do after work or I can never change my behavior. First step is to skip lunch or just have a few almonds. Change into workout clothes, go to the bank and drop of my daily checks and then head right to the gym to bike and lift weights. I can easily just sit on a bike, look at my phone and then do a little weights. I'm also going to go from the couch to the floor and do afternoon/evening yoga. A little caffeine in the afternoon might help the afternoon blah's. I think this is why I snack and eat far more calories then needed to lose weight. Little changes to my schedule should make the difference between not losing weight and having success with dropping some pounds. I have a spring goal of to lose weight and feel good this summer. There is so much I want to do and I have the months to start making changes so I can have a good summer full of everything I want to do! Which involves another spring Dulahalon! I'm thinking Cannon falls in April if my foot is fixed. It all depends on how my feet feel.

If you fail, try again and start fresh!

It was another day of diet failure. I made a lasagna and of course wanted to eat some for dinner.  I did have only 3 almonds for breakfast and a salad for lunch. I also had a glass of red wine with dinner and a few after dinner chocolate kisses. Snacking was at least some low calorie popcorn and not much of it. 

If I failed yesterday at my diet, start fresh today. I woke up hungry so three almonds are not going to do it. I had my PB bread so I wouldn't be starving all morning. We ate up the lasagna so at least I won't be tempted by that any more! Maybe skip lunch and just have my veggie soup for dinner. Time to wake up tomorrow with weight loss from my efforts today! Wouldn't that be nice!

Zoey is off to the groomers this afternoon. She is a furry beast at the moment. I'll have to take an after photo.

My daily exercises are going great! I added in 30 second side planks Right/left. Still not doing my exercises two times a day, but I'm getting back in the habit of just doing my exercises every day and I have yet to do as much as I use to for planking. I was doing 2 minutes at a time of bent and straight arms planks, 1 minute each side plank times two. I have a ways to go to double what I'm doing now!

My afternoon plans are to bike while Zoey is at the groomer and lift weights at the gym. It's just down the road from the groomer so this should be easy to follow through.

I am looking forward to spring when I can bike outdoors and hopefully start running again after my heal appointment tomorrow morning. It will be nice to know exactly what is going on with my heal!

Making changes, one step at a time.

Upping

I'm upping my goals this week. Going for a 1 to 5 pound weight loss!
Doing my daily planks 7 days instead of 6 this week.
Adding side planks to my daily exercises
Biking daily going for 30 minutes
Fasting till my early dinner around 4pm daily.
Pre-planning dinners so I stay on track!

I always stay tomorrow I start fresh! Well, Sunday was a big breakfast day. It sure keeps you full all day long but I just don't like breakfast that much to do this very often. I'm good with skipping breakfast. I'm starting my week off like I did last week, with 3 almonds at breakfast. I only eat almonds if I take Advil because my back is killing me and with a 1/2 caffeine, because I don't drink coffee. I need that little pick me up in the morning.

 My plan is to work each day, go bike for 30 minutes then do some taxes this week. Trying to go for 7 days in a row. Starting a new habit. Just need to bring gym clothes to change into when I'm done working to stop me from going home and sitting on the couch! I do feel like I need a break after working, but then I never get up after and I'm done for the day. I need to start changing this pattern once again and just keep moving 30 minutes longer. Its not a lot of extra time or moving so this shouldn't be too hard to convince myself to do this daily! Right?

No diet but a donut run!

Steve wanted to go to Mojo Monkey this morning. They were closed since the 1st for new store changes. We were really disappointed. The customer area shrunk so only two tables to sit at, the donut counter is still small and cramped. They did make their baking area much larger. So much for the new changes! 

The donuts are far too sweet. The dough and toppings. I love sugar but this is over kill. I think we thought that the last time we got donuts. The prices have also gone up. We paid close to $14 dollars for 4 dounts! This is our last visit. If I want a donut, Cub foods has good ones and better yet, wait till Grand Marais for the Worlds Best Donut shop! I'm all about light lemon with a dusting of confectioners sugar. By far my favorite little donut!

Thankfully, we shared all the dounts and I only ate maybe one total. Not a great diet plan but better then eating two.

I had all these plans to get my taxes done or a good chunk done for our businesses. I have tons of receipts to enter into a spread sheet and total up for our accountant. I'd like to be done sooner then later! I took about a two hour nap. Not sure why I was so wiped out.

I am finally getting my eye lashes refreshed. I need them now! I also did find the energy to vacuum our house and make a lasagna for dinner tonight. Exciting Saturday plans! Not! 

8 days!

For eight days in a row I've done my daily exercises of lifting weights and doing planks. Getting back on track to do some quick exercises that strengthen my core and tones up my arms. I'll be increasing my plank time to 1 minute and 30 seconds next week in order to get back to 2 minute planks. Also adding back in 30 second side planks.

Most importantly, I'm not going to quit again or just hopefully remain injury free! Its just not worth quitting exercising! Thankfully, it has been fairly easy for me to get back into it and pick up where I left off since I had been doing planks daily for a few years. Taking the last year off was not good!

Doing more home decorating. I found these headboards at the HOME Store. We picked one out and we will be getting Celina one for her room. Now to find some new pictures/ Art work for our walls! Time to update!

Zoey had a little bit of a heath issue yesterday. She had a puffy eye. I wanted to wait a little to see if the puffiness would go away on its own. Since it was just puffy, without a red eye and didn't seem to bother her. I figured it was worth just watching for a day. I of course Googled it and found that we could give her Benadryl for a possible allergy? I split the pill in half, she was pretty wiped out that night. A super mellow dogie! I'm happy to report, she is 100% fine today. No eye puffiness at all. Glad I waited it out because we did not need another $300+ vet bill for nothing! If it was a serious issue or if she was in pain, I would be glad to bring her to the vet to make her well again but this was just a wait and see thing. Maybe she got into something outside? I do think she had an allergic reaction to something because this is not the first time she has had a puffy eye. 

Dinner Fail!

I attempted to make dinner last night. I found a good looking crock pot meal on Pinterest to make Beef Bourguignon. Only problem is that I started making it around 2:30pm and it didn't have time for the beef to become tender when 6pm rolled around. By 7:30pm we gave up waiting for the beef to be tender enough to eat so, off to do take out. Such a fail to make a dinner and not be able to eat it. 

I do have dinner all ready for tonight. I plan to plug in the crockpot after 1pm and let it slowly cook at 8 hour setting so it will be hot and continue to tenderize the beef. I did add a little salt, onions and
pepper last night because it just didn't have enough flavor. At least it looks good this was taken before it was cooked. I'll have to do an after cooked and a recipe review! I'm not a cook so I need to follow instructions, just like with baking!

I'm having a not so happy moment when I got the excuse text again about my lashes. I get a "Oh, I need to re-schedule your lashes excuse every single time I have an appointment. It keeps getting pushed out. My lashes are looking AWFUL!! That is, I don't have any left and what I do have is not looking good. I'm re-thinking this trade for service swap because I seem to be doing more of the work without the swap. I still want my lashes done so for now I'm going to suck it up. Maybe just scale back on my part of the deal till I get something in return. I don't want to do the passive aggressive stand on this so I will be up front and honest about my scale back on my part till she comes through. I want this to be an even swap and how can we do that?