Category Archives: Raves & Praise
Guys. GUYS! It’s THE kitchen!!
So, it’s just as gorgeous in person…but I think it actually looks a bit smaller. The camera must work magic.
I have to say it was very surreal to be in that kitchen—and especially so when making my H2OJ in the morning (I tried Marcia’s pre-mixed strawberry banana but I didn’t like it!) and going in the pantry for Crystal Light packets and insulated cups. Yes, I just made myself at home. 🙂
The best way to wake up on my birthday.
This was waiting for me in my texts. 🙂
Two flying firsts!
1. Well, the first time in about 15 or so years that I haven’t needed a seatbelt extender.
2. And I can cross my legs at my seat!
Good Character Award, Grade 2
Owen got the very first Good Character Award in his class (again!) this year—YAY OWEN! (And his teacher let me know the day before so that was a huge bonus for us!!) Second grade is off to a flying start!
The award recipient gets to put the teacher’s hornet seat cover away!
Back To School Night 2016
So, as you know, Owen was OVER THE MOON about being assigned to a classroom on the second floor at William Halley ES—and all the thanks go to Principal Chianetta for making it happen! So when we actually got to his classroom, he was super excited and almost immediately went to look out the window!
He was his typical shy self at first but eventually let me take a picture with his new teacher, Ms. VanDerhoff.
Unfortunately, none of his six or so close friends (kids that we know well) are in his class but it turns out our next door neighbor is! (This is her first year at Halley—she went to private kindergarten.) And of course he knows lots of the kids because he knows everyone. 🙂
We had some extra time before the teacher’s presentation so I took Katie down to see her classrooms and find out who her teacher was. We hoped to have Miss Heather again because we LOVED her but knew it wasn’t guaranteed. As soon as Miss Heather saw Katie, she grabbed her and gave her a huge hug…then told me that Katie was being moved to the older room since she’s now four and then walked us over to meet the new teacher. You could see that Katie was a bit upset but the good news is that the assistant from Katie’s old room moved to the new room! So she has Miss Anne (our friend!) in her room. Yay! The teacher seemed very nice and I know we’ll get to know her better and everything will be okay. Eventually Katie came around to being in a different classroom.
Then it was back up to Owen’s classroom where we got the basic rundown of his classroom. The biggest change that I could see is there’s no bathroom in the room!
Then it was outside to check out the new playground equipment…
And both kids are now excited to get back to school. Yay!
15th Anniversary dinner!
Our local friend Leslie gave us such a great recommendation for our anniversary dinner last year that we went back to her again. And she knocked it out of the park again with this kinda hole-in-the-wall Modern European/German place called Cosmopolitan Grill (Yelp). Unbeknownst to us when we decided to go there, they were recently voted “as one of 100 Best Bargain Restaurants by the Washingtonian Magazine as well as Young and Hungry’s 50 Best Restaurants by Washington City Paper.”
For the appetizer we had Ćevapčići With Ajvar and Onion (little sausages with a red pepper and garlic relish) and since we knew the portions were huge, we split the Stuffed Veal Schnitzel (Breaded veal schnitzel stuffed with cheese and spicy peppers, served with roasted potato). It was all very, very good and even though we split the dinner we still brought home leftovers!
Ralph Lauren. Clearance. $29. SIZE 10. What?!
Now we just need to go out somewhere I can wear this!
Brickfair 2016
There was no traffic so we made it to Dulles in record time…which was good because at 9:30 there was already a line for the early 10:30 entrance! So I was a good mom and held our spot while Tom and the kids hunted Pokémon. 🙂
Then the ring thing happened so that put a bit of a damper on things for us. But we tried to forget about it because there was exactly nothing we could do about it at the moment.
So we looked at Legos. And wow, was it cool.
Rapunzel’s tower with mermaids swimming beneath!
Harry Potter’s Quidditch Field (both kids recognized it)!
One of my favorites:
This train had a camera on it. Check out the video feed toward the back!
The flying car from Harry Potter. Something like this was just on a random street scene, with maybe a Starbucks storefront and other random characters or cars. So it was fun to spy the things we knew.
I took these pics for Gramma Jean who saw this in real life. 🙂
The kids didn’t know these but we did! Iconic scenes from Charlie & the Chocolate Factory!
Of course there were lots of moving sets—trains and carousels and whatnot. But this was my favorite!
Then we did some quick shopping and we got Owen a Lego with his name on it.
And Tom got a marine. 🙂
By the time we were leaving it was really crowded and was a lot harder to look at the exhibits and it wasn’t nearly as fun…so I’m glad we were there early. The kids had a blast and spent almost the whole time saying “Come look at this! Look mom! Over here! OMIGOSH!” 🙂
I can finally wear my wedding ring again—oh, happy day!
Now THAT’S more like it. It’s an ever-so-slightly different shape and thickness (I can definitely tell it’s lighter) but it’s 99.8% perfect and I can live with that! :heart: I just wish they would have done this the first time instead of stressing me out with their first attempt…
My full vacation stash.
It would have been three times as many had we actually made it to the beach.
Happy accident of the day!
I discovered we left the chocolate-covered cashews in the garage and it was one big glob. I spread it out to make it into brittle but had to taste it as is and OMG I’m pretty sure it’s heaven. I never tried them originally but warm and gooey is a winner.
Naturally Slim let me be a kid again!
I couldn’t have done this 130# ago! #ropeswing (I did it a few days ago as well but these pics were better.) Photo credits to my stepsister Beth who happened to arrive for a short visit!
I posted on Instagram tagging Naturally Slim and they wanted to share it! 🙂
Higher and higher, we have a happy girl!
Some NS thoughts this morning.
It was nice shopping for a sweatshirt/jacket on the island yesterday and pulling out mediums. Mediums. Most of them fit, too, depending on the style of course. 🙂
Last night we ate too much but it was our 15th anniversary dinner so we said screw it. Crab and cheese fondue and lobster bisque (both shared with Tom) and scallops for dinner. In past days I would have scoffed at 4 measly scallops for a “dinner”—that’s just four bites!! But on NS it was 16 bites! Plus the other sides, of course. 🙂 I was full but not overstuffed at all.
This morning was the first morning since June 15, 2015, that we ate breakfast. We didn’t have OJ at the hotel and hadn’t brought any…and the room came with breakfast (that we’d typically skip) but we decided to eat. It wasn’t excellent but it was decent and we didn’t eat much.
This morning after checkout we walked from our hotel to town—it was only 2 miles (I had originally thought it was quite a bit longer) and it was the best walk. I actually wanted to walk farther. That would have NEVER happened pre-NS.
Vacation bucket list item (food truck): complete
This place—Food at Northbound—came with rave reviews…and it didn’t disappoint!
Smoked pork torta (with pork, lime aioli, jalapeño slaw, cheddar, and sweet & spicy jalapeños) and BBQ fries (with beer-battered fries, BBQ-rubbed pork, white cheddar, sweet & spicy jalapeños, and bourbon BBQ sauce). TOTALLY AMAZEBALLS.
I’m still just so flabbergasted.
I don’t mean to keep bothering you all with these, but I’m still just so flabbergasted.
Owen’s last Marlins game!
It was crazy hot and sunny for the last game today. Thankfully friends had brought a huge canopy so we all got to sit (or lay!) in the shade!
Owen did super amazing awesome today…unfortunately, I had unexpected phone storage issues (even after I deleted a ton of stuff) so I ended up missing recording a few hits and runs—and a few videos got cut short. GRRR!
And he asked to be catcher today!! He did have some balance issues (see next photo—he kept his feet together instead of using a wide stance so he kept falling over) but he worked through them and did a great job! And looked damn cute!
The coaches actually called the game a half hour early because it was so hot. They had a quick award ceremony afterward.
I had to transcribe what the coach said because it was super awesome and is very hard to hear on the video—the Closed Captions should be turned on so you can read along but here it is just in case:
Due to my phone issues, I missed the first thing he said: I like to call him The Big O!
Come on up! I’ve really seen Owen’s catching progress. Behind the plate as well as catching the ball in the field. Alright, you are certainly catching it like the guys at the next level and very impressive. You’ve had some great hits as well. Alright. I love seeing your enthusiasm out here. Good job, buddy.
Team picture by another mom (since my phone was still acting up):
Then the pizza party!!!
And showing off his award! He had to run and get this T-ball award from last year, too—he was so excited to have two! He said he will put them both on a shelf together! 🙂
Starting the 10 weeks again!
I got the email from Naturally Slim today…so we officially start again Saturday!! (Why Saturday instead of Sunday? You’ll laugh, but it’s so I can officially change my weigh-in day to Saturday because I always seem to screw up my week on Saturday!) 🙂
I actually asked Tom how much I should set my goal for because I really don’t think I need to lose that much—I only have 11# to get to my Normal BMI goal (I was a mere 5# away at one point—GRRR) and I’m not sure how low I can/want to go. (Yeah, that’s something I never thought I’d say!) Another goal would be to lose 155# (which would be exactly HALF my weight!) and that’s only 25# from where I am now…which is what I lost the first 10 weeks…but I really, honestly, don’t see me being that successful again. So I set my goal for 15# in 10 weeks.
Since the program videos have changed since we originally saw them, we get to experience the new ones and compare them to the old ones. That said, I can tell you already that I will miss the old ones because they were more Marcia-centric and I loves me some Marcia! I’m hoping I find them as helpful and motivating as the originals.
And something else I shouldn’t complain about? I was all set to give up my Fitbit because I don’t really need to track steps anymore (I know when I get my daily steps in and I try to exercise 3-4 days a week) and I’m tired of wearing it and wanted to get rid of my Fitbit tan line…but if I’m starting NS again I just HAVE to see my daily steps on the dashboard which means I have to keep my Fitbit active and synced. #firstworldproblems
Today’s walk went MUCH better.
Apparently we needed the promise of the library park afterward (if she was a good girl)…AND letting her pick which direction to walk on the trail. It still took about an hour but it was much more fun!
That said, she blatantly told me that she liked walking with daddy (or all of us) but not just me. No real reason, that’s just how it is. Thanks, kid. :p BUT! I did get her to admit that she’d be okay doing the walk with Owen along. Which is what I really want—that’s my plan for getting my trail walks in this summer when they’re both home all day. So we’ll see what actually happens.
But she was much more talkative today. She actually reminded me a lot of Owen babbling on and on like he does on our walks. I loved listening to it. Here’s a small sample.
I love Marcia.
Marcia Upson, President of Naturally Slim, that is. 🙂
During our previous conversations, she had told me to keep her updated on my progress…so this morning I emailed her my one-year update. I thought she might email me back in a few days, so imagine my surprise when she called me to congratulate me!!
I had also mentioned my time almost being up on NS Town and she said she’d make sure that I still have access. 🙂 Not that I participate there a lot, but I do like to update my thread. 🙂
And then we just chatted for a bit about my success and her loving my updates and that she appreciates the emails since she doesn’t always get to respond on Facebook (technology isn’t her strong suit). And she thanked me again for my video testimonial and I told her that I’d actually just checked out my video testimonial page in NS Town and saw it had something like 1250 views—and I didn’t think much of it…until I checked the other testimonials and saw they all only had like ~160 views. (What?! That blows my mind. How can that even be?! Even with all the people I know there, how can it have so many views? I don’t think the YouTube video has that many views!)
So then she reiterated how much she appreciated the video and said if I ever needed anything…or if I ever wanted to watch the videos again…to just let her know. Wait. What? Yes! YES!! I said “Now that you mention it, I’d LOVE to watch them again. I’ve been maintaining for about two months now and I just can’t seem to get going to lose the last bit.” So she’s hooking me up with the videos again. I’m gobsmacked. And now I’ll have NO reason to be unsuccessful other than my own self. And I’ll take notes this time!!
And then I told her that I had just actually watched the week 10 videos again (that they loaded when I installed the new iOS app) so I had just watched her video on weight loss rewards (for motivation she suggests rewards at different levels—maybe a small treat every 2# with bigger rewards for bigger goals). I told her that I had my new wardrobe so my final reward would be flying to Texas to meet her! She got really excited about that and said they’d pick me up at the airport, we’d go out, and I’d spend the night at her house! WOOHOO! (Of course I’d want to try and see other local peeps, too, but that info will come later!)
So…YAY!! What a completely awesome surprise!!
A five-star tote!
Dammit. I liked my whole recent Le Tote box. But I don’t need all of it. Hell, what am I saying?? I don’t need ANY of it LOL.
I more than like but not quite love the dress. Great length, good color, nice feel, not my favorite neckline (as a general rule I choose V-necks) but I can branch out, and it’s easily changeable with accessories. It’s a bit expensive at $64 but unfortunately isn’t available anywhere else online so no cheaper option.
I like the pants. They are a bit more current (hip?) than anything I own—they have pleather-type panels on the front (better seen in the stock photo)! My fashion-guru friend says these are a definite yes, plus says they’re a steal at $29. I’m still debating but leaning towards keeping them.
The tunic isn’t exactly my style but it’s super comfy and my friend really likes this one, too. I’m not convinced, though, since it is a bit big, a tad short (for just leggings for me), and a bit more than I’d want to spend ($30). I’m wearing it today to see how it works in real-life but I’m leaning towards returning it and then keeping my eye open for a more suitable tunic (since apparently these are totally IN now).
Necklace 1 is very similar to the silver one I already bought for $19 and I don’t like the shiny as much—even at $22. So I like it but it’s going back.
I LOVE necklace 2. And it’s a known famous brand so Google told me it was cheaper direct from the company so it’s already on its way! (And it looks much better in person than in this photo!)
If they discounted for buying a whole box, I might have just taken it all…but they only give you credit for another month and this is my last month…so that was a no. But it was good to end my experience with Le Tote on a high note (though it does make it harder to cancel—I just have to remember my other boxes that weren’t as successful)!
132 pounds in 365 days!
One year ago today at my highest weight ever, I crossed my fingers and started my attempt to lose weight doing low-carb (the only thing I really knew). Little did I know at the time I’d find my way to Naturally Slim and would end up successfully losing 132 lbs. (thus far—with a few more still to go)! If you’d told me a year ago I’d have lost that much I’d have said you were insane.
I can’t begin to thank everyone who has supported me along the way, but top shout outs go to Tivo friend Brad Nelson (who started the thread on Naturally Slim), Tivo friend Bryan McCullough (who turned out to be THE Naturally Slim guru), and my amazing husband (who supported me every hour of every day—and even joined in).
I owe my life to this program (and these people!) and I’m beyond thankful every. single. day. that I have a new, thinner, and healthier lease on life!! ❤️ 😀 🎉 👏🏻 🍾
GwynnieBee success!
So I joined another monthly clothing delivery company on a free month…and their clothes are awesome—much more my style and somewhat cheaper. This dress was the third thing I’ve purchased (out of six sent items). Tom loved it, too, which is why it’s now hanging in my closet. 🙂
Unfortunately (fortunately?) I’m only doing the one free month, otherwise this could get very expensive!!
A sewing machine lesson!
Grandma Jean attempted to teach me how to use Tom’s mom’s sewing machine that we inherited…by hemming some pants, sewing Tom’s name tapes, and altering some bras. It looks easy enough while I’m watching, but I’m not sure what will happen when it’s actually my turn!
I love that he’s willing to recreate these photos!
Kidless afternoon!
For one of my first kidless afternoons, I decided to run some errands. Do I look free and unencumbered?! Positively joyful?
How about now? (Still giddy, even though I’m on my way to pick up the kids.)
(I have technically had one or two kidless afternoons since Katie has started school, but either my parents were here or Tom came home early so even though I was kidless I technically wasn’t alone. If that makes sense.)
That’s fate, folks.
So, as you know, our wedding rings no longer fit. The rings seen here are my mom and dad’s wedding rings from 1970. I’ve had them since (mom, do you remember?) college, maybe? She thought I’d like to have them and she was right…I love them.
Of course I tried hers on over the years but there was never a chance of it fitting. For years now, I’ve actually worn them both on a chain because they fit perfectly inside one another.
But tonight I looked at them and thought “Maybe I should try it on. It’s been awhile.” And it fit perfectly. So I gave Tom my dad’s ring…and it, too, fit perfectly.
That’s fate, folks.❤️
I’m sure we’ll both get our rings resized eventually, but for now, this works. And makes me all smiley. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hey. I smell lilacs.
So I was walking back to my car after my haircut and I suddenly thought “Hey. I smell lilacs.” So I stopped, turned around, looked up, and voilà! Ahhhhh. One of my favorite smells in the world. (We haven’t seen too many around here so it’s super exciting to run across them! And it was all I could do to NOT try and rip off a branch to bring home!)
My first Le Tote tote was an amazing success!
I have promised myself I would do StitchFix when I reached my goal weight…except A) it’s expensive and B) I just did a bunch of shopping and got a bunch of new clothes. So I had vowed to wait even longer. However, a friend introduced me to LE TOTE—a similar clothing loan company—with an offer for a free month (which means no cost unless you choose to buy something). So I went for it. I picked out things I liked and told them my sizes, they suggested pieces, I picked what I wanted, and they showed up on my doorstep.
Now, I wanted things to fit and I hoped I liked them, but I honestly didn’t want to love any of them because I need to stop buying clothes. 🙂 And dammit if I didn’t like every piece in my tote (well, minus one necklace). Here’s what I got:
All the pieces aren’t PERFECT but they’re very nice.
- I love the top left necklace. LOVE IT. My favorite thing in the box.
- I didn’t look closely enough at the colors of the other necklace. I thought it was all black—and it’s not. It’s two different colors and it’s a bit too busy overall.
- The gray dress is super comfy and my favorite length but the waistline is a little wide and the top hangs just a bit weird.
- The red top fits nice and looks nice but the draping is purposefully off-center and it hangs weird around my boob.
- The blank pants are comfy but have “moto rib detailing” across the front.
I have to check prices on a few pieces because I’m tempted. Of course I’d like to find cheaper alternatives (like I’m envisioning the necklace being $40 and I’d rather find a cheaper $20 version) but I love it and it’s probably worth the $40 because I can wear it with a ton. I just feel bad because I’ve spent a lot already. I think they said the whole box is $250 so I’m hoping the pieces I want aren’t terribly expensive.
Unfortunately, it was nice weather when I ordered and we have cold weather now…so it’s not going to be perfect to wear this summery stuff. I am planning on wearing the dress (or the pants/shirt) tomorrow when we go out to dinner with friends. I’m just not sure what shoes to wear with the dress since it’s not summery weather and my shoe selection isn’t as robust as it should be for the style of my new clothes. (First world problems, I know.)
So, then I looked up the prices. And…
- The top left necklace will be mine at $19. YIPPEE!
- The dress is $70 and I don’t think I love it $70 worth, especially considering all the dresses I’ve recently bought.
- The red shirt will be going back—at $68 it’s WAAAY more than all the similar tops I recently bought at 1/4 the price.
- The pants are a bit expensive at $56. I found them at Amazon for $55 so the price is no super special deal. But I may keep them because I really need black pants.
So overall I’m very impressed!