This Is My Charleston Life

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Really ON IT!

Today I was 172.2. I want to lose 32.2 pounds by May 30th so that by Memorial Day I will be at my goal. This is going to be hard. Very, very hard. Every day I am faced with temptations galore. The other woman that I work with always has a plethora of goodies in her office. Today, no lie, there are:
-Pork skins
-UTZ Party Mix
-Reeses
-Pecans
-Chocolate Covered Pecans
-Hard candies
-Starbursts
-Ritz Crackers
-Cinnamon Rolls
-Dots
-Diet Coke
-Baked Lays
And its all up for grabs! It is craziness! I know that I have little self-control and that food in there has a lot to do with why I weigh 172.2! Y'all are going to have to give me some motivation to keep going though! Also, we get take-out for lunch everyday so sometimes it is hard to kind good options, but I HAVE to! I did really good yesterday with my food choices & I even went to the gym but today will be hard. Every day will be hard! I have a wake to go to tonight, so I definately won't be going to the gym, which means I need to do exceedingly well on my food!

Day 17 - A Work of Art

"Follow the Leader - Lillian Vernon

This sculpture is located in Summerville, SC. The volunteering that I do for Sculpture in the South helps to provide sculptures like this. This has always been one of my favorite pieces. Last summer the last figure to the left, the little boy was stolen by someone who wanted the copper. The sad part is that even if someone were to buy it from him, which I doubt anyone would, it would only be worth about $40! Sure, they didn't know that, but I really wish that part had been publicized more so that it would deter people from stealing them. Sculpture in the South will have the artist come back to replicate the boy after this year's show.

Wedding Party...

We are friends with a couple getting married in April. Jon has been friends with the groom for quite a while and we hung out with them about a year ago almost exclusively. The girl has been married before, but was only with him for a little while, but never got divorced. Her & her fiance have a daughter together who is almost 3. She FINALLY last Friday got her divorce finalized. She enrolled in nursing school last semester and decided that because of that they would move back in with their in-laws. I hate that they act like it has nothing to do with the fact that they can't save money...but the fact is she is still working just as much as she was, therefore that is not a good excuse. Either way a while ago we stopped hanging out with them so much because of all of the drama on their end. Well when she told me that they were getting married she asked me to be a bridesmaid and her fiance asked Jon to be the best man. I can kind of understand Jon being the best man because Jon really likes the fiance and the fiance doesn't have too many friends. Jon was honored. I, on the other hand, want nothing to do with this whole thing. I am doing it solely because Jon is the best man and really does like the fiance. She wanted me to buy the dress in October, and I'm sorry, but a lot of things change in 6 months...the size of me for one! So I have been able to put off buying the dress. I was hoping that I would turn up pregnant and get out of the wedding party that way, but no such luck! So now I really have to do it! And to top things off, I am WHITE...like pale ghostly white. And the dress is GUAVA! AND I have RED hair! And I weigh 170 and it is strapless! It is going to be the biggest clash in HISTORY and all the pictures will be awful. I know, I am probably overexaggerating but still... can you imagine this:

On pale, red-headed, size 12 me?!

Day 14 - My Dream House

We can talk about dreams all day long, but the dream house that is (hopefully) one day in my future is this:

5 bedrooms & a frog:
Master bedroom
One bedroom for each of our 2 (unborn) children
One room for an office
One guest bedroom
Frog for Jon's "man-cave" (an acceptable alternative would be a separate garage)

3 baths:
One for the master
One for the kids
One guest bath

Brick
2 Car garage & a driveway large enough for at least 4 cars
Somewhere to put a boat
Backyard with pool and someplace for a garden
Backyard fenced in
Large Living Room
Separate Dining Room

There are currently some homes that fit my requirements, but come NO WHERE NEAR my budget:

4 bedroom / 4 1/2 baths, 6,284 sq ft $1,250,000 - also has a frog & exercise room!
4 bedroom / 4 1/2 baths, 6,773 sq ft $995,000 - "Wonderful mini estate on 7 acres - 3 lots - on a pond with a small dock! The home has a swimming pool and a fountain. There is a "state of the art" electronic "smart house" remote controlled system which runs the televisions, stereo system, lights and six security cameras. A subzero refrigerator, bread warmer, eight gas burner stove, wine cooler. Italian marble floor tiles and countertops which were imported from Milan, Italy. A planetarium for the children with a loft and fiber optic lights on the ceilings. Extensive mahogany paneling and 3 wall safes. A hand carved spiral staircase also graces the library. This home is truly a BARGAIN! Please do not miss out on this opportunity - two apartments - one mother-in-law suite and another 1 bedroom apartment over the garage!" WHOA! Wish I could jump on that one!

Okay, now I am distracted & looking at houses I can't come close to affording!

Donate, Save Lives

I know I haven't told y'all all about my weekend yet, and I am not sure if / when I will get to, but I want to tell you about the most important part of it. Saturday, I gave blood. I give every time I can, and I try to every 8 weeks. I have given 11 times so far. I hate getting stabbed my the needles but it is worth it to know that I am saving lives.

So please, go out & donate today!

Day 13 - A Fictional Book

Shoe Addicts Anonymous - Beth Harbison

I am currently reading this book, and no I am not addicted to shoes, or even close to it. I hate spending money too much to be! I go to the library every so often and I just grab the first girly looking book I see. This week this was it! And while I was searching to find a pic of the cover I saw it was going to be a movie this year! Yay! No doubt the book will end up better than the movie, but still! It is about four women, all with different backgrounds & all with a severe love of shoes. They get together each week and do a shoe swap. It is good so far, but while out with my mother over the weekend I accidently left it in her car! Oops!

Day 12 - Something I Am OCD About

My food. I am kind of ridiculous. I will eat just about anything except mushrooms but the way I eat itwhat is odd. I can't stand for it to touch. I can't eat food on the bone. I can't eat food that reminds me of an animals. I can't eat something I've seen in my backyard, minus chickens and pigs which we had for food. Luckily I have a very understanding husband that will de-bone my food for me and bought me divided plates. I have gotten better about touching food as long as they become separated easily without leaving any reminants behind. I know I am completely crazy, but it is who I am.

Day 11 - A Photo of Me Taken Recently

Sorry, not quite comfortable with y'all seeing all of me yet. This is from December, Night of 1,000 Candles at Brookgreen Gardens!

Day 10 - A Photo of Me Taken over 10 years ago

This is more like 20 years ago, but it fits the parameters! This is from my first trip to Disney World!

My Dad

My Dad texted me on Tuesday and asked if his darling daughter would allow him to take her out to lunch on Friday. I get off at noon on Friday and we have done this 2 or three times before, but I think this time he has an ulterior *sorry, got distracted by & was able to hold a 1 month old!* motive. We totalled up the costs for the trip to Arizona (it was going to me me, Jon, my dad and my step-mom) and for the two of us it totalled $1800! Jon & I made the decision that it was not a good idea to spend that kind of money while I had a year old car & we are trying to have a child (which they don't know about!) I know that Dad was upset to hear that and so was my brother. Dad asked if him paying for the whole rental car would help, and it would, but we want it to be under $1000.00 for the whole trip. My brother asked if it would help if he paid for the plane tickets. I know that Jon won't allow him to do this and he would be pissed off if Michael did because he doesn't want any help from my brother. I really want to go though!

I think that Dad is going to make me feel bad for not going & not spending the money. He wants me & him to go see them and leave the spouses behind. As much as I want to see my niece and nephew I want to do it with my husband. I don't want to go and see the world without him! And its not that my Dad doesn't like my husband either. He knows that Jon is perfect for me, and that he is a great man, hard worker and amazing husband to me. I just think that marriage doesn't mean the same to him as it does to me...seeing as he has been married 3 times.

My Dad & I have had a rocky relationship in the past. He hurts my feelings a lot (unintentionly I hope) and I eventually get over it, but until then I just try to ignore him. After I told him that we wouldn't be able to go to Arizona he didn't call for a while & I get stubborn and don't want to be the one to make the first move. That was the first time I heard from him since he offered to pay for the entire rental car. I don't know what to do but I can almost guarantee that I will leave lunch upset.

Does anyone else's parents give them guilt trips? How do you keep from getting sucked into them?

Day 9 - A Photo I Took

This is from Night of 1,000 Candles at Brookgreen Gardens in Myrtle Beach, SC. I volunteer for an organization called Scultpure in the South. Their mission is "to promote sculpture through education and through the creation of a permanent sculpture collection that enhances Summerville, South Carolina's public spaces." My mother, husband, and I get together each year for their annual show & sale and prepare and serve all the food for the volunteers, artists and guests. We really enjoy this time each year. We go to several meetings throughout the year and have come to know the organizers and volunteers quite well.

Each year they get together for a trip to Myrtle Beach (about 1 1/2 hour drive) and rent a charter bus and go as a group. This year my mother and I joined them. It was a blast! The ride up there we all got to chat. When we arrived they had a buffet dinner waiting (shrimp & grits...mmm...) and then we had about two hours to walk around. This place is amazing. I have been there about five times and I doubt that I have seen everything! If you plan to come down south make sure you make a trip out there, especially if it is during the holiday season!

Day 8 - A Photo That Makes Me Angry/Sad

This photo definately falls into that category. It is of me when I was down to 135. I loved the way I looked then. I have lost 4 pounds so far, but I feel so far away from who I was then. 36.4 pounds to go. That seems like so much to me. I have done so well so far though, excusing my ice cream cone last night! :) I always seem to have great intentions, but you all know the saying...

Day 7 - A Photo That Makes Me Happy

This picture makes me happy, because I can reminisce about the times that they were here. This is my niece, Julie and my nephew, Sean. They were both born in Hawaii and I had only met Sean one time before this, when he was six months old. When Sean had just turned 2 and right before Julie turned 1 their mother was deployed to Iraq. For that year my brother moved to Charleston to be around family and so that we could help with them. They moved here in August of 2009. In January 2010 I was laid off and decided to finish my degree and go to school full time. I was with them 24/7, many times leaving after they fell asleep and getting there before they woke up. I love them. In June of 2010 their mother was coming back and they were being stationed in Arizona so they all left to get things set up for their mother. I cannot wait to see them again.

We are hoping to take a trip to Arizona in April, but with planning for a baby we aren't sure if we are going to be able to spare the money. Either way I miss them and I love looking at pictures of the fun we had!

Cycle #3, CD2

Today is CD2. Yesterday AF showed up, I expected her, but it still wasn't fun. Luckily the cramping didn't start until last night once I was home so I wasn't in pain at the in-laws. We will keep trying until we have success, but I just want to stop worrying about it. Not take a test until after AF is late. Be a normal, non-compulsive person about it.

I am also going to get back into trying to lose this weight again. I was 175 this morning. I won't be able to diet once I am pregnant, so I need to do it now! I am going to get back on SparkPeople and really give it a go. Last time I gave it a go I went from 226 to 135, so I know it is possible, it just takes discipline. So my goal is discipline. I am going to eat 3/4 cup of cereal & 1/2 cup skim milk now. Wish me luck!

Day 6 - 20 of My Favorite Things

I am not really a "thing" person, so this is hard, but here goes:

1. My USC Tervis Tumbler
2. My 1998 Toyota Corolla
3. Deer Park Bottled Water (I know this is terrible & bad for the environment, but I am SOOO addicted to bottled water!)
4. My budget
5. Quicken Personal Finance Software
6. Publix Grocery Stores
7. My LG Ally (I think I would die without this!)
8. My Straub Beer Hoodie (My husband's cousin works for this company & gave me this hoodie. I wear it almost constantly, it is perfect for lounging & great advertising for them!)
9. Pilot G2 Pens
10. The Coastal Carolina Fair
11. Moe's $5 Monday's
12. UTZ Honey Roasted Sesame Chips
13. Magestic Oak Trees
14. My Dyson Vacuum
15. Ice cream cones
16. Flip-flops: Any kind, any time. I am a Carolina Girl, after all!
17. Camping. Only March - September, otherwise I am too cold, but I LOVE THIS!
18. Floating down the Edisto River with good drinks & good friends.
19. My Local Library
20. SAVING MONEY!

Cycle #2 Draws to its end

My temp dropped WAYYY down today. I am sure that this cycle is nearing its end. I had a good cry on my husbands shoulder this morning, but I should be okay. I guess I just hoped it would happen quickly. So did he. This gives us more time to be prepared though, I guess. We have to look at the positives. At least I am temping so that when AF shows she won't be such a suprise. I am sad, but I will make it through. Onward to another cycle!

Day 5 - My Favorite Quote

"YOU COME TO LOVE NOT BY FINDING THE PERFECT PERSON, BUT BY SEEING AN IMPERFECT PERSON PERFECTLY" -SAM KEEN

I think that this is the perfect quote for me. My mom used to ask me if her hair looked bad or if her clothes did. She quickly learned not to do that because I always said yes. I didn't say yes because I didn't care or because I was lying to make her feel good. It is because to me, the people I love are always beautiful. I have always said that I see them with "rose-colored glasses". I love them, therefore I love them no matter what and looks or anything else doesn't matter.

Day 4 - My Favorite Book

THE CONFESSION - JOHN GRISHAM

I love all of John Grisham's books, so I will just choose the one I have most recently read. This is his latest book, and it made me really think about the death penalty. I have always been for it but to know that cases like this actually happen is sickening. I love how when he rights you feel like you are right there, in the moment with him. I am with books as I am with movies, I can't stand to read them over and over therefore the library is my best friend, but I own all of John Grisham's books. I can read them over and over and pick up new things each time. He is, in my opinion, the best writer of our time and I feel blessed that I live in his era.

Day 3 - My Favorite Television Program

PRETTY LITTLE LIARS

I am absolutely obsessed with this show right now! I want to know who A is, what the deal with Ian and Noel is and what are Aria & Ezra are going to do! The suspense is killing me and I still have Monday's on my DVR.