Friday, June 28, 2013

Stretch yourself

So... have any of you made resolutions to yourself about anything that you wanted to accomplish this year? I know that I have... getting some of this weight finally off and a lot of other things. How are things going? I hope that you have been able to stay on track and reap the benefits of the resolution to yourself.

I have come to realize that no matter how much we might say that it is a personal thing - a resolution - it actually isn't "personal" perse... when you have people that deeply care and want to help you, the resolution actually becomes a "family" resolution.

For instance... let's say that you want to go to the gym more often, well, if you have a child, you must spend time with your child. And like me, I am sure that you love spending time with your child/ren.
So that becomes something that you and your child must do together... whether that is getting a membership for your child to the gym - if they are of age to join - or getting them a membership to the kids play area so that you are able to work out and they can have some much needed play time with other kids.
So again... it's not just you that it affects.

That is just one example, that is very close to home for me, which I am sure that there was other instances that something that you made a promise or resolution to do something for yourself, and it just doesn't turn out to be just for you.
When you are married, in a partnership or even have children... it's a family affair.

At times we might see this as a problem... when in reality we shouldn't.
There are times when we want to be able to do things on our own but just like it "takes a village to raise a child", it takes a family (or support) in order for us to achieve our goals.

I know... I know... we should be able to support ourselves in our own journey's, but we didn't get here alone, so why should we reap the benefits of our hard work alone? I guess as women, we might think that if we don't think for ourselves, we are being weak... but being weak is what you are doing by not asking for help or being grateful for the help that is being offered.

Well, this was supposed to be yesterday's post but things got crazy at home and I wasn't able to finish it.

But it's the end of the month here at work... and on Monday, we will be into a new month! How exciting!

We have a holiday next week and we will be working a short week... I cannot wait!

On the ovulation front, my last two morning's tests have come back negative... so there are still days to test. Keeping positive!

My life lately has been hanging with the princess... cooking after getting home from either work or the gym... laundry... gym... and work. LOL!! Hopefully this weekend I will be able to change it up a little. ☺

Have a wonderful afternoon..
And a fabulous weekend!

Sending light ☼... love ♥... happiness ☺ and music ♫ your way!

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

1,100 page views!!

WOW... from 800 back in April to now over 1,100 views now in June.
I can't believe that people are actually reading my blog entries... I feel very blessed to be writing and have people actually read what I have to say about my life.
Hopefully I am helping out someone that is in need of help or even given someone information that they might also need about other things... but more importantly, I am expressing myself in ways that I never thought possible.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank those that have been reading my blogs and welcome those that have started reading it... ♥ ♥ ♥ THANK YOU!

But there isn't much to report from yesterday... except the movie - Despicable Me 2 - was great! We had a fabulous time both waiting in line and watching the movie.
The princess made some friends and in the process, we got their number to have a play date later. SWEET!

After getting home, it was time to get ready for bed... of course after showers were done. I was so tired... but the days activities were so worth it.

And today will be a great evening... gym, cooking for the family and maybe catching up to my recorded shows! LOL!! Maybe even throw in a load of laundry! LOL!!

Have a great afternoon/evening!
Thanks again for reading...
Love ♥... light ☼... happiness ☺... music ♫

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Migraine is here...

Okay... I am hoping that it's not here to stay for good but thankfully it is finally letting up. It was a rough morning with not only the migraine but also feeling dizzy and nauseous. The dizziness and nauseous feeling are gone and just the lingering of the migraine is still here.
I really hope that it's all gone by later this afternoon because I have a date with my two favorite ladies... my mom and my princess... to see a pre-screening of Despicable Me 2! 

So last night I headed to the gym with the princess...


And boy did I have a great workout with the weights and the instructor. 

I stopped the instructor when she first came into the room - mind you this is my second time in this class - and I told her that after last week's class, I walked out of there inspired! I have NEVER walked out of a class inspired.
I even got home last week, after taking the class for the first time, talking to the hubby about it. And even last night I was showing him all the different things that we did in the class. 
He just sat there watching me explain the things that I was doing and even commented that I have a HUGE smile on my face while explaining everything.
I love that class... and I hope that I can continue doing it because I want to see definition on my arms already! LOL!

After getting back from the gym, it was time to make dinner for the princess and for me and the hubby.
Showers for all and then to bed... I was done!

So this morning I was at it again checking my LH levels... but the test tested negative. But that's okay... there is always 18 more days of testing to go.

Just in case you are wondering what are LH levels:
Luteinizing hormone (LH, also known as lutropin and sometimes lutrophin) is a hormone produced by gonadotroph cells in the anterior pituitary gland. In females, an acute rise of LH ("LH surge") triggers ovulation and development of the corpus luteum. In males, where LH had also been called interstitial cell-stimulating hormone(ICSH), it stimulates Leydig cell production of testosterone. It acts synergistically with FSH.

This level basically tells me whether or not I will be ovulating... and with getting my period earlier this month, it shows me that my FSH levels are low enough for my period to come. I am still praying that I keep my levels where they need to be in order to get where they need to be. 


The soy diet that the hubby has put me on is working! And thankfully I actually like soy and tofu, because if I didn't, we would be in major trouble! LOL! But I am sure that I would have figured out a way of eating it even if I didn't like it. LOL!
Fried tofu is the BEST!!! LOL!!


I read an article about new mother's - and people in general - that put together bucket lists.

If I ever did write a bucket list, it might look like this: 

  • I want to sear a scallop properly, just once. 
  • I'd like to write a novel that's really a memoir but with all the names changed. 
  • I'd love to attend The Oscars, even if only as a seat filler. 
  • I want to run a very short race in Italy but spend a month carb-loading for it. 
  • I yearn to hug a dolphin again. 

Yet if I never do any of these things, it will be okay. That's because my biggest dream, despite my education, feminist ideals, and creative urges, has been to make a family -- this family.
What do I want to do before I die? I'm doing it right now: being Mom.


With that, I will leave this entry here.
Have a wonderful afternoon and evening.
Sending you love ♥... light ☼ ... happiness ☺ and music ♫

Monday, June 24, 2013

Another fabulous weekend...

So okay... if you've been reading, I was able to post about every night this weekend with the exception of last night. I did have my phone in my hands to blog while in bed but I just didn't have the energy to type on a little screen... so I put the phone down and went to sleep.

Here we are... Monday... June 24th. The last week of June... only 6 more days until the end of the month.

So let me give you a breakdown on Sunday...

After making breakfast for my two loves, I cleaned up a bit and even mopped up the bathroom (the rest of the house I did later that night) and we took showers, got ready and headed out the door to start our afternoon together... myself and my two loves. 

We made our first stop a thrift shop in Roscoe Village.
I am in dire need of clothes for the summer... and I can't believe that I don't have anything to get me through the week at work.
So with me losing weight and knowing that I won't be holding on to these clothes very long, hitting up the thrift store is no big deal for me.
And I have to say that I got a great deal of summery type pants and two shirts... the selection of shirts didn't really impress me.
Walked out the door with at least 5 capri length pants and the two shirts. The hubby walked out with 2 pair of dress pants and the princess with a Chicago Bears jersey - we will be a football family as soon as I get my jersey for this fall! LOL!

After leaving there, the princess made it very clear to us both that she was hungry. So we headed over to the grocery store down the way - Mariano's - get some food there for her... her favorite food: PIZZA! LOL!!
We finish up our shopping and get the stuff into the car and then head over to another store to pick up some shirts for me.
When we leave there, we walk into Toy R Us and get a Bratz doll and a new water bottle for the princess.

We realized that we were all exhausted... so we headed home to get some laundry done and make some dinner.

I am happy to report that the princess is doing great with the potty training.
While we were at Mariano's, she and I were at the deli counter waiting for our number to be called... when just 2 people away from being called for our order, she tells me that she has to do pee-pee!
OMG... my 3-year-old daughter just told me that she has to pee!
I ran over to the hubby to tell him that she and I were headed to the bathroom ... and she and I ran to the bathroom. And I am so happy to say, that she was able to hold it all way until we got to the potty! OMG... I am so proud of her. She is finally getting it.

And when we got home, she even went on the potty all on her own. This is so wonderful... another step for her, a learning experience for all of us.

Now I am here at work... getting things done and trying not to freak out about things that aren't done but are not in my hands to control.

I am looking forward to going to the gym tonight... while the princess does her thing in the child's area... and then getting home to make some dinner for the hubby and me.
I even have an idea of what I can make on Wednesday night too... 

And I say Wednesday night since I won't be at home after work tomorrow night... going to take the princess to an advance screening of Despicable Me 2! She is going to love it... especially since she loves the first movie so much! And so do I! LOL!!

I have been testing myself for my levels that would indicate whether or not I am ovulating but so far nothing. But I am keeping positive about all of it... it was such a blessing to just have my period this month. 
My life can't get any better... well, of course it can but I am not going to get greedy about it. LOL!!

Okay... I think that I am done here...
Well, sort of... I had to upload this picture... I love it!



She asked me to take pictures with her... and I love it when she does that with me. :-)

Have a great afternoon/evening...
Sending you all love ♥... light ☼... happiness ☺ and music ♪ ♫

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Quality over quantity

Well... it was a quiet Saturday afternoon and night.

After running some errands with my mom and princess, we met up with the hubby for a quick second for some lunch and we continued on.

I was able to get the princess some much needed summer clothes - hopefully summer actually comes - and sandals.
So much for me getting some clothes for work! LOL!!! I'm sure that I'll be able to get some much needed work clothes.

Then this evening was a chill evening at home with my two loves... eating some yummy Thai food and watching movies.

So this morning I started testing my urine for the levels that would tell me whether or not I'm ovulating but this morning's test came up negative.  Thank goodness I have 19 more days of testing to go.

Well, everyone is sleeping now, exactly what I should be doing too.

So I'll keep this entry short.
Hope you all had a wonderful Saturday... I'm looking forward to see what Sunday has in store for us.

Until next time!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Takin' it back old school.... at the drive-in

Tonight was great....
My two loves and I took a drive to West Chicago to see a double feature movie at the drive-in there: Monsters University and Man of Steel.
We had a fabulous time! I can't believe that we had the opportunity to go tonight.
The princess enjoyed sitting on the roof of my car while she watched Monsters U and then fell asleep in the back of my truck while the hubby and I watched the second movie.
I'm not going to sit here and say that it wasn't a long night - we got home a little after 2am - because it was.
But it so totally worth it!
I can't wait to do it again!
It is now almost 3am, so I guess I should get some sleep since I'm in my bed already. LOL!
Looking forward to see what is in store for us this weekend.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Opening the door... again... and keeping it open!

Okay... I have to admit, I've been a bit lazy at writing for almost 27 days. The last time I wrote anything was the day of my anniversary and I've been quiet ever since.
I didn't even write my usual end of the month/welcome new month blog... shame on me!
Didn't I mention that I wanted to hit some milestones this year... I can't do that if I don't continue to write.

Well, I guess I should catch you up with some things that have been going on...

The night of our 5-year wedding anniversary, we went out to dinner with some friends to the sushi restaurant that is down at the end of our block and had a wonderful time.



Since we had to be up early the next morning for our race, we finished off dinner and went home to get some rest.

AND OMG... did we have a wonderful time at the Run or Dye on Saturday, May 25th!

Here are some pictures to prove just that!

















The day couldn't have been more perfect! LOL!! Even though the traffic getting there was a bit crazy, the run was great. We didn't get in the usual 3.1 miles that would make this an actual 5k, but we still got it in.
Next is the Glo Run on June 15th... that one should be good too!

After getting home and cleaning ourselves up, we ended up taking a nap and then heading out afterwards. We even took the princess out to see the Goonies at the Logan Theater but she ended up falling asleep in my arms and missing out on the majority of the movie.

Then it was finally time to get home and finally get some rest... thankfully it was a long weekend because of Memorial Day on Monday.

Sunday was a day of relaxation... and head off to the store to get some food to grill on Monday. But unfortunately, we weren't able to grill out on Monday since it was so darn cold outside. But we were able to make some of the food inside and we ate like kings that night. :)

Back to work on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday... and quality time with the hubby and princess.

Saturday was a mommy/daughter day... we went to the movies to see the movie, Epic, and then we went out to lunch at Red Robin.






And I can't believe that I haven't done any writing since May... especially since so much has happened.

June came in without a hitch...
Birthday's... runs... and I guess I should be updating my blog with all that, right?

Birthday... my mom's 62nd birthday... June 5th 
My dad took her out to lunch and the princess and I spent the evening with her. I took her out to lunch on that Saturday... we had a good time.

The Glo Run... June 15th
The princess and I had a wonderful time that night... unfortunately the hubby wasn't able to make it out with us that night. Liz and Lisa were able to join us on the run.









We got caught in the rain after the rain was over but that was okay... it was a warm rain and we were sweaty! LOL!!

Father's Day... June 16th
We spent the day as a family on that day, after seeing my dad, the hubby saw his mom and stepfather... we just hung out together. It was a perfect day!


I have been keeping up with my workouts and eating good... I read in one of my books that increasing the consumption of soy foods increases the level of estrogen in women, so as soon as I told that to the hubby, we went out to the store and got a boat-load of soy products. I have become a HUGE fan of tofu! LOL!! We've even gone out to eat and I try to order my food with tofu, if it's available. LOL!

And I have good news to report from all my good eating and increase of soy - I got my period this month all on my own (June 15th)! OMG, I was so excited about it. I actually didn't know what to do with myself! LOL! I woke up on the Saturday morning before Father's Day and I had it! I had the biggest smile on my face when I called up the hubby at work to let him know. 
Only down side to it was all the accidents that I had between Saturday morning and Sunday night... LOL! I felt like I was just starting off with puberty. LOL!! But I was so happy that I was able to get it on my own... no medications no side-effects. All natural! :-)

So I purchased an ovulating kit to measure my levels to see if I actually ovulate. We shall see the results on those kits once I start.

Kind of upset at myself that I haven't been keeping up with my blog... for the month of June, this is actually the first entry. How sad! Especially when I was seeing my readership numbers increase, I trail off and don't write at all.
And there is actually no excuse since there is an app on my phone to keep up on the blog too... UGH! Complete fail on my end! Now with me putting myself out there on blast, I have no reason not to update my blog from wherever I am at. And that is what I plan on doing.

Starting tonight... because I have plans with my two loves and I hope that the rain that is coming down doesn't ruin it but we won't let the weather stop us from what we want to do. :-)

I am hoping that I got in all that I needed to get in on this post... and I haven't missed out on anything that happened and I want to share. But if I did, I apologize and hopefully this will not happen again.

Have a wonderful afternoon/evening... and this won't be the last you hear from me this month!

Sending love ♥... Light☼... Happiness ☺... and music ♪♫