Skinny Bitch Advice...

I happened to like yesterday's "Skinny Bitch" calendar advice, so I figured I'd share it with you:

Personal Photo of Skinny Bitch Calendar

Recap - fights depression; cool, who wouldn't want to combat depression?  Boosts energy; seriously, when you're busy planning a wedding, working, living life, etc. who doesn't want more energy?  Helps burn fat; enough said.  Prevents heart attacks, maintains good cholesterol levels, aids in digestion, combats PMS, helps prevent premature labor, and keeps teeth strong; who wouldn't want any of those thing!?

And, if you remember, I'm taking a hefty vitamin regimen, so I decided to check it out to see if it had any of this anti-stress mineral, and how much:

Picture of the label of the GNC Be-Wholesome Vitapack

Bam!  63% of your daily value.  And I eat a lot of green veggies (broccoli..yummmm) so I'm probably getting the other 37% in my diet.  Not gonna lie, I was kinda hoping I wasn't getting enough, and then I could make an effort to get more and I would miraculously have more energy.  Yeah, I know, that isn't how that works, but a girl can dream, right?

Do you make an effort to get all the recommended vitamins and minerals throughout your day?

Fitness Recap Friday!

So, the beginning of this week started out a little shaky and completely messed up my Turbo Fire schedule.  I didn't work out at all Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, and I was getting sick of having to jumble around the "official" schedule because seriously, who wants their rest day to be on a Tuesday?  That's just stupid.  So, I kind of did my own shortened version for this week, and I plan on working out tonight, and then tomorrow I will have my rest day that should have technically been on the Tuesday of the last week of the second month (did you follow that at all, lol?) and I'll go from there.  But anyways, here's what I did do...

Tuesday - Fire 55...nothing new or special to report on that.

Wednesday - Fire 30 (I'm getting kind of sick of Fire 30, not gonna lie) and 20 minutes of Sculpt 30 - I just got too exhausted to finish (it's been a rough week at work).

Thursday - This is where I really mixed it up; I did Fire 45 EZ and Stretch 10.  Fire 45 EZ isn't actually on the schedule at all for this month, but I think it's my favorite workout.  I also have no idea why it is called "EZ" because in my opinion, it is one of the hardest workouts in the program.  It might be because there aren't any "fire drills" (minute long segments where you're supposed to push yourself to the limit) but since there aren't any fire drills, there also aren't and 1 minute recovery periods - which I think is why I find it to be harder then the normal Fire workouts.  That's 45 minutes without stopping.  Ever. 

Tonight I plan on doing Fire 30, Tone 30.  I know when I get home I'm not going to want to, but I would feel much better about my week fitness wise if I did, and that's what I have to keep reminding myself as I try to come up with excuses to not workout.

Oh, and remember a few weeks ago when my shoulder was killing me? I still think part of the problem was over-exerting myself in my workouts, but I just realized something else that may be contributing...that's the arm that I always carry my laptop bag with.  And my laptop bag is effing heavy!  I've tried to switch between arms, but it just feels awkward on the other arm.  Not sure what I'm going to do about it, but if my shoulder starts hurting like that again I may have to force myself to carry my bag on my other arm...stupid work computer!

Did you have a better week workout wise than I did?

I hate my skin...

Let me begin by saying I had the clearest skin ever through middle school and high school.  While everyone else was being awkward together and having pimples, my skin was flawless.  When I went to college that changed.

My skin isn't that bad.  I get a lot of little, under the skin white heads that no one can really see (but me), and I occasionally get big, painful, cystic pimples that basically develop a mind of their own and sometimes get to the point where I can actually feel my pulse in them.  Then I lose my mind trying to pop them and end up piercing them with a needle to get all the horrible-ness out.  Then I COVER it in heavy duty acne medicine and after a few days of looking like a scab, it goes away.

You would think I would have scars on my face from all the popping I do, but I don't.  Either I am an extremely skilled popper, or it is just genetics or something.  But, needless to say, after the pimple heals there is no sign that I had brutally attacked it a few days before.

Well, you may remember, a few months ago I started going to a dermatologist.  First it was a pill, face wash, and a cream - but I was only supposed to be on the pill for a short period of time while we got things under control.  That kind of helped with the big, painful guys but I still had all the little, under the skin ones.  So we changed the cream but kept the pill and the face wash.  That cream dried my skin out like woah.  I couldn't use it every day, but if I didn't use it every day it didn't really work.  Then I ran out of the pills (that I wasn't supposed to have to be on long term) and everything came back.

I am not okay with the idea of being on a pill forever for my skin.  I don't think my body should be constantly exposed to an antibiotic like that.  So I'm taking it into my own hands...and I threw down a pretty penny on a bunch of Murad Products.

Up first, Murad Clarifying Cleanser.  I use this twice a day.



Then, I spot treat with Murad Acne Spot Treatment.  This has salicylic acid and sulfur in it.  I am also using this twice a day.



Then I put Murad Gentle Acne Treatment Gel all over my face.  This also has salicylic acid in it, among other things to help heal and shrink pores.  Again, this is a twice a day type of deal.



And finally, I wrap it up with Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion.  This I only use at night, in the morning I use my Lancome First Signs of Aging Moisturizer.



But, I didn't even stop there...I already use Bare Minerals make-up, and I decided to invest in Bare Minerals Blemish Therapy, which you use to cover up any blemishes (and it covers them up really well) and has Sulfur in it to help fight the pimple.

I've been using all this for almost two weeks, and I really think it's working.  I won't make a final judgement until I get my "monthly gift" while still using this stuff since that tends to be when I break out the worst (stupid hormones).  And seriously, I'm just hoping that I can get my skin under control before the wedding.  Nobody deserves to have a massive, pulsing, painful, tumor-like pimple on their wedding day!

Have you changed your skincare regimen to prepare for your upcoming nuptials?  Do you have any recommendations?  Because if this doesn't work, I'll take any advice I can get...

And don't forget to head over to my post, "Happy 50th Follower to Me" to enter into my give-away...I'll be selecting a winner tomorrow!

4 Months!?!?!?

Four Months from right this very second I will probably be running around like a mad woman with MOH Sam reminding me every 3 minutes that I have to eat something - because four months from today is our wedding!

I honestly can't even believe it.  Yes, I've had wedding supplies building up in our spare room and basement for months and months, but I can't believe it's getting this close!  Before I know it, we'll be sending out invitations, and then getting RSVPs, and then getting married, and then on our honeymoon!  Eeek!

And with the wedding in T minus 4 months, I got a lovely Michaels' coupon in my email this morning!  It's for 20% off you entire purchase including sale items!!!!  And because I love my readers so much, I'm going to share with with you! (It can be found here)

Also, today's "Skinny Bitch" calendar is really hitting home with me, so of course I'll share that with you as well:

It is simple - I need to workout.  Not only because my wedding is 4 months away and if I stay on track I'll be wrapping up the entire Turbo Fire program right as it's time to get married, but because working out really does make you feel better.  And let's face it, planning a wedding can be stressful!  We can use all the natural endorphins and feel-good opiates we can get!

How's wedding planning going for you?  Are you having trouble realizing how fast time is going by, too?

Fitness Recap Friday!!!

Woot!  I did pretty well this week, if I do say so myself!  I continued with my Turbo Fire schedule and honestly I think I'm realizing more and more if you don't enjoy the exercise that you're doing, you are going to find excuses not to do it.

It was one thing when I was actively losing weight.  My motivation came from knowing that I was going to weigh in at my Weight Watchers meeting that Saturday and I wanted to get to goal!  After I hit goal, I did okay maintaining my workout routine for a while, and then fell completely off the wagon.  I didn't hate the workouts that I had, but I also really didn't enjoy them.  Jillian Michaels, Jackie Warner, and Jari Love all have great workout DVDs.  If you do their workouts, you will for sure see results.  But I didn't look forward to doing them, and I would get bored during the workout.  But I would stick it out because I had a goal in mind (losing weight).  Now that I'm just trying to maintain it's a damn good thing I found a workout that I actually enjoy doing (I honestly look forward to it) or else I'm not sure I would ever have anything to recap for you!!!

Saturday was my day off.

Sunday I did Fire 45 and Stretch 10.  And I don't know if you recall, but I worked hard.  Seriously, I didn't even know I was capable of pushing myself that hard (you can read about it here).

Monday was Fire 55 EZ and even though I was still a little tired from my workout the night before, I was able to give it about 95%.

Tuesday was Fire 30 and Sculpt 30.  I really like the Fire 30 workout; it is short, but it's intense.  You do the same "fire drill" twice, and at the end of that drill my heart is pounding, I'm panting like I've never exercised a day in my life, and the sweat is dripping off me.  And I don't think I have to tell you again how much I enjoy the resistance training in this program.

Wednesday I did Core 20.  Not much else to say there! lol

Last night was Fire 30 and Tone 30.  Tone 30 and Sculpt 30 are both resistance workouts, they're not the same workout, and I like them both.

Tonight is supposed to be Fire 55 EZ.  Bryan has to do some work, so we can't go out, so I'll probably do it.

I ordered the advanced DVDs on Ebay, and I should be getting those soon, although they don't actually come into the schedule for a few months.  See, the first month of the schedule is an intro and HIIT 1.  Month 2 (which is what I'm at now) is 3 weeks of "cardio" (which is just the "fire" workouts, no HIIT workouts) and then a week of recovery.  Month 3 is HIIT-2 (which is more advanced than HIIT1) and then a week of recovery.  And then Month 4 is "advanced cardio" which used the Fire workouts you already have as well as the advanced DVDs then a week of recovery.  And month 5 (the last month of the program) is HIIT 3 which uses the HIIT workouts and the advanced resistance workouts.  Months 4 and 5 look pretty hardcore, and if I stay on track I should be finishing up the program in the end of August, just in time for the wedding!  How perfect is that (I totally just realized that, lol)!

Well, if that isn't motivation to stay on track with the schedule, I don't know what is!  Because let me tell you, I plan on looking mighty hot in a bikini on my honeymoon!  And Bryan just started doing P90X - we're just gonna be a couple of newlywed hotties loungin' on the beach!

How was your week fitness wise?  How do you stay motivated to workout?

Rykas are the best thing that ever happened to my feet!

So, in this post, I told you all that I had ordered new sneakers to work out in, and let me tell you I don't know how I've been doing aerobics in running sneakers for so long!  These suckers are really the best thing that ever happened to my feet.

All photos stolen from zappos.com

I had never noticed how little support I was getting from my running sneakers while doing Turbo Fire until I did Turbo Fire wearing these.  If you're doing aerobics in running shoes, I 110% recommend looking into getting trainers that are specifically meant for aerobics, and I promise you won't regret it!

And it isn't like my other sneakers will go to waste; I still plan on running occasionally.  And it's better to have a specific pair of sneakers for "indoor" exercise and for "outdoor" exercise (your "indoor" shoes will last much longer if you don't wear them outside).

So, thank you Ryka, for saving my feet!

Fitness Update, Home Decorating...Basically a Totally Random Post!

Good morning all!  So, as of Sunday I officially finished the first month of Turbo Fire (even though it took me 6 weeks, haha) and I figured I should give a little review of it so far...

1.  I am definitely getting in better shape.  Remember the first time I did one of the workouts (if you don't, there's a quick post about it here) and I almost threw up?  Well, I know longer feel like I'm going to vomit during my workouts.  And I can definitely push myself harder throughout the entirety of the workout.

2.  I was totally surprised to realize I'm getting incredibly more flexible.  Like, I complain that there's only one 10 minute stretch routine, but it must be the most amazing stretch routine ever because I'm seriously getting so much more flexible.  And considering flexibility is 1/3 of fitness, and being flexible helps build lean muscles, I'm pretty pumped about it!  I was never not flexible (I was a dancer for a decade and a half, after that you never really lose your flexibility) but I haven't been this flexible in a while!

3.  I discovered I needed new sneakers.  The sneakers I have are really nice, but they're also running shoes.  Running shoes aren't good for aerobics for a number of reasons.  They don't give you the lateral support that your foot needs, they give you too much traction (so you can't swivel on the balls of your feet - this is bad for your knees), and for whatever reason my feet were going numb halfway through my workouts (no they weren't too small for me, just giving me the wrong kind of support).  So yesterday I ordered a pair of Ryka Cross Trainers.  Since DSW is awesome, and I'm addicted to shoes so I'm a premier rewards member, I get free overnight shipping so they should be here today, and I'll definitely check back in with what I think of them.  But everyone I've talked to loves their rykas!

Since I completed the first month I was supposed to take more pictures of myself but I chose not to.  I'm all bloated and PMS-y so taking "after" pictures of myself just wasn't going to happen.  When I'm done being bloated I will happily take some pics and show them to you!

And some home decorating!  The basement is my lair - my craft arsenal.  It is where all my crafting stuff is, my awesome HP Touchsmart Computer, and all my workout stuff.  It really is my happy place.  Well one of the walls of my happy place was depressingly bare:

The walls are grey, and there are hints of dark purple here and there.  Well, anyway, back to my bare wall.  I found some decals at Marshall's and fell in love with them, so now my wall isn't bare anymore:

YAY BUTTERFLIES AND FRENCH STUFF!  I really like it! (The rest of my basement can be seen here and here)
So, yeah, that's really all for today.  In case you missed it, my post yesterday was freaking impressive, so if you haven't checked it out yet, you totally should!

And is it just me, or is this week going by unusually slow?  I feel like it should be at least Thursday...

Sooooo Tired!

So, I did my Turbo Fire workout this afternoon and considering I didn't exactly eat the best this weekend I pushed myself really hard. Like, insanely hard. For all 45 minutes. I've never extended my punches that far, lifted my knees that high, or brought my squats that low for an entire workout before.

I think I'm gonna die. I'm icing my shoulder, looking forward to passing out, and NOT looking forward to getting out of bed tomorrow morning.

This is what I get for falling off the healthy-diet-wagon for the weekend...my whole body hurts ::pout::

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Fitness Recap Friday! And an update on the tubes in my ears...

Happy Friday everybody!  It wasn't my best week, but it definitely wasn't my worst either!  My shoulder got really bad throughout the day on Friday (it was hard for me to run errands, nevermind even think about working out) so I took the weekend off.  If there's one thing I know for sure, it isn't worth it to "push through the pain" and workout anyways, I'm much better off letting myself heal and then being able to actually workout full force.

But, I'm still doing my Turbo Fire program!  After how many weeks (almost 6 in all) I'm almost done with the first month of the schedule, lol, but I'm still really enjoying it.  In fact, I think I like it more now since I've gotten used to Chalene's cues and the choreography in general so I can workout harder without having to think so much!

Monday I did HIIT 20 Sculpt 30; love the resistance training in this program.  I actually makes me want to invest in the advanced DVDs which focus more on strength training than cardio.  HIIT20 isn't my favorite, I get kinda bored while doing it to be quite honest, but it definitely makes me sweat!

Tuesday I took off, still letting my shoulder heal and I was running around like a mad woman to get an Etsy order in the mail (for the most adorable cocktail napkins - you can see them here) so I chose to take a day off!

Wednesday was HIIT 20 Stretch 10.  Again, I'm not a huge fan of the HIIT20 workout, and I'm a little disappointed that they only really include 1 stretching routine (they just put the same one on every DVD in the program) because it gets kinda old.  But whatever, it's a good stretch routine, I would just like to be able to mix it up every now and again, know what I mean?

Thursday was Fire 55 EZ, but my stomach was kinda bothering me so I wasn't able to put as much into the workout as I would have liked.  Still definitely feel a greater sense of accomplishment after a Fire workout than a HIIT workout for sure!

Tonight is supposed to be a Core workout and an extended stretch (the one that I think is super boring) and I haven't decided if I'm going to do it or not.  I think I want to at least do the Core portion, but that kind of depends on what Bryan and I are doing tonight!

How was your week workout wise?

Oh, and an update on my ear-tubes.  Lately I've been feeling/hearing my pulse in my left ear.  It comes and goes, but sometimes it'll last for hours and make me feel like I'm losing my mind.  I was able to get an appointment with my Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor this morning and apparently that's normal and the only way to fix it would be to remove the tube.  Since it isn't happening all the time, I don't want to remove the tube since I can finally ride an elevator without being in excruciating pain, but if it gets any worse I might have to.  It's really hard to concenctrate when you're hearing/feeling your pulse in your head!  So, everyone, fingers crossed that it stops (because it might just stop)!

And, my hearing isn't back to 100% what it was before the surgery, but that isn't anything to worry about.  I'm not having trouble hearing people, and it should continue to get better as time goes on.

On a completely un-related note...does it look like Chalene Johnson has implants?


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 This one is the kicker:

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Because seriously...as I get in better shape my boobs seem to just melt away.  I want her boobs.  Is that a weird thing to say?  Yup.  Is it the truth?  Heck yes! 

Why Do I Ever Stop Working Out Consistently????

Seriously...I'm such a happier person when I'm working out regularly.  I feel better, I have more energy throughout the day, I'm far less stressed out.  Why on Earth do I ever stop working out?  Well the easy answer is because I get lazy, or busy, or whatever.  But next time I start a Fitness Recap Friday with "not too much to recap today" or if I skip it completely, will someone give me a virtual-blog-slap?  Just be like "woman, get off your ass - you like life a lot more when you workout regularly!"

That's really all I have to say for now.  It's Weddzilla Wednesday and once my post goes up I'll be sure to point you all in that direction.  Just so you have something to look forward to, it's about my sexy layouts for my whole wedding.  As we get closer to the big day, it's getting easier and easier to visualize what everything is going to look like...eeek!

Oh, and just because this is on my calendar and every time I see it I kind of chuckle (not sure why, I just find it hilarious) I'll share it with you...gotta love my Bad Dogs Calendar:

hahahahahaha - Picture from Bad Dogs Calendar

you know you are a dedicated Blogger when...

You wake up from surgery and wanna let your readers know you're ok!

Well, I'm awake, have tubes in both ears, and don't wanna throw up! So, in my mind that's a success. Now I'm just ready to go get some food!

Everyone wish me a smooth and easy recovery!

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Prepare yourself for some whining...

::pout:: I have to have surgery. 

And what's even worse than that, it's stupid surgery!  It's a surgery that most of the time is for toddlers!  I have to have tubes put in my ears...

Apparently I have "malfunctioning Eustachian tubes" which means my ears pop constantly.  To be quite honest I didn't realize that your ears weren't supposed to pop as often as mine do until the ear doctor told me so when I went in to see if he could fix my constant ear infections/pain in general.  Apparently they hurt so bad because the pressure is just never regulated properly, which is also why they pop constantly (seriously, every time I yawn, my ears pop...go in an elevator, my ears pop...go in the express elevator at work and my ears pop so bad sometimes I want to cry...drive up a hill, my ears pop...drive down a hill, my ears pop...sneeze, my ears pop...I think you get the point).

And I guess usually when an adult gets tubes put in their ears they stay awake for it.  As in you just lie still as someone cuts a hole in your ear drum.  Fun fact about me, I have anxiety.  My anxiety goes through the roof when it comes to my ears.  I jump when the doctor is looking in my ear and does the little air-blowy thing in order to be able to see better.  The doctor straight up told me he didn't trust me to be able to lie still (which would be bad) and so I need to get anesthesia.  Anesthesia makes me nauseous.

So, I have to get my stupid toddler surgery, and I'll probably be throwing up for a few hours afterwards because anesthesia and I don't get along, and I'm just pissy about the whole thing.  And if this doesn't fix my ears, I'm gonna be pissed!  And this is all happening Thursday.

I have forbidden myself from watching youtube videos of tubes being put in someones ears (because I usually can't help but freak the crap out of myself before having any medical procedure) but in case you're wondering, here's a little picture (although the liquid draining thing is just the common reason for toddlers to need tubes, I don't have a liquid draining problem, just a pressure regulation problem):

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Wish me luck...if you had tubes put in your ears as an adult and you have any in site as to what it's going to feel like after the fact you would be my new best friend!

Skinny Bitch!

In case you've never heard of it, Skinny Bitch started as a different kind of diet book.  The authors are pretty harsh (and opinionated) but funny at the same time. 

Although I don't agree with everything they preach (for instance, I don't think you need to be a vegan in order to be healthy) I do enjoy some of the stuff that they talk about.  So, I bought the 2011 Skinny Bitch page-a-day calendar.  Some days I just scoff at it, and other days I love it. 

Yesterday was one of those days:

I really like it, because it's hilarious and true.  We've all been there; hungry as all hell (for whatever reason) and if you don't have a healthy option at hand you go straight for the vending machine.  Since starting weight watchers I've made sure to always have healthy snacks at work.  Reduced fat string cheese, butter free popcorn, weight watchers mini bars...and those are just my back ups.  I always bring fruit to snack on throughout the day.  And having these things here for me prevents me from slipping up if I'm abnormally hungry or if I'm faced with temptation.

Some of my other favorite sayings are (yes, I save the ones I like):

January 6 - Soda is liquid Satan.  It is the devil.  It is garbage.  There is nothing in soda that should be put into your body.  Drink water instead!
This was a hard one for me when I started dieting, but honestly, giving up soda/other sugary drinks has made a world of a difference in my ability to lose weight and just how healthy I feel.  I used to hate water, now I can't get enough of it!

January 7 - You don't need a degree in biology to get skinny.  You don't need to starve yourself to get skinny.  You don't need to spend all day at the gym to get skinny.  You just need to smarten up and use your head.
I really like this one because it's so true.  We know we can't eat pizza, and candy, and doughnuts and expect to be thin, but for some reason it is so hard to actually put into practice what we know is right!

January 13 - Coffee is for pussies.  Think about how widely accepted it has become that people need coffee to wake up.  You should not need anything to wake up!
I'm not gonna lie, I still have a cup of coffee on my way to work.  But I have cut down considerably, and sometimes I don't even drink it on the weekends; I no longer feel like I need coffee to wake up.

January 19 - Feel free to start a little journal, writing what you eat and drink throughout the day and how you feel as a result.  This way, when you start making positive changes to your diet, you'll appreciate all the results - not just the weight loss.
I couldn't love this one more.  I've said time and time again, losing weight was not the best thing that happened to me as a result of joining weight watchers...I just feel healthier.

January 31 - Have you already strayed from your New Year's resolutions?  Get back on track, bitch!  Today, eat fruit for breakfast and a salad for lunch.
I just think this one is funny to be quite honest.

February 1 - Fruit is, quite possibly, the most perfect food in existence.  It is unique in that it barely requires any work to be digested.  High in enzymes, it effortlessly passes through the body, supplying carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, and cancer-fighting tannins and flavonoids.
I just like fruit, haha, and I'm glad to know it's doing so much good stuff for me!

February 2 - No TV today!  Instead, do something productive or creative that feels good for your mind, body and soul.
If only I could convince fi of "no TV today" sometime...less TV today, maybe, probably not no TV though.

Those are all I have for now, what do you think of Skinny Bitch?

Botox Baby!

So...I had Botox this morning.  I'm not going to lie, when I was sitting in the exam room waiting, I was freaking out a little bit.  First of all, I should have known better than to google the possible side effects of a procedure I was literally minutes away from getting.  That's just stupid, and it freaked me the eff out.  Luckily, I am not showing any signs of an allergic reaction.  Secondly, I blame Kim Kardashian for my anxiety because I didn't want my armpits to look like this:

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But honestly, it wasn't bad at all.  The worst part was when the doctor was drawing on my armpits it tickled like hell!  I was actually CRACKING UP!  The injections are really superficial, so that didn't hurt at all, and I don't have any pain/swelling/itching now.  If this really makes my pits stop sweating, it will be one of the best things that ever happened to me (seriously - you have NO idea how much it sucks to be an excessive sweater unless you are one...it's just so embarrasing).

Wet Rats and Boutonnieres

I don't think that post title even makes any sense, haha.

Well, it's Monday, which means I wrote a brand new post for Weddzilla today!  So head on over there to check out "DIY Boutonniere Frustrations!"
But other then that, I feel like a wet rat!  Why, you may ask?  Because it's freaking POURING!  And in Pittsburgh, when it pours, it also tends to be extremely windy!  Which means you can't not get wet!  GROSS!!!!!  Fi is all excited because it's thunderstorming which "means it's springtime" but I hate thunderstorms - I'm terrified of lightning!  And I don't like getting to work feeling like a wet rat!

So, yeah, that's my rant for today.  Oh, and I forgot to tell you - my insurance approved my botox, so I'll be getting botox tomorrow (in case you think that I'm going to get botox to get rid of wrinkles at the ripe old age of 23, you should go read this post, then you'll understand)!  I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes!

Well, happy Monday all - and here's a little teaser of what you have to expect from my Weddzilla post later:

A post full of random...

I'll start with some random rantings...

So, I take the T downtown then I have to walk a few blocks to work.  In those few blocks there are multiple intersections where the cars will get a left turn signal so the don't walk sign stays up.  I hate when people walk anyway.  Yes, I'd like to get my ass to work too, but can't you feel for the guy in his car that has been patiently waiting for-ev-er to get his turning light?  And now you're ruining it!  Wait the 45 seconds until you actually get a walk sign!

Source - It isn't rocket science...DONT WALK
means Don't Freaking Walk

On a similar note...I understand that most humans don't walk at the pace that I do.  Fi literally has to jog to keep up with me in some situations.  But if you and 37 of your high school buddies want to walk obscenely slow, at least make room for those of us who literally have minor panic attacks when forced to walk slowly down the sidewalk to walk around you...don't take up the whole freaking sidewalk!

Source - How are people supposed to get around you?!?!??!!

And one last walking to work rant - please stay on the right side of the sidewalk.  It's just like driving, you have to stay on the right side of the road.  It isn't that hard of a concept really, people walk on a sidewalk in two directions, there has to be room for both.  Just stay to the right please.

Now some random happy things...

Fi had flowers sent to me at work on Valentine's Day.  I had never gotten flowers at work, and it was amazing.  He knows I have a personal problem with roses (I don't think they're pretty enough for their price tag - and they're over done) so I knew he wouldn't send me those, but I didn't realize he'd be clever enough to send me flowers in our wedding colors!!!!  Look at these beauties:

Personal Photo

Having them on my desk at work makes me really happy...

I really miss dancing.  I started dance at like the age of 2 (if you count "Rhythm and Movement" as dance class, haha) and didn't stop until I graduated high school.  Sometimes when I'm on the T on the way to work (listening to my iPod) I find myself imagining myself dancing.  I think I might look into taking a community class somewhere.  And next time I go to my Mom's house I'll snag some awesome photos of myself as a child before dance recitals to scan and show off...I thought I was a superstar, haha.

And update on my vitamins...I think it's safe to say they're helping with my joint issues, because I'm not nearly as creaky/poppy as I was before.  I can't speak to if they're helping strengthen my nails, because work has been quite stressful, and I pick at my nails (aka tear them to shreds) when I'm stressed, but I think they're helping minimize the self-inflicted damage!  And, everyone around me has gotten sick but I have not!  Which is basically a miracle, because I usually get sick really easily.  So, I think I recommend them.



And a final random thought...I love Glee.  I actually love the music more than I love the show.  Would it be completely inappropriate to have my entire wedding reception be Glee Cast versions of songs?  What about if our first dance was a recreation of the "Time of My Life" dance from Dirty Dancing only danced to the Glee Cast version?  As in, do this dance:

Only to this version of the song:

Hehehe, and the sad part is, I'm only halfway kidding...

Is there any random thought you'd like to get off your chest?  Because honestly, I feel great right now, and totally recommend a good vent to anyone!

Why, Hello There February!

It is officially February, 2011.  That means I basically have 7 months left of planning and crafting before insanity ensues for about a week, and then I'm married!  Here's what's on the books this month:

Personal creation with some clipart, but the Hive is stolen from my beloved weddingbee.com

Originally I was only supposed to be in Massachusetts until Wednesday, but with the snowstorm heading in, it looks like I'll be here through Thursday.  Whatever...I miss fi and my dogs, but that's another day in a hotel with all my meals paid for and a comfy bed all to myself and an actual gym to use....basically I'm not complaining, haha.

And as you can see Tyson should be wrapping up his class this month.  I have a confession to make though. I've only brought him to 1 of the 3 classes so far.  He's just kind of dumb, a sweetheart, but dumb.  And what's worse is he isn't food driven, which makes it next to impossible to train him.  And the class is past his bedtime, haha.  Not sure if I'll be going to the rest of the classes or not yet...

I have my second interview with Weight Watchers this month.  I totally killed the first one, and I know I would be a great leader because I love to talk and I love the program...I am meant to be a WW Leader, haha.

I have an abnormal amount of doctor's appointments this month.  One is my yearly with my lady doctor.  One is with my psychiatrist and the other is with my psychologist.  They just happen to be all crammed into the same week, it usually doesn't fall that way.  Needless to say, that week will probably be an exercise bust!  And I have a dentist appointment; I need 4 fillings.  That's pathetic.  Hearing that you probably think I like never brush my teeth, but I promise I do.  They aren't actually cavities yet, just soft spots.  So, that's not as bad as having 4 cavities I guess.

Wedding-wise I'll be doing my first round of bridesmaid dress shopping, practicing making the guys boutonnieres (which I still can't spell on my own), hopefully finishing up my wish tags as long as I get my cricut back by then and that lovely little hive is for the Pittsburgh Bee Meet-up that is scheduled for Saturday, February 19th!  I can't wait to meet some of the other Pittsburgh Bees, it'll definitely be fun, and probably loud too because the Pittsburghers of the hive tend to be a little outspoken!

Apart from that we have Valentine's Day this month, and I'm looking forward to an evening at the Melting Pot with my sweetie and I can't wait to give him his presents (more on that once I actually get them though).  And, oh yeah, my birthday is this month.  I love Birthdays, especially my own. I don't look at it as a day to think about getting older (I'll be 23 in case you're wondering) but instead a day to celebrate the fact that you're alive.  So on February 24th you should all end your day with a gin and tonic (my favorite) in honor of MandaMack being alive!!!

Any big plans for this February (wedding related or not)?

A Day in the Life of My Digestive System

One of the cool parts of having been on Weight Watchers and tracking quite diligently is that I can look back in my little diary and see everything I've eaten in the past few months!  During the week my diet has become pretty standardized.  But, since I've reached goal, I've been having trouble stopping losing weight.  This is a problem; I dropped significantly below what Weight Watchers considered a "healthy" weight for my height even though I wasn't trying to.  This past weekend, I'm pretty sure what I did in order to increase my weight should be considered cheating; I binged the night before (cheeseburger, french fries, movie theater popcorn, candy, Icee) and although I usually don't eat or drink anything before my weigh-in, I ate my parfait, drank my coffee and drank 2 bottles of water.  I also tried to not go to the bathroom.  I ended up weighing in at 131.2, which is still technically below what they consider "healthy" but only by .8 pounds, so it was an improvement.

So, I talked to my leader about what I could do to stop my weight loss (and explained to her that cutting out any exercise just wasn't an option for me, I feel and look great, and I'm not giving that up).  She went over my food diary and recommended that I up the amount of Kashi in my parfait from 1/2 cup to 1 cup and I add something to my lunch.

Well, here is a day in the life of my digestive system (and I'll be sure to note what is new to my "maintenance plan"):

• Coffee: Any brand coffee with 1 tbsp of creamer - 1 point
• I have one cup of coffee a day.  Apart from that I basically just drink water.  I have no problem sacrificing a point to have yummy coffee by adding a tablespoon of chocolate creamer to it.
• Breakfast: Yummy Yummy Parfait - 4 points
• Today I tried upping the amount of Granola and it was gross, I'm never doing that again. I'll have to find somewhere else in my day to squeeze in a few extra points.
• This is the ideal breakfast.  There's dairy and fiber in the greek yogurt, all the goodness of the fruit you add, and Kashi is an excellent source not only of fiber, but also protein.  It fills you up and tastes delicious.
• Mid-morning snack: Fruit Salad - 0 points
• Usually between 2 and 3 cups mixed of grapes, a kind of melon, and berries.  I nibble on it throughout the morning and fruit is free!
• Lunch: Lean Cuisine - anywhere from 4 to 8 points
• I try to stick to the "Spa Cuisine" line because that uses whole wheat pasta, etc. and less sodium, but sometimes I can't turn down the "Comfort Cuisine" line.  I really just love lean cuisines.  They're cheap, they're easy, and personally I think they're delicious!
• Lunch Addition***: Boca Burger - 4 points total
• My first shot at an addition to my lunch seems to be successful.  I brought a boca burger to heat up in the microwave and a Pepperidge Farm Deli Flat to put it on.  More specifically I had the mushroomy Boca Burger on a 7-Grain deli flat (each of those are 2 points).  I realize not everyone will like this, but I thought it was delicious.  It was also not the first time I had a veggie burger, so it may be an acquired taste.  Don't yell at me if you try it and hate it.
• Afternoon snack: Wheat Thins and Laughing Cow Cheese - 3 points
• I bring 8 wheat thins and 1 wedge of cheese to work for a snack every day.  I prefer the "Fiber Selects Garden Vegetable" wheat thins and the "Mozzarella, Sun Dried Tomato & Basil" laughing cow.
• Dinner:  Any recipe from Weight Watchers eTools - I aim for around 10 points
• I have yet to find a recipe that I don't like on eTools.  I plan out what I'm going to make on Sunday before we go grocery shopping and it actually makes my whole week just easier.  My fiance also LOVES the weight watchers recipes.  He loves even more that I'm constantly making new things.
• Dessert: Weight Watchers Ice Cream - 4 points
• My absolute favorite is the ice cream sandwich with mint ice cream in it.  I love them.  I don't know what I would do without them.  The fiance IS NOT allowed to touch them...because they're mine.  If you haven't tried these yet, I totally recommend you do.

This new addition to my daily menu has made my already hectic mornings a little crazier, but I'm sure soon enough it'll just become a habit like everything else I do to get ready.

This is of course just an "average" day.  Sometimes we'll go out for lunch or dinner and if I go over my points I just use some of my weeklies.  If I workout really hard I try to drink a Muscle Milk Light to use up some of my Activity Points unless I know there's something I'll be using them for later in the week.

So, have you found that your eating habits have become almost a routine after joining Weight Watchers?  Do you have any tips on how I could add more (healthy) points to my breakfast or lunch?

My favorite edible part of my day!

Yummy Yummy Parfait:

All you need to make yummy yummy parfait (which happens to be 4 PointsPlus for Weight Watchers) is fat free greek yogurt, fruit, and granola.  My favorites are:

Fage Fat Free Greek Yogurt

• Banana
• A mix of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries



Kashi GoLEAN Crunch! Honey Almond Flax

And all you have to do is layer 1/2 cup of the yogurt, approximately 1/2 cup of the berries (though adding more or less won't affect the points value because fruit is FREE), half the banana (any more then that and there's too much banana), and half a cup of the granola!  Et voila:

Personal Photo

Then you mush it all together and get:

Personal Photo

AND IT IS DELICIOUS!!!!

I eat this almost every single day.  Usually not Sundays, but that's because on Sunday's I usually make breakfast for the fi and I.

Try it, lemme know if you love it as much as I do!!!

It really did turn my pee neon color!!!

So, I've been working out quite a bit.  And despite the fact that I'm only 22, I swear I have the body of an 80 year old lady.  I'm almost positive eventually I'll have arthritis, I have chronic back problems, my hips can literally pop out of their sockets....you get the picture.

Well, working out quite a bit has made my joints angry.  Everything pops or creaks or explodes while I'm working out.  Yes, I warm up.  Yes, I stretch.  No, I'm not working harder then I should.  I just have an old lady body.

So I figured there's probably a vitamin or supplement out there that could help me.  Currently, I'm only taking a multi-vitamin for "healthy hair, skin, and nails" and I'm not opposed to switching it up.  Seeing that I live in Pittsburgh, I surfed on over to gnc.com and started researching (GNC is based out of Pittsburgh in case you didn't know). 

Best case scenario...I would find something that supposedly improves my joints, helps my hair/skin/and nails, and does not have caffeine or the like in it (I do not need something else keeping me up at night).  And yatzee, I found this one:

(found on gnc.com)

I read reviews like it was my job.  Most people seemed to like it.  Some of the biggest complaints were:

1. It gives you fishy burps
1. I don't really care - it wouldn't be the first (or the last) time my burp tastes like fish
2. It upset your stomach
1. Well, I'll have to try it out to see
3. It turns your pee a neon color
1. Seriously?  First of all, is that really a bad thing...is it hurting you to have a different color pee?  Does this even actually occur?
4. It's expensive
1. This is something I'm willing to spend money on - I really don't want to have old lady joints.

So, this morning after I got off the T I headed over to one of the many GNCs that are downtown and guess what...it's on sale!  It's a sign from the heavens, I am meant to be on this vitapak (as they call it).  So obviously I bought 2 boxes (what, it was buy one get one 50% off!) and headed to work.

I eat my breakfast (yummyyummy parfait) at work, so after I finished I took down all 8 of those suckers (yes, there are 8 pills you have to take every day).  An hour or so passes, no upset stomach...no fishy burps.  Seems like this really was made for me!  Well, about 20 minutes ago I went to the bathroom and guess what MY PEE REALLY IS NEON COLORED!!!!

Now, this is by no means a deal breaker, and I'll get back to you all on whether I think it actually does anything, but I just found it really hilarious that my pee is neon colored.  I was almost tempted to take a picture, then decided that would be weird.