Week 1 - Hump Day Check In

My first week of Chub Club & Acai Optimum is half over. Thank goodness. Day 1 you were a biotch, & I am glad you are over. I am feeling better now. This is based on the fact that I didn't have a daydream about McDonalds french fries today like I did yesterday. But I will admit I sniffed my co-workers Steak N Shake bag. The fries smelled delightful.

It's hard to drastically change my daily eating routine. Bestie and I haven't gone out for lunch at all this week. I know you probably don't understand the significance of this feat, but believe me, we are so proud of ourselves.

Gone are the days (like 5 in a week usually) when we would load up in the Torrent & go to Mickey D's, Burger King, etc... All is not lost though. We still eat lunch together almost every day (schedule permitting) but we have vowed to bring our lunches every day this week! WOOT WOOT! So far, so good!

Why I wasn't doing this before, I don't know? Ok I'm a liar, I do know. I am lazy - plain & simple. The effort it takes to throw a Lean Cuisine into my lunch bag was too much for my morning routine. But that was the old me. The new me realizes that not only am I saving calories & precious Chub Club points, but I am saving money. HELLO, NATALIE? What were you thinking before? Geesh!

Now, my meals go a little something like this:

• Breakfast - Fruit Loops with 2% milk {That's all I have time for people, I can't really whip up an egg white omelet before I get the kiddos out of bed in the AM. And I refuse to go to skim milk - I might as well use water! Fruit Loops aren't my fav, but that is what was on sale this week. I may get some lovely bland healthy cereal, then again maybe I won't}
  
• Lunch - Turkey Sandwich with mustard OR a frozen meal with green beans {0 points, HOLLA} and fruit
  
• Snack - fruit cup/pudding/or popcorn
  
• Dinner - whatever I have made for the fam, except sensible portions on a salad plate. {My mind thinks I have more food if I have a smaller plate - I'm a nerd}

Starting tomorrow - I am gonna get really nutty & actually start exercising. I don't know if it's the whole eating right thing or the Acai supplement, but I have a lot more energy now. And rather than spend that energy cleaning my house or something ridiculous like that, I have decided to spend it on me. Olivia & I have played the heck out of Wii this week. I love the Wii - benefits are two-fold: it's a fun way to spend time with my girl, & it's exercise (sort of.)

My Mom & I were talking the other day - in route to the Burger Barge where I happened to consume the largest cheeseburger ever. She said that I have to make myself a priority, and that is something that I have not done in a long time. Really, I don't think many moms do - especially with little ones that need more attention.

So there we have it. I'm a little hungry right now. But I am just going to drink my glass of water - like the 5th one of the day!

P to S - My bestie just did a similar blog post. Totally & completely coincidental. We think alike!

migraines, stomach flu , no fun

I had a horrible headache last night that carried over to today. Olivia puked in the middle of the night. So if you are wondering what is worse than having a migraine, taking care of a 5 year old with the stomach flu while having a migraine is worse.

Hope we can both take a nap today.

some random updates

These girls are my two favorite people in the whole entire world.





I don't think they understand yet how much they mean to me. And I don't think they will, until they have kids of their own. Of course, I make it a point to tell them each & every day that I love them more than they know. Anywho...just feeling a little sentimental.

Onto some random things...

• Tomorrow is my friend Jessica's wedding. We were BFFs in Jr High, don't ya know. And I am really happy for her. Too bad it is supposed to rain. I guess that will be ironic, at least it is according to Alanis - "it's like raaaaaaaiiiiiiiiaaaaaan on your wedding day" although I never really understood what that was all about.
  
  
• Sunday is my cousin Jennifer's baby shower. I am really excited for them! It is going to be great fun. Hilary and I are in charge of games. (that is more of a note to myself to remember to bring all of the stuff on Sunday!)
  
  
• I got to see Keller today. And I cannot believe how big he has gotten since the last time I saw him in person. He even blew me some smoochies, ok so he did that to almost everyone, but I think he actually meant it when he blew me kisses! He loves me!
  
  
• Keller's mom, aka: my BFF Laura, and I have vowed to get back on the Chub Club wagon. Although, we both are cheap & don't want to spend the money each week, we both agree that the Chub Club's plan actually works.
  
  
• I split the inseam of my favorite jeans yesterday. And that was the final push I needed to get SUPER SERIOUS about weight loss. I feel like I need to further clarify...these jeans have seen better days. I knew it was coming, but I have been in denial. I don't want to buy clothes for the size I am now. So, I thought I would wear them until the bitter end. And last night, when I squatted down to get the wipes to change Rachel, it happened. DUN DUN DUN - rrrrrrrrip. Awesome. I guess denim can only withstand so much friction from my thighs! ha!
  
  
• Since I am super serious this time, I did something I don't normally do. I am sure you all have heard about them in some way shape or form. Well, I did it. I ordered Acai Optimum, this claims to boost metabolism, burn calories, etc. I will give it a go - 30 day supply for only $3 (s/h). I also got Advanced Cleanse, this is supposed to detoxify my system & help me digest food better, also $3 (s/h). Today is day 1. So we will see what happens. I am a skeptic. But I read a lot about these products before I decided to do it. There is a very good article right here. It's all herbal stuff, nothing that causes crazy heart rates, etc.
  
  
• I have been doing so-so with losing weight. And by so-so, I mean I do extra good & lose like 4 pounds in a week. But then I go out to eat & basically gain it all back. I will say this, at least I enjoyed my big calorie splurge of a dinner at the Burger Barge this week! YUMMMM, my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
  
  
• Speaking of the Burger Barge, almost all of the ladies in my family went there Wednesday night. We were celebrating my Aunt Diana's 50th birthday! There was good greasy food & lots of laughs.
  
  
• We are going to dinner tonight at my in-laws. Jarrett's grandmother is visiting from Connecticut, and the girls just love her. I just think it is so cool that my kids have great-grandparents. They have 3 great-grandmother's and 1 great-grandpa. I never had living great-grandparents. It's awesome to see them with the girls.

That's about it for now...

UGH...That about sums it up.

Really people, really. Do I need you to constantly ask "OK?" or "Do you follow me?" or "Do you understand?" or (my personal favorite) "Do you see where I am going with this?", when you effing call me for help, ask for my help, or tell me any type of story???

The answer NO, ABSO-FREAKIN-LUTELY NOT! That is my all time pet peeve, ok so it's one of my pet peeves. If I don't understand you, or if you lose me, I will stop you. I will let you know. Don't just assume that I don't understand what you are talking about. That is insulting.

And that is all for now.

Who Wears Short Shorts

I am loving this current string of nice weather! 70s & 80s in the middle of April, yes ma'am, I will take it! With that being said, we broke out the shorts for the 2 girls.

Olivia loves shorts, skirts, & what-not. Cracks me up a little, since this same girl prefers to wear sweatpants non stop during the winter. She wore dresses to school all last week.

Now Rachel, as with everything in her life - is different than Olivia, so it's really no surprise to me. However, her reaction to shorts made me laugh so stinkin' hard. Thursday, it was in the mid 80's, it was her first "shorts experience" of the year. This girl had no idea what was going on. I think the shorts really freaked her out. She had this weird stance & kept looking at her legs like "is this it?" See for yourself...




I was cracking up! It must have offended her, because this is the face she made...

I heart this little girl! She is definitely her own person.

P to the S - ignore the messiness that is my house in these pictures, we just live here. ha

A Compromise

Can we get a puppy, pleeeeeeeeeease?
No {a very firm, ain't gonna happen in a looooong time kinda no}

Can we get a kitten, pleeeeeeeeease?
No {another very firm, ain't gonna happen EVER because Mama don't like cats kinda no}

I wouldn't be as lonely, if I had a pet for inside.
Sorry, our house is too small. {I feel myself weakening}

Pleeeeeeeease, Mommy {insert inconsolable 5 year old emotional girl sobbing complete with quivering lip & crazy crying breathing - you know the one} Don't you want me to be happy?
Of course {thinking to myself - well, crap. That girl already knows how to work me.}

The result, a compromise. I surprised Olivia Tuesday night by bringing her home her very own indoor pet.

I present to you, Terrence Wilson Totten - pretty big name for a beta. Ha! But Olivia named him herself. Pretty good job, huh. Doesn't Olivia look happy? Not too shabby of an outcome for her 2nd official guilt trip (that's my girl!)

Knock Knock...

Who's there?

YIPPEE!!!

That's right folks, my favorite show is back on starting tonight. I am super excited. I love these people.

American Idol, then GLEE...tonight is going to be a good night!

5 Question Friday

Mama M hosts this little bloggy thing every Friday. I thought I would join in...



1. Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?

This is a tough one...ummmm. I would like to say it would be someone gorgeous, slim, & tall...because all actresses are. But that wouldn't really fit my short fat & sassy self. So I really don't know. It would definitely have to be someone super clumsy, sarcastic, and the ability to be super bitchy brutally honest & blunt. Maybe I will go for my fav mean girl Rachel McAdams.


2. Did you ever go to summer camp?

No. I had no desire to. I think I had seen one too many scary movies in my younger days.


3. What sends you running and screaming in the other direction?

Birds. Literally, any kind of bird. I hate them. Especially big ones: geese, turkeys, ducks. Anything that will walk & follow you. At my work there are several ponds/lakes. There are tons of geese sitting around everywhere. I was walking in one day, saw a goose directly in my path. So I did what any normal person would do. I turned around & walked back to the parking deck and took the long way into work. And I loathe pigeons, they are disgusting. I feel like I disappointed both of my kids when we avoided the birds at our recent trip to the zoo. Birds are just icky - disease ridden & what-not. {shiver}


4. What is something you do that drives your spouse nuts?

HAHAHA - If I have to pick just one thing...I would say that it is the way I eat cereal. He says that they should put me in a room with terrorists & they would tell anything & everything they know. He claims that I slurp the milk, and I crunch the cereal too much. He also seems to think I intentionally hit the spoon on my teeth. HA! Ok & maybe since he pointed it out to me that it bothers him, I may try to do all of the above listed things more!


5. What is currently your favorite song?

It's a tie, "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum and "Soul Sister" by Train. I love both of them! And it is so much fun to sing as loud as I can to them in the car. The girls love to sing them with me too. Although, I am not sure if it's good that my 5 year old says "It's a quarter after 1:00, I'm a little drunk & I need you now"...oh well.

Sidenote: my BFF and I are going to see Lady A at the Illinois State Fair this August. I am super excited...and I think I may even get a ticket for my little Liver to go too. That girl would be crushed, absolutely crushed if I didn't take her with me.

Piggy Tails

Is it just me, or does Rachel not look absolutely gorgeous with piggy-tails?

Now, Olivia...also gorgeous. But she is beginning to march to the beat of her own drum. This the 'do she requested recently on 2 occasions. Looks cute enough, right?

The back view...I guess my girl likes to "double her pleasure, double her fun"! HA

Then & Now

time flies...

the proof is right here...

my girls are growing up...

same pose, but different hotels - practically 1 year apart

Easters

Spring Break Get-Away

** Disclaimer: LOTS OF PICTURES TO FOLLOW **

Spring Break {sigh}...

Olivia had Spring Break last week, Jarrett was off work for Good Friday, so I took the day off also. We decided to load up the family & go to St. Louis for the weekend. We got a bit of a late start on Friday, Rachel had a bit of a stomach bug Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday - we delayed the trip by a couple of hours. Rachey was feeling much better by later Friday morning so off we went.

Jarrett drove...he likes the control & it's his profession. I hate to drive, so it works out well.

I was really really excited to be getting out of our house & away from every day life for just a couple of days.

The kids slept...Good thing too. Olivia had a sleep-over with the Brownies on Thursday night, I imagine she needed some more rest. Rachel needed sleep to help her get her strength & spunk back. It worked.

Our time at the zoo was shorter than we had originally planned. But as it turns out, we amazingly weren't the only family with plans to go to the zoo on Good Friday. It was packed! The weather was gorgeous 75 sunny with a slight breeze - absolutely wonderful.

We enjoyed some good quality family time. We saw all of our favorite animals. The girls did great & had lots of fun.

Staying at a hotel is probably one of my favorite things to do. I love it, don't know why really - I just do. Olivia loves it too. It was nothing too spectacular. A Super 8 - which is probably my favorite to stay at. It's cheap, serves it purpose, & had a swimming pool. This Super 8 showed me that Olivia is happy with what we have. We walk into the lobby - I am sure you all have been in a Super 8 - nothing fancy...fake flower arrangements galore, maroon carpeting, a nice stairway up to the 2nd floor. Olivia was in awe, "This hotel is soooooo beautiful and nice!" haha! I love that kid.

Jarrett loves staying hotels too. But I think that is because we can get pizza delivered right the room. Monicals & Pizza Hut don't deliver out to our neck of the woods at home. Rachel, I can't decide if she was a fan of the hotel or not. She kept saying "I wan go home, go home go home go home" but then the next second she was jumping laughing & playing.

My Mom & Dad got the girls new swimsuits for Easter. We put them to good use.

Olivia getting so tall...soon she will pass me by. She is already to my chest level. (that ain't saying much since I am 5'2" - but come on already she is 5 & growing up too fast.)

Rachel looked gansta in her new hat from Grandma & Grandpa, backwards & kicked to the side.

Both of these, because you can't get a good one of both of them.

Olivia is a really good swimmer. She has improved quite a bit from last year. And she didn't need her back-pack (that I forgot at home) anyway.

The girls enjoyed the hot tub, yes I know it's not for kids. The rules were clearly displayed "Not for children under 17" rules, schmules. It was a vacay & they had fun.

This is what Rachel called "simming" She had a blast just kickin her feet in the water.

She's quite a beauty.

Or a grouch...depends on the moment.

The Totten family first road trip of 2010 was a success. I came home exhausted & felt like a needed another day off just to rest, alas - there is no rest for the wicked mother of 2 kids! It was a great time, and I can't wait to do it all over again!