this is a test

i think i can

So here I am, officially 2 weeks into this Oh-Dear-Lord-the-wedding-will-be-here-before-I-know-it/Exercise & Weight Loss plan. (I took a week off because I was sick...still am actually, but I am trying to be tough.) I have actually seen some results on the scale...I know, I am shocked too. Who would have thought that I would be successful if I actually put my mind to it.

I kicked it into high gear this week. (Partially because last weekend I had a funnel cake - an entire funnel cake all to myself. It was wonderful. But I probably shouldn't have had it, but it was so darn good.) I didn't see staggering results after week 1 like I had hoped. I lost 1 pound. But hey, it was a loss...not a gain. I will take it, especially with the funnel cake that I am sure didn't help. Makes me pumped to actually try to do some exercise when I can lose weight just by changing my eating habits. So this week, each morning I got up and exercised. Not exactly my idea of a good time, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. Good thing I lost a whopping 4 pounds this week or else I would be tempted to stop getting up at 5:00 & working out.

Total of 5 pounds down. I am slightly proud of myself, just slightly. I don't want to get too excited just yet.

A to Z

A- Age: 28
B- Bed size: Queen; I desperately want to get a king size.
C- Chore you hate: Dusting; which is why I never do it.
D- Dogs' names: Mazy, Pooch, & Jersey
E- Essential Start You Day Item: Orange Juice
F- Favorite Color: Purple
G- Gold or Silver or Platinum: Platinum; not that we can afford platinum
H- Height: 5'2" (aka short)
I- Interesting fact: let's see...I don't really know. I chose Rachel's middle name from a character in one of my favorite movies of all time The Breakfast Club. But I didn't tell Jarrett that until after she was named! ha
J- Jewlery you wear everyday: Wedding & Engagement Rings
K- Kids: 2 girls Olivia Grace & Rachel Claire
L- Living Arrangements: me, the hubs, & the girls way back in the sticks
M- Mom's Name: Carol
N- Nicknames: Nat, Nat The Brat, Hobo Joe; Mommmmmmy
O- Overnight Hospital stay other than birth: Kidney Infection, having 2 kids (I read that as - my own birth)
P- Pet Peeve: stupid people. really
Q- Quote: "you can't please all of the people all the time"
R- Right handed or left handed: right
S- Siblings: older sister Sarah & younger brother Tim
T- Time you wake up: 5:15 or 5:30 - if I am feeling ambitious.
U- Underwear: yes I wear them
V- Vegtable you dislike: peas
W- Ways you run late: just by being me, I am always late. "Natalie Time" is about 5 to 10 minutes off
X- Xrays you've had: teeth, chest, back, ankle, wrist, head (i am accident prone)
Y- Yummy food you make: ummmm, I don't know. I think I do alright on some things, Jarrett is really the good cook. I do like to make pasta bake though.
Z- Zoo favorite: penguins

Bridal Shower

Saturday, May 8th we had a bridal shower for Hilary. Hilary & my brother Tim are getting married on July 10th. I'm really excited! Here are some pictures from the shower.

Check out the table decor...I made these! Pretty sweet, huh.

The cake was made by my Aunt Diana. Very pretty & very yummy!

My sister Sarah was in charge of games. We had a lot of fun. We asked Hilary questions about Tim & for each one she got wrong she had to chew a piece of gum. Turns out Hilary doesn't know everything about Tim, she ended up with 7 pieces of gum in her mouth.

And presents, lots of presents. They are set for quite a while. (makes me want to have a 2nd shower for myself, can I do that for our 8th wedding anniversary?)

It was a good day. Lots of fun & laughs. Well, not the whole day. Probably about 3 hours after this picture was taken, Hilary was being taken to the hospital in an ambulance. You see, she wrecked a dirt bike & messed up her finger pretty bad. No picture of that, trust me you don't want to see it! (very disturbing) But she is much better, although she will be a gimp for about 6 more weeks since she tore every ligament & tendon in her pointer finger.

Happy Birthday Brownie Boy!!!

Happy 6th Birthday Nathan Bradley Brown!

We love you!

I'm not like a regular mom. I'm a cool mom. Right, Regina

So, my conscience got the best of me...

I sent Olivia to school today. Although, I still maintain I'm a cool mom. It's just that there are a measley 13 days left of school including today. Plus it is "flashlight day" so she was pretty stoked to go anyway. We will pick her up, along with the Brownies, and she will be none the wiser to us being home all day long. (Does the fact that I am not telling her, make me a mean mom? oh well)

Me & the Rachey Lady are home together today. It's awesome. I love this. She is being my little helper today as we de-clutter the house. Work a little bit, watch a little bit of the Fresh Beats...ah this is the life! If I am feeling really wacky later, we may go to the big Wal-Mart. I know, I can hardly contain my excitement either.

In cool mom fashion, I'm getting things ready for a garage sale next weekend. My oh my the crap that we have accumulated in the past 8 years is astonishing. My pack-rat/hoarding nature is not good for such a small house. But I feel better having already tackled the kitchen & living room. I'm trying to simplify my life.

I Can't Help Myself

What was I thinking when I took this picture of myself sitting outside of the ol' Cracker Barrel on Mother's Day???

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If you said Wayne's World, you are right!

You see I love quoting movies, I do it every day, multiple times a day.

I couldn't resist it. I started giggling as soon as I was left holding their little sample container that had these gag-nasty mints. Rachel tried it & spit it out on the sidewalk. - that's besides the point.

I texted this picture to my Dad. To which he replied, "if you spew & she bolts, it was never meant to be" & that is where I get it...from my Dad.

Rachel talking

Because Laura said that she cannot picture Rachel talking...

Disregard the part at the end where my husband says "whatever the hell"...that's just how he is!

Happy Mother's Day

To My Dearest Olivia & Rachel,

I love you both with all of my heart. My whole world begins & ends with you. Thank you for making me a Mom!

P to the S - Olivia, thank you for relaying to Daddy that I want a Blackberry. Lets see if the old man came through! :)

Kindergartenitis

My sweet little lady is feeling a little "too cool for school" today. This girl fake coughed a couple of times, then declared she was too ill to go to school.

Oddly enough this took place shortly after I announced to Rachel that Tata was coming to pick her up. (Tata = Jarrett's Dad, it's Polish for Grandpa)

Poor 5 year old kindergarten going Olivia is feeling left out. "Rachel gets to play all day! And I don't!" She stomps her feet , purses her lips, & glares at me - You know, the kind of stuff mother's dream about when they are pregnant with their sweet little babes!

Rachel is 2. You got to play all day when you were 2 also, you just don't remember it. Don't worry, I carried her LITERALLY kicking & screaming to the bus doors. Said "she's fine, & I'm sorry" to the bus driver & waved as she pulled away. I personally cannot think of any better way to start my day!

How many more times am I going to have to have this same conversation with her? Any guesses???

My guess, 17 more times. That my friends is how many days remain in the school year. Of course, we have next school year to look forward to, and the one after that. Then they will both be in school & I will be happy! ha!

Call me a glutton for punishment! I am off work next Wednesday, & I am contemplating keeping Olivia home from school so we can do fun stuff all day long. Does that make me a irresponsible mother? Or does it make me the cool mom? Thoughts???

Here is my reasoning, I feel incredibly guilty being a full time working Mama. I know, Olivia is in school all day long. But mornings like today really make me want to play hookie with her. And since I am already off next Wednesday, why not! She's my kid, I will do what I want.