Longest tomorrow ever...

Wow, did I say tomorrow? Wasn't that just yesterday? Oh...well...er...I meant to say the day after the day after 26 days I was going to blog a real post! Ha! Well, now I'm saying that TOMORROW I will post a real entry. Or somewhere soon thereafter... ;)

Worst Blogger Ever

I posted three times in 2013. I did actually achieve a couple of my other New Year's resolutions... I'm going to blog more this year. I promise. :) I will write a real blog post tomorrow with what's going to happen for 2014. :)

Here We Go......AGAIN!

Talking to my boyfriend yesterday, I realized that since we have been together I have gained lots of weight 3 separate times...when I met him I weighed 207 pounds (which is the smallest I've been in awhile) and I got comfortable and shot up to 270 (yikes)...then I decided to go on a diet, I did the Medifast diet, and I did very well and lost a lot of weight.  I think I got down to 210.  Then I got comfortable again and resorted back to my old habits and gained 50 pounds back!  So I was at 260 when I decided I wanted to do Medifast again.  I started out with Medifast, and ended up switching to the Atkins products, because they were cheaper and tasted better...and this time I got down to 210 again.  So I was feeling pretty damn good about myself.  Then again...I let myself go and gained 50 pounds AGAIN!!  And now here I am.  Disgusted with myself.  Knowing I am putting my body through HELL by this yo-yo cycle.  (I've done it (lost and gained 50+ pounds) probably 6 times since I had my kids).  I am so uncomfortable in my own skin.  I feel like everyone is looking at me and judging me and I just feel fat and disgusting.  :(

Moving forward... I have decided to join a gym with my boyfriend.  We signed a 1-year contract, and it's $75.00 a month so I better get my ass in gear and get my money's worth!  I have also re-downloaded the myfitnesspal app, and have been counting calories.  So I'm getting ready for big changes, taking baby steps.  I can't wait to jump in head-first and do this...and see results.  And hopefully feel accomplished and be happy with myself for once.  That's all I want, is to be happy with me.

Annoying?

 

So apparently it's annoying when people take pictures of their dinners and post them on Facebook? I must admit I get a little annoyed from time to time...but for the most part, I love my friends, and I love knowing what they're up to, even if it means what they made for dinner. And darnit, us women slaving in the kitchen is a BIG deal, and when something is impressive, we want to share it with the world! So I've decided to use this format to post food pictures... So if you're annoyed...move right along... :) I'll be posting more pics, watch out now!  Not all mine, I have to take pics when I'm impressed at a restaurant, too. (naturally...)

Here's an amazingly delicous dessert made by Anthony's, a chocolate molten lava cake...O.M.G. it was soooooo good!  Huh, Nancy?

 

I was hugely impressed with my cookin skills with this asain glazed chicken dish, inspired by skinnytaste.com.

Shrimp Yakisoba!!  (They don't sell these noodles at Costco anymore and they were sooooo good!)

Aebelskivers!!  Has anyone ever had these?  They're Denmark's version of pancakes or waffles...they fill them with applesauce and other things in Denmark. (they're hollow in the middle) but we fill them with buter and syrup and whipped cream....mmmmmmm, mouth watering?

Not the greatest pic, but homemade mini BBQ chicken pizza.  Our FAVORITE pizza.  These were gobbled up in the blink of an eye! :)

 

 

1st weekend of the year...

Had an okay weekend.  Had one kiddo who didn't feel too great.  The kids stayed home Friday evening while Jeremy and I went to the Art Walk in downtown Bellingham.  We were supporting our friend who is opening a new hair salon and art studio.  It's called The Hair Art Studio.  It's a great space, and I am very excited for our friends Dre and Jason as they begin this new venture in life!  Here's a pic of a few of us who attended:

 

On Saturday we took the kids on a mini nature walk at Whatcom Falls Park, which was nice to be out in the fresh air.  Then we splurged and went to Cold Stone Creamery and used a Groupon I've been holding onto forever...gotta love Groupon! :)

 

Sunday we took it easy...I ended up with a bad asthma attack, and was worthless for the rest of the day...  :(

 

Back to work yesterday...here's to another week...may it fly by!

 

Some pics from Whatcom Falls:

I love my family!!  <3

 

I resolve...

Ahhhh New Years Resolutions.  I'm feeling it this year.  So here goes...

You know, I think every year for the past 5 years I have lost 50 pounds and then gained 50 pounds. I have got to get my a$$ in gear and figure out SOMETHING that is going to work for me long term. Holy crap I am sick of this Yo-Yo dieting baloney!! I love food! Way too much!! I need help!!! I'm thinking hypnotherapy (I'm serious--don't laugh), Weight Watchers, and a gym membership! Duh, right? I swear if I don't figure out something soon I'm just gonna throw in the towel and keep eating and weigh 400 pounds. I'm sick of the constant battle with the mirror, the constant battle with comparing myself to other women. (I know, I shouldn't do that, but I don't know how NOT to!) So please send me vibrant thoughts, prayers, encouragement, ideas... I obviously know that I can lose weight...but apparently that's not my issue. It's wanting to keep it off bad enough to make it happen that I can't seem to grasp!! Anyhow...a new year always seems like a great time to start fresh. Wish me luck! ♥

I resolve to:

1.  Figure out some kind of permanent lifestyle eating change.  I have got to figure out something that is going to work for me LONG TERM.  NO MORE YO-YO-YO-YO-YO-YO diets!!!
2. Actually style my hair every once in awhile.
3. Spend more time with my family at home--no hiding in my room. 
4.  Get out and enjoy nature more.
5. Take LOTS of pictures!!
6.  Learn how to stick to a budget :)

I think that's pretty good for starters...more to come, I'm sure!!

HaHa!!!

Hey there's a Blogger app! I can blog from my phone! Suh-weeeet! Beware friends...this has the potential to get very annoying! :)

Where to begin?

So it's been a few years since I regularly blogged.  I deleted my Myspace account over a year ago, then kicked myself in the teeth because I realized that I lost my entire blog, which was over 200 posts!!  *sigh*

So for beginners, my wonderful daughters are growing older and more beautiful by the day.  Julia will be 15 next month. (going on 24)  Abi is holding strong at 12...going on 17. :)  They are both very involved in sports this year.  This past summer we moved to the Meridian school district, which is a smaller school...and the kids are rocking at sports!  As a freshman, Julia made the JV volleyball team, and did great.  She is currently playing basketball, and club volleyball on the side.  Abi started out with fastpitch, just finished with basketball, and starts volleyball at the end of this month.  So needless to say, we are very busy!!

The amazing man in my life is Jeremy.  We have been together for 3 1/2 years now.  He is the Peanut to my Butter, the Star to my Bucks, and all that cute sappy stuff.  He is an incredible guy and we've had a great 3 1/2 years and I'm looking forward to many, many more!

I am currently working for Bellingham Eye Physicians as an ophthalmic technician.  It's a great gig.  The job kind of fell in my lap, and I love it.  I've been here for almost 3 1/2 years and have no plans of going anywhere, ever.  I think I will work here until I retire. (or die, whichever comes first) :) 

Life is good...overwhelming at times...super stressful a lot of the time...but life would be boring without things that stress us out or overwhelm us, right?

I have grown a lot over the past few years.  I have found my voice, have grown a pair, and can honestly say I am a better person.  There have been a few big obstacles along the way...I'm sure there always will be something...just lingering around the corner...again, life would be boring without them!

So between kids, work, and boyfriend I am a very busy gal.  I wouldn't change a thing at the moment.  I am pretty darn content!

Some old photos:

 

Some newer photos:

 

 

Forgotten Blog

New Year's Resolution:  BLOG!!  TAKE PICTURES!!  Share and enjoy this year to the fullest.

Happy 2013 everyone!!

Life Changes...The month of September

September 6, 2007:
CHANGES
Current mood: determined
So I've been forced to look at my life under the microscope...once again. I am so ready to become the person I want to be. I am so close, just not quite there yet. I'm not waiting until New Years to make changes this time. I'm starting now! Today I have decided to quit smoking for good! That means no smoking, even when drinking. Done, Done, Done. Tomorrow is my last day of carbs and sugars. I'm going hard core Atkins all the way. I am blogging about this so you, my friends, can push me and hold me accountable for the changes I want to make! My co-workers are behind me 100% which is great, because they are who I spend the majority of my time with. I'm going to be taking minerals to help curb my cravings...so here's to hope and persistence and willpower!
On another note, I have vowed to get my life organized. I am so sick of putting everything off to the last minute, living from paycheck to paycheck...I'm starting NEW! My kids have got so many things coming up this year...from soccer to dance to plays to church...the list goes on and on. And if I can't get my shit together now, while they're still young, our lives are going to be nothing but a big mess. So I am committed to doing this. Not only for myself, but for my girls as well. Being happy, and healthy, and loving myself more than ever.
whew!
Here goes!! :)
On an even happier note...I've been in school since the beginning of July, taking online classes, and my CUM GPA so far is 4.0. Hell fuckin yeah! I'm pretty excited about that...can ya tell?

September 11, 2007:
Day 6/Day 2
What a week! I have had a busy start and it's only Tuesday! I am on day 6 of no smoking and day 2 of Atkins. I have this problem…every time I have tried to quit smoking in the past, I get horrible insomnia and I cannot sleep. So I took appropriate measures and slept like a baby last night. Gotta LOVE modern medicine, eh? Atkins seems to be going okay so far. I am SO determined to DO THIS and I don't think I'll really have a problem. Plus I'm keeping busy because my kids have activities pretty much every day of the week. Between, soccer, dance and church, we're good to go!
I don't know if it's just the style of the jeans I just bought, or if I've already lost weight, but I need to take them back to get a smaller size. That feels awesome. They do have stretchy material, so maybe they just stretch too much, but I'd like to think that this diet that is KILLING me is already working! J
For those of you who know me well, you know that I am quite possibly the world's worst eater. It's all about simplicity and junk in my household. Mac and cheese, grilled cheese on WHITE bread, chips, pretty much anything out of a box, can, or freezer. Terrible. So this whole Atkins thing is a slap in the face for me and I'm experiencing total withdrawals. It's crazy.
On another note, I just finished my 2nd class with Ashford University. Got another A. I'm awesome. Woo hoo! My new class is called Judeo Christian Thought. Should be interesting.
I changed up my work schedule this week too. I cannot find childcare in the lovely town of Lynden for my kids before and after school. So I have signed them up for the Lynden Boys & Girls Club. Which I think Lynden is the only town in the USA that I would feel comfortable doing that. But they only provide after school care. So my great boss decided that I could come in at 9 am and work until 5:30 from now on. Which is pretty cool. So I actually get to drop the kids off at school myself. Plus I must say the extra hour in the morning is awesome, and staying at work until 5:30 really ain't so bad!
Hmmm, what else, what else…OH! I signed up to do this football pool and supposedly the pot is up to like $4,000.00. You pick 2 picks each week, and if your picks win, you advance. Both of my picks won last week, so I am excited about that. One week closer. How awesome would that be if I won the pot? I would so go buy a car!
How do you like my long blogs?
Signed,
The New Leah
(just wait until a month from now and you see me and I'm all skinny and shit…I can't even imagine. But I'm excited!)

September 14, 2007:
Day 9/Day 5
I am so proud of myself. I have not an a drop of sugar nor a bite of any carbohydrates all week! Or a cigarette. I have been a non-smoker for 9 days and an Atkins loser for 5 days.
I chopped all my hair off too! And dyed it. Wait till you see me, I look like a new person. I love it! Susan is an angel when it comes to hair. Truly.
I am going out drinking tonite so the true no smoking test will be tonite. I can do it! I will do it!
Hope to see some or all of my wonderful friends tonite. I'm going to the mall after work to find a cute outfit, wish me luck!
Have a great weekend ya'll!

September 21, 2007:
Day 16/Day 12
Almost through the 2-week induction for Atkins! As of last Sunday I had lost 10 pounds. I've been afraid to step on a scale this week. I don't feel like I'm losing more weight, but hopefully I will step on that scale and be surprised!! Also just passed the two-week mark of no smoking. I must say I'm proud of me!!

Where have I been?

I have been very bad at updating this blog lately! I promise I will get better. I just read an old dear friend's blog, and it was awesome, and it inspired me to make sure I take some time to blog and get this thing up to date. I have been semi-regularly updating my myspace blog, so I am going to "cheat" and copy and paste some of those entries over here! :) Just to keep ya'll entertained...you know!!

More to follow soon!

Camping

Camping was fun! It was a long drive over there, but my awesome boss let me take his wife's car over there, so the ride was nice. I don't think my car could have made it anyway. We showed up and I had a margarita in my hand within 15 seconds. My tent was already pitched and ready to go. That's my kind of camping!! We all stayed up late, did some serious drinking, then retired to our tents--I think I crashed at about 1:30. Woke up about 7:30 the next morning to the hot sun peeking in my tent. We just all hung around, all the guys had gone golfing--they had a 6:40 am tee time...which must have been fun after a night of drinking. :) We started making breakfast. Did any of you know that you can cook an omelet in a ziploc bag by submursing it in boiling water? They were fantastic! Plus hash browns, english muffins, fruit galore, and to top it all off...mimosas! We went swimming for a couple of hours...went into town to get espresso and ice cream. Had a fantastic dinner back at the campsite and then started drinking again...actually I had been drinking pretty much all day. I had a hard time getting drunk that night so I gave up and went to bed at like 11. The next day we just packed up and left right after breakfast. Went back into Winthrop for more ice cream and to go shopping. Then the nice 4 hour drive home. Stopped along the way to take some gorgeous pictures of Diablo Lake. If I ever go camping again, this is where I want to go!

You want ME to sleep in a TENT?!? ;)

I'm doing it. I'm going camping this weekend. I haven't been camping in about 5 years and the last time I went camping we slept in a motorhome. This time we're sleeping in a tent. Also, the last time I went camping, I had a husband to do all the "manly" stuff. This time it's just me and the girls!! Should be interesting. I am going with all of my co-workers. This will be a fun ice breaker, as I am fairly new to the company. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone a little bit better, and to meet all of the spouses. I heard my boss spent over $250.00 at the liquor store, not to mention the $600 at Costco for food & beer. It should be a weekend to (not) remember!! :) The nice thing about this trip is we don't have to do any of our own cooking. Meals are provided. Sweet! There's also a pool at the campground, showers, etc. So not entirely "roughing it."

The last time I slept in a tent was when I was in the army. Now that brings back some memories! This should be much more fun, and I won't have to have a damn rifle in my sleeping bag with me!!! ha!

Perhaps some pictures will be posted soon... should be good times!!

Men who are polite and emotionally mature are hot

Found this on msn. Just felt like sharing. For all those losers like me out there in the dating scene:
"Repeat this to yourself one thousand times:Screwed-up people are not more interesting than people with their heads together. Baggage is not fascinating, romantic, or exciting. It is very, very tiring. Men who are polite and emotionally mature are hot. Learn it, love it, live by it."

http://tinyurl.com/37g5v8

I fucking hate dating. Does anyone else?

Also here's a great article about SEX: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20059548/

Online Classes

Are online classes always easy? Can anyone give me hope? I am currently taking my first (well, actually it's my second, but the first one was over 2 years ago and I quit school after that...) online class and it has been sooooo easy! I hope they are all this easy! I'll be done with school within 2 years if this is the case! I am done with all my assignments until NEXT Thursday. It took me about an hour (which I was able to do at work because it's a super slooooowwww day) to complete the whole week's worth of assignments. It can't stay this easy. There's no way.

Greek

Oh shit I think I'm already addicted to a new tv show. It's called Greek. I never went to college so I missed out on the whole idea of college/frats/sororities/yadayadayada...

I like it. Good show. But what's pissing me off is the effing Harry Potter video game commercials instead of regular commercials. Who cares about the new Harry Potter video game? Not me!

Cute show though...

I want to date a cute frat boy! Someone hook a sister up :)

Notice my new Twitter badge...cool eh?

What a week!

I want to know who decided that we should take the 4th of July off. Someone should have been thinking and the 5th of July should totally be the day we get off. Dumb.

That being said, who wants to hear about my 4th of July? Well I don't care if you want to hear about it or not, you're about to...

On Tuesday, my good friends Dan & Nancy decided to have a BBQ/Bonfire. They have an awesome firepit in their back yard, lots of property, and they have the best parties. So after work, I packed the kids up and we ventured out to Glenhaven, which is about a 40 minute drive from where I live. We got there kinda late, but there was still plenty of food, and the fun had not yet begun.

Dan's friend had this homemade cannon get up that he wanted to fire. We were all like, "what does it do?" He said, it makes a loud BOOM. So he packed black powder, gasoline, and who knows what else into this little contraption and lit it off. The earth shook. Car alarms went off. Animals for miles were frightened for their lives. It was awesome. So we're all hangin out, drinking, eating, having a great time, and some butchy lady walks into their yard and says, "If you guys light off anymore of those fireworks, I'm going to call the cops. My dogs have been hiding under my bed for 4 days. It's not the 4th of July yet, it's illegal to be lighting off fireworks, and that thing you just did is NOT legal!!!" We were all like, "yeah whatever, screw you, you butch, go home." (no, most of us were civil to her...however Dan told her she was drunk and she needed to go back home--and that it wasn't our fault that everyone in the known world was lighting fireworks the past 4 days and that her dogs would be fine).

So we go about our business. No more "canons" went off. We decided one was enough. We're doing all our fireworks, it's about 9:45 ish, maybe 10. I was drunk, and this guy walks over to our little table where we were lighting the fireworks. I said, "omigod, that looks just like a cop!" and he turned around and looked at me and said, "I AM A COP." I was like, OH SHIT! It was kinda funny. He was responding to some complaints about us, found that we had nothing illegal and left us alone. I offered him a shot of tequila...he declined. ;)

I was passed out by 12:30. I consumed quite a bit of alcohol in a pretty short time period. I didn't last long...I can't drink like I used to...damn!

The next morning we got up and drove out to Anacortes for the 4th of July parade. Dan & Nancy know the fire cheif out at the Shell Refinery fire station, so we get to ride on the firetrucks and throw out mardi gras beads and frisbees to the crowd. The kids love it, and I had fun too! Then back to Glenhaven and we got to go swimming in the community pool. Pretty big pool, had a ton of fun, the kids were in heaven.

We finally left to go back home and I decided I wanted to go watch the big fireworks show down at the Bellingham Bay. So I made a few calls, rounded a few people up, packed the kids up again, and head to the bay. Super fun night. Although we didn't get home until midnight and getting up at 6 the next morning hurt!

Are you bored yet?

My cousin was here visiting from Nashville for a few days, and she wanted to go out to the bars before she went home so we decided to go out last night (her last night here) and we had so much fun. Went to all my favorite bars, saw some friends I hadn't seen in a while. Danced our little tooties off for a little while at Rumors. I picked up the kids on my way home, and didn't get home until about 1:45 ish. So getting up this morning at 6 REALLY hurt! But I'm in a great mood and have lots of energy today, so I don't know what's up with that. I'll probably crash and burn at about 4:30.

This week has been sooooo long. Having the 4th off made it feel like the weekend, then back to work for 2 days. I am SOOOOOOOOOOO glad it's Friday!! WOO HOO! I survived my first week of online classes too. So far so good!

I got my TV, and I got cable, internet, and phone hooked up on Tuesday so I feel complete again! I am loving my new laptop and my new place! Life is good!!

Like, Omigawd!

I am stressing pretty hardcore. I start my online classes tomorrow! Someone please assure me that it's going to be super, super easy! ;) I don't know how I'm going to fit full-time school into my already busy, single-working-mother schedule. I know it will be worth it though. "Keep your eye on the prize, Leah!" That's what I have to keep telling myself about 500 times a day.

So I am all moved into my new place!! Got my 61" big-screen TV delivered yesterday. Thanks to my dad, his friend, and his friend's 3 teenaged sons. That sucker is effing heavy!!!! Get cable, internet, and phone hooked up tomorrow, thanks to the fabulous Comcast. Can't wait to use my brand new laptop in my new place with my very own internet service! (lol--see I told you I was a dork!)

I went to a bbq at my parents house for my dad & my sister in law's birthdays last night. It was fun to be a guest in their house again! I had some delicious chardonnay along with some champagne, and then we drank mimosas. It was a "feel-good" night. =) The food was fantastic too. Steak, salmon, shrimp, smoked salmon, salads, chips & yummy dips, cake, meatballs....I could go on & on.

That was the highlight of my weekend. Well, besides sleeping the first 2 nights at our new place. Oh and my new sateen sheets are freakin heavenly! Thank you Kohl's for having a fantastic sale so I could afford to buy sheets that were regularly priced over $100.00!!

Wish me luck as I open this new chapter of my life, being a 29-year old, single working mother, going to school full-time. AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =)

busy, busy, busy

"...and I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket, but I've gotta get a move on with my life..."

Yep, still my favorite song.

Yep, still a dork.

;)

So this isn't really supposed to be a personal blog about ME. But wtf, why not? Today I feel like blogging, and I feel like blogging about myself! Maybe I'll just save the negative pissy blogs for my myspace friends.

3 super cool things going on the upcoming week! I become a regular employee instead of a TEMP, I am moving to my own place after living with my 'rents for 6+ months, and my kids start a kick-ass summer daycare program at the Y. (which really doesn't affect me one way or another, except we have to get up about a half an hour earlier every morning so they can go and have fun-filled summer days!) I am excited for them cuz they get to do awesome stuff like climb the rock wall at the Y, go swimming, 2 field trips a week, etc. etc.

PLUS I do believe I am going to start taking some online classes. It's an online program through Ashford University...anyone heard of it? I have the GI Bill from being in the army that I have to start using before 2009 or I lose all my college money (which was why I joined the army in the first place!) So there's no time like the present, right? I'm freaking out just thinking about how busy I'm going to be...but at the same time in 3-4 years I will have a BA with a Teaching Certificate and I will have my dream job!

Crazy week, lots going on...lots of changes...wish me luck!!!!!

Oh and did I mention I'm moving this weekend? I feel the stress bubbling under my skin!!!!!!!!!

Big Girls Don't Cry

I have been accused a time or two of being a "teeny bopper." I must admit that is partially true. I think things like American Idol and Top-40 Music and Orlando Bloom and the song "mmmmmbop" make me feel youthful. Being on the cusp of 30, a single gal needs things like this to make her feel young.

I really don't know why I started out this way...the reason for my blog is I wanted to share with you how much I love the song "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie. I guess I was embarrased to admit that I love a song by Fergie and needed a disclaimer. :)

The first time I heard the song, I thought, "Who is that? I love this song!" and when I found out it was Fergie, I was like, OMG, LOL, WTF. I just heard it, courtesy of The Beat 94.5 live stream radio on my work computer, and I fell in love with it all over again.

So for my new readers, you now know what a dork I am...

Introductionage

Just a little quick note to introduce you to me...or me to you. How do you do? Sweet!

I have been keeping a blog on myspace.com for just over a year now. It's rather personal and is more of a ranting/raving about things that go on in my life.

I love to write, and I come across things/people/issues/stories/funny shit that I just want to share with people, and why not just start a damn blog so I can write whenever I freakin feel like it!!

So for those of you who know me, or would like to know me...git at me...and I'll share my other blog with you. For the rest of you...hopefully I won't bore you to tears with my rambles. Hopefully those will be uncontrollable tears from laughter cause I'm so damn funny! (yeah I know...probably not...)

Adios for now!

~Bunz

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

Ok a non-myspace blog. Are you ready for me, world? Well here I am whether you like it or not!