Christmas, Finals, Wedding...oh my!

OK, so I know that I didn't do my Fitness Friday post on Friday...I have a very good reason though. Last week was finals week for school...ugh. I detest finals week. It's truly the most awful week of school...aside from midterms of course. They both rank right up there on about the same level. The only difference between the two is that the week of finals is when most projects are due as well. So, I was completely engrossed in "school-world". All of this doesn't mean that I didn't weigh myself though. My new weight is 233. So, I lost a pound. Not bad...but not as good as I was hoping. I will be posting again on Friday, for those following the saga.

Christmas...ugh. I used to love Christmas. But all it has become to me in recent years is two weeks of complete stress. Mike is a Christmas nut. He would never, ever admit it, but he is Clark Griswold at heart. Basically, he is a really annoying nut who carries around lights, extension cords, and timers. Oh, and makes me his very unwilling helper. No matter how many decorations we put outside, he always finds another spot that "needs something". Move on to the indoor decorations. This is my realm--whether I like it or not. Mostly anymore, not. Luckily, as you all know from my earlier post, I was able to scare up some "minions" for the tree that resides in the Family Room. Oh, how I love minions!

I love you my "minions"! I need more! Brothers! Get on this! However, no minions were to be found when I had to put up the tree that I refer to as my "pretty" tree. Behold, the "pretty" tree:

OK, so I am aware that the tree skirt doesn't "go". This tree has been a work in progress, and used to be Blue and Silver, so at that time it did "go". But since the first year, I turned to the colors in the room as inspiration for the tree. And though you cannt tell from this picture, the color palette for that room is autumn tones. "Pretty" tree--check.

Next on the list of "Crap for Christmas" is buying presents. This is not my favorite, and thus, is still not finished. I. Hate. To. Shop. Yes, I realize this is not a normal thing for a chick, but I do not enjoy the crowds, the lack of parking, the helpful salespeople (which is strange since I work in sales), the holiday carols playing over the store intercoms (mocking me), driving in bad weather to spend hours at the mall, nor waiting in line at the cash register. Shopping--not check.

Wrapping--oh, my favorite! It really is. I wrapped all of the presents that Sweetie bought so far (except for what he got me) and thoroughly enjoyed every sweet second of it. Observe: That's not all of 'em, just a small selection. I will be wrapping more as well, the only thing that makes shopping worthwhile.

Next on the list is cookies. Normally, I do about a bajillion different kinds. This year, I am doing three. That's it. If they don't like it then they can bake them. I do not have the time.

On to drama-creator in my life number three...wedding plans. This should not be a problem. I am slowly beginning to understand why the brides on Bridezillas are well, bridezillas. Planning a wedding is really, extremely, exhaustingly stressful. Aside from figuring out all of the logistics, and the money portion of the wedding, I still have to pick out my dress (which I haven't done, because it requires shopping, and worse than that it requires shopping and trying things on...I'm allergic to trying things on. I don't even like to try on shoes.) and I have all of these meetings and appointments that I have to get done now. I mean it, I have to get the bulk of it done now. I am on break from school right now, so my schedule is only half as crazy as normal. For some oddball reason, the vendors for my wedding can't seem to make it to a single scheduled appointment. And frankly I am getting tired of hearing the myriad of reasons why. I do not have time for the drama. My wedding date is not waiting, and I am running out of time. I am pretty patient as it is, but my patience is being pushed to the breaking point. I actually had a meltdown at work today, Bridezilla style.

Seriously...me. I broke down. Freaked. Lost it.

The wedding planner from the venue that I am using cancelled. This isn't the first time. But, right now, we really need to get some of the things that are being done there nailed down, set in stone, finalized. Such as what the hell we are going to be feeding people. I honestly have no time for these delays, so I was really mad. Funny thing is, she cancelled with me over my voicemail. I think she actually asked for my voicemail, because then I couldn't lose it with her.

After my initial meltdown, I happened to get a call from Sweetie, who had gotten a message at home from her off of the answering machine. Boy, I thought I was mad. He was livid. He's the "money-man" by that I mean that he wants numbers right now. Plus, he's sick of all of the cancellations that are going on as well. Especially since he works third (oh, did I mention that chink in the schedule?) and the meetings are hard to come by, and, as I said, this is not the first cancellation. So he was losing it on the phone. The innocent person who had to hear it? That would be me. Like I wasn't mad too! Thanks so much Wedding Planner Lady!

Anyhoo, now I'm home, my blood pressure is starting to return to normal, and I am pulling the last stinkin' batch of freaking cookies out of my oven...

So how's your holiday going?

Merry Christmas.

Fitness Friday

Well, it's Friday, so it is time for my first "Fitness Friday" post. This is going to become a regular thing. Today I'm going to talk about something that sucks the life right out of your healthy eating plan, stress bingeing. Raise your hand if you do this . This is one of the worst habits that I have. I am by nature a nervous person, so I get upset and stressed out really super easy. I don't deal with this by losing it, I deal by eating everything in the immediate vicinity that is not nailed to the floor.

Unfortunately, when it comes to stress eating, vegetables and fruit are out of the question. When stressing out, the only options available are the foods that are "comfort foods". You guys know what they are: doughnuts, cookies, chips, french fries, Big Macs, ice cream, a handful of Hershey's kisses...stuff that tastes like heaven, but later makes you feel like hell. These foods to do absolutely nothing for your energy level.

Handling stress is a real problem for me, and I can get stuck in the rut of grabbing crappy food and scarfing it down. And lately, I've been stressed to the max. That is why when I weighed myself this morning and found that I have gained weight this week and not lost it, I wasn't at all surprised. I was surprised at how much I have gained however. That never ceases to amaze me. I haven't stuck to my plan at all. With Mike back on third shift, evaluations at work, the last week of school, trying to deal with holiday madness, and wedding stuff weighing on my mind daily, I've managed to pack on seven pounds. Yup, seven. 234 this morning. Not good.

So, what does everyone out there in cyber space do to deal with stress? I'm looking for ideas/suggestions here. Don't be shy. You would be helping me deal, and I appreciate any help.

I really wish I was one of those people who had the opposite problem and didn't eat when they stress. This isn't really healthy either, but would be way more helpful in my quest to not look like the Stay Pufft Marshmallow Man at my wedding.

So ideas??? Anyone???? Bueller????

Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful...

Who ordered the white stuff???!!!??? It's cold, it's snowy....did I mention, it's cold???? Here in good 'ole Pennsyltucky, you would think that after thirty five years, I would get used to bundling myself up for twenty five minutes to take the dogs out for ten, but, not so much. I would prefer to throw my flip-flops on and have it done. But, we live where there are four seasons, and you take the good with the bad.

I would much prefer it if it would only snow two days before Christmas, and then stop once New Year's Day arrives, but alas, I don't get a voice in the matter. Oh well, it is pretty. Something about a recent snowfall makes the world look clean and new and untouched again. I would be much more enthusiastic about it if I didn't have to give up my four-wheel-drive vehicle because the cost of gas was more than the payment! Now that I'm driving a rollerskate to work, I'm not as excited about snow. (Stupid oil speculators! If I ever run into you, I'm giving you an asswhumpin'!)

Looking outside at the white landscape turns thoughts to Christmas, and all of the stuff that is not done yet for the holiday. As of right now, Mike and I have bought a grand total of one Christmas present (Michelle, I got your back, at least you know you'll be opening something Christmas morning!) Nothing else is done...oh wait, that's right, I hosted Thanksgiving this year at our house. Due to my quick-thinking, I used the "free labor" and put those kiddos to work! The tree in our Family Room is done!

Here's a picture of the kiddos that were used in my "Christmas Sweatshop". Clockwise from Top left is: My nephew Tyler, my great-nephew Isaac, My nephew Tanner, and my great-niece Tola. Cute kids huh? Enough chit-chat! To work with you! No pumpkin pies until that tree is done! (I'm such a meanie!)

Here I am putting hooks on the ornaments. I look thrilled, no? That would be because after searching and searching, I couldn't find the hooks to put the ornaments up with...but because my Mom was Mrs. MacGyver, I didn't let that stop me. I made hooks out of paper clips...there's a hint for Heloise!

So, because I was fashioning hooks out of paperclips, it took a little while for the kids to get the ornaments to put on the tree, so they waited somewhat patiently in line for their turn.

Tola was so funny, she is a definite Christmas Nut, and wanted to hang all of the ornaments up...If I had a nickel for every time I heard "OOOOOh that's pretty! Can I do that one?" I would be on an island in the Caribbean right now instead of in the frozen tundra.

This picture is Tola in heavy negotiations with Tyler for a purple-glitter snowflake. She loved those snowflakes, so I'm going to get some for her for Christmas. Shhhhh! Don't tell her!

My elves, busy at work! They really want some pumpkin pie huh?

Isaac was so funny, you could tell he wanted to be the "cool boy" and not get excited about the pretty ornaments, but when I would unwrap each one his eyes got really big and he got this expression of Wow! Too cute.

Work my minions, woooooork! Bet you didn't know that I had minions, did you?

Ahhh, getting closer. More ornaments than room on the tree...

A lot of Tola's hanging was very low on the tree. I wound up moving them after everyone left. Due to the four-legged children I have.

The finished product. One of the prettiest trees I have ever seen.

I'd like to thank my minions for a job well done! "Can we have pie now Aunt Minnie?"

"Sure, once you get the lights hung up outside!"

"We're going home to have pie Aunt Minnie. Mooooooooooooooom! She's trying to make us put up the outside decorations now! Aren't there child labor laws????"

Well, it was worth a try. I don't have free labor like this often.

I'd like to thank one of my "former minions" my cousin Elizabeth, for taking all of the photos. She's a freshman photography major. And, because she is now nineteen, she's over listening to me when I bark out orders...all good things must come to an end I guess.

But, she did a really good job helping to corral the "staff" and help them get the ornaments on higher branches. Plus, she took some nice candids of the day.

This is Elizabeth, who used to be tiny and wore pigtails and thought I was cool...now, she's grown up and arty and ridiculously smart. (Runs in the family.)

Thanks all of you, because if you hadn't helped, I'd be putting that tree up today. Thanks!

Okay Guys, I realize it's not Friday, but I have put this off long enough...

This was me at Halloween. Well, me, and the girls in the family. The girl in the ginormous Police hat is my Sister-in-Law Raine (married to my brother Jim, and expecting the new addition to my family...right now I'm calling the new addition "the Nugget"). The feisty feline is my Sister-in-Law Nan, my wine-drinking partner (see photo below). The cutie-patootie blondie in back is Alley, my Cousin Billy's girlfriend (she's dressed as Alice--so adorable!) And, the chubbo dressed as Little Red Riding Hood would be me. Don't be saying to yourself "geez, she's really hard on herself." Because, you see, it's the God's. honest. truth. I look like Little Red Riding Hood twenty years after the whole debacle with the Big Bad Wolf, and she's really let herself go...although, she does have some awesome rockin' hair going on. I look like I ate all of the goodies in the basket that was being delivered to Grandma...thrice.

(obviously too much wine here, folks...lol)

What's the point of all of this? Well, obviously it's not because I'm overly proud of myself. Because I used to look like this:

(I was 21 here. The cute blonde is my friend Jennifer)

(Taken the same night. The Guy is one of my old "pool-playing buddies" Tom)

(I was 19 here, That is some hair, huh?)

(Fifteen here)

(Sixteen here)

(This picture serves no other purpose than that it makes me lol. I was so cute and drooly huh?)

Now, to the point of all of this. I said a while ago (yes, I did) that I would start posting my weight on Fridays. I have certainly put this off. I know it's not Friday, and I will start posting a regular "Fitness Friday" post. (I would be happy if my readers, small group that they are, would like to join in. Whatever point you would like it to serve to you is fine. You don't have to post your weight like I'm going to be doing. That's very personal. But if you want to do that too, it would be awesome!) I'm going to reveal just how pudgy and out of shape I am....okay....drumroll please....

227lbs

What, you can't read that???? Okay, yes, I weigh 227 lbs. (Hello world, I now feel completely naked...)

Nobody but me (and one of my BFF's Shanna) knew what it was that I weighed. Not "fo sho". Sweetie's been trying to get it out of me for a long time. He doesn't even know. Good thing he's not a web surfer.

I'm ashamed of how unhealthy I have let myself become. Here is a list of stupid things that cause this:

1. I have a monthly gym membership that I have paid for for going on two years now. I never go.

2. I eat late at night because I have trouble sleeping.

3. If given the extra time, I take a nap rather than exercise.

4. I buy healthy food and it goes to waste because I am too "tired" to fix a salad.

5. I have lost my old habit of vitamins, lots of water, and using the alloted gym time at work (that I get to use on company time--mind you!)

The time for excuses is over. I have a wedding in less than 220 days. I have to get a handle on this SEVERE PROBLEM. And it is a SEVERE PROBLEM.

You may ask yourself "What brought this on, Minnie?" Well, I just finished watching the Biggest Loser Reunion Special. Now, for friends of mine, they know that I love. this. show. BL is awesome. Anyway, I'm watching it and realizing that I weigh as much as the contestants do! I could be on that show! I don't want to be on that show, that would be something I could never ever do. But, I can put myself out there in the world--on my blog--and have a place where I am held accountable for what I have done to myself.

I literally have my engagement picture session on Friday. It will be the LAST TIME I will be that fat. That's the mission. I choose to accept it.

See ya Friday...

Oh, and don't tell anyone what I weigh, OK?