Maybe I Need To Stop Smiling At People

Why do I always meet weird people when I go shopping?   I had another strange interaction with a lady customer when I recently visited my local Old Navy to utilize my 30% off coupon. 

In typical Joanna form, I was scouring the clearance racks when I came upon the cutest little black jacket/blazer.  Since it was a jacket, I decided to try it on right there.  As I was admiring it’s fall cuteness in the full-length mirror, a middle-aged woman walked up to me and started telling me how much she liked it.  She went on. and on. and on.  I started to get the feeling that SHE wanted the jacket. 

She asked what size it was.  Yep, that’s just the size she needed.  She asked if there were any more on the clearance racks.  Nope, this was the only one!  She asked how much it cost.  It was marked down from $49.50 to $22.99.  I continued to think about whether I wanted it or not while she continued to stare and talk about how much she loved it.

Looking back, talking about the jacket’s undeniable cuteness probably wasn’t the best way for her to get me to take it off.  She should have told me it made me look fat!  But, I felt sorry for her.  It was painfully obvious that she wanted it, so despite the fact that I could have bought it for only $16.09 with my coupon, I took it off and gave it to her.

I didn’t find another jacket, but I did find a couple of shirts that ended up being $4.20, so it wasn’t a total wash.  And I discovered a new line of jeans that were MADE for me…The Dreamer.

Since it’s a new line, they haven’t gone on sale yet, so I’ll be patient.  It’s still too hot for jeans now anyway!

Anyway, when it was time for me to purchase my two shirts, I got in a long line that went halfway to the back of the store.  I decided it was worth the wait, so I entertained my bored and restless (and napless) 4-yr-old in line for about 20 minutes. 

It was finally our turn to be called to a register.  Just as I approached the cashier, I saw my lady-friend quickly duck under the rope barrier holding several pieces of clothing (including my black jacket).  She headed straight for me and began to show me her items while the cashier rang up my shirts.  Awkward. 

Then I realized what she was doing.  She didn’t want to wait in the long line, so she was making it appear that we were together.  I paid for my purchase and she started placing her items on the counter.  The cashier (good for her!) asked if she had waited in line.  The lady pointed at me and said, “We’re together.” I picked my jaw up off the floor, shook my head, and told the cashier that we were NOT together. 

Then the lady exclaimed, “But I’ve been standing with her for 10 minutes!”  (She had been standing next to me for approximately 43 seconds.)  The cashier (good for her!) informed the lady that she must go to the end of the line and wait just like all the other customers.  I took my purchase and left the counter, so I don’t know how it all ended, but the lady was still arguing and refusing to go to the end of the line when I walked out the door.

I hope she enjoys the black jacket.

Yummy Treat

Last night after choir practice, we had an ice cream social!  There were tons of homemade ice cream and baked goods.  I decided to make a frozen treat that Grace and I could enjoy.  [Translation:  no eggs and lower fat/calories.]

After scouring several online recipes for homemade low-fat ice cream, I just couldn’t find one that sounded inspiring.  So I took basic ideas from a couple of different recipes and made my own Frozen Lemon Yogurt.  I thought it turned out great…tangy and sweet at the same time!

Anyway, it was so easy to throw together, and you can tweek the ingredients to personalize it for yourself.  Use reduced/lower fat items to lighten it up or full fat items for lots of creamy thickness.  Use any flavor of frozen concentrate (limade, pina colada, strawberry, etc.).

Frozen Lemon Yogurt

• 1 c. plain yogurt
• 1 c. milk
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 can frozen lemonade concentrate

Mix all together and pour into ice cream maker.  Freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Great Coupon

Here’s a link to a great coupon that you can use for 30% off your total purchase at Old Navy, The Gap, and Banana Republic.  Just print it off and use it at the register as many times as you would like between July 30-August 2!

The best part is that 5% of your purchase price goes directly to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Enjoy! 

You Know You’re A Good Mom When…

you discover your child eating old chocolate chip cookies she found at the bottom of a shopping cart and you let her finish them because she’s “SO SO SO hungry!”

you allow your daughter to go “butterfly hunting” with two friends while you visit with the their mom.  Upon returning from the “hunt” with a live moth, you just smile and shrug as you watch your daughter squish the moth with her hand while trying to hold it, then lick her fingers.  *shudder*

you let your child drink your Pepsi Max right before bedtime because you’re too tired from The Shred to get up and go to the kitchen and get her some juice.

you realize while doing laundry that you forgot to wash your child’s bed sheets last week.

you find yourself rationalizing that a quick coat of hand sanitizer on your child’s major extremities would be a lot faster than bathtime.

you secretly take the batteries out of your child’s favorite Elmo doll because it’s the most annoying toy EVER, then act surprised and suggest that maybe Elmo is tired and wants to take a nap when your child wants to know why he doesn’t talk anymore.

you get to the end of the day and regret that you accomplished nothing on your to-do list…yet your daughter climbs into your lap and hugs you and says, “Thank you mama!  I had so much fun today!”

Monday Milestones

Well, I made it!  Sixty pounds is gone.  It’s hard to believe I was carrying around almost two extra Graces all the time.  It took 26 weeks, a lot of sweat, a few tears, and much determination.  I officially weigh what I weighed when I got married over 13 years ago.  (Although it seems like things are shaped a little differently…hello motherhood!)

I have the energy to tackle my final goal of thirty pounds.  I realize this might go a little slower, but I’m hoping to reach it by Nov./Dec.  It’s hard to even imagine how that will feel!  It’s been 17 years since I was slim.  

I really appreciate the comments and notes of encouragement I’ve gotten over the weeks.  It’s hard to explain, but when you’re losing weight, what you see in the mirror doesn’t always seem to match what the scale says.  People tell me I look slimmer, but when I look at myself, sometimes I don’t feel any different.  And it can get pretty discouraging at times. 

But now I’m starting to really enjoy the difference in how I look and feel.  It’s fun to go shopping and try on clothes.  If you are a person who has struggled with weight, you will appreciate this next statement…It’s nice to look in your closet and know that EVERYTHING fits and you have a wider selection of clothes from which to pick! 

So, my goal this week is to stay the course and be consistent with my nutrition and exercise.  My biggest desire is for these to be lifetime habits.

This Is The Best Website Ever

I read about this website in a Good Housekeeping magazine and I couldn’t wait to try it.

Basically, you upload a full-body picture of yourself, enter your current height/weight, then your DESIRED weight, and…voila!…your picture is transformed and you get to see yourself at your goal weight!  It’s truly amazing. 

It’s called WeightMirror.  Imagine the possibilities for your new Facebook profile pic…(just kidding!).  Boy, I wish it were that easy.

Girls’ Night Out

 

Tonight I went out with three other friends from my church and had some girl time!  We went to the new Sam Moon’s in Fort Worth and looked around for a while.  It was fairly crowded, but nothing like it was when I went last Saturday.  Unfortunately, they closed before we could finish looking at everything, so I guess that means we’ll have to go back!

I found some cute hair accessories for Grace, a jewelry organizer for myself (what took me so long to get this thing?…it’s fabulous!), and a new fall purse for myself.  It was the cheapest one I saw in the whole store, and ironically the one I liked the best!  Love it when that happens!  It’s a brownish/bronze leather with a big silver buckle.  It’s a little bigger than I normally carry, but I’m starting to like having a larger purse. 

After shopping, we went to Pasado’s Mexican Restaurant.  This was the first time I have eaten Mexican food since I started my diet last February.  Boy, have I missed it!  Anyway, I saved up most of my calories for the day by drinking protein shakes and tried to get a reasonable meal. 

Warning:  Skip the next paragraph if you aren’t interested in “foodie” details.

So, I did some research and decided ahead of time that I would order the chicken soft tacos since they seem to be the healthiest choice on a Tex-Mex menu (other than a fajita salad with fat-free dressing which did not sound good to me tonight).  When I looked at the menu, I noticed the “Authentic Mexican Fajita Tacos.”  I knew that if Rachel Ray were there doing an episode of “$40 A Day” she would totally order them, so that’s what I chose.  Oh, the bliss.  It was two stone-ground corn tortillas with chicken breast, queso fresco, white onions, cilantro, avocado, lime, and tomatillo salsa.  I got them with a side of rice and grilled veggies (onions, peppers, squash, zucchini, and mushroom).

There’s nothing like good food with good friends!  We had lots of fun tonight despite a slightly creepy waiter and an unfortunate incident with a self-serve ice cream machine.  I hope we’ll start doing it more often!  When we got home, Grace was really glad to see me.  Daddy had taken her on a “date” to Sonic and Redbox.  She helped me put my jewelry into my new hanging jewelry organizer before I tucked her into bed.  Actually, she played with my extensive vintage collection of twister beads.  I never thought back in 1986 that I would someday be watching my daughter play with the same necklaces that I loved so dearly! 

 

I just can’t part with these beads.  Anyone think they’ll come back?  If so, I’m set!

Thank Heaven For Little Girls

I always wanted a little girl.  I would have happily and thankfully accepted a baby boy because we wanted a child so badly for so long.  But, God knew how much I would love having a girl, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better than getting to spend my days at home with Grace.

The older she gets, the more fun it gets!  Her little personality is shining, full of quirks and surprises.  She is ALL GIRL.  She loves dolls, kitchens, dress-up, jewelry, pedicures, and pink.  She is insistent that her shoes match her clothes at all times.  Her bedroom must be completely picked up and organized before she is able to fall asleep at night.  She always wants a bow or some sort of decoration in her hair.  The tiniest speck of dirt on our backyard swing set must be wiped clean before she wants to play on it.  She loves a routine and wants to stick to it.  She always wants to know what is coming up and isn’t crazy about surprises.  We are definitely venturing into Type A/OCD territory. 

Some of her traits she learned from me, and some I can’t figure out where in the world she gets them!  God made her unique, created in His image with an individual personality, and I love her so much!

Her latest obsession is her upcoming ballet/tap dance class.  I made the unfortunate mistake of telling Grace about it way. too. soon.  I had to get her registered early to ensure a spot, and I just couldn’t resist seeing the look on her face when I told her she could start dance classes!  As a result, I am answering questions fifty-three times per day about when it will start (not until Aug. 31st!).

Her favorite accessory is the new tap shoe “because it makes LOTS of noise, Mama!”  Yes, I know.  I still hear the tapping in my head when I’m trying to fall asleep at night.

But I wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world!  She brings so much joy to Todd and me, and we are eternally grateful for the huge responsibility we have been given to raise her in the Lord.

Bloggy Makeover!

I’m so excited to have a new look to my blog!  Many thanks to The Design Girl for doing such a great job! 

Today was a fun day.  We all stayed in bed until 10:00 (even Grace!) listening to thunderstorms roll through.  Call me crazy, but I love a good rainy day. 

After a late breakfast, I worked out with my new running shoes and it made SUCH a difference.  I had absolutely no heel pain and even found myself running on the treadmill for part of my workout.  Todd walked in and said, “Huh…I don’t think I’ve ever seen you run before.”  Pretty sad after being together for 17 years…

I did The Shred, then took Grace outside to play for a while on her scooter.  After lunch and a blissfully quiet naptime, Grace and I went to a dancewear shop to pick out some ballet and tap shoes for her new dance class, Devotion In Motion. 

She was so excited and spent the rest of the afternoon testing out her new shoes and trying on her ballet costumes.  I’ll post some pics tomorrow because I’m sure she’ll want to do it again!

The American Way

I ran to the UPS Store this morning to fax some documents and saw something that made me laugh.  If you’re a bargain shopper, you probably know that CVS and Walgreens are having fabulous sales on office and school supplies right now. 

Well, the manager at the UPS Store is also very aware of these deals and decided to take advantage of stocking up his inventory this morning.  The UPS Store has a section where you can buy various office supplies (pens, pencils, highlighters, etc.).  They are dreadfully overpriced and mainly there just for convenience. 

The UPS manager walked in the store with two big bags from CVS and Walgreens.  He eagerly showed another employee all the office supplies he had scored for next to nothing.  He then proceeded to go to the wall of office supplies and restock his inventory with what he had just bought at the pharmacies.  Hilarious.  And quite smart.  Capitalism at it’s finest.

I Think I’ve Fallen In Love

These are the best athletic shoes I have ever owned.  I bought a pair of Nike Air Pegasus + 26 running shoes at Academy this morning.  Besides finding a good value, my two main criteria were a good heel cushion and a high arch support.  After trying on several pairs, I had settled for a pair of Asics. 

Then I saw these on a display…they were $10 above what I wanted to spend, but I just wasn’t completely sold on the Asics.  I put them on and the angels started singing.  These shoes actually make me WANT to do The Shred.  It seems like someone took a mold of my feet and custom-designed these bad boys to fit.  The bouncy-cushiony sole really makes me feel like I’m walking on air.  And aren’t they cute?  Too perfect!

I came back to Earth when I put my old sneakers back on, realizing just how hard and flat they were…no wonder my heels have been hurting! 

If you’ve never tried on “running” shoes because you thought they were only for runners, I’d encourage you to do so the next time you’re in the market for athletic shoes.  I’m sold on this design…Nike has been marketing the Pegasus for 26 years, and now I understand why they are so popular!

Monday Milestones

This week puzzled me a little bit.  I actually ate some extra calories and didn’t exercise as much.  But, I did do a lot of yard work and heavy lifting on a couple of hot afternoons. 

Anyway, the scale said that I had lost four pounds this week.  I kept moving the scale all over the bathroom to make sure it wasn’t some kind of fluke, but it was consistent.  That brings my total weight loss to 59 pounds in 25 weeks. 

One thing that kept me from doing The Shred every other day was some heel pain on my right foot.  My tennis shoes are pretty worn out and there’s not much cushion left in the soles, so doing all of Jillian’s jumps has been difficult lately.  So, maybe buying some new shoes that fit well and cushion my heel will motivate me to keep up my daily workouts.  I’ve always bought walking shoes in the past since that was the extent of my exercise, but I think I’ll try on some running shoes this time…I understand they’re better for impact. 

I’ve only got one more pound to lose on my weight loss ticker!  Woo hoo!  I never thought I’d get to this point.  It’s really helped me to blog about my journey every week because it motivates me and keeps me accountable.  I’ve decided that my goal weight is another 30 pounds.  So look (hopefully) for a new weight loss ticker next week at the bottom of my blog!

Party Central

Grace received an invitation to a birthday tea party for this morning.  It so happened that Grace’s party was at the same time as my sweet friend’s baby shower.  So, guess who took Grace to the Mother/Daughter Tea Party?  DADDY!

Yes, Todd has been scoring major points lately.  Not only did he take her to the party, but he entertained her this afternoon while I made a quick trip to Sam Moon’s with my girlfriend!  If you’ve never been to Sam Moon’s, imagine an accessory store the size of two football fields crammed with 800 women going after the same $99.00 purse priced at $19.99.  It’s insane.  It’s like a Wal-Mart on Black Friday. 

When I got home, this is what I found.

Grace had so much fun at the party!  She ate sandwiches and cupcakes and drank tea with her little friends from church.  For a fun activity, they decorated hats!  And her party favor was a jewelry set with a pearl necklace, earrings, and bracelet.  Is that not the cutest idea for a little girl’s birthday party?

I got up early this morning and sewed the dress that she wore.  It was hard to explain to Grace why she couldn’t wear her Cinderella princess dress to the party, but she really liked this little ribbon sundress when I was finished sewing.  I let her pick out the fabric…I think she has good taste!  Here’s a picture of the back.

I forgot to take pictures before we left for our respective parties, but here she was telling me all about her morning when I got home.

Thanks for being such a good man and taking her to a tea party, Daddy!  You made a special memory today with her. 

When You Care Enough To Send The Very Best

Grace and I went to Target yesterday to buy a birthday present.  We were browsing the card section where I was trying to explain to Grace why we couldn’t buy a Hello Kitty or Barbie card for a little boy.  “But he would LOOOOVE Hello Kitty, Mama!”  This is harder to explain than you might think.  On one hand, I’m telling her that boys don’t want cute kitty cats…on the other hand I’m contradicting my often vocalized opinion that men who like (or at least tolerate) cats make better husbands.  It’s a valid theory.

Anyway, there must be something about me that invites total strangers to talk to me.  Today it was an elderly woman who asked me to help her pick out a birthday card.  She had selected several and was having difficulty choosing the best one for her 15-yr-old grandson. 

I stifled a grin as I noticed that most of the cards contained flowers, glitter, curly embellishments, or pastel colors.  “You’re buying this for your grandson?” I inquired again.  “Yes,” she said.  “They’re all so nice I just can’t pick!”  I decided to be honest.  “Well,” I said, “They’re really pretty cards, but I’m not sure that a teenage boy would like them.”  Grandma looked at me sorrowfully. 

“Have you looked in the blue section that says ‘His Birthday’?”  I asked.  [She had been looking in the general birthday section.]  I led her down the aisle and showed her the “grandson” section.  She didn’t look too excited although she thanked me kindly.

I went back to the kid’s section and finalized our card choice with Grace.  I noticed that Grandma, after looking at the masculine cards for less than a minute, moved back to the “pretty” section.  Based on what she was holding when I bid her a good afternoon, I hope that her grandson likes garden scenes.

Every Little Girl Needs a Play Kitchen

Grace has been asking for a play kitchen for over a year, but we’ve put off buying her one because we kept thinking that we would sell our home and we didn’t want to pack and move it!  Since it doesn’t look like that’s happening anytime soon, we bought her one yesterday. 

Five and half hours + one jammed thumb + one frustrated momma + one impatient 4-yr-old later, we had a beautiful kitchen!

Oh, the joy!  She is SO HAPPY about her new kitchen.  I am amazed that she was even able to sleep last night.  Every little girl needs a play kitchen! 

This is me, circa 1978, with my play kitchen that I remember so well!

And this is Grace, over 30 years later, with her new pride and joy.