Category Archives: Self Improvement

My Flexible Saturday!

Good evening!

I have had a really nice day today! If you read my post this morning, you know that I was heading out for a day downtown.

My first stop was my favorite clothing store, Torrid. I had ordered a cardigan that had come in, and I had some items that I needed to return so I was happy to oblige the need to go! Here is a pic of the cardigan that I took in the store last week.

So, of course, I just HAD to try on some clothes!!! You know, to get ready for Spring!!! 😉 This is a pic of the clothes I had picked out to try on – I had planned on taking my time and being there for quite a while!

What you may not be able to see is that these clothes are hung two levels deep! I really was determined to find the perfect somethings!!

Here is what I wore there:

This cute little top came home with me.

Cardigan, yep, that one came home too!

Another white blouse, guilty! Although, as you can see from the picture, this one is going to need some kind of undershirt. I am actually debating taking this one back, what do you think??

After I tried this shirt on, I got a call from my dad. My dad, and his wife, Trudi were in town, by my house and wanted to visit, so I cut my downtown trip short, and zipped over back to my side of town. Once I got home, we headed over to a pizza place for yummy pizza and a very nice visit. On my way, I told myself, “Self, don’t forget to take pics this time!” and of course, I did!! So, unfortunately, no pics!! Maybe next time!!! 😉

After Dad and Trudi went home, I didn’t want to go back to downtown – we are trying to conserve gas, and I was looking forward to getting a manicure, so I was going to get bummed about it, but instead of throwing a pity party for myself, I decided to step up the loveliest nail salon – the one I had created in my living room!!! You can see that they even served me a refreshing drink with cherries – YUM!! 😉

My hands were in need of some SERIOUS attention!

Here is the before shot:

Here is the after:

Of course I chose red! It is still my FAVORITE color! The color of PASSION!!! 😉

That is the end of my pictures for today, but I did get to run a couple of other errands and then spend some time hanging out with my sweetie after he got done with work today. After I am done here, I plan on snuggling with him on the couch and watch another episode of BONES!! I really do LOVE that show! Bones and Booth should just knock off all of this foolishness and just get together already!! WHEW! I am glad that is out in the open!!! 😉 We are still somewhere into season two, so it will takes a month or three more to get caught up, but slowly and surely – we will get there!!

OH, and for those who might be curious, I came home from Torrid after purchasing 3 cardigans, 2 blouses, 1 tank top and 1 blazer!! EEK!!! Maybe I had better stay away from the mall for a while, what do you think??? HEE! HEE! HEE!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

Note to Chunky Dunker’s: Dress for your body as it is today! Even if you are in the process of losing weight. Purchasing clothes that are too small for yourself because you may fit into them someday could backfire, and you will wind up with a closet full of a lot of somethings that make you feel bad because you can’t fit into them. (Take my word on that!) YOU CAN DO IT!!! 😉

Getting Back to the Basics!

Good evening!!

This seems like it has been a really crazy busy day!!! I have just gotten home from a REALLY REALLY LOOOONG day of work, a quick run to pick up a couple of my FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME, Pride and Prejudice, and The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (both in hardback, for my collection), and then dashed off to the grocery store to pick up dinner!!! WHEW!!!

Now I am going to confide something to you that maybe not a lot of people know about me, and for some of you this may be TMI, BUT, I LOVE when I get to come home, slip my shoes off at the door, get something cold to drink, tonight it is sugar free Orange Creme sparkling water, hang up the work blazer, and slip OUT OF MY UNDERWIRE BRA!!!! WHOOOO-BABY!!!! Now, I realize I might have just lost some of you there, but HONEY!! I am TELLING YOU!!! Talk about that feeling of, “LOOK, HONEY, I’M HOME!!” SAH-WHEET BLISS!! 😉

Thank you for letting me share that with you!! LOL! My sweetie and I are getting ready to sit down to a really late, light dinner, and then, of course, we are going to watch another episodes of Bones tonight. We are still playing catchup on NetFlix, and watch on average one episode per day, which is pretty good seeing they are about 45 minutes a piece!!

Hey, I just realized that if I wanted to, I could do exercises for 45 minutes while watching Bones every day, just to make sure that I get my time in. If I have time enough for Bones, I surely have time for EXERCISE!! What do you think???

I also picked up a copy of Martha Stewart Living this evening, I haven’t read through one of those in over 10 years – WOW! Has it really been that long!?? I remember when Jason and I were first married we didn’t have a lot of money for any kind of material things are for doing much more than finding free stuff to do, but if I was ever having a particularly rough week, my sweetie would manage to rustle up the funds to go pick up a copy of this magazine for me. I would just spend a whole lazy afternoon skimming through pictures, reading the articles, getting inspired, and dreaming about my future life that I just knew I was going to have – I may have to spend some time doing that this weekend!!! Simply DIVINE!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!!

Note to Chunk Dunker’s: Take some time to reward yourself for a job well done today! Look for something that you did well, it could be large or small, and treat yourself to some pampering, time with a friend, maybe some flowers?? You will not only feel great about doing something good for yourself, but you will reinforce your positive behavior and it may subconsciously help you want to do that good action again!! GO CHUNKY DUNKER’S!!!

Quote of the Day!

The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they’ll ease
Your will they’ll mend
And charge you not a shilling.
~Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, 1990

I hope you are having a FABULOUS day!! ;-)

The Chunky Dunker’s Club, Week 2

Good evening!

Welcome to our 2nd meeting of the The Chunky Dunker’s Club!

Every week I post a new Chunky Dunker’s article ever Wednesday evening, and you have the opportunity to comment, and cheer each other as you each go through your journey to get fit and healthy!!! We will discuss hints, tips, and ideas on losing weight, staying motivated, and achieving your fitness goals, whether that is to lose 5 pounds, to do 10 sit-ups, or just incorporate some healthy habits into your daily life!!

Tonight’s topic is Finding a Weight Loss Partner:

Losing weight can be difficult for any dieter. You have to constantly deal with food temptation and find the motivation to exercise. To help you through any pitfalls that may get in your way you should look for a friend to help you reach your weight loss goals, you may have a better chance of actually losing some of those extra pounds this time around!

  1. Find a friend who has similar health and fitness goals as you do. They can be people in your immediate circle of friends, or you might find them online, or maybe you can find a weight loss buddy through a paid program like Weight Watchers, or Jenny Craig. Take your time, this task sounds easier than it actually is. You want to make sure that you choose someone who will help motivate you, while you are also able to motivate them!
  2. Establish some ground rules. For example, a little competition is a good thing, but too much can turn friends into enemies. Competition is the heart of the dieting partnership, so go ahead and push each other a little! But make it clear that the leader pulls the other up! NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND!!!
  3. Find a good time for both you and your weight loss partner to get together, whether it be to exercise, try a new healthy recipe, or just to talk about how things are going. It should be win-win for both of you, never should one have to sacrifice time all of the time. Alternate times depending upon the available time or workout on the time available. If you have an online buddy, find a time that you can chat while walking in your respective neighborhoods, hands-free headsets make that easier than ever nowadays.
  4. Communicate. A major part of any friendship is communication. Keep this up as you both start to reach your weight loss goals. A friend can help one remain on track.
  5. (THIS ONE MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE!!) Pre-plan some awards for your progress, whether it be a manicure or pedicure after so many weeks of consistent effort, or some fun outing after a specific weight loss achievement. Make sure the rewards are non-food-based, realistically achievable, not too far off in the future, otherwise you might give up before you get there, and something that jazzes you when you think about it, so it keeps you motivated to keep going!

My questions for you:

  • How did your week go?
  • Were you able to implement any of the changes that were discussed last week?
  • Is getting a fitness partner something that you might do?
  • Does anyone have any yummy/healthy dessert ideas? I am an ice cream fiend, and I can tell I am going to need some help in this area!!! 😉

We will meet again next Wednesday evening!! and if you watch my blog daily, I will make sure to post some words of encouragement under my signature line just to keep us going, and to remind you that I am in this with you!! YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!

Until next week GO CHUNKY DUNKERS!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!!

Change is A-Coming!!

Good morning!

WHEW!! We have had a lot of excitement in our lives within the last 12 hours!! A lot of decisions to be made, a lot of changes. All for the good! I can’t divulge any of the specifics right now, but I can tell that my husband and I are going to be hopp’ for the next 6 months or so!!!

I am feeling a little better today, but that might be because I am pulsin’ with adrenaline this morning!!! I have my medication with me and I am heading to work. This morning, I am going to consider work a break!!! WHEW!! (Have I said that already???)

Anyway, here is your friendly reminder that the Chunky Dunker’s club meets tonight at 6pm, here! I will post a new Chunky Dunker’s article ever Wednesday evening, and you can have the opportunity to comment, and cheer each other as you each go through your journey to get fit and healthy!!! We will discuss hints, tips, and ideas on losing weight, staying motivated, and achieving your fitness goals, whether that is to lose 5 pounds, to do 10 sit-ups, or just incorporate some healthy habits into your daily life!! I hope to see you there!!!

Have a FABULOUS day!!

A Day of Visitors!

Good evening!

I am still under the weather today, but I am determined to snap out of it and get my booty to work tomorrow!

As for who all of these visitors are? Well, early this afternoon my dad and his wife Trudi stopped by for a visit, as they were headed up to Portland, and then on to Seattle. My dad has prostate cancer, and will be getting his radiation treatment up in Seattle. Not the best way to get some vacation time, that is for sure!! But, I was thankful that they stopped for a few hours so we could catch up!! I am hoping he is feeling up to stopping back by as they head home on Friday!

This evening, I am waiting for my husband, my sister, Alice, and Taylynn to get here. Alice and Taylynn will be spending the night and then they will be on their way home tomorrow morning. I hear Taylynn is very talkative, which I just love!! I think 7 year olds should be talkative, it shows inquisitiveness, and that is the perfect age to be curious about EVERYTHING!! I am pretty sure I was!!! 😉

Anyway, things should be mostly back to “normal” by tomorrow – whatever that means!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! 😉

Note to Chunky Dunkers: Do just one healthy action more than you did yesterday, the accumulation of days will soon ad up, and before you know it you will be feeling fitter and healthier than you have in a long time!