Tag Archives: Fun

Megan Night!!

Good evening!

Tonight is Megan night!! We haven’t had one of those in quite a while!! I w beginning to wonder what she even looked like!! LOL!!! Tonight she pretty much has free reign to decide what we are going to be doing for the evening!!! So far we have gone to the theatre and watched Narnia Voyage of the Dawn Treader. It was pretty stinkin’ fun! It is so cool to watch Megan watch a movie. She just gets so into it, kinda like when I take her out and we go people watching!!! and I just LOVE her commentary, being 8, she has such a cool perception of the things that happen in movies!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Right now Jason and her are playing the video game Cars together!! They are just so cute!! Jason is playing really slow so she has some time to learn how to use her controller. Later on this evening, we are going to pack our stuff up and go hit the pool, and maybe swing by Cold Stoneย  and have a little ice cream, before getting ready for bed!!

Tomorrow she has requested that we go to “the downtown” tomorrow!! She is VERY EXCITED to be doing that! I am not exactly sure what we have planned, but I do know that she is getting a manicure from her auntie tomorrow!!! She LOVES that, I LOVE doing that for her!!

Now about my week. Work has been alright! I have been working really late most every day this week, although I did promise Megan that I wouldn’t work AT ALL this weekend – if you remember, last time she spent the night, I had to work ALL FREAKIN’ WEEKEND!!! It really was a bummer, so I am hoping to make it up to her this weekend!!! Oh, back to work, well, I think there is finally light at the end of our busy tunnels, but it hope is coming, that is all that matters!!!

Jason has been doing AMAZING at helping around the house, and doing little things here and there to show his love and support! It has been rough for him, not being steadily employed, but I truly appreciate all that he has done for us!!! I couldn’t do what I do, and stay sane, without him! I feel like I have my old Jason back!! He just seems so much more relaxed, and he is excited to LIVE again! For those of you who have been with us since the beginning, you know that he has had a rough couple of years, with one tragedy after another that he was having to deal with, but I must say that he is doing GREAT!! I am just sooo proud of him!!! I LOVE YOU, BABY!! I STILL THANK GOD FOR YOU!!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Well, I am going to see if I can rustle up the “kids” to get off of their game so we can go swimming!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

A Tired Tuesday!

Good evening!

I am sorry it has taken me so long to get to my posting today. I have been really busy! However, here I am!!! Today has been a long day, and as soon as I got home from work this evening, I went upstairs washed the makeup off my face, let down my hair, and slipped into my MOST COMFORTABLE pj’s!!!

I wanted to share some more pics from last night, but I am having some issues with my pics. You see, everyone was bowling, and when you are taking pictures from behind while someone is bowling – what do you see? Well, how do I put this, I took a lot of pictures of booties, bums, behinds, bottoms, butts, buckets, cans, keisters, kabooses, derierres, fannies, ba-dunk-a-dunks – I think you will see what I mean! So, who am I not to share?

Morgan’s bum:

Megan’s Bum:

David’s Bum:

John’s Bum:

Christopher’s Bum:

Jason’s Bum:

Nette’s Bum:

and last but not least, Michael’s Bum:

Being behind the camera, my bum was spared the joy of your viewing pleasure!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Note to Chunky Dunkers: Here is one of my FAVORITE ways to eat pumpkin. Get one can of pumpkin, 1 small tub of lite cool whip, and one package of jell-o pudding mix, mix all 3 ingredients in a bowl, and refrigerate – or eat right away. This is a really yummy, and filling way to get more vegetables into your diet!! I hope you enjoy!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Is it Sunday Already?

Good morning!

I would love to tell you that I woke up this morning just raring to go, but I have to be honest with you – I woke up with a screaming migraine this morning! OUCH! Every sound I hear seems to be amplified by 100, which has made me feel a little grouchy.

HOWEVER, when I turned on my computer to blog this morning, I discovered this little video, and honey – it made me laugh so hard (quietly, and on the inside) that I know that even with a headache – I am going to have a good day!! AND I knew I would just HAVE to share with you!!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

 

HAHAHAHA!! That is just sooooo dang cute!!!

Have a FABULOUS day! ๐Ÿ˜‰

 

Note to Chunky Dunkers: Do something special for yourself! Give yourself a manicure, take a nice bubble bath, or take the time to do some pleasure reading! You deserve a break today, and your body and mind will thank you for it too!!

The Chunky Dunkers Club!!

Good evening!

I wonder where that phrase comes from “Hump Day”???

Anyway, I momentarily got sidetracked!! Today is the day that I get back on track with making healthy life choices!! I know, what a novel concept, but for some reason I have become the QUEEN of excuses!

  • I don’t have time
  • I am too stressed out
  • I deserve this cookie
  • I have had a bad day
  • It’s rainy
  • It’s too cold
  • I don’t wanna
  • I will start over tomorrow
  • I just conditioned my hair – really, I use this one to get out of swimming!!!

All of this procrastination will leave a girl worse off than when she initially started in the first place!!! Which is EXACTLY where I am at!!!

โ€œIf your mind believes โ€œI canโ€™t,โ€ you will sabotage your own efforts. You wonโ€™t do what is required to realize your goal. But when you believe โ€œI can,โ€ you follow paths of behavior and thought that help ensure that the dream will be fulfilled. The psychology of dream fulfillment includes the mindsets of hope, motivation, commitment, confidence, courage, concentration, excitement and observation.โ€

~Jerry Lynch and Chungliang Al Huang, Thinking Body, Dancing Mind

SO…

Today officially starts the first day of the

Chunky Dunker’s Club

This is the name that my husband and two youngest sisters came up with for our new get healthy support group!!! Chunky dunkers is what we call plus-sized women who skinny dip – get it??? Well, when they suggested this name I just couldn’t stop laughing, when I realized that this is the PERFECT name for us!!! A group of people who want to have fun getting healthy, and remembering to laugh is where our success is going to lie!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

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!!! The articles will have 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!! This meeting every Wednesday will be win-win for me and for you, so let’s get started!!!

So, I call to order the first weekly meeting of the Chunky Dunker’s Club!!

Are we all present and accounted for??? I am sure we are!

Tonight, I thought I would share my health coach’s 10 Tips for Speeding Up Your Metabolism with you this evening! I found that there are a lot of things that we know, but may not be doing, and a couple of things that might be new that might be fun for you to incorporate into your day!!

10 Tips For Speeding Up Your Metabolism

Weight management is a balancing act between taking in calories and burning them up. New research suggests that the way your body burns energy may be at least as important as how much you eat. Try these tips for keeping your bodyโ€™s idle speed high.

1. QUIT STARVING YOURSELF

When you deprive yourself of food, your body reacts protectively against an ancient threat: famine. Your resting metabolic rate โ€” the calories you burn just to keep your body going โ€” drops to a lower level to conserve energy. Your body works harder to preserve the food it gets by storing it as fat. Thatโ€™s why people who regularly diet have higher percentages of body fat than non-dieters. Instead of counting calories, focus on cutting back on the fat and sugar in your diet.

2. GET EXERCISE

Exercise helps you lose weight in several ways. It raises your resting metabolic rate, thus offsetting the lowering effects of dieting and helping you burn more calories even when at rest. Strength training is especially important here, because it increases the amount of muscle you have. And muscle cells burn more calories than fat cells.

3. EXERCISE LONGER

After 30 minutes of low-intensity exercise โ€” walking, bowling, gardening โ€” your body begins to burn stored fat for energy.

4. EXERCISE LARGE MUSCLE GROUPS

Choose high-energy exercise โ€” such as walking, bicycling, cross country skiing, swimming, step aerobics โ€” that gives your arms and legs a good workout.

5. VARY YOUR WORKOUT

Your body gets efficient at doing the same exercise day after day and you burn fewer calories. Try alternating gym workouts with outside activities. Or change your routine every six weeks. Youโ€™ll burn more calories โ€” and you wonโ€™t get as bored.

6. EAT A GOOD BREAKFAST

People who skip breakfast burn 5 percent fewer calories than those who eat a healthy morning meal.

7. AVOID ALCOHOL AND SMOKING

Both may inhibit the loss of abdominal fat. Thatโ€™s why drinkers and smokers tend to be bigger around the waist than abstainers.

8. RESIST PMS CRAVINGS

The evidence is that womenโ€™s bodies burn more calories between ovulation and menstruation. Thatโ€™s why sugary snacks look so good then. Donโ€™t starve yourself, but if you can resist the cravings for high-energy foods, your body will burn fat stores for energy.

9. EAT LESS FAT

Your body is very efficient at turning the fat you eat into body fat. It takes a lot more energy to turn carbohydrates into fat. Thatโ€™s why cutting back to less than 30 percent of your calories from fat can help you reduce your body fat more than just cutting total calories.

10. EAT THREE MEALS

Studies show that eating only one or two large meals tends to lower your resting metabolic rate. Make sure you eat three small meals and a healthy snack or two.

Come on ladies and gentleman, we can do this!!! Try implementing just one or two of these things this week, and add additional items only after you are comfortable with the changes you have made thus far. In the comments, let me know which changes you are going to implement, and I will do the same thing!!!

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!!

Note to Chunky Dunkers:
If you find that your path to healthy living hits a speed bump, reach out to someone who you trust for support and ask for some encouraging words – you don’t have to go it alone!!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

A Leisurely Morning!

Good morning!

You know that leisurely morning I was hoping or yesterday? Well, I have finally found it this morning!!! YEAH!!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

I have gotten up early, showered, dressed, worked a little on decorating my journal (glitter-glue may be my NEW OBSESSION!), and now I get to spend some of my morning with you, before heading off to work!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

I was thinking last night as I was in bed ready to fall asleep about something that I have been running across a lot lately, and that is forts. Do you remember making those in your house when you were little?? Forts were a BIG part of my childhood!! I remember stealing my dad’s wool blankets, (he was in the Navy, and we had TONS of these!!!), and my mom and I would rearrange all of the living room furniture and we would build a fort out of those blankets that seemed to cover E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!!! We would fill the thing with every pillow we could find, and if it were too dark inside, my mom would even set a small lamp inside so we could see. I remember her letting me read in there, and she would always bring me some kind of snack or something (sliced apples and peanut butter were a fave!) I FELT LIKE SUCH A GROWNUP!!!! LOL! ๐Ÿ˜‰ This was a tradition we continued until I was about 10 or 11 – I just LOVED small snuggly spaces – I still do, matter of fact!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

In honor of those memories, I thought I would peruse the internet and see what pics of forts that might be FABULOUS to hang out in now as an adult!!!

I think I am inspired to create a fort in my house this weekend! If I am feeling froggy and REALLY do it – I will take pics and post what I was able to come up with, with the assistance of my sidekick!! ๐Ÿ˜‰ What kind of fort could you create in your house now? Will you?

Have a FABULOUS day! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Fun! Fun! Fun!

Whew! Today has been a pretty good day!!

My sweetie and I went out to Goodwill and I picked up 3 books! We headed over for lunch, and had fun being silly and giggly all through lunch! We then went to St. Vincent de Pauls, then spent a couple of fun hours over at Border’s. After returning home, I went and took a nap and woke up just in time to have my sis, Alex, and the kiddos come over for dinner, a couple of games of Uno, and then off to swim and play in the pool, volleyball anyone???

Having fun all day can be tiresome!! Can I confide in you? I am waaay to young to be feeling this old!!! I have got to get back into shape – yes, I am in shape, if you counted ROUND as a shape!! This is so important to me. I have so many people who count on me being around, not mention I count on me to be around – for as long as possible! I don’t want to become a sad statistic!! Ok, that is enough of my sad-song!!!

As for my to-do list from today:

  • Blog – Done!
  • Track food โ€“ I can do this on the go, on my Blackberry – Nope
  • Drink at least 2 liters of water – Done!
  • Read for at least 1/2 an hour – Done!
  • Sort bills – Done!
  • Dinner & Swimming with Alex & the kiddos!!! – Done!
  • and last, but not least, GO HAVE SOME FUN!!!! – Done

I spent the past half an hour watching some cool tutorial videos on fashion and beauty. It made me curious about how to create a video of my own. Hmmm…maybe I will have to research that!! Like maybe a video journal of my 60 day life makeover!!! Could be cool!!

While I think on how to do that…

Have a FABULOUS evening!

Sleepin’ in & Feelin’ Groovy!!

Good morning!!

Today is the start of day 7 of my vacation, and I was FINALLY able to SLEEP IN TODAY!!! YEAH!!! I can’t believe it -I woke up at 9:30 today!!! WHOO! HOO!! I am up showered, dressed, ready to get my day started!!!

Ok, just so I don’t lose my momentum, I do have a small to-do list for today that I will get to that in a minute…but right now, there is a lesson that I have recently learned that I want to put into practice for today! I have been reading a book called, “Live for a Thousand Years”, it is by Giovanni Livera. One of the lessons that it teaches is that you have to make time for playing.

WHAT A NOVEL CONCEPT!!!

This is one of my MOST DIFFICULT things to remember! I am such a to-do list girl, that spontaneity seems to be really difficult for me – always has been!! Today, seeing that it is the 7th day of our vacation – and my husband and I are starting to go a little stir-crazy, me trying to be PROACTIVE 24/7, and him having to live with me while I am on COMBAT MISSION mode!!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

So, I have decided today, besides the few things that I MUST get done, my Sweetie & I are going to head out and go have some spontaneous fun!!! I am not sure what that is going to look like yet, but I will give you an update this evening!!!

As for my to-do list?? Well, I am going to try to keep this short and sweet:

  • Blog
  • Track food – I can do this on the go, on my Blackberry
  • Drink at least 2 liters of water
  • Read for at least 1/2 an hour
  • Sort bills
  • Dinner & Swimming with Alex & the kiddos!!!
  • and last, but not least, GO HAVE SOME FUN!!!!

With that…

Have a FABULOUS day!!!

I’m Here, I’m Here!

Today has been a pretty good day! Work was long, and hard, and stressful, but I always love a challenge!!! I did make a pit stop at Goodwill! I have decided that if I MUST buy books, then I might as well buy them super cheap, and I did!!! I just LOVE retail therapy!! Especially CHEAP RETAIL THERAPY!!!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

I have been in a girly-glam kind of mood most of today. Here are some of the things that have been popping into my mind all day!!!

Dancing with the Ya-Ya Sisters

Diva lashes

A dripping chandelier

A chic little black veil

All things Chanel

A luxurious feather wreath

What could be girlier then cupcakes???

Tiara anyone? ๐Ÿ˜‰

Anyway, on with my Visual Nutrition Plan, I know I have been MIA the past few days, the only excuse I had was that I had family here all weekend, and I just didn’t make my nutrition a priority this weekend, and the fact that I have gained a pound in 3 days is proof enough to get back on track again!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

Today is day 12 of my 30-Day-Self-Created-Visual-Nutrition-Plan!! I can eat whatever I want, but I have to take a picture of ANYTHING and EVERYTHING I eat and post it on this blog โ€“ and have to be willing to take any criticism I might incur!!! The knowledge that I have to take pics and post everything that I have eaten has really curbed a couple of poor choices!! Although, an occasional treat can sometimes be DIVINE!!!

So, here are today’s eats:

Breakfast: Sugar-free, iced, fat-free mocha, bagel with light cream cheese

Lunch: Grilled cheese sandwich with sweet potato french fries

Dinner: Grilled chicken breast with grilled corn on the cob

3 meals, what a concept?? I know that this is a departure from my normal 5-6 mini meals a day, but I have been sooo busy at work that I find that this is the only way I can fit my meals in right now!

So, let’s see, what else? Well, I am super excited about this weekend. I am taking my dad out to the little beach house for a special Father’s Day weekend. I am not exactly sure what we are going to do yet, but that is part of the fun of going to the beach house – no responsibilities, no schedules, no to-do lists!!! YEAH!!! I can’t wait!!!

Have a FABULOUS GIRLY-GLAM evening!!!