So I’m back!! I figured I was due to update my blog and my resolutions on how I was doing.

First of all, I’m on track with my one book a month resolution. In January, I started to read "Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and Know" by Alexandra Horowitz, and it’s a really interesting book (mini-review to come once I’m done), but by today, it’s simply not finished.

However, on Friday, January 28th, I walked into the library for employees we have next to my office, looking for a future month’s selection. I grabbed one short book (probably 25-30 with large print), called “Dinner with a Stranger” by David Gregory.

I read the entire thing over my lunch break. My resolution was technically achieved in a matter of half an hour without me knowing. It’s about a man who receives a dinner invitation by someone who claimed to be Jesus, and the man accepts. The more “Jesus” talks to him at dinner, the more the man starts to really think the stranger is Jesus. It’s basically a really good book on apologetics. It puts out some very familiar questions that I’ve either been asked or asked myself, and could never put it into words, and it actually has answers that just simply make sense.

However, it’s still bugging me that I haven’t finished my original January book, so I intend to finish it in February. I feel that I can say I read one book this month, since it’s the only one I’ve read in February and I will finish it!

Also, I have every intention of doing my scrapbooking page for this month this weekend. It only takes me about an hour a page, so I feel like I can do it – it’s just a matter of buckling down and getting started!!!

As for the weight loss, I’m not really down from January 1st, but I'm not up either. And the eating better – well, that fluxuates depending on the day. But, I have been very disappointed in my January performance, so I’m making a more conscious effort to consider what I’m eating and determine – “This is enough. You don’t need more, right? RIGHT!” Plus, I’m very busy at work, so I’m noticing that I’m not hungry as much as I used to be, which just proves to me that I eat out of boredom. I haven’t really worked out much, even after buying The Biggest Loser for Wii, but I’m just not a work-out type of person. I seem to do just fine without it.

And there you have it!! Thanks for sticking around!! And I can use your support and encouragement, so if you have any suggestions or comments on anything related to what I blogged about, then please share!

Inspiring Thoughts

I've had a rough few months recently, and along with the Bible helping me get through, I've found inspiring thoughts just randomly "hit me" at the right time, and today, I got two in a row!

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” – Plato (from my daily calendar)
- I've been working on my issue with patience, especially with people who I feel make my life more difficult, in whatever way, and I find myself either being short with them to their face, or complaining about them behind their backs. This simple little quote brought it all to light for me in one statement - you may be frustrated with this person, but remember that you're not the only one with problems, and you don't know what this person is going through. Definitely something to think about.

“Re-examine all you have been told…Dismiss what insults your soul.” – Walt Whitman (on my Celestial Seasonings tea bag tag)
- Part of my rough past few months includes a lot of mental and emotional issues where I had constantly been told (in not so many words) that I had screwed up so much that I could never be "good" again and that I was having trouble forgiving myself, even though others had. This quote just made me realize instantly - All those thoughts, motions and words that hurt my soul...just forget them. They don't have any place in my life and they can only bring me down. It's in the past now - dwell on the things that will uplift your soul.

So even though they weren't bible verses, they "spoke" to me...and it just seemed to be exactly what I needed to hear.

No more "negative" thoughts - Phillipians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

Success!

First of all, let me share an adorable picture - When I come home for lunch during the week, I let the dogs out and let them sun themselves by the front door. They LOVE it!! And today, they all piled up by the front door and cuddled. SOO CUTE!!!

And...I've already had success on my resolutions!!

So far, I've already changed my blog design from the "Fall" theme to something far more relevant to me - sparkles!

And, I've already done my allotted "one page a month" of scrapbooking!! I have taken a picture for proof:

Not my best work, but I've been out of practice for a while. Whew...that really took it out of me!

2011 New Year's Resolutions

So I got a kick out of reading my blog resolutions from last year (found here). It was actually pretty interesting to see that I kept 2 of them and didn't keep the other 3!! That's progress for me - the previous year, I didn't keep any and before that I didn't even make any because I didn't want to feel bad about breaking/not keeping them.

I was able to lose almost all of the 30 lbs that I wanted to (about 22 total) but I felt and looked great and was able to fit in a ton of my old clothes! And that loss was due to another resolution, which was to eat healthier and try new recipes! I joined Weight Watchers, and it worked and the rest is history!! However, since I lost that weight, I've gained back about 8 lbs in the last 3 months. NOT good.

I feel like it's only appropriate to make some more, and to make sure I include those from last year I wasn't able to keep. So here goes!!

1. Clearly, I need to redesign my blog theme and heading. Oops.
2. Save money!
3. Scrapbook at least 1 "event" a month. I have quite the backlog, and 1 page a day or week is a little lofty.
4. Read 1 book a month. I just got 4 new books in the last week, so I definitely have a good start! No excuses!
5. Lose 10 lbs to get back to my Weight Watchers weight. And keep it off!

Happy New Year!

Bailey Update

So I know when I posted yesterday, I intended for it to be my last one for a while. But I’ve got an update for my 8 followers (most of which I assume haven’t read this in a while!).

I posted a while back that he had somehow cracked a nail, all the way from the tip to the base, and exposed his quick. Well the vet gave me some medications and told me to keep an eye on him. When I brought him back in, they said it was infected and they had to rip out his nail (OUCH and EW) and bandaged it up and gave me more medication for him. He had to go back a couple of times to get it re-bandaged because the silly dog just can’t stay still! Anyway – my mom took him in to the vet for me today and GOOD NEWS – He no longer has a bandaged foot and his nail is growing back!!

The vet said that it was growing in crooked (which you can totally tell and I think is hilarious), so in order to see if it will correct itself and grow straight, they won’t be wrapping it anymore. And he doesn’t need to have a sock on or anything when he goes outside either, which will be SO much easier!! He does, however, have a weird rash/cut where the bandages rubbed against the very thin skin/fur on his leg. They gave us lotion to help with that and just said he needs to have his foot soaked in Epsom salt once or twice a day to keep it cleaned out.

I just hope he doesn’t do anything else stupid. I can’t afford to keep paying for his goofs!

And I swear – I MUST find my camera and cord, because these no picture posts are driving me nuts!!

Last Day of NaBloPoMo and First Snow!!

Today is the last day of November and the last day of National Blog Posting Month!! I must say, much like last year, that I'm somewhat relieved. I managed to post at least once each day, but if you go back and look, you'll see that most of them were pretty sad. I must not have that much to say anymore!! Part of the reason is that I moved in the middle of it all and can't find the cord to get pictures off my camera, and then, lost my camera! I know it's somewhere in the house, but that's pretty much it. I know it's all excuses, but I can at least say I did it!!

I mentioned it on my last post, but we had our first snow on Sunday!!! I was SOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!! It started Sunday night, probably around 6 pm and snowed pretty consistently for a few hours. I had to go out and put a towel on my windshield so I could save time the next morning when I left for work. Which worked! (Yay!) We got several inches of snow (maybe 2-4 in places) and it was all fresh and sparkly and calm....LOVED IT!

So you may not hear from me again soon, since I might be taking a few days off from blogging to build up a good post! Have a good one!

Bad boots!

So a few weeks ago, my mom offered to get me some good "snow boots", that I could wear to work. Part of my job is to give tours of the property and I do a lot of walking outside. We found a great deal and although they aren't the nicest looking, they are SUPER comfortable!

For the first time this season, we had our first REAL snow yesterday! (YAY!!!) So today, I had to wear my boots for the first time, because as it turns out, I had a tour today (go figure). I wore them all day, and it was totally wonderful! But...

I got home, and went to take them off. I took off my left boot and the inside sole of the shoe came off with it! Apparently, I wore some of the material off of the bottom of the shoe, exposing the sticky stuff, and it stuck to my sock! So I took off the other boot and while it didn't stick to my sock, it was as worn down as the other one. I mean, I know I did a lot of walking and I wore them all day but ONE DAY?!?! Shoes shouldn't fall apart after one day!

I think we'll try to return them, but I don't know if they'd take back worn and ruined shoes. It's just not fair!!