High five? How about a high ten!

After a rough week last week, I achieved a major goal today! I set a goal for myself about a month ago to lose 10 pounds by Thanksgiving. After our housewarming and the leftovers tempting me, I gained weight at my weekly weigh in. I worked really hard this week and even spent my morning off today working out, and it paid off. I have officially lost 10.2 pounds!!! I'm hoping to continuing losing weight and maybe even another ten pounds by Christmas. I know it will be hard because it is the holiday season, which means sweets tempting me around just about every corner, but I am still going to work toward that goal. I'm currently able to put all my pants in the dryer :) That's the only big change I've noticed so far, but that is change enough. No, I take that back. The biggest change I've seen is in my eating habits. I am eating smart snacks and really watching my portion control. I'm AWARE of what I am eating, and that is the BIGGEST change. Yeah me :)

Cheesecake?

I have turned down free, yummy cheesecake twice today. If you know me well, you know that was really tough for me. See how dedicated I am?

What a morning...

When I first got up this morning, I figured it would be like any other day. I rolled out of bed (wishing I could climb back in) and stumbled my way to the bathroom. I turned on the radio, and the first thing I heard was that we were in a Winter Weather Advisory. Really? Thanks a lot Mother Nature. Why tease us with 70+ temps one week and then slam us with something like this? I will be sick soon, I just know it. Later that morning while I was getting dressed, I came to realize that my pants were too big. Although I am thankful for this, I didn't have time to change clothes. Now I am spending the day feeling like I am walking around in either clown pants or in homage to MC Hammer. Either way, I have to admit I am excited for my Weight Watchers weight-in later this week. I'm thinking I may have broken the 10 lb point. It's funny to think that these are the same pants I wore to Tiff's graduation. I was so paranoid about belly-spillage over the pants that day, and today I am relying on a belt to keep them up...

I'm a BLTer....

That means I'm a biter, licker, and taster...

I made a really big decision and finally committed myself to it yesterday. Yesterday, I officially joined Weight Watchers. I've tried changing my diet as a new year's resolution. I've tried working out regularly, but something always gets in the way (or at least I convince myself it does). I just can't make it work, so I figured joining something so structured would not just change me "for now," but it just might help me change the big picture. I know it is going to be hard, but if I fully commit myself to it now, I just might be able to show myself off this coming holiday season. It's not like I cry when I look in the mirror or anything. Overall, I am pretty happy with myself, but there are certain areas my eyes go to every time. It's those areas I want to fix. No, it's those areas I WILL fix :)

One Particular Harbour

So, we are still at that awkward place where we have two "homes." We are working hard to make our new home, currently called our One Particular Harbour, ours. The name came from a Jimmy Buffett song which talks about a very special and sacred place. We have talked for a couple years now about finding our "one particular harbour," our own home where we don't have to feel like we are living under someone else's rules (aka our landlord, neighbor, etc). Last weekend was dedicated to removing some very ugly bushes and relandscaping the front. Pat, Keith, and Pat's dad worked on making some shelving for the garage too. This past week, Pat and I started painting what was a hot pink kids play room a very dark color (kettle black) for his digital and eventually natual darkroom. Tiff came in and did her magic as well; she is one damn good painter! Yesterday we painted the accent wall in the kitchen as well to break up the monotony of "Irish sand" as we have come to call it. Check out the facebook pics to see more. Now it is on to packing, packing, and more packing. Next Sunday will be the big move!!!!

Some thoughts....

* I am really enjoying teaching in Kasson. I think I've finally found "my home" as a teacher. What a relief!!!
* I love fall. I can't wait to indulge myself with pumpkin flavored treats. I love the looks, smells, and sounds of fall.
* Pat and I recently celebrated two important anniversaries. We celebrated 3 years of marriage on Wednesdays. We've been encountered quite a few troubled relationships lately which really makes me even more thankful for what we have together. We also celebrated 10 years of togetherness yesterday. It's really amazing to me hour 3 years of being married feels like only weeks, yet 10 years of being together feels like forever. I mean that in a good way. Sometimes I find it hard to remember a time with Pat wasn't such a big part of my life. It's like there is a clear line between the time I was lost and didn't know who I was to the time I found both myself and happiness, which just happened to be at the same time I met Pat :)
* We became house owners this past week, too. We closed on our house yesterday. It's such an overwhelming feeling. We went in there after closing and just stood around marveling at the fact that the house was ours. This weekend will be filled with "projects." We won't be totally moved in until the middle of October, so we are both going to be in this awkward place. When we say home, where will we really mean?
* I got to see O.A.R. in concert last Friday. I had a 100 degree fever and felt terrible, but I wasn't going to let that opportunity pass me by. What an awesome early anniversary surprise.
* I am now about to leave Kasson and head to my new home/house and wait for Pat. We will be each drinking our first beers at our new house on our new deck. It's going to be perfect. It's 85 degrees and the end of September. I love fall.

Good-bye Summer

So, it's official. I'm back to school. I've been doing workshops and "getting ready" for a few weeks now, but today was the first day with students. All-in-all, I think I will enjoy the 85 minute block scheduling. I think I have some pretty decent students (minus a few couldn't-care-less seniors). And the staff continues to be extra supportive and helpful. It's just the idea of getting back to the schedule of getting up at 5:50 on the morning... I love teaching, don't get me wrong, it's just how early the day starts. Well, that, and the fact I, like many teachers, often feel underappreciated. But I love what I am doing, so it's all alright with me.

At least I have something to show for my summer. Although we didn't go on any big, adventurous vacations, it was the little things that really counted this summer. That, and one really big thing! Summer kicked off with a nontraditional Memorial Weekend of camping; you can never go wrong with some camping. There was some quality family time on Sunday's for dinner, Mom's birthday, and Grandpa's birthday. Of course I have to include my newest tattoo. Pat and I spent many weekends trying to fine the most enjoyable and free events, like free ice cream day. Oh! I saw Jeff Dunham, which was hilarious! I'd love to see him again. I spent some time on the water on the 4th of July and watched the fireworks that night. We wooped it up in Waseca one night, entered photos in the fair and got ribbons, and attended quite a few weddings and receptions. I was able to go fishing a couple times with my dad and even learn to clean a fish. There was all kinds of crazy at the Jimmy Buffett concert at Alpine Valley with friends we just don't see enough of! I went to the zoo and the State Fair with my mom and Tiff. And there was Western Days, which always signals the end of summer. There were a few lazy days of scrapbooking. And then this past weekend Pat and I went tubing just us. Yup, I'd say I had an eventful summer. Somewhere in all that Pat and found time to check out some houses and buy one! Well, close enough. We close on the 25th, and then it is moving time. I sooooo can't wait to have a house. Here's the link if you want to look at it:

http://www.flexmls.com/cgi-bin/mainmenu.cgi?cmd=url+other/run_public_link.html&public_link_tech_id=20080827210942373248000000&s=4&id=1