Five Question Friday!

Hello Friday!

It has been a wonderful week. I turned 31 yesterday and had the best birthday! I had a great lunch with my family (including my parents) and got some great shoes and a little quiet time. It was a wonderful day!!

It is time for the Five Question Friday over at My Little Life. Read my answers, then go do your own. Make sure you link up!



1. Have you ever visited another country? Yes. My hubby and I went to Jamaica for our honeymoon and I have also briefly been to Canada.
2. Where is the strangest place you have ever been? Los Angeles!
3. What is your favorite season? Fall: Cool weather, hats, and football...doesn't get much better!
4. What one song will always cheer you up? Me & Bobby McGee By Kris Kristofferson (SP?) sung by the one and only Janis Joplin!
5. What Disney character do you resemble most? I have NO idea. Wow...that is tough. I'm going to say Nemo's Daddy (I can't remember his name!). I would go anywhere for my kiddos!

Have a great day!
With Love,
Theresa

Tuesday Three

Yes, I have already posted once today (about 20 mintues ago actually), but I was catching up on some other blogs and saw this bloghop and thought it sounded fun and easy! :) So, Check out this one and do it yourself!





3 Things that Make Me Happy (my husband and children are not included in this, of course they make me happy..usually!)

1) Finishing a kntting project. And starting a new one. I LOVE the feel of completing one item just to cast on another!

2) Getting a phone call from the library telling me a book I had on hold is in!

3) My dad...I LOVE it when my dad calls me and we chat. He and I are very close and have gotten even closer as I get older. He is a wonderful carng man! I love ya dad!

Have a great one!!

Jinkies...It's A Clue!

Happy Tuesday everyone! It has been a very frustrating day with 3 crabby and unlistening children, but made a little better by L running around yelling "ZOINKS!!" and trying to solve a "mystery" with J's help! It is actually very cute, my little Shaggy and Scooby Doo!



As it is Take It Off Tuesday, I will fill you in on the weightloss journey. This week I worked super duper hard. I lost 3.2 pounds!! That brings my total to 64.6 pounds. My original goal was 70 pounds by my 31st birthday. I have since changed that to 80 pounds by Thanksgiving, but it is pretty cool to be so close to my original goal. I'm hoping I can really kick some arse tomorrow (and the rest of today) and maybe get another .4 pounds off to make it an even 65 pounds on my 31st birthday (which is Thursday). I would be pretty darn proud of that!

I did do the newspaper article for our local paper. It should come out on Sunday the 15th. I will share a link if I can find one when it comes out. I was pretty nervous about doing this. The article was a lot more about Obesity in America and how that effects my area. I HATE that word, Obesity. Yes, I know that it is a problem, but it is such a negative word and makes people feel ashamed when they have weight to lose. The journalist that interviewed me said they were having a difficult time getting people to interview, especially women. So, I sucked it up and decided tat if sharing MY story could help even just one person, then it was my responsibility to share it. I hope I didn't sound like a complete idiot and I hope the picture they took of me is at least remotely decent. I guess we will see come Sunday huh?

I am super tired today so I am going to go for now. I've finished 2 books since last we talked so I have a couple of things to share tomorrow! :)
Have a great one!
With love,
Theresa

5 Question Friday

Happy Friday!! It is Friday...here are some things you might not know about me! Read my answers, go to My Little Life and get them for your blog. Don't forget to link up!



1. Are you a neat sleeper or a messy sleeper?
A little of both, but more of the neat sleeper. I do usually kick off the comforter in the summer though.

2. Fill in the blank. I wish I was more ________________.
faithful. This is something I am working on right now. I'm getting there.

3. What is something that you wish you had been warned about?
How hard it is to be a mom. It is NOT all sunshine and roses. It is a difficult job!!

4. What was the best thing you ever found at a garage sale/flea market?
I have no idea, I really don't. I can't think of anything. I don't do a whole lot of garage sale shopping or flea market shopping.

5. If you could have any meal brought to you right now, what would it be?
My Grandmother's peirogies

With Love,
Theresa

What To Wear Then??

OK, I have a RANT!!! I am sick to death of the fashion industry!!!

I am a 30 year old woman (let's forget that I turn 31 next week, OK?). I am a Stay At Home Mom. I spend a lot of my time at the gym, at home, or on playdates with friends (both with my kids or without!). I know that I am not the world's most stylish person, I admit that fully. However, I like to at least look decent, even if not wearing the latest fashions to show on "Project Runway".

Now, I have lost weight, that isn't a secret (I'm down another 2.2 pounds this week, but gained 2 last week somehow, so no biggie. I'm down 61.4 pounds total). I won a MACY's Gift Card through my Biggest Loser contest and went to the mall to see what I could find. NADA. Seriously. It is SO frustrating! I am too old to shop in the Juniors section, but too young to shop in the Misses section. I don't want to look like a teenager, but come on! I don't want to look like I'm 50 either! Now, I don't normally shop too much at MACY's because it is usually out of my price range, but I figured I would see if I could find anything. I found a few cute things, but just felt they made me look too young, too old, or just too dang goofy! Or, the few things that looked decent were WAY out of my price range or I just wasn't willing to spend my free $25 on them.

So, my question is this...WHY CAN'T THE FASHION INDUSTRY DESIGN THINGS WITH THE 30 YEAR OLD MOM IN MIND?????? There was a joke among my friends that we need to have a "Forever 31" store instead of "Forever 21"!!

Bottom line, I just wish SOMEONE would design an AFFORDABLE line of clothes with Moms like me in mind!!!

OK, done. How are you today??
With Love,
Theresa

Getting To Know You...

Getting To Know All About You! :)

It's Sunday, so today's Meme is from MannLand5! Check mine out, go to her page, get the questions, answer them on yours and don't forget to link up! Leave me a comment though so I can visit you!



1. If you were to win an award today, what would it be for?
Best In Ignoring a Meltdown? J had a huge meltdown right at naptime because she wanted to play and not sleep (shocking huh?). I just stuck her in her bed and ignored her. At first I thought this question asked which award I would want to win...but alas, that is a question for another day! :)

2. What is your shoe style?
OMG, I LOVE shoes! Love them love them love them! Unfortunately I mainly wear sneakers right now just because I am usually at the gym at least once a day so I stay in them the rest of the day. But, if I have a choice, I wear heels. I love heels. I do not care that I am 6 feet tall and heels only make me taller. I married a tall man for a reason!!

3 Does your car reflect your personality?
Mini-van...reflect my personality? Probably not. Although, I love my swagger wagon!!

4. If you could take over someones body for a day..whose would you choose?
Who's Bruce Willis's significant other these days? If not her, than I choose Reba McEntire. She seems like she has a fun day all the time!

5. Love or be loved?
Both really, but I choose Love. Sometimes it is more difficult to BE LOVED than it is to love!

6. If you were on death row, what last meal would you choose?
Fried Green Tomatoes to start, Peroigies, Fettuccine Alfredo, Garlic Bread, Steak (rare), Corn On the Cob, My grandmother's cinnamon rolls, cheesecake, and chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting. Yes, that is a lot. But, it is my last meal, I don't care about carbs, and if I'm not going to be around after this meal, then who cares how stuffed I am!!

7. Have you been on vacation this Summer, if so where?
The kids and I went to my parents' house. Not so much a vacation, but a visit. Besides, in the immortal words of Claire Dunphy (Julie Bowen from Modern Family on ABC), "I'm a mom, it's not a vacation, it is a business trip!"

8. What is your favorite food related guilty pleasure?
Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, fried green tomatoes, cheesecake, oh my, the list goes on and on. But, probably chocolate and fried green tomatoes mostly (not together...ew!)

Have a great day!!
With Love,
Theresa

Hoping To Get Back To The Grind!!

Wow! Is it really Friday? As crazy as this week has been I have to admit that I can't believe it is Friday already! Some part of me find it a little sad that this SAHM looks forward to Fridays so much. I mean, it isn't like my life changes at all on the weekends. I still have to get up with the kids since E runs both Saturday and Sunday morning. I still do all my mommy duties on the weekends. But, I look forward to Fridays so much. Part of it is that we do our grocery shopping on Friday nights. Many people find this very odd, I know. When E and I were dating, we grocery shopped together, we continued this after we were married. When L, then J, then M came along, we just continued all going together (granted, we have had to add a second cart to our trip!). Friday nights usually aren't quite as busy so if the kids throw a fit then I don't feel like they are disturbing that many people. And it has really just become part of our routine. The kids know that Friday nights are for groceries. Now, if we have something else come up, we are flexible, but I have to admit it completely throws off my weekend if we have to go Saturday morning!



Boy, that was exciting information about my family wasn't it? :)



So, what else has been going on? I don't have a whole lot to report, we've just been busy. Last week we went to my parents' house for a couple of days and had a great time, but were ready to get home. It is always fun to visit with Grandma and Grandpa (aka Pappy). L got to ride a horse and all 3 played in the baby pool.



On the weightloss front, I lost 4 pounds last week, then this week I GAINED 2 pounds. I am giving up trying to figure it out!! Seriously, it is getting ridiculous! I am chalking it up to hormones and bigger muscles, but I really feel like I take 2 steps forward and 1 step back every other week. I know that it will all get off eventually if I keep working like I have been, I just have to keep having the faith in myself. One neat thing about this through, is I might be in the newspaper. One of the managers at my gym called me yesterday and asked if I would be interested in being in an article about working towards my weightloss goal! She said the newspaper asked for suggestions and she instantly thought of me since I have been working so hard and am having good (usually) success. I haven't heard from the writer yet, but still, pretty neat to be considered for it.



Books to be reviewed? You betcha!



I have finished 3 books since my last Book Worm review. Here is what I thought!



The Accidental Demon Slayer & The Dangerous Book For Demon Slayers both by Angie Fox were both pretty entertaining. They are about an ordinary girl who finds out on her 30th birthday that she is in fact a Demon Slayer by birth and now that she is 30, she has duties to fulfill. And if she doesn't fulfill them then all of hell is going to be gunning for her. I had been eyeing these books in the library for a while and am glad that I was finally able to get them read. I enjoyed them. They didn't take a lot of thought and were pretty easy reads. I just checked out the newest in the series of 3 so far (sorry, I can't remember its name!). I will read it soon as soon as I get some others marked off!



The other book I finished was Plum Pudding Murder by Joanne Fluke (you can find her at http://www.murdershebaked.com/- isn't that the neatest website name?). I LOVE these murder mysteries. They are all about Hannah Swendsen who has a bad habit of finding dead bodies. She is a baker and owns a Cookie Store in Minnesota. Each book has a ton of recipes in them. They all sound so yummy. I think this Christmas I may try and check some out to make some new cookies for Christmas!! This book is great, as are all of hers. They are NOT difficult to read, don't take a lot of thinking (which is what I am looking for in a fiction book!) and are enjoyable. The only bad thing about these books...they make me hungry!!



I do have some knitting done, but do not have pictures of them so next week, I will make sure I indulge you all with some fiber therapy!



So, it is Friday. I am really enjoying these meme's about Getting to know you and other varieties. Today is from "My Little Life" at http://www.fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/ (for some reason my link button is not working, hence giving you the addresses!). As always, read mine, go to her site to get the questions, write them on your blog and leave me a link so I can check yours out! If you don't have a blog, leave me your answers in the comments!

1. Did you have a favorite blanket or toy as a kid? If so, do you still have it? Yes, I did. I had a piggy blanket. This wasn't a blanket with pigs on it, it was a blanket in the shape of a pig. Unfortunately, I don't have it anymore, but I REALLY wish I did!
2. Do you dream in color? Yes, I think so.
3. How tall are you? Do you wish you were shorter or taller? I am 6 feet tall and I love it! I have always loved my height. To make it even better, I love to wear heels, the taller the better! My friends hate it when I do, but I married a 6'5" man for a reason!
4. If you could have anyone's (celeb or other) voice as the guide on your GPS, who would it be? I am going to say either Sean Connery or Gerard Butler. Gotta love those accents!!
5. Do you return your shopping cart to the corral or leave it wherever in the parking lot? It depends. I would love to say that I ALWAYS return them, but that would be a lie. If I am not alone or am parked near a corral, I return it. But, if I am by myself with 3 kids and the corral is not right next to me, then I put it in the "median" area of the parking lot in front of my space (if I can). I do not just leave it wherever though. It is just too difficult to try and get 3 kids in the car and then try and find the corral. I do try very hard to park next to the corral though so I can avoid leaving the cart out, even if we have to walk a little farther!

That is me...how are you doing?

Have a great one!

With love,

Theresa

What A Bad Blogger Am I!

I am sorry I am such a bad blogger and blog follower right now. Life has been crazy. I am hoping to be back tomorrow!
With love,
Theresa

Getting To Know You

It is time again for MannLand5's Getting To Know you! Check out my answers, then go do your own. Don't forget to link up!



1. Thong or Granny Panties?
Do you really really want to know this? Seriously? Ok then, I guess I will tell you. We will just say, it isn't granny panties! :)

2. If you see a guy with his fly down, do you tell him?
I don't know if I ever have seen some dude walking around with his fly down, but yeah, I think I would tell him.

3. Spanx or no Spanx?
On a normal day, no spanx, but if I am dressing up or the outfit demands it then, yes. Absolutely Spanx (well, generic Spanx, but spanx-ish)!

4. Do you sleep in your sheets?
I'm not sure I understand the questions. Yes, my bed has sheets on it. Yes I sleep between them. This question is confusing. I am going to answer yes, I do sleep in my sheets.

5. What is your favorite Disney character?
Nemo. He is cute, determined, and sweet. I like him.

6. Dream vacation spot?
Can I go back to Jamaica please? No? Well, how about Cancun or Bermuda? Some place warm? Oddly on the flip side, I would love to go to a cabin in the woods and just hole up for a week with the hubby, good food, good alcohol, good books, good movies, and LOTS of knitting!

7. What is your dream job?
Lounge singer! :)

8. Who is your hero and why?
I think I have heroes for different aspects of my life. My overall hero is and has always been my cousin Jennifer. My "mommy" heroes are my good friends Natalie and Casey (who has a blog, but I don't know the address...Case, send that to me!!). Both have little children and seem to handle them with grace and patience. I strive for that daily! My knitting hero is The Yarn Harlot. My music heroes are Janis Joplin and Garth Brooks. Finally, I'm sure someone will say I shouldn't have my hubby as my hero, but I do. E works very hard to provide for the kids and myself. He is patient, sweet, and kind. I love him very much and I know that he loves me. He is most definitely one of my heroes!

I will be back tomorrow to actually write a bit more. Sorry I have been a little MIA. Life has gotten kind of crazy!!
With Love,
Theresa

5 Question Friday

I have decided to join in on this meme too. It is Five Question Friday over at My Little Life. Enjoy!! Oh, anyone visiting from Follow Me, Chickadee-WELCOME!!



1. Do you collect anything?
Yarn? Fabric? Not what you meant huh? I actually collect bells. I have bells from just about every place I have ever been. I have bells from other countries that people have brought back for me. One of my favorites is from Germany! I have bells for holidays and just random ones too! I have these great little mini ones that a friend got me for my bridal shower, they are super cute!


2. Name 3 celebrities that you find good looking.
Bruce Willis

Vince Vaughn

Gerard Butler

Vin Diesel

(Yes, that is 4, sue me!) :)

3. Do you have any scars? If so, what's the story behind it (them?)?
Uh, Yes. I'm a klutz! Let's see, the main ones: 2 on my knee from 2 knee surgeries (one ACL repair and one to take a screw out from the ACL repair), 4 orthoscopic ones on the knee too from the first surgery, 4 appendix scars, 1 in the head from cousin hitting me with a baseball bat, 1 one on my back from having a mole cut out. The rest are from being a klutz and falling down a lot!

4. What is a food that you like to eat, but others might think it's gross or weird?
Fried Green Tomatoes! Can't wait, the tomato plants are just about ready. These are the entire reason I plant them!!!

5. Have you ever seen a tornado in real life?
3 actually. When I was a kiddo, I was staying at my aunt and uncle's house and watched 2 go over the house from the little windows in the basement. I also watched one go across the back yard when I was younger because we couldn't get to the basement fast enough. Needless to say, I am a little skittish when it comes to storms and tornado weather!

Here is the badge for Follow Me, Chickadee if you are interested!





With Love, Theresa

My Twilight Thoughts

I know that today is Thursday and that usually means Fiber-therapy, but I don't really have anything to post. So instead, I thought I would write about my feeling on what is apparently a slightly touchy subject, The Twilight Series.



After I went and saw "Eclipse" last night, I got to thinking about the series. This morning I posted this on Facebook:

Twilight question: Do you love it? Why or why not? If you don't like it, have you actually read the books/seen the movies or are you just tired of the hype? Just curious! This popped into my head last night as I was trying to go to sleep.

Was I ever surprised at the response! There are several people that apparently feel VERY strongly about these books/movies either positively or negatively. There were responses ranging from critiquing Stephenie Meyer's writing ability to praising her connection & insight into the Young Adult crowd. Critiques about how the movies compared to the books. There were critiques involving the actors and their portrayals of the roles and also just their acting ability in general. It seemed the biggest point of contention was whether or not it is weird or gross for women over their teenage years to find the actors/characters "hot".

Do you want to know my thoughts? Well, I'm guessing you do since you are reading my blog and if you don't, well, tough, it is my blog and I am going to write what I want. :)

Also, from here on out, unless I say a specific book, when you read Twilight, assume I am talking about the entire series, not just the first book. :)

The first time I read the books the 4th wasn't out yet. I really didn't like them much, although I felt like "Eclipse" was the best of the first 3 (I still don't really like "New Moon" as much). Now, once I start a series, I usually have to finish it or it will really bother me. So, when "Breaking Dawn" came out, I re-read the first 3 to remind myself of what had led up to that point. As I read, I actually started to enjoy them more and more. As I read "Breaking Dawn", I started to understand the hype. It isn't that they are fantastically written, because truth be told, the actual writing is only so-so. But, I think Meyer brings the vampire genre into more of a "real world" thing instead of scary, creepy, & super-natural. I read a LOT and actually read a lot of vampire/werewolf fiction. These are by no means among the best I have read, but I think that among the young adult books of this genre, they are better than most or at least those that I have read, and yes, I HAVE read others. These were NOT meant to be scary. They are a love story, and everything, even the super-natural parts revolve around that. As a woman, I think many (not all) of us are pre-programmed to look for the love story in things. THAT is where Twilight delivers. Above all it is a love story, a modern day Romeo & Juliet (before anyone comes down on me for that comparison, I am not saying Twilight is in league with R&J, just that it is R&J-esque in that it is about star-crossed lovers!) The famous love triangle, almost ANY good romance is based around that theme. Twilight is no different.

I did enjoy the movies ("New Moon" movie was WAY better than the book in my opinion) though, and really enjoyed "Eclipse" last night. I am not really a huge fan of Kristin Stewart,

but feel that she plays the completely un-selfaware character of Bella well. I am anxious to see how she portrays Bella in "Breaking Dawn". Throughout Twilight, we see Bella as weak and slowly growing stronger. At the end of "Eclipse" she shows strength as courage as "the third wife" (you will have needed to read the books to understand this). SPOILER ALERT!! "Breaking Dawn" is all about her courage, especially her courage as a mother. The Pro-life/pro-choice debate comes out a little in "Breaking Dawn" and the question is brought out in whether or not Bella will keep the baby. Her courage and strength will also be HUGE in the remaining story. So, I am curious to see if Stewart can pull it off. I don't consider her a really strong actress so I REALLY hope she can do the part justice in the final installment.

I do think that Robert Pattinson

may not have been the best fit for the role of Edward, but I really can't come up with who would be better in the role. I haven't seen much of an example of his acting ability though. He was good as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter, but I haven't seen "Remember Me". I will give him credit though for having the "broodiness" of Edward down well. That was even more apparent in "Eclipse" last night.

My favorite character is Jacob. I love his smart-ass attitude toward Edward and how he loves Bella so completely, faults and all. His character is easy to love though, as I would consider him the underdog of the love triangle, and who doesn't love the underdog? I admit fully that I LOVE Taylor Lautner as Jacob!

I know this is a HUGE source of contention among fans and critics. Is it OK that women who are NOT teenagers are fawning all over these guys? Do you all remember when Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen from "Full House" were not quite 18 yet

and men everywhere were just waiting for the day that they would be legal (I remember there being websites with countdowns on them!!)? I HIGHLY doubt that the majority of these men honestly thought that they would have a shot with Mary Kate and Ashley once they hit 18, but they still looked forward to the day. Why? My opinion is so that they wouldn't get knocked on for thinking these girls were hot. At age 18 they are legal, plain and simple. At the time I remember thinking, "Seriously guys? This is ridiculous! You have LITERALLY watched these girls grow up!" I still think that since we all watched MK & Ashley since they were babies, it may be a LITTLE more of a creepy situation than with Taylor, but it is similar. The only other movie I have seen Lautnor in when he was younger was "The Adventures of SharkBoy & Lava Girl. Taylor has grown up into a very fine looking young man. I get that he is only 18, okay, but he is extremely good looking. Now, if I ever met him, it isn't like I'm going to drool over him or anything, or fall at his feet pledging my eternal love, he's just pretty to look at, & is it really that bad to appreciate how he looks? My friend J.S. had this to say and I think it is brilliant: "I don't think for a lot of ladies that they're really into a 17 year old for their current-day middle aged self, but at least to me it's surprisingly easy to fall back into the 17 year old version of myself." I totally get that J.S.!! Personally, I actually think that Emmett and Carlisle are probably the 2 best looking of the group.


Aren't they yummy? :)

I do think the hype is a little crazy, but it is no different than Harry Potter (although those are far superior books). My Facebook friend A. said it well, "its pretty cool to see kids so fired up about BOOKS!" I agree! I think that kids today do not get fired up ENOUGH about books. I love that teens lined up for these books the same way adults did for the new IPhone!

Edited to add:
Now, on the issue of sex in this story. Vampire genre is all about sex. Drinking blood and sex often go hand in hand & in many books/movies the very act of drinking blood is sexual in nature. Sex is obviously VERY prevalent then in most vampire tales (if you don't believe me, watch an episode of "... See MoreTrue Blood" on HBO!). Now, remembering that these books are written for a TEENAGE audience, I found the lack of sex to be refreshing. Sex is everywhere & teens are pressured with it everywhere they turn. It was nice to see a character have the restraint. Watching the third movie, I remember thinking that I was going to be upset if they defied the books there & had them have sex.

I will say this though, think that we really need to make sure that any young girls (& boys) that read these books/watch these movies know some important things though:

1. It is NOT OK for them to have a boy-friend/girl-friend in their room without permission.

2. Just because you love someone does not mean you have to feel like they are your only life and without them, you can't go on.

3. Just because you have a boy-friend/girl-friend does NOT mean you drop your other friends and never spend time with them.

4. This is FICTION!!! (I actually think it would be good for adults to remember that too!). It is NOT real life!!

I am a firm believer though in making sure you KNOW what your child is reading. I haven't had to worry yet as "Cat In The Hat"

isn't really all that scandalous. But, I plan on reading the same books my kids do as they get older. Parents need to KNOW what their kids are reading. That way when questions and situations come up that the kids don't know how to react to, the parent is clued in and can discuss them with their child! Know what your kids are reading people!! If you do have a reading teen check out THIS website, I haven't really used it yet too much, but it might help you!

I would love to hear what YOU think! Obviously, people tend to get a little testy when it comes to defending their opinions. Please remember that these are MY opinions and I promise to respect yours if you respect mine! To each their own!

OK, I'm done now. I hope you enjoyed MY opinion of the series! I know there is more that I think and my brain is blnking, but I think you probably get the gist of it right? Bottom line, I'm hooked and proud of it! :) Have a great day!
With Love,
Theresa

Books, Movies, Like Borders Without The Music

Happy Wednesday! I LOVE Wednesdays! I do I do! My In Laws are here and they let me leave the house! It was fantastic! I only went to Walmart, but I walked all over the store, just looking at things. I had headphones in and listened to music so I didn't have to talk to anyone. It was FABULOUS!!

It has actually been a good week so far. I am only frazzled because of poor M. His teeth are HOPEFULLY coming in and the poor kid has been screaming his head off for 2 days! I wish I could just magically make them come in for him. But, I guess that is part of being a parent huh?

Monday night I was blessed to spend the evening knitting with my wonderful neighbor and 2 friends at Nine Irish Brothers (a fantastic Ireland themed bar!) It was so much fun. My neighbor and I taught my friends Melissa and Casey to knit! I think Casey is HOOKED! She actually came over the next day and the kids played together so we could knit together some more! Why else did she come over you might ask? Well, she hadn't seen Twilight: New Moon yet and she needed to see it! Because....WE ARE FINALLY GOING TONIGHT!! I am SO SO happy!!! I have been waiting sort of patiently on my friend Jaeneen get home from vacation so we could go together. They say this one is awesome! I can't wait! I've had my movie knitting ready to go for 2 days now. Yes, before you ask, I DO knit during the movies. If it is a simple pattern, it is an easy and fun thing to do.


I tried a new class at the gym today. Cardio Box. It was actually REALLY fun. I was pretty proud of myself, I never had to quit because I was out of shape. I didn't totally get all the moves and probably looked ridiculous, but who cares! I would FINALLY get the routine and the instructor would switch it up! I really felt like Tea Leoni

in "Fun With Dick & Jane" as she tries to teach at her gym. Too funny! I think I will try it again to see if it gets easier.

Just FYI, since I didn't post yesterday, I gained a pound this week. I'm not stressing about it. I think either I've hit the point where my body is trying to hold on to the fat because of nursing, or it is just yo-yoing a it. There is NO way I ate enough/didn't exercise enough to gain a pound, so it can't be a stresser. It will all work out.

So, would you like a book review? I finished Moon Spinners by Sally Goldenbaum last week, but I didn't get it reviewed, so here you go. :)

I enjoyed this book. It is the 3rd in a series about knitting mysteries, but unfortunately I have not read the second one. I apparently missed that one on the shelf. I've read enough mysteries that I usually don't have too much problem figuring out who done it. This book kept me guessing. I thought I had it figured out and then thought I didn't. I really did enjoy it. I have the 2nd one that I missed on hold at the library so I look forward to reading it and maybe figuring out a couple of the references they made in Moon Spinners to it. If you like knitting mysteries, go for it!

Now I am reading The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox. It is kind of corny, but not a bad read so far.


I am VERY excited by a find at WalMart though. I found this:

for $5! I have LOVED this movie since I was a little girl. Whenever we used to have slumber parties, we ALWAYS rented "Adventures In BabySitting" and "Can't Buy Me Love" (Hello, Dr. McDreamy!!). Now, if I can find it, I will be ecstatic!!


I'm sill working on my 101 things. Any other suggestions?

So, it has been a good day. CAN'T WAIT FOR THE MOVIES TONIGHT! Okay, I'm done.

How has your day been?
With Love,
Theresa

Getting To Know You

It would be Sunday, and that means it is time for Getting To Know You over at MannLand5! Check out mine, go over there, get yours, and then link up! Simple huh?!




1. What is YOUR definition of sexy?
Tall, confident, funny

2. Would you rather clean up puke or change a poopy diaper?
Oh, Poop, all the way. I HATE puke! Whenever the kids get sick it takes all my self control to not throw up too. I am not always successful! Come to think of it, I'm the same way with blood. Ugh!

3. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
Total Extrovert. I am WAY social, probably to the point of annoying. I married a real introvert so sometimes that is interesting. I've learned really quickly how to introduce myself at social functions, because I know that E isn't going to do it!

4. If you had to give up one of your 5 senses for a year..which one would you give up?
Man, that is a difficult choice. At first I was going to say hearing just so I wouldn't have to listen to my children whine. Then I realized I would miss all the laughter too. Sight is most definitely out, I need that. Touch you've got to have, think of the snuggles you would miss (not mentioning the feel of yarn. No way I'm giving that up!). I wouldn't want to give up taste, as I would miss chocolate too much (although, the pounds would probably come off quicker that way!). I am going to go with smell. I wouldn't have to smell any of those aforementioned poopy diapers that way! My aunt has no sense of smell and she seems to be getting along fine!

5. Cake or Pie?
Uh, Cake! Cake cake cake! Well, maybe pie. Hmm...I'm not sure I can choose that! If I HAD to (and I mean HAD to) choose, then I will go with cake. As long as it is chocolate with chocolate frosting (and chocolate ice cream while we are at it!)

6. If you could play any character on TV (old or current) who would you play?

Jennifer from WKRP. She was hot, was technically a secretary, but other than answer phones, she didn't seem to do much except add eye candy to the studio. She got to work with Johnny Fever and Les Nessman! Sounds like a dream job to me!! :)

7. My favorite website is.....?
Ravelry...Duh! That's a shock huh!?!?! (The irony here is that I actually typed "sock" instead of "shock" and thought it looked right for a minute. Sorry, knitting humor!)

8. The highlight of my day is....?
Bedtime. I know how bad that sounds, but that is the only time of day that I can spend with just the hubby and myself. Even if we are just watching TV or something it is comforting to just be with him. I do love my children, but I don't get a whole lot of hubby time with them around (and I don't mean that way! Get your mind out of the gutter!!)

Hope your weekend was fantastic! Have a great rest of your Sunday!
With Love,
Theresa

Randomness, Complete Randomness

Sorry for being MIA the past couple of days. The computer has been a real Pain In My Butt and keeps freezing up on me. It is getting SO frustrating! So, where was I?

I didn't miss much on Wednesday I guess. I didn't have a book finished. I do now, but I think I am going to make you wait until next Wednesday to hear about it. Sorry! :)

Fiber Therapy Thursday about broke my heart! I had been working on a log cabin baby blanket for J's Speech Therapist. Well, after thinking about it and being realistic, I decided there was NO way I would get it done in time. She is leaving at the end of August so I would have to have it done by then...I'm NOT that fast of a knitter! So, I went with a different plan and decided to make a baby sweater. I have always wanted to try the Baby Surprise Jacket designed by Elizabeth Zimmerman. Now, what is special about this jacket is that apparently you knit this random wonky somewhat rectangle and then fold it origami style into a sweater. I decided to go for it! All was working out fine, I was about half way done. Then I REALLY looked at it and saw that I had ROYALLY screwed it up. I mean BAD! So, instead of going insane, I mean trying to figure out my mistakes, I just ripped it all out. So, I am back to where I started. I cast it on again last night and can hopefully figure out what I did wrong last time. The problem for me is that Zimmermann's patterns are written more like stories and not like patterns. They are a little difficult to follow the first time. I am going to sit down I think and actually write the pattern out for myself, maybe that will help.

Random Friday stuff:

1. Still working on my 101 things in 1001 days. I would like to start this on August 1st, so I am trying to come up with my list. This is a lot more difficult than one would think it would be. I'm really having to think carefully. This isn't a life bucket list. There are several things that I would REALLY like to do in my life, like go to Alaska or Europe. But, in reality am I going to be able to do those things in 1001 days? In a word, NO. So, I have to think of things that are going to stretch me as a person, but are not out of the scope of reality. This is much more difficult than one would think it would be. Right now I am at 12. I've got a while to go, huh?

2. Watched Lady Gaga


on the Today show this morning. I've not really been a huge fan, but have respected her musical talent. I have to admit, she was pretty fabulous this morning. She has this really amazing low deep voice and as an alto I totally respect that! She plays the piano amazingly too. I just don't get the craziness. But, I guess it is really no different than what KISS did, is it? KISS wore crazy make-up and had insane show antics, and they are awesome. I guess I just find it a little sad that it seems her actual musical talent is overshadowed by all the craziness and theatrics!

3. I'm tired of picking up toys! Seriously, I have picked up toy after toy in this house, even after having the girls pick up toys. It is getting ridiculous! I think we are in for a good toy clean out!

4. Am majorly annoyed at people thinking a Stay At Home Mom doesn't work all day. Even more annoyed at the fact that sometimes it is previous SAHM's that seem to think this.

5. SO excited about FINALLY getting to go see Eclipse next Wednesday!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!! Did I mention that I am excited about this?!?! :)


OK, well, that's all for today. Have a great day everyone!
With Love,
Theresa

Day Of Success!

What a day it has been! The best news of today?? My bestie had a new little baby boy this morning!!! I can not WAIT to see him! Granted, he is in Ireland and I will have to wait until December to actually see him in person, but still, I can't WAIT to see his pictures at least! Baby C made his grand appearance at 6:45am Ireland Time this morning. He weighed in at 6 pounds 15 ounces and mommy and baby are doing great!! Assuming she gives me the go ahead, I will post some pics when I have them!


Also good news is that I lost 5.4 pounds today! Seriously! Apparently gaining a pound last week helped get me over the stupid plateau I was on. I am glad. It was nice to see a good drop this week!


I've been seeing a lot of other bloggers have been doing a "101 things to do in 1001 days". I tried to find a single link to this, but all I could find was this. I don't know if this Day Zero actually started this idea or not, but I think it sounds like a lot of fun. So, I am making my list of things to do. Once I get them done and posted, I will make sure to put up a page so you can see how I am doing. Anyone else doing this? Leave me a note in the comments so I can check your 101 things.

Not much else today. I hope you all had a safe and fun 4th of July!
With Love,
Theresa

Getting To Know You

It is Getting To Know You Day over at MannLand5. I hope that you all have a wonderful SAFE Independence Day!! Never forget the soldiers past and present that allow us this independence! God Bless them all!



1. What do you look forward to the most on the 4th of July?
Probably just the family time. We haven't been to a 4th of July party for awhile.

2. Are you a hugger?
Uh, Yeah. Big Time!!

3. What is your favorite BBQ'd food?
Pork, Beef, Ribs, Chicken...really? I have to pick? I LOVE BBQ!

4. Do you like to watch parades?
Not really. I just don't think it is that exciting. The only exception is the Macy's Thanksgiving parade on TV, but who DOESN'T like to watch that?

5. Who has stinkier farts..boys or girls?
I'll say boys, but girls can too. At least in this house they do!

6. Vampires or Werewolves?
I am a vampire girl, however, werewolves have there place. Especially if they all look like Jacob! :)

7. Do you read your horoscope?
If it is right in front of me, I don't go looking for it though. I am a Leo by the way!

8. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Ha! Seriously? Uh, you want me to PICK one? Yeah right! OK, I guess any kind that has chocolate in it (DUH!). One of the best I have ever had though is called Amaretto Chocolate Cherry at a shop here in town. SO FREAKIN' GOOD!!

Thursday Five

Happy July Everyone! Can you believe the year is half over? It has really gone quickly hasn't it? Here are my Thursday 5 from MannLand5!



1. I am HAPPY that J is doing so well in speech therapy. She hit her first goal for the program! Now we are going to work on getting up to 100 words!

2. I am GIDDY that L seems to have an interest in knitting. She watches me and you can tell she wants to learn. I plan on sitting her down this weekend to show her and to see what she thinks!

3. I am JOYFUL I got a chance to visit with my friend Darci and her kiddos while they were visiting from Connecticut. We went to the zoo on Tuesday and then they came over here yesterday. What fun! We miss you guys!

4. I am EXCITED that Eclipse has come out. I am bummed that I am waiting until the 14th to see it, but I promised a friend I would go with her. It is a good thing I like you so much Jeaneen!

5. I am SO APPRECIATIVE of my friends and family and the support they give me in all my endeavors. The support for the whole weight loss/life style change has been emmense, but just support in general makes me so humble in how blessed I am! I love you all!

Have a wonderful day everyone!!
With Love,
Theresa

Book Worm Wednesday!!

First Off, can I just say how blessed I am? I received such an outpouring of support from friends on Facebook regarding my post yesterday! I am just FLOORED! I was NOT expecting that. I had had a few people ask for pics, so I just thought I would oblige. Thank you all SO much for making me feel so wonderful and beautiful! You have really inspired and motivated me to hit my goal. So, I am back at it! Again, thank you. You are wonderful friends!

I haven't been to the gym since Sunday though. I threw my back out somehow on Monday and it is still pretty painful. I am hoping that I will be able to get back to business tomorrow though!

I did get a book finished! I just read Dead Until Dark By Charlaine Harris.



This is the first in the Southern Vampire Series featuring Sookie Stackhouse. I really enjoyed this book. I know shocker, it's about vampires...why wouldn't I like it?!?! I have to admit though that I think the MAIN reason I enjoyed it was because one of my favorite shows is based on these novels. The show "True Blood" on HBO is based on these novels. The first season of the show was pretty much this book. But, I enjoyed it none the less and really look forward to getting the rest from the library. I may have to wait though until the newest season of "True Blood" is over though because I kept getting things confused! :) The only thing I didn't like about it is that Sookie's Best Friend Tara in the show is NOT in the book. This is NOT a huge deal obviously, just something that bugged me.

I am currently reading Moon Spinners by Sally Goldenbaum.



This is a knitting mystery and the 3rd in this series. Hopefully I will have it done next week to review!

Have a great day everyone!
With Love,
Theresa

What I Look Like On My 100th Post!

This is my 100th post for Full Time Job!! Granted, for the first 2 years, I wasn't a very good poster and have only really been a decent poster in the past couple of months, but it is still my 100th post, so GO ME! :)

So, today is Take It Off Tuesday. I promised that I would be honest in my postings, so in the attempt to be honest, I will tell you that I gained a pound this week. I was prepared for this. I was SO tired of counting POINTS and stressing about it all that I took the week off of counting. I tried not to go overboard, but did enjoy myself a little bit. I ate more than I should have, but life moves on. So, I was prepared for a pound this morning. I started counting again this morning and feel more motivated already! The only problem now is I threw my back out yesterday and haven't worked out since Sunday. :( Hopefully the back will be better tomorrow. As I type, I am sitting with the hot pad on it, so I am hoping that helps! My plan is to work really hard this week (as soon as I can!) and REALLY watch my POINTS so hopefully I will have a big loss this week!

I've had a lot of people ask to see what I looked like now that I have lost over 50 pounds. I was able to get dressed up over the weekend had got a couple of pictures taken. So, I will share.

This is me before. This pic was taken at M's baptism in December 2009 (sorry it isn't a great pic, but it is all I've got!):


This is me now:


This is me and my hot hubby!


Thank you so much to everyone for being so supportive of me throughout my weight loss journey! It means so much. I am re-motivated and ready to hit my goal!

With Love,
Theresa

Brownies? Heck Yeah!

So, I really waned brownies and I had heard about Black Bean Brownies from some other people, I thought I would give a try. Well, let me tell you,they were frickin' awesome!!! I don't even know how to describe them! I couldn't taste the black beans at all! The only difference was a bit of cakier texture, but I like cakey brownies. I had to restrain myself! Well, I didn't do a very good job of that today (I'm not counting POINTS again until tomorrow), but will if they last very long. I found a lot of different versions online, but here is what I did. It was stupid easy and quick!

Black Bean Brownies

1 box brownie Mix
1 15 oz. can black beans

Preheat oven to 350. Drain and rinse the beans. Put beans back in the can and fill with enough water to cover the beans. Pour beans and water into a food processor or blender. Warn children that the noise will be loud! Puree the beans. Mix into brownie mix. Pour into a greased 11x7 pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Cut into 20 squares for 2 POINTS each.

Here are a couple of mine:



Then I did this:


AWESOME!!

Getting To Know You

It is Getting To Know You time again over at MannLand5. Check out my answers and then go over to her blog and get them yourself. Make sure you link up and leave me a comment and let me know so I can go check you out! :)



1.If you had $5000.00 to spend on plastic surgery what would you have done?
As much as I hate to admit it, I would get my boobs done. I don't want implants really just to have them moved back up to where they were before I had and nursed 3 kids!

2. Do you watch Soap operas and if so what is your favorite and why?
I don't watch afternoon soap operas, no. I do watch prime time ones though like "Desperate Housewives" and the such.

3. Favorite clothing brand?
Walmart? I like Old Navy and Target. I am pretty low maintenance so I tend to buy inexpensive things. I am looking forward to buying some "Flirt" jeans from Old Navy once I am done losing weight! Apparently they are supposed to make almost any figure look fantastic!

4. An afternoon shopping spree at your favorite store or maid service for a year?
That would completely depend on how much money I have to spend. My favorite store would be a yarn shop. I could rack up some expenses in that time! :) The maid service for a year might be cheaper for whomever is footing the bill! OK, actual decision, I would have to say the maid service...I would have a clean house and time to knit!

5. Would you ever vajazzle?
Uh, No.

6. Favorite Disney Princess?
Probably Mulan (see #10 on Friday's Post here). She's really the only one that is strong, and doesn't rely on the prince to save her! She does the saving! Now every other female in this house would say the prize goes to Cinderella! My friend Amy has a great post about Princesses, here, and about Princes here.

7. Last movie that made you bawl your eyes out?
Is it so sad that I cry so much at movies that I am having trouble figuring out the last one that made me do it? I really can't pinpoint the last one that I bawled at, seeing as how if there is ANYTHING remotely emotional about it, I will most likely cry. E tends to find this hilarious!

8. Have you ever broken any bones and if so what?
No, I haven't broken any bones. Ripped some ligaments, but nothing broken. Considering what a klutz I am, I consider this a pretty big miracle!

Big Thanks MannLand5 for doing this meme as my mind is in a fog today due to a RAGING headache and I don't think I really could have come up with something to write about!

With Love,
Theresa

Random Things About Me!

Hi all! I have been sitting here trying to figure out what to blog about today. I was coming up EMPTY!! And I do mean EMPTY! So, I am going to cheat and tell you 10 things about myself. I have already done 25 of them that you can read here.

1. I LOVE Janis Joplin!! Seriously, for a woman whose voice really was not very musical, she sure could wail! (I am not even going to tell you how many times I had to type wail to get it spelled right!) And speaking of...

2. I am a HORRIBLE speller! (Have to add that after I hit spell check, I discovered I had spelled Horrible wrong!) Thank goodness for spell check! I was a great student in school and it was a good thing I have a good memory and could memorize things because if I don't pay attention, I can't spell crap! C-R-A-P...huh, I guess I can! :)

3. I have become a HUGE Sci-Fi Nerd! I'm not sure when this happened, but I just can't get enough Star Trek, Star Wars, and the like. Maybe that is why I like the whole vampire/supernatural genre so much too. My name is Theresa and I am a nerd!

4. I am a Pack Rat! Now, I don't think you will see me on "Hoarders" any time soon, but I really am. It comes honest, both grandmothers are/were. I keep the most random things too, you never know when you might need them! I am trying to do better, but I have the hardest time throwing things away!

5. I can type VERY fast! My mom was a typing teacher so I learned how to type at an early age. This was a HUGE blessing in college as it helped when having to type papers in the wee hours of the mornings! Also, occasionally paid for some beer when I typed papers for others.

6. I get super-duper excited when I see that someone has sent me a Facebook message or left me a comment on here. I mean, probably stupid excited! Want to guess how happy I am when I get snail mail?!?

7. I have all these plans of crafts that I want to do, things I want to make, new things I want to try. How much do I get done? Not much...3 kids take a lot of my free time. Geez. :)

8. I took piano lessons from the time I was about 5 or 6 until I was 12 or 13 (I don't really remember exactly when I started or finished, but it was about 7 years!). I used to be really good. I haven't played in a long time and could probably till read the music just fine, but I have a feeling it would take me a while to get through any songs. L really wants to learn. Whenever the time comes that we build a bigger house, the first thing I want to put in is a piano. I'll probably just go with a standing one, but would love a Grand Piano! Oh to dream!!

9. I've never really gotten into Halloween. I don't know why...I LOVE to dress up. I would love to act You would think that would be a natural transition!

10. The Disney Princesses annoy the crap out of me! I realize in this house, my two darling daughters would say that is blasphemous, but seriously! All this having to be rescued by a man...it gets old! The only one that doesn't drive me completely up a wall is Mulan, mainly because she does most of the rescuing! That said, I will sit down and watch them though. At least the songs are enjoyable! :)

There you go. 10 things you maybe didn't know about me! Now, aren't you glad you didn't ask and now know me JUST a LITTLE better?

Have a great weekend everyone! I get to wear my sexy black dress and go out with my sexy husband (we have a wedding to go to!). I can't wait! Maybe I'll try and get some pictures, assuming I can get E to stand still for them!

With Love,
Theresa

Thursday Five

I have been participating in this meme over at MannLand5. Check out my answers and then go check out Keely's. Then, go ahead, do them on your own blog. Make sure you let me know about it! :)



Things today that have made me feel...

1. HAPPY...having a great cook-out lunch at my hubby's work. It was with a bunch of contractors, but still a lot of fun!

2. DELIGHTED...to have M's eyes still be clear this morning. Seriously, it is so great to see his pretty eyes...did you know they were blue? Huh. Weird.

3. GRATEFUL...to have family and friends that I love so much, that love me and support me. You know who you are.

4. TOTALLY STOKED...that I got to watch Jimmy Kimmel's Twilight: Total Eclipse of the Heart special today after DVR'ing it last night. I was afraid the storm would interfere with the signal, it only did a little at the end so I got to watch most of it. I can't wait for Eclipse to come out...I am such a nerd!

5. THANKFUL...that my friend Jen is doing better and will hopefully come home from the hospital soon!

Oh, and how about a little Fiber Therapy today?

I just finished these up last night...



They are a surprise for someone...SSHHHHHH!!!! Tigger is DIGGIN' his new hat...and Gary the giraffe? Well, I promise he is there, I didn't behead him!

I finally got the ends woven in on this shawl last night too. I have to block it tonight so that I can wear it Saturday night to a wedding.




This is the start of the log cabin blanket for J's speech therapist. They are Chicago Bears fans and are NOT finding out the baby's sex, so I am going with Blue, Orange, and White. I have 9 of these to do and this one isn't finished...Lord help me!



This is my mom's scarf. Want to know how much I love her? Well, around 8 feet of 1x1 ribbing should tell you! For you non-knitters, this is a LOT of back and forth and back and forth. It guess it is better than 2x2 rib though, that you actually have to pay attention too!



Sorry for the crappy pictures...for some reason, my computer is not recognizing my actual camera so I am taking pics with my phone. If I can get the real camera to work, I'll take better pics!

Have a great day!
With Love,
Theresa

Wednesday Catch Up

Does anyone have an ark we could borrow? The animals are starting to come out 2 by 2! Seriously, this rain is ridiculous! And even when it isn't raining, there is a constant threat, so it makes planning outdoor activities such a pain! Here are some pics my hubby took yesterday around our town...crazy huh? And to be honest, we haven't been hit near as hard as some others!




I didn't get a chance to blog yesterday so let me tell you how my weigh in went. I lost 1.2 pounds this week. I am struggling to remember that the smaller I get the slower the weight needs to come off so that it STAYS off. Anyone else have trouble with this. I feel like I am working so hard that it should still just be melting off like it did in the beginning. I'm also hitting that point where I don't want to count POINTS or calories or anything. I just want to eat what I want to eat. But, I know that is what got me into this situation in the first place so I need to stay strong, but it is difficult!

I do have some book reviews for you! I just finished the last of the 3 Fat City Mysteries by Kathryn Lilley. Now, I have read a lot of mysteries. I've read enough of them to know how mystery novel writers write and can usually tell you "who dun it" by about 3/4 of the way through. I have to admit that with these, I was somewhat stumped. They were very well written. I really enjoyed them. The books are Dying To Be Thin, Killer Workout, and Make-overs are Murder. For a brief summary of the books go here. With all of the weight loss and exercising that I have been doing, these book totally fit right into my life. They really were good. I enjoyed the main character Kate. She was interesting and was easy to root for. I suggest them if you are looking for something new to read!

If you have read much of my blog, you know that I enjoy the good vampire or supernatural tale. I LOVE the show True Blood on HBO and have just started reading The Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris starring Sookie Stackhouse. The first one is Dead After Dark and so far I am really liking it, even though it is pretty much the first season of True Blood. But, I am enjoying it so far, I hope I will continue to do so. I'll let you know!

Have a great day!!
With Love,
Theresa