Feeling the pressure

We leave for our cruise in 7 days. I am so very excited about going. December is like the perfect time to go because it is cold here and it is definitely not in the Caribbean. Nothing like lying on the beach in a hammock in December. We usually go in December but as we plan to go again this year, I am feeling the pressure to get my Christmas preparations done. I have three scrapbook projects that I intended to finish before Christmas. I really don't see that happening.And my Christmas cards just may not make it out of the planning stages. We won't be back in town before the 16th or 17th. and then Christmas is the following week. Yikes. I am hoping I might find some gifts in the Virgin Islands. But if not, I guess the old stand-by gift cards will have to do. Though I can say, its not really about the gifts anyway, I have two daughters who will beg to differ with me. Even into adulthood. Regardless of their wishes, I am definitely going to scale back this year. The days of presents overflowing under the tree are over. At least until my grandchildren arrive. :)

Planning on going to Dollywood tomorrow to see all of the festivities. Should be a fun day!

Have a happy Saturday.

A Joyful weekend

Its been a great weekend. I love the holidays!

Chanel came home and Sienna was here and we spent Thanksgiving with Don & Leeann and family. We all had such a good time together. The food was great except that my Mac and Cheese was dry and my cherry pie was doughy. I do not claim to be a cook! Its fun to fix thanksgiving dinner but I'm really not very good at it. : ) Katie and Rick both loved the deviled eggs. I'm glad of that because it was the first time that I have ever made them and I was a little worried. Leeann, on the other hand, is a great cook. Her turkey was absolutely perfect. We really had fun. I loved having the girls there with me. I love that they were able to spend time with our very best friends. I wanted them to share the joy that the Samples family brings to us and I wanted the Samples family to share the joy that my girls bring to us as well.

Friday morning, bright and early at 4:30 am, I picked Chanel up from Sienna's house and we were off to relish in the Black Friday chaos. We got some great deals but I found myself buying stuff for me and not for others. I really need to work on that!I got some great stuff though! We went to Old Navy and the line was all the way back and around the store. I think we waited in line for about 45 mins, but it was okay with us because we could shop more as we walked up to the front of the store in line. Chanel was my "go to" girl. I would tell her what to go get and while she went, I waited in line. It was a great system! We were going strong until about 8 am then we took a break for breakfast. And we were off again. Chanel sort of pooped out on me about 10 so I took her home so she could nap. Shopping is stimulating to me. I don't get people who become exhausted from shopping.

Saturday we went to the Fantasy of Trees. That really put me into the Christmas spirit! We decorated cookies and made thumbprint ornaments, and decorated a miniature christmas tree for Sienna's desk. We took lots and lots of pictures. Luckily Chanel had her camera because. once again, I forgot mine. I did have my phone though and it worked out okay. The trees were extraordinary! We watched the dancers do their thing. It was kind of nostalgic because I have spent many years watching my girls dance on stage. It was a beautiful day.

Today I put up our tree. Our living room has kind of shrunk over the last year so we had to get one of those skinny trees. I didn't like it at first and even pouted a little about it but once I put the ornaments on it, it was beautiful! I went with red this year.

So, all in all it was a great weekend! I always hate to see Chanel go back to Cookeville and it makes me kind of sad. I don't know what I will do when she is in Belgium for 6 months. Its going to be tough.

Have a happy Monday tomorrow!

Things I am thankful for

A week has passed and I am proud to say that I have exercised everyday, I've only not drank water 3 times and I have successfully only eaten 1/2 portions all week. Yay. I'm trying to not be so obsessive about it. Leeann really got on to me the other day. She told me I was being too hard on myself, that I was fine the way I am and basically to knock it off. Only a best friend can praise you and tell you you're being an idiot all at the same time, with a smile. Love that girl. Thank you, Leeann.

I've been thinking about all the things I am thankful for this week. I am thankful for all the normal things like friends and family, prosperity, love etc etc. But there are other things. I am thankful that I don't have to pump my own gas for one thing. I am thankful that I never have to worry that I won't have the money to get my nails done. I am thankful that I have turned into a prissy girl and know what its like to have a good massage. I am thankful that I get a kiss every morning between 6-7 am. I am thankful I don't have to get the bills out of the mailbox. I am thankful I don't have to manage my own finances. I am thankful that I work on a Mac and that I don't have the day to day troubles that Windows users have. I'm thankful that my kids feel close enough to me to be able to talk about their love lives. I am thankful that they want to be with me at all,actually. I feel thankful that I have 60 prs of shoes to choose from everyday. I feel thankful that I have a beautiful studio in which I can work on my scrapbooks. I feel thankful that my family actually loves to be around me and that they don't call me names behind my back. ( I don't think) I am so grateful that I still have my parents. I feel thankful that we are fortunate to be able to spend the holidays with those that we love. I am thankful that it only takes 2 hours to clean my whole house. I am thankful for quiet neighbors. I am thankful that I am fortunate to have enough food, shelter, tons of clothes.

Now a lot of these things may sound pretty shallow. But I know what being poor is. I have lived it. I have lived through borrowing toilet paper from work because I didn't have the $1 that it took to buy a cheap 4 pack. I have lived through going through those payday advance places because I didn't have enough money to have gas to go to work. I have lived through our lights being turned off, through our insurance getting canceled, through creditors calling every day over and over and over. I know what its like to not know how I was going to buy baby formula or diapers or dog food. I know what its like to have to cut firewood for heat because we couldn't pay the heating bill. I know what its like to have the same one pair of shoes for 2 years or more. I know what its like to not see my family for over a year. So I know what to be thankful for.
I am thankful most of all for Rick. He saved me and my girls 11 years ago and has helped me so much by providing me with all the things I am so thankful for. I am so blessed and I know that.

We will be spending thanksgiving with Don&Leeann, Katie, Chanel and Sienna. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to spend the day with the people I love most.

Have a happy Thanksgiving. Count your blessings.

Dieting again, or should I say Still.

Okay, so I'm obsessing over my weight again(or still). I tried to take Hoodia which is an herbal appetite suppressant. It has no known side effects and its supposed to be very effective. I swore off diet pills about 10 years ago, but I was reading about hoodia and thought that since there were no side effects, it was worth a try..I really think they were starting to help. But, when I mentioned to Rick that I was taking them, he was very displeased to say the least. He has asked me to stop taking them so I guess I will. I'm just so frustrated! I was doing so well at the beginning of the year. Leeann has done so well and I am so proud of her and so happy for her, but I keep asking myself, why can't I do that? I know there is no way I could do as well as she does, but I could at least start losing again. I want to lose a few pounds, at least 5, before we go on our cruise on Dec. 7. So, here is what I am going to do between now and then:

1. I am going to eat 1/2 portions at every meal.
2. I am not going to eat dessert at all.
3. I am going to drink only water.
4. I am going to exercise at least 30 min. every day.
I will do all these things everyday except of course, Thanksgiving. Surely these small changes will make some sort of difference. All I'm asking for is 5 pounds. Now that I've revealed my plans to the world, I am obligated to follow through. So, I expect to be held accountable!

Thanks for your support!

Have a happy Saturday.

just an update

I had a rough week last week, but I am back to normal now, yay. So thought I would update you. There really isn't a lot going on. We are recovering from coming home and having to go back to work. We would much rather not.

Sienna has found a roommate. I haven't met her yet but she must be okay because she too is a gator fan! I just know I am going to like her. She also has a little shitzu(not sure if I spelled that right). Sienna loves dogs so it will be okay. Not sure really how dogs deal with apartment living, but I'm sure it will be fine.

Both of my girls are having trouble with the men in their lives and I worry about them. Chanel said the other day that when she is a mom, she will not worry like I do. I just said, 'oh, yes you will." I'm not really a worrier usually. Its just that they are going through some challenges and well, I worry sometimes. :) Chanel is trying to get her visa so that she can move to Belgium for the next semester. Tech has this program where they will let her go to school there for credit. She should be able to finish up her master's degree there. She is majoring in international business so this will be a great experience for her and will look good on her resume. Again, I worry. I don't think she has much money saved. Not sure how she will support herself over there. She won't know anyone and she will be all on her own. Scary. Good thing is, maybe I will get to go and visit! I'm always up for another vacation.

One of my favorite aunts sent me an email yesterday and said that she is going to a conference in Tuscon in April and wanted me to come to stay with her there for a few days. My other aunt will probably go too and maybe my mom. It should be a good time! I am so excited! We all were together in FL this past April and had so much fun. I really miss them and my mom. We will hopefully have some good bonding time.
We leave for our cruise in 30 days! Seems like we just had a vacation! I'm hoping it will be nice and cold here when we go so that we will appreciate the warmth of the virgin islands more!

That's enough for now. Have a happy Wednesday!