Weigh-in Wednesday

Man I'm getting lazy or am just not excited about what I see on the scale because no photo again this week.

I promise it was 160.4. Dang it.

My eating hasn't been great and exercise is decent but could needs to be better.

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

Confession: Bad Guys

When I'm out for a run jog around the neighborhood, I think every person that passes me in a car or on foot is out to get me. Like kidnap me and do bad horrible things to me.

I constantly look around and think someone is going to jump out and drag me into the bushes or the car coming up behind me is going to go all drive-by on me. What is wrong with me?!

I have no real reason to think any of this. We live in a nice area and nothing like this has happened. Well, not that I know of.  Apparently I'm a super paranoid runner jogger and watch way too many Dateline Mysteries.

Favorites on Friday

I've been doing some online shopping over the past few weeks and things have started arriving in the mail, it's like Christmas! Pre-baby I hardly ever bought things online. Going to store/mall/outlet was half the fun of shopping. I also like to see, feel, try on things before buying them.

Well then you have a kid and life changes. Who has time between feedings and naps to make it to the store/mall/outlet and then actually have time to shop? Those days are far and few in between. It's getting easier, but online shopping is by FAR the easiest and most doable.

So here are a few of my favorites so far --

1. Race medal holder. Super cute and these ladies have an awesome story. One was diagnosed with breast cancer and they kept on running, celebrating every mile. Check 'em out on their website or etsy.

2. Kiki la 'Rue dress - Love, love, love it. In the mommy blogger world Kiki la 'Rue is huge. I've hesitated buying anything for months. Lets face it, I'm frugal and want things on clearance. Well, I had been eyeing this dress and on father's day they offered free shipping and 15% off. Follow them on IG (@shopkikilarue) and you'll get codes for discouts AND see the new stuff before it goes online.

3. Vinyl chalkboard for the refrigerator.  Super fun and the chalkboard marker is super easy to clean and it comes free with your order.

I jot down the grocery shopping list and then snap a photo with my phone to take it with me to the store. And for holidays, you can dress it up with a little holiday greeting. I'm no Little Baby Garvin chalkboard designer, but it's still fun and festive.

4. Vera Bradley Travel Wallet. Ok so I'm not really a huge fan of the VB. When her stuff first got popular I remember describing it as looking like it was made out of potholders. However, I've come around and think some of her stuff is cute.

Well on our family vacation my MIL had a VB travel wallet that I thought was cute and super functional. I have one I picked up a few years ago that zips all the way around and I really don't like the zipper. Receipts and boarding passes are always getting caught in it.

This one folds over and has a magnetic closure. I think they are being discontinued so that means they're on clearance on the VB site. Being the bargain hunter I am, I actually got mine off of ebay, new with tags, for a few dollars less than the VB site.

I guess that's it for now. What are you buying and loving these days?

Weigh-In Wednesday

Hello, hello! Well, it's Wednesday and time to face the scale.

But first, let me explain myself. I continued to eat like I was on vacation until this past Monday, as in two days ago. So basically I took a two-week food vacation and have been back on the wagon for two days. Gotta start somewhere.

To my surprise, I bubbled up to 162ish and sat there. Even though I was on my food vacation, I always keep a running tab in my head on calories. I never went over 2,000 and generally stayed around 1,800. I'm still nursing and some days I run, so I guess thats why I was able to stay around 162.

So today when I got on the scale I was very excited to see this -

Thank God. We leave for our SEVEN night cruise with my family in 3 weeks and I really want to be in the mid to low 150s.

Hope you all are having a good week so far, half way!

Weekend in review

Started the weekend off with horrible traffic on my way home Friday. Darn accidents on the interstate.

On the plus side is I got board and french braided my hair. Haven't done that in years. Ran with it like that later that night and liked it so much better than a ponytail, kept it from getting all knotted up.

Got my longish run out of the way Friday night. I did C210K, but ended up running the entire time with the exception of warm up and cool down. Half training has to get serious. 11 weeks out!

Mr. Mister is all over the place these days and that little turkey is smart. He got ahead of our baby proofing so we've had to get creative to keep him out of things. Hanger in the book case sliding glass door has worked like a charm!

He's pulling up on everything now too, but only to his kneees. I'm hoping we've got a little bit of time before he even thinks about walking.

Why hello there. 

Saturday was a busy one that ended with some fro-yo and a car show. Hubs is super into cars. Has one he's restored and loves to go to car shows to be with his people. I go for the fro-yo place that is in walking distance from the show. And it was goooood. 

One of my dearest friends was in town visiting from California with her little one. They stopped by for a visit and he's a cuttie with the blondest hair I've ever seen.

2 out of 3 looking at the camera with a Roxie photobomb was the best I could do. 

Hubby had to work for his first Father's Day. But before you feel too sorry for him, he's been off work for the past 3 weeks. He was on break, took vacation and on break again. Fireman schedules are pretty nice. So Mr. Mister and I sent him this as his text Father's Day card.

Refrigerator chalkboard is awesome, I got it here.

I also cooked my first spagetti squash Sunday. Pretty easy, just takes time and I'm an impatient cooker. I tossed some chicken and low-sugar tomato sauce on it and it was pretty darn good. 

Hope you all had a great weekend and all the dads had a wonderful Father's Day. 

Letter to your 21 year old self!

It's linkup time and this is a fun one, Letter to your 21 year old self! Ah, to be 21 again and know what I know now!    

Give it a go yourself and you just might win a $10 Starbuck gift card from Jake and Holly. But I hope not, because I could really use it, my bank account is suffering a vacation hangover. 

Dear 21 year old self --

Enjoy your last year of college - it will truly be the best year of your life. But STOP getting super drunk! Trust me, it'll save yourself from making some questionable decisions and having to play 'where is my car' in the mornings. Yes, at least you didn't drive but that's no excuse to get super drunk every single time.

Enjoy your 21 year-old body and quit nitpicking it. In 10 years and post baby, you'd do anything to have your current body back. Well besides eat right and workout like a mad woman, you are still a little lazy.

But did you catch that?!? You'll have a baby in 10 years. You WILL have a baby! Know this during your infertility struggle. It will happen. But do me a favor and go see the acupuncturist a little earlier in the battle, it'll save yourself a lot of emotional and physical pain.

Spend less time with college boyfriend and more time with the girls. He'll break up with you on a road trip Easter weekend anyway, who does that? It's not the end of the world, you are better off without him. And while we're on the boy topic, also stay away from high school crush who keeps resurfacing. Once a cheater, always a cheater - know this!

Be nice to Justin when you see him over summer and winter break back home, he'll reenter your life and be the best thing that has ever happened to you. The two of you will have an amazing life together.

Don't be in a hurry to grow up, that's what your 30s are for. Live life to the fullest and plan lots and lots of trips around the world. Do it now before responsibilities and life bite you in the ass.

Jobby-jobs. Enjoy your first few odd jobs post college. You are not a failure and embrace them for what they are. You'll learn a lot and have fun along the way. Nothing wrong with that. And the economy sucks in 2003, so don't be so hard on yourself. Also prepare yourself for a sucky economy most of your adult life.

Money doesn't always make you happy. Sometimes it's ok to get paid a little less if you truly like what you're doing and who you work with. Coworkers make ALL the difference, not the job title or how many commas are in your paycheck.

While we're on the money topic - Stop spending so much money of clothes and shoes. You don't need those things to make you feel good. Start saving some and open a Roth IRA, you'll thank me later.

Money might not make you happy, but it sure does help with the day-to-day so play the Mega Millions for the March 30, 2012 game with the numbers 46 - 23 - 38 - 4 - 2 - Mega Ball 23.

Love you and please love yourself,
Amber

One of my favorite photos from college. We stayed up all night to pull tickets for a football game and this is the morning as we were leaving. I'm pushing the empty cooler of beer while being pushed on a chair. Genius. 

P.S.
1- Myspace is a fad, Facebook is the way to go, but get your privacy settings straight so coworkers can't see embarrassing photos you're tagged in.
2- Gas gets stupid expensive, buy cars accordingly
3- Don't graduate in 4 years. Take a victory lap and make it 5.
4- STOP it with the tanning bed. Save yourself some skin cancer scares and getting skin CUT off your body. STOP IT NOW!!0

Mexico Recap

We had a great family vacation. It rained the first half of the trip, like tropical storm rain and Mr. Mister cut a tooth for a good 3 nights. So much crying. Poor baby.

But all in all, it was still vacation and way better than sitting at a desk at work all day.

Airport drop-off & ready for Mexico!

Traveling was a breeze compared to when I flew solo with him a few months ago. Having the hubs and grandparents to help was A-mazing and made all the difference. However, hubs HATES the getting there and I love it. I mean you get to eat airport food and get inflight snack and beverages!  I think Mr. Mister is going to take after me.

Hanging out with g-ma & pa. 

Speaking of making all the difference -- holly spray tan!!! I forgot how fan-freaking-tastic they are. Here's a little before and after for you.

Also, got my hair did before we left and I'm sure you can tell, no ombre. My hair girl told me no. She said, "To pull that off, you have to fix your hair everyday." Well played hair girl, you know me well. So I went with a boring natural look, but really do like it. She did a great job.

Now back to va-ca... We got in lots of pool time despite the rain. Even swam in the rain a few days. The resort has ginormous hottubs that really aren't hot, just warm bathwater temp. Mr. Mister had a ball floating around in there.

Best baby float ever, we loved it. Target - $20. 

On day 2 it stopped raining in the evening just long enough to get some sand on our toes and snap a few beach pics. Shortly after this one Mr. Mister took a big 'ol handful of sand to the mouth. He didn't really mind it and went back for more.

I had a few of these guys...

Little beachside photo shoot for turning 10 months while we were there.

The resort had photographers that would take you out for photo session and I highly suggest this is you go somewhere that offers this. They were really good and comparatively speaking, not very expensive. Here are a few of my favs...

Weigh-in Wednesday

Hola! We are on vacation in Mexico and it has been a great time so far. Traveling with a baby is never easy, but it has gone surprisingly well.

We did start the week off with lots and lots of rain, but it made going to the gym easy. I've been staying on my C210k training schedule and sweating it up in the treadmill. 

Runnin off vacation food. 

However, it is vacation and good eating habits went out the window. There is junk food and drinks everywhere. Zero self control. However I kind if feel like I'm over it all. I'd take a nice heathy salad right about now. 

Vacation Food. So bad, but so good. Ugh. 

I did a weigh-in Wednesday at the gym. Best part is the scale is in kilograms so it makes you feel super skinny... 74.3! I had to google the conversion and it is roughly 2.2 so 163.4 lbs.