School's out for summer!

Wow, it is so dead around here without the students so I decided to write a second blog for the day. Jennie, thank you so much for the advice. I appreciate any and all advice, especially from someone as healthy as you. Maybe you should start a blog about what to and not to eat!!

I have recently cut out all trans-fats from my diet (or at least the foods that I can read the labels on and know it is in there). My co-worker constantly brings in Oreo's to the office. I mean . . . we are never out of them or vanilla cookies. They were very tempting for a while but since I don't eat trans-fats anymore it hasn't been so hard to stay away from them . . now I know there is something "bad" in them! You would think with the amount of cookies I ate before in a typical day (on average, probably four) that I would be losing a little bit of weight from that. I guess I haven't weighed in a month, so we'll see. I now that I need to eat more fish and I have never really liked fish but I do enjoy a piece of Salmon every now and then. I found two new recipes for Salmon so I can't wait to try those. I need to do better on the amount of sugar that I eat. I don't think that I eat as much as the "typical American" but then the typical American's diet is terrible so I shouldn't base it off that.

Well, I will keep plugging along. Keep the suggestions coming . . . and recipes of healthy foods, if you have any. That would be great!! :)

Encouragement

Well, my puppy has spent the last two nights at the vet's office getting neutered. The actual procedure only lasted about 2 minutes but he was being observed the rest of the time. I missed him but I also enjoyed the rest. I picked him up this morning. He doesn't act any differently, if anything he is more hyper! We are gearing up for puppy kindergarten this next Monday. He will have more excitement on Sunday when he gets to stay with our friend Karin while we are at a graduation. We are also slowly preparing him (gathering needed items) for his journey to Ohio. We think he will do well. We'll see.

My weightloss situation has gotten better lately. . . not because of anything I am doing but simply because of all the wonderful encouragement I have gotten. So, thank you to everyone who has offered encouragement to me. That is a great motivator! I had two scrambled eggs for breakfast and a grapefruit. I think that is a fairly healthy breakfast but I'm not totally sure, can someone please tell me?

Argh! Why can I just eat?

I am getting a bit frustrated at myself for not doing better at eating good things. We are actually out of fruit right now, but Andrew is taking a trip to Hutch tonight so we will get more. I just wish that I could simply eat what I want and be thin. Hmm, doesn't work, huh?! I guess I just need to focus on one day at a time. I am taking some herbal weightloss supplements and I haven't really noticed a difference. I'm not sure that I am taking them correctly but the instructions simply said, take twice a day and drink more water with them. I may look into that further. Well, I guess I just need to concentrate on things one bite at a time! :) I also really need to increase my workout amount. I generally do pretty well but things have been very busy lately with two new voice students and such that I have slacked a bit. Ok, I will keep my nose to the chocolate cake, just kidding, to the . . . carrots!

Ahh, Grains and Cookies!

Well, the grain fast was a little more challenging than what I thought it would be. I didn't have a difficult time at supper. We had a small party at our house for the Communications/Marketing office at Sterling and we had Kabobs. So, therefore, lots of great meat and veggies. The only thing I couldn't have was the garlic bread sticks even though Andrew attempted to tempt me with them a few times. Quite yummy. I am looking forward to the left overs.

Today my world will consist of making cookies. My former boss is retiring from Sterling College and there is a reception for her tomorrow. I volunteered to make cookies for it. No specific amount was given, however, the lady putting it on was so worried that there would be enough. I found three yummy recipes and doubled them. In total, I mixed up about 20 dozen cookies last night and I am baking them today. It's ok . . . really, I am in the mood to bake cookies and I am glad that they won't be at our house for very long, so I won't eat them.

My voice student is also singing in a program tonight so I am going to go and watch her perform. She will do a great job, I'm sure.

What, no grains?!

Well, today my mom and I are going on a no grain fast. So far it has been pretty good. I sent my husband to the store last night with a detailed list of groceries and one important thing on there was eggs so that I could get through the day. Unfortunately, he forgot them. It's ok, dear. I'm not perfect either. So we had to improvise for breakfast this morning. I had bacon, fruit, and a little corned beef hash. No there isn't corn in it, I believe. I read the label. Just beef and potatoes. I hope that is right and that I haven't ruined the fast already!! I will have my daily snack of grapes in about an hour (I have it almost everyday). I'm not sure yet what I will have for lunch but we have lots of veggies so I will probably come up with something. Really, this isn't going to be that hard, I don't think.

Hierarchy

Sorry, in advance, that this blog may be a bit full of ranting. I can't stand people who think they run an institution when they don't! Actually, truth be told I can stand them but I don't want to. I get calls from a certain person, who will remain nameless, at work who constantly is condesending and blames me and my office for things on this campus that are completely beyond our control. I am simply a lowly office manager, I can not set which holiday's we get off and which we don't. Argh! This person isn't even an administrator yet constantly goes over people's heads to do some shady business. We are losing students. I absolutely love my alma mater and so when someone messes with us then I just get a bit testy! Anyway, I am ready to go home.

I start two new voice students tonight so that brings my grand total up to three. I think my limit will be five students but I am satisfied with three. These girls were referred to me by the high school music teacher here so that is a good feeling! I am a bit nervous on the first lesson.

I went shopping this past weekend with Andrew. The first time for new clothes for us since September. We have been trying to really watch what we spend. I really didn't get that much but what I got goes well with everything. The plan is the lose weight so I can fit into those old clothes I saved and then it will be like I have a whole new wardrobe!

Unexpected gratefulness!

Yesterday was my 23rd birthday. I always arrive at my birthday with big expectations. My expectations always lie in the area of people contacting me in some way. I really don't desire gifts or money, I just want people to call, email, or send cards to me. It is always a pleasant surprise to get that card from someone who you just thought you wouldn't get one from. Now, I know some of you may be feeling badly for not getting me a card ON my birthday. Believe me, I don't care. I actually like my cards spaced out all week. It makes the birthday last longer. I was disappointed not to have anyone call on my birthday but I found out later that several people had tried to call and had been unable to get through. Boy did I need an attitude change. . .

I had so much to be grateful for and here I was feeling sorry for myself. I had just had a fantastic party at my parents house. It was great, we ate, talked, and opened gifts. I got some wonderful gifts (just what I wanted). I got to spend time with my family, the people that I love dearly. I missed seeing other family members but distance can't be helped. My dear husband had surprised me with beautiful flowers at work, took me out for breakfast, made me lunch, and is doing his best to stretch my birthday out all week. I got to instant message my sister twice during the day (yeah for technology) and my brother came to say happy birthday (surprised he remembered). So, I am so thankful for people who love me and who put up with my ungrateful attitude! :)

Dr. Jenny, Can I get back in the pool?

I love my dear sister. I must write a short blog on my sister's greatest talent (well, probably not her greatest but it sounds good) of being able to study with the greatest minds and tan with the greatest lifeguards. On a hot summer day in July 2004 at the St. John city pool, you wouldn't know that beneath that whistle, swimming suit, and dark tan there was a person who had just earned her Master's degree in Psychology. And now, if you decide to take a dip in the YMCA in Wheaton, Illinois, you would never know that the person that may save you from drowning may also be your psychologist some day. Here is to my sister . . . who can mingle with everyone . . . from the beach babes to the brainiacs.