10 Words I Hate

I guess the title pretty much explains it, right?
So here go, with a list of words that make me cringe.


1. Preggo
It's called being pregnant, not a spaghetti sauce.

2. Preggers
Ugh. I hate it, especially when women use it.

3. Chillax
Sounds stupid. I hate linquistic blends.

4. Webinar
Something about this word annoys me. It's an online seminar right? Why make it sound cool and edgy.

5. Hubby
Never been a fan of the word.

6. Balogna
WHY?!? We say "Bah-lone-ee" not "Bah-log-nah". Sometimes I like to say the latter while grocery shopping to confuse people. They probably just think I'm insane.

7. Fashionista
8. Frugalista  
Anything ending in -ista really.

9. Hoss 
Is it a Southern thing to call everyone "Hoss" or "Boss"?

10. Buddy
When painfully used at the end of every phrase.

http://www.wordle.net/

Cloud of random words from www.Hippie-Mommy.com

USA vs Canada : Tension in Our Household

Allow me to vent.

I am a Proud Canadian. My husband is a Proud American, and Southern to boot.
That makes The Olympics an extra fun time. *eyeroll*
Yes, I live in North Carolina, but Canada is MY home land. I grew up there and miss it dearly.
I cheer for them, but I also cheer on some Americans.
I love Apollo Ohno, Bode Miller, Shaun White.

Last night, then Ohno was disqualified, you could cut the tension with a knife. It was a really good thing that Brandon was at our neighbours house. Especially when Canada beat Slovakia.
Now that Team USA is Playing Team Canada for the Gold in Hockey tomorrow . . . eep.


I don't think that Ohno deserved to be disqualified.
I also don't think that a Canadian should have reviewed it.  With that being said, I don't think you should have an official from the country that is competing officiating in that event.

Stay tuned to see if we will be filing for a divorce on Monday.


Just kidding, but I bet there will be some good arguments on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.

A Year's Worth of Change

I was feeling a bit down and out since I have hit a bit of a plateau.
I made it to the gym four days last week, and got in 30 minutes of cardio each day.
I am a bit embarrassed to go this week. It's that time of the month, and it's been heavier than normal. It was also almost two weeks late.
Looking back, I always gain some weight and stall around this time, so I'm just going to have to buckle down and get through this ... again.

I came across this picture from a year ago, and thought I would put it side by side with a picture from this year, as a pat on the back type of thing. I have this problem where, even after I lose 70 lbs, I still feel like I am sitting at 265 lbs.

Feb 2009 - Feb 2010

Ash Wednesday and Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.
Otherwise known as the forty some odd days prior to Easter.

I grew up with a Catholic and Protestant parent. Not sure, but I think we might have followed more Anglican Traditions. We weren't really made to hold to one belief or the other. I remember being a kid and going to the church and having the priest make the cross with the ashes on my forehead. Never really knew why at the time. The one thing I always remember about Lent was having to give something up. Basically you give things up to simplify your life and repent.

With that being said, I am once again faced with what to give up this year.
When I was a kid, it was things like candy and chips.
I've seen some people say that they're foregoing Facebook until Easter. That seemed like a good idea, until I realized that I use it to keep in contact with my family from Canada and we're in the midst of planning a vacation to Myrtle Beach. Between that and Farmville, not sure I could give that up.
After thinking about it all day, since I didn't realize until yesterday that it was Mardi Gras, I think I have come up with something.

For Lent this year, I plan to give up buying new items. Well, other than food and drinks.
IF there happens to be something we need, hopefully we will be able to find it used or borrow it from someone. I would really like to buy nothing other than food, drink or gas for the vehicles, but I don't think I can hold to that. Baby steps here!

I am sure, my debit card will thank me.

Do you observe Lent?
If so, what did you give up?

I finally did it!

Way back in December, I mentioned that I was planning on getting a gym membership.
I finally did! Yay for me!
I've also managed to go two days so far this week.
I've not really got much into the weights, since it's packed when I get there.
I am dorky, and hate to look like a moron.

So I've been using the Elliptical Trainers. I remember 5 years ago when I couldn't even use one for being so out of shape. I (surprise, surprise) feel dorky using the treadmill. Something about me being all flabby and red faced while trying to stay stable makes me feel weird.
Which brings up this thought "Why am I the only one sweating like a whore in church?"
There are some other bigger women using the same machines, and on there the same length of time but I am the only lucky one sweating bacon grease.

I keep hoping that it will get better as I lose weight.

I remember the day when 15 minutes on the treadmill killed me. Or even just walking into the gym winded me.

I think I am going to switch focus to fitness goals instead of just weight loss goals.
Yesterday, in 30 minutes, I did 2.5 miles. Today in the same 30 minutes I did 2.87 miles, and that was after working for 3 hours.

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what my goals are going to or even resemble. I've always just been focused on losing weight. I know I would like to get rid of some body fat, and probably tone up a bit.

No Use Crying Over Metal Cabinets.

My father in law clears "junk" out for people.
Several months ago, when we did some work for a particular lady, he had to have my husband help him. My husband called me, thrilled, to tell me that they were picking up a "metal kitchen". It had the sink, cabinets and stove. I was so excited!!

But then they arrived ... and I wanted to cry.

 

 

I've been trying to find more information on these.
They're made by American Central Manufacturing, in Connersville Indiana.
The same company made tanks and airplane parts in WWII. The company started in the late 1920's.
As you can see by the picture, you can't really made out the Serial or Model Number. I assume those are intricate parts of determining the date. I know it's weird wanting to know the date on something that we don't have. I just want to know for the sake of knowing.

Let's Make My Kitchen Pretty, and Vintage!

I was trying out my new 50mm lens, and I wanted to take some pictures of the colours I am considering for my kitchen.
I love brown and burnt orange. I'm not 100% sure when my kitchen was built. I had thought of just refinishing the cabinets, but think that will all the wood, especially those doors, I think the orange would be better on the walls.

Here is an older picture of why my kitchen looks like.




Click to see them bigger


Things have changed a bit. We don't have that weird cable going across the wall above the dishwasher, and the appliances have moved.

This is our new table, and I forgot and left the dishwasher by the table.

We also have a huge white pantry/cabinet where the water cooler and bookshelf were.
And WHY someone would put green carpet in the kitchen is beyond me.

One thing we have to consider is the backslash.
It's a bit orange in this picture, it's more of a darker red colour.

This is going to be our new light.

The plan is to paint the kitchen some shade of orange, and replace the hardware on the cabinets.
I'm also thinking of making some curtains in the same colour as I paint the walls.

Any ideas?
Which orange would you pick?
Do you have any idea when my kitchen cabinets were built judging on their looks?

Endomondo

I came across this neat little program for my HTC Touch Pro2 called Endomondo.
It uses the GPS on the phone to track your distance, speed and time, which then gets stored on their website. You can track many different activities. I like that I can track walking since I've yet to start running.
I'm a techno geek, and I love maps. I've been testing it out on random walks to our neigbors, or to see how far we park from the store.

The program is free, and easy to use.  If you use a Garmin Watch you can also upload your information to their website.
I was looking at buying the Nike+ Sport band and buying the attachment to avoid buying the Nike+ shoes. From my understanding, this works the same.

Friday Fluff : Operation Fluffy

When I ask people about cloth diapers, I usually get one of two responses.
-There's something other than huggies/pampers/insert brand here?
-Eww. But they poop in them!

Kim over at Dirty Diaper Laundry has launched "Operation Fluffy" -- a campaign to get cloth diapers featured on Ellen.

Cloth diapers are not only cute, they are good for the environment and for your baby's health. They can also save you money. Some people get sticker shock when they see the price compared to a pack of disposables, but they don't realize that once you use your disposable it's out of your sight forever (notice I didn't say gone forever?) Where as with cloth, you wash and reuse. You can use them on another child, or even sell them.

So you want to help?
Great!


You can write a blog about why Ellen should feature Cloth Diapers
Tweet about it, e.g.:  @TheEllenShow  Why I want to see #clothdiapers on your show *insert your url here* #operationfluffy
Write to Ellen using the submission form on her site.  Make sure they mention #operationfluffy.
Join up with others at the “I Want Cloth Diapers on The Ellen Show” group on Facebook.

If you tweet about #operationfluffy and mention Rumparooz you can win a Rumpaooz One Size Diaper.
From their newsletter:
This is all you have to do:

Join us on Twitter and tweet about cloth diapers and how cool it would be to see them on Ellen.
Use the tags @TheEllenShow, #operationfluffy,#rumparooz and#clothdiapers in your tweets.
(For example: “@TheEllenShow Why I want to see #clothdiapers on your show _______ #operationfluffy”)
15 tweeters that mention Rumparooz in their tweets will in a Rumparooz One Size Diaper

If Ellen features cloth diapers on her show and Rumparooz are on, EVERYONE who Tweeted will receive a diaper!

Body After Baby: Week 5

Here we are at week 5.
I've got down to 197 lbs. That means a lot to me. This time last year I was 264 lbs. That's 67 lbs with minimal exercise... and that's bad. Now I am stuck with a "blob" for a lower abdomen. I need to make it to the gym. Sigh. I've slacked on Wii Fit Plus again. BUT tomorrow is a new day right?
One thing that I am stoked about... I can eat semi normal and still lose weight, even when I forget to track my calories. I'm not going to make a habit of it, but I know I won't panic about it now. It's all about making a life style change!

I started counting my husband's calories for him. I'm not as OCD about his as I was mine. He weighed in 3 lbs less since I started counting the 1st.

I did take some some new pics to add to the "progress collage".
I think I will share them for accountability on my part.
I've been sick for the last week or so. I know I look sooo thrilled in the last set. All pictures were taken the last week of the month (to the best of my knowledge.)

Sept/Oct/Nov/Dec/Jan ~43 lbs

Wordless Wednesday!

My new phone case