Ten Things Thursday!

Thanks to the gorgeous Laura Belle we have Ten Things Thursday!!

1. The Rockstar and I work in different school systems. He is already out of school and I have to work for another week. It's totally not fair. I'm sure he will feel the same way when he is working summer school and my big butt is still in the bed or the pool.

2. We had our end of year party in my classroom today. Have I told you that I work with people who love to eat??? We had chicken, ribs, corndogs, hot dogs, mac and cheese, french fries, baked beans, cole slaw, brownies, cookies, and cupcakes. People (teachers and staff) were in and out of room all day eating.

3. I didn't have any of the sweets (big NSV for me!!). I had half a hot dog (no bun), half a cup pf baked beans, and a few bites of cole slaw.

4. One of the other teachers that came in to eat is also banded. She had a corndog, french fries, ribs, baked beans, and mac and cheese. I wasn't stalking her food choices, I just know because she has a broken hand and I helped her fix her plate. I was a little surprised at how much (and what) she could eat. I asked her how long she had been banded. She said she had gastric bypass in 1999 and then had the band in 2004....and she has almost 8cc's in the band!! She said she has appt. to get another fill.

5. It is supposed to be really hot here the next few days. I plan on being in the pool on Sunday!!

6. I won't be in the pool on Saturday because The Boy graduates that day!!!

7. Most of the people I work with are not born and raised in these parts. Numerous times over the last couple of months people have commented on my "southern" accent. I think I talk just fine y'all ;)

8. Just in case I haven't told y'all, my birthday is next Saturday. Yes, cash or gift cards would be just fine ;) Normally I would also accept flowers, but I won't be home to receive them...I will be sitting the beach sipping on a drink with a cute little umbrella in it :)

9. Yesterday I wore a new shirt. My shoulders felt very skinny every time I looked at myself in the mirror. The Rockstar told me he really noticed my collarbones. Yay!

10. This past weekend I tried on yet more swimsuits. I wanted to take 3 or 4 to the beach with me. I posted the first one I picked last week. I have one more picked out. I am running out of time and I think I have been to every store in town that has swimsuits. This second one looks a lot like my first one (black and white)...I need to find one with some color. At least this one does have a little bit of hot pink...

Doctor Schmoctor

Ok, so my doctor said my bp was still too high for him to "approve" an exercise program. Apparently, according to the stress test my bp goes sky high when I exercise (not sure how THEY would know since I didn't exercise...I just laid on a table while they pumped some drugs in me that made my heart race).

I have decided that doctors don't know everything. My pool is open and as soon as I get back from the beach I plan on exercising in the pool every day. If this high blood pressure hasn't killed me in past 10 years I don't think swimming a few laps will either.

T minus 10 days till my toes will be in the water and my ass will be in the sand. Woot Woot!!

In unrelated news, Donna Summer's funeral will be here in Nashville. It's not open to the public so I can't go...I wouldn't have any way. Funerals freak me out.

My band has been tighter than a tick on hound dogs ass this week. I have no idea why, but I hope it loosens up soon.

Hump day tomorrow!!!

TTT!!

Thanks to the gorgeous Laura Belle we have Ten Things Thursday!!


1. I am so upset about Donna Summer passing away. I love, love, love disco music and Donna Summer was my fave. She owned a house here in TN (in Nashville), but I am not sure if she living here at the time of her death. I did subject my coworkers and students to my Donna Summer Greatest Hits CD today. I even told my boss I may need a bereavement day tomorrow.

2. I have been getting my tan on. I have still been doing the tanning bed olympics (see post here). Last night I laid in Mac Daddy bed. That's not the official name, it's just the name I gave it. It costs like $15 a visit (I got the 1 time session for free when I bought some lotion) and I figure if it's that expensive it must be the Mac Daddy of tanning beds. Any ole who...I really liked the Mac Daddy bed...no olympics needed in this bed.




3. I had training today. You know what that means...out to eat at lunch with co workers. Most days I dread this because I don't always know ahead of time where we are going and what I will choose. We usually don't do fast food, but today we went to Wendy's. Did you know that they now have baked sweet potatoes??? They do. That's what I got and it was really good. I just ate it plain...no cinnamon butter....260 calories.


4. I have tried on a dozen swimsuits in the past week. I haven't felt great about any of them, but I'm not gonna let that rain on my beach parade. I am still gonna have a great time...fat and all. I plan on taking 3 or 4 swimsuits. I have never posted a full body pic...so this is big for me. Here is the only one I have picked so far...

5. Ok, so it wasn't full body...but it was all the parts I am still uncomfortable about.

6. I have cut back off the crack juice (Mt. Dew) lately. Unfortunately, I have new drug of choice...

It tastes like candy. I only have a few sips a day...but we all know, that's how the addiction starts.

7. I need to buy new drawers. I spend half of my day pulling mine up cause they are too big.

8. My pool is open is and ready to go. Now I just need the water to warm up a bit.

9. I have been thinking about getting just a smidge of botox in my forehead...but I'm scared.

10. Guess what tonight is????? Grey's Anatomy season finale!!!!! Woot, woot!

Is it summer yet???

I love my new job, but I so ready for summer. I am ready to throw my alarm clock in the closet (I really do put it in the closet for summer), go to the beach, sleep in every day, lay in the pool, be browner than a biscuit, wear flip flops every day (oh yeah, I already do this one), read a book for leisure, have pool parties, sip lemonade, and not have a care in the world...yep, I am soooo ready for summer.

In unrelated news, I had a great weekend. The Boy went to prom. I was accused of being a stalker mom. I took pictures here at the house, then followed him to his girlfriend's house to take pictures, then followed them to the school to take pictures. By the time we got to the school they were totally ignoring me, walking ahead of me...hoping I would somehow disappear. I didn't care...I just kept right on taking pictures...lol.

Mother's Day was a wet, dreary day here. I got a gift card to Kohl's, flowers, and a couple of movies. The Big Boy made me this for my trip to the beach...

You can't see everything that is in it, but it is a cooler with all kinds of beach stuff in it...a beach towel, sunscreen, chapstick, a hat, a water bottle, sunglasses, some chocolate. Yeah, I know chocolate doesn't exactly go with everything else...but he knows how his mama loves some chocolate.

I have been trying on swimsuits this week. Let me just tell ya...nothing can blow your weight loss high like trying on a swimsuit. Ugh.



BYOC!!

BYOC - Bring Your Own Crazy! ...Compliments of the fab Draz

It’s Friday fun day! That means it’s time for BYOC – Bring Your Own Crazy! We answer a few questions to get to know each other better and to give our blogging brains a break. Copy to your own blog if you so desire and have fun!


1. Are you a “wake up on the first beep of the alarm clock” or a “hit the snooze button 50 times before you get up” kind of person? Is your alarm clock set to the right time?

• I don't even know where the snooze button is on my clock...because 5 more minutes is just not enough for me. I set my alarm for 1 hour earlier than I have to get up and when it goes off I reset it for an hour later. If I woke up and knew I only had 5 more minutes to sleep I would be pissed off all day.

2. Do you decorate for any holidays other than Christmas?

• I don't even decorate for Christmas...I am a big ole scrooge about decorating for the holidays. I don't like change, so when things start getting moved around to put up the tree I flip out a bit. I think it's from years of working with children with autism and their need for consistency...it just kinda rubbed off on over the years to flip out over change. Yes, I have been known to hand flap and rock back and forth over it. The Rockstar tells me to get over it and decorates any way.

3. Would you consider yourself a spontaneous fly by the seat of your pants kind of person or a massive OCD controlling planner kind of person or someone in between?

•I am totally not a list maker of any kind. I don't even make a grocery list. I am the world's biggest procrastinator. I think about making lists and plans, but then I always say I will just do it later. I do, however, tend to gravitate towards OCD, little miss planners, making lists about the lists they gotta make kinda people. I like for things to be planned out...I just don't wanna be the one doing the planning.

4. Tell me some of your MUST have hair products that you use consistently….you know - share your “hair routine”.

• I am a former hairdresser and have kept my license active for the last 15 years just so I could get discounts on professional hair products. I use an array of different products. I have naturally curly hair, so on days I wear my hair curly I just have to wash it, slap some gel in it, blow dry for a minute or two and be on my way. I usually only straighten my hair in the winter. I like my hair straight, but in the summer I am in the sun and pool so often that I don't want damage my hair more by applying so much heat to it.

 

My hair grows super fast. I get my hair done (foiled) about every 6 weeks. I color the new growth myself every 2 weeks.

5. Repeat question: How was your week and what are your upcoming weekend plans?

• My week was pretty good except for having a tire blow out on my way to work the other day. I have a busy weekend planned. My sister is coming into town, The Boy is going to prom, The Rockstar has to play at a benefit and of course, it will be Mother's Day. And of course I have to do the usual grocery shopping and house cleaning some time in between all that.

Hope all of you have a great Mother's Day!!

Ten Things Thursday!!

Thanks to the gorgeous Laura Belle we have Ten Things Thursday!!

1. It is almost the weekend!! I have a busy weekend ahead. My sister will be in town tomorrow night (yay!). The Boy is going to prom Saturday night. After we take pictures we have to make a mad dash to a benefit event where The Rockstar's band is playing. And of course Sunday is Mother's Day, so I will be spending part of that day with my BFF...my mom.

2. The Boy's prom is actually held at a fancy schmancy hotel 45 minutes away. The school charters fancy busses to take them there. If you are going to prom you HAVE to ride the busses. Since everyone rides the busses it's not a big deal. I won't worry nearly as much as I did when The Big Boy went to prom and he was driving.

3. Have I told you that I have small flip flop obsession??? I usually buy about 10 pair a year. I bought two more pair this past weekend which already brings me to 6 pair...and it's not even summer yet. Here is one of the pair I got...

4. My morning started off rough yesterday. My tire blew out on my way to work. My tires were less than a year old...lots of tread. It blew out on the side. Thank goodness I was pulling off the interstate when it happened. The Rockstar came to my rescue...I have no idea how to change a tire.

5. Only 3 weeks left till summer break!!!!

6. I am leaving for the beach on my first day of summer break. As of right now, I don't know if I have even one pair of shorts that fit me or even a swimsuit. I probably have 10-15 swimsuits, but I have no idea if any of them fit me.

7. Tea makes me pee. Random, I know...but that's what TTT is all about...no???

8. I don't eat biscuits any more. I am southern girl...I miss my biscuits and cornbread. My school serves biscuits quite often for breakfast...some days it is really hard to resist.

9. I still haven't bought my mother a thing for Mother's Day...someone PLEASE give me some ideas

10. WTF....did you watch Grey's??? I totally did not see that ending coming.

Have you thanked a teacher this week??

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week...did you know that?? For the last 14 years I never knew when it was T.A.W. because no one seemed to appreciate the teachers in the inner city schools.  We didn't have a PTO to plan anything. Our principal didn't even really acknowledge any kind of appreciation for the teachers. So, you can imagine my surprise when I received a big ole cake from a parent yesterday. I also got this...

and this...

and this...



and this...

I didn't eat the cake or the candy bars, but just the thought of receiving any kind of a "thank you" from a parent has warmed my heart!! The PTO also provided us with a fabulous luncheon today. The spread was amazing....fried chicken, barbecue pork, meatballs, several kinds of pasta salad, several kinds of fruit salad,  veggies and dips, cheese and meat trays....and a HUGE cake and punch. Those military moms totally rock!

 Have I told you lately that I love my job???

6 Month Bandiversary!

Six months ago today I was banded. Can you believe it??? I feel like time has flown by. As of today I have lost 52 pounds. Although this past month has only been a very small loss (4 pounds), overall I am very pleased. It averages out to 2 pounds lost per week. My doctor has STILL not cleared me for exercise and I am beginning to wonder if he ever will. He also recently put me back on some of blood pressure meds he had tried to take me off of...my body had "rebound" hypertension when he did this and it ended up getting very high again (158/118).

Taking all the meds still sucks, but I don't regret getting the band one bit. I feel so much better now than I did 6 months ago. I would do it all over again.

I know I probably would have lost more if I had been able to exercise. Considering that I haven't, I am pretty darn proud of those lost (hopefully never to be found) 52 pounds.

So here are some of the "rules" I go by:

• I (almost) never eat bread, rice, or pasta. I say "almost" because I have had some chicken with breading...but I never eat rolls, biscuits, sandwiches, etc.

• I NEVER drink while eating. This one is a "have to" because I will throw up if I drink within 20-30 minutes of eating.

• I log what I eat EVERY day in MFP. I wish I was one of those people who could just keep up with it in my head, but I'm not. I had never tracked calories before the band. It has been very eye opening for me.

• I don't weigh myself every day. Usually only once a week, and I have even gone longer. I know some people need to weigh every day to hold themselves accountable or whatever, but it drove me bat shit crazy in the beginning when I was weighing every day. I am not the kinda person who loses a few ounces every day or an even 2 pounds a week. I may go 2 weeks and not lose an ounce and then get on the scale and boom...4 pounds gone.

• I pretty much stick to 800-1000 calories a day. I know that may sound low to some, but remember...I am not exercising.

• I drink water every day. For the first few months I was getting in 100 oz. a day. That just isn't possible with my new job. Now its more like 60-70 oz a day.

• I don't beat myself up if the scale hasn't moved. I know that I feel better than I have in 3 years and that is what is most important to me.

And there ya have it....they may not be the perfect rules, but they are working for me :)

In case you were wondering what this Barbie looked like...here is a picture from The Rockstar's graduation day.


**Edited Post...deleted photo...ya snooze, ya lose :)

Ten Things Thursday!

1. I am noticing a trend here...my blogging is getting less and less and is becoming filled with Ten Things Thursday. I have just been really busy with work. Once summer gets here y'all will probably get tired of posts...I will have plenty of time for blogging and tanning :)

2. The Rockstar is graduating tomorrow....finally. It has taking him years to get this degree. Years ago he decided to stop working on his degree because he became a business owner. The economy forced him to close that business and he went back to school. Of course we had to eat in the process, so he also had to work...which meant he could only go to school part time. It feels like it took forever, but his big day is finally here!!

3. Only 4 weeks left of school!!! I am leaving for the beach on my first day of summer break...it also happens to be my birthday!!

4. The Boy graduates in 3 weeks. He tells me not too get to excited...he never plans on leaving home :)

5. The babies went to the beauty shop today. Kayleigh and I have matching toes now :)

6. I have been tanning all week. I don't care what anyone else says...fat looks better brown.

7. I wore a new pair of capri's today. My assistant said "I know you have lost a lot weight lately, but do you really think it's necessary to advertise what size you are in now??" and then she threw her head and laughed. Apparently, I had forgotten to remove the sticker that went all the way down the butt of the pants that had the size on it.

8. Next weekend is Mother's Day and I have no idea what to get my mother. She is the hardest person ever to buy for. If you have any great ideas, let me know.

9. My doctor made me go back on 2 blood pressure meds that he had taken me off of a few months ago. I am currently taking 6 different meds for blood pressure. I was hoping to be down to just 2 or 3, but my bp is still really high (158/118) .

10. Grey's is new tonight (yipee!!!) but since my in laws are in town I will have to set the DVR (booo!)