My newest guilty pleasure

I've signed up to be part of Shrinking Jeans's newest challenge, Shrink Yo'Self in 2012.  (Click the button here on the left to find out more about it!)  There's an assignment that comes with the challenge, and as I'm learning to become a dutiful student - thank you massively expensive college tuition - I shall accomplish aforementioned assignment.

The challenge lasts approximately eight weeks, until the 29th of February.  In those eight weeks, I know that it's unrealistic of me to want to lose all 30-odd pounds that I'd like to drop, but I would like to exercise enough that I am in relatively decent shape.  And by decent shape, I mean, I can exercise for a period of 30 minutes without feeling like dying.  I want to be able to at least jog half a mile without feeling like my lungs are inching up my throat and on fire.  I think, in eight weeks, I can acclimate my body to that.  I hope.

As far as the entirety of 2012, I'd like to have lost those 30 lbs by the end of the year.  I think that's realistic.  Being that today is the first, and we're looking at 366 days this year, that's less than one pound every ten days.  I think it can be done, if I stick to it.  I want to get to the gym at least once a week.  Part of my tax return, I plan to take $100 and invest in some training sessions with one of the trainers there.  (4 sessions for $100 and get the 5th free.)  I think by doing so, they can point me into a true direction, instead of the somewhat aimless efforts I've been making.  I want to get out of the house more with my kids, get to the park at least once if not twice a week, and not just sit on a bench while they run around.  I want to get out on my bike more often and try and get a good distance going on that.

I'd like to change my lifestyle to one where I'm not relying on comfort snacking to get me through a night of homework, or some boredom food to fill my hands while I watch one of my tv shows.  I want to have water to be the first thing I automatically reach for when I think of being thirsty.  If it takes 30 days to make a habit, I think, in 366 days, I can become good and set on drinking more water!

I have my friend Tammy to help me, and hold me accountable.  She'll be going to the gym with me at least twice a month - though hopefully more! - so we can work out together and hold each other to our goals!

I have discovered a very awesome and quick snack.  While unfortunately, it is not low in calories - the exact number of calories it has, I'm not sure, but I know that the orange juice alone in it has at least 300 calories - it is very quick, makes for a good breakfast or dinner/evening meal (or whatever), and is seriously delicious. I found it through another blogger - though I can't recall exactly who it was.  It's a homemade Orange Juilius.  To die for.  Truly amazing.  If you have one of those hand-blender type mixers - the one they have those infomercials for - one large cup is perfect to make these.

Homemade Orange Juilius
1/2 cup milk (whether you use 2%, 1%, skim, soy/etc... it's up to you.)
1/2 cup water
2 Tb sugar (I use sugar substitute to at least cut down somewhat)
1 tsp vanilla extract
4-5 ice cubes
6 oz orange juice concentrate

Stick it all in a blender and blend for about 5 minutes or until frothy.  Makes 2 servings.  (Though I always end up drinking the whole thing myself.  Maybe that's something else I should work on.  Break it up into two servings and give one to my son before he goes to school.)

Adding some romance to the wardrobe

(This post sponsored by EdenFantasys.)


I had a confessional the other day... I'll have another one now.  I have a somewhat sizable collection of lingerie and corsets.  Some of them fancier than others, but all of them amazing.  (And my husband loves every one of them!)

I've tried to haul a few of my friends into various stores to find corsets of their own, but not everybody is comfortable going into sex shops in person!  Yes, Victoria's Secret sells corsets, but my WORD, have you seen their prices?  Even if it's cute, I don't want to have to take out a loan just for something a little sexy!

Enter: EdenFantasys.  Say you want something a little naughty for a romantic night but don't have time to leave the home/office, or you have nobody to stay with the kids while you run out?  Hop online and check out the sizable selection that EdenFantasys has to offer.

Perhaps something of a mesh and lace style is up your alley, this bustier by Coquette is both sexy and classy!  And it's easy on your wallet!  Ideal!

Maybe you're more interested in something skimpier and daring!  Something more revealing for your romantic evening, try this alluring pairing also by Coquette.

Of course, it's entirely possible that you're thinking something more subtle and innocent.  A beautifully colored gartered chemise is the perfect mix between saucy and sweet for a rose-petaled evening.

Personally, I'm rather partial to a happy medium, something both sweet and daring, with this beautiful babydoll that is the perfect mix of revealing and flirty. I think Mr Mojo would love to come home from work to see me cleaning kitchen in that fantastic little outfit!

What if corsets, bustiers, bra and panty sets, or babydolls aren't you thing?  Maybe you should invest in a set of pasties and a skimpy thong!  You can find those through EdenFantasys as well!

Whether you're looking for something romantic in the bedroom to wear, something to spice up your foreplay, or even some fun toys for something truly different, check out EdenFantasys's selection!!

Wednesday Weightloss Checkin

I'm seeing the inkling of success!!  I had gained back up to 180-ish lbs during the school semester.  (Yikes, I know!)  When I weighed myself this morning, however, I've gotten back down to 174.6 lbs!!  I don't want to get prematurely excited about that improvement and get lazy, but it's nice to see me going in the right direction!

I got to the gym this morning for a little bit.  Though now, I'm questioning my previous basic strategy while I'm there after reading some in the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans Bootcamp.  So I'm going to try some spurt-style exercise in the future.  We'll see how that works.  (Let's hope!)

The Sisterhood has a new challenge starting up on the first that I'm excited to be involved in.  This will be my first challenge that I'll join in at the start.  Also, there's another challenge I'm wanting to participate in as well.  Part of me worries that I could be getting in over my head, with different challenges and a 17 credit semester at school and kids and and and.... but we'll see how it goes!

Post Christmas Confessional

I can't be the only one who maybe overdid it a bit this Christmas.  I don't mean gift-wise... or going out... or anything like that.  No, honey, that fudge was calling my name.  And that caramel too.  Then there was those chocolates that Mr. Mojo so thoughtfully bought for me...

On the plus side, I did cut way back on the amount I've been eating every day.  Much less random grazing, small portions at meal times.  And I've been drinking more water.

I've been a bit lazy in my exercises lately too.  I can feel Bob's disappointment in me.  I must remember to break out my Biggest Loser Kinect game here soon.  I will be making a trip down to the gym tomorrow with a friend - assuming she doesn't bail on me - so that'll be good!  I'll get some good trips around the circuit that way.

For Christmas, this mama got a jump rope and a pair of 3 lb weights, so that will give me a bit more here I can do at home besides my resistance band and exercise bike as well.

My dear friends and fellow bloggies, I am tired of being FAT!  I'll be checking in on Wednesdays again with updates on how I'm doing exercise-wise and weigh ins.  If you want more information and details, check out my Weightloss Wednesdays tab above!

(image source)

Baby it's cold outside...

It's a gorgeous, clear-skied day here!  Simply stunning.  The sun is shining bright.  However, with cloudless sunny days here in our hometown, particularly in mid-late December, also comes cold.  I went to the gym this morning with my friend, and when I came home around 10:30, it was still only about 19* F outside.  Quite chilly.

But again... simply stunning.  I got this picture of one of the branches of a tree in front of my house.  The entire tree looks like this.  Amazing.  While I'm not a huge fan of the cold, I do love the effect it has on the trees like this.  (This picture is totally unedited.)

Where you been??

Anybody still here?

*crickets*

Truly, I am one of the worst bloggers ever.  Disappearing since mid/early September!  Focusing on schoolwork, though, kept me busy!

I'm so sorry for neglecting you my bloggy loves!!  I know there is no real excuse for my slacking!

For now, all I can really do is just get back into my blogging to try and make it up to you!!

(I love you! I do!)

Starting off... I would love to show off a lovely table setting that I got my hands on!  We have a group on Facebook, a shop and swap for local people here to sell and trade their things, and one of the lovely ladies that I actually know from church posted an adorable placemat/napkin/napkin ring set for four places, only $10!  I had to have it!

Forgive our haphazard set of chairs for our table.  Turns out, even real wood furniture from Walmart is just as reliable as everything else.  Five of our six chairs are broken.  I do plan to try and fix most of the others (one or two are beyond fixing), but for now, we just mix and match other chairs from around the house.

Each set comes with a placemat and matching napkin and napkin ring.  Truly, I adore these!  Too cute!  I'm only bummed that I didn't get them sooner so that I could enjoy them longer before I take down all of my Christmas decor!!

On another topic, classes start back up for me January 9th, and I'll be taking 17 credits this time instead of the 12 I was taking before.  There will be considerably more homework for me, but I hope to still be able to get over here as often as I can to be a better blogger!

And also, I'm going to get my weightloss thing started up again.  Each Wednesday, I'm going to post an update - and I'd like to do a vlog from time-to-time as well, if I can - while I try to lose about 30-35 lbs.  All that weight I'd lost before?  Yeah... umm... I lost it... but it found me again.  And then a few pounds.  Whoops.  Here's to better luck next time around?  I hope y'all will stick around for it with me!

Kindergarten Starts

Turbo started kindergarten this last week. It's been a bumpy ride.

We started out, the week before, with a surprisingly successful IEP meeting - I find myself truly enjoying the interaction of the principal, she actually cares! - and setting things up for him to start out at school.

The bus garage arrnaged to pick him up in their special needs bus at 8:20 - nevermind that school starts at 8:25, and it's a 20 minute ride to the school - which they did the first day of school.

Upon picking Turbo up at 11:15, I was informed by his aide - and she's a whole other story, *grr* - that the bus driver was the same that he had from last year, and she'd taken him to the wrong school. I assumed that it was the school he attended last year, which is only about a mile away, and I wasn't really concerned about that, it's just a quick ride back.

That evening, I got a call from the bus garage to change the pick up time, and inform me that yes, he had been taken to the wrong school, but it was not the one I had thought, but one across town, ten miles away. Taken, and dropped off. The school took about an hour to determine that Turbo was not registered there, then called the bus garage and had them come and get him, and take him to the correct school.

In the end, it turns out that we actually live in the zone for the school he was taken to, and not the school he's been registered at. I was told by the school district that he was to attend one, and not the other. Fortunately, they are letting us keep him at the school I registered him, since we have everything set up there.

I'm not sure if I'm frustrated at further evidence of disorganization within the school district, or relieved that at least someone is aware of my frustration and is doing something to help that actually is helpful, unlike the concerns we've had in the past.

How's your school year going so far with your kids?