Everything is Blooming!

The roses have finally bloomed on my rose bush, I didn't think it would happen so soon though; and with so many roses this time!  Last year, I think we had 3 or 4 roses total at once on it.  Since then we tied it up where it wasn't drooping the ground, and cut out all of the dead.

This is the only one left from a rose garden that my parent had years ago... I want to move it beside my fish pond, but I am scared it will die!

The daisies are blooming so pretty as well, but the other flowers that sprout orange flowers multiply yearly and have almost taken over the area around my pump-house.

I'd like to add more color since the orange flowers don't bloom for very long.  Out of the 4 daisies I planted a few years ago, the yellow one is the only one that hasn't died.

 


The pond is looking really bad!!  The liner has completely dry-rotted and the grass has taken over.  I'm not sure how we will redo things this time around, but I hope it is the last time it has to be done!

I am so ready to see fish swimming in it again; it's such a peaceful place to sit when you just want to think or have a stress-free moment to reflect.

We have been discussing concreting it this time.  Putting a drain and pump lines in under the the concrete would allow everything to stay the way we want forever (hopefully).

I've never been one who liked flower-beds or anything like that, but the older I get the more interested this has become.

I was in love with the pond the first year that we put it in, then, more-so the second time we redone it... Now I just hope that the next time, hopefully the last time, will be my favorite of them all!!

When it's time to redo it, I plan to document it and share with you all the beauty that comes with creating a beautiful space to remember a loved one, and the gorgeous flowers that will help bring it to life.  :)

I Give Up!

Ever have one of those days where you feel like throwing in the towel and saying the hell with it all.. I give up?  Well, today was that day for me!!  I had planned to get back on track eating 3 meals and cutting down on soda, but that did not happen; and it felt as though nothing else went right either!

Woke up to a sick child and stayed home from work, which is what mom's have to do sometimes... However, about mid-day she felt JUST FINE. (lol)  I washed laundry non-stop all day... ugh!  She started wanting to go outside to play and because she didn't go to school I said no, and she didn't like that!!  Because it was obvious that she wasn't feeling well, she was so whinny.

After about 2 hours of this, my nerves were on edge... then my oldest came home in a mood, then my husband followed!!  I think that it must have been something in the water because everyone was PMS'ing or something!

While cooking dinner I needed something out of the cabinet... and of all days everything decided to fall out!! OMGosh this has been the day that keeps on giving!!

I sat in the middle of the floor while dinner cooked away on the stove, picking up all of these dishes.. and thought "I give up"!

We all have bad days, I know.. Today was one of mine for sure! ((lol))

After a few moments of melting down, I picked myself up (literally) and decided that I needed to let the whole day go!

Needless to say that I didn't get started off right today, but I did get a lot of house-work done! :)  But I didn't eat anything most of the day.  I really need to work on eating more..  That's something for tomorrow!

A New Me - Here we go

Today is a new day. I have been watching a lot of inspirational videos on you tube over the weekend about weight loss. That is the true meaning of this blog. Becoming that new you that you always knew you could be. I am at a point in my life where I can get off my butt and get it in gear to get this weight off once and for all. I am definitely motivated.

My plan of action is this:

1. I am drinking slim fast and replacing two meals a day with this drink because this has worked for me in the past. I like the juicing that I have tried but some of the concoctions give me really bad indigestion, but slim fast does not do that to me. (I had one shake for breakfast)

2. One mile walk everyday after work this week to rev up my metabolism. I will use the elliptical in the evenings after supper.

3. If I get too hungry in between slim fast meal replacement shakes, then I will snack on fruit or nuts only. It has to be very low calorie. Slim fast now has these meal replacement bars that you can eat while doing the liquid meal replacement, not sure I will utilize those though.

Everyone who reads this blog, leave comments or suggestions about how you have lost weight. Share your story with us, we would be happy to hear it. It may seem that there is no cohesive flow with the way the blog is going, but I promise you there is. All of the new experiences that I have been having the past year like going overseas, going through my second divorce, losing weight and trying to retain my sanity all coincide with A New Me.

London, England

Last summer I traveled to Europe and it was the most amazing experience. I always wanted to visit England since I was a little girl and I finally got the chance. I had never been on a plane, never been out of the country and especially never thought I would take such a trip alone, but that is what I did. I was really out of my comfort zone, but I loved/lived every moment of it.

I figured this week I would give the people who read my blog posts through my friend Ginny's blog a break and talk about something upbeat and positive for a change.

On July 12, 2014 I turned 40 years old. The next day I left home at around 9 am and went to my parent's home, left my vehicle, and my brother Donnie drove me to the airport in Raleigh, N.C. Now, granted I had never been on a plane before and I was trying NOT to think about plane crashes, so I busied myself with making sure I had everything packed and I was texting friends and family letting them know that once I made it to Georgia, I would be cutting off my data on my phone and go off the grid for the entire week. I was going ghost and I was SO looking forward to that.

I had a slight case of the nerves, because my brother dropped me off and I was on my own. A woman on a mission......to conquer my fears and try something new. After waiting around for about an hour or so it was time to get on the plane. So, I made my way and found my window seat. I sat beside a man named James on this particular flight and I was secretly wondering if I looked like a first time flyer. We really only spoke small pleasantries before take-off, everyone seemed a bit on edge or maybe it was just me.

Before the plane took off I began to get a bit misty, thinking of family and friends, and of the pain I was trying to leave behind. Then the plane began to move down the runway and I felt invincible almost, like nothing could touch me. I could feel the hummmmm of the engine, the announcements from the flight attendants, the air from the air conditioning, and I was about to soar.....Do you know what I did? I put my nose to the glass and I had my eyes wide open.....I was thinking to myself ...BRING IT WORLD..... Nothing can touch me now.

A few tears did escape when we got up in the sky because it was the most beautiful scene my eyes have had the pleasure to see. My beloved North Carolina, my home, below me and it looked spectacular. Everything was a miniature version of itself. The vehicles looked like toy cars and the buildings did also. I began to relax and enjoy the ride, after all I was on my way to Georgia for my connecting flight.





TO BE CONTINUED.....................................London, England: Part 2

Changing Slowly

So I am still getting on the elliptical; I am jokingly telling everybody it is my torture device, but it isn't really. I feel really good after I get on it, like I have accomplished something for the day. I have been using it in the evening after supper so I can take a shower after I work up a sweat on it.

I have not weighed at all this week because of my monthly visitor. I will probably weigh on Monday morning, maybe if I am only weighing once a week it will be easier to see progress. I usually weigh everyday and I have figured out that is not the way to start the day. I know that number is not a reflection of who I am but I have struggled so much in the past that I let the number define me. If it was what I deemed to be high, I would hate myself that whole day and complain about feeling like a fat sausage. But not anymore, I am changing things slowly. Rome wasn't built in a day and I am not going to lose 50 pounds in a day. I am going to have to work for it and I'm okay with that. We tend to appreciate what we work for....hehehe.

JoAnne

Tuesday Morning Weigh-In

Good Morning, Everyone!

Well no weight-loss this morning, but NO gain either!! :) I figured with the way last week went and my friend visiting for the month (my cycle) that there wouldn't be no loss.  However, I was expecting a gain and that wasn't the case; so, I am happy about that!

My schedule recently changed and I have an extra hour in the mornings to work with; therefore, I am hoping to make the most of it and exercise a few days a week (at the very least).

I few months ago I purchased The Firm's burn, sculpt, and tone DVD with resistance cord at the Thrift Sore for only $4.99; and I think it's about time to give it a try!!

I have the The Firm VHS tapes with the Fanny Lifter; and I loved those, but when the VCR went out I never purchased another.  I hope that the new DVD is as easy to do but still works!!

Wish Me Luck!!


Have a Great Day!!! :)

Balance

I went out and bought me an elliptical. I got on it last night for 15 minutes and I slept like a baby last night! I could definitely feel the burn. I am so out of shape but that is okay because I am taking it one day at a time and I know I can do this.

Last week I was so emotional and I felt like everything was erratic. I am still dealing with feelings of grief and anger over the loss of my marriage. Even though we aren't divorced yet, sometimes I still struggle with my feelings because they are all over the place. I feel happy most days, but then there are those moments when the memories creep in and I remember how it used to be.

As you can tell I am in a strange place in my life right now. And all the feelings I am having about the loss of my marriage play into the whole weight loss thing for me. I am trying to find the right balance.

JoAnne