... There is good news too!

Okay since I vented on my last post I only though it is fare to tell you about the good things happening in my life today as well.

-After trying to sell my car for several months I have a buyer!  Yes we had to drop the price a couple of thousand dollars, but we have a buyer and we can replenish some money in our bank account!!  I am still crossing my fingers that it all goes through.  I love my car and it is hard to let it go.  I bought it brand new in 2006, we “upgraded” to a mini-van last September so it is time to say goodbye to my lovely little wagon!

-Since my husband became a CPA, we have been searching for a new job.  He has applied many places.  The past two week have been FILLED with interviews (around 10ish!!).  He is even on round three (the job is between him and another individual!) at a job he would really like.  Tomorrow is the big day for this final interview.  We have been hoping and praying this is the job for us and that it will be a significant pay increase (especially since he has never had a raise in all four year of our marriage, even when he did get his CPA!).  Please pray for us!

-I had a nice Valentines with the hubs.  We went to dinner then went dancing.  It was a fun evening filled with Lindy hop, ChaCha and Salsa!  My mom was so gracious to babysit for us, it was wonderful to get out and just be alone for a little while.

So there are some really great things in the works at our house.  I hope your week is going well!

Weight Loss Challenge Accepted

Well I did it, last Saturday I took the plunge paid my $50 and decided to join a local weight loss challenge/competition.  I did a little game play before the actual weigh in.  I loaded up on salty meals the day before and knowing that my period is on its way, I knew I would retain a ton of water, as I usually do.  And I did.  I gained some water weight overnight, but nothing too crazy.

So I am committed.  The challenge ends June 7^th (my 4^th wedding anniversary!) and the reward for the one with the highest percentage of weight loss wins $3000, second place $1500 and third $500.  For me this is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical challenge.  They have some monthly challenges and meetings from the sponsors of the challenge.  I plan on participating as much as possible.  Here is the PDF brochure for the challenge.

The place where we did the initial weight in was the same place I went for nutritional counseling 13 years ago, Humphries Diabetes Center (for my hypoglycemia).  I know if I can follow the diet I was prescribed then, I have a great shot at some awesome weight loss.  When I followed it to a tee then, I lost 40 lbs (and was down to 125 lbs), I did that in 6 months with no intense exercise, just walks and bike ride here and there.  And when I followed my diet I felt like a new person, I was no longer lethargic, exhausted and falling asleep in the middle of my work day!!!

A picture from way back then!!

Happy Day, lets get moving!!

Tagged, and you are it!

I have been tagged.  And I started writing this up several days ago and for the life of me, I can’t remember who tagged me!  I am sorry for not crediting you!! It can be a challenge just to keep up with all of you awesome blogs!

Here were my 11 questions

1. Do you have a favorite quote or saying, if so please share.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding” Proverbs 3:5-6  Words to live by.

2.        Do you know your blood type?

I think I am A+, I am not completely sure though.

3.        Have you ever been in a fist fight?

No fist fights for me.

4.        If you could meet any living person who would it be & why?

Dieter F. Uchdorf, he is an apostle of God and an awesome example.  I would love to spend lunch together just chatting.

Here is a link to one of his recent talks: Forget Me Not

5.        If  you won $500, what would you buy for yourself?

I would buy an Ipad to see what all the hype is about.

6.        What is the worst gift you ever got at Christmas?

I think when I was 14 I got an old fanny pack with dirty used socks.  A gift from my step-brother.  We weren’t exactly great friends.  The gift almost made me cry.  {I dreamt about this, after writing this post initially, annoying!}

7.        What is your best feature?

My smile, I really need to change my profile picture.  I think I choose it, because it doesn’t really look like me, I have a fake smile in that picture!

8.        When was the last time you cried?

This morning.  Stressful morning mixed with hormones.

9.        When was the last time you made someone else cry?

About an hour ago I made my 2 year old cry because she wanted to wear her bead necklaces to bed, and I took them away.  We had two near choking accidents today with her (vacuum cord around the neck four times while dancing and sticking a quarter in her mouth with running around).  So yeah, she is making me a little paranoid and crazy today!!

10.     Where would you love to take a vacation?

I would love to visit Hawaii again.  I lived there when I was 18-19 years old and I haven’t been back since.  I would love to see the Big Island and Maui, two places I have not been and show the hubs all the places I visited when I lived there (on Oahu).

11.     Please share one interesting fact that you think people would be surprised to know.

I have two degrees in education (elementary education and early childhood special education) I used to teach special ed preschool.  I quit teaching to be an at home mom.  People ask me all the time if I miss teaching. 

Nope, not At All!!  I love being at home with my kids and teaching them, the most rewarding job ever!!!  Even if I think I am going to go crazy with my active little monsters!

11 Random Things about Amber

1- I love maps.  I like to study them and dream of vacations and road trips.  When I am on road trips I like to have the map out and see how far I have gone and how far we will be going. I am old school, no GPS for me (at the moment).

2- I was a nanny for many families.  I nannied on the east coast (D.C.), west coast (PaloAlto, CA), Hawaii and Idaho.  I paid for all of my college by being a nanny.

3-  When I first met my husband, I could not stand him.  He drove me crazy.  When we went on our first date I couldn’t believe that we actually had so much in common that I needed to check this guy out more!

4-  I almost drowned once while kayaking the Salmon river.  Everything turned out okay, but I was pretty scared.

5- Since becoming a wife and mother (and gaining 60+ lbs) I have had a hard time finding my new identity.

6- I like rocks. Small pebbles, big boulders.  I just like rocks.  I like to climb them, and collect them although it has been a long time since I have picked up any rocks.  I think I need to get out side more!

7- I love to garden, up until it gets really hot out in the summer.  Then the garden always suffers L

8- I used to be an avid biker (cyclist).  My favorite brand of bikes are Cannondales.  I currently have a Trek road bike and an Electra cruiser.  I hope to start biking again now that my kids are a little bigger and fit a little better in the bike trailer.

9- My parents are divorced and my mom remarried our blended family totaled 11 kids.  We lived in a 3 bedroom house for a couple years, all the kids shared one bathroom.  Talk about crazy times.

10- I worked at Taco Bell at a teenager and had never really eaten there before I started working there.

11- Chocolate Chip cookies are me weakness!

Here are the rules:
1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things yourself.
3. Answer the questions the tag­ger set for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new ques­tions for the peo­ple you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them that you've tagged them.

6. No stuff in the tag­ging sec­tion about ‘you are tagged if you are read­ing this.’ blah blah blah, you actually have to tag 11 peeps!

I am breaking the rules…. If you have not been tagged yet, consider yourself tagged, I would love to learn more about you!  There you are!

Here are your questions…

1-    What is something you are proud of accomplishing?

2-    Where is the furthest place you have visited from “home”?

3-    What is one thing you want to accomplish by summer?

4-    What is your favorite way to exercise?

5-    Do you have a hobby that defines you? If so, what?

6-    Have you had any encounters with a famous person?

7-    Where is the last place you drove your car to, besides home or work?

8-    What personality trait do you seek to have?

9-     What is the best day of the week, why?

10.When is the last time you went for a walk, just to enjoy the scenery?

11- What was your favorite childhood toy or activity?

Credit

Have a Great Day!!!

Challenge for $$ Reflections

I am debating about joining a local weight loss challenge.  It begins this Saturday and goes through June 8^th (my wedding anniversary!).  The first place prize is $3000.  If I could drop my sugar habit for six months, it is possible I could win this challenge.  I am a winner you know???!!!

Four years ago I joined a fitness challenge at my gym.  I was determined, I was motivated.  It was a six week challenge and was measured by the greatest amount of fat percentage lost.  There were only 8 people who participated, but I did have tough competition.  I don’t remember all the details and numbers, but I do remember only loosing around 5lbs.  But I lost 10% of my body fat and won the challenge!  It was a great boost in my roller coaster of adventure. Here are my before and after pictures from the challenge.

I have always wanted to be trim and fit and have taken great efforts to do so.  It has always been a challenge to keep my weight at bay, but since I have had kids, it has been even more difficult.  The body I once cursed and felt like it was oh, so large, I would love to return to today.  Perspective!

So if I join this challenge.  I would like to return to the 150lb beauty, I was four years ago. 

I am a numbers person.  I looked up the past two years winners of this challenge and one lost 30% of her body weight and the other lost 26%.

For me to drop 30% I would be at my ideal weight of 140lbs.  Can I get it accomplished  by June 8^th?  It is possible, but being a mom now, can I do it???  I know I can do it, I am just not sure how the road there will look exactly.  Dropping everything and going to the gym doesn’t exactly work with two toddlers who need a lot of attention from mom.  Even when I plan it into our day, things come up (teething, sickness, need of a nap or just plain cranky! All of which seem to happen a lot in my life!).

Oh decisions, decisions!  Maybe if I could make a goal of what I would do with the $3000.  The possibilities are endless.  A new camera housing for my 50mm Nikor lens.  A cruise vacation with the hubs to Alaska.  A nice little nest egg for the kid’s savings accounts.  Or maybe a special trip shopping and to the spa, ahh... a day of relaxation. 

I have almost talked myself into the challenge.  We will see what happens between now and Saturday.  It costs $50.00, so for me if I drop the money on the table I will need to commit to make it worth it.  Of coarse I aim to win if I join, but I do know that the ultimate winnings are a healthier, leaner more in shape body!  If I can get my sugar habits under control this is very possible!!!

Any advice or words or encouragement are welcomed!

Happy 2012ing!