Happy Easter

Today was a lot of time in the car for not a lot of time with family.  2 hrs each way and only 4 hours with family makes for a really long day.  Especially when dealing with BooBoo who only does car trips 30 min or less.  My ears may still be ringing from her whining/yelling/laughing.

The highlight of the day is shown below.  I'm not sure if my aunt purposely ordered this cake or picked it up when she was at the bakery.  Either way it was the highlight of the day.  My sister and I should not be left alone around questionable baked goods.  And my Aunt should know better than to ask me to cut said baked goods.

Fetus Lamb Cake

My Prize!

 A Kiss to make it better?

Happy Early Easter

What a wonderful day.  I  spent my morning/afternoon watching the epically bad last Twilight movie and using a new app called cocoppa.  It's a fun little tool that you use on your iphone and you can customize all your icons with prettier ones.  I had found a link on pinterest with very detailed directions, but the app has been pretty self explanatory to me.  I like having my icons jazzed up.  Once I'm all done I'll post a photo of my revised home screen.  I'm still working on changing up some of them.

I spent the rest of the day with my family celebrating Easter our way.  Beer, beer dip, and delicious take out burgers!  All in all a great evening.  BooBoo also did her best to entertain, after her very scary trip to see the Easter bunny this morning.  The photo's so bad I can't even post it.  Poor child may be scarred for life.  Tomorrow it's a lot of time in the car to see the family at my aunt's house.  Pray my ears hold up against all of BooBoo's whining/crying/general yelling.

Running Errands

I may have gone overboard with gift for BooBoo.

(She's not getting all of them, some are staying at Aunties in case of emergency)

I love getting little blue boxes in the mail.

It's nice to not really have to work.  I busted my hump earlier in the week so I could take the next couple days easy and do what I please.  Today that included finishing off my to do list and running some more errands.  Everything is done and the next 3 weeks are full of appts and traveling.  Tomorrow I only have to work on my presentation with Ande and apply my new self tanner.  This could really be a feat as it's a new product, but I think it'll go well.  My legs were glowing in Vegas so I'm hoping to look a bit more human like this time around.  Especially since I'll be wearing shorts and laying out at the pool.

Tonight I'm going to play dress up.  I haven't lost that much weight, but it is amazing how much better my clothes fit.  This has always been my goal and I need to weed out some too big stuff and work on wearing some that was a bit too snug.  I shopped for some new work out pants today and I cannot believe size variations.  I tried on some Nike pants I've been lusting after and they were massive on me.  Thank goodness Target pulled through with 2 new pairs.  Now I can walk outside in a bit more comfort, sweat pants aren't too good on the chub rub.  Plus I need to look as good as possible for my meeting.  If these people are going to hate me, I want to make it for every reason possible.

Happy Anniversary

A big Happy 9th Anniversary to Team Ingram.  I think it actually makes 12 yrs they've been together.  It's impressive and they are good role models for me and their BooBoo.  Showing us both how to love and be loved for a long long time.

Corn on the cob?  Good!                                  CUPCAKE?  Even better.

My current Motivational Posters

I really do wear all black, now I know why.

The last one is my real motivation.  I want to see some of my old co-workers this summer and I really want their jaws to drop.  My biggest goal is to have my legs all smooth and toned up, no more fat jiggles.  I'd also like to wear shorty shorts and not have to be worried if they are riding up.  Several of the exes like the shorty shorts and I'd like to flaunt that around.  Plus toned legs = me having a butt.  It's just a win/win all around.  Good thing I got in my 3 miles today.  And it's almost nice enough to start with two a days outside.

Embracing the Change

New Profile today.  I felt like spring cleaning, but my house is clean.  So instead I'll change up the blog.  Hope you like it.

I also decided to shake up my body a little more.  The weight loss is going great, but I wanted more.  I put a new hole in my head a couple weeks ago, yesterday I added some new ink.  I'm an avid baker, so this new tatt on my upper left forearm is a good reminder of my passion and what I love to do.  I could not be more pleased with how it came out.  Big shout out to Kyle at Leviticus Tattoo in Minneapolis.  I'll definitely be going back to have more done.  He said he'd collaborate with me on an upper arm sleeve!  I'll have all kinds of things I love on me.

My weekend really flew by.  Friday night I cleaned the house and baked.  Yesterday I shopped all day with my sis and got my tattoo.  Today I went grocery shopping,scoured Pinterest and Slender Kitchen for some new recipe inspiration, and prepped my ingredients for smoothies all week.  I blend up all my spinach with some water and freeze it so it's easier to blend, and I don't have a huge box of it in the fridge, just 6 nice disks in the freezer.  Tomorrow I'm trying Ranch Pesto Chicken in the crock pot.  It makes me drool a little just typing out the name.  I hope it's a winner.  

Tonight Gypsy Wedding is on, and I can hardly wait for another season of shenanigans.  I'm a huge TV fan but it's been losing it's luster to me.  I cannot get enough music lately. I really like the shows I watch, but maybe I'm not interested because I'm all caught up and new music is coming out left and right.  My other theory is that normally at this time of year I'm out running claims, so all I do is drive and climb roofs, which allows for a lot of music intake.  My body may be smarter than my brain :)

Someone else said it and I agree

Simon Says . . .

Simon Says: Make a funny FACE!

2.5 yr olds can make anything better because nothing really matters to them.  What a great way to spend an afternoon.  We sang silly songs, played Simon Says, tag and hide and seek, had upside down time, bribed my nephew into eating his turkey and yelled until our throats hurt.  My ears are still ringing from that last one, but it was super fun.  Playing with them was way better than working, best decision all week!

Happy Spring?

Animal Crackers in the Crockpot, sure why not

• I could write about a lot of things but some I can't, some I don't want to and others are just not worth it. 
• I will say I'm super frustrated with my teeth, how sore they are and that vegetables are so hard.  It hurts to eat a banana so not even peas in a can are palatable right now.  
• I finally got my flooring sorted, ordered and installation dates set.  I cannot wait to have it all done.
• For the first day of spring I'm super disappointed.  At noon it was 14 with a -1 windchill, there should not be a windchill on this day.  It's wrong, also wrong is all the darn snow on the ground too.  So happy mom and I have decided to go to Vegas in 3 weeks.
• Tonight it's Quack Pack time!  I may just call it an early night and watch from bed.  I hate getting out of a warm bed more than anything, so it's my defense against not eating and works 8/10 times.
• Tomorrow is Twin Time if they both don't have fevers.  Auntie isn't catching whatever they have.  I'm so excited to see them and be a part of their craziness.  They are some instant happiness.

Not a real hangover

Batman totally belongs in the Princess Castle.

I attempted to take him out and got a NO, a violent headshaking and some meh meh mehs with finger pointing, meaning put it back!

Big Kid Snack time.  Auntie broke the rules: gave her the plate on her lap in the living room.  She loved it!

  

You can't tell, but she's actually in the toybox.  

I covered back up with all her soft toys and she played peek a boo with me.

• My weekend was really busy and I had very little downtime.  Saturday I spent all day taking care of BooBoo.  So much fun!  She's simply the best baby, minus the whole coughed until I puked up milk in my crib and Auntie had to change me and the bed.  Sunday I took my mom out shopping as I knew she was dying of boredom in the house.  We had a great day!  Today I'm wiped out and just lethargic.  I need some me time in my house not on a work day.  This weekend screams hermit time!
• Today I'm just so over work.  I composed and deleted 4 emails to my boss begging him to get me claims or anything to not be at home anymore.  I really just don't know how much more I can take.
• I'm really struggling with controlling my binges and cravings this week.  All I want is chips and Twix bars.  Most of it is related to the lady's days, but some is the boredom and loneliness.  I've been really good about working out and staying on track but I really just want to go to Kwik Trip and buy some goodies.  I can thank the blizzardy weather from defeating this plan of attack.  No desire to go out in that wind and blowing snow.
• The last couple days I've talked to several guys in my old job.  It's great how they all keep in contact with me and how easy the friendships are.  Then again it reminds me how protective they are of me and how I can sorta blame them for cock blocking me over the years.  Ahh good times.
• Time for me to pay attention to my favorite show 2 Broke Girls.  I'm not sure who I love more, Max or Sophie.

Meh but not meh

• Today was nothing special.  Got my work done pretty quick today, then was nominated for a monetary achievement.  I was super excited and of the group that was nominated my co-worker took it to a naughty place.  So inappropriate yet super funny.
• Got to play with BooBoo today.  She's definitely funnier.  I cannot wait to spend all day with her tomorrow.  Her newest game is playing with my hair.  She loves if I gather it up and tickle her face.
• Had dinner out with Team Ingram, eating with BooBoo is like being in a food tornado.  So hilarious, but we all got out alive.  Maybe a little covered in ketchup, but alive and full.  Gotta love a midwestern Friday night fish fry.
• I tried a new work out tonight and dang it kicked my butt.  Totally in a good way and I look forward to getting through all the varieties on the DVD.
• I talked to Clint today and I really think things have gone back "normal."  I did call to get his opinion on my whole flooring debacle and 65 min later we hung up.  His life is so full of craziness it makes me appreciate my boring life so much more.  I really hope he gets deployed before I have to go back to Lincoln.  I don't know if I could handle another week with him.
• I got a text yesterday from my friend David.  I'm starting to think his phone sends him a monthly reminder to text me. (it doesn't, I'm sure the dates are just coincidence.  He's not tech savvy enough to figure that out)  We had a nice chat like we always do.  I wish he was home so I could visit him.  Maybe this summer I'll end up in his part of the state and I can see him.  I think it's been almost 3 yrs since I last saw him in person.  Way too long considering how good looking he is ;)
• I totally thought it was Saturday this morning and slept in way longer than I should have.  Now I'm not tired and I should really shut off the computer and go to bed.  Maybe I'll have a little snack instead.

Happy Happy Happy

Because I'm crabby and have PMS I'm not going to share anything.  It just won't end well.  Instead enjoy 3 of the happiest children ever!  Their cuteness always makes it better.

I'm baaaaaaaackkkkk

Cherry Blossoms as displayed at the Venetian

Vegas was awesome.  The place was pretty much a ghost town and I blame that on the NASCAR race.  I was totally OK with that as I could go anywhere I wanted as quickly or slowly as I wanted.  We had great food, lots of laughs and plenty of gambling/people watching.  We averaged over 8 miles a day walked so I don't feel so poorly about my food choices.  I had a Starbucks everyday and it was delightful.  

I went and visited my parents tonight and it was lovely.  My dad made a dinner of carbs with carbs on the side and it was exactly what I needed.  I had a nice chat with them and trimmed my mom's nails.  Note to self, I cannot become a manicurist.  I didn't make her bleed but they sure aren't my best work.  Thankfully she didn't want polish, that would not have ended well.

While I was playing manicurist we were also watching Duck Dynasty.  We've decided my dad is on beard removed from Phil, and he proudly agrees!  Dad can't grow a full beard to save his soul, but he already calls BooBoo his yuppie grandchild and cringes when my sister and I discuss our first world problems.  The best line I've heard all night is from Si, "your beard's so fat, not even Dora can explore it!"

Finally Friday

Found at 5am by my sister.  Comfy huh?

Creepy cute pedicure chairs at the nail salon

• so relieve it's Friday and I'm feeling better
• I got some good numbers for work and I'm feeling pretty good about that
• I found a decent nail salon today.  Yay for trying something new and getting decent results
• I lost 5lbs in 2 weeks!  This is includes last week of not following hardly at all.  Yay me.
• 15 lbs in 9 weeks.  Woo to the Hoo
• I tried to splurge today and I still have 2pts left to eat.  Fail, kind of!  I can make that up by having Fat Tuesdays tomorrow
• All checked in and packed up for tomorrow's flight.  I need the weather to clear up early so my drive to the airport isn't too treacherous.  Yay for going to my happy place.  Some people have Disney, I have Vegas!

Being Sick Sucks

I didn't call in sick today.  I didn't need to; there was so little work to be done I don't think I missed much.  Tomorrow I've really got to turn it up so I can have some decent numbers for the week.  Then again if I feel this bad tomorrow I'm for sure using a sick day.  This cold has started to kick my butt, pretty sure it's early bedtime tonight, maybe even some extra meds to knock me out.  I hate waking up with a snot puddle on my pillow and crusties on my nose.  I have to get better soon, Vegas sick is not fun!

Not too Shabby

So happy I don't have the puking part of this illness

• work blech
• runny nose blech
• facial heavenly
• dinner and fro-yo with my Kati awesome
• heated mattress pad, Pinterest and Duck Dynasty the ultimate

Average to LOL

Just layin around, playin with Puppy Brite

Coloring?  More fun to put crayons in the box

Halp!  HALP!  I cants reach!

Today started off as just another snowy morning in WI and ended pretty well.  I watched the unit across the street get busted into.  I think it's in foreclosure and it was the bank's mgmt company coming to change the locks.  Made for a nice distraction while I did my work out.  

Afterwards I went over to see Team Ingram.  That baby can make my day like no one else!  She immediately wanted cuddles and books to be read, and I'm happy to oblige.  Her book of choice was Go the Fuck to Sleep.  I'd never read it before and had such a hard time not laughing.  That author is one smart cookie, entertain parent and baby all at once.  I also got to see BooBoo brush her teeth.  OMG that's funny, any kid brushing their teeth is pretty funny to me.  I always think it's good that they all fall out.  The best best part is making her laugh.  My sister found that massaging her shoulders causes fits of giggles.  Just thinking of it makes me laugh.  I really need to video it so I have it for sad days.  I thought about it laying in bed last night and started laughing out loud to myself.

Tonight I'm catching up on Millionaire Matchmaker.  I love love love this show.  I wish I could afford to have Patty set me up.  I think she and I would be BFF.

Sunday Funday

BooBoo doesn't want to sleep, so let's play in Mommy's bathroom

What a great day!  Had brunch with Sue at Cafeteria, it was just OK.  Not really a good bang for your buck on breakfast food.  We tried to get tattoo's but it was appt only.  That was my fear, so now we are going to look at having them done in Vegas.  I'm normally super on top of my game when it comes to these kinds of things, but this time around I just can't be bothered.

Once I got home Sissy, BooBoo and I went for the first walk of the season.  33 really isn't too warm, but the sun was out, the breeze was light, and I needed to get in some steps for the day.  We did great and got in over 3 miles!  I'm still not warm right now, but I know I'll sleep like a baby.  It's such a shame we are getting another deluge of snow starting tomorrow morning.  My roads and trails will all be slick and impassable for a week or so.  I've got to keep up my momentum so I can lose some pounds this week and try to stay on track in Vegas next weekend.

5 DAYS TO MY HAPPY SPOT!!

During my drives today and even at brunch I really started to evaluate the fact that I need a boyfriend like yesterday!  At our meeting is was glaringly obvious I'm the only single one (2 others are, but in very committed relationships).  I'm working hard at reframing how I think about men, and relationships and trying to let go of my poor moral choices, but it's not easy.  It's nearly impossible to meet men when my favorite activities involve my couch or hanging out in areas with a predominantly gay male population.  I think it's time to review my resolutions for the year, implement something new and possibly rethink online dating.

Family Time

Sometimes you get photo bombed by your baby.  Sometimes that baby really really really wants the treat in your hands!

Today was all about family.  Team Ingram and I went out for brunch, then we headed up to see mom and dad.  They are about 1 day away from killing each other due to mom being housebound from her surgery.  She's doing fantastic so I hope they can get out a little tomorrow, they really really needed the 4 of us to come up and provide a new audience.  It was a big day for lil BooBoo, she had bacon, blueberries, pizza and donuts.  She's 100% American :)

Tonight I've cleaned out my DVR and searched high and low for tattoo ideas.  I've pinned a bunch I like and I'm pretty sure I've made up my mind on the word love and the font.  I found a killer upper arm cupcake tattoo.  It would be my whole bicep and I'm really thinking I could take that leap if I can find the right artist.  I think life is too short to not express yourself as you want, and after conversing with my bosses and their reactions to my teammates full arm coverage I'm not worried.  I'll always keep things on the more conservative side, and able to be hidden, but it's time to take some big steps in my self expression.  To quote the annoying hipster kids "YOLO!"

Little moments

Today was nothing special; traveled home, ran some errands, lunch with a friend and some couch time.  I did get a work out in and tomorrow I have to buckle down so I lose something before I go to Vegas in a WEEK!  Yay for sunshine and gambling.

Tonight it's a little bride show and some Duck Dynasty.  I'm exhausted still and I'm crawling into bed at 9pm!