Sufficient to Good Friday

One more Pinterest project.  

(the faint lines are shadows from my blinds)

Today turned out not so bad.  Cleaned the house, set some loose plans to hang out with friends, and had a nice trip to Target with my sister.  My hand is absolutely killing me so this will be short and simple!

I found out that my "funk" is actually due to low vitamin D.  Acutally, I'm borderline deficient to insufficient. Who knew?!?!  Well besides the obvious of my doctor.  Now I have to take a super high dose for the next 12 weeks and then drop down to a more normal amount.  Shortly after I will be back in for a retest to make sure everything is better.  The biggest plus is that per the Mayo Clinic website there is a link in obese women with low D not being able to lose weight easily.  What a perk if my mood improves and so does my weight loss.

Speaking of the diet I'm back on track and feeling good.  Last week I lost 4.4lbs, this week 2.4!  Bring on my goals and some smaller sizes.  I've returned jeans twice from Torrid and now I think I'm going to have to again.  This time I'm bringing my heels with me and am going to take my time, no rushing.  I need to look damn good when I go to Lincoln in a week.  Plus the heat is finally breaking and walking outside can resume.  I miss my walks and have just been so lazy with this heat.

Time for some beddy-bye.  I'm tired and need to rest this hand.

Look what I can do!

Yes I put another hole in my head.  It's a rook piercing and I lurve it!

Do NOT let this child take your phone.  I had over 30 photos most of the floor, her fingers, my thighs (gasp shock horror and embarassingly white) and her bed.  She loves to take a picture and knows how to a little too well.

Today was a good good day.  

• Office visits, and hugs from old friends.  
• Climbed the BFF's roof and confirmed some hail dmg.  
• A most sinful lunch at Cheesecake Factory.  
• A trip to Uptown and a new piercing with Sue-bee.  

I could have lived without the 1.5 commute back home, but all in all it was a good day.  

Hot!

Playing dress up on the hottest day of the year.  Thank goodness for AC!

DoorDoor had to go with to daycare.

PS that's one happy baby!!!

Last night I went to my parents house and canned more tomatoes with my mom.  In a house with no AC and for whatever reason no fan!  I had huge beads of sweat down the back of my legs and my shirt was soaked.  I'm so happy the heat will be breaking this weekend.  I cannot make more salsa and spaghetti sauce in 90+ degree weather.

Tonight I went to my town home assoc meeting.  I am now the Vice President, but that's ok.  Turns out there's quite a bit that needs to be taken care.  It's through no fault of the current board members, but the shady mgmt company.  A few quick math calculations and we found nearly $2000 unaccounted for.  Good thing they had already decided to switch companies.  I can hardly wait to see how this works out.  Could be a bumpy ride for a couple months.

Now I'm chilling out and cursing my very sore hand.  No more typing for me.  Gotta rest up to play with the twins tomorrow.  I love taking them out to lunch.  Danyal is very excited to see his auntie and I him.  

Project Weekend

My projects:  canned caramel sauce and a yarn wreath I copied off Pinterest.

I also made a dozen jars of salsa with the help of my mom.  It was such a fulfilling weekend for me and I hope to keep my momentum going this week.  Due to the heat I need to get up and work out tomorrow morning, blech.  Here's hoping I can do it.  I also need to study, I want to start a new book, and I have 2 more Pinterest projects to complete.  Oh and Ande's baby blanket needs to have some attention, baby's due in 5 weeks.  AND Sue-bee and I need to have a piercing date.  This is a lot with working a full week and therapy appts.  I'm sure I can accomplish most of it, just have to prioritize what I really want to do.  I'm hoping this can start to pull me out of my funk and I don't hurt my hand too much.  I really despise having physical limitations, simply because I will always push too far.  Being a Scorpio red headed german chick really pushes me to the limit somedays.  I refuse to quit, give up or simply rest.  I must do all the things!!!  For now it's bedtime, 6am is harsh when you are staring down a long work out.

A Fair Day

Today did not start as I wanted.  I wanted to get up and go to the fair.  Instead my boss had a freak out over some photos of hail posted on twitter.  NOT COOL!  Good thing it turned out to be nothing and I was able to salvage my day out.  It was by far one of the most perfect days at the Great Minnesota Get Together ever.  Perfect weather, everything was clean (opening day, what what), not too many people, good food and excellent people watching.

cream cheese filled deep fried green olives -  ON A STICK!  ZOMG sooo good

BooBoo's dream house, Peepaw agreed to build it.  And some candles for Peepaw's shed.  

Yep beer cans turned into candles, good thing mom's gonna save some cans so I can make these.

My new t-shirt!  I love the potholder heart.  That may be a bakery logo

New Art?

I couldn't sleep last night so I decided to review my Pinterest boards, because that's what you do too?  Oh, just me, well whatevs.  I don't love any of these as prints, but I like the words/messages/quotes and need to figure out how to make my own, in colors that match my decor.

 in my car

 in the living room

 in the hallway

 in the office

 in my bedroom

 in the kitchen

Fear and Loathing in Wisconsin

This my new super awesome door decal.  I love it so much, just a little sparkle for my new front door.

So the doc was very anti-climatic today and I knew deep down it would be.  I don't have a torn tendon, but I have fluid on my elbow and around my nerve bundle.  Surgery isn't an option right now, but it could be.  I'm wearing the bitchin' compression sleeve and it seems to be helping.  I have to start taking Advil more regularly, and my PT has been revised.  I'm off work restriction because a) I don't follow it, b) it's not really helping anyways.  I've got 4 more weeks of PT and then another visit to see if anything is helping.  I'm hoping it starts to improve, if only a little bit.  I don't know how I'll cope if it doesn't.

I broke down and finally talked to Clint.  He's been hounding me for 10 days, so I just caved while I iced my elbow.  He talked for 45 min straight and spent about 30 seconds expressing empathy for my arm. He never asked about anything else in my life and I'm not even surprised by it.  Now I've got a huge amount of self loathing going on.  It's just how a Monday should end.

I have made a decent revelation after looking at my ical today.  I have a dr appt on Friday with my gyno (TMI, I know I know) BUT I'm getting some happy pills.  I'm tired of feeling blue all the time and having the slightest things send me into a spiral.  (Saturday I wanted to slash things because I realized how alone I was)  I also need to work on my whole dating situation.  I'm thinking I start all over on eharmony.  Re-do the quiz, let my sister write my intro and pick my photos and go from there.  I'm even debating a puppy.  Having something to love is better than just being alone and miserable right?

Super Sunday Funday

Today I was very much reminded of the above.  I love my co-workers/friends/family.  They can always lift me up when I'm down!  They also keep me grounded, if that makes sense.  I had a great afternoon chatting, laughing and listening.  Oh the stories we can tell.

Now I'm home and in bed typing this.  I have no points left to eat today and I'm starving, so water and my gummy vitamins will have to tide me over until morning.  I'm starting to have some anxiety about tomorrow's appt.  I have a lot riding on this doctor and hopefully the answers he can provide.  I'm really not sure I can handle this downward spiral of pain and not knowing how to feel better.  I so dislike who I become when I'm not feeling well.

A Weekly Wrap Up

But I will bake you cupcakes!  I've spent a lot of the week daydreaming about new creations to make and looking forward to trying out new recipes tomorrow.  It's really the only thing that has kept me sane.

My arm has been killing me all week.  I thought after yesterday's therapy appt I would feel good today, I was wrong.  I lasted until 2pm and have been in pain since.  This could make baking very difficult tomorrow.  I'm trying very very hard not to over do it, but I never know what will or won't trigger the pain.  Monday morning is my specialist appt and I cannot wait.

I decided to rededicate myself to healthy living.  I'm up 8lbs since 4th of July and it's all because I'm throwing a pity party and think it's OK to comfort eat.  It's not, so I'm trying to get back on track.  I'm combining WW and Slimfast.  I forgot how much I love those stupid chocolate shakes!  This week is going to be a big challenge.  BBQ on Sunday, State Fair on Thursday, and girls night on Friday!  I also need to get new work out shoes.  I've worn holes in my current ones and I'm getting shin splints when I wear them.  No bueno!

OH and the highlight of the whole week, captain Dickhead found me on IM at work yesterday and asked if we were still married.  He was trying to be cute, but it's too little too late.  I've successfully avoided talking to him all week and due to some time constraints yesterday he didn't get much out of me.  I can honestly say I do not have the patience to stroke his ego.  I flat out told him yesterday I didn't want to listen, I knew that hurt him but too bad.  I still stand by if he could tell me 3 things about my life this week I'd be a bit more invested.  I doubt he can tell me 3 things about my life in the last 3 months.  Over it!!!

Time for some What Not to Wear.  I love Stacey and Clinton.  They've taught me a lot over the years I feel somewhat stylish, or at least not too frumpy, thanks to them.

Rants in my Pants

Today was oh so frustrating!  My boss was 35 min late to our weekly conference call.  Not a cool wayt to start my day.  The rest of work is infuriating, 1 simple fix and half of the work I did today would be unnecessary.  Good thing my partner in crime and my self are putting some bugs in the higher up's ears.  It's all about productivity so why not start at the beginning!

My worker's comp claim is being atrocious.  It's become a game of he said/she said and I'm stuck in the middle.  It ended up with me paying $2000 to have my MRI today because no one could agree to anything!  I cannot wait until my specialist appt on Monday to get my results and hopefully a plan of action.

And the real kicker is a friend of mine is throwing a BBQ on Sunday for all of our friends in town working.  I shared the idea with her 2 weeks ago, and apparently having everyone to my house wasn't that great.  She's sent out the invite and totally bulldozed my idea.  So not cool, but I sucked it up and offered to bring desserts.  My real motive is to test out another cupcake recipe and frosting.  She really wants me to make a cupcake that originated from a cupcakery in Kansas City.  I have no clue how to even begin to replicate it and everyone that comes close has coconut in it, which is a no eat food on her list.  WTF people, W!T!F!  You will eat what I bake and LIKE IT!

I've tried to put myself in a better mood.  I downloaded the new Luke Bryan album and went for a walk.  I came home, cut up some melon and sliced open my hand.  For every action there is an equal but opposite reaction.  I think my safe place is in my bed watching some Daria.  That chick gets me.

Chicago

Here's my wrap up of Chicago.  I really suck at taking photos.  I even told my sister we needed to be better about it.  Epic Fail!!!

Lake Michigan

Popcorn Shrimp at Harry Carray's

Nightime skyline

Pippi Longstocking made my coffee

My list of Chicago, the good bad and ugly

• I did not eat any pizza, over an hour wait is not worth it
• Garretts popcorn, overrated.  I prefer the local favorite, Candyland.  It's much less greasy
• The city is so so clean, and the homeless were quite polite.
• Navy Pier was pretty cool, but I went at night when there weren't so many kids
• The beaches are beautiful
• I prefer Chicago over NYC.  It's closer, cleaner and less crowded.  The ambiance was great!
• I cannot wait to go back and explore all of the neighborhoods I missed.
• All my favorite stores and I didn't buy anything.  My bank account is thanking me.
• I went to 3 outlet malls, I bought nothing.  Restoration Hardware in Kenosha actually had my silver sofa, the matching chair AND the headboard I've been lusting after for years.  Sadly that's 6 hours from home and none would fit in my tiny Jeep.
• I want to surprise my mom with a trip at Christmas-time.  Her friends bailed, but I don't know if my schedule will allow it.  The decorations and ambiance would be amazing, plus we are huge fans of the season.
• Overall big big big fan, cannot believe I waited so long to go!

Proof is in the baby shower

Proof that I wear dresses, heels and make up

(I just don't love to)

Breast friends!!

Just SHUT IT!

I am so incredibly crabby I don't even want to be around myself.  I have PMS, work was insane today, the Dr. did not give me great news and I haven't slept in about 3 days.  OH and fall.  Hate loathe detest despise blech.  I fucking hate fall.  It's still August, it should be 100 not 72.  The only thing I like is apples and pumpkin cream cheese muffins at Starbucks, which I can really make whenever I want.  Fall is evil, it's just the gateway to winter.  And now I'm even more crabby thinking about stupid damn fall!

I cannot wait for tomorrow to be over and my mini vaca to begin!  Girls weekend in Chicago is much needed.

All I really want to do is eat for comfort.  Instead I'm staying on my workout schedule and trying to keep busy.  I have freshly painted nails to show for tonight.  I really need to finish my crochet project but it hurts my hand.  It may seem silly but I'm going to have to give the momma to be a photo of my partially crafted blankie.  Here's hoping I can get it done before the baby comes.

It's time for bed and some Daria.  I've so enjoyed watching the series again.  It's a refreshing change from all the Friends I've been watching.

BANG

This is what I did on Saturday.  That's right, target practice with a 9mm.  I loved it.  Maybe way too much loved it.  I've been researching the best brands and local shooting ranges.  It was so much fun.  I've grown up 100% redneck, which in Northern WI involves trap shooting, target practice and hunting.  Guns are a part of my life and I cannot wait to buy one.  It really was the best stress relief I've had in a long time.  You can always imagine anything you want hanging on that target.  BANG!!!  The best part is that my dad finally admitted I'm a good shot and truthfully I had the best accuracy for the day.  I only missed 2 out of 23!  Validation, stress relief, and overall fun outside.  It was a win win win Saturday.

5 months left to resolve these resolutions

Below is a partial list of my resolution I set forth in January.  I have conquered a lot of the really hard things I set out to accomplish.  I still have some really tough ones left and some really fun ones too.  It's time to re-focus and make me happy.

Cook More

-make pizza dough

Bake New Things

-bread

-candy

Date

-revise deal breakers/must haves

-be set up by friend/online again?

Better Your Hobbies

-learn harder crochet patterns

-chevron quilt

-nail art

Explore my City/State

-support local

-restaurants, art, plays

-don't be discouraged by parking or being alone

Start Traditions with the Kids

-Christmas cookies

-special birthday time
-fun days without Mommy

Keep in Touch

-bday card service

-be authentic

-cut out the negatives

Friday Night Family Night

Happy Birthday Dad!  Tonight was family time up at my parents house.  Good food, lots of chasing BooBoo and the once a year cake.  My dad only asks for tunnel of fudge cake on his birthday and it's amazing.  It's also very very special as we never ever make it for anything else.  I love this tradition!  I've debated adding it to my imaginary bakery menu but feel it would ruin the special-ness of it.

I have no good news from my doctor so I have more appts set.  Today the pain was outrageous and I finally had to take time off work.  Not my ideal plan at all!  The depression is really starting to set in and I know my family is worried.  I've been through all of this before and it wasn't pretty. I'm sticking to my plan of staying busy and it's working so far.  Wed was dinner with friends, amazing. Yesterday lunch with my friends shown below, and tonight family.  Tomorrow is more family time too, but we are shooting guns.  If my hand cooperates I may be able to shoot off some stress and frustration.

Danyal's face cracks me up!  Goes perfectly with Baby Girls cool demeanor!

Tinley, Colleen, Me and Leanna.  Loved seeing my sweet TX friend!