9 i'm a dot com

Oh my goodness...I have gone and done it now.

I'm a dot com. Look at your address bar.  See it? It's redirected you to my very own piece of the web!

I am happy! I feel official!

Happy Friday everyone!

22 Happy Birthday to Me

Good Morning friends. You read that right...today is my birthday. I turned 33 today...wow where have the last 3 years gone, seems like I just celebrated turning 30 yesterday!

Let's get the piddly stuff out of the way, the weigh in for this week.  Not so good this week, but I had a good loss last week so I'm not too worried about the ebb this week.

Loss this week: +0.5 lbs
Total loss for challenge: -5.25 lbs

It's gonna be a tough weekend, we are going to Pittsburgh and will be partaking in some not so healthy food, but its a birthday celebration so I'm not too worried about it.  I will be burning some calories walking around IKEA, so I'm pretty excited about that exercise.  Am taking a day off from C25K today but will pick up again tomorrow.  

Keeping with a tradition that I started last year, I took my birthday picture to compare my progress over the last year.  Not as much change from 2008-2009, but do you notice any change? 

 I looked back to my journals and as of this morning, I am actually 12 lbs heavier then I was at my last birthday!  12 lbs!  Wow...I didn't think it was that much of a difference but the old blog posts don't lie.  Looking at my pictures, I feel like my legs are smaller but I've lost a little definition in my waist.

Last year I I was doing the 30 day Shred and this year I'm turning into a runner and am ready to start C25K Week 4. Last year I was still on birth control and this year I am in the midst of Operation Babybug.  Last year my heart was heavy without my mom, this year it is full because of the memories of her singing birthday phone calls. Last year I was just new to Shrinking Jeans and rarely knew any of the Sisters.  This year, they have become real friends and have been so supportive and uplifting as I continue my journey to being the best ladybug I can be! 

My blog has become such an important part of my life, and I am blessed to have such good women in my life to help make it thru those frustrating days.  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.  You have helped to make it a great year...and I know the next one will be even better!

{Oh and if anyone is interested, there are a few things left on my birthday list. (Picnik Premium, 50mm prime lens, new wardrobe of workout clothes, and some IKEA giftcards to use this weekend) mkay, thanks!}

5 A Nice Day for a White Wedding

My dear friend Amber got married last Saturday.  The whole week before was rainy and cold, but when we woke up to beautiful blue skies and 60 degree temperatures, we knew it was going to be a beautiful day filled with love, family and friends.

We met at a local hotel where we had Mimosas and chocolate covered strawberries while the wedding party got their hair and makeup done.  We then went to the church and finished getting dressed in the parlor and waited patiently, enjoying her last hour as a single woman.

There were laughter and tears as we sat and waited for the guests to fill the church.  Smiles for the wonderful life she was about to begin with her true love.  Tears for the father she had lost less then 2 years ago who wouldn't be able to walk his oldest daughter down the isle.  His best friend did the honor of giving her away and I know her father was smiling down on both of them the whole day just grinning and saying thank you and I love you.

After the wedding, we made our way to the reception where we had the best chicken ever and enjoyed some yummy champagne as the brother of the groom and sister of the bride gave their heartfelt toasts.  The cake was amazing, it had an almond filling!  Each table had their own cake that was filled with raspberry!  Yum! It was a dancing crowd, so it didn't take long for the dance floor to fill up.  Somehow I missed The Cupid Shuffle, but made it out and shook my money maker for a bit.  Fun times!

Maybe it's just the love and romance that surrounds us women at weddings, but when the newlyweds danced their first dance as husband and wife.  I couldn't help but get tears in my eyes.  I tried to hold them back, as we were still sitting at the head table and all, but a few may have slipped down my cheek as I listed to the words to their song,  Lucky in Love by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat.  "You make it easy when life gets hard. I'm Lucky I'm in love with my best friend.  Lucky to have been where I have been."  Doesn't that say so much!  I sent my husband a text from the head table during that song, telling him that I loved him and he was my best friend. I couldn't wait to go be in his arms.  No matter what life throws at me and no matter how stressed I tend to be about things, my husband is always there to remind me that as long as we have each other, we will be fine.  We'll get thru it when and if the time comes, so stop stressing about it now.  I need to try to live that more often, I think we all do.  Just enjoy now and everything you are blessed with.

It was a beautiful day and I am so happy for my friend and her new husband.  I am blessed that I have so many good loving people in my life and that I got to spend such a special day with some of them.  Congratulations!

3 Happy Birthday Grandma

Happy 77th Birthday Grandma!

Grandma kisses are the best!

 (Grandma and my cousin Matthew last year at the Light the Night walk)

You would read me books every single night....I think that is why I am so smart.

You would trace the outline of my face with your finger to help me fall asleep....I think that is why I am so happy.

You would  let me use the push button phone and the JCPenney catalog to play store...I think that is why I am went into Finance.

You would let me sleep in your bed when I was scared...I think that is why I feel safe.

You would get teary when we watched the homeless man steal a can of tuna on Highway to Heaven....I think that is why I am so compassionate.

You would chauffer me anywhere I wanted to go when I was a teenager...I think that is why I am a social butterfly.

You would stay up reading till I got home from the movies safe...I think that is why I worry.

You would let me eat mashed potatoes and corn for dinner if I wanted to...I think that is why I love vegetables.

You would praise me for making the honor roll...I think that is why I wanted to go to college. 

 You would do anything in the world for me...and I know that is why I am blessed to truly know the meaning of family.

Thank you Grandma for having 10 children...and for making me feel like the 11th!  You have created an amazing family that is filled with love, beauty, strength, compassion, and happiness. 

I hope today you can feel the love and the appreciation we all have for you.  I am so blessed to have you in my life...you give me strength every single day.

You have taught me how to love....and for that I am thankful!

7 Happy 5th Anniversary to us!

5 years ago today...I married the love of my life.

I took one last look at the single woman in the mirror before walking down the isle to meet the man who wanted me to be his wife.  He choose me....of all the girls in all the world...he choose me!

The feelings I felt when I walked down to meet him will never be forgotten.  The look in his eyes and the smile on his face will stay in my heart forever.  He was just as excited to start the journey as I was!  I swear you could have turned off all the lights and the glow from our love could have lit up the whole church.

We were so blessed to be surrounded by family and friends on that day.  Having everyone there to celebrate us as a couple was amazing. I felt like a princess that day...and I had finally found my prince!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy 5th anniversary to my love.  You bring color into my world and love into my life. I am blessed to be married to my best friend and I pray that we have 55 more years ahead of us. We have laughed and smiled during all the good times and cried and leaned on each other during the hard times. 

Last year has been the toughest of my life, and you were there to hold me whenever I needed it.  You have been my rock.Thank you for being patient, kind, thoughtful, and supportive...and every other little thing you have done to make me smile and feel loved.  Most of all...thank you for being you.  I love you!