Some things

1. I am enjoying my new Kindle immensely. I won't mention how late I've been staying up every night reading the new Francine Rivers books my parents loaded on it, let's just say I'm bordering sleep deprivation.

2. My mother emailed me this shot that she took of me opening it on Christmas with the comment that it was quite possibly her favorite picture of 2010.

I don't know that I'd go that far but it does capture the moment perfectly. Not only Dad's satisfaction and my shock but Russell's look of curiosity because he has no clue what the heck it is.

3. Last night I went to my first Weight Watchers meeting since falling off the wagon in November of 2009 and I discovered that I am no longer a seasoned pro... the new program is significantly different. And I'm totally excited about it.

4. One of the things I had to do was purchase a new points calculator because my old one will be useless now, so I had the registration lady show me how to use it, bought one, and then came home only to find two calculators in my purse.  

Darn it all, I accidentally stole something!

5. That will be an embarrassing conversation for me come next meeting.

6. We finally took our Christmas tree down. I always wait until after New Year's but somehow managed to drag it out 5 days longer this year. And it was still a little sad. But it was starting to feel pretty weird.

7. The workout classes at my church started again this week after a 3 week hiatus over the holidays and all I can say is that it might as well have been a 3 month break for all the strength and stamina I retained. Meaning, I feel like JEL-LO.  

8. It was back to the dentist again this morning for another 2+ hour stint and let me just say that if I have to get any more shots in my mouth this year I might just shoot somebody myself. 

Not really. I don't take to violence actually. And I love my dentist, I truly do. 


Just joking Dr. Johnson!


9. I'll tell you something else that's not fun. Scheduling an 8:00 am appointment and waking up to a text from your mother at 7:36 am - saying that she's ready to meet you in 9 minutes to take your toddler when you drop your kids off at school. And all three of your children are still dead asleep. (Please see #1 for this error.)


10. Newsflash: when panic endorphins take over there is no need for coffee... no need at ALL.

What I Wore Wednesday

Well another week has come and gone and look, we're in a new year! 

This is my 25th week of WIWW, and of blogging in general. I briefly considered whether I wanted to continue taking the daily outfit shots or not this year and came to the easy conclusion that YES - I AM SLIGHTLY ADDICTED. 

"Heck No, she won't go!!"

Ahem.  

Thank you Lindsey for continuing as well. Check out The Pleated Poppy for her never-ending cuteness and to see other 'What I Wore' participants every Wednesday. 

Wednesday: mid-week church service
shirt: Ross
jeans: Lauren Conrad - Kohl's
boots: Costco
scarf: gift

Thursday: shopping day

striped top: Kmart
scarf: Ross

skirt: Gap - Goodwill

belt: Goodwill

leggings: Walmart

cardy Uggs: Christmas 

 Friday outfit #1: errands in town

gingham shirt: Old Navy clearance

cardigan: Old Navy - yard sale

belt: rummage sale

jeans: Gap - Goodwill

flats: Old Navy

I told Russell this was my 'English weekender' outfit. He stared at me blankly until I explained that I felt quite preppy and proper and then offered up that he wasn't too sure about the shoes. Pssshhh, boys! 

Friday outfit #2: New Year's Eve party

cardigan: Old Navy

top: Ross

jeans: Gap - Goodwill

bracelet: Walmart
necklace: ?? - had forever

interesting side note: I snuck into my sister-in-law Tricia's bathroom during the party at her house to take my outfit pic. So.. ummm... surprise, Tricia! Your bathtub has now been featured!

Saturday: final family Christmas shin-dig

tunic dress: Charlotte Russe

cardigan: Old Navy - yard sale

brown leggings and boots: Walmart

necklace: Plato's Closet

Sunday: church

dress: Old Navy

cardigan: Old Navy

belt: yard sale

boots and tights: Walmart

and I took this pic solely for my sister-in-law Cara's benefit because 

I was so excited to have PATTERNED TIGHTS! 

Look Cara, PATTERNED TIGHTS! (thought you'd be proud ;)

I will admit, I was feeling pretty snazzy in this outfit so I asked Russ if he would like to take me out to lunch after church so I didn't have to change out of it yet. We enjoyed our Chinese very much, thank you :) 

Tuesday: basketball game
striped tee: Shade
vest: Ross
jeans: Lauren Conrad - Kohl's
belt: Goodwill
same cardy Uggs
earrings: Forever 21

Memory lane

After talking about my Weight Watchers journey yesterday I took a little walk down memory lane, going through old digital photos. 

(This led to hours of looking at my kids when they were just wee little things... so cute.) 

I wish I had better "before" pictures but to be honest, back then I used to delete almost all pictures of myself because I hated how I looked so much. But lookey loo at all the pictures of me after I lost weight! Must have felt pretty good about myself :) 

Seriously though, you are about to see a ton of pictures. 

 

That was the first round of weight loss. Skip forward two years, I've had my third child and am struggling to lose weight again...

So back on the Weight Watchers wagon and this is what happens...

 

I am excited for what is going to happen this year, and I'm going to take monthly pictures to prove it. 

(Although really I already take daily outfit pictures for What I Wore Wednesdays, but I'm not going to count those because I angle myself to look my skinniest. How's that for full disclosure! ;)

The Weight Watchers wagon - my Monday confessional

I've climbed back on folks. Third times a charm. 

I first joined Weight Watchers in February of 2006. I lost 40 pounds in eight months, became a lifetime member, maintained my weight loss for a solid 7 or 8 months, and then got pregnant. 

And gained 45 pounds. Those darn babies!

After having Blake I lost 20 pounds on my own before getting stuck so I joined again at the beginning of 2009, lost the 25 pounds I needed to get back to maintenance, kept it off until Thanksgiving hit and then between turkey day and New Year's Eve I gained 5 pounds. I didn't want to go back to my monthly weigh-in and have to pay (for being more than two pounds over my goal weight) so I skipped until I was back down the 5 pounds, but gained instead. 

And kept on gaining. 

Which brings me to today... 10 pounds short of my original highest weight ever back in 2006 and in full-on panic mode about it. 

When I first joined in 2006 I didn't tell a soul besides my husband because I had no idea if I would be able to stick to it or if it would work. After 12 pounds one person noticed, and by 20 pounds everyone did. Now I know it works, if I will stick to it, but that's the biggest problem... getting back the enthusiasm for the program I had when I first started. So I'm confessing up front...

I'M BACK ON THE WEIGHT LOSS WAGON!

Hello 2011

For the NINTH year in a row we ditched our kids let our kids sleep over at their grandparents and brought in the new year partying with our peeps. 

It's the best party of the year.

If you like to play games that is. Because there are a LOT of games. 

There's also enough food to feed a school bus full of children.

And a little dancing to "Dynamite" blasting from the stereo, at least three times throughout the evening because when Erik likes a song it never gets old.  

Goodbye 2010 - you were wonderful and fun, except for all the dental drama, and most of all you went by very, very fast.

Hello 2011 - I'm hoping you'll bring me a finished add-on and about 30 lbs of weight loss. That's not too much for a girl to ask, right?

Russell suggested we pick two new year's resolutions each and then tell them to each other. I told him he was too late, I'd already picked mine AND his. He didn't really appreciate being told what his resolutions should be so I gave him my top "recommendations" instead. 

I mean come on, who wouldn't want to improve their dirty-laundry-picking-up habits in the new year?

I guess he had loftier ideas of being a better husband/father/servant of God or something like that. Which, okay fine, sound like good goals and all, but I still think my idea was top-notch.

Happy New Year from the Halversons!