Post Graduation - Day 21

Howdy Internet.  Bet you thought I had completely abandoned you.  Well, I almost did, it's just been a little nutso around here.  My weekends have been reserved only for my husband these days, which pretty much stops the productivity in my life for that time and keeps me on my toes to catch up the rest of the week.  Such is the life of a commuter couple.

Most recently I did get a day off from work for Good Friday and we drove up to New York City to visit our music family.  There are only a few people for whom I'd visit and spend my day singing a nearly two-hour mass, haha.  It was a nice time, never long enough, but the drive up was pretty brutal.  Good 'ol New Jersey traffic.

Saturday was simply the best.  Errands followed by egg dying and visiting with my Mom, then baking and decorating Easter desserts for the rest of the day.  A little sample of the fruits of our labors!

Minion Egg!

Chocolate Covered Peeps

Sprinkles, sprinkles, and more sprinkles

Cake Pops

The cake pops were the biggest hit!  They taste kind of like petite fours, I might need to use this recipe for all family gatherings from now on.  I got the recipe from SkinnyTaste.com and it was delicious.  We had so much fun decorating these.  Great idea for an at home date too.

Post Graduation - Day 4

No words Internet... just a picture in summation... after a most wonderful series of days...

I'll be back soon with more, but an extra special thank you to all of those who helped us get through this challenge.

Week 13 - Day 1

Hello everyone!! I am so excited I can barely type this blog post!  This time Wednesday I will be eating lunch with my husband!  In less than 48 hours I will be on a plane bound for the army fort.  I feel proud that I've made it this long without my hubby, not that I doubted that I would, but I took this time for myself.  And I feel that I've thrived.  I loved writing and receiving letters too, I will treasure those for the rest of my life.

Now, let's see how I did with my goals....

1) Work out, 2.0

I wish I could spell out a tongue raspberry, haha!  Although, again, another health issue sort of put a damper on this goal.  As it is, I need to talk to my doc, I'm probably getting close to when I can exercise again.  I'm kind of thinking it would be a lot more fun for my husband to train me when he gets home... 

2) Lose 8 lbs

As of this morning, I am 6 lbs down from where I was, so I'm giving myself a pat on the back for this.  As long I keep up my routine, I should reach this goal in a week!!!  Time to go shopping for some cute summer clothes!

3) Audition for local community theater

CHECK!  And actually, it was a professional theater and even though I didn't get anything it was a great audition in my opinion.  My definition of a great audition is coming out feeling confident, which rarely happens.

4) Get re-certified for CPR

CHECK! Done!  I'm good for two more years...

5) Do something new every week
I am pretty confident I have done this, from outings, to diet stuff, recipes, my bulb project, I haven't kept track that well, but the goal of this was to keep life interesting.  Success.
6) Finish book about Grandmother

This is the second raspberry... I did not keep my promise on this.  I need to get on this.

Tonight is a free night for me and I think it will include a manicure, packing, and catching up on some TV!

Week 12 - Day 5

Happy Friday everyone!  This has been an amazing week, I have been so busy.  So busy that I haven't had time to set-up my new phone.  So busy that my DVR is completely full of shows from the week.  Now that's busy.

Yesterday I went to see the new production of Phantom of the Opera at the Academy of Music.  Those of you who know me, know that this is my favorite show, to the point of obsession.  I first saw the show in Philadelphia at the Forest Theater when I was eleven years old, and this viewing was my 7th (I think).  I was anxious to see what the new production would bring to the table promising new sets, costumes, choreography, and other surprises.

All in all it was fun to see something new and different, especially the remarkable sets they added to the production.  Ultimately, I prefer the original staging production.  I'd like to be in the show...

Day 3 of the Dukan Diet and I am done with the Attack Phase and on to Cruise.  I can eat veggies now, yayyy!!  Actually, after two days of just proteins, a salad feels like a welcome change.  Eating out last night was tricky but I made it work, diet coke with lemon, a burger, pickles, and some bacon, which is technically not allowed, but it was only a little.  I'm going out again tonight with some friends and I'm looking forward to some roasted veggies and a steak  Yummm!

As the days go by I get less and less cravings for no-no foods.  My appetite seems to have plateaued which is great, although the evening is still my time of greatest difficulty.  It's when I crave all of the bad things.

I'm going to see Divergent tonight, I've been looking forward to this movie for awhile so we will see!  I have another fun and full weekend ahead of me!  So grateful for my friends and family who have helped to keep my life so full and happy during these long months.  I'm a lucky girl.

Week 12 - Day 4

Interesting, I labeled my last blog post as "Boobs, Diets, and Family Day" and significantly more people decided to take a look.  I see how it is Internet, all I need is to talk about boobs to get your attention.  Well you can stop reading now, because the topic is closed... for now.

Day 2 of the Dukan Diet.  For those of you who don't know what this diet is, it is a modified version of Atkins, but stricter and eventually allows you the freedom to eat (mostly) whatever you want.  It starts off with the "Attack" phase which is (depending on your current weight and the weight you want to lose) 1-5 days of eating only protein, no-fat dairy, and a small amount of oat bran.  The good news is, from this list, you can eat as much protein as you like.  You then proceed to "Cruise" phase where you add vegetables, from a list and alternate protein and veggie days.  This time period gets you to your goal weight.  Finally, your reach "Consolidation" phase which you start introducing fruits, cheese, and starches in limited amounts.  You do this in order to reach stabilization where you are able to maintain your weight permanently.

I've never done this as far past Cruise phase, so I'm anxious to see if I can get there this time.  It's a lot easier to do this diet when I'm alone, so I probably should have started it earlier, but we will see.  I'm halfway through my last attack day so I'm excited to have a salad tomorrow!  This website has some great recipes to help you keep it interesting.  What's tricky about this diet, is it's really hard to eat out so you have to take the time to put the good foods in your house and take time to prepare your meals.

I've been getting up a lot earlier to prepare my meals and last night at 10:30pm I even put a meal in the crockpot.  Go me!   I'm already noticing a difference in my body and a pound worth of weight loss!

In other news the weather for graduation week is looking amazing, I'm looking forward to sundress and sandals... might need to get a pedicure before next week.  Can't wait to see my husband!

Week 12 - Day 3

I would like to thank the snow yesterday for tipping me over the edge to not going to my acting class.  I'd also like to thank my sore left side which after yesterday was sore enough to give me pause.  Grrr, I hate feeling like I'm not at 100%.  I'm not the kind of person who is good at taking things slowly and being patient.  I'm the girl who clips her hip on the side of the doorway when walking through because I was probably in a rush.  That's me.  This whole healing thing isn't working for me.  I still forget in the morning and try to do my normal cat stretch in bed and my left side screams in protest.  I need to give it time...

In other news, I did go to my post-op check up on Monday and the scar looks SO GREAT!  Gotta love plastics guys, they don't leave much evidence that they were there (no I didn't get a boob job).  In the interest of education, I had a benign lipoma removed from my left breast.  Public service announcement, do self breast exams, even if you find something benign it's good to know yourself.  I've had this for a few years and since it got bigger it was time to take it out.  My biggest concern was scarring and so far everything is looking good.  So that's that with the "boob job" jokes for now.

I also went to the doctor on Tuesday, different doctor, I am really starting to sound like a hypochondriac.  This doc is for my guts n glory.  Everything seems to be doing better except I have to get this test that almost no one does and I'm having trouble finding a place to do it.  Another life irritation.

I'm also starting the Dukan Diet today.  This has really worked for me in the past to shed some pesky pounds and since my guts have healed I've gained an extra 5 lbs that I really don't want to see.  The first two days of this diet I can only eat protein pretty much so it's a tough start.  I'm determined though.

But the biggest news is that in ONE WEEK I WILL BE WITH MY HUSBAND!!  I will be walking around my husband's "campus" seeing his world and I can't wait!!!  I can't wait to hug him, and hold his hand, and see his (according to him) "fit body," and his army uniform!  I can't wait to hear his voice and tell him in person how proud I am.  We've both been so strong (army strong) during this separation and I think we've earned it.

Week 12 - Day 1

9 days, I can't believe it!  You know what that means right?  This week is going to go sooo sllllloowwww... it's a law of physics.  I don't know which law, but I'm sure it's in there somewhere, something about watched pots, or whatever.  Not really my area.

This weekend was a bit of an emotional roller coaster, but when all was said and done I think it balanced more to the positive side of things.  Friday was our six month wedding anniversary, which I guess isn't a huge deal, although in this day and age it means you've been married longer than most of the celebrity marriages that started and ended.  Yippee.  If my soldier was home we probably would have celebrated somehow.  Friday was just a crap day, there was something negative in the air and it just didn't go away.

Saturday, on the other hand, was a wonderful day, a birthday party for my grandmother that we celebrated at my Mom's house with my uncles, aunt, cousins, and grandparents, just a wonderful day filled with comfort food and laughter.  Also, my sherry cake made its family debut and was very well received by all,  including several encores.

Sunday I went to my Mom's band concert, she plays the flute and piccolo in a community concert band, and they played some very cool marches, a Glenn Miller medley, it was a lot of fun.  Well, despite the perfectly timed surprise phone call from my husband who always seems to call me when I'm attempting to have a life, haha.  Never when I'm sitting at home doing nothing!  What am I going to do though?  He called right towards the end of the intermission and I leaped up to take the call and I got to talk to him for 45 minutes!!

They finished their 10 mile march home, which is sort of the final hurrah of the intense basic training, and are now doing a lot of "house-keeping" duties, inventories, cleaning weapons, etc.  He said at one point he was so tired that he was falling asleep while cleaning his weapon, dropping pieces on the floor and everything, haha.  I'd like the thank the army in advance for preparing my husband for taking care of a newborn.  He will be so used to sleep deprivation!  Their unit also got their berets which is a big badge of honor and means that they are that much closer to becoming graduated soldiers.  I cannot WAIT to see him.

In other news, I had to turn down THREE auditions because they conflict with our summer vacation in July/August.  I'm a little upset, but since this vacation is sort of my reason for living these days, haha, I'm not that bummed.  I can't wait for the sea and the sand and a rum swizzle!  I really do live to travel.  Tomorrow will be my first acting class and I'm still cramming my monologue to get it semi-memorized.

Also, these started growing... Spring is trying to get here, despite the icky snow predicted for tomorrow...