Hooray for Aly {that almost rhymes}

Hoooooraaayyyy, Aly finally became an official member/follower!!! Aly is one of my most faithful readers, she has been reading since the very beginning of the blog, now she's an actual full fledged follower... of course now I'll be expecting to see some comments left by her ;)

Thanks ALY!!!!

Back to Week1

Soooo Tuesday I started back at the beginning of the C25K program...
I realize that I am having a tough time deciding where to go/what to do, to get myself ready for this 5K.  But I do know that I'm toooo slow and still can't run the entire thing. Lots of work to do still.  So here's how today went:

5minute warm up walk{3.5mphs}
alternate run and walk for 36 minutes~
1minute runs{5.0mphs} and 1.5 minute walks{3.6mphs}
At a .5 incline
at least 2, possibly 3 of the runs I did for 1.5 minutes
5minute cool down walk
TOTAL TIME=46minutes
TOTAL DISTANCE=3.1miles{5K}
NEW PB!! YAY!!

Now this would ALL be soooo much easier if I had my iPhone with my C25K app running, and my own play list of music!!! Maddy broke her new iPhone Friday, so she has been using my phone.  I've been using one of the business phones, which are old school, normal cell phones.  I LOVE my iPhone, I miss my iPhone!! I do not know how I lived this long with out one!!  I miss having a camera on my phone and Instagram.  I miss Instagram the MOST!!  Hopefully Maddy's new phone will arrive today and I will be back in business!! The things we do for our children.
Another fat update...  This weekend I tried on my shorts, and they were too big!! YAY!! That gave me the courage to dig to the WAY BACK of my "jeans section" of my closet, where I keep those 3 pair of jeans I LOVE but can no longer fit my fat ass into.  THEY FIT!!!! WOOOOHOOO!!!
Don't get me wrong, I won't be winning any America Next Top Model contracts anytime soon, but it's progress.  And progress is what keeps me going.  My progress is sloooooowwww. But I'm getting there.  85 pounds was a lot easier to gain than it is to lose!!! Now to decide, should I just throw out all my too big clothes, or keep them, knowing that after this 5K is over, I may go back to my fat and happy lifestyle. I'm just not sure yet...

PROJECT updates...
theBoys are gonna be gone most of the weekend, to the recording studio, finishing up the new CD.  SOooo, Maddy and I have decided to finish the painting project!! We are gonna clean and paint her bedroom and library area.  I am hoping we are ambitious enough to finish it all in one weekend!! Then next week I can clean out the messy corner of the garage, that houses a mountain that is considered "my stuff" to clean out!! theBoys are moving very slowly on their music studio room, I think they are holding out hope that I will finish it for them... We need to get ALL of this handled VERY soon, as it's getting warm and new duct work is going to be run for the upstairs, FINALLY!!! YES, we've lived here like 12years now, YES, my husband is a heating contractor, and YES, we are finally getting heat and a/c upstairs!!  Tallon is going to be working on recording a band in the studio soon, so MUST FINISH this project NOW!!!

OH, and I'm almost caught up on my Project Life album... NEVER letting myself get this far behind again!!! 

So, the craziness continues...
5K training for me
half marathon training for Maddy
horses
camera club
studio projects
dirtbikes
music
work
sunshine
painting
de-cluttering

Thank You, My Readers

Sometimes it's hard for me to figure out all the stats and information about this blog... But I did recently notice a couple of things...
 I not have 3 actual followers/members!!! So I just wanted to take a quick second to give a shout out, and say Thanks for recently becoming members, to Rhonda and Carol!!! Thanks for reading!!!

I've also noticed that I have at least 1 reader in Germany and Russia... wish you'd leave a message on the blog!! It'd be fun to have a clue as to who you are, and what brings you to my blog!!!! And Thank you for reading!!!

And of course, there are a few faithful followers, who I know personally, who read this, but aren't "members" but I know you read, so thank you also for coming back, over and over!!!

I'm glad to have all of you reading this.  I'm not sure what it is that makes you all want to read the strangeness that I ramble on and on about, but THANKS  for putting up with it!!!  I hope it doesn't bore you to tears!!!

The Ice Cream Binge~74 DAYS!

How was YOUR holiday weekend??? Mine, long, hard work, fun!!!
Okay, one of the reasons {among many} I started this blog was to have a place to document my journey to The5K, health, fitness, lifestyle change, and to be held accountable to the goals I had set before me...

Sooooo to be totally honest there was a bit of an Ice Cream binge this weekend!! Okay... a BIG Ice Cream binge!!!

BUT that is over!!! There will be NO MORE BINGEING OF ANY KIND for the next 74 days!!! That's right, TODAY marks the beginning of the serious training for the 5K.  TODAY marks the beginning of the countdown. Eleven Weeks, or 74 days until I RUN the 5K at the Gratiot County  Fair for Youth.
So, in honor of starting the countdown, I'm going to go back and recap, why exactly I'm doing this! {If you've heard this story, feel free to ditch out now! If you don't want to hear the story that's cool too... I do tend to ramble on!!!}
Alrighty...
In late July of 2011, Maddy and I were at the fairgrounds, sitting at a table, in the food booth, piling down a mountain of pancakes and sausage. Wait wait wait, I'm getting ahead of myself again.  In late May when Kathy, so wonderfully offered to let Maddy show Chip, I knew it was going to be a lot of work for Maddy, especially given the short time to prepare him for fair in late July.  She was also working a 40hr a week job in MtPleasant and working with/raising a feeder steer. Thankfully she got help along the way from Shelli and Coleton and even Kathy and Katie, but I knew I would be of little or no help to her.  My skill with, or knowledge about, the animals is pretty limited.  So I did what I could, occasionally pushed a broom, shoveled poop, braided a tail and banded a mane.  If you've never shown animals at the fair or had children who have, let me tell you it's exhausting hard work.  You are up at the crack of dawn, out in the hot sun all day, running from barn to barn, cleaning stalls, working with animals, bathing animals, readying them to show, going to bed late.  This year also brought with it the added stress of Chip having a horrible Thrush issue that required a farrier, special shoes, pain meds, and being kept in a very dry, clean stall for a couple of days.  {Did I mention that Chip doesn't particularly enjoy being cooped up in the stall???} Let's just say, when he finally got the green light to work again he was a bit rambunctious!!! Oh, and let's not forget the late night phone call to tell us, that Chip had tried to kick his way OUT of his stall, and we would need to come repair some hinges!!!
And this brings me back to the July, the last day of the fair.  ~Maddy and I are sitting there exhausted, staring at our empty plates, having just consumed copious, colossal amounts of sugar, in a record amount of time. Discussing what needs to be done today, getting Chip back home and such. We discussed how emotionally overwhelming the week had been and how well she had done showing.  I had this sudden welling of pride in her ~all the hard work she had done to get there,  how hard she had worked all week to get through this, and how important Chip's health had been to her-above all other things, and of course the ribbons she had earned.   I knew I had NOT done enough, as a parent, to help her prepare for this {but yet I had done all I was capable of doing} and I felt this insane, sugar induced need to find a way, ANY way to prove to her how proud I was of all her HARD work.  I looked out the window and saw  all these crazy people getting ready to run the 5K, and I blurted out... "Next year I will run that 5K for you!" And she said "It's a deal!" {okay there were more details to this conversation, but those are the highlights, and the important stuff} So right then and there a pact was made.  She would work her ass off and show again next year, and I would run a 5K to prove to her how proud I was... Now this may seem a bit crazy and in your minds you may be thinking what does running a 5K have to do with proving to her how proud I am???? Well, you see Maddy is all about working hard, physical fitness, eating healthy, determination, and proving to yourself, that you can be your best. So THIS seemed the best way to honor her. OR maybe it was the sugar from that giant stack of pancakes, either way the deal was made and there was NO turning back!  I do what I can to NEVER break a promise to my kids and they do their best to NEVER break promises they've made... so I was locked in, to a promise I'd made!!
Keep in mind that at the time, I was at my heaviest weight, EVER {yes, even exceeding my 9month pregnancy weight, by 30+ pounds!!}  and in the worst shape of my life {hadn't run since my Freshman year in high school!}, and my diet was horrible, {consuming a 32oz fountain Mt.Dew, a king size Reese's peanut butter cup, and a sausage muffin with cheese for breakfast EVERY day!!}
I knew I had a long way to go and that it would be a constant struggle to achieve the goal of ~Running a 5K and NOT dying of a heart attack!!! I stand here, today with 11 weeks left to train and STILL a long way to go.  There are days I still doubt that I can accomplish my goal, but I will NOT stop trying.  I've lost over 13 pounds, I'm eating healthy, and I can walk a 5K... maybe NOT big accomplishments to most people, but for me HUGE progress. Maddy is working a 40hr/week job, working Chip/readying him to show, and training for a half marathon herself, I will not stop training.
I WILL NOT stop training! I WILL keep trying.  I WILL NOT have any more binges until this thing is DONE!!!!  ~I WILL soldier on for the next 74 days!!! I WILL  RUN that 5K, and prove to my daughter just how proud of her I am!!! I MIGHT make a fool of myself, but I will RUN!!!

  LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!!

 For the next 74 Days, it's ALL about her, NOT the ice cream!!!

Today Was Race Day!!

Well, today was the day... Race Day!!!
I was up at 6AM, to get to registration before the rush {since I forgot about that last night.} and then ran out to get Ryan and my breakfast shake by 7AM.  It was raining a bit this morning, that kinda sucked, but at least it wasn't hot!!  We headed out at 8:30, which seemed like plenty of time since the race didn't even start until 9, but NO, we had to park about a mile away from race start!! That meant before I even started the 5K, I had to walk an entire 1K just to get to the race-before it started.  {And, of course, take a last minute pee} At 8:50 we pinned our numbers on, went to the back of the line and we were off to the races, literally.  We blew by a few old people, like it was nothing, but that's where the excitement ends...  Was I nervous, yes, I won't lie, I was a bit nervous.  Was it harder than I thought it would be, yes, and no! To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect.  Some parts were easier, like, finishing, and knowing there were people watching the race.  Some parts were harder, like, the hills, and not having my music working properly.   Remember, the whole goal of this was to see what it was like to walk outside and to see how much work really needed to be done to prepare for the actual race I would HAVE to RUN on August 10th.
I did learn a few things...
Next time~ I will NOT work out the day before a race.
Next time~ I will NOT stay up until 1:30AM and get back up at 6AM. I will get more rest.
Next time~ I will NOT use any MP3 player, except my own, which has my playlist and works properly.
Before Next time~ I need to get faster, be more fit, and run outside {and uphill} more!!

My stats...
Time~49.07
Pace~15:49

Not horrible, considering that's about what I do on the treadmill, so it's acceptable for my first trip outside. My ideal, perfect time would be 10 minute miles, but what are the chances I can actually cut 5:49 off each mile... slim to none!!! So I will be happy with just RUNNING the entire event and living to tell about it!!! No more rock shows the night before running a 5K!!! AHHHH THAT's a BIG FAT LIE!!!  If theres' a rock show, I'm there!!! I'd rather have poor times, than miss a good rock show!!!

Wanna see pics??? There aren't any from the actual race. Not even iPhone ones, cuz my daughter broke her phone and I've been letting her use mine. Which sucks, but I do need her to be safe, especially cuz she's out of town!! So, no Instagram feed for a few days either!!!

LOVE how the #tag has your age AND size on it!! NICE, huh!?!?!

Got REALLY cool, actual running shirts~ not cheap t-shirts 

also got a bag full of goodies, including this glass
which I'm calling my "trophy" and putting
in my studio, probly fill it with paint brushes

BEER TENT~FRIDAY NIGHT

Preparing a set list for rock show.

So far a pretty good holiday weekend!  Hope you are all enjoying yourselves too!!!

Tried Something Different Today!

Today, I got up and went to the gym... On my day off!!! Yep, that's right!!! I've decided that I can handle going more then 3 days a week.  I also decided that my ADD brain could NOT handle a 22 minute straight jog today.  I could NOT afford to be left alone with Self Doubt.  I knew she was out there, lingering, again!!! So, I opted to go back to Week1Day1 and start at the beginning, only actually run, not jog!  I ran at 5.0mph.  Still not fast enough to qualify me for a 10 minute mile, but way faster than 4.0mph.  For me it was like sprinting, my little short, fat, legs were hauling ass!!!  WHEW!! And I did sweat like a pig!! AND funny thing, the distance I covered was about the same, burned more calories though.  I may start a program of alternating every other day sprinting/jogging distance.  Who knows!!

Tonight after work we will go down town and register for the 5K, or pick up info, since I already pre-registered.  Band equipment will need to be delivered to the BEER TENT {I'm refusing to call it a hospitality tent!!} And the festivities will begin!!! theBoys will play at about 10pm, I'm pretty excited for a rock show!!! But then I'm ALWAYS excited about a rock show!!!

I will hopefully have pics to post before the weekend is over, if not, it may be safe to assume that I'm in the hospital recovering from the 5K walk/jog attempt!!!

Countdown to 5K...

Yep, it's just a couple of days now until my first "practice" 5K.  I know I do NOT intend to run the entire thing, and I KNOW I can make it the entire way, BUT the truth is... I'm starting to get a little nervous and starting to doubt myself a little!!! "What was I thinking.  I'm gonna look like a big fat fool! What if I don't make it? This was a stupid idea.  All those people are gonna see me make a fool of myself!!"

I must stop thinking like this!!!

I CAN do it!
I MIGHT look like a FOOL ~ WHO CARES!!!
This is ABOUT ME.
I WILL finish, it MAY be UGLY, but I will finish!!


Today at gym...
5 minute warm up walk
21 minute jog
5 minute cool down walk

Going again tomorrow morning!!!

Maddy, Chip & What I've Learned at the Barn.

Let me start this {EXTREMELY LONG} post by explaining, to everyone who doesn't know me personally, the horse situation.  I shall start at the beginning, and give the highlighted version of things. If you were to visit our house, you would believe we live in the country, but legally speaking, we are NOT. And with my husband, Ryan's, motocross racing we were/are gone a lot!! And add to that our complete lack of knowledge, as to how to care for a horse, we decided a long time ago, that despite Maddy's love of horses,  that we would never be able to own one.  It was a tough decision but at the time, but the only one.
My daughter Maddy, has had a LONG history of loving horses. And my BFF, Shelli, who I have been friends with since middle school, has also had a LONG history of loving, riding, and working with horses.  So When Maddy showed an interest in horses, Shelli thought she should take a few lessons.  So we signed her up, with a wonderful instructor, Maple Smith.   Maddy rode every horse in Maples barn at some point during her lessons, and was even fortunate enough to show one of them, Kelly.  Unfortunately, Kelly was pretty old and had such bad cataracts she was practically blind. So they only showed once, but Maddy loved that horse.
Life got busy for Maddy with school and Volleyball and she stopped taking lessons for several years, but her love of horses remained!! She had an opportunity to show a friends horse at fair one summer and then was done for another couple of years. Last Summer, Maddy was given the ultimate offer, to ride a horse named Chip.  Maddy has known his family, and watched them show at fair, so she was familiar with Chip.  His girl, Katie, was too old to show anymore and was off at College, so Chip was just hanging out, doing nothing.  They only live just a few miles away from us. Chip hadn't been ridden for a couple of years, so they had a lot of work to do and a very short time to do it in ~since she started working with him the beginning of June and fair was the end of July!! Shelli was happy to jump on board and be the show mom! SO THANKFUL for that!!!! They worked hard and Maddy took very good care of Chip.  She did everthing she could to learn, as fast as she could, how best to care for an older show horse, who may have had a few injuries. She is now TOTALLY in love with this horse!!! And this has been the greatest experience she could have ever been given. I will never be able to repay the gifts people have offered Maddy!!! At the end of season, his owners told Maddy she was welcome to show him again this year. She was thrilled!!! At this point I was still not the worlds biggest fan of horses, but watching their relationship evolve had been wonderful and I've come to have a greater appreciation for the horses!! Now this story really is going somewhere, I promise.

 I've been going out to the barn a lot in the last few months, with Maddy. Recently Chips owners were off on vacation for Spring Break. Normally Maddy handles feeding and stuff while they are gone, but becuz she was at college and busy with some other stuff, I offered to handle the morning feedings for her. Crazy!! I know!! I've fed before, once or twice, here and there. BUT I've never been in a barn alone for more that 5-10 minutes.  I cleaned Magics stall for Maddy, cuz I knew she was just tooo busy to be able to handle everything. This was a very eye opening experience for me. I have learned some things at the barn. I can see where "horse people" find the barn to be an enjoyable, peaceful experience.  I think if you shared a special bond with a horse it would be even greater, but I kind of get it.  I don't LOVE shoveling shit! Maddy makes it look way easier than it is, and she even looks like she enjoys it. I HATE stupid ass pigeons, they are messy and shit everywhere!! And I will NEVER love listening to country music, and I swear that you can NOT get any other radio channels in ANY barn!! If I ever owned a barn, for what ever reason, I would put a giant satelite on top of that thing so I could get some good music!!! Seriously!!!!! But I will admit that it's nice being out there on a sunny morning, enjoying nature.

During this time, Maddy was feeling so guilty about not getting out there as often as she'd like, but seriously, I do believe that Chip has such a strong bond with her that he realizes that, at this exact moment in time, he is THE SINGLE most important thing in her life, and that if she can't be there, there is a reason for it.  HE knows that while she sits in class, she is thinking how she would rather be sitting on him. HE knows that while she is running, she is trying to do her part, to be fit, to be the best rider she can be. He knows that when she is at work, she is earning enough money to buy his new boots, to help him feel better. HE KNOWS!! How does he know??? Well, here are some other interesting things I've learned at the barn, over time...
 It's hard to express with words {cuz, while I can talk fast and furious, I'm just not that eloquent} what I see happening between her and this horse, BUT I swear that there is that moment when they are together, just enjoying each others company, that their souls actually share a common space. There is an electrical charge in the air, that surrounds only them, that you could feel if you could get close enough to reach out and feel for it.  And that is how he is able to KNOW, so completely, that she loves him, becuz he has seen into her heart and soul.  I can tell you that it's truly magical and that he is the BEST thing that has ever happened to her. He gives her a great gift. When she is with him, she glows. He brings out the best in her. When they are together you can see the stress of her days, slip slowly away from her. It's like he says to her, "Maddy you just ride, I posses the ability to make everything else disappear, even for a just a little while. While the wind blows through your hair, your cares will blow away!" And you can see it, the all encompassing joy that she feels, when they are together. With him, she can truly be FREE. He allows her to be herself, he brings no judgements. He doesn't care if she is silly, or sings off key.
I'm convinced that what makes this bond special is that He can also see the love she feels for him in the way she cares for him, the way she checks, checks, and rechecks his legs for swelling, the way she cares for his thrush sensitive hooves, the way she grooms him, the way she talks to him. She tries to repay everything he has given her, in the only way she can, by caring for him.

If you have never witnessed such a thing, or you are NOT a "horse person" you may believe I am crazy. But I have witnessed it with my own eyes.  I have gained so much perspective about horses just from watching Maddy and Chip.  Horses are truly the MOST magical creatures I've ever seen.  Before this I had no idea, just how intuitive horses were.  How they each have their own, powerful personalities. How incredibly intelligent they are.  If you are ever lucky enough to have a horse choose you to be their rider {and I now believe there is a difference between allowing and choosing!} to allow your soul to share a space with their souls, to be part of their herd, to have a horse look into your heart and let you look into his~ consider yourself the luckiest person on the planet.  I've not ever been "chosen" and that's okay!!  But I've been allowed to see it, and still consider myself lucky!!! I am thankful to Chip and even Magic for letting me witness such a thing, and for giving my daughter such a wonderful gift.

Now, I'll share a pile of pics ~I only wish my camera could capture the feeling that I speak of...

This one is me and Magic, she likes to share my cereal while we watch Maddy and Chip ride!!

I've learned a  lot at the barn...
I appreciate all the people who have helped Maddy out and continue to help her.
I appreciate Chip and the Great Gift he has given to Maddy
You can all continue to think I'm  a bit on the crazy side!!!!

Week 6, Day 3

I know I said I was giving up on the C2K5 training program, and I kind of did.  But today I managed to run  JOG for a full 22 minutes straight.  Still slow, but getting there!!! I really think at this point maybe a personal trainer would be handy, BUT I do not have one, so I shall continue doing things my way!! Not much else to report today, aside from the 22 minute jog.  I am going to start going to the gym more frequently, I do believe.  See how that feels.  I don't think it will hurt me, at this point.  Still trying to decide if I should add weight training or just run more days... I do NOT know about weight training, so would need to enlist the help of my husband, he'll LOVE that!! Okay, I'm sure he WON'T, but he'll do it anyway, and pretend that he doesn't find me funny!!! But inside, he'll be laughing at me, cuz I'm sure it WILL be funny, me lifting weights! I will NOT be able to stop myself from being snarky, it's just how I am!!

Alrighty then.
 Today, I got some catching up to do, picking up some messes around the studio, picture orders, getting some pics uploaded to Flicker, considering how/when to get my shit back on track and proceed with this painting projects!!! Ordering some band shirts. Getting the Merchandise bucket ready for show. Get calendar for June-July updated a bit. Busy work...
Tonight~  Horse work session at Fair grounds, so I'll be going there with Maddy.
Wednesday~ gym, work, Camera Club meeting
Thursday~ gym, work, considering a trip to Lansing to buy my husband a cool new T-shirt
Friday night~ Nervz End {husband & sons band} will be playing at the Beer Tent at the Highland Festival
Saturday~ 5K, festival events, groceries, who knows what else...
Sunday~ husband & son racing the dirt bikes at Valley Motocross
Monday~ maybe nap, try to get house back in order after crazy weekend.

So don't be shocked if you don't hear from me much this week, things could get crazy!!! BUT check the Instagram feed, or follow me on Instagram and you can stay up to speed on the wild and craziness we call LIFE!!!

Summertime is Here

YES!! Summertime IS HERE!!!

This statement means 1,000 different things to 1,000 different people.  To me, to my tribe, it means we will be crazy busy for the entire next 3-4 months!! We cram 1,000 activities into these sun filled months, and we will enjoy as much of it as we possibly can!!!

Last weekend went something like this...
Friday night:
theBoys had band practice
I made a feeble attempt at cleaning the house,
Went to WalMart
Colored my hair
Maddy and friend watched movies at Tallons place

Saturday:
Gym
{back to} Walmart
Maddy and I had health analysis done
Went to bridal shower
Ryan got groceries
Cleaned house
I went to one Graduation open house/Maddy went to another {then she was off to Grand Rapids to visit a "person of importance", they went to Lake Michigan for the day on Sunday}
Ryan entertained friend from Utah
Bon fire
Watched motocross
Bed about 3AM

Sunday:
Morning walk
Trip to new Dick's sporting goods in MtP with Tallon {I got new headphones and an armband strap thingy for my iPhone}
Tallon took the dogs to his place so they could swim in the pond
Ryan and I went to a Bowl-A-Thon fundraiser~rode the road bike, yay!
Went out with friends for Pizza!! Yes, Ryan was naughty and had pizza!!!
Maddy went to barn
Yet another trip to WalMart, so Maddy could get her groceries for the week

Whew... I need 3 day weekends for the rest of the Summer
The plan for next weekend is just about as crazy... BUT that is how we roll!! We like to be busy, yes our house is always a mess, no I never get caught up on laundry, the lawn might get mowed, but not before it is too long, and the weeds may/may not get weed wacked!!
 Life is short, we live it to the fullest!!!

Small Steps, Happy Moments

Interesting morning...
Went to the gym, did my thing...

5 minute warm up walk
20 minute STRAIGHT jog
4 minute walk
6 minute jog
4 minute walk
4 minute jog
6 minute cool down walk
Total Distance=3.105
Total Time=49 minutes

Okay, I'm still not fast but HOLY CRAP I jogged for 20 minutes, that's Crazy Talk!!! So BIG HAPPY MOMENT!!!
Maddy and I went out to Right Way Nutrition and had this Analysis thing done, where they calculate your health info. like your BMI and % body fat and muscle mass and such.  Now this was NOT such a HAPPY MOMENT, BUT I wasn't shocked by the results.  I'm not convinced the calculations are completely accurate, but it's a decent gauge, I think.  Plus they come back and do it again, every few months, so it seems like I good way to judge my progress.  I made them NOT show me the weight.  I wanted so bad to know, but I made a deal with myself and I'm sticking to it.  I think the contracts you make with yourself are kinda important, it's not good to cheat on yourself!!! So I exercised some self control, which is ALWAYS a HAPPY MOMENT for me, not to mention few and far between!!!
I now it's kinda dorky, and that my achievements aren't so BIG that they are really blog worthy, but to me these things seem HUGE.  I can look back to a blog a few weeks ago and see when I struggled to jog 5 minutes straight, and was unable to exercise ANY control at all!!  I still do NOT believe I will EVER be completely in control of my bad eating habits, chocolate will continue to be my nemesis, but every little step is still a little step in the right direction, and according to my Analysis I need to make these steps as my metabolic age is 73yrs.

Resolution Recap, and Some Pics from last Weekend

Well, it's been about 2 weeks since we did this, so to prevent me from forgetting any of the awesome things I might have done, I'm doing it again this week.  Originally my goal was to do it every week, but per my normal, that didn't work out.  I'm cool with changing my plans, it's how I roll!!

*Reclaim some order~ egh. Nope, not really. But I will be reclaiming some before today is over.  House is getting clean, tonight, somehow!!! Cuz Ryan's having a motocross party/bonfire Saturday night.
*Project list ~nope
*Reclaim attic and library areas, still at a stand still there... not entirely my fault, need paint. Need my daughter to clean her room, so I can finish that before the attic gets done.
*Reclaim my health and fitness~ Aside from what is either a cold, that continues to come and go, or allergies- I seem to be feeling pretty good. Which has not always been the case when I've tried to be physically active, so that's good.  TMI-my cycle seems to have returned to a normal pattern, and that's helping too I do think!! I'm feeling pretty good about my treadmill times.  They still suck, but for ME they are awesome and that's who we are talking about here so... I'm good
Now on a side note... Ryan suggested that I STOP weighing in so often.  I get his point, but it's hard to not see an actual # that shows actual proof that you are making progress.  The problem started to become that I would get bummed out if I hadn't lost a single pound or as many as I thought I should be loosing. Or heaven forbid if I gained a pound {or 4 -in 2 days}  then I was completely freaked out.  So I decided he was probly right.  Especially since I had decided several years back to get rid of as many of the toxic relationships in my life as possible.  And the relationship with the scale, is TOXIC!!! So no weighing for me this week.  It was hard a couple of times at work, I really wanted to jump on and just see what it said, but I fought the urge.  My reward????? WELLLLL, funny you should ask!!! I was trying on some shirts last night, trying to find something to wear to a bridal shower Saturday, and I found a shit in my closet that I bought a while back {that was too small but I kept anyway cuz it was dirt cheap} and I thought I'd just try it on real quick and see how close to fitting it MIGHT be. It FIT!! Then I tried on a pair of dress pants I haven't been able to wear for YEARS, they FIT TOO!!!! So he's right, I do not need a scale.  When I started this journey, my goal was to finish the 5K without dying.  To improve my eating habits, and my overall health.  The weigh loss is just a happy by product of the healthy habits and lifestyle change.  So I'm pretty proud of things this week!!! Sure, we have a bridal shower and an Graduation open house Saturday. Then a bowling benefit on Sunday, so by Monday morning they may not fit me again!!!LOL!!!
*Run/finish 5K~August 11th, and  signed up to walk/jog a 5K, for practice on May 26th!!
*Look for inspiration in new places~Pinterest, oh and I read a Men's Health magazine this week.
*Desire to create~got it, just need to feel better, and have some time
*Project Life AND regular scrapbook~ worked on PL this past week, almost caught up. Maybe will finish it up on Tuesday
*Blog 3-5 times per week~ yep
*Art classes~nope
*Take better pics~ took some good pics last weekend at horse show and got some good flower pics this week
*Camera club ~meeting was rescheduled for next week.
*Reclaim some adventure~ Big YES, on this one!! Ryan and I went for a long ride on the bike last Friday night. Got me a new helmet and leather gloves, got pizza, stopped at a bon fire, ran out of gas{luckily we have a reserve tank} Decided this bike is NOT the most comfortable ride, but it's fun.  The world definitely looks different when, the only thing separating you, from the awesome sun set, is a thin piece of plastic that happens to have a few bug guts on it!!!  We rode it for a quick trip to WalMart this week also.
*Control over financial situation~ as much control as you can have when you are pretty much poor!LOL!!! I do need to save my allowance up for a new pair of headphones and an armband for my iPhone-for jog/walking.
*Time management skills~ yeah, mostly been wasting time this week.  Been napping a lot! Tired of this nagging stupid frickin cold &/or allergies, whatever it is, it's pissing me off!!! But honestly, I've been feeling a bit better yesterday and today, so maybe I'm nearly done with that crap!!! Besides napping and wasting time, I haven't blow any apts or anything like that, so that's all good.
*One Little Word ~Doing crappy with the actual class stuff, but feel like I'm doing good with the actual act of RECLAIMing my life.  I will get caught up on the class stuff eventually, I think.  Not sure I have really been enjoying the assignments to be totally honest!!! But, it is what you make of it, and most likely when I get back at it, I will decide to go my own way a bit, cuz, again, that's just how I roll!!

Maybe a few quick photos... Maddy had horse show last weekend. Come as you are show, that means no formal wear.

Showmanship class.  He was naughty, today. They got 3rd. He is very handsome!

English classes.  They placed 2nd, and 2nd

A bit dusty, too. 

Western classes, again he was very naughty is these classes.
Placed 4th and 5th

Fun classes ~ Simon says~2nd place

She LOVES to ride bareback, and they do very well at it too!!
Bareback Equitation Class {she rode English, and that means you still have to post} and was the only girl to choose to ride it English.  They took 1st place, and judge was very impressed.

Ride-a-Buck ~They won!!
The object of this class is, you place a $1 bill between your leg and the horse and ride, lose your $1, you are out.  Last person with money, wins ALL the $$$$!! 

Another fun class, Double Bareback... half way through you must switch riders ~without getting off horse!
Had a great time and they got 2nd, but in their defense it was a VERY last second decision to even ride this class, and Maddy had never even been on this horse. Their switch from front to back was fabulous though...

In spite of his occasional naughtiness, she LOVES this big, old guy!!!

Chillin' out before the Bareback and fun classes begin.  And reading through the show bill
they do like to hang out together.

The bike...

We are street legal now!!

My new helmet and gloves! Happy Mothers Day!!!

Maddy and I went to see Dark Shadows on Sunday, with some girl friends, on Mothers Day!!

And... A pretty spring sunrise