Good Friends!

I have many women I would call my good friends. They fit into 3 catergories

1) Old Friends...these ladies I have know almost literally since birth. We lived through middle school together, graduated high school together, partied through college, stood up at each others weddings and have celebrated babies together. We talk often about going on road trips when we get older and are retired. I know with all my heart that these ladies will always be my friends

2) New Friends...most of these dear women I have met since I have been an adult. Some from college, some from work and some are wives of my dear husbands friends. I love these ladies so much. They all make me laugh so hard and we have so much fun! I look forward to the continued growth of these friendships!

3) Family Friends...these gals are a blessing!! My sister has always been a support for me. She has watched me grow up and has always been there when I needed her. My step-mom has fit into an amazing place for me. She is part friend and part mom. We get to grow together in friendship and so much more! Lil sister has also been an amazing light in my life, she is always there for a great story and has such an amazing sweet spirit...I look forward to our friendship growing deeper and deeper.

I do not know what I would do without all of these ladies. Each one holds a place in my heart that could not be filled by another!

Blessed

I decided today that I want to change the tone of my blog. I do not want to be negative or judgemental. So I am going to try to write...when I do write...about how blessed I am. I need to remind myself often just how blessed my life is and I am going to start right now!

R and I are trying very hard to be wise with our finances. We want to get out of debt and have a good savings. I have been putting off getting my hair done because it is expensive and not a priority. Well this week I realized I could go on no longer, the gray is taking over...we talked about it and since I only have it done a few times a year we would put it in the budget and pinch somewhere else. Well this morning as I was opening the mail I received 2 unexpected checks. One from my little part time job, a bonus! One from my eye doctor...serious! We had over paid for something when we got our glasses...a year ago. These two checks will cover the cut and color and I will only have to pay for the tip. I am still amazed.

I have always known that the Lord blesses us when we are diligent and respectful of our finances. I just have to smile when he does it in such an unexpected way...I feel like he is smiling down saying "don't even try to understand, just feel blessed" So I am going to feel blessed and really enjoy my time being pampered.

The Oscar's

Oh, how I love a good awards show!

I love the beautiful dresses and the men in tuxes. I love the tearful acceptance speeches! I love that they can bring me to tears. I really imagine what it would be like to be in their shoes...I even think about the people I would thank and how I would honor my mom...makes me cry every time.

Here is a run down of my favorite moments!

Marion Cotillard winning for best actress. She was so cute and truly surprised. I love when the winner is genuine about winning.

"The Bourne Ultimatum" winning for all the technical awards. I love that movie so much so it made me happy that they won all the awards they were nominated in.

Tilda Swinton winning best supporting actress. He speech and comments to George were priceless. I can tell that they had a good time on set.

Diablo Cody winning for best original screen play for JUNO!!! The former exotic dancer did not disapoint with her animal print high slit dress! She was just as you might have expected from her bio on IMDB.com

Nicole Kidman...he little baby bump was so sweet. I am just so happy for her finally getting to be pregnant! She was certainly glowing.

Jennifer Garner looked beautiful!!

The memorial video made me cry from the first picture. I was preparing for the last photo to be Heath...and I am still sad for that loss.

Things I could have done without...John Stewart. I was missing Ellen.

Katherine Heigl...whoa easy on the makeup honey!

Didn't anyone tell her less is more???

Things I was sad were missing...ANJELINA AND BRAD! After the bump photos from saturday night I was really hoping to see them again. Oh well...I am sure the stinkin paps will hunt them and get more pictures for us! But...I will never post those pics. I prefer the ones the people actually knew were being taken. I do not like it when the kids are there and I can only imagine what those little minds are thinking.

The Grammy's

I watched most of the Grammy's tonight...well actually more like I listened to them. Here are a few of my comments:

Country rocks! I really like Carrie Underwood...she is cute and sassy. Her songs say something without being overtly sexual!

Kanye made me cry. Generally I do not like him at all...but my heart is all to familiar with his pain. I stood in the kitchen listening to his tribute to his mom and cried.

I don't understand Rihanna's neon nails and her jewel tone dress. Is it 1985???

I don't understand Beyonce's outfit...she is beautiful but she should wear pants! Why is she so blond???

TIna Turner looks really fake and who thought silver spandex was a good idea? yikes

Are shorts the new skirts?? Seems like more than one woman performed in short shorts

Amy Winehouse...oh where to begin? I guess it is fitting that her song is about going to rehab. When she gets clean she needs to go to hair product rehab!

There you go...please feel free to add your comments!

Dreaming of a different world!

I hope you vote...I know I have taken it too lightly in my life. I don't anymore. You can't even attempt to make a difference if you don't use the resources you are given. We are so lucky to have all the outlets for our energy and our opinions. I want to see a change. I want to believe there is good in all people. I want to know that enough people with one focus can make a difference.

"Where two or more are gathered, I am there" God

Believe. Hope. VOTE!!!!

going for it on my own

So...I have decided to do weight watchers online...on my own. I was finding an increased anxiety about going to the weigh ins each friday morning. It started on thursday and would last about 24 hours. I will follow the program, weigh in myself and be forgiving of my mistakes. I guess I know deep down this is my battle and I want to have it be my victory. I do not want a guilt victory...or an anxious one! I will keep you posted.

DEAL OF THE WEEK!!! I thought I would let you know the great deal at my favorite store:
Healthy Heart Granola bars, 6 = .99

Love that store!!!

My favorite store...and the weigh in!!!

So Friday I weighed in after a week of being very vigillant. I dropped 2.4!!! I am now at my lowest weight since being back on WW! I am so happy. I think being back to work is helping. I have more of a schedule and I am too busy to cook. so I eat whatever sweet R perpares for us! So kind of him. I am going to keep on...hopefully I can get to my first 15lb goal by valentines day!

My favorite store: For many people who know me this may be surprising. I am the girls who buys most of my clothes at JCrew, shoes at Nordstrom and makeup at Bare Escentuals. I have Ralph Lauren Dishes, towels and sheets. So you can see that I like name brands, new and clean! But I have a secret love affair with....the grocery outlet! I know, shocking! I went the first time to buy tick tacks. I had spent a few years teasing my Mother in Law about going there, I called it the "used food store" She swore it was fabulous...all I could think of was goodwill. ick.

Then on a trip she had these fabulous tick tacks. They were huge and yummy, of course she bought them at the grocery outlet. I humbled myself and went to find them.
Now for those who have never been to a grocery outlet you may think like I did...all the food would be wierd white labels with black type "peas". I was SO wrong. First thing in the doors was a HUGE crate of cheeze its for 99 cents. The boxes were banged up a bit but that was all...I bought 6 boxes. I walked though with my mouth agape. Tampons half the price of Costco. The $3 soy creamer at safeway was 79 cents and had more than a week left to expire. I was hooked! I do 80% of our shopping there. I get lunches in the freezer section and the most I ever pay is 2.49. I get pasta, crackers, all our cleaning supplies, candy, chips, cereal, granola bars, ice cream...if it comes in a box I get it there and I save about $100 a month on lunches alone.
I am in love...we date once a week. It is a great adventure, never know what I am going to find, it is new all the time. Aussie shampoo 2 bottles for 2.99 just last week!