Get your mind out of the gutter, this post isn't anything dirty. I'm in a book club! (Yes, I know I'm so punny!) I've always wanted to do a book club, but could never find anyone who read or just couldn't get it organized and scheduled. That has all changed. Tuesday night, I and 4 other friends gathered at my house to start our very own book club. We had dinner and discussed what books we want to read. We decided for our first book, we should read something none of us have read before so we settled on Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn. None of us have read it yet and know that it's been made into a film that will come out later this year. My friend, Ashley had posted on her blog about how she's challenged herself to read 16 books before they become movies. This one is on the list and we're all pretty excited about it.
Dinner was followed by the yummy deliciousness from 2 different bakeries: Muddy's (a local shop that's been here for a few years now) and Nothing Bundt Cake (just came to Memphis and has locations all over, it happens to be next to "my" Starbucks this is bad, y'all). Serously, y'all. Go getcha some! Now! I recommend the Lemon raspberry from NBC and the chocolate raspberry from Muddy's.
Our book club!
“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” ― Mark Twain
I knew the warm weather had to come to an end. It was nice while it lasted and it just makes me want spring to be here that much more. But, we can't wish our lives away. I think my daffodils got confused:
Oh, well. They're pretty while they last! The warm weather makes me look forward to outfits like this:
Soon, soon we'll be wearing these things for months. And speaking of outfits, Saturday my friend Kim (check out her blog KP Fusion) came over and we went through my closet. She and I met at Banana Republic, as she works there and I frequently shop there. We came up with lots of outfit combinations and let's just say I shouldn't have to go shopping for a loooong time. BOO!!! There are a few pieces I need to purchase:
- camel or cognac pumps (mine fell apart)
- silk cream colored top
- silk top in bold color
- colored denim
Remember my fashion challenge this past spring/summer? Stay tuned for a winter edition!
I've got to be honest, I've put off posting on this topic for a few reasons:
1: If I share my goals I'm held accountable.
2: Sharing my goals and struggles puts me out there. I'm often worried about sharing these things because I think people who may have bigger struggles with this than I do may think "what is she worried about?" or people who don't struggle will think "well, it's about time." But then I realized this: Everyone wrestles with something about their appearance and we can't worry about what other people think. We need to do what's best for ourselves, encourage each other and though we may not look exactly like we think we should and have areas to work on, we should embrace what we have and think positive.
3: I'm going to have to log everything and be honest with myself.
4: Did I mention I will be held accountable?
So, let's start at the beginning. When I got married, I wasn't at my ideal weight but I was okay. (Let me interrupt myself: when I say ideal weight, I don't really mean just the number of pounds I weigh but also how I look and feel about myself. But of course the 2 go hand in hand.) Isn't it funny how at the time we think we need to lose weight but when we look back we wish we were what we were then? So, since getting married almost 2 years ago I've gained about 10-12 pounds. My sweet husband tells me that that's no big deal. And it's not, except that 5 pounds a year won't be pretty come our 20th anniversary! I would like to lose these 10-12 pounds and maybe a little more. I'd also like to be in shape. Where to start?
I downloaded the "My Fitness Pal" app a year ago, but never did anything with it. One of my friends lost 50 pounds using it, so I thought I'd give it a whirl again. Although the thought of counting calories seems like a daunting task, this app makes it really easy. It has pretty much every food imaginable in it. It even lets you build recipes. I have done Weight Watchers before so I know about counting the points, but I find the calories easier. With calories, I don't have to convert things to points. I had success with Weight Watchers so I know that counting everything and tracking it is what works best for me. It also tracks your workouts. Now, it's only basing how many calories you burn based on what weight you put in the app, but it gives you a good idea. I have thought about investing in a watch that tracks all that. The other thing I like about the app is that you can put in the percentages for carbs, fat and protein you want to make up your daily diet. I think this is super helpful because I know I don't eat as much protein as I should.
As I said in a previous post, we are going to Walt Disney World the first week of April for our anniversary. I might not be exactly where I want to be by then, but that's the date I'm striving for. There are some shorts I want to fit into for the trip. I know that slow and steady wins the race. I'd love to get to my goal quickly, but I know that makes it easy to gain it right back. So a pound to a pound and a half a week is what I'm striving for.
I've decided (at least for now) I'm not going to post before and after pictures or state what I weigh. It doesn't matter and I don't want anyone to compare. I'm doing what's best for me and you have to do what's best for you. I will post what I've been eating, how I work out and recipes. Stay tuned!
The new Dallas season 3 premiere is tonight and I absolutely cannot wait! 2 Julys ago when it premiered I was so excited! When the credits came on I was postively sqealing as they paid homage to the original show.
The old:
The new:
Here's the preview for the new season:
Seriously, if you haven't watched it I recommend you check it out. You don't have to have ever watched the original to be caught up, but if you used to watch it you'll definitely appreciate it.
Here are 2 classic scenes from the original:
Tune in Monday night! You can watch episodes online to catch up.
A few weekends ago, we celebrated Christopher's grandmother's 90th birthday. She is such a sweet lady! She was a Wave in the Navy during WWII, where she met Christopher's grandfather. We love hanging out with her. One of our favorite activites is to go over to Grandmom's house and have pizza, beer and cards night. Of course we had to go big for her birthday, as 90 is kinda a big deal and well this lady is definitely a big deal!
We had the party at the clubhouse in her neighborhood. We did an openhouse so people could come and go when they wanted. She invited over 100 people and there were definitely that many people that came! I told you she's a big deal!
I found a similar invitation online, and thought a Ball Mason Jar theme would be perfect. Since Miss Betty is from Charleston, I wanted to encompass a Southern garden into the theme even if it is the dead of winter. The invitations were designed by the uber talented Nikki Hodum. Check out her adorable blog, The Fashionable Wife. She also has an Etsy shop for all your invitation/stationery/grapic design needs.
If you haven't picked up on this yet: I was born in the wrong time. I should be my parents' age. No, really. If I were my parents' age I'd have been the age I am now in the mid-80's. OMG would that have been fun! I'd have been in high school/college in the seventies. Which in my opinion is the greatest decade for rock. I mean hello! Lynyrd Skynyrd, Peter Frampton, Boston, Queen, Aerosmith, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac I could go (on and on) are the best bands ever. But I know for sure that in 1964 I would've been glued to my television set watching the 4 boys from Liverpool on the Ed Sullivan Show. 50 years ago today they got off the plane in America and rock music was forever changed.
So, I'm a little jealous that I wasn't alive (or even thought of, or that my parents hadn't even met yet) when the Beatles first came to America. I definitely would have had Beatleamania (and I guess I do now). But thanks to the technology of Youtube I can watch it and dance around my living room and pretend I'm 8 years old and dance around. Maybe if I had been around then my mom and I would've been friends and we would've watched it together? Even though that isn't possible, I am so happy that she introduced me to the Beatles. When I was 10, she took me to see Sir Paul, "the cute Beatle" at the Liberty Bowl. See post about him here. So, for all of those like me who weren't around back then and for all of those who were and want to re-live it I hope you'll enjoy the following:
I know I'm biased because my mom always ingrained this in my head, but don't y'all agree when I say Paul really was the cutest? Now, I have a hard time with this because I really don't agree with his politics (I mean c'mon dude, you're not an American citizen you don't even live here, so just shut up), BUT I do love the Beatles and really respect what they did for music as we know it. Below you will find a list of my favorite Beatle songs and you will see that I really did prefer these Beatles:
Over these Beatles:
My list (in no particular order):
Can't Buy Me Love
Do You Wanna Know a Secret
Drive My Car ( I may have choreographed a dance to this and performed it in my 4th grade music class talent show)
Saw Her Standing There
8 Days a Week
Help!
Hey Jude (LOVE!)
A Hard Days Night
Here Comes the Sun
I am the Walrus (my friend Lauren and I used to LOVE this song!)
I Feel Fine
I Want to Hold Your Hand
Lady Madonna
Ob La Di
Let it Be
She Loves You
Penny Lane
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band (I actually wrote my own lyrics to this about Mrs. Joyner's 4th grade class. If you have guessed, 4th grade is when my mom took me to see Paul in concert)
Paperback Writer
Yesterday
Magical Mystery Tour (his upright piano in concert had lights on it for this song)
All My Loving
She's a Woman
What are some of your favorite Beatles songs? I'm really looking forward to the 50th anniversary special on CBS Sunday night!
Y'all I am so late on this post it's not even funny. Today is February 1st and I'm posting on Christmas. But I loved this so much I didn't want to not post on it. So, let's turn the clock back and go back to December. My friend Ashley (be sure to check out her blog At Witz Inn) had a girls' Christmas movie night at her apartment building. She and her hubby live in this very posh building downtown that has a theatre room. Not only was it girls' Christmas movie night, but it was combined with a cookie swap.
Lasagna and Caesar salad dinner made by our hostess
It's my fault Ashley loves Lambrusco now. :)
How cute are the Mason jars?
Yep, that's right. She had movie candy on all our chairs.
We watched "It's a Wonderful Life," which has to be one of the greatest Christmas movie of all time.
I was excited to introduce it to a few friends who'd never seen it.
All the yummy cookies!
See? Wasn't that totally worth going back in time? Adorable little get together! Thanks, Ashley for a great time!
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