Sitting On It

...for six long months.

Most people have either gone through selling a house or will go through it at some point...and when you do, let me know so I can empathize with you!  And by empathize I mean for both you and for your family...they'll have to live with you!  I know what it's like to attempt maintaining perfection while surrounded by total chaos...it completely contradicts the harmony we all truly want in our home...but the sick side of me kind of liked the insane expectations I was permitted to keep during those long six months....I know sick, right!

WINTER

TEXAS SNOW BOOTS

MINI-SNOWSISTER

Here are my tips if your house is currently on the market currently!  During the painful process of showings...

• Keep a laundry basket in the family room that you can use to pile the left out toys and then throw that basket into the car with you when you leave during a no-warning showing.  
• Have a can of lysol so you can spray throughout the house as you walk out the door for a fresh smell when the potential buyer explores your home (I've heard freshly baked cookies is great, too...but remember I'm trying to keep in those skinny jeans).

Little Too Settled

After four years of living in (and working on) our beautiful two story home with the most precious neighbors EVER....

FRONT OF HOUSE

DINING ROOM

 PIANO ROOM

KITCHEN

KITCHEN NOOK

KITCHEN DESK

FAMILY ROOM

MASTER BEDROOM

MASTER BATHROOM

BEDROOM 2

BEDROOM 2

HALL BATHROOM

BEDROOM 4

OFFICE CLOSET

SCHOOL ROOM

BACKYARD

...we got the itch for

• more projects 
• a one story rancher
• being closer to town
• a neighborhood with more trees
• wooden floors throughout our home
• a house with more character and charm

Sunday PAPER: House

Welcome to another week of Sunday PAPER!


This was our 3rd week to be the First grade boys' Sunday school teachers.  Good times.  

• ice breaker - check
• music - check
• bible reading - check
• lesson - check
• prayer - check
• closing activity - check
• paper folding activity - CHECK!!!
• parent pick up - check

This week, we put the paper out of sight of the boys and when we were ready, we grabbed enough for each boy to have one sheet!  Then Lonnie lead the class in an origami lesson.  In keeping with the lesson on 'WORKERS' and in theme with our ice breaker where Lonnie brought his tool belt and let the boys practice drilling screws in a board...our first in our new series of paper folding was a HOUSE...which they put a lot of effort into coloring and drawing the bricks and roof!  Time went like clockwork.  No puzzled looks by those passing by and the children were well mannered when the next teachers arrived.  SUCCESS!

Here's the link for those who want to impress their own kids or calm their boys (at least for a few minutes).  ORIGAMI HOUSE

Somethings Gotta Go

This blog will hopefully motivate me to purge this house's ugly..because there's a lot of somethings gotta go at this address!   Somethings gotta stay though, I'll include some of my favorite things, too.

Since orgainzation is my passion, I'll fill you in with tips on decluttering,how we save money, and our monthly menu so we don't end up splitting fajitas for one at Pappasito's every meal (although I maybe could go for that)!   Speaking of eating out, I'll let you know my thoughts on maintaining healthy so my skinny jeans fit...I'm no expert, but I have a few thoughts!

I'll also post a little bit about party planning because we gotta keep life fun, too!  And as a homeschool mommy, I'm with my kids all day long, I may throw in a little about that, too!  We'll just have to see where the conversation goes, right!!!

So without further adieu...

Welcome to Our Home!
(Front Door's Gotta Go.)

Blog Story

I started this blog a few years back when I finally decided it was time to shed the baby belly pounds, the accountability online was great!  Never would I have imagined that the blog's title would have tons more significance then my overflowing muffin-top a few years later!  Somethings Gotta Go is totally where we are right now...and for more reasons then me hearing my baby holler "all done with my poopie" four times a day! 

Simplifying life has become a recurrent theme as we have moved into a house that pretty much needs to be gutted shortly followed by thousands of pharmaceutical reps being restructured out of a job, my hubby being one of the unlucky.  My hubby landed on his feet a few weeks later with the pursuit of a new career, investment banking, aka six months of tests, each required to maintain employment, huge goals and the excitement of straight commission, and a few more tests. I'm a little bit type A in personality so I can't say going with the flow is simple for me, but every big change holds the opportunity for big growth.  So, whether or not that growth is monetary, I'm choosing to let the growth opportunity spill all over me! 

HUBBY & SWEET B's

Sunday PAPER: Airplane

Welcome to another week of Sunday PAPER!

This was our 2nd week to be the first grade boys' sunday school teachers.  Good times.  

• ice breaker - check
• music - check
• bible reading - check
• lesson - check
• prayer - oops, remember next week
• closing activity - check
• parent pick up - NOT YET!

Once again, boys began grabbing stacks of paper from the supplies area and folding this way and that....airplanes began flying from every corner of the room....lots aimed at me!  No biggie, right.  Boys have energy - I have two of them, I understand!  We should have known by week two not to have easy access to the paper.  OOPS - when people passing by peeked into our classroom at peak chaos! They looked shocked!  Even BIGGER OOPS -  when the next sunday school teachers came in to relieve us for the second week in a row to total chaos!  Especially since that was really the only criteria we were given, please make sure the children are working on a quiet activity during the teacher transition period.  Hmmm, need SOLUTION for next week!

Silence

A spread of flags grace the lawn of Memorial Circle at Texas Tech. The flags represent each life lost in the September 11th attacks. (Zach Long/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Ten years ago, my mother-in-law and I had flown to Phoenix to attend a baby shower for my sister-in-law and help with the last touches on my nephew's nursery. Lonnie called early on the 11th and told us to turn on our television.  He stayed on the line but was speechless.  As our eyes watched in disbelief and horror we too were completely speechless.  Several days layer, in high alert, the airports reopened, and we were able to return home.  And just like the rest of the nation, we had a renewed passion to pursue what was truly important in life.  This year Monika, Nici and I were all together again and as Nici and I traveled back home on 9-11, the first leg of the trip neither of us had much to say as we listened to a sermon over the radio and reflected on the amazing miracles that happened in the midst of terror! 
A documentary called, The Cross and the Towers follows the rescue effort after the towers fell. Many of the responders witnessed miracles that almost couldn't be explained.  One rescuer said, “In the midst of the darkness, God’s light shown through.” 

Sunday PAPER

Welcome to another week of Sunday PAPER!

This was our FIRST week to be the 1st grade boys' sunday school teachers.  Good times.  

• ice breaker - check
• music - check
• bible reading - check
• lesson - check
• prayer - check
• closing activity - check
• parent pick up - NOT YET!

Boys began grabbing stacks of paper from the supplies area and folding this way and that....airplanes began flying from every corner of the room....lots aimed at me!  No biggie, right.  Boys have energy, right.  I have two of them, I understand!  Lesson learned, we'll try to stretch the above activities a bit and maybe add an additional!

My Favorite Salad

Feast or famine, right!?!? No posts forever and now here I go posting like its an obsession or something!

I had to share my favorite salad with you (thanks Ali for the recommendation). For those of you that have a nearby ChickFilA (sorry Michawn, not sure that includes you), go there and order the Southwest Chicken Salad with Light Italian dressing! Its 4 Weight Watcher points and speaking about obsessions, I'm passionate about this salad! Combine it with a small diet lemonade and you have the most perfect treat ever! (I didn't say it was cheap, I'm always shocked at how pricey ChickFilA is...I think the salad is $5 and the drink a bit over $1). Like I said, a fun treat!

Aimee's 18th - 19th Week's Update

Well, last week I got onto the scale and was up .8 pounds (oops). I knew that the fine dining would catch up! Guess I'll be more purposeful in eating choices! I'm fine if I don't loose more weight, but definitely don't want to gain weight!

And, now to this week...I'm happy to share that I'm back down 1.0 pounds (that's 0.2 pound less than my previous post). I'm pretty sure I was bloated --- how embarrassing to type that! I do feel lots better eating more at home now.

I think that I'm probably finished with my weight loss, but I plan to post somewhat consistently during all of 2008 as somewhat of an accountability to stick with what I've begun! I can't believe that this has been my lifestyle for almost 6 months now!?!? Isn't that crazy! I can't believe that I use to weight 17.2 pounds more!

My neighbor, Brandi and I recently talked about going on morning walks together for some heart exercise...I need to start going to bed earlier so I can make that happen!

Aimee's 15th - 17th Week's Update

I meant to post regularly, but with all my celebrating and then Lonnie's travels --- I'm forever behind! I'm at a standstill with weight. No gain/no loss. Which I'm REAL thankful for the hold on weight considering all the eating out and desserts that I've enjoyed over the last two weeks! You know the saying, a moment on the lips...a lifetime on the hips (or actually the belly for this girl). I think that my appetite has changed since back in January when I started this weight loss adventure! I've had lots of sweets and treats but I think the amount is not anything compared to how I use to indulge! I need to refocus my eating habits again...the junk I've eaten lately has been giving me lots of belly aches...no good, right!?!

New Shoes!

***The first pair, the one's from Target, I'm not sure they fit my feet quite right. I love them though so I'm just contemplating! Tiffany looks super cute in them!!! We'll see!??!

Aimee's 14th Week Update

I guess my body is still in loss mode. This morning when I weighed in, I had lost another 1.2 pounds. Again, I was real surprised. This puts me down a total of 17.0 pounds. If this continues I may have to lower my birthday goal weight!?!? I guess that or celebrate with a HUGE piece of cake!?!

Last week I did a little unmentionable shopping and did find going to Nordstrom's very helpful. They are very thorough in helping you find the right bra! Lonnie and the kids were there with me and I thought the kids would want to go explore...NOPE! They rotated taking turns hanging out with mom and the Nordstrom's lady in the dressing room. I have to say, Bennett would be my first pick to take with me should I take on this endeavor again, which I don't plan on it...that was a lot of work! Brady kept telling me that he liked those "Glasses" too. Or oops, I'm sitting on your "Glasses, Sorry 'bout that Mommy!" Where he got that bras are called glasses I'll never know!?!? Oh my! Belle had the sillies and I think drove the elderly lady helping us CRAZY! Belle kept trying on my bra and giggling uncontrollably! After walking around for a while, two kids at a time, Lonnie came to the intimate apparel section once again to check on me. I think the lady wanted me to try all the possibilities on again, but I had to let her know I had made my decision in a rather firm tone so I could make it up to the register and on my way to our next store. Seriously, I think I tried on bras for an hour and a half straight! Quite a marathon!

Thankfully I know the panties I like so I headed straight for Gap after the bra marathon and was in and out within like 2 minutes! I just needed a size smaller because the fabric was bunching under my clothes.

A couple days later, while Belle was at school I found a new pair of shoes at DSW and I like them a whole lot. They look Brighton-ish, even my super stylish friend Stephanie that LOVES Brighton stuff and I think I'll ask for the same pair of earrings that she got for her birthday from Brighton because they are so cute. Oops, that was a tangent! Anyways Stephanie thought my cute new shoes were Brighton. Now I think I need some more casual, everyday black shoes. I'll copy my other adorable friend Tiffany that said the other day at brunch that she found hers at Target, they are real cute and I can't wait to slip my foot into the same ones! Wonder if my troops want to do that today?!?! Nah, I already promised them we'll do school and they're rearing to go! Thankfully its almost the weekend and I bet I can sneak away and snatch them up before they are sold out...they're that cute!

Maybe I'll add pictures of my shoes to this post later today!?!? Fun idea!?!

Aimee's 13th Week Update

So this week I lost just under a pound...0.8. That puts me at a total of 15.8 pounds lost. Over the next 2 1/2 weeks perhaps my body will drop 1.9 more and put me at my total goal weight for my birthday!?! That'd be fun!!! I'm just going to stick with my healthy eating habits and will let my body determine if it needs to lose more. I don't want to do anything extreme that I can't keep up with ~ that's the reason I've never dieted before ~ fear that my body's metabolism would start expecting something and the repercussions of not keeping up with it would end me at a higher weight then when I began this journey. Granted, I'm not a scientist nor a researcher so I have no evidence to back my theory!

In other news, we went to On the Border as a family and split the Chocolate Empanada Dessert (had a freebie coupon). The kids and Lonnie were digging in, smiling, licking the spoon, dish and their lips because evidently it was incredible! I refrained. Lonnie didn't understand until yesterday how I could have such self control. I don't...I'm just treated to other sweets! I continue to be obsessed with the Smart One Ice Cream Sundaes in Mint Chocolate Chip and Cookie Dough varieties! They are crazy good! I have one just about every day, topped with about a half a cup of cool whip!!! Seriously, I'm hooked! I will be begging my grandkids to bring me these when I'm in a nursing home they're that good! I think with cool whip its 3 points which isn't bad at all! And it keeps me on track...well worth the $1.50ish/2 that they cost at Target!

That leads me to two other thoughts...1. Who's leaving the freezer door open at Target and making these things defrost, get all mix up and yucky, then refreezes them!?!? Seriously this month its been about every other package. I have them in my freezer too and one of these days I'm taking them all back to exchange them...and I might even open up the new packages while I'm there to ensure I'm not getting freezer burnt dessert! 2. Which is better? Cool Whip that's Fat-Free or Cool Whip that's Light!?!? They are the same number of points (0 for a good sized serving), but I switch off each time because I can't determine which tastes better!?!? Any opinions!?!?

Aimee's 12th Week Update

Can you believe it, I'm posting on my official weigh in date! It was a very FUN scale reading! I'm down the entire 15 pounds I set out to loose! Weird! I'm down 1 pound this week! A total of 15.0 pounds loss over the last 12 weeks! I'm loving the loss although I think I only hope to loose 2.7 pounds...and hopefully that can happen by my birthday, April 27!?!

The funniest thing about this weight loss is the places that weight drops! Today I realized my shoes are fitting differently...yep, they're too big! I think I've lost some of the chub on my feet! Now if that's not strange, I don't know what is! Do you think I can talk Lonnie into some major clothes money for my birthday!?!? That and all the other things on my wish list!??! Hmm, I better start thinking about that...afterall, my birthday is only 3 1/2 weeks away! Yippee!

Aimee's 10th & 11th Week Update

Alright, so I've been a little laxed on my posts this month! Sorry to my one reader (Holly :)) I'll try to be better! Thankfully I wrote the numbers down on my weigh in day or I'd never be able to recall them! Week 10: I lost .6 of a pound and Week 11: I lost .4 of a pound! Surprisingly the results continue going in the right direction! So as of the end of my 11th week dieting, I am down a total of 14.1 pounds!

I was asked if at this point I can tell a difference and the answer is an astounding YES! I have dropped two sizes in pants/shorts...and my shirts seem to be fitting much better (I think I was wearing things a bit too tight before...oops)! My underclothes have required changes as well...panties down a size and bra down a size--- in the rib size (I think that I should be wearing a smaller cup, too but the lady at GAP body swore this the right size!?!?!--- Ali was fitted at Nordstroms a while back and was totally impressed so someday when I'm without three curious children, I may venture that way!) Anyone available to join me?!!? Needless to say, weight loss is expensive, not because of the plan, but because of the need to recycle to new clothes.

Last night as Lonnie and I were hitting the sack, I told him that a drawer in my dresser was being loaded with clothes that are a bit big in case I put the weight back on. To which he replied...I don't think you'll need them again. And I said, I just hear that people often put their fat back on after the diet ends. To that...Lonnie told me that he doesn't think I'll get fat again. I flashed a look! Oops, double oops! He knew he'd stepped in it! All he could do was laugh and say that's not what he meant! It wasn't, neither of us think that I was "fat" before, just not as healthy as I am right now. Anyways I thought you'd appreciate that one so I figured I'd share!

As this point I'm continue to eat much less than I did a few months back (most people that diet say they didn't eat all that much before, I'm totally the opposite, I really did use to eat a lot--- way too much), and the snacks that I indulge in are things like, fat-free & sugar-free JELLO and Pudding (often topped with light Cool Whip), fruit, wheat thins with laughing cow, low point popcorn, and other low point/healthy alternatives. I am still hoping to coast down at least 1 more pound, but my vain girlish side would LOVE to loose 4 more pounds!?!? We'll see! I think I'll have to refocus and recommit to the fine print of the weight watchers diet if I am going to loose that much more!

I'll continue to post and update...I'll try to be more consistent!

Mexican Soup

makes 12 cups / zero points

6 cups vegetable broth (I used 6 cups water and Better Than Bouillon)
14 ounces canned diced tomato, Mexican-style preferred
2 cups fresh green beans (start with 8 ounces, then trim and snap into bite-size pieces)
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 small zucchini (about 8 ounces before trimming)
1 cup tomatillo, cubed (start with about 4 ounces or 2 medium tomatillos)
1 medium jalapeño, membranes and seeds removed, minced
1 medium red onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon fresh oregano
1 teaspoon salt to taste
2 tablespoons lime juice (from 2 limes)
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

OPTIONAL BUT TIME-SAVING TIP Bring the vegetable broth (or water for bouillon) to a boil in an electric tea kettle or in the microwave while prepping the vegetables.

Heat a large pot or Dutch oven on MEDIUM HIGH. Add the vegetables and spices (canned tomatoes through as oregano) as they're prepped. Add the broth when it's ready. Cover and bring to a boil. (Because I used boiling water, the soup was just starting to boil when I added the last ingredients.) Once at a boil, partly uncover the soup, reduce the heat to maintain a slow simmer and simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir in salt, lime juice and cilantro. Serve immediately.

NUTRITION ESTIMATE
Per Serving: 43 Cal (6% from Fat, 24% from Protein, 70% from Carb); 3 g Protein; 0 g Tot Fat; 0 g Sat Fat; 0 g Mono Fat; 8 g Carb; 2 g Fiber; NetCarb6; 3 g Sugar; 20 mg Calcium; 1 mg Iron; 553 mg Sodium; 0 mg Cholesterol; Weight Watchers 0 points

Aimee's 8th & 9th Week Update

So, if you check out my other blog~ http://www.itsoverflowing.blogspot.com/ then you know that March 4th was my anniversary! No, I did not take my scale on our overnight date! I did stick to my plan for the most part while away, but truthfully, weight loss/maintenance wasn't much of my focus! Lonnie and I were all about having FUN together! So this Wednesday, March 12th ~ after two weeks without a checkup, I stepped on the scale again! Once again not expecting a loss, I was treated to a 1.2 pound weight loss! So here are the stats...Bennett's 5 pound prego weight lost---CHECK! ...Brady's 5 pound prego weight lost---CHECK! ...Belle's 5 pound prego weight lost---ALMOST...2.0 pounds left to reach my first goal! I'll check again next week and see where my weight is, but I definitely can tell the weight loss has slowed a lot! I think for the most part, the weight watcher food opts are still simple to follow! Once I reach the point I haven't loss, I think I'll go back to writing down my points to make sure I'm really following the plan to the tee...until then, I'm enjoying a more laxed approach!

Aimee's 7th Week Update

I got onto the scale this morning and was a little surprised! Another 1.3 pounds loss this week...3.1 pounds until I've reached my first goal! Yes, I've loss 11.8 pounds over the last 7 weeks! With the tea party this week, there were lots of temptations all week long...I just tried to treat myself to a little something once a day and then wait patiently for tomorrow for another little taste! That and indulge on healthier options! Not easy, but these last few weeks of Weight Loss has lead me to becoming a huge believer of the old saying, a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips, or for me a lifetime on the belly (my trouble spot)! As I eat I try to remind myself that I don't want that sweet something sitting on my belly as an extra layer of cushion, ya know! Afterall, its almost swim season and my kids are at the perfect age to frequent the pool lots this year! You're more than welcome to join us...be sure to give us a call...we love swimming with friends! (Can you tell I'm ready for winter to be done with!?!? Is it really suppose to snow next week!?!? Seriously!)

Deal For a Little Something

Victoria Secret has a swim suit (perhaps that's using the word too loosely) for $5.99 on clearance. Here's the site if you're interested, swim suit. If you use these two codes you get free shipping and a free tote ($25 value). BSEXY and SP89829. I ordered one in Khaki and a separate order for one in Turquoise...that way I can get two totes! Perhaps Lonnie and I will have to go on a little trip to an island in the next couple years...there's not a chance I'm wearing this at our neighborhood pool.