2.28.2012

101 in 1,001 Days - Update #1

So I wasn't going to do an update for quite some time, but after looking through my list again..I've actually made some decent progress in just 12 days!

Okay that doesn't sound all "that" amazing? I've been sick for the past 16 days! Which has made me quite unproductive and spending most days in bed, sleeping.


See the original list HERE.


Begin: February 15, 2012
End: November 11, 2014


53. Donate 100,000 Grains of Rice Through Freerice.com [13,900/100,000]
As you can see I've made some pretty good progress on this goal and I just love playing and giving back. I talked about it a little more in my post HERE.


54. Donate Clothes I don't wear/want
Josh and I both went through our clothes and he took them to Goodwill to donate. I've been putting that off for so long so it felt really good to trim my wardrobe of the things I don't wear.


81. Read the Hunger Games [1/3]
Thanks to my friend, Crystal, I was able to borrow and read this the first in the series. Josh brought it home Friday and I forgot about it until late Saturday when I couldn't sleep. So at about 1am I picked it up and began. HUGE mistake. I read until about 3:30am and tried to sit it down and sleep. That didn't last long because I picked it up a few minutes later and read until 5:30am. I was over half way through. I finished last night and it was AMAZING. I can't wait to read the rest and see the movie when it comes out next month!


93. Complete 2 Chapters of my Book [1/2]
I have completed the 1st Chapter and I've given it to a few people to read. Across the board everyone loved it. Now rather they are making me feel good or not, I'm unsure, but it feels great. I've started the 2nd chapter and I see me finishing it in the next month or so. It's very exciting!


99. Blog About Each Task Completed
Working on that right now, aren't I?!


100. Update Blog Design to be User Friendly and Inviting
Doesn't it look fantastic?! I can take no credit for anything. My dear friend and fellow blogger, Rachael at You, Me, and Natalie, is the one I have to thank. I didn't expect her to complete it so quickly, but I just love it. It looks great and I feel SO much better about it and the directions it's going in. Thank you, thank you, thank you girl!


101. Obtain 50 Subscribers/Followers to Blog [12/50]
I've gained 2 new followers since I started. Not too shabby.


Tally
In Progress: 5
Completed: 2


2.27.2012

Significant Other Saturday #2

Being sick has really had it's toll on me, especially in the creative department. I've had this partially typed up, but didn't get around to posting it.


Welcome to the first edition of Significant Other Saturday! I am excited to be teaming up with Rachael @ You, Me, and Natalie for these weekly posts/link ups!

"No significant other is perfect and it doesn’t really matter. What matters is how we set ourselves up to think about them. If we focus on their failures, their annoyances, or ways in which we have felt hurt by them, then we will interact with them as a hurt and frustrated and disappointed partner. That makes for miserable living for ourselves and our partner and those around us. But if we focus on their strengths, their potential, and the ways in which we feel blessed by them, then we will interact with them as a forgiving, blessed, and contented partner. And there’s no greater need a partner has than to feel respected by their lover. If they feel like all they do is hurt, disappoint, and frustrate, then the same atmosphere and the same actions will be perpetuated. But if they feel that their partner can be happy and responsive regardless of their own shortcomings, they feels respected and empowered. Then a positive atmosphere is perpetuated and actions, once destructive, can improve in an environment that is rich for cultivation and growth into deepened respect and intimacy."

Significant Other Saturday is a day in which we can all get together and remember why we fell in love, why we continue to love, and why we will always love our partners. Too often we take our relationships for granted and just expect them to be there. We are challenging you to be attentive to your relationship and tell us all about your partner and why they are so special to you!

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This weeks topic: 5 Things you LOVE about your Significant Other



That's us the Day after we were married.
Our 1st Stop on our 4 "City" Honeymoon was of course: Pittsburgh.

Narrowing down to 5 was hard, but here's what I've come up with.

1. I Love...how caring he is.
He takes care of me like no one else. To be waken up while you're sick and have breakfast, a hot beverage, and medicine waiting for you is one heck of a feeling. No matter how sick, that just makes me smile to no end. It's not just when I'm sick though. He takes care of me all the time. He makes sure I'm comfortable and "risks" his on comfortablility sometimes. He's a remarkable man.

It's not just me though. It's everyone in his life; family, friends, and patients included.

2. I Love..his knowlegde.
He is so smart and knows so much. Even just little things. I'm constantly learning from him. He's a really great teacher too. I hope I never stop learning from him.

3. I Love..how open minded he is.
We both are and thank goodness, I just don't understand the close minded ones.

This goes for open minded in our relationship as well. He and I are excellent communicators and very, very rarely walk away from one another.  We both see it as it being so much easier to be happy with one another than mad. We all know it's going to come to an end anyway. So why not stop it right away? I love that about him/us.

4. I love..his humor
He has such a great sense of humor,he makes me laugh even when I don't want to. And, his laugh is absolutely contagious.

5. I love..how hard working he is.
At his job, but also in everything else. He's a great handy man amoungst other things. He's so helpful with the house. He's a better cook than me and I'll admit that. He cleans too. I really do have the best husband.

He's simply amazing.

************************************************************************

We want to hear all about the loves of your lives!


* If you would like to participate *


Blog about the topic of the week found above, or blog about whatever you feel you need to say about your love! Then come back here and link up in the collection at the bottom of this post. Please grab the button and use it in your post, or post it somewhere on your blog!


* If you want to add the blog hop to your post *


If you want to participate in the hop, just click here and copy and paste the link into the HTML of your post! That's it! Simple!



Next week's topic is:

Tell us ONE thing that you could work on with your partner, and how you are working on it.





 

2.25.2012

Pic of the Week: 4th Week of February



Sorry I'm a day late, I'm on the 2nd week of fighting whatever I have.

So a little story first:

Josh and I have been sick together since 2 Sundays ago. Last weekend Josh wasn't doing particularly well so I was taking care of him (we've been taking turns). He requested some soup and oj and unfortunately we didn't have any. So I made the trip to the grocery store and did some shopping.

While I was there I kept wanting to find him something. See, when I was I really sick and had to stay home from school when I was younger my mom and dad would get me a stuffed animal, or a game, or something just to make me smile.

I thought stuffed animal: Ellie would attack
Candy: Not different enough
Flowers: He wouldn't care for them
And, so I left. As I'm pulling out of the parking lot I saw what I wanted to get him at the store next door, a dollar store.


I got him a Get Well balloon. Goofy and it did make him smile, but the enjoyment we've got from it. Ellie was flat out ?scarred? of it. It's still inflated and floating around, but it's so funny.

At one point we tied a treat to it to try and desensitize her to it and she would lay down and try to lunge quick. It was like watching a crocodile snap, multiple times, but she never got close enough.

It's really too cute. So this weeks' picture is our pup starring down her arch nemesis. Haha!

2.23.2012

2 Movies: 1 Week

Josh and I have been really good about saving money, but this past week we decided to go out a little. Two movies came to theater that we both were looking forward to seeing, The Vow & Chornicle.


Let me first say this will touch on some of the things that happen in the movies so this is your
***************************Spoiler Alert!******************************
Nothing goes into extreme detail, but it is a warning if you wish to be completely out of the know in seeng either of these movies.

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The Vow
Staring Rachel McAdams & Channing Tatum

Josh and I did end up going out Valentine's Day. We were both feeling sick still, but decided to make the best of it. We went to eat at Ruby Tuesdays, mini golfed at what we call The Disappointment (a local mall), and then we went to see The Vow. Josh was a little reluctant, but it had been awhile since he saw a 'chick flick' with me.

My overall impression: I loved it.

The beginning took off in a great direction. Lately, I feel like a lot of movies are just slow moving and I lose interest quickly. This kept me intrigued. I had a fairly good idea what was going to happen, how couldn't you from the previews?! ..She gets in a coma, loses her memory, and he wins her back.

The moment before the accident had my heart pulsing. I knew it was going to happen, but I was already tied to the characters and it tore me to see it happen.

Before seeing the movie, I knew there were mixed reviews so I honestly was expecting the worse. I was pleasantly surprised though. I felt like I would know what was coming throughout and I didn't, it had me hooked and I like that.

Channing slightly "narrating" throughout was perfect.

I loved their first, "do over" date. When they're in the cafe and they're playing "russian roulette" with the chocolate truffles, it was such a cute scene. I really felt the connection of the two actors there.

I shed a tear here and there and while it wasn't uber 'romantic' it was a heartfelt drama. It made you think and Josh and I both enjoyed that.

The ending. I knew how it was going to end, okay not really, but as the final scenes wrapped up you could tell. It wasn't how I 'wanted' it to end, but it did and I wasn't left disappointed, I was actually content. Another thing that doesn't happen to often anymore.

I've come to the conclusion that it's hard to write a good ending. No one wants the 'obvious', but no one wants a sad ending either. I don't know how the writers to do it.

Now I need to read the book and the REAL story.


Chronicle
Staring Dane DeHaan

Josh and I decided on Monday to go see another movie that we were both really wanting to see.

My overall impression: Intrigued.

Where do I even start with this one? It was original, innovative, intriguing, and slightly scary. I'm not even sure what genre you'd classify it as?

The gist is 3 kids obtain 'super powers' of telekinesis, they grow stronger, too strong, and it all comes crashing down upon them.

If only it were that simple though.

The camera work or lack there of with the view being from a camera recording the events the entire time was so interesting. I was stuck on every single word and movement.

Andrew, the main character had me wanting to help him and his role was so well played by DeHann. It was someone you wanted to like, but with the turn of events and him 'losing it' you want to hate him and yet you still can't.

The cost for this production had to have been astronomical, it was so well put together. The effects were amazing. You could just watch that alone, with literally no sound and be astonished. I swear.

Each time I thought I knew what was going to happen they did something different. The 'climax' of the movie was seriously frightening and had me clutching my seat. As everything came crashing down and it continuously getting worse and worse, I had no idea how it was going to end.

And then it did. The ending, ugh. Mixed thoughts. I wasn't disappointed though, I was again content. When he just left the camera there I just felt peace abound. For Matt and for Andrew. Again, something I was NOT expecting.

So in my eyes a phenomenal film definitely worth seeing.


Have you seen these movies?
Do you have a different take? I'd love to hear about it..




2.22.2012

Waist Watcher Wednesdays - Week #8

Waist Watcher Wednesday

Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7

Another crappy week. I have not fallen off the wagon though, Josh and I have just both been sick for 11 days now. I did manage to do Ab Rippers (from P90X) at home one day. I just can't seem to get better, I woke up today feeling worse than I have yet. It's so miserable being sick.

Stats:

Weight:  164  161.6  160.2  159.2  157.6  156.4
BMI:  24.7  23.9  23.7  23.5  23.3  23.1

Measurements:
Red - Up from last week
Gray  - Down from last week
Green - Stayed the same

Bust:  37"  36.5"  36"
Chest:  32"  31.25"
Waist:  31"  30.5"  30.75"  30"  28.75"
Stomach:  36.5"  35.75"  36"  35"
Hips:  39.5"  39"  39.5"  39.25"
Thighs:  25.5"  24.5"  24.25"  24.5"
Calf's:  16"  15.5"  15.75"  15"
Upper Arms:  11.75"  11.5"  11.75"  11.25"
Forearms:  9"  9.25"  9"  9.5"

I have striked this all out because I just don't feel this week will be accurate. I lost weight, but I'm pretty sure it's due to being sick. We shall see once I feel better.

But it is nice to see I'm down 1.2 lbs and 7.6 lbs total.


If you'd like to join in post here or link up with us over at You, Me, and Natalie.












Haha, I loved this. I'm a Harry Potter geek and I'm honestly going to have to do this sometime. I'm sure I'd be extremely sore the next day.

2.21.2012

Have You Noticed?

Okay, maybe it's me because I'm the wife of a firefighter and I take notice, but I feel like this is pretty dead on.

Have you noticed?...
there is a firefighter/s in every movie?

Okay maybe not every movie, but pretty darn close, especially in the past few years. I'm always bumping Josh when I see one and telling him "See? I TOLD you!".

I know it's not truly accurate, but there's got to be something to it. I'm not losing my mind!

We just watched Cedar Rapids the other day and there they were!




2.19.2012

Giving Back

Upon googling and searching for ideas for my 101 in 1,001 I came across this great website. I was skeptic, but I googled it and pulled up snopes (see the article here). It is in fact REAL.


Freerice.com is a site in which you answer questions on various subjects; such as vocabulary, world maps, foreign languages, etc. In doing so each time you answer correctly 10 grains of rice is donated to help fight hunger. You can look into it further, but this is the gist of it.

I've made a goal to donate 100,000 grains by 11/11/2014, originally I was going to 10,000, but I got to 9,480 in just 3 days.

If you have a chance check it out, if you decide to do your own list like the 101 in 1,001 or just for fun. I personally love games and this is a great way to "play", learn, and give back.


2.18.2012

Significant Other Saturday #1



Welcome to the first edition of Significant Other Saturday! I am excited to be teaming up with Rachael @ You, Me, and Natalie for these weekly posts/link ups!

  
"No significant other is perfect and it doesn’t really matter. What matters is how we set ourselves up to think about them. If we focus on their failures, their annoyances, or ways in which we have felt hurt by them, then we will interact with them as a hurt and frustrated and disappointed partner. That makes for miserable living for ourselves and our partner and those around us. But if we focus on their strengths, their potential, and the ways in which we feel blessed by them, then we will interact with them as a forgiving, blessed, and contented partner. And there’s no greater need a partner has than to feel respected by their lover. If they feel like all they do is hurt, disappoint, and frustrate, then the same atmosphere and the same actions will be perpetuated. But if they feel that their partner can be happy and responsive regardless of their own shortcomings, they feels respected and empowered. Then a positive atmosphere is perpetuated and actions, once destructive, can improve in an environment that is rich for cultivation and growth into deepened respect and intimacy."

Significant Other Saturday is a day in which we can all get together and remember why we fell in love, why we continue to love, and why we will always love our partners. Too often we take our relationships for granted and just expect them to be there. We are challenging you to be attentive to your relationship and tell us all about your partner and why they are so special to you!

************************************************************************

This weeks topic was simple: Introduce your significant other!

Meet Josh, my wonderful, caring, loving, hardworking husband.


At Aleece & Ryan's Luau Engagement Party =)


You can read "Our Love Story" here, but as a quick synopsis. We met in high school, started dating 11.24.06, got engaged 2.17.09, and married 07.31.10.

He's born in June like me, but he's a year and 18 days older than me. He's a firefighter/emt, loves sports (watching and playing; he's super competitive), fishing, building, tyring/making new things (homemade), and likes to cook (he's far better than me in that department). He loves comedies; especially anything with Will Ferrell in it.

He's an amazing husband who I love sharing and spending my life with. I love him for Eternity!



************************************************************************


We want to hear all about the loves of your lives!



* If you would like to participate *


Blog about the topic of the week found above, or blog about whatever you feel you need to say about your love! Then come back here and link up in the collection at the bottom of this post. Please grab the button and use it in your post, or post it somewhere on your blog!


* If you want to add the blog hop to your post *


If you want to participate in the hop, just click here and copy and paste the link into the HTML of your post! That's it! Simple!

Significant Other Saturday

Next week's topic is:

Tell us five things that you LOVE about your significant other!





2.17.2012

Pic of the Week: 3rd Week of February

I hope you guys are loving the new blog look, I know I am. I have Rachael at You, Me, and Natalie to thank for all of her work. It's still a work in progress, but isn't coming along so nicely?!


So I was going to show you this pic of Miss Ellie Mae..


but then right while I was typing this up she hops up on to my lap, walks over to my left side, and sits...here, just look:


She's "propped" up on my Left leg (pushing her self up with both front paws) so that she can sit like a person. What a goof. She's been doing this more and more lately along with pushing herself to this and then flopping back so we can rub her belly.

Haha, love our little girl. =)

Has your furbaby acquired any odd tricks not really "taught" to them?

2.16.2012

This Blog Goes Out to....Denise.

I decide to dedicate a post to one of my amazing, best friends.

Denise.

We've known each other since my first semester in college, September 2007. We met in a computer class that we later named "Myspace 101". Facebook wasn't "it" just yet.

I'd like to think we hit it off right away. We both arrived early and had to wait outside the class to head in. It was there that we struck up our first conversation. We naturally sat beside each other and the friendship grew.

I remember when we had yet to hang out outside of school and I brought in Josh's one year anniversary gift to show here, a scrapbook. She loved it, a little too much. haha! She ended up commenting something on my myspace about the scrapbook and I had to take it down before Josh would see. We still laugh about that.

I'm trying to remember our "first time" hangout. Oh! I think I remember..she invited me to go Christmas shopping with her and her daughter, Alyssa at Pittsburgh Mills. Man, that was fun. That was the first time I met Alyssa too. What a little sweet heart, I just love that little girl!

We eventually got in the habit of going on a weekly outing. We ate at so many different restaurants and saw so many different movies. This one time we wanted to see Juno in theaters and it was all sold out so we punched in her gps for another location, we had to have drove at least 40 minutes out of the way to this random, hidden movie theater where we finally got to see Juno. It was such a great "adventure".

That's just it though, there's always something with us and  I just love it. We've had SO many great memories and I really wish she lived closer, I definitely don't get to see her enough. She is one of my best friends and we make it work. She's visited us here and I/we try to visit on occasion when were up there. She even came out for my sisters 21st Bday.

So yeah. She asked me something yesterday that just really made me happy to be her friend and to know she loves me and thinks very highly of me as her friend. I know she will always be there for me and of course I am there for her in return.

I love you girl!

Here's some pics from memory lane..


Finally eating at the Shogun (we always missed the hours of operation)

w/Miss Alyssa =)


4th of July; One of the best in Pittsburgh



New Year's Eve '09 I believe

Alyssa's 3rd Bday Party

My Wedding =)

One of our first times "out"

Steeler Game in '11


Her and Alyssa came to visit; We went to DC for the day

New Year's Eve '11
Seester's 21st Bday Party at Diesel Club


Signing off,
Ida Jade

P.S. I know you read every blog post, but we really need to get you to know how to comment for things like this. ;) hehe

2.15.2012

Waist Watcher Wednesdays - Week #7


I am joining up with Rachael at You, Me, and Natalie for Waist Watcher Wednesdays.

Waist Watcher Wednesday


Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6

So this past week wasn't really a great one. I worked out last Monday and I havne't been back to the gym since. I did bartend/waitress Friday and Saturday night and worked my tail off though so that helps, but the past few days I've been sick. I feel like crap!

I didn't track well this week either, I need to get back to doing that. I do weigh myself every morning though and watching the number drop is comforting, though I'm not sure if some of the weight loss I've seen is in part to being sick. We'll see in another week or so I guess.

Hopefully I'll start feeling better tomorrow, I absolutely hate being sick. How am I suppose to get anything done?!

Stats:

Weight:  164  161.6  160.2  159.2  157.6
BMI:  24.7  23.9  23.7  23.5  23.3

Down 1.6 lbs this week and 6.4 total. It's not going super fast, but it's steady and I'm pretty happy with that. When I get under 150 it's going to feel very good. I haven't been under 150 since I was a Sophmore in highschool.

Measurements:
Red - Up from last week
Green - Down from last week
Black - Stayed the same

Bust:  37"  36.5"  36"
Chest:  32"  31.25"
Waist:  31"  30.5"  30.75"  30" 28.75"
Stomach:  36.5"  35.75"  36"  35"
Hips:  39.5"  39"  39.5" 39.25
Thighs:  25.5"  24.5"  24.25"  24.5"
Calf's:  16"  15.5"  15.75"  15"
Upper Arms:  11.75"  11.5"  11.75"  11.25"
Forearms:  9"  9.25"  9"  9.5" 

It feels so good to see the numbers dropping. I'm most excited about the waist. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but I measured and remeasured. Guess I'm just in shock.

If you'd like to join in post here or link up with us over at You, Me, and Natalie.




Also Linking up here:


Blogger's Biggest Loser
 
 
Signing off,
Ida Jade

2.11.2012

Linky Party: *Coming Soon*

Exciting blog news!

I will be partnering up with Rachael from You, Me, and Natalie for a NEW linky party!

Rachael, had been following, posting, and linking up with another blog for My Husband Rocks Fridays. I joined in a few times if you remember. We will be taking this and making it our own since the original poster doesn't really post a lot anymore.

I introduce to you Significant Other Saturdays!

This way no matter if your married, or not you can join us. This way it's broad and covers a multitude of topics, not just "Why your husband rocks..".

The only thing we ask of you if you'd like to link up is that you follow both of us, post a comment letting us know how you're following so we can follow you back, and then you can post away!

The first one will be next week! The official topic will be to introduce your significant other and we will have the new button by then..

See you next Saturday!

Signing off,
Ida Jade