Valentine's Day

I remember being younger and always wanting a Valentine of my own. Occasionally I would have a boyfriend who I could call one, but none of them could ever compare to my Valentine today.

We're not really celebrating this year..it's a pretty normal day really, but that's what makes it so nice. I get to wake up to him almost every day. I know he's thinking about me multiple times a day and it's the little things that make those days so much more special than today could ever be.

But today does hold some meaning for us.

On this day 7 years ago we woke up to one another for the first time.

We had only been together for about 3 months and I was over at his parents house for the evening. The snow was coming down pretty hard and we ended up convincing both our parents to let me stay over for the night. We were so excited to just lay on opposing couches.

Thinking back to that...I remember waking up and reaching for him on the other couch. He came over and we ended up snuggling up. Perfect Valentine's Day right there.

I knew very early we had something really special and here we are 7 Valentine's Days later and things truly could not be better. He makes me feel special on the other 364 days on a pretty regular basis. A girl really couldn't ask for more. (Oh hey, that was the song I walked down the isle to "I Could Not Ask for More " - Sara Evans.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

So what did we do today?

Hubby actually managed to make me cry and I don't mean in a mean way or even in a oh so romantic way. No, this was actually better and what I needed.

As I said yesterday after all those lunges and squats I managed to do, Josh informed me today would be a legs day. Oh my.

We did a 5 minute stair warm up, an intense leg work out (full of squats and lunges I might add), and then he took me over to the stair machine again.

"Fat Burner, 30 minutes, Level 5," he says.

WHAT?! Ok. I can do this......3 minutes in...Ok. I don't think I can do this.

I kept pushing and pushing, trying so hard to concentrate on the music blaring in my ear buds.

6 minutes. Ok. I think I'm going to fall apart.

 Then hubby looks at me struggling and tells me 4 more minutes.

Ok..only 10 total not 30, I can do this.

That last 4 minutes I wanted to haul off and punch him in the face. As lovingly as possible of course. Haha! But he kept encouraging me and I knew, I just knew I could push myself.

And I did. I got to the 10 mintues. I was pretty much crying right afterwards (and I do mean literally), but I did it.

Afterwards, he took us over to Food Lion and he got me post workout drink.

Better than a card, flowers, or even chocolates if you ask me.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! =)

Wednesday Weigh In #1

Alright, so I'm back on the weight loss wagon..well more like the toning wagon.

I am currently the most out of shape I've ever been and I couldn't be more displeased. I think it really hit after I started this steady desk job. I love it, but it's very light in the activity department.

Thanks to Josh I've gotten back on this wagon and I'm really looking forward to loosing some weight for the cruise at the beginning of April. Helllllo, bikini season! That's exactly 50 days away. So just over 7 weeks.

Last year at this time I was doing really great with portioning my meals, working out, and just overall feeling better. I shared my weight and measurements along the way, but right now I'm scaleless and I'm not really worried about "how much I weigh", I just want to feel better and tone up. I want to see my abs again.

So here we go.

Yesterday we did an arm and upper body workout that I continuously cursed Josh for, but I'll have to say I feel pretty damn great today. After getting my nails done earlier I came home and got right to another workout.

One of the home workouts Josh created for me was this:

 

200 Reps of Each

• Squats
• Lunges (100 each leg)
• Bicycle Crunches
• Pushups
• Step Jumps
  (jumping from ground floor to 1st step with two feet and back down)

So I did my best to tackle it. I really pushed myself even though I really, and I mean really, wanted  to quit 60 reps in. I did not get to 200, but I did get to 100. Oh and little did I know (because I didn't read it enough) I did the full amount of lunges (100 each leg)..whoops! So now I can work towards getting to 200.

So I'm sore, even after stretching, but altogether I'm really not feeling all that bad.

I hope some of you join in, in one way or another, and let me know how you're doing. I can use all the encouragement I can get. This is not going to be easy.

Measurements:
(these are so much higher compared to when I started last year..lots and lots of work ahead)

Bust: 39.5"
Chest: 34"
Waist: 33.5"
Stomach: 39.5"
Hips: 42"
Thighs: 25"
Calves: 16.5"
Upper Arms: 13"
Forearms: 11"

From what Josh tells me we're doing legs tomorrow. Oh, how I wish I knew this earlier.

Setting Sail

Josh and I have been busy working our tails off and are in dire need of a vacation.

We really enjoyed ourselves when we went to FL in early April 2 years ago and we really wanted to go again. I was doing some searching around and came across a great deal for us for booking early.

So bing, bang, boom, I booked it and we set sail in early April on the Carnival Sensation for 3 nights!

We'll stop in Nassau, Bahamas! =)

I'm ridiculously excited. I get to check this off my 101 in 1,001!

Influenster

Just joined this interestingly, great site

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.influenster.com/js/infservice.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">getUserBadgeScore(216082,1,1,0)</script>

<div id="profile-score"></div>

Laughter Medicine Sundays

So I've decided to do a post every Sunday that will hopefully make your laugh. Josh is actually collaborating on this with me to help me find videos and anything else that may tickle your funny bone.

The first one is a video my sister, Aleece, sent to us a few weeks back, before it really even hit the radio. It is hilarious. I guess I'll warn you now that if you're easily offended please skip over this post.

Explicit langue is used.

Change.

Change.

I used to think I was relatively adaptable to change. Recently I've actually noticed just how much of a creature of habit I am. I don't have a problem with change, but when it occurs I linger on it.

Change of routine. change of opinion. change of outlook. change of job.

I think most people kid their selves when they say they "welcome change". I'm just as adventurous as the next person, maybe even more, but change is down right scary.

Any initial change for me, I feel... almost lost? Not quite all there. It's like my body is ahead of my mind. My mind always catches up, but like I said..it lingers.

I'm no where close to where I thought I'd be last year.

I've returned to a job I love, grown closer to old friends, and met some new ones that I hope to keep for life. I feel more energized because of the lifestyle changes I'm making, that includes drinking 7+ cups of water a day and working out on a decently regular basis.

I know my life is heading in a direction I can be proud of, a life I can bring children into one day down the road.

More change is coming and I'm going to try my best to welcome it with open arms and I encourage you to do the same.

Changing for the better
Striving for the best.

101 in 1001 - The List

Being new to blogging I've seen all kind of lists around.

• 52 in 52
• 25 before 25
• 30 before 30
• 101 in 1001

You get the idea.

So I took it on. I really like the 101 in 1001 because it gives you enough time to complete them. I had a little bit of difficulty coming up with 101, but in the end I think I have a pretty solid, attainable list.
Here we go..

101 in 1001 Days
Beigin: 1/6/2013
End: 10/14/2015


To: Me, Love: Me
1. Get a Tattoo
2. Get Glasses
3. Update Wardrobe

For a Better Me
4. Run a 5K
5. See My Own Abs
6. Begin Taking a Multivitamin on a Regular Basis
7. Go back to School Obtain Bachelor's majoring in Business Management
8. Work towards completing prerequisites for Optomentry School
9. Take the OAT {Optometry Addmitance Test}

Something New Every Day
10. Learn to Fly Fish
11. Learn to Play Golf
12. Learn to Ski
13. Learn to Drive Stick Shift
14. Learn more of the History of the Towns Around Us
15. Research Our Family History and Document it so it's Not Forgotten

I've Done it Before, I'll Do it Again
16. Re-Learn French
17. Re-Learn to Crochet

Been Meaning to..
18. Have Old Laptop Fixed
19. Go Through Our Stuff in PA and Bring the Things We Want Back to WV, Sell/Donate the Rest
20. Fill Every Empty Picture Frame in the House
21. Organize the Home Office
22. Have a Yard Sale
23. Find 5 Things on Free Cycle and Put up 5 Thing in Return
24. Host a Slumber Party
25. Keep up on the Laundry for 30 Days Straight. No Clothes on the Floor/in the Basket

House to Home
26. Remodel Master Bedroom
27. Remodel Master Bathroom
28. Complete Photo Project for Downstairs Hallway
29. Fence in Backyard
30. Complete Home Renovation Book
31. Remodel Basement aka Fan Cave
In the Kitchen
32. Try 20 New Foods [0/20]
33. Build a Gingerbread House from Scratch
34. Cook/Bake 50 New Recipes [0/50]

Shopping List
35. Buy Something from Etsy
36. Buy a my own DSLR Camera {currently borrowed}
37. Buy a Truck for Josh
38. Buy a Pair of Really Nice Boots
39. Buy a Grill
40. Buy a N64
41. Buy a Kitchen Aide Mixer
42. Buy a Pool Table
43. Buy 10 New Pairs of Heels
44. Buy a Sewing Machine
45. Buy a Cricut

Cha-Ching!
46. Pay off Credit Cards
47. Pay off Nissan Maxima
48. Pay off Loan
49. Open a Savings Account
50. Start Saving for My Retirement
51. Save $10 for Every Task I Complete [$0/$1010]

Giving Back
52. Donate Blood I've never done this; I've always been scared to
53. Donate 100,000 Grains of Rice Through Freerice.com [13,900/100,000]
54. Donate Clothes I don't wear/want
55. Leave a 100% Tip for a Server {over $10}
56. Treat 3 of My "Girlfriends" to a "Spa Day"
57. Stop Using Plastic Bags When Grocery Shopping/Buy the Reusable Ones

The Where in Life
58. Go to Las Vegas
59. Go to Canada
60. Go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras
61. Go to New York for New Year's Eve
62. Go to Mexico

Experiencing Life
63. Go on a Cruise
64. Go to another Concert it'll only be my 2nd
65. Take a Brewery Tour
66. Visit 3 Local Wineries [0/3]
67. Attend Another Steeler Game
68. Attend Another Penguins Game
69. Attend Another Pirates Game
70. See the Statue of Liberty
71. See Another Musical in New York
72. See the Tran Siberian Orchestra Live

Be a Little Daring
73. Go Parasialing
74. Ride in a Hot Air Balloon
75. Sing Karaoke at a Bar
76. Participate in a Polar Bear Plunge
77. Go Black Friday Shopping

Watch and See
80. Watch 50 of IMDB's Top 250 Movies [0/50]
81. Watch all Seasons of Boy Meets World [0/7]

Lost in Another World
82. Read the 50 Shades of Gray Triology [0/3]
83. Read the book a Veteran at Work Sold Me
84. Finish reading the Biography of Steve Jobs
85. Read the Vow

My Creative Side
86. Complete a Coloring Book
87. Complete a Crossword Book
88. Complete a Cross Stitch Project
89. Scrapbook Our Wedding
90. Make Pin-String Art for the House
91. Complete the 365 Day Photo Challenge [0/365] Starting Tomorrow
Pen to Paper
92. Write a Letter to Myself to Open in 10 Years
93. Write Old Fashioned, Heart Felt Letters to Those in My Life
94. Complete 5 Chapters of my Book [1/5]
95. Complete 10 Chapters of my Book [1/10]
96. Finish Writing Another 101 List by the End of 1001 Days

Wannabe Blogger
97. 300 Blog Posts in 2013
98. 400 Blog Posts in 2014
99. Blog About Each Task Completed
100. Have a post that gets over 10 comments {not including my own}
101. Obtain 50 Subscribers/Followers to Blog [12/50]

What do you think?

Signing off,
Ida Jade