Friends and WW

The message you send is that you don't have time for our chit chat, which is fine, but that tells us you aren't friends with us. Remember that. If you are so busy, so important that you aren't listening to our thoughts and concerns do not expect us to listen to yours.

I've been doing weight watchers for almost a month and I've been steadily losing. Here's what I've learned....
1- I used to think the whole point system was stupid. I didn't want to learn something so complicated when I understand calories. But then I joined and added the app and I don't need to 'learn' anything I just track and add and, whalah, it's working. I've always used the excuse I know what I'm supposed to be eating and not eating I just, to quote my dr, 'celebrate too much'. True but for some reason it just clicked this time. I've resolved to not enter one more new year having made no progress.
2- I love that I can eat/drink anything I want... in moderation. I've done Atkins and South Beach and whatever else came along and they all work but I hate saying no to a donut. It hurts Holtman's feelings when I turn my head. The beauty of WW is I can have a bite as long as I track it and don't continuously step out of the box (or into it as it may be).
3- I've never gone hungry. I knew this from others diets- we just eat way too much- but it's surprising to me how little I eat and my stomach isn't growling.

We Can Scrap!

I wish the park ranger hadn't told us there was a family of bears. I keep looking in anticipation.

What a great weekend. Our set up was nice this year. Mom, You, Marg and I set our table up in and open square so you had a little more autonomy but could make eye contact with everyone.

Listening to YouTube My Favorites all weekend long.
Watching to Belinda talk about planners on YouTube.

Shake shake shake!

Last weekend I went to Shaker Village with a group of lovely ladies. We had a bit of a snafu on the way down there, the gas gauge broke and we ran out of gas, visited one of the lady's sons at college, toured around the village and each of us took a ride on the giant swing on the way out of town. Saturday night we played bananagrams and we had to argue with the oldest member in our party about what were real words because she was playing words that Words With Friends accepts. Hilarity ensued!

Unfortunately someone who was not with us found out we went and has been giving two of us the cold shoulder upon our return. Honestly I am upset but I am torn with how to handle it. I intentionally didn't tell her we were going because I knew her feelings would be hurt and now that she has found out they are. To address or not address?

Standing appointment

Showing up at IHOP today for a breakfast meeting with some friends the hostess asked, "Just one?"
"No, 5 please."
"Do you have a standing Monday table?"
I didn't know people even did that.
Then while Steph and I tried to decide if we should get sweet or savory crepes she suggested we each order and then split. Perfect.
"We are too much alike," she said. So true, and comforting. I can not wait for our weekend getaway. I'm already making conversation cards about things I want to talk about with these ladies. They are my true, dear friends, my mentors.

On the docket...
privacy and teenagers
teenagers and intimacy
people saying, well he is a boy
where Steph is sending her son to school

I really respect these ladies and look forward to the support with which they surround me.

love taps

I'm finally at the beach and the boys are at the state tournament this morning.

We left on Friday morning at 5:50am and headed to the Biltmore Estate to tour the building and grounds. For lunch I visited The Bean Trees Cafe in Tennessee for the second time. Last time I think we were on our way back from Myrtle Beach. The food is ok, the atmosphere is gorgeous and hippyish with the Big Pigeon river flowing behind it. We sat out on the back porch and heard the rushing water.

The Biltmore was interesting and intriguing. I really loved the gardens, especially the sangria at the end in the conservatory.

At the end of a very long day traveling the 6 hours to the Biltmore we checked into our hotel only to have barely gotten our showers before the smoke alarms went off. We took forever to 1- figure out what that noise was, 2- decide if we wanted to leave, 3- decide what to take with us. Pitiful. We are not to be rushed!

Facebook posts...

Sooo glad I got n the shower at the hotel 1st bc some drunk set off the fire alarm... Gonna b awhile! 

we are discussing how this could be worse... we could have kids traveling with us, we could not have brought our books/laptops/purses, we could not have gotten showers, we could not have put our pjs on before coming outside, it could have been our floor/room on fire (as of now we don't think the sprinklers went off in our room), we could have taken all our vacation luggage upstairs instead of just night bags....

and all you people snickering because we are headed to the beach and are caught in this pickle when you have to be in ohio and go to work next week SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So y'all made fun of my scavenger hunt when I pulled it out at the start of the trip but you sure did perk up when we crossed off fire truck, ambulance, flashing red light, and police car all in about 15 minutes last night! 

The scavenger hunt paper I printed off before leaving had provided lots of laughs.

Saturday we stopped in Spartenburg at Mon Amie Morning Cafe, a French style cafe, where they served my Cafe Au Lait in a tall mug with an Eiffel Tower on it. Lovely.
I also had the monte cristo and frites, amazingly delicious.
Last night we ate at It's Greek to Me, Margy's choice. Food was good, moscato was delicious!

I'm not sleeping well on this trip going to bed late and waking up early. No troubles I guess is not exhausting. After a nice morning on the porch Marg and I headed down to the hot tub and pool early to check out the digs and relax and then off to the grocery after a short planning meeting. Nice to go grocery shopping by myself and choose a few goodies I don't normally get... a mango gelato, glazed crullers, chips and dip. Then back to grab lunch and head to the beach.
facebook post...

so you know how they say not to wear shiny objects in the ocean because it attracts the fishes? yeah that's apparently true... and I'm gonna need a new bikini... without gold buttons. ‪#‎twolovetaps‬

Pinterest Day

Yesterday G came to visit since I'm sequestered here with Sam. It was nice. She brought her dog Ginger and we took the dogs swimming. I was a little nervous Sam was going to take off swimming across the lake but he did ok. Actually he absolutely loved it!

Today is July 4th and I'm staying home. Again. With Sam. The boys went to town for the 4th of July festivities. I do hate to miss that. We see everybody and its quite nice.

Watched Sahara Monday. I think I've seen it before but not all the way through.
Also watched the first Pirates of the Caribbean.

Being home I've made some Pinterest projects lately...

 these are the mod podge shoes i actually made

 this is a scarf i used after realizing the one i saw on pinterest was sewn that way... same effect~

Boho bag from table cloths

Source: youtube.com via Asia on Pinterest

46

46 More Days of Summertime 6 Weeks


You know how I was worried about the long trip to and from the beach a few weeks ago? Amazingly enough it flew. I had my phone, pod and pad loaded and had books and mags in my bag and barely touched any of them. The car conversation was great on the way down there. We chatted and moved cars around and I drove. It was great. Even on the way back we all talked the whole way. I barely got any reading at all done.

Yesterday as I was finishing Shades of Gray 2 on the back porch, Marina started barking so I got up to see what the problem was. Deer. Female in the back field. Not that far away. I quietly moved inside to get my camera and poof she was gone.

So 2nd Shades of Gray complete. Good one. The story line keeps me interested and I'm liking it. This one kinda dragged on though so I'm hoping #3 picks up. I need to get my hands on our book club book to get it read.

Getting ready for Sam's visit today. A coworker was talking about finding a place to board his dog while he and his family were on vacation. This was around the first of the year. I said I'd watch him. He acted like I volunteered to give my left lung. Finally I got the wifey's ok and Sam will be here today at 5. I'm excited. He's another lab who was neglected and saved. I hope they all get along.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower movie?!?! Better get to reading!

Midsummer

Almost half way through the summer. I've appreciated every minute. This back porch has seen me most mornings and evenings.

I've...
made pinterest projects
ferried Bubs to Kings Island
had my feet in the sand
played in the ocean
lunched with friends
thrifted
laid poolside and had breakfast on Yo's back porch
walked the dogs on long wondering walks
went out for lunch
put everything in my house back in it's place
played board games
stayed up late and slept in
went out on the pontoon
finished a few books
went to the movies
went to Milford's farmers market
picked blueberries
crafted with friends
took Bubs fishing at M's
the garden is in!
got into the habit of morning pages,
and generally had a wonderfully blissful time.

And now I still have some living to do...
breakfast at Plain Folks
lunch at Acapulcos
dinner at Bite
make it Loveland's farmer's market
hammock reading
 roasting hotdogs and marshmallows on the fire pit
playing board games on the porch in the evenings
watching movies in the evenings
riding bikes
kayaking
swimming in the lake
tubing in the lake
deep clean the house 

BASEBALL ROOM: organize papers to scrap upstairs, complete some scrap projects, 
LAUNDRY ROOM: catch up on ironing, catch up on hand washing, fix things on counter in the laundry room, MASTER BED: clean the trunk downstairs and bring up to the bedroom for sweater storage, 
BUB'S ROOM: help him get his act together in there with the fridge and tv, 
SPARE BED: hang old hats, find a better way to store scrapbooks,
use up food stuff and restock with clean eating food
STUDIO: get some projects done, mainly get caught up scrapbooking and ordering photos, get cards stockpiled,
get Bub's started on some SAT problems 

My parents are on vacay but when they get back I'm looking forward to going to the trail in Loveland with them and then hitting the farmers market afterwards. I think the dogs, my parents and I will all like this.
I'd like to take my dad to the Kentucky horse park for Father's Day. He was gone that day so all he received was a phone call. Apparently while wearing his Life is Good shirt that reads not all who wonder are lost he got lost for 4 hours on a mountain.

Sipping green tea, green smoothies...
Listening to, well, the outdoors creatures telling me good morning- hawk, crow, chirpy birds
Watching The Fighter will Mark Wahlberg. Good inspired true story.

Haven't updated my 2012 Books in awhile...

Before That: Scenes Goshen Township, Clermont County, Ohio- Goshen Historical Society- a local book that was very informative about the area I grew up in.

The New Crafting Heritage Albums- Braun- a friend's book that helped me bone up on my scrapbooking knowledge.

A Couple of Kooks and other stories about Love- Rylant- stumbled on in the library at work. The first few short stories were really good then downhill. Quickly.

Blood Song: a silent ballad- Drooker- another stumbled upon in the work library. no words and little interest. didn't stand up to the hype.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening- Frost/Jeffers- another work book. Short, sweet illustrated poem.

The Elegant Witch- Neill- I've been reading this since           Halloween. Decent vintage book.

Wesley the Owl- O’Brien- Loved Wesley. Informative and heart warming.

            The Seminary- Stefan- Edited for a church friend. Lots of edits. He is still talking to me though so that's good.

            Fifty Shades of Gray- James- Yep finally got it and yes it's good and worth the read.

            Summer Rental- Andrews- Our beach house read. Good beach fun read.

Finally getting around to cleaning up some thrifted items. Looked this one up and found it sells for $50 used and around $80 new.
Stephanie Johnson for Saks

Recent goodness

Lots of this going on around here...

 A pinterest project. Take a blanket, scarf etc and wrap a pillow.

 Mine was too small to tie in a knot so I pinned it.

 Thrifting in SC turned up this cute set.

 Pinterest project modpodge shoes.

 Should of called this one slinky.

 Seashell crafting with my beach roomie.

 Mezmerized by Essie

 Another beach shot

 Pinterest hair

 Yesterday I went blueberry picking then to the farmers market in Milford.

 The dogs (and me) are getting lazy so we went for a good long walk.

 And then we didn't move for the rest of the evening.

 My consign dress from SC.

 Went to Snooty, Goodwill and Salvation Army with Ginger. Found some goodies. 2 dresses (one Spledid) for $1. and a Michael Simon shirtdress.

 Thrifted Michael Kors dress, vintage sweater, and a scissor shirt. Oh and those boots! I've been wanting a pair that are folded like that! I pulled a ball out of a bag and got 50% off. That made them $5!

She sells SeaShells

Attended a visitation for a friend's mother's passing. Beautiful church.

Lunch at a sushi place in Eastgate. Yo and I had appetizers, rolls, meals and sides and drinks for under 30$ together. We need to come here more often. I tried an avocado roll something that was really good.

Yo and I went by Best Buy to get printer ink and we got a talkin' to by the Best Buy guy who said we were having too much fun at the apple computer's photo booth. Of course he then showed us more funny things and we all three laughed. Then he told me about Hipstagram, which I had heard of but not used. So I downloaded that. Interesting. It let's you change lenses and cameras. Not sure about how to share, etc. 

The boys took my chandaliar down and put up a fish bait. whose truck is this anyway?

We went to go get new tires for the boat trailer for their next fishing trip.

We talked about not doing a garden this year and I agreed but reluctantly. Then the next morning I woke up to the tiller. We went to get plants just in time for feeding time for the barn animals. How about those bottles. The farmer is really a knowledgeable guy. He gave us lots of pointers. Such as

• don't over water. give them a good drink once a week and then make the roots go look for water they'll get a good base
• you don't need to mound melons and cukes. it just groups them
• no need to use additional potting soil
• buy local- he researches what plants are resistant to our area and only orders those

I told Hubs I wish I would have recorded him. He talked forever and I know I only caught some of it. 

Finally watering my own.

Beach Babes Week

Breakfast on our trip out there at Bob Evans in Rio Grande

And so it begins...

Dinner on Murrel's Inlet Hot Fish Club

Morning walks with my favorite Gym Teacher 

She collects sea shells by the sea shore.

Weezy with our new room mate. She was a good fit for our trip.

A Krispy Kreme was sooo close.

Magnolia on Main on the way home.

3 in one car and 4 in the other.

I caught alot of flack for being the youngest so here's to you old folks!

Just a little traffic on the way home.