PUMPKIN PIE-FIZZ or FIZZLE?

So after surviving making 2 turkeys and a full meal for Thanksgiving and only suffering 2 burns on the same finger (wanted to apparently limit my suffering to one place in order to be more efficient), it was a beautiful day and I even got a walk in after dinner, so all in all a great day was had by all.

I made pumpkin and cherry pie.  Now I'm a known pumpkin pie addict, in fact before my daughter (who will be 23 next month), my hubby left for the weekend at the end of November and I had just made 6, yes 6, pumpkin pies.  He left on Friday and by Sunday afternoon, there were no pies left.  Yes, that is what I ate the entire weekend along with 6, yes I said 6 LARGE tubs of Cool Whip.  Cause you can't eat pumpkin pie without Cool Whip that is just so wrong.  I'm was shocked that my daughter wasn't born with a orange twinge to her skin, but think maybe the Cool Whip counteracted the orange.  My husband was shocked, but I really like pumpkin pie.  Ok so back to my original thought, I made 4 pumpkin pies, sent 2 out the door with guests, one was eaten on the day and then there was the one lonely one that was left.  It was sitting in my fridge, looking at me with all it's yummy pumpkinness just begging me to slice off a chuck and dip it in cool whip and shove it in my mouth.  I resisted temptation until Sunday and I decided one little slice wasn't going to hurt, right?  I was all excited, pretty sad when a sliver of pumpkin pie makes your eyes gloss over and makes you drool in front of the refrigerator like a starving man looking at a ham, but that is exactly how I felt.  So after drowning my pie in that glorious white and fluffy concoction that makes all desserts better, I was ready, no I was more than ready to take that fork and put that yummy, smooth and memory invoking food into my mouth.  So I took a bite, and to be honest, it didn't taste the same.  Now don't get me wrong, it tasted like it was supposed to, but I think my taste buds are staging a strike and weren't bursting with the pleasure I used to get from pumpkin pie.  After two more bites, I just didn't have the will to finish it.  After all these months of no sweets, I think my taste buds and brain have rewired and things that used to be mind blowing, now are just blah.  Now this is good and bad in a way.  Good that I don't crave all the sweets I could consume in mass quantities and add inches on my hips just by looking at them, bad in that I kind of miss that feeling of the first bite.  Pumpkin pie and I go way back.  It probably it my most favorite pie since I can't remember when, so I'm thinking we are no longer best friends, but acquaintances that will send Christmas cards to each other once a year to catch up on how long it's been since we last seen each other.  I still like pumpkin pie, but I guess my love for it has cooled from a Fifty Shades of Grey obsession to more of a "The Christmas Story" movie, ok to see once a year but really don't wish to watch beyond the holidays.

So I'm still riding my bike to work as it still hasn't SNOWED!  And since Mother Nature seems to be having hot flashing at the moment, the joke is that I will be riding my bike until Christmas.  So now the bets are how long will I ride my bike.  Only time and Mother Nature know, but I'm determined to ride until it actually snows!

Weight wise I've lost another pound and a half, so up to 108.5 so far and I'm shocked that I can to sit ups and crunches without having to pull myself up, which is kinda cool. 

So the holidays are in full swing and Cyber this and Sale that is all around us.  Remember to tell those around you how much you love them and love having them here.  Because as someone who lost their parents early in life, there is so much that you have that you don't realize it until it's gone, take a minute and be grateful for what you have and not what you don't.

So I hope you have you list for Santa ready and whether you are on the nice or naughty list, remember that you matter in this world.  Especially to me, cause if you all didn't read this, then I would be just some strange Mid West lady that obsesses about pumpkin pie and snow and moans and groans about weight training in order to make her butt smaller.

So have a peachy week my friends and good luck to all on your holiday countdown.

THE DRESS!

This week is going to be a blur so I am going to hurry and post before the holiday festivities begin.  This weekend I had the honor to attend a wedding of a family friend, in all reality, they are family.
But the big thing that happened is that I wore a DRESS!  Yes a dress, I do believe the last dress I wore was my wedding and that was 28 years ago.  This was not a flowy dress.  This was a tight, cling to my figure dress that I actually put on and went out in public with.

The other big thing I did, I DANCED!  I bounced around and danced for hours without looking like a drowned rat at the end of the night.  I bounced, shimmied, and wiggled my body like a woman possessed.  The funny thing is, I only had one shot the entire night (what can I say, you can't say no to the mother of the groom).  I got more than 24,000 steps on my fitbit that day and aside from trying to dance in my heels the first 30 minutes, I felt FANTASTIC!

I had so much fun.  I love this family like my own and it's give me nothing but joy and excitement when I get to see friends that make me laugh and just happy.  I got to catch up on their families and hug and laugh and just be silly and wild with the most amazing people ever!

So as promised, here is the dress.  Please note, I forgot to take the pic BEFORE the wedding, so this is at 12:30 am after the wedding, cause I did promise to post a pic.

Now my hair was much fluffier and my support pantyhose had a bit more support at the beginning of the night, but to be honest, I didn't care.  I actually thought I looked pretty good.  Not fashion model runway material, but pretty good for a 48 year old mother of 3 that has been literally working her butt off.

So these two pictures really make all the hard work worth it.  I now have a permanent record of what I have accomplished.  I would have covered up in a sweater before, NEVER would have worn heels and not a change in H E double hockey sticks would I have ever worn a dress this tight.  But taking a leap out of my comfort zone and trusting my daughter and hubby that I did look nice, I just did it.

This was a HUGE day for me!  No I wasn't the one getting married but I sure did feel like a bride all prettied up and fancy.  And my friends were nothing but supportive and kind.  So many compliments and hugs and smiles, now who wouldn't want to spend their Saturday night being complimented and boogieing with the most amazing dancing divas around.

So as Thanksgiving is only a few days away and then it will be a whirlwind of activity, I am still flying high on the effect of feeling good on the inside as well as the outside.

So, I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with blessings and laughter.  Remember that you have to allow your special occasions.  Don't fret the pie or the stuffing.  Remember to use moderation, and as a friend just recently said to me (shout out to my my girl, AMANDA), you have to find your "worth it", like Halloween candy isn't worth it, but your grandmother's pie at Thanksgiving is definitely a "worth it".  So find your "Worth It" this holiday and remember you can burn off some of those calories on your Black Friday shopping.

Happy Thanksgiving to all and have a peachy rest of your week.

3 Days-No Workout=What is the cause and effect?

I haven't done well this week.  I don't know if it's the daylight savings time that is catching up with me or if it's the dark when I get home, or that it's just getting colder, but this week, by the time I get home I just haven't been able to make myself work out.  Now if this was the old me, this wouldn't be anything unusual, but I'm going on 3 days of not working out.  I've never gone 3 days in the past year.  Luckily I have boot camp class tonight and maybe just being around all those wonderful women who make me smile and laugh and feel good about myself will kick start me back into gear.
I'm rather disappointed in myself for going 3 days in a row, now I'm not just sitting at home and watching TV, I've been really busy doing things for church and so forth, but that's not a good enough excuse, at least not to me.

But after looking back on my posts and my food journal app that allows me to put in notes, I know the real reason, even though it is completely subconscious. On the 27th of this month, it will mark the 35 anniversary since my mom died.  I think subconsciously my body know this and even though I am excited about the upcoming holiday season, there is a part of me that is broken.  Even after 35 years, I still miss her terribly and wish she was here to meet my husband and children.  I don't mean to be melancholy and I do a pretty good job of hiding it, in fact I should get an Oscar for my performance as a well adjusted happy go lucky person on certain days.  I don't sleep very well this time of year, just my mind taking over and opening the door to sliver to let out a memory of two to remind me that I did have a mother and my life would have been so different had she not left us so soon.

So I'm chalking up the last three days as my own little pity party that apparently I was the only one invited.  It wasn't the best party as I don't eat any of the good snacks anymore. (ok, I still have my sense of humor)

I plan on going to boot camp class tonight and hopefully working out all this on the floor and maybe releasing some of my pent up sadness, guilt, self-pity, loss, whatever you want to call it.

I have always said that each day is a gift and as someone who has lost her parents very early in life, every day I get to spend with my kids is just that "a gift", even when I want to wring their little necks or roll my eyes because I can't believe they just said something completely insane.

So the past three days I can tell that my endorphins that you get from working out are a little low in my tank.  Probably because I didn't work out, but after writing this blog and getting a little perspective, I know the cause, now it's up to be for the effect.

This month is always a challenge for me, because unless you have lost a parent, especially one when you are 13, then it's hard to explain to someone else exactly what you are feeling. 

So I'm going to put on my workout clothes when I get home, lace up sneakers, fill up  my water bottle and go to class.  I'm going to sweat, smile, laugh and hopefully not twist, break or bruise anything that I cannot live without.

Staying silently strong is a talent I have perfected for many years.  With the help of this blog and support from all of you, I no longer have to be silent.

P.S.  Note to self in November 2018, you are a good person, you are a great mother, and your parents would be very proud of all you have accomplished thus far.  Remember that and all the rest is just gravy.

So thanks for reading and for all the encouragement, this funk too shall pass and I've decided today is as good as any to shut the sadness door.  It's like any door, if you leave it open too long, eventual you get flies and nobody likes flies.  So before I get flies, I will cherish the things I can remember and let go of the pain of the loss and while I'm at it, I will work on my positive, rather than wallow in my negative.

So I promise a more upbeat post next week, cause I will officially be wearing a dress this weekend, the first dress I've basically worn since my wedding and that was 28 years ago.  So I guess I'm due.  I will post pics, the first will be the one in my dress, and as my daughter witnessed at Kohl's last week when I bought heals, the second will be of me in my cast after trying to walk more than three feet in my heals....lol

Bike Riding and Life Lesson

Back in May I made a commitment to myself that I would ride my bike to work every day until it snows.  So through rain, sleet, and wind I've ridden my little green monster back and forth to work.  But now as I wake up to 30 degree weather and have on my scarf and mittens I am determined to ride my bike until it snows.  When will that be you ask?  No clue, I might still be pedaling my happy butt til Christmas. I like the the crisp air in the morning and having the sun on my face (when it does happen to stay out more than 6 minutes) when I'm riding home for lunch or coming and going to work.

Now I have almost been hit by two cars because apparently a big red STOP sign is too confusing to some and even though I'm on a bike, driving rules apply and I still have the right of way, but hey they didn't hit me and I sincerely hope they weren't trying to make some kind of points in a driving game I'm unaware of the rules.  Though I do know you when if you can find a blue haired lady walking a pink dog with a purple collar, so be on the look out to win.

Just a bit of humor for you, as I was working out the other day at the gym, I was doing my floor work and right behind me is the ever strong and dedicated muscle men who grunt and groan their way to amazing pecs and delts and other muscles groups. 

So as I'm bending over and squatting on the ground, kicking my legs back and forth and basically giving them the full glory of my back end.  I am working hard, sweating like I'm a fountain, and determined to do one more rep than last time.  When I work out I am oblivious to what is going on around me usually, I put in my headphones and get lost in my music and concentrate on the clock to determine how many more seconds I have to do a plank.  So after a very successful, (at least I didn't pass gas or fall over and need assistance), I had to use the rest room before leaving for home.  As I'm sitting there doing what everyone has to do when they consume too much liquid, I notice that I can see the floor through my work out pants.  After closer inspection, I notice I have a nice rip where the seam is smack in the middle of my butt.  Now this wouldn't normally concern me because I usually wear black underwear with my work out attire, but today I was in a hurry and went with whatever I had on from work.  Needless to say their were a bright yellow and has happy faces on them.  As I finish and decide to see if my panic attack is worthy or not, I bend over and look in the mirror and by goodness if it isn't like a flashing street light in the middle of a blackout.  I do believe that if ANY of the muscle men looked in my direction they had to have a snicker and perhaps a giggle as my small attempt at exibitionism, but lucky for me they were too much of a gentlemen to point it out as to embarrass me, anyway that's the story I'm sticking with.  So as I pull down my shirt to cover my butt and quickly exit the gym, I smile at myself at the thought that I just did an hour show of my happy face underwear for the whole gym to enjoy.  Now that is what I call a one woman show!

Needless to say, I now make sure to check all my pants BEFORE I put them on and do a stretch test to make sure I don't have an stress fractures to worry about.

So as we have a calm week before the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Thanksgiving begins and starting up the holiday season, take a second to realize the beauty in your surroundings.  I'm sure the big muscle men at my gym didn't know that their workout that night was going to include a bit of humor and fun, and I'm know that they saw but I was too intense in my workout to read the signs. So I guess showing a happy face, even if it is ON your underwear, is one way to share a smile.

So take a minute and enjoy what you have and always remember to check your workout pants for holes and wear coordinating colored underwear when you work out!  Just a little life lesson from me to you.

Have a peachy week my friends and until next week.

The Holiday Season has begun!

HAPPY 1st OF NOVEMBER MY FRIENDS!!!

So with the Trick or Treat and Halloween ending yesterday, seems to be the start of the holiday season for many of us.  I know I try each year to do things ahead of time and try to get a handle on the stress and sometimes mess of the holiday season.  There are foods to prepare, gifts to buys, cards to send, stockings to stuff, family to see, things to decorate and lots and lots of cleaning of dishes and houses to prepare for the "festive" season.

So yesterday I was Poppy the troll from The Trolls movie and it was so much fun.  Being able to put on a costume and feel comfortable in it was a new experience.  In fact I purchased most of my costume on Amazon and I didn't even try anything on until the morning of Halloween.  Because I was pretty confident that it would fit.  Another first, being confident that something was going to fit and look good is a new feeling, a good one, but new and a bit foreign to me.

So here I am in all my Poppy glory, my friend Angie was a gold troll and sprinkled glitter through out our office, it looks like Tinkerbell exploded but very cheery.

So with the holiday season starting (there are only 53 days till Christmas, just a little reminder for you), it also starts the overeating season.  Thanksgiving is filled with goodies that are normally only made once a year and you just feel awful if you don't indulge in these once in a year goodies.  Plus people are baking and bringing all sort of wonderful goodies to share in the festive spirit (I'm a big baker and a huge Pinterest junkie, so I'm very guilty of "making" things).  Yesterday was the start of our holiday season and we have a "Junk Food Day" where everyone brings tons of goodies and we graze the entire day and by the time we get home we are so stuffed it's like a pre-Thanksgiving run.  I was pretty proud of myself, though I did contribute some yummy pumpkin cream cheese swirl muffins, I only had a little taco dip and some tortilla chips.  I didn't even feel the need to have anything else.  I know you are sitting there saying, "Yippee skippy and good for you, do you want a medal or something?"  No, not a medal, but if you would have told me a year ago I would have turned down caramel corn, pumpkin bars, cookies, and cake, I probably would have given you the you're number one salute with my middle finger.  

I'm just saying it is possible, and will power does work, but you have to have a foundation and the determination to stick to your guns.

Halloween lets us start off the holiday season being whatever we wish to be.  Me, I was a troll, not exactly Morticia Adams, but hey, Poppy is happy and likes to scrapbook, so not too much of a stretch for me.  Today is the first day of a new month.  The first day to start a new venture or a new goal.  I'm working on sticking to my workout schedule, due to some severe muscle soreness after bootcamp last week, I missed working out a few days, now I could have worked out but my mind over powered by body and dismissed missing a couple days to workout.  What was I thinking?  I wasn't.  I had let a little of the old me slip back in and take over for 48 hours, I would have been in less pain if I would have worked out but I was in pity mode and even though my quads were killing me, I could have at least walked.  So lesson learned and making oneself a priority is hard.  Especially if you are a mom or someone who takes care of others.  It's hard to get that 30 minutes, but I've come to conclusion that I need that 30 minutes for my own value and my own mental world.

Everyday I face challenges, some big, some so small that they don't really register until I recall my day, but I really have to step back and take a breath and think about what I'm going to do.  And other times I'm my crazy impulsive self and just jump without thinking.  But that's what's life is about.  Taking a leap, taking a stand, and stepping away from the chocolate cake after one bite!  Not easy things to do, but without variety and fun, life wouldn't be FUN!  You only get one life and it's up to you what you do with it, so make it GRAND!

So this is a new month, what are you going to do!  Be BOLD!  Be Spontaneous!  Show your Sparkle!  Give each day all you have and you will never regret the day!  Give of yourself to others, you never know how much a hug, a smile, or even a wave to someone can change their day.  

So start off your holiday season with a positive attitude and just the goal to enjoy the holiday instead of surviving it!

So have a peachy week my friends and enjoy your extra hour this week as we lose it this weekend!