No Facebook February

'No Facebook February'. It's a thing. What would you do with out a month of FB? Read more? Engage more with you family members? Do the dishes? I have desperately tried not to just replace my FB time with more time on Pinterest, and ya'll - that struggle is real. I did get several friends decided to join me on my campaign, and I have actually sent snail mail! I started off with just plain note cards.. and then the muse came to visit. 

I have a best-good-friend who I have been friends with since junior high who has lived all over the world and has sent me birthday cards, anniversary cards, and packages just because. I love getting the packages, but have not sent her ONE SINGLE THING. In fact, her birthday card from December is filled out and stuffed in a folder somewhere. I'm just awful at it. She was the first on my list to send a little somethin'-somethin'. The envelope is hand painted yellow with black dots on watercolor paper. That lovely lady is Frida Kahlo (left-overs from my day job) that I cut out and glued down. The writing says 'If you would please be so kind as to send this to the esteemed and lovely Mrs. Gautney. It would make me and my eyebrows very happy!' Inside each fold are different pockets. One pocket has shrinky-dink film cut for jewelry for my friend and her tweenage daughter to create together, a second pocket contains a four page letter and some note cards for my friend. I also put in a puzzle packet for her son, and some silly little wormy things for her husband. I got the inspiration for the pockets from here via Pinterest.

This week I received a card from a friend that I have known since Pre-K. So, here's what she's getting in her letter:

Her and her husband do cross fit.

Is there an unappropriated time for a Ryan Gosling meme?
Note to self: download a more than absolute basic  photo editor

I WORK OUT...

I have officially JOINED A DOJO (cue applause reel).  I am loving the way that is headed. It feels so good to be learning again and working towards a goal. I've been slipping on my nutrition and working out, so this week will be focused on buckling back down on that. I did loose 11.6 pounds in February! Some clothes are fitting looser, and that feels great! Now is not the time to get comfortable!!

New Year's Tidings

What a start to the year! The end of 2014 brought intense back pain due to my old lady hip. It sent me on an unwarranted trip to the ER from a CareNow clinic, but I promise I will not rant about that debacle... too much. After a CAT scan that was deemed unnecessary from the doctor AFTER they ran one, I was sent home with prescriptions and instructions for healing. I spent the first week of the new year taking it super easy. It's funny how sometimes those things turn out to be blessings....

Due to being down and out I was able to spend quite a bit of time online, and came across this little website called Diet Bet. It turned out to be the exact kick in the tush I needed to get excited about this whole healthy life style change. REALLY excited. Oh. My. Gosh. If you haven't heard of it, you should REALLY go check it out. Basically, you get a group of people and bet $25 - $30 that you loose a certain percentage of you body weight over a certain amount of time. The diet bet I am participating in is hosted by some of my favorite celebrity trainers Chris and Heidi Powell. Participants bet $30 and everyone is betting that they can loose 4% of their body weight in 30 days. Those who do it split the pot. The pot of this 'game' is over $345,780! WHAT?!? I'm chomping at the bit to get a piece of that!! Just.. go now... open the link in another tab, and just do it... I think that part of the excitement is that I can actually get my $30 back PLUS some! 

I also got to make this beauty. 

It's an inspiration/goal board for me and the humbster! I took washi tape and divided up the left side for a workout log, like so... 

and found some pictures of me, my friends, and my hunky hubster to collage around a short term goal, and longer term goal (but still ultimately a short term goal), and jazzed it up with some washi tape like so....

and posted it right on a wall in between the dining area and the kitchen, and BAM! Encouragement every time I walk past it! 

Please ignore the stains on the dry erase board. It's been around a while.

Last week I was talking with a friend who I was in a community group with, and SHE had been talking to another friend from that community group, and that little chit-chat turned into a digital community/accountability group! We are going to be reading Made to Crave by Lysa Terkheurst, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, and keeping in touch throughout the week via Google hangout. I just LOVE how God is always working behind the scenes. 

Oh! My hunky hubster gave me a sewing machine as one of my Christmas gifts. Look out world, she sews!! I see a long flowing maxi skirt in my future...

Current weight: 327.0

Me? A Blogger?

As I was getting ready to get a plan together I was looking through several blogs of people who have lost weight, and most of them had lost a significant amount of weight before they began blogging. While their information was great, I thought 'hey, it would be neat if someone had started from the beginning.' To be honest some of them may have, I just didn't have the patience to scroll through and find out. So, I decided to be that person. I've always felt that after I lost weight, I would 'pay-it-forward' by helping others do the same. But why wait? If this blog can help someone on the way, then great! I hope it does. Just so you know, this is a big step in shutting up those negative voices in my head, and not with cake this time. This time it was with brownies...

What are your favorite blogs or websites?
 Here are a few blogs that I check out on a regular basis:
http://heidipowell.net/
http://poorpaleo.com/
http://authenticallyemmie.com/

Fashionista-Wanna-Be
I love a good skirt. I once had this cute circle skirt that was pink and flowed so nicely. It reminded me of the innocence of youth and girlhood. When my friend decided to teach me how to sew a month ago, I jumped on the chance to make an awesome circle skirt.

Necklace: Lane Bryan

Jacket: Torrid

Shirt: A.N.A.

Skirt: Mine (hangs head in shame)

Tights: TJ Maxx

Shoes: Too old to remember

It definitely flows... I think next time I'll sew a pillow or something, and then work back up to skirts.

Last Week Follow Up

At two points last week every stitch of laundry was complete and put away.

I made a menu and for this week that is clean (except for meat balls & coffee creamer).

I shopped the list made from the menu.

My walking partner walked 1.5 miles one day last week.

I lost .6 pounds.

I made a pan of brownies as a 'last hurrah' and ate two. Which also happened to be half of the pan.

Meet Woodstock. My walking partner.

It occurred to me during our walk that Woodstock  will have to also adjust to this lifestyle change. We've never really 'walked' him, only took him outside to do  his business. That may be why he felt the urge to try to pee ever 5 yards. On the other hand, he did see a duck up close and personal on our walk. He was certainly intrigued, to say the least.

This Week's Plan

• Cook at least two nights this week.
• Keep up with the laundry (although it NEVER ENDS).
• Walk 1.5 miles with my walking buddy on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
•  Limit (perhaps cut out) caffeine.
• Eek out some creativity time!
• Mantra of the week: I'm worth it.