Vacation Countdown Day 2

Here the second edition of our Top 10 Reasons Why We Love Vacation lists:

Top 10 Vacation List - Caity Style:

10. Getting away from here


9. Beersbee!

8. Waves (hopefully)

7. Reading (maybe) while Rick (or whatever his nickname is on here) digs giant holes on the beach

6. Games

5. Good food

4. Watching Grandma drink vodka (just kidding)

3. Watching Luke play on the beach for the first time

2. Spending time with the fam

1. Drinking a Summer Shandy on the beach

Final list will be tomorrow.  Then we are off to enjoy Michigan "Up North" style.

Vacation Countdown Day 1

To celebrate our soon to be enjoyed family vacation, we are going to do three countdown with a Lettermen style Top 10 list. Won't have the humor, but certainly much more sentiment.




Top 10 Vacation List - Krissy style

10. sitting by a campfire

9.   euchre

8.   walking on the beach

7.   no makeup

6.   watching Bob sleep (I mean this in a good way as he really needs it)

5.   being bikini twins with my mom

4.   having someone say “powdered sugar” every time I say something is delicious

3.   spending a week with Grandma and Kim (it has been awhile!)

2.   not having to leave my kids with someone else all day ( I get them all to myself)

1.   not sitting at my damn desk all day

On #5...the suits are certainly NOT bikinis, just 2-piece and yes, we separately bought the same suit.  I'm sure my S-I-L's will get a lot of play out of this. 

Tomorrow...a new list.

Crafting and a Card

Made a card last night.  Didn't follow any sketches, just used some of my new papers and a new scrollwork border.

Simple but nice.

Also...with the help of Carol over at The Answer is Chocolate, I was able to create these 4th of July designs for my ever rotating mantel frames.  I really like them, I just need some more "festive" stuff on my mantel.

Thanks Carol...these prints are so cool.

The 17 Day Diet Update #3

I do have to admit to a couple cheats over the week-end.  Had a couple glasses of wine, which aren't allowed and I have to admit, I stagnated for a couple days.  Got myself back on track yesterday.  Followed all the rules and got in a long walk (about 4 miles) with Krissy and the kids.  Today my weight loss is at 6.2 pounds.

My pants are too big this morning.  They keep sliding down to my hips.  Can I tell you how awesome this feels.

For the first time, in a long time...I recognize my old self when I look into the mirror.  It's hard to explain and I know I've been very, very lucky most of my life.  Things didn't start to change until my late 40's.  Slowly...over time, I've just been getting thicker and thicker around the middle with an explosive muffin-top creeping over all my pants.  I see picture of myself and I can't get over how much bigger I am. (yes..it is subjective)

Now I am no where near my old weight, which is OK.  I know I won't get there again as that was just crazy, but I'm closer to where I want to be.  I just want to feel comfortable...with only a teeny tiny muffin-top.

Hey...What's Growing?

My tomato plants are breaking all records for growth this year.  I think getting the new bigger pots and the large amount of rain have really helped.

Tomatos when planted (That's them in the background)

Tomato plants today:

Yowsa!  Time to start tying them to the deck railing to keep them from falling over.

I love the summer.

Do you have something growing?  What's doing well for you this year?

The 17 Day Diet Plan Update #2

Had a little road block where I was under the weather for a couple days.  So I was just holding steady, but back on track and I've lost 4.6 pounds as of this morning.

I will be honest, I'm getting real tired of chicken and fish.  I did roast up some turkey breast, which helped a bit.  I honestly ate brussel sprouts last night for dinner.  Not too bad.  We were out celebrating Stinky's 19th Birthday and I had broiled salmon and brussel sprouts.  It was very good and the entire restaurant joined in on singing Happy Birthday to Mike.

It was a good night.

Forgot to mention...I'm in a pair of jeans today that I could barely squeeze into a few weeks ago.  Today they fit perfect.  YEAH!!

The 17 Day Diet Update #1

Today is Day 5 on the new plan and I've managed to lose 3.8 pounds.  Considering I started on the last Thursday, the weight loss is amazing.  As of yesterday, Krissy was at 3 pounds as well, so it is working for both of us.

Easiest part of the diet plan...eating all the vegetables.  The girls and I had already begun the expansion of vegetables in our lives.  Roasted or grilled asparagus is probably top of the hit parade. 

We do have to credit "Cooks Illustrated" for a lot of help in this department.  I've been receiving the Cooks Illustrated magazine for years and we all have their "The New Best Recipes" cookbook (which we all highly recommend).  Besides all the other recipes, they have a collection of great ways to change up your veggies.

Hardest part of the diet plan...I miss bread.  I'd love a sandwich and I'm not even that big of a fan of a sandwich or a piece of toast....whole wheat would be just fine.

But it helps knowing I only have to do this phase for 17 days.  I can do anything for 17 days.

Back to Reality....which isn't all bad!

Mom and I had a great trip to Minnesota to visit my aunt, uncle and cousins.  We had so much fun talking, laughing, eating, bike riding (NOT).  We can't thank them enough for all their hospitality.  I shamefully did not take as many pictures as I should have.  I sometime get so caught up in the moment, that my camera is the last thing on my mind.

But, I did manage to snap a few.

Here is Lisa's new home.  It's just perfect. You got to love that porch...we sat out there for hours talking.

She and Mark are big into collecting art, but please don't ask me about St. Joe in the corner.  Every time I walked in the door, I nearly had a heart attack thinking there was someone else in the room.  She swears you get used to it...eventually.

We then headed up north to Linda and Patty's house on the lake.  This was the view from the deck.  Just amazing.  Best part was that it was big enough for all of us to be together for a few days.  So special.

Corky chillaxin' after a ridiculous bike ride.

Catching the last bit of the sunset.

We also went to downtown Nisswa (hope I got that right) and went to Rafferty's for pizza.  Honestly, it was the best pizza I ever had.  Just delicious.  Make sure you try the one with lingonberries on it.  I'm serious...it's incredible.

I also got to stay for a few days with my cousin Lori, who is also the originator of the name Mush Push (look to the left on my blog to see my sweet cousin at age 5).  Lori has been on The 17 Day Diet since February (I think that's what she said).  She has lost 18 pounds and is now in maintenance mode.   She looks so great and she highly recommended the plan.                                                                                                                        

As I have been on my own new eating regime for about 2 months and stuck at only 5 pounds, it seemed like a good suggestion. So, I bought The 17 Day Diet book and today is officially day 2.  I will share my experiences as I go.  (Krissy's joining me on this journey, so you might here some of her comments as well.)  

Thanks to my Minnesota Family...I love you all so much.

Minnesota Bound

My mother and I are in Minneapolis area visiting my Aunt (her sister) and my cousins. Having a wonderful time and I am not telling you what we are talking about. Something only a group of womencancome up with. Promise more detail and pictures soon?

Finally Got Around to Making a Card

It has been so long since I've made a card and submitted it CPS that I almost forgot how to do it.  Well, not really.

Here was the sketch:

And here is my interpretation:

Best part about this card is that I was able to use some old stuff and some new stuff.  (I recently found a really great scrapbooking store not to far from my house.)  It also only took me about 15 minutes to make.  It's funny how new stuff is inspiring.