Gain Some and Lose Some

Last week, I had an out of town visitor and as a result I had a weight gain of .8 pounds.  I am fully responsible for the food that I put in my mouth, so I was very pleased that it was only .8 pounds.  I knew that I would have trouble with tracking what I was eating so I tried to make better choices.  It did not always work but this was my first time since I have started on my journey, that my environment changed.  This is only going to prepare me for the upcoming holidays because I do not intend to gain any weight during this time of year.

This week, I got back on track.  I was not up to par with tracking so I am wondering if I am unintentionally sabotaging all the hard work because I am doing so well.  I absolutely need to put a stop to that, I have worked too hard to fall off the wagon.  I also started back into my workout routine.  I find that my moods are a whole lot better when I excercise and I have more energy to keep busy through out the day.  This journey is not only about my physical health, it about my mental and emotional health as well.  I firmly believe that the two go hand in hand and I have to be happy with my outward appearance as well as inward.  Looks definitely are not everything, but that is the first thing a person sees when you meet them for the first time, and I want to look my best.

With that said, there is a race on April 7, and it is a 5K.  I am going to sign up for it and I cannot be more excited and nervous at the same time.  This will be the first race that I have run since high school and if it goes well, I plan on running more.  Maybe I will run a half marathon someday...

Now, I have hit a weight loss of 20.2 pounds.  I had a great week, and yesterday I went to a party.  It only took a couple of hours to make the skirt and I love how it turned out.  I excited to say that I recieved a lot of compliments on it as well.  Definitely a bonus, and I felt great.  The fabric I used was from Alexander Henry's The Ghastlies line and it is by far the best Halloween fabric I have ever seen.  I could wear this skirt all year round, I think it is that awesome.  The pattern was from my head, and I cannot wait to make some more.  I want to try one in a longer length too.

20.2 pounds down, 39.8 pounds to go!

Earl Grey and Regina

I finished a hat today.  Actually it was yesterday but it was officially done blocking today.  I am not a fan of slouchy hats; however, this hat was so darn cute, I had to give it a try.

The hat pattern is called Regina and the designer is Carina Spencer.  I absolutely adore all of her patterns, and I have most them. The directions are easy to follow and she is available to answer any questions if the directions are a little too tricky.  The Regina pattern is a free download if you are on facebook.  Go to her page and "like" it, and you will receive the download.  There is also a knit along on Ravelry, in the Carina Spencer group, where you can see other variations of this awesome little hat.

My version was knit with Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK in Earl Grey.  I purchased it at a yarn store in Texas.  This yarn was absolutely amazing to knit with and it is so soft.  Please excuse the awful picture, but I was excited to get this hat done and wanted to share what it looks like on.

Ponce de Leon Lighthouse

This is going to be my last post for today.  It feels a little strange posting so much in one day but I wanted to break everything up a little.  I had to run an errand around Cape Canaveral, Florida, and on my way down I stopped at Ponce Inlet.  The lighthouse is the tallest in the state and it sits at 175 feet tall.  The lighthouse and the grounds are the most gorgeous I have seen in quite some time.  It is very well taken care of.

Cape Lookout, NC will always be my favorite lighthouse, but Ponce Inlet is a close second for me.  The view at the top was amazing.  It is kind of funny because I have always enjoyed looking at lighthouses and I thought that I was nearly done with my obsession.  I have been collecting miniature lighthouses for many years and I almost left them packed in boxes when we moved here.  I unpacked the ones that had the most significance to me and set them out because as it would turn out, I am not quite over the obsession.

The first lighthouse I remember seeing was Bodie Island, NC.  I was sixteen years old and we drove by it on our way to Cape Hatteras, NC.  It is a magnificent structure that sat in isolation back from the beach with nothing but the keeper's house to keep it company.  I often wonder what it would have been like to be a keeper and have the weight of the shipping fleet on my shoulders.  It is an awesome responsibility that is certainly not for the weak spirited and physically handicapped.  It was of utmost importance to keep the lights burning in the worst weather...

Then we arrived at Cape Hatteras, and it was breathtaking.  The first time we were there, it sat on the beach.  If I thought Bodie Island was isolated, Cape Hatteras was even more so.  There was nothing but sand between the water and the lighthouse and my favorite time to visit was not on the calm, clear days but rather, the grey days when the ocean was angry.  To me it seemed the lighthouse was even more isolated.  I used to give the lighthouse a personality and feelings, and I would often imagine that it was lonely.  It had to be, with it's light calling out in the darkness, beckoning to the sailors that had to stay away because the sandy shoals were too treacherous, protecting them from the shallow waters that had taken so many lives before them.  Lighthouses call to me because of the wild isolation, and the loneliness of the environment that surrounds them.  There is something romantic about being the only person on a sandy beach, and although most people would agree about the wildness and the romanticism, it should never detract from how hard the job of being a keeper truly was.

I know that this is about Ponce Inlet, but it has been 16 years or so since I went to Cape Hatteras lighthouse for the first time.  It has been moved back from the beach to protect it's foundation.  The Outer Banks of North Carolina are barrier islands that come and go with the changing of the seas, and unfortunately the sea is eroding the beach at a fast rate.  You can read more about the lighthouse and the move here:
http://www.nps.gov/caha/historyculture/movingthelighthouse.htm

Without further ado, some Ponce Inlet pictures and one of the lighthouse at Cape Canaveral and some links with information about both:
http://www.ponceinlet.org/
http://canaverallight.org/about-2

My New Favorite Place...

I have always been drawn to the water but I was looking for a good place to watch the sea traffic other than the main beach in Fernandina Beach, and I found just the spot!  I thought that we might give Ft. Clinch State Park a try because I heard there is a great fishing pier there, and we might get to see some submarines coming and going which is always a bonus for me.

The kids had a great time and we got to see some wildlife.  We saw an osprey, a sting ray, a little fish, and various other birds flying around.  I want to try and go back in the morning time so we can see some dolphins as well.  I can really see myself spending a lot of time out there with the kids.

I also wanted to throw in some pictures that I took at the main beach from the day before.  Fall was in the air and it felt like I was looking at a beach during the winter time.  It seemed so wild and isolated.  The beach is always changing.

St. Simons Island

After we visited St. Augustine, we took a trip up to Brunswick, GA to see St. Simons Island.  We climbed to the top of the lighthouse and walked around the fishing pier for a little while.  The area was quite pretty, and it was an enjoyable afternoon.

The lighthouse was built in 1872 and is 104 feet tall.  It is attached to the keeper's house and has 129 in a spiral staircase to the top.

More information about the history of the lighthouse can be found at the following link:
http://www.saintsimonslighthouse.org/lighthouse.html

St. Augustine

A couple of days ago, my family and I went to St. Augustine, FL for the day.  We drove around the town and climbed up to the top of the lighthouse.  The weather was beautiful, and all in all it was a great day.

Here are some fun little facts about the lighthouse:

•        The lighthouse is located in St. Augustine which is the oldest city in the United States.
•        The lighthouse is 165 feet tall.  It is the second tallest lighthouse in the Florida.  Ponce Inlet is the tallest at 175 feet tall.
• It's light can be seen for 24 miles out to sea.
• There are 219 steps to the top.

That last little tidbit is kind of important because I climbed to the top of the lighhouse.  It did not take very long and I was not winded.  However, my calves and thighs were quite sore the next day.  My excercise is paying off.

For more reading about the city and the lighthouse, check out the following links:
http://www.staugustinelighthouse.com/
http://www.oldcity.com/

Breaking Barriers

I realize that I am late blogging about my weight loss this week, but I have a good reason.  I did snap a picture today so I hope that makes up for my tardiness.  My weight loss this last week was so much better than I thought it was going to be.  I lost nearly 4.5 pounds and trust me, I was not expecting that.  As a result, I finally weigh less than 200 pounds.  In my picture this week, I am wearing a shirt that I have not been able to wear in quite a while.  It used to be snug across my hips.  I must say it feels good to finally start seeing some progress.

18.4 lbs down, 41.6 lbs to go

Surrounding Myself With Balcony People

One of my favorite quotes is:
Surround yourself with people who will only lift you higher.
                                                                      -Oprah Winfrey

Last week I had an incident at the Weight Watchers location that I had attending.  My son was being chatty, and as a result, my leader told me to take him out.  I am very good at removing my children from a situation if they are being disruptive, and I did not even get a chance to take him out of the room before I was yelled at.  I am not exaggerating, I was yelled at.  At the end of the meeting I went and talked to her and she told me that I was going to have trouble finding a meeting where I would be welcome with my child, but I could keep trying to come to that one.  I was utterly humiliated, but I did plan on going back at the time. 

After a cooling off period, I decided that I did not need to surround myself with people who would give me dirty looks everytime my son made a peep and so it was time for me to find another place to weigh in.  Not going to a meeting is absolutely not an option and so my weigh in has been moved to Friday.  I found a new meeting and my new leader is wonderful.  She is patient and the other members at the meeting made me feel welcome.  I am still a little leary about having a chatty baby with me, but I am going to try this out for a spell.

On a high note, I started taking a multivitamin and I walked three days this week with a tiny bit of running.  I miss running so much, and the two things that I regret the most in my life are giving up running and picking up that first cigarette.  I should not have done either, but we all learn from our mistakes.  The best thing I can do is start all over.

Since today is weigh in day I am sharing a picture.  It is not flattering as it is windy out, but I am overweight and I do not feel like I look all that great in any case.  I am also sharing a picture of a litte black dress that I want to wear to the Submarine Birthday Ball in April.  I want to knock Jeremy's socks off and feel confident once again.

14 pounds down, 46 pounds to go!

A Ridiculously Awesome Sweater

I learned how to knit almost two years ago.  I started mainly because I wanted to knit diaper covers for Mason.  Wool is extremely versatile and it can absorb 30% of it's weight in moisture without feeling wet.  It is the perfect stuff for a baby's cloth diapered little butt.

Jeremy hates that I knit.  He thinks that knitting is something that old women should be doing.  I think he has it in his head that I am knitting doilies, but I am much cooler than that.  I had the opportunity to be a test knitter for a super sweet mamma, and it just so happened to be that I would be knitting a sweater.  This is my first sweater and I am pleased with how it turned out.

What do you think?

It Started With a Haircut

I had a fantastic weekend.  It was actually the best weekend I have had since Jeremy left.  I have had a horrible time adjusting to living in a new area and I think it is largely because I am having a hard time making new friends.  Do not get me wrong, I LOVE it here.  I thrive on warmer weather and the thought of no snow for winter.  I have resolved to get myself out of the house more because new friends will not come to me, I have to make them.  Above all, I wish that my husband were home.  We are much happier when he is here.

On Friday, I decided that the kids and I needed haircuts so when school let out for the day, off we went.  The length of my hair was almost to my waist and it had been nearly two years since I have had it cut.  There was enough for me to donate to Locks For Love.  I have to admit that getting a hair cut while it is still in a pony tail is really dramatic.  I love my new look, and I just felt like it was time for a change.


My hair right after it was chopped off.  You can see how long it is.



The end result.

  After our haircuts, the kids and I went to watch Cars 2, and eat pizza.  Nolan and Hannah were thrilled and Nolan talked about the movie for the rest of the weekend.  When the movie ended I had a nice surprise from a friend who asked if we wanted to go to the beach on Saturday.  She lives in Athens and decided to drive down for the weekend.  It was a great day.

Saturday morning, we got going nice and early, so we could participate in an Alzhiemer's walk for Nassau County.  The walk was with the Alzhiemer's Association and even though it was only a two mile walk, it was great to get out for some excercise and show support.  Alzhiemer's Disease is a horrible illness and it is a struggle, even for the strongest of families.  I was thrilled to know that I reached my fundraising goal, and the kids were thrilled to go play at the park when we were done walking.    

This was right before we started walking.  The yellow flowers mean that we are there because someone in our family is suffering with Alzhiemer's Disease.



We left our flowers with a volunteer and when we came back from our walk, there was a garden.  The blue was for someone who has Alzhiemer's Disease, purple meant that someone lost the battle to the disease, yellow was for someone you know living with it and orange was for advocates showing support. 


We walked for Grampy, and we will do everything we can in the hopes that we might someday find a cure.

After our walk, we went to the beach.  It was the first time the kids got to play in the water and they had such a great time.  The weather was gorgeous, and the kids were exhausted when the day was done.                                    

Nolan

Mason



Hannah