Merry Christmas!!!

     I hope everyone had a great Christmas! We sure did! It was a great day spent with family. And of course we all got spoiled! I had so much fun watching the kids open their presents (pictures and videos of the grandbabies in Minnesota!). The looks on their faces was priceless!

     I ended up getting 2 pressure cookers for Christmas! I am so excited to put them to use! They are going to help so much with making healthy meals during the week. I already have so many great recipes I can't wait to try!

     It is so hard to believe we are in the last week of 2016. I have to say, 2016 had a much better ending than 2015. Everyone is happy and healthy, and that is really all that matters! This also means that we are in the last week of our team weight loss challenge. Roger and I have lost a combined 7 pounds so far. I think that is great for the month of December! Can't wait to see what we can do with the new year!

     3 months until the girls trip to Vegas to check out some venues! I am super excited! It's going to be a great weekend with some amazing girls! Hopefully we can find the venue that is going to work! In the meantime... Operation: Wedding Dress is in full force!

Oh, The Holidays!

     The holidays got me this week. I had a gain. The gain wasn't as much as I lost last week, but it was still a gain. Upward and onward. Gotta hold on to how I feel right now and let that guide me through this week. I did work out some this week, but I know I can do better. And this week WILL be better!
     We had my office Christmas party last night. So much yummy food! I think one of the hardest parts of this year is not only staying away from temptation, but rebounding when that temptation gets the best of you. Sure, I didn't do as well as I hoped I was going to this week. But the biggest decision comes today. Do I continue to fall into the trap because "I already had a gain, so might as well start over with the New Year?" or do I learn from it and move on. I'm choosing the later.
     Roger is still on board and he actually had a loss this week! Makes me hate men and their metabolism even more! ;)
     I guess that's about it from our little neck of the woods this week. 1 more week til Christmas! :)

Only Going Down From Here...

   

     This week was the successful week I was looking for and needed! I lost 5.4 pounds this week and it felt great! It was the first week of our Couples Weight Loss Challenge and Roger and I lost a combined 10.3 pounds! I am really loving doing this together!
     A lot of our weight loss this week was probably water weight from what he gained on vacation, but it was great to see the scale move in that direction nonetheless! It wasn't a perfect week at all, and that just helps even more to stay motivated. I am committed to making this week an even better week! Adding the gym back in this week. Even though this can slow the scale down, I know I am going to start feeling so much better physically in no time!
     We had such a great day yesterday celebrating Roger's birthday! We surprised him with Christmas Story The Musical at the dinner theatre for lunch yesterday, and then had a small gathering of friends and family for a couple's bunco night. Mom made her delicious lasagna and we had a lot of fun. This may have been the biggest win of the week knowing that we can still have celebrations like this and still have a great week!
     Today I plan on doing some meal planning... something I haven't done in a very long time. I know it helps with success and it is so much less stressful not having to figure out dinner after a long day at work. It helps to have Roger help with this, too, so that he has somewhat of a say on what we have for dinner. We'll be going out to dinner for his birthday on Tuesday night, but we are trying really hard to limit eating out to one night a week.
     I have some work to do before I try the dress on again... but I feel like I am finally back on track!

Today is the Day!

     Today is the day! I had an "aha!" day like this a few years ago and it ended up in the loss of 104 pounds. While I am so glad that I don't have that far to go again, I am so upset with myself that I have gotten back to where I am right now. But I'm done looking back. I'm done fretting over what has happened. It is what it is, and I am lucky enough to be able to change it. 

     Vacation is over. It was an AMAZING vacation spent with some pretty great people. I visited places that were more beautiful that I could ever imagine, and truly fell in love with my fiance all over again. I am so glad we are able to spend these times together. It wasn't so long ago that these vacations were just dreams for us. We have both worked so hard to get to where we are, and the places we get to go, and I am so proud of us for that!

     While I tried not to let the way I looked or felt bother me, deep down it really did. I didn't take the pictures I wanted to take, and probably didn't do everything I wanted to do. But no looking back, only forward. I am looking forward to feeling good about myself again, and am so excited to see the pictures that will be taken on our next cruise. God has put some pretty amazing people in my life, and I am learning to take full advantage of that!

    Watch out world, today is the beginning of my next chapter. And this one is going to be the best one yet!

Total Reset... After Vacation...

   

     Ugh... Here I am. 2 days before vacation and no where near where I wanted to be. It's ok, though. I am going to have fun! And when I get back Operation: Wedding Dress is on full force!
     I was reminded tonight it had been a while since I've posted. I can think of a million excuses, but it probably just comes down to the fact I haven't been doing well. Food is honestly my struggle. I love to work out... And feel great when I do! But when I'm busy with work and school my meal planning is the first thing to go. Something I am going to focus on when we get back.
     The dreaded holidays are coming. No excuse though. I can do this!
     Wedding planning is frustrating! It doesn't look like the first venue I liked is going to work out. Poor communication from the get go isn't such a great thing. Roger and I both really liked it, and I can't say enough how ideal the location is. But everything happens for a reason, and I know there is something out there that is even more perfect for us! My mom, Holly, Gretchen and I are taking a girl's trip in April to look at a few more places. I am so lucky to have them!
     I hope everyone has a great a Thanksgiving! We are leaving for our cruise Thursday night and I plan on checking in after with a solid plan for Operation: Wedding Dress!

Consistency

   

     I am so frustrated with myself for not staying consistent. I am letting little things throw me off. Vacation, being sick, stress... It seems like one little thing happens and I am starting all over again. I will not give up, though. I'm stronger than that.
     4 weeks from today til the cruise, so it's crunch time. It really isn't going to be about how I look. That isn't going to change a lot in 4 weeks. But I want to have energy and confidence to enjoy the trip. Roger and I actually just booked our second cruise for the end of next year. Another goal I suppose.
     Last weekend in Vegas didn't turn out to be as successful as I had hoped. And I'm not even talking about the food... yeah... I won't even go there. We had set up an appointment back in August to look at the venue that I really like for the wedding. No one showed up for the appointment. Apparently the lady that made our appointment is no longer there and didn't put our appointment on the group calendar. We still got to see the outside of the venue, and the inside of the reception hall through windows. It really is a beautiful place, and while we were looking around I couldn't help but see visions of our wedding day. I have spoken to a couple of people from the venue since this weekend, and they have been very helpful and apologetic. They are working with us to make things right, but it still makes me just a little nervous about their reliability. I am confident, though, that everything will happen the way it is supposed to and it will be a day we will never forget no matter where we decide to have it!
     This week also brought a nursing program meeting. I was so grateful Roger went with me to the meeting. I felt like my head was spinning! There was so much information, and it left us with a lot to think about. The two years during the program is going to be tough... for both of us... but it is going to be worth it. I feel like if I made it through this last few weeks of having 3 classes, working over time, and going on a weekend getaway alive, I can handle anything! We got to hear from faculty and current students. It was really nice to hear their perspective on things and how they handle family, life and nursing school. We'll be ok!
     As far as the weight loss goes, I have just been staying pretty much the same for the last few weeks. Up and down, playing with the same 3-4 pounds. Last night I decided to join a DietBet that goes until Thanksgiving Day. Perfect since we leave that night for Florida. DietBets helped me a lot when I was losing weight before, and I am excited for the extra motivation again! I'm excited to get back on track for the next 4 weeks and then have some fun in the Caribbean!
     I really hope, most of all, that through this blog you are able to see how crazy this journey really is. It's not easy, I'm not perfect, but I am committed to coming here and putting down my thoughts every step of the way. Even when it's not great - like the last few weeks have been. But here's to taking every day step by step. Getting back to basics, and doing this to get back to a better version of me!

One Day At A Time

     Life is full of ups and downs. They're inevitable. Sometimes they just come at the most inopportune times. This is how I've felt lately.
     I'm not going to lie. I have been feeling pretty overwhelmed lately, and have even experienced some anxiety that I'm not used to. It was a little scary, but things are calming down some now. It is honestly these times that show me who I have standing beside me. The hard times in life truly teach you the greatest lessons. I'm trying to keep my focus on what I need to do for me. Right now that means getting through school so that I can further myself in the field that I love.
     I had to put the gym on the back burner this week. The star of another class had me staying up later doing homework, and I wasn't getting the sleep I needed. I really think that is why I was having such a hard time getting over that nasty cold. It's pretty much resolved now, just a little bit of cough still lingering. I was able to get back into the gym today, and it felt great! I registered for a 5k this morning that will be Thanksgiving morning. Perfect timing, too! We leave for Florida Thanksgiving night, so this will definitely give me an added push until then!
     I'm just going to keep taking it one day at a time and keep chugging along! Vegas next weekend! Can't wait to check out the wedding venue! Fingers crossed it's the one!

Oh the weekends...

     Been kind of a boring week... I guess that's good! Not a lot to report. The weekends are kind of killing me eating wise, something I definitely need to work on. I know I need to do a better job of time management and getting meal planning and grocery shopping a little higher on the priority list. It really does help a lot. My weight is just going up and down, staying pretty steady, but I am so proud of how far I have come in the gym.  My cardio days give me a really good workout, and I am up 15 pounds on every machine from where I started. That is exciting!
     I have another class starting tomorrow. The next 5 weeks are going to be busy and stressful with school. I can do it, though! It will be a big relief when this semester is over.
     I am so excited to say that 2 of the most amazing girls I know, Holly and Gretchen, have agreed to be bridesmaids in our wedding! We are going to have so much fun planning, and I am so grateful and lucky to have these 2 by my side!
     This week brings a challenge for our family. My dad is having surgery on Thursday for a blocked artery. Please keep him in your thoughts, but we are confident everything will turn out great! He is in great hands, and we have full faith in his amazing surgeon!
     Happy Sunday!

The Crud

   
     This is how I have felt all week. I really thought I was getting better yesterday. Then, after dinner last night, I felt like I ran face first into an oncoming semi. Ok, maybe that's a little dramatic, but I did sleep for 12 1/2 hours last night. I couldn't tell you the last time I did that. I did sleep pretty well, though, so it was worth it. Still not feeling great this morning, but I'm sitting at the student center at UNC getting ready to study some more microbiology. This is the school where my college career started... 15 years ago. I swear if I did as much studying here then as I do now I would have been golden! But... I would not be where I am today getting ready to go into the career that I love.
     3 weeks from today we are heading to Vegas! I can't wait to see all of our friends (family, really!) that live there. And I am excited to see if the place that I have found for the wedding is going to work for us!
     I tried on THE DRESS again last weekend and am proud to say that in a 4 week time span I was able to go from not zipping the dress up at all to getting it half way zipped! That was very encouraging, and I love this dress more and more every time I see it.
     I didn't get much gym time in at all this week because of this cold. (Sorry I have been a horrible workout buddy this week Stacey... )The upside is that I have had absolutely no appetite, so luckily I don't think it has hindered any progress. Although, we ate out A LOT this week because I had absolutely no motivation to come home from work and cook this week. I am hoping to get back in the gym tomorrow, and plan on making a food plan tonight with Roger for the week ahead. 8 more weeks until the cruise... and still plenty of time to get to a place where I can relax, have fun, and not worry about the way I look while we are there.
     I am excited for the week ahead and to start feeling human again! Lots of progress yet to be made!
   

Life Lessons

 

   This has definitely been a week of life lessons for me. The biggest lesson I've learned this week, though, is that I need to keep being the best version of me. I can't let others decide what that means. I've learned this week that I really do love my job and I take pride in taking care of my patients. I work with a doctor that trusts me, believes in me, and helps me realize everyday that I am where I need to be, doing what I am supposed to be doing. Most importantly, I am lucky enough to call her a friend.
     Another lesson I've learned this week... that I've had a hard time grasping in the past... is that the scale is not the best indicator of my success in this journey. On August 1st I took some pictures (I will spare you the images!). I took the same pictures again on September 1st, and then again yesterday. Even though the scale has decided to stay put, I can definitely see how far I've come in these pictures. The biggest difference being just in the past 3 weeks. I didn't plan on taking these pictures again until the 1st, but I am so glad I decided to yesterday. It was something I really needed to see. All of the hard work, and early mornings, are paying off! I even think a dress fitting may be in order very soon! It's going to be hard... But the scale is going away very soon.
     I need to thank all of the people that put up with my emotions this week. It was truly one of the hardest weeks I've been through in a very long time, but I came out stronger and better for it. And, really, this journey that I'm on helped me get through it all. It has made me stronger, physically and mentally. The confidence I am gaining back is something I can't even put into words. Times like these really make you see the true colors in people, and you learn who you need to keep in your life. I truly am lucky to have so many amazing, supportive people in my life!

Baby Steps

     Feeling a little overwhelmed tonight. This weekend there were a million other things I wanted to be doing than homework. Saved it all until tonight and then stressed out. I don't know why I do that, but sometimes it feels like my mind is blank until the pressure of a deadline is on. It's always been that way with me and school work. I have to remember it all gets done eventually, and I really am doing the best I can. 8 more weeks of Microbiology. Might be the longest 8 weeks of my life... but it too shall pass. In 3 weeks I start another class. I don't even want to imagine what the 5 weeks of overlap is going to be like. I may be under a rock for those 5 weeks!
     Operation: Wedding dress is in full swing and I feel like I am doing well right now in that aspect. I am now below where I was before that awful gain a couple weeks ago, and that is a great feeling! 7 more pounds until I get to try the dress on again! This means I am down 8 pounds since the last time I put it on! I have to admit... I really am starting to see progress. In my strength and in my body. I know I still have a ways to go, but I'm taking it one pound at a time!
     This weekend I went to my first Weight Watchers meeting in a long time. This definitely wasn't the meeting for me, but it was great to be back in the environment again. I went with a friend that wanted to start the program, so it was nice to have that type of support again. Weight Watchers is a program that I truly believe it. The program works, but you have to work the program. I know it works for me. Meetings and tracking are vital to my success on the program. With 10 weeks to go until our cruise (!!!), I have decided to commit to going to a meeting every week and tracking EVERYTHING I eat until we leave. I am determined to enjoy this vacation, and hoping Roger and I can get some great pictures that I will feel good in while we are on this cruise!
     Some exciting stuff going on with wedding planning, too! We are heading out to Vegas next month, and we have an appointment with a venue that I really think is perfect for us! If it seems like it is going to work, it will be a big check off the to-do list! This is one aspect of the planning where I am glad we have a lot of time for. If this isn't the place, we have plenty of time to keep looking. If it is, I can do a lot of planning around the venue. Pretty exciting stuff!
   Phew! So glad I have somewhere to throw my thoughts. Time to head to bed now. Meeting a friend at the gym in the morning, and then covering a shift at another office tomorrow. Night!

Back In The Groove

     I think I have finally recovered from our weekend in Atlanta! All I can say is what a weekend! It was truly a roller coaster. We did everything we wanted to, and had a lot of fun, but there were a lot of things that didn't go oh so great. It's ok, though. We survived and go to spend time with Roger's cousin, Leah. I am so grateful for that! She is an amazing person and I already miss her so much!
     We got 3 ballgames in on our trip. The minor league game we went to on Friday night was a lot of fun... once we go there! It really made me wish we had a minor league club in Northern Colorado. This park was so empty, and the team was playing in the playoffs. I really think this area could have filled up that park. I wish I could make that happen! I really didn't think Turner Field (Where the Braves play) was anything special. It was a very nice ballpark, but it really lacked a lot of the extras that other stadiums have. I am interested to see what they do with the new park to make it more exciting. The Falcons game was only the 2nd NFL game I have ever been to, so I didn't have a lot to compare to, but it was a lot of fun! Games are really a lot of fun when you don't have an interest in who wins or loses.
     I didn't do horrible food wise while we were gone. I was very lucky that the hotel we stayed at had a free hot breakfast that actually included a lot of options that worked for me. Not a lot of places go out of their way to have options like that, and it was great to see! I ended up weighing exactly the same when we got home Tuesday morning as I did when we left Saturday morning. I would definitely call that a win while being out of town for 4 days!
     This week back at work really hasn't been as challenging for me as it has been in the past few weeks. I think I'm back to the point where I'm not thinking about food all of the time, and that is definitely a great feeling. I'm concentrating on getting a good, hearty yet healthy breakfast in in the mornings and it is really helping me get through the whole morning without ending up starving at lunch. I'm also getting back into the grove of making dinners at home again. I really do enjoy cooking, and if I plan ahead it really isn't that much work.
     Sometimes it feels silly to me putting these thoughts into this blog. I've said it before, but it's still true. This blog is really helping me get back on my journey to success. It makes me feel accountable, even if I am the only person that reads what is written here. The addiction to food truly is like any other addiction. It's a process, and sometimes it can feel like a very lonely one. I know I'm not alone, and for that I am forever grateful. I have so many amazing family members and friends that help me every day whether they realize it or not.
     I am looking forward to weigh in on Sunday and getting closer to the next fitting in the dress!

Weekend Getaway

     Sitting here at DIA waiting to board our plane to Atlanta. It's our last weekend getaway of the summer and it should be a lot of fun! It's also our last baseball trip for this season. I can't help but have a little anxiety about food on these trips. I hate that it is this way, but it is. I know I was already a pain in the butt this morning as we were walking through the airport and couldn't find anything to eat that I would consider to help me stay on track. Apparently convenient doesn't equal healthy in airports. I'm hoping this isn't how the trip is going to go. 

     We have a lot planned and that is usually helpful. Tonight is going to be a rush to make it to the Gwinnett Braves game. They are a AAA team and are playing a playoff game at home tonight. Minor league games are always a lot of fun! Tomorrow night we are going to the Atlanta Braves game, and Sunday afternoon we are going to the Atlanta Falcons game. Phew! I'm already tired just thinking about it! Both the Braves and the Falcons will have new stadiums next year, so it is going to be neat getting to see where they play now before they are gone. For us, that means another trip to Atlanta in our future to visit the new stadium where the Braves will play. 

     Even though these trips can be considered my biggest challenges of this journey, I am hoping to come home to celebrate a success! I was down 4.4 of the 7.2 pounds I gained last week as of this morning. I'm gonna hold on to that a d use it as motivation to continur to do well this week. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it!

     Time to enjoy a new city with my love! Our next vacation is a big one... A cruise to the Caribbean! I'll set a goal for that one when we get back!

Hard Week

 Not a good week. I spent all day yesterday feeling sorry for myself and thinking of all the excuses of why the scale said what it did. I even thought about not blogging this week at all, but what does that help? I can't run away from the bad days... or weeks. It was a rough week to say the least. I had a root canal on Monday that I am still hurting from, and ate food I normally wouldn't eat all week long. I also missed 3 workouts this week. I think that was the hardest part of it all. As a result, I had a 7 pound gain this week. This gain isn't going to define me. It's going to make me work harder. Initially I was so upset and ready to give up. I really forgot what a roller coaster this journey can be. 

    It's behind me now. We are leaving on a weekend getaway Friday, but I have a game plan. I know it is going to feel so good coming home from this vacation with a loss. And that is what I will keep remembering. This might be a little setback, but it's temporary. Time to get up and move on. 

     Feeling sorry for myself when things like this happen is really something I need to work on. I have some great friends to turn to, which is awesome. I know I'm not the only person going through this journey. A lot of my closest friends are the ones that live furthest away, though, and that can be so hard at times. 

     This week really made me realize how this journey is about fitting all of the pieces of the puzzle together. The eating right, working out, planning, and tracking. When any of these things gets a little off, things can start to go in the right direction. This week ALL of these things were off and it resulted in pure chaos! It shows that I need to get back to basics and do what I know how to do in order to get the results that I want. 

     I know I am all over the place this morning. But I needed to get everything out. Moving on... I'm off to the gym!

Oh Pumpkin, How I Loathe You

    

     It's here. Fall. Already? You know it's official when there's been a pumpkin sighting. As if I wasn't in a horrible mood already this morning, I made my way down to the cafeteria and there they were. Pumpkin Donut Holes. Ugh. 

     I wasn't planning on blogging this morning, but this is my outlet. A good friend of ours lost someone really close to him yesterday, and I feel so awful for him. My mouth is hurting, and I didn't do my best at the gym this morning. I'm at work when I would rather be at home in bed. Victories are great to celebrate, but it's days like these when I need the support the most. I will get through today, and I will have the opportunity to face tomorrow. For this I am thankful. 

     Today I will try to keep focused and think about my goals. Pumpkin deliciousness will not help me fit into that wedding dress. My problem seems so small compared to those around me, but still I struggle. Watch out, today, I'm ready to fight. 

You Don't Have To Be Perfect

       This week was not a perfect week by any means food wise. I ate out way too much, and there were a lot of challenges along the way. There was Outback, sushi, a pizza and wings night, and a whole day spent away from the house. A lot of times, social gatherings are centered around food. That makes it really hard. I used to avoid a lot of social situations (the first time...), but I'm really trying to get better at keeping these times a part of my life. I've found that it's important to just keep myself busy... and away from the food. While I try to stick to my food plan during these times, it doesn't always happen. I did great at Outback Monday night, but kind of went out of control with pizza and wings. There might have even been some loaded breadstick bites included in that meal. What I did do well this week, though, was not letting a bad meal or a bad day define my week. I ate it, and I moved on. I worked out 6 days last week, and attempted to keep my focus. That I will celebrate!
       Sundays are my weigh in days, and was happy to see myself down 4 pounds this week. That's a total of 11.7 pounds in 4 weeks. 54 pounds to goal! I did gain one of those weeks thanks to a super fun camping trip, so I am very happy with this progress so far. I know it is going to start slowing down sooner rather than later, but I will enjoy this victory while I can! When I had my last massage on August 1st, I told Aubrey (My amazing massage therapist at Massage Envy... go see her!) that next time she saw me (September 3rd) I was going to be down 10 pounds. I've past that now, and can't wait to share my progress with her. I know the weight loss will make her job a lot easier, too! I may even start to enjoy massages again without all the pain that those extra pounds bring!
      My dress arrived Monday afternoon! I am absolutely in love with it! I was able to get it on, but not zipped up in the back. Even still, I really don't have as far to go for it to fit right as I thought I would. I did take a couple pictures of me in the dress. They have been super motivating for me this week, and I can't wait to have these pictures to track my progress. With this weeks loss, I have about 9 more pounds to go before I will try the dress on again. Can't wait!

My Daily Routine

       Anyone that knows me knows that I'm a planner. I plan well in advance, and don't do well if my routine is thrown off. Something I am working on!
       This especially goes for sticking to a weight loss plan for me. My life has been busy lately, but I have been doing pretty well at getting a routine down. I am lucky enough to have a job where I only work 4 days a week, and even luckier to have Mondays off, so I get three day weekends every weekend. So even though my workdays start pretty early, having only 4 of them makes it a little more manageable!

       Here is a routine workday for me:

                   4 am: Alarm goes off. I do hit snooze a few times (Sorry, Roger!)
                   4:30 am: Out of bed
                   4:45 am: Out the door
                   5:00 am: Workout
                   6:30 am: Work
                   5:30 pm: Cook dinner
                   7:00 pm: Homework/Study
                   9:00 pm: In bed

       When I really get into the swing of things it really looks worse than it is. In reality, getting out of bed at 5:30 isn't any more fun than 4:30! Weekends around our house can vary, so I just try to get up around 6 to head to the gym before I get too caught up in the day.
       For me, it is a lot easier to get my workout done first thing in the morning. It takes the decision away after work, because it's already done!
       I don't plan for rest days for two reasons. 1 - It is hard for me to get going again after a day off. And 2 - If there is a morning where I just don't want to get out of bed it's ok!
       At the gym I have been alternating cardio and a total body circuit every other day. Planet fitness has a circuit that I really love! If you live near a Planet Fitness and haven't been yet... you need to! I can't say enough good things! They are inexpensive and you really get a lot for what you are paying! My membership even comes with the ability for me to take a friend every time I go! (Yes... That is a hint and an open invitation!)
       I hope that gives you a little insight as to the steps I am taking in my journey!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I can't let the day go by without saying "Happy Birthday" to this incredible woman. She has made me who I am today and I would be so incredibly lost without her. She believes in me when I don't believe in myself, and she has given me everything I need to make life incredible. She has always put us first selflessly and without a second thought. I can only hope to be a fraction of the woman she is. 

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you so much!

Here Goes Nothing!

       Well... never did I think I would start a blog, but here it goes! I have to give credit to Roger's second mom, Mari for the idea! I think it was said as a joke, but it really sparked something! What a great form of accountability for me!
      Roger and I have been together for 6 1/2 years (tomorrow actually!), and we got engaged on May 29th. That was the day that he asked me the question I wasn't sure was ever going to come: "Do you want to go to Sam's?" I know what you're thinking... this could have meant a lot of things. We needed toilet paper, dishwasher detergent, laundry soap... You know, any of those household things you have to buy in mass quantities. However, being the smart man that he is, he knew that the ring I had been wanting for a long time was at Sam's Club. I'm sure he wasn't given any subtle hints at all! Who knew they had such great jewelry??? We were on our way home from a long day at the baseball field after Roger got done umpiring for the day. Luckily, I knew what he meant and immediately turned the car around before he changed his mind! It was a Memorial Day weekend I will never forget!
        The date for the wedding has been set! September 11, 2019. 1115 days from today I will marry my best friend. Sounds like an eternity, but I know it will fly by. I will graduate from  nursing school in May of 2019, and our wedding will be the celebration of a whole new beginning for us. Even though we have been together so long, I can not wait to make it official and become Roger's wife. We have been through so much together, including many ups and downs, and it all has just brought us closer together. He really does complete me and I couldn't imagine my life without him.
       I'll spare you the mushy stuff, and just get down to business. Last week I found THE DRESS. It was the dress I knew I wanted, and when I found it online I couldn't pass it up. I didn't think I would be getting my wedding dress so far out, but I just checked the USPS tracking system and it is currently out for delivery. While I am so excited for it to arrive, I know it's not going to fit. And that's ok. This blog will serve as a tool for me to track my progress between now and the big day! That dress is going to fit, and I am going to look amazing!
       As you might know, I lost 104 pounds a couple years ago. It was thanks to the support of my family and friends that helped me get there. I was so close to my goal, and then life happened. But I did it before, and I WILL do it again. And I'm not stopping until I get there. I have been back on track for the past couple of weeks now, and I feel great! I have about 58 pounds to go to get to where I think I want to be, but the weight isn't as important to me as how I feel inside and out. I want my confidence back!
       I'm not sure anyone will follow or even read this blog, but I really think it is something that is going to help me battle through this journey again. If there is someone out there that decides to read it, I hope you enjoy the ride! Buckle up! It's going to be a bumpy one!
       I am so excited for this darn dress to arrive today! I'm going to take a picture in it today as a starting point for progress pics. Sorry... I won't be posting the pics. Not because of the way it will look, but there are some eyes that are not allowed to see the dress until the big day! Don't worry though... I'm sure there will plenty of opportunity for pics along the way!