Man has it really been 2 months since I have posted? Wow where does the time go? Well lets just say that the Holidays hit and I did not do well at all. I am taking a full break from weight loss throught the goodie season.
I will be back with posts at least weekly starting in Jan.

Have a very Merry Christmas

and I look forward to seeing you all

in 2010.

I realized this afternoon that I have not posted in a week. Schools is keeping me really busy. am still doing really well on w.w. I did have a little bit of a rough weekend and used my 35 points extra in one meal on Sunday night. On Monday I didn't even want to go to the meeting a weigh in because of my bad Sun. Well I threw on jeans, a big sweatshirt, tennis shoes, and a hat which are not my normal shorts, tshirt, and no shoes for weigh in. I gained 2 pounds. I am hoping that this week when I weigh in the bad weigh in last week won't be that bad. I knew at some point when the weather changed I would have to take a hit on my weight when I wore pants figured I would have the nacho weight and pants all in one shot. Other than that life has been school and family. Can't complain,
Have a good weekend and I will try to post on Monday,
Ali

Still doing well. I keep waking up with headaches so that isn't fun. School is already kicking my butt. I don't think I have ever had so much reading in my life. 6-10 chap. at 40-50 pages each per week. I should be a reading snob by the time I am done with this class.
Well Just a small post to let you know it is going strong still and to say thanks for all the encouragment.
Ali

What an exciting day for me. I woke up this morning and was feeling good about weighing at the w.w. meeting. I had two social events this weekend and has been really good about sticking to my points even with eating pizza. I was sure I would lose 1 pound because I had lost alot last week I wasn't thinking much more. I got on the scale and wow I lost another 4 lbs. Yeah!!!

The coolest part is I got another 5 lb. sticker from my leader but I also lost 5% of my weight so I got a 5% sticker and a blue star to hang on my fridge.

I now have a w.w. buddy. Jennifer C. joined W.w. and went with me this morning to her first meeting. I think she is a little overwhelmed but I am glad I have someone to do this with.

So with my recent 4 lbs. it brings my total to 11.6 lbs in two weeks. I am more then thrilled but a littlle nervous about next weeks weigh in. I just don't think I can keep going with such high numbers.

Well I am off to take care of a bunch of homework. I will write again soon,
Ali

Well the diet is still going strong. The last few nights with school and life I haven't really been eating a dinner. I grab a snack or something between events. Today I am going to work on eating a dinner. If I don't eat a dinner I find that I have a hard time getting in all my points for the day. I am loving that I get to really eat. I have some days where I feel like all I do is eat and I still seem to be losing.
School went well for the first week but man am I going to be busy. I have 250 pages to read before I go back next week. Seems like alot of reading will be a typical pattern.
Yesterday we decorated for Halloween. Shawn and I had decided no Halloween party this year. Now that everything is up we may reconsider. We are thinking of bbqing hotdogs to pass out to trick or treaters as well as candy. Another way of loving on people.
Have a great day and talk to ya all soon,
Ali

My first day back to school went pretty well. I saw a bunch of friends before randomly so that was nice. I got to class and within a few min the fire alarm went off so we had to evecuate. After about an hour they let us back in. Apparently someone popped their popcorn a little too long and it set off the smoke detector to the largest building on campus, over 1000 people were evacuated. We finally got back in and got our schedule for the class. The sad yet cool part is because of the budget cuts some of this class is going to be online. There was one soccer and baseball thing for the kids that overlapped and we weren't sure what we were going to do. Luckily that one day is one of my cancelled classes becasue of the cuts.
Diet wise I was really busy yesterday so I actually had a hard time getting my points for the day. I ate in the morning but then between w.w. meeting and our new washer delivered, kids homework, and me going to school I ended up eating dinner at 10pm. I am going to be working on not making that a habit.
I am off to another class tonight. I have heard mixed reviews on the teacher. I get the idea that he is good but a hard grader. Either way I am not too worried.
Well off to deal with the day.
Ali

I weighed in this morning thinking that 3-4 pounds would be awesome as a first weeks lose. Well I didn't lose 3-4 pounds I lost 7.2 !!!!! I was kind of floored because I ate like crazy and still lost. The meetings to me are the key. I don't weigh myslef all week and it's like the big reveal of how I have been doing.
This weekend was fun and interesting. We had Cody's soccer game on Sat. and my in laws came to watch. The team did awesome and won. After soccer we had an open house for a good friend and I ate but was so careful. I felt kind of deprived because they had all these yummy looking cookies. I got a cup and filled it with fresh fruit. It was so good and I felt awesome that I didn't give in and eat the cookie. Sat. night we went to church so that Sun we could sleep in.
Sunday I spent almost the entire day shopping for a new washing machine. We bought a new washer 2 years ago but it broke and the part to repair it with labor was more then a new machine. I am a bargain shopped and ended up with a $599 machine for $424 after price matching and talking them into free delivery since we bought our old machine from them. I just about gave up on getting a new washer but finally got all that I wanted in one place at the right price. Whoohoo.
Well I am off to get ready for my first evening back to school. I am not thrilled with the idea of going back to school but I am sure I will be fine once I get into the swing of it.
Have a good Monday,
Ali

Good Friday Everyone,
Well I have made it through 5 days of W.W. and so far so good. I had a major sugar need yesterday so I ate a fun size Snickers and then realized that it wasn't as good as I thought it would be in my mind. I would have much rather had an entire bag of kettle corn for the 2 points. I feel so much more energetic during the day when I am eating healthy. When sleepy time comes I sleep so much better. I don't feel like I am losing yet so I am hoping that the scale moves when I weigh in on Monday. The true test will be the weekend and then weighing in Monday at 9am.
So funny story for the day
We took all of the boys to get haircuts last night. It was the first time I didn't just tell the lady what they wanted. Garrett found the haircut books and picked a short spiky look that is pretty much what he already had his entire like but spiked a little differently. Pj went with the typical bowl cut that Shawn loves on him. No Cody was a mess. Me looked at the book for am hour. He wanted a mullet, no. Next he wanted blond and purple highlights that you have to use a hair iron to get the look. He cried because we would let him do what he wanted. He finally found a long spiky, messy look that we all agreed on. This morning he realized that they cut off his long hair. How he didn't realize last night when he saw her cutting the hair is beyond me. All in all it was an eventful night. Lesson - next time you go to the salon take a look at the mens hair cut books, they are hilarious. Shawn and I laughed at the guys for an hour. So bad!.
Have a great weekend and I will post after my weigh in on Monday.
Ali

I have made it through 2 days of W.W.
I decided to make dinner at 4 again yesterday so that is was ready when we all got home from baseball. When we got home Shawn gave me a look. I made broccoli beef stir fry with rice. Lets just say that it wasn't good at all after sitting. The meat got tough and the veggies fell apart. We threw it away and went to In n Out. I stuck on plan and was able to have a hamburger without spread and 1/2 of an order of fries. Yummy.
All in all the diet is going really well. I went to the market and picked up a few things I might not normally get. I found cranberry almond popcorn that is super yummy and preportioned in 2 pt. bags. I bought a ton of yogurt to make sure I am getting my milk in. I am trying to be smart and do this diet without eating "diet" food, If I am going to make this a lifetime then I have to eat foods I like.
I think I am going to redo the design of the website today. I need something a little more upbeat when I sign on at 6am.
Have a really good day,
Ali

Yesterday morning I was looking on the W.W. website and was trying to decide between online or going to meetings. I happened to look at when and where the meetings were and the closest one started in 30 min. I jumped up, threw on clothes, no makeup, got PJ dressed and ran out the door. I am signed up for 2 months of w.w. prepaid. I got all the new books and learned the new plan. I am excited with going to meeting and seeing how I do. The bad news is my meeting is Monday at 9am so no weekend oops.
So yesterday went well. I made dinner at 4pm so that when we got home from baseball and soccer it was ready in the oven. We got home at 7:30 and ate as a family at the table. Normally when we are on the run after practice we stop and grab food on the way home. It was a nice ending to the day.
I love the program because you can eat. I ate my popcorn and granola bars. Yummy but a nono on low carb. So 1st day went well.
I am going to weigh in each Monday so I will post here either Monday or Tues. Yesterday at my meeting fully clothes with shoes I was 198. Ouch! The good thing is I am already lighter today. Have a good rest of the day,
Ali

Good Morning everyone.
I'm back!!!
I have spent the last few months as me time. I took time to reorganize my house (which had gotten out of control while I was in school full time), spent time setting up routines (bedtime, bible study, clean ups before bed), getting myself and my house prepared for another round of school. We are in church full time, baseball, soccer, life is just full time non stop. I figure is I can't lose weight now then at no time will I be able to lose weight.
Everytime I go on a diet I get frusterated that it goes so slowely. I usually go to my old reliable weight loss plan of lose quickly and can't keep it off. I am ready this time to take time and do it right. I am going to do weight watchers yet again but this time I am going to stick with the points I should be having not less to lose faster. I am at 25 points a day. I am going to work on making better lifelong livable choices rather than quick and not lifelong. I am signing up for weight watchers but I am thinking about signing up for the online version instead of $14 a week it is $65 for 4 months. I figure if I pay for 4 months I will commit for that long. 4 months also happens to get me within a few weeks of my 32 birthday. Ouch 32!!!
With all that said I weighed in at 194. back up to where I was before I lost all the weight for my graduation. I just can't keep going up and down like I have been, it has got to be hard on my body not only physically but mentally. I am ready for a change and this time I am going to make it slow and steady. I am not going to aim for 4 pounds a week I will be thrilled with 1-2 if I still get to eat like a human and not a carnivore.
So if you have any Weight watcher advice of recipies I would love to hear them. Thanks for all the continued support.
Ali

I have been very frusterated the last few weeks with school. I was upset that it was going to take me two years to finish. Funny thing is I kept praying about if teaching is what I am supposed to be doing and feeling frusterated because I felt like I wasn't getting any answers. I had a heart to heart with Shawn last night and he was laughing at me. He explained that he was a little upset at first because of the extra expense but how now he is ok with it all. He explained that I just wasn't seeing what God was trying to show me. Here I am trying to figure out my future when God is saying "Ali I have given you everything you have asked for. You get to go to school while being a Mom. You don't have to put PJ in daycare fulltime because you won't be working full time until he is in 1st grade". I was upset about not passing part of my cset and said well maybe God doesn't want me to teach and this is a sign. Now I know that is was because if I had passed none of his plans would have worked out. Funny how once it is put into perspecive for you, you begin to see how obvious it is that he was listenening all along, even before you were talking to him about it.
I still feel that there is a bigger picture for Shawn and I and I would love to see where he is going to take us. I am looking at our home Bible study as a springboard for much bigger things he has in store.
I know that I am not ready to hear God's audible voice, that would really freak me out. I am however really going to work on not seeing things as coincidence. Everything will fall into place.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
So true, Have a great day,
Ali

I owe you all a HUGE apology. I was supposed to post on the first and I didn't and for that I am sorry.
I have had the last few weeks from Hell. 2 weeks ago my Sister who was 4 months pregnant had a miscarriage and it has been very hard on her family. We have been being supportive but there is only so much you can do in the situation.
I have spent the last 2 weeks getting everything figured out for school. I finally got accepted and registered forclasses and thought I was ready to go. It has taken me many trips to school to sit and wait for them to get their stuff together. Lets just say they are terrible at what they do. On Monday I got a letter saying I was unable to take one of the classes I need Blah, blah, blah let's just say that instead of doing credentials in 1 year like I have planned on I am now being forced to do them in 2 years. Stinks because we bought our house with the plan of me working in 5 years and now it won't be for 6 years so it just messes things up. Anyways life is hard right now and full of undecided ends and I am not sure what to do.
Other then that life is crazy busy and I so need a vacation even though summer just is coming to an end.
The great news with everything is I have time to be a great Mom to my boys for the next year and time to get my house and life in order while going to school only at night.
Ali

Well it's official. Shawn and I are going to have a small goup Bible study in our house. We had been saying how in a church so large we really needed to get into a Bible study. Well our dilemma is it had to be on Wed and it had to allow you to bring children. Not one of the studies fit what we needed. We thought about it and talked with a bunch of people in the church and yesterday we signed up and went to our training. We are one of a handful of studies that will allow familes with children to come. The best part is because we are about 5 min from the house the elementary - high school age kids can go to a program at the chuch while the parent and little ones come to our house. We have already been told that we will fill up rather quickly because of the kids stuff.
Lets see what else has been going on. The kids are all in full force sports, and school. Life is busy, busy, busy all the time. I am officially accepted as a credential student at Cal State San Bernardino and start in Sept. I have to be honest that I am not thrilled with the idea of going back. The credential program is very intense. From Sept through Dec. I will be going 1 day and 3 nights a week. Jan through June I will be going to school at night and teaching as a student teacher in the classroom from 8-3 5 days a week. I am not sure how I am going to be the Mom I want to be, the wife I want to be, and the person at home I want to be while my schooling is so intense. We shall see!
So we had some unexpected expenses with the kids going back to school, sports, band, life, you know how it works. We have been doing cheap and simple meals with having practive every night of the week. My eating has not been in contol since the beginning of the summer. I am going to be starting weight watchers on Sept. 1st. I am hoping to go to meetings but I am not sure if finances will allow for it. I am waiting and praying for what to do. I will post again on Sept. 1st with all my new diet news and ideas. I am hoping to be refreshed from a summer of bad eating and no exercise. So look for Me on Sept. 1st with a whole new attitude.
Ali

Why is it that just when the kids go back to school and I think I should have free time I don't? I feel busy non stop. I have a list of things I want to get done before I go back to school and can't seem to get anything done. It is amazing.
Well Shawn and I are officially memebers of Water of Life church. We went to the membership class on Sunday evening and made it official. We also signed up for a spiritual gifts class that starts in Sept. and after much prayer and thought we have decided to start a home Bible study. The church has a huge need for people who are willing to lead groups in their home. We had been thinging about it and after talking alot and praying a ton Sundays message reallt spoke to us and told us that we were supposed to open our home and not only that but make it so that people can bring their kids. As a young family we know how hard it is to find a Bible study that is kid friendly. The church offers care for Garrett and Cody's age and since we live close the kids can go to the church but Pj's age is what we are gearing towards. We are going to stock up in kid videos with Christian themes and hope that we can get though a study. I guess well see how it goes in Sept.
I am still waiting to see what it is that I am supposed to be doing. I turned in my credential stuff but haven't heard back from them yet. I have been praying about my future and where God want's me but so far I have really been learning patients. Hopefully we will see soon.
Well I am off to a filled up day,
Ali

Wow were the last two days rough. The kids started school and life as we know it is getting crazy. I let loose on my blog and was talking to myself and I think some people took it the wrong way. Let me clarify that I was talking to myself. Iw ould never vent on my blg without talking to people first so for that I am sorry.

I think life just got the best of me and I was running on no food, sleep, or coffee creamer. I wasn't a happy camper. I feel refreshed and much better today.

Yesterday my brother andd his wife welcomed their first baby.

Emily Elizabeth (that's my middle name) was born at 5:59 via c-section. She weighed in at 8 lbs 14 oz and 21 1/2 inches long. She is beautiful and perfect in every way. Something so simple can be such an amazing spirital reminder. God is so good and awesome.

Well I am off to work on pulling stuff together for soccer tonight have a good one,

Ali

I have commitment issues. I signed a contract with a few people to not cheat and do well for 6 weeks. It is not going well. I am angry that someone else is telling me how to diet. Not in a mean way but it just isn't my terms so I am bitter and mad. It isn't that someone is telling me it is just that I have no will power and don't want I admit that I cheated.I like to do things on my terms and on my time and right now I am not feeling like dieting and so there.
Ok now that I ranted I 'll tell you about my week.
The kids are back at school. I am glad they are back but also a little off on my schedule and stuff. Brandy went into the hospital Sun. to have my niece and she still is there this morning. Still no baby. They are inducing but doing it very slowly. Hoping today will be the day. I'll keep ya posted. We start soccer practice for Cody this week among with Porter baseball so we are busy with practices monday - thursday from now until December. Life is crazy and it wouldn't be life if it wasn't, right?
Well I will post again later.
Ali

Yesterday went super well. I went to the market for a real shopping trip for the first time since our beach vacation in June. I would go grab 1 meal but no the whole shabang. I decided on weight watchers as my diet or lifestyle change of choice because I can live long term on it. I need something that isn't quick and done so I can gain it all back again. I need a diet that teaches me how to eat. I looked at Prism and a few other diets but I don't want to eliminate and one food group. Let's be realistic, I still want dessert every once in awhile. I still want bread and popcorn when I have the points.

Matt came over for dinner last night and we had a great meal. We had steak, baked sweet potatoes, grilled veggies, and corn on the cob. I cooked it the same except I made the guys baked potatoes with all the fixens while I had my sweet potato with a little cinnamon. Yummy! We had a great night of conversations and Ghostbusters the movie.

I am in a little pickle over what to do with my future. I am not sure what God wants me to do. I keep praying but I haven't heard back yet. I really feel in my gut that an art credential isn't what I am supposed to be doing. I am not sure what I should be doing. I am going to turn in my application and keep on the road for my credential but if another answer surfaces before or even during my credential I may follow it. I just feel that an art job isn't where I am supposed to be. I may look into multiple subject credential for elementary school but I am just chillin waiting for God's help in this area.

Well today is an organize the house and get back from vacation mode day.

Have a good Tues.

Ali

Well I am back from vacation. We had a wonderful time and it was so nice to relax with my family. Coming back from vacation is bittersweet, not only because it means coming back to reality but also because this is the Monday. I have been putting off dieting for almost the entire summer and now that the kids are heading back to school and life is starting back up it is time to work on me again.

I am realizing that it is more than just food to me. I have an addiction to food and I use it as a crutch. I have areas of hurt in my life and I use food to fill the hurt. I have had long talks with alot of people about my past and it is a reoccuring topic in my life alot lately. I feel like God is telling me that I have to fix myself and deal with this issue before I can move on to bigger and better things that he has in store for me.

When I was 11 years old my Dad walked away from my family and left my Mom to be a single Mom to three kids. My Mom did the best she could for the situation she was in. My life was great for the most part but as a young girl there is alot of hurt that goes along with your father leaving you. I have abandonment issues as well as other issues including food. I always tell people that I have forgiven him and moved on but the truth is that forgiving him and getting over this is impossible. How am I supposed to forgive him for being a complete asshole and changing my whole life when he made a very selfish decision? I can't! I recently read that you know something is from God if it sounds impossible well this issue in my life is impossible and I am actually a little upset with God that he wants me to deal with it.

I didn't intend for my post today to be an angry one or to talk about this but I had to. I am angry and I know that the only way I will get over this is with God. Through God all things are possible. I know that I am not going to walk away from my kids and that I am not him but alot of his choices to be a selfish jerk of a man have effected and changed my life. I am starting a journal of my feeling and journey through healing. I know it may take years and may not ever happen but I am finally willing to hand it to God and get on with my life.

Ok as for diet I know that I have an addiction. I have been doing diet after diet but I know that I need to change me and figure out why I eat. I have a book called Prism weight loss that helps youu deal with more than just eating. I am going to be reading this as I try to figure out why food has such a hold on me.

Here is my plan. I weighed in this morning at 186.6. I am putting away the scale and not weighing myself for 6 weeks. In that 6 weeks I also am NOT going to cheat. It isn't an option. I am making a vow to myself that I can and will make 6 weeks, 42 days. On Sept. 14th I will weigh myself. I need to learn that weight is more than a number it is about how I feel while dieting and about myself that matters. My post has gotten kind of long so tomorrow I will fill you in on my eating regimine. I'm not sure yet which program I am going to do. I love Weight watchers but I feel that by not eliminating any certain food that my addiction will still be there when I have lost that weight. Well enough for today.

Ali

I recently was having a discussion with some family about what we as Christians should do in a situation where someone confides in us when they are going through troubles in their marriage. We as a group decided that this situation is one that can't be handled by one person in the marriage but has to be a team effort on both of your parts.
Last week I was talking to someone that Shawn knows who is going through some rough relationship stuff and has been confiding in him about it. I know this person very little but ran into them last week. When we were briefly talking this person was telling me how awesome my husband is and how enviouse they are of our relationship. This really bothered me and really made me think back to the discussion with my family. Something felt off and uncomfertable so I went to Shawn and explained what I was feeling about the situation. He of course said I have nothing to worry about but he made a suggestion that I wasn't to keen on but prayed about all weekend. This person was having a birthday party for their child and invited my family.
Well Shawn was in Portland for the weekend visiting Jim and Kim so the party was a no in my mind.
Friday I was talking with Shawn while he was in Portland and was explaining that I wasn't sure why but her comments were still really weighing on my mind. Shawn said well I know what I think you should do. I jokingly said go to the party and laughed. Shawn's answer was I never would ask you to go without me but if it is still on your mind there has to be a reason. I hung up a little upset that he would even ask me to do that without him. I prayed and thought about it all night and even had dreams about it. I woke up a little upset because I knew that I had to do and as a Christian I knew what God wanted me to do.
Sat morning the kids and I went to the Christian bookstore and picked up a dvd and stuffed animal for her son. After picking up the gift we headed to the party. The kids had a ton of fun and I'll admit that I had some good conversations and it was fun. I know I did what God wanted and I felt at peace the entire time. The issues that I had have gone away and I feel like I had the chance to talk about the Holy Spirit and how she needs to get her kids and herself into a church.
I know we all go through struggles with what we know is what we should do but I did what I didn't want and feel so much better now. I also know that she knows that Shawn and I are a team and that she can come to US with her problems.
Just had to share.
Ali

Isn't it funny how God works in our lives? Shawn and I started working at our new churches VBS last night. We are both group leaders. Shawn is a leader to 12 4th grade kids and had 3 7th grade helpers, I have 17 3rd graders and 2 junior helpers. We learned about Gidion and the kids had so much fun. I came home energized and ready to go back, I have a great group of kids that all listen and can stand still for more than 4 min. Shawn on the other hand has decided after one night that kids are not his calling:) He had fun but his patience was tested. Anyways I am explaining to children what baptism is and how you can ask God into your heart. It is refreshing to see how without much effort the Holy Spirit get's into their little hearts and how easily they believe.
So we gave offering for the first time in awhile now that we have a church we are calling home. Now I am really bad about getting the house mail so when we got home last night I decided tog et the mail. How amazing was it that we recieved some checks in the mail that equal up to the exact amount we had givin. I am always leary about giving 10% because it is suck a large amount, I mean we could buy a new car if we didn't give, but we gave and we know that God is watching over us.
Ok so for the Non God stuff j/k
I still have no desire to diet, I just can't get back into it. We are going away camping with our family in about 2 weeks and I am thinking that I will use the away time to vamp myself back up and catch up on reading about the diet and stuff. We will see.
My tooth is feeling so much better, I go back in 3 weeks to get it finished but for now no pain at all, such a great feeling.
alright well I am off to look for some little inexpensive gifts for my VBS kids,
Ali

Please don't think I am avoiding you. I have been so busy. I have been painting and redoing the boys bedroom and bathroom for the last week. In the middle of that I got a terrible toothache and had to get a root canal. I have been kind of uninspired in the diet area when I have been feeling like poop. I had the root canal done this morning so now I am swollen and sore. I will post again soon but I just didn't want anyone to think I had disappeared.
Please pray for us as well. We have been going to church and getting God back into our lives. Someone doesn't like what we are doing and we feel like we have been under attack. The best part is that we know we are doing something right if we are going through trials like this but none of the family has been able to sleep the last 3 nights. The kids keep waking up with nightmares and hearing noises. The kids also keep waking up sick and strange stuff so please keep us in your prayers.
Ali

Happy 9th Birthday Cody!!!!!
Last night Shawn and I watched the movie Fireproof. What a good make you feel good kind of movie. We liked it so much that we are planning on buying it for one of the girls at Shawn's work who is going through some bad marriage stuff right now. I love the idea of not only relying on God but giving in when things are bad and making people try at a marriage.
I am so excited for a few reasons today. I will tell you something that many of you do not know. I can't pray out loud, never have. I have never prayed with my kids or husband out loud. They pray in front of me and I pray in my head and say Amen. It's not that I don't pray at all, it's is extremely hard for me to pray out loud. I have never prayed out loud in a group EVER. Scares me to death. Well I have been really working on this area in my life. Cody woke up with an ear ache a few nights ago and it took me 45 min. to ask Shawn but I prayed with him out loud for Cody. Last night at dinner I prayed for the meal out loud with my family. I know they are baby steps and I have no plans to pray in a big group but God is working in my life and giving me courage to be the wife and Mom I need to be.
Ok so the second reason I am so excited today is that on Sat. is my big graduation celebration. Whoo hoo. We are taking 60 people to Quakes stadium to see a baseball game and have all you can eat BBQ. It doesn't seem realy yet becuse I haven't had to work at all. I am so excited to see everyone and celebrate my accomplishments with the people who not only mean the most in my life but also the ones who without I wouldn't have made it to my college graduation. I will post pics on Monday as well as do some W.W. talk as I will be restarting the diet on Monday.
Have a great weekend,
Ali

I have been slow to post recently and I am sorry. I can't seem to get back on the diet. Typical Ali behavior. I weighed in at the end of the beach at 183 and weighed in this morning at 183, at least I am staying the same. Logically I know I need to go back on but I keep reasoning with myself about it. My grad party is on Sat and I am getting food in the house for a Monday start.
What have we been up to? We had a great 4th of July party at our house with all the family, we had a great 3rd of July baseball game, and we went to my brother and Brandy's baby shower on the 5th. Busy weekend but so much fun. The most fun was watching the kids be old enough to be in charge of lighting the fireworks.
I am working on homeschooling the boys for the summer and it is going well so far.
Last we have two boys with ear infections. Cody and Pj both have swimmers ear and the meds are taking a long time to work. Please pray for them to start healing and for the pain to go away.
Now for a big admission, Shawn and I have tried many churches since moving but never found one that we liked. We had gotten tot he point of giving up because we were frustrated with not finding what we were looking for even though we were out there looking. We decided last Sunday to try the church closest to our house again. It is a mega church which isn't our favorite but it also has a ton of kids programs and is less than 5 min away from the house. We really enjoyed it there. The kids had fun. We are no matter what giving it a 3 month trial run and then will decide if it works for us. Shawn and I have never really been a great couple in God. We do things seperatly but we are starting to work on praying and reading together. I will admit that I am scared of God. When I was younger ever time my Mom would go to church or read a Christian book bad things would happen to our family. It has stuck in my head and I am really working with God to get through this crazy fear. I read yesterday "A woman that fears God is to be praised" God and I are working together to make me a better Christian and a great Christian wife, woman, and Mother. I want my kids to see God in our lives and we are on a road to being better Christians. Ok with that off my chest I need to go homeschool the kids.
Ill catch ya later.
Ali

What a week back from vacation so far.

Cody went to the doctor yesterday because he just wasn't getting better like we thought he would. He is going to get bloodwork done today but the doctor thinks he has Mono. He is tired and dizzy. I woke up yesterday with a tooth ache and getting a dentist appointment on a holiday week seems to be proving harder than I thought it would be. We are moving slow but it is kind of nice as we readjust from vacation.

Happy Birthday to Porter. Pj for his birthday wanted doughnuts, to play at a playground and wanted chicken nuggets for dinner. We took him to Victoria Gardens and they played on the playground aand in the water fountainn. They had so much fun. We had doughnuts in the afternon and for dinner we went to Mel's Drive in. Mel's is a 50's diner complete with a juke box at each table. They serve the kids meals in a paper car. Pj loved it. The food was only ok but the shakes were awesome.

Ok so I am officially starting weight watchers on Monday July 6th. I have alot of crazy stuff going on this weekend with the 4th, a baseball game, and my sister's birthday so I am taking the easy way out and being diet free a little longer. I know I will regret this decisioon when I have to weigh in but I don't care at the moment.

Well Have a great 4th of July and be safe.

Ali

I'm back!!!

I am officially a college graduate. Whoo hoo. It feels strange, we are back from vacation and I am not sure what to do with myself. I typically go on the internet in the morning and spent the afternoon reading or working on homework. Yesterday it started to set in but today it just feels strange. I am like a person with no mission. I do have plans to homeschool the boys over the summer and get my graduate application finished for school. It isn't that I have nothing to do, it is more that I haven't had a school break in years and it just feels wierd.

So my graduation went fabulously. We made it with min. to spare and the ceremony was long and boring like we expected.

We also went to or annual family beach trip last week. It was a much needed break from life. We love to see who is going to show up on a day to day basis. We spend our days playing mahjong, reading, chit chatting, swimming and enjoying the sand, and relaxing. It was wonderful. We did have to come home a day early because Cody got the flu but he was a trooper and we didn't leave until late at night, so all we really missed was getting up and cleaning up with the family. The beach was beautiful and we didn't have any random bees. We did have a crazy man who liked fire a feew doors down but that was about it in that dept.

I didn't follow a diet at all while I was away. I am not weighing myself for a few days but I know I gained. I am 99% sure I will be switching to weight watchers on the 1st. My low carb diet was intended to help me lose a bunch of weight before graduation and I did. The low carb lifestyle is very hard to live on long term and as soon as you eat a carb you gain. I will be shopping on the 1st and getting our house ww friendly.

Well here are a few beach and graduation pics, enjoy.

Ali

Well we are leaving today for a 10 day beach vacation. My college graduation is tomorrow. I weighed in at 173 even. Life is good. Look for me in 10 days!!!!
Ali

My mind is exhausted. Between finals, the CSET drama, and spending every free moment doing beach stuff I am so ready for a vacation. Shawn wants to sit and plan things and I just want to sit. I bought 4 new books for the beach and planning on vegging for the 10 days. I am calling it makeup time for the last 2 non stop years of school and stress.
I think it is setting in even more that I am graduation 4 days. I am nervous and jittery about it. I know Ill be back in Sept. but I will be in an entirely different part of campus nowhere near the safe and fimiliar art area. Ok so enough about that.
I weighed in this morning at 174.4 finally broke the 175 mark that I have been stuck at for what feels like weeks.
Well I am off to pack clothes, pack the nice clean trailer, and get beach stuff going. I did go to Costco yesterday and $415 later (ouch) we usually plan better but we got new chairs, and Shawn new white t-shirts, and a ton of sunscreen. Now I remember why I never shop at Costco. Oh well off to work,
Ali

Ok so Great news!!!! After writing the blog below a guy called form my school and said that because I passed half of the CSET and my GPA is high they will let me start the credential program in Sept. like planned. I have to pass the second part before I am done with the program so I have 1 year to pass. I am so relieved I think I could cry.
I also won't cheat because of it again. I went to See's and had one single chocolate yesterday to make myself feel better. It didn't work.
I am on top of the world right now.
Ali

What to do now?
Well I found out yesterday that I didn't pass my cset by 1 point. I was and still am very upset. I thought I would be able to take it over the summer and start credentials in Sept. Well my plans have now changed. They are no longer offering the test over the summer and I must wait until Sept. to take it. This means that I can't start credentials in fall like I had planned. This delays my entire schooling by a year. I am unsure what to do and am actually depressed that my entire plan for the next year has suddenly changed. I was so upset yesterday I cheated and had 1 see's candy but was good the rest of the day. I guess I will have to wait out the summer and see what happens. I am bummed because I thought I had nailed the test and then to not pass by one point. Well I needed to vent.
Ali

I have to tell you why I love my blog. I woke up this morning and weighed in at 175.4 and was a little bummed because in my head that was the same as I weighed on Friday. I get my coffee and sit down to write my blog and look at Fridays where I had weighed 176.6 so I did still lose and the blog had to remind me.
I got an email on Sat. that mae my day. The head of the art dept. sent me an email telling me that at an awards ceremony on Thurday I am going to be presented a medalion to wear at graduation because I am going to be graduating wiith Honors. How cool is that. I am really proud of myself. Honors heans that I got higher than a 3.5 Grade point average at CSUSB. It means I got almost all A's and a few B's. I am so thrillled I can't contain it. I the girls who didn't know if I would ever finish school is now graduating with honors. Whoo hoo to me.
Our party went fabulous, we had so much fun even though it was a little cold the kids still went swimming for a little bit. The craft turned out perfectly. All in all the whole thing went off without a hitch. I didn't cheat at all that day either. We did a decorate your own cupcake table and I resisted and had a pineapple spear instead,, we put out cheese as a appetizer that we could eat, and I stuck to no alcohol and only my diet pepsi. I resisted it all. I even got some much needed help form the girls at the partu about what to wear to graduation.
Sunday we went to a bbq at Scott and Matt's house and I didn't cheat there. I was tempted by these stupid wheat thins but I got a big bowl of water melon to eat instead. We ha fun hanging with the guys as well as our friends Jum and his kids Max, and Ruby. Oh I also forget that the most imprtant member oof the family was in on all of the days festivities Drake, Scott's black lab.
We leave for our beach trip in 5 days and I have not planned anything. Our plan was to get things organized yesterday but we cleaned up from the party instead. Hopefully with the crazyness of the week we can pull it all together.
Ali

Well the closet that I packed up a few months ago is being unpacked today. I wore a pair of 12's a few days ago and my 13 jeans yesterday. I am feeling great and ready to try on all the shorts and shirts to see if I have a wardrobe for the beach next week.
I think it is funny how each time I lose weight it looks different on my body. Last time, and sorry if this is to much info, I lost my boobs. I had to go buy new bras and everything. I still have 25 pounds to go and the boobs haven't moved, I am still in the "fat" bra's. I will admit they don't look the same but seriously I want them to go so I can wear the cute stuff again.
So we are haing a birthday party tomorrow for the boys. I haven't done anything to get ready yet. I have bene so stressed and busy with school and little league I wasn't able to wrap my head around doing another thing. So today we are filling the pool, cleaning the house, organizing and getting all the food, etc. I do things great under pressure. To top it off we have a Quakes game tonight. Sometimes I think we are crazy but if we slow down we might miss something:)
ok well off to get things ready but I weighed in at 176.6 almost 25 pounds lost. Yeah for me.
Ali

I have finished two of my finals and I have two to go. I am so ready to be done. I have 11 days until I am a college graduate. Whoo hoo.

I am stressed to the limit and I am now planning a b-day party and it is starting to set in that we leave on vacation in 10 days. AHHHHH. J/k. I am actually doing really well I think it because I know tthere is a light at the end of the tunnel. I was able to finish two classes yesterday so my stress has dropped to "I'm good"

So I have to admit that I cheated on Sunday night. We had a babysitter for the kids so we went out to dinner. We did so well and ordered a caesar salad to share, it was yummy and we didn't cheat. After dinner they brought the dessert tray over and we decided to splurge. Well dessert went to going to a second resteraunt to get my favorite peach drink. Lets just say my instincts went out the window. Good news is I got right back on. Better news is I felt terrible on Monday. Why is this good? I don't want to cheat if I feel like that. I had a tummy ache and headache all day. I also gained 2 lbs. I have been superior ffor the past 2 days and I weighed in at 178.2 this morning.

Yesterday I was getting ready for school and I had no pants that fit. I pulled out a pair of capri's that haven't fit in over a year and they slid right on. I have dropped 2 clothing sizes. Awesome.

Alright well I am off to get ready for a party this weekend and it is the boys llast day of school.

Have a good day, I also attached a pic of my finished table.

Ali

Looking Toward the Future by Reflecting on the Past

Thirteen years, what can one person do in thirteen years? A child can start kindergarten and complete his high school career in thirteen years. A college student can earn a bachelors, masters, and doctorate degree in thirteen years. It has taken me thirteen years to follow one of my lifetime goals of graduating from college. The road to get here hasn’t been an easy one. Now that I have reached my goal I am scared beyond belief of what the future holds for me.
Immediately after high school I decided to go to the local community college. My very first semester I took American Government along with 2 other classes at Citrus College. While I was enrolled in my first semester of college I found out that I was pregnant. I was eighteen, unmarried, and pregnant. I dropped out of my classes because I thought that this was my fate. Shortly after finding out I was pregnant I married my boyfriend Shawn. We were eighteen and no one thought that there was a way in the world we would make it.
When my son turned six months old I decided to try out college once again. I reenrolled at Citrus College. My husband and I took classes side by side. I managed to make it through the semester with decent grades. I took many online classes so that I could be a stay at home mom of my young son. My grades got worse and worse as the classes that I took became harder and harder. I made it through two years of part time classes before was excused from Citrus for having too many F’s. I thought that was it.
My husband decided that he was also tired of school so he took a job as a trash man in Big Bear and our family of three moved up the hill to start a new life. My husband had complete all of his general education classes but thought that this job was a great opportunity, so off we went. We lived in Big Bear for six months before my husbands thirst for knowledge and tiredness of being a trash man moved us back down the hill to Monrovia. Shortly after gave birth to our second son.
My husband started at Cal Poly Pomona and I became the bread winner for the family. I worked a retail management job to put my husband through school. I worked nights and weekends away from my children in hopes that when my husband graduated, life would change as we knew it. It took two years of me working and my husband going to school twenty plus units a quarter for him to graduate. In June 2003 he graduated with a degree in Agriculture.
For the first time in my life I realized that I wanted that degree. It didn’t matter what it took, I wanted to complete a degree. At the same time I realized that a degree in a specific area doesn’t guarantee you will work in that field. My husband’s degree was almost useless except for teaching, which wasn’t something he really wanted to do. My husband found a job and I was able to go back to school and being a full time mom to my two boys.
For the first time in my college career I realized that I wasn’t going to be able to breeze through classes like I had done all through high school. I was going to have to earn my degree. I kept taking classes nights and weekends while my husband was able to stay at home with our two sons. I enrolled at two community colleges in order to get the classes that I would need to transfer to Cal Poly. I didn’t even know what I wanted my major to be. I just knew to keep taking the general education classes and transfer. Somewhere in the midst off all of my classes, my husband and I welcomed our third son. Married life with three kids just got harder and harder but I just kept trucking.
It was my last semester at Chaffey College and I took a ceramics class. I had taken ceramics for two years in high school and loved it but never thought of it as a potential career. While I was enrolled in the class I remembered how much I loved clay. I immediately applied to Cal Poly and was accepted to start my degree in ceramics in the fall of 2007. I got a letter from Cal Poly the summer before I was supposed to start at the school. Cal Poly had cancelled all of its art classes except for graphic design. What was I going to do? I decided to apply to California State University San Bernardino and I got accepted as a ceramics major. I had done no research on the school’s art program it was simply the closest one to my house.
In the fall of 2007 I started at California State University San Bernardino. I was so scared. I felt totally out of my league. What was I doing majoring in art? I wasn’t an artist. My first semester at Cal State I kept to myself, my main goal was just doing well in my classes. I would go home do my homework, and be a great wife and mom. My second quarter I started to get to know people in my major and I joined the ceramics club on campus. I started to find my niche. I was being challenged in my art and loved going to school. I will admit that it started to get overwhelming as this was the first time I had done full time classes in my college career.
My third quarter at school started to feel much more natural. I became Vice President of the clay club and had more and more friends from school. As I took on more at school, my home life took a toll. My marriage and kids were great but keeping up with laundry, cleaning, yard work, etc. became more than I could handle most days. I just kept plucking away with my classes and did my best to be a great homemaker. I would read and write papers in between loads of laundry, my children’s homework, entertaining a two year old, and all of my other duties.
This is my final quarter at California State University. In the last year I have been in school art shows, was elected president of the clay club, and continued to grow as a woman, artist, mom, and wife. I truly had always hoped that I would make it to this point but in the back of my mind never thought I would actually be where I am today. On June 20th I will be walking at my college graduation with a degree in studio arts and I am in awe that it is really happening. On one hand I am thrilled and on the other I am terrified for what the future holds for me.
In September I will be returning to California State San Bernardino to continue my college career. I will be spending the next year working on my single subject teaching credential in art. I don’t know what the future holds for me. I know that I am strong and I can handle anything that comes my way. Graduating from college is the ultimate way to prove that I can do anything. Things do not change, we change. That is my new motto. I am nothing like the person who started college thirteen years ago. There is not a chance that girl would be where I am today. I am very lucky to have a supporting husband and amazing kids who have allowed me to go to college and prove to the world that I can do this.
As I look back it brings a little tear to my eye. I achieved a goal that many people don’t ever make. I, the person who started out as a stupid young girl, have become an amazing woman. It may have taken me thirteen years to do what some people do in four. In those thirteen years I have stayed married to a wonderful man. I have been a great mom to my three boys, and have learned so much through my experiences of being a parent. I put my husband through college, and he now has a great job that he loves. We were even fortunate enough to have purchased a home. Many days the laundry is piled in the hallway and kid’s toys are spread throughout the house, but I now know that come with the roll I have as a parent and student. Most importantly I have taken this time to figure out who I am, and I think figuring out who you are for most people takes a lifetime. I consider the last thirteen years very well spent and I can’t wait to see what the next thirteen years brings for me.

I had to write this paper as an assignment for a class and I thought that it would be nice to share with all of you since all of you have been there ans supported us the entire way though all of this.
Ali

Well I have been the same weight since Sat. and I finally broke my plateu. I was starting to think the diet had stopped working but normally I would be like well it stopped working so I guess my body is fine where it is. This time I kept going and it finally paid off and I lost almost 1 pound. I weighed in at 179 even.
I have new people joining me on the low carb diet wagon. Shawn has decided that weight watchers was to slow and he had started gaining even though he wasn't cheating at all. He started on Tues. and is down 6 pounds already. I have another friend who's name I won't say ad she is doing really well as. It is nice to have partners in the hourney. Shawn has been doing alot of research on how the diet works and my other friend is giving me new recipies to try. Awesome. It has been inspiring.
Other than dieting I am just working really hard to get done with school. I am at the tail end and I can feel it. I have a 10 page paper to write this weekend with a partener at school so Sunday I have to meet him for the afternoon. I have finished all of my ceramics work for the quarter, and my woodshop project is almost complete. I basically have an art history final and a few papers to write for english and I am DONE!!!! I am so excited because I honestly wondered if I would even make it to being done with school. 2 weeks to go.
Well have a great weekend and I will chat again on Monday,
Ali

So I got to school yesterday and as soon as I sat down in my class the guy next to me (who is a ceramics major) was filling out a sheet for a ceramics sale. OH my Gosh, I forget that there was a sale that day. I jammed out of the class, drove home picked up some stuff to sell, drove back and set it up with the help of a few people, and sat the rest of my day selling work. I felt like such a lop, I ususally don't forget stuff like that. I sold a bunch of the ladybug and bird stuff that I made awhile back. When I left at 3 there was one hour left and I had made $97 not bad for throwing some stuff together that I had in the garage.
I am in some major uncomfertableness. I have had eczema on my hands for awhile but recently it has moved to my feet and instead of one area on my hand it is all over them. The kind I have is called dyshidrotic eczema which means I not only get the dry layers but little blisters that itch like crazy. I have been taking benadryl and all kinds of home treatments but nothing is working on it. I have been reading the diet is a major factor in it and dairy is really bad for people with eczema, I am trying to convince myself to stop eating dairy for awhile and see if it helps. I am starting that today.
I went out to happy hour with a friend and had a beer and we ordered 2 appetizers that were low carb, I did great. Cody had a preformance at school and we went to the resteraunt at bass pro shop for dinner. I had 2 beers and a great plate of fresh fish and shrimp with broccoli I did great there as well. I weighed in today at 180 even so up a little but I did great and enjoyed myself and I know I am going right back on it and the weight will come right back off.
Well I am off to work on yet more homework, 17 more days to go.
Ali

So I was really good all weekend and only lost .4, I was a little bummed as I would get on the scale and not see the number move all weekend. I feel thinner and this is making it ok that the number didn't move. I am going to think of it as the weight is redestributing so that even if it is still there it looks better on. Nice thought right? oh well I am thinking that it might be necessary to add exercise to keep it moving and am trying to talk m yself into it. Did I add that I am officially in the 170's!!!

What a great weekend. I saw alot of people and it seems like people are starting to be able to tell that I am losing which is always a great motivator.

Garrett was at a friends and the other two boys and I went to my nieces b-day party, we had so much fun hanging with the fam and celebrating. I had a ton of homework so we rented movies for the boys and hung out Sat night. Sunday we went at got Garrett and I decided to take the kids to see the new movie UP. It was suck a cute story and the kids enjoyed it. I will admit it is a bit of a tear jerker for adults but totally worth seeing.

Shawn gets home today and I can't wait to see him. He called yesterday but his throat is bothering him so it didn't sound like him. Shawn told me that is has been raining almost the entire time and last night they decided to pack up the camp and stay in a hotel to get out of the weather and get some sleep. He says they have been catching and having fun even with the weather so that is good.

my goal today is to work on a research paper I have been putting off and really need to get done, it is in a new format so I am stumped on how to write it and not looking forward to it.

Well have a good Monday,

Ali

so here is something to make you think.

Junk Mail

we all hate it and it seems like when you pick up mail in the mailbox more than half is junk mail. The USPS make million of dollars a year by delivering junkmail sot hey don't want to stop and don't offer a service to stop junk mail

So what to do

there are online resources that you can pay $1 and they will get rid of junkmail to you mailbox by adding you to a do not send to list. It is like the do not call list for junkmail. Here is the link

https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/home.action;jsessionid=D76779F3736595A2D2A796828E721DE0.tomcat1

Stopping junk mail is earth friendly but....

Did you know that if there were no junkmail an average letters cost to be sent would be well over $1 a piece. So which is better??? Going green or going broke? I am still torn on this one but I am thinking going broke isn't an option.

TGIF

Another week down. I am so close to being done with school and the closer I get the more I have to do. I am talking the whole weekend to get caught up on homework. I have 12 ceramics things to paint, 3 papers to write, and a ton of reading. Between homework I have 2 little league games, and 2 birthday parties. It is going to be a busy weekend but I am almost done(can you tell I am trying to convince myself).

I am putting a few pics up of the latest Ali ceramic stuff. I am trying some new things to see what I like. It is sad that after 2 years I still am not sure what to do in ceramics.

Well I weighed in at 180.2 so I have officially lost 20 lbs. Yeah for me. I am hoping to lose 5-10 more before the beach trip in 3 weeks. We will see.

have a good weekend,

Ali

Well here is my laptop table so far. The table is the one I am making from recycled materials. When it is done it will be all black with a plexiglass inlay to protect the glass of the window. I am having so much fun in the class. I really wish I had taken it awhile ago. I would love to learn more and have more time to make stuff under a teachers supervision and the advice is the best.

Lets see another good diet day yesterday. I forgot my lunch so ran to the local market and picked a few things up to get me through the day. String cheese and low carb yogurt are my favorites still.

Shawn's friend Jimmy is flying in tomorrow to stay with us for a few days. Shawn and Jim are going fishing in Bishop over the weekend so I get to do b-day parties, baseball, and 3 papers while they are gone. The house is in good shape but I am doing the little thing today like making sure the floor is mopped and the boys rooms are clean.

We are heading to a Quakes game tonight for hotdogs and getting the kidds out of the house so that I don't have to clean it again tomorrow. We love the Quakes games. It is the best time to hang out as a family and the kids really enjoy them.

Ok well I weighed in at 181 today. I am hoping to hit 20 lost by this weekend. I actually had 4 people at school yesterday tell me that they can tell I am losing weight. I hadn't told anyone I was so that was really uplifting.

24 days until I am a college graduate and this means 23 days until we leave for the beach trip Whoohoo.

talk to ya soon,

Ali

Happy Memorial Day.
I knew that I wouldn't have time to post tomorrow so I am doing a holiday edition today. We just got back from our relaxing weekend in Big Bear. It was a much needed time of no plans and alot of laying around and doing nothing. We went fishing on Sat. but for the most part our days were spent in our cabin reading, doing puzzles, and hanging out as a family. I had no idea how bad I needed a weekend away until I was up there with no computer, homework, etc. to keep me off balance. Sunday our good friend Matt drove up and we all went to Thelma's (our favorite little resteraunt) for lunch and then we BBq for dinner. It was nice just to be away from it all.
We packed all of our meals except for one which we knew we were going to go to Thelma's for. I was great on my diet all weekend. I didn't cheat once. I did take the smallest bite of a cookie and then spit it out because it wasn't worth the cheat. Shawn laughed at me but I felt like I was in power by spitting it out. I was nervous to weigh in today when we got home but I did it anyways and was pleasently surprised. 182.2 so down 1.5 pounds from Friday. I am thrilled that I was able to go out of town and out to dinner and still stick to the diet and lose at that.
Talk to y'all on Wed.
Ali

I got my class ring yesterday. It is setting in more and more each day that I am graduating. I tried to take a pic of my real ring but that didn't work very well so I am using this pic so you get an idea. I got it in silver and the stones purple, it says my school name and my grad year. I love it.

My arm is killing me today. Yesterday I worked on my table at school and for a cut that I needed to do on the legs there is no power tool that can be used so I had to use a saw, chisel, and hammer for about 2 hours. My arm is dead today.

We are leaving this evening for a little vacation to Big Bear. We so need a weekend off. I am really looking forward to hanging with just my family. Shawn has some hiking planned and maybe some fishing. I am looking forward to sitting and reading in the sun.

I weighed in this morning at 183.6 so down again. I am feeling so much better already. When I am losing weight I actually want to get dresses each day and try to look cute. It is hard at 200 lbs to feel cute.

Alright well I am off to get packed, clean and all that good stuff. Have a great LONG weekend,

Ali

I am starting to realize that in 31 days I will be graduating from college. I am starting to get nervous about it now. I will pass on my classes so I am not worried about that. It seems like I have spent the last 13 years in college trucking towards the goal of graduating andd now I am here and I have no idea what to do next. They do not prepare you for being a college grad. I feel like have the skills I learned aren't real world skills and on the other hand I still feel like I have so much that I have not learned. I have 4 1/2 weeks of school left and at 2 classes a week that is 9 classes. Totally freaking me out. Ok well now that I have vented on with my life.
Life hasn't been any unnormal lately. We are doing the school, baseball, and normal house stuff. I am excited because we are going on a mini vacation this weekend to Big Bear. I totally need a vacation. I am however going to be taking all my books and computer to work on some papers but life wouldn't be complete without having to lug my 2000 page art book around. So Shawn is planning some hikes for us and other who knows what activites.
Diet is still going awesome. I have people telling me now that they are starting to tell that I am losing so that is awesome. I weighed in this morning at 184.2 so down another pound. I feel like I have so much more energy finally and feel like I just want to keep moving which is one of the benefits of low carbing. I seem too averaging 1/2 a day and with 31 days until our family beach trip and my college graduation I am hoping to lose 15 more pounds for a total of about 30 pounds before the big events. I did however have to break out my smaller sized jeans yesterday which was cool I put on my old ones and they are getting so big in the butt and waist. Yeah!!!

So I don't have a green tip today so I decided to share my stupid useless art knowledge. I think everyone on the planet has seen the above picture by Van Gogh titled Starry night. Well did you know that art historians went back to the year that they know it was painted and have looked at astronomical records and they have pinpointed that is was painted in Sept. because the stars in the sky are in the exact allignment in the sky in the picture as they were in Sept. of the year it was painted in the real sky. So he wasn't just painting, he was painting exactly what he saw.

Ok well I am off to take Garrett to his 12 year old physical this morning.
Ali

This is the first weekend in forever that I make it through and did really well and lost!!!
I weighed in at 185.4 down from 188 on Friday and down a total of 15 pounds in 3 weeks. I swear I am eating non stop and good stuff and losing. We went to a Quakes game on Sat and I ate a philly cheese steak but not the bread and Sun we bbq in the backyard. We had marinated chicken that was super yummy and I will post the recipe soon. We also had bbq ardichokes with a tomato relish and roasted garlic mayo, and watermelon. The kids and Shawn had rice with spray butter and fresh parmishan cheese on it. We had a great dinner and I even had a beer while we were relaxing in the back yard with the kids. How is this a diet? For dessert we had sugar free jello with whipped cream on top.
I took my cset teaching test on Sat. I already passed one part of it and had to retake the 2nd part because I didn't pass the first time by 5 points. I think I did much better this time. I don't find out until July but I am not as worried as last time.

Ok so a new green tip of the day.
An easy way to clean green is to turn the dial on your washing machine to cold. Most loads don't need hot water, and 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes into heating. The higher the water temperature, the higher the cost to you and the planet. We have been doing this for awhile and it is true, most loads get just as clean in cold water. I still do however wash sheets, towels, and bleached loads in hot water. One more little tip is to run your water heater at a little lower temp. if you turn it to a cooler temp it isn't running as offten to keep the unused water warm. We did this and didn't notice a difference and it is also safer with kids in the house.

Have a good one,
Ali

I had a really great day yesterday. I got to school at 7:45 for my midterm and on my way to class the teacher found me and told me she wanted to talk about my art history paper that I had turned in a week before. I started freaking out in my head because I thought oh no what did I do wrong. She could tell I was freaking out a little and said " no, I loved it, it was fantastic." She lliked it so much that she is going to use it as an example of how to do the assignment for future students. I was the highest grade in the class of about 200 people. How cool is that.

Next was the midterm, I was nervous that I hadn't studied enough but I am pretty sure I did fantastic.

Later in the day we had our critiqe for our cutting boards in my wood class. In a critique the teacher and students tell you what they liked and dislike about your work. I got nothing but great feedback and my professor loved it. He wants to put the board in a display by the museum for people to see. Another cool.

So for the diet I had another greaat day. Cheese has become my new best friend. I eat a ton of protein (shrimp, chicken, lunch meat) and yogurt, cheese, and veggies. We had the best recipe last night for roasted veggies and I will post it at the bottom. anyways I weighed in at 188 even today. I can't remember where I was on Wed.. so I know it is .8 from yesterday.

Pj is sick and has a terrible cough so we are going to spend a day home and a little cough time to try to mae him more comfy.

Have a great weekend,

Ali

Roaster veggies

in a large bowl mix

2 red bell peppers cut into thick strips

1 sweet onion cut into thick strips

1 zucchini cut into circles

1 yellow squash cut into circles

1 lb. os asparagas chop off ends and cut remainder into two parts.

4 teaspoons of olive oil

4 teaspoon. balsamic vinegar

1/2 t.easpoon basil

salt and pepper

toss everything and lay on a baking sheet

put into a 450 degree oven for 30 min.

Super yummy and the veggies get sweet and soft.

*next time I am going to add 1 pack of mushrooms*

1 c. = 1 POINT

I had an idea that I thought was green and kind of cute. Instead of giving a gift in a gift bag what about giving it in one of the reusable grocery bags you see everywhere now. The bags come in every pattern from leopard to flowers and the person can reuse the bag over and over. The best part is many stores seel them for $1. I did this for my sis in law and everyone thought it was a great idea. Try it out.

Ok so on to life. Yesterday was another long day of school. I did great and packed my lunch. I had a taco salad with ground lean turkey. Yummy.

Today I am studying for a midterm that I have on Thursday. I am so thankful thaat I am almost done with school. I also loked mt my schedule for credentials next fall and it is going to be rough. I will be going 3 nights a week but I will be off during the day and only go nights which is nice.

I have taken up a new hobby of reading. Megan got me turned on to the book series Twilight a few weeks ago. It is a teen book series about vampires and love. I started reading it about 2 weeks ago. The series is 4 books all of which are 500-750 pages a piece. I actually am not a big reading fan. I however loved the series I finished all 4 books, 2500 pages in 2 weeks. It was easy reading and I am now looking for what I can read next.

So I weighed in at 189.4 this morning. I am officially in the 180's again and have lost about 11 pounds. Wow, that is alot of weight when you think about it. I still have alot to go just to fit into my last years summer clothes but I can do it.

Ok well I am off to study. have a great Wed.

Ali

I ate terrible this weekend for Mother's day and it was so worth it. I gained 3 lbs. and I don't even care. with that said I am going to be switching up the diet a bit and see how it goes. I am tying to do low carb weight watchers. My body loses best on low carb but I will be smart on the calories and not lose my hair this time.
My weekend was really good. at I woke up at 8 and drank mimosas (champagne and oj) while reading for a good 2 hours. It was so relaxing and what I really needed. We had baseball in the afternoon and the kids took me to Chili's for Mothers day dinner a day early. We came home and watched a movie.
Sunday we were going to go to church but I felt a little under the weather with a cold and had taken a few to many night time cold meds to get going in the morning. We got things ready to head over to my Mother in laws house. For lunch we went to Tommy and had chili cheese fries and they were awesome. We went to a bbq over at my in laws house with all the family and enjoyed an afternoon of company and relaxation.
I ate way to much but have made a deal with myself that starting today I will be 100% good until the day we leave for the beach trip on June 19th. I think that gives me 6 weeks to lose and feel better before graduation.
Well I am off to study, yet again.
Ali

Feeling hot, hot, hot...

Man is it warm outside. 100 degrees today should be fun from my air conditioned house.

So I had another cheat last night. I ran into my friend Nicole and we ended up going out for a drink and some food. I had 2 light beers and we shared a plate of fried appetizers. I had been good all day so I was close but still over on my points for the day.

I am currently takeing woodshop and I love it. I am posting a picture of my almost finished cutting board. It is maple and walnut and the best part is it has a counter overhang so when you cut on it it will not slide forward on the counter. Next week we are starting some kind of furniture most likely a table. I am excited and really want to keep going even after the class is done.

So instead of a recipe today I am going to share a Green living tip for all of you.

Did you know that the best cleaner for your house is vinegar. Typical cleaners are bad for the environment and also cost a ton of money. So fill your bucket with water and add about 1/2 c. of apple cider or white vingar and scrub away. 1 gallon of vinegar will last for months and costs about $5.

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's day.

Ali

Weigh in day....
I weighed in at 190.4 down from 193.something last week. I was hoping to get in the 180's but next week I will be there. I don't mind losing slower because it is so much easier to stick with. I guess I can't have it like last time and lose all the weigh really quickly without learning how to eat to keep it off.
School is going really well. I feel a little overrun by it but I just keep think I only have 6 weeks until I graduate from college. Cool just to type it. I am feeling overwhelmed because Tues I go from 8am - 9pm with 2 10 min breaks. It is a really long day and it drains me. I have been doing well and packing good foods. I do have a microwave and fridge in the ceramics studio so I do take a lunch break during class so that I get to my points for the day. I just realized that I write about school an aweful lot and I have never posted any pictures of where I spend all my time. I will have to remedy that soon.
Well I am off to write a paper and hopefully get time today to hit the market and clean up the house a little.
Ali

Well we made it through the weekend. We went to two baseball games, fishing, and two little league games but we made it through while being diet wise. I love weight watchers because I was able to eat three meals a day plus extras and still stay on track. We went to in and out, coldstone, and McDonalds and still made good choices.
So let see what other things have bbeen going on in our lives. Shawn has been sick with a bladder infection. He had an ultrasound of the abdomine and a bunch of bloodwork done to make sure it was nothing more serious and the only thing they found was that he had a bladder infestion and that he recently bruised his spleen so he needs to take it easy for a few weeks until that heals. The only thing we can think of is that while plaaying hockey with his brothers a few weeks ago he ran the stick really hard into his stomach in the same area where the spleen is. He hasn't been able to run or exercise because he has been in pain and the doc told him to take a little time off for his spleen. He is still losing but I am not allowed to say how much in case the poeple he is competeing with at work are reading my blog.
I am in midterm and my life is crazy. I have papers like crazy to write and unfortunitly at the same time have senioritis which makes me not want to do ay of it. I am spenind the day today in my jammies catching up on homework.
Lets see our new food find for the weekend was italian seasoned turkey meat. We got it at Stater bros in the meat section. It is pre flavored raw turkey that is ground. We cooked it up and threw marinara sauce over it and then put it on whole wheat noodles. It was super yummy. The other thing we keep buying is apple dippers from vons. They are pre sliced apples in individual pouches with a little bit of caramel to dip them in. The best part is they are 1 pt and a great sweet snack.
Well off to do homework, Look for my weigh in on Wed.
Ali