New Beginnings

After much thought and consideration I have decided to re-join Weight Watchers. This time I plan to do it online instead of through meetings because I think that I got all I needed from the meetings and should be able to implement what I've learned. I had success last time I joined, but I allowed myself to be swayed by the person I was going with and quit. There will be no quitting this time! I have made lists of all the things I need in order to have success and I've jotted down notes and ideas in my day planner, organization for me is key. I will celebrate all my small successes to keep motivated and I hope to share all through the process and maybe I can help someone  else who is struggling too. One goal I have is to do the 10,000 steps in a day and I will need to find a good pedometer, anyone who has a suggestion please let me know!

My first goal is to lose 5% of my body weight, which may not seem like much but I think that the small goals will keep things going and if I always have a specific goal in mind I will be much more successful.

Just wanted to jot down some thoughts and ideas, I hope to have some happy updates soon!!

My Latest Reading List

I have been reading some great stuff lately and I am so glad I have my Sony e-bookreader. I love the convenience of the bookreader and the fact that I can download a ton of books and have them all with me at the push of a button. I take it with me everywhere and have read more since I got it for Christmas a few years ago than I have read in a long time. I have been reading a lot of books that I came across just perusing the Sony website and liking the description and reviews.

An author that I discovered several months ago is Carol Goodman, I have read all of her books and I love them. I am not really sure how to describe the genre, they are sort of mysteries with twists and turns and stories that will suck you in and force you to keep reading obsessively until you have figured out who did what and why and how. I really hope she has some new stuff coming out soon, any new books will be sure to find their way to my wishlist.

I also discovered an author by the name of Kate Morton, I've only read two of her books so far, but I have added her others to my reading wishlist. The first book of hers that I read is The Forgotten Garden, the best way I can think of to describe this book is I felt like it was a twist on The Secret Garden but for grown ups. I love that throughout the book she referenced Frances Hodgson Burnett and even wrote her in as a character.

The Morganville Vampires is a fun series, I haven't finished it but plan to read the rest of the series soon. The Vampires in this series are not your usual vampires and there are enough differences to make it unique, but it is still a young adult series which means a lot of whiny teenager moments and stupidity. Despite that fact I enjoy it so far just be prepared for the typical teen angst.

I just started A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, it is her first novel and so far I am loving it. It has witches, demons and vampires all living among humans. I wish that she would not switch around from third person to first person but it doesn't take away from the story so that is just a small complaint. I have recently learned it is to be a trilogy so I am very excited to find out what will happen next.

I have downloaded Water for Elephants, The Body Finder and Wicked Lovely recently. I am excited for each of them and am looking forward to letting you know what I think!

As you can tell, I don't really have a specific type of book that I read. I like all different kinds of books and genres. Usually, the cover and description will draw me in and I will decide on what to read after reading a few reviews. Suggestions on anything new are appreciated!

A whole new world

So I started my new job last week and it's great. I love that there is always something to do and everyone has specific jobs that they are assigned to do at certain times every day. I like to always be busy, it makes the day go by so much quicker! I am still learning how to use the data entry system but I think I am picking up on it pretty well. The phones may take some time as it is hard to learn how to answer every question that may come through, I just have to take it one call at a time and hope I don't get anything too weird right away.

As I drive into work every morning I see this shop called Four Shabby Chicks and I am absolutely DYING to check it out. Here's a link to their blog  http://fourshabbychicks.blogspot.com/2010/01/chicks-are-back.html I love the whole shabby chic thing and I would love to decorate with this theme everywhere! It is all so fresh and clean and beautiful looking. I am positive that I will find the wall art and decorations I have been looking for but can't find in this store. I will have to wait until I start getting regular paychecks from the new job but I am sure that once I have some money I will be spending a pretty penny in this shop!

Moving On

After being comfortable in my job for the last six years, I recently decided it was time to move on. I recently received a pay cut in the form of having to pay for half of my monthly health insurance premiums. This was a drastic blow to me and as soon as we received the news I immediately hopped on the job hunting wagon. I had been applying for jobs since June and finally about a week and a half ago was offered a higher paying position with better benefits. I, of course, jumped on the opportunity. In one week I will be starting my new job and I am really excited. I thought I would be feeling upset or emotional about leaving my current job, but I don't. I am feeling optimistic about my new job and I can't wait to start! I have to get through a six month probation period but once I get through that I should be go. I got a new outfit to start it off right, although I won't be able to wear it until it cools off. I will be sad to be leaving the friends I've made at my current job, but I am looking forward to meeting new friends. I will have a real office this time so that will be great! I can't stand working in a little cubby out in the open. Hopefully this job will be a challenge and I know I will enjoy it. For all of you that are unhappy with where you are, just keep plugging along and something will come up for you.

Decorating and other thoughts

I am all about decorating and updating my bedroom lately. I can't seem to find any art work to hang on the walls that screams out to me "This is it!" so I have decided to make my own. I am going to get some colored paper and take a couple pictures of the different designs on my comforter then I am going to print the pictures and use the colored paper to make a collage to frame and hang up. It will be cheap, match exactly and be original! Once I paint the walls and can hang some stuff up it will be my own little relaxing getaway. I want to walk in my bedroom and feel calm and happy. Right now I walk in and immediately want to leave. I hate the blue walls and holes and finger prints all over it. It doesn't feel like "my" room, it's just a place where I sleep at this point. A bedroom should be your oasis at the end of a long day where you want to lay around and spend all day on a lazy day, just to read or relax. I hope to find some free time soon to do the painting so that I will be able to put up the wall art and get my vision going! I am on a mission to find some beautiful vinyl wall decorations at the moment. I really want a chandelier to hang on the wall and a vinyl headboard piece. It will be cheaper than buying a real headboard, look great and it is easy to remove or replace if I decide I want to switch up the theme. Also, my mom is re-upholstering the seat to my vanity and I can't wait to bring that in and put it in my room. It is pretty and it will be extra storage for the stuff I just have laying around. I have also decided to go through my closet and all my drawers and all the stuff I brought over in bins when I moved and I am going to throw away or sell as much stuff as I can. My second goal in the decorating is to de-clutter and get rid of all the stuff that I have that I don't use or look at that is just taking up space. I should have a show called "The Anti-Hoarder". I have been totally motivated to unload and simplify my life. I have so much crap and honestly, who needs all that stuff? I can't stand to see cluttered and covered spaces and people who have stuff just to have it and it takes over the whole place. I want clean and fresh and simple.

The Fabulous Beekman Boys

I highly suggest that everyone watch The Fabulous Beekman Boys on Planet Green. It is about a gay couple, Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Brent Ridge, who bought a farm in the country with goats, chickens and a llama. They grow their own vegetables and make soap and cheese from the goat's milk. The show is about how Brent has left his career as a doctor to stay at the farm while Josh stays in the city until the farm can sustain itself and both of them. The stories of their love and sacrifice to make their dream come true is so heartwarming and fun. I love that it is a show that doesn't have to rely on being trashy and vulgar and I can't wait to see each new episode to see what the boys will be up to next. My favorite part of the show was when they were splitting wood and Josh started talking about Mommy Dearest and Brent didn't know what he was talking about and Josh says "Are you gay?", I guess you kind of have to see it to understand how funny it is but just thinking about it makes me smile and giggle to myself. I have been doing a little background investigating and have discovered that Josh is a best-selling author and advertising executive who was a drag queen in the 90's (how cool is that?!). Brent is a doctor and worked with Martha Stewart on her Healthy Living magazine. While Josh stays in the city and works, Brent lives on the farm full time handling the soap and cheese sales and now opening a new store. I find this to be a fascinating show and I would highly recommend it anyone.

My Nephew

My nephew, Tyler, is four years old and anyone who says that the terrible two's are the worst has no idea when it comes to the ferocious four's. He is going through a phase these days where he likes to repeat everything you say in a sing song voice mocking you. Then when you tell him to stop, he tells you to stop it. Even though he is acting like a little turd there are some times that he is so sweet you almost can't stand it. Yesterday he told my brother to call me on their way home from the beach because I had to be at the house so he could show me stuff when they got home. He got a hermit crab at the beach and is very proud of it.

A couple months ago Tyler started using words that we have no idea where he even heard them. We took him to Walmart to get a Halloween costume and as we were walking in was hugging his mommy and told her that she smelled like a breast. I said, Tyler what does a breast smell like? And he tells me, Mommy. LOL.

When we took my brother, Brittany and Tyler out to eat for my brother and Brittany's birthdays we were in the car and he was telling me that he is a boy and he has a penis, that daddy has a penis and pawpaw has a penis and every boy has a penis. I told him that is true, boys have a penis. So then I decide to ask him what a girl has because he always comes up with some interesting answers, and he tells me that girls have a mustache and a butt. I said ok, then. I wasn't about to take that conversation any further!

Tyler stayed with me a few days a couple months back and I took him with me to the pharmacy to pick up some prescriptions for my Grandma. While we were in the pharmacy he asked me why Grandma needs medicine, is she sick? I said no, sometimes when people get old they just need to take medicine. Then as we were leaving he wanted me to buy him something and I told him I didn't have any money, and he tells me I just saw use that card to get Grandma's medicine so I know you have money on that card, haha! Who knew they even paid attention at that age! When he got home my mom asked him what he did that day and he said he went and got Grandma medicine to make her not old.