Wedding Wednesday: 3 months to go!

 

 

I always say this but time is really flying.  Geesh!

 

There is still plenty to do but all of the big things are pretty much out of the way.  We should have our invitations within the next month and then will be mailing them out by March 10th or so.

 

We had a little bit of a crisis and are in the midst of finding a new rehearsal dinner venue.  Yes I already have the invitations and had a mini stroke over this.  We are waiting to hear from the wedding venue (5 days now.  Sorry to say we are less than thrilled with them; not just for this reason) to see if Saturday morning works versus Friday night.  So we wait...

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

I haven't told them yet but I plan on asking my bridesmaids to come over to help me stuff and seal the envelopes.  I'm sure they'll be thrilled (insert sarcasm here).  I also have the table numbers to finish (they're halfway done) and to fill ONE HUNDRED SIXTY 1.5oz jars with honey!  Oh and the hotel guest bags.  I'll definitely supply wine and pizza.

 

We decided that we aren't going to do paper programs.  We're thinking some kind of sign that guests can see as they walk in, rather than spending more $ on paper.

 

I found out family from San Francisco and LONDON are coming and I'm so psyched to see them!  I have not seen my cousin who lives in London in probably 15 years.  We are about the same age.  We're so excited to see everyone that weekend!

 

I'm hoping to meet with the florist soon, maybe even this weekend, to finalize our bouquet/boutonniere order.

 

Have a good day!

I need a vacation!

UGH.  I feel as though I barely slept last night.  I know I didn't fall asleep until at least 12:30 (my normal time is 10:00) and then had to get up at 6 for physical therapy.  I think watching The Following left me feeling disturbed but yet I continue to watch it.  Each episode is like watching a scary movie.

 

Back to PT...I just switched insurances and my new one has a $1000 deductible so they want me to get another MRI which will then take care of the deductible and I can continue PT at around $10/session.  I HATE MRI's - even open ones.  I have a lot of anxiety about other things recently and told the doctor that and that I need to think about it.  I can continue PT but it'll be $95/session until the $1000 is spent and then back down to $10.

 

As soon as I got in my car, I started hysterically crying.  I actually like going to PT - it's a small office and they're all so nice.  Plus, I think PT plus exercising more is helping my condition.

 

I wanted nothing more than to call in sick , go back home and crawl into bed, but I called in 2 weeks ago so here I am.

 

Like I said, I'm feeling anxious and overwhelmed with a few things going on right now and the lack of sleep didn't help how I felt this morning.

 

In better news, my cousin/matron of honor who has always been more like my sister found out they're having a boy!  He's due June 11th.  I will have a nephew!!  She has been calling the baby "bean" for the last few months and now it's Mr. Bean - lol.  I told him I will probably always call him "bean."

 

Also done with week 3 of T25 and down 2 lbs since I started.

 

Have a good day and here's to getting out of this terrible funk.

Wedding Wednesday: Non Floral Centerpieces

Happy Wedding Wednesday!

 

 

 We decided to go with non floral centerpieces.  The exception is that we might purchase some succulents for each table.

 

Our centerpieces are going to consist of lanterns and candles as we think it really goes well with the rustic feel of the venue.

 

I don't mind sharing the cost in case you're also on the fence about floral centerpieces, or are just curious.

 

We decided to go with these lanterns from Pier 1.  I had a coupon so they came to $13 each.  I bought thirty 3x6 pillar candles here.  

 

 

The venue will supply small votives plus there will be bottles of wine on the tables, so I really didn't want to go nuts with centerpieces.

I'm thinking 2 succulents per table (let's say $5 each roughly).

 

Total:

15 Lanterns $195

30 candles $100

30 succulents $150

= $445 for 15 centerpieces or roughly $30 each.

 

Our florist quoted us at around $150 per each floral arrangement, give or take.  So I'm looking at this as saving $1800.

 

I love flowers and especially her work, but it would kill me to spend that much.

 

Thoughts?  Would you consider non floral centerpieces?



On A Roll

Mmm a cheeseburger on a roll sounds good right about now.

 

Don't do it!

 

I'm feeling pretty good.  I started C25K (again) 5 weeks ago and T25 two weeks ago.  I haven't missed a workout yet and I don't plan to until the wedding weekend - fingers crossed.

 

T25 is definitely tough & intense - a lot of jumping, squatting and kicking - but the fact that it's only 25 minutes is beneficial for me.  I've been pairing 2-3 days of it with C25K for a total of 1 hour - 600-700 calories burned on those days and anywhere from 330-400 calories burned in 29 minutes of T25. 

 

Today is my rest day - phew!

 

I'm trying to keep track of my weight and measurements on each rest day (Tuesdays for me).  This morning I was 1-2 lbs lighter than last week and I'll take my measurements later or tomorrow morning - chest, arms, thigh, hips and waist.

 

I FEEL better which is good - less puffy and bloated from all the crap I ate in November and December.  I'm doing pretty well with no bread or pasta.  If I have it once a week, that's it.

 

I didn't have a green smoothie yesterday or today.  Yesterday Saro cooked me eggs and bacon and today I had PT before work so I was rushing - had yogurt and fruit at work.  Back to it tomorrow though!  From 12/30-1/19 I didn't miss a day of having one.

 

Yesterday, we both had off work.  We finalized our wedding invitations (103 days to go!) and took Murphy to the dog park.  When we got there, it was extremely muddy so we just walked him around and then took him to Petco.  He was SO happy.  I wish it was that easy to please everyone - LOL. 

 

 

Have a good week!  We're expecting 6-10 inches of snow here today!

 

Random Things

First, I wanted to say that today was the first time EVER (I think) that I woke up early to work out.  I was supposed to have dinner plans tonight so I figured I'd get it out of the way.  Actually it was Saro's idea so I went with it, LOL.  I would have done it right after work and still made 7:00 dinner. 

 

ANYWAY, I'm pretty beat.  We went to the track last night and I completed Week 5, Day 1 of C25K.  The track was icy and my shins were killing me.  I might have been running carefully because I was fearing falling so maybe that explains the shin pain.  Then we came home & did T25 stretch which is actually more like yoga and I may or may not have dropped the F bomb a few times.

 

But, 749 calories burned in the last 12 hours.  Oof.

 

Overall I'm feeling pretty good.  A little tired this week but it has been gloomy here so that could have something to do with it also.  My lower back is okay, not great.  Feeling a bit stiff and sore but T25 really builds your core and that includes your lower back muscles so it might be that.  Anyway, I'm stickin' to it.  1 week down, 14 to go.  It's actually a 10 week program but we're going to do Alpha twice and Beta once.  Finishing strong before the wedding!

 

Finally, I can post pictures again!

 

Yesterday morning I thought my Nutribullet died.  It made this horrible sound and stopped blending.  Thankfully the fiance fixed it!  All is well in the morning again ;)

 

 

A little throwback Thursday for ya:

This was the first time we ever hung out.  Summer 2007.

7 years later.  This past weekend at our friends engagement party.

 

Happy Friday Eve!

 

 :)

 

 

 



T25 week one

Last night we did a double session of T25.  They recommend that on the 5th day each week OR workout a 6th day and stretch the 7th day.  I would rather work harder one day and have two days off :) it was definitely tough but I burned 566 calories in 56 minutes! We are recording our measurements and weight each week although I'm not going to pay much mind to the scale.  I just want to look better and that might mean becoming a LITTLE more muscular and toned.

So far I love it.  I am experiencing some hip pain but I'm used to it now. Lol.  Some soreness but that's normal!

25 minutes a day is definitely doable!  Last night we started dinner and left it going while we did the workouts.  It's convenient.  I'm looking forward to the end result in 9 weeks.

I am still jogging 2-3x a week.  The ab workout will pair well with a jog day because it's not as much cardio as the others!

I would like to post a Wedding Wednesday post tomorrow but I might wait until after the wedding to post the rest of the details!

Have a good day :)

Focus T25: Day 1 Review

Saro and I decided to order Focus T25.  Have you heard of it?  It's from the makers of P90x and Insanity except that it's only 25 minutes.

 

I decided to start it last night.  Your heart rate is up within the first 2 minutes.  It's a lot of jumping, squatting, jump squatting, etc.  I burned 369 calories in 29 minutes (25 minute workout, 3 minute cool down and then I did a 1 minute arm plank).

 

I think that's a great burn for a short period!  They recommend doing the program 5x a week and to make one of the days a double session meaning complete two of the workouts.

 

I was able to keep up with the instructor.  The only complaint I have is that my feet were killing me during some of the exercises - mainly the jumps.  My feet started to slide so I grabbed my Pilates mat.  Later that night laying down watching TV, my toes were cramping.  I get this a lot after running too.

 

I feel good this morning.  I'm planning on doing another workout after work before I go out tonight and drink beer :)

 

My eating has been pretty good for the last 2 weeks.  I've been avoiding bread, pasta and too much sugar.

 

With the T25, they sent a free bag of chocolate shakeology which I had with my smoothie this morning.  It was good!  I'll see what their regular prices are like if I decide to order it.

 

TGIF!  Have a great weekend :)

Chunky Monkey recipe

No, not the Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

 

A Chunky Monkey smoothie with spinach in it!

 

One cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Handful of baby spinach

3 ice cubes

One green pear (peeled)

Half of 1 frozen banana

Dash of cinnamon

One TBSP chunky peanut butter

One TBSP cocoa powder

 

I think this is my favorite one by far!  I wouldn't mind having it every day!  Of course.  It has peanut butter and cocoa, ha!

 

It would be good with added protein powder, too.

 

I skipped the egg this morning since the PB has protein and it kept me full until about 10 minutes ago when I ate some celery and an apple.

 

Try it - you won't be let down.

I still can't upload pictures.  Is anyone else having this problem???

 



Benefits To Coming To Work After Snow

I woke up to about 8 inches of snow this morning.  I was kind of bummed I didn't get a call that they office was closed but I live so close, I can't complain.  I got to work on time but then learned we had a delayed opening - LOL.  The automated call didn't go out until 8:45 am.  Hmm technical difficulties.

 

The benefits are:

 

1.)  It's quiet.  This can be good and bad.  Good, because I can clean out 2013 paperwork and make room for 2014.  Bad, because it might make the day drag.

 

2.)  It's Friday.

 

3.)  Most importantly, those who came in before noon are getting an extra day off!!!  Win.

 

Did it snow where you live?  I think we're in for a snowy winter!

 

Have a great weekend :)

Things to come in 2014

Happy New Year!  I'm really excited for 2014!

Sorry, I can't post the 3 pictures I wanted to share because Blogger isn't letting me for some reason!  Anyone else having this problem?  I'll upload them later if it's back up and running.

 

Anyway, it's day 4 of the simple green smoothie challenge!  I'm NOT doing this as a resolution.  I've done this challenge before and lasted longer than the 30 days.  I signed up because I like that each week they e-mail a shopping list and recipes.  I find that while the smoothies are pretty large, they really don't fill me up for long so I've been having 1 egg also.

 

Saro and I also ordered Focus T-25.  It's from the makers of P90X and Insanity except that it's only 25 minutes long.  My kind of workout :) 

 

I'm hoping that this, paired with the green smoothies, absolutely NO bread or pasta & the new thyroid meds will get rid of this bloat I've been feeling for the last few months and leave me toned for the wedding and Mexico (and after that, too).

 

I don't want to lose too much because well, I don't want my wedding gown to be too big to where I'll need a ton of alterations.

 

I'm happy to report that I'm on week 3 of Couch to 5K with no major pains. 

 

*KNOCK ON WOOD*

 

I think I could do more but I don't want to push myself.  I'm fine with starting from the beginning.

 

I also think that combining running with Focus T-25 is a good idea as they can both be done in the same day in 1 hour.

 

I'm also loving my new Polar HRM.

I hope you all have a happy & healthy 2014!