The Weirdo with the Camera

(I want to thank everyone who prayed for my grandma and my family yesterday. My dad and I made it Michigan and back with no issues. There isn't much news to report on my grandma's status, so continued prayers are appreciated. Thanks!)

In keeping with my re-found need to want to workout, I hit the gym this morning. I've always figured that I must look like the biggest weirdo because I take pictures of the scale, but today just confirmed it. (FYI: I decided that Saturday will be the best day for my weigh-ins because I normally have chance to go to the gyms on Saturdays in the morning. Here's today's weight-in.)

(Considering I haven't workout or ate well for the past two days-
being down 3 pounds since Wednesday just proves more that scales are stupid.)

After my 45 minutes of cardio on the elliptical, I decided to lift some weights. As I was minding my own business on one of the weight machines, one of the personal trainers came up and started talking to me. The trainer's name is Dan and this is how he started our conversation, "So I noticed you took a picture of the scale when you came in. What's that all about it?" 

In that moment I felt like the biggest weirdo, and explained I'm using the pictures to help keep track of my weight lose journey and that I'm just starting to go to the gym on a regular basis again. With that explanation, Dan offered to show me some moves to strengthen my back (considering that is what I was working on when he started talking to me).

After doing some different exercises for my back, Dan offered to set up a full complimentary personal training session. I know that the whole point of the free session is that you enjoy it so much that you decide to start paying for personal training, but as I learned from my cheap family- you don't turn down something that's free. Plus, I'm hoping to learn a few new things I can do at the gym.

Our appointment is set for this upcoming Wednesday and the plan is for him to show me how to get a "total body" workout. I'm excited, but I know my body is going to be mad at me come Thursday.

Well, I'm off to a graduation party! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Prayers Needed

This isn't the way I hope to start my summer hours where I get 3-day weekends for the next 8 weeks. I'm off to Michigan but not for a fun trip. I'm heading to Michigan with my dad to visit my grandma in the hospital.

My grandma is a really big part of my life. I talk to her on the phone at least once a week for at least 30 minutes to hour. I love your talks. They are never very exciting but it's good to keep connected to your family.

Without my grandma, I wouldn't have this beautiful ring on my finger.

It's her engagement ring! I have always loved it and I feel so blessed that my grandma was willing to let me have it.  I know she not a person who cherishes world possessions, but to give your engagement ring to your granddaughter while your still around- I couldn't feel more special.   

I don't have too many details of what going on but this is the third time in the last few months that she been in the hospital. So if you are religious or just spiritual, I would love if you send your prayers and good thoughts my family's way. First for my grandma's health, second for safe travel, and third for the strength to get through this tough time.

10 Days of Weigh-Ins

I want to start off by saying that I think weighing yourself everyday is just a bad idea. More or less I just think it's really bad your mental health.  Some people decide how good their day is going to be based on what the number on the scale reads- and I think that's not a healthy way to live.

However, with all that said, I decided to weigh myself everyday for the last 10 days. Also, it was 10 days ago that I started going back to the gym and trying to lose some weight. So everyday for the past 10 days, I have gone to the gym, workout, and weighed myself (always before my workout). Here's what the scale read:

Day 1 (Monday 5/28)

Day 2 (Tuesday 5/29)

Day 3 (Wednesday 5/30)

Day 4 (Thursday 5/30)

Day 5 (Friday 6/1)

Day 6 (Saturday 6/2)

Day 7 (Sunday 6/3)

Day 8 (Monday 6/4)

Day 9 (Tuesday 6/5)

Day 10 (Wednesday 6/6)

The time of day I went to the gym varied, just like my weight. My lowest weigh-in is done early in the morning but most day I can't get to the gym until after work. 

I did this experiment to prove a point- you shouldn't put to much "weight" on what the scale says. You really shouldn't let it make or break your day. It is just a number.

Do I wish that after 10 days of working out that I would see the scale go down? Sure- that would have been nice. However considering heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes runs in my family- I know even though the scale didn't move, I know I'm doing something good for myself.

Summer Days of Fun: The Funnel Cake Dilemma

Yesterday was my friend Jen's birthday. For her birthday she was able to get some free tickets to go to the White Sox game.

Before the game Jen's sister Kaitlynn make us some pre-game / birthday drinks. We figured because someone else was driving us - so why not enjoy a taste beverage.

I love my friend Anna, but she normally runs late to everything. (She's trying to get better, but she always gets stuck doing something which makes her late.) After about an hour or more of waiting, we were on the way to the game.

I have to say Anna knows how to make up time with her driving skills. A trip that normally can take about an hour, she made it in about 40 minutes and because of awesome driving we made it to the game by the beginning of the 2nd inning.

Soon after we got into the park it was time for some food runs. I agree with Anna when she said "The best part of going to a baseball game is the food." And we wasted no time on getting on that.

Has anyone tried eating a funnel cake at a baseball game in the town called the "windy city"?

Let me tell you it's not easy, and it's very messy. I mean really really messy!

So messy that the couple in front of us ended up with powder sugar all over them as well. So we had a dilemma on our hands- do we tell them about the sugar or play it off like we didn't notice?

Well, they noticed on their own. Kaitlynn apologized for the mess and offered to share some of the funnel cake with them. Lucky for us, they weren't mad and the guy did take Kaitlynn up on her offer a had a piece.

 After the funnel cake, the rest of the game went on with out a hitch.

The Sox's won 9-3! And it was a great night with some great friends!

Hope everyone has a great and safe Memorial Day weekend!

Summer Days of Fun: Bar Stools = Fat Feet

In true bad blogger fashion- I'm sorry I fell off the face of the blogger world. Currently my life hasn't been very exciting and with all the wedding stuff wrapped up- I have felt like I have ran out of things to write about.  However with summer here (or at least it feels like summer) I hoping to adding a little more fun to my life. So as this summer starts, I wanted to start writing and sharing my stories in these "Summer Days of Fun" posts.

This story come for this past weekend... Bar Stools = Fat Feet!

I know there are many girls out there who love a cute pair of shoes- and I'm one of those girls. Last Saturday night, the weather was beautiful and I decided to wear one of my favorite pairs of sandals.

On Saturday night, we decided we wanted to hanging with a group of our friends at our local watering hole.

 (Sam real likes the oranges soaked in Blue Moon)

  
Our group that night consisted of Sam, my college roommate Katie, my friend Jen, Jen's two younger sisters and myself. I've been friend with Jen so long that her younger sisters, are like our younger sisters- so in true big brother fashion, Sam thought it would be fun to harass one of them.

(The orange is still in his mouth)

After some good laughs, some funny pictures, and reminiscing on old college stories, it was time to head home. When it was all said and done we had spend probably about 3+ hours at the bar.

When I got home my feet were hurting but it didn't real make much sense because I had sat most of the night. This isn't the first time this has happen after leaving a bar, so I have come to the conclusion-

Bar Stools + a long time of sitting = Fat Feet for Stacy

My sandals never leave marks on my feet on a normal day, but sitting on a bar stool for multiple hours for some reasons makes my feet swell like a pregnant women.

Note to self: wear flip-flops if I'm going to be sitting on a bar stool for a long period of time.


Question: Has anyone else had this problem?

Mother's Day Weekend Recap

Happy Mother's Day! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and a great Mother's Day.

This weekend has a been filled with spending time with both friends and family. I started my weekend with a girls night out on Friday.

The girls night include three of my bridesmaids. -Alison & Jen

Anna & I

We went to Flat Top which is always fun and tasty! To start I got their "Asian Punch".

The drink was ok- it basically tastes like a melted purple popsicle mixed with Sprite. I'm just not a purple popiscle fan, so it was only ok. However, my stir fry- well think this picture says it all.

Yeah- that bowl didn't stand a chance. I thought about getting second bowl, but I showed some self control.

Saturday- I had a good day even though the weather wasn't so good, but here's the highlights.

1. Hit the gym! (For the first time in a long time- I'm not liking my body or my weight as of late)
2. Bought my mom some flowers for Mother's Day.
3. Met up with my dad to go to Saturday evening church.
4. Went to dinner at Red Lobster with the husband, mother in-law, and brother in law. (I love me some snow crab legs! So tasty!)
5. Spend the rest of the night watching TV and drinking wine with the husband.

Sunday- Mother's Day!

When I was at church with my dad on Saturday he said "You know your mom would love if you went to church with her tomorrow." That was a good idea- so I got up early and my way to my second church service of the weekend. I knew my mom would be singing in the choir, so I just made sure I sat somewhere so she could see me.

Her face just lit up like a kid on Christmas morning when she saw me. Seeing her excitement that I came to church made the trip completely worry it. After church she made the rounds introducing me to some of her friends, and I got to see and talk with some church members I hadn't seen in quite a while. 

After church, my mom and I met up with my dad and we all went out to lunch. Lucky for us we got there just after the restaurant opened so we didn't have wait at all.

Once we finished with lunch, I suggested going to a local farmers market. Partly, I want to check it out because I wanted to see what was being sold. But I also wanted to check it out because if we get the house we are trying to buy this framer mart would be just 4 blocks from our house.

The weather so nice. I love sunny Sundays and this was a great way to spend the afternoon. There wasn't a lot of produce (but it's early for produce to be grown) but there was a ton of different food vendors. They had everything from pizza, to hotdogs, and to frozen chocolate covered cheesecake. However, I couldn't leave the framers market without buying this-

I love me some freshly made kettle corn. I bought the biggest bag you could buy and it only cost $5! Sam loves kettle corn as much as I do, so this bag doesn't stand a chance of lasting more then two days.

To finish my evening, I went back to Sam's house where we made dinner and spent some time watching TV.  It was been a great weekend and I only can hope that the rest of the summer is filled with these types of weekends.

My 100th Post!

Happy May Day! I can't believe it's already May and it's my 100th post. I know I'm not always the best blogger when it comes to writing posts on a regular basis but I try.

So in honor of my 100th post, I figured I would bring back a main theme found in this blog- my wedding! I been working with my photographer to finalize our wedding album, and I just sent in my second set of revisions today. However, I would love to share some of the great album pages that have been put together for us.

Getting Ready

The Bride

 

The Girls

The Groom

The Bridal Party

 The Walk

The Wedding

The Kiss!

Bubbles!

The Reception

The First Dance

The Party!

The End

(All photos by Eivan's Photography)