My Picks For the Cherry On Top Award

I'm passing along the Cherry On Top award to 5 bloggers who I think add that little something extra to their blog. It's my hope that they'll in turn hand it out to 5 bloggers that they think are awesome, too. Here they are (in no particular order):

Maggie at I'm losing it...
Maggie is on a quest to lose over 150 pounds and you want to know how many she's lost so far? ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR. I'm not kidding. This woman oozes inspiration. She had a goal and is sticking with it, even on days she doesn't feel like it. I always enjoy reading her posts and seeing updated pictures of her weight loss journey.

Shannon at Even A Pig Knows When They've Had Enough!
I read Shannon's blog because she's real life. She and her husband are raising oodles of kids yet she still finds time to get her fitness on. I'm so pleased that she's back after a long (and painful) hiatus!

Charlie at Operation Shrink Charlie's Big Butt
I'm finding Charlie's humor something I look forward to each day. She (like the rest of the world) faces obstacles and roadblocks. But Charlie uses her faith and humor to guide her which I think is an awesome combination. She's damn near the 70 pounds lost mark and I'm so excited for her! Thanks to her I now use the phrase "Clorox Wipe" as a verb.

Pam at Plump Nonfiction
I'm fairly new to Pam's blog but she is rockin' the Weight Watchers plan hardcore and is making it sound more and more appealing to me. So appealing in fact, that I'm thinking about seriously considering going to sign up for the online program on Monday. Because I'm new to her blog I've been taking my time reading her past posts. What I love the most is the enthusiasm!

Andrew at 100 Pounds
Like me, Andrew's staring down 100 pounds that he's got to lose. He's more than halfway there. I like his wit and humor as well. I also like that he's linked through Facebook so that I don't miss any new posts! Andrew doesn't seem afraid of his goals and is just going for them. It's very fascinating for me to see a guy who has the same goal as me and how he's going about reaching it.

There are many other blogs that I read but these 5 were the ones I felt I needed to give an award to. Their posts are awesome and often pick me up on my "down" days. Thanks to all of you and please pass on the love!

I won! I won! I won!

Hey! I won an award! Jayne over at Fat, Angry blog -- it's f*cking FAB! gave me the "Cherry On Top" Award for having a "beautiful blog with a little something extra." I must say I'm touched. I know she follows A LOT of blogs and I'm pleased that she's found something in mine that she likes. My journey is just beginning but I plan to be here for the long haul. Stay tuned as I award the Cherry On Top award to 5 blogs that I feel are awesome and give that little something extra!

Thanks again, Jayne!! You rock!! (And I wish I could award it back to you!!)

Super Duper Extra Busy

When my husband and I started our webstore, Fun Beyond Driven, we had no idea it would be *THIS* busy in the months of November and December. Granted, we're not a huge operation by any means but with both of us having full time jobs, and the webstore on top of that (not to mention our two very busy and energetic daughters), we have very little down time.

Which is why I haven't been blogging much.

Forgive me, I will update ASAP, perhaps this evening. In the meantime I hope everyone is striving, striving, striving toward their goals! How are ya'll doing?

Weekend Break

I kind of "unplugged" this weekend. I wasn't online much at all, and truthfully it was kind of nice. I'm sort of a Facebook addict - well, not an addict really, but I do quite a bit of Facebooking from my phone. And I leave the laptop open pretty much all day with Facebook up and running. But this weekend I just didn't.

I didn't blog, either. Ya'll missed me, didn't you?

I've got an under-the-weather 2 year old today, so that means my gym plans are put to the side, at least for another day. But that's ok. My kid comes before the gym.

I've been pondering something, maybe you guys can help me. Many years ago I joined Weight Watchers and went to meetings. This was several years after I was married but before I had children. I lost 50 pounds actually quite easily. Then life happened and I got away from it. Fast forward about 10 years. There are no meetings in my area that I can attend due to work / kid obligations. So I'm considering doing the online program. Do any of you do that? A good cyber friend recommended it and I'm seriously considering it. What do you all think?

Taking On A Challenge

I was reading Andrew's blog over at 100 Pounds. He's challenged himself to lose TWENTY pounds in the month of December and asked if anyone else was with him in creating a challenge for themselves in the month of December.

My first thought was, "Andrew's a loon if he thinks I can lose a significant amount of weight in December." I'll be lucky not to gain. I mean come on....the Christmas cookies, the candy, the oh-so-decadent Christmas POTLUCK party my husband and I host every year.... NOT FREAKING POSSIBLE, I thought.

But then I thought again. Why the hell not? Who says this December has to be the same as every other calorie-laden one I've spent on earth. Seriously - if ever there were a month for me to learn about celebrating holidays with PEOPLE rather than with FOOD, December's the one.

So while I'm not shooting for a loss of 20 pounds in December, I am making a challenge for myself in the month of December. I want that magazine subscription I've been promising myself for 20 pounds lost. I want to reach Milestone #2 by December 31.

Anyone else with me in creating a challenge for themselves this month? It doesn't have to be a number of pounds you want to lose, maybe you want to focus on a facet of your journey that you struggle with - like food journaling (still working on that, folks), or your daily water intake, or counting calories. Any positive challenge is a good one!

Eh....

Today, food-wise....not so great. Didn't flog - that's not good.

Tomorrow's another day right? On the upside, we had one of my very favorite dinners in the world tonight - Roasted Curry Cauliflower with Saffron Rice. So f-ing good. I was a snacking fool, though and the fact that I didn't journal it all made me...hell, I don't know. Justify it, I guess.

November has surely been the busiest month ever. With our webstore taking off and all the holiday orders we've gotten (in addition to my "real" job and a family to take care of), time is at a premium.

Oh and did I mention that we've been watching the series Dexter? NO SPOILERS PLEASE! We're on Season 3, episode 7, I think. I could seriously sit down and watch the whole season as a marathon if I had no other responsibilities. We've been staying up way too late to watch it but it is so freaking good.

Anyway - onward and upward. I'm going to bed, resting, and going to be bright-eyed (even if I have to use coffee to do it) for the day.

Yesterday's Flog / Leave Me Alone, Carbs

I successfully flogged for a second day in a row. Today's challenge? Keep on flogging, but make better choices. Isn't that what flogging's all about?

Here's the damage from yesterday:

Breakfast: Bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats w/ milk
AM Snack - 1/2 oz cheese, 16 oz water
Lunch: 1 C leftover stuffing, 3/4 C leftover hashbrown casserole
PM Snack: 1/4 C chocolate chips
Supper: 1 C basil cream pasta, 3/4 C mixed vegetables, 2 pieces garlic bread
10pm snack: Cup of coffee w/ sugar and creamer, 100 cal rice crispie treat

Ok. So let's look at that a minute. First of all I'm thankful the Thanksgiving leftovers are FINALLY finished. I LOVE LOVE LOVE stuffing and am glad I only make it once a year. This year I made it with soy sausage, celery, onions and fresh sage. And a lot of butter. Glad it's gone.

PM snack was a good choice. I was hungry for something sweet and could easily have eaten much more. Did I tell you that I still have Girl Scout cookies in my pantry? Someone ordered 4 boxes and hasn't paid for / picked them up yet. And my husband and I are wondering what the statute of limitations are on said cookies. I'm surprised they haven't been torn into yet.

Supper, in and of itself wasn't horrible. I could have done with just one piece of garlic bread, a little less pasta and more vegetables. It wasn't the supper I had planned but yesterday was VERY SUPER hectic with our webstore (www.funbeyonddriven.com) - seems there's a present-giving holiday coming up that people are shopping for. A Lot. Add that to full time daycare and yesterday being Dance / Girl Scouts day for my oldest daughter and you'll understand why a lot of things I planned yesterday didn't get done.

So, live and learn. Isn't that what this is all about? I saved some coffee from the pot we brewed last night so I could have a coffee/mocha Shakeology this morning (I have 2 leftovers from my Three Day Cleanse from earlier in the month). Life is always going to be hectic in some way or another. I just have to be mindful of what I'm doing (the flog is really helping with that) and take things one day at a time.