finding lori

Rain, Rain, Go Away! Grrr....  It has been raining here all day, all day yesterday, most of the week actually.  I don't mind it if we NEED it, but yeah....we DON'T!!! Today is weigh in day for me!!  I am happy to say that I am down 5 pounds!!  I realize the my body is adjusting and ridding itself of water etc. but I still like to see my total number going down.  It does wonders for my outlook!!   It just makes me want to continue doing well and to not over do it at all.   I started this new attempt at 232 lbs and last week I was 216 and now I am 211 :)  When I began my blog in January my initial weight was 210 after loosing 22 pounds from October to December with Atkins.  When I went off Atkins around Christmas time, I gain back my weight very quickly.  I've been losing and gaining all my life so this is nothing shocking to me.  I made the decision to count calories and go slowly, allowing myself treats here and there to keep me sane and feeling normal.  This is working

Happy Monday Everyone! Today was a beautiful day!!  Our nice hot summer weather is finally here!! :) Today I spent the day at the beach!  I don't think I went to the beach at all last year.  With my pool and all I just felt like I should be here using it.  But sadly, as you may or may not know, my pool is with us no more.  (read more about that HERE )   Now I have no reason not to go spend the day with the sun and sand!!  For years I have taken my kids to the beach. They've all grown up loving the beach.  I remember seeing "singlets" (our word for single people at restaurants, movie theaters, etc...) at the beach and feeling sorry for them.....wondering why would they be at the beach alone, without kids....how lonely and boring that must be.  Well, you know what?  That "singlet" was me and I was not even a little bit lonely or bored.  I loved sitting there in the hot sun, reading my Kindle, hearing the waves against the sand, and listening to the sea gull

Happy Fathers Day!! I love honoring the men in my life who are fathers!  This morning we had a Men of Faith breakfast at our church to honor all the men of the parish.  We, the Ladies of the Rosary cooked for them and we had a wonderful time!  I love spending time with my parish family because that includes my real family as well!!! My Men In front, my nephew Josh and my father  Back left, my brother in law Paul, my nephew Paul my son Dominic and hubby Greg :) ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Now, on to another fun subject!  Happy Weigh in Day!! I'm pretty happy with my week.  I liked having to weigh in on Sunday because it really helped me stick with it over the weekend.  Now, before you congratulate me, I have to tell you that I do lose fast the first week.  I know it's mostly water but seeing the number jump is good fuel for me to keep going!  With that said.....I lost 6 pounds this week!!   Best of all.  I stuck to most of my goals for t

Just a quick post to share some pictures of my week. I had a super exciting thing happen today, but I just got home from my long day and  it is going to take some time to post so I will wait until I have more time.  :) YAY! I've been kicking but with my food this week!!  Tonight I am still sticking to my plan, which is big for me, because Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are my fun days to eat.   I am determined to stay strong.   Tomorrow is our "take out night" so that will be the real test, along with Fathers Day on Sunday, but, I've got this! My daughter Blayne is spending the week at my In-Laws cottage.  Despite the rainy weather, she is having a nice relaxing time!  My sister and I went down for the day on Monday.   That day, the weather was beautiful and we had a great time, getting some sun and hanging out with the doggies!  The lake is still pretty cold, so no swimming for me :) One of my sister's dogs Greta :)   Blanye's Josie 

Happy rainy Sunday!! Wow has it been that long since I've posted?  It has, and I can tell.  More about that after the fun stuff!! Friday was my sister Connie's Half Birthday.  What is a Half Birthday?  Well, her birthday is December 13th.  You all know what December is like.  Everyone is crazy busy with thoughts of Christmas, and if you live where I do, it's cold, snowy and yucky.  We usually go out to eat or something but she feels that she never gets to go out and celebrate in the "fun weather".  Our solution??  Half Birthday!!  6 months after her real birthday!!  My nieces weren't able to be there due to work and babysitting troubles, and my other SIL is driving cross country with my brother on a road trip vacation, so it was just a small gathering to celebrate my sister :) Clockwise from the left....My sister Connie, Me,  my daughter Blayne, and SIL Julie There is nothing that makes me feel more like Lori, than girl talk, and dinner with th

 Jr. High School Hallway....1980 Greg and Lori meet for the first time.  Lori is 14 and in the 9th grade.  Greg is a cool older high-school boy, 16 and in 11th grade.  After a few weeks of harmless flirting, Lori is bold enough to ask Greg to the 9th Grade Send Off Dance.......Greg accepts :)  Summertime...1980 Lori has strict parents and is not allowed to "car date" yet.  Greg lives in the next town over.  Since this is way before computers or cell phones, Greg and Lori drift apart. 8 miles is a long way when you can not drive.   Out front of Lori's house....May 1982 Lori, 11th grade, sits outside, pretending to play with her dog Suzie, knowing that that beautiful yellow car will be driving by at any minute.  Greg, older, graduate, working man, drives past almost daily after dropping a co-worker off from car-pooling.  Finally....today is the day!! Greg stops and they talk.  A date is set for dinner and a movie.  St. Mary's Catholic Chur

Happy Friday! Yesterday was GRADUATION DAY for my nephew Paul!! First let me post my pictures from my Walk To Work Challenge.  :) This is just an old crocked sign that I liked  Not sure what type of flower this is. It is just growing at the side of the road. One more day and my challenge will be over.  You may think that since it is just 1/2 mile total to and from work that it is not really a challenge.  But, like I said......it is for me, the non moving, non walking Lori :) So, last night I got to see my nephew Paul move from being a high school kid, to a soon to be college adult.  It was a wonderful evening and I am blessed to be able to have been a part of it.   This is the same High School that Greg and I graduated from oh so many years ago.  At the end of the evening, it is a tradition to sing the Alma-mater.  While we were signing, I looked over at my father and he was smiling and singing too.  It had slipped my mind that he and my mother both graduated

Just dropping in before work for a little update on my WTW Challenge.  I'm happy to say that I haven't quit yet :)  I look forward to my walks now, which comes as a surprise to me :)  Here are some pictures from Tuesday and from Wednesday.  Monday's I am off  but didn't walk because I had a pretty extensive dental appointment and didn't quite feel like doing much afterwards. Tuesdays Pictures....... These sweet little flowers just caught my eye.   They were all alone in a huge field. Walking home from work  I took a picture of this  little yard island at a neighbor's.  So patriotic! Wednesday morning I found this little guy  laying in the road.  I think he is lost. These beautiful Willow Trees are from a neighbors house. We used to have one growing up and  I just loved playing on and under it!   Ours was so full, you could be under the skirt  and no one could ever see you.  I miss it! Tonight my nep