finding lori

Our mother is the queen of Proverbs and Adages.  We grew up hearing such sayings as, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away", "There are other fish in the sea",  "Two wrongs don't make a right", "The squeaky wheel gets the grease", "Birds of a feather, flock together".  I could go on and on.  While growing up, we hated these phrases.  We would roll our eyes, and think, "Whatever Mom!", never really taking the time to actually think about what she was trying to teach us.  Now, when I hear these phrases, I remember our Mother saying them and by gosh they are all TRUE!  How did she know?  Where the heck did she learn them?  I say these to my kids now and they look at me the same way.  There is one I still continually tell my kids and Greg........"Speed kills".   Hello???  If you are driving at 30 mph and get into a crash you are going to get injured......If you are driving fast.......Well you all know how that coul...

It's that time of year again.  Time for all the kids to go back to school!  I love this time of year.....now until Christmas is my favorite time of year.....even more so than summer I think!  In the past, this time of year brought us the tradition of school clothes shopping.  When my older 2 were young, they went to Catholic School, so the clothes shopping wasn't as fun.  Uniforms were on the list.  Blue and White everything!  When they were older, I remember them dictating which stores we needed to go to, depending on what trend they were into at the time.  Sporty, (Dicks and Champs)......Preppy, (American Eagle and Abercrombie).....Then there was the Pacsun phase with anything Billabong, Roxy and Quicksilver.   All three went through all these different phases and I loved seeing what they were into each year!   The last phase was College, and my daughter was still fun with this phase, wanting, or at least letting my buy her at least a ...

Hi Friends! I know, it's been quite a while since I've been here. There really isn't any reason why I've been MIA.  I've just been blah lately, no creative thoughts or desires pouring out, and honestly, I've been spending way to much time over at Instagram and watching IG Stories.  I've been working on it, and  think I've finally broken the habit.  It's been over a week since I've watched any stories, and I really don't miss them much.   I can post and read the posts and it doesn't take up much time, but once I get watching those stupid stories..........uggh!   Funny how something so little and dumb can capture and keep your attention so much that it is all you want to do.  How weird is wanting to know what strangers are doing and eating.  I'm sure I'm not the only one, but It's just crazy when I think about how much time is wasted watching.  Oh well, like my sister says, "it is what it is", and I hope it's ove...

What a wonderful weekend!  Saturday I attended a bridal shower for the fiance of a close family friend's son.  The couple have been together for 9 years, dating all through school.  Living in a small town, everyone knows everyone, so many of my friends were there to celebrate this soon to be wedding that has been in the making a while.   The shower started at 7 pm and was held at a nearby restaurant "The Millcreek Brewing Company".  I am old school and used to showers being held at someones house, or at the most, at a rented social hall.  They are totally different now.  The Bride To Be, opened our gifts as we entered the building, which was so different, but a great way to do it.  That way, we were up close and personal with her while she opened our gift and we got to talk to her about it.  I loved it.  It didn't even back up the line coming in to much either like you think it would.  They served appetizers and it was open bar! ...

Happy Easter Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful day yesterday!  I love the Easter season, because I feel the most closest to Jesus.  In church we read over and over again of the struggles He went though, and the pain Mary, His mother went through.  It just helps me to gain strength, and realize that I can get through anything as long as I rely on Him! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Yes, two posts in a row.  I am hoping I can substitute some of my bad habits for posting more on my blog.  Sometimes I have too much time on my hands and I tend to eat more, and just veg in front of the TV.  It is helpful when I share, no matter what it is, because I either feel stronger getting it out there, or just happier because I am actually doing something constructive.  Either way, it's good! Yesterday began with a beautiful morning sitting outside on The Sanctuary.  (My name for my porch)  I know I've posted pictures of it before, but I can not fi...

It's been over a month since my last post.  There is a perfectly good reason and hopefully some of you can relate so I don't sound like a complete lunatic. SPOILER ALLERT.......Any of you men out there, this is totally going to be a woman's topic filled with woman-type words and just woman-type feelings. You are forewarned 😊 Menopause has struck my house.  Fist of all, don't you hate that word?  Couldn't they have come up with a super cute word for what we woman have to go through?  I'm sure a man made that one up!  Let's just call it "M".  Ok, so it's been a year since my "P", so I am pretty sure that I am in "M".  Up until now, it's been smooth sailing.  A few hot flashes here and there, but I am kind of  a sweaty person to begin with so I am used to dealing with that.  Very little mood swings, very little anything.   I thought wow!  What's all the hype about?  Oh how could I have been so wrong!  It began ...

Happy Monday! I wanted to share my goals for March................ The first one is going to be tough!   The second is a WW thing.  Every day you stay within 3 points of your total WW points you receive a blue dot on your calendar on the WW App.  I am shooting for 26 for the month!  The last, well, 7 pounds should be doable if I am getting 26 blue dots :)  I will keep you updated on my progress :)  My weigh in on Friday went really well.  I was down 3 pounds!  I am on a 2 week losing streak right now and pushing to keep it going!  Wish me luck! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Last week I was going through some of my old posts.  I kept going further and further back, just skimming them. It was fun to re-live things that I've done, but then  I started feeling a little depressed, and disheartened.  I've been struggling with my weight for almost 30 years now, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that I ...

What a crazy week!  Our internet has been down, including our phone and TV!  Not totally down, but on and off, in and out.  We got it all fixed up last night, the poor cable boy was here from 4ish to 8 working on our problem.  He ended up laying new cable and setting up a new system inside and out!  Hopefully we wont have anymore problems any time soon! :) I just wanted to check in really quick on my goals and my weigh in from last Friday. My goals for last week, were to stay within my WW points, and lose 1 pound.  Well, I am super proud to say that I did both!  I stayed strong, even over the weekend, and I weighed in last Friday and lost 4.4 pounds!  That just goes to show you 2 things.  If you track your food and don't go over, it works.  And 2, I am stronger than I think :) I think really concentrating on why I wanted to succeed in my goals really helped me this week.  If you put a mental why to what you are doing, it m...

My friend Pam and I have so much history.  We met when I was still in high school, through our husbands, who were our boyfriends at the time.  She and I were inseparable for so long.  Then life got in the way, and so on and so forth, time flew by and miles separated us.  Throughout the years I have thought about her and missed her and what we had.   A few months ago, we reconnected, and it feels like a part of me is restored.  We picked up without skipping a beat.  That is true friendship.  We are still separated by miles, but it never fails that she emails me at the moment I need her.  Here is a recent quote she sent me, which is right on track with what I have been doing......... "The more reasons you have for achieving your goal,  the more determined you will become." -- Brian Tracy It goes on to say............. We set a goal for ourselves and we are filled with determination -- this will be done!   Then the ...

Happy Valentines Day Eve! This weekend I made a fun new cookie for my family.  My sister found this recipe in her Better Homes and Gardens magazine and we thought they looked so cute and fun to make. Here is the recipe for Chocolate Cherry Dips Ingredients 1/2 of an 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1/2 cup finely chopped, drained maraschino cherries 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 60 vanilla wafers 12 ounces chocolate-flavor candy coating, coarsely chopped Directions For filling, in a medium mixing bowl beat cream cheese and powdered sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Stir in cherries and almond extract. Spread filling on bottoms of half of the vanilla wafers. Top with the remaining wafers, bottom sides down. Cover and chill about 30 minutes or until filling is firm. In a medium saucepan cook and stir chocolate candy coating and the 2 teaspoons shortening over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Us...

First I wanted to check in on my goals for this past week.  My first goal for the week was to add extras on my gym days.  I am happy to say that I accomplished this!  On my usual, Monday, Wednesday and Friday Ab Class days, I added lifting in each day!  It felt good to get back to lifting again.  I do love it so I hope I can keep it up!  My other goal was to lose 1 pound.  That didn't happen due to some slips during the week.  I ended up gaining .06.  My mind is in the game, I just need it to be ALL in instead of PARTIALLY in.  Know what I mean?  I was doing so well, and have been allowing myself little treats here and there, acting like I am in maintenance, instead of on the losing track.  I just need to tweak my diet a bit.  I know what I am doing wrong.....I just need to stop :)  Hopefully this week will be different.  Being it was Super Bowl yesterday, I got off to a slow start, but today is a new day...

I am lucky enough to belong to a gym that allows outside sources to come in and hold classes.  I belong to Snap Fitness and there is a Weight Loss Support Group every Monday morning at 8:30.    This works out perfectly because it is right after my Ab Class.  The local hospital has an Community Outreach Program which allows for a liaison to come in and lead us in discussions on health and weight loss.  You don't even have to belong to the gym to take advantage of this!  We have had blood screenings, we have had a dietician come in to speak with us, and as many of us are over 50, so there have been topics on menopause and our changing hormones and metabolism.  There is always something I learn while I am there.  In my personal life, I have so many people who support me.  My family, my Facebook and Blogger friends, my one friend who lives far away who sends me support and motivational quotes all the ...

I am starting right off with my goal check in from last week.....My first goal was "No Scale".  I am happy to report that I didn't weigh myself one time!  It was so hard not to search for that scale, but I am glad that I didn't.  I think it helped me during the day not to go off track.  Success!  My second goal was "Junk Food 1x A Day".  This was a success as well.  I saved my treat for after dinner and only had one.  I wasn't even tempted to continue!  Success!  Here are this weeks goals............ As you may or may not know, I have been going to the gym 3 times a week to do an Ab Class.  I love this class, and am seeing progress in my abilities.  Starting tomorrow, I am going to try to push myself to stay after my class and walk on the treadmill, and start lifting again.  I love to lift.  I love feeling strong and love knowing that I am continuing to burn calories after I leave the gym.  I just do...

Hello Friends! I meant to get this post out on Monday, but the week got ahead of me, so here I am :)  I fell short on my goals from last week.  They were.....No Sweets, and 10,000 Steps A Day.  My steps averaged around 8,000 a day, and for whatever reason I didn't attempt to get any more in.  I was discouraged, and well, just plain lazy.  Avoiding sweets was a big struggle for me this week.  I don't know what happened, but I failed big time with this one and my weight suffered at my weigh in on Friday.  I was up 1.4 pounds.  I don't know what is wrong with me.  I know what I should do.  I know what I should and should not eat.  Cravings get the better of me and I give in.  The bad thing is, when I give in, I totally over do it because I swear "this is the last time", therefore, I take advantage of the fact that "I will never eat this again".  This hasn't happened in awhile, but feel myself falling back into those b...

Happy Monday Everyone! First of all, I wanted to share my goals for this week. So, the steps are self explanatory.  You all know how much I dislike walking.  Well, I keep saying that I am going to put forth more effort, so here I am, yet again, making proclamations.  We shall see :)  No sweets?  Sounds drastic doesn't it?  Well, it needs to be.  I've been taking to many liberties with goodies lately and it's not good.  Oh they still have been fitting into my WW plan, some of them being sugar free, but they have been upping my sugar cravings and the scale isn't moving down, as per my weigh in on Friday.....I was up 0.6 pounds.  So, they have to go!   We'll see how that goes as well! Speaking of.....My weight has been teetering up and down a few pounds since just before Christmas.  I am happy with how I handled the holidays.  I enjoyed myself and my chocolate and was able to get right back on track as soon as I ...