Hey everyone. I just now saw that I needed to send Kaitlin another invite so I just emailed the same email address she was registered with. I also gave everyone the admin privileges in case anything like that needs to be done again. Hope everyone is doing great!

Erin

so..... I fell off the wagon. and I think I got run over by one of the wheels. At least, I did not gain any wait over Christmas. But, believe me when I say it takes alot of food to maintain my fat butt right now.
I am currently in negotiations with my doctor for diet pills. He told me I needed to lower my cholesterol. Also, he said I needed to lower the fat in my diet and exercise more. I said, if I could do all that, what the hell do I need diet pills for! Anyway, I'm calling him tomorrow with a new ploy.
Wish me luck!

AA Meeting

Obviously, no one wants to be the first to admit to falling off the wagon over Thanksgiving. Further more, we don't want to discuss the absolute failure to achieve our simple goal of losing 5 pounds by Thanksgiving. But y'all know part of solving the problem is acknowledging the problem. So let's move on to the next AA meeting (Abdominous Anonymous, that is).

My name is Karen and I'm a junk food junkie with no self-discipline. Instead of losing five pounds, I ate chocolate, drank Cokes, and spent my free time at Sonic. I gained 4 pounds and I have no one to blame except myself ..... and my mother for supplying me with Coke .... and the persons who conspired to build a Sonic between my house and Mama's.

I'd like to say I feel better following my confession, but I still feel pudgy. I'm going to finish drinking this Coke while I think up my next ambitious goal.

Who's next?

Where's Kaitlyn?

Did someone issue Kaitlyn another invite to this blog?

What's Up? (or down?)

Today's the 23rd.... Any weight loss updates??? I've lost about two pounds, but definitely not 5 or 7. The next three days will be busy, so maybe I'll work some more off.

Kyle and Mary have decided to move to Layton, Utah. For some reason they have a really strong feeling that they need to move there. They all ready have a place to live. I will come to Little Rock to help them and we will probably leave at the end of the month. Kyle will still work for us. But it would be a good thing for him to find a job that offers health benefits, as well. He went out there a couple of weeks ago to look but was unable to find something concrete, at least not what he was looking for. He did come across a job in the retail music business. (for those of you who are unaware of Kyle's musical talents)
But ultimately, he needs something that would cover anything which might be related to his diabetes, present and future. I hate hate hate hate hate that he has this awful disease. I think he deals with it pretty good. He takes insulin at night which regulates his blood sugar the following day.
We will greatly miss the girls. Aubrey loves me loads and Emma could care less if she ever sees me again. Her nickname is Emma Violence. She's a busy girl. Need I say more.
The weight loss thing? I was just kidding about that.
No, seriously, I HAVE GOT TO LOSE A MILLION POUNDS!!!!! Or something close to it. Back on the tread climber. I must rev up my metabolism because I heard diet coke messes up the metabolism and I cannot live a functioning and useful life without my Sonic Route 44 vanilla diet coke. You with me on this one, Karen? aka, Dr. Pepper girl?

Math Quiz!

Okay, Carmen or anyone else feeling mathematically wise this weekend, here's a little math problem. If you have to move 150 boxes each measuring 10x15x24 (inches), how many cubic feet would you need the U-Haul truck to hold?

"Is this thing on?"

Helloooo!! Where did everybody go?? Sorting the Halloween candy?? I'm sitting here all alone eating my ice cream...... Where's the support?? Where's the love?? Don't make me have to join an AA meeting! "Hello. My name is Linda, and I love my extra 50 pounds so much I just can't let them go..."

Still Walking

Jennie and I walked 16 miles this week. My scales still talk ugly to me and none of my clothes feel loose, but we're still walking. I thought exercise was supposed to energize you; but after walking seven miles this morning, Jennie and I were just ready for a nap. What's up with that?

At least the walking seems to relieve the stress of the new job. That's a positive thing....

Update

Alright, I did a mile in 10 minutes and 30 seconds!!! Jill didn't believe me since she was running on the treadmill next to me but I quickly and in between great gasps of breath told her that I was running faster than she was!

This is how I'm doing things: I start out jogging right away. I've learned that, for some reason, this feels better than walking, then speed walking, then jogging, then running. I jog at a 4.5 speed until I hit .50 miles. Does that mean I'm running at 4.5 miles an hour? I haven't run for an hour so I'm not sure. When I get to that halfway mark, I turn up the heat. 5.0 - 5.5 - and 6.0 for the last tenth of a mile.

I'm still weight-lifting. I'm up to 60 pounds! When I first started, I could do 30 pretty easy. I was shaking today but I did it.

I didn't feel like going at all today. I was curled up on the couch, bundled in sweatpants and a robe (it's getting chilly in Sacramento), and lost in Christopher Paloni's new book, Brisingr. Jill, however, had the motivation. And when I did get my butt in the workout room, I was thinking the whole time of what I could achieve so I can post it on here!

This blog was a great idea.

Oh, and I want to know how the marathon training is going! What has it been like? What have you two been doing? I went to the website and saw the thing for the Mud Run, too! I clicked on it and this hilarious song started playing. I envisioned all of us meeting up for this event and thought, 'Hey, why not?!' Or at least something like this. Maybe we could give it some thought: Get together, have some laughs, do a 20 mile run for a good cause? What do you think?

Home Renovations

I'm back. Did you miss me??? I've had no internet for the last three weeks. San Antonio hauls away whatever you can lug out to the curb . . . twice a year. When I heard my date was coming up, I decided to remove the stinky carpet (BAD dogs!!!) from my office. With the carpet removed along with all of my office paraphernalia, I decided it would be a good time to paint. But before painting, I really needed to take care of some carpentry issues. Three weeks later, I'm finally back on line and almost finished with my office redo. I'll post a picture to show what an impressive little carpenter I am in a couple of weeks.

As for weight loss, I lost three pounds following the Slim-Fast plan. Then things went crazy at home and the diet went out the window. However, I lost another couple of pounds while renovating. Maybe I should change careers.

Get Fired Up!

Kaitlyn, I'm so proud of your accomplishments! Great motivation for the rest of us!

Jennie and I are going to train for the Little Rock Marathon to be held March 15, 2009. We are walking it, not running. The training lasts for 24 weeks with 3-4 days during the week walking 3-4 miles and then a group meet every Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m. to walk as a group for distances ranging from 6 to 20 miles. The web address is littlerockmarathon.com or you all can look up one in your neighborhood. There's a schedule for the training on the website. It starts next Monday (9/29).

We'll keep ya'll posted on our progress.

Eight days a week

Well, I can proudly say that I've been putting in 1-2 hours daily since Sept. 12. I had one of those miserable "fat" days and said to hell with it, I'm doing this thing! Yesterday, I told myself that I was going to run a mile in 15 minutes. But, by God, I shaved two minutes off and did it in 13! As soon as I hit the mile marker and saw my time, I grinned so big that I bet the quaint little exercise room glowed for miles. I couldn't wait to get on here and GLOAT!

I haven't been able to do that since high school! I'm not even sure I could do it then. I did a lot of running in soccer but I was no track athlete.

I don't have a scale but I don't need one to feel this good. As far as dieting is concerned, my body has become a telephone to my consciousness, saying, "Nuh-uh, you don't need those fries," or Jill's favorite, "Once on the lips, forever on the hips." It hasn't been hard to say no to excessive eating and junk food, which is a really nice motivator. 

I run a mile and then walk a mile, I do the Stair Master for 10 minutes, and then leave some good ol' sweat stains on the seat of the weight machine. I concentrate on my arms there because my legs are too busy humming! I lift 50 pounds pretty smoothly. I think John can bench, like, 100 pounds but I don't think I'm going to aim that high. I just want to lose that flap of skin under my arm that whips with the wind. And it's nearly gone! 

So, here I am. Bragging. I hope this motivates you guys. :) :) :) :) :)

And............another week. Only, this time it's different. I am not in Texas. Tony and I are mountainizing in Breckenridge, CO. I still haven't lost any weight, but I want to! Does that count?
I had high hopes and aspirations of walking on the trails in the mountains. But, since I can hardly breathe this 10,000 high air, THAT certainly is not going to happen! I actually bought some "altitude adjustment" herbal something or another. I hope it helps. I'm not sure, but I think Tony & I are getting really old.
So, I bet Erin is totally partying with mom & dad away.
Anyone else having any progress losing weight?

And....another week!
Okay, for real. I have been attempting to walk. I have even gotten on my treadclimber for the past 3 days. PLUS,! I have had salads for lunch 2 days in a row. How 'bout that?!
I am going to confess- At night when I sit down to watch a movie or whatever, I start out with a 100 calorie pack of whatever. Later, I say to myself "well, it was only 100 calories." So, I go get another 100 calorie pack of whatever. (there's lots of good choices) Anyway, pretty soon the 100 calorie packs have defeated their purpose. I might as well just eat a big ol' bowl of Blue Bell chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. Geez!
What's anybody else doing?
I wish I had some thyroid medicine.

Another week...

Okay y'all, another week has passed. Are you exercising? Have you lost any weight?
I ran out of my thyroid medication and took my sweet time getting the refill. Since the thyroid controls your metabolism and my thyroid function is low without my medication, that was about the dumbest thing I could do!
I gained a pound!! That's not the direction I want to see the scales going!
In addition, with my metabolism low, I haven't felt like doing a thing. No exercising for me.
I did start back on my medication yesterday so I hope to get myself headed back in the right direction. I really wish I would exercise and leave the soda pop alone. I'd really like to be thin again.
So tell me how y'all are doing....

new post

Okay Karen,
I am adding a new post. Yes, my intentions to lose weight are still around, but my actual progress is another story. I mean, I am really tired of my fat self. But living here in Texas is so hard- with all the wonderful and delicious Mexican restaurants around and whatnot. In fact, I had Mexican today. It is a new place in Frisco. We will go there when any of y'all come down.
I was walking with my sister's sister-in-law, but she went out of town for 2 weeks so we got out of the habit. She is back now, but I am going out of town tomorrow, so maybe when I get back I can get back in to the swing of things. Plus, maybe it won't be so hot.
I admit to hanging out at Sonic a little too much. The car hops all know my name and my drink (route 44 vanilla diet coke). I guess I really need to get a life, ya think?!
I really think my weight gain is hormonal. (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)
My sister Linda went to a hormone specialist. He prescribed some hormones to her. She lost weight and looks pretty good. Anyway, when she went back for a follow up, the doctor was a woman. But she had the same name as before when she first went in. She realized the doctor had a sex change. I wonder about those hormones he prescribed for her. Don't you?

Yo-yoing

Okay, It's been eight weeks since I decided to join this weight loss kick y'all are suppose to be on. I decided a pound a week was quite reasonable and did well for the first few weeks. Then Linda came for a visit with cookies and fudge. That was followed by a trip to New York with John. And finally Dad spent a week at my house. If I stay home and refrain from having company, I easily lose the pound for that week, but those other times I fall off the band wagon with a loud thunk!

Final result is a loss of 4 pounds. I'm hoping to lose 20 pounds in the next 5 months, so nothing personal but you'll have to plan any visits to my house for 2009!

Is anyone else even riding in this wagon with me? Have y'all abandoned me? Are you still hanging out at Sonic? Are you so skinny you can't stop admiring yourself in the mirror long enough to add a post?

Blog Branch-offs

The writers in the family have found a new medium. I've known about the blogs created by Mom and Megan. Now I see that Kate has created one as well. (For the non-blog savvy, if you click on one of the member names in the left column, it will show the blogs they belong to. If you click on the blog name, it will take you to that blog.) I seldom comment on their stories, the words they magically weave so that I'm held spell-bound until I've read all of their new material. I don't have that "kissed-the-blarney-stone" gift. I worry that any comment I might make would just detract from their art. But I'm loving every word. I'll keep clicking on all of the "25% off AND then some" member names to see who else has created their own story-telling venue.

Belated Birthday Gift

I'm late. I keep thinking I'll have my HOMEMADE birthday gift wrapped up, and it keeps taking a bit longer. So here, Mom, is a little preview.

No Extra Baggage

I made it back from Nashville with no extra pounds. Yes! Probably because Karen had me moving furniture and Mom had us hanging wall paper in her bathroom.....worked off the cookies and fudge. I found a Pilates tape for beginners at a garage sale for 50 cents, probably not as entertaining as the Wii Fit, but definitely cheaper.

In case you wanna stay tuned...

I created a blog just for my nanny-tales and such. I can only hope it will add to your cheap entertainment. ;)

http://www.nomadicnanny.blogspot.com

As you all know, Erin is planning on attending the University of Arkansas this fall.
So, we went up there last Sunday for orientation. (she's too big for her mama to go along with her),
So, I hung out with my oldest sister, Sandy who lives up there in Fayetteville. You all know Sandy!
Anyway, the point is- the 5 lbs. I had lost that took me 5 WEEKS to lose, unfortunately I gained back 4 of them Ain't that a "kick in the head"! or butt as it were. That just irritates me to no end. My sister is a terrible influence on me. And her little 11 year old grand-daughter just wants to make dessert for every meal. And they held a gun to my head and made me eat them! brownies, chocolate peanut butter cups, etc.
I admit, I have no will power any more. It's just too dang hot to diet. Or, I am too old to diet. Or, I have a ferret and I can't diet. (I got all kinds of excuses.) Dieting is NOT my favorite thing.

Equaling out the scale.

I haven't posted in awhile but I read your posts every day. I don't have much to add, either. I've started helping Jerry, Jill's dad, with his painting jobs which require much physical exertion and results in loads of sweat but unfortunately the grocery store had a deal going on this week: Buy 2 12-packs, get 3 free!

So I have 5 cases of Pepsi product in my kitchen cabinet...scooted far back so I have to reach in to get it in hopes that the extra effort will serve as a deterrent to boredom-binging.

So one step forward, two steps back. If our family were to have a coat of arms with a motto, that would be it. Written in cursive for a deceptively elegant feel.

Here's a picture of Mom's...squash? From the vegetable garden Carmen and Mom built.

I think we need to start a list of all of the stories we want Mom to write about . . .

Turtles
German Shepherd helping me escape over the fence
Floor bouncer
The cat bite and rabies scare
Road trips
Baby swing in the store display window
Tony and Travis changing diapers
Church while weaning Tony from breast feeding
Who threw the shoe in church?
Getting Old Blue
Driving Old Blue with water splashing up through the rotten floorboards
Carmen and Linda wrecking Old Blue
The cat burial after the big storm

In fact, I think we need to create a family story book and get it published. Personal publishing has become very affordable.

Okay, now here is some injustice right here in our own family.
Tony has lost 20 lbs. and HE WASN'T EVEN TRYING!!!!!
I don't know about everyone else, but I am upset.
Course, he got a buzz haircut, too. What was he thinking?
I never realized what a HUGE head he had until the "buzz".
Must be that size in order to hold all those brains.

Okay, ya'll. My mom said this was some cheap entertainment and she was right. I love seeing the sisters' witty and clever remarks towards each other. Why watch TV when I can blog? Now, I know where my dad gets his wit and his "smarty pants" attitude.
A word to each of ya'll-
Patti, glad you could join the family on here.

Megan, I'm so excited for you! Living in New York will be quite the experience I'm sure. Find a hot guy who works on Wall Street and make sure he has a cute brother too because I do plan on coming to visit.

Karen, there is no shame in drinking Route 44's. We are very open about our Sonic addiction so no need to hide it. My mom is the worst anyway and I'm sure she has you beat. I'm going to say she had 4 Routes the other day...yeah, I'm pretty sure she did actually.

Honey Gail, what is this Wii exercise game you speak of? I didn't know exercise could be fun. Please inform me. The only time I've ever played Wii was when this five year old boy humiliated me and beat the tar out of me at tennis. I guess video games are not my forte.

Grandma, I just love your reminiscent stories on here. Tell the story of the turtles! I think I've heard it but I need to hear it again.

Carmen, how is the reunion planning coming along? When are you coming back to Dallas for a visit? I know I shouldn't mention this but there is this Mexican restaurant that just opened up the street that we used to go to all the time when they had another one down in Addison. I got really excited when I saw they brought a location up here because they have this cheese dip that is just to die for. So, forget the diet, come to Dallas and play and we'll take you to get some good grub. That goes for all of you! It's summer time and we want some house guests up here! PRONTO!


As far as me being on a diet...I'm not really. It's hard when my mom buys me a pint of my favorite ice cream ever and FORCES me to eat it. She's so cruel.
I do walk at night though so at least I get SOME exercise. Of course, the last week was a total waste since I ate that ice cream. It was worth it though.

Love to all,

Erin

OH MY GOSH!!!
THIS IS SOOOOO ENTERTAINING!!!!!

NYC & 23!

So, I went to New Jersey to meet with my potential employers and their family. I spent three days in the twilight zone. You wouldn't believe these people! Prepping those poor pre-teen boys for IVY LEAGUE already?? Ok, so I'm just bitter because they didn't want me. Well, they DID want me... before they found out I'm a criminal. You see, dear family, I've been in jail four times. Did you know that? I'm sure you did. Secrets don't exist where we come from. Anyway, two of those arrests show up on my background check. No convictions! But the document lists the arrest details whether I like it or not and it'll cost me $1100 to get rid of it all. Anyway, instead of signing the release form for these folks, I just came clean and told 'em straight. I told 'em exactly what they'd see: I was arrested for "theft under $50" after I got caught shoplifting a belt from Folley's when I was 17... And I was driving with an invalid driver's license two years back. (I continued to explain that the invalid driver's license was merely a result of poverty, but that was a big waste of breath!)

Needless to say, they said "NO THANKS" and that was that.

However, I found a young, poor, artsy-fartsy family in Brooklyn that will be taking me in for a couple months with a weekly stipend of $150/wk. Yeah... yeah... I know. But I'll manage! While I'm there, I'll be looking for something more substantial. It's very possible I'll be back home in two months with empty pockets and a hungry belly, but I gotta get up there and see what all the fuss is about - just for a year or two, at most, then back to school.

I leave on June 28th!

Mom keeps reminding me I have to come back south for this family reunion next June. No reminder necessary, Mom! I can't wait!

Love you guys. Cross those fingers for me?

Thoughts about Losing Weight

I would join y'all on this weight loss program, but Mom keeps buying rootbeer and putting it in her fridge. She stopped putting the bite-size snickers in the pockets of my uniforms after she irons them, but still has the bowl of them sitting in her kitchen. I only have so much self-discipline!!
If I want to lose weight, I'll have to give up rootbeer, snickers, and going to Mom's place. That means I'd have to iron my own uniforms while suffering thru sugar withdrawals. Is weight loss really worth all that?
And is anyone really serious about this? Y'all aren't saying much. Are you too busy exercising? Are you quietly sitting at Sonic having a Route 44 and hoping we don't find out? Are you secretly hoping the whole subject of weight loss will go away if you ignore it long enough? I just want to know cause if I start this program, I want someone around to listen to me gripe until I can gloat.
I think a weekly report should be required.

Well, I'm going to think about it for a while longer . . .
at least until after I finish my Route 44.

Vacation not conducive with weight loss

We just arrived back home after a week at Disney World. I found the five pounds that I had lost.....Back to square one.

No weight loss inspiration here!!!

I'm not losing . . . I'm gaining. Of course, Cliff was home for a week . . . that always means lots of celebratory meals out. And we celebrated my anniversary/birthday/mother's day (another pound gained). So I'm failing miserably at this dieting business, however, my chore list is a success. Megan mowed the backyard without me saying a word.

Hope the rest of you are losing better than I am.

Latest Entertainment

Okay, I've found new entertainment this week.
I'm calculating ways to get the CVS drugstore to pay me for taking their merchandise! Today, I got a Colgate 360 toothbrush (regularly 4.49), a Venus Breeze razor (regularly 9.99), CoverGirl foundation (7.99), Covergirl powder (7.99), Covergirl blush (5.99), and Covergirl mascara (5.99). That would be $42.44 + $2.43 tax for a total of $44.87. But the items were on sale and I used several coupons so my final out-of-pocket cost was $8.69! Isn't that awesome?! But the real kicker is this... on my receipt is a coupon for $3.99 and another one for $5! That's $8.99 that can be used for almost anything in the store on my next venture into the store.
Bottom line is CVS paid me thirty cents to take their stuff!
This is really amusing me....

Networking

I've created a website to better sell myself in the child care industry.

Check it out! www.freewebs.com/meganpoppins

So far, so good! I've been contacted by a couple families, one of which is in Short Hills, New Jersey! They're looking for a live-in nanny and in the process, they are willing to fly me out for a weekend-long interview. The Memorial Day weekend will include a concert at Carnegie Hall and a trip to their beach house on the Jersey shore!!!

(Jackpot!)

Mom is skeptical... But don't worry, guys! They're both lawyers. (smirk)

Seriously though, I've checked out their law firms online and had a nice long chat with both of them over the phone tonight. The agency that sent them my way has placed nannies with them before, so I'm convinced they will be decent people.

So, based on my new website: Would you guys hire me? (If you didn't know me, of course.)

Monday morning update

I'm so surprised. I lost 2.5 pounds. I have no idea how. Maybe it was spending a whole day cleaning out my refrigerator (of course, I was only working on it during commercial breaks). Maybe it was pulling on the starter cord for my broken lawn mower (gotta get that in for repairs before my neighbors lynch me). Maybe it was just thinking about doing everything on my list of chores. . . . I don't know, but I'm awfully happy. It's inspiring enough to get me back out on the street doing laps around the neighborhood.

Any Inspiration?

Well, has anyone lost any weight lately?? I think I gained a pound back. Carmen, did you go to the latin dance aerobics?

Storms

I'm watching the weather channel and reading news feeds about the storms that are stretching from east Texas to Virginia. This is a status check - is everyone alright? I heard about some tornadoes in Arkansas that were bad. What's it like over on that side of the country?

A friend sent me text asking if I'd heard anything from my family and I realized I hadn't. No news is good news...right?

Doctors Visit

I had a physical yesterday . . . not that anything is wrong, but my doctor's office pushes it every year. My insurance covers it, and I think, "Why not?"

The little assistant fetched me from the receptionist area, weighed me and checked vitals, took me to an exam room and interrogated me . . . why was I there? As part of the questioning, she asked me if the physical would include a pap smear. I explained that I no longer need a pap since the medical establishment took EVERYTHING four years ago. The little assistant put a gown and sheet on the bed telling me the doctor would let me know if I needed to change . . . and she pulled out a pair of medical gloves and some K-Y jelly and placed them on the desk. I quickly reminded her that there would be NO need for K-Y jelly on this visit. She just smiled and said she just wanted to be sure the room was prepped for the doctor. She leaves.

Minutes later, my doctor opens the door and says, "Anal bleeding?" My eyes open big, I shake my head - no. "That's another patient in another room, Doc!!!"

He proceeds into the room. "Are you sure? No anal bleeding?"

"I'm absolutely sure!"

"And we aren't doing a pap smear?!"

I wasn't sure if that was a question or not, but I assured him, "There's no need for a pap. I don't have a cervix any more . . . or any of the other goods."

"Hmm, and there's no prostrate?!"

Again, I'm not sure if that's a question or not, but I cover my bases . . . "I'm pretty sure we have nothing to worry about there."

"If you're sure, then" . . . and the exam proceeded with me maintaining most of my modesty and keeping a safe distance from the gloves and K-Y jelly.

I also assured my doctor that SlimFast was proving to be a cure-all for me. My nails had been breaking and were now growing strong, I had been having some urinary tract issues, and they were all cleared up . . . all since starting to eat the SlimFast meal and snack bars every day. Well, it's been a cure-all for everything except for being overweight.

Okay Carmen, I have lost 2 lbs. What is your progress?

Oh my blog! My family rocks.

I just can't get over how funny this family is. I've read through each post, every comment, and I've laughed enough to compensate for my daily workout. I suppose this blog is doing it's job properly after all. (Special thanks to Linda for her remark about the balls.)

As far as this dieting bit is concerned, I might have a little trouble contributing to the theme. I'm lazy and I eat all the wrong things. Especially lately. I sincerely wish I could claim otherwise... However, my laxed routine has only been in effect for a few months. Maybe it won't be too hard to find my motivation once finals are over. (2 more weeks!) At which point, I'm hoping to change these lazy ways. Perhaps I'll get back on the bike. You see, I've decided I love bicycles - road bikes to be specific. I've collected 3 sets of wheels so far, and one now belongs to my mother. I got a kick out of watching her ride around the neighborhood on that shiny blue cruiser. Perhaps she'll join me on a ride to celebrate the end of the semester. Perhaps it'll become a regular event!

On another note, I've had one thing on my mind all week - no... all month - and I can't help but share my anxieties with my dear family. It's like this: I've been contacted through Sittercity.com by a Belgian family looking for a nanny. Actually, several nannies. (It seems they don't spend much time at all with their five-year-old little girl...) They have three schedules/shifts for three potential nannies, or two nannies, if one decides to take on two of the shifts. And after several slightly strange e-mails, I've asked to take on two shifts. This would actually only ammount to 21 hours a week, but it pays $600! (Roughly $28/hour.) This would turn my world upside-down. My debts would be gone, my education would be easier to afford, and maybe I could even get out from under my poor mother's feet! (I'm sure she'd love that.) Unfortunately, there's been a bit of a language barrier and contact has been limited. It all seems a little too good to be true, and smells a bit fishy.

I'll know by Wednesday if it's a real deal or not... Cross you fingers for me?

So, just one question before I close out... How'd we get to be such a hip family?!

Joining the 'In' Crowd

So I finally get around to checking my email and discover my family is blogging. Honestly a bit of a surprise.

I'm staying busy with work. I left Ft. Worth this morning and am holed up for the night just north of Chicago. Tomorrow I swap out some cars and head right back down, with a possible stop for the night in Fayetteville.

About this diet thing... Well, I'm not really on a diet. I eat whatever sounds good. I just eat less of it more often. Here are some tips for all of you attempting the dieting thing:

- Breakfast should be the biggest meal you eat. Ever. The giant 22 oz steak for dinner is out. Try to make it a well balanced meal with a little bit of everything. I know this is easier said than done. I'm pretty bad about it myself. The idea behind the big breakfast is to get your body started working again after a night of sleep. A cup of coffee is also quite useful for kick starting the metabolism.

- The goal is to eat 5 or 6 times a day, but smaller portions. A good breakfast, snack, small lunch, snack, smaller dinner, snack. Snacks should be small, like a piece of fruit or a granola bar. Your last snack should be eaten at least an hour or two before you go to sleep. If you get hungry before you go to bed and can't sleep due to the snarling beast in your stomach try eating some celery, easy on the peanut butter. Celery burns more calories to be digested than you consume eating it. The perfect late night snack.

- Carbs are not bad, if eaten in proper portions. Portions of carbs will depend on how physically active you are throughout the day. The less active you are the fewer carbs you should eat.

- Slimfast (Tony) is not supposed to be drank with a meal, but instead as a meal replacement. I will sometimes drink a Slimfast first thing in the morning when I'm in a hurry to get things started until I can grab some more food later.

No one has the same chemical makeup, so these tips may not work for all of you. But it's worth a try.

And now I'm off to sleep...

Tony's Slimfast experience

Tony decided to Slimfast with me and Erin a few years ago.
He didn't lose any weight and couldn't understand why in the world he didn't.
"I drank a Slimfast with every meal!" he said.

I should be working...

Okay, so I figured I better post something about my life too.

I've been accepted to the U of A so I'll be moving to Fayetteville in the Fall. I'll major in Apparel Studies where I'll learn to become a buyer! I'm very excited! Right now, I'm just working and attempting to save money although I have a shopping problem so it's kind of hard. It really is a problem. I should attend Shopaholics Anonymous. Anyway, I'm going to Memphis in May so I'll stop in Little Rock for a couple of days and hang out with those sweet little nieces of mine!

That's all that has been going on with me lately!

I started SlimFast today as well. I've got to get myself lookin' good for summer!

Love you all,

Erin

I wanna play, too!

Hey, everyone! I just got the invite from Erin today and I'm super surprised you guys are blogging! It would be so cool if we could keep this up - the healthy thing and the updates. 

Jill and I work out every day at the musky little gym our apartment is equipped with. We were lax last week because Jill brought home a NASTY nasty nasty sickness that just about killed me. But we're going back tomorrow. 

I can't diet. I like pizza and Doritos too much. But kudos to the slim fastin' and the South Beach diet. You are stronger than I will ever be. 

Congratulations, Aunt Linda, for finishing something so BIG! I would really love to be there, especially since you came to Tennessee for Mom's. And it feels like this is really monumental!

I love you all. 

Dang! No body is talking about 25% off! Am I the only one taking this halfway seriously?
Well, I will say that I had a Slim Fast for breakfast.

So What?! Big *#/*! deal, huh?

16-year degree

I will be graduating next month with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting. This is about a 16-year degree since I started college when Jennie was about 18 months old.........my degree plan was signed in 1995.......my student ID begins with four zeros.........yes, it's time for me to move on....

The commencement ceremony will be Saturday, May 17th at 3:00 p.m. We will grill something by the pool afterwards to celebrate. Ya'll are all invited!

If Karen is able to secure air travel that will allow her to be at work by midnight that Saturday night, she will come to the commencement ceremony, but she will be unable to stay afterwards. So she suggested a pre-graduation party that Friday night. I told her it would probably involve a Mexican restaurant. We'll keep you posted.....

Staying with Karen

I've stayed with Patti and Donna recently. They were first-rate hostesses treating me like an honored guest. It was great.

I've visited with Karen over the last two days. She worked me like a dog!!!

First she said we were going to build a raised 8' x 8' vegetable garden. Nailing some boards together sounded easy enough. The hard work was pouring in bag after bag of Miracle Gro Garden Soil. After emptying a dozen bags of it, I made the mistake of saying it felt more like mulch than soil. We read the instructions on the bag and discovered it's supposed to be mixed with native soil. We didn't have any native soil around for handy use, so we hit Lowes. It took 800 pounds of soil to fill her plot. That's right. 800 pounds. 800 pounds that had to be hoisted over her fence, toted to the garden, and dumped.

Then she said she had a few potted plants that she wanted transplanted into her yard. That sounds easy enough, but first we had to clear rocks, roots, and grass from the area.

I slaved for two days . . . but the results are pretty good. We took pictures for you.

Carmen

I, too, have never blogged before. But, Carmen and I are serious about this. We need everyone to get on board with us. Plus, we need pictures of children and whatnot.

Audrey sent this over and I wanted to post it.
:)

The McCabe's Furniture Business

So, I'm not planning on dieting because I just flat out want to eat whatever I want to. I get my weekly workout with softball and that's good enough. I'm sure I'll walk every night with my mom though. Anyway, some of ya'll have asked about our online business so I thought I'd just post the URL for our website so ya'll can know what we're all up to with the biz. It's www.carolinafurnituregroup.com

Everyone be sure and give updates on your life!

This should be fun!

Love,
Erin

Testing for Technologically Challenged

I've never blogged before . . . I didn't even know what a blog was. I'm feeling very 21st century now!!!

With a 25% weight loss, I would weigh about what I did after having Megan. I might need more like 75%.

Carmen

Losing 25%

Okay, so Carmen and Donna want to both lose weight and get the whole family healthy! We decided to create this blog to get everyone in the family involved. They want to start walking every night and eating healthy so they can lose, what Carmen says, "25%." So, everyone needs to get on board and check in and report on how they're doing with whatever "diet" they may be doing.