It'z 365 Neet Designs

Days 17, 18 and 19

2010-01-19T20:12:00.000-08:00

Okay so today was a major busy day! I sat in front of my computer for 8 hours straight and did two orders for a few awesome designers. A total of 4 QP's and 6 valentine's day cards! But, I have to say that when crunch time was over and they were done, I was so pleased with the results! Megan didn't want to go to school today and called her Daddy to ask him if she could stay home and of course he said no. So, we went through the whole crying routine of how we don't understand what she is going through. By the time she left for school, she was fine though thank goodness. I hate days like that because it just makes the whole day go bad. Biggest Loser was on tonight and although I think the show has gone a little overboard trying to make things more dramatic, I still love the motivation I get from it. Now to just get up and to the gym tomorrow! And guess what? I actually didn't even get a nap today so I should sleep really well tonight.

I have been struggling lately for what to take pictures of for my picture of the day so I decided to hand the camera off to Megan and let her get a pic of whatever she wanted. This adorable little painted frog is what she came up with. This frog is so very special to me. My aunt and my now deceased uncle brought it to me as a gift on the day that my quilt store opened in 2002. It was so perfect for me as it is two of my favorite things all in one, quilting and a frog. She sits in my craft studio near my thread collection and I am constantly reminded of this very special day in my life.

Day 18 was a holiday for Megan from school. Jonathan still had to go to work though. I had a much needed doctor's appointment with my Rhuematologist. I hadn't seen him in 2 months and I usually go once per month. With so much going on in my life, he did some changes to my medications and a full blood work up because we haven't done it since July and he also wants to make sure nothing is going on. I haven't been sleeping well at all and have had a tremendous amount of pain so I am glad that this may give me some relief however, I hate changes in my meds as I never know what it is going to do side effects wise. And honestly, I worry most about any potential weight gain or resistance to weight loss, something I already feel as though I am working against. But, the main goal right now is just to feel better.

Megan didn't come home from her Dad's until late, around 8 p.m. Just enough time to get her shower, organized for her week of school, catch up a bit with her friends on the computer and for Mamarazzi to snap a very unwanted pic of the day! I love being a parent sometimes. That look on her face just says "Mommy, get a life"!

Scale Sunday

This day started off great. Jonathan and I woke up early, went and had breakfast, got our grocery shopping done and went by Office Depot to get my 2010 frig calendar printed and still were back home by 10:30. I took a nap shortly after arriving home while Jonathan yet again tried to get Sissy's car running. Still, a no go. I really think she is going to have to break down and get a new car soon. When I woke from my nap, Jonathan was heading out for a quick ride on the bike. As soon as he got back home, we ran out and picked up my calendar and then came home and took a 45 minute walk around the neighborhood. It felt so nice to get out together and visit while we walked. It was an absolutely gorgeous day.

The scale didn't look as good as I wanted to this week and while it didn't show any weight loss I am still glad that it showed no weight gain. Hoping for a better one next Sunday.....which means I have to get my butt out of this desk chair and in the gym.

Days 15 and 16

2010-01-17T18:35:00.000-08:00

Well, it is the end of a wonderful weekend here at the Labaya home. I know many people have a 3 day weekend with tomorrow off but, not my sweet Jonathan. He has to head back to work tomorrow. Chunky is off from school though and of course that makes her very happy. Weekends are always going to be a tough time for me to keep up with posting on my blog as it is usually our time to spend together. So, here is my catch up for days 15 and 16.

Day 16 was lounge around the house day. We never even left the house. Jonathan and I both slept in, not getting up until almost 8:30, which is very unusual for us. Alyssa wasn't feeling so great still and wound up going into work a few hours late, Jonathan did some work for his job and me well, I scrapped and visited on the forums, of course! After a very long nap (3 hours!) Jonathan and I watched Extract with Jason Bateman and Ben Affleck. It had it's moments but, I am sure am glad it was not anything I paid to see in the theatre! Then it was back to our computers and I finally finished one layout for the day. Why do some days I feel like I work and work and yet, all I had to show for it was one layout? Anywho, my picture of the day is of my baby boy, Stitch chewing on his rawhide bone that I gave him over a week ago. With those little teeth it just takes forever to get any progress made on it. I gave one to each of the pups but they just share one at a time, taking turns chewing on it and they have one almost finished and this one just started.

Small Fry Fridays

I overslept big time on day 15, Small Fry Friday, and completely ran out of time to snap her picture before dropping her off at school just in time! Woohoo for no tardies! Then, as soon as she walked in the door, she was off to her Dad's so again, no Small Fry herself for my picture. However, I had prepared myself for days like this when I decided to dub Fridays her day. Because when summer comes, she will spend a few weeks at a time with my parents. So, on days when she isn't around, instead of her picture, I will take pictures of things that are all about her. This picture has Small Fry written all over it! I started buying this juice about 6 months ago because I couldn't resist it's price tag of $1. Yes, $1. For the price, it tastes pretty good really and Megan fell in love with it. One morning while grabbing myself a quick glass of it before starting in on my scrapping, I asked her if she would like me to pour her some. Of course she wanted some and over time this has now become a morning routine. I wake up, grab my coffee, pour her glass of Bright & Early and head upstairs to wake her up for school. Some mornings I forget but, you better believe she reminds me! We are now up to buying a gallon a week and yes, she drinks just about every bit of it.

I spent my day Friday working tirelessly for my girl Christy Lyle on some awesome calendars for her new kit collection. If you add it all together, I did 9 layouts in one day! Wow! Needlessly to say, when midnight rolled around and the calendars were live in the store, I treated myself to a few mexican martinis. YUMMO! I always find it so interesting how your energy level can be so normal or even high and the minute you complete a task or walk out the door at work, you are exhausted! That is exactly what happened to me. I finished that last calendar and then felt like I had been run over by a truck. LOL

I actually think I am still recovering now almost 2 days later as I am still just exhausted. So much so that it is 8:30 p.m. and I am heading down to take a nice warm bath and crawl into bed for the night! C ya soon!

Days 13 and 14

2010-01-14T17:10:00.001-08:00

What a busy week this has been for me, yet again! I am really hopeing that things level off to a normal level of chaos soon. Fingers are definitely crossed. I feel like just as I start to make head way, I fall behind again. Such is the life of a mother I guess!

Today was somewhat of a gloomy day. Although it was a very nice temperature outside with no need for jackets again, it drizzled and rained off and on all day. Rain sure does make for better naps though! I love sleeping when it's raining outside and it's loud enough for me to hear it. Growing up, we had a tin roof and I loved it when it rained. Oh how I miss that. Maybe one day I can have a home with a tin roof again.

It was a fairly good day, other than Lyssa being sick and laying around on the couch for 2 days straight. I had to get her up and moving today before I joined her due to the depression I was starting to feel from watching her! LOL. After Jonathan got home from work, he, Chunky and I went out to eat at Bill Miller and then to HEB for a few groceries. Of course I forgot my list so we wandered around the store not knowing exactly what we were even there for. Megan wound up with her second new pack of pens in a week. Poor baby has picked up my pen obsession. I love collecting pens! And shoes, pajamas, purses, etc.

My picture for today though is off my female Chihuahua, Zsa Zsa. She is a character and is always keeping me smiling and laughing. She seems to make everyday for me just a bit happier. I call her my toddler, for many reasons. One of them being that from the time I brought her home, she has loved to be carried. You can pick her up, under her fat little front legs, just like a child and hold her just like you would a baby on your hip or your chest with their head laying on your shoulder. I will sometimes scoop her up and walk around with her while I do dishes or talk on the phone, go to check mail, etc. She absolutely loves it. So much so that she will paw at my legs when I am sitting or standing still to let me know that she wants to be picked up. Today's picture is of her sitting right by my chair after giving up when I didn't respond to her pawing routine. I just love this about her though, even though I tease her and say she needs to learn she is a dog and not a human baby!

Day 13 - WAY BACK WEDNESDAY

Wednesday's are going to be my Way Back Wednesday days. On these days I will take pictures or scan in pictures of past memorable events or items that have special meaning and a story to be told. This way our 2010 P365 covers our past, present and I am sure some of our future.

This particular week, I decided to take a picture of Cha Cha and Bamba, the iconic frog and gorilla from Rainforest Cafe. These little guys were bought when Jonathan and I went on a trip to Las Vegas in 2001. It was on this trip that Jonathan went as friends and came home as a couple. I had won the trip to Vegas by selling an outrageous amount of Pampered Chef goodies during my time as a consultant during 2000. All the trip wound up costing us was our spending money and meals. We went for three nights and had a fabulous time. We ate one of our meals at Rainforest Cafe and of course, had to buy me the Cha Cha figurine being that my nickname is frog and I collect them. The gorilla, Bamba, represents Jonathan who is my big, burly guy. I have a thing for Gorillas too, they just fascinate me and I would love to actually touch one someday. Hopefully if I ever get to, it will be tranquilized though because they are kind of scary. LOL But, not Jonathan. He is macho and tough, yet sweet, sensitive and gentle. So, these little guys represent Jonathan and I at the time we began our lives together. What a beautiful memory it is for me.

Day 12

2010-01-12T19:39:00.000-08:00

What a day, a fabulously glorious day. Not only was the weather just perfect, in the low 60's, no rain or overcast....just beautiful but, I had a fabulous day as well.
I got up on time (after only 5 1/2 hours of sleep - stayed up too late scrapping...lol) and walked Chunky to the bus and then hit the gym for a 2 mile brisk walk. Walked back home, popped in Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred (that my loving sister is doing with me!) and did DAY 1 of my 30 day journey to a better, healthier, happier me. Well, hopefully a little sexier too! It was so hard to push through and finish the workout and I was cursing her the entire time but, I did it. I felt sooooo amazing when I was done. So very proud of myself.
I really want to be healthy again and I think I have finally got the motivation and jump start I have been working on for months and months without success. I usually either get the exercise part down and not the healthy eating habits or vice versa. However, I have got the healthy eating down to a science now and that is always the bigger struggle for me cuz I love food! Not sweets.....just food! I had a great nap, got a few layouts done, did some work on my planner and even did all my chores.
At 7 I sat down and watched this week's episode of The Biggest Loser. 4 years ago, The Biggest Loser was the motivation that put me on a journey to a 30 lb weight loss that I maintained for a year and 1/2 before beginning a gradual gain back to this unhealthy weight I am at today. I got lazy. Quit watching the show, quit eating healthy and quit working out. So today I made a vow to myself that I am going to do this. I did it once at a heavier starting weight than I am today and I WILL do it again. As much as I hate Jillian.....I really do love her and I can't wait to see my 30 day results!

Day 11

2010-01-11T18:03:00.000-08:00

Ugh....today was supposed to be Jillian's day. The day that I began my 30 day shred journey....But, nope. Fibro had other plans for me. I have been hurting today more than I have in quite a few weeks. Must be the stress of the computer issue last night....LOL. Anywho, I knew an Icy Hot leg rub would be in my future when Jonathan came home from work. What I didn't plan on was forgetting that I have 3 allergy rashes on my legs right now that I have been scratching off and on. OUCH! Here I am getting the Icy Hot massage by the official Icy Hot massager guy.

And here I am snuggling my fat baby girl once it started activating and burning so bad.....waaaahhhhh...

I am all good now though. The burn subsided after about an hour and my legs are feeling much better and icy hot. bwahahahahaha

P.S. The computer is fixed!!!! Some kind of internal overload shutdown it has. So after a period of time, it will power up again. Thank goodness it is okay and my baby is back with me tonight!

Day 10

2010-01-10T20:11:00.000-08:00

Scale Sundays

Okay, so this picture of the day is extremely self explanatory, I think.

My computer died today and I am working off of DD#3's itty bitty tiny notebook that stinks. THis screen is like 8 x 9 or something.....Ugh! Sure hope that mine can be fixed. DH is taking it to work tomorrow so that the IT guy there can look at it. In the meantime, I have to try and scrap on this thing. Ha! I will not be happy for very long. DH will be buying me a better laptop I am afraid. Lucky him.
Please ignore my ugly feet, chipping nail polish and the large overweight number displayed on the scale.

Day 9

2010-01-09T21:21:00.000-08:00

What a wonderfully fabulous day! Did some catching up on reading on the forums, went to Sonic for lunch with hubby and Chunky, then made a quick trip to Wal-Mart for a few groceries. Came home, did a little digi scrap shopping with gift certificates that the wonderful designers I create for gave me for Christmas. Then it was time for a 2 and 1/2 hour nap with DH. We both were crashed and didn't want to get out of bed. Shopped a little more before showering and getting dolled up for date night with Jonathan. Left the house at 6:35 and headed to our all time fav date night spot, Mamacita's. We have been so tight on $ that we haven't been there in well over a year. The margaritas (with an extra shot of Patron - see it in that glass? yum!) were amazing and so was my plate:

Pechugas de Pollo #46
Chicken breast sautéed in our garlic butter and wine sauce, topped with sautéed bell pepper and onion.

We called it an early night and were back home before 9 p.m. Not sure if that is due to our being "old" or just how sleepy and stuffed we were. Maybe a combo of both! Off to bed now, have a major workout planned for tomorrow, starting Jillian's 30 day shred and doing 2 miles on the treadmill. I need my rest. Night!

Day 7 and 8

2010-01-08T20:46:00.000-08:00

Whew....it's been a CRAZY couple of days so, I missed getting yesterday's photo of the day done. But, I got the picture taken and that is what counts, right?

On Day 7, Megan woke up with a tummy ache and a low grade temperature so I kept her home from school. Since Sissy had been sick on Saturday with a fever and some kind of bug, it wasn't worth sending Chunky to school and have her infect anyone else. She wound up sleeping in until noon after heading back to bed. Our first day of coffee with the new coffee maker was yummy. It tasted oh so good! After Jonathan got home from work, he finally hung my cork board for me in my little desk area in my craft room. I have been wanting it done since Christmas break. I love it! It is going to be perfect for all my favorite pictures and little notes and "to-do's" including my CT layout schedule. Lyssa and Alex finished off their night with a trip to the community center in our neighborhood to skateboard. Lyssa is wanting to skate everyday since Alex taught her how 3 days ago and she discovered that she could do it.

And then there is today, Friday the 8th. I have decided that Friday's will be SMALL FRY FRIDAYS!
I call Chunky "small fry" a lot and I think it will be fun to see how she changes through the year. Today was Amber's 20th birthday (along with The King - Elvis) and it is so hard to believe she is so grown up! I spent the WHOLE day scrapping. I got 5 layouts done on Thursday and did 4 today. Tomorrow I have 4 more to do and then I will finally be caught up again. Oh wait....no....I have 6 to do and then I will be caught up. It seems to never end....thank goodness I love it! My diet food was harder to eat today for some reason...even though I am now down 6 lbs! I wound up eating 3/4 of a little Totino's frozen pizza for dinner. In the scheme of things, I still don't think it was that bad. We will see though what the scale says tomorrow. I know, I know....I shouldn't weigh everyday but, I just can't help myself! Jonathan was so glad that it was Friday. Going back to work after such a long break was hard on him. We have plans to do something together this weekend but, I will leave that for my next post so that I have something to talk about then! LOL
Happy Weekend everyone! Muah!

Day 6

2010-01-06T18:11:00.000-08:00

Today was a fab day! I cut my calories back to only 1200 per day on December 26th and I have lost 5 lbs. so far as of this morning. Today was my first day to actually get to the gym and work out though so I am hoping I wil see much more weight falling off now! I did 40 minutes on the treadmill which equaled 2 miles of brisk walking. I kept my calories at 400 for the day so, when Jonathan got home we went into town and had dinner at Panda Express (my day 6 picture) and I got my usual Black Pepper Chicken. Then we headed to Wal-Mart to get a few things and of course, get a new coffee maker. It was a great day and I am looking forward to getting to the gym again tomorrow!

Days 4 and 5

2010-01-05T21:17:00.000-08:00

Well......even though it has been a very rough few days, I have managed to get my pics of the day taken. And tonight, I decided that I am strong, I can do this and it's time to stop feeling sorry for myself. Life passes too quickly to stop living and take a chance on missing out on the great things it has to offer us. The lord knows that life has tried to break me even though I have been through far worse than what I am going through now, I have never accepted defeat. I will overcome this and come out stronger for it.

So, I am back at it and posting my day 4 and 5 pics to my blog. By the way, I really wonder how much of those tissues were used for tears or for my allergies....

Layout - Week One

2010-01-04T01:00:00.000-08:00

Yay! One layout done.....52 more to go! Bwahahahahaha.......

Journaling reads:

As I begin my Project 365 for 2010,the one word that keeps sticking with me is journal. I feel like I missed so many little details of 2009 because I didn’t stop and write down the little things. Those everyday moments that add up to days, months and become the fabric of our lives. This first week of 2010 has been so exciting. Jonathan and I welcomed our 9th new year in together. We spent new years day (or most of it) with Howard and Terri. I cooked them breakfast, we drank a few mimosas and visited until 2:30. We took a nap in the afternoon and then had leftover tacos for dinner which is when I caught sissy licking the last of the guacamole out of the bowl. Day 2 was a lazy day mostly, beginning with Sissy waking up with a low grade temperature and having to call in sick to work. She spent most of the day sleeping on the downstairs couch, which of course, Stitch and Zsa Zsa loved. The picture captured from this day is a testament to that. I worked on the computer all day finishing up my designer servcies on my blog and facebook while Jonathan spent his day (after it warmed up) working on Sissy’s broken down car. He found that the fuel pump is out. Poor little car, it’s just one thing after another lately it seems. Day 3 started off bittersweet. Jonathan and I are both sad that he must return to work on Monday after being off since Christmas eve. However, he did make me breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs, fried spam and potatoes and toast. Yum! It was like the good ole days when he used to make me breakfast every Sunday. Lyssa had work today from 4 to close and Megan came home from a 3 day weekend with her Dad. It’s back to reality for all of us now. No more staying up late or sleeping in. It was fabulous while it lasted!

Ready to go....for now.......

2010-01-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

Well, it's now 2010 and P365 has begun. I am a little late getting some type of "prettiness" to my blog and even at that....it's temporarily beautified as I have plans for a whole different look. But, this works for now so that I can get on to the more important things which is to journal and capture our everyday life.

I have been good about taking my daily pics. I don't know that I will keep up with posting my pics on here everyday as my ultimate plan is for a layout per week. But, at least for awhile if I can keep it up every few days with pics here.....it will be interesting to see.

So, in order to get caught up, here are my pics from Days 1, 2 and 3.

Here I go again.....

2009-12-29T10:41:00.001-08:00

Lots of changes coming soon...