Taking the plunge

6:54 pm: Cue clogged toiled

In my short 22 years of life I have taken for granted the men in my life. "Daaaaaaaaaad the toilet's clogged" or just blame it on the men who have been in the bathroom longer than it takes me to recover from a 12 hour shift, then they are required to take care of their own shit.

So this is a first for me, taking on the plunger by myself. It really is an art. Brice tried to walk me through it, "make sure you have a good seal". This means nothing to me because I haven't spent that much time getting a good view of the bottom of the toilet bowl. I always thought that the hole was a little slanted. So I went at it from that direction. Leg up on the bathtub, going to town on this throne. This only made a mess, which caused anxiety on my part. White shower curtain, white bath mat. Not so forgiving toilet material. Lord help me.

I got frustrating with Brice because the only thing he could tell me was make sure you have a good seal. Which obviously wasn't helping the situation, so I called home. No answer. Called dad cell. No answer. Called  mom cell. No answer. HELLOOO DOES ANYONE UNDERSTAND I'M IN A CRISIS HERE.

In the meantime I was planning out my next bathroom breaks. I can go to the bathroom in the shower because I won't have to have a "BM" (in medically correct terminology) for at least another day. I'll hold my fluids for tonight and hurry to work tomorrow to go to the bathroom early in the morning. I'll be at work for my 12 hour shift and then I hopefully will have enough courage to come back to this mess tomorrow night. I'm too embarassed to call a plumber. But props to them, man, because lord knows this is work!

Next plan: youtube. There has to be some good How To videos on this website. The first one started out with "You need to have a good seal" CLICK, next video. The next one told me to use dish washing soap and let it sit for a while to let it break down the clog. I may have patients but I don't have patience...that's what Brice is for :) but i'll try the dishwashing soap and then plunge. The product, one big soapy mess. At this moment in time, I'm drenched in sweat, praying to God the next video will be helpful. Then I found this beauty.

I'd like for everyone to watch this because it really does help watching HOW he does it! FAST AND HARD, just like CPR! I added some water to help with my soap bubbles but it did the trick!

Yay for being a big girl!

Wisdom

Just a few thoughts on my drive to and from San Antonio, TX to Duncanmerica.

1. Do not stop at the Shell at the junction of Hwy 20 and Hwy 281. I've never seen so many beetles in my life. I seriously would not get out of the car and drove by each pump to see if the millions of beetles favored a specific pump number. It is worth your time to do a U-turn to make your way over to the Chevron station whom you swore you'd never give another penny to (because I really do hate san antonio gas stations).

2. Suicidal bugs. That is what I'm calling them. Bugs don't just fall out of the sky into the top at your car going 90-to-nothing just because they didn't see a WHITE SUV. Seriously I thought I had hit a bird when the first one killed over. Millions of bugs, butterflies (tear), and any other insect you shivered at in the insect house at your local zoo. It is dead now. I have a windshield to prove it.

3. I left SA at 8pm at night. That time calls for deer. Lots of deer. I saw 13 deer, 1 possum, and a skunk within a mile. A quiet car, open road, and my voice at volume 100 belting "I will always love you", it gets you thinking...what if giraffes were as wild as deer are in America. I'd literally have an aneurysm if I saw a giraffe..munching..on the side of the road. Seriously, have you ever thought of it?

4. While driving home today, with no cost at all, I saw: cows (my fave), baby goats, llamas, donkeys, camels, and buffalo. This is why it is best for me to drive at night. Then I got to thinking, I've never seen a llama mount. Maybe I should add this to my bucket list.

5. I've come to the conclusion that as much as I talked crap on that dumb'ol small town, I really do miss it.

• Everyone wears cowboy boots, real cowboy boots, not the crap that the bedazzler threw up on. 
• Everyone knows how to two-step
• People talk in the thickest of thick accents, so different than Texas accents. 
• There is a braum's who puts up with my complicated order, but never gets it right. 
• The people in wal-mart are the STARS of "the people of wal-mart". 
• You go anywhere and see someone you know, could or could not be a blessing. 
• It is where I met Brice. The love of my life, in a bar, the only bar I might add. Where the bartender's knew everyone in our group by their first name...and still do till' this day, because the group makes up 90% of the people who are there every Friday for happy hour. 
• Where we spent our first 9 months together. Just a mile a part. So far from each other then when we had to go back to my house to grab my wallet that I forgot, or drop my car off before we headed out to dinner. Not realizing how close we were to truly defining "long-distance". 
• How simple my life was then. Getting up and going to school at noon. Being with some really great people at the hospital in town. One of the finest restaurants where Duncan-folk actually eat out at after church on Sundays...yes I'm still talking about the hospital

I think all I needed was a long drive by myself to gloat and think in silence

 Not to mention the great lengths of time I spent over at the Tullous' holding this little nug




dontjudgemebecauseofmybabyfever...

Just a sniff

What a friggen week! And its only Tuesday...I hate Tuesdays. Adulthood is getting harder and harder. I'm more emotional everyday...maybe menopause is taking effect earlier than expected. After all, how many 22 year olds are going through adulthood right now. I'm advanced for my age. I knew I should have been in the gifted program in elementary school.

Monday began with a "Frick". Hello 7:00 a.m. you were supposed to be done with getting patient report at this time. Doesn't help that I had to fight 7 am traffic, which I'm beginning to agree it really is traffic, at this time. Long long long day that ended in me uncontrollably sobbing to the point where my preceptor asked if I should leave an hour early from work because I just couldn't keep it together.

You see, this past weekend, Bricey and I have been fighting a serious bug. Super super contagious. Started on Friday. I was taking a patients vital signs, leaning over them listening to their heart and I thought to myself "I can't sniff fast enough...I'm gonna drip snot on this kid". Needless to say I wore a mask the rest of the day. Brice had been sick a few days before me with a cold and a fever so I knew my time was coming, but man did it hit me like a putter to the head at the driving range. Brice came down on Friday and we went to bed at 9 not only on Friday night but also on Saturday night and THEN after he left town on Sunday I went to bed at 9...no excuse for my late self except for the fact that nyquil really does work.

That story is besides the point of this point, but just figured I give you all an update on my godawful week. Onto the next topic: food. Now I'm the butt of all jokes in my nursing residency group because I HATE going to the grocery store and I drool over the amount of time I can make a meal, take-out, ect. last. Sad thing is, I'm getting to the point where I'm tired to sniffing my food to know if it is good or not. Example: tonight for dinner I decided to have a turkey sandwich. I know the turkey and cheese are still good based on the expiration date on the container. The bread: check for mold, you never know what you're getting yourself into.  I also put cucumbers on my sandwich. You know the food that I diligently organized last post? Yea I'm still working on it. You'd have a high too if your groceries lasted you a month. Well my cucumbers were another story: I could smell the stench when I opened my Tupperware and saw the circular growths on them. Yes, I took Microbiology...I know darn well what those growths are. Solution: wash off the growths under the sink and TADA fresh produce! Side entree: broccoli. Now the creatures that grow on these groceries are a brown gooey substance, almost like liquidized brown sugar. Solution: take a knife and chop off the sugar. Not sure if I'm proud or not that I know the neighbors that like to harbor on my aging fruits and veggies but we'll see if my immune system will keep up!

Note to self though: just take a sniff of anything and everything when preparing a meal at Nurse Lauren's house... 

Productivity

Today I had the day off. I love my days off...especially when they're during the week. It is a day filled with sleeping in, being lazy, spending extra time shampooing my hair, the much needed shave, cleaning house, and you know...adult things.  I thought I'd just share the day in a life of the young adult nurse's day off.

I woke up at 10:00. Now for a body used to waking up at 5:30, I had to do some pleading.  It was a must to get up and use the bathroom at 7:00, I got up again at 9:00 and managed to sleep in for another hour. Yes!

I then sat in silence on the couch with my bowl of cheerios. Silence, facebook stalking, and a good nutritious breakfast. I decided to opt out on coffee this morning because...well....I had way too much yesterday and came to the conclusion that I should probably cut back a little because my tolerance is getting a little out of control.

I then walked in circles deciding what I should do today.  Bricey helped me clean my bathroom and kitchen (he did the whole kitchen by himself!) spotless last weekend! My bedroom is another story. The bedroom isn't as bad as the closet is. This is where the things that don't have a place go but I still use often. Anxiety hits. I make a list for my field trip to hobby lobby and off I go. I took a detour to home goods which is an awesome store that has cheap cheap cheap house stuff! So I bought 4 white frames for 4$ each for a bathroom project and also a mail organizer (I'm in denial that I never get mail). Off to hobby lobby I go. On the list: wicker baskets for closet organization and maybe some wrought iron wall hangings for the living room or kitchen. I drove my shopping cart around hobby lobby for an HOUR....empty...which is embarassing because usually you only get a shopping cart if you know you're getting lots of things. I took that shopping cart all the way around the store, found nothing, parked the shopping cart off at the front, and left.

This is so unlike me. I love to shop! What's up?! Guess I'm growing up.

So instead I came back to my house to do more adult things. Like organizing the fridge. Okay folks this was the highlight of my whole friggen day. I chopped up strawberries, broccoli, celery, cucumbers, peppers, grapes and carrots and put them in their own tupperware containers and enjoyed my own little farmer's market refrigerator.

My mom called and asked me what I was doing. I told her I just finished organizing the fridge.  Her response? "I wish I could be like you when I grow up".  Guess its the truth people, I'm old...or just bored.

Rookie thing I did: put all the stems, leaves, and such down the garbage disposal. Result: backed it up and had to call maintenance...one thing I do love about living in an apartment complex. This is the 2nd time today that they've come to my apartment though. First time was to cock a part of my wall in the bathroom that ants were marching out of.

Once the garbage disposal was fixed I decided on a trip to CVS. I printed pictures to go in my white frames and decided I need some adult groceries. On the list: Dove soap, Axe shampoo for bricey (mmmm), swedish fish and sour patch kids (the best combination in the universe), and due to the lovely fall weater...my favorite:

Once opened however, I was totally blue balled...

Happy Adult-life to me.

Hate is Such a Strong Word

So literally 2 minutes ago, I was brushing my hair thinking how much "I hate this" and was inspired for this very post: things I hate.

We'll start with the previous statement. I hate brushing my hair. I'm growing it our for 1. to have it long and pretty if/and when (i'm going to be murdered for that statement) i get married. I'd hate to cut it short and then not be able to wear it curly, because lord knows I'm not going straight, on my wedding day. and 2. to grow it long enough to donate. This has been a dream of mine, (a bucket list bullet if you must) to donate my locks. Not everyone can be THIS LUCKY ;) to be able to wear their hair super curly, wavy curly, or straight. And if I had any control, I'd love to donate it to a patient of mine. Also on my bucket list is to shave my head. Not crazy Britney Spears compulsive shave, something for the american cancer society or a loved one with cancer or like before, a patient. I think it would be pretty awesome. Just sayin'. Depending on how I wore my hair that day determines how long it will take to brush out my hair after my shower. Straight hair is the best to deal with, curly on the other hand (insert curse word here). When I lived in Duncan, I often had Bricey brush my hair (and even dry it if he's willing). My arms burn from brushing so long. I just hate it. Nuf said.

I hate painting my toes. Now I don't care if my finger nails aren't painted. I usually keep them natural, with clear gloss, or a nudge polish over them anyways because at work were not supposed to have colored nail polish. Don't question authority. But my toes are a different story. Do what you like but in this girl's opinion, natural toes are ugly. Maybe this was my mom's doing. She always has perfectly painted toes, professional pedi or not. We were blessed with the ability to polish perfectly. I think I actually do a better job than the nail salon but I pay the $50 for the leg and foot massage (and their polish usually stays longer). I also despise chipped polish on the toes and I like a little variety in color anyways. But painting my toes takes forever because my obsessive compulsive self has to do the same things in the same order everytime: remove old nail polish, trim, file, push back cuticles, beige coat to prevent yellowing of the nail, 2 color coats, and shiny top coat. WHEW!

Cleaning my house. I'm am a clean freak. I take after my daddio on this one. I like this to have a place, neat, organized, and put away before I go to bed at night. Otherwise, it is all I can think about trying to go to sleep. I have SLACKED OFF in this category in my newborn adulthood. With a small apartment and random things from every milestone in my life, there's not a place for everything!!!! Craigslist here I come! I finally got a day off today and got SO much done but the last thing on my to do list was "clean house" and I just couldn't come to terms with it. So instead, I showered and spent several minutes untangling my hair...

Exercising. I think about it every day. And YES this was the point of this blog in the beginning. But this blog has become a means of venting, laughing at myself, and sharing my life with the world: the good, the bad, and the best. I had good intentions I really do. But I CANNOT get my ass off the couch to walk over to my free, very lovely, brand new gym a few steps away in my apartment complex.  SOMEONE PLEASE MOTIVATE ME! Also, I no longer get on pinterest because I despise the pictures of those girls with the 12 pack abs and sculpted toosh. Listen, 98% of women have cellulite people. Are you telling me every ounce of that 2% took a picture and has a blog on pinterest of their perfect non-cellulited self. I don't think so.I proud to say that I have a personality, which will stay with me until I'm 100 but you can't tell me they'll look like that when their 100. My mamma always says, "She's just jealous because we're beautiful and have curves". Amen Mamma! (That's no excuse for exercising thought :-\ )

Filling up with gas. You know though, it is the best feeling in the world to have a see that line all the way to "F". I just hate paying for it, so often. Ugh. And I always wait until the last minute to get it. I have yet to run out of gas...knock on wood. It is not like I'm saving time or money by doing this either. It just makes me feel a little more cost-savvy from my perspective.

One day, I'll be used to this adult life. Until then, I will continue to hand wash my clothing, stare at my dirty house, pray I don't run out of gas, loosen my drawstring on my scrubs, and waste time painting toenails. That is it for my vent sesh. And for all of you still reading...Thank you for reading. I love each and every one of you.

Mr. Exoskeleton

I just couldn't wait until the end of the week the write this blog. My hands are shaking, I'm tachycardic, and seriously nauseous. The heebie jeebies are in full swing.

You see, I've diagnosed myself with everything in the book but there is one thing that I for sure have and that is: exoskeletalphobia. I can't do bugs that crunch when you kill them. And especially if they can jump or fly, your asking for a convulsive seizure from my end of the deal because I've already checked out.

I believe this fear started at my first trip to chickfila (which suprises me that I still enjoy this place). I was visiting some family friends and we had just received our food, dining in, when I felt an itch on the bottom of my leg. Low and behold a freaking cricket. Welcome cricketphobia. I shiver at the thought of it as I type this out. Atleast you can run from a snake. No matter which direction you choose, they just pivot and aim. UGH!

The worst of the fears: cockroaches. Not only do they echo because the crunch is extra loud. But did you know in texas, cockroaches have wings? This is no fairytale princess, this is freakin dawn of the dead. I no longer am interested in owning a lake house because of a terrible experience I had in a bathroom during a family vacation. Lets just say it started with a bubble bath and ended with an empty bottle of far aim RAID.

Grasshoppers and crickets are really bad in Oklahoma. During nursing school, we always kept our porch light on (for safety of course) and the bugs would SWARM! Dallas is just as bad. I noticed when I moved to SA, they don't really have much of a jumping/flying bug problem. Maybe just mosquitos...until this week. Me and Bricey took our anniversary trip to San Diego (a later post) and we come back to a chirping house. Thank goodness my hero (Bricey) was here this morning to flush the one in my bathroom. Side note: I did a double flush after he left just in case the booger decided to crawl up without anyone knowing (a frequent fear of mine). But after Bricey left, I noticed there was still the haunting music coming from my living room. I checked the closet, the music didn't get any louder. I opened my front door, nothing. So I decided maybe it was just coming from outside in the grass and went on about my business.

I got home later this evening and noticed the chirping again. I figured "the damn thing is probably waiting outside my front door so it can attack when I open it". So I decided not to open the door. The music continued getting louder, I thought this time "maybe behind the tv? Ehh I'll finish reading my blogs and look a little later" then I got up to look and by golly the damned exoskeleton had been creeping on me the whole time, waving antennas and all on the edge of the couch! Cue grand mal. I got the broom because you better believe I'm not getting armslength from that thing just so it can jump on me. World War II began. I've never thrown a 200 lb tv back so fast in my life. When we finished, I was sweating, living room a disaster, but the gangsta was gone. BOOM

I couldn't flush it in the toilet due to a long distance to the bathroom, I couldn't throw him in the trash due to the slight change he resurrected, so I opted for tossing his dead body on the cement outside my neighbors door. Happy Tuesday Neighbors!

The Value of a Dollar

Week 3, Day 1 of Adulthood. Its going fairly well but I'm learning every day the values in life. For example:

The value of a loofah: Now I've never been one to own a loofah because a few years ago I heard that loofahs collect dead skin in between its net. And I'm not down with that. But, because I fell in love with an expensive body wash, Olay Total Effects Body wash, I decided I would invest in a one. Now, instead of 4 dollups of wash each shower, I only use one.

The value of showering at night: This is a big one folks. For those of  you out there with thick, curly hair, you get me. I can't just "wear my hair natural", otherwise I'd look either like Albert Einstein or like a lion on crack. If I wear it curly, I need wet hair and a lot of product and if I wear it straight I need to dry it and straighten it which takes a lightyear. Solution: shower at night, sleep on it wet, not only does it dry itself, but it curls without looking like I purposely teased each piece of hair on my head. Braid, messy bun, or straighten without the mess of drying my hair and sweating so much that I need another shower.

The value of black coffee: I've talked a little about this before but now that I'm waking up earlier and earlier each day, about 5:00 AM, we spend a little time in this house saying a nice long prayer thanking God for providing me with extra. bold. coffee.

The value of the washing machine: I'm living without a washing machine. Now many of you know the lovely story of how I came to be without a washing machine but that is besides the fact. I don't have one any more. So that leaves me to hauling my ass across the parking lot and using the apartment complex's washing machine. Something I dread every week. I pay $1.25 to wash my clothes and a $1.25 to dry my clothes. I do 2 loads a week and for someone that hand washes half of her laundry, I've learned the next topic:

The value of the hand wash cycle: Now I'm a 90s baby. Which means, yes, I've become far too dependent on the hand wash cycle and may not have ever known what it was like to use a washboard but I'll tell you one thing, I hate washing my hand wash items, by hand. I'm way too inexperienced to wring out my clothes enough so that they are not completely dripping with water when I hang them to dry but I'm trying! If I come in with a case of carpel tunnel next week, you'll know why.

The value of Bricey: I have the best boyfriend on the face of the earth. I don't deserve him, he spoils me too much and loves me to pieces. I am eternally grateful for having such an amazing man. He has been so understanding of my schedule. Since I have moved, he has visited every weekend without complaint. Next weekend will be the 4th weekend in a row that he has come 7 hours down to San Antone.  He buys dinner, groceries, gas, and anything else I may need for the week. He spends hours being the shoulder I need to cry on every Sunday when we have to say goodbye again. He understands when I have to go to bed at 10 PM and calls to wake me up at 5 AM for work. Seriously girls, I'm sorry I took the best one out there. I'm sickly in love with him, I brag about him to everyone I know, I've got it far too good. Patterson family, you did a fine job at raising this one of a kind boy. I love you so much Bricey! Thank you for all that you do :)

Happy Monday Everyone! Have a fabulous week!!

Adulthood

Week 2, Day 1 of Adulthood. Listen here, folks, it is not as easy as it looks. I wake up at 5:30 and make a VERY dark cup of coffee and consume it immediately as the keurig allows me to. I may as well just hit the button and throw my face under the machine because lately, my body cries when the alarm goes off and I must peel my eyes apart from each other in order to not sleep through alarm number 9.

I decided to live in a beautiful area of Stone Oak. I think it is great. Not too far from anything I really need and only about 20 minutes (22 to be exact) to work. I'm just about tired of answering the question "Oh where do you live" because EVERY SINGLE TIME the reaction is "OHHHHH THE TRAFFIC IS SO AWFUL OVER THERE!". Now to anyone that didn't hear the conversation before where I explained I was from Dallas, I'm from Dallas. Where in Dallas? Dallas, Dallas (for anyone who knows me, I'm very particular about when people say they are from dallas, that means they are not from plano, garland, richardson, grapevine, fort worth....DALLAS). This is besides the point. It takes 20 minutes for me to drive to work, I don't take the highways...I know better than that, but 20 minutes is no big deal to me, especially when you know the particular place on the speed bump that allows you to go over them going 40 mph WITH A CUP OF COFFEE, instead of 5 mph like the car in front of me was doing today. I find that when you go slower, it is more invasive for yourself and your tires, but that's just my opinion. 20 minutes is shorter than a Pretty Little Liars episode fast-forwarding through commercials. Which brings me to my next topic: No cable.

Because of the whole, I'm an adult and pay my own bills thing, I decided to opt out of getting cable. After all, I'm a nurse, working 12 hour shifts, going to class for work for 12 weeks, and finding time on the weekends to make a long distance relationship work. Needless to say, a quiet apartment leaves the mind with too much space to work with.  So in the meantime I've been working on a little Pinterest project that Bricey helped me with. He built me shelves, sweet soul, and I've been painting them. This past weekend we got them put together and I must say, they look fabulous! Now, it has been a while since I've lived in an apartment and I forgot how thin these walls are and apparently so did my neighbors above me. So when they started their little rendezvous at 5:30 this morning (when I actually got to sleep in until 7 today), this nurse, yea me, was not the happiest. I've already rehearsed what I will say to them, if, and only if, I ever meet them. It involves providing a self-tightening wrench a little WD-40 for the case of the squeaks. 

I'd like to take this moment and thank everyone who has donated to my leftovers charity: (i.e. Bricey, my family, the Patterson family, Matt and Sarah) because that's just one less meal I have to purchase at the grocery store and considering how much my apartment rent, loans, and expenses will be, it has been a huge blessing to save a little on this budget category.

Some of my favorite things yet in San Antonio includes a craving I had last Sunday with Brice for Raising Cane's. We googled on our phone the nearest one and while on our way there, Bricey realizes that the location in in the airport. So we called them and asked them if they were past security and they said they could deliver curbside. So we parked right outside the Delta entrance, and waited for our food. Best. Date. Ever.

Also, we had a really awesome date night at Maggiano's Italian Restaurant. We shared a bottle of pinot noir and an appetizer at the bar and once seated realized you can order 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 1 dessert, and 2 ENTREES TO GO for 40$!!!!!!!!!!!! That being said, I will be having pasta tonight!

Now this past weekend, we went to bed at 10 pm on Friday, and crashed on the couch Saturday after a fun-filled day with the Patterson's. We were staying awake on pure happiness that we could be together on the weekends. There was much laughter simply blamed on lack of energy. This picture made me laugh so hard. Many times I sit next to Brice and put my very long hair over his head just to get an idea of what he would look like had he ever come home with red hair. Meet Emo, Justin Bieber, Brice

 Oh how I adore you...

More to come on this Adulthood life. Like for instance being scheduled the next 5 weeks with two 2 days in a row off, other days off are single days with me going back the day after. Challenge: Long distance relations. Solution: Taking the day off to take a Uhaul and packing up every single thing in Bricey's house while he is working so when he gets off of work the only thing he CAN do is...move.

Good AND Bad News Bears

Lots n' lots of news on this post. Good and bad. Do you prefer which first? Well you have no choice. Good news #1: I have lost another pound. I am down to 156 and lost a total of 5 lbs total. Bad news #1: I have cheated. After trip 3 to the lake in a period of 10 days, I fought temptation, ate my brown rice chips, lots of fruit, and lots of chicken but the last dinner at the lake, Bricey's family made HOMEADE fried chicken, fried catfish, french fries, and HOMEMADE onion rings. To top that off, Brice's dad found a recipe for Raising Cane's sauce that he made to pair with the feast. This was my first cheat. Today marks 1 month since I've started my health binge. And I am proud of myself thus far. I have "cheated a few times since the first but have made good decisions (ex: stopping when I'm full).

Good news #2: I GOT A JOB! Last Friday I was given an offer by Methodist Children's Hospital in San Antonio for the PIMC (pediatric intermediate care) unit and I TOOK IT! I'm super excited. My job starts on July 30 so things are moving fast! Bad news #2: Time for goodbyes. There is nothing in this world that I hate more than goodbye's. I am having to say goodbye to the families that I have babysat for so long, watched their kids grow up in front of my eyes and who love me like I'm their own. I'm having to leave my family in Dallas, leave my boyfriend in Oklahoma, and start a new life 4 hours from friends and family and 7 hours from Bricey. Hopefully things will progress quickly and he can meet me in SA soon! In the meantime, I get to move closer to Brice's family, and friends that I haven't been able to spend much time with!

That means PRIORITY 2: getting a job is checked off the list! (priority 1 was passing the NCLEX). Onto priority 3: finding my own place to live. This will be occurring next week with mommy dearest. Because Bricey's family is from the area, they gave me lots of suggestions about places to live. Friends have also been helping out because I am unfamiliar with any part of SA.

Good news #3: I have started Bikram Yoga. I bought a Groupon (for $24!) for unlimited yoga for 1 month and I also asked for a membership for my birthday! Because of the move, I will be using my membership in San Antonio but I'm required to use my groupon in Dallas SO I started this past Monday. Holy friggen heat! Bikram Yoga is yoga in 105 degree room for an hour and a half and is THE HARDEST workout I have ever experienced. I'm still aching. However, you feel like a cirque de soleil performer when you finish. Its totally worth it and I think this is how I got my rockin' bod 2 years ago. I have gone twice this week already and besides being in Duncan today, I plan on going the rest of the week! I talked my best friend, Katie into going with me tomorrow and Bricey's going with me on Saturday. This will be fun. I seriously recommend this to any and all of you who are still reading at this point. I started week 3 day 1 of the couch to 10k program this past Sunday but haven't decided if I will continue while I'm doing yoga.

Like I said, I have been off the diet somewhat. I haven't been limiting myself but I have been making healthy decisions. For example, last night, Bricey and I had whole wheat tortellini and today for lunch we had BBQ chicken salad. I stop when I'm full and the fullness happens quickly which means my stomach is shrinking (YAY!)

Today is Bricey's birthday. He turned 24! Can't believe his old self ;) We're going to the city tonight for dinner and to run some errands! I came up last night and leave tomorrow but a day really makes a difference in a long distant relationship. I don't care how long I see him, it is just nice to be spending time with him. I'm soaking up these 2.5 hour trips before I move 7 hours away!

Birthday Wrinkles

Well I'm one whole year older. I turned 22 on Tuesday, July 3rd and I'm feeling elderly. Thank goodness for antiaging cream and sunscreen for keeping my skin looking positively brilliant. I am enjoying my 10k training. The last weekend in June, Bricey and I went to his family's lake house. Lots of relaxation, tubing, and running! Twice that weekend we headed out early to do our 1 minute of running and 4 minutes of walking for 45-50 minutes. Thankfully, we got outside quick enough before the sun got too excited. On our running adventure, we encountered many grasshoppers...not a fan. I was dancing everywhere because they obviously thought their new habitat were my legs. No. Thank. You. I also saw a cow, UP CLOSE, with her little baby calf. She was scared to death, but all I wanted was a picture. So she gladly posed :) Thanks cow. Also, Brice decided to get down and dirty on dancing. The run was getting a little boring at the end so he decided to spice it up a little bit.

We also tubed. Talk about a WORKOUT! Oh. My. Gosh. The whole family was sore in the morning. One serious arm exercise. I love that burn that makes you realize you just worked muscles that you haven't worked in 10 years. Thank you body.

Onto more exciting news, while shopping for an outfit for the forth, I stumbled upon these SIZE 6 SHORTS! I said the only reason I'd buy them is for the size. I don't even care if the retail guy said "they run big". Just so everyone knows, I decided I didn't want these $80 shorts but I'm saving the picture

Bricey came to the city for my birthday! On the big day, I got up SUPER early, like...7:00 am. I'm crazy! My lovely family had the kitchen decorated in birthday decor with a birthday tiara on the table. Jay enjoyed wearing the crown. We went to the lake to run, got a free birthday eyebrow wax (me not Bricey), and went to Chuy's where I had an awesome Cobb Salad. Yum! We then went to the new Spiderman movie which I must say is pretty awesome. I adore Emma Stone and think she is just fabulous.  One of the best compliments I have ever received was "You're like an unscripted Emma Stone" THANK YOUUUUU! The movie was a little long but the story was pretty easy to follow (for those of you who have a really hard time following action movies, like me).

For dinner, I researched brown rice sushi in my city and found Blue Fish, my family LOVED it and I thought it was really amazing as well. I have to stay away from the tempura rolls but besides that, I can be just like everyone else!

On the 4th, one of my favorite days, Bricey and I headed back out to the lake to meet his entire family there. We enjoyed some taco cabana. YUM! The Cabana bowl (which is pretty much like a salad with rice and beans) is really great and fills you up quickly! In less than 12 hours, we caught up with family, ate some awesome BBQ chicken, played with the kiddos (my fave), went out on the boat, and watched fireworks.

On a side note: I love small world(s) when you realize no matter what, someone would be put in your life, someway, somehow. For example: one of Brice's best friends, was an intern at the same company my brother's best friend, Kimberly worked at. And he edited a story on my brother....a year before me and Brice met. AND I just found out that another best friend of Cameron's, Jessica, was in Brice's cousin's wife's sorority at Baylor. Now I know that's a lot of connecting lines BUT for a couple who had NO mutual friends when we met, I think it is pretty amazing.

As I promised, I weighed in on my birthday, hoping to lose 2.4 lbs to hit 155 lbs. I only lost 0.4 lbs which is a total of 4 lb lost. Bummed, but I am feeling better about running AND making healthy choices. So I'm proud of my 4 lb loss. I also said NO to corona & lime, chocolate chip cookies, and margaritas.  Let me have my proud moment. I made my mommy's homemade salsa for our 4th of july fiesta and opted for my rice chips instead of tortilla chips. It was a HIT and mmm mmm mmm so good!

Bricey had to work Thursday and Friday so were in little D but were heading back to the lake for the weekend! So excited :)

The Results are in!

Thanks to all of you who have continued reading the blog...it is you that keeps me motivated! I'm beginning to get this whole eating healthy thing down. I no longer crave sweets or bread and am not mad about making the right choice but my problem still remains with portion size.  I once heard it doesn't matter what you eat it matters how much you eat. Carrots may be healthy, but when you eat the entire bag it has lost the meaning of healthy. I've been super good about measuring my cereal and rice but when it comes to anything else, I'm failing hard. Like last night for example: we went to chipotle and I ordered a chicken salad with all the fixins' on it. It was super delicious but because I was always the "clean your plate" child, it is so hard for me to put down my fork and either toss it or save it for another meal!  Any help with this? I'm going to try Bob Harper's Skinny Rules to see if this will help me be able to control my portions a little better...and live a healthier life.

Like I said in my earlier post, I weighed in. My goal was to lose 4 lbs by the 2 week mark and I lost 3.6; close but not cigar. Kind of disappointing. I must say though that I did not exercise much at all and still need much help with my portion control but I'll take the baby step.  So with my current weight of 157.4 my next goal weight will be by my 22nd birthday, next Tuesday, to have lost 2.4 lbs to make it to 155. This would be a total weight loss of 6 lbs in 3 weeks.

I have decided for my birthday that I will not be drinking (alcohol). It is something that I know deep down I will regret and is not worth it. Also, for the 4th, although it will be hard, I'm praying there are plenty of fruit and veggie trays to keep my mind off of the other festive dips and munchies. Holidays are so hard.

I found some flexible measuring tape so I decided to take some measurements. I wasn't really sure the correct measurements to make so this is my Measuring in Layman's Terms: Boobs (36"), Under boobs (32"), Waist (30"), Belt (35"), Hips/Pones (40"), Upper Arms/Mashed Potatoes (12"), Thigh (21")

I'll have to refer back to this when I measure myself again...exactly one month from now!

Last night I watched Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. I used to love this show but haven't watched it in forever!! So inspiring! The woman on the episode last night was 30 years old and in 1 year went from 355 lbs to 148 lbs...that is 207 lbs in 365 days. HOLY COW!! During the show I decided to whip out my 8 pounder dumbbells and do a few reps. I felt like a lazy butt sitting on the couch watching someone work their ass of on tv so I figured I'd do my part to contribute.

Yesterday morning I decided to start something new: Couch 2 10k.  An iPhone app that trains you for a 10k race. Something I have always wanted to do. I've done many 5k's but no 10k's! I have tried this app before and have completed about half of it but have never finished. The first run is a warmup of 5 minutes and then alternating between 30 seconds of running and 4.5 minutes of walking for about 45 minutes. Now, this has always been one of the easier runs but at 9:30 AM in Texas heat...this is what I would imagine hell to feel like people. Completely drenched, nauseous, and awful! Who says they feel amazing after a workout...in 100 degree heat. No thanks. But I will keep it up, because it means a lot to me. 

Before I ran I found this website with so many good tips to running. Check it out! Find Your Motivation Chaffing is genetic in my family so I decided that wearing a good pair of spandex under my running shorts would be the best choice for me. It worked! I ran in my neighborhood, with lots of hills and I accidentally had the sound turned off for the app (that tells you when to walk and when to run) so I was walking for like 10 minutes to my music without hearing anything and thinking..hey this is pretty damn good. Oops! Have to turn on the sound Lauren! So I missed 2 runs but definitely made up for it on the run UP the last and WORST hill of the neighborhood. Ouch. I also ran an extra one at the end to my house.  On the run, I saw a 10 year old boy running on the opposite side of the street, little did he know, he was my inspiration. When I got home to stretch Jay baby wouldn't leave me alone. Poor baby needed some attention. So she lay at my head and pawed at my face.

 Today I will try running in the evening so hopefully it is not so miserable. If there is one thing I hate in this life it is the heat. I'm not one for summer...

Today I will be eating brown rice for dinner and will be starting to cook at home more. I should not be spending money that I don't have to eat out when I have rice and frozen chicken at home. Need to start eating more blackbeans, for the obvious of reasons; at least obvious to me. 

I really DO want to take picture but hate the "phone in the mirror" look and don't really feel comfortable asking my brother to take pictures...I don't know, we'll see!

One Fit Registered Nurse With Her License!

Well its official folks! I'm a BSN, RN (this is the correct way of order in case you were confused-your degree goes first, then your license, then your certification...Thanks Jed Nguyen). I took my boards last Wednesday, I didn't want anyone to know because I wanted to pass them for me and not for anyone else, or the stress of anyone else. I found out early Friday morning and just couldn't believe my eyes when I saw "pass" on my score. Ahhhh priority 1 complete. Now onto the job hunt. Any of you with contacts..send them my way ;)

I had a fabulous long weekend with Bricey with so many delicious foods. He really supports me and this whole health binge thing. Wednesday night we ordered out our favorite Chinese and I ordered the spicy hunan vegetables and a side of brown rice. Mmmm! For Thursday lunch, we had brown rice with baked chicken mixed in and for dinner we had grilled salmon, a 1/4 baked sweet potato, and pineapple.  We then took off for a date night at the drive-in. One of our favorite things to do 45 minutes north of the small town Bricey lives in. We watched the sunset which was absolutely beautiful before the movie started.  We saw Madagascar 3 and What to Expect When You're Expecting, both movies I've seen before. Totally recommend Madagascar 3 (again), without children this time, totally hilarious the 2nd time around when you can pay more attention to the movie and less attention to the amount of candy the kids have already inhaled.We munched on carrots and hummus, wasabi peas (YUM!) paired with water bottles.

 On Friday I found out I now obtain my Texas Registered Nursing license. So exciting..can't say it enough. No one understands how hard that test is unless you've been to nursing school. Bricey told me it was my night to celebrate so I could choose what we did for Friday date night. (side note: I've realized since we're doing this whole long distance thing that every night we're together is a date night). We called around and found a restaurant in OKC, Saii Asian Bistro, that serves brown rice sushi. SCORE! We headed out that way and found a farmer's market grocery store that we stopped at before dinner. Got Bricey excited about eating organic so we bought some rice chocolate milk, organic chocolate flavored and coffee flavored drinks, fruit twists, and brown rice chips. Once we got to the restaurant they had us seated immediately (thanks Bricey for the reservation ;)) We ordered edamame and 3 rolls (no tempura rolls of course) all substituted with brown rice instead of white. It is pretty awesome that this restaurant does ANY roll with brown rice.  The sushi was fabulous and I must say could not tell a difference between brown and white rice sushi. We headed back and passed out, so tired!

On Saturday, our lazy day, we slept in until 1:00, yes one o'clock peeee emmmmm. Did lots of chores around the house and just relaxed, I believe we ate chicken and rice again for lunch and for dinner Bricey and I made THE MOST AMAZING burger patties I have ever tasted in my life. With extra lean ground beef we made 4 thin patties added minced jalapeno (with the seeds taken out) and minced red onion) mixed inside the meat. Then we put a slice of pepper jack cheese in the middle and put another thin patty over  the cheese.  Grilled to perfection! Paired with sweet potato, baked beans, and pineapple! Fabulous dinner.

For dessert I decided to make something off of pinterest. I froze 3 bananas cut up into 1'' circles. A few hours later I blended the bananas in a blender (could use food processor) until creamy and served (mine plain, Bricey's with chocolate chips). He enjoyed, I wanted to barf bananas. It was good but for a regular at Braum's, I'd like to stick to my fro-yo

On Sunday, we got up and went to church. Something I always want to do on Sunday but for a late sleeper it is so hard! I really do love going to church (even in the crazy bible belt where most days they preach about who is going to heaven and who is going to hell). The topic today was depression. Interesting topic and I completely appreciate that they spoke on this because I don't think most churches would but there were a few things I disagreed with. All in all I'm glad we went. For lunch we made lettuce wraps. Southwest mustard, mesquite turkey, pepper jack cheese, tomato, and avocado! Totally filling.

We took a nap, or Bricey did at least, I pinterested. Long relaxing day and then for dinner I made BBQ baked chicken with  brussel sprouts and fruit salad. I adore brussel sprouts and this is a new addiction starting this past year. Today I bought 20 brussel sprouts (or 1 lb) and cut off the ends and then cut them in half long ways (down the white line). then just tossed them in a little olive oil and garlic salt until they were toasty brown on the bottom. So delicious. Paired it with fruit salad: strawberries, bananas, and pineapple! Both the strawberries and pineapple are AWESOME this season. Go getcha some!

I left town yesterday to come back to the city to babysit. I had Fuzzy's grilled veggie salad for lunch and cheerios for dinner. I was totally exhausted yesterday and took a nap for an hour in the morning and 4 hours when in the evening...may have to get that checked out sometime soon. Couldn't be good for me.

I had a bowl of cheerios this morning and a bowl of brown rice for lunch right now but I'm rushed to pick up the girls so I'll have to update tomorrow morning on everything else!

I weighed in and measured myself so the next post I'll let you know the results! Stay tuned ;)

Phase 2

Alright folks! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'm BACK! One. Crazy. Week, Yall. Still haven't cheated, still on the health binge, still kickin'. I'm excited to weigh in on Monday because I think I've lost in my belly. I'm feeling confident and can't help but do a double take when I walk by a mirror :) I do wish I would have measured on day 1...maybe if I can get my hands on a tape measure I'll go ahead and do that.

Yesterday I surprised Bricey by coming to Duncan a day early and man did I get a reaction out of him.  I always give him a hard time because he has the worst of the worst reactions.  I parked my car down the street in the school parking lot and when he got off of work he called me. I muted the phone when he walked in the door so he didn't hear the door opening on the other end of the line and when he turned around...SUPRISE! IT'S ME! Deer in the headlights. Priceless. I told him I don't feel as safe when I'm with him because he should have freaked out a little more considering there was a body in the house that he wasn't expecting ;) So happy to be spending the rest of week/weekend with him.

Now, I won't go into meal detail for the last week because it was all pretty much the same thing with the oatmeal, rice, frozen yogurt, and healthy choices when I went out to eat.  I did however move to the next phase of the health binge yesterday because Tuesday was the last day of my 9 days (yay!)

This next phase is for 3 weeks! So I will be finished with this on July 11th, Bricey's birthday!. Remember...no alcohol allowed. This has not been an issue for me much but we did go out after the Rangers game (which was so fun) last Friday, I went to two bars and didn't have a DROP of alcohol! Yay for my 21 year old self :) One negative thing that I'm either 1. going to have to cheat or 2. really going to suffer is...My 22nd birthday is on July 3rd and I really would like to have my last 21st drink...stupid? Let me know!

                                                           Us at the Ranger game <3

For phase 2, continue with the vegetables. I've really been enjoying celery and hummus, carrots for my movie snack, and BEANS BEANS BEANS to keep me, well, regular. Now I'm going to list off a bunch of veggies and grains allowed but feel free to scroll on, this is just for reference: broccoli, collard greens, dark green leafy lettuce, kale, mesclun, romaine lettuce, spinach, watercress, acorn squash, butter squash, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, black beans, black eyed peas, chickpeas, kidney beans, lentils, corn, green beans, lentils, corn, green peas, lima beans, artichokes, asparagus, bean sprouts, beets, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, green/red peppers, mushrooms, okra, onions, parsnips, tomatoes, brown rice (2 cups of cooked rice every other day), avocado (1/2 per day maximum)

Now for meat. It is so hard for me to go without chicken...which is why I think I would have a hard time going vegetarian! Yesterday I enjoyed my FAVORITE salad from corner bakery, the chopped salad. It has chicken, avocado, and blue cheese with an AWESOME dressing. Yum!! Now the rule for meat is a serving size the size of a deck of playing cards, or for those of you who have a food scale (which I do not), 3-4 oz. Meat allowed includes: chicken (without the skin & not fried), turkey (baked without the skin), ground beef (extra lean or ground sirloin), sirloin steak (broiled), or lamb (broiled).

In this phase we can also add Seafood! My favorite food is sushi. I could eat it all day, everyday. However, remember...NO WHITE RICE! The only brown rice sushi I've ever found is sold at whole foods...let me know if you know of any other restaurant that serves brown rice sushi!! Seafood allowed includes: halibut, tuna, salmon <--YUMMY, snapper, and striped bass. For these fish, allow only a 3 oz. serving size, NOTHING FRIED. Also, shrimp (4 large), mussels (3 oz), Oysters (6-12), and clams (3)

Eggs! I said "NO" on Sunday to Father's Day brunch1  My mom made the family a sausage souffle casserole and I opted for fruit instead. I'm finally gathering the strength to deal with temptation in a healthy way :) For phase 2: 4 egg whites and 1 whole egg either scrambled, boiled, or poached is allowed. Yay!!

For milk & cheese: 2 & 1/2 cups of low-fat, skim, or soy milk. I'm not much of a milk drinker (only when I'm eating brownies, cookies, or cake which isn't an issue on this health binge.  Cheese (1 oz which is equivalent to 1.5 slices). And of course MY FAVORITE 6 oz low fat yogurt (2 times per day). Don't worry folks, I'm still getting my fill of Braum's...everyday which brings me to my next story.  Last Saturday, me and Bricey went to Six Flags with our friends and I was having a serious craving for my shake.  We tried to make it to Braum's after the Rangers game on Friday but with the traffic we couldn't make it. So we went well out of our way, finally found a Braum's in the middle of nowhere and ordered my shake...I wrote a "note" on my phone so I wouldn't forget the experience. Here's what it reads: "Braums just told me they don't have skim milk so I asked for 2%. They don't have 2% but 'their milk is already lowfat'. Then I get the shake and there is DEFINITELY chocolate syrup in there and they tell Bricey that they are out of chocolate frozen yogurt for his twist. So they totally made my medium chocolate shake made with chocolate frozen yogurt and skim milk no chocolate syrup please into a medium chocolate shake made with vanilla frozen yogurt and 'braums lowfat milk' with chocolate syrup. Oh and to top that off they gave me another flaccid straw. Braums you fail at life".  Needless to say, I was ticked..BUT I did drink it :-\ Lesson learned: stick to the large frozen yogurt twist in a cup.


Add cereal! Not gonna lie, the oatmeal is getting a little hard to eat. There were a few mornings that I just had a bowl of fruit because I didn't have the patience to force feed myself the oatmeal...I will be allowed 1 & 1/2 cups per day (cold) or 1/2 cup per day (hot). Cereal brands allowed include corn flakes, cheerios, oatmeal (blah), cream of wheat (ehh), total, bran flakes, life, rice crispies, puffed wheat, shredded wheat (YUM), wheaties, special K, and chex!

Now, 4 tsp of sugar or sugar substitute is allowed but I'm not a fan of adding sugar when something is naturally sweet...so I think that this add-in isn't that great

Spices and herbs: LOVE ME SOME SALT! 2 tsp allowed. Also, my mom heard recently (maybe on Dr. Oz?) that pepper helps burn belly fat and I really pour on the pepper. As much as you like :)

Flavorings: 2 tsp of fat free dressing, 1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp of fat free mayo (!), and 2 pats of butter (2 tbsp). I definitely take advantage of that olive oil.  I like to grill veggies on the stove with olive oil and also olive oil+basalmic vinegar makes an great salad dressing

Drinks: at first I was excited about this but I decided to celebrate phase 2 yesterday with a DDP for dinner and I was a little disappointed with myself. Afterall, I suffered a caffeine headache for a week and finally got over it, PLUS my skin is LOVING the water :) However I am allowed 10 oz cup of coffee, 3 cups of tea, 5 cups of club soda, 2 cans of diet soda, 1 cup of freshly squeezed fruit juice, iced tea (no more than 2 packs of sugar substitute), flavored seltzer or tonic water (unlimited), and unlimited water! I am a big fan of perrier with lime. It is carbonated water with just enough flavor and so fab.With the drinks I think you are allowed 1 of these options, you can't have coffee, 3 cups of tea, AND 2 cans of soda silly!

I hate to be a debbie downer but here is the list of foods not allowed: white rice, white potatoes, bread/english muffins, white/whole wheat pasta, pastries/donuts/danish, cake, cookies, brownies, ice cream, potato chips/corn chips, tortilla chips, popcorn, chocolate, bacon, sausage, ALCOHOL, fried food, fast food, regular soda, sweetened juices (bottle or can), milkshakes, frappuccinos, cafe latte or cappuccino. 

Just a few tips. Don't eat the same fish or meats twice in the same day. Try to separate the meats by at least a meal. Try to leave some of the food on your plate when you get up from the table (this has always been an issue for me). Only snack on fruits and veggies after dinner. Remember, portion size, less is more!!

I promise to write more from now on...

Becoming a regular

Has a child ever asked you if you were pregnant? Well that just happened and it sucks as much as it sounds like it would...Thank God I started this health binge this week and that I know I'm on the road to a size 00 (don't do a double take you saw my double zeros correctly). Sorry I didn't blog  yesterday, I didn't cheat I promise but I was so pooped when I got to bed last night that I just crashed! So to Kellie Parnell who was waiting up until the wee hours of the night for my blog to post...I do sincerely apologize ;)

Yesterday was an alright of a day. I had my same ol' oatmeal for breakfast, ordered Zoe's Kitchen for lunch (my ALL time favorite). Last summer they had my ordered memorized and knew my face when I walk in the door and for a healthy restaurant..I was proud :) If you haven't tried it out, check you're local listings (I've always wanted to say that) and check it out!! For dinner I enjoyed a salad from Chipotle which I had no idea that they served brown rice but they do...may not be healthy though (read below)

 Today started out an already fabulous day because Bricey comes down for the weekend. Woke up and ate my oatmeal, studied a little, and headed out to get the girls. Decided I'd make it a fun day and took them to Chick-fil-A...my biggest fight for temptation for the day and huge accomplishment, and a movie.  For those who know me, know I could DRINK chick-fil-a sauce out of the container.  Each container is worth 150 calories and that right there could make you sick to your stomach. But. it. is. so. GOOD! So I decided to opt out by ordering nothing for me and 2 kids meals for the girls.  Also, this has never happened to me before but I believe it was God's way of seeing just how strong I'd be with this health binge but this lovely looking lady was handing out "free samples of our chocolate chip cookies" but they weren't samples they were the whole damn cookie. So the girls got one and I took one home for Bricey. Didn't. even. touch it! Thank you God I passed temptation for the day!!!!!!!

We then drove over to Walmart to grab a few things. I'm completely and utterly OBSESSED with chips and hummus. Would marry it if I could, and became fixed on chips that are only sold at walmart...because that was the only thing in my little small town where i went to school. So now back in the city I have to find a walmart to get these chips but they are FABULOUS!!! They are BROWN RICE chips and the brand is "Riceworks". They have seasalt flavor (the blue bag) which is my favorite and amazing with hummus, they also have sweet chili which I had to get today because it was the only flavor left. It wasn't as good with hummus but I've tried it before with salsa and it is pretty good. They are also gluten free so I know there is no wheat products in them. So good. Mmmm

My favorite hummus (besides the hummus from Zoe's Kitchen) is Sabra hummus-classic flavored. I could eat it with a spoon it is so good. So I got some of that and I also got a bag of carrots for my movie snack.  I let the girls pick out their movie candy and some water bottles and we headed out. I had to eat quickly in the car so we could make it to our next adventure but it was an okay lunch.

We headed to the movie, Madagascar 3, with the windows down and the music volume up. Now, if you ever want to be labeled as the coolest person ever in the eyes of a child, I recommend doing this. Very inexpensive and so fun.

They. loved. it. Finally got to the movie and ate my whole bag of carrots, don't judge. Also the movie was hysterical and not bad for a sequel!

When I got home from picking up the girls, Dr. Oz was on.  Some guy that was some author of some diet...sometimes I have trouble paying attention...was talking about the importance of certain foods. He said that fiber is important in your diet because it keeps you full and gives you that hour glass figure that is so gorgeous (not so gorgeous when your hips take over a little more than they should of the lower half but I digress).  It also helps keep your regular. Now, when I first heard the term "regular" when I was a tween..I thought it meant that foods like Activia, made you have your period. WRONG. The word regular, people, means you take nice long poop, yes I'm talking shapes here, everyday. Which brings me to my next topic. Any of you out there know about the BRAT diet? Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Well this is the diet for the patients who have diarrhea because it really firms you up...get it ;) So when I'm eating 3 of the 4 items you can only imagine the curse words my bowels would love to confront me with...if they could move. This is where the importance of black beans are involved. Oops! Forgot to be eating those...I did have some yesterday with my Chipotle salad though and my body thanked me. I've had lots of fiber today so during Dr. Oz I decided to celebrate in the bathroom. So sorry for all of you out there who are uncomfortable with talking about bowel movements but you signed up for it when you started reading a blog with the word "nurse" in it! It's natural...so punny!

Dr. Oz also talked about how brown rice and restaurants could be the unhealthiest choice because many restaurants use butter to cook their rice in. So from now on...always ask before you order and if they look at you like you're crazy...don't order it!

Tonight me and Bricey and a bunch of his college friends are catching up at the Rangers game! So fun, so hot, so Texas <3

More to come tomorrow!

Flaccid straws

"Before" pictures are coming soon, I just haven't had a second do take them. Been crazy busy seems like.  I'm ready for everything so slow down a bit so I can enjoy my summer...

I stole a few packets of regular oatmeal from Bricey's house and drove 3 hours back to the city! I ate a bowl of maple brown sugar oatmeal and a green apple for breakfast. I enjoyed an egg white scramble mixed with vegetables from a fabulous little hole in the wall restaurant with the kiddos today.  I had a red apple for a snack and ended the afternoon with a serious migraine but a little nap did the trick. 

Woke up to some crazy hail outside. The newscasters were saying baseball sized hail but the biggest piece I saw was between the size of a ping pong ball and a golf ball...

My older brother, Cameron, and I went to Fuzzy's tacos for din.  Ever been?  The first time I went I was on this health binge and so the only thing I could eat in the restaurant was the "grilled veggie salad" with the house dressing and each time I go back that is the only thing I get health binge or not because it is so yummy. I totally recommend it to all of you out there.

Packed up Jay in the car and had a "date" with Bricey...we both drove to Braum's at the same time, different city, just like old times and ordered our ice cream in the drive thru and waited for each other to get their ice cream (or fro-yo) and then cheers(ed) to each other...or the radio :) Its the little things in life! I thought Braum's gave out little doggy cups with vanilla ice cream but nope! Poor Jay was so darn freaked out by the whole thing she was turning in circles the whole time. Like I said, she gets a little freaked out by the out of norm things...and this trip was out of the norm. So they gave me a straw to go with my shake but failed to mention they were out of the normal pink braum's straws so they gave me a crappy flaccid (medical term for limp) straw that wouldn't allow me to suck the thick milkshake up into my mouth. So! I drove to the nearest McDonalds, walked in, grabbed a straw, and walked out. If you ever felt the need to get a weird look, I recommend doing that one day....

Speaking of braums, I know I mentioned my shake order yesterday but thought you should know a little history of my complicated orders.  Its the joke between my friends and I how complicated every one of my orders are.  I'm not the type of person that complains about service or food or anything of that nature but my orders always tend to be a little on the long side.  For example my hot starbucks order is "a grande nonfat extra hot caramel macchiato with only 1 pump of vanilla".  My cold starbucks order is "a grande nonfat iced caramel macchiato with light ice".  My braum's ice cream order is "large frozen yogurt twist in a cup". My braum's shake order is "a medium chocolate shake made with chocolate frozen yogurt and skim milk, no chocolate syrup please". You really have to emphasize the no chocolate syrup (right Holly Botts?!), otherwise it tastes like chocolate milk and by the time you finish your shake, you're doing donuts in the braum's parking lot...My precious boyfriend has all of these orders memorized, which makes him even more of a gem. Love love love.

Still think my body is experiencing withdrawal from no caffeine, after all, I was drinking like 2 cups of coffee and 2 DDPs a day...my poor body.  My plan tomorrow is to walk to hills in the morning and maybe even the lake...one of my favorite things to do here in the city, and the sunset is so pretty on the lake.  Totally looking forward to this weekend! Only 2 more days :)

Mr. Romantic

We'll start off this post with my dream, or nightmare, if you will.  Every time I start a health binge, my mind obviously obsesses over it and I am constantly thinking about it and I have nightmares that I cheated on the health binge. So, this morning I was totally disappointed with myself that I had a piece of pizza and would have to write on the blog tonight about my sinful meal. Thank goodness this was the case.  On a side note, and I'll just put a real quick WATCH OUT for any young eyes reading, I haven't shared with you one important item on my bucket list, and that is to one day see a cow mount.  I really thought that this would have happened in the 2 years I spent in the small town where I completed my nursing school, but it was a no go. So each time I drive past a field of cows, I practically drive off the road screening the field. Luckily, after I had my cheating nightmare last night, I finally got to see a cow mount for the first time; sadly, it was only a dream. 

After last night's post, I realized I forgot to mention some things, so we'll catch up on that real quick.  I weighed in on day one at 161.0.  I will not weigh in again for another 2 weeks because I know my body is building muscle with exercising and jump-starting its metabolism so when I weigh in on June 25, I would like to be at 157. That is a total of 4 lb with a loss of 2 lbs a week.  I think that is a realistic goal for the first 2 weeks!  Also, I did not get a chance to sign up for the Bikram yoga so that still remains on my list of things to get done!

Today I had complete intentions to get up at 7:00 however, I slept in until 10:00.  Oopsies :( Today, with the oatmeal, I tried something new to make it taste better. I thought if I added more water, the consistency wouldn't be as chewy and maybe a little more tolerable. WRONG! It only absorbed more water, making my breakfast bigger. Oh well, I choked it down for day 2, enjoyed my banana, and drank a large glass of water before heading out to watch the kiddos.

I ate my leftover brown rice (1 cup) with soy sauce for lunch paired with carrots, grapes, and blueberries.  The girls I sit for cleaned their room again and as a bribe (yes you must bribe kids to clean) I took them to braum's.  Now, for everyone who read my post yesterday would appreciate that for my "medium chocolate shake made with chocolate frozen yogurt and skim milk, no chocolate syrup...please" and 2 kiddie cups of chocolate cookie dough for the girls it was only $4.95. Thank you Braum's for not ripping my pockets out.

After I dropped off the kiddies, I headed toward the border to meet my sweetheart, on the way deciding I'd not just go halfway but the whole 185 miles.  Being the usual soulmate he is, Bricey made my favorite salad for the both of us: lettuce, pickled red bell peppers, pickled banana peppers, capers, kalamata olives, tomatoes, and feta cheese (yum!) topped with balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing! So scrumptious :) He also had a flower bouquet and candle lit on the dinner table. Mr. Romantic. So in love <3

After dinner we went to the movies to see Men in Black 3 with our snacks: a bag of carrots and 2 water bottles, much different from the milk duds and DDP that I used to enjoy at the movies!  I calculated and for a  decent sized bag of baby carrots it was only 175 calories and we both munched on them! I thought that was a pretty good steal!

Now I get to enjoy the night with my love before heading back to the city tomorrow! Excited about the real oatmeal in Bricey's cabinet tomorrow that I get to enjoy...and I may just steal a few packages for the week to come for that matter...

I missed my workout for the day, which just means I have to work harder tomorrow! So worth it today.

Meet my other half

Day 1 went really well. No temptations today which is always a plus.  I was a little under the weather later this afternoon but I'm glad I got my exercise in this morning so I didn't have an excuse!

I woke up super early, and super early to me is 7:00am so I'll take pride in that thank you. I sat down at the table, which is totally depressing when it is just you and yourself. I choked down some "Weight control" maple brown sugar instant quaker oatmeal. Side note: I am a big fan of oatmeal but I'm telling you now DO NOT get the weight loss crap. It is sick nasty and not worth the the few grams of protein you get extra in the weight loss oatmeal compared to the original...and they are the same amount of calories. Bad news: it is the only oatmeal in the pantry so I will be choking it down for the rest of the week.  I paired breakfast with a banana and thank god for that banana because it helped dilute the crap tasting oatmeal. Word of advice: I wouldn't ask the sarcastic question of whether or not I've tasted crap...to a nurse. You never know what answer you're gonna get.

After the lovely breakfast, I cleaned up, grabbed my 5 lb pair of hand weights and walked out the front door headed for the neighborhood hills. I walked for an hour without my iPhone meaning no texting, talking, or music. It was actually quite pleasant and allowed me to wave and say good morning to 16 neighbors...yes I counted. I'm almost positive that my arms will be sore tomorrow but I'd like to think I'm getting my definition back in my legs. That is one positive thing about my body: I will beat you in a calf contest any day with my dancer legs. 

I only got a few hours of studying in before I had to pick up some kiddos from VBS and spend a few quality hours with them. But I did get to cook my brown rice for lunch (an art that I have perfected).  I always eat my brown rice with soy sauce.  Yes it adds a little extra...or a lotta extra sodium to the meal but I'd rather enjoy my brown rice rather than choke it down.  I also had a bowl of strawberries and blueberries.  After completing some chores with the girls I treated them to fro-yo (frozen yogurt for you rookies). We went to Tutti Frutti...it was really good frozen yogurt and supposedly soy but I still prefer yogurtland to any fro-yo shops I've ever tried..and yogurtland still beats anyone on their prices...YIKES 3 bowls of froyo for $12! That's 3 gallon tubs of froyo at braums! Lord Almighty this girls on a budget!

I had serious intentions of studying when I got home but like I said...wasn't feeling well so I took a nap for 3 hours :-\ I have always been a napper and pretty sure always will be. Like the questions that nurses ask: "do you take a nap during the day?" if it is out of the ordinary for someone to nap then there is a problem, but if they have always done it, LET EM' SLEEP!

I had a dinner date with my daddy at Jason's Deli. Ordered the salad bar: spring lettuce mix with spinach. I threw on some tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, banana peppers, carrots, and about 1/2 a tablespoon of feta cheese (my one "cheat" of the day I guess you could call it, but I just cant eat a salad without cheese!) topped with italian dressing.  I also had a side of cottage cheese (my milk of the day...and a weakness of mine) and apples.

When I got back home from dinner I took baby Jay, a.k.a Jaden (for those of you who don't know me that well she is my precious dog who is so stinkin weird and socially awkward but I am totally obsessed with her) for a 20 minute walk around a little pond in my neighborhood. Some creepers were walking behind us so not only was I a little freaked but so was the Jay. The video below is my other half. She is freaked by anything and everything that isn't "supposed" to be where it usually is. In this case, it was an empty bag for a heating pad laying on my floor. She never usually bites anything she just touches her nose to it and jumps back. God I fricken love her...

I'd say that was one successful day, wouldn't you?! Tomorrow me and Bricey are meeting halfway to have a date night so it will be interesting making healthy decisions for our meal and saying no to milk duds and DDP at the movies. Stay tuned :)

Here goes nothin'

So it is 12:22 am on Sunday night (or Monday if you wanna get all pc on me) and I decided Monday is the day. I like to start my diets on Monday because I read somewhere that people who start diets on Mondays are more likely to stick with it so here goes nothin'. But we'll start with a little somethin about myself. I just received my bachelors of science in nursing and am preparing myself for the world of nursing.  Now anyone can agree that the college lifestyle is not the healthiest. Late night snacks...or meals in my case, staying up until 4am, waking up at 3pm, too much drinking, too much stress, and although you think it's over when you graduate high school...too much drama. I hit my max weight my sophomore year in college of 160 and lost 30 pounds but quickly regained it my second semester of junior year by not maintaining a healthy lifestyle, letting the stress of nursing school get to me.

I'm ready to start my next journey and there are many changes in order for this journey to begin however for the girl who is hesitant to change, these changes may be difficult:

1. I have moved out of the small town where I lived during nursing school and back in with my parents in the city until I can find a job (which trust me, I say a long prayer every night that somehow, someway God will allow this to happen SOON).

2. I am currently looking for a job. Who knew right? You always hear on the news that "nurses are in high demand" and "will always have a job". Well when every hospital's positions require experience...but I have no experience because I am a new graduate, it is a bit hard to get experience. Complicated. Frustrating. But learning to practice my patience is healthy...I guess and staying positive. I am keeping my options open and frequently putting my resume out there!

3. I am also studying for boards to receive my registered nursing license. And unless you are a nurse, were a nurse, or in nursing school, NO ONE understands the difficulty, challenging, and complete insanity of the NCLEX. Right now this is my number one priority. Prayers are greatly appreciated.

4. Transitioning from a short distance (less than a mile) to a long distance (185 miles) is going to super difficult. This change is a big one for me. I don't know where I will end up, although Bricey is willing to move and completely supportive of me.  We will be traveling to see each other often until I can obtain a permanent address.

Now onto the challenge.  The past 2 years I have been on and off diets, literally TRYING to stay on a diet at least twice a month. Staying busy with school, working at a hospital, and trying to feed myself and my boyfriend all while maintaining a social life, has been difficult. Each attempt I go back to the diet that I lost all the weight in the previous time. 

The first 9 days consisted of all fruit (any quantity), all vegetables (any quantity: expect no white potatoes or avocado), chick peas, tofu, lentils, BROWN rice (2 cups of cooked per day), Low-fat/skim/soy milk (2 cups per day), Oatmeal (1 cup a day), any herbs and spices, 6 oz of low fat yogurt (2 times a day), 4 egg whites per day, 2 cups of herbal tea, and ALL the water you want :) This means NO alcohol (which is quite difficult when you are 21, in college, and have a busy social life in a small town). Also no white rice, meat, fish, cheese, bread, raisins, nuts, dried/preserved fruit, candy, popcorn, chips, ice cream (but you can have FROZEN YOGURT!), juice, soda (no regular OR diet), coffee, sports drinks, milkshakes, whole eggs or yolks, fried/fast food. This phase is meant to cleanse your body and jumpstart your metabolism.

This will be the start to my diet tomorrow. And as of now the word "diet" will now be "health binge".  My spin instructor wrote this health binge for me and my mom 2 years ago and we were super successful. It was one of those health binges that would be easily maintained (if you didn't go off the deep end like I did) and I think I have learned from my mistakes.  Portion control is a huge one for me. I may know how to eat healthy but portion control is key, a lesson I must learn quickly. I will go over the next "phase" after I successfully complete the 9 days. This next week should be somewhat easy in that I will be able to cook from home for most of the 9 days.

As for the exercise plan: I have a friend who teaches a local cardio class that I will attend. I also will be signing up for Bikram yoga tomorrow. And for those of you who have not heard of Bikram, it is a yoga class in a room set to 105 degree heat. The facility I was a member at previously had an hour and a half classes where you felt like a fairy afterwords because it was so liberating. I also enjoy taking walks up and down the hills of my neighborhood with arm weights. I would like to take a class or walk for an hour every day.

I will be weighing in tomorrow (June 11), sharing results, and will wait 2 weeks until my next weigh in (June 25). Then from there I will weigh once a week on the same day each week. I have my first goal in mind but need to know my specific weight to make a specific goal. As we were taught in nursing: small obtainable goals are best! 

I am prepared for the challenges I will face in these next 9 days: caffeine headaches (completely addicted to coffee and DDP-diet dr. pepper for those rookies out there), saying no to mom's cooking, making healthy decisions if I eat out, and making myself get up and exercise daily.

I am confident that this blog will bring me motivation, therapy, and success. I am ready for the new me. Bring it on.