Good Morning fellow Weight Loss Challengers!!! I hope you have had a GREAT week!!

First of all.....I am happy to say...yesterday was my first day with NO HEADACHE!!! I have finally kicked it! Yaaaa-Hoooooo!!!

Ok...let's get down to the NITTY GRITTY!

I had NO weight loss or gain this week. My weight has fluctuated all week....yesterday I had lost a pound, but NOT this morning. Geeez!
I have eaten very healthy all week and worked out everyday, but yesterday....and I'm going this morning. Oh well....I can take no loss/gain for the week and keep on smiling, because I feel great and I CAN tell a difference in my clothes. So that makes me happy. Next week I bet my weight will start coming off ;=)
I can't wait to see your numbers!!
Ok...gotta go. I got up late this morning...and I don't have time to write much right now. I will try and write more later.
Have a GRRRRRRRRRRREAT day!!!!!! TGIF!!! TGIF!!!! AND Happy Leap Day!

Michael loves a nice, shiny, clean car...he tries to always keep ours nice and clean.
Anyway...within the first year of our marriage. He had sat through an infomercial about a spray on wax. The spokesperson on the infomercial made the wax look great...one of a kind. After using the wax..the cars looked brand new!
Michael was completely taken in by it and he is not a gullible man by no means. The infomercial was very convincing. So he picked up the phone....and for $19.95 + shipping and handling, it was sitting on our doorstep in about 7 days.
I remember he washed my car up all nice and clean....then put the spray wax on. I had to admit it looked GREAT!
But, much to his dismay, the shine went away in about 6/7 months and the paint was flat, dull, and in some small spots the paint began to peel.
Soon after that, we traded my car.
We learned our lesson about infomercials.

Some are not all bad though! I sat through an infomercial about Bare Minerals cosmetics...and I was blown away! I made a purchase and loved it! I have used it for 8 months now.

Ok.....here's your question of the day....
Have YOU ever purchased a product after watching an infomercial??
If so...tell us what it was, and was it a good or bad experience??

Our Beautiful Boys.....
Two Blessings Sent Straight From God.

Oh..to see the world through a child's eyes.
So much to see, so much to learn, so much to just simply wonder...
I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!!

A Little Bit of This...A Little Bit of That...

I've have alot of thoughts running through my head right now. So..this post is going to be alot of rambling....
Here goes.....
First of all...I'm still having stinkin' headaches!!!!! AND we ALL four have colds now too! LOVELY! Anyway....yesterday I had a terrible headache. Are these ever going to end???? It's been a week and I am still having caffeine withdrawal headaches!!! You've gotta be kidding me!!!! Could I have really been that dependent on Caffeine...this article says YES! (If you have time read the article. You will be surprised...with what you read about the effects of Caffeine) I have to say despite the headaches....I have soooo much more energy! (My face has really cleared up too....since I have been off caffeine and WITH water!) Yesterday....I used that energy to clean, after I got home from the gym. My Monday cleaning is always unreal. After the weekend our house looks like a tornado and a hurricane swept through.
While I was cleaning yesterday....Blake likes to help Mommy. So, of course, I let him....as much as I can anyway. He likes to help me fold the washcloths....while I am folding the towels. I have to admit he does a good job! He likes to help me dust....does a pretty good job with that too. After those two chores....he got bored and started being silly.
Ok....my Blake....likes to get his Mommy's shoes out and walk all around the house in them. Is this normal???!!!!! LOL!!! He says my shoes are awesome! I snapped a picture of him with a pair of my heels on......oh....he will kill me for this later. Oh well....here it is.... AND....here's a picture of Miss Daisy. She is getting bigger. We took her to the doctor last week to get her stitches out...(she was neutered at the animal hospital before we brought her home from the Animal Shelter.) The Vet weighed her and she had gained a whole 3 ounces. I thought she had gained AT LEAST a pound or two. She looks so much bigger to me. She is still doing great and is just a regular part of the family. We still miss Tiger though......we all call Daisy, Tiger from time to time. Tiger's grave is in our back yard.....we have some blue flowers on it. It still makes me so sad =-( . But, we feel like Daisy was heaven sent....we have loved her from day one! As a matter of fact, she is laying on my lap right now, purring away...as I am typing. Usually anytime I am typing an entry on the blog...she shows up to lay in my lap. Here's Blake, he was playing with one of his favorite toys yesterday. It is Jungle Animals and Forest Animals that I purchased for Jarrett probably 4 years ago. They both still LOVE this toy! Blake loves it as much as Jarrett ever did. Every child that's ever visited our house loved these animals too. I ordered this out of a catalog called Construction Playthings
This place has some great toys to make the imagination run wild! Literally!!In this picture Blake had separated the "mean guys" from the "good guys". The "good guys" seem to be outnumbered unfortunately =-) Hopefully, they will prevail in the end.Ok....here's what I have been eating for lunch lately. Have you ever heard of this brand?? Kashi
This company has some GREAT stuff! All of their foods have LOTS of Protein and LOTS of Fiber. Which is great! If you notice on this Chicken Florentine it has 22g Protein and 5g of Fiber....and only 320 calories per serving.I absolutely LOVE this cereal. I eat it dry. I pour it into a measuring cup to make sure I only eat 1 cup. 1 cup has 200 calories, 500 mg of Omega-3, 9g of Protein, 8g of Fiber. That all adds up to H-E-A-L-T-H-Y! I usually munch on this while I am typing my entries of the mornings. Great source of protein to have b4 hitting the gym.Ok...here's another picture that I took yesterday. Jarrett had just gotten home from school. Blake met him at the door and was so glad to see his bubby. They were wrestling around in the living room together and I got this shot. CUTE! They love each other so much.AND the supplemental homeschooling is going well too. Blake really enjoys it. We take at least an hour a day to go over his "homework". He really thinks he is a big boy sitting at his desk doing his homework. Blake usually asks me everyday...when it's going to be time for his school at home. As you can see in this picture....Jarrett even gets in on it. Blake likes for Jarrett to be his "teacher". You will notice too...Blake is in his undies...sitting at his desk. That wouldn't go over to well anywhere except his home school! LOL!!
On a serious note...I think Blake is colorblind. He still can not recognize the colors Red or Green. I am going to make an appointment today with his Pediatrician to discuss this possibility. Remember that in your prayers, please. I know that's nothing serious...but, as a Mom you don't want ANYTHING to be wrong with your children.
Oh....one more little tid bit of information. Do you guys know about the Economic Stimulus Plan?
Congress will be padding our pockets with some extra $$$ come Spring...hoping that we will not take it straight to the bank...but, spend..spend..spend, to help boost the economy. A family of four could get $1800...if their income is within the guidelines. Take a second to read the article from the NY Times that I linked...to get all the info.

Oh...and....in case you haven't noticed, my fellow Weight Loss Challengers, I have updated my chart. It looks like Sonya is coming at us full speed ahead with her 5.6 lb weight loss total!!!
You Go Girl!!!!

Ok...I'm finished. I jumped around alot with my thoughts. I hope you hung in there and held on tight until the end. That was certainly a roller coaster ride!

Have a grrrrrrrreat day!!!

Funnies....

I received these in emails the other day...and they both cracked me up. So I'm gonna share them with you guys. I hope you get to enjoy a laugh too! You can double click on each picture to enlarge.
I hope you have had a great Monday!

Our Weekend

Our weekend has been another busy one. It consisted of...
I attended a "Chocolate Bliss" Pampered Chef party (Oh..it was YUMMY!...I didn't give into temptation too badly), then we spent the rest of Friday evening with The Clymens family and played a card game called Skip-Bo (it was lots of FUN), we signed Jarrett and Blake up for baseball/T-Ball Saturday morning, then had an Upward Basketball game (that we lost by 20 points...we won't even talk about that!), then attended a Baby Shower, then spent Saturday evening with The McKays and they grilled out (it was sooo yummy too) and we also planned our vacation together to PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL in July!! We are soooooo excited! We got a really great deal on an awesome condo in a brand new complex...right on the beach with 3 bedrooms...plenty of room for all our youngins =-). Below is a picture of what our view will be from our balcony. Oh...I can smell the salt water already!! Yipeeeeeeee!!!! Beautiful white sand and beautiful crystal blue waters!! Yaaaahooooo!!! =-), Then on Sunday we enjoyed another wonderful church service, then came our Sunday afternoon nap, then back to church for evening service, then out with friends for a late dinner after church yesterday evening.
Yep...I think that pretty much sums our weekend up.

Oh...BTW...I always use... http://www.vrbo.com/ (Vacation Rental By Owners) for our vacations. You can get some great deals on vacation rentals there. I always negotiate my price with the owner. We actually got this unit for $300 LESS than what it was listed for. If you have never used this site before...you should give it a try. We have used it for our Beach vacations for years....and we have always had good luck with it. It's nice because....it cuts out the middle man. You never have to check in or anything....the owner mails you the key with all the information. So, when you get there all you do is pull up, turn the key in the lock and unpack.....then HAVE LOTS OF FUN IN THE SUN!!

Also, I'm still waiting to get everyone's numbers for the Weight Loss Challenge to update my chart. Hint...Hint... =-)
AND...I am still Caffeine free..today will be my 7th day. My headaches are finally subsiding..I have had some doozies. Yesterday...I still had a dull headache. So, hopefully today I won't have one at all.
Ok...gotta run...
I hope you guys had a wonderful weekend too!!

Good Morning fellow Weight Loss Challengers!!!
I AM Soooo pat on my back happy to report that I lost 2 pounds!!!!!!!! Yipeeeee!!! Yeeee-Haaaawwwww!! Yaaaa-Hooooo!!! I am @ 151 lbs now.
Ok...I'm back, I just turned a couple of cartwheels too. LOL!!
Listen....these two pounds were not EASY! But, I was bound and determined!! I actually, as of yesterday, didn't think I was going to make it. I have really been watching my caloric intake each day. I am going for no more than 12oo a day/coupled with going to the gym and trying to burn NO LESS than 400 calories during my workouts. I'm eating ALOT of fruits and veggies. I still eat what I want for supper....I just make sure to save up enough calories for it.
I am feeling GREAT!
Also, today begins my 4th day with NO CAFFEINE!! I will not lie....It's not been easy. I have had some WHOPPER headaches. Wednesday's headache was probably the worst. Yesterday's wasn't as bad. This morning...so far...I don't have one.
I have replaced the Diet Mtn. Dew with lots of H20. I am drinking AT LEAST 7-9oz. bottled waters a day. I usually drink about 3 of those while I'm working out. I KNOW my kidneys are very happy!

Ok....time for you to leave a comment with your numbers! I can't wait to see them. If this is your first week....just comment with...what you weighed on the 15th, what you weigh today and then what your goal weight is. OR you can leave the number of lbs lost from the 15th with a goal of the total amount of lbs you would like to lose by April 1st. Whatever works best for you.
You guys are doing GREAT!! I love that we are losing weight and getting ready for Summer together!!
I will update the chart on Monday....after I am sure that I have everyone's numbers.

What's Your True Color?

My Result: Yellow

You're yellow, the color of joy and energy — two things you definitely bring to everyone around you. It's hard for anyone to be sad or lonely in your presence; your sunny disposition and cheery outlook just won't allow it. The warmth of your personality shines through in the kindness you show friends and family (and strangers, too). Always ready with a lighthearted joke or heartfelt compliment, you know how to make people feel good about themselves, so they can't get enough of you. Yellow is a warm and inviting color for a warm and inviting person — you!

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=colorogt&c=50652

Ok here's my story....
My wonderful long time friend from high school, Melissa, and I went to a Clay Walker concert held in Bristol, TN in 1998. We went out to dinner before the concert then decided to go to the concert a little early to find our seats. We were very excited. We both thought Clay Walker was the cutest thing and also the guy that was in concert with Clay, Kenny Chesney. Kenny wasn't that big of a name YET. Melissa and I only knew a couple of his songs.
So, anyway, we found our parking place near the building and had to walk past a football field. As we were walking...with our cowboy hats and jeans(LOL!!).....we looked over and saw some guys playing football. We investigated a little closer and to our suprise it was....
KENNY CHESNEY AND PEYTON MANNING!!!!!!
They were passing football with a few others. We couldn't believe our eyes. From what I understand they are good friends.
We calmly strolled over to the field....trying to be as nochalant as we possibly could be.
Peyton threw Kenny the football right over to were Melissa and I where standing. Kenny caught it right in front of us....he put his hand over his heart and said "I am getting too old for this." We laughed. He had on old blue jeans, no shoes, a flannel shirt with the sleeves cut out and a baseball cap. He was looking pretty darn cute!!!!!
Then Peyton walked over to where we were standing with Kenny and said hello....then he said "So, where are you ladies from?" We told him Kingsport, TN. Peyton said he had come there for the concert.(Peyton actually came out on stage during the concert) I remember that Peyton had on shorts and a t-shirt. I also remember the fact that he was SOOO TALL! He looked like a giant. I am 5"7' and he towered over me. They were both very nice and friendly.
We made small talk for a few minutes....and then they went back into the colliseum.
We didn't even think to get their autographs or anything. We were both star struck! We didn't even have our camera with us!!!! We kicked ourselves all the way home that evening after the concert.
Well.....that's my story about my brush with fame...

Here's your question for the day...
Have YOU ever met anyone famous??
If so....WHO and feel free to tell us about it......

DISNEY HERE WE COME! We received our travel information in the mail yesterday. Only 1 month and 1 day away!!!! This is our first trip to Disney. We are so EXCITED!!
I hope you have a great Wednesday!!

Is it Monday OR Tuesday??

Jarrett was out of school yesterday.....so today has felt like MONDAY all day long. I'm confused! and Blonde too!! LOL!!
I have been out and about all day today. Just getting some misc stuff done......I also didn't get to do my early morning post like normal....so here it is now.

It's been one BuSY and CraZy day. This evening we will get to stay home together. Since CHAC Basketball season is over...we only have Upward BB practice on Thursdays..then one game on Saturday. This Saturday, we will also be going to sign Jarrett up for his third year of CHAC Baseball and ALSO signing the Blakester up for his FIRST year of T-Ball! We can't wait to watch them both play this season!! It will be Big Fun!!

Ok....I have a new revelation in my life! Here it is.....
NO MORE CAFFEINE FOR ME! I'm not a coffee drinker...but, I'm beyond addicted to Diet Mtn Dew. I'm talking...I drink a 2 liter or MORE a day. I know that is NOT good for me. Not to mention I hate that I have let myself become sooooo addicted to this drug. Yes...caffeine is a drug. If I don't drink it I get MEGA headaches and if I don't keep drinking it throughout my day.....I get so tired and sleepy. I don't like how it makes me feel! I have decided from this day forward I am not going to drink anymore caffeine...and drink LOTS more water. Hopefully by the end of this week.....I will have kicked the habit. So, my sweet blogger buddies, say a prayer that I don't go NUTS in the process. Pray that I don't get unbelievably grouchy....and that my headaches are not too bad. Oh...and that my family survives my detoxification!! LOL!
Bye-Bye Diet Mtn Dew! I'm gonna miss ya....but, we just ain't good for each other any more.....I've got to let ya go. One more thing....in an 8oz glass there's 35mg of sodium!! I certainly don't need that in my diet either.

AND....One more little change in mine AND Blake's life is.....I am going to do some supplemental homeschooling with him. He goes to preschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays...and I don't feel like he is getting everything he needs. So we are going to have school at the Fox house....M,W and F too! Blake and I actually just finished making a little area in his bedroom with a desk. We visited our local school supply store for some workbooks and other little odds and ends today. I'm excited about it. He is excited about it right now. That will probably change though. I hope not. I hope we can have fun with it......I have always tried to make learning fun with Jarrett and Blake. Jarrett picked up on everything VERY fast......Blake, on the other hand, I see struggling with the things that Jarrett had no problem with. I know.....I shouldn't compare. I'm not exactly comparing the two of them...I can just see such a difference between them. Blake doesn't like to sit still long enough to learn something....he would rather be running around and playing. Which, that's just Blake. I have already decided that if I don't see any improvement in Blake....I am going to hold him back next year from Kindergarten. So we will see what happens. We just want to do what's best for Blake =-). Also...it won't hurt my feelings any to have him home with Mommy another year!! Who knows, I might even decide to homeschool him for a few years. We shall see....
Here's a couple of pictures of his new space in his room.
Oh...and...one more thing. I went 35 minutes on the elliptical today at the gym,I burnt 500 calories during the full length of my workout...including weights!!! Look out you 4 lb weight loss people!!! I'm coming for ya!!!!!