Please pardon the dust...

OK, I'm just finally getting to the redesign. I'll be back and ready to go next year!!!

33.Send out Christmas cards on Dec 9, 2008

I didn't quite make this date. But I got them out!

No Sew Fleece Blanket...

I found this for my mom:
A tutorial for a NO SEW FLEECE BLANKET.

Mom: just click on the word tutorial, once the website comes up scroll down till you get to the heading that says no sew fleece blanket and you can see how it is made!

Here is another website with more instructions for the no sew fleece blanket.

I also found some websites with great fleece selections:

The Fleece Lady

Happy Thursday!

Um......

So, let's see. I'm not for writing much lately. Just trying to get things together. Work all day, play with Lil'D then put him to bed, and have a couple hours of peace and quiet. I have so much to do and not enough time to do it in. I just can't make the sacrifice of giving up going to bed at 9:30pm. If I don't get my sleep, I will be worth nothing at work the next day. I could stay up till midnight every night, but I think that things would be worse if I was tired. I have to get at least 8 hours.

I really need to change to look of my blog. I don't like the brown AT ALL! It's so blah.

Off I go.......

Time...where can i get some?

Does anybody have any time that I can have? I just am having trouble getting everything in. December is a crazy month! I need an entire week off of work to just get it together!

• Lil'D has his 18mos. doctor appointment this week.
• My company christmas party is on Friday night. It is a theme party...Disco Fever. I decided to make a dress. My Mom helped with most of it, but it wasn't done by the time she left. I am going to a friend's house on Wednesday night and I know the dress will fit perfectly after that!
• J's company christmas party is on Friday night as well. I am really bummed that I will miss it. It really stinks to think we will be at two different parties. Boo.
• I have to put our christmas tree up.
• I would like to get christmas cards out, but I haven't even bought them. It may not happen AGAIN this year.
• We need to get our family portraits made.
• I have gifts to buy for everyone. Lil'D is the only one I have shopped for.

I just need for Friday to be here, because I am working till 11am. The rest of the day is mine!!!

Workin' for the weekend!!!!!

Coming soon...

I'm still here.
My Mom was visiting for 2 weeks.
New Christmas design is coming soon!

42.Complete a jigsaw puzzle (not online)

We put together a round Mary Engelbreit puzzle. It was really a hard one.

What's going on in my life?

I'm just super busy being a mom, a wife, a daughter, a friend and an employee.

• Mom hat: Lil'D is just growin' up before my eyes. He counted to three today all by himself!! I cherish the half hour I have with him in the morning and the 2 1/2 hours I have with him everyday after work. I live for the weekends with him and hubby. This hat is so important to me!!
• Wife hat: I treasure my 2 hours after Lil'D goes to bed. This is our time. We play guitar hero or Wii together sometimes. We watch our tv shows like House, Amazing Race, Survivor, The Office, Chuck, & Las Vegas. We really enjoy our time together.
• Daughter hat: I talk to my Mom on the phone half hour in the morning on the way to work (after Lil'D is dropped off) and a half hour after work (on my way to get Lil'D). She is actually coming to visit tomorrow for two weeks! Can't wait. My Dad gets the scoop from my Mom and my blog. We talk occasionally on the phone or by email. We are both workaholics. Like father, like daughter.
• Friend hat: My really good friend AmyJo just had a baby. I spent the night with her and baby on Saturday night because her hubby had to go out of town on business overnight. I was more that glad to help out. I didn't want her to be alone either with a week old newborn. I am praying fervently for her and her husband. Having a newborn is hard work and exhausting.
• Employee hat: I work from 7:30am-5pm, Monday thru Thursday. I try very hard to work till 11am or at the latest 1pm on Fridays. Fridays are supposed to be me days. I usually go to Trader Joe's & Henry's, go home and clean the kitchen spotless, maybe play a little guitar hero then pick Lil'D up at 4:30pm. It's really the only me time I get besides nap times on the weekends. My goal is to work part time when Lil'D goes to public school. Financial freedom is the answer and actually within reach! We are on a "4" year plan!!!

I forgot to include my trainer hat, nutritionist hat, maid hat, cook hat, cleaners hat...

Life is just happening and I'm just trying to keep up!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

My prayers are with the family of...

I would like to take a moment to write a little something about someone special.

J.E. Adams

I just found out today that he passed away on Friday. His wife...Ms. Adams, was my twirling teacher. She has been a very very special friend to me. I have been friends with this family since I was 5 years old. That's almost 30 years.

He passed from cancer. I am unsure of the exact cancer, but I know he was diagnosed in Febuary or March. I saw him on my last visit home to Texas. Lil'D even met him. He was thrilled to meet Lil'D. Held him for a good while.

I just pray for peace and strength for Ms. Adams and her two sons. I can't even imagine what they are going through.

Dr. Adams was a happy go lucky man. He was always laughing. Didn't seem to have a care in the world. He was always very encouraging. He will be missed.

Weekend recap...

Here is a quick recap of the weekend:

FRIDAY:
Worked all day to make up for missing work on Thursday.

SATURDAY:
Wake up at 7am and eat breakfast with Lil'D.
9:30am naptime for Lil'D
Grocery store, run errands
2:30pm naptime for Lil'D
Take Lil'D to Auntie E's at 6pm
Datenight for hubby & I. We had dinner at Black Angus. We used a $50 gift certificate. Had Creme Brulee for dessert! Yummy.
Went to go see Baby DJ again. He was 10lbs. 13oz. He is adorable.
Pick up Lil'D from Auntie E's at 8:45ish. He went straight to bed. They wore him out!
Guitar Hero with hubby for half an hour at 9pm
Watched I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry with hubby.

SUNDAY:
Church at 9am
My boss' wife had a trunk show at 1pm. I only stayed for about half an hour.
J took me to the Harvest Festival.
J went to the Chargers / Colts game. Yeah Chargers won!!
I had the evening to myself once Lil'D went to bed. Lil'D is starting to have small tantrums. Not to sure yet how I am going to handle these.

I was really ready for bed on Sunday night. Lil'D wore me out. J finally got home at 10pm. The Charger's beat the Colts. I don't think anyone saw that coming!!!

Friday's Feast...

Appetizer
Which snack do you like to get when you go to the movies?
Popcorn! w/butter

Soup
What year did you start using the internet?
1997

Salad
What is your first name in Pig Latin?
(Here's how to speak it if you don't already know!)
Ellieay Aemay

Main Course
Name something you are picky about.
My hair.

Dessert
Fill in the blanks:
I____ ____ yesterday and I ____ ____ today.
I didn't work yesterday and I did work today.

Wordless Wednesday...

I didn't have a change to put this up last week, but had to share!!

For more wordless wednesday fun, please click here!

Weigh in...WEEK SEVEN

Start weight (09-18-07) - 166
Weight 1st wednesday (09-26-07) - 161
Weight 2nd wednesday (10-03-07) - 159
Weight 3nd wednesday (10-10-07) - 161
Weight 4th wednesday (10-17-07) - 162
Weight 5th wednesday (10-24-07) - 162
Weight 6th wednesday (10-31-07) - 162
Weight 7th wednesday (11-7-07) - 163

Yeah, what I said last week. I'm not gonna be 162 this week. I didn't mean this way.
No matter what the numbers say. I am kicking my butt into shape. I worked out 4 times last week. I know I'm not bigger. I checked my measurements and am the same measurements I was on week 2. This is so frustrating! I know it's the snacking on the weekend that did this. Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh. I am going to have to make myself go on. It's gonna be hard. I want to see lower numbers, not higher. Duh! The weird thing is yesterday I weighed in at 161. I was so excited to get on the scale this morning...and 163...I weighed myself twice just to make sure.

Here is what I did last week:
Monday - 30 minute Core Strength Cardio
Tuesday - 55 minute Billy Blanks Bootcamp Training
Thursday - 30 minute Core Total Body Workout
Friday - 60 minute Pilates Method

I kind of fall apart on the weekend with the food. I have found that since I am working out so much, I am hungrier. I haven't been prepared with the right foods. I have been snacking on junk.

This week I have been doing much better about snacking! After working out, I don't even feel like eating afterwards. Hopefully that will continue and make a difference!

Ten on Tuesday...

10 words that describe ME...

1. Woman of God
   
2. Wife
   
3. Mom
   
4. Daughter
   
5. Sister
   
6. Friend
   
7. Creative
   
8. Sensitive
   
9. Kid-at-heart
   
10. Little silly sometimes
    

want to see more ten on tuesdays? click here.

So, what have I been up to?
This weekend went by so incredibly fast. The weekends feel like they get shorter and shorter.

SATURDAY
We did a whole lot of nothin! Relaxed and played with Lil'D.

SUNDAY
We were woken up this morning at 6:30am. Poor Lil'D doesn't understand DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME. We dragged ourselves out of bed and started the day bright and early. Lil'D got whole grain french toast for the first time today. I got it at Trader Joe's. He really liked it.
The Charger game was on at 10am. It started out good, but ended up bad. It was a bad loss. Boo. Lil'D didn't take a second nap, he sat in his crib for almost 2 hours and talked and talked and talked. I kept thinking he was asleep and then he would start back up talking again. So we got him up and ran some errands and decided to go to North County Fair. We just love walking the mall. As always the highlight of the trip...the escalators. Lil'd loves the escalators. He knows exactly what to do.

Lil'D TV...

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Lil'D fun stuff...

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Halloween Montage

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thought I would share...

Your Superpower Should Be Super Speed

You're quick witted and fast to act.You're mind works at warp speed. From your perspective, everyone else is living in slow motion.You get so much done, people have accused you of not sleeping.Definitely not a couch potato, you feel a bit crazy if you're not busy doing something. Why you would be a good superhero: You're be the first on the scene... and likely to finish the job before anyone else shows up Your biggest problem as a superhero: Being bored by everyone else. Including other superheroes!

What Should Your Superpower Be?

Last day of October...

I cannot believe it is already the last day of October. Where is all the time going.

So tomorrow is the first day of my Thanksgiving theme. I had to type this out to see how the text color looks with the background. I love changing the theme of my blog. I am a designer afterall. Just because I design kitchens doesn't mean I can't design my blog!!!!

Goodbye October 2007.

Weigh in...WEEK SIX

Start weight (09-18-07) - 166
Weight 1st wednesday (09-26-07) - 161
Weight 2nd wednesday (10-03-07) - 159
Weight 3nd wednesday (10-10-07) - 161
Weight 4th wednesday (10-17-07) - 162
Weight 5th wednesday (10-24-07) - 162
Weight 6th wednesday (10-31-07) - 162

I goofed off for the LAST time this weekend. I have had enough of 162!!

I worked out Monday night for 30 minutes. I did a Core Strength Cardio Video. Tuesday I worked out for 55 minutes. I did Billy Blanks Bootcamp Training.

I feel great today. I back on track!! I'm eating what I should be eating, drinking water and WORKING OUT! Yeah me. It just took a couple of weeks to get back on track.

My boss's wife brought in Krispy Kremes and I had one, because I deserve it. It is Halloween after all! Who can resist a creme filled Krispy Kreme? I'm sure I'll even have a couple of pieces of candy tonight. But, hey...I'm working out and back on it tomorrow!!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

This was taken yesterday. Just wait till you see the pictures of him today! He is superman and it's really great!!!

For more wordless wednesday click here...

Pink Dyson....huh?

The Domestic Diva is giving away a PINK Dyson!!! Pink ya'll!!!! and a DYSON? Oh this would be sooooooooooooo awesome! The drawing for this lovely prize will be November 1st. I barely made it. So get on over and enter the contest!!

I want to win this!!!

Please visit Life, Love and some Goldfish Crackers. She is giving away something I want!!!The busy Mom's guide to bible study. This is exactly what I need right now. And if I don't win it, I'm definitely going to buy it.

Fall Ya'll Bloggy Giveaways

Ok, there is some really cool giveaways going on. I really wanted to participate, but I am absolutely too busy this time. Next time for sure.

Just click on the button above and it will take you to all the participating bloggers that are giving lots of fun stuff away. I feel so bad entering their giveaways and not holding a giveaway myself. I just can't overextend myself at all right now. I have found some new blogs that I just love. Here is who I have visited today:

Musings of a Housewife

The Happy Wonderer

The Natural Mommy

Pinks & Blues Girls Blog

Life, Love and some Goldfish Crackers

Fun, fun stuff is going on!!!

Hope you visit some of these fun sites!!!

The weekend...

Another weekend update. I will eventually get back into blogging everyday. I will do my best this week. I know there are a lot of old friends and family that read this. This weekend just whizzed by and I'm already ready for next weekend and Monday isn't even over yet.

FRIDAY:
I got up at 5:30, got myself ready...it was one of those days when I couldn't figure out what I was going to wear. I didn't like anything I put on. I finally was ready and went to go wake up Lil'D. I noticed that he was a little warm but continued to change his diaper and dress him. I fixed his oatmeal and fed him and realized he was acting a little weird and he was still warm. I brought out the cookies and tried to distract him while I took his temperature under his arm. The last couple of seconds he was getting antsy. Sure enough he had about 100degree temp. I cleaned him up from the cookie and let him down to play. I called Pam and left a message that Lil'D wouldn't be coming in to daycare today because he had a fever. I also had to call my boss and let him know I wouldn't be able to come in. We had a 7:30am meeting scheduled. He was ok with it. I guess he had to be. Lil'D and I played with every toy he owns. It was nice, I just wish he didn't have a fever. I also put in a call to the helpline for the doctor. I know that a lot of children's medication' just got pulled off the shelf and I didn't want to give him anything to reduce his fever without asking the doctor. I was right in waiting. The doctor said not to give it to him unless he had 102. When I put him down for his first nap he was tired. He slept for an hour and I woke him up. Pam and I have only been letting him sleep an hour for his morning nap, because we want to keep the second nap and eventually he won't take a morning nap.

So, yeah, I woke him up. Mr. C.R.A.B.B.Y. P.A.N.T.S. arrived. He just wouldn't stop crying and whining. This was totally not normal for him. I got out some yogurt, but every time I lagged in giving him the next bite he cried. He cried even harder after I told him the yogurt was all gone. I tried to play with him and divert his attention. I finally decided to take him for a ride in the car. That worked!!! He calmed down and we went back home and played some more. I put on the baby channel and we watched a little tv together. We had lunch. His fever seemed to be fading, but his nose was just non-stop running. And don't get me started on sneezing. EEww. Poor sweet boy, he was just miserable. I finally put him down for his afternoon nap at about 2pm.

J got home at about the same time Lil'D woke up. I don't wake him up for his afternoon nap. I let him wake up on his own. Mr. C.R.A.B.B.Y was back again. J thought there was something wrong with him. But I guess if you think about when you have a fever, your head is all stopped up, your nose just won't stop running and you wake up in a bad mood...we would cry hard to, if we could. We ended up taking him for a ride in the car again. He calmed down and we got dinner and Lil'D was happy again. We went to IKEA and Lil'D had so much fun in the kid's department. There are steps and a slide. He was in heaven. They also have little tents that are so cute. J couldn't resist and bought him one. We got home at about 7pm, we gave Lil'D a bath and put him to bed! He had a rough day. He didn't have a fever when I put him to bed. Thank goodness! I was exhausted from the day.

SATURDAY:

First thing this morning J installed Lil'D's new light. The house we live in is...is...weird. There are no ceiling lights in any of the rooms except for the dining room and the kitchen. The 3 bedrooms have outlets that are connected to the light switch and you have to plug a lamp in to get any lights. The living room is the same way. It drives me batty. Especially since Lil'D used to knock down the torchiere in the living room and I had to move it behind the sofa. Now he is knocking down his torchiere in his room. We got a light to hang on a hook so that Lil'D can't reach it.

We didn't do a whole lot today. We went to North County Fair mall to get out since we had been couped up all weekend. We had lunch at Red Robin. Lil'D loves cantaloupe and strawberries...and tortillas and chicken. Not cheese so much. He picked apart the quesadillas. It was fun to watch him take the cheese off.

We got back home at about 2pm and put Lil'D down for his nap. He absolutely didn't want to go to sleep. He has started this new thing. He puts his fingers in the back of his mouth and chews on them because he is teething back there. Well, he has figured out if he puts his finger far enough back, he gags. He did this with Pam one day to. Sure enough about an hour after I had put him down for his nap. I hear him gag, twice. I go in there and sure enough he made himself throw up. I don't think he like the result. Hopefully, he learned not to do it again, because it hurts. Of all the things, he knows how to make himself throw up. That's what I get for have the perfect baby that never spit up...ever. I was really fortunate. It always comes around in some shape or form.

So no afternoon nap...fun times. He held on the rest of the day. We went to Target and he got really tired. Eat, bath to bed early. He was out like a light.

SUNDAY:

Poor little boy, he coughed and coughed all night. J got up with him and gave him water and held him a little. He went back to sleep. What a sweet daddy!

The plan today was to go to the Charger game, but I was just having a hard time leaving Lil'D. I work during the week and only get to see him for an hour in the morning, then 2 1/2 hours in the evening. It is soooo hard to let someone else take him, especially a charger game because you have to get to the game early to avoid traffic, the game lasts about 3 hours, then you fight traffic to get back home. The whole outing is about 5-6 hours. AND since Lil'D was up coughing, leaving him with a babysitter could possibly mess up the naps and he really needed his sleep today. So, J went to the game and Lil'D and I had a fun day together. We had lots of fun and only had 3 timeouts. After putting him to bed my allergies flared up big time. I went to bed at 8:30pm. 9 hours of sleep for me. After this weekend they were well deserved!!!!

-Until tomorrow!

Weigh in...WEEK FIVE

Start weight (09-18-07) - 166
Weight 1st wednesday (09-26-07) - 161
Weight 2nd wednesday (10-03-07) - 159
Weight 3nd wednesday (10-10-07) - 161
Weight 4th wednesday (10-17-07) - 162
Weight 5th wednesday (10-24-07) - 162

Well, I have just flat out been goofing off. I worked out last Monday. I was just too lazy to work out at all last week and this week, the air quality with the fires is just not working out conditions. I've got to take control and just do it.

I had really good eating habits last week, but while my parents were here this past weekend I just ate whatever I wanted. Then, with the fires I have been doing a lot of emotional eating. Again, I've just got to take control and get back on track.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Weekend update...fires...

I know I haven't blogged in a while. I have been so busy and now with the fires going on, I just don't feel like blogging.

Last week was just a crazy work week. I just had so much going on that when I got home I was just too tired to write anything.

THE WEEKEND:

This weekend was really great. My Mom & Dad got to my house at about 1pm. Lil'D was so shy at first. It took a while for him to warm up to them. Once he finally realized I wasn't going to leave him with them he was fine. On Sunday we all went to the swap meet, it was really a great time. We were all worn out from it. All the rest of the time was spent with Lil'D. Mom & Dad were playing with him and interacting with him as much as they could get in. Thank goodness that my Dad decided to leave on Sunday night because if they would have left on Monday morning, they would have had a hard time getting out of San Diego. The wind kicked up at about 9:30pm and the smoke smell was starting to be noticeable. I decided to close all of the windows. I am really glad I did.

I was fine Monday morning. I took Lil'D to daycare and went in to work for a while. I started panicking once they evacuated Scripps Ranch. That is very close to our house. I immediately starting packing everything up. We were ready to go if our area got evacuated. Lil'D was completely safe where he was. He was definitely safer there, than where we were. Plus, I didn't want him to feel our anxiety while we were packing up our belongings. We would have evacuated to J's Mom & Dad's house, which is the area that Lil'D was. It was very eye opening as to what was important and what was not. I packed a suitcase of clothes for J & I, another suitcase with clothes for Lil'D. I had already put all my photos in 2 large storage boxes. I had done this from the scare we had 4 years ago. I also pulled all of our photos off the walls. We grabbed important papers, keepsakes, and our toiletries. I had a pile of everything right next to the garage door. J had even put about 4 boxes in my truck, just to get a head start. We made a list that included all of our AV equipment and computers. That was it. Everything else would be left behind. J and I stayed in front of the tv until about 1:30 or 2am and finally went to bed. Nothing had changed and it looked safe for the time being.

Tuesday morning I woke up really groggy and my allergies were killing me. I had taken a claratin, but it had made me feel really funky. I obviously stayed home. J went in to work for a bit but came back at noon. We just spent the rest of the day together as a family. I got to feeling pretty antsy and didn't want to be inside anymore. I also couldn't take watching the news anymore. Watching home and home after home be burned to the ground. J decided we needed to get out. We went to Wal-Mart to get some necessities such as toilet paper, toothpaste..etc. It was nice to get out and about. I really had a hankering for a vanilla latte from Starbucks. All of the Starbucks were closed due to the fires. Once we got back home I felt a lot better. We even went over to my sister-in-laws house 1 block over to visit. Lil'D has a fun time. He loves hanging out with his cousins. We slept much better, but I know there are many people who are having a hard time because they have either already lost their homes or their homes are in the path of the fire right now.

I am at work right now. Lil'D is at daycare. J is at work. I made sure he bought a good mask to wear so he wouldn't breath the horrible smokey air. Below is a photo of where the fires burned. My house is where the pink arrow is pointing. I feel very blessed that my home was out of harms way. The winds have currently changed and the "witch" fire is spreading north and the "harris" fire is spreading east (I think). I am not 100% about this info. The fires have been changing direction so sporadically. I just know I am safe.

The weekend...

I know, it's really been a while since I have blogged about everything going on in my life. Here are the last 3 days in a nutshell:

FRIDAY:

I took Lil'D to daycare and went back home. I have the day off because I originally thought Pam was not working the whole day. She told me on Thursday evening that she can work half day and everyone else is coming so why don't I bring Lil'D and do something for myself. How nice. When I got back home I cleaned my kitchen counters. There is nothing like sparkling clean kitchen counters!! I prepared my crockpot dinner for tonight. I pounded come chicken breasts and wrapped mozzarella and ham in them and popped them in the crockpot along with some mushroom soup. I started organizing everything in Lil'D's room. Every month I have to store clothes that he has grown out of. I have been using huggies diaper boxes to store everything. It looks horrible. I really need to buy some plastic storage boxes. It will look much better! After storing everything, I rearranged the furniture in his room to accommodate his new toy box shelves. I am much happier with the layout now. After his room with arranged I went to pick up Lil'D at 12:45. We went to the dollar store. I love the dollar store. I always find something I need. I got plastic thanksgiving tablecloths. They are really cute and it's better that just plain. We always have Thanksgiving at our house. I also got a bath mitt with a dalmatian on it for Lil'D. He puts it on his arm and makes it growl. It's really cute. I also got a plastic container to put in my truck to hold toys. They are everywhere and I just need a place to keep them contained!! We headed home and Lil'D fell asleep. I put him down for his nap when we got home. He didn't fall asleep right away. I cleaned out my truck. It so needed it!! My parents will be coming next weekend and I really didn't want them to see that. I need to clean the truck out once a week! It's just toys and stuff. It just takes over. J came home at about 2pm. We sat down and relaxed and watched some tv. It was a nice break! Lil'D woke up at about 4pm. We had Chicken Cordon Blu for dinner. It was probably the best crockpot meal I had made in the past 2 weeks. We all went to Costco after dinner. We needed everything: diapers, wipes, and water. Lil'D didn't seem to be feeling good, he was burping a lot. I teased him when we got in the truck. Please don't throw up in my truck, at least wait till we get home. He is only one, he couldn't have known what I was saying, could he? Sure enough, when we got home he started throwing up on the carpet in the living room. He didn't cry or get upset. He just stood there, throwing up. Poor little guy. He sure felt better afterwards. I took all his clothes off and J cleaned up the puke. Lil'D was running around so happy. We gave him a bath, gave him some pedialyte and he went to bed just fine. We were all supposed to go to the Mira Mesa Highschool football game, but of course after that Lil'D needed to go to bed. I went by myself. My niece, Andy, was performing in halftime. Tonight was probably the only night I could see them perform the entire halftime show. It was a really nice halftime. They are a really good band. They even sang in Latin at one part. I went home after halftime and Lil'D was still sleeping soundly. Needless to say, it was a crazy day!

SATURDAY:

We all went to the airshow. Lil'D loved all the airplanes and jets! We bought ear protection for him and he figured out towards the end why he needed to wear them. The Thunderbirds flew and just when they are doing a beautiful flyover in a diamond configuration, a lone jet comes out of nowhere flying fast and loud. I managed to get Lil'D's ears covered fast. It didn't bother him, but all the kids around us were crying. We had a really nice day and Lil'D even took a nap as we walked back to the car.

Click here to see photos!!

SUNDAY:

J went to the Charger game. Lil'D and I stayed home and I organized all his toys. He took a 3 hour nap in the afternoon. I just sat in front of the tv and relaxed. It was a nice relaxing day!

It was a really nice weekend overall. I wish I could take 3 day weekends all the time!

Have a lovely day!!

Thankful Thursday...

I am so blessed and thankful for...

• My day off tomorrow with Lil'D. Yeah, I can't wait! My daycare provider has a memorial and I HAVE to take off work! Lovely day!!!
• My husband's finger is healing! He has been back on housework duty this week and doing such a wonderful selfless job! Thanks sweet J, you are the best! I couldn't do any of this without you.
• My Mom & Dad are coming October 20th for the weekend! I am so happy that my Dad will get to spend some time with Lil'D. My Mom is coming back for Thanksgiving for 2 weeks. I love planning things to do when my parents come. We always have so much fun together. It is even more fun now with Lil'D!
• My boss is a pretty cool guy for letting me take the day off tomorrow and not making a big deal out of it or making me feel guilty in any way.
• My small group from church. J and I are in a young married small group. We meet at 7pm on Wednesday nights. We have been going for about 3 or 4 years. Right now we are studying the book of ecclisiastes. I am learning so much about King Solomon and the "experiments" he conducted and found no fulfillment in money, food, work...pleasures of this world...only true fulfillment can be found in God.

Hope your week is blessed in many, many ways!

New photos up...

I posted a new set of photos of Lil'D. Just click on the photo above and it will take you there. We went to Bates Nut Farm this weekend and it was packed. Lil'D had some fun in the pumkin patch though!! I also got some cute bathtime pics also. Hope you enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday...

I thought this was kind of cool. It's call a Warholizer.

If you want to do this to your photos go here: fd's Flickr Toys

If you want to see more wordless wednesday go here!

Weigh in...WEEK THREE

Start weight (09-18-07) - 166
Weight 1st wednesday (09-26-07) - 161
Weight 2nd wednesday (10-03-07) - 159
Weight 3nd wednesday (10-10-07) - 161

I knew it was going to happen. I just didn't know when. I really think it is water because I have been eating really well and controlling my portions. I haven't been so good about drinking my water. I brought my water bottle to work today, I had forgotten it for the past 2 days.

Here are my current eating habits:

• Breakfast - I have 2 pieces of cinnamon raisin toast


• Snack - I have 1/2 cup steamed brown rice


• Lunch - I have a BLT sandwich with mustard


• Snack - I have a small salad with this wonderful organic olive oil & balsamic vinaigrette. Yummy


• Dinner - Whatever I am making in my crockpot. Tonight is Lasagna.


• Snack - Fruit

It is all about portion control and not pigging out!! The hardest time is after 8pm. I want snacks so bad. It is a bad habit that I am trying to break!

As for working out, I just can't get myself to do it yet. In the morning I am all motivated to work out when I get home. But once I am home, I just want to relax. I'm thinking about working out in the morning once the time changes. I would have to get up at 4:30am. Blaahhh! I've got to stop being lazy and get to working out. I know that I will feel much better and be much stronger if I do!!! And I would get back into my pre-preggy clothes much sooner.

I know what I need: I need a pause button! That way I could get everything done and get to bed on time!!! Don't we all wish for that. Ahhh, a pause button!

Well, since there is absolutely no hope of a pause button I must continue on and work really hard on my self discipline!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

New fall "Halloween" design...

I knew it wouldn't take long for me to change the design again. I really liked the pink, but it's fall now and it's Halloween. Just wait till you see my Christmas design. This is really getting fun!!!!! Let's get into the spirit of things!!!!

Weigh in...WEEK TWO

Start weight (09-18-07) - 166
Weight 1st wednesday (09-26-07) - 161
Weight 2nd wednesday (10-03-07) - 159

I really can't believe that I am under 160. I'm blown away by this. I expected to gain this week from eating after the liquid diet. I should also be heavier because it's my time of the month. My body is crazy, I'm convinced!

So I have some really great results from being on the "lemonade diet" for 6 days. On Sunday night I tried a bite of pizza. I didn't like it. It was doughy and it just didn't taste good at all. I don't want pizza anymore! Wa-hoo. On Monday night I dug into the KitKats I had wanted all last week. I ate one and it was so plain and unsatisfying, I threw the other half out. KitKats are completely off my list. I have no desire for chocolate. Last night I had some hamburger meat in my Crockpot Casserole and it was so bland and tasteless. I had to ask J how it tasted to him, and he said it was great, full of flavor and that I was crazy. But the vegetable soup, BLT sandwich, salad with organic olive oil balsamic vinaigrette and my Ezekiel Cinnamon raisin bread, steamed brown rice and the vegetables in my crockpot are wonderful and satisfying. I really think that the lemonade diet got rid of some of my cravings!!! I am on a stable road of eating the right foods...finally! I really can't believe it.

My next step is really digging deep and working out like I should be! Right now I am 6 pounds away from being the weight I was when I found out I was pregnant with Lil'D. I tried on some of my pre-preggy clothes and I could button them!!! They were still too tight to wear, but it's just around the corner!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Wordless Wednesday...

Please visit Wordless Wednesday for more!

10 on Tuesday...

10 Television Shows you'd like to have on DVD...

1. Ally McBeal
2. Alias
3. Everybody Loves Raymond
4. The Closer
5. House
6. CSI
7. ER
8. Dark Angel
9. How I Met Your Mother
10. Lost
    

For more 10 on Tuesday click here!

Funny stuff...

If found this meme at I Should Be Folding Laundry and it made me laugh out loud so I had to share. Just so you know on a couple of them I used my real name, not Elliemae because it's funnier!!

• YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)

Dark Avalanche

• YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)

Rainbow Sherbert Nutterbutter

• YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)

C-Ham

• YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)

Pink Koala

• YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) ( I actually chose the town next to where I was born, it sounded better)

Lenore Lufkin

• YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)

Hamch

• SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)

The Blue Cappaccino

• NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)

John Jewel Sr.

• STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy)

Glow SweetTart

• WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )

Ann Elton

• TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)

Price Pensacola

• SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)

Autumn Daisy

• CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)

Kiwi Topy

• HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)

Toast Walnut

• YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)

The Blogging Thunderstorm Tour

Day Eight...

Today's weight: I fogot to weigh in today

I didn't eat breakfast this morning because I don't have anything worthy to go into my clean body!:) I finally realized I had some brown organic rice. I steamed that up and it was really good. Lil'D wanted some when he saw me eating it. He didn't like the first bite, but wanted to try again and kept coming back for more. I still felt a little light-headed. I guess rice isn't enough.

For lunch I had a bowl of my vegetable soup. It was yummy. After lunch, Lil'D and I went grocery shopping. I made a list first of what I wanted to make this week. I decided to start with only 4 dinners and try leftovers a couple of days. I really want to use the crockpot so here is the plan:

• Monday: Crockpot BBQ Chicken
• Tuesday: Crockpot Casserole
• Wednesday: leftover BBQ Chicken
• Thursday: Crockpot Fajitas
• Friday: leftover fajitas
• Saturday: Crockpot Stew
• Sunday: ?
  

I went to Trader Joe's first. I got some really good stuff: organic whole chicken, organic butter, bacon, edamame, Ezekiel bread, homemade wheat tortillas, and organic sour cream. I spent $27. 14.

Then I went to Henry's. I got a lot more stuff: 2 onions, green bell pepper, 2 lbs of potatoes, green beans, carrots, celery, tomatoes, fajita seasoning, salsa, refried beans, BBQ sauce, mushroom soup, elbow macaroni, and a pound of ground beef. You will never believe this...I spent $27.14. Isn't that weird.

There were some items that I couldn't find and have to go to Albertson's for: shredded cheese, mexican rice, cheddar cheese soup, tapioca, 1 1/2 lbs flank steak, 2 lbs stew meat.

Lil'D went with me to Trader Joe's and Henry's. It was a little difficult, but I managed. I am so used to have J with me at the grocery store. J was at the Charger's game. I wanted to test our budget against eating better foods. As you can see I did pretty good. I only spent $54.28. We try to keep our weekly grocery trips to $75.00. I still have about $20.00 left. I may spend a little more than that. We try to never go over $100.00.

I really hope to try to eat better now. I guess this is the end of my Master Cleanse journal because I didn't have any lemonade today.

-Until the next Master Cleanse...:)

Day Seven...

Today's weight: 160

The tea that I drank last night worked. I didn't do the salt water. Hallelujah. As soon as I was done feeding Lil'D his organic whole wheat waffle I started making my soup! I was really excited about eating. I was getting really hungry!

I sauteed the onion and the garlic in olive oil until it was brown. Then I put all the vegetables that I cut up in a stockpot along with the bouillon, the spices and a lot of water. I brought all this to a boil and then let it simmer for about 30 minutes. I couldn't wait to eat, it smelled so great!

It was finally done. I filled up a cup with broth and sat down and enjoyed it. It was really good. After my broth breakfast we had plans to go to the Air & Space museum (for free I might add). I totally should have brought my lemonade because I was feeling a little weak and felt a headache coming on from not getting enough to eat. Grandpa & Grandma Ham went with us and they wanted to take us to lunch. They wanted to go to Fuddrucker's. I couldn't believe it. There wasn't anything there I could eat. They wanted to go to Phil's BBQ first and that would have been complete torture. The whole point of my cleanse was to try to put good stuff back in my body, not fill it with junk again. I know, I know I don't need to be so extreme. But there is a time and place to splurge and today was not it. J got a salad, but I just couldn't make myself eat any of it because it was covered with caesar dressing. I fed Lil'D his chicken strips without the breading and just pushed through lunch without eating a thing. It smelled so good in that restaurant, but I was strong! As soon as we got home and put Lil'D down for his nap, I heated up a nice little bowl of my veggie soup (not just broth this time) and ate happily. It was good. A little bland, but good. I was easing my stomach back onto solid food. I was really proud for not giving in to temptation. I know I have the discipline and the will power to do this right.

I pulled a quart of lemonade out and started drinking it. I really needed to drink it and get some calories or I was going to eat something I shouldn't. We went over to Grandpa & Grandma Ham's house for Jeremy's family birthday party. Thank goodness it was a chocolate cake. I had no desire for chocolate cake. In case you don't know, I don't like chocolate cake. Never have, never will. I know it sounds weird, but it has been like that since I was a kid. Anyway I didn't want anything at the birthday party, the lemonade had filled me up. There is something about that lemonade that really satisfies you and makes you feel full.

So for dinner I had a yummy salad. I got some organic olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette. This stuff was super yummy. My salad was really good. I went to bed satisfied.

Day Six...

Today's weight: 163.5

I'm still hanging in there. I drank my salt water this morning with no problems. I gained a pound. That is weird. Probably the salt water, who knows. My stomach feels uneasy today. I'm not really sure why. It was also having spasms again. The spasms scare me. I'm getting really nervous about my stomach getting used to solid foods again.

I left work early today and went straight to Henry's to get all the ingredients for my vegetable soup. I bought carrots, celery, zucchini, spinach, potatoes, tomatoes, vegetable bouillon, garlic, and onion. I cut everything up and prepped everything for tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, I ate a few carrots and celery very slowly over the next couple of hours. I only had 2 quarts of the lemonade and drank a quart of water instead. I immediately started feeling hungry when I didn't drink the rest of the lemonade.

I drank my tea and went to bed. I felt sort of hungry but I resisted eating anything but carrots and celery.

What I'm doing right now...

My vocabulary is already growing. Here are the latest words I can say:

• mouth


• Elmo (I pronouce it melmo)


• shoes


• shadow


• and the latest word is push (i love to push...buttons, the shower stopper, and the light switch

I am learning how to say Chargers and touchdown right now. I even know to put both arms up when I say touchdown.

I have been testing Mommy alot lately. When she tells me to stop I just keep doing whatever it is she is telling me to stop. It is more fun that way. I have also learned to stomp my foot and say Uhhh. I learned this at daycare. When someone has a reaction to something I do, I know they just want me to keep doing it! Especially if they say stop.

Even though I've been awnry lately, when Mommy & Daddy tell me it's time for night night...I'm ready. Mommy kisses me, lays me down in my crib, she wiggles the elephants fuzzy tail in my ear and says "witty, witty, witty" and we both have a little laugh. Mommy tells me she loves me, Daddy says "Goodnight buddy," they both tell me sweet dreams we'll see you in the morning and the light goes out and I fall instantly asleep. Sometimes I talk a little bit but I'm usually out in a few minutes.

Night, Night

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
How are you today?
I'm really great!!

Soup
Name 3 television shows you watch on a regular basis.
Survivor
CSI
ER

Salad
What’s the scariest weather situation you’ve experienced?
Driving on a busy freeway in Dallas, pouring hard rain and hail

Main Course
If you could wake up tomorrow morning in another country, where would you want to be?
Europe

Dessert
What do you usually wear to sleep?
A pink nightgown

For a different menu selection please click here!

Mary Engelbreit stuff...

I found something oh so wonderful yesterday!!! Mary Engelbreit has a blog called This and That!!

In case you don't know...I love Mary Engelbreit. I love everything about her. It was so much fun to read her blog yesterday.

Thought I would share!

Day Five...

Today's weight: 162

I'm still hanging in there. I drank my salt water this morning with no problems. I gained a pound. That is weird. Probably the salt water, who knows. My stomach feels uneasy today. Otherwise I am hanging in there.

I felt a lot hungrier today. I think it is because I am thinking about what I am going to prepare this weekend to ease myself back onto eating solid food. My officemate PJ has made food all day that has smelled so good. That has been really hard to deal with. Chica had mexican food so when I opened the door to her office it smelled oh so heavenly. I didn't want to eat that specifically but I was hungry. I am craving vegetable soup so bad!!

I felt good all day, no weakness, no crabbiness, no light-headedness. Nothing. I feel very healthy and clean. I am ready for the weekend! I want to drink something besides lemonade. I am so bored with the taste. It's good don't get me wrong...and no you don't taste the cayenne pepper that much. If you taste it at all it's just a little kick of spice, no big deal. I have read that there are lots of people who put 1/2 to a whole tsp of the cayenne in. Some people like spice. I'm not too big on hot spice!

My lemonade was very maple syrupy today. I'm really sick of maple syrup. Tomorrow I am going to put an oz less of the syrup in. I had all my lemonade drank by the time I got home. Which is best for me. I wasn't tempted of tortured at all by J and Lil'D eating dinner tonight. I fed Lil'D as usual and was completely ok with it. J and I watched Survivor and I did "crave" a snack. I wasn't hungry at all. It was just a habit: watching tv = crunchy snack. BAD HABIT. I drank my tea. I don't like it anymore. I think that is because it is Chocolate flavored. I don't like anything that is Chocolate flavored. I am very picky about my chocolate and this tea ain't my kind of chocolate.

I was ready for bed by 9:30pm. I went to bed content!! I am also sleeping just fine. My body has adjusted to the routine of waking up at 5am. That is when the tea kicks in. I have had no problems sleeping at all.

I sleep like a baby :)

Thankful Thursday...

I am so blessed and thankful for...

• Everyone in our household is well again! Lil'D took the last of his antibiotic today.
• That even though my husband has hurt his finger pretty bad at work, he still manages to help me with everything. How blessed am I? He got the nail part of his right middle finger caught between a jacuzzi and the truck bed. It apparently gushed, but he got pressure on it right away. So, if anything slightly touches it he is in a lot of pain. I pray for his quick recovery!!!
• We are also blessed that my husband's job is a job that can still be done even if he can't function properly because of his lame finger. I am so thankful for "Cameron" who helps J at work a lot, but will be helping him even more until the finger heals.
• For an electric juicer! I have been on a cleanse this week and was squeezing lemons with a lemon squeezer. A juicer is so much better!!! It's the little things in life!
• For the quiet time I have been taking in the morning to read. It has been so nice.
• The overwhelming joy that the Lord puts in my heart everyday!
• The self-discipline and the will power I have discovered within myself through the cleanse I am doing.

Hope your week is blessed in many, many ways!

Day Four...

Today's weight: 161

I can't believe it's day four already. I drank my salt water a lot faster this morning. It was tolerable. I was ready to start drinking lemonade on the way to work. I was hungry.

I still feel good. I don't feel like I haven't had any food in four days. Strange. I did have feelings of being tired, but then when I would drink more lemonade I would get a sudden burst of energy. I was good about brushing my teeth today. After a while the acid from the lemon would just coat my teeth and they were so sensitive. I drank more water today. I was feeling a little dehydrated. I don't know how that is when I am drinking a gallon of water. I know it's not pure water.

The hardest part is when I get home and I have to feed Lil'D. J grilled chicken again tonight and warmed some green beans. It smelled really good. I didn't crave the chicken as much as I craved the green beans. I have been craving vegetable soup all day long. I long to have spinach and broccoli and asparagus. That is what I want. I'm really happy about craving that rather than junk. So, this cleanse is working the way I want it to. We went to UTC mall tonight and J got a Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake from Ben & Jerry's. Yuck, I had no desire to have any of it. It sounded and looked really disgusting.

When we got Lil'D into bed I prepared my lemonade for tomorrow. My best friend, Chica, let me borrow her electric juicer. Preparing the lemonade is not such a big fiasco anymore. I broke an enamel lemon squeezer from Wal-Mart and a plastic lemon squeezer from Long's. Isn't that crazy. I highly recommend buying a metal lemon squeezer. Those others are just cheap. The electric juicer was awesome. It took me no time to get 13 oz and it was a cinch to clean up!

I wasn't really into my tea tonight. I couldn't drink the last bit. I was over it. I really started to really think about this cleanse being over. I want to start eating food again. I have been going back and forth about how long I'm going to do this. I started out thinking I was going to do this for about 7 days. Then the past couple of days I have been thinking about doing it for 14 days. I've decided I'm only going to do it for 7 days. That's it. I'm really ready to start eating food again before my stomach forgets how to work :)

Wordless Wednesday...

Where did you get that blonde hair?

This is Lil'Ds Great grandpa(back of horse) & Great Uncle(front of horse). Great Grandpa had blonde, blonde hair when he was young and almost jet black hair as an adult. Makes a little more sense why my son has blond hair and I have dark brown hair. I have a blonde gene! I know it is supposed to be "Wordless" Wednesday but I just had to write a little blurb about it!

Please visit Wordless Wednesday for more photos!

Weigh in...WEEK ONE

Start weight (09-18-07) - 166
Weight 1st wednesday (09-26-07) - 161

As you can see I did great! Yeah me. BUT...I have been doing something completely different. I decided to start the Master Cleanse, which is also know as The Lemonade Diet. One of my co-worker's is on Day 12. What really attracted me to this cleanse is that it could help me not crave foods that are bad for me. I have learned so much about myself in the past 3 days. I am realizing that I am almost always eating when I crave something, rather than eating when I am hungry. I am really finding out a lot about my self-discipline and will power. I have both, but am lazy when it comes to food and I'm not caring enough about my body to really loose the weight. The website and the book of course want you to get off of foods that have chemicals, additives and preservatives in them once the cleanse is over. To go totally organic would be great, but it is just not widely available yet. I just don't have the time or the money to shop for this type of food. I will try to have a positive outlook and to see what foods I could do that are organic.

So, I haven't eaten solid food in three whole days...isn't that just crazy? This is the Lemonade recipe:

• 12 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 12 oz organic maple syrup, grade b
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• filtered water to make up a gallon

I drink a gallon of lemonade everyday. I am completely satisfied. I haven't had any bad headaches, feelings of tiredness, irritableness...I actually feed great. I have lots of energy and feel "light." I have not worked out at all, but I have walked a little in the evening. Not super strenuous stuff. I don't want to make myself feel bad.

I also have to drink Smooth Move tea before bedtime and do a salt water flush in the morning. The salt water flush is made up of:

• 1 quart of water
• 2 tsp sea salt

That is pretty much the hardest part of all this. It certainly is hard to get down. I did really good this morning, I did it in 4 separate gulping sessions!

So I have lost about 5 pounds since last tuesdays weigh in. I have lost 4 pounds since I started the cleanse on Sunday. But I know that I am going to gain at least half of the weight back once I get back on solid food. I'm not really sure how long I am going to do it. The website and book say that you should do the cleanse until your tongue turns a nice pink. (not red or coated) There are people who do anywhere from 7-21 days. I had planned 7, but I am doing really great and am not having any bad withdrawals from food, so I may go 14 and that's it. I just can't see myself doing it for any longer that two weeks. I already miss the crunch you get from food.

Here is the website that I have been reading:

• The Raw Food Site

This is just something I heard from a friend and decided to try. I went into it with the mindset of I can quit anytime I want. I have felt great and I am very happy with the cleanse so far. I hope to prepare my body for some really healthy eating and to maybe get rid of some unhealthy habits and to get where I want to be weight wise, gradually and not gain it all back!

Day Three...

Today's weight: 162

I survived another day! I am completely shocked at my will-power and self discipline. I woke up at 5am this morning and had my first salt water flush.

This lovely concoction is comprised of:

• 2 tsp of Sea Salt
• 1 quart of water

I just couldn't finish it. I only drank about 3/4 of it. The tea from last night got rid of the rest of the solid food I had eaten on Saturday. Let's just say that the Salt flush...flushed like it was supposed to.

I got really hungry on my way to work and started drinking my lemonade drink. In case you missed what that is made of, here are the ingredients:

• 13 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 13 oz Organic maple syrup, Grade B
• 1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper
• Filtered water to make a gallon

I felt good again today. No temptations to eat or quit at all. I am not torturing myself, I am not suffering. The lemonade drink is satisfying my hunger. I was in a great positive mood all day at work. I brought all 4 quarts to work today and finished 3 quarts by 5pm. I drank the last one on the way home. I am glad I had it with me, because every time I felt hungry I would take a swig. Yesterday I didn't have any with me on my way home and had hunger pains all the way home. I finished the last quart before I got home.

One weird symtom I had today was stomach spasms. My stomach started twitching. That was kind of weird. It felt like a baby kicking you when you are pregnant. It went away though.

When I walked in the door life just took over and the hunger just went away. J made Lil'D dinner. I fed Lil'D and talked with J. I wasn't tempted or hungry. I craved Lil'D's food for a few seconds, but that was it. I drank some water because my mouth was dry. We played with Lil'D and put him to bed. I made my Smooth Move Chocolate tea at about 9pm. I sweetened it with a little maple syrup and relaxed for a bit. Before I got into bed I prepared my salt water for tomorrow morning. I went to bed very content and happy with myself. I really am enjoying the cleanse. I feel so healthy!!! I am very pleased with the way that I feel knowing I haven't had any food in 3 whole days. Amazing...

Day Two...

Today's weight: 162

I survived! I really slept well last night. I got up at 12:30am to pee and went right back to sleep. Today was a good day. I woke up and felt fine. Once I started drinking my lemonade I felt great. I had lots of energy in the morning. I wasn't hungry at all. The energy continued for a majority of the day. I got a slight, tiny headache, but it wasn't bad at all. I had some weird stuff going on like being cold, having a warm feeling on my shoulder, and sinus drainage. I drank a quart of the lemonade on the way to work and had 2 more quarts at my desk. I had finished 3 quarts by 3:30. I didn't have anymore lemonade at work so I drank water till 4:30. I brushed my teeth a total of 4 times today because of all the citric acid on my teeth. I went by Henry's on the way home to pick up some sea salt and some smooth move tea. My stomach started growling and by the time I got home I was really hungry. Of course J was grilling chicken for him and Lil'D. I smelled it as soon as I pulled into the carport. I poured myself some lemonade and I was fine. I fed Lil'D chicken and carrots. I had to remember not to lick my fingers, it was hard! I completed my gallon of lemonade by 7pm. I made my gallon for tomorrow and then drank my smooth move tea. It was good, chocolate flavored and I sweetened it with maple syrup. I was so sleepy afterwards. I am going to bed right now.

Day One...

Starting weight: 165

Today wasn't so bad. I thought it would be harder. I drank my gallon of lemonade. It didn't taste bad at all, except for the cayenne pepper. The aftertaste is hot. It was really hard at about 8pm. I had just a little more left and it was so hard to drink. But, I did it. I don't feel bad at all. I actually feel good. Tomorrow is probably going to be hard!

Here is some info I found researching it:

According to “The Master Cleanser,” Burroughs’s book, the lemon acts as a purifier and provides potassium, the cayenne pepper adds B and C vitamins and aids in circulation, and maple syrup, a sugar, provides energy and minerals.

Wish me more luck!

The day before I start...

Today was a really nice day. Lil'D woke us up at about 7am. We played for a long time and he took his morning nap from 9am-10:45am. I picked up the house, had breakfast and made a list of things we needed from Costco, Walmart and the grocery store. I also downloaded a bunch of videos I took of Lil'D. Here is one of them

He was being silly!

When Lil'D woke up from his nap, we headed out. It rained pretty good this morning, but had stopped by the time we left the house. We went to Costco first. We got tons of water, tons of lemons, and some other stuff. Walmart was next. I found a gallon container there and some misc. items. At the grocery store I got cayenne pepper, syrup and whatever J needed for food all week. I got no food for myself...
...no food, you say. What is going on with EllieMae. Well everybody, EllieMae has lost her mind. She has decided to try a "cleanse." What is a cleanse you ask. Well, I am trying the Master Cleanse. This is a 7-14 day liquid diet that gets rid of all the toxins in your body. After the cleanse is done you no longer C.R.A.V.E. bad food. You actually crave fruits and vegetables...all the healthy food I am supposed to eat, but don't. I have read journals from people who actually say that bad food items actually don't taste good anymore after the cleanse. A co-worker of mine is actually doing the cleanse right now. He is on day 8 and he says that he feels really great and even his skin is clearer.

Here is the recipe:
13 oz of freshly squeezed lemon juice
13 oz of organic grade b maple syrup
1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper
mix with water to make a gallon

You only drink this, and this only, everyday for 7-14days, however long you can last.
In addition, I have to drink 2 tbsp sea salt with a quart of water to keep everything regular, if you know what I mean.

I have my supply of lemons, water and cayenne pepper, but I only have syrup for tomorrow and that is all. It is really hard to find the right syrup. Tomorrow I am not even using the correct syrup. I could only find regular grade a syrup. I called Whole Foods tonight and they have the right syrup, for the right price! Henry's had it but it only came in a 16oz bottle of like $15. Are they crazy? Must be some really good syrup.

So I am really excited about it. My officemate, PJ, is also going to be on this cleanse with me. We are together 8 hours a day, why not. I will post a Master Cleanse Journal entry everyday. You will get a play by play on this weird journey I have decided to take. Wish me luck!