WEIGH IN DAY :)

Well hello everyone!! Weigh in day is finally here and I'm feeling very proud of myself, even if I'm not in the happiest moods but that's for later.  As many of you know, I started a weight loss journey on June 1st and have been working very hard at it for the last 3 months....there have been slip ups yes...but I've also had many, many great days.  Besides just feeling better overall (besides my tonsils) it's a great feeling to have when you slip into your first pair of normal-size (meaning not plus-size) pants and they fit...then a week and a half later they are too big!! :)  I must say that this month surprised even me....hehe!!! Are you dying to know the numbers yet?!? Alright then....I'll tell you. :)
             
                June 1st          Aug 31st
Weight:      241.5               208.5
Waist:          42                    35
Hips:            52                   46.5
Thighs:         29                   24.5
Arms:           14                   12

So, I'll break it down for you :)  I've lost 13 lbs this month...I feel very blessed to have this number because all I've been able to do for the past week and a half is 1 zumba class and little workouts at home....and the little workouts at home haven't been done very often...just soooo much stuff.  I've heard from friends and just people that if you want something bad enough "you've got to make the time"  Well I'm here to tell you that I still want to keep losing weight just as badly as I first did on June 1st when I made this lifestyle change.  Sometimes there is just no time to be made...........but don't get discourage because you can still make it by changing your eating habits and even doing a few crunches here and there...it's worked for me and kept my metabolism going apparently :)  Anyways I've lost 33 lbs overall, and 19 inches off my body. (not inlcuding my face, but I've heard from several people that I look like a completely different person...not too much i hope...i kind of like my face hehe)

I SAVED ZUMBA TODAY!!!! Hahahahaha ;)  So, mid-blog I get a call from my friend Summer, who is also my zumba instructor. (The most amazing zumba instructor!) Her car won't start!!! So even though I'm not dressed (in pajamas) and I'm not going to zumba (tonsils) I can't just sit by and let the other zumba girls suffer lol so I rush out and pick her up and drop her off at the YMCA.  I hope you girls have a wonderful last Wed. morning with zumba and I wish I could be there :) I must say that it helped me get out of my funk this morning :)

I must admit that I'm kind of bummed out because my husband leaves this Saturday and we are both so busy there is really no time to spend together before he leaves :(  Not for lack of trying though...neither one of us can take a day off before he goes either..buying a new car and having to pay for the towing bill of the van have really set us back and made it extremely difficult to make this happen.  We are "trucking" along anyways, somehow we WILL make this happen :) Anyone wanna win the lottery and then split it with us ;)

Well, wish me luck, I go see the specialist tomorrow that make or break my life at the moment :/  I really believe that I need to get these tonsils out and I've heard a lot of hubub on my facebook about it lol....believe me guys when I say I don't take this option on lightly and I don't take being off of work for more than a day lightly either.....if I could live with them in I would, but when your tonsils are constantly trying to be bigger than the size of your tiny-lost weight throat can handle (hehe) you would want them out too.  It's messing with my livelihood as well, I love being a singer and would love to do it professionally :) but that will never happen if after singing for a few nights in a row I lose my voice for 3 days following...also it's hard to work anywhere when you can't speak to be friendly or even speak just to ask their order :/ So please, no more grief!  They NEED to come out, trust me! No one can live on antibiotics for the rest of their life :)

I'm gonna have to go soon, and get ready to go have lunch with my mom :)  I'm hoping she will be the last happy thing I need to completely turn my day around...I love hanging out with my mom!!   We have always been there for each other, through breakups, divorce, alcoholism and just overall crappy times lol!  I have to say that I'm so proud of my mother...she's been sober for a couple years now...has gone back to school and graduated with all A's and couple B's (which bugged the hell out of her hehe) and is now working as a Medical Assistant at Evergreen Urgent Care.  She LOVES her job and I love her sooo much and I will say again that I'm sooooooooooo, sooooooooooooo proud of her!! It's hard to turn your life around from an addiction like that one...it's hard for everyone...the person addicted and their family and friends.  If you know someone like this...don't give up completely on them...I know it's hard from personal experience...but maybe, just maybe one time when you try to talk to them they will hear you and it will make all the difference. :)

Well I think that's about it for now :)  Have a wonderful day everyone!!!


Love,
Amanda

P.S. Sorry the pictures are so small....my computer is being funny lol!

Phew!! What a weekend..........

Well everyone the weekend is over, and yes my weekend includes Mon. as well as Fri, Sat, and Sun because my days off are Tue and Wed lol!! It makes sense in my head.  I've been thinking about what I would put in this blog and there is just so many topics to cover...I apologize ahead of time. ;)

Well, I promised myself that I would pack at least one box a day this weekend and did it happen?  HELL NO, BWAHAHAHAHA!!!  I managed to pack 2 boxes of books up this evening and add to the while away books pile.  What's cool is that if while away doesn't end up wanting them, they will donate them for you....so no matter what happens they are not staying with me but don't end up in a landfill...now that's a win-win situation.  I already know that there will be no sewing done on the weekends unless I have last minute projects to get done...and I mean last minute lol....otherwise I will put all my sewing on weekday morning before work and days off.  I don't want to get sick, cuz that will definitely not help anything get done. ;)

I have been so awful when it comes to exercising the past week lol, although I'm sticking to the fact that it's not my fault.  I wasn't feeling well, and then I've had two friends who were moving away for school. :( (one to europe!!!)  So of course we had to hang out every moment possible, which means not going to bed until 3am sometimes haha! It's cool though...my weight loss journey is still going through good diet and exercise at work...the non-stop walking back and forth has got to help some :)  Make sure you check in on Wed because it's the last day of the month and you all know what that means.......WEIGH IN DAY!!!!  I have to say that I'm doing exceptionally well this month, but you will all have to wait in suspense until Wed to find out just how exceptional I am. ;)  JK, but really!!! it's a good number.

Just so you get an idea of what I'm talking about...I want to put it in perspective :)  The following picture is of "the pants", "the infamous pants" and ladies,  you know exactly what pants I'm talking about.  The ones on the shelf that you dream of fitting into...the ones that you can close but know that you will look ridiculous walking in because they are so tight you can't bend haha!! Men, you know what I'm talking about too ;)  Well I decided I would try them on once again...I bought them in June from the thrift store and tried them on once a week for a month and got discouraged :(  Well apparently I waited to long because they still don't fit, but the opposite way...I have to wear them with a belt now!!  Hahaha, THEY ARE TOO BIG!!! (Psssttt...I love saying that!)  I've had some people tell me that I'm their inspiration for getting healthy and that's awesome!! Thank you, I'm flattered :)  I just want to give you some words of wisdom...DON'T GIVE UP!!  Even if you only lose a pound a week, which I can tell you from experience is soooooooo discouraging, DON'T GIVE UP!! You can totally (totes) beat the crap out of your weight...and if anyone ever wants to talk...text me, facebook me....whatever!! I'm here for you!!!

I just wanted to let everyone know really quick  two of my diet secret weapons...and if  you read this and go, "NO THANK YOU!!"  "That's not for me!!"  Try it before you knock it guys. :)  So number 1:  QUICHE!!! It's a low carb, low cal....just overall yummy breakfast, lunch or dinner option. I plugged the recipe into my food calculator and it comes out to be about 250 cal a slice and keeps you full for quite a while :) number 2: PROTEIN SMOOTHIE...just throw some sort of low cal, or no cal drink into your blender...add frozen fruit (about 1 cup of each) and blend, then 1 scoop of protein powder and you've got a wonderful meal replacement...full of nutrients and good stuff.  (also, if you find yourself needing a little more to stay full, try using 1/2 cup of milk, and 1/2 of drink...it's not a whole lot but milk adds some extra protein)  If anyone wants a quiche recipe just send me a message on facebook :)  And remember, I DO NOT eat these all the time...or every morning....If you can do that, then more power to ya, but occasionally it nice to have some bacon ya know?  Just remember to eat good portions and you will be fine....if you are afraid you can't do it then maybe you shouldn't add things back into your diet just yet...but I assure you...YOU CAN :)  Baby steps ;) (hahaha, now I'm thinking about the movie What About Bob? Great Movie!!!)

I had my first official gig(s) with the Eddy Ross Band :)  I had a blast, although the first one was outside and blistering hot lol!  It was for a good cause, so I guess I'll let the weather slide :)  On a side note I never would've made it this gig if it wasn't for all the awesome support I receive from my boss, and former manager.  Yes, I said FORMER manager.  He came in, even though he has a new job and doesn't work for my coffee any longer, and covered for me for a couple hours.  You are a very sweet guy Scott Redcay and I thank you so much :)  I'M ON YOUTUBE!!!  I love it, I'm famous!! ;) Not really, but it's a pretty awesome feeling to look up my own name on youtube.com. Here's the links to a couple of songs we did :) The sound is not great..but it's not terrible!! Thank you to my husband for recording them for me!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG67rod10z4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVRuMNOA7Xg


Our second gig was at the Eagles club in sutherlin, sort of a recurring gig that the band has and some of those people are the nicest people you'll ever meet. It was a lot of fun watching them dance their hearts out.  Okay, here's my favorite part!! While tearing down the equipment and getting ready to leave I was approached by a woman who says she owns a small record label in Portland!!! Which one you say....well I was so tired and delirious from lack of oxygen (one word: tonsils) that I forgot to ask...she was in a hurry to get somewhere else, but took my business card and said she would be in touch :)  Now I know that it may be nothing and nothing is probably what will come of it, but what a way to end the night!!  I was thrilled that she liked my voice and told me that she would love to hear me playing piano and sing some solo pieces for her...I was kind of on cloud nine at this point....EUPHORIA!! hehe -----------------> this is euphoria picture ;)

Okay, well on to the tonsils.....UGH!!  I'm so tired of them.....I wish I could just spit them out haha!! Wouldn't that be nice?!? I have been battling with sore throats, strep throat, bronchitis, tonsilitis all my life, not too mention losing my voice at every turn, and I'm soooooooo done!!!  Just DONE!!!  I had an appt. scheduled for late Sep. but I woke up this morning and couldn't talk and barely could breathe. Ask and ye shall receive, I called the specialist's office and they had a cancellation for Thur. thank goodness. I'm hoping that they will pump me full of antibiotics and rip them out as soon as possible.  :)  Here's to hoping!!  My cousin says that you can insist to have them removed...she did for her son because they caused him trouble.  Well...........I'm insisting damnit!!  I have been gargling salt water for 2 days now and boy can I tell you just how nasty it is lol!!! After the first attempt of putting WAY too much salt in the glass and knocking the wind out of myself...I've managed to gargle some without wanting to puke lol.

Well, with all that said, can you believe that Summer is drawing to a close?  All the kids are going back to school and my little brother is a senior this year and well on his way to joining the marines!!  It's soooo crazy!!  Fletcher moves in 5 days and I'll be counting the days til I head that way too........

Well don't forget to check my Wednesday blog!!! I can't wait for the numbers!!!

Hugs,
Amanda

Needles, Bobbins, and Thread.....Oh My!!! hehe

Well, after waking up at 6:30 am(wide awake I might add) I've decided to take a break and share how my day is going. :)  I really decided to take a break when I sewed a jacket sleeve on INSIDE OUT haha and had to start ripping stitches.  Goodness Gracious!!!  I've done this before....in fact a few times ;) but I will make it right again. I'm making progress...I keep telling myself, ha! I will get this done :)  It seems a very daunting task at the moment, but it will soon look better. I'm not only making progress on the sewing aspect of costumes, but I actually have a game plan for gathering up mens suits that we need (cuz I guess the men have to be dressed as well haha) and the stuff that I need to order online. (hats, some shoes, etc.)  It's hard to see the progress, but it's there.

Also, I feel like I'm making a little progress in our life as well.  Talked to my mom this morning, and it certainly helps to have someone to bounce ideas off of :)  Like, figuring out if we really need to rent a u-haul, or try to borrow someones truck.  Do we need to buy an air mattress to make this two household thing work, or has Mom conveniently just bought two of them for camping? Hehe, thanks mom!  I'm very excited that I'm finding we have so much stuff that we can donate. :)  Over the past 6 years, Fletcher and I have acquired(pardon my french) A LOT of shit!!  I'm sure that most of it has to do with me haha, I sort of take over once we move in somewhere.  What can I say? It's what I do!  Anyone who knows me probably knows that I have an amazingly love for animals...so I'm pleased to say that anything we can't sell is being donated to the
New Beginnings SPCA Thrift Store on SE Stephens! :)  It will help the shelter earn some much needed money.  I also challenge all of you to join me in, what I'm now affectionately calling, FALL CLEANING!! Go through those clothes in the very back of your closet, you know the ones I'm talking about ladies, the ones you haven't seen in years. ;)  Men, go through your tools, get rid of the 50 screwdrivers you DON'T use.  If you feel, that un-like me, you need everything in your house, then maybe you can donate a bag of cat litter, or cat food.  Of course, you can always donate your time as well.  There is always a need for help sorting, cleaning, and pricing donations.  Even cleaning litter boxes or holding a kitten for 15 min would do a world of good. If you have any questions about the shelter or volunteering, please don't hesitate to ask me!! :)

While talking about the thrift store it reminded me that a few days ago I got word on facebook that one of my favorite cats has been adopted!!! I'm so thrilled that someone has found LILY  to be the cat for them and hope that they love her as much as I have.  She definitely has some attitude haha! But that is why I love her so much ;) any girl knows that she's gotta keep it real.  Am I right? I feel that while I am writing about her I must also post a before and after photo.  She did let herself go a little bit when she got used to the comfy shelter life haha!  There is definitely a little more to love than there used to be, but I'm sure once she gets settled into her new house she will become that playful girl I knew before. :)

Also, I'm very excited to say that my friend Sam finally made it to France!!  Let's still keep sending her good thoughts and good juju because last I heard she was frustrated with the train issues after getting off the plane haha!! It nevers fails!! There is always something to to challenge you when traveling, but I have faith that she will manage.


 Just her smile alone could probably get some unsuspecting french man to give her a ride to where ever she needed to go. ;)  I hope you are in fact where you need to be when you read this Sam and are settling in nicely with your host family.

Vous êtes Sam stupéfiant! Montrez la France qu'ils ont manquée.


Well, I think that's pretty much it....except for my debut performance with the Eddy Ross Band is tomorrow afternoon.  Followed by another performance that evening...I'm super excited and have family and friends stopping by.  I learned yesterday that this is an all ages welcome event, so please stop by the zoo tomorrow and support this benefit for Camp Millennium. There is a $5 cover for a full day of bands and lots of other fun stuff.

Love to you all,
Amanda

P.S. I just found out that the apartments we are moving into are going to let us have my piano!!!! I'm so thrilled....now we just need about 7 or 8 strong men to help us move it. :) Keep that in mind everyone, we will probably be moving all the heavy stuff up to Portland sometime during the last week of September and would really appreciate any help.

I've decided I Need A New Sewing Machine

First of all, another shout out to my friend Sam, who has still not made it to France.  Unfortunately we all know the hassle of delayed flights :( but I'm still sending all that good juju that I spoke of yesterday straight to you.

Moving on, many of you know that I'm a seamstress on the side, mainly doing costumes for theater shows.  While I really enjoy doing the work it definitely has its drawbacks when your as busy as I am...but I keep doing it haha! I can't stop..I really do enjoy the satisfaction of a cast looking awesome because of my good work and seeing my name in the program is always a plus :)  After an extremely restless night and only managing two hours of sleep I decided to start on my newest project THE REMARKABLE MR. PENNYPACKER.(For those of you who might not know this show is a comedy :) Pa Pennypacker runs the family business, both factories in different cities, shuttling back and forth.  He has one wife and kids in one town and ANOTHER wife and kids in the other. When the two worlds collide...well I wouldn't want to spoil it for you ;)  Come check it out at UACT Sep.15-Oct. 9)  It's a show set in the late 1800's which is a time period that I've never done before.  I'm very excited about designing these costumes and putting my own little touches and spins on all of them.


This morning while sewing I realized something.  I've had this same sewing machine for going on 8 years, just an extremely low end machine that has been falling apart forever it seems like.  Somehow this poor thing just keeps going and going haha! I'm just praying that this little puppy keeps going for a little while longer : /

As the date of Fletcher moving up to Portland is drawing near I find myself getting a little anxious about getting everything done for this show, and getting the house packed up and cleaned.  Trying to figure out what I need to keep with me, as I have another show directly following this one that will require just as much sewing haha.  Thank goodness my sisters are so awesome and are letting me move in with them, commandeering their living room and part of one of their bedrooms.  I'm really not sure how it's going to work out, but hey..it's only 3 months.  I will not complain about their amazing water pressure and never ending supply of hot water. Last month our water heater broke and I had to take a shower over there..think of it as the shower of heaven.  That's what I will be calling it forever more.  I'm extremely grateful that I will be in our old house through the last day of september.  I can finish getting all this costume stuff done and then still have 15 days to pack up the rest of the house and get everything in order to finish moving.  I have no fear that we will get it done though, I have an awesome group of family and REAL (to be addressed later in blog) friends. (you know who you are) I'm also anxious about seeing our new place, because our work schedules are so different I wasn't able to view the apartment and won't be seeing it until we are all moved in most likely towards the end of September...such is life.

I found out some awful news last night...a so-called friend has been spreading rumors about myself and/or my husband and it made me terribly upset.  I'm so tired of all the drama in this town!!  I will not name names but you probably know who you are...I'm not going to shun you...I'll even be polite and friendly because I think that everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt...but please KNOW THAT I KNOW and I hope you will stop because while every married couple has problem occasionally, Fletcher and I love each other very much and are extremely solid.  Also, you maybe spreading rumors to hurt or get back at one of us, but your dragging other peoples names through the mud needlessly.  With that said, I'm done with this topic and extremely happy to move to Portland...taking my real friends with me in spirit and making new ones along the way :-)

The only sadness I feel about leaving is that I was born here...lived here almost all of my life, so I'm sure a part of me will miss it terribly.  Most of my immediate family lives here as well..I've never been more than an hour and a half drive from my mother...so it will be tough for me and her too I imagine. Three of my siblings, my nana and papa and many other aunts, uncles, cousins, etc... Roseburgians...we are getting close to farewell..it's bittersweet..but time :) Rest assured that I will keep blogging during all of this and will be home to visit often when we are gone.

Smiles to all of you,
Amanda

Living Life With No Regrets

Well everyone, here goes nothing :)

Over the last couple weeks I met this wonderful new friend and it has been a whirlwind ever since haha! She is unlike any person I've ever known and inspires me to live life to the fullest. We have become so close, so fast..this is an awesome friendship.  I want to give a shout out to her.....HEY SAM!!!, she's driving to the airport as I type, to board a plane to France :)  I'm excited about this new chapter in my life...I don't know why but I all of a sudden feel so different..so light-hearted! Like nothing can get me down, and I'm bound and determined to keep it that way.  I think a lot of it has to do with the situation life has put my husband and I in.

My husband received a transfer to Portland way earlier than I am able to move with him...four months earlier to be exact.  I will be staying in Roseburg with family until I tie up some loose ends.  I didn't realize it at the time but I was stressing myself out, day and night, about being apart for so long.  Then four days ago my husband crashed his van, spinning and flipping it completely upside-down and nearly going over the side of a hill.  He was extremely lucky, only scraping his elbow and being slightly sore. (all due to wearing his seatbelt...everyone should...and I'll admit that I didn't always wear mine, but I definitely will from now on) After this happened I realized that I had been so stressed out and worried over something that so small. Four months will be tough, but losing him entirely would have been devastating...so I'm choosing to see the silver lining.  I still have a wonderful and caring husband :) and we now have a nice, shiny, semi-new 2005 Chevy Trailblazer that he loves!  So from here on out no worrying about everything....I'm done with all of that!

 Also, another thing I learned from my new friend...I see her living life from day to day...doing anything and everything she wants and it makes me want to do the same.  So I've decided that I can still be the same wonderful, caring person that everyone tells me I am and still do the things that I want do to.  Speaking of which...I went tanning yesterday and I think that I'm going to keep going for a little while..it makes me feel good to do something for me, even if most of the time it's covered from head to toe with work clothes haha!

On another note: I started a weight loss journey June 1st..it has been a stressful road...always worried that if I take one day off from exercising it will lead to a week and then a month of sitting on my butt...but I'm extremely excited to say that it's now August 24th and I weighed in with great results :)

June  1st Weigh In:   241.5
Aug. 24thWeigh In:  211.5

That's 30 pounds gone off my body!!!! An average of 10lbs a month!! (and I've got a week left in this month)
Initially I was extremely anal about everything that I put in my mouth, but I realized that was not the way I wanted to live...so along with at least 3 days of exercise during the week..most of the time 4...I eat smaller portions of everything but don't beat myself up over eating some cookies now and then..or pasta either!! Don't do it people...food is NOT the enemy...it's PORTION SIZE!!


I've also joined a band :)  That's right people..I'll be singing with the EDDY ROSS BAND..my debut with the band is this Saturday at Zoofest 2011(at The Zoo in Roseburg) from 12-130.  Come on out and listen to fun music..it's for a good cause..all of the proceeds go to Camp Millennium which is a summer camp for children dealing with cancer.  We are not the only band playing....the music goes from 12 til the partying stops late in the evening....so make your way out!!! Hope to see you all there :)

Love you all,
Amanda

P.S.  I love this blog thing...I feel great right now!!!