Brace yourselves...

Clumsy girl is rocking a brace..  wish I had a good story to go with it..  no clue how I sprained my wrist and enflamed my nerves in my hand/wrist.... this weekend, I'll be shopping for my bubble..  wonder if they have those at Tarjay...

Some of you went to Chicago, but this weekend, Chicago came to me!

Ok, while I am still GREEN with envy over the BOOBs weekend, I am so full of love from my weekend with my girls.  They all descended upon Casa de Stull on Thursday at various times during the day and the following 3 days were filled with lots and lots of laughs, craziness and plenty of booze.  I definitely think we toasted Margo's last month or so of singleness in typical fun fashion.  I had a packed house - seriously, my house is not big enough for 10 people but we made it work - but it was all worth it! 

On a side note about BOOBs, you guys all look like you had such a fantastic time! And you all look FABULOUS!!!!  I love seeing all the pics so keep them coming!! 

xo,js

The whole group on Friday night.. 

My Arizona girls got to meet my Chicago girls.

Me and Shannon

Me, the bride (Margo) and Laura D.

Fanny (Jamie), me, Margo, TK (Tracy) and Shannon

TK, me and Shannon

Me and TMac (Tracy) on Saturday night

Laura D, me and Margo

Me and Crazy Angela

all the girls.. saturday night.

Angela, Fanny and me

Poolside Thursday night.. 

Poolside Friday during the day!

me and TK

end of the evening on Friday.. not sure how we are all still standing!!

Advice for all you BOOBS!!

Hey girls - first let me tell you it's unbearable to read your posts about your upcoming trip to Chicago b/c I'm so freaking jealous that I cannot make it! You are heading to my old stomping grounds and my most favorite place in the world! While I know this week is bad for the jealousy in reading blogs about all your plans, I know that next week will be even worse when I hear about how great a time you all had and what fabulous memories you made and see all the pictures (there BETTER be a lot of pictures!) you took! 

So, I thought I'd send you a list of some of my favorites spots to hit up if you have the time on either Friday night, Saturday day or Saturday night.  While I was't sure where you are staying, I figured it was close to downtown so most of these places are a quick cab ride away.

1.  Fado - huge Irish Bar that could accomodate the whole lot of you and you'll be able to chit-chat b/c it's not so overwhelmingly loud like a club would be!  (100 W Grand Ave)

2.  Clark Street Ale House - again, very chill, low-key place to grab a drink and be able to chit-chat.  (742 N Clark Street)

3.  Duffy's/ Durkins / McGees - these were my hangouts - they are up north a bit in Lincoln Park area but are awesome for college football watching on Saturday or pro on Sunday.  Good Food, good beer, etc.. 

4.  Penny's Noodles - there are a couple locations on the North Side - Lincoln Park/Wrigleyville - LOVE the food there!!

5.  Millenium Park is supposed to be super as well - it was just being built when I was moving out. 

6.  Lincoln Park Zoo is awesome and a great outdoor activity and FREE!! (I know this was on one of Deb's lists as well)

7.  Burton Place - great late night dive bar in Old Town (1447 N Wells St)

Looks like ya'll will have fabulous weather too!!!  Have fun, don't stress about what you are going to be wearing or meeting all the fabulous women you will be meeting! You all "know" each other so well already that it'll be just like reconnecting with an old friend! Can't wait to hear all about it and I'm definitely going to the next one!!! Who wants to be my roomie? :)

Pushing 40...

No, that's not a reference to my closely approaching birthday to celebrate my last year in my 30s before I begin my year of Jen when I turn 40 in 2011!!!  Today, I did 40 pushups..  no, not girl pushups with my knees on the ground, but REAL push-ups like a man...  I didn't think I could do it.  I actually wished I could see myself while I was doing it to see my form b/c I felt like I was doing it very well!!  I did them 10 at a time, but the point is, I did them!!  Yahoo for me!!

So, I've been absent from blogland lately..  haven't really been commenting much either. Just so freaking busy at work and in a small funk at home (in my brain, nothing to do with the hubs). Really, I've been feeling a bit like how I found one of my beags last night:

but it's the weekend and that means no work!! Woo HOO!!

I missed Thousand Word Thursday, so here it is...  Amy asked us to post a picture of our favorite piece of jewelry. I'll go with the majority. My engagement ring/wedding band. I love it b/c it's classic enough that it will stand through the years.  I love the story on how he went and picked out the diamond with my BFF Shannon.  It's starting to swing around a lot on my fingers but luckily I can still wear it  - apparently my hands don't want to lose weight. I do not have pretty hands which is evident in the picture!!

Finally, a big shout out to Nella!!! She sent me some Yummie tummie tanks!!! Love them! Thanks so much!

hope you all have a great weekend!

xo,js

Spilling the Beans...

So today was my 7 mile training walk.  I went down to Central Phoenix with my friends, "the Jens' and we walked the most beautiful trail, one that you wouldn't even know was in Phoenix b/c was there was not a cactus in sight!!  While they are both runners, one of the Jens is going to walk the 1/2 marathon with me while the other one runs, so they have both committed to helping me with my big training walks, which is super kind of them. It was nice to be with others and listen to them chat about boys.  They are both single hot moms who are traversing the scary dating world and it's super entertaining to listen to them talk about it.

At one point, we started talking about my band.  Everyone I know knows about my band however, no one but my dr. actually knows my starting weight. I was saying how when I say I've lost 75lbs, I still get the "really?" look b/c I'm still a big girl and I think people are surprised that I've lost 75 to look this way. Jen #1 was saying that she was surprised b/c she would never have guessed that I had 75 to lose so then I said, "yeah, and I still want to lose 70 more and even then, I'll still be considered overweight"..  she almost fell off the trail. So, at that point, I decided to come clean about my starting weight. Needless to say, they were shocked that I weighed what I weighed at my starting weight.  It was the first time I ever felt comfortable telling someone what I started at.  I'm not proud of it, but what I am proud of is that I've gotten to where I am and know that I'll get to my goal, whatever that may be, sometime in the next year or so.  I know I can trust these girls and they would never judge me.

I'm not going to make any big revelations on my blog, so don't get excited.  I, unlike many people I follow, am not 100% comfortable discussing my weight and don't think I ever will be.  About 25% of the people that are "followers" are friends or family and I'm not ready to disclose to the world yet!! :) We all have a level of what we care to share and with whom. 

Anyways..  this weekend has been a mix-mash of not feeling well, really busy and really laid back. Yesterday I woke up with a massive migraine which has returned this afternoon.  Last night we went out with some friends to see JB Smooth at the Tempe Improv.  I gotta tell you, I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life. I've never heard of him but he's freaking hilarious. I guess he's on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Til Death".. and he's seriously funny.  Today after our walk, we looked at houses, which may be the reason for my headache. We are moving at the end of October and I hate the thought of moving.. 

I'm gearing up for my big weekend in 2 weeks where all my besties come to town for our friend Margo's bachelorette.  it's going to be nutso. I'm somewhat stressed b/c there are going to be 10 of us staying at our house.  Timmy is being banished to an apartment that our friend Nicole's husband hooked us up with!!  Many of you guys will be in Chicago that weekend and I wish the timing would have turned out differently so that I could have met ya'll!!!  If you need any recommendations for places to go out for drinks and/or dinner, let me know!! I lived there for 10 years and am somewhat of an expert in food and booze in Chicago!! :)

Hope you all had a great weekend! xo,js

Thousand Word Thursday.. (and some other stuff)

Hey all!! I've been MIA again this past week. I think I'm coming down with something b/c I'm just plain exhausted lately!! I've been keeping up with my workouts but it just seems like I never get a break! This whole training to walk / run a 1/2 marathon is really getting in the way of life!!  The other night I walked 6 miles, felt totally great, had a great pace and then woke up the next morning and felt as if I needed to be in traction!!  Ugh, how in the world will I ever do 13.whatever it is??

Ok, moving on to Thousand Word Thursday:  the topic that Amy gave us today was:

"A decoration in your home that is very meaningful to you - a family heirloom, a gift from your BFF, etc."

For this one, I chose this:


This is my Grandma Frieda.  She passed away in 1987 when I was 16.  I think I miss her every day. I keep her picture in my bedroom. We've moved around a lot so you can see the frame is a little scratched, but for some reason, I love to have this picture in my bedroom. She was a phenomenal woman.  I wish she had lived longer to see the major milestones in our lives, like the birth of her great-grandchildren ( I know she would have just loved them) her grandchildren get married, etc..  I'm told I have have a lot of her in me including her love of entertainment and her kindness. I know that I inherited her "bingo" arms too!!  Our youngest dog is actually named after her!! She likes to watch TV so we always say she got that from her grandma!

This weekend was super fun out in LA.  It was great to see our friends and just relax and hang.  We went to Santa Monica on Sunday - it was awesome to get away from the heat and into some cooler temps!!  They have a sweet little one - Delaney, who in the past 4 months since I've seen her has grown like a weed and into the most hilarious little sass-pot!!!  Also, I think I'm becoming one of those people that takes their own picture ALOT!!! it's somewhat ridiculous how many pictures I just downloaded from my camera that are of just me..  am I becoming VAIN??  Say it ain't so!!! :)

xo,js

Something is wrong in the Unverse...

b/c  I, the mayor of slow loserville, seem to be picking up speed in the weight loss department.  Not sure if, after 4 months of slow rolling through life even though I've been working out like a mad woman, my body is finally catching up!!!  Today I jumped on the scale and am now down 75 lbs!!! Say WHAT??  I'll take it and hope for an additional 5 more down in the next two weeks!!!  

I'm off to LA tomorrow to visit our friends Ang and Ian and Baby D...  can't wait to see them and just enjoy the weekend!!

Hope you all have a great one!
xo,js

Thousand Word Thursday...

So, Amy came up with a great idea to start a new thing called "Thousand Word Thursday". Today's subject is: 

"Let's celebrate our own beauty and how wonderful we all look with a photo of your favorite feature "

Normally, I would say that my hair is my favorite feature, but today, I'm having a bad hair day so I went with my 2nd fave..  my FEET!!!

My feet are rarely in pictures and really don't get the credit they deserve. They get me from point A to point B and everywhere in between.. They are strong, sturdy and can look fantastic in a sweet pair of 3 - 4inch wedges (my max height!)

Thanks Amy for the fun blog idea!!!

This Girl vs. That Girl..

So, the other day, I took out my driver's license and it must be b/c I rarely look at my driver's license, but I was APPALLED by what I saw.. 

Do you see the expiration date on that thing??  10/23/36, which means that I get to look at this picture for the next 26 years, or until I'm 65 years old (I think I'm doing the math right)... Arizona is a wacky state!!!

Ok so, the real reason for my post title is b/c I look at this picture and it makes me so sad. That girl had no idea what was in store for her almost 3 years later. And, there's another ID picture that I can't get rid of either above ( my work ID) 

 Let's compare:  the pics above is THAT GIRL, the pic below is THIS GIRL: (taken today)

• That girl rarely got compliments unless they came from her husband, who has always told her she was beautiful, no matter her size
• This girl gets complimented every.single.day..  especially from her dear friend/co-worker Marty who says something nice to her EVERYDAY... and tells her/encourages her on how good she's looking. (shout out to Marty who told me she reads my blog "when she needs a pick-me-up")

• That girl would come up with a million excuses to not get up early in the morning to work out and to not work out after work either
• This girl wakes up naturally at 5:00 every morning (even on the days she doesn't work out) and laces up her sneaks and heads to her morning torture session - and LOVES it - and then sometimes does a 2nd workout in the evenings..  like a crazy person. And works out on average 6 times a week.

• That girl knew there was no way she'd ever lose her excess weight on her own and didn't have any hope at all..
• This girl knows she'll never be that big ever again and knows that there is a light at the end of the weight loss tunnel

• That girl always was a big talker about the things she wanted to do
• This girl actually does the things she says she wants to do

• That girl had the best friends and family in the world
• This girl still has that but has added to her friends with incredible people she met through blogging

• That girl was so sad and didn't realize it
• This girl is so happy (most of the time) and spreads it around to everyone around her.

So glad I have the reminders of That Girl (that are not going to be leaving me any time soon it appears!) I know they'll always remind me of where I came from and where I'm never going back to!

Have a great day!!

xo,js