Post-Christmas Catch Up!!!

Hi all!! Hope you and yours had a fabulous Christmas!!  We had a good one, but as I told my husband yesterday, I'm done with not being around family for Christmas!! It was good, but I missed the craziness that comes along with being in Northern Michigan, with the snow falling, lots of people talking and being able to go skiing..  it's just not the same.

Since I've been absent for a while from the blog world, thought I'd do a little catch up bullet style:

since we last chatted, this has been what's going on in my world:

• My job is secure.  As I mentioned, I now work for two Execs and as promised, last week was BANANAS- I worked something like 68 hours in 6 days.. it'll be a nice paycheck in a couple of weeks!! I don't anticipate that it'll be this crazy all the time, at least I'm hoping not! Otherwise, mama might be picking up a bad habit or two in order to stay sane!! :) 
• I had my annual cookie party a couple of weeks ago.  Because of the events of that week, it turned into more of a boozefest..  I woke up the next morning in a wine-induced fog and thought I was going to meet my maker - let's just say me and wine might need to take a break from each other for a bit.  Two of my AZ blog besties made it to the party and thankfully I did not embarrass myself too much!! Love these girls - JennXAz and Elizabeth!! 

• that same weekend, some of us AZ bloggers met up for lunch to have a little goodbye lunch for Amanda (MandaPanda). We are so sad to see her go but she'll still be blogging and we'll all keep in touch (we even talked about meeting up in Vegas in 2013!) 

• Mac is doing great as usual!! It's amazing how much he is picking up as far as speech goes.. he says Merry Christmas the funniest way and he is starting to talk in a clearer, non babbling way! He's off daycare this week so we'll see how much he and his mama survive with 11 days to ourselves!! I'm working 1/2 days this week and we have a sitter while we are at work, but lordy be is it expensive paying by the hour instead of his daycare rates!!! I'm going broke just paying Wednesday - Friday. He loves his doggies..  

• He was not a fan of Santa - but I knew he wouldn't be..  he still has a little of that separation anxiety/stranger danger thing going on..  it was funny for the minute he was on his lap!! 

• Speaking of Santa, he was very good to everyone!!  I told Timmy that Mac is not getting one more thing until his birthday in July!!! My family was out of control in giving him gifts! We had a very low key couple of days, but spent it with our friends here and each other.. 

• I'm so ready for 2013 to come and I plan on killing it on the band front. I'm thinking about switching offices b/c I just don't care for the TR office here. I contacted Jenn's doctor and they are checking with my insurance and I may switch to them. I need someone to really help me push and get these last lbs off and I know I can do it if I put my mind to it.  I am upping my PIlates again and I am committing to working out here at work every day I'm not doing Pilates. I'm in my bestie's wedding in May and I want to look goooooooodddd!!! Plus, Michelle and Joy and I are planning a girl's trip to NYC in April and they both are so cute and I want to keep up with them!! 

Hope you all have a very Happy New Year!!  I can't wait to see what is in store for all of us in 2013! 

xoxo,

js

My Goodness...

Holy Crap, I need to breathe.
I've neglected my blog something horrible. I've equally neglected my band and my health. Something needs to change quickly.

To say lots has been going on would be an extreme understatement.

To Recap:

My dad's kidney transplant was last Friday. All went amazingly well!  He's out of the hospital as of yesterday and is feeling pretty good!!  Words don't describe this whole experience and the gratitude we all felt for the support and prayers that we received all weekend long. And his donor, Emily, no words. She truly has a special place in heaven, that girl...  

I had hoped to get together with some of my MI Blog friends but there just wasn't the time to do so, so I apologize.

I got home late on Sunday and had to mentally prepare myself for what was to come this week at work. As I had mentioned, my company was purchased by another Pharma company these last few months.  Friday was the shareholders meeting to ok the purchase and yesterday was the close date. I have to say, I've been through layoffs before, I've been through losing a business and realizing you have nothing to show for it, but yesterday was the absolute worst day of my professional career.  Yesterday, 80%, yes, take it in, 80% of my company was told that their last day was this Friday, less than two weeks before Christmas. This new company is NO JOKE. Those of us that survived have jobs, but we are not considered lucky.  We had over 500 people at our HQ building and around 440 got their walking papers yesterday.  Who knows what's going to happen to the sales force as they find out early in 2013..   If I were still working for the company I was working for last week, my new job would be considered a really big promotion. But since I'm at the newco, I'm going to be working for an additional exec, making considerably less money and working double what I am used to. I'm not really that lucky, except for the fact that I have a job.  People are not taking it well and it's very uncomfortable to be here right now. I keep saying, "just make it to Monday, just make it to Monday". I totally understand that people are pissed but some of the reactions are completely unbelievable and I guess you really see people's true colors when things like this happen.

So, tomorrow is my cookie party and I'm so looking forward to it.  I'm excited to laugh and have a few drinks. AND, I'm meeting up with some AZ bloggers on Sunday so that should be fun.

I'm sorry for the downer post. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have a few minutes to post some pics of the past couple of weeks and some happier thoughts!!

I'm hoping to catch up on all the blogs I've neglected as well and start writing down my goals for the upcoming year which include getting myself back on the band wagon!!!

xo,js

I'm Just Not That Into It..

blogging that is. I don't know where my blo-jo went but it's completely gone lately. I haven't even been reading blogs which is completely not like me. I'm not sure what's up with me, but I need to get back on the blogging wagon!!! I miss everyone!!

My life isn't really chaotic so that's not really an excuse. I guess I just don't have a lot going on! EXCEPT...

Baby Beckham came a little early last week!! HE wasn't supposed to be delivered until 11/29 but he wanted to make it to the Thanksgiving day feast I guess and he arrived, all bright and shiny on 11/14.  He spent his first few days of life in the NICU but is finally home as of yesterday!! and he's a cutie!! BTW, Beckham is my friend Michelle's newest addition (Michelle is also KD's mom!) 

I guess I do have a busy next month ahead of me!!  As I may have mentioned a few months ago, my company was purchased by another pharma company and we all still don't know if we have jobs or not!! It's been a crazy 3 months but the FTC finally cleared the purchase so on December 7th, the shareholders of my company meet to vote on the purchase and it's going to happen. So, while there are days I definitely think I have a job, there are also days when I'm like "Oh shit, I may not have a job come middle of December!" So, that's kind of exciting. not really.

December 7th is my dad's kidney transplant so I'm heading to Detroit for 4 days. THAT is REALLY exciting!!!

My annual cookie party is on the 13th and that's something to always look forward to!! I think I have like 30 people coming this year which will set a whole new record! so fun!! And so many cookies!!!

Can you believe Thanksgiving is upon us? Holy Moly!!!  I  actually have a fill scheduled for tomorrow which obviously when I scheduled, I was not thinking about Turkey Day the next day!!! Oh well, I'll just eat lots of mushies since I'm not that big of a fan of turkey anyways!! I'm making some new fun finds off of Pinterest like Apple Sangria and a Pumpkin Cheesecake Trifle dessert. I'll let you know how they turn out!!!

Not a whole lot else to tell you. Hoping since the next couple of days at work will be slow, I'll catch up on blogs!! Sorry for the lack of comments, I do think about ya'll lots!!

xoxo
js

**here's a happy pic of Mac to hopefully brighten your day!!

10 Things Thursday - Catch Up Style and Photo Overload

Hi all!!! I've been neglecting blogland for over a week now and there's really no good reason for it, just haven't been in the mood to blog.  I have been pretty busy though so unfortunately, if you'd like to see what I've been up to, you are in for a long one!!  I'm going to try to keep my thoughts in chronological order!!

1.  Halloween was so fun!! Mac finally allowed the Lion hat to stay on for a bit and he had a blast going Trick or Treating with his girlfriend Kennedy. I mean, really, this child adores Kennedy. His eyes light up and I think he might have his first official crush!! I enjoyed handing out candy whilst drinking a beer with Michelle (she unfortunately did not partake in the beer as she is just under a month of giving birth to new baby boy H!

2.  This weekend we had Michelle take some pictures of us as a family for our Holiday cards..  let's just say there is always next year to get the little munchkin to behave in pictures.. he was a hot mess.. all over the field we were in and trying to touch every prickly cactus in the area! Plus, it was HOT and mama was in a sweater and sweating my balls off..  Michelle did get a couple of cute ones but you'll have to wait for those once I get my cards together!! 

3.  SO Happy the election is over. I don't get into it that much and actually went to bed at 8:30 so I had no idea that the President was reelected until the next morning.  I was actually surprised at how much hate was spewed on Facebook due to the results. Kind of really disappointed in some of my friends who either gloated a ton or really reacted negatively to the news.  My hubs was super disappointed in the results but you know what, we'll just keep on keeping on and working our asses off to keep making money and be happy in our little life! What else can you do right?  I am soo middle of the road that the results neither excited/surprised me or disappointed me. 

4.  I had mentioned a while back that I had bought some fun Stella and Dot stuff from both Ronnie's mom's and Beth's Trunk Sale.  I finally found something to wear with the super cute necklace that Ronnie suggested I buy! and I got a ton of compliments! So, thanks Ronnie for the push to get something out of my norm!! 

5.  The Real Housewives of ATL and BH are BACK!!!! You'd think the super bowl was on in my house this week b/c I actually made plans to watch both!! :) 

6.  Last night was my work buddies' and I's first official "Wine Down Wednesday" - we decided to do something monthly to try to stay in touch with each other since we all may not be working together in a month or so.. It was soo fun, but we may need to reconsider moving to a weekend since I think half of us are feeling a little under the weather this morning (me not included!). We polished off 12 bottles of wine which is ridiculous for a Wednesday night!!  Thank god I weighed in yesterday morning b/c I think I drank at least 2 lbs of wine!! 

7.  Speaking of weighing in for the challenge, I was down another 1.1 this week for a total of 3.7 lost so far. I'm not jumping up and down yet b/c I seem to bounce within the same 10 lbs all the time, but hopefully this is a good start downward!! I"m going back to the dr on Tuesday so I'm thinking I'll get a little fill. 

8. We are finally cooling down here in AZ..  this weekend we might even be in sweaters and boots weather!!  YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

9. Can't believe the holidays are quickly approaching. How does it sneak up on us this quickly? 

10.  Going to see Argo this weekend. Have heard nothing but good things about it.. anyone seen it? 

xoxox, js

3 Years, 80+ Pounds, One Baby and a Changed Life...

Hi all!!

Well, today is my 3 year anniversary of meeting Antonio.  I had almost forgotten until I looked at the calendar and realized that today is the 29th!! Oh, how things have turned out so differently than I envisioned them 3 years ago!!

I look back at the things I said I wanted to do once I lost weight - cross my legs, wear tall boots, ride a roller coaster etc and while I've accomplished many on the list, there are still so many things I have yet to do, although, now, they don't seem as important!  Things like:  RUN, wear a fabulous dress to a party, etc..  

Now, my life seems to be focused on the one major goal that I set out to accomplish when I decided to have weight loss surgery and that was to eventually have a family. That happened a LOT sooner than planned and boy, has he proven to be the greatest gift I ever got from Antonio!!

My new goals center around being fit enough to keep up with him.  He's a little crazy ball of energy and I'm exhausted every Sunday night at the end of the weekend, but I honestly wouldn't have it any other way.

Do I think the Lap Band changed my life?  NO. I think the Lap Band allowed me to re-prioritize so that I  could change my life.  I've always been a happy person. I'm not any happier than I was pre-band, although I'm more confident. I look at myself differently. I'm also a lot more disappointed in myself when I don't follow through with what I want to do.  I am definitely more apt to not hold back on things b/c of my size anymore. I'm not even close to goal and most days I'm ok with that, b/c I know where I came from and I know I'll eventually get there. I'm not a model bandster and honestly, I really don't want to be. I want to continue being who I am, loving my life and taking care of myself. I do think that blogging regularly and connecting with even a few other bloggers/bandsters has made a ton of difference. I spent the first 2 years just blogging and not really connecting with others, not getting to know them at all. I'm so thankful for my Blog support now!!

Anyways, onward and downward right??

This weekend was good. Seemed really busy!!
Friday night, Joy and Michelle took me out for my birthday dinner. so fun but I drank a little too much Sangria which made it really hard to get up at the crack of dawn for the 5K we did on Saturday morning!
Saturday night, Timmy and I dressed up and went to a Halloween party. Thanks to Catherine and Stephanie for the Cleopatra idea!! I loved it!!!  (also thanks to Instagram, this picture ROCKS!) my hubs looked complely ridiculous in that Scooby Doo outfit!!  Was so fun!

We are trying to get Mac more comfortable in his Lion costume so he'll keep his head part on for more than a few seconds!! Last night was a record!  At least 2 minutes, albeit a little off-kilter! 

Hope you all had a great weekend!! 

10 Things for Thursday..

1.  I am turning into a 16 year old girl..  I have pimples all over my face and it's super annoying b/c even when I was 16, I never broke out like this..  and it turns out, a lot of my co-workers, including my boss, are having the same issue.  Hmmmmmm, stress perhaps??


2.  Tuesday was my birthday and my girlfriend Heather made me this card:

She always makes hilarious cards for people and laminates them and adds all sorts of little pictures of the things we like to do in our lives ( I forgot to take a pic of the inside).. so anyways, my boss was looking at it yesterday and she put a little thing that said "I Love Blogging" on there and he was like, "you have a blog? What is it?" I was all "um yeah, and um not telling you!"..  I think he was a little upset I  would not give him my blog name! HELL NO!!!  He asked if I ever blogged about him which is hilarious to me since I NEVER Mention him so of course I responded with "all the time.. "..  

3. Speaking of my boss and my birthday, he got me this card : 

which is funny considering I'm the least political person I know and you'll never know who I vote for b/c it's frankly no one else's business but mine, but I will tell you, that it's been a definite conversation piece the last couple of days!! 

4.  So, after almost 3 years, I finally made the connection that I cannot drink anything bubbly and then expect to eat afterwards.. I had a glass of champagne on Friday night and immediately got stuck on a piece of cheese.. had a glass of diet coke on my b-day (it was my little treat to myself - along with a shake and a piece of cake, ugh) and got stuck on whatever I ate right after..  I'm a dope that I never connected the dots before even after talking to several people about it!!! 

5.  We are going to a Halloween party on Saturday night and I'm so excited! I LOVE my costume.  I'll post pics early next week. My husband is going to be Scooby Doo, which is hilarious..  he looks ridiculous. 

6.  My dad's kidney transplant is SCHEDULED!!! YAHOOO!!! December 7th! I'm flying into Detroit on the 6th and staying until the 9th. The surgery will take place at UofM hospital so I'll have to step foot in dreaded Ann Arbor that weekend!! If any of you Michigan gals want to have lunch maybe Saturday or Sunday and can come my way, let me know! 

7.  I'm doing Speck's challenge and miracle of all miracles, I was down over a lb this week! I did so good until Tuesday when I overimbided on cake and ice cream! But I'm back on track as of yesterday. I honestly am never going to win a challenge and that's cool with me, I just like the challenge. 

8.  I worked out last night for the 3rd time this week. and I have Pilates tonight.  I'm on a roll.. must.not.stop!!!

9. I'm doing the Making Strides for Breast Cancer walk this weekend with some work buddies. If you are of the giving kind and want to donate, here's my link: 

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=47422&pg=personal&px=30292125

10.  Have a good weekend~!! 

xo

Who's THAT girl??

Hey all!! I hate that I only come on here on Thursdays lately so I figured I'd blog today instead! And maybe tomorrow!

I was looking at pictures on FB yesterday b/c let's face it, I have plenty of time on my hands these days since work is a little slooooooowwwww since we are still waiting to hear if we have jobs next year!

I found this picture of me and Timmy. I was actually in shock! It's not the first time I've seen a picture that I hadn't seen in a long time and was surprised at how fat I had let myself get, but this one is a doozy. My face is huge!! My arms are huge, everything about me is huge.. even my hubs.. Timmy would die if he saw this picture of himself. I'm so glad we BOTH decided to take care of ourselves and our future by losing some weight.  So, on days when I'm feeling like a LapBand failure, I'm going to bring this picture up to remind me of how far I've come!!

I had a fun weekend this past weekend. Just hung out with Mac and Timmy and went to a Pumpkin Patch that is like 7 minutes away from my house and was so fun!! We did a little hayride, picked out a mini-pumpkin and enjoyed the beautiful weather!!  AND, I challenged Sydney to a sack race, in which she completely schooled me but look at the air I got! Pretty sure the girl above wouldn't have done that!!

Me, Joy and Michelle at the farm!  

I'll be back tomorrow with hopefully some 10 things!! 

xo,js