10 Things Thursday.. (the "why is it so hard?" edition)

Hi all,
once again, it's been a while since I blogged and lately, I'm finding myself asking "why is it so hard" to almost everything in my daily life, so I'm going to rant. Don't read it if you don't want to hear a rant.. warning.. (I'll also try to not make every one of these points about my husband)

1.  Why is it so hard for my husband to not put a dish in the dishwasher?  The dishwasher is empty, the sink is empty every night before I go to bed and pretty much every morning I wake up and there is a dish IN.THE.SINK. The dishwasher is like a foot away??  I'll never get it.

2.  Why is it so hard that while there is a Milwaukee Brewers or Bucks game, I cannot get my husband's attention to save my life. And never mind the child that lives in our house, he'll be yelling DADA, DADA and Tim won't even hear him?  I mean, I don't glaze over during Housewives or any of my reality shows.. (Homeland may be an exception though!) and things can get done while the TV is also on. He will ask me a question about something we discussed the previous night while he was watching the game and act like it's the first time he's heard me talk about something..

For the Record, I want to say to those that say "These bitches be crazy", it's b/c you men MAKE.US.CRAZY!!!
I could go on and on.. but there's so much more to bitch about.

3.  I mentioned that work blows right?? it's b/c when you cut 80% of your workforce, you lose most of the support you used to receive for little things like, um, copy machine repair, ordering supplies, business cards, etc.. it help desk, could I go on? So, when I ask why is it so hard to get anything done and why do I have to go through an email chain of like 50 emails to get one thing done, I know the answer, I just don't have to like it!

4. Why is it so hard for the snowbirds who come to AZ to drive the speed limit? I need a big foam bumper on my car so I can occasionally bump them to light a fire under their slow bums.

5.  Why is it so hard for people to commit to things? I have a few friends who tell me every week they are going to join a class I take with me (no this isn't about you Michelle! :) ) and do you think any of them ever show up? No! A couple of them don't even have jobs at the moment so I know they have plenty of time on their hands! Good thing I don't rely on anyone to get my workouts in b/c I'd probably never work out. Last night I had a Pilates class alone (technically a private ) b/c the other girls just didn't show up, which is silly b/c you then pay double for the class if you late cancel!

6.  Why is it so hard for my work to understand that a 40 hour work week exists?  and 55 isn't the same as 40? I'd like them to figure that out soon.

7. Why is it so hard to get a decent flight to the Midwest in March?? I mean, isn't it still snowing and crappy? shouldn't it be almost free to go there? I'm going to Chicago in March and it's costing us almost $400 to fly there.. WTH indeed?  I need to get closer to the people that I spend a fortune on going to see, imagine how rich I'd be if I lived closer to family and friends?

8.  Why is it so hard for me to lose weight?  I'm at the same weight as I was last May.. pathetic!!  I definitely feel better about myself and I know that my size has gone down, but my body cannot be happy and settled at this weight.  I am doing all the right things so it makes no sense.

9. Why is it so hard for the clinic I go to to find a decent NP to do my fills??  True Story.. I walked in yesterday to get a fill. The woman that nearly murdered my belly last time was there, I got nervous..
she looked at my weight and said, "Oh good, you've lost 12 lbs since you were here last in November", and I said, "that's not right, according to my calculations, I've lost 6", "no, 12".. me:  "hmmm, do you need a calculator?" her:  "oh, you are right, 5.8".. WTF?? how do you get confused between 12 and 6 lbs??  Then, she proceeds to again try to find my port and I'm pretty sure after the digging, she just gave up and pretended that she filled me!  I need to switch drs. The one that Jenn and Elizabeth are going to accepts my insurance but I'd have to pay $500 to switch. I know that it would be worth it but I just need to convince my miser husband to let me spend the money.

10. Why is it so hard for me to blog and not post a picture of my little munchkin? B/C he makes everything better and why not end on a good note! he's been sick with a cold and bronchitis but I think he's finally turning the corner!!

Ok, rant over.

Do you have things that beg the question "why is it so hard" in your life? or is it just me?? (please let it not just be me!)

xo,
js

PTL it's Friday..

I apologize if I offend anyone with my PTL (Praise the Lord)  usage but can I get a Hallelujah that's it's finally effing FRIDAY!!!!!

This may have been the longest week ever, and does anyone else think that January is just slowly creeppppiiinnnngg by? JESUS!

Anywho, I am planning on a whole lot of nothing this weekend!
I need to get back on track eating wise, but the problem is, I'm really not even eating hardly anything. I'm so busy at work that I'm skipping lunch and just moving through my day. It's no surprise that I've not lost a lb doing that.. the body needs fuel!

I sucked at my workouts this week. I bailed on Pilates on Wednesday night b/c I was at the point that if I had to do one more thing that day, I wouldn't  make it. Last night I went to bed at 8:30.. so pathetic.  To say I'm counting down the minutes until a week from Monday when everyone I work with will be in LA for the National Sales Meeting would be an understatement. (I got cut from the list last minute!!WOOHOO)  I may even take a day off that week!!

My plan for next week:

Eating plan back on track
Pilates - Saturday, Monday & Wednesday
Zumba - Tuesday
Walking - Sunday, Thursday

I can do this! :)

Have a good weekend!

xo,js

10 Things Tuesday (Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, what's the diff?)

Holy Balls people!! I have been wanting to blog forever, but just haven't had the time. First I wanted to do a blog like AmyW suggested where I list out the things I love about me, and that didn't happen, and then I thought I'd do one with goals, and that didn't happen, so finally tonight, I'm putting some things down in writing, regardless if anyone reads or not..

1.  Work blows big time. I'm working almost 55 hours a week most weeks and honestly, that's not even enough hours, I could keep on working some days. But I have to go home and take care of my little mister! I'll survive this job but who knows how long many of us will stick it out! I'm not leaving anytime soon.. unless they force me out!

2.  My little mister is doing so well! HE just turned 18 months this weekend and he's growing like a weed.  We had a little valentine's day mini-photo session and that was fun (not really!) at 18 months, he's just not that interested in sitting too still!! But the photographer sent a couple sneak peeks and he looks just delicious!!

Timmy  has been taking him to daycare each day so that I can get to work early and every day I show up and Mac is all dressed in sweats and tees and his hair is barely combed, so I had to take this pic the other day when I showed up at daycare and he looked like a little man in his green skinnies:

3.  Over the holidays, right after Christmas, I met up with JennAz for lunch one day and made her try one of my faves, The Herb Box. I'm so glad that I've become such good friends with some of my blog buddies here!  I'm not going to lie, the AZ ladies rock!  All have something to add to the mix as far as Band experience goes and it's nice to all just have someone to relate to! I'm pretty sure that Elizabeth is my long lost sister! It's like she knows when I need a little encouraging text or just a check in and for that, I just love her for! 

4.  My Dad is continuing to do well and I really appreciate all the check-ins from everyone! He had a little blip last week but everything came back good and he said he felt the best this weekend that he had in a while! So, all good news! 

5.  I've been the movie queen lately! Everything I've seen has been good! In order of my faves:  Zero Dark Thirty, Silver Linings Playbook, Argo, The Impossible..  ALL GOOD! 

6.  I'm in full Maid of Honor planning mode for my BFF Shannon! We are headed to Chicago in March for her shower and then all the girls are coming to AZ in April for the Bachelorette and then wedding in May!  I feel like it's all coming up so fast! Cannot wait! I need to find a dress to wear though. I did have somewhat of an NSV last weekend when I went to try on some dresses at David's bridal. I pulled a couple of sizes that started with a 2 and they were literally falling off of me. Old habits die hard people.. the woman was like "why would you pull these sizes b/c there's no way you are near this size" it was nice to hear!!  

7.  Speaking of NSVs, at my doctor's office the other day, they laid out the little robe and in the past, it's never fully fit and this past week, I could belt it and wrap it all the way around me and then some. It's nice to have these NSVs when I don't see the weight falling off like I'd like. I took a pic of myself while I was waiting (b/c really, just what am I supposed to do while waiting besides take some selfies!!)  Also, I wanted to take a pic of my new specs! I can see again!! 

8.  this is literally the most random blog ever!  :) 

9.  So happy the Biggest Loser is back on!  Love that show but Jillian would scare the living shit out of me if she was my trainer!  

10. I've got a new Pilates instructor and she is completely badass!!  I swear I was doing baby Pilates for the past year b/c this new instructor kicks our asses every.single.time.  I can totally already see results and I'm loving it!  I also went back to Zumba tonight which was hilarious b/c I'm so not a dancer but it was fun and according to my fitbit, I took almost 8000 steps in one hour!! wahoooo!! 

Ok, I'm out. Hopefully, I can catch up with all ya'll!!  

Happy New Year!! 

xo,js

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