1st official day of life change.

I went to the dietician yesterday. I was really expecting to go in there and get the crap scared out of me. Yeah, didn't happen. This dietician was so blah. She talked about diabetes like it wasn't considered a big deal if you had to go on insulin... That some people just have the hereditary factor that gets you to that point. It isn't considered failure if you can't control your diabetes with diet and excercise. Yeah, that'll motivate me!

I did learn some very useful tidbits of information. One being to follow a plate rule like this one:

So, today I ate my lunch like this plate shows. One entire side of my plate was full of green beans! Yum! And, a quarter of the plate had shrimp on it, cooked with a little bit of garlic. Finally, I had three of the above crackers and one small apple. Total carbs for the meal = 31! I came in right under the target of 40.

During the day today has gone very well. Nighttime is where I have the biggest trouble. I'm going to do my best though! We're having chicken tonight (on the grill, even though Greg will be freezing his baguettes off!) and I think we're going to have some broccoli too.

I have journalled all the food I've eaten today. That's a big help in terms of accountability. After dinner, I'm going to go use the treadmill. I'm off to a good start today.

PS: I appreciate the comments the last couple of days. For some reason though, Blogger isn't letting me comment on my own blog. Weird.

Skin Care Review

Just curious... what are your skin care products? I've had a hard time in the past just finding the right combination to go with my skin. I have an extremely dry face... not flaky dry, but redness dry. When I don't have makeup on, my skin is very blotchy and red, especially around my chin. I went to have a facial a few months ago with a giftcard I had because I was concerned that maybe I had Rosacea. The esthetician believed that I just had very dry skin since I didn't appear to have any broken capillaries. She suggested I definitely use a toner without alcohol and a moisturizer that was very hydrating.

It's been tough coming up with a good combination, but I think for me, I might be on the right track. Since I'm working part time right now, I don't feel right about buying the expensive stuff, so I've been working with over the counter Walmart stuff.

The Cetaphil was suggested because its not a harsh cleanser at all - no exfolliants or good smelly fragrance. (man, I miss the smell of Noxema!) Honestly, I feel like I'm hardly cleaning my face with anything but water. But, I think it's getting the job done.

Next, I use the Neutrogena alcohol-free toner. I really like this. It's nice and cool but doesn't sting like our old friend Noxema. You knew you were getting your face clean with that stuff! An old friend of mine once took a cotton ball soaked with Noxema to a door at my Dad's automotive shop - a door that was filthy with grease and grime. Noxema made a spot on that door white as snow. Imagine what it was doing to my face!

At night, I use the Loreal Revitalift or the Ponds depending on how dry my face feels. The Loreal seems to be a nice moisturizer, but aimed towards more average skin. The Ponds definitely moisturizes, but leaves my face feeling greasy. This is where I have the trouble. What moisturizer do you use at night?

I also use the Aveeno Smart Essentials eye roller at night. I just got this product and I really like it. It makes my skin feel tighter around my eyes. It did sting just a tad when I put it on, but it wasn't bad. I can't wait to try this in the morning.

Finally, in the morning, I use the Garnier Moisture Rescue. This is a favorite for me! It's a cool gel and it doesn't leave my face feeling greasy. I like it because I can put it on after I was my face in the morning and then I can put my makeup on right after. It goes great with the Bare Minerals makeup.

So, what are your skincare secrets? Any suggestions? I would love to know of some great products that don't cost an arm an a leg.

missing college and other news

Aren't laundromats the coolest? I had to run into town today to get a couple of groceries and decided to take my camera along. I love this laundromat. One of my goals for this year is to lose some weight. After I lose weight, I want to have a family photo session of the three of us... and I want to have it here! How fun will that be?!

Laundromats always make me think of college. Hauling baskets of laundry from mine and Greg's apartments... doing 2 weeks worth of laundry in one night. We had some great times in the laundromat... we would sit around reading magazines, talking, and goofing around. There are things I miss about college. I miss dating my husband, staying up late (and sleeping in late), no real responsibility, etc... But, those days are gone and on to better days!

Recently, I had a bloodwork panel done to check my thyroid levels. For several years, I've been battling hypothyroidism. My thyroid is so low-functioning that I take medication at a level that is as if I don't even have a thyroid gland. Its a very frustrating disease because it affects so many different things: fertility, memory, body temperature, the heart, etc... Along with my thyroid levels being checked, my A1C was also checked along with cholesterol and my Vitamin D level. My A1C was high and my Vitamin D level was extremely low.

Diabetes runs in my family on both sides. I'm pretty much doomed. Right now, I am considered a type II diabetic. Those were really hard words to hear.

I made an appointment with a nutritionist for tomorrow. I'm really scared. I need to change my eating habits. They aren't horrible... I mean, it's not like I sit around all day with a Snickers in one hand and a cheeseburger in the other hand. But, I grew up eating meat and potatoes and a sugary snack after school and at night. I still live that way. I know it's wrong. Any time I've tried to change things, I get so confused... this food is right to eat, this one is wrong. Then the next month, the right one is the wrong one and vice versa. So, tomorrow, I'm going to the nutritionist, telling her about my levels, and hopefully getting answers to a lot of questions about how to live better. Basically, I don't want to end up on insulin, worried about my eyesight or losing a limb.

I wasn't sure if I should blog about this. And, even now, typing it I'm not sure I want to post it. I mean, if I post this, there is accountability that I take action. That scares me. It'd be so much easier to just stay the way I am. So, I'm posting this, hoping for no judgement but for support instead. I'm asking that you, friends, believe in me that I can change. I really want to. And, I really don't think I have a choice.

Gabe is 5 years old!

We had Gabe's 5th birthday party on Saturday. We had a lot of family come over and we had a great time! Since he was turning five, I wanted to make this birthday extra special. I put a lot of planning into it and had a blast doing all the preparations.


A couple of weeks before the party, I ordered the Life's a Party Cricut cartridge so I could make decorations. The treasure map and treasure chest were a couple of my favorites. I also made skulls and crossbones. At Halloween, Gabe was a pirate. My sister was having Anna's pictures taken at Portrait Innovations, so I decided to take Gabe in his costume for some studio pictures. I'm so glad I did! He loves pirates and I'm glad I'll always have these!

Here's the birthday cake I made. I found out how to make a stacked cake on Pinterest and then I did my best with tools I had here to frost it. I wish it would've turned out smoother, but it did taste really great! And, it beats paying $50+ for a cute custom cake. I got the pirate candle on clearance at Hobby Lobby (yes!) and I made the little cake toppers with the Cricut machine. Behind the cake are letters that spell "ARGH". I bought the letters at Hobby Lobby and decoupaged scrapbooking paper on the front of them. There's also a little skull that I bought at Halloween.

I really loved how this looked! I got the little Ikea stones at a local thrift store as well as the treasure bowl. Always check out your thrift stores for cheap idea decor!! I had the 'jewels' and pirates' gold left over from Gabe's Christmas treasure chest.

These were so fun too! I found the paper straws at Crate & Barrel on clearance. The skeleton straws came from the Dollar Store at Halloween. I had a couple of bread crumb containers that I covered in scrapbooking paper and put a couple of stickers on to decorate them to hold the straws. I made the little food description cards on the Cricut and put them next to the food items.

These individual 7 layer dips were a big hit! I found the recipe on Pinterest and went with it! They were super easy and they look great too.

Greg made these cupcake stands for me. We went to the dollar store and found some plates and glasses, turned the glasses upside down, epoxied the plates to the glass base, and then spray painted them a pirate red. I love how they turned out! And, I can keep them to use at Christmastime too. I made the little cupcake toppers (the treasure chests and the skull and crossbones) on the Cricut. I bought the 'G' ones at Hobby Lobby on clearance.

This was my 365 picture for today... I love, love, love this umbrella from Abba Herrman! How sweet is this? Gabe got some great gifts... Lego sets he didn't have (that was a miracle!!) and a lot of really sharp clothes. He's gonna be a little studmuffin!

Little Dougie fell asleep on Aunt Lindsey... how sweet! The little bugger was so tired! He's so sweet too... he was all smiley. What a little joy! I get to babysit him Jan 29th and I'm excited to have some baby time!

Happy 5th birthday, my sweet little pirate. Your mom and dad love you more than anything in this entire world. 5 years ago, we brought you home and you changed our lives only for the better. You have made us a family. I know I went a little overboard on this birthday, but I wanted it to be so very special for you. I know you're starting to make memories... This Christmas was very special and so was this birthday. Dad and I want you to look back on days like these and not remember the presents, the decorations, or the other trappings, but to remember how many people love you and how your parents wanted you to feel special on your day. We love you, Gabe Douglas.

365

I'm excited to be a part of a 365 project. I wasn't going to participate because I really stink at following through with big goals... Really. And, I know I need to make small goals, achieve them, blah blah... I know all this. (Blah blah, whatever) is what my son says right now when he 'thinks' he's smarting off and being sassy. It really just makes us start laughing. We start imitating him and then we all start laughing.

Anywho, I digress... I started the project but didn't think too much about how or what I wanted to do. I was hoping that especially in the beginning my pictures would be taken during the daytime whether inside or outside. Gotta love that natural light! Then maybe towards the middle of the project, work more with my flash. I need help with that. Also, I want to have some kind of caption to go with the photo each day. I kind of have some ideas for the end of the year... what I'd like to do with the photos. So, I'm excited to have a diary/scrapbook of sorts. I'm enjoying it so far... It's been a lot of fun!

all about Christmas post!

Quite a few nights before Christmas, Santa asked Mom and Dad what Gabe would like for Christmas. We told him 'anything pirate'. So, Santa enlisted Dad's help in making this pirate's treasure chest for Gabe. (This is how we explained how it ended up fitting through the chimney and so Gabe would know his Dad made it for him). Greg and I had so much fun setting it up! As soon as Greg said he wanted to build Gabe a treasure chest, I started thinking about the necklaces, gold coins, and ring pops we could use to make it 'real' on Christmas morning. I think it turned out pretty well. Gabe was so surprised! In order to find the treasure chest, he and Dad had to follow the map, while I waited downstairs with the video camera right next to the treasure.

Greg made the map to start at the tree, go through the hallway, around our kitchen table, and down to the basement. He used coffee and matches to age it.


Ssshhh... It's a secret... His pirate chest has a false bottom where we hid the Lego pirate guys he so badly wanted for Christmas. He still thinks that compartment is pretty sweet. One of the things I love about Gabe's Dad so much is that he thinks of so many creative things that I know he would've dreamed of when he was little. His Dad, PawPaw, was really great about making little Greggie's dreams come true too. If Greggie liked pirates, his Dad totally would've made sure he had a treasure chest on Christmas morning.

And these two presents! The diver helmet and the pirate sword! To understand the diver helmet, first you must understand the thought behind the pirate sword. My Aunt Connie, whom we affectionately refer to as 'Aunt Buck', gave us all the gifts our parents didn't want us to have when we were little: noisy toys that took 8 D batteries, silly string (cans and cans of it), playdoh, and nerf guns. So, it was no surprise when Gabe got this sword from her! She let us sleep in the livingroom, rearrange furniture, and stay up as late as we wanted when my parents were gone. It was nothing to move the Super Nintendo into the livingroom, make a tent, and stay up til 10:00 (we thought we were rebels!). She was and is THE best Aunt. Aunt Lindsey is like that. She loves having Gabe come to stay the night. She and Mom both boast that there are no rules at their homes. I'm so glad he'll have a fun aunt that will let him call the shots while Mom and Dad are gone. :) And, I know if Aunt Jenny lived closer she'd remember Aunt Buck and do the same! Aunt Lindsey knew he liked diver guys, so somehow she found this diver helmet online somewhere! How awesome.

My sweet boy on Christmas before opening his presents. He was so great in receiving his gifts. He never reacted like he was disappointed or anything - even when he got some clothes!

And, here he is with his pirate ship from Abba & PawPaw H! Oh my goodness. The kid LOVES this. He even asks to take it in the tub. He took it to his other Abba & Papa's the other night so he could show it to Papa Doug and so he could take it in their big spa tub. Whenever my parents watch him, he HAS to take a bath there. He loves their big tub!

Here he is playing with the Transformer garage-thingy I got him for Christmas. Greg and I like to do a gift that's just from mom or just from dad. So, I picked these. They were a pretty big hit. Greg got Gabe a slot car set. It wasn't this exact one, but it WAS a big hit as well!

Uncle Grant stopped by with his jolly Santa bag slung over his shoulder as well! His gift for Gabe was a bacon buddy, bacon flavored toothpaste, bacon bandaids, bacon soap, and a huge bag of real bacon bits. My child loves bacon. This was a great gift! Uncle Grant brought me an owl bracelet and an owl mug and he brought Greg some caffeine mints and a pizza pi cutter! Here's a picture of my bracelet:



When we went up North for Anna's birthday, hosted by Rene's parents, Greg commented on how much he loved the soda .... Jarritos! So, Rene's parents decided to surprise Greg with some and unknowingly, Jenny & Rene had also bought Greg some! So, Greg's got a bag full of Jarritos to go through. I think he's made a pretty good dent by now!

Oh, and sweet Dougie! At Christmas, Dougie was almost 8 months old. He's sitting up really well, rolling over, spinning on his tummy, and definitely scooting if he wants something bad enough (like a cell phone!) He's such a little joy. It was great to see him on his first Christmas. Aunt Bri was really happy to have a lot of cuddle time with her two favorite little ones.

Aaaaaaand, Banana! This girl - She totally cracks me up! She is at juuuuuust the right age where it is near impossible to get a picture of her! Jenny got this dress set from my in laws when Anna was tiny and wanted to get a nice picture of her in it. Do you think we got it? Nope. This is the only picture out of several that was in focus! Ha! We kept teasing her dad about it. She is definitely developing a little personality all her own. She's a little fiesty, very sweet, and completely adorable.

Well, I'd say overall, it was a very wonderful Christmas. It was an absolute delight to experience Christmas morning with a near 5 year old. And, I was so proud of him - how gracious he was, how well-behaved, and how sweet he was with his little cousins. He is a wonderful kid. I'm so happy and blessed to be his mom. Speaking of 5 years old, we've got a pirate birthday coming up. So, this momma better get busy. I hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas. God is so good in all He has given us.

Coming around...

I have been wanting to do a Christmas post for a few days, but I have been (and still kind of am) under the weather. It started a few days ago. I decided to make lasagna for dinner because starting tomorrow, Greg and I are dieting hard core. *New Year's resolution cliche, I know* But anyway, so I made this awesome dinner. I get ready to serve it and I am so incredibly nauseous. I was so ticked too. I had been looking forward to this dinner because I don't make it very often and to having a good carb meal before going all healthy. I couldn't do it. I nibbled two bites down, and went for the couch. By 7:00, the puke marathon began. Every hour until the next morning. (sorry to be so graphic!)

I hadn't been sick like this since college... or as Ted Mosby would say "Puke free since '93" (or 2000 in my case). It was horrible. The whole next day, my back hurt so bad but I couldn't get out of bed. I had the craziest reoccuring dreams too... they were so vivid. Then yesterday, NYE, I was dizzy all day. Mom and Dad kept Gabe overnight so we could have dinner. We ended up buying expensive steaks and desserts from The Fresh Market, and suddenly, my appetite was back! We also had a How I Met Your Mother marathon. Very low key, but a wonderful night with my husband. Now, today, the nausea has come back. I don't get it. Weirdest flu ever.

Also, I must mention... I have the greatest husband. He has really taken over parenting while I've been under the weather. Thank you to my Marshmallow. xoxo Your Lilypad. :)

Greg, this is for you...

I have really been wanting to do a Christmas post and talk about how wonderful everything was... how it was a great Christmas Eve at the Herrmans, spent with my amazing in laws and my neices and nephews. And, how I got to see little Dougie on his first Christmas and spend some time with Anna Banana. I'm afraid I'm just gonna have to do that post a little later.

Gabe's had a blast playing with all of his new toys and has even chosen some of his old toys to donate. He's really good about letting go of things he doesn't play with anymore.

In other news, I am going to try to do a 365 project this year - a photo a day. The above is my day one photo... I just realized that's a mega-ginormous picture of me... yeah, sorry about that. I hope by this time next year I will have taken 365 pictures and lost quite a few pounds. That's a goal... Here's hoping I can make it happen.

Happy New Year everyone!