BFL Day 1

Edited to Add: BFL = Body For Life.  I keep calling it the wrong thing! Sorry for the confusion! :)

So, this morning I woke Jeff up at 7AM in a bikini.  It wasn't what you're thinking... In fact, it was quite the opposite.  I wanted him to take "Before" photos of me on Day 1 of the Body for Life Diet.  (If you happen to be a single guy reading my blog, know that I consider it my personal responsibility to disclose the realities of the weird things you will be exposed to through marriage.)  The pics were not pretty.  They will not be posted.  End.of.story. 

The pictures were pretty motivating.  I found BFL to be pretty easy to follow today.  I wasn't necessarily "fulfilled" all day, but I wasn't hungry either.  The foods are good - lots of fresh fruit and veggies, yogurt, nuts, etc. etc. - but, it is kind-of time consuming.  It takes a lot of preparation to eat healthy!

After school, I made my excursion back to the gym... This time, I planned to take what I learned last week with the trainer and put it into practice on my own.  (Note to self: 5PM on a Monday is a TERRIBLE time to "learn" how to lift weights.  There are a lot of giants there at that time, and they do NOT love sharing barbells with wimpy girls who carry three-ring binders, and a Starbucks water bottle.)  After several near death experiences involving me and exceptionally large men with weights, I finally gained some confidence in the "Women Only" room.  But, guess who was in there RIGHT beside me?  My old Weight Watcher's Coach, but of course.  I kept rehearsing in my head saying something like: "I'm sorry my sister and I were such a disruption, but you'll be happy to know that I have paid my price... I have gained approximately 10 pounds since leaving your meetings in December."  Needless to say, I kept quiet and gave an awkward wave between reps. 

Overall, I give Day 1 a solid C.  I've received A LOT of great feedback from you girls who are trying the plan too.  (Please comment and let me know how Day 1 went for you if you started today!)  Also, I've gotten several e-mails from people who have already had great success with BFL.  You have no idea how encouraging those words are to me!!!

Day 2, here I come.

The Grass is Always Greener

Dear Yard,
I know we have not been the best parents to you.  It is true that we left you covered in a frozen tundra of snow all winter and crisp acidic leaves all fall.  I admit that a little too often we let our dog pee on you, and we don't give you near the vitamins and nutrients you need to live a healthy, hearty life.  BUT, we are pretty darn good to you on a regular basis.  We try to keep you properly mowed and watered - that was only ONE TIME that we left the sprinkler on overnight last week, and Jeff has worked very hard to patch up your "bald" spots these past few days.  I understand that you've had a hard life, but we are new at this, and would REALLY appreciate it if you'd "spunk up" a little bit.  One or two flowers every once in a while would be AWESOME.  And, we'd be overjoyed if you went a whole season without turning brown and dying.  Otherwise, we are seriously considering concrete... everywhere. You have simply left us with no choice. Thank you for your kind attention.
Sincerely,
Jeff and E

P.S. Please remember that your life could ALWAYS be WORSE.

I Am My Mother's Daughter

The older I get, the more Mother's Day means to me... Just growing up and trying to balance my own job, marriage, home, etc. etc. makes me appreciate my mom MORE and MORE every day - and, I don't even have kids yet!  So, this one's for you girl!!!

Don't I have the best genes EVER? (Haha.  This is in the bathroom - hence the "Ladies' Toilet" in the background at our wedding reception right before I left for my honeymoon.  I'm sure my mom had some very "motherly" advice for me!)

Thank you for loving me SO well and teaching me SO many things!!!  Thank you for working so hard so that Kathryn and I could have and do all the things we wanted to do growing up.  Thank you for not making me do chores when I was little, but always keeping the house spotless so that I have an appreciation for that as an adult.  Thank you for being so FUN, and for letting our house be "the house" in high school and beyond. Thanks for always making my friends feel like family, and for truly meaning it when you said I could "tell you anything." Thank you for letting me go far away to school, even though it broke your heart, so that I could do some "growing up," but never feeling too distant.  Thank you for becoming a Clemson football fan, even though you really didn't care for Clemson or football before then.  Thank you for inspiring me to be a teacher and sharing that joy (and drama) with me every day. Thank you for giving me a sense of decorating style, and always re-decorating yourself so that I can furnish my house.  Thank you for understanding PMS, knowing when to tell me the truth about my outfits and when to keep quiet, and proving that beauty DOES, in fact, come with age.

Mom, people tell me ALL the time how alike we are; and, I promise, I could not be more honored!  You are the first person I call when something good - or bad - goes on in my life.  You are who I picture when I imagine myself raising kids one day.  And, you are - after 26 years - still my first friend and my best friend!  I love you! 

Tonight at our Mother's Day dinner.  We'd look a lot more alike if I'd wear some lipstick!  My mom wouldn't be caught dead without it.

Happy Mother's Day!