November 15, 2009

14 Tips for Triple Coupons

I got $330 worth of groceries for $58 last week at Food Lion! I’m saving the other details of the trip for my personal blog, but thought I would share some ideas here that have helped me organize these types of trips. Since I haven’t found a published list of deals for these types of local store sales, I have tried to come up with a system that doesn’t take very long. With a limit of 20 tripled coupons per order, I spread out the shopping trip so I didn’t hold up lines and didn’t waste too much time trying to sort things in my cart. Here is what I did:

1. I went through all of my inserts and clipped any coupon under $1 (the store’s limit for tripling) that I thought I might like to use. I saved larger coupons and other deals for another time, unless it was important to match it with a sale this week.
2. I printed out applicable store coupons. A Full Cup is a great resource for this.
3. I sorted the coupons by store sections. I didn’t take the time to write up a detailed list, nor worry about store prices at this point.
4. Arranged for babysitting! For big trips like this, it is best to not have to worry about the kids, unless they are old enough to help.
5. I emptied my truck and loaded a large cooler with a couple of blocks of blue ice inside.
6. I ate lunch right before I went into the store.
7. I first picked up everything I wanted that had a limit of one per transaction and placed it into my cart.
8. I had a raincheck so I picked up those items next; I had one other coupon that I thought there might be a problem with, so I got those items, too.
9. I shopped one store section at a time, deciding what would be a good deal (or what I was willing to spend) until I had twenty to forty coupons to use with the items in my cart.
10. I had three sections of coupons; ones for items that were in the cart, one for coupons that I decided not to use, and one for coupons I hadn’t shopped for yet.
11. I went to the checkout, starting with one of each of the “one per transaction” items, and as mentioned above, added all my “problem” items to the first transaction. I then added more items until I had twenty coupons to triple. I made sure the rain check was on top and pointed that out to the cashier before he rang my order up. With a small transaction, it went quickly and I didn’t hold the line up.
12. I informed the management (who knows me well) that I’d be returning for the cart that still had items in it, and took my purchased items out to the car. The cooler came in handy here; I always have one in the car, but being prepared with blue ice inside meant I could relax and not worry about rushing. (I still saved the frozen section for last.)
13. Again, shopping another isle or two, I would add items to my cart. I’d then do another transaction, remembering to add the “one per transaction” items to the order first, then adding items until I got to twenty coupons to triple. Another trip to the car (good exercise and time to grab a sip of a cold drink) and another return to the store. I did this six times total.
14. About selecting items for a transaction: If you expect overage on an item, be sure to make up for that with the cost of other items. It is always best not to draw attention to the overage by ending up with a negative total at the end! Also, if you are stacking a store coupon with a manufacturer’s coupon on one item (this is the right way to use the coupons and most stores honor this) try to be sure you have another item that isn’t using a coupon. If you end up with more coupons than you have items, registers sometimes have trouble with it, even though you are using them properly. One answer to this is a coupon that is for two items; that gives you an extra item in the transaction! Of course, you can always add items that you need to buy without a coupon. (gasp!)

The cashiers and managers were cheering me on, and the customers behind me were impressed, rather than impatient due to someone trying to use a hundred coupons at once. Smaller transactions are always the key. Managers rarely care that you come back through the line for more transactions, and are more willing to help with problems if you aren’t holding up the line forever and frustrating other customers. So whenever you are using a lot of coupons, split them up! Allow plenty of time so you can have a relaxed trip, and allow other customers to go ahead of you while you work with multiple transactions. Being prepared can make for a fun and rewarding grocery shopping day!

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November 12, 2009

WARNING: Has fear of Swine Flu affected your character?

With all of the steps we’ve taken in protecting ourselves physically against swine flu, I was unprepared when it finally reached my circle of influence.

My husband found out yesterday that his co-worker was just confirmed as having H1N1. I immediately went into a tirade of questions: How long has he been sick? What did he touch in the workplace? Was he sick before he left work?
My husband assured me that he has been extra vigilant in keeping his hands clean and not touching his face, long before anyone had a chance of exposure. He hasn’t even been in the same building with this person for three weeks.

But my mind has been in a panic ever since.

Ironically, our family has been sick for a week, because of something I failed to do at church last Sunday. We carefully cleaned our hands and the bench, but I still neglected to protect my family. You see, the little kids in the pew behind us had a mild cough. And my daughter managed to snatch a toy helicopter from them. Normally I’m not concerned; their family is also quite conscientious about keeping things clean, and I know they wouldn’t come to church if they were really sick. It shouldn’t have been a problem, except that my toddler still tends to put things in her mouth.

Wham. The common cold virus at work.

Thank goodness it was just a cold. My daughter had a runny nose for a week, but hasn’t done too badly otherwise. (Would you believe that this is the sickest she has ever been?) I had a little cough and a scratchy throat. My mother ended up in bed for a few days, and my husband got the worst of it. He is still struggling while the rest of us have mostly recovered.

Fear of the swine flu has kept us from going out much this year. Well, there are other reasons, too, and we really prefer being at home, anyway. But it has kept me from attending church as often as I’d like. I really need the spiritual recharge, now more than ever. So why can’t I use my education to overcome the risks, and go get what our family needs most every week?

After a day of my thoughts racing over exposure risks, basic protection procedures, and additional precautions I could take, I finally realized what I hadn’t done.

I hadn’t asked if the co-worker was okay.

Have I uncovered some deep character flaw in myself? No, I don’t think so; normally my first thought is for the person in question, before thinking about how it affects me and my family. But current circumstances have affected my priorities so much that I had forgotten what else was important. I’m thankful that I realized what was happening to my thought processes before it really did change my way of thinking entirely. Of course, my immediate family is most important to me. But I need to be careful not to let problems reduce my circle of concern so much that I begin to fail to recognize the needs of my neighbors, as well.

The economy crisis has definitely blurred the line between need and greed. At the very least it has brought it closer to ourselves; many of us have not prepared and have become more selfish out of necessity, not out of lack of sympathy for our fellow man. Little did I suspect that a pandemic could have much the same effect, and intensify attitudes that have already reduced the amount of selflessness in our society.

I’m glad the warning came to me in time. Preparedness has become even more vitally important to protect our well-being; not only physical, but emotional and spiritual, as well.

We’ll be heading back to church on Sunday, this time more aware of others’ needs in addition as my own.

Update: The co-worker is at home and doing well. Knowing the symptoms to watch for removes most of the danger.

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November 5, 2009

11 Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy: The First Trimester

Disclaimer: The Better Homemaking Network does not represent any doctors nor nutritionists. This is a compliation of advice and experience only; the best advice will be to discuss everything with your doctor!

Congratulations! Your brain will now be running nonstop thinking of all the things that you need to accomplish before the baby is born. You’ll also be bombarded with advice, both reasonable and absurd. Fielding the comments can be stressful, too, especially since it seems the general population lose their manners when discussing your pregnancy! There are many things to do once you find out you are pregnant, and we’ve compiled a list of the most important things to know right away, and to discuss with your doctor.

So what is most important to do immediately after discovering the big news? Keep yourself – and that baby – healthy! Many women – new moms, especially – have no idea that there are now foods you should avoid, exercises to modify, and other lifestyle changes that need to happen as soon as possible in order to insure the best possible outcome for both you and the new life that you are creating inside you.

1. Medications. Of course, everything should be reviewed with your doctor, but there are a few things you need to stop right away: Aspirin, Aleve, and Advil (ibuprofin); most decongestants, antihistamines, and cold medicines; fenugreek (sorry lactating moms), and many herbal supplements. Contact your doctor immediately regarding any prescription medication; he can advise you on what to do prior to your appointment. Make a complete list of all medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements that you normally take. Be sure to add ingredient labels from any herbal teas you drink, too. You are going to need this for your doctors to review. Dr. Oz suggests that anyone taking three or more pills a day runs a 90% chance of having a drug interaction! So this is good advice for anyone. Always have this list with you whenever you visit any of your doctors so they can review it, especially if you start or change medications.

2. Vitamins. Get sufficient folic acid and iron in your diet. Folic acid is the preferred substance that DNA is built from. When that is gone, it starts grabbing whatever is there, and can cause errors in the process. This is quite scary when you think about DNA being the computer program for building your entire body! Iron is important in creating blood, and Calcium is needed to build bones, both for you and the baby. Start a vitamin regimen if you haven’t already. If nothing else, take a 400mg folic acid once a day. I personally do not take prenatal vitamins, not only because of the soy content in nearly all of them, but because the iron in them tends to make my stomach hurt. (It tends to constipate, too.) I have my OB keep an eye on my iron levels, and have promised him that if they are ever low, I will take a supplement, but it hasn’t happened yet! There may be prenatal vitamins with no or low doses of iron, and that is what I would suggest to start with. Those chewable Tums are very handy to just munch on one with breakfast and dinner to supplement your calcium. In addition to this, add high-quality sources of folic acid and iron to your diet. Cook with an iron skillet if you have one. Be sure to get some red meat at least every other day. Oranges, beans, and green leafy vegetables are winners, too. It is always best to get your vitamins from the real thing, and it doesn’t hurt your tummy, either! Add a b-complex to your vitamins as well, if you aren’t taking a prenatal or multi. More on that next:

3. Nausea. Keep nausea at bay. It can be caused by your body’s reaction to the new levels of hormones, and is different for everyone and with each pregnancy. Although it is recommended that everyone eat frequent, small meals throughout the day, this is even more important when pregnant. It helps to always have a little something in your stomach; never let yourself get hungry. Don’t eat huge meals, either; not only does this help with nausea at the beginning of your pregnancy, but you will appreciate being used to the idea when the baby is crowding your organs and reflux can be an occasional problem. So spread out your meals all throughout the day, even moreso than you normally would. Spicy foods won’t hurt, but judge how you feel; your tolerance may change as time goes by. Add ginger to your diet, too; either fresh, as a spice, or herbal tea. It is a natural nausea remedy. Even ginger ale is good; find natural soda that uses real ginger, and avoid the high fructose corn syrup. Keep saltines and peppermint candy available, and have some in your purse. Getting enough B vitamins both before and during your pregnancy is said to help prevent queasiness, as well. Have some anti-nausea medication handy, too, such as Emetrol and your basic antacid.

4. Food. Avoid cold deli meats such as salami, pastrami, bologna, and hot dogs. (If you heat them well it should be okay.) Don’t eat soft cheeses unless it says pasteurized on the label. Avoid fish high in mercury content, such as swordfish, shark, tilefish, mackerel, tuna, and albacore. (Canned chunk light tuna is fine once a week.) Avoid raw sushi, mainly those fish listed above, and especially from untrustworthy sources. Don’t eat raw eggs and watch out for fresh Caesar dressing. (Eating a fully-cooked egg three times a week is a good idea; there are lots of good nutrients for both you and baby.) Toss out the artificial sugars; avoid saccharin (Sweet and Low) and aspartame (Nutrasweet) entirely. Definitely avoid anything you are allergic to; you will be even more sensitive to it. It is suggested to avoid peanut butter, but there is very little proof that it causes the baby to have allergies, and it is a good protein source. Although there is no way for peanut butter to “cross over” into the baby’s bloodstream, you may want to avoid it if your husband has any extreme nut allergies. I’d probably avoid anything that he was extremely allergic to. I would consider adding some prunes to your diet; being pregnant tends to stop you up a bit! Find prunes that aren’t processed with chemicals, and munch on two or three as a before- or after-breakfast snack. Knowing where to find good-quality prunes will be handy for making baby food in a little over a year, too! Be sure you are drinking your water; it is easy to get dehydrated when so much is being used to create fluids for your baby, and you’ll be using it to flush waste from two bodies, now!

Stop drinking, stop smoking, and stop drinking caffeinated drinks. Alcohol, even in tiny amounts, has been proven very harmful to the fetus. Caffeine can cause miscarriage and preterm labor. I won’t go into the opinions and issues here, but my advice is to stop them altogether. Dr. Oz has some great suggestions on breaking the habits in 28 days.

5. Exercise. For the most part, keep with your regular exercise program, as long as it isn’t too rigorous. Don’t scuba dive, water ski, or jump into a pool, although swimming is okay. Discontinue any contact sports, weight training, and anything that has a risk of falling. Your balance will quickly become an issue as the weight distribution of your body gets rather funky. If you haven’t been exercising, try to at least walk 30 minutes a day, do some abdominal crunches (not too many, maybe 10-20 a day), and practice pelvic tilts to strengthen the pelvic floor. Get a yoga ball, sit on it, and rock your hips back and forth. The ball will become useful for the crunches later on, when you can’t lay on your back. Try not to stand in one place for very long. Some adjustments that may need to be made: Hang onto something with any balancing exercises, avoid standing still while doing upper-body exercises (sitting is ok, the yoga ball works), and keep everything low-impact. Strength training is still okay, but never use more than 2-lb weights, and switch to 1-pound weights about halfway through your pregnancy. (Basically don’t carry anything that would hurt the baby if you dropped it on your tummy.) You can do exercises on your back and stomach until they are uncomfortable, actually, but be thinking about exercise adjustments to avoid laying flat on your back. Be sure to stretch, too, and be careful not to overdo it – being pregnant releases a chemical that relaxes your muscles and you will be able to stretch farther than you normally would. You should discuss your exercise plans with your doctor during your first visit.

6. Dental. Take care of your teeth, and be sure to floss every day. Tooth plaque has been linked with not only heart disease, but miscarriages, as well. Cancel any X-rays, and only schedule required dentist visits during the second trimester. Get your OB’s approval!

7. Chiropractor. If you haven’t found one, find a good one. It will feel good to get adjusted every month or two as your joints relax and you put more stress on your spine as your pregnancy progresses. I managed to squeak by an entire pregnancy with no back pain, largely due to regular adjustments.

8. Cats. Stop cleaning the litterbox. Okay, make sure it GETS cleaned, but avoid doing it yourself, unless you wear a mask and gloves. Toxoplasmosis is carried in cat feces and can cause birth defects. No, you don’t have to get rid of the cats! (I have fourteen!) As long as you are reasonably careful, there is very little risk. My OB actually runs a test for immunity, and seeing as how I have had cats all my life and have participated in kitten rescue for seven years, we expected that I would have it. (Normally humans who are exposed just develop antibodies and never know or need to worry about it.) Amazingly enough, I have never been exposed! In reality, with the thousands of cats that come through our rescue, we’ve only had one case, and he wasn’t one of my fosters. So even though there is little worry about a rare occurrence, it is best to be safe, and assign litterbox duties to your husband for the next nine months. What has helped us is the Cat Genie, which is an automatic litterbox that hooks up to your plumbing. All I have to do is push a button! You can use code F18914 for an extra $30 off.

9. Miscellaneous. Avoid hot tubs and saunas, and limit your warm baths to 100 degrees. If you paint your house, use water-based paint and ventilate well.

10. Shopping. You won’t need to worry about baby clothes quite yet, but it is good to get some things done now to be prepared. During the first trimester you may feel like someone has thrown your emergency brake without telling you; this is the period to concentrate on items you need for your own comfort. Don’t worry; if you have fatigue, it should likely dissipate during the second trimester, when you will have more energy to prepare for the new arrival. Here is our suggested shopping list for the first trimester:

* Body Lotion – get something you really like, and start using it after your bath or shower, both on your tummy and breasts. There are mixed opinions on whether this helps prevent or reduce stretch marks, but any moisture and elasticity you help your skin retain has to be a benefit!
* Yoga Ball – very useful for low-impact exercises, stretching, crunches off the floor, and pelvic tilts.
* Body Pillow – you’ll start needing props to stay comfortable at night, especially if you’re not used to sleeping on your side. You might end up needing two if Daddy starts confiscating it!
* Parenting Book for Dad – we like The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads-to-Be – it is lighthearted, funny, and loaded with good info for dads, written by a dad.
* Pregnancy Book – there are a lot of books out there; our favorite is The Pregnancy Journal: A Day-to-Day Guide to a Healthy and Happy Pregnancy
- it doesn’t get into scary what-if scenarios, and gives a good detail on what to expect and what is going on with the baby. Great fun to read a daily update for the entire family, and has places to take notes, too.
* Pregnancy Journal – get a diary or program and keep track of how you feel, ideas you have, and anything else that comes to mind.
* Tub or Pool thermometer (for making sure your baths aren’t too hot)
* Prunes (chemical-free and no added sugar; you may need premium or organic varieties)
* Ginger Ale (real)
* Anti-Nausea medication (Emetrol)
* Tucks (or other medicated wipe with witch hazel) – useful now and after birth.
* Prenatal or other vitamins (pending your doctor’s advice)
* Maternity pants – find a couple of cute pairs now, before you have to leave the house in sweatpants or pajamas!

11. Doctor’s appointments. Again, with the doctor! Have we convinced you that this is important, yet? Call your family doctor and schedule a checkup and an official pregnancy test as soon as possible. Find out when your Obstetrician wants to see you for the first time. You’ll want an ultrasound at around six weeks to be sure all is well; ask your Obstetrician about scheduling this to comply with your insurance. You’ll get a pretty accurate due date from this, as well.
If you have any belly pain at all, especially at this early stage, call your doctor immediately.
Have a notepad in your purse or a special place on your phone to write down questions as you think of them, and review this list during every visit. Print this article out and highlight any questions you may have, but be sure to discuss the following items right away, both with your family doctor, then with your obstetrician:

* Medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements: what are you currently taking, what changes should be made.
* Exercise; discuss what you do currently and what changes you’d like to make.
* Drinking, smoking, caffeinated drinks.
* Foods to avoid; foods to eat!
* Nausea concerns and recommendations.
* Dental appointments.

Hopefully this has helped to enlighten your mind, alleviate some stress, and allowed you to concentrate on the most joyful process of creating a new life!

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November 3, 2009

Podcast: Weigh Your Way to Losing Weight

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October 29, 2009

Welcome New Staff Member

We are happy to announce that LadySivitri will be taking over the publicity side of the Better Homemaking Network.  A long time guinea pig of Pyrrh’s recipes and willing tester of many other wild ideas, she has been working on a home-based business with Genesis Rocket and Twitter.  The early numbers are quite promising.

She says, “I asked my family to help me with some aspects of my business so I could concentrate on the marketing, so in exchange I get to market a site for them, too!”

This partnership promises to be a great development for both The Better Homemaking Network and LadySivitri.net.  Welcome aboard, LadySivitri!

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October 27, 2009

Weigh Your Way to Losing Weight

Here are some very important things to know about how your weight changes, especially when you are just starting a diet and exercise plan.

You could GAIN WEIGHT in the first few weeks.  Does this mean you are a failure?  NO WAY!  The main culprit is when you start exercising when you have been sedentary in the past.  The reason:  MUSCLE.  You are building your muscle back up to a normal level during this time, and muscle weighs more than fat!  This is very important to remember.  You see, you WANT more muscle, because the more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns all day long, even when you aren’t doing anything!  Consider this your secret lose-while-you-sleep weapon.  This also means your body will need more calories to maintain its weight, which means you can eat more, and really should, to maintain the extra energy your new muscle needs.  This is why Weight Watchers advocates adding points to your daily intake according to the amount of exercise you have done that day, but only up to a certain amount.  For example, you shouldn’t add more than 200 calories if you’ve burned 200 or more while exercising.  Your goal at this point is to keep losing, after all!

You could lose weight very rapidly the first week or two, then slow down to a more reasonable amount.  Don’t be disappointed, nor expect that rapid weight loss to continue.  This is ENTIRELY NORMAL.  Especially if you are drinking the proper amount of water, and getting a decent amount of fiber in your new diet plan.  Some may experience it because they have reduced the amount of salt intake; today’s fast food diet is shockingly high in salt content.  Your body is losing its “water weight” as your system flushes out.  As you drink enough water for your body to stay hydrated, you will retain less water in your tissues.  This is also a good thing; consider it a bonus if you lose those fast pounds at first!

You COULD stay the same.  Despite following your new diet and exercise plan to a T, you are not losing!  Easily explained:  See both reasons for gaining and losing above.  What has happened, is that both of these processes are happening at the same time.  Fear not; stick it out for at least a month before determining any changes that need to be made.  The weight WILL start to drop at a reasonable amount after the first few weeks, if you are on an appropriate plan for your weight, age, and lifestyle.

What is reasonable?  Anywhere from one to three pounds per week lost.  Losing any more than five pounds a week is not healthy; it is likely you are losing muscle as well, and it will be way too easy to gain it back.  If you are losing too much, you aren’t eating enough to keep your body supplied with the nutrients it needs.  The old saying is true:  You didn’t gain it in a day, and you won’t lose it that fast, either.  Slow and steady wins the race to keep your body healthy for a lifetime!

I used to refuse to weigh myself except once every week or two. I can understand why this is important for some people, to keep from feeling bad about the numbers, and to be really happy with being able to see the progress.  I know many diet gurus advise this, since most people are so hooked on the scale.

But it just didn’t work for me. I know that my weight fluctuates based on how much I’m working out, how much water I’m drinking, even if I had a really salty snack the day before. I could show a two pound increase over the last week, yet still be losing overall, based on what time of the day it was!

So I started to weigh myself every morning. Of course, I still saw fluctuating, but it kept me motivated to keep that early morning weight down. If I was a bit up that day, I would watch what I ate more, and maybe exercise a little extra.  I’m never concerned unless I see an increase of two pounds over my best weight the week before.

Then, for about two months, I started weighing myself every time I entered my bathroom. It was really interesting to figure out how your weight changes throughout the day, anywhere from three to four pounds!  It varies before and after meals, workouts, and showers.  It was  kind of fun, and educational, too.

I don’t really need to do this, so I returned to weighing myself each morning. It seems my weight is lowest after waking up and moving around for about half an hour. And it is so much fun on days when I see new low numbers, when I dance around the room and announce to everyone what I weighed!

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October 26, 2009

Clam and Potato Casserole

Serves: 4
4.5 Weight Watchers points per serving
Prep Time: 30 minutes prep, 45 minutes baking

Here are the ingredients – I have milk pictured but it is not needed – there is plenty of liquid from the clams.

Ingredients:
3 Potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp Flour
1/4 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
1/4 tsp Salt
12 oz clams, canned, liquid reserved (2 small cans minced or chopped)
1/2 Onion, chopped
1/8 tsp Paprika

Mise en place (all ingredients prepped and ready):

This video shows the assembly of the Clam and Potato Casserole recipe. The first few minutes show how to make a roux.

Instructions:
1. Cover cubed potatoes with water and microwave 10 minutes (stirring after 5 minutes) or until tender. (Or boil on the stove about 15 minutes.)
2. Drain clams and save liquid. Chop onion.
3. (This is the roux.) Melt butter in small saucepan over medium-low heat. Blend in flour and seasonings. Stir constantly and cook until it gets some color. Slowly add clam juice to flour blend; stir constantly until mixture is thick and smooth.
4. Stir clams into the butter and flour mixture.
5. Place drained potatoes in greased casserole, add onions and cover with the sauce. Mix well. Sprinkle with paprika.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

This one also tastes MUCH better than it looks! I guess I should find a pretty dish next, eh?

Serve with a green vegetable or salad and fresh fruit.

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October 22, 2009

Secret to Weight Loss Success is Having Fun

I had a dream last night that someone asked me what I thought the most important factor in my weight-loss success was. Now, I actually do get people asking me this all the time, and I usually answer, “Water.”

But in the dream, my immediate answer was, “Make it fun.”

The subconscious can get right to the bottom of things, can’t it? You HAVE to make it fun, to make it part of your life. Anthony Robbinsonce said that successful people got up early in the morning out of sheer excitement for life. I find myself looking forward to my workout in the morning. And I’ve really had fun tracking points on all the food I eat. I’ve got a record of everything I’ve consumed since January 3rd, without fail. That wouldn’t have happened had I approached it grudgingly. I love finding out how to work in my favorite foods, some of which aren’t so healthy, into a healthy lifestyle. Yes, it CAN happen! You can’t eat junk food all the time, and certainly not in the serving sizes promoted today, but it certainly is possible. And I don’t feel deprived. I still eat lots of ice cream and chocolate, and periodically get things like pizza, fried chicken, and buffalo tenders. I’ve even had fun getting my water in. Admittedly the first couple of days that 64 ounces wasn’t that easy – but on that third day I discovered the skin on my face was so baby-soft that I was excited to see what else drinking water could do!

So how can you make it fun? Even if it is a simple thing like buying some cute exercise clothes, do it. I now have five outfits I can wear, so I can put a fresh one on every time I work out. Exercising is way more fun when I can wear a cool outfit! Yeah, I still bulge in weird spots, but Maya does, too – just look at her plie! Only my family will see me, anyway, and they are very supportive and know what I’m about when I have the proper attire on.

Of course, periodic rewards are really great, too. I cleaned out my wardrobe, including a TON of “skinny clothes” (you all know what I’m talking about!) that were SO out of style it was embarrassing! Or at least it would have been had I worn them again! Would you believe I donated over ten pairs of pants with pleats! I’ve refused to buy any REAL clothes until I’m at my initial goal of 120. I have plenty of items left to wear in my closet that are relatively stylish, except for needing some jeans as I lose sizes. I’ll be getting those at the thrift store, since I won’t be wearing them for long, if the past few months is an indicator of how I’ll be dropping sizes. But that doesn’t mean I can’t replace and update my other basics – shoes, accessories, purses, exercise equipment! And, most importantly, the exercise clothes I mentioned before!

So, here’s to making it fun! *toasts with her water bottle*

Originally written on July 6th, 2007; I found out a few weeks later that I was pregnant with my first child.

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October 22, 2009

Podcast: Day of Beauty

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October 21, 2009

Photo: Fruit Tart

Fruit Tart.

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