Update

So, life has become busy once more.

Cheerleading started this Monday... its 5 days a week... for 1.5hours each day... that is until after Aug 22nd... then we go to three days a week. Thank god. Because I bet by then, I'll be even more whopped than I am now!

Rowan returns to school on the 10th... I'm sure she will be shell shocked with school activities plus cheerleading for the first few weeks. I can't believe she is going to be in 2nd grade. It kills me. Really, it does.

Working out has been going really well. Well, at least most days. LOL

Since the middle of May, I have lost 19lbs. I'm hoping for another 16 lbs more by Oct. 1st. Not sure if I will make it, but I'm going to try hard.

I'm doing a lot of different things. Lots of treadmill, some videos - like Jillian Michaels "30 Day Shred" and "No More Trouble Zones"... even have done the CardioMax video from the "Biggest Loser". But mostly, its at least 30 mins of the treadmill almost every day.

I'm eating better... feeling better. Its amazing what exercising and being healthy feels like! LOL

I have dropped just about 1 1/2-2 sizes... and I can totally see my body toning up and developing muscle structure from the weights. Oh, yes, I'm doing that too... its in the videos - but I've also done it with the husband at the gym too. LOL

Told you we were on healthy/exercising kicks!!

I took some recent pictures lately - from when we went to Tahoe for the weekend... here are a few:

I wish I could share some of my honey and me - but, well, because of his job, I'm not going to... plus, most of you are friends on my facebook any how... so you will see them there!!

Hope all is well... Gonna go relax now... its been one of those day!!

Good Gravy...

... where the hell have I been, eh?

I have no excuses... except for that I find life to be very busy under the Pickle Jar.

We really don't have too many extra curricular activities going on - besides getting ready for fair - but I find that I'm constantly on the move. Okay, not constantly, because damn it, I've become addicted to "Farm Town" on Facebook... but moving enough.

I've moved on from the 30 Day Challenge on the Wii Active to doing the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michael's from The Biggest Loser. I'm not doing it 30 days in a row - but more like every two to three days... then take a break and just do cardio or like today and yesterday, just doing nothing.

The last three days, I've done the level and then hopped onto the treadmill for more cardio. Well, between that, the dreaded Curse, stress from my parents being gone... and life in general, my body decided to up and get tired and give up on me. So yesterday and today were down days.

Tomorrow morning, I'll be right back at it... Its funny how exercising can become some what addicting or rather, part of your routine after not being a part of your life for some time.

I'm still struggling with some issues - getting it done and eating better - although, I've pretty much cut out all sodas and most alcholic drinks... lol But I can honestly say I'm enjoying the work outs and the results I've been seeing.

I've lost about 15lbs since starting the 30 Day Challenge back in the middle of May... and I hope to lose another 20 lbs by October. I really need to keep track of my food intake - thinking of starting a food diary along with my exercise one... because I want to make sure I'm eating enough and not too much to lose the weight I want.

Anyways, enough about my weight loss challenge - although, I highly recommend Jillian's DVD's or rather, any of the Biggest Loser one's!!

The kids are great... Rowan is enjoying her Summer break. She is particularly enjoying the fact that I'm on vacation this week (my parents are gone, hence the need for child care)... she is getting herself ready to show her rabbit come next month at the fair. I got all of her whites for show, except her shirt... I can't wait to see her all dressed up. It will be too damned cute.

Zach, well, what can I say about him... he's my love bug and monster boy all mixed in. He is growing his hair out and looks like a long lost Jonas Brother. His laugh is unbelievably catching... and I don't know what I'd do with out him - although, some days he makes me want to rip my hair out.

Right now, he's going through a stage where he doesn't want to nap... and he wants to back talk. Its no fun. I think he's getting the hint that his mommy doesn't like it too much. LOL

Derek is good... he's dropped a bunch of weight too - the bastard. I hate how men can just drop the pounds with out trying as hard as us women. No fair. He's working a lot, but not as much as he had been...

We are looking forward to a trip we are taking at the end of the month to South Lake Tahoe for a wedding. It will be just him and I for two nights - plus the other people going as well - but I mean no kids... it will be a good time, I'm guessing. Its been a while since we've gone away by ourselves. Its over due!!

I've been keeping up on blogs, just so you know... but honestly, I'm not commenting like I should. I know that makes me a bad blogger friend... but sorry... sometimes, there isn't time or I don't know what to say! But I am reading...

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend... we are in for another busy one. There has been no breaks the last few weekends for us...

Toodles!!

30 Day Challenge

So, I decided that its time to make a life change.

Its time to do that dreaded thing and lose some weight.

I can honestly say I don't eat too badly. Mostly I don't eat enough... and then sometimes, when I don't eat and then eat, I eat the wrong things or eat too much because I'm so hungry.

I've decided to throw some exercises into the mix along with eating better - small, healthier meals more often during the day.

I recently saw some commercials on a new work out videa game by EA Sports. Its called EAS Active... You can find it HERE

It has a 30 day challenge that you can do... and I decided that is exactly what I needed!! I don't have the time or money to go to a gym. We have a treadmill (when its not making funky noises like tonight!) that we can use... so all I needed was more "gym" like stuff to do.

I really think that the EAS Active is what will be right for me - along with the cardio on the treadmill.

I have a goal.

I would like to drop at least 30 lbs by the end of September. If you average it out, its about 7.5 lbs a month... I know it will be hard... but I'm determined!!

Wish me luck, alright?

Its Cool to Celebrate Your Birthday All Week

Yea, that's what I've been doing all week pretty much!

My birthday was this Thursday, but I had been celebrating since Tuesday at work where we had BJ's Brewhouse brought in and I so enjoyed a Stuffed Baked Potato! Yum.

I even got a crazy cool balloon - that is still up and floating in my living room! Isn't it stinking funny???

We have gotten the last 3 or 4 birthday people some kind of Holy Cow its your birthday balloon... so I guess it was my turn!

Then Thursday, my actual birthday, I didn't have anything planned besides Rowan's Open House... because Derek had been scheduled to work all week during the evening.

Well, come 5pm on Thursday evening, when I was still at my parents house waiting to go to the Open House, Derek called and asked when I was going to be home because he was there waiting for me!!

Yup, my husband pulled a fast one on me. He got off work early and went and picked up stuff to make for dinner. He cooked a feast!! Stuffed chicken breast, bacon and jalapeno wrapped shrimp, twice baked potatoes! Omg. So yummy. He even picked me up one of my most favorite desserts - ice cream cake!!

I couldn't have been more surprised!! I swear, I'm one lucky duck to have him!

He even went to the mall and bought me some new Roxy flip flops - but he didn't get the right size :( So, I have to go and exchange them. But still, it was the thought that counts!!

I was off Friday from work and didn't do too much... pretty much took the kids to school and ran an errand to Target where I picked up some new sunglasses because my other pair had broken on Thursday morning.

I love Target glasses because they are cute, but if you break them, it isn't that bad because they didn't cost you a fortune!! I mean, $15 isn't the same as $150 you know?

The rest of the day, was pretty much spent being lazy! We played outside by the pool in the evening and did some more BBQ'ing... just the way I like to spend a day off.

Saturday was the last of the celebrating of my birthday though.

After our baseball game in the morning - where we did great! - and after Rowan went and got fitted for her cheer leading uniform (it will be here before we know it!) - we went to my parents where they were throwing a combo party for both my birthday and Derek and my anniversary.

I got some fantastic gifts, too! Some cash from the Grandma that Derek and I are going to put away for our Vegas fund - October is just around the corner! - then I got a Border's gift card and if you know me, you know that is like Gold. Then my MIL got me this cool Roxy bag and a gift card to Famous Footwear so I can buy some new sandals. And my parents got me this beautiful, I mean beautiful necklace when they went on their cruise. Its a round circle, with diamonds and two beautiful Emeralds on it. I was shocked! I can't wait to wear it...

We spent the afternoon/evening in the pool... enjoying drinks, snacks and a wonderful BBQ. I think that is pretty much a standard thing in the Central Valley when its summertime though. When its 100+ degrees!!

Today, its supposed to be around 104!! Can't believe its going to be that hot when its only the middle of May. That is more like mid June weather!! Its craziness!!

And today we are supposed to be working out in the yard!!

Thank goodness for the pool... if we get too hot, we'll just jump in and then hop on out to finish!!

God, I love summer! I am determined to get tan this year too! LOL

Have a great rest of the weekend ya'll!!

Poppin' In

... to say Hello!

Life is busy busy here... tball has taken off... we have practice 2 days a week and as of Saturday, our games have started.

We had opening day on Saturday and it was nice. We played our first game and let me say, it was interesting.

The kids did surprisingly well. They paid better attention during the game than I ever imagined! Only a few decided to do that cute thing called "Chasing Butterflies" instead of paying attention to the ball game.

I threw Rowan in as the catcher the first inning the other team was up to bat. The child has never played catcher before... but I was SUPER surprised and VERY pleased on how she did. She caught balls, she threw them back to the other coach with no problem. As we came off the field to get ready to bat, I started to tell her how well she had done and she broke down crying!

I guess she was rather flustered playing the position and she also said the dirt and something in the helmet (??) was making her eyes burn. I told her to shake it off and get ready... but kept repeating how well she had done... and she kept telling me that she didn't do good at all.

In fact, she is still telling me that... Truly, if I have anything to say about it... she'll be a rocking catcher - just like her momma was :)

Zach did pretty well... although I did have to carry him off the field after he "struck" out at batting. See, the kids get three pitches from the coach and if they don't hit off of those, they get three swings off the tee... if they don't hit the ball on those three swings or if they hit foul balls, they are "Out".

Well, Zach didn't want to hear that his time up to bat was over. He kept saying, "Puhleeese Momma... let me have another try"... well, it couldn't happen so I ended up just picking him up and carrying him off. Oh how he cried... but it was still too cute!!

Dear husband was unable to make the game... which was a bit of a disappointment, but its okay. He made some OT and my parents and his mom came to watch the kids. They had a blast watching the munchkins... and truly, I pretty much enjoyed the whole thing. I did get a bit flustered a few times, but I pushed on... LOL

I wish I had some pictures... I will have to wait until my momma emails me some pictures because I wasn't able to take any.... but when I get them, I'll share for sure :)


Everything else is going well.

My tattoo is healing well. Itchy like a muther f'er... but its healing and I love the way it looks. I'm already contemplating another one. I've got a few ideas... its just a matter of figuring out what I want and where to get it!

I will be getting another piercing done this weekend, I believe. I'm going to be getting a Monroe piercing... the one that looks like a beauty mark above the lip? I think it will look totally cute... and I get to go with one of my bestest friends (who is also getting pierced) Coley.

So, now I have something to look forward to besides another busy weekend... and house cleaning.

Hope you all have a good week!!

New Ink...

Okay, I know this isn't the best picture - Rowan took it and you know, a 7 year old isn't the best picture taker... but this is my new art...

I had it done this morning, so its still sore and oozing a bit... not to mention a bit more red than need be... LOL

Its a Celtic Motherhood Knot... which each circle at the top, the color of each of my kids' birth stones...

I'm sure happy with the outcome... its my first tattoo in 8 years!! Craziness... I'd like to get more later on, just not sure what though. LOL

Pass me a vacation in a bottle, um, k?

Okay, I know I'm technically on vacation right now... but that is from work... not life. LOL

I could really use a few days away from my normal life - preferably with the husband and to somewhere nice... doesn't have to be warm, but that would be a plus.

Derek and I have talked about when he is done with all this mess of a case about us going away for a day or so... just him and I. We threw around the idea of doing a Northern Cali tour - going to Great America and Six Flags Marine World - also hitting up bars and hotels along the way, ya know?

I think that would be fun... but I'd like to spend the weekend in the City - San Francisco for those who don't know it as that - but Derek isn't a fan of San Francisco, which totally blows!! He says its dirty and there are too many bums there. He is partially right about that... but there are other parts that are truly beautiful there!!

Yet, who is to say when Derek is going to be done with this... he is gone again... He left today and won't be home until late tomorrow night... if not Thursday. We'll see.

The kids and I have enjoyed our first two days off together. Zach is still going to school, but his days are over around 1145am.

Yesterday, we didn't do much... but today, we went and saw "Monsters vs Aliens"... and then tomorrow, we are going bowling with my SIL and niece and nephew. Thursday, we are going with a girlfriend and her daughter to the Sacramento Zoo. I'm excited about that. It will be the kids' first time! So you know there will be plenty of photos from that!!

Speaking of... here is a picture that I took of Rowan in the car the other day... I'll leave you with her toothless grin: