midweek update:

So...I went out to dinner with my darling friend Karen, 

and...she has asked me to be her BRIDESMAID!!
Of course, I have excitedly accepted!! :)

I am looking forward to gown shopping and helping with whatever I can. :)

I am so excited for ALL THINGS WEDDING!!!

On Tuesday, I spent the day snowed-in with Livi.

I decided to see what I could do with the same yummy ingredients 

K used to make my Monday morning omelette for our lunch...

We done good. :)

Time for a tub and a nap!!

Today I have Livi AND Dayton all day while their Mommas work

so that we three sisters can go to dinner and a movie tonight. :)
We've all been looking forward to seeing "Country Strong."

We don't get to hang out (especially just us) often enough so I am looking forward to it. 

As for today, let the insanity ensue!!
Don't worry, I've got provisions...

:)  So far the kids are getting along and are pleasantly distracted by
"How to Train Your Dragon" so that I could do this quick post...

One drumstick each... WHAT WAS I THINKING??
At least they are sharing!!

AWW!! Coloring together and getting along!! :)
Well, gotta go...Gotta break up a fist fight!!!

Cheer up, Charlie

I am posting these pictures of a barn near my home
because I need a little cheer today.

My beloved Patriots played like complete turd
and lost to the New York Jets last night.

This is life-altering for me in ways most won't understand...

Since I listen primarily to sports radio,
and watch primarily sports television...

and now I have to avoid these things at all costs
(or risk my mental stability).

These are trying times...

I watched The Price is Right at the gym this morning
(assuming Drew Carey would not mention the word "football")
and luckily my sister, Jade burned me a new "Country Strong" C.D.
that I listened to in the car.

I'll get over it.  Eventually...

But for now...
here's a few pictures with the sun shining just right to distract me.

I also took this photo of LiviGrace that day, on our way home from playgroup...

If that doesn't make you smile, I'm not sure what possibly could...

And now K just put this omelette in front of me...

(made with eggbeaters, broccoli and DeliSelects ham and WW cheese...)

*We did the math...160 calories.  It was AMAZING!
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP!!

AND I'm having dinner with my dear (and newly-engaged) friend Karen tonight.

Happy Monday...

I guess...

Winter Wonderland

It's been a pretty exciting week around here!! :)

On Tuesday, Livi and I had a Chuckified playdate for Ty's birthday...

Getting his crown from Chuck E. with jealous little brother looking on. :)

In the "TicketBlaster" with a super excited Jada looking on,
remembering her birthday party. :)

And a super cute family pic (+Jordan, always ready for her close-up) :)
And Liv on her favorite horse racing ride...

And then Wednesday...

Just as all the Christmas decorations go back into storage...
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

A BLIZZARD!!! 

My little town got 22 INCHES!!

My landlord came and plowed us out...

Later when K got home from work, we took a walk to the corner store

for storm-time necessities (like Doritos) ;)

This is the Common, my home softball field from this Summer...

On our walk home, I told Kenny,
"I bet the kids will be playing in our parking lot when we get home."

Introducing Nate and Joe. :)

They are not only my neighbors,
they are also both on my Mini-Celtics team this year. :)

I was glad we took a walk
and that I got to take pictures of the kiddos out enjoying the snow...

but I was happier to be HOME with K...snug as bugs in rugs. :) :) :)

Yesterday I took this pic on my phone... THAT'S A LOT OF SNOW!!

(and yes, I would climb that pile for some Dunkies!!)

So, post Blizzard of 2011, all of New England = Patriots Nation for this weekend.

The Pats are hosting the Jets this weekend in Foxborough...

GO PATS!!!! :) :) :)

FOOD BABIES

Although there is SERIOUS W.W. going on in my life,

there is also some SERIOUSLY delicious food. :) :) :)

K utilized the new "cooker" we got for Christmas to cook a delicious pork loin.

He marinated it for two days with apples and maple syrup 

and all sorts of secret ingredients. :)

YUMMMM!!!

I made these "his and hers" salads with deli-selects turkey and ham, 

HB eggs, carrots, fat free cheese, and MY secret ingredient...sunflower seeds :) :) :)

BUT, the creme de le creme came Sunday night :)

My work girlies and I celebrated Spider Monkey's birthday...

(It's an affectionate nickname my friend Jen and I have given each other)
She's the one with the super-cute bangs :)

We went to Bocado, a wonderful tapas restaurant...

The Birthday Grrrl

We all had "food babies" by the end of this delicious dinner. :)

It's only appropriate...

Jen eats so much every meal that post-dining she regularly grows one. :)

(a "food baby" occurs when one's belly is so full one appears to be with child)  

HaHaHa

Happy Birthday, SM :)

Speaking of BDays, 

Livi and I are Chuck E. Cheese-bound tomorrow 

for another PlayGroup birthday...

Happy Birthday, Ty.  Livi is very excite!! :) :) :)

RESOLVE

Happy New Year!!

Welcome to my 11 Resolutions of 2011!

1. Work out SIX times a week.

 (Even if it's taking Dayton for a walk...)

2. Don't have more than two drinks in one day.

 (Or I'll never fit back into my Prom Dress!!

You can see I have a ways to go...the dress I wore for Christmas is behind it)

3. NO fried food (not one single bite or french fry).

4. Don't miss a single W.W. meeting.

5. TRACK using W.W. food journal and daily exercise.

6. Have a clean sink before bed every night.

(I got this idea from my friend Marjorie over at One Mess at a Time)

7. Keep my clothes/laundry under control.

(I don't know about this one, as it is my WORST habit...

piles of dirty and clean clothes...

BUT...this new runner leads right to the dryer...       

Maybe it'll help??)

8. NO popcorn or cheese and crackers from work. Bring healthy snacks.

9. Be on time with all bills...make a BUDGET. 

10. Be a better blogger/blog-friend/fitness foodie.

 (posted this to the Facebook page...Fitness Foodies)

11. Create and update my "motivation board." 

(so far so good...got this glorious little tid bit from my dear friend, Saskia at
Join my Joy)

So...I have a LOT TO DO (and NOT do)

but in the mean time...

I must congratulate Karen, one of my closest and dearest friends,

on her engagement!! Dave asked her to be his wife on Christmas morning (FINALLY!!!) :)

No doubt THEY had the BEST New Year Ever :)

I'M SO EXCITED!!! :) :) :)

Happy New Year!!

I spent my New Year's Eve closing my restaurant.

Got home at 12:01 to find my snoring husband, 

who was experiencing flu-like symptoms,

snoring on the couch...

But, my spirits had been lifted as I listened to the 

Glee Christmas Album on my half-hour drive home. :)

(Thanks, Mom!)

I am planning on a major post about resolutions 

and musings on what has been and what is yet to come,

but for now, I just want to say

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I have decided to stop comparing my successes and/or struggles

to anyone else's...to focus on MY journey. :)

I just finished Portia de Rossi's book, 
Unbearable Lightness, yesterday (thanks, again Mom).

This quote really captured what I had been thinking about lately...

focusing on becoming the best ME that I can be.

"True nobility isn't about being better than anyone else; 

it's about being better than you used to be."
-Wayne Dyer