18 days since my last post! That's really bad considering that my secret Lent goal was to blog daily...but we'll get to the in a minute.
What have I been up to? Well, I turned 27 on the 14th and had my birthday party at the skating rink, which I highly recommend if you still have one in your area. Turns out I'm 10 years too old for a party at the bowling alley (their words) , but the skating people would have me, see below:
See that smile? That was a very nervous, holding on for dear life smile. For real, skating is scary. It was scary at 6 and a hell of a lot more scary at 27. I'm a chicken through and through, always have been always will be. Turns out, I married a chicken too. His words "life is dangerous enough as it is, why do I want to put wheels on my feet?" touche.
I was all sweaty and rolling around with the help of my sister-in-law and Josh's dad's girlfriend, Toni, who is...70 (71 monday, and an excellent skater), and having her birthday there today because she loved it so much. Skating is great exercise, my legs were sore for a couple of days after...let's see how round two goes. I've got 20 more free passes to use up maybe I'll become a competitive skater. I won't hold my breath.
I had a lovely birthday and felt loved. Which is all I ever really want. My mom and aunt came in town for some dining and shopping and this past weekend my sister came in town for the same thing. Good times!
Remember that house I told you we were in the process of buying? Well, that didn't happen. We got the inspection results which revealed a laundry list of hidden problems; the original roof which needed immediate repair, mold in the basement, and a host of other issues that I'd be lying if I said I understood. So we said "screw that" because we aren't home DIY people at this stage of our lives. Sure, I can paint the walls and cabinets, use a drill, but that's about it. I'm not above learning, it's just too much. This man built the house in '75 and it is exactly that today... a '75 house, green carpet and all.
So then we found another house. Completely remodeled, very cute, close to town (we could walk to the farmer's market, the store, coffee shops, thrift shops etc.), has a side building for josh's studio, not too close to neighbors, considerably more affordable than house number one, yet, it was built on stilts like a beach house. Floyd is not the beach, in fact, we're about 5 hours from the beach. So that makes this house weird. But we like it, dare I say love it. Or strongly like. New hardwood floors, new kitchen, all new appliances, three bedrooms, one and a half bath, little land to maintain, two miles from work, new heat pump on demand, did I mention that we could walk to get coffee?! But it's on stilts. The appraisers are responsible for that part, if it's an issue. So we're in contract again and that seems to be taking up a bit of time and mental space. Yet we're positive about the whole thing and I know something will work out. If not, we're moving to cali.
What else is new? I participated in a craft fair in Roanoke yesterday which was kind of a dudd considering the attendance, but nice to get the practice of setting up a table, one of which I shared with my friend/co-worker. It was a really nice time of just hanging out, people watching and eating california rolls. One of my first purchases came from a girl who I saw just last weekend in Roanoke and thought "I love her hair!!" she has this beautiful shade of red hair which is long and thick and layered. My hair is thin and silly, so I had hair envy. And there she was, buying my jewelry.
See our table?
I thought we did a pretty decent job of mixing our jewelry and laying everything out. The setup and presentation is one of my favorite parts of making jewelry. I love that. See that hand? It's iron and very heavy, I got it at the antique store here in Floyd and love it so much. The birdcage I purchased half off at Michael's, it looks about a hundred years old. The little trees are place markers for weddings, the mirror I got from wal-mart and the crushed velvet fromt he local fabric store.
I've got a few more craft shows coming up this spring/summer. A home show with my mom in april or may (assuming this house stuff settles), a craft fair in may, another in june and august and selling friday nights at the local market. I'm very excited. I'm also taking a metalsmithing class next month, a nice birthday gift from josh's mom.
And one more thing. I think! Are you ready for this? I couldn't help myself!
Weight Watchers came to Floyd! Well, they were already here, but meeting in some obscure place and I never bothered with that. But then I got a postcard in the mail telling me they were moving to the conference room at Hotel Floyd. Which if we moved to 2nd house would be walking distance. I've gone to weight watchers, I don't like counting points really, but I just couldn't turn it down. I am needing more accountability for my weight right now. I'm not into the WW mentality that some have that low calorie/low fat = healthy, but you know what? I don't have to have it, I know better. I just need a place to go where people locally are trying to lose weight too, where I can weigh in and celebrate losses. So I joined on Wednesday and here we go again...
It goes along nicely with the no S plan (no snacks, sweets except for days that start with s and special occassions) and it forces me to write what I eat down which all that ever works for me as far as eating goes. So there's that. I'm not ashamed, just sheepish about the whole thing.
And blogging. Man, I suck at that lately. I have so many product reviews to do, and just things that I want/need to talk about. Just random stuff, and I want to share I just put it off and I want to stop that. I also want to stop feeling guilty for the things I don't do. If I'm going to feel guilty about not doing something then I just need to do it, or get over it. And I just can't get over it.
Maintaining anything is so hard for me, keeping up with emails, keeping up with friends, this blog- sometimes I just let it all go and weeks later I find myself missing it all so much. So here I am. I can't promise I'll never go away again, but I'm trying to balance it all. Balance, it's such a lofty goal sometimes. But know that I'm here because I want to be and that I am so grateful to those who read this and comment and email. You're lovely.
Glad you had a wonderful birthday! The roller rink is on my list of to-do’s with my daughter. I haven’t skated in, like, 25 years or more!
Good to “see” you back! Happy Belated B-day btw! Having your party at the skating rink sounds like a brilliant idea! Do you think they’ll tell me 36 is too old if I decide to have my next b-day there? I think it is an awesome idea!
The 2nd house sounds very adorable…even if it is on stilts hours from the ocean. It is unique! Ad walking distance to everything…that is a great perk. Hope it all works out!
Holly @ Making Over Me
http://makingoverme.blogspot.com
@bloggymama
Welcome back! But I think if you don’t feel like posting, you shouldn’t feel you have too! Blogging should be fun, not stressful. (I speak from experience since mine is driving me crazy right now.)
Happy belated birthday.
Pictures are wonderful! Great to see you back, always enjoy hearing and seeing your adventures. Life is a journey take a breath and just enjoy the journey. It isn’t a race to see how much you can do. Enjoy your journey. Plans and goals are great help you to get from point A to Point B. You don’t need to feel guilty for taking detours. Just a bump along the path to move around and keep moving! You are a star!
Welcome to Weight Watchers! I’ve lost 26lbs on it since January 12th and absolutely love it. You really can make the program tailored to your lifestyle. And counting points is much easier than counting calories, fat, protein, etc! If you need any WW support, let me know. I feel like an old pro at it by now! (and check out my blog…I usually post recipes).
BTW-I really like your hairstyle…your bangs are lovely!
Well, I think you’re lovely, too. Happy birthday (late), and your jewelry is beautiful.
Welcome back – I missed reading your positive and inspiring posts and was hoping you’d make a comeback soon! Good luck with the WW and home-buying. I want that necklace!
I am so glad you’re back… but we all need a little vacation, right?
I love that you had your bday party doing something that was outside of your comfort zone… I need to try that one day.
And boo to the bowling alley for telling you you were too old. NONSENSE.
Your jewelry looks awesome.
Yay I am so glad you are back!!!! I of course am doing WW but I definitely don’t follow the plan word for word like some people do. The nice thing about WW is that you can still do your own diet like the No S diet and have it work with WW and for you!
Congrats on the new house again and it sounds like everything is falling into place for you! I love the show setup and your jewelry is fantastic!
Good luck with WW and I can’t wait to be here to cheer you on!
Yay you’re back!!! Are you still doing Intensity? I know P90X is scary and I’m starting it again today
so I don’t blame you for giving it up 
I hope all goes well with the house but being born and raised in Cali I’m all for you moving out there and enjoying the gorgeous weather
It’s nice to read from you again. Good luck on finding a nice house.
Happy birthday! Skating sounds like fun… but I’m on your husband’s side. No wwaayyy.
I just rejoined ww, but the online version last week. I thought about meetings, but I don’t think that is really me.
Here’s to trying again (again and again) and to success. Good luck!
I too am a wall clinger when it comes to rolling around on anything besides bicycle or car wheels.
Happy Birthday! I hope 27 is a good year for you too. I’ve always thought it was a lovely number. True? Weird? Yes and yes. Are you serious about moving to California? We’re in Sandy Eggo (as I say) and the (lack of) weather can kinda suck but the food opportunities are grand.
Welcome back!! And happy belated birthday!
Yay – you are back! See – I am never as prolific as you at blogging – so my standards are low
Love the skating – I did it a few years ago….fat doesn’t really bounce
Love the table setting – you have a good eye –
glad you are back!
Great to see you back. As for the photo at the roller rink I don’t see any fear. You’d make a great poker player.
As for the new home maybe all those problems was someone up there trying to say to you that this was the wrong move for you.
I’m in the same situation the original house I had my heart set on had problems too.
But we’re looking at a property thats miles better than the original one,which I probably would have missed out on only for the new change of plan.
I just stumbled onto you blog and this is just what I needed. Inspiration!
I am at 220, my heaviest and I am getting married in July and need some serious motivation!
Here is to trying WW again, although I am not going to meetings. I made little books like theirs and I am going to do this.
Thank you for making me feel like I am not the only one out there over 200!!
Your skating party looks so fun! I can’t wait to go myself!
Best of luck with the house and WW. It is such a good plan, and helped me lose 25 pounds several years ago. I agree with you that low fat/calorie doesn’t always equal healthy. Seems the points values for some real foods are so much higher than they should be!
P.S. Your jewelry and setup are just beautiful. You are one talented woman!
Hello:
Yes, skating can be very intimidating, you should try ice skating! I tried that a couple of months and it was the best, scariest time I ever had in years!. My lent resolution was to have just one servings at dinner (that doesn’t seem like much, but I’m accustomed to more than one servings) and now that Lent is over, I don’t feel like going back again. I also renewed the commitment I had made for New Year to lose weight, and I lost a total of 9 lbs. in Lent. I started having weekly weigh ins in my blog ( http://jgrdaniel-random.blogspot.com/) to keep myself motivated and accountable. I’m really starting to enjoy this journey. Good luck on finding a new house!
Hey Laurie,
I wish I knew you so I could have joined you. I haven’t been skating since I left St. Louis. It was definitely a fun evening of exercise for the family. Imagine me, a 36 year old mom of three out there trying to skate backwards even. Such a blast and just has this way of helping you forget that anything but happiness and joy exist… even if just for a few hours. Then, like you said, the reminders of soreness set in and you remember all over again. Awesome display of jewelry BTW. I actually stumbled onto your website so now I must go peruse!
)
Good read! WBBA (Will Be Back Again)
Congratulations on joining WW. I am in the same boat…I don’t want to join, but I know I need to. I am opting for the online version as I don’t see the locals in my area as all that inspirational. Set some goals for myself and hoping for the best. Off for a walk…
Hello … I just happened upon your blog and I really like it! I’ve RSS’d it so I don’t miss a single entry.
Happy Birthday. 27 years old, huh? I vaguely remember when I was that old … er, young! I’m old enough to be your mother (almost old enough to be your granny!) but we have some things in common — including a desire to lose weight.
It must be particularly challenging for someone like you, who is obviously so pretty! I mean, when a woman feels she isn’t attractive, there’s a big incentive to lose weight. But when you’re already great looking (at any weight … as you are) what’s the motivation????
As for the blog daily goal — that’s kind of like trying to lose a pound a day. I found that once a week is a good frequency. Not TOO ambitious, but enough to keep me on track.
Good luck and I’ll be looking foward to your future reports!
Gah, I’m afraid of skating in roller rinks myself. I hit a wall once and still rather leave it at that. lol
I knew it! Sorta… I think I guessed more accountability with increased blogging for Lent.
Your jewelry continues to amaze me–although I know it’s a trek and a half for you, you should try to do one of Bust Magazine’s Craftacular craft sales. They have one in NYC, it gets thousands of trendy McTrendsetters and crafters from all over the northeast. My boyfriend and his business parter did the December craft sale for their web-based tee-shirt business and did quite well in terms of sales that day and continued followers who check out their website/blog/twitter.
Happy belated birthday!
PS–I gave up post-lunch dessert for Lent and it bombed within a day. Don’t feel bad!
Hey! Great post. I really love your blog & you are gorgeous by the way. You look too cute on roller skates!
I am so excited to hear that you want to make these significant changes. It sounds like you’ve been making so many incredible, positive changes in your life recently. You are an inspiration.
I wanted you to know that I lost 70 pounds a few years ago. One of the things that helped me the most was keeping my eye on the prize — and asking questions constantly. I always had to ask myself WHY I was doing things. Why was I reaching for a can of coke instead of a glass of water? The answer was usually convenience/taste. When I weighed the outcome (fat or healthy) (soda or water) — the healthy choice always won out.
Hopefully this little tip will be of some help to you as you embark on this new journey. I’m cheering for you!
Your jewelry looks great – you’re right: you did do a decent job setting it all up.
Regarding WW, I joined with my BF and we WERE doing really well until she moved. I can’t seem to stay motivated without a buddy to help spur me on.
Hi,
I loved your blog
Im from Brasil and I have a blog about this too…
Kisses Lorena
Miss you… follow me on twitter, JKAPP and I will catch sneak peaks of you there…
Congrats on joining WW. They are a good company and they offer the support one needs to get healthy. I just found your blog today and I am happy I did! I have been on the weight loss journey since the beginning of this year and it’s good to know that I am not the only on this road.
Thanks for sharing your progress with us!