NO, I have NOT fallen off the face of the Earth...

I've just been over at Spark People losing 20 lbs!  Woot!  My goal has been 50 lbs so I'm almost half way there.  Obviously, since it's almost my birthday (next month) I won't be making the original goal to lose 50 lbs by my birthday.  But darnit if I don't make a good dent in it by then! Anyway, I've been blogging over there but obviously not here.  Sorryeeee!

Ok, now for the good stuff.

Before - November 2009



















I'm not going to say "After" since I'm not at goal... so, how about

During - February 2010

I'm just to the point now where I'm moving down a size (yipee skippy!) and people are noticing the change. 

30 lbs, here I come!

Who starts a diet 3 days before Thanksgiving?!?

Apparently, I do!

I need to get cracking on #9
of my To Do List... lose weight!

Sooooo... here goes!

Last night, I joined up on Spark People, a free online diet and fitness community.

My goal is to lose 50 lbs in the next year.

Wish me luck!

Happy Birthday, Bloggie

It was just one year ago today that I typed my first ever blog post. 

I'm still stumbling around and

finding my legs in this blogging world.

Thanks for reading, and here's to Year Two!

Winter Hair!

Before.

After!

That is all.

New York, I Love You

OH, NEW YORK...

Can I get a "OMG" please?  Val and I loved it. 

We're already in withdrawl and it hasn't even been a month. 

Ye gads.

Central Park.  Happy sigh.

We got there on a Tuesday and for the first 3 days the weather was fan-freaking-tastic.  We're talking 70 degree weather in October my friends.  Awesome.  The Californians brought the sunshine with them.

You're welcome New Yorkers. : ))

Had the BEST TIME EVER navigating the Subway.  LMAO. It's super fun. Really. 

Try it next time you're in town.

Said a prayer (in my own non religious, yet totally spiritual, way) at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Absolutely breathtaking.  I've never FELT history.  I've never FELT reverance. Amazing.

All in all, we...

Went to Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center) and took in amazing views

Went to Broadway shows (Mary Poppins, Chicago, and The Phantom of the Opera)

Visited numerous Starbucks. People watching and coffee sipping ensued.

Took the (free!) Staten Island Ferry past Lady Liberty herself.

Visited the 9-11 Memorial and St. Paul's Chapel

Had pizza in Brooklyn at Grimaldi's (yum-o)

Visited Central Park

Explored the Museum of Natural History (Night at the Museum, anyone?)

Had cupcakes.  Twice.

Hit up Times Square

Visited with numerous girlfriends (and one guy!)

Went to a Roller Derby

Braved a Haunted House (well, Val went in, I opted out...lol)

Played in FAO Schwartz

Ate.  Well. 

Saw an appropriate movie ("New York, I Love You")

Climbed FIVE flights of stairs to our apartment.  Twice a day.

Learned all about NYC apartments ("What's that sound!?!  Is someone breaking into our apartment???  Oh.  No, that's just the radiator kicking on.")

Walked.  A lot.

Visited Yankee Stadium

Took about a bazillion pictures.

Learned all about New York weather. 

Quickly. ("Don't like the weather?  Wait 10 minutes, it'll change")

Saw Carrie's apartment from Sex & The City

Realized that New Yorkers get a bad rap.  They very friendly, outgoing, and helpful people! 

Ok, so we did get called "a--holes" once on he Brooklyn Bridge (absolutely hilarious)!

Our trip would not have been anywhere near as fulfiling and amazing had it not been for our awesome friends.  In particular, our personal tour guide, Sarah worked her butt off prior to our arrival.  And once we were there she took it upon herself to always be there for us.  We had such a blast because of her! 

Love You Sarah!  

 I really enjoyed getting to know her cousin, and good friend of Val's, Amaya. 

She's a fabulous. One of those people you meet and instantly love. 

Yours truly, Val, Amaya

We were lucky enough to meet up with some other friends of ours,

grabbing lunch here, and breakfast there, with them. 

Awesome.

I'm sure I left out some obvious things we did. 

I may follow this post later with

 "Things Krista Learned while in NYC."

NEW YORK, I MISS YOU!

photo credit: 2/3 of the pics were stolen from Val  : )

I made a LIST? Oh reeeeally...

Remember my list?  Yeah, neither did I so I figured it was time for a refresher.  Nearly six months after I first posted it, let's see how it's going...
1. Drink more tea and water, less coffee and soda.
2. Do something active every day.
3. Learn to knit
4. Bake an Apple Pie for DH.
5. Go tent camping (sans tent if necessary)
6. Have a garage sale
7. Practice my Spanish. 
8. Eat healthier
9. Lose weight and then maintain a healthy weight.  As a fellow blogger once wrote, "Le Sigh".  Enough said.
10. Go mountain biking with the hubster
11. Stretch more Ok I'll admit this one I did actually forget about.  Whoops. Good thing I'm revisiting this list.
12. Walk 10,000 steps each day.  Ummm... no. Not yet anyway. Where is that pedometer, anyway?
13. Run (ok, jog) a 5K. I ran (ok, jogged) a 3K so I'm making progress!
14. Go to bed earlier, wake up earlier I was doing really good with this for a while but have gotten off track (as is evidenced in the fact that I am blogging when I should be in bed... oops)
15. Try a new active hobby Badminton! Trail riding!
16. Blog more I'm crossing this one off but keep me honest.  I'm blogging more these days, right?  It feels like it anyway (in a good way).
17. Host a BBQ or party (or both!)
18. Watch less TV  I'm not even close to crossing this one off.  Give me time.
19. Be a tourist at home
20. Volunteer I definitely haven't forgotten about this one. There's a call for volunteers in my neighborhood to help with the Halloween parade.  There's organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters.  There are schools that need helpers.  I've researched quite a few paths I could take but haven't followed up yet. 
21. Keep my car, house, yard clean and organized Who knew?  I have a neat freak within.  And I love it (and I don't see Eric complaining. hah).
22. Have a date with the hubster at least once a month This has been easy and fun.
23. Embrace new friendships, nourish old ones I've been focusing on being good to those people already in my life.  I don't think I've embraced new friendships enough to warrant crossing this one entirely off yet.
24. Listen more, interrupt less Easier said than done, but I've made so much progress I'm crossing this off
25. Forgive.  I've forgiven. Even more importantly, I've let go.  Some people just aren't good for you.
26. Spend money wisely; learn to be cheap and proud of it! I'm much better than I used to be, but I haven't reached the 'cheap and proud' part yet.
27. Learn to drive a stick shift once and for all. Eric keeps promising he'll teach me.  Ahem.  I'm waiting.
28. Stop and smell the roses I was out walking our dog one evening and saw some fabulous roses my neighbor's yard was boasting.  I stopped and while she was sniffing the ground searching for good doggy smells, I was inhaling the roses. 
29. Suprise the hubster with something fun
30. Think about "Be the change you wish to see in the world" and work towards that end. I've been thinking about this a lot.  Operation Beautiful.  What goes around comes around.  Being good to myself and others.  All good things.

Clearly, I've make some progress.  And clearly I have quite a ways to go until I turn 31 in March. 

To be continued...

Now, I'll leave you with a few pictures.  This is where I (like my toes?) was last weekend with my family.   Whiskeytown Lake in Redding, California. We go RV camping & boating there every summer.  Absolutely pristine waters, and since we went so late in the year this time, we virtually had the entire lake to ourselves. Awesome.

And this is our doggy, Midnight.

Happily exhausted after a day of swimming, sniffing, running, and doing all things doggy.

Daddy's Girl.

My First Sticky

Have you checked out Operation Beautiful yet?  I'm a believer!  I left my first sticky on a bathroom door at Target today.  I felt like I was brightening someone else's day, and it certainly brightened my own.  It's important to support others and be kind.  It's also important to treat yourself the same way.  My note said, "SMILE! You're beautiful! Don't let anyone else (including yourself) tell you different!"  If only we would treat ourselves as we would a friend, life would be so much easier.  I vow to start doing this.  Quit the negative talk.  Focus on the positive. And be happy.  Just another penny for your thoughts....  what would YOUR sticky say?

Note to self: get out, get out, GET OUT!

I went on a hike with my Dad last weekend in Muir Woods.  The beauty of the trail literally had my jaw dropping at times. 

It's times like these I realize how much I miss being active in a fun way.  What I mean is, the gym ain't cutting it.  Maybe eventually it will, but for now I need to save the fee and get out in nature.  I love being outside.  It's relaxing, energizing, and FUN.

Little Things...

Caitlin, over at Operation Beautiful, has gotten me thinking about little acts having big effects on people.  Little things can make a difference in others lives.  Good or bad.  Large or small.  Somewhere along the way, I've lost track of being purposefully good.  Of smiling at a stranger.  Practicing random acts of kindness.  I still do those things naturally, but they have become fewer and farther between.  I'm recommiting myself here and now to act... better.  Treat people how I want to be treated.  Give a penny, for crying out loud. 

Year One: Check!

 Happy Anniversary to Us!

August 16, 2008

I love him more every day.

PCOS, Thyroid, Babies... Oh My!

I've been diagnosed with PCOS which sucks, but hey, at least I know what's wrong and hopefully how to fix it. I also have Clinical Hypothyroidism... who knew? At least now I know why I sweat my butt off and barely show any weight loss. So... got me some drugs (which I'm not thrilled about but hey, I'll give it a try) and a plan. Trying to stay positive and know that everything will balance out.

Eric and I want two kids. Soon. Like, as in, this could be my last year as a non-mom soon. I hope the PCOS won't make conceiving next year too difficult. We'll see. I'd say I'm officially baby crazy. It's not so much as I want a baby to cuddle (which is definitely there, don't get me wrong) I am just super stoked to meet our kids. To get to know their personalities, to show them the world. Cheeseball, I know, but there you have it. I'm not looking forward to the sleepless nights, but they say it's worth it and I choose to believe that.

In other news.... it's almost our anniversary! Man, this year has gone by quick. I'm so happy and love being married to him. Eric mentioned that he'd heard the first year is supposed to be the hardest and said, "This hasn't been hard at all, it's been easy." And it has been easy. Maybe the first year you have kids is the hardest...no sleep, new stress, etc. Huh. Hopefully we'll be able to find out.

We're going to Disneyland the week after our official anniversary as a belated celebration. Being big kids at heart, it'll be a perfect for us.

That's all for now... I'll leave you with a pic

This is our neighbor's cat who lives about 6 houses down from us. She is now regularly hanging out and has no fear whatsoever of our dog Midnight. Initially we thought she was a stray (she's definitely not well cared for...we'll just leave it at that) so we've been feeding her. She still goes home at night, but I think we've got a surrogate cat now...lol

Best Friends Trip!

How could I forget the big news?!

Val and I are going to NEW YORK!!!! Girls trip in October to visit some friends. I've never ever been and have been dying to go. I'm so excited. I can't wait to see some of the fall colors, visit Central Park, Times Square, and hopefully see a broadway show. After hearing about the trip, our other BFF Moni might come too!

Would it be lame if I sing "Oh Happy Days" now? Ok, ok, admittedly I don't exactly know the words to that song, but if I did, you can bet I'd be singing!

Jillian made me do it!

I came to the realization last night that I wasn't going to burn any calories simply by owning a copy of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. Funnily enough, I was a-thinking I was going to have to actually work out and get off the couch and do it. Huh!

Anyway, so I did it. I did L1, D1 (Level 1, Day 1). My arms felt like they were going to die. My neck was straining, my knees were shaking. It was humbling how out of shape I was.

It felt great.

My New, Old Best Friend

Inspired by many of the blogs I follow, this morning I decided to get out and enjoy the fresh air and get me some exercise. Pulled out my trusty old mountain bike, who hadn't seen any action in years, wiped her down, gussied her up with some new gizmos (my fav is the wireless spedometer) and was off for a day of creek trail riding.

It was the perfect morning. It's been in the 70s and 80s today with a gentle breeze. At first I was huffin and puffin a little bit, but by about 10 minutes into the ride, I was more interested in counting the number of turtles sunbathing in the creek than feeling like I was going to die. My cardio came back to me. I was golden. Yay!

My first ride was about 6 miles. When I got home Eric decided he'd join me on my afternoon ride (yes, I was jonesing to go back out and 'discover' more of the local terrain). So, off we went in a different direction. This one was less creek, more vineyards and farmland.

I swear the next time, I'm bringing some cash and my ID and we're stoping at one of the hundreds of wineries in Sonoma County. Eric brough along a Twisted Lemonade...lol.

We ended up going 6 miles round trip. 10 miles in all today. Not bad for my first time out in years, and for being as out of shape as I am! I think I've found a new hobby. Eric had a great time too, you could tell. Lots of goofing around and we had fun chatting the whole time. We took a few rest breaks. I think the highlight was riding a long the trail at a leisurely 8 MPH and being passed by a runner! LMAO! I can't wait till next weekend. I'm setting my sites on another local trail to try out. I promise to bring my camera next time, too.

All in all, a great day, good exercise, and actually pretty romantic once Eric came along.

I'm a happy girl. All thanks to this girl. :)

Shout out!

My first offical shout out to an awesome blogger. Ellie, over at Vintage Victuals, does amazing things with food. I've been cooking up a storm thanks to her. Warning: The pictures alone will make you hungry.

Tonight, the hubster will be treated to the Taco Burgers. Perfect Friday night dinner, doncha think? Maybe even with some garlic fries. He has been a good boy lately. He deserves 'em.