Race Recap: Turkey Trot 10K

On my first day of my Thanksgiving break, I was awake at the crack of dawn to do something I really, really didn't want to do. I had signed up, along with my mom, to participate in the St. Petersburg Times 30th Annual Turkey Trot.

I wasn't looking forward to it. I had tried everything to get out of it. I thought I had my way out when my mom's iPod suddenly wouldn't charge the night before the race. Alas, she managed to run without it. And I had to go.

I was too nervous to eat anything beforehand. I had a bad, I'm-so-nervous stomachache an hour before the race. I was so afraid of failing.

But I did the race. I crossed the finish line. And it was one of the hardest things I've ever done.

Mile 1: Run
Obviously, my first run was easy as pie. Well, for the first three minutes. I started running with my mom but she quickly sped ahead of me and I had to set my own pace. I should mention that I haven't been running often. I did manage to run 3 miles in July but I've only been running half-mile's since then. I'm definitely not in 10K-race shape. But I wanted to run at least 3 of the 6 miles. It was hard, with tons of people passing me by. But I set my own pace and focused on the songs playing in my ears. It was also helpful for the people standing outside their houses, cheering us on! When I finally saw the Mile 1 marker, I lifted a fist in the air. I've never been so excited to see a sign in my life! I felt as if the first mile went on forever and I kicked my pace up to a sprint. And I managed to sprint to that marker. It was such a great, exhilarating feeling! I ran a mile!

Mile 2: Walk
I have short legs. Therefore, a short stride. Therefore, tons and tons of people passed me. It was fine when I was running, because I was setting my own pace. But walking? I get very annoyed when people pass me when I'm walking...and they're walking. I did see a lot of interesting people on the race during Mile 2. I saw a girl attempting to run in tight jeans and flats. Yes, that's right. Tight jeans. And flats. Who runs in flats? I think she managed ten steps before she stopped. And I silently laughed at her.

And then my theory that my stride is short because my legs are short was voided when I saw a lady, about two or three inches shorter than me, pass me. I called her Lady Long Stride and made a face behind her back. It made me feel better.

But I did enjoy walking the second mile. It gave me a chance to catch my breath and focus on the next mile. And I couldn't wait to pass the people who had just passed me.

Mile 3: Run
It was so, so, so hard to begin the third mile. My entire body felt like it weighed 300 pounds. I was so sluggish and lethargic. I really didn't believe I could do an entire mile.

But then something amazing appeared before me: a water station. Three big gulps of agua later and I was a new woman! No, my speed didn't pick up but my spirits sure did. I stopped thinking about how hard I was breathing or how much my calves ached. I just focused on getting to the third mile marker and completing this mile. I focused on the words playing in my ears. I focused on the scenery. I focused on the people I was passing (including Lady Long Stride). I focused on the people cheering me on from the sidelines. During this mile, the trail started twisting and turning. For the first 2 miles, it had been on a straight road so I liked all the twisting and turning. It made the path a little more interesting. And I sang a little "Hallelujah" when I came upon the third mile marker. I sprinted towards this one, felt as if my entire body was on fire and my heart would come pounding through my chest, and made it. Wow.

Mile 4: Walk
I have never been so happy to walk in my life! That third mile was killer on me but it was exciting to know I was halfway finished! We were walking in a beautiful neighborhood and it made me wish for my camera. Obviously, I'm rambling right now because there wasn't much happening in mile four. Nobody interesting to talk about. No pain to lament about. Nothing incredible happened. I just walked. And thought about how I was going to write this blog post. Yep.

Mile 5: Walk
Hm? Have I given up? Am I too tired to run anymore? Well, yes and no. I decided to walk Mile 5 so I could run Mile 6. And I knew I wouldn't be able to run Miles 5 and 6. So I walked this one. I was at peace with my decision and enjoyed the scenery and the people once again. And still, I've got nuthin' interesting to say about walking Mile 5. Nuthin'. During Mile 5, though, as I was walking down a street, I could see the top of the rest of the street. In other words, there was a big hill coming up. A big one. Oh, dear.

Mile 6: Walk/Run
As I began running Mile 6, I felt so sluggish and swollen. My hands were swollen twice their size. And then I encountered The Hill. Not just any hill. Imagine putting your treadmill on a 50% incline. Now try to run. Oh, em, gee. Horrible. I tried to run, I really did. But it hurt so badly that I had to walk until I got up the hill. After turning onto the street, I started running again. But at a very, very, very slow pace. I swear it took me 5 minutes to pass a speed walker. But I ran, even when it looked as if the mile was neverending.

And then, halfway into my last mile, my mom showed up! She had finished her race and I was running so slow, she managed to walk with me for a while. I tell ya, slow! But still running and my heart rate was POUNDING! And when I finally saw the finish line, I was on fire. I ran full speed to it and finished in 1 hour and 36 minutes.

I finished the race. I "ran" a 10K. Maybe I didn't run the whole thing but I still finished it. I was so proud of myself. I didn't think I could do it. I didn't think I had enough stamina. But I did do it.

I was super sore after the race and the following two days but it felt good. I worked my muscles out. And I was able to eat all the turkey and mashed potatoes and stuffing and cupcakes I wanted - and not feel guilty.

And I kinda want to do another 10K...soon.

Weekend Recap

This little break from work and school has been so delicious and much-needed. I have been so busy with everything I have due for school. Luckily, things are winding down and I only have 6 assignments left, including finals. And no more presentations! I gave my last presentation on Tuesday and am so happy to be done with those. They scare me to death.

I've been trying to figure out a way to recap my weekend, which includes my 10K race, Thanksgiving, my birthday, and my new hairstyle. So I just decided to recap it all in one. Sort of.

10K race
I'm actually giving this aspect of my weekend its own post tomorrow. I've never competed in a 10K, not that I actually competed in this one. I wasn't very excited to have to get up super early (5:30 a.m.) for this race and I haven't been running consistently. I'll talk more about it tomorrow, but let's just say I was extremely proud of myself at the end of the 10K.


Thanksgiving Dinner
I love my family and I just love our Thanksgiving dinner tradition. It's nothing spectacular or amazing. We just all convene at my grandmother's house. My grandma and grandpa cook the dinner. The rest of us "help" or watch football. We eat. My mom and grandma clean up while the rest of us just sit around and watch football. It's my tradition, something I love.

Last year, my nephew was 2 months old at Thanksgiving and slept through the whole thing. This year, he was the center of attention and the biggest entertainer!

Haircut
So, I finally got my haircut on Friday afternoon. And by finally, I mean FY-NUH-LEE! I haven't had a haircut since the end of March. My hair was full of dead ends, grown-out layers, and dying hair color. So I had it dyed again. (Oh, look! A pun! Hehe.) And then cut. It feels so much lighter and easier to manage now, even though the length isn't too different.

This was my hair on Wednesday. Pretty long, kinda blonde.

And my new hair! Brown, a little bit shorter, with bangs!

Birthday
Saturday was my birthday. I turned 22. It sounds old to me. Twenty-two. I still feel like I'm fifteen. It was a good day. I slept in and then went out to breakfast with my mom. I had a very unhealthy, calorie-ridden breakfast that was so good I wanted to cry. And then we spent a few hours at Busch Gardens but we came to the realization that BG is turning into a family park. Only four rollercoasters, two of which we don't ride. The rest of the park is for kids! And everything they're building is family-centered. It's a little annoying.

We came home, relaxed for a bit, and then went out for dinner at Carrabba's. I tried a martini but yuck. I need my alcohol watered down. A lot. The aftertaste of a heavily alcohol-ed beverage makes me cringe. I don't know. Maybe it's an acquired taste. The dinner was good, even though I filled myself up on bread and could barely finish my meal. That's always been a problem for me.


All in all, a fun weekend. I managed to get a good portion of my homework done today and took tomorrow off from work. Yay, me! I have yet another day to sleep in, even though I do have class at 2pm. I cannot wait to get this semester over with! As of December 8th, I will have 4 weeks of complete freedom. Happiness.

I Am Thankful.

In honor of my very favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, here is my list of 100 things I am thankful for, no matter how silly or mundane they may seem!

1. I am thankful for the unconditional love and support of my mom.
2. I am thankful for my family.
3. I am thankful for my fabulous queen-sized bed that keeps me warm and snuggly all night long.
4. I am thankful for the opportunity to attend a university with minimal debt.
5. I am thankful for my job and the income and laughs it provides.
6. I am thankful for my writing ability.
7. I am thankful for sunny days and cool nights.
8. I am thankful for money in my bank account.
9. I am thankful for credit cards, without which I wouldn't have survived the past years.
10. I am thankful for good fiction novels.
11. I am thankful for my sweet, loveable, cuddly dog who brightens my day whenever I see him.
12. I am thankful for Weight Watchers, for giving my mom back her life and giving me back my life.
13. I am thankful for my health.
14. I am thankful for chocolate.
15. I am thankful for Coca-Cola.
16. I am thankful for the awesome grocery store chain, Publix, which sells the best subs in the entire world.
17. I am thankful for football.
18. I am thankful for my sweet nephew who is quite possibly the cutest kid ever.
19. I am thankful for pillows.
20. I am thankful for Target.
21. I am thankful for sleep.
22. I am thankful for my co-teacher, Stephani, who makes work a lot less miserable.
23. I am thankful for opportunities to stretch my writing ability.
24. I am thankful that I've never gone hungry.
25. I am thankful that we downsized and now are living life with a lot less stress.
26. I am thankful for my brother.
27. I am thankful for exercise. As much as I hate it, it does make me feel good about myself.
28. I am thankful for a reliable car. (Even if it is my mom's!)
29. I am thankful for my digital camera. It may not be a Nikon, but it takes pictures!
30. I am thankful for Twitter.
31. I am thankful for Facebook.
32. I am thankful for this blog.
33. I am thankful for blog friends.
34. I am thankful for Christian music.
35. I am thankful for the worship at my church.
36. I am thankful for an instant connection to the Internet.
37. I am thankful for clear, cable channels.
38. I am thankful for inside jokes with friends.
39. I am thankful for all my two-year-olds who are so funny and sweet and smart.
40. I am thankful for the ability to walk, talk, and hear.
41. I am thankful for make-up.
42. I am thankful for the ability to wear flip-flops every day of the year.
43. I am thankful for the gym at my apartment.
44. I am thankful for comfy blankets.
45. I am thankful for the Miami Dolphins, no matter how mad I get at them.
46. I am thankful for Post-Its.
47. I am thankful for mocha frappuccino's.
48. I am thankful for clean laundry.
49. I am thankful for air-conditioning and heating.
50. I am thankful for my apartment.
51. I am thankful for cheat nights.
52. I am thankful for sweatpants.
53. I am thankful for my laptop.
54. I am thankful for Panera Bread croutons. (Seriously, they are the BEST!)
55. I am thankful for my grandma, who can do no wrong in my eyes.
56. I am thankful for the president.
57. I am thankful that I was able to vote for the president.
58. I am thankful for all God does for me every day.
59. I am thankful for sweet surprises that brighten my life.
60. I am thankful for Shape magazine.
61. I am thankful for my iPod, no matter how crappy or outdated it is.
62. I am thankful for the ability to visit places like Sea World and Busch Gardens.
63. I am thankful for the awesome, best friend relationship I have with my mother.
64. I am thankful for Carrabba's Italian Grill and Outback Steakhouse.
65. I am thankful for days off.
66. I am thankful for the holiday season.
67. I am thankful for Christmas music.
68. I am thankful for the opportunity to share Christ to others, without fear of becoming imprisoned or killed.
69. I am thankful for the memories old pictures evoke.
70. I am thankful that I don't need alcohol or drugs to numb any pain I have.
71. I am thankful for Spirit FM, my local radio station.
72. I am thankful for movie popcorn.
73. I am thankful for raw cookie dough.
74. I am thankful for rainy days.
75. I am thankful for laughter.
76. I am thankful that nothing has ever kept me down for long.
77. I am thankful I have never experienced depression firsthand.
78. I am thankful that I have never smoked a cigarette in my life.
79. I am thankful for my past.
80. I am thankful for online shopping.
81. I am thankful for my high school, where I got the most amazing educational opportunity.
82. I am thankful for Twenty-Something Bloggers.
83. I am thankful for my sense of humor.
84. I am thankful for the ability to sell back my textbooks.
85. I am thankful for warm hoodies.
86. I am thankful for long, deep conversations.
87. I am thankful for my hair salon, which makes my hair oh-so-beautiful.
88. I am thankful for all the lessons I've learned from difficult circumstances.
89. I am thankful that our laundry room is a hop, skip, and a jump from our apartment.
90. I am thankful for reality television.
91. I am thankful for girl talk.
92. I am thankful that getting drunk every weekend does not appeal to me on any level.
93. I am thankful for nail polish and hair dye.
94. I am thankful for my hair straightener.
95. I am thankful for conditioner.
96. I am thankful my future is secure.
97. I am thankful that Jesus died on the cross for me and my sins.
98. I am thankful I have worship music at my disposal.
99. I am thankful that I can have a personal, intimate relationship with the one, true God.
100. I am thankful for Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.

Out of Touch

This past weekend has really shown me how out of touch I am with my generation. On Saturday, I turn twenty-two years old. Laugh all you want, but twenty-two sounds so old to me. I don't feel as if I act like a typical twenty-two-year-old nor do I look like one. (Evidence by being asked if I needed a kids' menu at a restaurant this past month.)

Granted, I may be stereotyping twentysomethings in this post but from what I've experienced and what I've had to deal with at school and work, this is the norm for people my age. I don't feel as if I'm bucking the trend because I want to be different. I'm bucking the trend because the life of a normal twentysomething doesn't resonate right with me.

Since I've been 21, I've had a total of two drinks. The first on my birthday, which I ended up hating. The second at a Christmas party, which I drank half of before succumbing to the glorious, refreshing taste of a Coke. I don't like the taste of alcohol and I have no desire to experience true drunkenness and the awful effects of being hungover. Alcohol doesn't need to be a part of my life to numb any pain or liven up any get-together. I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything.

I've never been to a club or a bar. Is there a part of me that wonders what they're like? Sure. I've been asked to go out to these places before but I always turn those requests down. Am I missing out on much? I don't think so. I don't listen to much mainstream music, I'm a Christian music fan to the core. I'm also not much of a dancer. It's just not me. I'm not the type of girl you're going to see at these types of places. For a few Sundays, I went to Mugs and Jugs (a sports bar) with my dad and brother. It was loud and boisterous and I could not pay attention to the game. (So annoying!) I just didn't like the environment. I felt out of place and irritated by the tipsy/drunk people around me.

I'm just a major homebody. I don't like staying out all night. I would rather stay home on a Saturday night, eating pizza, playing board games, and watching Office reruns than going out on the town, dressed up to the nines, and just feeling uncomfortable all night. I like staying home. I like the comfort that is my home.

I'm not saying I don't like to have fun, because I do. But I just don't have this extroverted, bubbly personality where I would feel comfortable in some of these settings. I'm a really boring person and I like my life. I realize I do need to get out more and start living life larger. But I don't think I'll ever do it by going to a bar and I don't believe I need alcohol to make my life exciting and fun.

It's just who I am. A little out of touch with my generation, but still me.

Ten on Tuesday (vol. 4)

1. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a veterinarian. I loved animals more than people (still do) and thought it would be a perfect career for me. People always asked if I would be sad to put animals to sleep to which I always shrugged at and said, "No." I even promised my dad that I would become a vet. But then I took Anatomy & Physiology in 11th grade. College level A&P. I failed it my first go-around and it was just plain awful. I hated everything about science and knew I could never do anything in the medical field. So there went that dream!

2. Name 3 of your irrational fears.
I'm afraid of calling people on the phone. (I much prefer text or e-mail...but don't we all?)
I'm afraid of making small talk, because I am awful at it. Just awful.
I'm afraid of car trouble. It all stems back to my childhood, where we had so many cars break down on us. It's such a scary feeling for a kid, especially back then when we didn't have cell phones or On Star.

3. If you had a $200 gift card to any store, what would you want it to be? (Nothing responsible allowed. Can’t be used for groceries or anything)
I would definitely use it at Kohls. Every time I go there, I never have any money to spend. So I would love to go and just shop to my little heart's content.

4. What is your most (blog-friendly) embarrassing moment?
No doubt about it, eighth grade dance. When our principal announced who was "Mr. PPMS" I whispered loudly to my friend, "He probably cheated on that, too," right as he was walking by. He turned, flashed a dazzling grin at me, and I was so embarrassed. Luckily, I never saw him after that. (Although, in my defense, there was a rumor going around that he cheated on this.)

5. If you were only allowed to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Publix subs. I feel bad for anyone who doesn't live near a Publix because they make the best subs on the face of this planet. Subway is such a pitiful comparison to the care and love Publix sub makers put into their subs. I swear a sub from Publix is twice the size of one from Subway. But you go ahead and get your $5 footlong...although it's really only worth $2.

6. What was your favorite toy growing up?
For Christmas 1995, my mom and dad bought me a "La Baby." I remember the year because she became my child that I named Jessica Katelyn. I still have her and she will be 14 this year! Craziness. I even bought her a USF cheerleading outfit to wear. (This is a little embarrassing to admit but I will not admit the age I was when I bought it.) Unfortunately, when my dog, Minnie, was a puppy she spent a morning while I was sleeping chewing off her toes. So she's a little deformed. And I have a picture!

Check out those toes! Dang. Minnie really got her good!

7. Do you have a “go to” outfit? What is it?
Do sweatpants and an oversized shirt count?

8. Who was the best teacher you ever had?
My fifth-grade teacher, hands down. She was the most cheerful and exciting teacher I have ever had. I was new to the school that year and she made the transition so fun and easy. I like to think I was one of her favorites, as well. She also had one of those chalk holders and the coolest mechanical pencil I had ever seen.

9. If you could buy any car right now (something at least SORT OF within the realm of reality…so, you know, a Rolls Royce may not qualify), what would it be?
I would probably go for a Mazda6. I'm not big into Mercedes and BMW's. They just scream status but I don't like the look of many of them. I really love Mazda6's and think they look so sporty yet sleek. My birthday is on Saturday, in case you needed gift ideas...

10. How do you reckon that Chelsea comes up with 10 of these questions every week? It was hard! What’s your theory on how she’s so creative? Are you going to help her?
Haha, reckon. That's such a Southern word. And yes, I did help Chelsea out by sending her some questions! You should, too!

Blogging Through The Years: First Grade

I'm currently blogging through my years in school. I've blogged about Pre-School and Kindergarten, previously.


I started first grade in August 1994 and it was an interesting year. My teacher seemed old to me, but she was probably in her thirties. She was also very overweight and spent much of her time in the rocking chair or a regular chair. My parents loved her but I didn't like her very much. I didn't really have a best friend that year or close circle of friends. I was just kind of there.

• We had a Pancake Breakfast that year in which my dad was the cook. I thought it was so neat and he wasn't much of an involved father so it was fun for him to come to my classroom and be a part of my class. I don't remember much about the breakfast other than my father cooking, though.
• In first grade, The Florida Aquarium opened and my class scheduled a visit to them. My mom volunteered to chaperon and we ended up coming in late that day, after the bell had rung and announcements were over with. (In kid speak, this is Very Late.) I had also chopped off my long blond locks for a short bob so it was very embarrassing to come to class with a completely new hairstyle and be late! And I don't remember anything about our field trip.
• In the "library" part of our class, our teacher had an antique claw-foot tub full of pillows that she had made. One person was allowed to sit in it and read when we had silent reading time. I don't remember making much use of it, though. I think I sat in it once.
• In first grade, I joined up with T-Ball. My brother was doing baseball, although he switched over when it was too difficult for him. I liked t-ball. It was fun and I like to think I was good at it. The truth is, I don't remember how good I was or how good the team was. I do remember being a shortstop in the game and a ball hitting me on the chin. But I was a trooper and that seven-year-old me didn't even cry! I was a tough cookie back then.
• This was the first time I remember my parents separating. My dad went to live with a friend of his and we would visit on the weekends. He lived in an apartment with a pool and I remember spending lots of Saturdays, playing in the pool. Since the apartment I lived in with my mom didn't have a pool, this was pretty awesome to me. The divorce didn't bug me that much. My parents fought so much that it was nice to have a break from the miserableness that was their marriage.
• Since they were separated, I had to join a "support group" for children of separated/divorced parents at school. They announced my name as "Stephen," which was very embarrassing. And I was in the group with two other boys. It was very boring and I didn't feel "supported" at all. My parents ended up getting back together and I stopped attending.
• Many times, we played a game called "The Teacher Is Right" where our teacher would show transparencies on the overhead projector of worksheets. She would pick a student and they would have to either answer a question aloud or go up to the screen and point to the right word or phrase. This game was made even sweeter by the teacher's M&M candy dispenser. It was like a gumball machine where you twist the knob and candy falls out. So cool.
• I remember reading a lot of Frog and Toad books. Since this was first grade, reading was minimal but for some reason, I was really drawn to this book. I have no idea why.
• One of the coolest things about first grade was the seating chart. At the beginning of every month, my teacher would get together small colored plastic blocks and put them in a container. There were about 4 blocks of each color, each signify a certain group of desks. We would close our eyes, pick a block, and then rush back to our friends to see if we had the same color. I loved this.
• We did a lot of writing in first grade. We had one of those journals made of construction paper and writing paper, the kind that is blank at the top with three lines at the bottom to write on. A few years ago, my mom found all my journals and we laughed hysterically at some of the things I wrote. (And what an awful drawer I was.) The main theme of all my journals was "terch" (i.e., church). I wrote about "terch" for probably 70% of the journals. I must've really enjoyed my experiences in church when I was seven.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 2)

I missed doing this last week, although I planned on it. Friday was a super busy day for me so I never got a chance to even got online, much less write a blog post! So here's my second installment! If you do one of your own, head over to ConversionDiary.com and submit your link.

One.
On Friday, I went to my brother's apartment after work. He had the day off and my mom was babysitting my nephew while he did some shopping. My nephew, who is almost 14 months, went through a period of bursting into tears whenever he saw my mom and me. And he would only calm down if we took him in his room to play with him. Separation anxiety at its finest! Well, this Friday, I came into the apartment and put the food I brought on the table. I turned around and my nephew is holding onto my brother's pants, with this humongous smile on his face. He let go of my brother and just about ran over to me to give me a hug! Then he sat down next to me and clapped! Seriously, best welcome ever! He's never done that, although he has gotten better about not crying his eyes out when we come over now.

Two.
Mom and I bought a new game called In A Pickle. I didn't read the instructions correctly, so we went through the entire 300+ deck of cards during our first game. Generally, for a two-player game, you go through 50 or so. Yeah. I realized that once we were mostly done with the game. But the game was a whole lot of fun!

Three.
Mom and I went to the recycling center to get rid of our plastic bottles, soda cans, and some glass last weekend. I love tossing the glass bottles into the bin and hearing the crash. It's a good stress reliever. Try it sometime!

Four.
I'm so close to the end of this semester! Although I was excited to begin the semester, I have experienced more stress and exhaustion than ever before. Probably not at the level I was at with my final internship but a close second. I only have 9 assignments to go until I'm finished! I will be so excited to have a break from writing and studying and researching. It'll be nice to recharge my batteries.

Five.
I really need to find 3 new purses. The one I use for school, when I bring my laptop, is one I've had for probably 3 years now. The one I use for school, when I don't bring my laptop, is one I've had for over a year now. And the last one I use, for when I go out, is one I've had for about 2 years. So I've been searching and have found the two I (tentatively) want:Both are from Kohl's. I actually found a really cute laptop bag from Target, but I can't find it on their online store. It's $30 and I really want it. I'll be putting all three on my Christmas List. (Yes, I still make those!)

Six.
I'm still not sure what I want to do with my hair. I like it long but like it short. I love feeling cute and sassy with a short hairstyle but also love the feel of my long hair. Because let's face it: I have beautiful hair. I've been told on numerous occasions by complete strangers how beautiful my hair is. It's my best feature. And yes, I'm a bit conceited when it comes to my hair. I have a hair appointment on Black Friday for a haircut. I'll be scouring hair magazines and hair websites in the meantime but I'm leaning toward a trim, but haven't decided whether to grow my bangs out (they're chin-length now) or cut them. I'm usually not this indecisive when it comes to my hair.

Seven.
I went to work in a horrible mood on Wednesday. And I try but it's really, really hard to stay in a bad mood when surrounded by bubbly, joyful two-year-olds. Granted, they are not always that way but bright early in the morning, they are bubbly and joyful. Kids just have such a great spirit about them. It's hard to stay in an awful mood with happy kids!

Flab to Fab: Does This Make Me a Winner?

Week #2 on the program didn't fare so well. I actually gained half a pound. I knew a 3-lb weight loss was too good to be true! I'm not sure if the "second week curse" applies to normal folk as well as Biggest Loser contestants, but I'm using it for the reasoning behind my weight gain!

Other factors were at play:
1. I didn't track well. In fact, the first time I tracked was on Monday, four days behind. Not good. I had to try and think back to what I ate and I'm sure I miscounted or forgot food.
2. I didn't use up all of my extra points. While many people don't even touch these beautiful lifesavers, my mom found out in her go-around with Weight Watchers that she lost more weight when she used up all her extra points. I think I still had around 15 or so at the end of the week.
3. I didn't eat enough, and what I did eat wasn't "filling foods". Filling foods is the cornerstone of Weight Watcher's Momentum plan, in which if we eat more foods that are filling, we are less likely to snack on junk. I mainly snacked on junk.
4. I weighed in a day earlier! Hey, this could be it! I've been a Thursday weigh-in girl for a few years now so weighing in on a Wednesday may have messed with my system. (Although we're thinking of switching to Wednesday meetings now. I love the leader we had!)
5. I didn't eat breakfast all week, which has always been a problem for me. I'm not a breakfast eater. Even though I get hungry for breakfast, it's never anything more than a granola bar. I read an article in Shape magazine that breakfast should actually be our biggest meal of the day which makes total sense. Dinner should be our smallest meal, when it's usually our biggest. What we eat for breakfast will fuel us for the rest of the day. Dinner is just fueling us as we wind down for the day and hit the hay.

I'm really going to try to track a lot better this week. I've been tracking all of today and marking off any healthy guidelines I make.

I also need to start eating breakfast, obviously. This is my other goal I'm working on this week. I want foods that are high in fiber and protein. So I've made a short list of some breakfast items I'd like:
1. Whole-wheat bread, toasted, with peanut butter
2. A hard-boiled egg, without the yolk
3. String cheese

I don't have time to sit down and eat, even when I'm at work. I need something I can make and eat on the way to work or take nibbles at when I am at work. These three options are my best bet, but I thought some of my lovely blog readers could help me out.

What do you eat for breakfast? What kinds of things could I add onto my list?

Ten on Tuesday (vol. 3)

If you do this as well, click here to submit your link!

1. What are some of your family traditions?
We have a lot, and none of them big. But I like our traditions and I really don't want to grow up, leave home, and have to deal with making new ones. (That scares me. A lot.) Anyway, when my brother and I were growing up, we started a tradition of sleeping in the same room and trying to stay up all night. My mom let us open presents at 6am so we tried our hardest to stay awake. We were allowed to get our stockings after midnight, which was always like the precursor to Christmas. My brother moved out in 2006 and now I actually get some sleep on Christmas Eve! As a side note, we only managed to stay awake one Christmas and it was because we stayed over at my uncle's house and had his plethora of movies to watch during the night. (But I ended up crashing at 8am the next day.)

Anyway, our Thanksgiving tradition is Mom and I waking up at the crack of dawn to participate in the Turkey Trot. This will be our fourth year and we're trying out the 10K. My mom is running it and I'm trying the walk/run. (I'm not excited about this. Sorry, Mom!) After breakfast at IHOP and a shower, we head over to my grandma's. The guys and I watch football while my mom and my grandma and my grandfather cook. Dinner is at 3pm but we never eat until 4pm or later. We eat dinner, have lots of laughs, and then my mom usually cleans up the kitchen. The rest of us laze around, watching football.

Christmas is done similarly. My mom and I wake up whenever and open presents. My brother comes over to open presents and give us his gifts. And then in the late afternoon, Mom and I head over to my grandma's for a repeat of Thanksgiving. We open more gifts, eat a lot of good food. The only problem with Christmas is a.) Christmas season is over and b.) no football!

And this was an extremely long answer. I applaud anyone who read this whole thing. I'll eat one of my extra-special Christmas cookies for you.

2. Do you know how to change a flat tire?
No, I don't. I would like to learn, only because I have major anxiety when it comes to having something go wrong with a car. When I was younger, my mom, brother, and I were driving back to our apartment from my grandma's house when our tire blew out. It was horrible, on a super-busy road and we had to walk home. People kept stopping us to give us a ride but my mom declined every time, showing us not to hitch rides with strangers! She also bribed us with the offer of an ice-cold Coca-Cola when we got home. (Back in the day when Kool-Aid or milk were our only drink options.)

3. Do you subscribe to any magazines? What are your favorites?
The only magazine I subscribe to is Shape and I love this magazine to pieces. It is chock full of healthy living advice, beauty advice, awesome success stories, and great workout ideas. I do enjoy reading Us Weekly because it's nice to sit back and read some great gossip. It's a nice relaxer. But that's about it.

4. What are your top three favorite office supply items? (If you don’t share the love of office supplies with me or if you are male, you may skip this question.)

Well, I do love office supplies so I will participate.

First off, I'd start with a pen. My current favorite is the Pilt EasyTouch Retractable Ballpoint Pen in clear. It writes so well and smoothly. I love it.

Post-Its! Of course! Who doesn't love Post-Its? I don't use them as much as I did but I love the Post-It Flags, for marking my spot in a book. I'm not big on bookmarks or dog-earing so these Post-Its work great! (And I, too, love when I finish a dispenser and have a new color to look forward to!)

Page protectors. I use them for school, mainly to hold my syllabi for classes. My eighth-grade English teacher was a big fan of these and totally turned me onto this amazing office supply. I always make sure I have them in stock for any necessary emergency.

5. Are you a good public speaker?
No, I'm awful. I make a lot of awkward pauses, say "um" a lot, and get the shakes. I quickly get a dry throat and I hate every aspect of it. I lose my train of thought, as well. I think this is a major reason why I failed at teaching.

6. How do you feel about acronyms?
Acronyms? I have no feeling about them whatsoever. Kind of like asking how I feel about Sweden.

7. What’s the most creative things you’ve ever done? (Bloggers, feel free to include pictures!)
Oh man. This is going to be hard. I'm not a creative person at all. I just write well. I have no answer for this. I'm just too boring.

8. I’d rather jam a pen in my eye than…
...read about vampires or witchcraft. I don't get the buzz about Harry Potter or Twilight. I tried getting into Harry Potter but I honestly couldn't stand the books. They annoyed me. I haven't "tried" Twilight yet but have no urge to go out and buy the book. None at all.

9. What company has the best advertising?
I love Microsoft's response to the Mac ads. I hate the Mac ads. And they are so stereotypical, it's just wrong. I love, love, love Coor's Light ads, with the press conferences. They are my absolute favorite!

10. When is your birthday?
My birthday is on the 28th of this month. Am I excited? You betcha! It falls the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Mom and I are still deciding whether to venture up to Orlando for the weekend or not. But I love my birthday and celebrate it all month long. I'm also have 3 birthday celebrations, ha! One with my brother and nephew, one with my family on Thanksgiving, and a third with just my mom and me. I. Can't. Wait!

A Formal Introduction

I realize I've never given a formal introduction to myself. Since I have some new followers, I thought it would be proper to give everyone some background info on me. (Because, you know, I'm just so cool!)

My name is Stephany and I live with my mom in Florida. My parents divorced when I was in fifth grade and since their divorce, my dad has been in and out of my life. As of November 2007, my dad decided he didn't want any part of my life.

I'm a journalism student, hoping to graduate in December 2010. I spent 2 1/2 years as an elementary education student which I totally and completely loved. I loved the classes, I loved creating lesson plans, and I loved the kids. I felt totally at home with education peeps. The teaching part, though? I was pretty awful at it. I got bad marks all the time. All of my other student teaching friends got high marks on all their observations, but I consistently scored low. After failing my Final Internship in October 2008, I had some things to think about. A few weeks later, I decided education was not the route for me and changed my major to journalism.

I have a brother, who is 14 months older than me. We fought like cats and dogs, growing up. We were each other's best friends and worst enemies. He started dating Jenny in September 2004. They moved in together in September 2005 and their son, Jovanny, was born on September 25, 2008. They are extraordinary parents and I know my nephew is being raised by the best people possible. They are young parents but they do a better job as parents and as partners than most older people I know.

I live close to my grandparents and cousins. I have family in Ohio, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, and California. I wouldn't say we are a close family but I know I could count on every single one of them if I needed them. We rally behind one another in times of need. Always.

I'm currently working at a pre-school which is a fun but tiring job. I work with a great group of people. I work with the two-year-olds which is so much fun. Sure, it's hectic and chaotic but it helps that I work with one of my best friends, as well as the best teacher in the center. We have a great time together and work so well together. Everything just flows.

I'm currently doing Weight Watchers, for the third time. My mom lost 80 pounds (and kept it off) using this program. I just want to be healthy and fit. And I want the other benefits: being skinny, feeling comfortable in my skin, looking hot. I want to lose about 35 pounds and I know it's not going to be easy. But it will be worth it.

I grew up in a Christian environment. (Although my father wasn't a Christian or a believer.) My grandparents led Children's Church. I know the Truth. I believe in a holy and mighty God. And I believe I need God. I just haven't been living that way for a while. I know I need to change and fall back in love with Jesus. I feel comfortable in the church environment and when I'm around other believers. I don't feel comfortable in a bar or club. That's not where my heart and passion lies. I just need a kick in the pants!

I have so many dreams for my life. I want to fall in love. I want to write a best-selling novel. I want to write for a magazine. I want to travel. I want to be a mother. I want to feel comfortable in my skin. I want my life to reflect Jesus.

Blogging Through The Years: Kindergarten

I'm currently blogging through the years, reminiscing on my childhood. Check out my first blog about pre-school!

• My teacher was a nice, older lady. I loved her and she's really the quintessential kindergarten teacher. She would carry around a white envelope with her every day where she would write down names of the kids who were behaving "badly." If you got your name on her envelope 3 times, your name would go up on the blackboard and you lost out on treasure box. I got my name on her envelope once the entire year. And it was the absolutely worst thing that ever happened to six-year-old me. I was playing in Housekeeping and wasn't sharing so one of my friends told on me. Obviously, this experience scarred me!
• I have this memory of sitting with all the other kindergartners in the kindergarten pod, singing songs during a rainy Friday afternoon. I'm not sure if we did this frequently because I only remember doing it once.
  
• Like most kindergarten classes, we had circle time in the morning. And we would often talk about our weekends on Mondays. One Monday, a girl told a story about going camping with her parents and sister. Her sister got a blood-sucking fly stuck in her eye and her father managed to get it out of her eye. If he hadn't, the fly would've sucked all the blood out of her body and she would've died. (Yes, this story was told to five- and six-year-olds...) It scared me to death and I'm still scared of this happening to me! Irrational? Perhaps.
• My best friend in kindergarten was "Lauren with the blue truck." (A different Lauren than the one in pre-school.) She had a really cool mom and an awesome blue truck. She was one of those really cool kids who became my friend and made me cool because she was my friend. In January, though, she had suddenly disappeared and I never heard from her again.
• I have a lovely memory of my dad driving my brother and me to school and him yelling at me because I didn't know how to tie my shoes. Instead of showing me, he just yelled at how stupid I was and made me cry the whole way there. Great guy.
  
• My mom would usually take my brother and me to her work (my old pre-school) before we started school. So I would spend my mornings in my mom's classroom. Everytime a parent came up to me and asked what grade I was in, I would always respond, "I'm not in a grade. I'm in kindergarten."
• For the holidays, we made big trash bag pumpkins and snowmen. Everyone got a chance to scrunch up newspaper and stuff a big orange or white trash bag that would eventually plump up to be a pumpkin or snowman! It was so much fun!
• I was placed in a remedial reading class in kindergarten. When my mom got a letter from my school, she thought the school was telling her what a genius I was! The truth is, I was incredibly shy and didn't talk much. They assumed I had trouble reading so I had to go to this class during nap time for an hour. I don't remember how long I was in the class but I was pulled out when they realized their mistake. I'm still upset over losing my nap time.
• Every Friday, we got to choose from the Treasure Box. (Provided we didn't have our name on the blackboard!) Once, I got to choose two toys from the Treasure Box because the Friday before that, I left school early. My classmates were so jealous of me. It felt wonderful!
• We had one student who was a big disruption. My teacher kept moving him to different seats but he was always causing problems. So she finally moved him to his own seat and then had to put a cardboard box around his desk. I didn't find it weird at the time and just felt bad for him. He also frequently ate paper.
  

Flab to Fab: I'm a Loser!

First week of Weight Watchers went really, really well. I did feel like I was on a diet but I never really felt deprived. I know I need to get serious and this time, it has to work because I want to be thin and healthy and fit. And I know the plan. I know what I need to do.

5 Good Things I Did This Week:
1. I drank a lot less soda this week. Also, I didn't drink any at work this week! I'm really happy about that since soda is my one vice that's going to be really hard to cut back on.
2. I stayed within my Points range and also didn't use all my Extra Points! (35 extra points given a week, tagged onto one's daily Point range) I usually use all of them, and then some!
3. During my Tuesday night class, we played a game. And games in college usually equal chocolate prizes. And yep, my teacher definitely brought in a bag full of Hershey chocolates, Reese's, Kit-Kat, and Almond Joy. The bag went by me 3 times and I only got a candy once! This, for me, is something to smile about since I usually forgot who I am and what I'm doing when I see chocolate.
4. I took the stairs at school this week! I even parked on the fourth level in the parking garage and still took the stairs! It made me huff and puff and feel really weak (and realize how out of shape I really am!) But I felt good about taking the stairs!
5. I tried to choose healthy snacks instead of the usual 100-calorie packs that never fill me up. Instead, I bought some Goldfish and Milano cookies which I think filled me up better and tasted better! I don't think I snacked too much on junk food this week, which is awesome!

5 Things I Want To Work On This Week:
1. Drink more water. I did good this week but not as much as I need to. I knew I'd have trouble drinking enough water but I'm doing better than I was! So that's a positive.
2. Exercise more. I only got in 1 good workout this week on Sunday. I'm shooting for 3 workouts this week but hoping for 5.
3. Eat a more filling lunch. Part of the reason I didn't exercise as much was because I was so hungry by the afternoon! I know I wasn't eating enough so I have a more filling lunch planned for next week!

So, I know each and every one of you is on the edge of your seats, wondering how much weight I lost this week. And I did really, really well. More than I've ever lost in a week.

3.2. pounds!

That's a lot for me! I'm super happy about it but who wouldn't be? Hence the title of this blog...I am a loser!

Ten on Tuesday (vol. 2)

Oh, my new favorite! Chelsea has a Mr. Linky going on at Roots & Rings so head on over there if you do this as well!

1. What gift are you most proud of giving?
My mom has always gone all out for my brother and me for Christmas. Even when we struggled for money, she always seemed to deliver and give us the best Christmas experience every year. And she barely ever got anything. My dad never got her much (if anything) for Christmas. (Or her birthday or their anniversary...) So one year, when I was in middle school, I made her a "If I Had a Million Dollars..." book where I cut out pictures of houses, cars, pets, etc. Things I would buy her if I had some money. A little silly but sweet. That's me in a nutshell.

2. What’s the best gift you ever received?
I can't really say what the best was but one of my favorites was tickets to see some kind of gymnastics meet. It was Christmas 1996, after the girls' had taken gold at the Olympics and I was obsessed with them. I bought all their biography books and was convinced that I would become a world-famous gymnast by the time I was fourteen. (I was nine at the time.) I had never been to a sporting event in my life so it was so much fun. I couldn't believe I was in the same building as Bela Karolyi and Dominique Moceanu!

3. In honor of my husband: What’s the worst injury you’ve ever had?
I've never broken a bone, gotten stitches, or even sprained my ankle. I did have my tonsils removed when I was four. But other than that, probably the worst injury was when I hurt my back while watching a movie in 10th grade. Yep, you heard me right. I was lying on my bed one afternoon, watching a movie, and when I got up after the movie was over, my lower back hurt so much. I don't know what I did and never went to the doctor about it. I even had to compete in a cheerleading competition with it! (And my pain tolerance is about a -5.) So, I still don't even know what was wrong but it hasn't come back!

4. They say everyone gets 15 minutes of fame. Who’s 15 minutes has gone on far too long? (The Gosselins are not acceptable answers, be more creative.)
Kourtney Kardashian! Ever since she got pregnant, it seems like she's being featured in a new magazine every month! First there was the announcement, then there was her featured with Kendra Wilkinson, and now I think she's on a new magazine! How many feature stories can they write on her? (And she also comes off as extremely immature in her interviews.) I think I liked her a lot better before she got pregnant.

5. You have 20 minutes and $1000. What do you buy?
Well, obviously, I'm at Kohl's. And I would get some "professional" clothes since I have barely any that fit me. Actually, I have probably 20+ items in my closet that could be deemed "professional clothes" but sit in my "Hopefully Someday" section of my closet. I bought them when I was 120ish pounds and student teaching and I can't wait to wear them again!

6. Tell me three blogs that I need to read.
Sure thing: Samantha, Amy, and Ashley!

7. Would you rather go without pizza or ice cream for the rest of your life?
Definitely ice cream. It's really not something I ever crave or gorge on when it's in the house. (Now, put a bag of Hershey kisses or a pan of brownies in my house and I can't control anything I do.) I crave pizza at least once a week and I'm salivating right now. Sometimes, I crave good pizza (like Pizza Hut) and sometimes crap (like frozen pizza). But a lifetime without pizza? That's just wrong.

8. Would you rather go to a beach or a snowy mountain?
A snowy mountain, of course! I've spent my entire life surrounded by beaches and really, they're not very exciting. I'm not a big fan of the beach and go maybe two or three times a year, even though I like 20 minutes from the beach. I've been to the mountains once, when I was twelve. I loved it and fell in love with skiing. (As much as a twelve-year-old snow bunny can!) I'd love to spend a Christmas in the mountains and actually experience a white Christmas, instead of the 80-degree crap I have to put up with here.

9. Are you a night owl or a morning person?
Neither. I wouldn't consider myself a night owl by far. Around 10 p.m., I start winding down and getting tired. I'm not a big fan of staying up late. I like to go to sleep at a decent hour. (Yes, I'm a 70-year-old.) But I also don't like waking up early. My alarm goes off at 5 a.m. every day during the week. And I feel like my Saturday is wasted if I wake up before 10 a.m. I just like to sleep! I would say I'm more of an afternoon person.

10. What word do you always misspell?
Turquoise! I love the color and it's one of my favorites but I can never seem to spell it right. I'm trying to teach myself.

NaNoWriMo: One Week Later

Remember this post? When I talked about how crazy I was for doing NaNoWriMo but that I liked the idea of a challenge?

Yeah...

It's been a week. And I've produced a total of zero words.

ZERO!

I started the process on Sunday, fully ready for the craziness that is writing 50,000 words in a month. I knew it was going to be hard and I probably wouldn't make so many words. But I wanted to just get a start on my manuscript. I just wanted to write down words on paper (or a Microsoft Word document, if you will).

And so, I started writing. I had an idea of what I wanted to write about. I knew about the setting and a vague outline in my head. I knew about the character and her family. I knew about some other, secondary characters. (And, more importantly, I knew who The Guy was going to be!)

And so I wrote. And wrote. And wrote. Less than 1,000 words later I realized something: I didn't like my character. The girl I was writing about was mean and snarky. She was rude and obnoxious. She was nothing like I imagined her in my mind.

In a sense, she wasn't someone I would want to be friends with. And since my character is supposed to be a somewhat sheltered preacher's kid...she wasn't exactly being consistent to her past. So I tossed it.

And I still sit at zero words. I know I need to go back to the drawing board and work on the details of my manuscript. I need to work on some character development, plot outlines, and scene setting. But my life is pretty busy, especially during the week.

I have work, then class, then homework, then more class, then more homework. And then I have to map out time for blog reading and writing. In short, I'm still not devoting enough time to this. And I need to.

So this is my goal for this week: I want to have character development and the plot outline completed. I want to sit down for at least an hour a day and work on the background of my story.

And I know I'm not going to make the cut this month. But if I shoot for 10,000 words this month and then another 10,000 for next month...and so on, then I will have accomplished something. Something more than having a great idea and keeping it in my head.

Blogging Through The Years: Pre-School

I promise, one day I'll be creative and original. I'll post about topics that come from myself first. But when I saw Ashley from Writing to Reach You posting about her childhood years, well, I had to jump in and join! I've been wanting to delve into my history and talk about my childhood for a while now but I never knew exactly how to start or deliver it.


And I love the way Ashley is doing it and I knew I had to start my own "Blogging Through the Years." She started with kindergarten but I'm going to start with preschool since I started "school" when I was 2 years old and I have a lot (albeit fuzzy) memories of my time in preschool. (And some of these memories do come from comments my mom has made over the years.)

• All throughout preschool, I was the lucky kid whose mother worked where I went to school. It works for and against you. Whenever you need your mom, she's just a few minutes away. And yet you couldn't get away with much because your teacher had direct access and contact to your mom 24/7. In any event, you were the "cool kid" to have your mother work at your school in preschool. Most definitely.
• My best friend throughout preschool was Lauren. I think we met when we were 3 and her mom would pick me and her up from preschool and we would go to her house or the beach or somewhere exciting! It was through her that I learned about "black beans and rice" which became my all-time favorite. I don't remember much about her house, only that it was big (I lived in an apartment) and had a huge, rarely-used boat that we liked to explore when we got older.
• I had an awesome teacher when I was 3 named Ms. Kim. She was one of my favorites and my mom began noticing that I was always the line leader. So she asked my teacher why it was always me to which she replied, "I don't go in order for line leader. I go by who's good and Stephany is always good!" Yep...I was that child.
• I was also a pretty manipulative friend. I wanted friend who were goody-two-shoes like me so one day my teacher overheard me telling my friend Lauren that if she didn't start "acting good," I wasn't going to be her friend anymore. Sure enough, she shaped up!
• I really think my preschool did the most fun and engaging art projects. Or maybe it was because I was four and everything impressed me at that age. I would say my top three favorites were shaving cream (in which, all my teachers did was give us shaving cream to play with at the table but it was so much fun!), marble paintings, and making Easter eggs (also an easy project. One of my teachers would draw an oval and make a few lines on the egg and then I would color it any way I wanted to!). Yes. I think I was just easily impressed.
• When I colored in preschool, I never had a specific crayon color in mind. But I saw that other kids did and so I pretended to be searching for that perfect color when coloring with other kids. Weird fact, I know.
• Water days were definitely my favorite. It wasn't much, just a few sprinklers set out and us running around in them. But I had a blast and it was especially nice to eat a popsicle afterward. It's always the simple things that bring the biggest smiles to kids' faces. Really, it is.
• We had pizza days at my school where they would order out. Usually, we were relegated to one slice, two if we were lucky. But one specific pizza day when I was four, I had about four slices of pizza. I kept going up for more and couldn't believe that Ms. Evie kept handing me slice after slice! It was definitely a sweet day in my life. (It's also quite surprising that I could eat that much pizza! I was four and definitely a bird eater!)
• We had two four-year-old teachers: Ms. Darlene and Ms. Joan. My mom requested for Ms. Joan for my brother and Ms. Darlene for me. She said that I needed someone firm who wouldn't let me get away with stuff and that was Darlene. (And she caught a lot of flack from Ms. Joan for this!) I, for one, think this is hilarious!
  
• When I was four, one of the kids in my school fell off a swing and broke her leg. So all of the four-year-olds had to convene in one classroom together while another teacher went to the hospital with her. During this time, me and a few other girls had the giggles and decided to pretend we had "boobies" by pinching our shirts in two particular places and poking them out. My mom was preeeeetty embarrassed by this. Ha!

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 1)

Stealing yet another idea from Roots and Rings (does this count as blog stalking? I've never stalked before and it's a little exciting). Seven Quick Takes Friday, hosted by ConversionDiary.com. I love the idea so I decided to do my own.


One.
I'm not a fan of baseball. At all. I hate the "sport", in fact. It's a boring game that cannot even begin to measure up to football. And another reason I hate it? It interrupts TV programming. Wondering why you're seeing repeats of your favorite shows? Blame the World Series. Wondering why this Sunday night was not "Football Night?" Blame the World Series. And the Yankees won, I'm told. Whoop-de-freaking-doo.

Two.
On Sunday night, around 8 p.m., my phone decided to stop working. I didn't drop it in water or slam it on the ground in anger. It has been dropped, multiple times. Just four months old and I wasn't a very good caretaker to this beauty. So, on Monday, I skipped my afternoon class to go to the Sprint store. I was told my phone was dead. And they ordered me a new one. I lasted almost 72 hours without a cell phone. Honestly, I didn't think it was possible but I was successful. It felt weird, being cut off from the world.

Three.
It's pretty obvious that I'm part of a shallow journalism class. And I'm also shallow so I don't care much. About 75% of us want to work at magazines and want nothing to do with reporting. We are not newsy people. And it became obvious to my Beginning Reporting professor how shallow we were when she asked if any of us had voted in Tuesday's mayoral election. Only two people raised their hand. The oldest guy in our class (he has to be pushing seventy!) and a grad student who just became a citizen a month ago. And we knew next to nothing about the two candidates. (And, as it turns out, knowing the history about someone doesn't mean anything.)

Four.
We had a total of zero trick-or-treaters for Halloween. ZERO! We bought two bags of candy, filled up a big bowl, and even lighted our Jack-O-Lantern. Nada, zip, zilch. We do live in an apartment, so most kids go to "safe" neighborhoods. Whatever. We didn't even get a teenager dressed as a baby!

Five.
I was offered an internship! I don't know any details about it but it involves the lady I keep in close contact with at Mahaffey Theater. Fingers are crossed that it's paid (but I'm doubtful). In any event, it'll be an awesome opportunity and look great on my resume! I've been worrying about finding internships because while I wanted to intern at a magazine this summer, I can't because of summer classes. (I will graduate in December 2010!) I'm really happy about this, though! I meet with her on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the internship and other projects. Yay!

Six.
I had a test on Thursday that I studied a total of 15 minutes for. I think I did OK since it was mainly short answer and I just smoke those types of tests. I'm a good BS-er. And am I the only one who hates getting to class before a test and see everyone with bunches of flashcards, quizzing each other? I furiously try to listen in and catch some last-minute facts. And it always makes me even more nervous about the test. I hate that.

Seven.
What was up with 30 Rock yesterday? I mean, it was good but did anyone else notice the weird product placement? "...like the Winter Olympics, this February on NBC." And then the same thing happened when Jack did a television meeting through Cisco. I've never noticed it so blatantly before. Has anyone else noticed this?

Flab to Fab: Third Time's a Charm

I joined Weight Watchers today. It's my third time joining and this time it feels different. (And how cliche does that sound?)

I think it's mainly to do with the fact that I went to a different location with a different leader. The leader is definitely different from my old one. I feel like I'm making a fresh start. They don't know my past and how many times I've failed at this. They don't know how up and down my weight loss journey was. To them, I'm a brand-new member.

So I feel like it's a fresh start. A new beginning for me.

This week, I'm just focusing on tracking my food and staying within my points range. And trying to fit in exercise. I've been so lazy about exercising lately. I need to stop screwing around and just do it. I feel better when I exercise and worse when I don't. It's not complicated at all. But I make it so.

Last week, I weighed in at 153 lbs on a Publix scale. I was horrified, as I've never been that fat. Ever. Today, my weight is 149.2 lbs at WW. I'm not sure if this means I lost almost four pounds in the past week, which I'm sure it doesn't. I ate way too much Halloween candy, barely drank any water, and ate horribly. But my goal was to be under 150 lbs when I weighed in this week. And I did!

(Oh, and if I ever lose 3-4 lbs, I will most definitely shake my head, look incredibly disappointed, and say, "It's just not enough to keep me above the yellow line.")

Can't Live Without

*This post is being written as part of 20SB’s Blog Carnival—check it out!*

I consider myself a pretty simple girl. I've lasted over an entire year without cable television. For an entire year, I survived on only the basic channels - and rabbit ears. I went for a long time without a laptop, when my previous one's power cord stopped working. I don't have a car and my mom and I have spent a good part of the last two years struggling financially.

But we have survived.

Money and stuff are things that make life easier - and maybe more enjoyable. Sure, it would be nice to power up the boat on a Saturday and cruise down the Intercoastal. It would be nice to hit the mall on a Sunday afternoon and fill up my wardrobe. It would be nice to not have to worry if we have to, once again, swallow our pride and request a cash advance.

But I cannot live without my family. My family is my biggest source of pride and inspiration. When I'm having a bad day, they lift me up. When I have great news to share, they are the first to offer congratulations and praise for me. When I'm struggling with an issue, I know I talk to any of them and get their immediate feedback - and the truth.

And everyone in my family has something different to offer. When I need to discuss religion and God, my grandparents are the ones I turn to. They have so much knowledge and wisdom that I know I can ask them a question and they can give me the truth. (Along with a million Bible verses.) They are such godly people and don't rely on the way of the world to show them how to live their life. They rely on God's Word in every facet of their being.

If I need a pick-me-up, my brother is the best person to go to. Not only do I think he hung the stars, but I consider him one of my closest friends. He is also the most knowledgeable person about football that I have ever met. He can give you stats on any player in the NFL. He can give you stats about a lot of players in NCAA football. He can talk about coaches and defensive schemes and quarterback comparisons. I feel like I'm sitting with the next Chris Berman when I talk to him. His knowledge just astounds me. And he's also someone I admire as a man. We didn't have the ideal childhood but he got past it and is growing into a man that just amazes me. And anytime I have a problem, he knows the exact words to make me feel better and cherished.

If I need to shoot the breeze and have some fun, my cousins are perfect. They are all 7+ years younger than me but they are amazing people. They aren't perfect and sometimes I wonder how we came from the same family, but they are my cousins. And I love them to death. They teach me not to take myself too seriously and laugh at everything. I don't have to be too funny or too pretty or too smart around them. I can just be Stephany - and they'll make sure to make fun of that. And that's why I love them.

And if I need a shoulder to cry on, a problem to solve, or an issue to discuss, my mom is the one I go to. I recently talked about how awesome she is and I still feel that I didn't do her justice. I know I can come to her with any problem and she'll give me honest but loving answers. She is so wise (and I know she doesn't think so) and such a good support system for me. I honestly couldn't survive without my mother. She is my heart, my passion, and my life. I wouldn't be the woman I am today without her.

I also can't live without God. I know I put God at the end of this blog entry, when He most definitely should go at the top. But I've been struggling lately with my faith. But every Sunday when I go to church, it just reaffirms how much I need God in my life and I need to have His presence fill my days - not just my Sundays. I belong at church. God makes me feel beautiful and worthy. He gave up so much for me and continues to forgive me when I don't deserve it.


So, there you have my answer. Now, you tell me: What can't you live without?

Ten on Tuesday (Volume 1)

I recently discovered an awesome blog called Roots & Rings by an awesome blogger named Chelsea. And every Tuesday, she hosts a "Ten on Tuesday" segment where she asks 10 questions and we answer them! It sounded like fun (and a good way to get a blog in!) so I decided to participate!

1. What animal should cease to exist? (Not including bugs. That’s too obvious.)

I guess I can't take the PC way and say, "None! All animals are special!" So, I'll say I could do without turtles. Really, what good are turtles? Sure, they're cute but they aren't cuddly or kissable. They're just there. And they kind of annoy me.

2. What was your favorite thing about the beach?

To be honest, I'm a born-and-bred Florida girl who does not like the beach. Salt water is no fun to swim in, I'm always afraid I'm going to be attacked by a sting ray, sand gets everywhere, and I'm always way too hot to be comfortable. Blunt enough for you?

3. If scientists found a way to allow dogs to talk, do you think we should implement it? Or should we just keep them quiet?
If scientist allowed my dog to talk, I'm pretty sure he'd have a potty mouth. I think we should keep dogs silence. Scientists should focus on curing cancer and healing sick people. Not teaching pets to talk. And, really, how is that going to further society?

4. How do you order your Starbucks?
I always (ALWAYS!) order a grande mocha frappuccino. No whipped cream, not because I'm trying to be healthy but because I don't like whipped cream. I don't order regular coffee drinks and I never veer away from my "normal."

5. What’s worse? People who don’t know the difference between your and you’re OR people who don’t use smack their food?
I'm confused by this question. "Smack their food?" Since I have no idea what that means, I'll go with the first one! That bugs me a lot, too. And "to, too, and two." And also "there, they're, and their." It's really not that hard.

6. What CD can you listen to over and over?
Francesca Battistelli - My Paper Heart. I love this CD because it's cute and catchy but also has some really deep worship songs that make you think. I once had it on repeat for an entire month and I could do it for another month.

7. What was the most surprising thing about college?
That it's nothing like it's portrayed in the movies. Right now, I'm going to a serious commuter college. We have one dorm on campus and it's not even "on campus" but around the college. I did live on campus my first year at college at the main campus but even then, it was so not like I imagined it would be. It's definitely way less partying than it shows.

8. What’s the best deal you ever got? (Biggest sale item.)
A Tommy Hilfiger dress for $8 at a thrift shop. Brand-spanking new. It was worn maybe once. And since I never, ever find good finds like that, I was stoked. It was a really cute dress, too!

9. Who is your role model? Why?
Hands down, my mom. She managed to break herself out of an awful relationship with my dad, even though she loved him. She knew she had to show my brother and me that marriage was way different than they portrayed it. She raised us and we struggled a lot but we have turned out awesome, thanks for her. And in 2006, she started Weight Watchers where she lost 80 pounds and is now training for a half-marathon. She's such an inspiration to me and if I could be one-half the mother she is, I'll be happy with that.

10. What movie would you like to see that is in theaters right now? Why?
I really want to see Couples Retreat. First of all, I love Vince Vaughn. I adore his acting style. And it looks like a really funny, laugh-out-loud movie. All the other movies don't interest me (sorry, I'm not into a Michael Jackson tribute) or scare me to death (No way I'll ever see Saw IV). Hopefully, Mom and I can make it to the movie theatre for this SOON!

My Mom is a Rock Star

A few weeks ago, I was sitting in a study lounge area, trying to cram for a test before class and eavesdropping on a conversation between friends. Some things they were talking about caught my eyes.

Such as...
"My mom told me last week that she's disappointed with me. I have no idea why!"

And...
"I told my mom I wanted an iPod Touch for my birthday. Then she told me she's getting me something better than an iPod Touch but what's better than an iPod Touch? My car, my phone, and my laptop are all new so it can't be either of them.

The first comment struck me as extremely sad because let's face it: I have the best mom on the planet. She has supported me in every area of my life. She's giving, loving, and humble. I had a tough time telling her about my decision to change my major from elementary education to journalism but she has supported me every step of the way. When the financial aid office told me I had taken too many classes and would deny me any more aid? Well, she put her "Mama Bear - Don't Mess With My Child" gameface on and called up everyone but the governor to find out why I wasn't getting aid and how I could get aid.

And when we realized that I wouldn't get any aid, she took a deep breath and told me I would still go to school and get a journalism degree. We would work it out. There is nobody in my life who supports or believes in me as much as my mom does.

My mom was a single mom for most of my childhood. She didn't divorce my dad until I was in 5th grade but my dad was too busy spending his money on gambling and drugs and alcohol to ever support us. My mom was the one to put the work into being a mother - and a father. And she did a damn good job.

But we struggled a lot. I learned at a young age the value of money. I worried at a young age, whether or not we would be evicted from our next apartment. I worried if we would have dinner that night or presents under the Christmas tree. I almost never asked my parents if I could join Girl's Scouts or baton twirling or cheerleading. Those things cost money. (Although, to be honest, I did do cheerleading once in 4th grade and again in 10th grade. Thanks, Mom!)

I didn't get a car for my 16th birthday. I didn't get a cell phone until I was 17. I relied on financial aid, scholarships, and loans to get me through college. I didn't even own an iPod until I bought one for my self when I was 19. (And I never got a Barbie Jeep! The injustice!)

But, you know, at the end of the day? Those things don't matter all that much to me. It would be nice to have my own car and have tons of money. But I wouldn't learn important values like love, support, responsibility, and commitment. I could choose my mom, someone who can't buy me everything my heart desires but desperately wants to. Or I could choose to have another mom, who could buy me everything but wouldn't give me the love and support I crave.

My mom is my best friend. And when I say that, I truly mean it. We do everything together. I have the best times with her and we have so many inside jokes. We have the same morals, values, and sense of humor. We like the same TV shows. We even dress alike. And maybe she won't be buying me a brand-new car for my birthday but I would take spending the day with her, creating more memories and laughter, over a thing.

Honestly, she is the best mom anyone could ever ask for. She raised me up right and managed to create two amazing people, who had all the odds stacked against them. A broken home, money issues, and a father who was in prison for a lot of our teenage years. And the fact that we never turned to drugs, became party animals, or promiscuous? It's all due to my mom.