Weekly Weigh-In 3/12

Heaviest Weight: 271.0 lbs
Last Week's Weight: 223.4 lbs
Weight Loss: -1.0 lb

Current Weight: 222.4 lbs

Total Weight Lost: 48.6 lbs

I'm down a pound since last week! I'm so excited to see a loss after making the decision to keep going. My plan is to work even harder this week and maybe see even more loss next Wednesday.

Workouts for the Week

Wednesday - 2.00 miles on the treadmill

Tuesday - Day 1 of Jillian Michaels' Kettlebell Workout

I completed Day 2 of the kettlebell workout today, but that will be included with next week's weigh-in post. Tomorrow is Day 3. I can really feel it working in my legs, especially the front and back of my thighs. The soreness means it's working, right? ;-)

14 in '14 Update

I figured I should write an update about how things are going with my 14 goals for 2014.

Complete a 5K.

It's not completed yet, BUT Mallory, Emily, and I have all registered for the Color Fun Fest in April. I think it's going to be so fun!

Read more than 10 books this year.

I've read 3 so far, and I'm working on the fourth. Maybe I can get some reading done during Spring Break, which is this week!

Give Emily a bridal shower.

This is the first goal on my list that I can cross off! Mallory and I gave her a shower two weeks ago, and I think it was a great success. Emily loved it, and she was 'showered' with lots of wonderful gifts.

On the left is Emily's mom (and my aunt) Darla and on the right is my mom

See a movie in the theater at least once a month.

Well, this one's already a bust because I didn't see on in February, but I'm now shooting for 11/12. In January, I saw Gravity, which I was very disappointed with by the way.

Walk/run 1,000 miles this year.

Ha! So far, I've logged 18.16 miles. To complete this goal, I will need to log at least 3.3 miles every day for the rest of the year. We'll see how that goes...

I haven't made much progress with my other 9 goals yet, so I just left those out for now.

Do you have any goals for 2014? How is it going for you?

A Fresh Start

*sigh*

It's been way too long since I wrote anything on here. I've decided I need a fresh start with my weight loss and with this blog. I have lots of updates to share, and I'm hoping I'll find the time to write about it all.

For today, I'm going to talk about my weight loss. I was looking through my weight tracker recently, and I realized I've been stuck in the same range since the end of August. I'm sure it was one of the first plateaus I would encounter, which is why the weight was harder to lose at first. Then, my dad's heart attack and consequential bypass surgery came about at the end of October, and I took care of him until December, which caused me to push my regimen aside. Since Christmas, I've just been in some kind of funk. I have had no motivation to work out at all.

All that is going to change. I want to keep going. I want to lose weight like I did during the first six months of last year. I want to feel good about myself again for choosing to work out and seeing the results that come from that choice. I think I got comfortable with where I was, but I've lived in this body long enough...long enough to be uncomfortable with it and slowly find that motivation I have been lacking for too long.

From now on, I'm going to keep up with my weigh-ins every Wednesday with a weekly post, which will include how much weight I've (hopefully) lost and what workouts I completed throughout the week. 

I'm excited to be back in the swing of things and to see where this fresh start takes me.

Heaviest Weight: 271.0 lbs

Current Weight: 223.4 lbs

Total Weight Lost: 47.6 lbs

2nd Annual Runs for Cookies Virtual 5K

On Saturday, I woke up bright and early to celebrate Katie's birthday by participating in the Runs for Cookies Virtual 5K.

I knew that it was going to be very cold on Saturday morning, so I prepared the night before by putting out all the layers I would be wearing: leggings, black workout pants, t-shirt, sports bra, jacket with a hood, gloves, socks, and shoes. The next morning when I was getting in my car to drive to the track, I saw my reflection in the window and thought of Damien from Mean Girls.

I posted this picture on Instagram along with the quote and #meangirls. After I got back from my run, my mom asked me what it meant because she thought some girls had been mean to me. LOL!

So, back to the 5K...I got to the track, set my music, started the app to track my mileage, and I was ready to roll! I had made the decision to run the straights and walk the curves, which is what I did through the entire 5K.

Last year, I ran it on the treadmill with a time of 41:19. I wanted to beat that this year, so I set a goal of 40 minutes. I finished in 43:45, which means I didn't accomplish that goal. Even though I didn't finish in under 40 minutes, this race made me stronger in (at least) two ways.

#1: This was the first time for me to complete a 5K in public. All my others have been completed on the treadmill. Last year, I gave up trying to run it outside because it was 37 degrees. This year, I ran it outside, and it was 30 degrees. I came prepared mentally and physically. I think I've gained a lot more confidence this past year, which helped me to start and finish the race at the track.

#2: The treadmill is definitely easier for me to run on than the track because it keeps you at a constant pace. I'm proud of finishing in 43:45 at the track. I think I'll have two different goals...one for treadmill running and one for track running.

Hopefully, Katie continues this tradition because I'm really looking forward to seeing the person I become this year as I continue getting healthier and more fit and comparing the results of this 5K with next year's 5K.

Weekly Weigh-In #35

This Week: +2.6 lb

Total Loss: -30.2 lbs

Starting Weight: 251.2 lbs

Current Weight: 221.0 lbs

Totally bummed that I gained so much this week, and I'm not even sure how it happened! I haven't been eating any differently, and while my workouts weren't that hardcore, I was moving more than I had in weeks. 

I need some kind of motivation to get back on the treadmill. That's what really helped me lose weight last year, but for some reason, I haven't been able to make myself get into a routine of using it every day. I told my sister I might not find it as enjoyable because I don't have a show on Netflix that I'm dying to watch each day. Last year I had a few that kept me entertained, and I used working out on the treadmill as an excuse to watch the shows instead of just laying around in bed watching them!

Any shows on Netflix you would recommend? 

Workouts for the Week

Thursday - Zumba for Beginners on YouTube (19:24)

Friday - Zumba Class 3 on YouTube (31:49)

Sunday - 3.09 miles at the track (39:51)

Monday - 0.68 mile dog walk (13:39)

I used to set goals for myself as part of my weekly weigh-ins. I want to start doing that again because I think it helps me focus on the week ahead.

This Week's Goals

#1: Work out on the treadmill at least three times this week.

#2: Complete my Runs for Cookies Virtual 5K in under 40 minutes.

I'm linking up with Heather and Ash for the first time for Weigh-In Wednesday!

#2014BloggerChallenge: Skincare Routine

I'm back with the second 2014 Blogger Challenge topic for the month of January, which is all about my skincare routine. Now, I'm not a beauty blogger, so I don't know the latest and greatest products on the market. These are just the 5 products I use on a daily basis. Enjoy!

#1: Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser ($22) - This is a mild cleanser that leaves my face feeling super clean. It lathers up into a rich foam, which only takes a small amount to accomplish. My favorite thing about it though is the smell. It's such a clean, fresh scent that isn't overpowering. I have never spent this much on a cleanser before, but I think Clarins is definitely worth it. Plus, it lasts a long time since you don't have to use a lot with each washing.

#2: Freeman Facial Polishing Mask, Charcoal and Black Sugar (~$4) - I included this mask in my favorite things at Christmas for Mallory and Emily. Before winter came along, I used this once or twice a week on my face, but ever since we've had colder weather, it has really dried my face out. So, I've started using it on my elbows every day in the shower. My skin overall has been so dry and itchy this winter, but my elbows have been especially bad. This scrub has really helped make them smooth again!

#3: E.L.F. Lip Exfoliator ($3) - I have a bad habit of chewing on my bottom lip, which causes it to get dry and chapped. This lip exfoliator is great for treating it. It's basically a compacted sugar scrub molded into a lipstick form. It has a yummy vanilla smell, which I love. The best part is the price. $3...can't beat that!

#4: Skin79 VIP Gold Super Plus BB Cream (~$16) - This is the main foundation of my makeup, but the reason I'm including it with skincare is because it has sunscreen added to it. When I was younger, I didn't really think about using sunscreen too much on a daily basis, but now that I have it in my BB cream, it makes it so easy to apply every day.

#5: Mario Badescu Peptide Renewal Cream (~$15) - Like I talked about earlier, my skin has been really dry lately. I have been using this cream as a moisturizer for my face. I really like it because it doesn't leave any residue or an oily feeling on my face. I don't know if I would pay this much for it though. This came from my mom, and I think she got it as a free add-on with some other things she ordered.

So, that's pretty much my daily skincare routine. Simple and easy to do. What are some of your must-have skincare items?

Thursday Thoughts

Linking up with Jennifer today for Thursday Thoughts!

~When I see stories of people that have spent thousands and thousands of dollars on plastic surgery to look like a certain celebrity, it makes me sad. I can't help but wonder when in their life they were made to feel like being themselves wasn't good enough. I think about how they feel after the surgery. Are they happy with how it turned out? When they look in the mirror, do they see the celebrity they aspire to be or just a different version of themselves?

~This may be a weird quirk that only I possess, but if I'm reading a book, I can't look at the picture of the author on the back. If I do, I picture them the whole time I am reading...kinda like if I see the movie before I read the book, I picture all the actors as the characters instead of creating them in my head.

~Has anyone seen the video of the woman that dedicated herself to working out 100 days in a row? She lost 51 pounds last year and 18 pounds in her 100 day challenge! To me, what's more inspiring than that is the smile you see on her face that grows bigger and bigger as she gains more self-esteem and learns to love herself. I love this video! You go LaKeisha!

~Does anyone remember Nikki McKibbin from the first season of American Idol? I saw a commercial today where her SON is trying out this season! That makes me feel old!

~One of my goals for 2014 is to see a movie at least once a month. My sister and I are going this weekend, but I can't decide what I want to see! American Hustle or Lone Survivor?

Weekly Weigh-In #34

This Week: +0.8 lb

Total Loss: -32.8 lbs

Starting Weight: 251.2 lbs

Current Weight: 218.4 lbs

First 'official' blog weigh-in for 2014, and it's a gain. I know EXACTLY why I gained a little too. One reason is that I had an interview yesterday, so the days leading up to it I stress ate quite a bit. PMS also has something to do with it too. I always retain water and weigh a little bit more around this time. Oh well, here's looking forward to next week!

I'm considering signing up for a DietBet. I think it might be that extra motivation I need to get back in this full force. Has anyone ever participated in one before? If so, I'd love to hear what you thought about it!

Workouts for the Week

Wednesday - Shred It with Weights with Jillian Michaels
 Saturday - 15 minutes playing Wii Fit Plus
Sunday - 50 minutes playing Wii Fit Plus

I got a kettlebell after Christmas, so I decided to give Jillian's workout a try. OMG! It's intense (although I haven't found one of hers that isn't!), but I really liked it. I need to do it on a more consistent basis. Gotta build up the muscles to help me lose the fat! 
 

Sunday Currently 1.12

Before I write about everything I'm currently up to, I wanted to give a little update. I know I haven't been posting my weekly weigh-ins very consistently lately. Last week I wrote a post about how much weight I've lost in the past year. I've decided at this point in time I would like to move my weekly weigh-in posts to Wednesdays instead of Fridays, so my first official weigh-in of 2014 will be this coming Wednesday.

I've also been participating in the #FMSPhotoADay challenge, so here's one of my pictures for that. The prompt was 'lucky number.' I picked 14 because I think this will be a great year for me! If you are a fan of Breaking Bad, this might look familiar. ;-)

CURRENTLY

READING The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom...I'm only a few chapters in, but I like it so far. This year, I'm hoping to do a monthly post with reviews of the books I read that month.

WRITING lots of lists! Strategies for ESL learners, ideas for guided reading, and what I need to get for Emily's bridal shower

LISTENING to a Glucerna commercial (exciting, I know!) and the football game is on in the living room

THINKING that I might play around on Wii Fit Plus later

SMELLING the shower gel I used...Winter Candy Apple from Bath and Body Works...my new favorite scent!

WISHING to see some snow before winter is over!

HOPING for a good interview on Tuesday

WEARING black exercise capris, Texas Forever t-shirt, and gray socks

LOVING that I scored a $100 Old Navy gift card for $40 on Ebay!

WANTING a leopard print belt

NEEDING a new pair of jeans!

FEELING itchy! Winter weather dries my skin out, and I have the urge to scratch all the time!

CLICKING on practice interview questions

It's a beautiful Sunday here in Texas! I hope you're enjoying your day as much as I am mine. Have a great week y'all!

Please link up with Lauren and share what's current in your life!

One Year

Exactly one year ago, I began my weight loss journey and weighed in for the first time.

As of today, I have lost 33.6 pounds.

After I stepped off the scale this morning, I couldn't help but have some negative thoughts creep into my head. I thought, 'Could I have lost more? What should I have done differently? Should I even be proud of that considering how long it's taken me?' All this thinking led me to mentally slap myself and say, 'Don't be a Debbie Downer! Think of all your hard work this past year and of everything you've accomplished!'

I worked harder this past year to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle than I ever have in my entire life. Yes, I could have worked out more days resulting in more weight lost, but on the other hand, I could have made the choice to give up like I did every single year previous to 2013. Where would that leave me today? 33.6 pounds heavier (at least!) and a feeling of failure that another year had passed me by with nothing being done about my weight.

What I lost in weight, I have gained in strength and confidence. I believe that 2014 will be another great year for me, and I look forward to sharing it with all of you.

#2014BloggerChallenge: New Year's Inspiration

Happy New Year everybody! Today I am writing a post for a blogger challenge that I signed up for last year. Each month I will have two posts published for the challenge. New Year's Inspiration is the very first topic, and I can't wait to share mine with all of you!

Like Gaby, I had a different idea of what I would be writing for this first post. I thought I would pull some of my favorite quotes from Pinterest and talk about how they inspire me. Well...for the past few days, I've seen some of my Facebook friends posting about their 'one word' for 2014.

So, I went and checked out the One Word website, and I love this idea! Basically, you throw New Year's resolutions out the window, and choose one word you want to focus on in the coming year. I thought for a couple of days about what my 'one word' should be, and this is the word I have chosen for myself for 2014.

The word 'reawaken' has double meaning for me this year.

1) I want to reawaken my determination to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle. 

For the last two months of 2013, I didn't really work out too much, and the holidays were a time for a lot of unhealthy eating. While I didn't gain lots of weight back during this time, I know that I feel better when I eat healthy and work out consistently.

2) I want to reawaken my relationship with God and share my faith with others.

When I was a kid, I went to Sunday School and 'big church' every Sunday. I've been saved and baptized, and I know that one day I will be rejoicing in Heaven with Jesus Christ. This year, I need to find a church that I can call home. I want to find a church family, preferably with some people my age, that have similar beliefs as me that want to study the Bible on a deeper level.

This is my inspiration and motivation for the new year. I am so glad I found out about the 'One Word' campaign. I feel like I'm headed in a good direction for 2014.

Please leave me a comment and let me know what your 'one word' for 2014 will be! I'd love to read what y'all have to say!

14 Goals for 2014

As 2013 comes to a close in the next few hours, I've spent the last few days thinking about what I would like to accomplish in the new year. I don't consider these resolutions exactly...just goals to strive for in the coming year.

1. Complete a 5K.

Mallory and I have found one that we are going to register for, and I'm really excited and nervous about it! 

2. Give blood.

3. Read more than 10 books in one year.

I only read 10 books this year from start to finish. That is pitiful. If I spent as much time reading as I do playing around on my iPad, I could have read 100 books this year. Seriously!

4. Find a church to call home.

5. Throw a bridal shower for Emily.

After talking with Emily a couple of days ago, this may come sooner than expected! :-D

6. See a movie at least once a month.

Mallory and I saw Catching Fire last night after a long period of not going to the movie theater, and I forgot how much I love the whole experience! Definitely want to see more movies in 2014!

7. Walk/jog at least 1,000 miles this year.

8. Go to a Zumba class.

9. Go to a Painting with a Twist class.

10. Do a Breaking Bad tour in Albuquerque.

Via Pinterest

11. Lose 30 pounds.

That's about what I lost this year, so I'm hoping I can lose that much in 2014 (maybe more!).

12. Keep a gratitude box.

13. Volunteer for the animal shelter.

14. Start and finish Daily Steps for God Chicks: The 90-Day Devotional for Real Women.

Find it here on Amazon!

I ordered this book from Amazon and should be getting it on Thursday. I can't wait to start it!

Christmas 2013: "Favorite Things"

I have been wanting to post about this for a few weeks now, but I knew that my cousin and sister read my blog, which meant if I posted about it before Christmas I would spoil their gifts!

Me, Mal, and Em on Christmas Day

Last year, the three of us started a tradition of giving each other things that we had tried and fell in love with throughout the year. Think Oprah's Favorite Things...just not to the extremes of us buying each other cars...

Anyway, I thought I would share with you what we gave each other, and maybe you would like to start this tradition next year with your sisters, cousins, family, or friends!

First off, Mallory (for those who don't know, she's my sister) and I opened Emily's bag of goodies, and here's what we found:

I ordered a devotional from Amazon that has questions you answer to go with each day, so I think I'm going to use the journal Emily got me for that. I'm looking forward to trying the Spark, and I tried the protein bar today. It was really good!

Next up was Mallory's box of treats:

I love the owl page markers, and I could always use more Baby Lips (bonus that I don't have the peppermint flavor already!) Also, aren't the little birdies on the mug so cute? I think it's funny we all gave each other mugs.

Last, but not least, Mallory and Emily opened their boxes from me. Here's what I gave them:

Pretty self-explanatory...That raisin nut bread from Braum's is so yummy! It's what I ate for breakfast most days throughout the year along with a cup of coffee. 

We all started Breaking Bad this year, so I knew I had to include it somehow. I got the Merry Christmas photo and the 'blue meth' candy from a store on Etsy called Breaking Rad. Lindsey, the shop owner, provides amazing customer service if you ever need something for the Breaking Bad fan in your life!

I also made both of them a gratitude box for 2014. Each day in 2014, they will think of something that made them happy, that they were thankful for, etc., write it down on a slip of paper, and put it in their box. On December 31, they will open their box and read all the things they were thankful for in 2014.

I covered the box in brown paper and left the bottom of it uncovered, so when they read them in December, they can open the bottom of the box and start with the beginning of the year. I painted a monogram for each of them, stuck some gemstones on the monogram, and hot glued it to the box. I also included a chevron burlap ribbon along the bottom of the front of the box.

I cut a small hole in the back of the box to put their paper in each day and hot glued an envelope to the back of the box. The envelope holds the blank strips of paper.

I really hope they use these throughout the year and take a few minutes at the end of the day to think of at least one positive thing that happened. 

So, I'm sure we all have our favorite Christmas traditions that we do with our families each year. This is one I'm hoping sticks around for a long time.

Weekly Weigh-In #33

This Week: -1.4 lb

Total Loss: -31.8 lbs

Starting Weight: 251.2 lbs

Current Weight: 219.4 lbs

Does anyone else feel like this week has dragged on and on? There have been so many times this week where I forgot what day it was! Today, for instance, I had to weigh in after breakfast because when I woke up I thought it was Thursday instead of Friday. My sister posted this on Twitter today, and it made me laugh out loud.

If you're anything like me, you're scrambling around trying to get everything ready for Christmas. I have multiple boxes that are just sitting at the UPS warehouse because of the ice storm we had two weeks ago. They keep saying everyone will get their packages before Christmas Day. I hope so! 

I know the importance of Christmas isn't about the presents, but there is something special about giving someone a gift on Christmas Day while you're celebrating with all your family. I'm afraid I will be giving three people their gifts on December 30 if my packages don't get here. Oh well!

That's all I've got for today. I'm gonna go wrap some of the presents that I do have. Have a good weekend everybody!

Sunday Social: Holiday Fun

Hey y'all! Hope you're having a wonderful Sunday! It is a beautiful day here in Texas, which is much needed after all the ice and cold we've been having.

Today I'm linking up with Ashley and Neely for Sunday Social. The last time I linked up we were talking about summer fun, so it's been far too long between Sunday Social posts!

1. What are your favorite holiday movies/TV specials?

Two of my favorite holiday movies are National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and The Holiday. My favorite TV special is when TBS shows A Christmas Story for 24 hours straight from Christmas Eve into Christmas Day. While I have seen the whole movie from start to finish, I don't think I ever have when I watch it on TBS. My sister and I always catch a different part of it at different times of the day!

2. Do you do any volunteering during the holidays? If so, what? 

Yes! My sister and I usually pack shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, but we were unable to do that this year because of our dad being in the hospital. However, a couple of weeks ago, we went shopping for some angels from the Salvation Army Angel Tree. We've been doing that for a few years, and I love it!

3. What is your favorite toy you received as a child for the holidays?

One year my sister and I got a skee-ball game from our grandparents. We thought it was so cool because we had only ever seen them and played them at the arcade. My dad still has it at his house.

4. What was your must have item in high school for the holidays?

Hmmm, I can't really remember what I asked for when I was a teenager...probably clothes and music.

5. What do you do on Christmas Eve?

On Christmas Eve, my sister and I always celebrate Christmas with our dad's side of the family. It's always so much fun!

Me with my sister and cousins

Now it's your turn to answer the questions and link up! :-)

Weekly Weigh-In #32

This Week: -0.2 lb

Total Loss: -30.4 lbs

Starting Weight: 251.2 lbs

Current Weight: 220.8 lbs

Technically, I lost weight, but anything under a pound pretty much just annoys me. I only worked out one time this week though, which was the day I posted the new circuit workout I did. I need to get my heart and my head back in the weight loss game!

We had the ice storm hit last Thursday, and we still have ice on the ground! It's crazy! Usually, here in Texas, it will snow and/or ice one day, which better be the day you play in it because the next day it will be completely melted.

Tonight it is cold and rainy. I'm about to wrap a gift for my sister that my mom bought for her. I can't say what it is because my sister reads my blog sometimes twice a year. ;-) I never know when she might pop in to catch up!

This feels like a good night to watch Muriel's Wedding. Toni Collette plays Muriel, and her best friend, Rhonda, is played by Rachel Griffiths. I love them both in this. I could probably quote the movie word for word. It's one of my favorites!

 
 

Elf for Health Challenge

At the end of November, I signed up for Lindsay and Elle's Elf for Health Holiday Challenge. I was late to the game and didn't join in time for the first half, but I am all ready for the second half of the challenge.

Quick rundown of how it works...Everybody that signed up received an elf (AKA another person that has joined the challenge) to support them in achieving their holiday goals and the daily challenges.

Anyway, today's challenge was to do a circuit workout, so I did what I always do when I want a new circuit workout and headed to Pinterest. Of course, I found one pretty quickly!

Via

Oh my gosh...why, when I plank, does every muscle in my body shake like crazy? It took me about 25 minutes to complete the whole workout twice. Someone more athletic than me could probably do it in 15 minutes. ;-)

I'll keep y'all updated on how these next two weeks go.

#2014BloggerChallenge

The other day I somehow stumbled upon Gaby's blog, Another Girly Blog. I was looking through her posts and saw that she will be hosting a blogger challenge in 2014.

The challenge will consist of writing a blog post twice a month about different topics. The posts will go live during the 1st and 3rd weeks of each month. All participants will receive emails from Gaby about what the post topics will be. 

Everyone is encouraged to join...no matter what your blog niche may be!

I signed up to join the challenge and added the button to my blog. I think it will be a lot of fun and something new for me to try! If you would like to join us, click here and leave a comment on her post, or you can email Gaby at anothergirlyblg@gmail.com with your blog URL, email address, and name to be added to the list of participants.

Sign-ups close on December 9th, so don't wait around and miss out on this opportunity!

Weekly Weigh-In #31

This Week: -1.0 lb

Total Loss: -30.2 lbs

Starting Weight: 251.2 lbs

Current Weight: 221.0 lbs

Hopefully, this post is the first of many in my comeback to the blogging world. I wonder if anyone still follows my blog! I wasn't going to do a weigh-in today, but I figured I should go ahead and get the ball rolling again with my weight loss.

I haven't worked out since my dad had his whole health scare, and I've been sick since Thanksgiving. Surprisingly to me, I've been able to keep off all the weight I've lost. I think I'm on the tail end of whatever is making me sick, so I'm hoping I can really start getting back into an exercise routine next week.

Here's a before and during picture...beginning of weight loss in January and Thanksgiving Day. I can't believe it will be a year since I started all of this in January!

We are in the middle of an ice storm here in Texas, so I'll probably be staying at home all weekend. I know this looks like snow, but it is all sleet and ice! Temperatures are expected to fall into the single digits tonight!

As you can tell by Eva's face, she is so over it! I have to pick her up and carry her outside to use the bathroom. She is a warm weather dog for sure!

I've got a list of blog posts I want to write, and this weekend will probably be a good time to crank some out. Look for one tomorrow about a 2014 blog challenge I'm participating in, and I'll let you know how to get involved also!

Sunday Currently 11.24

I'm back! Quick update on my dad: He came home from the hospital two weeks ago tomorrow. He is doing so much better. He has a doctor's appointment on Tuesday, and I'm anxious to see how that goes. Hopefully, they will send the recommendation for him to begin cardiac rehab, and he can get started on that after Thanksgiving.

It is currently sleeting outside with no chance of it stopping until some time tomorrow afternoon. So, obviously, it's cold out there. All the dogs are burrowed under blankets except for Roxy, so I managed to snap a picture of her, which isn't easy to do!

Now, on to the Sunday Currently link-up with Lauren. I haven't participated in this for a while, so I thought it would be a good way to jump back into blogging.

CURRENTLY

READING - Dark Places by Gillian Flynn...This has been a slow read for me. It's good so far; I just haven't gotten into it like I did with Gone Girl. I'm planning on reading some more of it after I finish this post.

WRITING - A list of possible Christmas gift ideas for family...it will be here before I know it!

LISTENING - To the rotation of the fan and the faint sound of the TV in the living room

THINKING - That I need some winter clothes!

SMELLING - Farm House Cider Sprinkles from Pink Zebra...such a yummy smell!

WISHING - For a positive phone call this week

HOPING - My swap partners are announced soon

WEARING - Black exercise pants, comfy blue t-shirt, and zebra print slippers

LOVING - The time I got to spend with Mallory and Emily yesterday at lunch and Color Me Mine (more details about that AFTER Christmas)

WANTING - Lunch...I'm hungry

NEEDING - A new charger for my phone...I left mine plugged into the wall, and it melted the part you stick in the phone!

FEELING - Thankful. I know I should feel thankful all year round (and I do!), but something about the holidays makes me think about everything I love and am thankful for. Things that can't be bought with money. Things you sometimes don't really appreciate until they're gone. Things you take for granted every single day.

CLICKING - On Amazon Wish Lists and Pinterest for gift ideas

That's all I've got for today! I think I'll be posting again before Thanksgiving, but if not, I hope you all have a wonderful time with your family and friends.