Day Trippin' in Glen Rose, TX

**Right after I posted this, I realized that my weekly weigh-in for Monday never posted! I wondered why it had zero views and no comments. Now, I know! Looking back, maybe it's best it didn't post. The scale was not good to me last week. Haha! I'm not going to post it, but I'll make sure my weigh-in next week goes live!**

A few weeks ago, Natalie asked readers of her blog to participate in a Traveling Teddy Bear Project with her first grade class. They have been studying about Teddy Roosevelt and his involvement with the national park system. Our mission (should we choose to accept it) was to receive a teddy bear from one of her first graders, and take it to visit a park close to us whether it be a national, state, county, or city park. We take pictures of the bear on their adventure, write about what they did, and send it back. If you have ever heard of Flat Stanley, this project is similar to that.

Thursday before last, I received my teddy bears in the mail! They came with letters written from the students, a letter explaining the project, and a journal page for each teddy bear's adventure.

So, last Saturday, my sister and I set out on our own little adventure with the first teddy bear, Pretty Girl (named by her first grade owner). I knew when I signed up for this that I would want to take a bear to Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose. We had never been there, so it was a new experience for us as well.

Dinosaur Valley State Park is situated on the Paluxy River and has some of the best preserved dinosaur tracks in the world. The most impressive tracks were sent to the American Museum of Natural History in New York where they can still be seen today.

 

We had a really good time. It was such a beautiful day and still Spring Break for a lot of kids, so it was very crowded, which made it kind of hard to get down to the river and see the actual tracks. We would like to go back another time when it might not be so crowded and actually see the tracks in the riverbed.

Today we were supposed to go to Sulphur, Oklahoma and take the other teddy bear, but it's cold and stormy. We are going to stick closer to home, and head to Gainesville to Leonard Park, which has a zoo as part of the park. I hope it stops raining long enough to get some good pictures with the teddy bear.

Next week, the teddy bears will be returning home to Georgia. I was glad to be a part of this project and happy to help out Natalie's class!

Top 10 Books on My Spring 2013 TBR List

Today I am linking up with The Broke and the Bookish for Top Ten Tuesday, and this week's theme is the top 10 books on your spring 2013 to be read list. If you love to read, I definitely recommend checking out their blog. There's also a list of future Top Ten Tuesdays, so you can plan ahead if you see something you like.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn would have been on my list, but I started it last week. I am loving this book! Without giving anything away, the book is split into three parts. I am a few chapters into part two. I was not expecting what has happened so far in part two. I rarely talk out loud while reading books, but I have said 'oh my gosh!' and 'oooohhhhh!' quite a few times while reading this. I can't wait to finish it!

Enough about what I'm currently reading...on to my list!

1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Link to Amazon

Book Synopsis on Goodreads

 I can't remember how I found out about this book, but I used a gift card from Christmas to buy it from Amazon. This book will more than likely be the one I start after I finish Gone Girl.

2. The Girl in the Green Sweater: A Life in Holocaust's Shadow by Krystyna Chiger

Link to Amazon

Book Synopsis on Goodreads

In 7th grade, my reading class did a study on the Holocaust. Since then, I have maintained an interest in stories written about that time: fiction and non-fiction. This is a true story about a group of Polish Jews who found shelter in their city's sewer system.

3. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Link to Amazon

Book Synopsis on Goodreads

I took a Children's Literature class in college, and one of the reading requirements was The Invention of Hugo Cabret. After reading that, it became one of my favorite books, which is why I want to read this one.

4. Vain by Fisher Amelie

Link to Amazon

Book Synopsis on Goodreads

Lia wrote a review of this book earlier this month. I went and checked it out on Amazon, and it sounds like something I might like to read. If you look at it on Amazon, there is a mistake on there. It says this is book two in a series, but it is book one.

5. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Link to Amazon

Book Synopsis on Goodreads

Okay, this is the most recent one I have added to my TBR list, and it comes as a surprise to myself. I started watching Pretty Little Liars on Netflix, and I am loving it! I didn't think I would like it, but I needed something to watch while I work out, and I'm kinda obsessed. I'm curious about the books and would like to see how closely they resemble the TV show. Who is A??? If you know, don't tell me!

6. Objects of My Affection by Jill Smolinski

Link to Amazon

Book Synopsis on Goodreads

I have read Jill Smolinski's The Next Thing on My List, and I really enjoyed it. This book is about a hoarder, and I have an odd fascination with the subject of hoarding. Have you ever watched Hoarders? That show has given me nightmares before!

7. Devil in the Details: Scenes from an Obsessive Girlhood by Jennifer Traig

Link to Amazon

Book Synopsis on Goodreads

My mom went on a book shopping spree in December before Christmas, and this is one of the books she bought. I thought it looked interesting, so I'm gonna give it a shot.

8. I'm Perfect, You're Doomed: Tales from a Jehovah's Witness Upbringing by Kyria Abrahams

Link to Amazon

Book Synopsis on Goodreads

This is another book that my mom bought. Again, I think this looks interesting. I like to read about the real lives of other people, and get a peek into their world as they see it.

9. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Link to Amazon

Book Synopsis on Goodreads

This one is special to me. I have never read the book, and I've seen the movie one time. This past Christmas, my aunt gave me my great-grandma's copy of this book. Before my great-grandma passed away a few years ago, all of my extended family would go to her house for Thanksgiving, Easter, and Christmas. I can open this book, and it still smells like her house. I hope that scent never goes away.

10. Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Link to Amazon

Book Synopsis on Goodreads

Even though I am *coughcough* 27 years old, I love to read young adult novels, which is easy to see considering half my list consists of YA books. I found this one while browsing Amazon and added it to my wish list.

What books are on your TBR list? Do you have any recommendations for books I should read?

Weekly Weigh-In #9: Stranger Danger!

This Week: -1.2 lbs

Total Loss: -8.2 lbs

Yay! One of my goals is to lose 10 pounds by Easter, so hopefully, I'll hit that goal by then (or possibly earlier!). 

First off, thank you to everyone who read 'My Fat Story' and left me sweet comments and words of encouragement! I really appreciate knowing that you read it and took the time to leave me a note!

Usually, I walk on the treadmill, and occasionally, I will go up to the track at the football stadium. On Friday, I decided I wanted to walk outside, so I made myself a route and ventured on out to do it. In that 2.5 mile span of walking, I almost got ran over by an 18 wheeler, almost had a dog attack me, and some guy I don't know pulled over to ask me if I needed a ride. Stranger danger! Granted, he was probably just trying to do something nice, but I politely told him that I was out walking for exercise. He said okay and drove away. Whew! I think for now I will stick to the treadmill or the track!

The story might be different if Jensen Ackles was asking ;-)

Yesterday, I got on the treadmill to walk 3 miles. At 4 mph, that would be 45 minutes for the whole workout. I ended up staying on the treadmill for 90 minutes and walking 6 miles! I gotta say I was pretty proud of myself for not letting my brain tell me what I could do and just letting my legs do the walking. I even took a picture of myself after I was done because I couldn't believe I was sweating like a contestant on The Biggest Loser!

Gross, but I LOVE it!

I came close to hitting my goal of 2 lbs, but there's no disappointment with my loss this week. I also got in over 10 miles of walking. I want to step up my mileage each week, so I'm going to change my goal to 15 miles a week.

Workouts for the Week

Tuesday- 3 mile walk on the treadmill

Friday- 2.5 mile walk around my neighborhood

Saturday- 4 mile walk on the treadmill

Sunday- 6 mile walk on the treadmill

Total Miles: 15.5 miles

I'm not going to put my goals on here each week anymore because I've created a permanent tab for them at the top of my blog called Fitness Goals. I will write about goals when I achieve them though. 

Hope everyone has a fabulous week! 

My Fat Story

My story starts where I'm sure a lot of stories do...at school with a bully. To this day, I vividly remember sitting in the cafeteria eating lunch across from a boy. I make eye contact with him, and what happens next has stuck with me my entire life. He looks back at me, calls me a pig, snorts at me, and laughs about it with his friend. I was crushed. Until that point, I had never been made fun of nor do I remember ever seeing anyone else being made fun of. I was a first grader.

First day of 1st Grade

Doing the math, I'm 27 now...first graders are 6 or 7, so I've been dealing with body issues and identifying myself solely by my weight for 20 years. 20 years!

I've never known what it's like to be thin. Probably around middle school, I started spending summer after summer thinking about how I would start working out, lose a lot of weight, and go back to school in the fall looking like a totally different person. Summer vacation reality? Watching TV, sleeping late, and eating junk food all summer long. So, by the time a new school year rolled around, I was a totally different person...only in the wrong direction...weight went higher instead of lower.

Would my life be different if I had always been thin? Absolutely. Would I have been voted 'Quietest' in my senior class? Maybe not. Would I have dated and/or had a boyfriend? Possibly. Would I always feel like my weight is the only thing people notice about me? I don't think so.

It is extremely difficult for me to imagine reaching my goal weight. I needed my school medical records last year, and when I received them, I looked over my weight through the years. My goal weight is currently 150 pounds. Last time I was there? 5th grade AND I was also 9 inches shorter then. I'm 5'10" now. I can't even picture myself at my 8th grade weight of 213 pounds, which is only 31 pounds away.

5th grade: 150 lbs.

I've been working out and doing my best to eat healthier going on 9 weeks now. When I started this blog in January, I knew this would be the time everything would click, but I wasn't sure why I thought that. What's so different about this time compared to all the other times I've attempted it? I think I discovered why through writing this post.

2010: 50s Day at School

After 20 years, I was exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally. I had two choices. I could keep on marching down the same road I've been on for years now: using food as a crutch and comfort, living a sedentary lifestyle, saying 'I'll start tomorrow' every Sunday night, OR I could veer off that road and make my own path: figure out why I'm an emotional eater, start training to participate in 5Ks and half-marathons, finally admit to myself that what I've done in the past is not working and realize change has to happen.

Christmas 2009

I choose to create my own path...one step at a time, one day at a time, one pound at a time.

2012 Cruise

Weekly Weigh-In #8: Migraine Monday

This Week: -0.2 lbs
Total Loss: -7.0 lbs

Right now, after the night I had, I am just happy to have a loss. My mom and I went to my nan and papa's house yesterday for a visit, and before we left, I started to get a headache. Nothing too bad I thought. When we got home, I was sending my sister a text and felt like the room was spinning. I took something for my headache, ate supper, and laid down to watch The Walking Dead. After the show was over, my headache intensified and became a full-fledged migraine. Throbbing pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound...the most horrible headache I have ever experienced in my life, and I've had A LOT of headaches!

My mom and sister have both dealt with migraines, so it came as no surprise that I had one since they can be hereditary. So thankful it is gone, and I could go the rest of my life with never having a migraine again! Wishful thinking...

I'm watching The Biggest Loser as I write this. I'm rooting for Danni to go all the way. She is the contestant I relate with the most. It's makeover night, which is always a fun episode. The transformations these contestants go through are amazing and inspiring. I can't wait to have my own makeover after I lose all my extra weight!

Source

I didn't meet my goal of losing 2 pounds this week, but I did get in 10 miles of walking!

Workouts for the Week
Tuesday-2 mile walk on the treadmill
Wednesday-2 mile walk on the treadmill
Friday-2 mile walk on the treadmill
Saturday-2.7 mile hike at the refuge
Sunday-1.5 mile hike at the refuge

Total Miles: 10.2

Weekly Goals

March 4-10

• Lose 2 pounds
• Walk/jog/hike 10 miles

Monthly Goals

February 18-March 18

• Lose 8 pounds
• Walk/jog/hike 40 miles

Long-Term Goals

• Lose 10 pounds by Easter (March 31)
• Register for a 5K by the end of April (April 30) 
• Lose 28.4 pounds in 14 weeks, which will put me at my high school senior weight (June 3)

Ultimate Goal

• Lose 101 pounds 

Sunday Social: Gimme 5!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! My plans today include hiking on a new trail I found yesterday, going to visit my grandparents, and linking up with Neely and Ashley for Sunday Social, of course.
5 Songs You'll Listen to the Rest of Your Life
1. Adele's Rumor Has It
2. Defying Gravity from Broadway's Wicked
3. Bruno Mars' Marry You
4. Britney Spears' Circus
5. Mika's Love Today

5 Things on Your Bucket List
1. Go to Hawaii
2. Open a bakery
3. Go skydiving
4. Own alpacas
5. Go on an African safari

Alpacas...aren't they adorable?

5 Celebs I'd Love to Hang Out with for a Day
1. Reese Witherspoon
2. Kate Middleton
3. Bob Harper
4. Emma Stone
5. Norman Reedus (Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead)

5 Things I Always Carry in My Purse
1. Babylips
2. wallet
3. pen
4. cell phone
5. loose change

5 Books on My Reading List
1. Gone Girl
2. Ready Player One
3. The Girl in the Green Sweater
4. Wonderstruck
5. Objects of My Affection

Share the last 5 pictures on your phone. These are pictures from yesterday while my sister and I were hiking on a trail at the refuge close to our town.

Top Left: We think this was a wild boar trap

Top Right: Ready to defend myself against wild boars...I'm only halfway kidding.

Middle Left: Map of trail

Middle Right: Hair bow that we found while walking

Bottom: Me at the entrance 

Have a great week everybody! See you tomorrow for my weekly weigh-in!

Thirty by 30

Before I started this blog, I had another one solely for the purpose of documenting my 'Thirty by 30' list. I think I wrote maybe 2 posts total before shutting it down. I just wasn't feeling it at the time.

So, now that I'm getting in a better groove with this blog (20+ posts instead of 2!), I figured I would post my list here. I'm really excited and hopeful about the potential adventures it will take me on!

Source

I've also created a permanent tab (which I just learned how to do!) at the top of my blog, and I will be updating whenever I complete something on my list.

1. Run a 5K.
2. Achieve my goal weight.
3. Visit New York City.
4. Audition for a community theatre play or musical.
5. Get a teaching job.
6. Plant a tree.
7. Move into my own place.
8. Perform Random Acts of Kindness (RAOK's) on my birthday.
9. See the Grand Canyon.
10. Get my master's degree.
11. Start a savings account.
12. Have LASIK surgery done.
13. Go on a cruise with my mom and sister.
14. Travel to another country, so I can put my passport to good use.
15. Buy a Victoria’s Secret bra.
16. See The Lion King musical.
17. Give blood.
18. Buy a new car.
19. Read 30 books.
20. Go to a "Painting with a Twist" class.
21. Pass additional certification tests for teaching: Gifted and Talented and Special Education.
22. Visit Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
23. Go to a Zumba class.
24. Try ten new restaurants.
25. Visit Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia.
26. Donate to a project on DonorsChoose.org.
27. Go on a shopping spree that utilizes a few pieces of clothing to make many outfits.
28. Throw a dart at a U.S. map and travel to wherever it lands.
29. Take a self-defense class.
30. Sponsor a child in a foreign country through World Vision.