Epic Blogging Fail...

Last y'all heard a peep from me, I had just returned from a fabulous cruise with Mr. Marine and my family. I promised to give you an island by island recap.

I failed.

I'm not going to turn this into a pity party because plenty of FABULOUS things have been happening in my life. However, in the midst of wonderful happenings and not so wonderful things, I decided I needed to take a blogging break. I realize most women announce such a break, but I didn't even have that much in me.

Over the past few months I have laughed to the point of tears and cried to the point of physical pain.

I lost a job and found another one. This new job keeps me from eating dinner with Mr. Marine, enjoying the runs/walks we had come to cherish, spending Sundays in bed or going to a midmorning brunch. I will get used to these adjustments I am sure, but I miss him and our routine and I can tell a difference in our relationship. It makes me sad.

I traveled home for my bi-annual melanoma scan at MD Anderson. All is well and I enjoyed being home in Texas. I went to the rodeo 3 times in a week and a half. My trip was only supposed to be 3 days long...I extended 2x and Mr. Marine finally called my mother and told her to put me on the plane.

I have enjoyed time with my girlfriends here and continue to build friendships with amazing women. However, when I left Chuy's in Houston and said goodbye to my best friend, I sobbed like a baby once I got back in my car. She is my second half, my sounding board, the girl who knows my thoughts and reasoning even when I don't. She knows my deepest darkest secrets and I hers. I miss that terribly.

We are getting ready to gut our bathroom and completely remodel it. I'm not looking forward to the mess, the hassle or the outgoing checks...but I CANT WAIT FOR THE FINAL PRODUCT!!!!! 

I have a lot going on in the upcoming months and I will do my best to keep this thing updated instead of going into my shell when I get overwhelmed. 

To all of you who emailed me to check on me...thank you. It means a lot to me!

xoxo

P.S. Ally, I can't wait to come visit you in Chicago!!!!

Back from my Caribbean vacay and I have a ton of pics and stories. However, my internet is on the fritz right now so I will leave you with a few...

I'll post more in different posts (Island by Island) in the coming days!

Here's to Becoming Batman!

This email was forwarded to me and I just about peed myself...Mr. Marine, I'll be your Batman any day! xoxox

The Black Bra (as told by a woman)

 
I had lunch with 2 of my unmarried friends. One is engaged, one is a mistress, and I have been married for 20+ years.
 
We were chatting about our relationships and decided to amaze our men by greeting them at the door wearing a black bra, stiletto heels and a mask over our eyes.  We agreed to meet in a few days to exchange notes. 

Here's how it all went : 
 
My engaged friend:
The other night when my boyfriend came over he
found me with a black leather bodice, tall stilettos and a mask. He saw me and said, 'You are the woman of my dreams. I love you.' Then we made passionate love all nightlong.

 The mistress:
 Me too! The other night I met my lover at his office and I was wearing a raincoat, under it only the black bra, heels and mask over my eyes. When I opened the raincoat he didn't say a word, but he started to tremble and we had wild sex all night.

Then I had to share my story:
When my husband came home I was wearing the black bra, black stockings, stilettos and a mask over my eyes.
When he came in the door and saw me he said, 
 "What's for dinner, Batman?"

Biggest Loser - Stiletto Style!

It's crunch time, folks! I will be leaving for my cruise in one week and I have pledged to complete my own "Biggest Loser Week!"

This week, beginning at 5:30am on Monday morning, I will complete the following:

1. Spinning from 5:45-6:45am

2. Running on treadmill in the middle of the day

3. Zumba from 6:30-7:30pm

4. Repeat

I am also forgoing all starches, as this week will only consist of salads and lean proteins. No sugar either!

Mr. Marine and I have also looked up the fitness center on the cruise ship, as that will minimize typical cruise weight gain!

I am tired of being a chunkster and having to go swimsuit shopping today made me realize how unacceptable this body is! I understand that one week of Biggest Loser workouts will not make me Heidi Klum. However, I needed a major kick in the ass and swimsuit shopping was just what I needed! 

I refuse to wear a one-piece when I turn 30 and this is my first real step towards my ultimate goal in 2010...be my best self, ever!!!!

Here's to a happier and healthier 2010!! Whoot Whoot!!!!

Selectively Avoiding the Rain!

What does it say about me that I refused to leave the house and venture out in the rain for this...

 But I have no qualms whatsoever about venturing out in the rain for an evening of wine and this exact flaming sushi roll with my girlfriends?

What Every Girl Likes to Hear!

As much as I loooooove gettin all dolled up...isn't it nice to have a man who feels this way?

Hang up that red dress, 

let down your hair, 

cancel those reservations 

don't need to go no where. 

As good as your looking right now, 

girl bet your thinkin I'm crazy, 

there's a side of you that I wanna see 

that never ceases to amaze me. 

Gimme that girl with the hair in a mess 

sleepy little smile with her head on my chest, 

thats the you that i like best, 

gimme that girl. 

Gimme that girl lovin up on me, 

old t-shirt and a pair of jeans, 

thats the you i wanna see, 

gimme that girl. 

Gimme the girl thats beautiful, 

without a trace of makeup of on, 

barefoot in the kitchen, 

singing her favorite song. 

Dancing around like a fool, 

starring in her own little show, 

gimme the girl the rest of the world, 

ain't lucky enough to know. 

Gimme that girl with the hair in a mess 

sleepy little smile with her head on my chest, 

thats the you that i like best, 

gimme that girl. 

Gimme that girl lovin up on me, 

old t-shirt and a pair of jeans, 

thats the you i wanna see, 

gimme that girl, gimme that girl. 

 

"I've been on a diet for two weeks and all I've lost is fourteen days." ~Totie Fields

"If my jeans could talk, would I be embarrassed?"

-Brooke Shields

As I'm sure most of you can relate, one of my New Years resolutions is to trim down. I realize I am not obese, and I'm not looking to resemble Rachel Zoe. I would however, like to be in my best shape possible. This is the year I turn 30, and while I will never be one of those women who trains for a marathon to prove her youth and resilience...I would like to enter the next phase of my life in a body I am proud of. 

In addition, Mr. Marine and I are going on a Caribbean cruise at the end of this month to celebrate my parents anniversary. I may have started working out a bit too late to be confused for Gisele Bunchen on this trip, but I would like to shed just  a few before the end of the month. Running outdoors is not an option for me at the moment. After all, it is 3 degrees with a windchill taking it well below zero. No way in hell am I going outside to simply jog. 

So, about a week or so ago, I pulled out my trusty friend Jillian and began to "Shred" my old body in hopes of building a better and stronger one to house my aging bones (a little dramatic, but it's the way I feel sometimes).

I have also been back on Weight Watchers for a while. I am down 5 pounds so far! In my opinion, 5 pounds and a week and a half of shredding at level 2 and 3 should make my pants fit a little looser! 

WRONG!

I went to put on a pair of jeans today (they are my "fat" jeans that fit when my other jeans do not) and they were so tight around my thighs I had to writhe and jump in place to get them up! What the hell? Does anyone else experience this when they first begin working out? Is it one of those cases where it has to get worse before it gets better? Am I just building muscle on top of my fat so now nothing is going to fit?

I'm beginning to think I'm going to look even worse on my cruise...and it's beginning to freak me out!