february kidstagram

Yes I'm obsessed with my kids, taking photos, and instagram.  Here are February's highlights!  

it snowed in my house

[week 8]

The guys were able to make some progress before the snow hit.  This past week we got the start of our second floor with the front and side walls.  

week 8: front & back

A roof would have been helpful.

It snowed in my house.

Luke spent Saturday shoveling the snow out of the house to protect the plywood as much as possible. Of course we're getting round two beginning this afternoon.  Guess what we'll also be doing next weekend?  

Perched up on the second floor.

Snowy view from our bedroom.

framing

[weeks 6-7]

Framing has started and man do those guys move fast!  In two weeks, we have a first floor and the walk-out basement framed in.  Snowy weather is moving in later this week, so hopefully it won't slow down progress too much.

week 6: back of house

week 7: front & back

We picked out our lighting a little over a week ago. Now that's a process! My neck was sore from looking up and my feet hurt from walking all over the showroom.  I'm happy with our selections, and we almost managed to stay within budget. The sales guy said we did better than most!

After much back and forth about the shower doors, I have finally settled on... clear glass!  Who knew this would be one of the harder decisions? I was mostly worried about keeping it clean, but from what I read online most people do not have issues with it.  And as for the feeling of being on display? Just another little incentive to stay fit!

Next up: picking out flooring & paint!

challenged

They (bob, jillian, oprah) always say you have to figure out what is behind the weight. Emotionally. But I never could quite figure it out. I like food. I eat when I'm bored, stressed, blah blah blah. But I had a great upbringing. I'm not filling empty emotional holes with food.  So why do I eat junk I know is not good for me?

Then I finally had a breakthrough on one of my recent runs (where I always do my best thinking).

I have never been challenged.  

My childhood was fun. My parents spoiled me.  I didn't have chores. Schoolwork came easily to me. I never had to struggle much to keep my good grades. I don't like competition much, and I will usually be the first one to back down if something is too difficult or if I might fail.

But guess what?  I was chubby, shy and insecure. I wanted to be on the cheerleading team, the volleyball team, the basketball team.  But tennis and band were all I could do well enough.  I wanted to date the cute class VP, but an awkward boyfriend from a neighboring town would have to do.

I have never challenged myself to be better. Do better. Well I challenge myself NOW. I will lose the last 25 lbs. I will be a hot wife and a healthy mama for my kids. And I will run a 10k in June!

I managed to not sabotage myself this weekend and got in a total of SIX miles (3 Sat/3 Sun) plus two yesterday. Trying to take full advantage of this wonderful February weather!

I'll admit, I have mom guilt some days.  However Saturday when I came back from my run and found the kids marching up and down the hallway timing themselves to see how long they could go, I was reminded of the good example I was setting for them. So I went back out on Sunday for another run and didn't feel a tinge of guilt.

I am super happy with my weigh-in this morning. Down THREE pounds! I feel like I'm back on track and I'm ready to keep making those numbers go down!

   2013 wednesday weigh-ins

   Feb 6 [week 3]  172.2 (-3)

   Jan 30 [week 2] 175.2  (+1.2)

   Jan 23 [week 1] 174.0  (+3)

   Dec 2011 starting weight: 196

   Goal weight:  149

   Pounds lost:  23.8

   Pounds to go:  23.2

Riverfront Park. As close as I can get to running on the beach.

flatwork

[week 5]

This week they poured the concrete floors in the basement and garage.  It was coooold so not much more got done.  But they did deliver some lumber! Super excited to have some walls next week!

standing in the garage, looking at the basement

basement side view

#GoRed

Today I Go Red in honor of my best friend Molly.

Molly was a beautiful person, inside and out. We were friends since grade school and did everything together, including rooming together in college and studying abroad together in France.

She loved to run, but found out she had a heart condition. Under her cardiologist's supervision, she was cleared to walk a half marathon for which she had trained. In Dec 2009, Molly finished the St Jude Half Marathon in Memphis.

And then she suddenly collapsed from heart failure. She was 32 years old.

I love and miss my friend very much. She continues to inspire me to run, to take chances, and to visit the beach whenever possible.

Molly after she finished a 1/2 marathon in 2008.

Me and Molly overlooking Florence, Italy in 1998.