Just for You, C :)

South Beach Diet "Revisited"

Most of you probably remember my post earlier this year about trouble with weight gain and other symptoms that had me thinking I had hypothryoidism. Most symptoms are gone or aren't as severe, but not the weight gain. I have gained more weight since then. I still eat healthy foods and appropriate portions, I exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep. Since nothing seems to be working, I have gone back to South Beach Diet Phase 1.

I never "left" SBD, but none of my doctors suggestions have worked so this is the last resort. If going back to the SBD Phase 1 works, I will move on to Phase 2 to lose that weight that has crept back. If Phase 1, again, does nothing, I will schedule another appointment with my doctor who will probably refer me to an endocrinologist.

My fingers are crossed that this will work!! Today is Day #2!

Thirty Years Ago...

today my mom & step-dad, Pat, were married!

Happy 30th Anniversary Mom & Pat!!

I remember the day you got married like it was yesterday! Scott & I couldn't have had a better "second dad"! I love you both! Hope you have a wonderful day!

I'll Be Back

Bob being off work all last week put a cramp in my blogging schedule, but I hope to be back in full force this week! :D

A Different Thanksgiving

Bob & I are seriously considering changing up our Thanksgiving traditions this year. We are thinking of serving a meal at a nearby homeless shelter. I love my family and all, but I think it is time for Bob, Olivia, & I to make traditions of our own.

When I mentioned it to Olivia she said I would rather go to grandma's. Well, of course, she would. However, I told her these people would rather not be homeless. She got my point & has come around to the idea.

I think this will be a great thing for us to do as a family!

Real Simple Thought of the Day

Love this one...

Joy is the best makeup. ~ Anne Lamott

My Husband Goes to Vegas

and all I get is this crazy picture sent from his Blackberry...

My Fall/Winter Fashion

Olivia & I went shopping this afternoon. She had money from her paycheck burning a hole in her pocket (This is what's leftover, as she calls it, after the 50% we require her put into her savings account.) She bought herself some goodies and never once hinted that I should buy it for her. She thought about her purchases a lot longer than she would have had Mommy been paying. She's starting to think of how many hours it takes her to make a certain amount, and realizing it's "real" value.

I also made a few purchases to freshen up my seriously boring fall wardrobe. I picked up this sweater in perfect plum at TJ Maxx for $19.99, this sweater in dark brown (not on website), and this top for under it. A couple more of the fun fall sweaters that are out there, and I will be all set!

My Inspiration

I decided on a subject for class tomorrow: A large white pitcher of daisies with a few strawberries "scattered" on the table. I will vary the props around the main subject a bit and go with what looks best! I am also bringing along a white bowl, yellow & white cloth napkins/dishtowel, Granny Smith Apples, and Bartlet Pears.

I am sure most students will be doing something "fallish" which is what I was thinking initially, but decided against it. I want to use something that would match a room in our home so I can print & frame if they turn out as good as I am hoping.

I found inspiration in a photo on flickr. You can see my inspiration photo here!

Matthew Zucker's Photography

For photography class tomorrow, I have to figure out what I am going to use as my subject for some studio work. The instructor gave some websites to look at to get ideas. One is workbook.com & the other is photo.net. I have been spending a little time on workbook.com where I ran across this:


I love this image!!

I'm still trying to figure out what to bring tomorrow. This has me stumped!!

Need...err...I Mean Want

I want a slide scanner. I have taken quite a few shots for my photography class, and some of them are really great. The problem is right now I have no way of getting those slides onto my computer so I can share them with you.

So far our assignments have been...

• People, Places, and Things (at least 36 images of whatever you want -- at least 10 images had to contain people)
• Shutter Speed (at least 36 images -- 18 of them blurring action & 18 of them stopping action)
• Aperture (at least 36 images -- 18 with limited depth of field (subject in focus background not) & 18 with extended depth of field (entire image in focus)
• Graphic Images & Abstract Color (at least 64 images -- extreme close ups, intentionally out of focus, moving camera, moving zoom as you take picture, etc -- the FUN stuff)

Shutter Speed was my least favorite. I think my favorite images are from the Aperture assignment, but there are some GREAT ones in the Graphic Images & Abstract Color as well.

My quiz average so far is 101% (yes, we get a couple extra credit questions on them). We have our mid-term exam this week which I think I will do well on. We have only turned in the first two assignments at this point, and only have the first back graded. I got a B+.

I am enjoying this class and learning a lot in it. I plan to take another next semester!!

I *heart* Neil Cavuto

While watching Shep Smith on FOXNews a bit ago, he was talking to Neil Cavuto about the Dow's plunge today. In a follow up question to the announcement that President Bush would speak tomorrow, Shep asked him what our leaders should be out there saying, and his answer was they should just SHUT UP! I love it! :D

White House Goes Pink

No Paris Hilton did not move in...LOL!

First Lady, Laura Bush, flipped a switch to light the White House in pink light tonight in honor of breast cancer awareness month. Wish I could find a pic on the web because the shot I saw on TV was spectacular!

ETA: you can see the White House bathed in pink light here & here.

Fall Look

I did a little housekeeping and got my blog ready for fall. I still have a few tweaks left, but it is mostly complete!

I used a Shabby Princess digital scrapbooking kit for my banner & background once again. I don't have the name of the kit easily accessible right now, but will give credit and include the name on my sidebar.

Editing to say: Complete other than the strange phenomenon of half my header disappearing when I scroll back to the top of my page in IE. Things that make you go hmmm. If you use IE, don't scroll up to the top of the page after scrolling down, and that will solve it...LOL!!

I will look into this when I have a little more time.

*giggle*

Our Homecoming Girl

The finishing touches!


All ready to go!


Just being silly!
(I love the way the light hits Olivia's face in this pic!)

Shady Lane

For $475,000 a 3,000 sqaure foot 4 bedroom, 3 bath home in Ashwaubenon, WI can be yours!! The taxes are $7,525.00! :eek:

Why is this house important enough for me to mention? It is owned by D.L. Tynes. Who is D.L. Tynes? Deanna Favre!

Front


Kitchen


Living Room
It's near an area we would love to live someday, but I don't think Olivia is ready to switch from her school to one 130 miles from here. Not sure we are ready to plop down that kind of money on a home right now either! It's nice having a mortgage payment that is the size of a rent payment.