Moving right along.

I bought myself a FitBit Zip for my birthday day this year, and in the last month, I have come to absolutely love it.  I just love gadgets!

My little pink friend goes with me everywhere.  I wear it 24/7 (except in the shower) and it tracks steps and calories burned around the clock.  Unlike other versions, the Zip does not track sleep (which I don't miss).  I have the FitBit iphone app, which syncs automatically via Bluetooth, as well as a USB connector that will sync with my laptop whenever it's within 20 feet of the Zip.  It's so convenient it's ridiculous, and since I wear it clipped to my underoos, I like that I can check my step count and calorie burn easily on my phone. 

A little less than a month's progress!

Just a few days after getting the Zip, MyFitnessPal announced the ability to sync the FitBit dashboard directly with my food/activity diary.  My daily activity now automatically adjusts my calorie targets, and I only have to add calories burned for strength workouts.  It is so easy!  The sync is sometimes a little slow, but it's the only drawback I have found so far.  My calorie target is 1600+activity, but it will start out 100-175 less until I've moved around enough to earn it back. 

BOOM.

My goal is 10,000 steps a day (approximately five miles), which has been a challenge to hit some days, but I am working on it.  It certainly makes the tricky work parking situation easier to deal with, considering that means an extra block or two worth of steps.  I've been taking the stairs more often to my third floor office, as well as going up or down a floor to fill my water bottle or just stretch my legs during the day.  I suddenly mind it less if there are three baskets of laundry to cart upstairs, or if I left something in the other room.  Kenny was quick to pick up on this - I have been the one to let the dogs out more and more, I noticed.  Whatever works, I guess - if I hit 7500, I'm happy, and 10k is even better!

Having gone through the TDEE reset earlier in the summer, I was especially interested to see what my actual calorie burn was during the day.  I was actually surprised to see that the online TDEE calculators are really accurate for me.  This makes me feel a lot better about my calorie ranges, and focusing on other numbers (steps, calories burned) has helped alleviate some of the anxiety and frustration from the last couple of weeks. 

If you're already active and looking for a way to challenge yourself, or if you're trying to get started, or (like me) if you're looking for ways to be more consistent with activity, I would highly recommend a FitBit.  The Zip has been perfect for me - easy to use, engaging, motivating.  I've worn a pedometer before (my mom swears by hers!) but this has been a lot more fun. 

How many steps have YOU gotten today?

(*not a paid review*)

Instagram Life, Oct 20-26

doggy bagels!

Like a union boss. Must take breaks.

To play!!!

sneaky snuggler

If I keep this up, you're going to think this greek skirt is the only thing I wear.

pledge-a-thon!

Thursday was a United Way event at work that included a pet costume fashion show.  Highlight of my week up to that point ...

show girl.

police man

disgruntled bumble bee

And my absolute favorite ...

banana split

maybe next year, Busch Stadium

did you know that you can bring food through airport security? Yummy, healthy, cheap!

wedding time!

pumpkn martini

dance!

Five for Friday, vol 72

1. You say so many funny things on a daily basis that it's hard to keep track. Thanks for always making me laugh.

2.



3. Im just impressed it took you almost a week to find the candy.

4. All the mushy romantic parts of weddings make me smile thinking about ours. I'm so glad I married you.

5. I love our code words and inside jokes, dude.

I love you.

On the Weigh: A bit of fit

I am still in time-out from the scale and trying to focus on other numbers in my life. My weight has been all over the place, but I am up overall, and it frustrates me to no end.  I am so over this.  The moments of weakness when I have peeked at my weigh-in have resulted in nothing but eye-twitches and an elevated pulse.  After what feels like eons of working on it, thinking about it, talking about it, blogging about it, dwelling on it and 235 days of backtracking, plateauing, resetting, cutting, and logging into MFP, I am sitting at two pounds lost. Mothereff.  At one point I was down 15. I struggle to articulate my frustration over this using more than four-letter words.  I am so over having a good attitude about it.  I hate being stuck like this, especially since I feel like I am basically back at the beginning ... again.  I don't regret my reset, if it was what my body needed at the time. But right now I want to punch something.

I am really trying to channel my frustration into something productive.  Some days are better than others.  I have had a good week - no overages on calories, good activity so far.  I've either met my FitBit calorie or my step goal (sometimes both) every day since Saturday.  I'm on quite a workout streak - three days in a row.  Um, why am I not at goal yet? THREE WHOLE DAYS.  I am enough of an immediate gratification person that any and all patience with this process is becoming quite thin.  That seems to be the only part of me doing so lately.  I really, really love my FitBit, and being as active as I have this week is the only thing that's keeping me from going completely over the edge.

Damn this whole thing for taking so damn long all the time. 

But giving up isn't really an option either, is it?  I mean, what choice do I have but to keep running up against this damn wall until I find a way through?  I'm just so annoyed by this.  It's really hard not to compare myself to other people, the downside of the "support" network I've created for myself via social media connections.  I see success all around me.  I am so happy for those people.  And I am so sad that I'm not there too.

I am usually so good at being Chin-Up Charlie about this shit, but I don't want to right now.  I'm sad, frustrated, depressed, and underneath it all, just plain pissed off.  It really sucks to feel like your own body is your enemy, but that's kind of where I am at this moment.  I keep buying cute clothes to try to cover up that fact and make myself feel better.  So far, no so much.

Ugh.  That pretty much sums it up.

Instagram Life, Oct 13-19

StayPuff ... Kenny reallllly wants this.

Cake for the freezer, in case of emergency

Judging you for not folding the laundry in a timely fashion.

thank you notes

snug as a bug

binders full of puppies

my boss likes to give out aspiration cards during stressful times. I love mine.

Cards t-shirt, Penny-blocked.

Post-season in STL means jeans days and Cards gear

Pinspired: Weekly Menu Board

I go through phases with Pinterest, and lately I have been a pinning fool.  I have all of these ideas for projects, decorating, clothes, cooking ... well, it's about time I started doing them!

We have been using a set of framed chalkboards in our kitchen for at least a couple years now.  I post the menu, notes, the week's schedule of events, and things like that.  It's really fun to have all of that right in the line of sight next to our fridge, but they are starting to become less and less functional.  Over time, the chalkboard tiles (Wallies) are not legible like they used to be, which means I haven't been using them as much as I'd like.  Time for an upgrade.

I have found all sorts of ideas on Pinterest, from crafts to printables.  I had a couple of extra 8x10 frames hanging out after wedding things, as well as a battery of scrapbook paper, so I knew I wanted to be able to use items on hand as opposed to getting lost in the black hole of Hobby Lobby for supplies.

Source: momcoloredglasses.com via Meagan on Pinteres
t

Source: makeandtakes.com via Lizette on Pinterest

Source: smittenblogdesignspartyprintables.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest

After seeing several of the printables, I decided to try my own hand at it. I certainly don't claim to be a graphic designer, but I am pretty pleased with the result of a few minutes in Publisher.

The background actually stripes, which I love.  Pop it in a frame and add a dry erase marker, and we're open for business.

And because I like things that match ....

I'm not sure these are forever-solutions, but they turned out as I had hoped for the meantime.  A little bit of touch-up paint on the wall is still in order, but otherwise, this little corner of the kitchen has shaped up nicely.


One Pinterest project complete!  I wonder what should be next?

Five for Friday, vol 71

1.  You love baseball ... in October ... before you fall asleep (and after I wake you up everytime the Cards score.)

2.  You offered me one of your Cards shirts for my office's casual day.  It was three sizes too big, but I appreciate the offer.

3.  You love being behind me in the kickball line-up because you think it encourages you to kick better in order to help me advance.

4.  My birthday party kicked ass. You're the best.  #kennydidgood

5.  You are completely using my fitbit to your advantage by reminding me that running upstairs or to the basement to get you something, or to let the dogs out, or to take the trash out all count for steps. 

I love you.

Party Animal.

the cutest cake!

When I was little, my birthday parties always seemed to follow a similar pattern: mini-golf (it was always too cold for a pool party), sleepover with a pack of giggling girls, watching the Little Mermaid and Ferris Beuller's Day Off four times each, all while stuffing ourselves with the bowls of M&Ms that were always present for every social event at my house.  I have always loved birthdays, but as things tend to go, the celebrations become quieter as you get older.  With 30 being such a landmark number, I was really excited that Kenny wanted to throw a party for me.  He had insisted that I not do anything for his 30th coming up in December, so I threw a surprise 29th last year.  This party might have been partly about getting even, but I was still really happy about it.  I love parties, you know.

We picked the Pin Up Bowl on Delmar for the event.  It's a smaller space, very swanky and fun, with pin up art all over.  Of course you know I love that!  They have a great drink menu and just a really fun atmosphere.  It was perfect!  It never got really crowded or loud, our friends were able to mingle and bowl, and when everyone was ready to move to the next thing, we just walked next door to the rooftop bar at the Moonrise Hotel. 

mom & dad

yummy martinis!

I don't like attention.  LOL.

I blew out the candles approximately 10 seconds into "happy birthday."  Singing? Shut it down!

wifies

looking much more composed and mature than last year's birthday

#kennydidgood

I could not have asked for more this weekend.  Several friends came from out of town, including my parents, and there was a great turnout of some of our favorite people.  Kenny did an amazing job putting everything together - it really was the perfect night.

seriously, the cutest cake of all time.

Tucker celebrates.

 By the time we made it back home, I was feeling completely overwhelmed with gratitude.  I'm sure the many martinis assisted with brining out my sappy feelings, but I can't help but feel so incredibly lucky to have such good, kind, fun, and generous people in my life. 

yay birthday party! booooo middle age.

So ... 30.  it still feels really surreal.  I don't feel old, but I do feel lucky.  Thank you everyone who made it to the party, sent messages or comments.  It has been the best birthday and I am really looking forward to taking on this new decade.

Cheers! 
xo, Old Lady Cheesefries