Shannon over at Rocks In My Dryer has started a new column called "Works-For-Me Wednesday". She has invited others to "play" along so you can go to her site and check out all the other great ideas. Also, there will be a link on the side bar called "Works-For-Me Wednesday" that will allow you to come back and look at the great ideas later in the week if you need too!

So my tip of the week is this: Travel Time Treats

Some may already know of this but if you don't this is a great way to keep kids entertained on a long trip. I take zip lock bags and put not only snacks for the trip but small toys, games, books all in their own bags. The trick is to buy small "travel" type games and toys (I am talking C.H.E.A.P. - like from the Everything's A Dollar Store) and keep them in a bag up front with you and not let the kids see them "at all" until it is time to pass them out. Then everytime they start to get fussy you pull out something "new". I have even done this with toys out of my daughter's room that she didn't know I brought. The reason it works so well is because if you give them everything all at once they get "bored". If you give them things "they don't even know you have" spread out through the trip they will play longer with each toy instead of the usual, "Are we there yet?" after five minutes. I am sure this works with kids of all ages but it really worked very well when my daughter was younger and just she and I would make long trips to visit family, etc.

Not much but that is what I have to offer this week!

Look Good While Getting In Shape

So I did my first work out last night and as usual I had "those" feelings. You know the ones - everyone is looking at you like "rookie" or "what is she doing here", etc. The thing is I am SURE it is all in my mind and no one is paying the least bit of attention to me. I came across this article at IVillage called Look Good While Getting In Shape. I enjoyed it and I thought I would share with those who may decide to venture out to a "public" gym! We can do it!

I Need My Space People!!!

I am a touch feely person. I hug just about everyone. I don't usually get bothered by people "invading" my space. However there are two instances that really bother me: #1 Please don't talk TWO inches from my face. Why does anyone need to be that close? I mean really? #2 Please don't stand two inches from me while I am waiting in line. Last night #2 happened. I was waiting in line at the store with TWO things in my hand. There was a lady behind me who stood at the front right hand side of her buggy - she was standing DIRECTLY behind me - I could feel her breathing on my neck. THEN she pushed her buggy up so far it is LITERALLY pressed against my leg! What was that about? I was keeping my composure but I tell you what this really pushed my buttons! Okay. Feel. Better. Now. Just. Had. To. Vent. Now on to more important things...

On my side bar (right above my pictures) I will add a list called "Columns I Join" and so far I will have a link up to Works-For-Me Wednesday (Hosted by Shannon @ Rocks In My Dryer) and On The Menu Monday (Hosted by Traci @ Mostly Precious Moments). The most current one will be linked every week until the new one comes out - hence I will change the Wednesday one on Wednesdays and the Monday one on Mondays. Each of the "host" will have a links to others that are participating under their post. I encourage you all to participate! It is awesome!

So I will leave you with something I received in an email this morning:

When I Whine
~~~~~~~
Today, upon a bus, I saw a girl with golden hair
I looked at her and sighed and wished I was as fair.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and used a crutch
But as she passed, she passed a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine
I have 2 legs, the world is mine.
~~~
I stopped to buy some candy
The lad who sold it had such charm
I talked with him a while, he seemed so very glad
If I were late, it'd do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me,
"I thank you, you've been so kind.
It's nice to talk with folks like you.
You see," he said, "I'm blind."
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have 2 eyes, the world is mine.
~~~
Later while walking down the street,
I saw a child with eyes of blue
He stood and watched the others play
He did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
"Why don't you join the others, dear?"
He looked ahead without a word.
And then I knew, he couldn't hear.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I have 2 ears, the world is mine.
~~~
With feet to take me where I'd go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I would know.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.
I've been blessed indeed, The world is mine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorrow looks back,
Worry looks around,
Faith looks up.

New Beginnings

Today is day one for me also on the "new plan". So far so good. I've said it before and I'll say it again.

WE CAN DO THIS AND WE ARE WORTH THE TIME, MONEY

AND ENERGY THAT IT TAKES!!

Don't look back, it's a new day and a new beginning for us both!

It begins...Again!!!

Well this is my "new" first day! Ha! I ate breakfast this morning, I am drinking water and I brought my lunch. I have my first work out at the gym tonight and I have looked forward to it all weekend!! Hopefully I don't kill over and I will be able to post some about it this week!!

Finally Admitted It!

We were at my mom's house and my hubby walked across the living room and plopped down in the chair with a *groan*.

I said, "Are you getting old?"

He said, "No just lazy.

My 8 year old daughter said without even looking up from her book so "matter of factly", "Well at least you finally admitted it."

I am telling you kids are something else! Where do they come up with these things!

She had us cracking up! All in all we had a pretty good weekend - kinda had some life changing things happen BUT that is another post in itself! Happy Monday to you all!

Fat Day

Yup...this is how I feel today!! I actually am down 2/10 of a pound again but I just feel "fat" today. When I have these days it just makes me want to eat!! I don't get it. What causes these fat days? I have on the same blue jeans I wore last Friday that made me feel so good!!! WHY, WHY, WHY!!! Well I plan on joining the Y this afternoon so hopefully I won't be having too many more "fat days"!!

My Little Artist

My daughter is a pretty talented artist - for her age. I am sure she gets it from her great grandmother and not me!! (My mother-in-law published a book - pictured to the left - containing her moms art - much of which hangs in my home! It can be found here.) I am amazed at some of the things she can come up with. She has made some really great drawings. I really should scan them in one day. Late last fall we were at my cousin's house and Baylee picked up her little boy's "magna" doodle and began to draw. Sometimes it is the intensity and concentration more than the picture itself that amazes me when she draws. She is a very special little girl. It has encouraged me to look around for a possible art class she could take...I have a feeling she could be very good. Like I said before it is not so much the art but the concentration, attention to detail and creativity that she comes up with when she draws! If she could draw a picture of me right now it would be one with a huge smile on my face.

Application to Date My Daughter

*I am telling you my child is just growing up to fast so I decided for future use I need to impliment this application!*

Note: This application will be incomplete and rejected unless accompanied by a complete financial statement, job history, lineage and medical report from your doctor.

Name:________________________ Nickname/Alias:___________________
Date Of Birth:____/____/____ height:______ Weight:______ I.Q.:______ G.P.A.:________ Soc. Sec.#______-___-_______
Driver's License#____________________ Boy Scout Rank:_____________
Good Standing: Yes_____No_____
Home Address:_______________________________ City/State/Zip_____________________________ Home Phone#: (___)___________ Car Phone#:_______________ Pager#:__________

Do you own
a. Van?____ b. Truck with oversized tires?____ c. Car with a trunk full of speakers?_____

Do you have any of the following:
a. An earring_____ b. nose ring______ c. belly button ring_____ or piercings on any other body parts_____ Explain:_____________________________________________________
Tattoo?______ (If you answered YES to any of the above questions, discontinue and leave the premises immediately.)

In 30 words or less, what does "LATE" mean to you? ________________________________________________________________
In 30 words or less, what does "DON'T TOUCH MY DAUGHTER" mean to you? ________________________________________________________________

Church you attend_____________________ How often______________________
Best time to interview your pastor?_______________________
Fill In The Blank. Please answer freely, all answers will be confidential.
a. If I were beaten, the last bone I want to be broken broken is: ____________________________________________________
b. The one thing I hope this application does not ask me is ____________________________________________________
c. Now answer the question you filled in on B ____________________________________________________
NOTE: If you have answered any of the previous questions dishonestly (and I will find out), discontinue application. It is advised that you leave the premises quickly keeping your head low and running in serpentine fashion. I swear that all information provided above is true and correct to the best of my knowledge under penalty of death, dismemberment, electrocution, and/or hot pokers.
_____________________________ Signature (This means sign your name)

Thank you for your interest. Please allow 4 - 6 YEARS for processing. If your application is approved, you will be contacted in writing. Please do not call or write, this could cause you unexpected injury. If your application is rejected, you will be notified by two men wearing white ties and answering to the names GUIDO and LOUIE.

Re-Inventing Me

My world has been topsy turvy lately! I don't know so much that it has been crazy but I think I have just been focusing on all the wrong things! I have had this site for awhile but it was formally listed as "Mind Diversion". I decided to change it to Garrett's Corner and focus it now more on me and my family and friends. It seems crazy but it is like I am just now finding out who I "really" am. Thank you to all of you that have hung in there with me!

Whew!

My husband likes to work on vehicles. He has had a truck for several years now he was going to "get around" to fixing. Well he got it cranked and drove it around the block. When he got back my daughter asked if he fixed it. He said yes would you like to go for a ride? Well we all piled in and rode around the block. When we pulled in the driveway and got ready to get out my daughter said, "Whew!" *While holding her hand to her chest as if she were having a heart atack!* We looked at her and she just shook her head and got out of the truck like, "Thank Goodness." My husband asked her "Were you scared that I didn't fix it right and we weren't going to make it home?" She said, "Well..." and then to keep from hurting daddy's feelings she turned around and walked inside. It really cracked me up! You know she is a daddy's baby because had anyone else "doubted" him he would have hit the roof! Ha!

Gym Rat

I am not sure but I think I may be going about this whole "weight loss" thing the wrong way. For years I have focused mainly on what I "eat". I could tell you just about everything to eat or not to eat in order to lose weight. I don't think I particularly "over eat" all that often. I have actually gotten better about making "healthier" choices at meals and eating less food. My problem is the very sedentary lifestyle I live. Don't get me wrong with an 8 year old and as much as we do we go quite often but I don't really spend enough time really exercising. I go enough that my body is used to it. Initially I lost some weight because I changed the way I ate. Now I am not losing because I haven't changed my "exercising" habits. SO hopefully in the next couple of weeks the hubby and I will be joining the gym! We are making it a family "effort" to exercise...gulp...at least 5 days a week and my own personal goal of swimming once a week. (Mainly cause I like to swim!) We will see how it goes. I think after I start seeing results I will really get into the whole exercise thing!!

Switchin' it up

So, I have been doing the counting calories thing for quite sometime and I have to be honest....I'm tired of counting!! It has been a really good experience though. I have a much better understanding of what I am eating and I realize how many calories are in some foods that I would have thought otherwise. If you haven't even counted calories, I would highly recommend doing it for a month...it is very eye opening. So I've decided it's time to switch things up.
A friend of mine recently joined a certain weight loss program. Well she shared the info with me and I'm going to try it out. It is very similar to another weight loss program that I did a few years ago. It was great and I lost about 15 lbs in a month... it was just way to expensive. Anyway, the program is a balanced mix of carbs and proteins and you use store bought food. They do recommend their drink supplements. The other program also had drinks supplements. The nutritional content of both are almost identical to these, so I am going to order me a few boxes. These are much cheaper than the ones at the facility. I can't really start until I go grocery shopping, so I plan to begin this coming Sunday. As for my current program....I guess I'm really not on one. I'm just trying to watch what I eat. I weighed this morning and I'm still right where I was last week.

My pants story...

It's so funny that you posted your pants story, because the very same thing happened to me this morning and I was going to post about. My post was going to be titled "Who needs a scale when you have jeans?" Jeans have always been a great indicator as to how my diet's going. You always know that you've gained a few if you have to lay down to button them up! I pulled out a pair of 18 misses that were still pretty snug last month. I could get them on, but I could barely breath. Well, I needed to wear jeans today because I have to do some manual labor at work later. My other pair (18W) were dirty, so I went for the snug ones. I was shocked, they went right on and buttoned without any sucking in. They are even a little loose in the waist. I've only lost 1 or 2 lbs since the last time I tried them, but I've obviously lost a few inches too. Woo Hoo! It's a good day!! I may get brave and pull out my 16's this weekend.

By the way, I love the part about your "sucker in panties" - I can so relate!

Tiff,

Congrats on being the biggest loser!

I am so proud of you. 14 lbs is no easy task...it is hard work! You have no reason to be "disappointed" - you did awesome!!!

I'm The Biggest Loser!!!

We had a biggest loser competition at work which started about 3 months ago. I have been on and off dieting since then. Well total (including before the Loser Competition) I have lost 17 pounds!!! Well as far as the Competition goes I have lost 14 pounds!!! AND guess what...we had the final weigh in Monday and out of 10 people...I AM THE BIGGEST LOSER!! I last 5.38% of my body weight since the competition started! I was so excited that I won but disappointed because I know I could have done better had I tried harder! Oh well! Needless to say I am super motivated now and you will be seeing lots of me around here hopefully!!!

Oh Those Pants!!!

Yup those pants..you know the ones. You buy them and they really aren't that comfy but you think just a couple of pounds and they will be fine. Well I bought those pants...last year. I wore them once with those good panties that suck you in. WELL I have been SO busy lately that I forgot to wash work clothes and I was left with ...you guessed it...the pants! I couldn't find my good "sucker in panties" so I just had my regular ones on. I closed my eyes, slowly pulled them up, buttoned them without sucking in...WHAT...did that really just happen!! I run to the mirror and look to see if they really were "the pants" and guess what...they were!!! They are even lose in a couple of places!! Woohoo!! SO I had to share my pants story with you!!

Do any of you have a good "pants" story???

I'm stuck...

or in fancy diet terms, I have plateau’d . When I first began writing this post, I decided to begin by finding articles on the subject, so that I could figure out why I am stuck. Once I began reading, the answer was very obvious … I haven’t plateau! I’m just not doing what I was doing in the beginning when the weight went quickly. I’ve had myself believing I was doing well, and although I have been doing better than I was 6 months ago, I’m not doing as well as I was in the beginning. When I first begin I was...

…drinking 100oz of water a day; now I’m lucky if I get 50oz
…avoiding caffeine; lately I’ve begin drinking a diet soda everyday and 3 or 4 on the weekends.
…getting no more than 1250 calories a day: I now average about 1600
…walking at least 3 nights a week; I’ve only been 3 times in the last 2 weeks

So, this weeks goal are to get 100oz of water everyday, avoid diet soda, stay under 1200 and walk, walk, walk. I’m also planning to try Curves this week. The articles I read said that if you aren’t building muscle as you diet, then you are losing muscle along with the fat and that slows down your metabolism. So I’m hoping Curves will help me in that area.

Think you have hit a plateau? Take a step back and reevaluate what you are doing, it may just be a slacker disguised as a plateau.

Weigh - In Wednesday...a day late - Traci

212...ok 213, is in the right direction but I'm not celebrating until I get back to 208, my lowest on this journey so far.

So there were no donuts to battle this morning, but there was a huge Easter basket full of goodies on my desk this morning. It had a huge chocolate bunny, lots of candy and several other non-edible items. So cute! We all got one. They were from the diviion heads.

Well it's 3:00 in the afternoon and I've sat next this basket all day and only been tempted once...and I gave in. I caved...I ate the one and only peanut butter bon bon in the basket. It was goood. I had to eat it, Brayden hates peanut butter :) The rest will be recycled into his Easter Basket. I tried to find how many calories were in a bon bon....I'm estimating it was around 150. Considering that only brings my day's total to 500 so far, I'm not feeling too guilty about it.