January 2011 Resolutions Recap

Good Monday morning to you all....

Friday night I went to the gym (yes, this is my life now...no bars or boys or live bands, just the gym on Friday night) for an hour of easy cardio. I think I was a little over-zealous with my sprint intervals on Thursday night because my hip and right IT band were bothering me so I did some low-impact stuff on the elliptical, ArcTrainer, and bike. It wasn't earth-shattering but I did work up a good sweat.

When I arrived at the gym, I could feel the stress and negative energy of my day all over my body. I had tight shoulders, my eyes were glazed over as a result of staring at a computer all day in a windowless office, and my mental state was not good.

I was just having one of those, 'whoa is me, my job is so boring' days.

But within two minutes of being on the elliptical I felt better. Those endorphins were hard at work, improving my attitude! So for the next hour I just reveled in the bright lights of the gym, the purr of the machine below me, and a little Wheel of Fortune on TV. I felt 110% better by the end of the hour.

So today is the last day of January, thus ending my first shot at doing monthly resolutions instead of resolutions that span over the course of an entire year.

I am *pretty happy* with how I did with my resolution.

I completed 14 out of 17 scheduled workouts, so I'm giving myself a grade of 82%, or a B-.

Not too terribly shabby for the first month back in the swing of things. But obviously, the goal is to give 100% to these workouts.

I noticed that I had one good week, one bad week, one good, one bad. This is proof that sometimes life simply gets in the way. There will be days when I have something come up and just can't get to the gym for an hour.

And that's normal, and to be expected so I'm not beating myself up over it or anything. I am feeling good and welcoming another month of goals!

I also noticed that I REALLY REALLY REALLY enjoy and miss running outside. Right now, I usually just go to the gym because our days are so short and I don't like running in the dark.

But on the weekends I am able to go later in the morning and it has really made me miss it! I notice that when I do a 'long run' on a Saturday morning, and have a good breakfast, I feel better all weekend long. Now if I can just remember that when I'm offered a third margarita on Friday night. :)

I just published my February page, if you're interested. And gave it a better name this time...Feelin' Fine February!

Because by the end of the month I'll be feelin' and lookin' pretty fine. Just you wait.

So click on over if you're interested. I added a couple of little things to look forward to, so I'm excited about the coming weeks.

Operation: Baby Stacey, Part III

Happy Friday, guys....sorry I've been out the past couple of days and held you in suspense for the third and final day of Operation: Baby Stacey.

This last day is appropriate for a Friday because....well, I dunno, this post just feels weekend-ish to me.

What are yall doing this weekend? I have very little planned and am thrilled about that. We just have a shower to go to tomorrow night for some friends getting married in June. The theme is a 'Date Night' shower so we're supposed to bring them something they can use on a date night after they're married...you know, to keep the spark alive and all.

I told Tom I think I'll just get them a $20 Sonic gift card and some Old Navy pajama pants since that's what our dates consist of these days! Just kidding....we are both busy so sometimes a Sonic blast on a Wednesday night is the only date we'll get.

But I thought that theme was a cute idea.

I have been a slacker this week and just made it to the gym for the first time last night. This means I won't hit four days for this last week of January Resolutions but I'm okay with that. One step at a time here, getting back into the swing of things.

Last night I did:

• 30 minutes treadmill (this was 15 minute jog/run, and 15 minute sprint interval)
• 15 minutes elliptical
• 15 minutes bike

It was a lovely, sweaty Thursday night. I loved doing those 15 minutes of sprint intervals because to me it makes the time go by faster. And let me tell you about some sweat, sisters. Those intervals make you sweat your life away and I love it!

Okay so down to biznazz and what you've been waiting for...our night out with all the friends after the shower.

After packing up her car, giving her belly one last rub, we sent Christina on her way. The next time we see her she will be a MOM!

*Tear.*

Jessica and Josh had made reservations for the group at an awesome restaurant in Birmingham.

Okay let me back up...

Jessica and Josh's house was where the shower took place, and it was sort-of our 'home base' for the weekend. They have an adorable home right near the Summitt in Birmingham if anyone out there knows the area.

Jess and Josh (lovingly often referred to as 'Joshica') dated in college and got married about two months before Tom and I did. They are one of those couples who really bring out the best in each other, and are just easy to be around. Poor Josh was surrounded by women all weekend and he was such a trooper.

Joshica can be described as sweet, accommodating, welcoming, demure, helpful, easy-going, tame....remember these adjectives as they will come to mind later in this post.

Anyway, when I was gushing over my friends last week, it was brought it to my attention that I gave Jessica a shout-out but there was not a single picture of her!!!! Which is a shame because she is a button, I tell you what.

So here she is in all her glory.... Love her face. So anyway, Saturday night she made reservations at Dodiyos, a Greek restaurant that they like. If you are ever anywhere near Birmingham or live in the area you have to go there!!!! It was awesome. You'll enjoy perfect service, great food, and just to make your night special, I'll lend out good 'ole Joshica to make your experience complete.

The real deal: Greek Hummus...the highlight of my weekend.

Crusty bread with feta and olives...the yin to my yang.

And the dirtiest martini money can buy...the love of my life.

Anyway, you get the idea. The food was awesome. But the company was AWESOMER.

Susie and Kris

The evening started out with a couple of drinks, and reminiscing about our college days in Tuscaloosa.

Terry (Amy's mom), Amy, and me

The conversation turned to date parties, football games, parents' weekends, rush parties, and the like....

Me, Joe, Jane (Kathleen's step dad and mom), and Kath

...And then, as it always does, the story telling began.

We belly-laughed at stories of first dates, funny professors, bad outfits, late nights, Spring Breaks, etc...
And then we started talking about the first-big-fight-you've-had-since-you've-been-married.

Kristin and Matt's big fight....let me see if I get this right...had something to do with her misunderstanding an allergy he has. She thought he was allergic to hops. As in, the main ingredient in beer.

And as she told the story....

Wait...honey...why are you drinking beer? Aren't you allergic?

Oh you're not? Well wait just a little minute....you TOLD ME you were allergic to HOPS!!!!

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE ANY MORE!!!!

(dissolves into hysterical crying)

I can't believe I did that...so dramatic.

And then there was Joshica. Sweet, adoring, demure Joshica. Their story was the one that made my cheeks hurt I was laughing so hard.

Yall may not think it's as funny, but I guess it's a 'you had to be there' thing.

To set the scene:

Josh had picked out a recipe to make for dinner, involving artichokes. Jessica was in charge of the grocery run and arrives home, after a long day at work, with arms full of groceries:

Josh: Uh, Jess....where are the artichokes?

Josh imitating Jessica: The artichokes are right here...see, I got the artichokes for your recipe,
Joshy My Love.

Josh (imitating himself, also having had a long day at work):

These are NOT artichokes. These are EGGPLANTS.

Josh imitating Jessica again: Well EX-CAH-UUUUZE the helloutta me for not getting your PRECIOUS ARTICHOKES!!!!

Josh: And then she THREW the eggplant at me! Across the kitchen!

And they didn't speak for the rest of the night.

Bwahahahah! I was crying, laughing at the scene in Joshica's kitchen as the produce went a'flying.

After sufficiently stuffing ourselves, and catching up over dinner we went back to the house and crashed.
Watched a little Modern Family on DVR,

Laughed some more....

And called it a night (how much do you love Kathleen in this picture, by the way?).

Oh how I loved this weekend! I could not have asked for a more perfect way to spend 48 hours!! I am not too hung up on the fact that I missed a workout or two this week because I'm pretty sure I burned enough calories laughing with old friends to make up for it.

Happy Friday Everyone!

Operation: Baby Stacey, Part II

Good Morning to you all...hope your week is off to a good start.

I think I am still recovering from my weekend because I had big plans to go to the gym this morning but instead hit the snooze button about 11 times.

This is my last week of my January Resolutions so I am determined to finish with a bang! Don't worry, I'll get it done.

But today is more about Christina's shower!

Yesterday we left off with her arrival to Jessica's house on Saturday morning with both 'grandmamas' in tow.

We immediately invaded her personal space and demanded she let us rub that round baby belly!
Christina looks a. maze. ing. I am so annoyed with her that she has only gained 12 itty bitty pounds during her pregnancy.

Four of the aunties ready to celebrate!

Now it's time to dig in to some yummy brunch food!

On the menu:

• Chicken Salad Sandwiches
• Pimento Cheese Sandwiches
• Fruit Kabobs
• Pasta Salad
• Spinach Dip
• Petite Fors

Let the present opening begin.....

Christina got lots of great stuff!

This picture cracks me up! I think Kathleen was a little intimidated by all the 'necessities' that a baby requires!

Better you than me, sister.

Love this sweet elephant piggy bank from Marcus' mom!

Monograms, monograms everywhere....

We had a great time watching her open all her gifts....

It was a small-ish shower with just close friends

But it was a perfect way to celebrate this baby girl!

Baby's first diamonds!

There is such a sweet story behind these two pairs of earrings. Christina's mom, Beth, gave them to her for the baby on Saturday. The top pair are the first diamonds that Christina's dad gave to her mom when they were first together. And the bottom pair, the hearts, were just a sweet gift he gave her later on.

I thought that was so cool, such a sweet heirloom. Christina joked, "I don't have a pair of diamond earrings but it's nice to know that my unborn baby does."

All the moms reliving the glory days of having newborns!

After the gift-opening, we convinced Christina to show us her bare belly and let us touch it. Let me tell you that little girl was a'dancin' in there!

It was so cool and weird. Loved it. Christina threatened me with bodily harm if I took or posted a picture of her bare pregnant belly on the internets, so the above is as close as you're gonna get to seeing it.

Love these girls! Great, I'm crying now....

Come on, Linnie Grace, we're ready for you!

All the hostesses with our guest of honor!

Oh, it was such a fun afternoon.

We sat around talking and catching up and laughing about old stories until 3 o'clock that afternoon!

What a perfect way to celebrate our first baby! I cannot wait to see what this sweet little girl turns out to be like. Hopefully she will have her mommy's beautiful dark eyes and complexion, along with Christina's sense of humor. And her daddy's sweet and giving nature, not to mention a love and passion for Alabama football.

And, of course, we'll demand that she pledge Pi Phi whether she wants to or not!

Counting down the days until March 4th!!!!

Operation: Baby Stacey, Part I

Hey Bloggies...how's your Monday?

Mine is off to a good start because I got some serious sleep last night! Tom and slept through the night and did not move a muscle until the arm went off at 7:30 this morning. We needed a good deep sleep after the weekend we had!

Tom left on Friday afternoon with Sara Whit and Brian and headed to Nashville. They were going to visit Myra, and do some work on her house.

I decided to do a few posts about this shower because I took no less than 1,482,394 pictures to document the event. And we have some friends from far, far away that couldn't make it so I wanted to get lots of pics up here for them, so they'll feel like they were right here with us!

So today's is the first of about three posts I'll do, in relation to all things Operation: Baby Stacey.

So I struck out for Birmingham on Friday afternoon. After a four-hour drive I was ready for some friends and FOOD!

Here we are in Jessica's kitchen preparing for Saturday. We all look a little worn out, yes? Working all week and driving all day will do that to ya!

It only took us about 2.5 seconds to fall into our usual banter of poking fun at each other and our weirdnesses. Like I said, I don't see these girls enough but when I do it's like no time has passed at all!

We had a helper in the kitchen:
Jessica's dog, Murphy! He is a rescue dog they got a couple years ago and he is soooooo sweet and cute. He and Reba would be a match made in heaven!

Murphy was instrumental in the preparation of chicken salad sandwiches and champagne punch.

After getting ready for the shower we just chilled at the house, relaxing, getting caught up, and watching Modern Family.

Murphy sat with his new girlfriend, Kristin, on the couch and snuggled all night.

Such a sweetie! He wanted some good 'ole Kristin love all weekend.

No one come near my girlfriend. She is mine, and I will fight you for her.

On Saturday morning Kathleen, Josh (who went unphotographed, sorry Josh), and I got up early and went for a run.

I just love running in other cities when I'm visiting for a weekend. It's so nice to run in some different scenery since my route in Tunica is the same every. single. time.

We ran in Mountain Brook Village, which is a super-cute area of town. Our trail went through trees, over creeks and past some beautiful homes. We did around 3 miles and headed home for breakfast and shower shenanigans.

I loved doing this run with my old roomie Kathleen!!!!

Kathleen and I lived together for almost four years and I cherish her so much! We had a great time chatting and catching up during our run. Oh how I wish we were closer so we could do this every Saturday!

After showers and some breakfast, we got busy in the house, making all the preparations for the shower.

I got these cute personalized stickers at Swoozie's with Linnie's name on them.

Amy made this adorable diaper wreath!

And Lacey brought the diaper cake.

Diapers and monograms and booties, OH MY!

Here's the table pre-food. I made the runner and the vases and I think they turned out cute!
Aaaaaand the drink table. We went through some champagne punch!

Here's the desserts, etc....Jessica got these precious petie fors with Linnie Grace's monogram on them.

Now the food is ready and we're waiting for mommy!

Here she comes! Make way for ducklings....

None of us have seen Christina since she's been preggo so of course there were lots of squeals and pictures when she arrived. And I'm pretty sure Amy cried.

But it was soooooo great to see her...she was glowing and beautiful and perfect!

Stay tuned this week for Operation: Baby Stacey, Part II