Happy Mardis Gras 2010!!!

Well, it is here! Fat Tuesday, Baby!!

My goal this year is to not eat a paczki at work today! It will be hard, trust me! I'm hopeful that all of the good ones are gone by the time I start feeling weak! LOL

Of course today leads to tomorrow...Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Which leads to the next question, "What are you giving up or taking on for Lent this year?" This usually is a pretty big conundrum for me. I like to hear what other people have decided to do for Lent and then weigh my options. ;) I also usually opt to take an easy choice and usually fail at that as well.

This year I'm going to attempt to give something up and take something on! I'm going double barrel this year y'all! LOL For Lent I'm going to try and give up swearing. I have noticed that my mouth has gotten worse here of late and I thought this would be quite a challenge for me! What the fuck have I got to lose?! Hey, I've got to get it all out in the next 24 hours!! As for what I'm going to take on...the gym! I've been doing fairly well with going Monday nights after work, but then that is it. I'm going to attempt to take on the gym on both Saturday and Sunday too! I figure I'll need the extra stress relief come Saturday and Sunday for my pent up hostility that I'm unable to release with tirades of colorful swear words.

Your turn...what are you giving up or taking on for Lent this year?*

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 18, 20

Just getting started: 8, 14, 16, 17, 19

Needs attention: 7, 11

*~~I wonder if Dani is gonna change it up this year...LOL Inquisitive minds want to know! ;)

Cupcakes

Because I knew you were dying to know! ;)

Mental Block~~The 20's

I knew it wasn't going to be good. I told myself I would be okay even if it went up by 5lbs. Yes, I lie to myself often! I hopped on the scale this morning and it read 322.6. I gained 1.4lbs this week. Ugh! It wasn't okay with me. I'm not okay with it. I do not accept the gain of 1.4lbs!!

I swear I ate everything in sight this week. I had tons of snack-cakes, which not only are horrible for my weight, but also horrible for my sugar. I never felt full all week...well, except after I skipped E&T Thursday night and we went to Logan's Roadhouse for dinner. OMG, I thought I was going to be sick when we left there. I didn't even eat all of my steak, but I munched on appetizers (chicken tenders, onion chips, & mushrooms), ate a salad with ranch dressing, had a loaded baked potato, most of my steak and gorged myself on their rolls and butter. Even while I was stuffing the rolls into my chubby little face they weren't tasting as good as I remembered, but I still stuffed, stuffed, and stuffed some more until I was miserable on the drive home. I felt so awful I had to take a gas pill to aid in the digestion process!

I think I know partially where I went wrong...two areas really. The first being that I didn't cook last weekend. I've been really trying to cook something that I like on the weekend so we have some left overs and I don't seek out other tasty food. I failed at this last weekend. The second area was that first snack cake. Once I have one I cannot stop myself. I lose total control. So last night, knowing today was not going to be pretty, I finished the snack cakes so they are no longer around.

I think I have a mental block with the 20's. I remember many, many years ago when I was a hundred pounds lighter than I am now I couldn't get out of the 220's. Now I'm in the same spot, but this time a hundred pounds heavier. So I swear to myself that I will get out of the 320's and it will happen very, very soon. I will not let this deter my ultimate goal. My new mini-goal is to be below 320lbs in the next 3 weeks! Damn it to hell!!

Another contributor to my gain this week, albeit minor, I got no exercise this week. I didn't make the gym Monday night because it was parent's night at CCD. I felt out of sorts all week and just felt lazy and icky about myself or about my progress or something...I just don't know what though. So...I ate crap almost all week. Hell, I barely consumed my water. I skipped some classes, took a snow day from work and accomplished nothing productive. Well, this shit is gonna change this week!

After my man woke me up at 8:40am this morning to wish me a Happy Valentine's Day (God, do I love that man~~he is so sweet!), I got out of the bed, did my weigh in, washed the grapes I picked up Friday night grocery shopping, made myself a western-style omelette with egg-beaters, and then started my dinner, sloppy joes in the crock-pot! It isn't the healthiest dinner, but it is tasty. I actually used my ex-mother-in-law's recipe and put extra green peppers and onions in it.

For the munchkin I made him chocolate cupcakes. I even used the ol' tried and true WWs cake recipe! This way if I do find myself tempted it won't be as horrible as the real deal. Plus, I've yet to find a single person who can tell the difference in a WWs cake and a regular cake! I haven't decided if I'm going to decorate them in white with red sprinkles or in red. Maybe a little of both...

So, #15...consider yourself checked & done! And as for you...#'s 14, 17 & 19, I've got you started and I'm about to check you too!

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 18, 20

Just getting started: 8, 14, 16, 17, 19

Needs attention: 7, 11

Happy Valentine's Day!

Not everyone celebrates today, but I still think it should be recognized. :)

As my man once told me...it is a day for children and people who are "just dating". I totally disagree, but I think that is because I'm a romantic at heart. I don't think it is a day to break the bank nor is it a day to get crazy with outrageous plans, but I do think it is a nice time to reflect on your love for one another, which can be accomplished with a simple card, a quiet dinner, or just spending time with one another.

Due to the current circumstances in our lives, I will not be spending the day with the loves of my life...I spent Friday night with my man for an early Valentine's Day celebration and when my aunt brings my munchkin home at the end of their weekend together, I will take a break from my studying and give him his presents. Heck, who knows...I may even surprise him with a homemade cake! Ha!

I hope you and yours took a few minutes out of your weekend to wish one another a Happy Valentine's Day and reflect on the love in your heart for that person...even if you aren't children and are no longer "just dating." ;)

Love to y'all & Happy Valentine's Day...

love,

~j'lynn~

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 18, 20

Just getting started: 6, 8

Needs attention: 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19

A Saturday in Review

I feel like I accomplished nothing.

I seemed to have gotten a lot of little things done, but outside of that I'm not sure what else I did all day!

I feel like one minute I was waking up and it was a little after 10am and the next minute I was racing out the door to get to the lab before 12:30pm! I arrived at 12:22pm...the tech wasn't happy, but whatever! Then the next minute it was 2pm and I was totally proud of myself for being totally done with my errands, being home with lunch ate and laundry started thinking about reading for school.

Then I looked at the clock again and it was 5:30pm!! I debated taking a nap or starting my reading for school...flash forward and it was 11:45pm. I didn't even take a damn nap! I am still debating, but now it is between going to bed at a decent hour, for me, or starting my reading for school.

What the hell did I do all day?!? Heck, my TV hasn't even been turned on since I went to bed Friday night @ 1:00am...

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, 18, 20

Just getting started: 6, 8

Needs attention: 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19

The Week In Review

Exhausted, weak, and unmotivated. It was also snowy, cold, and dreary. Along with being busy, stressful, and long.

Monday~~very busy at work and then it was parent's night @ the munchkin's CCD class. I was so tired I was in the bed before midnight!

Tuesday~~very busy at work, class was canceled and we got the first half of what would be a foot of snow. Oh yeah, I also lost a quarter down my bathroom heat vent and was in the bed by 11pm.

Wednesday~~we woke up to a foot of snow and while taking my own snow day I accomplished nothing. I took a 3.5 hour nap and was in the bed by midnight.

Thursday~~made it to work for my usual 5 hours in the morning and became crazy busy. I don't understand why when my boss goes on vacation I become the go-to-gal. I don't want it! Ever! At all! WTF?! So now I'm playing catch up on my own stuff, plus bailing some of my other attorneys out of their holes before our jobs are stolen away and now I've added my boss' responsibilities to my list of crap to do. I'm feeling more than a little overwhelmed and it really sucked only being scheduled for 5 hours. I'm hopeful in the coming week I can get it together. I screwed myself during cross-examination, but I survived, which is a good thing! I had a killer sinus headache and opted to skip my 6pm class and go and do dinner with the munchkin and my aunt...of course I over ate and felt miserable...ugh. In the bed by 1:15am.

What a shitty week...hoping for a much, much, much better weekend! I hope y'all had a much better week than I.

My Friday To-Do List*:

1. Go & see my guy~~a pre-Valentine's Day visit since I can't see him on the real day!

2. Write out my grocery list

3. Go shopping

4. Do laundry

5. Pick up the house

6. Do all of my Trial Practice homework

7. Do all of my SADO homework

8. Do all of my E&T homework

9. Write out my bills

10. Balance my checkbook

11. Write my guy

12. File this week's papers

13. Get my lab tests done for my next appointment with my specialist

14. Get re-motivated

15. Get back on the WWs band-wagon

16. Get me some sleep

17. Refocus for next week

18. Plan out my week

19. Get my shit together

20. Start preparing for all of the things we have coming up in the next several months (the munchkin's first communion, first confession, boy scout banquet, boy scout pine wood derby, scout-a-rama, my parents' 25th wedding anniversary party, (apparently) my bro's wedding, the munchkin's birthday, etc...)

*~~I feel like I'm forgetting some things on my list, but I can always add them as needed...

Snow Day!!

Okay, so I suck and I made my own snow day since no one appeared to be cooperating with me here! Seriously people!?! I have a foot of snow out my front door...did anyone see me getting out in it today? Not!

These were my plans for my self-imposed snow day~~sleep in a bit, get up, shower, work on some homework with the hope of getting caught up in both E&T and my SADO clinic class, writing my man, maybe doing a load of laundry, and maybe watching a little TV, catching up on my emails and reading of my blogs.

What I actually did on my self-imposed snow day~~was up at 6am for the morning (thanks Mom for calling me 3 times to "chat"), no shower, no homework done, no writing, no laundry, watched more than a little TV (damn that addiction!), but I did catch up on my emails and reading of my blogs, plus at 12:30pm I laid down for a little nap...I dragged my ass out of bed at 4pm only to get ready to put dinner on the table for when the munchkin gets home.

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25

Just getting started: 7, 8, 24, 26

Needs attention: 12

Undercover Boss

Okay, so I was inadvertently sucked into the episode immediately following the Super Bowl. OMG~~I love this show. Or at least what I've seen so far. This is totally recommended. I now believe that every single boss needs to do this! It just goes to show that sometimes they (upper management) forget the policies they implement to get a better bottom line actually affects their employees. I'm a true believer that good morale will get you a better bottom line than tightening the belt and making your employees' morales sink lower and lower!

Kudos to you, Larry O'Donnell, Waste Management COO!! Now just stay in touch with those lower-level employees, because now that is reality...

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25

Just getting started: 7, 8, 24, 26

Needs attention: 12

Six inches and counting...

Well, the weather prediction was accurate. So far where I live we have around 6 inches of snow and it is still coming down. It is suppose to snow throughout the night into tomorrow morning, along with blowing and drifting. The munchkin's school was canceled for today and has been canceled for tomorrow. My class was canceled tonight and I am really hoping and praying that my office will be closed tomorrow morning (fat chance of that!) and that Prof. Fergie has a heart and cancels class tomorrow night too (not much better chance for this either)!

On a separate note, I've fallen off the WWs wagon! Yikes!! I have no idea what is going on with me, but last night and tonight I'm eating crap. It is like I cannot stop myself. As I'm shoving something in my mouth I'm saying to myself , "Stop it! You don't need it! You shouldn't be doing this! Why the F am I eating this?" Did I stop? Hell no! :( Last night I made myself go to bed, because I couldn't stop. Hell, I was in the bed before midnight last night. I haven't done nearly as much damage tonight, but it is only 10pm...

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25

Just getting started: 7, 8, 24, 26

Needs attention: 12

Weather Prediction

For today and tomorrow is between 5 & 11 inches of snow. Are you kidding me?!? All I wanted was a white Christmas, but now it looks like we will be having a white Valentine's Day... At least red goes nicely with white. If it happens, please be safe. But lets pray that it doesn't, shall we?

As for the folks that received over 2 feet last week, I'm sorry. And unfortunately it sounds like our round one will be your round two...

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25

Just getting started: 7, 8, 24, 26

Needs attention: 12, 15, 22

happy birthday j'lynn's world!

One year ago today I started this blog. Back then no one read it, but me. It was all about me and it still is, but the one thing that has changed is the fact that you are here! Thank you for finding me, reading me, continuing to come back and for commenting! I wasn't sure how this was going to work and I will admit that it was a bit unnerving starting my blog and what was even scarier is when my girl, Dani, found me! But I'm glad she did, because she gave me the power and the confidence to continue! (Thanks Dani!!) Thank you for making it such a wonderful year and being with me (more importantly, helping me) through all of my ups and downs in the last year...

Here is to another year in j'lynn's world! I can't wait to spend it with you...

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25

Just getting started: 7, 8, 24, 26

Needs attention: 12, 15, 22

Who Dat? The Super Bowl Champs~~New Orleans Saints. That's Who Dat!

Way to go guys!! What a great game. If anyone deserved this tonight, it was the New Orleans Saints!! You should be so proud...

Needless to say, I didn't get much reading and homework done during the game, but the sacrifice was worth it! :) One helluva game! I'm glad I took the time to watch it while folding laundry, attempting to read E&T, having my munchkin come home from my mom's, getting him ready for and into the bed, and scarfing down too many yummy treats my mom brought over to me when she brought the munchkin home. I think I gained the 1.2lbs I lost this morning!! Yikes!!

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23*, 25

Just getting started: 7, 8, 24**, 26***

Needs attention: 12, 15, 21, 22

*~~No naps this weekend; late night Friday night (3am); pseudo early morning Saturday morning (alarm set for 8:30am, got up around 9:30am); late night Saturday night (2am); thought maybe I'd sleep in today so just in case I had set the alarm for 12:30pm, but luckily my man called me around 9:40am and since I wanted to get lots done I hit the books as soon as we hung up!

**~~I need to get tons done at work this week and want to get the rest of my homework done so I'm really trying to focus for this upcoming week!

***~~Slowly but surely, I'm trying to get my shit together in all areas of my life!

Hopeful for More; Happy for Less

Down another 1.2lbs this week. Not where I was hoping to be this morning when I hoped on the scales and certainly not as much as I had felt like I lost this week. You know when you feel like you have lost gobs of weight and are sort of excited to hop up on those scales. I was feeling that for the last few days. Hell, I was feeling it so much that yesterday morning I almost weighed in a day early...oh well. Better than staying the same and way better than gaining. I just want to get out of the 320's. Gosh dang it to all!

I definitely had stepped it up at the gym Monday night with doing all of the upper body machines except one (thanks to the old guy who hogged the crunch machine until I was on the treadmill for a few minutes already) for 40 minutes and then I did 20 minutes on the treadmill.

I also only ate out twice this week...the whole damn week! Once was at my 2nd favorite chips & salsa joint with my LSBFF Wednesday night for dinner and then the second time was Thursday morning running through the McDonald's drive through for a sausage biscuit plus an extra piece of sausage.

I'm sure the fact that I had spaghetti this week and then burritos didn't help. I'm hopeful that next week I'll be weighing in less than where I currently am, 321.2.

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6*, 9, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25

Just getting started: 4, 7, 8

Needs attention: 12, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26

*~~finally, finally, finally...I'm finally caught up with my Trial Practice homework! Yay me!! Now I'm on to E&T...

Go Saints!!!

We're cheering for the New Orleans Saints tonight in j'lynn's world!!

Good luck guys! Bring it on home...

Who Dat!?!

Not what I was hoping for tonight

I was really hopeful that by tonight I would have a lot more of my homework done and several things checked off my to-do list, but alas that has not happened yet. All afternoon I've been pretty sleepy and had a sinus headache. At 8:37pm I even BBM'd mymormongirl and told her how sleepy I was. For several minutes I briefly considered a replay of last Saturday night, but I was able to hold off. Now I'm committed to being up for another hour and forty minutes since I just ate "dinner" about 20 mins ago and I need to check my blood sugar at the 2 hour mark...back to reading for Trial Practice I go.

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25

Just getting started: 4*, 6, 7, 8

Needs attention: 5**, 12, 14, 15***, 21****, 22, 23, 24, 26

*~~so close to being done...if only I would get out of my seat and fold those last 3 loads of laundry and put them away this would be completed!

**~~this week my picking up consists of emptying the dishwasher and putting the dirty dishes in, but I haven't done it yet...guess tomorrow is another day of possibilities

***~~this may very well get axed from the list since we are only 8 days away from V-Day

****~~does it count that I thought about doing this today and even got my planner out to scout out some good days for me, but after I got home from the salon and shopping my pampering salon was already closed??

Amen for the weekend...

After going to bed at 3:30am Wednesday night, thanks Trial Practice homework, I'm completely exhausted. I think I have 1500 pages to read this weekend for school and I suspect that all I will really want to do is sleep.

My Friday To-Do List:

1. Go & see my guy~~this depends on the weather, of course. Got to love a pending snowstorm.

2. Write out my grocery list

3. Go shopping

4. Do laundry

5. Pick up the house

6. Do all of my Trial Practice homework

7. Do all of my SADO homework

8. Do all of my E&T homework

9. Write out my bills

10. Balance my checkbook

11. Get my hair done

12. Write my guy

13. File this week's papers

14. Hang up the munchkin's 8x10 class picture

15. Get our Valentine's Day decorations up

16. Get my house cleaned

17. Send out an updated email to everyone with the munchkin's important dates

18. Pick up script refills

19. Catch up on my emails

20. Catch up on my TIVO

21. Schedule my next pampering appointment...Since I go monthly for my waxing and facial I'm trying to get it to fall outside of my mother nature time frame, but I haven't been successful yet. Just like I tried to do this past month...but you know what happened, mother nature showed up 10 days late and the day after I was pampered...go figure!

22. Replace my yard light light-bulb

23. Get me some sleep

24. Refocus for next week

25. Plan out my week

26. Get my shit together

All I Want For The Super Bowl

There are only two things:

#1) The Saints to Win!

~and~

#2) Hooter Wings!

The problem with this second item is that the closest Hooters is quite a distance from me just to run up and grab a take out order. So I was thinking of picking up an order Friday night on my way home and warming them up come Sunday. Any thoughts on this? Any opinions? Will they still be crazy yummy like they normally are? Will they still be any good? Is it worth the money to pick up an order Friday to eat Sunday night?

As for the other normal Super Bowl Party yummies...you can keep them this year. I'm only interested in getting me some Hooter Wings.

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17

Just getting started: 5, 6, 7, 16, 18

Bad Gift Choice if You Ask Me

I know I've been pretty bitchy lately...aunt flo popped in late Sunday night, finally. On top of that Sunday my aunt followed-up an email I sent to family and friends giving them significant dates for the munchkin in the coming months. He is a very busy boy making his first confession, his awards banquet for boy scouts, making his first communion, a piggy opera at school, and the pine wood derby. After talking to my mom and bringing my aunt into the fold, a decision was made to have a little party after the munchkin's first communion at my aunt's home. Her follow-up email was announcing the party. I didn't want to announce it yet.

On top of that, my aunt announces to me Monday night how she planned on getting the munchkin a Wii for his first communion. Are you frickin' kidding me?!? This is what I wanted to get him from Santa this last Christmas and kind of assumed I would get it this coming Christmas since I couldn't afford it this past one. Now she is talking about giving it to him for his first communion. I know my reaction wasn't nice when I said, "I guess I'll be buying him a car next Christmas instead." Then at some point I added, "That's an awfully big gift for a first communion." Of course, her being a catholic nun and all, she responded with "A first communion is an awfully big thing." Okay...I get that, but I just think a Wii is an inappropriate gift for a first communion, plus it screws with my plans for the remainder of the things I need to buy gifts for the munchkin this year. I figured she would be buying him a nice bible or something like that...

You would think my family would know by now that I'm a controlling bitch and that they need to run such things by me, because when they make their own decisions that affect me it never ends well...

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17

Just getting started: 5, 6, 7, 16, 18

Groundhog Day~50% chance that I'll love it!

Okay...last month my gas bill was over double what it was the month prior. My man suspects it is because I did not heed his advice and change the furnace filter like he told me to a couple months ago. I like to believe it was due to the frigid temps with highs in the single digits and teens for a little over a week during that month. Of course this last week the temps were back in the single digits and teens the most of each day. Have I expressed before how much I hate winter?!

Well, today is the day. The day we rely on a rodent, or is it a mammal...I don't pay attention to that in elementary school probably because I didn't care and honestly, still don't...to tell us what the future holds. The sad part is he is as reliable as the weathermen (and women).

Go Punxsutawney Phil!!!* I'm hopeful that he doesn't see his shadow, because I'm tired of winter already!

Consider it done: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17

Just getting started: 5, 6, 10, 16

Needs attention: 7, 14, 18

*~~I don't know if this is the groundhog's name, but I seem to only remember this as the little guy/gal's name.

Reflecting on My Progress

As we enter month number two of the New Year, I want to take a moment and reflect on how I'm doing with my New Year's Resolutions:

Get healthier

~~continue to lose weight: Well, with the exception of this past week, I have continued to lose weight and since my net weight loss is 3.6lbs for the month of January I think I've been fairly successful with this one...

~~eat better/healthier: I've been eating out less, cooking more, and definitely eating more fruits and veggies. I could be doing better, but overall I give myself high props on this one too...

~~workout more: Failure here! I've made it to the gym once this year and it was only for 20 minutes. Yikes!

~~drink more water: I've been pretty darn successful with this one! :)

~~test my blood sugar more regularly: I've rocked this! Woo-hoo! I've only missed checking my numbers one night when I feel asleep too early... Yay me!!

~~get my skin under control: Slowly but surely my skin is getting better and better. :)

~~get more sleep with a better sleep pattern/schedule: Failure, again! If only I could get my stuff together maybe I could do better here.

Get my finances together

~~make a budget & stick to it: This one has been pretty slow to come around, but each day I'm doing better with this!

~~reduce my debt: I haven't made too much progress here, but I've made all my payments on time, so that is always good!

~~stop use of all credit cards: I've used my credit cards twice and that was at the beginning of January for books for school and one meal. Outside of these two things, I've been very successful here! :)

~~pay off BarBri & Kaplan: Failure. No payments made, yet.

Get more organized

~~at work: I have tons of piles and tons of stuff to do, but I'm organized. LOL

~~at/for school: Organized, but behind...go figure!

~~at home: I've been doing great here. Better than expected, so success is mine!

~~use better time management: Failure here. I need to stop letting things distract me or better yet, stop looking for things to distract me.

~~get things done: Slowly, but surely I'm getting things done. Hell, just check out my Friday To-Do list accomplishments! :)

~~stop putting things off till tomorrow (or next week): See above!

~~set a schedule and stick to it: Ups & downs here, but I keep aiming for total success here!

Communicate more...

~~with family, friends, my munchkin, my man, my blog & my blogging buddies: Doing better, but this is always a struggle for me

Enjoy life

~~laugh, cry, dance, and sing more: This has been hard to do in the last month as I've been very stressed, but I'm hopeful that as the days progress I'll have more time to work on this.

~~be a better mom: Oh, this is such a struggle...I try my hardest, but doing the hardest job in the world is tough