Freshening the Home the Efficient Way

Okay, so BzzAgent is this AWESOME website/company that works with people and word of mouth. They set up campaigns for other companies that are trying to get their product out and heard of. For example: Glade contracted BzzAgent to have their agents (yes, seriously, we're called agents) try out two of their new products. Those of us agents that were invited to the campaign were sent coupon booklets that contained two coupons for free products just so that we could try it out and form an opinion. We don't have to like what we try out, but we do have to share our opinion with others and then document it. So here goes.

I, Hannah, am a BzzAgent. I received, for free, coupons that allowed me to get a free Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist and Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser. (To be honest, I've only gotten the Oil Diffuser so far.) And let me just tell you that I LOVE it! The Oil Diffuser, I mean.  My husband picked up the white one for me in Lavender & Juniper Berry. This thing isn't very big, but the scent seriously carries throughout my entire house and I've got it upstairs in my bedroom. By the way, I've got a big house. Anyway, the Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser comes in three different scents (Lavender & Juniper Berry, Pineapple & Mangosteen, and Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice) and in two different colors (white and bamboo).

All that said, if you happen to be looking for a new way to freshen your homes, you should totally try these out. AND...if you DO want to try them out, send me a private message with your address and I'll send you coupons for money off when you buy them.  *grin*

Oh, and if you'd like the opportunity to try out new product for free...join BzzAgent yourself. It's definitely worth checking out.

It's been a long time and SO much has happened

First, four months!?! I'm getting really quite bad at this. I'll try to do better, but we all know that it probably won't last long. At least I have a good excuse now. I'm a Mom! Finally!

Selene Marie was born on May 31st at 1:18pm via emergency C-section. I'll write out her whole birth story in a later blog. Just want to get the info out just now. I have to admit that it's hard to believe that in less than a week she will be two months old already. Then again, there are days when I'm surprised it hasn't been longer. I was told at my baby shower back in April that once Selene (then still Squishie) was born, I wouldn't be able to imagine life without her. Well, when she was first born, that wasn't true, but it sure is now!

Because one of my ultimate goals in life is to be a stay at home mom, Joseph and I have been looking into moving out of our house and most likely into an apartment until we find the perfect home for the perfect amount of money that Joseph will be able to afford on just his salary. Might take us some time, but we're going to make it work and I can hardly wait.

Since we'll hopefully be selling and moving in the next few months, I've been slowly going through all of our belongings and packing up those that we're definitely keeping and piling up those that we're going to sell or give away. It's been a process, let me tell you. I knew we had alot of stuff, but the sheer amount of it gives me a headache some days. At the same time, it is SO hard for me to get rid of some things. Things that I don't use anymore, I just can't bear to see them go just yet. Suppose I'll be packing them up for now and maybe I'll be able to get rid of them when we finally find our next house. *shrug* We'll see.

Anyway, that's all I've got for now. I need to get back to packing up my maternity clothes and going through all my clothes that I packed away throughout my pregnancy so I can find some clothes that fit. No use spending money on clothes if I don't absolutely need to. Talk to ya'll again soon!

Famous Last Words

I'll get a world record for this.
Let me reach in and get your watch out of the printing press.
Hey, there's no handles inside these car doors!
It's fireproof.
He's probably just hibernating.
What does this button do?
I'm making a citizen's arrest.
So, you're a cannibal...
It's probably just a rash.
Why am I standing on a plastic sheet?
Are you SURE the power if off?
Yeah, I made the deciding vote on the jury, so what of it?
The odds of that happening have to be a million to one!
What duck?
What do you mean, "I'll be back"?
Pull the pin and count to what?
Which wire was I supposed to cut?
I've seen this done on TV.
I'll hold it and you light the fuse.
It can't possibly rain for forty days and nights.
Give me liberty or give me death.
It's strong enough for both of us.
This doesn't taste right.
I can make the light before it changes.
Nice doggie.
I can do that with my eyes closed.
I've done this before.
Well, we've made it this far.
That's odd.
You wouldn't hit a guy with glasses on, would you?
OK. This is the last time.
Don't be so superstitious.
Now watch this!

Bored in Class?

WARNING: Do not do all of them in one class.

1. Try to develop psychic powers, then use 'em.
2. Inflate a beachball and throw it around the room.
3. Sing showtunes.
4. Fake a seizure
5. Make loud animal noises then deny doing it.
6. Think of new pick up lines. See if they work.
7. Pretend you're flying a jet fighter in the Gulf War.
8. Churn some butter.
9. Conceive a brand new language.
10. Walls made of brick. Count 'em.
11. Think of nicknames for everyone you know.
12. See how long you can hold your breath.
13. Chew on your arm until someone notices.
14. Change seats every three minutes.
15. Think of five new ways to cheat at Trivial Pursuit
16. Shave.
17. Run across the room, tag someone and say, "You're it!"
18. Think of five new ways to use your shoes.
19. Start a wave.
20. Walk around the room begging for spare change.
21. Roast marshmallows.
22. Practice phrasing your answers in the form of a question.
23. Crawl around the room humming the theme from Mission Impossible.
24. Take apart your desk.
25. Tear pages out of your notebook.
26. Pretend to communicate with your home planet.
27. Play rock-paper-scissors with yourself. Accuse your left hand of cheating.
28. Do a quick tapdance routine.
29. Play with matches.
30. Try birdwatching.
31. Scratch yourself. Alot.
32. Walk up the aisle yelling, "Popcorn! Hot popcorn here!"
33. Throw your backpack at someone.
34. Draw on your stomach.
35. Run to the window, then say, "Sorry, I thought I saw the Bat signal."
36. Ask the person in front of you to marry you.
37. Start laughing really hard and say, "Oh! Now I get it!"
38. Make a sundial.
39. Bite people.
40. Summarize the teachings of Socrates in 50 words or less.
41. Give yourself a new identity.
42. Write a screenplay about a diabetic Swedish girl who can't swim.
43. Dig an escape tunnel.
44. Announce your candidacy for President.
45. Learn to tie your shoes with one hand.
46. See how many push-ups you can do.
47. Run with scissors.
48. Write stupid lists

Theory Student's Nightmare

I think that I shall never be
Conductor of a symphony!
A band of players so elite
Would cringe each time I tapped the beat.

In concert black with white baton,
I'd stare out pop-eyed at the throng.
With shaking knees and sweaty palms,
I'd raise my stick & bring it down.

At once the flutes began too shrill -
The violins joined with a will
WAIT! That's a rest! WHY do the play?
I knew that this was not my day.

I peered at my conductor's score.
I flipped a page and then three more...
Compound meters, triple beats,
C-clefs, solos, hordes of keys!

The deafening din of snare drums' rattle
Reminded me of stampeding cattle.
They must be stopped before the crowd
Revolted in an ugly battle!

I yelled at them with all my power
Then woke to my floorleaders glower.
"Did you forget?
It's QUIET HOURS!"

~ A. Nonnymous (a PCC student)

Saving Laughs Just in Case

So, I'm not sure at all whether or not I've typed these up on here before or not, BUT, I'm putting them up now because I'm about to throw away the hard copies. Cleaning out my house in order to get ready for Squishie coming in May. That is all.

Life is Ever Changing

I mean, I knew that. Really, I did. But SO much has changed since September. And it all started with a statement made by my coworkers on Monday, October 3, 2011. I had spent part of the weekend before that work week up in PA with my family and had eaten all kinds of different foods that my body was no longer used to. GOOD food, but not necessarily healthy food. So it wasn't any surprise to me that I wasn't feeling quite up to par on Monday morning. Then, as I was talking to Catherine (a close coworker), Kim (our office manager) walked up to join the conversation. And I almost immediately felt sick to my stomach and started dry heaving. Grabbed for my trash can, but thankfully didn't need it. Take one Wild guess at what that statement was. Go ahead..You might be right. Kim looked at me and said...."You're pregnant." "No, I'm not," I replied "I think I just ate something funky up in PA this weekend."
   "Nope. You're pregnant." Kim declared.

Well, knowing my body and how out of whack it has always been, I keep pregnancy tests on hand at home. So when my alarm went off Tuesday morning (Oct. 4th), I took a test. And sat in my bathroom for the next fifteen minutes bawling my eyes out.

I've taken pregnancy test many times before. My period is almost non-existent so I keep those test "just in case". They've always taken a full minute to show the negative sign. But not this morning. On October 4, 2011, it took less than five seconds for that test to show as positive. I was pregnant. And in shock.

I just spent the last 4 months working out, eating right, and losing 34 lbs. And now...I was pregnant. That meant weight gain. Life change. A Baby! I didn't know what to do other than sit in my bathroom and cry. I was elated...I was going to have a baby. I was devastated...I was going to gain all the weight that I had worked so hard to lose...right back. I wanted to talk to Joseph...but he was still asleep and is never fond of being woken up before his alarm. Finally, I stopped crying and went through all the motions that it took to get ready for another day of work. Finished in the bathroom, I took the dogs downstairs to let them outside, and I called my mom.

Of course, it was only 4:30 in the morning so she didn't answer. Her cell phone was turned off. So was the house phone. I had to call my younger sister. Only she didn't answer, her voicemail did. Then she called back, because her phone had woke my mom and my mom woke her up to call me back. In tears, and barely understandable, I told my mom that I was pregnant. She congratulated me, then because she couldn't understand me through my tears, handed the phone back to Rachel and went back to bed. Really, Mom!?! So I had to share my elation and mostly my fears with my sister, finally calming down after Rachel stated, "Hannah, if God is giving you this baby now then He must believe you're ready to be a mother. He knows best."

After Joseph woke up, I did share the news with him albeit still in a slightly hysterical way. (Since I had had time to work myself up again.) He decided I wasn't fit to work and made me call off sick. Joseph did the same and we actually spent a very nice day together getting used to the idea.

Wednesday found me at my doctor's office for an appointment just to confirm the pregnancy. Not like that was hard. After two positive home tests...I was pretty sure it was for real.

This coming Sunday will make it two months that I've known about my baby and I can't even begin to explain the changes I've already gone through mentally. I still think some days that I'm not quite ready to be a mom, but when that happens I just remind myself that I still have 5 months to go before the baby will be here. I remind myself that God DOES know what's best for me. That He is in control and He's not going to give me any more than I can handle. I'm so excited about my baby now. I can't wait to meet him/her. So, until that day, I'm calling him Squishie. Makes it easier than calling the baby an "it" since I don't know the sex yet. Joseph does want to find out, so that announcement will be coming, but until then...Squishie will remain my baby without a color. Though...I just have to say...if Squishie's a girl....I really don't want alot of pink. Like...at all!

Crazy Posting

Ya'll may have noticed that my blog kinda got a bit overloaded with posts last night. You can blame that on or thank my sister for that. Whichever you prefer. She felt that I should copy over my blog posts from SparkPeople so that all my posts from anything were saved in one place. So I did.

I understand that to go from books to weight loss is a pretty drastic change in my blog, but since I haven't written pretty much anything at all since March about books, maybe it isn't so drastic after all.

I'll try to keep the actual weight posts to a minimum while copying over those that are more normal will continue.

Hope everyone is ready for Fall and that ya'll enjoy your Labor Day.

Why September is NOT my favorite month of the year anymore

Thursday, September 01, 2011

I used to ADORE September. School had been in session for two or three weeks already and fall was in the air. Then, I grew up. And got a "real" job. And now...September is my LEAST favorite month. Let me explain.

I work for a company that resells IT equipment and maintenance to the government. September is the government's end of fiscal year. The month when they spend the most money. My job is to process the orders from the govt and to send the new orders to the vendors. It's relentless, mostly mindless work. I hate it on a normal day. In September, the work triples and quadruples. Breaks become a thing of the past. Eight hour days....what are those!?! Try 12 -16 hours on for size. My boss and her boss are insincerely sincere in their thanks and praise at the work getting done. What they're really saying when they say thank you in September is....why can't you work more hours in a day, and HOW did you NOT get all of your work done? Why didn't you ask for help if you were so far behind in your work? *Hannah's reply* Oh, you know...I really don't have THAT much work (sarcastically, of course). I really just like to talk my head off instead of work...no, wait...that's YOU!

Bitter? Absolutely. The thanks we do receive are all so two-faced and insincere that I have begun to abhore this job. One day, I'll get out of it. But, until that day...i'm going to continue disliking September.

exhausted and wanting a day off

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Of LIFE. I'm tired, worn out and ragged. I honestly don't WANT to go outside for my cardio workout today. I really just want to crawl into my bed, under the covers and go to sleep. Do you think anyone would mind if I did? Well, other than myself? I'd hate myself for letting points for my House slip by me. So, I'll get going now. To make food for dinner and then make my way outside to get my 30 minutes over with. Then, it's a shower and early bedtime for me, baby! 

Summer Term Week 9 Day 2 aka Tuesday

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

I scared myself this morning when I was getting ready for work. I opened my ring box to put on my wedding band and engagement ring and neither one was in the box. I panicked. Couldn't remember having taken them off last night before bed. When did I take them off? *sigh of relief* Oh right, I took them off in the car to put lotion on my hands when I was driving home from work yesterday.

Continued as usual with my morning preparations, put the dogs in their kennels, and headed into the garage to leave for work. As I backed out of the garage and down the driveway, I slipped my rings onto my finger. It was then that I truly realized just how much I need to go to Claire's at the mall this week. Claire's was recommended to me since they carry plastic ring guards.

Once again, I was struck with what I have already accomplished. I've lost enough weight already that my hands have slimmed down. If I shake my hands to get the last bits of damp off of them after drying my hands, my rings slide down my finger to the point of falling off. I may not see my weight loss in my thighs, hips, belly, or arms, but my fingers show it. And THAT is incredibly encouraging to me.

I know I've lost weight. My clothes fit looser and I can wear medium tops without any reservations, but I still don't necessarily see any physical changes. So knowing and seeing the difference in my hands keeps me going. My rings were re-sized right after my engagement to my husband to size 5, then re-sized again after I gained weight to a size 8. I'm hoping to get that size down to a 4 before I'm done. And, by golly! I'm getting there! 

Weekly Weigh-in 8-29-11

Monday, August 29, 2011

Good Morning, my loves! And believe me...it is a GRAND morning! I just got back upstairs to my computer after weighing in for the week and I am SO excited to share that I lost 3 lbs. last week. THREE! I've been pretty consistent about the weight I've lost since I came back to Spark People in earnest back in June. Each week has been between 1 and 2 pounds. The only thing I did differently this week is play outside with the neighborhood kids instead of doing the 30 Day Shred. I think I must have been starting to get stuck in a rut with the Shred. But that's okay, because I realize now that I can't rely on only one method of exercising to reach my goal.

Wish me luck this week, friends. I've been challenged to take my cardio outdoors this week and as long as the weather stays nice, that shouldn't be too hard mentally, but let me just tell you that playing with the kids leaves me with more bruises than I can even count anymore. Can't wait for this afternoon! 

The Mirror of Erised or My Heart's Desire (8.27.11)

(Formerly posted on SparkPeople on Saturday, August 27, 2011)

For those of you who don't know, The Mirror of Erised is a mirror from Harry Potter that shows the person that looks into their heart's greatest desire. The Challenge of Harry Potter contained a daily challenge of blogging about that topic this week.

I can't begin to tell you how hard this topic is for me because I don't really know that I even HAVE a greatest desire. I mean, aside from working a lousy real-life job, I am content. I have everything I need as well as the greatest husband a girl could ever ask for. I suppose...well, I suppose there is one more thing I would love to have.

Children. Of my own. I grew up in a family of seven children and therefore never lacked a playmate. However, I have a problem that my mom has never had. I have an irregular menstrual cycle. So irregular, that I've gone as long as two and a half years without a period that wasn't caused by pills. I honestly don't know if I am even capable of having children. And, my dears, I WANT children. I want a large family like the one I grew up in. Yes, I AM serious. I DO want alot of children. Call me crazy, but if God will provide the means to take care of them, what right do I have to limit the number of children He gives me?

This is why I began my weight loss journey. My lifestyle change. I got tired of making excuses about why I may never be able to have children. See, I don't have polycystic ovary syndrome. I don't have a hormone imbalance. I don't have any reason that I shouldn't be having a normal period. But I don't have one anyway. So, I figured, maybe it IS related to my weight. If I can change even that ONE thing...maybe it will help. Because I want to be a mother. I want to change smelly diapers. I want to teach my own children. I want to see them grow up. And not just in my dreams. For real.

This, my dear friends, is what my Mirror of Erised shows me. A large white house with a wrap-around porch with my husband and I standing on the front stairs to the porch surrounded by little brown and blonde haired children (boys. not girls). A few dogs thrown in the mix and my Mirror is complete.

If I can, personally, do nothing else other than change my lifestyle to be more healthy and more fit, than so be it. BUT, I WILL change. I WILL do everything I possibly can to actually own a REAL picture that matches what my Mirror shows me.

My Week in Hogsmeade (8.21.11)

(Formerly posted on SparkPeople on Sunday, August 21, 2011)

Monday my friends and I from Hogwarts traveled down for a week long visit to Hogsmeade.

Tuesday, when we hit Dervish and Banges, I learned a little bit more about how the lack of exercise affects my daily routine as I did my first 30 Day Shred in about a week. Never realized how fast muscle went away despite reading about it constantly.

Wednesday at Zonko's Joke Shop, my coworker and I had more than a few laughs to help alleviate the stress of our job.

Thursday, when we visited the Post Office, I met a few more people from the House of Slytherin. Now THAT was probably my favorite part of the week since I hadn't met many Slytherin's since starting school at Hogwarts.

Friday, we stopped for refreshment at The Three Broomsticks, and let me just tell you that I don't believe I have EVER drank so much water in one day before! 17 cups of water had me feeling like I could do laps around a swimming pool at my work desk.

On Saturday when we stopped at Honeydukes' I didn't actually get to participate because I went on a date with my husband (a straight up Gryffindor!) to Pei Wei.

And Today....today we are at one of the bestest shops ever opened...Scrivenshaft's. This is the day I get to share with you what I did this week.

I think if I had to choose a shop that I needed to visit more often, it would have to be The Three Broomsticks. The chance to earn house points for every single cup of water that I drank in one day motivated me to help my house as much as I could. A visit like that every day of my time at Hogwarts would help me more than anything else. And you know..most of that would be because the more water I drank, the less food I ate. LOVED that!

After such a GREAT time spent in Hogsmeade this week, I am definitely looking forward towards our next term at Hogwarts. See, I'm planning on helping my fellow Slytherins win the house cup this year. Cause we deserve it! 

Weekly Weigh-In 07/25/11

(Formerly posted on SparkPeople on Monday, July 25, 2011)

So, I figured it would be a good idea to publish my weigh-ins each week if for no other reason than to see my progress in actual writing. Of course, earning a few more SparkPoints in the process doesn't hurt. :-)

This week, typical to me, I ate under calories almost every day of the week. If you had asked me before I started tracking my food how much I ate I probably would have given some super high number of calories and I probably would have been correct. My problem, I think is, with me switching to more nutritious foods, I am still eating the same VOLUME, but now, the volume is ALOT fewer calories. So tell me, how can I pump up my caloric intake without FEELING like I'm overeating?

On a brighter note, my husband is absolutely loving the new healthy me. But wait...not necessarily in the way you might think. He loves me because with my counting my calories, I've been cooking dinner. I hate cooking. I always feel like it takes too much time, BUT, I dislike this weight more than I dislike cooking. Besides, I've been able to find some pretty time efficient recipes so far this month. AND, it helps to have Joseph's iPod dock in my kitchen now so I can listen to my k-pop while I cook. K-pop makes Everything better. Oh, and the other thing that makes cooking enjoyable...FRESH vegetables. Like, FARMER fresh. Best part of the summer is farmers markets and BOY am I putting them to use this year!

Anyway, enough about everything else. Here are the numbers.

Last week (07/18/11) - 188.5 lbs.
This week (07/25/11) - 185.0 lbs.

Whoo Hoo! 

In the words of my sister... (6.24.11)

(Formerly posted on SparkPeople on Friday, June 24, 2011)

That's right, folks. I'm headed to Myrtle Beach on Sunday so the remainder of this week will be spent doing laundry and packing for the beach. Maybe just a little bit more shopping to to pick up those last minute items like SPF 15 sunscreen. I am so excited about this vacation. I've needed it for longer than I care to admit.

However, I'm just a tad bit worried about keeping up with my diet while I'm down south. I'm not worried about my exercise. I mean, I've got a computer and I've got my 30 Day Shred, but seafood buffets....YUM. I suppose I need to start researching now the number of calories in my favorite seafood dishes so that I can plan my meals accordingly even though we Will be eating out. Fun. Fun.

So, cheer me on my friends, I'm gonna need all the encouragement ya'll can spare, if you don't mind. Now, I gotta go pack! 

Ridiculously Excited (6-23-11)

(Formerly posted on SparkPeople on Thursday, June 23, 2011)

I don't own a scale. I don't WANT to own a scale. So normally, if you would ask me how much I weigh, I would tell you whatever I weighed when I last visited my family doctor. However, the building that my job is located in has a free gym and it has a scale. So I determined that I would try to weigh in for SparkPeople every other week. Today was an "every other". If you've seen my status you know that I weighed in at 195 lbs. That's 10 lbs down from what I weighed at my April doctor's visit. 10 lbs. in two months. For me, that's unheard of.

I can see daily, the impact my eating habits have on my energy levels. Since I've gotten back on SparkPeople, my eating has gotten healthier and healthier (ignore today's dinner). My coworkers have noticed and comment all the time if they think that I'm contemplating cheating on my goals.

When you put it all together, I'm losing weight and I'm feeling better. What more could a girl ask for? 

To Stay Motivated (6-20-11)

(Formerly posted on SparkPeople on Monday, June 20, 2011)

What I think of to stay motivated in no particular order:

My goal to be fit enough to run with my friend who runs cross country races for George Mason.

My Husband - the occasions when he tells me that I look really good

my future children (praying that exercising will help me even be Able to Have children)

My goal to be able to lift a full sized motorcycle with no help from anyone else

My dream of being able to fit into that perfect dress from college again. (even if i don't hit my end goal weight, i'll still be able to fit into that dress again)

Being and Eating Healthy.

Strengthening my back - I don't want any more problems with my back ever again

I know some of these goals are much more future oriented, but every one of them is reachable and THAT is my biggest goal...Having attainable goals and dreams. And making the ones that seem to be UNattainable...attainable anyway.

What is YOUR biggest dream/goal? 

Trying to get back on track (6-13-11)

(Formerly posted on SparkPeople on Monday, June 13, 2011)

I suppose I should start with letting you know that I have a wonky back. I don't know where it all started, but every so often I'll aggravate my back and throw off my whole workout routine. Of course I would go and do JUST that as soon as I get back onto SparkPeople. But, I'm determined to not let it discourage me. I can still do minor exercises and dumb bell exercises. But I MISS my long morning walks with my coworker. And I miss yelling "Go Bald" at Jillian Michaels as I struggle to remain upright in the side lunge in Level One of The 30 Day Shred. So, I'm going to suck it up, and try to do a little of the Shred today. My back's feeling better, but still not up to par so I'll have to watch it, but I just can't stand sitting around anymore. It's literally killing me.

In other words, pray for me my friends...it may get ugly.

The vegetable I hate eating (6-9-11)

(Formerly posted on SparkPeople on Thursday, June 6, 2011)

I pretty much despise carrots. Ask my husband at any point and he'll quickly confirm this. In fact, he is always telling me that I NEED to eat carrots for all of the good they'll do my eyes. Honestly...I don't care. Carrots are dry. They taste nasty. They turn my fingers funky colors when I peel the outsides off. I don't even like them with brown sugar or butter. If I have to eat them raw, I end up eating more dip than carrot. At least, that's how I felt about them before lunch today.
I purchased a fresh bunch of organic carrots this morning because I really AM trying to eat healthier foods and of course I'm counting calories and such. About an hour ago (11:30ish) my stomach started going crazy for food and all I have here at work with me for lunch today are those organic carrots. So, I peeled three. Spooned out my slightly heaping 2Tbsp of French onion dip. And headed back to my desk. And I honestly have to admit, I'm eating more carrot than dip right now. These carrots aren't dry. They aren't leaving a funky aftertaste. They actually have a slightly sweet flavor to them. They DID still turn my fingers orange, but if I can eat carrots that I will truly enjoy?...I'll deal with the orange.
I guess the point of my post here is to say that sometimes stepping out of my comfort zone and reaching for the foods I typically avoid can be an eye-opening experience. Maybe I don't hate eating carrots after all!