What I Did on My Vacation. Plus - Word of the Year and BYOC

Hi All,

I have been amazingly lazy lately when it comes to blogging.  I finally caught up on everyone elses and I have been commenting here and there although not nearly enough.  Hope you can forgive me for being such a slacker.

 

Some of you may remember that I was going to remodel my niece's bedroom for her Birthday/Christmas present.  Well,  guess what I did for my vacation????  From Dec. 26-31 I shopped, built furniture, stenciled, installed and decorated.  I took my mother to San Francisco with me to be my assistant.  We had a good time and I think it turned out pretty well.  Here are some before and after pics for your viewing enjoyment.

Before

 After

 Bed Before

 Bed After

 Bay Window Before

 Bay Window After

 Before

 After

 Before

 After

 Before

 After

 And some of the little details:

 Bamboo Stencil

 Ledge Detail

Magnetic Boxes

 

I left the day before they returned from vacation but I understand that she really likes it.

I've been thinking alot about my my word for this year should be.  I know it is not terribly original but I have settled on (drum roll please)

 

Perseverance 

per·se·ver·ance   

–noun

1.steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

2. Theology . continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.

 

—Synonyms
1.  doggedness, steadfastness. Perseverance, persistence, tenacity, pertinacity  imply resolute and unyielding holding on in following a course of action. Perseverance  commonly suggests activity maintained in spite of difficulties or steadfast and long-continued application: Endurance and perseverance combined to win in the end.  It is regularly used in a favorable sense. Persistence,  which may be used in either a favorable or an unfavorable sense, implies unremitting (and sometimes annoying) perseverance: persistence in a belief; persistence in talking when others wish to study. Tenacity,  with the original meaning of adhesiveness, as of glue, is a dogged and determined holding on. Whether used literally or figuratively it has favorable implications: a bulldog quality of tenacity; the tenacity of one's memory. Pertinacity,  unlike its related word, is used chiefly in an unfavorable sense, that of overinsistent tenacity: the pertinacity of the social climber.

I have been struggling with very slow weight loss.  I know that because I started my journey at a lower BMI than many of my fellow bloggers that my weight loss might be slower.  However, that doesn't make this any less frustrating and in the past, this is where I would have bailed on my weight loss efforts.  However, with the band, I have a much larger incentive to work through my frustration and successfully meet my goals.  But is it going to take PERSEVERANCE.  That is what I will concentrate on this year and hopefully, keeping that in mind, I will meet my goals.

Finally, I thought I would participate in Draz's BYOC.  Thanks, Draz!

1.  If you could have only three electrical items/appliances...what would they be?  (Um...whose gonna be the first to say you know what?  (Perverts - all of you!!))

1. My TV.  So sad to admit but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my TV.  I am a true child of the 70s.  I am addicted to Reality show competitions - Amazing Race, Top Chef, Project Runway, etc.  So, can't give up my beloved TV.  Plus, TV is how I make my living so I really can't do without.
2. My laptop.  How would I blog otherwise?  How would I research effectively?  How would I keep up with all of you wonderful folks without it?  Yep, laptop is definitely a keeper.
3. VitaMix.  I have a protein shake for breakfast every morning for breakfast. I could always eat out or order out every other meal so I think I could live without a fridge and range - but not my VitaMix.

(oh, and Draz, that is  battery operated ;-)

2.  What do you think Satan's middle name is? 

Dick

3.  Name two things you are VERY good at.  (Again - can't wait for these answers)

1. Organization.  I love to organize.  When I had my interior design company one of the things I loved to do was go in and help people purge and organize their spaces.  I can throw things out, donate, sell, whatever with the best of 'em.  I hate clutter!
2. I'm a great friend.  I love my friends passionately.  If we are friends, I will do almost anything for you (as long as it doesn't involve enabling unhealthy behaviors - think alcoholism, etc.).  I'll support you, provide a shoulder to cry on, be your biggest cheerleader, bring you soup when you are sick, laugh with you, cry with you, come to your Tupperware (or whatever you are selling) parties, tell you how beautiful, wonderful, strong and smart that you are.  I'm a good, true and honest friend.

4.  What is your favorite sundae topping?

Hot, hot fudge.  Nummy!!!!

5.  Summarize your life in blog land and in real life this week.

 

I've been up and down.  Earlier this week, I hit my all time low (1 pound from onederland).  But now I am back up a pound.  It has been slow and frustrating.  Part of it is due to poor choices on my part.  I have not been as diligent as I could be.  On the other hand, I have not gorged or even over-eaten anything (my band is way to tight for that).  But I think part of it is that this is a weight I have plateaued at before.  The last 2 times I dieted, this is where I got stuck and ultimately gave up.  I will not give up this time because my new word is PERSEVERANCE!

 

I also rejoined my old gym this past week.  It is only 1 mile from my new job so I am hoping to make it there at least 4 times per week,  I also got 2 personal training sessions and one Pilates reformer class included in my enrollment so I will be meeting with my trainer next week.  Yippee!

 

I promise I will try to be a more consistent blogger.  Thanks to everyone for their continued support.  I do appreciate it.