Roadtrips & Air Getaways

I just can't help myself.  I love to travel, see new places and experience new cultures. It's great for the health, both emotionally (relaxation) and physically (walking).  And, what's a getaway without family or friends to share the fun?

• Nashville CMA Awards - 10/26/11 (daily)
• TN Titans Trip - 10/28/11
• Light Up the New Year in Scotland - 11/30/11
• Puerto Vallarta Spa Vacation - 11/30/11
• Vicksburg for the Holidays - 12/01/11 
• Music City New Year's Eve Bash - 12/15/11
• Denver Getaway Weekend - 12/31/11
• Warm Up to Winter in Lancaster, PA - 01/06/12

Powerbag & iPad 2 - 10/24/11

Just entered a fabulous giveaway for a Powerbag and iPad 2, hosted by Military Travel Mama. Gotta tweet daily!

What an awesome win this would be!  An iPad is something I'd never purchase for myself (simply because I'm too frugal), but would definitely be a happy recipient of.  And a Powerbag would be a great convenience during my many travels (professional and personal)!!  Pick me, pick me, oh please pick me!

Down 6 Pounds!

After a long medical hiatus, I'm down 6 pounds in 4 days!!  Of course today isn't my official weekly weigh-in, but I just couldn't resist the call of the scale.  All I can attribute it to is 10 minutes of power walking, carefully watching my calories and faithfully checking in with my weight loss buddies each day.

Over the past week I've been using the awesome free iPhone app, "LOSE IT," for tracking my exercise and meals...as well as my weigh ins.  For determining calories burned during my power walks, I use yet another awesome free app, "PEDOMETER," then enter the results into Lose It.

I was surprised at what a difference calorie counting and a bit of exercise can do.  Not only is the weight dropping off, I seem to have more energy.  Hopefully, this loss wasn't a fluke and I'll continue to drop more cumbersome pounds!!

Tough Few Months

It's been a tough few months for me.  From both my mother and I being admitted to the hospital due to heart issues to my daughter driving over a culvert and into a deep ditch to avoid a huge statue in the road.

Thankfully my daughter wasn't hurt in the accident...God definitely has plans for her.  A State Trooper just happened to be behind her and witnessed the entire incident...just seconds before his car was totaled for actually hitting the statue.  Needless to say, he was hopping mad and said it would be his "life's mission" to find the culprit who maliciously placed it in the middle of the interstate for someone to hit.

Unfortunately, I'm an emotional eater and all this put a damper on my weight loss :-(

$25 Walmart Gift Card - 09/04/11

Last minute giveaway find - $25 gift card to Walmart for Glidden painting supplies.  I could definitely use this in updating the colors in my bedroom and kitchen!

$100 Home Depot - 09/06/11

Urban Sherp is giving away a $100 Home Depot gift card, which would really come in handy - been wanting a new stove for ages!

Folger's Gift Basket and Proctor & Gamble Goodies

A Frugal Friend is hosting a couple of great giveaways!

• Folger's Gift Basket & Cuisineart Coffeemaker - 09/15/11
• Proctor & Gable Care Package - 09/09/11

My family loves P&G products, particularly Tide with Febreeze, and the Folgers basket would make an awesome gift for my 23 year old daughter.

$300 Spa Giveaway - 09/09/11

Cinderella is playing fairy godmother this month!  She's hosting an awesome giveaway - $300 spa credit at the spa of your choice!!

I can almost feel the hot stones and the fabulous foot massage/pedicure. As a diabetic, I have to be mindful of sanitary conditions and tools so infection doesn't become an issue.  Anyway...I haven't often had the pleasure of a spa pedicure and am looking forward to winning.  So...pick me, pick me!

$100 Amazon + Supreme 90 - 09/06/11

Military Travel Mama is giving away $100 Amazon gift card + Supreme 90 Day Workout System (10 DVDs, nutrition plan, chart, etc).

I absolutely love to shop Amazon and am currently redecorating my living room, so a  gift card would be awesome!  I'm also working diligently toward total body fitness, so I wouldn't mind the Supreme 90 either.

Apothica $50 Gift Card - 09/12/11

Real Mom Reviews is giving away a $50 gift card to Apothica!  I've recently become interested in exotic eye makeup that really "pops."

Apothica carries the awesome Too Faced Natural Eye Kit for smokey eyes that I would love to try!

Here's hoping one of my entries will be the lucky one!!

Writing Post

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Mind, Body, Soul & Spirit

Preparing for a momentous new step in my life - a time for improving myself - mind, body, soul and spirit. With over 100 pounds to lose, a change is definitely in order and I finally feel up to the challenge!

• 09/03/11 - Joined SparkPeople for encouragement & tools.
• 09/03/11 - Created this blog/journal to track my weight loss progress.
• 08/27/11 - Attended bariatric surgery seminar to learn about Gastric Sleeve.