My Web Favorites

There are a couple of really cool things I wanted to tell you about that I've found on the web this week.  I have lots of free time right now so I've been on the computer a lot!

1. Pinterest

Pinterest is such an amazing website and concept.  Basically Pinterest lets you create digital bulletin boards for any kind of image you would want to collect.  It also is sort of like a social network, meaning you can follow other peoples boards and see what good ideas they are posting too.  I think it would be awesome for anyone redecorating, needing art inspiration, wanting to keep up with recipes, or track their future must haves for their closet.  When you "pin" something it keeps the original URL with it... so you can find your idea again! So awesome... no more cutting out pictures you like or printing them or bookmarking them on your web browser!

Here is an example of my "For The Home" board.  If you want to follow me, because you are already a member, like the link on my sidebar.  If you want to join, let me know and I'll send you an invitation!

2. Groupon
I'm sure many of you know about Groupon, but I'm constantly impressed with some of the deals on it.  I think like with anything Groupon must be used with self control (because if it's not it's just a waste of money), but it can be so useful.  Here are some of my favorite deals:
$10 for $20 at Old Navy
$25 for $50 at Run On!
$35 for $100 at a lighting store in Dallas (I bought this one yesterday and plan to use it in our new house!)
Two tickets to a comedy show for $14 (made a great cheap date night)

I get the emails every day and I just delete if I don't like the deal or investigate if I'm interested.  They aren't all worth it but I've seen deals for moving servies, expensive spa treatments, store credits (like the ones I have bought), golf deals and much more.
If you aren't a member yet, click here... I'll get credit if you do!

3. Young House Love
This blog and it's authors are amazing.  Read it if you own a home and ever want to do anything to it.  Love it!

4. Sherwin Williams "Paint Your Room"
If you are thinking of painting a room, this is an awesome tool.  You can take a picture of it and upload it into the Sherwin Williams website and then you can use the tools to paint different parts of it! I love it! It's incredibly useful if you are bad at visualizing things.

I hope you like my "web roundup".  The internet is such a wonderful tool and I'm constantly amazed with people's creative ideas for using it.  It has revolutionized our world... and it's not done yet either.

Hello Arthritis

For the past year and a half I have been unmedicated.  It's been fine.

Yesterday, though, my age old friend arthritis reared it's ugly head and entered my life with a vengeance.  Not sure what combination of life sparked this... but I do not miss it.

Go away RA.  I HATE YOU.

In the meantime I'm off to take a scalding hot shower and down handfuls of tylenol.

Too bad I'm too much of a "naturalist" to take anything stronger while trying to get pregnant.

15 lbs. down

In March I became extremely motivated to lose weight.  I had been gaining it since our wedding and it was time to get it off again.  My recent discovery of infertility was also a big motivating factor.  I knew that I had weight to lose.  And I knew that it could make a difference in me getting pregnant. So I was bound and determined to get rid of it quickly and the healthy way.

I used Weight Watchers in college and did really well on it.  It makes it so easy to lose weight and not give up things.  Plus by losing it slowly I know I maintained my weight for longer.  So in March I joined again.  Several of my cousins are doing it so it really helps to hear them talk about it and discuss points and things when we are together.  A little moral support always helps.

As yall know I was also running.  Now I had been running since last July and hadn't really lost any weight.  It wasn't until I stepped up my mileage AND started tracking everything I was eating that I made some real progress.  Now cutting intake and increasing activity level can be tricky.  Your body needs fuel to exercise but that's what is so great about Weight Watchers because it will tell you how much more you need to eat to even it out. It kind if sucks that I literally had to be doing both to lose weight... but I guess that's just how it goes!

So here I am... I've lost 15 pounds in 12 weeks.  Just fast enough to see the progress but slow enough for it to be healthy.  Works for me.  My goal is to lose 9 more pounds this summer.  There are about 8 weeks left before I start work again... so that should be easy enough!

Originally William wasn't supportive of my weight loss goals.  He said "he liked the way I was" and didn't think I needed to change anything.  It was a nice gesture, but I ignored him. However, since I've been losing the weight he has been EXTREMELY supportive.  He has even been helping me by cooking "low point" meals that we both like. Apparently I'm much more confident now and that makes him like me more :)

So what do you think? Is there a noticeable difference?

April 2011

June 2011

Anyways, just a little update.

A New Kind of Burn

This weekend I experienced a new kind of burn.  Well actually two new kinds.  It's the kind where someone who knows our entire situation, or has been someone I've confided in since the beginning says something not so nice... or gets pregnant... or maybe was pregnant when I was confiding in them. Ouch.

Some people are so supportive... some people's wives are not.  I'm thankful that William at least has someone to talk to... even if his wife is a total dummy about it.

And then I find out this morning that a couple is in our Sunday School Class is pregnant.  The wife is a total sweetheart and at a Sunday School function I confided in her about things.  When I came out on facebook, she was very supportive.  Finding out today that she was pregnant that whole time...Ouch. I mean I know she obviously meant well by being supportive.  But it makes the "I can imagine how hard it must be" seem so shallow now.

I've officially entered the baby blues stage.  I've held back tears this cycle until this weekend.  I cried to William telling him how sorry I am.  We were at a Catholic wedding this weekend which apparently brings out the baby fever in everyone.  There were comments left and right about starting families.  For once I felt like I wasn't the only one dodging them.  William was right in the middle too.  Which is why I apologized so much later on.

Everyone is pregnant.  I can't turn around with out seeing someone pregnant.  How come I never noticed this before? William has started warning me... "Don't turn around" or "Watch out behind you, there is a lady with twins in highchairs and is pregnant".  He notices too.  I'm not sure what hurts more.  The pang of emptiness I feel wash over me or the pang of sadness from him being aware now.

It has been a year.  Not to the day... but in June last year I stopped taking my birth control.  We were nervous and scared but hopeful.  I've managed to hang on to hope.  I also realize that it's easier because I haven't lost a baby yet.  When we entered this journey, we were fully aware that losing a baby would probably be on our plate.  My medical conditions will affect staying pregnant.  Now that we are in it, knowing how hard it has been to get pregnant, losing a baby seems like it will be the worst.

So here we are buying a big ole house... just hoping to fill it up.  I hope it's not jinxing our selves.  William and I decided that whatever the status of my ovaries and uterus in December we will start the adoption process.  We should be settled into our home by then and ready to set up house for a baby... which I think is the hardest thing about adoption. (Setting up your house before everything is official).  Someone... please promise me that I can have a baby shower even if I never get pregnant.  I mean you know if we adopt an infant.  I'm sure that sounds so selfish and materialistic.  But I can't help it.  It's something I think about all the time.

Okay... time to pick myself up off the floor... I have things to get done today.

Peyton

She Deserves Her Own Post

While Dana graciously thanked me for the shout out earlier today... I think it's safe to say she deserves her own post.

She is an awesome artist.  She claims to be amateur... but she is so much more than that.

She has a studio and therefore she is ready to paint!

Go visit her Saturday June 11, 2011 from 2pm to 5pm at Spring Street Studios. It is an open studio afternoon and artists are selling their work and showing off their galleries/studios!

You won't regret it!

Love you Dana! I'm so proud of you! You are such an inspiration to anyone scared to live passionately!