New things

Spring is officially here. 80's are in our forecast this week and we couldn't be happier, except Steve of course who mourns for snow (weirdo). Anyway, I went to Earl May yesterday and asked the experts for plants that are extremely hard to kill. And this is what I got:


Our lilac bush with tiny lilac buds on it...STILL alive from last year. Ha!!!

Things I don't know the names of. But last year that flower bed overgrew with flowers so I cut back on the number of plants I put in this year. That lily grew back from last year! Accomplishment!!!!

The most beautiful shrub I've ever seen! So I bought it. Mom helped me plant it and the girls got in the way, but we managed success.

Our funny little house from the front minus the fruit trees. I couldn't span wide enough.

Hanging flower basket

From the front porch

One of two barrels

This is Olivia's first soccer game! I was too busy screaming to take many photos. She scored two goals and no one went the wrong way! Steve wore Olivia out the morning before the game by taking her on a two hour hike so she was a bit tired by game time. But she pulled through and was a soccer prodigy...if you ask me.





This is Sophie's new Victoria Beckham inspired hair cut. We are in Target for our celebratory post hair cut shopping experience. I have new hair as well but no photo as of yet.

Crazy Victoria

Well, these are just a few things we've been up to this week in Clarkland. True to my promise, here is my weight loss status update: (you will notice I backtracked two lbs. in the past two weeks). Back on track this week with a loss though!

Goal: 50lbs.
Lost so far: 15.5
Lost this week: 1.5
Lbs to go: 34.5
Goal date: August 19th

In other news, I recently applied for a job in the intensive care unit at Mercy. I got a call back yesterday and an interview scheduled for Monday at 9:15. I'm very curious about this job. I know it would be stressful but wicked fun if you ask me. The more drips I hang the better....that being said, I want to be placed where God wants me to be. I don't know if this is it, so I'm praying for STRONG direction either way. So please pray that my interview Monday is either really good or really bad. That's the first time I've prayed for a bad interview. The perks to this job are that they do self-scheduling, meaning nurses say when they want to work and they get it for the most part. This is a HUGE plus to me seeing as how my children and my schooling get in the way of a no-schedule-conflict life. My current job continues to screw me over in this area. The second plus is that it is full time nights. No more switch back and forth and screwing up my mind and body. Just a constant screw up of my mind and body. :) But in all seriousness...a better shift to be in for me so far. The third and most important perk I can foresee in this job would be fulfillment of my dream to do something that matters. I find myself caught up in gossip and pettiness lately (unwantingly), and I think its because people have time to do so on our floor. I don't want time for that. I want to care if my patient is going to live or not instead of who said what about whom...etc. I'm looking to help out where needed, and lately, I'm not feeling too needed where I'm at. I may have a complex about wanting to make a difference, but honestly rings true through writing and that's that.

So, pray if you will please. I want to do the right thing. Happy planting season to you as well.

Happy Spring all!!!

Mel green thumb with fingers crossed Clark

These are my confessions

Usher....love him. Anyway, I need to confess something because I'm living in denial. What better way to do this than to make it known via blogger? Now I'm held accountable by you. Thanks!

I have slid the past two weeks with my diet and exercise and I feel like a total slob. Riding the wave of my high flying 16 lb. loss gave me a false sense of confidence and comfortableness...I felt better in my clothes, better in my life, pretty much overall better in every way. I've tried to figure out why I chose to sabotage myself these past two weeks and I'm not sure why. But I do know that I want to get back to the daily grind, back to self-control, back to self-love...it is an overwhelmingly happy place to be. So, let's forget (but not completely) the past two weeks and let's move on shall we?

Dear self:

Here are the reasons you and I want to lose the rest of this weight and be healthy:

-I want to not have diabetes or heart disease
-I want to be a good example for my daughters
-I love to run and I want to do that without dying
-I love to swim and I want to do that without making others want to die when they see me in my swimsuit
-I want to focus on my children when we're out and not how much cellulite I have on the back of my legs
-I want to enjoy shopping (I already do 16 lbs. lighter. Imagine 50!)
-I want to be comfortable with who I am
-I want my spirit to match my physique
-I want to honor myself and remember that I deserve to be healthy, I need it.

There. I got all that off my chest and I can refer back to it now. I'm inspired to do this by my friend Debbie's blog who I found today through Amy's blog who I met through Amy...anyway...she is also on the weight loss expedition and blogs about it nearly every week. I think I might need to do that as well. A constant reminder to me, a constant update to you, and an accountability (I do not want to have to post a 6 lb. gain for the world to read about). But I will...if it keeps me accountable.

My goal: 50 lbs. by August 19th
Total weight loss so far: 16 lbs.
The rest of the way= 34 lbs.

I've got a ways to go. I'll let you know where I'm at when I weigh in this week. Until then...keep me accountable. Just say no to going out to eat and milk. Milk is my obsession!!!!

70 something

Today is the most beautiful day we've had all year! It's 70 something out there, the sun is shining. Not a cloud to be seen. Sophie and I are having a "stay home day" as she calls it. I've hung clothes out on the line for the first time of the season. Rosie did not attack me the whole time like last year. She did not drag them off the line as I turned my back either.

Sophie painted a beautiful picture, rode her bike, jumped rope, rode the scooter and made a house for her puppies. I manually tilled a big spot in the back yard to try to regrow grass and Sophie helped me cover up seeds. We cleaned her room and organized things. I put away laundry. And while it seems that none of these things are extraordinary, as a combination..they are the makings for a perfect day.

As she sleeps, the house is quiet and my windows are open. There's just a little breeze. The buds are opening on my lilac bush and fruit trees. I could get used to 70 something.