Don't ask me how.....

but I lost 4lbs this week for a total of 20 lbs lost.  And it only took 14 weeks!  ;)  Lordy, I hope that the next twenty doesn't take that long but if it does...no biggie.  I'll just keep pluggin' along.  So according to my reward system, 20 lbs gets me a new purse.  This is awesome since my current purse is in the process of falling apart.  Ross, Marshall's....here I come!

Question:  What healthy ways have you found to deal with tough emotions?

I have been having some uber stressful weeks and an especially stressful one last week and the first few days of this week.  Which I believe is one reason I have lost so much (cause lord knows I haven't been exercising).  My appetite has uncharacteristically decided to bail on me.  Well, not every day but most days.  Could I finally be getting ahead of this "emotional eating" thing?  Only time will tell.

Award Speech

As I mentioned, in what seems like forever ago, I was given the Versatile Blogger award by Lanie Painie and Julie Lost and Found.  Thank you so much ladies!  Well I am finally getting around to doing something about it.  So here goes:

The Rules:

1.  Thank the person(s) who gave you the award.   Check!

2.  Share 7 things about yourself.  Check!

3.  Nominate 10 newly discovered blogs ( I am going to take license with this and nominate some that I have known about for a while.... cheeky!)  Check!

4.  Let your nominees know about the award.   Aaannd... Check!

Thanks again ladies!

Seven Things About Me:

1.  I love to travel.  I would say I love it so much that I have a terrible case of wanderlust.  Just wish my wallet had the same passion.

2.  I was born pigeon toed.  It was corrected with heavy casts when I was a wee babe.

3.  I have a thing for accents.  Can't help it.  Oh dear lord, if the person speaking to me has a Scottish accent then I am lost.

4.  My weight has been a challenge for me my whole life up to this point.

5.  I deeply admire Louise Hay and Elizabeth Gilbert.

6.  I am a sensualist.  In all things; food, wine, men, life.

7.  My idea of heaven is leading a life that is passionate, artistic and kind.


Now, for my nominations..... drum roll please!

1.  Livet Just Lagom, is a blog my friends Anne and Stu are keeping while they are in grad school in Stockholm.  I envy their life.

2.  Grumpy Editor is a very good friend of mine.  In fact she is one of the dearest friends of my life.  Oh, and she's funny too.

3.  Girlysmack is one of the first blogs I ever read.  It does help that she is my friend but she also happens to be an excellent story teller and writer.

4.  Fat Bridesmaid is one cool and sassy chick.  Plus she loves sushi as much as I do.

5.  The Token Fat Girl may be the first weight loss blog I started reading.  I just love her because she is real and she tries every single day to be happy.

6.  The Freelancer's Fashion blog.  I don't even know who this chick is but she is Fabulous with a capital F!

7.  Tj's Test Kitchen.  A fellow WW member and all around good person.

8.  The Fitnessista.  I think she is just adorable!

9.  Paulawannacracker.  Cause she kicks booty!

10. Tallow & Grove.  Even though most of the time I have no idea what she is talking about (she's waaaay too smart for me) she is one of the sweetest most interesting people I know.

Oh, and I am down (point) .6 this week.  Not great but not a gain either.

Later taters!

I Swear I Haven't Forgotten

As soon as I have a moment to catch my breath I will pay the blog award forward.  Suffice it to say that the past week and this week (so far have blown.)  I am up 2lbs thanks to all the bday/True Blood socializing I did last weekend.  I am bummed.  I had a food pity party for myself yesterday and feel super gross today but I started fresh this morning and have been eating really clean and healthy.  I have a bridal shower to attend this weekend which does involve swimming but it also involves cocktails and cocktail foods.  Let's hope I have the strength to resist too much temptation.

So, how are you?  :)

Thank You

Thank you all so much for your wonderful shoe suggestions.  It was hard to decide looking on line so I decided to hit up VA Runner (which is where I got my last pair of shoes).  Granted I always feel a little intimidated walking into a store that is staffed with super fit runners but they are so nice and wonderfully helpful.  $118 (!!) dollars later and I have a lovely pair of Asics that hug my feet and support my entire body.  LOVE.  I really don't mind paying that kind of money for shoes because the last pair I had I bought in 2008 and cost about $125.  That's $5.20 a month.... not bad.  :)
Here are my new babies:

Cute huh?  ;)  I even tried them out today with a full work load AND a Bodyjam class this evening at the gym.  My knees didn't hurt once.  SCORE!

Guess what?  I am down 2 more pounds for a total of 17.6 lbs AND I passed the "lost 5% of my weight" mark.  HAPPY DANCE!

In all seriousness you, my lovely web friends, helped make this possible.  I wouldn't be here now if it weren't for the support of my friends, family and angels like you.  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Last but not least, a thank you shout out to Julie Lost and Found and Lanie Painie for bestowing me with the Versatile Blogger Award.  Thank you ladies!  I swear I will pay it forward tomorrow when I am not so bloody tired.

KISSES!