Weigh-In Wednesday

Goal for the Week: 2 Pounds
Actual Weight Loss: 3.4 Pounds
Total Weight Loss So Far: 10.2 pounds

Thoughts: I was ecstatic to see that today!  Last week I got my special 5 pound loss sticker and this week I got my special 10 pound loss ribbon.  Weight Watchers has been incredible and now that I'm feeling better, I'm going to go back to exercising regularly and hopefully watching even more weight drop off!  Look out for another update next week!

Down with the sickness

Okay, so I apologize for my lack of posts lately.  I know, I know, you've really missed me.  But I couldn't help it!  I had school stuff to do and then on Friday I got sick!  I was feeling pretty crummy until Sunday, all I did was lay in bed and watch TV while taking Dayquil and drinking OJ and water while just trying to feel better.  Thankfully, it worked and I am feeling much better!  I don't really have anything else to say at the moment, except sorry for the lack of action.  I will of course be doing the Weigh-In Wednesday post tomorrow and I will probably have another entry or two up my sleeve.  Keep your eyes peeled!

Song of the Week: "The Funeral" by Band of Horses

This week's song of the week was introduced to me through the season 1 finale of 90210 a couple of years ago. I've always liked it and now I'm going to share it with you all :)

Weigh-In Wednesday

Goal for the Week: 2 pounds
Actual Weight Lost: 2 pounds
Total Weight Loss So far: 6.8 pounds

Thoughts:  Clearly, I'm happy because I met my goal of 2 pounds.  I also got a special sticker for making it to 5 pounds lost, so I felt kinda special hahaha.  I can't say enough good things about Weight Watchers and I already spoke a lot about it in my previous Weigh-In Wednesday post.  As for this next week, I'm just gonna keep on keepin' on and hope for the best!  I'll update you guys next week! :)

Episode Review: Pretty Little Liars "For Whom The Bell Tolls"

Okay, so the Pretty Little Liars finale was last night and it was AWESOME!  So as not to spoil anything for those who haven't seen it yet, I'll leave the review for after the jump.

Who's got a case of the Mondays?

Not me!  Sure, the sky is gray and depressing and it snowed last night.  But my day is GREAT!  Why, you ask? Well let me share.  First off, I woke up this morning fully prepared to make the hour-ish drive up to the Soo for class today.  But when I checked my e-mail, there was a message waiting for me to let me know class was canceled!  That got my day off to an incredible start, I must say.  Not only that but I'm all caught up on school work so I have nothing to do.  It has also warmed up enough outside that the snow we got last night is now gone.  AND tonight is the Pretty Little Liars season finale! So, overall it's been a rather great day.  How's everybody else's day going?  Feel free to share in the comments :)

Song of the Week: "Secret" by The Pierces

I thought it would be fun to post a "song of the week" every Sunday.  This week, in honor of the Pretty Little Liars finale, is the theme song of the show "Secret" by The Pierces.  It's a good song and totally perfect for the show.  Here's the video...

Enjoy!  I have a few songs in mind for the next few weeks, but feel free to leave some suggestions in the comments!

(Belated) Weigh-In Wednesday

Before I begin, let me say that I am very much aware that today is not Wednesday.  I do know my days of the week, I'm not the type of person who is still wearing my "Wednesday" underwear on Sunday...actually, I don't have day of the week underwear at all.  As I've said throughout this whole past week, it was a busy one for me.  So the post that I had planned to do for this past Wednesday is going to be posted now.  But, from here on out it's going to be an official post for Wednesdays.

Now for those who don't know, my mother and I recently decided to join Weight Watchers.  The funny thing is, is that before we decided to officially join, I had been thinking about asking her.  Meanwhile she had also been thinking about talking to me about it!  So, we decided to give it a try.  And boy, am I glad we did!  Last summer, I had gone on a diet where I limited myself to 2,000 calories a day.  And I did pretty well, but I was also hard on myself and I deprived myself.  It got to the point where I felt like I was pigging out when I'd have 1,800 calories a day.  Clearly, that was not healthy.  Needless to say I ended up dropping that style of dieting and I gained back the 20 pounds I had lost.  Now, enter Weight Watchers.  For those who don't know, with Weight Watchers foods are assigned a PointsPlus Value (this is their new system, the old one being the POINTS Value) and you have a certain number of PointsPlus allowed to you each day, along with 49 weekly points to use however you like.  You can even earn points for exercising!

I like this because counting points is A LOT less stressful than counting calories.  And I'm not hard on myself when I eat to my maximum amount of points for the day (mainly because they encourage you to do so).  We started on March 2 and since then I have lost 4.8 pounds.  Would I like that number to be a bit bigger?  Sure, but I'm also okay with the weight coming off slowly.  Weight Watchers has been teaching me a lot, things such as proper portion control, better food choices and it has also helped me learn to eat more slowly and enjoy my food (I'd gotten into the habit of inhaling my food pretty darn fast!).  And by the weight coming off more slowly, it's allowing me time to make all of these tools a part of my life forever.  This is not a diet, nor is it a quick-fix to losing weight.  This is a complete and total lifestyle change, one that I am embracing rather enthusiastically.  Just the other day when I went out to lunch and I chose one of the menu's Weight Watcher meals which came with a salad.  A year and a half ago, I never would've touched that salad.  But this time, I ate half!  (I would've had more but it had a REALLY spicy salsa on it for a dressing).  If anybody out there is looking for a weight loss program, I highly recommend Weight Watchers.  If you've been a member in the past and you're thinking about going back, I say go for it!  If you've been thinking about joining it as a new member, I say do it!  Trust me, it will be one of the best things you could ever do for yourself.  Click here to go to their website and learn more (there's also a link on the side of my blog) and see for yourself!

So, to wrap this up I'd like to state once again that I have lost 4.8 pounds since starting.  The remainder of the Weigh-In posts won't be this long, but I just wanted to share a bit of my story.  Look for the next update this Wednesday, I'm already looking forward to it!

Check it out!

Click here to visit my friend Mal's blog.  It's quite a good read!

Now I'm off to work on my last catch-up post.

Episode Review: Pretty Little Liars "Monsters in the End"

Okay, so I'm admittedly a little behind in reviewing this show (what with the season finale being on Monday and all), but I didn't have a blog when it came out so don't hold it against me.  Before I get on with the review, let me start with how I came to start watching this show to begin with.  I was reading through messages on a Desperate Housewives forum (another show I love and will be reviewing here) and I saw a message about a new show premiering on ABC Family in a couple days that was supposed to be a "teenage version of DH".  I was curious so I decided to check it out, and I was hooked after the first episode.  While it started out as a light, fluffy show with a decent mystery, it has quickly become much more dark and twisted (and the mystery has only gotten better!),,it's definitely a guilty pleasure of mine.  I'm not even ashamed to admit it.  I'd highly advise checking it out sometime, it really does draw you in.  It stars Troian Bellisario as Spencer Hasting, Lucy Hale as Aria Montgomery, Ashley Benson as Hanna Marin, Shay Mitchell as Emily Fields and Sasha Pieterse as Alison DeLaurentis.  The series is based on a book series by Sara Shepard, I have the books and they're also very good but overall distinctly different from the show.  Anyway, now that I have all of that out of the way allow me to get on with the review.  I'll leave it after the jump so as not to spoil it for people who may have yet to watch it (though since it aired on Monday I doubt that I have to worry, but it's better to be on the safe side)

Stick a fork in me...

I'm done.  For real.  I'm soooooooooooo tired!  It's been a very long week, so long that I didn't even get to do the blog post that I had planned to do yesterday.  So that puts me at having three separate entries that I need to do, and those will be coming in the next day or so.  All I ask is that you hang in there with me as I do my best to churn these puppies out.  A couple of episode reviews and a special "weekly" post will be on the way, but for now I'll just share my week with you.

I spent this week studying for my French test every. single. day.  My test was today, and I have to say that I think I did fairly well.  I also had to do an outline for the paper I'm doing in my Theatre class.  That was a bit hard for me.  Even though I'm an English major,  I haven't done an outline since high school and even then I sucked at them!  I'm great at writing the paper itself, but condensing my thoughts and ideas into an outline?  Not so much.  But I sucked it up and did it anyway...not that the final result was anything spectacular, but at least it was finished.  So now, after this long and school oriented week I'm tired and ready for bed.  And I think that's where I'll head now.  Tomorrow I have to go pick up my cap and gown.....graduation is fast approaching, this is all starting to become real!!

Have a good night!  And be on the look out for some catch-up entries in the next day or so!

The Long Week Ahead...

So, I may not be doing much writing this week, until Thursday evening (with an exception being a post on Wednesday) because I have a lot of stuff to do for school.  But I'll do my best to keep this updated!  You'll for sure hear from me on Wednesday and by Thursday things will be back to normal with a post or two that I have planned.  Should hopefully be some good stuff.  Hope everybody has a good week!

Product Review: Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30

DISCLAIMER: Before I begin writing about this I would just like for it to be known that I am not being compensated for this review in any way, shape or form.  I simply plan to review things that I enjoy and would like to pass along to people.  I am not gaining anything from this at all.  I also would like to add that I like Amazon because it's easy and convenient (and usually only a few cents more expensive than Wal-Mart) which is why I'll be linking to the reviewed product's Amazon page, not because they are paying me to do so.  Well, now that I have that out of the way....

the most insane workout ever

I am a big fan of Jillian Michaels and her line of DVDs. I own all of them.  They're all challenging, but they provide a great workout and after I'm done I always feel accomplished.  This latest release, however, has immediately made it's way to the top of my list.  This is the most difficult, challenging and yet rewarding workout that I have ever done.  No doubt about it.  I finished my third day of it today and as I write this my arms, chest and back are absolutely KILLING me.  But it's definitely in a good way.  There are 4 levels, and you're encouraged to spend a week on each one (I'll be spending 10 days on each level, working out 5 days a week) and then move on when you feel ready.  In each level there are 3 circuits using her "3-2-1" method, combining 3 minutes of strength with 2 minutes of cardio and 1 minute of abs.  For the strength, you do 3 moves for 30 seconds each, then repeat for a total of 3 minutes.  You then move on to cardio, where you do 2 moves for 30 seconds each and again repeat for a total of 2 minutes.  Then you move on to abs, doing 2 moves for 30 seconds each for a total of 1 minute.  You do different moves in each circuit (and apparently, no moves are repeated EVER throughout the DVD) so it keeps things fresh, allowing us to stay focused and not get bored.  There is also a warm up at the beginning and a cool down at the end for a total of 37 minutes per level.  At the end you'll be pouring with sweat and most likely very sore, but you'll also be feeling accomplished.  And it's cheap too!  Much cheaper than a gym membership, and you can do it in the comfort of your own home!  And really, who doesn't have roughly half an hour a day to workout?  This is something that could be fit into even the tightest of schedules and I highly recommend it.  Click here to check out the Amazon page, look at the price and read the reviews and decide for yourself.  But trust me, if you decide to check it out, you won't regret it. 

Happy exercising!

D is for "Defective"

Well I was going to do a post on Jurassic Park, because a couple of days ago I watched Jurassic Park 3 with my mom and brother and tonight we were going to watch the first one. Sadly, the disc we got from Family Video turned out to be scratched and therefore prevented us from watching it.  So, there goes what I was going to write about.  Boo.  However, I do have something planned for tomorrow and that will be a success for sure.  But now I'm off to bed, due to the impending time change I'd like to get some sleep.  I'll leave you with this video.

Check and follow!

I'll be doing a normal post at some point today (most likely later this evening/night) but for now I just want to direct you here.  This is the blog of my friend Angel and she is sharing her experience with heart disease and how she's using that experience to make a difference.  It's a very informative read, one that everyone should take a look at.  Click the link, read her posts and follow her to learn more!

F is for "Frenemy"...

That's what winter is.  It's not really my friend, yet it's not really my enemy either.  It has that nice balance in between, thus earning the title "frenemy".  My thoughts on this came about on Thursday, when it was decided that I couldn't go to school because of the weather (I have an hour commute and it's not fun in hazardous winter weather so sometimes a judgment call needs to be made).  And I really started thinking about it.  Overall, I really dislike winter.  I don't like the cold, I don't like the snow and I don't like the ice.  People  talk about the first snowfall of the year and act as if it's so magical.  Talking about how it's breathtaking and like watching little diamonds falling from the sky or whatever other flowery, poetic BS they can come up with.  Yeah that's not how I see it.  To me, the first snowfall of the year is just the start of a downward spiral into the crap-fest known as winter.  And besides, as fun and pretty as the snow may look when it first falls; the novelty wears off when it becomes slushy and dirty, looking like a mud/snow mixture on the side of the road.

But winter can be good every once in a while.  Snow days are good.  As long as they're not too frequent.  When you're in school (pre-college anyway) if there's too many you have to make them up.  Cutting into my summer vacation?  Yeah that's not cool.  And if you're in college too many snow days suck because then you just get behind schedule.  And if you have to commute and have several "personal" snow days because of the weather?  Well it starts to get annoying.  So all in all, winter is a double edged sword.  I'd much prefer to have summer all year round.  Now that's a season that brings joy and happiness.  Hello sunshine, swimming and shorts!  Hello cookouts and bonfires!  Yeah....summer is where it's at.

But for now I sit here at the computer, looking out at the snow and shivering at the slight draft that passes through the room.

Is it summer yet?

What's Italian for "Screwed"?

Seriously, if I was in Italy that is what I would be.  I love Italian food.  I mean I LOVE it.  If I could have one type of food for the rest of my life, I would be choosing Italian.  Thank god Weight Watchers lets you eat what you want as long as you stay in your points range or else I'd be in serious trouble.  I was originally going to write about winter and my love/hate relationship with the miserable season but then tonight's dinner happened.  My mom decided it was going to be left-overs night with the choices being Homemade Macaroni & Cheese, Cheese Tortellini and Lasagna.  All three tempting choices but in the end I chose Lasagna.  And after I was finished with my dinner, I went back to the pan with a fork and took a few more bites....which led to just having another piece.  Which got me to thinking how much I love pasta in any way, shape or form.  I'm not sure if it can really be considered "authentic" Italian, but it's still damn good.  The only thing I don't think I would like about eating in Italy is that I'm bound to run into chunky tomatoes (yuck, no thanks) but I could always pick them out.  But I love pasta, I love cheese, I love all the different sauces you can put on them.  I love trying new pasta dishes.  I would just be in heaven if I were to ever go to Italy.  I think I need to make it a goal to visit there at some point in my life.

Oh, and by the way for those who were wondering, according to Google Translate "Screwed" translates into "Avvitato". Huh. What a fun learning experience.

Tomorrow I'll be doing my post on Winter.  But for now, I'm off to put the lasagna in the fridge and hope that I can ignore its pleas to be consumed.

Why So Serious?

Okay, I feel like the first post (which I just posted) was a little...."serious".  And I'd like to just state for the record that things won't always be like that.  On the whole I'd like to keep this a fun blog, but there will be a time or two when things get serious.  After all, that's life!  But if that first post made you think "jeez, this is going to be one boring, serious blog" I ask you to please just keep reading.  I'll have some more lighthearted stuff here soon, I promise :)

Confessions of a College Student

Alright, so I've been inspired to do a blog by my good friend Mandi (who has a blog of her own which you can check out here) and so here I am.  What will this blog be about?  Well, pretty much anything.  School, work, friends, the ups and downs we have together, movies, television, books, food, exercise/nutrition (something I've started to get into), funny stories....pretty much anything.  I think it'll be a fun little read, but then again I'm biased.

So I'm sitting here and I'm watching it snow lightly outside and I can't help but think of how much I dislike the winter.  A lot.  I would ideally like to move somewhere warmer once I'm done with college.  And to think, that's only seven weeks away.

Seven weeks.

That's a single digit number (well, in weeks anyway.  In days it's a different story!).  Seriously where did all the time go?  It seems like it was just yesterday that I was at my orientation, nervous as can be and thinking that everything seemed so big and scary.  Now here I am, five years later and I know my way around both the campus and town like I've been here my whole life.  I only have seven weeks left and to be honest, it's a little frightening.  For the last five years I've created a little bubble of school and friends, that's pretty much it.  I also go to a small University, so that in itself is like a little bubble. Everybody knows everybody (or at least knows of everybody) and the professors and staff know us all too.  It's like a little safety net we've all had and it's about to get taken away from us.  Quite a scary thought!  So here we are, seven weeks away from having our bubble burst and having to float out into the real world.  Some of us will flourish while some of us will desperately wish we were still in college, living a carefree life.  Where will I fall into that?  Well I'd like to think that I'll flourish.  Sure, I'll look back on my college years fondly.  How could I not?  These have been some of the best years of my life, I've had some great times and met some great people and that is something I will have with me for the rest of my life.  The uncertainty of the future does scare me, but at the same time I find it a bit exciting.  I don't know, to be honest the whole thing gives me mixed emotions.

But at least I still have seven weeks to think about it.

Oh P.S. in case you were wondering, my blog title is a spin on the show "My Life As Liz" on MTV...I don't watch it anymore, but it was still an inspiration.