abbi z meadows: rants, ramblings, & reflections

I've MOVED!

2009-11-19T11:25:00.000-06:00

I'm migrating to Wordpress. Check out the new site here.

Du Draper!

2009-07-13T15:51:00.005-05:00

As I mentioned in my last post, Andrew was scheduled to compete in a duathlon yesterday. May I just say that my handsome husband did an AWESOME job!! Here's a photo recap of the event.
Airing up the tires

Right in the thick of the pack of runners...starting the first 5k run.

Coming in from the first run...looking strong!

Getting ready to start the 24k bike portion...gearing up.

SWEATY!

Rounding the final bend near the end of the bike race.

Hopping off the bike to begin the second 5k run!

After running the second 5k, Andrew finishes strong!

His final time.

GREAT job, baby! I'm SO PROUD of you!!

July Update

2009-07-10T14:52:00.003-05:00

Well...we're still waiting to get our photos back from our professional photographer. I guess that's what we get for getting married at the height of wedding season!

In the meantime, here's a brief run-down of what's been happening in our lives:

*The girls' rodeo season is in full swing. In fact, tonight Sierra is competing in barrel racing and poles and Mesa is doing barrel racing, poles, AND riding a sheep (I'm sure there's a rodeo term for it, but I'm not knowledgeable yet!)

*Andrew joined the OKC Triathlon Club and is competing in his first-ever duathlon this Sunday. He'll run (5k), bike (24k), and run (5k). I'm excited to watch him compete (I'll be the one taking pictures!)

*I'm working on building my cake and book business. Check out my most recent posts at Z as in Zebra.

*I've been meeting with my friend Mikie for accountability in terms of wellness, making good eating choices, exercise, and healthy weight, as well as the mental/emotional/spiritual sides to all of the above. She's doing incredibly well and I'm blessed to witness her transformation!

*Andrew has been running the family business for a few months now. Business is going well, but he and his brothers are getting so fast, most days end early. If you need window washing, power washing, or welding, call them!

*My artsy friend Mandy and I have been encouraging one another to live more creatively. Not only during 'official' art-making times, but just in general. She defines it perfectly here.

*I'm starting a 12-week study called The Artist's Way with a small group of friends. Week One begins this Sunday!

What have YOU been up to?!

The Wedding

2009-06-24T00:00:00.001-05:00

Our wedding ceremony was amazing. The whole day just went off without a hitch and it couldn't have been more fun! Here's a photo recap of the preparations and the ceremony itself.

Getting ready for my makeup...

Showing a little leg before the ceremony...

TRUE friends (family, in fact...my cousin Zoe and my sister Arica) help you with ANYTHING. ha!

Will, Andrew's nephew was one of our ring bearers...and he KNEW he looked handsome because everyone kept telling him. ;)

Oops, the ribbon we wrapped on the lighter made it impossible for the moms to get the candles lit! Aah! We lucked out, as this was our one "snafu", and it was so NOT a big deal. When they finally got the candles lit, the crowd cheered. :)

My girls looked AMAZING in their blue dresses with their green flowers.

Lighting our candle as our slideshow played.

Prayer of blessing over our family.

You may kiss the bride!

Mr. & Mrs. Meadows!!!

Our wedding was perfectly "us" and we know God was smiling down. We are blessed

30 years

2009-06-23T00:00:00.001-05:00

In my opinion, 30 years is a long time. And today marks 30th anniversary of the day when my amazing parents said "I do."

From woodworking to cooking, there's nothing my parents can't do when they join forces. Over the years, they've accomplished so many impressive things:
*built a garage and shop from scratch
*taught thousands of high school students
*earned a pilot's license
*invented a quiz-bowl system for public schools
*hand made countless quilts, afghans, and needlework projects
*learned how to fix pinball machines
*added a fully-functional basement under our house

And that's just some of the things they've done that have nothing to do with being a couple, raising kids, or maintaining a home...I can't even begin to list the numbers of homemade birthday cakes, Halloween costumes, and prom dresses Mom made, or the number of times my sisters and I wrestled, played "Dynamite Ball", or laughed at old movies with Dad. THOSE are the things that my priceless memories are made of.

My parents have always gone above and beyond. They love to learn and they love to experience life to the fullest. ((Guess that's where I got it!)) They are incredibly practical, humble people with a fierce sense of commitment--to each other and to their loved ones. I am so inspired by them and honored to be their oldest kid...their "first pancake". :) They take incredibly good care of me and my sisters (despite the fact that two of us moved out years ago and are now married!) and we could never thank them enough.

I just hope I make them as proud as they make me.

Mom and Dad, I love you so much!! Thank you for sticking by each other all these years and showing me what love really looks like. It's such a rare thing these days for marriages to last and I am so thankful for your strong relationship. It inspires me in my own marriage.

Happy Anniversary!! Here's to another 30 years! (at least!!)

Pre-Wedding Festivities!

2009-06-22T00:00:00.001-05:00

WHEW!! The month of May was a total blur AND a total blast!! Now that I've had a chance to get back into the swing of things, I'll hopefully be posting more regularly (fingers crossed).

Rather than type out all the details, I will be reviewing our wedding week through captioned photos. Here we go! ((for the photos that are cropped, just click on them to see the whole image))

My youngest sister Allison (L) accompanied me to the airport to get our middle sister Arica (middle).

After Megan arrived from Atlanta, Zoe arrived from Seattle and Jacee drove up from Moore, I treated my bridesmaids to dinner at Cafe 7.

A margarita and fondue-filled slumber party rounded out our girls' night.

We rehearsed and marked our spots so we'd know where to stand the next day.

We enjoyed our rehearsal dinner and the toasts made by friends and family.

After our dinner, we headed to our dessert party at Andrew's parents' house.

YUMMY!!

My dad made some AMAZING displays for our party...this one burned red and green.

I was invited to join the infamous sisters' heads photo! :)

We had so much fun the whole week...everything leading up to the wedding just increased our anticipation for the big day!!

10 To Go!

2009-05-19T11:05:00.005-05:00

I have plenty of stuff hanging on my refrigerator, as evidenced by this photo:Right now, my favorite thing is the Countdown Clock my mom sent me. (It used to be for something else, but I reset the date and made a label to match our wedding stationery).

Remember how our recurring number is 10? Well, guess what?! Today we are just 10 days away from our wedding!!
WOO HOO!!!!

Marathon Excitement!

2009-04-29T00:00:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. Surrounded by 19,000 other participants, I ran the half-marathon (13.1 miles) which is my own personal record. Anna and her boyfriend Cody ran the full marathon (26.2 miles...yowza!). It was really great weather, despite the wind. As we neared the state capitol (about Mile 3), I saw Andrew and his parents. I let them know I was feeling good.
Mile 6, I was still feeling really strong.At this point, the half-marathoners split from the marathoners and headed back towards the finish line.My goal was to run the majority of the race and only walk long enough to get a drink at each water stop. I did pretty well on that goal, too! I did walk about a quarter-mile near the end, as it was uphill and the wind was gusting in our faces. I walked to the top of the hill and started running again once I got to the top. I sprinted the last 100 yards or so, as that's my favorite part of any race. :)

I was hoping to finish in 2.5 hours and I actually got really close to that time: 2:33:20! I felt really good and strong even after the finish. I felt accomplished and was glad to be done so I could take my shoes off!!

While I was busy drinking Powerade and re-fueling with fruit and snacks, Anna and Cody were still running their race. Anna looked really strong as she headed towards the finish...Little did she know that Cody (who was running behind Anna at this point) had taken off his jacket and was wearing this shirt:Andrew and I, along with his family and several friends, waited near the finish line for Anna (and Cody...we wanted to see Anna's reaction to his shirt)
Anna crossed the finish line and came to join us. We waited several minutes for Cody to come into view. Then, Anna saw him:She ran out to meet him. He got the ring out of his iPod case, got down on one knee (after RUNNING 26.2 miles, mind you!) and asked her to marry him.She said YES!All in all, a VERY exciting day!! I crossed "Run a half-marathon" off my list of lifelong To-Dos, Anna and Cody both did well on running the marathon, AND the ManyMeadows family is going to add a new member! (I was #19...Cody makes 20!) Wowie!! A GREAT day!!!

Floral!

2009-04-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

My amazing friend Emily has been helping me with the flowers for the wedding. Actually, Emily has been doing the majority of the work...so I guess I've been helping her. At any rate...

The bouquets are amazing! We found these awesome pale green orchids that match our color scheme perfectly. We tore the stalks apart and Emily re-wired the flowers so she could build the bouquets from scratch.
Not only does Emily have an amazing eye for aesthetics, she's also an ENGINEER, so everything she makes is always really sturdy! I could probably spike my bouquet in the end-zone and it wouldn't fall apart!

Here's a little peek at the bouquets the bridesmaids will carry: My bouquet will coordinate with the bridesmaids' bouquets, but will include white lilies and blue berries instead of green ones. Andrew's daughters will carry bouquets that coordinate with mine and the bridesmaids, but are also unique. I love how all the details are slightly different but tie together!

The Ring Boys' Job

2009-04-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

In some cases, Andrew and I are sticking with tradition for our wedding. In others, we are bucking the system and doing artsy, unique things rather than the stuff you see every day. For instance, we aren't having our ring bearers (Kaden and Will, Andrew's nephews) carry a pillow. We're doing something totally different.

I don't want to spoil the surprise, so you're only getting a sneak peek of the project my mom called her "favorite". I designed how it should look and she did the steps related to fabric. I'm really quite an igmo when it comes to anything sewing/fabric related. Hopefully that will change some day, but for now, I let Mom handle it. :)

Come back tomorrow to see what else we've been creating!

Darling Details

2009-04-24T00:00:00.001-05:00

I am a self-proclaimed detail-oriented, anal-retentive, future-minded, organized, Type A planner. To illustrate, Here is a shot of how I've been tracking our RSVPs:

Pink highlighter indicates YES responses while blue Sharpie indicates NO responses. It's been fun to check people's names off as the RSVPs come rolling in.

Because my personality type is drawn to minute details (ones, admittedly, that most other people won't even notice), I've been really enjoying most every aspect of planning my wedding to Andrew. All next week, I'll be sharing some sneak peeks of the details I have been working on, as well as some of the lovely things my amazing friends and family have done for me.

I may be borderline-crazy when it comes to details and making everything "perfect", but I'm also blessed to be surrounded by people who love me anyway. :)

Surprise!

2009-04-23T12:36:00.010-05:00

Isn't it fun to come home and find a surprise waiting for you? Even if it's something as simple as a hand-written letter, you just can't beat surprises!

One of the most fun things that's been happening lately is coming home to find a wedding gift or package waiting for Andrew and I. Not that we're all about "stuff" or anything...it just makes the fact that we are GETTING MARRIED SOON that much more real!!! :)

If a package arrives when we have the girls, we let them open it.
Sierra even likes to wear the bows on her head! :) Isn't she a pretty girl?!

Because they were unable to attend my shower, my cousin Zoe and my Aunt Kathy sent me a huge box of organic Raisin Bran the week before the party!! Actually, the box wasn't full of cereal; it contained kitchen towels, a retro apron, and an awesome little lamp...all from IKEA!

But then Zoe did the ultimate of all tortures. I arrived home the other day to find this:
A spiffy package addressed to me that was labeled much the same as the invites for my bachelorette party. I was so excited to open it. Then I saw THIS: OH NO SHE DIDN'T!! I have two more weeks until my party, but I promised Zoe I would wait to open it. So for those of you reading this that will be at my party, this is your chance to make sure I stay true to my promise. :)

I guess it's payback for all the times I've done the same thing to Zoe on her birthday...

The Redbud

2009-04-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

This post by Anna (my future sister-in-law) compelled me to enter the Redbud Classic 10k Run. I enjoy running more when I'm part of an event with loads of other people, plus I figured it would be good practice for the half-marathon I'm running on the 26th.

My goal was to run the whole thing...6.2 miles with no stopping. Guess what? I woke up that morning to 45-degree weather and BRUTAL Oklahoma wind out of the north. No biggie, except the first, oh, MILE AND A HALF of the race route was head-first into the wind. Whew.

But...I DID IT!! :) My sweet Andrew and my awesome future in-laws were there to take pictures and cheer for me, Anna, and Cody (Anna's boyfriend) as we rounded the first turn
and crossed the finish line.As I neared the 6-mile mark, I made myself a deal that I would gut out the last .2 miles and race as hard and fast as I could. It's amazing how much remaining energy you can find if you dig deep!

The clock was ticking...1:04:54...:55...:56...I was determined to cross before it reached 1:05:00. And I did! My legs totally felt like Jell-O, but the final sprint was incredibly exhilarating!
And since I didn't cross the Start line at the exact moment the gun went off (too many other runners in front of me), my official time was actually less: 1:03:09! And I don't even think of myself as a runner! :)

My goal for the half-marathon is to finish in 2:30:00 or less. Since the 10k is nearly 50% the distance of the half-marathon (13.1 miles), I figure I can do it if I don't walk too much.

My plan is to run to each water station (roughly 1.5 apart, as far as I can tell from the online course map) and then allow myself to walk for 30 seconds while I drink my water. Then...get running again!

Have you ever done something you weren't sure you could do? Tell us how you felt!

Swap Meet!

2009-04-06T10:21:00.008-05:00

This past Saturday, I hosted my first-ever Swap Meet! I was inspired by this article and below are the Cliff's Notes of the guidelines I sent the girls:

If you want to be a part of this event, here's what you need to do:
1. Figure out what new/never-worn/gently-used clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, and accessories you no longer want.
2. RSVP to this email.
3. Show up with your swappable items (bring as much as you want).
4. Feel free to invite your girlfriends.

Some basic guidelines:
1. Please bring clothes of any size, as well as accessories
2. It may not be a one-for-one swap. You might bring 25 things and leave with only 3. Or vice versa.
3. First is first. If you see something you like and it fits, it's yours. Put it in your bag to take home. No whining or badgering other girls if they got the cute top you were eyeing. :)

I baked these for us to nosh on, and a total of 8 girls arrived with arms full of goodies. We set up an accessories/shoes station:
Mikie was kind enough to bring a costume rack and hangers so we could try to make some sense out of the clothing chaos:
Kristie sent me this pic from her phone:
It was so fun to see everyone chatting, sifting through piles of clothes, trying on various items, snacking, and making new friends.

I like to think everyone had a great time. I know I did! We all left with at least a couple new things and Mikie took the remaining clothes to a couple organizations that help women get back on their feet. I will definitely be hosting another later this year...maybe just in time for autumn.

Have you ever done a swap meet?

Big Boy Toys

2009-04-03T10:18:00.006-05:00

A month or two ago, my future brother-in-law, Jon, got this souped up Jeep:

You can tell by the look on Katie's face that girls just don't "get" vehicles like this.

Needless to say, when you put two fun-loving men like Andrew and Jon behind the wheel of a toy like this, they are bound to get into some kind of trouble (well, "trouble" if you ask a woman, "FUN" if you ask a man.) :)

And boy, did they:

I got a call around 3:00. It was Andrew and the first words out of his mouth were: "Please don't be pissed at Jon." He explained the accident and said that he was headed to the ER with his Dad, Jon, and sister (nurse) Katie. He had hit his head on the roll bar and had also broken his collarbone.

I maintained my cool, and asked him to come over to my house after he was released (we decided that he already had enough company for the ER).

He ended up needing 12 stitches and a sling to help his collarbone heal. I must say, there's something kinda sexy about a tough guy who's not afraid to show his vulnerable side.

Now that his stitches are out, Andrew has a lightning bolt scar over his right eyebrow. His collarbone is healing quickly and he'll be good as new in no time!

And, as always, boys will be boys.

Permission to Steal

2009-04-02T00:00:00.003-05:00

Found this awesome quote on Juicy Bits blog, and it really spoke to me as a designer.

I think I put so much pressure on myself to come up with something TRULY creative and unique that perhaps I am missing out on opportunities to just CREATE something...even if it isn't earth-shatteringly original.

I'm off to ponder this revelation further...

If You Can't Find It, MAKE It!

2009-03-31T12:44:00.009-05:00

I really love making stuff. And our wedding details are no exception. I set out to find the perfect unity candle, but the ones I found all seemed either too plain or too 'stuffy' for us. So, I decided I'd just make one! Here are the steps so you can do the same! I might even start designing and selling these babies after May 29th is over and I need excuses to design fun stuff like this!

STEP ONE:
Choose your candle. I went with an aquamarine pillar.

STEP TWO:
Print out the design/shape/pattern that you'd like to apply to the candle.
STEP THREE:
Using a very sharp X-Acto knife, meticulously cut out your design from the pattern.

((Looks like fun, huh?!))

STEP FOUR:
Arrange your pieces in a way that will make laying them out easy. In this pic, you can see the areas where I took extra time, and where I got a little impatient and rushed through the X-Acto-ing. ((It goes without saying that taking your time obviously makes it look nicer. But after an hour of cutting the bitsy parts, I realized that even the people sitting nearest the candle would be at least ten feet away.))

STEP FIVE (not pictured, due to lack of extra hands):
Apply a collage adhesive (Mod Podge works best) to the back of each piece, arranging them in their correct positions as you go. For my TINY pieces, I found it worked well to "skewer" each piece on the tip of my X-Acto, paint the Mod Podge on the backside using a small paintbrush, then position the piece in place before removing the tip of the blade. ((Call me for clarification if you are prone to cutting yourself while crafting. I'll give you an in-house demo and save you a trip to the ER.))

STEP SIX (also not pictured):
Apply a coat of Mod Podge over the top of the design to seal it and guarantee it won't peel off. And now...you're DONE!!
And no one else on the whole planet will have a candle like the one you hold in your hands! Pretty cool, if you ask me.

Be My Marathon DJ!

2009-03-19T11:09:00.005-05:00

As I continue to train for the OKC Memorial Half-Marathon, I am putting a lot of miles on both my shoes AND this bad boy:

The problem? After running nearly 200 miles so far, I'm SO SICK of the tunes on my iPod. So, I'm asking for your help. If you are a music lover with a heart to help others, I would LOVE a mixed CD of songs you think would make the perfect running/working-out soundtrack.

Just think...I could be listening to one of your tunes when I cross the finish line! If you are interested in "Being my DJ", leave a comment with your email address and I'll let you know where to send your CD.

THANK YOU!! I appreciate your support!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIERRA!!

2009-03-03T09:14:00.005-06:00

Meet Sierra. She's Andrew's oldest daughter and she turns 10 (TEN!) today!!

Sierra was 8 when Andrew and I started dating, and in the past two years she's won a place in my heart that no one else will ever own.

Let me just take a moment to brag on this amazing girl.

Sierra is tender-hearted and loves animals of all kinds. She dreams of being an equine vet when she is older. I've never met anyone that can keep a Beta fish alive as long as she has!

Sierra is a fierce competitor and wins nearly every rodeo she enters. Last year she was the Age 7-9 Barrels champion, the 7-9 Poles Champion and the Overall 7-9 Girls' Champion. She even out-rides most of the girls in the high school age bracket. She is a WINNER and her dad and I are very proud of her!

Sierra is very artistic and creative. We enjoy doing all sorts of artsy things together including painting, drawing, and beading. She always has such big ideas.

Sierra has an incredible imagination. A few weekends ago, she decided we should start a bakery. Her sister Mesa and I would be the chefs and Sierra would handle customer calls as well as inventory and marketing. She even made an order ticket that she would fill out for us to follow as we baked. :)

I love this girl with all my heart and I look forward to watching her grow up and become an incredible young woman. She's well on her way already.

Love you Si!

My Daybook: March 2, 2009

2009-03-02T16:52:00.002-06:00

FOR TODAY February 2, 2009

Outside my window...Cars driving by.

I am thinking...Time to get motivated and hit the gym!

I am thankful for...a job that is seemingly recession-proof.

From the kitchen...Making Super Abs Burgers for dinner tonight! YUM-O!

I am wearing...My GAP ballcap...can you say "greasy hair day?" haha.

I am creating...Recipe 'flash cards'

I am going...to the gym, then the grocery store, then maybe to the RedBox (did you get your free movie code today?)

I am reading...The Abs Diet Eat Right Every Time Guide and Love Dare (my Valentine's Day gift)

I am hoping...I can overcome the mental road-block I have regarding the 13.1 miles I'll run in the OKC Half-Marathon...my body can do it...not so sure my mind can.

I am hearing...the hum of the heater.

Around the house...finally finished the second coat of paint on the bathroom wall. After a month, it was bugging me that I could still see some 'ghosting' of the old antique finish...so I did another coat on that wall.

One of my favorite things...Right now...Power Apples! Half a Granny Smith with 1 TB chunky peanut butter. MMM.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Gym. Gym. Gym.
Tuesday: Run with Andrew; Biggest Loser
Wednesday: Wedding preparations
Thursday: Design two cakes: one for a friend's 3 year old; One for Andrew's oldest daughter, Sierra (who turns 10 tomorrow!)
Friday: Celebrate Sierra with cake and gifts and quality time
Saturday: Gavyn's birthday party; shopping for dresses for the girls

Want to share what's going on in your life? Join in the fun here.

Friday Photo

2009-02-27T10:00:00.005-06:00

My beloved Andrew is a welder and he is quite talented! Months ago, I found a beautiful wedding archway that I loved...and then found out that they rent it for $300 (!!) So, my sweet man took it upon himself to build a replica...for FREE.

The above photo is Step One in the process. The armatures for the arches are fully constructed; now we just have to flesh them out a bit. I'll post a pic when it's all said and done!

The Only Thing That Matters

2009-02-26T11:33:00.002-06:00

Hey! I'm blogging here today. Come check it out!

Running

2009-02-25T00:00:00.000-06:00

For as long as I can remember, I have disliked running. Mostly because of grade-school P.E. class, where it was mandatory and completely exhausting and difficult for me as a chubby kid.

And now? I'm training to run the OKC Memorial Half-Marathon. Yes, I know that's 13.1 miles. And yes, I know that's crazy. My car barely goes 13.1 miles without having some sort of problem! ha!

But running has come to represent many things for me. One of them being therapy. There's something calming about getting outside in the fresh air and just going around a square-mile as fast as your legs will carry you (which for me is still not very fast, but I'm improving). When things got crazy at work yesterday, the first thing I wanted to do when I left the office was go for a run. And I did. 4 miles.

I'm not running the half-marathon to earn any sort of praise or accolades. I'm not competing against the other athletes who will be running that day. I'm not even setting a time goal. My goal is merely to finish and prove to myself that roadblocks (mental, physical, emotional) CAN be overcome when you put forth intentional action.

I still don't just loooove to run. But it does clear the mind and the soul. And as long as it's doing that for me, I'll keep running.

Biceps, Baby!

2009-02-11T10:13:00.002-06:00

By now, you are probably familiar with the fitness/health blog I started with a group of my friends. Today was my day to post, so I made a video on how to do "21s". Come on over and check it out!

Frugality at its Finest

2009-02-10T12:00:00.004-06:00

I'm nothing if not frugal. This past week was my friend Crystal's baby shower. As she unwrapped gifts and threw countless sheets of tissue paper into a garbage sack, I just couldn't stand the idea of all of it going to waste after just one use. So after it was bagged up, I asked to take it home!

Here's a picture of how much was salvaged. I put one of Andrew's hats next to the bag so you could get a great idea as to how BIG the bag was!

Then, while Andrew and I watched a movie one night, I pulled each sheet from the bag, smoothed it out, folded it up and put it in a pile, ready to be used again.

I shouldn't have to buy tissue paper for YEARS!

Do you salvage would-be garbage and use it again? Tell us about it!

Waiting

2009-02-04T09:56:00.002-06:00

Andrew and all his siblings were homeschooled. One of the things they focused on in their lessons was positive character traits. Robin (Andrew's mom) would create easy-to-remember definitions for the kids to memorize and recite, and they can tell you what they are to this day! :)

One of my favorites is her definition of patience: "Patience is waiting without complaining." Not too long ago, she and I were discussing how this plays out in our own lives, and decided we should also add a footnote: "Patience is waiting without making suggestions."

Now, I do my fair share of complaining from time to time, but my biggest struggle is to try not to rush things by sharing what I think should be done, how it should be done, when it should be done, etc. Oh, I can wait, but you can bet I will be running my mouth, coming up with suggestions on how it should be handled. Which, truth be told, is NOT patience.

The more I get to know Andrew, and the more I get to know myself, I am realizing what it means to be truly patient. He's laid back and I'm Type A. He contemplates things and doesn't rush; I want it done yesterday.

What have you learned about patience? How does that play out in your life?

My Daybook: February 2, 2009

2009-02-02T09:43:00.003-06:00

FOR TODAY February 2, 2009

Outside my window...the neighboorhood children heading to school.

I am thinking...How excited I am about my marriage to Andrew! 116 days to go!

I am thankful for...Generally good health, despite the cold that's threatening to wear me out today.

From the kitchen...My CrockPot is making dinner as we speak...Chicken Chili. YUM!

I am wearing...Size EIGHT jeans! :) Down from a 12 since August!

I am creating...cake sketches for upcoming orders.

I am going...to spend most of my time at home this week.

I am reading...The Abs Diet for Women and Strengths Finder 2.0

I am hoping...my knee stops aching so I can run tonight.

I am hearing...the hum of the heater.

Around the house...not as tidy as I would like, but that's because I chose getting to bed on time over doing dishes last night.

One of my favorite things...laughter. Hoping to enjoy a lot of it today!

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Gym. Gym. Gym.
Wednesday: Dinner with my friend "Amytons"
Friday: Theresa's party at the Bealls' home
Saturday: Andrew's rodeo in Enid, OK

Here is picture thought I am sharing...My sisters and me at Christmas!

Want to share what's going on in your life? Join in the fun here.

Lucky Number

2009-01-13T00:00:00.000-06:00

My sister Arica has a wedding scrapbook from 3 years ago when she and Ryan got married. One of the pages is particularly fascinating to me. They mention their 'lucky number' (7) in reference to their wedding: they got married in July (the 7th month), it took my mom 7 tries to get the bodice of her gown just right, etc.

As it turns out, Andrew and I have discovered our 'lucky number' for our wedding: TEN:
*We dated 10 months before getting engaged
*Our engagement is 10 months long
*There are 10 people in our wedding party
*Between our two families, there are 10 siblings (Andrew is one of 7; I am one of 3)
*My gown is a size 10
*Andrew's wedding band is a size 10
*Andrew's daughter Sierra will be 10 years old when we get married

I even drew "10" when we played Dirty Santa on Christmas Eve! Wow!

Do you have a lucky number?

Princess Cake in the Making

2009-01-12T00:00:00.001-06:00

Lily (Andrew's niece) recently turned 4 and asked me to make her a "pink princess cake" for her party. So how did I turn THIS and THIS into THIS? Come on over to my cake/bookmaking blog and see the steps that transformed batter into a pretty princess.
(And if you don't want to follow the steps yourself but you still want to impress the people at your party, I'd be happy to make one for your little princess.) :)

I should note that "Boys will be boys". As I carried the cake into Lily's party, nephew Will asked, "Is that Lily's princess cake?" When I said that it was, he responded (with a sly twinkle in his eye), "I'm gonna eat her head off!" (such a boy thing to say!) So, we let him have a bite to prove that Princess's head was plastic, not cake.
Did you have memorable cakes when you were a child? Do you make birthday cakes for your loved ones?

POWER FOODS

2009-01-09T00:00:00.002-06:00

I found an article about the ABS DIET POWER foods recently. There are 12 "Power Foods" that make up the acronym, and the slideshow on the link explains the health benefits of each of the following:

A: Almonds and other nuts
B: Beans and legumes
S: Spinach and other green vegetables

D: Dairy (fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese)
I: Instant oatmeal (unsweetened, unflavored)
E: Eggs
T: Turkey and other lean meats (Lean steak, chicken and fish)

P: Peanut Butter
O: Olive oil
W: Whole-grain breads and cereals
E: Extra-protein (whey) powder
R: Raspberries and other berries

I made burgers the other night that incorporated 5 Super Foods, denoted by a * in the recipe below.

INGREDIENTS:
1 egg*
1 lb lean ground beef*
1/2 cup oats*
1/2 cup chopped spinach* (I used the frozen kind that comes in a small box, defrosted it and squeezed out the excess water)
1/3 cup chopped onion*
2 Tbsp shredded reduced-fat Mexican-blend cheese (cheddar works just as well)

STEPS:
1. In a large bowl, whisk egg.
2. Add beef, oats, spinach, onion, cheese, and salt and pepper to taste (I actually used none). Mix with hands until well blended. Form into 4 patties.
3. Place burgers in grill pan or non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook 6 minutes per side or to desired level of doneness.

Makes 4 servings.

These burgers are DELICIOUS. I made oven-baked sweet potato fries to go with them. It felt like a 'cheat' meal but was actually quite healthy! Try them, you'll like them. And, it's a great way to sneak some veggies into your diet! Enjoy!

THE Dress

2009-01-08T00:00:00.000-06:00

For a while now, my mom has been working out the kinks in the pattern I chose for my wedding gown. Because I tend to be a worry-wart, I thought it would be best to come up with a Plan B in case we could get the gown just right.

I set up an appointment with a local bridal boutique and grabbed three dresses to try. WOW! It was great to feel like a princess for an hour, and I'm glad to have experienced this part of the planning!

The first was fine, but a little plain. The second wasn't as flattering as I would've liked, but it fit me and it was a size EIGHT, so it counted mostly as an ego boost. ;)

The third was AMAZING. As a size 10, it fit me like a glove and was absolutely GORGEOUS. Even the length was perfect! When I looked at the price, I discovered that it was just $25 over the amount I had budgeted for my gown. I left the boutique and called Mom to see what I should do. She said it was almost too good to be true, and I should just buy it. (I think she was relieved not to have to do all the beadwork!)

I went back the following week to try on the dress again with shoes. It was perfect! I asked if I could buy the dress off the rack rather than order it. They said yes, AND I got a 20% discount on my gown! (Making it $65 UNDER-budget, thankyouverymuch). I bought it on the spot and hauled it home to store for the next five months.

I'm just dying to show it to you...especially after telling you all about it...but I can't yet, in case Andrew would stop by to read my blog today. ;)

Tell about your wedding gown.

My First 2009 Project

2009-01-07T00:00:00.000-06:00

It's a fact that some people ring in the New Year hugging the toilet, thanks to a long night of overzealous partying.

Well, I woke up on January 1st to 'hug the toilet' for a very different (and decidedly much more constructive) reason: painting.

After living in my house for nearly 2 years, I had had enough of the main bathroom, with its canary yellow paint and antique colored topcoat. Ugh. With several days off from work, and some Christmas cash to spend, I invested in a quart of pale green paint and some new bathroom fixtures.

The only 'problem' is that my bathroom is very small, thus requiring a very small roller, a 1.5" brush, a strong exhaust fan, a helpful husband-to-be and a LOT of patience.

It went from THIS:
To THIS:After two days and two coats, it was DONE! I love it, and the fixtures are perfect.

Black and White

2009-01-06T00:00:00.003-06:00

Andrew saw this story on The Early Show and told me about it. I was so fascinated by this and wanted to share it with you in case you didn't see it. Enjoy!

Watch CBS Videos Online

Goals for Oh-Nine

2009-01-05T00:00:00.001-06:00

Well, here we are in 2009 already. Man! Where did 2008 go?! Like many others, I have a list of things I hope (no, PLAN) to accomplish in 2009. With no further ado:

Goals for 2009
Paint the main bathroom in my house
Get married and officiallybecome a Meadows. :)
Read one new book a month (preferably in the personal development genre)
Get 8 hours of sleep a night
Stop biting my nails for good
Secure a teaching position in the fall
Continue to do my part to preserve the environment (cloth grocery bags, reusable water bottles, walking/biking whenever possible, etc.)

Advent Conspiracy

2008-12-16T09:33:00.003-06:00

I was directed to this amazing motion graphic video by a friend. What you see will rock your socks off...in a heart-breaking way. This moved me nearly to tears. Check it out!

May "Merry Christmas" have a new meaning this year in all our lives!

Life Update 12/09/08

2008-12-09T11:37:00.003-06:00

ANDREW:
He's joined the gym with me and we're having a blast getting healthier together! He's building an amazing natural stone wall to round out all the landscaping work he's done at his aunt and uncle's house.

WEDDING PLANNING:
We're still on a "break" from planning, but Andrew will choose a tux style soon and my friend Emily and I will start working on flower arrangement/bouquet ideas. Mom will likely have another mock-up of my dress ready at Christmas time. We need to finish registering, but considering the crowds that have come out of the woodwork in time for the holidays, we'll wait to finish that until January.

GRAD SCHOOL:
Today is my last class. Maybe ever. I PASSED my certification test for Early Childhood Education, so now I am legally able to teach PreK-3rd grade. VERY exciting!! Since I've completed the 6 hours I needed to round out my certification requirements, I haven't decided yet if I will continue taking graduate courses or not. I won't be taking any classes next semester, that is for sure! ;)

CAKES:
Check out Z as in Zebra today! It features one of my favorite cakes ever!

HEALTH/FITNESS:
I'm down another few pounds to 158. It's been a while since I've seen that number. I'm going to try "Zumba" this week and go through my closet again and purge too-big items.

Also, The Bod Squad is going AMAZINGLY well. Those girls are incredible and I'm blessed to be on this journey with them! We are really picking up some momentum! Check it out!

MISCELLANEOUS:
This past Saturday was Project Hope, an art benefit my friend Sean puts on each December. There were many additional artists this year, and there was a buzz in the air at the show. It was awesome to see so many people out to support a great cause. I haven't heard yet how much money we raised, but I hope to find out soon.

Christmas shopping is almost done! Andrew and I have really gotten after it, and the only one left on our list is my dad...and I know what I'm getting him. Just have to find time to make it to the store! :)

Can you BELIEVE that 2008 is almost over?! I can't!!

Long Time, No Blog

2008-11-20T11:10:00.003-06:00

Whew. It's been a crazy whirlwind lately, and this blog has taken a hit. Here's a quick recap as to what's been going on in my life over the past 10 days:

ANDREW:
Poor guy rolled his ankle, so I've been helping nurse him back to health. He's up and at 'em again and keeping himself busy doing landscaping and building a rock wall at his aunt and uncle's house.

WEDDING PLANNING:
Our latest developments: 1. Purchasing items we'll need for centerpieces. 2. Mom's sewing mock-ups of my dress. Because we're way ahead of schedule, we're taking a little break from planning and will pick it back up in a couple weeks. In the meantime, Andrew has been building shelves and storage in my house and garage so he can have 'man space' when he moves in after the wedding.

GRAD SCHOOL:
Three weeks to go, and a couple more assignments to complete. I need to write a reflection on Creativity in the Classroom (my research/parent meeting topic) as well as design a layout for a classroom. I'm thinking my art school degree will come in handy for that one.

CAKES:
Tonight I'm bringing a "Neapolitan" cake to the ManyMeadows birthday celebration. Z as in Zebra is up and running. It works more like a blog than a website...which is fun, and also time-consuming, as I have to update the site often. Keep checking back! There's something new every couple of days!

HEALTH/FITNESS:
I was feeling icky all last week, so I took it easy. I'm back in the gym this week and have been way more intentional about healthy eating. I have an appointment to work out with Sergeant Simms on Friday.

Also, The Bod Squad is really taking off. It's an online accountability community I established with 10 friends and countless readers. If you haven't checked it out yet, swing over there and get to know us!

MISCELLANEOUS:
Andrew's oldest daughter, Sierra (9) cleaned up at the Edmond Junior Rodeo awards. She won 7-9 Champion, 7-9 Barrel Racing, and 7-9 Poles FOR THE SEASON. The girl is truly amazing and we are so proud of her.

We're heading to Nebraska for Thanksgiving. My mom's bday is the Wednesday before, so it'll be great to be home in time for that.

I'm working up some ideas for handmade books for Project Hope, an art benefit my friend Sean puts on each December. I participated last year and it was amazing. Now, if I could just get past my "artist's block"!

Hope you all have been doing well!!

The Bod Squad

2008-11-10T12:18:00.008-06:00

I know I just posted about my new website/blog for cakes.

Well, a girl can't just eat cake all the time and expect to be stunning, now can she?!

So...I've started a collaborative project with several friends. It's called "The Bod Squad" and the idea came to me like a lightning bolt! It's time we all stop complaining about our bodies/health/fitness/eating habits and actually start DOING something about it. And Lord knows we all need some sort of accountability.

If you've ever watched "The Biggest Loser" or visited health-related sites, you'll love The Bod Squad blog. It's a health and fitness project with a personal connection. We will not, however, be voting our members out of the group each week. ;)

The Bod Squad has 10 members, ranging in ages, locations, and goals. Odds are good you'll find someone to whom you can relate. We'll blog about our own personal health journeys, as well as share recipes, fitness tips, and advice we find about improving our lives. Periodically, there will even be Q&A sessions where we address questions from our readers.

We invite you to join us as we take life one day at a time and strive to make the most use out of the bodies God gave us.

AT LAST!!!

2008-11-06T09:40:00.008-06:00

After many months of creating handmade books as well as baking, decorating, designing, and photographing cakes, I've got my website up and running!! This is a project I've been dreaming up for over two years now and it's so exciting that it's FINALLY finished (er, started)!!

Consider this your official invitation to check it out!! Visit Z as in Zebra today and let me know what you think. Today was the first official post!

Click around and let me know if you see anything that needs tweaking.

To my blog friends: thanks so much for all of your support. From the encouragement to the curiosity to the chance to make 'practice cakes', your friendships have definitely been an asset as I've been on this journey! A big shout-out also to Terry Storch and John Otjen, who were gracious enough to help me get the ball rolling on the website. ((Thanks guys! You ROCK!))

God bless!

**NOTE: After getting many emails and comments, I wanted to confirm that there WILL be photos of cakes and books on the site! I am using my website as a blog format, so one or two projects a week will be featured, complete with photos! Thanks for the concern, though! :)

The Secret to Workout Buddies (2 of 2)

2008-11-05T08:49:00.001-06:00

After busting our humps (and lumps!) for another week, Erin and I are starting to feed off each other’s energy and enthusiasm. I am convinced that having a compatible workout buddy is the secret to fitness success. Use the steps below to find a buddy that’s perfect for you.

Steps to Finding a Good Workout Buddy

1. Choose Someone with a Comparable Schedule
Obviously, if one of you has a 9-5 job and the other is on the night shift, scheduling workouts will be difficult at best. Find someone with a similar schedule so you can get together on a regular basis. You might even be able to share a babysitter if you both have children!

2. Choose Someone with Similar Goals
If one of you wants to train for a marathon, and the other wants to lose weight and build muscle, your workouts will be very different. Find someone with goals that match your own. It’s much easier to encourage and motivate your buddy when you are working towards a common goal.

3. Choose Someone Who’s in Better Shape Than You
Working out with someone who is a step or two ahead of you pushes you to work harder, rather than slack off or make excuses. They’ve chartered the course and know firsthand how hard it can be to reach goals. Their support and encouragement will help you strive further than you would on your own.

4. Choose Someone You Respect and Trust
Sometimes getting in shape requires tough love. You need to be able to ask questions and feel vulnerable with your buddy if you want to reach big goals. It’s important to choose a workout partner who can honestly (but gently!) point out areas that could use improvement. It’s crucial that you respect your buddy enough to listen to their advice without getting defensive or hurt.

Do you have a workout buddy? If so, tell us about them! If not, what are you waiting for?

Gardener Grandpa

2008-11-03T09:05:00.003-06:00

A great article was written about my grandparents and their "garden". I tease my grandpa about calling it a "garden" because it's the size of a small farm.

Ever since he's retired from farming, he's put his energy into maintaining an orchard, garden, and greenhouse. It's huge and it keeps my fridge full! Every time I make a trip to Nebraska, I fill my trunk with fruits and veggies. Nothing beats homegrown!

Have you ever had a garden? What's your favorite fruit/veggie?

Party Hearty

2008-10-20T10:53:00.007-05:00

It's complete! This past weekend, Andrew asked the 5th and final groomsman to be a part of our wedding. Things are really falling into place, and we are so blessed to have the support of these amazing friends and family members. Here's the Who's Who and the How We Know Them:

JACEE, Maid of Honor. Moore, OK.
Andrew and I met Jacee through our LifeGroup and she has been one of our best friends for the past year and a half.

ZOE, Matron of Honor. Seattle, WA.
Zoe is my cousin and despite the fact that we grew up on opposite sides of the world, she is one of my very best friends ever.

MEGAN, Bridesmaid. Atlanta, GA.
Megan and I met at SCAD in an art history class and she quickly became my best friend at college.

ARICA, Bridesmaid. Lincoln, NE.
Arica is my 3-years-younger sister. I was honored to be a bridesmaid in Arica and Ryan's wedding in 2005 and I'm excited to have her as a part of ours!

ALLISON, Bridesmaid. Minden, NE.
Allison is my 'baby' sister, even though she's in high school now. She's my mini-me and I'm so lucky to have her as one of my bridesmaids!

JAY, Best Man. Tuttle, OK.
Jay and Andrew met while competing in high school rodeo. Years later, they are still great friends and we look forward to having Jay in our wedding.

JON, Groomsman. Edmond, OK.
Jon is married to Erin, Andrew's older sister, and is essentially the older brother Andrew never had.

JAMES, Groomsman. Edmond, OK.
James and I work together, and in the past year Andrew and James have developed a great friendship based on humor and mutual interests.

KODY and JACOB, Groomsmen. Edmond, OK.
Kody and Jake are Andrew's younger brothers and will add a certain level of silliness and fun to the wedding.

SIERRA and MESA JO, Junior Bridesmaids. Edmond, OK.
Sierra and Mesa are Andrew's daughters and will be my Junior Bridesmaids in the wedding. They have been so precious during the planning process and keep referring to it as "our wedding"...as in THEIRS, too, and not just mine and Andrew's.
KADEN and WILL, Ring Bearers. Edmond, OK.
Kaden and Will are Andrew's nephews (Jon and Erin's boys) and will (hopefully) be sporting their sweet mohawks along with their tuxes. :)

LILY and SADIE, Flower Girls. Edmond, OK.
Lily and Sadie are Andrew's nieces (Brad and Ali's girls) and are quite the experienced flower girls, having been in a couple of weddings already.

We are SO excited to have these special people stand with us on our special day! We love you guys. Thanks for saying YES!! :)

Did you have a large wedding? Did you include friends or family or both?

Ragamuffin Challenge Week 14

2008-10-11T09:36:00.000-05:00

I'm definitely getting into a groove (notice I said "groove" and not "rut"), and my body is responding in kind by continuing to change.

Five cardio sessions (Sat, Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri) + 30 minutes of weight training (Tues) + healthy eating led to another loss this week! YESSSSS!

Last Weigh-In:
10/4/08: Weight: 164.5 lbs Body Fat: 27.0% Water Content: 48.5%
10/11/08: Weight: 162.5 lbs Body Fat: 26.5% Water Content: 49%

RESULTS THIS WEEK: LOST: 2 lbs!! .5% body fat

RESULTS SO FAR: LOST 9.5 pounds and 4% body fat; gained 3% water content.

OVERALL GOALS:
1.) Weigh in at 145 lbs
2.) Decrease body fat to within healthy range: 19-26% (getting close!!)

THIS WEEK'S GOALS:
1.) Do cardio 4x this week
2.) Do 2 strength training sessions

Wanna join us? Click on the Ragamuffin graphic above for more details.

How To: Lettuce Wraps

2008-10-10T09:49:00.006-05:00

One of my favorite healthy things to order at Asian cuisine restaurants is lettuce wraps. Below is a recipe my college friends and I tried a few years back. I made these for dinner last night and they were just as tasty as I remembered! And you can make them pretty quickly (approx 25 minutes). Give 'em a try!

INGREDIENTS:
2 T olive oil
1 T minced fresh ginger root
1.25 LBS skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces
2 T rice vinegar
2 T teriyaki sauce
1 T honey
1 LB dark sweet cherries, pitted and halves (OR 1/3 C dried cherries, which is what I use when cherries aren't in season)
1.5 C shredded carrots
.5 C chopped green onion
.33 C toasted sliced almonds
12 leaves of lettuce (iceberg and romaine both work well)

STEP ONE
Dice up your raw chicken
STEP TWO
Heat 1 T of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped ginger. (note: in this photo, the oil is not yet in the skillet)
STEP THREE
Add the chicken and saute until cooked through (about 7-10 minutes). Set aside.
STEP FOUR
While the chicken is cooking, measure out and prepare the carrots, onion, almonds, and cherries.STEP FIVE
Whisk together the remaining 1 T oil, rice vinegar, teriyaki sauce, and honey.
STEP SIX
Add chicken mixture, cherries, carrot, green onion, and almonds.
STEP SEVEN
Toss ingredients. STEP EIGHT
Now comes the fun part (did you sense my sarcasm? If not, trust me, it's there). Wash 12 lettuce leaves and pat dry (or use a salad spinner if you are fortunate enough to have one).
STEP NINE
Spoon 1/12 of the chicken mixture onto the center of each lettuce leaf. Roll up leaf around filling and serve.
STEP TEN
ENJOY!
Have you ever made a restaurant favorite at home?

This Little Piggy

2008-10-09T09:21:00.003-05:00

Late Saturday night, around 12:30 am, I was turning in for the night when an unmarked van pulled up in front of my neighbor's house. Naturally, curiosity got the best of me, and I stood in my dark kitchen, peering out the blinds to see what sort of drama was about to unfold.

A man was behind the wheel and a woman got out of the van and threw the back doors open. I heard a little bit of scuffling, but couldn't see what was going on thanks to the tree in my front lawn.

The van sat there for about 15 minutes as the woman made trip after trip from the back doors to my neighbor's lawn.

It was only after they pulled away, that I saw this:
My neighbor's lawn was covered in plastic pigs! It was his 40th birthday, and some friends of his had hired a company to prank him.

The pigs hung around all day Sunday. Never before have cars driven so slowly on my street. Also, a dog that lives on our block thought the pigs were real and barked every 5 seconds for 18 hours. Fun times.

Have you ever pranked someone?

Made for Each Other

2008-10-08T12:44:00.004-05:00

I'm creating a slide show for the wedding that will chronicle the lives Andrew and I have lived thus far. My favorite part of the process has been sitting at the Meadowses' house and going through family albums. It's so fun to hear Robin and Dirk recall stories from their kids' younger days.

While retouching the photos, I couldn't help but notice that there are two (one of Andrew, one of me) that are strikingly similar:

Matching bikes, matching bare feet, stuff hanging off our handle bars, we're even the same level of filthy.

It's so awesome how God brings people together. In 1985, I was 3 years old, living in Nebraska, and running around with a broken leg. Andrew was 4, and (as evidenced by his dirty neck and the tools) helping build a house in Edmond, OK. Twenty-two years later, God crossed our [very different] paths and led us to each other.

God is so good. And Andrew was worth the wait.

How did you meet your spouse?

'Stachetember

2008-10-07T10:31:00.002-05:00

Every year before our organization-wide staff event, the boys in the Bling building (my graphic design/video production office) do something to showcase their camaraderie. Last year, they grew beards and wore tacky Christmas sweaters.

This year's team-building exercise? Mustaches.

The video says it all (great work, Kevin!). Eat your heart out, Selleck!

Wicked Mustaches from kevin ely on Vimeo.

The Secret to Workout Buddies (1 of 2)

2008-10-06T10:41:00.003-05:00

With my wedding to Andrew being just 8 months away, I am kicking it into high gear so I can look the best I’ve ever looked. Working out with Erin has been indispensable in keeping me motivated and focused on my goals.

Her knowledge, expertise, and to-the-point advice have proved incredibly helpful so far and will continue to be essential in the months to come. In developing our workouts (and our friendship!) I’ve come to recognize how powerful it is to have a workout partner by your side.

Today I bring you the Top Reasons to Have a Workout Buddy. Be on the lookout for a future blog that will help you choose a good workout buddy of your own!

Top Reasons to Have a Workout Buddy
1. Accountability
When you feel like sleeping in or sitting on the couch or eating Krispy Kremes, your workout buddy will be there to remind you of your goals, WHY those goals are important, and encourage you to stick to them.

2. Sharing Ideas
If you find yourself stuck in a workout or healthy eating rut, your workout buddy is there to suggest new exercises or recipes to try so you don’t get bored and give up.

3. Motivation/Encouragement
When the going gets tough, your workout buddy will cheer you on as you do one more rep than you thought you could. Your buddy points out that your clothes look looser, you are getting big biceps, and that they are proud of you for ignoring the chips and queso at your favorite Mexican restaurant. ;)

4. Time Flies
You know the old saying about time flying and having fun and all that. Well, same applies to buddy workouts...they go much faster when you are tag-teaming on sets of reps and making conversation.

What's your biggest obstacle to getting in the best shape of your life? How could a buddy help you overcome that obstacle?

Ragamuffin Challenge Week 13

2008-10-04T14:18:00.006-05:00

This has been a great week! After making significant tweaks and overcoming a plateau or two, my body is adjusting to my new habits. It's finally understanding what it is I'm trying to do here! LOSE WEIGHT the healthy way. I've continued to increase my intake of fruits and veggies and limit red meat and carbs. Lots of chicken and fish and produce, with whole grains thrown in on occasion.

In regards to sweets, they are out for now. Sometimes I do allow myself JUST ONE BITE. I've learned that if I tell myself "I can't have that", it becomes the only thing I want!! Luckily, one bite usually curbs the craving (aren't cravings 99% mental anyway?!) without negating all my hard work.

Healthy eating plus cardio (just 2x this week due to evening work engagements) and one (read: killer) session of weights/cardio with Erin led to a loss this week.

In related news, I just bought new jeans...size TEN thankyouverymuch. Was all the hard work worth it? Yes.

DO YOU SEE THAT NUMBER?! I could hardly believe it!

Last Weigh-In:
9/27/08: Weight: 169.0 lbs Body Fat: 28.0% Water Content: 48.5%
10/4/08: Weight: 164.5 lbs Body Fat: 27.0% Water Content: 48.5%

RESULTS THIS WEEK: LOST: 4.5 lbs!! 1% body fat

OVERALL GOALS:
1.) Weigh in at 145 lbs
2.) Decrease body fat to within healthy range: 19-26% (getting close!!)

THIS WEEK'S GOALS:
1.) Do cardio 4x this week
2.) Use Sunday afternoon to plan and prep healthy meals and snacks for the week

Wanna join us? Click on the Ragamuffin graphic above for more details.

Invitations Galore!

2008-10-01T10:34:00.005-05:00

Last weekend, Andrew had to work and I found myself with some free time. So...I decided to spend some time working on our wedding stuff.

Being a designer (and a control freak), I didn't feel right simply purchasing invites. Instead I designed them myself, as well as the informational insert (and the programs and pretty much EVERY printed piece we'll need for the wedding and reception).
I spent the better part of Saturday feeding sheet after sheet of 80# cover into my Epson printer. I was really pleased with the quality of the prints, despite the fact that my lowly inkjet is several years old.

Then came the 'fun' part...hand-cutting each and every invite and insert. I still have a few dozen invite sheets to cut, but I did get all the inserts finished! Oh, and I also have about 6 months before they need to go out! :)

I'm having so much fun doing all of this, I offered to help a grad school classmate plan her wedding (the week after mine). She's a bit stressed, and I'm having a blast, so I figured I'd offer my expertise and insane ability to manage time. :)

Did you plan your wedding? Did you do any "do it yourself" projects? Do tell!

CuppyCake Company

2008-09-30T11:02:00.009-05:00

As much as I love baking, I love it even more when it's an excuse to get together with my gal pals. To prepare for the ManyMeadows birthdays last week, Jacee and Emily came over to help me decorate the FOUR DOZEN CuppyCakes I had made.
We had an assembly line going, Jacee frosted and decorated her set while Emily assisted me in decorating the ones I had frosted.

I made a carrying tray out of an old Coca-Cola cardboard case.

These CuppyCakes were chocolate with mint icing and chocolate sprinkles.

I experimented with 'twist' ice cream icing while Jacee and Emily went wild with candy decorations, including cherry slices and gummy sharks.

So fun. And too cute to eat (though we ate them anyway!) Thanks for helping, girls!

If enough people are interested, I'd be happy to post a how-to lesson in a future blog. Just let me know!

A Dream Achieved

2008-09-29T11:03:00.004-05:00

Please excuse me while I brag.

My sweet Andrew has been welding for over 10 years, but has always worked for someone else. As of September 2, he fulfilled a dream by venturing out on his own to be a contract welder for Unit Drilling.

With the oil industry booming, there is a lot of work that needs to be done, and Andrew has really proved himself in just a few short weeks. Each week his responsibilities and privileges at work increase, and I couldn't be prouder of him!

It has been an honor to stand by Andrew's side as he has chased down his dream. When his first check came on Saturday, I just HAD to commemorate the moment with a snapshot.

As you can see, he is mighty excited.

I suggested that since neither of us had ever seen a check that big, we should cash it into $1 bills and roll around in the pile! :) Andrew's response? "Eww, money is dirty!" (Um, baby? You are a WELDER! You get dirty every day!)

Nevertheless, we've got some major celebrating to do this week: an achieved dream, PLUS today is his 27th birthday AND the 1-year anniversary of the day we met. Oh, Happy Day!

I love you, baby.

Ragamuffin Challenge Week 12

2008-09-25T16:09:00.004-05:00

Another week of healthy eating and lots of cardio! And I mean LOTS (see this post from earlier in the week). HA!

In addition to the cardio, I also met with Erin (my future sister-in-law and my "trainer") to do an hour of weights/toning on both Wednesday and Friday.

My diet is evolving steadily, and I'll be posting my favorite healthy recipes every now and then (like Chicken Chili. YUM!) I'm incorporating the Weight Watchers "Core" plan, and basing my meals and snacks on whole foods/"God Foods" (foods that are as close as possible to their original source; namely: fresh produce, fish, meat, whole grains, nuts. Nothing processed or packaged--"Man Foods").

The whole healthy eating thing definitely takes more planning, but the benefits are undeniable. And honestly, if you spend a couple hours washing, cutting, and packaging your produce into baggies and Tupperware, it's just as fast to make healthy meals throughout the week as it is to go through the drive-thru! You just have to be INTENTIONAL about it. In later blogs, I'll post some tips on how to maximize the benefits while minimizing the time commitment.

As for this week's status: I am now able to cinch my belt one notch tighter! My clothes are looking and feeling looser and I'm getting compliments more often. I feel GREAT, which is ultimately more important than the number on the scale, right?

Last Weigh-In:
9/20/08: Weight: 169.0 lbs Body Fat: 28.0% Water Content: 48%
9/27/08: Weight: 169.0 lbs Body Fat: 28.0% Water Content: 48.5%

RESULTS THIS WEEK: LOST: 0 lbs, 0% body fat

OVERALL GOALS:
1.) Weigh in at 145 lbs
2.) Decrease body fat to within healthy range: 19-26%

THIS WEEK'S GOALS:
1.) Do cardio 4x this week
2.) Try 2 new recipes using whole food

Wanna join us? Click on the Ragamuffin graphic above for more details.

My Secret Love Affair

2008-09-25T09:23:00.003-05:00

Have I mentioned I am completely enamored with using my Crock•Pot? Well, I am. And the more I experiment with it, the more I love it.

Last night's dinner really sealed the deal. The best part? It took less than 5 minutes to throw together!

You too can have a yummy (and healthy!) dinner on the table that's sure to wow your friends and family. How can I be so sure? 3 others ate this meal with me last night and LOVED it.

With no further ado: Chunky Chicken Chili
Prep: 5 Minutes Cook: 9 Hours + 15 minutes

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts*
2 cans (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 packet (1.25 oz) mild* chili seasoning mix
2 cans (15.5 oz each) black beans*, drained
Sour cream and cilantro, if desired

STEP ONE:
Place chicken in 3.5-4 quart slow cooker. Mix tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chili seasoning; pour over chicken.

STEP TWO:
Cover and cook on Low setting for 9 hours.

STEP THREE:
Stir to break up chicken. Stir in black beans. Cover and cook on Low setting 15 minutes until heated through. Serve with sour cream and cilantro.

As for us, we sprinkled a little cheddar cheese on top and served our chili with tortilla chips.

*Possible tweaks: You can substitute chicken thighs for the breasts if you prefer dark meat. If you like your chili spicier, use hot chili seasoning rather than mild and add a small can of chopped green chilies with the tomatoes. If black beans aren't your thing, you can also use chili beans or hominy.

This meal can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen. ENJOY!!

Not Just for Chubsters

2008-09-24T08:46:00.002-05:00

It's Season 6 and I'm addicted. This time around, Biggest Loser is focusing on families. Bob is training husband-wife teams while Jillian is helping parent-child teams. Last night was Week 2, and though I had class, I headed straight to the gym to watch the remainder of the episode.

I climbed on a recumbent bike, as it was the only machine near a TV showing Biggest Loser, looked at the clock (7:35) and set my bike for 25:00 so I could pedal while the show came to an end.

There's something very powerful about working out while watching a bunch of other people beat themselves into shape. I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a little choked up during each and every show.

So there I was, watching and pedaling, pedaling and watching. Oh, and since I knew my workout would be short, I grabbed a set of 5 lb weights so I could do bicep curls and triceps while I rode the bike. (I'm nothing if not a multi-tasker!)

No one told me that this week's Biggest Loser was a TWO HOUR EPISODE.

Naturally, I couldn't leave in the middle of the show and risk missing something important...so I just kept ridin' that bike. For 86 minutes.

By the time the show ended, I had ridden 22.62 miles and burned 585 calories.

Who's the Biggest Loser now?! ;)

Great News!

2008-09-23T09:55:00.005-05:00

My Grandma and I have always been close. Whenever I go home to Nebraska, I always make it a point to stop by her house and stay awhile. We often sit at the kitchen table until midnight or 1 am, just talking and laughing and telling stories.

LOVE my Grandma.

In planning my wedding to Andrew, I was struck with the thought that Grandma may not make the trip to Oklahoma. Because she's 88 and has some slight health problems, she just really doesn't enjoy traveling anymore.

I had plans to write her a letter, telling her how much it would mean to me for her to be here, but that I would understand if she didn't feel up to making the trip. Since the wedding isn't until May, I have been waiting to write the letter.

On Sunday, I was talking to my mom and she said my aunt from New York will be in Nebraska in October to visit my Grandma. Mom said, "They are going to buy a dress."

At first, I had no idea what Mom meant by that. Then she elaborated: my Grandma is planning to do everything she can to be here for the wedding, and she wants to find something nice to wear.

This is the best news I've heard all week!!

Love my Grandma.

Ragamuffin Challenge Week 11

2008-09-20T08:14:00.002-05:00

I BROKE IT. My plateau, that is. You have no idea how good it feels to type that. After several weeks of hovering at 170.5, I have dropped below 170!!

Per Erin's advice, I've been focusing more on my eating (she says weight loss is 80% eating and 20% work outs) and adding more cardio sessions to burn fat. What good are muscles if they are covered in a layer of fat?!

Last Weigh-In:
9/13/08: Weight: 170.5 lbs Body Fat: 28.5% Water Content: 47.5%
9/20/08: Weight: 169.0 lbs Body Fat: 28.0% Water Content: 48%

RESULTS THIS WEEK: LOST: 1.5 lbs, .5% body fat

YAY!!!!! This coming week, I will continue to focus on tweaking my eating habits for the better--more fruits and veggies and whole grains and less processed foods.

I'll continue with the cardio (I ran for 32 minutes (Couch to 5k) three times this week and also did the stair climber and the bike for a total of 1 hour) I've also continued setting my alarm 10 minutes earlier each morning, and I hope to start adding in morning cardio sessions beginning Sept 29th.

OVERALL GOALS:
1.) Weigh in at 150 lbs
2.) Decrease body fat to within healthy range: 19-26%

THIS WEEK'S GOALS:
1.) Do cardio 4x this week
2.) Add in daily snacks to keep my metabolism revved!

Wanna join us? Click on the Ragamuffin graphic above for more details.

Oklahoma Heritage

2008-09-19T09:24:00.002-05:00

Andrew and I went to the Oklahoma State Fair last night. Naturally, we were bombarded by the sights (cut-off jeans and mullets galore), the sounds (barkers, whizzing rides), and the smells (curly fries and funnel cake and...barnyard animals).

But my favorite thing of all was the area that showcased Native American tribal dancing. There were two men completely decked out in authentic garb, doing dances that I could imagine being performed around a bonfire hundreds of years ago.

The whole thing gave me chills, really. It was amazing to think that that used to be the 'norm' here in Oklahoma. And now the plains are paved over with freeways, shopping malls and high-rise buildings.

The experience caused in me a sense of bittersweet nostalgia. It was sad to see something that is such a rich part of Oklahoma's history relegated to a spectacle at the State Fair. My, how history suffers the more 'advanced' we become.

I'm 20 Again!

2008-09-18T10:59:00.004-05:00

After watching The Biggest Loser on Tuesday night and seeing the doctor explain to the contestants how old their insides were compared to their chronological age, I wondered how my results would stack up.

So I took the Real Age test to determine what healthy changes I can make to improve my quality of life and longevity.

After honestly answering several questions regarding Health, Habits, Relationships, Diet, and Fitness, I was emailed my results.

Though I just celebrated by 26th birthday, my level of health indicates that I am 20.2 years old!

The service is pretty neat, as it tells you simple ways you can tweak your lifestyle to add years to your life. Check it out!

Fall Favorites

2008-09-17T08:22:00.002-05:00

As much as I love comfy sweaters and the fiery colors of the leaves, one thing makes autumn feel like autumn to me: band practice.

Growing up, I lived only one block from the high school. Every year from 4th-12th grade I would hear the band's morning practice as I walked to school.

The drumline has always been my favorite. Although devoid of melody or harmony, the sheer rhythm made me want to play the drums REALLY badly. (But not badly enough to actually join band, you see).

Today, as I pulled into work, the OCS drumline was practicing. I cannot express how ALIVE I feel when I'm walking outside in the crisp air, the pounding of my footsteps matching the drummers' beat.

I know it's a few days until the official start of autumn, but in my mind, it's arrived.

What's your favorite thing about autumn? Do you say "autumn" or "fall"?

Ragamuffin Challenge Week 10

2008-09-15T10:33:00.003-05:00

"PLATEAU" would be the perfect word this week. Despite 3 cardio workouts and one session of weights with my future sister-in-law Erin (my 'trainer'...and a great one at that!), the scale and the body fat went nowhere.

Last Weigh-In:
9/6/08: Weight: 170.5 lbs Body Fat: 28.5% Water Content: 47.5%

9/13/08: Weight: 170.5 lbs Body Fat: 28.5% Water Content: 47.5%

RESULTS THIS WEEK: LOST: 0 lbs, 0% body fat

Despite no change (according to the scale), I HAVE started cinching my belt a notch tighter. And that's a truer indication of my progress than anything, especially since muscle weighs more than fat!

I'm bumping up my number of cardio workouts to burn more fat, and I'm on the second round of Week 4 (not quite ready to move on yet) of Couch to 5k. I've got my pedometer on today, too. Going to shoot for 10,000 steps a day!

I'm also setting my alarm 10 minutes earlier each morning, until I am able to comfortably wake up at 5:30 am and go to the gym in the mornings.

OVERALL GOALS:
1.) Weigh in at 150 lbs
2.) Decrease body fat to within healthy range: 19-26%

THIS WEEK'S GOALS:
1.) Do cardio 4x this week
2.) Do at least one full-body toning workout
3.) Add in daily snacks to keep the metabolism revved!

Wanna join us? Click on the Ragamuffin graphic above for more details.

The Many Meadows

2008-09-12T08:44:00.003-05:00

As Andrew's fiancé, I have been asked to join the Meadows family blog. Each day of the week, a different member of the family posts their thoughts on various topics. We've been going strong for almost two weeks now.

My first post is up there today, but look back over the past two weeks, as there are so many great posts to read!

I promise you'll be blessed!

Seven Years

2008-09-11T11:41:00.003-05:00

Seven years ago today, I was in Chicago, visiting my good friend Tyce who was attending college at Moody Bible Institute. Two days into my trip (9/9/01), I gave my life to Christ during the Sunday service at Moody Church.

Two days later, the world as we knew it changed forever.

I was sleeping in, when Rose (Tyce's friend that I stayed with on campus) burst into the room on the morning of September 11, 2001. Rose was from New Jersey and had many relatives and friends that lived and worked in New York City, as well as a friend who worked for the Pentagon (one of the other 'targets' on that fateful day.)

I awoke with a start, as Rose frantically dialed number after number, trying to contact her family back home. She asked me to pray with her and it was the first time I SAW God in action.

Not long after our prayer, Rose's phone started ringing like crazy, with reports of her family and friends being okay, some even being out of town or off work, rather than in NYC that day. Praise God.

We were quickly evacuated from the high-rise dorm and told to get outside or at least into the first-floor lobby. Many of the governmental buildings in Chicago were also evacuated as a safety precaution. I was with Tyce in the lobby of the guy's dorm when the news footage of the 2nd plane hitting the World Trade Center aired.

I have never felt so many emotions at once. Anger, fear, confusion, heartbreak all combined and were enveloped by this complete sense of, "This can't be happening. It's all a bad dream, and I'll soon wake up."

Seven years later, I can still see that plane so vividly in my mind. The same sick feeling washes over me every time I stop to really reflect on it.

Where were you? What do you remember?

Calling All 3rd Grade Parents!!

2008-09-10T11:25:00.002-05:00

Part of my grade for my graduate class (Development, Learning, and Family Involvement, Ages 4-8) will be based on parent interviews of PreK-3rd grade children. The problem?

I don't know any 3rd graders!

Do you?

If you are the parent of a 3rd grader, or you know of any parents of 3rd graders, I would love the opportunity to speak with them. The interviews will be relatively informal (and could even be done via email/telephone), and will cover basic topics such as the child's development, interests, family situation, strengths/weaknesses, etc.

If you are willing, or know someone who may be, please contact me.

Thanks!!!

Debt = Nasty

2008-09-09T09:05:00.003-05:00

I'm probably one of the few 26 year olds that read Money magazine. Or even save a certain percentage of my paycheck for a 'rainy-day' (did you know that the national average for saving money has dropped from 10% [twenty years ago] to nearly 0% [today]? Sad.)

Anyway, there was an article in the August 2008 issue called "The Smartest Advice I Ever Got," and I wanted to share a quote with you. Granted, it's a little 'graphic', but in its explicitness, I've realized even more how truly disgusting debt is. :)

From Elizabeth Gilbert, Author of Eat, Pray, Love:

My father is the most frugal human being I've ever met. His most adamant instruction was that I should never under any circumstances go into debt. To this end, he passed along the message his own grandfather had taught him: "Borrowing money is like wetting your bed in the middle of the night. At first all you feel is warmth and release. But very, very quickly comes the awful, cold discomfort of reality." That vivid image has stuck with me forever.[...]

"I Believe in Miracles..."

2008-09-03T09:32:00.003-05:00

...where you from, you sexy thing? ((sing it with me, you know you want to!))

Remember the plug I gave Amanda Hyden a few weeks ago when Andrew and I were anxiously awaiting our engagement photo session? Can I just say the girl has out-done herself AGAIN.

She posted a handful of our photos today and they are A-MA-ZING. You know you picked a good photographer when you see pictures of yourself and think, "Dang, who's that?!" :)

See what I mean here.

Ragamuffin Challenge Week 9

2008-08-31T13:19:00.002-05:00

Despite a busy grad school schedule, wedding planning, and being EXTREMELY sore, I was still able to work out twice this week. One workout short of my goal, but I figure 2 is better than 0. Andrew and I are also working towards eating out less. Home-cooked meals and lots of veggies led to a loss this week!

Last Weigh-In:
8/16/08: Weight: 171.5 lbs Body Fat: 28% Water Content: 47%

TODAY: Weight: 170.5 lbs Body Fat: 28.5% Water Content: 47.5%

RESULTS THIS WEEK:
LOST: 1 lbs, +.5% body fat

OVERALL GOALS:
1.) Weigh in at 150 lbs
2.) Decrease body fat to within healthy range: 19-26%

THIS WEEK'S GOALS:
1.) Work out three or four times
2.) Have a serving of fruit or vegetables with every meal!

Wanna join us? Click on the Ragamuffin graphic above for more details.

How to Build a Welding Bed

2008-08-20T09:41:00.003-05:00

My sweet fiancé Andrew has been welding for 10 years now. It's always been his dream to work for himself as a contract welder. I'm happy to announce that my man is stepping closer to his dream every day!

Below are the progress shots I took of him building his welding bed. Keep in mind that he started with just a flat sheet of metal, people!

Adjusting the gas tank and wiring.

A view from the back...

The tail lights will go in the recessed cut-outs.

Admiring his handiwork and taking a hydration break. (That's not part of it, but it's still very important...)

Once it was built and the tool boxes and lights were installed, we made a trip to Tuttle to visit Andrew's friends and have the bed painted. Here are the pre-paint shots.

Backview, complete with lights.

Racks and toolboxes galore!

Bottle racks and spools for hoses.

After it was painted, it looked SO GOOD. So professional. And I was completely beaming from being so proud of Andrew for going after his dream!

((So shiny, you can see my reflection!))

And here's my handsome weldin' man with his brand-new welding bed. Doesn't he look excited?! :)

I love you, baby, and I'm so proud of you! I knew you could do it!!!

Just Perfect

2008-08-19T08:25:00.003-05:00

Shortly after Andrew and I got engaged, my younger (but already married) sister, Arica, sent me this book:

She suggested I read it before getting married, as it would help me through this "rite of passage" we call marriage. Can I just say that this book is AMAZING?! I'm so glad she loaned it to me. It's the kind of "common sense" that you don't really think about until it hits you square in the face.

I just finished reading a section on perfectionism that I feel applies to so many areas of our lives, not just wedding planning. I pray that you find as much wisdom in these words as I did:

Perfectionism's function is to keep people busy and cut off from their authentic emotional experience. When the mind is occupied and moving at a frenetic pace, there is little room left for feelings. Perfectionism keeps us externally focused, perennially attempting to achieve what our culture deems ideal, perennially walled off from the mysterious churnings of our internal lives.

We live in a culture where we are trying to outrun the mystery of life. Because Westerners feel tremendous anxiety when they simply sit still, we will go to great lengths to organize our lives so that all available time slots are occupied by meeting and activities. We believe that if we consume ourselves with acts of doing, we can void sitting with the contents of our being. Doing, achieving, and the pursuit of perfection are sibling stitches in the fabric of this culture[...]. For it is in the emptiness, the quiet moments in the day when we sit beside a tree or stare into the blankness of the sky, that the underside of life is allowed to tiptoe to the edge of our conscious minds.

This doesn't just apply to brides-to-be. I KNOW that during my 25 years of singlehood, I kept busy in order to keep from feeling lonely. I figured if I was surrounded by people and things to do, there would be no room or time for loneliness.

What about you? Did this passage speak to you at all? Are you a perfectionist? How does that trait help you or hurt you?

Rain, Rain GO AWAY

2008-08-18T08:45:00.002-05:00

For almost a month now, Andrew and I have been excited to have our engagement pictures taken. Today is the day and now there's a 60% chance of rain! BOOOOOO!

In the meantime, check out the site of the AMAZINGLY talented gal that will be taking our shots: Amanda Hyden. Man, she's GREAT! We can hardly wait to be added to her portfolio! :)

But the weather may force us to wait.

If any of you know an anti-rain dance, please commence performing it now. Thank you.

Ragamuffin Challenge Week 8

2008-08-16T08:24:00.003-05:00

This week was better than last, in terms of working out. I managed to make it to the gym 3 times: once to run, once to weight train, and once to ride the bike. And after not getting to the gym at all last week, my body was SCREAMING for mercy. The weights day particularly kicked my rump. I was so sore, I spent all of Thursday and Friday walking around and sitting down like an octogenarian would.

I made healthy eating choices and did a better job of watching my portions this week, as well as adding more vegetables into my diet. As for the scale, it was like a time-warp back to last week.

Last Weigh-In:
8/9/08: Weight: 171.5 lbs Body Fat: 28% Water Content: 47%

TODAY: Weight: 171.5 lbs Body Fat: 28% Water Content: 47%

Exactly the same? Are you serious?!

RESULTS THIS WEEK:
LOST: 0 lbs, 0% body fat

Guess I'll just have to keep on keepin' on and maybe kick things up a notch. I do FEEL better, and that's ultimately more important to me than the scale's reading anyway.

OVERALL GOALS:
1.) Weigh in at 150 lbs
2.) Decrease body fat to within healthy range: 19-26%

THIS WEEK'S GOALS:
1.) Work out three or four times
2.) Have a serving of fruit or vegetables with every meal!

Wanna join us? Click on the Ragamuffin graphic above for more details.

How to Ask a Bridesmaid...

2008-08-12T10:23:00.003-05:00

To me, planning a party is nearly as much fun as actually having the party, so you can imagine how quickly my designer wheels are spinning in regards to my upcoming marriage to Andrew. Not to mention we LOVE the idea of adding lots of personal, DIY (do-it-yourself) touches that will make our wedding uniquely "us".

On Your Mark...Get Set...GO!

I chose my Bridesmaids fairly quickly and I knew wanted to ask them in a special way so they would know how important they are to me.

Introducing: The Abbi Z Bridesmaid Announcement Package!!

I pride myself on being both creative AND resourceful. In fact, the only thing I spent money on was the mailing envelopes! Everything else was remnants from art school and various bookmaking projects.

First, I sent each Maid a wrapped package with a note asking her NOT to open it...yet. A phone number was included so all the Maids could join me for a conference call. During the call, the girls would be instructed to open their packages.

Inside the package was some fun green confetti, a small silver wrapped surprise, and an envelope.

The envelopes held a "Bridesmaid Booklet" and the silver package contained a book monogrammed with each girl's initial.

The booklets folded open to reveal the message "Will you be my Bridesmaid?" and on the back of each strip, I wrote a personal message to each girl, telling them how much I love them and how much it would mean to me for them to stand with Andrew and me on our big day.

The booklet contained information about the wedding and the pre-planning: Our colors, the tentative date, the dress style I liked, what I thought would be good for shoes, hair, accessories, etc., as well as a promise to be as NON-Bridezilla as possible. :) I included contact info for each girl so they could get in touch with each other and websites they could peruse for inspiration and ideas.

I can't imagine walking this path without these girls by my side! I figured investing a little DIY time would show them just how much they mean to me: past, present, and future. Love you girls!!

Now you share: What's your favorite part of planning a party or event?

Ragamuffin Challenge Week 7

2008-08-10T13:26:00.005-05:00

Disclaimer: If you're searching for Week 6, it doesn't exist, as I was unable to post that week.

This was a hard week for me. Wedding plans are underway, and appointments every day after work served to sabotage my workout schedule. I know, I know: Big E-X-C-U-S-E. Excuse or not, I didn't make it to the gym even once this week (ugh). Luckily, I made somewhat healthy eating choices, so my weight stayed the same and I dropped a little more body fat.

Last Weigh-In:
7/19/08: Weight: 171.5 lbs Body Fat: 29.5% Water Content: 47%

TODAY: Weight: 171.5 lbs Body Fat: 28% Water Content: 48%

RESULTS THIS WEEK:
LOST: 0 lbs, 1.5% body fat

OVERALL GOALS:
1.) Weigh in at 150 lbs
2.) Decrease body fat to within healthy range: 19-26%

THIS WEEK'S GOALS:
1.) Work out three or four times
2.) Have a serving of fruit or vegetables with every meal!

Wanna join us? Click on the Ragamuffin graphic above for more details.

The Big Ask

2008-07-28T16:13:00.007-05:00

I've had many requests to hear the love story between Andrew Meadows and I. So, here goes. It's lengthy, but I knew that y'all would want to tar and feather me if I left you hanging halfway through! :)

The back-story:
Andrew's sister Anna and I met at a staff event in December of 2006, shortly after I started working at LifeChurch.tv. 10 months later, Anna invited me to her 21st birthday dinner. Andrew had visited my LifeGroup a couple of times and called me to offer to carpool. Afterwards, everyone went to a movie and Andrew and I decided to walk around downtown by the canal instead.

Fast forward another ten months.

We're completely in love and have talked about getting married, it's all just a matter of 'when.' I am nearly impossible to surprise, so Andrew had to be extra sneaky to keep me from getting suspicious. My birthday was the perfect time.

He told me not to make any plans this year, as he wanted to take care of it. All I knew was that he was taking me to dinner. He drove downtown and we ate Italian food. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

My feet were hurting thanks to my high heels and the triple-digit heat, so when Andrew suggested we take a walk by the canal after dinner, my reply was something along the lines of, "I don't know if I can even walk to the car."

Instead, he suggested I sit on a bench while he ran to the car to drop off our box of leftovers. When he came back, we made small talk and then he gave me a birthday card. Inside was a long note, telling me about a woman he met one day while shopping. He told me about how she was helping him find what he was looking for and spilled her life story to him.

She was a welder also, and her hobby recently became a 2nd income when her husband of 23 years decided to leave her. She felt like her heart had been ripped out, and she kept saying to Andrew, "I don't know why I'm telling you all this!" He said he knew exactly how she felt because he had been through it too.

The card continued:

Then I began to share with her how God takes things away sometimes to make sure we still trust Him. And how once we go thru the hard times and stay faithful to Him, He begins to bless us and renew us in ways we can't imagine. That's when I told her about you. How God had brought us together. And how you love me and support me. How I'm completely crazy about you, and hopelessly in love! I said, 'She helps take the pain away.'

Abbi, God brought you into my life to be my partner, to complete me. I truly believe that He will use us to help people just like *****. I hope this is the best b-day ever! I love you! Drew.

At the bottom, there was one final line that read:
"Oh, as for the rest of the story..."

I looked at him, slightly confused, but wondering if what I thought was happening was actually happening. He said, "The rest of the story is...that woman's 2nd job is welding, but her first job is in a jewelry store."

At that moment, he got off the bench, pulled something from his pocket, and got down on one knee. I honestly can't quote him at this point in the story, because I pretty much blanked out.

IT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING. ANDREW MEADOWS WAS ASKING ME TO MARRY HIM.

I just sat there, stunned. Then I kissed him and gave him a huge hug and said, "Oh, geez!! Did I say 'yes' yet?!" and he started laughing. He sent his dad, Dirk, a text message saying "She said yes!" Dirk replied, "Yay! Tell her welcome to the family." And that's when the tears came.

Shortly afterwards, we headed to his parents' house to tell them and Andrew's daughters the news. My own parents were at the movies and I didn't get a chance to tell them until the next day!!! Ahh! I was dying.

So...I am going to OFFICIALLY be one of the "Many Meadows." And I couldn't be happier. Andrew is everything I've ever wanted in a man, and I KNOW that God made us for each other.

Thank you to all of you who have supported us, encouraged us, and offered Christ-centered advice. Our relationship is stronger because of your love and wisdom.

Birthday Excitement

2008-07-27T22:03:00.002-05:00

So...I turned 26 on Friday. As far as birthdays go, this one was pretty dang good. Probably the best yet, quite honestly. I'll tell you more of the story tomorrow, but here's a sneak peek:

Ragamuffin Challenge Week 5

2008-07-26T09:05:00.003-05:00

I'm content with this week's results, despite the fact that I simply held steady.

I worked out 3 times this week. I found a link called "Couch to 5k", so I have been following along with that plan. I ran twice this week, did one intense upper-body strength training session, and rode my bike 10 miles around the lake with Andrew.

I've never been one to like running, but the Couch to 5k thing makes it bearable. I felt so good the first time I did it, I took a picture of myself when I got home.

Wha? What is that?! A bicep muscle?! Is that the makings of an athlete I see?! Wow. ;) I'm going to keep this picture where I can see it when I'm lacking perseverence (on the fridge, maybe? lol).

I kept up the eating-more-often thing. I think it's turning me into a fat-burning-metabolism machine! My birthday was this week, and despite the fact that I ate pasta and TWO servings of ice cream cake, I didn't gain an ounce. Woo!

7/19/08: Weight: 171.5 lbs Body Fat: 29.5% Water Content: 47%

TODAY: Weight: 171.5 lbs Body Fat: 29.5% Water Content: 48%

RESULTS THIS WEEK: LOST: 0 lbs, 0% body fat

I'll be honest, a loss would've been nice, but I'll take the zeros too...so much better than a gain!

OVERALL GOALS:
1.) Weigh in at 150 lbs
2.) Decrease body fat to within healthy range: 19-26%

THIS WEEK'S GOALS: JULY 26-AUG 2
1.) Work out three or four times
2.) Continue logging entries on FitDay and maintaining accountability.

OH, AND, I have another reason to keep working hard at exercising and getting in shape--I'm ENGAGED!!! Andrew knows I'm difficult to surprise, so he asked on my birthday (last night). So...little white wedding dress, here I come!!! If anyone has advice on how to get in shape for a wedding, let's hear it. I have about 10 months (May 2009).

Wanna join us? Click on the Ragamuffin graphic above for more details.

'Wait 'til later'? What does THAT mean?!

2008-07-24T10:25:00.004-05:00

My mom sent me an interesting article about delayed gratification in regard to finances. I wanted to share it with you because it has so many valid points.

I'm not normally one to get on a soapbox, but I cannot tell you how strongly I feel about investing money for the future, avoiding debt like the Plague, and living below one's means. These are principles my parents raised me to believe in, and I try my best to follow them.

As for the article, I find it fascinating that preschoolers can be taught to delay gratification, but many adults cannot. What is our society coming to?!

Read the article and let me know your thoughts.

School Daze

2008-07-23T12:00:00.002-05:00

I honestly am amazed when I look back and see how quickly my life has gone the past decade or so. Each year seems to fly by quicker than its predecessor. And each year brings more life changes.

I'm excited to announce that I will be taking fall classes at UCO starting in less than one month! After a lot of prayer and soul-searching and asking myself "What do I really want to do with my life?," I have realized that I have a passion for teaching, especially young children.

Because I am already alternatively certified to teach art, I will be at UCO to get my Masters in Education with a focus on Early Childhood Education. Because I refuse to go into debt, I will only take classes as often as I can afford to pay cash for them.

After getting my UCO student ID, I realized how much things have changed. How much I have changed. The picture says it all:

My SCAD student ID, circa Summer '99 (Got this during Rising Star when I was 17).

My UCO ID...ready for a new adventure!

My Buddy

2008-07-22T16:22:00.006-05:00

Last Saturday, my baby sister turned 15.

FIFTEEN!

HOW did this happen?! She was supposed to stay little FOREVER! We had a deal!!!

I remember the day she was born VERY vividly, as it was just 6 days before my 11th birthday. Despite the big age difference, we've always been really close. She's the best joke-teller, laugh-sharer, and Mini-Me I could ever have asked for.

Oh, and she's stinkin' amazing at art, especially on the computer. She 'cloned' herself one day...just for fun!

So here's to you, Buddy. I love you. And I'm proud to call you my sister.

Oh...and I feel older with every birthday you have. So cut it out, wouldja?!

Your perpetually older sister,
Abs

Summer Vacation '08 Part Three

2008-07-21T09:56:00.003-05:00

If you remember, I wrote a series of posts about my dear college friend, Katie Hammontree Whitlow, who died in December of Leukemia.

On the way back to Oklahoma, Andrew and I stopped in Dalton, GA (Carpet Capitol of the World, fyi) to meet Katie's family. We were so blessed to spend a couple of hours with her Mama and Daddy, her sister Annie (and Annie's daughter, Maggie), her brother Brock, her sweet daughter Merriwether and her husband, Jacob.

I wasn't able to attend Katie and Jacob's wedding three years ago, so this was our first meeting. And it was bittersweet. It was just so hard to be at Katie's home without Katie.

Her home was completely adorable, and fit her so perfectly.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of her sewing table, the place where she created all her masterpieces.

Merriwether cooked me 'ravioli' in her cute pink kitchen.

Merriwether and Jacob share a giggle.

On the front porch with Merriwether and Jacob.

I wish I could tell Katie how much I loved meeting her family, and how much I miss her, and how her house just felt like HOME to me. Everyone seems to be doing incredibly well, but please continue to keep the Hammontrees and the Whitlows in your prayers. You can never have too much prayer!

Love you guys. Come visit us in Oklahoma! :)

Ragamuffin Challenge Week 4

2008-07-19T10:39:00.002-05:00

Lots of positive stuff happened this week, and I'm excited to be blogging about it all this morning!

On Monday, I began my health and fitness accountability with Michelle. My friend Megan also wanted in, so now I have two close friends "watching" me.

I signed up (free) for FitDay.com. It allows you to track your food intake, activities, and weight, as well as journal about how your day went. Each day, I dilligently filled out the forms and my accountability partners read them and emailed me comments/suggestions/encouragement the following morning. You can see this week's entries here.

I worked out 4 times this week and tried some new things to avoid falling into a rut. My boyfriend Andrew has been very supportive and even joined me for a 10-mile bicycle ride around the lake on Thursday. He even switched bikes with me when mine started to hurt my knees. So chivalrous. ;)

The combination of consistent exercise and eating more often throughout the day paid off on the scale this morning!

7/12/08: Weight: 176 lbs Body Fat: 30.5% Water Content: 46.5%

TODAY: Weight: 171.5 lbs Body Fat: 29.5% Water Content: 47%

RESULTS THIS WEEK: LOST: 4.5 lbs, 1% body fat

WOO HOO!!!! I'm most excited about the fact that I'm getting closer and closer to the healthy body fat range! Just 3.5% to go to hit the top of the range!

OVERALL GOALS:
1.) Weigh in at 150 lbs
2.) Decrease body fat to within healthy range: 19-26%

THIS WEEK'S GOALS: JULY 19-25
1.) Work out three or four times
2.) Continue logging entries on FitDay and maintaining accountability.
3.) Be conscious about "birthday eating" (July 25) and do my best to not go overboard on sweets/restaurant food/snacks

Wanna join us? Click on the Ragamuffin graphic above for more details.

Summer Vacation '08 Part Two

2008-07-18T10:03:00.002-05:00

After the wedding, Andrew and I headed to Savannah--my old stompin' grounds. I received my BFA (Graphic Design) from SCAD in November of 2003 and went back in May of '04 to "walk." I hadn't been back since then, so it was really fun to see what all had changed.

Our first stop was Forsyth Park, the biggest park in downtown Savannah.

I absolutely LOVE the Spanish Moss that hangs from the trees in Savannah! So many fun college memories took place at Forsyth: Sidewalk Arts Festivals, ultimate frisbee, Symphony in the Park, etc.

That night, we met my friend Katherine for pizza at my FAVORITE pizza place in the WORLD: Vinnie Van Go Go's!

Vinnie's will ALWAYS be on my "must-do" list when I visit Savannah. Dang, it's good. And the patio seating that overlooks City Market makes for prime people-watching.

***

Day Two started with lunch at Paula Deen's restaurant, Lady and Sons. It's quite the ordeal to get in, however. Get this: the place opens at 11 am, but you have to show up at 9:30 JUST to get your name on the list!

So, Andrew and I thought we'd be smart and swing by at 9:30, sign up, and go to the gym 'til 11. But when we got there, at least ONE HUNDRED people were already waiting and the line took up an entire city block!

Luckily, we secured an 11 o'clock table! At 10:45, we returned to wait in the "Seating Line," which was actually just a crowd of people waiting to hear their names called.A tour trolley went by and made comments about Lady and Sons, causing us to feel like caged animals at the Zoo. ;)

But the food? TOTALLY worth the wait [weight? ;)] Andrew got the buffet (BBQ, fried chicken, mac n cheese, good ol' Southern comfort food)

...and I got the puff-pastry chicken pot pie. To. Die. For. And, of course, we both had sweet tea, because that's what you drink in the south.

On our walk home, we stopped to take a pic of me next to my old dorm.

Good ol' O House. So many memories in that place!

The square behind the dorm is still beautiful, despite the fact that the fountain water was naaaaaasty.

Despite having full, FULL tummies, we jumped into our swimming suits and headed to the beach.

I LOVE being a beach bum. How in the world did I end up in Oklahoma?! haha.

We met my ex-neighbor Judy for dinner (she has a beach house now...luuucky!) and headed back to the beach for sunset.

Such a great time!!

Summer Vacation '08 Part One

2008-07-16T10:08:00.005-05:00

Andrew and I took a vacation two weeks ago. Two of my best college friends got married, so we went to help celebrate.

Megan (the bride) and I met our 2nd year at SCAD in Survey of Western Arts 2 (for you non-art majors, that's an art history class). She was a transfer student who's apartment was near mine, so our friendship developed quickly.

Nicole (maid of honor), Megan, me

Penny (Megan's mom), Megan, me

Pat (the groom) and I worked together in the summers of 2001-2003 as RAs for SCAD's Rising Star Program. Naturally, we RAs hung out 24/7 for 6 weeks, doing rounds, planning events, and whip-cracking students who got out of line (not really...okay, maybe...at least mentally).
Geoff, Pat, Vek, and me (RSAs from '03)

So, two friends. Two separate circles. I think they met at one of my bday parties, since July 25th always fell in the middle of Rising Star. But they never dated or anything while we were at school.

Then a couple of years ago, Megan told me that she and Pat had started talking online. Next thing I know, they are dating, then engaged, and now...married. Pretty wild!

I was excited about the trip, because I expected the wedding to feel like a 'college reunion' of sorts. And I can honestly say that it was one of the most fun weddings I've ever attended. Near the end of the evening, Vek suggested that Andrew and I take a "cheesy prom picture," so we did:

Everything was just so them. There were just enough "Megan pieces" and "Pat pieces" to the ceremony and reception...right down to Pat's grooms cake. Love it.

Thanks for being my friends, Megan and Pat. All the best for your future together. I love you both so much!!

Mistaken Identity

2008-07-15T11:41:00.004-05:00

I took Jazzercise classes for several months, and one of the instructors always called me by name. Until about three weeks ago, when she greeted me with, "Hello, Amanda!" in front of a room full of people.

Since I'm not in the business of embarrassing people, especially in front of a crowd, I just let it slide. I figured it was an accident anyway.

I saw the same gal at UCO's gym last night. She was getting ready to teach a class there. As I was signing in, she said, "Well, there's Amanda!" I just smiled and said "Hey ****, how are you?" and headed to the weight room.

She's called me Amanda twice, so she clearly thinks that's my name. So...what do I do?

Should I correct her next time or is it too late?

Have you ever called someone the wrong name? How did you feel if/when they corrected you?

Ragamuffin Challenge Week 3

2008-07-12T17:31:00.004-05:00

I'm back from vacation and excited to be able to get back to a regular routine of working out and eating healthy! It was discouraging to see my scale shoot up last Saturday, but I know several factors contributed to my gain:

1. Vacation eating. I didn't binge on junk or anything, but I wasn't able to cook all week, either. I made healthy choices when possible and tried to always get salads instead of burgers at fast food joints.

2. Dehydration. I've read that your body's signal for thirst is just like its signal for hunger, so it's easy to want to eat when what you really need is to drink water. And I know that during my vacation I didn't drink as much water as I usually do.

3. Being female. Women tend to retain more water than men, and as our cycles fluctuate, so does the number on the scale. (Plus, every human body retains water when it's dehydrated. See #2.)

Despite last week's gain, I stayed the course and completed my goal this week. I lifted weights for 30 minutes on Monday, lifted weights for 45 minutes and ran/walk for 30 minutes on Thursday, and rode the stationary bike for 40 minutes on Friday.

Date: 7/5/08 Weight: 175.5 lbs Body Fat: 31.5% Water Content: 45.5%

Date: 7/12/08 Weight: 176 lbs Body Fat: 30.5% Water Content: 46.5%

RESULTS THIS WEEK: Weight Gained: +.5 lbs Body Fat Lost: -1%

Not a bad week overall. I would've like to have seen a loss, but surely the numbers will begin to go down now that I am back to cooking for myself again. I'm just going to keep on keepin' on and I know it will pay off!

OVERALL GOALS:
1.) Weigh in at 150 lbs
2.) Decrease body fat to within healthy range: 19-26%

THIS WEEK'S GOAL: JULY 12-18
1. Start an eating journal. Record time, food, amount, and my mood in order to track eating patterns and pinpoint where I can make some more healthy changes.
2. Begin in-person accountability with a friend in terms of my eating habits (journal) and workout regimen.

Ragamuffin Challenge Week 2

2008-07-05T09:33:00.001-05:00

I'm on vacation this week, posting from the Hyatt Place Atlanta/Cobb Galleria. But I made a commitment to myself to stay dedicated to healthier habits despite my trip, so I brought my scale with me! But before I left, I took a pic of my tracking chart to prove that I met goal #2 for this past week. It is taped to my bathroom cabinet next to the mirror. Can't go in there and not see it:

It has weight loss and body fat loss in half-pound increments, as well as a yellow bar indicating my goals (150 lbs; 19-26% body fat). Below that, I have written my long-term goals as well as attached a post-it with my goals for the corresponding week (which get crossed off as they are completed)

On top of that, I am happy to report that I completed both of my goals for this week. The chart is made and I worked out FOUR times: Saturday (personal training session), Monday (interval training on treadmill for 45 min), Thursday (interval training on the treadmill for 60 min) and Friday ('random' setting on the stationary bike for 35 mins). YAY! To be honest, it's easier to work out on vacation, because until the wedding on Saturday night, we have NO plans...so we work out and then go lay by the pool. Sweeeet.

Date: 6/28/08 Weight: 172 lbs Body Fat: 30.5% Water Content: 46%

Date: 7/5/08 Weight: 175.5 lbs Body Fat: 31.5% Water Content: 45.5%

RESULTS THIS WEEK: Weight Lost: +3.5 lbs Body Fat Lost: +1%

I'm a little frustrated by this week's results, considering how hard I have been exercising. But I have a feeling that the results may be off slightly, due to my screwed-up sleeping schedule and eating habits (thanks, Vacation!) I hope to see huge losses over the next couple of weeks as life gets back to normal.

OVERALL GOALS:
1.) Weigh in at 150 lbs
2.) Decrease body fat to within healthy range: 19-26%

THIS WEEK'S GOAL: JULY 5-11
1. Work out at least 3 times, despite being on vacation through Wednesday.

Do YOU have any health goals this week?

One Prayer

2008-07-01T08:16:00.002-05:00

If you don't know anything about this, check it out. If you do know about this and you haven't been to the website to connect with other believers, do it today!

ONEPRAYER.COM

Officially a Ragamuffin

2008-06-28T09:56:00.002-05:00

All right. This is the beginning of my journey with the Ragamuffin Top Challenge! I'm very excited and I wanted to get this post up before I hit the gym this morning. I've taken my pictures and my measurements and I'm ready to go!

Date: Saturday, June 28, 2008
Height: 5'8.5"
Weight: 172 lbs
Body Fat: 30.5%
Water Content: 46%

Bust: 36"
Chest: 31.5"
Waist: 32"
Hips: 43"
Right Thigh: 26"
Left Thigh: 26.25"
Right Arm: 12.5"
Left Arm: 12.5"

OVERALL GOALS:
1.) Weigh in at 150 lbs
2.) Decrease body fat to within healthy range: 19-26%

THIS WEEK'S GOALS:
1. Work out at least 3 times, despite leaving for vacation on Wednesday.
2. Print out a weight/BF% chart so I can track my progress

Wish me luck!

Ragamuffin Top Challenge!

2008-06-27T11:18:00.006-05:00

Los at Ragamuffin Soul has an on-going RagamuffinTop Challenge, and I'm getting on board.

("What's a muffin top?" you ask? Find out here.)

Starting tomorrow (Saturday), I will have a weekly post with photos or a video regarding my progress, as well as a weigh-in. Post One will include my overall goals, my weekly goal(s), current stats (height, weight, body fat, water content, measurements), and swimsuit photos (what am I thinking?!). But, then again, if I go to the pool dressed like that, it's not like the world isn't seeing it anyway, right? I'm just sayin'...

Accountability has always been a good thing for me, and I haven't had enough of it lately. (My iPod 'trainer' is great, but he doesn't call me on Saturday mornings to remind me to actually go to the gym.)

I'm excited about this. And I hope it inspires you to take charge of your life and health, too. I've been 'trying' for far too long. It's time to get serious.

Kung Fu!

2008-06-26T10:28:00.002-05:00

Because of the blog I posted last month, I have had lots of opportunities to experiment. So, to those of you who requested a cake, THANK YOU! It's been so fun to try new things and meet new people!!

I am now in the process of preparing my design website, and when I finally get it going, I will be sure to let you know. All three of you. I am excited to show you all the cakes I created this past month, but until my new site launches, I am keeping them a secret. To tide you over in the meantime, I will share one...

Cade's 5th birthday cake was a lot of fun to make. (Cade is Roger's son.) The theme was Kung Fu Panda, which offered me the chance to try some new ingredients and techniques. His parents were very helpful and after much searching, his mom Shelly was able to find an amazing cake topper! It perfectly complemented all the pretzel rod bamboo I had made!

I took the first photo and Shelly took the rest. Thanks, Shelly!

Happy Birthday, Cade! Hiiiiii-yah!

Oh, George.

2008-06-23T13:51:00.002-05:00

Some of my favorite memories revolve around watching stand-up comedy routines with my dad. Dad has always had a great sense of humor, and he wanted to share his favorites with me: Robin Williams, Bill Cosby, John Belushi, Emo Phillips, Gallagher, and--of course--George Carlin.

Despite the large amount of profanity and vulgarity, I was always drawn to Carlin's humor. I loved the way he took every day things and made them into hilarious observations. Some of my favorite bits were ones where he picked apart the English language (or went on a rant, listing dozens of things in rapid succession).

George Carlin died yesterday of heart failure. And when I heard the news this morning, I felt a sadness that I can't explain. It's strange to miss someone you never knew. But I do.

Thank you, George, for all the laughs and the times you made me think.

One Year.

2008-06-20T13:01:00.003-05:00

Exactly one year has passed since I got the call. I pray you never get one like it. It's the kind where your mom asks you 3 questions:

1. Are you home?
2. Are you alone?
3. Are you sitting down?

After three yeses, Mom told me that my 15-year-old cousin had chosen to end his life. My perceptions of my family changed forever. I'd be lying if I said I didn't question God's goodness for a long time following that call.

Mom's side of the family has always been a large, conservative group of Nebraskans. In general, people figured we were as wholesome as the veggies Grandpa grew on the farm. And we were. Plain. Vanilla. Perhaps even boring at times. Suicide wasn't supposed to happen to our family. We were "functional".

And my cousin was so amazing. He was THE smartest person I have ever known, despite the challenges he faced due to several medical conditions, including Aspbergers and Tourette syndrome. Often, his brilliance would interfere with his social skills, but since he was one of 18 cousins, he was never without a playmate during family get-togethers.

I was 10 when he was born, and so many of my memories of the farm include him. It's nearly impossible to believe he's gone. I think about him every day and my guts just ache. I'm sure it's a million times more difficult for his parents and his 10-year-old brother. Please lift them up in prayer. And hug your family a little tighter. They are blessings. Don't forget that.

PodFitness

2008-06-18T14:54:00.005-05:00

I recently discovered Podfitness and did their free 10-day trial. In a word:

AMAZING.

I love going to the gym (to be honest, the going is the hardest part, but once I am there, I love it), but I often get in a rut, doing the same cardio or toning routines over and over. PodFitness to the rescue!

How it works: You sign up for PodFitness and tell them your stats and your goals and they choose the Top 10 best trainers for you. I've seen some of these people in magazines, and others are celebrity trainers.

You choose what type of workout you want (treadmill? at home? walking? yoga? outdoors? gym?) and their schmancy technology mixes YOUR music with the trainer's voice! The trainer gives instructions, counts your reps/minutes, and encourages you as you go. Just download to your iPod and *poof* personal trainer at your fingertips!

When the trainer speaks, your music fades slightly. Once you've been given the instructions, the music comes back to full volume. You can stick with one trainer, and they will rotate your workouts so you never get in a rut. You can choose how much encouragement you want and how many times you need to hear the instructions for each move. For in-home workouts, you tell them what equipment you own, and they customize the moves.

The weight training ones are my favorite, because I'm using new equipment and doing moves that I never would have thought of. The difference it's made in my body in just a week is pretty amazing. I'm starting to notice muscles I didn't even know existed.

The 10-day trial is free, and after that, it's $60 quarterly. Look into it. You just might love it, too!

Awestruck

2008-06-17T08:26:00.002-05:00

The other day, I was at the UCO gym, warming up on a treadmill that overlooks the court when I noticed the volleyball team doing their warm-ups. But I'd never seen warm-ups where the team slides around on their butts, diving and stretching.

Then it hit me...Not one person on the team had two full legs. No one. Some were missing a leg from the knee down. Some were missing a foot. And a few had no legs at all.

A lump formed in my throat as an extreme sense of humility and respect washed over me. It was all I could do not to bust out bawling on the treadmill.

I wondered about each of their individual stories ('were they born that way?' 'were they in an accident?' 'did illness take their limb(s)?'). I thought about how BIG God's all-encompassing plan is, and how we often look at our individual circumstances and cry, "But that's not FAIR!"

LIFE is not fair. But those athletes on the court displayed more joy and strength than most of the people I know with perfectly 'complete' bodies. Since then I have really started working to appreciate my body for what it is...God made it, and He doesn't make garbage.

But it is up to me to take care of it. Watching that team practice taught me that any excuse I can think of for not working out and being healthy is merely that--an excuse.

Grace in Regards to Accidents

2008-06-16T08:18:00.002-05:00

Saturday, I offered to take care of Andrew's youngest daughter, Mesa (6), while he worked. I needed to mow, so we set up a bag chair in the shade for Mesa. Part way through the job, I realized I was still wearing my rings. I've had them for years, and they are my favorite pieces of jewelry. On top of that, both are irreplaceable.

I took them off, placed them in the cup holder on the chair and explained to Mesa, "Do NOT touch these. I don't want to lose them or get them dirty."

Later, when I went to dump the mower bag, Mesa said, "Your rings were in here a minute ago, but now they're not." I asked, "Where are they?" and she said, "I just wanted to try them on for a minute. It was an accident."

I cannot explain the panic, frustration, and anger that welled up inside of me in that moment. (If you're a parent, this may sound familiar). Sheer disobedience explained away as "an accident"?! I sent her inside with directions to sit on the couch and NOT MOVE until I was done mowing.

Once I finished the lawn, I spent about 30 minutes sorting through an entire dumpster-full of wet grass clippings. Thankfully, I was able to recover my rings. But what about her disobedience?

Do 'accidents' deserve more grace than intentional acts of wrong-doing? If not, how do you teach a child that their actions have consequences regardless of intent? How are the rules different when the child who disobeyed you is not yours?

Additionally, what sort of spiritual implications does this scenario hold for us? How often do we make mistakes and tell God, "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that...again. It was an accident." Often times, we receive both discipline AND grace from our Heavenly Father. The trick is learning how to be Christlike, combining discipline and grace.

Any thoughts?

HULK UPDATE

2008-06-06T16:38:00.002-05:00

I got the call today that I am officially in the Top 5 of the Incredible Hulk face contest. YAY!!! MANY thanks to those of you who voted. I couldn't have done it without you!!

Now...the scary part...

I have to perform my faces LIVE in front of a studio audience on Monday night at 7:30. According to the girl who called to let me know I'm in the running, "there will be a few judges and probably lots of yelling and screaming."

OH GEEZ. Don't make a girl nervous or anything!

So, please say a prayer for me on Monday evening. Pray that I compete like I'm the Incredible Hulk...and that I don't throw up or pass out on stage.

I don't normally get stage fright, but then again, I don't normally make silly faces for loads of cash, either.

I already have a minor case of butterflies (okay, minor may be an understatement...they feel Volkswagen-sized right now and it's only Friday!)

Any tips on what makes a good scary/angry/monster face?

PLEASE VOTE!!!

2008-06-05T15:44:00.001-05:00

Hey friends. I am in a Incredible Hulk face contest and they are looking for the Top 5 best faces. Today is the last day and I need your help!! Please go vote for me...I could win $1000! (I have to compete in a live competition, ack!) :)

You can place one vote per day per computer, so please vote as much as you can from as many different computers as you can!! :) And tell everyone you know!

Incredible Hulk Face Contest

I'm the last pic in the forth row...thought you should know in case my impersonation is so good you couldn't tell it was me. :) Ha!

THANKS!

Oh, Happy Day!

2008-06-04T08:31:00.004-05:00

Guess what I got in the mail yesterday?!

Yup...

My OFFICIAL Oklahoma State Department of Education teaching license!! Woo!! I am now able to teach Art to PreK-12 students anywhere in the state of Oklahoma.

No, I didn't get an education undergrad...I got a BFA in Graphic Design. But Oklahoma has a nifty little thing called Alternative Certification, and that's the process I've been going through since September of last year.

Now that I am licensed in Art, I can go back and 'test out' in any other subject areas that I want to be licensed in. My plan is to take the Early Childhood test this September and add that to my license. I'd much rather teach letter recognition to PreK kids than try to explain the difference between shape and form to stubborn junior high kids who think Art class is for goofing off.

I'll keep you posted while I am on this journey. I love to teach, and I love to work with kids. Even so, it's a huge leap of faith for me to make a career change. I find peace in knowing this is something God is calling me to do.

A Good Daddy

2008-06-03T08:56:00.002-05:00

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't let just anyone sit on my shoulders while they eat buttered corn-on-the-cob. (Case in point: Notice the stray kernels that have fallen in his hair.)

Just another amazing people-watching day at Frontier City...and me without my camera! Thanks to my friend Emily for snapping these shots.

Candy Making 101

2008-06-02T13:12:00.003-05:00

I experimented with making homemade taffy this weekend. And I've since revised the old adage, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

If at first you don't succeed, tweak the recipe.

If at second you don't succeed, up the temperature and decrease the amount of flavoring.

If at third you don't succeed, but instead stain your counter with dye, ruin your best cookie sheet, and cut your finger...well, you weren't meant to be a candy maker.

THE END.