Results #4.....Extra Baggage

To be eligible for the drawing, you must comment with your results, (good or bad), from this challenge by Thursday, May 1st.

#5.......L is for legs

Spring- ahhh.

Now, I know it has officially been spring for a while now. Some of you may be way past the point of this post- but too bad.

It has been unofficially still snowing in most places. Meteorologists may disagree, but I think that winter has finally left. Unless you happen to live in Alaska- and in that case- um, well- I don't know what you should do. Maybe move to the sunny tropical state of Idaho? Idaho is not sunny and tropical you say? Oh, contrare my friends. Here is the proof:

My windows were open all day.

My new dollar store sunglasses are SWEEEEEET. They make me look super Miami Vice cool.

Butterflies have been sighted.

I am braving up to turn off the thermostat tonight.

Yesterday I weeded my flower beds- for the 2nd time this year!

My kids can step outside my home barefoot & child protective services would not have a problem with it.

My 4-year-old was bit by the meanest, most ferocious black ant you have ever seen. He died, (the ant- not my son), a martyr for his entire colony.

The 7 tulip bulbs I planted have bloomed, (7 you ask? Well, I was on a budget.).

The 77 million weeds in my garden space have sprouted.

I wore capris today.



So what is the point of my seasonal rambling? (In your heads you should now hear the "record screeching" sound.) Capri's? Camille, did you say Capri's?

Yes, the Capri's are out! Unfortunately, (fortunately for my husband), that means so are the new razors, toenail polish and lotion.
When I looked down at my majorly prickly...... ok maybe the term would be sporadically hairy....... legs today, I quickly said a prayer of gratitude that I am a blond. I did shave my legs.... sorta. Apparently when you go all winter long without shaving you also forget how to do a good job. I know that some of you are also guilty of this same problem. How do I know you ask?
Well, last week's sidebar of extremely scientific polls, (which I use the data for extremely scientific and official purposes), told me so.

Ok, ok Camille, get on with it. The bajillions of faithful readers really don't care about your issues.....they have been checking the blog constantly in anticipation of the next fabulous challenge.

Yes- bajillions is a word- I invented it and I invented this blog. So, that makes me a brilliant inventor. So, I can make up words..... and say that Idaho is tropical..... and use lots of .......'s. Have you all noticed I like to use lots of.............'s? Are ..........'s grammatically correct? If you didn't catch on, I like making dots......

Alright already! Stop rolling your eyes people.

Challenge #5.....L is for Legs

Shave your legs every time you shower this week. Lotion legs at least daily. For the grand finale- paint your toe nails a bright beautiful color.


I mean it. You must shave every time you shower. The toenails should be kept up all week too. Some of you may even have to shave the long weird hairs on your toes..... not that I would know anything about those. I have just heard that some people have long weird hairs on their toes.

Pull out the warm weather wear, flaunt the feet and feel those fabulously smooth legs!

a love-hate relationship

At first sight it was love.


As second sight it was fun.


Then exciting.


32 minutes later it was agonizing.


Excruciating & humiliating.


And all for a measly 122.3 calories.

I have ate that many calories of candy since I started this post.
That stinks.
I stunk too after my 32 minutes of exercise. It was the most I have "officially" exercised in nearly a year. (Even though I know you can exercise during pregnancy and you can exercise a few weeks after giving birth...... I simply chose not to!)

I did a few sit-ups the other night too. I pulled out some pre-baby pants. They don't fit. BUT, they are on AND it only took a girdle, laying flat on my bed and some major contortionist moves to get them on and buttoned. Really, they don't look good and I have worn a jacket all day to hide the "overflow," but........

........I feel good and it is a start.

My muscles ache and there is a long ways to go- with lots more 32 minutes of only 100 and some calories.

I am happy that I have finally taken the biggest step to feeling a little healthier: the first step of getting started.


So, how did all of this crazy exercise really get going? My husband bought us an elliptical machine..... for a ridiculously cheap price at the pawn shop.

We made a ridiculous bet to go with our ridiculously cheap equipment.
We made ridiculously unrealistic weight loss goals with some likely unrealistic rewards.

Three cheers for aiming high! Who knows though- maybe our new found treasure of bolted plastic and metal will work miracles.

By the way, in case of any confusion- the woman in the picture is not me. It is very hard to tell the difference between the two of us- cuz our body shape is so similar. It can't be me though, because she has a ponytail. And I never wear ponytails..... and that is the only difference.......I think. Oh- yes and maybe I weigh about 20 pounds more....and I am probably about 8 inches shorter.

Aim high.

#4......Extra Baggage

This weekend has brought to light a few.....shall we say....issues that I have.

Friday night, I fed my family pizza. I really, in all seriousness, do not think that pizza is that unhealthy- in moderation. After my 3rd cheesy bread stick & 4th piece of pizza, (all of which were dunked in creamy ranch dressing), it was obvious I don't think too much about moderation.

I exercised last week for the first time in many many months..... I was quite proud of myself. I was even a little sweaty, the heart was thumping and my legs felt like jello. Too bad this all occurred after 10 minutes of jumping on my kids' mini trampoline.... and that was the entire workout session. (Shout-out to mini trampolines- I really do know several women who have lost A LOT of weight doing this. I think you have to jump for more than 10 minutes though.)

I bought 2 lbs. of candy from the bulk section at the grocery store Saturday.

I bought 2 dozen rolls, 2 loaves of bread, 12 bagels, cream cheese and marshmallows. Carbohydrates anyone?

I ate 2 lbs. of candy this weekend...... ok, it isn't all gone yet..... but I kid you not, it is getting close. AND, I only have let the kids have 3 pieces each so far.

Our Sunday tradition is to have Cinnamon or orange rolls. Not for a snack- for a meal.... or two meals.

I could keep going with my terrible habbits, but I wouldn't want to gross you all out.

For those who don't know me, I am lucky enough to have a petite build. I have never been extremely overweight- but I have never been right on target either. I have about 15 to lose. My problem isn't necessarily the weight- but the distribution of the weight. There is some major "baby baggage" to lose. The "muffin top" doesn't stuff into my warm weather shirts. The "junk in my trunk" only gives me 2 pairs of jeans that are wearable.

My girdle is only comfortable for a few hours- seriously- I have a girdle. AND I LOVE IT! Anyone who has had a baby or needs to fit into some cute little dress should get one. It is self esteem in a store wrapped package. I know, I know... you shouldn't think you can buy self esteem... blah blah blah. I LOVE my girdle! I got it just 2 months ago after baby #3 was born. My body decided that pooches are very trendy these days.





Anyways.... CHALLENGE #4

It's all about the extra baggage baby! On yourself and around you.


Lose 1 pound.
(For the skinny mini's out there: gain 1 pound!)

Throw something away.
Clean it out or donate it.




We all have some things we have been holding onto. I still have several old t-shirts from high school. I don't wear them. I just move them around and have them take up precious space in my next-to-no storage home. Why? I wouldn't be that sad if they were lost. I just have a few hoarding behaviors.
A few months ago, I geared myself out to de-clutter. I threw out lots of clothes that aren't in style- I just held onto them in hopes they would fit again & you know.... they might come back in style. I threw out shoes. Really, did I need 5 different pairs of lawn mowing shoes? (Truly, I had 5). And, the old canvas shoes I was keeping for the once-every-5-years rafting trip I go on. Extra bonus- I have a bit of a water phobia- so next time I am invited to go rafting..... darn. I just won't be able to go without my special "rafting shoes."

So, I de-cluttered. It felt amazing! So, this week I am going to try and clean out some more.


Maybe I will get so busy that I won't eat the rest of that candy & then I will lose my 1 pound.


Accept the challenge. This is definitely a prize worthy challenge. Details to come. So, accept & get started!

a hairrible tragedy

Yesterday I did the typical mom stuff.

Grocery Store- check

Pre School- check

Visit Grandma- check

Run errands around town- check

Accidentally leave my baby daughter's hair bow/band in my own hair- check

After a very busy day and a somewhat mundane evening, I started to get ready for bed. When GASP I realized my hair had been in a ponytail all day and BIGGER GASP I had used a frilly baby headband. Not a little frilly one- the great big fat one. You know, the head bands that anyone over the age of 2 should not wearing.
I use these at home when I can't find an elastic for while I am cooking. (After-baby hair shedding- my family likes my food, but not the added protein from my hair.) Apparently the quick fix (of my hair- not the food) for breakfast stayed with me all day long.

I am sure the public thought I was stunning- just not the right kind of stunning.

Oops. Time to go back to #1 challenge for me.

AND THE WINNER IS..........

LeAnn, email me with your address and your gift card will soon be on it's way!
ponytailchallenge@gmail.com

There will be another prize coming soon, so everyone keep playing along, leave a comment or two & pass the word!

#3...... The Smell of Success

Most of you that read this have children. Cute, darling children. Smart children. Funny, loving children. Talented children.

SMELLY CHILDREN.

Of course, your time is spent doing all that is possible to make sure that they are not smelly 95% of the time.
It is that other 5% of the time that stays with us.

My house generally smells good. A burning candle, scentsy bar or potpourri can usually be detected. I think that even if my house is filthy, it should smell good.......

But, then there is me. My current "scent of choice" seems to be the sour milk variety. My 2 1/2 month old does not adhere to my strict spit standards. If you don't have a little one, I am guessing that you smell like some sort of cleaning product.
Cleaning products have come a long way in smelling good, but really, do you want to smell like a pine forest all the time?

We are constantly wiping things. Counter tops, floors, noses and bums. What do you smell like today? Heavenly lotion OR: Lysol wipes? Clorox wipes? Baby wipes? Or my all time favorite- a Kandoo wipe?

If you haven't guessed it already, the challenge is too smell good. NOT just to not stink, but to smell GOOD.
Put on your favorite perfume everyday. Twice a day even. Lather up with the best lotion you've got. Smell good around the clock.



There will be many benefits. When you smell good, you feel good. When you are wiping that behind, you can pull your shirt over your nose and be able to breathe. For me, hopefully the sour milk smell will be overpowered by something sweeter. And, who knows, maybe a little will rub off of me and my baby won't smell sour either!

Now, don't let the picture deceive you. I haven't bought anything new in years, but I obviously haven't used up any of the old either. Did you know that your perfume goes bad over time? Out of all of my bottles, 1 still smells the way it came from the store. Use it or lose it. Who cares if you are just home all day? Smell good for you!

Ok- go forth and spritz! Spray! Lather up. Seriously, you couldn't ask for an easier challenge. But, oh how good you will feel.

Confessional

There isn't much to explain on this one......
Confess a little something- maybe your guilty pleasure TV show. How about how many hours of TV a day your kids really watch? Do you floss- not counting the week before a dentist appt.?

My confessions:

I think my entire family has a serious nose picking syndrome. Really. Is it genetics? I need to find out the nutritional content of a booger because that is the staple of my daughter's diet.

Oh, and I LOVE the show Charmed. I used to watch it everyday for 2 hours on TNT- I would plan nap times, appointments and shopping around it. I have seen every episode and even searched the "fan sites" on-line...... I know, weird.

I washed a dirty pan today that had been staring me down for a week today...... I know, gross.

Ok, that was my turn- now fess up! You can even make your comment anonymous... the freedom on anonymity! I plan on this post being forever- meaning that you can come back in a year and confess something else, or laugh at other comments.
I can't have everything on this blog sappy and uplifting, (because, you know it has been so sappy and uplifting thus far).

Keepin' it real folks, keepin' it real!

Please keep your confession G rated! My mother reads this blog.
And, don't forget to vote on the confession polls in the side bar.

(If you haven't already seen this week's challenge, it is posted below.)

RESULTS..... #1 Ponytail Challenge

Some of you should be finishing up with your week of no ponytails. How did it go? Hard? Easy? Comment with your results. Remember, you have to give some sort of feedback to get a chance for the prize.

#2......7 days of 7's

7 is the name of the game this week. Today, April 7th, is the start of 7 new challenges. (Of course you can start whenever you read this.)

I realize most of you are still working on challenge #1 and are sporting some beautiful hair do's.....yea for you....now there is more to do! :) I am trying to be a tad organized and always start the new challenges on Mondays. Organization does not come natural to me, so if I am even borderline to showing some organization skills, I had better run with it!

Now then, for you "hardcore" Ponytail Challengers; you need to do all 7 challenges every day for 7 days. Those "easing into the waters," just try and do 1 challenge each day.

Some of these are a bit silly, ridiculous even. The idea for this week's challenge is that you will have some fun, "let loose," start a good habit or two and maybe- just maybe- burn a few extra calories.



Here's to 7....now, go and do:

7 sit-ups & 7 jumping jacks, (if you're really challenging yourself: 7 sit-ups/jumping jacks, 7 different times each day).

pluck 7 hairs that are mysteriously growing where they shouldn't be.

1 somersault, (that 1 somersault is bound to hurt in at least 7 different ways).

drink 7 glasses of water, (I know the recommended amount is 8- baby steps people, baby steps).

say out loud, 7 times, (this is where the ridiculous part comes in), "I am superwoman!" (Besides, it will make you laugh, and anyone who hears you too- it's all about spreading the joy....)

read 7 pages of something enjoyable that you don't ever take the time to read.

wear an outfit with 7 components- dress up! This means more than jeans and a t-shirt. Underwear doesn't count. Accessories do. Example: shoes, pants, shirt, belt, necklace, ring, earrings.




Easy, right? Cheesy? Yes. Nerdy? Maybe- but are you surprised? Does nerdy really seem far fetched after reading my last post?

Have fun and I can't wait to hear what you think! Hmmmm, I am having a sudden craving for 7-up. I am not just saying that..... I really do think that would taste extremely good right now. The 7-up company is going to have to pay me some royalty fees if there is a sudden rush on 7-up this week.

Good luck "super women!"

Front Stage in the Ugly Stage

For quite some time now I have had a theory about growing up. You should be familiar with the "ugly stage." Most of us endured this stage somewhere between ages 9-14. In some cases (mine), the stage lasted for that entire 5 year period.

Now, this is where the theorizing begins. You see, I think the current "let ourselves go" part of life is not our own fault. We are simply enduring another ugly stage. Mother Nature developed this long, long ago.

For example: When you pick up an elastic and find yourself reaching up to the top of your head in a hair slicking motion, it is not your fault! It is instinct.
When you pull those pajama pants on at night before bed and they stay on until the afternoon of the next day, it is instinct!

The point of this blog is to speed up the recovery process of this "stage". Since laughter is the best medicine, today's recovery will be in the form of cheap entertainment. Laugh my friends, laugh.
I am not asking for sympathy. I am quite proud of my ugly stage. In fact, I think I would happily win a contest for the best, (or would it be worst?), ugly stage.

Seriously though, what was I thinking?

.....like when I had permed bangs and the elastic belt stretching in the tummy (or is it stretching out the chub?).



.....or how about a year later, still with permed bangs, but with the addition of kinky hair and plaid.



....lets jump ahead to when I thought it was cool for a girl about to be in high school to walk llamas in the 4th of July parade with yes, once again plaid. (I remember planning this outfit for weeks. Yep, plaid- planned weeks in advance- as a teenager.)



Let us not forget how I forgot (at 10-years-old) to count the correct number of candles for this cake, so I drew the missing one on all of the pictures. There are those bangs again- without the perm- a mini mullet if you will.



Now, to solidify my standing in the ugly stage finals....the "rat tail." I know it is hard to see in the picture, so let me describe.
6th grade, one piece pants/shirt combo outfit with shoulder pads and a new shorter haircut- oh wait, they missed a spot. Nope, I, the 11-year-old beauty queen, requested that. It was braided each day and I also strung beads onto the end of the braid to match my wardrobe, especially the one piece wonder.



Now, I eagerly encourage you all to email in your own ugly stage photo (from childhood- time heals you know... I don't think my ego could handle laughing at today's ugly stage- check back in 5 years). If you do, it will be posted on the blog and we will have another fantastic prize drawing for the participants. If you don't- thats ok, I will just put more of mine up to entertain you all.

By the way...
I am sitting on my couch in plaid....pajama pants that is.....and they are green.... and they have a lot of holes.... where people shouldn't have holes..... and I have on a neon pink shirt.... that doesn't exactly fit the leftover just-had-a-baby love handles....at least I have on a bra.

Time to dream up the next challenge.