The Monster

So I posted a blog a while back about my addictions and things that I want to change in my life. I talked about a book I was reading which talked about a girl with a drug addiction and she called her addiction "The Monster". She couldn't get rid of it...well I haven't read the 3rd book yet...but as of the end of the second book...the monster still haunts her.

My monster still haunts me. I still want to quit smoking as badly as I did a year ago. I promised my Mom I would quit smoking before I was 30. I told her this when I was probably 21 or so and 30 seemed so far away. Well....I will be 30 Aug 26th......that's NOT far away!!!! I HAVE to do this...I CAN do this!!!!!!!!!!

This might not be the last blog I write about trying to quit smoking...who knows:-) But I am not going to stop writing them until I quit! The day will come...I know it will:-)

I really want to get into Yoga. I can't afford it though....UNLESS I quit smoking. So....my plan is still to quit and start taking better care of my body.

My back hasn't healed yet...but I called my doctor and told him I was going CRAZY not being able to work out at all! I have an appointment on my b-day to see if I can get cleared at least for Yoga. Keep your fingers crossed!

Maybe everything will all fall into place on my b-day! What a great gift for myself:-) Quit smoking and get back into shape!

I will write a blog on my B-Day to start keeping track of my progress. I know it's not easy to quit and make changes in your life....but I know I can do this. I want it so badly!! and will be soooo happy with the results if I would just follow through with it! I have overcome many obstacles in my life...this is just another bump in the road.

I also talked about becoming a vegetarian. I figured out what I was going for and it wasn't a vegetarian. I don't want to quit eating meat all together....I just don't care for most meats. I didn't realize this until I tried to quit eating all meat...screw that!! That was just crazy thinking....but I can say that I don't eat much meat...I would rather have veggies, fruits, etc...over meat. But there are some things that I just can't pass up....

A friend of mine, Stacey, loaned me a few books. I have never read anything from Karen Robards...but Stacey thought I would like it because of the types of books I told her I liked. She was right:-) I haven't finished the boo yet but I realy like the way Karen writes. It's a great story that doesn't stray too far from reality. I am not one to get into Sci-Fi books. I like stories that might not be true but could be true. I posted the synopsis...check it out:-)

Karen Robards offers up another superb romantic suspense novel, with a slight touch of supernatural. The Midnight Hour is one of her best! Grace Hart is a single mother and a juvenile and family court judge in Bexley Ohio...and her doughter Jessica has gotten out of control. When Jessica goes into what might be diabetic shock, hunky Tony Marino thinks Grace should practice what she preaches as a family court judge. But there's more to what's going on then either Grace or Tony realize. Someone is stalking Jessica and breaking into Grace's home.

Britney and little Oliver

My sister LOVES her kitties. A while back a took some pics with her and the kitties. I was looking through them today and found this one...I thought it was just adorable and Oliver's (AKA Oly) eyes are awesome...so I decided to play a little with editing. I think it looks really cool!

Orlando Trip 2009

What a blast! Joel and I took Thomas to Orlando for some one on one time with him:-) It was a short trip but loads of fun! I couldn't ride all of the rides...but Joel and Thomas did!! It was a perfect vacation for Thomas...he is too old for Disney (I think) so this was what we chose for him. I am so glad we did it! Joel had already been the Universal years ago so that helped. Some things had changed since then bit for the most part he knew where everything was and where to go etc....It was nice because I had never been and neither had Thomas.
Joel and I are already trying to plan a family vacation for next year with all of the kids. We try to change it around a little. One year we do a vacation with all of the kids and then the next we will do something with just Thomas. Haley and Brenden get to go on vacations with their Mom too...so we try to keep it as fair as possible:-) We are thinking Colorado next year...white water rafting...horseback riding...atv's, fishing! FUN!

Here are a few pics from our trip!

Coldplay 2009

I haven't been to a concert in YEARS! This was actually the first concert Britney and I have ever been to sober. What a difference:-) We had a blast! Coldplay rocks either way...Chris Martin has a wonderful voice. The crowd was cool too. Everyone was very laid back...just enjoying the show...nothing crazy like I have seen in past concerts:-) I did smell a lot of weed...but that is to be expected...didn't bother me a bit! I am happy to see I can still enjoy a concert sober just as much as I did drinking! I can't wait to see another one.....

Evil at Heart

I have read the first two books of this series...Heartsick and Sweetheart...and I LOVE them. I couldn't wait to go out and by the next one as soon as I finished Sweetheart. Little did I know that the next book doesn't come out until Sept 2009!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG...are you freakin' serious?? They can't do this to me....It's a great series that keeps you on your toes. There is some type of twisted obbsession between the detective and the female serial killer...that...in a weird way...is sexy! I have copied the sypnosis below. If you haven't started this series...you really should! It's AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

Synopsis:
Chelsea Cain’s novels featuring Portland detective Archie Sheridan and serial killer Gretchen Lowell have captivated fans through two nail-biting entries, Heartsick and Sweetheart, both of them multiweek bestsellers in The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly.
Gretchen Lowell is still on the loose. These days, she’s more of a cause célèbre than a feared killer, thanks to sensationalist news coverage that has made her a star. Her face graces magazine covers weekly and there have been sightings of her around the world. Most shocking of all, Portland Herald reporter Susan Ward has uncovered a bizarre kind of fan club, which celebrates the number of days she’s been free.
Archie Sheridan hunted her for a decade, and after his last ploy to catch her went spectacularly wrong, remains hospitalized months later. When they last spoke, they entered a détente of sorts---Archie agreed not to kill himself if she agreed not to kill anyone else. But when a new body is found accompanied by Gretchen’s trademark heart, all bets are off and Archie is forced back into action. Has the Beauty Killer returned to her gruesome ways, or has the cult surrounding her created a whole new evil?
Chelsea Cain continues to deliver heart-stopping thrills and chills in the latest entry in this dynamic bestselling series.

My Step-Kiddos:-)

Haley and Brenden are just too cute. Haley REALLY wanted to have a lemonade stand Sat. So...I took her to the store to by the mix...we came back and got everything set up. Of course then Brenden wanted to do it too...after all of the work was done. I told him that he could sell something too but not lemonade. He was a little upset at first but then realized that he had a lot of the little toy cars in his room that he never plays with anymore.... he set them up on the same table as the lemonade. About an hour went by and not one person had stopped. Haley was determined...she wasn't going anywhere until she sold some lemonade. Brenden on the other hand has way too much energy to sit there for that long...so I took Thomas and Brenden to game-stop to trade in some old games for a few new ones. By the time we got back Haley had sold almost $4 worth of lemonade and $3 worth of Brenden's cars. Brenden was sooooo excited that he had made some money. His Dad and I told him that he would need to give some of his earnings to his sister since she is the one that sold everything....after a little fit he agreed that it was the right thing to do. They ended up sitting outside almost 5 more hours trying to sell the rest of their stuff.....and let's just say Brenden didn't leave Haley to sell his cars anymore:-) It's so much fun watching kids learn different lessons in life. I have grown very close to Haley and Brenden and really enjoy watching them grow up!!!

Locks of Love

I have been wanting to cut my hair since before the wedding. It's just soooo darn long...and all I do is keep it pulled back anyway. Today I made an appointment to get it cut and a friend of mine suggested I donate it to Locks of Love. I looked up the information and they said I have to cut at least 10 inches to be able to donate it:-) My friend Alyson measured for me and it was a little shorter then I wanted it...but it's a good cause right? Heck, it will grow to the length I wanted to cut it before too long anyway! So...I did it and I love it! It feels so good...and it's cool. It's been soooo hot this summer in Texas. I am glad I did it. Joel wasn't sure what to think at first...but he likes it:-) My son told me I looked like Joel's x-wife...lol...kids...they just don't really know what they are saying....but I guess he is right...her hair is short like this too...LOL...It was just funny!

More wedding pictures!!!

Yay! My other set of pics came in!! This isn't all of them...but these are a few of my faves! LOVE THEM!!!!

Life is good! Camp is better!

This is Thomas's 6th year at summer camp! He LOVES it. He told me the other day that he was already "camp sick" lol! Here is a scrap page I did of "Camp 09" I tried to make it look dirty..>LOL....Boy does he come home dirty....I wonder if he ever REALLY showers while he is there for a whole month! Ugh...I don't even want to know....

What do you think???

I am trying to come up with a name for my photography....sooo...when the day comes I will be ready! This is the title cover for my photography blog. What do you think? I am sure I will play more and come up with 100 different ideas by the time comes I can actually create it...but still...it's fun to play!!!

Thomas has braces!

Thomas got his top braces put on today. He was a little nervous...but once he got there and they started doing it he was fine. The people that worked on him were super nice and it really made Thomas feel a little more at ease. I can't believe he has braces! Gosh...he is growing up so fast! He still looks totally adorable...awe...he is my baby! 6ft tall...a few zits here and there...braces...but still my baby!!!

EF 50mm f/1.4 Lens

I REALLY WANT THIS LENS!!!!!!!!!! Well, I want lots of them! But this is one that I know will be a part of my lenses (one day). It's costs around $520.00. That's not cheap...but it's not a lot compared to other lenses I want:-) Maybe this will be the first one I save up for:-) It takes great portrait shots and has an awesome depth of feild! Ok...I am totally going to start saving right.....now!!

What I Love About Sunday!

I love Sunday's. They usually involve sleeping way too late:-) Having an awesome breakfast...and just plain being lazy! I LOVE IT! This past Sunday Joel and a friend went to ride dirt bikes. He was gone way before I even thought about getting up. I rolled out of bed around 11am...oh yeah!! Thomas was still sleeping. I know what gets Thomas up:-) The smell of breakfast...especially bacon. He LOVES bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches..YUMMO! I made this yummy BEC sandwich with some yummy grapes and a big glass of milk and he was up within 2 minutes of me cookin' the bacon. We had a nice day together. Didn't really do much...but that's what Sunday's are all about right???

Patton Fitness

http://pattonfitness.com/

A friend of mine runs Patton Fitness & Performance Group in The Colony, TX. If you are looking for a new workout or a workout that's great for your kids give him a call!!!!

I went out to watch the kids and adults workout the other day. I have to say so myself it's a GREAT WORKOUT! If I lived closed and didn't have two torn discs in my lower back I would start the program myself!

I had a great time taking a few shots! I haven't taken pictures of this type before so it was also a good learning experience for me:-)

Thanks Burghardt for allowing me to come watch you work with the kids (and adults). You are a great leader and will bring all of your students to a new level of fitness!!!

Pay It Forward

I have had many up hill and down hill battles in my life. There have been many people...friend, family and even strangers that have helped me through a lot of these battles. Today it was my turn to pay it forward:-)

I was driving home for lunch today and I noticed a woman sitting on the side of the road. I looked around to see if I saw a bus stop sign...and I didn't. There were a lot of people on that side of the road slowing down and looking at her but no one was stopping (CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT??? UGH) I went up to the stop light and made a U turn. Once I got to her...I turned on my hazards and rolled my window down to ask if she was ok. She said she wasn't ok...she was too hot. Let me just remind you that today's high is 103! That's too hot for someone to be stuck outside:-( I told her to hop in and I would give her a ride. She said she couldn't get up. I got out and tried to help he stand up but I wasn't strong enough. Luckily another car stopped and they helped me get her in the car. I asked her what had happened and she said she had gotten off the bus and was going to walk home. She made it that far and the heat was just too much for her. Once she sat down to rest she couldn't get back up...she had bad knees. I asked her how long she had been sitting there. She told me since 10am! I stopped to help her at 12:15pm. That is just wrong. How could all of those cars drive by and not even think to stop and ask if she was ok. I took her home and made sure she made it in ok. She was such a nice lady. Her name was Kathrine. I am very glad that I was able to help her and hope and pray that if I am ever in a situation like that someone will do the same for me. She was an older lady and could have died in this heat less then a mile from her home:-( That's just sad...what has this world come to? There are some good people left though and I am proud to say I am one of them!!!

Back Pain

I have been dealing with back pain FOREVER it seems like..ok a month...but still. I really have NO idea what I did to my back...but I have two torn discs in my lower back and it really hurts. I could hardly walk for over week. The doctor gave me pain meds...that helped for a little bit and then they told me I needed to have a shot in my back. My mom took these pictures of me before and after the procedure...I just have to share because I think they are funny! The shot worked too by the way...I feel SOOOO much better. The doctor said it will take about 4 months for me to heal...as long as I am not in pain in the meantime then I am ok with that. I can't wait to get back into the groove. I really miss working out. No more Jazzercise for me though...it's too hard on my back. I am thinking Yoga! BUT...I HAVE to quit smoking first or I can't justify spending that much on Yoga...I think I can...I think I can...I think I can....I KNOW I can...>!!!!!!

BEFORE LOL!

AFTER! Feelin' good!