Easter Decorations---Finally!

Easter is only a week away and I finally got the decorations out. Pretty minimal but at least it looks like spring around the house. The items on the mantle are my favorite from my little collection, especially that sweet bunny! Not much on this table and Holly decided to get in the pic. See the tole painted bunny basket on your right? Well I made that over 25 years ago! I didn't take to tole painting so well, but the bunny was worth keeping. This bunny table runner and glass bowl were both great garage sale finds and the speckled eggs I have used in my jars and in the bowl were purchased at Joannes last year.
I think I found this little bunny at the $ store and the little hanger on the door knob is from Avon.I replaced the candle on this candleholder with a plastic easter egg. Just a few items on my vintage record cabinet.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend and that you are ready for Easter too!

The Happiest Place on Earth!!!!

Call me silly, but once you step onto Main Street in Disneyland, you have to be happy!!! The fun music playing, the atmosphere, you can't help but smile and wonder what ride you are going to run off to first for a Fastpass!!!!
My parents, neices, my children and I just got back from 4 days of Disneyland and California Adventure. We all had a wonderful time!!! Don't know why this photo is so small but here is our little groupHere is my son being his silly self! He wore this hat everyday! So I guess he got his moneys worth!
Here is the whole group of kids ready to go onto Toy Story Mania in California Adventure. A very fun ride! You play virtual arcade games in 3D!

Just gotta love Tigger and Pooh!!

I have never sat directly in front of the Castle at night for fireworks. If you have never seen it, it is a definite must! It was beautiful!!!!


OK, back to reality. Hmmm, what crafts do I need to make for Easter?

Hope you are all doing well! Have a great evening!

Easter is on the Way!!!

These are the easiest boxes I have put together yet. You can go HERE for the tutorial.
You need heavy cardstock, adhesive, a scoring tool (remember Martha Stewart has an inexpensive one at Michael's) a couple of brads and some embellishments.

Three Cadbury type eggs fit perfectly in these, but you could fill them with any Easter candy.
I made several of these in a short amount of time.

More different style boxes to come for Easter!!! So come back soon!!!!

The Diet and Excercise Adventure is underway

I promise that I am not changing my blog to a diet only page. I plan on getting to some Easter Crafts soon!!!!

I didn't post about my diet and exercise plan to fish for compliments. However I have to thank Julia over at Julialuvs2stamp for her kind words and encouragement. And thanks to Tammy over at T's Daily Treasures for her kinds words and for her encouraging story of diet and exercise success. If you go back 1 post, be sure to read her comments. Very encouraging!!! Way to take care of business Tammy!

I have managed to keep my exercise commitment this week. I did try the Lotte Berk Hip Hugger Abs and must tell you that I have weak abs! This DVD was tough for me. Maybe it will get better after a few more tries. I guess I do better with the Muscle Eats Fat because that focus is more on the legs, and I do have strong legs.

I do find that "social" life is going to be tough for me. There is always a lunch or dinner out for some occasion. There are always parties with lots of goodies!!! I really have to figure this one out. That will be my focus this week.

I am finding that the journal is a very handy tool. I look forward to looking back in a few months and re reading to see what I have learned.

I must admit that I did not make the Weight Watcher meeting as we ended up celebrating my parents anniversary that night. I will start that this Wednesday. Although, I didn't sign up, I have been tracking my calories in my journal. That is still a start! :)

I will come back with an update and hopefully some helpful hints in a week or so. In the meantime I have to get some crafting done so I can post on that!

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Being the best me I can be

I normally don't write long blogs. So bear with me, this is a long one. Is is not about crafts or baking. :) It is about my life long battle with dieting and exercise.

I think well over a year ago I blogged about the Lotte Berk Muscle Eats Fat DVD. I had heard about it from Skinny little Kelly Rippa (no jealousy here) on Regis and Kelly . She said it really worked. So I ran right on over to my local Target and picked it up! While doing the workout I could feel the muscles in my thighs and abs working. After a few workouts I could feel the difference in my legs. Even with the results, I did not keep up with it consistently.

Time goes by, life happens and my weight goes up and down and I exercise "now and then". I just lacked the "stick with it" attitude that is necessary to reach goals!!!
Last Thursday I took out the DVD and I did it, then I took out my Leslie Sansone 3 mile ab walk with belt/bands and did that too! I felt so great that night!!!! I was off the next day, so I did the two workouts again the next morning. And let me tell you, I felt wonderful Friday!!! I thought, how could I ever let anything come between me and exercise?? So, I am continuing to exercise and added a jog/walk (weather permitting :) around the block with dog, to keep her in shape too. :)
I also did some research on Lotte Berk and found that she also has a Hip Hugger Ab workout DVD. I read some of the reviews and they were good! So I ordered it! Her DVDs are inexpensive and well worth the small investment. If you are interested check Lotte Berk method site.

All this being said, I have decided that I do want to hip hugger abs and I do want to be in the best shape of my life before I turn 50! Which will be on December 12, 2011. I don't know how that can be true, but it is! It is very scary how quickly my years on this earth have flown by.

How am I going to do this you ask? Well, I am going to share my entire plan with you! And I will come back with progress updates. I hope to see results for myself, and also to inspire others to get moving and get healthy. Maybe we can start a group, who knows where this will go.

OK, here is the plan:

1. Keep a journal where I will keep my food diary, my exercise diary, and any notes of encouragement, helpful hints and any useful tidbits.
2. I will walk/jog my dog around the block a minimum of 4 days a week. I will do the Leslie Sansone DVD a minimum of 4 days a week. Lastly, I will alternate the Lotte Berk DVDs a minimum of 4 days a week as well.
3. I am going to join Weight Watchers tomorrow with my co worker.

I have already started to become more conscious of the food I am eating and started having oatmeal for breakfast. Today is the first full day of my journal. So far I have written down everything I have eaten today.

OK, I think that is enough for a start! whew!!!

Have you been successful exercising and dieting? If so, please share!