Oh, hello!

It has been a hot minute since a real post. The last few weeks building up to commencement it was hectic around here. We’re talking it would be 2:30 p.m. and I legit wouldn’t know where the day went. I’d panic over the number of things I would have to do and I would bury my head in work. EVERYONE wanted a news release written and to go out THAT DAY. It was crazy, but in true former TV News Producer fashion, I’d panic, plow through it all, and finish it with an hour to spare. Typical! I don’t know what it is like to be able to sit on a project or hold it until another day, so I tend to get things done right away. Serves me well.

Now things have slowed down immensely. The University is on summer hours, 8-4pm, instead of 4:30 (that 30 minutes makes a difference!) the kids are gone, along with many of the faculty, so I have a moment to catch my breath.

A few things to catch up on:

Weight. That’s stupid and I’m annoyed. My body DOES NOT WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT. I count calories, macros, I write it all down, and I basically kill myself trying to figure the science of this out. And NOTHING. I’m trying this new thing where I am going back to what worked the first time: I eat well most of the time and move my body. It seems the stress MIGHT be involved in my gain/plateau? I don’t know. I’m willing to do whatever at this point. (BTW, my need to lose weight is doctor-ordered. Not just because I’m vain.)
We’re getting our engagement pictures done the first weekend in June and I’m pretty excited. We plan on doing casual ones, ones with our dogs, photos with my boo in his Army uniform, and others with him in his Firefighter uniform with one of the trucks. (Did I tell you guys that he’s a volunteer firefighter? I can’t say that I love the idea of him rushing into a burning house, but I love that he has that ability to serve others like that). I’ve pinned a bunch of cute ideas for our shots, and I’m excited to do the shoot.
When we go to Washington, D.C. next month for my conference, we are going on a White House tour! My fiance set it up, along with a few other tours that he will do while I am in the conference. I’m pumped.
Since we get July 2-4 off for the holiday, I am taking the 5 & 6 off as well, and I will fly home for a nice break after the conference. We are staying in DC until Saturday, June 30, then I go to Nebraska until July 10. By the time I get back, I won’t have been to the office since June 22nd! YASSSS!
Wedding planning is happening. We have put the down payment down on our wedding at the resort, and just have to wait for the airfare window to open so we can book the rest. I am doing the Save $5K in a year plan, and have been faithful so far. I even opened a second savings account just for that! I LOVE watching the money add up.
My boo teases me about how tight-fisted I am with money at times. He was not amused when I told him that rich people get richer by not spending money frivolously. That, and great ideas and good investments!!

I think that about catches us up. Have a great week, friends!

Scenes from a Tuesday

I changed clothes to go for a walk with the dogs and I was NOT unhappy with what I saw. Sure, there’s some extra weight still there, bulges and whatnot, but I am actually fairly happy with what I see in the mirror, even though I am still trying to lose more. It’s a nice feeling. I’m sure it helps that things are fitting better since I’ve lost some weight! 😉
My coworker and I are taking advantage of the nice weather we’ve had have been taking walks at lunch. We go around 3 miles and it is great. Good conversation and a good workout. Today we met Oscar. He’s a rescue dachshund and just a sweet little boy. Made my heart happy to get to pet him. (My parents have two dachsies at home and I miss my girls!)
This third picture is NOT from today. In fact, it is from 2013 and when I ran across it the other day it made me SAD. I need to get those arms back. Aside from just losing some weight to get rid of the flab, I need to tone. And you know how I did it? The 100-day pushup challenge. So my walking buddy and I are going to that starting May 1st. I want to have some sweet guns for my wedding next year!
Speaking of the wedding, I am working on getting the details of the wedding hammered out. Thaks to @runs4donuts I found a travel agent (her sis-in-law) who gets what we want and is super nice! She’s working up the specs for us this week. Thanks, Tiff! We want to get our engagement photos taken ASAP so we can send our save the dates out soon–but I want them to be outside in springy weather…and that has not been the case recently. I am hoping that Mother Nature gets her stuff together and things start budding and blooming soon.
We got an email from HR on Monday that we move to summer hours 8am-4pm starting May 14 (we only get off 30 minutes early, but 30 minutes is 30 minutes in the summer!) AND the University is closed July 2-4, so we get those days as holidays!
I am beyond excited because the week prior to that I am going to Washington, D.C. for a conference. I leave Sunday, June 24, and plan to stay until June 30 to sightsee. Instead of flying back here, I will likely fly to Nebraska and see my family and friends and do wedding stuff (like hopefully pick out a dress!) and come back here on July 10, only burning 4 days of vacation time, but out of the office for 2.5 weeks!!!

Have a great evening, friends!

Hump Day Happenings

I think that I should get a referral bonus from Felix Gray. I have at least two co-workers who are purchasing a pair, and a few others who are interested. I LOVE mine. A week in and I feel like my eyes aren’t tired at the end of the day and I haven’t gotten any headaches lately!! Win!
Rio and I went to the vet yesterday. She needed some booster shots and just a general checkup. She loves everyone and everyone loves her so she was showered with attention and treats from the front desk worker. In that last picture, she’s checking out the syringe with her bordetella booster shot.
Her blue eyes get so many comments (she’s a husky/lab mix) and she’s the sweetest girl–just not always very forthcoming with kisses!
I’m getting a massage after work today and I am beyond excited. I need it!!
It has snowed or rained here all day. The 10-day forecast shows some promise though!

Have a great day, friends!

Monday

So it’s January 107th today and I am 100% done. We had snow, ice, and rain this weekend and it is 39 degrees here. Honestly, I’m ready for warmer weather and to not wear my winter coat anymore for awhile.
I have been diligently working on increasing my water intake, especially at work. I have been buying the drink mixes that are 10 calories (no sugar, etc) and I mix those with my 30 oz Yeti-esque cup. I have been drinking three of those cups full Monday-Friday. I also drink my 11 oz protein shake in the morning AND 6 oz of hot cocoa that I mix my collagen with.
So you can only imagine how often I have to use the restroom! I counted today, and as of 3:50 pm, I have gone a dozen times here at work. OY.
Since I’ve been laser-focused tracking calories, macros, and weighing my food consistently, the scale is GOING DOWN! Of course, I go up and down like a pound some days, but overall, I am consistently down. So yassss!
Meeting with the travel agents did NOT go well. Not even joking, they looked like Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman in “Matilda.” (See photo below)
They asked why we are getting married in Mexico at the end of May and said that was a “strange time to go there”. My fiance was QUITE irritated with that. That’s when we’re going, don’t judge us!
The wife couldn’t remember that we weren’t going a cruise, and the husband didn’t know if he was listed with the BBB. Plus, he has a case of false reporting brought up against him. So there’s THAT.
So we are back to finding a new travel agent. The only reason we are using one is that we do not want people to bug us about booking the trip, we want someone else to handle that for us.
Because I already have enough people bugging me and telling me ways they think we should do it, and that tourists are getting killed in Mexico, etc. At this point, I am ready to just go with my boo and get married by ourselves there. That’s not what we will do, but GEEZ LOUISE! Why does everyone have an opinion about MY wedding???

Ok, rant over. Have a great day, friends!

Oh, hello!

Do you see anything different?? The glasses perhaps? Well, let me tell you about those. I’ve been experiencing a lot more migraines and headaches recently, along with eyes that are getting pretty tired by the end of the day. I thought there was nothing that I could do about it, and moved on. Especially since I have 20/20 vision (doctor confirmed!) and I have to work on a computer all day.

Enter Felix Gray. They have glasses that are just for the computer. They are non-prescription and they filter out the blue light that causes issues with sleep and eye strain, and headaches. I’m only on day two, but so far, so good. At $95 a pair, they certainly aren’t cheap, but they are nice. If you want, you can get them as reading glasses with magnification as well. They also now have prescription glasses, for those who need them.

In other news…

My trip home was fantastic! My mom and I went wedding dress shopping, (I haven’t found the one yet, but we are getting closer), we shopped, and I had a wonderful time at my old roomie’s wedding. I even got my first-ever blowout, and I got my makeup professionally done. I added a bit more to my eyes and lined them before the wedding since I felt a little naked! And, I got to hang out with all of my favorite Ocho alums, and current employees.

So I have been doing some things that future Melissa will thank current Melissa for. And geez, being an adult is annoying.

I get paid every two weeks, so twice a year, there are three paycheck months. March was one of those months. I did my best to basically bank that third paycheck, and I totally nailed it. I got paid again today and I was able to transfer $1000 into savings. GO ME!!!

We’re meeting with the travel agent for our wedding tomorrow. We are trying to get everything figured out so that we can get people to start booking as soon as the time frame opens up. We are doing a destination wedding in the Maya Riviera in Mexico. This is basically all I have ever dreamed of when it comes to my wedding. (Actual wedding site at the resort we are going to!! I feel like I’m dreaming!!)

I paid off my credit card earlier this month. Now the goal is to keep a zero balance on it. I have an amazing credit score (800′s!) and I lost like 12 points when I bought my treadmill and got the 0% interest financing. Grrr.

I started taking collagen twice a day a few weeks ago. It may be the placebo effect, but my nails are longer and stronger, my hair doesn’t seem to be falling out as much as it usually did, and my skin is looking awesome! A friend was going on about how it was glowing at the wedding this weekend. She said I look like I’m her age (29!) and as a freshly minted 36-year-old, I will take it!

I’ve also found a new eye cream that makes me feel like my faint eye wrinkles might be disappearing! If anyone even wants to know what brands I’ve bought and used, I will let you know, but for now, I will not assume that you care!

Alright friends, I’ve gotta get some things done. Have a great Friday eve!

Thursday

Crazy-high winds last night knocked over a tree and left us without power until 11:30 this morning.
It was 18 degrees outside when I got up and 52 degrees in the house. So that’s fun.
The linemen were working on the lines until about 10pm and then just WENT HOME.
Where I come from, they stay working on those downed power lines all night–it is NOT acceptable to leave people without power (and heat) when it is cold out!! Hrmph.
In other news, I leave for my trip back to Nebraska TONIGHT!! It was cheaper and closer for me to drive to Montreal (2 hours away) than Syracuse (2.5 hours) and then fly out at 5:30am to Omaha ($310 vs. $610). So I am heading up tonight to get some rest and then head to The Good Life. I cannot wait!
I am finding the science of losing weight fascinating. My body does NOT need/like a lot of carbs, so on the days that I am lower, the scale goes down. If I go higher (like 20-30 grams more than the day before) I shoot up a pound or two.
Yes, I weigh myself every day. Don’t @ me about this. It works for me. Constant Vigilance!!
I am finally seeing some scale movement, so that’s pretty cool too.

Ok, have a great rest of your week, friends!

I went to the Doctor yesterday…

He had a lot of thoughts on my issues (female and otherwise)

As I have suspected, my female issues are likely tied to my weight. Real talk: I lost 150 pounds. The doctor then told me that I needed to gain some back (I was scary thin) I gained back about 10 pounds and remained there through a lot of constant vigilance for about 3 years.
I slowly gained 30 pounds over the course of 4 years. It kills me to type that. Overall, I am still down more than 110 pounds but I have 20-30 pounds that I need to lose. AGAIN.
I am tall, so I gain weight everywhere–legs, face, butt, everywhere. So it isn’t too obvious and I really only went up one size in clothes. But I can feel it and I see it and it sucks.
I have been trying desperately to lose this weight since October. I have gained and lost the same 3 pounds. I have hired a nutritionist and she has tweaked my calories and macros a bunch of times and nothing really works. I go down a bit, and then go back up. To say I am frustrated is an understatement.
The Doc thinks that because I lost the weight previously, my body is now operating at a lower metabolic rate. Because it figured out how to burn calories more efficiently when I was thinner, my metabolism is now lower than it was before. So that sucks.
The weight gain appears to be the reason my cycle is out of whack and awful. Because fat produces estrogen. Oh joy.
So, get the weight off, get the cycle under control? That’s the goal. I am finally back working out consistently–I’ve been running in the mornings before work again and doing my pushups as well. I also am occasionally spinning after work too. Just trying to make that metabolism get moving.
I basically stopped running in 2015, took up spinning for about 6 months last year, and haven’t done much consistently until these past few months when I bought my treadmill. So I am trying to learn some grace with myself. The weight didn’t go back on overnight, and it won’t come off that fast either. But it still pains me to say that I gained weight back.

I’m not going to dwell on this. I am going to fight for myself. That’s all I can do, right? And if I want to like how I look in my wedding dress (going shopping soon!!) then I better do something about it, instead of wishing and hoping.

Thanks for listening, friends!

MAKE IT STOP!!

Winter still has its icy grip on upstate New York. At least 8-9 inches of snow fell from yesterday to today, and it is still snowing. SEND HELP!
My birthday is Friday. I distinctly remember at least two or three birthdays since 2012 that it was very warm in Nebraska. I’m talking 80-90 degrees!! But this is fine. (Did I convince you? I have not convinced myself!)
After re-evaluating the wedding and time of year, I think I might change which dress I wear to the wedding next month. I don’t think I want that much skin exposed just yet! I will post photos when I decide. Thanks for the help friends!
I am struggling mightily with motivation to get up and run before work. I know I need to because I won’t do it otherwise. Also, due to taking an iron supplement and eating brussels sprouts I am experiencing a lot of stomach discomfort!!
The scale went up 2.5 pounds from Saturday to today. I know I didn’t gain that weight, but my goodness, that is demoralizing. I am seriously bummed that I can’t lose weight. I still am trying though!
Wedding planning is coming along. We are looking for a travel agent to bounce some ideas off of and then should be able to book soon! I am pumped!

Well, I am going to go dream about warm sunshine and sandy beaches friends! Have a great day!

Happy Hump Day!

@morningmiles tagged me to post 5 things that make me happy. Since I have been MIA, you get a selfie for your troubles of reading this!

Sunshine and warm weather.
A really good book that I can’t put down.
My boo, my family, and my friends.
When you wake up and see you’ve only been asleep for like an hour and have SO MUCH TIME left to sleep!
Anything sparkly.

I’m tagging whoever wishes to do this.

In other news….

I filed my taxes today. First time I have ever done it myself. I usually just had my family CPA do it, but as it cost over $125 for that, I decided to try it myself. Less than $30 later, I have my refunds heading my way. Hooray! I plan to pay off my credit card and use the rest to pay down my medical bills. Yay, adulting.

I feel like I have nothing important to say here lately. Oh, there are things I can talk about, but who wants to listen to me complain about health issues (female variety), the struggle to lose weight again, wedding planning, and the other minutia of my life? I am getting another ultrasound and a second opinion on Monday, so maybe they will be able to help me figure out what is wrong. Le sigh.

I’m going back home to Nebraska for a few days in April! My old roomie is getting married and I am going back for the wedding. My fiance isn’t going with–it will be cheaper just for me to go, plus then he’d have to find someone to watch the dogs. I am pumped to get back to The Good Life for a few days.

I’ve been really enjoying my treadmill. I did a 4.5 mile loop that I loved back in Nebraska a couple of times this weekend and have mapped out others that I am excited to try!

Have a great rest of the week, friends!

What a week!

The photos aren’t chronological but bear with me:

My new treadmill came last night! She is gorgeous and runs like a dream! I love her. So much.
On Wednesday it snowed 9 inches here during the day. Like from around 9am to 5:30pm. They closed the University (where I work) early and I went home and hunkered down. It is currently snowing right now, and we are supposed to get about 6 more inches this weekend. Le SIGH.
Last Saturday, our friends went with us the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival where they build an ice castle each year. Then we went up to Lake Placid to stroll around and grab a bite. We have to go back in the summer when it is actually pleasant to be outside so that I can hit all of the cool shops.
Charlie is better! His lump just went away! I had been praying for that sweet boy pretty hard. So glad he’s ok.
My sweet girl, Rio. She loves her bed. (I just had to throw that picture in for balance. And because puppies.)
I’m on week two of my kettlebells class and I am SORE. Especially my hamstrings and booty. But it is a good sore.
My new goals are to run 3-4 times a week 3-4 miles each time, plus do my classes twice a week. I’m hoping to jump-start that fat burning process again. Something’s gotta give.

Have a great weekend, friends!