Busy But Good

Some of you may not know this about me, but I am a recovering shop-o-holic. I actually really don't enjoy shopping for clothes for myself at the current moment so I guess I just had to have a couple kids to solve my problem. =) It's not nearly as much fun when there are extra "wrinkles" to try to cover up. I find myself grabbing too small of sizes because I still think of my body as the old skinny version of me 20 or 30 pounds lighter.

In the fall of 2006 I lost close to 30 pounds, then unfortunately over the course of the next two years gained it all back. AND then I got pregnant with Levi, AND then I got pregnant with Wyatt three months later. So here I am. Almost 30 years old, not going to say how much I weigh, but let's just say I really don't want to stay here! And my feet have grown a half to full size - and they were big to begin with! Wish you could lose weight on your feet but unfortunately I don't think these poor footsies of mine are going to cooperate.

But you know, I have come to the place where I am ok with how I look. I would love to shed these extra pounds overnight and fit back into my adorable skinny jeans that made my husband drool, but my comfy jeans and sneakers are fine by me now. My two kids are worth it.  If the flip side to having two adorable sons is having a new outward version of me, I think I can handle it. I've been trying to lose weight and was on a great excercise routine for a while until it got too hot to take the boys for walks every day and then it just kinda spiralled downward until now, it's been close to a month since I've had a good workout. I got so frustrated that even after working my tale off on the eliptical for 45 minutes every day I wasn't more than 1/2 a pound to a pound lighter by the end of the week. I did shed a few inches though. I try to eat healthy. But I also try to cook, inexpensive sensible meals and the two don't always go hand in hand with losing weight.

So today I brought in SIX 18-gallon totes, one box, and one basket full of clothes and shoes to a local consignment shop that has misses clothes & shoes and children's clothes and gear. It was so cleansing!!!!  As I stated earlier, I used to be a shop-o-holic. Back before I was mature (inside LOL!), Isaac had to work weekends when he was going to college, so that left me to my own devises which pretty much meant shopping at the mall and a few other various stores I went to frequently. I had an office job so I felt justified by buying "work" clothes. Literally the clerks pretty much knew me by name. I guess I could have said I was visiting friends if Isaac had asked but he didn't. So, no kids yet at that time, living in a one bedroom apartment so no mortgage, no savings, and too many credit cards equaled stashes of clothes which a huge majority of them never left the hangers or bags stuffed under the bed or in the closet. Yes, I was one of "those" women. But I am happy to say, not any more! I rarely get to even go clothes shopping now. And I really don't even enjoy it that much. I didn't get rid of everything in those smaller sizes today. I have my favorites all stowed away and labeled in totes in our furnace room in the basement.

Today was a good day. Clearing out clothes that I can't wear and hopefully turning them into cash & credit to buy my boys clothes & toys. I had a very nice lunch with my dear friend Mandy and her Grandma Tweedy. And I had a play date and lovely salmon dinner at my new friend Becky's house tonight.

I even squeezed in a couple yard sales this morning before my sister Mindy got here to watch my boys while I was out on my ventures.  I had scoped out this yard sale last night because I wasn't quite sure where it was. I did a quick drive by so I knew exactly where I was going. I was also checking to see if they had any outdoor play gyms - been on the lookout for one of those for a couple months now!!

Anyways, the yard sale started at 8:30 this morning so I pull up at 8:22. I load the boys in their double stroller. I walk up and there before me were a few sets of Fisher Price Little People including the carnival and a ferris wheel, school house and a couple other related items. Now, you must understand, my husband would say that I have an "obsession" with these Little People. I guess I might just have traded one obsession for another...But Levi and I have so much fun with them! And if my husband was at home all day, every day with the boys, he would want something to play with that he actually "enjoyed" too!!  I loved dolls and barbies when I was a girl and I can't very well let Levi play with those. So Fisher Price Little People are kinda like the acceptable boy-doll/toy, right?!  Anyways, back to my story - I quickly ask the lady "How much?" And to my delight she answers "Eight dollars for all of it."  Oh, Happy Day!! I take a deep breath so as not to squeal with delight and calmly reply, "Ok, I'll take it."  I scooped everything up and loaded it into the tote she had sitting there for whoever bought them. I literally caught myself do a little skip as I walked after purchasing my new treasures. I wanted to skip all the way back to my mini-van but left it at just one skip and skipped the rest of the way in my head.

So that about sums up my day. Ramblings from a mini van mom....Good night.