My How She's Grown...

The first picture is Anna back when she was about 8 weeks old (so June). The other picture is us probably about 2 weeks before the wedding. So she's grown a bit since then. I think she's probably close to 32 pounds now.

I look at pictures of her when we first got her and I can't believe how much she's grown...she's the sweetest little girl. I love her.

I just wanted to show off my puppy :)

You Can Vote However You Like

A pretty cool thing that I came across today (thank you Kekis!!). I love it!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj5eWRzDhNI

And here are the lyrics:
Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

(McCain supporters)
McCain’s the best candidate
With Palin as his running mate
They’ll fight for gun rights, pro life,
The conservative right
Our future is bright
Better economy in site
And all the world will feel our military might

(Obama supporters)
But McCain and Bush are real close right
They vote alike and keep it tight
Obama’s new, he’s younger too
The Middle Class he will help you
He’ll bring a change, he’s got the brains
McCain and Bush are just the same
You are to blame, Iraq’s a shame
Four more years would be insane

Lower your Taxes - you know Obama Won’t
PROTECT THE LOWER CLASS - You know McCain won’t!
Have enough experience - you know that they don’tS
TOP GLOBAL WARMING - you know that you won’t

I want ObamaF
ORGET OBAMA
Stick with McCain and you’re going to have some drama
We need it
HE’LL BRING IT
He’ll be it
YOU’LL SEE IT
We’ll do it
GET TO IT
Let’s move itDO IT!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

I’m talking big pipe lines, and low gas prices
Below $2.00 that would be nice
But to do it right we gotta start today
Finding renewable ways that are here to stay

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA,
Stick wit McCain you gone have some drama
MORE WAR IN IRAQ
Iran he will attack
CAN’T BRING OUR TROOPS BACK
We gotta vote Barack!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah
Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

–http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/

Ron Clark actually came to TAMU-Commerce and spoke at one of our convocations. He is so cool! I would have loved to have had him as my teacher. He's so passionate about what he does. I'm impressed!

Meh...

I'm moody today. I think I need to work out. I think being active makes me a happier person and I haven't been active since Saturday, so I am going to the gym tonight. I also feel like a beached whale, so I'm sure that doesn't help. I refuse to go to family functions in November and December looking like a bloated version of myself.

I'm really frustrated that my photographers haven't posted any pictures on their blog from our wedding. It's been a month. The least they could do would just give me a taste of what to expect when they're finally done editing and looking at all of the pictures that were taken that day...I'm just starting to get impatient. I'm also sick of people asking me when they'll have them ready. It's like, "I don't know. But I'll let you know when I get them. Back off"

Steven told me yesterday he wants to move to Hill Country. I'm all for it, except we can't just say, "I want to move", we need to have some things planned out. It would be lovely if I could already have a job down there before we move, but I'm not exactly sure how to make that happen. But I also think Steve should do the same. Being a music teacher, I would think it would be easy to go to job fairs to get my name out there, meet some fine art directors and try to get my foot in the door. As far as graphic design, I don't know how that works to get your foot in the door and network. We'd also need to figure out the best possible place to stay. Austin is known for it's terrible traffic, but I don't think Steve's opposed to public transportation...and I'm not opposed to driving in the opposite direction of the traffic. I don't know.

I think it's just going to take us sitting down and weighing out all the pros and cons to moving, what steps we need to take in order for it to be a smooth transition, whether or not it would be a good idea, and whether or not we'd be happy there. I've never been more than an hour and a half away from my parents so to be over 3 hours away is kind of scary to me...but it also means that I'm growing up and independent. I don't know. I think it would cost more money than we think and we're already broke as it is...We'd need movers, but Steve doesn't want to use movers. I refuse to break my back or my husband's back moving furniture any more. I'm sorry, but I've done that for too many years. I did it when we moved into my apartment in Commerce (both apartments), moving to Garland, and then moving to our current apartment. I think it's worth it to hire people to help us. Especially when you've got a washer and a dryer that need to be brought down 2 flights of narrow stairs, a heavy recliner, and our TV stand. I'm sorry, I just refuse. And I refuse to ask my parents to help us move. It's just wrong.

I guess that's it for today...

New Kids on the Block

Oh. My. God. Were they amazing! I got the amazing opportunity to go see them in concert last night and there are no words to describe how happy I am that I got to go. I'm exhausted this morning, but it was so worth it.

First of all, the opener for NKOTB was Natasha Bedingfield. She was amazing. I love her songs, and now I want her CDs. She is truly talented. They also had a girl from Jamaica open (before Natasha). She did a really good job, as well.

When NKOTB hit the stage though, there are just not enough words to describe the hysteria that went on. It was like I was back in 1990....They performed all the good songs, and new ones from their new CD (that I want to get now). Surprisingly, they were VERY good. I had my doubts. I had wondered to myself if they were truly as good as I remembered...and they were. They were actually better. Even Steven was impressed. :)

I just cannot say it enough. NKOTB rocked. It was the best concert I've been to. They put on an amazing show and I am just so lucky to have had the chance to go!

A Change Would Do Me Good

Ok, so after watching my weight hike back up to pre-Steven magnitude, I'm taking initiative.

I am on a mission to lose 15-20 pounds in the next year or year and a half. I know the first 10 pounds or so will come off fairly quickly in about 2-3 months, but the rest will be harder to lose.

Before I moved in with Steven I had lost 10 pounds. I was at the gym pretty much every day for at least an hour to an hour and a half at a time. I was eatting fairly healthy foods, going to bed at a decent hour and not going back for seconds at dinner time. Since moving in with Steve, I've found it so much harder to get up and go work out. It's even harder when I get home from work because I don't want to leave him and Anna.

This week we have worked out every day. Monday we ran 2 miles, Tuesday we went to the gym (I did 30 minutes of cardio, and then some weight machines), Wednesday we got up early and ran another 2 miles, and then Thursday we went to the gym again (I did the same 30 minutes of cardio, and did different weight machines to target what I didn't reach on Tuesday). Today we're going to go for a run. I'm looking forward to it.

I weighed myself right before we left the gym last night and was completely disappointed in myself. I can't believe that in a little over 6 months I had let myself pack on that much weight.

So I'm going to do as my friend Christina is doing, and post about my progress.

Right now...I'm (sadly) at 154 pounds. I think it's been 3 years since I weighed that much.
My goal is 134.

What I plan to accomplish in losing those 20 pounds is:

1. Get back to lifting 20 pounds each arm in bicep curls.
2. Lift 50 pounds in shoulders.
3. By December be down to 145.
4. Run a 10k in March or April.
5. Run the 5k in the Turkey Trot this year.
6. By this time in October 2009 be at 134-135.
6. Next year be able to run a 1/2 marathon <---Ultimate goal.

Wish me luck. I feel really confident in these goals that I've set up for myself. Some of them may happen later rather than sooner, but I've put them out there for me to see every time I blog...so maybe I won't let things go like I've done in the past!

An Update!

So I'm officially a married woman! It feels pretty good. The wedding was absolutely amazing. I cannot even begin to explain how wonderful it was!

The day started off with a manicure and pedicure with my sister. It was really relaxing. Then we headed over to the salon and got our hair and make up done at Headrush Salon. We had such a good time! At least I did-I had 2 martini's and got to hang out with some really awesome women :)

Afterwards we headed over to the Wildwood and set up everything in our rooms. The pergola was already decorated and the cakes were being set up. It all looked so beautiful!

I remember waiting for what seemed like forever for 6:00 to get here...When they said it was time, I walked down the stairs and took my dad's arm. When I walked towards Steven, everything else around me just dropped away. I don't remember the people, I don't remember the music, I just remember seeing him and trying not to cry.

The ceremony was perfect-aside from the mistake of Brother Charles calling me by my sister's name at first :)

The reception was a blast! The food was great, the music was awesome and I danced the whole time! I just had such a good time.

I am so lucky to be married to Steven. He is such an amazing guy.