Sunday, June 28, 2009

TWO GREAT DAYS OF GOLF

Here we are the first day of a two day golfing event with our friend Philip. Wife is in Ireland at their cottage for the summer. Poor Philip is left here to fend for himself and to work. Have to pay for that cottage. It was our weekend to babysit Philip and fun was had by all. It was only 105 yesterday when we got done playing and to day it was 100 before we even got to the 16th tee. We started at 5:34 a.m. so we would beat the heat. We are just finishing getting the house put together and then we are back to Salt Lake till Thursday afternoon. We will be coming back down here for the 4th of July weekend. Sometimes it feel like I am a yo-yo. It has been great here. 
Tuesday brings the landscapers. I can't wait to get the yard done and get some color in the flower beds. I will keep you posted on how that is going. 
Remember to live you Life in Celebration.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?


THIS IS THE GREEN IN THE MASTER BEDROOM IT IS KIND OF AN EMERALD GREEN.


THIS IS THE GREEN HUBBY WANTS IN THE GUEST BATHROOM.
IT IS KIND OF A LIME-ISH GREEN.
In my opinion the green in the bedroom is too green. I really think it a beautiful color but for a bathroom wall, not so much. Does anyone have a suggestion for a color that will work with the bedroom colors and that will not over power you when you are taking a shower. 
Now for the guest bathroom. I think the lime-ish color would work okay but not the whole room. I would think just an accent wall. With some light tan rugs and towels. I am using white towels here and they are okay but what I am finding out is when one is out golfing and you're covered in sunscreen the residue from the sunscreen and the red dust here really does a job on white. I am also finding out that bleach will not take the staining out. So, my thinking is why not tan towels about the same color as the dust which is about the same as one of the colors in the shower curtain. 
Please comment on any ideas you have for the master bath.
Always remember to live your Life in Celebration.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

NOW IT IS PAINTED

What do you think? I think it finishes that area. I did not realize I had not finished it. I really kind of put it off this week because I just did not want to paint any more. I think I have painted enough to last me a lifetime. The thought of having to paint anymore was just torture to me. I know that was not much to paint and yes it was done fairly quickly but still just did not want to get into it. What really amazes me is that I have walked by that corner at least a thousand times and never noticed that I had not painted it. 


I do go on about not painting again but I still have two bathrooms to paint. Just can't seem to get a color in my mind on what would work. In the quest bathroom I have a striped shower curtain and my husband really likes the green that is one of the strips. He also mentioned he wanted the master to be a green also. The problem is they are really bright greens and could be a little too much it the whole room is painted the color. The guest bathroom is kind of small. (You want to have people come and stay but you don't want them to move in.) The master bath is larger but not by much. With painting the master a bright green then what do I do about the closet which next to the bathroom. You walk thru the bathroom to get to the closet. Do I paint it the color of the bedroom or do I continue the color from the bathroom into the closet? What do you think? Please give me idea's on what would work or not.  Tomorrow I will show you pictures of the shower curtain and the color of the master bedroom. Then you may be able to help me with some ideas.

Remember to live your Life in Celebration.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

WHAT PART OF THE WALL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

You can see the line of paint there in the center. 
My husband and I were sitting at the breakfast table and my husband turned to me and asked me what was I going to do with the portion of wall that was not painted. I asked him, 'what wall'? He said ' that part there by the counter'. I looked and sure enough the portion under the counter that wraps around under the bar and connects to the under the counter cupboards was still the color the builder had painted all of the rooms. Dang! Well now it looks like I am back to painting again. I know it is not a big project but for anyone who has done any painting no part of painting is a little job. The good thing is that I made sure I had plenty of paint for touch ups or sections of wall forgotten. I had to ask Stacy what color we had decided to paint that section. It will be the Valley Forge Brown like the rest of the kitchen. It looks like I will be doing a little bit of painting tomorrow. I will take a picture of the kitchen and show you when it is done.

Even when you find you have a job not quite done remember life is still Life in Celebration.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

WEEK EIGHT


Well I was on the negative side of my weight loss program. I lost that ONE pound I had put on last week. I know it is in the negative but I seem a little let down because it was not more of a weight loss. I wanted to be two pounds not just one. I am my own worst critic. I seem to set goals that are somewhat unrealistic. Now that I am in my eighth week I expect myself to be at least with a 16 pounds drop in my weight. I know the slower it comes off the longer it will stay off and that is the objective of this whole process it to take it off and keep it off. I just need to be easier on myself and look at each ounce of weight that is lost is a victory.
While I was in Vegas taking the hubby to the airport I stopped at the mall and bought me some new shorts and those shorts are now a full size smaller than I have worn longer than I can remember. Know, that is progress and I need to see all the small victories for what they are, victories.

We all need to remember what ever victory we gain is Life in Celebration.

Monday, June 22, 2009

STILL DOWN SOUTH

More photo's of the flowering plants here in Mesquite.
I am still down here in Mesquite waiting for the workers to come and do some work on our house. So, far the garage door guy was here and adjusted the door so it will not rub against the wall. Still waiting for the painter, stucco guy, and the drywall guy. They are suppose to show up between 8 a.m. and noon. We all know what that means, they will be showing up at 11:59 just in time. 
I have been walking almost everyday. While the husband was here over the weekend we rode our bikes, went to the pool, sat on the patio drinking our coffee in the morning, and just relaxing. I will have to go and take a photo of the hill we rode our bikes up, talk about steep. We are not the mountain trail, tree stump jumping, grave imbedded knee kind of bikers. We are the kind who like a well paved trail or an uncrowded road. It was a little more than what we are use to. 
Went to one of the casinos on Saturday and my husband put in $5 in this one machine next to where I was sitting and within less than 20 minutes he won $159. YAHOO!!!! Well, the winnings did find their way into my pocketbook. So, I was the real winner! 


Tomorrow is the day of truth. I go and weigh in the morning. Wish me luck.

I hope each and everyday for you is a day of Life in Celebration.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

DESERT FLOWERS IN THE SUMMER

Here are a few of the flowering plants I saw while on my walk yesterday. It really is interesting to see how many plants growing in the desert have blossoms. The colors are so vibrant and rich. The blossoms do not stay around for any real length of time but, while they are flowering in full glory they are vibrant. It is amazing what a little water will do in the desert. I just love looking at the different types of plants and the variety of color and size of blossom. 

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

WEEK SEVEN

My friends I am so disappointed with myself. I have put on 1 pound. I can't believe that the slice of carrot cake, 3 servings of brie cheese with 3 slices of bread, dinner at a friends house which included the best chocolate sauce over ice cream and the 4 classes of wine would effect my weight loss. Go figure. I know where I fell down and it really is in keeping track of your points. The journaling is the key and I know I have not been doing any of it. All of us who are in the WW program and think we don't need to journal are the ones who are not losing weight. It has been proven journaling is the one thing which is most effective in losing weight. How else do you really know what you have eaten. You would be surprised on what you eat on a daily basis. I am putting a challenge out there for you all and I would like you to keep track of everything you eat for 3 days. Then come back and let me know know how you did. Can you do that? I think you all would be very surprised what you are eating. You don't have to keep track of points and stay within any points you need to just track your food intake. I will make sure my email address is available on the blog so you can let me know how you did. I am really looking forward to see how everyone did.
I am making promise to myself to be better in keeping the journal. It's not like I have a job that makes me too busy to do any of this. So, my promise is compounded. I promise to walk everyday I don't golf, to write down in my journal everyday what I have eaten and to keep within my points. It is not like I don't have the journals as I purchased WW's 3 month journal booklet. I will also keep you posted on the the points I have eaten for the week. Yes, you may have figured out that I am using you as my overseer to help me stay on track. I would like to have lost 30 pounds by the first of the year. It is my plan to reach my goal weight in a year. I figure it will be the hardest to lose the last bit of weight as I approach the end of the year in my weight lose program.

Well, wish me luck as I think I will need it.

The scale was not having a Life in Celebration.

Monday, June 15, 2009

HEAT BLESSED HEAT

I know it is the middle of June and the temp. here in Northern Utah should be much higher than it has be for the past few weeks but, enough with the rain already. It seems like we have had weeks of rain and then when we thought the sun would come out we would get more rain. The forecast is rain. Can you believe it? So, I decided to get out of the rain and head south. Here I am in Southern Nevada and it is overcast with some humidity and the temp is around 94 when I got here. I can tell you it does not feel too bad. It is nice to get out of the long pants and leave the umbrella in the car.

Give it a few weeks here and I will be rushing back to Northern Utah to get out of the heat. There is just no pleasing me.

No rain for a few days is Life in Celebration.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

2009 BEST BALL



GETTING READY FOR A RAINY DAY
MY PARTNER KIMMIE
STARTED OUT TO BE A GLORIOUS DAY
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO PLAY GOLF
Last Wednesday and Thursday was the Utah State Women's State 4ball Best Ball. We had 108 players and we played at two different courses. The first day we played at Wingpointe and the second day we played Mountain Dell the Lake Course. The photo's are taken at Mountain Dell. The day's started out really nice if not a little cool and as the day progressed and the solar heating heated up the already saturated air we got drenched. You see several golf carts with covers on them. Let me tell you if you are not familiar with playing in the rain then the cart cover is sent from God on a rainy day. A few friends of mine even call it the Pope Mobile cover. The first day Kimmie and me played okay not really well but well enough to keep us close to the top. You never really want to be at the top on the first day because you know the others in your flight are going to play better that second day and if you don't have a really good second day then you are out of the money. It is always better to have room for improvement. All I can say is it was a really good thing Kimmie came to play the second day as we ended up tied for First Gross. Way to go Kimmie you are the woman. We ham and egged very well and came out on top. 
Now we have to get ready for the State Am. in July. Then it is every women for themselves. 
Winning is a reason for Life in Celebration.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

WEEK SIX


My friend and enemy here is feeling much better. I lost 2 more lbs this week. This makes the total loss of 12.4 lbs in the last six weeks. How fun is that? I don't really feel like I have missed out on anything. I have talked about the nights out with friends and the great food I ate along with those smoores you remember. So, I guess it is watching what I eat the rest of the time along with the walking I have been doing. I have kept my promise to myself that if I was not golf then I would do an hour of walking at a moderate rate. I have been trying to increase the distance I walk within that hour. I want to make a full 3 laps around Liberty Park in less than an hour. Twice around the park is just shy of 3 miles. Right now I am at about 2 and 1/2 times around in an hour. Something to work towards for the summer.

The loss of 12.4 pounds is Life in Celebration.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

WAS IT LUNCH WITH A ROCK STAR?


Lunch with Georgie

Do you recognize the Rock Star? 

Tuesday I had a very nice lunch with Jo and her lovely daughter Georgie. Georgie is really starting to be this little person who loves to clown for the camera and tease her mother. We spent about 3 hours catching up and making plans to get together again soon. It was fun reading to Georgie while trying to keep an ongoing conversation with Jo. We had quiche with several different kinds of salads and a couple of cups of tea. It was a great time for all.

Time spent with friends and casual conversation is Life in Celebration. 

Sunday, June 7, 2009

YARD WORK UPDATE: JUNE 6TH 2009


THE DUMPSTER


CLEARED ALL OF THE TULIPS OUT


TO BE CLEARED OUT



CLEARED!!!

Saturday was a beautiful day with the sun shinning and the birds singing. We woke up with a loud noise out the front of our house that sounded like someone tipped over a big truck and it landed on its side. What did we find but the big dumpster sitting across the street. What a great surprise! We have been hoping that the city would bring them around soon. 
We are are always filling up our trash cans with lawn clippings, garden debris, and the regular household trash. So, with this major change in the yard we have not been able to get rid of much of it because it makes the trash can too heavy and the trash collectors will not take the cans because they are too heavy. They left us a nice little note one week to let us know that when we take some of the trash out of the cans they will come back and pick them up if we give them a call. Needless to say we just took out some of the sod we had loaded them up with and waited until the next week to spread out the weight from week to week.    
We have not really done any clearing of the sod because of the last trash can episode and the decision  was made to wait for the landscapers. So, when the dumpsters showed up it gave us the opportunity to get rid of all the stuff around the house. I made the decision to stay home while the hubby went and played golf with the friends. I wanted to get most of the work done that I needed to do before the landscapers come at the end of the month. I pulled out all of the tulips and daffodils, pulled up all the plants that were not doing well and the ones I wanted to get rid of anyway. The garden is quite bare at this time. I think it would be best to get most of the plants out so I can back fill all of the flower beds with topsoil and start all over again with new plants. I want to be a little smarter with the type of plants I plant. I want to make sure the plants will grow in the areas where I plant them. I have had some plants that needed lots of sun in shady areas and plants that need some shade in the sunniest of places. I also want to plant plants that I don't have to replace too often. I know I want to do some annuals but I do want mostly perennials to make the yard very easy to care for. 

A yard that can take care of it's self is Life in Celebration.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

WEEK FIVE


10.4 Pounds!

Yesterday was weigh in and the good news is I lost another 1.6 lbs. This brings me to a 10.4 loss. I cannot say it has been easy. I have really been worried every time I go to the weigh in because I have been soooooooo bad over the weekends. This last weekend as you know was a foodfest. I can not remember the last time I had a smoor so of course I had to one then have of another. What a pig. I am going to blame it on all of the wine that I drank that night. Okay, I will admit wine has a lot of calories also and that is why I should have stayed away from the sweet stuff. 
I went into be weighed on Wednesday evening. I usually go in the morning just because I get it out of the way and I am a firm believer that we all weigh lighter in the morning. But, yesterday I had a tournament at Davis Golf Course so I was unable to go in the morning. The meeting was packed. It was my understanding the meeting had gotten so big they had to split it. After going to the meeting at 5:30 I understand why it is so full of Weight Watcher. The women who hosts the meeting is really dynamic and fun. She remembers everyone's name and shows a real connect with the group. 
I set next to this women who has been with WW for a good 5 months and has lost only 18 pounds. We started talking and decided that we would look for each other at next weeks meeting and sit next to each other. It is nice to make a friend and to have someone to sit next to. Did not ask her name but will do so next week. I will keep you posted on what her name is and what the name of the women who is the leader of the meeting. 
I will have some more info next week about what makes her meetings so well attended.

Remember live your Life in Celebration.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

WEEKEND IN HEBER

My husband and I went to the mountain town of Heber, about 45 minutes from Salt Lake and spent the weekend golfing and spending time with friends. 


This is Wasatch Mountain Golf Course. It was a beautiful day, blue blue skies, white puffy clouds and a soft breeze. Who could ask for more.


A fantastic shot and he is counting his money from the other men he is playing against. In the end no one really won. We just had a wonderful day of playing and visiting. The hot dogs at the turn were really good and they were quite hot as I burned my toung (this spelling looks really odd to me but my husband said it was correct). We also had to have a couple of samples of my pint of rum my husband brought back from his trip to Australia.  That also burned like fire as we all took a swig from the bottle with a sip of a diet coke as chaser.

Waiting for the BBQ dinner at our friends campsite located near the golf course. We had chicken, brats, ribs, salad and smores to finish it all off. 


Did I mentioned we had music playing some of our favorites. This is three of the men playing in the airband. There was a lot of this airband thing. We do have a short movie of the band with sound. I have been thinking YouTube maybe Facebook. What do you think? My husband is the one taking the picture. Smart man.



Did I fail to mention there was lots and lots of this. One of the best things about the night was the alcohol induced planning. We all decided we were going to Ireland. The men off to watch The Open (that is the Scottish Open for those of us not in the know) and the women staying in Ireland visiting a friend who bought a cottage there. Can you believe it a sudden trip to Ireland, a place that I have always wanted to visit. I know this would be a trip above all other trips that I have taken. The excitement has gotten to all of us. We divided up responsibilities to make this happen. We are all excited and ready to go. 


The Blue Boar Inn
We had the Robert Frost Room. It was very lovely.


We woke up to a bright and sunny day with some harsh realities. First of all, we drank way too much and I know I was really dragging. Second, did we really make plans to go to Ireland. What fun! 

Well, the light of day and the checking of calendars has left us here in the U.S. for the summer. No trips to Ireland for us. But, what fun planning. It was great just thinking about going and all of the things we wanted to see and do. 

It is not the trip, it is the excitement of the possibility of the trip. 

Dreams are what Life in Celebration is all about.