home for the holidays

I am almost done with the fluff posts. I am working on a plan to reinvent my thinking. This means getting my health under control and getting my overall priorities in order. I've got some things written down, but I am reading and writing to solidify my plan, which will be unveiled on (of course) New Years Eve. However, I am not waiting that long to be "good." My sugar detox begins tomorrow. I have been bad. Bad in cooking. Bad in eating. (And there are many recipes here that prove it.)

But back to the fun of Christmas. We returned to our house today, after having Nate's family here on Saturday, and splitting then to now between our parents. It cracks me up how different our families are. Mine loud and obnoxious and not well-behaved. His generally civilized. I'll just show you highlights.

Our Christmas Tree

Dad's Outrageous Christmas Cake 2007

(yes, it lights up)

Mom and Dad's New Cat, Stella. She's crazy. And mean. But so cute!

Christmas Eve + Hair Pick + Nathan = Bob Ross

Mom and Dad got us bikes!

The Carr Kids and Spouses

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

three for the Hebrew children

Well, it's vacation day #1! I am up to my elbows in Sausage Balls. Literally. 10 and a half dozen. Man, they are awesome.

I just realized I forgot to get Nate a Christmas card. I've looked several times, but they are just too sappy. I guess I'm getting out the construction paper and making my own. (Sorry, Nate.)

We finished viewing #1 of A Christmas Story, and all I have to say is, "Only I didn't say fudge..." We just got a call from Nate's brother in Tennessee. It appears that he is having some stomach issues, thus is not coming in tonight. So Kent is coming over and bringing pizza and beer. Oh yeah.

But now I'm thinking of the dinner I have planned for tomorrow (pork loin, honeyed carrots, mashed potatoes, sausage stuffing) and hoping it's not a bust. We go home on Sunday. What will I do with all that food? It's just trama from the New Year's Weekend we had planned several years ago that everyone backed out of. I will have a big dinner tomorrow regardless. And it will be awesome!

something about paper dolls

I Love FB. She called me out by calling herself out. And then Mindy goes and does the same thing. Its time for a confession.

Confession:

I started this blog in February. It is a Weight Loss blog. But I've gained 8 pound in these 10 months. I'm exactly (to the tenth of a pound) where I was on New Years Day last year. I don't want this to be me. I think the quote from FB really described me (and I know you don't mind that I borrowed it).

And the whole time I was eating that birthday cake and all of it's ridiculously sugary frosting I kept thinking, I don't even really want to eat this but I will because it's here. You want to know how I got so fat? Reread that last sentence.

I love you, girl, for being able to call me out just by being yourself.

Confession #2:

I had a corn dog and a pepsi for lunch today.

Confession #3:

I really REALLY want to be a runner.

I know these things do not go together. I'm not giving up.

I am, however, accepting that my career is in a very stressful season. And I have to put my energy there right now. I am also realizing that I need control, and I have little control at work. I could find that control in my eating and exercising. I'm not done wallowing yet, though. I'm at a much better place than I was 2 days ago, though.

Since I don't have any weight loss tips today (like i have for months), I decided to continue the random pictures of things. Today I'm going to show you my favorite ornaments on my tree.

This is one of our new ornaments this year. It came from you guessed it, the Biltmore. Also in the picture is the new carousel polar bear from Nate's Mom.

This is my ornament to Nate this year: a mini pound of Starbucks coffee.

This is an ornament from Nate's Mom several years ago. It's almost what I do!I think I bought this one myself. But I love it.This is the Angel of Remembrance. It is a nice time for me to remember where I came from, who I miss, and who I have to be thankful for.

I love this ornament. A few years ago, I made ornaments as gifts. This is the one I made for Nate. It says "i love you" and then has a strand of lights. It is probably my best creative moment.

I bought this ornament forever ago, maybe 1999. When I saw this angel, I thought it looked like what our children would eventually look like. It may be my favorite ornament of all.

Last year at work, we did an ornament exchange. I got the one my friend Vanessa brought. She now lives in Idaho and I miss her terribly. (and then there's the backwards butt of Nate's childhood clothespin reindeer.)

This ornament reminds me of my Scully girl.

Any ornaments you'd like to share? I'd love to see them!

we always stand up straight

It was this time last week we were on our Christmas trip. Because I am so frustrated with myself (specifically my weight and my job), I decided this was a great time to relive our trip. In pictures!

We started off spending Thursday night with Nathan's brother in Tennessee. We started off going to see the Christmas lights at the Bristol Motor Speedway. I was really impressed. We got to drive around the track!

Then we walked around downtown Bristol and had great coffee.
Friday morning, Nathan and I took off for Asheville! There were beautiful views at the overlook at the North Carolina Welcome Center.
Nice highway in the background, huh?
Our first meal in Asheville was our favorite from the last trip: Chorizo in the Grove Arcade. Nathan had this scrambled egg thing, and I had skirt steak. Absolutely huge portions, and amazing food. It's on our must list from now on.
While walking around the Grove Arcade, we got to look at gingerbread houses from the Grove Park Inn's Gingerbread House competition. They were very impressive.
Then we checked in to the Bed and Breakfast. We LOVE the Crooked Oak Mountain Inn. This is the view of the front porch after dark.

Then we did the Candle Light Tour at the Biltmore. I cannot tell you how amazing the tour is. We couldn't take any pictures in the house, so the one picture of the night was in front of the Christmas tree in the welcome center.

We started the next day with truffles at The Chocolate Fetish. It's who we are when we are in Asheville. Bring on the truffles.

Then we returned to the Biltmore with every intention to tour the winery. The line was like 3 days long, so we just strolled around the barn which was decorated very nicely and set up with Appalachain Christmas displays.

Isn't Santa cute? We then continued the day in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Again, bring on the truffles! This stop was Chocolate Gems.Also in Black Mountain was this awesome kitchen store called The Common Housefly. I loved it. These cups are Bentleys, just like me!!On our last night, I realized I hadn't taken a picture of our beautiful room. It's full of our clothes strewn around, and our unmade bed, but this is our suite.I spent our last bed and breakfast night warm and cozy...with water, doritos, Oprah magazine, and a very comfortable bed.Nathan's reading material of choice was the local real estate magazines. Hey, we can dream, right?After a great breakfast the next morning, we took our usual hike around the b&b. Ever since we've been coming, we've been eyeing this tree with plans to vandalize. We added our touch this trip. Think anyone will notice?And we finish the trip with the ceremonious arms-length picture looking back up the trail.

We love Asheville! We had wonderful weather, with record highs in Decemer. It was such a great way to get Christmas started!

I anticipate I'll be doing fluff posts until the first of the year. I'm just not motivated. I'm not happy in work or health, and I'm choosing to just ignore those things (for better or worse) through Christmas and then take serious action. I AM NOT GIVING UP on myself or my blog, I'm just being realistic at this point.

For my blog friends, I continue to read about you every day. I hope to rejoin the family of self-improvement soon. I haven't forgotten about you and I miss you a lot!

And, in case you all didn't know, I have the greatest husband ever. (Kisses Nate!!)

take the time to get to know me

So I had an amazing Thanksgiving weekend, and I had a great lunch with Sarah today. I would post about it (and that is coming up tomorrow), but Fat Bridesmaid's post today offered a challenge, and I'm always up for a challenge!

She asks this: Type the answer to each question into a Google image search, and you pick an image from the first page of results. Ready? Sweet.

1. Age at Next Birthday2. Place I'd like to travel.

3. Favorite place. 4. Favorite objects. 5. Favorite food.6. Favorite animal. 7. Favorite color. 8. Town where I was born.9. Town where I live. 10. Name of a past pet. (She's current. I couldn't help it.) 11. Name of a past love.12. Best friend's nickname.

13. My nickname.

14. My name. 15. Bad habit I have. 16. First job.17. My grandmother's name.18. College Major.

Your turn!!

We will be back to our regurarly scheduled programming tomorrow...with a play-by-play of Thanksgiving and my plan to get a new laptop.