today...

I don't feel so good. :(

Weigh In Day

Yes! I'm down another pound today for a total of 5 whole pounds lost in the last 2 weeks.

WOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!

Thanks SparkPeople.com!!

:)

SparkPeople.com

I started a "diet" last week and so far I have been pretty successful. The first two days were really hard, but I now feel like I am on track. My goal is to lose about 30 lbs by the end of August. Think I can do it? I KNOW I CAN!

So now you ask, what has started this change? When I went to Portland, I gained about 5 lbs from all the beer and garage that I consumed. When I got back, I was feeling absolutely crummy about myself. Especially with summer right around the corner. It's practically here! I researched a couple of options and I even looked into Weight Watchers. Then, someone at my work told me about SparkPeople.com. I looked into it and thought it was absolutely amazing. The hardest part of going on a diet and being vegetarian is that most diet plans require that you eat meat because meat has a lot of protein. This diet, does not. There was a space where I could select that I was vegetarian and it calculates meal plans for me that inlcude all of my daily required items-protein, carbs, veggies, etc., and NOT MEAT! I started on Wednesday and my weigh in was Monday. I've lost 2 lbs already! I'm quite motivated right now and I know that one of the more important things to do about weight loss is to let everyone know what I'm trying to do! If anyone is interested in losing weight, I highly recommend SparkPeople.com.

Portland Portland Portland

So, Rodrigo and I just got back from P-town just this last Sunday. We had an absolute blast. We left last Wednesday at about 1:00 PM and arrived at our hotel in downtown Portland at about 1:00 AM. The hotel was very nice and we were located right downdown just a couple blocks from the banks of the Williamette River. Oregon is beautiful. It was very green and all of the spring flowers were blooming. It was a far cry from Northern Utah! I'm still staring at snow when I look out my window at work! The day after we arrived, we drove down to Salem to see Tegan and Sara perform. They were playing at the historic Elsinore Theatre. We were a few hours early so we decided to scout out the town. As we were walking down the street, we turned a corner and ran into Sara Quinn, from the band Tegan and Sara. She was very friendly and I got my picture taken with her. The show was amazing and the sound and accoustics in the theatre were unbelievable. By far one of the best shows I have ever gone to.

A couple things that I noticed about Portland...the people are extremely friendly and nice and the restrooms are very clean! Great place to go for clean restrooms and friendly people. We dined at some great restaurants and I even tried some weird food. I ate Alligator, frog legs and octopus. None of those I wish to ever try again. Especially the octopus. YUCK!!

Boy oh boy do I miss Oregon...what a great place. I wish I could have stayed a little longer. :)

Our next venture will be out to Birmingham, AL for a friends wedding. We are flying out on a Friday night and will be returning on Sunday afternoon. A VERY short trip. I've never been to Alabama...so why not? It should be a great adventure.

The trip to Oregon has left me hungry for some more road trips and adventure. Rodrigo and I have thought about going down to New Mexico for a couple days. We'd like to go check out the aliens. :) I'm not sure about going there in the summer...I'm sure it would feel like driving into an oven. YIKES. We did receive an offer to go back out to Oregon by our friend Liz. Her parents own a house on the coast. That, to me, sounds like a more attractive offer. :)

my head is spinning

Well kids, lesson #5,685,999 was learned in the last couple weeks: You won't really always want what you wish for. I feel like I've sold myself as a slave. Sure, I have some extra cash and paying off all the bills feels really nice...but is it worth the price? I feel exhausted all the time now, I'm drinking coffee 2-3 times a week, working 6 out of 7 days just at one job, I never go home on time and my head hurts. Today was the first day since the beginning of it all that I borke down and cried for a couple minutes. How much more will be piled on my back before it breaks? Honestly, I think it's just giving me more motivation to get my act in gear to go somewhere warm. I'm so sick of the winter and I miss the sun. I miss the sun burns and the late night's sitting on the porch. I miss the hiking. I just miss the warmth. Winter makes me sad. If there is anything I hate, it would be the winter.

One thing to look forward to...In April, Rodrigo and I are traveling to Salem, OR to watch Tegan and Sara live. The weather should be good...maybe just a little rainy. But I won't be here and that's all that matters. :)

Dreaming of Santorini

I'm planning a trip to Greece sometime in the next year. It is going to be a vacation of a lifetime. Simply, my dream vacation. Santorini is the destination that I think I would most likely enjoy. It just looks so magical. When I think of Greece and the Mediteranean, I think of Santorini. Little white buildings upon a rocky cliff overlooking the sea.

I AM going!

Next year, Rodrigo and I will be sitting upon a little Greek rocky cliff eating euros and cheese triangles. YUMO!

Open Your Mind To Prosperity

I'm enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee right now. I normally don't like coffee at all...I usually fancy myself a tea drinker. I drink tea almost everyday! But due to my late night last night (I didn't get into bed until 2 AM!) I thought I would give the coffee a shot today. I'm really enjoying it! Black coffee with 1 splenda packet. That's all I need on a cold rainy day like this to make me happy. It's the perfect temperature right now. It's just starting to cool down. Hot enough to almost burn my throat going down but cool enough to not burn my tongue.

I'm reading a really amazing book right now called "Open Your Mind to Prosperity" by Catherine Ponder. A few weeks ago when I had my reading with the Angel Reader, this book was recommended to me by Lakshmie, the Hindu Goddess of Prosperity. She said that it would totally transform the way that I think. It is a Christian faith based book. So far, this book and it's ideas have made a profound impact on my life. Not only does it show you how to manifest prosperity into every aspect of your life, (Love, Money, Health and Happiness), but it also shows you how to forgive and how to be more grateful. This last week is my prime example of how this book has helped me so far...and I'm not even done reading it!!! The results I have seen have been amazing!! I truly recommend this book to all!!! This is my story-

Today Rodrigo and I meet with my landlord to get his name on the lease to replace Jamie's. 19 more days to go until Rodrigo moves in and messy/loud/rude room mates leave!! I can hardly wait. This last week has worked out perfectly. Everything seems to have fallen into place just perfect for us. 1 week ago, Rodrigo didn't have a car or a job, and my life was in shambles-I was offering my room mate to have me move out so we both could live in peace. I was going to have to find another place to live by myself-which I can't afford!!

Last Sunday, the day that I started reading this book and applying the ideas in my life and thinking positively, things really started to turn around. After the blow up I had with my roommates girlfriend, I decided that I could no longer go through this anymore!! I had to confront my roommate. Rodrigo came over and he was helping me to prepare for this confrontation and he offered to help me by moving in wherever I ended up. However it ended, he was going to be there for me. I'll admit, I did have my doubts. It was going to be tricky, he didn't even have a job, or a car!!

Every one of my friends that I consulted about Jamie and how to handle this situation told me that he was not going to budge and that I should just plan on moving out. Later Sunday night, I sat down with Jamie to have the talk. I just layed it out on the table and offered to move out. He then proceeded to tell me that he no longer could afford the place and he had been offered cheaper rent else where. I was literally astounded. I couldn't believe this went as well as it did! I then told him that it wouldn't be a problem, because Rodrigo offered to move in.

The VERY NEXT DAY, Rodrigo found a good deal on a 2006 Scion xB and he bought it. 4 days after that, I received a call from my friend Mel asking if Rodrigo would be interested in a shipping and receiving position out at her work out at Parker-Hannifin. He applied that day and within 24 hours, he was starting orientation! Without the car, he wouldn't have been able to take advantage of this job opening and without his job, he wouldn't have been able to sign a lease with me!! Divine Intervention really is a miracle. God is good and the universe is good. What seemed totally impossible 1 week ago, has become a reality for me. My life is transforming before my eyes. It amazes me what words can do. All you need is a little positive affirmation and things really begin to happen for you! You really need to make room for all the prosperity and you have to be willing to let go and get rid of anything negative. If you aren't ready for the change, it won't happen! This is where forgiveness comes in...you need to forgive to be able to let go. When it seems hard to let something go, forgive and you will find that it is easy to let go!! Forgive yourself and forgive everyone who has ever hurt you. Without this forgiveness, you harbor all that negativity and you can never move on. Clean out your life (literally!) and you will be amazed at what new gifts will arrive!!