Happy Thursday Everyone!!! There's been quite a bit going on, so let me catch you up a bit! First, on the "WEIGHT MANAGEMENT FRONT", I did go on Tuesday for my first day (in quite a while) of exercising! The Exercise Physiologist sat me on the "bike" for 15 minutes, then started me on the machines. I was a bit surprised that he started me at far heavier weights and more reps than I had ever done before. When I questioned this he kind of informed me that I NEEDED to be doing it THIS way in order to burn the calories (OK, like I didn't KNOW that??) and be successful on their program. I just really got the impression from this that if I couldn't do it this way I was kind of wasting my time and money on the program. That attitude kind of surprised (and upset) me. I called him on that - kind of told him that I didn't start on this program to be discouraged (by him)! Then, one of the Physical Therapists came over (a gal I know) - I think she might have realized something was going on. Truthfully, I was just about in tears! Anyway, she kind of diffused the situation and he sort of apologized, telling me he hadn't intended to sound condescending to me. So, I continued on with the weights and then did 20 minutes on the treadmill and came home. I will go back for another session this afternoon, and maybe on Friday for just some cardio. I see their dietician on Tuesday - THAT should be FUN!!!

On the "EDUCATIONAL FRONT," Monday and Tuesday I attended training sessions on "The Cooperative Classroom." To be honest, this was probably one of the most interesting and helpful trainings on this topic that I've attended. I'm excited about getting into my classroom next week to start planning and setting up my classroom. Teachers at our school have to be back in their classrooms on August 20, students come back on Monday, August 25 (I think).

And, on the "CREATIVE FRONT," I'm posting a couple of cards I made in June. The first is one I'm sending to my sister for her 55th birthday. I CASE'd this from the current issue of Papercrafts Magazine, p. 63.

This is actually one of the first cards I've made that isn't the traditional 4.75 X 5.5! The base card is 5.25" square white (from a set of note cards with envies that someone sent me).

Set(s): SU! "Circle of Friendship"

Paper: SU! So Saffron card stock and Designer Prints

Color Media: SU! Stampin' Write Marker, White Gel Pen, So Saffron Classic Dye Ink Pad

Other: SU! Scallop Punch, Creative Memories Square Punch, Making Memories decorative brads; rub ons - "HOW OLD? - don't remember where I got them). I liked the card so much that I made 4 of them using different colors of DSP.

This card is a CASE from SCS (www.splitcoaststampers.com) by Lori (chanteuse) at www.divastamper.blogspot.com. Her original card was in Wild Wasabi and had the sentiment on a circle scallop.

Set(s): SU! "Fresh Cuts," and Sincere Salutations

Cardstock: SU! Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Whisper White, Afternoon Tea DSP

Color Media: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky

Other: Blue Bayou Double Stitched Ribbon, dimensionals, Nestabilities oval.

Again, as with the first card, I liked it so well I made 4 in different colors. This one went to a friend of ours whose birthday is the same as my sister's. He always says I am the only person who sends him a birthday card!! I made one of these in So Saffron, one in Wild Wasabi and another in the Purely Pomegranate. I really loved the last set of SU! "In Colors."

And finally, on the "WHAT THE HECK FRONT," I woke up Saturday morning with a rash from the top of my thighs to my head - with the worst of it being on my neck, up onto my jawline, in my ears, around the back of my head to my hairline and down to my collarbone! I tried Benedryl pills AND cream and by Monday it had only gotten worse! so, I went to the dr. on Monday, got a shot and some Rx cream. Unfortunately, most of it is not better and I've some new spots, so I will be back at the doctor tomorrow morning. I've been taking 2 Benedryl pills when I go to bed and then trying to function during the day!! Hopefully the doctor will have a better option tomorrow! Itching and CREATING really don't go well together!!

His Hugs and Mine

Rhonda

Well, a new chapter in my "Work In Progress" saga is about to begin! Today I went to our local fitness center and filled out all the paperwork to enlist in a Weight Management Program sponsored by my employer's insurance company.

Now, let me tell you, I've been on the "YoYo String" for the last 35 years (since the birth of my eldest son), and each time I SWEAR to myself that I am NOT going to go through this again, THIS being gettng rid of 50+ lbs of ugly fat. In that amount of time I've lost 3 people - or a small city!!
Let's see, it all began in 1977 with Atkins and 50 lbs.
In 1984 it was extreme stress caused by the death of my first husband and that 50 from Atkins was gone again!
In 1992 it was an "I Dare You" diet that got rid of 35 pounds - but then by this time from my pre-pregnancy weight of 102 (yes, you read that right, ONE HUNDRED & TWO pounds at 3 1/2 months!) I had ballooned all the way up past the 150 mark!!
In 1997 I found Weight Watchers POINTS plan and lost 35 pounds - yep, that same 35 had crept back - or was that original 50 from Atkins, I've forgotten now - how sad because those pounds and I have become VERY close friends!!
Then, in 2003, I found Weight Watchers (AGAIN!! - do you see a pattern here???). This time I'd gone all the way to 170+, BUT, I was much more successful with my DIET (WW CORE Plan) this time and managed to get down to 117 - the lowest I've been in 35 years!!
And now, here I am AGAIN!! Up WAY past 170 and looking at myself, thoroughly disgusted and wondering why I hadn't learned SOME kind of lesson over the past 35 years.

But, I DIGRESS, back to "THE DIET!" You know the one I'm talking about!! "on MONDAY I am going on a diet and I am going to lose "X" pounds." Sometimes you only make it to Monday afternoon, sometimes to the weekend, and sometimes, after many fits and starts you sort of get your head on right, and you make it all the way to 10 pounds, or 15, pounds, or more!

And then you think, "YEAY ME!! "Whew, now I can STOP dieting and get back to enjoying my food again!! BUT, then you begin to tell yourself, "I've done so well, I'll eat cookies ONLY on Mondays," and then, "OK, maybe I'll have a couple of cookies on Monday and then I can have some ice cream on Saturday - just this once as it is a special occasion." Before you know it you're telling yourself, "Hey, I've worked HARD this week! I deserve cookies AND ice cream!" Until finally, "OK, NO cookies except on days ending in 'Y'!!!!" And the YoYo is at the bottom - you've gained back all you lost and a few friends stopped by because the living was so EASY!!

BUT WAIT!! Maybe your commitment was really strong and you decided not just to "diet" but this time you're going to GET HEALTHY by adding in some exercise!!! For a couple of weeks or months you were, like me, at the gym three, maybe four evenings a week. really "feelin' the burn," getting all hot and sweaty and generally feeling rather proud of yourself - yes, YOU! I KNOW it wasn't just ME that was feeling this way - you know, "I am WOMAN, hear me ROAR!?!?!?! But, OUCH! The next Monday your legs hurt, or you had a manicure appointment that took months to get and you just couldn't cancel THAT! So, "OK, 2 nights this week at the gym is pretty darn good! And, after all, "I AM WOMAN, hear me yell loudly!" AHhhhhh here comes that third week at the gym!!! "Darn, that cute guy who usually uses the Elliptical next to me isn't here tonight." And, "HEY! who put THAT channel on the TV?" Or what about, "WHO are those size 0 cheerleaders taking up all the time on the "buns and thigh machine" - AS if THEY really need that!! "Well! If this gym is going to turn into one of THOSE places, I might have to go somewhere else!" But, "somewhere else" is either too far away, open the wrong hours, or, or, or..... [feel free to add in your own excuse here]. And, there you go! Bottom of the YoYo String again! "I am woman hear me whimper!"

So, what exactly IS the key that unlocks this mystery and breaks the YoYoString?? We ALL know the answer - say it with me now - LIFESTYLE CHANGE! If you, shall I say, WE, or more to the point, if *I* am going to break that YoYo String, I must NOT view this as a DIET, one I am either ON or OFF (more often OFF, as you can pretty much guess by now!). I have to decide, it really IS a CHOICE you know, if I am interested in being HEALTHY or not. God's Word says that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. (I Corinthians 6:19). I believe that, always have, just maybe not enough! So, I'm feeling pretty bad now that the Holy Spirit of God has been having to live in such a cruddy temple all these years!! So, .....

I have decided that I want to be healthy! I have decided that I want to have a temple fit to be the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit in my life. Am I going to say, as I have MANY times before, " This is the LAST time, I'll NEVER put this weight back on again!?" NO, I'm not going to say that, but I AM gong to say that with God's Grace and help I AM going to begin to heat more healthfully AND mindfully, and I AM going to get my BFF (Big Fat Fanny) to the fitness center the required minimum of three times per week. And, I am going to remember Colossians 3:23 which says "...whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as something done for the Lord and not for men..." I'm going to work at it heartily!!! Thank goodness I don't have to do it PERFECTLY!!!

Stop by for updates! When I figure out how to put one of the weight meter counter thingies on my blog I'll do that as a visual. I'm also going to have a friend take a "right now" picture which I will post.
His Hugs and Mine
Rhonda

Two Days In A ROW!! Can you believe it?!?!? Actually, wanted to post the Recipe Card I talked about in my October message!

Set: SU!, "Voila!"
Cardstock: SU!, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa, Confetti White; DCWV textured brass metallic; SU! DSP
Color Media: Gelly Roll, CM Precious Elements Silver, SU! Stampin' Write Marker, Elmer's Painters Opaque White;
Other: Antique Brass Eyelets, Stickles, punch out letters.

Originally, I didn't think I would like doing the 6 X 6 recipe cards, but after doing several of them for various swaps, I found I really liked the new creative venue!!

Stay Tuned in the coming days for some special updates on a new "Work In Progress" for me! And, hopefully I'll be able to keep on posting some cards I've recently made as well as some new things!!
His Hugs & Mine!

Hello Again! Yes, it REALLY is ME - after an absence of ONLY 9 months! Methinks this "blogging" stuff is HARD work!!

So, having been gone SO long, I decided to post some cards to match my last posting, in October of 2007!! In that post I told you I was working on some JavaBella (http://www.stampingbella.com/) CrissCross cards for a swap.

For some reason my computer doesn't do Stampin Up!'s "Chocolate Chip" color very well!

Sets: JavaBella (stampingbella); the "Starbucks" stamp came from Viva Las Vegas stamps (I think)

Cardstock: SU! - Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, "Outlaw" DSPColor Media: Prisma Pencils & Gamsol; SU! dye inks: Chcoclate Chip, Close to CocoaOther: Prima Flowers; Bella Baubles; SU! Tag Punch and Scallop Punch. The sentiment came from the Internet - don't remember the source.

My apologies for how "messy" and unorganized this might look.This is the first time I've tried to add card pictures to my blog! And, it is 9:40 p.m. EDT, AND, I've still got my left hand in a cast from having joint replacement surgery 2 weeks ago. Eventuallly, I hope to get it all right and have a "semi professional" looking blog. Be patient and come back!