Okay..we are officially on hold!!..but just for a few more days!!

Okay, so from yesterday until the end of this trip I am going to have no time to myself before 8pm or later everyday until the end of this Summer Congress, so my dear readers, please hang in there with me until I return home and yes..it will be much easier to keep up with things even though I will be traveling to Texas just 5 days after I return home from this Czech adventure..so know that I am definantly not giving up on my main goal of fitness and weight loss..it just needs to be put on hold for a few more days until my schedule is sort of sane and routiene again!! But, if it helps any I am making super good eating choices for the most part..have only had ice cream for dinner once since I have been here;D..had a gorgeous salad annd cheese plate and water for dinner tonight.
We had the opportunity today to watch and give our input on a sport and medical competition today (international..for example teams from South Africa, Finnland, Deutschland...) was super interesting.Will be touring a local hospital tomorrow and then having a reception at a castle tomorrow evening..yeah, life is not too boring at this moment in time..spending time with great co workers, learnng alot, and basically just getting lots of new ideas and energy. Oh..and did I mention networking..I am so networking!!
Okay, as always since we have arrived, I am totally wiped out and am searching as we speak for my alarm and book to crawl in bed with..Have a wonderful day, evening, morning..whatever time it is there where you are..Bis morgen..

This is not so easy..

Hello, this week is not going to be so easy to stay on top of writing and doing what I have planned in my minds eye everyday. As I am traveling with 4 other women, my phone is acting up and not sending my emails to my computer but I have taken a ton of pics for you all. Will try again tomorrow to download. Did spend so time this evening exploring the city but in exchange I did not make it to the gym and do not think I will make it there until Wednesday evening as tomorrow we start early, finish attending the days presentations, attend an opening ceremony and then a dinner with all of the groups that are here..all is time consuming but such a great chance to meet so many people from so many different countries. Living in Germany and continuing to do what I do has really opened some doors up and I have gotten to do some really neat stuff, go to new places, and meet wonderful people. Okay, once more I am wiped out..will try for pics again tomorrow befor the day gets started and my brain is fresh!!

Time over..

Hi guys, it is almost 10pm and after a day of being on the road, getting settled into yet another hotel and feeding my face with some yummy stuff I am done for the day..took a couple pics of food, will post tomorrow and found the gym. Plan on skipping dinner tomorrow and sweating some of today out. Sleep well. Bis morgen! However, we are in the Czech Republic..how cool is that?? ;D

More shopping?? Did I really buy that?? :D

Hi there..I choose red to write in today because it is just flat out toasty outside, and inside if you have ever stayed in a hotel here..usually air conditioning is not needed so not very many places have it..oh, nothing like sweating..even in the shower..!! So..2 days, 2 trips to Frankfurt, countless coffees, and 2 coworkers and friends now back in Deutschland..even if just for a short time..So, as a result, I have a confession..I ate pasta and drank an iced coffee for lunch to kick off our week together (and did a little more shopping..a girl can never have too many dresses can she??). But, dear readers and support..I came back to the hotel, put my tennis shoes on and walked 7062 steps. I must now do laundry and repack what I unpacked a little over a week ago to drive to Czech tomorrow and unpack it again..at least I can absolutely not say my summer has or will be boring! Lots of traveling and meeting new people.
Okay, so with traveling tomorrow do not know what exercise schedule will look like but will write tomorrow evening, regardless.. to fill you guys in and maybe even post a couple of travel pics!!

2 days till girls only road trip!!

Hi there..spent part of the day driving to Frankfurt Airport to pick up one of my co workers that flew in from the states today, then came back and finished my walk time for the day..exercise steps taken today 10,265 and 100 crunches. Had bran cereal with dried fruit and skim milk for lunch and fish and fruit for dinner. Feeling pretty darn healthy just about now!! I had to be proud of myself..avoided the trap of the slightly expensive, fru fru airport coffee bar coffee today, 1 more trip tomorrow and then we are going snack shopping for the long drive..hope my self control can hold out to peer pressure!! But, knowing I have all of you great readers out there helps to keep me focused and actually, it makes it easier to make better food choices and get my rear in gear..even when I am dead on my feet! Okay, till tomorrow evening..stay positive, stay hydrated, and keep smiling!!

Is the day already over?

Good evening to all. It is already late in the evening and I am just now back in my room..so no long racewalks this evening..but I posted a couple of pics of happy veggies and friut and my newest discovery..this yummo Stash Chai Green Tea, I brewed it like normal and then chilled it. Very good and very healthy!
Okay, my promise to all of you..2 exercise sessions tomorrow..stay tuned for steps and push up numbers!!

New sports bra..lots of sweat!

Hey guys!! So excited to log on to this site today and see that 559 of you have read this homegrown blog..started from a need to share this journey of weight loss and getting healthier with others who share the same struggles..such exciting stuff!! And the fact that you wonderful people come from all over the world makes it even more amazing!!
Well, obviously I had to go shopping today in the sporting section to get my move on this evening..but after all of the grumbles it was well worth it, my racewalk this evening consisted of 8,445 steps and I must say, I feel great..sweat, tired legs, and lots of good endorphins cruising through my body. 
As I was walking around the base this evening I was looking at all of the moving trucks and busy being so glad that I have finally reached a point in my life where I am happy to be living in my forever home. It was not always like that, up until a few years ago I had literally a physical and mental need to move every couple of years.. up until about 5 years ago I had never lived anywhere for more than a couple to few years at a time for as long as I can remember..not a bad thing but sometimes I wonder if I would have been a completely different personality if I had always lived in the same place for my entire life..as it is..I like to say that I have a bit of gypsy blood! Only took 40 plus years to get over it..and maybe a really good man! Would love to hear from some of you, over life, love, healthy living..whatever you have to say..
Have an incredible evening..Bis morgen!!
 

What the???

Well, I must say I am a bit irritated today. I washed clothes this morning and apparently left my sports bra in the laundryroom and now it is gone. Hello, how about a bit of honesty here people..leave it there..its owner will come back..ughhh. So, today will not be a walk-run day, will be doing floor exercises and stretches inmy room. Will have to replace ir tomorrow so we can continue on this journey. Anyway, wrap, V8 juice and an orange for dinner. Am brewing Chai Teato keep in the fridge..tasty stuff. Aanyway, until tomorrow.Hope you all have a great day.

Almost like being back in Texas...!!!

 Good evening to all, as promised pics of my tour of Kaiserslautern Zentrum today..got some good shopping in. Found a second hand store that had really good prices on some cute stuff..bought a dress (10 Euro) and 2 skirts (6 Euro each) there and some other goodies throughout my day..for those of you who don't know..I am addicted to second hand-consignment stores. Got hooked on them when the boys were little and we didn't have much money and now it is like a game for me..to find hidden treasures..I would say, easily 60 % of my clothes are second hand..
Found a church that was open to say my prayers in this morning , I love it what things fall into place like that!
Sorry to say but the Japanese Gardens were
closed today, apparently they take every Monday off..maybe I will have time one afternoon after work..and energy..
Had to include the pic below of BK in such a gorgeous old building, you would think I would be used to seeing that by now but it still strikes me as funny.
Did not wear the pedometer in the course of my explorations..had no waistband on which to clip it, but I did take a long walk when I got back..so, recorded steps for today are..6825 or exactly 6 kilometers.



I was strong, knowing that I had to write to all of you this evening and walked right on past all of the yummy offerings in the city of ice cream, cakes, iced coffees,.....but I am suffering from a bit of a sweet tooth..and as luck has it..seriously..all I have in my room is granola bars and a diet 7Up. As far as sweets go that is!The temp you see below was how hot it was at home..in Ostfriesland today..this almost never happens so it was definantly a photo worthy occurance..my husband wanted to make sure his in laws in Texas saw it. And as I know my mom reads this daily..over 100 F° in Deutschland..no joke when the houses have no AC!! 

Tomorrow is back to work and full speed ahead, as far as getting stuff done sometimes there never seem to be enough hours in the day, but no matter how tired, hot, done I am at the end of the day my exercise periods are doing wonders, along with the healthier eating. Don't forget to stay hydrated, especially throughout these next couple of months ! Sweet dreams to all..

Time to explore a little!

Good Morning. Today is a free day before finishing this week out in Kaiserslautern and then heading to The Czech Republic on Saturday. So..that means for you glorious readers there will be pics posted this evening of what I discover exploring what has become my second home town here in Deutschland..have not taken the time to do this before so I am looking forward to the day. Downtown..maybe a little shopping, to the Japanese Gardens..an outdoor Cafe and a good cup of coffee. So, have a day as awesome as each of you are..Bis später!!

What a day..

Good evening. Another day is almost over, they seem to go by so quickly now. Steps taken in an after work walk this evening netted me 6263 steps. Had a spinich wrap with provolone cheese, sliced turkey breast, carrots, and hummus along with some whole wheat crackers and V8 juice.  I spent this weekend working with such a fabulous group of people. We are like a small family and the changes that we face with people coming and going to due to new assignments or spousal assignments can sometimes be pretty darn emotional. We watch each other go through life changes, births, sickness, promotions, college degrees, moves and yes, some of us have even been through death together. This was, for me just one of those weekends..promotions, new people joining our family, several awards for jobs well done, families visiting, an announcement of a brand new pregnancy,dogs running the halls, and people leaving. I spent a little time crying for our losses but also celebrating the new chapters that will be opened up for those who will no longer be joining us at work. Sometimes it still takes my breath away to be a part of something so big and yet at the same time so small, lives crossing and interacting. It just brings to the point that everyone is fabulous in their own right and what each one of us does effects others, sometimes in small ways, sometimes in big ways. And that it is the everyday stuff that makes this old life so darn good. Stop and tell someone thank you for what they do today, not for anything spectacular but just for being them, for making the bed, calling their mom, helping you change the paper in the copier, whatever..Be blessed..I know I sure am!

Out of gas!!!

Hi there. Hope all is well with all of you today. I am tired, I am sure some of you have the same problem of not being able to sleep well in hotels also..and then you add the people who decided to have a party in the parking lot outside of my window until about 4am and then mix in an over 12 hour workday and there you have it..out of gas!! Did, however fit in a long walk after work..5752 steps. Not what I would be happy with in a regular day but hat is how life sometimes goes..
Enjoy your Saturday..my day is over outside of a shower and reading a bit..

1 day down..17 to go

Hi there. Day 1 out of 18 away from home down..so only 17 more to go. I did not reach my 15,000 steps a day goal today and may have to modifiy that number since while I am here I will be in an office about 9 hours a day and not have so much flexibility as I do at home to get out during the day for 3 or 4 exercise sessions. Am only wearing my pedometer when I am really out walking or running here as even though I will be of course taking steps at work it will not be like at home cleaning the house or working in the yard..a little too little activity in my mind to count. Total for today was 9719 steps, along with push ups and crunches this morning. I am enjoying yummy green seedless grapes for an evening snack, had a Subway tuna sandwich for dinner..6 inch, wheat bread. Was picking up some things at the store for a couple of celebrations for coworkers accomplishments so ate while I was out. Anyway, hope that your day-evening is great. Enjoy your Friday and start to your weekend.

As promised..pic pic and yet another pic!! and I find myself once more in Ktown!!

Good afternoon to all! As promised to the left are pics from Greetsiel, a small fishing village in Ostfriesland. The day was great, the weather perfect, and the company could not be beat! To make the day even better I heard a man in line at the fish cafe speaking English and it turns out he was from Texas, had done research on his Family tree and found relatives in our area here in Deutschland, how cool is that?

Spent several hours on the road today, over 6 but am now settled into my room , have already gone to the grocery store and bought only healthy Foods to eat until we leave for Czech in a little over a week. Things such as fruit, baby carrots, whole grain cereals..I am a Kashi addict!!, spinach wraps, turkey breast slices, and of course hummus. I can not buy most of these items ..well, okay..the American brands.. when I go grocery shopping in my real life so I always go a little nuts when I go to the Commissary!!
Will be taking the day off from my usual routiene as , well, the day is a bit unusual. But..don't think that the entire time that I am working will be like this..Oh no..I will be hitting the pavement first thing in the morning and every evening while I am here in Kaiserslautern, where I walk here has lots of great hills that put some pep in my step and really give my calves a great workout. Will do some floor exercises this evening such as push ups, crunches, and some good stretching. Hope all of you have had a great day..and by the way..we hit 400 views today!! Awesome!! and as always, please feel free to post your comments, tips, suggestions..
                                                                             

                                                                                   
                                                                                   

No time..lots to do still..oder..Bis morgen!!

Good evening, have no time this evening for anything other than to say I will post pics from today tomorrow evening once I am settled into my hotel room. Spent the day today with my husband in a small fishing village not far from our home and bascially just enjoyed our time together which is sadly few and far between here lately..steps from this morning were 2916. I cannot account for the rest of the day but we walked quite a bit. Anyway, need to finished my prep for tomorrow..till tomorrow evening..

Feeling better and preparing for my next adventure!!

Guten Morgen liebe Leute, my stomach feels better this morning, still not at 100 % but at least today I am not afraid to leave the house!! ;D My husband has taken the day off so that we can spend the day together as tomorrow I will be once more on my way to Kaiserslautern and then to the Czech Republic. For those of you that do not know..yes I am 89% of the time a Deutsche Hausfrau but the other part of my life is spent in the US Army Reserves and this summer has been super busy for me, last month I spent time in both Kaiserslautern and then a group of us traveled to Poland for almost 2 weeks. I was gone for almost 3 weeks..,all was super interesting but I was happy to be home. This time I will be gone for about 2 weeks..home for approx 4 or 5 days and then I am flying to Texas to visit family and friends..so..now you have it..my summer away from home in a nutshell but of course I will taking all of you with me through blog entries and of course lots of pictures!!
Activity for the day so far is as follows..walk with the babies, weight and balance ball reps for the arms..am actually wearing a dress today and not my beloved yoga pants so I can not wear my pedometer all day but wore it for the morning at home and will wear it for the evening which will include the second dog walking session of the day and maybe a run if I have time! Okay..so, enjoy your day and we will catch up this evening!

Not on game today..

Hi there, not feeling so hot today, my stomach is somewhat upset. However, regardless I have worn my pedometer around the house and for my 1 walk with the pups early this morning..9,414 steps. and I did eat a large bowl of fruit midday. Not so much more to report today..hope tomorrow is much better..bis dann.

Dress is ready to wear and this is actually working!!

 Good evening to everyone! I hope that your day has been wonderful. First..number of steps for today..18,133. Update on weight and measurements..
68.6 kilo=150.9 lbs
upper arms 29 cm=11.5 inches
waist 78 cm=31 3 /4 inches
hips 96.5 cm = 38 inches
thighs 57 cm =22.5 inches

Why the pictures of a bridal shop you ask..??
This is Traumland in Moordorf Deutschland and this shop is so much more than a bridal shop. This is 
where I bought my fabulous dress for the Czech conference. They have a great selection and I am convinced  that this is one of the best kept secrets around..the staff is super friendly and very helpful. As far as the price and alterations, my dress was on sale but was handled with the upmost care just like I would have expected from a full priced dress. great service is not what I have come to expect with my shopping expeditions here but this was a great experience fro start to end and I wanted to share it with you all.

Okay, evidently all of this healthy eating and increased activity is starting to pay off, weight is down, most measurements are decreasing..slow and steady, that is the secret to keeping this weight off..I hope you all enjoy the rest of your day..evening..whatever time it is where you guys are..stay active and I will see you tomorrow!!                                                                                 

Goal reached..

Good evening all..15,936 steps taken today. Granted that included 2 walks with the dogs, a short and a long walk alone..thank goodness for MP3 players!! The weather turned out to be pretty good here today, it never did get really warm..had to wear a hoodie the whole day, but the sun came out to play nice so all was okay. I believe I will call it a day..bis morgen!

Food glorious Food!!

Hello again..wanted to share a pic of a small 
sample of the snacks offered yesterday evening. I kept it pretty simple and made enough so we would have them for an appropriately lazy Sunday! Under is a picture of the plant basket that was a gift from our friends we went to the Aurich Winefest with..very sweet of them and perfect for our house. 
I feel pretty darn good today but my poor husband is not so lucky..but what can I say..his words actually..we are not 20 something anymore..our bodies cannot regulate so easily to the work hard play hard theory..I think with being 40 plus moderation is definantly the key.
Drinking a lucious fruit smoothie made with pineapple, peaches, strawberries, natural jogurt, and of course..natural applejuice in preparation for my race walk for the day..ended up jogging most of the way yesterday. Steps so far..4590..wow, I have some work to do..Will post another blog at the end of the day for step total. Weight and measurements are tomorrow also..stay tuned.

Over and above!!

Guten Morgen, new flowers for flower bed in backyard..not all but some to fill in the gaps..unfortunantly Melissa had a lot of fun after I was finished and some of them had to be replanted. 
My grand total for steps yesterday was 16,948. Very excited about this number. Have the pedometer on already this morning and have been on a walk with the pups, but it is cool and misty outside this morning. Whats a girl to do, cannot have a fabulous life with perfect weather eveyday..I can always wish though..Goal today is once more 15,000 steps.Enjoy your Sunday..will post more later, after coffee ....Almost forgot..today marks my arrival in Deutschland exactly 2 years ago..who would have thunk it?

That many huh??!! and color glorious color!

Hello gorgeous people!! Have had a very productive day..as you can see above I took my favorite mode of transportation and bought some new flowers for the backyard, we call it our small paradise..a happy place to be with lots of color! Went to pick up my dress but then found some beading on it that was not terribly secure so they will keep it until Monday. So far I have taken over 12,000 sterps today..will wear my pedometer until we leave for the Aurich Winefest..have spent the last couple of hours putting the finishing touches to the table, waiting on a couple of things to come out of the oven and will snap a couple of pics for you all. Now, taking all of these steps took some doing. I went for a walk-run that accounts for about 6500 of them. Had a bowl of bran cereal with raisons for lunch as I was busy throughtout the breakfast timeframe. 
Okay, must complete my preps for the evening..will take lots of pics and post garden, dogs, yummy snacks, and winefest tomorrow..be safe, enjoy your Saturday,and remember to say thank you for the small things that make this life fabulous!!

New day..More energy

Good morning to all of you. After having my first cup of coffee and putting on my dog walking, exercising clothes the first thing I did was clip my pedometer on. My goal and promise to all of you wonderful people is 15,000 steps today. The weather is still not top notch but it is not so cool and the wind is behaving so I have no excuses for not being outside as much as possible today. My first goal is to get in a good workout and then go for a long brisk walk..without the fuzzy faces due to the fact that they feel the need to do things like sniff around and pee on things..slows the process down!! Then I need to purchase a few more flowers for the flower bed off of the back patio, mow the yard and then it will be time to get dressed and go pick up 'the dress'..As for our small gathering this evening all is pretty much done, I only need a couple more hours there. So, I will be back later with photos, updates, and workout news..
PS..I know that I can not be the only one who has troubles staying motivated, would love to hear from some of you and what your tips are!! Please feel free to post..auf Englisch oder Deutsch!! Bis später..

It is kind of a blah day..

Hi there..today is once more grey and a little chilly outside. I spent the morning grocery shopping as we are having a couple of friends over tomorrow for pre Aurich Weinfest snacks and cocktails..So, that also means I have been in the kitchen preparing all possible ahead of time as I am hoping tomorrow is a pretty day and I can find my energy I seem to have lost today. Plus..I pick up that gorgeous dress..it has to be sunny to match the warm gold color!! Oder..??
I have managed to walk with the pups 2 times today but otherwise it has not been an outstanding day for fitness..my promise to all of you..tomorrow I will take 15,000 steps to make up for today!! have a wonderful day..evening..whatever time of the day it is where ever you are!!

Wow..that many huh?? Und..ich freue mich auf euch total!!

Good evening gorgeous readers!

I am nothing less than completely thrilled, when I logged on to blog on this evening I saw that 219 of you have read this and you come from all over the world..Deutschland, the USA,

Russia, Switzerland, Spain, and Puerto Rico!! 

Today has been a day for trying out new things like making sure I got in 10,000 steps and drying fruit at home for a healthy snack that is easy to take with and does not cost a small fortune like it does in the grocery store.

First of all, at this point in the day..it is almost 7pm here I have taken 10,831 steps, it was not terribly difficult but I was definantly concious of what I was doing the entire day and made an effort to move around more, this includes 2 walks with Max and Melissa and going jogging alone. Not to mention climbing the stairs a few times in the house cleaning process. But, I must say, I feel really good with the extra effort and have more energy instead of less.

As for the (drying) fruit below..it is aprcots and plums, they must dry for about 15 hours at a temperature of 70 Grad. So, for about 4Euros for fresh fruit I will have about 25Euros worth of dried fruit. All without added sweetners , coloring, or preservatives. Tomorrow I will

purchase more bananas, apples, and strawberries and dry those too. Maybe pineapple too! Yummo!! 

As for the pic of the adorable tea set below..this was a gift from Matthias's Oma (grandmother), it is from the 60's and we are now the proud owners. Tee here in Ostfriesland is very traditional and has a ton of unwritten rules that go along with it..it took me awhile to get a hang of it and earlier we did not have a complete Tea service to serve more than 6 people at a time..now we have 1 for 12 and it means the world to me!!

Okay, going to spend a couple of minutes with Matthias before he has to go to work..bis Morgen!!

Drying..as in the process..fruit!

Tea set from my husband's Oma

I need to take how many steps??

Guten Morgen! Once more we have gorgeous weather here today. I am trying something new today, I am sure you all remember a few years ago when pedometers were all the rage to wear to track your steps and rumor had it that we should all strive to make a minimum of 10,000 steps a day..well, I dug mine out and will try this theory ..it is about 9:45 in the morning here and after walking the dogs and cleaning my house this morning I have racked up a total of 4052 steps so far. For breakfast I drank a strawberry banana smoothie and for a mid morning snack plan on a bowl of bran cereal with low fat milk and golden raisons. I am currently watching my guilty indulgence of Frauentausch..it is where 2 women from 2 totally different families and surroundings switch places for 10 days..I know..not quality viewing but sometimes very entertaining! It is something I would never subject my husband to watching but for women only it is okay!! Lots planned for today..will update as the day goes on..Bis später!

Flower Power!..even with grey skies..

Hello to all, see above for flowers that my husband's grandparents picked out for their garden this morning. I must say, this was our first shopping outing together and it was really fun. The weather here today is not so great, it is overcast and pretty darn cool outside. I have spent most of the afternoon wrapped up in a blanket zoning out in front of the TV with the dogs. However, started the day with our morning walk and a bowl of hot oatmeal with golden raisons and a cut up fresh peach..it was really tasty..that's right..no butter, no brown suger..just fruit! I had forgotten to weigh in prior to eating so I did it afterwards..was not so excited, even with the healthier eating and increase in activity over the last few days I saw a .02 pound increase--from 151.6 lbs-68.9 kilo to 151.8 lbs-69 kilo. But, I will not be discouraged and am determined to increase my activity levels even more. Especially since I am now well rested from my very hard afternoon of napping with the babies! My youngest son leaves today to spend the night with a friend and then tomorrow 5 guys are traveling to a 4 day open air concert..fun for them but a little stressful for me as a parent! But, he is 18..what do you do say no to all of the fun stuff so you have no stress? No, you let them go out a experience and learn for themselves..and actually, how cool to live in Europe and go to a 4 day music event!! Okay, smoothie for dinner as I had hommus and crackers for lunch. Plus weights for the upper arms. Have a great day, see you in the morning..

Say yes to the dress!! and then go jogging!

Good evening all..needless to say we found the PERFECT dress for the clsing dinner of the conference that I will be attending in the Czech Republic at the end of this month. It fits like a dream, only

needs to be shortened a bit..so could not bring it home today, but 

will pick up on Saturday with my poor, non shopping husband in tow! I was worried that I would not find anything that fit and flattered at the same time but this was the first I tried on and it was all that I could have asked for in a dress..and maybe a little more;D The shoes and very small clutch were in the same dress shop also..could not have found a better match anywhere else.(.I say very small while lol because everyone who knows me knows that my handbags are ALWAYS big..you know..kind of like a carry on bag big! But, I am always prepared..headache..check, need something to eat and most likely drink..check, something translated..check..and the list goes on!! )

What makes all of these gorgeous wardrobe additions even better?? My mother in law bought them for me as a gift..how sweet was that!

 

    This shopping trip and the great weather we are being treated to

  this week inspired me to put on my running shoes and hit the 

  pavement without dogs in tow..it felt great. After that I came 
  home and worked out my arms with hand weights, 10 kilo and 
  the balance ball.

  Have been on the ball with healthy eating today also..for lunch, a

wrap with turkey, cheese, and lettuce..spiced tomato

wrapper, super good and the remainder of my green smoothie

from yesterday. And of course..to practice what I preached 

a couple of bottles of water!

What can I say..with such a gorgeous dress waiting

to be worn..I know of course I will not loose 

several pounds or a few inches before I get to wear

it but these arms will be firmer!! Cannot have the ol batwings flappin in the breeze:D

Okay, tomorrow is a weigh in day, my morning schedule is to go with my husband's grandparents to the weekly Market on the square and buy flowers for their garden and then help to plant them..stay tuned, more colorful pics, family, and the dreaded weigh in!!

                                                                  

  

   

   

  

 

  

 

 

Good Morning..

Good morning to you all, so excited to see people from several different countries are logging in and reading this little ol blog!! Thank you all! Today I will go shopping with my mother in law to purchase a formal dress to wear to an International Medical Conference I will be attending at the end of the month..will post a pic later of what we found..This morning started,

of course ..with a walk with my fuzzy faces..Melissa is a bit strange..she does not like to poop in her own yard..of course I ALWAYS carry poopy bags to clean up after the 2 of them..I think it is not only gross but disrespectful that some people choose to leave their dog's poop lay where it falls for all others to enjoy..okay..totally sarcastic..but also true.
Enough of that for this morning..I must head to the garage..is..weight room and work on these upper arms and then get dressed to find a dress..Bis später!!
PS..the BLS course went well, awaiting my certificate..

All is in the ground!!.. and goodness, where can I get those clothes?

Green Smoothie..yum!

Simple=Happy

Grape vine and raspberry,oh..and blueberry

and more raspberry, red black and white current (same bush), and blackberry

Good evening..finished products for today..and 2 hours of watching Sex in the City..drooling over Carrie's clothes..what more is a girl to do when her man is at work and her 18 year old is..as always..out with friends! but be proud..No chocolate consumed!! Even though no one was watching!! In the pics pay attention to only what is in front of the fence..the weeds are not ours!





Green Smoothie..
- 2 bananas
-1 medium apple
-1 small head Romaine lettuce
- 1 single serving size Pear jogurt 
- one forth small honeydew or zucker melon
-one third cup natural applejuice
blend and enjoy......
I drank 2 servings of this fresh, filling smoothie and ate some garlic hummus with baby carrots and cucumber slices for dinner and my hunger is completely satisfied, lots of fiber and water content.
Am excited about our new berry plants, will see some fruit this year but they should really explode next year..one thing you can say about this sometimes not so warm, sometimes wet weather..the living things grow like crazy here..plus point for sure. Guess I will be learning how to make preserves sooner rather than later..great for gift giving though..Sometimes all of this domestication shocks me, no more crazy weekends with friends, no more wondering if I will ever meet Mr. Right, no more wondering if I will grow old alone..now I do things like cross stitch, bake, clean the house like a mad woman..and LOVE every minute of it..knowing that finally there is another person there, always in my corner, loving me no matter what. For those of you that do not know me personally..we have only been married a couple of years..and that is why I now call Deutschland home..as we say here..All ist für die Liebe!! and I would not change a thing..except for maybe not being so fluffy..but that, my readers are what you are all for..to make me accountable to what my scale says, to help me when I have really .. no desire to workout..of course, I know I am only really accountable to myself with my actions, my eating habits..but it makes it a whole lot more fun and interesting when I can post fun pics and share stuff with all of you.

Was für ein Wetter!!

My project for the day..all in the back of the car.

pre smoothie..all except for the bananas, they are already in the blender

Hallo..I hope everyones day is as good as mine is today. The sun is shining, I spent about 2 hours finding plants for the backyard..see pic left..
Started the day with a walk with the pups, then worked my arms out with hand weights and a balance ball. Below are the ingredients used for this mornings smoothie..
-2 bananas
-5 small apricots
-1 container (single serve) apricot jogurt
-8 strawberries
-natural apple juice, I used about one third of a cup
...blend and enjoy..this makes 2 servings

I absolutely must drink more water today, did not do so well yesterday as was in class all day..of course..true to Deutsche nature there was plenty of coffee to be had!! But I am feeling the effects of it today..slight headache from dehydration..remember dear readers...drink, drink, drink..water that is! Especially in the summer months when you are playing, working, enjoying the sun with a good book..whatever..plus it helps keep everything working well..organs such as kidneys, bladder, intestines, and skin also!
Okay, must finish in the yard..will post pics of finished product later today. Oh, yes..and a recipe for a tasty green smoothie!

Pause machen..

Good morning, today I will be in class for most of the day and then driving 3 hours home. Do not think there will be much to blog about and pretty much no fitness being done unless you count the walk I will go on shortly in search of coffee..but, tomorrow is another day..fitness in the morning and then we will go purchase colorful, fruit producing plants for the garden..if this beautiful weather holds out..and I think after a day of sluggness..that is what I am naming today..green smoothies are in order. So until tomorrow. Have a day as fabulous as you all are!

Smoothie, Veggies, and Dogs..glorious dogs!!

Smoothie in progress!

Finished product..yummo..

Veggies and Pasta with grilled vegtable Pesto

Our sweet Melissa Girl!

Me and Max the Wonderdog!

Good evening fabulous readers..this evening I find myself in Hannover due to the fact I have a BLS course (Basic Life Support) in the morning..and really, do you guys have any idea just how hard it is to find an American Heart Association course in Deutschland?? I think the fact I had to drive 3 hours and get a hotel room speaks for itself!!
At any rate, I am now in a cute, very European hotel room with enough room for my bags, my laptop, and a bed..but..there is the

 

ability to make coffee in my room..which is not so common here and a great shower..so, even though I must be away from home I can not complain! As promised pics have been posted of my fuzzy faced kids and my super healthy late lunch..due to driving and the class all day tomorrow my activity levels over today and tomorrow will be on the super low side but life is all about compromises..oder? 
I did get to spend a couple of hours in Aurich walking in Zentrum (the middle of downtown) with Matthias late this morning though..with his schedule that happens not so often as of late so I am grateful for the times we can break our married couple daily habits and routienes and  get away from the house for a few..
Anyway..enough of my day..what went into that beautiful smoothie you ask..here it is
SMOOTHIE (4 servings)
-2 frozen bananas..I always use frozen bananas instead of ice for a rich, creamy base)
-3 peaches
-about 10 large strawberries
-1 cup yogurt..your choice of flavors, I used apricot for this one
-about half a cup of natural applejuice..adjust to your smoothie thickness liking
...blend and enjoy
And for the veggies..I used a Wok and the following ingredients..
-olive oil
-3 cloves garlic
-2 onions
-6 small zuccini
-1 jar black olives
-25 cherry tomatoes--red and yellow
-5 shakes of paprika
-fresh ground pepper..I prefer the 3 colored over the only black  
...of course oil, garlic, and onions come first..cook till you quit crying over the onions or they are transparent, add zuccini..cook about 5 minutes and then add the rest of ingredients..cook until zuccini is tender..Guten Appetit!!
Okay..now to get some rest for my long day tomorrow..have a great rest of your day! Bis Morgen..
 

Day 2..Accountability in Numbers

Good Morning..as promised weight and yuck..measurements..
Beginning weight 68.9 Kilogramm or 151.6 lbs
Upper arms 30.5 cm -12 inches
Waist 81 cm-32 inches
Hips 100.5 cm-39.5 inches
Thighs 57 cm-22.5 inches

Seeing these numbers in not only my new carry with notebook but also posted here for all of you to see and follow really brought it home..what I need to do to feel better about myself and maybe inspire a couple of people along the way. I have never tried to lose weight with a ground rule of being accountable to others and it gives me energy to work hard to so.
Today is actually a gorgeous day here, took the dogs for a walk and picked up the house a bit, no small kids at home but with Melissa..a 5 year old german shepard mix in the house there is ALWAYS something to vacumn! Would not trade her though, we adopted her out of the shelter where she had lived for over 2 years and before that she was a street dog in Romania..she is very shy and still a big ol chicken but she loves her walks and she gives me inspiration and a reason to walk everyday..no matter what the crazy weather here is doing. 
I have to admit , I am not much of a breakfast eater..I prefer only coffee before about 10 am but plan on making a fabulous fruit and yogurt smoothie for my mid morning eats..will post pics and recipe later today, along with photos of my walking companions!

A yummy way to end the day..

Fresh fruit and mowing the yard, I must say a pretty good way to end the day..that is until I got a little annoyed trying to find and book a decent hotel in Hannover for tomorrow evening..and then out came the carrot cake..okay, only 1 piece and it does contain carrots and raisons..so technically it is somewhat healthy..now..dear readers..see why I have gained this weight..emotional, comfort eating and crazy justifications..okay-tomorrow is another day and my first day of being truely accountable to all of you..the weigh in and the measurements, no more hiding, no more eating in secret..first thing in the morning..walk the dogs, that is after a cup of coffee..ganz schwarz bitte=0 calories!

Hello there..day 1

Hi there, my first blog post ..Why? Because after living in Deutschland for almost 2 years..well..in 10 days it will be 2 years..and gaining almost 20 pounds, and apparently from looking at recent pics, also a not so flattering double chin, I flat out need a way to be held accountable for what I eat..and yes, it does count even if no one else sees you eating it! Before I moved to Europe it was easy to stay in shape, I worked fulltime, went out dancing with my friends almost every weekend, spent a lot of time outdoors..and then it hit me..LOVE..and next thing you know here I am living in Ostfriesland..where the sun shines..well, not so often, the wind blows..almost always, and I am now eine Hausfrau..for those of my non-german speaking readers..that would be a plain ol housewife. I now cook and bake several times a week..I always say it is for everyone else, and yes I do give tons of it away..but some always ends up in my stomach, on my hips, and don't you know it..on my outer thighs. Weight has always been a bit of an issue for me but now, being 40 something..crap, okay..43 and the fact is I would really rather sit on the couch with my dog Max than to go outside and get my hair blown and most likely be a bit chilly with the great weather we have here 70% of the time.. it (the fluffiness..okay..fat) has really, and I do mean really..kind of snuck up on my backside in what I consider to be a relatively short period of time. So, with this daily sharing of my world, my ups, my downs, my shopping lists..for only healthy foods of course, my daily goal to become more physically active, what I hope to be fun new recipes, and photos..not everyday but often, and gosh yes..my weight 3 times a weeks and I guess I had better include measurements in there somewhere also..I think once a week will do there. So..dear readers, followers, and friends who are just plain supportive..tomorrow will be a weight recording, inch recording, activity, and food recording beginning for what I have been referring to as 'Pleasantly Fluffy'...well the time has come for fluffy to seek firm..I will not, can not, refuse to be fluffy and 40 something!!