Plus and Minus...

I admit I haven't been the best little blogger I possibly can be so I decided to get everyone up to speed here it all is in a quick recap:

Plus: Had a great time in Miami.
Minus: Ate way too many Cuban sandwiches and key lime pies!
Plus: My tan is looking superb (i know.. "tanning is bad" but hey... we were in Miami!)
Minus: The hubby has a killer sun burn because he didn't follow this wifey's once every hour rule about lathering up on SPF 1000.
Plus: Went to the Everglades and saw lots of 'gators!
Minus: Went to Little Havana and was a bit underwhelmed and just took the bus back.
Plus: Loved South Beach on the one full day of sun we had.
Minus: It rained off and on the other days we were there.
Plus: Been doing Weight Watchers and lost 6 lbs.
Minus: I have yet to have one week where I can consciously say the weight loss because I'm doing weight watchers. Next week will be a good week to see where if it really works. Yes, I'm still a skeptic!
Plus: I ran my fastest mile (8.20 mile) in OVER 10 years. I know, you're thinking how can someone with so many shiny 1/2 marathon medals not run fast? Easy... you still get the medal regardless how fast or slow you run! ;)
Minus: I haven't been keeping up with my 15 mile a week rule.
Plus: All the working out has increased my mood and made me crave it more.
Minus: Still trying to get over any excuses I can make instead of working out!
Plus: Being away for a few days from the computer is soooo nice!
Minus: I have over 700 posts in my google reader. These are the times where I hate to say I'm going to have to be selective and read only the ones in my "FAVES" folder!
Plus: Getting home and seeing my little puppies!
Minus: I have to go back to work tomorrow! DOUBLE BLAH!

So... that's it in a nut shell. I'll post a few photos of the trip once I get around to uploading them.

Rain, Sun and a touch of wind...

That's the weather so far in Miami. The hubby and I touched down last night and it rained cats and dogs for a few hours. Once we arrived at the hotel, it finally cleared up, just enough for us to cross the street and eat at Bubba Gump Restaurant to do our surprise, it was really good.

Today the weather is sunny and windy. Already eating some great cuban food and getting ready to just relax the rest of the afternoon. Next few days will include the Everglades, South Beach, and lots more good cuban food!

I'll be silent for the next few days and attempting to not plan a thing and just take in this beautiful place:)

new car scent...

We decided to help the economy out and bought a new car... and one of the first things the hubby said is that I left my old licence plate frame on Jack (my escape I traded in). I told him it was okay and it was time to get a new frame anyway. This is what I want to get:



If you got to personalize a new licence plate frame, what would yours say?

Thanks a bunch...

With the postage hike, I made it a point to make sure every thank you card was finally in the mail. Today, the hubby took the final two into work to give out (there is a reason why they weren't mailed). Yes, it took 6.5 months from the wedding to finally get around to them and the desire to use our personalized stamps up before we had to tack on a penny stamp with it. LAME! I am usually really good about sending thank you cards, but with the wedding, well, I lagged because I was done. I was done, cornering things, I was done using double stick tape. I was done centering. I was just sick of my own wedding. :)

I'm happy it's all over and the only two things left are getting our wedding movie (omg omg omg... can't wait!) and getting our album. But those two things I can honestly say I am in no rush for that either.

So tip of the day from this wife to all you brides out there, if you are getting presents before hand, just write the darn cards when you get the presents. Because it is SOOO not worth it waiting, that is unless you are using a photo of the wedding as the card, otherwise, just throw in a wallet to share and send them out after!

In love...

We just got our teaser trailer to our wedding movie. I'm in awe!



Thanks Zack! It's AMAZING!!!!!

Yea Yea Yea!!!

I got a phone call yesterday with Zack, our videographer from Frequent Flyer Productions who also wrote a guest post on Weddingbee. It was time for our footage to get cut up and molded into something wonderful!!! We were discussing music for the video and I can't even tell you how excited I am about seeing what he will come up with! He asked me to give him a few suggestions for songs and the video so he knows what style we'd prefer. So picking music that is "US" wasn't too hard. At least he knows what type of music we'd prefer and hopefully that'll help him out.

In my search on iTunes, I found this song and thought it was DARLING! I LOVE IT!!!



Happiness!

Style AND Comfort...

I used to make fun of my mom always gravitating to the same brands. One of them was Aerosoles. I thought they were always for nurses or grandmas. Why I lumped those two groups together I do not know. (Sorry Kim!) Anyhow, last winter I was shopping for a pair of boot and FELL IN LOVE with some cute black ones at Macys. When I took them home I realized they were "that brand" and kinda felt a bit stumped. Am I getting old or are they getting more stylish? I like to think the second and while surfing their website they have proven me right again!

Now if you are the daring bride that wanted a bit of "WOW" for their shoes, I know everyone flocks to Christians or Manolos. But with these babies, you can have the a fun style and the comfort too on your big day!

French Kiss

Laser Beam

Speed Trap

Picaboo Savings!!!

I got a discount code in the mail for Picaboo. I used them to make my shower book and really loved it!

Here is the discount code: GRADS

Enjoy!

Inspirations Part 28

Yummy Cakes!






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Humid much?

In 10 days we'll be one a plane to Miami beach. While I was waiting for a something finish, I decided it was time to check the weather forecast at my favorite weather site: Accu Weather.

So after reading this... I can confidently assume it will be humid. :P Now, I guess I can start mentally packing.

Inspirations Part 27

Because you can't forget about the little ones in your wedding...

Why not give them a wand of flowers?

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Or a unique basket or cone?

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Giving in...

We are in week 9 on the competition between me and the hubby and I'm finally realizing while I have lost 4 lbs (HOORAY) and started boot camp, and did another half, and feeling a bit leaner, I really need something else to make the scale move a bit more than it is now. I figured the competition would do it but it hadn't. Then I started another challenge with my girlfriends that track lbs AND inches. Still... nothing.

So I talked a friend into joining Weight Watchers Online. Yes... I gave in and finally realized if I have to wear a bathing suit I might as well attempt to look my best around my friends and not make the scream and run the other way. I realized that if I ever want to hit a goal, I need to have some type of order to help me.

While I'm one to not care about the actual number, I must admit, that number still affects the waistline. Smaller number, smaller waistline.

Have you ever tried it? Did it work? Did you like it? Any advice?

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Weigh in #7

This week during our challenge we had not just our boot camp during the week, we also did another half marathon. It was a lot of fun and definitely going to be going back. Because of all that, no challenges or temptations were done. How are we on points?


Wifey: 10
Hubby: 8


I was the biggest loser this week. As in biggest loser who gained the least amount of weight. I ALWAYS gain a few lbs during/after a half marathon. This time it was only .5 lb so I'm definitely happy about that! :)

A few weeks ago I read on FitSugar something about Vitamin B.

Make sure you're getting your fill of B vitamins (B6, B12, folate, thiamin and niacin). These are important when it comes to metabolizing carbs, fats, and proteins. Not getting enough will slow down your metabolism, not to mention make you feel tired, depressed, and increase your risk for chronic disease.

I decided I will start taking it and see if it helps me out or not. Today is day two so I will have to report back in a month and see where it leads me. My running primary was at boot camp and the half marathon. I think I got 6 extra miles in there. This week, I'm going to put up another 15 mile challenge for myself. I have 12 days before Miami and need to kick up the ab work outs. Overall I'm feeling good but just want to push harder to get to the next level.

Hell is good!

So we just got back from our first FULL week of boot camp and I am SORE all over! From the hills and leap frogs and push ups and planks, to the squats and pull ups and medicine ball, it all was amazing and wonderful. I say this with the idea that moving muscles that seem to have been sleeping for a while are now WIDE awake and a bit grumpy. It feels good to have my body get leaner and healthier.

I've been pretty good about writing in my food journal but our instructors know we are will sin and eat pizza and cookies, he just wants us to write it down and see what's going on with us. See why we aren't doing better on the scale or in the inches.

In every aspect, I'm really happy with the decision to join a boot camp. We are working out harder than we ever have and having someone motivate and push us further is great. Now, hopefully we won't be too sore tomorrow since we have another half marathon to do...



At least after that we'll be able to numb the pain with a bottle...err... I mean a sip of syrah! ;)

How fun!!!!

In my screen shopping on Overstock, I found the most fantastic dress. It's everything in a bridemaid dress I could ask for, if my wedding was in the summer and outdoors! The dress just makes you want to have fun!

Adrianna Papell Silk Shantung Strapless Dress

And can you imagine holding this too?

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Yes, all bright colors... Loud? maybe but for any daring and modern bride... I think it's amazing!

Inspirations Part 26

--I LOVE HOW SIMPLE THIS IS! You could totally use potted plants for an outdoor ceremony!

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Happy Birthday Little Miss Planner...

photo from ShankPile

I started my little blog a year a go today! From the beginning it was just me writing about wedding stuff and little by little other aspects of my life crept in. We've had over 17,000 visitors and been able to share countless fun memories! I wanted to thank everyone has stumbled upon my little site and everyone I've met along this little blog journey!

Love, Linda

Practice Safe Sun!!!

Sun Safety Kit ($87 Value)
What it is:
A collection of eleven travel-ready sizes of the best and brightest summer skincare products.

What it does:
Let the sun shine without a care this summer. Sephora prepares you for outdoor fun with the ample sun protection found in the Sephora Brand Sun Safety Kit. It's packed with a travel-size sunscreen and skincare for the face and body.

What else you need to know:
The kit contains 0.05 oz Korres Natural Products Watermelon Sunscreen Face Cream SPF 30, a 0.25 oz Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Moisture Lotion SPF 30, a 1 oz DDF Daily Protective Moisturizer SPF 15, a 0.35 oz Cosmedicine Medi-Matte Oil Control Lotion SPF 20, a 0.17 oz Juice Beauty Green Apple Moisturizer SPF 15, a 1 oz Murad Firming Bronzer SPF 15, a 0.08 oz Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion SPF 55 PA + + +, six single-use packs of MD Skincare Powerful Sun Protection Pads SPF 30, a 0.17 oz Clarins Sun Wrinkle Control Cream Ultra Protection SPF 30, a 0.25 oz Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer SPF 15, and a 0.098 oz Tarte 24/7 Lip Sheer SPF 15, plus a UV indicator card, all in a limited-edition Sephora pouch.

100 percent of the net profits (that's $21.55 from every kit sold!) will benefit The Skin Cancer Foundation. Sephora will make a total donation of up to $430,000.00 before 12/31/08. Supplies of the kit are limited and will be available from April through June 2008 or while supplies last.

All of this for only $25!!!! What a great present for a bridesmaid or just for yourself!!!

My first day of hell?

So after the fiasco of missing part of the week because of a "slip up" from our rec center. We started boot camp this morning. We got there at 630am to get measured and weighed. We even got to do a body fat test. I didn't care about the measuring since he was just doing what I did the past few week and the weight was nothing new. But the body fat % scared me. I would like to think it is off but since they will be checking it at the end I'm going to have to go with what the did and now I'm depressed but more determined than EVER to get healthy.

7am rolls around and the rest of the class shows up, one other male (other than the hubby) and the rest are middle age ladies, some repeaters, others dragged by their BFF's. Overall, everyone seemed friendly and our instructor was really cool.

First off we run .5 mile. (my thoughts: okay... this is nice, get to stretch out the legs before the horror begins...) get to the parking lot and stretch, and then told to run back... (not bad... hmm...lets try to keep up with the boys...) once we are back, we are inside and we are doing circuits... everyone started on a different thing... and rotated.

1. I started off this slippery thing... (i hated that thing... ) where you hold onto a bar and then slide down and then back up.
2. sit with your legs off the ground in front of you... and move the medicine ball from the side to side.
3. this round weight ball with a grip.... lean up and down on your sides...
4. elliptical
5. plank on a balance ball
6. backward sit ups with a 15lb bar ball OVER your head
7. treadmill at a 10 minute mile pace
8. stationary bike (yes... i showed off and ended up pushing it up another level and stood up for an extra workout)

...first round was only 30 seconds, then we did 1 minute, then 2 minutes. after all that, we were pretty much done. It was CAKE. I did sweat a bit but nothing other than the slippery thing that i thought was horrible. I guess it was their easy day so hopefully next week i'll be sore. Anyhow, that's my first day of boot camp. There was no horror, there were no "I hate this" moments. In fact, I think this will be good (once it gets a bit harder) and won't steal all my energy so I will still be able to go do my lunch runs and long runs at night.

What is your method of getting in shape? Ever try a boot camp?

Inspirations Part 25

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