Reached

I wanted to lose 10 pounds (this time 163.2-10=153.2), I made it. 10 pounds and counting...down. I haven't noticed where I am losing it from, but I am losing it. I need to pump up my exercise routine, I just haven't found something I would like to spend the money doing or want to spend my free time doing.

Goals...

...I have made and reached. I have more goals, but I haven't reached them yet. I will post them when I do.

*Lose 5 pounds(187-5=182)
*Lose 10 pounds(187-10=177)
*Lose 15 pounds(187-15=172)
*Lose 20 pounds(187-20=167)
*Lose 25 pounds9187-25=162)
*Lose 30 pounds(187-30=157)
*Lose 5 pounds(this time 163.2-5=158.2)
*Lose 8.2 pounds or 5% target(this present time in WW)
*Fit into my pant easily(always my goal during WW)

I am sorry about always writing about my weight lose. It is what I am doing all the time. It is the only thing changing in my life. Macy's is the same, just trying to work as much as possible and save up money.

New Design

I had a different one that was more artistic, but the template didn't work with the title I wanted. So now I have the bird on. I like it.

The quote underneath was from a movie called "Post Grad," it matches my life in certain aspects.

Reached

I meet my 5% target, plus a little more, but not much. On to the next goal, what ever that may be.

Down 7...pounds that is.

Yep down from my previous weight. The scale keeps going down, even if it is a little bit it is something in my book. I have had trouble the last two weeks, nothing bad. I was struggling with myself. I thought about how unhappy I was when I weighed 190, so I lost weight. I was surprised how fast it came off and I kept it off. Now I am not happy at this weight so I am trying to loose more. I am afraid that if I lose this weight, how if I not happy again. I struggle with that fact. I asked myself is this going to make me happy right now? Yes. Is it going to make me happy in the end? I don't know. I worry sometimes about that.

Then the other week I was invited to my sister-in-law's sister kids birthday(what a tongue twister). My brother's wife sister's kids birthday. Okay I think it will always be a tongue twister. Anyways, my dad and I went, and we were happy to go. I had fun and enjoyed a break from normal life of the weekends, but I ate a lot. Afterwords when I was home I figure out all the points I had eaten, which got me down and depressed. The next day was Sunday and then Monday was the weigh-in. At that point I was 1.6 pounds away from reaching my 5% target(weight watchers sets up your 5% and 10% target, it keeps you on track and it focuses on the small goals to reach for not the end goal). So Sunday I was tough on myself, eating a lot of free or zero points to fill me up and trying not to eat much of points. I lost weight, but not a lot. Then on Monday after the weigh-in that night I ate over my points, which made me feel worse. I have tried hard this week to get back into the groove. I have worked hard to balance out my over eating on Monday, by being carefully Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I give myself a hard time when I do something I don't like or when I disappoint myself and if I do that it is hard for me to get back on track sometimes. I know for right now I want and need this.

I have small goals for myself that I have set up to keep me on track and for me to be happy. I accomplished one small goal today. I fit in to my jeans. I will explain, with my problem with overeating and weight gain my jeans were tight on my calf's and thighs and I would have a muffin top(not attractive). Today I put on clean jeans that haven't been worn since they have been washed. They fit. I didn't have to stretch them out, I didn't have to tug them up, and I didn't have to suck in to button up my jeans.

Also, another goal I have which I did after my second weigh-in. When I went grocery shopping, I picked up 7 pounds of sugar(a 5 pounder and a 2 pounder). Even though in my head I go ehh, I've only lost 7 so far. When I picked up the 7 pounds I was surprised how heavy it is. I think when I get down in the dumps on how much I have lost I should go to the store and hold it in pounds of sugar to realize in physical form what that weight looks like and what it feels like.

187(first starting weight in 2007) - 156.2(last weeks weigh-in)= 30.8 pounds maybe I should hold all that weight sometime.

*crossing my fingers* to lose 1 pound this to reach 8 pounds and 5% goal :)

Weight Watchers

A year before I started March 16, 2006 in California

I was overweight for many years, though people saw me they never said 'Katie, you are overweight.' I don't think I would have listen and probably ate even more because of their comments on my weight. From the time I hit puberty I gained weight, the highest I ever was, was 197. I thought to myself and told my friend if I go over 200 pounds I am seriously going to kick my butt in shape. I never got there, but also never went below 190.

I did try a diet of just eating healthy stuff, but after awhile I'd stay the same weight at 185. I thought this is the lowest I am ever going to be. Finally in 2007, I realized I wasn't happy with my life, with myself, I couldn't sleep very well on my sides, and overall just fell like a big blob. I remember my dad going to Weight Watchers and losing his weight and keeping it off. As I started my earlier tries at weight lose or talking about trying to lose weight, I would tell my dad. He would say, Katie if you want to do weight watchers I will support you in doing that and help pay. I thought it is really expensive and I didn't wait to waste the money.

But in 2007, I needed a change in my life and in me. I found a Weight Watchers group that I could go to. I weighed in at 187 and eleven weeks later (I did the program for only eleven weeks, but you can do it longer) I weighed in at 168.4. I lost 18.6 pounds. I continued on my own and I got down to 162. Go me! As the months went by I kept the weight off.


A few days before I started march 20, 2007(I started march 28, 2007)


April 25, 2007 at the zoo

May 16, 2007-journalism school of Ohio University honoring my Grandmother


June 9th, 2007- visiting Niagara Falls and celebrating my Papa's 90th birthday

Until recently, a few months ago I went on vacation and let me tell you I had fun eating everyday and a lot of it. I got up to 170 and wasn't happy that I was gaining. So my dad started going to meetings for his own reason and I did it at home. I actually did it and got down to 149. yeah me. Then somehow it went all haywire and I kept gaining 2 pounds every week. My fear was not fitting into my bridesmaid outfit for my brother's wedding. Let's just say it was a tight squeeze, but not to bad when the wedding came around.

Anyways, this story has a point hopefully, I started weight watcher meeting last week. I have only done one week, but in that one week I lost 5 whole pounds. Go me! Also, when I weighed in last week I was 163.2, meaning I have gained what I lost in the second attempt, but I hadn't gained that much. I just can't believe the 5 pounds, I ate 3 pizza slices last night(the day before weigh-in) and I still lost 5 pounds. Crazy.

I don't mind telling anyone what my weight is, if it will help someone decide on their personal choices to weight loss or better living. Weight watchers has and still works for me. I don't think I will mention what my goal is, but I am heading in the right direction to it and will be healthy doing it.


Right before the wedding...getting nails done


After the wedding right before reception.


My mom and I, looking good and time to party.

AAAAAAA-CHooooooo

My Brother's Wedding

My brother is officially married. Here some photos.


My brother waiting for his bride, Beth.


Here she comes with her father, Tom.


Walking down the aisle to Matthew.



Her dad giving Beth away to Matthew.


A kiss to seal the deal.


Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Watt.


The happy couple. Congrats.

I read an article that was in the paper (my mom showed it to me).

It was about an author who had written a book called "You majored in what? - Mapping your path from chaos to career" by Kathrine Brooks, ED.D.. I have been thinking about the article for a few days and thought I would look up the book at the store. I found it today and started to check it out. It actually kept my attention, which is surprising because I have gone to a bookstore before and ready books that I yawned threw and tests that I have already taken to get an idea of jobs I might be good for. I have just started reading the book today, hopefully I will have more to say after I am done with it.

Here is the book on Borders.com Click here

Description: "Has it happened yet? Have you been asked The Question? You know the one. Its the question that haunts you from your early undergrad days to months, even years, after you graduate What are you going to do with that major? Inevitably this unleashes waves of anxiety, whether you're a liberal arts student unsure what your degree has prepared you for, someone with a practical major whose career field is oversaturated (or just unappealing), or a recent grad still searching for inspiration. But take heart The Question is fundamentally flawed. Your major does not equal your job! In You Majored In What?, nationally known career counselor Dr. Katharine Brooks dispels the myths and the old-fashioned thinking that can make your transition to the real world so daunting and chaotic. Developed from more than twenty years of teaching and guiding students to successful careers, her Wise Wanderings career coaching system helps you mine your academic and life experiences for career gold through creative yet practical techniques including visual mapping, storytelling, and experimenting. Thanks to the Wise Wanderings system, you can forget what you've been told about the job search. You don't have to know where you'll be in ten years. You don't have to have picked the perfect major. The job-finding process doesn't have to be one more burden on your already overburdened schedule. All you have to do is pay attention. Embrace the chaos. Think. Create maps. Construct small experiments. Celebrate your education. Consider possible lives. Tell stories. And start wandering. Wisely, of course. You'll be amazed at whats waiting out there for you."

Blogging not a top priority

I looked at my blog and realized it has been roughly been one and half months since i have posted anything. I haven't been on the computer a lot and when i am on i check a few things and then proceed to sign off. For the past month i have been working at Macy's, hanging out with my friend, hanging out with my parents, recently started building a 20in X 60in book shelf out of MDF board, watching TV, going to appointments, and just overall being lazy and having relaxing days.

maybe i will post my book shelf when it is complete. I am really in the beginning stages.

The week for cars..and spendng money for it

Well this week has been fun. My mom's car needed to be fixed for a lot of money. Then the next day had to go back because there was a rattling sound that vibrated through the floor of the driver side. After the nuts were tightened. All was well in the car world.

Ehhh I think not.

My car this week, I got an oil change and a simple once over of my car. I paid and was done with the errand. Well for couple days now I have been hearing a high pitched errrrr noise when ever I pressed the gas. Weird I thought, but didn't think much of it. I knew it was the belt and I was going to get it check out soon. DUH Duh duh, didn't get that chance.

I was driving back from my niece's Elementary School with Kendra and Lillee. It sounded like I ran over a tin can. Kendra looked behind to see if anything was there, nope nothing. There was a slight turn up ahead and suddenly figured out what that sound was from. I have no power steering anymore. I told Kendra as I was going around the curve that I couldn't steer. So luckily there was an entrance to a Shell gas station. I pulled in immediately with the help of Kendra turning the wheel with me. As Kendra called her dad, who is a mechanic and works in a car dealership; I called my dad, saying I need him to come pick me and explained the situation. As I was talking Lillee, who is four started to worry and wanted out of her car seat. My dad said he would be right there. Kendra's dad said it was a belt. Well he was correct, my belt was streched but still intact (not broken), my dad found the pulley(assuming that was the tin can noise). As Kendra transfered the car seat, her purse, Lillee's backpack. I told the Shell Station attendants that I would be back in and hour, to deal with the car.

Everyone got into my dad's car, we dropped of Kendra first so she could get on her way to Kileen, I dropped dad off at work, and then took lillee to her nana's house(the reason I was picking up Lillee). As I drove back over to the shell station. I wondered if something came out of my car. The tin can noise made me wonder. So I walked up to where it happened, nothing. So I figured I had everything that fell/broke off. I called a tow truck, no way I am driving and no way could I drive.

The tow truck took it to the dealership Kendra's dad works for and said they would call me tomorrow (which is today friday 6th). They said it was the belt and the pulley, they told me the cost and that it would be ready today. I don't know this car will be lasting that long. There will be some transfering around with cars in our family, a new car in the near future, and some trade-ins with two of the cars.

Updates, Updates, Updates

Updates:

Well I have been working hard at Macy's, but I know that wouldn't take up most of my time. So here is what I have been doing. After Christmas, my family writes thank you notes for the gifts that were given and tell people how gratefully appreciated they are, which they are. Well I wrote my Christmas letter of what happen this year, which wasn't much, but there were a few big things. The Christmas letter is printed on a 8.5 X 11 (letter size), well the only thank you card size I have is a 4 X 6 and I didn't want to fold up my letter more than I have to. So my mom and I walked to Walgreens to see if they have individual cards(like index cards) the size of the card you put checks into. Unfortunately, they didn't have any. Then my mom and I drove over to Hallmark and again it was a dead end. As I was walking around Hallmark I got this idea that I had a lot of art supplies at home ***idea*** why don't I make them. Of Course! When I got back home I started on them. As I was going along, I tried to make them different and really got into making them. I haven't yet written a thank you note on them, but that is my next step. My dad's advice was to show all of you them because they are all different and that you wouldn't know.

Here is a picture:

From Life after college...

Hopefully by the end of this week I will send out my thank you notes and Christmas letter.

NEXT UPDATE:

As people may know I am living at home pretty comfortably and very lucky that I have that. Well as everyone is facing a difficult year, my family also has been close to it. Luckily we haven't been severely affected by it. As my parents were talking about what they would have to do if my dad or mom lost their jobs they brought up the idea about me taking on my own cell phone bill. I thought that it was a possibility that I could take on that responsibility I started to research different plans out there: Sprint, Altell, Verizon, Cingular/Att, Cricket(cheap Texas brand), and maybe one more. Though I like the Cingular rollover plan, my family is all on the sprint plan. I did the math and figured out that I could afford a certain plan at a price. I also figure the smart choice would be to be on sprint because sprint to sprint is free, so all my close family members would be free to talk to and the only people I would have to pay for if I go over my minutes are my friends Kim and Kendra. So today I went over to the sprint store and talk to a nice man name Robert who was very friendly and answered all my question. When I walked out of the store I had my own plan and a new phone. WOOO! My first official bill that I will be paying for. Hol-eee Mac-a-roll. I might be almost 24, but this was a big first step towards my independence. Yeah me. So when you talk to me it is the same number, but it is my phone and my plan.

Here is a picture:

My old phone, my new phone box, and the new phone.

From Life after college...

My new phone on top of the sprint box it came in.

From Life after college..

ANOTHER UPDATE:

I am taking classes at ACC (Austin Community College) for fun not for a credit. As of right now I am taking Photoshop. Photoshop is where you can alter photos. For example, you can eliminate a person from a photo without anyone knowing that a person was in the photo to begin with. Another one I like was writing text then inserting a photo in the text.

Here is an image with the word EARTH and grass is inserted into the text.

From Life after college...

Hopefully on Monday I can sign up for Dreamweaver and Flash. Dreamweaver is the basics of a webpage. For example, the links I put on photoshop, dreamweaver, and flash. The basic structure of the blog post here with the text and colors. Flash on the other hand is anything on a webpage that moves or has action.

Here is a idea of flash.
Mercury Graphics - my teacher works for this company, look for anything that moves on the page and that is flash.

I am assuming because I haven't taken the classes it is what I received as a rough idea of what it was. When I take the class I will inform more about what it is like.

I like this photoshop class I am taking and hopefully I will like the other two. I am taking only the Continuing education classes because I didn't know if I would like it. If I do like it, I might head back to school at least part time to pursue some more classes in a particular field. I am trying to keep myself busy and to figure out my life and give it some purpose then to say adrift to no-wheres-ville.

Well heading off to bed I have an early morning with work tomorrow...6AM yeah. not. bye.

I haven't been in the mood to blog lately, but here is an update on what has been happening.

I have been working at Macy's as a signer, basically if you ever go into a department store look at each rack that has a label or sign on it, their is a group of people that change them every time there is a sale or change. That is what I do. I work very early mornings, there are days where I am awake and out of the house at 345AM, other days I am out by 445AM, and most days out of the house at 545AM. I get done with my day early sometimes getting off a few hours later at 10AM or 11AM, but sometimes I work later and get off at 1PM. The early morning are not fun because I am still tired when I get off, but it is a job.

Other than work I have been working on a dollhouse for my niece lillee(best friend's daughter). It is something that has been fun to do. If you want to see an update go to my dads blog Watt's Up. I like doing this, though yesterday I hit my wall and didn't want to work on the dollhouse. Today or tomorrow, hopefully my dad and I can finish up the trim for the house in the triangles at the roofs peaks/eaves. Then the only thing left is the touch-up to do.

Well, Christmas is coming and the house is slowly getting ready. This week is finishing the dollhouse, making cookies, setting decoration.

GO VOTE ! ! !

problem of the last three posts

Well, I would have created the last three posts, but I am having trouble copying the embeded links to put the pictures in the blog. I don't know when the last three posts of my trip will be up, hopefully soon.

Maine Trip- Third Installment

The next couple of days are a blur. Some days Kim and I went out by ourselves, other days we all stayed in to read, others days we stayed in the house to stay out of the rain, other times we stayed around Blue Hill and shopped.

---Kim and I went to the Yacht Club, which is a restaurant(not pictured), but this is the boardwalk in front of the restaurant---


---Kim on the Yacht Club rocky beach, it was low tide---


---looking down on rocks with barnacles and seaweed---


---close up shot of seaweed---


---me walking on the rocky beach---


---(L to R) Grandmommy, Aunt Dorothy, and me, this was taken in Blue Hill---



Kim and I took a side trip up North from us...we stopped many places.
---Penobscot, Maine...Left side is the old bridge not in use anymore, new bridge is on the right and has an Observatory deck 447 ft. high---


---the right, highest point is where the observatory deck is---


---me jumping before going REALLY high up---


Also, with the observatory deck you can visit the fort that is near it.
---Kim you can't push the cannons.....


......I mean is Kim they are props not real...(OK she did, but she is good with making the face)---


---I just sat on the cannons---


---Kim and I went to Acadia and hiked up S. Bubble Rock---


---At the top was Balancing Rock---


---The other side of S. Bubble Rock (balancing rock is about 50 yards behind me to the left)---


---Kim and I documenting that we got to the top---


There will be three more installments about Maine:
Stonington, Maine and Deer Isle
Naskeag Point and Acadia National Park with Grandmommy
Last Sunsets at Naskeag Point and Haven Colony and the Last morning pictures

Maine Trip- Second Installment

The next morning in Bangor before heading out for Brooklin, Kim and I got up early to swim in the swimming pool for about 30 minutes to an hour. Then I took a shower and headed downstairs to get everyone breakfast. When I came back up I gave Grandmommy and Aunt Dorothy their breakfast (they were still getting ready, but almost done) and went to my room next door. Kim was done with her shower, but just had to blow dry her hair to be finished. Kim and I thought we should get our suitcases downstairs first so that we just had to worry about the other two. We finally checked out, recieved some direction to getting to Highway 1.

The placement of the seats was pretty similar for most of our trips, I sat in the driver seat, Kim was my navigator in the passenger seat, and Grandmommy and Aunt Dorothy were in the back seat. As we were driving down 1, Kim and I were excited to be in Maine after the long countdown we had, Grandmommy hadn't been back in two years so she was excited to see who was there in the Colony, and Aunt Dorothy hasn't been in Haven for several years(she has been in Maine just not so North).

---the map, bangor (top left), Brooklin (bottom center)---


As we drove towards Ellsworth, Aunt Dorothy needed sunglasses because she misplaced/lost hers. We made it to Ellsworth, but we missed our turn off, which is a street that isn't clearly mark. We kept heading straight and finally I said to myself 'I am lost, I need directions.' Luckily there was a Rite Aid(like a CVS or Walgreens), Aunt Dorothy got her sunglasses and I got direction. We only missed the turn by three or four stop lights. We were back on the right road again. We made the bend on 172 toward Blue Hill. We made it to Blue Hill without much mistakes (it is a straight shot hard to not get lost). We went through Blue Hill on 172 and turn before Trades Winds Market Place(the grocery store) to continue on 172. As we headed down 172 we had rough direction on where to go. We were looking for 175 and we drove right past it, luckily I knew to turn around right away. As we headed on 175 into Brooklin the road has turns and ups and downs. It was a beautiful drive in.

---Soon on 175 we saw this(and no I was not driving, I pulled over to take this)---


---We drove over this bridge everytime we went into Blue Hill(the road is 175)---






When we finally got to Brooklin. this is what we saw:

---Brooklin General Store---


As we headed through Brooklin, we had to find Steam Boat Lane (unfortunately, someone took the street sign). After getting lost we finally found the place. YEA US! We got there in time to meet Carol Siddons and to see the beach/cove.

---The Beach/Cove (high tide)---


After that trip down to see it, we were hungry (it was about lunch time). Unfortunately, we didn't have any food. Very nicely, Carol gave us some hotdogs and chips to eat. When we were all full from lunch, we headed back to the Blue Hill grocery store to get groceries. When we got back, we unpacked and got settled, but before we started cooking dinner Kim and I headed down to the cove to see our first sunset.

---Our first pretty sunset---






---Kim and I, documenting our first sunset with each other---


Our first day is done. We are officially in Haven, Maine.

Maine Trip- First installment

The last post I wrote that Kim and I were starting our trip by leaving Cleveland, Ohio heading to Liberty/Richmond, Indiana. Well, Kim and I arrived around dinner time on August 30th. We slept at my Aunt's house, which Kim stated that Casey's bed is like staying at a luxury hotel. The next day we went to a play called Oklahoma at the Richmond playhouse. The next day we headed out early in the morning with Bob and Mary Fran(Uncle Tom's parents) who were driving all three of us to the ariport. We stoppped by grandmommy's residence to pick her up and headed our way to the Dayton airport.

The flights were easy, the security was a breeze, and soon enough we were in Bangor, Maine. As we left the gate we were looking for my Great Aunt Dorothy (grandmommy's sister) and there she was sitting, waiting for us. It was great to see her. The first thing we did was get our bags, then get the rental car. This was the first time I rented a car from anywhere. As the two guys that helped me were very nice, but they talked over my head about insurance. Instead of commiting myself with something, luckily my Uncle Bob was reachable by phone to handle the situation. The two guys helping us out asked if red/cranberry was a good color of if we wanted a different color. I turned around to my grandmother, aunt dorothy, and kim who were chit-chatting and laughing--having a good time. They loved the red color, I think it is the idea of hot sexy ladies in a red car not a blue car, but a RED one. Ohh la la. As we headed from the car rental we headed to our hotel for the night. If it was anyone else(my aunts or mom) they probably would have gone to Brooklin, ME that afternoon/night, but I didn't know the way. The last time I was in Brooklin, Maine I was 10 years old, so a good 13 years timeframe. The evening went peaceful after that. We checked into the hotel, got comfortable, then decided about dinner.

The first thing we agreed on was a lobster dinner, or at least trying to get some form of lobster. We headed out to a place called Captian Nick's. It was a nice place which Kim ate her first lobster. It was yummy. That night Kim and I in our room and Grandmommy and Aunt Dorothy in their room. (note: kim and I watched america funniest home video and we went to bed at 11PM...grandmommy and aunt dorothy watched the republican convention and went to bed around 1PM) Hmm interesting.

The next day we headed off to Brooklin, ME.

---Flying into Bangor, ME---


---Where are we? Bangor---


---Kim wanted to find a Moose...this was her only one---


---Here is the RED car (this is not at the car dealership-this was taken later)---


---Aunt Dorothy and Grandmommy at Captian Nick's---


---Kim and I at Captian Nick's---


---Kim's first lobster about to be devoured...Bye, Bye Amigo---