Stop Picking On Me!

My dear sister was browsing the Internet to find tips to stop picking her face (a terrible habit that she and I share) when she came across this website: http://www.stoppickingonme.com/index.php .

Confession time: I love picking my face. Well it's sort of a love/hate thing. I love the success of getting the gunk out of my pores but I hate the results. I cannot pick just one zit. If I get up close enough to a mirror to pick one thing it always, ALWAYS results in me sitting on the sink and picking until my entire face is red and blotchy in turn making me more self conscious then I was with that little zit that probably only I could see in the first place.

The truth is, picking my face relieves stress for me. Whenever I'm frustrated, stressed, nervous or anxious I go to the mirror and pick at my face. It may sound weird but when I pick my face my mind kinda goes to a place of zen where I forget about everything except picking my face and I feel better. I will find the most minuscule thing to pick as long as I'm picking. If I don't have a mirror I pick at my fingers. I pick at zits until they bleed because then I feel that I got everything out. I pick at the skin around my fingers until they bleed, are sore and are ugly to look at. I HATE that I pick like this but I can't stop. Marcel tries to help but can't. I find myself picking when he isn't around because then he can't stop me (which is pathetic in my opinion). It isn't like he doesn't know. The evidence, pardon then pun, is written all over my face (and fingers)! I can manage to cover most of what I do to my face with make-up but I can't cover my fingers (and I'm not about to start wearing gloves all the time!). I've been doing this since I started getting zits (so quite a while)! Picking at my fingers has developed over the past few years but is getting increasingly worse. The more I try to focus on not picking, the more I want to pick, and do.

This website is speaking right to me in some ways! I haven't read through the whole thing yet but I am excited about where it is heading so I wanted to share. It is written in a book format so it is easy to read. If you or anyone you know has a skin picking problem then this is definitely worth taking a look at. I'm really hoping that it helps me in my efforts to STOP PICKING ON MYSELF!

Time to get serious...

about my fitness goals. I know I've already done a post regarding this where I said I was really going to stick to and complete this change but, as I've done many times before, I fell off the bandwagon. Instead of hopping back on and continuing the journey, I stayed off and began beating myself up and feeling sorry for myself. For the past week or so I've been trying to re motivate myself to work towards these goals which for some reason or other I keep putting off hoping they'll take care of themselves and one day I'll just wake up with my dream body. While searching the Internet for a quick fix to get in shape I came across this blog and was quickly smacked with a reality check. Whether she comes right out and says this in one of her posts, I don't recall, but I came to the realization that there is no such thing as a quick fix to get in shape, at least not if you want the results to last. It takes time, lots of hard work and some lifestyle changes. She had a post on there from Tony Horton himself that I found extremely inspiring. The post is taken from a teambeachbody.com chat he was having where he too was giving people a reality check.....*Warning: The post is a bit long and there is a bit of swearing so if you are easily offended or don't have a lot of time, maybe skip this one. If you aren't and you've got a minute, it's worth the read!*

ALRIGHT, SIT BACK, AND RELAX.
LET'S GO OVER A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THERE SEEMS TO BE A GENERAL LACK OF WILLPOWER,
AND THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE, LIKE CANI SAID, POOR PLANNING.
SHOWING UP TO A PARTY HUNGRY, NEVER A GOOD IDEA, YOU'RE SCREWED.
NOW I COULD SIT HERE AND I COULD TELL YOU LITTLE TIPS ABOUT HOW TO HELP YOU CONTROL YOUR EATING HABITS,
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR FOOD, AND I DO IT WEEK AFTER WEEK, MONTH AFTER MONTH,YEAR AFTER YEAR
AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE SAME PEOPLE (I KNOW WHO YOU ARE - YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) CONTINUE TO JUST LET FOOD WIN.
AM I CORRECT?
I MEAN, YOU DO THE PROGRAMS, AND YOU COME INTO THE CHAT ROOMS AND YOU GO INTO MESSAGE BOARDS
AND YOU'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND YOU HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS, AND YOU LOSE SOME WEIGHT, AND GAIN IT BACK
THEN YOU LOSE SOME MORE, AND GAIN BACK MORE, AND IT'S JUST A CYCLE THAT CONTINUES.
SOMETIMES YOU TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T.
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!
SAD, BORING AND PATHETIC, REALLY...
YOU BLAME IT ON YOUR PARENTS AND YOU BLAME IT ON WORK
AND YOU BLAME IT ON STRESS
AND YOU BLAME IT ON POOR PLANNING,
OR ON THE WEATHER OR LACK OF SLEEP
AND YOU SORT OF TAKE THE BLAME, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE ANY CHANGES.
I MEAN, IF IT DOESN'T MATTER
CUZ APPARENTLY IT DOESN'T
CUZ IF IT DID
THIS WOULD NO LONGER BE A PROBLEM FOR MOST OF YOU.
BUT THE SAD FACT OF THE MATTER IS, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!
IT'S NOT LIKE THIS COMPANY IS SELLING YOU SOME SILLY WEIGHT LOSS DIET PROGRAM THAT IS ASKING YOU TO EAT FUNKY PORTIONS OF STUPID FOOD FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
YOU HAVE TEMPTATIONS AND YOU SUCCUMB TO THEM. PERIOD.
NOW MY JOB TONIGHT IS NOT TO SIT HERE AND POINT FINGERS AND CALL YOU NAMES, AND SAY THAT YOU ARE LOSERS.
BUT IT'S TIME FOR A LITTLE TOUGH LOVE PEOPLE.
AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, I'M 50 AND LIFE IS EXTRAORDINARILY SHORT.
I FEEL LIKE I'VE LIVED 10 LIVES ALREADY AND AS WE ALL GET OLDER, IT DOESN'T GET ANY EASIER, UNLESS WE DO THE RIGHT THING.
SUCCUMBING TO TEMPTATION BASED ON OUTSIDE INFLUENCES AND INFLUENCES INSIDE OUR HEADS
JUST MAKES LIFE SUCH A DULL BORING FRUSTRATING DRAG.
ICK!
IS THIS WHAT WE WANT?
IS THIS GOOD ENOUGH?
IS IT?
BUT WHAT THE HELL YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?
BECAUSE CHANGE IS A BITCH MAN.
BUT IF YOU WANT THE LIFE THAT I THINK YOU THINK YOU DESERVE, THEN YOU HAVE TO DO THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
CUZ I GOTTA SAY, WHEN I SHOW UP TO EVENTS (TEAM BEACHBODY EVENTS OR CAMPS) AND I SEE PEOPLE WHO USED TO BE FIT WHO AREN'T, I JUST THINK, WHAT HAPPENED?
AND I KNOW THE ECONOMY IS ROUGH AND THINGS HAPPEN IN LIFE THAT ARE BRUTAL, BUT SINCE WHEN DOES FOOD SOLVE ANY OF OUR PROBLEMS?
IT MAKES THINGS WORSE!
WE NEED SOMETHING TO MAKE US FEEL GOOD FOR 10 SECONDS, BUT ALL IT'S DOING IS MAKING OUR SITUATION WORSE!
[LisaErin82] Tony__how did you get into fitness? what keeps you going day in and day out? do you take 'breaks' throughout the year?
LISA, GOOD QUESTION.
WHICH TIES INTO THIS TOPIC.
BECAUSE I HAVE TO!
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO!
BECAUSE THE ALTERNATIVE SUCKS!
MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CHAT ROOM KNOW THAT IT’S TOO VITAL, IT'S TOO IMPORTANT.
IT MAKES LIFE SO MUCH BETTER. NOT TO DO IT MAKES FOR A LESSER LIFE.
SO IF YOU DON'T MIND YOUR LESSER LIFE KEEP ON EATING CRAP BASED ON ALL YOUR LAME EXCUSES.
I GOT INTO FITNESS BECAUSE I WANTED TO LOOK BETTER, I STAYED IN FITNESS BECAUSE I LIKE FEELING BETTER.
I LIKE THE QUALITY OF MY LIFE TO IMPROVE, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT EXERCISE AND EATING RIGHT DOES THAT.
I LIKE BEING FIT AND I LIKE BEING HEALTHY.
I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE THINGS
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT TO ACHIEVE THEM, I HAVE TO EAT RIGHT AND EXERCISE AT LEAST 6 DAYS A WEEK
MY POOR EATING HAS DIMINISHED LESS AND LESS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
I'VE ALMOST CUT CHOCOLATE OUT. WHICH IS HARD FOR ME.
I NOTICE THAT WHEN I GET TO THAT ROUGH PATCH OF 2 OR 3 WEEKS WHEN I'M TRYING TO GET OFF OF ANY KIND OF A PARTICULAR BAD FOOD HABIT THE CRAVINGS GO AWAY AND I FEEL BETTER MORE OFTEN.
I SLEEP BETTER.
MY DIGESTION IS BETTER.
MY ENERGY IS UP.
MY MOODS ARE UPBEAT AND POSITIVE MORE OFTEN.
BTW, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH YOUR DIET (WHICH I KNOW IS PROBABLY MORE THAN 11 OF YOU)
IF YOU NOTICE YOU'RE STRUGGLING IN LIFE, GUESS WHAT?
THAT STRUGGLE COMES WITH WHAT YOU PUT IN YOUR MOUTH FIRST, NOT VISA VERSA
ONE CAUSES THE OTHER.
IT'S NOT COINCIDENCE THAT YOUR WACK DIET IS PART OF YOUR WACK LIFE.
EVERYBODY READ ME?
HEARING ME?
FEELING ME?
ANYBODY THINK I'M TALKING TO THEM DIRECTLY?
HOW DOES THAT FEEL?
KINDA CRAPPY, RIGHT?
AS DR. PHIL WOULD SAY
HOW'S THAT WORKING OUT FOR YOU?
WHEN THIS CHAT IS OVER TONIGHT I WANT YOU TO WALK AWAY WITH SOME THOUGHTS IN YOUR HEAD THAT MIGHT NOT EXIST AFTER A NORMAL CHAT.
ONE THOUGHT OR QUESTION I SHOULD SAY IS... WHAT AM I GONNA DO ABOUT IT?
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW YOU'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING.
YOU'RE JUST LETTING LIFE PUSH YOU AROUND.
SUPER LEAN, SUPER RIPPED, SUPER HEALTHY, SUPER STRONG PEOPLE DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.
PEOPLE THAT ARE PRETTY RIPPED, PRETTY HEALTHY, PRETTY STRONG, DO MOST THINGS RIGHT
PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT OVERWEIGHT, NOT UNHEALTHY, BUT LOOK OK DO ABOUT HALF OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS RIGHT.
I COULD KEEP GOING BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M HEADED.
3 MONTHS AGO, I WAS DOING MY 90/10 % PLAN AND THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD, YOU KNOW, 6 PACK, ETC.
BUT WHEN I CLEANED IT UP MORE, I'M JUST LEANER AND I FEEL BETTER.
IT WORKED FOR ME
AND I DON'T MISS THE CHOCOLATE.
YOU KIDS NEED A PLAN.
ANYBODY WANT A PLAN RIGHT NOW?
FREE OF CHARGE?
NOW THIS PLAN IS SO SIMPLE IT'S GONNA FREAK YOU OUT!
YOU HAVE YOUR PIECES OF PAPER AND WRITING UTENSILS READY?
AT THE TOP OF A PIECE OF PAPER WRITE THIS;
I, [WRITE YOUR OWN NAME] HEREBY DECLARE THAT I WILL FOLLOW THE TONY HORTON FOOD PLAN FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU KIDS THE HARD CORE VERSION NOT MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE FOOD PLAN.
OK, PICK UP YOUR PENCILS AGAIN.
#1
FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS I WILL NOT EAT WHITE BREAD OR ANYTHING MADE WITH ENRICHED FLOUR OR PROCESSED FLOUR
SNICKERS BARS.
DONE!
OUT!
GONE!
BYE BYE!
SEE YA LATER!
NO MAS!
SIANARA!
GOT IT?
GET IT?
DO IT!
#2
I WILL GREATLY REDUCE MY DIARY INTAKE.
AND FOR SOME OF YOU NO MORE DIARY!
GET IT?
DO IT!
NO MORE PIZZA WITH A TON OF CHEESE!
NO MORE MILK!
NO MORE ICE CREAM!
GONE!
OUT!
GO BUY SOME ALMOND MILK OR RICE MILK.
OR I'LL SMACK YA.
#3
NO MORE CARBONATED BEVERAGES.
NO MORE PEPSI.
NO MORE COKE.
NO MORE 7 UP.
NO MORE SPRITE.
NO MORE DR. PEPPER.
NO MORE DIET PEPSI.
NO MORE DIET COKE.
NO MORE ZERO COKE.
NO MORE MOUNTAIN DEW.
NONE!
#4
WATER AND TEA ONLY!
IF YOU'RE A COFFEE PSYCHO, 1 CUP A DAY.
SHUT UP AND DO IT!
#5
AT LEAST 2 OF YOUR MEALS A DAY THERE'D BETTER BE VEGETABLES ON YOUR PLATE.
1 MEAL A DAY, THERE'D BETTER BE FRUIT.
DO IT
#6
HERE'S HOW YOU'RE GETTING YOUR PROTEIN.
NUTS, BEANS, FISH, TURKEY, AND CHICKEN.
THAT'S IT!
SHUT UP AND DO IT!
GET OFF THE RED MEAT FOR A WHILE.
OFF!
I DON'T CARE ABOUT LEAN RED MEAT.
JUST GET OFF OF IT!
#7
FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS OF YOUR 30 DAY PLAN
WRITE IT DOWN!
WRITE IT DOWN!
EVERY MORSEL!
"OH, BUT TONY, THAT'S SO HARD, IT TAKES TIME, WHAT IF I FORGET A PEN? WHAT IF I'VE LOST MY PAD OF PAPER TO WRITE DOWN WHAT I'VE EATEN? DOES THAT MEAN I HAVE TO WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING IN MY SALAD? WHAT IF THERE'S AVOCADO, PEPPERS, MUSHROOMS, NUTS, IN DIFFERENT KINDS OF SALAD, DO I HAVE TO WRITE IT ALL DOWN?"
SHUT UP YOU WHINY LITTLE BI*****!
IF YOU WANT TO LIVE LARGE AND YOU WANT THIS MICROSCOPICALLY SHORT LIFE OF YOURS TO BE WORTH SHOWING UP FOR
THEN YOU'LL MAKE A PLAN.
YOU'LL DO WHAT I SAY AND THINGS WILL BE GOOD!
OR YOU'LL KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING AND THEN YOU'LL JUST BE WHAT YOU ARE RIGHT NOW, OR WORSE.
OKAY?
THIS COUNTRY HAS TURNED INTO PRE-ROME, AND THE EMPIRE'S ABOUT TO COLLAPSE.
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BEGIN TO TURN IT AROUND IS TO START TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES FIRST, SO THAT WE HAVE THE ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM TO TAKE CARE OF THE REST OF THE CRAP THAT IS GOING SOUTH IN OUR LIVES.
POOR EATING HABITS AND LACK OF PHYSICAL MOVEMENT HAS TURNED THE VAST MAJORITY OF US INTO WHINY LITTLE CRY BABY LOSERS.
FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN THIS STATE OF QUIET DESPERATION.
IT'S LIKE JOE THE PLUMBER...
GOOD GRIEF!
THE GUY, AND NOT TO GET POLITICAL, BECAUSE IT'S NOT POLITICAL AT ALL.
HERE'S A GUY PRETENDING TO BE A PLUMBER
WHEN HE'S ACTUALLY AN UNLICENSED CONTRACTOR WHO DOES PLUMBING, PROCLAIMING THAT HE HAS THE MONEY TO BUY THIS $250,000 PLUMBING BUSINESS, WHEN IN ACTUALITY THE PLUMBING BUSINESS IS ACTUALLY A $100,000 PLUMBING BUSINESS. HE STILL OWES BACK TAXES AND HE MAKES LESS THAN $40k A YEAR. JOE IS MAKING THINGS UP TO MAKE A POINT.
SO JOE THE PLUMBER NEEDS TO READ LAW #5
GET REAL JOE!
WE HAVE TO STOP PRETENDING THAT LIFE IS SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING TO US.
THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE STILL A LITTLE CONFUSED IS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR LIVES. THE ONE THAT IS HAPPENING, NOT THE PRETEND ONE.
WE HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR EATING.
WE HAVE TO STOP THE FANTASY VERSION AND START BELIEVING IN THE REAL ONE.
WE HAVE TO STOP PRETENDING THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER BECAUSE WE JUST BOUGHT A NEW CRYSTAL, OR OUR PALM READING WENT WELL, OR SOMEBODY ELSE'LL DO IT FOR US, OR IF WE JUST HOPE OR PRAY IT'LL GET BETTER ON ITS OWN.
GOOD GRIEF!
IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY, IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU!
IT'S JUST YOU.
YOU AND NO ONE ELSE.
NOT YOUR HUSBAND, NOT YOUR WIFE.
NOT GOD.
NOT YOUR PARENTS.
NOT YOUR WORK.
NOT THE WEATHER.
NONE OF IT.
IT'S YOU AND THE INFORMATION OR LACK THEREOF, INSIDE YOUR BRAIN.
THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU CAN DO
I CAN GET IN HERE AND SHOW YOU LITTLE TRICKS ABOUT HOW TO EAT BETTER OR DO PUSHUPS ON YOUR KNEES BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS SUCCESS IS A DEEPER MORE PROFOUND LOOK WITHIN.
ARE YOU WITH ME PEOPLE?
CAN YOU DIG IT?
IF YOU STICK WITH THE SIMPLE PIECES TO THAT PUZZLE OR THAT PLAN, WEIGHT WILL COME FLYING OFF.
YOUR BODY WILL CHANGE.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO COUNT CALORIES.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO EAT SMALLER MEALS.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO NOT EAT A COUPLE HOURS BEFORE YOU GO TO BED.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THERE'S A LIST IN LIFE.
THE GOOD LIFE LIST
THINGS LIKE;
GETTING 7 1/2 TO 8 HOURS OF SLEEP. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVE TO PASS AN EXAM TO KNOW HOW TO DO THAT
EXERCISE 5_6 DAYS A WEEK. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR PERMISSION FROM SOMEONE ELSE.
YOU JUST DO IT!
EATING FRUITS, VEGETABLES, WHOLE GRAINS, AND LEAN PROTEIN AND NOT ALL THE OTHER GARBAGE IS HOW YOU STAY HEALTHY.
THAT’S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
YOU KNOW, STUFF LIKE BRUSH YOUR DAMN TEETH TWICE A DAY.
FLOSS ONCE IN A WHILE.
DON'T BLOW OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD SO YOU CAN'T PAY IT OFF.
CHOOSE PATIENCE OVER RAGE.
BE IN THE MOMENT.
ENJOY THE JOURNEY.
DON'T BE ATTACHED TO THE OUTCOME.
DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF, BECAUSE IT'S ALL SMALL STUFF.
OPEN THE DOOR.
TRY NEW THINGS.
CHANGE IS GOOD.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH LIKE_MINDED, UPBEAT, GOOD HUMORED PEOPLE.
OKAY, HERE'S THE BOOK OF THE WEEK
IT'S CALLED "MADE TO STICK"
THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU FORMULATE NEW HABITS, THAT STICK.
THE AMAZING THING ABOUT EXERCISE AND EATING WELL...THE OUTCOME. IF YOU'RE CONSISTENT.
IT'S THE SAME FOR EVERYONE.
I KNOW I GOT ON MY BOX NICE AND TALL HERE TODAY BUT I JUST HATE SEEING SMART PEOPLE MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES
OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
IT'S GOT TO BE FRUSTRATING.
WHEN IT COME TO HEALTH AND FITNESS (IN GENERAL) THERE’S 3 GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
THE FIRST GROUP IS, PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW BETTER.
THEY HAVEN'T COME ACROSS THIS INFORMATION YET. THEY'RE STILL BUYING INTO WEIGHT WATCHERS, NUTRISYSTEM, HERBAL LIFE AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WORK AS LONG AS YOU USE THEM.
BUT I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN DOING WEIGHT WATCHERS FOR 15 YEARS.
THEY’RE "WEIGHT LOSS ONLY" PRODUCTS THAT ARE TEMPORARY FIXES.
THESE SAME FOLKS ARE BUYING STUPID AB CHAIRS, AB LOUNGES AND SOME ROTATING PUSHUP STANDS. THIS STUFF IS SUPPOSED TO CHANGE YOUR ENTIRE BODY?
GIVE ME A BREAK!
THEY DON'T KNOW BETTER SO THEY GET TO BE STUCK.
THEN THERE'S CATEGORY 2
PEOPLE THAT COME HERE AND UNDERSTAND THAT EXERCISE HAS TO HAPPEN 5_6 DAYS A WEEK. VARIETY WORKS!
THERE HAS TO BE INTENSITY AND CONSISTENCY.
THESE PEOPLE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT HEALTHY FOOD IS PART OF THE EQUATION. WHEN FOLKS IN CATEGORY 2 DISCOVER THIS INFORMATION THEY UNDERSTAND IT'S IMPORTANCE LIKE AIR AND WATER AND LIVE IT.
FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE (THERE ARE SOME OF YOU THAT ARE IN THIS CHAT ROOM) ARE IN CATEGORY 3
PEOPLE WHO KNOW BETTER BUT AREN'T WILLING TO APPLY THE INFORMATION.
IT'S LIKE KNOWING HOW TO BREATHE BUT DECIDING TO CONSTANTLY HOLD YOUR BREATH TO BE MISERABLE.
IT'S SUCH A BUMMER.

THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE THE SADDEST OF ALL.
NOT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, BUT FROM THEIR OWN.
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE IT MAKES SENSE TO ANYONE IN HERE?
SO WE KNOW OUR PLAN, CORRECT?
WE KNOW WHAT TO DO, RIGHT?
WE'RE GONNA DO IT RIGHT?
WHY NOT?
THE END RESULT WILL BE AWESOME!
YOU CAN ALL HAVE WHAT I HAVE AND I'M NOT THAT SMART.
I JUST FOLLOW THE RULES.
I'M LIKE SCOTT FIFER.
JUST FOLLOW THE RULES
ALRIGHT, KIDS, THAT'S IT

How's that for straightforward?! Yeah that definitely put me in my place! I am continually making excuses to either completely skip working out or to not give 100% with a workout. No wonder I'm not getting anywhere! In the time it takes me to fight myself to exercise or come up with an excuse not to I could be halfway through my workout! It's time for me to grow up and take control of my life. No more excuses. My attitude is the only thing in the way of my dreams and it's due for an adjustment! So...here we go!

Strike's Back!

So on this blessed day Marcel was able to go pick up Strike and bring him home once and for all! He was so excited for this day to get here and was like a little kid at Christmas when it finally did! We are so happy with the way he turned out! Kelly did a fantastic job!

Marcel didn't waste any time getting him up on the wall (as you can imagine)! As soon as he dropped him off at home he ran to the hardware store to get the supplies needed to hang him up. When I came home for my lunch break I had to eat quickly so I could help Marcel figure out exactly where to put him! We agreed on the spot, I had to go back to work, and Marcel got him up on his own! We think it looks pretty sweet!

Toby was pretty freaked out by him for a while and kept his eyes on him waiting for him to move and growling to keep him in place! What a goof, but then again if I didn't know better I probably would've sat there growling at him too!

We still catch Toby eyeing Strike once in a while! It makes us laugh every time!
We're glad to finally have him on our wall and look forward to adding more in the future! ;)

Toby's new do/VaLeNtInE's DaY!

Toby was in SERIOUS need of a hair cut. I mean REALLY serious need! He looked like one of those surfer boys that always have their hair in their eyes so whenever they look at anything they have to tip their heads up extra far to see under it! Yeah it was bad! After calling around to a few different dog grooming places we decided we'd just save $35 and try it ourselves! So I held Toby while Marcel used the cheap buzzer we have (you know the $10 ones that come with the different length attachments that don't always work that great) to cut his hair. Toby was SO good the entire time! He held still and stayed at whatever angle we needed him to. When all was said and done, I would say Marcel did an awesome job! Toby looks so cute and we can see his adorable puppy eyes again! I'm sure Toby is happy to be able to see clearly again too!

On Valentine's Day morning after getting ready and while Marcel was sleeping I hid little random love notes all over the house and in cars for him to find as he went throughout his day!

{love notes}

I even had one on my back for him to find when he hugged me when he got home! It was fun and it made him smile! I got off work early so that I could get home to finish up my Vday surprise while Marcel was out shed hunting! I found this idea on my all time favorite Dating Diva website and somewhat made it my own.

On the front door at the beginning of the string!

 I tied a string leading from the front door, upstairs through a few rooms, downstairs into the computer room, bedroom, closet, bathroom, kitchen

and ending in the living room in front of his present (keep in mind that all the rooms on the main floor connect through doors so this wasn't too difficult)! He wasn't too excited about following the string everywhere (he had that 'guy' attitude going on) but I enjoyed watching him gather it all up! It made me laugh, especially with his grumbling!

For his present I put a little basket together because 'I love him with all of my senses'!

Marcel was surprised when he opened the Reeses to find a little carved love message!

The basket wasn't super big so I put the leftovers of the different items that wouldn't fit in a brown paper gift bag.

I also added a cute little key chain I made him! He love's it! (That's Toby helping him open it!)

For Marcel's gift to me he made his DeLiCiOuS chicken enchiladas for dinner! Oh man I can't even tell you how sinfully scrumptious these are! Love them!

After dinner we were sitting down to watch a movie when the pager went off for a house fire and Marcel had to go. That was around 8pm and he didn't get back until about 11:30pm as I was crawling into bed. He felt really bad that he was gone for so long, and I won't lie I was acting kinda bratty because I was upset that he was gone all night but I told him I knew what I was signing up for by marrying a fireman. Plus right before dinner I had started feeling sick, like when your getting a really bad cold and you feel exhausted/achy and just bleh, so I slept pretty much the entire time he was gone.

Over all we had a Happy Valentine's Day and I love having this awesome guy to share it with (even if it was only a few hours!)!

Hunting Expo

On 02/06/11 we were able to go on a day date to the Hunting Expo in Salt Lake. This was our second year going and we just love it! They have so much to see and lots of interesting stuff to check out. When we were buying our tickets to get in the guy helping us had to ask someone filling out a paper to move out of the way. As we were walking away he said something about making him move for Angelina Jolie!
Yeah, I don't look ANYTHING like her but it was a sweet thing to say! Marcel appreciated it I'm sure since he not so secretly has a crush on her! :)

Toby is 1!

I can't believe our little Tobster turned 1 on Jan. 21, 2011! That year went by so fast! I still remember the day we brought him home! He was so tiny and so innocent...we had no idea what we were in for!

He has continued growing and making us laugh since the day he joined our little family!
I'm not gonna lie, there have been MANY times that I have lost it with him because he does something naughty and doesn't listen to me (especially when he's outside, which is the worse time for your dog to develop selective hearing....you dog owners know EXACTLY what I'm talking about!) but then he looks at you with his little puppy eyes and the ice on your heart just melts! We love that little guy no matter how crazy he makes us!
Toby at 1 year old you have a little more than doubled in size and your color has gone from really dark brown to silver (with more white on your head and a tanish spot on your back!). You can jump REALLY high, seriously, we don't even have to bend down to pick you up you jump right into our arms! You don't chew things up as much anymore (which we are oh so grateful for) but you still can't control pulling the stuffing out of some of your toys. You still LOVE cuddling, which we also love (it definitely helps curb my baby hunger!)!

You love falling asleep under the covers either right between us or down by our feet but after a while you end up out of the covers and I usually wake up to you cuddling against my back while I cuddle up to daddy's back! You love eating ANYTHING that we eat, honestly, we attempted giving you pop rocks once and you didn't even hesitate in taking them and wanting more! You are awesome at holding it until we take you outside at our house, other peoples houses....not so much! You have learned the command "sit" and "shake" which you do very well when there is a treat involved! We love how excited you are to see us every time we come home whether we were gone for hours or minutes, your reaction is the same!

In the last few months you have discovered your tail, which is HILARIOUS to watch you chase and even catch and tug on! You love people and you always make them smile and love you in return! You tend to get these random bursts of energy and run around the house like a little psycho, which is also very funny to watch! I think that you like to hear yourself bark....a lot! You always make such funny noises when you're trying to get us to play with you and you've been nicknamed and Ewock because of it! You're very good at playing fetch even to the point where you'll place the toy right in our hand! You also like to toss things around, like your rawhides, and you're getting pretty good with your distance! You are spoiled rotten, which is okay I think! You are such a great little dog and we love you so very much!
When we were trying to decide between you and your siblings we were drawn to you because of your playfulness, energy and adorable face! We have never regretted our decision in choosing you even though I went puppy searching really wanting a little girl! You have proved that boys are just as fun and we wouldn't trade you for anything! You have challenged us and helped us (or at least me) grow as people. You are definitely helping me to work on my patience, which I like to think is getting better, so thanks! We plan on celebrating MANY more birthdays with you so plan on sticking around!

Prehistoric Adventure!

I got a fun date idea from this Dating Diva's Post and turned it into my own! Marcel LOVES the Jurassic Park movies so I thought it might be fun to use that as the theme of our movie marathon date! I really wanted to get some shirts but didn't want to pay $20 for each one so I decided to get a bit crafty! I printed the logo off of the Internet, used an exacto-knife to cut out the parts I wanted to paint, pulled out a black pj shirt of mine and Marcel's, pinned, painted and viola!

And the best part is that it didn't cost a dime!

I made this invitation and stuck it on the front door so Marcel would get it when he came home from work,

decorated our entry doors like the entry to Jurassic Park (sorta!),

and attempted to make some Pterodactyls!

He got home, saw the invitation, then came and climbed into bed for some much needed sleep. When we finally got up around 11:30 (I was pretty tired too!) I made pancakes (I was going to cut them into dinosaur shapes but Marcel just wanted plain round ones). They were pretty tasty! Next he opened his present with our shirts in it!

Then we watched the first Jurassic Park movie! We haven't seen them in a while so it was fun! After the movie was over we went deer spotting and then came home and I made Hawaiian Haystacks for dinner which turned out to be DeLiCiOuS (sorry no pictures, we scarfed it down pretty fast!)! At this point it was getting late so we decided not to continue our prehistoric adventure and just relaxed watching some regular TV. We needed to get up sooner to get all 3 watched in one day but what can I say, we love our sleep! It was still fun though! Marcel admitted to being a bit hesitant to go into the living room when he saw the door because of what I did to it for the last date I planned but I didn't rearrange anything for this one! I was a bit lame...!

I have fun doing stuff like this to surprise him and I think he enjoys it too' which is good because I have more planned for the future...mwahaha! ;)