Thanksgiving Part Duece

Thursday was a pretty great day. Mom, Zoey and I (but mainly just Zoey and I) had done a lot of the baking Wednesday night. We made two pumpkin pies, an apple pie and a cheesecake. We also made our own stuffing and turkey, and then the green bean casserole and relish trays to take to my Grandma's. The Smiths and our family met over at Grandma and Grandpa's around 1 o'clock. We ate a little bit early because Morgan had to work at three.

Dinner was delicious and far too filling. We all sat around and chatted, watched movies, whatev for until about three. Morgan and I "digested" in the spare room with twin beds and caught up a bit. I think our family finally left around 4pm. Later we went out to Wal-Mart to pick up somethings. We ended up buying Santa Claus 1, 2, and 3 on DVD. I hadn't seen the third movie yet. So when we got home we popped that in, ate thanksgiving seconds and had a good evening together.

Friday was pretty uneventful. We elected to reserve our energy for Saturday. Saturday we went to the Festival of Trees that the community puts on. Different groups decorate trees that are later autioned off with the money going to charities. Then on Saturday they are put on display for the public. Our family spent far too much time there, with Riley having to do every activity imagineable. It was fun though, and a continuation of our family tradtion. After that we went and bought some Christmas decor, our Christmas tree, and got a lot of our holiday stuff out of storage. Mom, Zoey and I had to use our womanly strength to take the tree off the top of the car, saw off the bottom and put it in it's stand. We spent the next few hours putting on the lights (that was my job), and decorating the tree. We decided on a green, white and silver scheme for the tree.

That night I was able to catch up with a group of friends from highschool. We sat around and chatted for the most part. We hit up the hottest spot in town, Denny's, at about 12:30am. Then they dropped me off back home around 2am. It was a ton of fun. There were seven of us sardined into my friend Teresa's car. Don't worry, I had on my seatbelt. I don't think I'll forget sitting in the car and all of us (guy's included) singing to Aretha Franklin's "Respect" or to "So Happy Together."

Sunday I went to church, came home, ate my last supper of Thanksgiving leftovers, said "Peace" to my family and then headed out to Union to pick up Kara. It was a really nice, relaxing and festive week with family and friends. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because all that is involved is food and loved ones. The upside to this year's holiday was the lack of family drama! Yay! No arguing, bickering, storming about, or any of that nonsense.

Welcome Home

Kara and I got back into Provo at about 12:45am. It was a long drive, but the weather and roads were clear, so things went smooth, aside from our tiredness.

After unloading my stuff into my apartment, my roommate Erin said she had a surprise for me. I got pretty excited. She said it wasn't from them, my roommates, so then I was more curious!

She handed me a bouquet of roses! I knew they were most likely from Jeremy, especially when I saw what kind of flowers they were. They were roses, the pink and orangish types. On our "date" on Sunday, I had mentioned that I thought red roses were a bit cliche and that I guess if I had to pick favorites then they would be the orangey ones. They are beautiful and amazing and thoughtful and I felt quite special! His card was cute, too.

You are probably wondering who this Jeremy character is. He is in my ward, and we've been talking every Sunday after ward prayer. Last week I convinced him to help me study physical science. He obliged, twice, Tuesday and Thursday. Thursday, after some study time we went to a flag football game. I had different dates on both Friday and Saturday, so Jeremy asked if he could make me dinner on Sunday. He ended up walking me to church on Sunday. Later that day he made me a dinner that consisted of a kind of spanish egg/potatoe dish from his mission to Spain, and orange chicken. He even bough Martinelli's sparkling cider! We had a desert of chilled honeydew with sugar and lemon juice, delish!

While the food was cooking we went on a "walk" where we ended up in a huge pile of leaves, church clothes and all. It was fun! We talked and of course rolled around in the leaves. Dinner was great, too. Anyway....we talked on the phone a couple of times over the break, and when I came home tonight, there were the flowers. How sweet, right?

Thanksgiving Break Part 1

Thanksgiving break was great! I got to spend a lot of time with my family, and see extended family. I also saw family friends and friends from highschool, many whom I hadn't seen in a very long time.

My friend Kara Baxter and I left Provo late Monday afternoon and rolled into the valley around midnight. Our drive was fairly uneventful, well except for the whole snow and ice thing. As soon as we hit the Baker area the snow started to come down. By the time we got to North Powder it was slick and we were going about 35mph on the freeway. We elected not to go through the little canyon like we normally do to get to Union where Kara lives, after we slid all the way down the exit with Kara's foot pressed all the way down on the brake.

Tuesday was not all fun and games. I took Zoey out to lunch for some sister bonding at the #1 China Buffet. It was nice to just talk with her, since it is like pulling teeth to get her to talk to me on the phone. After dropping her back off at school I went to mom's work where I worked on my Doctrine and Covenants class exam. Two hours! I love my religion, but goodness. Later that evening I hung out with my summer fling, one that I discovered was definitely over with the summer.

Wednesday I stopped by Kylee's house and visited with she and Matt, and later her sister Katelyn stopped by , too. It is always nice to be able to see Kylee, even if it is only for a couple of hours here or there. She had her and Matt's first baby less than a month ago, Greg, and I was able to dote on the little guy for a majority of the time I was over there.

Afterwards, my whole family, plus Aunt Steph and Morgan met up to go see a matinee showing of 'Fred Claus.' It was pretty funny, definitely consisting of more humor that older people would find funny, but it was a nice bonding outing for the fam.

New York, Baby!

Just wanted to post some of my pictures from New York. These are some of the highlights and favorite parts of the week. There are so many little stories I could tell!

We spent Thursday, the 23rd, in flight to New York. We had a stop in Atlanta, Georgia, where we got Ben and Jerry's ice cream and took on the plane. It was so humid there! Just from the plane to the airport was almost unbearable. We got to the city, after a few hours of figuring out the transit system we made it to our motel and crashed for the night.

Friday we did a lot of the main touristy things that people do when in the Big Apple. We hit up Ground Zero, Battery Park, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Federal Building, Wall Street, and had our first bite of New York pizza just around the corner from ground zero. My favorite part of Friday was Ellis Island. It is pretty moving and a must for all who can make it there.

Me at Ellis Island

At Battery Park waiting for the Ferry to the Statue.

Saturday we went by the United Nations, but all the stupid country flags were down, it was mildly frustrating, but still neat to know where a lot of the world's political relations go down. Then we proceeded to go to The Met, aka the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was huge and amazing! Kara and I weren't so smart though, as we were in there for over two hours and didn't make it to the Roman and Greek exhibits, which were the ones we really wanted to see. We walked across central park and made it over to the Manhattan Temple. We were supposed to join up with a singles ward group, but none of them showed. Kara and I had our own personal baptism session. An old man even got in the font! The temple was my favorite part of that day. We were wondering how we could prepare ourselves for the Temple in the hustle and bustle of the city, but you walk in and BAM! you are prepared because the Spirit is just so strong. That temple is gorgeous on the inside by the way. Granite, marble, mahagony, gold fixtures.... Beautiful. The temple was right across from Juliard and Time Warner, etc.

Left: Me at the Met, pretending to touch an ancient egyptian temple.

Right: The Manhattan New York Temple, a tall building but not in comparison to the rest of the city.

Kara's two shoes, outside the temple.

Sunday we headed to one of the young single adult wards in downtown. It was actually in the same building as the temple. When you walk in the door, a guy at the desk either directs you left to the temple, or right to the elevators to get to church. They even had a gym in that building! The church is the same even in the big apple! Afterwards we went to a street fair/market on Madison avenue. They shut down about a dozen street blocks and vendors set up shops. It was a fun, low key activity. I got my way cute purse (Dolci and Gabana) there.

After that we went to St. Patrick's Cathedral. The artistry and architecture that went into that building is amazing. I've never been in anything quite like it. Then we wandered and found ourselves at Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, and NBC Studios. We also, for fun, took a bicycle taxi ride around Times Square. We were actually at Times Square almost every night, mainly because it is right above the Port Authority where we would get on the bus to head back to our motel in New Jersey. Our "taxi peddler" was from Brazil and he told us to eat at Ray's Pizza in Times Square, where apparently the likes of John Travolta have eaten.

Left Above: Just a taste of the cathedral

Left below: Times Square by bike, the Brazilian driver in the right corner.

Right:

Me standing in awe outside NBC News studios.

Monday was our final full day in NY. We went shopping! It was pretty thrilling to be shopping in the Fashion District of New York City. We definitely underestimated how much time we would need there. We did go to Macy's as well as other stores, like one of our personal faves, Forever 21. We also partook of some excellent roasted nuts from a street vendor. If you do nothing else when in New York, get some roasted nuts. They are splendid. I also ate at a little Korean cafe, got some California rolls. Then we went back to Jersey to get dolled up for Broadway. We ended our little hurah with The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. It was AMAZING and an awesome way to cap off a surreal week.

Tuesday, Kara was supposed to go for a run through Central Park, while I read and watched the luggage. Unfortunately an undercover subway cop "pulled us over." We had our big, scratch that, HUGE suitcases, plus duffle bags and purses. They are quite a pain to go through the rotating arm entries. We had our "metro cards" out to swipe as we went through, but a lady came through the regular sized emergency entrance and exit, so we gratefully slipped through there. We didn't think twice about it because we had seen plenty of people do it and we had our huge suitcases and had prepaid for the weeks pass on the subways. After a 30 minute "investigation" in which I felt like the lady cop thought we were harboring terrorists in our luggage she wrote us $60 dollar tickets each. It was obsurd. I thought, "Haven't we spent enough money in your city lady???" So instead of a parting goodbye to Central Park we caught a subway and a bus to the airport and left the big city. We had a layover in Chicago, and a stop in SLC. By the time we reached Boise, we were exhausted. The trip was amazing, once in a lifetime and one of the best experiences of my life.

My Journey

Well, I haven't blogged in a ridiculously long time, and I am sure no one will read this, unless I tell them to, but I had to write about a journey I have been on.

August '05
On Wednesday, September 27th, 2006 I began a record of my journey to weight loss, health and fitness. The heaviest I remember weighing in at was 205 pounds around the beginning of January 2005. Over the next few months I tried a program ran by Liz Meyer called Weight, Mind and Body Management, with my cousin Morgan and aunt Stephanie. While they had significant progress in losing weight, I struggled. Within five months I had only lost about 10 pounds. I blame it on the many distractions I had. It was the last semester of my senior year of highschool, nuff said.


February '06

I stayed at that weight throughout the summer and my freshman year of college. The summer after my freshman year I got a job working Litter Patrol for the Oregon Department of Transportation. From the start of work to Kylee's wedding in August I lost about seven pounds and was down to 188 pounds. I didn't really do so much different, just walking out in the hot sun and not snacking so often. I ate whatever I wanted at night and wasn't really trying to lose weight.

As I entered my sophomore year of college I dropped four pounds in about three weeks. This "sudden" drop in weight excited me. I realized I was in control of what I ate because I made my food purchases and would eat what I bought. I remembered the Weight Mind and Body Management Program. It was a sensible calorie limiting/counting program. You ate what you wanted, but you had to pay attention to calories and grams of fat. When I started the program at 205 pounds my daily calorie limit was 1500 calories, and we were supposed to eat foods with under 15 grams of fat. Vegetables were free foods. Typically breakfast was 200 calories, lunch 300 calories and dinner was 400 calories with the remainder of the calories divided up into 100 calorie snacks.

I decided to try this program again, it being the easiest program I could follow and still allowing me to eat what I wanted, just limited. Being that I was about 20 pounds lighter than my first shot at this lifestyle change I took my daily calorie count down a bit. I also decided to integrate exercise a couple times a week to help speed up my metabolism.

On that September day I made a few lists. First, I made a list of reasons why I wanted to lose weight.

Second, I printed a picture of somebody I didn't want to be and taped it in my "journal." It was a fat lady, sitting in her chair, a cat at her side and an oxygen tank. Under it I wrote, "Don't want to be her: Fat, Cat Lady; Lonely; Stuck in my chair." Poor cat lady....

Third, I then wrote a list of possible consequences for if I didn't change. There were six of those, but I am not ready to share those quite yet. Then I printed out a scale showing my BMI (Body Mass Index). I got it from 'The Biggest Loser Club' on NBC.com. My BMI was 29.7, overweight. My ideal BMI for my height was 24, and ideal weight was 114.6-154.3. It also suggested a healthy daily calorie goal to lose weight, at 1,288.

Finally, I took measurements of my body, which I have shared with no one, but I am going to now, on the internet, for the whole frickin' world to see if they want:

Hips: 43 1/2 inches Waist: 41 1/2 inches Bustline: 37 inches Bust: 41 inches

Arms: 12 inches Shoulders: 44 inches Pantsize: 16-18 Weight: 184 lbs.

I set ultimate goals which were:

Pant Size: 10

Weight: 145

I then took pictures of myself in just my bra and underwear, printed them out and taped them in my "journal." To serve as a reminder and motivated.

Then I set weekly, and bi-weekly goals as well as a first weight loss benchmark. I found that setting smaller goals made things seem much less overwhelming. Then, also I was able to feel good about myself sooner because I had reached these goals and that motivated me to set new goals and work towards them. It helped for the first while to write down what I was eating, just as a way to keep track.

By January 4th of 2007 I was at 170 pounds. That semester I was signed up for a morning weight training class with all girls. I lost weight, gained muscle and toned up. By the end of that semester I was 160 lbs. It was exciting to reach that weight because that had been my goal weight when I started the WM&B program my senior year.

The first month I was back in La Grande for the summer was hard. Food, bad food, was so accessible! I wasn't in control of the groceries, though Mom was pretty good about getting me healthier options. I finally had to get back to the basics and write down what I was eating for a couple weeks to keep track of calories. My new job at the particleboard plant allowed me to get plenty of exercise and definitely helped me tone my upperbody, especially my arms. I continued to set goals for myself.

Towards the middle of August I reached my first ultimate goal weight of 145 pounds! It was really exciting! But, now that I had reached that goal, I saw more progress to be made and set new goals for myself. I now jog 2-4 times per week, hit up the gym to do the bike and some weights 1-2 times per week. I try to work on flattening my abs, because as much weight as I have lost, I still feel like my trunk is thick and my boobs small ;-). I walk a lot. Drink lots of water and take my daily vitamin.

Here are my stats as of today:

Hips/Thighs: 38 inches Bustline: 32 inches Bust: 37 1/4 Arms: 10 1/2

Shoulders: 39 inches Waist: 35 1/2 inches Pant Size: 10/11 Weight: 143 lbs.

That puts my total weight loss from January 05 to now at 62lbs, or from when I started a record of all this at 41 lbs. Total inches lost since last September is

27 1/4.

It's a continuing journey, it's my lifestyle now. I think a key in my many little victories over the year is that even when I have had a crappy day or week, there is always tomorrow to start again, not allowing myself to just give up or give in because of one, two or twenty mistakes. Let me tell you it is worth it! Maybe in another couple of months I will have the confidence to post the pics from last September and new ones..... Maybe.....

August '06 vs. August '07

Back in the Valley

Do you ever find yourself letting the wind tickle itself through your fingers? It is something I find myself doing more and more. I find it invigorating. Your palm has some of the most sensitive sensors... I just feel so alive and I can't help but smile. It is true that I found myself first doing it in Rexburg, because there seemed to be a constant breeze, and then instead of loathing the wind I found myself loving it.

You know those days where you just find yourself thanking God for the innumerable blessings He has given you? Where you realize just how patheticly you take things for granted. I watched the convocation for the Virginia Tech Massacre, yesterday. I didn't realize it had affected me, until I found myself wiping away tears. It was just a normal day, that ended crushingly on those left behind. I took a shower afterwards and just let myself cry, only for a minute, for all the pain, the sorrow, the evil, the victims in the world. Those who go hungry, those who are raped, abused, sleeping in boxes, hiding in fear, alone.....Then I choose to spend the day being grateful that for some reason or another I've been blessed with the life I lead.

Somedays it feels redundant, some days mundane. Some days I feel so dissapointed with everything, me, my friends, my family, my accomplishments, my government, everything..... Those days, or even those little moments, are so disheartening. I have to almost physically pull myself back out, dab water on my face and wash away those ego-centric thoughts. I mean, I have family who loves me unconditionally and have taught me more about life and love than any book or lecture. I've had friends who've come into my life and have helped me to grow and to change, to love, to smile, to laugh, sometimes their stay with me is only a few weeks, sometimes a few months, others have been around for years, and some I hope will stay for a lifetime. I live in a country with so many freedoms and possibilities.... Where I feel more safe then at risk. I have my faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, of his infinite atonement for my sins, pains, and sorrows. And in a loving Father in Heaven who is concerened even with someone as small and insignificant as me. I have a roof over head, a shirt on my back, food in my stomach, and my health.

I am truly blessed.

Moving on, I am back in La Grande. Finals week was a whirlwind. Then the cleaning and packing. I was on campus that Thursday morning, for my final final and the thought occurred to me that that was probably the last time I would be on that campus as a student. I thought about stopping into the Chapel for some closure, but didn't. I don't think it ever hit me that I was leaving Rexburg for good. I suppose I look at it as not really leaving things behind. I am taking the things I've learned, the personal growth, the experiences, the relationships, I am taking them with me and moving on. I am making changes in my life. The courage to make those changes came slowly, but I am proud and excited for what the next phases in life will bring.

I registered for classes at BYU on Monday night. Mom was asleep in her chair at 10:45pm. So I took her key and went down to her work. It was pouring rain, the streets were deserted (can you say "La Grande?"). Then her computer was having issues....But finally I got on, got all my classes and even signed up for a Kayaking class! I am pretty excited. I think I found a place to live down there, too. The rage is to call the housing "condos" so I will be in a "condo" which is more like a duplex, about a block and a half from campus. Hopefully it works out like I hope I will. I could've lived with friends, but felt like I needed to be able to stand on my own two feet.

Being home has been interesting. I sleep less than I did at school. Last week I was the personal cab driver for the Leavitt kids. School, practices..... I used so much gas and felt like that was what all my time was going to. I look forward to the return of friends from college.... Starting in the beginnig of May with Kara and Teresa, and going through til June with all my Oregon and Oregon State buddies. I hope to spend more time with the friends I have here now. It is hard because they all have school or work or both.... I am hoping to make a trip with my sister Zoey, who just turned 13 (stop the madness please) and Kylee and Katelyn to the tri-cities this Saturday, so that has great possibilities for fun.

I am working on getting back into my eating and work out habits. I was working out fine, but I was eating way too much and gained back two pounds! Luckily I am taking back control and feel much better.... Anyway, I should go. I am supposed to be writing a cover letter to put with my resume to send to a potential employer (ah the joys of finding a job)....