My new diet...

I've never been one to diet...ever. I have been known to cut certain things out of my diet, but I have never quite limited myself completely. I never thought I had the self control to ever do a diet until now. Yes, I have gained quite a bit of weight since getting married and starting graduate school. But I figure, now that we've been married for almost two years and I have graduated that it's about time for me to get my act together.

My sister Erin (who's house we live in) just had a baby and decided she needed to lose some weight too (even thought I think she looks great!). In the past Erin has gone on the Atkins diet and has always lost a lot of weight, so she started it again and a week later I joined her.

So the Atkins diet, as most of you know, is a low carb diet and claims to burn more fat. I've always been a skeptic about these things. It seem intuitively wrong that by eating lots of meat and cheese you can lose weight. But I started this diet hoping it would work for me. I thought it was going to be really hard, but it has helped to have Erin in the house doing it too. (Now I just need to get Phil on board to make it easier for me when we move out!) No matter what foods you eat, you will always eat better when you plan your meals. Each day I like to plan what I'm going to eat the next day, this way I don't just walk into the kitchen and scrummage though the cupboard landing my hand on a big box of crackers. It also helps to only keep things in the house that you can eat (not so easy with a 4 year old and a 2 year old running around).

Erin has shown me around the grocery store and pointed out the foods I can and cannot eat. Did you know they make sugar free Reese's Peanut Butter Cups?? Well, they do and they're delicious. It's always nice to have a piece of candy once and a while, because even when you're dieting, you always have to satisfy your sweet tooth. I have to say that the one thing I really miss is fruit. Fruit has always been so refreshing to me, but at this stage of Atkins it's not allowed because of all the sugar in it.


Yes, there are stages to Atkins. You start at the induction phase, which limits you to 20 grams of carbs a day, which is not a lot at all. You stay in this phase until you have reached a certain weight, or BMI range, or something like that. I'm going to stay at this phase until I lose 20 lbs. Then each week you can add 5 more grams of carbs to your daily allotment. You do this until you're not losing weight anymore and then you scale back 5 lbs until you find your ideal carb count.

So it's been a week now and I have lost (drum roll please...) 6 lbs already! I figure that in a month or so I can reach my 20 lbs goal and move on from there. And no worries, I'm not going to use my blog as my diet journal, I just wanted to tell you all about my new venture, because I figure the more I talk about it and the more people know that I'm doing it, the more accountable I will feel to stick with it!

Jen's Barber Shop

I gave Phil, Mason and Kade haircuts today. I was surprised at how good the boys were at sitting still...even though the wind (we did it outside on the porch) blew hair in their faces and into their mouths. Yes, I had to sway Phil with a lollipop, but he was a good boy and sat very still. Here are a few pics of Phil and the boys with their new 'dos.




Kade and Mason love their Uncle Phil. They were crawling all over him while watching the Incredibles down at Andrew and Rebekah's. They're the cutest little boys.

We are enjoying ourselves here in Belmont. We are still both on the job hunt and we will keep our loyal readers (yes, I know you're out there!) posted on any developments. Cross your fingers for us!

Wicked!!!

Well folks, its official. Phil and I are moving to the Bay State. Phil has decided that he wants to work for a couple of years before graduate school, and of our options we figure Boston will be the best place to be right now.

We made this decision Monday night (yes, just 4 days ago) and we're leaving this Wednesday (yup that's just 5 days away). Phil's dad is flying out to help Phil drive the truck. I, on the other hand, will be flying on jetBlue in the comfort of my leather seat, free Direct TV, and free snacks.

Roses???

So, Phil came home last night and brought home roses for me! Why you might ask would Phil bring me roses on a day that's not any more special than another and the week of his birthday? Well, the only answer I can come up with is that he's a thoughtful husband and knows how much I LOVE fresh flowers. I'm a lucky woman.

Also, here are some pictures from our trip last week to Boston.

Mason playing with the hose

Kade with his really awesome water gun. These boys LOVE playing outside in the water. They even love playing in the water in the sink in the bathroom...water babies.

Phil and baby Matthew

We have a new nephew and a new niece we were able to meet in Boston! In this picture Matthew was about a week and a half old and still weighed as much as when he was born. He's a skinny little thing. I didn't take any pictures of Rachel, who's about a month old! But check out Andrew and Rebekah's blog for some pictures of their beautiful little girl!

More Blogger Templates

Here are some more Blogger templates I have created...I know they're not the prettiest things, but I'm working on my craft. Just follow the directions in the post below to add one to your blog.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll81/jngrl7/grandmascouch.gif

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll81/jngrl7/greenandpinkgarden.gif

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll81/jngrl7/pearlsofwisdom.gif

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll81/jngrl7/AndrewandRebekahBlog.gif

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll81/jngrl7/AndrewandRebekahBlog2.gif

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll81/jngrl7/AndrewandRebekahBlog3.gif

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll81/jngrl7/bluebird.gif

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll81/jngrl7/colorblocksunburst.gif

Digital Scrap Booking?

So, recently while I was trying to figure out how to design my own blog templates and I got emerged in the world of digital scrap booking. Who knew this was such a huge thing? I definately didn't. There are websites upon website where you can get digital paper, embellishments, pictures, ribbons...everything you need to do some memory keeping. And you can even find much of the stuff for free. (Here's a good website: digiscrapdepot) I've already downloaded a lot of stuff (much of which I probably won't use). And this whole digital scrap booking (which Phil refers to as "crap-booking") is huge over in Europe. I've never been one for scrap booking, but this way there's no mess and no glue to deal with.

So far, all I have done other than download a bunch of stuff, is design some blog templates for blogger. Here's what I've come up with:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll81/jngrl7/brownbag3.gif

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll81/jngrl7/brownfloral.gif


http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll81/jngrl7/pinkpaisley.gif

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll81/jngrl7/redpaisley.gif

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll81/jngrl7/YellowTree.gif

If you want to use these, just follow these directions:

Log into your blog

Next go to ‘customize’ then ‘layout’ then ‘pick a new template’ then choose a minima template.

Then click on "edit HTML:" and scroll down to where it says:

body { background:$bgcolor; margin:0; color:$textcolor; font:x-small Georgia Serif; font-size/* */:/**/small; font-size: /**/small; text-align: center;

Change that part of the code to say this:

body {

background:$bgcolor;background-image:url(direct link);background-position: center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed;

margin:0; color:$textcolor; font:x-small Georgia Serif; font-size/* */:/**/small; font-size: /**/small; text-align: center;

Now copy the address of the picture where it says "direct link"

Click Save!

I know these aren't the best, but I'm still trying to figure out how to use a program other than ppt or publisher.

If you want more information about how to make your own blog template, visit: www.cutestblogontheblock.com

Happy blogging and digital scrap booking!

Camera Dump

So I haven't downloaded pictures from my camera in a while and I found a few from February when I flew to Boston for Julia and Dave's open house/engagement party. Not surprisingly, most of the pictures are of the kids.....

Mason

Dad testing his fancy web cam...

Jules and Mason

Mason

video playing cousins Isaac and Kade...gotta love that DS

Kade being Kade

Me and Kade

Owen

Me and Kira

Chameleon

So I keep changing my blog template and layout. I think I've changed it three or four times in the past two days. I think it's because its the one thing in my life right now I can control, but I'm never happy with anything I do to it. It really makes me wish I knew more about html and web design. Well I guess there's still time...

I've been thinking A LOT lately about those other things in my life I can't control. I have an amazing husband who has the ability to remain calm and collected in times of change, while I'm dying inside feeling like I'm never going to see the end of the road.

(Who knew a Chameleon could be this small. Yes folks, thats the smallest Chameleon in the world).

Its like the things in my life I can change are the small things (noted picture above), and the big things are the ones I have no control over. It's so frustrating.....but I think that's the way its supposed to be. If we had full control over the bigger, more important things in our lives, then what would be the need for faith? Yes, we do help to direct the paths in our lives, but there is a larger force at play. He's the one that directs you to where you should go to school, who you're going to marry, where you should work, and who the one landlord in Minneapolis is who will rent you a spacious apartment for less than $1000/month. Yes, God works in mysterious ways, but at least we know he's there helping us...holding our hands when we can't see the end of the road.

Possible Dwelling

UPDATE ON THE UPDATE: The landlord found another renter....darn! So we're back to the beginning again. Anyone want to give us a place to live in Minneapolis????? PLEASE!?

UPDATE: We just found out that it doesn't have A/C and the landlord is still showing it to people...so if he doesn't find anyone else to start renting it June 1st, he'll offer it to us for July 1st. But we have to wait and see.

So Phil and I have been searching and searching for a place to live in Minneapolis and we think we have found a great place. We just want to see what you, our avid readers, think. So leave us a comment and let us know if you think we should rent it after reading the below information.


(Click HERE to see the listing on Craigslist)
It's about 4 miles from downtown and the U of M campus (Click here to see map). It's a 2 bedroom 1 bath apartment with a dishwasher and free laundry in the basement. It has recently been updated with new stainless steel appliances, paint, and refinished hardwood floors. It has plenty of closet space (or so they say) and storage in the basement. We would have a reserved two car parking spot in the back of the building (uncovered). The rent is $850/month and we have to pay electric, gas, and cable/internet. The apartment is on the first floor of a 4 unit building. We are not sure yet if it has air conditioning....I guess if it doesn't we can use window units...

The guy renting it says he would be willing to lease it to us for 3 months in case we decide we don't like it and want to find somewhere else to live. Its a good neighborhood with a park down the street. Here are some pictures.






Questions we are asking ourselves....
1. Would it be worth it to live there without a/c for three months (July, August, September....assuming that it doesn't have it)?
2. Do we want to be on the first floor?
3. Would it be awful in the winter to park our car outside? (although not too many apartments offer covered parking)
4. Do we want to rent something that we have never seen or met the landlord?

Please let us know what you think.

What a Funny Kid

So for those of you who have never met my nephew Kade...here's a video you can watch on my sister's blog. Despite the awful lighting this is pretty much the funniest thing EVER!

Here's a picture of Kade one morning last summer, eating a donut for breakfast. It's pretty much the only thing he will eat for breakfast these days.