Shout out to a photographer

So I don't usually give shout-outs--and I definitely don't like saying the phrase "shout-out," but here's my plug.  Our friend Scott Myers is an amazing photgrapher.  By day he is a photographer for our fine state of Missouri for the Department of Natural Resources, but is a very gifted photographer beyond just nature though if you check out his site you will see some GORGEOUS nature photos.  Here is the link for his webpage http://www.scottpatrickmyers.com/  He sells fine art, architectural prints, and if you live in the CoMo he will shoot portraits as well.  I'm already considering which piece I want in my new home.  I'm thinking having something printed on metal---I didn't even know this was possible until I read it on his site.

So that's the house

So we got it.  We took the one I had the link of.  It's way more than I wish it was, but it's a lot of house with a lot of backyard.  So it's definitely the best option for us.  I think we will be moving the first weekend of May.  Now let's just get the house sold, please!

Headed to Bloomington again

So I'm taking the Amtrak to Bloomington tomorrow to see a house or maybe two (hopefully).  Here's the one we are definitely seeing. 

I hope I like it.  Scott has already seen it, but I have to give the okay I guess.  It's pretty expensive, but it seems to be our only option that will work for all of us. 

http://www.fsbolocal.com/viewPropertyAd.htm?id=14469  Here's the link if you want to check it out.

P90X update

Yes, I'm still doing this 90 days of torture.  Have I messed up a couple (a few thousand-due to vacation) times?  Yes!  I'm approximately 5 weeks or 33 days into it.  It's been hard--really hard.  Vacation definitely threw me for a loop--too much alcohol and good food w/o much working out.  I don't think a 15-20 min run on the resort and 4 hours of beach volleyball count for intense cardio or yoga (especially if you've seen me play volleyball).  I've made up most of the workouts I've missed (b/c I was so tired Mon & Tues--like a zombie), but I still have 1.5 workouts to make up (see 15 min run above to see why I need a half of a cardio workout).  Let me just say right now I apologize for the parenthesis...I love detail. 

Here's what I think about the ol' P90X.  I think it's really good but hard.  I'm not seeing the results I hoped for which is discouraging when I put in over 6 hours a week on lifting, cardio, or yoga.  Needless to say, I'm sticking with it.  Prior to vacation I had lost 7-8 lbs in 3.5 weeks.  After vacation I've lost 4-5 lbs--complete bummer.  I hate you margaritas, banana mamas, pina coladas, miami vices, beer, wine, and gin/tonic.  I don't really hate you, but why did you have to taste so good in the pool, while eating, while playing volleyball, while sitting around waiting for buses.  Why oh why? 

So, I'm a little off target of my original 25 lbs goal.  I'm still hoping I make it.  I have 8.5 weeks to go, so theoretically I can still safely lose 16 more pounds.  This would be darn close to my goal if I can shave off a couple more pounds somewhere.  I'm thinking I might have to go to the doubles workouts if I don't see some dramatic results soon.  I do not want to go there!

Pictures of C

Enjoying his new rainboots (inside of course)-he had to put them on as soon as my mom gave them to him.

In the woods at Grandma and Grandpa's

Where have I been?

Mexico!!!  We had a super short trip to Mexico last week.  We were only gone 4 days, but I was gone for almost 7 days b/c of travel time.  I left last Tuesday afternoon and met Scott in Bloomington.  We looked at a super small house (too small for us) and then did a little shopping (the mall there is bizarre and miniscule).  We headed up to Chicago the next afternoon and shopped on Michigan Ave.; ate at a happening restaurant/bar (reservations were made for us by a Chicagoan); and went to the Blackhawks game (compliments of Wirtz Beverage).  The day was very fun.  We got to go to the private bar (the Sonya Henning Room) at the United Center b/c Scott works for the owner of the Blackhawks/United Center. 

The room was very cool--you could come and go at will and everything inside was free.  We had good seats and the game was fun--they won.  Then we headed back to our swanky hotel on Lake Shore Drive (provided/chosen by Wirtz)--where we spent a total of 5 hours all day/night. 

We had to leave the hotel at 3:30 AM to get to O'Hare by 4:00.  We waited in line FOREVER to check in.  We actually never sat down once we arrived at the airport until we got on the plane--we were cutting it that close w/the problems at check-in.  Our party of 24 somehow messed up things--not sure how.  We got to Mexico around 10:30 AM-breezed through customs fairly painlessly, and then took the bus ride from hell to the resort.  We all thought we would be at the pool or beach by 12:30.  Not so much.  We left the airport around 11:30.  We were the 4th resort stop.  If you've ever been the Mayan Riviera you know that resorts are super far off the main highway, so to go to each one takes 15-20 min, plus the first one was about 20 minutes away.  Our bus broke down at our 2nd or 3rd resort (kind of a blur).  We were stopped about 15-20 min.  It was super hot, but we finally arrived around 2:00ish.  Once we got there it was a beautiful thing.

view from our patio.  Yes we could hop over the rail and the shrubs and be on the beach.

  Our resort was amazing!!! Here are some photos of our room/patio.

 Here's a quick rundown of what we enjoyed most: our lush room/porch w/swing; the Japanese steak house; pool w/bar; beach volleyball; karaoke (or if you were Scott you would insert cigar bar here); our little local restaurant we visited in Playa Del Carmen at the recommendation of a local; and just the fun times w/his co-workers.  I wish we had taken more pictures.

What to say...

I feel like frequently I post that I'm tired.  I'm overwhelmed by a lot of things.  The workout stuff is taking up A LOT of time.  That combined w/the ability/need to go outside in the afternoons for C and the dog plus reading three books at one time (one for Bible Study, one for small group, and one for pleasure) I seem to be behind in everything.  I'm even overwhelmed by how far I'm behind in my tv watching (the dvr is filling up). I did a marathon of cooking for some friends who just had a baby (it was almost 24 hours of cooking in every spare moment).  I wanted to make two meals for them out of similar ingredients.  It was probably overkill.  It had way too many parts, but tasty.  I made a black and bleu salad, but kept everything separated so they could build their own salads w/lots of options.  I also grilled enough steak for them to have steak wraps another night w/mashed potatoes, sauteed zucchini, carmelized onions and peppers, and mushrooms.  I made an amazing vanilla tart w/spiced pears from a BHG magazine--delicious.  So looking forward to Mexico next weekend.  I've been shopping like crazy in search for dresses, swimsuits, and other such warm weather/beach attire.  It's a hard pack b/c we're spending the day in Chicago before we go (I'm sure it will be cold), plus I need dress clothes for the Black Hawks game since we are going to the private bar, and then headed to super warm temps.  Kind of a packing nightmare.

Sadly I'm too tired and lazy to post any pictures.  I made a couple of magazines I need to post.  Maybe next week.