Christmas Questions, Advent and More Weight Loss

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like wrapping paper for Christmas. Birthdays and everything else can be gift bags, but there's just something about wrapped presents under the tree that I love.

2. Real tree or Artificial? I'd like the smell of real, but not the short life or clean up, so we're all about the pre-lit artificial ones.

3. When do you put up the tree? I try to wait until the first week in December, I usually fail and it goes up shortly after Remembrance Day. I made it to December 1st this year, though.

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually on or around January 8th so that it's up for Ukrainian Christmas.

5. Do you like Egg Nog? I love the light stuff, but won't be having much this year as it's very high in calories.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmm, Tinker Toys always seem to stand out to me.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My Dad, every single year.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Caleb, he's always the easiest.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, my mother in law got me 3 parts to the Willow Tree set and I love it.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I usually mail them all, but I only mailed a small amount this year. I love getting them in any form, though.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Nothing is really standing out, except maybe Caleb puking all over the place last year and having a disorder relapse...Wasn't the best gift, ha ha.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Forgotten Carols, all the way.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually October, but have started in September a time or two. I'm usually done by December 1st. I just have John's stocking left to do right now.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I remember

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas and favorite Christmas dessert? Stuffing, stuffing and stuffing. I also greatly miss doing the appetizer dinner at my mum's house on Christmas Eve. My favourite Christmas 'treat' is Almond Roca.

16. Lights on the tree? How can you have a tree without lights? I like the coloured ones while I have kids at home, but will probably switch over to clear many years down the road.

17. Favorite Christmas song? I have several and none are traditional. Christmas Carroll, Christmas Candy...Mary, Did You Know?...Breath Of Heaven...Old City Bar...

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? This will be our last year of travelling. We are very much looking forward to doing Christmas in our own home after this year.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s? Sure can

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We have an angel because that's what I grew up with.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We usually do pajamas on Christmas Eve night and the rest Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Having people dictate the kind of festive greeting that I'm allowed to give. You wish me what you celebrate and I'll wish you a Happy Christmas because that's what I celebrate. How difficult is that?

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I'd love to eventually do teal, red and silver or something like that.

24. Handmade ornaments or store bought? I like both.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I just want my in-laws to like what we're giving them. I put a lot of thought into it and I'm very excited about it. As long as we all enjoy the day and remember our Savior, then I'm good.

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We have done 2 advent days in December so far. On the 1st, we put up and decorated the tree. Yesterday we made 2 different kinds of chocolate covered cookie balls. Today the kids are writing letters to Santa.

I knew the weight I'd gained yesterday was water weight...I have now officially broke my pre-Ty pregnancy weight!!! I have 3 more pounds to lose by the end of December to reach my goal. I'm hoping to do that by the 16th instead, but we'll see how it plays out.

2 Months In...

It has been 2 months since I started what was supposed to be 90 days of eating healthy and exercising regularly. I've missed a fair amount of exercising due to illness and what not, but I've rarely messed up on staying in my calorie range. Like I said, I started it only intending to endure the 90 days. However, with so much progress I've decided to make it permanent. When I eventually get to my goal weight I will adjust my calories to maintain the weight instead of losing. I have gone from 20-22 jeans to 16s. As of this morning I have officially lost 16.6 lbs in 2 months, which is 6.6 lbs more than I'd originally expected to have lost by this point. I have lost 26.6 lbs since my heaviest point in June. The very best part, though, is what it's done for my mood. If you have me on facebook then you've probably noticed the difference. Cynical and negative Nikki has been disappearing. I've been so much happier and positive. Life just feels great. Not manic great, just happy great (I did take a step back to evaluate that this morning). My house work has been getting tackled way more.

It has started to bug me when people act like you can't lose weight by just counting your calories and exercising when possible. They act like you need some miracle diet or something and that what I'm doing is so basic that it must not work. But it does. I use a free app to count my calories and use exercise equipment that I already had (WiiFit Plus, recumbant bike, glider), and have actually been spending less on groceries, so it's been saving me money. No costly shakes or special foods. No costly gym fees. If you have enough will power, this is the greatest way to lose the weight.

Anyway, I will be making a change in January to my exercise. I will be doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred every day that month, just to kick it up a bit. It's going to kick my butt, I fully accept that going in. In fact, I'm hoping for it. My goal by the end of the month is to lose 3.5 more pounds. Pretty sure I can manage that one. Also, just for the record, I'm 0.4 lbs from my pre-Ty weight!!!! So what started as a personal progress value project has become a life changing experience for me. I love it and have no intention of looking back. Life is great!

I Love To See The Temple

Our temple is reopening this week. It has been closed for renovations. I've missed it. I never realize how much I take the temple for granted until easy access is taken away. That's why I'm so grateful that one of my projects for Personal Progress involves going to the temple every single month in 2012. I might even fit my dress by then, too!

The spirit that I feel as soon as I step onto temple grounds never fails to amaze me. It's like the hugest breath of fresh air that you could ever imagine. I think of how blessed I am to be a member of this church and how much good it has done me, I can scarcely remember life before my baptism. I'm so grateful, SO grateful and I can't imagine living without the church in my life ever again.

Ticker, Ticker, Watch Me Shrink

You may notice the ticker above my posts now. It's my extra motivation. I'm staying accountable to everyone who reads my blog. I will get that ticker to the end!!! I'm over a third of the way there, I can do this. I will be updating the ticker every Friday. I want it to be at least to the halfway mark by Brett's first birthday, Feb 11th. That's 5.1 lbs to go, and I will get there (or bust). I didn't think I'd get back in non-plus sized clothes again after I had Brett, and I'm already wearing them. I feel AMAZING!!! The only thing I'm nervous about is being away from home for a few days next month and not being in control of what's being cooked. I'll pull through, though, because I've never felt more empowered as I have doing this.

November's Thankful Thursday

I almost forgot about this month's Thankful Thursday. What better day to do it than the day that my favorite American couple is celebrating Thanksgiving?

1) I am SO grateful for how much better I feel since losing 24 lbs since June, 14 of which I've lost since Oct 1st. I feel happier and healthier and I think other people have noticed a difference as well. John sure has. May be TMI, but my monthly week of crankiness was significantly better this month, according to John.

2) I am grateful that Caleb is doing so well in school and that his teachers are so impressed with him. They kept telling me over and over yesterday at his conference just how adorable he is and how well he knows and follows the routine in the classroom. He loves school, for which I'm also grateful.

3) I am grateful that it's Christmas season. It's my favorite time of the year. All of our advent activities are ready to go. I'm trying really hard to get through to Caleb about what this holiday is really about and really waffling on when to tell him who Santa really is. We're having a hard time agreeing on that one. Regardless though, I love Christmas and the spirit this time of year. It's amazing!

Me, My Weight and My Baby Boy

A good friend of mine has been doing self improvement/realization questions on her blog and I've been answering them. They've been pretty good for me. She is reminding me that people don't see me as negatively as I see myself. I've realized that deep down I'm still a bit angry at B for being such a jerk about my being pregnant with L. I'm hoping to work on this one and let it go. Seriously, he's not worth the trouble. He's a child of God, but it doesn't mean that I have to like the things that he's done or let those things have power over me.

On a more positive note, I have officially lost 23.6 lbs since June! WOOHOO! Thank you so much to my AMAZING friend, Kyla, who has been keeping me accountable for my food intake and exercising for the past month and a half.

Other than that, things are going fairly well in the Bly home. A head cold for Brettley and I, but we're toughing it out. He's still quite happy. He popped out teeth #3 & #4 in the past few days and #5 is just about to cut through. I love my kids, I love my husband and I love my life:)

# 4...Someday...

I've had enough people ask and the word is out there enough that I may as well just announce it on my blog. Yes, we plan on having 1 more baby. No, I'm not currently pregnant. We plan on waiting about 3 years. Yes, we have prayed about this and I've received a priesthood blessing about it, I wouldn't be even considering it if we hadn't (remember, I was sure we were done). We know that this is right for our family and what we're meant to do. I've taken a lot of flack for it already, so if you don't agree with the answer we got from the Lord, then please don't comment.

Another Bly baby down the road...WOOHOO! We are very very nervous and very very excited and just trying to focus on being better people and parents now instead of just waiting around.