Welcome to my life! This is my first year participating in the Ultimate Blog Party 2010 put on by Susan and Janice from 5 Minutes for Mom.
I am really super excited about finding some new blogs to love and hopefully you will enjoy my blog enough to follow or even just be the occasional fling.
A little ditty about me:
I am Cassie, I am in my mid twenties... ok ok, approaching LATE twenties... I am not a mom, but do enjoy reading some great mom and non-mom blogs. I live in the sticks of New Hampshire. I love having all four seasons; I work as an emergency dispatcher for Fire/EMS for a beachside community. I love my job and the people I work with.
I am currently on a weight loss journey so many of my posts are weigh loss related and my progress. I talk a lot about random thoughts and stuff happening in and around my life.
Some recent posts you may enjoy are:
I've recently started my list of 101 things to do in a 1001 days. It's pretty amazing and at least for me, life changing.
I also blog about giveaways that I enter from time to time. I always include links so that you can find them too and enter as well!
I am also on twitter! Look me up and say hi! Let me know how you found me!
Now obviously, part of the Ultimate Blog Party 2010 is the prizes! If I were to win, I'd love! (Obviously the grand prize a Toshiba Satellite L505D-ES5025 would be amazing!) My top two choices would be #72, the your shape game, I've read so many great things about this game, I'd love to try it. And #39 the Hilton Garden Inn; would be used towards a nice mini getaway for DBF and I.
Aside from my top three picks above numbers 38, 104, USC3, USC8, USC15, USC35 & USC39.
Louise over at Mom Start wanted to do a Spring Gift Exchange of her readers/followers/bloggers. So she collected willing participants (myself included) and then she organized it and assigned everyone a random person. I won't tell who I received, but I had a blast doing it. It's so wonderful to do something for someone else. I love random acts of kindness. I am hoping that my person enjoys their gifts and that it reminds them that the long winter is over, and Spring has sprung!
I laugh out loud everytime I see this. It's pretty hilarious and quite true. The people that created this live in the town next to me. If you've ever lived or visited New Hampshire, it's worth watching.
And yes, its really true, come February it's good to know a plow guy! The people that created this: The Super Secret Project are pretty hilarious and have some other good projects on YouTube.
Enjoy:
Lyrics:
Yeah. Yeah, Imma up at Conway
Now I’m down in Manchester
Next to Adam Sandler
But I’ll be woods forever
I’m the new Salinger
Cuz I could live anywhere
But I choose to live here
The middle of nowhere
I used to shop in Salem
Next to Rockingham Park
Right there up on 28
You'll find Canobie Lake Park
Bring me up to Portsmouth
the saloon at State Street
Catch me up at Gilleys after closing for some late eats
Its not the kangamangus
The Kancamagus
Its a scenic byway
That I like to drive in August
Now Im down at Bedford
Home of Seth Meyers, yeah
Also Sarah Silverman
were funny motherxxxxas here
We like to say whatsup guy, its the way we say hi
In February it is good to know a plow guy
It is shaped like a key, also where I like to ski
Tell by my belt buckle that I most definitely from…
NEW HAMPSHIRE
LAND WHERE THERES NO INCOME OR SALES TAX
THERE S NOTHING MUCH TO DO
HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
THESE TREES WHERE LEAF PEEPERS DRIVE TO
MAPLE SYRUP IS PRO-DUCED
THIS IS NEW HAMPSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE
Catch me up at Loudin, at the Speedway for the race yo
I made the flannel shirt more famous than a scarecrow
Don't drink and drive here, listen to what I say
even though we put our liquor stores right on the highway
You can drive Mount Washington
hike up Mount Monadnock
in 1787 we invented the alarm clock
Concord Coach, Dartmouth Coach, DowneasterAmtrak
On Squam Lake, Henry Fonda taught yall how to act
Derry’s Alan Shepard, first guy in a spaceship
Its a pity Christa McCaulliffe didn't make it
Didja hear about the ice storm in December of 08
I went without power for eleven straight days!
You can buy a handgun
You can buy some fireworks
Sandwich Fair, Rest in peace Daniel Webster
Americas Stonehenge, long live the dairy trade
Long live the old man
I’m from the Granite State that's
NEW HAMPSHIRE
PLACE WHERE STONYFIELD YOGURT IS MADE IN
AND COW TIPPINGS SO COOL
HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
DSL SERVICE IS BRAND NEW
YOU MIGHT EVEN SEE A MOOSE
HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep
That's some Robert Frost, hes our most famous poet
It was actually written up in Vermont but its associated with
The 603, where its a fact I
Don't know any Hispanics and just one black guy
You can go to Bike Week that's up in Laconia
In the winter months hit the notch in Franconia, home of
B-O-D-E our Olympic Ski Champion
He faced high pressure like my man Al Kaprielian
NEW HAMPSHIRE
IF YOU DONT WANT TO WEAR A HELMET
THERES NOTHIN THEY CAN DO
HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
MARKEYS VERSE BROWNS ON THE SEACOAST
TELL ME WHICH ONE WILL YOU CHOOSE
WHEN YOURE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE HAMPSHIRE HAMPSHIRE
NINTH STATE RATIFIED OUT OF ALL FIFTY
IT CAN GET COLD
BUT STILL THE AUTUMNS VERY PRETTY
WHEN THIS SONG MAKES ME RICH,
I’M A MOVE TO RYE
EVERYBODY PUMP YOUR FISTS AND YELL
LIVE FREE OR DIE! LIVE FREE OR DIE!
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
STATE WHERE TRIPLE H THE WRESTLER HAILS FROM
THAT GUY WOULD DESTROY YOU
IF YOU KNOCK NEW HAMPSHIRE
ITS JUST LIKE OLD HAMPSHIRE BUT NEW
WERE OUT OF JOKES TO DO
ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE
Starting Weight: 313.8
Last Week's Weight: 287.8
Current Weight: 291.2
Week reults: +3.4
Total Loss: -22.6
To be honest, I don't know what happened. I always hop on my scale at home, just before I walk out the door, so I can have a ball park figure. Now, when I hopped on, it was right about where I was last week. So to be honest, I was expecting a small gain, loss or to stay the same, but a THREE POUND GAIN!I just wasn't prepared for that. To say I was shocked, is an understatement. I mean I guess it could happen. My schedule was all f*ed up due to overtime at work and being sore for 2 days after my c25k session and Zumba in the same day, that probably wasn't the smartest move I could have made. I also wasn't tracking as well as I should have been, I probably either wasn't eating enough or eating too much (read: Easter Sunday).
So this week, I am going to track my foods/points. I also have my workout schedule for the rest of the week. I plan on c25k w1d2 session tomorrow at the gym, with maybe some weight work afterwards. Zumba Thursday night, and a horseback ride Friday afternoon. Rest day Saturday, and Sunday do c25k w1d3 session. That is the plan, hopefully I can stick with it.
Also my DBF and I entered into an agreement, between now and my birthday (June 23) we will have a weight loss competition, whoever has the highest percentage loss gets to pick the destination for a weekend getaway that the other (loser) must pay for and plan... mini-vacations motivate me (especially when I get time alone with the DBF) but money motivates me even more... Let's just say, I don't plan on paying. I think this is the kick in the ass that we both need.
At the meeting, Weight Watchers announced their Walk-It Challenge. Also included was their training plan, basically on June 6th they are encouraging their members to challenge themselves to walk in a 5K (either a WW event or one of their own). June 6th just happens to be the day of the Smuttynose 5K that I entered to be in. What are the odds? Even more motivation for me! This was meant to be! When said 5K is completed the WW member gets a charm to add to their 10% keychain... you know that keychain I DON'T have... boo. 31 pounds is my 10% goal and I am at 22. I am hoping to hit at least my 10% by my birthday. I already have 2 charms for my keychain... Now I want my 10% and my damn keychain. At the meeting we talked about how we need motivation, a freaking keychain is what is motivating me right now... lol.
What motivates you to loose weight? Obviously, to be healthier and feel better about yourself, but what else? Do you set mini-goals & rewards?
I thought this was fantastic! What a great Opening Day/Night! This was a fantastic way of kicking the night off. I don't watch much of baseball, but I am glad that I caught this!
The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in 1001 days
The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no abiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).
Starting Date: Friday January 1st, 2010 Ending Date: Friday September 28th, 2012
1 Spend a rainy day watching films in my PJ's
2 Try two new cookie recipes this Christmas
3 Attend the midnight premiere of a movie
4 Get married
5 Go skydiving.
6 Learn to knit
7 Organize my closet
8 lose 15 pounds
9 Go on a cruise
10 Go whitewater rafting
11 buy a house
12 See a Broadway show.
13 spend a day at the spa 14 Lose 5 pounds 15 Own an iPhone
16 Try a new (and possibly frightening) food
17 Watch two movies at a cinema in the same day. 18 Influence a person to make a day zero list(Go Nick and Tricia!)
19 go fly a kite
20 Pay off my credit cards
21 Have a housewarming party
22 Floss every night for a month
23 Tie a note to a balloon and let it go
24 Go sledding
25 Lose 10 Pounds
26 start a family
27 help a stranger
28 Have a sleepover party
29 Have a friend choose a complete outfit for me
30 Play a new board game
31 Travel by train
32 Make homemade bread
33 Go to a casino
34 Take at least 5 photos a day for a month
35 Eliminate non-fitting clothing from my wardrobe
36 Save $5000
37 Read 100 books (0/100)
38 Compose a new list of 101 things to do in 1001 days
39 For every task I do not complete, donate $1 to charity
40 Put aside $5 for every completed task
41 Go to a Patriots game
42 Drink nothing but water for 2 weeks
43 Watch the sunrise at the beach
44 Host a giveaway on my blog
45 Organize photos and get and stay caught up with my scrapbooking
46 Climb Mount Washington
47 Attend a hot yoga class
48 Do 100 situps for a month (0/30)
49 Ask for someone else's advice and take it
50 Give a stranger a compliment
51 Write down something positive about myself for 30 days straight 52 Have “date night” one night of the week for 1 month (4/4) 53 Work out faithfully 3x a week for 2 months
54 Take a trip to Las Vegas
55 No swearing for a day x12 (0/12)
56 Play a game of 18-hole golf
57 Put change in someone’s expired parking meter
58 Take the Cat ferry to Canada
59 Have a weekend getaway for SO and I
60 Start our own Christmas tradition
61 Get my HAM radio licenese
62 Participate in a 5K (run/walk) - Scheduled for 6/6/10!! Excited!
63 Make my own candles
64 Climb Cadillac Mountain
65 Learn at least 50 ASL signs .
66 Go one weekend "Unplugged" no phone/internet
67 Send/Give 100 cards “just because.” (2/100)
68 Leave SO a love note/note of encouragement/surprise email 1x a week for 2 months
69 Complete 3 – 1500 piece or more jigsaw puzzles (0/3)
70 Visit 5 new states not previously in (driving through doesn't count)
71 Participate in a 10K (run/walk)
72 help a friend in need
73 take a class (work related)
74 Have one day off per week for 1 month
75 Make SO breakfast in bed 76 Bring coffee in for the boys at work
77 hang pictures/art on walls
78 Buy flowers/edible arraingments for someone.
79 Be able to buy clothing in the regular women's section
80 Invest my money better
81 borrow books from the library; instead of buying them
82 get a makeover to include makeup! 83 Try a new recipe once a week for 1 month
84 Call one cousin per week until all Bridle Cousins have been spoken to
85 Host a girls night at my house (coming up at the end of this month!)
86 Host a couple's night
87 Prepare my will
88 Take a poledancing class
89 Travel to Nantucket / Martha's Vineyard
90 Visit my grandmother at least once a month for a year (0/12)
91 plan a couples camping trip 92 Play Bingo with friends
93 Host a transit party.
94 See an old friend once per month for one year (1/12) - Kaylynn!!
95 See Rocky Horror at midnight showing
96 Go and shoot a gun at a firing range
97 To get a physical each year
98 To see a UNH/UMaine Hockey Game
99 To kiss the Cat at UNH
100 To go to a Red Sox / Yankees game
101 To complete this list in less than 1001 days
Now looking at this over all, I think that I have a great positive energy with this list, and its really motivated me to look at all areas/aspects of my life and try to improve and be a better person. I love the concept of making these lists. A) I am a list type of girl and I get a thrill from crossing something off my list and B) I love that you can have items that take awhile to complete or can take just a moment.
Reflecting on the tasks I have completed. I love playing bingo with my friends. In fact Ben and I went last night, just by ourselves. We may be older now, but we still know how to have a good time on a Friday night! I was thrilled that I hit my mini weight loss goal of an iPhone. Since starting this list, I have only hit the 5 pound loss, but I am close to the 10 pounds. I have heard from both my brother (Nick) and one of my bestest friends (Tricia) that they have either completed or will start their own list. It is a great feeling to motivate someone else to create a list.
The date nights and new recipe challenges were tough! My schedule is wonky (those of you that know me, understand) so it makes it tough to plan date nights. But I am pleased to report that the task was happily completed. New recipes were tough, since I don't cook. But I am learning and can enjoy new tastes and new foods. Trying to make food at home to be healthier really does motivate me as well
I am really looking forward to my upcoming 5K race in June. I was lovingly convinced by Liz from Goddess in Progress to consider using the Couch to 5K training method (c25k) and I started Week 1 this week. Results: I am really not a runner... but I completed the first session, wasn't pretty by any stretch. But I am hoping to improve.
So I've completed 8 tasks which translates to $40 into my "Day Zero" savings account in order to comply with list item #40. Which I will do by the end of next week.
