Bieber Fever

ready for Valentine's Day?

top phrases used by middle school students these days

• Awww snap!
• Dude!
• You got a pencil?
• Shut up.
• Man, why you tryin' to roast?
• What up, dog?!
• What the world?!
• Those go hard.

It must be my age because I don't understand a few of these.  What common phrases are you tired of hearing people say?

winter blues

We've got the winter weather blues around here and we're in a part of the country that was NOT just pummeled with the most recent huge snowstorm.  We have had our fair share already this Winter though. Our schools have already used up all of the alloted make-up days for inclement weather that the county builds into the calendar and it's not even the middle of February yet.  I keep hearing references to the fact that we'll probably still be in school around the fourth of July.  Erhhhmm. OK, let's change the subject quickly before I start making myself sick on my stomach just at the thought of it.

This article in The Sun News talks about how the Today Show featured Myrtle Beach as the number one beach destination in the United States.  This page also talks about some of the new attractions that are coming to MB this summer.  [I can't wait to experience Pirates Voyage with Julianna sometime soon.]


You probably already know that we've got condominiums at Myrtle Beach that we rent.  One is a 2 bedroom/2 bath condo and one is a 3 bedroom/3 bath condominium. Both of them are in the oceanfront South Hampton building at Kingston Plantation.  You can check them out here and here.

We're just private homeowners that have other full-time real-life jobs and we depend on our rents from the condos to pay the mortgages on these properties.  If you are aching to go someplace warm and ready for a vacation then consider renting from us.  You won't be disappointed, I promise. You'll be glad to get away from the deep white snow to a place with white sandy stuff instead.

notes from Jules

Dear Mamaw,

Thank you for the stickers. Mama wouldn't let me put them on the car windows, but it was a fun surprise to get in the mail anyway.

Love,
Jules

inspiration

There's nothing wrong with stopping to smell the roses, as long as you keep moving along the path.

“It takes ten times longer to put yourself together as it does to fall apart.” ~Finnick, from Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.   - Mark Twain, American writer

A bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn.


The motivation to change must be greater than the desire to remain the same.

The problem isn't the problem but what we think about the problem is the problem.

Contentment is when a person thinks about yesterday without regret and tomorrow without fear.

You can make excuses or you can make progress. You can't make both.

Since the first of January I've lost 13 pounds. I've gone down one pant size.  I've decided to take pictures of myself every month in the same pair of pants for motivation. 

I've gone from no regular exercise at all in December to being able to run almost 2 miles straight. I'm slowly working my way up to 3 or 4 max.  I get up early three times a week to run and on Friday nights I do a little bit of Wii Fit.  I'm trying to search for other little opportunities for activity throughout the week, such as walking with the kids at the park, and I'm really looking forward to Spring.

I've had no soft drinks, no alcohol, no fast food.  When we eat out I consistently make healthy choices.  I record my weight daily and I journal all food eaten.  I plan my meals for the week each weekend and we try to only eat out two or three times a week. 

I can already tell huge differences in my self-confidence and mood.  This is huge inspiration for me.  I don't want to have to take anti-depressants anymore.  I don't want to diet anymore.  I don't want to feel sorry for myself anymore.  I want to be happy with who I've become.  I just want to be healthy and happy.  I read an article about contestants on The Biggest Loser in a magazine not too long ago and one of them was quoted as saying, "I want to like myself again."  Yeah, me too.

I know the path is long and the journey to keep it up will be difficult.  I still have about 25 pounds that I'd like to lose and I hope to reach my goal by the end of April.  I'd like to lose two more pant sizes and ideally I'd like to be able to run 4 miles straight for a decent workout.  We'll see.  For now I will just count January as a success.  I'll count it as my inspiration month.

Please share with me.  What inspires you?