5 on Friday First Timer

Before I get to my first 5 on Friday.  I have good news...I lost 1.4 pounds this week.  I am still up about 17 pounds from my October low, but I feel like I am gaining momentum again. I am cautiously optimistic that this could be a sign that I am breaking through the miscarriage grief, holiday feeding frenzy and I can't do this attitude I am have been struggling with for the last couple of months.

I am excited to try something new on my blog today. I have enjoyed the 5 for Friday posts on all different types of blogs. Although this blog is essentially about my quest to lose my puppy (code for lose weight) I do include quite a few random things. I am convinced out health/fitness journeys can not be separated from all the other areas of our lives.

++ ONE ++

For the past week or so, the black birds have been flying over our area in droves.  Every day, I must see millions as my drive home from work seems to perfectly coincide with their flight path and timing. Seriously, I can drive a couple of miles in the opposite direction of their flight and they are still coming. It is crazy!

++ TWO ++

I know I should stop myself from saying this...but I just can't. Millie has been really good about not chewing up everything I own the past few weeks. I am starting to believe the dreaded puppy chewing stage might be coming to an end. We have always crated her when we leave the house. We have now started leaving her out when we will be gone for brief periods of time. She has been a perfect angel - as far as we can tell. Beware.  Don't try to break into this house. We have a big mooshy Rottweiler on the loose. Truth is I seriously wonder if she would even bother to get off the couch if there were an intruder.

++ THREE ++

A nearby town holds a gingerbread house contest every year and then the "houses" are displayed in the windows of downtown stores. Every time I see them I want to enter the next year, but then I forget until it is too late. Could this be the year? Could I really compete at this level?

++ FOUR ++

One of my favorite memories from this holiday season was the 1000 Piece Puzzle Off. My niece stayed with us for a couple of days and she loves puzzles as much as I do. We decided to have a competition to see who could put together a 1000 piece puzzle the fastest. Conveniently, my husband had bought me these puzzles for Christmas. It was on!! We spent hours chatting and puzzling.  In the end, my 12 year old niece smoked me by about 80 pieces. There will be a rematch....

++ FIVE ++

I ordered these adorable Ninja Turtle and pizza slice cookies from a local bakery. They make the cutest cookies. I dream of being able to work icing like this. We got them for a family going through one of the worst ordeals imaginable. Their 6 year old son (lover of Ninja Turtles) has been fighting liver cancer since last spring. He has undergone surgery and many rounds of chemo. His fight has been heartbreaking and his family inspirational.

UPDATE:
I wrote this post last night and was proofreading it this morning. I don't really want to change it, but a serious amendment is necessary. Sometime last evening while I was writing this post or my husband I were watching our show "number two" became null and void. I walked into the bedroom to get ready for bed and there was one of my Brooks Adrenaline shoes on the bed - chewed. The very same shoes I had worn earlier to take that ungrateful puppy for a walk. She picked it up in one room, took to her crate (as evidenced by lace pieces) then brought it to the bedroom. Yes, I know it is my fault for leaving them out. I honestly didn't think about it when I took them off...she had lulled me into a complete, and unfortunately false. sense of security. That puppy is supposed to be helping me get fit...not sabotaging my gear. I was too angry last night to examine the shoe closely, but I am hopeful that I might be able to salvage it (at least to put a few more miles on that pair). The inside of the tongue has the most damage and one of the eyes at the top has been chewed off. Unless, I can't get them laced well or that tongue damage rubs my foot when I walk, I will suck it up and wear them. Shoes are too expensive to replace of at the whim of a naughty puppy.  On a side note, why is it always my stuff Millie chews???

I am hoping to have a relaxing, yet productive weekend.  What are your plans?