Friday, January 16, 2015

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.

THE GOOD LIFE BLOG


++ 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?



13 comments:

  1. My puppy is 2.5 and she is STILL not out of the puppy chewing phase! Every once in a while she grabs my things, but she doesn't munch long. It's an anxiety thing I think? Also, she probably loves you the most, so that's why she eats your stuff. Does that make you feel better? :)

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    1. Oh no! Don't tell me that. She doesn't seem to be an anxious dog, but who knows what is going on in those furry heads. I could do with a little less love then :)

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  2. I am so glad I came across your blog through the Five on Friday linkup... I have such a love for animals! And your pup is oh so adorable!

    Justine
    www.lifeasabaltimoregirl.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you for stopping by. Millie is lucky she is cute, for sure!

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  3. Oh Millie! Silly girl! (And sorry about the shoe!) Ugh.
    On a side note, you should TOTALLY do the gingerbread house thing. You bake such lovely cookies and other sweets, I can't imagine that you would even have any doubt that you could kick booty with the gingerbread house!

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    1. Aww thanks. I have an idea for a gingerbread house, but I fear it looks better in my head than it will in actuality.

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  4. Dogs can be such a-holes. It's like really??? Millie is lucky she is so cute! One thing some of my hound owner friends do is mix peanut butter, ground apples/carrots and a bit of water or yogurt into a thick paste, fill a Kong with it then freeze it. Right before they leave the house they give it to their dog, and it keeps them occupied for awhile. Maybe that would satisfy the need to chew?

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    1. Yes, Millie is very lucky!! She has several toys she likes to chew...and she does love peanut butter. I guess we are going to have to keep working on it cause she is not going anywhere.

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  5. A fellow rottie- owner!! I have 2 (and a half- he's a mix). I often realize, when I get home and half way through the house, to 3 sleepy, yawning dogs, that they may or may not wake up if someone were to break in. Unless I'm home by myself. Then they hear everything and are stuck at my side! -Dorrie @ Bear Den Plantation

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    1. Millie can bark at every shadow when we are home. I suppose she knows it is us long before we come through the door so why strain herself? Crazy pups!

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  6. So sorry about the sneaker...Ugh, it just had to be the Brooks?? Oh, Millie...you have expensive taste! Love that you are feeling like you are getting back on track. It's so hard sometimes!! Great 5 on Friday post. I started doing them too... you are good about posting, Me? not so much. I figure if I at least TRY to do a 5 on Friday, I have a plan for at least once a week!

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  7. That is great that you got time with your niece and congrats on the loss. The cookies look so yummy.

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  8. It's funnier reading this after meeting the chew monster! We had the same problem though. Orion would only chew my stuff. It was so frustrating! So glad we got to walk over the weekend and well done on the loss!!

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