Oh my word! My designers have been CRAZY busy this week! They kept me on my toes, but check out all of the yummies that release tomorrow at Sweet Shoppe Designs!

So do you like it? I won a giveaway at Tucker's Take Tennessee a week or two ago from Little Bitty Design Studio. Tracey rocked it. I said mod, gray & yellow & simple. This is what I got. It's like she read my mind. Isn't it fabulous? I love changing my blog up... it's kind of like spring cleaning. And I am so ready for spring. Like so ready.

And since I'm here, I might as well update you on my goal progression.

Be a healthier me.
I've lost a total of 7.5 pounds as of last Saturday. It's getting a million times easier to eat within my calorie range... actually it's hard- hard to get to my bottom range number!! I'm never that hungry anymore! I try to get the gym every night but Wednesday & Sunday. Last week was major fail, though- I skipped Wednesday through Sunday. It was such a busy week! I still managed to lose 3.5 pounds, though!

Be encouraging.
Big. Fat. Fail. This one is probably the trickiest goal of all for me. I'm not an encouraging person. That sounds really bad. But words are definitely NOT my love language. They may even be below physical touch, which is low. So I struggle to compliment & encourage people... probably because I hate it when people compliment & encourage me. I never know what to say. How bad is that? So I guess I need to make this a way bigger priority.

Live frugally.
Except for the birthday things I have purchased for Luke, I've been doing well. I still have $100 of my Christmas money, too... which I want to save for that one special thing. I don't know what that is yet, but I know it's out there. Somewhere.

Mmmm kay... what else? Oh right. Random ramblings.

Luke's 7th birthday is coming up. Gosh, seven? Really? Anyway, we're having his "friend" party at Splash Universe, an indoor water park about 30 minutes away. He is stoked. Things like this stress me out. I hate paying for spots that may or may not be filled by people who haven't RSVP'd. Fortunately, we over-invited by two. So all but one spot is filled. Whew! Oh and Luke wants rainbow cupcakes. I'll post pictures when they're done.

We ordered Dutch Maid cookies for Luke's school birthday celebration. They are ADORABLE. Little doggie faces. He had to get dog napkins to go along with them. He's celebrating at school on Tuesday, his actual birthday. That night we'll celebrate as a little family. We'll let him choose where we eat & then have a little cake of some kind. Or leftover rainbow cupcakes. And then he gets to open his presents, which I'm uber excited about.

He'll celebrate with his grandparents, great grandparents, cousins & aunt/uncle the following Sunday after church. He opted for Spongebob decor and a from-scratch Lemonade Layer Cake made by yours truly. I cannot wait for that cake.

We'll hopefully get to celebrate with his other grandparents in Ohio over Presidents' Day weekend. I'm still waiting for the Mister to see if he can take that Monday off. What company takes MLK, Jr. Day off but not Presidents' Day? So odd.

It's almost Friday!!!!

Well, today is Day One of the family weight-loss challenge. Woooooooo-doggy am I hungry today! Saturday is not a good day to start. If it were a weekday, at least I'd have school to distract me. But here I sit with my bag of baby carrots (heh, heh... the ingredients are actually listed on the outside of the bag. It says, "Ingredients: Carrots") & 3rd refill on my 24-oz water bottle. I think I'm going to float away.

So my goals... how'm I doin'?

Be a healthier me.
1. I weighed in today. I gained 15 of the 40 pounds I lost last year at this time. I'm glad I'm jumping back on the wagon right now. Better late than never, no?

2. As dinner cooks, I'm still a good 700 calories below my range. And dinner smells soooooooo good right now.

3. I went to the gym this morning. They got four new elliptical machines. They are fancy-schmancy. (Note to self: Find those headphones! That was a looooong 30 minutes without them!)

Be encouraging.
This one has been EXTREMELY hard for me lately. I try. I really do. But I feel like I'm on a team by myself this week. It was hard to be encouraging. Oh and I was sick.

Live frugally.
I didn't spend much money at all this week, except for groceries. And I spent a lot on groceries. It's expensive to eat healthy! That said, I didn't waste money. So that's good. Right?

So that's my goal update. In other news, we had a dumping of snow last night. I totally was not expecting it. Like at all. It's pretty, though, in all of its deepness. We probably got a foot here.

And now it's time to take my buffalo chicken sandwich and watch the Colts beat the Jets.