30 Week Picture Challenge - Week 17

A picture of something that has made an impact on your life recently

lol I know this is technically clipart, but it was pretty :-)

There's has been a lot of talk about losing weight in my family and even at work.  It seems I'm the only person not on some strange diet.  By no means do I think I am fat, or ugly, or even overweight.  Ok I am overweight but I can proudly say I'm proportioned pretty good.  But I've heard a lot of girls at work who are apart of this Weight Watchers program and have lost a lot of weight and continue to either lose the pounds or maintain the new weight they've reached.

I really got to thinking about myself and my futile attempts at being more healthy and losing weight/shaping up.  It doesn't help I thought about all this over a nacho cheese gordita and tacos.  But a few of my coworkers and I were thinking about joining and talked over all the different options of the program.  It was really just talk at the time because no one knew how to get started or even where to go. 

Then my employer popped up with a new promotion package they have partnered with Weight Watchers and is offering the 17 week weight loss course at a discount with employee program perks.

I really didn't have any excuses anymore.  A great deal had popped up in front of me and was offering me the chance to get my life back in order (food wise that is).  So myself and several of my coworkers have signed up and will start attending meetings in June.  I'm kind of excited, but also a little scared.  It's made me look at myself now and really think about what I really want from it.

I don't want to be 100 pounds.  I'm 154 at 5' 2" right now, which makes me think I can't go much further without going into the anorexic zone.  Frankly, if I could drop one pants size I would be as happy as a clam.  So now I'm re-evaluating what size I really want to be (realistically) and what I have to do to get there.  I'm not going to kill myself to get there because it will not be the end of the world if I don't reach it, but I can at least start walking that way. 

I am, however, totally scared of losing my boobs.  I was a B cup all through my teenage years and it wasn't until my early 20s did I finally hit my spurt and grew into a lovely C cup (and with the help of a push up bra).  Now I know if I lose the weight, the boobs will be the first thing to go :-(

So technically Weight Watchers has not changed my life yet, but it has impacted my life right now in that the opportunity has been brought to me and I am starting to rethink my own health and, sadly, imortality.  By the end of this Picture Challenge I can make an updated post as to how it went.

30 Week Picture Challenege - Week 16

A picture of someone who inspires you

Wow.  This picture was taken the day of my wedding.  Why does she look so unhappy?

Ok this one took a long time to figure out.  I can't really describe who 'inspires' me or who I can admire through life.  But I think i may have worked out something for this week...

One person in my life that inspires me is my Aunt Kristy.  Often teased as 'the Amazon' because she is a strong, hard working woman, who seems to fear nothing.  As a child she scared the crap out of me.  She was tough and firm when we were in trouble but was there to help when I got a splinter from the playing in the yard.  She had rules in the house and if you broke them, you were in trouble.  Big trouble.

She was/is a hard worker in whatever she does.  She sewed many of mine and my cousins' clothes.  She worked while putting herself through nursing school (she got her first test when she had to bandage up my chin that I busted sliding down her hallway).  When she wasn't working she was painting/crafting items to sell on the side.  Her hallways and living room were always filled with painted ceramics and crafted dolls ready to go out.

This is probably where I got my start in painting.  She started teaching me how to paint ceramics and often had extra pieces I could paint and take home with me.  Although I got some of my first sewing lessons in her house, it wasn't until years later that I got to expand them.

I admire my aunt because of the fact that she wasn't afraid to work and because she wasn't afraid to discipline.  We did not dare act the way some of these dumb ass kids do these days.  We didn't dare cross that line.  Even today she works full time and then finds time to continue to craft and run her own business.  Some say she's tough and we think she may have gone a little crazy, but I admire that.

I do not have any children of my own but I have several nieces and nephews.  When the oldest was born I swore I would be one of the best aunts ever, because I would be like her.  While some say that as a scary thought, I knew it meant I wouldn't take any crap off of anyone.  And the first time one of the children spit in my face, they wouldn't be coddled for 'expressing themselves' but would have their asses beat for showing such disrespect.

Go Aunt Kristy.

30 Week Picture Challenge - Week 15

A picture of something you want to do before you die

I know I've been behind.  Being sick in May is totally throwing me off course...ugh.

As corny as it sounds, I want to make a sizable charitable contribution/donation before I die.  Right now I love doing things such as the local Salvation Army Angel Trees at Christmas or finding people on Craigslist that need something I can give (and no your son doesn't NEED that Xbox lady...)

But I want to do something big....and meaningful.  I feel kind of like a nobody when I turn in my items to the Salvation Army or meet up with a lady to drop off some Christmas items for her kids.  They say thank you and give me a smile, and then it's over.  I even followed up with a lady after Christmas through email to see how her kids liked everything and if they had a good Christmas.  She acted like it was a pain to reply or that it was no big deal.

I want to contribute to something that will let me help others while in return (selfishly) making myself feel great.  A genuine thank you would be nice, instead of judging the meager offerings I do have.  No I couldn't buy the kid a new bike but he did get clothes and some legos.  No she didn't get a new stereo but she did get some new shoes and an art kit.  Sorry?

My all time dream when I was younger (and still think about today) was to have desktop or even laptop computers donated to a hospital floor I once was a patient on in Dallas.  This floor is mainly isolation units, meaning children do not get to leave their rooms for any reason during or after treatment.  Sure they have a phone and TV, but what else is a kid to do?  My mom stayed with me and had brought our home computer (which was ancient even for its time), hooked it up and got it online.  We could email and IM  friends (this was before MySpace, Facebook or Twitter), I could play games online, shop online and even watch movies or listen to music.  But that privilege was only for me since no other patients had one.  My dream was to have enough money and resources to have a computer donated to every room for every patient to use during their stay there.  I wanted these kids to have some of the same 'online' advantages I had and not feel like a prisoner in their own room....forced to stare at the walls and the stupid exercise bike in the corner.

Of course, technology has changed and my guess is this isn't really needed anymore...which kind of kills the dream anyway. 

My current project (if I can ever get my butt moving) is a blanket campaign I'm code naming "From the Ashes" (I won't go into details about the name since I have a huge paranoia about someone stealing my ideas before I get to put them into play!).  When I was a patient the previous mentioned hospital, a group of ladies created several throw blankets by hand and donated them to the pediatric floor.  I remember the social worker coming around with several blankets in her hand and told me I could pick one.  I got to go through all of the blankets at my own pace and pick the one I wanted.  I remember it was a small, throw sized blanket with the Looney Tunes on it.

Anyways, if you visit TylerRoseCreations.etsy.com you can see I am a 'blanket artist' and art hobbyist.  I decided I wanted to do that too.  So I did some research and thought over what I would need to do.  I made lists and charts and plotted out different ideas for boys and girls of different ages.  I love going to the fabric store to scour different prints and possibilities, but my finances have forced me to put this project on the back burner for now.  I am proud to say I managed to buy 15 front pieces so far, but my all time goal is to make 30 blankets in all to donate, at least the first time.  I've bought for boys and girls and even look for gender-neutral prints and patterns.  I'm pretty anxious to get this project under way and am even a little giddy about taking them to the hospital when I'm done.

So check back with me at Christmas and see how that one is going ;-)

Anyways, I digress.  One day I'll make a difference.  I'll help someone and make a difference in their life and mine.  Maybe I'll get a second look at life and find ways to better people other than myself.  Perhaps I can look back on those kids who are in the shoes I once wore and say "I know" and give them a glimpse at a future.  That sounds like too much, doesn't it?

30 Week Picture Challenge - Week 14

A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

Besides my family, I couldn't imagine my life without my husband Jeremy.

I met Jeremy in high school and shortly after I graduated we moved in together.  After that I built my life around him.  I woke up - he was there.  I went to bed and he was there (most of the time).  I went to work he told me good bye.  I came home and he was there.  I needed something - he would get it.  If I was happy - he was happy (sort of).  If I was upset - he was too.

You get the picture.

I base my life on mine and Jeremy's actions.  I ask his opinions on most of my decisions and include him in everything I do.  I can't imagine waking up one day and rolling over to find the other side of the bed not slept in.  What if he wasn't there when I packed my lunch in the morning?  What if he wasn't there when I wanted to text about my day?  What if he wasn't there while I laid in bed and watched Beavis and Butthead?

I used to have dreams where he left me for good or even died and I would wander around aimlessly because I had no idea what to do next.  I always fear my dreams would become real life if I ever did lose him.  What would I do with myself?  What would my days consist of?

I started crying just thinking about it so I will move on from there.  The final thought is that Jeremy is my rock.  He is my sanity, as well as my insanity sometimes.  My life would be empty without him.  I wouldn't have my other half and wouldn't get to feel the way he makes me feel every day for the rest of my life.  Yes my life would still have meaning and life would go on, but it would never be the same.  It would never feel the way it does now.

And that would be the real loss.

Don't be a Boob

Ok, as a cancer survivor, I am always up for new rallies and campaigns to promote cancer awareness.  Sometimes it's fun events.  Sometimes people hold tele-thons.  Sometimes people do things like car washes or sell candy bars.  You know...

But if I see one more campaign like "Save the Boobies", "Save the TA TAs", "I (heart) Boobies" or even "Feel your Boobs" - I swear I am going to scream.

I never thought women would think this kind of campaigning would raise awareness about breast cancer.  Seriously?  I read this article about breast cancer awarenss in Canada and thought I was going to lose my lunch. "A Nice Rack of Slogans" talks about the different campaigns and slogans that have been created to supposedly promote breast cancer awareness.  It even mentions a TV commercial that have woman in bikinis walking around showing off their boobs and then saying "If you like them then let's save them."

SAVE THEM FOR WHAT?  Save them for own health and wellness or save them so you can keep strutting around in that damn bikini and continuing to have men gawk at them.  I'd rather cut them off.

Campaigns with these dirty slogans are only making a mockery of the cause and create more negative media attention than positive.

Breast cancer awareness is good when used in the right sense.  The campaigns are supposed to promote prevention and self examinations and how to get treated if you do find out.  I could care less about "Saving my Ta Tas" if they were full of cancer. 

And don't get me started on some 12 year old who gets pissed off because she can't wear a "Save the Boobies" bracelet to school and has to get her teachers/parents/news crews involved.
First off - it's a school.  Everyone has rules.  Deal with it and get ready for real life
Secondly - you are not convincing me that she is wearing the bracelet to promote breast cancer awareness to her friends and classmates.  She's doing it to get a few giggles with her friends and show off to a bunch of guys.  And as soon as any authority pops in to shut it down, she claims it's for a good cause?

BAH!

You don't see people promoting testicular cancer with "Save the Balls" campaigns or "Check your Ass" slogans to raise awareness on colon cancer.  People will make excuses as to why this campaign is a good idea or give off the wall statistics as to how they may be working.  Don't get caught up in the hype.  Donate your money to actual cancer research instead of buying these retail trinkets whose head company only donates a small percentage of their profits.

Think with a brain.  Stop sexual-izing this awful disease and let's actually do something about it. 

Stop making it about saving boobs and make it more about saving lives.