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Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Good Intentions

Hello friends...when I last blogged in January, I said I was going to do my best to post more often this year...at least once or twice a month. Well, I posted once in January and have been trying to post for a couple weeks now and finally decided to just get it done before February is gone. Can you believe tomorrow is the last day of the month? 2018 is flying by!

I decided to share some things I have been up to so far this year. I never shared my 2018 Word but this year I chose...
Intentional
I have been trying to be more intentional in every aspect of my life. 
Keep scrolling and I will share.

At the beginning of January, I joined Weight Watchers. I have been needing/wanting to lose weight for years now and decided it was finally time to get down to business. Something I haven't shared on the blog is my choice to become a vegetarian last October. I won't go into detail but I will say it is a personal choice due to the inhumane treatment of animals raised for consumption. I have never been a meat lover so this was a pretty easy transition for me. Around December, I decided to switch to Pescatarian which means I added fish and seafood back into my diet. I was having a difficult time consuming enough protein and it was also very difficult to find something I wanted to eat when we dined out. I don't eat fish or seafood every day, usually 2-3 times per week. I also only purchase fresh seafood or wild caught frozen. I do not eat farm-raised fish. Anywho, in addition to this lifestyle change, I am now doing Weight Watchers Freestyle and absolutely love it. I eat so much more fruit and vegetables and have learned to make smarter choices with all foods the majority of the time. The great thing about WW is that nothing is excluded. I can eat anything as long as it fits into my points. I definitely eat the rainbow these days as you can see in the photo collage below. The bottom center photo is a meal I had at Ikea. They have veggie balls which are like meatballs but made with veggies. They are quite tasty and Joey even liked them. They also sell them in their market so I purchased a couple bags for the freezer. I am enjoying eating mostly whole foods. I eat very little processed food these days which is a really good thing.


I have also been intentional with my 2018 goals this year...one of which is to read the bible this year. So far...so good. I am right on track. Another goal was to rise earlier each morning and have time to do this before work and also just have more time in general so I don;t have to rush. I am doing great with that goal as well.


I have been enjoying bringing some live plants into my home. I have started with succulents and an air plant in my kitchen window. I bought a large plant to hang which I will share soon. I am ordering a macrame plant hanger for it before I share.


I try really hard to live a hygge lifestyle...see below. I have always lived this way but didn't realize there was a name for it until a year or so ago. 


I replaced my glass desktop with this one from Ikea...I love the top part with the drawers! I have already rearranged things since I took this photo. :)


Speaking of Ikea, I bought these lanterns the day I bought the desktop and Joey hung them for me. I love how this wall turned out. We still have to hide the cords, but I love it.


And my candles with timers give my room a very hygge feel in the evenings. 


I have spent time with my furn babies. Rooster is such a lover. He needs snuggle time every day. 


I have been very intentional with my planning each week. I set goals and check them off. I make lists of things that need to get done and try my best to get them all done. I use my planner to plan...imagine that!


I have been walking a lot over the last few weeks. I usually walk with a teacher friend who is also doing WW and we walk between 2.5 and 4 miles as many days as we can each week. 


We walk the trail near work. It goes over the Suwannee River. This is the old train trestle over the river. It;s a beautiful place to walk!


I walk from home occasionally. Rooster likes to drag me along...lol!


I have been more intentional in spending quality time with family and friends. This is my friend Heather's fire bowl that we enjoyed sitting around a couple times lately. By the way...for those of you who prayed for Heather (she's the one who had stage 4 cancer) she is doing great and is cancer free. I pray she stays cancer free forever!


I celebrated Valentine's Day with my firsties and made them these crayon hearts. They loved them!


I went down a size and haven;t been in this size in nearly 30 years! I was over the moon excited about this. I have lost 19 pounds so far and feel so much better overall.


Joey and I went to the beach for a quick little getaway. We are trying to do something different each month. Last month it was the trip to Ikea, Not sure what we will do in March. We went to Saint Augustine and spent the night in Crescent Beach. It was such a great weekend.


Excuse the grey streak in my hair...I really need to color it again. :)


We had such a great time together. We did a lot of walking. I was thrilled to find this beauty. It came home with me. 


I enjoyed some reading time while listening to the wind and the waves crashing. I have been trying to be more intentional in reading for pleasure. This is something I used to do more of. 


I have started visiting thrift stores again...I'll explain why in a few minutes, but in doing so, I found a few baskets to add to me basket wall. This is my latest decorating project. I am tweaking me living room and will share when I finish it. I am adding a little boho flair to it....or my idea of boho anyway. 


I have been intentional in enjoying my porch. I love to sit on it and even eat out there occasionally. Speaking of eating...this is a favorite of mine...avocado toast. I like it different ways...with salsa...pesto...tomato and onion, you get the idea. It's so yummy!


Sadie and Rooster like eating on the porch too. Of course, they like eating anywhere...anytime...anything. LOL!


And I saved the most exciting news for last. I know many of you have already seen this on Instagram, but for those who haven't, Miranda is engaged! Slade proposed to her a couple weeks ago. They had tickets to go see Phantom of the Opera (which is one of her favorite things) and he proposed before the show. She's on Cloud 9 and I am so excited for them both. Isn't her ring beautiful...it's rose gold, another one of her favorites.


This brings me to the reason I am hitting up the thrift stores again. We are using mismatched china and glassware for her wedding reception so I am on the hunt. I already have quite a bit but will be collecting over the next several months. She wants some boho flair in her wedding and reception and I am excited to bring her vision to life. 

We want to do something similar to this with the glassware. 


And, that my friends is the end. I am sorry this turned out to be a long, rambly post. If you made it to the end, thank you so much. I have enjoyed catching up and letting you know what has been happening with me lately. I hope you are having a lovely week. Hopefully I will be back soon...I am trying to be more intentional with blogging too. 

Until next time.....

11 comments:

  1. Hi Vicky, Wow! What an exciting post . . . first and foremost congratulations to Miranda and her sweetheart. She looks so happy in that photo. Now, congratulations to you, so many life changes and all for a better and healthier life. Nineteen pounds, Bravo!!! I am so proud of you. You are an inspiration.
    I like that word "Intentional" it makes you think twice before doing something or even saying something. How many bad choices would we prevent if we just thought a little bit more about what we were intending on doing. It's an eye opener.
    God bless you sweet friend.
    Connie :)

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  2. Vicky,
    Yay for you! I'm also exercising and working on my diet. It's quite the challenge but I'm up for it. Everything looks so good - your plank wall, your basket wall - beautiful! And Miranda's news is wonderful! It's such an exciting time. Enjoy every single minute, it goes by quickly! Have a wonderful rest of the week. It is good to hear from you!
    Hugs, Cecilia

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  3. Wow! You go girl! Nineteen pounds is a fabulous amount to lose and you look great. I did WW about 11 years ago (the old way!) and I still mentally count points every day. Congratulations to Miranda on her engagement. What fun to be planning a wedding. I love the idea of the mismatched glassware. You had me till the end....I love a good catch up chat.

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  4. As Ann Marie said, I love a good catch up chat too :).

    So much of what you wrote could have been written by me too...except the part about WW. I actually have been thinking about doing them again. My problem is it never sticks, but I'm so curious to know about their new program. Congrats to you for losing 19 lbs! That's quite an accomplishment and you look amazing!!

    You've got an exciting time ahead planning the wedding Vicky, and it will go fast, but the memories will stay with you forever.

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  5. Congratulations on your weight loss and overall life changes which are all for the better. You look great, Vicky! 19 pounds is a lot...don't disappear on us :) I'm happy to hear Heather is cancer free, I was one of those who prayed for her and I'll pray that she stays cancer free. Last but not least, congratulations to Miranda. She and Slade look so happy. Thank you for this happy and uplifting post, I needed it this morning.

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  6. I am so happy for your weight loss. It's something I really need to do for myself. I've given thought to doing a more vegetarian diet but it is hard with my Mom still cooking for us. It's important to her to cook dinner each day so until she isn't able I'll just do what I can. Thrilled for Miranda and Slade, they are such a great couple. The wedding will be so much fun and mismatched china and glassware is fabulous! Hugs to you and so happy to hear Heather is cancer free.


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  7. Hey, congratulations on the weight loss, you look great! I love your boho basket wall (of course) and can't wait to see the wedding details!

    Tania

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  8. You go girl!!! Dang, you got a lot going on. Blogging seems to be getting harder to do these days. And I'm so glad I follow along with you on IG. So much easier to do in my opinion. ;)

    You look great Vicky! Congrats on losing the weight! And yes...your food is very colorful! Eating whole foods with lots of protein is so much better for us. Keep up the good work!

    I am so excited for Miranda!! What fun its gonna be to find glassware for the wedding! Yay!! Looking forward to reading about all the wedding planning and such!

    Love the lanterns and the basket wall! Very nice!!

    Have a great weekend!

    Hugs, Amy

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  9. Sweet friend, what a blessing to see your post! I so enjoyed catching up with you.

    Congratulations to Miranda! Oh, what an exciting time for all of you {{smiles}} She looks lovely and my, what a pretty ring! I wish her and her fiance all the best.

    You, my friend, LOOK AMAZING! You have always looked amazing, but you seem to have a happy, healthy glow about you. Keep up the great work, dear one.

    Please know that I think of you often. Enjoy your weekend! Love and hugs!

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  10. Hey sweet friend . . . Happy Easter!
    I miss you.
    Connie :)

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  11. Hello again, Vicky...
    I'm playing catch up this morning! I've got a cup of hot coffee in hand and am enjoying reading your posts and looking at your pictures from the beginning of the year... First off...congratulations to Miranda and her fiance! Oh, how exciting! What a wonderful time of life! I hope the wedding planning is going well! And well done to you on deciding to change your way of eating and be more intentional about exercise...I'm sure you really feel fantastic...you look it too! {{Smiles}}
    I've missed stopping in for a visit with you. Goodness, what a year it has been so far with more changes on the horizon... Thinking of you, Vicky! Sending ever so much love your way!

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Thank you so very much for taking time to leave such kind words for me. Your sweet comments make my heart smile!
I always reply to comments by e-mail, so please make sure you are not a no-reply commenter! Blessings!

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