Hello Lovahs

1. Loving the season premiere of Dancing With The Stars! As a Cincinnati girl you know I gotta be rooting for Chad (Johnson) Ochocinco! I'm also scoping out the rest of the cast and picking my runners up.

2. Look What I Got:

Here's the foundation for our candy buffet- give or take a few containers. Now comes the hard part .... I'm having a heck of a time trying to figure out if we are going to fill with only shades of pink candy or pink candies and multi-colored candies that have pink in them as well. After some research (AKA googling pics of candy buffets) it seems that as long as the wedding colors are the dominant colors in the candy and the ribbons/accessories/etc. the over all effect is the color you want.

Thoughts?

3: Sample Bridesmaid Bouquets:

I'm pretty pleased with these!

4. Happy to report that I'm still shedding lbs. Although I have to admit that this past week was more of a struggle than any time prior. Not with food and what I was eating. It was more about being sick (I had major allergy issues last week and had almost NO voice for 3 days!) tired due to the time change, and major, MAJOR PMSy. My work outs have dwindled to almost nothing and though I'm still on plan and counting points- I've gotten much more fluent in doing it in my head and remembering so I'm not food journaling as I should be. All that stops today - work outs are resuming and sice its been over two months and my food journal is almost filled- I bought myself a cute new one to start over fresh today!
Last time I had an official weigh in - the total loss had me down another two lbs. bringing me to 27 lbs lost total- but another issue I'm having is being too curious about my weight and how it fluxuates so I've been weighing myself too frequently and feeling like I eb and flow too much- so another goal for this week is to stick to my Friday morn. weight in and use that as my official "number"!

Bored of my weight loss blabber?

Too bad!

5. While I'm at it I have comparison pictures for you! They aren't full body pics but definitely show how my face and upper body have changed in the past several months :

Both pictures are from St. Patrick's day and I'm showing this one because I'm wearing the same outfit in both...keep in mind that in the 2009 picture I was off all day and spent lots of time getting ready to hit the bar with Bennyboo- in the 2010 picture- it was the end of the day, I had worked all day, and had some MAJOR allergy issues- Ok enough splainin'....

2009


2010


Now while I actually like the first picture of myself better makeup, hair, and otherwise - the weight change in my face, shoulders, and even boobs- rock my socks off!

Ya know...just to toot my own horn!

6. Random Pictures of Late:










7. My boss is officially gone- one week until a new boss - fingers crossed she's a good one! Assistant due to have her baby any time now - I'm not even going to mention how stressful the changes at work are right now.

Moving on...

8. 3 months and 3 days until the wedding! 1 month and 1 day until the first Bridal Shower!

9. Four day week this week- was off today because I worked all weekend. My girl Lindsey is getting married on Fri. looking forward to her wedding:


(Me and Linds circa 2007- ugh look how tan I was!!! Jealous of myself!)

10. And last but not least (because its bed time and I could go on for days) I have a hair apt. on Saturday...hollah!

Ok...G'night!

Much Love!

Miss Amber Lane

Right Here Direct From Lunch...

Good afternoon ladies! Its a breezy, warm (ish), Wednesday here in Southern Ohio (well technically Northern Kentucky since I am at work) and I'm in a pretty fantastic mood today seeing how as I can breathe for the first time in several days and well, recently I've discovered Diet Cherry 7Up and that pretty much just fills my day with cherry bubbles and I love it! I'm sipping one right now as I finish up my lunch break.

Speaking of lunch- anyone ever had this particular Smart One?


Delicious! I've never been much of a lasagna eater but one day I thought this particular meal looked good so I snapped it up. Worth every one of the 6 points it contains. Cheesy, meaty, and delicious. Paired with a small salad you've got a very filling, satisfying lunch just as I did today!

I'm learning all about little tricks to help keep me on plan while I'm on my journey- and I've even created a few of my own.

I'm probably not the first person to have this break through- but this weekend I went out with some friends to a local bar. I knew that this particular bar probably wouldn't carry any diet mixers (other than diet coke- which in my opinion doesn't mix well with much) so I began thinking of how I could BYOM (Bring your own mixer) I thought about a bottle of cherry 7up or diet tonic but figured pulling one of those out in a bar would instantly make it appear as though I were brining in alcohol- so I thought some more...

And that's when it dawned on me! Crystal Lite To Go packets!

Duh!

So I stashed a few in my purse and when I got to the bar I ordered a shot of bubblegum vodka with a glass of ice water. I would drink a few sips out of the water, pour in the shot, and the Crystal Light and Voila! A much lower cal beverage and just 2 pts!

I used Cherry Limeaid as my flavor and it was yummy!

Here I am enjoying my treat!

Not only was it delish- it also ensured that I was drinking lots of water so my morning after was a piece of cake! Go Me!

The day after my weekend o' fun I came down with a sinus infection and had to leave work early on Monday and stay home yesterday. ) :

I am mostly healed now though and really enjoying the 6o + degree weather we are currently having!

Hope its been as nice in your necks of the woods! Well lunch is over so I better run!

And while I'm thinking of it - does anyone have any "guy-friendly" healthy recipes handy? Ben and I are kind of hitting a wall..anything would be helpful!

Much Love Always!

Miss Amber Lane

A Day In the Life of Miss Amber Lane

Trying to get back in the swing of blogging regularly and thought I would join back up with the ladies at Kelly's Korner to; "Show You My Life". This week is " A Typical Day in the Life"....

Since there is really no "typical" day with my job I thought I would share my day today - its about as close to typical as possible:

7am: Alarm clock went off, I hit the snooze and went back to sleep for about another 20 minutes or tried to...babies usually take this time to sneak into bed for morning snuggles making it about impossible for actual sleep

7:30: Popped in a dvd of Girls Next Door and switched on commentary as I set about my morning routine which includes: tooth brushing, face washing, make-uping, hair styling, dressing. When its all said and done I kiss Bennyboo good-bye (he's usually just beginning to pull himself out of bed) and head downstairs

8:15: Ate a banana and made my way out to the car.

8:25 Stopped for gas, realized I didn't have my glasses (and thus parked almost too far for the pump to reach) and called Ben to see if they were at home- they were- so I had to drive back to get them

8:40: Back on the road after retrieving glasses

(On most days I stop at Starbucks next but since I was already running behind- I skipped it today)

9:25: Pulled into work and started my work day: Signed resident's up for massages, hunted down a glass of iced tea, went to a morning meeting,returned a couple phone calls, led exercise, conducted trivia, popped popcorn.....

11:30 Quickly ate a left over piece of fish and what was left of plain mashed potatoes and green beans (about a tbs of each...so hungry the rest of the day ) : )

11:45 Left the building to shop at Target for bird food, party plates and napkins, electric shavers, and aromatherapy bath & body goodies.

12:30 Went to Kroger's to pick up (giant) pre-ordered cake for welcome party for new coordinator. While there picked up diet coke and Brides magazine for self.

1:00 Returned to work, helped clean up puke from a sick resident, discovered a toilet that needed to be plunged IMMEDIATELY, helped when a resident fell in the living room, provided transportation for a resident being discharged from hospital, etc. etc. etc.

3:00 set up a wine and cheese social, played a Glenn Miller CD, chit-chatted

4:00 Set up the refreshments for welcome party, left final instructions for party and evening activities

4:45 Left for home: called Bennyboo, called Mom

5:30 Arrived home, had a snack, watched Friends, ate dinner (whole wheat spaghetti with tomato sauce, cauliflower and fat free cottage cheese...don't ask- its yummy to me)

7:30 Watched Jeopardy

8:00 Boo and I got into bed to watch TV, play PSP (he) and Blog (me)

The end. Hmph. I'm tired. Mayhaps I should go to bed instead of just laying in it!

Happy weekend!

Much Love Always,

Miss Amber Lane

Weighing In

Continuing to lose.

But getting a little frustrated.

I've lost almost 25 lbs and seem to be continuing to lose steadily and healthily yet I'm not noticing as much a difference as my numbers seem they would indicate.

My mom used to tell me 10 lbs is a clothing size. I've come to realize that is bull crap. I've had to retire a couple pairs of pants because they are now too big to continue covering my behind- but for the most part my clothes are just fitting better- not getting too big.

AND...there is this one pair of jeans from back when that refuse to fit comfortably - well to be honest they never fit comfortably even when I bought them back in 2006- but I weigh less now than I did then- seems like they should be buttoning with ease, but they're not. Frustrating.

I just keep telling myself to be happy with the results and to not get impatient.

I will not get impatient, I will not get impatient.

Looking forward to this weekend= specifically a night out with friends on Saturday!

Hope everyone has a great, relaxing, fun weekend!

Much Love Always,

Miss Amber Lane

Pooped

Ladies...

I'm pooped.

Things around here are revving up to be nuts and I'm having a hard time finding the energy to deal with it all.

Mostly its my work life which I choose not to discuss in great detail via the bloggernets. In a nutshell though: in the next month my boss is leaving the company (and there is not yet a replacement for her), my assistant is going on maternity leave (and I am finding it IMPOSSIBLE to find a temp. replacement for her) another important team member is going on FMLA for a month to have surgery, and requirements for my position are increasing. Lovely.

All this a mere 4 months before my wedding. If my assistant leaves on her due date March 22nd and decides to take the full 12 weeks....she will be returning 3 days before my wedding. I am not even kind of sure how I am going to be able to stand my work life in the coming weeks.

Sigh.

Personal life - well my fitness goals are being achieved with flying colors. Tonight I blog to you from my bed- legs deliciously sore from all the exercise they've been getting. I am 13 lbs from reaching my initial 35lb goal - and I am psyched. I'm working really hard to not give in to my hectic work life and crash on the couch when I get home and so far my will power has been strong enough to sustain.

My eating habits have definitely changed. There are some dietary choices that I have made of late that I feel like are really boosting my efforts. I would like to write a post about these things soon but in short I've cut out regular milk and switched to soy- and I'm also substituting some meats for soy or veggie products as well. I have ditched all full fat dairy in favor of fat free and of course the cornerstone of Weight Watchers my fiber intake is out the yin yang- and without the gory details- that is DEFINITELY helping my digestive system!

As far as other aspects of my personal life- Ben is sick and acting like a giant baby. I will never understand how a woman can get sick and will never miss a beat- at home, at work, etc. but a man can get sick and you would think the world has come to an end. I got home today and there were crumpled tissues all around him on the couch and empty Sudafed wrappers and thermometer covers on the bathroom floor. When I discovered these things I blew up on him and he accused me of picking on him while he's sick - ugh! Lose-lose.

I'm just grumpy today I suppose. I think I'll lay back and finish watching 16 and Pregnant (guilty addiction for sure!) and go to sleep.

I know I haven't been around the blog circle lately and I apologize- I wish I could say that I will get better- but its probably only going to get worse until the wedding and just beyond. The only thing I can say is that I'm getting more familiar with the scheduled post feature- and I will try to begin using it soon!

Hope all is well with ya'll! I miss you all and will try to catch up on your lives very soon!

Much Love Always!

Miss Amber Lane

Holla!

A real post is soon to come!

Much Love Always!

Miss Amber Lane

Wordless Wednesday

Monkey that my mom gave me for Valentine's last week!





Roses sent by Bennyboo to my work yesterday for our 6 (and final- before marriage) dating anniversary!









Just sitting at work!
Thought I'd show you how "proFASHIONal" I look today!













Happy Hump Day!













(I may be back for Wedding Wednesday tonight... we shall see!)













Much Love Always!













Miss Amber Lane