Hopefully I don't throw up

On the executive vice presidents of my company.

I've been working on a presentation for months...and TODAY is doomsday. Two of my colleagues and I are going to give this presentation THIS MORNING to all of our top executives!!! I'm so nervous, I barely slept.

I feel like I'm going to be sick...

P.S. I've been tagged several times, and I PROMISE to get to those this week. :)

My muscles ACHE

Because yesterday afternoon, I decided to try the OnDemand version of The Biggest Loser Cardio Max.

In my own living room.

With Mr. Ruby.

With the blinds closed.

Needless to say, it worked me to the CORE! I don't know how those Biggest Losers keep up. I can barely move this morning. So, if any of you ever can't make it to the gym (or get snowed in for the 14th time in two months)...you should definitely try it!

P.S. Yes, that's right. You read correctly, Mr. Ruby and I did this little routine...together. :)

I know someone famous!

I am happy to spread the word about one of my dear friend's blogs. You have to check her out at Bob Loblaw's Job Blog - in fact, her blog was just FEATURED on MSNBC!!! It is probably one of the most hilarious things you will ever read - she talks all about her daily mis-happenings and encounters she endures as one of the many unemployed Americans. Seriously, CHECK IT OUT!!!

Take a good look at the gal on the left...she's going to be famous! ;)

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Oh, and I was just tagged by the beautiful Jules at Chic & Pink..stop by her fabulous blog and say hello. :)

Here are the rules:
1. Grab the nearest book
2. Open to page 56
3. Find the Fifth Sentence
4. Post the text of the next 2 to 5 sentences
5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual book. Pick the CLOSEST!

"He is good benevolently, tenderly bearing with our waywardness, striving with our rebellious wills, quickening us from our death in sin, and then training us for heaven as a loving father trains his children."

This excerpt is from "Spurgeon's Evening by Evening" daily devotional. Mr. Ruby and I have been trying to read a devotional every morning and evening every day! It's been good for our marriage and souls. :)

*P.S. I have about 5 books sitting next to me. This was the one sitting on top of the stack.

But, I'm actually getting ready to start "Eclipse"...the THIRD from the Twilight serious...I may be MIA for about a day since I tend to get completely caught up and remove myself from life in order to finish this series.

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Head on over IMMEDIATELY to Indefinitely Definite for a FUN sweetheart giveaway!!! Her blog is so adorable. :)

Old Friends & New Shoes is also hosting a fabulous JUICY COUTURE giveaway. Go check out her fun blog!!!

Brrr

I am freezing. And when I say freezing, I mean that I seriously think at any point my fingers or toes may fall off due to frostbite. I don't even mind cold weather. I really don't. But this is absurd. It is FREEZING out. And, there has been massive amounts of snow on the ground for about a month and half now with NO signs of it ever melting. Enough is enough. I'm sick of winter...and it just begun.

So, I decided to think of the cold-weather positives...

Beautiful scenic snow...(ok, so the snow around me is actually slushy and gray, but it's a nice thought, right?)

The opportunity to USE a beautiful fireplace. (Even though Mr. Ruby and I don't have one...again, it's a nice thought)

The excuse to drink unimaginable amounts of HOT COCOA

Skiing!!! We're going on a ski trip in February - can't WAIT!

Ski Lodges - I love nothing more than hanging out at a good ole' ski lodge after a long day of cuttin' the slopes

HOT TUBS - This seriously makes me want to go buy one this instant...oh wait. Then that means I have to wear a bathing suit.

Dreaming of SUMMER!!! Currently dreaming of:

Weiner Wednesday

It's that time again!

Time for Weiner Wednesday. I can hardly restrain myself from getting yet another mini dachshund after looking at the following cuties. I don't think Mr. Ruby would like that too much. Enjoy!

This is exactly what my little Samson looked like as a young pup!

Gives meaning to the term "Weiner Dog" :)

This post is dedicated to The Reality of Happily Ever After. Check out her real-life weiner...cutest thing I've EVER seen!!!

The Biggest Winner

I know a lot of bloggers out there have been sharing their tremendous weight loss journeys. I don't really have a significant, life-changing, empowering, make you want to hit the gym kind of a story...however, I do want to share MY story.

Growing up, I danced...a lot. I never had that beautiful slender ballerina type body. I had curves. Not exactly what you want as a dancer. To this day, I'm still trying to embrace those curves. Oh, and I love food. And when I say love, I really mean that we have a love/hate relationship.

In college, I was lucky enough to not gain the infamous freshman 15. However, my weight did fluctuate about 5-7 lbs. all four years. I never dieted and I wasn't exactly what you would call a dedicated gym member.

Before my wedding, I didn't diet like most brides. Instead, I decided to start running. I am NOT a runner. In fact, I really can only run about a mile and a half. Nevertheless, I ran every day for a month before my wedding. And I was FIT!

This past summer, I decided to try Weight Watchers. I had heard such great things and honestly, I wanted to see if I had the willpower to eat better. I ended up losing 10 lbs. in a month. I felt great! And as everyone says...the great thing about WW is that it really IS a lifestyle change. I loved it. Well, eventually, I got back to my "normal" ways. And gained everything back. Oops.

This brings me to now.  I'm at a point where I've been very dedicated to the gym for a month. (I even bring clothes when I travel for work). And I've been living the WW lifestyle...without tracking the points. I simply know what my body needs. AND my department at work is hosting "The Biggest WINNER Challenge". I'm so excited. We weigh in every Monday...accountability is the KEY to success with this. That's what worked so well with WW. It makes you put down that extra cookie or the 2nd glass of wine because you know it's going to show up on the scale.

So, I'm going to share my progress every Monday.

I lost 4 pounds last week.

I was STOKED when I got off the scale this morning. And really, all I did was work out 4 days last week and tracked everything that went into my mouth. I've been using this FREE online weight loss journal. It's called FitDay and I highly recommend it!!!

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Thank you to Lipgloss Lounge and Queen Bee Swain for the wonderful award.

You really should check out their blogs. Both are absolutely FABULOUS and I read them daily!!!

Awareness

The U.S. State Department estimates that 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders annually. These victims, mostly women and children, are forced into prostitution, domestic servitude, or manual labor.  - Today's Christian Woman

Please take a moment to learn more about this tragedy as today is  National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

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On a lighter note, I reached a monumental moment of lame-ness today. I went to a movie...by myself. Mr. Ruby had a lot going on today, and the weather is pretty nasty out, thus I couldn't drag anyone along with me. So, I swallowed my pride and went alone.

I walked up to the counter and said "One for Twilight please". The girl gave me a funny look, but I went on to the snack counter to get myself a large Diet Pepsi. Then, I went into the theatre...alone...and saw several teen couples and groups of teenage girls. They all looked at me as if to say "Wow, this old hag lame-o actually came to see a teeny-bop love story...completely by herself."

Needless to say, I absolutely LOVED Twilight. I normally hate movies after I've read the books...but it was cast so perfectly and the story line followed the book pretty accurately. I loved it I loved it, and I can't wait until the second movie comes out!

Oh, and now I have a thing for vampires.