What I Did on My Holiday ;)

No, I have not seen the David Tennant movie of a similar title.  I just thought I'd attempt to be clever. ;)

Hey everyone!  Long time, no...um...blog? :}  I hope you've all had a great couple of weeks while I've been away from the blogosphere.

You might wonder what I've been up to with all of my free time.  Well, I didn't get anything accomplished that I had planned on when I took the time off (for example, catching up on emails, getting started on Patreon, getting draft posts ready to publish).  But I did have time for some other fun things:

I decapitated an extra Disney Store Eugene doll for a future customization project. ;)

I discovered that Moose Toys Trash Packs are NOT as cute as Shopkins. :}

I hung out with Merida for a while.

I took a long walk with Hubby on the trails of one of our local parks. :)

The park was beautiful and green after some recent rain, and we had a great time together. 

I got to see Big Hero 6...

...twice! ;)  Once with Hubby, and once with Oldest Gal.  (We decided that Middle Gal and Little Gal should wait to see it until it came out on Blu-ray because it was a little intense for them.)  And yes, I 100% recommend it!! (Movie review coming soon!) :)

I enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the way to a dinner date with Hubby for his birthday. ;)

Speaking of which, the date was a delicious meal at Red Lobster. :)  Happy Birthday, Sweetie!!

I also attended a couple of Weight Watchers meetings (sorry for blurry Mermalade). ;)  And no, I didn't weigh in the morning after Red Lobster. ;)

And speaking of Weight Watchers, I was able to purchase one of the older versions of the ActiveLink (a device that keeps track of your activity throughout the day) for just $5, plus a $5 per month activation fee.  I'm just finishing up the evaluation stage, but it's already helped me up my activity level. :)

I took pictures of one of my story locations while it was decorated in beautiful Fall colors. :)

I ended my vacation last night with a "Bollywood Night" at a friend's house.  We had Indian food from a local restaurant and watched a Bollywood movie (none of the ones pictured above...we ended up watching "Jab We Met"). :)  

While I didn't get pictures, I also had the opportunity to have "Mommy Daughter Time" with each of my girls individually this past week.  It was really wonderful to spend one-on-one time with each of them and make some special memories. :)

I'd like to thank all of you for giving me this time to focus on my family and regroup a bit.  I feel refreshed and ready to get back into the blogging scene, and I have lots of fun posts planned for this month!  Stay tuned! :)

Weighty Issues and Other Updates

Whew!  I'm having second thoughts about the theory that my schedule would be more free once the girls were all in school. :}  I think my life actually just got crazier and busier instead.  At least, that's how it feels right now in these first few weeks.  I know that once I get used to the new schedule and establish my routine, things will be a bit easier.

I realized a while ago that I've been so busy with doll and toy reviews over the course of the summer that it's been ages since I've just had a heart-to-heart chat with all of you.  I also need to work on some doll photography other than review photos.  I've been missing my outdoor photo shoots.  Of course, we've had a problem with our sprinklers in the front yard, so the plants are rather dead right now. :{  I'm hoping to get some great pictures when the rainy season hits again and the lawn is a bit more attractive. ;)

At the beginning of the year, I made some changes to this blog and delved into the worlds of Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.  Now that I've had some time to get used to the updates and see how things work, I've made a few decisions.

First off, some of you might have noticed that my "Sponsors" tab is missing from the top of the blog.  My quest to find sponsors this year hasn't been overly successful, although I was able to review some products in exchange for a month of free advertising through passionfruit.com.  The problem is that the passionfruit.com site just updated and is no longer a free service.  And since I never actually made any money there, it didn't really make sense to pay for it.  For that reason, I decided to remove my sponsor option altogether for now.  I have few enough people interested in trading goods for advertising that I don't need a third party website keeping track of things for me anyway. ;)

This year I did enjoy the thrill of having a company contact me to review its product for the first time (my Zelf, Buttershy). :)  They just found me through Google, so I suppose if I keep at it and try to be patient, eventually more offers may come my way.

I realized something through all of this.  For a while, I was so focused on trying to make this blog a financial success that I lost sight of what made it so fun in the first place: my interaction with my followers and readers.  I've had several opportunities to reach out to some of you and be a listening ear when you needed one.  I've made many friends and acquaintances through this blog that I never would have met otherwise.  I've done my best to create a site where doll lovers and collectors of all ages can come together and feel welcome.  These are my goals.  Even if I never get another offer for reviewing free product, I will be content, because this blog is about meeting people and learning about dolls.  I don't want to lose sight of that and end up with a blog that is mercenary and impersonal (not saying that all sites that have a financial return are that way).  :}  It's possible that in the future I may try other ways to bring in some sort of financial profit, but for now I'm just going to leave things the way they are. :)

For the time being, I've also removed my "Wishlist" page from the top of the blog.  I'm trying to clear and condense some of my pages so I have room to add a few pages.  Those of you who are dying to know what I'm still interested in adding to my collection can access my wishlist board on Pinterest, "If Wishes Were Horses..." :)

I've also decided to just enjoy Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter to the best of my ability, getting the word out there about my blogs without stressing over particulars.  I could spend all day on the computer if I tried to do everything I was "supposed" to do to "properly" advertise and reach out.  The thing is, I already spend plenty of time here at my little computer desk.  I need to make sure it doesn't take over my life. :}  I would like to thank all of you who have liked or followed me on each of the sites.  I've enjoyed learning about each of them and getting to know even more people by branching out to these social media platforms.  Those of you who haven't stopped by to visit me on other sites can go directly to them by clicking the links on my left sidebar.

And now I suppose it's time to move on to another subject:  the elephant in the room...or perhaps I should say the elephant on the blog. ;)  Whatever the title, I'm referring to my non-existent updates on my weight-loss journey (or lack thereof).

I would love to say that the reason I haven't said anything for a long time is because I'm exactly where I want to be weight-wise and health-wise.  Of course, as you've probably guessed, that is not the case.  Let's just say I'm back to square one after some ups and downs over the past year.

It's hard for me to be honest about this particular struggle in my life.  I like to consider myself a strong, determined person who can accomplish something when I put my mind to it, and I am never more aware of my failings than when it comes to weight loss...or parenting. :}  In fact, I suppose I could broaden the spectrum and say that most areas involving self-control are those that I really find challenging.

While I'd rather just gloss over this and not address it, I feel it's an important thing to discuss.  I'm sure there are others out there going through similar struggles.  I also feel that with the rampant use of sites like Facebook and Twitter and the current cultural obsession with weight loss and healthy eating, it can be very easy to fall into obsessive, unhealthy behavior when it comes to our bodies.

How easy it is to move from a desire to be healthy and eat wisely to a desire to be a slender, attractive young woman that turns heads every time she walks by!  How quickly I find myself comparing my body to those of every other woman I see, especially when I'm feeling discouraged by my lack of progress with my weight.  You know what I mean.  "Well at least I'm not as big as she is" or "At least I have a better-proportioned figure than that gal".  How tempting it is to fall prey to the lie that life would be better if only I were skinnier (or richer, or smarter, or...well, you fill in the blank).  

The truth is, obsession of that kind is unhealthy, no matter what it is about.  Another truth is that if I'm not content as a size 16, round-faced woman with cellulite-covered thighs, I won't be content as a size 4 supermodel, either (I'm not foolish enough to attempt to ever be a size 4, by the way...not with my height and frame). ;)  Oh, sure, at first fitting into pretty much any dress on the rack and feeling slim and beautiful would be awesome...but eventually those same issues of obsession, of constantly looking to others for approval, or of comparing myself to others and finding flaws with them or with myself would all come creeping back.

True joy doesn't come from having a perfect body, a beautiful home, a handsome husband, unlimited funds, or even the fulfillment of a life-long dream.  The truest joy and contentment can only be found in Christ and His redemptive work on the cross.  Without that, everything is futile.  Only when I spend time communicating with Him through prayer and Bible reading, only when I rest in His promises and let Him live through me will I be truly content.  How quickly I lose sight of these simple truths!

This doesn't mean that I'm going to throw in the towel and forget the whole weight loss idea.  I don't like feeling out of control with my eating and sitting around like a bump on a log all day.  Those two things need to change.  But the other things that need to change are my expectations and my outlook.

First, I need to realize that reaching my goal weight is not going to solve all of life's problems.  If that's all I think about and work towards, I'm going to be a pretty miserable person to be around.  And if I can't learn to be content now, then there will always be something else that I'm unhappy with, no matter what size or shape I am.

Secondly, I need to stop looking to others for standards of beauty and acceptance.  I am "fearfully and wonderfully made", a unique creation, precious and loved by the Almighty Creator God.  I cannot expect to look like anyone in Hollywood, Bollywood, or Disney films (animated or otherwise).  I don't need to worry about how other people perceive me, and if, by God's grace, I'm a self-controlled person who is letting Christ shine through me, I will be attractive to others whether I'm a size 8 or a size 28.  And even if I'm not, what matters most is what God thinks of me, and in His Word I am told over and over again that I am special, loved, and one-of-a-kind.

When I was younger, I had this odd way of viewing my life, as if I were the star of my own movie.  I acted as though everyone around me was watching every word, facial expression, or decision I made.  Maybe that's why I so desperately craved approval from everyone around me.  They were my audience and my fellow actors and actresses, so their approval was vital.  I think I also had watched or read too many stories where a young ingenue was "discovered" and whisked away into stardom.  I was sure if I just sang in the right place at the right time, I would be discovered, too.  Weird, I know.  Artistic people can be like that. :}

I realized the other day that sometimes I still act like I'm starring in "The Life of Beast'sbelle".  (And I'll admit it...I'm still waiting for the day when everyone will suddenly break into spontaneous song and dance around me, like they always do in the musicals.  Sigh.) ;)  Which is completely ridiculous.  Since when was the storyline of the entire world all about me?  How silly and conceited is that?  And if I'm not the center of the universe, then why on earth does it matter what other people around me think, especially if they're people that don't even know me?

My husband thinks I'm beautiful, and he tells me that almost every day, especially when he knows I'm struggling with body issues.  My children look up to me (another important reason to adjust my perspective-I don't need to give them body issues of their own).  My friends and family love me and accept me no matter what size I am.  Since when did everything depend on appearances anyway?  I think God had something to say about that, didn't He?  "...God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart."  (I Samuel 16:7b)

Our society has gotten so concerned with healthy eating and weight loss that it is easy to look at yourself or someone else with a weight problem as a project instead of a person.  And come on, I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels judged when I decide to splurge one day and order french fries at the restaurant. ;)  I know that I definitely need to lighten up and get my thinking in line.

That being said, I do want to do my best to eat right, record what I eat, and get regular exercise.  This month I really want to work on incorporating that into the craziness that is my life.  I just want to make sure that my focus is on being healthy and taking control of my eating, not on being skinny. :}  I also want to make sure that weight loss doesn't become the only thing I think about.  There's so much more to life than spending every moment obsessing over how many almonds I've had or whether I've consumed too many carbs.

I know I've said similar stuff before.  Maybe you're thinking, "Hasn't she figured this out yet?"  I wish, believe me.  As painful as it is to have to keep reminding myself of the same things over and over again, my hope is that this honest look at some of my inner struggles might encourage someone else going through the same thing.  Keep your chin up.  You're not alone.

I may never be able to maintain my goal weight.  I may never excel at my Turbo Jam DVD.  I may never fit into my wedding dress again (not that I really need to...I've just always thought it would be a nice "Yay, I did it" kind of accomplishment).  I'm 99.9% sure I will never like broccoli.  But by God's grace, I hope that someday I will learn to be a woman who is self-controlled and content.

And with that, I think I'll head to bed.  It's been a long week and it's only Wednesday night. ;)  I have more doll-related fun to share with you in the following weeks (I think I have about 75 posts in various stages of completeness in draft...ridiculous, I know).

Until next time, this is Beast'sbelle, signing off! :)

Changes

This week has been a little rough.  Aside from the fact that fevers and coughing have spread through our house like wildfire and I'm beginning to feel a bit like Florence Nightingale, we're also going through a rough bit financially right now.  Call it a combination of unexpected expenses, a shortage of working hours for Hubby, and being behind on a bill or two...or whatever you like.  The point is, things have to change around here.

Hubby and I took a good look at our finances and realized in order to continue to send our girls to our local Christian school and to get out of debt as we'd like to, we need to make some sacrifices.  Even with those, it's possible that Hubby may have to take up a third job.  This is a scenario I'd love to avoid if at all possible, but we may not be able to get around it.

All this to say that there will be a few things I will have to do differently in the blogging world, too.

For one thing, there may be less reviews after a while.  For now, I still have several reviews that are in draft, so they won't disappear completely at first.  Once those run out, though, I'm going to have to focus more on doll photography and perhaps a thrift store haul every once in a while.  Spending on extras like dolls and doll accessories is going to have to be limited to the bare minimum until further notice.

I also may not be on Blogger quite as frequently after this week.  We've had a wonderful deal on our Internet for the last 2 years, but that deal is up, which means a $20 price increase per month.  We've made the decision to try going without Internet for a while, just until we can catch up a bit.

This doesn't mean I'll disappear completely.  I'll be able to check my Internet and do my blogging from my parents' house.  I just may not be able to respond to comments or emails as quickly as I usually do.  Please be patient with me as I figure all of this out and find my new routine.

Another change you might notice is that I'm going to have to downsize my collections a bit.  I've come to realize that I've been rather selfish in my collecting.  It's been all about me, when my first priority should be my family.  I've never blown $100 on a doll without telling anyone, but I have spent a little here and a little there until suddenly, I've spent $100 over the course of a month or two.  I've really got to work on this.

I know I had a post about this at the beginning of this year, and I was really good for a while before slipping back into the old habits again.  This time around, I hope to stick to it like I should.

In January, I will most likely be listing some of my dolls on eBay.  I'm hoping to start with some of them that I haven't bonded with as much at first.  And don't worry.  Tess, Maggie, Belle, Emma, and most of the regulars will be sticking around.  However, my LIV dolls, Moxie Teenz, and some of my Beauty and the Beast dolls will most likely be on the chopping block.  I will also most likely have to part with my Jess doll.  It makes the most sense...I haven't had a chance to develop her story yet, and she was an extra purchase that I didn't need.  I'd rather part with her than one of my established dolls.

Please pray for wisdom for Hubby and I as we try to cut out some extras and make some changes.  It's not going to be easy, but it needs to be done.  I think it could be a great opportunity to reexamine some of my priorities and get back to the basics for a while, too.  We have so much in this country that we really don't need.  Everything is temporal, and being too attached to our things only leads to heartache and emptiness.  (Says the super-mature woman who looked around the room at her dolls last night, trying to decide which ones to sell, and dissolved into tears at the thought.) :}  I'm not perfect by far, and I'm so thankful that the Lord is patient with me despite my flaws and my close attachment to little vinyl people and ponies. ;)

I'll keep you guys posted on our progress.

Oh, and speaking of progress, I suppose I should give a weight loss update as it's been a while.  I kind of hit a plateau for a while (and even gained a little bit back), so that's been a bit discouraging.  I did keep 10 pounds off, and that's something I can be proud of.  I know I can do better, though, and I'm going to continue doing my best to watch my portion sizes and control my sweet cravings.  Unfortunately, I never made goal weight (although at one point I was just 3 pounds away!), which means I'm still paying for Weight Watchers...and that's one of the extras we're cutting.  At least I have the knowledge and the tools to continue on by myself.  I've lost weight on my own with Weight Watchers before.  It won't be easy, but I suppose I can do it again. :)

Okay, I guess that's about all for now.  Sorry this post isn't as happy and uplifting as my posts normally are.  Just wanted to make you aware of some of the changes.

I don't foresee us having to continue on in such a drastic manner forever.  We just need to get down to the "bare necessities" (brownie points for a random Disney reference) for a while until we can get a little more financially stable.

Random Updates for September

It's that time again...time for me to get all of you up to speed on a few things. ;)

So for starters, I'm only 3 pounds away from my goal weight!! :D  It's been a long haul, with a lot of trial and error, but I'm finally to the point where I really see a difference (and don't cringe every time I see a picture of myself). ;)

I was hoping to reach goal weight this last week, but I actually went up .4 instead of losing.  That might or might not have something to do with the platter of popcorn shrimp and fries I shared with one of my daughters on Sunday...and the Sonic burger I had the night before weigh-in day. :}

Anyway, I'm getting there.  I think the most important thing I've learned over the past few months is to not beat myself up when I have a setback, but to shrug it off and move on.  I'm also allowing myself a few indulgences every once in a while, which is the thing I really love about Weight Watchers.  Using the points system, you can plan for any food you want (within reason, of course, and perhaps in smaller quantities than you would like, but still...). ;)

Once I've reached goal weight, I'd like to figure out a way to show you guys the difference without showing my face.  There are some bloggers who take a picture holding an open book in front of their face, so I might try something like that.  We'll see. ;)

I recently took a bit of a "media hiatus", taking a break from movies, TV, and YouTube (anyone else here end up on YouTube rabbit trails that end up lasting for hours?). :}  It was a good time to reevaluate my priorities and make sure I wasn't wasting all of my time.  One thing I'm trying to work on this month is setting aside time for my devotions every day.  With the early mornings and travel back and forth of school days, I'm finding that carving out that special time is getting harder and harder.  It's so important, though.  I see such a difference in my life and my children's lives when we're in the Word daily.  One of the reasons I took my hiatus was to help me make time for my Bible reading.  I haven't perfected it yet, but it's getting better. :}

In other news, my birthday is a week from Friday!  My mom's birthday is tomorrow, and my aunt's birthday is coming up in November.  To celebrate, the three of us are planning a weekend shopping trip sometime in mid-October.  A kid-free shopping trip, no less! :D  It's pretty likely that this trip will include a stop at a Disney Store, if not more than one!  As you can imagine, I'm super excited about that and already have a list of things I'd like to look for (thank you, eBay sales!!). :D

We actually came really close to going up to Seattle this past week, which would have included my first trip ever to an American Girl Place.  Unfortunately, even though we'd been planning it since mid-July, there were just a few too many things that came up for all three of us that made us unable to go.  Maybe next year! ;)  And for now, we have our smaller trip that will help make up for it. :)

Let's see, was there anything else?  Oh, I got over 1,000 words typed on my story this past week.  It's the first time I've made myself sit down and consciously work on it in a few months, so that was a big accomplishment. :)  I'm falling in love with my characters all over again, and can't wait to introduce them to the world.  It's hard to be patient.  I'd love to give all of you a detailed synopsis, but I know that it will be much sweeter to wait until the story is ripe and ready for everyone to see it. :)  I'll be sure to keep you posted on any updates.  My short-term goals are to get the first book's rough draft finished within the next few months and to attend a writer's conference this March (or April...I can't remember which!).  As always, I'm so thankful for my local writing group that has provided so much encouragement throughout this project.

I have several posts that I'm still trying to work through, so you should see a lot of reviews coming up.  Also, Emma wanted me to apologize for the fact that she has not gotten a post up yet on Jane Austen and Unicorns.  Although really, I should be the one apologizing.  Between my eBay sales and tearing the house apart to rearrange my daughters' rooms, Emma and the others haven't had much of a chance to get to the computer. ;)

I guess that's about all for now.  Thank you for all of the pageviews and followers.  It amazes me every time I come on here and see the numbers increasing.  I've really enjoyed all of the emails I've been getting, too.  You guys make my day! :D

Talk to all of you again soon. :)

More Random Updates

So, things have been a little crazy around here lately (what else is new?). ;)  It's funny...things were supposed to be slowing down for a while here so that I could get a few "real" posts in, but it just hasn't happened!

One thing that unexpectedly came up was a huge neighborhood-wide yard sale that will be held a week from today.  I hadn't planned on doing a yard sale again anytime soon because they're so much work, but since everyone else is in charge of the advertising, and I do happen to have a lot of stuff I want to get rid of, it seemed like a logical idea to take part.  As a result, I've been spending these past few days de-cluttering my house and getting boxes of stuff ready to price.

On the same day as the yard sale, I'll be singing for a wedding (thankfully some of my extended family members decided to be part of the yard sale too, so things will still run smoothly while I'm gone...plus I'll have babysitters for the girls!). :)  And then, the following Monday, the girls and I will be leaving for a 4 day trip.  We're heading to the Los Angeles area for a visit with friends.  

So, needless to say, the posting may be pretty scarce for a bit, aside from a few sale updates from the Disney Store or other places.  I'm planning on publishing my Media Musings posts within the next week, but I'm not sure if I'll have a chance to do any other posts before the yard sale and my trip.

Posts will most likely be a bit bleak on Jane Austen and Unicorns and Belle's Bulletins, too.  They have a difficult time posting when there are so many humans around. ;)  I'll see if I can get them to do at least a little update post to tide you guys over, though.

Anyway, I guess I just wanted to let all of you know so that you're not worried if the posts aren't as regular as usual for a while. :)

And in case you're wondering, I haven't forgotten about my 2 year Blogoversary in July. :)  Stay tuned for a fun celebration on Tuesday, July 24th!  I'm not sure exactly what's happening yet, but I've started doing some brainstorming.  Additional ideas are welcome. :)

Also, a quick weight-loss update, for the purpose of being completely open and honest (and to help all of you out there remember that I'm human). ;)  This last week, I was up .8 pounds at my weigh-in.  Honestly, I"m not surprised.  After spending a week with my family and pretty much not counting points at all (along with performing minimal exercise), I'm amazed it wasn't more of a gain.  I'm still keeping on, though.  I've come so far...I'm not about to give up now!  I'm trying to really watch what I eat this week so that my next weigh-in is an improvement. :)  Of course, I got a $25 gift card to Red Lobster from my Prayer Pal at church  to use for my anniversary (if you're reading this, thank you so much!!), so that could pose a bit of a challenge.  Hmm, grilled shrimp on a skewer with rice or popcorn shrimp, shrimp pasta, and shrimp scampi (with a side of garlic mashed potatoes, at least one cheddar bay biscuit, and a yummy Caesar salad).  Maybe I can eat vegetables for the rest of the week to make up for it! ;)  Seriously, I won't be totally bad, but I'll probably splurge a bit.  The key is planning ahead and making it doable with my points. :)

I guess that's about all for now.  So far, Hubby isn't working today (Yay!), so we might try to do something together once he wakes up.  He's had a huge week and I pretty much didn't see him unless I stayed up till 11 pm each night.

Talk to all of you again soonish! :)

On My Way Out of Town

Well, friends, I had hoped to get a few more posts up before this weekend, but time slipped away from me.  On Thursday the girls and I were able to enjoy an afternoon with my best friend since 6th grade (who'd come in from out of town) and her daughters, and then my mom watched my three girls so that I could have an old-fashioned sleepover with the same friend.  We watched romantic movies, ate pizza, and stayed up late talking.  It was such a blessing to be able to spend that time with her and feel like a teenager again. :)

Yesterday, I rode a couple hours out of town to take part in my hubby's niece's wedding rehearsal (I'm singing a duet with my brother-in-law for the wedding).  I got back at around 5:30 and have been packing ever since! :}

Today is the wedding, and then we'll be spending the week with Hubby's family.  I won't have Internet access during that time, so you won't be hearing from me for a while.  I still have comment moderation on, so  feel free to leave a comment or two, but don't be worried if your comment doesn't get published for a while.  I'm not snubbing you, I just can't get to a computer. ;)

In other news, I just realized the other day that it will be my 2 year Blogoversary for Never Grow Up in just a little over a month!!  I can't believe how quickly this second year of blogging has flown by! :)  I'm starting to think of some ideas that will make the celebration a special one, so stay tuned! ;)  Tess and Maggie's 2 year Blogoversary is coming up in August (or something like that), and Belle's 1 year Blogoversary will be in October, so it will be a year of celebrations.  I can't wait! :D

Oh, and in other news, some of you may have noticed on my weight tracker at the bottom of the blog that I've now lost 13.4 pounds.  Yay! :)  Just about 7 or 8 more pounds to go before I reach my goal weight!!  If I can keep things on track, I should be there by either August or September. :)  Thanks for all of your prayers and encouragement in this matter.  It has been an ongoing battle, but I am determined to keep on keeping on.  I already feel so much better and have so much more energy.  Now I just need to get back into my exercise routine. :}  I still have to constantly watch my attitude, though.  I don't ever want my weight or my looks to define my value or worth.  It's so difficult to avoid this trap, especially in a world that is so focused on appearances.  My worth is in Christ and His work through me, not the dress size I wear or the shade of my lipstick. ;)

Well, that's about all I have time for now.  I have lots of exciting posts in the works that I'll be able to share with you as soon as I have the time to get them polished up and posted. :)  Have a great weekend and a great following week, everyone! :)  

Random Updates

Hi all! :)  Hope you're having a wonderful Friday.  Just wanted to give you a few quick updates. :)

First off, I've officially lost over 10 pounds with Weight Watchers!! :D  For a while there, I was pretty discouraged with my lack of progress, but things seem to finally be clicking for me.  I still need to get in a little more exercise, but my eating habits are getting better.  Every little change helps.  Like our leader keeps reminding us, it's a process. :}

Like I've shared before, I have issues with wanting to be perfect in every area:  learning how to do something and then checking it off my mental list, never having to think about it again. ;)  Unfortunately, whether it's weight, exercise, my spiritual life, or even laundry and dishes, everything is a process.  By the Lord's grace, though, I'm learning to take things one day at a time...most of the time.  I'm still human, after all! ;)

I plan on posting my "Why I'm a Stay-at-Home Mom" post tomorrow.  I was thinking about doing it today, but I'm just flat running out of time.  That, and my children have been bouncing off the walls all morning.  If I tried to write it now, my answer would probably be:  "I have NO IDEA what prompted me to choose this INSANITY!!!"

Ahem.  Moving on. :}

For those of you who are fans of "Belle's Bulletins", you might be interested in knowing that the wedding post is up. :D  Tess and Maggie most likely won't have another post up until next week.

And speaking of next week, on either Thursday or Friday, my family and I will be taking our annual trip to the coast! :D  We're really excited to spend some time together and stick our toes in the sand.  We plan to stay there for just under a week.  As you can imagine, my blogging will most likely be non-existent during that time.  I will have access to a computer, but we'll be pretty busy with vacationing.  I promise to come back with lots of great doll beach pictures, though. :)

I guess that's about it for now.  Hope you all have a great Memorial Day weekend, remembering those who gave their lives for our freedom.  God bless America! :)

And now I'm off to get ready for a movie night/afternoon at Mimi's! :)  One of my friends from college is coming too.  We're going to watch a couple of Bollywood movies that my friend hasn't seen yet (heh heh...we've gotten her hooked!) and eat Indian cuisine from Mimi's favorite restaurant. :D  I'll be sure to tell you all about it later. :)

Until next time...  ;)

Hi!

Hey everyone!  Just a quick post to let you know that I'm still alive. :)  I've really been struggling with blogging as regularly as I'd like to these past few weeks.  I've already talked about how busy I am, so I won't bore you with more excuses. :}  I guess I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still around, even though I haven't been on as much.

I'm so excited to publish some of the "in-progress" posts that are waiting.  I hope to have some of them up by next week.  I've also let Belle and the 18 inchers know that they need to get posting on their blogs, too! ;)

Let's see, is there anything else? Oh, I guess I should do a quick weight loss progress update.  I'm pleased to announce that I've lost 4.6 pounds.  It's not as much as I would like, considering I've been in Weight Watchers for over a month, but it is still progress.  I'm averaging a loss of about .2 lbs a week (that's, uh, point 2, not 2...heh heh).  For those of you who are interested in keeping up with how I'm doing, I've added a Weight Loss tracker to my sidebar...it's the very last thing in the sidebar lineup.

It's easy for my perfectionist side to get frustrated with the slow speed of my weight loss, but I have to keep reminding myself that I'm still headed in the right direction.  The good news is that I haven't gained any weight since I started.

 The Lord has been really working on my attitude through all of this.  Honestly, I've done really well with Weight Watchers in the past, so I was a bit cocky when I started (inwardly, at least).  I had pretty high expectations that have NOT been met whatsoever.  Like my struggles with patience and parenting, though, I think the fact that my weight loss journey has not been easy this time around has given me more compassion for others who are in the same boat.  How easy it is to look down on others when something is easy for us!  Yet when we are struggling for something with all of our might, it's easier to relate to the needs and struggles that others are facing, and to give them the encouragement they need.

So, I'll just keep plugging along!  I'm already noticing a slight difference in the way my clothes fit, and I feel a lot more energetic and in control of my eating.  I'm (slowly) trying to learn to be a journey person instead of a destination person like I normally am! :}

I most likely won't be online much this weekend.  I'll be singing for a memorial service tomorrow afternoon, and tomorrow evening my great uncle and great aunt will be in town.  They live in Virginia, and I haven't seen them for about 5 years or so.  They'll be here for the whole weekend, so I'm really looking forward to spending some time with them. :)

Oh, and I can't remember if I've already shared this, but I'm also really looking forward to May.  Our church's "Ladies Spring Event" (basically a Mother-Daughter Tea) has a doll theme this year, and I'm the special speaker! :D  I'm so excited to share with all of the dear ladies in our congregation.  I'm planning on showing them some of the dolls from my collection and also using one of my dolls as a spiritual object lesson.  My oldest daughter gets to be in a skit, and my two oldest get to sing a song.  Oh, and I might be singing a couple of numbers if another lady from the church isn't able to be there! :}

The Ladies Spring Event is always such a blessing.  I can't wait to see what's planned for this year...besides the stuff I already know about! ;)  Pray for me, if you think of it.  I really want to share a clear message with the ladies and have a fun time while doing so. :)

I guess that's about all for now.  Thanks for being so patient, everyone!  I'll be in touch again soon.

Holding Out for Hayden/Holly/Hannah/Hazel and Other Random Thoughts

So, for those of you who don't know, I've officially fallen in love with My AG #55, one of the three My AG dolls recently released from American Girl.  I love her brown hair (which is pretty close to my own shade), her hazel eyes (also similar to mine), her cute freckles...just everything about her! :)  I think she'd be a great addition to the Hathaway sisters.  :D  I mean, she's got Emma's curls and a similar hair color, and Charlie's freckles, eye color, and hair length.  She's the perfect doll to tie the two of them together.  I think Piper would still work in the mix, too.  I may possibly make Piper a cousin to Emma and Charlie instead of a sister.  Piper would be a sister to my mom's Ruthie doll.  Or, I may just go for craziness and have 4 sisters!  I'm still deciding.

Thankfully (sort of), I have lots of time to decide.  After taking a hard look at our finances again, I've realized just how much I need to change things.  We have monthly school tuition payments starting in August for our 2 older girls, and even before that we're already needing to make some spending changes.

So, what does that mean exactly?  Well, for one thing, no new doll for me any time soon.  My birthday is coming up in September, so I'm thinking of asking for gift cards to American Girl if anyone needs present ideas.  I might put gift cards on my Christmas list, too.  My hope is that by sometime after Christmas, I'll be able to add #55 to my doll family. :)

Our financial situation also means that I won't be doing as many reviews of new products, since I'm going to need to cut back on my spending.  I'm going to try to stay away from eBay as much as possible (although I currently have some eBay bucks that I get to spend) :), and even thrift stores will have to be a no-no for a while.  See, my problem has always been to nickel and dime my money away.  I'm usually pretty good about big purchases.  It's all the little purchases here and there that get me into trouble. :(  And since I LOVE finding little goodies at thrift stores, I figure I need to just stay away for a while until I've gotten used to no impulse buying.

And all of you, feel free to keep me on task!  If I start doing all sorts of reviews of things I've purchased again, feel free to comment and put me in my place. ;)  I'll probably need it.  I would also appreciate your prayers as hubby and I try to rework things a bit.

Please don't worry, though.  There are still lots of posts I can do without spending money...so I won't leave you all in the lurch.  I may not have as many posts in the next few weeks, since VBS is looming on the horizon, but after that I should be back on track.  Also, my mom has really gotten into dolls, so I can do reviews of the stuff she finds. :)

Okay, and while I'm confessing things, I should probably give you another weight update...or lack thereof.  The bad news is, I'm back up to my starting weight.  The good news is, I've stayed at that weight for a couple of weeks now, so at least I'm not gaining more.  It's been pretty discouraging.  I've had a lot of stress in my life lately, so that doesn't help things either.  I'm thinking Pita may be doomed to forever live at my mom's.  :(  I may just be inconsistent and bring her home and try another motivational tactic (I REALLY want to do my doll comparisons post!!!).  I'm not sure...but I would really appreciate your prayers in this matter as well.

On to happier subjects.  I just finished Round 3 of The Doll Wardrobe's Photo Contest last week.  It has been a lot of fun being a part of things.  I'm not really expecting to win, especially since my hubby already won a doll from her (Emma last Christmas).  It's been enjoyable coming up with photo ideas, though.  Everyone has done an excellent job taking creative photos for each round.  You really should go check it out for yourself.  Here's Charlie's pic from this round (the theme was "Fashion"):

I had so much fun designing this fashion magazine cover. :)  It's worth being a part of things just for the creative aspect.  Winning is not important.   

And just in case you guys think it's rude of me to enter since my hubby won before, the main reason I entered in the first place was to get a Kanani doll for my aunt.  She's fallen in love with Kanani and can't afford a new doll. :)  If I managed to get one of the runner-up prizes, I'd probably save the gift card towards a #55 and use the summer clothes from the grab bag, as recently I've discovered my complete lack of summer doll attire.  There's not much danger of me winning, though.  Like I said before, all of the entries have been fantastic!  It's been really incredible seeing how creative everyone is. :)    

 Okay, moving on.  I'd  like to ask you all for an opinion.  If I do manage to have enough in gift cards by Christmas or so, I'm trying to decide on a name for #55.  She is going to basically be me at 12 years old, personality-wise, that is.  ;)  She will love horses and have a Breyer horse collection.  Her favorite movies will be "Beauty and the Beast", "Aladdin", and "The Princess Bride".  She will also be into vintage Strawberry Shortcake.  Her hobbies will be singing and drawing.  She may also possibly be into Lady Lovely Locks, but I'm still deciding on that.  Just giving you a little background. :)

So, here are the names I'm considering:

First Names:    

Hayden

Holly

Hannah
Hazel

Middle Names:

Edith
Brooke

Last Name:

Hathaway (sorry, no vote on this one!) ;)

So, readers, what do you think?  Which name do you think suits her best?  Leave your comment and let me know. :)  

I hope you all have a wonderful week! :)

P.S. I almost forgot!  I'm up to 85 followers!!!!  Thanks so much, everyone!  Just 15 more now until I reach my goal of 100 followers!!!! 

Okay, that was waayyy too many exclamation points for one paragraph. :} 

Updates (Comment Problems, Weight Loss Progress, and My Vacation)

Hey guys, just wanted to share a few quick updates before I leave tomorrow.

First, I wanted to apologize to those of you who have blogs that I normally comment on.  I'm having a problem commenting on Blogger.  You may have noticed that I changed the format on my comments...I did it because it had gotten to the point where Blogger wouldn't even let me comment on my own blog.  I looked it up on the Blogger help page, and it sounds like a lot of users are having this problem.  As near as I can figure, any blogs that have their comments "embedded below post" (the third option on the "Settings" page, under "comments") are blogs that I can no longer comment on.  Whenever I try to comment on these blogs, I select "Google account" as my user profile, and then it takes me to the sign in page.  I sign in, but when Blogger takes me back to preview my comment, it's signed "Anonymous" instead of beastsbelle.  Then, when I click "post comment", Blogger takes me back to the sign in page.  It continues this cycle indefinitely.

So, until Blogger figures out this problem or until other bloggers decide to change their format, I'm stuck only commenting on blogs that have their comments open in a new window or a new page.  I just wanted to say something, because there are certain blogs I've been dying to comment on, such as Elegance of Fashion, I Heart American Girl, The Green Girls, Dolls and Nachos, and many others I can't think of right now.  I hope you all manage to read this post and know that I still love and follow your blogs, I just can't comment. :(

Okay, I need to keep you guys posted on my weight loss progress, too.  (Just trying to keep myself accountable here.) ;)  The bottom line is I've lost a total of 7 lbs so far.  I actually was down to 7 lbs 3 or so weeks ago, but then I had that lovely week of the month that all women love, and gained 4 lbs back.  I'm hoping most of that was due to water retention and not too many snacks. :)  I was back down to 5 lbs total lost the following week.  Then last week, everything was messed up.  I didn't get a chance to weigh in and I got my wisdom teeth out, so I really wasn't sure what to expect when I weighed in yesterday.  I was so excited when I found that I was back down to 7 lbs lost! :)  Now I've just got to get through vacationing without blowing everything.  I'm sure all you gals can relate. ;)

I've decided that I will bring Pita home when I hit the 10 lb mark.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was debating between 10 and 20 lbs.  Before, I was feeling quite optimistic and was leaning towards waiting until 20.  Now, I'm trying to be a bit more realistic.  I'd like to have Pita home before winter. ;)  So, just 3 more lbs and Pita will join my other girlies.  I have a really fun updated doll comparison post planned when she does get here.  :)

Also, Tess wanted me to inform you that there are two new  posts on their blog.  One written by Maggie (click  HERE to read it) and a new post on "Belle's Bulletins" page (click HERE and remember to scroll all the way down to read the latest).  Hope you guys get a chance to check them out. :)

And finally, just a reminder that I will be leaving for vacation tomorrow.  I've decided I only want to take one doll with me, and I've decided that Maggie is the lucky one.  I really wanted to take Piper too, but the thought of taking pics of two dolls was a little more overwhelming (especially since all 3 of my daughters are bringing their dolls and want me to take pics of them, too!).  I want to take a few pics for the blogs, but I don't want to be so involved in photography that I miss out on having fun with my family. :)

Weight Loss Progress

So, I figured it was about time I shared with you how my "weight loss journey" is going.  Let's just say Pita (aka Taani Esperanza Montoya...I think) is going to be pretty comfy at my mom's house for a while! :} 

I have taken some definite steps towards my goal weight, but it's just going to take some time.  I started doing Weight Watchers at home two weeks ago.  I'm not exactly sure how much I've lost since day one, because I forgot to weigh myself at the very beginning.  In the last week, though, I've lost 2 pounds! :) 

The first week was really rough.  I was STARVING, and as a result, really cranky with my family.  I'm past the stage where I feel like chomping on a head of lettuce, just so I feel full, so that's good! :)  I'm actually to the point where I feel very satisfied by the end of the day, and I'm already eating a lot less than I was before.  Hopefully, that difference will show up on the scale soon.

I also incorporated exercise, starting at the end of last week.  I began with just walking in place to a movie or music once per day.  On Monday, I got back to my 3 mile walk workout DVD by Leslie Sansone.  I really like her workouts because:
  1.  The women on the video are fairly modest (no crop tops)
  2.  I get a full-body workout without any floor work.  This is great for me because I have bad knees.
  3.  The music is not atrocious.
  4. It's not so involved that I have to be completely unavailable for my kids.

I got all the way through the 3 miles, which was really exciting since I haven't done it for a while.  I'm planning on doing it again on Friday.  Today, I did my Bollywood and Bhangra workout DVD.  I got all the way through the Bhangra section on the first disc.  I'd love to master this workout.  It's a fun way to exercise, and trying to complete it (and be able to do it well) gives me a doable goal.  I'm really glad no one was taping my workout today, because I know I looked ridiculous.  If I saw how silly I looked, I would probably never do it again!  As I keep working at it, though, I hope to improve. :)

So, I'm planning to continue on with Weight Watchers, the 3 miles twice a week, and the Bollywood workout once a week.  Eventually, when I'm a little stronger, I may do Turbo Jam again, at least once a week.  I'd have to do it after the kids were in bed, though.  Some of the moves are pretty suggestive, and half the girls are in skimpy clothing.  Plus, a lot of the songs they use are not songs I want my girls learning.

I'll keep you guys posted on my progress as I go! :)

My Newest Doll is Here! :)

Yesterday afternoon, I got a special package in the mail...the package I've been waiting for all week. :)  I'd like to introduce my newest doll:

PITA!!!!  Well, at least that's the name she came with.  I'm still deciding on a different name for her, so she won't remain Pita forever.  :) 

Pita is a Karito Kids doll.  She's 21" tall, so she's taller and narrower than an American Girl or other comparable 18" dolls.  I'm planning on doing another doll comparison post down the road to show you the differences.  Pita has vinyl arms, legs, and a vinyl head.  Like my Maggie doll, she also has a vinyl chest plate and cloth body. 

I bought this particular doll from Jen at Dolls and Nachos (thanks, Jen!!). :)  Jen does lots of doll sewing projects on her blog, so I got to reap the benefits of her work.  Pita (or Eva, as Jen called her) came with her original meet outfit (including boots), 2 pairs of pants, a Regency dress (whoo-hoo!!), a white lab coat, and a leather messenger bag just her size.  Jen also sent me Pita's book, which I haven't read yet.  I'm still deciding if I want to read it, as I want to develop my own character for her.  Here are some fun photos of her in all of her different outfits.  

Meet Outfit

Meet Outfit minus Jacket

Jeans

Khakis

Regency Dress

Lab Coat

Messenger Bag

A picture showing Pita's body style:

I'm still figuring out Pita's best picture angle.  I've found that every doll seems to have a certain angle that captures them in the most flattering way.  I have to say I'm not completely pleased with these pics I've taken, simply because they don't even begin to show what a beautiful doll Pita is!  She looks so much better in person!

At the moment, I'm still working on her new name and personality.  The good news is, I have plenty of time to work on things...I'm thinking I should have at least a good month or two, if not three.  Why, you may ask?  Because Pita is my new motivation.

Let me explain myself.  For the past, well, okay, three years now, I've been struggling to get rid of that last bit of baby weight.  My youngest was a Cesarean baby, and that last 20 or so pounds have just not come off the way I've been hoping.  I'm not a big exercise enthusiast.  I do it because I know I should, but I really struggle to keep at it consistently.  My eating habits need to change as well.  I do really well for a month or so, but then little by little, bad habits creep back in.  Soon I find myself eating because I'm bored or because things taste good, not because I'm hungry.  I know I'm not alone in this, but it's still annoying and frustrating.  

Since I've had such an issue with this, I thought if I had a "dangling carrot", so to speak, it might help to motivate me.  So, here's my brilliant plan. :)  Pita is going to go live at my mom's house.  I will not be allowed to bring her home until I've lost a certain amount of weight.  Right now, I'm debating between 10 and 15 pounds.  I don't want to make the challenge too hard, but I don't want to make it too easy, either.  At this point, I'm leaning towards the 15. 

Once I've lost the weight, Pita will be able to return home for good.  Then, hopefully I can shed those last few leftover pounds, since by then I will have (hopefully) gotten back into healthier habits again.  

I have absolutely no clue if this will actually work, but I figured it was worth a try.  I actually got a good little jump start on it from being sick, because I lost 7 pounds.  Although, I noticed when I weighed myself today that I've gained at least 4 of them back (it's amazing what happens when you can suddenly eat more than a piece of cheese for lunch). :}  So, I guess it's not as much of a head start as it could be.  Oh well.  I'm still going to try it and see what happens.        

I'll keep you guys updated on my progress (or lack thereof) ;) periodically.  But don't worry...I won't suddenly turn this into a weight loss blog. :)  For now, I'm just going to enjoy Pita/Eva/whoever until I can get her over to my mom's.  I'm kind of thinking Ava might be a nice name.  Hmmm...I'll have to think about it. :)