size six

I am over the moon excited to announce that I am wearing size 6 jeans!!!!! When I began my journey on December 26th 2012, I was wearing maternity jeans that had adjustable waist or elastic and size 14s were tight. I'm not done. #alittlelesstolove

I own the same jean style in size 12, 10, 8, 6, and 4. I have begun to cut up the 12s and 10s to use for sewing projects. The 8s will go in the same pile. 

The crazy thing is that I haven't been close to this small since summer of 2000. I spent all of my 30s overweight. I was a perfect size 4 at the beginning of May 2000 and by August 2000, I was barely fitting into a size 8.

Sunday Brain Dump

Hmm...

What is on my mind right now:

finances, what I'm going to wear to work tomorrow, current fitness challenges (of which there are four), the fact that DH adores "Sahara" {the movie currently on the television}, and my wacky cycle.

I am going to do my best to run/walk 50 miles during the month of July.  I am also going to attempt a Planking Challenge.  I began a DietBet a week ago AND am starting Beth's "A Little Less to Love" weight loss challenge tomorrow.

“What gets measured gets managed”

Peter Drucker

I am inspired by Beth's blog. I need to be a better blog reader. And poster. TBH: I began this post on Thursday and deleted the whole thing except for the labels {until now}.

shop my eBay listings
and

God is good

I follow Tobi {@IveyHandcrafted and @BringIveyHome} on Instagram.  On Friday, she announced that they actually brought Ivey home!!!  Their little family grew via adoption. When I read the news in Tobi's Instagram feed, joyful tears streaked down my face. I am beyond happy for Tobi and her husband. Little miss Ivey is a sweet reminder that dreams do come true.

Wendy is my husband's sister and my sweet sister-in-law.  Brandon is her husband and our awesome brother-in-law.  Wendy {and Brandon} are expecting a baby girl this fall.  We are going to be Aunt & Uncle.

drive

Today was the first day of my new part-time job.  I am a driver.  I had fun.  I went to lunch with my husband and a couple of his work friends.  Did I mention that my new job is at the same business where my husband works?  No?  Well, it is.  It is nice.

Source: decrescenzio.blogspot.com via Anasophia on Pinterest

So thankful that tomorrow is Friday

Ok... So, I'm a little bit relaxed.

I drank a frozen margarita with supper this evening with DH and my parents (Oma & Opa) after we dropped off Meister at her Teen ACTS Retreat and returned her boyfriend to his car parked at our house.

And instead of making a video to upload to Instagram... I'm blogging.

The house is super quiet without Meister.  DH is outside piddling in his workshop and I'm too relaxed to get any sewing done.

RANDOM THOUGHT: I wish Blogger had a cursive font.

I listed a few more items on eBay today.  I will be listing the remaining mug rugs {snack mats} from my Instagram insta-sale on Etsy this weekend.  I also have quite a few travel tissue cozies to photograph and list.  The custom wedding order is coming along and I will ship the order out before the 4th of July.  <~ business-y stuff that must be typed out so that I can go to the next thought.

This post is becoming a brain dump of sorts.  Great.

Have new clothes hanging in your closet that you're not going to wear and it is too late to return?  Click on this link >>> http://www.thredup.com/r/NUZVXU <<< and request a Clean Out Bag for yourself.  Fill it up and send in your name brand duds and they will pay ya for 'em.  It is easier than a garage sale or eBay, though they don't pay a ton - they do pay you before it sells and it is out of your house.  Use the credit to purchase new stuff from their site or cashout via PayPal.

And that's a wrap. I'm off.

important names and numbers

Hi,

I am Meister's Mama.  A few of the re-occurring characters on this blog and in my daily life are my darling husband hereto-for referred to as DH here and my wonderful teenage daughter, Meister.  My mother is Oma and my father is Opa.  Names have been altered to protect the living as best I can given the current politics.

Brief Synopsis: We {DH and I} were matched on eHarmony on November 21, 2008. He proposed on December 5, 2009 after the Texas Longhorns won the game that sent them to the Rose Bowl. We got married on August 28, 2010. We have been TTC since November 10, 2010.

I am a mama and a wife. Trying my best to live my life according to His word.

Source: Uploaded by user via ReproMed on Pinterest

every little bit helps

So... I'm not fundraising for an adoption but we do need income.  To live.  To pay for everything that a teenage girl needs to finish high school and go to college.  To pay for infertility treatments.

We have chosen to make our home in a tiny town with a population of just over two thousand people.  We have chosen to make family a priority and not drive two hours into the big city for a job.  These choices mean that steady work for me is difficult to come by.  I am a substitute teacher for a local public school district.  My husband works for a local car dealership.  Health insurance is costly and even more so on one full-time income.  In order for health insurance to not take more than half of his paycheck, we have a HUGE deductible.  AND *that* is what makes baby-making doctor appointments and all of the associated treatments more than a little bit out of our price range.

The above image was borrowed from eBay's home page and then edited by me in PicMonkey.  The image links to my eBay about me page where you will find links to my current listings plus my current feedback.

In addition to eBay, I also make a variety of items with fabric.  Yes, I have an Etsy shop.  Doesn't everyone? ;)

Even though I am on cycle day 182 and counting, I can't give up on my dream of having another child NOR can I become silent about something my heart desires so fervently.  It matters and I'm not ready for my life to begin to end.

Source: Uploaded by user via ReproMed on Pinterest