Getting Medieval!

My family and I had the pleasure of going to Medieval Times this evening. Myself and hubby had been once about 6 years ago, but our daughter had never been.

What a treat it ended up being! I wish I had thought to record the expression on her face when the music started and the first horse came out. Awe doesn't even come close to describing it.

I was truthfully a bit worried that she'd be too young, at 3 years old, to really enjoy the show/meal experience. But I was beyond wrong. She didn't even get antsy until the last 30 minutes of the 2 hour show. And for her that's an achievement. She was really captivated by the whole show. She had a ton of fun waving her flag and cheering for our knight, the red knight!

The whole thing from start to finish was just wonderful. We were greeted outside of the "gates" and handed our tickets in. We were giving a colored and numbered card and told that would be our dinner card.  From there you go inside where there is a very nice bar, with tons of light up/glow cups for the show with the logo on them. Also a wide variety of gift items. Jewelry, headbands, knives, even a suit of armor! Hubby really wanted it too. Originally $3,800 and on sale 50% off. I almost, almost let him have it!

About a half an hour before show time, the king came out to "knight" guests that had purchased the knighting package. Now I had done this years ago for my little sister on her birthday, but this evening we skipped it and opted to watch instead. One thing I did not skip was upgrading our seats to the "royalty" package. It was an additional $10 per person. Normally it guarantees 2nd or 3rd row seating, but we ended up getting lucky and getting front row seats!

About 10 minutes before show time the "MC" knight came out and bantered a bit with the guests as he directed the seating process. I was concerned it was crowded and there would be a rush for doors. But they've got the process down and make it easy to navigate. When they call your color (from your dinner card) you get to to go sit down. As a mom dragging a small toddler, it made me feel better not to have to protect her from trampling people.

Once we got in and seated, there were servers for each section/color getting everyone pumped up for their knight. The server came by and explained the menu to us. Everyone gets the same thing, even the kiddos. The menu was pretty filling but not diet wrecking. First course was garlic bread and tomato bisque. I passed on that, not being a huge tomato fan, but my daughter LOVED it.

Next was half a roasted chicken, potato wedges, and a spare rib. All of it absolutely delicious. Being as how I'm trying to lose weight, I did pull the skin off my chicken and only have one potato wedge. But again, everything was toddler approved. My daughter cleared her plate. The dessert was an apple turnover pastry. I did allow myself that little treat. It was amazing, light, sugary, perfection. I may have also took half my daughters.

The show itself is phenomenal. I won't spoil it for anyone. But there is just so much to it. There's a story line. But also lots of tricks from the horses and even a knight with a hawk that soars above the crowds. Every second of the 2 hours is packed with action and something to see.

My little one alternated between eating and waving her red flag, she really got into it. All in all I'd say it's a great family day/night out. It seems a bit expensive when you're looking at the prices. But honestly, it's a big dinner and a show. We definitely thought it was worth it.

Now I'm home with a full belly and looking forward to a quiet week of things getting back to normal. Getting back to organizing my sewing room and doing some spring cleaning.

Til next time!

~AJ

Vacation

Sorry for the break there! I was actually on vacation with my family at Great Wolf Lodge. Oh my goodness if you want to have some fun with the kiddos that is the place to do it.

Our family had a blast. We spent 3 days there and were never bored. I think the big kids (me and my hubby) had just as much fun as our 3 year old.

In other news....

I've lost 4.6lbs and 9.25" in one week!!!!!!

It was hard on vacation to always make the right choices but I did my best and definitely got a work out from chasing my toddler all around the different pools.

I'm in my sewing room now about to get started on a few new patterns and I think I finally got myself a live model.

Tomorrow is another busy day. I've received some tickets to go check out Medieval Times! I've been once before years ago, but I'm taking my daughter and niece for the first time tomorrow.

Later everyone!

~AJ

And Sew it begins

See what I did there... with the title.. :)

Day is day 2 of project "get my tubby behind in shape by the time I turn 30"...

Gonna have to think of a better name for it...

I've done good so far today and even got my hubby on board! He's only got about 10lbs to do, and I'm sure he'll have no trouble. But it's nice to know I'm not alone. Of course he hasn't hit is evening craving for ice cream yet. So we'll see how long it lasts.

I set him up with a myfitnesspal account and was even kind enough to friend him.

I'll post my daily calorie count tonight before I go to bed, but I've got quite a bit left to use, so I'm positive I'll be under. I know this is going to take a while to get all this weight off but I have got to stay committed. I don't want to tip over into 300lbs. I want to be lighter, fitter, and able to run by next summer. I really want to do the color run next May. That's my goal.

Hopefully next year I'll be posting pictures of myself covered in colored dust after running!

Have a good day!

~AJ

291.6

291.6......


That's what I weighed in at tonight. And honestly, I cried. I'm almost back to 300lbs. All the hard work I had put in a few months ago is wasted on a few weeks of bad eating.

I've got to get it together. I told my husband tonight that tomorrow starts a new day. No more McD's because it's convenient, or frozen dinners because I don't have time to cook.

I need to make a positive change for myself, my husband, and my daughter.

Sorry I can't really find a way to make this post humorous. I'm still trying not to cry.

Tomorrow is a new day.

~AJ

Beautiful Summer Dress from Made by Me. Shared with You.

I hadn't planned on posting again until after my weigh in this evening. But I just had to share this. This is the sweetest, most darling, little summer dress. And if you know shirring already, it's pretty simple. If you don't, she includes a link to a tutorial. I'll be digging through my fabric stash this evening to make one. :)

Made by Me. Shared with you.: Shirr Thing For Spring: Mini Series Day 1 : Shirring Basics and The Sun Dress

Weight Loss Challenge Day 1

Good Morning!

If you've read my first post, than you know that today is the first day of the weight loss challenge that I joined. My meeting isn't until this evening. But I'm kicking things off early this morning.

I'm sitting here typing to you while drinking 32oz of strawberry kiwi water that I infused myself! I was hesitant to buy that infuser but now I'm really glad that I did. There are definitely some combos that don't work. Raspberry lemon is one of them, for some reason I just could not get the taste to come through.

However, strawberry kiwi definitely has flavor and it's not a bad one. I'm going to try to kick my soda habit along with this challenge. I had actually done that a few years back, but unfortunately picked it back up again. So now I have to go through the pain of withdraw headaches again. But it'll be worth it one day when I'm not it double digit sizes!

Today I plan to start eating in moderation and cutting back on all the junk I've been putting into my body for the past 28 years. I turn 30 in a little over a year and what a gift it would be to do it in the best shape of my life!

I'm also going to be using MyFitnessPal. I don't know if anyone is reading this yet but if you see it and want to friend me, I'll be glad to add you!

I'm debating on putting a fitness tip of the day here on my blog. Something I find that may be helpful to everyone else out there trying to lose some weight.

Tonight after I weigh in at the challenge I'll be posting here my weight & BMI. Nothing like good old public embarrassment to get you motivated. I'll also probably be food logging here in between my sewing posts.

I think this is were my blog will get tricky. I don't want to bore you sewing people that will read this, but weight loss is going to be a big part of this page too. I hope I can strike a balance somewhere in the middle.

Don't know if I can, but I'm sure going to try!

Have a good day everyone!

~AJ

Boston

I'd like to think my blog is going to be all laughs and good times. Maybe a bit of self-deprecating humor. But today's post is a bit more serious.

I sat yesterday hearing the news, like most everyone else in America in an utter state of shock. How? Why? Why would anyone do such a thing? The same things I thought watching the Sandy Hook coverage not too long ago.

I look over at my daughter, 3 years old and innocently playing with all her toys. She was in full princess dress up mode yesterday. Thankfully she's at an age where she doesn't understand what happened. She won't be asking me why someone would want to hurt other people, or why an 8 year old boy is now dead, when all he wanted to do was watch his dad cross the finish line.

But I'm scared for the world she's being raised in. I know when we let fear guide us we let "them", whoever they are, win. But as a mom its hard not to be scared. It seems like every time you turn around you're hearing another story of how innocent lives were taken. All lives are precious, but the death of kids always hits me hard.

As I checked my facebook updates I saw a lot of the expected "prayers for Boston" pictures. Posts meant to show our solidarity. Then I saw a few things that made me outright angry.

There are people, on both sides of the gun debate, already using this tragedy as fodder for their cause. It hadn't even been 24 hours!!!! There are people missing limbs, dead, families that don't know where their loved ones are. People still trying to make sense of this tragedy and already there are people on both sides using this!

No, no, NO!

Whether you are for or against gun restrictions lets step back a minute. Put yourself in the shoes of the mother that lost her 8 year old son. Do you think she cares what you think about gun control? She's grieving the loss of her baby. I get that everyone has a point to make but it's too soon. Entirely too soon for this. Pictures meant to be a joke saying "bombs don't kill people, people kill people" and "ban bomb making supplies", are not funny. You hear that? NOT FUNNY. And even if they weren't meant to be funny, they're not appropriate.

I said the same thing to my husband after the Sandy Hook shootings. The next morning people were debating gun control. Too soon. Let these people grieve. Instead of spending your time making pictures meant to gain support for your cause, how about you spend your time donating blood, or money, or even just moral support to those that need it. That's something constructive to do.

For the record, I will not now, nor will I ever get into my political affiliation, or my stance on gun control. This isn't meant to be a political blog, and it won't be. Hopefully this is the last "political" post you'll see here. But I feel like I just could not, not comment on the things I witnessed yesterday on Facebook.

I hope all of you go home tonight and hug your kids tight. Tell them you love them. And be glad it isn't you or your family suffering this loss. Find a way to help. Already I've seen stories of strangers opening their homes to marathoners so they have a place to stay. That's what we need more of in this country. Not 2 sides constantly bickering at each other. We should be standing united against whoever was behind this. Whether it be a terrorist from another country, or one from our own. Let your hearts, and if you're religious, your prayers be with Boston.

~AJ