Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Looking Forward to this Tuscaloosa Weekend


There are few things in life I enjoy more than spending time with my friends. This coming weekend will be a treat, indeed. Jeff is watching the children for me so that I can go and have a great time with my best buds. I am picking Martine up from Livingston Friday and we are heading up to Tuscaloosa to spend 3 days and have FUN! We are staying at the Hotel Capstone. Friday will be our girl's night--catching up on all the gossip. Saturday we are meeting a larger group at Brown's Corner. Jennifer Bennett, Laynee Young, April Southern, Melanie Hubbert, Christie Cain, among others will be there. It will be so nice to visit.


I haven't been to Tuscaloosa in a while. It will be fun to walk the campus and remember my years there. I have so many great memories of the University!

Oooh, Massage!


Today after my workout, I was very sore. I haven't been sleeping well and I have really kicked up my workouts. My body was screaming at me--tense and unhappy. Fortunately, I was able to take an hour and a half and get a relaxation massage. Well worth the time and money, folks. To lie down for 90 minutes with only the sounds of nature (albeit recorded :) ) was so nice. It is good to have human touch that doesn't require anything in return. Not a lover's touch, or a child with their long list of things they need or want you to do for them; but just the well-trained hands of a specialist literally rubbing the cares of the world away. With the relaxing of my tense muscles my mind was also able to rest. I left refocused and refreshed--a definite improvement from how I went in! :)

What's For Dinner?


Ummm--tonight we are having Chinese BBQ Chicken Drumsticks and Fried Rice with Bacon and Peas. This is ssssoooooo good. And for dessert, we are eating one of my family's favorites: Peanut Butter Swirl Bars. And they taste just as good as they sound!

BYU Kids Are So Nice!




Just got a call from one of the girls on BYU's women's track team. I continue to be impressed with the poise and eloquence and just plain politeness that these kids exhibit. She called to thank us for being supporters of the Cougar Club. I will encourage my children to go to school at the place that is the best fit for them, but I would be very pleased if they choose BYU.




As a Bama fan and graduate, I must also say that I LOVE the University of Alabama. I feel like I received an excellent education there. I love the campus--the beautiful red brick buildings, the sense of pride and tradition that seems to be almost tangible, and the historic quad. I have very fond memories of my years at Alabama. I would be very pleased if any of my children chose Alabama, as well.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Thoughts on Working Out


There are plenty of things I enjoy doing. Dancing, listening to good music, reading fun books, watching my children discover the unexpected, are all things that bring joy into my life. Then, there is working out. Definitely not one of my favorite things! However, as I am trying so hard to get in shape (realizing that there is no point in my life that it will be any easier than now), I have found a grin and bear it attitude helps. So, two or three times a week I meet with Lisa. She is a personal trainer and her knowledge of what exercises to do, how many sets and repetitions, and the proper body alignment to do the exercises correctly, has been invaluable. So, I do weights a few days a week and I ride the exercise bike about six days a week for an hour. I have begun to see results and it is heartening.


I am also about to start the Tupler technique. It is a series of exercises that over eighteen weeks help to close the diastises. The is the opening between the vertical abdominal muscles that occurs from the forceful expansion of the abdomen during pregnancy. After the baby is born, most times these muscles do not fit so closely together anymore. The result is the "mummy tummy". Instead of the tight abdominal muscles holding the internal organs in, all that is doing that job is thin, unsupportive connective tissue. This allows the internal organs to protrude and cause a "poochy" stomach--even if you are thin and have very little body fat. So, I hope to do these exercises faithfully while I am losing weight the traditional way.

Monday, January 24, 2011

I Love My Le Creuset


My most favorite item of cookware that I have is my nine quart dutch oven. It is a cream colored enamel coated cast iron pot--and I use it for everything! It is the perfect tool for everything from chicken and dumplings, homemade potato soup, and chili to making the perfect pot roast, pot of ham and beans, or jambalaya. I love this dutch oven! I highly recommend every one who cooks to invest in this lovely pot. It is well worth the cost and will be used for years to come.

http://www.lecreuset.com/

Thoughts While Sitting in the Honda Service Area

I think that there should be a "use by" date on the candy dispensers in the corner. Sure, the m&m's LOOK good, but it is all illusion and no follow through. So, I sit with my IPhone in hand--cruising facebook--and eating stale candy. Not the finest way I could imagine spending my day. However, I left with an oil change, tire rotation, and the side door that kept getting stuck repaired. All in all a successful visit.

It takes all sorts of people to make up our glorious world. I met a different sort today. She came into the service area selling small homemade pies. If I wasn't trying to lose weight I would probably have bought one. Come on, it's homemade pie! But, I was good and visualized wearing one of those beautiful dresses from Shabby Apple and resisted the urge to indulge. The same lady then sat down and began having a conversation with the "ladies" of The View. Honestly, she would talk to the hosts as if they were in the same room with her. Unusual--but entertaining!

The lady who helped me was very nice, and at check out she asked if I would please respond to the phone survey that I would receive in a few days from Honda. She was nice--so, that means I get to talk with a Honda representative later this week.

Dresses, Dresses, Dresses!


I can be silly or serious. I love to read and dance. I love Il Divo and Taylor Swift. I love babies and massages. I love diamonds AND pearls. I am quite the girly-girl--and I LOVE dresses. Thanks so much to my friends Melanie and Bea who shared these great websites with me: http://www.jenclothing.com/ and http://www.shabbyapple.com/. They are definitely providing me with motivation to continue getting in shape! I hope to buy a few of these lovely dresses for my upcoming trip to Europe.

What's for Dinner?


Tonight we are having roast beef with carrots and onions. A side dish of butter and herb mashed potatoes will also be served. Hawaiian sweet rolls will complement this evening's culinary delights! Yummy!

What is in a name?


When I decided to start this blog I wanted to search for a name that conveyed a little of what I hope to accomplish with it. Primarily, this blog will serve as an electronic journal. I have used Facebook quite a bit, and some of the things I would like to use as status updates I realized might find a better home in a more personal place. Thus, this blog is born. I chose the name "The Fountain of Sweet Tears" from William Wordsworth--one of my most favorite poets. The full quote reads,

"She gave me eyes, she gave me ears;
And humble cares, and delicate fears;
A heart, the fountain of sweet tears;
And love, and thought, and joy."

So, this blog will contain posts from my heart. My posts may be trivial or important, silly or serious, happy or sad--but everything I post will be special to me in some way. Unlike Facebook, if you do not particularly care about what I am having for dinner, or what cute/silly/scary thing one of my children did one day, or whatever random thoughts I might have on art, or music, or politics, or religion, etc.--you do not have to read any further. But, if you find any of this interesting you are welcome to visit every once in a while. Bienvenue!