Health + Beauty

Guess What I Did?

- Melody

I’m a woman of lists, okay. Let’s just get that out there. I constantly make lists. It’s fun for me. Lists of homework to do, lists of what to clean, lists of what to shop for, wish lists, etc. It makes me feel productive without actually doing anything. And I may be OCD but we’ll just skim over that topic.

So, last night I made a list-it was more like a timeline-of what to do today.
-Wake up early! (yes.. that was on there.)
-30 Day Shred.
-Shower
-Homework

Since it was on the list I had to do it. Now, keep in mind I’ve had 30 Day Shred on a lot of lists but somehow I managed to make an excuse and erase it. I started for the second time over the summer but only got about a week done. This time, I’m determined. So you know what I did?

Yes people. No one put a gun to my head or offered me money. I just did it. I was so happy when I finished I almost cried. I complain to Jason all the time and finally it was the last straw. I can’t believe I actually did it. I woke up, put my shoes on and just did it before my brain knew what hit it. Whew!

22 minutes a day? 30 days? I’ve done it before (and got super awesome muscles) so I can do it again.

Here’s to tomorrow! 🙂

Wanna join me? Buy the DVD here and let’s get shredded together!

Humble Pie

- Melody

Our air conditioner has given us a lot of grief since we got married. A bit into our marriage we had to shell out $700 to fix the gas line that led to the unit so we could have heat for the rest of the winter. Thankfully, the school paid half since they own the house. A bit after that we had to replace the electrical board because it was being leaked on. We paid that on our own–another several hundred. Since then we’ve been fine.

However, when summer really started to heat up our house just wouldn’t cool down. We’d have it set on 69 degrees and after about 11 AM it’d shoot up to 80-82 degrees. Most days I’d feel really dizzy or just sick so Jason and I would have to go to the back of the house to hang out where there weren’t as many windows.

Before the party Jason decided enough was enough and called someone out to look at it. The guy was out here for a record 15 minutes and we gave him a check for $80. He said we’d have to replace either the whole unit or the cooling system. That’d run us upwards of $2,000. Awesome, right? Read more

Stop Dieting! Eat More!

- Melody 3 Comments

That title has nothing to do with this post, it’s just this 6 Week Body Makeover infomercial is on and that’s was the first thing I saw when I looked to the TV for blog inspiration. See? I am original!

So, I had this post all written up and was going to post pictures with it, but they’re on my phone. And, well, my phone isn’t anywhere near me and neither is the cord to hook up to my computer… and there’s a kitten on my neck.

I knew there was a reason I hadn’t washed my makeup off yet.


Consider this one a freebie.

Peek-a-Boo

- Melody

Yep, it’s me again. Here to rant and rave about so-called “street style blogs.”

Personally, I couldn’t be less of a fan. They’re narrow-minded on what they think style is. The Sartorialist is ranked one the most influential style blogs and while it does have some great inspiration, I couldn’t help myself to think, “Wow. Why is every single girl on here super tall and super skinny?” But am I really surprised? This is what people supposedly want, right? It’s what the media portrays as being the “it” thing. Perfect. I myself struggle with the reasons for wanting to lose some weight. Is it because I want to look like the image The Sartorialist portrays? Or do I want to do it so I’ll live a healthier life?

What REALLY grinds my gears though, is when they do post ONE picture out of a million of a girl who they call “curvy”. They’re PROUD of themselves. Like they’re doing us girls a favor for sneaking in a picture of someone who isn’t 110 lbs and 5’10″. Are you kidding me? I’m speaking of one specific post I just read on The Sartorialist. (The post is called On The Street….Angelika, Milan). She received some serious flack for calling that girl “curvy” in the comments and proceeded to ask what she should call her without calling her “normal”. How about just saying, “Wow! Look at her outfit!” Not calling attention to the fact that she doesn’t look like EVERY OTHER SINGLE GIRL ON YOUR BLOG.

In short. You aren’t doing us a favor by posting a single picture of someone who looks like me. It doesn’t exempt you from your narrow-mindedness. If you do showcase a girl like that, how about not calling attention to what she looks like? You don’t call attention to the weight and figure of every other girl you post about do you?

On the same note, what’s with girls my age and younger getting plastic surgery? My heart. Breaks. Are we not beautiful enough without artificial enhancements?

What do you think?

Encouraging?

- Melody 4 Comments

Hello dear ones. It’s been approximately two and a half weeks since I started the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels and I’ve got 13 more days to go!

Ever since I started working out consistently I’ve been so obsessed with getting fast and easy results that I scrutinize how I look constantly. I can’t let myself enjoy the actual results right now because I want the results that await in the future. I thought I gained weight this past week but in fact I lost and inch off my waist and my hips! Woo!

In bigger news, our wedding is fast approaching! 108 days. Wow. It seems SO close but so very far away. So many things happen between now and then. I go back to school, my sister moves to Commerce, I turn 20, and we have to finish doing all our DIY projects for the wedding! I’ve got a VERY full few months ahead of me. I don’t know what I’ll do with all the free time I’ll have once we’re married, but I’m sure it’ll be so very nice. 🙂

Sorry for the shallow posts lately, but I’ve been so busy!

Have a great rest of the week!

Melody.

Day Seven

- Melody

Well, I was unfortunate enough (or fortunate enough?) to not be able to work out on Thursday. As soon as I got home from work Mom wanted to hit my sister’s friend’s garage sale. Now, usually one garage sale wouldn’t take that long, but remember who you’re dealing with. We went to eat, hit the garage sale, and meandered around Target until they closed. Then Jason drove me home and we talked for an hour leaving me zero time to get my workout in. (Like I’d actually do it at 11:30 at night anyway!)

Needless to say, yesterday was my day seven. I had spent the morning cleaning house for Mom’s birthday and went to eat Mexican food with Jason for lunch. Immediately after getting home I commenced with the exercising. Never a good idea. ESPECIALLY after Mexican food. But I made it through! I actually think I’m to a point where I can start doing actual push-ups instead of the girly kind! That’s improvement.

I’ve been debating all day whether or not to workout today to catch myself up so I can start level 2 next Wednesday like I’d originally planned. Sadly, I think I will not. It is Saturday after all!

I hate to just blog so shortly, so I’ll say this. I will be married in 4 months and 2 days. When I checked my calendar on Thursday I almost had a heart attack. I hadn’t realized just how close it was getting. For so long it’s been 10 months, 7 months, 5 months etc. But 4 months!? It seems so soon! I’ve said this before, but I haven’t actually progressed completely into summer. I’ve been shopping for ski clothes for our honeymoon, cardigans for my ladies, warm colors for the wedding and thinking about hot soups and drinks! No wonder I’ve been so hot this summer! I actually had a dream I wore my pea coat with a cableknit sweater at the pool. I’m crazy.

But the countdown isn’t just to a wedding. It’s to MY wedding. So many things will be ending that week. It will be the last time I’ll ever be “Melody Taylor”, the last time I’ll live with my parents, the last time I’ll work at the library, the last time I’ll be a teenager, the last time I’ll be single. I’ll be attached for life. I honestly could not be more excited. Every time I look at the picture of him on one knee in front of me I tear up. I was so shocked and flabbergasted that I didn’t know what to do or how to respond with our families watching us. He was so nervous and so was I. But no matter how awkward it seemed or how nervous we both were, it doesn’t change how engaged we are. There is a ring on my finger that will never leave. There’ll always be that little indentation where a ring is supposed to sit.

So that’s why I’m working out. Right now it’s mainly because I don’t want to wear Spanx on my wedding day, but it’s also because I have  a bad habit of longing to do something but never doing it then complaining because I didn’t do it. So, I’m doing it.

Have a great weekend!