Check out my Betterist Site!

Hey all, I am offering scrapbooking classes - I will be available adter June 29th... more times available becuase of summer break!

Bulk Rename Utility is Super Cool

Hey all you scrapbookers and digital photo people... here is a link to download a renaming utility for all your files.

http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk/Download.php

El Charro Restaurant - Excellent Mexican Cuisine in Tuscon, AZ

Went to a FANTASTIC restaurant in Tuscon, AZ.  El Charro was the best we ate in terms of Mexican cuisine.

El Charro Restaurant

Free Layout Sketch for 12X12 Scrapbook Page

Just tinkering around... here's a free sketch for you!

Have a creative day!

- Beth -

Birthday Card Using Flower Soft

I found this new stuff called Flower Soft.  It's very cool and I can't wait to use it on more than just cards.  They have neat videos on their site as well.

Here are some pics of the card I made and gave to my mother-in-law.

I have been fascinated with resin and pre-hardened resin circles lately.  So, I made these brads:

Check them out at
http://www.etsy.com/listing/71405670/6-asian-inspired-scrapbook-or-card

Tootely doo!
- Beth

On the other, more usable hand,

Oh, and by the way, I've lost a total of 50 pounds! Hooray for me.

Here we go again.....

Just another toxic day in the District 130 neighborhood... I have chemical pneumonitis again.  Again!  Blah!  Who knew signing up to teach would entail being hit with mustard gas and continual illness-by-debris and fumes.  Oh well, I guess.  There are worse jobs; coal mining, sewage leech field cleaners, port-a-john suckers, and oh, politician.  I think I'll stay a teacher if it doesn't kill me.  I love those darned kids too much!

I rock!

Just gotta say....

down to 208!!!

48 pounds GONE!

Beth

36 Pounds Lost

I have finally hit 220.  That's a total of 36 pounds lost!  After two fills... I am on my way!

30 pounds lost! Whoohoo!

30 pounds lost! Whoohoo!

Goodbye Sweetheart

We lost our precious little one, Isis Kitty, at 12:30 pm today via euthanasia at our veterinarian's office.  She went peacefully and in no apparent pain.  We will miss her so much... and so will our other Kitty, Evil Kitty.

Oh no....

Unfortunately, this is a sad post.  Our kitty, Isis will spend one more night with us.  She is in nth stage renal failure.  She doesn't seem to be in much pain, but we, along with out vet, decided one more night wouldn't make much of a difference.  She may not make the night...

At 11 years old she's had a good life, but it seems she got sick so fast... goes to show you one never knows.

Don't Forget to View My Etsy Store

Etsy Store

Poor Kitty

Our kitty is sick.  She weighs only 4.8 pounds (down from 12) and may have diabetes.  She's 11, but was in perfect health until she had an abscess near her tail three weeks ago.  After surgery, a drain, and stitches removed, she just hasn't bounced back....

I took her in today and they gave her fluids and a shot of insulin.  I need to force feed her every few hours and it's back to the vet tomorrow at 10 AM.

More down!

27 pounds down!  So, I have about 90 more to go.  I am so happy!

First Fill

I went to my surgeon today and got my first "fill" of saline in my Lap Band.  I now have 3 cc of fluid in my band.  What a weird experience!  My port (the little button-like thingy where the doc injects the saline) is under my skin like normal... but it isn't to the left of my stomoach like most patients.  My port is to the right due to the surgeon didn't like the tissue where the port was supposed to go, so he put it on the right during my surgery back on June 2.

It was a bit tough for him to find the port and inject the saline - but not to worry!  Everything went fine after a little "fishing" with the needle... (I know, ewwwww, righ?)

I feel some restriction, but have an appointment in just over 4 weeks.  If my weight loss stalls, I'll be getting another fill of fluid until I find the "sweet spot"....

I'm Slenderizing Still!

Yep, a few more pounds... down to 233!  23 Pounds total.....

I am going in to hopefully get my first "fill" on July 27, 2010.  It'll be interesting.

On hold..........for now!

Well not much news to report in the area of wait loss.  I am "slowing down" as was expected.  We'll see after next week.  I can definitely tell I will need a fill after six weeks post-op because I can't feel the super tight restriction I've been counseled about.  But, I know my band doesn't have much saline in it.  At first, they put little or no saline in the band to allow your body to heal and adjust to the band.  That said, I am still very careful about what I eat, take extremely small bites, chew at least 20 times, and put my fork down between bites.

It's been an interesting transition from going from "teacher speed eating" to slower-than-normal eating.  I do feel confident I have made the transition, and it is beginning to be a habit. My hubby sure has helped me realize how fast I was eating.  I even took a stop watch to my dining - wow!  Did I eat fast.  Teaching 5th grade in my school district means you get roughly 10 minutes to down your food.  I was eating an enormous amount of food in that time. Hundreds of calories down in every few bites.  I wasn't even really chewing.  It's amazing how slowing down has helped me really taste food.  Texture wasn't really an issue...now I feel every morsel.  I am finding some foods taste way better than I thought and others don't really appeal to me.  

It definitely is like learning to eat all over again.  It is an experience I feel I needed.... it's paying off!

New Items!

Hey all... new items on Ebay

http://shop.ebay.com/freespell/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

and new items in my Etsy Store!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/StippofallTrades

Thanks!

- Beth -