A year later...Now I'm back!

It's past 10 o'clock on a Sunday night before an early Monday morning, but I wanted to get on here to begin my blogging again. In a way, I have missed this. I've missed using this as a journal of sorts and not just uploading my daily wonder-ings to Facebook. I've also been doing some reflection on my life this past week (yes, just this week really), and I know I have to do something different. This blog will become my new recordkeeping for my weight-loss journey. There will be updates, pictures, meals, workouts, but mostly it will be my way of keeping myself accountable. If I don't do something, I will end up fatter than I've ever been, with diabetes, and so miserable that I won't want to get out of bed most days. It's time to change all that, and I can't wait until the proverbial "after the New Year" diet. It has to be NOW.

For the life of me, I cannot believe I haven't updated this blog in so long!! Since I've last been on here, let's see what's happened in my life...

1) 15 day trip to 5 European countries
2) Wedding in Las Vegas
3) Honeymoon in Mexico
4) New school year

Since Facebook has officially taken over as my way of communication to the "outside" world, I don't really feel a need to keep up with my blog. Therefore, I am officially signing off for a while. I hope to see you on the other side!!

Much love,
April

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Love is in the air

Okay, I'll admit it. I'm slightly obsessed, and Louis says he wants his fiance back. However, my obsession has yielded great results! We are getting married this summer on 7/11 in Las Vegas and then honeymooning in Carmen del Playa! I'm uber-excited!!!! The wedding is booked. The wedding night is booked. The honeymoon is booked, with the exception of our return tickets. As of right now, we are stranded in Cancun until Louis gets his passport number, but he's working on that (I hope!).

Now I'm using the Internet to research the fun stuff--what song do we want to dance to for our first dance? What wedding dress will I wear? (I refuse to actually go shopping until I'm down at least 25 pounds. What kind of veil will I wear? (I'm leaning towards a vintage birdcage veil...maybe in red?) What will my hair look like, and if I get it done the day before here, will it last overnight and on the airplane? I have pictures saved of wedding stuff that I have found online and really like, but I don't want to post any just in case Louis gets on here. I don't want him to see anything before it's time. :)

Here's what I can share:

Our wedding night--

Our honeymoon--

Now you see why I can't wait for July to get here? And this is even after my Europe trip. Um...I've got some saving up to do! :)

I'm engaged!

Louis proposed, and I said yes!! I'm engaged!!! Just wanted to say...

Princess

Louis and I have a new addition to our happy little family, a kitten we affectionately named Princess Samantha Snowpaw von Fluffykins. She is the cutest little kitten, but like any family pet, she is getting bigger and braver every day. Sammy, as we call now call her, has moved from being just a basement kitty to enjoying the evenings with us upstairs. We still don't trust Soze and her to be together during the day for a couple of reasons. 1) Sammy could figure out the doggy door at any time and be gone. At least when we are home, we can keep an eye out and see where she goes. 2) Even though Soze has never hurt Sammy, I don't trust her. Soze likes to "chase" Sammy and be near here every chance she gets. Sammy is learning to swat at Soze when she gets too close. I find it slightly amusing that this big Black Lab seems to be intimidated by this 2 pound kitten, but I figure they will learn to love each other. At least I hope this is the case. Isn't she just the cutest thing you've ever seen?

Time is flying by. I wish I could catch my breath.

We've been in school now for six weeks, and I cannot seem to get in gear. I'm in my new school, full of new ideas, students, changes, requests, requirements, and the like, and I have to be honest when I say that it's harder than I thought it would be. I love the new school and the teachers I work with on a daily basis, even if they aren't like the ones I left behind, but this is definitely the toughest job I've ever had. The students are somewhat different, but the rigor and class requirements are keeping me on my toes. Thursdays have become my late nights at school, working to prepare for the next week. Saturdays and Sundays have become just two more days to prepare and grade papers. It seems I spend more time at home working on the weekends than I do during the day just trying to keep up. Don't get me wrong--I'm enjoying the job as well. I just keep telling myself that it will all get better with time. Once I've prepped this year, I can make changes accordingly next year, and time won't be such a factor anymore. On the plus side, I am loving the drive time change. Instead of taking me 30 minutes to get to and from work, now it takes me 5 minutes! I've given myself the gift of time. :)

That's all for now. I don't want to appear as if I'm complaining. I just want to get some loads off my shoulders. Some days this is what I feel like: