I am in the middle of cleaning up Christmas and I realized I never posted yesterday and I almost forgot again today. The kids are home fromm school and it throws my schedule all off. We hung out last night with our good friends Allen and Shannon who recently moved back to Cali from Florida. Allen is a youth minister at a church in Santa Cruz. We love to hang out with them because we always pick right back up where we left off the last time we saw them 2 years ago. Also they are young with kids. Need I say more? So we are getting ready for the new year by doing nothing. Last year we spend New Years at home with the kids and it was one of the best ones we have had. We love to hang out with friends and have a good time but until Pj gets a little older it is easier to stay home. Next week also marks Ali getting back on my diet. I am actually ready to get back on plan. I love to wake up and get on the scale to see what has happened over night. I am ready to get the last 30 pounds off like yesterday. Well I am off to get the house back to normal mode and out of holiday mode. Oh I also emailed like all of you but in case I forgot Shawn is having a football party at our house next Sat. the 5th if any of you are interested. The plan is to watch football maybe play some poker and eat hotdogs and beer. Total guy day. Ok well Happy New Year everyone. My New Years Resolution is to get to my weight loss goal sometime during the next year. Broad but that works better then a date for me. Have a good one.
Ali

Dec. 26, 2007
Merry Christmas a day late. We had a great Christmas. We spent Christmas eve at Shawn's parents like normal. We woke up yesterday and did the Christmas morning with the kids and had breakfast. In the afternoon all of my family came over and spent the evening at our house. We had fun and saw lots of people who we don't normally get to see. I got a new Brighton watch and Le Cruset pan that i have been wanting from Shawn.
I have been taking a break from the diet for the last few weeks. I will be starting on Jan. 2nd with the whole thing. I was going to restart today but we have a ton of leftovers and I don't have any of my diet friendly foods in the house right now. I did weigh in to see where I stand and I am at 162.6 so still gaining. Good part is it should not be to hard to take it off quickly if I get serious.
Ok well have a great day and I will chat again tomorrow.
Ali

Dec. 21, 2007
Happy Friday. Can you believe we have only 4 days until Christmas? I am still so unpreparred. Today I am doing maket trips and wrapping about 500 gifts. SHould be fun and put me in the spirit.
Last night we went to see Cody in a Christmas play/musical. It was so cute. As soon as he got on stage he is looking all over for us. He saw us and then is waving amd making face the rest of the time he was on stage. Ya, my kid was the waving kid who didn't sing just smiled at his parents the whole time.
Shawn and I met for lunch yesterday. Pj was at the sitter and I get lonely when all the kids are gona and I am home alone. Honestly it never happens but to keep his spot in childcare pj still has to go over Chrstmas break. I thought I would have time to get all inds of stuff done but instead I have been baking, wrapping, shopping with the free time.
Well I don't know when the next time I post will be so to everyone have a very Merry Christmas. Don't get stressed and enjoy it.
Talk to ya soon,
Ali

Dec. 20, 2007
I was so good yesterday. I had my coffee for breakfast, my little lean cuisine pizza for lunch, and tuna salas for dinner. Really good. Then the neighbor came over with baked goods. one of the cookies is sugar cookies with almond icing. You don't understand my mom made cookies like tis every year. I failed and ate 5 cookies and a handful or 2 of tortilla chips. I almost had a great day. I consider it successful in that I ate what I planned on. I consider it unsucessful in those damn cookies being in my house. Then I did something kind of mean. I had just talked with this lady about dieting and struggles and how she really wants to lose weight. So if she brought cookies into my house it is only fair for me to return the favor right? I made a big old bag of all the cookies I have been baking and sent them to her house. How sad is it that I am hoping that she ate the whole bag last night. Hey I am a girl and it would only be right to be mean once in awhile. Oh well. Here is to another good day even if the cookies win a little bit. I weighed in this morning just to check in. I weighed in at 158.6 so definitly up but her I am working on building up a winter coat of fat :)
Ali

Dec. 19, 2007
Well I lost the battle again yesterday. I baked all day again and we had our very favorite Macaroni grill for dinner. Today I am going to do better. I have it all planned out. I cannot weigh in without having a few good days. I toyed with the idea of staying off the diet until Jan 2. but If I gain .5 to 1 pound a day eating all the goodies I want that could mean about 20 pounds gained. Not doing it. So today I am going to have a frozen dinner for lunch and tuna salad for dinner. I know today will be tough only because I have been eating so much I need to retrain my body to know when it is satisfied instead of cramming it full. I know I have gained because my pants feel tighter. How am I going to look cute for the holidays if none of my clothes fit? So back to being good today.

Have a good one,
ALi

Dec. 18. 2007
This season is getting the best of me. I am having a harder time staying on track then I thought I was going to. I baked yesterday. Last night Matt came over for his birthday dinner. We made pork chops. It was a fun night of hanging out. I ate a bunch of cookies. You have to test everything before you give them to people. Isn't that right? Anyways my tummy is very upset with me and all my cheating. I am going to try really hard today to stay on track.
I did not weigh in this morning. If I have gained I don't want to know because it will drive me crazy. So Ali is going to be good today and eat right. I have come to the idea now that if on Jan 7th when I go back to school and life returns to normal I weigh the same or close to what I did when I left school for break I will be totally fine with it. Wish me luck.
Have a dry day.
Ali

Dec. 17, 2007
We had a great weekend of family fun and relaxation. Friday night we babysat out nieces and made cookies. Girls are so different then boys. Sat. we had our family Christmas party. We ate and played to our heart content. Sun Shawn and I both were sick and layed around the house doing nothing. We both got a cough and lost our voices. Funny part is when you are a little sick and your ears are kind of clogged up so you cannot hear very well combined with no voices. We spent most of the day saying what. We are feeling better today but the voices are still a little gone.
Well I cheated all weekend. We ate bad for Friday night dinner, Sat. was a free for all and I ate everything, Sun. was a clean up and eat everything that was left over from Sat. I did terrible but it is Christmas and I expected to do this. My plan is be good all week and then cheat again for Christmas and then get back on hard after the holidays are over. So here is the kicker I am thinking of not weighing in until the day after Christmas. This cound be better then getting discouraged by it not moving or could be bad because I may not have any idea where I stand and gain a ton. I am still thinking about it. I'll let you know what happens.
I am a baking fool today. Need to get the Chrstmas goodies ready for all the neighbors.
Have a great Monday.
Ali

Dec. 14, 2007
I went and had my pedicure yesterday with Carrie. We had a fun time and I had the chance to sit and chit chat with another female. I think we all need that once in awhile. Carrie is a fun and talkative person and we talked the day away. Thanks Carrie,
After I got done with the pedicure I went and got Pj and then went to the market to get everything for Sat. By the time I got home I was starving and had only had a coffee for the day. Shawn came home and I went to the old faithful Taco Bell. I tried to be good and had a fiesta Chicken Burrito which is really not to bad for you at all. I think the potato cup and spicy chicken soft taco that chased it down could have been avoided if I had tried a little harder. After dinner we decorated our annual Gingerbread house. Seriously I licked and ate so much candy. How do you tell a 2 year old no more candy for Mom. Oh well. So this morning I get back on and start the diet up again. I honestly weighed in this morning at 153 something but I was disappointed and don't want to remember the real number. Why do we all want to be that person that can mess up once in awhile and not gain. Oh well.
I am off to get ready for the day.
Ali

Dec. 13, 2007
I have decided to be super optimistic and instead of putting my weight everyday I am going to start a countdown. As of this morning I have 20 pounds to go. I weighed in at 152.8 so really 20.5 but close enough. I did have a salad yesterday because it was the easiest thing in the house for dinner. So I did have some carbs from that.
I fired my kiln again yesterday and have my first finished in my ouw home studio pieces. I am excited. I am learning all the little details about ceramics. One of my pieces sis blow up and shatter all over the kiln. I was a little impatient and put them in while they were a little bit wet. You will all see what I have been making when you gfet your Christmas gifts. :)
Today I am going to get a pedicure with Carrie Jones for one of my sponsored pounds. I am excited. It should be alot of fun and talking.
Pj is still sick, he has a nasty cough but he still is running around the house in full force.
Ok well I am off to get stuff for the Brenner family Christmas that is going to be at our house on Sat. Busy day of shopping and planning here I come.
Have a good one,
Ali

Dec. 12, 2007
I did really good yesterday. I am back to my strict lean protein, eggs, string cheese, and yogurt for a few days to get my body back to not living off of carbs. I feel a little tired and worn out but I know it will pass.
I fired my kiln for the first time yesterday and all is good. I actually am going to fire it again today with some stuff in it. Yeah I love having a home studio. My professor actually checked in to make sure I had it up and running correctly.
I weighed in this morning at 153.6 so a few more pounds down from yesterday. It is a good modivator for me to go strict and see some weight come off again. It is hard but worth it. I am so close to my goal I can taste it. 21 pounds to go.
Have a good day,
Ali

Dec. 11, 2007
What a great day I had yesterday. I went to an electrical store in the morning and got all the cord to get my kiln up and working. Now I have a fully functional kiln. Bad part is it is so big I have to make a bunch of stuff to fill it up. Darn. Just kidding.
Next I went to the botanical gardens with Justin and Brandy. We went for a good walk and I got some leaves to make more necklaces. I love to see J and Brandy they are just so fun and unique.
lat I came home made dinner and then got my grades for last quarter. I thought I knew my grades but I officially know them now. I got a B- in art history, an A- in my drawing class, and an A in ceramics. I had a 3.51 Gpa I am so excited. I did really well for my first quarter. I am an A and B grade student for like the first time in my life. Love it.
I weighed in this morning at 156. somthing. I can't remember and forgot to write it down when I came downstairs. I had a tough day yesterday. I was good all day and only ate good stuff then noght came. I got the munchies and wanted to eat so bad. I was really good with Shawn's help and had an omelet to eat something but not bad stuff like I wanted. It is so hard to get back on this diet after I have cheated a few days in a row. For some reason the holidays and cold air make me want to eat. I am going to lose this season I am I am I am. (Stomping my feet). I just have to keep focused on my goal and the fact that I have sponsors helping me out really helps in this tough time. Thanks everyone.
Ali

Dec. 10, 2007
Ahhhh I had another terrible weekend. I did not stick to my diet at all. Terrible. Today I am going to take Pj for a long walk and get back to my good habits. I am hoping to be back to my previous weight sometime soon. I am getting back on the horse for the I don't know 50 millionth time. Pretty soon I hope he will just stop throwing me off.
Sat. I got my kiln. It is beautiful and I keep going into the garage to check it out and admire it. I am a total ceramics dork. I am excited because I got a great deal on it. Now the only problem I have is plugging it in. It is a 220v. plug and the only 220 we have is by the dryer. I am going to go to home depot and see what I can do about it today.
What else. We hung out and did alot of nothing yesterday. Shawn was not feeling well all weekend so he just loft around yesteray in an attemt to feel better today. He is doing much better. This week I am going to be cleaning, organizing, and getting some work done on my ceramics.
I weighed in this morning at 159.4 I told you I did terrible. We went to our favorite mexican place on Fri. and then Sat we went to a party where I had hot cocoa, a few bites of cake, and yummy potato salad. Dinner we went back to the same mexican food again. Yesterday we ordered pizza for dinner. I over did it in all kinds of ways. I am going to do my start up week of my diet with lots of lean protein, salad, and eggs to get back to eating right again.
Have a good Mon.
Ali

UPDATE-
I GOT A B- IN MY ART HISTORY CLASS!!!! I AM GOING TO DANCE AROUND AND THROW UP NOW. I AM SO EXCITED....

Dec. 7, 2007

Without even realizing it I decided to add up how many days I have been dieting. I started on July 7 -7/7/07 can you tell I love 7. SO that would make today my 5 month mark. 5 months I have been doing this and I didn't even know it. I go back to school in 1 month on Jan 7 This will be my 6 mo mark and I would love to be at like 75 lost by then. 14 pounds in a month can be done. Hoping Christmas doesn't mess with me too much. Also another wierd fact is that my 30th birthday will be on 2/7 and it will be my 7 month mark. Gotta love the 7.

I made it through my first quarter as a college Junior. I can't believe it went by so fast. Yesterday was my ceramics final which went awesome. My professor liked my bowl sculpture so much she thinks if I go into a masters program I should use it and make a bunch of the same thing in different styles and colors. I put a pic up top because it is so not an Ali piece. I love it but it is wierd and not normal for me. Maybe that is why it is so awesome. I got an A on the piece and an A in the class. The piece is all made up of cut and reshaped bouncy hand balls that I made replicas out of clay. Also my professor Alison pulled me aside yesterday and told me she would like to set me up with a lady she knows who owns a bead shop in Claremont. The woman is looking for someone to make stuff for her to use and sell in her shop. My professor was wearing one of my necklaces at the time and the woman really loved it. I am going to make up some necklaces and then take them over and meet her in the next few weeks. Seems like this whole pendant thing is coming together.

My night class went really well also. I posted the pics a few days ago. I got an A on the project and another A in that class. It is always a great feeling when someone appreciated your work and tells you why. I had a great semester and will miss all of the new people I have met but one month off will be fantastic.

I had a tough day yesterday. I did not get a free second to eat until 4pm. By this time I was dying. I went to El Pollo Loco and got an all chicken burrito with salsa. After my burrito I went to class that was a Pizza party. I was so good and didn't have any pizza. My good friend did make cookies and 2 happened to make it into my mouth. Then I got home and Shawn and I split an super yummy piece of Butterfinger Cheesecake. Talk about good. I weighd in this morning at 155.2 again so no gain after a tuff day is so nice.

Well enough writing today. Have a good weekend.

Ali

Dec. 6, 2007
Yesterday I actually got all the house clean and the laundry done in 1 day. I have not been able to get everything done in 1 day in weeks. On top of that I made dinner without hating that I had to. It is sad when life is so busy you hate all the stuff you usually don't mind doing.
I pick my kiln up on Sat. I am so excited I didn't sleep last night I just kept running things through my head. I know I am a dork.
I have my last 2 finals today. My ceramics is easy I just show up and tell about this bowl thing I made. My night final is a pizza party and turn in the pictures that I painted over the weekend. Should go well. I am just thankful to be done. Next semester I am going to be taking advanced ceramics, photography, and health and human ecology. I will be there 8am to 8pm T and Th. It will be cool to just be in different classes.
I did so good yesterday. I cleaned like a mad woman. I ate only good stuff except for 1/2 of an avocado. I weighed in this morning at 155.2 another pound gone. 61 pounds gone now. Odd thing is I weigh in the 150's and I keep writing 190 and 170 is my weigh in book I guess the mind is still stuck in the past. I am also excited to be in vacation from school becasue I will have the chance to focus on my weight loss and make it a priority again for awhile. I have still been losing but not with the foods and things I want to be in.
Ok well I am off to my fianls.
Ali

Dec. 5, 2007
I reached 60 pound lost today. I can't believe I have lost 60 pounds. Sad part is I had 60 to lose in the first place. I like to compare so lets see what we can compare to today. I have lost 12 bags of sugar. I am 8 pounds from losing an entire garrett.
Ok now the best news of the day. I am buying a Kiln. Yeah, I know most of you don't understand what that means but to a ceramics person it is the ability to do ceramics in my home and not have to drive to school on the weekend. There is an older woman near my house who is getting rid of one becasue she is moving into an apt. and there is no room for a kiln. I am more excited then anything because I can do ceramics over winter break and summer vacation. I am hoping to have it up and running in the next week or so. Yeah again. She is also selling it to me for like 1/2 of the amound she could sell it for. I cannot wait.
Today I am doing house upkeep that has been put off for awhile because of school. I am actually looking forward to being a stay at home mom for a month. No school. It's a great feeling.
Ali

Dec. 4, 2007
I am done with European art history. Yeah. Now hopefully I pass the class and dont have to take it again. I have no idea how I did for a few weeks. I have finals on Thur. fo rmy other 2 classes but I just have to turn stuff in that I am already done with. WHoo.
Today after my final I had the opportunity to go to a lunch with my mother in law at the pacific palms hotel. My mother in law works for the chamber of commerce and I was able to meet some of her co workers who follow the blog. It is always nice to meet my fans. Just kidding. It is nice to meet people who know about me and what I have been going through. We had a wonderful lunch and the Mt. Sac choir sang Christmas songs, they were fantastic. I had a very fun afternoon.
Now I am sitting here doing homework with the boys and enjoying the idea of not studying tonight. I am so glad I am done.
I weighed in this morning at 157.2 again. I was good yesterday but had taco's for dinner from Del Taco. I had studied up to my eyeballs and couldn't think about cooking. Today I did really well at the luncheon and ate less then 1/2 of my food. I did however eat 1/2 of my dessert which was egg nog mousse. It was good but very sweet. Hopefully tomorrow the scale moves down even with my bump.
Have a great evening and I will talk again tomorrow.
Ali

Dec. 3, 2006

What a weekend. I told you from the beginning that I was going to be honest with you. So here it goes. I did terrible this weekend. Terrible. The worst I have been in 5 mo. of dieting. I weighed in this morning at 157.2 Friday was our going to get Christmas tree and Pizza night. 2 slices of pizza and a salad. Then I came home and made an ice cream sunday. I ate a few bites and it was so sweet I had to throw it out. The looks from Shawn like what are you eating didn't help either. Sat. I woke up and had a yogurt even though Shawn had made whole made hashbrowns, eggs, and bacon, I was very proud. I got caught up in finishing some art homework and didn't eat anything the rest of the afternoon but a string cheese. We went to our nieces party at Chuck e Cheese and I had a piece of cheese pizza and a mini cupcake. On the way home we stopped at our favorite Mexican food place and Shawn and I split a carne asada burrito, a shrimp burrito, and a huge order of chips with cheese and guacamole. Yum, I am glad we don't live close to that place anymore. Well after we ate all that food Ali went into the cabinet and pulled out the chocolate squares that have been starring at me since Thanksgiving. I had 3 of those, they are small but still a no no for me. Sun. Cody was sick so we did nothing and hung out at home eating. I didn't eat breakfast, lunch was a huge fastfood burger with lots of swiss cheese, and about half a box of french fries, then Shawn had 2 fried cheese sticks that made their way into my mouth as well. I also had a few margaritas through the day. Let see if we can top it off. I also ate the last 2 chocolates that were left from the night before. Last we ordered pizza for dinner so i ate 1 piece of stuffed crust cheese pizza and 1 extra crust. Oh and Pj found the whipped cream in the fridge and while spraying some in his mouth I had a few mouthfuls as well. How embaressing once you write it all down. I can honestly say I feel gross this morning, fat, and yucky. Good thing is I am back 100% today.

I had some paintings to do for my night class. I had to design an album cover for a band that already exists so I did Goo Goo dolls Iris, and Great Northern a new band that is awesome there album is something like swapping daylight for twilight. What do you think of the final product? I thing they are ok, I hope the teacher thinks so to. Good thing is I am almost done.

Today the plan is to cram in a ton of studying and getting ready for my final tomorrow morning. Yuck. Oh and to not eat like a maniac too.
Have a good day.

Ali

Dec. 1st 2007
Whoo hoo we got Garth Brooks tickets. We got up and on the computers and got tickets to go to the Sat. night concert. We are going with Matt and Scotty J. Shawn is so excited. We had Matt and the two of us on the website trying to get tickets and Matt got them for all of us.
Last night we went and got our Christmas tree. We went to Lowes and got the biggest tree ever. It is huge. It was in the 6-7 ft area but it is about 8 ft tall and very full and round. HUGE! We also went to pixxa at Round Table for tradition sake. I had a salad and 2 pieces of pizza, yummy, the pizza there wins me over everytime.
Let see I did not weigh in this morning yet because I ran downstairs to get the Garth tickets. Thanks Matt! So I will let you know on Monday how I am doing. Have a great weekend. We are decorating a tree. The older 2 boys are sick so we are hoping they are feeling better by this afternoon for our Nieces birthday party.
Ali