McFatty Monday: The Case of the Thanksgiving Dinner and Old Halloween Candy.

Yes, yes, the title is a Perry Mason reference.  I am that big of a nerd.

The title is also telling of how my last week went...not well.  I have not weighed myself and am terrified to do so.  At this point the boots (which I am still searching for after discovering my fat calves are too big for my lovely boots) are not looking good.  Perhaps the fact that I no longer have an ascertainable reward is deterring my motivation.  Or the good Holiday food.   Or both. 

I have been stuffing my face full of sweet potatoes, turkey, deviled eggs and syrupy waffles....yummy waffles.  I am also imagining the delicious cookies, candies and rich foods that are approaching with the Christmas season.  I am assuming this is not the way to eat if I want to lose weight. 

At this point I need to decide to cut it out and just eat right regardless of the holiday or situation.  Or I can cop out and wait for the holidays to be over and THEN start my diet. 

I am super close to the cop out option.

But, I am doing my best to not give up.  After all, what good would I be doing myself if I simply resolved to be unhealthy thereby cutting my life and time with my family short?  No good at all is my answer to that.  So, here we go again.  I am about to hop back on the wagon...and go find some new boots while I am at it :)

Aside from finding me some kick ass boots, give me a click and get me back up in the tops on Picket Fences, please :)

Ball? I don't need no stinkin' ball!

Nikolai is taking after Noelle's superstar soccer qualities.  So much so that he doesn't even need a ball to perfect his skill....see for yourself.



Empty cups - they are all the rage this Christmas.  Ahhh, this is going to make gift giving this year SUPER easy. 

Review: Littlest Petshop 3: Biggest Stars

You know, Christmas is a mere 33 days away!!


Just in time for finding that perfect gift for the kiddos is a review of EA's newest Littlest Petshop game for Nintendo DS, Littlest Petshop 3: Biggest Stars.

When I am asked to do reviews for items that are clearly for someone my daughter's age, I always ask her what she wants to do. Noelle jumped at the chance to check out the game and excitedly awaited its arrival. When it arrived we waited for the homework and chores to be done and off to play the game she went.

Littlest Petshop 3 is a game about pets going into competitions, such as ice skating, hopping, fashion design and horse riding in an attempt to earn a spot on a team. Noelle absolutely LOVED it.

Her favorite part by far was the bunny hopping game, where the player jumps from cloud to cloud collecting points.  Noelle was always very excited to see the judges give her all "10s" when she completed her jumping.  Noelle also said the fashion design was hard because each one required matching in a really short amount of time - but she knows she will get better with time and keeps at it!

Now, let me tell you a few things that are important to me when choosing a game for Noelle...

1) No violence allowed. I don't like it and this game is violence free. It is just plain fun, what a game should be.

2) No "one hit wonders" meaning no games that you can play once and then they are no longer fun.

3) User friendly. I should not have to help my kid play a video game, they should be able to play themselves.

Littlest Petshop 3 hit the mark on all three of my criteria. Noelle had a great time playing the game and I am sure the kids you need to shop for this season will as well.  If you would like more info on this game, please click here.

Please note I was given this product to review at no cost. However, I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and the opinions expressed here are solely my own...and Noelle's of course.

Senior Moments

I am sure you are all probably sick of hearing about my husband.  Well, tough, you have to hear about him again today.

Now we all know Anwar is somewhat akin to the character Monk.  Yes, yes, Anwar is mildly OCD (nowhere near where Monk is, but it is a good comparison for those who are inexperienced with OCD).  He likes everything in its place and looking neat.  I kid you not when I say that one day I was browsing through pictures and found 17 pictures of drawers and cabinets arranged different ways.  When I asked Anwar about it he said that he likes to arrange the drawer one way - take a picture - arrange the drawer another way - take a picture - and then compare the pictures to see which way he likes it best. 

No, I am not kidding.

While I laughed my ass off, Anwar saw nothing wrong with his obsessive orgnaization of our home.

This tendency plays into his studies as well.  When Anwar was in school he would pedantically study.   To the point where he would spend hours and hours on ONE concept just to ensure he had not missed one single solitary detail with regard to that concept. I like to call it fixating - he likes to call it good studying. 

The point is the man has the details of life perfected.  He does not like to miss details.  He does not like to forgo learning important information.  He does not like to cut corners.

Well, you would think all of his OCD/pedantic tendencies would have spilled over into all of his life, right? Right?

Wrong.

Anwar seems to have missed one important detail...

While at Starbucks the other day the following conversation occurred

Barista:  What are you guys up to today?

Me: Nothing much, just headed out to celebrate my sister's birthday.

Barista:  How old is your sister?

Me: 32.

Anwar:  No, no, she is not 32.  She is the same age as me, 31.

Me: Really?  No, I swear it is 32.

Anwar:  I promise.

Me: No way, Anwar.  My sister is 2 year older than me and I am almost 30.  That makes 32.  Plus, both of you were born in 1978.  That makes 32.

Anwar:  Whatever.

After about five minutes in the car and Anwar doing something on his phone I heard him exclaim: Damn!

Me: What?

Anwar:  I am 32.  What the hell happened to 31?!

Haha!  I love him.

McFatty Monday: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Wanna hear the good first?  I lost 2 pounds since last week!

This is awesome because it was as simple as being conscious of what I was putting in my mouth this past week.  This is a great place to start, but is obviously not a very good way to continue to lose weight.  I know I will have to start being more strict with my diet again, but I feel like this was a good way to ease back into things.  Feels nice when it works :)

For the record, I have not lost two pounds since Friday - this is based on my weight as of last Monday. 

So, onto the ugly, which sort of leads to the bad.  I have big calves which means I have a tough time with the knee high boots.  The boots I picked so awesomely come in extended sizes and I was stoked to think I could have such an awesome pair of boots.  This awesomeness lasted until I tried a pair on.  The extended size would barely zip up.   Stupid calves.  Or should I say ugly calves.

It is bad that my reward option is not really feasible anymore.

So, I must get some new boots.   They cannot be knee highs...so I am out on the hunt again. 

Suggestions are always welcomed.

Now the next thing:

Today is the last day to vote for A JD + Three for thebump.com's Best Working Mom Blog Award!  Voting is very easy and takes seconds.  If you enjoy my blog, please take a second to vote.  Thank you!

I'm like a teenager with a chore chart

Let's not kid anybody...my house has been a disgusting disaster. 

Ever since I returned to work there just is not time to do the dishes, replace the towels, wash the clothes, vacuum the floor and make the bed.  Nor is there time for any of the other things that separate my home from a frat house. 

I have read quite a few blogs as of late wondering where the balance is - you know - between being a working mom and still having time for family, friends and household.  Well, I can tell you where the balance is for me:  I just tossed out that whole cleaning thing and viola I have more time for kids and husband.  See how easy that was?!

No really, I was embarrassed to have people over because my house STANK due to its dirty state.  STANK. 

So, to remedy this issue, Anwar and I re-instituted something we used to do back in the day.  A grown up version of a chore chart.

We alternate days during the week of quick kitchen clean up and living room tidying, then on the weekends we alternate deep cleaning of the bathroom and kitchen. 

Can I say I already feel better?  Like I am not sleeping in a mold infested dorm room.  So, so much better.

Maybe Anwar and I can start getting allowance next ;)

Don't forget to vote for A JD + Three on TheBump.com Mommy Blog Awards! 

I have been hiding from you...

with regard to McFatty Monday that is.  So, I decided to post this today instead of Monday because I have obviously been putting it off long enough.

I have not been exercising, I have not been eating well.  Actually, I should rephrase that:  I have been sitting around like a lazy ass and I have been eating every single item of junk food in sight.  I have gained 6 pounds since August and am entirely unhappy with the situation and my appearance.

I have always heard that you will be successful with eating right and exercise when being healthy is more important than that piece of food you are about to stick in your mouth or more important than sitting on the couch watching TV.  I suppose I have not reached that point yet.

In all honesty though, this crap is exhausting.  I know it is a lifestyle change, but living in fear of what you eat every day for the last 15 years is way too long.  So, I need something new.

That something new is literally something new.  I want THIS really bad.  I actually could go out and purchase them today if I wanted.  But, I have decided I need to work for them.  When I lose 10 pounds, I get the boots.  After that, another reward after another 10 pounds.

So, this means eating what I am supposed to eat and getting off the couch at the end of the day for a little 30DS.

Will this motivate me?  I hope.  I really want those effing boots.

Stay tuned for Project Anne's New Boots.

Also, if you have a moment, I'd love if you would vote for me in the Working Mom Category! Thank you!

There are some big fish out there.

I frequently refer to my blog as a "drop in the bucket."  A small piece of the vastly large arena known as mommy bloggers.  Many of these blogs generate thousands (yes, thousands) of daily hits, have extremely well written, well thought out and meaningful posts and have hundreds (if not thousands) of readers who cannot wait for the next post to be published.

I am not one of these blogs.

I tend to use the same words over and over (remember, I have the smallest vocab of any lawyer out there), I cannot craft my words to make my stories more powerful and I do not have the large following of readers.  In addition, I do not have these amazing stories or meaningful posts - instead, you all have to hear me complain about being fat, being (formerly) unemployed, my lack of sleep and my obsession with coffee.

Yet, many of you stick around and listen to me ramble on about nothing.  For that, I am grateful.

Thanks to Mom-in-a-Million (with her 11th hour pity nom) and our friends at The Bump I have been named as a finalist in this year's Mommy Blog Awards in the Working Mom category.  While I am just a little fish in a sea of big ones (I mean, come on, there are some really awesome blogs in this category) I would love to do my best and get some votes.

So, if you like reading my rants about weight loss, exercise, coffee, my NEW job and challenges with bathrooms - please click HERE and vote for me.  No account is necessary - just select A JD + Three and then vote :)

Thanks so much for sticking around - I truly appreciate it.

Wishing Time Away

I find myself doing it often. 

I wish it was lunchtime.  I wish it was 5:00 already.  I wish this day would be over.  Simple enough, right?  Whether due to hunger, bordem, fatigue or just wanting to be done with work, I find myself wishing away time.  Time that I am spending doing something I would rather not do I wish would pass so that I can get to things I want to do.

Although seemingly innocent, my wishing has more consequences than I first imagined.

Instead of wishing for the work day to be over, I am wishing for difficult times in life to pass as well.  I am wishing for difficult times to be gone.  I am wishing for tribulations to conclude.  I wish Nikolai would get a bit older and sleep better.  I wish Noelle were old enough to stay at home alone for a while.  I wish my kids were old enough to be more independent.

I am sure we have all uttered comparable wishes.  The problem is, when you wish for those times to be speed by, the rest of life speeds by as well.

Instead of this...

...you get this.

Instead of this...

...you get this:

I have spent so much time wishing for immediate gratification that I now have an blossoming lady instead of a a little girl and a toddler who does not even resemble the baby I still believe him to be.  I have wished for life to go by a little too fast.

So while I do not want to endure those last minutes of work, the few more hours of a horrible day, the moments before lunch or the trying times my kids go through as they grow, I do want to spend as much time of my life -  living life - as possible.

We interrupt this McFatty Monday...

because I am taking an exam for work today.  Please send positive vibes - I think I need them!

Yikes!

Halloween!

We had a great time! Noelle was a vampire and Nikolai was the one and only Mickey Mouse.  We went Trick-o-Treating with a friend of Noelle's from school and thrust me, we got plenty of candy.  After all was said and done, we went to a cozy (huge) bonfire and had hot dogs and soda. 

Pretty good night if I do say so myself.

Now get ready for a picture OVERLOAD!

Ahhh, it was a good Halloween :)

Now please click!

Start spreading the news!

Because I was in New York, New York!

It is a fabulous city with many sites to see and things to do.  I must admit, I did not get to do or see much (that whole working thing got in the way), but what I did see and do was AWESOME.

I did the obligatory stuff - walked through central park, saw the lights in Time's Square, ate a vendor hot dog, rode the subway and prayed for my life during several cab rides.

During my trip I have two favorites.  The first was seeing The Addams Family on Broadway with Nathan Lane as Gomez and Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia. Yes, I said Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth.  I have to admit that I was pretty star struck when they walked out onto the stage - I really could not believe they were standing right in front of me!  For the record, the show was absolutely amazing and oh so funny.  It was a great choice and I am so happy I was able to go.

The second thing was I got to hang out with Ingrid from Avery and Me.  Yes I am bragging.  And yes, you should be extremely jealous.  That woman and I downed an entire pitcher of Sangria - on a weeknight.  It was delicious.  She is super fun and I am so glad we got the chance to meet up!

The rest of my time in NYC was filled with studying, test taking and classes...I will spare you from the boring details.

Oh yes, I would totally share pictures...but my lame ass took maybe one.  I think it may be the Brooklyn Bridge...but I am not sure.  Haha!

Please clicky this little button too - I like to stay in the running :)

Tales from the bathroom...

Well, this is long overdue. 

You all stuck with me throughout my unemployment and were so supportive.  You were all so excited when I got my offer and when I took my first steps into the building on my first day of work.  So, you all deserve to know how it has been going!

I consider myself to be a competent person...a bright person as well.  But, apparently it takes more than one lawyer to figure out how to navigate the bathroom at my new gig.

It is a newer bathroom - with automatically flushing toilets.  Now, being a new girl I do not want to draw attention to myself, but apparently the toilet was not in on this ideal because every stinkin' (no pun intended) time I went into the stall the toilet would flush automatically - every single time I moved.  My new co-workers were probably wondering why the fed had hired a girl "bathroom" issues that require non-stop flushing of the toilet. 

OMG! 
My next problem came when it was time to wash my hands.  Not wanting to look around the bathroom like a lost school kid, I quickly got my hands wet and used the pump on the wall, rubbed my hands together and rinsed.  I did notice that this particular soap was not lathering very well...but who am I to criticize the fed's bathroom soap choices? 

This went on for about a week and I continued to use my non-lathering soap to wash my hands each and every day.  It wasn't until I saw a co-worker use the pump next to the faucet to wash her hands that I realized...my dumbass had been using the lotion pump on the wall to wash my hands.  Winner, winner chicken dinner.  Yup, that's me.

As if I didn't have enough issues with the bathroom - fate just wanted to toss me one more.  Now, I am your typically two-paper-towel-hand-dryer.  I do not think that just one paper towel can do the job without me wiping my damp hands on my pants (apparently doing so is not very professional).  I suppose the Fed was with me on this one.  Perhaps a bit too with me.  Every time I go to get a paper towel in the bathroom it is like I have just won the paper towel jackpot!  I got not one, not two, not even three, but like the whole damn package of paper towels all in one pull. 

God the rainforest hates me.

So, I suppose you should know, work is going well.  Everyone is really nice.  I am very likely known as the girl with flush requiring bathroom problems with really soft hands who hates mother earth. 

Good first impression, right?!

No she didn't!

Yes she did! I have no shame...nominations are appreciated :)

I'm going to get political on you for a moment...

Well, as political as I find it appropriate on my blog.  My lack of drama may disappoint you.  If so, I apologize in advance.

I am a committed voter.  I not only consider it my civic duty, but I also enjoy the fact that I have a part in choosing who will represent me in the political realm.  I very typically leave the voting booth excited and proud that I live in this country.

This time I did not feel that way.

I went into the booth knowing that I was voting for a candidate who I considered to be the lesser of two evils.  Knowing that I was voting for this person because I would vote for ANYONE just to make sure "that other guy" didn't win.  As an aside, I am considering leaving the state if "that other guy" does in fact win.  Yes, I am serious.

In sum, I left the polls feeling unfulfilled and, quite frankly, very disappointed.  I feel pretty safe saying that many people probably have a similar feeling.

I would love to get all idealistic on you all by saying that next time the fire will be lit again, but I cannot say that.  That would require providing me with candidates that are in touch with the people, not candidates that can "win".  I would like candidates that have any sort of idea what it is like to live in the real world and who know what it is like to have nothing and no resources.  I would like candidates who quit endorsing those horrible ads we all must endure on tv for months and months - especially when those ads contain very little truth.

You know, this would all be much better if my state had just ripped off the damn band-aid and provided us with a new governor.  But no.  We are going into a recount. 

Lovely.

signed,
A jaded voter...