The Biggest Loser

So I've started the biggest loser. It really shouldn't be called the biggest loser, because it's not about losing weight (that's just an added bonus), but it's about a healthy lifestyle. It's pretty simple. I get a point for various things (like working out, eating fruits and veggies, drinking water, getting enough sleep, avoiding sugar, etc.)
I've found it's hard to motivate me to be healthy, but I love writing "to-do" lists and checking items off of it, so this allows me to check off things I do each day to be healthier. Maybe my to-do list will motivate me. The only downfall is I get 1 point for no caffeine AND 1 point for no carbonation. That means my beloved Diet Coke costs me two points (because caffeine-free Diet Coke is pretty much sacrilegious)! So I have to save it for special occasions.
Right now, I'm the only one doing it (besides my mom and dad...but they're no fun, because they kick my butt at being healthy), so it's not really a contest with anyone besides myself. But if anyone is interested in it, let me know and I can send you my biggest loser list.
Who knows how long the motivation will last, but it's worked for 2 days!

Life with a one-year old is great! Savy's been practicing walking for a few weeks, but she really got the hang of it yesterday. There's no longer any crawling, just walking for her. And man, is she fast! It's a good thing our house is so little and it doesn't have any stairs, cause in a matter of seconds, she's off to another room! I swear she walks a mile a day around our house...in and out, up and down, around and around, and then repeat! I've quite enjoyed hanging out with her all day long. She makes even a walk to the mailbox exciting!

(What a babe, huh? She doesn't quite like the pink tutu, but I have to put it on her every once in awhile because I think she's adorable in it. And, any time the tutu's on, the camera has to be out!)

My life has been nice not having to worry about school. I get to sleep in till about 7:00, I get all my "chores" done by about 9:00, and then me and Savy have the rest of the day to play. I'm lucky to have my family close by...you'd think I'd moved in with my parents with the amount of time I spend at their house...and it's fun to hang out with my sisters. Now I just need to make some friends around here so me and Savana can play with even more people. My inability to make friends is pretty pathetic . We've been in this area for almost two years, and I still haven't made any really good friends in my neighborhood. I've got friends everywhere else, but none real close to home. But really, who needs a friend when their bestest friend is there, 24/7, ready in a moment's notice to snuggle with them, her silky blankie, and her binkie!

Salem Pond and Other Fun Times

My sister, Tiona, has been in town from Kentucky (I asked her, and it is Kentucky...not Indiana!), and it has been so much fun to see her! Her husband, Carl, is going to medical school back east and he dragged her back there for the last year (and the next few years), so we only get to see her about once a year. Not only has it been great to see her, but it's also given me the excuse to hang out with my family even more!

We've visited grandparents in Tooele, swam at my pool, gotten sexy pedicures, washed very dirty cars (Shanda's is now white instead of brown), shopped the outlet stores at Park City, and visited Salem Pond. We still have two and a half more days of fun with Tiona and then she's heading back to her hubby. And we'll miss her so much when she's gone!

Here are some pictures from Salem Pond. Oddly enough, I don't have any shots of Tiona...she was hiding behind her camera most of the time...but I certainly have some cute ones of Savy and her cousins.


At first, Savy wasn't sure what to think about the sand. She'd timidly place her feet on the sand and quickly pull them away. But once I introduced her to the softer, wetter sand by the pond and let her feet prance around in the shallow water, she was no longer hesitant. In fact, she quite enjoyed it. And was fascinated with the way it squished in her hand and tasted in her mouth. YUCK!!


This is after I told her to stop eating the sand. She doesn't like being told no!




Carter and Brexten had the time of their lives at the pond. They played together for a little while, but by the end of the day they'd both found friends on opposite ends of the beach to play with. Kids are amazing at their ability to find and make friends just about anywhere!


Carter built a small "lake" in the sandy beach with his bucket and shovels. Savy and Brexten certainly enjoyed playing in it.


Thanks, Tiona, for coming out and letting us have a great time together! We love you!

Happy First Birthday, Savy!

I can't believe a year has already passed by since our beautiful daughter came into this world.  It's hard to remember life before her.  She makes life wonderful!  Her cheesy smiles melt my heart, and the way she babbles to herself brings a smile to my face.  Here are a few snapshots of her rocking party today!  Thanks to all who made it down here to celebrate the first year of her life!

My sister, Shanda, made this adorable pink tutu!  I'm sure it will be the only thing she'll want to wear in a few months!

Savy was such a lady when it came to eating her cupcake.  She daintily picked it up with her fingers and shoved it in her mouth.  With the way she usually attacks food, I was amazed at her lack of enthusiasm for a chocolate covered cupcake!

We crammed a lot of people into our pool and had a blast!  Me and Savy are surrounded by beautiful girls on both sides of the family!  The first shot is of me and Ashlie and our gorgeous daughters.  The second one is of all my sisters minus one (Brynn had to work...boo-hoo).  My sister Tiona even came out from Kentucky (or Indiana...wherever she lives back east!) to spend the day (and all of next week!) with us.

Happy Birthday, Savana!  We are so lucky to have you in our lives!

Sad, Sad, Story...

Last week, my laptop from work started acting really funky when I went to start it up. So I took it into the tech service at our district to get it fixed and the guy told me my hard-drive needed to be replaced. He said "try" to get anything off of my old hard-drive, but no guarantees. So today I got the sad news...nothing could be retrieved off my hard-drive. There goes years of lesson plans for school, my homework, everything and anything I had prepared for school, and we lost about three months of pictures of Savy that aren't on our computer at home. Sob, sob, sob.

So if anyone has pictures of my little girl, please send them my way. (Because the hundreds I still have isn't enough)

Oh, and back up anything important on your computer. Tonight. Don't wait a minute, cause you never know when your computer will go tick, tick, BOOM!

Drum roll, please...

Introducing the newest addition to the Stroman family!

Hey fatso, get off your couch!

Yesterday I was watching Oprah (I love Oprah), and she had Weight Loss Hall of Famers on her show. There were stories of people losing from 60 pounds all the way up to 500 pounds. And all of them did it the old fashioned way with exercise and eating healthily. And most of them did it in under two years. I was shocked at their ability and dedication to work so hard and lose so much.

Whether it's 100 pounds, 20 pounds, 10 pounds, or even 5 pounds, most of us have something we want to lose. Bob Greene said that women have to be perfect in their eating (which none of us are) or else we have to exercise to keep the weight off. And we have to work harder than men to keep it off. (Isn't it great to be a woman!)

Needless to say, I was inspired by the stories of these people, and if they can do it, I can do it too. So I'm extending an invitation and a challenge to anyone out there who's fed up with the few extra pounds they've put on and want to get rid of them with me. I'm up for any suggestions on how to do it, and I'll support and work out with those who want to join me. Come one, come all, and let's work that fat off of us!