American Idol Watchin'

Yep, you guessed it- it's Wednesday night, time for my critique!!  It's been a whole week since I've blogged- guess it's because I'm not consistently on my diet, and not working out :-(  I need to get ON it, August will be here before I know it.  I got my hair done tonight, at the new Elle Salon and Spa.  My friend, Ellie owns it and she's done a beautiful job rehabbing an old house in downtown Eureka.  On to American Idol....


Jacob- Really, must we waste airtime on him?  Sorry, but he has to go.  Now.

Lauren- Pretty girl.  Not sure I like the song, but I love her voice.

Duets?  Not into it tonight.  On with the show!!
Scotty- Way to go, Scotty!  Love it.  I love when country singers sing other songs besides country (don't really care for country).  I love, love when heavy metal rockers sing ballads.  (think November Rain, Beth, Alone)  That is one of my favorite things in life... 
James- Sorry, Lauren, but I think James just knocked you out of my first place spot.  Love him.  He can sing.  I agree with Jennifer, he was magical, and he is consistent.  "This guy might just win the whole thing" by Randy.  Yes, I'm with you, Randy!!
Duets- Snore, but love Lauren and Scotty.  Andy says it's "pitchy".  
Casey- He's very good, but can't compare to Lauren and James.  Bottom 3 with Jacob and Haley.  (his girlfriend).
Haley-  Ho Hum, she's ok.  I like her dress, it's more entertaining than she is.  Pretty hair.  Don't agree with Jennifer, she doesn't have one of the best voices in the competition, I disagree.  She belongs in the top 6, but her time is near.
Duets- Ugh, can I bear to listen to Jacob again?  Good thing James is singing to make it bearable...

Top 3- James, Lauren and Scotty with James taking it all.
Bottom 3- Haley, Casey and Jacob, with Jacob going home (please!!!!)

American Idol Watchin'

I'm watching American Idol early tonight.  I usually wait until the girls are in bed, but I'm feeling kind of "off" tonight, so I thought I would watch it live so I can go to bed early.  I feel like I'm getting a sore throat and feel a little achy.  A girl I work closely with just got over strep throat, so please pray I'm not getting that.  I took 2 Airborne, so hopefully that will help fight it off.  I got another $60 in donations today, which thrills me.   Last week my mom said she didn't agree with my take on American Idol completely.  I can't believe that- I think I would make an awesome judge! 

Scotty- Ho hum.  Love him, but he was kinda boring.
James- LOVE him.  Really, that was over the top awesome.  I'm a rocker at heart and I love him.  He's just adorable.
Haley- Kinda sounds like she needs to clear her throat.  She's very good, but just not for me.  She's a cute girl.
Jacob- No offense, but he needs to go.  Like my friend Patty says, all he needs is a dress :-)  Randy agrees with me.  (well, not with the dress part)
Casey- Love his song.  I like him a lot this week.  I can see him as this kind of an artist.  I'm agreeing with Randy tonight. 
Stefano- Can someone puhleese fast forward???  I do love this song, but he drives me batty.  Something about him is like nails on a chalkboard.  Kinda pitchy too.  It's a toss up between he and Jacob going home.  Can we do a double elimination??  Or maybe bring back Paul??
Lauren- Such a pretty girl.  I'm not a country fan, but I love her voice and she's my pick to win it (well, unless James keeps at it) I agree with Steven Tyler's take on her- she needs to do Faith Hill or Shania Twain. 

Top 3:  James, Casey and Lauren, with Lauren winning it. 

I loved the tape on Steven Tyler's mouth.  I normally don't care for bad language, just not classy, but it's funny when he does it- it's just like breathing for him.  


Andy is making fun of me blogging while I watch.  Some day I will be a famous judge and he will eat his words....


Good night!!!

Love my thermometer!!

I'm 74% of the way to my goal....  THANK YOU!!!!!  You have no idea how excited that makes me.  I remember when my cousin asked me to do this walk, and I found out about how much we were asked to raise and it made me very nervous.  I didn't know if I could raise that much.  Considering it's only April and I'm 74% of the way there, I am very confident that I will make it.  I can't express my appreciation enough.  That's A LOT of money, just think about what good this is going to do.  It's going to help so many women, which makes me happy. 

They say that the first year after losing someone is so hard with all of the holidays and "firsts" and they are right.   We have our first Easter coming up and Jennifer always colored eggs with the girls and their cousins.  We all had aprons to wear and she was always so patient as they mixed and stirred and stuck their fingers in all of the mugs to check the colors.  She made the best deviled eggs ever- they had BACON in them.  Yum.  She put bacon in everything, and I LOVE bacon.  Mother's Day and Andy's birthday are coming up too.  As much as I love Mother's Day, there is a cloud.  She always got me a present and a sweet card- she was so kind to always acknowledge me as a mom.  We always celebrated Mother's Day together with my mom and had such great times, bbq-ing on the deck, just hanging out.  I had a dream about her last night and it's left me feeling really uneasy all day.  She was sick and dying, and I kept telling everyone that she had already died, and that I remembered her funeral in detail, but no one believed me.  Dream analyzers, what does that mean?    Anyways, this blog is good therapy for me, so thanks for taking the time to read it :-) 

Randomness....

Andy always tells me that I'm random.  I'm not sure if that's a positive quality or negative, but it is what it is.  So that's what my post is today, just kinda random.  A few things I'm excited about- first, I heard from the husband of an old friend on facebook.  She was a bridesmaid in my wedding and through the years we lost touch and last night I had a friend request from her husband.  I'm very thrilled about getting back in touch with her, so that made me happy.  Secondly, the girls and I executed a perfect surprise last night for Andy's birthday coming up in May,  I can't say what it is, in case he reads this (don't think he does, but just in case), but it was one of those things that could either a) be a huge disaster or b) be a really fun surprise and so far it's b.  The girls are old enough to keep a secret and even when he asked what we did last night, the girls just said, "we went to Culver's", which was true, but they left out the surprise part. Will post more around May 11th!!

Referring to my last post, I was totally disappointed about the outcome of American Idol.  I loved Paul, and although I knew he wouldn't win it, I don't think it was his turn to go yet.  I will miss his teeth!!  You are asking about the diet?  Hmmm.... undecided.  Can't decide whether to press on with the HCG, or move to a less severe Weight Watchers type of thing.  I'm frustrated with myself that I fell off the HCG diet, it was going so well.  I'm afraid that WW gives too much room for sugar, which will make me crave more etc. etc.  My neighbor lost 40 lbs in 40 days on the HCG and looks like a totally different person.  That is motivating.  Maybe I'll give it another try this week. 

Thanks for reading, and tune in Wednesday night for another edition of American Idol Watchin'..  Andy just told me that "Stefano turned up his game this week."  I think he's been listening to too many radio shows.  That is Andy's addiction, talk radio.  I don't get it, but I know he doesn't get my addictions either!!  Have a great week!!

American Idol Watchin' Bloggin' Relaxin'

Renee's American Idol Review....

Paul- not loving his blingy suits, but I do love him.  Love his voice. And his teeth.  His very white teeth. 
Lauren- love her, I think mostly because of her name :-)  She's beautiful and has the look.  I think she could win it. 
Stefano- don't care for him.  He's my least fave except for Jacob.  He looks like he's about to break out in a grand mal seizure tonight.  Ok, the judges might like him tonight, but Judge Renee gives him a big thumbs down....
Scotty- Not a big country gal, but I do love Scotty.  What a voice, really.  He really sings to the camera and is just adorable.   Randy says "a star is born on this stage".  I have to agree.  He will succeed no matter what the outcome of AI is....
Casey- The only reason I like Casey is because Andy does.  He loves how he plays the bass.  I personally am getting a little tired of him, he just doesn't do it for me, but I hope he does well. He did a kinda nice, kinda jazzy, kinda sleepy job tonight...
Haley- (funny that we almost named Lauryn "Hayley")- She has an incredible raspy voice that I love.  I love Blondie and I think she does it well. 
Jacob- Andy says he sounds like Kermit.  I agree.  Must go soon, like tomorrow would be good.  My least favorite.  Too much lip gloss.  Too gospely tonight or something.  Send him home!!!!
James-  Love this boy.  Maybe it's because he's so awesome in spite of his Asberger's and Tourette's.  I'm not totally heavy metal, but I do have a true appreciation for some good rock. 

Jennifer Lopez, the most beautiful woman?  I duh no.  That might be pushing it.  No doubt she's beautiful, but she's not the "wow, I can't look away" kind of beautiful.  Just my opinion. 


The diet?  Not so good.  Frustrated with how inconsistent I am.  I can do great for 3 weeks and then blow it.  I haven't given up- I do well during the day, but when the moon shines, it's a different story.   I traveled for work Sunday and I never sleep well when I'm not at home.  I've been exhausted ever since.  I need to sleep with my fan by my side for "white noise".  I slept awesomely the past 2 nights, but think I'm still catching up.

Andy has started the HCG diet too and has lost 5 lbs since Monday!  This stuff works when you don't cheat!!!  I haven't given up, I will keep going :-) 

I'm a Cheater...

I cheated on my diet and I feel awful about it.  I ate a sub sandwich and a cookie at the ballgame yesterday and then had a margarita at dinner last night when we went out for Mexican.  I had 3 cookies for breakfast.  There, I said it, it's out.  I promise not to do it again, the guilt is not worth it.  I didn't get on the scale today because I was too afraid to see what it said.  Maybe I will tomorrow.  I feel so good when I'm successful on the diet, and there is nothing that tastes as good as that feels.  I'm just getting tired of chicken breasts and fish and salad.  BUT, I need the simplicity of a limited choice for meals, unlike weight watchers. I have to travel for work this weekend, so I'm not sure how the food choices will be, but I will try my hardest. 

I went to the basement tonight to find the girls' summer clothes, and I found a Marshalls bag.  I opened the bag and found 2 dresses that Jennifer had bought the girls last summer.  They didn't fit, and I must have forgotten to take them back to the store.  It was an strange feeling to know that she had picked out those dresses, touched the bag etc.  I miss her so much.  Andy bought the girls rose scented bubble bath, and it makes me teary when I bathe them, as it reminds me of her.  She always smelled like roses.  I loved when she dressed up.  Everything coordinated from her shoes to her purse to scarf to her earrings.  She just glowed.  She wasn't afraid to wear bright colors.  I wear black and grey, because I know it will match.  She wore aqua, turquoise and melon because she could coordinate it and pull it off.  She always saw the good in people.  When she met someone for the first time, she always mentioned something positive about them.  I'm embarrassed to admit that I used to think she saw the world through "rose colored glasses".  Now I know that she was the real deal.  She truly saw the best in people, she brought out the best in people.  I miss her.  Sometimes I just can't believe she's really gone. 

New Shoes!!

I got an e-mail from New Balance today and they said they would replace my shoes with these.  I think they're cute enough, but they are cheaper than the shoes I purchased.  I'm not so worried about the $$ as I am the quality.  I hope it's an equivalent quality shoe.  Most of all, I hope it doesn't hit too high in the back and cause more blisters.  I was very happy with their customer service and will buy from them again.  I have my eye on some slip on really cute sliders.  They would be perfect to wear around camp at the 3 day.  I would make an excellent rich person, I do love to shop and feel like I'm pretty good at it.  I'm down another pound on the scale, pretty excited. :-)