Slackerrific Blogger

Hmmm, so how do you catch up on over a month of not posting updates for friends/family?  You bullet point and slack on creativity/humor:

• I passed my 7th CLU exam on Monday, the "Planning for Business Owners" course. I am so estatic!  Only one more left and this particular journey is done- I'll have achieved my Chartered Life Underwriter designation :)  I will test on the "Income Taxation" course around Dec 14th.  Then to finish pursuing the ChFC designation, I will do two courses/exams in February & March- I will have then achieved my Chartered Financial Consultant designation.  Yippee! Still working my way gingerly off the no-sleep-study-a-thon from Sunday night/Monday morning, though. Here are my completed courses, lined up in my office- sounds like riveting reading, eh?:

• Doug and Frank have been working their tails off running this past month.  They now can consistently do 4 mile runs out on the trail.  They're following the Hal Higdon half marathon training guide that I did for my first half.  I'm doing his intermediate II marathon training guide right now (modified the days, though, and I'm doing much longer, relaxed Saturday runs than specified).  It's just a schedule that helps you make great strides in improving your distance and keeping workouts mixed up.  Except this is how we feel most nights:

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  My thyroid biopsy turned out just fine, which was a relief. Doug was a supportive champ w/ me during it.  The Prolactinoma & Hashimoto's are under control, hormones leveled out, things going great.  Thanks to my personal nurse, my friend Carly, for always being my sounding board throughout everything this past year.  Makes me even more proud of my hard work & accomplishments in the weight loss department knowing I did it all despite a mild hypothyroid.  I have lost 39 lbs since the end of February!  Have to toot my own horn- isn't that what blogs are all about? Just working out really hard and couting calories, staying at a low-calorie, healthy, wholesome diet.  I am hoping to hit the final goal of 50 lbs total lost by December 31st.  I'll be at my goal weight then & plan on rewarding myself w/ a new pair of jeans from my sis-in-law's store.  It's all thanks to my wonderful group of friends on the 10 in 6 blog who I absolutely adore adore ADORE!  The most recent 10 in 6 challenge started up yesterday.  It's my 5th one participating in and my 3rd one running.  If you want to try and lose 10 lbs in 6 weeks (ladies only), then check it out.  Free support group of superheros.  It's pretty all-encompassing for my blogging outlet- so that's why I haven't been on this family blog very much lately.
  
  
  

• I have been caffeine free for 2 weeks
• All I can think about right now is a wonderful Thanksgiving break a head of me.  I can't wait to get in extra naps, extra workouts, & exra fun :)  We'll be with my family for a big Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday night, then with Doug's family for the rest of the weekend.  Dear wonderful weekend, please carry me through the next two days!

November Cards

Oprah Show

I took my mom to an afternoon taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show yesterday.  It was fun downtown at Harpo Studios- but not quite was I was expecting- the hours of waiting around was a lot longer and the actual time she was on stage was a lot shorter maybe 15-20 minutes- it was all over so quick- but it was a good day spent with my mom- soooo exhausted still.

We got a goodie bag w/ free Cosabella pajamas, book, makeup set, Oscar Blandi root touch up highlight pen, and Oscar Blandi dry shampoo. No car keys- darn. Air date not determined yet, but sometime in the next month. The topic was Look Great at Any Age and it was on makeovers.  The guest was Rita Wilson, who I didn't know who it was til I googled her.  She's Tom Hanks' wife, producer of My Big Fat Greek Wedding & Mamma Mia, acted some, and now she's a style column writer for Harper's Bazaar fashion magazine.  For some reason I feel kind of "eh" about the whole experience.  I can't really put my finger on why.  It was definitely a very fun adventure, and my mom's excitement made it all worth it :)  I'm glad I could do it.