Seeing Ex Soon...Ugh

We are going to my stepdaughter's band thing this weekend and the ex will be there.  I bought a skinny pair of jeans to wear with a sexy pair of heels for a casual but not casual look with my 19 pound smaller body.    I'm very happy to be able to fit into a skinnier pair of jeans.  I'm hoping I don't fall over in those heels.  Other than cowboy boots, I haven't worn heels in years. 

It's too bad there are still 13 pounds left to lose but 19 pounds is a good start, especially when you are going to be in the same building as an ex who can't stand you.  The 13 pounds should melt off like the rest of it did and I won't have to look into phentermine or any other weight loss help so far. Other than vitamins and managing my thyroid, I've not needed anything else (so far).

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Mare Didn't Pork Out Over Winter

My mare looks pretty good for not doing much over the winter.  She actually loves winter so she was probably more active than most. When the others are in the run-ins, she's playing in the snow.  I was wondering if she was going to look like an advertisement for the best weight loss supplements ever and be round but she looked good. The "best weight loss supplements" advertisement should've been for her human mom (me) the last four years.  Her legs look SO strong, but I guess they better since she is half Clydesdale.  She gets her feet trimmed up in a week.  She'll be looking good for getting back into working for spring.  She has calmed down a lot as well.  I guess since she's coming up on six years old, it's about that time to.  She's so calm and sweet.

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Lighter in the Saddle

I stopped by the stable this evening to see the horses and work on my mare's mane.  It's the first time we've been at the barn at the same time as the barn manager since before Christmas so it was nice to catch up.  We talked about getting lessons going again next week which will be great.  I am going to fit into my pretty black western saddle a lot better this year since I've lost 19 pounds.  My new thryoid medication has been like a fat burner in terms of weight loss for me. It's been great to have a doctor who knows how to treat thyroid disease.  Now my horse will feel a little less of me on her back and that's a good thing.

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Healthy, Convenient Meals

Has anybody ever tried Nutrisystem?  I've thought about it for the meals alone, not necessarily the weight loss, but I wonder:  does nutrisystem work? I just love the convenience of having meals ready for myself but am not crazy about the grocery store frozen meals and the health content.  I tend to try more and different meals if I don't have to make them first to see if I like them.  Is that weird?  Maybe that's because I don't cook very well and chances are, I'd mess it up anyway the first time.  If I try something at another person's house or at a restaurant, and like it, I'll make it afterward.  I even eat white chili now and I never would have made that myself first. 

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Smaller Backside in the Saddle

I have lost 19 pounds so far and wanted to see how that translated as far as fitting into a different size jeans.  I tried on jeans today a size smaller and they fit!  After being unable to lose weight for several years and wondering about the best fat burner available, getting the right thyroid treatment was the ticket for me. I knew my old doctors weren't treating my thyroid disease correctly but getting them to listen was a waste of time until I found the right doctor.

It's nice to think that my backside will be a size smaller in the saddle this year. Perhaps if I lose the remaining 13 on the agenda, it'll drop another size.

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Bravina for Public Speaking Anxiety

I can not get up in front of people and talk.  It doesn't even have to be a lot of people.  If there is a person I need to talk to that I do not know very well, I can barely speak.  However, getting up in front of a crowd leaves me feeling ill, my voice quivers something awful so it sounds like I am actually about to cry.  You know the "picture them naked" technique?  It never worked for me.

There wasn't one incident that made me like this.  Not like my fear of water because I almost drowned.  I have always had this fear of speaking in public. 

There is a natural supplement called Bravina that helps a person overcome that public speaking anxiety for a particular event.  Many, if not all, of the ingredients in Bravina you will recognize - St. John's Wort, Ashwaganda, Passion Flower, Ginseng, Gingko Leaf and more. 

What you do is you take Bravina 1 - 2 hours before you have to speak in public.  Of course, you should check with your doctor, especially if you take anti-depressants.

I am thinking about going back to school and one of the requirements is a speech class.  I've avoided it all this time but perhaps with Bravina, I don't need to anymore. 

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Record Your Own Door Chime

Today was a lazy day which I took full advantage of.  After the last few days spent in preparation of a dance for my oldest daughter and a sleepover for my son, it was nice to just veg out today.  I read a bit, cooked a bit, and fed my Internet addiction a bit.  A great way to spend Sunday.

While cruising the Internet a bit today and came across a "record your own" door chime. You can record your favorite song, your school's fight song (which wouldn't go over too well if I put the Ohio State Buckeyes fight song on for my Michigan family to hear when they ring my bell).  I might just have to do that!  I love rubbing it in when the Buckeyes beat Michigan so this is just another tool in my arsenal.

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Going on a Trip

We are going on vacation soon to see my stepkids.  My stepdaughter has prom this year and just bought her dress.  I wish we'd be in town for her prom, to see how beautiful she looks and how handsome her boyfroom looks in tuxedo shirts but we won't be. We will be there for her band competition though for districts. That will be fun to see.

I left notice at the stable where we'd be in case something comes up with our horses.  Fingers crossed that it's not needed.  Our horses have never colicked or anything like that so it's just a precaution.

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Barn Time Tomorrow

Woo hoo!  Got out of the ride to the city tomorrow.  My husband has to work this weekend so I get the barn tomorrow morning instead.  Going to go get my hands dirty on our girls.  I'll bet they are just filthy from all the snow melt and mud.  Too bad there's not a compact Franke sink in the tack room to wash up afterward because my steering wheel is definitely showing the result of dirty horse hands. Time to disinfect the car.

Have you ever thought about all the germs on your hands after loving on a horse?  They roll in the pasture and mud where they've gone to the bathroom.  Yummy eh?  Every once in awhile, a good wipe down of the steering wheel is in order with some wipes - preferably Lysol wipes.

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Barn or Music Store?

Oy Vey.  My husband just told me he wants to take a ride into the city Saturday morning to look at guitars.  My idea of Saturday morning was to go to the barn.  Spring weather is here and I want to take advantage of it...not spend a couple hours in a car to go to a music store.  Men!

I can't even concentrate on work with this weather.  I'm supposed to be looking up POS systems and I'm itching to get outside if the rain holds off and then spring clean my house later.  Employers should give their employees a day off when the weather breaks - it's not like they're getting much work done anyway!  I know I'm not.

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Spring in Ohio

Spring has finally sprung here in Ohio.  It's into the 60's today, the windows are open, and the sun is shining despite the rain drops that want to make an appearance.  If the rain holds off, the arena may be ready for a riding lesson this weekend.  I'm going to have to contact the barn manager and find out.  I'm ready to ride again and get some new pictures and videos of my daughter riding (might need to update the hard drives soon because I really overload it with media).

Can't wait to see green grass in place of brown soon!  Hopefully spring break will be nice for the kids.

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Horse Breeding

Have you been checking out Mare Stare to catch any births?  I've been checking but haven't caught one yet.  I did read of one colt that they lost the other day.  I'm glad I missed that one.  How sad.

I have thought about what great and beautiful painted babies my spotted draft mare would have.  She is such a sweet girl, but with the problems in the horse industry the last few years and the risk to my mare, I'm not willing to take the chance of losing her.  There are plenty of horses out there who need great homes so I really don't want to add to that by breeding my girl. 

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Home Insurance for Land Contract Property

We are thinking about looking for a house and acreage on a land contract deal.  I was wondering what kind of home insurance you need for that? Is it "our" home so we need regular homeowner's insurance or would it be covered under a renter's insurance...no clue! 

My dream home is up for sale right now but at almost $200K, it is out of our price range.  I sure wish we could get that house!  Ten acres with barns, recreation room, family room, living room, dining room AND breakfast room!  Six kids, five dogs, and two horses could actually fit that property.  I want that house! 

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