Better Now!

I'm still anxious, waiting for the call to tell us when our closing date is, but I'm better now! 

Scott got to go into the new property with our agent and make sure everything is working. I'm so excited for the new house and all that comes with it...which I will reveal when we actually get in. Our agent has made this whole thing start working. She even reported the listing agent and her bank to whatever realty authorities govern that! They were really mean to her. I guess the listing agent already has a 'record'. Haha. Between them and our loan officer sitting on  it, nothing was being done I guess!

The appraiser came back, checked it all, and it's good to go! Now we have to wait for underwriting. Should be ready Monday or Tuesday. I sure hope the snowstorm that is threatening us those days, will either hold off or go away completely.

There is still a pipe to be fixed in this house, money to scrap up and the logistics of moving around Scott's and the weather's crazy schedules, but I'm done painting and it should be over soon!
Plus today is going to be a gorgeous Spring like day. All I have to do is pack!

I was listening to my YouTube playlist, when this song came up and it completely matched my mood. There are some songs that I just never get sick of, this is one of them.

Enjoy!

Angel in Disguise

I've been hearing about this "Blue Monday" thing going on yesterday, for a while. I didn't believe it, but yesterday was the bluest Monday I have had in..well...since I can remember.

All of you know that we have been preparing for a move. The day (Friday) was coming up and we started to get nervous/excited. Since Scott has been keeping in close contact with the bank, we thought all was fine. Until he called to confirm yesterday that we were all set. Suddenly, this never before seen/heard about list was generated and we were told it's unlikely we'll close Friday. This was so upsetting. Our tenants are taking over on the 1st, they have to be out of their house and we don't want to lose them, so we're looking at being homeless. Not to mention the fees they charge up the nose for not closing in time. 

I cried. I cried a lot. And I haven't gotten much done in the house since then. 

Our real estate agent gave us some hope, and even gave the loan officer an earful. Hurdle after hurdle has come up, just when we thought we were making some progress. It has made me physically ill. 

I had to get out this morning to get information to bring to the loan officer, so after shoveling myself out (and getting a little stuck), I got the Honda out. I dropped Pixie off at her aunt's house, then ran my errands. 

On our way back home, as I turned onto our street, I realized I hadn't shoveled the pile of snow left by the snow plow. It was impossible for me to park on the street and my little Civic will not make it into the driveway. I tried to steer down the street a little and park on the side, so to give me room to shovel and for cars to pass, when the car slid into a large drift of snow. I was stuck. I spent half an hour trying to dig, push, chop and burn my way out, but it was no use. As truck after truck of men passed by, not one stopping to help, I started to think chivalry and kindness were dead at this hour. 

After another round of shoveling and chopping, I saw a man walking down the street. I've seen him walk up and down before, but have never spoken to him. He was older, not well dressed, missing some teeth, with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. He told me he had seen me struggling and came to help. After trying to push, then stopping to shovel, he had me drive forward over the embankment as he lifted. Within 5 minutes I was free. I rolled down my window and thanked him as deeply as I could. He just kind of nodded, said some pleasantries, then continued walking down the street. 

I know this man doesn't know what that meant to me, but the Lord does. As I drove around the block to park in my now somewhat shoveled space, tears started streaming down my face. 

In the midst of these dark 'blue' days, 

I found a glimmer of hope,

in the act of kindness from my angel in disguise.

Moving Update

So, we're moving this Saturday! That is, if all goes well at the closing on Friday. I'm pretty nervous about that. It's not over, until it's over. 

Good news is, we found renters! And even better, we found rent-to-owners. They are a middle aged couple, whose children are grown. They have only owned their houses and fixed them up, so they pretty much want to do lots of improvements to the house by themselves! They have their own appliances and are even going to finish some of the projects we started. Such a blessing. We were worried we might not get someone to rent before we moved, let alone someone who would pay rent and take care of the place. We have high hopes for this arrangement and hope it works out splendidly. We've heard so many rental horror stories!

Scott went back to work early this morning and I am snowed in again after the storm on Saturday  night. Church was canceled and I was actually glad. While I did have a few things to do there, I wasn't looking forward to being sad about Pixie's last day in nursery here. Silly I know, but when you've had a child that doesn't feel comfortable anywhere, then finally does, it is heartbreaking to take that away from them!

I have many things to do, and nothing you would want to see pictures of, so here. I haven't really grocery shopped in a while, trying to use up reserve so we don't have to move it. I wanted to make an easy Sunday dessert, so I took puff pastry and Amish peaches, and made glazed turnovers! They were surprisingly really delicious.

The Thrifty Gene

I hate the 'thrifty gene'.

Have you heard of it? Scientists are researching the possibility that some people possess a gene that basically stores fat in the body, to protect against famine. 

I say, if I'm starving, just let me die already!

Now, I don't know if this is for sure fact, but I'm inclined to believe it is.

We all have that friend who can eat whatever junk she/he wants, and never gain a pound. Those are all around. I wouldn't mind at all to be one of them, but I'd settle for this person. I have friends like this...you know who you are! They say "I needed to lose some weight, so I started walking and I lost that last 15 lbs." or "I decided I wanted to get down to my super skinny jeans, so I stopped eating fast food" or "I stopped snacking in between meals/ not eating after 8pm" or "I started doing Zumba a few times a week and lost 30lbs over the summer!".

Now, I would gladly be one of the latter people. I'm not giving myself an excuse to be obese, but currently I am considered overweight, even with these self imposed dietary guidelines for myself.

1. I don't eat fried food. Once in a blue moon I'll have onion rings or fried falafel.
2. I don't cook with oil when it's not needed (soups, saute) and cut it down in recipes
3. I avoid sugar and don't eat artificial sweeteners. When I do bake something sweet, I substitute stevia for half of it, which has no calories.
4. I try to avoid carbs. I eat small portions of rice with stir fry/curry or when I do eat pasta, I add more veggies than pasta. 
5. I avoid cheese (of course I"m already a vegetarian, so calorie laden meats are out too)
6. I don't eat fast food often. Literally once a month maybe I'll eat a burrito at 490 calories.
7. I don't butter things.
8. When I do have carbs, I usually eat whole grains.
9. I don't make creamy dishes.
10. I don't keep any kind of junk food in the house.

You would think a normal person would be at a healthy recommended weight by adhering to these guidelines, yes? Well, these guidelines keep me from being clinically obese, but not overweight!

Maybe higher protein? Tried that. It made me gain weight. Maybe exercise? While it's great and a needed addition to every healthy lifestyle, I did intense cardio classes a lot this past summer. I had a goal of working out at least 3 days a week formally for at least an hour. The result? I gained 5 lbs over the course of a few months. Muscle? No. I have read up on this and it's not possible for me to gain that much in muscle. My clothes also didn't fit better, if you were wondering. I even just did a thyroid blood test to test my TSH and it was very well in range.

So what does work? Vegetables (raw/cooked), fruit, salad (with dressing calorie count under 40 a serving), 1 oz nut, beans, greens, and no more than one serving of whole grains a day. No dairy, no oil, low salt. That's it.

I lost 13lbs in 12 weeks doing this last year (without an exercise regiment), but it crept back when I stopped. Probably need to adopt it as a permanent lifestyle. At least for a while.

Now, I wasn't always this way. I was a slender child, with a pudgy phase from 16-17. After that I was thin again until after I got married at 22...and I married someone who celebrates every tiny thing with food. Greasy pizza type food. If I knew then what I know now, things would be different!

At least I get sympathy from my husband, he's just as baffled as I am, and empathy from some fellow thrifty family members.
Some good news is...I'm forced to eat food that keeps my insides healthy, I should save money on food since I can't eat a lot, and I now know what works!

But seriously, I hate the thrifty gene.