Now that I've taken about 10 pounds off of me after chopping all of my hair off, I could still lose some more weight. I've always felt if I have short hair, I have to not be fat. And I feel fat and look fat so I need to start eating healthier and working out. I've thought of using one of my brothers stair lifts or maybe just walking on my treadmill to start off. I do have a ton of workout DVD's I should start using too. I actually have enough so that I don't have to do the same workout routine day in and day out. It's just finding the time to do them. I know, I know, that's an excuse. A really good one though. ;) I guess I could get up earlier in the day and workout before the kids wake up. But then I'm always worried I'll wake them up by doing that and then the day will just drag on and on because everyone's been awake so early. I know, another excuse! I will get started though - even if it's eating healthier first.

What you've all been waiting for!

Drumroll please!!!!!

First, I have to say, I was THE HIT of the salon this morning. I walked in and in front of about 8 women told them what I was doing (as far as chopping it all off and donating it) so from then on I had everyone in the salon's attention. They all watched as she chopped off my ponytail. Then as I walked through the salon for them to wet it so she could style it they all oohed and aahed. They even watched as she styled it and when I was done, they all loved it and congratulated me on a job well done.

And now, without further adieu, the pictures! Now remember, I'd never been to this salon before! And those highlights you see in my hair as she's cutting it, are my REAL natural highlights! I haven't died my hair in over 4 years, maybe more.  I can't wait to rewash it and style it myself!

I decided to put it in a slideshow for easier viewing and to take up less space on here. For those of you that I sent a picture to via cell phone - disregard that picture, it came out horrible! It looks so much better in person!

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Did you know that USA Network's new original series In Plain Sight premiers June 1st which is this Sunday? I am so psyched. I've been watching the ads for this show for what seems like forever and it looks like a show I could get into! For those that haven't seen the ads for it yet (how I don't know), it's a new series about two US Marshalls whose jobs are to protect Federal Witnesses from people who want them dead. Hence the name, In Plain Sight. That's exactly what they do with the witnesses: hide them in plain sight.

After reading over the characters bios I think I can relate mostly to Mary. Not the being shot at, having to hide from the bad guys aspect. But the having to be many different people at any given time aspect. At any given time I am a mother, wife, friend, sister, daughter, neighbor, team mom, teachers aide, taxi driver, cook, booboo healer, writer, psychologist so to speak, etc. You catch my drift I'm sure. There was a time I could have related to her Mary's sister Brandi in that I was always falling for the wrong guy!!!

In Plain Sight - Sunday, June 1st! You know what I'll be watching!

The beginning of this month, I took my daughter to get her haircut and we then donated it to Pantene Beautiful Lengths so they could make hair pieces for women who are suffering from cancer. Back in December Caelie decided she wanted to do this so we've been growing her hair for a while now.

Today is my turn. I had decided with her, back in December to do the same thing. Right now, the length of my hair is down past the middle of my back. It's long! I've picked out a style that I want so now let's just hope I like it when it's done and don't come home wearing a baseball cap. I have to be out in public tonight you know!

It's just hair though and it will grow back and I am doing an awesome thing by giving what I have, to those that don't.

If you'd like to take a short survey and by doing so enter to win an iPod Nano then keep on reading! The survey is about health care excellence and right now DDI is beginning it's annual business planning. So they would like to hear from all of us as far as our ideas and opinions so that they can stay focused on our needs. All information you provide is kept confidential of course. The survey should take only 10 minutes and to enter into the contest just provide your name, email address and organization. To take the survey, click here. The survey ends Sunday, June 22, 2008 and the drawing for the iPod Nano will be held on Monday, June 23, 2008.

Good luck!!!!

I got mine in my email today and it had alot of events that are taking place soon.

One is the Speed Dating…Avon Walk Style!
Meet your sole mate on Saturday, June 14th at Speed Dating…Avon Walk Style! Participate in training walks, clinics, and meet your Walker Buddy!
The fun takes place at The New York Running Club at Columbus Circle in New York City.
For more information, or to RSVP, click here!

Another is a list opf training walks you can join if you live up in the tri-state area (which of course I don't).
You can find the list of walks here.

Also, the top 5 teams right now for the New York walk are:
1 - Positively Pink
2 - Next Generation Foundation
3 - Warriors for Women
4 - Loretta's Ladies
5 - KC and the Sunshine Girls

GO TEAMS!!!!

It took Sean and I a good while to open up a savings account and actually be able to put money in it. Even now just because we have it doesn't mean there's always money in it. But at least it's there. We've thought of opening up another one at another bank so it wouldn't be so easy to have access to our money and then we'd put money in it for vacations and things like that. After looking at all of the different banks I've narrowed it down to Wamu and we just might open up a Savings Account there. I know a few people who have accounts there and love it.

Some of Wamu's benefits and features that we like are the fact that it's got free online banking. That is a must have these days! They also have free electronic statements. The one thing that might be hard for us is you have to have a minimum balance of $300 each day to avoid a monthly service charge of $40. But, if you open up an online savings account along with a Wamu Checking Account there is no monthly service charge as long as you keep both accounts open. That's got me thinking. We could do that too and make that checking account one for bills that we pay quarterly or maybe even just for our mortgage since that bill alone is huge.

Another nice option they provide is signing up for overdraft protection. With this, if you use more money then is in your checking, it automatically gets taken out of your savings to make sure it's there. And of course you also have easy access to your money by using ATM's.

Wamu seems like the way to go!

The kids and I were up at the fields tonight for Tristan's competitive soccer tryouts. So of course I brought my new pink "soccer chair" that has the pink ribbon on it. The kids had gotten it for me for mother's day because the chairs we've been using the past 2 years are kind of falling apart.

After tryouts were over and we were walking back to our car a woman came over to me and asked me where I'd gotten my chair. I had to ask the kids since they had gone out with daddy to get it and we found out they got it at Dicks' Sporting Goods. It was then that she told me she's walking in the 3 Day this year and it's her 2nd time walking and she's been looking for a chair just like this one. We chatted for a little and then I wished her luck on the walk.

It's so cool meeting other walkers that way!

My poor little guy needs a new bed. When we first moved here he was using Tristan's old one which was made of wood, but it was falling apart. We had originally gotten it from someone else years ago so all told, I'm not sure exactly how old it was. But the wooden slats holding the matress in just weren't holding up anymore so before anyone got hurt we threw it out. Then there was the problem of what can he sleep in now being we didn't have money at the time to go out and buy him a new one. So, what we did was this: Caelie had a bunk bed in her room which had a twin on top and a fold out double futon on the bottom. We took the top of her bunk off (because she wasn't using it - it was "too hot up there") and let her use the bottom futon to sleep on. And we gave Kieran the top part. And it's working fine but it looks horrible. Because it was the top of a bunk bed it has railings which kind of make it look like a hospital bed. And it's made of metal not wood so it looks even worse. I have the hardest time getting in and out of that bed just to read a book to him at night. He's young so right now he doesn't mind it. But I can't stand looking at it anymore - it's an eyesore to me.

So we now have the chore of looking at Toddler Beds for him and we'll give the bed he's using now back to Caelie and she'll have her full bunk bed back. Or, we just might give the entire bunk bed to Kieran and get Caelie a full size bed and make her room the so called guest room when guests arrive. I've also thought of giving the bunk to Kieran and then getting a bunk for Caelie that has room underneath it for a desk or a doll house, etc. Of course we have a spending limit on the amount we can afford to spend on a new bed so that might hinder us a bit. But we should probably get a move on when it comes to looking for something!

I was looking through all of the coupons last weekend from Sundays paper and I came across one that had an ad for Collectibles Today. The figurine caught my eye because it is called Driven By Hope and it's of Maxine the Mouse driving a pink motorcycle with the pink ribbon all over it and the mouse. For only $19.95 it's really cute. And the best part is that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this figurine will be donated to help in the fight against breast cancer. It actually reminds me of someone I know who has walked in two 3 day walks and is walking again this year as well AND loves to ride on the back of her husbands motorcycle.