Hannah Goes Hollywood!

The article finally appeared in Rockford Woman of me, Brett, and our bunnies. As predicted, Hannah looks fabulous, while I...not so much. You can read the article here.

Gifts That Keep On Gifting

“We like lighthouses.”

Oh, how I’ve lived to rue those words!

When Brett and I were registering for wedding gifts, we decided to go with a lighthouse theme for our kitchen and hallway bath, a Northwood’s theme for our living room, and a leaf theme for our master bath.

Hardly original, I know. But we were young, stupid, and style less.

It seemed all anyone remembered was that “we like lighthouses.” As I opened lighthouse gift after lighthouse gift at each of my seven bridal showers, I was forced to repeat those words.

People bought us everything with lighthouses – stuff for EVERY room of our house.

Stuff definitely not on our registry.

Now, I don’t know about the majority of you, but nothing annoyed me more as a soon-to-be-bride than people buying CRAP NOT ON OUR REGISTRY.

That’s the WHOLE point of creating a registry.

If people didn’t want the ugly gold tray they got for their wedding, why did they think we’d want it?

(We did in fact receive a hideous gold tray that I’m completely convinced will turn me to salt if I look at it in direct sunlight.)

P.S. to all the people who think the bride and groom won’t know you’re re-gifting YOUR wedding gifts…they will. They ALWAYS will. Whether you believe it or not, stuff goes out of style. And it makes you look bad. And cheap.

Also, people bought random kitchen gadgets and stuff that I KNOW they got on sale and decided to throw in a bag as opposed to going by the OFFICIAL registry. Just to save a few bucks.

This is why we have three sets of distinctly different drinking glasses – all NOT on our registry – stored in our basement.

We also have two toasters, a fondue set, four 1990’s style candle sets, and one set of trolls in wedding clothes with our names engraved on them.

Seriously.

I’m not re-gifting those as a matter of principle.

Buy what’s on the registry, you know?

My cousin Candice and I went though this before her recent baby shower. She kept telling me – “I hope people buy what’s on the registry. I NEED THAT STUFF, not tons of clothes.”

Thankfully, she got both. By the time she was done opening gifts, it looked like the baby section of Target had exploded in Mom’s living room.

My policy is – if I want to get the recipient something NOT on their registry – I, at least, get something small that IS on their registry so they’ll remember me in a positive light.

Back to the lighthouses, it also turned out to be something people remembered.

On every birthday, someone inevitably bought me a figurine, tapestry, or book featuring lighthouses. One secret sister at church even managed to give me a lighthouse-themed gift for EVERY occasion.

I didn’t even know they made lighthouse shaped trick-or-treat buckets.

By the time I got around to letting people know we weren’t all that crazy about lighthouses anymore, it was too late.

Now, anyone who wanders into our house will begin to yell, “Avahst, matey, you’ve got a lot of lighthouses.”

(Which brings me to the actual point of this post – wow, THAT took a while!)

Do you have a completely useless gift that people continue to give you year after year?

It doesn’t have to be a themed gift, like our experience with lighthouses; it can just be a common item.

For instance, I am a bath and candle FREAK! Making me quite possibly the easiest person you’ve ever shopped for – I like bubble bath, bath gel, shower gel, lotion, and just about any candle in just about any scent.

Easy. Cross me off your list.

However, OTHER people are NOT bath freaks. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen someone receive a bath set - I would have DIED for - exclaim, “Huh. I’ve got so many of these. I don’t take baths, just showers.”

I have another friend who told me that if someone gets her another stationery set, she’s going to use it for kindling in her fireplace. “I’m on my computer 24/7, and people are buying me STATIONERY?!” – her exact words.

Every year people buy scented candles for Brett’s sister. This is not the ideal gift as she’s DEATHLY allergic.

See what I’m getting at?

You should at least know your recipient enough to know what NOT to get them.

So, here’s mine. Photo albums and frames.

People keep buying me frames. I don’t need 'em, don’t want 'em, and won’t use 'em.

Maybe when we have kids and can fill those frames with little Humphrey or Frugbert playing the cello, but while it’s just the two of us year after year?

Um, no.

Cause, see, we look worse year after year, not better, and WHY would I want to chronicle the same two deteriorating people in an endless parade of frames other people picked out?

And before anyone asks, yes - we take photos of the bunnies, and no - we don’t decorate our house with those photos.

So, there you have it. My opinion on the whole gift giving process.

Oh, and while we’re at it, Mom doesn’t need any more tea.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Catch-Up!

It is I – the absent blogger!

My sincerest apologies for my prolonged absence over the past…week or so. My real life – as opposed to my virtual life - has been unbelievably busy!

At work, our busiest season is fast approaching. And the person in charge of said season recently left our company to pursue another career. Which leaves me, my boss, and our department in charge of the entire thing – with only two weeks notice!

It’s challenging learning new things, and I am enjoying myself. I will be working more hours, though, so I’m left with less time to blog.

However, my boss “made” me take an extra week off this December. Our office also closes the week of Christmas Eve to New Year’s, so combined, I have two weeks off!

I’ve just finished the first week, and I’m looking forward to the second.

I know you are probably thinking, “Well, if you’ve had all this time off, why haven’t we heard from you?”

That’s because I’ve been SO busy! I worked last Monday, and Mom and I went Christmas shopping on Tuesday, as we had originally planned. However, Mom’s car decided to STOP working on her, and so I became Mom’s chauffeur for the next couple of days!

Mom had a LOT of errands to run!

I always have such a good time with Mom, so it was really nice to spend time with her during the holiday season. We also saw a sappy Christmas movie, The Perfect Holiday, with Candice.

This past Thursday (and EARLY) Friday morning, Brett, Angie, and I went to see I Am Legend and (at 12:02 a.m., Friday morning) the very first showing of National Treasure 2. It was us, and about 100 or so teenagers from local church youth groups.

In other news, I’ve got one heck of a cold. I’m not sure where I picked it up, but it’s got me sneezing and blowing my nose. Not to mention the head congestion!

I’ve been self-medicating myself with various doses of Dayquil, Nyquil, and 44M. Actually, when I’m in my drug induced haze, I have no idea I have a cold.

Mom says I’m in denial.

Apparently, it’s quite obvious to others that I have a cold.

Even my husband, who has the nurturing ability of a Venus flytrap, asked, “Are you okay?”

It’s a rare concession, as Brett is (undoubtedly) the WORST nurse. It’s not that he doesn’t care. He just “forgets” that I’m sick. It’s more absentminded neglect than anything.

Fortunately, I have a high-pitched whine that I bring out only when I CANNOT TAKE IT ANYMORE, AND YOU WILL TAKE CARE OF ME IF I HAVE TO SCREAM AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS UNTIL THE NEIGHBORS CALL THE POLICE.

Hidey-ho…you know, I told him that if I’m ever incapacitated to put me in a nursing home, since I would die from neglect if he tried to take care of me himself.

Hey, if something DOES happen to me, could somebody PLEASE check on me and talk Brett into setting me up at a nursing home? PLEASE?!!!

So, it’s Saturday, and I’ve got a full day of wrapping gifts ahead of me, along with what I hope will be LONG cold medicine-induced naps.

I just wanted to get everybody caught up while I’m still in clear-head mode.

I hope to blog more in the next few days…although, I’ve got holiday parties up the whazoo and a baby shower TWO DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS!!!

Pray for me…if you get a chance. Thanks!

In case I don’t get on here again until after Christmas… Merry Christmas to you and yours – from me and the Venus flytrap.

Sad News

Yesterday, we received news that the mother of our Executive Director had passed away quietly in her sleep.

She was quite elderly and had experienced dementia for a number of years, but it was a shock all the same. The office staff will be attending services this Friday.

Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Lazy!

Lately, I’ve been SO lazy.

Not at work, of course, because we’ve been super busy! I’ve been promoted (in a way) and now have more responsibilities in the same amount of time. But, I’m still excited about it, and I like being busy all day – makes the day go faster.

But, when I get home, all I want to do – heck, all I HAVE been doing – is taking naps. Or reading a book. Or taking a Jacuzzi. Or watching TV. Or snuggling with Brett and watching a movie.

I have been cooking my South Beach-friendly dinners, but aside from that and basic laundry/dishwasher duties, I’ve been so unmotivated.

I told Brett I decided not to decorate for Christmas. He said, “Whatever you want to do, babe.” I did take all the autumn stuff down though, so our house looks as bare as a plucked chicken.

Brett’s just not into decorating or “seasons,” although he does always compliment my decorating abilities or comment how the house looks nice. But, this year, I have just lacked the energy and the motivation to get it done. And since he helps not at all – since he isn’t interested – it just seems like another chore.

I told Mom about my decision, and she said I shouldn’t decorate if I felt like it was “just one more thing.” So, I’ve decided I’m okay with it. I may unearth a few of my bunnies in the snow collection and put those out, but otherwise – phooey on the decorations.

In the meantime, we’ve been pretty festively social already this holiday season!

Since my Enchanted post:

12/3:
Candice, Angie, Angie’s friend Mary, and I all went to dinner at Panera’s and then caught August Rush at Showplace 14.

12/4:
I was the coordinator and lead photographer for a local photo session with my media girl group.

12/8:
Brett and I attended our Game Night Group Christmas party in Durand. It was totally awesome! I got my “back” birthday gifts from August, and we all exchanged Christmas gifts.

Afterwards we played two games of four-team Cranium (my team won the first game!), and a Scene It Movie Edition game, which…het, hem….yours truly won!

Tomorrow, we’re attending our church Christmas party, and on Saturday, we have another party – a Luminary Party – at my cousin Paul’s.

On the 20th, Angie and I are going to the movies, probably to see P.S. I Love You (despite my disgust of Hilary – Guppy Face – Swank). The things I do for Angie! We are a little bummed, since National Treasure 2 opens the next day, but we couldn’t fit it in our schedule. Maybe we’ll go again over the Christmas break.

Mom and I are also planning a big shopping excursion for next week. About which we are VERY excited!!!

The Rehfeldt Christmas Eve party in on the 24th at Berean in Beloit, and Candice’s baby shower is a scant three days later! Not to mention, we’ll travel to Geneva on Christmas Day for Brett’s family’s Christmas party.

So, I may NOT have any decorations up, but you can’t say I won’t be celebrating!

Blogging about Baby!

Just an introduction to a new blogger in our midst – my cousin Candice!

As you may know from my constant gushing about imminent aunthood, my cousin Candice has started a new blog about her soon-to-be little baby girl. Please stop by and give her an encouraging word or two!

I have to say I love the red sweater pregnancy photo – so cute!

Welcome, Candice!

My One Week Anniversary

With several comments on my previous South Beach Diet entry, I figured this would be the perfect post to commemorate my one week anniversary on the South Beach Diet!

For those of you familiar with SBD, you know that means I only have one more week to go before I start reintroducing carbs and sugars back into my life.

Originally, I started on a Monday. Monday went really well, as did most of Tuesday. At least until Tuesday evening, when I fell off the wagon at Ladies Bible Study.

It was my own fault, as I hadn’t had dinner and neglected to pack a SBD-friendly snack. So, it was either eat or pass out from low blood sugar. The choice was easy.

On the plus side, I got to sample some of the best bean dip EVER courtesy of Becky Holmquist!

I hopped back on the wagon on Wednesday and have been faithful ever since.

Before I get into specifics, let me tell you why I decided to try SBD.

First of all, I want to say that I have tried only two weight loss plans in the past.

The first was Weight Watchers - which I still wholeheartedly support, appreciate, and endorse. I lost over 85 pounds in high school thanks to Weight Watchers.

Plus, I gained wonderful friends and found a support group of amazing people who shared the same problem I did.

My second weight loss method was the diet pill, Metabolife - the bad kind they had to pull of the shelves because it was killing people - when I was in college.

I was very angry when they pulled the drug, since it worked wonderfully for me. The pounds simply melted away.

I had endless energy. I was never hungry – in fact, food (the love of my life) actually disgusted me. I eventually made it down to my fantasy, a Size 10. And one day I even fit in a Size 8 pair of jeans.

I was in heaven. Then they pulled my drugs, and the weight came bounding back.

I tried going back to Weight Watchers. Multiple times. With Mom. With friends. And, for some reason, this time it just didn’t work for me.

So, there I was, just getting fatter and fatter and waiting for the fate that killed my father – a heart attack – to take me. Literally, I thought every day, “Today could be the day.”

I began to pray in my daily devotions that God would direct me in His path.

As a believer, I know my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I know I can do NOTHING to change the length of my time on this earth. God alone had determined how many years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, and seconds I will be here.

But He commands us to take care of this earthly temple for as long as we have it. And that means TAKE CARE OF IT.

I knew I hadn’t been taking care of it. I had let myself go with no concern how I was treating the body God gave me.

So, like any desperate child, I asked for help. And waited.

Then, at a lia sophia jewelry party, He sent direction. My cousin’s wife was the consultant. She is also newly pregnant.

As I was filling out my form (for a $50 ring I don’t need), we got to talking, and I shared our infertility story.

She was incredibly sympathetic and told me she ALSO suffered from PCOS, endometriosis, and infertility. Her OB/GYN had recommended SBD as a natural fix for the blood sugar problems that plague PCOS victims with infertility.

She and her husband followed the diet. A year later, they got pregnant.

Again, I KNOW I will only get pregnant IF it is God’s will.

But, I also know I asked God for direction, and He brought my cousin’s wife into my life at the exact right time. God’s ways are higher than mine, and (in this case), I’ll not question.

My cousin’s wife also shared tips, tricks, and the true fact that SBD is NOT a hard diet to follow.

I decided to take the advice as clear leading from my heavenly Father.

The next day, I went to the library and checked out The South Beach Diet, The South Beach Diet Cookbook, and The South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook.

I read The South Beach Diet book first, cover to cover. It was a basic nutrition book, very easy to read, and covered the basic points of the diet.

As I read it, I felt a strange little tingle up my back, and I thought, “I can do this.”

The next Monday….and then Wednesday….I started Phase 1.

Phase 1 only lasts for two weeks. You give up breads, pastas, cereals, rice, potatoes, sweets…basically ALL carbs.

However, with my two cookbooks, I found MANY breakfasts, lunches, and dinner substitutions which didn’t make me feel at all deprived.

True to the book’s promise, after the first few days, I found my desire for carbs and sweets completely diminished. I no longer craved bagels and cream cheese or my 10:00 a.m. pack of Now-n-Later’s.

That part still amazes me. I used to love those darn Now-n-Later’s.

The book explains a lot about how our bodies break down carbohydrates and the craving, addiction, and over-indulging that result. There’s so much more than I can recount here.

Suffice it to say, it’s worth the read, folks, and I’m not kidding.

After my second full week, I’ll re-introduce carbs slowly back into my diet. They will be healthy carbs, though. I’m making certain of that.

Brett loves the new diet. This is both a pro and a con for the diet.

The pro is that my husband loves my cooking, and comes home eager and excited about what new dish I’m trying for dinner. Plus, we are both eating better.

The con is that this diet DOES call for a LOT of cooking. It’s simple and easy cooking, but cooking none the less. So, I’ve had to invest a LOT of time in preparing food. But, I’ll be honest, the results have been pretty darn fantastic.

Our favorites so far include the Mexican Chicken Soup, Pesto Chicken, Turkey and White Bean Chili, Spicy Chicken Fingers with Cilantro Dipping Sauce, Tuna Pistachio Salad, Ribbon Salad, Balsamic Vinaigrette…I could go on.

To satisfy my sweet tooth, I have sugar-free Jello, candy, fudgesicles, and popsicles – limited to 75 calories a day.

But the truth is…I don’t crave sweets like I used to. Just a taste now and then – something a sugar-free hard candy or bowl of Jello will satisfy.

Although, I am looking forward to re-introducing fruit into my life. Yum.

The second major change is that I’ve decided not to weigh myself during this diet. I don’t want to feel pressured by numbers going up or down. I want to measure my success with how I feel and how my clothes fit.

I know I sound like I’m high on SBD. But I want you to know I am fully aware it’s always easy to start a diet – it’s just hard to stay on one.

I also know it’s ONLY been a week. But what a week!

Yesterday, I was singing in the shower, and I realized that I felt absolutely phenomenal. I felt good inside. It was like my body chemistry was all lining up inside.

And that felt fantastic.

So, that’s my story. I promise to stop preaching on SBD, at least until we see how I like it in the long run.

But, in the short run, I’m very impressed.

I’m also very grateful the Lord pointed me in the right direction…toward South Beach, Florida!