Had a goal, need new one!

I'm the queen of dieting, I know all the tricks and use them all to my advantage. I've been dieting half of my life it feels like. So when I start a diet I don't dwell on the big number, you know the final goal wgt I dream of, I set little goals for myself.

Well I am so happy to report that Goal number 1 was reached this morning. I have lost my first 20 lbs. YEAH ME! So since I can't do my normal and reward myself with food..what do you think a good reward would be? Manicure? Pedicure? A new pair of shoes? Hmmm, maybe all of the above!

It's been really rough this week. I started a new job and there are lots of treats in the break room, pretzels, choco covered raisins, animal cookies, the best Thai place right out the front door, oh and lets not forget the donuts. Good god it's like goodie heaven. A obstacle course of useless calories (my favorite kind). But I overcame the temptation this week and it paid off!

I can do this...it's hard and damn I want a DQ bacon burger and onion rings...but not enough to through me off of this track I'm on right now.

-4 lbs total -20 lbs (whoop whoop)

Girls love pink and ponies too...

It has to begin somewhere...the passion for ponies. I think mine started when I was about this age. She has a good seat don't you think.
Gotta learn to brush the ponies. Mila was very good at this job. Even a two year old can appreciate a shiny pony.
Bring her over here momma! I can get on by myself. I love this face.

Weigh In Day...

So let's talk about food. I love food. Good food, and unfortunately I'm not as young as I used to be and the Good food loves me too, well it loves my thighs and my ass.

But I started this diet 3 weeks ago, and as of today I am down 16lbs. I lost 4 lbs this week. I can't say that I don't miss eating out. It really is something that I love to do with my husband. A drink and a good steak or even a REALLY good Cheeseburger and fries. Alas I was not dealt the metabolism to deal with high fat foods.

I see visions of skinny jeans and tall boots (which I already bought).

So here's to everyone with a New Years Resolution you are working so hard to keep!

Keep Moving,

Keep Motivated

and you will Keep Losing!

Wgt Loss this week -4 lbs total 16 lbs

I found IT!!

TA DA...what do ya'll think? I think it's going to look fabu on Gracie. So now I totally have to get on this WL thing. It's going well. Tomorrow will be official weigh in so I'll hold off on the total.

I have to say it hasn't been easy but the Wii is a great motivator and using the FIT has been a blast.

Grace and I had a crazy ride last night with the wind howling and Gracie pulling out the Llama impersonation it wasn't overly fun. She was a ball of dynamite so I didn't push it too far.

But today was a different story the weather was beautiful and she was working the wall very well. I was relaxing in the hiney and had a good relaxed seat. Her trot is getting better and it's not as hard to keep her moving forward. We are working on her getting collected and staying collected at the trot. It's coming along.

We went out and rode in the front pasture and it was so nice! Just wandered around and saw the sites.

Looking forward to a long grooming session and ride tomorrow.

Green Horses prove you're not the rider you think you are...

I have just recently REALLY started riding Gracie, and I HURT. You would think that riding a horse is simple.

Get on

Give Kick

and

your off

Oh no. It's quite an art. I am learning that first hand. My biggest issue is relaxing into the saddle, I find myself (excuse the description) puckering up and being tight through the hips, which cause me to grip with my thighs which sends mixed signals to Grace. A green horse doesn't know what your asking for, or in Gracie's case she's used to having an experienced rider guide her (our trainer) but when I get on I am not strong enough or coordinated enough to have it look effortless. We are going to be working on this A LOT.

So I will be working on riding like jello. Relaxing and disengaging my hips to rock with Gracie's rhythm instead of forcing mine. Her collection is coming along for a 3 year old I'm not expecting a lot, just a little :-)

She is learning the Western Jog NSH style. Higher head and faster than the QH peanut roll.

I found the shirt for our show and am stuck on what color, solid or pattern saddle pad/blanket to get.

Here's the shirt.

What do you think, solid Lavender or a Lavender pattered blanket? I think a Field trip the the girls is in order to find the perfect one.

I think I'm obsessing a bit but I have been waiting to do this for YEARS!

Lot's of things going on....

Well I resigned from UPS after working for them for 9 years. I'll be starting a new job on the 25th. It's a weird feeling starting over but I am very excited about it. Okay more than a little excited.

I have sent off our entry for our first show. An All Breed Open Horse show to benefit The Arabian and Half Arabian Club of Oregon. Grace is entered in 5 classes. I'm a bit nervous but I've been going an watching my friends show there ponies for years now and now it's my time. If you want to come out and support us it will be at the Mt Hood Equestrian Center on March 13th.

29450 SE Lariat Ln
OR 97009

Off of 26 towards Mt. Hood.

Gracie and I will be riding in the afternoon. JP1 has been kind enough to let my oldest daughter show Star in Showmanship! I can't wait to watch her it will be quite an experience for us.

So I'm on the lookout for a show shirt and a new pad. It's actually a little overwhelming. So we have a lot of work to do in 7 weeks. And not to make it any more nerve wracking is that Gracie's breeder will be the judge.

So on to this weeks wgt loss...okay I have to admit I cheated once. And it shows in my loss for this week.

-2 lbs total -12 lbs in two weeks.

I promised myself I am not falling off the wagon again, no matter how much the Cheeseburgers call to me! I must get in show shape!

.

Gracies Head + My Head = Black eye

So today was play day at the barn! It was awesome. The barn has an amazing group of girls to ride with.

No we didn't win anything, but that's not the point. We did the Trot Race, Egg and Spoon Race, TP race, Simon Says, Pole bending it was a Blast. Gracie enjoyed it so much!

Grace was calm as a cucumber and she did everything asked of her...now on to the black eye.

Gracie and I were pole bending...Trotting the pattern and I don't know what came over me but I being super smart decided this was the time to get this girl up into the canter. (We have never cantered, EVER) and well the stop came quicker than I expected so her head went up my ass came up and my head went down and we had a meeting of the minds. Not the good kind either.

But we survived and we didn't have an ass meet dirt moment so it's all good.

We also have a goal. We have an ALL BREED OPEN Show that we have committed to in March. We have a lot going on this year and it's looking good so far!

So as promised total wgt lost this week -10 lbs. I know good right but I have to admit I haven't been super good this weekend. It's been a bit difficult! But back on the bandwagon tomorrow. No excuses!

LOL Catz...

Okay I have this cat. When I found him he was this sweet tiny, tiny, tiny kitten. He was so tiny I just couldn't leave him at the shelter knowing what his fate would be. So I took him and another little female calico home with me that day, not knowing the hell that owning a cat brings.

Sorry enough of my pity party over nasty kitty litter, putting on claw covers so that my furniture doesn't get more destroyed and the circling at dinner time...

My chicken little kitten turned into this - I sh!t you not a 31.5 lbs poop machine that doesn't really fit in the cat box anymore. He has his own Mii on the Wii Fit so we did the body test and I about died when his weight popped up, I almost died because I had to hold him for 30 seconds. Let's put this weight into perspective...our 2 year old only weighs 32 lbs.

He's so big we've had to remove the lid to the litter box because he didn't fit in the door, he actually got stuck in it and I had to pull it off of him. (Note the shoes next to him are size 12 men's burki's)

When he lays on his side kinda Jabba-ish, like a distant cousin.

His name is Porter....and he is HUGE....

P.S. I will never own another cat for the rest of my life. DOGS Rule.

Look out Longhorns here we come

God I wish I took my camera with me every time I went to the barn. This past Sunday we did 2 things we have never done.

1. We ran (okay trotted) the barrel pattern in preparation for the game day coming up at the barn. It was so much fun. She did great. I don't think she has professional barrel racing in her future but she did learn the pattern pretty quickly. I learned that I need to seriously work on my balance but dang it was FUN!

And here is the biggie:

2. We rode in the big pasture OUTSIDE! Yes I finally rode Gracie outside. She was amazing nothing fazed her. We rode out with a group of gals from the barn and she was far from being herd bound or barn bound. She loved it walked out like she has been doing it for years. IT WAS what I have been waiting for for 1 1/2 years with this pony. She loved being outside and wanted to explore as much as I did.

I think we rode for like a total of 2 hours and I could barely walk when we were done but when I hopped off I swear I was walking on cloud nine.

She will be a trail horse and you know what she may even be great at it!

Don't ever let anyone tell you that a certain breed is only good for this or that..I truly believe that a horse is what you make it, and she is going to be a very well rounded horse. Our trainer has done an amazing job. I couldn't be happier!

GO US!

What will 2010 bring?

Grace Wishes all of our horse com padres a very Happy New Year. May it bring many great rides and butt loads of nickers and nuzzles.

We plan on blazing many trails, getting in riding shape and the big one..wearing a pair of breaches without scaring the livestock!

This is the year that I start on my road to being a real rider. What are your goals?

Every Friday from this week on will have the weight lost for the week at the bottom of the post. I'm going to have you guys keep me honest and on track.

May your rides be long,

your poop piles small

and our horse partners Healthy

Love to you all. H. + Gracie.