40 things before I turn 40

So I have been reading mommy blogs lately and as most of you know, if you read one blogger who references another blogger than you must go and check out the other blogger and then you like them and follow them and decide...hey! that's a great idea! I should do that on my blog! So, thanks to Law Momma over at Spilled Milk {and other atrocities} I have decided to make a list of 40 things I want to do before I turn 40...this gives me 9 years 5 months and 15 days. Not that I'm counting or anything...

1. Go horseback riding again
2. Learn how to ice skate or ski (yes, I live in a climate where winter is 9 months out of the year and I don't know how to ice skate, ski or snowboard)
3. Purchase a motorcycle and paint it purple and get a matching helmet
4. Get a college degree
5. Get out of debt
6. Go back into debt by purchasing a house
7. Learn to speak Spanish
8. Take Zabba to Disney World
9. Go to Mexico, Ireland, Germany or Italy (not in that order)
10. Get more tattoos
11. Become financially self sufficient (I think this could be a pipe dream, but I'm putting it on here anyway)
12. Purchase a Chevy Nomad and paint it Cherry Red and White
13. Go Camping with my family
14. Buy a boat
15. Go fishing with Zabba and The Hubby
16. Go Sky Diving
17. Purchase a bicycle for myself
18. Become a stay at home mom...even though Zabba is starting school next year (*GASP*)
19. Grow a flower garden
20. Grow a veggie garden
21. Learn to pickle/can veggies
22. Make Grape Jelly
23. Start my own business
24. Become a more proficient sewer
25. Stay in better contact with my family
26. Run a 5K
27. Get another dog...even though The Hubby is dead set against having another dog (I'm thinking this is another pipe dream)
28. Purchase a bed frame (that's right, my matress is on the floor)
29. Visit Las Vegas again and this time go see the Grand Canyon
30. Go on a cruise to the Carribean
31. Go on a vacation with my BFF
32. Win the Lottery (even if it's just winning my dollar back!)
33. Get plastic surgery (this is totally vain, but after BF'ing Zabba and losing all that weight, let's just say that things aren't where they are supposed to be)
34. Donate my eggs to someone who can't use their own to get pregnant
35. Work from home
36. Have laser hair removal done on my legs so I never have to shave again (odd I know but I really hate shaving!)
37. Buy a new wardrobe (I need to do this anyway, but I'm waiting until I'm done losing weight)
38. Join another adult kickball and softball team
39. Move to a warmer climate
40. Bring Zabba to see the ocean

So...what's your list?

My how fast time flies!

I just realized that I have posted one time in almost a year...I'm really very sorry about that. Things have been changing very rapidly in my life and it's been quite the ride!

In the last year the following things have happened:

• My husband has lost his income so we are down to my income alone. He is finishing up his apprenticeship at the local tattoo shop so even tho he works 9-11 hour days, he's not getting compensated for them since his education is his payment...I guess I prefer to look at this as free schooling. He's doing side jobs to earn some extra cash which has helped and I have taken on another job to help with finances; which is sufficient for now.



• We had to put Princess Ilean, our boxer of 7 1/2 years, to sleep on March 31st. WOW! that was hard. I still miss her but I know she is in a better place and she is no longer in pain. We think it was cancer that took her because of how quickly she deteriorated and the fact that she was not responding to any kinds of pain meds.



• I have gone from 312 lbs to my current weight (as of this morning) 196lbs!! I feel fabulous!



• I completed my first ever 5K! New goal for next year is to run it instead of walking it.



• I completed my second ever 5K the following week.



• Zabba has sprouted a new "sassy" attitude that I am still trying to figure out how to un-sprout (is that even a word?). MAN O MAN this kid has got A-T-I-T-U-D-E!! We have implemented operation "Hot Sauce" in our house when she is being naughty. The threat of this works better for us than time-outs and is apparently a worser fate than having your toenails ripped out one by one with a Barbie Tweezer.



• Speaking of Barbie...she has invaded our house! On the plus side I like her better than the Bratz dolls that look like local prostitutes.



• Got an awesome new tattoo in April and I hope to be adding onto it soon. Not quite sure how I will pay for it, but I guess a gal can dream...right?

Well, other that those things above, not much has been happening. I promised pictures for you in October and again in February so here they FINALLY are...the First one was taken October 19th the day before surgery and the last one was taken on July 25th at Zabba's 4th birthday party.

Here I am at a size 26/28 and 303.4lbs

Here I am at a size 16 and 198lbs