Biggest Loser

Many of you know that I am an "ex-heifer".  I really am not lying.  Today, I weigh about 80 pounds less than I did three years ago.

(Again, let me reaffirm, I love food.)

About two years ago, I was lucky enough to be determined and given the motivation to lose weight.  I did it mostly by following the Weight Watchers plan.

It was hard but I did it.

What is the problem now?  I am married and for some dumb reason... my fat is sticking to me like double sided sticky tape.

I have gained about 15 pounds since I started dating Ryan and it is really starting to bug the heebygeebies out of me.

While I was going to school and student teaching, I had felt like I had too much on my plate and I just couldn't seem to find the motivation to lose that lovely wedding weight.

However, I have now been given the motivation I need....

Biggest Loser - Family Edition.

My father in law (with the idea from my sister in law, Nanci) has created a competition within our immediate family.

It started yesterday and it goes for the next 8 weeks.  Anyone who competes in this challenge will receive $25 per pound lost during the competition!!!!  And the grand prize.... $1,000 in cash.

So to sum this post all up, I have found my long lost motivation.  Who wouldn't with this kind of money?!

My goal is to lose at least 25 pounds... and win... ;).

I will be sure to keep you all updated as the month rolls on.  I am going to need some cheerleaders by my side if I am going to win this thing.

Oh and Ryan is competing too.  I guess that is important to mention.  ;)

Ulrich

Please answer honestly....

I am not going to be offended.  Promise.

Raise your hand if the first time you looked at my last name, you really weren't sure how to say it.... ULLGRIIICKK. (I can hear some of you gagging trying to say it as we speak...)

Let me help you.

It's said... ul-rich.

I figured since this will be my last name forever now, I might as well look up it's meaning today.

This is what I found on www.thinkbabynames.com.

Side note... really interesting that I found this information on a baby name site.  Who names their baby Ulrich? Maybe the vikings?  I don't know...

Anyway, Ulrich means "noble, regal ruler, power of the wolf, or power of the home."

Random, I know... but that is what it means!!!

All kidding aside, I love my last name.  I am so proud to be an Ulrich.  It seems like whenever I say my name, someone knows an Ulrich and that makes me proud to be a part of this great family.  It's like I instantly gain a friend that I just barely met.  Plus, I have never heard anything bad said about an Ulrich.  Having this last name makes me very conscience to not do anything wrong to taint this great name.  I need to live up to the honor of having this last name.  

I love being an Ulrich.

That darn truck

Let me paint a picture for you.

Three things to remember:

1. Ryan and I live in a town home.  We have a 3X3 piece of grass for our front yard and then it is the road.  Our town home is squished in between two other homes.  There are 30+ town homes in the same block of our little development.

2. The window of the master bedroom is on the front of the house right on top of the garage.  Ryan and I's  headboard on our bed is in front of the window.  Basically meaning that we sleep with our heads right under the window.

3. When we all put out our garbage cans on Tuesday night, they are all pretty much next to each other.  Directly in front of our cute little house.

So on to my story now that I have set up the scenery...

It's early Wednesday morning and like always, Ryan and I sleep with our window open.  It is peaceful and quiet.  We are both sleeping soundly, wrapped in each others arms... until....

BAM!!

KLANK!!!

FLURP!!

BEEP! BEEP!

SMACK!

The darn garbage truck is emptying our garbage at 5am!!!

Remember the setting I took so long at the beginning of this post to set up?  Well that just means that since we live in such an enclosed community and all our garbages seem to be placed together right in front of our house, the noise basically blasts Ryan and I right out of our bed. And I mean literally... blast.  I am not really sure if it's because we are going from a deep peaceful sleep to a boisterous war zone or what.  But seriously, it has got to be the loudest noise I had ever encountered at 5am.

You would think that Ryan and I would remember to not sleep with the window open on the nights the garbage truck comes.   But alas, we forget every time and wake up ready to pummel the garbage man and his darn truck.

Did I mention?

I am now a Weber State graduate!!!  

It has taken me five loooonnnngggg years but....

I have my bachelor degree in elementary education.  

What a blessing.  Now I need to help Ryan get through school. :) 

It is great to start a new chapter in my life!  

Pay It Forward

Have you seen this movie?

Don't see it.

It's awful!!  Want to know why?  Because this little boy tries to change the world.  He comes up with a plan to drastically help 3 people.  Then those 3 people have to "pay it forward" and each help three people themselves.  Then when it starts to take off, more and more people will have to pay it forward and it will be a chain reaction.  A movement to change the world.  Sounds like a good movie, right?!

Wrong.

Here is the spoiler alert: The little boy (who started the "pay it forward" movement) dies trying to save his friend from being beat up by a gang.  He is stabbed and ends up dying in the hospital.  Can you believe it?!

I sobbed.

And sobbed.

And sobbed.

Then sobbed some more.

Ryan had no idea the kind of girl he married until he saw me break down over a movie.  A movie for heavens sake.

But I sobbed and I am still upset about this darn movie.

So to save the rest of you from a nervous break down and risk being seen as a lunatic for getting so emotional over a movie.  Don't watch this one.

It's not worth the puffy eyes.  Trust me.

Oh and FYI.... I also have been known to cry (and when I say cry, I mean sob) over Star Wars, Fox and The Hound, Karate Kid, and many others. :)

Born this way

No.... I am not going to blog about the Lady Gaga song "Born this way".  

I am no where near to being a Lady Gaga fan.  But... that is besides the point. 

Lately I have been thinking about my life.  And I have come to the conclusion that I was born to be a wife.  It is truly my calling in life.  I love it.  I love making dinner every night, I love decorating the house, I love doing little things for my husband, I love cleaning our house, I love making crafts to display, I love grocery shopping, and the list goes on and on.  

Everything that a wife is traditionally "supposed" to do.... I love it.  No lie.

Other things in life, I don't enjoy so much.  Good example... homework.  And please notice that it doesn't really have to do with being a wife.  ;) 

Basically, I was born this way.   I was born to be a wife.  I am glad I get to do it 24/7.  

P.S.  For those of you who believe I am in the "honeymoon stage", we will do a follow up post in one year from now.  That way you can still see that I am still the perfect wife. ;) 

Three months, one week, and four days

Three months, one week and four days... 

That is how long Ryan and I have now been married for. 

Can you believe it?  We are old timers! ;) 

I am thrilled that I get to spend eternity with him.  

He is everything I ever wanted and more. 

1908

In the year 1908....  The average life expectancy was 47 years. Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub. Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone. There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph. The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower. The average wage in 1908 was 22 cents per hour. The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year.  More than 95 percent of all births took place at home. Ninety percent of all doctors had no college education. Sugar cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used egg yolks for shampoo. The population of Las Vegas was only 30 people. There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day. Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write. Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school. 18% of households had a full-time servant or domestic help. I am so glad I live in the 20th century.  Heavenly Father knew the exact time to send me to this earth. I wouldn't have survived in 1908...

9 things

Here are 9 things you might not know about me...

1. I hate using a pencil.  I will only use a mechanical pencil... if I have to.  
2. When watching a sporting event, I hate it when the score is not an even number.  I get panicked until someone scores and it's fixed. 
3. I can't have my maple syrup touch my eggs and bacon so I use two plates.  
4. The volume on the T.V. has to be an even number. 
5. I have to have my feet wrapped in a blanket to sleep.
6. I love to get on Fandango and watch movie trailers for all the new and upcoming movies.  I will watch random trailers for movies that are 6 months away from coming out.  
7. I am 3 years older than Ryan. 
8. I have lived in Utah my whole life. 
9. I rather do laundry, dishes and any other house work than clean the bathroom.  

Here are 9 things you might not know about Ryan...

1. He loves to decorate the house with me.  
2. He drinks at least one glass of chocolate milk a day.  
3. He also has to sleep with his feet wrapped in a blanket (we were sooo meant to be together).
4. He is planning on attending law school.  
5. He is more baby hungry than I am.  Don't tell him I said that... ;) 
6. He hates the flavor of mint which causes him to hate brushing his teeth.  
7. He sings and plays the guitar very well.  
8. He is not, in any form, a morning person.
9. He labels his favorite pens and pencils so no one will take them.  

Now you know a little bit more about us... 

Bingo

Ryan and I have decided that we are bringing this bingo to the next testimony meeting.  We think it will help us concentrate....

Once upon a time...

Amen

The reason

Do you know why I will never be a size 3?  Do you know why I will never weigh 120 pounds?  Do you know why I was so overweight in high school?  Do you know why dieting is so hard?

Here is the reason...

I love to cook.

And when I say love, I really mean adore.  Some people might even go as far to say obsessed.  If that is what they think.... well, they are probably true.

When Ryan and I were dating, his father gave me a wonderful opportunity.  He let me cook for him every Tuesday night... on his dime.  That means I could buy whatever I wanted at the grocery store and he would pay for it.

And guess what?  We still have this little system going on and I look forward to it every week.

Would you like to hear some of the things I have made?  Of course you would....

Autumn Torte Rustica
Tres Leche Cake
Tomato Dill Soup
Lobster Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Bearnaise Sauce
Chicken with Lemon Sage Sauce
Banana Cream Pie
Sausage Stuffed Pumpkin
Chicken in Basil Cream
Honey Lemon Salmon
Chicken Piccata Pasta Toss
Sweet "N" Tangy Carrots
White Chocolate Pumpkin Cheesecake
Eggnog Custard Pie
White Chocolate Creme Brûlée
Carmel Chocolate Trifle
Garlic Cheese Bread
Creamy Seafood Stuffed Shells

And this is not even a third of the delicious items I have served up!  I have so much fun looking up different recipes and trying new things.  I make sure that the menu is always tasty and... it is.

Maybe one day you will get lucky and I will invite you all over for a "Tuesday Night" dinner.  ;)



      

Big Difference

I am sure that many of you know, but just in case you haven't noticed my last name change, I am now married.

Crazy huh?  I never would have believed it myself except, I was there and I witnessed it first hand.  ;)  Many of you might ask, is marriage that big of a difference from being single?

Yes.

Here are the biggest differences:
- I no longer seem to be able to stay up past 11pm.
- My late night Walmart runs are at 9pm instead of 1am.
- Someone else can see my bank account and see all the money I spend at Michaels Craft.
- Even though it's winter, I still have to shave.  Ugh.  
- I have to pack two lunches everyday, not just one.
- There are now some chocolate items on my grocery list (I don't like chocolate).
- I have the privilege of going to the bathroom with the door wide open.
- I get hassled daily about when I am going to have a baby.
- I don't cry when I hear break up songs on the radio.
- I have one roommate instead of five.
- If I don't clean up my house, my mother won't either.
- Friday night dates consist of staying home and watching a movie.
- You tell your friends all those things like "You'll get married when you least expect it."
- Coupons help the budget for the month go a little longer.

and the biggest difference....

I get to spend everyday with my best friend who loves me just as much as I love him.  That is the best part about it all.  

Welcome to our blog.