Four letter dirty word: d-i-e-t.

This morning, I was going through my daily routine. Shower, primp, dress...when I noticed my reflection in the mirror. Where did that extra little bit of fat come from? I've heard that after the first year of marriage, the average bride gains approximately 20 pounds. I vowed that I would not be one of those brides. I would be the same size that I was on our wedding day (at least until babies came along). And for awhile, I was. Slowly, I noticed a change. My college sized jeans were a little tighter. My work pants weren't as comfortable as they used to be. I refused to acknowledge this change. I continued to make myself wear the tiny-bit too small pair of pants because accepting it meant buying a bigger size. And that was NOT going to happen. For those of you that know me, I'm a faithful viewer of What Not to Wear. I LOVE Stacy and Clinton. Stacy, with her flippant attitude and her know-it-all fashion sense, is constantly lecturing women that are insisting on squeezing into their too small clothing. "It's not the number on the tag that counts, it's how you look in the clothing." I would scoff at the WNTW contestants and wonder why they couldn't accept going from a 8 to a 10 if it meant looking better and not wearing skin-tight clothing. Until I was that person looking at changing clothing sizes. It wasn't just a change from a 4 to a 6, it was accepting that I'm gaining weight. And before all of you freak out on me, I know I'm not fat. I have a small frame, but I have gained a few extra pounds that don't need to be there. And the result is a lower self-esteem version of me. I look at my wedding dress and wonder if I could even get it zipped. So here's my personal challenge. Lose 5 pounds. My stomach doctor has put me on a gluten free diet (which translates to no breads, no pizza dough, no pasta, nothing made with wheat) so I'm going to faithfully stick to it. I'm also going to go walking. Now that summer is coming to an end and it's not unbearably hot outside, I'm going to take a stroll. Heck, I might even start jogging (although I don't think my asthma will tolerate much of that...). Not only will it help me get into better shape, but it'll be relaxing. Starting today, I'm on a slim down a little and feel better about myself kind of diet. If Audrey Hepburn can make a vow that she'll never weigh over 103 pounds, why can't I make a similar pact?

Best. Day. Ever.

It's almost my favorite day of the year!! Nope, my birthday isn't until February....Christmas, you say? Not quite....Valentine's Day? Please! It's almost Cecilia Days! I know, I can hear you laughing now, but it's one of those days that I look forward to all year long. I haven't been able to attend the last few years (one of those side effects of having a big girl job). I missed not getting to see the parade where I know 90% of the participants. I wasn't going to get to see my uncle ride his restored Allis-Chalmers tractor that was dedicated in memory of my Pepaw. I missed the barbeque sandwiches and the chicken dinner. I missed getting to work the Hardin County Dairy Assocation's ice cream booth with my Meemaw, mom, sisters and aunts. I missed getting to browse through the 20 or so booths filled with tshirts, purses, crafts and food. I missed, more than anything, getting to laugh at the "Almost" Talent Show (one of those things that I couldn't explain if I tried....you just have to see it). But this year, gosh darn it, I was going to take a day off from my big girl job and attend my favorite day. After all, this year, my Meemaw is the reigning Mayor of Cecilia! (a title that comes with virtually no powers except the priviledges of plugging in the town Christmas tree and leading the Cecilia Days parade). This year, my entire family is coming to ride on the Dennis Parrett for State Senator float (a tobacco wagon with hay bales :)) But the biggest change from my regular Cecilia Days festivities......this year, I'm setting up a booth that will have my Rustic Elegance crafts for sale. I have developed approximately 6 stomach ulcers, lost countless hours of sleep and fretted myself into a state of anxiety over this booth, but I'm super excited about it. I can't wait to decorate my tents with a touch of "rustic elegance." I can't wait to get my products out there and be able to really determine whether or not people like or want to buy my stuff. You can find me, along with all the other booths, at Cecilia Days this weekend (Friday night-all day Saturday). Come out, enjoy some laughs, crafts and a chicken dinner. You'll be a Cecilia Days fan for life :)