I’m itchin’ to change up my kitchen.  Seriously, folks…I think I might be getting my much needed DISHWASHER soon…so of course I’m dreaming of some low-budget ways to update the kitchen. And as we will be changing things up in the future, I’m thinking of what we need to do now to tie things in down the road. For instance…this wall will have a new countertop and cabinets. Someday. So the stripes have to go. Sorry, stripes…I’ll miss ya’…

Which means I’ll probably do away with the rest of the green on my kitchen walls…

Don’t worry…the countertop, sink, faucet, cabinet doors and hardware, and the lovely vinyl flooring will all be gone someday as well.  Can I rip that horrible soffit out, too?!?!  Read: someday… but for now, I’m thinking paint and fabric will satisfy my need for change.  Especially because I’ll be standing right at that sink, loading my dirty dishes into a brand new dishwasher very, very soon!  So I won’t care what the rest of it looks like, for a while anyway!

So what color will I paint my kitchen?  Probably some form of white…not sure yet.  But I do like green…green cabinets, anyone??  I’m considering it.

How about something more like this?

Rosemary by Sherwin Williams

And I’d love to have this fabric for my curtains…

But it’s a little out of my budget at $138/yard!

So I might try something like this instead:

At only $8.98/yard with free shipping I might give it a try!  It’s not Kelly Wearstler linen, but it will have to do for my little kitchen.

Stay tuned…but don’t hold your breath!

…and around your neck.

How cute is this? via treasuredcharms on etsy. That reminds me – has anyone snacked on the new pretzel m&m’s? I can’t wait until I can try them…mmm….

I could spend a fortune on design books.  And design magazines.  But I don’t – I only buy ones that I *really* think I need.  And this is one of them.

It’s available on October 12th here.

Holding steady at 124.2 pounds today but I measured myself this morning and have lost a total of: 20-1/2″ inches all around!!!

So that was an amazing month!  It definitely tested my willpower, but it was not the deprived, miserable month that you probably imagine!  Like I said before, I have never been one to diet.  None of them have made sense to me.  I believe in healthy eating and regular exercise.  But we all know that alone doesn’t always work (unless you have the time to work out for hours every day!).  Plus I love food.  But I have a new respect for it now, and realize (more than ever!) how important it is to use fresh, organic, healthy ingredients!

It was hard getting used to eating my dinner at 6pm and realizing that was the last bit of food I could have for the rest of the night.  I also had a couple days where I felt a little “low blood sugar” but that was quickly remedied by eating my fruit between meals.  (Just to recap – you eat lunch and dinner, which consists of 3 oz. of protein, a handful of fruit and a handful of vegetables.  Plus as much water, tea and coffee as you want.  You can sweeten it with Stevia – NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS! EVER! Ever.

Anyway, sometimes it sucked to be on the diet.  Like when my husband brought home 2 giant homemade burritos (one for me!) and then realized that I couldn’t eat it.  So he ate both of them.  Not in one night, of course, but they smelled amazing.  So that sucked.  But I got over it and made it to my goal!  And I actually made some really delicious, amazing meals, and learned a lot about cooking!

I also have a new wardrobe of clothing that I couldn’t wear for years!!  I didn’t change clothing size, but let’s just say my size 6 jeans fit like they’re supposed to now!

So what do I do now?  I follow the diet without hcg drops today and tomorrow, and then Saturday I start the 21 day maintenance phase to reset my metabolism to a higher burning rate, and my hypothalamus so my brain will regulate my body at my new weight.  I can eat however much I want, whenever I want, but my restrictions are: no sugar and no starches.  I have any kind of meat back (nitrite-free, though! Check your lunch meat and hot dog ingredients.), eggs, milk, cheese, all fruits (I’m going to stick with lower sugar ones, though) and all vegetables (avoiding starchy ones, though).  Then after that I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want!  Obviously if I go to eating fast food every day I’ll mess it all up, but I don’t want to ever have to do this again!

Do I recommend this method? Of course!!  How can I not?  I lost 24 pounds in 35 days!!  It is a temporary situation, so you just have to remind yourself that you can do this for a little while, and it will be worth it!  But READ THE BOOK!  So feel free to ask some questions and I’ll do my best to answer them!

After texting my sister-in-law my final results yesterday, she asked “how do you feel?”  And my response was, “I feel like me again!”  And I do, and it feels great!

Now.  Back to my (ir)regularly scheduled design blogging!  Be on the lookout for pictures from Harper’s birthday party!!!!

124.4 pounds today!! I did it! I’m DONE!!!!! Well, kind of…so what happens now? Today is the last day I take my drops and I continue the diet today and for the next 2 days as the hcg leaves my system. Then on Saturday I start Phase 3 which sets my new weight and metabolism into place. Phase 3 lasts 21 days and is less restrictive but still no sugar or starch. Then I can eat whatever I want!! Hooray! I have lost 24 pounds in 35 days. Amazing!!!

126.0 pounds today. Two steps forward, one step back! It’s gotta be water… Patience, Lindsay, patience…

125.8 pounds today!! I’ll be eating bacon (nitrite free, of course!) and blue cheese by the weekend! Ha! On to Phase 3 where I can eat as much as I want!!

126.6 pounds today! So close I can taste it!!! (My goal is 124 pounds – the perfect mid-BMI for my height). And I should be at 25% body fat at that weight.

128.0 pounds today. What did I tell you?? I didn’t cheat, so it has to be softball. Just a few more days – hopefully!!! I’ve been saying that for 2 weeks…