Blogging has been replaced by "Vlogging"

DO YOU REMEMBER HER? I DO!

In case you were wondering WHY Captain Patchy turned 8 for over 2 years, it's because blogging completely fell by the wayside the minute I started "vlogging" (video blogging) my weight loss journey with hCG on YouTube. I became kind of famous. Some of my videos had over 100,000 views. I kept it all a secret (mostly) from friends and family because I needed a level of public anonymity at the time (for support and for accountability) when I was going through such a life-changing and emotionally, physically, and mentally challenging transformation. Even though I know you as my family and friends were, (and still are) extremely supportive of me, unless you know exactly what someone else is going through, "support" can sometimes be a tricky thing. My feelings were easily hurt by a few well-meaning comments in the beginning, (as HCG is easily the most bashed diet on the planet). So I kept things on the down-low purposefully, as to not draw negative comments and questions.

Weight loss, (especially losing over 80 pounds) was quite the journey. Since I was in Jr. High School, I have struggled with gaining and losing weight. I wanted my losses to finally stick. I was tired of yo-yo-ing all over the scale. But, (as life often does) a complete curve-ball was thrown at me right after I reached my weight loss goal. I hit 128 pounds in September of 2010, only to develop shingles a few weeks later. I instantly gained back 15 pounds thanks to Prednesone (steroid). Slowly over the course of short-selling our beloved Utah home, moving to Texas, starting college and the ridiculous stress all of those hectic months brought, I gained another 17 pounds on top of that. I had to put a stop to it... there was NO WAY I was going to gain all of my weight back after a year of incredibly hard work, dedication, and discovering my own inner strength. My mantra has become "If at first you don't succeed... try, try again!" Crap happens. We either wallow in it, or rise above it.

I have re-lost 13 pounds, (currently 149) and I am realizing I can have it all. I don't have to completely give up one aspect of my life for another. I am finding balance, peace, and most of all... control. I am now opening myself up, and allowing you to view a portion of my crazy, wonderful journey. If you want to watch my video blogs, you can find them at http://www.youtube.com/user/HCGBlondeAmbition. There are many missing videos (long story) but I will continually add more and make new ones as time goes on.

Fall semester begins on Monday, I will be extremely busy, but I will still try to post a monthly blog update about the family, our lives, and the little things that make me smile. Thanks for hanging in there! This was a long post. Love to you all.

Something Other than Captain Patchy!

Fun With Paint!

As I researched Jackson Pollack and his many unique talents and techniques for painting, I came across a quote from another famous abstract artist, Willem De Kooning. He said Jackson Pollack “broke the ice” for Abstract Expressionist painters to follow. His use of drip painting technique using a large canvas spread out on the floor, allowed a freedom of movement and expression that was never before seen in a painter. “On the floor I am more at ease, I feel nearer, more a part of the painting, since this way I can walk around in it, work from the four sides and be literally `in' the painting” said Jackson Pollock in 1947. In honor of Mr. Pollack, the ice-breaker artist who blazoned a trail for a new and bold abstract art movement of his time, I dedicate my first (of hopefully many) action technique paintings.

My process was one of happy accidents. When I first began painting the canvas I accidentally dripped a giant blob of black paint in the center of the piece that I felt did not belong there. I took a paintbrush and with bold strokes, began brushing the colorful blobs from all over the piece, creating an undercurrent of tones in black, blue, grey, and occasional waves of red-orange. You will not see a square inch of the original white canvas in my work because of this accidental new beginning, but I find the dark background suited the piece when it all came together. It comforted me to know that often times Jackson Pollack himself would throw paint over an entire piece and begin again in a new direction.

My color choices represent the colors found in ice and fire. I chose a robin’s egg blue, bright white, canary yellow and burnt orange acrylic paint. I wanted a stark contrast of complementary colors to visually pop out at the viewer, creating a sense of conflict between two opposing elements in nature. I did not wait until the paint was completely dry before I added another layer of color, and the melding color effect was a pleasant surprise. The swirling black background of the canvas lends to the visual impact.

Materials I used to create the splatter patterns and drips seen in the piece were: an old toothbrush, a 1” flat bristle paintbrush, a wooden spoon handle, my fingers, and a wide-toothed comb. I found this method of painting in drips, drizzles, splatters, and sweeps not only forgiving, but therapeutic. I thoroughly enjoyed creating for creation’s sake, with no lines or boundaries to stay within.

My thoughts while creating the piece were of the universe, how the dark swirling background became deep space, the swirls of bright colors became nebula clouds, and the white specks and streaks became distant stars. The contrast of the ice cold vacuum of space to the molten heat of a newly forming star became my focus. “Ice on Fire” seemed a fitting name for the piece, because that is what the universe ultimately is; a balanced conflict of extremes.

Cap'n Patchy turns 8

Eight is the best age... still young enough to not be embarrassed by the silly things your parents do, but old enough to appreciate it. My middle son turned 8 and we celebrated it in the typical fashion, WAY over the top of course! But, I have to say, it was just as much fun
for me and the hubby as it was for all the kids.
After all, you only turn 8 once.

The cake I didn't make, thanks to Albertson's.
But now I have all the cute pieces, so my kids
will get a home-made pirate cake every birthday
from now on whether they want one or not.

The "Scurvy Dogs" (Fleas optional.)

The long-lost treasure map found,
and the loot of a thousand pirates awaits!

Ho! What's this?

Could it be??

We've found it! We're rich beyond our wildest dreams!

Those are some happy pirates..
complete with a sneer from "Cut-Throat" on the left.

Time to sail away with equal shares of the treasure!

Or just blast the ship to smithereens with an air cannon!

Another thing 8 year old boys love? Destruction!

It was a wonderful, tiring day full of laughs, pirate talk, and some mayhem thrown in for good measure. Thanks to all the kids who came. Happy Birthday, Cap'n Patchy! We love you.

No More Potty Pictures!

Sorry to all of you who have stared endlessly at the gorgeous picture of my son going poo. It was a fluke, anyway. For some reason he has become DEATHLY AFRAID of the toilet. That reminds me of a dream I once had as a child... Oscar the Grouch lived in the toilet and tried to bite my bum unless I flushed him as fast as I could.... but that's a story you probably didn't want to hear.

Moving on.

We had a wonderful trip to Moab this past weekend, and despite the many "hiccups" along the way, it was still one of my favorite trips we have taken as a family. When we arrived there wasn't a single camping site available. Anywhere. Within 50 miles. So, we ended up at the RV park, which was actually really fun! I got my daily hot shower, air conditioning, and a great spot next to the Colorado River. The kids had a blast riding their bikes around everywhere, and we took in the beautiful sights of Arches National Park. We actually did all the stuff we didn't get to last time, so there'll be a whole new crop of pictures never before seen. Yay!

The hike to Delicate Arch was hot even at 9 in the morning.
But what a view! Sean took this picture and caught a
cool looking bird flying by. For the sake of scale, the photo
below of the boys shows the first crack in the rock they are
leaning against. Compare that to the upper photo.
Yeah, it's that big.

Just a random photo of the gorgeous red rock country
...and some darn cute kids!

The Mathis boys taking a break.

There were a lot of fun rock walls and caves to explore.
I have never seen Brennan so happy.

So pretty it could be a postcard.

Anything you can do, I can do better.....

Jumping into soft sand isn't a soft landing....

They call these petrified sand dunes "slick rock",
but it's not slippery at all. More like "grip rock".

Again, Brennan in heaven in between two rock walls.
Only he could fit in this crack.

We weren't allowed to have campfires at the RV park,
so we gave the kids a couple of briquettes
from the grill and called it a campfire.
(Brennan isn't naked, just pants-free.)

It was a great trip. One I will always treasure.

If you don't know already, I adore the three boys you are looking
at right now. What would my life be without them?

Potty time! Woo-woo!

Can it possibly be? The day has finally come that Brennan entertains the idea of sitting "ON" something vs. "IN" something? Amazing, but true! I have to give him an "A" for effort...he really tries to get it all out in one sitting. What a big boy you are, Brennan my love. Keep up the good work. (Just so you know, he had like 4 chocolate chip cookies prior to his lovely performance, so that's what is smeared all over his face. Just wanted to clarify that).

The Abyss (otherwise known as FaceBook)

I have a new addiction. It's Facebook. That's the reason why my Blog is dying a horribly neglected death. When Shanna first mentioned Facebook, I thought "Hmmm, no thanks. There are enough weirdos and pervs in my life already". (Joke) But when I saw Sean set up his profile and find friends he hadn't seen in 20 years, I became a tad jealous. The next day I set up my own profile, and began finding friends, old neighbors, family members, dead pets...etc. For the past couple of weeks, I have spent HOURS of time (I could've been doing something totally productive with) on Facebook. It's been an absolute delight reconnecting with old friends and family. I did take a short break during our Disnyworld trip (pictures and posting will come someday), but I always wondered if I was missing out on something. Sad, sad, sad.
One small breakthrough has occured however. I only allow myself to Facebook when Brennan is down for a nap, or it's late at night and I cannot sleep. That's it. I am getting better at managing my addiction. Will I ever give it up "cold turkey"? Uh, no. It's just too darn fun. In fact, if you want to join me in my deep cozy abyss (if you haven't already) go here:http://www.facebook.com/

See you soon! Mwah-ha-ha! :)

Christmas "All-a-day"

I know it's the middle of January and I am just now getting caught up on Christmas. That's just the way I roll. We had such a great time in Houston with hubby's side of the family! In fact, a new holiday was born....or better named "All-a-day". What in the world is that? Just like the name suggests, it's all the holidays of the year rolled into one, fun-filled, crazy day. First, we had an Easter egg hunt...

I think Brennan is still hunting, so he's not in the photo.
The little darling on the right is my niece Tabitha.

I could go on and on about her,
but I will save that for another post coming soon.

Is your arm getting a little tired Gav?
That's quite the haul, buddy.

Brennan's entire face would light up when he found an egg.

Opening the loot is just as much fun!

See what I mean? Couldn't you just kiss those cheeks off?

Or these cheeks, too?

Connor wanted to take us all for a tractor ride,
but that's George Washington's job. (aka Grandpa)

It was a great day...an Easter Egg Hunt,
dressing up for Halloween, an old-fashioned hayride,
and decorating (and eating large quantities of) Christmas cookies.

Christmas morning never gets old.
Especially when worn on the face of a toddler.

Hover-copters, air-pellet guns, night-vision goggles! Oh my!

Antique Legos passed down from Gavin's 3 uncles and daddy.
I think Gavin has reached kid nirvana.
(And no, we will not sell them to you on Ebay).

Mario cart, anyone?
Brennan just drives around in circles, but it's still fun.
Connor, on the other hand, takes his game very seriously...
complete with realistic crash sound effects.

Yep, Christmas was a blast. My kids are still talking about it,
and that's pretty rare considering my kids have an attention
span of 15 minutes. It will be fondly remembered for years to come.

My Baby Is Growing Up

For all of you who have kids (human or fur-covered), I am sure you can relate to the first haircut you ever give your baby. Suddenly they aren't as pudgy, or curly, or baby-looking. They look like a much bigger boy/girl. My baby boy Beckett went to the groomers and got a trim today, and I am sad that his baby fur around his face is gone. He suddenly looks all grown up. I am glad he can actually SEE something in front of him now, but I miss the scrappy Mohawk between his eyes. They grow up so fast.




And here's an interesting side-note....
I have a sort of embarrassing question. What is "cleaning the anal glands" ?! Sounds painful. Poor puppy got a bum shave, so that the other dogs won't point and laugh at the dingle-berries.

Meet Beckett

We had a great time in Houston visiting the Mathis side of the family over the Christmas holiday. We even brought home a little souvenir! Meet Beckett, the wonder dog. Isn't he the sweetest thing you've ever seen? Everyone say, "Awwwww"...


Once upon a time, I didn't like dogs. Even the thought of owning a dog made me shiver in fear and break out in hives. Why? Well, growing up we didn't have very good experiences owning dogs in our house. Pooper was eaten by our cousins' neighbor's Rottweiler, Penny was psycho and ate a bunch of Styrofoam out of her dog house and then ran away, Lucky was destructive and peed on everyone when he got excited, and Baby was hit by a car, I think... anyway, you get the picture. Not that our family didn't try, I just think we didn't train very well. (And a good dog requires lots and lots of training, love, and patience as I am quickly finding out).

This is Mags....
or Margaret Sheridan Mathis if you want to be proper.

She comes from a long line of Show-Dog Champions. She is a pure-bred Norfolk Terrier as are her 4 puppies...all boys. The father of the pups is named Bandit, and he too comes from Championship dogs. He looks a lot like Mags, but has a rusty-red coat instead of the sandy-blonde. I have already posted about what an awesome dog Mags is. I think that's the main reason I decided to give in and adopt one of her puppies. As soon as I saw the little rascals, there was a connection with Beckett. He was sweet, not hyper, didn't bark much, and took to Gavin right away. He was already crate-trained and almost potty-trained. (We are still working on that, but he rarely has an accident). Although this puppy is a lot of work now, I know it'll pay off in the end and we will have a fantastic family dog who will be loved and cherished more than he already is.

Want to see all the boys? Here they are in order from left to right:

Cooper, Barney (not facing camera), Beckett, and Kendall.
Cooper is a fur ball full of energy... lots & LOTS of energy!
Barney is very brave, and likes to bark at bigger dogs.
Beckett is a little shy, but sweet, loving, and playful.
Kendall is the most social, and is always happy to see you.

I cannot thank Janie enough for our new bundle of fun. I have really bonded with him, and I know the kids have too. So, for the first time I can proudly say I am a "dog person"!

P.S. I will post pics of Christmas soon.

Chocolate Ashtray

My blog is a chance for me to journal, since I don't officially journal. This post may be a strange one, so bear with me. I was watching Rachel Ray today, and normally I don't watch her show because I am dieting and it's just not a good idea. BUT... today was different. As I flipped through the channels, I noticed her guest was Hypnotherapist Paul McKenna.

He teaches that any compulsion/addiction can be cured by association in the brain. What is my compulsion? Food, of course. What is association? Well, think of your favorite food, for example. (Rich, creamy chocolate is mine.)

If it doesn't make your mouth water, then it won't work.

Now think of the most repulsive thing you could imagine eating.

(An ashtray full of cigarette butts works for me).

Now find a quiet place, relax, take some deep breaths, and close your eyes and imagine the combonation of the two.... an ashtray made of chocolate, chock full of nasty cigarette butts and ash. Now imagine yourself eating it. Did your stomach turn? Mine did. I seriously cannot even smell chocolate without smelling cigarrette ash-tainted chocolate... no joke. I tested it on a Hershey's kiss the kids brought home from school yesterday. I couldn't eat it. Just the smell disgusted me! Crazy huh?!? Just goes to show that the mind can do some pretty amazing things! So, New Year's resolutions are just around the corner! Pick your resolution and try this technique. (It also works for something you don't like doing associated with your most pleasurable experience). To see how, go here.

I know it's the holidays and no one likes a person on a diet because we suck the fun out of everything. But for me, I am amazed at the transformation in my body and mind. I haven't had a drop of soda. I love to exercise, and actually get upset if I miss a workout! I haven't eaten any Christmas goodies. The reason this is so amazing to me is because I would normally eat a whole plate of goodies by myself before the kids got home from school and bury the evidence deep in the trash. Now, the goodies bypass me completely and just go into the trash. For the first time in my life I feel empowered. I feel free. I feel like I can conquer the world. I have lost 15 pounds in 3 weeks, and yes... I am dang proud of that.

I like shiny things....

My mother-in-law sent me these really pretty salt & pepper grinders for my birthday. Not only are they pretty, they are mechanized (just push a button on top and wah-la! instant ground pepper!) and have a light at the bottom so you see where you are grinding. I have always envied these little beauties, (my mom-in-law has had the same set for years) but have never thought to buy them for myself. Maybe because until recently, I wasn't much of a cook. But I digress. I LOVE these wonderful kitchen gadgets...and yes, it is possible to fall in love with kitchenware.

The only problem is, my kids love the sleek new toys, too. They're simply magic in the hand of a child. So, I will have to share my new-found friends...and clean up their dusty trails on my countertops. But that's ok. These babies are totally worth it. Thanks Mom!

Life Without Carbonation

***The following information is not meant to be preachy,
judgmental, or soap-boxy. Just interesting,
eye-opening, and life-changing in my case.***

If you know me, you know that I usually have a can of Coke Zero in my hand, or the 32 oz. fountain version of Coke Zero sitting in the cup-holder of my car. I could easily guzzle down anywhere between 3-6 cans a DAY of the shiny, black-cylinder elixir. I felt out of control, constantly craving sugar, carbs, fats, salt...everything that wasn't good for me. I always thought diet soda wasn't bad for me because it didn't have sugar in it, right?

And then, my world changed. I went to a dietitian. Not only did I find out WHAT soda did to me, but how it effects mood swings, eating habits, etc. And just what does soda do to a person's body?

First off, phosphoric acid... most sodas (diet or regular) have this ingredient. It robs your body of calcium. Not only does this acid rob calcium, it also interferes with absorption of calcium. A double-whammy. After age 30, women especially need calcium for bone density later in life. My bones must look like Swiss cheese, but I am still young enough to reverse some of the damage I have done, thankfully.
Secondly, caffeine... slows metabolism. What? I always thought that little "pep" raised my metabolism. Not so. The temporary boost from caffeine is always followed by a crash, which equates to a slow-down in metabolism. So, you pop open another can of soda to not feel so sluggish and tired. (Vicious little addictive cycle, caffeine is.)
Thirdly, NutraSweet. It artificially spikes your insulin levels (the same way sugary sodas do), only with diet sodas, there is no sugar to counter-act the insulin. So, even though your teeth may not rot, your over-inflated insulin equates to fat storage, (and lots of it in my case).
And last but not least Carbonation, any carbonation (sometimes called Carbonic Acid) whether it's Coke or beer or sparkling mineral water, sucks the water out of your body, and most soda drinkers don't drink enough water anyway. Dehydration sets in, and triggers your body to eat more/drink more.

I am happy to report I am a reformed Coke Zero addict. I have not had a drop of soda in 9 days. This is the longest I have gone without soda my entire adult life. And I don't crave it. I finally feel free from the mood swings, fatigue, and irritability I have always felt while drinking soda all day, every day...(and not knowing why). I am a water girl now. Not only do I feel better, I understand what signals my body is sending me. LONG story short, I feel wonderful. I never want to drink soda again. Really.

BAD TUNA

As I was preparing my much anticipated lunch, I popped open a can of tuna. I mixed in my non-fat mayo, pickle relish, and a sprinkle of dill. I spread my heavenly tuna concoction on my golden toasted de"light"ful slices of bread. I very happily (and hungrily) took a bite. Then, very hastily ran to the kitchen sink to gag and sputter and spit out every ounce of tuna. Thankfully, the taste was so bad I did not manage to swallow any of it, or else I'd have food poisoning and the ralphs for sure. The can looked unassuming, and no killer vapors knocked me over while making the sandwich. I checked the mayo, too. The mayo was innocent. It was the tuna. So, here's my question to all of you tuna connoisseurs out there..... what is the shelf-life on a can of tuna? Because I have a jumbo pack of tuna from Sam's Club sitting in my pantry that's about a year old. All of it is going in the trash, just as a precaution. Will I ever enjoy tuna again? Or has this experience ruined tuna forever?
Sobbing to myself, I looked at the evil tuna can and cried...
Curse you, BAD TUNA!

Twilight- The movie review

With not so terribly high expectations, I went and saw the midnight showing of Twilight with my sisters and a few of their friends. Always up for a much needed GNO, I gladly sacrificed precious sleep and came along for the ride. I love hanging with the girls! But, this is a movie review, so here goes nothing....

I don't normally critique movies, or ever even blog about them, but this one deserves some feedback! I am assuming that you haven't been living under a rock these past 3 years, and have actually read the book. If you have not, don't bother to step foot in the theater. The filmmakers assume you have read the book, too. Trust me on this one...if you don't know ANYTHING about Twilight, you will hate this movie and quite possibly strangle anyone who told you to go see it. Read the books, if that interests you.

The Cinematography: Spot-on. Forks depicted in the movie was the same as Forks described in the book. The overcast, almost blue-gray film effect was perfect for capturing the mood and tone. The scenery was beautiful. And haunting, too. This aspect of the film was true to the book.

The Script: If speaking with your eyes was dialog, then this movie was downright verbose. If you can't read peoples' thoughts like Edward, then the dialog was uninspired and scant to say the least. Some of my favorite book characters (Alice and Jasper, Esme) had maybe three lines the entire movie...even the lead characters had skimpy lines. For example, you don't get much of the playful banter between Bella and Ed like you do in the book. Sure they hint at a couple of funny lines, but there wasn't any follow through. If Ed and Bella began talking for more than a minute, the music would drown them out and we would have to be forced to read lips. Good chemistry, but terrible dialog! So sad, really.

The Music:
Rocked! I am going out to buy the Soundtrack. Muse and Paramore are my new favorite bands. I have been looking for new music that doesn't sound like everything else out there, and I found it in this movie. I loved it.

Special Effects:
There were none. And they weren't special. Amazingly bad, in fact.
I wish they would have spent a little more time and money on getting the vampires' abilities to look cool instead of looking like a guy hanging from wires as he runs in mid-air as fast as he can. I have seen stage plays with better effects. Sigh.

My thoughts on the cast:
I thought Kristin Stewart as Bella was believable for the most part.... except the fact that you RARELY saw her smile the entire movie, and she was a little too sullen and moody compared to the book. I don't think they needed to play up the "Plain Jane" aspect so much, either. No makeup would have been better than the gray-eyeshadow-with-no-mascara look. Really weird. Her contact-lensed eyes were so dark they were almost creepy. No awards in the make-up department for ANY of the characters for that matter. I thought the contact lenses and pale make-up on the vamps could have been done in a tasteful way. Instead it looked like they were going trick-or-treating in some scenes. (Poor Jasper looked like a bug-eyed, baby-powdered mannequin the entire movie. Not to mention, a mute.)

The character who stole the show in my opinion was Bella's dad, Charlie. He was very natural and had the wittiest of the few humorous lines. I won't go into James, Victoria, or Laurent. I will only say cheese, cheese, and more cheese. On to the leading men...

From the time they announced Robert Pattinson as "Edward" I had a sinking feeling. Quite frankly, he's just not that good looking. For everyone who has read the books, they know Edward is breathtakingly, flawlessly beautiful. Poor Rob almost seemed awkward and nerdy at times. (Like when he walks, talks, or smiles.) Edward's character is supposed to be articulate, wise, and polished, not an insecure, stammering kid. Maybe it's just Rob's hockey nose or British teeth or his giant orange-on-a-toothpick head that turned me off. In the book, Ed's physique is carved out of marble, on par with a Greek-god. Seriously??? Sorry Rob, you are no Michelangelo's David.

Rob Pattinson

If I were in charge, I would have cast this guy as Edward. He's breathtakingly beautiful (in my opinion), has pale skin, a strong jawline, thin cut muscular body, eyes that totally suck you in, and he can act. Lost fans may recognize him. When I was reading the book series, this guy's face always jumped into my head as "Edward".

Ian Somerhalder

Now that's Edward's body.
(and he naturally looks a little vampy.)

The actor who played Jacob in the movie (Taylor Lautner) was way cute, but young. You may remember him from Shark Boy and Lava Girl. Then again, you may not. I thought his character was underutilized...but maybe I am just a teeeensy bit partial to Jacob. In the next book/movie, "New Moon" he needs to have grown about 2 feet and put on 50 pounds of pure sinewy muscle...hit the weights, kid. You definitely have potential.

Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black.

The Jacob in my head was always this guy.
Who I think, looks like an older brother to the current Jacob.

His name is Steve Strait. So adorable, and smokin' hot in the body department. He's worth watching Sky High or even 10,000 BC for. Ahem...moving on.

Bottom line, if you were hoping for greatness,
you won't find it here. This film had a very low budget and it shows. I am somewhat baffled as to why such a best-selling book series would be so low budget on the screen.
If I were you I'd wait for Twilight to
come out on DVD unless you are a die-hard fan
and can't wait to be disappointed.
And that ends my soapbox career as a film critic.
I will let the professionals do it from now on.

P.S. Girl's night out was the highlight of my week. Please don't think me ungrateful! I will gladly go again just for the chance to talk and be girly for a little while...no matter what is playing on the big screen. A big THANK YOU goes out to Lydia for waiting in line for hours to get us good tickets. You are so sweet for doing that for us.