Happy Birthday to Me!

This has been a great week for me. I've gotten alot of writing done, finished my next assignment for the advanced Insititute of Children's Literature course I'm taking, finished a great book written by Courtney Rene titled Shadow's End, and made it through my 56th birthday, yesterday.

Today I'm reminising about how different birthdays are to me then when I was young. As a child, birthdays were all about the presents, the cake, and hopefully the party and a whole day of the attention being all about me!! However as an adult, I haven't had a single birthday party. It seems like everytime I have a special birthday, circumstances don't allow for a party. And never living close to family doesn't help either. So I've had to learn to except birthdays as no big deal.

On my 40th, we had just moved to Vicksburg, MS so I knew absolutely no one. On my 50th, I had just changed jobs two days before so they didn't even know I had a birthday let alone that it was my 50th. However, that year I did have a fantastic surprise. My siblings and a good friend all flew down and surprised me. That meant so much to me!

It's funny how as you age even the smallest things mean alot to you anymore. Yesterday I had no party, I had no family around, but I did have lunch with friends. That meant alot. My husband and I agreed to not give gifts for our birthdays this year because they are so close to xmas, his was the 13th of Jan., so I got no gifts except a beautiful candle from my mom. But I didn't miss it. My gift was all the happy birthday wishes I got from so many friends on facebook! I was overwhelmed.

I'm sure when I age even more, that will go away and I'll just be thrilled to make it TO another birthday!

On another note, I did get some fantastic publishing news on my birthday, however I can't share it yet. So why did I even mention it then?? Cause that person, she knows who she is, made my birthday complete. Can't wait to share more with you'all on that later!

Now I must go to my frig and start pigging out on my birthday cheesecake because starting Monday, I am beginning Shred: The Revolutionary Diet. Any of you hear about that? It's a diet that is made to jump start and trick your metabolism into working. I read the book and it definitely sounds like a doable diet plan. It's a six week plan that has detailed menu options for every day, and every week until finished. If you reach your goal weight in that six weeks, you go onto maintenance. If not, you start the six week cycle again.

Anyway, it's normal foods. You basically eat 4 meals and 3 snacks. Who can't do that!! You learn to portion control and eat every 3-4 hours so you never feel hungry. And you have options of food to eat for each meal and tons of snack options. You also eat lots of smoothies and shakes if you choose to for a meal. I know a few people who have tried this diet and its working great for them.

Unlike weight watchers where I lose sooooooo slowly, this diet is made to lose 18-25 lbs in the 6 weeks if you follow it, and have more than 25 lbs to lose.

So, Monday is kick-off for me. I've decided I will try to update on my blog, my success each week. Not because I think you are really interested, but because it might help me stick to it! I will also post a picture of me before and after to see what kind of difference it makes, if any.

Stay tuned! But even more than that... PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for me!! I need it!