Adirondack Weekend

Making snow angels after hiking to the top of a snow-covered mountain! (No, that is NOT photoshopped!! This city girl actually did that!!)

I had such a great weekend up in the Adirondack mountains with S and a group of other friends. We went to S's family's mountain house, which is a really great, cosy spot (and the spot where we first got together over New Year's weekend). The weekend was just filled with great company, really good food (all of us love to cook and love nice wine). S's cousin and his two boys were such good company too -- the boys (ages 7 and 9) were seriously adorable and very well behaved. And, spending all that time with S was pretty wonderful, too.

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Adirondack Packbaskets in S's mud room

Our friends all went downhill skiing on Saturday, and S and I decided to spend the day together instead. So, after a lazy morning and a delicious breakfast, we went on a seven mile hike (in seriously cold temperatures, I might add!) up a mountain road on his club's property that takes you to a beautiful frozen lake. The walk wasn't that challenging, and thankfully, S bundled me up in plenty of gear, so I was much warmer than I would have been otherwise.

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Hmm... not exactly a selling point....

On Sunday, our whole group did a 3 1/2 hour mountain hike through the snow. As in, lots of snow. As in, some steps, you'd find yourself up to your knees! And on others, we were walking up a steep incline, digging in our boots and scrambling up rocks and ice. On the way down, we butt-slid through the snowy inclines (when it was relatively safe) like penguins, which was just a complete blast! And, eventually, I put on crampons, so I was able to walk down steeper inclines without being afraid that I'd slip and break my leg!

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In addition to being a ton of fun, and a great bonding experience with S and with our group as a whole, this weekend was a huge NSV for me. I never would have gone on a weekend like that at my highest weight. First of all, there is no way I would have enjoyed the 7 mile (largely uphill for the first 3.5 miles) walk. Second, I wouldn't have been able to borrow appropriate winter clothing, in all likelihood, since their gear all would have been too small for me. And third, there is no way I would have been able to do -- much less enjoy -- that 3 1/2 hour hike up a mountain, through the snow, if I wasn't in good shape. I thought about all of those things while I was enjoying these activities, and just felt so grateful about how many different things my band, and my working with the band, has made it possible for me to do.

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Four from our group on top of the peak we climbed on Sunday!

Kissing in Manhattan....

Did any of you ever read that book? Kissing in Manhattan by David Schnickler? There is a great quote from it that some friends of mine used in their wedding invitation: "It can happen like that sometimes. The city can tilt its hand and let two people fall for each other...."

Honestly, the book was OK, but the quote has stayed with me for years. And, now that I've been engaging in a substantial amount of kissing and general schmoop-i-fying in Manhattan, I'm reminded of it once again. :) If you're thinking from this that things are going well with S, you are absolutely right! We've been spending a lot of time together, both with friends and without. Next weekend, we're doing a trip back up to his family's house in the Adirondacks with a group of friends that will include Marjorie, two other friends, and one of S's cousins (divorced guy, about our age) and his cousin's two boys, ages 7 and 9. And tonight, he's coming over to cook a Valentine's Dinner for me. I am psyched.

I love it that I've been able to be open with him about my band surgery, so I don't have to make excuses for what I eat, so that he can purpously make me a small band-appropriate plate when we're having dinner with friends (like we did on Saturday), so that he's taken the trouble to ask me what I can and would like to eat before he cooks tonight, etc. Also, he's just so darned appreciative of the work I've done with my band... and in the gym, which really makes me feel fantastic.

So, I'm in a celebratory mood today! Just wanted to wish all of you a very happy Valentine's Day, and send you best wishes for much love, happiness and success. xoxo

April in Paris. .

One of my resolutions for 2011 was to take an actual, proper vacation. For the past three years, I haven't taken off more than a day or two at once, largely because I thought I should stay close to home given the state of the economy and my need to safeguard my relationships with my clients. Well. . . brace yourself. . . I'm taking a whopping THREE days off for a trip!! (Babysteps, people. . babysteps!)

My friend Marjorie and I have been brainstorming about where to go, and yesterday, we bit the bullet and booked our flights and hotel for Paris. She lived there for several years, and we both speak French (I have a degree in French literature (and Political Science) and spent a year at a French law school), and we both absolutely love that city. (I know. . saying you love Paris is like saying you love bacon. . .it's not exactly a tough sell!) So, we're heading over for a five day weekend in April!

This will be the first time in my life that I've been able to actually shop in Paris. In my younger (and thinner) years, I couldn't afford anything, and in my older . .er, less lean. . years, my size made it impossible. French women are tiny, people! Even now, I'll probably be at or near the biggest size in the stores, at a whopping size 8 (ha ha.. I still get a thrill seeing that number on the tags in my clothes. . funny how I stopped cutting out the sizes, isn't it!). :)

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After all the shopping I did in recent months, I'm not planning to do any serious buying in Paris, but it's nice to know that I'll be able to browse without wondering if some mean person is looking at me and thinking about how ridicule it is that the fat American is trying to shop in their store. Actually, no one is going to look at me now and think I even AM a fat American. Wow. And, my feet aren't going to hurt from walking around all day like they did the last time I was there!

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I'm looking forward to this trip so much. It's been three years since I've been in France, and I'm excited to go back with my friend who knows Paris so well and see sights that are familiar and new to me as well. I never get tired of that city. It's just so beautiful.

Stylish Blogger Fashion Show ;)

To kick off this post, I'd like to thank the lovely LDSwims for nominating me for the Stylish Blogger Award! I know that I'm supposed to list seven things about myself that you don't know and nominate others, but I hope you'll forgive me if I break with that tradition and just post about things stylish and fashion-related instead!

So. . . I mentioned that I've been shopping in earnest, and I was not kidding. I actually took a day off of work in January and headed to Woodbury Commons with my dear friend, Emily (Woodbury is the best outlet mall in NY). I bought three dresses and a coat. . all at substantial discounts, and all with seriously fashion-forward labels. . Dior, DVF and Wolford. I also have been doing a bit of shopping around town -- the post-Christmas sales have been amazing, and I actually really need clothing, so that has been a nice fit!

And, on to the fashion show!! Here are my favorite recent acquisitions. . .

This is a green silk DVF wrap dress that I plan to wear when it gets warmer. . with a tank top underneath and either military green espadrilles or these fun super high military green Guess shoes that I have. .

OK. . I may love DVF too much. . . but she makes the best dresses! I bought this one (terrible photo, but you get the idea. .) at an on-line flash sale at HauteLook.com. I had tried the dress on in the DVF store, didn't buy it because the friend I was shopping with (who I see only rarely) bought it. . . but when I saw it on sale for less than half price, I couldn't resist! I wore this one to work yesterday. . .

This is my Woodbury Commons acquisition from Wolford. . . a gorgeous gray knit dress with a matching coat!! I have to get the sleeves taken up a little bit, but you get the general idea. . .

Wolford dress and coat, together. . .

The dress from the front . . .

Wolford side view. . . I wish you could see how well it is constructed! Tried to show the lines of the knit here, but I don't think they show up that well. .
I found this gorgeous little Dina Bar-El number at New York Look, one of my favorite stores. It was on major sale (under $200) and fit perfectly! I am wearing it tonight to a benefit dinner for the New York Philharmonic! One side has a long sleeve, which you can see better in the second photo. . .

This is a DVF dress (er, yes. . another one. . plus I have two more that I bought a few months ago and didn't show here. .!) that I found in the flagship store in the Meatpacking this summer. . . I didn't buy it because it's a warm weather dress and I wasn't sure what size I'd need by winter. Then, I regretted not getting it and tried to find it on-line, but with no luck. . . . until I found it at the outlet for half price!! I absolutely love it for work, especially on days where I have a special dinner afterwards. And, this one is the piece de resistance. . . A Christian Dior dress for me to wear to work!! I've never had anything Dior before, so this was all the more exciting for me. (The photo so does not do it justice!) It fits PERFECTLY. I absolutely love it!! I got it for 1/4 of the original price. . .and while it was still expensive (er, original price was $2,400), I know that I will wear it for years and years. This was my post-bonus present/splurge to my post-goal self!

I hope you enjoyed my post-goal shopping show and tell! One of my favorite things about finally being at a weight where I don't expect to lose any more (and pray to God that I won't gain) is that I had to buy all new clothes. It's taken me months to build up a big enough wardrobe so that I'm not wearing the same five things to work every week, but I'm finally there. And, I really love everything in my closet right now. Getting dressed is a real pleasure. It's a major NSV for me, and it feels wonderful. I am so, so grateful to be able to feel like this.

Am including one final photo, lest we forget where I started. . . I look at this and can not believe the size of my arm and chest. It's hard to look at this photo and to think about how it felt to be that size. I was so uncomfortable that day, since it was windy and I was wearing Spanx (and terrified that my skirt would blow up) and my feet were absolutely killing me in those heels. I am so, so glad that I don't have to feel like that anymore.

Call Off the Amber Alert! :)

Skating at the Houston Galleria over Christmas

OK. . . so I'm guilty of going MIA for a bit. I just haven't wanted to blog about things with S because I kind of want to keep it for myself and just enjoy it. That said, things are going swimmingly, and I'm really happy. :)

In other news, I had two people from work (one of the mailroom guys, who I like a lot, and one of the secretaries) tell me that it is time to stop losing weight and that I need to be careful not to get "too thin." Meanwhile, I'm still in the mid-to-high 140s and wearing a size 8. Not exactly bone-thin territory, though I do feel pretty great! And, if I don't lose anymore, I'll be OK with that. In fact, I've started buying clothing in earnest. . . but that's worth its own post. . and photos. . . stay tuned.

This reminds me that I never posted about my Christmas in Texas. I was talking to my dad, who I love dearly. . and who is pretty thin-focused, and he said something to the effect of "Lovie, you look terrrrrrific!" (My Dad has called me "Lovie" since I was a tiny tot -- love it!) And then. . well, then, he said some words that I thought I'd never hear. . . something to the effect that I should "Be careful not to get TOO THIN." I was like -- "What?!?" Could you please repeat that?!? Um, could I please record that and make it my ring tone?!? :)

The funny thing is that I'm only just now a really "normal" size. I don't think that size 8 is what a person who is naturally in their ideal BMI would consider to be teeny by any means. I have friends who wear 2s and 4s who are much smaller than I am, without being too thin. I am still getting a little smaller though. Even though I'm not losing pounds very much these days, I do keep working out 3-4 times a week. And I'm not talking about B.S., barely-sweat workouts, either. . . these are serious hardcore -- but really fun -- workouts.

It's actually kind of amazing to me that I've been able to rehabilitate my body as much as I have already. And, it's kind of interesting and inspiring to see how much more fit, healthy and toned I can be. . . not that I'm giving up wine or foie gras any time soon (um, or EVER!)! I also didn't expect that I'd ever become someone who loves to exercise. Heck, I spent my first 6 months post-op feeling guilty that I wasn't motivated in that way at all. But at some point (thank you, Boot Camp), it just clicked, and now it's part of my life. I feel so grateful to have been able to get to this point.

I know that a lot of us struggle with motivating to exercise. For me, it was a matter of trying different things until I found something I loved. . . then switching before I got so bored of that workout as to become unmotivated. I strongly believe that exercise is what took me to the next level of success with my band -- beyond what I could have done with portion control alone. And I also know that it's OK that I let myself motivate to do it in my own time.