February 29th, 2008
Posted in Stef Ann Holm Blog by Stef Ann
There’s something a bit daunting going to a massage therapist named Ursula. I’ve been to her before. My oldest daughter raves about Ursula’s talents. But my daughter also loves a deep tissue massage. Me, I just want to feel good. I called Ursula to book an appointment. My physical therapist said it could help my shoulder heal. I must admit, I had some trepidation going. I told Ursula to go easy on me.
Despite the image her name conjurs, this young lady is a delight. About 26ish and just finished getting her degree at BSU. She’s got a great personality, is very sweet and has lovely blue eyes. When the massage ended, I did indeed feel better. Except for the oil slathered all over me. It’s almost not worth going to get gooped up with lotions. I don’t like that part of it.
As I laid there telling Ursula to poke and pull on my bad arm, I couldn’t help wishing I were a cartoon character. The one that gets whacked on the head with an anvil in one scene, and is perfectly fine in the next. It’s been three weeks today since my rotator cuff surgery and it hurts like . . . well, I can’t say it. But suffice to say, think of the worst pain ever and that’s what I feel. It used to be with me 24/7. Now it lingers about 12/7. I don’t take anything during the day so I tough it out and suffer. I have to do exercises three times a day and they are so painful, I just want to give up. But I can’t. I want to be okay again. I want to put my hands behind my head and look up at the clouds from a lounge chair in my backyard. I want to sleep on my left side. I want to type as long as I feel like it and not have my arm hurt. I want to snuggle my hubby on his side of the bed instead of being propped up by pillows on mine. I want to shave my armpit without propping my arm up in the shower. And the day I can put my bra on like a “big girl” and not have to hook it in the front, slid ‘er around to the back ’cause my left arm simply will not rise beyind the waistband of my jeans . . . well, then I know I’ve come a long way, baby!
February 27th, 2008
Posted in Stef Ann Holm Blog by Stef Ann
Last Saturday, we saw the show, Barrage, and it was fabulous. It’s nothing like the violins you heard in the school orchestra. This group is amazing. For showtimes in your area, you can visit the group’s website address.
February 26th, 2008
Posted in Stef Ann Holm Blog by Stef Ann
We have a blue heron that visits our pond. The other day, he made an appearance.
What a fabulous looking bird. I like to watch him. He can stand stock-still for long minutes at a time, looking into the pond. The fish must be stirring in there since the surface has de-frosted. Hooray! I saw my first robin the other day. Can spring be coming soon? I hope so!
February 24th, 2008
Posted in Stef Ann Holm Blog by Stef Ann
Week one, Mr. Big and Carrie meet and become boy and girlfriend then break up, Samantha cracks me up, Miranda . . . she’s my least favorite, and Charlotte is determined to get married. Me, I lost five pounds and two inches on my waist.
February 22nd, 2008
Posted in Stef Ann Holm Blog by Stef Ann
My sentiments exactly. Sigh.
February 20th, 2008
Posted in Stef Ann Holm Blog by Stef Ann
Does anyone know if it’s really true that Yoplait yogurt uses ground up beetles as a red coloring???!!!
February 19th, 2008
Posted in Contest, Stef Ann Holm Blog by Stef Ann
If your mind is going one direction, take it elsewhere. I’m talking about watching DVDs on the treadmill. My hubby and I made a friendly wager over who can lose the most weight in 14 weeks. Typically, men lose faster. It’s just a fact. I do believe I might have an upper edge as my sweetheart leans toward the Atkins method–eat bacon and eggs for breakfast. I smile and munch on my cereal–yes, loaded with carbs. But almost zero fat. Eating my style (which is a home Weight Watchers plan) helped me loose 60 pounds in one year the last time I really gave it my best effort. Too bad some of those pounds have crept back on. I only have myself to blame.
So for the next 14 weeks, this is my plan. Watch 2 episodes of Sex and the City on the treadmill. Doing this at a 1.0 incline and a fair pace of 3.2 to 3.4, I burn 230ish calories and walk 2.5 miles. Each episode is approximately 28 minutes. That’s just under 50 minutes of walking, 5 days a week, which works out to 1,150 calories a week. I like that number better than the 230 per day which barely burns off a yogurt and a half making the exercise and semi-sweat not worth the effort. At 1,150 calories a week, that’s like one entire day of eating that I can burn off. If I eat like a rabbit.
But then there’s a small problem–I’ve seen every episode of this series several times. I could be asking for trouble and boredom. However, when watched from the beginning, one is lured back into the lives of four women who I would never want to be. Yes, I love the glitz and glamor of the show and the women, but I’m glad I’m me in Idaho, happily married. There are 98 episodes in 6 seasons. I’ve watched 7 episodes so far (I started walking over the weekend to help my arm–I have to swing it as I walk to losen it up.) That means I have 91 episodes left. I am in week 1 of the challenge. If I watch 2 episodes a day, that’s 10 episodes a week. I’m going to run out of episodes to watch in week 10. I think?
In any case, I’ll figure that out when I get to The End. In fact, I think the last disk of Season 6 is 1 hour so that would count as 2 episodes. Given that, burning 230ish calories a day, watching what I eat, should net me 10-15 pounds in 14 weeks. At least that’s my plan. If I can do that, I can fit into the carrot dangling in front of me. It’s not orange, rather gold, and it’s a fabulous Kay Unger dress I bought a size too small. Yes, I am a masochist. I knew it wouldn’t fit, but I refused to buy the size I’d need now.
I can get this dress on, but uh . . . I can’t really zip it up . . . too well. I’m half tempted to hang the dress up in front of me in our exercise room to give me motivation. In fact, I should paste a picture of it on the fridge, in my bathroom by the scale, and keep one in my purse for those times we eat out and I feel like ordering everying on the menu.
Wish me luck!
February 14th, 2008
Posted in Stef Ann Holm Blog by Stef Ann
smart
patient
funny
can fix anything, even his 1947 Ford tractor
godly
doesn’t get enough sleep
admits when he’s wrong
can ask for forgiveness
makes me laugh
glomming James Patterson’s Alex Cross books
helps people
generous . . . to a fault
likes Mexican food after church
kind
responsible
brings home flowers for no reason
reflective
trustworthy
enjoys my gourmet cooking and will eat frou-frou foods
likes to cook
has the best smile ever
strong
isn’t bothered by his clutter–he knows where most everything is
enjoys our boat on the lake
an oustanding pilot
commands a mean BBQ on his Smith and Wesson grill
tolerates chick flicks
incredibly thoughtful
the best smoocher
always has a hug for me
a great father
the hearts in my eyes
a Superman
my HERO!
Happy Valentine’s Day
X O X O
February 13th, 2008
Posted in Guest Blog by Stef Ann
Every year, I watch the Westminster Kennel Club and I cheer my cousins on to do well. I come from a line of Champion AKC registered Beagles, so of course, I always bay the loudest for the Beagles. My second favorites are the Bloodhounds. This year, when I was watching the heart-pounding Best In Show while gnawling on a doggy-bag, beef rib-bone from the Cheesecake Factory, I could hardly stand the suspense. As Uno took the ring, and did his thing, dancing and prancing so proud, my ears stood back and I held my breath and hoped the fans were right–He was the favorite! When the judge gave him the top prize, my tail wagged so hard, I could hardly keep my butt from wiggling.
Mr. Uno doing his Snoopy dance.
I was so happy a Beagle won, that I put on my party dress and my mom said I could have some Frosty Paws to celebrate. BEAGLES RULE!
February 11th, 2008
Posted in Stef Ann Holm Blog by Stef Ann
Click on this link to the Washington Post. My book, GIRLS NIGHT, is one of their readers’ pick for all time favorite romance in a contemporary category. How cool is that?
