Amazing, Wonderful, Massive Update

Wow...just wow! Has it really, once again, been nearly a year since I posted on here. Must. Get. Better. At. This!

Anywho, I'm happy to report that since I last posted I got engaged (8/4/12):

 

And we moved into a nice rental (12/1/12):

 

My cousin had her ADORABLE baby, Virgil Winchester (3/18/13):

And we got married (4/26/13):

That's a quick update on everything big that's happened in my life. I'm now Mrs. Daniel Shimmin (or we're Mr & Mrs Jennifer Shimmin according to a close friend of mine lol), and couldn't be happier. I'll be finished with my Master's in Public Administration on 6/1/13. From there my time will be focused on being happily married, decorating the house, and relaxing. Oh, in August a close friend will be getting married, so we'll be attending that. And I'll be helping with a shower for her here at work, and attending showers and bachelorette party. But when it's not you that's planning, those things are a breeze! :o)

I'll post a blog about the wedding at some point. Until then, if anyone is looking for help planning their wedding I'd LOVE to help!! Aside from some small drama and stress, I had a great time!

Until next time...

~Jenna Shimmin

Road to Weight Loss: Re-Start

I used to keep track of my weight loss on here, and I know it helped me to see the numbers laid out. A friend of mind recently has made herself start blogging about her weight loss in order to hold herself more accountable. Following in her keystrokes, I'm going to get back to doing the same.

So here is an update from last March:


Start Weight           197.2
@ Dr Yesterday  - 186.2
Difference             11 (5.58% down from the start)



Last Posted Weight    189.6
@ Dr Yesterday      - 186.2
Difference                      3.4


I have to admit, it's a tad depressing to only see a 3.4 pound difference from over a year ago. However, from a year ago I've dropped lots of inches. I'll have to check with my trainer to be sure, but I know the number is pretty high. I'm also down from wearing a 12/14 to a 10. A size 12 in pretty much anything is big on me. Which is really nice. I may not have seen the scale move that much, but size wise I've definitely gone down.

A three year look at my weight loss!

I recently did a 15K walk around Lake Arrowhead. I hung back with my friend for most of it, so it was a fairly easy walk (despite my cold). But I bumped up my pace at the end, and totally loved it. We're considering this obstacle course/mud run next month. I'm also considering going for some 1/2 marathons. So the training I was doing for that walk, I'll be keeping up to get ready/stay in shape for those. I know that if I keep my cardio stepped up, I'll start dropping more pounds. Which isn't all that important to me if I keep loosing inches, but it would be nice to look at the Body Mass Index chart and not be at the high end of the overweight section. Yeah, I know...looking at me most people wouldn't except that, but that's where I'm resting. At least I'm out of the obese section like I was a year ago. Small victory I guess?!

Anyway, in more fun news, the more official timeline from the man as to our engagement is now "sometime with in 3 months". That was given to me nearly a month ago, so we're looking at somewhere in roughly the next 2 months. SO FREAKING EXCITING!!! I've already begun a little planning, like looking at photographers/venues/etc when friends post links about wedding related vendors. So between school going well (been getting straight A's, oh yeah) and that, I'm one super happy camper these days. Life truly is good!

OK, I've rambled enough for now. I'll bid you adieu and get back work. Going to Lake Havasu this weekend. Can't wait! :o)

~Jenna

Has It Really Been Nearly a Year....

I can't believe I haven't posted since last March...what is wrong with me?! lol Anyway, some updates...the man is home, and we live together in a VERY nice area of Highland. We are staying with a co-worker of mine. It's not a permanent situation, but it's working rather well so we're staying here as long as we need to. It's a nice large house, and while it will be nice when we have our own place, no matter what size, I think we'll both miss the space! lol I switched over to Argosy University for me MPA...got tired of the BS at U of Phoenix. Also, had several deaths in my life that were close together so I fell behind in a class that was already tough to begin with since there were only 4 other students. But I'm really enjoying Argosy already!
What else?! The man is nearly done with his private pilot's license...just a few more hours, the written test, and the practical exam. He took the written once, but didn't pass. I think it's b/c he's psyching himself out since it's a test. He really seems to know a lot of the stuff, so there shouldn't be any reason he can't pass. Although, with it looking like he may have to go to Florida for 100 days for Commercial Pilot schooling, I have to admit that it's nice having him around just that little while longer. But, the sooner he gets into school, the sooner he can be done and start working on flight hours and applying for jobs.
As for us, things are still going amazingly well. We exchanged promise rings when I went to visit him in May. His is braided tungsten with a diamond accent. Mine is white gold, with a large center stone sapphire and two diamonds next to that. It's beautiful! He said that it's going to become my engagement ring...and he's also said he sees us being engaged within the year. That's a super, super, super exciting prospective event. I can't wait to one day be his Mrs!! :o) Life already is great though, so whenever he is ready is fine with me!
Alrighty, work calls...I'm going to do my best to get on here more! The last line of my blog from March has me in such a great mood...funny how you can do that to yourself without even trying!

~Jenna

Yesterday to Today

For some reason I forgot that I had this bad boy...thought I'd deleted it. Sort of a nice little discovery, considering I've been having some serious writer's block when it comes to my physical diary. Being able to type things out, and come back to it easily when I think of something, has me far more motivated to put things into writing.
A lot has changed since last year. I sort of fell off the healthy wagon. Well, let me correct that...I haven't been to the gym in a few months, and I'm not as strict as I used to be on my diet BUT I still watch what I eat for the most part, and I exercise here and there. I'm definitely going to get back on track soon though, not liking that I've gained back all the weight that I'd lost, and I don't have as toned a body as I was getting. Plus the man will be home soon, so I need to be looking good. lol
The man, yep you read that right, I have a new man in my life. We were high school sweethearts, dated off & on for the better part of 3 years in high school. Split at the end basically b/c he was going into the Army (Germany) and I was going to college here in So Cal. That's not how it seemed at the time, but that's what I realized as an adult (and after talking w/him more now). Well last year, a few months after Nick and I broke up, he messaged me on Facebook. It started off with innocent flirting, and catching up with each other (after all, it had been 7 years since we'd really talked). He was deployed to Afghanistan in the Army though, and we decided to hang out when he came home on leave last November. I was VERY nervous, because I wasn't sure what all our talking and flirting had meant. I had tried the dating world w/o much luck, and was hoping maybe something would come of our talking/flirting. I remember when he came to my house...it was such a trip to see him all grown up after all this time. It was nice though, seeing him get out of the truck and start walking toward me. I wasn't sure if we should hug hello, or what. I remember giving him a hug and him holding on a little longer than I expected...he remembers me giving him a bigger hug than he thought I was going to. lol Anyway, we hung out that night and staid up SUPER late talking, and looking at pictures from high school up until more recently. Sort of catching up all the way. We kept getting closer and closer and eventually we wound up kissing, which led to...pretty much not leaving my room for the next 12 hours! hehe We went and got something to eat, saw a movie, went to the Lamp and then the Rustic. He got to hear me sing, and loved it. It was an amazing 24 hours! As if no time had passed between us, and the emotions were just the same (but stronger). We hung out off and on over the next few days, spending a decent amount of time together that following weekend...which was his last one in Cali. I remember when he left me that Monday morning...I did my best not to cry in front of him, but shed a few tears as I drove away. It was hard saying goodbye again, but this time to my boyfriend who was going back overseas.
We've spent the last 5 months really getting to know each other better, and dealing with a few hiccups. But all in all it's been the best 5 months of my life. He told me he loved me on New Year's eve...it was the best 3 words I've ever heard. And when he told me how one day he wants to marry me, well...the thought still leaves me speechless. I am so insanely happy with how things turned out. I pinch myself from time to time because I can't believe it's all real. But it is...my fantasy truly became a reality!
He will be home in the states on Saturday, I'll go see him in TN about a month later, and then he'll be out of the Army right before my b-day (Sept 19th). That's when we'll truly be able to start planning our life together. He still needs to go to flight school, but at least he'll be home and we can spend time with each other. I can't wait to be able to be in his arms pretty much any time I feel like it!  :o)
OK, I'm yammering on like a love struck fool. Other things going on in my life: I took up snowboarding this past winter and LOVE IT!! Also, I started working on my Master's Degree in Public Administration with University of Phoenix this past January, and am currently living w/my BFF in La Quinta. I've weeded a few more people out of my life, and am exceptionally happy with those few close friends I have. I'm working on cleaning up my credit and paying things off...which is going well. I'm still broke, but bills are paid in surplus! I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to get back into an exercise routine, but I'm working on something b/c I want to get back into shape and loose some weight again.
That's about all for me for now! Remember, we are only limited by what we tell ourselves we are capable of! ~Jenna

Road to Weight Loss #6

I don't have a lot of time...things are super busy here at work. But I'll post a quick update. This past weekend I tried to be as good as possible, considering it was a 4 day holiday weekend for me! lol But I'm happy w/the results. I have slacked the past few days though...so to the gym for the next few I go. :o) I did a killer ab work out on Friday, and while I paid for it for a few days, it felt great.


With out further adieu, let's see where I stand:


Start Weight    197.2
This morning - 189.6
Difference          7.6 (3.85% down from the start)

This kind of number is great to see. Totally motivational, and let's me know I'm getting closer and closer to my goal (which by the way is 170...anything past that is just an added bonus). I've been reading some great stuff online that's giving me some great tips. I've already put a few into practice, and they're really working for me.
OK, back to the grind. Have a great day everyone. :o)

Road to Weight Loss #5

Good morning webby world. This has been an interesting week so far. Monday and Tuesday both started off sort of crappy, but this morning...this morning had a GREAT start. It seriously has me giddy as a school girl. lol And in the interest of not jinxing it, I ain't saying nothin'! lol Just know that something made me happy...no matter what it meant, or where it leads. :o)



And with that, let's see where I stand:

Start Weight    197.2
This morning - 192.6
Difference           4.6 (2.33% down from the start)


I really feel like I'm jamming now. I can thank getting back on track w/eating healthier and really hitting the gym harder. I went three times last week and stepped up my routine. I even drug my roommate w/me 2 of those times. I'm sure he hates me and is grateful to me for dragging him out. lol I know I always feel better about myself after I go...and since he's currently unemployed and feeling a bit down b/c of that, I figure that this is a nice little pick me up.
In other news, my tenant is moving out finally. And she's even said she's going to pay me some money today to start paying back the balance that she owes me. That's super nice. And so tomorrow I'll meet w/my real estate agent to start the process to list my house. So, if anyone is interested (or knows someone who is looking) in a nice home in Adelanto (high desert)...mine is for sale. I'm asking $135K, and if that seems like something in your price range, hit me up for details.
I recently saw a picture of an old co-worker/friend who I was very close with that I'm no longer friends with. She was one of my bridesmaids, and her daughter was a flower girl. That's how close I was with her; and so when the friendship was lost (very complicated and a touchy subject for me), I was VERY upset. Seeing that picture yesterday totally brought back this flood of pain over it. Totally brought my day down. Then I heard a uplifting song this morning & on another radio station they were talking about "Letting Go" (you could text/email/call in with your grudge to help you get it off your chest). Both of those things really made me open my eyes to things. That really had me thinking of what grudges I still may be holding that I am not letting myself see. There are a few that I can think of...and while I'm not quite ready to get over all of them, the majority of them I am ready to. So with that I say that with the exception of woodchuck and nieko, I am letting go. All is forgiven and I'm truly over it. Now with the situation with this friend, I am still hurt by how things played out, and I'm not saying I'd welcome her back with open arms...but I am saying that I am no longer holding the grudge. She seems happy, and I pray that she really is. That goes for all the others I was holding this grudge with. You're you and I'm me...and that's ok. We don't have to be friends, and that's fine. I just wish that others could see it the same as me.
So with that I have a message for anyone who's reading this: life's too short to hold on to grudges, especially ones that aren't really as bad as we may have once thought So let go of the little things, learn to forgive as soon as your heart lets you, and I promise that you'll live a happier life...I know that my doing so has already given me a different perspective on my life. A happier, freer feeling and outlook! :o)


~Jenna

The Road to Weight Loss #4

Good morning web world. After not feeling so hot yesterday, I am back in action today. My tummy is feeling much better. I do believe that fried food and I no longer get along. I thought maybe it was just Monday night's meal, but last night I wasn't feeling so hot again after another attempt. So with that bit of knowledge under my belt, I can proceed with this diet even more smoothly.


And with that, let's see where I stand:

Start Weight    197.2
This morning - 195.0
Difference          2.2 (1.12% down from the start)

I have really started hitting the gym more often, and adding more exercises back into my routine. I have no doubt that soon I'll be back to the work outs I used to do. It was weird walking back into the weight room the other day. I actually missed that smell of cold air, sweat, and determination (and steroids I'm sure lol). My legs were aching that night, but by the next day they were thanking me. I can't wait to really get back to this work out grind. While I'm currently in 4th place on my work place weight loss competition, I have no doubt soon I'll start fighting for that #1 spot. :o)

Thanks again for every one's support in my efforts. I'm happy to report that my mom's b/f is back at home and seems to be doing better after his recent hospital stay. We're praying things stay that way!

~Jenna