Weigh-in Wednesday

After working OT every day last week, plus all the snow (both of which meant I didn't go to the gym at all again!)....I'm happy, but surprised, to report that I am  -0.8 lbs for this week!  This makes my grand total   -4.8 lbs!!!

I don't have any specific tips this week, except just be consistent with making small changes, eating smaller portions and saying no when you really don't need to eat something!  Consistency is the key!  Don't give up!

Weigh-in Wednesday

Today's weigh-in was actually the same as last week.  So, I'm neither plus or minus for the week, but overall I am still at -4.0 lbs.  It's nice to maintain and not move back up on the scale, but I've got to kick it into high gear and get motivated to go to the gym to keep seeing results!

I admit I struggle with working out during the winter.  I hate the thought of being cold walking into the gym and having to get myself moving....and then I hate the thought of coming back out into the cold covered in sweat and feeling that instant chill.  I am very much looking forward to warmer weather so I can get back outside to get some exercise.

I'm trying to find ways to motivate myself to work out right now, but I am able to easily talk myself out of it every day!  You would think with "swimsuit weather" approaching, that it would be a motivator, but since I was on a bathing suit maybe one time last year, it's really not motivating me.  There's always the thought of fitting back into clothes that I haven't worn for a while and the feeling of disgust with myself that I go through most every morning when trying to find something to wear...but nope, these aren't motivating me towards the gym either. 

Give me some tips - what motivates you to work out?

European Adventure Recap - Arc de Triomphe

Saturday October 24, 2009

Paris, France

Our last stop of the night was the Arc de Triomphe (pronounced something like "ark dey tree-umph"...except with some phlegm/hacking in the process of saying it).  Jean Chalgrin designed it in 1806.  The Arc is 162 feet tall and 150 feet wide (just under half a football field tall and wide) with a depth of 72 feet.  It is "so colossal that...in 1919...Charles Godefroy flew his...biplane through it." 

The Arc sits in a roundabout just north of (and across the Seine River from) the Eiffel Tower.  Twelve different streets spill traffic into this roundabout.  The intersection where the Arc sits was originally called "Place de l'Étoile" meaning "Place of the Star" because all the roads came together there resembling a star.  But in 1970, the intersection was renamed "Place Charles de Gaulle" in honor of the late French President.

The traffic that goes around the Arc is absolutely crazy!  Here's a bus whizzing by - you have to be insane to try and cross this street.  It would be like your own real-life game of Frogger!

Here's another shot of the traffic in the roundabout....these people DO NOT slow down!

Of course we had to get a self-portrait too!

The safe way to get over to the Arc is to use the under-ground tunnel.

Once we were standing right next to it, we realized just how big the Arc is.  

If you click on the picture below, it will enlarge so you can see Shannon at the bottom!  She stands about 5'-3" so you can see how crazy big the Arc is.....and this picture doesn't even show the top!  (I love her face in the pic!)

Can you spot Shannon's shadow in this picture?  She's standing with her arms raised and waving.  There was a big light shinning on the Arc....so we had some fun with it.

The level of detail on all the buildings and monuments never ceased to amaze me.  To think of how people so long ago were able to accomplish building these massive structures is beyond me (and to think they did it without all our modern regulations, codes and OSHA!)

There are "four sculptural groups at the base of the Arc...'The Triumph of 1810 '...'Resistance'...'Peace'...and the most renowned of them all, 'Departure of the Volunteers of 1792' commonly called 'La Marseillaise'."  We photographed two of these sculptural groups (pictured below), but I'm honestly not sure which two they are.

Frugal Friday

Technically I started this post on Friday and since I was out of the office most of the day, I have a great excuse for not posting it yet....but at least I didn't forget this week!

Top 10 Free Ways to Have Fun!  (the Ville Edition)

(In No Particular Order)

-There are two different Trolley Hops offered in the Ville - both free - both on Friday nights.  Fat Friday Trolley Hop is on the last Friday of each month and runs in the Mellwood Ave./Frankfort Ave. areas.  The First Friday Trolley Hop is the first Friday of every month and runs through downtown.  Each hop stops at several Art Galleries, Shops and Restaurants....and you ride the trolleys for free!

-The Speed Art Museum on the campus of UofL offers free viewings of it's permanent collection.

-Thunder Over Louisville is the Nation's largest fireworks show and it's right here in the Ville and better yet - it's free!  Although the experience is unlike any other, you don't have to trek down to the Great Lawn for a good view.  This show is so big that you can see it from lots of places around the city.

-Light Up Louisville - Free event featuring Santa and the Mayor lighting the Ville's huge Christmas tree.  There's always live music and festival booths set up for browsing.

-Free Concerts - the Ville offers several opportunities to attend a concert for free (although you may have to pay to park).  Check out these links for more:  Kroger's Fest-a-Ville, Waterfront Wednesdays and the KY State Fair all boast free concerts throughout the year.

-St. James Art Fair - This is such an attended event that they acutally cancel school!  It's been rumored that this day has become an inservice day for area schools because so many teachers take off to go to it..  True or not, the event is always a crowd pleaser and it's free to browse!

-City of Parks - the Ville has 124 parks to explore and enjoy!  Go!  Explore!  Enjoy!

-Waterfront Park - Even though this is included in the Ville's 124 parks listed above, it definitely deserves it's own spot on the list.  Enjoy 55 acres of grass, trails, fountains and playgrounds on the banks of the Ohio River with the Louisville Skyline as your backdrop.

-Bardstown Road Shops - You'll be entertained for hours on this stretch road in the Highlands.  Lots of eclectic shops, people and restaurants.  Grab a spot to sit and people-watch or have fun riffling through records at fun shops such as Ear-x-tacy.

-Go see the Big Bat.  The world's largest baseball bat is right here in the Ville.  It's outside and completely free to see.  Take your picture with it.  While you're there, I highly suggest a tour of the bat facotry and museum (which do cost money), but if you want to go totally free, you can see into a few parts of the factory from the windows that line the street....although it's not the same, you'll get the gist.


Whatever town you live in, I'm sure there are always free things to do and free places to visit - just do a little research and I'm sure you can find them.  Finding free things to do definitely saves money!  Happy Frugal Findings!

European Adventure Recap - The Eiffel Tower

Saturday October 24, 2009

Paris, France

Of course, the most iconic feature of Paris is the Eiffel Tower.  It was magnificently beautiful at night!

"The Eiffel Tower, which is the tallest building in Paris, is the single most visited paid monument in the world; millions of people ascend it every year. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built as the entrance arch for the 1889 World's Fair."

We found some English speaking folks to take our picture and we took theirs as well.

I know this picture is basically a repeat of the above, but it shows the boats docked on the Seine below the Tower better than the previous one did, although the previous picture shows the light beam from the Tower better.  Also - just look at that purple sky!  How beautiful!

There's a light beam at the top of the Tower that rotates in a circle, like a beacon.  Also, every so often the Tower becomes an entire structure of strobe lights.  This picture does no justice to seeing it in person.  It literally shimmers!

Weigh-in Wednesday

Well, I can't believe it.  I thought surely after having such a great weigh-in last week, that this week I would be on the plus side (also because I never did make it to the gym this week!).  However, I am happy to report that today's number is  -.2 lbs!!!  Which makes my grand total  -4.0 lbs!!!  At least for now, the little changes I've made are making a difference.....but I know before too long I will have to make exercise a prority if I want to keep seeing the scale numbers go down.

My advice this week is to:

Just Say "No, thank you."

Just because someone offers you a treat or dessert doesn't mean you have to say yes and eat it! 

European Adventure Recap - Filler Up!

Saturday October 24, 2009

Paris, France

We thought this was crazy!  A couple gas pumps right on the curb in Paris.  They were sitting right in front of a row of buildings (like the ones across the street in the pic).  One of the buildings had a garage door and there was a mechanic in there and these pumps were out front.