Weekend Shenanigans 4/8/2013



   On Saturday my sister Elizabeth picked me up to shop and have a girls morning with her and baby Anna. Poor Anna woke up Friday with her eye swollen shut! Saturday she was looking and feeling a million times better so we ended up in San Antonio. We had a nice lunch at California Pizza Kitchen, the conversation was nice, the service was horrible. I was really surprised, my tostada pizza was delivered to me, cold, yuck! After blowing some bubbles I went home to be greeted by Blake waiting for me to go bike riding. We went to Cibolo Nature Center, where we were married, and found this secret spot. To me, it looks like we are at a lake, but we're not. Blake impressed me once again with his boarding skills! We finally went to the Boerne Starplex movie theatre on Saturday night, I have been looking forward to going for quite some time now. The movie we saw was Olympus Has Fallen, we enjoyed it. Sunday was spent being super lazy, which I prefer, and then we ended the weekend watching the ACM awards and a rerun of The Voice. Perfect weekend, I look forward to the next!

Worth the Wait/Weight

   I need to be honest. I've been thinking about writing about the great wait weight for awhile and today is the day to let it all out. I've gained fifty pounds, yes that is correct fifty pounds. While looking at this picture of Jessica Simpson, I read the caption below it out loud, "She let herself go." That statement really triggered something inside of me. Weight gain isn't all about letting yourself go. I certainly do not think I let myself go, I never stopped caring about my appearance. It didn't happen overnight, it was a steady climb that I barely noticed. About a year into our marriage a first grade teacher I work with asked "what's happening?" while pointing to my stomach. RUDE! I politely told her, "nothing.". Oh, but she was persistent, week after week she would say "is something going on?", or "you're pregnant?", looking back now I should have taken that as a sign to up the cardio, instead I thought she was rude, and as a woman I couldn't believe she kept pestering me about it. Then it was Christmas of 2011 and Blake and I would be traveling to Dallas for the holiday only I had nothing to wear, nothing fit me. That's basically when I began shunning away from pictures, I don't think I was ashamed of the weight as much as I am now. I still did nothing about it, for years! God has been testing us with this great wait for a child, and in the meantime I have turned our wait into weight. I can't pinpoint a moment where all this weight accumulated, but I also can't ignore it. Finally, after my nieces baptisms I was looking at pictures; someone caught me in a photo, and let me tell you that was not what I saw in the mirror, not even close. I knew I had gained too much weight, but I really didn't realize what I looked like until that photo was staring at me.
  I've always been the girl who loves having her picture taken. It's so weird to look through my camera and see shots of only my face, or just my legs, and never a full body shot, not in two years! I don't want to ignore it anymore, I want to be photographed. I want to be healthy and thin again.
  In December Blake got us new gym memberships, and I knew I was out of shape, I know this journey isn't going to be the easiest one, but at least I am not ignoring it anymore. I've never had this problem, and it's so shameful. Anytime I see someone who knows skinny me, I freak out, I want to explain the weight gain, I want to hide, I want to cry, I want to disappear. I hate thinking that people are judging me when they see me but it's part of what goes on in my mind every.single.day. I can't lose weight like I used to, I'm older, my body has been neglected and it doesn't work like it used to. I'm not the same person, I'm fat Catherine. My goal is to lose all of it by August 2013. I'm only down thirteen pounds as of today. Putting this out there, into the world, is a step forward in the right direction, and it feels really good to be honest.

Weekend Shenanigans



*caught up on my bsf

*admired this texas display in austin

*began tracking my steps

*went on an easter egg hunt with these three two

*thought about my weight while looking at this jessica simpson comparison (more on that later)

*got on a massive sweat at the gym

It's Ok Thursdays

It's Ok...

... that I've lost 10 pounds and YOU CAN'T TELL!

...that yesterday I got really pissed when a motorcycle took MY parking spot (no, we don't have assigned parking, but come on that's MY spot)

...to really want a new Victoria's Secret PINK zip up hoodie

... to be pissed when your DVR records your shows but you can't watch them

...to be pumped for Spring Break and not have any plans

...to complain about your job but still be in love with what you do, hey everybody has those days

...to think it's hilarious that Kris Humpries has "revealed" that the Kardashian's show is scripted...shocking!

...to be worried about your finances

Yes, Kim, we know it's true.

Don't forget about my giveaway! Head on over to The Life of Bon to check it out.

Instagram's of the Week

My sister sent me this hilarious video of my niece, Anna. It's too good not to share.

imadeface is probably my new favorite pasttime.

Sheer excitement when Birdie decided to FaceTime with Riley.

it looks like me, right?

back at the gym after taking a week off because I had strep. (boo)

   We have company coming in the weekend and I have a holiday on Monday so I am pumped for my three day weekend! Do you have any big plans this weekend?

Cupid's Wishlist

These are just a few things to get my heart racing this Valentine's day. Clearly I am all about getting into shape and these little gems won't help me do it but they will help me look and feel good while doing it! I know my Cupid is out there, take note sweet Cupid!

   I told the Mister that the only thing I want for Valentine's day is to cuddle on the couch, and I am serious about that, but I wouldn't mind finding one other thing ready for me to open. Just saying. Can you believe Valentine's day is next week? I am happy to have said zeta goodbye, we hate to leave you but we really must say, goodbye from Z-T-A, to January. It's my opinion that no one really even likes the month of January and I understand why, it just does, ok!

Take a Picture, It'll last Longer

Really I was and have been in serious meal prep mode.

Just your typical Tuesday night at the Dryden's.

Tuesday's pinterest win: spaghetti squash.

Oh, hey there natural hair, for the first time in my life I like you!

I have been wearing these glittery Toms for close to three years and they have holes in the toe now. On Wednesday I thought they looked disgusting... thoughts?

All of these are pretty much on instagram, if you don't follow me you should @hohodryden.

Fun fact/Favorite of the week:
Monica and Chandler's twins would be 9 this year, Pheobe's triplets 14, Ben 18, and Emma 11. Let's just take a moment to let that sink in.


This is how I feel about Today:

My Fitness Pal

This is how I have been tracking my calorie intake.

I LOVE that you are able to use the barcode scanner to pick up almost all food or drinks you ingest.

The diary keeps track of everything you have had to eat, the calories you've worked off from exercising, and your remaining calories. At the end of each day you click on complete login for the day and it tells you how much you will weigh in five weeks time if you continue having days like said day.

   I am not really interesting in joining Weight Watchers but I am curious to know if My Fitness Pal is almost identical to the WW online? My Fitness Pal is a free app that has everything I need and more. It's very simple to set up and is totally user friendly. One of the easiest and most convenient features is the barcode, I get to live out my grocery store clerk childhood dream; scanning groceries! So far as mentioned I am down six whole pounds and I am happy happy happy. Along with the app I am sticking to a gym routine of at least three times per week including at least one yoga class. Meal planning is also a tool I am using and want to better myself at doing. It feels really good to have the tools necessary to make this great weight loss goal complete!

If you are on a similar journey what are the tools you are using?

That One Time I was Flexible...

   On Wednesday afternoon my sister Caroline and I decided to take a yoga class after working out. The class started at 4:30 and we both thought it would be thirty minutes of stretching, relaxing, and winding down from our day. Wrong. I must backpedal and tell you that once upon a time this chunk of meat was a slender yoga goddess; that's right, I am no novice. Cut to twelve years later and add 70lbs some weight, and you will find me in the now. I struggled through yoga class. It was a wake up call for me. When I look in the mirror I do see a big person, it's true, but I do not see someone who is obese or incapable of getting back in shape. My body however, believes otherwise. Things that I used to be able to do so well did not come easy, my balance is terrible, I can't even plank for fifteen seconds! This was Miss. Caroline's first class and you couldn't tell. That bendable minx was doing headstands, the splits, and really showing me up! My point is, I am now really aware that my body is nothing like it used to be. I'm a little bit sad but I know that if I just keep working at it I will be back to how I used to and I will feel better. God has definitely taught me patience. So with time and patience the yoga class will get easier.

Photo Friday



This is my niece Anna and her parental units. She is the most adorable child I know. She has a love for flags and all things American. God bless you, Anna.




In case you were concerned that my workout talk is in fact all talk..Bam!



I'm seriously working on my fitness.



 These are just a few photos from my week so far. Tonight I want to relax, watch Dateline and 20/20, and maybe treat myself to some pizza pizza. I mentioned earlier in the week that I plan on doing nothing, and I will do that and maybe visit the always adorable Anna. She is growing up way to quickly and I am missing it all. Her parents are pretty legit so I will enjoy my time with them, too. I remember back in the day when Friday night t.v. was TGIF and it was awesome. Full House, Just the Ten of Us, are a few that I distinctly remember and they were amazing shows. They really should consider bringing back TGIF because those shows were true family shows. My sisters and I used to pick out characters that were "us" from almost every show on t.v. I could be wrong but I believe I was Stephanie Tanner from Full House. Below is some classic Steph. Sigh, oh the simpler times...

It's Ok Thursday

It's ok...

...that sometimes I feel like I am the only person in the universe who isn't pregnant.

... that I am kicking ass at the gym this week.

...that I can't remember where my BSF lesson is for this week.

... to have already planned out my weekend. I plan to do nothing.

... to know that there are 31 days until spring break.

... to be team Brandi, not Leann.

... to contemplate deleting your Facebook account.

... that I don't watch Glee anymore, the stories are terrible compared to how they once were.

...to not give a hoot about zombies ( I don't understand this craze!)

... to admit that I haven't been to a mall in over a year.

This is how I feel knowing tomorrow is Friday:



Happy 2013

   Everyone is making their resolutions and goals while I am doing neither. I have instead made a few intentions. The idea of have a new beginning is enticing and I believe that in all of us their is a renewed since of self at the start of a new year. So here are my new intentions for this year and they are in no particular order.

Make a lifestyle change and workout.

Cherish the moments.

Reconnect with lost friends.


I am back to work and to my surprise many students have already commented that we had such a long break. My response, "We have 45 days until Spring Break!". I found out last night that we don't have school on Friday can you say BONUS? Here's to a three day work week! Jealous?

It's the End of the World as We Know It

The Mayans were wrong and the world didn't end. Shocking!

 There are far too many things that I wouldn't have experienced. So, now that it is in fact confirmed that we aren't going out in a fiery blaze today I can continue living my life. I spent this entire week coughing, sneezing, and sleeping. Yes, I have bronchitis. Yuck! Things could be worse and I am on the road to recovery, thank you Jesus. Today is the last day of school and at twelve o'clock it is the beginning of my Christmas vacation! Wa-hoo!

I plan on dedicating the next few weeks to my health. That means more gym time, more fluids, and sleeping longer. I forgot to mention that last week when I made my way back to the gym, you know, after my two year hiatus that I felt like a superhero, the endorphins coursing through my body were invigorating. However, the very next day I was reminded a superhero I am not. My calves hurt, my jaw hurt, everything ached, but in a good way. I have missed this feeling and welcome it back into my life. You have my word that if for some reason I stop working out again you can accuse me of murder, thanks to Miss. Elle Woods.

High Five for Friday!

1. Finally (after almost a 2 year hiatus) I'm back at the gym! Luckily I ran into my brother in law and he helped show me around the gym.

2. I got to FaceTime again with my adorable niece Riley. She definitely lifted some spirits at our house last night.



3. Yay for cold weather. Last week it was in the eighties so I was really happy to wake up to a freezing cold house in December, for real, I was excited. Now it feels like Christmas time.



4. This scripture has spoken to me this week. As Christmas approaches I am staying focused on what that means and why we celebrate.

5. Thank you, Pinterest, if it weren't for you I wouldn't have been able to create, distract, and procrastinate if it weren't for you!

I must also give a high five to Johnny Manziel aka Johnny Football. Gig 'em & way to go! Thanks for making my husband super happy thus leading to a spectacular week!