A monumental day...

Back in March of this year, I had my first Artist for an Evening program at the Carol Stream Public Library. I was super excited that I got to combine my passion for painting and library land. Pictures were taken... They were not flattering. Since then, I just don't look good in grey, period. BUT ALAS, I was unhappy. That night, and the night of the orange, were the big push I needed to get my act together and finally lose some weight. At the time of these pictures I was 170 pounds. This morning, after 5 months, I hit 155 pounds. 15 pounds in 5 months doesn't seem amazing, but it feels pretty good.

Okay, so the night of the orange.

Peter and I had finished dinner, and I was in a habit of eating something sweet before bed. Whether that was ice cream, cookies, or fruit. (What a terrible habit, btw). So we finish dinner, and I grab an orange and sit down with him on the couch. Start scene:

Peter: Are you eating more?
Aimee: Yeah, it's just an orange.
Peter: I have patience with you. I let you cry to me and tell me that you're upset with the way you look and that you want to change it. But if you want to change, you have to go all in. You can't eat an orange because it's there. You don't need it. You have two options, go 100%, cut your calories, and go to the gym OR be happy the way your are. I'm tired of this flip-flopping.

Peter has little patience, and I get it. Especially when your fiance (at the time) comes to you constantly unhappy with herself, but refused to commit to change. Things were tense that night, but it was worth it. I credit that night as being the final push I needed to get my act together. Since then, we've had a handful of more AFaE programs, and I think I look better in each one. That, and I've also learned to wear flattering clothing on those days!

Wedding, babies, and house hunting (oh my!)

Whew, can you believe it's been over a month since the wedding? I can't. Below are a handful of photos that I store from our photographer's website. If you want to go look, here's what 'cha do.

1. Head over to http://www.jolieimages.com.
2. Click, "View your Event."
3. Search for "Schindler-Marx" under event name.
4. Click "View Album"
5. Enter your email address, and the password is 626. 

Beautiful night-time shot. Easily my favorite photo.

Having a blast with my nephew Chevy. 

Why yes, our cake toppers were Baymax from "Big Hero 6."

Our wedding party. Can you tell which one is my brother?

One of the 6 million pictures he took of our shoes. 

Peter and I went to Cedar Point after the wedding. We spent 2 days riding roller coasters, and by the end of day 2 we were so bored of them. We were literally 300+ feet up in the air and yawning while the people behind us screamed going up the hill before the first drop. Ultimately though, it was a really great, relaxing honeymoon. We stopped by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before heading home. 

After the wedding, I stopped taking my birth control. So... that's been happening. We want to be pregnant by Christmas, though we're both pretty impatient and want to be pregnant NOW. I'll spare you the details. 

We're also house hunting! Tomorrow evening we'll be looking at 6 or 7 houses that are in our price range and aren't crap-shacks. We went last week too... but did I mention crap-shacks?! Because most of them were crap-shacks. We qualify for a government grant program for $7,500, which we don't have to pay back, so that's really been helpful. We're currently living with Peter's Grandpa (we've been there since late April) in Aurora while he transitions into a retirement home. He gets incredibly winded just by going up or down the stairs, and his eating habits are terrible. It's just time, he shouldn't be living alone anymore, and there needs to be someone to regulate his nutrition and to check up on him. He hasn't been sleep-walk-driving lately, so that's good. 

I really want to get back on a schedule with this blog. Give me a week to figure out what I'm going to be doing on which day. It'll be awesome.