Monday Mixture

Ah, so it's Monday again.  The beginning of another work week and the countdown to another weekend.  Anyone else start counting down to the next weekend as soon as the last one's over?  I mean I'm grateful for my job and I don't party like a rock star on the weekends so I'm not sure what the big deal is.  I just really love Saturdays and Sundays.  This weekend was surely an uneventful one, unless you count laundry, grocery shopping and setting up a dog pen an event.  Oh and there was my customary Sunday afternoon nap.  Oh how I love thee. 

Yes, I mentioned setting up a dog pen.  It was for this cute little guy.

This is Lil' Dan.  My son named him after the dog in the movie Where the Red Fern Grows.  He's been wanting a dog of his own and particularly a Red Bone Coonhound ever since he watched that movie several months back.  We looked everywhere for one before Christmas but the ones we found were in the $400-$500 range and we weren't about to pay that for a dog!  Well, last week a guy called my husband and told him he had a litter ready and this was the last male.  He's so cute and still has that puppy breath, but he smells so bad.  I even gave him a bath and he still has that hound smell!

So, what's on my agenda for this week?  Of course tomorrow is Mardi Gras and the day of forced love is Thursday.  My man works in New Orleans and it's pretty much the Mardi Gras mecca in our area.  They really live it up down there.  Needless to say, he's off of work today and tomorrow and will be spending time at home.  The kids get to make a Mardi Gras 'float' for school and they're having the 'parade' Thursday.  Why would it make sense to mix that in with all the Valentine's madness on Thursday?  Maybe they want to get all the chaos in on one day.  Wednesday night I'm sure mama will be up late addressing Valentine cards, making cupcakes and putting together a Mardi Gras float.  Why couldn't I have been an under achiever and not make it so hard on myself?  The hubs and I have never really went over the top on Valentine's Day.  I don't understand the whole dozen roses and boxes of candy anyway.  I mean flowers die and you really never know what's inside those chocolates until after you've put it in your mouth.  Wait 'til the day after and buy me some half priced Pink & Red M & M's and some new shoes with the money you'd save from not buying overpriced flowers!

Working out really didn't happen last week.  Work has been extra busy for me and after being gone to the cow show, my house needed attention and laundry was piled up.  I know, excuses, excuses, but mama was TIRED!  I am going back to the gym today and tomorrow for sure since the hubs will be home with the kids.  And he even volunteered to cook supper!  I've tried to talk him into becoming a stay at home dad, but he's not buying it.

I did manage to go to Dairy Queen last night and not eat chicken strips with gravy or a blizzard.  I ate a grilled chicken wrap with no cheese and then only ate half of the tortilla.  Since I still had some calories left and there was a new frozen yogurt place in town I've been wanting to try, I killed 2 birds with one stone and stopped.  I got some fat free fro yo with cherries and strawberries and just a spoon of Heath bar crumbles for my chocolate fix.  It was really good.  This was my first time ever going to a place like this so they may all be the same, but it was a buffet style.  You get a cup and fix it yourself - several flavors of yogurt and tons of toppings.  I could've definitely went full fat girl crazy with the toppings - Snickers, Butterfinger, Oreo, caramel, chocolate syrup, cool whip. 

I have been scoping out heart rate monitors.  I'm a little on the cheap side and don't want to pay for a good one but I don't want to waste my money on a cheap one either.  I found this one on sale at Sears.com.  I'm not crazy about the color, but it's over half off!  I'm still trying to convince myself that it would be $40 well spent.  I have several apps on my phone for tracking distance and time, so I'm looking at this strictly for counting the calories I burn.  Any advice?  Do you use a heart rate monitor?  Money well spent or use that money to buy new shoes?  Any extra functions I would love about it?