Friday, July 31, 2009

Lose The Fatty Friday: Exercise Part II

Week 4

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Thank you for joining me for Week 4 of Lose The Fatty Friday. Last week I encouraged you to buy Leslie Sanson's Walk at Home videos and Brooke Silar's Pilates for Weight Loss video. I hope you did, and if you didn't...you should definitely go out and buy it this weekend. Let me remind you, exercise is the KEY to weight loss. Yeah you can cut your proportions in half, and drink nothing but water, but without exercise...you won't lose EVERYTHING. I've never met a person who only wanted to lose a couple of pounds when they were over weight and not happy with their body.

Alright, so last week I told you that we were going to change routine. I want you to combine the Walk at Home video with the Pilates. Each morning I combine the 20 Pilates cardio video with the 2nd mile on the Walk At Home video. It only takes 35 minutes, and it is quiet the little work out. I also use the 2 pound weights when doing the Walk At Home video.

Maybe you didn't accept last week's Challenge because you don't have enough time in your day to exercise. Well, here's your solution. Get up 45 minutes before you are supposed to wake in the morning, and exercise then. Exercise BEFORE you eat breakfast. Once I started working out in the mornings, I lost more weight fast. If you exercise in the morning, you burn more calories all day long and it is a more effective way to exercise. Plus, it helps you start your day on the right track. I always feel like super woman after I finish my work out in the morning.

This Week's Challenge: Combine Brooke Silar's "Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners" DVD with the Leslie Sanson's "Walk At Home". Remember to include the 2 pound weights during the Walk at Home DVD. Do 20 minutes of cardio in Pilates and do the 2nd mile of the Walk at Home video. This adds up to a total of 35 minutes. Don't forget to exercise in the morning and BEFORE YOU EAT!! It's more effective.

AND REMEMBER TO BE: DETERMINED, DISCIPLINED, DEDICATED

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Unpacked? Check.

I happened to find a corner in the dining room in which my computer will pick up someone else's internet service. Yes, I am stealing WiFi right now, but I'm beginning to have internet withdrawals, and I am pretty sure I am going crazy. I wanted to write to you all and let you know about our new place.

I'm not sure I like the place yet, and it definitely does not feel like home. I hope that with a little time it will begin to feel more like home. I can't recall a time that I have moved, and never immediately felt like I was at home. I have always adapted very well to new homes. I haven't adapted here. Why? Not sure. Maybe it's because I'm a good distance away from family, and in a new town that I know absolutely nothing about. I think it's the "new town" part that scares me the most. This is a new town to me, and I don't know much about this place. That's scary for a stay at home Mom. You know how it is to be cooped up inside your house all day, and not able to go anywhere. I don't want to leave, because I'm scared I'll get lost.

I've gotten everything unpacked and organized (except for the kitchen cabinets). I feel good about that. I just need to get stuff hung on the walls. I'm hoping that as soon as I get our pictures on the walls, and this place decorated...maybe it will start feeling like home.

I was glad that this whole experience wasn't traumatizing for Bree. She woke up Saturday morning in her home, and came home Saturday night to this new place that somehow had all of her things in it. She's adapted well though I think. Better than I have. I've tried to keep to her daily routine to make her as comfortable as I can. She has been more mischievous than usual. I figure that has something to do with the fact this is all new to her, and she's just trying it all out. She seems to be sleeping well during her naps and bed time. I'm trying to potty train her. It seems all of the sudden she was lost interest in going "pee pee in the potty". Is this normal?

Anyway, I was glad to find this little corner in my dining room with internet service. I wanted to make sure I updated you all right away. I hope that I can adapt to this place quickly, and that this depression won't last long. I miss the hubby when he leaves for work. Although, he does get to come home for lunch...it really doesn't make much difference to me because he watches SpongBob Squarepants. Oh well. Pray for me guys, and I can't wait to catch up on everyone's blogs!

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Just In Case You Were Wondering...

We moved yesterday. It was a long and gruesome process, but we got it done. Unfortunately, we will not have any internet for a while, so I'm not sure when I'll be back with a new blog. I just wanted to let you all know! I can't wait to get back, and in the groove with the blog world again!

Love you all,
Samantha

Friday, July 24, 2009

Lose The Fatty Friday: Exercise

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Welcome back to WEEK 3 of Lose the Fatty Friday. Let's reflect on the past couple of weeks.

The First Week: On the first week I gave you a look into what was going on with me, and what I did to lose weight. I gave you your first challenge, which was to drink nothing but water for a week.

The Second Week: Last week we talked about changing your diet by cutting proportions in half, changing your breads from white to wheat, and not frying anything!

This week we are going to talk about exercise. As I told you during the first week, I decided to use exercise at home videos. Mainly because going to the gym with a baby in tow would give me more reason to not exercise. The first video (or DVD) that I used was Leslie Sanson's Walk At Home video. You do 3 miles in 45 minutes, and it works everything. Arms, legs, abs, butt...everything! How does it do all of this? It comes with a band that goes around your waist, and two handles attached to bungee cords for your hands. Once I became experienced with this video, I swapped the band for 2 pound weights. You can either start out with 2 pound weights for each hand (which I recommend), or start out with the band. Either one will certainly show you a difference in your body. I used this video for over a year, and realized that I had lost all of the weight I was going to lose by just doing that video. I needed to switch things up, and I wanted to do something different.

Don't be afraid to change exercise routines. The main thing that you want to keep in mind about exercise is that you need to keep your body challenged. You need to change things up. Your body can get used to doing the same thing, and it will no longer be challenged to lose weight and will stop responding.

So, in a desperate attempt to change my routine, I discovered Pilates. Now, the important thing to remember about Pilates is that you can't just go out and buy any Pilates DVD. I did, and I spent a few months doing something that DIDN'T WORK! I finally ran across Brooke Silar's Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners. I was hooked from the start, and Brooke Silar is awesome. She was trained under Joseph Pilate's own protege. The best thing about the Pilates Weight Loss DVD is that it actually made me lose weight! It gives you exercises that actually sculpt and tone you, but are also considered "cardio" exercises. When I finish 20 minutes of this video, I'm sweating and my heart is racing like I had just ran a couple of miles. I HIGHLY recommend this video!

When I realized that I was maintaining my weight, and not really losing anymore, I decided to combine Leslie Sanson's video with my Pilates video. By doing that, I got immediate, dramatic results! You wouldn't believe it. I am still practicing these exercises. I do 15 minutes (1 mile) of Leslie Sanson's video with 2 pound weights, and 20 minutes of the Pilates cardio exercises for a total of 35 minutes a day. Yes, it's enough.

THE CHALLENGE: What I want you to do this week is go out to your local Wal Mart, or Target and buy either Leslie Sanson's '3 Mile Workout with Band' DVD or Brooke Silar's 'Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners' or you can just buy both. I would recommend starting out with Leslie Sanson's 3 Mile DVD to help get you started. If you can do all three miles in one setting, then that's great, but if not...build up to it. If you chose to do the Pilates video first, then I recommend doing the "cardio session" first. It is 20 minutes long, and it will make you very, very sore. You would never believe that you can move your body the way Brooke Silar does. But you can, and it's awesome!

Next week, we'll change routine a bit and see how well you did with the videos. Good luck...and remember to practice the 3 D's: Determined, Disciplined, and Dedicated

WHAT TO BUY
1. Leslie Sanson's 'Walk Away Your Waistline'
2. Brooke Silar's 'Pilates Weight Loss for Beginners'
3. Two 2 pound weights

Thursday, July 23, 2009

One Crappy Week

I haven't been able to say much or blog much these past couple of days, because I knew that the only thing I would be able to write about is how crappy my week has been. I didn't want to get on here, and fill your ears with complaints and tons of whining. Yes, I am considerate. Yesterday the crappiness of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday all climaxed and I lost it, in my car, with my daughter in the backseat, in a parking spot, in front of my OBGYN. I'm sure I'm not the first woman who has ever bawled their eye balls out in front of their OBGYN office, but it had nothing to do with babies or health issues. It was the crashing down of everything that had gone wrong over the past four days! I called the hubby. He could barely understand a word I was saying, and I scared him to death. He didn't know what was wrong with me, but he thought he was going to have to leave work to come pick me up. You may be wondering why I didn't just have my breakdown at home in the privacy of my own four walls. Well, for one, you never choose when you are going to have a breakdown, and two...a mini-fight with the hubby, a sudden down pour of rain galore, traffic coming to a dead stop on the interstate, and flooded exit ramp provoked it all to that point.

I have never seen rain come down that hard and that suddenly. I have driven in pretty ridiculous rain before, but this was unbelievable. I couldn't see a thing. I was on the interstate which I hate driving on anyway, and suddenly traffic comes to a complete stop. I never figured out if there was a wreck or if everyone else was just like me...they couldn't see a thing. No one would believe me when I told them how bad it is, because they weren't there.Image and video hosting by TinyPicThey didn't see it, and I myself had never seen rain come down so hard. I finally got to my exit ramp, and began creeping up it toward Laurens Road. I still couldn't see anything, and I was going a mere 15 miles per hour. Suddenly my car hit a wall of water. No lie. I thought I had just driven into a lake or something. I drive a little 2 door Honda Civic. It is NOT an all terrain vehicle, therefore, it did not take this flash flooding well. That went ahead and put the candle on the stick for me. I didn't know if I was going to make it off of the exit ramp, and there were these big SUVS racing up behind me, because to them...it was like stomping in a puddle. Once I got off the exit and on the road, middle lane and right lanes were completely flooded, so I hydro planed all the way to my next turn. As soon as I got in front my doctor's office, I looked at Bree and said, "I don't know what else to do but cry." And that's what I did. I cried so hard, all of my make up washed away and I had to strip the clothes off of one of Bree's baby doll's to dry my face. I still had to go into the doctor's office, and what were they going to think happened to me? It was clearly evident that I had been bawling my bloody eye balls out. Once I called Paul, he got me to calm down, and I was able to stop crying. This may sound silly to most of you, but when I was 18 years old, I got hit by a Ford F 150 going 60 miles per hour. He hit me in the back and pushed me into 6 other cars. I was in another little Honda Civic of mine. So, when I get into tense traffic, I tend to get panicky, and this had been the worst driving conditions I had ever been in.

Another thing I am pretty upset about is that my husband is at the lake today with his fellow co-workers. Most of them are women, and I wasn't allowed to go. I don't like it all, and I don't feel comfortable with it since everyone will be drinking too. I am just trying not to think about where he is, and praying to God he is behaving himself & that the women are behaving themselves too. Hopefully they have enough respect for me to leave my hubby alone.

Anyway, that's why I haven't written much this week. I didn't want to fill your ears (or eyes rather) with complaining. Believe me...it would have been ALOT of complaining. I hope you all have had a better week than I have. We're moving Saturday. I guess that's been another stress on top of everything else too. Vacation is only 2 weeks away. I think I can, I think I can...

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: God's Promise


I took this picture on Friday night, but it didn't mean anything to me until last night. A rainbow represents God's promise to His children. I am thankful to be a child of God & am comforted in His promise to me. He loves me unconditionally when I am most unlovable, and He saved me when I didn't deserve to be saved.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Yard Sales & Photo Shoots...

I was a busy bee this past weekend. My Mom and I ventured out Saturday morning to visit some Yard Sales. I was looking for specific things, which I've decided is not the smartest thing to do when going Yard Sale-ing. Why? Because you get pretty frustrated when you've gone to a dozen different places and have left empty handed. It made me wonder why in the world I got up so early for these pathetic yard sales. I did have fun though, and I did find a few things.
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I paid 5 bucks for the chair. I bought it for Bree's room. I'm going to spray paint it green, find a cushion, and put it in her room. The green vase is also for Bree's room, and then the picture hanger is for mine & the hubby's room. I was on the hunt for some antique windows, and a rug, but had no such luck. Oh well. Maybe next time.

The biggest part of my day was my very first photo shoot. A woman we used to go to church with had seen my pictures of Bree that I had taken, on my Facebook. After seeing that I was doing a wedding in August, she wanted to know if I would take pictures of her foster kids. I said that I definitely would! I had never taken any pictures of anyone else's children, so I didn't know how they would turn out and I was very, very nervous. Once I got going though, the nervousness eased and I was able to have alot of fun! Here are some of my favorites:
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What do you think about the shots? I think it went pretty well to be my first, and I can't wait to do more!

How was everyone else's weekend? Yesterday and Today have been pretty crappy for me, but I'm praying that tomorrow will be different. It all depends on my doctor and whether or not he decides to go ahead and refill that prescription I called in a week ago. I'm intentionally called a week ahead of time to have my prescription refilled, and still no meds. If I don't have it in my hand tomorrow...I'm cussing someone out. It's the wrong week to mess with me.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Lose The Fatty Friday: Changing Your Diet

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I'm not sure how many of you accepted last week's challenge of swapping all of your drinks to water, but if you did it successfully...congratulations! Make sure you let me know if won the challenge. If you didn't accept the challenge, you can still do it! It's never too late to begin drinking only water! You'll feel awesome too.

Alright, so thank you for coming back to Week Two of Lose the Fatty Friday! This week we will be working on changing our diet. Not going on a diet, but changing what we eat. You don't have to make any major changes. I am all about eating whatever you want to eat, but the key here is proportion sizes. Pay attention to your "serving size" on the foods you eat. You'll be surprised at how much you are over eating. I became obsessed with this little exercise when I realized how many calories were in foods that I were eating. Now, I'm not saying to count calories, but I think you should be aware of how much you are eating. Go to your favorite restaurant's website, find your favorite meal, and check out how many calories is in that meal. It will blow your mind! Instead of avoiding these foods all together, cut them in half. My favorite burger at Applebees is the Bacon Cheddar Burger, but the first thing I do when the waiter sets it down on the table is cut it in half, and put the other half away. I'm satisfied when I finish the first half, and don't even want to know how I would have felt had I eaten the other half. So try cutting your proportions in half. You'll be surprised at how satisfied you are with eating half of what you would normally eat. We tend to over eat without even realizing it.

One of the major changes I made in my home is that I changed all "white" breads over to wheat. I buy 100% whole wheat loaf bread, wheat spaghetti noodles, wheat flour, etc... Why did I do this? Because white bread turns into sugar. There is nothing healthy about it. You may think that you're eating a harmless ham and cheese sandwich for lunch, but if it's on white bread...you're just putting sugar into your body. You may think you're having a harmless plate of spaghetti, but if it isn't wheat spaghetti, then all of those noodles are going to turn into sugar! Now, you may be turning your nose up at the thought of wheat spaghetti, but to tell you the truth, I was a little surprised when I tried it for the first time...it is delicious! I felt alot healthier just by switching all of my breads over to wheat.

Did you know that you can have fried pork chops without frying it in the frying pan? I didn't either until my Mom tells me that I can bread it and then bake it in the oven! In fact, you can have country fried steak, baked in the oven. Do you know how much healthier this makes your food? That vegetable oil that you're frying your meat in, is not healthy for you at all! So, next time you want something breaded like pork chops or cubed steak...bake it in the oven!

So today we have covered changing all of the breads in the house over to wheat. Spaghetti, flour, loaf bread, noodles, etc... We also learned that you don't have to fry ANYTHING in the frying pan. The only thing that is permit-able in the frying is bacon and sausage!

This Week's Challenge: Change your diet. Switch all breads to wheat, and fry NOTHING. Cut your portions in half, and continue drinking nothing but water.

Never hesitate to contact me with a question you may have. I'm here to help!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Yeah, I Talk With a Southern Draw...

I was born and raised in the South. From the minute I open my mouth to speak, there is no doubt that I am a southern girl. I don't, however, classify myself as a 'G.R.I.T.S' (girls raised in the south), mainly because I'm not one for stupid abbreviations. Anyway, most of the time I don't give my accent another thought in the world. It's just a part of who I am, and who I've always been. But, every once in a while I'll get paranoid about my southern accent.

It all started this morning when my doctor's office called me to tell me that she couldn't understand my last name and I didn't give my date birth on the message that I had left yesterday about my prescription. We wouldn't have this problem if you could actually talk to someone when you call a doctors office, pharmacy, etc. I get pretty tired of talking to machines. Anyway, that's another blog for another day. The lady on the other end of the phone had a northern accent, and I could barely understand a word she was saying. I was speaking clearly, and I knew that there was no other reason she couldn't understand me, other than the fact that she moved to the South and took a job without the understanding that she needed to be able to understand a Southern Accent. Thats not what got me paranoid though. What got me paranoid and uncomfortable was the fact of what kind of person she was picturing me as. If she couldn't understand what I was saying, then she was probably picturing me with no teeth, nappy hair, plaid shirt, and cut off blue jean shorts. That's definitely not me, nor anyone else I know, but if you asked anyone from another part of the country what they think of Southern people, that's what they would tell you.

I started getting a little upset, because my accent is the only thing Southern about me. I wouldn't say that I am redneck or trashy. I like to have nice things, and look nice. That's when I began thinking about who is to blame for this mental image of us Southern Folk from people all over the country. It's the Media's fault. Yes, I blame alot on the media, but this is legit. Think about when a news reporter interviews a resident who's house was torn apart by a tornado. They don't pick one of the most prominent members of the town, or someone of sophistication. They find the most redneck, trashiest, no teeth, greasy haired, person they can find! No wonder the whole Country thinks everyone from the South has no teeth, and can't speak right.

So, this is why I get paranoid sometimes about my accent. I don't want people to have this wrong mental image of me, and I especially don't want this nurse from my Doctor's Office creating this horrible, mental image of me. I'm proud of my Southern heritage, and for the most part I like my Southern accent. It sets me apart from everyone else.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: Note To Self...[Craigslist Find]

Note to Self: When someone describes a piece of furniture on Craigslist as being "unique", what they really mean is that it's ugly.
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DISCLAIMER: I am DEEPLY sorry if this is your chair, and I have offended you.

Monday, July 13, 2009

My Kid Potty Trained Herself...What Did Yours Do?

So, Bree is potty training herself. I'm kind of glad that I'm not having to force it on her anything, but it's also kind of sad. I think I'm going to miss changing diapers once she gets the hang of things. Although she doesn't tell me every time she was to "pee pee", she is going by herself, on average, 3 times a day. I guess that's pretty good. I did, however, get a little discouraged this morning when she proceeded to take a poop in the living room floor. Either she waited too late to go, and couldn't do anything about it...or she just didn't care. I'm not sure which, but I scooped her up and ran her toward the potty so that she could finish the rest of her business. She sure has grown up fast though, and even though I love the little girl she is becoming...I miss the little baby she was. I don't know very many babies that can successfully climb up onto the potty like Bree can. If that's not sign that she is growing up, I don't know what is!

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Friday, July 10, 2009

Cow Appreciation Day...

If you live in the part of the Country that doesn't have a Chick-Fil-A, then you have no earthly idea what I am talking about. Yesterday, was Cow Appreciation Day. Every Chick-Fil-A across the country celebrate their appreciation for cows by dressing like them and receiving free combos & sandwiches in return. Now, I have a long history with Chick-Fil-A. My Dad has been the general manager at one for nearly 10 years now, and I worked there from the age of 14 until I was 20 years old (3 weeks before Bree was born). Now, I work on occasion when they need a photographer. Well, yesterday was one of those days that they needed me.

You wouldn't believe all of the people who actually go through the humiliation just to get free chicken. I'm talking adults in full fledged cow costumes. Grown men too! I know for a fact that I couldn't pay the hubby good money to dress up like a cow. I guess this would be my seventh Cow Appreciation Day, but every year it gets bigger and bigger, and I am astounded more and more by the turn out of people in cow costumes! So, for your enjoyment, here are a few pictures I took. You'll see what I mean by the pure and "utter" (no pun intended) determined (or maybe desperate) attempt to get free Chick-Fil-A.

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Introduction to: Lose the Fatty Friday!

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, Fridays...for the next seven weeks, are going to be dedicated to helping you lose any unwanted pounds that you have collected on your body. I weighed 197 lbs. at my last weigh in before I had Bree, and now I am 128 lbs. It wasn't easy, and there were many tears and fat days that went along with this year and a half of weight loss. I am not going to tell you at anytime during these next 7 weeks, that losing weight is easy, because it's not. But, if you are determined, disciplined, and dedicated...it will happen.

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I still can't believe the before and after pictures. I can't believe that I was that big, but I was. I began the weight loss procedure almost immediately after Bree was born, but I didn't know what to do. I had never really had to lose that much weight before. I was a chunky kid growing up, but slap some braces on my teeth, and that's a guaranteed weight loss process all in itself. I couldn't put my braces on my teeth this time. My freshman year of college, I had dropped down to 115 pounds, because all of my classes were uphill, across campus from where I parked my car. I was walking an average of 4 miles a day, uphill. Not to mention, I was in the middle of mental breakdown and not hardly eating anything. It was a very, unhealthy, weight loss.

So, since I wasn't having a mental breakdown and walking up hills six hours a day, or not eating because of the pain and aggravation that braces can provoke, I had to for real lose weight. I had to do it the right way. That's when I began googling all kinds of exercise programs. That's when I ran across Lelsie Sanson's Walk At Home videos. I highly recommend these videos. They are pretty awesome, and I could tell a difference right away when I begun using them...consistently. Being consistent is definitely ONE of the MANY keys to losing weight.

After using the Walk at Home videos, I successfully made it from a size 14, to a 12, to a 10, and then to 8 in matter of four months. Even after all of that weight loss, I still wasn't happy. I still had that post pregnancy belly flab, and I was not loving it! I did something I shouldn't have done though, and took a Summer off. I'm sure I gained weight during this break of not exercising, because when I wanted to get back to it...it was harder than when I had originally started.

That's when I discovered Pilates. Pilates literally changed my life. It is a wonderful, stress relieving, body building, exercise. You use your own weight and strength to perform moves, and it is surprisingly addicting. I went through a few Pilates DVD's before I finally found the right one. I came across Brooke Silar's "Pilates Weightloss for Beginners" and fell in love right away. You can purchase this DVD at any Walmart or Target.

Although exercising is a wonderful thing, it is pretty much pointless if you still eat whatever your eyes cross. In order to be healthy and lose weight, you have to eat healthy. Too many times have I watched women go to the gym daily, and then cross the street a pick up a Big Mac with fries and a large sweet tea. You can't lose weight doing this, and in my opinion, you're just wasting your time. I am also, a FIRM believer in that good ol' H2O. If you cut out all other liquids (soft drinks, tea, etc...), I promise you that you will automatically lose 10 pounds just by doing that. People think I am crazy when I say that, but it happened to me, and I've seen it work with others too.

Each Friday I am going to issue a Challenge for you to work on that week. This week's challenge is to switch all of your liquids over to water. Resist any soft drinks or tea. Coffee is okay, but make sure you don't drink more coffee than water. If you have never done this before, or don't like the taste of just plain water...add a lemon to the drink. Nevertheless, resist the temptation for all other drinks and practice the three D's: Determination, Discipline, and Dedication. You want to lose weight? Drinking strictly water is the first step!

Alright, so that's it for this week. Tell me what you guys think, and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask!


In Other News...
Mrs. M from "I've Changed My Name to Mommy" chose me to be featured on her "Fabulous Find Friday"! Head on over to her place, and read my interview! You might find out some stuff about me that you might not otherwise had known. She's also a pretty cool lady, so make sure you follow her if you haven't already!

Thursday, July 09, 2009

I'm a Pack Rat With A Box Fetish...

pampers lol Pictures, Images and PhotosI never really considered myself someone who can't throw anything away. Generally old people are the ones who do things like that, but I came to a shocking realization when I began to pack up Bree's closet last night. Two rows of empty Pampers boxes, stacked high to the ceiling and four Wal-Mart bags stuffed full with outfits that Bree wore when she was a newborn. Outfits that I loved, that I cherished, that were my favorite. I had no idea that I had kept so many of these outfits. I would have taken pictures of this madness, but I was too shocked at how much of a Pack Rat I had become. I couldn't stand the thought of taking a picture of these accomplishments, if you can even call it that. I can't even bring myself up to getting rid of them now, even after the realization that I am a pack rat with a box fetish.

Thankfully, the Hubby didn't look at me like I was insane. He just did as he was told, and put the Wal-Mart bags in the empty Pampers boxes. I guess I can be grateful for that. Most men would have dropped what they were doing, taken their wives, and checked them into an asylum somewhere. Oh well, at least the empty Pampers boxes are coming in handy with this move. We'll have a Uhaul full of Pampers boxes. There will be no mistaking that I am a mother, and I use Pampers. Maybe Pampers should pay me for this. It'll be great advertisement!

What to expect on tomorrow's blog...
I have decided that I am going to make each Friday for the next 7 weeks, a look inside of how I lost all of my baby weight. At my last weigh in before I had I had Bree, I weighed 197 pounds. Now, I am 128 pounds...barely two years later. I know how discouraging it can be when you are trying to lose weight, because believe you me...I have shed my tears over my flabby tummy. What I did to lose those pounds can work for anyone who is trying to lose weight. Diets seriously don't work. Why? Because, you can't stay on a diet forever. It's all about choosing the right foods, portions, and liquids to drink. Make sure you come by tomorrow for an introduction into my dramatic weight loss that took a year and a half. Why did it take so long? Because I was trying everything else, but the right thing. I am going to tell you the right thing to do! So get ready...it's gonna get exciting!

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Blame it On Bree...

We move in 2 and a half weeks. How many boxes do you think I have packed? Try none. I haven't even started packing, and I don't even know where to start. Maybe I am afraid of feeling overwhelmed. Last year when we moved, Bree wasn't mobile. This year, she's mobile and she would just unpack all the things that I just packed. I know, I know. Pack when she's down for her nap. I will, I just have to figure out where to start and what to do. This is the third time since we've been married that I've had to pack up our lives and move it elsewhere. One would think that I would be an expert packer. I think I can blame it on procrastination. It's consumed me.

I did manage to take pictures of a few of Bree's toys that I would like to sell before we move. They are things that she got for her first birthday, and rarely played with! The look brand new, so I'd like to try and get my money back on them.

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Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Those toy companies know how to get you, don't they? If I knew then, what I know now...I would have bought Bree a birthday present that she could grow into, not out of...so soon. At least it brought her a little bit of happiness. She has more fun pulling stuff out that she's not supposed to play with.

Okay, I better stop blogging and go put something in a box. Hmm...

Monday, July 06, 2009

Coupon Savings Monday!!

I feel like I didn't do so well today, but I think it's just because I spent more money than I have in a few weeks. However, I did get a good bit of stuff. So, check it out:

Ingles
...Pringles Big Stax: 2/3$ + 1.00 off of 2 coupon = 2.00$
...Cascade Advantage: 3.98 + 1.00 off = 2.98
...Secret Women's Deoderant: 1.98 + 1.00 off = .98
...Herbal Essence Shampoo: 2.24 + 1.00 off = 1.24
...Herbal Essence Conditioner: 2.24 + 1.00 off = 1.24
...Oral B toothbrush: 1.48 + 1.00 off = .48
...Peanut Butter: 2.50
...Chewy Granola Bars: 2.00

...Total: 15.33
...Total Savings: 13.27

Target
...Kashi Cereal Bar: 2.50 + 1.50 off = 1.00
...Kashi Cereal Bar: 2.50 + 1.50 off = 1.00
...Kashi Cereal: 2.66 + 1.50 off = 1.16
...Market Pantry Apple Juice: 1.74
...Oscar Mayer Deli Cuts: 2.79
...Right Guard: 2 @ 1.99 + 1.00 off of 2 = 3.00
...Playtex Sippy Cup: 4.49

...Total: 21.00
...Total Savings: 8.26

Publix
...Kellogs Special K: 2.00 + 1.00 off = 1.00
...3 Dannon Light Yogurt: .70x3 = 2.10
...Pork Cubed Steak: 3.11
...2 Publix Mandarin Oranges: 1.70
...Publix Milk: 2.79
...2 Big Bounty Roll Paper Towels: 1.25 x 2 + (4) .25 off coupons = 1.50

...Total: 12.35
...Total Savings: 5.47

BI-LO
...4 boxes of Suddenly Salad: .99 a piece + 4(.40) off + 2(.50) off = 1.36
...1 lb. of Ground Chuck: 2.96
...3 lb. of bananas: 2.11

...Total Before Savings: 15.11
...Total I Paid: 6.43
...Total Savings: 8.68

Grand Total: 55.11
Grand Total Savings: 35.68


So, as you can see...I didn't do as well as I have been. I eliminated Wal-Mart this week, just to see how I would do. I definitely think I would have saved more had I just gone to Wal-Mart and got the stuff that I needed but didn't have a coupon for. Oh well, I learned a lesson and I have a pantry full of food.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

& Then There Was The In-Laws...

Each and every Holiday that rolls around seems to always leave me and my family in the mud. For some reason the In-Laws think that the Holidays are just for them, and no one else. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, etc...it's all about them. I'm not sure if they forget the fact that I have a family too, or if they just don't care.

Yesterday, I had suggested that we go down to Columbia to visit Paul's Grandmother since we hadn't seen her since Christmas. I didn't think it was a bad idea, and figured we would be home in time to cookout with my family that night. As Paul was relaying this information to his Dad, his Dad said, "When are you going to pick up Matthew?" He didn't ask, "Can you pick up Matt and take him down to Columbia with you?" He automatically signed us up for taking Matthew to Columbia without even asking. This got me blood boiling first. The next question was, "What car are you taking?" We generally take my car, because it's a Honda Civic and gets more gas milage than Paul's Toyota 4 Runner does. When Paul told them that we would be taking my car, Paul's Dad whipped out a 20 dollar bill and said, "Put gas in your car and take it." This was the second thing that got my blood boiling. He dictated which car we were going to take. I am still waiting on the moment when Paul looks at his Dad and just simple says, "No.", because I am tired of getting pulled around by his Dad and doing what his DAD wants us to do.

We got down to Columbia, ate, and then around 5:30 got a phone call from his Dad making sure that we were leaving. He had tickets to a baseball game that he wanted us to go to with him. What about spending time with my family? It pissed him off to even mention the fact that I wanted to spend time with my family. By the time we got back home from Columbia it was 7:30, and the baseball game started at 7. I knew that by the time we got to Downtown Greenville, the game would be over. You should have seen his Dad running around like a freakin' mad man. You don't cross this man when he's this "uptight", and I was so tired, I didn't feel like causing a big deal. So, I kept my mouth shut and went to the baseball game.

I didn't get to see my Parent's once during the 4th of July, and when I got home last night...I was very upset. I used to love Holidays; fun times with family. Not anymore. I hate them. It's so hard having to split time between my family, Paul's Mom, and Paul's Dad. By the way, his Parent's are divorced, so that makes thing just that much harder. I still have a headache today. One that formed last night while Paul and his Dad fought this whole way to the baseball game, and back from the baseball game. I swear to God, I could have opened the door of the car as we sped down the interstate, jumped out...and they seriously would not have noticed.

So, how do I fix this problem? I do have a say in it too don't I? Why should my family get shafted each and every Holiday that rolls around? I guess I should put my foot down for real next time, and not care if I cause any more controversy. I try to split time evenly, but somehow the In-Laws come out on top.

I hope everyone's Holiday was better than mine. I did have a bit of a Patriotic moment. Watching fireworks over a baseball field (the American Sport), made me feel very American and very proud to be an American.
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Saturday, July 04, 2009

Happy 4th!

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Just wishing you guys all a very happy and safe 4th of July. Thanks to all of our troops, past, present, and future, for everything you have done, are doing, and will do.

REMEMBER: Lit fireworks DO NOT belong in your pants!

Have fun!

Friday, July 03, 2009

Personal Trainer?

If I mentioned to my family or friends that I wanted to get a personal trainer to help me get off these last 5 pounds, they would think I'm crazy. Over the past few months, I've dropped a fast ten pounds, but I'm ready to go ahead and get rid of these last five. I've switched my exercise routine to 3 days a week, but somehow I think that working out makes me even more self-conscious about my body. Why? I guess because if I am going to sweating, and working hard at losing weight...I wanna see results, immediately! I know it doesn't work that way, but that's how mind think.

I am fighting against genetics though. There is not a woman in my family who has a flat tummy. Most of us are a little curvy, and although we may have a skinny waist, we have pooch that makes us look heavier. I've always had this pooch, and I can't seem to get rid of it, no matter how hard I've been working at it. This just makes me want to work that much harder against it. Am I chasing an impossible task? I wish that I could just be happy with my body and how far I've come. I have come a long way, but for some reason, it's never good enough. I don't know why. I don't want it to be that way. A year ago, I would have been more than thrilled to have a thin tummy like I do now, but now that I have it...it's not good enough. I think I can do better.

I think maybe it's become an illness for me. I'm obsessed with getting a flat tummy, and that's why I thought today about getting a personal trainer. Maybe it's something I'll do. I'm not sure. Maybe I could just learn to love my curves and my little pooch. Sorry to be griping, but I am having a fat day, and what do you do on fat days? You bitch and moan. That's what I'm doing.

On another note, I hope you all have a safe and Happy 4th of July weekend! Make sure your kids aren't sticking fireworks down their pants =)

Thursday, July 02, 2009

Random Blabbing Thursday

I don't really have anything specific to write about today, so I decided to deem Thursdays, "Random Blabbing Thursday". Most Thursday's I don't have much to talk about anyway. So, enjoy my randomness, also known as my mind...

Last night I dreamed about Governor Sanford. Let's just say I was Argentinian, and the only one not angry with him.

Bree climbed up on the potty with an issue of US Weekly. Kate Gosselin was on the front. Even my 2 year old is concernced about Jon & Kate + 8 and their fate...

I get all excited when I see I have more "followers" on Twitter. Then, when I click to see who it is...it's some chick wanting me to click on her link to see "hot, sexy pictures of her". When will Ryan Seacrest decide to follow me? Pete Wentz? Anderson Cooper??

What's the point in pulling your clothes off of the hanger without removing the hanger first. Paul just pulls a shirt off of the hanger which in return causes the hanger to get stuck and makes it that much more difficult to remove it from the rod and put another shirt on it.

Do people use turn signals anymore?

Paul won't watch Judge Judy or Wife Swap with me, because the "drama" drives him crazy. Yet, he can watch movies where gang members blow each other up. Weird.

Bree finished her breakfast yesterday morning, and put her bowl in the dishwasher without me having to ask. Such a sweet, little big girl!

I have fruit flies in my kitchen. I can't decide if I want to live with them for 3 weeks and make the mean Maintenance Guy deal with it, or just go ahead and get rid of them myself.

I've concluded that I just don't like anyone. I can't help it.

And that concludes "Random Blabbing Thursday". Now leave your Random comments =)

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

"I Love You"

Image and video hosting by TinyPicIt happened tonight. Bree and I were doing our nightly ritual of snuggling on the couch, and eating Golden Grahams. She happened to notice the print on my shirt, which is a Chick-Fil-A cow with sunglasses and a shopping bag. As she pointed to the things on my shirt, I told her what each thing was. Then, she looked up at me with her big, brown eyes and in the sweetest little voice she said, "I love you."

Tears immediately filled my eyes, and I said, "I love you too" back as I grabbed her up in a hug and kissed her little chunky cheeks. It's not that I didn't know that she loved me, it's just the first time I have actually heard those words come out of her mouth. She isn't quiet two years old yet, but she is beginning to put words together. Needless to say, I was shocked, filled with an overwhelming since of joy, and my heart was immediately warmed. She made me fall in love with her all over again. She let me know that she loved me, and appreciated me in the simplest form. Sometimes, that's all I need, is for someone to look at me and just tell me they love me.

I think that as we get older, our minds get too complex. A child's mind is simple, and I think that's the way God intended our minds to be. Just simple. Instead, we fill it with so much stuff. Worry, stress, confusion, what-ifs, etc... Sometimes I wish that I could be Bree. Just so I don't have to worry about things. She doesn't have a thing in the world to worry about, and that's the way God wanted our lives to be like. She is completely dependent on me to fulfill her needs, and that's good enough for her. So, if that's good enough for a child to trust her mother, why isn't it good enough for us to trust God so that we don't have to worry? What keeps us from saying, "God, I love you and I trust you."? Our flesh? Yes. It's us, the person we became as we grew up. The complex mind we developed over the years. The day we gave away our child like minds, is the day we stopped having faith. What can I do to keep this from happening to Bree? I want her to know, and to understand. I don't want her to ever have to worry about a thing. The day she starts to worry about things, is the day she stops being so happy and carefree. I think that will pain me to see that. It pains me to think about it. Why can't we be children forever?