Well, on this Weight Watchers Wednesday, I am proud to announce that I have met my ten percent goal. I lost 3.2 pounds this week, for a total loss of 18 pounds! I only have 5 more pounds to go to reach my Valentine's Day goal of 160.

I am going to continue doing the same thing this week-major tracking and major treadmilling-I have started going for 50 minutes then a 5 minute cool down. The incline is set between 10-12. I burned 450 calories today in 45 minutes. (I had to leave early!) But, Brittany made me feel like I couldn't trust the calorie counter, so we shall say around 450 calories! :D Love ya Britt!

Anyway, how did you all do? I hope I can get these 5 pounds off to meet my goal I set right after New Years. Or at least come within one pound of it! I am going to try hard!!!

Have a good rest of the week friends!

Well for the love...

Someone try the MckLinky and make sure it works-dang people. :D

Menu Monday

Well, yesterday I planned out a doozy of a menu-9 complete days of meals! Most of which are paying tribute to my new slow cooker. I need to reign it in on the spending though-I dropped $200 at Walmart on groceries for 9 days-that is a bit excessive, even for me, Mrs. Spenderella. Check out this menu.

Sunday-leftover Penne a la Betsy and Crockpot Chicken Paella
Monday-Lemon Chicken Pasta and salad
Tuesday-Crockpot Swiss Chicken Casserole and lemon broccoli
Wednesday-Rigatoni with grilled veggies and salad
Thursday-Slow Cooker Turkey Chili with baked Tostitos
Friday-Angel Hair with Shrimp and salad
Saturday-Crockpot Chicken Paprika and roast veggies
Sunday-WW chicken spaghetti with lemon broccoli
Monday-Slow Cooker Pot Roast and "creamed" spinach (can't find the link right now)

All sides are from the WW Momentum cookbook. I have never tried them before, but they sound good.

So, what are you all eating on this week? Check out b.e.g. and iGriza for some more menus!

Have a great Monday!

Why don't you all join in and post your links to the MckLinky-let's see if I have it working.

Photo Blowout!

This weekend has been totally yucky, so we spent it taking lots of pictures!

Emma is catching up on her weekly gossip with STAR magazine.

Yummy-we had organic sweet peas for dinner tonight.

I am a rosy cheeked beauty!


What a charmer.

Look at my cute new outfit!

Cheese!

This was after Emma's church outing-in which she babbled and mumbled and screeched, etc. I got about one word out of the service. Suffice to say, she will start going to nursery next week so I can enjoy my worship.

Saturday morning she fell asleep on me-it was heaven.

Look at that little paw resting on my chest.

I hope all of you had a spectacular weekend too!

xoxo

An Award...and The Thirty Day Shred......

Well, my sweet angel friend Britt over at Living in the Moment gifted me with this awesome award! Thanks, Britt! I don't know how deserving I actually am of this award right now, due to my pitiful blogging funk, but I'll try to honor it. I do believe a lot of the blogging world is going through said funk right now, so I take strength in the fact that I am not alone. But look! Two posts in one day! Right on, right on. :D

I give this blog award to the following ladies and one gentlemen friend:

Cas @ Cas' Crazy Thoughts

Laura @ IGriza

Mrs. Potts @ Experiments in a Galley Kitchen

Brown Eyed Girl

Sarah @ Life of Blights

J @ Wanting What I Have

Landlocked Mermaid (private)

Amy @ Ha Ha. Wait, What?

For the Love

That is all for now-you all rock my world, but I am too lazy to link up to 15 blogs. Forgive please.

Next order of business. I am thinking about trying Miss Michaels' infamous 30 Day Shred. Husband has said he will participate with me. Here are my main reasons for wanting to try it:

1. Monica @ Confessions of a + Sized Girl is doing it and is still alive. 2. It is only 30 days. 3. It only takes 28 minutes per day. 4. I need to shred some weight off. 5. I can do it at home and cannot use the excuse of not enough time to go to the gym. (I will still be visiting the gym on Monday and Wednesday to do my cardio-treadmill time.)

I want/need to know the following: 1. Have any of you done this? 2. What did you think? 3. Will I still be alive after the first level? 4. Will I lose weight if I really do it?

Please share lovelies.

So glad it's the weekend, even if my to do list looks atrocious! I hope you all have some fun, relaxing things planned for the weekend!
xoxo

Weight Watchers Friday and Birthday Shenanigans

Hey guys! Yes, I know it's Friday (morning at 5:52, yuck) but I am getting ready for work and decided for the love just write the blog post instead of composing it in your head. I hardly have time to write during the week anymore-I have been so tired lately. I used to be up till 11, now it's about 9, so it's hard to blog during the week, but I'm trying!

Anyway, WWW was boo-I gained 1.2 pounds. That is the most I've ever gained! But, it's not surprising. When I was sick last week, I ate almost an entire cheese pizza, Fritos, onion dip, and had BBQ on Saturday. Please-I'm lucky I didn't gain 23 pounds. Plus I only exercised once! I'm still bitter though.

So for my 31st birthday, we went to Kani House-the Japanese steak and sushi bar around here. I got steak and shrimp hibachi-with the special sauce on the side. It's like crack. Then on Thursday morning, I started all over again, tracking and coming in 1 point under. Plus I have worked out Monday and Wednesday and plan to go at least Saturday if not Sunday too. I have a plan. And that is the good thing about WW is that you can start over every weigh in day! I am soooo close to my 10% goal-I just want to reach it now!

Now, as for the 31st birthday (yikes, that sounds old!) shenanigans-we went out to eat and then came home and I opened presents. I save all the presents that are mailed to me for the actual birthday. My family sent me two devotional books and a super cute pair of Yellow Box shoes! Thanks mommy! The in laws sent me a NYC giftcard (new clothes!) and a super cute Vera Bradley laptop travel case. Thanks second family! My sissy sent me some beautiful gerbera daisies. Thanks sister! My hubby and daughter got me a new, programmable crock pot that won't burn the house down! I can't wait to use it at least 3 times next week. Sidenote-it was sooo stinkin awesome to come home on Monday after all my errands and have slow cooker chili ready and smelling rad! Hubby also got me my heart's desire-home bleaching trays from the dentist! I have wanted these for so long. Since I have been smoke free for one year, I got them! I wore them for the first time last night, and so far so good. I need to take a before and after picture. I shall try to remember and do that tonight. It should take about two weeks for the total whitening effect.

Overall, I've had a very busy and fun week! I hope to run some errands and go to the gym tomorrow morning, then settle in and find some great crock pot recipes for next week. What are you all doing this weekend?




xoxo

Remember Me???

Hello peoples, my momma has been slacking on discussing me, so here I am!

Trying to crawl

Playing with my friend Gracie

Playing in my exersaucer



I have moved on to the next stage of bows!

I was eating carrots-I am not sure about them.

Here I am, being my normal presh self.

Good Day to you all. Enjoy your day off.

Menu Monday...and Stuff

Warning: Boring Post below.

Well, I have been feeling yucky for the past 5 days, and on Friday I went to the doctor. Apparently I have laryngitis and maybe a sinus infection. My throat has been hurting int he morning and at night, I've had a GLOB of mucous (TMI, I know) in the back of my throat, and I've been coughing a lot. Friday it was so bad, I left work at 11, which I never do! The doctor said there is fluid in my ears (ewww) and that I may have an infection. So I did what anyone would do when they went to drop off their Rx for a Z pack. I bought pizza for dinner, some onion dip and Fritos for comfort food, and 4 boxes of Weight Watchers ice cream. Because we all know that will balance out the four cheese CPK pizza I ate 3/4 of on Friday night.

I totally lost my voice on Friday and am getting it back barely today. Hubs said it was a nice reprieve. I slapped him.

We had our buddies over for dinner last night: J, L, and J plus the kids-I got a vision of what our house will look like on kid # 3. It wasn't pretty, but man it was fun! Wine, caramelized onion dip, reduced fat Triscuits-again, they balance each other out. We were going to have delicious, fall off the bone ribs that hubby had been smoking ALL day, but they accidentally caught on fire and were BLACKENED. Bad. So he went to the store and bought 2 rotisserie chickens. We feasted on chicken, WW mac and cheese, baked beans, and coleslaw. Then, we had an incredible cookies and cream pie that L brought. Wow. Way to fall off the wagon.

Today, I will re-introduce myself to the tracker.

So, I need to get back on the wagon in order to meet my goals. Remember???

Also, this week's menu is a bit of a pantry/fridge/freezer clean out. I have deduced that one reason I am so stressed out is my cooking-I am choosing to cook meals every night, and that is a lot of work and prep, so I am taking some help where I can get it, and we are eating some easier meals twice in one week. I think we will survive.

Let's take a look at the menu, shall we:

Monday-Slow cooker turkey chili (never had it last week-I have a phobia of leaving the crock pot on all day and burning my house down. I need to buy a timer.)

Tuesday-Grilled chicken, box of noodles (like noodle roni or something), green beans

Wednesday-out to dinner for my 31st birthday! Yikes!

Thursday-Turkey burgers, baked Lay's, green beans

Friday-Penne a la Betsy (Pioneer Woman), salad

Saturday & Sunday-no clue-probably turkey burgers again maybe with other sides

So, that has been our exciting weekend in a nutshell.

What have you all been up to? Do you have some good things planned for dinner next week?

Weight Watchers Wednesday

Well, hello there friends! You will have to excuse me-I am in a bit of a funk and cannot get my act together. I am tres overwhelmed right now, so just let me get it together and I shall return. Dang, didn't I just do this to you all?

Anyways, I feel like I am in a Groundhog Day movie. Over and over, I am doing the same things and I am getting more and more stressed. I need to literally take a little pill, a chill pill.

Two bright spots: #1-I lost 2.2 pounds this week. I have lost 16 pounds so far! Only 4 more to go till my original goal! I have now revamped it and have about 20 more, but still, I have almost lost 20 pounds, and that motivates me to keep it up! That, and your support. ♥ ya all!

#2-Dinner with good friends this weekend! Cannot wait-BBQ, WW mac and cheese, and wine. The end.

So, I promise, I am trying to take Mrs. Potts advice and just snap out of it-but dang it's hard. I cannot get over the blahs right now. Sorry for the lack of commenting too-I am reading Google Reader, and am so proud and impressed with all the things you have going on. You rock!

I will get some good posts soon-don't give up on me!

xoxo

Menu Monday

Okay, this week's menu is partly leftover, partly the same ole, same ole, and partly new. Share what you are eating this week too! If you are not a follower and you do menu Monday, leave a link in the comments so we can see what you are eating. :D If you are a follower and you do menu Monday, let us know so we can visit your page.

Sunday-Beef Stew with dinner rolls (we never had this last week)
Monday-Fettuccine with chicken and broccoli with a side salad (or this)
Tuesday- Grilled steak salad with a side of green beans (we are having this again b/c it was so good!)
Wednesday-Turkey burgers with green beans and baked Lay’s (this is the WW weekly stand by)
Thursday-Orange Chicken and broccoli with a side salad (new recipe from WW cookbook)
Friday-Slow Cooker Turkey Chili with baked tostitos (from Southern Living)
Saturday-Dinner with the Goodwins! Yay, BBQ and a new WW mac and cheese recipe!
Sunday- Friend's baby shower @ 5pm, husband on his own

Weight Watchers Favorite Foods

I have recently found some new foods that I love to eat on Weight Watchers. I also have my list of old standby foods and I thought I would share them with you. Please tell me some of your favorite WW foods or just some low cal, low fat snacks that you love to eat! We can all use some new ideas.

-Blackberries, raspberries, blueberries
-Baby carrots
-WW or other low point yogurts
-Fat free cottage cheese
-Pineapple chunks
-WW string cheese
-Sugar free jello pudding
-White cheddar rice cakes
-Sara Lee 45 calorie multi grain bread (2 slices for 1 point!)
-Brummel and Brown yogurt spread
-Sugar free Smuckers jelly
-Baked Cheetos
-Jennie O turkey bacon (2 slices for 1 point!)
-Jiffy Pop 100 calorie mini bags
-Apples and bananas
-Hillshire Farms honey ham (6 slices for 1 point!)
-All WW desserts (most are 1 or 2 points)

I pretty much eat this variation every day, plus a WW entree. Then I make a low point dinner and have a glass of wine (2 points!)

On another note, today I went to Target to print out some pictures. I only needed about 15 things on my grocery list, and most of it was produce, so I decided to grocery shop there, which I never do. Now I remember why. Besides the prices, I couldn't find the brand of bread I always buy, they didn't have Jennie O bacon, they didn't have a good selection of bagged salads, and they had no berries! What is up with that? So, I had to go to Publix to get my items. Ugh. Anyways, I hope you will share some foods that you like to eat on WW or another diet. :D

Boo for it almost being the work week too! I have loved this whole long weekend (even though husband has had to work BOTH days).

Snow

It snowed yesterday afternoon and most of last night! We are out of school today because the roads are "treacherous." I took Emma to daycare around 10 and have been washing clothes (4 loads!), vacuuming, and I'm about to go to the gym. We have a shots appointment at 2:30, then I'm having cocktails with a bestie! Can't wait! Look how pretty!

The front/side yard

Our house

The driveway-snowy!

Bart playing in the backyard snow!

The backyard!

Could I have any more sentences that end with exclamations! Yes!

Five Months

Dear Emma,
On Monday you were five months old! Once again, I can't believe how quickly time flies with you around! It seems like I just wrote you a monthly post. You are changing so much, and this is definitely my favorite age! You just celebrated your first Christmas. You were such a good traveling girl-you went to both grandparent's houses and were sooo good and loving! Let's look at some of the things you are up to lately:

-You eat baby food/rice cereal twice a day-it's one jar a day. You loved all fruits, and now you are eating veggies-you've had sweet potatoes and green beans. You seem to like all foods. We (mommy and daddy and Mrs. Kris are adjusting to your diaper changes).
-You are still drinking 5-6 bottles per day at 6 1/2 ounces each.
-You are still breastfed with a small formula supplement.
-You are rolling over a lot!
-You get a lot of tummy time and seem to enjoy it for the most part.
-You are a smiling, laughing, baby talking, cooing machine!
-You just learned to put your feet in your mouth and love to do it while I am changing your diaper!
-You are working on sitting up with a little assistance.
-You are in a size 2 diaper.
-You are sleeping from about 8 pm-7 am.
-You adore your Jumperoo (too bad the only doors it can go in are the pantry and bathroom!)

I am so proud of all of your milestones. I am so sad I can't be with you all the time and see you doing more! I loved spending two weeks with you over Christmas-it was so much fun! Tell Daddy to let me stay home please! I want to see it all! I love you so much big girl-you are the light of my life!

And now for the photo blow out:

Five Months shot-I really need to make a collage of all her monthly shots in this corner of the crib.

Lou actually looking at me!

She is rocking boot cut pants, you would be correct in your assumption.


Ummm, excuse me, paci?

What is this fun stuff?

I shall destroy it!

Almost done with the destruction.

Second time to see a fire (I know, shirtless in the 19 degree weather!)

My most famous expression-"I have no clue."

Beauty Issues

I know, I'm at work, why am I blogging? It's specials time and I am pumping while my kids are in Spanish. I am such a multi tasker. Pumping while I type, I have skillz! Anyway, I am having some beauty issues, and once again need your help and advice!

By the way, thank you for the comments on the devotional readings, and keep them coming. I have a few books to check out at my local Christian bookstore so far!

And, way to go b.e.g. for correctly identifying the Sunday Saying-it was indeed from Talladega Nights-the ballad of Ricky Bobby.

So, recently I have come upon two nasty and disturbing beauty issues (not TMI, I swear!) One is my skin is practically flaking off it is SOOOOO dry! One of my colleagues actually said yesterday, "What is wrong with your leg?" It is sick I tell ya-she recommended Eucerin lotion and I got some yesterday. It seems to be helping, but what else can I do or try? I also bought some Neutrogena Rainbath-it's like shower gel oil, and it felt nice and seemed to help a bit. But I am guilty of a 12-15 minute super hot shower, and I know that is awful for drying out the skin. So, any advice?

Next up we have my hair. It's falling out in huge amounts. Is this normal post baby balding or what? It's A LOT of hair. It's starting to freak me out. And I think it looks thinner at the front. What can I do or use to combat this? When will it stop, for the love of a duck, tell me it will stop. I can't handle baldness now (or ever!)

Can you help a sister out here? Leave me some info please ladies!
xoxo
Now, back to work-grading for the new quarter, plans, etc.
:D

Help Needed!

Shhh, it's me-I'm at work and I am supposed to be grading papers. Grades are due by this afternoon and I still have 2 sets of writing to get through. But, I am hoping you can help me.

I need a recommendation of a good devotional to do. My relationship with God is in a rut. I'm lucky to get out some measly prayers at night. I feel like something is lacking in a big way, and when I read many of your blogs, I feel that you know something I don't. I haven't been consistent in spending time in the Word, and I need to know what I can do about it. So, please tell me, what do you do, when do you do it, and how can I get my relationship right? Any and all suggestions welcome!

Thanks, and I hope you are all having a great Monday!
xoxo

My Resolutions

OK, cliche much? But really, I have some resolutions, or shall we call them goals...

I set these goals at Weight Watchers, and have some short term ones and long term ones. I am also about to share my weight with you all. That takes a lot of courage, but in order to share my goals, you need to know the truth.

For the last few years, I haven't been about how much I weigh as much as I've been about how my clothes fit. And obviously, they were getting tighter. And then I got pregnant. And now I've lost 14 pounds and weigh less than I did before I was pregnant. And that is great! But I still have a lot of work to do.

I need to reach my healthy weight. I haven't been happy with my body for the past 3 years. I was a size 4-6 when I got married five years ago. I now wear a size 12. That just doesn't cut it for me anymore. I am over wishing I could look like I used to. And instead of doing something about it, I would eat. I'm a very emotional eater (who isn't?) I eat when I'm happy, sad, stressed, celebrating, etc. It's not that I wasn't eating healthy so much as it was the amounts of what I was eating. But trust me, I was eating the shit out of some cheese, chocolate, bread, pasta, peanut butter, and the list goes on and on. Since joining WW, I have started getting happier with myself.

Now I am on a quest to not only lose weight but to get healthier! I am exercising, which is a big deal, and I am eating right. Portion control-try it, it works.

OK, so back to the resolutions/goals.

1.) I will weigh 160 pounds by Valentine's Day. That is nine pounds off in six weeks. (So, you can add-I weigh 169 pounds-I am 5'8"-I need to get to 145 lbs.) This is one of my hardest short term goals-that is a little over one pound a week. I don't want to get too ambitious now.
2.) I will weigh 145 pounds by June. That is 6 months away. 24 pounds off in 6 months-4 pounds per month. I can do this!
3.) I will work out 3 times per week minimum. Monday, Wednesday, Saturday. I will make this a priority.
4.) I will work on being a better wife. No explanation needed-I need to stop being Miss Bossy, take it out on husband when I have a bad day, sweeter wifey.

I think I have enough to work on. How about you, what are you resolving to do differently/better in this new year?

Menu Monday

Alright, back on the bandwagon in full force with Weight Watchers and menu planning! And, off we go-I've got nine days of meals planned out, starting with Saturday night (yes, I know it's Sunday). We will grace your presence with those too, just in case you need some ideas. :D

Saturday-Real Simple's Broccoli and 3 cheese lasagna with salad
Sunday-Rigatoni with grilled vegetables and salad
Monday-Grilled chicken salad with a side of green beans
Tuesday-Leftover potato soup with cheese toast and a side of broccoli
Wednesday-Turkey burgers with baked Lay's and a side of green beans
Thursday-Grilled steak salad with a side of green beans
Friday-Spicy beef and broccoli stir fry with salad (from WW cookbook)
Saturday-Beef Stew with "dinner rolls" (from WW cookbook)
Sunday-Fettuccine with chicken and broccoli (from WW cookbook)

I found six cans of green beans in the pantry. I also buy a huge 4 pound bag of broccoli florets at Walmart for $6, and bagged salad was on sale this week. So, lots of healthy sides this week!

OK, so hubby got me the big ass binder WW cookbook for Christmas and it ROCKS my face off. It's got tons (like 400+) of recipes and the best part is the points are listed for each recipe. Also, with the salads, we are having "rolls" which are sandwich thins. They are very thin pita like rolls that will be good with our salads and stew.

So, do share. What are you all eating this week??

Sunday Sayings

Hello lovelies,

I am back! Let me just ease into my posting here with my few "traditional" posts. I'll get to the Christmast and picture laden post later. First up, Sunday Sayings!

I am taking a break from "winners" (with giftcards) for now, but I still encourage you all to participate! I will still announce you on the blog if you win! It's fun to guess the quotes, right? (Humor me here....)

The quote below is from a movie. Please identify the character who said it and what movie it is from.

Character: Well, I'm the best there is. Plain and simple, when I wake up in the morning I piss excellence.

Easy, right? Let me hear it please!

Good Luck...