Menu Monday

Monday-Wednesday Art and I will be following the 3 day diet to prepare for Christmas.

Day 1

Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, 2 tbs. peanut butter, 1 slice toast

Lunch: 1/2 cup tuna, 1 slice toast, a coffee/tea

Dinner: 3 ozs. meat, 1 cup green beans, 1 cup beets, 1 small apple, 1 cup vanilla ice cream

Day 2

Breakfast: 1/2 banana, 1 egg, 1 slice toast

Lunch: 1 cup cottage cheese, 5 saltine crackers

Dinner: 2 hot dogs, 1 cup broccoli, 1/2 cup carrots, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream

Day 3

Breakfast: 1 hard boiled egg, 1 slice toast

Lunch: 1 oz. cheddar cheese, 5 saltine crackers, 1 small apple

Dinner: 1 cup tuna, 1 cup beets, 1 cup cauliflower, 1/2 cantaloupe, 1/2 cup vanilla ice cream

 

After the 3 day diet we will be eating what is leftover in the fridge, freezer and cupboard. I did this diet a week ago and lost 4 pounds in 3 days. My parents just did and my dad lost 5 pounds in 2 days. We just need to lose what we will be gaining over the holidays. lol

 

Time to clean the closet!

May/June 2011 I started my journey that I was going to lose some weight. I have talked about this a few times on my blog. When I made 60 pounds I was sooooo excited. I made my goal in October way before the end of the year. Here are some pictures from my journey.  I realized in looking at the pictures that pink appears to be my favorite color right now.

Here are 2 pictures comparing 26.5 pounds lost. I can still remember how excited I was when I lost 25 pounds. That was a huge accomplishment for me then.  Little did I know I would lose another 40 pounds over the next few months.

Here is me after losing about 40-50 pounds. I can't remember exactly which milestone this picture was. I should have written down on the dates of each milestone along with a picture. Oh well 2011 was a great year!

I told Art if I lost 60 pounds by my birthday I would buy myself a North Face coat. Well my wonderful friends gave me the money to buy my coat! I was soooo excited to be able to go into the store and pick out a North Face jacket!

Here is me 68 pounds lighter! I have 5 pounds left to go for 2011. They sure are holding on for dear life too. My goal now is to tone up my body after losing so much weight.

This now leads me cleaning out my closet. I wish I had taken pictures of the inside of my closet and the HUGE pile of clothes laying on the floor. I decided it was time to clean out the closet and get rid of all those clothes way too big. One reason I didn't want to clean it out was because I knew there would be nothing left. One reason I wanted to get them out of here was because I am NOT going back to that size. I have to hold myself accountable to make sure I never gain this weight back.

I started to feel guilty as I was cleaning it out because they were such good clothes and I was just giving them away.  I tried on one of my old skirts and it fell right on the floor. What good were these clothes going to do me?  I looked online and found a place that accepted used clothing to help women find job. I had piles of really nice business clothing. I packed it all up and hauled it out. I took 5 garbage bags to the donation center. I took one large suitcase with non business clothing to the good will and I have one huge pile of stuff to mail my mom.

My closet is now empty. I went out on Sunday to the good will to see if I could find myself a couple items. I was able to buy 2 pair of pants and a white button of shirt for $26. It felt soooo good to be able to put on the size I have wanted to be for years and it fit. I decided I am going to try to add to my closet by shopping clearance and good will stores. I also used a gift card this past weekend and found a pair of pants at Kohl's.

I am on the hunt for a black pencil skirt, turquoise and red cardigan, and a polka dot shirt. I am hoping Santa will bring me some money or gift cards to be able to add these items to my closet.

I'm Late, I'm Late, I'm Late....

.......for a very important date!

I participated in A Very Bloggy Christmas with Laura of Between the Lines and

Lil' Woman of Lil' Woman, Little Home.  Our reveal date was December 13. As you can see I am late and the reason for my blog title. This past week was a little insane for me.

Ashley from Introverted Mama and I were partners. I stalked her blog to see what she might be interested in and to come up with some ideas. Her and her family were moving from Ohio to Florida. I also learned she was interested in learning how to knit and was starting to use reusable bags. I wish I had taken pictures of what I sent her. She talks about the gift on her blog HERE.  

I received my gift from Ashley this past week. She bought me a candle from Bath & Body Works, Essie nail polish, Starbucks card and soup from Tastefully Simple.  I love Tastefully Simple, but haven't used any of their products in a very long time. I can't wait to make the soup!

Thank you Ashely for the fabulous gift!

Pinterest Saturday

Fashion Help!!!!

I decided it was time I need to put a little more thought into what I wear on a daily basis.  I seem to grab a top and skirt/pants and run out the door each morning. I need to get back into the swing of things and work on my style.  I told my friend Kendra I was going to be cleaning out my closet over the weekend and how I wish she lived closer to come help me with coordinate outfits.  She sent me an email with a bunch of fashion blogs. I spent waaaay too much time Saturday night and Sunday looking through them. BUT I got a lot of great ideas. I read J's Everyday Fashion for HOURS on Saturday. She has such adorable style. It is also time to break out of soooo much black.  Black is a staple in my closet. If I am in a hurry just grab something black with another item and run out the door.

I went into my closet and though oh my gosh I have no clothes. I will talk about cleaning out my closet in another post. I am down to the bare minimum with clothing. I need to work with what I have and mix it up.  First I put on black tights, black ruffled shirt, black skirt and a red sweater. WAY too much black. I took off the black skirt and put on a gray skirt. Then I changed my sweater to a hot pink one. The red one is a little big and just looked frumpy.

My parents bought me the black booties last year for Christmas. How sad is it that it took a me an entire year to get up the courage to wear them. I wanted them soooo badly, but then they sat in the closet for a year. This is the second time I have worn them.

Here is what I came up with to wear to church last Sunday. I actually really liked my outfit and was pleased I mixed a few things together.

At the last minute I threw on a flower. It added a little more to the outfit.

Here I am sporting my winter hat for ND! Isn't it adorable?

Amber's Birthday!

Last week Amber turned 22. She opened her gifts at the in laws and then we headed to San Francisco for lunch at Joe's Crab Shack.

I kept asking Amber what she wanted for her birthday, but she had no idea. I stopped by Vans one day and found Zebra Vans. I text her a picture of them to see if she liked them. Of course she did!!!! 

Art & Amber with their Shark drinks

I think the drinks were called shark bites because you pour in red stuff to make it look like blood.

Art's bib said "Crabs better in your mouth than in your pants"

Amber's bib said "Cassie (waitress) gave me crabs for my BIRTHDAY!"

I got a plain bib, which I was COMPLETELY preferred!

All 3 of us enjoying our lunch

They have people put on a lobster outfit for their birthday or get up and dance. I wanted Amber to wear the crab outfit. Instead the waitress had her dance without shaking the salt & pepper, while the staff sang Happy Birthday.

Wordless Wednesday

Feeling Sick?

A couple weeks ago I started to feel sick. I mentioned I didn't feel well to my friend Kendra. She said she had a remedy. At first I thought it is too late I am sick. I was irritated that I was getting sick because I hadn't been sick in about two years.  All of a sudden I had the urge to fight this stupid cold off. I text Kendra and asked for her remedy. 

Day 1

Take Airborne every hour all day long

every 3-4 hours take ibuprofen and vitamin d

Day 2

Take Airborne and vitamin d every 3 hours

I was skeptical if this "remedy" would actually work. By the end of day 1 I didn't feel sick at all and I felt just find. I continue with the remedy on Day 2. I swear by this now! Don't take the chance of getting sick. As soon as you feel it coming on start popping Airborne!!!!

Menu Monday

Art stopped by Lockford meats and brought home some more yummy sausage!  We are having that one evening along with some Stove Top. I have 3 boxes of Stove Top in the cupboard and it is time to use a box.  I didn't make the Vietnamese Shaking Beef this past week, so it is on the menu again.

1. Roast & carrots

2. Sausage & stuffing

3. Ham & Potato Soup

4. Vietnamese Shaking Beef

5. Frozen Pizza

I also have to bring items to work this week. I have a departmetn pot luck. I decided to try a friend recipe she talks about often.  A bag of frozen meatballs, jar of grape jelly and a jar of chili sauce. Mix jelly & sauce together, pour over meatballs and cook in a crockpot. Sounds easy enough to me and they are suppose to be amazing.

The other item I am taking to work is the creamy sausage dip with tortilla chips. I love this dip and it always reminds me of Christmas. I guess we make it the most around Christmas time.



Saturday Pinterest

Salted Caramel Cupcakes

When I was in Seattle earlier this year I had some salted caramel ice cream. Up until that point I wasn't a fan of caramel. One taste of this amazing salted caramel ice cream and I was hooked. I love me some salted caramel anything! The Sweet Truck in the Bay area has some AMAZING salted caramel cupcakes. I get one of them every so often.

Here is a recipe of salted caramel cupcakes that I found on Pinterest. I thought I would share them with you. I think I will be making these soon!

Source: 52 Kitchen Adventures

What a Difference.....

What a difference two years makes. The picture below was taken in February 2010 at Alicia's Superbowl Party.  This past weekend I went to Alicia's for the Tan Baby first birthday party. 

I couldn't believe how much different I look. I am down 65 pounds, 4 dress sizes, 3 bra sizes and 1 ring size! Yipppppeeeee!!!!!

Me, Alicia & Krystal

Amazing what happens when you put your mind to accomplish something!

The Tan Baby Turns O-N-E

Look at the Tan Baby isn't she adorable with her crown!  It is hard to believe the Tan Baby only weigh in at 4 pounds when she was born a year ago. Natalie has the nickname of the Tan Baby from Art.  You should see the Tan Baby legs....any woman would want tan legs like hers!  She was so happy and had such a great time at her party.

Alicia, Natalie and me

All the presents!

Check out that cake! It looked like a wedding cake. It tasted A-mazing!!!! I could have ate half the cake it tasted soooo good!

Tan Baby smash cake

Hey, someone give me that cake. Stop teasing me with it!

Mmmmmm

Tan Baby went to town on that cake. She LOVED it!