Christmas 2012

Another Christmas has gone by. They seem to come faster and faster the older I get:-) They are still just as wonderful as they were when I was a kid. I love watching Thomas open his presents...and spending time with my family over the Holidays. It doesn't get much better than that!

This year I wasn't able to go to Tennessee or Utah....so I hosted X-Mas Eve Supper at my house and Britney, Joe, Silke, Jason, Liz and Thomas were here. We ate lots of yummy food!!! and enjoyed each others company!

After exchanges gifts, we chilled out and watched the classic "Christmas Vacation". Love that one....it never gets old! lol

Thomas and I celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve since he was leaving on Christmas day for Utah. He loved his gifts, and I loved spending the day with him and family.

Christmas morning Thomas and I got up and had a nice breakfast at the Awful Waffle...yummy!!! We were also lucky enough to have a storm come through town that brought a beautiful snow fall! We haven't had a white Christmas in a long time...it was really cool:-)

The rest of the day was spent getting Thomas all packed up for his trip. His flight was supposed to leave at 7pm....but was delayed until 10:30 before he finally made it out!

He is in Utah now enjoying the snow covered mountains and I am at home enjoying some me time:-) I sure do miss him though. Can't wait for him to get back home.

All in all it was a great Christmas! I wish I could have made a trip home to see family....but it wasn't in the cards this year:-)

Merry Christmas Everyone!! LOVE YOU ALL!

Power Thought of the Day

Everything I touch is a success
I now establish a new awareness of success. I know I can be as successful as I make up my mind to be. I move into the Winning Cirlce. Golden opportunities are everywhere for me. Prosperity of every kind is drawn to me.
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Wow....really fits my life right now:-) VERY encouraging!

Power Thought of the day

I am safe; it's only change
I cross all bridges with joy and ease. The "old" unfolds into wonderful new experiances. My life gets better all the time.

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Love this one:-)

Encouragement:-)

I have worked hard over the past few days to really pay attention to what I have been eating and more importantly how much of it I am eating. I have noticed it's getting easier to eat smaller portions. I have dropped one pound...it's not much, but it's better than gaining a pound:-)
This week, while I will continue to work on my portion control, I am going to work on reincorporating my workouts. I NEED to workout at least 3 times a week. I am going to hit a yoga class this evening to start out the week! I am also making SURE I drink at 64oz of water every day!
My nutrition class is helping me fully understand what my body needs, what what eating well does for the body. It's amazing how much you can hurt or help yourself depending on what you eat:-)

This week it's all about exercise and eating HEALTHY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WILL see the benefits if I can just stick to it!

Pallet Design...from Pinterest

First let me start off by saying I am highly addicted to Pinterest. There are so many ideas....I want to try them all! But...I can't. This is one that was really easy and I thought it would look great in my living room. Joel brought the pallet home from work....the stain I got at a garage sale for $1.00. Score! That's all it took!!!

Clean off the pallet really well...stain it or paint it whatever color you like. Take a few slats out and hang it up! Tadaaa!

Weeknesses!

Pasta, bread, CARBS!!!! I love them all...and I like to eat them until I am so full I am about to burst! Gosh, now wonder I have put on 30 pounds...geez:-)

I am going to make a few changes to my diet this week...which will allow me to eat carbs (because I would DIE without them) but change the times that I eat them...so I have more time to burn them off before supper!

GOAL THIS WEEK:

1. NO pasta/bread/potatoes/rice...etc... after lunch time. If I want to have a big ole serving of pasta...I will do it for lunch!!!!

This will not be easy for me....but I am going to give it a try and see how it goes:-)

Wish me luck!

Diaper Cake

I have always thought these were just a cute gift...but never made one. I finally decided to attempt it. It was super easy! It's very simple...and I LOVE IT! I made it for my sisters baby shower:-)

Grand Cayman 2012 "Girls Weekend Getaway"

What a nice break from the "norm".

Me and my friends Stacey and Amanda had a great weekend getaway this past weekend! Amanda has a friend that lives (Scott) in Grand Cayman and he was kind enough to open his home to us and take the time to show us around.

We started are trip off at a place called Sunset. It was a restaurant/bar that sat on the beach. It was beautiful and the food was delicious! We shared the bacon wrapped sprimp...YUM! and I had Chicken Tikka Masala for supper. Who knew you could get good Indian food in the Cayman Islands? Well, I was soon going to find out that ALL the food on the island is WONDERFUL!!! Oh, and I tried conch fritters....YUM! They were much better than I thought they would be:-)

Day two we started out with a yummy breakfast called doubles...I didn't get a picture...but here is one I found online. They are kind of like burritos...but are filled with chickpeas and some seasoning....they were YUMMY!!! They are a dish from Trinidad.

Then we went to Sting Ray City. OMG...what an amazing experience. These are wild animals up close and personal. Yes, they are dangerous....but we treated them with respect and they gave us the same in return:-) I will never forget this experience. As you can tell from the pics...I was a little freaked out...ok... A LOT freaked out. But is was also amazing! These things are HUGE and very intimidating. They are like cats...they like to rub all up on you. Whew! I was glad when it was over....but SO glad I did it!

We finished the evening by hopping around to a few different restaraunts/bars. I had fish and chips for supper...YUM! We also hung out at a cool place called Royal Palms that was right on the beach. We had fun playing around in the water at night...and watching the lightning storm off in the distance.

Day 3 we were lucky enough to have beautiful weather again and we went out to Dolphin Cove for another once in a lifetime experience. We got to swim with the dolphins! They are so amazingly smart, cute, funny and absolutely adorable! We all had a blast. I could do this 1,000 and it would NEVER get old!!!!

After the dolphins Scott took us out to Rum Point which is a small beach on the other side of the island. It was very peaceful and very pretty!!! We enjoyed a few hours of relaxation there before heading back to the house.

That night we were pretty worn out so we decided to order pizza in for the night just chill. It was nice to relax without a care in the world!!

Day 4 we spend the day shopping and exploring the downtown (touristy) area. We had lunch at Margaritaville before packing our stuff up for the trip home.

It was a quick trip, but we enjoyed every second it! It was a great getaway! We are able to meet some really cool people from many different places. We met someone from Canada, Trinidad, England etc... The island lifestyle attracts people from all over the place.

I could not live on the island myself. It's beautiful but too small for me. Everyone knows everyone...and I think I would feel trapped! Visiting for a few days was perfect for me:-) I was surprised to see that the locals weren't as welcoming in Grand Cayman as I have experienced in other Carribean islands. Of course, Scott (our local) was awesome! He took us around to show us everything....he was a great host and made out trip exciting!

Old Habits

I keep falling back into old habits. Ugh! I get so darn frustrated with myself...but just can't seem to find the drive to stick with it and make the changes I need to make! I am talking about my health, my weight....and the way I look. I hate it. Some people say, just be happy with who you are. You don't have to be perfect....just be confident. Well. that's not the problem for me. I know that I am not making the best health choices right now, and not only is it affecting the way I look, it also affects the way I feel, and my overall health.

A year ago I swore I wouldn't let myself go up another size in clothes....and here I sit 2 sizes bigger:-( It's really starting to get me down and I have to find a way to snap out of it! It seems so easy for some people to just stand up and make the change. It's not that easy for me. I struggle sooooo much with making healthy habits...and sticking to them. I can make the most organized chart you can imagine....that tells me what to eat...at what time...and how much of it. But, when it comes to following the chart I am a bad girl. I keep telling myself I am not that far off...and that I can get back into shape in no time.

I thought that maybe I would have a good insentive that would help push start me in the right direction. Well, I leave in 2 days for Grand Cayman....yes...that's a beach! If that isn't enough to push me...I don't know waht it will take. I keep trying to do things that I haven't done before hoping to find what works for me.

It's sad to admit, but I think I know the real problem. I must not want it bad enough. It must not really bother me that much or I would make the change. I am bigger than I have ever been in my life. None of my clothes fit me...and I am really starting to get sad...and totally bummed out everywhere I go. I use to have so much more confidence in myslelf....and now....I have none:-(

If it's anything like and addiction then I guess I have to hit my rock bottom before I will make a change. What is my rock bottom? I dont' want to gain anymore weight. I feel like this is something that I REALLY want.....but I must not want it bad enough. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What gives?????

I am going to suck it up...and enjoy my 4 days of bliss out on a beautiful ocean...and do a little soul searching. I am happy in life right now with everything else going on. I have made a new commitment to school and am doing very well, after a few years of hell with my marriage I feel like I am finally at a place that makes sense....it might not be the perfect arrangment, but it works for me right now. All I need to to now is get my health back on track. I need to make it more of a priority in life...no questions asked:-)

When I get back from vacation I am going to start setting small/reachable goals. I seem to do better with those. Sometime I think I set myself up for failure by seeting goals that aren't realistic.

Wish me luck. I will start blogging my journey when I get back from 4 days of relaxation!!!

Our New Place

So...we have lived her for a few months now...and I LOVE IT! So does Thomas. It's really perfect for us right now. One day I will move out to the country...but until then...this will be great! It's a small house, just enough room for me and Tman. It has a split floor plan so we both have our privacy:-) I also have an office!!! I will take pics of the home once I get it where I want it...I have a few projects to do first. My favorite part of the house is the back yard. It's very peaceful! You can hear the wind blowing through the trees...and the squirrels running around in the trees. I love it:-)

May plants love the new place too! I have lots of great ideas to make this yard even better....but it will take some time to get it there.

The only thing I don't like about my backyard is the constant pile of acorns I have to sweep up. They are everywhere!!! I hear them hit the patio throughout the night from my bedroom...lol! It freaked me out when I first moved in.

Date Day with Joel

Joel and I had a great "Date Day" this past weekend. We started the day out at the Farmers Market. We picked out lots of yummy fruits and veggies for the week:-) After the market we headed down to Deep Ellum for lunch. The Free Man was a place we hadn't ever tried so we decided to check it out.

http://www.freemandallas.com/

It's a small little bar/restaraunt that serves cajun food and has live entertainment every night of the week. It's like a taste of New Orleans in a box:-) We were there too early for the band...but would love to go back and chill out to some blues/jazz music sometime.

We tried the boudin balls as an appetizer...YUM! They are amazing!!!!!! They are deep fried dirty rice and sausage balls and they come with a spicy sauce that is also amazing!!!

I had the red beans and rice for lunch which was good. It wasn't as good as what I had in New Orleans...but it was close:-)

Joel had the shrimp po-boy and it was AWSOME!!!!! The shrimp wasn't overly battered...and had a great crunch. The cajun sauce that was on top of the shrimp was really tasty!!!

We will be back for sure:-) You should go check this place out!!!

Power Thought of the Day

I balance my masculine and feminine sides.
The masculine and feminine parts of me are in perfect balance and harmony. I am at peace, and all is well.

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Grow your own green onions!

I saw this on Pinterest and thought I would check it out! It works:-) Don't throw away your green onions when you are done with them. Save the bottoms, put them in water in front of a sunny window, and watch them grow! Cut them as you need them:-) How cool is that???

Power Thought of the Day

As I say yes to like, Life says yes to me
Life mirrors my every thought. As I keep my thoughts positive, life brings to me only good experiences.

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Gosh....I needed to read this one today:-)

My 33rd B-Day!

It was a great day. I got up early and spent the morning doing things for others. It felt really good. Joel was nice enough to drive me around to do all of my "random acts of kindness". It's a good feeling to do things for others on a day that's all about "you".

After running around all morning, I spent the day relaxing...just chilling at the house. Then around 4, Thomas and I went to Mom's for an awesome B-Day dinner with the family:-) It was a wonderful day all the way around.

I got a Ninja! I have wanted one of these for so long. I can't wait to start using it!!!! I am going to make all kinds of yummy sutff!!!

I also got some wonderful stuff from Joel:-) He bought me some much needed clothes:-) and an awesome new purse...I can't wait for it to come in the mail!

Thomas is a Sophomore in High School

Wow...time sure does fly. I can't believe Thomas is already a sophomore in High School. Seems like yesterday I was dropping him off at his first day of Kindergarten:-)

It's going to be a great year for Thomas. He has lots of great classes.

He is in:
AP World History
Pre-AP English
Newspaper
Teen Leadership
PE
Chemistry
Geometry

He is going to be busy with Newspaper...and the AP classes will keep him busy. He was also asked to be the president of the CSA club (Gay Straight Alliance) I know he will be a great leader for the club!!! I really look forward to see what this year brings for Tman:-)

Power Thought of the Day - 8/23/12

I release all fears and doubts
I accept myself and create peace in my mind and heart. I now choose to free myself from all destructive fears and doubts. I am loved and I am safe.
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Love this one!!

Got the A OK from my back doctor!!!

It's been 3 years since I had my back surgery. I went to see the doc a few days ago...and he said my back has healed beautifully! I have put on about 30 pounds since my surgery...and really want to get back into yoga and get back into shape...but am so worried I am going to mess something up with my back.

He gave me the A OK!! He said I could get back into Yoga full force...and I am pumped! I am finished with my crazy summer school schedule as of tonight...so I am going to jump back into a Yoga work out schedule next week! Whooo Hoooo! Just in time to get my ass in shape before going to The Grand Cayman Islands.....oh yeah!!!

Life is good:-)

Things are starting to fall into place.....

I have always believed that everything happens for a reason. There are many directions that our life can take....the consequences of those decisions will determine where we end up:-)

Over the years I have made many bad decisions....and good decisions. It's taken me some time to get better at making more good than bad. Why is it easier to make bad decisions...? Err.

The past few years of my life have been...let's say...CRAZY! The last year of my life has been the most up/down...all over the place..stressful...crazy year EVER! Things are finally starting to calm down...and I am starting to see things fall into place. Making better decisions...and less selfish decisions have played a big part in things calming down.

Joel and I are not living together...long story....but it works for us...for now:-) We both need to focus on our kids...and ourselves for a while. Things were getting crazy together...and we didn't want it to ruin our marriage so we decided to live separately and see what the future holds for us. I know most people think that's crazy...but like I said....it works for us at this time.

Over the past year, we have broken up...gotten back together...moved back in together....split up again...moved again...etc... It's been a roller coaster. When we finally decided to live apart I moved back into a 2 bedroom apartment with Thomas and Joel got his own place in Arlington. I have been living in this apartment for a few months. It's a nice place...but the people that live here aren't the type of people I want to live around. There were gun shots right outside my window a few weeks ago....the people upstairs from me have no respect that they are living in an apartment...and are loud as all get out!!!! I have to walk Bella up and down stairs every time she wants to potty....and I feel like I have no privacy. I know I know....deal with it. Well, I am...and would make it work here as long as I have to so Thomas doesn't have to switch schools. But, I have been keeping my eye on rental homes in the school district. There aren't many at ALL in my price range that I would live in.

I ran across this home about a week ago. It looked ok from the pics...but I knew it would rent out very quickly because the rent was so low. I figured...what the heck, I will call and see if it's still available. It was. I was so excited to go see it. When I met Brad at the home...the first thing I noticed...was how cute it was:-) It's very small...and just cute. Brad was very  nice and very honest with me about the owners of the home. He said that the reason the house hadn't already rented is because they are being very picky about the tenants credit score...and they really don't want dogs since they just put in all new carpet throughout the home. I was glad he was honest with me...and was just as honest with him about my credit...and Bella. We walked through the house and I fell in love. It's a cute house that would be perfect for me and Thomas for the next few years...at least until he graduates from High School. It's a 3 bedroom so I will be able to have an actual office and not have my desk in my bedroom! YAY! I will also be able to use the office as a nice place to study for school! There is a garage...and a great back yard with a deck that Bella is going to LOVE!!!!! I can't wait to relax on the back deck in the fall....and enjoy a good book...or study!! It's exactly the type of place I want at this time....until I can buy again. I have worked on getting my credit better and keeping it better...and the work paid off. They owners of the home accepted my application...and I got the home!!!!!!!!!!! I was so pumped when I got the text today!!! I hate to move AGAIN....but oh...it will be worth it. I am NOT an apartment girl...and I look forward to settling into a new place we can call home!....and I don't have to share it with 5 other families:-) It's all mine!!!

Back to School for me!!!

It's been many years since I attempted college. I was 18 and Thomas was 1 year old. I had a great opportunity in front of me...and I wasted it! I lived with my Mom and Sir (step-dad) in Texas. Mom helped me out with Thomas so that I could attend school, get an education and be able to take care of Thomas on my own one day. I really liked school at first, and did well in my classes. Most of them were developmental classes...but hey, you have to start somewhere right?? After a few semesters of school, I decided that working was better for me. I wanted to get out on my own and I just knew I could do it without going to school. Well, I can do it on my own without school, but have many struggles and am not able to do it the way I would like. So....here I am 15 years later...after MANY ups and downs....highs and lows. I am ready to take the plunge again:) You are NEVER too old to go back to school and get an education.

I am about to start my 3rd semester of school and I am enjoying more now than I ever did before. I have different goals and a totally different outlook on life. It's still hard work, but I can see the outcome more clearly now than I did when I was 18.

I have wanted to work in the medical field since I can remember:-) Sir took me to his work when I was about 10 years old and showed me a dead head. I thought it was the coolest thing ever and knew then that I would end up in this field of work.

There are SOOOO many areas of the medical field that it was hard for me to choose which direction I wanted to go. I decided to go with nursing because it seems to have the most flexibility. You can work as a nurse in so many different areas...on the floor...in a school....administrative...etc. Another area of interest for me is counseling..therapy...juvenile counseling..etc... In nursing I will be able to have the best of both worlds and will really enjoy what I do.

I am sure there will be more bumps along the road ahead of me...but I am ready for the challenge this time! I have a lot of life left to live and I am going to enjoy it! I want to travel all over the world with Thomas. I want to live out in the country...with a garden...and a wrap around porch. I want to take cooking classes and have get togethers all the time with friends and family. And guess what??? I am going to have all of it!!! The simple life....doesn't get much better!

Power Thought of the Day

My life is a mirror
The people in my life are really mirrors of me. This affords me the opportunity to grow and change.
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Interesting.....

The Western Country Club - Midlothian TX

Joel and I decided to take some country western dance lessons last weekend. What a fun place! This is where the movie Pure Country was filed...and I LOVED that movie:-) So that made is cool too!

http://www.westernkountryklub.com/

The dance lessons were fun. We have a lot to learn...but now we have a cool place to practice. They have BBQ's every 1st and 3rd Sat of the month too....and the place is family friendly...and BYOB. It was a very cool crowd of all ages! Really enjoyed it and look forward to going back and doing some more dancing!
If your ever in the area and looking for a fun chill evening...check this place out!!!

Day 5-7 of cleanse

I didn't end up doing so well on the whole cleanse thing. I tried...and dropped 6 pounds...but I know I would have been MUCH more successful if I had stuck with it. It's all good! maybe I will try again some other time. The last few days for me were really touch...and I just kind of gave up:-( Better luck next time!

Day 4 of the cleanse

I totally messed today up. First of all...I thought it was a fruit and veggie day...so that's what I brought to work. It wasn't. Today I was supposed to eat a bunch of bananas and milk. I ended up eating the fruits and veggies during the day...but cracked and had chinese food for supper. That was BAD:-( I thought this cleanse thing would be easy. Boy was a wrong!

Day 3 of cleanse

Today was ok...I could eat all the fruit and veggies I want...and that's exactly what I did! Dinner is still the hardest part for me:-) I cheated a little...but it's ok. NOT the end of the world! The main purpose of this cleanse isn't to lose weight...it's to learn discipline...and to not crave the "bad" stuff as much. It's working:) and I am losing some weight too!

DAY 2 of cleanse

Today I had a baked potato with a dab of butter and black coffee for breakfast. It was surprisingly good! After that I was only allowed veggies the rest of the day....raw, cooked....just veggies. I had lots of raw veggies cut up for me to snack on throughout the day. Then I had cooked veggies with some seasoning for lunch. It got really hard for me when dinner came around. I took a few bites of Tmans supper...but other than that I stuck to it. I might not be doing it perfectly...but I can promise you my calorie intake the last few days has been well below half of what I normally would have...so that's good!!!

By the end of the day I am really hungry and tired.

Weighed myself....and I am down 2 more pounds!!!! I am headed in the right direction! Once I get through this cleanse and start working out...I am not going to focus on my weight so much. I am going to start focusing on my size...and measuring myself. I know that muscle weighs more than fat and I don't want to freak out if I gain weight when working out...cause I should!

Day 3 is all the fruit and veggies I want! I CAN DO THIS:-)

Power Thought of the Day

I am in the process of positive change
I am unfolding in fulfilling ways. Only good can come to me. I now express health, happiness, prosperity, and peace of mind.
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Love this one:-) It really fits my life at this point in time. I am day 2 into a 7 day cleanse and hoping to make a fulltime change in my health moving forward!!!

DAY 1 of cleanse

Today was REALLY hard for me. I ate nothing but fruit up until supper...I had to have something in my stomach...it was killing me...and I broke. I only had about 3-4 bites of supper....so it can't be too bad. I am not going to eat anything else tonight and get a good nights sleep!

I am hoping that tomorrow will be a little easier since I can actually eat food!!!! The fruit thing sucked!

I had my 10 glasses of water:-)

I will weigh myself first thing tomorrow!!!!

7 DAY CLEANSE

Tomorrow I am going to start this 7 day cleanse. I think it will be a good jump start to a new healthy way of eating and lifestyle change:-) I will post daily to let you guys know what it's like...and if it works:-)

http://health-heaven.tumblr.com/post/17089615944/what-do-you-think-of-gms-diet

Today I prepared by making the soup, cutting up all of the fruit and veggies, and making a trip to the store for everything else I need! I am super pumped to see how I feel after these next 7 days!!!

Today is 7/8/12
Weight: 179

My goal is to lose a little weight...and start a new way of eating:-)

It's ALL about me!!

I am sick and tired of trying to always make everyone else happy...and worrying about what everyone else thinks! It's time to focus on me...and what I want...and what makes me happy! Who cares what anyone else thinks??? NOT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next week I am going to try out this "cleanse" thingy for 7 days....not sure I can make it through the whole 7 days...but I am going to try. It's supposed to make you lose 10-17 pounds. We will see about that:-)

Moved into my new apartment...just me and Tman again:-) Joel and I are still going to be together...just not live together. This is what works for us:-)
I have decided to make my patio "my" space:-) It's going to be sooooo pretty and relaxing! I will post pics once I am done with it!

The Noble Pig - Austin TX

Joel and I had to drive down to Kerville TX to take Thomas to camp last week. We decided to make a pit stop on the way back to check out another Diner Drive-Ins and Dive locations. Let me just start by saying I am very grateful to have the technology of GPS on my phone....but it really erks me when it says something is 23 miles away and it ends up being 70. Joel was pretty po'd....but we FINALLY managed to find the place:-) After some research I learned that it actually wasn't on Triple D....but it was on Serious Sandwiches, which is another show that Guy hosts. I can't seem to find the video anywhere though!

This is what we got:
The Noble Pig: pulled pork, spicy ham, bacon, provolone, mustard/mayo.
I wasn't very impressed. It could have been awesome!....but they really slacked off on how much meat they put on the bread. That's what ruined it for me. The flavor was great...but the mustard was slapped in the middle in one big glob...so the flavor was too strong. All in all....I know they were slammed and needed to get the sandwiches out quickly...but I was disappointed in the way the were made.
Joel Got the Asian Chicken Sandwich:
It has chicken, jalapeno coleslaw, cilantro and mayo on it. Sounds awesome right?? Not so much....this sandwich had NO flavor. You couldn't taste any jalapeno's or cilantro. The chicken was really tender but had NO seasoning on it. The bread on both of the sandwiches was delicious though...and both sandwiches had the potential to be wonderful.
The pickled veggies were delicious!!! They make them at the deli...fresh. YUM!
Our experience here wasn't so great...but I am still glad we stopped to try it!

Tide Pods

These might be the coolest things ever:-) They are easy to use...you won't over use your detergant and run out quicker than you should have. You just plop them in the washer and wash! My clothes come out smelling awesome...and are super clean! I LOVE THEM!!!! They aren't expensive either!!!

Pepes and Mitos - Deep Ellum - TASTY!

Stacey and I ventured out to another Diners Drive-Ins and Dives places in Dallas. This time is was Pepes and Mitos in Deep Ellum. We both got what was featured on the show. Albandiga Soup and the Tacos Nortenos. It was SOOO GOOD! I have also heard the shrimp enchiladas are to die for. I will be going back for sure!!!

http://www.pepesandmitos.com/
The atmosphere was fun. The service was great:-)

Albandiga Soup:
Omelet like patties filled with a delicious mix of carrots, potatoes, onions , tomatoes, mild peppers and ground beef in a seasoned broth.

Tacos Nortenos:
Four mini corn tortilla tacos loaded with fajita steak tips sauteed with pico de gallo and a chipotle wine sauce  Served with rice, beans, cilantro and onions.

Fifty Shades of Grey - LOVE IT!!!!

This book rocked:-) Some people might think it's dirty...trashy...whatever...but I really enjoyed it. I love their relationship. Yes, there are some things that might go a little out there....but who cares...it's a book. LIVE A LITTLE PEOPLE:-) I can't wait for Fifty Shades Darker to arrive in my mail:-) I want to see what happens next!!!

I CAN DO THIS!!!

Stacey is right...I CAN DO THIS! I have totally let myself go...again...and it's time to get back on track! Starting today with a healthy breakfast...and I am going to take it one day at a time!!! I have many reasons to get into shape....but the most important reason is my health! I only get one body...and I can't keep doing this to myself. My body deserves to be healthy!!!
I have had many excuses as to why I couldn't eat good that day...or didn't have time to workout this day. I don't feel like cooking....Joel's kids are with us and they won't eat healthy....I have school that night....I need to clean the house....I will go tomorrow.....Maybe I can just start fresh next week....it won't hurt if I eat this just this time....UGH!!!! It DOES NOT matter what's going on in my life...I can still incorporate a healthy lifestyle NO MATTER WHAT!
It's great to have a friend on board with me:-) Stacey and I will do this together:-) I may not be in a bikini this summer....but maybe next summer??? Most importantly..I will FEEL better:-)

"Lucky's Lady" - Great love story!

Loved this book. It was a great love story - easy to read - and well written:-) I will be reading more of her books in the future....but first I must dive into the "Fifty Shades of Grey" curse that everyone is talking about:-)

3 Year Wedding Anniversary!

I can't believe it's been 3 years since Joel and I were married. Wow...time goes by too fast!
The past 3 years have brought many different events and emotions. Through it all we have grown and still forming into a loving family:-)
My Mom always told me that marriage wasn't easy, that is takes a lot more than love to hold a marriage together. Man is that the truth! Joel and I have been put to the test this past year. Many challenges were thrown our way...but we have managed to pull through them. The work that goes into a marriage is what makes a marriage strong. Love is only a building block to a strong marriage....and it's taken Joel and I a few trial and errors to figure that out.
I think as a girl...most of us want the "fantasy" marriage that we have always dreamed about...you know...the one that's in the movies, books etc... Well, those don't "fully" exist. They do in part...but the rest of the marriage...(the work) is usually left of of the movies/books..lol. I do believe that marriage is what you make of it too. You have to be happy with what is. If you can't be...then move on girl!
Over the past few years, through the trial and error, hateful ex's, disagreements on how to raise the children, arguments about money, finding our path in life etc... we have learned so much. Without all of these things we would NOT be where we are today. Just within the last few months our marriage and outlook on life has changed so much. We are seeing the "pay off" to the hard work...and hanging in there!
I have loved Joel since the first time we hung out when we worked together at S&H Equipment back in probably 2002 or so... Things weren't meant to be for us at the point in our lives....but that didn't keep us apart. A few years later we reunited by chance....and here we are almost 10 years later! I love his children as if they are my own, and he does Thomas as well. We have all become so close over the years and I can't imagine my like without any of them. They make me complete in so many ways!
I look forward to many more years with Joel...and can't wait to see what our future holds!!

I LOVE YOU JOEL PATTERSON - YOU ARE MY LIFE!!!!!

May 16, 2009 - The best day of my life!

Weekly Overview (5/7/12-5/13/12)

It was a pretty good week. I got a few projects done that I wanted to:-) I did NOT stick to my workout plan. I only worked out once this week. I know that's better than nothing...but when you have been eating the way I have you MUST workout more...ugh....that's been a huge struggle for me recently and I hate it. I  know I will get control of it soon enough!!!
This is a little project I made for Britney for Mother's Day....it's with Silke's feet. It's is the cutest thing you have ever seen??? AWE!

I also made this really cool menu thingy. I found the idea on Pinterest and I think it will help us eat at home more. One of the main reasons we end up eating out is because I can't think of anything to cook. This will take care of that M-F!!

This is going to be a good week! I am going to work out  more and follow my new "menu" thingy!! Looking forward to a great week!

Oh. and we are also going to New Orleans this weekend for my cousins graduation!! How exciting!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Today was a great day. I started the morning out over at mom's. Me, Britney and Mama had some "us" time out on her back patio...chatting:-) It was nice. I brought bagels and we enjoyed a cup of coffee together. Then, Me, Britney and Tman had lunch together.
Once I got home Joel had hung up my Mother's Day gift:-) My fruit/veggie basket. I have wanted one of these forever. I remember my Nana had one...and I thought they were the coolest things ever! Thanks HONEY!!! He also got me a book that I have wanted to check out.
We cleaned my car!!! and ended the evening with supper at The Twisted Root Burger...OMG...that place is sooo good...but soooo bad for ya!!
Happy Mother's Day to all ya'll Mama's out there. It's one of the hardest jobs in the world...but the most rewarding by far!!!!