Looking Back: What I Accomplished in 2012

Update: I am doing pretty good with staying on my weight loss plan. Today I started the HCG drops, so for two days I will not be counting calories. Starting Monday, I will eat as close to 500 calories as I can manage. The program says not to eat over 500, but several people I know have had success just by taking the drops. 

As I have mentioned before, I have joined the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. So far, I am absolutely loving it! However, I am just getting around to posting my challenges. Week One's challenge was to list my weight loss goals. Well, I've already done that with my new years resolution. You can read about that here. I have also broken the bigger goal of weight loss down into a plan, which you can read about here. 

The second week's challenge of "Shrink Yo' Self 2012" proved to be more difficult. For week #2, I was to write a letter to my present self from my future self. I decided to go a little different with mine. I am writing from My 29th Birthday (June 2013) to my present self. 

Here Goes:

Dear Mrs America (that's you silly!)

It has been quite a year and a half. The best thing you did was sit down January 1, 2012 and make a real commitment to lose that weight. You were finally able to get sick of it all and say "enough is enough." I thank you for that. We have never been happier. 

I'm sitting at the lake watching Mac and the Mr play. I just love sitting here in my bikini while my two boys have so much fun! 

You reached your goal of losing 110 pounds about a year ago today. You were so excited to get that bikini! You decided to make another six month goal. To actually get fit. That is what brings me to where I am today. 

I have an amazing life. That part hasn't changed, but now I can do the things I have always wanted to do. I go for a run almost every morning before Its time to cook breakfast for the boys. That is my favorite part of the day. There is just something about being the first one up and sneaking out for a 4 am run! I think this was the best run yet. There is just something about running by the water and watching the sun come up. This is especially true today, on our 29th birthday! It has turned out to be an amazing birthday. Our 3 year anniversary is in a week, I am so excited! Whats better than camping the week between my birthday and anniversary? AMAZING! 

I love being fit! There is something so empowering and relaxing about a run. It is so invigorating. I know I can do anything! Getting in shape has shown me this.

After this week of camping, Its time to start coaching. Last month, I signed up to coach the little man's T-ball team. It is going to be so much fun chasing 3 year olds around. I am so happy to be able to set an example for Mac. I can now show him how to take care of himself, instead of just tell him. I don't feel like such a hypocrite! 

I just want to tell you that life is so great. Keep holding on, you will not regret it. Stay strong and believe you can do it. It will be the best decision you ever made. 

I have to go, its about time to drag Mac and the Mr on a hike! This is going to be fun. 

Love and support, 

Miss America!

This was a fun assignment, but harder that I thought it would be. I know I can do it, and am so excited that I started my journey. Keep an eye out for an update on Tuesday. I will share with you my progress! 

Change in Plans

I have made a slight change in plans. 

A friend of mine who is also on a weight loss journey

uses MyFitnessPal.

I have decided to go with this instead of SparkPeople.

It just seems more user friendly; therefore, I will be more likely to use it. 

 

Also, I have joined a weight loss group. 

I truly hope The Sisterhood of Shrinking Jeans turns out to be what I need. 

In their community (The 'Hood), there is a challenge going on for the year. 

52 Small Changes: One Year to a Happier, Healthier You

Because I am new to this, I will be focusing on both week 1 and week 2 this week. 

Week 1:  Drink 8 glasses of water a day!

Week 2: Get 8 hours of sleep a night. 

The hardest for me will be to get 8 hours of sleep, I am busy blogging, creating, and marketing at night. 

I would like to go to bed earlier and get up earlier though. That might be the solution. Then, I wouldn't feel so crappy in the morning. 

There are other challenges on the 'Hood as well, I will keep you up to date. 

By the way, I didn't do as bad on my calories as I thought I did today, but I haven't had any WATER!

I keep failing, but I'm not giving up!

I know, I've done so many posts about weight loss and not giving up, but I guess I was choosing the wrong time to start a regimen, or my heart really wasn't in it. Maybe I just wasn't ready to give up some things. I also think I have set myself up to fail. One of my biggest pitfalls to date is that I have continuously failed to find an exercise program that I enjoy; therefore, I don't stick with it. 

I also fail to hold myself accountable. If I mess up a day, I just give up; I have learned that I can't do that. There will be days that I mess up, but I have to start clean the next day. I can't just ignore the bad days. I have to count them, learn from them, and move on. I also have learned that I need to be accountable somewhere besides in my head as well. The solution to this is that whether its bad or good, I have to post a weekly update on this blog. If I don't have any progress one week, that is okay, I'll learn from it the next. 

Here is the plan. I may deviate from it, but I will update if something doesn't work or If I add to it. 

I have to do this for my health, and for my family's future. (Also- I wouldn't mind wearing a two-piece swimsuit for the first time EVER)

1. I will have only 1500 calories a day for the first week 

1200 calories a day for 2 weeks after that

1000 calories a day after that 

2. I will record my calories every day, no matter how well I do

3. I will substitute Splenda in my coffee, instead of sugar

4. Over the next 2 weeks, I will work up to 10 glasses of water a day

5. NO (and I can't stress this enough- NO) Mayonnaise - and I love it

6.  Do a cleanse (either juice or leeks) every 4 months

7. I will have desert no more than 2 times a week

(one regular and one sugar free)

8. Continue on my exercise hung

9. Research and begin Couch to 5k

10. Stop mindless snacking. 

11. Start eating a small, healthy breakfast

12. Reduce my bread consumption. 

13. Start taking vitamins

These are the biggest ones:

14. Even if I have a bad day, start clean the next

15. Update Beautiful Imperfection once a week on my progress

16. DON'T GIVE UP

Also, I urge you all to hold me accountable. If you see that I haven't posted anything about it, ask me. 

If you have questions or suggestions, let me know. 

I'm all for help. I just want to succeed. 

I WILL succeed!

What I accomplished today:

1. Set up a SparkPeople account

2. Got a weight loss tracker widget

3. Held myself accountable by posting this. 

My motivation for today:

Hello 2012

I have to say, that even though there were lots of happy moments in 2011, I am so glad its over.

Ready to move on to bigger and better things. 

Believe it or not, this is the first year (EVER) that I have written New Year's resolutions. 

I know, I am so strange!

So, I am taking this a step further and sharing them with my readers. 

 

Here goes:

1. Have the prince potty trained
2. Find a job
3. Take a picture every day
4. Start my very own happiness project
5. Craft more and open an etsy store
6. Post more recipes on Cupcakes & Sweet Tea
7. Join in on Project Marriage
8. Create a landing page for all of my projects
9. MOVE into our own home
10. Start reviewing web services for my readers. 
11. Lose 100 pounds
12. Exercise 3 days a week, and eventually elevate this to 5 days a week
13. Post on at least 1 blog every day
14. Spend more time outside
15. Start writing my book
16. Create an organizing system I am satisfied with
17. Learn to bake a cake
18. Learn to decorate cookies
19. Grow my hair out
20. Post more about me as mommy! I love this life!

I've been slack

WHAT A WEEK!

I had a slap in the face this week.

I've always hated weighing, but i did it.

I was slapped in the face with a 20 pound weight gain since the prince was born.

I haven't weighed this much in quite a while, 

and I had taken great pride in keeping my weight level, even if it were still too much.

I now have to lose a whopping 100 pounds.

This irritated me so much that its time for extreme measures.

I look forward to McRibs all year long, so that's what I had for lunch today...

but that was my last!

NO MORE MCRIBS OR OTHER JUNK!

So far, here's the plan:

1. One cup of coffee in the morning with splenda.
2. One cup of coffee in the afternoon with splenda.
3. Water the rest of the day.
4. Ankle weights go on when I finish my morning coffee and come off when I put the monster to bed.
5. Walk with the monster everyday.
6. Find an exercise program I can enjoy doing, so that I will stick with it.
7. Figure the amount of calories to limit myself to everyday, along with fat and sugar intake.
8. Find a diet tracker to use on my computer. Place the icon where I will see it when I turn it on.
9. NO MORE CHOCOLATE
10. Thats the plan for now.

This is something I have to do, so I cannot lose track or give up.

I will keep my blog updated on my progress.

The Beauty My Mother Taught Me

“Audrey Hepburns Beauty Tips”

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. 

Never throw out anybody.

Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

This poem was not actually written by Audrey Hepburn, it was one of her favorites, and happens to be one of the last ones she read to her children before she passed away.




I look all around me and see what the world is, BEAUTIFUL is not always how I would describe it. I see all the violence and greed and it makes me wonder what kind of a world my son has been born into. I hear stories about children being murdered and justice never comes. People are beaten to death and justice never comes. Then, a disaster strikes and the world bans together. I'm glad to see this happens, just wish it didn't take a disaster to accomplish this.




I will strive to teach my son and any future children that this is true beauty. The most beautiful person is one who puts others first.

More Adventures in DIY Hair

SO.... I'm a FREAKIN GENIUS... or so I like to tell myself. One of my latest endeavors could be considered not of this category!
I'm the kind of girl who had a standing appointment with a particular hair stylist ever so many weeks. SHE is a genius. She always knows what to do with my hair, and it always looks so amazing.
Lately, I have been trying to turn into a frugal fashionista!
This means... I decided to cut my own hair! Lets just say, I was a bit nervous. For the sake of my family and my dear husband's sanity, I did it anyway

I googled how to cut my own hair... I found some pretty great videos and advice. I proceeded with caution. With a little help from my Mother-in-Law with getting it even, I managed to give myself an angled bob. I am happy with the style and cut, but I learned why my hair stylist uses a razor when trimming my ends. It lays much better when the ends are razored.

What I learned from this: 1. I can do anything with the help of google 2. I have much more patience for hair stylists now.
Will I do it again: HECK YES!!!

Adventures in DIY Hair

So, naturally, my hair is very dark brown, almost black. So, naturally, I wanted to go blonde.... fun!

One day, my MIL and I were watching our husbands garden, and truth be told, we were getting bored... which is NEVER a good thing! I mentioned something about going blonde, and she said follow me, which, agan, is NEVER a good thing. We go into the house and she hands me two boxes of platinum blonde hair dye. I'm thinking, my hair isn't very long, this should work.. NOT! I dye my hair, and its still brown, lighter, but still brown.

We go to the dreaded WalMart and look at hair dye. We find a really awesome product that is supposed to take it from black to blonde... AWESOME. I go home and dye my hair. I leave it on for the maximum time of 90 minutes... this should do it. NOT! Its blonde, but a dark blonde. If I'm gonna go blonde, I want to be BLONDE!

Frustrated, I get on the internet, which usually doesn't turn out too good for me, but this time it did. I find directions on bleaching hair with peroxide. Wahoo. I make the mixture of half water, and half peroxide and commence to spraying. Left it on for 25 minutes (it can really damage your hair,) rinse, and condition. It is a little lighter. I do sun-in for a few days, and then peroxide again. I continue this pattern until i used this mixture about 5 times. Getting tired of this, I decide to just use peroxide and that worked a lot better. I did this twice. Finally, It is about the color I want....
but...
My roots are showing REALLY BAD!!!!
Even though, I like the color that it finally is, I have learned my lesson. If I want to go blonde again, I will strip it first or go to a salon!

Can I Do It This Time?

So... I've decided once again to try and lose weight. I think that the reason that I have yet to succeed is that I have never had anyone/ anything to hold me accountable. By blogging, I'm hoping to be held accountable for what I do/ don't do.

I have several reasons to want to lose weight. Some of which are normal, health issues; however, others are more personal and vain. I want to be healthy, for my son and my husband. I don't want to develop the health issues as I age that so many in my family have. As far as the more vain reasons, I want to wear a bikini. I have never worn a bikini, and I want to and feel good in it.

I will make a plan and post it on my blog... hopefully I will succeed!

Things I Should Do

So, I wanted some change in my appearance, and apparently going from almost black to blonde wasn't enough of a change. So, I have some projects I want to get started on. Some are just a matter of getting it done, while others are really going to be a work in progress for a while.

• Take my hair to a platinum/ white blonde
• Put some crazy color streaks in it
• Pierce my lip
• lose some weight
• Cut my bangs
• Get another tattoo

I am going to right about these things here so that I will be held accountable. If I don't put it in writing, I will never do it!