If You Don't.....Who Will?

As Valentine's Day 2012 comes to a close, I am squeaking in at the last minute for Cyn's link up "Love Yourself" over at the "The Chunky Goddess" - the name doesn't really fit, check out her blog and you will see what I mean....cause girlfriend looks A-MAZ-ING!!!!!!

I think that I have been battling with loving myself since ummmm....I was in utero?!?!  OK, maybe I could be exaggerating just a bit, but believe me, it has been a long time.  About six years ago, I lost a lot of weight - about 70 pounds.  I felt strong and empowered, but ultimately I dont think  I know it didn't change me inside, which in my opinion is where it counts.  Over the next few years, I managed to find pretty much all of that weight right back where I lost it.  There was a lot of stuff going on during that time and quite honestly my main concern was my son - I was definitely not high on my own priority list.  It has taken me a long time to realize that the best thing for my son and for me, is to make myself a top priority.  A healthy and happy mom makes for a happy and healthy home and that is the mission I am on.  I have had to learn to love what's on the inside and that has made me OK with the outside, at least for now.  That in turn has given me the courage and will power to begin to make some changes that will ultimately make me stronger and healthier.  For the last month, I have been working out 4 to 5 times a week.  I am not eating like a saint, but I am doing soooo much better!  What has made this time different is that I am doing it on my own.  The last time, I had the help of a personal trainer 3 times a week.  This time I am going solo.  Will the results be the same?  Only time will tell, but I feel like I am ready to conquer the world.  It may take take longer than the five months I did it in last time, but I am in for the long haul!  I will kick that 5K's butt before the Summer.

If you are of the belief that someone besides yourself can help you, or at least get you on the road to loving yourself you need to meet Christine Tremelout of Hot Mama Boudoir.  This lady has mad skills behind a camera.  This experience started out as a gift for someone else, but turned out to be one of the most empowering things I have ever done for myself.  She enabled me to see a side of myself that I never imagined existed and for the first time in a VERY long time, I was OK with how I was on the outside - plus size and all.  Would I like to shoot again with her one day, when I am no longer quite as plus?  You bet your ass I would, but I will always treasure the images that she captured and the part of me that she helped me see and believe in.  Christine claims that she has a super power.... HELPING WOMEN GROW THEIR CONFIDENCE BY REDISCOVERING THEIR BEAUTY.  Trust me ladies  - sister is telling the truth!  Are these photos retouched - you bet they are, but I will also tell you that I saw some of the images within seconds of them being taken right on her camera.  It was hard to believe that it was me, but it was right there and I couldn't deny it!  So yes, maybe I am am tooting my own horn a bit - but that is what Christine was able to give me....the confidence to say I looked at the pictures and liked LOVED what I saw!  I also have to send a HUGE shout out to Jennifer Aaronson for my makeup and Chad Landry for my do.  Amazing work, amazing people and they made me feel like queen for a day!

OK, now I that I have poured out my soul in a blog post and I have brought a lot of my insecurities that formerly only those closest to me know...I am really going to share. Be kind...and remember in my eyes these babies ROCK. If you don't have anything nice to say, please just don't say! I am not above stabbing you with a pencil...right, mom???

 Happy Valentine's Day and always remember to love yourself....if you don't, who will???

On a final note.....Not to take anything away from Christine, but without the support of a special someone, I never would have gotten to the point where I was brave enough to have the pics taken in the first place. You know who you are and know that I am forever grateful! MUAH!!!!!!

Valentine Blog Swap Reveal

I am so excited about this blog swap, I can hardly stand it!  It is after all, my first one.  So maybe subsequent blog swaps will not generate this type of elation, but you never know with me.  I linked up with Meg O. for her Valentine Blog Swap:



I was matched up with Ashley at:


Ashley is a wife and brand new mommy to sweet baby Henry.  He is going to be a heartbreaker I tell you!  Ashley and her family currently live in Lexington, KY but in the next few months will be moving to Northern Kentucky.  Very close to where I used to live - what a coincidence!  Be sure to stop by her blog and see what is happening in her little part of the blog world and become a "Follower".  (She and I have talked and we both love our followers! ; )  Now on to the goodies.  On a small budget it is hard to buy something that is nice, not to metion pick something that a virtual stranger is going to like.  Ashley did her homework!  She picked up on the colors of my blog and got me a zebra print insulted drink cup with a reusable straw - the best part of which is the sparkly, hot pink "J".  I also got a bright paisley/flower notepad (I always love to have those handy for grocery lists) and my cup was filled with Valentines chocoalates - HOW FUN!!!!!

Valentine Blog Swap Goodies

Not so good for the weight loss, but yummy none the less!  I would have to say that my first swap was a huge success and so much fun to find a new blog friend that I probably never would have stumbled upon otherwise.  Thank you Ashley, for the sweet gift and I look forward to continuing to follow your blog.  Make sure you click over to Ahley's blog to see what her gift was.  I was so excited for her to get it!  Happy Monday!

Laundry and Valentines....What a Combo

Well, folks - the day didn't go exactly as I had planned.  Although I didn't get as much scrapping done as I had wanted to,  I got all the Valentines ready for Zachary's party on Tuesday.  I met up with he and his dad and got those passed off to him, since he won't be back over here until Wednesday.  They turned out so cute.  Usually I do it all myself, but this holiday I cheated a little and used free printables from Shindig.  There are great party planning/decorating essentials there....free printables as well as very reasonably priced downloads.  She also has an Etsy shop where you can order custom items.

 I did finish all the laundry - that also means folded, hung up and put away...I know, pretty amazing isn't it?  I resisted the Sons of Anarchy until about 6 PM and limited myself to two episodes. 

A little bout of Winter weather has finally arrived.  The last couple of days it has been pretty darn cold and this evening we started getting rain.  Could there be some ice in out future? There is a good possibility....but you never know this IS Texas...we could be in shorts and flip flops tomorrow.

I am calling it a night, peeps.  Early workout in the morning.  Night, and hope you all had a great weekend! 

A Rare Saturday Evening Post

This was not one of those posts that I was talking about yesterday that I was planning, but here it is none the less. Today started early with a short, but really COLD walk down to the workout room.  My 3rd workout for week 2 of my Couch Potato to 5K didn't go so great on Thursday.  So as suggested on the website I repeated it last night in hopes that I would get through it feeling strong and ready to tackle the next phase.  SUCCESS!!!  This morning I just took a brisk almost two mile walk and although I am a bit sore, I am feeling really good and ready to hit the ground running on Monday morning with Phase 3 - will probably just walk again tomorrow.  I have discovered that for me it is virtually impossible to get through one of the sessions without a really great play list.  If you have fun, upbeat music playing it is next to impossible to give up.  I am sure in another week or two I will have to change it up a bit, but for now it is working!

I took my mom out for lunch for her birthday (about a week early).  Zachary is with his dad this weekend and since my mom and I don't get out for girl time nearly enough,  we took advantage of the opportunity.  Not like anything could top last year, but I surprised her by inviting two of her girlfriends and we had a great time.

Mom and her friend Laine

Karen, Me and Mom

The Whole Gang

As I am typing this post, I am cozy in a booth at Panera.  Weekends without my boy are rough, and I wondered if a change of scenery might be good for me.  It is not too crazy here on Saturday night, there is nice music playing and I am blogging away - I like it.  The majority of the time, I have a million things on the calendar, but on those rare occasions that I don't, this might become a favorite place to blog.  Just thought I would share.  Lord, I hope that doesn't sound pathetic!  But I am doing something that I love, with a bit of change of scenery.  Maybe it would sound a little less pathetic if it wasn't Saturday night...lol.  Oh well, it is what it is, and I am loving it!

Tomorrow is going to be filled with scrapbooking (and laundry).  I am on a deadline and time is running short.  I am praying that once I sit down tomorrow that I will be inspired.   Positive thoughts coming my way would be greatly appreciated.  I am also hoping I can resist the call of "Sons of Anarchy".....I wish that I had never thought to look for it on Netflix - I have officially been sucked in...damn it!!!!!

Hope that you are having a great weekend!

I have a few blogging posts on tap for the weekend.  They won't of course all be posted this weekend, but I will definitely be working on them for next week.  They have a direction and a purpose and for that I am grateful.  If you have been following for awhile you may remember that I have been kind of scattered lately and have been having trouble wrapping my brain around a specific topic.  Maybe a reprieve is in my future!  Maybe I can chock it up to my regular exercise and healthier eating the last few weeks (Super Bowl Sunday was the exception).  Who knows, but whatever it is....ME LIKEY!!!!!

I just realized that February 22nd will be my one year Blogiversary....how cool is that???  I cannot believe that I have been blogging for an entire year.  Granted, sometimes things have been sporadic, but a year is a year.  I have been focusing lately on increasing my "Followers".  I know that some people really don't care whether people are reading or not - they just blog as a way to journal.  But I really enjoy knowing people are out there reading.  It somehow makes me more focused on posting regulary.  I know that I have a pretty long list of blogs I read regularly and really enjoy the time I spend catching up on what is going on or the great crafty ideas that I am inspired to create.  I can only hope that I provide others with that same feeling by taking a peak into my world.   In honor of my first Blogiversary I am planning a giveaway, but as with most good things there will be a catch.  Once I reach the number of followers equal to the number of post I have made during my first year of blogging the giveaway will be on like Donkey Kong - lol!  So for all you lurkers out there - if you are enjoying my blog, please take the plunge and FOLLOW!  You have nothing to lose and a great giveaway to gain.

My lunchtime is just about up, so back to work I go. TGIF and I hope that everyone has an amazing weekend!  Be looking for some fun posts next week.  I can't wait!

A Little Random...A Little Frivilous....And Yes - I Threw In A Little Junior High (SO SUE ME)

Super busy weekend!  It seems like Friday evening came around - I blinked - and it was time to head back to the office.  Needless to say, apartment still needs to be picked up and three piles of laundry are yelling at me from my bedroom floor....tonight is another night.  Saturday started with an early morning work out - I am one workout away from completing Week 2 of the Couch Potato to 5K program and thankfully, I am still hanging in there.That was followed by a trip to the grocery and Zach's indoor soccer game.  His team is still in search of that ever elusive mark in the win column, but they are really trying and getting better every week.  It never helps when only four odf the kids have ever played together.  Sunday morning we hit the ground running.  Another early morning workout for me then on to church, a movie and then out to watch the Super Bowl with friends.  Zachary and I saw Man On A Ledge.  Although it was a bit predictable. we both enjoyed it and it was worth a trip to the theater at matinee prices.

The Super Bowl get together was really fun.  One of my coworkers/kinda boss' wife is an excellent cook and Zachary and I went over to their house to watch the game and more than anything, for us girls to socialize.  I was so proud of Zachary - Brian and Judy have two younger boys and he played with them on the Wii for most of the evening.  He did me proud.  Judy made an axcellent dinner - so should have taken a picture!  I wasn't all that into the game although I was pulling for the Giants.  I am not really a big football fan, but what I am is over Tom Brady and the Patriots - sorry Giselle!  So I was pretty excited when the Giants held on to win....OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!  Let's move on to those all important SB commercials!  There wasn't alot to rave about, but two that really grabbed my attention and I feel are noteworthy.  Can I get an AMEN for Clint Eastwood???  I seriously choked up on that one not to mention that it made me proud to be an American (is that too hokey for you?).  I am on board with all those people that are posting "Clint Eastwood for President"!   

I am betting at this point in the post you are thinking "Where in the world is she going with the junior high????"  Patience, patience my dear blog friends....that junior high is coming right up in the form of this BEAUTIFUL specimen of a man:

WOWSA!!!!!  Ummm....somebody knew the ladies were going to be watching on Sunday.  I guess asking for an "AMEN" to David Beckham's new bodywear line would be inappropriate, so a double WOWSA will have to suffice.  Everything about that ad was HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!  Before you shake your head in disgust and swear that you will never again read my blog, please know that I am aware that this paragraph was not appropriate fodder for a 40 something mom, and I seriously doubt it will ever happen again....HOWEVER....I did enjoy absolutely every second of it and will admit that I may be visitingYou Tube now and again to take in the wonder.  If you weren't lucky enough to catch the first glimpse, here it is in all it's glory......you can thank me later.

On that note, I will attempt to regain my composure....don't you dare judge!!!!! : )  Coming soon....a guest post and the Valentine Blog Swap reveal.  Have a great week!