Before our wedding last July, I lost 20 lbs. Something about fitting in a wedding dress and looking better in pictures is GREAT motivation to buckle down and eat better. I did it all by simply watching what I ate - I hardly exercised at all! The biggest thing for me was this site: myfitnesspal.com.
Seriously, best site EVER. I am noo good at counting calories myself, but on this site I put in exactly what I ate (this morning it was 1 medium baked potato and 1 egg, plus some coffee). I put in how much, and then it tells me how many calories, carbs, grams of fat, protein, and sodium. Its awesome. It gives me a daily total based on a goal I set and I watch my calories add up. It helps me keep track of what I'm eating. The hardest part of this site (for me anyway) is honesty. I'm an honest person - but it is really hard for me to put EVERYTHING I eat into this site. This morning, I put creamer in my coffee. 30 calories worth of creamer. WHY?! Why would I waste 30 calories on creamer? (Okay, so the chocolate creamer did my coffee rrreeeaaallllyyy tasty). Forcing myself to be honest and seeing the results really IS why this site works for me. It forces me to see what things I'm doing are good for me, and which things, well, aren't.
Also, I can put in exercise and it gives me calories back (magic!). Through my first weight loss journey I didn't exercise -- now, my body is telling me that exercise is necessary. Watching what I eat just isn't cutting it anymore. Sooo, here's to yoga (which I've always loved - I just don't do it consistently enough to count), walking, and *jogging (slowly, a little at a time, and eventually...).
I was successful the first time I set out to weight and it felt sooo good. Unfortunately, I gained more than I care to admit back. :(. It's time for it to go away again. AND I'm hoping myfitnesspal.com can help me again! Check it out - myfitnesspal.com.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
All Because Two People...
In June, my grandparents will have been married 50 years. 50 years! Amazing.
We are in the middle of planning a part/get together for them. Lots of family, friends, and cake involved. Today's project was working on a slideshow. My mom, sister, and I spent 3 or 4 hours looking through albums, scanning pictures, and arranging a slideshow. We have a lot left to do! 50 years + 4 kids + 7 grandkids + brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews = LOTS of pictures to sort through. And, scanners are slow - which is okay, because it provided me lots of "chit-chat" time with my momma and Heather! We make a great slideshow making team and I love them both so very much!
 |
| This is a picture from my wedding day (and yes, I copied it right out of my album so sorry for the quality). |
I'm sure closer to the party I will do another post about my grandparents. 50 years is a long time. My grandparents are awesome. They are inspiring. If Robbie and I can be half as great as them, we will be doing awesomely. They are the reason for this:
 |
| That's my moms side of the family (trust me, it looks better in the album). But look at that smiling family! |
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Fairy-tale Beginnings
With several weddings/wedding showers happening this summer, I had a blast looking on pinterest for gift ideas.... this one was my favorite! I can't wait to experiment more with it and make ones that look better!
(Disclaimer: you will quickly realize I don't often come up with my own crafty ideas, I just copy other people's! Soo, here is where I got this one!)
This is easy: buy a canvas and some wood letters (I got mine at Wal*Mart). Super glue letters down saying whatever you want, and then spray paint the entire thing white. Turns out cute (I think anyway!).
Hopefully this message rings true for all the new marriages this summer! Love is a choice, not just an emotion. I'm quickly finding out marriage is FULL of choices. Choosing to love is a wonderful thing - and choosing to be dedicated/committed enough to keep love going is absolutely awesome. So, here's to a happily ever after :).
(Disclaimer: you will quickly realize I don't often come up with my own crafty ideas, I just copy other people's! Soo, here is where I got this one!)
This is easy: buy a canvas and some wood letters (I got mine at Wal*Mart). Super glue letters down saying whatever you want, and then spray paint the entire thing white. Turns out cute (I think anyway!).
 |
| I gifted a real flower in a pot with this one - as you can see below, fake flowers look just as cute sitting by it ... and they are harder to kill!) |
 |
| These didn't photograph well thanks to lighting ... they are cuter in person! |
Friday, May 11, 2012
Mother's Day
Robbie and I bought Mother's Day presents today :). I LOVE buying gifts for people - especially people I love! I am soo blessed to have wonderful women in my life! My mom is a beautiful person all the way around - I can tell her anything and always know she'll be there for us. She has always supported Heather, Isaac, and I. I have never once doubted the fact that she is 100% on my side no matter what. That doesn't mean I've always seen eye to eye with her. She said "no" in one way or another plenty of times - often to keep me safe, out of trouble, or on the right track. She made me clean my own room. And help dust the house. And help wash dishes. And sweep porches. And because of those teachable moments I know how to keep a clean house, how to cook (okay, I'm still working on that one...), how to plant flowers, etc. She has taught (and continues to show by example) how to be a great wife, and wonderful friend, sister, daughter, aunt, mom, and Christian woman. She is amazing. She constantly reminds me of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 - she keeps our family, our lives, running smoothly and we all owe her a lot!
A mom as great as mine makes me luckier than a lot of people - so I consider myself very blessed to have more wonderful women in my life. I have a Grandma who spoils me be on belief - and spoils my hubby too! She is, perhaps, the rock of our family - the center of many, many things. I have lots of Aunts that are wonderful people, especially my great aunt, Aunt Dolly who is like another Grandmother to us. Aaaannnd, this Mother's Day, for the first time, I have a Mother-In-Law. There are definite benefits to marrying someone who's parents are awesome! ;). My In-Laws do so much for us and are always ready to come when we call.
I have wonderful women to emulate - all people who daily teach me more about how godly women should be - and I love them for that! :) If you haven't read Proverbs 31 lately - check it out !
Soooo, here are my gift ideas this Mother's Day --- what things did YOU think of?
A mom as great as mine makes me luckier than a lot of people - so I consider myself very blessed to have more wonderful women in my life. I have a Grandma who spoils me be on belief - and spoils my hubby too! She is, perhaps, the rock of our family - the center of many, many things. I have lots of Aunts that are wonderful people, especially my great aunt, Aunt Dolly who is like another Grandmother to us. Aaaannnd, this Mother's Day, for the first time, I have a Mother-In-Law. There are definite benefits to marrying someone who's parents are awesome! ;). My In-Laws do so much for us and are always ready to come when we call.
I have wonderful women to emulate - all people who daily teach me more about how godly women should be - and I love them for that! :) If you haven't read Proverbs 31 lately - check it out !
Soooo, here are my gift ideas this Mother's Day --- what things did YOU think of?
 |
| Flowers with pretty glass birds sitting in the pots for my Grandma and Aunt Dolly :) |
 |
| I found these for sale on Etsy ... card decks "52 reasons I love you" -- they are great! |
 |
| We did these for both mom's -- 52 reasons, one for each card in the deck! |
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Crate Seats
Okay, I am sooo kicking myself for not taking pictures of Robbie and I as these were "in progress", but I am so excited about my crate seats! I found the idea (via pinterest) and fell in love with it here -- check it out! Unlike hers, my lids really ARE on the top, so I can (and will!) use my seats for storage.
We took file crates (I got mine at Staples in Rolla). I measured the top (by "I", I mean my wonderful hubby...). Then we ran to lows and bought a huge sheet of plywood. We got 1/2 in. thick - I want to be sure anybody can sit on these without fear of breaking. After checking out, we realized the plywood wouldn't fit in our explorer (we are super good at thinking ahead...) soo, it was lucky my parents happened to be at Lows buying a fridge and my dad was willing to haul the plywood home in his truck!
Saturday we went out to their house and Rob used the skill saw to cut me some seats! We measured the crate in two places - inside the top so one layer of the seat could fit snugly, and across the top so the top layer of the seat would have a slight overhang. He cut the pieces and we screwed them together to make a lovely seat. THEN we put a mattress pad (or pillow pad? It was pillow sized....) on top of the plywood for a cushion, and covered the seat in cute fabric.
They turned out super cute and fairly comfy! The seats pop right off so I can put things inside them. :) I'm thinking they will make a great addition to a reading corner! =)
(I'm not talented enough to insert the pictures as I go, so here at the bottom are the pictures I did think to take) Enjoy!
We took file crates (I got mine at Staples in Rolla). I measured the top (by "I", I mean my wonderful hubby...). Then we ran to lows and bought a huge sheet of plywood. We got 1/2 in. thick - I want to be sure anybody can sit on these without fear of breaking. After checking out, we realized the plywood wouldn't fit in our explorer (we are super good at thinking ahead...) soo, it was lucky my parents happened to be at Lows buying a fridge and my dad was willing to haul the plywood home in his truck!
Saturday we went out to their house and Rob used the skill saw to cut me some seats! We measured the crate in two places - inside the top so one layer of the seat could fit snugly, and across the top so the top layer of the seat would have a slight overhang. He cut the pieces and we screwed them together to make a lovely seat. THEN we put a mattress pad (or pillow pad? It was pillow sized....) on top of the plywood for a cushion, and covered the seat in cute fabric.
They turned out super cute and fairly comfy! The seats pop right off so I can put things inside them. :) I'm thinking they will make a great addition to a reading corner! =)
(I'm not talented enough to insert the pictures as I go, so here at the bottom are the pictures I did think to take) Enjoy!
 |
| completed seats |
 |
| The lids pop right off for easy storage :) But they are snug enough to stay put! |
 |
| We used a staple gun to staple the fabric around the cushion and top layer of plywood. Easy peasy! |
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Patience
....is a virtue. Patience is a virtue. Patience is a virtue. I cannot tell you how many times I have repeated those words in my head lately! Patience is (apparently) very hard for me ... who knew?!
It has always been my dream to come home and teach at St. James. This is home, and home is so important to me. However, earlier it started looking like St. James might not have a position for me this year. I started pursuing other options (other districts) - and I literally shed some "letting go of that dream" tears. I have been really working hard at putting things into God's hands and determining to be happy in whatever path I ended up following.
After some interviews, I put on my Facebook status that a job offer would make a great birthday present (My birthday is Wednesday) - but turns out, early birthday presents are the BEST kinds of presents! Some very lovely ladies called me in on Friday to offer me a spot as a teacher at St. James and I couldn't be happier!! Granted, I have to wait to get "board approved" ... but *hopefully* that won't be a problem.
I'm signed on for 2nd grade which will be a new adventure for me ... but it is such a relief to know I have a spot, a job, and a paycheck coming in the fall. I am so excited, and THANKFUL, for this opportunity. I cannot wait to come home and teach - LWJE is a special place filled with wonderful people, and now I get to be a part of it. I am so in love with the future and so thankful for all the blessings God gives!
It has always been my dream to come home and teach at St. James. This is home, and home is so important to me. However, earlier it started looking like St. James might not have a position for me this year. I started pursuing other options (other districts) - and I literally shed some "letting go of that dream" tears. I have been really working hard at putting things into God's hands and determining to be happy in whatever path I ended up following.
After some interviews, I put on my Facebook status that a job offer would make a great birthday present (My birthday is Wednesday) - but turns out, early birthday presents are the BEST kinds of presents! Some very lovely ladies called me in on Friday to offer me a spot as a teacher at St. James and I couldn't be happier!! Granted, I have to wait to get "board approved" ... but *hopefully* that won't be a problem.
I'm signed on for 2nd grade which will be a new adventure for me ... but it is such a relief to know I have a spot, a job, and a paycheck coming in the fall. I am so excited, and THANKFUL, for this opportunity. I cannot wait to come home and teach - LWJE is a special place filled with wonderful people, and now I get to be a part of it. I am so in love with the future and so thankful for all the blessings God gives!
Psalm 100 - Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before his presence with singing. Know the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)