Roller coaster

Roller coaster is the best way I can describe the week I've had: Up & downs, highs & lows, with some twists and turns along the way...

But first things first - Roller coaster #1:

Weight loss Wednesday: I officially reached my goal of losing 10 pounds before Memorial Weekend! WOO HOO.  I am down 30 pounds total! I got a little over zealous thinking I could get another 5lbs off this week...not happening people. I'm already working out 5-6 days a week, staying well within my 1300 daily calorie intake, staying active, drinking water like crazy...I feel good about where I'm at health wise. I don't want to hurt myself.

The thing I've learned this week is that there is room to enjoy yummy food in my diet! It's all about moderation. I enjoy a piece of chocolate with some yogurt to curb my sugar cravings...and I've found so many great recipes that I never imagined liking, and so healthy! After the shock of realizing how many calories I was actually consuming on a daily basis, I thought cutting back would be a shock to my system - but honestly it hasn't been. Don't get me wrong, I still have my moments where Slurpees call me in my sleep and I want to swim in a pool of potato chips, but I'm not starving myself. I don't feel bad about saying no, I'm enjoying life because I know I'm taking care of myself. Glad this Roller Coaster is on course and steady! =]

Roller Coaster #2: End of Preschool

I haven't written much about my first year of teaching preschool much...frankly, because I don't know what I can and cannot disclose online, so better safe than sorry! But today was my last day of school with my Mon/Wed class, and it took everything out of me not to break down today! Words cannot express how much those kids mean to me, and how much they've changed me this year. They've made me a more patient person, a better mom, and left countless impressions on my heart. 

All my Preschool (and the Pre-K class) at our Spring Music Concert a few weeks ago

This morning was stressful. I was running on 3 hours of sleep, and being the last day of school (we had it at the park), I wanted to make sure everything was perfect and prepared...but of course, I was running late, everything took longer than I expected, and I got so anxious. But as soon as the kids started showing up, the anxiety melted away. The sweet cards, giant hugs, and pictures just made my day. As much as I am looking forward to a summer break to get some stuff done at home, it was hard to say good bye. Now, I have to do it all again tomorrow with my Tues/Thurs class. OY!

Roller Coaster # 3: Job Hunting

So since Preschool is ending for the next three months, I had been looking for a summer job. I've really had my heart set on working at my gym, since I already know SO many parents, employees, and members there - it would be a perfect fit. I can take my kids to work with me (which would save me HUNDREDS of dollars!), I wouldn't have to work too late at night so I can put my kids to bed every night (one thing I missed out on bartending at night), AND I would get a free membership - yahoo! I managed to get an interview...and then nothing. They said they'd let me know, but never called. I was just about to give up hope and try somewhere else - and they called me TODAY!!!! I GOT THE JOB!!! I have an interview with the general manager tomorrow, then just have to wait on background checks, etc to go through, then I start training. The timing could not be more perfect. It will take a few weeks to get everything back, so I'll have a little bit to catch my breath and get some work done at home before I start up again! I am so thankful and blessed! =]

Roller Coaster # 4: King's Island

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Speaking of Roller Coasters, I am SOOO looking forward to my mini vacation this weekend with the kids and my family (parents, brothers, and nephew) to Kentucky for a family reunion! Then, on our way back, we're spending the day at King's Island! This will be the first time EVER that I am going to an amusement park without being concerned about the roller coasters. I am a roller coaster fanatic. I will ride anything, anywhere. LOVE EM. But, this weekend, I'm much more excited about spending time with my babies, watching them enjoy the great kids park there, and the water park! I know they're going to have so much fun, and it makes me more excited to see that than to ride rides myself! There is just something about watching your children enjoy life that is so captivating and so fulfilling...can't wait.

PHEW! I'm trying to get through this week one day at a time. Today: laundry, laundry, laundry! Gotta get packed for Kentucky, and make sure my poor hubby can sustain himself alone in the house for the weekend.

" Life can be like a roller coaster... And just when you think you've had enough, and your ready to get off the ride and take the calm, easy merry-go round... You change your mind, throw you hands in the air and ride the roller coaster all over again. That's exhilaration...that's living a bit on the edge...that's being ALIVE." --- Stacey Charter

Toddler Translator - 2nd Edition

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I think my list of the funny things my kids say has gotten long enough now for another post. It's so priceless to hear them pronounce things they way they understand them, or to know where their interpretation comes from. Here are some of my recent favorites (along with their references):

Alligator = Elevator

"Mommy, I wanna ride da Alligator."

Azzert = Dessert

"If I eat all my supper, what's fer azzert?"

Slippery/Slurpery = Slurpee

"Mommy, can I share your Slurpery wif you?"

Nockles = Binoculars

"I can't see it, it's too far away. Lemme check my nockles."

Calc-a-later = Calculator

"Can I borrow yer calc-a-later to call Daddy?" LOL

Clickily = Clickety

(Makes reading 'Click Clack Moo' very entertaining!) "Click, clack, MOO. Click, clack, MOO. Clickily, clack, MOO."

Peanuts = Penis

"Daddy, this is my bum. This is my peanuts."

Excavator = Escalator

"I like to ride the excavator at the mall."

Swimminin = Cinnamon

"I want two cheese tacos and swimminin twists at Taco Bell!"

Erf = Earth

Injury = Energy

(Ever since Earth Day) "Mommy, you can't leave da lights on, it's bad fer da Erf. I will shut dem off and save you some injury." MY FAVORITE.

Gideon = Idiot

(Apparently, Faith thought the bible lesson I taught a few weeks ago during church on Gideon and his army must have been about a very bad word, cause when she heard her daddy say 'idiot', she said "That's a bad word, daddy - we learned about it at church.") HAHAHA

Stupendous = An abbreviated from of Stupid

Faith thought she was getting away with murder when she said stupendous and no one yelled at her. So, she started walking around the house chanting it!

Weight Loss Wednesday

And it's Wednesday even! I finally got the right day!

Yesterday, I started coming down with something. A head cold & congestion, nothing serious. But my body is tired. However, this week I have been feeling really good.

My rapid weight loss has slowed down from last week, partly because I only went to the gym 5 days, and because I'm under the weather, but I know I can't expect to lose 7 pounds every week (I wish!). This week, I've lost 2 lbs....which means I have only have 1 pound to go before reaching my goal of 10 lbs lost before Memorial weekend!! It feels good to be so close to accomplishing a big goal.

Let me share with y'all some of the major changes I've made over the last few weeks that have made a huge different. I've been consistent with all of it:

1. Drinking as much water as humanly possible.
2. Eating every 3-4 hours, to keep my metabolism going
3. Eating breakfast right away in the morning.
4. Counting calories (this has probably made the biggest impact on my weight loss!)
5. Trying to get enough sleep.
6. Trying to let go of stress.
7. Burn as many calories as possible.

It feels great to be back on track. I'm excited to reach my goal weight by my birthday in August, I know I can do it! Just for those of you keeping track, my weight loss total thus far:


X - 29 lbs!!!


Pretty soon, I might even tell you how much I weighed at the beginning of this whole journey! HA

A Momma's Heart

AHHH....My Momma's heart feels full today.

I have been reflecting about being a momma a lot this weekend. I made the comment to my husband the other day about I seem to be more connected with my son lately than my daughter. I thought maybe it was because my son is a little more attention craved and demanding at this age than my sweet girl and she tends to take care of herself these days. Maybe it's because I'm trying to hold on to the last little bit of infant hood with my son since I don't think I'll be experiencing it again as a mother. Either way, I felt like the princess and I needed some 'girl's time'.

We decided on a family day Saturday with some break out 'girl's time' and 'boys time' - we took the kids to the mall and hung out for awhile, went our separate ways for shopping and leisure, and met again for lunch as a family. It turned out to be a pretty monumental day, starting off with Faith getting her FIRST HAIRCUT EVER!!!

Can you believe how long it got?!? I've been wanting to get it cut for awhile now...she always wants to wear it down but it was too fine and stringy, so it never looked decent. I finally caved and took her to carnival cuts. They actually did a great job, and she got a certificate for her first haircut, and I got her first locket of hair for her baby book.

Faith was very quite and shy through the whole thing, but she did a great job, and sat VERY still.

She was a bit nervous I think....but I nearly teared up when they gave me the first locket and I saw how long it was!

Faith - still not sure what to think.

There's my happy girl - we let her pick out a bow to take with her so she could wear it with her new haircut!

Bye bye hair!

Cutie pie, all dolled up - getting ready to get her nails painted!

First ever haircut + girl's day pedicures + lunch with our favorite boys = a pretty great day!

Faith loves her new haircut! She's been staring at herself in the mirror all weekend! She loves that she gets to wear it down now. I think it suits her pretty well. And I have a wonderful day bonding with my sweet girl.

In other sappy news, my son traced his entire alphabet at preschool on Thursday, and when he brought it over to show me, I totally teared up in the middle of class, beaming with pride because he had concentrated SO hard on it and did a fantastic job. Each time he finished tracing a letter, he stopped to put his hands in the air and said 'YES.' And he's only 2!!!

I am one blessed (and very proud) Momma.

Sunday's Getting to Know You

I'd first like to apologize for all the blog slacking that has been happening. I can't find enough time in my day. But for all of those who love all the random bits of information I always seem to be sharing, then read on for Sunday's Getting to Know You

The questions..

1. The most expensive thing hanging in my closet is.....?

I can honestly say that nothing in my closet would classify as 'expensive'....I rarely pay full price for anything. I have an old banquet dress that my mom bought me for a few hundred dollars, that might be the most expensive thing in there. 

2. Have you ever played a team sport?
I played basketball in middle school. I would have continued through high school but I missed try-outs to take drivers ed. I was also a cheerleader in middle school.

3. If you were a bug, what kind would you be?
Is there a bug that is NOT ugly and NOT a nuisance? Yeah, I'd be that one!

4. Where on your body is the worst place to get sunburned? (thanks Ian)
Honestly? Chest. NOT FUN. I mean, uh....I've heard.

5. Are you happy?
I'm getting there. Not because my life is getting better (or that it's not great already) but because my definition of happy is changing, and that's a great feeling.

6. People are always abbreviating..are there any abbreviations that make your skin crawl when people use them?
I hate when people abbreviate 'probably' to 'prolly'  - what is that?!? Two letters is not going to change your life, people!

7. Do you love where you live..or could you live anywhere?
I am one of those people that could probably live anywhere if the right people were around me, but I can honestly say I DO NOT love where I live right now. Just our house and neighborhood. I love Rochester, Michigan - which is where my actual life takes place (church, work, gym, pretty much everything else I do) but I don't really like living in Pontiac. Lesson learned about buying my first home.

8. What, if any, extreme measures do you go to to keep yourself from overeating when you're full?

I have a few tricks that are new for me: 1. I always drink lots of water while waiting for my meal. It makes me feel fuller and I tend to eat less. 2. If I know that I've eaten enough but still feel hungry, I'll get up and do something else for a few minutes. Within 5-10 minutes, after the food settles, I usually don't feel as hungry. 3. Ask for a TO-GO box BEFORE you dig in....and put half of it away for later. 4. Remind myself how good it feels to be losing weight - it's amazing how that motivates me to stop eating when I should! =]

Weight Loss Wednesday

I tried so hard to blog yesterday, but I wasn't home between the hours of being awake and going to sleep...LONG day!

But I am happy to announce that this week has been great. I started back at the gym which really boosted my motivation, and have already got my money's worth - been there 6 days a week! I also have been drinking tons of water, which is a great habit I was getting lazy on lately. And through my entire weight loss journey, I've wanted to started keeping a food log/journal to see if it helped, and I just was too lazy to do it. Luckily, the hubs has this great app on his ipod called 'Lose It' that helps make calorie counting so easy. I've been staying in my calorie intake very well, and have been trying to burn calories like crazy!

All the hard work this week has paid off. I have FINALLY broken through my weight plateau that has been plaguing me since the beginning of the year! It is such a good feeling and I NEVER want to go back!!!

I set a goal 2 weeks ago to lose 10lbs before I leave for Kentucky at the end of the month. Well, are you ready for this? I've already lost 7, so only 3 more to go!!! I'm so excited and motivated I'm gonna try and lose 15 lbs total before I leave!

It feels good. Hard work DOES pay off, people! My other goal was to be at my goal weight by my birthday, which would be losing 25 more pounds by August 6th....and the hubs is saving up to let me have a shopping spree/birthday treat as a reward when I reach it!

What about you? I would love to hear stories about how it felt to break past the plateau of weight. I am on such a health high right now =]

Sunday's Getting to Know You & Happy Mother's Day!

Wishin' all the momma's, grand-momma's, and soon-to-be momma's out there a Happy Mother's Day!


I know this is a day of celebration for me because I am blessed to not only BE a mom, but also to HAVE a great mom. But I know this day is painful for so many people. People who don't have a mom in their life, or who wants to be a mom and isn't. I honor those people today as well!


I had a great day today. Mother's Day started last week for me with the best gift ever - my gym membership. But the hubs also gave me a full body massage before bed last night, and even helped the kiddos make hand-made cards for me....so sweet. After a wonderful service this morning, we had a quick lunch at home then headed to my parent's house to cook dinner for my mom and hang out with my family...it's not often we all get together.


MOM: Thank you for who you are. You have taught me so much about what it means to love without condition, live life to the fullest, and smile in the midst of heartache. You are one of the strongest women I know, I love you forever!

Now, on to Sunday's Getting to Know You. I've been wanting to participate more, and I just have been so crazy busy lately.....

The questions..
1. What has been your most memorable Mother's Day? (with your mom, as a mom, or with your wife)

I'd have to say that my first mother's day was pretty special.....I had just finished college as well, but didn't go to graduation, since I had JUST had a baby....so the hubs surprised me with a dinner @ Bucca de Bepo with some of my favorite friends and my new baby girl. It was a special day for me.

2. Have you ever been pulled over for speeding and were you able to talk your way out of it?
I have been pulled over for speeding. Just recently actually. I don't know that I talked myself out of it but I was pretty convinced that the officer was flirting with me. It was very awkward, but no ticket so I won't complain!

3. What's the oldest thing you have hanging in your closet?
I actually have a gray zip-up hoodie from I think 8th grade! (That's 1996 people - 14 years?!?)

4. Do you whiten your teeth?
I don't right now, but I have. I did before my wedding. I should probably do it again.

5. Underwear or Panties..What do you call your "unmentionables"?
Underwear. I'm not that fancy.

6. If you could go on vacation right now..today..where would you go?
Either to tour Europe or to lay on the beach somewhere with palm trees.

7. Do you get offended when people cuss on their blogs?
Not necessarily offended, but they lose a lot of credibility with me. I just think it's unnecessary and just makes people sound unintelligent for not being able to find proper vocabulary to convey feelings. I'm all for a well placed cuss word for humor's sake, but not when it's out of anger. It just bugs me.

8. If you had to give up one luxury item, it would be....?

Wow, this is tough. Maybe sweet tea since I haven't had much lately. No, WAIT. I take it back, I didn't really mean it, I'm so sorry! I may never be able to look at a glass of sweet tea again without guilt.

Basement Makeover - repost

Apparently, the pictures didn't work the first time I posted this, so here's another try:

About a month ago, one of my besties decided to do a "While You Were Out" overhaul on a friend's basement while they were in Arizona for two weeks. We knew it would mean the world to her, as she's been wanting to do something with her basement for awhile. I was all in to help of course, I love BEFORE and AFTERS! 

Now, keep in mind, the budget was as close to FREE as we could get....but of course money had to be spent. Lucky, my girl had a lot of the supplies at home, and found a ton of coupons for fabric, paint, and accessories. I helped paint and pick out fabrics and colors, but I cannot take credit for this makeover! Check it out:

BEFORE

AFTER:

(We had to honor the Star Wars collection in the room....Yoda was the inspiration for the colors!)

BEFORE

An unfinished wall and corner left from a bathroom addition:

AFTER

(She was wanting to find a better place for the bed that wasn't right at the bottom of the stairs, so they could actually host people comfortable....and have room for entertainment)

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Of course, our friends loved it! It was a very bold color choice, but I think it turned out really great! 

What'ya think?!?