Just Pictures - Christmas Edition

Going to the gym, working, and preparing for Christmas... That about wraps up our week!

 Our small, but sweet Christmas Tree.

Some of my Favorite ornaments....

2005

 2006

 2007

 2008

 2009

2011

 2011

2012

Christmas hat camera fun....

SkinnyCandi - Perma-Grin

"Perma-Grin" is the perfect title for my SkinnyCandi update post..... beeeeecause that's what I had yesterday when I weighed myself; I lost -7 lbs since last Monday!! Let me say that again..  I lost 7 lbs in less than 2 weeks!! That's the kind of loss Ive been waiting and hoping for, finally all this hard work is showing on that damn scale.  I can't tell you how good it feels.  It is so motivating, I just want to do more, keep going and keep losing.

Yay!!

So for this week; the scale is my new best friend.....

{Total Loss: 13 lbs.}

The SkinnyCandi Plan

So Ive been putting off blogging about the "SkinnyCandi" plan for a few weeks now, not really sure why exactly.  Im probably scared to talk about it for fear of jinxing it.  But Im just going to go for it....

So Im going on week 7 and Im doing fantastic! The last time I checked I was down 7 lbs but that was 2 weeks ago.  Im really trying my best to STAY OFF THE SCALE..  Im sure most woman can relate to the fact that if you don't get what you want or are hoping for from the scale it can completely kill your motivation.  After the first few weeks and I started noticing small changes in the way my clothes fit, I was weighing myself every other day and it was a bit ridiculous.  I was having 2-3 lb fluctuations and it was literally killing my spirit.  So Im really trying to stick with only weighing every 2 weeks.  The problem is, when you're working out as much as I am, 5-6 days a week for 1-2 hours a day you WANT to get on that scale and see that all the hard work you're putting in is actually doing something.  But for me, I just don't lose weight quickly, I. just. don't.  Although.....my goal was to lose 8 lbs in a month (2 lbs a week) and I lost 7.  That's not bad at all....I'm very happy with that.

Something about "this time" is different, I can in all honesty say that.  In the past 10 years I can't even tell you how many times Ive tried to lose weight, too many to count.  Many, many failed attempts that make me feel extremely ashamed.  Ashamed that I never took control of my life the way that I wanted to, the way I knew I needed to.  Ashamed that I never lasted longer than a month or two.  Even though,  in the year and half before I got married I did go to the gym regularly and I did lose about 25 lbs.  The most I had ever lost.  It paid off and I can look at my wedding pictures without cringing.  The weight loss also helped in me getting pregnant 6 months after getting married.  However, the pregnancy was an easy excuse not to stick with my workouts.  I tried until I was about 5-6 months pregnant, but after that I just gave up.

The reason I think this time is different is because Im 32 years old.  My (old) age forces me to look back at the past 10 years of feeling so unhappy about the way I look and feel, insecure about my body, hiding myself- physically, mentally and probably emotionally in ways. I don't want to do that for the next 10 years.

Im going into this weight loss adventure extremely clear headed and realistic.  Those were the two things missing from my past attempts.  Im not expecting miracles.  I know that it's going to take time and a lot of work and that Im the only one who can make it happen.

I know it's going to take time, however that being said I don't want it to take forever.  And thats why Im putting more into this than I ever have.  Instead of working out 3-4 days a week, Im going 5-6.  Im running and taking advantage of all the classes my gym offers.  Little things like that where I hope it makes a difference.  Im also keeping track of everything I eat, except for 1 day a week where we may eat out or have a couple drinks.  Im trying to stay within 1200-1500 calories per day.  So far it hasn't been hard because Im working out so much and burning so many calories in the gym.

One very good thing I have going for myself is that Ive always enjoyed working out.  Most people can't say that.  I love the feeling I get, I love pouring sweat from working my ass off,  I love pushing myself, and trying new things. I look forward to going and I love the way I feel when Im done.

I feel very IN CONTROL of my life.  It's a great thing.

Im taking it 10 lbs at a time....

I'll be checking in with my progress, wish me luck!

Hide & Seek PB&J

I don't usually let Savannah walk around with her sandwich, actually this was the first time. So I gave it to her and walked away for a minute, when I came back I noticed she didn't have it anymore. She's the slowest eater ever so I know she didn't finish it.

Hmmm... where could it be??

 Well, of course! Don't we all keep our sandwiches in a drawer? No? Just my kid? Oh ok.

So she went back to it, took a bite and......

...put it right back.

Kids are full time entertainment ;)

Just Pictures

 Little miss independent loves to feed HERself

 Kisses for the camera

 I can't believe how long her hair has gotten....

Oh yes and my life is still all about Barney.. jealous?

She was looking so cute that day 

 She was very focused on getting Mickey in the stroller then all her number puzzle pieces...

Now she's ready to go!

The Santa Claus Experience

Oh boy. Where do I begin.  Let's start with....

This was Savannah's first time meeting Santa Claus; we chose not to do it last year because honestly it wasn't a big deal to either of us. And clearly, at 8 months old, it wasn't a big deal to Savannah either.  I don't know what I was thinking when I came up with the idea to take her today. As if her now being (almost) 20 months old has made any difference at all on her feelings of a strange old man holding her while we snap away our cameras.  Anyway, initially when we saw the line it didn't look too bad, I thought probably a half hour to 45 minute wait.  Well, as we entered into the one hour mark and there were still about 15 kids in front of us I thought to myself "what the HELL are we doing?" We are waiting in this ridiculous long line, to get a picture of our little girl with a character who she knows nothing about and could care less about.  She's way past her nap time, cranky, and OH did I mention, she made a "stinky" and when I went to give Shane the diaper bag to change her....No. Diapers. Thankfully I was surrounded by mommies, prepared mommies, who were nice enough to help us out in our desperate time of need.  I never appreciated a Pamper so much.  So yes, I was thinking to myself, this is absolutely absurd.  All for a picture.  Because I don't have enough those right?  Sorry I hate to sound like the Grinch but c'mon,  Until it's something she wants to do, we will not be doing that again.  So we may get next year off but that's probably it for a long time.

The Scene

 Thank god there was a play area near by

waiting, waiting, waiting...

Poor thing, why do we put our kids through this?

She got better though

Better? Yes.  But there was no way we were getting a smile

However, Shane was very happy.  He got a new pair of kicks on our way out... 

Another Sunday Funday

What a great day! I started mine with a 2 hour workout, yep 2 hours! While I was doing that, Shane took Savannah over to his parents to visit for a while.  Once they got back we went to the park, it was such a beautiful day out, we had to do something outside.  Then we went to Publix (a weekend wouldn't be complete without a trip to good ole' Publix) and then home so Savannah could nap.  After she woke up we got ready and went to a Carnival that was literally a minute down the road.  Kinda a chintzy little carnival, but Savannah didn't know the difference.  We stayed an hour, spent ten bucks and we were home by 6 to make dinner.

Night out

My parents were nice enough to offer and watch our little munchkin Friday night! WHOO-HOO!!! Oh, excuse me for yelling, I couldn't help myself.  You know I love that little stinker but hot damn, two half days and a full night off?  Yes, please.

So I started my day off with an hour and half workout which was awesome! I went to the gym everyday this week, so I was pretty proud of myself.  And that hard work is paying off because as of Wednesday I was down a total of 6 lbs.  Yay me :) So then it was home to shower, have lunch and pack Savannah's over-night bag... insert another WHOO-HOO!!!   I dropped her off and headed to the mall.  It was so weird walking around the mall with just me and my purse.  No stroller, no diaper bag, no stopping every 2 minutes to attempt another distraction.  It was nice;  I felt lighter.  So then I was off for an hour of my favorite guilty pleasure.  Some people shop, some cuddle up with a book, some watch their favorite show, Me? I enjoy getting my favorite gossip magazine, one of my favorite drinks and my favorite appetizers and just sitting at the bar.  And by bar, I mean a restaurant bar like Ruby Tuesdays or Chilis, etc.  May sound strange to some but I do love it so.  Shane was getting his hair cut so once he was done, I picked up my man and we then headed to Outback for our night out.  From there we visited our old neighbor with his new neighbor and my new gym buddy.  It was fun and much appreciated.

Off to the gym

There she is..... always with a baby doll in hand

The guilty pleasure spread... I was one happy mama

We love some Outback Mate