{I'm back!!}

Whew!!  I'm finally back to my normal, routine way of life again...and I'm soooo thankful.  Planning a birthday party for a 6 year old takes a LOT of work.  But every one's hard work paid off and it turned out beautiful.  Fit for a princess I must say =) 

Check out the awesome decorations...





The following shots are probably my absolute favorite of the day...

I can't say thank you enough to my friend Cindy for the AWESOME decor...my friend Che' for the gorgeous photography...and last but not least, my mom who always seems to pull me, and the event, through when my anxiety kicks into overdrive.

{Apologies}

Oh My Goodness!!  Where has the week gone?!?!  I have been so busy between preparing for Kayleigh's birthday party this weekend, attending birthday parties last weekend, helping a new recruit on my Mary Kay team get started, the normal 40 hour work week, being a Mommy, and keeping the house in some sort of order.  I seriously NEED a few extra hours each day...or a clone =)  With that being said, I realize I haven't posted lately and the above stated is my reasoning.  Sorry about that.  I am crossing my fingers my life will return to some sort of normalcy after this weekend and I can get back to blogging.  Hope y'all are enjoying your week and having a Happy Leap Year Day!!
 

{Whatcha' Eatin' Wednesday :: Fourth Edition}

Sorry, I took a small vacation last week from posting.  I was quite feeling up to par.  But now that I am...let's get started!

My Breakfast:

I started my morning off with a plain Arnold Sandwich Thin toasted and smeared with 1 Laughing Cow Light Cream Cheese wedge.  It was super quick, easy, and o-so-yummy!  What's even better is that my breakfast was only 4 points+.  Woohoo!

My Lunch:

Lunch was catered in from Longhorn by a pharmaceutical rep. I THOUGHT I chose a decently healthy lunch...but much to my surprise it was far from it.  I ordered the half strawberry and chicken salad and half potato soup.  I didn't bother to calculate my points until after I consumed them (big mistake), I realized I had eaten almost 14 points for lunch.  OH MY!!  I only receive 26 points+ a day.  Therefore I have 8 points+ to last me through dinner. 

My Dinner:

We had already planned to eat pizza with my Daddy tonight and I'm sure 8 points+ isn't going to go far.  Guess I'll take some fruit and fill up on good stuff instead of empty calories =)

{Happy Fat Tuesday}

According to Wikipedia, Mardi gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday.  Wow!!  And to think...some people celebrate this day consuming alcohol, partying it up, and trying their hardest to obtain the most beads.  We've commercialized this holiday (along with many others) and put our own little spin on it, don't ya think?

I honestly didn't realize Lent started the day after Fat Tuesday.  Being raised in a Baptist denomination church, I don't really remember observing the season of Lent.  I do remember learning the basics on Lent while in school, such as it consisting of the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday and that most people "fast" something in their everyday life. 

I have always wondered if I could "fast" something for 40 days.  Honestly, it doesn't seem like an extremely long period of time, but I'm sure it's longer than I realize when it's something I do, use, or consume daily.  So, here comes my challenge..."CAN I fast something for 40 days??"  Of course I can!!  With a little determination, I can do anything I set my mind to!!  Now...what would I like to abstain from for the next 40 days?  Oh geez!!  Decisions, decisions!!  I might as well go big or go home with this soooooo......I will "fast" my FAVORITE soft drink, SunDrop.  I don't drink near as much SunDrop as I used to, but I do have my days where I just crave the sweet citrus taste.  You may want to pray for those around me =)  Just kidding.  I'm sure it will be difficult in the beginning; but like anything else, I'll learn to adapt. 

What are you "fasting" for Lent?



{Just. Press. Play}

To say that I ♥ music is a HUGE understatement.  The only time my brain isn't bouncing to music is when my pretty little eyeballs are getting some shut eye.  Music is a MUST in the car...especially in the morning!  It's my lyrical coffee =)  I am constantly listening to the radio or my iPhone at work.  Music glides me through the work day, and normally before I know it...it's time to go!

So as I was running my C25K the other day, and jamming out to my workout play list on my iPhone, I was wondering what genre of music others listen to when they work out.  Or if they listen at all??  I read a lady's blog a while back that said she ran to classical music.  Interesting!  I would never make it a quarter of a mile running to classical music, but hey...to each their own!!  I personally HAVE TO HAVE upbeat, rockin' songs.  Otherwise...this chick might as well not even get on the treadmill.  Not even to walk!  So...I give you my workout play list: 

~Bad Girlfriend - Theory of a Deadman
~Boom Boom Pow - BEP **Love, love, love this song.  I could hit repeat and run to nothing else!!
~I Want You to Want Me - Cheap Trick
~Fergalicious - Fergie
~Poker Face - Lady GaGa
~Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO
~Hypnotized - Notorious BIG ** LOVE the beginning of this song...it's just one of those mood changer songs.
~Footloose - Kenny Loggins **Another mood changing, can't sit still song =)
~3 - Britney Spears
~Toxic - Britney Spears

I realize it's not very long and needs some TLC.  That's where you fabulous people of the interwebs come in...Yay!!  I would LOOOOOOVE to expand my list and find out what everyone listens to.  Got any great "get up and move your booty" songs?  Send them my way!! =)

{Happy Valentine's Day}

I hate the fact that Valentine's Day has turned into such a ridiculously expensive commercial holiday.  I too am guilty for participating in buying gifts for Kayleigh and Matt...but isn't it really ALL about Love??  Why do we "need" tangible items to declare our love for others?  Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't make an extra effort to express your love for someone today.  But then again, shouldn't you do this every day?  You don't necessarily have to present your loved one/significant with some kind of gift, but maybe instead, just a quick note or a nice card with something from the heart.  That would mean more to me than a gift, honestly.  I think we all get lost in the Valentine's hype and forget that sometimes the little things in life really mean the most. 

With that being said...I can't wait to spend the evening with Kayleigh, Matt, and Matt's family eating dinner and enjoying each other's company.

I ♥ both of my lovies :)

{Whatcha' Eatin' Wednesday :: Third Edition}

My Breakfast:

 

I have been alternating between my Chobani yogurts and these fabulous Atkins Shakes.  Normally, I am not a huge fan of the meal replacement shakes.  I've tried several brands and flavors and they all normally taste like yuck.  I was very reluctant to try the shakes a few weeks ago, but a friend of mine recommended them AND I got them at a super price.  So I'm not really out anything.  But much to my surprise, they are actually good.  The shakes are packed with 15g of protein and only 1g of sugar, so that means they keep me full :)  And weighing in at only 5 points+ they are a great choice for breakfast on the fly!

My Lunch:

Lunch was catered in by a pharmaceutical rep.  She brought some yummy sandwiches, wraps, salad, and soup.  I had a half of a ham, cheese, and tomato wrap on a sun dried wrap.  I had a small cup of tomato basil soup that was soooooo yummy!  I'm not exactly sure how many points I consumed for lunch, because we weren't provided any nutritional information, but I would guess no more than 7.

My Dinner:

Matt, Kayleigh, and I ate dinner at a local Japanese joint.  Kayleigh and I shared the teriyaki shrimp with mushrooms and it was devine!  Again, I'm not sure of my points accumulation, put I haven't been too terribly bad today. 

I haven't been as strict as I should be today, but that's all part of learning the lifestyle of a diet.  There will be good days, bad days, and at times REALLY bad days.  The only thing I can do is clean it up tomorrow and start clean...and that's what I plan to do.