{The Journey Continues}

So after 6 months of eating right and exercise 6 days a week, I am happy to say that I have reached my first goal.  40 by 40.  I wanted to lose 40 pounds by my 40th birthday.  I am so happy to say that I DID IT.  Now not to let myself get too excited I still have more to go.  I am really loving the daily exercising.  I feel great though 5AM comes SUPER early.  It is worth it.  Andrew and I "workout" 6 days a week.  Walking, biking etc.  Learning to eat the right foods and exercising has really made a difference in my life.  Hitting 40 and feeling better than I have in years is amazing.  For vacation this year my son chose to go hiking.  Now 40 pounds ago I would have vetoed that whole idea, but when he suggested it this year I was really excited.  As the day approaches I am looking forward to it.  Not only are we hiking, but we are going to be hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia.  Well since I have been REALLY bad at maintaining this blog, here are a few pics from along my weight loss journey. I lost 4 clothing sizes that feels REALLY good.  Like I mentioned before there is still A LOT more to come off, but I am doing it the right way and feel great.

So the pictures are - December 2009, June 19th, 2010 - my 40th B day party - taking jello shots, and July 4th, 2010.  Ok yes was playing beer pong on the 4th.  Gotta show those young kids how it is done!  Still working on eliminating the whole DOUBLE chin thing, but alas Rome was not built in a day.  One more of me today!

Sorry not the best pic - was taken with my phone at work! LOL

So I have another recipe and it is great for all you working Mommy's out there.

Rotisserie Chicken, Garlic Spinach, and pasta

Take one rot. chicken - cube or slice the white meat

Cook Whole Wheat pasta - I used penne

Saute garlic in a small amount of olive oil

Saute Fresh Sliced Spinach with the garlic

Toss all ingredients along with Parmesan cheese. 

Really quick and YUMMY!  My son ate 2 bowls.

 

{Weight Loss Journey}

So I began this journey, I will call it, on January 2nd.  I call it a journey because the word diet means short lived.  I have tried all sorts of diets and gimmicks, but alas my ASS is still way too big.  Well I researched many new ways to eat and decided I would try the Sugar Busters method.  Now this way of eating is really for people with diabetis, but the way of eating just made sense to me.  My jump start was a New Years Day party at my parents' home.  All of my family was there and at the end of a LONG week filled with FOOD, FOOD, and more FOOD, we were all feeling puffy!  So it began, the family biggest loser contest.  Well we all got weighed in.  I honestly could not believe how much I was at!  If my family was not around I would have cried.  Now I would not allow anyone to see my number.  I folded my paper up and put it in the bag with the rest.  They were to be hidden until Easter Sunday when we would all meet again and see who had lost the biggest percentage.  So began my journey and I was taking my husband and son along for the ride.  No more special diet cooking for just me while they ate all the carbs and sweets they wanted.  I needed full support and they were on board.  Well this photo (bad one) was taken of hubby and I in November for our Anniversary.  Now I am NOT one for loving my photo being taken, but this one really was GROSS!, but that did not jump start my journey as you can tell it took 2 more months.

 Notice how I try to hide my double chins by leaning on hubby's shoulder.  LOL did not work.  Well I am happy to say that eating healthy and DAILY exercise, you mean you can't sit on your booty and lose weight, has really paid off.  The weigh in went like this - I lost the %, but also lost 27lbs! 

As of today's post I am down 30lbs and feel great.  I want to lose MORE, but I am going the slow, 2 lbs. per week on average, boat.  So this blog is going to be my outlet for dieting and crafting.  Follow me along my journey.  If you want to join me subscribe to the blog and leave a comment and we can go on the journey together.  I will post recipes and photos along the way.  My boys are doing great as well.  Hubby is down over 20lbs. as well.  I will post before and after of him as well.  My son has slimmed out too, and is as cute as ever!  Sorry for the poor pics, both from my phone.  I will get better ones and post them.

Here is my first recipe post that my whole family enjoys.

Turkey Chili

1 lb. ground white meat turkey

1 can fire roasted tomatoes

1 onion - chopped

1 red pepper - chopped

1 can white northern beans

1 can tomato sauce (look for low sugar)

smoked paprika

cumin

salt

pepper

Sautee: onions and peppers in 1 tsp olive oil, season with spices

add turkey meat and brown - reseason without all spices, except salt

stir in tomatoes and sauce and simmer for 10 minutes

add beans and simmer for another 10 mins.

Serve over brown rice and add salad

I only eat rice or whole wheat pasta 2 times a week so this is a special meal in my house!! :)  I hope you enjoy!  Let me know if you try it. 

{Sunday Paper Crafting}

Today I just needed to get crafty.  It has just been waaay to long.  So I got out some canvases that I have had for some time and went to work.  I have a thing for owls lately, incase you have not noticed.  Well I have seen so many cute ones being made I just had to use the techniques I have seen out there.  This guy was made using making memories paints on the canvas to create a sky scene.  Came out better than I thought.  I also used Hero Arts wood grain stamp to give the look of bark using clear embossing powder.  I also made some of the paper flowers that are so popular right now.  They are too stinkin cute.  I filled the centers with dew drops and made the belly out of flowers.  I had seen this technique used by Cindy Tobey in the CK Magazine and thought it was super cute.  Well all in all I loved making it and can not wait to hang it up in my office tomorrow. 

I have also been on a mission to get healthy and fit by 40!  Which is coming up very quickly.  I started on my journey, January 2, 2010 and so far have lost 19lbs as of today.  If I get brave enough I will post some before and after pictures! 

{You are looking at a new Ippity Rep}

I am so excited that i am now signed up to be an Ippity Stamp rep for Unity stamps.  My first order should arrive soon and when it does keep a look out for a gallery of ideas, classes, and stamps for purchase.  Contact me if you have any questions.  I have a separate blog for the Ippity Stamps, click here for the link.  I am really looking forward to getting back into crafting and card making. 

{My Christmas Card Fetish}

So I am a nut this year about making Christmas cards.  Between school, shopping for the holidays, decorating, and work, I try to fit in as much time as I can to make cards.  It is keeping me sane!  Here are some of my most current ones.

I am having so much fun making them.  I am also in the process of making a family recipe book, well 8 of them for all the ladies in my family.  I can not wait to get them in the works.  Well I have had a super busy weekend so I am off to bed.  Hope everyone has a great week!

{Christmas Cards and other misc. items}

Well I have been making cards like crazy, but have not posted them.  Here is a cute Halloween card I made with the Making Memories Dollar Stamp set. This was a total lift from K. Werner at Two Peas.  She makes awesome cards!

This was so simple to make and super cute!

Here is another idea from K Werner.  She used a Basic Grey Stamp for her card, but I love this Butterfly and just had to use it.  Very simple stamp the card and then go in with a white gel pen.

For this card I embossed with clear powder I love the simple look of this card. 

Well I will post more soon.  Hope your weekend is going well!

{Unity FFF}

I have been on a mission to get Christmas Cards done and forgot about my Grandfather's birthday.  I am not great at making masculine cards and started to panic about what I was going to do.  Well I went to my Unity stamps for inspiration.  I used the ledger stamp for this card.  I think it turned out pretty cute.  Was super simple to make too.  I love this stamp!

I also used PTI Card stock and Ribbon

Thanks for visiting! Have a great weekend.