this is how i roll

Hey sweetcheeks.

Yup.

That's you.

I actually got a huge response about my last post so I thought I'd expand on my weight loss journey a little more.

(This is not going to become a strictly weight loss/fitness blog... promise.

However, it's a big part of my life now so it will make it's appearance occasionally.)

However, I could go on and on about this so this will be a little mini-series for now.

Disclaimer:

I'm human. I'm not a personal trainer. I'm not a nutritionist.

I mess up. And I don't always make the wisest choices.

This is just my story.

The main question I've been getting:

What are you doing to lose the weight?

Well my dearies...

it's this little thing called diet and exercise.

Here are a few of the guidelines I've made for myself:

1. No pop.

2. No alcohol. Unfortunately this means no wine as well.

3. Exercise daily whether you want to or not.

4. No sweets.

5. Count your calories!!

Now, I'm no angel.

Have I followed my own guidelines and never slipped?

Absolutely not.

That's why they're called GUIDELINES... not rules.

1. I've cheated and had pop a few times.

The boyfriend was gone for 3 weeks (super sad time...) and while he was gone I slipped up quite a bit.

He's my main source of focus and motivation right now and without him here to hold me accountable it was easy to slip.

So guideline #6: Have someone to hold you accountable!!

2. I've actually done really well with no alcohol.

I had half a glass of wine on New Years (cause you have to have something to toast with...)

and I had a glass and a half of margaritas when I went out with my "sister" Nicole.

That's it.

Holy crap on a cracker.

I went from an avid wine drinker

(a glass or two most nights of the week)

to almost nothing.

And this has been since November folks.

That's 2.5 months of (almost) no alcohol already.

3. Exercise daily? I definitely try to.

But there are days when:

a. you're sick

b. you're so sore for yesterday you can't move and need a recovery day

and

c. you have back to back plans and you literally don't have time.

Notice I didn't put "don't have motivation" on that list of excuses.

I'll admit I've had a day or 2 or 3 where I was completely unmotivated and didn't go. But I always regret it within the hour.

If you make yourself go exercise, even when you really don't want to, it makes it that much easier the next day.

And chances are, once you start, you'll realize you make the right choice and feel amazing!!

4. No sweets. HA!! Ladies, you're aware of this things called PMS? Hello, chocolate!!

Yes, I've eaten my fair share of chocolate through this ordeal.

However, the key is to control how much you eat.

Do I sit and eat a whole bag of M&M's or chocolate covered pretzels?

Absolutely not.

I'd like to...

But I don't.

I try stick with 1 piece of chocolate... whatever it is.

Enough to fulfill the craving.

5. Do I always count my calories? Umm that's a big fat negative.

I try to keep a rough estimate of where I am in my head throughout the day.

But I definitely don't keep a running total.

That's just not how I function.

However, I definitely think it's a good idea to keep track of your calories...

even if that means you have to count every single calorie.

Now for what I personally do for myself.

I aim for between 1200-1500 calories a day.

I spend at least an hour at the gym every day.  Sometimes more.

That's it.

Is it easy? Most days.

Some days you just want to scream and say "&#^@ you!!"

But it's totally worth it.

Sounds totally reasonable right?!

Because IT IS.

How bad do you want it?

Now get up and change your life!!

Pictures all from here.

burn baby, burn

I thought I'd share a little bit more about weight loss journey.

This has suddenly become a huge part of my life and I have no intention of stopping any time soon.

Now...

I'm not quite ready to share my starting numbers.

But I will share that I have lost a total of 35 lbs so far!!

I have 45 more lbs to go before I hit my first goal.

Ok I lied...

That's where I'd like to be before summer.. aka swim suit season.

My FIRST goal: lose a total of 60 lbs. (that's only 25 more from where I am now!!)

That will put my BMI inside the "overweight" range.

I will no longer be considered obese!!!

I hope to be here by my birthday - March 27, 2012

That's about 3 lbs per week that I need to lose.

I've been doing 3-4 lbs per week and occasionally hitting 5 lbs per week so I think this is within reason.

My second goal: lose a total of 90 lbs.

That will put my BMI inside the "healthy" range!!!

Goal time: July 4, 2012

That's 2 lbs per week after my birthday.

Totally do-able.

By the time I'm done I want to be down a full 100 lbs!!

That will put me at my ultimate goal weight.

I promise I will share my starting weight at some point... just give me time.

:)

Now I'll put it into perspective for ya...

This is me at my heaviest:

((with my 2 very beautiful friends Hannah and Lisa at Cedar Point))

August 2010

And now...

I weight LESS than I did here:

((at my absolutely beautiful friend Jamie's wedding... miss her like crazy))

May 2008

Can you see any difference?!?!

Even if you cant, pretend that you can.

It'll make me feel better.

Here's a current picture of me:

((yes I realize it's only my face... but I feel like my face looks good in this picture!!))

((with cute little chubby cheeks Hannah!!))

And here's some of my goals of where I want to be when I'm done:

I WILL get there.

((Pictures found here.))

Anyways...

I feel a huge difference in my confidence level.

I realize that I'm not near where I want to be yet.

I realize that I'm no supermodel.

But I feel sexier.

I feel like I can take on the world.

So world??

Bring it.

whoa now.

Holy slacking!!

Talk about ridiculousness.

I haven't posted since September and that is just completely unacceptable.

Time has completely gotten away from me.

It's a new year so I figured it was time to start getting back on track.

((Yes, I realize it's almost a month into the new year... but better late than never right?))

So today I'm here to share with you some of the things that have been stealing my time.

((Don't be hatin on them..))

First and main distraction:

I met this aaahhh-mazing hunk of a guy:

This was taken on our first date.

November 19, 2011

Yup... he set the standards high from the very beginning.

Notre Dame football.

Our Irish kicked some major &#* that game against Boston College.

I'm expecting big things for Valentine's Day y'all.

((JK... I'm perfectly content with some snuggle time...))

The main thing you need to know about him?

He's absolutely wonderful and I'm falling hard and fast for this guy...

He motivates me.

He takes care of me.

He pushes me to be the best version of me.

He's just simply... the best.

Second distraction:

This is now the other man in my life.

He's a big baby and demands much of my attention when I'm at home.

Especially for giving kisses.

Good thing he's flippin adorable.

So ladies and gents, meet Duke ((aka Dookers)).

He will be glad to give you lots and lots of kisses.

Third distraction:

My chillins.

Abby Rae and I had a tiny bit of fun playin with PhotoBooth one day after school.

There were just a few giggles along the way........

Now obviously Abby isn't the only one taking up my time.

I have 20 other wonderfully, amazing students that I love spending time with on a daily basis.

Not to mention the other 31 children in our school who love to come in my room any chance they get.

Cause apparently I'm the coolest teacher around.

((not to brag or anything.....))

Fourth distraction:

This has probably been one of the biggest distractions too.

Working out.

That's right folks.

I have finally faced my fears of working out in front of people.

The ahhhh-mazing hunk of a man I mentioned up yonder?

Yea... he's so ahhhh-mazing that he added me to his gym membership.

And since I'm not one who likes to waste money,

I have made dang sure that I'm taking advantage of that gift.

I have made an effort to go to the gym everyday.

Unless I'm sick (such as I am this week), or literally don't have time, I go to the gym.

Over Christmas break,

I went twice a day.

BOOM.

I am officially down 4 pant sizes!!

Maybe one of these days I'll get enough courage to post before and after pictures.

((However, I have lots of time before I've lost enough for that anyway.))

I just owe it all to the ahhhh-mazing man in my life.

He's the source of all my motivation and he pushes me to do my best.

Best thing?

He goes to the gym with me AND eats the same healthy dinners with me.

((most days... haha))

Have I mentioned how ahhhh-mazing he is?!?!

Fifth distraction:

The lovely thing that is distracting probably 90% of America.

Pinterest.

My source of all motivation, creativity, and inspiration.

Need motivation to workout? Check Pinterest.

I found tons of inspiring pictures as well as lots of workout ideas to keep things changing!!

Three Cheese Chicken Alfredo Bake

Need food ideas?

Now obviously this isn't the healthiest option :( but it looks and sounds flipping delicious!!

The boyfriend is planning on making some new purchases this spring to redo the living room so this is one of the ideas I have of sprucing up the space.

We've been talking about ways to fix up the house.

Obviously I've been hoarding ideas on here for awhile now.

His first question:

"How much will this cost me?"

Well lucky for you baby, I'm all about DIY and saving money!!

Not only do I have sources to get awesome curtains made,

I'm all about clearance and simplicity.

((Especially when there's a high probability of boys getting rowdy during a football game and breaking things...))

Found this one the other day.

I absolutely love it.

It's sorta becoming my mantra for the year.

I will be FIERCE this year!!

So between these 5 distractions + time with family and friends...

I've been pretty busy.

BUT.

I intend to step it up a little bit.

((It helps that I can kidnap the boyfriends computer occasionally since mine decided it needed to end its life... highly inconvenient))

It may be slow at first... but give me time..

I'm tryin!!

Promise!!

So until next time:

Peace out yos.

get a napkin ready...

...cause you're about to drool.

I got some deliciousness coming your way today!!

(Hello BTW... I hope you all had a relaxing Labor Day weekend!!))

So... like... forever ago...

My friend Laura and I made this dinner.

Ok, well I made it while she went to her church.

Then we ate it when she got home.

I originally got the recipe from my friend Amanda.

Cause she's just awesome like that.

And now I'm sharing it with you.

Cause it was de. lish. for reals.

Umm... and we didn't really have a name for it.

So...

We will call it:

Amanda's Amazingly Delicious Creation

or

Deliciousness (for short)

or I suppose you can come up with your own (but not as cool) name.

First.

Gather your veggies.

I used:

1 yellow pepper

1 red pepper

1 orange pepper

1 summer squash

1 zucchini

and about 2-3 red potatoes

(you can always use more/less of something depending on your favs)

Also, you should have some chicken breasts unthawed.

Next. Preheat your oven.

Then.

Slice and dice my friends.

((but watch those fingers!!))

For real.

Slice up everything.

ALL those veggies.

And then throw them in a bowl.

Fourthly.

Melt up some butta.

((aka butter))

Umm and I think I used 1-2 tbsp.

I think.

Fifth.

Throw that butter and some of this goodness into the bowl of veggies.

Then mix it all up.

Next,

Cover the bottom of a casserole dish or a 9x13 pan with your chicken.

Sprinkle some of that Famous Dave's seasoning on the chicken.

Then dump all those covered veggies on top of the chicken.

Once all that is in the dish,

dump some Italian dressing on top of it all.

((trust me. you don't have to use wal-mart brand.))

Finally, cover it with aluminum foil and stick it in the oven.

Cook until the potatoes are tender.

45-60ish minutes.

Once it's done,

ENJOY!!

It's delish.

For reals.

And ALL the credit goes to Amanda.

Cause there's no flippin way I'd come up with this on my own.

Not a fan of squash and zucchini??

Try it anyway with less squash and zucchini.

I was never a fan either...

but I LOVED this!!

Very yummy summer/fall dish.

:D

Now go ahead and leave some love for Amanda's amazing creation... she totally deserves it!!

Hope you all have a very happy week!!

down under... the kitchen. still.

So....

apparently blogger didn't like some of the pictures of my classroom?

It didn't post all the pictures.

Which whatev.. normally I'd let it go.

BUT... it didn't post my favorite ones.

And this will just not do.

So.

Here's the rest of my classroom.

View of the front, from my desk-ish area.

And this is my favorite area.

The reading area.

I think it's completely adorable.

So simple, but so yet, so cute!

So anyways... that's all I got for ya. I didn't take pictures of my desk cause well.... it was sorta messy.

And I just didn't feel like cleaning it off right then.

I hope everything is enjoying their long, holiday weekend!!

I'm almost done with book 3 out of 52 and only 1 week into it!!

Woop woop!!

Happy Labor day y'alls!!

Go hug a worker!!

:)

down under... the kitchen.

Hola little guppies.

I'm going with a fish theme today...

and you'll see why.

You see...

many people have been asking to see my classroom.

So here ya go folks.

Be excited.

:)

First, I should probably explain the fishy theme.

Well, this year we moved downstairs...

into the basement.

Which is awesome.

No more answering the door for me!!

Woop woop!!

 And now we are "Down Under" the kitchen!!

Get it??

Good.

Cause I thought it was pretty clever.

So here ya go folks:

 Circle Time wall

Blocks/Building area

Welcome Bulletin Board/Helpers

Puzzles/Art/Computers

Phonics

thugs, soul thief, and sunshine.

Hola amigos.

(Sorry chicas. Had to go for the masculine plural cause I know there are some guys who read this.)

So last night.

I was sittin in my bed.

Got my awesome tunes playin.

Editing pictures.

Lots and LOTS of pictures.

And that's when I got SUPER excited for todays blog.

Not because I had anything super exciting to say...

but because I fell in love with the pictures I was editing.

Sunday I took family pictures for the Schwartz's.

AKA my aunt, uncle, and cousins.

Well...

during this time I was supposed to take individual pictures of some of the kids.

So Anna Banana and I got to work.

Now, I'm not allowed to put the "official" pictures up yet.

Not till they're all done being edited and release by the family.

But I couldn't help but share some of our "out-takes."

Cause we had a blast.

Now get your awesome playlist ready.

((Cause I swear it helps make it even better)).

And enjoy.

Sibling Love.

Everybody look straight into the sun!!

More sibling love.

"I'm 5 inches tall!!"

Yummy!!

We stole his soul.

Poor amish guy.

LOVE THIS!!!

After trying to jump into the car through the window/top.

Yup.

She failed.

But we had a lot of good laughs!!

That's right.

My gma is a thug.

HA HA HA!!

Aaaaand he's gonna kill me for posting this.

But I don't care.

Cause I loves it.

Hope you enjoyed them as much as I do.

They fill my heart up.

To the brim.

What fills your heart up to the brim??

((that's code for leave a comment.))

Happy Tuesday, loves!!