Color Runnin' It. {part 2}

My favorite ideas are ones that come together with excitement and enthusiasm in a short amount of time.  That's the way this Color Run idea has happened....I posted on my blog yesterday afternoon about doing the Color Run, and within a couple of hours we had 8 members, costume ideas and possible team names.  I. Am. SO. Pumped.  Do you even realize?  Not only am I getting to do the Color Run (which is on my bucket list), but now our team is DISNEY THEMED.  With DISNEY COSTUMES.  Cue the Hallelujah Chorus.

Here's what we've decided on:  our team name is going to have something to do with Disney....like the Dashing Disney Divas or something along those lines.  We're each choosing a Disney character.  You have to wear a white t-shirt (as required by the Color Run) and we're all wearing tutus to go along with our character.  This isn't a character that's been picked yet, but you get the idea:

via

 

Belle!  So you get the idea!  We're still playing with logos, but this seems to be the favorite so far:

 

 

Here's our team and characters chosen. 

If you can't tell, I'm EXCITED.  And our team is still open!  If you want to join, we're going to sign up online....if we sign up before April 1st, we get to register for $35 ($10 off the registration price). 

Here's a new development.  I've talked a lot about Brooklyn and all the amazing fundraisers that are happening to help out her family.  One of those events is a marathon, with all entry fees going to Brooklyn.  In addition, there's a 5K in memory of Addison Jo Blair--another little Elizabethtown girl that lost her battle with the same cancer that Brooklyn's been diagnosed with.  Another girl on my Color Run team thought that we could support these two local families by running (a.k.a. probably walking) these marathons as well.  Bonus?  We get to wear our super sweet outfits more than once.  Win-win people. 

If you're interested in Color Run-ning, running for Brooklyn or Addison and wearing AWESOME Disney themed tutus, let me know.  We'd love to have you :)

Weakness Points

Recently, I made the commitment to pinch my pennies, go on a budget and start a shopping ban once again.  I thought the first step I should take is to identify all of those places that I fall prey to spending more money (I'm nervous this is going to be a long list....) so I know which places (and areas) I need to steer clear of when out in town.

1.  Wal-Mart

via

I touched on this yesterday, but I'm terrible about making a grocery run and buying a bunch of crap I don't need.  I'm the poster child for effective advertising.  If it promises to make my life easier, more organized, simpler or just looks pretty in the package, I'm probably going to be tempted to buy it.  Thanks to some really great readers, I've gotten some great suggestions on where to shop for groceries once we move back to Etown.  Now, I need a lesson in couponing.  I don't want to be an extreme couponer, by any means, but I always seem to find the coupons that are "Buy 6, get 1 free."  Well, I don't need 6.  I'll barely use the one that I have to buy.  I need to know where to find good, worthwhile coupons that are going to save me money on the things I need without making me buy 80 of them to get a discount. 

2.  Target

via

Oh Target.  How I could talk for hours about your Clearance section and clean stores and Bullseye logo that suck me in.  Your accessories, your clothing, your shoes, your home section.  I love it all.  And that's why I won't be seeing you for 90 days.  At all.  I just can't.  I don't have that much willpower.  But please know that I will miss you very much....even though my bank account won't.

3.  Organizational aisles

I'm an organized nerd.  I love planners, binders, bins, shelves, containers, anything that makes my life even halfway organized. I will buy planners just because I like the way they're laid out....even though I already have a planner for 2013.  I'll buy stackable containers to store office supplies...even though I already have an organizational system in place in my home office.  Therefore, I must stay away from Office Depot, Staples, Michaels and all organizational and home supply aisles in any store I go in.

4.  Pier One, Kirklands, TJ Maxx, etc.

We're moving.  We're getting a new home.  A blank canvas.  That's just begging to be decorated exactly how I want it to be.  That I'm dying to make look exactly like all the pins I've been faithfully pinning on Pinterest.  But I can't.  That would be EXPENSIVE.  Instead, I'm not going to unpack all of the old stuff that I didn't like about our current house.  I'm going to work on my house a tiny little bit at a time.  It may take 5  years, but it would finally be how I wanted it.  I'm horrible about buying little knickknacky clearance things if I think it looks cute.  As a result, my house looks.....jumbled.  Not pulled together.  Not how I want it.  Stay away from all home goods stores, Devan.

5.  Avery clothing

Ugh.  Little girl's clothing.  I buy it like crazy...even when my child doesn't need it.  I buy the cutest dress, the cutest shoes, the cutest shirt.  As a result, she has a pair of shoes that only match two shirts in her entire wardrobe, shirts that don't match any pants and dresses for the wrong season.  I'm going to plan ahead when it comes to shopping for Avery.  Before buying that adorable shirt, make sure it's practical and that she can wear it more than just once.  I'm going to allow myself to buy Avery clothes during my shopping ban, but only on a limited basis and only if she truly needs it.

6.  Clearance sections

Do I need to say more?  Totally off-limits.


That's it.  It's easier for me to spend less when I can identify my weaknesses and know exactly what I need to stay away from.

What's your shopping weakness??

Hot Mama!! Update!!

Well, ladies and gentleman.  I'm back on the diet track.  Is it fun?  No.  Is it as yummy as eating cheeseburgers and drinking Dr. Pepper?  Absolutely not.  But it's healthier.  And a healthier me means a more confident me.  One that can keep up with my daughter and hopefully be around for a long time because my arteries aren't getting clogged with McDonald's fat. 
Weigh in!
Original weight:  142.5
Last time:  131.4
This week's weight: 

Loss from last week:  1 lb.
Overall lost: 12.1 lbs.

Holy weight loss Batman!  I feel a lot better.  It took a major wake up call for me to get my diet back in gear.  I kind of had the attitude like I didn't care for awhile.  I ate out a lot.  I drank a lot of Cokes.  I ate in excess.  Until I couldn't button my pants one day and my skinny dress that I worked so hard to get back into didn't fit anymore.  Wake. Up. Call.  Ladies and gents, I'm back on the wagon!  And can I make one tiny observation??  This is the least I've weighed since before I had Avery.  I'm at my smallest I've been since starting my "Hot Mess to Hot Mama" journey.  Can I get a high five on that one? *virtual high five*  As awesome as I feel right now, I'm not done yet.  I still have 10 pounds to go before I hit my goal weight.  Think I can do it?

I'm Baaaaaack!

Hey y'all.....remember me?  The mommy behind the Super Messy blog?  Well, lately this mommy has been SUPER BUSY--and absent from the blogging world.  It's all been for a good cause though, I promise!!

Remember Brooklyn?  And the bracelets that I committed to making, selling and then donating the money to Brooklyn and her family?  Well, those bracelets have consumed my waking moments over the last few weeks.  Orders, payments, getting addresses, volunteers to make the bracelets, stressing over when the charms would arrive....and finally, MAKING them today.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining in the least.  I've enjoyed every minute of this bracelet making whirlwind.  I've loved watching the order count climb higher and higher, knowing that more money is being sent Brooklyn's way.  After multiple bracelets, knots, beads, hand cramps and FIVE HOURS LATER, all 109 Minnie Mouse bracelets are complete.   Whew. 

 

So.  For this moment, I'm caught up on bracelets.  We have no more orders coming in and the believe charms aren't here yet, so I can semi-relax other than taking payments.  Which means...I'm BACK!  With that, I'm going to do what every other blogger out there is doing today, on January 1st:  making resolutions.  A lot of people are super negative when it comes to making New Year's Resolutions.  "Who keeps them?"  "You'll make them and be back to your old ways by January 5th."  "Resolutions are a waste."  I, for one, completely disagree.  I know it's just a symbol, but the New Year is a chance to start things fresh.  I saw this completely appropriate and motivating quote on Twitter yesterday:

 

"Tomorrow (New Year's Day) is the 1st blank page in a 365 page book.  Write a good one!" 

 

New Year's is just that--a brand new year.  It's no secret....2012 wasn't the best to my family or the best year of my life.  A lot of things happened that made 2012 a year that I won't be sad to leave behind.  So, here's to starting new things and hoping that 2013 is better than 2012 even thought about being!

 

My 2013 Resolutions: 

 

1.  Be a better daughter of God.  

I LOVE my Jesus.  I love listening to WJIE and being uplifted in my faith and feeling like I can take on the world.  I love going to church and listening to the wonderful things that God has at work for my little church and little corner.  But I'm terrible about praying.  I pray when things seem helpless or when I need something.  I need to start praying whenever things are great.  Just to thank Him for another morning or another day with Marty and Avery.  I want to "pray without ceasing" (1 thessalonians 5:17).  I want to stop worrying about things and start turning them immediately over to my Father. 

 

2.  Be a better wife.

I will be the first to admit---I'm really hard on Marty.  He does more than I could ever imagine as a husband and father.  He helps me around the house, is extremely considerate, always puts me first, is an absolutely incredible father to Avery...and I still find things to nitpick.  I don't even notice I'm doing it.  I complain about things that aren't done instead of thanking him for everything that has been done.  That's why I'm going to restart my "Proverbs 31 Woman" journey again.  I want to be the kind of wife that makes Marty happy to come home to every day. 

 

3.  Start 2013 with only things I LOVE.

I'm a terrible hoarder.  I buy things I don't need in the clearance bin, I buy furniture when it's super cheap, I buy clothes because they've been marked 75% off--but I don't LOVE any of it.  Those clothes will come home and sit in my closet, never to be worn.  That piece of furniture will come home with me and hide in our storage shed because I can't find a place that it looks exactly right.  I want to start fresh and with things that I'm proud to show off and clothes that I feel great in. 

 

4.  Finish my "Hot Mama" journey. 

This holiday season has wreaked some MAJOR havoc on my diet.  I haven't stepped on a scale in weeks because I'm terrified of what it will read.  My pants are fitting a little tighter and I'm only wearing the shirts that fall loosely around my midsection.  Not anymore.  More packing my lunch, less eating out and more feeling like a Hot Mama again.

 

5.  Save money.

Here's where I've always struggled.  I don't blow money, by any stretch of the imagination.  But I do buy things here and there for $20 or under that adds up to a lot of unnecessary spending.  No more quick trips through the drive through--an extra $5 in my pocket.  STRICTLY sticking to our family budget--feeling more comfortable when it comes to paying bills and living everyday life.  It's time Marty and I start living the way Dave Ramsey taught us when we took his class. 

 

6.  Learn to sew.

Plain and simple.  I want to learn how to sew.  And sew well.

 

7.  Start crafting more.

It makes me happy.  It's my equivalent of a girl's night out.  It's a hobby that I love doing and is MY thing.  I stopped crafting and painting right before Avery was born.  I was exhausted and busy and stressed and overwhelmed and painting was the last thing on my mind.  Avery's older now and is actually sleeping well (please, can't talk about it or I'll jinx myself) and it's time I start crafting for myself again.  Make some extra money too.

 

That's it.  Sure, there's a million other things I'd love to do this year, but I know that making a ton of resolutions becomes completely unreasonable.  I feel these are things that I can do.  With encouragement and a lot of prayer, I can complete these 2013 goals.  Happy 2013 all.....can't wait to see the book you're writing this year!  

 

 

Hot Mess Monday {Week 16}

Hot mess Monday time.  And yes, I'm feeling more hot messy than anything else this week.  I haven't blogged, I haven't slept and I haven't exercised.  *sigh*  Hopefully next week I'll be back in the "hot mama" mentality.

Original weight:  142.5 lbs
Last week's weight:  132.4 lbs
This week's weight:

Weight lost from last week:  zilch.

Overall weight lost:  10.1 lbs.

 

I'm still feeling good about the weight I've lost throughout my entire journey.  But this week, I just felt downright chubby.  Nothing fit right.  Since it's been getting chillier, I've had to pull out my fall/winter clothes.  The problem is, I don't have any warmer clothes that really fit my new shape.  Last fall, I'd just had a baby, so I was still sporting a lot of maternity and large sized clothing.  The year before that, I wasn't pregnant, so I was wearing my skinny clothes.  Now, fast forward to this year.  I don't need the larges or the maternity clothes, thanks to my 10 pound weight loss (gosh that feels good to say), but I certainly cannot fit into my pre-baby clothes anymore. That leaves me with maybe 6 shirts and one pair of jeans that I feel good in.  I have no dress pants, no sweaters, no extra pairs of jeans for backups.  I hear you now: "So just go buy yourself some new clothes Devan."  Thanks for the advice, but we have a tiny little problem.  My daughter Avery is a tiny little thing.  Right now, at 15 1/2 months old, she's sporting 9 and 12 month clothing.  Clothing that she SHOULD have been wearing this past spring and summer for her one year birthday.  So every piece of 9-12 month clothing she owns is short sleeved or sleeveless--all meant for warmer weather.  Not 50 degrees and raining.  I've been slowly trying to build up her wardrobe with sweaters and long sleeves and jackets.  Add in Christmas presents needing to be purchased and that doesn't leave a whole lot of money to make me feel like a hot mama.  Ah well.  I guess I just need to make do with the shirts and jeans that I have and keep myself feeling good, instead of trying to fit into those old clothes. 

I have started tracking my meals again on My Fitness Pal and I'm retraining myself to watch what I'm eating.  I'm also going to start the Couch to 5K program, courtesy of my mom's treadmill.  I'm going to be printing out those quotes that I found last week {Suck it up, and one day you won't have to suck it in!}.  And hopefully, next week, I'll see the number "131" on my scale.  

Hot Mama Continues!

Hot Mama Monday continues my friends!

Original weight:  142.5 lbs
Last week's weight:  133.6
This week's weight:

Weight lost since last week:  1.2 lbs!!
Overall loss:  10.1 lbs!! 

I'll be honest.  I was dreading this morning.  I knew I had made some healthy choices and didn't snack and drank more water, but I didn't exercise and I didn't count calories.  So I really wasn't sure where I stood with this week's weight.  When stepped on the scale this morning and saw this, I had to refrain from screaming (since my husband was laying in bed not 20 feet away).  You better believe I did a happy dance though--that's why the picture is blurry.  :)

Biggest challenges this week:  Self-esteem and feeling like I CAN do this.  I get easily discouraged when things don't go my way.  So, when I woke up one morning having a "fat day" and not feeling very good in my clothes, I wanted to give up.  I wanted to drive to my nearest drive thru and get a Big Mac.  I'm terrible about rewarding or comforting myself with food.  I'm not going to lie, there are some big things going on in life right now that leave me feeling completely overwhelmed and stressed.  My immediate reaction is to turn to the comfort foods--the chips, the mac and cheese, the powdered donuts.  I never realized this about myself.  I never thought that I was the type that looked at food as a crutch.  But I do.  And I think now that I've recognized that and admitted it about myself, it'll be easier to stop it when I do feel like comforting myself with food.

What worked:  I think I'm beginning to understand what I can and can't have.  I know which foods I used to eat before my diet began and I know their calorie counts and I know to stay away.  I know to drink more water and snack on baked chips or fruit.  It's beginning to register. 

I know I've been saying it for awhile now, but I AM going to exercise.  THIS WEEK.  I may have lost 10 pounds during this journey, but I'm not really feeling it yet.  My jeans are still too tight, I still see the extra weight under my chin.  And I know that's not going away unless I work for it.  So, to guide me, a few quotes I found by following "Fitness Motivator" on Twitter:

"Motivation is what gets you started.

Habit is what keeps you going."

 

"The only workout you'll regret is the one you never did."

 

"Less sugar, more fruit.  Less meat, more veggies.  Less soda, more water.

Less worry, more sleep.  LESS WORDS, MORE ACTION."

 

And, my personal favorite:

 

"SUCK IT UP, then one day, you won't have to SUCK IT IN."

 

So.  Suck it up Devan. 



Hot MAMA Monday

I think I'm going to change the name of today.  Instead of being a "Hot Mess Monday,"  I'm thinking it should be retitled a "Hot MAMA Monday" because that's exactly how I'm feeling.  Why? 

Original weight:  142.5 lbs
Last week's weight: 134.2 lbs.
This week's weight:

Loss from last week:  0.6 lbs
Overall weight lost:  8.9 (you might as well say I've lost NINE pounds!)

I'm back in the 133s y'all.  Finally.   It's been baby steps, as I'm not completely back into the swing of things and used to being disciplined and super healthy again, but I'll get there.

Biggest challenge:  Watching what I'm eating...again.  You don't think that a hamburger here or a trip to the drive thru there every once in awhile will affect your eating habits, but it completely does.  When I stopped disciplining myself and allowed myself to be a little more lax on what I was eating and how many calories I was consuming, I lost control.  Not to the point where I was binge eating or eating out everyday, but I definitely stopped watching and even caring what I was putting into my body.  Horrible mistake.  Now it's back to watching every snack and counting every calorie.  Not fun, but it produces results and it's how I'm going to get close to my goal weight.

What worked: 
Staying active.  I've been chasing after Avery, doing laundry, picking up, dancing...whatever it takes to not be a bump on a log and sit on the couch all day.  Still not "formally" exercising.  I just cannot find the motivation.  Ugh. 

See you next "Hot Mess Mama Monday!"

Hot Mess Monday {week 13}

I have been a TERRIBLE blogger this week.  I've had a bunch of post ideas floating around in my head and absolutely no time to even think about doing them.  I apologize.  So I'm starting again with a Hot Mess update.

Original weight:  142.5 lbs
Last week's weight:  134.2

This week's weight:

Loss from last week:  0 lbs.

Overall weight lost:  8.3 lbs.

 

Craaaaaaaaaaaaaap.

 

Biggest challenges:  Life is ridiculous, whirlwind, pure chaos right now.  I don't know which way is up, I haven't been to the grocery in over a month (leaving nothing but spiderwebs in the cabinets) and the drive through has become my best friend.  Lately, I can't sleep.  I wake up a lot during the night, have trouble going back to sleep and I feel like complete and utter crap every single morning.  I don't feel like making a lunch in the morning because I barely feel like getting up to take a shower.  So I've had a love/hate relationship with the drive-thrus.  I love it because of the convenience.  I hate it because of the expense and the havoc it's wreaking on my smaller stomach.  But I can't find the motivation to get up early enough to pack a lunch and make healthier choices.  Maybe I can invest in one of those shock collars that will give me a little jolt of electricity any time I even think about pulling into McDonald's.  Any suggestions or tips on how to avoid the fast food would be greatly appreciated.  Or tips on how to sleep through the night without drugging myself would also be appreciated. 

Becoming a Proverbs 31 Woman....Step 1

Last week, I made the conscious decision to be the best "Proverbs 31" woman I could be.  I am going to strive to be better in my relationships with my family, provide food, wisdom and love for my husband and daughter and become closer in my walk with Christ through this project.  Before I start this project though, there's something that needs to be done.  Before I can tie on my apron strings or start praising my husband and bring him good, not harm, I have one step I need to take that's pretty crucial.  I first need to work on loving myself. 
I've always struggled with low self-esteem...pretty much my entire life actually.  I've never felt pretty enough, cool enough, fashionable enough, funny enough.  Basically, I just have never felt like I'm good enough.  Because of that, I am constantly comparing myself to everyone around me. 

"Gosh, she's so witty.  Why can't I think of funny things to say like that?" 

 

"Her child is so well-behaved.  What have I done wrong that Avery isn't perfect like her little girl?" 

 

"Man.  Her blog has 150 followers.  What am I doing wrong that I can't get that many?" 

And on and on and on the cycle continues.  Instead of thanking my Heavenly Father for giving me friends that are funny or great moms or good bloggers, I envy their life.  I compare them to me and always come up with the conclusion that I fall short.  But who's to say that their life is the standard for how things should be?  Why does my friend with the perfect child embody a perfect mom to me?  So my kid cries when she's hungry and has learned how to stomp her foot when things don't go her way....does that make me a bad mom?  So what if my friend's blog has more followers than mine?  I should be excited for her successes and thankful for the readers I do have.  Instead of always comparing myself to others, I need to be thankful for what I've been given.  Judging myself compared to the people around me is always going to make me feel inadequate.  This quote has now become my life motto.  I'm writing it down and carrying it in my car, pocket, wallet, purse so I can see it wherever I go. 

 

"Someone will always be prettier.  Someone

will always be smarter.  Someone

will always be younger.

But they will never be you."

 

How true is this?? She may have better clothes or a more successful blog, but she isn't ME!  She isn't a 5'4" brunette married to Marty, mother of Avery, daughter of Dennis and Lisa.  She can't spout out Disney quotes like it's her personal information and she didn't grow up with the best cousins a girl could ask for.  She doesn't have a small scar on her left hand from a curling iron burn right before her ballet recital.  She isn't the big sister of Dayna and Kristen. She's never had my Granny's fried chicken or watched golf with my Papaw.  She doesn't know what it's like to be rocked by my Meemaw or have memories of my Peepaw.    She isn't me.  I'm me...and I'm the only me there is.  God made me special...and HE loves me.  So what if I don't have her life or her looks or her cooking skills?  I do have a plethora of skills and abilities that God DID bless me with.  While I was brainstorming about this post, I was trying to think of my best features.  Sadly, it took me awhile to come up with more than 5 things that I currently like about myself.  There's something so wrong with that!  How can I ever expect Avery to respect me or Marty to love the unique things about me if I can't be confident and love myself?  How can I ever teach my daughter to have self-respect and self-worth if I don't embody that belief myself?  So, every morning (and hopefully multiple times a day), I'm going to start giving myself praises.  During my lather, rinse, repeat routine, I'm going to name 5 things that I like about myself.  And they can't be the same every day.  Five DIFFERENT things that I like about myself or think that I do well.  Or maybe I'll just repeat the mantra from The Help daily: 

"You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important."



Hot Mess Monday...and More!

It's a Hot Mess Monday, but I have a TON of stuff to cover!!  It's been a busy weekend for the Super Messy blog!  First things first though, a Hot Mess update:

Original weight: 142.5
Last week's weight:  134.8
This week:

Difference from last week: 0.6 lbs

Overall loss:  8.3 lbs.

 

Biggest challenges this week:  Getting back in the swing of things and trying to diet after "letting myself go" and not watching what I was eating for a couple of weeks.  It was hard to pass up the drive-thrus and cut back on my Coke consumption.  But I'm doing it....slowly, but surely....

 

What worked: 

{1}  I'm using My Fitness Pal app again.  Counting the calories, avoiding the fatty stuff, making myself more aware of the food I'm eating again.

 

{2} Pinterest.  I swear, I don't know what I did without this website.  How did people lose weight/make dinner/be creative before Pinterest came along?  I've found so many health conscious and low-cal recipes from there.  I feel so much better when I'm putting healthier stuff into my body.  Check out the recipes I've found on my Hot Mess-->Hot Mama board on Pinterest.

 

I'm feeling good and I'm determined to lose those last 14.2 lbs.  Shew, that seems like so much when you figure up how much I have left....but I've already lost 8.3 lbs...I. Can. Do. This!

 

Next, and I'm SO excited about this one y'all....I participate in several blog hops and link parties throughout Blogland where I share different projects or blog posts from the Super Messy Supermommy.  I usually get some new readers from these blog hops, but this weekend, I was one of the FEATURED links over at Be Colorful!  She liked my Minnie Mouse Highchair post and put it up on her blog for everyone to see.  I mean, this is pee your pants exciting stuff here people!  Big deal for a little 'ole mommy blogger like me.  But seriously, if you're visiting from Be Colorful, welcome :)  I'm super glad you're here!

 

Last, today was the deadline for me to get 50 blog followers and 100 likes on my Facebook page.  I actually ended up with 51 blog followers and 82 likes on the Super Messy Supermommy Facebook page.  *sigh*  Maybe I'll do another challenge again soon for another giveaway....maybe a BIGGER and BETTER one??  Thanks to everyone that is a new follower of the blog or on Facebook.  I appreciate each and every single one of you.  You're rock stars. :) 

 

Happy Monday all!

The Proverbs 31 Project

Recently, I finished reading a book called "My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 wife" for a church book club (nevermind that the club met back last winter and I'm just now finishing the book....that's completely irrelevant) and it had a profound impact on my view of my status as a wife and mother. 
Basically, the book is about one woman's journey to be the perfect "Proverbs 31" wife.  In the book of Proverbs in the Bible, in chapter 31, is a description of a wife of noble character--the wife we are all supposed to strive to be on a daily basis:

^{10 [b]}A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 

Seriously?  Who are you kidding, book of Proverbs??  "She gets up while it is still night and provides food for her family"??  "She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands"??  Where's the verse about the husband rising up at night to see to the affairs of the household?  Or the husband doing his part to raise a family?  Why is it all about the woman's duties and things she should be doing?  When I first analyzed this verse, I was really miffed...to be completely honest.  I didn't see why it all fell on the woman's shoulders to keep the family fed, clothed, clean and happy.  This is the 21st century, for goodness sake!!  But after my self-rightous thoughts subsided, I was ashamed.  Does my husband "rise up and call me blessed and praise me?"  Do I always "speak with wisdom with faithful instruction on my tongue?"  Unfortunately, I know the answer without having to dig very deep.  So that inspired me to start my own "Proverbs 31 Project" to become the wife, mother, homemaker and daughter of God that I am supposed to be--that I NEED to be.  I have got to get out of this lazy mindset that the wash can wait until tomorrow and that it won't kill us to eat fast food just one more day this week until I can make it to the grocery.  Today, I'm going to start striving to be a "Proverbs 31" wife of the 21st century and I'm going to show you how you can too.  It doesn't mean that we have to make our family's clothing from scratch or wake up in the morning before the sun rises to ensure we get everything done.  It is about taking responsibility and realizing that the home and our family's happiness does depend on us--like it or not.  I don't expect to become June Cleaver by the end of this project, but I do expect to be a darn good wife, mother and Christian when it's over.  So......day 1 initiated.  

 



Hot Mess Monday--back from vacation!

You may (or may not) have noticed that there was no Hot Mess Monday last week.  That's because I, along with my hubby, in-laws and sweet little girl were soaking up the rays in Daytona Beach and Disney World (more on that later).  Now that I'm home, it's back to reality and back to my diet.

Original weight:  142.5
Last week's weight: 134.0
This week's weight:

Change from last week:  +.8 lbs

Overall loss: 7.7 lbs

 

Strangely, I'm okay with this.  I went on vacation.  I ate things that I wouldn't normally eat if I were at home and trying to watch everything that went into my mouth.  I didn't count calories, I didn't second guess my food decisions, I didn't feel guilty.  This doesn't mean that I went crazy and ordered the most greasy, fattening-ist (I know that's not a word) things on the menu.  In fact, I did try to eat somewhat healthy.  I chose grilled options instead of fried.  I pased on the drive through breakfast and Krispy Kreme donuts in favor of a small bowl of cereal.  I didn't finish everything on my plate, therefore not stuffing myself to the point of being sick.  And these are probably all reasons why I only gained 0.8 lbs in 9 days instead of 5 lbs.  But now it's back to real life and back to making good decisions.  Hopefully next Hot Mess Monday, I'll be seeing the number "133." 

Thirty for Thirty {days 16-20}



Without further ado, days 16-20 of my Thirty for Thirty challenge.  

I think I've hit a stride with mixing and matching my outfits.  I was particularly proud of days 17 and 18.  For someone that isn't very fashion forward, I was impressed that I actually thought to put day 17 together....not only that, I wore it outside around other people.  It may not seem anything too wild, but for me, I was nervous about it.  I almost cried on day 20 because it was actually cool enough for me to wear a scarf and boots.  Fall, I thought you'd never come. 
Maybe sometime before November, I'll get the last 10 days of my challenge on here. 

By the way, are you a follower?  Reminder that when I reach 50 blog followers and 100 likes on my Facebook page, I'll be doing a unique, handmade giveaway!

Thirty for Thirty {days 11-15}

Holy busy schedule Batman.  Life has completely been turned upside down these last few weeks.  Marty and I have been an incredible opportunity to buy a house in our hometown of Elizabethtown.  In order to get this house, we have to sell ours....in 4 months.  Not an impossible task, but now is not the ideal time to sell a house (or so we've been told) and my worrying nature and anxiety has kicked into overdrive.  I have a TON of work to do to get our house ready to show and a new post on my Thirty for Thirty challenge has been the last thing on my mind.  But, in case you're interested, here's days 11-15. 

I kind of hit my stride after day 11.  It was much easier to mix and match my pieces with accessories.  I wish I could be like some of the people that I got my inspiration from and really go all out with my accessorizing and fashion choices.  But I'm not there.....yet.  This challenge has made me more fashion conscious and what I'm putting on my body every morning.  I kind of feel like an outfit isn't complete without some bracelets and a belt now.  Who knows if it'll continue after I'm allowed to explore the rest of my closet again.  By the way, who else is excited that it's FINALLY Fall?!??  Hello boots, scarves and goodbye ridiculously hot weather and summer clothes :)

Because who doesn't love FREE stuff?!?!

Alright.  The gloves are coming off.  I'm declaring war on my Followers number.  I know numbers aren't a great reflection of how many people read your blog, but 37 is just plain sad y'all!  I'm tired of looking at that number every time I log onto my blogger account.  Plus, I hate odd numbers and that's two of them in a row (3-7 *gag*)!  I'm doing something about it.  And hopefully you are too!!  If I can get 50 total followers on my blog and 100 followers on my Facebook page by October 15, I'm going to do a GIVEAWAY!  You heard that right----free stuff!!  The winner will receive one of my hand-painted personalized signs. 

 

 

 

 

 

These signs are completely customizable.  I can paint on canvas or wood.  You can pick your favorite quote, Bible verse, saying, family's name...whatever!  You can also pick the colors of your sign to match your personal decor. 

 

BUT WAIT!  Here's how this is going to work.  If I get the 50 followers and 100 Facebook fans by October 15th, I'll do another blog post telling you guys that you're amazing, that I have my followers and we'll do the giveaway.  You'll have to comment on the post saying that you follow my blog and/or my Facebook page and a random winner will be drawn on midnight of the 16th.  Clear as mud?  I'll provide more details when the actual drawing happens. 

Think we can do it?  Who's going to win their very own hand-painted sign??

 

 

Hot Mess {week 11}

Hot Mess time.  You may remember last week when I went super downhill and ate like crap.  Was I better this week?

Original weight:  142.5
Last week's weight:  134.0
This week's weight:

Loss from last week:  0
Overall weight loss:  8.5 lbs

Biggest challenges this week:  I didn't lose, obviously.  Strangely though, I'm okay with it.  I've had a TON of people tell me that they can notice a difference and that I look good.  They say it takes 4 weeks for YOU to notice a difference, 8 weeks for those CLOSEST to you to notice and 12 weeks for people OUTSIDE your circle to notice.  Well, we're on week 11 and I'm getting comments from others, not just my family.  Am I where I want to be?  Not yet.  I still have 14 lbs to lose before getting to my goal weight.  That's not really what's important to me though.  Would I LOVE to be 120 pounds again?  Abso-freaking-lutely.  But what's more important to me is continuing to eat healthier and set up a healthier lifestyle for myself.  To zip up my size 6 jeans and feel good in them every single day...not just on my skinny days.  To feel proud when I take a picture with my daughter or my husband and be able to share it willingly on Facebook and not worry whether or not I have a double chin.  These things are more important.  The scale is just a number--it doesn't define me.  Do you think someone is going to look at me and say "Oh girl, she is obviously not 120 pounds.  She's gotta be at least 125!" Or do you think they're going to notice when my clothes are fitting better and look healthier?  I'm voting for option two.

What worked this week:
My journey is still continuing.  I hope to lose weight this week (although we leave for Florida on Friday and I will probably consume my weight's worth of crab legs while we're down there).  I'm still proud of myself, no matter what the scale said this morning.  I don't have to think really hard to make healthier options when I make dinner or go out to eat.  I just know what's better for me and what I should stay far, far away from.  And that's a huge step in itself.  Before, I would guess at calorie counts and think "Surely a chicken sandwich at McDonald's is better than a hamburger."  Not always the case, my friend.  I'm already on my way to living a much healthier and fulfilling lifestyle than I was before.  And that's more of a reward for me than a half a pound loss this week anyway.

Hot Mess {week 10}

Hot Mess Monday.  I knew this day was coming and I wasn't looking forward to it.  Here's why:

Original weight: 142.5
Last week's weight: 133.2
This week's weight:

Difference from last week: +0.8 lbs
Overall loss:  8.5 lbs

*sigh*
Biggest challenges: I could make a million excuses for this week.  I haven't been sleeping.  I've had a sickness that's lingered in my body for a month in a half and I haven't felt like doing anything except sit around and eat comfort foods (i.e. french fries, mac and cheese).  I've barely been home to make dinner and attempt to be healthy.  Reality is, those are all excuses.  The reality is, I've eaten like crap.  Reality is, I've been exhausted and had zero energy to cook or work out or anything.  No excuses.  I take full responsibility for this one.

What worked this week:
Nothing.  I was bad and I paid for it this week. 
I'm getting back on my diet horse today.  No more eating like crap.  No more feeling like crap.  No more being lazy.  I want to be a hot mama.  I want to be the wife and mother that Marty and Avery are proud of.  I want to feel good about myself again.  Yes, I realize that I don't have to be some size 2 skinny to have my husband and child proud of me, but I want to say that I did this the healthy way.  To say that I lost my baby weight over time and did it right.  I didn't starve myself, I didn't become a gym rat that ate nothing but hummus and water.  I did it a realistic way....by being a wife and mother and living my everyday life while making healthy choices.  I CAN do this.  I CAN be a Hot Mama.  Scratch that.  I WILL be a Hot Mama.  Until next week....

Hot Mess=Me

If you were to look up the word "Hot Mess" in the dictionary, a picture of me from this week would be right beside it.  I've been hot messing it up all over the place.  Let's get to the weight loss.

Original weight:  142.5
Last week's weight:  133.6
This week:

Loss from last week:  0.4 lbs
Overall loss:  9.3 lbs

Biggest challenges this week:  I'm going to be completely honest with you guys.  I'm surprised I lost this week.  I had to mentally prepare myself to step on the scale this morning because I was expecting a number that was quite a bit higher than my 133.6 from last week.  I ate like crap.  And, as a result, I felt like crap.  For some unknown reason, I cannot sleep.  I wake up in the middle of the night (or my child wakes me) and I cannot. go. back. to. sleep.  I lay there.  I think about all the things I need to be doing.  The checkbook balance.  What I'm going to wear tomorrow out of my 30 items.  What I'm going to get people for Christmas.  Before I know it, I'm getting like 4-ish hours of sleep every night (I'm a 9 hour a night kind of person).  It's exhausting.  It also makes it extremely hard to function as a normal human being during the day.  Enter caffeine--and lots of it.  I have probably been drinking 2-3 "Cokes" a day.  So not healthy.  Also enter drive-thrus.  I'm exhausted, so I don't have the energy or the want to make my lunch in the morning.  So, I've been a regular customer at the McDonald's drive-thru.  I can tell that my body has gotten used to less fast food because yesterday, I felt horrible.  Stomach pains, bloating feelings, the works.  My body was completely telling me "STOP FEEDING ME CRAP!"  So, this morning, I woke up on time and made myself some lunch.  And I've only had one Coke.  Hopefully steps back to being the healthy me that I've been working so hard on.

What worked this week:
{1}  I've started exercising.  I'm working on strengthening my ab muscles again.  After Avery was born, they were pretty much non-existent.  Every night, while I wait for my sleep-aversioned princess to drift off, I lay in her floor with my legs up on her ottoman and I do 100 crunches.  I'm hopefully going to increase the number of crunches and introduce some cardiovascular exercises, because that's where the calories are burned!
{2}  Finding better snacking options.  At work, we have a popcorn machine.  I've been adding dried cranberries to my bag of popcorn.  Healthy, sweet, salty..perfect combination!!  I've also started portioning off my snacks.  Instead of taking a big bag of chips with me to lunch, or to sit on the couch and snack on, I put the portion size in a Ziploc bag and only allow myself that amount of food. 
{3}  Making dinner again.  I had been sadly slacking on my domestic responsibility of making dinner for my family every night night.  I can't remember the last time I'd made dinner for the two of us.  I sat down and made out a grocery list for 2 weeks from healthy recipes I'd collected.  Better than raiding the fridge for junk to eat because Mama didn't make dinner.

I'm not perfect.  I had a crappy week and I will probably pay for it when I step on the scale next Monday.  I can't dwell on it.  Time to shake it off, forget the past week and start fresh.  Back on my journey to being a HOT MAMA!

Thirty for thirty {days 1-5}

It's my first "30 for 30" update post and let me tell you people.....this is hard.  It may not be hard for a girl with major fashion sense that can accessorize anything from an evening gown to a paper bag.....but I am not her.  Far from it, in fact.  I never realized how hard it would be to mix up shirts and pants without making it look like I'm wearing the same thing every single day.  Plus, it doesn't help that it's been in the mid-90s here all week and layering to change the looks of my outfits is not an option.  Hopefully, I'll get to wear some of the blazers and cardigans I picked out before the end of this month.  Otherwise, you're going to be seeing the same outfits every single week.  *sigh*  Well, here goes.  My first five days on my 30 for 30 challenge.  Take a look.  Critique.  Tell me what would look good with that green shirt so it doesn't look like I have nothing else to wear.  Really.  I need feedback.

Suggestions?  Ideas?  Accessories you wanna give away to help me jazz these outfits up? 

A Labor Day Hot Mess Update

It's Labor Day and I have the day off from work, but that doesn't mean I'm taking a break from a Hot Mess Monday update! 

Original weight:  142.5
Last week's weight:  134.2
This week's weight:

Loss from last week: 0.6 lbs
Overall loss:  8.9 lbs

Biggest challenge this week:  Exercising.  I've been eating really healthy, budgeting my calories and being a really good kid when it comes to passing up fast food and french fries.  But I don't exercise.  Probably because I've never been an exercise person.  I don't really know how to do it.  I pinned a few ideas for simple, mommy-fied exercises that I think are possible.  I know that the weight is going to stop falling off at some point because there's only so far a healthy diet can take me.  I've got to WORK to get the fat to come off.

What worked this week:
1.  Better lunches.  Instead of throwing a ham sandwich with mustard in a bag and calling it lunch, I've found better, more exciting options.  Whenever I go to the grocery, I cut my vegetables up as soon as I get home and put them in tupperware containers in the fridge.  That way, when I'm making my sandwiches or salads or sides, I can easily throw them in.  Normally, I'd be in a hurry in the morning, want some green peppers on my salad, but decide it would take too long to get it out of the fridge, cut it up, put it back in the fridge, so I'd just leave it out.  I highly recommend doing this extra step when you get home from the grocery.  It's easier to eat healthy when veggies and fruit are within easy reach. 

2.  Better snacks.  I struggled with snacking when I was at work.  My go-to snack was always chips.  Greasy, not filling, but fulfilled a salty craving I would have.  I've found something better.
I'm OBSESSED with these things.  I've only tried the crackers and cheese together, but I'm thinking of all the possibilities.....like sundried tomatoes!  Best part?  Only 105 calories for 9 crackers and one wedge of cheese. 

Not much else to report.  I'm just taking it day by day, eating healthier....and hopefully beginning to exercise soon.  Till next Monday.....