What is Little Miss going to be?

A "buzzy" office manager?

An actress?

A librarian?

A grocer?

A construction worker?

A vet?

A safari guide?

A scientist?

An artist?

What ever she chooses to be, we know she will be great!

Frozen Fruit Bites (for Christy)

The Recipe

* 20-24 reduced fat Nilla Wafers
* 1 cup fat free vanilla yogurt
* 1 cup Neufehatel cream cheese, softened (1 block)
* 2 teaspoons lemon juice
* 2 teaspoons honey
* Strawberries, kiwi, or blueberries

1) Put liners in mini cupcake pan and place the wafers in upside down
2) Whisk yogurt, cream cheese, lemon juice, and honey until smooth
3) Place 1 heaping tablespoon on each cookie and top with your favorite fruit
4) Cover with plastic wrap and freeze 1 to 1-1/2 hours
5) Remove 15-25 before serving and ENJOY!!!!

(Beware: They are addicting!!!! Like mini summer cheesecakes that melt in your mouth!)

My Reward (Shoes)

My Weight Loss/Healthy Living Tips

1) Keep Track - Start by weighing and measuring yourself. Sometimes measurements have more of a difference than your weight will. (Especially since muscle weighs more than fat.) Also, keep track of your foods, work-outs, and how your feeling. It helps to look back and see how your work-outs have progressed and how you are feeling different (BETTER). For me, I went from walking to running 3 miles and my headaches are fewer!!! It is also nice to look back and see what I have done good and what I can still work on.

2) Start Small - Choose something easy and healthy for you to do each day. Mine was waking up and taking my multi-vitamin each day around the same time. Then I moved to no pop or fast food. Then I moved to working out everyday, besides Sundays, not eating sugar, and eating healthier fresh foods. My work-outs have also progressed.

3) Set a Goal(s) - My first goal (with my mom) was no pop for 30 days. (It takes about 30 days to create a habit so this is why we chose this amount of time.) After the 30 days we went to get our eye brows done! (This goes along with my number 10 tip.) My next goal was to not eat sugar and eat healthier. A longer term goal is to be running 5 miles 3-4 days a week. I am at an easy 3 miles right now. Only 2 more to go! Then to fit in my "skinny" jeans again. A longer term goal is to compete in Triathlons and of course my all time goal is to make this a LIFE STYLE change and not a "diet". I want to always live a healthy life and teach my child(ren) to do the same.

4) Have a Plan - Know in advance (as much as one can) what your days are going to be like and what exercise you will be doing that day and even what foods you will be eating.

5) Do Something - Each day take 5-10 minutes to do something just for your self. It can be anything as long as it makes you happy. . . reading, journal writing, blogging, writing a card, calling a friend, making something, playing a game, ANYTHING!

6) Get Ready - Have your work-out clothes and anything else you may need out and ready the night before. I keep my running shoes downstairs and easy to get to. If you have a hard time getting out of bed place your alarm clock where you have to completely get out of bed to turn it off.

7) Be Accountable - When first working out and even later it helps to have someone to hold you accountable. When I first started working out again I called my neighbor the night before and asked her to go walking with me in the AM. I knew I had to get up because she would be outside waiting for me. After a few times I was able to get up and get going with out meeting her.

8) Be Consistent - (But remember that "off" days are OK) I had been working out almost everyday, except Sundays and even on those days I might go for a family walk. I had also been eating really healthy and then yesterday I felt like a train hit me. I didn't work out (besides a 10min walk with Gem) and all I did was eat and go to bed early! I did manage not to go to Wendy's or Dairy Queen though! I realized today that that is what I needed and today was a new day! I got up (a little late) and said that I was at least going to walk and try running. If I felt a lazy, I was going to push through and if I felt like crying I was going to walk and take the short cut home. Well, I pushed through and feel SOOOOOOOOOOO much better today! (Having a good nights rest makes a huge difference!)

9) Have Reminders - I have inspiring pictures (and words like HEALTHY, FIT, LESS HEADACHES!) in my office, car and above the scale. It helps me remember what I am working towards. I also write work-outs on my calendar so I know what to plan for. Also, setting an actual alarm helps too. It could be used for your work-out, if later in the day or maybe for your 5-10 minute "self improvement" time.

10) Reward Self - I knew that my first week of NO SUGAR was going to be rough. Especially since it was Bunco that week and there are delicious treats with in arms reach at all times. I had previously found a pair of shoes I wanted to buy and they were going to be on sale later that week. I put a picture of the shoes up with a reminder that said, "no sugar - one week" and then at the end of the week, I went and bought my shoes!!!

Resources for Weight Loss & Healthy Living :: Provided by MyFoodDiary.com

Resources for Weight Loss & Healthy Living :: Provided by MyFoodDiary.com

This website is my new FAV! It is so easy to use and it keeps me motivated! I have lost a few pounds prior to using this, but I know the weight is going to fly off now! Every day I enter in the food I eat and how I exercised(they even have house hold chores in the list of exercises!) and then at the end of the day it will tell me the things that were good and the things that were not so good. For example today: happy faces for no dessert, no alcohol (easy one), exercise, high fiber intake, and saturated fats only being 5% of total calories. I got sad faces for too few calories (but, I am stuffed!) and exceeding the daily cholesterol limit by 65mg. The first 7 days are free and then only $9.00 per month after. I will definitely keep using it until I reach my goal!!!

4th of July

Don't you just love that face??
I know it is a little belated, but here are our 4th of July pics. . .

Nikki and Mom doing Gem's hair

Ava looking for candy

Gem found some!!!

Playing after church

So sweet.

Photo Shoot (11 Months!)

Yesterday, Me, my dad and Monica took Gem for a little photo shoot. Dad was one of my art directors as well as the lighting specialist and Monica was also an art director as well as baby entertainer. I was so glad to have them both there! Gemma did great considering that it was way past nap time! (My plan to have her nap in the car on the way there didn't work for her I guess.) I haven't had a chance to photoshop any of them (besides the b/w) so here they are as is . . . Pretty Dang Cute!!!