M is for the MANY things she gave to me...

MOM!

Mother's Day is so wonderful. Moms work so hard and never get enough recognition for what they do. I'm 31 (ok, nearly 32) and still need my Mom daily so a Mother's work is truly never finished.

It's also true what they say "you never fully know a Mother's love until you are one." Oh that's so so so true.

It also helps if your Mother is your best friend, and mine is! I always say that I hope Girlie feels the same way about me as I do my Mom. She's been there for me my whole life. Always, everyday. She's there to pick me up, dust me off, kiss my wounds, give me encouragement, give me praise, advice, constructive critiscim. She's always there. My biggest cheerleader and supporter.

Thank you Mom for always being there. For always knowing the right things to say, even if I think at the time they aren't. Thank you for sharing your passion for people, friendship and family with me and I hope to pass all those wonderful things down to my girl.

To every Mom I know! Your work is amazing and you're making an impact on a life or lives that will last a lifetime!

Don't forget Mom everyday! :)
Happy Mother's Day - always!

4.2 Pounds Down!

Today was my first weigh-in and the scales showed a 4.2 pound loss.

While I know that seems good I'm not cheering myself. I'm actually really bummed. I expected more as much as I've been doing/not doing.

I'll keep pushing for this. I guess losing 4.2 is better than gaining. Either way, I wish I was happier!

Why can't it be any easier?

Day 6 of my new healthy lifestyle, well, just plain ole' stinks! I feel like I've busted my butt watching what I eat, not eating a single thing that I shouldn't (literally nothing) and at this point I'd swear I've not lost a single pound!

I know I'm nuts. It's just my crazy self battling against the healthy food. LOL I've never in my life eaten this good. Truth is I've never set out on this journey to lose weight. I've always known I needed too but never tried. So my first try is SO SUPER HARD!

I miss sweets. Oh sweet love of my heart I miss chocolate! Reese cups, donuts (OMG DONUTS), cake, ice cream, cookies, chips, greasy burgers and fries! I know burgers & fries aren't sweets, but at this point they look mighty sweet!

I have surprised myself. I truly didn't know I had it in me to actually avoid all that bad stuff and eat right. I didn't know I had it in me to make time to exercise for at least 45 mins each day. I didn't know I had it in me to walk into a place that has my favorite food on the planet and come out with an apple and a water! I AM GOOD!! But, I'm not that good. Today is a low day for me. I'm struggling. Struggling only because I really feel that what I've done hasn't produced any results. I'm actually not struggling to say no to bad things. Like I said, I totally turned my cheek to my favorite food on the planet this morning. No, I'm struggling with the thoughts that as good as I'm being it will mean nothing when I step on that scale tomorrow.

UGH, why is our mind such a powerful thing? Maybe I'll step on the scale and will have lost 100 lbs by tomorrow. LOL Oh I crack myself up! Wouldn't that be the way to do it though? Honestly, I kinda think that's what I'm looking for. That's what my heart wants so bad and my mind is like "get over yourself that will take decades to lose."

I've got to get healthier. FOR ME - FOR MY DAUGHTER - FOR MY HUSBAND - FOR MY FAMILY!
It's just one of those rough days that I need to get through!

Tomorrow will be better!
unless the scale fails me that is hehe

Make a Teacher's Day!

Today continued Teacher Appreciation Week and it was bring an apple for teacher today. We did bring our apples but we also made this shirt for Girlie to wear! She was so excited to show it to Ms. Tawanna!



Once Ms. Tawanna read it this was her reaction!

She bawled and just hugged Girlie forever! She also kept saying "Thank you. I love you. You brighten my day. You've made my day!" It was so great to make her so happy and to make her day! I nearly cried too! I would have if I cried easily in public. So sweet!

Then the other kiddos weren't real sure what was matter with Ms. Tawanna so they came to check it out!

That's when this glorious God-loving teacher hugged them all and said "you are all my gifts from God. You're the reason I get up in the mornings! You are my gifts!" Ok, I cried then. So much for not being a public weeper!

We are just so blessed that we have Ms. Tawanna as her teacher. I will be so so sad when she moves up to the other class and has a different teacher. Ms. Tawanna is such an amazing, giving, loving, caring and spiritual teacher, it will be a loss! I sure am glad we made her day. It doesn't take much to make someone's day!!

(some of the kiddos had to get in on the photo op too! lol)

Make someone's day!

I <3 Faces Contest "Hats"

I recently found a wonderful blog I ♥ faces! I'm so addicted to this blog now and they have weekly photo contests. Well this weeks contest is HATS so this is my first entry and hopefully not my last! I don't think I'll win but I had to show off my girlie in her sweet hat!

Adult Entry, me and my sombrero

Kid Entry - my beautiful girlie

"Be sure to head on over to I ♥ faces to check out all of the beautiful face entries this week!"

But beware, an addiction will begin!

TEACHERS RULE!!

Yesterday started Teacher Appreciation Week and while I show appreciation to the teachers all year through I love this time. I love being able to show them just how much I appreciate all they do in her life!

Today was dress like a teacher day at school and I had no idea at first how to make this happen. However, the longer I thought about it I thought of something. The teachers at school wear khaki pants and white polos, so guess what she wore today?



She was so proud to run into school this morning and announce "Ms. Tawanna I'm dressed like you!" It was adorable!!! Poor shirt is too big as I had to buy a boy shirt (no girl polos) but doesn't she look so cute? I hope to get a picture of them together this afternoon. Ms. Tawanna wore blue pants today wouldn't you know (the other color they can wear) so she's not 100% matching but oh so fun!

I also took today to show appreciation to every teacher at Angels. I set up a little breakfast for them.

Complete with sausage balls, mini bagels w/cream cheese, muffins and fruit salad with orange juice too. I wish I could have eaten it! lol I really do appreciate all they do. Teachers are heroes and they never get the recognition they deserve. THANK YOU TEACHERS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO! THIS WORLD IS A MUCH BETTER PLACE BECAUSE OF YOU!

TEACHERS RULE!!!

Tomorrow is bring an apple to teacher day and I have a special shirt planned - stay tuned...

Becoming Devine in 2009!

Today is the day! That's right, today! Not tomorrow, not next week, not "oh I'll start that come June 1." TODAY!
Today I start a new lifestyle. One that will promote health and living! Today, I will begin the lovely journey of making myself healthier and happier. I will lose weight. I will exercise. I WILL LIKE IT!

We started a Biggest Loser contest at our office today. It's the 2nd round of TBL at work. I didn't participate in the first round, but I'm going to blow them away on the second!
Last "season" 7 coworkers played for 12 weeks and at the end they had lost a total of 123 lbs! That is so amazing! This "season" I'm going to be at the head of the class. I know I can do this. I know I can. But truthfully it's the first time I've ever really set out to do it. I hate exercising but I'm going to make myself do it and actually start enjoying it!

Eating better, moving more and staying inspired is my goal and I will accomplish! My first weigh in was today and I hope next Friday I can show that my hard work has paid off big time on those scales. I'm lucky to be surrounded by amazing people that are so motivating. In fact, this morning when I was a little anxious about everything and said I didn't know if I could do it, a very sweet and dear friend told me "Heck yea u can! Start out doing it for Girlie until you find it in yourself!" I cried. This is soooo what my motivation is. My baby girl and my husband! I'm doing this for them and eventually it will turn into something I'm doing for myself! But as always they are most important and it starts with them! So I said back to her "I can do this!"
Then that same wonderful amazing friend also said "Thatta girl! You have this... Pain is temporary quitting lasts forever and you're no quitter! :)"

She's right I WILL NOT QUIT! I'm in this! Knee deep for now, waist deep next, chin deep and then ALL IN!

Pray for me! I'll need it! My journey might be a great deal of my blogging in the near future!
Watch out world - here comes less of me!