Insta Thursday.

I've been in a bit of a rush today, running around, doing a ton of things. So, I've decided today is Instagram Thursday. I'll show you parts of my day, via Instagram :)

Warning: Photo Heavy Blog

On my way to get my hair done :)

Foiled & Drying

My Stylist & I

AFTER: I have bangs, and less blonde

BANGS.... and freckles from the sun :)

Sonnys lunch date with my hubs :)

Pulled Chicken & Cornbread... corn nuggets as well

SALAD!

Great sweet tea, but I had water :)

Notes from a meeting at work. Lots of changes that effect my position

Finally upgraded my cell

Green Tea Smoothie. Mmm

So that's pretty much been my day! I also met up with someone I sold some leftover wedding stuff to. Nice to get rid of more stuff. I don't like clutter lying around! Now I think I'll spend the rest of my night trying to figure out my new toy blackberry. Before that, I'm going to get my walk on with S. Though my back is still in pain, I'm making myself walk a small mile a day, gotta stay lose so the Spondy doesn't get even more stiff.

XOXO

Support for Joplin, MO

I came across this info on another blog today, and had to share. It's a way we can send care packages of support to those effected by the horrific storms and tornadoes in Joplin, MO.


Needed Supplies
Baby supplies (including diapers, wipes, A&D Ointment, baby food and juices)
Convenience food (snack type)
Deodorant
Diabetic Monitors with Strips
First aid supplies
Over the counter medications (mainly tylenol)
Pet food
Shampoo and Conditioner
Soap and body wash
Soap Powders and Cleaning Supplies
Sunscreen and Bug Spray
Toothpaste and Tooth Brushes

They are asking that we refrain from sending clothing.

Please send the boxes to:
Disaster Relief
c/o Pentecostal Church of God
4901 Pennsylvania Avenue
Joplin, MO 64804

If you want to see the original post about this, click HERE to go to the couponing to Disney blog.

If you are able to support this cause at all, please please put together a small or large (whatever you can afford) care package and ship it on out. These people need all the love and support they can get right now as they start the rebuilding process. 

May God provide them peace and comfort in this difficult time.

Live simply, so that others may simply live.

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.    1 John 3:17-18

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do. - Edward Everett Hale 


Make sure you take time today (and everyday) to tell your loved ones you love them. Tomorrow is NOT a gurantee.

XOXO

Girl Power on Biggest Loser Finale

It was definitely Girl Power on the finale of the Biggest Loser last night.

I started watching The Biggest Loser at the start of season 8. I was immediately hooked. I don't have time to watch too many shows regularly, but the Biggest Loser became one that I would DVR and watch every episode of. Tonight was the finale of the 11th season. I just find this show so incredibly inspirational. While my BMI number does say I am overweight (I am 135ish, and need to be 120ish - which is especially important because of my back), I am nowhere near where these contestants have been, but watching them helps motivate me. After all, if one of them can go from 400lbs down to 200, and lose 50% of their body weight, then I should be able to lose a measly 10lbs, right? When I see them push themselves to the limit, it inspires me to want to do the same. If a 300lb person can jog one mile, there is no reason I shouldn't be able to do the same.

Some of the quotes  I love from the two main trainers on Biggest Loser are:

If you really take care of yourself, your body will take care of you - Bob Harper

The past doesn't define you, your present does. It's okay to create a vision of the future because it affects your behavior in the "now," but don't dwell on past mistakes. Learn from them and focus those lessons in the moment. That’s where change can really happen. - Jillian Michaels


Can you do it? You bet you can! - Bob Harper


Why choose to fail when success is an option?- Jillian Michaels


Is it easy? No! ... It has to be a conscious decision. - Bob Harper

Anyways, back to the finale. The final 3 this season broke a record, the first time the final 3 were ALL FEMALES. And on top of that, two of the three were SISTERS Hannah & Olivia.

Watching the BL from episode one to the finale is unbelievable. I remember when I was younger and had problems with weight, and I'd see an advertisement for weight loss, and the person didn't even look the same, I'd say "there's no way that's the same person, they don't even look a like". Now I know, it IS possible. When you watch these contestants slowly change, the transformation is just beyond belief. Makeover episode is always one of my favorites. :) I'm going to share with you the transformations of the final three, Irene, Hannah & Oliva, who also happened to be my favorites. I am so happy and proud of these women (and ALL the contestants for that matter)

Final 3: Hannah, Irene & Olivia

Irene

Starting Weight: 255

Ending Weight: 139

Lost: 116lbs

Before

Makeover

After

Hannah

Starting Weight: 248

Ending Weight: 128

Lost: 128lbs

Before

Makeover

After

Olivia

Starting Weight: 261

Ending Weight: 132

Lost: 129lbs 

Before

makeover

After

Each of these ladies have their own story to tell, part of Hannah's is that as a former athlete, she broke her back in college and led a "couch potato" lifestyle after doctors told her she shouldn't work out much as it could cause her more pain. Well, it caused her to gain weight, and emotional pain. Watching her evolve on the show, and see that she could still be athletic, was just amazing. 

So remember ladies and gents, when you think you can't: You can!

XOXO

Something Old, New, Borrowed & Blue

It's been a bit before I posted more stuff from the wedding, so here we go. And I promise the rest of the pics will come soon. When you got married did you follow the ol' "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue"?

I did. Here are mine.

old: ring that was my moms

new: dress

borrowed: veil

blue: garter

Just thought I'd share, and glad I did. It reminded me I need to give my friend N back her veil. :P

On a unrelated note, if you could be in prayer for me please. My Spondylolisthesis has been acting up A LOT over the past week and I have been in constant pain. I even missed work yesterday, and that's never any good. 

XOXO

2 months ago

I scooped up a new member of the family.

Of course, I didn't know this at the time - or did I?

Honestly, it wasn't the plan. Two months ago I made a quick impromptu trip up to Micheals (which was my usual hangout as I prepped for the April wedding) and Target. As I was walking over to Target, I could see people scampering around looking at a puppy that was running the lot. I, of course, went over to help. He was skittish, scared I'm sure. Finally, another person caught him. Then asked "okay, I caught him, now who will take him?" I volunteered as I am a volunteer for my local SPCA, and have rescued many a dog. He had a collar on him, which made me extremely hopeful that he had a home, and had just escaped. I immediately headed towards my vet so I could have him scanned for a chip. No chip. I figured there was still hope, so I took him home with the intent to keep him for a week while I continued to look for his owner. I placed multiple found ads, and scoured the lost ads, to no avail. Of course, all the while, I am drowning in wedding plans.

Well, here we are two months to the date, and Bullseye (appropriately named after being found in the Target parking lot) has already had his first annual, and has an appointment this Thursday to get neutered and chipped.

Yup, it's official. He's a permanent part of the family. He found his furever home.

You can read my previous posts about Bullseye here:

Introducing Bullseye

Welcome to the family, Bullseye

And now, some pictures to enjoy. The various facial expressions of Bullseye. How can you NOT love that face?

 

He truly just melts my heart. I get so much joy by just watching him and Chico romp around the yard. They have SO much fun together. What a blessing this puppy has been to our little family.

XOXO

Beach Bound & Shark Found.

Well, I WAS beach bound.... YESTERDAY.

We had a stranger take this pic... She barely got us in.

Some of my friends and I decided a beach trip was overdue. So we planned it. 5-21-11 Anna Maria Island. And that's what we did :) 

We met up at my church at 8am, and followed each other out in three car loads. Granted, we could have all fit in two, BUT different people wanted to leave at different times. My car had to leave by 2pm as I needed to get home so I could go see one of my friends daughters perform in a dance recital (too cute I might add). My friend H drove my car, as this past week has been a really bad one as far as my pain goes with my back and neck. When I have such stiffness it causes me to have dizzy spells, kinda like vertigo, and that's not the best when you are driving. SO, thank you H for driving! I was MORE than happy to let her drive. I truly am not a fan of driving and am perfectly fine being a passenger any day.

Anyways, back to the beach. My car reached AMI first, so we pulled off at the area where we planned to get our picture taken and waited for car two and three to arrive. They really weren't that far behind. Once we'd all gathered, I attempted to find someone to take our picture. I asked a large group of grumpy ladies. They volunteered one of their friends, whom didn't seem too thrilled to be doing us such a huge favor, but she came none the less, and snapped a few pics... most of which didn't even have any of us in them. We got a leg shot. Haha. BUT, thankfully, the one above came out, though my friend DaisyJo barely made it in the photo. Check out her blog to see some more pics from AMI! :)

The water was perfect. Not too warm, but definitely not too cold. And there were even decent waves going on, which you don't always find on the Gulf. Most of the gang hopped in the water right away, though I stayed on shore with a new found friend, S, whom I met just this year. We were talking back problems for a good while, as she suffers from a back ailment as well. As we were talking, we were also watching a guy to the left of us fish...Our friends came back out of the water, and we were all laying around when I looked over and saw that fisher guy had caught a baby shark. Dun dun dun. Now I thought it was a hammerhead, because that's what it looked like. So I called to my friends "hey, look, he caught a baby shark" they all ran over to investigate further, and this picture was taken of my friend H holding the shark, before she let it go back in the water.

Baby Bonnethead Shark. We released it.

 As it turned out, fisher guy informed us it was a bonnethead shark, which I looked up, and read that they are NOT a threat to humans. Apparently before he caught that baby, my friends had actually got out of the water because as he was fishing, he saw a bigger shark swim by, and called to them "hey, just wanted to let you know I saw a three footer swim by, and he was heading your way" EEEEEEK!! Say WHAT?! I am SO glad I wasn't in the water at that time. I very well may have pee'd my pants if I'd been told that. I don't care if Bonnetheads are nice or not, swimming with sharks is scary business... business I don't want any part of. And who even knows IF the three footer was a bonnethead?

Surprisingly after the baby shark incident BUT before I knew about the three footer, I make some splashes in the water, and I had such a fun time doing it. It felt great. Being in the water is very therapeutic for back problems. I so wish I had a pool. 

I made sure I got out of the water in time to dry off a bit, as I am NOT a fan of driving home in wet clothes. I actually changed when we stopped for Ice Cream at Banana Cabana's this amazing little joint in AMI. :) I had a double scoop, one of Chocolate Delight, and one Mint Chocolate Chip... topped with, of course, fudge. Aahh. So delish. Sadly, I couldn't finish it all. Too rich for me.

We made it home in good timing and I had plenty of time to take a shower and even relax for a bit before I headed off to see Miss K's recital. She was simply adorable. I wish I'd been able to snap a good picture of her. I will have to see if the friend I went with got any.

So, that was MY Saturday. Hope yours was just as fun! :)

XOXO

9 years ago...

I graduated high school.

Wow. Time sure does fly.

When I look back, I just cant believe that next year will be time for our 10 year reunion. Wow. Just wow. Man, it seems as a kid we counted down the days until our birthday, nowadays they are just flying by so fast, I don't want to count, I don't want to be reminded of one more year flown by. I can say I am at least happy with where my life has taken me. I am a newlywed, looking to buy our first house. I do things I am passionate about, and don't waste my time trying to please others. I have learned that you can not make everyone happy. You will end up unhappy yourself if you try.

Anyways, I wish I could have found some more photo's of actual GRADUATION DAY, but when my desktop crashed I pretty much lost everything. A friend was able to recover it all, but unfortunately it is all jumbled together, and now a mess of high school, travels, parties, holidays, etc etc. BUT, I am happy he was able to recover it AT ALL. One day, I'll attempt to organize them all :D

Until then, here's a few pictures from my high school years...

Still friends with both of these ladies, was just in S's wedding Oct 2010

Yearbook crew C/O 02

Homecoming

Halloween

Senior Photo

  XOXO