We're not in BAMA anymore

I love traveling with my job. I have been able to go to some places that I would have never gone to without a reason to. Yes, I'm extremely tired when I get back from all trips but it's so worth it. Currently I am on a trip to Gainesville. I have wanted to come here to see Bama play but never had the chance. I was so excited when I heard I would be traveling here. Let's just say I knew when I had arived when I got off the plane....

I will admit I do not like the colors Orange and Blue together. Other than that, I really like Gainesville. It is a great town with a lot of things to do. If you like food they have plenty of options....the ones of us trying to eat healthy are jealous! I made do and so far have ordered Talipia, lots of salads and only eaten half the crust on a slice of thin crust pizza. I scraped the topping off and ate them. It was all delicious!

The campus is one of the largest I have ever seen. It is spread out for miles. I have no idea how students here don't feel lost. I told a co-worker I would need a personal helper to get me to all of my classes. Scooters are EVERYWHERE. I have never seen so many in one place. I found out they all use them #1 classes are so far apart and its a hike #2 the get to park on campus for free!

No matter where you look there will be a beautiful mossy tree! I LOVE LOVE LOVE these trees. It makes me feel like I am down by the river back home. There is so much moss I am wondering if this is where Hobby Lobby comes to get theirs???

Have I mentioned it's 70 degrees here. The weather has been great. I just wish I could throw on some shorts and flip flops. Too bad my job title does not allow that! The students here are sure soaking it up!

So far my trip is going amazing. I have lots of pictures to show but for some reason my computer is not letting me upload them. Once I get home I will make sure that is the first thing I do!! I want all of you to see my journey through Gainesville!

Wasteful

So in my New Year's To-Do-List I mentioned cleaning out and buying less. Today I have been doing a deep clean of my house. I started making a list of the new cleaning items that I needed to re-stock on. While making the list It hit me that I have an "extra" basket under my sink and that I should look there before I start buying more.

Have you ever thought about how wasteful we are???

I bet I have hundreds of dollars in my "extra" basket and I never even remember that it is there. I always just go buy what I need. Well today I am starting to check off the BUY LESS part of my to-do-list. I am leaving all of my "extra" stuff on the counter where I can see it. Yes it makes it a little more cluttered but I am determined to use it up before I start buying more.

I am so mad at myself because I think man I could have so much more money in my pocket. I understand buying more than one when you can get a good buy. I can promise you that probably never happened with any of these items because they are all different brands.

Clorox Wipes are some of my favorite cleaning items. Every time I think I am getting low I go and buy more. Well I have 2 full bottles and I am going to use them up!

I'm all about smelling good while sweating but really 3 extras????

You know I did not buy these together one is the "real" thing and one is the Wal-Mart brand. Both almost full simply because I have 2 other Febreeze cans sitting right next to them.

Ok Ok....it is Winter and I am prone to dry skin but this is a bit out of control. Im sure there are a few more laying around as I noticed one in the background of the picture.  This might be a problem I need to address...ASAP.

I guess my toilet was extra dirty at some point. 2 brand new toilet bowl cleaners.

I wash my hands a lot which I will not apologize for. However, having this many extras on hand is really not needed.


I encourage you to look around your house for the "extras". It blew my mind when I really started looking. There are so many people in this world that NEED the basic items. I have so many "extra" items that are WANTS. I am determined to change this and only have what I NEED. Hopefully with the savings I will be able to touch the life of someone who is in need.

AWARD....Yes, Super Exciting

Today I received the Liebster Award! I love this for up and coming bloggers who are trying to get their name out there! 

A HUGE Thank You to Heather at Bridge to Birmingham for this Award!

Rules

This award is given to new or up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers...the award is then passed along to other bloggers in the same category to help spread the word and support one another.

1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, and then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.

3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post. 

4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.

5. No tag backs.

QUESTION FROM HEATHER

1. What is your favorite sports team?

This is a no brainer...The University of Alabama

ROLL TIDE!!

2. What is your favorite healthy recipe that you cook?

I am a sweet lover! Until I tried Weight Watchers I never knew there were ways to make sweets more healthy. You can make any type of cupcakes!! All you do is use a box of cake mix and a diet soda. I use clear such as Sprite. On weight watchers they are 2 points so for those of you watching calories know that they are very low! 

3. What is your favorite restaurant?

One of my All Time Favorites is in Tuscaloosa. It is called Chuck's. AMAZING is an understatement!

4. If money wasn't an issue, where would you vacation to this summer?

Australia has always been a dream destination. I just dread a 24 hour plane ride :(

5. What is your life long dream?

To be the most amazing, loving, coach's wife to Ryan and be successful in my career. If children come into the picture I would obviously want to be an nurturing mother. 

6. How many times have you been in love?

I would say 2. However, the first one was a high school love...so it's not the same as my current love!! 

7. Do you believe that there is one person meant for everyone?

I do believe that there is "The One"! Obviously we all usually date several people before we come across this person. I don't think that person is perfect but they are perfect for you. 

8. What is your favorite childhood memory?

This is going to be a weird one but I never believed in Santa. I am so very thankful that my parents did it this way. I can remember me waking up being so excited because it was Jesus' Birthday!! I love that it really was all about Jesus in my house on Christmas day! 

9. What is the best thing you got OR gave for Christmas?

The best thing I ever gave was Christmas to 3 little boys in Prichard, Alabama. They were less fortunate and would not have had a Christmas. The looks on their faces said it all when they got to open their gifts. They started striping down putting on their new clothes instantly. To me it more about what you give than what you get. The feelings you get form helping/giving to others far outweigh receiving! 

10. If you had to have a quote to describe your life, what would it be?

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya Angelou

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Luke 6:31 

11. Is there anything you wish you could change about your life?

Looking back I wish I would have trusted the Lord more with HIS plans for me and not tried to force my plans. In the end HIS plans are the best and they are the ones that are going to happen! 

Questions for the newly Nominated Liebster Award Winners! 

1. Where is the most exciting place you have ever been?

2. Did you make any new years resolutions? If so what were they?

3. What is your favorite Sports team?

4. What song do you sing to the top of your lungs when it comes on the radio?

5. Who is your role model?

6. Where do you want to be with your life in 5 years?

7.If you could make 3 wishes what would they be?

8.What is your favorite Quote?

9. If you could only pick one nail polish color to use for the rest of your life what would it be?

10. Favorite healthy snack?

11. Current Favorite TV show?

I tag: 

Kalyn: Love, Laughter, and Happy Ever After

Jaime: Faith, Hope, and The Love's

Kimberly: The Franks Fam

Lauren: Cashing in On Life

Mary Lindsey: Newly Newlin

Rose: Pills and Petals

Heather: The Junkins

Beth: The Miller High Life

Amber: Sugar, Spice, and Everything Vice

Candace: The Strickland Family

Abby: Faith, Football, Fashion

Our First Wedding Gifts

I have eating healthy under control for now. Not saying that this is going to be easy because its already been a strugle in my mind thus far.  As of right now my head is hurting so bad that I would like to already cheat on day two. However, I am determined to do this so that I am looking good on May 25th ! After yesterday's blog a reader got in touch with me on Facebook. She asked if I would be interested in starting a group with her that was a support group type of thing. I was all about it because I believe many of us give up because we don't have the proper encouragement. Within 24 hours we already have 75 members!!! I think this is going to be amazing and I cant wait to use this as a great support system throughout my journey.

On to the topic now that I got all of that off my chest.

My close friends and family would tell you in a heartbeat that I am not the most domestic person you will ever meet. As a matter of fact the stove really could be a secret hiding place for anyone trying to keep something from me. I think I might enjoy making a meal every now and then if I had the tools to do so. I'm always missing a pan, lots of ingredents, and until recently a can opener! Which leads to why I am so excited to write this entry. I want to share all the "First Wedding Presents" that Ryan and I got for Christmas! I can't wait to put them into good use to cook healthy food!!

We had registered back in December simply because it was one of the only times that we could actually have enough time to take care of things. With out schedules we have to do things the second we get the opportunity. So when people started asking what we wanted for Christmas I had the perfect answer this year...something off of our registry.

I am probably most excited about the can opener!!!! Mine recently broke and I never realized how important they are to have around. I am sure that sooner than later this little beauty will be used.

This gift is where learning to cook something beside TV Dinners will come in handy! My friend Abby gave us a 6 piece bakeware set. I am most excited about hopefully learning how to cook meatloaf and cakes. I love meatloaf and Ryan loves Cake !!!!

Ryan registered for 2 things that he really wanted. Well guess what ...he got them both at Christmas. This particular item I just so happened to get "stored" at my house! Grilled chicken will soon be made from the new Jumbo George!

There is one gift that unless I am living in New York that I will never touch. That's ok because it is Ryan's gift. I am one of the most hot natured individuals that exist. Ryan however, stays cold all the time. I believe the inventor of the TOWEL WARMER made this just for Ryan. I am so happy that his little buns will be warm coming out of the sizzling hot shower.

Last but not least we got new sheets from the Cowan's. Before I met Ryan I had made up my mind when they day came to get married I would not need to register but for 1 set of sheets. My mom has so many on reserve I thought I would take those off her hands and put them to use. Well then the Lord brought me Ryan...the man who washes sheets almost every other day. It's 100% out of control. Needless to say I have now registered for 4 sets of sheets so that they wont get holes in them not from being used but from being washed so much. Gotta Love Him

Day by Day before May I will learn to be a little more domestic. The good news is He wants me now so I'm sure he will want me even more then!! So thankful for being Blessed with an amazing man, and wonderful gifts to start our life with!

Weight Loss Journey to Becoming one Hott Bride!

So many of you that are close friends know that last year I started trying to eat a little healthier. I am still trying to do so for the most part but with traveling it is really really hard sometimes. However, unlike last year I now have a May wedding that I need to look good for as my current motivation! I have decided that I need to make my journey public so that hopefully this will be a form of accountability. Being in Atlanta for a short amount a time, I have not made that many friends. My friends back home can't really say stop eating that or go workout..heck if it were up to my friend Keli she would say come on lets get some more Wings and Pizza! She can handle a few extra wings and a slice of pizza ...I can't! So for the most part this is a journey that I am going to have to take on my own. My thought process is if I have to give a report to the world about my progress weekly then surely I will do my best! I am going to list some useful tools that I will be using along the way.

TIP

An APP called  "My Fitness Pal". If you have never used this APP you need to give it a try. It is amazing. When you first sign up you put in your current weight and how much you would like to lose.  It will generate a healthy amount you can lose each week based on your current height and weight. Then you are told how many calories you can have during a day. It helps you keep a daily tracker of how many calories you eat. All you do is type in Poptart for example and it pulls up every Poptart they make. You select the one you had and how many of them. HOW SIMPLE IS THAT! You keep up with nothing but what you ate! It will also keep up with how many glasses of water you had and how much exercise you did that day. If you did enough exercise to alter the number of calories you need to be eating it will change it automaticly. LOVE LOVE LOVE this APP ...I can't say that enough! It looks something like what you see below.

TIP

My friend Lauren is also dieting. She does not need to lose any weight as she has already done an amazing job of losing and keeping off. She has an amazing blog about her new life as a wife. You can check it out here. On her blog she has shared a printable version of a weight loss chart she is using to help her reach her goal! I will also be using this as a VISUAL for my hard work and

accomplishments. I feel it is very important that

we get to see progress even if we don't see it in the

mirror! So needless to say I will have one in my

office and at my house! Make sure to go and print

off the Chart! It's super cute!

 

 

TIP

I also had to come up with a plan that would allow me to be able to exercise while traveling. If any of your travel you know this is not easy to do. So I have purchased a dvd called "Walk Away the Pounds".

This DVD is made for you to use from the comfort of your living room! With that being said I am going to play it on my computer in my hotel room as well! This was also a suggestion from Lauren. She has used it and had success with it!

TIP

So Lauren has a twin sister Lindsay...I also asked her for tips!! She suggested I read a book by Diane Kress. I have not purchased this yet but have plans on doing so. We shall see if I can be successful in any of these areas!! She highly recommends this bbok so I am sure it will be great!

TIP

 

 

 

I know this tip works because I have used it before. The main thing I am going to do to become a HOTT BRIDE is drink lots and lots of water. I asked a Doctor one time why did you lose more weight when you drank water over diet drinks that have 0 calories as well? He said that the more water you drink the more food it breaks down. He said soft drinks are not filling and the caffine in them actually makes you hungry. I dont know if that is factual information but it works! I drink 96 ounces a day. Yes, As a mater of fact I do live in the restroom but hey its taking off those lbs!

 

 

 

Goal for the week is 3 pounds! I will update you next week on how I do!

 

Do any of you have any good tips for getting in shape the right way??