Liebster Award

Thank you Stephanie at Blessed to Be for the nomination for the Liebster award. I love reading your blog! You are such an encourager and sweet spirited blogger! I am blessed to be your blogger buddy! :)

Now to answer your questions...

My 11 questions for you, dear award winners:

1.) Why do you blog? I started blogging because I needed an outlet for all of my roller coaster of emotions dealing with infertility. I also think it is great to document life experiences so that I have them when my memory might not be so great. :)

2.) What is your favorite smell? Right now my favorite smell is Pumpkin Pecan Waffles from Bath and Body Works. It is simply DEVINE!

3.) What would you have as your last meal? Include appetizer, main course, and dessert. hmmm. this is a hard one. Appetizer - some sort of chip and dip... I am a sucker for that especially at Mexican places. Main Course - probably a fillet and baked potato or maybe crab legs I love both of those. Dessert - some sort of brownie a la mode or something like that.

4.) If you could master any skill overnight, what would it be?  I really have no idea about this one...

5.) Who's your favorite Disney character? Cinderella 

6.) What movie did you most recently watch? Cheesy Christmas movie on Hallmark Channel

7.) What song are you currently listening to on repeat? I can't seem to get that pit bull song out of my head since the AMAs the other night... Timber it muse be about a lumber jack or something lol

8.) Cupcake or slice of pie? cupcake hands down... my pumpkin spice with cream cheese icing beats pie any old day!

9.) If you could have any miniaturized animal as a pet, what would you pick? (e.g. My husband wants a mini-bear.) I have always wanted a pet pig. I guess it started with Charlotte's Web. 

10.) If you just found out company was coming over in a few hours, what dish would you whip up for them? meat loaf & hash brown casserole or tacos... we always have the ingredients for both 

11.) Summarize yourself in 4 words. GO!   smart, kind, leader, creative

Christmas Cards!!!

I am so super excited about our christmas cards this year. Of course I would have been more excited to use it as our reveal about being pregnant... But, I am trying to stay positive. I decided to go on and use the picture we planned on using with a christmas gift even thought its not our little miracle inside. :( It just turned out so freaking good I couldn't not use it. Anyway, I love our photographer!!! She is amazing and she didn't send me any of the pregnancy related photos since she knew our situation. I hate it though cause I bet they were so cute!
I love that Shutterfly gives so many discount codes around this time of year. I got our Christmas cards for less than $1.00 a piece!!! I can't wait to get them in and start addressing them!!! It just totally puts me in the Christmas spirit! But, without further ado...

Stationery Card

View the entire collection of cards.

1 year ago...

This was me. Tired, extremely over weight, sad, not so fun to be around. Trying to smile and look happy but really dying inside! This pic was actually in September, but I am 100% it was at my highest weight!
Who is that person?

Fast forward to the 4th of July this year...
Side by side of the 4th 2012 and 2013 

WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!

Here I am in early October this year... same yearly party as the first pic... 

BFF and I made sure to take another pic like last year. WOW! I actually bought the shirt I have on at Ann Taylor Loft that same day... right of the rack... size large... and on sale for $10.  It has been YEARS since I could even set foot in that store, let alone wear a large. 

And here are my Pictures from the Doctor... Oh how it makes me so sad to look at the old me.

 Thank God I made this change!

I have lost at total of 36 inches from chest, hips, and waist. 

I have lost a total of 90 lbs.

I have dropped 5 sizes about to move down again. :)

This next one is not the best pic of me now... but it definitely shows my progress! Can't wait to get our professional pics back... I actually bought my first pair of "skinny jeans" for our Christmas card pics.

I finally am ok with taking pictures again... I don't have to hide when there is a camera anymore!

What a difference a year can make!

1 week later

Well, a week ago today was the saddest, most disappointing day of our lives thus far. Even though we will never stop grieving this loss, we have moved to a place where functioning "normally" is coming back. I go back to work tomorrow... I am praying that no one asks me where I was all week, or if I am ok. I just want to be in my classroom with my kiddos.

I am only going to be there until lunch though... tomorrow is my 1 year post op appointment. I am very happy with my weight loss over the past year. I am at 90 lbs lost. But, I do wish I could have been at 100 or even 125 at this point. I know if I had worked at it a tad more I would have been there. I am making it my priority to get the next 30 to 35 off by February. I am going to hit the gym 5 days a week. There is not excuse. Not to mention we can't "try" for a whole cycle. So, I could get some weight off before we are able to start back. And the elliptical machine will totally shutter when I get on cause I have A LOT of built up anger after this loss. What better way to get it out... my new anger management :)

I know that the holidays are coming and that can be a set back. But I am going to make an example of how to eat healthy and still manage to enjoy the holidays! Its all about portion control.

And above all... this gives me something to focus on.