A Hollywood Holiday!

Saturday was my company Christmas party and the theme was A Hollywood Holiday. They had trivia games and I actually volunteered to go up for movie trivia, I sucked but i had balls going up there in front of everyone. I didn't win any of the raffle prizes but my coworker did , she won a net-book. At least someone won in our dept. My Hubby and I had fun my feet are still feeling the effects of hours of dancing while wearing new shoes, but damn I look good doing it!

Tamale Time!

Well Saturday my mom came over to my house and we made our Christmas Tamales. All together we came out with 17 dozen. We did Pork (of course) Chicken, Cheese and green chili, and OMG Turkey, they are awesome.I cant tell you how many years I have done this with my mom, its tradition. I am all about keeping family traditions alive. I hope one day to share in this tradition with my own children.

Happy One Year Anniversary!

Well its been one year since we have been married! Were does the time go. This is on our way to dinner.

Trick or Treat!

Well this past Thursday My school goes trick or treating around the Reservation, and my co-workers and I dressed up as the cast of Alice in Wonderland. I was Alice, my co-teacher was the Mad Hatter, the others were the White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat and the director was the Queen of hearts. The kids loved it. I made my whole costume for under $15. I bought the blue dress at the thrift store, and bought the tights, I made the apron out of scraps I had, I made the headband out of scrap ribbon, and I made the wig, I am super proud of the wig. I am already thinking of possible costumes I can make for next year.

Decorating Done!

So my mom came over to help me decorate for Halloween (early I know) but I love this time of year. So here is the finished project I have been working on for a couple of weeks. I found these awesome glitter silhouettes at the 99 cent store and knew they would be perfect. I painted candle sticks from the thrift store black and put a wooden dowel in it and hot glued the glitter silhouette's on and tada! I am going to place them on my kitchen window.

Here It Is!

Today I am thirty years old! Wow, I am taking this a little harder that I thought. Turning thirty is making me reflect on my life and the things I have done and still want to do. I was looking online for some inspiration on turning thirty and one man wrote 30 things that rock about turning 30 and one in particular really hit me. "Thirty is when you stop finding yourself, and start creating yourself". I am going to live by that now. Happy Birthday To ME!!

Happy September!

I love this time of year, the nights are getting cooler, Halloween decorations fill the shelves at stores, and school starts. I am promising myself that this month is dedicated to getting all my Halloween crafting FINISHED! I have completed the bats and now want to make flying witch silhouettes. I also want to create a wreath for the front door along with topiary filled with real pumpkins, and of course my glitter pumpkins.

Ideas....

As summer is winding down I am starting to get that itch to start crafting for the holidays, and I need ample time to finish all these ideas that I have for my Halloween decor, not to mention my costume. I wanted to do more for my front door this year not just a wreath and I came across this great idea of felt bats on the door and spread out to the wall, like a swarm of creepy bats.

The Countdown!!

Today marks the start of my Marathon training. Went out late today and it was bloody warm. The 11 miles seemed very long and hard, but I have to point out I took two days off from running due to exhaustion. Really, I was exhausted from working out. So I knew today's run was going to be tough. As always I will push on to complete this task I set forth for myself and hope not to loose my marbles in the process....lol! This 4 months will fly by I know it! I must RUN along!!!!!

Half!

So Sundays are my long runs, and I have been in my first build up phase of my marathon training. I have really been pushing myself these past couple of weeks and yesterday my target was to run 12 and I was feeling a little beat up around mile 7 but I dug deep tried to zone out and kept pushing and ended up running 13.1 miles! I ran a HALF MARATHON yesterday!!!! I just have to get over the 13 mile hump, and in a couple of weeks bump it up to 14-15 milers on Sundays and soon to 20 milers! I was super excited!!

Polyvore Please!

I don't know if anyone knows of this website, but I have been obsessed with it for id say over a year. This site is dedicated to all the fun and funky fashionistas who put together some really interesting and beautiful "sets" as they call it of clothes shoes and accessories. I go on about everyday just to see whats new. I am an avid thrift store shopper and have been buying nothing but clothes and I get ideas before I head out on what to get and what would work with what I already have. I kills me now to buy pants at a "regular" store, I bought a pair of jean Capri's at Kohl's (on sale mind you for $15 and that hurt..lol..because usually I spent about $4 on pants at the thrift store and they are old navy or express or Roxy. Its just a great website for the sometimes fashionably challenged like myself or just to look at really cool clothes and accessories and the color combos people come up with that I would have never thought go together are amazing.

Mission Organization!

For the longest time I have been disgusted with my closet and have attempted many times to organize it but it would never stay clean. So I have been itching to get this this organized right once and for all! Oh and it gives me an excuse to go shopping (for bins and such). I even cleaned out my dressers and packed away all my clothes that I don't wear but don't really want to part with yet. All my shoes are in my shoe organizer, I bought plastic shoe containers, and a new hamper, I can actually see the closet floor now! And my hubby finally got around to hanging all the pics on the walls of the bedroom, bathroom and hall, this house is finally coming together, its ONLY been a year ;)

Cardio Blast!

There is nothing quite like slamming your fist into a punching bag! I highly recommend exercise therapy. Sometimes the best workouts are those that are fueled by anger and frustration. I bought this nifty little gadget a few months ago and finally got a chance to use it. Its a rounds timer for boxing. I set up how many rounds I want and how long I want them to last two min. or three min. and 30 sec. break or 60 sec. break. I clipped it onto the waist band and hit start, a bell rang like I was in the actual boxing ring!I did 12 rounds 2 min. each round, one round for jumping rope at high speed for two min and hitting the bag for two. Non stop for 30 min pouring sweat I felt GREAT! Looking forward to next week when I go at it again.

I DID IT!!!

Yesterday I took my final exam and my practical to become a Certified Personal Trainer, and I PASSED! All I need now is to complete my 20 hrs. internship and I can start training people. I have been so stressed over the past 6 weeks with this class doubting myself, but I tried it and I did it. Wow I feel great!

Rock and Roll!

OMG, Its official I am all signed up for the Las Vegas Rock and Roll MARATHON!!!Its not just a thought in my head anymore its reality. This is it, this is what I have been training for THE BIG ONE! I hope and Pray that from now until Dec. that everything runs smoothly as far as training and injury prevention goes. There is no backing out now.

Beautiful Day!

Nothing beats a beautiful warm Sunday and a invigorating 9 mile run up at the lake! Now off to lunch and running our errands.

Slow And Steady Wins The Race!

Well I didn't win the race, but I ran another Half Marathon! After I injured myself from my first one 7 months ago, and being told by my doctor to slow it down a really think about decreasing my mileage I got very discouraged to say the least. But I have been keeping up with my Physical Therapy strengthening and stretches and my training and 7 months later I did it! Next up another Half in August and in December VEGAS,"HERE WE COME", the husband and I are going to do the Rock and Roll Marathon (Yep, 26.2 miles).

Fitness First!

Since I have been on this weight loss journey and have been told by many people how I have inspired them to make changes in their lives, I feel it is my duty to keep inspiring and motivating those around me. It will also help me stay on track and keep me motivated on a daily basis knowing people count on me to help them change their life. So tomorrow I start my class to become a Certified Personal Trainer. My goal after this course is to help those people who think its too late to get fit, think they have too much to lose and are too scared to try. I want to help them on their journey and let them know change happens one day at a time!

Happy Easter!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Easter!

Cross Training

Since I have been having issues with my legs due to running, and sometimes its hard for the hubby and me to get up to the lake and ride our bikes on Saturdays I decided to invest in a bike trainer. I also what to bump up my all round workouts I think my body is adapting to my regular routine and I need to mix it up once again. Cycling is one of the most efficient ways runners can train while not putting added strain and pressure on knees and other leg joints. So I bought a new bike trainer on eBay for $82 bucks and have my beach cruiser on it, and I did 30 min this morning 4am. Hubby and I are looking into getting new bikes me a mountain bike and him a road bike. Eventually we both want to train for bike races and maybe even join a bike club.

Happy B-Day Andrew!

Want to wish the love of my life a happy B-day!!!We went to Knotts Berry Farm to celebrate, the weather was nice and warm aww love spring!

Im Ok.....I Think!

It is going on five days now that I have been drinking only one cup of coffee per day. Anybody who knows me knows how much I LOVE coffee, but I am cutting back and instead of having that second or third cup of coffee, I am adding in green tea. I always hear how good it is for you and that it raises your metabolism and is a natural fat burner so I decided to implement it to my daily diet. I am slowly trying to cut out all possible sugars (refined) its all about natural sugars that occur already in fruits veggies and in dairy. I have stopped using sugar substitutes in my iced tea and am slowly decreasing my consumption of packaged and processed food like baked chips, 100 cal popcorn bags (I bought an air popper) I want to be able to control what is in my food. I am going all Natural!

Photo Shoot!

Today was so surreal, I arrived at the location and had my hair and makeup touched up, I was super nervous. There was some confusion as to what group I was in, They were having people that worked at the clinic being photographed for a model search I guess. I over heard the director of the shoot talking about a woman who was in this lighten up program and had lost a bunch of weight and decided not to go through the lap band surgery, I was like "hey hes talking about me" :) I pulled out my fat pants and everyone in the room gasped! No one believed it was real. It felt so good to put up those pants and show everyone what I have accomplished. My Husband was documenting this special moment with a flip camera, and he is talking to the crew. Take a look at my day today, I still cant believe it :)

For some reason it wont let me upload the video, I will keep trying and hopefully get it working soon.

Lights, Camera, Action!

I am super excited to post that I received a call yesterday from the Director of the health education program I take part it and was asked if I would like to partake in a photo shoot and tell my story!!!! I said heck yes! They will use my pictures on billboards, magazines and pamphlets. I am so honored to be able to share my story and show people that it can be done through nutrition and physical activity. Yippee :)

Real Women Lift Weights!

Now that I surpassed my weight loss goal I am now making things interesting with adding more intense weight training. I am up to 3x a week for 15 min and my arms are pretty ripped. I am so looking forward to spring/summer to wear tank tops. I am also going to add in hitting the punching bag a few times a week with my cross training. I saw some really neat pink ones at sports authority. I don't want my body to get used to the same old routine that I have been doing for a while now.

Put A Little Love In Your Heart!!

I want to wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day! Valentines is not just for Lovers its for everyone you Love :)Put a little love in your heart, and spread it around.

The Month of Love!

Goes without saying February is the month of love, so I want to post a little something to acknowledge that special man in my life. To my wonderful husband, who works so hard for us, who is so kind to me and others around him. He has so much love to give and he gives it without limitations, he will never complain if he is tired or in pain, I truly love and respect this man with all my being. I am Proud to say he is all mine :) This if for you Andrew... I LOVE YOU!!! ;*

5 Months in the Making...

Ever since I completed the Disneyland Half marathon and came out with some injuries, I am happy to report I have signed up for my second Half. It will be the " A Run Through Redlands" the very first race I ran last year (the 5k). I have spent the last almost five months recuperating my knees with Physical Therapy, stretching, and slow and steady building up my mileage again. I did 10 miles today and I feel great! It has been a while since I have been able to log 20 plus mile in a week. My official training starts next week and I hope all goes well because come December I am going for 26.2 miles in Las Vegas!!

MMM...Menudo!

This morning I am attempting to make Menudo. I haven't had it in a while and I have been trying to venture out from my same old menu that I go by every week. The husband is very excited to try it. He wanted to know what was in it and I said "you might not want to know ":). The lady at the meat counter gave me a grossed out look when I told her I needed a pound of beef tripe. She asked "what are you cooking with that"! I told her Menudo! she looked horrified, what people don't eat menudo anymore with the meat!! It brings back good memories when I was a youngin when making Menudo was an all day event kinda like making tamales. Well its in the crock pot and hopefully it turns out yummy else the husband might not trust me to cook anymore...haha!