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One of my favorite blogs did this weekly portrait challenge, by taking portraits of her four children all last year. She is continuing this year and I decided I would do it too! Portrait of my little family, once a week, every week, in 2014.

1. lolah: one of her fav places to chill out
2. justin: pretending cooper is a parrot
3. me: before a workout
4. cooper: he loves belly scratches

Staying warm

Happy snow day! Well, there was no snow. Just freezing cold, and I don't mind that our tiny community decided that kids just don't need to stand out in the cold for the bus. Especially because THEY CALLED TOMORROW OFF TOO!!!! Do you know what that means? Yes, I get another day of my vacation. But do you want to know the most best part? Tuesday mornings I do car rider duty for 30+ minutes, and I am SO GLAD that I do not have to stand out there in single digit weather...and below zero winds. NO thank you very much.

Today has been wonderful. I have done 3 days in a row now of my slim in 6. I am sore, but I feel great! I honestly feel like I look better already. *grins* We had fruit smoothies this morning and I took my vitamins that I ordered along with the beach body program. For lunch we had the rest of the cucumber salad. For dinner, and I am SO proud of myself, I made sriracha and lime salmon, with stir fry asparagus and mushrooms. Oui magnifique!

After dinner (and we had leftovers!) we ventured out in the bitter cold for a treat at Starbucks. Justin ordered the double espresso brownie and I had the pumpkin bread. They were both very delicious. We took our peppermint mocha (for moi) and the cafe mocha to go! It really warmed our bones on the ride home. Now we are cheering for Auburn in the football game! (No real reason, other than Justin loves the underdog and I just say, 'yea, me too!' as far as sports go). It's been such a productive day. The perfect end to a wonderful day.

~elizabeth

SNOW DAY TOMORROW!!

I am EXTREMELY happy to report that our county closed schools tomorrow due to extreme cold weather conditions! YAY!!! A happy me.

I've done very well today. I worked out, though I am very sore, it's worth it. And it's all for me. So Justin just left for work (that means I don't have to watch football anymore!) so I am going to make some more chicken soup!!! Yay!

I mostly am working on eating right. It's going to take a bit to get in the habit, but I am committed! I'll keep ya updated.

~elizabeth

Quick confession

I snacked a bit too much last night when Justin got home, and right before he got home. Oh well. I'm not going to dwell on it, because I am a beginner, I'm going to allow myself to begin. I will do better today. There.

~elizabeth

p.s. it's raining right now, and it supposed to turn over to snow later...I am praying for a snow day tomorrow! I am supposed to go back to work tomorrow, and I'm simply not ready :( I don't even know what I'm going to do! Plus, another co-worker wants me to design wedding invites for her, and you know I haven't even started....meh. So another day would be nice. I wasted too many days doing not a damn thing. No point in whining now...but whiiiiiiiine!!!!!

will post later!

It Begins!

So guess what came in the mail today, to my delight? YES!! My slim in 6 came today!!! I didn't get it until about 5:00 though.

Let me just break down my day:
Woke up, coffee, cereal. Justin had received an awesome turn table for Christmas from hi parents, but unfortunately it had technical difficulties.....it was a bitch and refused to work. There, I said it. So we had to ship that off via UPS, and since we live in a little po-dunk town, we had to drive 30 to outter Memphis to find an open store. We mailed that off then went to Target. We were going to get 1 hour photo and get a few of our wedding pictures printed off (we have some nice frames picked out) and walk around the store and see what there was to see. Well, my bad, this Target didn't have a photo center! (Guess I must have been thinking of the SuperTarget...oh well.) Luckily, there is a Walgreen next door. So I got a Starbucks (tall....thank you) and we walked a round, bought a few things on clearance (some Christmas ornaments, a few dvds). We dropped off our pictures at Walgreens, I got a little frustrated with the machine, Justin calmed me down (like he always does) and all was good. We went across the street for lunch at Bahama Breeze (my parents gave us a giftcard for Christmas!) and it was yummy. I can confidently say I did well at lunch. I only ordered water (although I was DYING to have a fruity alcoholic drink), have the portobello mushroom burger....mostly without the bread! And a bit more than half my french fries. Justin ate his entire order. Even the plate. Jk.

We made a quick stop through Goodwill, and then headed home. Made a stop at Kroger for a few lemons, limes, and dish washer detergent. So low and behold, when we checked the mail and I had that delivery notice, I raced across to the office before they closed! I snacked on a few chocolates when I got home, my friend Becky stopped by with her dog to say hello. But when she left, and Justin went to work, it was TIME!

I took my before pictures. Don't I look plumped out! Sheesh, girl.

I wrote down my weight and measurements....I remember when all these number were smaller in just 2011...man I've let myself go!

I opened my slim in 6 set...I was so excited. I did the first workout right away! I felt great! I felt so wonderful after I finished...the whole time I was working out, even though it was hard, and hurt some, and wasn't easy, I kept thinking: "This is for me. I am doing this for me. This is time for ME!"

 

 After I showered, I was feeling so good that I made some cucumber salad. I cut up 2 cucumbers, some white onion, red pepper, and black olives. I even made my own dressing for it! I didn't combine it all, I didn't it to get soggy, so I just added whatever I needed to my own serving. The dressing recipe is here. I also added some of the italian seasoning to it. I thought it was yummy!!

So now, here at the end of the first true day, I feel good. Very good. I may have let myself go....but I'm bringing myself back. Sexy back. ;)

~elizabeth

Stocking up

Today was supposed to be the first official day of our workout and eating right. But, the slim in 6 program that I ordered that was SUPPOSED to be here today, won't be here until Monday (According to the fedex tracking information). I was super excited to get it too. I was going to read all the literature that comes with it and then when Justin went to work, I was going to get my first workout under my belt. Well, don't have it, can't do it. Grr.

Instead, Justin and I went grocery shopping. We stocked up on a ton of veggies, fruit, and good for you foods.

I also tried making my own caesar salad dressing, using this recipe here. I thought it turned out pretty good!! I tried it with my salad for dinner :)

Since I couldn't workout yet, I decided to take more of the Christmas stuff down...I hate it but it needs to be done. I'll miss it, but until next year! I thought all the moving around would sort of count as a workout, and I am tired, but I definitely was snacky, since all I had for dinner was a salad. It's hard, this cutting back stuff. I really wanted to be sipping on a beverage while I was organizing and cleaning, so I made myself a cocktail, we only had one shot from a set we received left. It was very yummy, but of course you know I wanted another one after the first, but we don't have anything. Just some rum (ick!) in the freezer. I can only do the flavored rum, and the flavor of this rum is bleck! I made myself a spiked cafe mocha with marshmallows and whipped cream. And Bailey's. I didn't finish the whole thing though, I decided to quit. We have a few kamakazee shots in there, and I'm sure Justin and I will work on those when he gets home from work. But I've got to be honest with myself. After today, we won't have anymore excuses. I need to do something that will COUNT as a workout. I need to EAT  breakfast. (Not 2 cups of coffee then starved by lunch and eat eat eat like today) I need to EAT a lunch and dinner.

I will ask Justin if he will go to the workout room with me. He promised that he would do anything I asked him to do with me. I'm going to outline a few goals for this year, yet again.
Goals:
-do exercises with my husband that will bring us together
-cook good healthy meals that add variety to our diets
-take care of our home
-take care of my body
-save money, pay down debt, spend less
-run as many 5ks as possible
-do good things for myself and my marriage
-have faith and build a better relationship with God, alongside my husband

Here is a motivational message I put up on our chalkboard for us this month:

 I plan on changing this every month! I just need to work on motivating myself. Water. Water. Water, water, water. Sheesh. Ok. Wish me luck!

~elizabeth

Welcome, 2014!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The top is us in our hotel room heading out to PARTAY! The second is us during the PARTAY!
We went to the annual event at the Peabody hotel in Memphis. It was a blast! We drank, danced, drank, peed, drank, danced, etc. There were live bands and a dj. Bar's were set up all over the room, we never waited in line. We all counted down to midnight, screamed "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" We had our kiss, and balloons dropped front he ceiling! All around us as we shared our smooches, we could hear the balloons popping! I stomped one with my heal :) very satisfying. We were only staying in the hotel a block down, so driving was not an issue! It was wonderful, what a great night!

We went to brunch at IHOP, the best hangover cure....bacon. Eggs. Coffee. We weren't too terribly hung over, just dehydrated and mild headaches, but that was it. I can't say the same for some poor guy staying in the hotel next to us, before Justin woke up I could hear the guy ralphing in the bathroom. ew.

I know I put a few things yesterday about my resolutions, but if you will allow me to expand a bit. I still want to do all those things I said, but the word for this year is: improvement. I want to improve every aspect of my life. I want to live it fuller, healthier, happier. Not sweat the little things, but enjoy them, because the little things are what make up a full life. Here's to me, to you, and to all of us. Welcome, 2014. It's going to be a fantastic year!

~elizabeth