Day 3

Who inspires beauty?

This might sound strange, but I would have to say Aries, my son, inspires beauty!!! I say this because he is wonderful, strong, sweet, and amazing! He makes me smile, he makes me love myself for who I am to him, he is funny, he is goofy, and he is a sweetheart. Aries inspires me to be a better person therefore he inspires beauty! Giving birth to him was the only true beauty I can think of!

Day 2

What makes you uniquely you?

Short...
Loud...
Confident...
FAITHFUL..
determined...
Loving..
Strong...
Stubborn..
.. did I mention...
Stubborn!

:)
Take me as I am! :)

Day 1

Memories from childhood... Growing up with 3 sisters. I honestly would not have traded it for the world! Coming from a some what large family in this day is a little rare, but even though I was oldest... I loved it ... you know you always have a friend you can count on! Some of my other favorite memories growing up would have to be the hours we spend during the summer fishing and the hours we spend during the winter making Tamales

Project 31.. my version! :)

Alright I just need something fun to do that will make me smile everyday! Of course I can not just be normal and start on the 1st... SOOO I will start tomorrow! :) Day 1. What is one of your most memorable childhood memories? Please share a photo (at least 10 years old) Day 2. What makes you uniquely you? Day 3. Who is someone you know who inspires beauty? Day 4. Post A photo that makes you smile. Day 5. Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive. Day 6. A youtube video? Day 7. Your Favorite Quote Day 8. Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)? Share, please! Day 9. What virtues do you value in yourself? Day 10. What is Jesus teaching you as a wife, mom, or friend? (Or just woman in general?) Day 11. Post a recipe. Or if you don't cook, try a new recipe and write about how it turned out (pictures please!). Day 12. Write about what wears you out as a woman. Day 13. Write about something you would like to change about yourself for the better. Day 14. Style 31. Post an outfit pic! Day 15. If you could, what would you tell yourself before you had(have) your baby? Day 16. What do you want to die knowing you accomplished? Day 17. Write about 3 things that make you happy. Day 18. Describe your personality.} Day 19. Write about a Cause that means something to you! Day 20. Write about your job and why you love it or hate it. Day 21. Write a letter to your husband to encourage him (or if you are single- your future husband.) Day 22. What are some needs that need to be met in your community? Blog about how to extend your hand to those who need you. Day 23. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Day 24. What is Jesus teaching you presently? Day 25. Who is your role model as a woman. Day 26. 5 photos for five years Day 27. Write a blog to encourage someone and build their confidence! Day 28. Write about your insecurities as a woman. Day 29. Write about "a day in the life of me." (Pics are great!) Day 30. Style 21. Post a pic of your favorite comfy clothes Day 31. Write about your dreams and goals as a beautiful woman!

How we became Jamexican *SORRY ITS LONG*

Picture this it’s the first day of high school, it is a new school with tons of new people, your that nervous/excited that gives you butterflies.

I remember being over whelmed by the size of the school. You see I had come from a relatively small Christian school, and now here I was in a massive building with thousands of kids.
At this point in my life I was a very quite little lady. Not necessarily shy but just quiet.
I walked into my first class of the day, it was math, Sat down and was ready for the day to begin… In walks two guys one very tall one very short they sit directly in front of my and just start talking and laughing the teacher walks in and beings to speak… they continue talking. HOW obnoxious can two people possible be? After the lesson we are allowed to do our assignment and talk.. Short man turns around… Hi I am Jacques you seem really smart so I am just going to copy your homework! Me… …. …(please insert heavy attitude here) Yeah um you can turn around now thanks..

Through out the semester we randomly talked and eventually had a study period together. I remember on days when he was around we would walk the halls and talk about extremely random things. The following year we had a study together again, and I distinctly remember walking the halls with him while he was on crutches.

Later that year he diapered… we were never really friends, rather acquaintances, so it did not phase me much that he was gone… All I knew was the cute short guy I randomly talked to was gone….

Jump to senior year I am at Mc Donald’s with my lady Friends after a football game and in walks this TALL good looking guy. It was Jacques! He recognized me and came and gave me a big hug and told me to add him on myspace, haha remember myspace? I still have pictures from that day.

None with him he gave me hug and left and I think it was that day I truly had a crush!

So it is the end of Senior year and I meet a guy name Thomas and fall in “love” I decide I am going to school in Texas and pack up and move. While I am down there I start talking to Jacques… yup.. on myspace. Turns out he had moved to Florida to go to school. We say that if we are ever in Minnesota we will hang out!

A lot of health issues with me cause me to have to move back to Minnesota… The same week he is having issues in Florida and he has to move back to MN…
My close friend moves into my parents house with me and life couldn’t be better! I was resolving my health issues and in cosmetology school.

It was April 16th My roommate and I are were at the grocery store and my phone rings… Hey I moved back to Minnesota.. do you want to hang out?

Who is this?
It’s Jacques…
I am back in MN and we need to hang out

*sign*

Well he came to my parents house that night and him, my roommate, and myself hung out, and then we hung out every single day after that...

When I was at work I was on the phone with him the entire time. I talked to him on my drive to get him, and I talked to him all night every night.

After that first day we were together EVERY single day for the first 16 months!

He proposed to me after just two weeks

and we moved in together that June.

Not exactly the “clean” background I grew up in, but as odd as it was my parents were okay with it. They fell in love with him day 1.

Little did we know at first, but our paths had crossed and almost crossed far more times then we knew. This is where I get cheesy with it.

He was born on March 21st at 8PM 1987 at HCMC. I was born on May 21st at 8PM 1987 at HCMC.

Growing up he used to constantly go fishing with his dad at a place called narrows. My dad took me to that same spot growing up. Later after our fathers met they realized they knew each other because they had fished together.. at Narrows!

Through my junior and senior year I hung out with ALL of his friends that he grew up with and had NO idea that they were friends with him.

A one of my lady friends was friends with a guy named Matt and every once in a while I would go with her to his apartment and later found out Jacques actually lived in that apartment but I just always happen to be there when he was not there.

And of course one of the biggest random events… My boyfriend was cheating on me with Jacques girlfriend…. Pretty random huh?

In the past 5 years we have had bumps in the road, and a few mountains!
BUT he is my best friend and my partner and I am thankful for every hardship we have ever had, because we have a bond that no one could ever break.

OH Baby!!!

So Lately I have had this horrible fever that I have not been able to kick... My body is screaming out for another baby... Yup That's right I've got baby fever. Some time around Aries 1st birthday I started really wanting another baby. I prayed and prayed and prayed and came to the conclusion that It just was not the right time. I still wanted a baby, but I was at peace that it was not the right time. Then a few weeks ago I really started having those feelings again so I prayed and I prayed and I prayed, and then something intriguing happen... Jacques was offered a job where he was able to make a much larger amount of money compared to what he was making before. Jacques words after work that first day were "lets have a baby right now!" I do have some Concerns about my weight still. I need to lose about 25 more pounds before I will feel comfortable being pregnant. It is important to me to have as healthy of a pregnancy as possible, and being fit is a big part of that. Of course even though I really want another baby I have these Little doubts that I can't shake... like...

Is it really the right time?

How will Aries feel?

How will it feel being the mother of two?

will I have enough love?(silly I know I will)

I wont be able to stay at home full time like I did with Aries for the first 6 months.. am I okay with that?

I think that the last one is the biggest concern... I mean Maybe what I want is for God to provide away for me to just be a part time worker?

I want to be a business woman & a stay at home mom... why can't I have that?

Can I be an amazing wife, a stay, and home mom, and a business woman? How does that work? How can I make that work?

I am not sure.. but...

One thing I AM sure of ..

I want another baby!

Being a mom is the biggest blessing God has ever given me and I really think it might be time to start this journey again!!

Flash.BACK.

I ran across an old photobucket account that I forgot I had... I found some pictures that made me smile!

^^^ I miss my baby Hennessy(don't ask about the name LOL) She Is a pure red nose Pit Bull and one of the sweetest dogs in the world She completely Changed my opinion on Pit Bulls and I miss her so very Much.. When we moved into an apartment we had to give her to My fiances Brother. Luckily we still get to see her when ever we want, but I miss seeing her everyday! She gets along amazing with Aries and I wish more than anything we could have her back!^^^

^^^ I seriously forgot how in shape I used to be! haha I swear both my legs in this picture equal one of my legs now... well maybe not quite BUT I do have a long way to go! :) ^^^

^^^ Even though I am talking about wanting to get in shape I must say I have really been missing being pregnant lately! The first picture was at 14 weeks and the second was at 22 weeks the 3rd at 30 weeks and the last was at 39 weeks. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I am really looking forward to experiencing it again!^^^

HCG day 7 mixed emotions

Although I am thrilled to be into week two with a fabulous 8.5lbs lost in 7 days I am honestly devastated today. My mom surprised me at work and wanted to take me out to lunch to celebrate the fact that she is CANCER FREE!(WOO HOO). So we went to applebees. After searching the menu I got what I thought was the healthiest, bottomless soup and salad. I got the grilled shrimp and spinach and french onion soup I got a second round of the grilled shrimp and spinach because it was a really small portion and I ate shrimp last night and there are very few calories in shrimp. I just got back and jumped on the Internet to look up the calories. I found out I just ate about 696 calories! SERIOUSLY??? I did scrape ALLL of the cheese off the top of the soup, and I asked them to NOT add almond's bacon or any dressing WHAT so ever to my shrimp and spinach so I am sure it is a little less than 696, but its still way over 500. I have not even had dinner................ WHAT A BUMMER RIGHT? I am not sure if I should skip dinner or still eat it? Should I work out? I am not sure? I do not want to skip dinner, because I do not want my body to go into starvation mode... *SIGH* I was so excited this morning and now I am really bummed out! Especially because I thought I was making a healthy choice which over all I was but the soup was the worst part! SOO LAME!

HCG Diet Day 6*food edited*

Day six how crazy right? I can not believe I will have been on this diet for 7 days tomorrow. I am honestly just loving it. Although I did have a moment of weakness last night when I wanted to take a giant bite of my loves wild rice. Today I am updating earlier in the day because I foresee my afternoon being very busy. So here are the stats

Weight Loss Today: .5lbs
Total Weight Loss: 7.5lbs
Average Per Day: 1.25lbs

I was a little bummed out I only hit .5 this morning but 7.5lbs in 6 days is still fantastic.

B: 3 cups of coffee, LOTS OF WATER (I have had 3L so far today)
L: 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, snap peas, and a handful of blueberries(Not sure if blueberries are allowed different sites say different things, but I am sticking to the berries)
D: spicy lemon shrimp with asparagus and a side salad with home made salsa
318 calories for the day.. not intentional but that's what it was
I am taking a sauna today at 6 and am very much so looking forward to it!

I have no pictures of food today but I will leave you with a few old pictures that I am aspiring towards! :) See you tomorrow with hopefully a little better weight loss I would love to come back with a 3.5lbs so I can have lost 10lbs but I know that is doubtful! A girl can dream right?

HCG Day Five

What an amazing day five let me tell you! I woke up to an unbelievable 3lb loss. I Remember saying yesterday Man I just want ONE day to lose 3 or 4lbs, and then BOOM there it is the next day! I feel more encouraged now than I have this whole time... AND I have felt encouraged this whole time! I am feeling more and more energetic every day and just over all healthy! I know its because I am losing, but I actually think it has A LOT to do with all the tea I am drinking. I have always been a tea drinker but now I have 6-9 cups a day and I feel it and it feels really good!

I will say I did not do much better with my water consumption today... I had about 4 12oz and I am trying for almost a gallon a day... need to work on that more tomorrow!!

So here are the stats:
Weight loss today: 3lbs(woo hoo)
Total weight loss: 7lbs(wooo freaking whoo!!!!!!)
Average per day: 1.4lbs... how amazing is that?

B: as always was tea I also had a small cup of black coffee

L: was something I have been craving for a few days which was COTTAGE CHEESE!! an apple and handful snap peas! SOO GOOD! Total Calories: 255

Dinner was one of the best that I think I have made since starting this It was Salsa Verde Tilapia on a bed of curried cauliflower and onions!!! It was also one of the most filling! I ate dinner at about 7:45(late I know) and am still so stuffed I feel like I just ate thanksgiving dinner! The total was: 241 cals
Daily Calorie intake: 496

I am feeling great and so excited to see what tomorrow brings! I am also going to try a 30 minute sauna and pilates tomorrow hoping that will help get some toxins out! :)

HCG Day 4

so day 4 of HCG diet! Not bad at all! I am still shocked at how full I am staying! I feel like normally I am way more hungry when I am eating way more food. I think the tea is really helping. I do know that I need to focus more on my water intake... I am NOT so good at that! I think there was a point today where I felt my first bit of desire and that was when I made my wonderful fiance a yummy egg and cheese English muffin sandwich! But it quickly faded!

So now for todays stats:

Weight Loss today: 2lbs
Total Weight loss: 4lbs
Average: 1lbs per day

2lb today is great and 1lb a day is fantastic as well but..there is always a but... I dont know why I just want to see like 3lb or 4lb weight loss... at least just one day LOL but I know that is a little out there! Regardless I am happy and feeling blessed for the weight loss I am at!

Calorie intake today 490
B:Tea
L: Salad with Chicken and homemade salsa(with allowed ingredients) and half of a grapefruit
D: Sweet and spicy grapefruit chicken on a bead of spinach with broccoli, snap peas, and onions
I guess to some who have done the HCG diet My dinner was a bit of a cheat because I used 4 veggies instead of 2 but I was still under my calories and I am cooking for my family so I figured it was fine! :)
Hoping day 5 goes as well as today, and really hoping for another 2+ pounds!

HCG Day 3 Part 2

SO dinner was amazing Garlic and vinegar chicken breast over spinach and a side salad with strawberry vinaigrette dressing! YUM! Today total were actually below 500 at 403! I am surprised at the fact that I am still very satisfied. I am thinking about an hour before dinner I got hungry but after I took my drops it completely went away. Hoping this continues and I see some exciting numbers on the scale this week!

HCG Day 3

Oh Sunday! How is your weekend? Hopefully amazing. Today is Day 3 of the HCG Diet and I have to say I am quite pleased. Day 1 & 2 were the Gorging phase. You basically eat as much fatty, healthy, foods as you can! At some point half way through the first day I found it really hard to eat at all I had NO appetite what so ever. I am not sure if it was the HCG or what it was? Very strange. Day two I woke up to a pleasant 2lb loss and once again found that I had NO appetite. This is very strange for me, because although I almost never have an appetite during the day once dinner rolls around I am hungry. I am thinking it is the HCG mixed with the large amounts of tea, but I am really not sure. Today, day 3, is the first day of the strict 500 calories part of the diet I am hoping this feeling of satiation continues. So here are the stats for the day

Today: 0lbs lost
Total weight loss: 2lbs

B: Skin Detox organic green tea

L: 3 eggs(2 white/1whole) seasoned with garlic and topped with homemade salsa(using only allowed ingredients)
4 tomatoes
1/2 apple
Intake: 218

Which leaves 282 for dinner. I not sure yet what exactly we are doing for dinner but I am excited to look up some recipes. I am thinking its going to involve chicken! :) and a salad of some sort.

I am also looking forward to seeing day 4 weight results if there is any! :)

An Intersting Journey

Why hello World! I missed you while you were gone!
Today after a LONG drawn out break I write in regards to day one of an intersting journey I am begining. Oh where oh where to begin. I am not always good at this story telling thing... :)
How about we begin with the birth of my beautiful Son Aries.. although on like most stories I tell this one is not about my son, but actually about myself.
October 9th of 2010 I gave birth to Aries 7lbs 12 oz.. The day after I got home from the hospital I had lost 20 of the 40 pounds I gained while pregant. I was off to a good start! 5 months later I only had 5 pounds left to go... Then something happen I found out my mom had cancer, I started school, and I went from being a stay at home mom to being a full time working mama. Although non of these are good excuses I think the stress got to me and I did what a lot of people make the mistake of doing... I turned to food.
Now at my highest weight I have ever been I just got a huge wake up call... I have a son who is going to be two in just 6 months and I need to be a role model for him. So that is exactly what I am going to do!