July 29, 2013

Lighter, Healthier, Happier!


After 14 months of on and off work and 17 months postpartum, I DID IT! 

BEFORE 166 lbs                                                                               AFTER 130 lbs
I've lost all of the baby weight (and then some) and even took it a step further where I've worked to get in the BEST shape of my life! I'll be coming back during the next few weeks to write posts 2 and 3 on everything I've done to get here, things I've learned and things I'd do differently! It's all just one one big learning experience :)  I just wanted to show y'all quickly what I've been up to in my blogging absence ;) See. I've been a productive mama!

I actually hit a point, 3 months ago, where I made it to 128 lbs. But having all four wisdom teeth extracted, the hubby's home coming and moving back to Washington, all in the space of 1.5 months, kinda put a halt on the gym. Sadly, I also allowed my eating to slide big time and it showed! Regardless though, I am back on track, hitting the gym 6 days a week and having the time of my life! Stick around if you'd like to see what, saying no to the treadmill and yes to weights, can do...

July 25, 2013

I Could Out Shine Mr. Sun On A Day Like This!

I have no direction for this post. Just warning you, ha! But this morning has been fabulous. The kiddo just went down for her 2 hour nap, which means I'm spending my coveted free time with y'all! Yes. Feel special. If you're a mom, you totally get what I'm talking about...In fact, you probably imagined me snarling my teeth and growling as I said "coveted free time." Am I right!?

I don't know. Today just had the feeling of sunshine and rainbows where I wanted to skip around and  sing "It's A Wonderful Life." While I AM an upbeat, positive individual most days (or at least I like to think I am) there are just days that feel more awesome then normal; where it feels like NOTHING can touch you! Admittedly, after typing that, I had a moment of fear. I also might have ducked my head, looking to the skies for signs of death by lightening??? I AM sorry if you experienced whats known as fearful association, just now, yourself. And for putting that evil on you, if you weren't already thinking it ;)

So why is my day so awesome.. Well it started with a kick-ass workout, which is always a mood booster! But while doing my fourth round of dishes this afternoon, it just hit me. I am completely blessed in life. I am happier then I have ever been. I have a wonderful child to call my own who is also happy and healthy. I have a marriage to be proud of and a husband who is, and has been, a source of strength for me. He has definitely added quality of life to my years, as it should be with one another! This realization has struck me many times in recent months and I'm not sure that I have the words to express it's emotional impact on me. Very blessed comes to mind... That someone sure knew what they where doing with the collision of our hearts. So yes. Life is good. I am blessed. And I cherish the day these two came into my life...

Excuse my daughters stoned expression :)

I won't stop there though! But only because I'm dying to share this news and maybe a bit premature but, Eh :) Blessing number 100,000,356 would be the FACT that I am returning to school. Let me just repeat that. I AM RETURNING TO SCHOOL! Y'all don't even KNOW how excited this makes me. Or maybe you do? I've worked all week (during baby naps) at getting applications submitted, fees paid, transcripts requested and FAFSA started. I have yet to receive my official college acceptance letter, but do not fear. I am getting that mug! I should have a letter in the next month. Mostly waiting on the 2-3 weeks it takes for my diploma to be sent over...*taps fingers*

I have tried going back to school in the past, but I have always hit road blocks, whether it be money, getting pregnant, lack of the right school with the right program. You name it... But this time, things feel so different. Two weeks ago I had a complete stranger (where I wasn't even digging or researching yet) drop the PERFECT school, for me and this military life, into my lap. And get this, she is actually in the degree program I have chosen. Can we say, inside track? I seriously have used her as my personal admissions and financial aid counselor the last week, lol! Sure beat the 20 minute wait times I was experiencing, trying to reach the school... So what will I be studying??? Well join me as I let out a HUGE sigh of relief. Because after eight years of being educationally MIA, I finally am 100% when I say I have found my passion and know the direction I need to be heading... I will be pursuing my undergraduate in psychology! But more importantly, a Masters in social work or counseling. I am leaning more towards social work... One thing is for certain. I WILL be working with children. Period. That's another post all on it's own. So let the long road ahead of me begin! I'm ready. Focused. Dedicated. I've got this...

So you see? Life is good! I seriously wouldn't be surprised if there were sunbeam rays, shining through my smile... AHHHH! But now that I've taken the better part of this 2 hour hiatus from baby, I need to get my bunz moving on folding these last loads of laundry. Ahh yes. The not so awesome part of my life ;) Thanks for listening y'all. I'll leave you with SugarCube who decided I mastered the art of mini pizza's today. because. duh. she's eating it. SUCCESS! Yet another cloud for my dancing feet...



July 19, 2013

A Bit Rusty, But Here We Go!

I hate when I've taken this much time from blogging. Truly. I do! So can we just pretend, for a moment, that this here blog's been hoppin and poppin with sassy, quipp'ilicious posts the past 3 months? That I've been sharing beautifully shot and edited photos on the daily and giving blow by blow DE.TA.ILS of fabulous Moi? And just as you'd expect, I've been faithful in weekly blog hops, linkups and heck! I've even done my part and written a few host posts so my fabulous ladyships could go on vacation without a halt in production. Yup. That's me alright, ha!

Sadly, that's not been the case. I've been a big-fat-blogging-failure. I partially blame that on the horrible, tragic coffee spill of 2013, and Facebook. But then I come back, to all that's happened in the past few months, and think. WOW. How could you just NOT write about that! Like the fact that your husband came home from being deployed and not only did you NOT say anything... You never got a homecoming pic!!! UGH. Yes. I still cringe about that. Yes. I wish I could go back in time, grab one of those equally excited MilSpouses and beg them to stick around for a shot of me and my soldier...

But, because I failed to get homecoming pictures, I won't go into great detail about his return. I even contemplated not writing about it because, lets face it, it's way more entertaining when you have photos to look at! So all I'll say is, it. was. amazing! Five days, baby free, with just R and I. Exactly what we needed, after months apart! We rented a hotel room for those days, and while we had obligations like signing for our rental, getting the keys, unloading our storage shed and other things, we really just spent that time talking, laughing, smiling (lots of smiling) and ahem...reconnecting. Can I get an amen!

Since his return, SugarCube and I have said "goodbye" to living with his folks in Arizona (goodbye sunshine) reclaimed our 2 dogs from my sister in Vegas and moved back to Washington state where we've been happily reintegrating for the past month!

Taken the day we left Phoenix. Our first shot together since his return! Oie...
 
This post is definitely lack luster. I know. And there's obviously so much more I could have said. Anyone that's been through a deployment and redeployment, knows that... I might revisit this topic some as I sort through photos from the past month. But for now, I just needed to get something written and if it sucks. Well it sucks and I'm sorry, ha! But now that I've broken the silence, I've paved the way to write about other things I'm passionate about. Like my current fitness status, yummy but healthy recipes I've been cooking, new PCS orders coming up all too quickly and SugarCube updates! For now though, you've gotta forgive my rusty fingers. I promise I'll get better, as the guilt and overwhelm wears off ;) 

July 15, 2013

Breaking The Silence!

I miss my blog and have SO MUCH to share with you all! 
Kinda like this...


Yup. The hubby is HA-HA-HOOOOME! 
I will properly break the silence on this later though, because right now, it's 8:00 in the morning and my little SugarCube demands Mommy time :) Looking forward to disconnecting with Facebook more and reconnecting with my blog again!!