Honesty

To begin I want to share some family news!! James and Alysha had their new baby boy, Brayden Joseph! He was born at 9:27 a.m on April 20, 2010, weighed 7lbs8oz, 20 inches long. He has hair, it's very dark, and looks very little like his big brother! His birth was FAST. Well, maybe not the labor part since that lasted a few hours, but the pushing part lasted about 15 minutes!! Crazy fast, i'm almost envious! I would share more but it's not really my story to tell! The happy little family is home now and adjusting to life as a family of 4. It's so weird to see my brother with 2 kids but it is helpful to see them juggling both because it gives me hope for my future!

Jordan and James holding new baby Brayden.

MOVING ON:

For those who know me in real life they should know me as an honest person. If I have a problem with something I am not shy to annouce it. This could be considered a bad thing but I try to keep opinions to myself I am just easily read by some people =)

One thing that I feel I need to be honest about in order to get something done about it is, my weight.

I had a baby 2 years ago. During my pregnancy I gained 40 pounds. It's not an un-reasonable amount, not too little or too much in my opinion. The problem is however I have only lost about 25 pounds since I had Addyson...2 years ago...I know that the body is supposed to change after a baby but I never imagined it would be like this.

I am at a loss. I don't over-eat, I am not a couch potato, but I have these stingy areas on my body that won't go away. Namely my stomach, hips, arms, and my fat face. In case you can't tell I am not having a positive outlook today!

According to MSN fitness and health these are the...
10 BEST WEIGHT-LOSS TIPS EVER

1. SNACK, BUT SMARTLY

Grazing between meals used to be on the weight-loss hit list. But nutritionists now know that it's better to satisfy a craving with healthy grub than ignore it and risk a junk-food binge later. The best picks are filling, protein-packed snacks, such as one stick of string cheese, a tablespoon of peanut butter on a piece of fruit, or a medium-size bowl of edamame.

Issue #1: See I don't really think I have a problem with snacking. Maybe that's an issue, that I don't snack...

2. TURN OFF THE TV

Dining while viewing can make you take in 40 percent more calories than usual, reports a new study. And texting, driving, or any other distracting activity during a meal can also result in your eating too much. Instead, make each meal something you put on a plate and sit down to, even if you're eating solo.

Issue #2: I actually do pretty well with this one. For sure at dinner we turn the TV off and have family meal but breakfast and lunch with just Addyson and I doesn't usually work out. I put the TV on to keep her distracted so I can make her meal without a little girl around my feet, and then the TV just stays on.

3. STEP ON THE SCALE DAILY

If your regular weight increases several days in a row, it's a red flag letting you know you need to cut back a little or beef up your workouts slightly.

Issue #3: I don't have weight increases so that's good, it's just not going down...

4. SCULPT THREE TIMES A WEEK

Doing 5 minutes each of push-ups, lunges, and squats (in 30-second intervals) will help build and maintain muscle mass. The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism will be, so you'll torch more calories as you go about your day.

Issue #4: Never tried this, i'll add it to my list

5. REACH FOR YOUR CELL

Next time your mind gets stuck on a certain food, call a friend and redirect your brain by asking how her day's going. Research shows that cravings only last about 5 minutes, so by the time you hang up, the urge to devour junk will have subsided.

Issue #5: I WILL be trying this one! Be prepared friends for evening phone calls when all I want is brownies!!

6. EAT A BIG, BALANCED BREAKFAST

An a.m. meal made up mostly of carbs and protein with some fat keeps blood-sugar levels steady and hunger pangs away so you're not susceptible to pigging out come lunch, studies show. Opt for something satisfying for your stomach and taste buds — like egg whites and turkey bacon with whole-wheat toast.

Issue #6: egg whites, ok, turkey bacon, disgusting, whole wheat toast of course. This menu is just not in the cards for me, because Addyson will not eat any of it but possibly the toast. I pretty much make a menu for her which is usually fruit and a carb.

7. WATCH THE BOOZE

One innocent-looking margarita or cosmopolitan can rack up hundreds of calories that do nothing to quench your appetite. Treat yourself just on the weekends and cut back somewhere else or stick to a glass of wine, light beer, or vodka and soda — three drinks that each have about 100 calories per serving.

Issue 7: Yea, I don't really drink often so this is fine.

8. HAVE FRUIT TWICE A DAY

Fruit has no fat and is mostly water, so it'll fill you up while leaving less room on your plate (and in your stomach) for high-cal fare. Don't freak about fruit's carb count — we're talking the good kind of carbohydrates that contain lots of healthy fiber.

Issue #8: We love fruit around here. On a regular basis our fridge is stocked with apples, oranges, strawberries, and sometimes blackberries or blue berries. So I'll work on this.

9. STAY ASLEEP LONGER

Getting to bed just 30 minutes earlier and waking up 30 minutes later than you normally do can help you make better food choices, researchers report. Also, when you're well-rested, you're less prone to snacking out of fatigue or stress.

Issue #9: I get A LOT of sleep. Addyson is really the best kid. She goes to bed at 9:30pm and wakes up around 8:30-9:00 am. Perfect. I usually stay up and read until about 11 and use addy as my alarm clock . PERFECTION

10. VISUALIZE YOURSELF THIN

When you feel your willpower breaking, conjure up a mental picture of yourself when you looked and felt slim. The visual motivation keeps you focused on your goal weight and reminds you that it is attainable, since you've achieved it before.

Issue #10: It really depends on the day with this one. Every once in a while I feel amazing about my body and am excited about my clothing and other days I hate absolutely everything about my body. Unfortunately the hating my body happens more often as of late...

It is with these tips that I hope to transform my image beore my wedding and honeymoon on the beach...I fell my major issue is accountabilty. I am alone in this work-out routine and have no one to keep me motivated except for Jillian Michels when I put her on the TV. It's rough....that's all I have to say

Until next time...

Another One Bites The Dust

While today has been EXTREMELY productive it has also been very stressful!!

After my huge wedding dress fiasco I thought nothing else could be as bad and I would make it through the rest of my wedding planning with smooth sailing.

That however, is not the case...

I find out this moring that the resturant we had reserved for our rehearsal dinner has been closed. Yes. Closed. Never to re-open again.

"Johnny Carino’s Italian Grill in **blank** shut its doors abruptly this morning closing down the 13-year-old eatery and putting about 40 employees out of work.
A note on the door, posted by 8 a.m., said that as of today the location had permanently closed."

While this is a road bump I would have liked to avoid at least it's 6 weeks before the wedding so I have time to find a new place. And luckily it was not as severe as my wedding dress thing...

In other news:

* We are still waiting on the arrival of nephew #2 from James and Alysha

* Adam is building picnic tables and I am selling them on craigslist, we have sold two so far. I am very proud of our little side business =)

* We just got a patio set with 6 chairs so I expect to be having bbq's very soon!

* I am still trying to choose colors for our master bathroom and bedroom. While I have decided on them Adam is the one still objecting. If I didn't need his help I would just do it myself!!

* I am making brownies at the moment because my house smells like garlic from dinner. I know I could just light a candle but brownies just sound soooo much better!!

* Adam and I came up with THE BEST gift for our groomsmen/ushers. Here is a little hint

That's all your gettin until after the wedding! Which is in 45 DAYS!!!

Brownies are done!!

Until next time...

Waiting, waiting, and more waiting...

Yesterday Addyson, my mom, and I went to help Alysha around her house before the baby comes. The nesting instinct has kicked in and she needed help moving things around the nursery since she can't lift, bend, or stand =)

Since we finished with house chores early I decided to commence in inducing Alysha's labor through every natural way I could think of.

After our relaxing lunch at Red Robin we decided to go to Off Broadway Shoes during which time Alysha started to have contractions. The more we walked the closer they got and they continued in the car on the way back to her house.

We decided to start timing the contractions with the use of the "Contraction Timer" App I downloaded on my phone. It told us the duration of the contraction and the frequency (or how many minutes they were apart). It was very helpful! We timed for two hours with consistent contractions every 2-3 minutes but Alysha didn't feel ready to the hospital. We decided to sit. And that's when the contractions slowed down....and got slower...and slower...and stopped. About 7:30 pm we were 15 minutes apart.

Since things slowed down so much we decided to head home and keep on stand-by for the night to see if any contractions would start again. And they did. About 12 A.M I got a text from James saying contractions have been 2-3 min. apart for an hour and a half and they were looking at going to the hospital. Six minutes later I got a message they were on their way.

Knowing the up's and down's of being in labor I decided to just stay at home and wait since we weren't sure if she would stay or not.

She measured the same as at the doctor last week so they monitored her for an hour and sent her home.

So that's where we are at this morning. My dad is at their house watching Jordan so James and Alysha can get some sleep after a long night.

Perhaps today will be the day that I have a new baby nephew?!?!

Until next time...

Soap Box Monday

Things that annoy me:

Snow in spring

** It's just lame. I have decided to officially protest winter by wearing flip flops all the time, despite the 30 degree temperatures threatening to freeze my pretty toes off. I will only wear shoes when I go to work out. There I said it.

Buying things full price

** Seriously I had to buy Addyson some short sleeve shirts since the weather was warm last week and I couldn't find any at clearance at two stores so I ended up buying 2 at full price...granted they were only $4 each but still, when she only wears them for one summer that seems ridiculous.

The dog

** Baylee is Adam's dog, plain and simple. Even though we bought him togehter 5 years ago he never bonded with me like he did with Adam, probably because I left him and went to school in Wyoming for a year....He annoys me because when Adam is not home in the evening and I have to feed him he will just sit and stare at his food until Adam tells him it's ok to eat. He would rather starve then listen to me...

Finding a job

** I have done all that is asked of me. I have contacted every possible contact I can think of despite my embarassment and yet I still hear nothing. I thought things were looking up for me in this area but alas, still no job.

Things I am excited about!!

OUR WEDDING!!

** Coming up in less then 2 months I will oficially be married to my high school sweetheart =) Plans are going famously and I have almost every tiny detail finished. The rehearsal dinner plans were finalized this morning, my dress got finished with alterations last week (and i still love it!), and most of the boys have already been measured for their tux!

The birth of my nephew!

** Any day now!! My sister-in-law went to the doctor today and she is dilated 2-3 cm (funny when my brother told me this he said inches!) and the doctor could feel his head! When James and Alysha had their first I was there for the entire process and it was amazing. I rushed down as soon as they told me contractions had started and 18 hours later Jordan James entered the world! I wasn't in the room but I heard his first little cry from outside the door and it brought tears to my eyes. Can't wait to mee their new little boy!!

Projects, projects, and more projects

** Adam has been in super builder mode and told me to make a list of things that I want built for the house. So far he has done 2 picnic tables and will gather materials for the bookcase and bench this afternoon. I just wish I had something to do that would be helpful...I want some type of hobby but I don't have brain power to think of something. I guess my hobby is looking for jobs everyday and taking care of our wonderful baby girl.

I will post pictures from Easter weekend another day but I am just not in the mood to upload pictures and edit. We did have a blast though! Easter is my favorite holiday for so many reasons and it just keeps getting better =)

Until next time...