weigh-in Wednesday

I lost another 3.2 lbs tonight, for a totaly of 53.2 lbs lost in all.  Woot!
No words of wisdom tonight - just the update.
:)
Have a good night!
Stacy

Creative Piggies

I couldn't link to the site where I found this style, but it is on this mom's site: http://redpunzel.blogspot.com/search/label/Toddler If you scroll down to November21st, and look at the second photograph, that is what we copied today.   Here is how Bee's turned out:

This is will probably stay in again today, with a little smoothing and fixing of the piggies.

Enjoy the beautiful weather if you have it!

Stacy

Rainy Day Fun

Need something fun to do on a rainy day?

I couldn't think of a thing to do, so after church, I started cleaning out closets...when I ran across the flower girl dress Bee wore in a family wedding recently. I realized that I didn't have any candid shots of her in it, and it wouldn't fit soon...so my closet organizing was put on hold and we ran out between the raindrops to get some photos of my beautiful girl.  (Thanks, Jeni, for the idea to have a photo shoot!)   Of course, the boys had to get in on the action, so I found some clothes for them to wear.  Each child had their special time with mommy, and two of the three thought this was a very fun way to spend our afternoon.  My appologies to child #2, who doesn't enjoy having his photo taken...I guess they can't all be photogenic.

Here are some tips to make photographing your kids enjoyable:

1. Keep your expectations low.  Sometimes they just aren't in the mood.
2. Go outside and use natural light.
3. If your backgrounds are sketchy, make your photos black and white - it covers a multitude of sins.
4. (From the most awesome photographer I know, Deb http://www.dlyndlphoto.blogspot.com/ ) Don't always make your child smile and say cheese - sometimes you can get adorable shots when they aren't looking at the camera.
5. Have fun - when you start getting frustrated, the fun gets zapped away.

Here are a ton of photos from today. Enjoy my babies!!
Stacy

Wednesday Weigh-in

Big, exciting, jump up and down news!!!   I lost 2.6 lbs last night, bringing me to exactly FIFTY POUNDS lost!! 
My tip for this week is going to seem to fly in the face of what I said last week about accountability - but somewhere in the depths of my mind, it makes perfect sense.  Last week, I said how important it is to have accountability.  I totally believe that.  Someone, somewhere needs to ask the tough questions, see the numbers and encourage you during your dieting.
That being said, I also believe that you will never lose weight until you are ready to stand on your own two feet. I say this from my own experience.  I tried for ten years to tie my weight loss to another person.  Meeting friends at various gyms, pools or parks to take walks. Joining WW together, eating together, etc.  This is what I realized this time around.  No one is going to do this for me.  Big news, right?   But seriously, only I can decide what goes into my mouth.  Only I can get my butt out of bed in the morning and jog or walk.  Only I grocery shop for my family and plan what meals come into this house.  And there was something really empowering about finding and joining tops on my own.   I didn't have anyone hold my hand.  I just did it.
And each day, I choose to do it again.  Each day, I make the choice that I am worth it, all by myself.  There are days that this is still so difficult.  And I have friends and cheerleaders in my corner to champion me along when I feel like giving up. I feel like I couldn't do it without them, but at the same time - this time around, I know that I can.  Because finally, I'm doing this for me.
I'd love to hear how you are all doing on your adventures.  Drop me a line!
Stacy

Seven strand braid

I found this here: http://www.princesshairstyles.com/2010/07/7-strand-braid-video.html and figured that Bee might just have enough hair for me to give it a go....here is how our's turned out:

I'm going to have to grab a child with longer hair to try this again.  Although it "worked" in Bee's hair, it would have worked even better with longer hair.

We're crazy this week - camps, meetings, golf outings - all good, but all keeping me moving like crazy.

I'll update again tomorrow with my weigh-in....wish me luck!

Stacy

Waterfall Braid

This is such a pretty 'do.  We were running late to summer theater, so I only did one braid, but I think it came out so pretty!  I found the idea here: http://www.princesshairstyles.com/2010/07/no-french-braid-floating-braid.html   Her  hair is still wet in the photos, and when it dried, it really fluffed out and looked even prettier, but you'll get the idea.

These photos didn't come out so great - but you get the idea.  This is such a pretty braid, and can be done on any length of hair!

Stacy

And Updo for shorty hair...

I have found that many moms who blog their "toddler styles" are easy to change up a bit for older girls with short hair. This mama has beautiful little red heads, and I got this idea from her: http://redpunzel.blogspot.com/2010/07/side-pony-and-braid.html   Here is how our's turned out:

Pretty cute, huh?

Our beautiful outdoor weather has given way to some much needed rain. Maybe we'll check something off of our Summer Fun List today...what are your plans?

Stacy

Weigh - In Wednesday!

Woo!  I said last week that I'd work harder this week, and I did it!!  I just got home, and I lost 3.2 lbs tonight, for a total now of 47.4 lbs lost.   That is so much fun to write.   I feel so great!

My dieting tip of the week is: Accountability!   Yes!  I have tried dieting on and off in the past ten  few years, and what has stopped me every time is lack of accountability.  When another person (in my case, it's two people at TOPS) knows how much I weigh (yes, the actual scary number), and each week can see if I've lost or gained (because I've stepped on a scale in front of them)- and GASP!, writes it down in a little book...I do better.  Because now I'm not just lying to myself that I'm doing better when I'm really not - now there is proof...each week at TOPS we have to say our name and whether we gained or lost that week.  It's humbling, yes - oh, so humbling....BUT it works.  It really, really works.

So if you are in a rut -and find you aren't losing like you want to be, find someone to hold you accountable.  Tell them how much you weigh, and ideally weigh in with them in the room with you.  Ask them to write down your weight for you each week.  Seriously.  It sounds crazy, but it works.  You know why I think that is?  I'm almost always willing to disappoint myself (what mom isn't?) but I won't disappoint someone else.   Like right now at TOPS, the big deal for me is that I've now been there for 14 weeks, and I've lost every week.  After I weigh-in, there are all these eager faces waiting to see if I've gained or lost.  Granted, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if I gain one of these weeks, they will be encouraging and loving.  However, I also know myself, and I know that I'll move hell or high water not to let that happen. 

Want more information about finding a local TOPS chapter where you live?  It's very inexpensive (only one dollar a week) and the accountability is totally worth it.   Check out this site: http://www.tops.org/default.aspx there are lots of useful tools - including a meeting finder.  Let me know if you join, I'd love to add into your encouragement!
Stacy

Thanks, Amy!

One of my best friends invited me out to a beach this week, and I was unable to go due to the kids' evening schedules - but she did give me the idea to find a local beach with my kiddos and go play for the day!  This was also on our Summer of Fun list - so off we went.  We had so much fun.  Even if you live in a land-locked state, google recreational parks in your state, and I'm sure you'll find a lake with a sand beach.  We had so much fun. Thanks, Amy!!

Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts - and keep working on your Summer of Fun list!

Stacy

Weekly Weigh-in

I weighed in last night, and lost another 1.2 lbs, for a total of 44.2 lbs lost.  I'm hoping for a bigger week next week, so I need to dig in a little and work harder. 
At this point in my diet, I need to shake things up a bit in the workout area.  My daily three mile walk/jog has gotten easy, so I found a nearby hill that is one mile straight up.  It's a killer to walk up, and equally as difficult to run down.  However, I feel fantastic after I've done it.
I think this week, I'm going to alternate the two routes, and see what my results are.   My eating will be a little better too - the fourth of July goodies are out of the house- so my goal is to be down at least three pounds next week.  I know I can do it.
I did have something exciting happen this week, though.  For the first time in TEN YEARS (yes, I'm shouting that), I was able to take off my wedding band and engagement ring.   I'm taking them this weekend to be cleaned at a local jewler.  That milestone felt fantastic!!
Have a skinny day!
Stacy

Happy Fourth of July!

We had such a fun day yesterday, and today has been filled (so far) with relaxation as well.  Here is a picture story of our special day (sorry, but no photos of the fireworks at the end of the night - I forgot my camera at home!).
We started our morning at church, where we got all decked out in our July 4th gear:

On Saturday, the kids needed something to do - and lacking any creativity, I handed them red, white and blue paint and paintbrushes, and let them have fun on our sidewalk.  I thought I'd add it here because of the "July4thness" of it.

We spent the rest of the afternoon playing in the sunshine - with our sprinkler, slip and slide and water guns!

Last year, Bridgette designed and decorated her first cake on the fourth of July.  She hasn't done one since, but seeing as she has the memory of an elephant, she handed me this picture:

and asked that I make a cake for her to decorate.

Apparently this is going to be a new yearly tradition for her - decorating a cake for the fourth of July - I think she did a great job, and like all artists, took a little liberty with her design plan.

Later, we had a picnic at home, just the five of us.

Later on we went to see some fireworks. It was a perfect family day.  I am one blessed lady.

I hope your day was equally as grand!

Stacy

Oh, and here is a closeup of Bee's 'do.  It's just little half piggies - where I left out a bump and added some fourth of July bows.

A little funky, but fun.

:)