The Big D

***Update*** 2 meals down!!! Not too bad ;)

The time has come........

I flipped my head over to dry my hair this morning and there it was...............fat............hanging right over my jeans! I was reminded of the pizza I devoured that night...and the Halloween candy....and cookies I made for small group. ***Sigh***

I am not concerned about the number on the scale, not at all actually. But I don't like the fact that my clothes are tight and I avoid an entire section of cute clothes in my closet.

So I am doing it! The big D.....

I know it is probably best to "eat right and exercise". I would get a big fat F if that was my plan.....so I am going to try out some popular diets. Let's see which works the best :)

All this fun will start Monday...***forced grin*** So I will weigh and measure and see how it goes!

First up is the 3 day diet.

The 3 Day Diet meal plan:

Day 1

Breakfast

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

1/2 grapefruit or juice

1 piece toast with 1 tablespoon peanut butter

Lunch

1/2 cup tuna

1 piece toast

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

Dinner

3 ounces any lean meat or chicken

1 cup green beans

1 cup carrots

1 apple

1 cup regular vanilla ice cream

Day 2

Breakfast

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

1 egg

1/2 banana

1 piece toast

Lunch

1 cup cottage cheese or tuna

8 regular saltine crackers

Dinner

2 beef franks

1 cup broccoli or cabbage

1/2 cup carrots

1/2 banana

1/2 cup regular vanilla ice cream

Day 3

Breakfast

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

5 regular saltine crackers

1 ounce cheddar cheese

1 apple

Lunch

Black coffee or tea, with 1-2 packets Sweet & Low or Equal

1 boiled egg

1 piece toast

Dinner

1 cup tuna

1 cup carrots

1 cup cauliflower

1 cup melon

1/2 cup regular vanilla ice cream

In addition to its strict daily food prescription, dieters drink 4 cups of water or noncaloric drinks daily.

What A Weekend!

If I told you work was consuming every ounce of my being right now.....that would be an understatement. Sometimes we go through periods of joy and progress...when it seems like everything is going right. That is not one of these times. If something can go wrong, multiply that by three and that's what we are going through. (With smiles on our faces of course)

Honestly, it is so crazy right now the tears have turned into a crazed giggle :)

Jeremy's birthday was last Thursday. He was out of town, so I planned a surprise party for Saturday. He got home Sunday morning at 3am. Nice.... so that was cancelled. We had planned on taking the girls to the Grapevine Halloween festivities on Saturday night as well. I got the three pretties all costumed up and headed out. It is really hard keeping up with a cat and peacock while carrying a monster! To be frank, I was really disappointed. I had envisioned a group of us going together after the party....and it was just me. The night actually turned out wonderful.....we were a little cold, so we ended up going to Chic Fil A and then to Target. We bought candy and swords....went home and had a sword fight. What more could you ask for?

Grace

Faith

Addi

I read a quote the other day (probably on facebook....because lets face it, that's the only reading I do these days) that really made me think.

What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today.

Wow! I would not have much left.....and I would be missing the things I am most thankful for!

I need to focus on my blessings! God has put me in this difficult situation for a reason. It is difficult for me to see it, but I want to try to follow the path that has been set for me with a joyful heart. So here is the start of my journey towards a thankful life......

Jeremy and I did not start our relationship in church....or with God for that matter. But our path came to a dead end....and right in front of us was God.

We bought our home (which to some was a crazy move). So we had this home that had been in foreclosure, we had months of plans for it and we still had our other house, which I don't think we even had listed yet. On top of this stress, our marriage was shaky at best. The truth about marriage is that it is HARD! The truth about blending families is that it is even HARDER! However, this single decision to buy this house changed our family and relationship.

Our new neighbors mentioned their church in passing. A very small church going through changes, First Baptist Church of Bedford. One Sunday we decided to give it a try........you know it's a fit when for the first month I cried every Sunday and Jeremy left saying "I think this sermon was specifically for me". Not only did this house (ok really God) give us awesome neighbors but it lead us to our church. Our neighbors also invited us to a small group bible study they were starting at their home. Life changer! We now have a group of friends that we absolutely love! We are so very blessed! We have since joined the church (if you know me...this is a gigantic step....moving away from my Dad's church!) and have recently started hosting the small group at our home. Somehow they also talked me into leading the study on Revelation....really no pressure God....no really I won't stress out about it. hahaha

Okay Brook, do you have a point? Why yes I do.....

I am so thankful God has a plan for my life. I can't do this on my own. I am so thankful for my awesome neighbors and my wonderful church family and small group friends. I am so thankful for a preacher that is a walking example for my husband. I am so thankful that God can forgive me for my semi stubborn attitude....okay over the top stubborn attitude.

It's amazing to me that a simple conversation with a neighbor can change your life!

CVS Savings

As some of you know, I love, love, love coupons! Why not save money........on things you need ***very important :)

Yesterday I went to CVS.......here is what I purchased



First transaction was $30.88 minus $10.83 in CVS Savings (on sale stuff).......then I used $14.25 in coupons.....paying $5.80 plus tax.

I received $10.99 in Extra Bucks and Coupons



Second transaction my purchase was $29.05 minus CVS deals $5.28 and used $11.89 in coupons......then I used my EBs $10.99........paying $0.89 plus tax!!! Whoo Hooo



And......I received $10 in EBs!!!!!



Sooooo I purchased $59.93 total, was out of pocket $7.32 and have $10 extra!

CVS paying me $2.68 to buy $60 worth of items is great with me :)

I have thought about posting my shopping lists so everyone can save......let me know if you are interested :)

And share with me your savings!

Cheese

Just a little update in photos.....







Faith would love to be a ballerina

Ryan and Destinee at Graduation

yay!!

Ryan with MeMe and Leonard at Baccalaureate

Boys.........thanks for the bunny ears ;)

Ivy Cutting

Mom and Ryan

A wax figure of Ryan

Trying to fit in some park time

Fabulously Frugal Friday

Destinee and Ryan

I took some engagement pictures of Destinee and Ryan this weekend. They are so dang cute!! It was a ton of fun!

Haha this makes me laugh every time!!

New Adventures

New Adventures of Addison

Loving Golf

First Day of Early Preschool!!!!!!!

Lots of love and praise from Gee on her first day of school :)

Having the apple and the apple cookie after school....and of course in the swing that she never gets out of !!! seriously

Ranger Game

Before the game even started she poured our lemonade all over my hotdog, kicked a few people and made friends next to us. Lucky for us there was a short rain delay in the third so we headed home :) Next time we need to buy at least two extra seats!

This look pretty much sums up all the wonderful two year old things we are going through. (you know exactly what I mean)

Loving our little bug!!!

Did you know?

Did you know that a 2x6 isn't actually 2x6?

Did you know that a framing square is actually a triangle?

Oh the fun things I learned this weekend! :)

We are redoing the deck that's outside our master.......(on the second floor).....fun times during our first decking experience.

My original idea was to put iron in the center on the panels.....but I might paint the original bars black for now....just to see what I like.

I am pleased so far. It is so much safer feeling. Jer brought my lounge chair out last night (I truly could have fallen asleep out there)!