#GIRLBYE

Greetings! I'm still FAT. BYE. HA HA! 

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaaack Biiiiiiiitcheeeeees!

It took me almost two hours to log into this beeyotch. I thought my blog perished into the blog abyss with the rest of those absentee bloggers in my blog roll. My nerves right now... SHOT.TO. HELL. Let's catch up manana. I just can't right now. I can't even.... HAA HAA!

*Batteries not incuded...

I know I am supposed to provide y'all with motivation, but I need a dose of motivation myself. The last past two weeks proved to be a struggle. As some of you know I returned to Weight Watchers and my first weigh in showed a loss of .6. Hold your applause. That small loss ain't nothing to write home about; I hardly tracked my food.

On a positive note I worked out; so, maybe the workout contributed to the loss. Needless to say, I am undeserving of the loss. I pray my summer hiatus gives me the kick in the junk I need to get myself together.

Soooooo, in a previous post I mentioned a couple of guilty pleasures robbing me of my time, thus depriving you of my capricious posts.


Guilty pleasure #1: Weeds...the show.
When the show originally aired several years ago I watched a couple episodes of the first season, but for what ever reason...I stopped. Well thanks to Netflix, I recently finished watching seasons 1-6. And let me tell you; Weeds kept me rolling in stitches and at the edge of my seat. I recommend Weeds for those craving an escape from a long brutal day.

Guilty Pleasure #2:

Yaaaaaasssss! The 50 Shades Trilogy a.k.a. "Mommy Porn!"  I breezed through all 3 books in a week and a half! Prior to the 50 Shades hype my mom mentioned the trilogy. I looked into it, but at that time the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series commanded my attention, just as porny as the Shades Trilogy. 

Long story short, a co-worker mentioned the series and texted me a page from the book.  When I read that page, my eyes bucked out of my head and my mouth opened wide enough to catch a few flies and anything else flying by.

So needless to say, after reading the texted page I immediately purchased the book. Hey...DON'T JUDGE! I needed to investigate the Shades hype to see the reason behind the uproar.

Well my bloggy buddies, after completing the trilogy I informed for friend (the one who sent the text) and the following convo ensued:

Me: GIRL! I FINISHED THE TRILOGY!!!

Friend: WHAT! ALREADY!!

Me: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAS!

Friend: NOT ME! I want to savor the books. *Then she looks off into the horizon with a dreamy sexed up look on her face...lol* I read a little. Then I read a little more. THEN I read over the parts I just read and THEN...

"Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"

ME: Bwahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahhahahah...YOU ARE INSANE! :-D Toooo bad batteries didn't come with the book!! Haaaa hahahaa! BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED!

Do I need to explain the Bzzzzz? You guys can figure it out! But if you happen to be slow on the uptake...the "Bzzzz" represents B.O.B., here battery operated boyfriend.  HA HA HA! I <3 my friend! I refuse to reveal her name in order to keep her identity a secret. I am more than confident that she prefers not to be outed as the owner of an arsenal of adult pleasure paraphernalia:-)

Did you see the 50 Shades parody on SNL?

Click to see parody!

So what's the hype? Well the book basically serves as a how to BDSM manual; so, if that floats your boat, take notes as you read. I am not saying I did that. I'm just making a suggestion...that's all I'm saying...It's just a suggestion. Trying to help YOU out. What kind of blogger would I be if I did not help people out? Imjussayin...

I love the "Hey Girl" thingies!

This steamy erotic trilogy enthralled me, and  a few times I found my self so engrossed I needed to wipe the drool forming at the corners of my mouth. True story...while sitting at home alone reading book two, enjoying the tranquility of some peace & quiet; the pages of the book bewitched me. I shut the world out and remained transfixed on the words. Suddenly, my phone rang and I let out a little nervous scream and nearly jumped out of my skin.

Sometimes ready the trilogy made me jumpy. I felt like I needed to receive permission to read it or I would get in trouble if someone caught me.

Now with all that being said...do not purchase the book in hopes that it's some literary masterpiece. It's soft core porn y'all...smut. A few people I mentioned the book to expressed their disappointment with the author's writing. I never promised the next Anna Karenina, and  E. L. James is the furthest thing from Tolstoy. Check out the trilogy and tell me what you think.

After I finished reading the books I experienced a twinge of disappointment that the trilogy ended. But I am excited to inform you...there's going to be a movie y'all!! Who should play Christian? Team Hemsworth!!!

Have you read the trilogy? Did you enjoy it? What are you reading now?

Lesson learned the hard weigh...

And so the HAWMC continues...


Today's writing prompt: Learned the Hard Way...What's a lesson you learned the hard way? Write about it for 15 minutes.

Well one lesson I learned...After I finish viewing Redbox movies, I must remember to place the previously viewed movies in my line of sight. If not, I forget that I rented them, thus resulting in my ownership of a new movie. And let me tell you, I own quite an extensive collection of Redbox movies.

Seriously...a lesson, or THE lesson in life that I learned the hard way (and continue to learn on a daily basis)...

You wanna talk numbers?

When conversing about CrossFit, the following questions either lead or dominate the conversation:

"How much weight have you lost?" OR "How much weight do you want to lose?" 

Puhleeze stop asking me how much weight I want to lose! If I learned one thing at CrossFit, I learned to look at more than just the numbers on the scale. Instead of focusing on the scale, I tend to focus more on increasing my strength, endurance, agility, speed, etc. 

So, you wanna talk numbers? Instead of asking me how much weight I want to lose or lost, ask me the following:

• How much can you back squat? Answer: 100# 1oo may not seem like much, but it's 100 more than I thought I could back squat! 

What's a back squat you ask? 

• Ask me how much can I deadlift. Answer: 160# and probably more. 

What's a deadlift you ask? 

• Try asking me how many inches I whittled from my hips. The answer to that question my friends: 4!! Yes, 4 inches!!

• Ask me how many push-ups can I do. And I ain't talking about girl push-ups. Answer: 7 

I must confess, my CrossFit experience, changed the way I look at the scale and sometime in the near future I plan to quit Weight Watchers:-(

 During the CrossFit challenge I killed myself, by going above and beyond.  Each week I weighed in at WW and each week I walked out disappointed. And after one breakdown to many, I decided to part ways with WW. 

So, you wanna talk numbers?  Leave me some of your impressive numbers, but leave the scale out of it. 

I'm about to piss some people off...

I am about to piss some people off! Before I start this post, let me reiterate...this is MY damn blog. (Remember that post?) So I reserve the right to voice my opinion in regards to various weight loss matters. DO NOT GET YOUR PANTIES IN A WAD!

With my busy lifestyle, I tend to DVR my favorite shows, one of them being SNL (Saturday Night Live).  Yesterday, I found a few spare minutes to start watching SNL. The host, Charles Barkley delivered the obligatory opening monologue. While watching Mr. Barkley trip over his lines, I noticed that he dropped a few pounds. Well, according to Sir Charles, he joined the growing numbers of celebrities attempting to lose weight via commercial weight loss programs.

Okay, now comes the part where I piss you off!

I cried in the car...

I started typing this several weeks ago...so let's pretend this happened last Saturday. Thanks for your cooperation:-)


What an emotional day last Saturday...I tend to lean towards the dramatic side sometimes...and last Saturday  seemed to be  no exception. 


So as most of you know, 4 weeks ago I entered the arduous world of CrossFit.  Folks, no words exist to explain the trials and tribulations of my CrossFit undertaking! But allow me to say this...I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!!!

So, getting back to my emotional breakdown...

Okay, so it all started when I walked into CrossFit for the Team Challenge. As I always do, I looked to the whiteboard for the WOD (Workout of the Day). When I spied the WOD, I nearly crapped my pants! See for yourself! 

VICTORY is MINE! I survived Thanksgiving & lived to blog about it!

So, today I weighed in and guess what, I lost 1.6 lbs! For the first time in a long time I managed to lose weight over a week long Thanksgiving break. 


Please allow me to be ungrateful for the next few minutes. Truth be told, that 1.6 loss left me disappointed. And please spare me the "A Loss Is a Loss Lecture."

 For the last couple of weeks (yes, a couple) I can honestly say I  put forth a gallant effort toward my weight loss undertakings. For two weeks I shunned bread, rice, and pasta. I woke up 3 times at 4:25 AM for the 5AM session at the CrossFit gym. Although I am thankful for that 1.6 loss, I feel I deserved MORE! That just means next week I work harder!! GAME ON! 

Okay, back to being grateful...I owe my loss thanks in part to my strategies I employed & to my TAKE NO PRISONERS attitude!

My previous post provided a variety of strategies to survive Thanksgiving unscathed. Let me share the strategies that I actually used:

I AM F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S.!

Greetings fellow bloggers. Pardon my absence, but my recent 20-YR High School Reunion took precedence over E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.! I plan to elaborate on my A-MA-ZING weekend, but for now I want to end the suspense and reveal  "THE DRESS." 

 Without further adieu ...THE DRESS! In the immortal words of MYSELF..."BOOM!"

Despite my many temper-tantrums and excessive whining about my weight loss adventures, ALL of my excruciating, painstaking, hard work paid off! 

 Look at me now...dressed to IMPRESS!! 

Stay tuned for more pics and details of my reunion shenanigans!

Part 2...Pinky's Response

Before reading this post, click here to read part 1...Did you know there's a weight limit for kayaking?

Pinky's Kayak Rentals

Before I share my conversation with Pinky's, let me set the scenario for the email I sent. I pretended that I planned to bring a group of friends kayaking.  Going were two couples and my overweight friend. Not completely unheard of! That used to be me, the overweight friend...the 5th wheel! 

So, I emailed Pinky and the following conversation ensued:

Me:  

I'm curious, how do you handle the weight limit issue? Your website says if one exceeds the weight limit, you can set the person up with a partner and a tandem kayak?

What do you tell the person your setting the overweight patron up with? When do you make the arrangements? I want to bring a group a friends, and this could be a potentially embarrassing situation for one of them. Thanks for your time.

Pinky's: 

Good morning Trina :-)

Thanks for your interest in our services and a great question. We have two types of Kayaks available a single and a tandem both with weight limits due to safety and the structural integrity of the kayaks...Oops! I am sorry Trina, I did not mean to bore you with the details, but in a nutshell it comes down to safety and making sure the kayaker is comfortable.

So usually what occurs is the overweight kayaker is paired with a lighter weight one, this can be done at the launch site discreetly. Or what typically happens is the overweight kayaker comes to the launch already paired up with one of their friends or family members, so there is no mention of weight at all since everything is decided ahead of time. Hopefully, this answers your question, but if you need further clarification or have any other questions please feel free to ask away.

Have a fantastic week :-)

I DID INDEED NEED FURTHER CLARIFICATION...SORRY PINKY!

Me: 
I'm hoping that we can find a partner for my friend, but in the event that we don't...you mentioned that you pair the two discreetly. What exactly do you mean by discreetly? Do you just pull the two to the side? If we  don't find a partner can I email you ahead of time and let you know? Do we need to arrive ahead of time so the pairing can occur? Thanks on advance for your assistance! 

Pinky:

Hey there Trina,

What will likely occur is the following: Say we have a tour for 8 people. You guys show up with 5 people having reserved two tandems and a single and the other group of 3 reserved singles, well the overweight person will be paired with someone from your group since you guys reserved the tandems. So you will still have 2 tandems and 1 single. The others in the group of 3 people will not be affected, as they reserved 3 single kayaks. So if you are coming in as a group, we reserve the kayaks requested for that group. It would be much easier for you guys to figure it out ahead of time so that this will not be an issue. If we need to move people around we will, but it starts and stays mainly with your group, as it would be unfair to move someone expecting a single to a tandem. We hope this helps clarify the situation for you. Please let us know if we can help you out any further Trina.

Thanks again and have a great day!

He kinda answered my questions. BUT,  not really. What I want to know IS...

What if my hypothetical overweight friend shows up to the park without a partner? 

The moral to the story:
From me to you, I advise all overweight patrons to bring a partner or you may endure an unpleasant experience. 

You know what friends...2 years ago that weight loss restriction applied to ME! Fast forward two years later, I AM NOT THAT GIRL...not the 5th wheel...not the overweight mortified kayaker! 

My last statement reminded me of one of the best comments I have received in a while from Jane: 

Just found your blog and it's so funny! Love it. :) As for the kayak scenario...I was somewhere when i saw a "weight limit 200 lbs" sign (maybe a rickety old elevator in Paris?) and it felt SO good to say to myself "HA! I can ride this bitch now!!!" when I wouldn't have been able to a few months ago. :) 

So...to the kayak I say...
As Jane so eloquently put it, "HA! I can ride that bitch NOW!"

Did you know there's a weight limit for kayaking?

OH EM GEE Y'ALL! For the past few days I experienced   Internet connectivity problems. The Internet issues frustrated me to no end, AND now I MUST  tweak my blogging schedule in order to maintain posting consistency.  

Originally,  I planned to churn out 3 post this weekend for next week. And...as of right now, 3 post by the end of today...not gonna happen, especially with my self diagnosed ADD.

So...the other day I received a comment from C of The Evolution of Me. She basically put me on blast in regards to how I reward my weigh loss efforts:-)

Put on blast: to be called out for something, to put someone's personal business or secrets in the spotlight, to be told off in front of a lot of people.

Used in a sentence:
The Weight Watchers receptionist put me on blast. She told everyone my weigh in results! *not a true statement*

I appreciate C for putting me on blast. Her comment made me sit down and reevaluate my weight loss rewards system...or lack there of.

Weight Watchers' Sausage and Pepper Pasta

Weight Watchers Eye-talian (Italian) Sausage and Pepper Pasta

Course: main meals
PointsPlus™ Value:    7
Servings:  6
Preparation Time:  15 min
Cooking Time:  25 min
Level of Difficulty:  Easy

Spicy sausage, red wine and fire-roasted tomatoes come together in this ragout-like sauce. Truly hearty and satisfying

Weight Loss Motivation... 7 Reasons Why I'm Still Wearing a DAMN Size 14!

Alright already, I need to get this party started and stop dragging my dayum feet. At this point in the weight loss game, size 10s or 8s should be hanging in my closet! I know what I need to do, but my brain and my stomach continue to battle for control! To help myself get it together I composed the following list of reasons why the size 10s still elude ME:

I CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH...The Truth About Tracking!

NO...I CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH...the truth about the foods I eat, well the truth about the bad food choices I make. When I choose poorly, I conveniently forget to TRACK. Why do I conveniently forget to TRACK? I don't want to face the truth.

How are those New Year's resolutions working out for ya?

First and foremost, I want to thank all of you for your continued support:
My New Blog Buddies: Thanks for allowing my blog the opportunity to entertain and motivate you as we both struggle through our weight loss endeavor. Many many many times I wanted to surrender and just give up, but your blogs and comments encouraged me to persevere. 
Me So Hongry First-Timers:WELCOME! Sit back, strap on your seat belt and get ready for a roller coaster ride. Experience my ups and downs with me, and I hope you plan to return time and time again.
My Supportive Lurkers:You know who you are. Show me some love when stopping by my blog.

So, how are those New Year's Resolutions working out for ya? If you made resolutions and stuck with them, congratulations, you successfully made it through DAY 26! For those of you who floundered, shake it off! As of 2011, I resolve to never make another New Year's resolution...wait, I think I just inadvertently made a  resolution. Okay, starting now, no more resolutions.  As most of you know, I pride myself on keeping it real; so, let's get real!  For eons, millions of people start the New Year by resolving to lose weight, and by the end of January that resolution among others falls by the wayside.  Well, instead of making New Year's Resolutions,  how about making some New Year's Solutions! 

WEIGHT WATCHERS WORKS!

My laptop crashed, so I decided to republish one of my favorite post.

You know what pisses me off? People that say:

 "This time I am losing weight on my own. NO WEIGHT WATCHERS, NO JENNY CRAIG, NO SLIM FAST, NO DIET PILLS, NO SURGERY...NOTHING! I'M DOIN IT ON MY OWN!"

No Weight Watchers! So choosing WW means not losing weight on YOUR OWN?  Let me tell you something:

"EGG-cellent" Breakfast Cassarole

Weigh In Updates...
Okay...so week before last I weighed in, and nearly chucked the scale through the WW store-front when I saw the 4 lb. GAIN in my weigh in booklet! YES, 4 lbs!  I thank TOM and few skipped days of taking my blood pressure meds for the gain:-( Well this past Saturday, TOM vamoosed and I got back on track with my meds...and guess what?  I LOST 6.7 LBS. I KNOW...A WICKED AWESOME LOSS!!

Blogger Meet Up...
God's Favorite Shoes (my homie) suggested a Houston blogger meet up sometime during the month of November. Anyone game? If so, hit me up via email or leave a comment! 


Alright, on to the crux of my post. My big loss gave me the momentum I need to stay on track and focus this week. As a result, I planned my menu and I am actually executing it. You know planning is key, but planning only works when you FOLLOW the plan...DUH.  Many many weeks I sat myself down, made a menu and veered from the menu by eating random crap like frozen dinners. 


Well, as I thumbed through some recipe books, I found one of my breakfast favorites in the Body for Life Cookbook by Bill Phillips.

SHAZAAM! 5 LBS LOST!!

I started writing this post last Tuesday, but after I wrote a few paragraphs the post started to feel a bit FORCED, so I stepped away from the computer to let my loss and some other happenings marinate...without further adieu my "big loss post..."

I kid you not...5lbs lost last week. I try not to focus on numbers, but 5 lbs bares some mentioning! I tweeted my news and a fellow Tweep asked me what did I do differently last week. Well, for starters...

• After a strenuous workout, I drink an EAS protein drink or Muscle Milk to build muscle. In addition, drinking a protein beverage after working out helps your body recover.

•  A couple of weeks ago I decided to double up on my physical activity. I complete both a ZUMBA and kickboxing class on Wednesday nights...two hours of hardcore sweating to the MAX! Last week I burned around 1005 calories...SHAZAAM!

• I restricted the number of times I ate "bad" sugary cereal. Why do I own bad sugary cereal? Look folks, some things (like cereal) I know I must give up, but I refuse to. I am a work in progress. 

• Beans, beans, beans. I find when I eat beans I tend to lose. Unwanted side effects: GAS! My advice... I recommend you not standing downwind when the cannon fires!

• I stopped letting my new job stress me out. No more staying late...I still bring a little work home. I realized the importance of taking the time to take  care of ME!

So as promised in my last post my GLOWS & GROWS!

GROWS:

• I need to track more consistently. Rather,  I need to start tracking...PERIOD!  Every week I watch other WW participants accept awards for losing. And every time the leader asks, "What's working for you?" And every time the "loser" responds, "Tracking."  My iTouch makes tracking easy, but I never pick it up to track.  When I rock WW the program I track my food ahead of time at night. Sometimes, I jot the food I eat down and track at the end of the day. Since losing a little balance (thanks to my new job, which I love), my tracking fell by the wayside. 

• I MUST find time to plan meals and grocery shopping excursions. The key to weight loss, no the key to anything you want to accomplish...PLANNING!

GLOWS:

• Again, I try not to get caught up in numbers, BUT...I purchased a pair of size 12 pants this weekend. Sizes vary from store to store, so I remind myself not to "judge a book by it's cover" so to speak. I really wanted these pants for work, so I told myself, "Aww what the heck...I'm gonna try this size 12."  What's the worst that could happen? Worst case scenario I pull the pants over my hips, they get stuck, and then I'd call for back up from the dressing room attendants...no biggie.  
  

• I used some new strategies to curb my late night snacking:

I purchased Life Savers and popped one in my mouth when I felt like snacking.

I stayed busy by helping my mom wrap 75 candy bars for various functions:



The funny thing, I never wanted to eat one of these yummy chocolate bars.
My brain entered work mode...no eating allowed!

Since starting the post last Tuesday, I weighed in again and the scale tried to ruin my weekend with a +.6 gain. Not even a whole pound. Basically I gained a tube of toothpaste (whoop-de-doo).  This just means I must work harder this week.

But...
 I am already off to a bad start. Last Friday I went to the salon to get beautified for my grandmother's 95th birthday party this past weekend; so, now my hair looks FAB...to FAB to get sweaty. If my mom read this post she would say, "Either you're gonna be fat and cute with fabulous hair, or you're going to be fit and sexy with not so fabulous hair"  And in my defeated voice I would reply, "Okay...I choose fit and sexy."  So tomorrow...ZUMBA!

You've Got a Friend In Me!

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one!" ~C.S. Lewis

Just like the Toy Story theme song states..."You've got a friend in me!" Oh before I get to the crux of my post, allow me to share some highlights of a Toy Story 3 birthday party my sons and I attended. MY coworker Rose planned the best party EVER for her kids:

Here's the birthday girl dressed as Jessie... TOOOO CUUUUUTE!!!!!!

...And the birthday boy dressed as Woody...ADORABLE!

Check out the party swag!!!

 

Several  months ago I attended a Weight Watchers meetings that tops my list of favorite meetings. The topic, Let's Buddy Up, focused on finding a weight loss buddy. In short, the leader expressed the importance of sharing your weight loss endeavor with a buddy going through the same life changing experience. 

Buddy benefits include:

• "friendly" competition between two buds helps to fuel workout motivation. When training for my first 5K I ran with my cousin one day, and the partnership helped to push me to run farther and faster.

• Buddies provide comfort & encouragement during times of despair, as well they help you celebrate your weight loss accomplishments.  

• According to Weight Watchers, members with support lead to greater weight loss success resulting in 3 times the weight loss than a member with no support. 

So, "Where do you go to find a weight loss buddy?"

Blogger

I immediately  thought about my Blogger buddies and how you encourage me through thick and thin (no pun intended). When I threaten to quit blogging or skip my Saturday weigh ins, your comments often talk me of the ledge, so to speak. And I thank you kindly for providing unconditional support.

Of course I piped up and told ALL WW meeting members about the fabulous support found in the blogosphere. Followers come and go, but a few of you remain loyal and return again and again to gratify my sometimes over weaning ego...don't judge.

Meetings 

Weight Watchers' meetings provide many opportunities to connect with a weight loss buddy.  Typically, I run in/out of meetings quickly and never make time to socialize. Surprisingly, a WW member, Jen (who by the way lost an amazing 100 lbs),  contacted me on Facebook (another great buddy source), and coincidentally she and I worked together back in the day (10+ years ago) at the YMCA. 

The best thing about a WW buddy, if either one of us misses a meeting, we can message each other with details of the week's meeting topic. 

Friends & Family

Another place to find a weight loss buddy...friends & family.  BUT BE CAREFUL with this option. Buddying up with friends and fam can be a catch 22. Sometimes jealously abounds when one person proves mores successful by losing more weight or losing faster than the other person. 

Despite the dark side of working together with friends or family, they can serve as a catalyst  to help keeping  the weight off by encouraging each other to stick to the plan.   Fellow bloggers and non-bloggers, I want to introduce you to some of my supportive friends & family buddies :

My biggest cheerleader...MY MOM! She helps by sometimes preparing my meals and helping out with healthy lifestyle change expenses (e.g. purchasing exercise equipment). 

God's Favorite Shoes, a fellow WW trooper...we attend different meetings but we cheer each other on (to the best of our ability).

The Kinder Team... especially Katie who made a waist line friendly cake for my birthday last year. And you too Brenda & Solmary for participating in the Weight Watchers 5K with me! Thanks ladies.

How bout a few other suggestions to find a weight loss buddy:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Gym
• Park or where ever you work out

Now that I gave you some ideas of where to find a buddy...so

...What do you look for in a buddy?

In my case, I need to connect with someone who can share my pain. My buddy needs to know what it feels like to hit rock bottom...crash & burn, only to rise from the ashes like the Phoenix. I need a buddy who relates to the day to day struggle of fighting the good fight.


More specifically, Weight Watchers offers a few  tips for creating a successful partnership.  On your buddy search look for a partner who:

• shares goals similar to yours (i.e. weight loss, fitness, etc.)
•  exercises at a similar intensity 
• provides support  and not jealously if they gain and you lose
• resides in close proximity. An online buddy works, but studies show a face to face partnerships prove more successful.

Unfortunately, some people embarking on this weight loss adventure lack the support from friends, family, and the online community. To that I say..."YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME!"

So, do you already buddy up? If not, I challenge you to find a suitable weight loss partner! 

Change of ad(DRESS) & Ceremonial Shreddring

The post title contains a two-fold meaning: change of ADDRESS indicating I plan to move, AND change of a DRESS. Wait until you see the fabulous summer ensembles I threw together!


Yes...MOVE! I originally planned to move closer to end of next month but, the leasing agent offered me a smashing deal to move in on the 3rd of July. YES...next Saturday! 


So needless to say I spent the entire weekend packing, throwing crap away and shredding. I got 2 words for you people....GO PAPERLESS! I shredded my brains out today. I receive most of my bills via email, but as I packed my belongings I ran across 3 baskets full of OLD mail. GO PAPERLESS!


As I thumbed through the old correspondence I stumbled upon my Layne Bryant credit card, which I never used. One day I ran into Layne Bryant in need of a pair of jeans, and the sales associate offered a discount with credit card approval. After I purchase the jeans the card never saw the light of day.


Well my friends I decided to hold a special ceremony today...a Layne Bryant Credit Card Shredding Ceremony!


Just Listen...I apologize for the video appearing so dark (ummm...I assure you that the  fart sound after shredding the 1st card came from the shredder and not me)
 


After shredding I packed up all of my former BIG GIRL clothes. The end result...4 garbage bags busting at the seams. Time to give back, so GOODWILL here I come! 4 bags of clothes makes me wonder what in the world  will I wear when I return to work in August. 


I barely put a dent into my packing, so I think for the next few days I may post some of my favorite past post.


OH...so on to my change of a DRESS. I refuse to spend THIS summer covered up. In the past, I always wore jeans or capris and a big shirt over another shirt to cover my stomach. And the downside from wearing jeans and 50 shirts during a scorching HOUSTON summer... embarrassing unsightly excessive sweating.  


THIS summer I refuse to hide behind  my clothes. I took myself on a mini shopping spree at Ross Dress for Less. In all honestly I loathe Ross for the simple fact it remind me of a garage sale. BUT imagine my surprise when I started perusing the dress rack and found some jazzy garments! Take a look:

$8.99...YES $8.99...BINGO!

For those of you who missed this dress on a previous post...

$9.99

And last...my favorite summer get up:

I purchased this skirt about 5 years ago during one of my many WW stints. After I gained weight, I held on to the skirt. Not only can I wear the skirt now, I need to take it to the alteration shop for a little nip/tuck.  I found the shirt at Kohl's. Like Ross, I loathe Kohl's. I just happened to be in the neighborhood, popped in, and spied this t-shirt.  

Wait until you see my black dress and the little cute number I found at Marshall's. 

You know what...back in the day I rarely looked forward to shopping. And NOW, a few pounds lighter, shopping excites and exhilarates me...sometimes. Sometimes meaning the times when other people spend their money on me:-)