The Funny Thing About Losing Weight

To celebrate my first weigh in tomorrow,

I thought I would share some of the 

cute cartoons I love about weight loss.

Some of these have been around the block.

Some of these are new even to me.

However, they are hilarious and make

laugh.

PS - Keep your fingers crossed about my

weigh in tomorrow!  I know it has only been a 

week but I am hoping for a good number!

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Have a great tomorrow everyone!!

My Love Of Photography and Instagram

Pictures in my opinion are simply priceless!

I would hate to even guess how many

pictures I have taken in my 39 years.

It is probably close to the half million mark

and that would not be an exaggeration.

I even took a photography class in college.

Not because I had too for my degree.

I took it simply because I love to take pictures.

That is why when I found the Instagram app

a few months ago, I was in heaven.

Finally, I could share my pictures and

use special effects when I want to play around.

It is used A LOT and I do mean a lot. 

My family is my main subjects but

I am starting to branch out.

That is due, in part, to the "Picture A Day"

lists individuals post on Facebook, etc.

Those lists make it interesting and make

my branch out.

Speaking of family, my poor son

hates to have his picture taken 

anymore do to his mother's picture

obsession.  He sees a camera

and he hides his face or runs most times.

It makes me laugh because I eventually

get his picture one way or another.

So, to share my love of photography

and now Instagram, I thought I would

start sharing some of my pictures weekly.

These will be pictures that have appeared on

my Instagram the previous week.

This week thought I would pick out seven

pictures from the past month to share.

I hope you enjoy!

Picture #1 - My beloved son!  I love that smile.

Picture #2 - Fun in the pool!

Picture #3 - Collage from the night we were playing

with glow sticks.  Yeah, that is how we roll -- LOL!!

Picture #4 - Collage from family game night.  Jenga

Max was a lot of fun!!

Picture #5 - Picture of dinner last night.

It was SO GOOD!!

Have a blessed day everyone!!

Garden Medley/Pressure Cooker Green Beans (Dinner 7/27-Part 1)

OOPIES!!  I made a mistake!
If you came here looking for
Garden Medley/Pressure Cooker
Green Beans (Dinner 7/27 - Part 1),
I am sorry!  I accidentally posted
my cooking blog post here by mistake!

Never fear though!  If you click here,
it will take you straight to the recipes!

I have been wondering when I was
going to make this mistake.
Well guess what?  It finally happened!
I can only laugh at myself - LOL!!

Have a great evening everyone!

Get Ready World!

Yes, get ready world!  I am on a mission!

Now, I know I have wrote about my weight 

issues several times over the past year and a half.

However, now is the time for change and I am

not backing down!!

Monday, July 22, 2013 started my new journey

and so far, I haven't done to shabby.

I have had NO soda since Sunday.

I have had NO bread since last week.

I have NOT had any sweets (ie cake, cookies) since last week.

Has it been hard?  ABSOLUTELY!

Is it worth it?  ABSOLUTELY!

Do I know it is going to be a daily struggle?  ABSOLUTELY!

However, I also want to start feeling better about myself again.

I am tired of having negative body image issues.

Now, I also am a realist in several facts.

#1.  I am never going to be 120 pounds again.

Yes, it would be wonderful but I doubt that

will ever happen again.

#2.  I know I am going to be tempted everyday.

However, I am praying everyday and just

relying on my faith to get through those

temptations!

#3.  I will want to cheat.  Hey, I am only human!

So to get through this, I have devised this plan.

One day each week, for dinner ONLY, I will 

allow myself to have one cheat meal.

Last night was that night for this week.  Let me

just say that MARGARITA was the best

one I have ever had along with a wonderful

burrito.  I can tell though I am eating

a little less because I could not finish the

burrito as I would have previously.

#4.  I know that I can not do this alone.

Thankfully, I have had a wonderful offer from

a wonderful woman to help me.  I have prayed about

her offer and I am taking the first step this coming week.

She is a Professional Health Coach and Fitness Instructor.

I can't wait to begin working with her.

#5.  Finally, tracking my progress through

My Fitness Pal, keeps me honest.

Having to journal everything that enters

my mouth is eye opening.  But I am going to

be honest and enter it all everyday.

So, what is my goal?  Really, I don't 

have a specific weight goal.  I would like to try

and get back to this Sissy from about 16 years ago.

I was around 170 in these pictures.  I know

still overweight by standards; however, I felt

good in standards of health and self image.

(BTW, that is my fabulous sister Stacey with

me in these pics.)

What I don't want is to look in the mirror and see

this anymore.

Yea, I felt pretty in this picture.

However, I don't want to be this weight anymore!

Therefore, get ready world, I am on

a mission!  I hope you will enjoy

the ride with me.

Have a great day everyone!

A Time to Dance, A Time to Mourn

I think the Byrds hit the nail right on the head

with their song "Turn, Turn, Turn." which 

was adapted the book of Ecclesiastes (3:1).

However, I think in the case of what has been

happening lately, I would change the words

around to "a time to mourn, a time to dance."

Because we have definitely being in mourning, but

now is the time to dance (celebrate) with a start of

a beloved project.

It has taken me a while to write about this subject.

It has been a long and very difficult past month.

I just did not have the words to write about 

this before now.  However, after seeing

what happened yesterday, I think it is time to

share this story.

On June 24, 2013, the world of the Appleton family, 

the Kanawha Salines Church and the Malden

Volunteer Fire Department were turned upside down.

While responding to a call in Sissonville, WV,

Rev. John T. Appleton lost his life in the line of duty.

Sadly, John passed away from a cardiac arrest at the scene.

It was a very difficult week saying goodbye

not only to my pastor, a beloved firefighter but

also my friend.  

My heart is still very heavy.

Not with grief for John because I have no doubt

where he is now.  However, my heart still hurts

for his wife and one of my best friends, Cathy.

My heart still hurts for his family.

My heart still hurts for our church.

And my heart still hurts for the Malden VFD.

The healing process is a long one no matter 

the circumstances.  However, when it happens

so suddenly and without any warning, it seems

to make the healing process just a little longer.

Though I know God has a plan for everyone 

and everyone has only a certain number of

days on this Earth, it is still hard.  

I know though they we have all 

gained a very special guardian angel in Heaven

now and John will always be with us.

I also believe the healing process also got a 

little jolt yesterday from a wonderful project coming

to light.  Before John passed away, he was

working within the community to begin a Farmer's Market

in the town of Malden.  John wanted to bring the community

together not only for the purpose of getting to know your

neighbor but also living a healthier lifestyle.

The market was suppose to open the week John passed away.

Sadly, the opening had to be delayed while all the ins and outs

were figured out after losing our sheperd. 

However, through a lot of love and hard work through

our beloved church members Cathy, Danny and Chris

Proctor, John's dream opened yesterday!

It made my heart a little less heavier yesterday pulling on the 

parking lot and seeing the produce being displayed.

It made my heart a little less heavier when I watched 

customers coming into the market and buying produce.

It made my heart a little less heavier when I heard/read

that we sold out of almost EVERYTHING!!

God truly blessed us yesterday and I know John

was smiling down on us yesterday!

So yes, I believe there is always "A time to dance,

a time to mourn."  

Have a blessed day everyone!

**NOTE**

The market will be opened on Thursdays from 2-7pm

at the Kanawha Salines Presbyterian Church.

We hope to have more and more produce every week.

We will also be offering baked home goodies as well.

We would love to have you come out and see

everything that is being offered weekly.

Shorter skirts - For Me??

Yesterday, I decided to finally wear a skirt that

my friend Regina had given me.  It is a beautiful

skirt and I love the color.  However, I had been on 

the fence about wearing this skirt because it is

a shorter skirt.

No, I am not talking showing my behind short.

The skirt hits a little above my knee.

Now, being a fuller sized woman, I have 

kind of always went with longer skirts.

Honestly, if it is not ankle length, I don't usually wear it.

Also, being self-conscious about your body image does not help.

However, I finally decided to stray out of my comfort zone and 

go for the shorter skirt!

All in all, I don't think it looked to bad.

Heck, I even did something I hadn't done

all summer.  I painted my toe nails.

The shoes I wore were just so cute,

I thought I needed to paint the piggies!

Plus, the best part of this outfit, it only

cost me $6.00.  WOO HOO!!

Skirt - Given to me from my friend, Regina

Shirt - Given to me from my mother-in-law, Mary Lu

Shoes - Dollar General - $6.00

I will probably try another shorter skirt in the future.

I would like to find a couple of "mullet" skirts to try

and see if I like that style.

I also think I am going to try my hand at

making some skirts.  Quite honestly,

I would love to start making a lot of things

I wear.  However, that is a conversation

for a different post.

Have a great day everyone!!

Dancing again with my hubby

Kitchen dancing has become a fun little pass time

at our house.  Today, while doing the dishes and

listening to Pandora, one of my favorite songs

came on the "radio."

So, I did what ever wife should do (in my opinion).

I reached for my hubby's hand and we slow danced 

right in the middle of the kitchen.

I love my hubby more than words can ever

express.  He is my everything and I am 

very lucky to have such a wonderful man in my life.

I enjoy the time we spend together.  And yes, that

includes dancing in the kitchen.

So, if you feel so inclined, grab your love one

and dance with your significant other!!

"What A Wonderful World"

Louie Armstrong

Johnny Wore That?

If you have been following me for a while,

you know that my hubby, Johnny, had gastric bypass

surgery in September 2011.

Ever since then, I have been giving little updates about

his journey from time to time.  His transformation has

been incredible.  His determination is inspiring.  I am just

so proud of what he has accomplished in the last two years.

A couple of months ago, we were completing one

of our cleaning days.  I love these days because

you never know what you are going to find.

Well, on this particular day, we found two of

Johnny's uniform shirts he had worn before 

surgery.  Of course, I had to take pictures.

OMG!!  He looked a little kid that was

dressing up in their dad's stuff.

The actual funny part about the entire thing

is that he and I BOTH can fit in those shirts

together.  I wish I had the pictures of the both

of us in the shirts.  However, I think I accidentally

deleted them.

Anyway, it just shows how far Johnny has came on

this journey.  Keep up the hard work sweetie!

Have a blessed day everyone!

Awww....Hail

I have mentioned this more than once.

I HATE STORMS!!

Don't like them, never will like them.

I have seen flooding.  I have seen

tons of lighting.  I have heard thunder

rumble the house.  I have also seen

and heard the wind blow so hard

you think you are in the "Wizard of Oz".

However, I have never and I mean 

NEVER seen hail like I saw the other day.

We were down at my parent-in-laws

on July 4th.  The kids had just got out of the

pool and we were all enjoying the air conditioning.

My phone dinged and I noticed we had been

put under a "Severe Thunderstorm Warning."

YIKES!!!

Of course, I started freaking out inside.  I was

trying not to show my fear outwardly because 

the kids being  around.  Hey, I might have

an unnatural fear but that does not mean

I want to my the kids fearful.

Anyway, the rain and the wind came and I

started thinking "Well this isn't so bad."

Then it hit!!

HAIL!!

This stuff was HUGE!! 

It honestly looked like it was snowing.

As it was hitting, we all knew are cars

were getting beat like crazy.

Amazingly, once this passed and we could get

out to look, there was no severe damage.

We ended up with a very tiny minute ding.

If this is the kind of hail others experience 

with every storm, they can have keep it

to themselves!  

Have a great day everyone!!!

Trying to win a great cookbook!

What would you do to win a cool cookbook about

Low-Carb cooking?  Well for me, I am 

posting the link to my blog so others

may know as well!!

If you would like to enter, check out 

Peace, Love and Low Carb at this

link.  It gives you all the instructions

on how to enter!

Keeping my fingers crossed for everyone, including

myself.  I think this would be a great way to re-start

my low carb journey!!

One Proud Wife!!

I am always proud of my hubby!

He has been inspiration to me with everything

he has accomplished!

Now, I can add commercial star to his list of accomplishments.

Johnny is a paramedic with KCEAA.

He and his partner are also CPR instructors for KCEAA.

Recently, Johnny and Jeff were asked to

help film a commercial for the new protocol that

the county follows for CPR.

Here is their commercial:

Now, I know I have posted this on Facebook, but

I don't care!!  I am very proud of him!  How many

wives can say their husband is in a commercial?  LOL!!

Now, there is a funny story dealing with this commercial.

My sister-in-law was in last week with our niece and nephew.

The first time I actually saw the spot on the TV is when they 

were watching TV with me.  All of a sudden, my niece got

super excited.  She immediately stated she needed a picture

of Uncle Johnny so she could get his autograph!

Then, the following day, she told me I should be

so proud of Uncle Johnny because he was a star now.

And wasn't I excited about all the money he would be 

making now because he was a star?  I just giggled!

You got love how little kids minds work!  She

really loves her Uncle Johnny!!

Have a blessed day everyone!!

Time to start anew!

Well, it has been several months my friends since

I have actually had time to sit down and blog.

Like I mentioned on the 14th of June, I have

been extremely busy.  Busy with my family,

busy getting my business off the ground, and

just busy all around!!

However, through it all, I have missed doing my blog.  

I missed telling you about the craziness that

goes on in my life and that of my family. 

Thus, it is time to start anew.

You are going to see some changes.

I am still working on these changes, but I will

let you know when they will take affect.

Do no worry my friends!  These changes are

not going to be weird.  These changes will

help me to make a more user friendly blog.

I do have to mention one big thing that has happened

since the last time I have wrote to you!

My son turned 15!!!  YIKES!!

And with him turning 15, we took that big 

step and he got his learner's permit!

Yes, I ask for prayers at this time - LOL!!

Though it is scary for both of us, I am so proud

of him.  I am also proud that he passed on his

FIRST TRY!  Way to go JJ!!

Have a very blessed day everyone!!