Remember me?

I hardly remembered. I couldn't remember the fun, spontanious, adventurous girl that I used to be. She was gone. Long gone. For good. Or so I thought. However, all it took was someone from my past to remind me that she was still there. Still wanting to have fun, get out, and bring that smile everywhere she went. It took the right person, someone who was full of life, who wanted to move forward like I soooo longed to do. That person who wanted nothing more than to build the life they were intended to with someone who appreciated it as much as they did.

See, I spent several years unhappy in my life. Several years wondering, "Is this what I was supposed to be?" And after years of being unhappy it was time for change. MAJOR CHANGE. I decided that if I was going to be happy, I needed to make changes for myself, with myself, and by myself to be the best mom I could be for my kids. Four little angels brought into this world that deseved so much more from me. So I had to tell my husband of 11 years, enough was enough. Was it easy? No. Was it right? YES.

So I spent time working on myself, working on my health, both mental and physical. I had a ton of time to think and work through emotions as I walked countless miles every night. Soon my head started to clear up enough to run. And the weight that I had been carrying for so many years started to fall off. I was healing as I put on those miles, and growing as a person every step of every mile. It really was a process that I cannot explain, but I know that's when my life started to take shape.

Last summer I ran into some old friends. Friends from a time when I was free to be myself, free to try new things, friends who really understood the free spirit that I needed to be. As my friends learned about my life they had missed out on, I learned about theirs and started to understand that I wasn't alone in how unhappy I was for so many years. This also helped me to understand the importance of being happy. Not only for myself, but for my children. They deserved to know that you can go for what you want in life, no matter how scary, it's a matter of getting to where you're supposed to be.

As time went on, Charlie and I got to know each other more and more, we became best friends who could share our stories with someone who really understood. And I can't tell you how incredible it is to find someone who knows you, accepts you for who you are, and still manages to like to enough to talk to you for hours on end every day. Having someone like that in your life is invaluable. It's PRICELESS.

Charlie has this amazing way of making me smile, laugh, and be myself, even when the worst has happened to me. He recognizes when I need him without me having to speak a word. It's one of the best qualities he has. There is this connection that neither of us could explain, but we knew it was right. So when we went to Las Vegas for a Dart tournament the last week of April, we decided "why wait???" And tied the knot! Yep, that's right, on April 24th I married the love of my life and I couldn't be happier :)

See?


So as I return to my regular blogging (because I finally remembered my password it had been so long, LOL)
I want to say, thank you to my angels (Grandpa and Mike) who I am positive brought Charlie back into my life. I am so grateful every day for him and can't wait to see what the future holds for us :)

56 sounds like a great number to me!

Well it's October 10th and I am exactly 42 days away from my friend Jill's wedding in Vegas. And I am down 56 lbs. I am so thrilled I can hardly stand it. It's been quite a bit of hard work and I am by no means done, BUT, I am 56 lbs lighter and in just about everything I do I am noticing it. My goal was 60 by the wedding but now I am thinking of changing that to 75 lbs. I know, I am crazy. the only thing is that I would need to cut the days by 12 in order to have the dress altered and make sure it still fits on 11/21. what is a girl to do? Can I push myself and lose 14 more lbs in 30 days and then just lose the last 5 before I get to Vegas?????

Any insight on this subject would be greatly appreciated, but I get that you guys are super busy, so drop the line here, FB, or by email!!!

Recent Scrapbooking work

I am down 5 more lbs!!!

Just sharing the excitement! That's 27 out of 60 lbs that I need to lose by November 21st. WOO HOO!!!

Creeping Christmas Tree

Or better known as Pitoriosis Roscea. UGH, stupid rash you get for 1-3 weeks after a virus. Elli has now had this, after the chicken pox. Are you kidding me? She gets vaccinated twice, gets chicken pox because I had the shingles, then she gets a virus supposedly on top of that (with no symptoms) and then breaks out in this horrid rash? Poor kid can't catch a break. Either can her mama. I still have phantom shingle pain :(

I scrapped!!!

I know, I can hardly believe it myself~ It's been months! I have been making cards, and doing swaps, and all sorts of creative stuff with the camera and the pictures that I print, but I haven't scrapped any of them. So. My friend Stephanie had a crop at her house, which is about a mile from my house, so it just made it easier. After some delicious taco dip, buffalo chicken dip, and some great girl conversation time, I had a product of four pages. like them as they are, but some of them need just a little something...

This one needs an ice cream cone embellishment.

I am not sure I like the frog as is on this Layout, but I am thinking of a way to spice it up!

This one I am die cutting a butterfly out of the red polka dot paper and the cream paper below it.

This one needs a green tractor or something under the title...


Other than that, I love them! It felt so good to be creative for a while, but now I know I need WAY more time!

Where have I been????

I know, I am a slacker!!! But only on the blog, I promise! I have been a busy girl just trying to get the house painted and get stuff together for more painting! no to mention trying to get the photography stuff off the ground. It's a busy days, filled with work, kids, house, and now a work out routine. See my friend is getting married in November and I have about 3 weeks left to order my dress. WHOA. I also have about 38 lbs to lose before November 21st as well. So for now, I will reap the benefits of victory for a repainted main floor and 22lbs down :)

Everything is Growing...

So aside from the four weeds that reside in my house (seriously who grows out of a size in less than 6 weeks???) We started a garden! Tomatoes, Peppers, Jalapenos, and maybe some green onions if I can ever get to it this weekend when I am a fishing widow!


As you can see, these were taken pre-weekend chores.

Summer Fun

I know that I have been MIA, but I have been busy, things to do!!

Cupcakes...

I love cupcakes, but now that I really have to limit how much I eat (yes, dieting stinks!) I can only have this kind of cupcake!