More Summer Pool Time Fun

We have a little kiddy pool that we like to get out on hot days when we don't go to the water park.  Lots of fun!

that's my cute little munchkin!

playing with daddy

 mid-fall

Sales Shopping Win!

I need a dress for my uncle's wedding on July 30th.  So I participated in a couple research studies to get some personal spending money and get a new dress.  I originally thought I would end up using most of my money on 1 nice dress that I really REALLY liked, and maybe a couple accessories or new shoes if I got a good deal.  But then, this weekend, Brad took me shopping for said new dress-- and I ended up getting 4 new dresses and a skirt.  Here's the loot.

From: Dressbarn
Original Price: $39.99
I paid: $34.28
Savings:  $5.71 or 14.3%

From: Dressbarn
Original Price: $59.99
I paid: $21.84
Savings: $38.15 or 63.6%

From: Mikarose
Original Price: $36.99
I paid: $15.99
I saved: $21 or 56.77%

From: JC Penny's
Original Price: $80
I paid: $15.97
Savings: $64.03 or 80%

From: Macy's
Original price: $59
I paid: $17.70
Savings: $41.30 or 70%

I love my new clothes!  Losing weight can be expensive-- but these beautiful new clothes and my self-confidence, energy, and awesome body are worth that and more.  Especially when I can get new clothes at such awesome deals!

Summer Time; Pool Time!

so, this is from last month...

We bought a Pass of All Passes this summer, and the Munchkin and I have been making great use of it!  We've gone to Seven Peaks Water Park 3 times this week!  Munchkin LOVES the water!  As soon as she gets in, she throws her arms forward and her feet back, and she starts to kick and move her arms.

Plus, the water park is about 2 miles away and walking there and back gets me a decent workout.  I'm less than 3 lbs away from my first major weight loss goal, and going to the water park is going to help me reach that goal before the end of the month!

since this is from last month... I'm glad to announce that I have since surpassed my first major weight loss goal-- to be under 200 lbs.   :-)

Put One Foot in Front of the Other!

And very soon, Munchkin will be walking out the door!

Here's a peak at the munchkin's first steps!

Father's Day!

ok, so Father's Day was over a week ago... but I still wanted to share what our little family did to celebrate!

Naomi and I each got Brad a card--

And some See's candy and chocolate covered cinnamon bears-- Brad will testify that "boys like getting chocolate on their special days, too!"

And I made (yes, made) Brad a tie-- with Penguins on it!

Part of Brad's chocolate was an Awesome Bar (peanut brittle dipped in chocolate) from See's that Naomi seems to think is hers.

Happy Father's Day, Brad!

Non-Scale Victory!

 I got a huge metaphorical pat on the back this morning for the efforts I've been putting into trying to be healthier.  Back in March, I started going to this place on BYU's campus called Y-Be-Fit.  They measured tons of stuff-- cholesterol, body composition, weight, bmi, strength (upper body, lower body, and core), and VO2max.  In July, I will get to repeat all of the tests to see my improvement in each of those areas.

But today, I participated in a research study, and one part of it measured my body composition using a BodPod.  It's accurate at measuring body fat %age within 1-2%; they even use it on The Biggest Loser to measure contestants' body fat %age (even thought that's not the measure used in competition).  I pulled out my results from March's BodPod test, and compared.  My body fat %age dropped 7%age points!!!  And, even better-- my "fat free mass" (which is basically everything except fat) increased! 
*(I should also recognize that I was breastfeeding Naomi when I took the first BodPod test, and now she is fully weened.  The test administrator said that breastfeeding can inflate the body fat %age by up to 2%.  Even if that's true, I still went down 5%, and that's still awesome!)

Score!  It's a HUGE deal for me.  It proves that I'm doing this the healthy way; I'm doing it right.  I'm losing fat weight and gaining lean body mass.  I'm getting healthier everyday and I feel amazing.  I'm so grateful to Heavenly Father for answering my prayers to guide me to make healthy decisions, learn more about how to be healthy, and have the strength to make the right choices.  Also, my wonderful husband has been very supportive of my efforts and choices; he even tries the new foods I buy.  And thanks for all the support from friends and family-- there have been lots of times when I've hit a rough patch and feel like I'm struggling when one of you will notice and comment on how much I've improved and it really gives me the boost I need to keep going strong.

My Hubby Spoils Me Too Much!

Yesterday, Brad let me go shopping for some new clothes, which, for the record, I've really been NEEDING since most of mine were falling off and the only thing I felt I could wear were his gym shorts and some on my older t-shirts.  I could literally take off my jeans without unbuttoning them!  It was a bitter-sweet realization that i've lost enough weight and inches to need new clothes :-) , but that I looked ridiculous in my current clothes :-( .  I was having to wear yoga pants under my regular pants so they wouldn't fall down...

It started off FANTASTIC!  Mod Bod was having a parking lot sale-- the ad online said $25 for whatever I can fit in a bag.  I got to the sale 30 minutes early and find out that it's actually $15/bag!  My "allowance" was 1 bag, but since it was only $5 more to get DOUBLE, I got 2 bags!  The first I filled with cute swim suits-- 3 beautiful tankini tops and 4 bottoms, and a lace cami.  The second bag, I filled with a 6 Tee-shirts and a 1 piece bathing suit.  I LOVE my new swim suits!  I would venture to say that they are my favorite swim suits I have ever owned.  And it's awesome to have more than one because the munchkin and I go to the pool so much already! The best part-- I calcuated my savings after I got home.  I spent $30 on what would have cost over $340 retail! Seriously, I saved 91% on that shopping trip! And I love every piece I bought.

We had a yard sale that afternoon, and got rid of a bunch of stuff and made a decent amount of money.  We needed to go food shopping, but Brad said we needed to get non-food stuff first because it was so hot outside.  I've been putting off getting new clothes because I wanted to meet my next weight loss goal first... but since my clothes are falling off, we decided that getting new clothes 2 lbs early was ok.  We got some cute new flip flops (not because my feet have shrunk with my weight, but because I've worn a hole in the heel of my current ones), and stopped to just try on shorts and pants at a few stores.  True to form, nothing fit my ridiculous body-- small waist and huge hips and thighs.  I either couldn't get them over my thighs, or they fit in the thighs and I was swimming in the waist, particularly with a huge gape in the back of my waist that I affectionately call a duck tail butt.

Eventually, we find the one and only store that has ever carried pants to accommodate my excessive "junk in the trunk." Luckily, they were having a sale, too!  And I had an awesome coupon that would save us up to 30% if we calculated right.  I ended up getting 2 pairs of capris (had to get some with a drawstring built into the waist, otherwise I'd have a seriously case of duck tail butt), 2 pairs of straight leg jeans and 1 pair of boot cut jeans in a size (get this!) 14!!!  I have no recollection of EVER wearing a size 14 in my life.  Saving report: We saved a little over 40%.

It was a great day for shopping. Seriously, all purchases combined-- we saved 67%.

Brad spoils me too much, but I like to think I make it worth it for him, because I really saved him some moolah.  :-) 

Munchkin's First Haircut! (sort of)

Naomi got her first haircut today.  It was small, considering she wouldn't stop moving and always turned her head right when Caitlin was about to cut it.

But she can see now, without hair hanging in her eyes.  And breath without inhaling hair.  And eat without munching on her hair.

Look, at her beautiful "corn silk" (as someone called it).

No Use Crying Over Spilled Milk

So, I was pouring the munchkin a sippy cup of milk.  She was really cranky and tired and wanted her milk for nap time.

I poured it all in...

I grabbed the cap from munchkin...

She impatiently reached up for the cup...

the cup tipped...

and milk spilled.  EVERYWHERE. 

The splash radius is the entire kitchen.  and all over mommy.  not a drop on the munchkin.
Naomi started crying because she really wasn't going to get her milk...  and my first thought is:

"No use crying over spilled milk!" ... Unless I have to clean it up with a crying, tired munchkin who still hasn't gotten her milk and needs a nap.  Then it's ok to cry.

A Weekend of Celebrations!

This past Friday, Brad turned the big 2-6!  He's officially more than a quarter of a century old. 

Happy Birthday, Brad!!!

And Sunday was Brad and I's 3rd Anniversary!  It's been a wonderful past 3 years, and Ii'm looking forward to spending the rest of eternity with the love of my life!