Will you be my Valentine?

I've just gotta say it..... I have a blog crush. Maybe it's more like a blog obsession, for Jessica at Little Baby Garvin. Of course she has no idea ( and now I am like the crazy person who is blogging about her in my spare time.) I look forward to reading several blogs everyday but hers is one that I know will never disappoint. Her daughter is adorable, her house is beautiful and perfectly decorated, she has amazing parties, draws beautiful chalkboard signs, and it literally looks like Pinterest threw up on everything she does.

 

Which is my dream people!!

 

I always pin things on Pinterest knowing full well I will be too lazy to actually follow through. Even holidays just aren't the same. Take Valentine's day for instance, since this is what I am currently "stress pinning" as I call it. I used to be ok buying a box of $1.99 valentines from good ol Wally World for my son to give his friends. Not anymore. Not when Pinterest moms are taking over the world. Buying their kid some new digs at H&M, and having an impromptu photo shoot with the kid covered in lipstick kisses holding a super cute chalkboard sign. Print those bad boys out and how's that for a personalized Valentine. Take that cupid, and take note mediocre moms like myself.

It gives me anxiety.... Pinterest  anxiety.

  All I can think about is how I need to make my kids heart shaped pancakes, that they will enjoy with strawberry milk for breakfast. They will eat it at a table with marshmallow heart centerpieces and drink using pink paper straws. Of course there will be sweetheart candies, handmade by me... duh. For dinner I will slave away to make sure our dinning room imitates a fancy restaurant so the Filet Mignon and garlic mashed potatoes can be served in perfection. A rose on each plate and candles will be lit. Bath time obviously involves bubbles and pink and red bath crayons.....   Ok, this has gone to far.   All I can say is keep an eye out for an upcoming post right around Feb. 14th labeled "Pinterest FAILS" because we all know I've got nothing on these amazing over achievers.      

{via google images}

 

 

 

 

         

Taste of Tuesday: Crockpot Chicken Chili

The family thought we were having pizza for dinner but mama had another idea.

 

 I saw this recipe a friend posted on Facebook and lately I have been craving anything taco, chili, etc. Just love the flavors! So I clicked on the link and looked over the  Skinny Taste recipe. I have to admit, I am really bad about following recipes. Usually I don't have all the ingredients so I have to wing it, but honestly they always turn out amazing so maybe I am not such a bad cook :) Not to mention I also take the slacker approach.... like using cans of pre-seasoned chili beans in this case because the laziness of a crackpot just wasn't enough this time.

 

Enjoy!

 

Crockpot Chicken Chili



 

Ingredients:

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 16-oz can black beans
• 1 16-oz can kidney beans (in this case I used chili beans that were in a chili sauce)
• 10 oz package frozen corn kernels
• 1 tomato diced
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Toppings:

• Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt 
• Avocado
• Cheese
• Cilantro
• Hot sauce (says the hubby)

Directions:

 

Put all ingredients into a crockpot and place the 2 chicken breasts on top. Cover and cook on low for 10hrs or on high for 5-6hrs. Take chicken out and shred with forks then mix back into chili. Top with sour cream, cheese, avocado etc.

 

 

 

 

 { linking up with Ashley and Jessica for Taste of Tuesday}

 

 

 

 

          

Hold up...WEIGHT a minute.

Ok ok ok ... I will try it. I will jump on the "admit you need to lose" bandwagon. I will share my before pictures. FINE.

GULP

I am scared mostly because my BUSINESS is health. People come to me to change their lives and here I can't get my own in order. Here's the thing, if you don't buy nutritional supplements from me you will buy them somewhere else. Everyone is in it for themselves. I have had personal success from these products but then I fall off just like everyone else and quit using them as much as I should. I write monthly newsletters, attend meetings, text and talk with people daily about their struggles and suggest how to change. Then after all that I am exhausted and I eat half a loaf of bread or pizza. It's like I don't take my own words to heart. It's funny because some of the most successful people in this company struggle with their own weight just like I do. **Ps, why did I say "It's funny" that is not funny at all.** obesity is a problem in the United States. Like a BIG problem. The only thing that is "good" (if you'd call it that) is that many of us can relate. Thank you fast food and overloaded calendars for helping to create a fat society.

I NEED to be held accountable. I NEED people to remind me that if I don't loose this weight I will most likely cancel my Hawaii trip this summer and forfeit fun that I deserve, just because I won't be comfortable in a bathing suit. I NEED to remember I dislike summer because.... tank tops and less clothes. That is silly. I should enjoy life, not be miserable just because of my addiction to unhealthy food.

One of my biggest issues actually ISN'T that I could make pizza an everyday thing, or that cookie dough makes me happy. It is actually that I get so busy.... or lazy.... that I live on coffee all day long. It takes no thinking. Cup on machine, push button, add completely bad for me creamer annnnd drink. Repeat at least 3 times a day and you are living my reality. Not to mention my aversion to sweat and being tired which makes working out a total bummer.

Get over yourself Erin, because you deserve a FULL life!

Anyone on this long road with me?!

There are a group of bloggers that are too.... so I m linking up to be a part of "Operation get Fit" with Sarah and promising myself to do better! You should join in too... come on you know you wanna!





ugh I was going to try to "forget" to post the before pics. That would be step one to starting down the path to failuresville, so here goes regretting showing everyone what goes on under these clothes nothing.

-WAIT-

Keep in mind I am 3 pounds less now so obviously that gut is practically gone ;) ha ha.
 

  Starting weight: 163   This wouldn't be so bad if it was a baby bump pic with the label"3 months" instead of how I actually look when I'm not sucking in. Yup, I told you my secret. I can pass for normal under clothes because I suck it in sweetheart! So let's say goodbye to this food baby and hello to sweatin it up with the big dogs.                  

The TRUTH about marriage

Today is my beautiful sister in law's wedding day. I am beyond happy for her to enter this next stage of her life with her soon to be husband. While my own husband is in Puerto Rico walking her down the isle ( see what I did there... isle.... island.... Puerto.... ok never mind) in place of their father who passed a few years ago I got to thinking. Marriage is beautiful. Marriage is a blessing. Marriage is a choice, and most of all it is meant to be forever. The one thing I did not realize prior to my own wedding vows was how true that "marriage is a choice" part truly was.   Before I married my husband I was filled with excitement and anticipation for our future. I was thrilled for my son to have a dad again and for us to add to our family. I just knew we were perfect together and that God had blessed me with my ideal match in this man. I knew there would be tough times but I also knew that we were strong in our faith and would work through it together. I was right with all of these things and I would not choose to spend my life with anyone else... umm except maybe Tyrese... ok totally kidding. There were a few things however, that I wish I had truly understood.   Forever is a long time. I don't mean this in an "oh man I have to wake up to YOU everyday?" sort of thing, but rather in a "your life now completely involves another person, until the end" kind of way. From this moment on choices are not only your own, they will affect another human. It takes strength and integrity to make decisions wisely for more than just yourself. So grow up first.   Nobody else, not even your husband, will complete you. This job is ONLY fulfilled by God. If you feel inadequate, your husband can't fix you. If you feel insecure, your husband can reassure you but he will not make this disappear. If you are weak, he can lift you up, but he alone cannot make you strong. So love yourself first.   Words can be much more damaging. I'm talking from YOUR mouth too. If you vow to not speak of divorce, by all means NEVER start that fight, never have that option, and just never say that word. It can be hard. Even if you never imagined someone could make you mad enough to threaten it, even someone as amazing as your husband. There will be times that you get so frustrated it feels that word could so easily pour out of your mouth. It might feel like threatening divorce will make them see you are hurt and change. Don't take that risk. So watch your tongue.   Love is a choice, everyday. Love takes work. At first it comes so easy, but at times when your husband is weak and you want to be weak too you may need to call upon a strength you never knew existed. Don't expect an outcome to go a certain way or an apology to come just when you need it. It may never come. Find inner strength, and take it to God. You cannot be inside the mind of your man.  So chose to love everyday.   Lastly, no marriage is perfect. Facebook will make it look like perfect marriage exists. People will always make marriage look easier than it is. Even watching your friends with their husbands may spark a belief that what they have is something your marriage is lacking, this is false. Believing a perfect marriage exists will forever burden your relationship with a bar set so high that it is impossible to reach. This can make your marriage feel like failure, it is not. So never compare your marriage!!      Even knowing all of these things now, we are still ( and I believe we always will be) a work in progress. Enjoy this day my beautiful sister, and pray over your marriage daily.                

Vloggin like a boss!!

Hey hey its FRIIIDAAAAY. Not like it changes anything for me ... but for those of you with mon-friday gigs I bet you're happy! Check it our my friends, I VLOGGED again! this time like a boss ;) I am linking up with Ashten for her vlog like a boss Fridays.   First things first, in the new year I am trying to be more "real" with myself. I usually take no less than 45mins to record a 5-10minute blog, but not today folks. Today I only did 3 takes and here is what bothered me: my eyebrows look different sizes and like I draw them in with a pencil, due to the sun coming in the window and washing out the side of my face. My makeup looks cakey and yet I'm not even wearing foundation, not to mention dry lip city! As always I think my face, teeth and talking are weird BUT it's authentically me.   It felt so good to vlog again.... next week though I hope to have more to tell you about. I don't do notes so my mind always draws a blank. So enjoy the vid in all it's rawness.    

    Oh and on the "real" note.... check out my before and after hair and makeup this morning. I swear I am two different people, I have never seen anyone else look SO different.   SCARY          So join the fun!! See you next week!    

 

            

A Year in Review - 2013

I cannot believe it.... today is officially the last day of 2013! The first thing that I realized this morning is that it has been a whole year since the world was supposed to have ended, plus some! The second thing I realized is that I don't think I hit ANY of my goals or resolutions that I made for myself in 2013. UGH. On a good note ( or crazy sad how time flies note) the baby turned ONE this year and the boy turned 10... which also means this year I will turn 30!! Boy oh boy.... time flies.

 

Here is what happened for ME in 2013.

January-  closed my etsy shop. I am a perfectionist and it was fun to make things for people but I decided I like to make things as gifts not things that people actually pay for. I am way to meticulous for that, besides, I think I knew better things were coming and I just wouldn't have time anymore. That proved true.  

 

  February- joined itWorks Global! I really honestly cannot believe it has been almost an entire YEAR that I have been partying working with this company. Not to mention we are planning to hit a BILLION dollars in sales in 2014! We did half that this year and it only goes up from here. Best company ever!!  

  March- so funny thing is after searching through Facebook, Instagram, and the blog I have come to the conclusion that NOTHING exciting happened in March. Here is a cute pic of the kids though.... from September hahahaha.

    April- I got flowers from Jon for no reason. A "just because" bouquet. This is significant because I haven't gotten any flowers since. This should be documented somewhere because it is just not right!! **when I mentioned this to him he reminded me that April was the last time we had "extra" fun money because this is when his VA benefit check ended. Meaning we officially started living on ONE income....OK, that's fair.**  

  May- Jordon turned 10 and rang in double digits. Unbelievable. I still remember the day this kiddo was born. He is such a smart kid, not to mention best big brother ever! This was the first year with a special happy birthday plate and glass. We loved it!  

  June- Jaida turned ONE! Sheesh, first the boy turns 10, then the girl turns one. Somebody tell me the secret to get them to stay this young forever. We celebrated her birthday with Gran-Gran (Jon's mom) in town and then the following weekend headed to the beach in Oregon. The beach was for a retirement party for my aunt but it made for a great family vacation!!  

      July- We had our FIRST annual neighborhood 4th of July block party! It was complete with face painting by one amazingly talented neighbor, pictures taken by another, the men barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs to go with side dishes each family brought, there was a bounce house and the night was finished off with 100's of jello shots and combined fireworks display that lasted over an hour!!! This was by far one of the most fun days this year!  

  August- The hubs and I celebrated 3 years of wedded bliss  being married. Let me tell you, anyone who says marriage is easy is a liar. It is hard work. I love my husband to pieces but every marriage has it's moments and this year has been a crazy roller coaster of emotions in ours. I truly am hoping 2014 will just have a few less turbulent moments. I also plan to get a little more raw on the blog about this because I feel that could benefit people who jumped into marriage thinking it would be cake like I did.  

  September- We had a "bootcamp" in Seattle where I met fellow itWorks peeps and we basically owned the city for 2 days. It was so much fun hanging out with my extended "family" and really hearing the passion of other people that do what I do and LOVE it just as much.  

  October- Took our first trip to the pumpkin patch! One of my best friends' son turned 2 and they had his party here. Jon had to work and Jordon chose to go to his grandparents instead, but Jaida and I had a blast! This is something I hope to do every year as well.... but next time the boys are coming!  

  November- Another month of new traditions! We started Thanksgiving morning watching the Macy's parade and gobbling down (see what I did there) these fruit and pancake turkeys. We were actually super blessed to get to go out to my Aunt's house in North Bend to be with several of my family members. At first it was looking like it would be our first Thanksgiving with just us. Thanks to the last minute invite we had a wonderful day!!  

  December- I don't care what you think, this was a big moment for me ha ha. We binge watched Breaking Bad on Netflix. AKA we stopped our lives for 2 weeks and every free moment was spent in front of the TV. This is not something I suggest UNLESS it is to watch this amazingly brilliant show. My business slowed, and I was so unproductive over that time but I wouldn't change it for a minute! Yep, I even googled what to do when it ended... see below, I am not alone in this addiction. ;)  

I hope you all have a wonderful last day of 2013! Make it a good one! Maybe I will remember to take pictures if we do anything festive tonight.

 

 Talk to all you lovelies in 2014!!

               

Monday Morning Ramblings & goals!!

So here is what I decided with the weight loss sharing vs not sharing on the blog dilemma. I took before pictures and I am documenting the entire process in a fitness journal (thanks sister for buying it for me!) BUT I am not going to do weekly weigh in posts or anything right now. I want to get into the swing of things without the stress of blogging about it as well. Part of me thinks that it would hold me accountable to blog along, but then the honest me says "hmmm, remember this post, this post,  oh this one too that was from LAST new years and look I even promised weekly weigh in posts here...." that's right, I seem to have issues sticking to your blogging schedule especially when it comes to weight loss documenting!  It's actually a little embarrassing looking back over those posts. Not only to see how many times I have started and failed but also for the fact that I am not even 10lbs less than when I started the weigh in Wednesday posts back in MAY. Good gravy. The only thing I did stick too is selling wraps and supplements with my it Works business.... I'm really good at helping OTHER people reach their goals!     Onto the next bit of rambling....   I don't want to make official New Year's resolutions because umm... see previous rambling.... but I do think my sister has a good idea. She says she is going to make monthly goals that will be easier to stick to. I like that idea. My ADHD brain is so filled with a bazillion things that I want to do this year and I always try to start everything on the first day and then quit before the week is over because its just too much. I think my mini goal for January will be just to write down EVERYTHING that I eat. I have goals also for the business etc. but if I list everything here I will get overwhelmed.   One day at a time.   Maybe my first goal should be to write out a blog schedule for the month of January!   Here are my first months goals::   Blog- write out a blog schedule Business- Post daily on Facebook and follow up with at least 3 people/week Personal- Log everything I eat and drink more water! Marriage- Finish "the love dare" book together ( I will have to blog about this because I have some funny stories to tell you!) Family- Go back to family game night once a week!   Ok, wish me luck!!