A Case of the Munchies

So...the past few days all I want to do is eat! I know that this can be a big set back if I am not careful. Pinterest does not help with all its pictures of tasty sweet treats. I even have a pin board titled "Fat-Kid Festival" This is where I pin all the things I know I can't eat, but its fun to fantasize. Its like my food porn.

But luckily while stopping by the grocery store to get me some chocolate, my ever so wonderful mate, found me a great substitute....cocoa roasted almonds! Let me tell you, THEY ARE WONDERFUL!! A 1/4 cup serving is only 140 calories...and that is a lot of almonds! The chocolaty-ness of them is just enough to get my by and not make me hate my self in the morning. I read some where (pinterest) that one should eat nuts every day, so why not make them cocoa roasted nut? Now, I am not going to lie....my life partner did buy me some chocolate bars. Not to worry though, he did hide them from me and only gives me small pieces at a time.

Another new food obsession of my is kettle corn, just enough sweet and salty and crunchy to get me through any craving. I get the great little mini bags. 100 calories a bag and I can eat the whole thing by my self! Wonderful! However, my pop corn popping skills leave something to be desired...I always burn it! No matter what I do! But this stuff is awesome, pair it up with a pear and you got a pretty yummy lunch burnt smell or no its tasty.


Also, I have been to the gym every day since January 15. Ok, you caught me, I did miss one day. I was working...and didn't get home until 11pm. So is the life of a debate coach. But I am pretty proud of my self. I almost didn't go some times, but when I do I always feel better.
So, get to the gym...go on...GO! Mine is 24 hours....

How I lost weigth

This is your quintessential blog about weight loss. I am not going to give tips or dole advice, I am just going to share with you my experience to lose ALL THAT WEIGHT!

Going into my second pregnancy, which was quite the surprise let me tell you, I was 127lbs. I had spent the better part of fall loosing the baby weight from my first pregnancy. I am unhappy when I am not able to fit into a closet full of clothes. Now, keep in mind I was not fit, I was at a good weight. I had NO muscle tone, and was NOT in shape.



This is me in the summer of 2009 about 3 weeks pregnant.


Now, after I gave birth to my second son I was pleased to find out that I weighed only 130 lbs!! "yes!" I thought "I only have 10 pounds to lose!" But a summer full of ice cream and Sonic S'more shakes did me in....when I was my heaviest I weighed in at a whopping 153lbs!!
I am pretty sure I owned a pair of size 14 pants...but to be honest I can't remember because I may or may not have blocked it out of my memory.


It was hard to find a good full body shot of me because I avoided them at all costs....I say I am in the high 140s in this picture.







Now I should also remind those reading at this point I am 5 foot 1 inch on a GOOD day....so that much weight is a bit too much.

I was also nursing (hence the big boobs)....and that is what I attribute to NOT losing the weight as fast as "they" say. Nursing, for me, did not help me lose weight...I think it actually hindered me, hormones and all that. But I am not a doctor nor am I a scientist.

So, finally I had enough! (I am pretty sure it was after this picture was taken) I said "Damn it! I am done" It also helped that I stopped eating fast food as of January 1, 2011. But I really didn't do something about it until June. I started a fitness camp. It was hard at first. REAL HARD. The first day of camp I weighed in at 143 lbs.

me on the first day of camp...its sideways, but you can still tell


I even fell on my face at the zoo b/c my muscles were so wobbly. It wasn't pretty. And the weight loss wasn't fast, but pound by pound it I started to see the weight come off. And for the FIRST time in my life I started to get muscles!
I was NEVER EVER athletic, so arm muscles were a big deal to me!

So fitness camp went on all summer long, I went three days a week...missing a few here and there. Especially when I went to NY to see family.


Still looking chubby here, I was about about 135lbs. Can you tell a difference?


Yes, I did get to see Daniel Radcliff in person....I know you are dying to know if he can sing and dance. Well, yes, yes he can! It was great! I was this close to him *making a foot with both of my hands* the only thing that separated us was his bullet proof window of his car.








While I was there I went ahead and got my self a tattoo. Something I was saving for my self when I hit my goal weight, but I stumbled upon Wooster Street Social Club and couldn't pass it up! I told my self "You better lose that weight or you will look like a real jack ass for rewarding your self early"




So, I bet you want to see that tat, huh? Well that will have to wait. I feel I have tons of pics already!!

It was after this trip that I really stepped up how I ate, well rather HOW MUCH I ate! I cut my portion sizes WAAAAAY down. I was eating a ton of food at meals and snacking all day long! Once school was back in session I began dropping pounds left and right! I think because I was not at home all day eating...and eating...and eating...

I kept up with my work outs and my muscles are getting bigger. Now, I am not "ripped" but I do have some tone! Fast food was still not eaten (well to be fair, I did have an emergency while in Dallas in June and had to eat What-A-burger, I went small)

I am pretty sure that working out and eating smaller portions made a big difference. It was a life style change I can assure you. There are times (like today) that I did not want to go work out, but I made my self.

And now....the big reveal......the before and after shot.





There it is!! I am not done....my goal weight is 105 (I was told 100 is too much) but ultimately I want to be more toned up! Look fit, ya know? So, if you want to lose weight I say for me just get to the gym....and don't eat as much....and most of all NO FAST FOOD. Arby's is my crack, but I "Just Say No!"

...hey, its been a while

So going to play a bit of catch up....decompress, and then move on to some thing new.

Speech and debate is going well...got kids going to state and nationals...awesome

Heath is turning one soon.... with in weeks actually. He is starting to walk a little along things. Still not sleeping through the night. and we are going to start weening him soon. I am proud to say he has not had a drop of baby formula in his life!!! It was a long road but we made it to one full year of nursing!

I am impressed with his full head of hair...most kiddos his age don't have the hair that he has. He has five teeth...two on bottom three on top. Kinda strange, but they are coming in.

Owen is doing well too...smart as all get out. He is starting to write words and do basic math. He knows his states and can even read some of them with out seeing the state. It astounds me how smart he is. I am going to be getting him tested soon to see if he is gifted so we can make sure he gets what he needs if he is.




GOOD NEWS!!! remember when I said I was not going to eat fast food in 2011? well....I haven't! I am pretty proud. The husband has also not been eating fast food. Our next goal is to not eat at sit down restaurants next. (only once a week maybe)

and with that....here comes the big part. Once Heath hits one and we are fully weened I am going to start my battle with loosing the last of the baby weight. and when I mean last, I mean that last 24 pounds! yikes!! that was hard to admit! I know I can do it....I know well enough from last time that I need to let my hormones level back out and I can start to drop this weight. I just hope it was as easy as last time (and by easy I mean I was fat for a year and then BOOM I lost 20 pounds in about 3 months.) I am hoping for the same. and I am going to use this blog as my accountability. I think if I have to report my progress I will be more committed.


I am still debating whether or not I should post a pre-pic....maybe I will just take one and when I loose my weight I will post a before and after. Or I might get the guts to take a before.

I can do this and I will. I have already started to change my eating habits and even brought back my bento box for lunch


So, today is my first entry.
I am at 24 with 24 to go!!!

wish me luck!!!

Adventures in Cupcaking!

I don't know if I have ever told you this...but, I want to open a cupcake shop.

I know, I know...its a "fad" but I think I could make it awesome! Not like the lame ones here in Tulsa. Kupcakez? With a k and a z? really?

Well, first I know I need to develop some recipes, I don't just want pretty cupcakes, I want to sell tasty ones.

My first invention....Breakfast cupcakes! Blueberry pancakes, with maple syrup frosting and bacon...yes bacon. I have made two versions, each batch is getting better and better. And I think I am ready to make BF cupcakes v 3.0!

Today, I made real progress!! After two very disappointing batches of not so great cupcakes, I did a little interweb research and found a great strawberry cupcake recipe with strawberry frosting. They turned out great!!!!!

But it wouldn't have been possible if my husband hadn't surprised me with this.....

...isn't she pretty? And she works like a charm. As you can see, Zach really thinks its gRRRReat!

So, I started off the day by making a batch of plain vanilla cupcakes from a cook book. I was NOT impressed. They are a bit dry, grainy, and flavorless...they taste like box mix. I need something better.....I tried adding food coloring to make them "look" tastier, but I don't think it helped

(clicking on the "link" above will only take you to a page with a picture of the cupcakes again...don't know why?)

Then I found the strawberry cupcake recipe and was delighted when I remembered
I had frozen strawberries in the freezer! Woot Woot!!



I follwed the instructions to a T making a bit of a mess as I went. But it wasn't too bad.





When I was done with the batter I could already tell that they were going to be more tasty. I put them in the paper cups, slid them into the 350 degree oven, and crossed my fingers!
When the came out of the oven they looked wonderful! Now, I just had to ice them and eat them!
I made the frosting from the same place I got the recipe, but I changed it up a bit. I thought two sticks of butter was incredibly too french so I opted for cream cheese instead. Besides, I prefer the extra flavor it adds. But the icing came out not quite the consistency I am looking for. So that needs to be modified too.
So, I am going to hit the internet again and search for a cream cheese frosting recipe that I like.

But let me tell you, the frosting was soooooo YUMMIE!! I even frosted the "eh" cupcakes too...they are not so bad with the tasty goo on top!!

Heath passed out helping mommy bake! He was such a good little sous chef!


I have a great business plan too, I have been doing a lot of planning and thinking. I have a name and a basic concept. I don't know if I will ever get to open it, but I know I can make a success out of it! I am not after making some overly decorated ones, I want the to taste good and be interesting.


I would call the shop "91Ate Cupcakes" (and if I see a store called that I know you copied!)
It would have a really cool Tulsa theme! I would also have a very small gifts section, and I also had a really great idea to have "party trays" that you could pick up and you could 'rent' the stand! I really hope that by the summer I can have some solid recipes and maybe I can give this thing a go!!

God, I love being a teacher! Summers off to peruse other dreams!!

I will keep you updated on the different things I try out...and maybe if you are good I will let you try them (especially if you read and comment!!)

Tomorrow I will be doing the BF cupcake. I will post some pics and a report tomorrow evening!!
Happy eating!!
xoxo
Gina

p.s. Zach made some awesome grown up, home made Mac & Cheese tonight! YUMMS!!

Back to School

Yesterday was my first day "back to school" as a student.

I am in Advanced Child and Adolescent Growth and Development. I have the class once a week, on Tuesday nights. Yesterday was my first day.

I got there early to buy my books...of course i thumbed through the used books to see which one had the best highlighting...this is not my first dog and pony show.
I bought the 5 books i need for my class, and it was only $189!! what a bargain!
I also bought a notebook, folder, pens, and a highlighter.
I was ready!

I sat at the table by myself, notebook open, pen out, ready to go...and then I waited for class to start.

I had a brief moment of "what the heck am I doing here?" well, it wasn't brief, it was actually for about 10-15 minutes before class started.

It began as I tried to find my class....that took a while, but I manged to find it after I had to knock on a locked door to have a lady let me in....Hey I am new give me a break!!


When Dr. Wang came in and had us go around the room to introduced our selves, it became apparent that I was the only NON-TU graduate, and one of the only 2 people who were not full time grad student....and also I was the ONLY student he had not known before!

But after he got started I began to feel a lot better and really enjoyed the class. I have a ton of reading to do each week, which its a good thing I like to read!

All in all it was a great experience and I look forward to doing well.....



Also, it is January 12th and we have NOT had fast-food! awesome! I have all ready began to loose the weight.

...and i have added pics of the boys from last month, watching Dora and Owens first Christmas show

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Once upon a time a mother gets her baby son the Playschool Explore 'N Grow Busy Ball Popper. (http://www.hasbro.com/shop/details.cfm?guid=914499FA-6D40-1014-8BF0-9EFBF894F9D4&product_id=11457&src=endeca) for the Target store located in Owasso, Oklahoma. Only it did not work and upon attempting to exchange the toy for one that works the mother gets ROYALLY SCREWED!!

THAT'S RIGHT....SCREWED, they did give me a "gift" card for $16.47 and made me go to the back of the store to the toy department to get a new one.

when i get there i notice the price is $17.00...there is not enough on my "gift' card....grrrrr

so i go to check out and then get sent back to "customer care" when i tell the check out lady the deal.

The "customer care" lady tells me i have to pay $2.18 to get the item i just brought back!!

you heard me right!! I had to pay to exchange a toy that was broken when i bought it!!

why you may ask? BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE MY RECEIPT!!

really are you kidding me? the item was selling for $17 but they gave me $14.99 plus tax!!

here are my arguments:

1. I was excahanging a BROKEN item
2. I was not wanting cash, just a working toy....I would understand if i was wanting cash, but i just wanted a fair trade! They would financially be no worse off!!
3. why would i drive all they way from claremore to owasso to exchange something at THAT store if i bought it at another?
4. hasbro gives them the money back for the damaged item.


so...they charge me a penalty fee of $2.18 for a lost/tossed out receipt!!

I could have went to walmart and exchanged it no questions asked!!

I also called the target corporate line (which is outsourced to INDIA if you care) I griped at the poor young man on the phone for a few minutes untill i felt some what better. I know it was not his fault but i am hoping that the call recording gets back to coperate and they realize that they pissed me off!!

what a ridiculous policy!!

How could I possibly scam them? I was the one who was scammed!!


So, i have a new New Years resolution: NO MORE TARGET (well at least for a while, jerk-faces)


AND THE KICKER IS THE NEW ONE DOES NOT WORK!!!!

LOOKS LIKE I AM HEADING TO WALMART!!!!

Would you like fries with that?

Ahh the new year.....


First: my news years resolution....ready?
New Years resolution is this.....


No fast food!

Yeah, you heard me. I am not hitting anything that has a drive thru. It's going to be a long hard road. I once heard that every 17 seconds some one goes through a drive thru. That's sick. As Americans we are obsessed with the fast and salty.

My goal is three fold:
Save money: we spend tons of money a month on fast food
Get healthy: all that junk can not be good
Loose weight: I think by doing the last goal this one will happen too. Reduce my caloric intake, ya know?


On a more fun note... We got a Kinect. It's pretty sweet! Watching g Zach to the soldier boy is soooo funny! Words can't even discribe!


So for all of you who read this. Happy New Year and may you stick to YOUR resolutions.

Ps. Put yours in the comment box!!!

deleted

due to threat of bodily harm...the last post was deleted

To coupon or not to coupon.....

....that is the question that had been plaguing me and Zach for a while. Where as, he hates my coupons, he knows it makes me happy to save money. I mean who doesn't like saving money? No body! Although, I don't think he is as delighted as I am to save 0.50 as I am.

*note; my shift key has been ripped of by my 8 month old, so i am no longer going to capitalize anything.*

i have a green pocket folder that fits into my purse, i store my coupons there. i love it and am furious with my self when i leave it at home....which happens more often than i would like. zach hates it when i get out the green 'folio and start to thumb through my slips of money saving papers.

One day, while in the baby food isle of target, i began searching for a coupon for Gerber rice cereal. it was buy two save a dollar! a dollar!! Zach then stated "the pope wouldn't have the patience for this..." ooooooooo that was the wrong thing to say at that moment...i was already stressed and guilty b/c i knew zach was getting upset, and that sent me over the edge. *just like now, how Heef is crying at me*
I got really upset...stormed off and thought about tossing the green 'folio in the trash.....
notice i said thought, then my plan changed. i opted to TELL Zach that i had tossed them.

so, when we met up at the check out line...him just as disgruntled as i was, i told him i threw the coupons away....and didn't let it go. each time an item went across the scanner...beep....i told him how much money i WOULD have saved....the angst grew and grew.

i know my goal was to make him think i tossed the 'folio i wanted him to know that i loved the coupons and that using them made me happy and that his pope comment was really hurtful.

long and, for what i am sure is a very boring story short story.....i still have the coupons and used them. the last time i shopped i saved $10, i even had to go back on my way out and use a coupon that was still hiding in my pocket!!

one last coupon issue i need to discuss....

my wonderful mother-in-law was asked to give me her coupons from the sunday paper, as we do not get the paper. she has complied but has also begun to give me every piece of junk mail that enters her mail box1 i will be frank....i hate this. all i want is the Sunday coupons, not the freaking junk mail i already get! i know i should be grateful towards her sweet gesture. but its hard to. its hard to go through some thing that not even 5 minutes before i have pulled out of MY very own mail box and discarded. I know i need to bite my tongue...this is my own problem and she is just trying to be sweet, and it is.....i guess.....no really it is.....



so in the end, it goes with out saying i am excited to see tlc's new show about couponing! i will let you know how it goes!

Awesome

Soooo.....18 year olds don't know as much as they say they do, and I have proof!!

My brother, who shall remain nameless, has a line on my account and this month this nameless hooligan racked up 30 bucks worth of charges from "free" ringtones.
I guess he didn't know there is never any thing that is free!!!!

Jerk face!

luckily at&t graciously credited my account the monetary loss, however, they can not protect nameless what's-his-face from cleaning my toilets or bathtubs!

Ah, gotta love a free house cleaning....well, kinda free......

A lot can happen in a year

...and I am not lying. Since my last post, around this time in 2009, we have increased our numbers by one. Heath Anderson Brown was born April 10, 2010. Because i am bad with numbers I won't list his weight and length and all those facts....they would be wrong. Other than that things are about the same. Oe started school and turned three. He knows all his numbers, letters, colors, shapes, etc....but he also knows the states and is starting to write....very smart his teacher says. Mustard Seed has done wonders with his communication skills and Oe is getting better at being more social.

Zach is the same....working and playing xbox.


I am the same, expect for the extra 20 pounds I have of baby weight. I am hoping to start loosing the wieght soon. This will be a focus of e blog this year. And yes....i will be blogging more. I think it will help with working the stuff out in my brain. And since I have this new iPad I might as well use it for something other than angry birds and plants vs zombies.

2009...One day at a time

Ah, the New Year's Resolution. In the past I have tried once to make a list, but I did not really stick to it. Also, in the past, I based how my year would be on the way I spent my New Year's Eve. This traditionally has worked best for me. However, this year I am going to make a resolution every day. Not make a blanket statement about the year, but base it on a day to day need. *sidebar, the sound on my TV just went away...thank you COX Communications!*

Fun bonus! I am on day two of doing the "Wii Fit Program" I will post how I am doing. I have a goal of 3 pounds in 2 weeks! (ha, that is my fluctuation). Wish me luck! BTW....its super fun!

Because I gave Owen a bath today, I am going to post an after bath pic! Enjoy the cuteness!

Dear Manufactures.....

After opening many a presents this holiday season, a lot of which were toys, I noticed how horribly wasteful the packaging was. So, I am composing a letter to the manufactures of products to cut back on the amount of material used to package an item.





Dear Manufactures,
In recent years it has become quite popular to live a "green" lifestyle. A good amount of companies are embracing this fact and capitalizing on our weakness to be more kind to our Mother Earth. With that being said I am now going to pose a few rhetorical questions to illustrate what I really want to say.

• Charmin, do you really need to wrap the toilet paper in two plastic packages inside one plastic package?
• Fisher-Price, does all your toys need to be a mini-replica of Fort Knox, with all the tape, and cardboard, and twist ties?
• To the makers of Pledge All in One Surface cleaner, could you please make your bottles "openable" so I can reuse them?
• Companies who use blister pack, PLEASE STOP ALL TOGETHER!! THEY SUCK AND I ALWAYS GET HURT TRYING TO OPEN THEM!!! Use a cardboard box!
• What ever happen to paper shopping bags?.....WALMART??? HMMMMM.......
  

I feel like a throw away more packaging each and every year and I would like to say it is because I am able to buy more stuff. Not the case, in fact a recent publication noted that "the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 2006) found that only approximately 31% of the municipal solid wastes generated in 2005 was from packaging-related materials..." Holy crap, that's a lot of crap!!
So, please be more mindful of convince and impact to the environment!


Happy New Year,
Gina L. Brown
Consumer

Santa Baby....

So, my ever so cool son went to see Santa for the first time, and as every little one to ever sit on Santa's knee before him, he cried. It was so quid pro quo for a one year old. I was happy that I now have a classic Christmas Memory.
Also, today is Owen's 15 month birthday! Makes me think of how big he was this time last year!
*tear*