2014

2014 is going to be my year!!!  I can just feel it!!  Plus, I figure after all the crappy years lately,  especially 2013, I am due a good year.  Right??

So how do I know that 2014 is going to be my year??  I am going to make it happen!!  I know now that I have to make my happiness, my joy, my goals!!

My goals are fairly simple....

1.  Continue on my fitness journey & work towards getting as fit and healthy as I can.

2.  Take & pass the operating room nurse certification test.  This test is a monster!!! I will be going back to my college days and making some study flash cards :)

3. Have an open mind especially at work, this will allow me to learn and continue to grow as a nurse.  I am going to get outside my comfort zone & expand my work horizons!!  There is always room to learn more.

That's it.  I keep it short & simple....easier to stick to that way.  

How are you going to make 2014 your year?

Until next time....

State Fair of Texas

So last Sunday we ventured down to the Stare Fair.  Being the procrastinators that we are, we waited until the last day of the fair.  But it was a great day with perfect weather!!

Let's be honest....we go for the food!  I don't care about rides or games...take me to the food booths!  Oh and the people watching is always good too....people of Walmart, State Fair Edition!!

We walked thru the gates and headed straight for the ticket booth.  Tickets in hand we made a beeline for the Fried Nutella.

Yum, right??  And it was good, but not quite what I had built up in my mind.  Oh well.  Now, what was good was the fried thanksgiving dinner....YUMMY!!!

We did make a stop to see the animals, we had to throw Kari a bone {she isn't as excited about the food as we are}.

I think these two had a little too much fried thanksgiving dinner

Cute, right??

It was a fun day and the fair food did not disappoint!!

Until next time.....

I am trying to be a Girl Scout....

....because Girl Scouts are always prepared!!  Sundays have become my "get ready for the week" day.  It includes doing laundry {ugh} and meal preparation.

I make up several salads so there are no excuses to eat junk.

I also cook up something I can divide up to take for easy lunches....today I cooked up a yummy, easy meal.  Lean ground beef, peppers, mushrooms, and Ms. Dash seasoning.

I also make sure I have extra peeled carrots for an easy snack. I peel bananas to put in the freezer for my protein shakes.  And today I made a yummy fruit salad!!

I got my lunch packed for tomorrow, including a snack to eat on the way home.

I also get my protein shake ready for in  morning.  And of course my water in the shaker cup ready to have Energy & Endurance added to it in the morning for a preworkout boost!!

I know this isn't the most exciting post, but preparation is the key to my success!!  I plan ahead & know what meals & snacks I am eating!  So if you are struggling with your eating habits, try this out.  It takes some time to get it all together, but it is so worth it during a busy week!!

Until next time....

A day in the life...

I don't have time to work out....I make time to work out!  My life can be crazy some days!!!  Especially on days that I work and have to be in the operating room by 6:30am.  Right now Mondays are my CRAZIEST day!!  I mean seriously....it is nuts!  Take a look at my typical Monday:

3:50am wake up (yes really)

4-5am workout to P90X

5-5:45am get ready for work

5:45 leave for work

6:30am-3pm work

3:30 go thru drive thru & drop off food to Kari at school

4:00-5:30 get home, change clothes, eat

6-7:00pm Kari's volleyball game

7:15-8pm home to feed Kari & pack lunches for next day

8:15pm drop Kari off at dance 

9:15pm pick Kari up

9:30pm home for good :). Get work and workout clothes ready for next day, put p90x DVD workout for next day in player, tennis shoes in living room, dry stuff for protein shake mixed together in mixer cup.

10pm fall into bed!!!!

Looking at this day, you think there is no time for a workout....helloooo 4am!!  I like to get up and get it done!  There are too many things in my day that would derail my workout plans.  So I conquer it first thing in the morning.

People ask me "don't you get tired midday because you got up so early?"  My answer is no!!  I have energy all day!!  It is because of my workout that I can even make it to the end of a Monday still standing 😁

Most people think I am cray cray for getting up so early to workout, but you know what, I love it!!  Honestly!!  I mean I don't love it when my alarm goes off, but I am always glad I got up and did it!!

So no matter how busy your day is, you

can always find time to schedule a workout!  And that is what you have to

do....schedule it!!  And then make the decision to stick to it no matter what!  You'll be glad you did!

Until next time....

And so my journey has begun....

One month ago I ordered p90x!!  I was ready to make a major change in my life, needed to make a major change!!

Let me go back before we go forward.  I have always been active, loved to work out, and was pretty good at watching my weight & had a range I was comfortable in.  18 months ago a knee injury & surgery sidelined me for a long time.

Then in December 2012, my oldest brother died unexpectedly at the age of 48.  He was not just my brother, he was my best friend.  We spoke on the phone everyday, sometimes several times a day.  And suddenly, he was gone.  Taken from me way too early.  I was devastated and my world was turned upside down.  In the weeks and months that followed, food became my constant comfort.  I ate crap all day, every day.  I gained 40 lbs in just a few short months.  I was so depressed that I had no motivation to work out or do anything else for that matter.  I was miserable!!!!

In August 2013, we went to Minnesota to spread my brother's ashes and say our final goodbyes.  While, very emotional , it was also a huge relief!!  I felt like it was time to move forward and stop wallowing in sadness!!

The first thing I needed to do,had to do, was change my eating and find an exercise program that I would like and would give me great results.  Enter P90x!!  I have completed 3 weeks of it and feel awesome!!!  I already feel stronger!!  And for the first time ever, I view food as fuel for my body, not as a comfort!!

It hasn't been easy!  I had to make a commitment.  On days that I work, I am up at 3:50am to get my workout in before work.  Otherwise, it wouldn't get done.  On other days I "sleep in" until 5:30, get my workout done, and then get Kari up for school.  I don't have time to workout, I make time to workout.  I have so much more energy and starting my day off with a workout motivates me to eat healthy all day!

This journey is not just about losing weight and getting in shape.  It is about getting my life back.  Finding me, and more importantly who I am without my brother/best friend.  Reminding myself every day that I AM STRONG mentally & physically.  I am finding joy and peace in my life and trying to overcome the sadness and pain.  Getting back into my jeans is just a bonus 😊

So if you find any of this story familiar or feel stuck, join me on this journey.  Find your exercise groove, challenge yourself, set some goals.  Most importantly, take that first step.  I'm glad I did.

Ready for this journey???  Leave me a message if you need help finding your direction!  You can do this!!!

Until next time.....

Words to live by....

I found this magnet today and immediately put it in my cart.  This is going on my fridge ASAP.  Definitely words to live by!!

Until next time....

Operation Turning 40!!!

Yep!  The time is coming....I will turn 40 in June 2014.  That would be 9 months from now...oh.my.God!!!

I have decided to embrace this {or at least try to embrace it}!!  When I turn 40, I want to above all be happy, healthy, and fit!!  Yes, fit!!  As in....in shape, strong, buff, etc.  So instead of waiting until May to try and crash diet my way into 40, I am planning ahead for once.  I have a goal, a long term goal...to get fit!!  For once in my life I am not attaching a size or weight to that goal.  It seems a lot less frustrating that way :)

I also have a professional goal...to finally become a CNOR...certified nurse in the Operating Room.  This involves studying {gasp!} and taking a test.  Wish me luck!!  

I also am ready to change some things around the house...you know finally recover those dining room chairs, etc.  It is going to take years to do everything I want to the house, but at least I can start. 

So there you go...Operation Turning 40.  

Join me on my journey!!

Until next time....

You be the Judge

So between the 3 cousins, Kari and Elizabeth have very big personalities.  Emily is a little more quiet and reserved.  Take a look at some of these pictures and then tell me who is the bigger ham, Kari or Elizabeth.  You be the judge.....

This last picture was a surprise on my camera....brought me to hysterics.

I don't know....it is a pretty close competition between the hams :)

I love all three of these girls with all of my heart!!!  There is NEVER a dull moment with them around!!

Until next time.....

#cousinlove

Steve's sister, Kim, and her husband, Jeff, and my nieces Emily (almost 11) and Elizabeth (5) came for a visit in June.  They live in Smithfield, VA.  For those of you keeping track, that is a long way away.  They spent the first couple of days with us at our house and then they headed over to Ft. Worth to stay with Steve's parents.  They were here for 3 fun and wonderful weeks.  Needless to say, I made the trip over to Ft. Worth quite often during their visit and even had a couple of sleep-overs over there!!  I think it is fair to say a good time was had by all :)

We started off our visit with a trip to the Perot museum.  Such a fun place!!

 

Next on the list was Celebration Park in Allen

 

We also threw in our annual Lance Family Reunion!!  And of course we had to dress the girls in matching shirts!!



Next up on our adventure was a trip to American Girl and an mini photo session in the middle of the store :)

 

By the way, this is what happens when all your grandchildren are girls......

Next, we stopped off at Rainforest Cafe for a little something to eat, which may have been a very LARGE dessert :)

Who could forget our Dinosaur adventure with Dinosaur Dave at the North Richland Hills Library....it was entertainment for all ages, even the mommies!!



And it wouldn't be summer fun without a little bowling involved....

Elizabeth like to mimic everything the older girls did :)



We had a blast with Kim and family in town!!  And I am pretty sure we all slept really good at night because we were all worn out!! The best part is watching Kari, Emily, and Elizabeth play together....they pick up like no time has passed, and they laughed and giggled all the way through the visit.  No fighting, not even once :)  #cousinlove

Until next time....