Motivation Mondays

If you are like me, you need a little motivation now and then.

When I first embarked on my weight loss journey, little did I know how much of an inspiration I would become to others.  I thought I was just losing weight for myself and trying out a diet program.  That little diet program worked wonders for me.  I had no idea how much my life would change.

  I know everyone has different opinions and different methods (you have to find what works for you).  I also know how negative people can be (believe me, I heard my fair share).

Losing weight is hard,
no matter what method you choose to use.

Staying motivated is even harder!

Some things work better for others.
everyone is different.
every body is different. 

What works for one, may not work for another.  You have to figure out what works for you and stick with it...and if you ask me, it's the sticking with it that's the hardest part.

I was asked quite a bit what I was going to do when I went off the Nutrisystem diet.  How was I going to maintain the loss?

To be totally honest, I wondered the same thing.  I put on a brave face and said that I wasn't scared, but the truth was...I was scared, really scared.  All the things I learned about nutrition and portion sizes and exercise and water intake and proteins and smart carbs, etc. went out the window when those little boxes of food stopped showing up.

But, I didn't let it stop me.

I kept going....that is until I felt my whole world come crashing down.
That happened right after Rich hurt himself this summer.
I started freaking out about him, his surgery, his recovery...I focused on him and  lost myself.
I let stress take over and rear it's ugly head.

I started stressing out, not only about him, but about everything:


bills
school
the kids
being on my own with the kids while he recovered in florida
doing everything on my own
money
what am I going to do if something happens to him
and everything in between...stuff I didn't even really need to worry about...I worried about it.


To the point where I made myself physically sick.
and I ended up in the hospital.

The pain in my chest started roughly around the time that Rich hurt himself.
I never said a thing, because I knew the first thing he would do was drop everything and all the pain he was going through and focus on me.  And I didn't want that to happen.

At first I tried to ignore it.
I prayed it was just a fluke and it would go away.
When that didn't happen, I just kept myself busy and focused on him, school and the kids.
The pain still didn't go away, in fact it got worse.
I thought it was just my asthma getting worse, but the pain in my chest was horrible.
I realized it wasn't my asthma when the inhalers and meds didn't work.
I felt like I was being stabbed in the heart repeatedly.

It finally got so bad that Rich made Anthony take me to the ER.
I thought I was having a heart attack.

They did an ekg, a chest xray, blood work, etc. 

everything came back normal.
it wasn't a heart attack or anything that had to do with my heart at all.

they diagnosed me with costochondritis
I thought they were making that up...what the heck is it?
it's basically inflammation of a rib or the cartilage connecting a rib.
it is a common cause of chest pain - they said it was probably caused by stress.

great!
so how do I stop all the stress and make the pain go away?

months later I still have that stupid pain in my chest...which makes exercising even harder.
my motivation took a flying leap out the window.
and I gained about 6-8 pounds back that I lost.
let me tell you that freaking out about gaining weight back that you just lost, does nothing for the stress level!!

so with this new year coming, I have decided that I need to get back on track and focus more on me
not that I as a mother can or will stop thinking about my kids or my husband...but if I'm not healthy, how can I take care of them?

to help me get back on track and start focusing on taking care of myself, I am starting a weekly weight loss/taking care of yourself post and I'm sharing that with you.

Together we can help each other stay on track and motivated.

first things first....stop the freak outs.
gaining some weight back after following a weight loss program is normal.

what isn't normal is falling off the track and beating yourself up to the point where you say screw it and sabotage yourself....gaining all the weight back and then some.

second step....taking one step at a time.
rome wasn't built in a day, we need to realize that it takes time to lose weight.
especially if we want to do it the right way.  going on plan after plan and failing, just leads to more weight gain and misery....and who needs that?

let's stop beating ourselves up and build ourselves up instead.

my first goal (after I stop the weekly beat down sessions) will be to drink more water.

what's your first goal?

please share and let's build each other up and support one another's achievements....starting now.

who's with me?








made some bread for the monkeys this morning.....

 

Monkey Bread

 

Ingredients:
*4 cans of refrigerated biscuits
*1 cup sugar
*2 tsps. cinnamon
*1/2 butter
*1 cup packed brown sugar
*1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
*1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*Grease one 9 or 10 inch tube or bundt pan.
*Mix white sugar and cinnamon in a mixing bowl.
*Cut biscuits into quarters.
*Using a spatula, mix about 6 to 8 biscuit pieces at a time in the sugar cinnamon mix.
*Arrange pieces in the bottom of the prepared pan.
*Layer nuts and/or raisins between layers of biscuits.
*Continue until all biscuits are coated and placed in pan.
*In a small saucepan, melt the margarine with the brown sugar over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute. *Pour over the biscuits.
*Bake for 30-35 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Do not cut! The bread just pulls apart.

 

As if we needed more sugar....LOL!

 

 

Deck the Halls

 

Nathan and I recently read the book Deck the Halls.

 

and then we all cleaned the house and decorated it for the holidays.

 

Nathan said "Mom, is it really necessary to clean the whole house before we decorate?"

 

my answer....

 

yes, yes it is, son.

The Coziest Place (Book Review)

 

In continuing our 25 Days/25 Books, we read the book

 

The Coziest Place by Jamie Michalak

illustrated by Jon Davis

 

While, this isn't a Christmas book per say, it does inspire the joy of family and love and just being with your loved ones all cozy and warm and enjoying each other's company

and that is why I chose this as one of our books to read.

 

 It is absolutely the sweetest book ever,  The rhyming words are soothing and the pictures make you want to climb right inside the story and get cozy right along with the family.

 

"Cozy is our little home-

full of love, no need to roam.

Feeling toasty, safe, and snug,

wrapped up in a big bear hug."

 

It also inspired the idea of decorating our gingerbread home.

 

 

you can't decorate a gingerbread house without hot chocolate.

 

"Cocoa, woolly socks, and big bear hugs-

celebrate all things warm and

cozy with your little one!"

 

I highly recommend adding this to your child's bookshelf!!

you'll thank me for it later ;)

 

 

 

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review purposes only.  The opinions herein are my own and were not influenced by Tiger Tales.

 

 

 



Spaghetti Christmas Wreath

 

to make this wreath you will need:

glue

green food coloring

spaghetti (we used angel hair pasta, cause that's all I had)

small styrofoam bowl (or something you won't mind being ruined)

craft stick (to stir with)

ribbon

 

break the spaghetti up into small pieces (about 1/4 to 1/2) you need at least 1/2 cup (for a small wreath - more if you want a slightly bigger wreath

 

mix together glue (about 1/2 cup or so) and food coloring, stirring with the craft stick.

add the spaghetti to the glue mixture and stir it around so that the mixture covers the spaghetti

 

 

on a sheet of wax paper, shape the spaghetti into a wreath

 

let it dry over night, peel the wax paper off and let the other side dry.

 

 

make a little bow out of ribbon and glue on the wreath (for decoration)

 

and attach another ribbon so that you can hang it to the tree or on the wall.

 

 

We also read the book The Christmas Crocodile by Bonny Becker

The book really didn't have anything to do with our craft idea...other than the crocodile eats everything, including the family Christmas presents.

 

Nathan said well, we eat spaghetti so that kinda goes along with it.

 

 

gotta love kid logic!

 

 

 



Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

 

Tonight we read the book

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer by Robert L. May.

 

Then we made a cute Rudolph ornament using an old tie.

 

I bought 2 old ties at the thrift store for 4 bucks.

 

 

you will need:

an old tie

brown felt (we used brown fabric)

google eyes

a red pompom

a sparkly pipe cleaner

glue

a ribbon to hang it with

 

Cut the ends off the tie (you might want to place a small dab of glue on the back of the flap).

 

 

Next cut the pipe cleaner in half and then in half again. 

Wrap one of the halves around the other for the antlers.

 

 

Glue the antlers to the inside of the top of the tie.

We ended up using fabric glue to make them stick better, but you could probably use

school glue or tacky glue.

 

 

 

Using the felt or fabric, cut some ears for the deer and glue them to the tie

 

 

Then glue the eyes and pompom to the face

 

 

Glue the ribbon to the inside of the tie so you can hang it on the tree.

 

 

Nathan also made a smaller one using the other end of the tie,

to make a pin for his coat.

 

Who doesn't love homemade ornaments (the Grinch, that's who)?!?!

 

 

Hope you are enjoying the holiday season as much as we are!

 

 

apron love

sharing some fun....

 

apron love.

 

this summer one of my aprons was bought and worn on the new tv show

 

the real (on fox tv network)

 

have you seen the show?

 

it's not in syndication that I know of, it was just a trial run

and only aired in select cities.

 

well, they did a segment on bacon

 

http://therealtalkshow.com/videos/bring-on-the-bacon/

 

here's the eye candy, that wore my little ol' apron

 

 (picture courtesy of the show)

 

it was all about bacon and it was a  bit naughty....she's licking bacon 'lube' off of his arm haha

we (my family and friends) were super excited about it being on tv.

 

I said, I didn't know whether I should be proud or embarrassed by the whole thing

and even joked about making Chippendale costumes instead of aprons hahaha.

 

this little apron has been quite popular ever since

I've sold about 5 or 6 of them since then.  I'm currently out of them in my shop and need to make some more soon.

 

 

this week another tv show bought one of my aprons...

 

the costume department of the Michael J Fox show purchased this children's apron:

 

 

the very nice man who bought it told me that it is currently being considered for the show.

If it is chosen for the show, it will air in May.

 

How cool is that?!

 

Who would have ever thought that this little bitty hobby of mine,

that started out just for fun (and still is)

would go as far as it has.....

 

the kids think I'm famous now haha

I wouldn't go that far, but I will say it is really cool and awesome!

 

I think it's pretty neat when people share pics of themselves wearing my aprons...it's cool seeing something you created being used and loved by someone else.

 

Check out my little ol' shop if you get the chance....and keep an eye out - you never know when you might see one of my creations on tv hehehe!

 

 

SEW CHARLENE

 

 

 



ode to the polar express

We made this awesome train a few years ago....it has been quite popular ever since.

It's the perfect craft to go with the book or movie

 

The Polar Express

(which is the book we used for the inspiration)

 

 

You will need empty toilet paper rolls or cut up paper towel rolls or even cut up wrapping paper tubes (which is what I used), paint, poster board, yarn, tape and tacky glue (because regular glue didn't stick very well).

Paint the empty tube rolls various colors.  We used black, red, orange, yellow, green and blue (but you can make as many cars and use as many colors as you like).

I used black poster board to make some wheels and also used matching poster board (matched to the paint colors) for the side panels of the cars.   *Hint - if you don't have colored poster board, you can paint white poster board, the board is sturdy enough to hold the paint without it seeping or bleeding through.

  I cut the rectangle shapes to fit the size of the tubes.  The boys then used glue sticks to glue the wheels to the side panels

While the paint on the tubes dried the boys watched the Polar Express movie.

I cut out a black circle to cover the front of the train (the opening of the tube) and made a long rectangle to go over the train (fold into three's to make sides and a roof).  You can also make windows or add little decorations like stickers or whatever you like to the train when it is dry.

Glue the side panels to the painted tubes.  This is where the tacky glue comes in handy.  You want the wheels to hang over the sides of the tube.

Assemble the train by threading the yarn through the tubes and then taping the yarn to the inside of the tubes.

 

and there you have it...a sweet little train craft for little ones to enjoy!

 

Isn't the train just adorable?! LOVE it!  

 

(and not to mention, that little cutie and how adorable he still is)

 

are you doing the 25 days/25 books with your little ones?

come share your ideas with me on facebook

Santa Advent Calendar

 

Nathan and I read the book I've Seen Santa written by David Bedford and illustrated by Tim Warnes.

 

 

This is a cute book about a bear family.  The little bear wants to stay awake and wait for Santa to come and visit.  After his parents put him to bed, he keeps sneaking downstairs to wait for Santa.  The first time he thinks he sees Santa, it's really his dad drinking Santa's milk.  The second time, he thinks he sees him, it's his dad once again eating Santa's cookies.  Then he spies his mom sneaking presents in the stockings.  His parents finally give in and decide to wait for Santa together.  They never do see Santa because they fall asleep, but Santa sees them.

 

Then we made a Santa Advent Calendar

 

 

We used a paper plate, white and red construction paper, google eyes, a red pompom, cotton balls, glue and a stapler.

 

Nathan painted the paper plate with a flesh colored paint.

 

 

Then he cut out a hat using the red paper.  He glued the eyes, nose and hat to the plate.

 

 

He also glued cotton balls to the hat and face for a moustache and beard.

 

 

Next, he took the white paper and made a paper chain with it.

 

 

We attached a ribbon at the top to hang it with and

we stapled the chain to the bottom of the face to look like a beard.

 

 

Each morning Nathan can rip off one link of the chain,

while he waits for the night that Santa will visit him.

 

Are you ready to see Santa?