Hey guys!!! So Billy and I got married on August 19th! Afterwords we went to the Isle of Palms in Charleston, SC. I’d never seen the ocean before. I LOVED it!!! So beautiful!!! Anyways right after Billy and I got married we went to a local park and took pictures. I took all of our pictures and I’m glad I got to do that But some people at the park looked at us a little weird. lol!!

Us and our two witnesses (the only two people at our wedding)

Honeymoon pictures!!!

In the Smokey Mountains

At an old Plantation in Charleston, SC

Well I hope you enjoyed!!!

Hey guys! So I decided I would take official pics of me in my wedding dress! Hope you enjoy!!!

I was stuck at 190 for months! But I finally got past it! I’m now at 186! Here is a before and after!

Me @ 238

Me now @ 186 (pic taken 08-02-10)

So in 16 days I’m getting married!!!! I’m SO excited. So for this next before and after I thought I’d show it in my wedding dress!

Me @ 238

Me now @ 186 in my wedding dress!!! (by the way I don’t have anything under my dress to make my stomach look flatter!)

So I’m super excited! But I have no idea how I’m going to fix my hair!!!

Hey, So Billy finally proposed to me! We went to Newport to hang out during Italian fest. Billy had asked me if I wanted to take my camera since I always forget to bring it when we’ve went to Newport in the past. So I grabbed my camera. We took a tone of pictures, and when it got too dark we sat down on a bench on the bridge we was walking across. We was talking, and since we are just going to get married at the court house we aren’t going to have a photographer or anything like that. As some of you know I’m an amateur photographer, I told Billy that it would be nice to have our pics taken for our wedding. So we talked about going to this park that over looks Cincinnati and taking my tripod up there to take our pics after we get married. He asked which day would be more important, the one where we sign a piece of paper and take a bunch of pics in front of cincinnati, or the day he finally proposes and we take a bunch of pics in front of Cincinnati. I told him that they are both really important. He kept nagging me about it, so I finally said that maybe the day he proposes is more important. He said, okay……… So baby, Will you marry me? I told him yes and then he gave me a ring. I was like OH MY GOD!!! you’ve already got me a ring? and I gave him a huge hug and told him he was amazing…. I seriously didn’t think he already had a ring. After that we got off the bridge and watched fireworks.

Anyways… that’s how it went down. So here are the pics!

The bridge that Billy proposed on (The people purple bridge)….

The way Cincinnati looked before he proposed!

And after he proposed we watched a beautiful fireworks show

And here is my ring!

Here is a bigger pic of that same picture…

Hey guys, I know I haven’t been on here in forever! lol… but I was just going to blog and let you all know I’ve been doing good. I weighed in at 190.4 this morning! 48 pounds lost! whoo hoo!!! Just 10 more pounds till my mini goal! 2 more pounds till I’ve lost 50 all together, and 1 more pound till I’m out of the 190’s!!!! YAY!!!

Billy and I got a gym membership last week! I was SO excited! We haven’t had a gym membership since last year when we were going to the Lifetime Fitness. But we moved out of that area so we had to cancel. We now are going to the Urban active gym. It’s a lot smaller than the lifetime fitness, but they’ve got all the equipment that I was wanting to exercise on, and it’s A LOT better than the tiny gym we’ve got in our apartment complex. And now I can switch between a lot of different cardio machines instead of just staying on the treadmill (all the gym at our apartment complex has for cardio)

I’ve been doing great at my job as well! I still can’t believe after looking for a job for 2 years I’ve finally got one! I’ve been working there for about a month and a half. I still haven’t gotten use to standing on my feet all day. But I’d rather do that then sit at a desk all day. I’ve been doing really well on my eating. I pack my lunch and snacks for work, and it hasn’t even been difficult …  I work in the gift shop of the Newport Aquarium, and on our name tags are 4 holes. When you do something good you get a small plastic fish that hooks into one of the holes. The fish are different colors that represent different things. Not too long ago I got my very first fish. It’s red, and it’s call the Chose Your Attitude fish! I got it because we had A LOT of people checking out, and I got a woman who was VERY rude to me. She screamed at me the whole time I was checking her out…  I wanted to break down in tears, but I pushed them back, which made me want to cuss her out! But I just put on a big happy face and was as nice to her as I could be. But it didn’t help that the next woman in line was really rude too. She didn’t scream at me (thank god!) but she was still hateful… not too long after that a supervisor told me to go on my 10 min break. I spent the whole 10 min in the bathroom crying… But I came back with a happy face and did my job. I told my supervisor before we was going to leave that day about what happened, and she gave me the Chose Your Attitude fish!

Anyways…. that’s all that’s been going on with me. Hope all of you have been doing awesome!

So… This week has been an adventure! My b/f Billy went to Austin, Texas for business, and I’ve never spent one night with out him since we started living together almost 2 years ago! So it’s been REALLY hard on me!

As some of you know I have been searching unsuccessfully for a job for about 1 1/2 years…. BUT On Monday and Tuesday I had a job interview, and I was told on Wednesday that I got the job! I’ll be working in the gift shop of the Newport Aquarium! I’m so happy! But I was told that after Billy had already left. So it was bittersweet moment. Thursday I went in to pick up some paperwork, and she explained what all she was giving me. I had a wave of fear wash over me. And THEN she told me I would have to go get a drug test, and gave me the directions to the place. I immediately thought of Billy taking me because he usually takes me to the places that I have no idea how to get to…. I grew up in a VERY small town. My county… NOT my town… but my COUNTY only had 2 stop lights!!! I hadn’t even drove on the interstate by myself until like 2 weeks before I went for this job interview! And I’m TERRIFIED of getting lost! I think A LOT of that fear has to do with how my mom would act when we’d go somewhere other than around the town I was raised in. I remember once we took the wrong exit while leaving Tulsa, Oklahoma. (a city we hardly EVER went to because she was scared, but my sister lives there) and my mom freaked out! I was only 15-ish at the time, and she was literally flipping out! Screaming and crying and praying to the lord to help her. I… I WAS THE ONE who had to be the adult!!! AS ALWAYS!!! I was the one who had to calm her down so she could even think of what to do! I SWORE at that time I would NEVER be that type of mother! I want to be the type of mother who is strong for her child! FEARLESS! and if she does get scared, she sure as hell doesn’t let her child know! But my mom has never been that type of mother to me… I have always been the adult in the situations while she’s freaking out….. My mom also sheltered me severely! I wasn’t allowed to go spend the night with friends or anything like that! My mom looks at the world and the people in it as all evil. I read a self help book one time, that basically said ” If you have the idea that the world and the people in it are all evil you will never be happy. But if he view the world and most of the people in it as good then you will be happy.” It said of course be conscious and aware that there are bad people out there. But that book made me think a lot…. And I DO believe that most people are good! I mean… I remember my mom not letting me go spend the night with one of my friends who was living with her aunt and uncle. Her uncle was a cop for the county we lived in, and her reasoning was “her uncle might be jack the ripper!” I told her, “MOM! He’s COP! And we are even suppose to go CHURCH the next morning if I spend the night!” She said “I don’t care! There are bad cops out there… You know I don’t let you spend the night with strangers!… YOU KNOW the answer is no!” And kind of laughed at me like I was stupid for even asking! BUT!!! she wouldn’t even make an effort to get to know the people I wanted to go spend the night with! She always told me that I couldn’t spend the night with anybody SHE didn’t know… I got mad at her really bad one time after her telling me that and I told her, “YEAH well… I guess I’ll NEVER spend the night with ANYBODY because you don’t KNOW ANYBODY!!!! and stomped away to my room…. and I was right… I never got to spend the night with anybody (besides my cousin who lived 3 houses down from my mom)

ANYWAYS…. I know all of that has factored into me being a scared little girl… and I’ve always SWORE I did NOT want to be that type of person! I was scared to death, but I stayed strong, and I found where the place was to get my drug test done at, and I was very proud of myself! I went home, and I was very lonely with out Billy in the house with me. (the night before I cried myself to sleep, holding my big teddy bear he won me.) So I decided around 7:30 I’d go outside and run. I had my phone and keys in my back pocket. I walked a little first, and then I decided I would run. I was doing really good with my running, and then I felt my pants sliding! They got to my knees before I realized what was going on! I stopped really quick and pulled them back up! lol.. it was SO embarrassing! And I know people seen! So I took my phone and keys out of my pocket and had to walk/run with them in my hands. But it’s a “good” thing that they are falling! lol.. I mean I bought those pants 20+ pounds ago! lol… ……. So while going around the apartment complex I kept passing another woman who was walking the other direction with her dog. The 3rd time I passed her I thought about asking if I could walk with her. But I didn’t… So I decided that I would ask her the next time around… but She had already stopped by then, and I didn’t see her again. Then on that next time around a guy who was in is garage with another guy, who I had walked past quite a few times, gave me a flirty smile and said “this is like the 3rd time I seen you walk past here!” I just smiled back and said “yeah 3rd or 4th time I’ve been” and kept on walking. I was actually going to quit at that time. So I checked the mail, and went back up to my apartment. But it seemed so lonely up there. So I got me a water bottle and decided I’d go back down and talk to those guys just to be social and have a conversation with somebody…. So I started walking towards them, but by the time I got to them I couldn’t say anything… so I kept on walking. I went back around, and told myself “okay… this time you’ll say something!” I started walking towards them, but I stopped in front of my truck. I couldn’t do it. So I opened up my truck and got some trash out, and went back into my apartment…. I felt so stupid! I mean… why was I scared?!!! 1 of 2 things could have happened! 1: I could have walked up to them and we would have had a great conversation, and I would have ACTUALLY made friends for the 1st time in 2 years!!! or 2: I could have walked up to them, and they would have been annoyed, and not wanting to talk to me… ending with me leaving awkwardly, but who cares… they don’t know me, and they don’t know anybody I know. It would have just been strange, and they would have laughed with each other about me being a stupid socially awkward girl, and I’d probably never see them again. (but I have a feeling it wouldn’t have been that way.) So WHY am I so scared! I’ve GOT to conquer this fear of life! and I know I will!!! I’m slowly creating myself… Anyways… I decided to write this poem…. I hope you guys like it

Fearless Woman

Fearless woman, where have you been?

Fearless woman, why do you hide with in?

Come out and let me see your beautiful smile.

Come out and let me see your beautiful style.

I’m so scared inside.

Tell me…. Why do you hide?

I know you’re in there buried down deep.

Why is it so hard for me to just take that leap!?

Now is the time to let it all go.

Every part of insecurity I decided not to show.

I tell you now, Fearless Woman come out!

And at the top of my lungs, “ I AM A FEARLESS WOMAN!!! “ I shout.

Leaving me being beautiful and bold.

Leaving me having a confidence that nobody could have foretold!

…………………………………

So that’s my poem, and that’s what’s been happening so far Sorry it was so long…. Hope you liked the poem…. OH! and this morning the scale said I was 1 pound down! WHOO HOOO! lol…  192 BABY!!!  lol… hope you guys have a great day!

So I was looking through my older pictures, and it’s CRAZY how different I looked! I don’t even recognize myself! So I thought I’d share those pictures which were taken about 4-2 months before I started my weight loss journey in the end of 2008, and the pictures I took last week. Here they are…

This picture was taken in October 2008

And THIS is a picture I took last week! (April 2010)

This picture was also taken in October 2008 - That vest was so tight on me it would barely button! and NOW it’s so loose on me I can’t even wear it!

And THIS picture picture was taken last week! (April 2010)

This picture of my boyfriend and I was taken in August 2008

 This picture was taken in October 2008

And these two picture of my boyfriend and I was taken yesterday (April 2010)

I am SO happy that we have done so AMAZING on our weight loss journey! So far I’ve lost 45 pounds, and Billy (my b/f) has lost about 50!

YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH
       
  Don’t tell me your age; you’d probably lie anyway-but the Hershey Man will know!
    YOUR AGE BY CHOCOLATE MATH

This is pretty neat.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50 — I’ll wait while you get the calculator

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1760 .
If you haven’t, add 1759.

6.. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.



  You should have a three digit number

The next two numbers are
 
YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)
 
THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2010) IT WILL EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS.    
Chocolate Calculator.
   

What Does 300 Calories Really Look Like?

See Pictures of 300, 350, and 400-Calorie Meals

– By Nicole Nichols, Health Educator

Wonder what 300 calories looks like? 300 calories look drastically different when you’re eating in instead of dining out. Choosing healthier, more nutritious foods–at home and away–means you can eat much more food and still lose weight. Check out these 18 meal comparisons to see for yourself, share forward this story to your friends!

Breakfast: 300-Calorie Meals & Portions
Here are three morning meals that each weigh in at 300 calories. Healthy and quick homemade meals (left column) pack whole grains, fresh fruit, and protein–a filling combination that will keep you fuller longer. You could only eat a fraction of the comparable restaurant meals (right column) for the same number of calories.

Lunch: 350-Calorie Meals & Portions
These midday meals contain 350 calories each–the perfect amount to keep you going without wrecking your diet. Packing one of the homemade lunches on the left doesn’t take long, and look at all those low- cal and filling veggies you’ll get! Notice how seemingly healthy options like the restaurant foods on the right can be very misleading! Those 350-calorie portions are pretty small. Pack a healthier lunch with these tips.

Dinner: 400-Calorie Meals & Portions
Many people consume a larger meal at night, so we picked 400-calorie dinners here. By combining whole grains with lean protein and vegetables, these homemade dinners (left column) are a snap to prepare–and they’ll keep the late-night munchies at bay! In contrast, the high-fat and high-calorie meals on the right don’t offer much in the way of nutrition or volume.

The bottom line is that you can eat more and lose weight when you know how to pick the right foods and the right portions. Use the images and portions above as a guide to create your own healthy, diet-friendly and nutritious meals every day!

Are you surprised by how much (or little) you can eat for the calories, depending on which foods you choose? Which meal was most shocking to you? Leave a comment to the right of this article to share your thoughts.

Because of recent abductions
In daylight hours, refresh yourself
Of these things to do
In an emergency situation…
This is for you,
And for you to share
With your wife,
Your children,
Everyone you know.
After reading these 9 crucial tips,
Forward them to someone you care about.
It never hurts to be careful
In this crazy world we live in.
1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do :
The elbow is the strongest point
On your body..
If you are close enough to use it, do!
2.. Learned this from a tourist guide.
If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse,
DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM.
Toss it away from you….
Chances are that he is more interested
In your wallet and/or purse than you,
And he will go for the wallet/purse.
RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car,
Kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole
And start waving like crazy..
The driver won’t see you, but everybody else will.
This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars
After shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit
(doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.
DON’T DO THIS!)
The predator will be watching you, and this
Is the perfect opportunity for him to get in
On the passenger side, put a gun to your head,
And tell you where to go.
AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR ,
LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE..

If someone
Is in the car
With a gun
To your head
DO  NOT DRIVE OFF,
Repeat:
DO  NOT DRIVE OFF!
Instead gun the engine
And speed into anything, wrecking the car.
Your Air Bag will save you.
If the person is in the back seat
They will get the worst of it .
As soon as the car crashes
Bail out and run.
It is better than having them find your body
In a remote location.
5. A few notes about getting
Into your car in a parking lot,
Or parking garage:
A.) Be aware:
Look around you,
Look into your car,
At the passenger side floor ,
And in the back seat
B.) If you are parked next to a big van,
Enter your car from the passenger door.
Most serial killers attack their victims
By pulling them into their vans while the women
Are attempting to get into their cars.
C.) Look at the car
Parked on the driver’s side of your vehicle,
And the passenger side… If a male is sitting alone
In the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back
Into the mall, or work, and get a
Guard/policeman to walk you back out.
IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)
6. ALWAYS take the elevator
Instead of the stairs..
Stairwells are horrible places to be alone
And the perfect crime spot.
This is especially true at NIGHT!)
7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control,
ALWAYS RUN!
The predator will only hit you (a running target)
4 in 100 times; and even then,
It most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ.
RUN, Preferably in a zigzag pattern!
8. As women, we are always trying
To be sympathetic:
STOP
It may get you raped, or killed.
Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good -looking,
Well educated man, who ALWAYS played
On the sympathies of unsuspecting women.
He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often
Asked ‘for help’ into his vehicle or with his vehicle,
Which is when he abducted His
next victim.
9. Another Safety Point:
Someone just told me that her friend heard
A crying baby on her porch the night before last,
And she called the police because it was late
And she thought it was weird.. The police told her
‘Whatever you do, DO NOT
Open the door..’
The lady then said that it sounded like the baby
Had crawled near a window, and she was worried
That it would crawl to the street and get run over.
The policeman said, ‘We already have a unit on the way,
Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.’
He told her that they think a serial killer
Has a baby’s cry recorded and uses it to coax
Women out of their homes thinking that someone
Dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it,
but have had several calls by women saying that
they hear baby’s cries outside their doors
when they’re home alone at night.
10. Water scam!
If you wake up in the middle
of the night to hear all your taps outside running or what you think is a
burst pipe, DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE! These people turn on all your
outside taps full ball so that you will go out to investigate and
then attack.

Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbors!
Please pass this on
This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because
the Crying Baby Theory was mentioned on
America ’s Most Wanted when they profiled
the serial killer in  Louisiana

I’d like you to forward this to all the women you know.
It may save a life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle..
I was going to send this to the ladies only,
but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters,daughters, etc.,
you may want to pass it onto them, as well.

Send this to any woman you know that may need
to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies in it
and it’s better to be safe than sorry..
Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or love one’s life