5 on Friday

Welcome to another addition of 5 on Friday. I fell asleep last night at 8:30. It was amazing! I woke up at 6am this morning ready to go. Apparently I needed some rest. I feel like a million dollars today. I am a little bummed I missed Grey's but will catch up on it Saturday while Justin works :) Leave me a comment if you link up on The Good Life Blog. Happy Friday!

 1. We are leaving for the beach in 12 days. I can not wait. Sunshine, 80 degree days, nothing on the agenda but yummy food, fishing for the hubs and relaxation!

All this picture needs in my beach chair.

2. After about a ear of car shopping I finally did it. I got rid of my Jeep and got a new Pilot. So far so good! It is much smoother and much more roomy than my Jeep. Although, I really do/did love my Jeep I am excited for 3rd row, blue tooth and more space!

3.  I need help!! I am having issues trying to figure out the best space for my living room! Anyone have any advice? Any websites or techniques? It is a weirdly shaped  area and I just can't figure out how to make the most room and most seating!

4. My FIL got me an Etsy gift card for Christmas.. I can't find what I want to spend my money on. I have found lots of ideas but nothing speaks the one! What are some of your favs on Etsy right now?

5. Thanks for all of your advice on manicures! I am going next Monday to get mine. I think I have decided on this ... (The first one). I will post pictures when it is done! 

A Pin a Day...

I love Pinterest, no secret. I love scouring for the best weight loss motivation/tips/ideas/ and healthy things I can find... I also love sharing them....

Ya'll know that I try to make my water count, and these easy water ideas are amazing! 

Need some more motivation? Try these tips!

What a great idea, but I don't want my weight on display lol! 

How true is this?? 

Hangs head in shame, this is sooo me!

How true?!?!

Do you use Pinterest? Add me, I would love to see what tips you have found!

http://www.pinterest.com/cassiewvu/

Happy Wednesday

We woke up to snow, icy road conditions and below normal temperatures. I, along with a lot of other people, am praying this is our last Spring snow and sunshine is on the way soon!

I am home from work for a few hours while I wait on the washer repairman to come. Suddenly, our almost new, won't drain. I am looking forward to the washer being fixed but not the price to fix it.

Yesterday, I shared a tiny bit of what I am eating. I got a few emails asking for some recipes/examples of dinners. So I thought today would be the perfect day to share!

Below are next week's dinner plans...

I am "cooking" 3 nights next week, Justin works late 3 nights next week so I figured we'd have 2 dinners together, I'd make the 3rd meal for left overs, something for me to eat and for him when he gets off work.  (I'll eat leftovers the other nights) I also want to try to find something sweet that I love and is low points so I am going to try the peanut butter cookies.

Yummy, The Buffalo Meatloaf cups look super easy!

http://livingachangedlife.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/recipe-review-buffalo-chicken-meatloaf.html

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/140526450844709488/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/39617671695356970/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/34832597090388994/

 or    http://www.weightwatchers.ca/food/rcp/RecipePage.aspx?recipeid=87921

What  is on your meal plan next week?

Diet Bet Updates...

I weighed in this morning, down another 5lbs! Whoohooooooooooooooo. I was so excited to see the loss, to see the hard work pay off. I sadly didn't get to weigh in yesterday at WW, but I was excited to see the loss on my scale none the less.

To be honest, all I am doing is tracking. I am tracking every single thing that goes in my mouth. No cheats. No nibbles, no taste. It works, it works really well for me when I do it. 

My exercise habits haven't improved :( It is still snowing here. It is the winter that never ends! But I am doing well with my water intake and again tracking.

How true is this?!?!

Breakfast is usually oatmeal or some turkey bacon with hard boiled eggs (with Franks Red Hot).

My lunches are usually a fruit and some deli meat and low fat cheese roll-ups with Special K Crackers (sometimes I don't do the crackers and eat a Chobani yogurt instead), salads, soups or left overs.

Dinners - anything! I meal plan weekly :) I will have this weeks plan up on the blog soon!

Snacks - fruit, nutritional bars, hummus and veggies

I have to be down 9.1 pounds this diet bet, putting me at 265.3, that is exactly 20 pounds from when I first started Weight Watchers. To be honest, it really excites me to think I can be down 20lbs.  Losing 20lbs is one of my first big goals.

How are things going for you? Any tips?!

5 on Friday

1. It is Friday! WHOHOOOOO . It has been a crazy week. I was thankful when this little goody showed up at work today. (don't judge, I ship all my stuff to my office). It is soooo soft and long. I love it. Very cute with a denim shirt and maxi skirt. I absolutely love Lila Rose. They have the best quality and everything is priced well.

I got the coral one - far right

2. I joined Skinny Meg's newest diet bet. I haven't checked the scale this week. I am waiting till Sunday. I am hopeful! I have done pretty well with everything this week. But, AF is supposed to show this weekend and that always throws my weight for a loop :( But I am trying not to think of her. Again, thank you for your support :)

3. Mani and Pedis -- We leave for the beach in a little over 2 weeks. YEAH! I am going to attempt to get a really cute mani before hand (ha, get it? before hand?..feel free to roll your eyes) - I really would like something like this...But I am wondering if they can do it on my real nails? Or do I need to get fake nails? Thoughts

   

4. Do you have a face wash you love? Something that makes your face feel fantastic? If so let me know, I am in the market for something new! Leave me a link letting me know what you like and why!I am debating this one, any thoughts?

5. And lastly, it is a day late - but a little story and video to make you happy. Does anyone else love Pharrell?

Gold at the end of my rainbow...

So it has been  two days since my dreaded weigh in. And I am happy to report I have done a lot better the last two days. Everyone always talks about the moment their life changed, the moment they hit rock bottom with their weight and things changed.

I thought I was there, apparently I wasn't. Sunday, weigh in day, it has to be the lowest. I can't imagine feeling any lower than I did weighing in. It isn't going to be an easy smooth ride, but it is a ride that is worth it!

Skinny Meg is starting a new Diet Bet. I am excited to join! Again, public accountability works for me. Plus I made $15 the last time - not bad for getting healthier!

Thank you for the support, your emails, comments and feedback really does help. It also helps knowing that I am not alone!

Happy Tuesday!

The post I never wanted to write...

I weighed in on Sunday. I had another gain. I am pretty sure I have never felt worse about my weight than I did yesterday. After the weigh in clerk recorded my weight, I bit my lip and held back my tears as  I made my way to my seat. I wanted to run away from the meeting. Go sit in my car and cry. But, I didn't. I texted Justin and my friend that is helping me trying to help me stay on track.  I continued to bite my lip while my leader discussed exercise. I felt like a huge failure and like I didn't deserve to be there.

I know what I am doing wrong. I am not following the plan. I am not counting points. I am not keeping myself accountable. I am having food from work. I am not exercising. I am not making good choices when we eat out. I know what to do right. I know I have to count points, be honest with myself, only eat food I know what is in it, MOVE/exercise and most importantly, when we eat out - don't throw all my hard work out the window. But why is it so damn hard? It is like having an open book test but not using your books? Why do I make this so complicated? Why?!?!

For some reason I keep slipping. I keep making bad food choices. I am not ready to give up or go back to eating whatever I want all the time. I am not ready to stop trying to get healthy. I so badly want to start a family of our own. I have no idea why losing weight is so hard when I have a goal of a family.
Now, don't worry. I am going to give this week my all.  I am going to go back to tracking everything and drinking my water. I am going to go back to putting 100% into this. But I wish it was easier. I wish there was a magic button to push or a magic pill to take and the weight would be gone instantly. Don't we all?

Tell me, have you experienced these kind of highs and lows on your journey? How'd you overcome them?

Here is to a new week.

5 on Friday

1. Do you watch How I Met Your Mother? Have you seen the spoiler thing going around Facebook? If that's true, I will be soooooo disappointed. This show has put me through enough of a roller coaster of emotions.  Only 4 more episodes! I feel like this show is a part of my life, these characters, the relationships... I know, I know I have a problem. I was this way with The Office too.

2.Have you ever heard of Oil Pulling? I haven't, but I am intrigued. If you have done this, have you had any benefits? Any concerns? I am going to order some coconut oil for some other uses and thought I may try it.
                                               

3. Last week the Hubs and I went to see Old Crow and The Avett Brothers. I love string music, fiddles, and harmonicas. I also love these two bands. But I love Country Roads more than all the above, so when both bands came out to end the show singing WV's favorite song... well my heart was happy.

4. The stomach bug hit our house last weekend, of course it did. My BFF from high school came to celebrate her 30th birthday and I couldn't get out of bed. I am still not feeling 100%. I am ready for spring. For cold and flu season to be done. For kiddos to get outside and not keep all the germs indoors. Spring is almost here. We were actually under a county wide state emergency last Sunday b/c of the snow.

5. Does anyone here watch Private Lives of Nashville Wives?  I grew up with one of the girls on the show and it is kind of neat to watch her now! Cassie was always one of the sweetest girls. It is more of a family housewives show, not so catty. If you haven't been watching, you really should. If you are watching, what do you think??
                           

Saving Money

Justin and I are both trying to be more frugal. We both have taken an interest in Dave Ramsey and have started changing some of our habits to be better spenders and smarter with our money. No one likes to talk about money, me included. But I do like to tell you and talk about ways to save money. Or make money.

I am by no means an expert on any of these things. And I don't know if they are the best choice, but they are are easy, simple and work for us!

Ebates. 

If you don't use this website you are missing out! It is FREE, it gives you cash back on stuff you buy online. Any you do nothing else but shop. I made a nice little extra earnings during Christmas time last year. Enough to pay for a few Christmas gifts :) You typically get anywhere from 1-5% back in CASH for every dollar you spend. Most websites participate with Ebates. Kohls, Amazon (departments change all the time), Walmart... It is the most easy process. It is literally paying you to shop!! If you aren't using it and want to start, use this link, please!
http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=IVgCXl6HG3Lc%2B%2Bju%2B3oKdQ%3D%3D


Swag Bucks

Swag bucks is one of the easiest ways to earn gift cards to your favorite shopping site. I love the 5$ Amazon GC for 450 Swag bucks. I can usually earn 3-6 a month minimum. Save those up for Christmas, presents, on just to feed your Amazon addiction and it is a win win situation lol :)

Swag bucks pays you to use their search engine or participate in their special offers. I usually find one or two special offers I was going to use anyways and get paid to do it. Like booking out Hotel for our February getaway - I used the Hotels.com offer on their site and got paid 10% back to do it! Not bad! The concept is Search, Earn, Redeem - no extra expense to you and you get awesome free gift cards for searching the web!

If you haven't signed up - here is a link swagbucks.com/refer/CassieM2012

Viggle



Viggle is the one I probably use the least, but it also the easiest! You download the ap, and use your phone to check in when you watch tv. You earn points for every minute of every show you watch. Rewards are gift cards, merchandise, special offers... I haven't redeemed my points yet for Viggle so don't have a lot to offer but, I use it when I remember and have around 50,000 points since November.  My username is CCMWVU



Now again, I am not a expert. Just a trying to be frugal newlywed :) What money/budget system do you use? Do you have any tips? Anything you use to make extra money?

Happy Wednesday! Sorry for the delay in posting. We are still having computer issues so I borrowed a laptop from work to give you guys some updates. We are planning on going to the Apple Store on Sunday. The thing I hate about Apple Products is they are great until they die, then your heart stops, you beg the Apple Techs to please please help you, and when they finally restore your broken item, you feel this huge weight off your shoulders and all is well again.  I am hoping the techs can fix our issues Sunday and all will be well soon :)

Sorry, tangent over Apple Products over.

So WW got cancelled on Sunday due to the weather. I didn't weigh myself in till Monday and was pleasantly surprised with a 1.7 loss!! I hate not going to WW and getting the official weigh in!

I've done well on my goals, but I could have done better. Specifically on water intake. I had a moment last week where I was dehydrated. I realized in 9 hours I had nothing to drink! I have done so much better this week with my water and fluid intake. No excuses.

I am doing well with tracking and staying away from food in the kitchen at work. I finally feel like I am heading in the right direction. I'm doing this, slowly. But I am doing it.

How have you been?

Rewarding myself...

Everyone loves a good reward. I used to treat myself with food...like a dog. Pathetic I know. (Hence the weight)

However, I feel that losing weight needs to be rewarded and celebrated. So I thought I would make a little reward chart for myself.  So here it is:

20lbs - 2 new songs on iTunes
                                              
30lbs - a new book
                                             
35lbs - new socks

                                                
40lbs - 2 new OPI nail polishes

                                              

50lbs - Fitbit

                                         
60lbs- new work out gear

                                     
65lbs - new hair 

                                                           
70lbs - new undergarments 

                                                        
75lbs - new tennis shoes

                                                     
85lbs - pedicures
                                       


90lbs - new jeans


100lbs - new North Face jacket