FYI

I have started a weight loss blog. Check it out!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

FIRST:

I weighed in Saturday
and I was 137.8!
Sweet! Down 2.2 lbs. Love it!

SECOND:
Pauly and I held our 2nd Annual
Christmas in July Party.
I'm sure I ate enough to gain all the weight back.
Hmm. Progress might be hindered. I'm okay with that.


Here's the invitations I sent out.

The whole gang





We talked, we laughed,
we watched Elf, we exchanged ornaments,
and we ate way too much splendid food.
It was FABULOUS!


And don't forget the red and green reindeer antlers.

I know you can't help but be jealous.
Really, I understand.

Just remember, "Thou shalt not covet."
I'm pretty sure that commandment
was referring to reindeer antlers.

MOMENTS

I am sitting on the couch next to my sleeping husband, with our cats curled up around us and a smile on my face. We worked a long, hard week followed by a wonderful family party at our apartment.

This is my life. I love it.

These are the moments when I realize how truly fulfilling love is. Not as in the happily-ever-after-movie-version kind of love where life is a bed of roses, but as in the I-will-love-you-and-stand-by-you-through-even-the-hardest-of-times-even-when-our-world-feels-as-though-it-is-falling-apart kind of love.

I have found that love.

His name is Paul.

He is mine and I am his. We love each other.

Amen.

A WEIGHTY MATTER

So, I haven't posted on my weight loss since here. That's because I pretty much stopped making any progress. My weight was zig-zagging back and forth and I wasn't putting the work into it. I recently jumped back on board and I got as low as 134. Then I lost it (my motivation, not the weight) again and now I weigh. . .

hang on, let me go get my scale

140.0

yuck.

I've literally seen that number, and every number between it and 135, 12 billion times in the last 4 months.

(okay 12 billion times is a bit of an exaggeration. but i think you get the point i'm trying to make)

YO-YO

Here's the problem:

oh yes I know what it is, I just don't know how to fix it

I work hard 4 days a week, 12 hour shifts. I am physical for all 12 hours. I don't get to sit down. I pack very healthy eating choices and have no time at home except to sleep and hug my hub for 2 seconds, so I don't do any random snacking. I even occasionally make it on the treadmill.

You're probably thinking, "I don't see a problem there." That's because there isn't one. The problem is the other 3 days of the week. These are the problems/thoughts/mentality I fight those 3 days:

1 - I worked hard the last 4 days so the last thing I want to do is go to the gym to work hard again

2 - I ate well (sometimes boringly so) so I want to enjoy some food. However, I have yet to master the art of moderation.

3 - by the end of the 4 work days I have usually hit my 2 pound weight loss goal so I think those 3 days won't matter.

Hello, if you eat too many calories the weight comes back. I can't seem to remember that until monday weigh in rolls around. Then I have a Homer Simpson "Doh" moment. Sometimes I even smack myself in the forehead.

Here's what I have learned from this experience.

Weight loss is purely mental.

okay maybe not purely, but at least 95% mental.

Yes, you have to eat less, exercise more, to lose weight, but last time I checked, my legs do not have a mind of their own. The only reason they don't get on the treadmill is because I don't tell them to. My stomach does not decide to eat 2 entire bags (not individual bags, the medium size, fills-up-a-candy-bowl bag) of m&m's in 2 days,

I do.

Hypothetically speaking.

Are you picking up what I am putting down? If all it took to lose weight was eat less, move more, we would all be skinny. Instead we have to get past ourselves, fight those 'inner demons' or whatever you want to call them.

It's ridiculous.

Just get on the dang treadmill, stop putting so much in your mouth.

That's what I try to tell myself. It's not working yet. What works for you?

I need some help.

MR. CARSON

We celebrated this little man's 1st birthday.

My how time flies.

It feels like it was only yesterday

that we waited in a hospital lobby for 20+ hours to meet this little guy.

He has stolen my heart and I have no desire to ask for it back.

Dear Carson,

Happy birthday little brown boy!

Thank you for joining our family.

Thank you for softening your mama,

strengthening your daddy,

and bringing joy into our lives.

We revel in your giggles and sorrow at your tears.

You are ours for always and we will love you forever.

love,

Aunt Reesa and Uncle Pauly

SOME FAVES

this little girl is my favorite new baby.

i only met her once but fell completely in love.

these people are some of my favorite Utah friends.

i didn't have time to meet with all my Utah friends in June.

know that if you aren't in this picture, you are loved

and we will meet up this fall (mark your calendars, Oct 29 - Nov 10!)

new red lipstick

it's the first red lipstick I've ever owned

and it makes me feel so beautiful!

I love Sephora!

*Nars Cruella*

8 THINGS

I was tagged by this cute girl. Incidentally, I have never met her, but she is married to a guy I grew up with. I love her blog. They have a very cute little boy. Thanks for tagging me Ashley!

8 shows I love:
1. intervention
2. what not to wear
3. biggest loser
4. dog the bounty hunter (I know, I know. . .)
5. how it's made
6. pretty much everything on the history channel
7. e true hollywood stories
8. keeping up with the kardashians. (don't judge me)

8 Things I did yesterday:
1. slept for 7 hours
2. worked for 12 hours
3. lost 2 pounds from sweating so much
4. ate a yummy sandwich
5. ran 2.5 miles
6. snuggled with my hubby
7. pet my cats
8. ate some m&m's

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. olive garden
2. costa vida or cafe rio (oh how I miss them)
2. o'charley's
3. el toribio
4. chili's
5. rally's
6. texas roadhouse
7. old chicago
8. biaggi's (so expensive but soooo good!)

8Things on my wish list:
1. a loveseat
2. modest swimsuit
3. to lose those last 25 pounds
4. run a 10 minute mile
5. out of debt
6. have children
7. move to utah
8. never leave pauly's family (i wish they would just all move to Utah with us. then my life would be perfect!)

8 things I'm looking forward to:
1. 3 day weekend
2. payday
3. christmas in july party
4. trip to pittsburgh, pa (pre-season steeler's game!)
5. trip to gaitlinburg, tn (smokey mtns)
6. trip to utah
7. being sealed to my wonderful hubby!
8. weekly date night

I tag you!