Contest rules, wanna join!!??

If you want to hear more about the competition I just did, check out Biffy's blog HERE.

Biffy was the leader of our pack!

She explains how we just did it all...and we are going to do it again!

Yep. It's true :)

There are 2 options.

They are pretty much the same, but one has money involved!! I NEED external motivation :)

Check it out and either comment on my blog or Biffy's if you want to join in the fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't be shy.

BRING IT ON!

These are some goofy pictures...before I realized it in the first photo, Tanner had my camera and was holding down the button for some rapid shots so I posed some silly angles for him as he was laughing his head off! This was also just a few weeks into the contest and I had already lost 5 lbs.

And this will be my continued

reality.

Life is good.

It's over!!!!

But I'm not done. I just finished a 12 week challenge of:

no treats

exercise 30 minutes every day

7 hours of sleep each night

no eating past 7 pm

WOOOWWWEEEE. I can't believe I really went that long. I hate exercising and I love chocolate. This was a HUGE accomplishment for me. I feel like I can do anything now!! I'm going to do another post below of how I feel about it all. But this morning, I just had to celebrate by eating a long anticipated piece of cake.

I woke up this morning and started preparing my homemade German Chocolate cake. The recipe is in the Bakers Chocolate bar.

With each ingredient I got more and more nervous...

BUTTER.

FLOUR.

SUGAR.

EEEEK!!!

Pure fat!!! I have never been more aware before and it shocked me how much I care about it now...whereas I never did before.

It was fun preparing though. It takes about a good hour from finish to start with many steps. But it turned into a beautiful yummy masterpiece!

Tanner was pretty excited about it too. I have to take a piece into Landon at work tonight as well :)

(yes, that looks like a huge piece taken out...Tanner and I shared that piece and half of it is still on our plate!)

But I have to say...after I ate my piece, YES, it was good and somewhat what I anticipated, but not to the full extent. I kind of have a belly ache, but maybe it's because I skipped bfast and lunch in order to eat my high calorie cake!

Anyways...I think I have changed. I don't need to eat a piece of dessert every time it is offered, and I don't think about making them at home every day like I used to either.

I'm soooooooo glad I participated in the challenge. Even Tanner makes comments now that

"we don't need to eat a lot of candy, huh mom!"

Or, "it's good to exercise, let's go exercise!"

He loves going on walks, and even uses the treadmill and elliptical!

I won, not because I got the most points, because I now fully understand what my body deserves and that self indulgence isn't the way to happiness!!!

part 2-double the benefits

What I gained from this challenge:

$158.00

title of winner (three way tie)

new friends and support system

confidence

knowledge that I can and do have control over my thoughts and LIFE

better eating habits

healthier body

realization that I am capable of surviving without treats...I really won't DIE

internal and external happiness

motivation

What I lost from this challenge:

5 pounds

It was a win-win situation!!

This contest has definitely been eye opening to me on many levels in my life. Not only in a superficial and physical degree, but intrinsically unexpected!

I challenge all of you to deprive yourself of something you really don't need. Whether it be emotional, physical, whatever...prove to yourself that you can have control!

I think when we become careless with our lives, even when it doesn't seem that critical, it does us no good. We often feel remorse for our decisions, or guilt. Confront yourself and test yourself to see if you can face a temptation you have!! We have the control.

We can do it.

You can do it!!

It's all in our attitude. We have the power within ourselves. God created powerful bodies and minds within them to exert control. Once we conquer that, we have power beyond belief!! It's astounding to watch yourself transform! It's worth it. Either you want it or you don't, you'll do it or you won't!

Make the change today, however little or big it might be...you'll never grow until you push yourself out of your comfort zone. What we want most in life is worth fighting for! It doesn't always come easy. None of us are perfect. We each have hidden crevices within us that hide imperfections. We try to ignore them, but if we're honest, we have to admit they're there. Surrender! Clean out those nooks and crannies of doubt or worries. Have the faith and trust that you can succeed!

looking at life

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. "Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today." So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "H-M-M, " she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today." So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "Today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head....

"YEAH!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

I wish we could all be this positive every day!!

I'm ready...

To have my cake and eat it too!!

I've got my Bakers bar and I'm ready to make some homemade

German Chocolate cake.

Nothin' better.

Even Tan man's excited for me! He's been wondering why I turn him down every time he offers to share a treat with me!!

If anyone wants to join me, come on over

Sunday night/Monday morning at 12:01 am!!! lol.

actually, I'm not going to share...so never mind

therapy

My son has issues.

Out of no where he is being OCD about cleanliness.

Everywhere we go, and I mean everything he touches comes the question:

"Mom, is this clean?"

When he climbs on the chair he asks if it's clean, when he sits on the floor he asks if it's clean, when I walked him to his time out spot the other day he brushed against my pant leg and said "mom are your pants clean?"

It's hilarious! But it's out of control.

Little did he know, dad and I forced therapy on him yesterday:

It worked!

He got dirty, he played with worms, and he loved it!!!

He asked to find worms again today as he climbed out of the car asking "mom is the car dirty?"

altered soup can

You thought once you emptied a soup can it was trash, right?

WRONG!

Look how easy it is to turn your trash into treasure.

Such a cute gift bag now!!

I love making these :)

grass=blessings

I just got done mowing our yard.

It was a great workout.

The sun felt so warm and inviting on my back!

I'm so grateful for my health and that I can conquer such a task.

It's one less thing my husband will have to worry about with his hectic schedule.

The smell of Spring is such a blessing to take in.

I'm going to make a huge refreshing smoothie now.

I never realized what a blessing mowing the yard can be.

Life is good I'd say!

enjoy the simple things

Learning life lessons the hard way.

I LOVE STAMPIN' UP!

I've been a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for 5 years. I've had a great business with success in the past, but for now am basically a hobby demo.

I love to create.

Every year SU has an artisan contest where you can submit projects you have hand stamped and created to possibly win:

$500 cash

$500 shopping spree from the catalog

dinner with Shelli, co-founder

I decided to try for the contest and spent hours getting my projects ready:

Two 3-D items

Five cards

3 scrapbook pages

Here are a few pix of my creations:

making a lovely mess in our living room

cookie sheet magnet board

tootsie roll banks

It was so fun and I had a blast creating and stamping!!

However, my dear cousin so kindly pointed out to me on one of my scrapbook pages I used a retired stamp set!!!!!!!!!!!

DEATH BECOMES ME.

I can't believe I didn't realize that. Why can't I be more analytical??

I'm disqualified now.

No chance of $$$ for me.

I'm totally devastated. It sucks. I'm going to go cry a river.

There's always next year. But that's far away.

I need to pay someone to help me not procrastinate things and be more cautious. My expressiveness ruins my life because I'm so antsy to get things done!!!!!!

When will I ever learn.

No girls allowed.

Boys weekend only.

I was told several times by an adorable 4 year old

"No girls allowed mom, only boys!"

(I love that my boys can bond and play...

and I don't mind my alone time)

Camping in OUR backyard.

landon my lover

It's my babes 29th BIRTHDAY again! Lucky him. Let me tell you why I adore him.

He is ALWAYS optimistic (and realistic).

He had a horrible day at work awhile back, and came home not to vent, but bringing ME flowers!

He is REALLY really funny.

He is HOT!

He makes me want to be a better person.

He is athletic and outdoorsy.

He brings me flowers.

He doesn't pretend to be what he isn't.

He gives people the benefit of the doubt and never unrighteously judges.

He fulfills his church callings, work duties, and family responsibilities while giving 110%.

He is an amazing father and is teaching Tanner how to be a stalwart man.

He makes you feel like a million bucks.

He notices, appreciates and always thanks me for the little things...like when I vacuum the living room! It always makes me feel appreciated.

He's sensitive.

He's determined and wants to do things right the first time.

He is loyal.

He is patient.

He is constantly striving to make our marriage better. I am his priority and there is nothing better than knowing that, and feeling that security.

He honors his priesthood.

He always has the right advice.

He is well balanced.

He is the most amazing person I know on this earth!!

He watches chick flicks with me.

He never complains when we have PB&J or cereal for dinner!

He is my perfect compliment. Where I fall short, he picks me up.

He is mine for eternity!!!!!!