School has resumed....life gets tougher!

Ok, no excuses I have just let life's curve balls get in the way of blogging.  

I have been quite busy this month, work is always a challenge and my 10 hour days still do not afford me enough time to get things done.  I am sadly a perfectionist, and I hate having work left at the end of the day.  Stress, yes and caused by me.

I began school this past week.  I am hopeful to be done with my associates by the end of May and at the latest the end of summer.

I love learning, but it is so hard with all the other responsibilites in my life right now.  I am still working out, and going to Zumba, doing body pump (which I love) and running.  I will tell you, that I have not seen the scale move much in the past month, I am not letting it side track my goal.

I am just even more resolved than ever to keep focused.  I have not been as good this past week getting in my water.  Why is it, that water is always the first thing to get forgotten when busy.  I do really well when tied to my desk at work, but once freed oh wow, do I fail.

Mental note, drink more water.  I wanted to share with you Dr OZ's prescription to restart your metabolism.  I have been doing it for three days, and I pee like a banchee!  

80z of tomato juice (NOT V8)
1.5 tsp of horseradish
dash of hot sauce

I drink this each morning after getting up, and it really is helping, I can tell.

I also drink water with real lemon juice in it.  Did you all know that lemon helps our bodies rid themselves of excess salt?  Yeap, the lemon juice gives the salt a vehicle to jump on and exit the body.  Try it and you will see the effects and how it works for yourself.

I am excited that I was the BOOB of the day on Friday!  That was so cool and everyone made me cry.  To read what others think of me here is heart warming.  I never imagine that I would have that kind of effect when I began blogging, I am certainly glad I have.

I am so excited as is Nichole about BOOBS 3.0.  It is one month away and I cannot wait.  I know it will go by fast, but the time spent with all of you will be priceless!

I love you all and look forward to meeting the newbies!

What I used to only imagine, I am now living

Ok, I know I have not been the best blogger of late, but working out 6 days a week and getting ready to go back to school, has really zapped me.

I also, feel like my journey is entering a new phase.  The whole theme of my journey seems to be centered around YOU CAN and taking baby steps on a path to self discovery.  A path where I am learning that the only limits that I have are the ones I allow myself to be fettered with.  I look back and reflect on my past and I can plainly see my self confidence and self image die a slow and painful death.  When you become morbidly obese, the walls of your world close in around you slowly until your comfort zone becomes a straight jacket.

I never viewed any challenge as an opportunity for growth, it was always viewed as another opening for all the world to see my ineptness and to suffer embarrassment.  That is the one thing that makes morbid obesity such a killer.  We all know what it does to our health, but obesity is a destroyer of the soul.  This is so much more than merely shedding pounds, it is about reclaiming my life.

This is where I feel that running and Zumba and Body Pump have brought so much healing to my life.  It is far more than simply a redundant process to be endured for the sake of burning a few extra calories in the same sense that one endures the side effects of some medication for the sake of getting well.  Once the desired effect is reached the routine ends. 

Before, I used to just imagine what it would be like to have self confidence and passion, now I am living the dream every day.

Yes Kristin, you can.

I know longer need the permission or approval of others to finally live my life.  Each time I honor a commitment to myself to exercise, when I do not feel like it, or work through a problem and see it through, something inside grows stronger and stronger.  When you begin to climb the smaller mountains the bigger ones do not seem so intimidating.  It takes the same skills.  After awhile one rock looks just like another, except that there are more of them piled up.......I just have to climb a little longer that is all.

One thing that I have learned on this journey is that consistent effort in never unrewarded.  My dreams are not so far fetched anymore.  No bravado, just a deep settled confidence that tells to me to keep climbing.

What a sense of peace this has brought to my life.



NEVER EVER GIVE UP!



The skirt in this picture I have not had on in 10 years!  It is a wrap around skirt with two buttons.  I still think my hips look huge, but my legs are melting away.

Kristin 8-12-12

I still find that I am not comfortable with pictures of myself, I hope that this will go away at some point in time.  Seeing my body change however, is the best NSV in the world.  I am stronger, and healthier than I have ever been in my adult life.

So again I say, "NEVER EVER GIVE UP!"

The Perfect Pico de Gallo

.Ok I know, I have not been blogging and that is just not acceptable. I have been reading though, and I am not sure if my comment problem with blogger has been fixed or not.  Time will tell I suppose.   I have been very busy however, I have so much to get done before school begins for the fall.  My classes start on August 21st. I cannot believe that is two weeks away.  My summer went so fast.  The boys are getting ready to head back as well.  Cole will be in Kindergarten and it is going to be hell for a few weeks I believe.

I am so excited for BOOBS 3.0!  Nichole and I both are.  We look forward to seeing some old faces and meeting some new ones.

It will be a blast.

Ok as promised.  If you are like me Mexican food is my ultimate favorite quisine.  A great mexican meal is not complete without Pico de gallo.  However, I have had some really bad, salty stuff, and I have a great recipe for the perfect batch.  I thought I would share it with you all.

I know some of you may be tempted to buy some that almost fresh looking stuff in the container at the grocery store.....but stop......seriously just try making this at home.  A few fresh ingredients and a little chopping and OLE!  You will have some of the best tasting Mexican Pico de gallo north of the border.

This is one of those loose recipes where the quantities are merely a suggestion than hard and fast rules.  Here are in my opinion the key ingredients for making a KILLER pico de gallo.

1.  Start with fresh vine ripe tomatoes, the fresher the better.  Please do not use ones that you have stored in the refrigerator or bought last week.

2.  Use fresh lime juice.  A lot of recipes skip this and it is just plain wrong.

3.  Use a fresh chilli, like a jalapeno ( my favorite) or if you prefer more heat, perhaps a serrano or habanero.

4.  Don't be shy when adding your salt and pepper.

Perfect Pico de Gallo

Ingredients:

2 large tomatoes chopped
1/2 large white onion, chopped
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
1 jalapeno seeded, and very finely chopped
1 small bunch of cilantro, chopped finely
1/4 tsp of cumin
1-2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together.  Refrigerate at least one hour for all flavors to mingle.  Check seasoning and add more lime juice, salt or pepper if needed.

Now wasn't that easy?

Your Comments Not Coming To My Email

Hey everyone, thank you to all who have posted on my Anniversary post!


Your comments did not get to my email and so I cannot comment.  I do not know what is going on with blogger right now, I just wanted you to know I appreciate you all.


I will try to figure out, why this just suddenly happened.

One Year Anniversary of my Blog!

So today is the one year anniversary of my blog!  I cannot believe it has been one year since I began writing this blog.  So much has happened in my life with my band since then.


Some wonderful, some heart breaking, but the most important thing, is I have never given up!  I have kept moving along and am working to get to that place where my health is not just good but is great!


I have done some amazing work this past year.  I have also done it with Nichole which has made it that much more special, she has worked hard and has lost 70 pounds with out a band or surgery!


What have I done....you might wonder, to have this type of success.  I have revamped my reward system and concentrated on making good decisions, and logging my food choices each and every day.  I still live by my band rules.  I also have incorporated exercise 6 times a week into my life.


I lost my band in March of this year.  I was devastated and scared when this took place. I had fear and anxiety that was just awful.  I know many who have lost their bands now or are probably headed down that road as well.


I think the biggest thing I have learned through all of this, is that the band is not what makes us successful, and it is proven itself for me to be true.  I have continued to lose even without the band, and I contribute that to my resolve.


I made a point to heal what was wrong with me in my head!!  Please hear that, I fixed what was wrong in my head, that made me choose food as a reward, and use it as a comfort. I no longer do this. I have realized that years of eating like a garbage disposal just made me horribly sick.  Obesity is a disease, and it is something that we as a country and world need to really focus on.  We are raising children with these bad habits and eating disorders and now our children are obese.


I am proud to say that my almost 9 year old grandson is now conscious about what he puts into his mouth, and he chooses water over soda.  Watching his mother and I this past year is rubbing off.  He asks to go walking with me, or running even. He can walk 5.25 miles with ease.


I am not the same woman who found this blogging community a year ago.  I was a beaten down, and feeling as a total failure a year ago, because of me regain!


Finding all of you, turned my life around.  I found support, friendship, and most of all inspiration.  I found that others were struggling as well, and that together we could achieve our goals.


I made a point of getting to BOOBS 2.0 and it was the best time  and I felt so welcomed by these women.  I love them.  I feel a part of their lives and they a part of mine.


I look forward to the next year and what it hold for me.  I no longer have a time frame for when I must be a certain weight.  I know that doing this only puts undo pressure on myself.  I just plan on eating right and exercising regularly and letting my body find it balance and normal.


Yes, I am still a scale whore, once a scale whore always a scale whore for me  LOL.  I am happy to see each day what my body does or does not do.  The days that the water weight creeps on, can still be maddening, I just am better equipped now to handle those days.


I look forward to BOOBS 3.0 and to the next chapter in this journey!


I am thankful for the 86 people who chose to follow me and this blog and journey, who take time to comment on my craziness and to give me encouragement along the way.  You make my blog worth so much more.


Love you all,

Crazy busy....but working out and doing well!

I have been crazy busy with work, and working out and my family life, but I am doing well.  I cannot say the same for Nichole, Adam and Cole however.


They all three have been sick with a throat virus since last Tuesday and still are sick.  It is awful.  They said it can last up to two weeks.  Ugggghhhh I just want them all well again.


I cannot believe that in three days my blog will be a year old! That just seems crazy to me.  How time flies I guess.


I do not know where I thought I would be at this point, but I am thrilled with how I am feeling and even though I still have weight to lose, I am moving in the right direction.


I am still going to Body Pump three times a week, and Zumba three times a week, I have stopped running as it is too hot to run outside right now, and my schedule does not allow me to run early in the am or later at night.  So for now it is on the back burner damnit!


I am excited about the BOOBS 3.0 coming up and I am working hard to look my best  LOL!  Things are nuts in my life and I do not mean to be absent, just know that I am reading and I will try to blog more.

Absent and bruised!

I have been absent, I cannot believe it, I have been here reading, just not writing.  Wow, me, Kristin the woman never without something to say....LOL


I am going to recap the past week bullet style.


So I am into Body Pump big time and I now have two weeks and six classes under my muscles  LOL  It is hard shit, but I am loving it, I feel myself getting stronger every day.


Thursday was my day off, so the plan, take the boys swimming.  It is great exercise and it wears them out, and I get to spend quality time with both of them.  That morning was great, until I stopped at the DMV to renew Alan's car sticker and his Harley sticker....lol.  Coming back outside, my unstable self, stepped in a hole in the asphalt in the parking lot that I did not see, wearing flip flops.  Well you can imagine, this 200+ pound woman going down like a bull in a china shop.  I was wearing my swim suit and cover up, so not much.  I had a lot of skin showing to get road rash on,  needless to say my left knee and lower shin, took the brunt of the beating.  I also broke a prong on my engagement ring damnit and my diamond cut my hand pretty darn good.  I was sore and embarrassed.

It swelled like you would not believe, my whole leg did. 

It is healing, but it hurts like hell, and I cannot do my push ups or mountain climbers in Body Pump damnit!


Saturday took Adam to see Ice Age and it was so good.  What a cute story and funny movie.  I love those characters so much!  It was a great day!  Nichole went to Chicago with a friend and we kept the boys.


Sunday I had lunch with a girlfriend who used to work with me.  It was nice seeing her and catching up.  We went to my favorite resturaunt, Los Jimidaores.  Yummy, Yummy in my tummy.  LOL  Then Alan and I took the boys swimming.  It was the first time this summer he has been in the water with the boys.  It was great seeing them interact.  Alan used to teach swimming, he is an awesome swimmer.  Being 6'5" he is tall and thin and glides through the water much like Michael Phelps, and I know he would laugh if he knew I wrote that.


Yesterday was a very busy day for me at work, and I was unable to make it to ZUMBA because when I got home Alan was sick, and so I chose to stay home with the boys so he could go to bed.


I will definitely go to Body Pump tonight, and I am happy to report, that I put on a skirt that I have not worn since 2005 maybe!  It is one of my favorites, and I was pumped when I put it on!


I have had quite a few of those NSV's lately with clothes. I can tell my body is reshaping, even though the scale seems to be just sitting there at the moment.  I am not worried at all, I can feel and see the difference.


I have been reading all of your blogs, and I will do better I promise you.  BOOBS is coming and I am thrilled so thrilled I cannot wait to see you all!

BOOBS in 73 days!!!!! WOO HOO

I am so freaking excited that the planners are actually talking about BOOBS, because it has been on my mind.  So the first Challenge has been launched by Jen and Draz.  Go check it out, it begins today  BOOBS or BUST Challenge.

So, two Body Pump classes are now under my belt, and I will add a third this evening.  I have to tell you how strong I already feel.  YES, after just two classes I can tell a difference in my strength.  Isn't that incredible.  Who would have ever known. Yes, soreness is a part of it, but that is a good thing, because my muscles are working!  This means my metabolism is working and not dragging like a hog through a mud trough!  I love that I am pumping iron, I would never have believed that I would be able to clean and jerk anything.  Let alone do it for an hour. I am super proud of me!  I love getting healthy have I told you that lately?

I wanted to give you a quick update on Nichole, I am so freaking proud of her.  She is the incredible shrinking woman, no lie.  She has gone from 329 pounds in August of 2011 and today she is 274.8 pounds. Nichole is 5 feet 10.5 inches, so she is a tall woman, she looks fabulous!  She has done all the work, she is not banded.  She has changed her life, and in doing so her body is reshaping itself.  I love her zest for life right now it is infectious.  Her choices are fantastic, she gave up soda, she leaves the junk food alone, and even though on occasion will indulge with a glass of wine, or mixed drink, or piece of cake or pie, she is happy to eat clean in fact she will tell you she craves it!  I like how this happens to our bodies when we rid them of the crap!


I recall late last summer in the pool one workout day with her, and we were talking about my band.  I told her I wanted her to check into getting it.  I have to say I am so proud of her for proving to herself that she had what it took inside of her to follow the road to being more healthful.  She used to tell me that she could not run, well she is.  We are both signed up to do our first 5k in Chicago 10 days before BOOBS! She is also coming to BOOBS with me, so you all will get to meet her!


So for the nay Sayer's, and the people who say "I can't do that", or  "that doesn't work for me", or "how did you do it"!  The only way I see that weight becomes a non issue in your life after a lifelong battle with it, is to not give it control any longer.




If you are wondering how to do this.....well you have to incorporate not only clean living and eating, but you have to become more active than you ever have in your life.  Instead of coming home exhausted from work, I now come home and head to the gym, or outside to run or walk, or play with the boys.  It is so rare to find me sitting anymore.  I no longer have excuses for NOT doing it!  That is just plain and simple...no excuse!  If someone is not dying or dead already, I will no longer let it take precedence over my working out.


So I welcome the challenge for BOOBS 3.0 with both arms open wide.  I love to challenge myself, and this is a huge one.  


I am getting closer to my goal each and every day, and more importantly, I feel like a million bucks!  Yep, I am still 38 pounds away from my original goal, and yet I am thrilled to be where I am.  This morning I put on a size XL skirt that is an A-Line.  I have had this skirt for years, I love it!  I have not had it on my body in 10 years!  I kept my clothes that I loved, because one day I hoped to wear them again, this skirt is black, so it never goes out of style.  I feel amazing today!


It does not matter how quickly you finish, it matters that YOU FINISH!!  Never give up the fight!

4th of July is gone....was hotter than a 2 peckered goat!

Yes the holiday is passed, and I am down another 2 pounds this morning.  Can you say holy damn!!!!  I am thrilled.


I have to tell you of my new found fun!!  BODY PUMP....oh yeah!  I am loving it...although I cuss Joe the instructor up one side and down another, like a sailor in May!


Nichole and I went to our first class yesterday morning at 7:00am.  First of all, do you know that even a year ago, I would never have wanted to go pump weights.  I would have rather have been flogged.


I have to say, it is not as horrible as you imagine.  I liked it a lot and I will be doing it at least a couple of times a week.


I am so sore this morning, but it is a good kind of sore ya know.  I thought I would die doing the squats, in fact I thought I had....LOL!


I felt muscles I did not know we even had on our bodies.  I think mine were in hibernation for the past 40 years or so.


I look forward to the changes that will be coming with this new class, and how my body will like me pumping it up!


It was a quiet 4th at my house.  The boys gone and it was 100+ degrees outside, left me with not much desire to be outside, I thought about heading to the pool and even that did not sound like so much fun.


So I stayed in, and just did odd jobs around the house.  Went to bed early and headed into work this morning at 5am.


Looking forward to my next Body Pump class!

"They Always Ask"..........is that on your diet?"

I am sure you all have been asked this burning question at some point along the way.  Perhaps it was a family member, co-worker or friend.  "Is that on your diet?"


I am on a life journey.  On this journey I have to carefully plan my caloric intake and exercise to maintain my momentum.  While I try to make my calories consumed count by eating (lean proteins, fresh vegetables, whole grains, and low fat dairy products and of course fruits) I know that I must spend some of my calorie budget on a treat now and again so that I do not feel deprived while I am learning to live my plan.  You see I build my treat into my calories.  If I eat a 150 calorie ice cream bar, it is because I have allotted for it in my daily food plan.  This is why logging food is so effective, when you know exactly how much you are consuming, you know how much you can give for a treat or not.


There is nothing more frustrating than to have carefully calculated my calories to allow for a special food or even a meal, and then have someone ask "Is that on your diet?"  First, I am NOT on a diet. Second, yes I have planned for this food.


Now some people are truly trying to help.  They think you are  "blowing your plan" which might be true if I just ordered the large Georgia Mud Fudge blizzard at Dairy Queen for 1450 calories, but it might not be true if I ordered the kid size cone at McDonalds for 45 calories.


So how do you deal with these "helpers"?  I suggest that you tell them that you plan your food budget and live within it including the food that you are now currently enjoying.  Use the opportunity to educate.


Yes, I have lost 160+ pounds.  Have I eaten a steady diet of broccoli and watercress?  NO.  I have had a well-balanced approach to my nutrition.  I make the MAJORITY of my calories be high quality, nutrient dense foods, but I have had treats.  I eat out every week.  This is how you succeed in changing from a DIET mentality to LIFESTYLE CHANGE.  You have to learn to live on a BUDGET.  Just like we do with our finances.  If you want that high calorie meal with friends at the end of the week, then you better work it off in the GYM before hand, and watch the other calories during the week. Every time I eat ice cream, my scale sees a drop the next morning.  This has been the truth for the past five years.  Why?  I think when you are limiting your foods to healthy the majority of the time that a fat laden meal or treat causes our bodies to let go of fat.  It is the only way that I can explain why that happens for me.


So next time someone sees you eating the Hershey Almond chocolate bar (210 Calories) and thinks that you have fallen of the wagon don't get upset, just explain to them about your "plan".  They most likely will be impressed on how you have learned how to include those occasional treats and still managed to lose weight.


Life's lessons!

A week flew by

I cannot believe it has been a week since I posted on my blog.  I was pretty sick last week with the stomach flu for four days. I missed work, and did not go back until Friday.  


My desk was a nightmare!  I had a mile high stack of work that was waiting for me.


I was really glad it was one day, and I got a reprieve for the weekend.  


Yesterday Nichole graduated from College, and it was an amazing ceremony.  I really enjoyed the speaker and the message.  So proud of her, and the boys with her, seeing her was so special and I cried, and cried. I will post pictures later.


Neal sat next to me and he rubbed my shoulders.  What a great guy he is and best friend to her.


I had the most amazing NSV yesterday morning as I was getting ready to head to the Conference Center.  I could not decide on the dress I wanted to wear.  I looked through my closet and kept saying No, No.....till my hands were on my little Size M dress that I had bought last August as my GOAL dress.  I loved it and I wanted to one day be able to wear it.


Well I decided to put it on, and it slipped right on and actually fit.  Alan said I looked very nice, Nichole was already gone so I could not get her opinion.  She is always so honest with me about such things.  Alan is too.  So I felt confident in my dress.
  
It made the whole day worth it.  I know I have come a long way, but that was just icing on my cake.


Beth Ann my goddaughter's birthday was Friday.  We had made plans months ago to do dinner, and go see Magic Mike. She was so excited and we have known since almost day one of production that this movie was coming out.  Nichole, she and I love the men in this movie.  So it was only right we go and pay homage.  We had dinner, and wet to the Theater only to find all shows sold out, so we left and went to the other Theater in town and yeap SOLD OUT!  We bought tickets for the matinee showing yesterday afternoon, after graduation.


I have to tell you the eye candy was awesome, but the movie sucked!  It was sooo slow, I ended up texting during it.  I never do that!!!!  So ladies beware if you haven't seen it. I could have waited for DVD for this one.


So that was my week.  I am down 5 pounds this week.  I will take that any day.  I did not work out once, being sick kept me from it.  Back to ZUMBA tomorrow night with Jose~ it will kick my ass.


I have signed up to do my first 5k in Chicago a week and a half before BOOBS!  It is for Make A Wish and that is a huge charity close to my heart because of Adam.  I have to get my ass in gear and start training for it.

The Party was Wonderful....down another two pounds!

My Rainbow

The party was great!  I took off on Friday and already had Thursday off so that I could prepare for the party on Saturday.


I got up on Thursday and began baking the cookies that I wanted to serve.  They turned out wonderfully.  They were really good.

Cherry Chip, Orange, and Lemon

After the cookies were done, which took me all of Thursday to do, it was time to prepare the Lebanese feast on Friday, that Nichole had wanted so badly.  My best friend Kristie is Lebanese and I have grown up with this cuisine, and so has my family.  Nichole and Alan both love it.  She had requested Kibba, Chickie Rice, green beans, and cabbage rolls.  They all turned out fantastic.  I have been cooking this food for years, but always worry, when I am making it that it will stand up to my best friends mother's memory.  She was an amazing cook, and the tastes I recall from childhood, are so intense that too ruin them would not be good.  

I enjoyed making these graduation caps.  They were really easy and fun.  I got the recipe off of Pinterest I love that site!

Nichole with Sam, they loved goofing off.  

Alan and Nichole swinging Cole, and pitiching him onto the couch, he loves this!

Nichole with James.  He was a hit of the party!  He is Kristie's grandson he will be two in August!

Nichole loves sunflowers, they are here favorite flowers!

The diploma and her business plan, along with her transcript.

Nichole loves orange cake, and the only person who can do it justice is Dorothy from The Cake Shoppe in Bartonville, IL.  She has been doing cakes for Nichole since she was 16.  It was fabulous as always!

Uncle Paul, Aunt Suzanne and Sam brought Adam and Cole presents, they were excited!

Rylan and James were so cute, loved this picture of the two of them!

I made two of these and I also got the recipe from Pinterest!  Loved doing them and everyone thought they were cute.

Nichole with Sam apparently Zumba is paying off!

Adam with Cole and Sam

I love seeing Cole interacting and showing affection, and he loves his cousin!!

Cole kissing Sam!!

So proud of her, and am glad the party went off so well!


I had my doctors appointment Thursday, and my weight and blood pressure check and everything was great!  I also, woke up this morning and lost two pounds, so it was certainly a great weekend!

So Proud of my little girl!

I am so proud of my little girl, Nichole Marie.  She is an amazing woman, a fabulous mother, and she is rocking her weight loss!  She has lost 50 pounds and this is without a band.  She also graduated in August 2011 with her Bachelor's degree with honors. 

This weekend I am hosting her graduation party!  Next Saturday the 30th, she will actually walk with her class.  She graduated Magna Cum Laude, and this is not an easy thing to do, especially as a single mother of two young boys!


I think she has faced adversity quite well.  When she moved in with us, with Adam and Cole, after her separation, she was the lowest I have ever seen her since the death of her brother Adam.  She had lost sight of herself, and was a beaten down woman.  Her self confidence was shattered, as well as her self worth.  She had gained an enormous amount of weight during this time of her life.  She was unhappy.

I saw this woman, put all of her energies that she had left into those two boys. She became active in Adam's school.  She took the diagnoses only months later of Cole's autism with both arms wide open.  Yes, there were tears and lots of them, but she never lost the courage deep within her to never give up.  She told us that she wanted to go back to school, and to finish her degree.  We were thrilled to help her do this.  Watching the boys in the evenings while she was in class, or when she needed to study, whatever we could do.


She began that chapter of her new life, and she sailed through it.  She not only completed the degree she did it with high honors to boot!  Yes, I am so very proud of her.


Last year, when I began getting my life turned around and working out and doing all the right things again, she told me she wanted to join my gym with me.  I was very happy.  She and I are so close and this would give me a workout buddy!  Little did she or I know that this decision would transform both of us!


To date she has lost a whopping 50 pounds, and is looking very good, she is determined to move in a positive direction with her weight and never look back!  This past weekend she bought a size 16 dress for graduation and was thrilled.  She used to wear a size 26!!!!  She loves the clean eating, and being more mindful of healthful choices.  It is even rubbing off on Adam, which is a good thing at the age of 8.5!




So hats off to Nichole, who will be celebrated on Saturday by her closest friends and family.  Those who love her and know the sacrifices that she has made for her children.  She is now ready to begin the next chapter, and as her mother, I know she is ready for it!


She will be accompanying me to BOOBS this year and I am so  excited for everyone to meet her!  She is both beautiful inside and out and she is a real inspiration!


My little girl is all grown up.......but she will always be my baby girl!


I loved her first!