Color me OCTOBER

Ive been keeping my camera in the car with me for the last few weeks so I can snap photos of all the fall colors whenever I see them. I want to document a few of them so I can bathe in these fall colors as much as humanly possible. I can't get enough autumn in my life. I just can't.

 What the heck, i'll throw one in of me and my handsome guy too.

My Redemption

Here's a little story for you.

Since I was 13 ish, Ive struggled with this little "pouch" of fat on my tummy. I call it my baby bump. No, not a real baby bump, but it genuinely looks like a 4 month baby bump so that's what I call it. So I did all I could to try to get rid of this "baby bump". I did lots of working out- at one point I was running almost 2 miles a day- I would do lots of dieting and trying to eat healthy. I counted calories, did hundreds of sit ups, and still nothing changed.
What I had never realized, until recently, that I was doing it all wrong. Yes it was good that I exercised, and eating healthy is never a bad idea, but I never did the two extremes at the same time. When I was working out a lot, I always felt it was okay to eat what I wanted and the same happened when I dieted, I felt like since I was eating healthy, It wasn't as important for me to work out. wrong. So very wrong.

As of this year, I made the decision that I was going to start going to school in hopes of one day being a nutritionist and go into dietary studies. I feel that it will be beneficial not only to me, but to my family that I become educated about food, our bodies, etc. Since I was going to start becoming a "health nut" I also decided that I was going to make a change in my life when it came to exercise. I was no longer going to start exercising in order to look good, I was going to start working out in order to feel good. 

And that's exactly what I did. 

Starting in may, when I began the move from New York to Flagstaff, I decided that I was going to start exercising every day of the week. Even if it meant waking up at 5am or just going for a ten minute run. I would find time no matter what. 

This definitely kicked in in August and I was a little bit more strict about it when Rachel moved in and I had someone to motivate me.

I guess I never realized how unhealthy I really was before all of this until I looked at the photos we took on my last day in New York:

Yikes. No wonder I felt so crummy all the time. Literally and figuratively.

To my defense, I did live in a very cold state that year and felt it necessary to layer up for the winter. No?
Also, I had started birth control which definitely made me feel hungry all the frickin time.

No excuses.

So, I made a change.

Each day for the last 3 months I have found time every day to do some form of exercise, with the exception of a day or two a week when I need a break (a break is okay every once and awhile).  On top of the exercise, I have found what I can and cannot eat, and only "cheat" once a week. Im not dieting, I'm just eating healthier. Sadly, I see less and for some none of: Ranch, Potatoes, Cheese, Butter, Tortillas, Gravy, Pasta, Fatty Meats, etc. I eat more and lots of: Spinach, Fruit(we go through so much fruit a week here it's crazy), egg whites, oatmeal, chicken, etc. 

Before:

weight: 129lbs

pant size: 6

bust measurement: 36.25in

Bra size: 36D (sometimes DD depending on brand)

Waist measurement: 28.5in

hips measurement: 35.5in

After:

weight: 112lbs

pant size: 2

bust measurement: 33in

bra size: C34

waist measurement: 24.5in

hips measurement: 30.5in

Difference:

weight: 17lbs

bust: 3.25in

waist: 4in

hips: 5in

Overall inches: 12.5inches.

More than a foot smaller overall.

None of this is to brag. I want to document this so I can remember. I want to remember these things so if I ever need a bit of motivation again it will be here. I can do it. I can. And although my genetic "baby bump" will probably be here forever, It's the smallest it's been in 7 years and I am so grateful for that. I  am the smallest I've been in years and i'm not going back!

I am happy. Not struggling, not pushing through it, not looking for the home stretch. I have to keep telling myself that this is not a "here and now" thing. This is my new lifestyle. I will live much longer now that I am learning what is good for me and what is bad for me. How much of diet and exercise is too much and how much is not enough. Just because I've reached a goal of mine doesn't mean this part of my life is over. I am going to stay healthy, stay working out, and continue eating like I want to live a life without being overweight or with heart disease or diabetes. As good as things are, I will have you all know that I am not done. I am happy with the way I look and the way I feel, and I plan to keep it that way.

Thanks for reading!

xo

Mid-October

Well, I have 2 essays due by the end of next week so that's what I've been doing lately. Ive been working less days lately which means we've been getting less money. I think it's time to start putting my resume in some new work places again. We just cant afford such instability. My boss/lady I babysit for had major surgery this last Thursday and will be recovering from that for awhile. I don't know what that means for me, but I certainly hope she recovers fully and soon. No body likes to drag those things out.

For the weekend, Dugan must be in Florence to report to his new company since his company up here in Flagstaff is deploying soon. Annoying, but it's fine. I'm glad he'll only have to go to Florence once a month. In the mean time, I will be at Amantha's new place in Glendale while Dugan's in Florence. I'll be working on my essay and doing whatever I want because I can.

This last Monday, Dugan and I took a drive out to Locket Meadows with our friend Andy who likes to occasionally take photos of us. Andy is the one who took the photos of us last May. Remember? :

Yeah, these ones!

So, anyway, we had another shoot and I love it just as much as I loved the shoot from last year. I think I will have Andy take our photos forever! I'm sure most of you have already seen these so I'll just upload a few for my own memories.

Thanks again, Andy. I love them! Yes, these will be going on my wall. Maybe not all of them, but my favorites.

Ive been taking photos of all the fall colors lately. I've just kept my camera with me in my car and snapped beautiful trees as I'm driving by. This means, of course, that I keep leaving my camera in the car and am too lazy to go get it so when i go to blog, I dont' have any fall photos to show you. Some day I'll remember to bring it inside.

I hope everyone has been having a spectacular Autumn so far. It is 100% my favorite time of the year and I have been soaking it in as much as humanly possible.

xo

For Now

There are quite a few things I need to catch up on, but I would like to have appropriate photos for those posts so they'll just have to wait.

BUT, here's a couple things I have been up to lately:

1. Made Butternut Squash Lasagna with Vegetables
I so wish I took a photo of this masterpiece! It was amazing! I have never made a lasagna before, so I was really nervous about it. As most of you know, a year and a half ago, I didn't know how to cook anything. With the help of my mama and my loving sisters, I have learned to cook a lot of new things. I take pride in the fact that we eat a home-cooked meal every night together. I am very very happy with the way this lasagna turned out! The butternut squash turned out a bit crunchy but it doesn't bother me too much. I think it's perfect. BE PROUD OF ME!

2.Work, Work, Work, with school on the side.

I had 2 overnight shifts this last week, and am trying to get in more work here and there. Every penny counts, especially up here. Flagstaff certainly isn't the cheapest place to live, but I still love it to pieces. School is treating me alright, my classes are easy so that's definitely not a problem. My Psychology class is the most frustrating because my teacher is totally scatterbrained but If I just do my best, then I won't have to retake the course.

3. Waiting!

Getting very antsy about Julia having her baby here soon. Every day I am on the front of my seat ready to get to her as soon as I hear the word. My patience is definitely being tested. New babies always make me so overly excited. I'm also trying to be patient for the end of October to be here. I LOOOOVE October(more on that later) but the Greenstreets and Hillary will be here in a few weeks and I love them more. I am so excited I can't take it!

4. Reuniting

My sister in law, Geneva came home from Alaska last week so we drove to phoenix last minute to have a family dinner with her and Dugan's family- excluding one of his sisters(sorry again, Ashley). 

I, of course, made Seth tag along because I love him and don't get to see him very often. I feel guilty this week that I missed his most recent play. Sorry, twin!

I love us.

Since it had been at least 2 months since Dugan and I had gone on a real date, I decided last week that it is time. We don't have much money and I hate spending the money we do have on an expensive date eating sub-par food and watching movie neither of us really care about. Blah. Not our thing. So, instead i packed up a nice picnic basket full of yummy treats and drove out to an open field where we could enjoy each others company for free. Nothing is better than free. Unless someone was giving us money to go on a picnic. That would've been very cool.

Here's just a few snapshots of our date.

I love us.

In Case You Were Wondering

A few days ago Rachel and I were invited to a birthday party for someone over at the NAU campus. Naturally, this means that we were crammed into a small apartment with what felt like a million other college students. This is fun to most people I guess. Anyway, we were making our way through the crowds meeting lots of new people, none of whom were particularly interesting or worth talking to- but it's better to make conversation than to sit in the corner alone. So, there were lots of dudes and almost as many ladies at this birthday party. Most, if not all, of these people were seeking one another- whether it be to flirt with, to go home with, or live happily ever after with. Whatever. Dugan didn't come because he could care less about being in a room full of that many people (the same reason he doesn't go to concerts) and knows that if I go without him, I will be a respectable adult and not do anything dumb.

 At one point, someone used the word married and that brought up the fact that I am, indeed, a married lady.
"You're married?" Says someone, I forgot to care who it was.
"Yep. Is that alright with you?"

"I guess. What's his name?" As if I would be making it up.

Rachel steps in, tells everyone his name, and that he just got out of the military. Now, this was proceeded by a heap of questions from the multitude of dummies at the party like: "does your husband know you're here?" "do you guys get lots of benefits from the military for being married?" and my favorite "why did you marry him?"

One last comment made by someone at this party was by a guy who stuck around for awhile, talking to Rachel and playing games with a few of us who were stragglers. As Rachel and I were leaving the party, he turned to me and said "it was nice to meet you, you married wench." Wench, huh? After a gasp given by the people present, he followed up that comment by saying he meant it in the nicest way possible. Hayden, I know you were just kidding, but that doesn't make it any less douchey.

Let me get to my point.

I am married. I am happy. I am young, and I am perfectly okay with that.

My husband doesn't mind that I attend a stupid birthday party once and awhile without him attached to my side because he prefers it that way. I shouldn't feel shunned when the single turds at a college party discover that i'm not open for business. It's rude and It makes me feel kind of crappy that I become the "married wench". No wonder I hate coming to these things.

I don't need you asking me if I got married for the benefits the military gives me. It's an extremely big insult to me and anyone else. Don't do that to people. Don't make people give you reasons why they decided to fall in love. 

For your information and in case you were wondering:

• I married Dugan because he was the only boy who held the door for me high school. 
• I married Dugan because he was the only boy who told me smoking, drinking, and all those other things they tell you are cool actually make you look stupid.
• I married Dugan because I don't want anyone else. Ever. At all. Not even in the slightest.
• I married Dugan because he is really frickin' cute and smells really good.
• I married Dugan because he can't stand the thought of losing me.
• I married Dugan because he has never called me a bad name.
• I married Dugan because I wanted to. Not because I didn't have any other choice, felt like it was the right thing to do, or didn't know how to act out in any other way.
• I married Dugan because he hates yelling.
• I married Dugan because he asked nicely.

I get it. married people aren't cool. We don't belong at your parties. I won't come anymore, and that's certain. I'm not mad, i'm not bitter, I feel perfectly fine being married, happy, and not part of the single world. I just wanted to bring it to everyone's attention a few out of hundreds maybe even thousands of reasons why I got married. I don't like to be scrutinized, belittled, or called names because I made the best decision of my life by marrying someone who makes me feel special.Your single party life doesn't look appealing and I am happy without it.  I have someone to flirt with me, go home with me, and live happily ever after with me every day of my life. His name is Dugan & he is wonderful.

I guess i'm just not cut out for that kind of college life. That's perfectly alright with me. I like my kind of college life better, anyway.

I love you, sweetie! I am glad you're mine.

The Dawn of a New Era

This week:

1.)

 Dugan started his job and he loves it! He comes home smelling like coffee beans and sweat. It's fantastic in it's own way.

2.)

Classes started at the college. We are all loving being in school, but we are not ready for the loads of schoolwork soon to be on our plates. I foresee tons of reading happening in my psychology class this semester. Good thing I have a job where I get a couple nap-breaks to catch up on my reading.

3.)

 Rachel got offered 3 different jobs in the mall and can't decide which one she wants most. What a lucky gal. Has it really already been almost a month since she got here?

4.)

I wanted to touch on the mojitos I made for friends a few weeks ago. What's great about mojitos is that there are several different ways you can make them. I used Club soda and lime juice with crushed raspberries and fresh mint leafs from our garden. Next time I think i'll do them with sprite instead and strain the raspberry juice and mint flavoring into the mojitos so there aren't floaties in them. Regardless, they were lovely.

5.)

For our "splurge day" (the one day a week we allow ourselves to eat wherever we want and order whatever we want) we chose Oregano's Pizza. If you have yet to have an Oregano's pizza in your life, you are seriously lacking a good experience. This pizza is the best! Just what I needed for a long week at work ;)

Here's a photo of my man and I on our way to the restaurant.

6.)

It's Labor Day weekend! I don't care about traveling on busy weekends so you bet this weekend will be a relaxed one doing whatever the heck we want.

Happy 3 day weekend.