Someone Special?

My birthday week was December 1 thru December 8, 2012.  During that week we celebrated each day.  At the start of the week, my sweet husband bought me a beautiful, bouquet of flowers.  I placed it on our table and each night as we ate dinner I enjoyed those beautiful flowers, the colors, the scents, the beauty.  From that moment on I told myself that I wanted fresh flowers on the table each week.  It is now April 20 and there have been fresh flowers on the table each week since that wonderful birthday week in December.

It's funny, no matter where I go, when I get to the cashier, they always ask, "Is this for someone special?"  My reply is always, "Yes, they are for me.  I'm very special."  They smile but don't seem to know where to go from there.  Some agree and some just say, "Oh."  

Here are this week's flowers:

Yes. I am special enough to buy myself flowers!  So worth it and so well-loved.  I am also special enough to put good things in my body.  We always have the choice.  

On Sunday, I truly did not feel like cooking. However, we needed to eat.  We toyed with the idea of buying something while out.  We settled on buying a rotisserie chicken at our local grocer and I planned to side it with vegetables.  However, once I got to the store, read the ingredients, took note of the sodium, I just could do it.  I could NOT purchase and eat that chicken or feed it to my wonderful husband.  Therefore, I decided that I would prepare a salad and could add chicken cooked at home, which would be a much healthier choice, than anything store bought.  Luckily, I am the queen of freezing leftovers.  We had chicken thighs in the freezer.  I thawed and topped this delicious salad with the chicken. 

Can you say, WINNER!  Yeh!

Boiled eggs, feta and avocado made this salad delish!

When given a choice...choose YOU! 

Have a great weekend!

Celebrating Him!

Last weekend, I had the absolute pleasure of celebrating my sweetheart's birthday, with him.  I am just so grateful to have the chance to spend another birthday with him again.  That makes 24 birthdays spent together, so far and it's always such fun.

Playing at the park, a walk around the lake, a fabulous dinner out, car show, another dinner out and homemade sweet potato pie!  I think he had a good birthday weekend!  Here are a few pics from the fun!

JUST BEING SILLY!  IT ALWAYS MAKES ME SMILE TO SEE HIM SMILE!
MY HEART IS FULL!

SWINGING IS SUCH FUN!  HE HASN'T DONE THIS IN YEARS! YOU'RE NEVER TO OLD TO PLAY!

ENJOYING A WALK AROUND THE LAKE.

DINNER AND DESSERT AT THE CAPITAL GRILLE!
GREAT RESTAURANT. EXCELLENT FOOD. BEST DESSERT. SUPERB SERVICE.
When we arrived, there was a card and confetti on the table for him.  Then complimentary dessert and the
waitress took our photo and then printed it and presented it to us at the end of the meal.  Whoa!

OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL GRILLE

So Long Size 10! Goodbye 2012!

Me...size 10/12.
UNCOMFORTABLE!

Goodbye 2012!  It was...cute...revisiting size 10...bordering on a size 12.  However, it's time to get back to that perfect size 8 with a few 6's for good measure.

Over the past year I have lived quite uncomfortably in a 10. I don't like it here and I must do something.  I have learned that a few extra pounds really make a difference.  Which begs the question, "how did I ever get so fat?"

Walking, working out...simply carrying my own body seems to take so much more effort at this size than at size 8.  My joints are unhappy.  How do we allow ourselves all of those extra pounds.  I swear my boobs weigh a ton!  Literally!  They are gushing out of my bra and I refuse, absolutely refuse to buy a bigger size!

So here I am just before Christmas committing to a healthier, happier, slimmer 2013...starting now.

I will do it, I will live it, I will LOVE it...everyday!

My Wish List

Our sweet little tree, decorations and gifts!  

This week's SOC blog challenge is to share your wish list.  Well, that's so easy for me.  Over the years my husband seems to find it increasingly hard to buy gifts for me.  Therefore, he LOVES a list to help him out.  Although, he seems to most often choose the gift cards.  LOL!  I still put it together and it's ongoing, so that he can choose from the list at anytime of the year and it allows there to still be a bit of surprise for me. 

I always am sure to have a wide range of choices in price and size...he likes doing stocking stuffers!  Well here is what he received this year.....

I know you've been waiting for it, stalking your inbox just to learn what special treats my heart desires this year and I didn't want to disappoint!  LOL!  Here it is:

First let me declare: I LOVE PINK!  You can't go work with PINK!

Here are some things I want and NEED!

Pajamas warm but not fleece - size Large (large or xl for the top only)

Sweaters -  to wear with my jeans or pants - size Large.

Sweat Suits for staying warm in winter - size Large

Gift Cards are always good too.  My favorite spots to shop - Old Navy, New York & Company, ROSS, Charlotte Russe, Macy’s, Starbucks, Archivers, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, iTunes, DSW

Roundtrip airline ticket to Chicago

A weekend trip to the beach

Slippers to keep my feet warm(fun, fuzzy, characters...very open)

Garrett’s Popcorn Chicago Mix popcorn

Real Gold or Silver Hoops(earrings)

Real Gold or Silver Bracelets

Real Gold or Silver Necklaces

Cool Decorative Items (candle holders, mini ornaments, dishes, etc)Pier One, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Z Gallerie. 

iPad
iPhone

DVD's I'd love to own:

The Flinstones Cartoons 

The Jetson

Fat Albert

Proud Family

The Honeymooners (tv episodes!  I'd LOVE to have these!!!!

Living Single

Taxi

Alice

Soap

All in the Family

Black/African American Movies and Documentaries 

Snacks I LOVE (great for stocking stuffers)

Dark Chocolate Covered Raisins

True North Almond/Pecan Clusters

Dark Chocolate Covered Edamame

Dark Chocolate 60% or higher cacao

Totally Tempting Trail Mix Trader Joe's

My Pinterest Board - Things Desired

Next year I plan on creating a wish list at two of my favorite places:

New York & Co (Clothing)

A Cherry On Top (Scrapbooking)

Shopping for me will be super easy!  LOL!  

I wish he would do the same for me. When you've been together for 25 years...you need new ideas!  LOL!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa!!!  Happy Holidays!

Peace, JOY, Love!

Celebrating Sistahood! Celebrate SOC! 8th Anniversary Blog Hop!

Welcome to SOC's 8th Anniversary Blog Hop! I'm glad you stopped by for the celebration! If you're dropping by from Chauntelle's blog, then you're in the right place! However, if you started here, you can visit the SOC E:spire blog to join this party from the beginning!

To commemorate Scraps of Color's 8th birthday, I, along with some talented papercrafters, have teamed up to share projects based on the celebrations in our lives. We wanted to have this special blog hop to celebrate this great crafting community where we laugh, play, and create together and encourage and inspire one another. Of course, a blog hop isn't complete without blog candy! There will be giveaways on various blogs throughout the hop! Plus there will be a SOC blog hop gift awaiting one visitor!! To be eligible for that prize, you must comment on all the blogs by Monday, Oct. 8 at 11pm EST. From all who are eligible, one lucky reader will be randomly drawn. The winner will be posted on all the participating blogs on Wednesday, Oct. 10.

For this hop, I thought it would be fitting to celebrate friendship!  This layout features myself and one of dearest friends.  We represent more than 30 years of friendship.  We still giggle like little girls and when necessary we cry.  I LOVE my friend and I love my sistah friends and I am glad to be celebrating 8 years of SOC!!!!

Fun Tip:  Fold mat/paper edges for a unique touch for your layouts.

Now to play along and be eligible to win this fun prize, be sure to leave me a little love/comment below!  And while you are here: follow this blog (at right), share on Facebook, tell a friend!

And don't forget to visit the following blogs for more sistahly inspiration and more chances to win!

Celebrate Sistahood!  Celebrate SOC!  

BLOG HOP ORDER: 

The SOC E:spire blog http://www.scrapofcolor.com/

Tiare (Classygirl) http://www.iclassygirl.com YOU ARE HERE!

CraftySue52 http://craftysue52.blogspot.com/

FranCine http://confiseriespapier.blogspot.com/

Cheryl http://www.onecraftyncpeach.blogspot.com/

Lisa http://www.craftcardrx.blogspot.com/

Cyndi http://nashvillesscrappinsisters.blogspot.com/

Patricia http://www.triciatreasure.blogspot.com/

Kristen http://1206designs.com/

Princess http://www.papercraftingparadise.blogspot.com/

Trina W http://trinamadethis.blogspot.com/

Felisa http://felisa21.blogspot.com/

MJ http://afrocentriccreations.blogspot.com/

Sharette http://scrappernthemaking.blogspot.com/

Christa http://sacredmemoriespreserve.blogspot.com/

Happy Hopping!

I've Been Featured: Fascinating Fridays!!!

Check it out!  I've been featured for Fascinating Fridays!!!  

Thanks Noor for sharing my creativity with your readers!  You ROCK!!!

Click here to check it out!

Freedom. Courage. Beauty.

For two years, I've been threatening to cut my locs.  I've scoured online galleries looking at photos of people with short, natural styles, to help build my courage.  I've tried to hide my locs to see what I think I'll look like...which by the way is so absolutely ridiculous since I've had a short haircut/afro before.  I've talked about it and talked about and talked about and talked about it.

Then one day, I cried, said a little prayer, grabbed the scissors and cut off the first 5 locs in the front of my hair.  I combed them out and to my surprise, I felt an awesome wave of relief.  I felt rejuvenated and thrilled that I combed my own hair for the first time in just over 11 years!

Next, I cut all of my locs and was left with short pieces of locs with some new growth.  My head and my NECK felt so light, so free, so wonderful!  For the next 3 hours I sat and detangled the left over locs and I trimmed myself a nice little afro.  I combed, I washed, I conditioned and moisturized.  I SMILED!

Through the entire process my dh spoke only kind and loving words...your hair looks so good, you are beautiful, you hair looks nice, you did a great job!  So encouraging, so loving I can't help but feel beautiful, no matter the length of my hair.

Today, 2 days later...I am still tickled that I cut it myself and I like the way it looks!  I seem to LOVE it more and more each day!  Yay!

I feel FREE!  I feel COURAGEOUS.  I feel BEAUTIFUL!

Now here are a few pics....

I trimmed and shaped it a bit more and now I REALLY love it!

I do not live my life by the hand of fear or for the approval of others!

Get Fit Friday - I've Been Lost!!!

I've been lost in the unbelievably, yummy, gorge of snacks and chocolate!  LOL!  Ok..really that's not funny!  It seems that the hunger monster took hold of me...grabbed my hands, my heart and my mind and took me waaaaaaayyyyy to the bottom, where I could not see family or friends and NO ONE and NO THING could help me.

Well...nothing until by boobs popped out of the top of my bra!  Hahahaha!  Ok...really...that's not funny!  Over the past 3 weeks of my absence...I've gained a few pounds I think anywhere from 3-5lbs. I say, I think because I'm not so sure I'm trusting my scale but we'll see shortly.  Now, it truly was my boobs popping out that made me just stop and take notice.  My boobs always get the weight first and damn it...I am not buying bigger bras!  So...now, I'm awake and conscious again!  Whew!

I've started reading and sharing and again learning about peri-menopause, you know the years before menopause where you have the joy of experiencing quiet a few disturbing symptoms.  Well, guess what?  E xtreme hunger can be a sign of hormonal fluctuations.  I mean I've been a "man don't make me fight you over that last bite," kind of girl...LOL!  Ok...really...that's not funny!  I've been a mess.

Well, I survived.  A couple of pounds up.  A good dose of chocolate...loved every bite.  However, I never missed a date at the gym or a glass of water.  That's the good news.  The not so great news is now I've got to lose 18 or 20 lbs instead of 15 and my jar is empty.  LOL!  Ok..really...that's not funny!

I've again learned something about myself, I really do have a weight threshold.  I feel stuffed and tired.  Although, I haven't missed a day and enjoy my workouts...they are a bit tougher with only a few added pounds.  I seriously must've been living in a coma when I allowed myself to go all the way up to 285 lbs.  Whoa!

Well, I'm glad to say, I'm alive, I'm well, I'm here and I'm in control...again.

Until next week..be well, be healthy, BE STRONG!  This too shall pass!

Muah,

A Scrappy Weekend!

This weekend I had the pleasure of hanging out with my girl Ms. Lisa Renee at a Scrappin' Home Retreat in Flowery Branch, GA.  What a fun weekend. Not only were we at the retreat but this was also the weekend onf the Scrapbook Expo in Duluth, GA which happened to be about 10 minutes from the retreat!  Woohoo!

Needless to say, we took some time away from the retreat to hit the exhibit floor to pick up a "few" goodies!  LOL!

What a fun experience.  I was so surprised to hear people calling out Classygirl or SOC or Scraps of Color when they saw me.  Many people came up to me to tell me how I have inspired them with my weight loss or with my creativity, how much they enjoy SOC.  Those moments will be forever etched on my heart and in my mind.  They were so unexpected and touched my heart in so many ways...especially those who mentioned how much weight they had lost and how I had motivated them or supported them while sharing my story.  I get emotional just typing this.  I am forever grateful for this journey, for being able to share this journey, for those who have taken it with me and for all the kind words and encouragement I have gotten along the way.  Who knew I would touch others lives in such a significant way...so I say, Thank YOU!  YOU, your words, your successes are the true gifts to me.

Ok...pull it together!  LOL!

Now...I have to confess that in all the excitement, I forgot to pull out my camera...so I don't have photos of all these wonderful women! Uuuuughhhh!  I do have the memories and next time, I'll have my camera in hand!  I was pretty bad about taking photos all weekend long.  I only captured a few.  Here ya go...

My scrappy haul from the expo and Archivers!  I'm planning
mini albums and altered art for future projects!  Stay tuned!

I met these wonderful ladies from DC at Archivers!
The only photo I captured meeting others!  LOL!

Funny story.  I overheard these ladies talking about a group in the Atlanta area called Scraps of Color!  Of course, I had to stop and introduce myself.  Sweet!  I hope to see them in March!

The only picture I have from the retreat house!

I truly enjoyed attending Scrappin' Home Retreat and met some really fun and nice ladies!  The crop area is beautiful, clean and very bright with plenty of table space for each cropper.  A full kitchen and bathroom right off the crop room makes it quite convenient.  I loved that you could hang up your layouts, as you completed them...see mine hanging behind me.  It was just a great way to share what you had done.  If you are like me at some point you want to walk around and check out what everyone is doing...this made it very easy and added fun, inspiration and easy talking points to the retreat.  

I had a great time. Needless, to say...I'd do it again.  Perhaps I'll plan a retreat soon and you'll come and crop with me!

I ❤ IT WHEN YOU LEAVE COMMENTS!

My Fun Weekend in Photos!

Today, I am recuperating from a weekend of fun and creativity with a bunch of wonderful women!!! 
(I've been away since Friday...hence NO AASE....the fun didn't end until late last night.  I should have it up in the next day or so.)


14 of us get together, every year, twice a year for a scrapbooking and FUN weekend!

We always go out for dinner on Sunday night.  And this year after dinner we stopped at a carnival..not planned...but such fun!

Pretty ladies!

Just silly.  Is that guy checking out our butts???

Erika and I...getting our slide on! 

On Monday, some of us continue the fun by finding a spot somewhere around town to take photos and just have way too much fun!  Here are 4 of my favorites from our fun day.

...and these are just a few of my "me" faves from the weekend.

Camille and I.  I think this is just beautiful!

We all did a photo booth shoot using the photo booth app!  FUN!

Angie and I being silly in the car.  I ❤ Angie.  She is such fun!

No she wasn't driving.  We are in the backseat, cutting up!

Seriously, scrapbooking has brought some wonderful people to my life!  These pictures not only will remind of that but they again celebrate how far I've come!

Once upon a time at almost 300lbs, I was unable to jump. I would've been more afraid to take that slide and that swing, if at all(I used to think everything would break, when I sat on it.).  Although I've always enjoyed being in the photo, today I am more confident and excited about being in the photo.  I have so many photos of people, places and poses...that I missed before.

Ooops!  I almost forgot these!  I worked out too (during the retreat, while the other ladies were still sleeping) and once upon a time, I surely would not have done that!  Oh yeh!

Have a Happy, Healthy Week!  Do something GOOD FOR YOU!!!

I've Lost My Mojo!!!

I've been a bit absent.  Not blogging, not scrapbooking...just a bit blah!  However, I've made a video.  I've written a poem and I'm sharing a little something with you to tell you how I feel!  Hmmmm?  I guess that says a lot.  EnJOY.  Be sure to leave me a little love!

Have a great weekend!

Today's Reason to Believe: You'll LOVE Being in Front of the Camera!

Instead of behind.  It gives you a greater picture than you can remember.

I've been a bit busy over the past week.  I was celebrating my husband's birthday.

What a fun week.  On Facebook, I shared photos and fun facts about him for a week.  My friend's loved it because they got to learn a bit more about him.  He loved it because he got a bit of additional attention.  I loved it because I got to share my love and appreciation for him.

However, there was an added bonus.  The day his birthday arrived, I decided I wanted to document our festivities in photos.  I got some great moments and missed a few, as well.  What I didn't expect was that I'd also end up with a few photos of myself that are now my favorites.  If I'm honest, I'd say, I've always enjoyed taking photos...being in the photo.  Photos tell a great story about you.  My current story/photo is a constant reminder of the work I did to get here.  It shows that I lost the weight and how much more I am enjoying being in the picture, trying and doing different things.  The photos you see below of me say...

• I now enJOY wearing heels
• I like wearing make up
• I will allow my arms to show
• I look good in my clothes
• I have fun going out
• I like being in the photo even more
• I can sit in a booth comfortably(I requested a booth...I once avoided booths because they were so uncomfortable).
• I enjoy working out
• I am happy!

Now for a few of the photos!

At Life Time Fitness about to work out!  

Robert looking good at 48!

At the restaurant..sitting in a booth!

About to go to dinner.

Ready for dinner.  A photo FAVORITE!

Reason to Believe: You'll love being in the photo!!!

What do your photos say about you?