Ok So Shopping Helps With Stress Too lol!

I'm an avid online shopper when I am not at Target. I live in the woods and the nearest store/mall is 30 minutes away and I don't always feel like shopping. I have had great luck being an online shopper and get tons of deals especially on Ebay ;) I went a little nuts today but what the hell, I am on vacation and would have spend a ton more money if I had gone away. Ok so that is justification at it's best. Of course I had to throw something in for my hubby to get around the packages that will be arriving lol!!

I have great luck at the Gap and Old Navy, two of my other favorite stores. Everything that I buy there is high quality and fits me perfectly. I am so not trying to buy too much because I am losing weight and have two huge closets filled with clothes from size 2-14 but of course I have nothing to wear ;)

Here's todays damage....

Old Navy Buys....

Woman's Patchwork Mini

$24.50

Demin Bermuda's

$26.50

7 Pairs Of Boyshort Undies in different colors

$2.99 - $6.99

Miracle Worker Retinol Peptide Anti-Aging Pads From Philosophy

$70.00

A Suggestion From Connie, Can't wait to get it!!

Ebay $1.99 and free shipping

More pampering. One of my favorite movies, really deplicts the fashion industry in NYC....

Amazon.com - $3.99...$5.00 Shipping so got it for 9 bucks ;)

Patchouli Hand Dipped Incense (since if you remember, I mistakenly bought 12 Patchouli candles a while back lol!)

Ebay $1.99 baby ;) and yes free shipping!!

A Gift For Jerry & I, we love out Teas and White Tea Is So Good For You

I think that is enough for one day

Shit!! No shoes?????

Why is my self-esteem measured on the mirror, the scale and my clothes size?

I got involved in a weight loss challenge on here a while back. My diet is starting to really show results and I am happy about it. I am not so much going by the scale because it discourages me and the numbers just don't go down fast enough. Today, I had a great day weight wise for me. I got all dressed up (something that I sure didn't like doing in my tight fitting 14's, just couldn't go up to a 16 which I should have lol) in my size 10 jeans, one of my new shirts from Target, heels and lot's of bling. I felt really good and confident....a feeling that I lost a few years back when I started backing on the 70lbs that I gained.
Why is my self-esteem measured on the mirror, the scale and my clothes size? For me it is one I don't feel good when I am overweight. I am more tired, my knee and my back hurt, the media and what they tell us as women what we should look like. Sure, I tried the acceptance thing but I am a thin person normally until major stress hits my life and as I always talk about, I turn to food for comfort.
This week has been an extremely challenging week and I have been so stressed out that it has led to 3 full blown panic attacks (that I may save for another blog) but the good news is that I WANTED CHOCOLATE, MCDONALD'S COMFORT FOOD!!!! But, I resisted. It was nail biting, somewhat like an alcoholic craves or things he/she needs a drink, but I made it. I will not hurt myself with food anymore.
I will continue to blog my weight loss and my struggles with stress and food. It is healing for me to write, always has been. I am so grateful one of my bffs turned me on to this site, it has been great meeting so many awesome women and gives me a place where I can talk things through.
Love you guys and those of us who are dieting or better yet, changing our life styles, keep up the great work ladies!

Anyone still interested in checking out the, "Lose It Bitch Weight Loss Challenge" Here is the link. Click on the pic :)

2 Pounds Made All The Difference

My weight loss has been slow but steady. Back and forth on cheating, not cheating saying "F" it then re-starting. When I was in Target yesterday, I found a cute pair of jean capris but they only had sizes 10 and below left so I did the most dreaded thing and said, WTH let me see if the 10's fit (12's have been loose but at 148 I was stuck in between a 12 and a 10). Much to my surprise (and no Crisco was involved) they fit and I didn't look like a stuffed sausage in them either lol!! I was so happy about this. So far I have gone from a 14 - a 10 since October. When I got home, I brushed the dust off my size 10 jeans and low and behold they fit! I was once again getting discouraged because the number on the scale is not going down fast enough for me but have to say fitting into a smaller size helps re-charge my determination.

Starting Weight in October 2009 - 190lbs

1/3/10 - 170 lbs

1/8/10 - 164 lbs

1/17/10 - 160 lbs

2/5/10 - 153 lbs

3/1/10 - 148lbs

4/25/10 - 146lbs

Goal Weight- 125 lbs

21 lbs to Lose

Comfort Food On A Cold Rainy Sunday

I love cooking as you all know, it has to be one of my biggest stress relievers. Another added bonus is that my husband loves to cook as well so we spend the afternoon cooking together. I find it romantic and sometimes better than the standard foreplay ;)

It's a cold rainy Sunday so we decided to some comfort food - a roast, potatoes, and a spring twist w/fresh roasted veggies. I could eat everything on my low carb diet minus the potatoes and carrots. Once you get detoxed from carbs, I find it's not a biggie.

Roast (I used a spoon roast today)

• 3lb Spoon Roast
• 2 Sliced Carrots
• Sliced Red Potatoes - I used 3
• Roast Rub - Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Salt and Pepper, Meat Tenderizer,
• 1 Packet of Brown Gravy Mix (any brand is fine)
• 1/2 Cup of Water
• Tablespoon of margarine or butter.

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees. Rub the garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper and meat tenderizer over the entire roast. Place roast in roasting pan. Add water, margarine/butter and gravy mix to pan. Cover with aluminium foil. Place in oven. During the cooking process baste every 1/2 hour. Cook for 4 hours.

Roasted Veggies

You can use any veggies. I threw together - asparagus, broccoli and zucchini that I didn't want to go to waste in my fridge.

• Vegetables of your choice
• Olive Oil
• Fresh Oregano
• Garlic Cloves To Taste (as you know, we love garlic so I used 5)

Place vegetables into a baking dish or roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with herbs and garlic. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

The roast came out so tender we could cut it with a fork!

A trunk full of packages, planted flowers in the yard and I fit into my size 10 jeans!!!! PRICELESS!

I woke up agitated. You know one of those days and I am not even PMS'ng. Everything went wrong this morning from spilling my coffee to running in and out of the house from the car because I forgot something. So what did I decide to do??? RETAIL THERAPY!! It is a absolutely perfect day here in the northeast so I jumped in my convertible and set my sights for Target and Lowes to pick up some plants. My day was suddenly getting better :)

When I go into Target I used to be able to get out of there for 100 bucks well the tally went up to 200 lol! I love that store and could buy in almost every department if I let myself. I found some really cute things there and the best part about it is that I tried on some crop jeans and I am back into a size 10 - a miracle!!! I have been working hard on losing weight as you know and it is finally starting to show. And when I got home I dug out my size 10's and they fit (so you know what I'll be wearing out to dinner ;) So this was turning out to be an even better day!

Here are some of my buys.....

I am in love with Maxi Dresses! They are so flattering and feminine and come in so many bright colors and are so affordable....

Just had to have one in black...

Maxi Dress - $19.99

Maxi Dress - $19.99

I also had to have these shoes!! I have many clothing items in turquoise and blues this year.

$119.00 (yes I know too much lol)

The size 10 cropped boyfriend jean...

$27.99

And like I need more purses but couldn't resist!

Hobo - $22.99

And an impulse buy, a Team Edward shirt for the Eclipse Movie coming out on June 30th. (yes I am still 14 y/o lmao)

Team Edward Shirt - $14.99

LOL

So needless to say, I am no longer agitated ;) Shopping ladies is my Cardio :D Next on the list a dinner date with my husband....ahhhh I so love the weekends!

A Different Kind Of Herb Garden

As you may have read in an earlier post, Jerry and I found a great herb and flower store on Friday and we purchased this great pot to start our herbs in the house. We are going to have a large herb garden outside this year but I fell in love with this idea and finished it this morning.

It's very easy to do. Fill the post with soil and add herbs to each hole. I put a yellow butterfly in mine because there is a deep meaning in butterflies for me after my Mom passed away. I try to carry her with me as much as I can in all that I do :)

We are going back in a couple of weeks to make another one plus a couple made with flowers.

Been MIA On Here...

I just caught up on all the blogs that I love today! It's been awhile since I have been on here. Between juggling the career, my marriage, friends and enjoying the nice weather, I haven't had much computer time. In the winter here it is different, there is nothing to do, so I sit my fat arse in front of my screen and spend hours doing things that I love on here. I have missed it. Summer time for me is about being outside. We get a short window of beautiful weather and I love to enjoy it on my days off. I am so looking forward to Jerry and my first spring and summer together. Last year was spent wonderfully caring for my dieing mother but we had little time for anything else. We plan to garden (alot), go to the beach (alot lol) and do day trips and a vacation to Cape Cod. I am also planning to visit my bff hopefully this July. Now that will be one of the highlights of the summer months.

Just wanted to let you know where I've been. I still only have 16 followers - lame I know :( but it's also kind of nice to have a small group of women that I really enjoy chatting with and sharing parts of ourselves with.

5 Things Friday!

~*Five Things Friday*~

5 Things that made this Friday wonderful for me

1. Having the DAY OFF is awesome!!
2. Spending time with the love of your life.
3. Having the time of your life with that person.
4. Doing things that you love to do.
5. Venturing out finding new places, shops and restaurants.

I had the day off today and it was to be "date day" with Jerry. We had planned to go to the shore line - rain or no rain and the rain did hold out and it turned out to be a beautiful day!

We were headed south to Niantic and didn't have any set plans just a ride and sight seeing. We came upon a small, quaint town called Salem CT. It's very historic and rustic.

In the town we found a wonderful Herb Farm and spent a long time there browsing around. They have a country store full of things that I love. We bought these jellies and the Hot Pepper Jelly will be great on crackers!

This will be the place that we buy our plants and herbs this year vs. going to Home Depot. The prices are right, the selection is large and the people that work there are very knowledgeable and helped us select a pretty cool collaboration of herbs and a gorgeous clay pot that I can't wait to put together tomorrow. We got 20% off for being first time shoppers :D (always a plus ;)

We are going to start it in the house then place it outside once it warms up. The lady said that it has to be at least 50 degrees day and night for them to survive and we haven't quite made it there yet. I will be putting this together tomorrow and blog about the results :-B I think it's going to come out gorgeous! Next will be one with flowers :)

They even have a website to check out!

http://www.salemherbfarm.com/

And we ended our day at the restaurant that Jerry took me on our first date. Love the food there!! We had a great time!! Lots of fun, hand holding, kisses and laughs.

Spa Day At Home

My Sunday night consists of a relaxing lavender bath, a facial and a pedi. I think that I have spent enough money on Philosophy products that I could have had botox lol! As you all know I love their products. My latest find is the foot treatments and have to say my feet never felt or looked better. I have had terrible callouses on my feet via NYC walking and now being on my feet for 8/+ hours at work. My feet are the smoothest they have ever been.

Foot Cream - 4 oz $22.00

(I use this on my body and my feet)

Hot Tub and Shower Scrub - 23 oz - $25.00

Callous Remover

For my weekly facial

$27.oo

Although I do have pricey facial products, my old stand-by is the Queen Helene line which can be found at any beauty aisle and the price is outrageously inexpensive. The Mint Julep Masque leaves your face feeling smooth and refreshed.

$3.99

I also use this product from France when I want to indulge. La Therape' is a great product that I used before I found philosophy.

La Therapie' Masque - $48.oo

Eye Mask - $75.oo

The best hand cream ever!

$30.00

Ahhh I love Sundays!!