40 Pounds Lost, I don't Plan on Finding Them

This was me, in 2008.

The sad part is, this isn't even me at my heaviest.

I actually had another baby in 2009 and put on about 

20 more pounds.

I was miserable, I hated looking at myself in a mirror.

Let alone have pictures taken of myself.

I felt like I was always doomed to be the fat girl.

Especially going to my in laws.

I once broke a chair.

At their house.

I was MORTIFIED!

I hated shopping for clothes.

Nothing I liked ever fit me.

I am 5'3 and I have really short legs.

So to find pants that would fit me in the waist. 

They would always drag on the ground since I wasn't tall enough for them.

I cried alot about my weight.

Looking at this picture I can see how uncomfortable I am.

I am trying to hide how ugly I felt.

I tried a bunch of crappy trendy diets.

They all promised the same thing.

Lose weight fast!

And while I did lose ten pounds at first.

I was starving myself.

One diet I ate plain chicken and spinach all the time.

Oh and boiled egg whites.

Which the thought of makes my stomach turn now.

The SSG said to me one night,

'Can you see yourself eating like this for the rest of your life?'

It hit me like a brick wall.

If I had to eat plain spinach and egg whites for the rest of my life I would

DIE!!!

Not just because I wouldn't get the essential nutrients my body needed.

But because I love food that much!

So I ate like a crazed lunatic for a few days.

Then on Friday March 6, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. 

I headed on down to my local Weight Watchers.

It was exactly what I needed.

A lifestyle change, not a diet.

And here I am 

40 pounds and much, much, MUCH happier later.

I feel comfortable in my skin.

I can wear white!

I haven't done that since I was a teenager.

I can run around with my kids.

The best feeling was when my oldest boy was able to wrap his arms all the way around me.

To give me a big hug.

This is a journey that I am glad I was brave enough to face.

Hoo are you #60

Here is another round of Hoo are you from Night Owl Crafting.

This is a great way to get to know fellow bloggers.

I enjoy reading everyone's answers each week.

Here are the

1. Do you type on a keyboard the correct way or do you peck like a cute little chick?

I type on the keyboard the right way, except when entering a password.

I took a keyboard class in Jr High, and I have worked in many call centers so it feels weird any other way.

2. Typically how long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

Depends, if I am in a hurry to go somewhere about 45 minutes.  

If I am being lazy a couple hours.

I take breaks and let my hair air dry a little.

3. Do you prefer lip gloss or lipstick?

I usually don't wear either, I prefer chap stick.

But if I had to chose it would be lip gloss

4. Do you take clothes to the dry cleaner or wash them yourself even if they say dry clean only?

I dry clean them.  But if I notice that something is dry clean only before I buy it, it goes back on the rack.

5. Do you prefer Wal Mart or Target.

uggghhhh I despise the Walmart we have where I live.

I don't understand why people have to be so rude in a Walmart.

Oh I am sorry that you think you are better than me because I am at Walmart.

Guess what you are too.

So I like Target.

Linking to:

Did you know?

Did you know that I have a facebook page?

I do!

And it is lonely over there.

Since we are bloggy BFF would you be a doll and go like my page?

That way I feel important for the day?

Thanks!

Oh and you would probably like a link huh?

Well here it is

Mandi Being Crafty Facebook

P.S. I have something on Friday that I think you will love.  

My very first giveaway!

A short story on how smart I am...

See this cake?

It's a carrot cake.

Can you tell by the little carrots made out for frosting?

I thought I got this cake at a SUPER steal.

ONE DOLLAR!

Yes, a local store that isn't open on Sundays cleared out their bakery one Saturday night.

I had to ask the girl at the check stand three times.

'Are you sure this is one dollar?!?!?!'

So I brought this little baby home with me.

The girls and I were going to enjoy tasty delight at our weekly craft night.

I even took this picture to tell everyone how sweet my deal was.

Now I am going to tell you how this cake ended up costing me $20.00.

SSG has had a favorite knife.

His Santuku knife...

Me being super smart used his favorite knife to cut this cake.

Instead of oh I don't know

AN ACTUAL CAKE KNIFE!!!

On top of that,

I left his favorite knife inside the cake box!!!!

Then threw the left over cake away the next morning.

Without checking the box.

SSG was gone to Fort Dix at this time.

So no one noticed.

Until the next week.

When he went to cut potatoes.

And asked where his knife was.

Uhhhhh dur dur dur.

'Honey, you remember me telling you about the carrot cake?'

'Yes?'

'I used your knife to cut the cake. And left it in the cake box'

'Really?'

'Yes, I am really sorry'

But good news the knife has been replaced by three new santuku knifes thanks to HomeGoods.

And that is my short story.

Lesson learned?

Never use your husband's knife to cut cake.

Want to know the kicker to the story?

The cake was dry!

Not a Fairytale, but love still the same

 My husband and I didn't have that 'fairy tale' romance.
He certainly did not sweep me off my feet.
Our courtship wasn't really what every girl dreams of.
You see my husband had just gotten back from his deployment to Iraq.
I was in a new city, with a new job, and a new baby.
I wanted a fresh start.
He wanted to get his head back in the game.
But when we met something inside me just clicked.
You know the feeling of ease.
Having those moments of silence and not feeling the need to talk.
The kind of feeling where butterflies swarmed when you see his name pop up on your phone.
The hairs on your arm sticking up when he brushes by.
I didn't know then that he would become my husband.
But I did know that he was something special.
We dated off and on for about 6 months.
Then he had a job offer to move to Idaho.
We said our goodbyes and promised to at least try to make a long distance relationship work.
I watched him walk away, with tears in my eyes and a sudden hole in my heart.
That was the instance I knew.
He was my forever.
And here we are, four years, three kids, and much more love later.
Sometimes I need to be reminded of why we fought so hard to make this work.
No one makes me feel the way he does.
He is the father of my children, my rock, my love, my everything.

{Craft Fails and a Haircut}

Ever had an idea for a craft and you thought it was just incredible!
You couldn't take your mind off of it?
Then you run your kids around for a day to get all the supplies you are going to need.
Get home.
Work your hardest on it.
And when you are finished look at it and say "bleh"?

That is what happened to me today.
Craft FAIL.
I am going to try to save it tomorrow but I think I need to take a step back from it.  Haha

Oh well at least one good thing happened today.
A little hair therapy, made my day turn around. :)

Mandi A to Z

Today while eating my yummy breakfast burrito and going through my reader I stumbled upon this at Meet Virginia.  Morgan at Meet Virginia has been on my reader for a LONG time.  She is probably one of the first blogs I started to follow.  She is just beautiful and always has great content!  If you have never read her blog I suggest you do!

A. Age: 28... gulp... I will soon be 29
B. Bed size: A queen, our room is too small for anything larger.
C. Chore that you hate: Hands down I DESPISE cleaning the bathroom.  I have four guys in my house (three little boys and their dad) Let's just say it is pretty gross.
D. Dogs: We have a chocolate lab named Zazu.  Like the bird from Lion King (we adopted him)
E. Essential start to your day: Diet PEPSI!!!!
F. Favorite color: I have a thing for turquoise.
G. Gold or Silver: White gold or Silver
H. Height: 5’3" and a half.  Yes the half is VERY important.
I. Instruments you play: None that I know of. 
J. Job title: I am HOTEL 6 in this joint!  For those not familiar with the military that is like top rank.  In seriousness I am a stay at home momma!!!
K. Kids: Yes I do, Three boys ages 6,3,and 2
L. Live: The great state of Utah!!!
M. Mother’s name: I have three mommas.  My real mom Naomi, my step-mom Andi Jo and my fake mommy Judene.
N. Nicknames: Mandi is actually my nickname.  For all legal purposes my name is Amanda
O. Overnight hospital stays: Yes for each of my kids. Also I had my appendix taken out when I was a kids.
P. Pet peeves: When people make noises when they eat, ie: smacking lips, eating with their mouth open, taking too big of bites...Just thinking about it pisses me off.
Q. Quote from a movie: Give me a liter o Cola.  SUPER TROOPERS!!!
R. Right or left handed: Righty.
S. Siblings: I have 2 brothers and 4 sisters.  I am third to the oldest.
U. Ultimate Vacation: It doesn't matter where just as long as I am having fun and the Army doesn't call the SSG.
V. Vegetable you hate: LIMA BEANS. bleh....
W. What makes you run late: Sleeping in, and children.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Geez too many to remember.
Y. Yummy food that you make:  The SSG loves when I make roast.
Z. Zoo animal: The elephants.

5 Questions about me!

1. Do you prefer sweet or salty foods?

It really depends on my mood.  I really like chocolate covered pretzels that give me the best of both worlds.

2. Name your 3 BEST personality traits!

I have a good sense of humor, I am true to my friends, and pretty happy.

3. Name your 3 worst personality traits!

I am SUPER bad at procrastination, I stick my foot in my mouth ALOT, and I worry too much.

4. Do you collect anything?

Bones, haha I am kidding.  No I don't collect anything.

5. What is your favorite season of the year?

Hands down FALL, I love the warm but cool air, leaves changing, the smell of fireplaces.  Plus Halloween is in the fall and I love me some Halloween!!!

Linking to:

http://nightowlcrafting.blogspot.com/2011/09/hoo-are-you-54.html

It's the little things

Really it is the little things that count.

Today I am going to post things that I am truly thankful about no matter how small or silly they may be.

I am thankful for diet pepsi, it's sweet tasty goodness is just what I need after losing a battle to my kids on cleaning up the toys.

I am thankful for coupons.  They save me money on things like 8 jars of peanut butter.  That way I will never promise Peanut Butter Jelly time and realize I do not have peanut butter.

Little Army men, I am thankful to you being on the floor.  You keep me up to date with my super sneaky ninja skills in the middle of the night.

I am thankful for you Lego Indiana Jones for keeping my three year old entertained why I ran around taking pictures of random non sense.

I am thankful to dead flowers in planters outside my house.  It reminds me that I have no business planting flowers since they always die.

I am thankful to pretty shoes.  That is all that is needed here.

I am thankful for Scentsy.  That it keeps my house smelling so fresh and clean even though there are three little monsters who live here.

I am thankful for little boys in dirty shirts.  I will never question whether or not I have enough laundry to start a load.



Like it or not... THIS IS ME!

I have always dislike the whole 'Tell me about yourself' part of life.  I feel like I am a pretty average type of girl.  I am always changing, even day to day. 

Sometimes I am SUPER MOM and can juggle what feels like 10 million things at once.  Other days I am calling my husband freaking out and SCREAMING that I am going to rip my hair out!

So I really don't like being defined, it is like if this is what I say I am then isn't that who I have to be?

I was able to come up with a few things about myself here they are:

• First and most important I am a wife and mother
• I hate lima beans
• I LOVE to craft there is nothing more calming to me
• I really try my best not to judge people it is not my place

See fairly short list right?

But this is me!  I wouldn't change places with anyone... not one single person!

Mandi