new friends + their kids + us..?!

A lot of the new friends we have made in the last few years have kids. It's inevitable...seeing as we are almost all over 30. The thing is, we don't have kids and I feel like we don't get invited to do as much because of it.

I realized a bit ago that people probably think we don't want to hang around kids. Maybe even that we don't like them. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. Both Jason and I love kids. In fact, one of the reasons I first fell in love with Jason because of his love of kids.

**Time for a flashback**

In the first month of Jason and I meeting I went to watch him teach swimming lessons. He had four little 3 year old girls in his class. They were out on a deck in the middle of the water and needed to get back to the edge...and Jason knew just the way! He help his arms out in a "T" and said "Jump on" and they just into his arms, two on each. My heart instantly melted. From what I can tell from my friends it's kind of rare to have a guy be so open with little kids (keep in mind he was a 21 year old college student)! I have no doubt his years of teaching swimming and the fact that he has a zillion cousins had something to do with it!

**Back to present day**

There are a lot of people out there who I want to become better friends with who have kids. It's my goal to talk with those individuals before summer starts so that they know that we most certainly don't mind being around kids! I'm not saying I'm offering up free babysitting services BUT we'd probably do it if asked :) It would be very fun to be invited to BBQs or game evenings with our friends and their families. Since we don't know if kids are in the cards for us...we might as well enjoy other peoples kids!

With Carrie {barre3 Vancouver owner} and her kiddos at the zoo!

 

TJ, Kitty, and Nee Nee {he can't say Annie}!

It's hard to be the ones without kids when pretty much everyone else has them. It's hard because we tried for so long {another emotional post on that coming soon}. And while we don't know if kids are in our future we do hope that we can build friendships with all these new people we've met - mainly all my barre3 people!! I know a lot of people get together based on their kids ages, sports teams, etc. We don't have that luxury but we most certainly aren't opposed to hanging out with kiddos! I think I just need to be upfront about that and share our views...people probably just don't know them! Another way to make sure this happens is to invite people over to our house, kids included.

Here's to a summer {and longer} of new friends, their kids, and US!

{30 thoughts} tomorrow

Tomorrow will be 2 years, or 731 days {yes, there was a leap year}, since I hit my tipping point.

I don't quite know how to put what I am feeling into words. So I'm going to choose one that truly sums up how I feel.

 I'M GRATEFUL FOR

{in no particular order}

 

Jason, Amanda, Mom, Dad, Sabrina, Sara, Carrie, Sadie, Kait, Danielle, the struggle, Angela {massage}, Diane {acupuncture}, Tony {chiro}, Brooke & Corinne {PT}, Robyn, books, Kim, barre3, Bree, Kathy, Cari, Robyn, FitBit, the scale, PCOS, the tape measure, Endo, PCOS doc, courage, strength, Dr Wei {shoulder}, this blog, other blogs, Instagram, Facebook, joy, Erica, Salina, Stacey, Eryn, Alison, Katie, Lynne, Wendy, Amanda, all my aunts - uncles - cousins - grandparents, cookbooks, my in-laws, weight watchers, Harper, all the barre3 home office team members, Chris L, coworkers, myself, my fear, New Seasons, my passion, my body, my mind, new opportunities {QVC, Just Jenny, b3 convention}, those who doubted me, those who encouraged me.

 

I'm sure I'll be editing and adding to this list for a day or more!

 

Fingers crossed {the next 2 years are as exciting as the last 2}!!!

{30 thoughts} it's not all sunshine & rainbows!

I have been inspired by two of my favorite bloggers, Chelsea & Cardigans and Couture, who have been "keeping it real" in some of their recent blog posts!! I tend to post the happy milestones, the "good for me" pictures of food, and positive words of encouragement. But, as we all know, life isn't all sunshine and rainbows {though I wish it was}!!!

Here's some {funny} things I've done over these past 23 months. I use the term funny, loosely in most of these instances.

- Sometimes I think that if no one sees me eat something, it doesn't count.

- I drive around the block 2 times when I feel the urge for fast food. Usually by the time that is done, I don't have that craving anymore.

- I eat brown sugar out of the storage container. Not every day but usually every week.

- I eat cheese when I know I shouldn't. Sometimes getting a zit is worth the taste.

- I learned what buckwheat, quinoa, stevia, and so many more food items are.

- Skittles. Enough said.

- I have been known to eat crutons when there aren't craackers in the house. I just need that crunch. Though I'm pretty sure crutons aren't healthy for you but it goes on salad so...yeah...

- Occasionally (well, often if I was telling the truth) I grab my stomach and jiggle/wiggle it around.

- There are 4 "health" books that are sitting on my shelf with book marks about 1/4 of the way through them. 50 Shades of Grey is more entertaining!!

- The first time I took a picture of the scale I didn't realize it was glass (and that I take my pictures directly after getting out of the shower). Think reflection. I almost posted it but noticed it just in the nick of time!

- Since shoulder surgery I have been sleeping in a nightshirt. Yes, the button up the front kind. I needed to sleep in one so the sling didn't rub my skin raw. I am now addicted to mine - much to my husband's dismay.

- I now check my butt out in any reflective surface.

- When food in the Ziploc containers gets moldy, I throw them away. 

- I still eat pizza & doughnuts. And that's okay, sometimes.

- Every few months I think I'll be able to handle having "snack food" in the house. This usually means crunchy snacks {not chips, more like NutThins}. I cannot have these in the house. I will eat the whole box - in one day. No joke.

- I day dream about the food I used to eat.

- I like looking in the mirror and making my collar bones show. I'm plotting what shirt I can wear on Friday for school pictures that will enable my collar bones to show.

Fingers crossed {that there are more sunshine & rainbow moments than not}...

QVC version 1.0

Just 5 days ago I posted about how excited I was to be going on QVC with barre3.

I had my DVR set.

 

I had my outfit chosen {grey top, black pants}.

 

 

I had my toes & nails done {even nakey toe}.

Well...

It didn't happen. But someday it will {hopefully}!!!

Harper and I boarded our flight at PDX as scheduled. Then we landed in Chicago and that's where the fun began! Harper had a few missed texts from Chris {the co-founder and husband of Sadie} and we knew it wasn't good. She called them back and was very quiet on the call. When it was all said and done she said "We should sit down" and I said "It's cancelled...isn't it" to which she replied, yes.

Then we went and got a sandwich. And flew to Philadelphia. Lets just say our adrenaline was pretty low on that flight.

Just before we went out to dinner I saw this on Facebook...

Up until this point we hadn't known WHY QVC had cancelled our spot. Then we found out...the Royal Baby Doll!!! If that dang little royal baby had been born the day before or the day after we'd have been on QVC. When Chris & Sadie picked us up for dinner Sadie had already figured it out too! It was the joke of the evening, for sure.

That evening {Monday} we went out to dinner with Sadie, Chris and a few members of his family. I tell you, there is no better group of people to be around when something goes awry. They are the most positive people I have ever met. There also isn't anyone better to be around when trying to eat well ;-) Sadie is such an inspiration in so many ways!

After our day Harper and I needed one more glass of wine...

Our day was rather l o n g . . .

This is what the server put on our ticket. Hilarious.

We were truly the only ladies in the hotel bar.

QVC version 1.0 day {Tuesday} was so fun! What's better than getting to spend the day with the founders of barre3?! I learned so much about the company, the business, the people, and the inner workings of the company that I so love. We also had a BLAST visiting the newest barre3 studio - barre3 Newton. The owner, Lauren, held an amazing class and it was fun to meet her staff and share my story with a few clients!

Myself and Sadie about to workout at barre3 Newtown.

Myself, Sadie, and Harper at barre3 Newtown.

After breakfast, barre3, and lunch Chris & Sadie had some work to do so Harper and I took the train and ventured into Philadelphia.

In front of Independence Hall.

Taking the train.

Subway art.

Harper and I were so proud we knew how to use this on the way home!

Pretending to enjoy the train ride. Truly, I was super sick in this picture.

{Wednesday} brought us headed back to an airport. I flew home with Sadie & Chris while Harper flew to New Orleans to train some lucky newbie barre3 instructors. Harper is a Master Trainer at barre3! She's amazing.

What those 72 hours of QVC version 1.0 is that there is truly always a brighter side of things. Sadie could list 5 reasons off the top of her head as to why it is better to go on in September versus July. This trip was a true test of her ability as a leader, a woman, and as a person who truly practices what they preach.

If QVC hadn't have been cancelled I still would have had an amazing time but because it was I got to have the experience of a lifetime...version 1.0.

Fingers crossed {that someday you'll see me on QVC}...

PS. You can buy the 28 to Great QVC deal here!!!

 

continuously cold!

Maybe it's just me {which I think it might be} but I am continuously cold. Like, all the time. Even in 85 degree Phoenix last month I wasn't sweating in the sunshine.

70 degrees. Long sleeves. Fire.

I just can't shake the feeling that I'm cold. As I sit here and type this isn't a Thursday evening in Washington State. The temperature in the house is a comfy 72 degrees - and I have on the fire, fleece pj pants, and fuzzy socks. No joke. I can't wait to go to bed to my electric blanket!

I have a co-worker who has lost almost 80 pounds in the past few years. She and I went on a walk the other day and I brought up my constant cold-ness. If anyone was going to understand...it was her! And she did! I knew I had to do a little research and here is a good article that I found.

How Come When you Lose Weight You Get Cold?

Lose a Fat Layer ~ This makes total sense to me. When I started this journey I weighed 220 pounds. As of this morning I weighed 153.5 pounds. That is -66.5 pounds which is equivalent to 30% body fat loss. WOWZERS. I literally just did the math {pats self on back}. I have most definitely lost the most fat around my waist/hips which is where a lot of my fat was stored and was keeping my internal organs nice and warm {wasn't that nice}!

Calorie Conservation ~ While I am most certainly not a calorie counter, I am definitely eating different foods that I used to. I do enjoy some of my favorite things that probably aren't considered "life style change food" but overall, my calorie's that I intake are much different.

It really does make sense when you think about it. Less fat {aka insulation} means colder bodies. Has anyone else who has lost a significant amount of weight experienced this? I'd love to hear from you!!

Fingers crossed (that the weight keeps coming off and my core temperature starts to catch up}...

minus 65...

...pounds that is!

I can't believe I forgot to blog about this. Well, I kind of can because I slacked for much of the month of March!

Some interesting thoughts came out of losing this 65 pounds. When I first started my journey I did not believe that I could do this but I knew I had to try. And try I have. And lose I have. There's been a few things lately {namely when thinking about whole foods and no-dairy} where I've said out loud to others and to myself - "I can't do that". Well, I instantaneously switched my words up after I said the word can't...because I can. I can try to do anything!!

 

 



I kind of can't believe this was me one year ago {and then me last week}...

left: April 2012 ~ Kauai

right: April 2013 ~ Phoenix

 

But at the same time I can believe it is me! It's weird. Before I lost all this weight I sometimes would picture myself how I look now. And sometimes now, I picture myself as I used to me. Weight loss is a long, twisted, and mind-bending journey. I'm a size 8 in almost everything now. My top is a size Medium. That in and of itself is mind-bending. When I started this journey I was almost reading to buy a size 20W and size 1X shirts where too tight. It's weird to not shop at the stores I used to. It's weird to be able to walk in lululemon or Nordstroms or even Khols and find things that fit. It's going to take some more time to get used to that!

 

I buy myself rewards at the major weight loss milestones. In the past I haven't considered a -5 from a 10's weight loss {like -65} to be worthy of a reward but then I saw something I really wanted and wanted an excuse to buy it. Plus, when I hit the -60 pound mark I figured I'd plateau, but I didn't. I have kept on losing and couldn't be happier or more proud of myself! My very fashionable best friend told me this top was a good choice. She write a fashion blog...she should know! And just after I purchased this top {with the snazzy zipper in the back} she wore one on her blog ;-) See, now I'm starting fashion trends! Oh, and just to tip this adorable shirt over the edge - it's a size small. Yes, small.

 

reward top from LOFT

wearing my top in sunny Phoenix with my cousin!

 

All in all, losing 65 pounds has been amazing experience. How could it not be?? Can't wait to see where I go from here! I don't "think" I will lose a bunch more weight but I do believe I will become more and more toned. I told my best friend yesterday "Maybe next year I'll wear a 2 piece suit in public". And you know...I hope I will!!

Fingers crossed {that I'll be bikini ready next summer. Heehee}...

my favortie coat {is mine again}...

For me, clothes have been a constant - life long battle. There are few pieces of clothes I've ever loved. There are many more than I have hated. There's some I bought and never wore. In between have been the ones I've been wearing for years. Simple, hiding, solid colored clothes.

But this post is about one coat in particular and our journey together.

Our {the coat and I's} journey started in college - maybe 2003/2004. Definitely by the fall of 2004 we were a pair because there is this awesome proof...

Burton Women's Size M.

Apple Cup 2004. Cheeseburger apparently mandatory.

 

For years it was the only coat I ever had. And then I started gaining weight and I started needing new coats...

 

Precision Mountainware Men's Size M.

North Face Women's Size L.

 

The Black North Face had become my coat but my beloved Burton always sat in the back of my closet. Until one day...

 

I gave my Burton coat to one of my best friends.

 

Sabrina in the Burton coat. My in my NF coat.

 

I didn't believe that I'd ever wear it again but I remember saying as I handed it over "If I ever get back down to that size - I might have to ask for it back". I'm sure inside I rolled my eyes, and she did too. She's a size tiny and I was a size not tiny. I wanted to have to ask for my coat back but I didn't think I would have too...

 

But then, this new life of mine started. The inches melted off, the weight went down and my desire to have my beloved coat back grew big enough that I worked up the courage to ask for my coat back. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I wrote this sappy email about how much this coat meant to me. I stated that it was something from my past that I never thought I would accomplish in my future. It brings back memories for me that are wonderful. This coat truly is my favorite coat and thanks to the kindess of one of my best friends - it is mine again.

 

It may be a little tight in the chest and I probably couldn't fit a sweatshirt under it like I used to be able too but I can wear it.

 

Fingers crossed {that one day it might be a bit too big}...