The Times They Are A-Changin'

Just a quick update. While on my trip to California I got some great news, I accepted the position as a Business Analyst at Zale’s Corporation and will start on Feb 26th! Gonna miss the good times at Microsoft but all the others will just become a distant memory. I’m really looking forward to being challenged for the first time in a long time! I’m so thankful for my time at Microsoft as I learned so much and met some really amazing people but it was time to move on and this position fell into my lap so I had to take it! As today was my last day at Microsoft I was overly spoiled which made it even harder to leave!!!

They made me this wonderful cake!

My team even got me a plant , card and gift card! Purple Pride!!!!

And they gave me all these wonderful goodies as well!

One of my co-workers even made me this E-card which made LOL

So everyone knows I cry at everything, every sappy movie or cheesy commercial so of course the waterworks were in full force today. I’m very thankful that my boss requested I rebuild the server before I left as this let me work up until almost the minute I had to leave. So needless to say I cried most the way to pick up the kids from daycare and hugged them extra tight today.

Now on to our  family update Bruce is seven months and officially a Tasmanian devil! Something I have learned from having a boy is their energy never ends!! From the moment he wakes up till he is in bed again fighting sleep he is constantly on the move. No wonder he eats so much he needs fuel for all this energy he is constantly burning. Bruce is also teething which is always fun in our house. Taylor is such a great big sister and loves to help with Bruce, she is always there for feedings and lets us know when we’re not doing it right J They finally are truly getting along and even share toys from time to time. Taylor is being Taylor as she does best, running the house, being silly, and refusing to eat everything. I’m so proud to call these two mine, in my eyes they are perfect in every way possible!

I'm 7 months now and think my sister is funny!

Proof they can share!

and they really do get along!

Yummy Crownies!

This is just further proof that pinterest really does have the best ideas! Our family project today was a sweet one, Brownie/Cookie Muffins AKA Crownies! Yes they are as AHHH-MAZING as they sound. For anyone who doesn’t know I DO NOT cook, bake or anything else. My husband is the chef in the family and he makes the most killer fajitas and burgers but in a attempt to become more well rounded I chose to give these a try. Now don’t get too excited, I used store brought brownie mix and cookie dough. To begin I made both the mix and dough. Bake teaspoon’s of your favorite brownie mix in a mini muffin pan at 325 for 6 min. Then add a teaspoon of your favorite chocolate chip cookie mix on top and bake another 8-10 minutes (or until center isn't gooey).  The best tip I can give is don’t do the math, it’s really best to not know how many calories there are in these as it will make you cry since they are so good!

This really was as easy as it sounds, heck even I could do it! 

Operation lose the baby weight, BEGINS!

I am a mother, a wife and a women in those orders. I pride myself that my husband and kids need's always have and always will come before my own. To go along with the happy marriage and the privilege of carrying two of the most beautiful children this world has ever seen, I also have gained quite a bit of weight. I like many women chose to indulge myself in my pregnancy’s (especially with my daughter as she had a sweet tooth upon conception) and the pounds liked me so much they chose to stick around. Since my husband and I have made the decision that we will no longer be having kids it’s time to nip this baby weight in the butt (literally!). So today’s project is a quick and easy one. To help spark visual motivation I have created two jars to show pounds lost vs pounds left to lose.

Many people know I LOVE a good deal, when you have 7 mouths to feed (fur babies included) its hard not to like a little money savings. So to do my jars I went to the dollar store, as I often do before starting a craft project and purchased two jars I liked. Next I used some scrapbook letter stickers I happen to have on hand. This is my final product.

We are going out later today to find some marbles that will help give me visual motivation to see what I have accomplished and what I have left to do.

My current plan for weight loss is as follows:

·         (1) Fewer Calories (1200-1800 depending on activity level)

·         (2) More Water!!!! 6-8 glasses NO EXCUSES!

·         (3) Less Sodas ( this will be no soda’s but for now less is more)

·         (4)Less Sweet ( one sweet a day less than 200 calories)

·         (5) Be more ACTIVE!!!

I know it’s not much but it’s a start. It’s time to become the role model my kids deserve!