30 lbs in pics!

Before

half way

What a difference...To think I am only half way there! I started a 16/18 and I am not a 12/14!!  I am at 32 pounds lost and 32 to go!  WOOO HOOO

2 weeks!

In two weeks I will be sitting at home a nervous wreck for the next morning!  I am running my first 5k in two weeks!  I am very nervous as 3.1 miles is still a push for me at times.  However I do tend to run better outside the distance doesn't bother me as much.  The hills do!  I am hoping to make my time under 37 mins! That would be 12 min miles. 

Who would have ever thought that I would be running...for FUN!  If I manage to complete this race under 37 mins(yes turtles can run too) I will sign up for my second race in May a 7k!!

I am really excited, nervous, scared, and about 1000 other emotions for this new journey in my life but I love the way it makes me feel when I am done :)  Not to mention the weight loss is a pretty great feeling

Weekly Weigh in Week 22

It was a rough week..The past few weeks I gain a couple on the weekend then spend all week losing it and ending up around the same number.  I told myself this week I would be dedicated and make sure that I got below that number and promised myself to be good this weekend!  I have not hit goal weight I cant let it go every weekend.

I went to the gym 3 days this week and managed to run around 6.5 miles, 2 on the elliptical, a couple on the bike and actually did the ARC!! I watched what I ate but also gave myself treats as long as they were within my calories which is A LOT now that I am working out more.  I can eat around 1700 on days I don't work out and I eat around 1900 on the days I do work out. 

I am hoping to hit my summer goal of 2008 this week!  That will feel fantastic as I will be the skinniest I have been since 2005!  It will also be great to be half way in my weight loss journey!  December will be here sooner then we think Im sure and I want to be at my goal weight by then :)

This weeks loss: -1.8!!

Total weight loss: 31.2 pounds

34.8% body fat!

Goals:

10% 
Caseys Pre Pregnancy weight:  2.4 to go!
Summer 2008 goal: 2.8 to go!
life time: 32.8  lbs to go!

My thoughts on running

Thanks Cafe press

Rockin it!

Yes my kids listen to the radio..Its all censored so I am not to worried about it.  He always "sings" and dances in the van when he thinks no one is looking :)  I put my phone up like it was the gps and finally caught him :)

It is babies and BARGAINS?

I know I haven't been much on the bargain side of this blog.  The fact of the matter is I started blogging and documented the house progress, the kids progress, my weight loss progress, shared my budgeting success and fails...Then it slowly turned into a ALL deals blog.

It just wasn't fun anymore not to mention I was losing out on precious memories of my babies.  I know most that started reading probably started for the deals...SO I will keep posting my shopping trips and really great deals I see but it is probably going to go back to my family blog.  Mainly for MY memories :)

However Ive been slacking in the coupon department and its showing in our budget! Here are a few trips over the past few weeks :)

Stop and Shop(3/23)
6 Hungry Man dinners 2/5 15.00
-5 wyb 6 items
10.00 for 6!
Silk Milk 3.29
-1.50(.75 doubled)
1.79
Baby Carrots 3/5
Salad mix 2.50
bananas 1.23
Tomatos 3.00
3 Egglands best eggs 1.88 each
-.50/1 doubled
.88 each!!
5 boxes of poptarts @ 3/5
-1/3 and 1/2 coupon
6.33 for 5!!
2 English muffins 1.98
Total was 28.00!! I saved around that :)

Target(last week)

Barbie Fairy DVD 12.00
Barbie 5.84
Barbie Mermaid DVD 5.00
-5.84 free barbie wyb select items(fairy dvd)
-5.00 peelie on the fairy dvd for mermaid
12.00 for 2 movies and a barbie :)

Rite Aid(last night)
3 Pepsi 9.99
1 Diet Pepsi FREE wyb 3 reg
2 Lysol Wipes 1.99 each
Cadbury Eggs 3.99
-1/2 Lysol
- ups
-3/15
2.97 oop earned 2 ups for the lysol and will get back 1 in rebate for lysol!

Am I ever done?!

I have been twirling yarn like this..

 Wrapping it around like these

 Picking it up off the floor!

 Burning my hand like this

Now my project still isn't done but its coming along :)

It just needs something more on the left

and then one more ball on the lower right!

I got my inspiration at Starbucks for Christmas and shortly after when these popped up EVERYWHERE in blog land!! 

daily deals

Free M&M Easter Candy at CVS

Cheap fitness drinks at Target

.05 Kool Aid at Target


.49 nail clippers at Target

1.88 Glade Plug In

Free Circo baby socks at Target

30% off at Old Navy

Oreo and Cheese deals at Target

Cookie deals at Target

Spring

Spring has Sprung!  

Tracing Trev with Chalk

This weekend in New England was BEAUTIFUL! We actually had pretty great weather from Thursday-Sunday!  Its snowing today of course but it was great!  I actually got the house clean, windows open and spent a good amount of our time outside!!!

I turned off the computer, grabbed a chair and just sat outside while the kids played!  It was so nice and just felt great!

They played with chalk

Caseys first power wheels ride

 They also dug out the power wheels my poor poor neighbors get to hear them all summer long!!

I started trying to clean out the flower beds which is easier said then done with 3 kids running around outside!

I didnt go to the gym or run or do anything like that this weekend but I was pretty active chasing a very curious 17 month old around. I could have done a hippity hop race I guess..

 

her first year riding and she rides with NO HANDS lol

I have to say I am very excited for Trev to be out of school and us to just hang around the house, plant, dig in the dirt, and play outside!  I think this summer will be great and our best yet at this house..Being no major renovations, no pregnancies or no itty bitty babies around!

We have our hands full with a big Spring Clean up from the trash overloaded from the winter(we got rid of Saturday with 2 trips to the dump), trees down, cutting more down, cleaning beds, mulching, planting, getting the chicken area ready and more!

daily deals

Market Basket matchup

Gap Kids 50% off

Little Tikes coupons

CVS matchup

Rite Aid matchup

Free copy paper at Staples

Free Snickers Eggs at Walgreens

20% off at Pier One

5/25 at Michaels

Stop and Shop Match up

Target Matchup

Free Cobroxin Spray at CVS

8.00 blu ray at Walmart

Shaws matchup

mini goals

I haven't been doing all that great with weight loss!  I'm still going to the gym 2-3 days a week.  I also have been trying to get one long run in on the weekends! I am not losing just maintaining I think.

I want to start focusing on smaller goals!  This week I would like to cut the crap with ICE CREAM!  I do only have a portion but still that's 150 calories I don't need to be having.  I also do not want to go above 1800 calories any day of the week(yes I workout A LOT so I can eat A LOT ;))  I also want to make it to the gym..Monday, Wednesday and Friday!  I also will be doing a 4-5 mile walk/run outside on Sunday. 

I think if I focus I can do it!  I am giving myself 3 weeks to hit 185!   No I do not like admitting that but I need to get a fire back up under my behind and get this last amount of weight OFF before years end!  I will not be going out to eat AT ALL the next 3 weekends which is another problem we are facing.  We have been going out to eat a lot and I will be down by Friday and up by Monday :( 

Wish me luck!!

Daily deals

Avent Bottles and pacis at Rite Aid

Cheap deodorant at Target

10.00 photo book at Shutterfly

.20 Tilex and other cleaners at Rite Aid

Cheap Mountain Dew at Target


Glade deal at Target

Olay Cleansing products just 1.49 at Target

.49 Renuzit spray at Rite Aid

30% off at Old Navy

Free Clearisil

Febreeze Flameless at Target

Cheap First Aid to go kits

1.00 Toilet Paper at Walmart

Daily deals

M&M at CVS

Free Softscrub at Rite Aid


Free Dial Nutriskin @ Wags


Target match up with NEW coupons


Dentyne .66 at Target

BRU coupons

Market Basket match up

Its the little things that make me smile!

Aubrey hoola hooping

We forgot Casey's sippy cup and he took a whole dinner to master drinking from a straw but now hes a pro!!

I found a dairy free cheese for Casey at Trader Joes(4.49 for 12 oz) but the kid can have CHEESE!!

My van is back!  Its a old piece of crap but its mine and I missed it!

Jeff was kissing me goodbye today and I kept telling him to go away..Aubrey pushed me outta the way puckered up and said "Daddy I will kiss you!"

Gymboree fill a bag sale saved $$645!!!

 Now I LOVE Gymboree but I only can buy when they have clearance sales on top of coupons!  I was able to score big and took my time browsing the sale racks!!  I should also add Im not really a fan for my boys but could totally fill Aubrey's wardrobe from head to toe in their clothes :)

Casey:
1 piece outfit
2 pk socks
long sleeve tee shirt
linen pants
button down sweater

Trevor:
Christmas Sweater

Aubrey:
boots
2 pairs of socks
2 pairs of leggings
3 dresses
17 shirts
2 Jeans
3 Skirts

36 pieces






Retail 797.75
-Clearance
-30% off stuff a bag sale
-20% off mailer coupon
152.12 oop and I earned 75 Gymbucks I may sell for 30.00! 
I saved 81% !!

Weekly Weigh in Week 21

Its been a crazy week!  We had my van motor blow on Friday of last week, a rental, then issues with our mortgage!  Its just been nuts!  I didnt always eat my best but did killer workouts!!  I hope to get to my half way point this week!!  Gotta get my water back up, avoid sweets, and get to the gym all 3 days this week!  Im happy I can run outside tonight and tomorrow!!

This weeks loss: -3.2!!

Total weight loss: 29.4 pounds

35.0% body fat!

Goals:

10% 
Caseys Pre Pregnancy weight:  2.4 to go!
Summer 2008 goal: 4.6 to go!
life time: 34.6  lbs to go!

Daily deals

Wow lots of them today!!

30% off at Old Navy

GUM floss .75 at Wags

25 off 50 at Gap

20 off 80 at Gap

Shaws weekly deals

Land of Lakes butter at Walmart

BOGO at Build a bear


Free lip item at Bath and Body Works

Free photo canvas

Getting overage at Walmart

UP reward limits

Its a job!

I am not a very patient person by any means at all.  But weight loss is costing my patience!  I could starve myself and just be miserable and not lose weight.  Or I could take my time as I have been doing since October with a few bumps in the road. 

Its taken almost 6 months to lose 30 pounds!  I feel great though.  To most they would say wow thats a long time.  I say hey Im doing it right and taking my time.  I also survived....Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentines Day :)

When people ask what I am doing I just respond its a job!  I track every ounce I put into my body via sparkpeople!  I track my fitness in spark as well also using a fitbit! 

• I know I need to eat around 1700 calories a day when I work out and about 1400 on days I do not work out.
• I know that Monday, Wednesday and Friday are my gym days!  That means that around 4 I have to start gettng things ready for school the next day, three kids fed, bathed and ready for bed.  
• I know that 3 days a week I do not get to eat dinner with my family!
• I know that its all paying off though!  I have gone down quite a bit in sizes!

I need to set some goals and rewards for myself! 

As soon as I hit the half way point of 32 pounds lost I want to reward myself some how(maybe a pedicure)

As soon as I hit 35 pounds lost I will probably do a cartwheel because I will offically be the thinnest I have been in YEARS! 

As soon as I hit 40 pounds I will feel relieved as I only have 24 more pounds to go!(hopefully by my birthday May 31)  I will also be buying myself a NICE outfit if I make this goal for a birthday dinner.

I would like to hit 50 pounds by September 1st(kids starting school and my daughters 4th birthday)

Finally I would like to hit 64 pounds by Christmas day!  If I can manage to hit my goal weight before Christmas I will be thrilled to be in a healthy BMI and working my way to a fabulous 2012!

No matter what goals I pass or what the scale says it will always be work.  I will always have to track and spend time being active.  Its a job but it has the best benefits ever!

Daily deals

Liners just .24 at Target

Childrens Place spend 40 save 20!

Cottonelle Fresh Wipes at Wags

5/25 at Old Navy

Free Dove deodorant at CVS

Free Pledge at CVS

Cheap Personal care products at Target

Daily Deals

Market Basket Deals

Target cheapies

FREE beverage or candy at CVS

Free Kelloggs cereal cup at CVS

Aveeno deal at Target

RARE Hannahford coupons

Growing up party

On Saturday we went out child free!  My mom took the monsters and we went out with my best friend and her boyfriend to dinner and then Boston Billiards!  We had a lot of fun!  We I drank to much, ate to much and ended up paying for it that night and the following day!

Aubrey didnt understand we were going to a growing up party(grown up)!  She thought Gregs cake made her mommy sick and I would be all better if I drank water and she sat with me all day.  I rarely drink and for good reason yesterday was rough! We did have a very good time though.

I took this pic before we went out I think you can really see the 28.4 lbs Im down to this point!!

Of course where I started back in October!

Excuse Charlies Angels

  I still have a lot of work to go but I am really happy you can finally start seeing my hard work!!

bedazzled

Aubrey is obsessed with all things pretty, diamonds, pearls etc.  She wanted some "diamonds" at Michaels the other day and I let her decorate her baby A as shes no longer a baby as much as I deny!

 

 

 

 

Before

after

hanging up stuff on the wall :)

Its not perfect and a lot of clutter of select colors!  She did most of it though and it makes it look perfect in my eyes :)  Not to mention imitation is the most sincere form of flattery right?!

Mommy I need to hang up this picture now too!

Orange?!

I am not a fan of orange in all honesty.  But my mom gave me a beautiful set from Pier 1 for Christmas and I loved it...Since then I have made some changes to the dining room and really LOVE the way it came out :)

I painted all the walls from Chocolate Brown to White HERE

I am not sure if the bar stools are staying but it works well for now!

A table runner I picked up 75% off at Target that went well!

Just keeping it real we do have a baby in the house!

I made the weathered W, candle holder is from Yankee Candle, print we have had forever from Lake Side, Pottery Barn planters and a nest with eggs!!   

I just cant decide if I like the table centered(above) or off to the side(below)

Yes I know other people have real worries :)  

Also by the way if you want to trim those floral things in the vase Do NOT put them through a miter saw..Yea hubbys saw ate them and took me forever to peel them all out!

Weekly Weigh in Week 20

Apparently last week I totally forgot to weigh in :)  Well I had some issues...On I weighed in and had lost 3 lbs I was shocked and didn't think it seemed right but went with it.  I was plateauing and thought yay a loss!  The next day I was back up 3-4 lbs.  So I think it was just the scale acting weird.  So I am not sure what I did gain or lose this week!  I will post my stats as is.

I am having issues with my weight loss.  I'm getting lazy and having a few more cheats then I like.  I got back on track this week and kept in mind I'm going out Saturday night so I need to eat very good all week and can enjoy myself Saturday.  I kept telling myself if I snack away the week I will have to eat a salad at dinner.  Who wants to do that?! 

I did go shopping last weekend and lets be honests I started this weight loss journey in October.  I was a XL in shirts and a 18 in pants!

I am now a M or L depending on the length of the shirt...Im not 16 no need to have my stomach or back hanging out of my clothes!  I am a 12/14 in pants depending on the make, waist size etc. 

I want to get to a 8/10 before all is said and done.  I am okay being a M or L in shirts!

This weeks loss: unknown

Total weight loss: 26.2 pounds

36.0% body fat!

Goals:

10% 
Caseys Pre Pregnancy weight:  2.4 to go!
Summer 2008 goal: 7.8 to go!
life time: 37.8  lbs to go!

Daily deals

Price cut in toys at Target

Shaws match ups for hte week

Michaels coupons

.24 mascara at target

40% off at Disney Store

I should also mention Gymboree and Crazy 8 are offering 25-30% off clearance prices!! Stock up for next year.  I have some coupons I received in the mail as well!!

4 in 10 mins

Aubrey is growing up way to quick!  We registered her for pre-k for next year yesterday.  She was beyond thrilled mainly just to run after and tell Trev we went to her school, gave them the paper and most importantly it was bigger then his!

She kept asking me when she was gonna go and I told her when your 4 you get to go to school.  So far today its been about 5 times of "Am I 4 yet?"

Then the other day we went to Hallmark and our fav cashier was talking to her and asking her how she was doing?, how old she was?, when was she turning 4?  In return Aubrey in her most teenage voice as possible!....

Um in like 10 mins...

I love that girl!  Shes so funny and just has a natural wit about her.  September is a long ways a way I hope she realizes that 4 is gonna take some time to get to.

workouts

2/21

Run 2.50 miles (.50 walking)

Weight machines for arms!

Eliptical .50 miles!

2/28

Run 3.1 in 36.40 mins!  1 mile walking

120 reps of stomach

180 reps on my legs

3/2
Run 2 miles walk .50

Cycle 3-4 miles I cant remember how sad is that?!

Stomach 60+ reps

arms 2 machines.

I should have stayed later but whatever

Basement re-do under 50!!

On a whim I decided to clean the basement...It has to be functional yet becomes a catch all for EVERYTHING!  After cleaning and throwing a lot of junk out I managed to get it looking a little better!

I went to Christmas Tree Shops and Michaels knowing I could get some better looking items for a fraction of the price! 

Lamp & shade 9.99

check out the print LOVE!

Mercury Glass container 3.99 pk of star fish 1.99

candle stick 4.00 after coupon candle 6.00(Target)

shells were 7.49(Michaels), Mercury Glass 2/3, Balls 1.00, Basket 3.99

As you can see I really did not spend much!  I also bought the table from Target for 12.00!!

I mixed old with new!

Willow Trees

Just a little collection of candles, frames and sea themed things.

remember it has to be functional BLAH

All in all I think it turned out okay for a VERY DARK basement :)