UPDATE!

So I have not updated my blog in quite awhile haha...just haven't got around to it I guess. But hopefully I will be able to update a little bit more. Not much has been going on...

Went on my first plane ride to Las Vegas in July and it wasn't that bad! I had a great time with the Hubbs and friends of mine from college. We are most likely going to go in July again with our friends to Las Vegas this coming summer. My friend owns a hair salon and they have a conference for hair stylist from all over the country, it's pretty neat, so she goes every July to do that with her husband and we just meet them out there! So hopefully this coming July 2012 we will get to go back! I will post pics below of our trip...

Onto other news...Madi starts school August 16th which is crazy but she is definitely excited! I can't believe my baby will be in 1st grade. It's weird...I remember when she was a baby and thinking about when she was this old and thought it was SO far off but now it's here. Time really does fly by! Em starts September 1st and she's ready to go back as well! They are both starting dance August 15th. Madi is taking 3 different classes so that should be interesting and Emily is actually taking Ballet/Tap haha...can't wait to see that one! Madison is also doing cheerleading at Briarwood on Wednesdays after school. It's just a little clinic deal they do after school, it's not like rec cheerleading or anything. But she's excited!

I have somewhat adjusted to staying home haha...not teaching anymore (taught Pre-k for 5 years) and definitely excited to be able to do more at their schools this year and home. It's definitely a full-time job within itself. But I can't lie and say it doesn't get boring sometimes haha...more time for exercise I guess? Haha!

Here are some pics from our trip! Enjoy!

Part of "The Strip"

The Strip

Me & Chad in front of The Strip

View from Ghost Bar of the city

VEGAS!!

So Vegas is 4 days away and we are so excited! It is my first time on an airplane so excited/nervous about that haha. I know it'll be good though. But we are staying at the MGM Grand Hotel which is super awesome and nice. I don't care if I have to sleep on the floor haha I don't really care about stuff like that. Just thankful to be going!

We are meeting up with one of my sorority sisters and her husband from GA Southern out there for 3 nights. She owns a hair salon and is a hair stylist so they are having some sort of conference for that so she will be working some and then nights are free to have some fun! We definitely plan on hitting up some of the main attractions and having great dinners! Me & The Hubbs will have 2 nights alone so that'll be nice considering we never had a honeymoon or anything like that. First time without the kiddos...but we are excited and will definitely miss them!

Pics to come for sure!!

Adios everyone!

4th of July

So the 4th of July was so much fun! We were in Savannah for a week (me & the girls) and the Hubbs joined on Friday. Friday we went downtown Savannah to City Market with my brother and then Saturday we took the girls to see some fireworks which they really enjoyed!

Emily of course chased a little boy around about the entire time and Madison sat with her cousin, Jasmine haha. We had a great time for sure!

The Hubby & I are heading to Vegas in one week! AGH! Can't believe it! First time on a plan so that should be very interesting but I'm definitely excited to finally get on a plane and to visit somewhere I've never been. First trip alone as well for us so we are going to enjoy it! We are meeting up with some friends for the first 3 days then we will have 3 nights to ourselves. Pics definitely to come!

Adios!

Update!!

Hello lovelies!

So if you are interested in that check that out!

www.andagrace.posterous.com

Posterous is a cool site where you basically just post pics which I enjoy doing! I more like things like Twitter, Posterous, Tumblr, etc. than actually blogging long drawn out blogs haha. I guess I feel I have nothing to say I'm not really sure.

Anywho...so I will post my weigh-in's on that account (Posterous)!

I just wanted to update on that and say that!

That is all! Thanks so much for following! Love to all!

UPDATE!

Hello all!

So this weekend was a busy weekend! Saturday, the Hubbs & I went to Montgomery to a wedding of one of Chad's fraternity brothers and it was a lot of fun! Then today I took the girls to go see Kung Fu Panda 2 which was super cute and I'm sure there will be a 3rd one in the making because of the way it ended.

Also, I am going to change my weigh-in day to Monday because I haven't really been doing anything of substance the past couple of days or week for that matter haha. But tomorrow is a fresh, new day so changing weigh-in to then and I know I've gained a pound or so ... so I'm probably at like 139-140 lbs. So I'm not too far away from my goal. Also gonna start working out more tomorrow so def need to get on that wagon again haha. I plan on running at the gym and doing that Jillian Michaels DVD I told you about but I think I am just going to switch things up here and there. I don't think I can stick to a particular schedule so I think what will work better for me will be to do different things everyday instead of a set "schedule" ... not really working for me haha. We shall see!

The Hubbs & I also went to Rooms to go to look at some living room furniture because ours is literally falling apart haha. They are having some great deals right now so we will see what will happen with that. In the next 2 weeks the Hubby will be getting his commission off the past 5 months of his new job so that is def exciting and it will be our biggest tithe yet which is what we are super excited about! Thankful & blessed for sure! Very proud of my Hubby for all he does and working very hard. He loves his job though so that's a blessing in itself!

Until tomorrow for another weigh-in!

Adios!

Trouble Zones?

Totally forgot I had this DVD! I am actually going to do this instead of the Ripped in 30. I need this for sure haha. I might do this until we go to Vegas in mid-July so I will do a combo of this and cardio at the gym. We shall see the results! I will update tomorrow with weight and measurements before I start. Holla!

Weigh-in #2

Hello lovelies!

So today is weigh-in #2 and i totally forgot to weigh-in haha. I didn't realize today was Thursday I guess. The week has FLOWN by! Craziness! But today I weighed in at 138.4 lbs. so I gained 0.9 lbs since last week but I don't think that's too bad since I was out of town last week. Oh well all is well right? Right!

But still tracking everything on weight watchers and also eating lots of Special K stuff! I was trying to combine the Special K 2 week program with Weight Watchers haha. Easier I guess for me so I don't have to think about anything but dinner. With the Special K 2 week program is you eat cereal/milk for breakfast, protein bar for lunch then I'm eating those sour cream and onion chips for snack then you eat a regular dinner with your family. And they are actually really good! So I'm liking that. Anyways...my goal weight for now is 135 lbs so I'm very close! Very excited about that! I just want to tone up though but I've been thinking about that and what program I want to do because I have a ZILLION of them! It gets hectic and I should have not bought all of those but oh well such is life. I think I am going to do Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 which is the newer dvd plus running on the treadmill.

Just because it's a 30 day program and I can stick with that haha. I need to start off slow and complete and actual program. I usually have so many programs where I don't stick to a particular one I just do one here and there. So I'm starting this today and doing it for the next 30 days and then I will move onto another program. I know I want to do the Brazil Butt Life before we hit the beach in September haha. Slim that booty!

Anywho...I will update with another weigh-in next week! Stay tuned!!

Realizations

Hello world!

So today I came to a realization that this journey with health and fitness will never "really" be over. What I mean by that is this weekend I have had my share of food let's just say haha. And not counting my points or calories, etc. has led me to probably gain some weight. I def feel heavier and just bloated ya know? Which is not a pleasant feeling at all but it is what it is. Poor choices were made and all you can do now is come to the realization that if you want to maintain your weight and how you feel, you will have to always keep track of your food intake. That's just the way it is. That's why people say it's a lifestyle change or a way of life. There is no other way around it. I'm not saying you have to be completely obsessed with counting points/calories, etc. but you have to have some sort of accountability if you cannot control yourself, obviously like I cannot haha. I hope the damage is not too shabby but we shall see with a weigh-in this Thursday for weigh-in #2. I'd like to maintain or at least say in the 130's but we will see. Gonna start back with exercise Tuesday since I was off for over a week due to being sick but I'm gonna start with running in the morning and then Brazil Butt Lift in the evenings to tone up. I gotta start toning because I have no tone to my body haha and I do not like that. Anywho...I figured some of you might be able to relate to this post because once you get to a weight you feel good at you feel you can "relax" and not have to be so strict but the moment you do that is when you lose control and gain some of the weight back which is no good. You gotta be accountable to yourself and write everything down and really listen to your body to eat when hungry and stop when full. That is the main point. Control your portions!

Anywho...we are leaving tomorrow and heading back home from my moms but we def had a great time while we were here. Although it wasn't long it was nice to hangout with family and just relax by the pool. We are coming back in 2 weeks though for Emily's 4th birthday so that'll be fun and we are coming for a longer period of time. Update when I get back with lots of pics from the weekend! Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend and enjoyed time with your families!

Weigh-in #1

Ok so today is my 1st official weigh-in I guess you could say. Last week I was 141.5 lbs and today I am........137.5 lbs! Woohoo!! That is a 4 lbs loss! Very excited...getting closer and closer to my goal weight now I just need to tone up a TON! haha...You can be skinny and not toned and still not look all that great so I def want to tone up.

Today we are leaving this afternoon to head to Savannah for the weekend and we are definitely in need of a mini-vaca for sure! We haven't been anywhere since March so we are definitely excited! We are doing something Friday and Saturday for sure then cooking out for Memorial Day with my family Sunday. Steaks, baked potatoes, etc. so that'll be fun and not to mention yummy! Haha!

Anywho...back to packing and getting ready to leave to go to Savannah! TTYL

Adios!

Last day of SCHOOL!

So the picture is tiny for some reason BUT this is my "baby" on the last day of school for the year! She's very excited about the Super Duper Fun Day today at school! Chick-fil-a catered and lots of fun and games to be played! So fun!!

Weigh-in today is 141.5 lbs which isn't too bad considering I haven't been following any particular diet so to speak haha. Been eating a little too much and not exercising enough honestly haha but today is a NEW day! I am starting back with Weight Watchers today. I find the best plan for me is to track everything I eat and write it down. So I purchased a notebook for that and am ready to get started! Another thing I'm going to "try" to do is limit carbs. I have a hard time with carbs sometimes. I can eat them just not all day or anything so we shall see how that goes. I will weigh-in again next Thursday before we head off to Savannah and see the progress I have made by then!

Today will be a busy day for sure. Get the girls from school, babysitting, then Madison has her dance rehearsal tonight around 6p and will be there till after 8p so probably no exercise today either especially because I'm still not 100% from the doctor, just resting today. And then Madison gets out of school next Thursday and her recital is this Saturday! So lots to do this week, weekend and next week! Should be fun though!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day and more pics to come from the recital!

SUMMER is almost here!

I cannot believe Summer Break is almost here! Tomorrow is the last day at the ELC and Emily's last day in K3 which is crazy! Cannot believe my "baby" will be in K4 next year and then off to Briarwood to join sister! Time def flies. I will try to snap a picture of her tomorrow before she heads to school on her last day! They are going to have so much fun! I know they are having Chick-fil-a catered for lunch and then a super fun day! Should be fun!

Onto other things....fitness/health related! I was under the weather so to speak today just throat hurt etc but no strep for me thank goodness! Def speak healing over me and my family EVERYday! God does not disappoint for sure! So I didn't work out yesterday or today and I'm already feeling sluggish. Makes a difference when you workout ya know? One of my main problems though is I have SO many workout DVDs I don't know which to do first.

Here is a list of SOME (haha):
most are Beachbody products! They are awesome!
Brazil Butt Lift
Slim in 6
Turbofire
Turbojam
Chalene Extreme
P90x
Power90
RevAbs
I mean seriously I have it all! And then I have tons of Jillian Michaels stuff, TaeBo etc. But I think what I plan on doing is the Brazil Butt Lift program since it's only 4 weeks along with some running for extra cardio and then after that I am going to do Tracey Anderson Method. That is a 12 week program but it's really good I've done it a couple of times. What I need to get back on track is my "diet"....I am going to get back with eating healthy and listening to my body. Eat when hungry, stop when full, not stuffed! haha Starting that back up tomorrow with Weight Watchers and tracking points and I'll post with a weigh-in update! I might also film. I thought about doing that. I watch TONS of people on Youtube post their fitness/weight loss journey. Now granted they have a lot more weight to lose than me but if you think about it I was 156 lbs when I started Weight Watchers and I think I actually got up to 160 and that was like couple months ago, crazy!!! I now I weigh anywhere from 140-142 lbs so that's a loss from about 18-20 lbs that are gone! I can def tell a difference in my body and how my clothes fit. My ultimate goal is 130-135 lbs somewhere around there. Slowly but surely right? Well tomorrow starts a new day! Very thankful that through God we are able to have a new start every morning! It's awesome! Never worry about the past or what you did or didn't do yesterday, just focus on today and what you can do today! It'll happen! Another thing I am going to do which I ran out and got a notebook specifically for this is to write down my goals. That is a huge thing to do when trying to reach your goals. Write down your vision and it'll come to pass!

Anywho...so weigh-in update tomorrow not sure what it'll be since I haven't worked out but it's all good, no worries here! Last day of school tomorrow and then Madison gets out next Thursday and then me and the fam are headed to Savannah to see my mom and brothers for Memorial Day! Very excited!!! I haven't been to Savannah since mid-March and it's time haha. I miss my family! The summer is a time where I get to go to Savannah a lot and am able to stay for like a week or so here and there because no school so I'm looking forward to just spending time with all of them this Summer! Then my hubbs and I are off to Vegas for our first trip EVER alone in July with some friends so that'll be a blast very excited and can't wait!

Well ttyl and have a great rest of the week and weekend!

Vegas Challenge!

So here I am starting my own Vegas Challenge! I want to get in tip top shape for Vegas in 9 weeks and I gotta get cracking! Haha...Diet and Exercise over haul basically!

Weigh in tomorrow and updates weekly to see my progress. Might take before and after pictures not sure just yet we shall see!

Here goes .... wish me luck!

YOGA?

Hello loves! I am thinking of purchasing this Yoga Meltdown by Jillian Michaels. I've heard Yoga can actually be really good to tighten and lift etc. I've been doing Turbo Fire this entire week and also going to start Brazil Butt Lift (Don't Laugh haha) next week for 4 weeks! But I am going to run to Target and get this Yoga workout to do in the morning probably or night not sure and to do along with my cardio. So yes that's twice the workout in one day but hey the results don't lie.

I've started back with watching what I'm eating. I started at like 156 lbs and now I am 139.1 lbs. So that is a 13.9 lb loss! YAY! I def can tell a difference in my face, clothes, etc. so def happy about that. My goal is to get to at least 135 lbs but don't know. We will see how my body maintains it. I'm more concerned with toning and tightening haha. That's more important to me than anything. Losing inches will get you in smaller sizes! Remember that...

Well off to get Yoga I go and I might do it today not sure but I will let you know how it goes and what I think of it! Never done Yoga so should be interesting haha....Adios!

Easter 2011

My girls!

Very thankful and blessed!

He is RISEN!!!

A-Day!

Me & Chad at the ATO House in Tuscaloosa!

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!

Me and the Hubbs went to the A-Day game this year since we never get to attend any games haha but it was a lot of fun! We dropped the girls off with his Aunt and then headed to T-town and man was it packed! Seriously we parked SO far away but it was worth it. The game was fun (although I don't enjoy football) but Chad had a good time watching! Then we headed to see the new ATO house they are building which is massive! Then went to the party at the old house to celebrate the new house haha. We had fun though! Hopefully we will be able to attend some home games this year in Tuscaloosa!

Roll Tide!

Three Tall Trees!!

THREE TALL TREES...

So today was Madison's 1st performance at Briarwood, where she attends K5 and I have to say I was very proud of her and all the other kids! They did amazing! It was so amazing to see what hard work they put in (especially all the teachers, etc.) and what they are learning and being taught. I am so incredibly blessed and thankful that my children are apart of Briarwood and that they will attend school there! It's a blessing!

I should be ordering the CD soon because my mom (Mimi) lives in Savannah and obviously isn't able to attend everything so I'm going to order it so she can watch it when I visit this summer! Another surprise was Miss Emily! She did SO well during the performance! The performance started at 9am so I wasn't able to take her to school so she came with us and she was great! She must have been impressed as well because she didn't make a peep haha. All in all it was a great day! I enjoyed being home with my girls and I am SO excited that in 21 days I will officially be a SAHM (stay-at-home mom). Obviously I've been a mom since Madison was born and she was born in 2004, but you understand what I mean. Ever since I had Madison I was either in college (Univ. of Alabama) or teaching PreK so I've always done something. I'm very excited that I am able to stay home with my girls, although they will be in school, but I'm excited to able to volunteer more, concentrate on my girls, my house and my hubby. There is no more important job for a woman than make her house a home and raising her children. I'm super excited! It's very funny though, I never EVER thought I would be at SAHM because I was the type that thought most SAHM were lazy or didn't want to work, etc. but boy did I stick my food in my mouth on that one because having 2 children, one in school is a lot! You are busy! You definitely aren't lazy or sit around for that matter! So I'm excited! I'll be able to blog more too hopefully!

The countdown begins....21 more days until the end of school! Can't wait!!

Also....my hubby and I will be flying to Vegas in July for 5 nights! We are meeting up with one of my sorority sisters and her hubby and some other folks for a couple of nights then the last two nights we will be on our own! We are very excited to be able to get away for a week! We never had a honeymoon or ever been anywhere without the girls so it'll be nice but different. Also my first time on an airplane. So here goes!

Adios amigos and amigas!

Where have I been?

WHOA! Here I am ... back in the action! haha...yea I've been MIA for awhile. Sorry for that! So my last post clearly stated that I did not need to have surgery on my gallbladder but I went to the surgeon and it ended up I DID need to have surgery haha. I had surgery this past Friday and he basically said it was "infected/diseased" and it was good I got it out so that's good to know! But I do have to remain on a low-fat diet just to get the digestion down and stuff because some folks have major digestive problems when they eat really fatty foods and have to "run" to the bathroom (if you know what I mean). So yea...basically I'm back with losing weight!

Anywho I will update everyone on that tomorrow. I weighed like 144 before I had surgery and now I weigh like 145 or something idk. I was like 150 after surgery but that's because of the bloating/swelling. Which is annoying because I'm still swollen a little bit so that sucks but it'll go away. I don't know when I can exercise...hopefully next week! I'm gonna walk on the treadmill next week and just do that next week because I'm too scared to run or do TurboFire like I usually do. Those are intense workouts so I don't think I will do all that mess just yet! But I'm gonna ask the doc Friday when I go for my follow-up. We shall see!

Adios amigos!

No Surgery!

So today I went back to the doctor and he gave me great news! I don't have to have surgery right now so that is great news but I do have to watch my diet. I need to be on a low fat diet and watch my fat intake basically. Yes those are the same thing haha....I have no idea why I just typed both of those haha. But anywho...

He did tell me that I will probably have to have it taken out eventually but not right now and I think as long as I watch my fat intake I'll be good to go. So I'm really gonna have to watch that, which will be hard for me haha. I usually eat lots of mexican or anything like that but fried stuff, spicy stuff will be no more for me because that'll just set it into motion again which can't happen.

Wish me luck!

CIRCUS 2011

How great was the Circus?

It was the first time we all went together and I must say the girls had a BLAST! It was SO much fun! Madison loved it and wanted to be one of the dancers (of course) and Emily got a little bored after awhile but I could have told you that was going to happen, nothing seems to fascinate her really haha. So yeh after about an hour she got bored. But she still enjoyed it!

On another note...how is my weight loss going? Extremely well actually! I started this journey at 156 lbs and I now weighed in today at 145 lbs! Woohoo! So I've lost 11 lbs to date so far! And I'm really just watching what I eat and exercising 6x's a week. Also eating a little low-carb because that is what is working for me. Trying to eat more fruits/veggies so yep very excited about that! I'd like to weigh 135 or something like that so only 10 lbs away from my goal! YAY!

Well adios and I'll blog later!

NEW Beginnings!

So I obviously haven't posted in forever but here I am!

This post is basically about NEW beginnings that I am SO excited about! I can't describe how thrilled I am to be able to do this! I have taught PreK for the past 5 years and also received my B.S. in Education so I've done it awhile (or at least I think for awhile haha) ... but the point is I've been there done that. We had our evaluations this month and have been asked if we are returning next year and what we want to do basically. I thought about teaching only 3 days next year instead of the 5 that I have been doing but I actually decided this past week that I do not want to teach anymore. Nothing against teaching for sure haha..I enjoyed it while I did it and love working with kids but I think it's just time for me to move on for now and I want to stay home with my girls. Now technically my girls are old enough to be in school so they won't be with me during the day BUT my oldest will be in 1st grade next year and my youngest in K4 so she only goes a half day. But basically I'm going to be a stay at home mom! Which I have NEVER been able to do! I am so excited! Since my oldest daughter has been born I have either been in school or teaching so I've never stayed home. I'm very excited that I am blessed enough to be able to do this but I just feel like God is pulling me in that direction and has been for awhile. I've just never had the opportunity to stay home. I just want to concentration on my house, my girls and my husband. Family! That's what I want to concentrate on so I'm very excited to start this journey! Definitely will be blogging more! I also started babysitting after school this year for extra money. So I watch a little girl after school just for 2-3 hours and make pretty good money to watch her and it's so great because my girls love her and love playing with her so it works out. But I will probably watch her next year too just for a couple of hours, still extra money but I will get SO much more done during the day while the girls are at school so I won't be so tired at night by time I get to my oldest daughter's homework haha. So it's going to be very relaxing and exciting for sure! No rushing anymore and then babysitting is awesome because it's extra money for extra little things we want to do as a family and clothes, food, etc. and the girls love playing together for a little while so it def works out! I'm very thankful and blessed!

More to come...on another note I've started exercising consistently and just watching what I eat so I'm dropping the pounds that need to come off haha. Hope everybody is doing well!

2011

2011 has arrived and as you may have noticed I have deleted all of my previous post. The reason I did this was because I wanted a clean slate to start off this year. So basically here we go...

There are many things I am expecting this year to hold for my family and I and I'm very excited about them! I intend to write my Vision List for this year very soon. I've written one before but never stuck with it or kept up with it to be honest but this year I want that to be a top priority.

A Vision List is just a goal sheet basically that you pray about and believe that God is telling you specific goals for your life and your family's life.

Anywho...so basically this is a NEW year and I am always thankful for that! I don't know why but I am one who likes to start off new things with a new year or on a "Monday" or something. Not sure why I'm like that but maybe it's an OCD thing haha.

Last night and today there was an Ice Storm where I live and it was definitely interesting. It snowed like crazy last night and we were all excited for the girls to be able to play in the snow today but unfortunately it was just ice so it wasn't that fun to play in.

Here are some snapshots!