Healthy Choice Challenge Week 9

Are you ready for another week of Healthy Choice Challenge? I know its been awhile since we have done this but I figured we should all get back in the swing of things and after this there is only one week left. How did you do with the last challenge of doing a workout? Did you keep it up after your one workout or did you just do the one?

I'm going to be honest with y'all, I haven't been working out lately. Its been since before my move since I have lifted weights and actually got in a good workout. I can feel it, I feel bloated and blah. My stamina has gone way down and I always feel like I'm draggin. I have got to get back in the habit of eating healthy and working out.

So this challenge is for both of us, its something I've been putting off and trying to ignore but the pudge in my stomache is getting to big to ignore. So here we go ladies, the challenge this week is to make one healthy meal this week AND to do some form of weight lifting. I know I've never done a double dose before but its getting to the end and I think y'all can do this. I believe in you.

So lets whine and throw temper tantrums for a few minutes and then lets put on our big girl panties and do it. I know it sucks but some of the best things for you in life are not fun. I'm learning that more and more as I become a big girl. Yes I still think of myself as a child sometimes because I'm not ready to be a real grown up yet. I am embracing my time before I have to get a real job and start making big decisions about my life. 

This is the truth ladies, for all of us. 

So here are a few ideas for weight lifting, get a couple of big cans out of your pantry and do 10 lunges around your house with them. I promise if you do this a couple of times a day you will feel the burn. Another easy thing to do at home is to get a heavy book, like a big yellow phone book and sit on the ground and do an ab work-out with it. When you use the phone book it helps tone your arms as well as your core.

There are hundreds of easy workouts you can do at home in a few minutes or during commercials on TV. Just doing little things like this daily can make a huge improvement in your life and in your body. So try it ladies, see what eating healthy and working out can do for you. I promise you won't regret it.

What are you doing for this weeks challenge? 

If you are new make sure you check out Healthy Choice Challenge Week 1, HCC Week 2, HCC Week 3, HCC Week 4, HCC Week 5, HCC Week 6, HCC Week 7, and HCC Week 8 to get updated on what we are doing here.

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Bestest Best Friend

Today is my oldest and closest best friends birthday! As most of you know we reconnected after a few years of just being to busy and letting life get in the way of our friendship. So today my best friend for as long as I can remember is turning 21. She is in nursing school pursing her dreams and working so hard to achieve them. I know that someday she will be an incredible nurse and I can't wait for that day to come. Right now she works at an inpatient/rehabilitation center that means so much to me. 

The Children's Center is an incredible place in Oklahoma and a place I spent some time at after my car wreck. They do amazing things with children who have disabilities and people who need intensive rehabilitation after a serious injury. Someday I will tell you all about the children's center, for now all you need to know is my favorite nurse works there. 

All of my favorite memories growing up have Kyleigh in them. I can't remember a summer we weren't constantly together or a week we didn't stay at each others houses. I still call Kyleigh's parents mom and dad and I feel like her brother is mine. We started off as friends and grew into sisters long before we left for college. 

I think one of the reason's we have reconnected so easily is because we have always been so close. I'm pretty sure most the time we were reading each others minds growing up. I know that no matter what happens in our lives no matter where we are we can always call each other and we will be there. I am so thankful to have a friend like Kyleigh. Happy Birthday bestest best friend, I can't wait to celebrate with you! 

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Things Work Out

No matter how many times it happens it always seems to amazing me when things work out. I know that I can always rely on God and my faith in him has been tested enough times to know he is the only choice for me. But it still amazes me when things work out without me having to do anything. I am a planner and I am also a doer, I hate waiting for things to happen. So when I do wait for things and they all seem to just work out it makes me so thankful for my amazing God. 

A lot of times in my life things haven't worked out and I've had to do something about whatever the situation was. Those times I still prayed for wisdom and guidance from God so that I didn't make things worse or more complicated. So today I am sending up prayers full of gratitude for my amazing God who always takes care of me. Things have been really crazy lately but I know that when I think I'm at my limit I can always send up a prayer and find more strength. 

Happy Sunday y'all, send up a prayer of gratitude for the blessings in your life today. 

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How do you do it?

These last few weeks have been complete chaos for me. I moved into a new apartment, started a new job, and started classes at a new school. In the last few weeks I have not unpacked everything yet, I have not learned how to do everything at work, and I have not prepared for class like I should. I have been stressed to the max and a grumpy bear to Jarr. I haven't had time to breathe much less worry about blogging. I am currently working 40+ hours a week, going to class full time, and trying to have some sort of a social life. 

I found this guy in a parking garage at school. I thought he was pretty neat. 

I'm going to be honest, its not working. I'm not getting enough sleep, I'm not eating healthy at all, I have no time to myself and I haven't worked out in weeks. I don't know how people do it, how do people work full time jobs and go to school? I know people do but I just don't understand how. 

After this next week I am talking to my boss about cutting my hours. I just can't do it, school is my number one priority and I just can't give it my all when I'm working this much. I have no social life to speak of right now and when I'm not in class or at work I'm sleeping. I will never understand how people do this and also find time to spend with their loved ones. 

Every night when I get off work or out of class Jarr comes over and he watches tv while I sleep on the couch. He doesn't complain that we haven't actually spent any time together since I started my job and he doesn't make me feel bad for never making dinner and my house being a complete mess. He lets me sleep while I pretend to be watching tv with him and he never says anything while I drool all over him. 

So this whole thing is to let you know what has been going on in my crazy life the last few weeks. I am hoping that after next week things won't be as crazy and I can actually get caught up on things. I would like to be able to unpack all my stuff and to buy grocieres. I would also like to be able to spend time with Jarr when I'm not sleeping. 

So here is my question for all of you who do this, how do you do it? How are you making things work? 

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Peaks, Pits, Praises, Prayers

Well y'all its been a crazy few weeks. I am finally back in my apartment and bug free! So the unpacking process has begun and things are a mess because I don't want to hang anything up on the walls yet until I decide where I want things to go. So I have boxes of decorations and things lined up along the walls. I only have gatorade, water, and ketchup in my fridge and I still don't have any cookware so there hasn't been any cooking going on. 

This week at work I covered two shifts for some ladies and I am pooped. Its been a long week and I still have to work tomorrow night. Its been a long week and I am just ready to finally have everything unpacked and my house to be a home. So my goal this weekend while I'm not at work is to finish unpacking everything and do a few touch up paint jobs around the house. 

So right now I feel like I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Classes start on Monday and I get to try and figure out how to balance a full time class load with a 30 hour work week. It is going to be interesting to see how things go and hopefully I can handle it and have some sort of social life. We shall see for sure. 

This week my big sister Mal got into Optometry school in San Antonio. There are only 26 optometry schools in the US and it is a huge honor for her to get in the first round. So this week she quit her job, packed up and moved to San Antonio, found an apartment and started orientation yesterday. Things are definitely going to be different with her 8 hours away from home. I have an aunt that lives in Austin though so at least she has some family close by. 

Now onto the good stuff. 

Peaks of the week- Definitely spending all of my free time with Jarr. He isn't working this year because he has a really hard class load and we have got to spend a TON of time together, he has also been a life saver with my house. He has helped me paint, bomb, clean, organize, and decorate. 

Pits of the week- working so much overtime this week has definitely worn me out, I'm not even finished with my work week and I'm pooped. Realizing that summer is over and I spent the majority of it working and I didn't go to the lake one single time. 

Praises of the week- I am praising God that Mal got into optometry school. She has worked really hard to have the GPA and test scores to get in and she deserves it. I'm also praising God for my amazing friends who always seem to know exactly what I need. 

Prayers of the week- I am praying I can get over this cough I have had for the last 3 weeks soon. I am praying that Mal does good at school and that she doesn't get homesick so far away. I'm also praying that this school year goes well and I make some friends at school. 

What are your Peaks, Pits, Praises, and Prayers for the week?

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Hot Mama's Run

I WON I WON!!! I never win anything and this is the first time I have entered a giveaway and actually won something! Thanks so much to Pineapple Lily I won a free entry to this amazing 5K.

To all my fellow women, if you are an Okie then pay attention because this is just for you. There is a 5K going on in September for all the Hot Mama's and Hot females in Oklahoma. It is for an incredible cause and you can run or WALK the 5K. There is also a baby parade that you can show off your little cuties at.

This is such a great cause because all of the profits go to the Regional Food Bank and to the Backpack program at schools. The Backpack program provides backpacks with food for kids to eat on weekends when they aren't at school and don't get a meal every day. You would be appalled at how many kids last meal is on Friday and they don't get another until Monday when they get to school. Child hunger is a problem everywhere but we need to help the kids right here in our backyards while we can.

I will be running/walking this race with some of my best friends and sorority sisters. I hope to see all of you lovely ladies there supporting us or right beside me in the race. This is such a great cause and it won't be in the heat of the Oklahoma summer. So go and sign up at Hot Mama's Run and start getting ready for the race in September!

If you are participating please let me know and we can meet up before or after the race! I would love to meet you!

Hot Mama's Run

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Healthy Choice Challenge Week 8

It's that time again y'all, how was the water challenge? Did you find it difficult to drink water every time you were hungry? I'm going to be honest this was hard for me to do but I think it really did help with my portion control. I've been trying to do this everyday so it definitely helped that it was our challenge and I dedicated one day to actively thinking about drinking water before eating.

This last week has been so crazy with my move and I haven't had much time to work out because I have been crazy busy packing and unpacking things and trying to get rid of all of the bugs in my apartment. So the last thing on my mind this last week has been working out and let me just tell you I can feel it. I have felt really weak without my normal workout and I have definitely been feeling a fatigue. Its amazing how just a little workout everyday can make such a big impact on your daily energy level.

Well me and Jarr haven't found a gym yet because we haven't had any free time to go and look for one. We are hoping to find one this week so we can get back into our workout routine and start a routine here. So if you have any suggestions for gyms in the metro of Oklahoma please let me know!

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This will always be the hardest part for me, I tend to put things off if I am not excited about them and working out is not an exciting thing for me. But this quote is so true and something I continuously try to do, not wait and just get things done. 

This week's challenge is going to be doing some kind of workout. I know its a big step up from any of the other challenges but I have faith in y'all. I don't care what kind of workout you do, as long as you sweat. You can do yoga, kickboxing, go for a run, a walk, do some crunches, run up and down your stairs a few times, or go for a bike ride. There are countless things you can do for a workout so just pick one and try to have fun with it.

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So ladies, lets make a choice to try something new. Because if not now, then when?

If you are new to the Healthy Choice Challenge make sure to check out the previous week's to find out what is going on and why we are doing the Healthy Choice Challenge. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7

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Infested

Well as you all know I am in the process of moving into my very own place. I was welcomed to my new home by a few unexpected and unwelcome guests. I have cockroaches. Not just a few here and there, all over the entire apartment. To say I have been frustrated with this setback would be a slight understatement.

I have bombed my apartment twice and that still didn't get rid of them all. So thankfully my landlords had an exterminator come in and spray everything. After the exterminator came I bombed my apartment one more time and crossed my fingers. Yesterday was my first day at work so I didn't get to check out my apartment and do anything with it until about 8 last night.

I saw one cockroach and I killed it and then used some spray to get all around the area it was in. I also vacuumed my apartment really well and swept the kitchen and bathroom. I aired everything out and turned my air conditioner back on and decided to leave it for the night and actually work on things today.

Today I cleaned, I vacuumed again twice and sprayed all of the baseboards and behind the fridge and oven. I aired things out again and I repainted the baseboards and trim in my apartment. I also finally set up my bed and put a few things in their place. I also put up a ceiling fan today in my bedroom with the help of Jarr. Unfortunately I'm still not unpacked enough to stay there and its a maze to get through the house.

So hopefully I will actually be able to move in and start unpacking things now so I don't have to sleep on an air up mattress at Jarr's apartment much longer. This was a completely unexpected turn of events and I'm going to be honest it's stressing me out. I started a new job Monday and everything I own is stuck in a roach infested apartment.

They don't prepare you for things like this in school. So I'm pretty clueless on what to do here and how to handle this situation. I refuse to live in an apartment with roaches everywhere because that is gross and a major health hazard. So I have bombed my apartment 3 times, it has been sprayed by a professional twice and the second time he used two different sprays. I also have a big bottle of Raid roach killer I spray on any moving thing I see.

I can honestly say I am paranoid. If I see something move it gets sprayed, I have been a freak when I open up my boxes of stuff and Jarr thinks I am a nut case because I scream when I see shadows of things that might be bugs in my boxes of stuff. So lets just say it has been a very interesting day of unpacking things.

So I am asking for prayers that this all goes smoothly and also for advice. What have you done in situations like this? Is there anything I can do to make this not happen again? Any and all advice would be appreciated because I'm really clueless here.

Peaks, Pits, Praises, Prayers

Its been one of those weeks where you plan to get all of these things done and then the end of the week comes and a lot of them aren't accomplished. Today is moving day and by the end of the day I will probably want to pull all of my hair out. Just knowing that I am going to a house that needs to be completely cleaned before I can put anything away is already stressing me out. Also knowing that the high is 111 tomorrow and my AC isn't on makes me sweat a little. 

So today I will be a crazy person with a mission and hopefully by the end of the day my house will be in some order and I will be able to sleep some without thinking about all the things I need to accomplish. I have never moved this many things before and I have never had my own place so this is a whole new experience for me. It has been quite interesting so far and I am sure there will be many more challenges along the way. 

This is me and Jarr snorkeling in Cozumel, I love this picture of us in our masks.

This is me and Kyleigh before our dinner last weekend, it went amazing for those of you wondering and I'm so glad we met up! Her dog also insisted on being in the picture and kept posing with us. 

Now onto what this post is all about. 

Peaks of the week- having my last day at work and saying goodbye to this chapter of my life, as well as starting a new one and moving into my new house today. Seeing Skye tonight and spending time with her, I am really looking forward to that. 

Pits of the week- by far my biggest pit this week was finding a dead mouse in one of my Ugg boots. I screamed and wanted to cry, thankfully Jarr was there and disposed of the mouse while I pouted like a baby. I am crossing my fingers and praying I can figure out some way to clean my boot so it is wearable again. 

Praises of the week- Having some amazing friends and family who have been so great about our move and have helped lots. My mom came and helped me and Jarr paint on Wednesday and that made things go so much quicker. I also and so thankful and grateful for Jarr, I seriously have no idea what I would do without him. I have been a big brat most of this week and he has just put up with it and let me be a whiny baby. This move has been really stressing me out and I will be really glad to have it over with. 

Prayers of the week- I am praying that our move goes smooth today and that nothing gets lost or broken along the way. I am praying that I get everything unpacked and in its place in a timely manner. I also am praying that my sister finds out about school soon and things go as planned for her. 

What are you Peaks, Pits, Praises, and Prayers for the week?

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