Prayers for Oklahoma

I don't have an update today,  because I've been glued to the television and watching the devastation taking place in Oklahoma.

My heart breaks for them and I just cannot pray enough.  The Lord is close to the broken hearted.

Donate what you can, but more than anything... pray!  Pray for peace and pray for strength and pray for comfort.

Lord of all, have mercy!

Weekend Wrap Up in Photos

This weekend was great... a low key, great weekend!

I started it off at what I like to call the "$150 bottle of shampoo store" (Target).  I wanted some new workout tanks and boy did I find them.  They keep me motivated, so I buy them.  Find what works for you and do it!  Rocking cute tanks... it works for me.  Target has some cute ones... get there NOW!

Speaking of Target...

 Can someone PLEASE explain this?!  A million lanes and TWO of them open.  Yes, those are LINES of people waiting to check out.  Seriously, Target?!

 Headed home for a quick workout and looked down and saw that I had burned 327 calories and decided to keep going to 350.  I looked down and saw that I had burned 362 calories and decided to go for 400... and here is where I ended up.  I might have a problem...

 After my workout, I cleaned up and headed to Margarita Mania with my boys.  We have been doing this every Friday for over 2 years and we LOVE it!  Just hanging out with my boys and talking, while enjoying great mexican food and margaritas... What could be better?!

Saturday Morning we woke up and headed to the track.  While Big D is the BEST support system in the world, his pace is KILLER.  I'm pretty sure I was near death.  I thought our fat was crying all over the pavement, but it turns out it was just tequila.

 We went to see my nephew's baseball game.  I would drop anything to spend time with this kid... He is my heart and I adore him.  His personality and cutie pie looks will get him in oh-so-much trouble one day.

 Big D took us out for Linner and we settled on a BIG, FAT, OOEY, GOOEY, JUICY Cheeseburger and Big D assured me that I had earned it.  Who am I to argue with him???

 Sunday was Beta Sigma Phi's Girl of the Year Tea hosted by my BEAUTIFUL chapter.  These girls always go above and beyond to make each event just fabulous and we succeeded again.  What a WONDERFUL day filled with great food, belly laughs and lots of champs!

Hope your weekend was filled with everything that keeps you happy!

Women – Build Me Up Buttercup

Why do women insist on tearing each other down? Don’t we know how HARD it is to be a woman? Why can’t we encourage each other, build each other up and praise each other?

Is it jealousy?

Is it unhappiness within one’s self?

What is it?

Growing up, the majority of my friends were guys. They were drama free, non-judgemental listeners and I loved it. Every bit of it!

However, I had a best friend in high school who was high-strung (we’ll call her High-Strung Holly) and although she was a great friend who experienced some of the most exciting things in my life with me, she exhausted me. High-Strung Holly is what I like to consider a Spazmatic and would fly off the handle in response to any situation that went awry. One night Big D had a poker party and didn’t contact her boyfriend to play. Big deal, whatevs, move on. YEAH RIGHT! Boy did I hear about it… Over and over and over again and after that… we didn’t talk anymore. Her decision, Not Mine and it was probably better that way.

I stood up for myself and that really seems to throw people for a loop, because I’m normally a go-along-to-get-along-girl. I didn’t need (I don’t need) that drama and did not deserve the lashing from someone who claimed to be my friend. Build each other up, don’t tear each other down!

(This is bologna... BTW)

I read an article recently, which stated that we become like the five people we hang around most. WHAAAT?! REALLY?! Do we?! Does that get you thinking? It definitely got me thinking.

In college I met a girl who I will refer to Negative Nancy. I did not realize how much we become like those that we hang around UNTIL I met Negative Nancy. I would share stories that made me happy, she would find something negative in them and y’all, I begin to think of the negatively too. The stories that she shared were rarely positive, but I enjoyed her company. Little did I know, I began thinking negatively too! After talking with others and MUCH evaluation, I decided (after trying 2 times before) that walking away from the friendship was best. I cannot even begin to explain the overwhelming sense of relief that I had. Positive things WILL happen when you distance yourself from the negative!

Moving on… I began surrounding myself with positive women, who wanted to watch me grow and truly wanted me to succeed and who told me they were proud of me and actually meant it. What a great feeling! There are still times that I have to take a step back and re-evaluate and I am not afraid to make changes if necessary, but I am truly blessed and grateful for the Positive Pattys in my life.

This is not something new… This is something that has been around forever and will continue to be around, but we don’t have to let it affect us. Find common ground. Praise each other. Encourage each other. Tearing each other down hurts ALL women. 

Today, try to encourage the women in your life.  Give them a compliment, bring a smile to their face, because I can PROMISE you that it will bring a smile to your face too!

Weekend Wrap Up - Mothers Day

What a weekend!  A GREAT weekend! 

(WARNING: Photo Overload)

Friday night Big D had a bachelor party, so it was just Lil Man, Chili Palmer and Me.  We watched Full House, ate Pizza and snuggled.  Can't think of anything better!

Saturday stared as a Mothers Day Celebration with my Mother and Sister.  I threw on some pants that haven't fit me in quite some time.  A cute top and accessoried to take on the day!

I picked up my Mom and Sister and we headed out for a FUN evening.

(My Sister HATES for her photo to be taken, but I think she's BEAUTIFUL so I take them anyway!)

 Our first stop... Dinner at Chuys!  Who does Dream of Creamy Jalapeno sauce?!  Seriously good stuff and I'd save all of my calories forever just to have it.

Mom and I shared (Yes, shared... Miracle, I know!) a Frozed Peach Sangria Margarita and it was SO GOOD!

 

Next stop: The Painting Pub

My Sister put together this outing and my Mother could not be any happier!

We love this place and it was AWESOME!

Of course I had to order a bottle of wine... What's a girls night out without wine?!  BORING!

Here's a few pics of Mom and Steph painting... They take this stuff SERIOUSLY!

 Our finished masterpieces!  I love how we took the same classes, but our paintings vary.

 Sunday - Mother's Day - Started with the sweetest cards and a few gifts.  Now, I LOVE gifts, but I love cards more.  Always have, Always will.

 Big D went on a morning jog with me and he is just incredible when it comes to supporting me!  Almost as good as the freaking UA sports bra that I had to sufficate in.

 The boys made me a grilled fajita chicken salad, we watched the breakfast club and enjoyed chocolate covered strawberries.  Perfect in every way!

 My Lil Man wanted to play a game of pool with me and he takes this game VERY seriously... Like WAY SERIOUSLY!  I beat him!  Take THAT Lil Man!



I hope you have a VERY Happy Mothers Day and if you aren't Mothers, I hope you had an AMAZING weekend!

Tabata Intervals

If you have never heard of Tabata, it’s become a very popular form of exercise. It’s 20 seconds of HIGH intensity training followed by 10 seconds of rest and repeated for 8 burst total, for a total of 4 minutes. This is your typical Tabata Intervals; however, there are others out there and they all have the similar balls-to-the-wall approach.

I had never heard of Tabata until Lori over at FatToFit41 posted about it. She had me at 20 seconds of intense workout, followed by 10 seconds of rest. On Demand has a 19 minute video, which includes a warm up and cool down. HELLOOOOOO… I can do ANYTHING for 20 seconds, so I tried it!

Are you kidding me right now?

Tabata is one TaB*tchin’ Workout! You will sweat A LOT and will feel the burn during the workout, but the two days following will make you cuss ever trying it. Your body will hurt getting out of bed, climbing the stairs, and don’t even think about sitting down on the toilet, because you’ll never be able to get up! I guess that means it’s working!  Better sore than sorry. 

You don’t workout? You don’t have time? No more excuses!  Give Tabata a try... YOU deserve it!

Tabata is high intensity, in a short period of time and absolutely worth the effort.

Can’t find Tabata on On Demand? Try this video I found on YouTube (Burn Fat in 4 Minutes - Tabata Intervals )… Just think of Brad as your personal trainer (He’s not bad to look at either).

Get Moving and Give it your BEST! Be a better you than yesterday!

Calorie Counting - Doing It Right

After having my May 1st Meltdown (yeah, that’s what we'll call it), I was looking over my log on My Fitness Pal and something stood out to me. Something SMALL! My calorie count was that something small! I have my calorie intake set at 1348 calories a day, which isn’t bad… Right? WRONG! Pairing this intake of calories with my workout routine was leaving me averaging about 1,000 calories a day. HELLOOO! Hungry Tummy! Starving body! SLOW Metabolism! This might just be the reason that my weight-loss was only 1.5 pounds in 3 and half weeks. Starvation does not work! Your body needs fuel and requires fuel in order to function properly!  Period.

Here is the summary of my Net Calories (Pay no attention to Fat Girl Fridays – they are my well-deserved cheat days and I ALWAYS stay below 1,500 calories that day. I earned it!)

Want to know something else? My Fitness Pal LIES! It LIES! I know what you’re thinking… Uhhhh… Excuse me?!

I hate to break the news to you, but you will not be the projected weight MFP tells you that you will be in 5 weeks, you will be the weight you work for, the weight you earn! Do NOT use My Fitness Pal as your lifeline, use it as a guideline to help make you aware of what you are feeding your body.

Do not intake below 1,200 calories a day and the more you burn, the more you will need to eat. This is what I forgot to do and my body suffered. Moderation is key, starvation is killer! The better you eat, the better you feel.

I’m going to use my advice and increase my caloric intake on the days that I increase my movement and I will continue to drink a minimum of 80 ounces of water a day. I have hope that it will make a difference.

Until then, today is Fat Girl Friday and I am going to drink it up! (And yes, I DO include this in my calorie count.)

Whatever you decide to do today, be your best!

Finish the Sentence

Finish the Sentence Time...

Unlike my sibling(s) (that I love very much)... I read... I enjoy reading and I REALLY should make more time to read.

My best friend says... - We have to be friends forever, we know too much about each other.  She's right y'all!

People call me... all the time asking me to help them with something or just to lend an ear.  I always do, because you just never know when you might need them.

I most often dream... - dreams that I can't remember much of, but they always include people I see daily or talk to often.

The best part of my day... is sitting down as a family for dinner each night and just enjoying the time together.

I really don't understand... why everyone can't just get along!  Seriously people, life is short!

I get really annoyed... when I receive a text message that only says "K".  Am I not good enough for the "O"?! 

There's nothing like a... a short weekend getaway with someone I love most.  Whether it be my girls or my boys!

Lately, I can't get enough... Sleep!  I sleep 8 hours, but is it GOOD sleep?!  I think not!

One thing I am NOT is... Confident.  I am confident when it comes to my job and my family, but my appearance and self-worth, that's another story.

I spent too much money on... Vehicles and I am only 31 and on my 10th vehicle.  Worst Investment EVER!

I want to learn.... that I can't make everyone happy, so I should just refocus on making myself happy.

If I ever met _________, If I ever met Dwayne Johnson, I would demand that he marry me on the spot! 

I can't stop... watching Reality TV. It makes me realize that my life isn't so bad! 

Never have I ever... learned how to swim.  I bought built-in floating devices instead.  I kid, I kid... Sorta.

Reese Witherspoon... is a doll!