Time for something new!

The above picture represents me in a supermarket.  For some reason, I really look forward to going to the supermarket now. You would think that me being on a diet, would make this one of my LEAST favorite things but suprisingly it's not. I find it very exciting to find a new healthy meal that I can make. I know, my life, so exciting, haha..... But really, if I try to eat junky food now, I start to get a tummy-ache.....I guess this is good, but I still miss my cheesecakes, I really do, I can't have them anymore. I try to occasionally though, because they just taste so good! :)

I was in Richmond the other weekend, and I decided to try something new. I bought some Cascadian Farms Skinny Fries  I really liked them. I let Scott have one. He was curious to see what they tasted like. He didn't like them. Honestly, since I haven't had fries as much as I used to, these fries tasted wonderful to me. Scott said they were yucky different, I liked them!!

People always say that when you do Weight Watchers it becomes a lifestyle. I understand this statement a lot better now. When you eat healthy, you get used to it, and when you try to eat the junk food you used to, you can handle little amounts, but not huge amounts. (I could handle some huge amounts of junk food in the past, trust me, but not anymore!)

That's all for now! :) Happy Wednesday, tomorrow is my birthday! The big 2-7 for me! My last birthday before I am a married woman! :)

Favorite Quotes and Open House Info!!

Hey everyone!! :)

Today I just wanted to share some of my favorite quotes. I love finding new quotes, and I often find myself buying anything that has a quote on it that I like. One of these days, I am going to end up getting something personalized through Thirty One Gifts with a quote on it here soon, just give me time, hehe.

So here are some of my FAV quotes:

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Others stay a while and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never ever the same."

"What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Laugh until your cheeks hurt."

"We each take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other, everywhere." -Tim McGraw

"When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure."

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take our breath away."-Hilary Cooper

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -Abe Lincoln

"We don't remember days, we remember moments." -Cesare Pavese

"Live well, Laugh Often, Love Much"

"The best thing about me is you"

"The best thing about the future is that is comes one day at a time." -Abe Lincoln

"I love you, not for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you." -Roy Croft

"If you love something, let it go. If it comes back to you, its yours forever. If it doesn't, then it was never meant to be."

"To the world you are one person, but to one person you are the world."

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." -Anon

"You are what I never knew I always wanted."

"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't."-Erica Jong

"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you will die today." James Dean

"Write it on your heart, that the ones you love are life's most precious gifts."

"Love captures us in a moment and changes us forever."

"Grow old along with me the best is yet to be." -Robert Browning

"I believe that when you capture a smile, you hold one of life's greatest treasures." -Annie Danielson

"We don't laugh because we are happy, we are happy because we laugh." -William James

"Dance like no one is watching, Love like you'll never get hurt, Sing like no one is listening, Live like it's heaven on earth." -William Purkey

"A kiss is just a kiss until you find the one you love. A hug is just a hug until you find the one your always thinking of. A dream is just a dream until it comes true. Love is just a word until it is proven to you."

**************************

And now on to my THIRTY ONE GIFTS OPEN HOUSE! :)

I am having my first "Thirty One Gifts" Open house. It is going to be on April 11th from 2-4. Since it is an open house, you can come at anytime between those hours. It is very relaxed and laid back. You will come, just take a look at some of the items, look at the catalogs, etc... It's really just to give you an idea of what they sell. Since I had never heard of Thirty One Gifts before, I have a feeling that not many people have been to one of these parties. It just took me looking at one catalog to realize that I really loved their items.

They are super cute items, and many of them can be personalized for an additional low cost. Cute stuff for children, and for adults! :) If you can't make it to the open house, you can always look at my online page, and you can even purchase items online, if you find something you really like. You will purchase the item from the open house, even though you may not be able to attend. I opened the party up already, so purchases can be made, right up until after the 11th. 

So I guess what I am trying to do, is just show more people what the sell, because I don't think many people  know what this company has to offer, I didn't know until now.  If you want, you can host a party, show others what they sell, maybe spread the word, so more people get exposed to this company. I am trying to do that here in King George, because I don't think there is another Consultant in the area, it would be nice to have someone to work with/talk with locally, so we could learn together.

Please contact me if you need any other information from me. Remember, the open house in 4/11/2010 from 2-4 at my house. Here is my online site:

Sara's Online Thirty One Gifts Page

Talk to you all soon! :):)

Great Weekend!

Hey there! :) Hope everyone had a great weekend. Mine was pretty busy, but it was enjoyable! On Saturday, I had signed up for a 5K, so I did that in the morning. Then one of my friends Angie had her wedding. It was beautiful.  It really got me thinking that I needed to get going on my wedding. It's going to be here before I know it!! :):)

Yesterday, I went shopping with my friend Shahanna ALL DAY! :) I like days like that. Got a lot of neat things. We also needed a new rug for the living room, and I was able to find one really close to the same design as my old rug. I had just had the old one for a bit, and I needed a new one.

Goodness, I have been so busy here recently, that I almost forgot my birthday was coming up. I mean, I remembered, but usually I am counting down. I am just staying busy.

So I officially have my own Thirty One Gifts site now. Please visit it!! :):)  Feel free to ask me questions or e-mail me. I am so excited to start doing parties. Just take a look through the catalog. I just really never knew about them before, and it just took me looking at their items, to figure out that I really liked them. Since they are so new, I just wasn't exposed to the company before. I am going to have my first Open House here soon, so I will keep you posted! :):)

Thirty One Gifts

I am starting to sell products from the company Thirty One Gifts .   A while back I went to an open house, and I fell in love with this company's products!  I had never heard of Thirty One Gifts before and was surprised that they had so many products I liked! :)

Please contact me if you are interested in hosting a party. I really am excited to get the opportunity to start selling these products. I have a feeling that once you see what they have, you will like Thirty One Gifts too!

You can:

*have a party at your house (open house style)
*have a catalog party

They have bags, totes, plates, makeup bags, stationary, coasters, cases (sunglasses), wallets, diaper bags, scarves, etc.  Most of these products can have embroidery added if you want, and usually the cost is a very low. Last month, it was $1.00 total for a whole line (one name) of text.  Now it is a little bit higher, but not much.

I would love to get the opportunity to work with you on a party! :)

.....And my last giveaway, haha, just kidding

Hey there!

Above is one of my favorite stationary characters. (LuLu) I like to get Christmas Cards and other notes that feature her. I don't know why, the cards just catch my eye. You can purchase them at Madison Park Greetings.

I hope everyone had a great weekend. The winner of my giveaway is Sarah Farmer, expect your "Dare to be remarkable" piece in the mail soon. Not too many people participated, haha....maybe I need to do giveaways more people would be inclined to want. Ofcourse I love the Dare to be remarkable piece, but that's me. I knew Sarah would comment, because we have the same taste in a lot of different things. I will probably do another giveaway, but I may take a little break, haha...didn't do too sharp the first go round.....

My mom came to visit this past weekend, and it was nice to have her at the house. We went to Shortpump (An outdoor mall in Richmond, VA) and I spent waaaaay to much money. You know when you spend money, you know you shouldn't have. Don't get me wrong, I love everything I bought, I just haven't spent the time and bought myself that much in a very long time. My mom and I also went to the Craftsman Classic in Richmond, VA as well. It was a great craft show, and I saw a lot of neat things. I love going to these huge craft shows, because it gives me ideas of different things I can try, and different things I can possibly use in my wedding. I have some ideas I am thinking of using, but I am going to keep it a surprise, although, I am sure I could type plenty about the different things I spotted. :)

You know that Fast Track diet I posted about a few days ago, I don't think it's the right one for me. I gave it a shot, but I just don't feel like it is the best option. I feel better and healthier following the diet I have been since August.  I think I am going to change some things in my diet (not the amount of food, haha) Probably just the type of food. I still tend to eat processed foods sometimes.....and I can't stop completely, but I am going to try to eat less processed foods. I think my diet could use more protein too! Also, I need to switch up my workout, not just running, I need to do different things. I am still coming up with exactly what I will do.

We are still in the process of closing on our house. Only a few more weeks, I am excited!!! :):)

Anyways, I will talk to you all soon! :) Just checking in!

My very first giveaway!!

I am starting small. Just a little wooden small talk sign from Danielson Designs . I have so many of their products. They all use great quotes. If you are looking for a small gift to give to someone, this is one of my favorites.  It comes with a wooden peg that holds the sign up when setting it on a table.

Only thing you need to do is this:

Post a comment to me, directing me to a favorite item of yours that can be found online. Something you think is truly unique, an out of the ordinary gift to get someone. I will randomly select a winner.  Good luck! :) Again, it's nothing too big, but I really like it! I will announce the winner this Sunday!

Getting on the Fast Track!

Okay, so for the last few weeks, I have been sitting at the same weight. It's not going anywhere, it's not changing. So I started researching different ways to jump start my last 10 pounds of weight loss. I ran across this in a forum on DWLZ (Dottie's Weight Loss Zone).

This is supposed to help anyone on the WW diet, that has hit a plateau. These are the tips to follow, ofcourse, WW is who you want to contact about any of this if you have more questions, I am just sharing what I have read to try and show others this is out there:

1) You eat 20 points per day for no two weeks.

2) Your 35 weekly Flex Points  are not used AT ALL.  (I know, tear)

3) Remember to drink your water and eat your points in the most balanced manner possible!

4) Do NOT do Fast Track for longer than 2 weeks! To attempt to do so longer could cause damage to your metabolism and this "Fast Track" diet is just a short-term program to jump start losses.  If you feel you only need one week on this diet, then just do one week.

5) If you are exercising excessively, sticking to 20 points per day is probably not a realistic goal. Most have found eating some activity points, or just sticking to their regular Points Target is more helpful.
 
Thanks to DWLZ for helping me discover this!
 
 

 
 

Hungry?

I had to share this page. It is one of my favorites!! :)

Hungry Girl

This page has everything!! :):) It has great recipes, and they always list the WW points on all of them for the most part. I have seen some great drink recipes on this page as well. They sell books with recipes, and they all are super low in calories. One of my friends from college brought this to my attention a while back, and I am glad she did, because I probably wouldn't have found the page otherwise.  This page also gives some great suggestions under "Girls night out" for when you are out and about.  One of my favs, I had to share! :)

Quick and easy snack :)

I saw this on one of my favorite blogs, and I thought I would share it. It is super easy to make, and 3 strawberries/cream equals one weight watchers point!! :)  Here is the recipe and a link to her page.

Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes

Strawberries and Cream

Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes

Servings: 4 • Serving Size: 3 • Time: 5 minutes • Points: 1 ww pt

Inspired by Joy of Baking

•12 large strawberries, washed
•Fat free whipped topping

Cut the greens off top of strawberry so when you flip it around the strawberries sit flat. With a sharp knife cut slits all the way down the berry in an X shape, careful not to cut through. Arrange strawberries on a plate, and open them like a flower. Fill with whipped cream.

Honeymoon deposit, paid!

So today, we paid the deposit for our honeymoon cruise. I am really excited. Scott and I have both never been on a cruise, so we thought this would be the perfect honeymoon for the both of us. We are taking a cruise down to some of the Islands in the Bahamas, and then coming back. I told Scott, the Bahamas was the major place I wanted to go, so I got my wish! :) We got awesome prices too! :) Our roundtrip flights were incredibly low, I don't think I have ever paid that little for a round trip flight.  I am getting super excited about all of this!!! :)  We are doing a Royal Caribbean Cruise. I hear they are very nice. :)

Scott and I went and visited a travel agent on Saturday, and we also got a free AAA membership from booking the cruise.  We also picked out the tuxes that the guys will be wearing. I like them, I approved, haha. :) You know, you always have to approve wedding things. :)

I tried to get out of the house a lot this weekend, since it was so nice. I did a lot of walking and some running.  We are still in the process of closing on our home purchase. It's going to be right around the corner, I am hoping before the end of March! :)

My weight watchers techniques

My weight watchers advice/techniques:

* I try to get some sort of physical activity in every day. I try to run, but running is not for everyone. Walking is great too. With all this snow and cold weather it has been hard to get out as much, but in the summer, I try to get out almost every day. That has helped me a lot.

* I joined WW online for the first month. Then since September of 2009, I started doing it on my own. I have done great, and think anyone can do this without joining online. The money you save can go to so many other things.

* I went out and bought the weight watchers books, which have the point totals for just about everything. If I have a question about how many points something is, I simply look it up in the book or I google it ofcourse! :)

* I also got a ww calculator that I carry around in my purse. Its easy to pull out and calculate the points for basically anything, all you need is the calories, fat and fiber in an item.

* I have found a wonderful website that helps me soooo much. It is "Dotties Weight Loss Zone" She has already calculated the points for hundreds of foods, she has resteraunts listed, and the points for the items that they serve. You really realize what you are eating when you look at this.

My favorite low point items:

*1 1/8 ounce bag of Baked Lays (the size they have at Subway): 2 points
*Skinny Cow Fudgescicles: 1 point
*Vitatops!!! Fudgy Peanut Butter and Appleberry are my favorites: 1 point each
*Fruit Roll Ups: 1 point
*Better Start Thomas' English Muffins: 1 point for one
*Arnolds Deli Thins: 1 point
*Girl Scout Cookie, Thin Mint: 1 point a peice (Tagalongs are 2, dosidos are 1.5)
*Quizno's small cup of Chicken Noodle Soup: 2 points
*Quizno's Honey Bourbon Sub on Wheat with lettuce and sauce only: 6 points
* Tysons Chicken Patties: 3 points a peice
* White Wheat Bread and Buns: Bread is 1 point a peice, 1 point for a whole bun as well.  (I use these buns and a chicken patty
* 1/2 cup of vegetarian bush's baked beans: 2 points
*FRUIT ofcourse, my favorites are grapes, kiwis, and strawberries, and that's all I eat for the most part fruit wise.
*English Muffin with I can't believe it's not butter spray and cinnaman sugar (don't overdue it, hehe) 1.5 points (1 point) somewhere around there
*Any of the 100 calorie packs: 2-3 points, my favorites are chips deluxe cookies, cheez its and mini cheese puffs
*CANDY CIGARETTES: 1 point for a WHOLE PACK! Haha, its hard to find them, you have to order them online most of the time. Well worth the shipping though!
*Sugar Free Jello: 0 points
WW English Toffee Ice Cream Bars: 2 points
*Tuna fish kit with crackers and tuna only. flat container, not cup shaped container: 5 points
* Soup at Hand, Chicken Noodle or Vegetable: 1 point
*Cambells Select Harvest Light: 1 point for a whole big can, 0 points for half a can. (They say on the can how many points)
*3 smarties: 1 point
Special K Fruit Crisps: 1 point per crisp, 2 crisps come together.

These are just some of my favs, I hope I helped give some ideas!! :):)

It's been a while. I have posted anything since our big snow storm. Trying to get back in the habit of writing daily. 

I am going to start trying something different. Previously my blog was based around my etsy shop. It kept me occupied, and I made many different things. I made coasters for wedding, party favors, cards, tins, etc... But now I am taking a break. I have my wedding coming up, and my fiance and I are buying a house. With all that going on, I am not going to want to concentrate on etsy. I am going to be steadily working on wedding stuff/making improvements in the house we are buying (which, by the way, is the house that I grew up in) I am glad that Scott and I are actually going to be keeping the house.

So I decided my blog will take more of a direction towards tips on the weight watchers diet I have been doing since August of 2009.  I will try and give helpful hints, and tips that have worked for me. Since August I have lost 43 pounds! I only have 10 more pounds to go! It's been a journey, but glad I have been able to get to the point I am at now. If I can do anything to help others try to do the same thing I am, I will! :):)

Also, I am addicted to finding neat/unique things anywhere really. I am not going to be making any (like before) but I love to share the neat things I find. Usually the items are just gifts, things that people would like to get. (Things that I like to buy for myself as well) I am having to not spend as much, but I can always look, right!! :):)

I have found a lot of neat blogs I follow and read daily, and I now want to try to turn my blog into the blogs I love to read so much. Maybe I will even do some giveaways eventually, hehe.