HUNGRY GIRL!!! tips and tricks for hungry chicks.

So I was reading over my weekly indulgence of People Magazine (thanks to Ambie) and I came across a fabulous ad promoting an even more Fabulous website. http://www.hungrygirl.com/


If any of you out there are watching what you eat and/or are trying to shed a few pounds this website ROCKS!!! I get so stinkin sick of eating leaves (a.k.a. salads) and chicken that I could pull my hair out (deep fry it, slather it in chili and cheese, and make a meal out of it!) We all know we should eat better but I think sometimes the reason it is so hard is because, well let's face it, fattening food freakin' tastes so stinkin' good (darn it!), and I think we tend to run out of ideas of how to jazz up healthy food in a non-fattening way and we get bored. At least I know I do!


So this website has been a gift from the God's, better than Christmas, Happy Birthday to me !!! It is yummy low-fat versions of our favorite yummy, high-fat foods. They also have new news up-dates on food, recipes, daily e-mails if you'd like etc.... They even give you the POINTS of each food item, if you are a Weight Watchers member (which I am not but know a lot of you are or are familiar with)


Check it out, I did, and I am loving it. You can click on the link in this post if it will let you or I have it listed under my cool web-sites. Enjoy!!! (because you know I do)

Soccer Mom

Mason, Stockton and Chase. The 3 Soccer buddies

You see the bumper stickers of self proclaimed soccer moms all over town, on mini-vans, Suburbans, and any other large SUV that can hold a bagillion kids. Well I have now officially been added to this ever growing group of women.


We decided to sign Chase up for soccer this Spring, along with his 2 cousins, Stockton and Mason. Chase had his first meeting with his team, where the boys met their coach and team-mates (which are all girls) and ran through some drills.


There were about 10 other teams there too, so over 100 kids were doing all these drills and it was quite entertaining! They would have the kids run from one end of the field to the next. Kids were tripping over each other, dropping like flies. It was a hoot to watch.


Chase did so good. He is so excited to be playing a team sport. His team name is the Chilli Peppers, (he thought that was kind of lame and wanted to call his team the Transformers) and the coach handed out jerseys, socks and shorts to all the team. Chase wants to wear them to school but I had to explain to him that these are only for soccer.


His first game is Saturday and I am so excited to watch him. I can't believe how fast he has grown.

Mason, Stockton and Chase, stretching their muscles.

"Go Chilli Peppers!"

Chase practicing a drill

Fun at the park !!!

Thank goodness for childhood!

Me and the boys get a little tired of being couped up in the house, so me and my sisters decided to take the kids to the park for lunch. They had a good time playing with their cousins and burning some of their energy off. It gets a little CrAzY for me at times trying to keep track of all 3 of them at once, but it is always well worth the fun!

Mason, Chase, Ryan and Stockton

Jagger and Jett enjoying their lunch

Elisa Winward with baby Emily and my sister, Shanelle with baby Abbie

IN NEED OF SOME NEW TUNES....ANY SUGGESTIONS???

So working out has been great, especially when you have rockin' music to work out to. I will be running on the treadmill and start getting a little pooped out and then all of a sudden I hear, Kanye West sing into my ear,"That, that, that, that which won't kill me, can only make me stronger......" and I am pumped again and start to pick up the pace and get completely re-motivated. What would I ever do without my MP3 player?!?!?
So, to all of you who work out to music, please do share what it is you are listening to while you do it. I need up-beat music with a fast beat. No slow love songs or soft rock (sorry, Keelee, Kenny Loggins won't do this time) Right now I have some Nelly, Black Eyed Peas, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Nelly Furtado to name a few. My MP3 only holds like 64 songs so I am getting tired of the same old thing.
Please leave me some suggestions, I would love it!

A "Holler" to my girls! You guys Rock!

I would like to give a big Holler to the women in my life, Amber, Shanelle, Brooke, Mom, and Amber, my sis-in-law. You guys are so inspiring and I am so proud of you all. These wonderful and beautiful girls have taking on a beast of challenge of losing weight and together, the 6 of us have lost well over 100 pounds. Yay for us!!!

Amber, my oldest sister and neighbor has been the best work out buddy and huge help in my weight loss goals. Without her, I am not sure if I would be able to drag my butt out of bed every morning at 4:41 a.m. to go to the gym. You are awesome Ambie! Thanks for your help, you kick butt.

Shanelle and my mom joined Weight Watchers a little over 2 months ago and Shanelle has already lost 19 pounds, and my mom has lost 11 pounds. I am so excited for them both, especially mom, because she has always wanted this.

Brooke has rocked, I am not sure exactly how much weight she has lost but I know she has gone from a size 14/15 to an 8 and looks absolutely amazing. Keep it up B-Dog!

Amber Hatch-Blake, the only words that justify her weight loss are excplicit ones so use your imagination !!! The first time I saw her after she moved back from St. George and had loss the majority of her weight, the first thought in my head was HOLY $#!%. I would guess before her weight loss she was a size 9/10 and now can easily slide into a size 2/4. You are truly my hero and one of the reasons I decided I could do this.

You all are and have always been beautiful girls. But now, you are all SeXy MoMmA's!!! Thanks for your inspiration and motivation. I love you all. Keep it up!

All of us girls dining out at the Cheesecake Factory.

Up-date on "Bob".

So it has been almost 2 weeks since I first introduced, "Bob". I will update on my weight loss every 2 weeks and a new picture every month. I was 166 lbs. last time I posted about my weight loss, and I am now 163.5 lbs. I do flucuate from morning to evening by a pound and a half or so, but my clothes are still telling me the truth.


I have upped (is that even a word?) my workouts now, i am cycling 2 days a week on Mondays and Thursdays, and have added Power Pump, which is a strength training class that focuses on your upper body, every Tuesday, and Cardio Circuit, which is a mix of strength training and cardio, that focuses on your core and lower body, every Friday. Wednesday is a free day which I usually run 2.5 miles so I can build my running endurance. (remember, I have 5K coming up in May and a 10K coming up in August). Saturdays and Sundays are my recovery days. I am still living the South Beach way and it has been great.


I am starting to feel like it is going to take more effort ridding my body of these last 30 pounds. I think my body likes to be at this weight. That is why I have decided to up my work-outs. The first 20-25 lbs were easy, I was surprised how quickly they came off. I have a feeling this next round of weight loss isn't going to be a walk in the park, so I know that I have to be extra careful and watch my portions and really make my work-outs worth the effort. Wish me Luck.

Lost: 26.5 pounds

still to go: 30.5 pounds

YMCA Healthy Kids Day

Today was a busy Saturday for us. James left this morning at 6:00 a.m. to be to the University of Utah (go Utes!) so he could take his FE Exam for civil engineering. YAYYYYY!!!! He is almost finished with school so if he passes that test he will be an officially licensed Civil Engineer. (Cross your fingers everyone) With James gone that left me alone all day with my 3 boys. We had a 9:00 baptism and confirmation to go to. So I was up at 7:30, got ready, fed the kids, dressed them all, got myself ready, and was off. It was a fun day. My niece, Kelsie was baptised today and I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost.

Kelsie's Baptism Day. These are some of my nieces and nephews eating breakfast afterward.

After her baptism was over, I wanted to take the boys somewhere fun since we were all dressed and the day was turning out to be so nice. I took them to the park by the Taylorsville City Building. We love this park and go there all the time. It just so happen to be that the YMCA was putting on a "healthy kids fair". So after the boys played on the slide and swings for an hour or so we decided to check it out. It eneded up being a fun day. They met Grizz, the mascot for the Utah Grizzlies hockey team (the twins especially loved that) They got some healthy snacks to munch on, their faces painted, they fished for prizes, finger painted, played hockey, and Chase got to climb a rock climbing wall. He did so good. I couldn't believe it!

Chase having fun finger-painting

The twins "fishing" for prizes

Chase "fishing" for prizes.

Chase getting a "dragon" painted on his faces

Chase liked taking a whack at hockey

They had so much fun but were so pooped out. So we came home had a light lunch and I layed them all down for a nap. It was a fun day.

Chase loved climbing the rock wall

On his way down off the wall. "Good job, Buddy!"

The boys thought, Grizz was so cool.

I Love Older Homes

If I had money coming out my ears, one thing that I would absolutely love to do is buy old homes and refinish them. When I say old homes, I mean OLD homes. The kinds with porches and high peaked gables, thick finished carpentry and funny shaped windows. I have such a love for these old buildings and the character that comes with them. One day, when my children are grown and on their own, I would love to down-size to one of these houses and make it my very own.

Over the years when I have been driving with the kids and we spot a cool house, I will pull over a snap a picture of it. I have found that I have quite the collection of these photos now. Check some of them out. You might see your own house or someone's that you know. These houses are in a cute little neighborhood by West Minister College. We love to take Sunday drives through these kind of neighborhoods and see what other cool houses we might find.

"You reap what you sow". (At least we hope so!)

I thought it would be fun to plant a garden this summer. Let's face it, a store bought tomato and a vine ripened tomato picked fresh, are two completely different things. So I took the boys to the store and let them pick out some seeds. We started our seeds inside our house to give them a good start. We ended up planting; roma tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalepenos, green peppers (all the fixings for fresh salsa!) cucumbers (Chase's favorite), green beans, carrots, basil, oregano, thyme, and pumpkins.

James built some garden boxes for us so as soon as they are ready we can transfer them outside. It was a fun day and the boys had a good time, a little messy, but.....a good time!

My AwEsOmE Salon! You should stop by for a make-over!

You gotta love War Heads!

Watch this video of my kids enjoying a War Head Candy!

video here

I've been tagged!

10 years ago:
I was a 16 year old junior at good old, Taylorsville High School . I was most likely hanging out with Keelee, having hillarious sleep-overs where we'd pound junk food and put on horrendous make-up and outfits and video tape ourselves being the biggest dorks (not much has changed, has it, Keelee?)

5 Jobs that I have had:
-Junior Jazz score-keeper at age 14
-Golden Spoon, age 15
-Z.C.M.I, age 16-18
-Title One Teacher's Aid at West Lake Junior High, age 19-20
-Stylist (current)

5 Places I have visited:
-Newport Beach, California (the greatest place on Earth)
-Maui, Hawaii
-Las Vegas, Nevada
-Fourt Lauderdale, Florida
-Yellowstone


5 things on my to do list:
-Reach my weight loss goal
-Run a half marathon
-Get my 1 year supply of food storage stocked up
-Take my boys to Disneyland
-Reach my goal weight and then........plastic surgery time, baby!

5 things you may not know:
-I love to garden and weed and get my hands all muddy and dirty. I love watching things grow. I find that gardening relieves stress.
-I am a sucker for documentaries. Any kind. I love to expand my horizons and learn all I can about history, culture, economics, politics, etc.....
-I love old men. Grandpa's are the cutest people ever. I mean the old jolly kind, that will stop you at a grocery store and chat with you about how a loaf of bread used to cost 10 cents back in the good old days.
-I am not affraid of blood, guts and gore, in fact, it interests me. I find myself intrigued with CSI, and all the shows about surgery and car accidents (like the ones they show on TLC) I am so fascinated with the human body that I love to see how it works.
-I love old school music, I am talking like music your mom and grandam listen to. Kenny Loggins, Phill Collins, Barry Manilow, Celine Dion, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Harry Connick Jr., James Taylor, Elton John, and of course, The Beatles.

5 things that I am so thankful for:
-My husband and our happy marriage. Of course this answer would seem very cliche', but it is the truth. James is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am so grateful to him for putting up with me and knowing how nasty I can be but loving me anyways. He is the best that there is.
-My 3 little boys who keep me on my toes, give me lots of sticky faced kisses, and shove my entire box of tampons down my toilet. What would life be like without them?
-The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am so greatful to be a part of the one true church. It has saved me from so many hardships and trials, and has helped me also to deal with many hardship and trials. I wouldn't be the person I am today without it.
-The freedom and prosperity of our country. We have it so good in America. This truly is the "promised land"
-My dear friends and family who are all marvelous examples of kindness, silliness, wisdom, righteousness, etc.

I TAG; Courtney Seal, Natalie Vonelm, Tiffany Anderson, and Heidi Haas

Saying,"Good-Bye", to "Bob".

So you are all probably wondering who "Bob" is. I can't believe I am really going to tell you but, here goes.......

Bob is my lovely Belly. My fat, my excess, my six pack in the cooler, call it what you want, but I chose the name "Bob". There........you know. Laugh all you want (I do). After flucuating with my weight since the day I left my mama's uterus, i am finally ready to say good bye.

Bob, used to not be so bad, but after 1 single baby pregnancy, and 1 multiple baby pregnancy, Bob has shown me my fair share of dissapointments.

So I am here to blog about my weight loss journey. For those of you have known me my whole life, (you lucky people) you are well aware how easy it is to love me, and that there is a lot of me to love. :) Well not any longer......I am finished with you, Bob. You have been my best buddy for way too long. I give and give to you and all you do is add stretch marks and make my jeans look way too tight. So it is with great pleasure and joy that I bid you a farewell and say "Good-Bye".

I have known my entire life that I was, how do I say,........"fluffy", "soft", "extra-cushioney", whatever you want to call it, use your imagination. But I haven't ever been really ready to take care of it. Mostly because I have have always really liked myself. After all I am a funny girl. I have great hair, and I rarely find a person who doesn't like me. (This would be the humble side of me that everyone also seems to love so much) Then I had 3 experiences, which Oprah herself calls, "Ahh-Haa" moments, that really changed my life. They made me realize, no matter how great my hair was, or how cute my clothes were, or how pretty my best friend was (Keelee, you little 5ft. 10 in. 145 lb. hoe-bag) I WAS FAT !!! No if and or buts. I know we should love ourselves for who we are, but it' s even better and easier loving yourself when you can fit in a size 5.

"Ahhh-Haaa" Moment #1. I was at Old Navy Christmas Eve 2007 shopping for my Christmas outfit that I would wear the next day. I walked into the giant wall of jeans and started sorting through trying to find my size. A few minutes later another girl started searching through the jeans too. My firt impression of this girl was that it would do her some real good to lose some weight because although she had a pretty face, she was thick. She noticed me searching around for quite some time and finally asked me, that if i happened to come across her style and size of jeans, would I please grab it for her and she would do the same for me. So she told me her size........................................................It was the same as mine. enough said!

"Ahhh-Haaa" Moment #2. I went to my yearly doctor check-up in early January. I stood on the scale, and about had an anuerism. 191 lbs. (Holy $#%@, I can't believe I just informed the entire world of my fattest weigh in) again, enough said!

"Ahhh-Haaa" Moment #3. James and I went to Maui in March of 2007 (and had a blast by the way) I video recorded a ton. We practically lived in our bathing suits. Well again in January I decided to pull out the home videos of Maui, because I was so sick of winter. I was watching a video shot I had taken of my husband, James swinging on a rope swing through a water-fall and into a pond. Then I noticed this chunky chic hop on the rope and take a try at it. Well, friends, that chic was me.

And so, it is now April 1st, 2008. What has become of "Bob" you ask? Happily he has started to pack his bags and move on out. As of February 4th, I have chosen to follow the South Beach Diet as my big life style change and visit "Gym", (the other man in my life, as my husband likes to call it) better known to you as,"Golds Gym", every morning at 5:00 a.m. I am proud to say that I have lost 24 pounds and now weigh 166 pounds. I have gone down 2 pant sizes and am running my first 5K in May.

It is a beginning, and a good one at that! But I still have a long ways to go, so cheer me on as I keep you posted. In the mean time I will leave with some of my "fat- pictures" just to give you an idea of what I am talking about. (even though those of you who know me are already fully aware.) Icouldn't really find any full body shots, due to the fact that I, being the mother and wife, am always the one behind the camera. I did my best. Enjoy ! (because you won't be able to for long, sucka's !!!!)

This one is my Favorite!

Told ya I have good hair.

I am the one on your far left in the red shirt. AwEsOmE, huh?

So here are my newest pictures of myself as of April 1st, 2008. You may not see much change, or maybe you do. Honestly I haven't noticed it so much in the way I see myself, but my clothes tell me a different story. Most of my pants don't fit and I have been able to wear pants that I haven't worn since before Chase was born. Also the sleeves on my shirt aren't as tight.

Lost: 24 pounds

Still to go: 33 pounds

Viva Las Vegas !!!

James and myself decided that we needed a little weekend get-away. What better place than VeGaS !!! Close enough to drive yet far enough to feel like you actually "went away" somewhere. So.........we arranged baby-sitters, packed our bags, and dragged our friends, Heidi and Val along for the ride. We had a blast!

We decided to see a show while we were there so we went to Cirque de Solei (however the crap you spell it) and saw the stage production of Ka. Yes, that is the name, Ka. Wierd, I know. I thought the stunts and special effects were cool but it wasn't really my style. This is me with one of the performers.

Chillin' back at the condo.

Yummy Gilatto......I think Val ate like 4 of these.

"Babe, watch where you're putting those hands." (Geez, I can't keep him off of me)

Me and James at the Bellagio Conservatory. One of my favorite casino's.

It was such a fun trip. Staying out late, sight seeing, shopping, dining out, sleeping in.....no worries. We deffinately need to that again.