Wordless Wednesday: Our New Blog COMING SOON!

The Messages Blog

Click Link above...keep in mind this is a new concept for me and blogging. For Autumn too. We will always appreciate your words of encouragement as we venture on our journey to be FIT and FAB. Our beautiful friend Maria will serve as our mentor as she prepares for her body building competition in October (ATX!!)

Cook Off & Carnival Pictures!

Cazadores Cook Off Tent w/New Buddy Ashley!

Finding my inner Cow Girl & Eating Some Tasty Sausage
Saturday The Crew (-Khanh) on our way to the Carnival @ the Rodeo!

Campy & Tito

<---Darren to the side

Kassi's first shuttle ride!

Butter and Little Lalo!

Ready for FUN!

Why does Sara look as small as the kids in the group?

Have You Hugged a Banana Today?

Sara said, "Awe, I want to take a picture with that banana"

I said "Lets do it"!

Sara and her moment with the big banana!

Kassi liked the Bush's Baked Beans Meal! Look at that smile!

Sara Chunking a TRES! (Only official "CREW" members are authorized)

The littles getting their grub on!

My mini crew! Our little family!

I had a great weekend with the boy and the girl. I also spent a lot of time with the crew, which is always a great time. I have so many pictures and so much fun news to share but will have to do it another day. Really..believe me, I did narrow it down for this post.

More to come....

PS: My fabulous friend Yolanda is starting her own blog too! Yay! I am so excited.

It will be fun to keep up with you and your loved ones on here. I hope you get a few others to join you. I will be watching your every move from this point forward (not in a creepy way either). Ha ha.

Happy Monday! 1st Day of the Week, 1st Day of the Month, 1st Fresh Day for

Lalo-Cha.

(More on that next month!)

Money Saving Cutbacks

Just an update on my Spending during the week. Go figure I had 2 cheat days. I guess it takes some getting use to. Not spending any money during the workday. I will take 2 out of 7 days as a small little victory.

On the bright side, I have made dinner the past 12 meals. Including Breakfast/Lunch and Dinner for the past weekend. (except Friday nigh, I picked up McD's). Only because it took FOREVER to get my nails done.

I still feel good about my cutbacks and tonight is a trip to the grocery store to stock up on my weekly meals.

Total saved: $80+/- in just workday spending alone. Good job Me.

Now to figure out when I will start planning my Christmas shopping.

Confessions of a Food Shopaholic?

Today is Day 2 of my Wallet Busters Challenge: To not spend ANY money during my WORKDAY. Meaning, yep I am packing my breakfast, lunch and a couple snacks instead of going to the coffee bar and stopping by the taco shop! No going to the burger joint or the pizza parlor to grab a quick (unhealthy) lunch.


My problem is this: It is only day 2 and I am eating my oatmeal out of a cup from our company kitchen. Trying to enjoy each bite. Realizing that I suck at making instant oatmeal. I mean really, who messes that up? I either put too much water and it is a runny mess or not enough water and it is too clumpy. Is it hot enough, if it is not hot enough it will not thicken as it should and suddenly my mouth starts to salivate for that fresh hot breakfast taco from the deli downstairs or across the street. WHAT? Yes, I am itching to just go buy a taco and give up on my oatmeal. It sort of reminds me of an addiction. I am addicted to buying food. Ha ha.
In all seriousness, my favorite part of any day is breakfast. I could care less what I eat for lunch or dinner. Some nights I make dinner for the kids and I just eat a bowl of cereal.

I love breakfast and oatmeal just isn't cutting it. I may have to come up with a new game plan. Perhaps I can make my own breakfast taco and pack that or maybe add something to my oatmeal to make it more fulfilling. This is going to require some game planning. I am very happy to say that I am staying strong and sticking to my guns. I guess I will update you all on my progress next Tuesday.


Spent on food during the workday: $0.00. Now that feels good.


PS-I am still hungry. If anyone has any good "bring from home" easy and good breakfast ideas, let me know although I have never been a cereal bar person or a pop tarts fan. I like substance for my first meal of the day.

HELP

Halloween Pictures & $avings Goal for November 2009

I loved his hair!

Out for Claudia's Birthday (the pink mermaid) 10-31-09

Out with the gals for Claudia's birthday. We weren't dressed too scary! Yes, we asked the creepy guy to stand in..not the typical, WHO is that dude in the background.
The Boy and The Girl
"Little Person" Rocker
Hot Devil!

The kids had so much fun carving pumpkins this year and going Trick-Or-Treating. Of course they have a ton of candy. Lauren mostly. Darren made some trades with his cousins and must of had to give up a lot of goods for his favorites or as he called them, "The Classics".

My $avings Goal for November: THE CHALLENGE:

Bringing my Breakfast & Lunch to work Monday-Friday and making the Office Coffee instead of buying coffee everyday.
My average spending a day for these items is: $12-$15 a DAY!!
That is a savings of $252-$315 a MONTH!
It is not going to be easy. I am so use to just spending a few bucks here and there for workweek meals, but honestly I need to cut back on my overspending. I have heard if you give something a good 3 weeks (21 days) to make a change, it becomes a habit. I went with a friend this morning to get her morning coffee and I did not get any for myself. I simply brought in my own Coffee Mate and made it in the office. For lunch, Healthy Choice along with some grapes and an orange to snack on. Who knows maybe I will drop a pound or two in the long run. Could be a WIN WIN situation.

I am excited to see the difference. I figure with my savings I can put that towards Christmas!

At some point this week I am going to do the unthinkable and tally up my EATING OUT expenses for the month of October. Sometimes we need to see it to believe it. It just seems like lately I am always asking myself..where did my money go.

If anyone else wants to take this challenge, JOIN IN!

My Goal & For Yolanda's Wedding! Ha ha! *My 220th POST!*

I told Yolanda that I will be thinner and tanner with longer hair by the time her wedding rolls around, so she had her friend come up with this picture to get an idea how Lalo would pull this off. SOooo..we plan to do a side by side of me in my dress and this picture to see how successful I am! YIKES The wedding is February 6, 2010.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY! Weight Watchers!