Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Miss Madison NEEDS this dress! Let's hope we win!

Dinner Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Mama got a brand new hair-do!

So that first picture is definitely not flattering, but my husband took it and wasn't willing to take more than one. I'll take what I get I guess. It doesn't help that he doesn't tell me when he's taking the actual picture. Hence the fact that 95% of our pictures do NOT have me in them because I'm the photographer.

I thought with my new weight loss I would get a new sassy haircut as well. When my face is fuller I don't like my hair too short because it just accentuates it even more. I was feeling adventurous and went for a bit shorter and what I call 'choppy bangs'. They are more uneven and not straight across my forehead and not very heavy either. I am not one to lament over haircuts and don't often notice when other people get their hair cut, so I made up my mind and ran with it.

I really like how it turned out and think that I can pull off bangs (much to my surprise). At pre-school, Maddie's teacher mentioned that I had gotten my hair done and I told her yes, and that I got bangs! I also mentioned that I hadn't had bangs since maybe high school. She laughed and said that it made me look so much younger, I could pass for a high-schooler. I wouldn't go that far, but I do think I look a lot younger.

Even big girls need a little flair for their hair

Please bear with me on the pictures. I know they are terrible but I promise to re-do some of them once we actually have some good sunlight. It has been raining since late last night and I can't get any good natural light for my photos. Plus, my camera is terrible and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will be getting a new one for Christmas!!!!

Anyway, I made quite a few little sets of bobby pins for some of the ladies in my life. Most likely they will mainly go to my best friend as she is an elementary school teacher and loves to wear funky things in her hair. While they would look okay in my girl's hair, I think they are a bit more mature for them and they primarily like all things pink! I might stick one set in my step-sister-in-law's stocking too since she has gorgeous curly red hair and they would look awesome on her. She's young and tons of fun so she could pull them off!

I already had all of the supplies to make these in my stash so I didn't spend a penny! Woo Hoo!

Okay, back to more crafting!

A time for REAL CELEBRATION!!!

Most of you reading this blog know me personally but I'm sure there are a few of you who don't. For those of you who don't know me, welcome, thank you for visiting my blog and reading about all of my crazy crafting adventures!

Since many of you know me, you know that I have struggled with my weight pretty much all of my life. I constantly go up and down but mainly stay on the up part much longer than the down. =( I even went for an interview in Los Angeles with my best friend to be contestants on the show The Biggest Loser!! (NO JOKE!!) September 15Th was a huge turning point in my life when my best friend and I started on a journey of losing weight together and keeping this weight off forever! Yesterday I hit a major milestone in my weight loss when my scale registered that I had lost 50 pounds! Yes, I have lost 50 pounds in 3 months (almost exactly to the day! just one day early!) Woo Hoo! I feel like the hugest load has been lifted off my back (well, actually more from my tummy, hips, and thighs!) and I am so proud that I did it the right way through diet and exercise. My husband and I often joke that I have lost a whole Maddie as she weighs almost 40 pounds. But now I'm close to losing a Maddie and a Peyton! LOL.

In celebration of our huge accomplishments, my best friend (she's lost about 40 pounds!) and I spent almost all day together shopping, going to this awesome up and coming fashion designer show here in San Diego, talking, and treating ourselves to an amazing lunch at the Cheesecake Factory! I pretty much took all day off from crafting (except for about an hour when I got home), being a mommy, and feeling all of the Holiday stress I have been feeling for this past month! I had the best time yesterday and realize just how much time off away from the kids is vital to my mental well being. Since having the girls I've never focused much on 'mommy time' or even taking much care of myself (hence the many many pounds I packed on after Peyton's birth). Finally realizing that when I take care of my self both mentally as well as physically, I am a much better mommy to my girls and wife to my husband. I'm much happier, I can do more things as I don't have as much weight holding me back, and all of the stress of the Holidays doesn't make me mean and grouchy like in the past, it just feels like a challenge that I am ready to conquer.

Since this Thrifty 50 challenge started, I have been in 3 craft shows (one of which I actually organize), had a few migraines, doctored my whole family and myself who all got the flu and Peyton now with a cold, crafted, tried to grow my mommy business, and am now preparing for 2 Christmas celebrations at my house (Christmas this Saturday with my husband's dad and brother, and Christmas Eve with my whole family). So, stress and tension have been very high this year (hence the migraines!) To top it all off, I can add losing 50 pounds to the list of accomplishments this Christmas season!

Of all the gifts I could give to my family at Christmas, I think that the gift of my health and continuing weight loss will be the best gift I can give to them. Setting the example for my girls of living a healthy lifestyle in both diet and exercise will be a lifelong gift I can give to them. I know that due to this weight loss I have added many more years to my life and hopefully avoided many diseases that come with obesity. I am thankful that I have never suffered from any ill effects or conditions from being overweight and am making it my goal to keep it this way.

If I have inspired just one person to lose weight this Holiday season or upcoming year than I will feel that it has been worthwhile to share my story with you all. Losing weight and maintaining that weight loss is not easy, and will be a battle I shall fight the rest of my life. Choosing to live healthy is worth all of the struggle and pain that I have gone through and will continue to go through. Hopefully my girls are too young to remember 'fat' mommy and will only have memories of me as I am now and will be soon in the future......healthy and happy!

Thank you to all of you who have supported me through my many weight loss endeavors. You all know who you are and that I couldn't have done it without you. I love you all!!! Thanks too to my special weight loss buddy! May we always keep each other accountable and stay fit and healthy for life!

And another one.....

This was the first dishwasher magnet that I started making for my husband but changed my mind on the paper choice. I really love it, I just didn't think it was fitting for him. So, now I've got an extra one and don't know who to give it to. I thought that it would go pretty well in my brother and sister-in-law's house, but I know that my sister-in-law is so much more organized than me an would never have the same problem we do. So, hmmmm...what to do. Maybe I'll figure it out before Christmas or offer it up to someone who really needs one!!

Are they clean or dirty???

The age old question that your husband always asks you.....Are these dishes clean or are they dirty? Well, now my husband won't have any excuse why he doesn't unload the dishwasher full of clean dishes or put his dirty dishes into the dishwasher. We constantly go round and round about why he feels the need to place his dirty dishes on the counter right next to the sink instead of just rinsing them off and putting them in the dishwasher. Ahhhh! It drives me crazy! I could spend all day talking about these small little annoyances, but I'll spare you the drama.

Since we both agreed this year to only spend $20 on each other and not buy gift cards (I'm forcing him to be creative this year) I decided that I would make him this nifty little magnet for our dishwasher. Unfortunately he spied it on the table while the mod podge was drying, so it's not going to be a surprise at Christmas, but oh well. It is now completely finished with super strong magnets on the back (hopefully the girls won't take it off like they do with all of the magnets on the fridge) and some cute Ric rac trim. While I'm sure it won't be on the top 5 of his favorite Christmas gifts this year, it will definitely be on my list!

Oh, don't forget that this is the present that will be going in the Victoria's Secret bag as mentioned here!

For the other little chef in our family....

This chef's hat has been made for a few days now and I was waiting to post it with the completed apron, but alas the apron is still not finished. I am having problems with my sewing machine as of late (it is my grandmother's sewing machine and is a really old Kenmore from Sears....so crazy! There's more to that story and I'll have to tell you all later) So, I will post Jake's hat now as it is done and will be embroidered with his name on the front. I can't wait to see him open it up on Christmas Eve (that's when we do presents with my family) and explain to him what it is. My girls have seen both of the chef's hats laying around the house but have no clue what they are, so I'm sure he won't either!

I do have one confession to make though....I tried Jake's hat on Peyton just to see how it looked and if it would fit right....it looks adorable!!