Battling my sugar habit AND May fitness challenge!

This post isn't going to be about food but I think I'll go ahead and share something I'm doing!

A friend of mine has issued a personal challenge to kick the sweets addiction/habit she has picked up. I decided to join her because I as well have picked up a CRAZY sugar addiction!

Monday-Friday you cannot eat cookies, donuts, ice cream, candy, cake, brownies, pastries, etc.

The weekend I allow myself two treats, whatever I want single serving. Since last Monday I have lost 5.8 pounds!!! This is without workouts due to getting over an injury! I am baffled by this!

The cravings were strong but the weekend totally cured it! I'll share how this week goes!

I am issuing a May fitness challenge!! 4000 squats in 31 days, do them how you like, hold yourself accountable! Pretty simple I think?? I've never done this but I'm looking forward to the results my ass and thighs will promote!

Wanna participate??!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Shali Shanel Accessories...

I've had my head buried in the sand over the past couple of weeks! Seriously all I've been doing is working to get my online accessories store up and running.

I realized that I wasn't truly giving it my all and in order to get the ball rolling I had to buckle down!

Soooo...Shali Shanel Accessories is live and I couldn't be more excited!!



Current main page view!

This is just the beginning and I'll be adding new pieces often! Add me to your favorites!

My pieces are wearable art, truly a labor of love! I believe that I can do anything I set my mind to!

Mother's Day is coming...shop, shop, shop!!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Dana.Dynamite.

Who is Dana Dynamite you ask? Dana is my more outgoing, more provocative, more outspoken...just MORE all around alter ego!



Dana is just extra! She's that chick that gets out there and has fun, then makes no apologies for it! The Dana episodes are far and few between lol! Honey met Dana last summer when she stripped down butt naked in his truck on the interstate after five (or more) too many shots of Jose Cuervo!

Let's just say he LOVES Dana lmao!!

Last weekend Dana went to San Antonio to see Mike Epps perform. This is what she wore :-)






This wasn't the planned attire exactly but when I saw this shirt...I knew it would be perfect for Dana! Agreed???

San Antonio was awesome and we live by the don't ask don't tell rule! That is all!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Workspace

I was going to write this last week but....

Well anyway it didn't get done! I needed to create a workspace in my room and I didn't want to spend a lot of money! Off to Ikea I went!









I decided to alternate two black legs and two pink legs on the table! Those black boxes are from Ikea as well...perfect storage for materials!

The accents...






These up cycled tulle spools, wrapped with patterned paper made perfect holders for my tools!

I drooled over this project when I saw it on Pinterest! Coffee filter peonies = LOVE!



You can change the color of these with food coloring but for now they are still white. Two simple glass vases and rocks from the yard!!! Simple and cheap!



I didn't want to buy a new chair because I already had an office chair in a blah grey color. I had a maxi dress that has seen its days in the perfect shade of pink!

So I covered my boring chair with it lol! I plan to make a few nips and tucks but you get the idea!

So far I'm loving how it's coming together! Purple is my favorite color but hot pink is giving me life right now!

Oh and that fabulous painting? Courtesy of the hundreds I've received from my girls since I've been a mommy!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I see you too!

First thing I'd like to say is I sometimes feel awful that I don't have time to frequent some of your blogs :-(. My life is busy but very rewarding! I can't say thank you enough for continuing to rock with me!

Full time (single) mommy, full time employee, full time GF to my honey, full time friend and part time side hustler lol! I will try my best to jump on my fav blogs and comment more often :-)

It's not easy being me but I'm blessed, I cannot complain! I don't have a lot of time to myself and I'm always behind on projects I'd like to complete. I still wouldn't trade my life for anything...it makes me who I am and I love ME!

Well last weekend I tackled a few of those projects!! I'm pumped! I scored in a MAJOR way on Saturday!!

I don't want a "traditional" bed frame, for some reason I tend to break them?? Anyhoo...I wanted a headboard that hangs behind my bed on the wall. Initially I thought about hanging 8 x 10 pictures in black wooden frames. After kicking around this idea for over a year I ran into these at Hobby Lobby and my idea came to life!!




These are 48 x 48 canvases!! So originally these are $74.99 a piece! Well I got them for $24.99 a piece!!! A steal!!! Why you ask??? They have two small tears in the canvas both will easily be covered with my photos!

I won't give it all away right now but I will share the project and the finished product! I'll be using the photos the girls and I took during the holidays!

Tonight I'll take a few pics of my new work space (I also set that up last weekend) and the pretty flowers I made inspired by Pinterest!

Last but most definitely not least, I got in 5 workouts last week! Yes ma'am I'm on right now!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Easter is my favorite holiday!

I successfully completed my 6 day fast and lost 6.8 pounds in the process. I really do feel better! The bloat is leaving my belly and I'm losing my urges and cravings for sweets and junk. I also learned things that I did not know this Easter season.

The girls and I went to services at 7:15 am. Unfortunately I was unable to count any colored suits Reiko lol! All of these pics were taken after church!

I am trying to give my girls a sense of normalcy being away from Seattle. Houston is where we live but Seattle will always be home. I let them hunt for eggs in the yard, we dyed eggs last night and sat down for dinner with our friend this evening.

Tomorrow I'm up early for my date with Jillian! Oh and might I add that I changed my entire Easter outfit because of this skirt!!! Isn't it beautiful!!!???

 

Thanks to my mom & stepdad for sending everything for the girls' baskets! They always come through and let the kids know that although we are away ..they are still loved and missed dearly.

I hope your day was filled with joy and happiness! We live because of the love our Lord had for us! Let's make it a great week!

Good Friday!

This is day 5 of 6 of my fast. I am 100% honest when I say that I have had nothing to eat between 6-6 every single day thus far! Water, coffee, cream and sugar...that's it! The early part of the week was hard but I made it through. I'm glad I decided to do this because not only do I feel better, I look better!

Funny how things change when you eliminate toxins!

So yesterday I was off work (as I am today) and I went to get my Texas drivers license...I'm "official" now lol! My WA license expires in August and I don't think I'll be going home to visit this year. I had a fat face on that license so I'm happy to see it go!

I went to the girls' school to volunteer for field day! I'm not a very kid friendly person even though I have two of my own but I try to be active with the school when I can. Let me tell you these kids are A MESS! Crying, cussing, cheating...you name it...they do it lol! I'm glad my girls know better and are gravitating towards sweet kids like themselves (so I pray)! But apparently I'm the "cool mom" so I won't complain!

 

Julianni Field Day 2012...3rd grade

I forgot to take a picture of Mimi by herself...I only have pics of her with friends so I won't post those. #mommyfail

Okay and here is my field day swag lol!

 

 

Funny my BF l-o-v-e-d these picures! I always think the dolled up look is going to get the best response from him but I'm always wrong! He's not a fan of "loud" makeup his words not mine but sometimes I like to make my eyes pop! He told me this morning that he still can't get over these pics lol! Job well done by me, I was just trying to avoid a busted drivers license photo #score

 

Fast Day 2

This is going to be a brief post since I said a lot yesterday. I'm not even going to lie, yesterday was rough!! I thank you all for your words of encouragement, I greatly appreciate it!

Today has been easier and I keep praying for the strength to stay steadfast. I'm already starting to feel better believe it or not. I can tell that I'm being nicer to people lol!

This morning before 6 I had a few strawberries and a quarter of a cantaloupe. Then of course once I arrived at work I had coffee, not one cup but two! Yesterday I drank 80 oz of water, today I'm aiming for a little more.

This fast is not about weight loss but a complete cleanse, mental and physical. I did weigh myself yesterday and I'll share how much I drop once the fast is over. I hope everyone is having a great Tuesday!

Now I've got to leave my office because a rep brought in lunch for us and the smell is making my stomach growl lol!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Yay Monday!!!

So it's Monday again and I'm thankful that I'm only in the office through Wednesday! So being here today doesn't feel so bad.

Last week I tried to catch y'all up on what's been going on with me. I didn't get to a couple of things but I'll try to address it now.

First and most importantly this week I am participating in the congregational fast that my church is doing in remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now let me be clear when I say that I am working on my relationship with Christ. I am NOT perfect and I don't run around quoting scripture just because it sounds good. In my heart I know I can do better so I am trying.

From 6 am to 6 pm today through Saturday I will be fasting. I will allow myself one cup of coffee in the morning while I'm at work but other than that it's water. I'm working on a mental and physical cleanse.

Last weekend...

My BFF asked me to go out early last week giving me very little reason or option to protest I don't like going out Friday night, I went because she said she was feeling down.






A couple pics from the night out!

On Saturday I attended a first time home buyers class. It was an 8 hour class, from 9-5. Initially I dreaded the thought of sitting in a class all day. To my surprise it was a very entertaining and informative class!

I would highly recommend taking a class like this if you are planning to buy a home. I learned a TON and I feel like I'm one step ahead in the game!

The side hustle...

After the class I finally had the opportunity to work on a few tutu skirts by request! These are the skirts I made!!













These are my first and I think they turned out amazing!! The girls absolutely love them!! I'm not going to lie, they aren't that difficult to make BUT I needed something to set these apart from the rest!!! I'm pretty sure I've figured it out and as soon as I finish the first one, I'll share it!!

Tutu's are for sale if you'd like one for any little girl in your life! Trust me when I say they can never have too many!

Cost: $20 plus $5 to ship

Oh yeah and the big girls like them too..they aren't just for little girls :-)

I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS IDEA!!!!

My blog will probably be undergoing another facelift soon! Stay tuned!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone