My first pattern review!!!! + Simplicity 2444

Pattern Description: Retro style dress...my personal all time favorite style of dress!



Pattern Sizing: For the bodice I cut a 16, for the skirt I cut a 20. For a newbie like myself I was completely ignorant to pattern sizing!! It is nothing close to ready to wear sizing so don't let the numbers intimidate you! In ready to wear right now I'm currently in a size 12....working my way back down to a 10 :)












Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Shockingly YES!


Were the instructions easy to follow? I'm brand new to reading pattern instructions but these were fairly easy to follow. You have to have some sewing knowledge to navigate.


What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I liked everything about it. I'm totally the feeling the design elements of the Project Runway patterns! I love the fact that you can mix and match the pieces and use different fabrics to get entirely different looks.


Fabric Used: Linen blend and a lightweight fusible interfacing.


Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: I noticed when checking my measurements against the pattern that my bust was significantly smaller than the waist and hip size I needed to cut. I was nervous about altering it because this was my first time altering a commercial pattern!! I created a new cutting line blending my smaller bust to fuller skirt.


Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes! And I will definitely sew this again! I'm thinking in a different view with denim.


Conclusion: Being a newbie sewist and having this as my first finished garment from a commercial pattern I am very proud!! It was my first time adding darts, pleats and facing. I think it came together quite nicely!

The pictures don't do this dress justice, it's super pretty!!

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Super cute :))

It's amazing to me that I only just a few short weeks ago started using my sewing machine! My head is brimming with fabric, patterns and ideas for projects!!

Anyhoo this is my latest creation :)). Super cute Seattle Seahawks half apron! In all honesty I just might make these available for purchase with various teams by request! I'll keep y'all posted!










I am a football fanatic and I rep my home team all day! Initially I thought I ordered fleece for a completely different project but figured this would work well for the apron.

This is my first so going forward I'll know what adjustments to make! Hope y'all have a great weekend!

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Last weekend

My baby sister Chaz was in town last weekend for a short but necessary visit! She'll be in Seattle for the holidays so the girls and I won't see her until we venture to Dallas next month.

She accompanied me to my office holiday party New had to work (sad face here) and we had a blast!



After appetizers


The "official" party pic!



Last year I won a Target gift card AND an iPad! This year jewelry :)


I can't remember if this was taken before or after at the house??

I've been fooling around with lashes...something I said I'd NEVA do! Not those ugly batwings though O_0! Also I've been experimenting with different looks since I have a growing stock pile of makeup and tools, thanks to the man in my life! He forked over the $$$ for my birthday haul, and he never complains when I show him what else I've found i.e. purchased lol!

My sister had the bright idea to make a gingerbread house with the girls from scratch...another 0_o! We were already on a tight schedule from the outing she planned but she insisted!

We ended up coming home after the party and staying up until 2 am finishing this house sigh...










The house is monogrammed and all!! Happy holidays!

If you didn't see the girl's and my holiday shoot for 2012...take a look!
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Return of the weekly update!!

Where I'm at..



Basic Stats:

Bust: 36
Waist: 33
Hips: 45
Thighs: 26 (each)

It's been a minute since I faithfully posted weekly about my journey. I'm proud to say that I'm B-A-C-K!!! Like for real back! Last week was awesome! I set a weight loss goal for the week, a food goal and workout goal!

My weight loss goal for last week was 6 pounds, I lost 4.4 pounds. I'm okay with that :)) This week my goal is a 2.6 loss.

I'm proud to say that I stuck to my menu the food I prepared last Sunday for lunches, dinners and snacks Mon-Friday! I also consumed no less than 64 oz of water per day! I tracked what I ate, this was fairly easy since my meals were prepped.

I completed five of my six workouts. Main reason why I didn't do them all?? I got sick (insert sad face here)! I started to not feel so great late Wednesday night and by Friday I was a total mess. Started to feel better Saturday but rested on Sunday instead of completing my missed day. I'm still congested this morning...I'll workout this evening once I make it home.

One cheat meal which was Thursday, a Thai dinner with a certain someone that brought me these...


Accompanied by a Twix bar which was my one treat allowed for the week! I ate it on Friday as I was too full to eat it after dinner...piggy!

I am allowing myself one cheat meal per week...not day AND one treat per week my choice.

I find this helps me to stay on track. I'm going to be brutally honest about the 30 pounds I've gained since this time last year. It's not pretty but it's honest and it's real, something I've always been. I'm addressing it and I've already lost 5 of it!

I'm working to get back to my goal weight of 165 by my 2 year maintaining date which is January 15, 2013. I'll take progress pics on October 1, then continually the 1st of each month. My weekly weigh day is Monday, I'll report in each week.

This is a long post but here is some of my food prepped for this week!

Roasted squash & zucchini, clean turkey muffins, honey mustard tilapia & salmon, brown rice casserole



Roasted tomato & pepper soup



Roasted veggies for the soup above



Last weekend dinners...

Grilled chicken, mushroom & spinach wrap



Stir fry chicken


Yesterday's breakfast plate..




Have an awesome week!!

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I'm up!!

It's late Tuesday night and I'm up thinking. Evening workouts bite...I'm revved up like a mofo! You'd think I'd be tired since I did HIIT in the 5' o'clock hour this morning...not so much!

I recorded a vlog over the weekend which I need to upload. I did it on my iPad so it takes a little longer to render, my patience is a constant work in progress (sigh). It's a mini haul, my getting back to happy update!

I decided last week that I really needed to get my ass in gear and hop back on my healthy lifestyle journey. So what did I do?? I cooked and prepped my food for the week Sunday afternoon! It took me about 3 1/2 hours to complete all the cooking. Majority of my shopping was done Saturday...take a look!










5 lbs chicken breast that I seasoned before the George Forman grill...yes ma'am I still use mine!!




Shepard's pie...a lean version!

What my lunches look like...





It was a labor of love but totally worth the effort!! I have a goal to drop 6 pounds this week, I'll share my results next Monday when I weigh in again. I'm not counting any calories just eating my prepared meals.




My fridge!

I also scheduled 6 workouts for the week...I'm back!!

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Another one bites the dust!

My big girl turned 9 yesterday, 9/9! I'm a proud mama! I see my girls growing and changing so much everyday. It's amazing just how fast the time goes by.

For all the new mama's I know...please enjoy it!



Julianni when she was almost two



My girl on her birthday

I'm ready to change the direction of my blog I know I've said this before again, this time I've given it careful thought and consideration.

Changes are on the horizon, all good things I promise!

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Back to me!

Let me first say that I'm not stepping back on the scale until 9/1. My family has been here, my sister...2 nieces and 1 nephew are still at my house. They've been in Houston for two weeks, leaving tomorrow.

My mom, gram and baby sis were here as well for a few days. It's been a fun, crazy and reckless time! I've been eating, drinking and partying!



I love this picture!

Julianni was chosen as a park ambassador for the Houston Parks Department through the Houston Ladies Tennis Association. They chose 72 kids out of the 2800 across the city that participated in the youth tennis program this summer.

Here are a few picks from the awards ceremony:











Let me tell you this was one of THE BEST lasagna's I've ever had! I ate it all...head hangs low...

I am a very proud mama! When people meet my girls I hear nothing but great things! As a single mom that's the thing that matters the most. It validates me and all that I do for them sniffle!

I've been thinking I really haven't taken any full body pics in awhile. Here are a few over the last few weeks :)













I seem to have the same poses?? I'm working on it! There's still lots going on in my world, I can't wait to have that sense of normalcy again.

Moving this upcoming weekend, birthday next week, shadow boxes to be completed AND school starting for my girls. Somehow I've got to figure out how to jump back into my fitness routine. This entire summer has been a MAJOR FAIL!

I won't make excuses, I will do better!

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And the journey continues!

I've been dealing with SO MUCH bullshit I had lost my mojo! My personal life has somehow managed to overshadow and take a front seat to my healthy lifestyle journey.

I've been stressing and it's showing up on the scale! I am sharing my weigh ins (for the last 7 wks) which are on Monday's.

6/18- 187.8
6/25- 186.6
7/2- 185.4
7/9- 185.8
7/16- 184.4
7/23- 189.8
7/30- 187.0

This is the heaviest I've been in two years. I've decided instead of becoming depressed I'm going to just buckle down and take action! I did complete all five of my scheduled workouts this week! First time in a long time!

On August 1st I will post my scale pic, weight, progress pics and stats. My goal is to be at or below my goal weight (165) by Jan 1, 2013. This will be just in time for my 2 year anniversary of keeping it off.

On the 1st I will also go over my plan, goals and rewards. It's back to the basics for me. I know exactly what I have to do to get back on track. I haven't really taken too many pictures lately but I'll share my latest Instagram shots!












This ish here smfh...only in Seattle can you bring your furniture into downtown Seattle via Uhaul to watch the Torchlight parade lol









Thanks for all of your continued support! Yes I'm strong but I'm human. Will I get through this...absolutely! Will it be easy...probably not!

God is still working on me and he hasn't brought me this far to let me down now! I live by that :)

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Missing you!

I've missed you!! I'm finally able to sit down and write a post! I'm off work the next three days so I have absolutely no excuses!



To say the least my life has been very hectic. Sometimes I feel as though at any moment I can have an emotional break down. Typically I don't try to get too personal but this is my blog, my world, my words and my life so here goes!

Initially when I moved into the house I live in with my girls, my roommate and her daughter all was well. The decision to move in together was a mutual one (she and I) although I didn't have to move out of my own place, I was cool with getting a bigger spot to share. BIG MISTAKE!!!!

It's funny how things change with certain women when men enter their lives. I can honestly say I would've never thought she'd change because of a man, I've known her since the sixth grade. I suppose there's something about dick from another city??? I've never had any so great that it would make me change my religion after a couple of months lol! #kanyeshrugs #mustbenice

Anyhoo I won't bash her, I honestly believe what you put out there you get back tenfold. So until that day comes I'll just sit back and wait. After 20+ years of friendship we are no longer friends. I've come to terms with it, basically I'm just riding out my financial obligations to the house we live in. We aren't even on speaking terms.

I will say this, I won't ever sign a lease with anyone again unless it's my husband! Not happening!

Onto bigger and much better news!!! My sister (that recently lost her husband) is relocating to Houston next month!!!! I am über happy and excited!! I miss my sister, my two nieces and nephew. I haven't seen them since I left Seattle.

I know having my sis here with me will make my home situation that much more bearable. I'll be a able to spend the majority of my time at my sister's house!! Yay!

My baby sis will be living in Dallas the next two years, so she's close too! She's actually in Houston right now training for her teaching assignment so I've seen her every weekend the last couple of weeks.

As far as my relationship and lifestyle journey go, they need their own posts! Working on those next!


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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!

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