The Weekend the Crafts Never Ended

Well, I was lucky enough to finish all of my homework by Friday night.  Needless to so though I didn't do anything fun during the week!  So Saturday I was definitely going to make the most of it.  I also knew that Ben would have to do probably at least 8-10 hours of homework on Saturday, so I needed to find something that would keep myself busy so I wouldn't bother him.

I had a blast going to every craft store in Idaho Falls and finding almost everything I needed!  However I couldn't find miniature unfinished wooden candlesticks so I had to buy them online (they are for my teeny tiny little cupcake stands).  I bought a 9 in, two 6 inches, and a pack of 5 for the 3in candlesticks.

Here are some of the projects that I completed this weekend.  Just click on their titles to see a good tutorial for each one.  

Decorative Clothespins- I'm using these to hang pictures from for Brynlee's Birthday Party 

and then I'll hang them up in her room.  

 Flower Headbands 

 Funky Frames for out picture collage in the living room
(great deal from Cut It Out Already )  

 Chalkboard Food Labels

Tiered Multiple Cupcake Stand  and Tissue Paper Pom Poms

Weight Loss Update and Fall Style 2012- Baby Girls

I am 3 more lbs down!! Woowho! I'm really proud of myself and since I started this weight loss goal 3 weeks ago I have lost a total of 8 lbs.  I'm right on track to be at my pre-baby weight by Brynlee's 1 year birthday!  Nothing but exercising at least 3-4 times a week, very good portion control, frequent low-calories meals, and no eating out.  We actually go over the portion sizes of everything that we are having for dinner and I get out the measuring cups and measuring spoons and we get only 1 serving.  If we're still hungry then there is always vegetables and water.  I have to admit though that it took time for our stomachs to get used to just eating the single portions.  I never realized how much we ate!  Well, not anymore.  Ben is starting this running goal on Monday.  He's going to be getting up before work to go on a short run.

Enough of this weight loss talk though, lets get to something fun!

I absolutely love shopping for our little girl Brynlee.  However, I do not like the prices at stores charge.  Way to expensive for what you get, and how long you will actually you use.  So I have buying her clothes down to a science.  Ebay.  Seriously, it's awesome.  Sometimes the clothes are used and other times they are brand new with the tags.  I also tend to buy her clothes online from normal stores to.  I weight till I get discount codes in the mail, or if you sign up for newsletters you usually will get money off as well.   I search hi and low online trying to find free shipping codes, and I usually do.  Also, I've learned that you can get a lot more bang for your buck, by shopping at the end of seasons or beginning of the back to school sales.  When you are buying clothes that are bigger sizes (that they won't fit into right now) make sure it's appropriate for the season.  It also helps to know which brand may run bigger.  For example, Gap and Old Navy run quite big on my little B.  She'll be 9 months in just 2 weeks, and the 6-12 months clothes are still quite big on her.  Expect Gap jeans- those are absolutely perfect.  However Children's Place seems to be just just right.  OshKosh and Carters I found to be quite big as well.  

Here's a loo at some of the goodies that I was able to grab up for Brynlee a couple of weeks ago because of the back to school sales.  Everything I bought was 40% off or more and I had free shipping.  It was a sweet deal! PS.  Can you tell how much I love sweaters and cardigans.  Layering is perfect for babies!  Because they loose more body heat then adults, typically they should be wearing one more layer then we would.  Layering is a perfect way to keep them warm during the fall, but if they get to warm inside you can easily take the sweater off.

Good luck shopping and be sure to check out used clothing stores or ebay, because sometimes they have serious gems!          
     

Fall Style 2012- Baby Girls by brittanystanly featuring peplum tops

Five Fall Must Have's

I love Fall!  It's by far my favorite season.  There are tons of options for sweaters, layers, and some fabulous and actually comfortable boots.  This year with all the back to school sales I have already picked up these 2 pairs of boots (as shown below), some fabulous scarves from Old Navy, and my much lived in cardiganss.  Ask anyone I pretty much wear layers every day.  I've also been hitting the gym so I can look DANG good in a sweet pair of skinny jeans.  The fact that I have to loose as much weight as possible in about two months just got much more real!  We are doing our fall family pictures during the middle of October and just a couple weeks later we have heading to Minnesota to visit Ben's family.  While we are there guess what we are doing...Family Pictures!  It's kind of funny, but made me realize that I really need to kick my butt.  20 lbs. in two months....I think it's possible.  We'll see, but any weight lost will be awesome.  Speaking of weight loss this is another reason why I love the Fall.  It's so much easier to exercise outside and it feels awesome to.  Also with the Holidays coming up I want to be in as great of shape as possible before Brynlee turns one.  My goal is to loose 30 lbs. in the next...15 weeks.  I definitely think this is possible if I stick to monitoring my calories and exercising a ton.
  

Favorite Fall Must Haves by brittanystanly featuring a cable sweater

Old Navy striped top
oldnavy.gap.com

Forever 21 cable sweater
forever21.com

Forever 21 double breasted coat
forever21.com

Forever 21 hooded fleece jacket
forever21.com

Gap skinny jeans
gap.com

High heel
target.com

Low heels
urbanog.com

Scarve
oldnavy.gap.com

Old navy scarve
oldnavy.gap.com

Another 2 lbs!

Progress, Progress, Progress!!

I lost another 2 lbs. this week which makes for a grand total of 5 lbs. in the last two weeks.  I am extremely proud of myself for what I've been able to change in my life.

I've read a lot about staggering your calorie intake throughout the week.  I've cut it down though so it varies from 1,000-1,300 every day.  Apparently this is supposed to trick your metabolism after doing it for a period of time.  We'll see, but for right now it's working fine and dandy.

I'm using Daily Burn to keep track of my calorie intake, plan out my meals the week before, and I get one cheat day a week.  One of the things that I love about Daily Burn Tracker is that it creates a pie graph for you showing what percentage you have eaten of fat, carbs, and protein.  We've also gotten used to smaller portions of food.  And I have a jar of healthy snacks to much on if I get hungry.  

My foot is also basically completely heeled.  I can put pressure on it when using the cross trainer, but I'm not able to run on it yet.  I'll try again in a couple of weeks.  Other then that I've just been making a conscious effort to exercise at least for 45 minutes a day.  Either I go to the gym or go for a walk with Brynlee.

Now I just need to keep it up for well...the rest of my life.  Hopefully though at the rate that I'm going I will be able to loose 20 lbs. in the next 4 months.   

Brynlee's 8 month pictures

Taken by the wonder Chelsey from CeeCee Photography.  I highly recommend Chelsey to take your pictures!  She has tons of options for indoor baby shots with backdrops and accessories, and she is really talented.  She is also super affordable, which makes it actually a possibility for people to have pictures taken.