NOT ME MONDAY!

Ever do anything Stupid? Of course NOT right? Well, here is the place you can admit what you did NOT do. And this is also the place where you can "admit" that you did something, TWICE!

Many of you know that I "hate" lipgloss. I most certainly do NOT own around 25 lipglosses that I keep in a black bag in my purse. Well at Home Church two weeks ago, I did NOT forget this precious bag at the Home Churches house! No Way it is way too important.

This week, I certainly did NOT recreate this event! I made sure that when I left I had my lipgloss bag, but I totally did NOT neglect to grab my shoes!!!!! OOPS, I was for sure NOT driving home in my slippers!

This one was a few weeks ago, but I certainly did NOT stick my foot in my mouth at the Social Security office with a dear friend. When I found out the guy was helping us was in the Navy, I did NOT say, "ah I could never marry someone in the military because they are gone all the time." Then I did NOT proceed to say " I could never marry a fireman either, they are always gone too!" "So what did you do in the Navy?" What did he NOT answer????? Any guesses, Yeah he totally was NOT a fireman in the Navy. OOPS SORRY!!!!

BLAST FROM THE PAST:
This is something that certainly has NOT won me the coveted award in the sorority 4 or 5 times.

When I was in college I certainly did NOT think I was Middle Eastern because I was Welsh! NOPE NOT me, I know that Welsh is from Whales, and that Princess Diana was from Whales and she was most definately white......

True Beauty

I was asked to do a guest blog entry so I wrote this blog to inspire and encourage those who struggle with where true beauty comes from. This blog entry is featured on http://becominggirls.blogspot.com/.

Who ever coined the phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" was very wise, but sadly whose "eye " has been debated for centuries.

Webster defines beauty/beautiful as the following: generally pleasing, excellent aesthetic pleasure.

Our world defines beauty as something quite different. So I would ask this question....What does the world say beauty is?

Two years I searched for this answer.....You see here is some history about myself. I am 24 years old and have never had a boyfriend or been kissed for that matter. I have always been overweight and up until two year ago, hated the person I had become. I felt like the ugliest and least desirable person in the world.

I would ask people "When will I EVER have a boyfriend?" "When will I ever feel desired?" "Why do I not have a boyfriend?" And the constant answer, in some form or another was this...."Well Emily, guys are visual people, and if you lost weight and were pretty, you would have a boyfriend."

For years this plagued my soul. I was lost and sadly felt STUCK in the body I was given. I had no hope. I turned to the world to help me identify beauty. Everywhere I turned was another magazine telling me "how to lose weight," "how to get that guy," "beauty tips," and the list could go on and on. I would walk into the mall and see clothes, purses, makeup, and hairstyles that I could not afford, and leave feeling worse and worse.

I fell into a depressed life striving to meet the standards of the world's beauty.

What I realize now, is that I was looking in the wrong place. I felt like I was looking for clothes in the candy aisle and seeking answers from an infant! Clearly I was in the wrong place! So I decided to look into the place that truly matters, God's Word.

Two years ago, decided to write down every Bible verse that talked about beauty. What did God really mean when He talked about beauty, and where did I fit into this plan?
Sure, it is quite true that the Bible discusses beauty in the form of "outward appearance," but I was more surprised with the verses that discussed beauty in such an opposite way that I had ever thought.

Mark 14:6 is a perfect example. Jesus is anointed with oil from the woman with the alabaster jar. The people in the house are mad at this woman because she has "wasted" this perfume on Jesus, when she should have "sold it for money to give to the church." But I was in awe as to how Jesus responded to her. Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. This woman's sacrifice was accounted as beautiful to Jesus! That means that my sacrifices for the Lord are seen as beautiful to Him!!!!

1 Peter 3:3-4 also spoke to me about where our beauty really should come from. "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." The writer is not saying that it is particularly bad to have the outward adornment, but that our true beauty should come from what our inner self, our spirit conveys. This inward beauty is also an unfading beauty. A beauty that never goes away! God finds GREAT WORTH in our gentle spirit, our kindness and our desire to serve Him.

After reading these verses and MANY more, I realized something

I AM BEAUTIFUL!!!

God created me beautiful! Sure, maybe God's way of conveying my beauty is not in the outward appearance, the nice clothes, perfect hair, perfect skin, and a thin body, but God did create me as His child whom He is well pleased. My Father, has created me to glorify Him, honor Him, and praise Him with my whole heart of hearts, and that is what he calls Beautiful.

So sure, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," but whose eye are you seeing yourself through?

100 reasons I love having Gastric Bypass

Here is my "exhaustive" list as to why I have loved having Gastric Bypass.

1. I FEEL SO AMAZING!!!!!! I still see the personal trainer and am loving every minute of it. This past Monday, I was able to jog on the treadmill for the first time is years! I felt so accomplished. I jogged for 10 of the 30 minutes I was on there. I am positive I will be a runner eventually. Marathon, here I come! I have wanted to run so badly for so long! I am on my way there, that is for sure!

2. Finally, I am able to use a normal sized towel. AND it is does not look like a hand towel wrapped around my body:) This towel actually fits! I am so so excited about this. I am actually covered....with a NORMAL towel. No more beach towels or supersized towels for me:)

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99. I have lost 40.25 INCHES all over my body! Here are the stats.... (all in inches)

Beginning, Now:
Neck-16.5, 15
Chest-52 , 46.5 (this one is a bit sad to me:( Not really but a shrinking bust is not usually what people ask for)
Shoulders-54.25, 46.5
Waist- 60 , 49.5
Hips-55.25 , 49.5
Bicep (R) 16.75 , 14.75
Bicep(L) 16.5 , 14.75
Thigh(R)-29.5, 27.25
Thigh(L)-28.75, 27
Calf(R) 20 , 17.75
Calf(L) 20 , 17.25

Also, my body fat percentage has decreased 6% over the last three months.

100. The 100th reason why I have loved having Gastric Bypass surgery is the fact that in the last 5 months, I have LOST 100 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT IS RIGHT.....I have lost 100 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Century Party HERE I COME!!!!!

I am so appreciative of everyone's support and even though I have encountered a few medical hiccups along the way, it is totally WORTH it!

Here are some before and after pictures I thought I would share with you. It if funny because I feel like I have not lost a ton of weight because I still have quite a bit to go, but after looking at these pictures, I am just shocked!

(No I did not photoshop myself *wink *wink :)

And here is my happy face!

Day late, but worth the wait Fashion Find Friday!

Here are the fashion finds for the week! I SURE LOVE TARGET!!!!

The dress: Target
Cost: $6.24
Should Have Cost: $24.99
Saved: $18.75

Shoes: Target (they are pink, but you can hardly tell in this picture)
Cost: $9.98
Should Have Cost: $19.99
Saved: $10.01


I saved A LOT this week! Dave Ramsey would be proud of my bargain shopping:)

Good news coming soon:)

Fashion Find Fridays 5/14 Edition

Ummm ok so it has been one week since I updated last......Good Gracious do I need to be more on top of it.

A lot has happened since last week. But more of that to come tomorrow. I am so exhausted and think I am fighting being sick. BOO :( Key word is FIGHTING.....I refuse to admit I am sick. It is all in the mind....I hope.

But with out further stalling, here is my Fashion Find of the week!

Olive Green Jacket

Let me give you the deets (details.)
From: Target
Price: $10.34
Should have Cost 49.99
Saved: 39.65

The real kicker.....This Jacket is MATERNITY! Can't even tell! It is so comfortable and I just love it! And I guess if/when I get pregnant, I can wear it.

I hope it is still popular in 20 years :)

Fashion Find Fridays

This picture below is a clear indication of the amount of clothes I have had to donate due to my weight loss. I must say this is quite a bittersweet thing. AMAZING because I get to buy smaller sizes. Finding clothes that are too big is quite encouraging. BITTER part is that clothes especially cute clothes are EXPENSIVE!!!! Well..................So I thought. With all of these empty hangers in my closet, I knew it was time to shop on a budget. So that is EXACTLY what I did.

Below you will find pictures of some new outfits that I have recently purchased. I will share with you what the outfit should have cost and what it really cost! You will be quite amazed....at least I am:)



Outfit #1 All Items are from Target:
Dress: $15.38 Should Have Cost $21.99
Sweater: $10.48 Should Have Cost $14.99
Leggings: $4.20 Should Have Cost $6.00
Total Price of Outfit:$30.06
Should Have Cost: $42.98
Total Savings: $12.92




Outfit #2 All Items are from Target:
Dress: $12.48 Should Have Cost $24.99
Leggings: $4.20 Should Have Cost $6.00
Total Price of Outfit:$16.68
Should Have Cost: $30.99
Total Savings: $14.31

Outfit #3 Pants from Target, Sweater from Old Navy(pink shirt I already had):
Pants: $6.98 Should Have Cost $28.00
Sweater: $8.99 Should Have Cost $24.99
Total Price of Outfit:$15.97
Should Have Cost: $52.99
Total Savings: $37.02

Outfit #4 Dress and Leggings from Target (sweater I already had):
Dress: $6.20 Should Have Cost $24.99
Leggings: $4.20 Should Have Cost $6.00
Total Price of Outfit:$10.40
Should Have Cost: $30.99

Total Savings: $20.59After this shopping trip,
I saved a total of $84.84!!!!!!
Can you believe it?

Since this was so fun to do and because I love to shop and need to shop to find clothes that actually fit my shrinking frame, I will try to make Fashion Find Fridays a tradition. Please share your fashion finds too! I am always up for a good deal:)

NOT ME MONDAY

Let's share the things that you most certainly did NOT do this week!!!!

For example, this week I did NOT go to get gas on pump 17 and enter pump 7 in the system....so NO I did NOT have to hop into my car and try to find pump 7 and pray someone wasn't at that pump getting free gas! Luckily, I was able to get gas! OOPS

Yesterday, at church, I grabbed an empty water bottle from my car to fill for church. I most certainly did NOT think to myself "man this water tastes sweet!" NO I did NOT drink all but one sip only to realize I had NOT spit out my chewed up GUM in my the bottle earlier before. NO I am NOT that gross and IF I was, I would make sure that I threw the bottle in the trash!

Your turn....what did you NOT do this week?

CONTEST WINNER!

SO....you know me. I like things to be done on time. So with that said, I have closed the contest and now it is time to announce a winner!

CONGRATULATIONS TO COLLEEN BUCK you are the WINNER!!!!

Please contact me by Tuesday to arrange shipping or delivery:)

Thanks for everyone who tried. I love these contest things....so more to come!!!

Also for those who wanted to know, I use the site "random.org" to select a winner. I don't choose them, but I must say I am excited for Colleen. I think this will look just gorgeous on you!

Remember, if you guys choose to order something from http://www.etsy.com/shop/saylorrose enter "skinny" in the notes to the seller and she will reimburse your shipping. FREE SHIPPING people:)

Enjoy the night!

Life Updates!

Hello Friends, I hope all is going well and that you have posted a comment to win the necklace I am giving away:) Click here to enter.

As for some quick updates on what is going on in my life, I must first say GOD IS SO FAITHFUL!!!

One week ago, yesterday, was my last day at my job. Since I had turned in my two weeks notice, it was time for me to go. It was a bittersweet experience, as I really miss the kids that I work with. But, I knew that I HAD to be faithful to what God was calling me to do. And with that, I left.

That weekend, I was blown out of the water by the amount of help for me to move! I was a bit nervous because I was not sure if it would only be me and my mom moving, or if I would have help. Oh me of little faith! I was awed by the amount of people from my community group (bible study) that came out and helped me move. With that said I am officially moved in with my mom. I am loving it so far!!!! I know I will continue to enjoy living with her. I am closer to my sister and my nieces, as well, which has been fun.

In the words of my sister, I am "fun"employed. And boy have I really enjoyed being unemployed for a little while. I know that sounds so crazy considering our economy, but I trusted that God would provide in His timing and until then, I would enjoy this given break. And boy did I, I went to Disneyland yesterday! I am now an Annual Pass Holder, therefore will be enjoying Disneyland more often:)

So......consensus, "fun" employment: FUN. Testimony of Faith and God's blessing, I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!! God has provided for me and to Him truly be all the glory! I have been offered a position continuing what I was doing, but a more consistent schedule and closer to my mom's house. I am so excited to begin this new journey. I either start next week or in a few weeks depending on how fast I can get all the required things in.

I am so thrilled at what God has done in my life. It started with a small voice, a step of obedience, and walking in faith.

To HIM be all the glory. I am just along for the ride!

Contest time again!

****CONTEST NOW CLOSED****
WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

UPDATE: Extending Contest until Monday night at 7:00 pm.

In the spirit of ALMOST being 100 pounds down and having a century party, I thought we would take a blast from the past and give away something Vintage Inspired.

I told you I would be giving away another fun thing in a contest! Well, here it is....you have the chance to win this BEAUTIFUL necklace made by a friend of mine!

You can see her other stuff at the link here, or just click this link, http://www.etsy.com/shop/saylorrose. She has AMAZING jewelry on her website. Kat Von D actually owns some of her stuff too! I am so blessed to know this girl! Hey we are practically family :)


SO....how do you win? Simply leave a comment on this post and you will be entered to win. The contest will close Monday, May 3rd at noon Pacific Time. Only one comment per person please.

Also, "if" (I know you will) see anything you like on the etsy site and decide to order it, put in "skinny" in the notes to the seller, she will reimburse the shipping costs!

I personally want EVERYTHING on the website. They even have a Pegasus necklace! I might just have to order that one myself. :)

Enjoy and good luck!