30 Before 30~ Lose 30lbs!

Well I'm proud to say that I can check one more thing off my 30 before 30 list! I have lost 30 freaking pounds!! I wish I never had these pounds to lose but PTSD & PCOS are a weight gaining bitch! I really had no tricks to losing it. I just lowered my carb/starch/sugar intake and started going to the gym more often. Of course I had my splurge days and slip-ups but 2011 was my year to start getting healthy and I think I made a pretty good dent! I'd still like to lose 30 more pounds and then I could be in the best shape of my life but I've got time on my side and I plan for it to keep coming off slowly is fine with me!

These are my before pictures I am embarrased to show these but I hopefully will never look this way again so I'm okay with showing you.

 April 2010

August 2010

Christmas 2010

These are my now pictures (I won't say after because I'm not done losing)

Christmas 2011

 Feb 2012

March 2012

Things I love right now!

What I'm loving/spending my time doing right now!

I still love pinterest and it's a pretty bad obession that I'm on almost every day but I have two new iPad apps that I am loving right now. Instgram & Scramble with friends

These fun new wastes of my time are great! Instagram is a fun way to share your photos with friends. I love seeing what my friends and family add each day. I need to get better about adding my own photos.

Scramble with friends is a fun Boggle type game that you can play with friends. My Mom is the best competitor yet! I think I've only beat her once! I think this game keeps your brain fine tuned so it's not a compete waste of time :)

The other thing I'm loving right now is planning our upcoming vacations. We are going to Punta Cana, DR in May. Mammoth in August, and hopefully Charlotte, NC in the fall or early winter. I'm thinking a girls trip to Sacramento needs to be in my future! Plus J and I want to go camping sometime this summer just not sure where yet. Oh right and if money/time permits we'd love to go back to Austin, TX as well.  I need to meet my new TKN nephew Sawyer and we have to make it back to Juan in a Million at some point :) Seriously best breakfast ever!! 

Next year if we are not pregnant yet we'd like to do Mardi Gras and if we are pregnant we are thinking some type of road trip up the pacific coast would be the perfect Babymoon.

So with all these trips on the horizon I spend a lot of time planning. I really like Kayak for finding flights. Priceline is where we seem to find the best deals, plus I can get money back if we use ebates! What are your favorite travel sites? I'd love to have some new ones to add to my bookmarks.

Last thing I love right now is taking Bentley to the Long Beach dog beach. I was nervous at first but he absolutley loved it so that made me a happy puppy mommy. J and I got some exercise too just running around after him :)

Healthy Option for Pasta Lovers

I've been doing a lot of research on healthy food options lately. I'm trying to make healthier decisions when it comes to what I put in my mouth. But I still want things to taste good. I came across Miracle Noodles, they are a no carb, no sugar, and no calorie "noodle". Miracle Noodles taste a lot like pasta with a very similar texture. They are a high fiber eatable coming from the konjac plant which means that they are mainly soluble fiber. Which fills us up and keeps are hunger pains at bay for a longer period of time. The best way to prepare them is to take them out of their bag and rinse with water & a small amount of vinegar then water again. (they don't smell very appetizing but just keep rinsing it will get better) Put them in a pot with your favorite sauce and heat.   I think the rice version is great for soup recipe.

Why do I have to pay for something that should be free?

We had our first appointment with a reproductive endocrinologist today. The appointment went well, but I left feeling depressed. I feel like pregnancy is only that much farther away, when I assumed I'd be feeling more confident that it would be happening soon.

We expected to learn that we would be paying a significant amount to have some medical assistance, but never the amount that they presented us with this afternoon. It makes me angry that we have to pay for something that is free for so many others. We may have to put off buying a house so that we can have a child, how is this fair? Well it's not! Sometimes life just isn't fair and I'm learning that the hard way. The worst part is that we may pay all this money and come away empty handed! I'm trying not to think that way and to stay positive but I have to be real & honest with myself as well.

We are left wondering what the next step is. Get a second opinion? Use our savings, or put it on credit? Should we wait or just do it now?
All I know is to pray, and hope that God will give me the answers that I seek.

I hope I have that winning lottery ticket. :)

27th Birthday Celebrations!!

I had an incredible week long birthday!

Josue and I went to Las Vegas the weekend before. We stayed at Treasure Island with Frank & Vanessa. It was a blast! My boss even sent chocolate covered strawberries & champagne to our room, it was so sweet!

On my birthday my Mom & Sister took me out to a yummy meal at Benihana, my fav! Then we had cupcakes and opened some awesome presents at home. I love my Mom, she always makes me feel so special! Just when you think my birthday was over I had a family celebration at my Nina's house on Saturday. We had an amazing BBQ, and yummy treats. As always I was spoiled with love and generosity. I really love my family, they are amazing!

 Yay!! My Mom's the best! Kitchen-Aid Food Processor!

Yummy Low Carb Desserts!

Family <3

ABC's of Me

My Blog has been a little lack luster lately so I saw this on a friends blog, and thought 'why not?'

Age: 27

Best Date: hmmm I always loved going to San Pedro to look in the telescopes at the stars

Chore That I Hate: Folding laundry

Dogs: Bentley; my pointer/lab mix

Essential To Starting My Day: Brushing my teeth and my thyroid medication

Favorite Color: Pink

Gold or Silver: White Gold

Height: 5′ 71/2″
Instruments I play: I took piano lessons and can still read music, but I don't really play.

Job Title: Nursing Supervisor

Kids: Don’t have any yet, but someday!
Live: Long Beach, CA

Milkshakes: Choclate (made with vanilla ice cream & choc syrup)

Nicknames: Dani, D'Ella, Ella, Babe, Nellie, Pumpkin

Outfits: I usually wear jeans or scrubs. I really love boots. 

Pet Peeves: When people are mean or rude for no reason

Quote: When the world says give up hope whispers try it one more time

Right or Left Handed: Right
Siblings: Two younger sisters
Top Five Chick Flicks: 1.Dirty Dancing 2. Sweet Home Alabama 3. The Notebook 4. The Vow 5. Coyote Ugly

Unique Thing Most People Don't Know About You:

Vegetables I Hate: Brussel Sprouts

What Makes Me Run Late: Other people, I myself am almost always on time.                                                               

X-Rays I’ve Had: Teeth, finger, chest, and ankle a few times.

Yummy Desert I Make: Homemade ice cream.

Zoo Animal: I've always loved elephants

Pinky

On our wedding day a litter of kittens was born to my best friends cat. We had to have one, it was destiny. Once the kittens were 8wks old we chose one of the four. Pinky as Josue named him wasn't the prettiest of the litter but he was the perfect fit for our little family. He had spunk, and the best personality. I nicknamed him my snuggle buddy because he always knew when I needed a hug and would nuzzle up underneath my chin. About two months ago Pinky went missing. We put up posters, walked the neighborhood, and looked in the local shelters but we couldn't find him anywhere. I kept hope that he would come home but knowing my cat I doubt he would leave home for this long on purpose. I pray that where ever he is he isn't suffering and knows that we love him dearly. Just writing this brings tears to my eyes, he was such a big part of our family and such a special cat. Animal people might not get it, but losing an animal is heart breaking and not knowing what happened is torture!

You will always hold a special place in my heart. I love you Snuggle buddy.