The Circus

As a surprise date last week, I bought tickets to the circus. Little did I realize that I had bought 2nd row tickets until we got there. Ian could not have been happier. Here we are right when we sat down :)

The new me....

I have never watched what I eat... ever! Let me tell you a little story... once upon a time I was sitting in an Intro to Animal Science class at USU and we starting talking about McDonalds and the type of meat they use in their burgers (disgusting BTW). The professor asked the class, of about 45, who eats McDonalds at least once a month. Almost everyone raised their hand. He then asked who eats more than once a month, some hands went down. I think you know where this is going... he asked once every two weeks, once a week... steadily the hands keep coming down and mine stayed valiantly raised. When he gets to the once a week there were probably 3 or 4 of us with our hands up. Finally, he asked if any of us eat more than once a week.... I was the only one with my hand still up. This should have been an awakening, but that was 2 1/2 years ago.

When I was a senior in High School I had a gym membership. I went to the gym most days, if not twice a day because that's just what you were supposed to do... so I did. I maintained my size 4/6 figure quite well, while eating like crap. Then I graduated high school. I was working as a bank teller full time while going to college full time at the University of Utah, needless to say I didn't eat well then either. Lets through a new boyfriend in the mix, and we were re-modeling our house so we didn't have a kitchen... but we did have a plethora of yummy fast food 2 minutes away. I quickly went from a size 4 to VERY full 8... more like a 10. Gaining about 25-30 pounds.

(High School dance 06)

Freshman 15? I had that down and then some, but things get worse. I quit my job, applied at Utah State University and got an apartment with my two best friends. I had a reputation at school for getting anyone to skip class for food (here's looking at you Carters). I also developed a loved phrase that I still use today, "I mean, I could eat." This phrase was lovingly used when a roommate would ask if I was hungry and that was my response. We ALWAYS had candy (even if it was half-eaten and found in the couch... (you know who you are M), We frequently sat and watched MTV (Tool Academy anyone?), and chomped on cookies, chips, ice cream, and chocolate. And my roommates liked to say things like "I could REALLY go for brownies right now" meaning: "Karin, please make brownies!!" to which I obliged quite frequently. We had a BLAST and I will always remember these days when we would rather watch tv and eat then meet anyone else, but I'll tell you what I gained a LOT of weight... like another 40-50 pounds.


So here I was, by all standards obese, and really unhappy.

I made the big decision to move back home a year and a half ago and have not regretted it ever since. My weight fluctuated but never got below 180 until my mom started a diet and I stole some pointers. I had just gotten a job at a bridal shop and was on my feet for 10 hours a day (easily) and had VERY little to eat during the day. The pounds started melting off. I lost 45 pound from my highest weight ever, but I still wasn't eating right right or exercising outside of work. We would eat out nearly every lunch and Ian and I developed a nasty habit of eating dinner out more than we should have. But I was maintaining my lowest weight since the few months following high school. I was getting compliments all the time and I was finally able to squeeze into a size 10. Life was good.(this is actually the DAY I got the job offer)

In May I started my new job. My sit down at a desk job. Who knew that sitting at a desk all day would fatten me up so quickly? After being there for only 3 months I had already gained a WHOPPING 23 pounds back. Ouch. Really ouch. I vowed I would never see the scale hit that number again, and here I was only 3 months later and it was staring right at me. I was depressed. Really depressed. I looked into stupid cleanse diets that guarantee significant weight lost, I even looked into (gasp) liposuction. I had such a hard time with myself, and poor Ian go the brunt of it. I cried, I complained, I ripped jeans, I cried, I shoved my face with chocolate, and finally I cried. I'm surprised he still wanted to be around me. It was a bad time.Sitting at my desk at work

Then a little angel in the form of my boss started asking me to come to the gym on our lunch breaks. At first I was REALLY hesitant.... I have always preferred to sit and complain rather than do something. But I started going with her and she KICKED MY BUTT!!! We started going 3-4 days a week for only about 40 minutes because we have an hour lunch. I started to really like it and I dropped a few pounds before I went on my trip to Disney World. Of course I gained it all back in Florida (and then some), but I came back with a renewed interest in exercising AND eating right. When I was in college I made a few meals that I would freeze for a later date, but I hadn't done it since, so I started thinking about doing that as well. I ran across a FABULOUS website that did all the research for me. I just had to take their grocery list with me to the store and follow their directions for the meals and I had a full month of meals. My boss and I decided to try it. I have not had such good (and good for you) food in long time. I crave the tuna and crab burgers, or the low fat beef stroganoff (only 250 calories!!) and don't even get me started on the double chocolate muffins. But above all the yummy food, I am still going to the gym at lunch and I have started to also crave the gym. I have noticed that my days are better, and feel shorter when I work out and I have noticed that my energy levels are up considerably since I made the food switch.

So far I have only been doing the food for about two weeks and have already lost 3 pounds. So I would say things are looking up. Ian has also been eating some of the foods I have made and he loves them as well, so I'm thinking this is a permanent change in my life. I love the extra money I have in my bank account because I'm not eating out all the time, and I refuse to buy new clothes when I want to drop so much more weight.

I know this is a REALLY long post, but I haven't ever really talked about my weight struggles, and I was feeling enlightened. I hope to be able to keep track of my progression through my blog, and if anyone has any encouraging thoughts or tips please let me know :)

F21

I have an obsession with F21. Everything is SO cheap but I can't justify spending money when I am working so hard on dropping a few sizes, so for now I will window shop. Here's a taste of my fall wishlist:

Apparently I have a thing for belts... interesting.

Project: Blog re-vamp

Hello blogging world!!

Recently I have been thinking a lot about revamping this here blog. I feel like there is so much to say and so little time to write it so I guess I will just dive right in.

First of all I am officially on my own. I pay all my own bills, live in my own apartment, and buy all my own food. I cannot tell you have amazing it feels to not have to worry about waking someone up when I come home at night, who ate my food, waking up early to shower so schedules don't coincide, but most of all (disclaimer: TMI) I can walk around the house naked and only worry about the spiders (yuck, downfall to being alone is I have to kill them on my own... more on that another time) seeing me. The only pictures I have of my place are from BEFORE I moved in so you will have to see my lame attempt at decorating on a later date.

Second, I have a new job. I LOVE my job!!! Basically I sit at a desk all day, with a glamorous headset on, and talk to potential students about the benefits of my school. I'm not gonna lie, it is a challenging position and few people can do it well, but I actually enjoy it. I love sitting all day, I love my students, and I love the people I work with. If anyone knows me, they know that I have only worked in jobs where I am on my feet ALL day (in heels at that), working CRAZY hours, and never taking any time off so I was hesitant to work in an office building, at a cubicle, with a computer all day. It turns out, though, that the paid holidays/vacation, one-hour lunches, and being off by 4 pm suits me well. Bonus, I live about a mile from the office which means.... I can SLEEP longer :)

I guess that basically wraps up the new things in my life right now. I know I'm boring and if you made it through the entire, no-picture, post I congratulate you!!

Actually, I'll put a random picture up just because I care :)This picture makes me incredibly happy... look at how cute Ian is :)
Disney World September 2011

Curling iron/Flat iron covers

So when I bought my flat iron a few years ago it came with a heat proof cover. I cannot tell you how often I have used this cover!!! It has become such a necessity in my morning routine. I turn on the iron while it is still in its cover (which prevents melting of anything that could be around the iron), straighten my hair and then put it back in the cover while it is still hot, wrap it up and throw it back in my basket of bathroom things. I have never had a problem when I'm on vacation with waiting for my iron to cool down before packing it. I am always able to do my hair and immediately pack everything and be out the door. I have had many people comment that they wish they had one as well.... well here is your chance!!

I have made 3 different styles to choose from.
First:

this cover features two pockets, one to hold the iron and one on top to protect your cord.

Second:This style features one pocket for your iron and a flap to protect the chord that would wrap around the cover (as shown). The button holds the flap in place so your cord will not unravel.
And lastly,This design has two interior pockets, one for the iron and one for the cord. I like this design because nothing but the cover is seen, your iron is totally protected. This particular cover is a bright blue (like the first few pictures, not the last one).

If you have any questions about any of these designs or want to make a special request please just message me, or comment.

Each design is priced the same at $12.00

A little bit of the old me...

I used to love art.
love it.
I used to be an Art History Major.
That's how much I loved it.

Nowa days, I never give myself the time to bask in the gloriousness of art.
until last night.

My apartment has a front room.
The walls are completely bare.
I can't stand this... it doesnt feel like home.

I searched for something to put on the wall.
Nothing was in a college student's budget.
Sooooo.... my good friend Kelli (see below) convinced me that I could paint something.
After seeing how cheap a canvas, some acrylic paint, glitter, paint brushes, scrapbook paper and stencils were... I grudgingly agreed.

I was very nervous, since I have been out of the game for over 2 years
But I went for it and....This is the masterpiece.
What do you think??
I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!!
Here are the details...

My not-so-crafty side

Two weekends ago I went up to the cabin to be met with, as my dad lovingly referred to it as, Sewing Class. Traci and Kellie were both sewing themselves an apron. Needless to say, I wanted to do something too. However, the problem is that I don't cook. There is really no need for me to have an apron. But, I have been dying to get a bag for my laptop for ages. I wanted something cute that would hold my cords, my laptop and maybe a few books if I needed. So we looked up fabric stores in Heber and came across this WAY cute little store in Midway. We made the trip down and, thanks in large part to my wonderfully talented sister Kellie we found some SUPER cute fabric. After many "How is this even considered fun"s and "I hate this so much!!"s and "ugh, I don't even care anymore!!"s It was finally done!! What do you think??Its a perfect fit!!

A VERY big thank you to my mom who is incredibly talented with a sewing machine and helped me tons with my first official sewing project.

I am now officially taking orders!!