We're never prepared for death, even if we know it's coming. We know death is eventually going to happen for us all, but it just never gets easier when we have to say goodbye. 

With social media connecting us again to friends and loved ones we haven't seen in a while, it feels even heavier when we learn of someone's passing. How is it possible that this person could be gone today when just yesterday we saw them share a photo on Facebook and Instagram? HOW?! 

I'm still trying to understand and wrap my head around a recent tragedy that happened to my childhood friend. Though I still don't understand it, I'm grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with her. My heart hurts for her family; her husband and three young children, her parents and in-laws, her siblings, and extended family.  

Death of someone so young always reminds me to appreciate every day a little more, to slow down and enjoy the moment instead of trying to share it on social media, and to capture more memories. 

So, while you may see less of me on social media, know that I am here; living, loving and learning. 

There is a fund my friend's family has put together in her memory and to help her husband and children who are 6, 4, and 2. If you can help, any dollar amount is appreciated. Click here.

Thanks for stopping by today. 

xoxo

I Am Still Here

 I Am Still Here. I am still breathing, moving, thinking, dreaming, and living. Every day may not go the way I want it to; they say that normal is boring...right, but I am still here. I wrote in multiple posts, here and here, that I wasn't going to sweat the small stuff. While I am trying not to sweat the small stuff, there have been a few not so small, sweat worthy things that I just can't help but feel down about the last few weeks.

It hasn't been easy, and although I have been feeling pretty lost and empty, I pushed myself to get up and exercise to my Jillian Michaels DVDs or take a bike ride. I could have chosen to sit still and fill my void with food, but I was determined not to do that. I have been doing enough stress eating this year and I am putting a stop to it. 

I Am Still Here.

Everyone battles some type of struggle at some point in their lives; weather it's the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, home, etc., and we all deal with these things in our own way. I am trying to take this stress and walk it out, ride it out, and exercise it out. Sometimes when days are really tough, I write it out. 

Today, I am pushing through and turning the page. I Am Still Here. 

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff... it's easier said than done, right?! I mentioned in my last post that I wasn't going to let silly little things get to me, and that I wasn't going to sweat the small stuff any more. A mess in the kitchen made by someone else, don't sweat it. Silly drivers on the road doing crazy things, don't sweat it. A number on the scale you never thought you would see again, never wanted to see again... don't sweat it. Breathe, and move on. 

It was a pound here and there over my goal weight that I finally reached at the end of 2012, beginning of 2013. However, recently it has been more than a few pounds. I told myself I would not see that number when I turned 30 or ever again (I'm now 31!), so I purchased a few Jillian Michaels DVDs that my friend recommended and got to work. I was so proud of myself for sticking to it; I changed my eating habits and worked out at least 4 times a week in 2012 to 2013. You can read about the start of this journey here and here. 

At first I didn't sweat the few pounds I had gained, why let it bother me when I could still fit into the same sized clothing? I tried to promise myself that I wouldn't see that number again, but since about the end of last year I have stayed over it. I got tired of keeping up with the food journal and only kept up with my work out routine every other week.  But now after three weeks of not keeping up with my workout routine and eating like there is no tomorrow, my clothes are starting to feel a little snug. Oh, and these love handles...what's to love about them?! 

 I know, I know, we are not a number on a scale. But, when I see the number I know that I am not being healthy and therefore I am not happy with myself. The clothes may have fit, but I knew I wasn't eating healthy and I saw that my body was changing. My thighs were getting bigger and I could see that I was just losing the curves and shape I had worked so hard for two years ago. 

So, why am I not keeping up with it? Well I am a big time stress eater, which is why I'm trying to learn how  not to sweat the small stuff!! 

Big time, life changing stressful events happen and sometimes those things get the best of us (GOD knows I had a few of those at the end of last year)...but I can't keep worrying about the little things that I can't change. 

I'm not sure if I'll start with the food journal again, but I did start my workout routine again. Yesterday was Day 1...

Cards for Ryan...

There were so many posts about where to donate and things to purchase in honor of Ryan with proceeds going to his family. But, I wanted to reach out to the family and send them a card. So I left a comment to Thrive Moms on Instagram and they returned my question with a P.O. Box that their church is using to collect cards and care packages to give to Ryan's parents Jacqui and Dan. 

Please if you do one thing this week, share Ryan's life with your friends and family. Keep his memory going and read his story on Alissa's blog Diary of an Addict, she was Jacqui's best friend and is doing an amazing effort in sharing this spunky little boy's life with us all. 

Also, if you don't have the means to donate, please consider sending them a card at...

Attn: Ryan Saldana
P.O. Box 31011 Edmond, OK 73034

Heavy Heart

So I was supposed to show you my little owl buddy, but not everything in life is scheduled or goes as planned. 

The blogging world is pretty big and when you get to know bloggers you get to know designers, bakers, chefs, magazine editors, wedding photographers and planners, etc. 

Today on my Instagram news feed I spotted this photo posted by blogger and jewelry designer Lisa Leonard...

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I'm not sure what stopped me, but when I read the note attached to the photo on Lisa's Instagram, my heart just sunk. You see, this adorable little boy tragically lost his life last week and as soon as I read those words and continued to see his photo in my news feed I knew I had to share his story. 

We may not always be able to help out by purchasing an item that benefits a charity or a cause, but we can spread love, share the story for others who may be able to donate, or just share the story so others can appreciate what they have a little bit more. 

Life may not always be perfect, sometimes it gets a little crazy, and sometimes you're not sure if you are doing the right thing as a parent, step-parent, or guardian. But, one thing I know for sure that is always right, even in the middle of the chaos, is showing your kids, step-kids, grand-kids, etc. how much you love them. Kids just want to know that there is someone out there who is in their corner rooting for them, loving them, and appreciating everything they do. No matter how old your children get, they just want to be loved. We all just want to be loved. 

The necklace is by Lisa Leonard Designs for Ryan and the proceeds will go to his family. His mom Jacqui is a recipe blogger at Baby Boy Bakery and my heart is heavy and is breaking for her, her husband, their family, and friends. May they find peace and comfort in the love that surrounds them. 

Also, if you would like to learn a little more about what is going on, go to Alissa Circle's blog Diary of An Addict and follow the hashtag #redballoonsforryan on Instagram. 

She Will Move Mountains...

I have recently discovered the wonderful world of free printables that many DIY bloggers create, whether they are for holidays, birthdays, or just have words of inspiration on them. So, I thought I would use the photo editor site Pic Monkey to create my own...

As you can see I made two versions, one with white mountain tops and one without! I was searching for inspiring quotes and stumbled upon this one and now have fallen in love with it. Did you know that it may have originated with Napoleon who said, "Let China sleep, for when she wakes she will shake the world"? So somewhere in between what he said and now it has been translated to "Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move mountains". 

The mountains I am hoping to move this weekend are the ones that need to be sold for our Summer garage sale! We just have too much stuff in this house; stuff from when the girls were little, from my college days, and just junk lying around that is collecting dust that no one cares about any more. So, this weekend I am hoping to get a start on what to donate, what to put in the garage sale, and what should just be tossed. 

What mountains are you moving this weekend, next week, this year? For this year, I am planning on moving my blog over to WordPress and getting an entire new design with fun social media buttons. I really want to make something out of my blog instead of just letting it sit. I love what I do and I'm learning so much, but I'm more of a behind the scenes person on other blogs and only share round up lists on AWS. I want people to see me and to learn more about who I am and what goes on in "The World Around Her". So stick around, I plan on moving big mountains this year! 

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend! 

xoxo

DIY Lamp Shade Ideas...

So now that I'm trying to boost my personal blog, I'm starting to think like an actual blogger here taking a million photos of one stinking lamp to get the perfect shot! Well, my photo isn't perfect and my home decor isn't all that fabulous, so this is me and I'm keeping it real ya'll! OK, I don't ever say ya'll...but it sound funny right?! 

On to the lamp that I have a love hate relationship with...

See how brilliant the actual lamp is, the details and the color? But then there is this boring, no personality shade on top...I mean what is that?! We've actually had this lamp for a few years now, and for the last year or so I've really wanted to do something to the shade and have been on the hunt for cool DIY lamp shade ideas.

I love this Shape Tape™ trick that Jess did over on East Coast Creative...

It's a pretty simple idea, yet it makes such a big difference to a boring, white lamp shade. I would love to try this in a mint or a navy color. 

Oh, and how amazing is this handwritten letter lamp shade DIY from Courtney over on A Little Glass Box...

Besides the lamp being pretty fabulous all on it's own (I mean, it's a horse!), the lamp shade is too. My step-daughter actually did this to her lamp shade, she has been putting together some really cool DIY projects lately, like this industrial lamp idea she created from two wire hanging planters...

She was inspired by an episode of Knock it Off, which is on the Live Well Network and stars Monica and Jess from East Coast Creative (the blog I'm an assistant for!) 

So, these are a few DIY lamp shade ideas I'm loving right now, which one is your favorite? Should I paint it, write on it, or go for the industrial look?

Thanks for stopping by, have a great first day of Spring! 

My Journey to a Fit and Healthy Me...

I'm starting a food and exercise journal to help me stay on track with well...food and exercise! I enjoy exercising; riding my bike, going for a walk, working out on the treadmill, but I usually get bored with it and stop for a week or so. The problem with stopping is that I usually like to snack and snack late at night...so when I stop exercising the pounds add up and I become really unhappy with myself! It's become a routine where I exercise for two weeks, stop for a week or so, gain a few pounds, and then realize I need to lose those pounds I gained, and then I get bored again. But it's not just about losing their few extra pounds that I just put on. I want to eat healthier every day and continue to eat healthy, I also want to tone my arms and legs, and be a dress/pant size that isn't considered plus in some stores.

Don't get me wrong, I love who I am and I am very proud of how far I've come with my body image and weight loss struggle. In college and a few years after I graduated I weighed almost 250 lbs...yup I said it, I put that number out there. And now I weigh 205...sometimes I look back at my photos and I can't believe how heavy I was and how fat my face looked! I believe I started struggling with my weight in middle school (6-8th grade) and continued to get heavier from there until about 10th -11th grade when I began to lose weight, but put it back on in college. The year before our wedding I was determined to not be "fat" in our wedding photos and in my wedding gown. In 2009 I was at my smallest dress size, which was still a 14, but was really happy to see that number. I would really love to get around size 12, right now I'm a size 16.

Today is Day 4 that I've been keeping track with my own food journal and with an android app on my phone called My Diet Diary. Wow, what a difference it makes when you look at the calories you have eaten and what you have left to eat for the day. It also opens your eyes to see how many calories just one cookie or even a salad has in it. Oh and that glass of wine that you used to have two of, well now that you learned that it has 256 calories for just 3.5 oz, you'll only be having one tonight!

The food journal app makes it fun to eat healthy and now that I can see what I'm doing and how I can reach my goal, it makes me feel good. You don't need to go crazy and just eat fruits and veggies every day; but eat one cookie instead of four, stop drinking soda and even diet soda, use less sugar, exercise even if it's just going for a leisurely walk, write down in a journal what you are doing, and even start a workout group with your friends. I've recently started a workout buddies group on facebook and it feels good knowing that I can share my story with other women who are struggling with weight loss and fitness just like I am. These are women who are positive, supportive, and encouraging. And even though we can't walk together in person, we are there for each other.

Photos of My Progress...

                                             

Here I am on vacation in 2006...don't you like my hair do...I mean don't!

Later that year (2006) getting ready at my best friend's wedding. (I look like I could be a linebacker for The Steelers...not a fan!)

At my smallest, which was still a dress size 14, in 2009 trying on my wedding dress.

Here I am a few months ago (2012) on vacation this summer back to a size 16...

What I've always struggled with are my arms and my thighs, but looking back at these photos I am very pleased with how much thinner my face looks. In 2006 you couldn't even see my jaw line! I am also glad I don't wear my hair and tweeze my eye brows like I used to in 2006!!!

How have you changed through out the years, have you struggled with your weight and your body image?

I'm still around...

I've been MIA for about a month or so...I'm a very busy woman and life doesn't slow down for anyone! The end of the summer has been very hectic for us with the girls staying with us, going to events for other people, planning our wedding (did you hear...my dress came in already!), working, vacations, back to school for the kids, etc. This weekend alone we have three different things planned for us! My fiance's son is going back to college, I have a bridal shower to go to (for someone else getting married!) shhh!, and possibly a baby shower if the rain ever stops (hurricane Danny is in the area). So next month seems like it's going to be a fresh new start with a less hectic household...until the holidays come! So for all those following me on here and on AllWomenStalk keep your eyes open for new posts from yours truly...and thanks for sticking it through this crazy period and coming back for more! :)

And look at all the new followers I have...wow I'm up to 35! Thanks everyone :)