Decorating Ideas

From now on instead of going to the gym I'm just going to move. Every part of my body hurts! This morning I had to slowly sit down on the toilet cause my legs were so dang sore. We finally got it all moved but the hubs said we might get divorced if I wanted to move again anytime soon. If you want to know how much you love one another just start moving furniture. We had some "I'm going to sit this down and walk away" moments. I figured we would wait a couple months to have a white trash fight in the front yard at the new house. I mean if Chris would just listen to everything I said we wouldn't have any problems. Ha! 

We've been in the new place for three days but it still seems huge compared to our little apartment. We have several rooms that are completely empty but that’s okay. I'm still in shock that we get to live there. I really love it y'all!! I just can't believe, out of the blue, we were asked if we would like to live there. Sometimes when we don't think God hears us he's been working behind the scenes the entire time.

Alright, so my house is nowhere near what I want it to be but I have a couple good ideas every once in a while so I thought I would share...

Use curtains for a dramatic
effect in the bathroom

I have a toilet paper basket in both bathrooms.
That way you're never stranded.
"Stranded. Stranded on the bathroom bowl.
What do ya do when ya can't reach the
roll? Take it like a man, wipe it with ya
hand. That's what ya do when you're
stranded. Stranded on the bathroom
bowl." Sorry...my Aunt taught me that
song when I was little and it stuck.  

Basket on the side of the tub.
Basket-TJ Maxx 

EASY curtains...Hem fabric
and use clips. That's it!!
Clips-Wal Mart 

Candle holders for tooth brushes
$4.99-TJ Maxx

Old armoire in our bedroom
that I stained and turned 
into a TV stand. This was so 
much fun carrying in!!

Utensils easy to access
and frees up a drawer 

Split peas in hurricane vases
Peas-$1.00
Vases/Candles-Michael's 

In Guest Bedroom-
I frayed the edges of a piece of burlap
and placed a piece of glass I had cut on top.
Spray painted old mirror-$10.00
Lamp Shade-Dollar General
Painted desk-Yard sale 

I bought baskets and put them under all
4 tables in my living room. We have so
much more storage now.
Baskets-Wal Mart 

Lay a runner across your dresser

I LOVE to decorate people. It’s an obsession!! I’ll paint or stain something in a quick minute. I only have one problem…my frugal husband! If it were up to Chris he would still have his camo bedspread, mounted ducks and 5 gallon buckets for ottomans. We have very different views on what’s considered a “necessity”.  Oh but give me some time, give me some time....

We're Moving!!

Tonight is our very last time sleeping at our little duplex. In the morning we will officially be out and moved into a house. The new house is only 15 minutes away from where we live now but has much more space. It's also closer to where the hubs and I work.  We aren't buying yet but the possibility is there later down the road. I'm excited but nervous all at the same time. My family calls me a gypsy because when I get ready I just pick up and move. This time is different though. I think it's settling down time and I don't know why, but it scares me.

Chris and I have been together since I was 19. He's seen my highs and lows. I know a new chapter in our life is about to take place. I guess that's why I feel so...scared? I think that's what it is. It's a strange feeling that I can't explain. I feel excited, scared and nervous all at the same time. I was sitting in the bathroom floor putting towels up and this overwhelming feeling hit me. Tears started to fall but I don't know what for. All I could do is just smile and thank God for blessing us. 

Isn't it cute?!?!

I've never had a jetted tub...this is the
real reason I wanted to move!!

Holy crap at the crap and more
crap we have to put up!!

Excited about having a dining room. I now
have the table Daddy gave Mama on their very
first wedding anniversary 29 years ago. It's
back there behind all of the junk on the counter. 

Mama and Daddy gave us their furniture.
Not sure what I want to do in this room yet
but I'm for sure thinking COLOR!!

I drove around the neighborhood guys and it's exactly .7 miles. At the old place it was like playing frogger so I can't wait to start running. I already have a running buddy lined up (Hi Christie). I'm also still planning on meeting Sarah at the gym for our 5 AM workouts!! Guess I'll take one last selfie and wish you all a fun filled weekend...

Weigh In Wednesday

Do you ever look around and wonder why the heck you're the only one working so hard on your weight? Why everyone else can eat whatever the heck they want and still be thin? Let me tell you a secret that I've learned...

NO ONE can eat every and anything they want and still be thin!!! 

Not even teenagers with extremely high metabolisms. Watch someone who says they eat everything they want. They may order exactly what they want but I bet you anything they don't eat all of it. Or, if they do eat all of it they wait until they are truly hungry to eat again.

Growing up my Daddy has always been able to "eat whatever he wants". He has never had a weight issue and to this day is still thin. BUT let me tell you that his "eat whatever he wants" pales in comparison to the amount I used to eat. Let me break it down for you with a couple scenarios...
Daddy-
Starving and eats a double whopper with fries and a large regular coke...BUT hasn't eaten anything all day because he was busy working in the yard.
Me-
Had a busy day at school so stopped and got a blizzard on the way home. Then ate dinner and snacked until time for bed.

When I eat whatever I want, I eat!! I mean I eat from the time I get up in the morning until the time I go to bed. It's not just one meal that I've really been craving or a huge candy bar. When I start, I lose self control and can't stop. Even when I feel sick I keep going. I'm not proud of this and it's embarrassing but it's the truth. Y'all I used to eat before going out to dinner with people because I knew I would still be hungry. I used to stop on my way home from work and get fast food, then throw it away in the big dumpster so Chris wouldn't know. I had more than just my Daddy's "eat anything he wants" problem.

I'm like a recovering alcoholic. I have to work on my problem every day and control it. I could relapse at anytime and have! Remember this is my second go round with losing weight. I gained back 70 out of 110 pounds. BUT now, more than ever, I realize why I should keep going. I know how hard it is to get the weight off but at the same time know how great it feels to take control.

As of this morning I am down 3 more pounds for a total of 27.6 gone!!! Only 8 pounds until I'm out of the 200's!! The count down is on and I'll take that over "eating whatever I want" any day!! So KEEP GOING...It WILL be worth it!! 

I smiled when I got my staff ID this
morning because that picture was
taken at the beginning of the
school year. I can't believe how far
I've come just since then. 

A Transformation, Soup and Ice Cream?

I love fall. It's my absolute favorite season of the year. I think a perfect day is when I get my house good and clean, light candles and make a big pot of soup. It reminds me of my Mama and growing up in the South. To this day, my mama makes the best vegetable soup with ham, rice and lots of veggies. Soooo...I decided to make a SKINNY version. This recipe is a quick go-to with cooler weather around the corner. It's also super simple and tastes even better the next day. And y'all know how my lazy self loves me some leftovers!!

Mama's SKINNY Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:
-1 large bag frozen mixed vegetables
-1 bag frozen baby limas
-1 jug tomato juice
-1 pack ground turkey (browned)
-Garlic powder (1 tablespoon)
-Creole (1 teaspoon)
-Salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions:
Brown ground turkey and mix with all above ingredients. Cook on medium
heat for 30 minutes. Enjoy! 

This soup is so cheap to make
and feeds a full house!! 

I like to use the 93-7 lean ground turkey 

The lima beans add calories
but are so worth it!!   

BEST purchase I ever made!!
Now I just need more counter space. 

1 cup soup=around 75 calories
1 grilled cheese=105 calories
I make my grilled cheese with 40 calorie
bread, spray butter and fat free cheese. 

And for dessert a stolen recipe from SkinnyMeg... 

Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwiches
Cool whip, strawberries and graham crackers 

It doesn't get much easier than that folks! Happy TRANSFORMATION Tuesday!! 

Girl you've gotten too big for ya britches

Do you ever feel like, "I'm kickin butt and lookin good?" Not in a look at me, look at me kinda way. Okay that's a lie, in a totally look at me, look at me kinda way. Then you get around other people and that confidence completely disappears. You start looking and comparing yourself to others and within a matter of minutes you feel like all of your hard work was pointless. All the trips to the gym didn't matter and you start doubting yourself. I do this ALL the TIME!!

Friday night I was laying my clothes out for the game and was excited to put on my new game day outfit. Saturday morning when I got dressed I thought I was looking pretty cute. THEN we got to Statesboro for the game. I felt like I had the fattest face and biggest ham arms of anyone out there. Even when getting to see old friends all I was thinking about was how huge I was. I thought, "Yeah you've lost 25 pounds but girlfriend you're still a 200 pounder and weigh what most men out here do." The old Kelly came back. The quiet and more reserved Kelly. Now don't get me wrong, I had a fun time but I can't deny that these things were running through my mind. How silly!!

Emily, Me, Rachel, Karley-
Can you believe I used to teach
these hams and now they are in their
junior year of college?!

Lily Blake's (LBR) very first game.
Ummm...I love blueberries!!

Hi fellas...looking handsome!!

I have this theory that the way you feel about yourself manifests itself in the way you think, feel and treat others...

I'm about to be the vainest and most cold hearted you've ever seen me be but bare with me. At the tailgate there was a point when one of our newer extremely pretty friends came to visit. She's a sweet, sweet girl and is absolutely gorgeous. I was nice, smiled and we talked but in my mind I was thinking, "Will you please go away?!" Y'all I was so jealous of her that I wanted her to go away!! And I'll admit it, this surely isn't the first time in my life I've thought this about someone.

Sunday I was sitting in church thinking about my outfit, my hair and how I needed to go pick up some new makeup. And within a couple minutes of the song service God had a "Girl you've gotten too big for your britches" talk with me. I felt tears filling my eyes. I told God I was so sorry for the hateful things in my mind and to please, please open the eyes of my heart. As I looked around I saw people who had things going on in their lives that my pettiness couldn't even compare to.

My challenge to myself this week has nothing to do with weight loss or looking pretty. My challenge is to pray for humbleness and read my Bible each day. It's amazing how a little alone time with God will completely change the way you treat and think about others. I think this even applies to the way we treat our spouse. That’s why I also want to start praying with Chris at night. I know Chris prays, and I know that I pray, but the most precious and powerful form of communication with our mate occurs when we pray together.

Y’all do I want to be thin, look good and eat right? Of course, but more than anything else I want to be so busy loving others that their is no room for hatred in my heart.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in

humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own

interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 

Philipians 2:3-4

If you're looking for a good
devotional I really like this one.
A Gentle Spirit
Complied by:Ashleigh Clayton

BEST Alumni Around (Mac & Cheese Recipe too!)

We have to be in Statesboro bright and early tomorrow morning for Chris to go to his GSU Alumni Board meeting. I don't think I've ever actually told him, but I'm proud of him for being so active. When we lived in Greensboro he was over the Lake Country Eagle Club and LOVED every minute of it. He's also on the ABT board for his fraternity and donates money to the school. Guess I need to step up my game!! 

The Lake Country Eagle Club always 
met at Reynold's Plantation Pavilion. 
It was soooo nice!!

I WON that helmet in a raffle.
I never win anything so I was really excited.
Glad I didn't get the Eagle Creek water!!  

Look at that lake y'all!! I forgot how
pretty it is at Lake Oconee. 

The day all of Chris's dreams came true...
THE one and only COACH MONKEN
signed his football!!

This Saturday GSU is playing St. Francis at home. For the tailgate, the guys are grilling burgers and us girls are bringing the sides. I signed up to bring mac and cheese and cole slaw. I've got to brag for a minute because I make some good dang Mac and Cheese! I mean, I have a man child for a husband so how do you think I got him to marry me? This recipe is simple but makes the cheesiest and most delicious tasting macaroni ever. My favorite part it that you can put in a casserole dish, sprinkle cheese on top and bake it...OR you can pour it already cooked into a crock pot and turn it to "keep warm" for later. This recipe is in no way skinny but ya know what? Sometimes you need these kind of recipes to take as a side, to feed your family or just because you want some good home cookin. MODERATION...the key word I kept telling myself last night as I had to smell this amazingness. I took ONE tiny bite just to taste it. I promise!! 

Southern Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients:

-12 ounces elbow macaroni 

-4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick)

-1/4 cup all-purpose flour

-2 cups milk

-16 ounces Velveeta Cheese, cut into chunks

-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 

-Salt and pepper to taste 

Directions:

1.Cook macaroni in salty water and drain. Do not overcook noodles or they will be mushy!!

2.Melt butter in a large pot on medium heat and SLOWLY whisk in milk. 

3.Add chunks of Velveeta and stir constantly until all cheese is melted.

4.Add flour and whisk together. Let mixture cook for 5 minutes or so, making sure to stir, and then remove from heat. 

5. Stir in cooked noodles, mix, add to casserole dish, sprinkle cheese and bake on 350 for 7 to 8 minutes.

I doubled my recipe to make Chris
and Taddies their own pan 

MEDIUM heat or it WILL scorch!!

Make sure to stir, stir, stir

Cook for 5 minutes or it will taste like flour

This looks like a pot of deliciousness!! 

We made it to Friday guys!!! Have a great weekend and GO EAGLES!!

Pinspiration Thursday

Am I the only person still addicted to Pinterest? I mean, I thought by now the new would have worn off but oh no mam. If I don't check Pinterest at least once a day I start having tremors and the dt's start to kick in. I just don't understand how we ever survived without it. These are some outfits I stole from Pinterest and tried to recreate. I was so bored with my wardrobe and would have never even thought to put these pieces together. 

I tried to pose like that girl and
looked ridiculous...no swag here!!

Just thought about it...I have a
green statement necklace that would tie
this outfit together!!

Cute and comfy for Fall 

One day, oh one day...
I want a VL Speedy Handbag!! 

Have y'all  heard of people having a Pinterest party? It's where you invite your friends over, make a craft and share a recipe. All recipes and crafts are ideas you've pinned. How cool! I really, really want to have one of these parties. I've seen people do them all different ways. You can have your guests bring a craft and a dish or just bring a dish and you provide the craft. I found a lady on Etsy (search Pinterest party) that makes the Pinterest party invitations, recipe cards etc. I also found a lady with some great suggestions about tips for hosting a party. You can click HERE to view her tips. 

All right ladies, if you have a Pinterest party you have to send me pics so I can share. As for now, get to pinning so I can stalk you and steal ideas!! 

Follow me on Pinterest: Kelly Jacobs