April Goals. & March Recap.

Happy Monday, friends! :)

I am so glad its finally April. April just makes me want to sing, like Giselle in Enchanted. You know where she takes McDreamy (I don't find him that cute) out singing, dancing with everyone & their mother in New York. 

You know kiiind of like this:

I bet you know this song more than you'd like to admit. Everytime I watch this movie, with my family, I hear this song for about a week. It's not too long before I am singing along. 

But I feel pretty good about this coming month. I didn't get too fancy with my ambitions. I kept it simple about what I want to do to get me where I need to be - losing the weight. 

1. Work out daily. (Monitor my Treat Yo Self moments.)/Train for 10K (my first one in December).

2. Indulge twice a week. Truly.

3. Beach getaways (we live so close - why not.)

4. Brainstorm and write my book often.

5. Scrapbooking my cruises - finish my first & start on my second.

Although I will say I am proud of the work I did this month. I really felt it was an overall productive month.

In recap:

1) Enjoy my husband's birthday next weekend. I am a big birthday person. I already have his gift but I cannot wait to enjoy his birthday with him for a few days after he took good care of me after my surgery last month.  Definitely feel like he had the best birthday. He was on a Disney cruise in their private island. They provided us an incredible BBQ while we were there and he relaxed in paradise. He celebrated basically the entire cruise. I gave him his two Despicable Me shirts when we came home the next day & he loved both :) 

2) Do something fun for St. Patrick's Day. Even if it's as simple as Shamrock Shakes ;)  I wore green to work and we went out to dinner which was good enough for me. 

3) Get my Yoga/Pilates/Zumba back on - to look good. I did it once but I did get it back on. 

4) Get my beach pass. Already excited for that to pay itself off.  Thanks to my awesome in-laws, we're able to fund our beach pass with his birthday money. Hooray! We'll be getting it soon too. 

5) Work hard to make my house look great on the outside/inside. Lowe's officially knows our name over here. We have an off again, on again relationsihp every other month. I finally put up our pictures, and the awesome collage I scored at Kohl's..  My husband & I added our own personality and it looks fantastic. 

6) Spend more time being creative.  I printed off my cruise pictures and this one goes hand in hand with #5. 

7) Take more 'me time' .. - Sadly, this didn't happen. 

8) Plan more cheap dates with my mister!  Thank God for BOGO's in our entertainment book & cheaper Groupon deals. Huzzah. 

Overall a great month. & I know April will  be truly fantastic. 

Hopefully none of you gets pranked. ~ Jessica

Five for Friday!

Happy Friday, friends! :)

 

This has been honestly an insane week. While I am pretty psyched its Friday, its not a real Friday since I work tomorrow. But I digress - it's time for my second Five on Friday post to link up with all y'all. 

1) As previously mentioned on my blog, I am in the process of writing my first book, well ebook through Amazon. I was brainstorming ideas and came up with a chapter that I hadn't even thought of inspired by my recent surgery. I am now recruiting individuals who would be interested in reading my chapters for grammatical errors and overall flow - if you're interested feel free to contact me at jessica_whitney@hotmail.com .. (Thanks in advance, my goal is to hopefully publish by the end of December 2014.)

2) There is something fantastic truly about receiving packages in the mail even when you know they're coming. Waited an extra week for my pictures but it was worth it - they are beautiful!

 

3) This has felt like the world's longest week and this is how I chose to greet my Friday. Arby's Mint Chocolate shake.

4) Thanks to giftcards - I was able to score two new gorgeous Target maxi skirts for only $2.17 out of pocket. Cannot wait to rock these out. 

 

5) I finally got back to working out this week. I am definitely getting back to it and my motivation is refueled. I've been hearing alot about Daily Burn and I am curious if it's worth it. But this year is my 10 year reunion from HS. & my wedding anniversary is coming up in June so I want to look good for both. 

I heard on the radio that on Saturday only - Old Navy is having a tanktop sale for $2 each (limit 5) in store only. I know what I'll be doing after work. Been wanting new tanktops lately especially with my new maxi skirts on the way! Have a fantastic weekend! I'm thinking maybe the beach & a few Pina Coladas myself! ~ jessica

Weekend Recap

Hiii friends. Hope your weekend was really fantastic. I had my sisters over for the weekend so that my parents could escape to the beach. They celebrated their 32nd anniversary last week. Unfortunately my dad got really sick so their getaway ended sooner but they still had a good time. My sisters helped me kick off my spring cleaning with a bam - by getting me to clean my room and my bathrooms. 

Last weekend when I got home from my cruise to paradise - I got a rude reality check. We had friends/family coming here to check up on our dogs to let them out. My next door neighbor literally called in my dogs as abandoned because she was barking. Not the ideal way to return home after a cruise.

Any who - this weekend was truly fantastic. After taking my hubs to work - I hit up Ross and Tarjay with my sisters. I find it successful if I can keep my 13 year old sister from texting every three minutes. But it was nice to be silly, kind of impulsive at Tarjay. I walked away with some Peeps and Easter cookie cutters - making bunny cookies for my family at Easter dinner. Pretty sure I was the most excited person about it.

Last night - we took my sisters to Downtown Disney, with the intention of going shopping and getting our free piece of Ghiradelli chocolate. However, with the constant construction and zilch parking available - we used our Annual Passes to our advantage - we went to the Boardwalk Hotel (one of Disney's hotels). It meant more to us because four years ago (this July) we got engaged there. Aw. 

Four years ago, he liked it & put a ring on it. We're so cute.

My new handbag from Disney. Totes love it!

However today - I had the distinct pleasure of baking for my parents. This year for my mom's birthday, I know she is busy finishing her Master's degree this summer so I wanted to cook for her. Today I made the dessert so I kind of went backward but she taught me everything I know. She shared her passion with me.

Later on this afternoon, I finally put up the beautiful collage that I found at Kohl's for 90% off. It looks beautiful. I'll have to get a picture up. For now - I need to stop watching Glee and hit the hay. Busy 6 day work week ahead for this lady & I'll need my sleep especially if I want this cold/sinus jazz to leave! Take care :) 

Five on Friday!

 

Finally decided that since my favorite Girl Between the Lines linkup is down finished – sad face – that I needed to join up a new one. So I am going to try to be committed to the Five on Friday craze that I see but I never remember to do. Lo and behold – here I am. - my first one.  

1.       Last night we hit up Tarjay & Walmart for our biweekly grocery shopping trip. I am happy to share that between the two trips with my Cartwheel App (if you love Tarjay/saving money, try it!), coupons and sales in the store – I saved $12. I was pretty happy. 

2.       When we were on our Disney cruise last week – on Friday, we woke up in Nassau to see that the Disney Wonder was also in our port. We were excited because usually we only see Carnival in the port when we’re there. More exciting since we booked our 2015 Disney cruise through the Wonder. They’ll be stopping in Nassau so its exciting to see this ship up close.

 

 

 

 

3.       First off – I realized the day after I got back that I have am allergic to pollen. Never in my life before has this so dramatically made me excited to breathe. I feel like it really does hurt me at work in terms of concentration. But this does sum up my week & has made me feel like I am suddenly old & hard of hearing. I hate (with a passion) being congested.

 

4.       The week before my cruise I participated in my first focus group that paid me. It was an interesting experience but nonetheless, I am excited because I am finally using it to buy my new handbag – I was originally waiting to treat myself for my birthday plus I’m a Disney Annual Pass Holder so I will get 10% off. I fell in love with it & can’t wait to own this bag.

 

 

5.       When I came home from the Bahamas on Sunday am, I saw on my Freebies 2 Deals email website, which you need to follow. She is amazing & just wrote her first book that I intend on buying. I just happened to catch the last day of a Snapfish photo prints deal that let me print most of my cruise pics for 99 cents + shipping. = $7 I plan on a few scrapbooking dates with my mom soon. It’s here in Florida and I am supposed to get it tomorrow!

 

Thanks for stopping by. Have a fantastic weekend. This week after vacay has been super slow and I am definitely counting down to my weekend starting at 6pm. I have my sisters over for the weekend since my parents are celebrating their 32nd anniversary simultaneously. :)

TGBTL: Lessons Learned.

Happy Wednesday, friends :)

Every Wednesday I link up with Lauren & Hayley for Girl Between the Lines. Although I am sad its the last week. I've greatly enjoyed this link up. I'll be sad to take the reminder off my calendar.

Today's prompt is: Tell us a lesson you wish you had learned sooner in life. Looking back, what do you see now you wished someone had told you before?

When I was growing up, I watched girls get either totes crazy or overly emotional for a guy. It felt like if they didn't fall in love with guys like Zach Morris from Saved by the Bell or Sabrina's boyfriend from Sabrina, the Teenage Witch that they had to change themselves entirely [to meet the right guy].

When I say entirely - I feel like they had to go overboard like starving themselves, finding new friends altogether or wearing too much makeup.

Sorry, ladies. This is NOT an attractive look for anyone.

 

I told myself that I wouldn't fall for this Venus fly trap of lies when I started dating guys. I could protect myself. But lo & behold - not the hand I was dealt.

I will say that God definitely protected myself and my heart from going too extreme. Sure, I experimented with hair color, what clothes I wore and makeup I liked - but I didn't just settle with just anyone. Or make choices to jeopardize my future.

I did meet a few guys who changed my life - in good/bad ways. *Names have been changed.*

1) Aiden - Taught me that I am good, no I am awesome whether or not I am a Wii bowling star or if I talk on my phone too much. His opinion was just that - an opinion.

2) Derrick - Taught me that I am definitely worthy to love. I am important and just how vital trust/honesty values are in relationships. Lastly, just because I am not the same person I was initially, that change is inevitable. In my case - a positive one.

3) Chris - (my husband). He teaches me daily that by taking a chance and giving someone the benefit of a doubt can lead you on the best romantic adventure of your life. It's okay to be yourself even if they're totally different from you but loves you all the same.

I feel like this was something I've been wanting to write. I am definitely going to expand on this topic in my book.
Moral of the story: Ladies, rest assured that boys suck and they will make you pissed off whether you're twelve or forty five. But the right boy will make it all worth it!

Thanks for stopping by! ~ Jessica

Ahh, the marriage chat.

Happy Tuesday, friends :)

Hope your week has started off well - mine is still going well. I am determined not to let my frustration ruin the exciting week ahead. I decided yesterday that I not only want to work towards losing all my weight - but that I want to simultaneously eliminate fear of running from my life. See, I grew up in a fairly active family. Always hitting the gym, suggesting long walks after dinner or big holiday meals. My husband - didn't grow up with this. His family is not active in any shape. That I have seen or witnessed. So - he doesn't really understand or appreciate my intention and effort to want to run a 10K this December. He feels it is stupid and a time waster. Soooo - instead of getting frustrated which I admit - I still kind of am. I wanted to take a moment to appreciate my marriage.

I feel like I have the best of both worlds - ya know? Most of the time my husband & I are a great team. We support each other, we commute together - we're together ALOT. But in moments like these - I really have to turn over a new leaf - kind of like when I was 13 and I looooved Backstreet Boys but everybody & their mother looooved N'Sync & I had to learn to love both. So in this case - I am really trying to not be a total girl and get emotionally frustrated.

What is so wrong about having a bucket list. For my entire life - I've literally hated & I mean, HATED - running. I have a bigger chest than most girls and that kind of is really noticeable when you're running. I feel like yes, a 5K is silly to pay for to run 3 miles but a 10K is really putting the skills to a test - its 6.2 miles of complete determination. I just feel like marriage is a two way street. When I was a little girl - I grew up with dreams and some of them fizzled - but I feel like its important to have your dreams and to work towards them no matter if you think you're stupid. He thinks that me running a 10K is stupid. Well I think some of his hobbies are the same.

Which leads me to my bigger topic - marriage.

Marriage isn't something to play around with. I feel like it's gotten a really bad rap in the last 10 or so years. I am not even pointing at the politics that surrounds this issue. Marriage is not for the weak or for the demanding. The women who portray marriage or whatever relationship they have on shows like Real Housewives or other reality crap - is that they don't have a marriage - they have like a weird agreement that doesn't really portray what marriage is or is supposed to be. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and marriage - but I feel like when people watch Real Housewives with fake women - that you're getting the airbrushed/photoshopped versions. My marriage is not always pretty, as you can tell from my husband telling me that running in a 10K is stupid or that my Pinterest projects aren't worth the $/effort because they usually don't turn out right. But marriage isn't supposed to be pretty. It's not supposed to be the fairy tale that Disney wants us to believe. You have your ups, downs & in between moments that can't be summarized by the 'happily ever after' promise.

There is no such thing has 'happily ever after.' Because that just insinuates that you're both robots or not human. You will be happy and when you're with the best person for yourself - you have opportunities to enjoy life together - whether its going to theme parks, or traveling the world one cruise at a time or raising your own family. But I just can't stress enough that sometimes there will be tension, stress, tears or all three - but at the end of the day - all will be okay.

So while I wish I married the male version of myself - I realize that we just have more compromising to do. I want to run - he doesn't. I loooove Gilmore GIrl marathons, he will never watch more than one without realizing something to do. But it just means - we're in love, and just totally different.

Ps. I've actually been working and accomplishing some of my goals for the month. :) Take care. Join me tomorrow as I link up for Girl Between the Lines...

Liberty for Thirty

Happy Monday, friends! :)

So I'm a planner. I have to plan. I spent the better half of my Sunday evening looking at Pinterest interested in making cakes for friends. My husband reminded me that while its good to look at Pinterest for inspiration that its hard to base anything food wise off - because none of my projects turned out well. I didn't love the honesty but then after I took the emotion out of it - I realized that I appreciate when he doesn't sugar coat it and keeps me interested. That said - at least knowing that my 30th birthday is next year - my plans are fairly simple.

I already know that I want to spend my 30th at Daytona Beach here in Florida for the weekend. I want to have a party and a nice cake with family/friends. So I appropriately named my bucket list journey: Liberty for Thirty. :)

It's threefold:

1) I want to have lost all my weight by that day. Today I am starting back on the Zumba/Yoga/Pilates train after having surgery a month ago. I want to be able to have the moment when you wear the size you want - in a cute dress - and just feeling your best on your big day.

I've made more plans on this - in terms of (3) 90 day goals to lose as much weight as possible. Encouraging myself in this time to drink more water, eat less sugar & to control my 'treat yo self' moments better. Today (March 10th) starts my first 90 day goal. This will be coming up in my future posts and excited to share my losses with you.

These are merely just plans because I do have a condition that works against my hard work. & I am a girl who likes my chocolate. But I have re-connected with the MyFitnessPal app that helped me lose my first 40+ pounds & I know that the effort will help me get where I want to be.

2) I want to get my book published. I have all these ideas running through my head all the time that I want to include and am always jotting something down. Tons of napkins with ideas or quotes are on my nightstand.

3) I want to be able to turn 30 - and know that all the groundwork has been done. I will be at the weight that I can successfully start our family. :)

Thanks for your sentiments and well wishes in advance. My 30th birthday is next October, 2015.
My work is pretty much cut out for me and I'll be keeping you posted. Pretty sure this is a part of my book as well - as I'll be journaling this.

So WHAT, Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday, loves :)

This was my face when I realized it was Monday
& the weekend was over.

This week I am saying SO WHAT if...

1) Tarjay clearances make me giddy. My Disney cruise is approaching but I just found a new cute dress & maxi skirt to take with me for $20.

2) Sallie Mae account info emails put a smile on my face. Big smiles. I just paid off my last UNSUB loan last week for student loans & kept checking in an OCD frenzy for it to be applied to my acct.

3) Twitter makes me feel awkward.  I just don't like tweeting. I am jealous of all those celebs who tag their friends, share links and just look cool. I just try and come off like an awkward tween.

4) I get excited to buy some Cadbury Eggs. I celebrate the real reason for Easter but I love these.

5) My IG shows my desk @ work covered with The Office quotes. If you don't laugh at quotes by Dwight Schrute, Jim Halpert, Michael Scott - I realize their characters but we can't be friends.

6) I watch #TheVoice for the bromance of Adam & Blake, Shakira & Usher. Thank God for Hulu.

7)  My birthday is in 7 months and I've already planned it out for perfect weather & not so perfect weather. It's my 29th and I want to enjoy my day. I have to plan or at least think ahead - keeps everything in perspective. It's something my mister makes fun of me for but I've always been like this & my life has turned out pretty great.

8. I am now obsessively checking Ebay, etc for vintage-ish American Eagle tees. For some reason, lack of judgement, I gave away all my AE shirts. There are two I really want back and now I'm determined to find them somehow. Biggest regret there.

Hope you enjoy your Wednesday. Feel free to check out my linkup for Girl Between the Lines today as well. :) Thanks as always for stopping by! ~ Jessica

TGBTL: Blogging keeps me sane.

Happy Wednesday, y'all. Hope your week has started off with a bang. Or that it's going well. For those of you just stopping by my blog - WELCOME! I'm so glad you're here. Today, & every Wednesday - I link up with Hayley & Lauren for this awesome link up. I encourage you to participate if your heart so desires.

 

This week's linkup is: Why do you blog? Tell us what got you started, what keeps you going, or where you want to go! This is your chance to tell us why you invest your time here day in and day out!

I am a visual person so for me to process - I have to see it myself. Let's go!

 

1. When I was a sophomore in high school, I signed up and took a Creative Writing course as an elective class & LOVED every minute. So many memories flooded my head that I was able to share and it was so therapeutic in those not so enjoyable high school years - that I realized how much I truly love writing. Blogging keeps me sane, I say it a lot but it's very true.  

What got me started two years ago, I was flipping through old journals and realized that I needed a creative outlet. Writing unleashes a part of me that I keep very private (to a degree!) It helps me process and appreciate the memories and experiences that I've witnessed firsthand. I am not blessed with talents like both my SIL's have with painting or drawing. It's come up a lot but I am working on my first book to encourage and inspire both tweens/teen girls & heck even ladies my age.

 

 

Lastly - I blog because it's my gift, my voice and my outlet. It can help twist a seemingly rough day into a much more positive one from taking time to process and write everything out. This is a gift I received from my dad, who is a great writer. I was blessed to appreciate writing memories and just keeping stories upfront. This is also a great skill and talent I plan to instill and develop in my own children so they're able to inspire themselves & their future selves.

 

Thank you for stopping by! ~ Jessica

Spring is coming! {March '14 Goals}

Not saying when my cruise is but these are my favorite parts of my Disney cruise & I cannot wait to enjoy them! :) There's a few things that I didn't take advantage of last time that are on my bucket list for this one. <3

& now without further ado. Time to get my March goals out there.

1) Enjoy my husband's birthday next weekend. I am a big birthday person. I already have his gift but I cannot wait to enjoy his birthday with him for a few days after he took good care of me after my surgery last month.

2) Do something fun for St. Patrick's Day. Even if it's as simple as Shamrock Shakes ;)

3) Get my Yoga/Pilates/Zumba back on - to look good.

4) Get my beach pass. Already excited for that to pay itself off.

5) Work hard to make my house look great on the outside/inside.

6) Spend more time being creative. 

7) Take more 'me time' ..

8) Plan more cheap dates with my mister!