fab friday

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Thank God its FRIDAY & I get paid today. I will start off this post saying while this isn't fab, I did get sick on Wednesday. So my memory is suffering but I wanted to prevail and post today as I missed two weeks unintentionally. Sad face.

Today I want to talk about these FAB things:

• The biggest FAB thing that happened this week: I OFFICIALLY finished my Master's on Tuesday!! Ended up graduating with a 3.8 which is terrific, and I can't wait to celebrate big time when my husband finishes his Master's at the end of June. Definitely can't wait to get my degree but more so for the bigger & better things.

• Another FAB thing that happened: more dates, mostly impromptu with my husband to the beach. Lately we've gone in the afternoon/early evening and even though I am sick with a nasty cold, I am hoping we can go tomorrow since we are off Monday (long weekend!) It pays to live by the beach!

• Last FAB thing to mention, now that my Master's is complete, I can get back on track with losing weight. Plus its totally motivating that I'll be able to reunite with Lowe's, Michael's, Jo Ann's to get started on those house projects!

• One more-- I am starting my last month of doing Pampered Chef in May & I am definitely ending with a bang. I have my Help Whip Cancer fundraiser all month long and will be having 2 different shows. I am excited to finish this, it was fun but just hasn't panned out for me.

2013 Ultimate Blog Party

Last year when I started blogging for real, I had just missed this awesome event and wrote it down so that I did it this year. Only a tad bit late for my first Ultimate Blog Party :)

Hi, party people! I'm Jessica, and these are a snapshots of me. Up there, I am celebrating with my family for my sister's championship basketball game in Feb '13 and then below with my husband -- we met and have a common LOVE of Disney :) 

My husband and I met online when he worked at Disney four years ago, and got married June 18th, 2011 :) Right now we are getting in shape until God blesses us with our first baby- very excited for that moment! (*This is my favorite engagement picture, technically- there are a few others..*)

I'm work full-time and am in the last 16 days of finishing my Master's degree. I also am an Independent Consultant with Pampered Chef which I greatly enjoy. I also enjoy concerts. coffee, music, Jesus (he's my favorite), DIY projects (thanks to Pinterest), cooking/baking and being an OCD planner. 

On my blog, if you stop by, you'll find a lot of pictures, some daily life grind, and every Friday, I link up to Laura @ Everyday Joy's Fab Friday which is celebrating the good in your life and not the bad. It's my favorite post of the week besides when I give my updates regarding my weight loss journey. I've lost 42 lbs since last year and I have about many more left. I also enjoy sharing Pampered Chef specials and occasional reviews of products since I am a BzzAgent. 

Hope you'll stick around & I'm excited to meet new friends :) 

-Jessica

You can also find me at:

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Bloglovin

fab friday!

After 2 weeks of not being able to link up, I'm BAAAACK for fab friday & this lady is happy!

Today I want to talk about these FAB things:
1) I lost about 5-6 lbs this month, gave myself a new weight goal (minus 15) by May 1st.

2) I met my goal for March for Pampered Chef (2 shows submitted) + I get all Help Whip Cancer products free :) (Perfect for my Help Whip Cancer all of May!)

3) I am in the last few weeks of my last MBA course and I have a perfect A.

4) Last week, I applied to work part time at 4Rivers in the Sweet Shop so hopefully I'll hear back soon.

5) This weekend is Easter & I am finally letting myself have Cadbury Eggs. Favorite candy ever and I stayed strong, buying some tonight :)

6) This weekend I am taking a much deserved break from school, for at least tomorrow. I am getting lots of house cleaning and reorganizing done since the Home Decor on Pinterest have given me new ideas. My husband = not too excited as me. Pshh. What a typical dude.

7) Part of my graduation for getting my Master's in less than a month, wheeee. is that I am getting a cupcake (portion control) and a bonus: All American Rejects at Universal Orlando. Love that I'll be there :D

8) Finally doing my hair this weekend-- kiiind of tired of people's comments that I have  gray hair. Yeahhh, not supposed to tell a lady about that to her face, weirdos. 

Have a wonderful Easter weekend :)  ~Jessica

FAB FRIDAY!!

This week I want to talk about these FAB things: 

1. I've lost another 2.4 lbs this week & I'm hoping for another 6 before the end of the month :) 

2. I'm getting close to a year since I decided to lose the weight & with the exception of today -- I've worked hard. I'm hoping to be down 50 lbs after a year of working hard. I'm about 14 pounds away. :)

3.My Bangin' Chicken sauce from Tijuana Flats makes any iffy dish AMAZING. 

4. I decided to be a great wife last night & bake cookies for my husband's potluck: White Chocolate Chip cookies. Bonus- I made too many so I still get to enjoy some. 

5. because I submitted 2 shows last month for the salesathon-- I got the new stone for Pampered Chef, a new cookbook & the new rub for FREE :)

6. For Valentine's day- my husband surprised me by getting 4Rivers BBQ (only in FL- a hot spot).

Fab Friday

Today I want to talk about these FAB things:

1. I get the entire weekend with my sisters ! I get so busy and I don't have girl time with them so its nice to have that for a few days. 

2. Weighed myself on Tuesday & I was down 3 pounds this week, hoping I've lost some more since then.

3.  My Girl Scout cookies are on their way! (yes, this is plural)

4. I'll be partnering up with my Pampered Chef team for a bridal event here in Central Florida, time to talk to brides to be and hopefully generate more leads/bookings.

5.  I feel really great, the weight loss is coming off & its made me feel amazing/confident of my future.

6. Final grade for my second to last grad class: 97. Extra benefit of working ahead: I get 3 wks to relax before starting my last one. Not thrilled about the topic but ready to graduate with my Master's :)

Hope you all have a FAB week, & I will probably add more to this when I'm not so tired..

[Longer weekend] Wanted.

So, I sit here watching 'Once Upon A Time' & my mind is spinning. I've had a weekend that has seemed to zip by and since I don't have MLK day off, I wish I did.

Let's see Saturday, I tagged along with my family to SeaWorld since they got a few extra passes for my husband & I. We got there & surprise! Our passes were actually FREE Fun Cards aka- basically many more FREE trips to SeaWorld until the end of 2013 :) YAY, many next trips are in the works.

I also got my share of workouts this week- approx 6 times of intense Zumba sessions/walking done. My first 5k for #operationbikini is Saturday, March 2 at Cru (ironically where my Dad works & he's paying for my reg fee). This week, I lost 2 lbs, would've been more but my dogs have been suffering from fleas :( & they bit me up to make my ankles swollen so I gained some un-fab water weight. Swelling has gone down but my month weight loss total is 6 pounds.

Only 84 remain to be at my goal for #operationredbikini :) :)

Last night I was so tired since riding a jerky ride at SeaWorld and screaming kids that I felt pretty sick. Got our laundry outta the way & kitchen cleaning craze. & I usually don't drink but I had my Malibu rum w/pineapple juice. Delish.

Today was one of those days where I feel I need another Sunday to recuperate from today. I had a Pampered Chef party and it went soooo well, but I was on my feet for about 4 hours straight & then grocery shopping. .

I do feel celebratory though. 2013 is a 10 year milestone for one of my very good friends, Katty G. I met her in youth group my senior year of high school, shockingly so long ago. We hit it off right away and our friendship has continually grown to be even stronger since then. She was also a bridesmaid in my wedding, and a great friend to have. She is (besides my parents) the longest friend I have known in life. Isn't that a great feeling to know someone in your life for a decade.

Hope you have a terrific week! ~Jessica

Whew.

I'm so glad tonight is Saturday because if it was a Monday, i wouldn't be mentally okay with that. So, I had a great show tonight for Pampered Chef & I booked another party! My host is also getting a lot of outside orders so it will end up great. Hers is a fundraiser & . I don't think people realize how much work goes into a show for the host but also for the consultant. You have to set up your demo table, pre-make some dishes for faster expediting, and get ready to be on your feet for hours. I love it but boy does it feel like my feet may fall off soon.

After a long day like this-- I needed to clear my head and make a post. *Disclaimer: Random posting.*

Friday- I had my dentist appt & while I thought it was just a cavity it could also turn into a root canal depending on how my tooth reacts to the filling itself . So please pray that I just need a filling as a root canal/crown is too expensive & time consuming. Not the best news but thankful I have the dentist I do.

2nd weigh in of the year: Lost 4 lbs this week :) MyFitnessPal gladly told me I've lost 36 pounds since starting my weight loss journey in April 2012. Hoping to have lost a great amount by then :)

When my husband & I are at home on the weekends (or mutual days off): we love to kick back & watch some movies. This weekend so far: Happy Gilmore *love this movie*, Vegas Vacation, Wayne's World & currently Longest Yard.

Friday before my dentist appointment: I received a (rather misleading) email from Sallie-Mae that 'Congratulations your loans are paid in FULL!' Now, I got excited as if you think grad school is cheap, you're kidding yourself. I got a lil excited but then I realized that they send you an official congrats email when you pay off one loan or all of them. The loan in question? I paid off an unsub loan, yay. Amount: $126.11! Woot ;) I feel accomplished there. But one less loan to worry about.

But all in all today was a great day, I got to sleep in, got to cuddle with my doggies, relax with my man & enjoy a day, partly full with Pampered Chef/making triple layered brownies.

Excited for tomorrow- with coupons in the newspaper, yep I'm a coupon clipper & I love it. Supposedly my 'rest' day for working out but I will probably end up getting back in with Zumba.

& I finally plan on watching Parenthood & Scandal's episodes :) YAY. Love these two shows.

Hope you have a great rest of your weekend/see you next week :) ~Jessica

FAB Friday!

Time for another FAB FRIDAY :) Favorite post of the week. Today I want to talk about these fab things...
-I'm 2 weeks ahead in my current course. Gooo me!!  & I have an A :)
-Thanks to 3 days of 75 min Zumba sessions & downing water like a fish, I lost another  4 pounds.
{This month's total:  8  pounds}
-Saturday is my FIRST Pampered Chef show for January & it's a chocolate party. We'll be making triple layer brownies. I'm also bringing a brownie trifle & s'mores cookies. Can't wait to hopefully get more parties booked!
-Today I ended up having the day off (unfortunately for the dentist) but I'm being paid regardless.
-Since I've gotten back on track with working out, I have much more energy to tackle cleaning my house more often.
Hope you all had a great week!  Time to make my brownie trifle & s'mores cookies before my appt.
Blessings, Jessica

#operationredbikini

So, this morning- I did my first weigh in of the year. I lost 4 pounds this week :)

I'm pretty excited. I absolutely love knowing the weight is starting to come off, I was getting a tad nervous.

Definitely encouraged to keep it going especially because now I need to lose 86 pounds to be done (until I get pregnant). A lot of people have asked why I am aiming towards such a big number.

Let me answer that question as honestly as possible.

#1) I have struggled with weight since I was 11. I had a pretty unhealthy relationship with food in that I used it to hide my feelings or struggles in high school. I didn't have the best experience in high school, was bullied throughout middle school and some of high school. So, now I am changing my outlook on food and how many portions I have.

#2) I've seen the number on the scale & while I don't let it define who I am because its just a number; it does have a say in the sense of what size I am currently wearing AS OPPOSED TO the size I am aiming for-- size 8/9 :)

#3) As much as I would love to take a few months off & be on Biggest Loser-- I don't have the paid time off or the means to live on a ranch with Jillian Michaels. She'd be a bit too much to deal with 24/7.

So there you have it- I'm working my tush off to lose 86 more pounds because I need to be fit & healthy :)

& in other news...

-Usually I'm an overachiever with hw for school but trying to drum up motivation for my final paper wasn't there. However, I had to be at work 2 hours early today so I was able to get 4 pages done. YAY for being a month ahead.

-Tonight my husband & I had an impromptu date night. Nice to talk to him w/ great food & not w/ our two dogs watching/begging for food. Just saying, it was nice to shake things up.

-I met with my host after work today. We talked about the show next Saturday & I'm pretty psyched. I love being a Pampered Chef consultant. :)

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend! Here's to another great wk towards #operationredbikini :)