Crazy times

Life is great!  Why?  Because I am alive and the world is treating me well.  A year ago, I wasn't feeling like the world loved me.  I felt like the world hated me and God was testing me.  Started from the bottom now I'm here.  God is Good.  My week FLEW by.  I had 3 programs this week and was glad that I made it to Friday.  I really need to schedule a massage/facial me time but that will come later.  I stepped into the kitchen today and did a little cooking and baking.  As promised, I cooked one of the WW recipes.  You can find it here.  I made it today.  I did not use fennel because it isn't my fave.  Maybe another day.  I did add mushrooms because they were in the fridge and I wanted to use them before they went bad.  I paired this with a salad and it was YUMMY.  VERY Yummy.  It will be dinner and lunch this week.  I also made bran muffins with applesauce, walnuts and raisins.  It is so HARD to find the bran mix.  They don't sell it El Walmart so I had to shuffle to Krogers.  I will put this recipe up next time.  I worked out once this week and need to put my hips in the bed so I can work out in the morning.  

Loving you!

~TC

Once upon a time

Hello There!!!  Still with me?!?  I hope so!  I just experienced one of the best weekends ever.  Two of my good friends from college decided to come visit me for the weekend.  Can you say FUN with all capital letters.  They literally wore me out and I feel like I am suffering from a hangover when I didn't even have a drink.  Words can't express how great it was to have friends come out of their way and stay with me at my home.  I only had one house guest when living up North so it means a lot to have two guests at the same time that I love.  We shopped, shopped, shopped and dinnered it out!  We saw a few celebrities and got to catch up.  These two friends are from my college years and it is so neat to see how we have changed (and haven't).  I would detail the 3 days that they spent with me but it really was shopping, food and bonding.  I will see them again in April and I am soooo looking forward to it!  

Work is still keeping me busy and I love it.  Still trying to get a secretary but that will come in time.  I have major programs coming up this week and my left eye is back to twitching which means that I am slightly stressed.  It isn't a bad stress just enough to let me know that it isn't rainbows and lollipops.  

I have decided to keep myself accountable with WW on this blog.  I have decided blog about WW once a week.  Let's see how that goes.  I worked out last week.  I don't know my weight loss or gain because I need to go to WW and get weighed in.  I have a week to get it together.  

That is it for me!  Have a fab Week!

If I were consistent....

You would know that I got back on the WW wagon and am addressing the fact that I love food but need to lose a few pounds!  Yay because the first step is always the hardest.

You would know that I just got back from visiting the Texas state capitol and had lunch on the front lawn in early February is 80 degree weather.  

You would know that I am back on morning work outs because I can't be trusted to go in the evening.

You would know that I have been frequenting the movies lately!  I saw Parker this weekend and I am so glad that I watched a little action movie on the side.  

You would know that I have debated deleting the blog but I really love that I have documented a few things.  

You would know that 2 friends have dragged me to happy hours (in two different parts of town) and I had a great time.

You would know that I love the diversity of the city, still loving my job and enjoying life.  I desperately need a secretary because I am barely getting by with just my 2 student workers.  In time, in time.  

Please continue to stick around.  I'm an inconsistent blogger but my heart is in the right place.

sOOn....

Tinychocolates

New Year and a Birthday

Happy New Year!!!!!!

I can't believe that it is 2013.  As I sit in my over sized chair, I hear the people outside still shooting fireworks.  I am safely back in Texas because the universe decided to be mean to me and SNOW while I was at home.  I have told you repeatedly that I hate snow, but God wanted me to have a white Christmas!  It also meant that I wasn't able to drive and see some friends.  In the last 2 weeks, I have had 2 friends get engaged and a beautiful little niece make her grand entrance into the world.  Talk about blessings all around.  

I had a birthday.  I celebrated my last birthday for my twenties.  I would love to hide my age from you because I should be ashamed that I am almost thirty, childless and Man less BUT my age is my gift from God.  There are many who don't get to see 29 or 30 so I will proudly state my age and say Thank you LORD.  Because 30 will be here before you know it, I decided to do a 30 for 30 list.  I don't have 30 things yet but I'm sure over the year that more things will come.  So let's start!

1.  Dedicate my self back over to Weight Watchers.  It is not a secret that I dropped almost 25 pounds on the program, but because of the move and trying to get scheduled, I have fallen off the wagon.  Back on I go!  

2.  Run a 5K.  Sounds easy but I hate running so it will definitely be a stretch.

3.  Continue to grow my relationship with the Lord.  He has been SO Good to me.  I can't put into words what he has done for me just this year!!!!  He brought me through it all.  

4.  Travel.  Go to a beach, start saving my pennies for a European trip with my Kay May.

5.  Get out there and really start meeting people.  I'm not excited about it but it has to be done.

6.  Research a doctoral program and get on the ball.  It's time people.  

7.  New Car.  It's time to start shopping for a new vehicle before my trusty boo thang breaks down on me.  Stay tuned because I am sure that you will hear more about this soon.

8.  Starting letting go of my piercings.  I have six.  I want to lose at least one.

9.  Find my new church home and become a member.

10.  To be a better daughter, niece, sister, aunt, friend, cousin to my loved ones.

so there you have it.... 10 things on my list of 30 that are kind of like new year resolutions but are really something else.

Happy New Year

May God bless you with all of the happiness, good health and love that your heart can hold.

My Favorite Things

A few people have asked me what I want for Christmas.  I want a new car, chocolate husband and new iPad.  Since most people aren't willing to buy me those items, I just say whatever you want.  I buy whatever I want when I want it and that makes it difficult to purchase things for me.  A gift card is always appreciated. But instead of talking about what I want let's talk about the things that are my faves.  I have wanted to type this for a week but I didn't have time to add pictures and links so hang in there please.

First up is the Caress Passionate Spell Body Wash


It smells SO GOOD!  I bought it a 2 months when I was looking for a fun smelling body wash and this did not disappoint.  It's cheap and delicious.  WIN WIN for me.  Would be a great stocking stuffer!

Another favorite soap that is SO important for dry winter skin is this:


This soap should be mandatory if you live in a state that has harsh winter winds and snow.  I buy it Costco or Sam's because you can get a pack of three.  It smells yummy and is wonderful when you have dry, ashy skin.

Another smell good that isn't a soap is this:


My Aunt bought this when we were Black Friday shopping and I thought it smelled good.  I NEVER buy the Scentsy brand products but LOVE the Walmart version of Scentsy.  Tranquil Garden Spa smells light and refreshing.  It is not too heavy and smells clean, but not like clean linen.  Give it a try!  You won't be disappointed.

My next favorite thing is a pair of pants or work trousers.  Maurice's always does a good job of having work pants in LONG for the tall ladies.  They now are advertising 3 different cuts: Polished, Smart and Stunning.  I have tried the Polished and Stunning and Love both but my favorite has to be the Stunning!



These pants are long enough and fit a girl with a curve!

And last but not least is an oldie!  Carol's Daughter has been my favorite for a while but a few months ago Groupon ran a deal and offered their new Chocolate line's Shampoo, Conditioner and blow drying cream for $25.  That is a STEAL.  Because I live in Texas the humidity plays a huge part with my hair.  I curl it before I go to work and by the time I make it to the car my hair is flat.  The new line said that it would reduce frizz and that is exactly what it does!



So there are a few of my favorite things!  Try one of them (I dare you)!  

~TC

Fear December while finishing November

Let the countdown to Christmas begin!

Christmas isn't my favorite holiday.  In fact it is the opposite.  I love the face that we are celebrating Jesus' birthday but sometimes I feel that the holiday has gotten far from that.  One of my friends told me that I am motherless.  I am a motherless child.  I guess I have never thought of myself as that.  I consider myself to have a wonderful mother who is no longer with me but whose memory is always with me.  I just can

t talk to her.  That's the reason that Christmas isn't my favorite holiday.  

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I had the chance to go home for the first time in 4 years for the holiday.  My Daddy was HAPPY to have me home and it was wonderful to see my family and even a few friends.  I started my drive home on Tuesday evening and spent the night with my aunt and uncle.  That is one of the best things about being back home, proximity to family and friends.  My aunt and uncle were happy to have me and are always so loving and accommodating.  I got up the next morning and had breakfast with my aunt (my uncle was fasting) before hitting the road.  I got home in enough time to eat a chilli cheese dog with my Paw.  He was so happy to have me at home and to harass me.  I then went and became a red head.  I had been wanting to add a little color to my hair but I needed my hairdresser who I trust.  I allowed her to do whatever she pleased.  I didn't necessarily want red but it's a great fun thing for fall.  That evening and spent time with my aunts and cousins.  I even made it home in enough time to watch a Western with my Paw.  On Thanksgiving day I had breakfast with my Bubs at Waffle House before going to visit my grammy at the nursing home.  She was having an off day and wasn't out of the bed and told us to come back the next day.  Her Spicy demeanor is why I don't worry about her.  I made it back over to my Dad's and hung out before having lunch at his sisters.  I then had lunch at my other aunts house before heading over to my other aunts house to hang out.  Talk about spending time with family!  I then did a little Grey Thursday shopping and picked up a new vaccum.  On Friday I spent the morning and afternoon with my Dad.  I wore him out before taking him back home.  He fell asleep on the ride back.  That evening I went to the movies with 2 of my aunts and saw Flight with Denzel.  The movie was only so so in my book.  On Saturday I spend the rest of my time with family and friends.  My dad cooked breakfast and my brother G stopped by and it was nice.  That evening I spent time with longest BFF- Bon and her mom.  It was great!  Our friendship has just gotten better with time.  And then on Sunday I started the drive back home.  The drive was fine until I my last 3 hours turned into 5 because of insane traffic.  I mean stand still.  I am so blessed to be close to my family again.  

I will return with more news soon but I had to document Thanksgiving..

Dub Dub

This post has been a long time coming!  

I am a known food lover.  I like most types of foods, desserts and everything else.  I love to cook, I love to eat, I love smelling good foods when I walk in places.  It is just one of my loves.  I am also a stress eater.  I eat when I have too much going on in my life, when I'm not happy or just when I'm bored.  Because of all of these things, I started to get fat.  I would feel like jelly when I got in bed and hated (HATED) the way I looked.  I decided to do something about it and decided to try Weight Watchers.  I saw sooo many ads in magazines and then Jennifer Hudson was singing about Feeling Good and I figured I should give it a try.  I made it one of three New Year Resolutions and I didn't start until late February of 2011.  I got a coupon to try a Weight Watchers meeting for free and it was the hardest first step ever to get there.  The people could not have been any nicer.  I didn't join the first time but I did make it back a week later and it was life changing.  I had dieted before: Fat Smash, Atkins and others.  Weight Watchers wasn't a diet.  It is a Life Style Change.  I can still eat bread, chocolate and drink wine.  I can still go out with friends and enjoy a meal but it makes you aware of what you put in your mouth.  I lost over 3 pounds my first week on WW and did not start exercising with the program until I had lost at least 10pounds.  I liked going to the meetings and getting to know others who loved food or didn't have the time to make themselves a priority.  I also began a great friendship with someone.  My friend Michelle worked at the old j-o-b up North.  We had a meeting one day when I casually mentioned to her that I attended WW and she quickly told me that she did too.  It didn't take long for us to start going to the same meetings and then start going on walks with each other.  ACCOUNTABILITY with her meant so much.  I lost close to 25 pounds.  It took a little over a year.  When I went to the Doctor in April for a check up she asked what had I done to drop 17 pounds in a year.  She told me to keep up the good work.  I have not hit my target weight.  I loved the way I felt in my clothes. I loved going to the gym.  I loved having people who looked out for me.  Living up north was easier because places NEVER sold Sweet Tea and that is another weakness.  Now that I live back in the south I have had to start all over again.  I had to join a new Weight Watchers family who don't seem to care if I miss a meeting or if they see me at all.  I had to join a new gym and I will skip the story on how I got spicy with that manager.  I also broke my favorite pair of work out shoes.  My Red Nike Shocks have been with me for years and just recently the shock pulled apart from the shoe.  I had to order new shoes and am still waiting for them to arrive.  I am listing excuses to you.  My life had been flipped upside down and I am still trying to get a routine in place and start loving myself enough to care about my health.  I have gained a few of the pounds back.  Nothing major, but major to me because I know how hard I worked to get them off and how easy it is the put empty food in my mouth.  And with the holidays and my birthday coming up, I know that food will be around me more than ever.  When my life is together, I eat healthy, work out, sleep well and have energy.  That is not the case right now and I am dealing with myself and trying to get back on track.  Weight Watchers was and is phenomenal.  I am making myself get it together and start back tracking, working out, food prep and all that good stuff.  

Have a great weekend,

TC