My PB + J

Happy Birthday . . .

 

to me! Today I am celebrating my, um, well, twenty-eighth birthday. I feel like an adult, finally! I am actually working today, which is a total bummer, but I guess it’s my fault since I make my schedule. I am going out to dinner with my family after work and that’s it, super boring, but that’s okay. I love birthdays for other’s, not for me. So, that’s why I am giving one of my readers a birthday present from me. I know your probably thinking I am a crazy lady, because after all, it is my birthday, but like I said, I am a giver not a taker. Here’s what I am giving away. . . are you ready!?

That’s right! A $50 Crate & Barrel Gift Card. All you have to do to win  is:

1. Tell me why you deserve to win this and what you would buy from Crate & Barrel. (1 entry)
2. Tell a friend or two by blogging about this fabulous giveaway. Leave a separate comment with the link back to your blog. (2 entries) Remember to leave two additional comments. 
Good luck! Winner will be announced one week from today, Tuesday, June 29th. 

Miss P is on the move!

A few weeks ago Payton really started turning over. She had teased us on Easter and a few other times by just turning from her stomach to back but now she is full on rolling. Three days ago she started her backwards scooching to get where she wants to go. We’ll set her down on her play mat and within five minutes she will be near the kitchen or like today almost through the patio door. I took this video today in the middle of baking graduation cupcakes, watching Tori & Dean and organizing packages to be mailed. So, please excuse my annoying voice and TV in the background! Enjoy!!

Memorial Day Weekend

First things first: The Winner of the Owl-tastic “Owl-Livia” Pacifier holder is:
erinobrien@juno.com
Thanks for participating!! E-mail me at lepetitekupkak@yahoo.com to claim your prize!!
I hope all of you had a memorable Memorial Day weekend. Our weekend was pretty chill as usual. I worked all weekend but we managed to go out for the first time since having Payton on Saturday night for a friends 30th birthday. We started the evening off by dining at El Vitral next to Petco Park. We had amazing food, sinful margaritas and the best conversations we have had in a long time with our friends, Geoff and Jinger. After dinner we headed to Bar Basic in the Gaslamp to meet up for Ryan’s Dirty Thirty Mustache Bash. We had made a quick pit stop at Hot Topic to pick-up ‘staches for the boys and we stumbled upon female ‘staches too. Let’s just say, our $13 random find was the hit of the party. On Sunday Jim started off the day by making me Belgium Waffles and then we baked red velvet cupcakes together for a party we went to later on in the day. I had to leave early because I had to work last night but the day couldn’t have been more relaxing or gorgeous outside! Today we slept in until 10:00 AM! It wasn’t a solid block of sleep since Payton was up every few hours due to being sick but it was nice just laying in bed with my loves instead of running off somewhere. I managed to make a yummy breakfast and then we played with Payton then did our shopping for the week. There was just enough time before I headed to work to snap a few shots of Payton today. As I previously stated, I hope ya’ll had a great weekend. . .I cannot wait to read what everyone else was up to!

Payton today playing out in the backyard.

Look at her hair, isn’t it hilarious? This morning she had a fohawk, we were dying. At least it’s growing right?

The cupcakes we baked for the party.

Payton yesterday before we left for the party.

Watching Daddy play horseshoes at the party.

The group downtown at Bar Basic


Weight-Loss

I know it has been a while since I posted about my weight loss journey. I have been working my butt off! I have been going to spin class 3-4 times a week and have tried working in some other forms of exercise. My diet has lacked a little since I went back to work but I have managed to eat healthy 85% of the time. Two weeks ago I reached the 155 pound mark, this put me at a total weight loss of 55 pounds. I was so happy because I finally broke away from the high 150’s but I was still not fitting into any of my old clothes. I wanted so badly to feel like my old self again, I got even more down but had to remind myself that I am losing inches and toning areas of my body that have not been tone in over a year. I know I have hit a plateau so I need to switch things up to get this last 20 pounds off! My new goal is August 1st!
For your viewing pleasure I have re-posted a few pictures to show my transformation:

One Week after giving birth.

Three Months After.

Blurry, but five months after.
I can now fit into size 10 pants. One size away from all my old pants! Yipee!

toxicity

Do you ever find yourself pondering why you allow toxic elements into your life? These elements can be anything from friends, coworkers, food, bad habits, etc. I personally question this quite often. I usually talk to myself, not out loud, but think rational thoughts about why I allow myself to get so down about stupid crap. Maybe it’s because I am a female and we nit pick, read further into events/details than we should or just get mad for no reason but to be mad. I have realized now that I am a mother that there are certain people that need to be cut out of my life because they are toxic to my well being. A little over a year ago I struggled with depression and was diagnosed with clinical depression. In order to cope with people and events I was forced to pop pills nightly and on some days I would have to take anxiety medicine on the verge of an overload. When I found out I was preggers I stopped taking the meds even though I later found out that there was no need to do so. Some how, with the hormonal ups and downs pregnancy offers I made it through it all. Once my dear sweet P was born a waterfall or rather, a tornado of emotions took over my life. I would sit on my couch and cry all day. That gray cloud was back and it followed me wherever I went even though I was and am completely in love with my daughter, husband and family. When I went for my post-partum appointment my midwife told me I had to make an appointment to see my therapist, I told her I would but decided to take the self help route. Bad choice. It wasn’t until the first week of April, almost four months after giving birth that I came to the conclusion that I needed help. I went back to my therapist and cried about the same issues as before only this time adding in the traumatic events that occurred during Payton’s birth. I needed help and I sought it, this time diagnosed with severe clinical depression. I felt better talking, and now even with being placed back on my happy drugs, I still get down. You are all probably wondering why I am spilling my beans on my blog but I have always been honest and I know I am not alone. I have come to the conclusion that there are people in my life that are toxic. I am a girl that doesn’t have a ton of friends, I have plenty of acquaintances and I think I prefer this. I am more comfortable with a 1,000 people that I barely know than with a group of ten or less. Maybe I just feel let down. This is a strong statement, but when friends go through the happiest times in their life having support or someone to talk to can make the biggest difference with someones well being. Maybe it also means that with over time, people and priorities change.

Have any of you experienced anything similar?

In order to further my progression away from depression I have to “voice” how I am feeling.