Dear Mom, You reading this?

Who knew there was a mountain down here? I've been having a fantastic string of days which included:

1) dates with my exceptionally charming husband

2) visits from our two brilliantly entertaining nephews, my husband's lovely sister and her husband, and two of the most beautiful women I know who just happen to be my cousins

3) delicious cook outs with family

4) birthday celebrations with wonderful friends

5) extra time to test new recipes, open new books, hear new songs, and write on new paper

*Potato, turkey sausage, onion, and mushroom soup*
These left overs never make it past midnight.

But the bad? Bleh, I do not wish to share. There are days when I am tempted to start a new blog, create an alias, and write anonymously about "How this really is my mother's fault." That way my namesake wouldn't be angry and you wouldn't know that I am grossly human, ordinarily flawed, financially broke, overweight, under-educated, quick to anger, sluggish to forgive, hard to love. Hopefully you know this already, but if not I apologize, from one sinner to another. Begrudgingly and against my will I am becoming more aware of the truth that I am imperfect through no fault of my parentage, but through divine design. What use would I have for the name of Jesus if I did not require a savior? Would I have sought out my creator if I had no malfunctions to report, no flaws to perfect in His creation? Probably not.

*Fresh from our balcony garden*

I am still fighting my weight! But 43 pounds lost since I first threw down the Snickers and picked up my sneakers seems like a success story thus far. (Just to recap, this is all "Happy Fat" gained in the first 2 years of an incredibly joyful marriage.) To celebrate, I'd like to share a few things that work for me.

{WARNING: Skinny people need not continue. But please leave a comment before you go!}

1.) YOGA - I go in sore and cranky and tired. I come out feeling my age, which is 22. I go to Nabucco's class at the Fitness Center on Tyndall Air Force Base. She is a fantastic teacher as well as a wonderful person!
2.) I've recently started using SparkPeople.com which is now getting free advertisement through me simply because this website is MASSIVE and yet detail oriented. I track my water intake, work outs, and nutrient intake(because it's not all about the calories!). They also have lots of recipe and workout ideas for the days when I'm fresh out. 
3.) I eat delicious food.

Post work out snack. Strawberries are sweetly in season right now!

Lots of GREEN and never canned or frozen. 

Some days I feel like THIS...

...so I try to keep THESE in the freezer!
My sweet husband brought these home as a
surprise and they are delicious! The nasty
coconut bucket in the background is all his.

I'm always searching for new ideas, new recipes, new work outs, new MOTIVATION. So please share if there's anything that really gets you going or feeds your cravings without busting a seam!