Greatest food scale ever

<a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=TOP4741bb4a52e79e27a011b9331b6d47ca" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" /></a>  I received this IDAODAN Professional Digital Kitchen Scale free of charge from Tomoson for my honest review. When I received the scale I was worried that it was so small and light weight. However, after using every morning to measure out my fruit for my shakes I am happy it is so light weight and small. I didn't want it taking up so much room in my kitchen counter and this scale fits nicely in the cabinets. I had wanted it to have some sort of bowl attachment but again after using it I am glad it does not. I use whatever bowl or cup I have and just place it on top of the scale and zero it out. This works well when I have blueberries that like to fall off the top of the scale. I also like that it gives other measurements besides ounces so that I can measure out pretty much anything I need. I wold totally recommend this scale to any home cook. I have another scale that I plan on donating because this new scale rocks! #CF019  <a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOM4741bb4a52e79e27a011b9331b6d47ca" rel="nofollow"><img style="display: none" src="http://www.tomoson.com/images/front/pixel.png" /></a>

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara Beauty Vox Box

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara Beauty Vox Box!

I was so excited to receive this vox box. I have a love affair with mascara! I probably have like 10 tubes of different mascara in my make up box. I could not wait to use it so when I was able to finally use it I was in love! The mascara makes my lashes thick and lushes! My lashes normally are thin and whimpy. I use it pretty much every single day and will buy it again for sure!
I received this for free from +Influenster and +Marc Jacobs Beauty in the #markjacobsbeautyvoxbox #velvetnoir 

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vox Box

I received two different colors from Influenster and YSL. I am fairly dark skinned so I try and stick with dark plum or wine colors. These colors I received were pink and like a pinkish brown color. The cases were sleek and pretty. The colors were smooth and creamy. They really smelled really good and sweet. I knew I wasn't going to ever wear either of these colors but I tried the brown color. It didn't look good on me at all. It went on smooth but it also didn't last very long. It didn't last maybe 2-3 hours. I don't think I would buy this product because despite being smooth and creamy it didn't last very long.

YSL VoxBox

 I received 2 free samples from #influenster of #YSL Touche Eclat Blur Perfector and #YSL Touche Eclat Blur Primer. I had heard of the brand but never bought it probably because of the price factor. I have always wanted to find a new product that would help keep my oily skin oil free! I have tried so many things had have pretty much given up on finding anything. I don't even use foundation because it does not stay on my face more than a few hours. So I was excited to try these two products out. They were easy to use and they made my skin matte all day long! It even helps keep my eye shadow crisp and bright all day and into the night. It is light weight and makes my uneven skin tone even and soft. I am in the market to find a foundation that works with my skin tone. I can't wait to to use these products with that foundation!

Reese's VOXBOX

I received a free sample of #Reese's spreads in the peanut butter flavor from @influenster. I had been holding off on trying this because I have given up sweets for 6 weeks. Today I decided to give it a small try. I would like to start off saying I am not a big fan of PB. My first reaction was "blech, I don't like it" then I thought "hmm, maybe this is not to bad". It really tastes like a Resses's pieces without the shell. Over all I would not buy this again but only because I do not really like PB. I am sure my husband will love the spread because he really loves PB. It is a little high in calories so I doubt we would ever eat or buy again.

Influenster VoxBox #2

I completed my first box and was selected for a second one!! I was so excited to get the email telling me I had been selected for the #TLCVoxBox so as I finished up my first box my second one arrived at my doorstop. It was smaller than I been expecting. It is ok because good things come in small packages!
In this box I got the following for FREE from #Influenster

Shell Fuel Rewards Network	Shell	@Shell_US/ #FuelRewards
Breyers Gelato Indulgences	Breyers	@Breyers / #GelatoLove
Puffs to Go	Puffs	@Puffs / #PassthePuffs
Neosporin Neo to Go		#NeoReady
Ivory Bar Soap	Ivory	@Ivory / #SudLife
Avon Anew Reversalist Express Wrinkle Smoother	Avon	@AvonInsider / #AvonANEW

I wasn't to thrilled with getting another shell card as you can get them for free from the actual shell station. I was excited to use the first card until I drove by the station and saw that the price for gas was about 23 cents higher than any other station near me. Even with the discount the price is still higher. I doubt I would ever go to shell unless it was the only place near me and I really needed gas.  I was pretty excited to get the Breyers Gelato coupon as I had been wanting to try this product for some time now. I bought the vanilla caramel flavor and I have to say it was AMAZING! I had to hide it so my daughter wouldn't find it and eat it all! Puffs to Go reminded me of my Grandma she always had some of these in her purse. I can remember sitting in church and looking through her purse for candy and she always had small packs of tissues! I like that you can put them in your purse, gym bag, diaper bag or car and not take up a ton of room. They are soft and smooth! Neosporin Neo to Go is also an amazing product. With summertime upon us it is great to throw in our packs as we head out to mountains, lake or even camping. I don't have to worry about it getting all over everything if it happens to leak. My daughter think it's neat that she can just spray it on her cuts all by herself.  Ivory soap has been a staple in my life for as long as I can remember. My Great Grandma and Grandma always used it. So of course we use it too. My daughter loves it and likes that it floats in the tub. She has always turned it into a boat to rescue her dolls from the water! The Avon Anew is a new product for me. I don't really have wrinkles so I don't really know how it should work. I have tried to use it on areas that sort of have wrinkles but I really don't see a difference. I used it on my husband who has wrinkles and I saw a small difference but nothing spectacular. So I am not really sure I would ever buy this product.  Over all I did like the products. Some I would buy again and some probably not. All items were sent to me for FREE to try and review.

4 days into week one!

So here it is day for of week 1. It's been pretty good so far. I had a hard day Monday with the new eating plan. When I am not "watching" what eat I tend to be an ok eater. I do have my sweets and soda from time to time but it usually isn't an every day thing. The second I decided to omit certain things that is all my brain thinks of. Things I would never eat normally are on my brain 24/7. I know it will get better and hopefully by the end of the six weeks those things won't be on my mind 24/7.

Next week is our first detox week. They SUCK! Mainly because they want us on a sorta liquidish diet. It was really hard the last time I did it. I was a total bitch and felt horrible! This time around I plan on finding some more filling soups for dinner so I don't go off the rails!

On the 18th we have a housewarming party to go to. Which sounds all fun and games until I remember I can't drink or probably eat most of what is going to be there! Which does suck! I will prepare myself before I get there because I don't want to ruin all my hard work.

On the 24th we have a wedding to go to. Which again sounds fun enough but the food and drink are going to kill me there. I don't have much "choice" like I will at the housewarming party. I will again prepare myself by eating a big salad or at least a good shake before we leave so that when dinner is served I won't pig out. Most of the time "wedding" food isn't all that good so I can always hope for that! lol My husband picked my food for me. They had prime rib (blech) and chicken piccata.  Which normally I would have been excited for but I am sure it comes with potatoes and the sauce is usually a lemon butter type. We won't drink because it is near Tahoe and even if drinking was an option we don't usually drink if we have to drink anywhere. 

I have been super sore all week. I wanted to cut my legs off. Today it's not been so bad. My shoulders are sore from all the arm and shoulder work we did yesterday. 

The workouts have been really good. I don't know if they try really kill us during Brik or if the exercises are always this tough? The good news is I haven't wanted to puke during them or after! I am hoping that means I am getting stronger! Our class is a little bigger than it usually is which is cool to have like 17 girls instead of 5! 

The other thing is for the wedding I have to go and find a new dress! ACK! I hate clothes shopping in general but loathe! dresses and dress shopping! I have one dress I could wear but it is probably to big and is more of a evening cocktail dress instead of a spring Tahoe outdoor (I think) wedding. 

Well I am looking forward to next week and all it's challenges it may bring.  

VivVoxBox

So last December my friend Dana posted something about receiving a box of free goodies to try out. I was interested because who doesn't like free stuff! So I signed up and started doing some random tasks. I answered some surveys on topics I knew about or loved I reviewed products I liked or didn't like and I answered questions about topics as well. It seemed like all my work was for nothing. My score was high and I was still not getting any free swag! So I kept at it. I reviewed, shared and answered questions every day. I did about 15 a day which seems like a lot but it takes about 20 minutes. Finally the day arrived and I got the email that I had been selected for a VoxBox!! I was so excited! I got the shipping notice and checked the mail every single day! I got the box yesterday which seemed like it took AGES to get here!
In the box I received for FREE the following:

Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Coca Radiant: I tried it yesterday after my shower and thought that it wasn't as good as traditional lotion. I didn't think it made my skin feel soft. I sprayed a ton more and it finally felt like lotion (sort of). Over all I was not impressed and probably would not buy it again.

Shell Fuel Rewards Cards: Think of it as a grocery store card. I have not had the chance to use it. Partly because I don't even know where a Shell gas station is around me or if we even have Shell stations. I think it would have been better if it was a card you could use anywhere. I will keep it in my wallet and hopefully I will run across a Shell station and be able to use it.

Pure Ice Nail Polish:
Afterhours which is a vibrant pink. I liked the look on my fingers but I will probably only use it on my toes as I am not a in your face kinda nail polish person.
It's Complicated is a glitter polish that has pink, light blue and sliver glitter in it. I do love glitter polish and this did not disappoint. 

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths: I liked them ok. I had to scrub really hard to get all my eye makeup off. I took a few cloths to get it all off. I doubt I would use them on a daily basis but maybe on days I don't wear make up or after the gym would be perfect to use them. They are cool and refreshing.

NYC New York Color City Proof Twistable Intense Lip Color:
South Ferry Berry: I'ts more red than I would have every bought or actually wear. It went on smooth and lasted a long time. It is not a color I personally like and maybe would use as a date night sort of thing but not a daily wear. That is just me I am sure most other girls would and will love this color.

Montagne Jeunesse Manuka Honey Peel Off mask
I will start of saying I am not a honey fan. I don't like the smell or taste of honey so when opened it up and it looked like honey I thought "oh man I won't like this at all". At first it had a huge honey smell but then it went away and the smell was really good. Reminded me of Hawaii. The mask stayed on for about 20 minutes and then peeling it off left my skin nice and smooth. I don't know if I would buy the honey mask again but I would try another flavor of their masks.

All in all I loved this #voxbox #vivaVoxBox and I can't wait to get selected for another one! All items I received from #influenester were given to me FREE no charge complementary!

I am back!

So after a LONG  LONG time away from Kaia I am officially back! I have been going for about 10 weeks now. I am loving it! I am loving that I am able to go at 9:45 instead of am! I am really ready to commit this time around!

So easy to stop and so hard to keep going

Well here I am almost at the end of my second boot-camp class. This session I missed a whole week! Partly because I was sick and partly because I forgot to set my alarm for one of the classes. 
I have not been watching what  am eating and have not really done my 2 shakes a day... ! This always seems to happen. I do so well then I just stop. I get lazy and I just "don't wanna" be good *insert 2yr old foot stomping*. 
Then I get on the scale and of course I gained! not a LOT but still the scale is moving in the direction I don't want.  When I see the scale moving to the wrong side I get upset and then I just want to say F-IT and eat whatever and drink whatever because I am already gaining so why not just eat away. I know that is not the proper way of looking at things but this is what goes on in my head. It is a constant battle I get super tired of fighting the battle. I want to just get it through my head that I need to stick with it and get to my goal weight already. I see other people being able to really stick with it and then there's me... 
It doesn't help that my husband can just stop drinking beer and lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks.  I can stop drinking and eating bread, potatoes, sugar, etc and work out 5 days a week and lose 15 pounds in 6 weeks.
I keep thinking of having weight-loss surgery but I see some of my friends how they have struggled and some of them can't eat certain things again ( i am not talking about soda or candy). It would crush me if I could never have red or green chile again (my NM peeps you understand). I know that surgery doesn't change your internal struggles. I know that the surgery is not the "easy"way to do it but I do think about it. 
So it's a new month and I am refocusing my thoughts on my healthy eating and working out. I want to lose about 10 pounds by Alexa's birthday in June. No, 10 pounds will not get me to my true goal weight but I will get me closer. If I can't seem to do this for ME maybe I can do it for this little girl.

 

End of my first 6 week class

This coming Saturday will make the end of my first 6 week boot-camp class. It has had its ups and downs. It has had me leaving saying WTH! It has left me sore and tired. There are times I don't know how I got through the entire class.
It has also left me 15 pounds lighter. Partly because of the exercise and partly because of my diet. Now I didn't follow the recommend diet 100% because well I just can't. Having to cook for a family makes it hard to follow such a restrictive diet. I am sure there were plenty of ladies in the classes that followed it but I was not one of them. I did cut out A LOT of the junk food and eating out. I cut out soda (only had 2). I worked out at least 4 days a week.
I am happy with where I am. I have lost a good deal of weight in at 6 week period.
I am very tired though.... getting up at 4:20 am is really hard. I look forward to our days off so I can sleep in! My body and mind need sleep.
I start my second round of classes on 2-11 which also happens to be my birthday. I hope to shed another 15 pounds! Wouldn't that be a awesome accomplishment? I will set a smaller goal for the next 5 weeks so that I know I can meet it.
Learning to eat right and exercise takes a lot of will power and there are days that I have it and there are days I don't.
I try not to beat myself up when I do eat something that I shouldn't. I know that we all have days where a salad won't do it and a juicy hamburger will. As long as we don't have more hamburger days than salad days I think its ok.

Hello remember me?

WOW!! the last time I posted was back in May!  To say I lost my motivation and desire is an understatement. I got hurt back in April doing a cart wheel in boot-camp. Yup I know someone who is as out of shape as me shouldn't be doing a cart wheel but I did and well I tore a muscle in my hamstring. At least that is what the dr thought it was since it was painful to do just about everything. So no exercising for 8 weeks.. lead to 8 months! With that 8 months I packed on the pounds again. We went to NM in July and of course I was a hungry shark in blood waters. I ate at every single place I missed.. I stuffed my face with so much NM food it wasn't even funny. I ate and drank till my little hearts content. So of course when I came home I had gained prob 10 pounds!! Well I thought to myself ahh not to bad I can take it off... then a few more pounds would come on and I would say.. ehhh I can take it off until I was almost at my weight that I started at boot camp back in 2011.
I was disgusted with myself!! I had worked so damn hard only to be back where I started! Then I didn't even care... I ate what I wanted when I wanted and didn't give a rats ass. I mean I was already back where I started so who cares! right?
Deep down I cared... so I signed back up with the same boot-camp classes (so happy they opened a new location that is like 3 min from my house!) I went to Vegas for New Years' and ate and ate and ate.. and drank and ate some more. I thought go BIG or go home! I knew when I came back to Reno that I was going to take boot-camp serious. So serious I did a detox diet... for 7 days (give or take) I had a shake for breakfast, salad for lunch and miso soup with tofu and quinoa for dinner. I drank detox tea, apple cider vinegar dextox drink, water and apples and almonds for snacks. Was it hard? HELL YES!! was I grumpy! HELL YES!! Just ask poor Josh. At one point I was so hungry and didn't feel good and was just miserable that I walked up the stairs slammed our bedroom door shut and went to bed at 10am! I slept for about 3 or 4 hours and woke up feeling much better. I told my self that never again would I do that. Josh even took me aside and said.. "honey, I love you but NEVER do that again"
We are in week 5 and I am planning on doing it one more time! I lost about 8 pounds on it and I would like to lose about 8 more pounds by Feb 9. I have a goal in mind that I would like to be at by my birthday which is Feb 11.
I have already signed up for the next session of boot-camp and we now belong to a gym so on the days of no boot-camp I will be at the gym.
So check back often.. I am going to try to keep this blog up until I reach my goal weight of 135. Come along for the ride.. Im sure it's going to be bumpy!

Lost my motivation...

It is gone! I don't know where it went. I was doing really well then for various reasons I stopped bootcamp and with that my eating habits went to hell in a hand basket. I thought to myself hey I lost 35 pounds I can eat whatever I want.. well that thinking is wrong and it got me to gain some weight back. Not a lot mind you but enough to make me go GET BACK ON TRACK! I have got our meals planned for the entire month and I am trying to limit the eating out and carbs we eat. I can't go back to where I was.. for one I gave all my "really fat" clothes away and I won't go buy new fat stuff. I miss working out and my leg that I hurt back in April is barely NOW felling better. I went on a run a few weeks ago and my 11 minute mile went to 19 minutes because my leg hurt so much. Then it was really hot ( I learned that I like running in cold weather).
So my goal for June is to shed 10 pounds. I know I can do this I just need to get with the program. I will break out the 4,000 exercise  DVD's I have and get my ass in gear. I will try to run as well I know I need to get back to my old run time.
I am also taking Raspberry Ketones. I saw them on Dr. Oz a few months ago and thought hey those might work. Two of the girls I work with are taking them and they like them and have maintained their weight as well as decreased their appetite. I just started them yesterday so I will report how they make me feel.
I am just upset with myself for falling off the healthy lifestyle train.. I know I can catch it again.

Life sometimes gets in the way

It has been a very long time since my last post. So here is what has been going on. Back on April 2 I was at boot-camp and we were doing our usual stuff. When they were like OKAY lets all do CARTWHEELS! I was like hmm ok I know I can do this. See back last year my sister in law and I  were doing them at the park. Were we sore the next day? yes! BUT I did it so I knew I could do it here for class. So off I went after the first one I knew I had done "something" to my leg. I thought well sometimes when you do a crazy move your muscles get pulled a little to much so I thought nothing of it. I continued to do them and it still hurt but again I thought well my body hasn't done a cartwheel in a very long time it's just freaking out. So later that morning the soldier wanted to go to the river and fish. I thought well this is a good time to go for a mile run. I had downloaded this new app called Zombies, Run! It's an app that give you a story line as you run and zombies chase you.. (ok it's all make believe but trust me when you hear them coming for you, you are running your ass off!
Well during that run I felt a pop or snap in my left hamstring the same leg I hurt doing cartwheels. I could barely walk but I again pushed through it. I finished my run/walk sat down and waited for Josh and waited.. so I thought well I feel better lets go again. I don't think I finished the run because of the pain.
So I have been going to the chiropractor for about 2 weeks and the problem is still there. I can't bend over without pain or walk so I am going to the doctor today.
On another note I will not be going back to boot-camp. I start my practicum for school on the 30th and it lasts until about June 20. Once the little one is out of school I have to pay someone to watch her while I am at work so the money spent on boot-camp will be going toward childcare. Also the solider will be going to AT for about 2 1/2 weeks. So during that time I would not have anyone to watch the little one.
I am sad that I had to stop I am glad I can sleep in! I have wanted to get back to working out on my own but with this bum leg I can't do much.
I am still maintaining my weight loss and we are starting the boot-camp diet soon. Life in our house is going to be busy this summer. I graduate on June 22 and then we are off to a little vacation to a place I don't like going to but the little one wants to see her mema so I am taking one for the team.

Never thought I would get this far.

So here I am 25 pounds lighter. I feel better and like the new me. Sure I still go to the XL sections at stores I mean that is what I have been doing for years! Some of my shirts that I bought while heavy and were tight are now to big and sadly I never really got to wear them. Some of my bra's are even to big.. EEK! Today a friend said.. "hey looks like you need to get some new pants!" lol yup I do. I donated about 10 pairs and have about 4 that fit.. scratch that 3 that fit. I am still excited to be dropping weight and have no plans on stopping right now. Looking at a website that says what your ideal body weight for med frame it is 127-141 and for large frame it is 137-155. If you have a small frame which I do not it is even smaller but since I am not a small frame (am i?) I won't bother with that number. I know it's not always good to go for a weight but to me I think that it is a tangible goal to have so I think my ideal goal weight it 135. It falls in the range of both med/large frame. I hope to be in a size 8.. wow 8!
Another milestone was reached... for the first time in her life Alexa was able to give me a hug and her hands actually touched behind me! Her arms fit all the way around me! this has never happened and it felt amazing! She smiled big when I pointed it out to her!
It has been a long long road and I still have a long and rough road ahead. I have to keep looking forward and take a few glances behind me so I don't forget how far I have actually traveled.

Truth be told

I have actually lost 31 pounds. I keep a record of when I first "started" um gave a "half-hearted" um "sorta" tried to lose weight. I was at my heaviest which was 230 pounds! yes I said it I had let myself get THAT heavy! I knew that was as far as I was going to go anything over that and I would have wanted to shot myself. So all in all 31 pounds have gone and 21 of them have been gone since January 2, 2012.
I went thru all my jeans yesterday. I had about 10 pairs that I could wear most of them would fall off me as I was walking so they are in the donation pile. I am down to 4 that fit me. One pair is questionable they fit a little big but still not big enough to fall off so they will be the ones I wear when the others are dirty.
My shirts are way to big as well but some of them I can make due for the winter/spring what ever is going on right now with the weather. Then on to summer I have to buy new stuff all around. My shorts won't be fitting me and my current bathing suit lets all my stuff hang out.
So there you go getting into shape and fitting into things I haven't been able to wear in ages. In a size I haven't been in in over 7 years.
Thanks to my husband with all the daily support. I love you babe. (even if he NEVER reads this)

The good thing about getting sick is.....

Losing weight! I have lost almost 5 pounds since getting sick. So I suppose that is the only good thing that has come out of me getting sick.
I have been going to class all last week.. even in the wind, rain and snow. This week I doubt I will even make it. I can barely get out of bed more less get up and go work out. I feel horrible..... I tried tried tried to not catch the germs that my hubby and daughter had... I guess it didn't work. I don't feel like doing anything and even walking down the stairs takes it out of me.
Well nothing else to report.. being sick sucks!

Long time... not post... new pant size

So it has been a long time since I have posted. I have been lazy and along with not eating right I haven't posted. I have been going to class (but missed some as well) but I felt like I haven't really been doing as well as I should be. We have had family in town visiting and I finally had some alcohol. I can say that I don't really miss the alcohol and I could easily get stop the drinking and not ever miss it. I have eaten horribly (at least to me). I have had a ton of foods I haven't had in a long long time. My scale showed the results of my poor eating habits. I need to turn it around and get back on the wagon and keep moving forward.
The good thing I went shopping this weekend and have went from a size 20 to a size 16!  I haven't been in a 16 in a very very long time! I am excited to know that soon I won't be able to shop at lane bryant and will be able to pick up my stuff at any store I want. So here is what has been going on and why I have been MIA. I will be back to blogging, eating right and going to boot-camp!

It doesn't pay to not eat right

So after 6 weeks of the BIRK bootcamp I was able to let the diet wagon stop for a little bit. Now I didn't go off the rails or anything BUT I did get a little lazy on the eating right. Well the scale showed it (not much BUT it did go in the wrong direction) and today my at my CORE class I felt it. My stomach hurt and I was sluggish (more than normal). I will say that I will get back to the healthy eating again and not let myself feel this way again.
This has to be a lifestyle change more than a "right now" change. I will stay the course for myself and my family.
I also need to really keep on running.... If I want to keep my current time for this summer I must continue to run at least once a week...
Good to be back at class and kicking ass!

New run time!

So today was our last run of the session. It was a cold and dark morning. We started our run and I really tried and tried to run with little to no walking. I managed to do that. I finished my run time in 10:42! Yes!! I can't believe it!! Tomorrow is weigh-in and measurements. I am hoping to be at my personal goal... To do that I need to lose 2 pounds by tomorrow. Think I can do it?