I'm the winningest loser!

Just a quick brain dump for your reading enjoyment...or for my entertainment.

• Since beginning my diet 3 weeks ago, I've seen some major changes. While I still want to eat everything I'm not really supposed to, I have noticed that my cravings are a lot less frequent and I'm feeling more full and satisfied between each meal. Who thought I'd ever be able, or even want to, live and actually thrive on 900-1000 calories a day? Before, I could knock out 900 calories in one sitting! (Cue Five Guys and See's Candy.) But the best change so far? I've dropped 15 pounds. So excited and proud! Shedding that weight already makes me physically  feel better, has improved my athletic performance, and has even gotten me back into a pair of my skinny jeans. Word to your mother, Medifast!!

• Along the lines of Medifast, my friend who is also a health coach was holding a giveaway to promote the program. Long story short, I won the giveaway!!! A $50 Target gift card. I FREAKIN' WON!!! I never win anything!!!! Seriously!!! I have the worst luck with these kinds of things. But dang it, the tides have turned. Lady Luck is on my side! Anyone wanna head to Vegas this weekend?

• Lalea started school this week...FINALLY. She's going to Little Readers in Spanish Fork 4 days a week for 3 hours a day. I am ecstatic!!! As a mother, you love your children to pieces and enjoy spending time with them. But also as a mother, you want to wring your kids' little necks if they don't stop crying or whining for just one second. Finding alone time is hard to come by most days. But preschool...glorious preschool. I'll pay whatever amount of tuition required, just please, take my child. Mama needs to go spend her Target gift card in peace.

Hope everyone is doing well and you're enjoying these last few weeks of warm weather. As for me, fall can't get here soon enough. Bring on the cool weather.

Take care, my lovelies.

Things that warm my heart: Summer edition

The best things about summer, in no particular order:

• swimming
• tanning
• fireworks
• strawberries
• farmer's market and festivals
• BBQs
• the beach
• outdoor volleyball
• thunder storms
• shave ice (and accompanying dance!)

Ramblings

1) A few weeks ago, I bought a month's membership for Sweaty Chix Fitness on Groupon. Sweaty Chix is AWESOME! They offer lots of different fitness classes like Cardio Drench, Yoga, and Zumba. But my all time favorite classes are Hip Hop Hustle and Hot Hula. Of course, I love hip hop cuz you know I like to pop my booty. But have you seen the booty shakin' require for hula??!? Well, Tahitian really. But you knew I'd love me some hula...since I am Hawaiian and all. Lalea even comes to dance with me sometimes.

2) Our Eurotrip is less than a month away. I'm stressing BIG time! I'm just so nervous about our travel arrangements. I'm sure something is gonna get messed up of miscommunicated and one of us is gonna get stranded somewhere. Maybe I should have gone with a travel agent after all. But when I met with one, he seemed like and idiot and hadn't even been to Europe. He had no insider information and was only reiterating things I had already researched for myself. I actually found myself better deals than the agent was offering. Though, I guess the beauty in an agent is not having to do the research for myself anyways. It's a trade-off.

3) My family is obsessed with playing Settlers of Catan. We are now a true Utah County Mormon family. How cheesy.

4) Last month, my mom's dog got super sick and we had to put her down. So sad. We've had Pili for nearly 8 years. After Mom put her down, she was going through puppy withdrawls. So, last week she picked up another. This is Rella. She's a Morkie, half Maltese half Yorkie. One of the cutest things you've ever seen!

5) I'm lacking some serious motivation. After training for almost 2 years straight, I'm starting to get burnt out on running. Running has turned into more of an obligation. I'm always proud and feel accomplished after completing a long run on Saturdays, but Friday night leading up to it, I'm so angry. I have such a bad attitude going into it because I just don't want to HAVE to do it anymore. I haven't taken my training as seriously this time around. I think I'm going to take a break after Ogden. Switch to cycling for a while. I'll still run. Maybe do some half marathons and some 10ks, but I don't think I'll do a full marathon again until after we have another baby. But with that all said, I'm still very appreciative of everyone's support, encouragement, and generosity. I truly wouldn't have gotten this far without your help. Thanks a million!