Hello to all of you!! The weather here lately has been like a card game..some hands you win and some you lose..right now we are losing..but the plants are getting lots of water!! but I tend to only take pics on days we have a winning hand so here are some from the last week..a couple hours of sun here and there!! Enough to give me hope that the spring and maybe even summer will actually arrive here in NW Deutschland!! But let me tell you all..this weather can really have a crazy affect on my moods..all I can say is bless the folks that live where it is grey, damp, and not so warm for long periods of time..oh, wait..that sounds like us!! I am currently waiting for my husband to come home with a plane ticket to send me somewhere tropical, where the suns shines and above all it is warm..due to the fact that I have been a bit on the grumpy side for a minute now that it will be 1 May tomorrow and we still have to wear jackets when we go outdoors..:C..But enough of all that..as I was fixing a nice, hot cup of cappucino a few minutes ago and looking around my kitchen with all 3 four footed kids looking at me..this of course is due to the fact that all 3 are on the verge of starvation due to only being fed a couple times a week!!..just joking..they are all so incredibly spoiled that truthfully I should be ashamed of myself..Marli the terror cat actually believes that she must eat every 2 to 3 hours or she will die of hunger..and as for the dogs..well, everytime I head towards the kitchen they follow as they know I am a complete and total sucker for 4 puppy eyes looking at me..but since I now make all of their treats myself I am okay with a few snacks a day..for you know..being a dog and such..!! But anyway..back to my original thought.. as I
was standing in the kitchen waiting on the coffee machine to prep itself I thought.."Wow, Tiffany ..you should really be more grateful for the life you have, you have a great husband, 2 healthy sons, a beautiful home, 3 critters to snuggle with, and so many other things to be thankful for.." But here's the deal folks..I am human, I get discouraged because some of the aspects in our lives are not what they should be, contact with certain family members, our lack of close friends here, missing attending a church that I can really connect with, the fact that my nursing career is dying a slow, painful death due to circumstances out of my control..ie..location, etc., the fact that people in this area don't really care to be friendly to an outsider and are most of the time just flat out rude, the fact that I am, at almost 46 years old having to redefine who I am and find a purpose..I must say..had you asked me 4 years ago if I thought any of these things would be an issue and I would have said No.
But, despite all of these issues for those that know me personally, or have even been following Fluffy for a while you know that if I am nothing else I am a bit stubborn and when I have a reason to persevere I will..funny how my personal boundries and values have chaged over the past, esp. couple of years..some things that have happened here would have sent me into a tailspin earlier and some things that probably wouldn't have bothered me so much..I have learned how to go from someone who was super independent and sometimes did not know how to compromise to being part of a team with role definitions I actually never thought I would see. But isn't that what life is really all about?? Experiencing new things, interacting and learning??
I am sure what we are experiencing is not such an oddity for a 2 culture couple..the struggles and then the positives that go along with it..would be interesting to talk to others in the same situation..
At anyrate..my baby boy will turn 20 tomorrow and then I get to head south to visit him later in the month..happy about this!! My first course for my Master of Arts in Human Services kicks off on the 11th, and I started learning Spanish via computer course yesterday..am also prepped to start learning Arabic as with all of the people flooding into Deutschland from Syria due to the fighting there translators will be needed..the redefinition of myself is on track..what a better way to live and hopefully work than helping others??
I wish you all, an amazing, blessed day..and when things are not so bright and shiny take just a minute to find 1 thing to be grateful for..it will change the way you see things!!
Greetings to you all!! So..I find my time here in Kaiserslautern winding down for yet another month and one of my weaknesses called to me..Here is something most of you don't know..I am a complete and total Taco Bell Fresco Bean Burrito junkie..and since I am no longer able to just jump in the car, drive a minute to get to a local Taco Bell..about every 3rd time that I am here I have have have to get a fix!! Some of you are thinking "What the he%$§, there is no cheese on that burrito!" I know I know..but here's the deal.. it is all about the choices that we make..for today we are going to base it on food and activities to keep us, or get us healthy-healthier..but as we all know life and we make it is all about the choices we make..the good, the bad, the fabulous, and the ugly..
Not only did my choice of burrito and then my choice to pass up a Starbucks Strawberry and Cream get me thinking about this topic but so did the choices that I have seen being made by those who have joined me here in Germany on this new Herbalifestyle journey..and let me tell you all..I am so excited !! For example the fresh cut bell peppers and raw walnuts for a snack instead of candy..or a large salad with salmon instead of a schnitzel..for those of you who are not familier with the yummy local treat of a schnitzel..it is like a chicken fried steak but thinner and made with pork..and generally served with lemon slices vs white gravy!
The drinking of water vs sodas and indeed.. indeed..the 2 shakes a day that keep us on track!! Today I was between locations during lunch so instead of my shake I had a meal replacement bar..Why am I so psyched about these things..which are relatively simple because now it is not only me who is gettting healthier but also those who I work with, talk with, laugh with, and share a history with..and that excites me!! Folks doing awesome things for themselves!!
Now that the weather is (hopefully) getting warmer and the days a bit longer we can all start heading outside for some sunshine and fresh air to help boost the energy levels a bit more and recharge us all from the winter months (trust me a brisk walk in the evening even when you feel like collapsing onto the couch will make you feel amazing!!)..see pic below for a shot of gorgeous springtime in Rheinland Pfalz..Love it!! OKay..time to finish up the laundry and get ready for tomorrow and my travel day back home!! Don't forget to share your smile..you never know whose day you may brighten!!
Hello to you all!! Today has been an awesome day..and the scary part is..it is not over yet..a whole 24 hours with no rain, boundless energy, organization , and happy 4 footed kids!! and..that's not all..the birds are singing, the clothes are drying in the sun and my hubby gets to fire the grill up!!
So, let me tell you about my morning..I had my very first ever Zumba class..yes, I know..some of you are thinking."what took you so long?"..well, driving all over Germany , living out of hotels,being grumpy indoors because of the bad weather.. trying to be everything else but a happy housewife..you know, all that mess. At any rate- my coordination lacks a bit but will get better..I hope..but I have to tell you, sweating it out with other women to hot music and dancing..now that is some fun stuff!! Did they talk to me?? Not really but hopefully that will also come with time-the instructor was great, very friendly.
One thing i do not understand though..after some pretty intense exercise for an hour why why why would the first thing you do is step outside and light a cigarette up?? Of course throughout my career as a nurse I always thought the same thing also..how can you watch what smoking does and then do it yourself??
Regardless, have included some colorful, hopefully day brightening, inspirational photos..from shake ideas to an organized dressing room..wish I could make it about 2 xs the size but hey you have to work with what you have!! Actually I should be happy I have an entire room just for shoes and clothes..and indeed I am.
This afternoon has been spent outdoors sitting in the sunshine...with shorts and a Tshirt on!!..and yes, Mom..the flip flops are here too!! But I have been getting some computer work, craft prep, and letter writing done..the dogs are crashed out and Marli is sleeping off her lunch! Life is hard for the furry kids in this house!!
Friday is week 9 scheduled weigh in day but I will be out of town, working so I will post week 10 next Friday instead..and yes, of course my Herbalife products are coming with..they are already packed in their own dedicated carrier!!;D
I wish you all an amazing Wednesday..don't forget to share your smile..you never know whose day it could change!!
Good Morning to you all. I want to first wish everyone a blessed Good Friday.
Well, here are my week 7 results since beginning my Herbalifestyle!!... not quite so impressive as some of my other weeks but I am still okay with the numbers that I am seeing here as they mean a continued, steady progress. Progress that will remain vs being all water weight that will be back 2 days from now..0.22 lbs lost, or 0.1 kg, and another 1.5 inches gone. Now, even though the weight is not moving like it was before I have to keep in mind hat my exercise time and intensity has increased greatly and some of the numbers are a direct relation to the building of more muscle mass than I had before.Main thing is my energy level and health status are ever increasing and improving and I feel great!! Healthy is not a number here folks..it is what you put into your body, how much you move, and what you get out of it..like freedom from illness, increased endurance, better sleep... when you are healthy it just shows..hair, skin, eyes..attitude!!
This being Easter Weekend..I hope you all take the time to remember why we celebrate this wonderful holiday..and no, it is not the Easter Bunny and loads of chocolate but the fact that Jesus died for our sins and arose again so we can be forgiven and know God's grace..
Hello to you all!! I have a confession to make..in all of my housewifey goodness now..I have reignited my addiction to a show that comes on every day at 3pm..it is called Shopping Queen and every week it is set in a different city here in Germany and 5 women are given a theme, 500 Euros, 4 hours time and then they rate each other for points..blah blah blah..and at the end of the week the winner gets a certain amount of Euro for her style sense..So..all of this talk and visions of clothing ..plus the fact that I am super ready to switch out my fall-winter closets for my spring-summer closets but the weather is not playing nicely..BUT with the changes in my body-both with loss of inches and pounds from my new Herbalifestyle I took the time today to dig a few items out of the back of drawers and closets that I couldn't bear to part with even thought my po was no where in the neighborhood to fit into any of these clothes..the jeans for example..a size 4, made out of real demin (without elastic, spandex..whatever is in almost every pair of jeans made today it seems)..these are my favorite pair but I have been unable to squeeze my fat butt into them for over a year now..they will however stay on the hanger until I reach 68 kgs..the bathing suit..even though it is a 1 piece it still looks hot on..when you don't look like a big ol stuffed sausage in it like I did last time I wore it..not to mention not being able to take a deep breath..talk about embarassing..this will be worn this summer and it will look good..how can it not when not stretched to the limits at the seams..it is a Victoria's Secret for goodness sake..and yes, I will be ordering 2 new ones this year..Bikinis.. thank you!! The sweet denim skirt, love this piece-totally flexible to dress up or down..that is when you can zip it up..The 2 dresses..one has never been worn as I bought it right before I moved..and then it was suddenly 30 degrees cooler, and as far as a place to wear it out..well, even though it fits once more we will still have to work on that one..the green one was an online purchase..great for the holidays ..when your arms are not flapping in the wind like you are trying to fly..this problem is also being solved and muscle tone is now the rule rather than the exception!!
As I am doing all of this reorganization of my clothes, my mindset, my eating habits, and my body..and the self image and confidence that comes along with it..I cannot help but asking..How exactly did this happen?? How did I go from a size 0 to a size 10 in the span of about
4.5 years?? and why is that when women do tend to gain weight they just quit looking in mirrors that go say beyond mid chest?? I know when I took my before pics 6 weeks ago I was motified..and I do mean mortified..who was that person in the pictures?? When did this happen?? At least I feel like that is what I did..and why do the people that are with us everyday not say anything as we sit for hours putting crap like chips or chocolate into our mouths day in and day out?? Don't get me wrong..I am firmly against women and girls walking around looking like you can break them like a match stick because they are so thin..but healthy needs to be the norm..whatever that may be for each of us as individuals..for example..me at a size 0 or 2 was wayyyy too thin but I think a size 4 to 6 will be perfect for my body type...for someone else it may be an 8 or 12...granted all designers are a bit different when it comes to sizes..and for those of us that live in Europe we go by numbers such as 34, 38, and 40..As I generally save my shopping sprees for when I am on US ground (favorite shopping companion is my Mom--as we have the same theory that you have to spend money to save money!!) I go by US sizes.. This journey I have been on since starting FluffyseeksFirm has been crazy, I have tried all sorts of eating plans, changes, exercise routienes, not eating, gave up about 7 times..but then decided that I owed it to myself, my husband, and my family to get healthy and happy..At this point I am excited as my wardrobe is about to double in size..not because I am going shopping without a spending limit but because I can fit into clothes that I haven't been able to wear for a tad longer than a minute..and I have to tell you..it is an awesome feeling!!
Good Afternoon to all!! So, in my quest of redefining my life I have decided to also increase my cooking and baking skills..yesterday was a completely new experience for me..homemade Falafel with Couscous, root vegtables, and Tsatsiki..a bit on the time intensive side but was worth the effort!
5 new recipes a week..my husband is loving it!! So, with all of the cooking going on the exercise is also on the increase..with the new month starts 3 new fitness challenges..lunges, planks, and burpees..along with the daily time on the treadmill and other actvities. The rain and periodic hail managed to give us about an hours worth of sun this afternoon so me and the pups headed outdoors for a quick walk around the block..about this time I would give my left arm for a pair of shorts, a tank top, and flip flops somewhere in the south..as long as it is dry and warm I am not picky..but sand under my feet would be wonderful... All of this wind, rain, and cold is simply for the birds..even the dogs don't want to be outdoors..for luxus bunny Max that is normal but Missy generally loves to be outside..but not in this mess.
But enough of that...one of my 2015 goals is to read 45 books within the year..as of today since 1. January I have read 24 for 53% completion..I don#t know about all of you but I am such a total bookworm and generally have 2 to 4 books at 1 time going. 1 to learn something from, 1 to help me grow spiritually, and then 1 or 2 just for enjoyment..my Kindle gets a lot of use!!
I wish you all a wonderful Wednesday..share your smile, dance like nobodys watching, eat fresh and colorful, and let your creativity run wild!!
