Almost forgot about the par-tay! WIAW & the best oatmeal ever!

It's what I ate Wednesday. Love the party of at Jenn's!  with all of the cool eats & pics.  Who knows, you may even make a new friend or 2.




O.K. on with what I've been eating:
Breakfast:

(oats, Justin's Chocolate Almond Butter, pink lady apple, vanilla, stevia, coconut)  This oatmeal was SO good!
Lunch:

(left over fruit from Christmas brunch, raw red bell pepper, steamed green beans, and Dr. McDougall's Black Bean Soup)

my kid's creation, "colorful unicorn" (they wanted me to include it)

Christmas Brunch:

(included in WIAW because the berries are so pretty :)  My youngest ate mostly berries and nothing else. 
Dinner: Chick-fil-a char-grilled chicken salad with honey mustard dressing
and
Too Much Snacking:
on this

 Dear Chocolate Almond Butter,I love you and our time spent together.  It was some of the happiest times of my life, but I think I need to see other nut butters.  Can we still be friends?
Love,Cat
O.K., all kidding aside, I do think I need to abstain from nut butter for a while.  I have not used great self control and moderation, so I'd rather just not have them because they're hindering my progress.  

Not the greatest picture, a little fuzzy, but it captures the emotion and pride of accomplishing something difficult and worth achieving.  Before I started this journey I was a size 16-18 or 1X in a shirt, yes a plus size.  When I first tried this shirt on in the store, I tried on a large and it hung well below my bra.  I just couldn't believe it because there was no way I was a medium! I haven't seen a medium for a decade, but I tried it on and it fit.  I actually loved it so much, I ended up buying 3 satin blouses, all in a medium!  I think I'll stay away from the mall for a while too ;).  
My point is that giving up nut butter for a while to regain control is so worth the feeling in this picture.  Giving up something so small and insignificant is so worth receiving something so much greater in return.  I mean increased self confidence and a sexy blouse is so worth it!
Just think when those around you are indulging in something sinfully delicious and you're not, just think of all you will receive in return for just forgoing a few delicious bites.  
"Don't trade what you want for what you want right now."- Scot Ferrell
(I think I need to post this in my kitchen ;)
Tell me:
Do you have quotes posted in your living area to keep your focus on living a healthy lifestyle?  If so, what are they? Please share.  
Thanks for listening this evening.  "Talking" with you really helps me stay in this healthy journey for the long haul.  Sometimes I think I could revert back in an instant to my old ways, but I know I never will because I've gained so much from this lifestyle that I'll never go back.  It's not just about looking better, it's about feeling better, increased self confidence, a better role model for my children and so much more.  I just  want to improve myself everyday and help others do the same.  It really feels amazing!
Take care,
Cat's Belly Fat Cure Facebook Page

It Was So Worth It!

After working this morning in the hardware store and driving back to the city, I decided to go to the mall.  Yes the mall, on this busy weekend before Christmas.

This was me sitting at a standstill in the parking deck.  It took about 30 minutes to find a parking space!  Was it worth it battling the crowds today to get an awesome pair of shoes?  Yes.  Yes it was!

I have something special I'm doing on Monday and wanted to make sure I look my best.  My motto has always been to dress for the job you aspire to, not necessarily for the one you're currently working.  I did that right after college when I started working as a teller in a financial institution.  Instead of dressing in the normal khakis and knit shirt, I dressed like our manager: suits, dresses, dress pants, blouses.  You get the idea.  It didn't take long, less than a year actually, until I was part of the management team.  It took more than dressing the part, but I think it got upper management's attention and was definitely part of the reason for the promotion.

Now for the exciting part, YEA!  I think this is what I'm going to wear on Monday:  red seamed shift dress from Loft.  This dress looks a lot more fitted on me, not sure if that's a good or bad thing. Also looks much longer on me, than on the 6 foot model.  Now I can't decide what shoes to wear.  What do you think?

Tell me:


Should I wear these?

I had to go down 1/2 size!  I guess my feet have lost weight too!  I thought these made more of a statement paired with the red dress, very uptown and cool!

Or these?

On a fashion level I like the animal print, but I think the black Mary Jane's are more sexy and cut low enough to allow some of your toes to peep out.  Is that called toe cleavage? I'm kind of leaning towards the Mary Jane's.  Especially with such a classic dress, a classic shoe just nails it.  I'd like to know your thoughts though. What do you think?  For all of you men out there I know which ones you'll pick!

I have several options for jewelry.  Notice how nothing matches exactly.  I like it that way.

This:

Or this:

O.K. I think the second set wins hands down.  It just pops against the red.  You can NEVER go wrong with bling! ;)

While I was shopping today, if I saw something that caught my eye, I tried it on.  One thing in particular just made my day!  It made me reflect on this weight loss journey (shocking, I know!).  The one thing was this shirt:

It made me feel pretty, feminine, curvy, and sexy.  Before this journey I didn't feel like any of those things and now I do!  Feeling this way is FAR more valuable and gratifying and worth whatever sacrifice it took to get here.  The sacrifice is SO WORTH IT!  And the workouts are fun! 

After shopping it was easy to stick with eating a healthy meal because these feelings motivated me to eat healthy, so I can continue to feel pretty, feminine, curvy, and sexy!  I love this lifestyle.  It's not deprivation, not all, it's a life of abundance!

Are you living a life of abundance?  If not, you can too.  Just make the decision to change to a healthy balanced lifestyle and DON'T look back.  Your life will never be the same!

Goodnight everyone.  Thanks for stopping by.

Cat's Belly Fat Cure Facebook Page

Sexy Mall Haul Y'all, Disclaimer: If you find Victoria's Secret Offensive Don't Read This Post.

This shirt feels REALLY NICE.  Physical touch is my love language, so I just love silky feeling material.

This skirt is that it has just enough spandex to stretch and move with you and it's not TOO short! (Sorry these pics are so small, became blurry when enlarged.)

matching jewelry purchased at Express.

Believe it our not, these shoes are SO COMFY and cute!  Purchased at Rack Room Shoes.  I don't feel like I'm gonna fall flat on my face either.  ;)

From the Gorgeous Collection, this matching pair has a nice shimmer to it.  Panties are really silky.  I don't like lacy bras and panties.  Gives me visions of Grandma's bras.  Give me shimmery, silky!  Just for trying on the bra, VS will give you free Gorgeous perfume spray. 

Both bras are the demi cup.  I tried the push up version...talk about CLEAVAGE!!!!! No thanks.  I'm just fine with my regular cleavage.

Bra can be worn 5 ways!  Notice cute little keyhole in the back.  I like that the ruching makes my butt look better than it would otherwise. ;)

Purchased the black/animal print trim matching set as well.  Can you say, impulse buy.  Now I don't know which to wear first?  Decisions.  Decisions.

Close up of the back.

I had a nice afternoon at the mall with my girls.  O.K., so the bribe, ahem reward worked fairly well.  It was a rather lengthy shopping trip (4 hours), so 2 rewards seemed appropriate, a cookie, and a purchase from Claire's .  Purchases from Claire's were glitter body spray and a Hello Kitty sequin mask.  Did I mention I bought them Icees too!  (hiding my face in shame ;)

I tried several less expensive stores than Express, but I just don't have a cheap clothes kind of body.  Really.  Ashleigh said we went to seven clothing stores, but I really don't think it was that many.  Julia was super excited to go to Express & kept looking for a train.  At Victoria's Secret Ashleigh tried on panties as well, extra small.  I wouldn't have been surprised if they had fit her. 

Now I can get all dressed up, but I need somewhere to go. LOL.

Tonight I'm celebrating my 20 pound weight loss.  A month ago I don't think I would have even been able to wear anything from Express.  I didn't see a size larger than 12 while I was there!  Now even my panties are too big.  I need to go back to VS to just buy panties.  Maybe I'll go back during the Angel Club sale in October.

Do you ever feel like your life is about to change and all you can do is hold on tight & enjoy the ride?  Well, I'm enjoying the ride.

Have a joyful and healthy Wednesday.

Bye gorgeous,