it's all up to you

Each and every day is a blessing and an opportunity.

An opportunity...to be better

...to praise better

...to love better

...to eat better

Messing up is not an excuse to give up.

piece and love,

kayla

i forgot

to thank you for your kind words on this post.

So, thank you.  :)

piece and love,

kayla

some sugar for my sugar

Hey guys!  Happy Valentine's Day!  Boyfriend's 21st birthday is tomorrow.  I always get so excited for his birthday.  :)  I'm making him a cheesecake today, and we're going on a date tomorrow.  

Tonight,

he's cooking me dinner and we're going to a play here on campus.  

I haven't worked out all month, but I've lost 4 more pounds so far.  Avoiding Taco Bell is probably the best thing I've done.  ;)   

Enjoy your day, lovely ladies.

piece and love,

kayla

grey area

By the way, grey and grey are both acceptable spellings of the color.  Gray is typically used in America, and grey in Great Britain.  I like -ey.

It's about to get real, y'all.

There is an organization on campus that is basically geared toward empowering black women.  I was invited to two nights of speakers, and have immensely enjoyed both events.  I have a page filled with notes consisting of inspiring words, as well as advice.

Here's the thing.

I am not a black woman.  Obviously I have my own struggle--we all do, but I do not know the struggle of a black woman.  I am blessed to be in a relationship with an amazing black man--who does not know the struggle of a black woman.  

I have absolutely no frame of reference.  When the speaker would say things like There is nothing better than to be a black woman, I felt myself looking down at my feet.  I don't feel as if I have the right to throw out an Amen or anything as such.  I am not a black woman.

While I have the utmost respect for the sensational women who spoke to the organization, and those who are part of the organization, I have a difficult time relating to phrases like women of color.  

I'm beige--what does that mean?

I was raised to see no color.  I don't know if I have told you before, but I'm a military brat.  I've been exposed to every kind of color that people come in.  I often forget that Boyfriend is a different color than me, and has a different history than I do.  

Boyfriend is a leader around campus--he's involved in many organizations and employed by the school.  Some believe that a black woman should be by his side--that a white woman is inadequate.  I believe that NO woman could possibly love him and care for him as much as I do.  

I thought I would feel better after writing this, but I don't.  If any of you have any insight or anything that could help me (if you could even follow my thought process), as always, feel free to comment.

piece and love,

kayla

daily substitutions

First, I want to thank you all for the congratulations.  It means so much!

The only thing I have really cut out of my diet is fast food (Taco Bell) and soda.  And when I go out to eat, I order from the kids menu instead of clearing my adult size portion.  So here are some really simple substitutions that will save you so much, and you won't even know it.

My zucchini bread recipe calls for 1/2 C vegetable oil.  Let me tell you one thing.  1 TBSP of oil has 120 calories and 14 g of fat!  14!  For one tablespoon!  I don't know how many tablespoons are in 1/2 a cup, so I'll let you do the math.  Applesauce, on the otherhand, has 90 calories and 0 g of fat per 1/2 C.  

I don't have all the facts for everything else, but here you go.

Turkey sausage vs. Hot dogs

Turkey bacon vs. Bacon

Extra lean ground beef vs. Ground chuck

Wheat buns/bread vs. White buns/bread

Wheat pasta vs. White pasta

Green tea vs. Coffee

These are super simple substitutions that make my home healthier.  These things are not drastic.  Except maybe the tea part for you coffee drinkers.  And the extra lean mean takes a kick to my wallet, but with the money I'm saving from avoiding fast food, I can afford it.  If you keep healthy food in your home, you'll eat healthy food.

piece and love,

kayla

it's the first!

Drumroll, Please!

credit

I weighed in today for a grand total of 144.8.  That's a 10.4 loss in one month.  And averaging 1-2 inches all over.  I'm thrilled.  I can fit into my clothes now!!  It's like going shopping in my own closet.  

I was looking at the CDC website, and it said a healthy weight for someone of my height is 101 to 136.  

Before I tell you my goal weight, I want to tell you that I'm thinking about going into the Air Force when I graduate.  That means I have to be seriously fit.  SO...my goal is 125.  That's just ball park.  I will not be upset in the least if I don't make it to that.  My main focus is being able to run and lift.  But I feel like that will be a healthy size for me.  I know, I know.  I'm going to look like one of the skinny girls I make fun of.  Oh well.  I'm going to be a BEAST.  

I'll have some more food substitutions I use in my next post.  

piece and love,

kayla