Between the Lines

Wedding Budget Continued....

2012-02-05T07:59:00.000-08:00

My fiance and I have had many discussions and I have come to the conclusion that we want to have a fun wedding. My vision is a nice backyard wedding. Normal in every sense except for the food we will be eating. I want to have pizza, chicken, salad, shrimp and bread sticks. I can probably do all of this for under 7000.00 if we go more casual with food. As my girlfriend Erin had stated, all the stops for a wedding but without the stuffiness.

If we go with a summer wedding I want my colors to be very earthy. I want the centerpieces to be made with something that ties in with what each guest will be taking home with them. Like a baby tree or a small basil plant etc. I think I could get a discount from the arbor day foundation or I will just grow my own. I do have over a year to work on this. We will see....

Time to get out of the clouds and go get ready for a lunch out with my family.

Bride On A Massive Budget

2012-02-04T06:59:00.000-08:00

So what do you do when you want to get married and you have absolutely no money?

My fiancee and I have been together for five years and we have a beautiful three year old son. I didn't want to get married right away because we did not have the money to have a traditional wedding. Granted I am ass backwards having my son first but he wasn't completely planned. We knew we wanted a child and we made the choice not to be 100 percent safe. I am not sure that we completely thought it through but I wouldn't change anything.

Wedding. I have been going through all the possible ideas of having a nice wedding on a budget but I can never come to a price under ten thousand dollars. Most reception halls charge between 30-60 a person with open bar and I have around 130 guests. That is still a price I do not want to pay. I am looking to host a wedding for under six thousand dollars. I wish I had some readers so I could ask....Any thoughts?

My First Week

2012-02-03T08:10:00.000-08:00

Every morning I wake up to my son creeping in my room. BOOO! I know he thinks he is scaring me but I am always awake by the time he gets out of bed slams his door and then proceeds to my room. I pretend he has frightened me so the morning begins with giggles. I love seeing my son happy. We then make our way into the kitchen where I have to make him his morning coffee. His coffee consists of milk and chocolate. If I wasn't the only one drinking coffee I would make some for myself but instead I always go into the cabinet for tea.

This week my choices for breakfast have changed dramatically. I used to fill my stomach with sugar. A huge glass of chocolate milk or orange juice. Then I would eat something like a sugar cereal or waffles drizzled in syrup. Not healthy at all but when you crave mostly sugar it seems like heaven.

When I went shopping at the beginning of the week I bought yogurt. Nobody really seems to actually like yogurt. Something about the cream going down my throat makes me a tad sick. I am sure your mind has wondered like mine has but that is usually what I think of when I eat yogurt. However, I have learned to actually like it. I don't know why but after I started buying lemon the yogurt seemed more satisfying and not repulsive. I understand that one of the ingredients is high fructose corn syrup but the 100 something calories of sweet lemon yogurt gets rid of my sugar craving immediately. If I don't eat yogurt in the morning I then turn to rye bread. I love bread and I believe to make a change in your eating you can't change everything or you will fail. You just have to replace it with healthier alternatives.

I have been changing what I have been eating for lunch as well. I usually stuff my face with sandwiches, spaghetti O's, hot dogs, corn dogs, Ramen, and many other unhealthy choices. I have decided to keep lunch simple and filling. I have been eating either a large salad with a little cheese on top or a healthier soup. Lunch is usually under 500 calories.

I am your average American! Dinner is usually my largest meal and I don't plan on changing that. My family and I sit around my crappy hand me down table and we eat a good dinner. Conversation, togetherness, and food makes dinner perfect every night. I am pretty traditional. I have dinner on the table every night right around when my fiance gets home from work. I don't change dinner. We have always been big fans of eating chicken, pork, and fish for dinner. We don't consume that much red meat. All of the products I purchase I try and buy the ones that don't have any steroids added. Do your research!!!

I am not a nutritionist! However, I do know how to lose weight. I have been just to lazy to do it in the past and to be honest with you I didn't feel like I have had anything to look forward to. I finally have reasons and something to push toward. I want to be a healthy bride. I want to go even further by saying I want to be healthy enough to see my son get married down the road. Right now I am putting the focus on my wedding and my joints not hurting.

**I forgot to add. I have lost 4 pounds!! Woooo

Between the Lines. A Fat Bride

2012-02-02T13:20:00.000-08:00

I am woman. I am obese. I am ready for change.

This week I have been really reflecting on my weight and how I need to change for me and my family. When I look in the mirror I don't see myself for who I truly am. I look in the mirror and I see vibrant blue eyes, full lips, good bone structure, red hair and a small nose. I think I am suffering from little mirror syndrome. The mirrors in my home only show my shoulders and up. The rest of me is round, plump, bloated, and just plain obese. I may create jokes about my problem but I really am suffering.

My boyfriend went into the military a couple years back. I went on a diet because like many military girlfriends we feel that is very important to look our best when our men get back from basic. I did a wonderful job when he was away. I lost 40 pounds! Unfortunately, I went to go see him during his graduation period and everything was ruined from there. I traveled from Chicago to Fort Jackson living off of fast food for several days. I couldn't get back eating healthy when I got home

Two years later I have gained all of the weight back including five extra pounds. This makes me feel horrible. Furthermore, I am engaged to be married. I understand that he loves me for who I am but I don't want to be a fat bride. I want to feel beautiful and carefree at my wedding and truly enjoy myself and show everyone the best side of me.

My vision: I want to acquire a healthy BMI and weigh about 155 pounds in the end.

God give me strength......