I can finally breathe...

The past 2 weeks have gone by in a complete blur.  Thanksgiving came and went, and all of a sudden we're pushed into the chaos of Christmas and New Years.  Not that I'm complaining, but it just always feels like there is never enough time to finish everything on your list.

 

There's been so much going on lately, that I don't even know where to begin.  Thanksgiving was wonderful!  I spent the day surrounded by family and friends, eating some yummy food, watching football, and playing poker.  Check out the 'crustless pumpkin pie' I made...

 

 

Yeessss I love extra whipped cream on my pumpkin pie...don't judge me!  lol  I'll have to post this recipe for you all next time.  It was reallly yummy.  That's the beauty of Weight Watchers...you can still indulge yourself like this if you feel like it.  Just track track track!  I think I did a pretty good job this past holiday with my tracking.  Lemme tell you...I was prepared chicas!  I had my WW measuring spoons, and my trusty scale with me. 

Ain't no shame in my game! 

 

I hope your Thanksgiving was just as lovely as mine.  I have sooo much to be thankful for.  This year has just been beyond amazing for me.  Just to name a few, I'm grateful for...

 

1.  God.

My faith in you has only grown stronger and stronger over the past year.  Through you, I have been able to accomplish more than I could have ever imagined.

 

2.  Mi familia.

You make my life so much happier, and I am forever thankful for everything you have ever done for me.  You always come through, and have never failed me.

 

3.  My niece and my nephew.

You make my heart smile on a daily basis, and are my constant motivation to keep moving foward in making positive lifestyle changes.  I love you babydolls!

 

4.  My sister.

I admire your willpower and free spirit sooo much.  No matter what the circumstances, you always have a smile on your face, reminding me what a strong woman and mother you are.

 

5.  Cat.

Where would I be without you by my side?  My best friend, my partner in crime. You keep me sane, and have never judged me, regardless of all the mistakes I've made.

 

6.  Krystal & Clarissa.

My favorite primas.  You two know all of my secrets, and have stuck by my side through it all.  I appreciate every phone call, every text message, and just every time you've been there.

 

7.  My job.

Regardless of how many times you all will see me complain about it, I know I have been blessed with this job.  Almost 9 years and counting...I must love something about it!

 

I could go on and on, but I'd fill up a whole book.  I hope you all took a moment to remember all the things you are grateful for this year...life is too short not to.

 

State audit finally arrived at work for me.  They decided to wait until the last week of the month, and I couldn't of been any happier to find out that it was 2 great surveyors they had sent down from the state.  We were cleared with flying colors, and I am sooo glad that it's over and done with.  I'm pretty much finished for the year, which means more free time and relaxing.  Things should settle down a lot at work now, and I won't have that stress looming over my head.  Biiiiiig relief.  I can finally breathe.

 

Weigh-in went pretty well this week...

 

 

I didn't get to weigh-in the week after Thanksgiving.  I actually never made it to my meeting because of survey at work.  I was a little bummed about it, because I was interested to see how I had done after Thanksgiving the week before.  Oh well.  This week I lost 3.8 lbs., pushing me foward to 137 lbs. total loss!!  Oot oot!!  Totally patting myself on the back!  Hopefully the rest of the holidays will go just as smoothly.

 

'The Fisherman' is over an done with I think.  Aside from the fact that I was only hearing from him once in a blue moon, the majority of the time I think it was just to stroke his own ego, and keep me on the back burner.  I was sooo over that.

 

I want to be someone's number 1...not an afterthought.  I'm sooo happy to let you chicas know that I met someone new a few weeks ago.  For blogging purposes and his privacy, I'm just going to nickname him 'J'.  It's been an amazing few weeks, and I've been completely swept off my feet.  Sounds so lame I know, but this one came out of nowhere chicas.  It really is true what they say...it happens when you least expect it.  For starters, I was suuuuper hesitant to even start talking to him, because of some of my own insecurities in my head.  I finally decided to push them aside, and went for it.  He's met the familia already, met my co-workers, and I even have a date for all the holiday parties coming up!  I'm not 100% sure what this is going to lead to, but I can say that for once in my life I'm not worrying about anyone else but me, and my happiness.  I used to let the thoughts and judgements of others influence me too much.  Not any more.  Like I said above, life is too short.  I'll keep you all posted, so wish me luck!

 

Have a great week everyone!!

 

 

Be blessed...and stay blessed!!!

 

xoxo,

 

❤Nica



13.1...

I WILL have one of these on my car one day.  Watch me do it chicas!!

 



For those of you who aren't familiar with this sticker, don't feel bad.  Up until a few months ago, I had no idea what it was either.  Have any of you ever seen this sticker on someone's car?  Or maybe you have one of your own, which would be awesome!  I started seeing them a lot more often, and never thought to ask anyone what they meant.  My bestie Cat finally filled me in, and told me that the sticker actually stood for 13.1 miles, the length of a half-marathon.

 

13.1 miles!!  Omgosh.  There's actually a 26.2 sticker also, which, of course you guessed right, stands for a full marathon, or 26.2 miles.  Smaller runs include a 10k and a 5k,  6.2 and 3.1 miles respectively.  I've never been a runner, but omgosh those thoughts have been in my head so much lately the past few months.  I think it's partially because of my lifestyle change over the past year, and trying to be healthier and more active...but a lot has to do with reaching bigger goals that I have for myself.  It just pushes me even further that my best friend is a runner, and just completed another half-marathon again about a week ago.  She's been training for several months now, and she is amazing!!

 

Now you all know my usual routine has been Zumba, and occasionally going walking.  It's been great for me, and gives me so much energy.  I even mentioned once that I leave Zumba feeling like I can take on the world...with an 'IDGAF' attitude!  For the past few months I've been trying to switch up my routine a bit.  I feel like I may be reaching a plateau soon, and I want to make sure I feel comfortable trying other types of activities.  I actually started alternating my work-out days between Zumba, and walking/jogging at the track.  Don't get me wrong chicas...I'm starting off on the verrryyy bottom, and at this point can only jog for about a minute each time, but I'm going to do it!  You have to start somewhere right?  Even if that means walking, jogging, and switching between the two as you go along.

 

A few weeks ago I started hearing about a 5k that was going to be held here in town.  The minute the thought was put into my head, I started reading about it everywhere.  I debated and debated, giving myself all sorts of reasons NOT to do it.  'I haven't trained long enough', and 'I don't have anyone to do it with me; I DON'T want to do my first 5k alone', were the main things going through my mind.  I even visited the registration site online several times, but never signed up.  Cat tried her best to convince me for several weeks before, but I was held back in my own insecurities, as usual.

 

Well guess what?

 

 

I did it!!

 

And omgoodness did it feel A-MAZING!!!  The excitement I felt when I crossed the finish line was crazy!  Not to mention how I felt the remainder of the day.  If you've ever heard people use the phrase 'a runner's high', it is sooo true.  You feel like you're buzzing, and everything takes on a positive spin.  Maybe it's your attitude carrying over into what you're doing and who you're around, but it definitely gets you happy and moving.

 

Here's what happened...the night before I was at home, totally having a Blockbuster night.  I had already decided I was not going to do the race the next day, since I didn't have anyone to go with me.  I hadn't really mentioned it to anyone, other than my close family and best friend.  A few people I had asked either had to work the morning of the race, didn't want to pay the $20.00 fee, or just didn't want to do it period.  This was the second annual Running with the Bulls 5k, supporting a local food distribution center called Val Verde Loaves and Fishes.  After reading up on it, I learned that if you took 5 non-perishable food items with you on the morning of the race, you would be entered to win several different cool prizes, including a brand new Ipad.  Plus, you were still allowed to register late that morning, which was great for procrastinators like me.

 

That night, Cat decided to interrupt my movie and try to convince me again.  She gave me some great advice, and told me to get to bed at a reasonable hour, just in case I decided to change my mind the next day.  I showered up, layed down in bed, and set my alarm for 6:00am, with all sorts of thoughts running through my head.  Was I really going to do this?  Was I physically capable of doing it?  What if I'm the only person walking?  And the dreaded question looming in the back of my mind...What if I'm the last one to finish?!?!?

 

Insecurities...I knew I had to overcome them.  The next morning when my alarm went off, I knew what I was going to do.  I got up, got dressed in my favorite work-out gear, had a power breakfast, and was out the door and on my way.    When I got to the site, I was totally not expecting what I saw.  For starters, I had assumed that since this is such a small town, there would be very few people.  I was completely wrong!  There were so many people there already, I almost turned around and went back home.  But instead, I parked my car, took a few deep breaths, and made my way to the registration line.  I got my bib number, turned in my food donations, and blended into the crowd of runners stretching and getting ready for the start of the race.  To my surprise, there were people of all different ages and body types there.  A few people appeared to be alone as well, and that made me feel a lot better.  I finished stretching, and the race started.

 

Chicas...I walked the entire race.  Power-walked, but yes, I walked it. 

And I couldn't have been any more proud of myself when I finished it!!  There were actually tons of people walking along.  Children with their parents, groups of girlfriends gossiping with each other, a few single mommys and daddys with strollers, and even the mayor of my lovely little city!  I figured since it was my very first 5k, I didn't want to over-do it. 

 

I see a lot more races in my future, and I know I need to take it easy, and pace myself. I will get there one day!  Baby steps chicas...'poco a poco'.  You really have to experience the feeling for yourself.  I'm sure you'll be hooked just like I was.  I felt soooo proud coming home, and telling everyone I saw that day about what I had accomplished just that morning.  My family was super supportive, and continue to remain encouraging on a daily basis.  My best friend Cat...well she deserves her own special mention as well. 

If it wasn't for her consistent nagging (in a loving way of course) :)), and her words of advice, I don't think I would have decided to even give a 5k a shot.  So thank you Cat!  You're my best friend for those reasons especially, and I've truly been blessed with the 15+ years we've had as friends so far.

 

 

On a different note, I know I've been a little M.I.A. lately, but November is my audit month at work.  Yikes!  So you only imagine that it's been crazy busy. 

State audit + holidays = CRAZYNESS

 



I've still been weighing in at my WW meetings every week.  Here's a little update with my results from the past few weeks...

 

 

Officially down 133.2 lbs. yall!!  I am beyond psyyycchheeedd!!  Quick recap:

 

10/30/12 - gained 1.2 lbs.

11/6/12 - lost 1.6 lbs.

11/13/12 - gained 2.6 lbs.

11/20/12 - lost 6.6 lbs.

 

Talk about all over the place huh?  That's what stress at work does to me.  I'll be the first to admit that I am an emotional eater.  But regardless of where I'm at after a weigh-in, I always pat myself on the back, and look foward.  There's no point in looking behind you, especially when your past was what was making you unhappy.  The way I see it...if you keep looking over your shoulder at what 'could have been', you're going to miss all sorts of opportunities passing you by...or you're going to run smack into a wall and get stuck where you were before.  Either way is a no-win.

 

Forgive yourself, and move on.

 

Focus on living a happy and positive life.  I know I am!!

 

The loves of my life...they make my heart smile!

My beautiful sister and I...YES we were kitties at SeaWorld!

Mi familia...enough said.

I was a pretty cute kitty if I do say so myself!

Halloween night...LMFAO!!!

 

Hope everyone has a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow!!

 

 

Be blessed...and stay blessed!!!

 

xoxo,

❤Nica



It's all in your head...

Half-way through the work week, even closer to Halloween, and I still don't have a costume for my annual party I have at work.  I thought I had a great idea, but last night when I tried to put it all together in a practice run, it resulted in an EPIC FAIL.  lol

 

I'm heading up to San Antonio this weekend, so I really need to get my booty in check and find something.  I'm out of options here in town, unless I want to go this route...

 

Ummm wait...what??  I think I'll pass.  lol

 

Aside from searching for a costume, I'll also be taking my niece and nephew to SeaWorld with the familia.  Every year during the month of October, SeaWorld puts together some scaarrryyy fun for the Howl-O-Scream event.  Check out the link I provided if you can.  They have some pretty awesome areas of the park to visit this year.  I am sooo looking foward to it.  I freakin' love Halloween!  :)

 

I also went to my Weight Watchers meeting/weigh-in yesterday afternoon.  I've really grown to appreciate all the members in the group.  They are always so supportive of each other, and a few of them have become great friends of mine.  I love the fact that we are able to laugh with each other about the day-to-day struggles we experience, and at the same time feel confident that noone in that meeting is judging you.  We recently got a new group leader a few weeks ago, and she's been doing a great job so far!  My previous leader Nancy was just as awesome.  She kept me motivated the entire time since I started on my journey back in January, and I appreciate everything she did to show continued support and encouragement.  Here's to you Nancy!!

 

 

The pic on the left is of Nancy and I during the meeting when I reached my 100lb. weight loss.  She did a little presentation, and gave me a certificate.  Such a memorable day!!

 

The pic on the right is of my Zumba instructor Andrea and I, after one of her amazing work-outs.  This girl is just sooo full of energy and positive light.  Muchisimas gracias Andrea!!  Chicas, if you haven't tried Zumba yet, I highly recommend that you do, and soon!!  If you love music, and you love to dance, then this is definitely the work-out for you.  It doesn't even feel like you're exercising!

 

I couldn't have come this far on my journey without the help of these two amazing women.  If you ever get the opportunity to have inspiration such as these people in your life, feel very very blessed chicas.  Thank you ladies!!!

 

My weigh-in went pretty well yesterday, aside from the fact that I over-indulged in margaritas this past weekend at a quincienera.  lol  That's what happens when you haven't had a drink in awhile, and you're around friends and family.  Ya gotta love any party that has a frozen margarita machine on hand!!  Yummm!!!

 

 

I lost 2.2 lbs. this week!  I am sooo beyond psyched chicas!  This year has been life-changing for me, and I can't help but try to encourage others towards a healthier, positive lifestyle.  It really makes me happy that my family has adopted some of the small changes I've been making.  It's easier to make smart decisions when you have people around you that support you, and love you unconditionally.  And that's all it takes!  Really yall', if you ever feel alone, or that you don't have anyone around for support, don't ever hesitate to head in this direction.  Send me a message or an email, and I'll do my best to help you in any way possible.  It's a mental game chicas.  Thinking positive will attract good things into your life, and before you know it, you'll be moving foward towards whatever goal you have your heart set on.

 

We all have our bad days.  Hell, I have them pretty often sometimes, but you're feeling how you're feeling at that moment for a reason.  Does that even make sense?  lol  Ride out your emotions, and feel them.  Don't bottle them up and ignore them.  That's only going to make it harder on you when they resurface again.  And chicas...they always do.  We know this.

 

Stay positive my friends!  Have a great rest of the week.  :)

 

Ohhhh...one last thing...just for a quick smile.  This week is 'Red Ribbon Week' at my chiquita's school.  Every day this week the school has a different theme for the kids to participate in, such as 'crazy socks day', 'crazy hat day', etc.  Today was 'crazy hair day', so I got up extra early to help my niece with her hair.  She insisted on the color purple, so that's exactly what we did.  I have to say though, she should have just worn her hair straight out of bed!!  This is the REAL crazy hair!!

 

 

Poor baby was still half asleep!!  lol

 

 

Be blessed...and stay blessed!!!

 

xoxo,

❤Nica

Tick tock...tick tock...

Where is this time going lately??

 

It feels like the year is nearly over, and I still have sooo much to do.  I know with the upcoming holidays, the time is just going to swing by even quicker.  It seems like every day is just hustle hustle hustle, and I never even have a moment to breathe for myself.  Yikes!!

 

First things first, let me give you all my updated WW weekly weigh-ins from the past 2 weeks.  I think I've been doing fairly well with my tracking, although I know I have a lot of room for improvement, especially when it comes to the weekends.  Lately, I barely even glance at my iPhone throughout the weekends to track my food.  No bueno.  :/

 

 

At last week's weigh-in (10/9/12), I lost a total of 4.2 pounds.  I have no idea how I did that chicas.  The only thing I can think is that I am underestimating the amount of activity points I count for Zumba.  It's a little hard to determine sometimes, because Zumba isn't listed as one of the 'workouts' under the activity list on the Weight Watchers website.  I do eat any activity points I earn, and very rarely go into my extra weekly 49 points.

At this week's weigh-in, I lost 1.2 pounds, making that a total of 126.6 pounds thus far!  Last week I was also awarded another 25 pound ring for my keychain, which was reallly exciting!  I got to speak a little about my journey so far, and I can only hope that my progress will inspire others to stay on track, and never lose hope that the program really does work.

 

This entire year has been a true blessing for me chicas.  I cannot stress that enough.  I am thankful to God for putting me on this path, and helping me stick to it.  I know I am making the best decisions for my future.

 

Cheers to a new week, and in moving foward!!

 

In other parts of my life, work is getting crazier every day.  I'm planning my annual Halloween party, and getting ready for audit next month.  Before I know it, the holidays are going to be here, and we'll be starting another year!  I'm still not 100% sure about a costume so far, but I will definitely be dressing up...it's tradition for our fiesta at work!

 

Here are a few pics of my life over the past week or so...

 

My babygirl's 'candycorn' nails I did for her...I loooove my niece, but wow...these didn't last but one day tops! lol

A trip to the pumpkin patch on a Saturday afternoon always calls for pictures!!  They had a blast...and so did I trying to get my nephew to look at the camera just once!! lol

My yummy breakfast I made the other morning...only 5PP chicas!  2 points for the whole-grain bread (2 slices of Sara Lee 100% Whole Wheat), 1 point for the ham (1 ounce of Hillshire Farm Ultra Thin Honey Ham), 1 point for the cheese (1/4 cup HEB fat free shredded cheddar cheese), and 1 point for the three egg whites.  I crisp the ham a little in the skillet, and grill the veggies in the same pan, so that they are warm and soft when putting together the sandwich.  When the egg whites are cooked to your liking, add in the cheese so that it melts perfectly.  No oil is needed...just a little non-stick spray, and you're good to go.  The spinach, tomato, and banana are all freeeeee...which makes for a filling, delicious breakfast!

I also made these steamed dumplings one rainy Saturday afternoon.  I'll be posting the recipe soon.  I always have fun experimenting with the WW Recipe Builder on eTools.  I take any ideas I have in my head, throw them all together, and try to reduce the PP value.  It's challenging, but I think I've put together some really great recipes so far.

 

I also celebrated my bestie's birthday a few weeks ago.  We had a blast!!  Good friends, dinner, drinks, flamenco dancing, and lots of great memories!!

Love you Cat!!  Here's to many many more years of BESTfriendship.  :)

 

The only update I have with The Fisherman is that I'm reaching a breaking point.  I haven't really spoken to him in a few days, because he made me really mad over the weekend when he wouldn't answer a simple question!  It was just something I had never asked him before, and he became soo defensive.  Believe it or not...in the short time we've been 'talking', I've never asked him what his last name is.  It's honestly just never come up, and for whatever reason, I thought about it while I was on the road this weekend.  We were in the middle of texting each other, and I just flat out asked him 'By the way, what's your last name'?  His response??  'Why?? Uggg!!'.  Ummm wait...what??  Warning sign, I know chicas.  So I'm going to let things play themselves out..and I am definitely not going to hold back from saying exactly how I feel from now on.  I know what I want out of a partner, and I'm honestly more pissed off than happy half the time we talk.  Ask and you shall receive, right?  Even if it's not the answer you want to hear, it still helps you moves foward.

 

By the way...I finally updated my progress pictures!!  Make sure you click over to that page and take a look.  It's amazing what positive thinking can get you...put your mind and ❤ to it, and you can accomplish anything!!

 

Have a great week chicas...it's almost Friiiiddaayyy!!

 



Be blessed...and stay blessed!!!

 

 

xoxo,

 

❤Nica



It's the freakin' weekend baby...

This week has just dragggged for me, partly because I was a MAJOR procrastinator the majority of the time, and because I have been 'on-call' for work since last Friday afternoon.  I hope you chicas had a more productive week than I did!  Let me catch you up a little on what's been going on en mi vida lately...

 

I've had familia visiting from out of town this week, so that's been pretty entertaining.  My aunt recently had a baby boy, and let me tell you, it takes me back to when my niece and nephew were babies too.  Middle of the night feedings, diaper changes, bath times...I'm trying to prepare for the next one my sister is having pretty soon.  I don't think I had ever mentioned it, but yes, my sister is currently preggers :).  She's my only sibling, so I couldn't be any happier for her.  I absolutely adore those two angels.  They are my world chicas.

 

 

I cannot wait until number 3 comes along for my sister.  She doesn't know what she's having yet, but I am secretly hoping for another little girl :).  Only because I would love for my chiquita to have a younger sister, just like I do.  Sisters are special, and I will dedicate a post to mine one day soon.  These two make my days happy, and I can't imagine my life without them now.  I would give them the world if I could, but for now I'm sure they're satisfied with watching Monster's Inc. (their favorite movie right now),  building forts made out of blankets, and dancing with their 'ta-ta' to every Yo Gabba Gabba song out there.

 

This week a 'certain someone' started texting me again, after about 2 weeks of not speaking.  I think I may have mentioned several posts back about having some dates set up.  For privacy purposes ;), I'm just going to refer to him as 'The Fisherman'.  I'm using that nickname for several different reasons, but mainly because of a certain tattoo he has, and because of something that was said to me during a tea reading I had a few months ago.  (Yessss I said tea reading.  Future post on this topic.)  I'll have to do a separate post on him entirely, and how it all got started.  Needless to say, I spoke my mind to him during a conversation we had earlier this month, and he didn't seem to like it very much.  Let's just say, I put him on check.  I can become very disinterested in someone quickly if they don't make a move, or show me somehow that they are interested in me.  Don't get me wrong chicas, I'm not saying I like for things to move from A-Z just like that, but I have to know what you're trying to get at.  I do not enjoy getting mixed signals, and that is exactly what The Fisherman has been doing since we first met nearly 2 months ago.  We'll see what happens...and the only reason I'm even mentioning him in an actual post, is because the situation is beginning to irk me.  He seems to be a little different this time around, the context of his text messages, the words he's choosing to use during our conversations, how often he's communicating with me...but do people ever really change??  I don't know that I'd want him to either.  I've always felt that if someone is meant to be in your life, they will be, on their own free will.  Plain and simple.  Why force something that isn't quite working?

 

 

 Aside from all that, this weeks Weight Watchers weekly weigh-in has come and gone again.  I had a small gain this past Tuesday, and I am more that okay with it.  I had an amazing weekend before that, and wouldn't change anything about it.  Anything involving mi familia, a party, drinks, and some good music makes for a fantastic time.  :)

 

 

I gained .6 lbs. this week chicas, which still leaves me at 115.2 lbs. total loss.  This week I've been doing pretty good with my tracking, and I'm finally feeling a little more like myself.  I even managed to go to Zumba twice, and am going to try to make it to this evenings class if I can.  I also racked up 13 activity points, which is not bad considering I'm taking my time getting back into the swing of things during class.  I have to remind myself that it's only been about a month and a half since I had my gallbladder surgery, and that I need to take it easy.  My Zumba instructor Andrea can't put it any simpler...'poco a poco', or 'little by little'.

 

With that said, I'm officially off the clock...well until I get the next phone call at least.  Hope you chicas have a great weekend, and stay out of trouble!  (well..a little trouble won't hurt you too much...it will be our secret! lol)  Enjoy yourselves, and be safe!!

 

 

Be blessed...and stay blessed!!!

 

xoxo,

 

❤Nica



WW Weekly Weigh-In...and a peek inside...

My chiiccaasss!!!

This week has been eventful, to say the least, mainly due to work 'issues' coming up.  I've never really disclosed much about my job, but if any of you all are interested, it's a mix between case management/social work.  Dealing with people's lives on a daily basis is a huge responsibility.  I don't know how I've managed to do it for over 8 years now.  It's rewarding on so many levels, and although I will vent about it from time to time, it is where my ❤ belongs right now.

I am really looking foward to this coming weekend.  Guess what?  I have absolutely NO plans!  Sounds like a negative, but trust me, it's a good thing.  I've been wanting to catch up on my DVR for weeks now chicas.  General Hospital is calling my name!!  lol  Maybe I'll catch a movie also.  Speaking of which, I DID finally go watch Magic Mike.  One word.

YUMMY.

Review to come.  ;)

Earlier this week I attended my weekly Weight Watchers meeting.  You know what I was realizing on my way home that day?  I have never missed a meeting since I first started WW back in January!  Can we say NSV?!?!  How's that for accountability?  I love how this program is making me feel!  It really is a lifestyle, and sooo easy to stick to if your mind and ❤ are ready.  Plus, it is a biiig help if you get the support from friends and familia.  My family has been awesome, and have actually been following along as well.  Mi madre has lost nearly 40 lbs. herself!  That is just a-mazing, and I couldn't be any happier for her.

1.2 lbs. lost this week!  Yaaayyy me!! 

I'm gettin' there chicas...slowly but surely.  I'm doing it for ME.  Noone else.

I have to admit though, having people to lean on is essential in any journey, no matter how big, or how difficult that journey may be.  Awhile back, I said I would share a personal story with yall' about why I initially decided to join WW.  It's not because I've always secretly yearned to be skinny, or smaller.  It's not because I felt ugly or unwanted either.  Noone can make you feel disposable or unloved, if you don't allow them to.  Period.

In July of 2011, I was faced with the seriousness of the possibility that I may never be able to have a child of my own.  If that wasn't heart-wrenching enough, my doctor also informed me that there was a 5% chance that a few cells he had collected could potentially become cancerous.  I would never have found any of this out, because I would never go to the doctor chicas.  I finally listened to my own advice, after months of irregular cycles, and months of no cycle at all.  Scary, I know.  But that's how deep of a hole I had dug myself into, that I was putting my own health at risk, and ignoring all the warning signs.  I made an appointment with my OB/GYN, and faced the truth.  And yes, my weight unfortunately did play a big role in the start of these problems.  When I got those two wake-up calls, my initial reaction was complete sadness.  I lost all hope, and if it wasn't for the strength of the people around me, I don't think I'd be where I am now.  I did have to have a minor surgery, which was scary as hell for me.  I had never been under general anesthesia, much less have to visit the hospital for anything more than a bee sting in the past.  (YES I'm allergic...badly.)  The surgery went well, and I spent the rest of the year pretty much sulking.  That honestly sums it up.

Shortly after the holidays last year, my aunt finally convinced me to join WW with her.  I was hesitant at first, mainly because I was afraid of change.  A light bulb literally lit up one day, and that was it.  I decided I was ready, and I haven't turned back since.  I keep telling myself that the loves I do have now, my niece and my nephew, are the lights that keep me going.

Fast foward nearly 7 months, and thankfully, all is well now.  No more cancer scares, and the dream to have a child of my own one day is back.  I cannot stress this enough though...

Go to the doctor.

I don't care if it's for a lingering cold, a migraine you've had for days, or a problem similar to what I had.  You ARE important to somebody, and there ARE people who love and care for you.  Sometimes we just shut them out, and ignore all the red flags waving in front of us.  No bueno, either way. 

Love yourself first chicas.

You deserve it.

Be blessed...and stay blessed.

xoxo,

❤Nica

Texas Tuesday (Volume 2)

Howdy yall'!

Soooo Texan I know...but that's the kind of mood I'm in, since it is afterall Texas Tuesday!  We really do have our own dialect down here, and being in a border-town has an even greater impact on my vocabulary and accent.  But that's a post for a different day chicas.

Today I'd like to share some pics from a little roadtrip I took to San Antonio this past weekend.  It was actually a family trip we had planned earlier this month, to take my niece and nephew to SeaWorld.  There are only three locations in the United States, located in San Diego, Orlando, and San Antonio.  This is one of the many reasons that I love love LOVE Texas.  As a kid growing up, going to SeaWorld was always a treat for my sister and I.  They have it all!  Amusement park rides, every sea animal imaginable, yummy snacks, games, an awesome aquarium, and just recently added, a newly built waterpark.  I used to love getting on all the rides, feeding the stingrays, watching the seal show, and always at the end of the night, my favorite, the Shamu Rocks show.  This is an amazing performance of killer whales and their trainers put on in the evenings, with great music, special effects, and lighting.  The kids...okay okay, who am I kidding...everyone loves it!  And if you're lucky enough to get seats in the infamous 'Splash Zone', just make sure you put your phones and cameras away in a safe, waterproof, place.  :) 

There are also 'Behind the Scenes' tours, where you get to interact with a lot of the animals on a one on one basis, such as feeding the dolphins and stingrays, and touching a shark.  We didn't take any of those tours this past weekend, as our main reason for visiting was the new Aquatica Waterpark.  I have taken a few of the tours in the past, and they really are pretty amazing.  Definitely memories that you keep with you forever.

Okay, so here are the goods chicas!  Enjoy!!

These are a few of the pics I took at the entrance to SeaWorld.  I remember snapping pics in front of these killer whales every time I would visit the park when I was a kid.

The aquarium at SeaWorld isn't the biggest in Texas, but it's still pretty awesome to visit.  Plus, it gives you a chance to get out of the heat, and cool off in the air-conditioning.  :)  Believe me, we needed that little break after walking a few hours in 100 degree heat!

These pics are from the Sesame Street Bay of Play.  I actually hadn't been to this section of the park before, but seeing as I had my niece and nephew with me, this was definitely on my list.  They had a blast, and actually got to interact with most of the Sesame Street characters walking around.  This area of SeaWorld is all kid-friendly, and has some pretty nice 'splash' pools and playgrounds for everyone to enjoy.

This was the entrance to Aquatica Waterpark.  The sand sculpture was even more WOW in person.  Unfortunately I didn't get many pics inside the park, for fear that my trusty iphone would get any kind of water damage.  No bueno.  But ohmygoodness we had so much fun!  I think I spent the majority of my time in the wave pool, relaxing and working on my tan.  :)

It is a definite MUST visit, and I plan on going again in October hopefully.

One of the other great things I need to mention is that if you have the annual pass for SeaWorld, you get free preferred parking, and awesome discounts on food and merchandise in the park.  It realllly came in handy this past weekend.  Plus, if you're on a budget like me, SeaWorld offers payment options online for annual passes, where you only pay a small monthly charge of about $10.00 per pass.  This beats having to pay full price up front, AND you're able to easily print your ticket online.  Love it!!

I hope some of yall' get to visit SeaWorld in the near future, and if you do, share some pics with me!  I'm sure you'll love it just as much as I do.  :)

This is gonna wrap up my Texas Tuesday for today.  And as a reminder, if you don't know what this link-up is all about, visit J over at 'An Unstyled Life', or Amanda over at 'Princess of the Panhandle'.  Anything and everything Texas is the motto!!

I'm off to my WW meeting for my Tuesday weigh-in.  Wish me luck chicas!!

Be blessed...and stay blessed!!

xoxo,

❤Nica