19.6 pounds

I went to my weekly weigh-in at weight watchers today and found out that I have almost lost 20 pounds all together! Just 9 more pounds and I will be at my goal weight. :)

It's been hard... I lost motivation for about 2 months there. After the cruise (where I ate almost as much as a whale) I regained motivation because I pretty much let myself eat whatever I wanted... and I didn't like the feeling. I realized that when I am eating healthier, I feel so much better all around... mainly that I have more energy and my stomach doesn't feel like it's going to explode.

With 9 pounds left to lose, it's time to start shopping for my awesome dress I'll be wearing to Kat Call's wedding. I think a new dress is a fair reward (even though I've already bought several). And since you all know how I like to post about clothes, I should probably put some pictures of what I've been looking at. Anthropologie seems to have some good stuff:

cute, orange lace dress (her colors are green and orange)

 orange wrap

cute, moss green dress.

How to choose, how to choose.

What do you do...

When you find cute new clothes that you want to buy... but you don't have a job right now?




I'll admit... I'm tempted to buy a shirt anyways. What do you do?

Extra! Extra!

I've got some big news for you today!

I'm happy to announce that we will soon be introducing someone new to our family...

Travis Call! with my sister, Katherine

Travis proposed to my sister last night and she said YES. They are getting married in October and we are so excited for them!

This is a great match for the both of them (and me) for several reasons:

1. I can nickname Katherine "Kat Call"

2. Travis fixes cars

3. I can get myself some more wedding planning experience (remember how I like weddings a lot?)

4. We have some more fun people to visit in St. George (where they will be living)

5. And last but not least, I get a brother-in-law!

Congratulations Katherine and Travis! 

Or Tratherine, or Kravis (unfortunately their names don't combine very well)

PS- How many of you thought I was going to say that I'm pregnant?

Vegan-Lady Gaga Bridal Shower

Last night me, Angie, and Heather threw a bridal shower for our extremely talented and wonderful friend Holly, who is getting married in August.

We wanted to do something different from a traditional bridal shower, so I told Angie to come up with a theme that she thought Holly would like.

And obviously, that theme was Lady Gaga. And the results were amazing.

Lady Gaga is a little wacky, so we needed wacky decor that was still bridal shower appropriate, and we needed to do it on a budget. And here is what we did:

Decorations:

-White Christmas lights strung around the room (borrowed from parents... thanks mom and dad)

-Roses covered in black wax (I know it sounds weird, but so is Lady Gaga) these were from Angie's garden 

-Random high heels around the room (from Heather) didn't get a picture of these... :(

-Sparkly white pebbles on a black table cloth for food... already had both of those

-Pictures of Holly and Russell displayed around the room

- And of course, Lady Gaga music

 Menu (Holly is vegan so all the food was vegan)

- Hummus with pita bread and carrot sticks

- Tortilla Chips with Guacamole and Salsa

- lots and lots of Peanuts

- Chocolate Olive Oil Cupcakes (that were so conveniently Vegan)

- Vegan Dark Chocolate Fondue with bananas, strawberries, and oreos (who knew those were vegan?? so great)

- Virgin Margaritas

- Mike and Ike's and Red Hots (those count as food, right?) 

Sadly... I didn't get very many great pictures, but here are a few more that I got:

We had so much fun last night and we loved putting it together. Congratulations Holly!

Cooking Adventures: Part 2

A couple of weeks ago I made a pie recipe that I've been wanting to try for a long time... and like all great recipes, it pretty much changed my life.

Introducing.....


Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie, or Tollhouse Pie

 This is what it looks like before you bake it, it doesn't look that pretty after... but it is yummmmmy

It's pretty much a chocolate chip cookie, but in pie form. And it's almost easier than cookies because you don't have to roll a bunch of cookies for the cookie sheet!

I found the recipe from the Ivory Cookbook.. but there wasn't a picture so I didn't really understand what it was. Then I checked out Our Best Bites and saw how glorious this pie is.

It's so easy, and delicious. I already want to make it again. You should try the recipe. You won't regret it.

Coming up in cooking adventures: Cinnamon-Banana Waffles!

New Calling

Allow me to introduce.....





...the new Young Women's Secretary for the Kenwood 2nd Ward:

In case you can't tell from this great picture with the Avatar boots- it's me! I have been called, set apart, and now I am all set to become the best Young Women's Secretary ever. This picture doesn't make me look very secretary-ish though. I will work on that. Maybe I could be next year's mascot for girl's camp with this outfit. Girl's camp mascot? That should be a church calling.

I'm so excited for this new calling, the girls are great, and the leaders are great. Wish me luck on this new endeavor!

Martha Stewart

One day I was sitting here on this white chair I painted a while ago and decided to check out marthastewart.com, as I so often do during my free time.

There I was just browsing pictures when I suddenly came across this picture for a suit and tie combo:

hmmm... this suit and tie sure looks familiar.... it looks an awful lot like a picture I posted for father's day a few weeks ago...

I think Martha must've seen my blog and probably copied this idea. Yup. Pretty sure that's what happened (or my dad gets his styling tips from Martha). My dad is a pretty stylish and crafty guy, after all.

Patting myself on the back...

I went to my first weight watchers meeting since the cruise... I was dreading it since I thought for SURE I had gained 20 pounds... I didn't want to see what the scale said.


Instead of gaining, I lost 0.6 pounds, that's waaayyyy better than the alternative. So I'm giving myself a pat on the back.

The end.