From THAT, To THIS!

First and foremost, I would like to straight up say that I flopped on the 30-day challenge.  I will try to catch up on that...

Now for the most important thing...I am down another size!  I have never put my sizes on the blog before, but here we go!

December 16, 2011 - Size 24 (really should have been a 26 but I refused to buy bigger clothes!)

March 30, 2012- Size 18

Spring Training Recap (This will be Day 20 of the Challenge)

Day 20:  Spring Training Recap

(I didn't like today's prompt, so I'm choosing to do something I like!)

Most of you know by now that I was in Arizona last week for Texas Rangers Spring Training!  I had an absolute blast with my friends Ashley and Rachel.  I thought I would recap a little through pics! 

Here we go...

In the cockpit...they asked me to fly from El Paso to Phoenix, but I didn't want to show off!

Me and Rachel w/ Jesse...the best Flight Attendant EVER!

Our first game...we had shirts made just for the trip!

Me & Rach at the game against the White Sox.

Craig Gentry...Rachel's future husband.

Mitch Moreland...Ashley's future husband (once she figures out how to get him to divorce his wife).

We all know how I feel about him!

Ran into Jeff Francouer in Walgreens...super nice and super handsome!

Day 2 at the practice fields...Ashley, me & Rachel.

Met Emily Jones and snagged a pic w/ her.

I'm pretty sure he was looking at me while being stretched!  Hehe!!

Day 3:  Chillin' in the convertable...on our way to shop.

All dressed up for our fancy dinner, courtesy of Rachel's Duncanville Mom.

Day 4:  Me w/ Mike Napoli

Me w/ Joe Nathan

Me w/ Mark Hamburger

Me & Ashie at our last dinner in AZ.

I took tons of pictures...like over 900 I believe...so this is just a little sample.  We had an amazing time and I am so grateful to have friends that enjoy baseball just as much as I do!  Thanks girls for taking the trip with me.  Can't wait for next year!!!

It is the little things...

The little things, or shall I say victories, make me happy.

For the first time in years, this happened when I sat down on the plane to AZ...

THE SEAT BELT BUCKLED AND

I HAD ROOM TO SPARE!!!!!

I used to always have to ask for a seat belt extender, which was so embarrassing!  To sit down and be able to have that much belt left over almost brought me to tears!!  It is a small event, but meant the world to me!

Day 19: 30-Day Challenge

Day 19:  Nicknames you have; how did you get them?

Ton - This one is quite obvious.  All of my friends call me this.

Bestie - This one was given to me by my BFF, Ashley.

Half Pint - I was 2.5 months premature and weighed 3lbs, so my Mom called me this.

NuNu - This one is from my husband. Started as Moochie Norris, turned into Noochie, then NuNu.

Slick - My Daddy has called me this since I was a little girl.

Monkey - Another one from my Daddy.

Boobie - My Uncle Tim gave me this one when I was little...have no clue why.

Yer Yer - Given to me by my friend Sharon and her Mom. They called me Tonyer...then Yer Yer.

Tonie - Given to me by my friend Kari and her Mom...again have no clue why.

Rabon - This was my maiden name, and I was called this in high school.

Tonski - My friend Jason calls me this.

Gal - My Granddaddy called me this.

Day 18: 30-Day Challenge

Day 18:  Plans/dreams/goals you have.

To go on a vacation with all of my family members.

To reach my goal weight.

To be able to give back to Mom...she has given me so much.

To be a great friend.

To be a mom.
To learn not only to forgive, but forget.
To love with my whole heart, even if it means getting hurt.
To volunteer.
To rescue animals.
To gain the courage to sing in public.
To turn negative things into positives.
To realize that everything happens for a reason.
To make new friends.
and most importantly...
To love myself.

 

Day 17: 30-Day Challenge

Day 17: Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why.

Jennifer Lopez

For one day, I want to be the most beautiful woman in the world.  Haha!

She can dance, sing (well kinda), she is gorgeous, she has style, etc, etc, etc.

This is a pretty shallow pick, but I really couldn't think of anyone else on the fly!

Day 16: 30-Day Challenge

Day 16:  Another picture of yourself...BABY PIC!

Me - 4 Years Old

This was the youngest pic I could find. 

That right lazy eye isn't cute!  I was yanked out by forceps when I was born and the nerves around my eye were damaged.  Oh well...at least I can see.  Could've been much worse!

Day 15: 30-Day Challenge

Day 15:  Put your iPod on shuffle & list the first 10 songs that play.

1. "I Want It That Way" - Backstreet Boys
2. "If It Kills Me" - Jason Mraz
3. "Gives You Hell" - The All-American Rejects
4. "Scar Tissue" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
5. "Sweet Child O' Mine" - Guns N' Roses
6. "Coming Out of the Dark" - Gloria Estefan
7. "Sexyback" - Justin Timberlake
8. "Contagious" - Avril Lavigne
9. "What I Want" - Daughtry Feat. Slash
10. "This Life" - MercyMe

Day 14: 30-Day Challenge

Day 14:  A picture of you and your family.

My family means the world to me.  LOVE LOVE LOVE Them!!!

Me and my "Diddy"

Mom, Me, Uncle Tim, Mema, Aunt Kay, Uncle Steve

Me and my Mama

Day 13: 30-Day Challenge

Day 13:  A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.

Dear Jane (changed name):

I truly thought you were my friend.  I thought you were someone I could count on, and I honestly believed we would be friends for life.  However, lately you have shown me that you are only concerned with your own life and you don't give a crap about anyone else.  Thanks for calling/texting me on my birthday...oh that's right...you didn't!  I contacted you on your birthday even though I was in bed extremely ill.  Oh well, guess you must have been too busy with your good for nothing husband to bother recognizing it was my birthday. 

Don't worry about ever calling/texting/emailing me again.  I won't answer!  Good luck to you in life.  You are going to need it.

Sincerely,
Me

Day 12: 30-Day Challenge

Day 12:  Your Blog Story

I started this blog for one main reason...to show anyone thinking about weight loss surgery the truth behind the procedure.  I have been very open about my struggles with weight, and have tried to document the steps and procedures that went into having gastric sleeve surgery.  My surgery was done on December 17th, and as of today, I have lost 62 pounds. 

Taken December 16, 2011

Taken March 8, 2012





Day 11: 30-Day Challenge

Day 11:  A person you would love to meet.

Sara Bareilles

Sara Bareilles is a genius!  She writes, plays the piano, has the voice of an angel...need I go on?  I would love to pick her brain for a little while and maybe sing a little duet with her.  Nothing major or in public...just a little session with her.  That is all...

Day 10: 30-Day Challenge

Day 10:  Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad

Happy:  Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera

This song makes me want to dance and I like to dance when I'm happy.  Reason enough, right?

Sad:  Gravity by Sara Bareilles

Addiction is all around us...addiction to love, sex, drugs, alcohol, etc.  The lyrics to this song describe addiction perfectly.  It gives me chills every single time I hear it.

Bored:  Melt by Rascal Flatts

When I am bored I just love to listen to music and people who can SANG! Gary from Rascal Flatts has an amazing voice and I could listen to him all day!  Takes my mind off being bored.

Hyped:  Bring Em Out by T.I.

A few years ago, the Rangers came out of the dugout to this song before every game.  I still love this song because of that and it gets me pumped up. 

Mad:  Stand Back Up by Sugarland

When I get mad at something or someone, I like to hear this song.  It reminds that no matter what happens, I do have the strength to stand tall and get through it.

Day 9: 30-Day Challenge

Day 9:  Something you are proud of.

Well this one is another easy one for me!  I am super proud that I have lost...

60 Pounds!!!

I am so glad to finally be at this number.  It is taking some time, but I know that I will keep reaching my weight loss goals!!!

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Day 8: 30-Day Challenge

Day 8:  Short term goals for this month and why

My short term goals for the month of March are as follows:

To truly enjoy myself during my girls trip to Arizona.

To lose 10 more pounds.

To reach out to my family in SC at least once a week.

To drink more water.  YUCKY!



Now for the "why":

1. I always worry about work, home, bills, etc.  I am going to try my best to ignore those things for 5 days and just enjoy time with my friends.  I get to watch baseball...it doesn't get much better!
2. I have lost 60 pounds and want to lose another 10 this month.  For me to hit a 70 pound weight loss would be huge and it is my next goal in my weight loss process.
3. I try my best to speak to my family in SC often, however life does get in the way at times and I let more than 7 days go by without calling.  I will get better about this.
4. I HATE WATER!  It literally makes me nauseous.  Don't ask my why...it just does!!  I know it is a key to more weight loss, so I will down it if I have to!

Day 7: 30-Day Challenge

Day 7:  A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

This one is super easy...

Me w/ my Mama

By far, this woman has the biggest impact on my life.  I am who I am because of her.

She is:

Strong

Dedicated

Loving

Passionate

Hard-Working

Loyal

Those are only a few characteristics that make her amazing.  I could go on for days about how wonderful I think she is.  She had to make some tough decisions about OUR lives, and I can never thank her enough for always trying to do what was best.  I love you so much Mama!!  If I can be half of the woman she is, I will consider myself a success.

Day 6: 30-Day Challenge

Day 6:  Favorite Super Hero & Why

Without a doubt, my favorite super hero was and always will be...WONDER WOMAN!

Pretty, sexy, badass...what is there not to love??  She could do some crazy fast spins and go from a business suit to her sexy costume.  And oh man...what she could do with that lasso!  I loved the cartoon but I also loved the television series with Lynda Carter!

I loved her so much that I begged my parents for Wonder Woman underoos!  They bought them for me and I wore them all the time.  I would put them on under my clothes, start spinning in circles and try to take my clothes off in the process.  So what if I wasn't as smooth as Lynda Carter, I was amazing in my own mind!  If you don't know what underoos are, here is a little piece of nostalgia for ya!

Ahhhhh the memories!  I still wish I was as cool as Wonder Woman!!  Hahahaha!!!!

Day 5: 30-Day Challenge

Day 5:  A picture of somewhere I have been.

Turtle Bay Resort - Kahuku, Oahu, Hawaii

This is one of my favorite places in the world!  If you have seen the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall, then you have seen this resort.  It truly is paradise.  The service at this hotel is unmatched...as it should be for the price you pay to stay there.  But as the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for!"  Never has this been more accurate.  You are treated like royalty here.  When in Hawaii, this is the place to be.  It is on the North Shore of Oahu.  For entertainment, the Polynesian Cultural Center is just a few miles away.  There, you tour through all of the Polynesian islands and experience their culture, foods, traditions, etc.  It is an amazing experience.  In the evening, you are treated to a Polynesian dance show that includes the fire dancers, hula dancers, Tahitian "rump shakin" dancers and so much more.  If that isn't enough, you attend a traditional luau and eat some of the best Polynesian cuisine.  I can't wait to go back and experience this all over again!!