12 weeks to a new me!!! Long post but would love for you to take the time to read about my Journey!!

I have been overweight since I had my oldest son nearly 7 years ago and after my ex husband told me I was fat about 4 years ago I decided to do something about it!!! I was 97kgs at my heaviest, so I just started walking. I'd put Liam in the pram and walk everywhere!! I cut out a lot of the junk I was eating and I lost about 10kilos...  After my ex left I decided I really wanted to lose the weight so over the last 31/2 years  I've tried all sorts of diets ,shakes etc!! My weight has continually yo - yo'd but I became content with the way I looked at 84 kilos. In March of this year I decided to start doing something for me with Liam starting at school and Logan at 4year old kinder so when I saw flyers where the boys have swimming lessons for aquarobics I decided  I would give it a go. I wasn't overly comfortable getting in a pool in my bathers in front of strangers but after a friend, sharon, said she was going to go along to, I felt a little more confident!!! Suzanne eased us into it but worked us hard but after that first session I was hooked and when  a second class was started I decided to join that too!! I had never done any form of paid exercise before as I have always been paranoid of what peole thought of me but  I didn't care when I was in the pool!! Suzanne made the classes fun, worked us hard, was encouraging and gave nutritional advice that inspired me to really want to lose weight and become healthy!!  I slowly lost 6 kilos and started feeling confident that I could get my weight down... With Suzanne guiding me I felt it was possible!! Then about 14 weeks ago Suzanne approached me and asked if I would be interested in doing a 12 week Health and Fitness challenge. It would involve 2 PT sessions a week, keeping a food diary, doing exercises everyday that she assigned and in return I had to promote her business through talking to people, writing testimonials on facebook and on her ad pages on true local and google maps and I would blog about it here(which I was a bit slack at) :) Of course I said yes straight away. Before starting I had to fill out a health questionnaire, write down my goals and start keeping a food diary!! On the 31st August I had my first PT session - before we got into the exercise side of things - Suzanne took all my measurements and worked out what weight I was working towards!! So at the start I weighed in at 77.4kgs and this is what I looked like:

I don't think I was really unhappy with the way I looked, but I must say have always hated having family photos because I have always been the biggest!! I was content I think but really lacked the energy to do anything with my boys!!! So to move this right along, for the past 12 weeks I have had 2 PT sessions a week (minus two weeks where I did no exercise due to illness) with Suzanne, doing various types of exercise including cardio, weights, gymstick and boxing (my favourite). Occasionally we would go to the park for a different workout and to let the boys play and for a few sessions I had a friend join in with the sessions!! Suzanne pushed me hard, encouraged me, made me believe I could do more than I thought I could, gave loads of advice both nutrtionally and about exercise, always had answers to my sometimes stupid questions and if she didn't know the answer she would find out. After weeks 4 and 8 Suzanne took measurements again!! I could feel and see the weight coming off and the benefits of that, having more energy, my boys becoming more active and involved in my sessions when they were here, the way I looked at food, the way I spoke to people about my transformation etc!! And of course the sizes of my clothes going down (At my biggest I was a size 18). That was exciting!! So last Friday was my final way in and the end of my challenge with Suzanne. I was all dressed ready for my session  (3/4 active wear pants and a t-shirt) and Suzanne walked in with her progress notes dressed up, looking lovely and informed me that there would be no training!! So we did my final measurements and you can see the results for yourself -

How different do I look?? I actually like looking at myself in the mirror!!! I have managed to get down to 65.8 kilos... My goal weight was 62 so I have a few kilos to go but I am really happy with what I have achieved so far!!! A loss of 11.6 Kilos in 12 weeks!! I am now in size small and size 12 clothes and am comfortable wearing tight fitting clothes. I have been loving all the compliments and talking about how I got here. And I love the fact that I now have knowledge about food and nutrition and exercise that i can pass on to others!! Suzanne has been absoutely amazing and I know without a doubt that if it wasn't for her guidance, support, encouragement (there were times I got really down due to measurements rising instead of falling and being sick) and her general belief in me I certainly wouldn't look this good today!!! 
So my challenge now is to lose the last 3.8kgs and then to maintain my weight which I think is definitely possible with all the knowledge I have now!! I am more conscious about what food I buy and eat and encourage my kids to eat healthier too!! I am exercising everyday and hate it if I don't. I love watching my boys now too... sometimeswhen we are going to school the boys will run, then stop and do pushups, then run again etc!! And sometimes I catch them teaching other kids exercises they have seen Suzanne teach me!! It really makes me smile!!!
So thank you Suzanne for your motivation and your belief in me. I will be eternally grateful for what you have done for not only me but my boys as well!!!!!

Thanks for staying with me and reading to the end! I will keep you updated on my progress as I continue on to my goal weight!!

The Crafty Pad - GDT - Festive Cheer Challenge!!

Another week gone which means another week closer to Christmas. Today at The Crafty Pad we want to see Festive Cheer creations - so we would like to see your creations with red, green and gold or silver on them. We are being sponsored by Joanna Sheen.

I used this cute Rudolph Christmas mug for my card and kept it quite simple yet again!! I used some Kaisercraft paper, added some flowers and ribbon and a few gold  meatl embellsihments, coloured in the image with tria markers, used gold glitter pen on the reindeer antlers and I've put rhinestones all over the mug!! I then just added some pins to finish it off!!!

Why don't you go check out what the rest of the DT have done!! There are some gorgeous creations to be seen!!



Creative Genius!!!

Boy are you in for a treat today!! Yep it's November which means time for a Digi Bell Hop and a new Elisabeth Bell Digi and you are going to absolutely love it.
This adorable digi is called "Creative Genius" and has been made for Michelle whose birthday is this month.

Told you she was adorable!! You could use this image for so many things, just let your imagination run wild!!

So if you have arrived here from Sebrina's Blog where I'm sure you were wowed by her beautiful creation you are definitely in the right place but if you are just wondering around blog land checking things out why not join in the hop and start at the beginning at the Digi Bell's Blog!!

I couldn't wait to colour this image and I thought because it was an image about being crafty I decided to use bright colours just like I like to use.

I used the Sweet Stop Sketch to get me started as I always seem to do these days! I then chose my papers - Little Yellow Bicycle and coloured "Creative Genius" in with Tria markers to match them. I then added kindyglitz and used a glitter pen to add some more sparkle.

I then added all my embellishments - ribbon, flowers, buttons and charm!!!

Well I think I've kept you long enough but if you would like a chance to win this adorable digi image then why not continue on with the hop and be sure to leave comments at each stop! Or you could join in the challenge this month which is "Anything Goes". Easy right? Well of course it is, so get out your Elisabeth Bell stamps and join in the fun but be sure to link to the place where your EB stamp is from!! If you just can't wait to get this image then head on over to Elisabeth Bell's Digi Collection and buy it right now. Believe me, it won't be the only digi you get!!

Your next stop on the hop is Renkata. She will dazzle you with her creation!! If you get lost at any stage then head on back to the Digi Bell's Blog where you will find a full list of the hop line up!

Finally - Logan's 5th Birthday Pics!!

I know it's taken me a couple of weeks but I finally have time to how you some pics from Logan's Party!! So I won't bore you with all the details I'll let the pics speak for themselves!!

Logan's dinosaur cake for his actual birthday

This is the card I made him using Nitwits papers

 The cake I made for his party with his friends with all his dinosaurs on it.

Top view of his cake

a family photo (with a newer version of me. LOL)

He had a really lovely birthday celebrated over four days which he thought was the best!!!

An Angel Burning Bright!!

Sorry I have been absent lately, trying to catch up with DT creations and housework (which never seems to end) I still haven't even put up Pics of Logan's birthday that was two weeks ago!! Where does the time go???
Anyway today it's my turn to post on the Digi Bell's Blog - my first official post as a DT member!! It feels like ages since I last posted!! I have wanted to decorate a candle for ages now so I finally got all the supplies I needed and made one. And I love it and have now decided to make more for teachers presents this year!! My mum also asked me to make some place cards up for the christmas table but I think I'm going to decorate candles instead and personalise them with names. 
So I won't keep you in suspense any longer.....

My Candle using Rachel, Little Angel , a gorgeous Elisabeth Bell Image which you can get HERE!!

The tag I made to go with the candle.

The candle all wrapped up with it's tag!!

I already had this candle so I thought I'd try my hand at decorating it with a digi image so I followed the tutorial HERE. As I said,  I used Elisabeth Bell's digi image, Rachel, Little Angel and coloured her in with Tria markers! Once I heated the image onto the candle I then added kindyglitz to her wings!! I also used a glitter pen in her hair and the hearts in her hair!! I then just added rhinestones to the top and bottom of the candle and the ribbon!! I did the exact same for the tag!!! I am so happy with the end result!!! I can't wait to make some xmas one's!!

Well, that's it from me...I'm off to bed but be sure to come back on Friday for the Digi Bell's November Blog Hop!!

I am entering this into the following challenges:

* Tip Top Tuesday - tags

* Belle's n Whistles - Anything Goes

* Crafty Cardmakers Challenge - Recycle

* My Partner in Crafting Crime - Use a freebie

* Squiggle Stamps - Anything but a Card

* If the Shoe Fits Scrap It - Try Something New

* Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Anything but a Card

* Crafts and Me - Simples

White on White - GDT The Crafty Pad

Hi everyone.. Sorry I am a little late posting this!! I was away for the weekend and when I got home I received some extremely sad news!! My youngest son Logan has a had a relief teacher, Jacqui Munro, a few times over the past couple of months and Logan just loved her. I also knew her from school and Auskick as my oldest and her youngest son go to the same school.She is always smiling, such a positive, vibrant attitude and always there to offer advice about anything!! Just a really beautiful person!! Well sadly, she passed away suddenly Friday morning while getting her boys ready for school!! I am unsure of the cause of death but so very shocking!! i only spoke to her Thursday night and to find out a happy, healthy person can just be gone the next morning is just... well I am in shock. I just cannot believe it!! I feel so sorry for her boys who found her I just can't imagine what they and her husband are going though!! I broke the news to both my boys and they are extremely sad as am I!! My thoughts and prayers go out to Jacqui's family!! May you rest in peace!!! I know you'll be watching over your beautiful family, your bright light forever shining!!! xxx

Well onto my creation I have made for The Crafty Pad!! This week our them is White on White and we were given this cute image "Snowman Couple" to create with!! I had a really hard time making this card because I just couldn't get the look I was hoping for!! So I decided to take a few nights off and go back to it and after asking my boys for some help and not getting any...LOL, this is what I came up with...

I think I was trying to add too many layers when I first started creating this card so I scaled it right back and went for a clean and simple look!! And I love the way it turned out!!! I just embossed the card with snowflakes, cut a strip of white card and used my eyelet border punch, added white star ribbon, coloured the images with tria markers and stickles, chalked around the edges of them and added twine to make them into hanging ornaments!!! Not sure if you can see all the sparkles but it really does look fabulous in real life!!!

So now that you've seen my card, why not head on over to The Crafty Pad (if you haven't already) and see what the rest of the DT have created!!!

Embossing Challenge at Paper Crafting Journey - DT

Sorry I'm a bit late today!! Have been busy packing for our weekend away!! Staying on a farm for a few days with some friends and wanted to get everything packed tonight as I have an aquarobics class in the morning bright and early then I want to come home get some breaky and head off!!! I actually want to go buy some new cclothes because I have lost so much weight I no longer have any clothes that fit me!! A good thing I know but I still have weight to lose so don't really want to buy new clothes now only to buy more in a few weeks!!
Anyway, that's not what you are here for!!! It's a new challenge over at Paper Crafting Journey and we are being sponsored by Just Some Lines. Jehanne is kindly giving the lucky winner of this challenge a $15 gift voucher. What a fabulous prize!!

We were lucky enough to have some images to create with and I used "Gab - In the Groove".

This fortnights challenge is embossing! So get out your heat gun and powders or your embossing machine and join in the fun!!

This is yet another CAS which I have been doing a lot of lately!!! I embossed the white cardstock, then added blue ribbon to make a frame, I then just coloured Gab - In the Groove in with tria markers and printed out 4 extra flowers to put in the corner of each card!! And to finnish the card off I added some rhinestones!!!

If you'd like some more inspiration then head on over to Paper Crafting Journey to see what the rest of the fabulously talented DT have created!!

I better get back to packing!! Have a great weekend!!