After 9 Days Without Husband....

So my husband was at Florida since last Monday for a sales trip. I have to say, I did miss him terribly! But, I kept myself busy. Here are some of the things I did during his time away:

1. Worked out a total of 9 hours
2. Had Orange Leaf for the first time
3. Had Cherry Berry for the first time
4. Had sushi with my girls, also there was Camilla Hanohano, whom I've known since I was 12
5. Shopped at Teavana for the first time- from there I got amazing gifts for my girlfriends
6. Celebrated Loriel's birthday dinner at the Melting Pot.
7. Watched "Gossip Girl" for the first time
8. Watched "Conviction" starring Hilary Swank but fell asleep to it
9. Stayed up til 3am-4am 2 nights in a row
10. Went to a black and white party
11. Wore a dress that I've only worn once since I was 16.
12. Listened to messages on the Old Testament- Learned about: Covenant with Abraham, The Patriarchal Blessing, Moses & the Exodus, The Passover, The Giving of the Law, The Tabernacle, Aaron & the Pristhood, Joshua & the Conquest of Canaan, The Cycle of Judges, The Monarchy, David, SOlomon & the Temple, and The Dvided Kingdom.
13. Washed all of the dirty clothes and towels that existed in my apartment.
14. Bought a comforter cover for my down.
15. Used a crockpot for the first time.
16. Drank smoothies every weekday for breakfast or lunch.
17. Watched "Real Housewives of New Jersey" for the first time, and got HOOKED!
18. Went through a tornado watch/warning.
19. Watched "The King's Speech".
20. Had Loriel sleep over 3 nights in a row.
21. Celebrated my last day without hubby at Cheesecake Factory with Loriel.
22. Found out that the store Cache in the mall buys their dresses for about $20-$30 and sells them for $200.
23. And I did NOT write a blog the entire time he was gone. BOO on me.

R.P.S. - A Van Kirk Company

www.ResidentialPowerSolutions.com

Residential Power Solutions is a company that specializes in alternative energy. Justin, my husband, started dreaming about a company where one can save and make money by just buying 1 product. He researched, and to what I believe was from the Lord, he thought of importing and selling wind turbines. This is a great product that can power your entire home! If you own a business or pastor a church, with the right size wind turbine, think of how you may never, ever have to pay an electric bill again! It's a GREAT investment! It's expensive at first, but we guarantee that your turbine will pay itself off within 5 years.

THINK ABOUT THAT!

If you don't know much about wind turbines, please visit the website: Residential Power Solutions Watch the video on the home page.

Also, please go to our FB business page and "LIKE" it.

Search us on FB: Van Kirk Company, Residential Power Solutions.

If you don't have Facebook, click HERE and then search us.

www.ResidentialPowerSolutions.com

3D Artwork!

So I stumbled upon some amazing talent. Who knew that you can turn a dull sidewalk or street into a masterpiece!?

Check it out.

See more here: 3D Chalk Drawings

My Tips and Tricks to Losing and Keeping the Weight Off

First off, I'm NOT a nutritionist NOR a dietitian. What I do may not work for you.

I gain, I lose, I gain it back, then I lose. Does anyone deal with this besides me? I dealt with this, and let me tell you, it gets annoying... So, after so many years of roller coaster weights, I found out what works for me... And I'm where I want to be and happy! The following are pictures of me during my roller coaster wights. Pic description order from left to right, top then bottom.

#1: 163 lbs. 2005

#2: 133 lbs. 2006

#3: 148 lbs. 2007

#4:  128 lbs. 2010

1. I eat when I'm hungry. You hear people say that you need to eat 10 times a day, or have a bunch of small meals. Well, I'm sorry but when I "snack", I get carried away! Who has time to measure every time one snacks?! I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. Studies show that having an eating routine actually increases your chances of losing weight. The subjects that were tested that had a sporadic eating schedule had a hard time losing the weight.
2. I chew my food until it's liquid. My mother-in-law taught me. First of all, it helps your body digest the food easier and therefore faster. This also forces you to eat slower! Studies show that your brain takes 20 min before it tells you you're full. So, you can stuff your face as much as you can in 20 min or you can savor every bite and you'll still get full in 20 min. Your call.
3. I weigh myself daily. At least twice a day. According to research from the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, people who make it a habit to weigh themselves lost more weight than those who didn't. Plus, the habit helps me stay at a stable weight for I can see early on when the scale swings high so that I can tweek my exercise routine and tweek what I eat.
4. I choose the stairs over the elevator. What this means is exactly what it means! If you have to choose between stairs and elevator, choose the stairs!!! Park farther from the grocery store so you can walk more!!!! This means, it's the little things that count! People don't want to walk so instead they spend another 10 min looking for a closer spot! Everything adds up.
5. I drink tea. And I drink lots of tea! Tea is good for you if it doesn't have too much caffeine. Green and white tea are the best for you. But I like black tea. So I get the DECAF Chai Spice tea, my favorite! Here's something I read about tea: "Catechins found in green and oolong teas can boost the body's fat-burning fire. One study of Japanese women compared the effects of drinking green tea, oolong tea, or water on various days. Just one large cup of oolong tea increased calorie burning by up to 10 percent, a boost that peaked 1 1/2 hours later. Green tea raised metabolism by 4 percent for 1 1/2 hours. Other studies show that drinking two to four cups of green or oolong daily (containing a total of about 375 to 675 mg of catechins) may translate into an extra 50 calories burned each day."
6. Stay away from caffeine. I don't want to scare you but caffeine gives you cellulite. Reason is, caffeine is a toxin. When toxins go into your body, it is actually very harmful. Therefore, to protect your body from harm, when you have excess toxins, the fat in your body will wrap itself around it to protect your body. Then it will store it out of the way which is usually around your thighs, your butt, your waist or where ever you are proned to have fatty tissue. That would explain why we can find girls who are skinny and still have cellulite. So if you're going to drink tea or coffee, take the decaf. And stay away from the energy drinks too.
7. I eat my fruits & vegetables. Yes, you heard it from your mother, you heard it from your grade school teacher and now you're hearing it from me. Vegetables, especially leafy vegetables are high in fiber, low in calories, are packed full of nutrients and LEAVES YOU FULL. They have live enzymes, which plays a major role in quickening your metabolism because it helps break down the food a whole lot easier. I love salads, but for some reason, I don't get as full as when I eat a vegetable sandwich. I use wheat bread, a little mayo and I pack it with as much vegetables I can! (avocado, spinach, lettuce, tomato, sweet onion, green pepper, etc.) I feel great afterwards because it doesn't take much energy from my body to digest the food. Try it, I guarantee you will feel the difference! Fruit is really good too. If I'm in the snacking mood, instead of grabbing a snicker bar, grab an apple! It's sweet and nutritious. You'll feel refreshed instead of sick!
8. I substitute sugar for honey. Sugar is a toxin. Toxins gives you cellulite. See #6.
9. I don't eat much dairy products. I don't drink cow's milk. I substitute that for almond, rice, or soy milk. Sure it doesn't taste like ice-cream, but this will help you get rid of that infamous pudge that most of us deal with. Yes, that pudge is due to dairy and sugar - they like to hang out there... and of course, around the thighs and buttocks. Ok, now some of you may know me to be obsessed with ice-cream. And I am. So it's not like a eliminated dairy completely, I have it rarely. Actually, the only time I do have dairy is when I treat myself to ice-cream or when I have creamer in my tea.
10. I keep my food SPICY. Yes, I am known to carry my Siracha hot sauce EVERYWHERE. And by that I mean even to restaurants. I know, sounds a little tacky, but I'm the one who has to live with my body, not anyone else. I could care less.... Anyway, not only is this sauce very tasty and offers quite a kick in every bite, it is proven that spicy food can contribute to weight loss. Weight loss with spicy food is possible because it increases your metabolism, which helps you burn more calories. This is because the spices increase your body temperature and contributes to an increase in your heart rate, too. Remember that the increase happening in your body temperature and heart rate requires energy. Aside from increasing your body temperature, spices also aid to the increase of your blood circulation. They are also able to stimulate the breaking down of your fat cells, which aids in weight loss.
11. Make water your best friend. If you have to choose between soda, ice-tea, water or any other cold beverages, choose water. First off, it's free. Second off, there are no calories. Third off, it makes you full, faster. I'm not a big water drinker myself, but I force myself to drink it. I give myself no option to drink anything else. And it works. I only drink water, and of course I treat myself, sometimes.
12. Really work out, when you actually do work out. I mean exactly that. If you choose to work out, please don't just stand around in the gym and visit. It's a waste of time and it's a waste of an opportunity to burn calories and build muscle. To be honest with you, I don't like working out. I also can't stick to a weekly workout routine. BUT, when I actually go to the gym, I get on the stair master and I start steppin. Actually, I'm doing that as I'm typing right now. See, I could just be typing on my computer on a desk, OR I could do it on a StairMaster. WHY NOT? If you're at the park, don't just lay on the grass or sit on the bench, walk around! Enjoy nature! You're working out without even noticing.
13. Stay away from packaged products. So you're walking through the grocery store, and you see all these pretty packages with bright colors. You pick one of them up and start reading the ingredients and BEHOLD, you can't pronounce a single word except for "fructose corn syrup, bleach flour, & sugar." When you see this, drop the bag IMMEDIATELY and run. Ok, you don't have to run. On a serious note, packaged products such as chips, candy, cookies, snacks, ready made mash potatoes, etc. are not good for our body. First of all, there are no live nutrients in them, therefore not benefiting our body anyway towards health. Second, our body has a hard time digesting them since they are made to LAST very long in that package. You will be constipated if you eat too much of these products.  
14. I get my beauty sleep. Sleep is so important. Why? Well first off, your body needs rest. Secondly, you can't eat while you're sleeping! But here is a more scientific fact I read: "Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers found that getting enough sleep helps your body to regulate hunger and lose more weight from fat (instead of muscle). In the study, when dieters got adequate sleep (about 7 to 8 hours), more than half of the weight they lost was fat. When dieters got less sleep (only about 5 to 6 hours), only one-fourth of their weight loss came from fat and they produced higher levels of ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger and reduces energy expenditure."
15. Treat yourself. One thing I've learned is to never deprive myself. If there is something that I know is not good yet it's something I like, for example, ice-cream, I would reward myself with that when I've done a good job with my health. People who treat themselves are less likely to go out on a binge and devour everything in sight. If you're too strict with yourself, you're more likely to rebel and have an "I don't care anymore" attitude.

So there you have it, these are my tips and tricks in getting slim and staying there! I hope this helps attain your goal with your health as well as your body!

25 Manners ALL Children Must Know, and Adults Too!

Reinforcing these 25 must-do manners, you'll raise a polite, kind, well-liked child. And if you're an adult, reinforcing these manners will make you a well-liked individual too! Manner #1When asking for something, say "Please."
Manner #2
When receiving something, say "Thank you."
Manner #3
Do not interrupt grown-ups who are speaking with each other unless there is an emergency. They will notice you and respond when they are finished talking.
Manner #4
If you do need to get somebody's attention right away, the phrase "excuse me" is the most polite way for you to enter the conversation.
Manner #5
When you have any doubt about doing something, ask permission first. It can save you from many hours of grief later.
Manner #6
The world is not interested in what you dislike. Keep negative opinions to yourself, or between you and your friends, and out of earshot of adults.
Manner #7
Do not comment on other people's physical characteristics unless, of course, it's to compliment them, which is always welcome.
Manner #8
When people ask you how you are, tell them and then ask them how they are.
Manner #9
When you have spent time at your friend's house, remember to thank his or her parents for having you over and for the good time you had.
Manner #10
Knock on closed doors -- and wait to see if there's a response -- before entering.
Manner #11
When you make a phone call, introduce yourself first and then ask if you can speak with the person you are calling.
Manner #12
Be appreciative and say "thank you" for any gift you receive. In the age of e-mail, a handwritten thank-you note can have a powerful effect.
Manner #13
Never use foul language in front of adults. Grown-ups already know all those words, and they find them boring and unpleasant.
Manner #14
Don't call people mean names.
Manner #15
Do not make fun of anyone for any reason. Teasing shows others you are weak, and ganging up on someone else is cruel.
Manner #16
Even if a play or an assembly is boring, sit through it quietly and pretend that you are interested. The performers and presenters are doing their best.
Manner #17
If you bump into somebody, immediately say "Excuse me."
Manner #18
Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, and don't pick your nose in public.
Manner #19
As you walk through a door, look to see if you can hold it open for someone else.
Manner #20
If you come across a parent, a teacher, or a neighbor working on something, ask if you can help. If they say "yes," do so -- you may learn something new.
Manner #21
When an adult asks you for a favor, do it without grumbling and with a smile.
Manner #22
When someone helps you, say "thank you." That person will likely want to help you again. This is especially true with teachers!
Manner #23
Use eating utensils properly. If you are unsure how to do so, ask your parents to teach you or watch what adults do.
Manner #24
Keep a napkin on your lap; use it to wipe your mouth when necessary.
Manner #25
Don't reach for things at the table; ask to have them passed.

Officially Credit Card Debt Free!

Today, I made my last payment on my credit card! I started out with a whopping balance of $3000 in 2007. I just paid the minimum payment for 2 years on the card. I only got it down to about $2300 after 2 years of paying $70 monthly. WOW. When I told Justin of this last year, we were engaged at the time, he told me to PAY IT OFF. He really was a big help encouraging me to get out of debt and stop paying the minimum. So I started paying at least $150 every month, and that's on top of everything else. The last couple months I was paying $200-$300 a month. And now, it's all gone. I had to sacrifice new clothes, shoes, makeup, eating out, and a whole bunch of unnecessary things to get this over with. I like the motto, WORK NOW, PLAY LATER. It just says it all. If I am responsible now, I can enjoy the freedom of my finances later and I don't have to regret, look back and wonder, "If only I did this.....". I thank God for allowing me to learn and apply what I learned to my life. He has given me the grace to practice self-control and loving my future self more than my present self.