Friday, June 24, 2011

Trade-In Trashy for Classy - 5 Main Qualities

Just because you are a woman, does not make you a lady.

What is class? Some people see it as a social standard, a status that they live up to. Some people think of classy as wealthy, brought up in a well-off home. Others may see it as a very elegant individual that has impeccable ettiquette. Some of us may even view classy as one who doesn't look like they're dressed up for the club. All of the above could be correct, BUT, all the above would be meaningless if one does not have the BASIC qualities of a classy woman. You see, I don't view a classy woman as one who crosses all their T's and dots all their I's, who has all the above and yet lack the basics. I could care less if they are wearing Coco Chanel yet they are prejudice - they would be labeled in my book as trashy.

How A Classy Person Is Identified


Here are the main five qualities.

1. She treats everyone as an equal

Henry Higgins from 'My Fair Lady ' said in this awesome quote.
  •  "You see, the great secret, Eliza, is not a question of good manners or bad manners, or any particular sort of manners, but having the same manner for all human souls. The question is not whether I treat you rudely, but whether you've ever heard me treat anyone else better."
Of course, he wasn't very nice to Eliza Doolittle, but the point is that the Pedigree woman has the same manners towards every person, no matter what status or level of the social hierarchy. She would speak to the janitor, waiter or hotel receptionist as she would to her friends. Always polite, unhurried, undemanding. She does not gush or laugh a little louder to try to impress or please. She does not elevate or 'humble' herself. She has one manner for all. This is a must-do for anyone learning how to be classy.

Only average and very common people save their best manners for someone more important than them.

 

 

2. She is Kind, Thoughtful And Considerate

Most think they already are kind, thoughtful and considerate of others, which I'm sure they are, but how does this guideline sets the Pedigree woman apart? What is it that makes her classy?

How to be classy is all in the details:

- She is always extremely punctual, because she does not want anyone to wait. If you are late, she will tell you to take your time. While she doesn't mind her guests to be late, she hates to be late.

- She is properly dressed at all time. Why? It is because she not want to convey sloppiness - which translates to "I don't think you are important enough for me to make an effort."

- If you spilled coffee on her rug, she will make light of it because she thinks your feelings are more important.

- Her speech is always gracious because complaining and being negative ruins someone's mood.

 

 

3. She is a Quality over Quantity type of woman.

She develops an acute taste and eye for quality. This requires discipline, be it shopping for books or food. To prefer quality is a form of respect. She respects herself, the workmanship, and the cost of what it took to obtain it. She does not take shortcuts and takes pride to be the best of herself. She also treats herself well.

There is a misconception that you need to be able to afford a lot to be able to enjoy quality. However, if you forgo quantity and buy less, you'll realize that you can enjoy quality too.

- An example of how to be classy in her everyday choices is, she would rather spend the cost of a fastfood meal at the supermarket, picking up the freshest ingredients, then to take that shortcut and sustain herself with a non-nutritious meal. If one lacks the time to do so, discipline would be needed to omit non-productive time consuming activities. And therefore free up time to devote herself to quality pursuits.

 

 

4. She Values Education and Self-Improvement

She who is classy seeks an understanding of herself, of others and the world. How else is she going to be a useful and contributing member of society if she is riddled with personal problems?




She makes an effort to be interested in matters outside herself.
- Therefore, reading is a mainstay hobby for intellectual pursuits and so are sports because it develops character.

-Travel is valued because it expands horizons and helps her gain perspective. It increases her understanding on culture.

- However, education and self-improvement are not seen as a chore. It is enjoyed, pursued relentlessly to further develop her mind and character. Great personal satisfaction is derived from it.

 

 

5. She Contributes to Society

She often thinks about how she can give, and be a useful and contributing member of society. She realizes this secret...giving and living larger than yourself is a source of great happiness and fulfillment. Thus, she is generous. She wants to be a useful and contributing member of society.

She wants in her own way, to make the world a better place.
How does she do it?
- She contributes with whatever resources she has, be it time, money or connections. She could volunteer her time at a charity, or church. She sits on the board for events which have a noble cause. Those who have deep pockets donate, build schools or help raise funds.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Good Manners Sayings

One thing I've noticed, throughout my life and throughout history, that would never get overrated is good ol' manners. I am shocked at some of the things I encounter. People have changed the terminology to justify their bad manners; we now call it, "Sticking up for yourself", or "That's my opinion, take it or leave it", or my personal favorite, "Well that's just the way I am". Let's go back to the good ol' days where please and thank yous are mandatory, not interrupting while someone is speaking is expected, not degrading people and making them feel less than you is not an option, and not trying to top the other person and steal one's thunder is projected!

Here are a few quotes on Good Manners in a social setting:

Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot. - Clarence Thomas

Good manners sometimes means simply putting up with other people's bad manners. - H.Jackson Brown Jr

A man's manners are a mirror in which he shows his portrait. - Johnann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use. - Emily Post

Good manners and soft words have brought many a difficult thing to pass. - Sir John Vanbrugh

The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any. - Fred Astaire

I have a respect for manners as such, they are a way of dealing with people you don't agree with or like. - Margaret Mead

You can get through life with bad manners, but it's easier with good manners. - Lillian Gish

To be always thinking about your manners is not the way to make them good; the very perfection of manners is not to think about yourself. - Richard Whately

Good manners are made up of petty sacrifices. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

To be always thinking about your manners is not the way to make them good; the very perfection of manners is not to think about yourself. - Richard Whately

Good manners have much to do with the emotions. To make them ring true, one must feel them, not merely exhibit them. - Amy Vanderbilt

Monday, June 20, 2011

Our 1 Year Anniversary!

"It's been said that you only truly fall in love once, but I don't believe it. Every time I see you, I fall in love all over again."


So how did we celebrate our 1 year anniversary???!!! Well, I'm glad you asked....
  • Slept in.
  • Went to church.
  • Tried to sell a truck.
  • Had yogurt at Orange Leaf! :)
  • Watched, "The Hot Chick"
  • Went out to dinner at Ti Amo
  • Had dessert at the Cheesecake Factory.
My sweet husband gave me a set of beautiful earrings, nice sunglasses, Kauai 100% Hawaiian chocolate macadamia coffee, 2 baking books, and three 2 hour baking classes at a bakery! AWESOME!!!!!

I gave him an OBD2 code reader for his car hobby. I know, it's just one thing and a little boring, but it was an expensive little thing! He was thrilled.








Wow, 1 year has passed! It's crazy to believe that my husband and I have been married for 365 days. I sincerely do not regret a single day that has passed. Everyday was an adventure. Here are some of the highlights of our past year together:
  1. Went on a cruise for our honeymoon to Catalina Island and then to Encinada, Mexico.
  2. Completely relocated myself from California to Oklahoma, he relocated from Missouri.
  3. Got broken into several times in our first home, boy that was fun. NOT!
  4. Relocated housing 3 times!
  5. My husband and I thought I was PREGNANT for approximately 1 hour.*read story of what happened at the end of blog
  6. I colored my hair a COMPLETELY different color, it was brownish/reddish with blonde highlights. 
  7. Went to Las Vegas for a sales trip and for some family time (I know what you're thinking, Vegas - family time??? Those 2 don't go together!)
  8. Spent my first Christmas at my husband's house in Missouri.
  9. Got me some SHAPE UP shoes! Actually, they're Reebok Retones.
  10. Got a raise at my job for working there for a year! WHOOT-WHOOT!
  11. Tulsa got SNOWED in on February, so I didn't have work for 4 days! Spent quality time with hubby!
  12. My husband and I both jumped in a frozen pool, that was a chilling adventure....
  13. We've purchased 7 vehicles since we've been married and sold 5 of them.
  14. Justin started a new business! Residential Power Solutions
  15. I started a new hobby, baking!
  16. Went to Orange Beach/Gulf Shores, Alabama for a 1 week vacation. That was pretty awesome.
  17. Was left by alone for a total of 2 weeks this year while hubby was gone for sales trips. Miserable.
  18. Got into doing pilates - was only consistant for 1 month. :-P
  19. Flew to California for a week to spend time with my family and also for my brother's gradutaion!
  20. And last but not least, this year I started my blog, "Diaries of a Newlywed"! :)

Friday, June 3, 2011

Top 5 Things I want to Do in California

So, I'm leaving to California tomorrow for 9 days.... and I'm STOKED. I've made a list of what my top 5 things are-

5. Eat In N Out Burger: Double double baby, animal style, with animal style fries. Gotta love REAL MEAT! And REAL POTATOES!

4. Make 2 Graduation Cakes: My baby brother is all grown up now, and he is having 2 parties! One with the church family and one with our Tongan family! That means, 2 grad cakes. Can't wake to make it!

3. Seeing the city scape: Yes, it's beautiful. Hearing all the honks and seeing all the beautiful lights.

2. Reuninting with my family: I can't wait to see my mother and brother!!! And my uncle will be in town, and is going to preach! OH and my church family!!! AHHH! I'm just going to give everyone BIG HUGS!!! Haven't seen most of them since the wedding, which was almost a year ago!!!

1. Watching my baby brother graduate: And this is the main reason why I'm going to be in California. I'm so proud of him! He's the most amazing little brother one could have.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

10 Tips on Eating Out

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well. —Virginia Woolf

Well summer is coming, and there are parties everywhere, left and right. From BBQ's to fine dining, people surround themselves with food, and LOTS of it! As you attend these events, you can't help the fact that you see an array of delicious snacks, smell the mix of spices in the air and your mouth starts to water because your taste buds is crying out for some satisfaction! Your eyes and your mouth is wanting more than what your body can afford. That's when you STOP and think about the following tips to help you resist temptations!



  1. IDENTIFY WHAT MAKES YOU CAVE: Take a moment to think about it, what pulls the trigger and makes you binge? You must know this in order to be mindful of how much you are eating when you're SURROUNDED by food and drinks!
    1. Is it that you don't want to disappoint the people who made it?
    2. Are you going through a rough time?
    3. Is it that you're feeling a loss?
    4. Are you lonely and depressed?
    5. Do you not like your self-image and you always post-pone losing weight?
    6. Do you feel like you constantly have to "treat" yourself because you "deserve" it?
    7. Do you feel obligated to eat more since everyone else is?
    8. Once you know what pulls the trigger, determine that you're not going to let that be the reason/excuse of why you're binging.
  2. ALWAYS REACH FOR THE WATER: Whether you're eating at a restaurant or eating at a cookout, always get water. Sure you can have a can of soda, BUT you don't want to because even though it may seem really harmless, everything adds up. At events like these, you will unconsciously eat more than you want and drink more then you need, so why not just have water in hand? You will unconsciously drink whatever is available to you, so make water your only option. And if you're at a restaurant, you've just saved yourself $2-$5! Remember, everything adds up!
  3. FIND THE GREENS: Anything that is a vegetable or fruit, devour it. If you're in a restaurant, get a side salad and order something from the menu that has lots of vegetables. It could be done anyway BUT fried! If you're at a cookout, go straight to the neglected area, the salad bowl. And of course, right next to it is usually the fruit bowl. EAT IT. These are the foods that you can eat EXCESSIVELY and not even think twice about it! Your body is going to love you for it, and you'll be more happier when you step on the scale.
  4. DRESSING 101: If you're like me, you probably like a salad that is NOT boring and tastes like grass. That's why the dressing was invented. Your salad can now taste more like a respectable meal rather than rabbit's food. Unfortunately, not ALL dressing is good for your body. Just because you're eating a salad, does not mean you're not inhaling calories and fat. If you're eating your salad with a generous amount of cream based dressings such as ranch, thousand island, Caesar, creamy Italian, etc., I'm sorry but you might as well pick up a number 1 from McDonald's that has a Big Mac, large fries and a coke cause THAT is equivalent to how much calories are in that generous amount of dressing! So to solve this little problem, I suggest you look for oil based dressing such as Italian vinaigrette, balsamic vinaigrette, honey Dijon vinaigrette, etc. Basically, anything that is not trying to force it's way out of the little hole on the top of the bottle, without squeezing. Capiche?! Oh and order it on the side. And when you do have it on the side, please do not drown that poor lettuce in dressing. Remember, there is a reason why you're eating the salad.
  5. SAY "NO" TO FRIED FOODS: Anything that is fried is of the devil, cause hell is where they fry it. Ok, I'm just kidding. But I do recommend that if you are confronted with fried food, I want you to reach down to the sides of your belly and grab those love handles. You feel that?? Do you want that around your heart and arteries? Or to grow more around your waist? I didn't think so. So you might be wondering, why is fried foods so bad? Not only does it affect your weight but also your health. It can contain trans fats, which puts you at higher risk of heart disease. Restaurants like trans fats since it raises the flash point and lets them use the same oil over and over again. As for your weight, studies have been proven that people who consume the most calories in fried foods are had a positive correlation with obesity. It's LOADED in fat, calories, and grease because the breaded part of it, soaks up the grease. It's kind of like drinking the left over oil after you fry something.... which is something you would never do. Solution? Go for grilled, or boiled. If you're eating a salad or meal with meat on it, ask for the meat to be grilled. Stay away from those chicken platters that only offer fries and fried wings together, which is SO bad for you!
  6. CUSTOMIZE YOUR ORDER: Hey look, you have a waiter/waitress for a reason, to serve you. If they weren't there, you'd be in the restaurant kitchen serving up your own plate, and you wouldn't dare put anything on your plate that you don't like or you know is not good for you. SO- you're going to have to tell your server what is it that you want. Ex:
    1. Ask if they have whole wheat noodles
    2. Ask for the pasta sauce on the side (this is so that you can put sauce as necessary so you're noodles aren't swimming in fat)
    3. Ask for the dressing on the side (same reason as #2)
    4. Ask for extra vegetables on your meal
    5. Substitute your side that may be mash potatoes or french fries for steamed vegetables or coleslaw or a salad
    6. Ask for a wheat bun
    7. Ask for honey (to substitute that for sugar)
  7. TALK YOUR BRAIN OFF: Yes, you read right, I said TALK. The more you talk, the less you eat. You'll take bites every now and then but really, you will unconsciously tell your brain that you are full in 20 min. Talk about an interesting story but instead of giving the basics, elaborate! Give the juicy details and the inside scoop of what, where, when, why, how! By the time you've finished your conversation, you've only eaten half of your meal and your are full! And then you'll look around you, and everyone has finished their plate, and they're full too! So who's go the better end of the deal here? If you're at a BBQ, visit with everyone! Find out how they're doing while you have a plate in your hand. You'll make more friends and devour less calories. Seriously, try it!
  8. DON'T EAT JUNK PRIOR: If you know that there is a BBQ or an event where there is food, don't stuff yourself before you go there! If you're going to eat, have a smoothie, or a salad, or a fruit! But there's no point! Some people say, "Well, if I eat at home, I won't eat much there." Well, let me tell you that it's a bunch of baloney! When you get there, you're going to forget all about the fact that you had eaten. Oh and you're stomach and taste buds will forget too! Once that sweet, mouth-watering, aroma goes up your nostrils, you'll start craving food all over again. 
  9. SKIP DESSERT: Don't order dessert. Don't go to the dessert table. If you HAVE to have it because someone special made it, have a small piece that is equivalent to 2-3 bites. You just want to taste it, not devour it. If you're at a restaurant, don't order a dessert. If you really want to, order to share it. Allow yourself only 2-3 bites. OR you can substitute dessert for tea or decaffeinated coffee. The warm liquid will help you feel full.
  10. DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP: So you pigged out. You got there and you couldn't contain yourself. Now you feel like crap. The worst thing to do at this point is to beat yourself up about it. So don't. You're human. The best thing to do in this situation is to take note of how you felt after you pigged out. Make sure that you know this so that when you're out again, you will remember how you felt when you lost control. Then, get back on your healthy regime the next day, and stick with it. DON'T give up and say, "Well, since I screwed up, I might as well just keep eating whatever I want." This is what I call a LOSER mentality. You will never win if you are already planning to fail.  

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Candlelit Dinner (RECIPE INCLUDED)

I was so excited to have my husband back yesterday! I believe this was the longest we've been apart, over a week. I was so excited that I didn't sleep until 1am the night before because I was making sure everything was clean and perfect! It was like I was getting ready for a king to arrive, and actually, that would be the case. :) Not only did I sleep at 1am, I woke up early at 6:45am to start making dinner! Ok, you must think I'm crazy, but I'm not! It was a pot roast and I was using a slow cooker. Silly me, this would be my first time using it. It was given to us as a wedding gift almost a year ago! I had no idea that I can cook while I'm at work! I used a very simple recipe. The only thing that I had to do before I arranged it in the slow cooker was to cut the carrots and potatoes. The recipe is posted at the end of this post. I also served it with my famous mash potatoes made from scratch, which is my secret recipe and I'm not telling you! hehehe....

Now that I had dinner ready, I had to make sure it was romantic. When I got home, I lit all the candles in our apartment and I bought 2 tall stick candles for the dinner table. It was beautiful! :) I also surprised him with office products that were custom made with his business logo. You'll see it in the pictures

When he walked through the door, well, we just couldn't get enough of each other.

I just printed out this picture..I thought it would be cute!

The pot roast!!! It smelt sooo good!

The mash potatoes! (I should have made more cause he devoured it!)

Some custom made office products! http://www.residentialpowersolutions.com/








SERVES: 8  

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

PREP TIME: 10 
COOK TIME: Low: 8-10hrs, High: 4-6hrs

 
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. oil
3-to 3-1/2- lb. boneless beef pot roast (rump, chuck or round)
4 carrots, sliced
4 medium all-purpose potatoes (about 2 lbs.), cut into 1-inch pieces
2 envelopes Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Onion Soup Mix
3/4 cup water

Directions:
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and brown roast.
Arrange carrots and potatoes in slow cooker. Top with roast and set aside.
Combine Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Onion Soup Mix with water in glass measuring cup. Add to skillet, scraping up any brown bits from bottom of pan. Add soup mixture to slow cooker. Cook covered on Low 8 to 10 hours or HIGH 4 to 6 hours. You can add a little more water so that you can have more sauce if you like, or if it's too salty for your taste. Remove roast and vegetables to serving platter.
Thicken gravy, if desired, by combining additional 1/4 cup water with 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour. Cook on HIGH 15 minutes or until thickened.

Cost per recipe*: $14.21
Cost per serving*: $1.78

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

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.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

R.P.S. - A Van Kirk Company




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.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

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

Monday, May 16, 2011

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!