Let. The. Countdown. BEGIN.....

Well, baby number two will be here at SOME point over the next 30 days.

That's right, thirty days until my due date. 

I have thirty days left of being a mom of ONE. 

My life will never be the same.

Things are changing.

Things are AMAZING.

I am so happy and in love with such an incredible man.

I have a healthy, happy, cute-as-can-be little boy.

And.....I am about to have a daughter.

Wednesday, (1 1/2) days away ...(45 hours and 30 minutes from now), WE HAVE AN ULTRASOUND scheduled. I haven't had one since 20 weeks...

16 weeks without seeing our little princess.... I can't wait.

Bags are packed, car seat is in the back seat of my car, breast pump is ordered, big brother shirt should be here any day.....I am READY.....just need Zoey to finish cooking for a bit longer and then life as we know it will be FOREVER changed....


XOXO,

-B

The Struggle Really, REALLY Is Real....

Let's talk about something that I have been struggling a bit with lately....

Sharing your child....

That shit sucks.

I am a half-time mom to my son. Now, before you go judging that statement, it is definitely NOT by choice. 

I am a half-time mom to my son.

Do you know how hard that is to say when from the second he was born, I was there...ALL the time, everyday, up until his dad & I decided having separate lives was what was best for everyone. 

That means.... I am HALF there for everything. I don't always know things. I don't get to experience some things. I am left out. I am not there to kiss him goodnight, every night. I am not there if he gets hurt. I am not there when he isn't feeling well. I am not there to wake him up each morning. I am not there to tell him to have a good day at school. I am not there to help with his homework or cook him dinner. I am not there to see my son's bright smile everyday. I am not there for a lot. 

I think my heart hurts a little more every time I think about it. And well, today I am thinking HARD about it. 

I am there half of the time. I am the THERE parent when he is with me. I am there Wednesday-Friday...and every other Saturday.

My son lives two lives. He has two families. He has two homes. 

While I am grateful that he has SO many people that love him and care for him daily, it is still hard to choke back tears after I drop him to his dad each and every weekend. I miss him. I miss him too much for half of the week, every week. My biggest fear is continuing to lose that solid MOM feeling. 

He is growing up so fast and is so smart. He knows things. He sees things. He listens. He absorbs things. He is just a kid.

I'll be honest, the guilt hits HARD sometimes. The guilt of not being able to have that solid family for him. It feels like failure most of the time....BUT I hold that back and I pray and I know that things ALWAYS work out how they are supposed to. And I see that more everyday. The most important thing in the world to me is Canyon. He is my baby! He is my whole reason for living. He is the reason I have made it this far. He is my little best friend. And he is so, so happy and taken care of. He is so well-rounded and just amazing.

I guess the struggle comes from having to share that. Having to share the 'Mom' feeling now when I don't want to. I've always been the MOM...the one Canyon wants to tell everything to. The one that goes out of her way for him. I have done all I can do to be the best mom to him. And I continue to do this daily. And now I have someone else doing these things for him when it isn't my 'half.' Some might think, "Wow, you are being so petty." Yes, I am. I am being petty. I am being an overprotective mother as I have always been. He's my son. MY son. He is my pride and joy. He is my life.

**With that being said, I am thankful. I am so thankful that my son has that. I am thankful to this woman that has walked into his life and so selflessly allowed my son into her heart. Only a mother can relate to another mother and only a mother can love someone else's child as their own. Though this is just the beginning of a very long journey, I can only hope that the relationship between this woman and I can be a strong one. I can only hope that a friendship can be built and the memories can be shared. 

Again, I thank you....for all you do when I am not there. And I hope that one day soon, the line of communication will be opened and we can begin the building process of this mom journey...**

What a rough day for me. It's got to be the pregnancy hormones! I'm a mess!

Until next time,

XOXO...
-B

32 Weeks.

Happy 32 weeks to baby #zoeyrynn. She is making this Momma have a BIG ole belly but I am so excited that her arrival is so near. We have 8 weeks left (at the most)! With the busy schedules we have, there is no doubt that it will FLY by. I have mostly everything done and ready for her. We still have a few things to get and I need to finish packing all of our bags as well as making a list/plan for when we get home from the hospital for food, etc.

Canyon is doing exceptionally well lately. He had three C's on his interim which he managed to bring up every single one. So, he has all A's & B's now. I am beyond proud of him and I cannot even express the joy I feel knowing he worked so hard to bring those C's up. I'll tell you, private school homework is no joke. We spend hours every night. There is so much information, I don't know how he retains it. I have come up with a system of making our own study guides since we are not provided those. It is so helpful that he has help at my house and help at his dad's to be sure he is doing the best he can. He is a blessed little boy.

We are in the process of finishing up his room and I can't wait....He is getting so big and him having his own "boy" space will be a great thing especially when Zoey gets here.

I have no idea how to believe my heart will stretch big enough to love two kids the same but I know it will. I am such a MOM. I love all things mom and really, my life revolves around Canyon, so I know it will be no different when Zoey arrives.

Things are good. Slow yet busy. Just ready for the holidays!

Pictures to follow on the next blog post & there are a TON.

XOXO,
-B

Tis' October

What up, peeps? It's October which means....I am automatically in a fantastic mood. It did indeed help that when I walked outside this morning, the wind was blowing and it was COOL. You really have no idea how happy that makes me on SO many levels. 

What's new this week? Baby shower was a success.... We didn't get everything we need but we are finishing that up and will be all ready for baby in a few weeks. I cannot believe we have 9 weeks left. NINE....And that's assuming I make it to my due date. We had a checkup yesterday and all is well. I only gained 1lb since my last visit. I am doing pretty damn good on the weight gain this go-round. We got back in two weeks this time....two week visits have begun and in FIVE weeks, we will have our final ultrasound to measure baby...at 36 weeks. I haven't had one since 20 weeks so I'm am borderline crazy with wanting to see her sweet little face.

I'm on the hunt for a BIG BROTHER shirt for my boy. He says he wants BLUE...should be easy, right? HAha....

I bought a new car and TWO days after having it, someone thought it would be a grand idea to run into the back of me. Luckily, the damage is minor...just need my bumper repainted...I am pretty sick over it though. Chalk it up to #hutchinsonluck

Otherwise, all is well....we are finally finishing up Canyon's room...getting him a bigger TV and mounting it on his wall and moving his desk in and he will be set. His room is so cute and cozy...makes me jealous. Our room is filled with baby stuff. Zoey has taken over and she hasn't even arrived yet. 

See ya on the flip side pimpin....



XOXO-
B

It's been over a year since I have posted....that's about to change. I am bringing the blog BACK! I'll be posting as much as I possibly can on every little thing going on! Stay tuned for lots and lots of news and PICTURES! We all know I am obsessed with photos....

So, since last year.....

I have an 8-year old third grader who is still just as amazing as he was a year ago. The kid seriously blows my mind. He is so smart and appreciative of everything. Being his mom has been the biggest blessing I could've ever imagined....

AND


WELL


He is going to be a BIG BROTHER.

That's right...I am expecting baby #2 on December 2nd! 


IT'S A GIRL.....#zoeyrynn

I couldn't be more excited. God has some amazing ways of working things out in my life so that I end up exactly where I am meant to be. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be another child's mom. I know that being the best mom I can be to both of my children is why I was placed on this earth. I work hard to be everything to Canyon and I will do the same for Zoey. It's so crazy to think about having two kids.....to think about starting OVER. I mean, it's been 8 1/2 years since I have had a newborn. I think I am definitely more prepared this time but it's still scary as HELL.

Today is the FIRST DAY OF FALL- my absolute FAVORITE time of year. I am already in a good mood even though it is hot as balls outside. I just want my boots, scarves, and pumpkin spice everything.


#pumpkinspiceiseverything


Now, I guess I can fill you in on the amazing man I have in my life these days (I am keeping this one forever--he's my #mce). We started seeing each other at the end of 2014 and things just sort of happened. I know he's my #soulmate (if you believe in that sort of thing). He is amazing. He loves me like I have never felt before. He treats me as if I have always belonged to him. I couldn't ask for more in a man and I cannot wait to see him be a father to our daughter.

Blending a family isn't the easiest thing in the world. It's scary and you always feel some level of guilt. I just know that, no matter what, my son always comes first for his dad and I. We go out of our way to raise him to be a happy, well-rounded child....and we are doing great with that, if I do say so myself. I am so thankful (yes, I say this a lot) for his dad. Being able to co-parent and maintain the relationship he and I have as a friendship means more to me than almost anything. Most people are spending their time bickering or worrying about dumb shit. Not me. When Canyon is with his dad, I know he is happy. He is taken care of. He is learning about life. He is getting so big and is so smart and  yet sometimes, when he asks me questions, his sweet little voice breaks me. He is such a sincere child that worries about everyone else's feelings. It's really the sweetest thing!

I won't really get into much of what his dad has going on....other than he is happy. That's all that really matters to me. He's a great guy and deserves all the happiness. I can definitely see some big, JOINT, family events in our future....Hopefully, that all plays out the right way.

Lots to come over the next few weeks.

I am 30 weeks pregnant today and I won't lie, I am miserable. I mean, I fell asleep in the bathtub last night and woke up in freezing cold water with bubbles in my hair. It's been fun. It's been real...but I need the next few weeks to FLY BY....super ready for the shower this weekend and then, let the NESTING begin....poor boyfriend. 


XOXO,
-B

It's September. It has been one month since my son started SECOND grade and I am loving it. As much as I hate for him to get older, watching him grow and learn is one my favorite things in the entire world. The kid is so smart. He just astounds me everyday.

Let's see, quick recap?

Here's my life lately (busy)!

In December I finished school--well, part ONE of school. I completed my Medical Billing & Coding course with a 4.0. I take my test on November 7th and then on to get my National certification. After that? Well, I am going back to school, starting in January, for my Bachelor's degree. I will be completing an online course in Health Service Administration. I am so excited. I am a total school nerd! :)

We had a super cool NINJA TURTLE 7th birthday party and I rocked yet another cake! Well, I might not have "rocked" it but it came out pretty freaking awesome considering I make his cakes every year, don't you think? (See below)

We've been so crazy with baseball life. It makes me sooooo happy to see him play a sport that he enjoys so much and he's actually really talented. #proudmommoments

We had a great summer! Spent lots of time with my boy! I will tell you, taking a year of my life and devoting it to school was HARD. Between going to school and working to keep up with my life, I probably spent about 70 hours a week on school/work. That's a tremendous amount when you have a child. Yes, I felt guilty every single day. Yes, I still feel guilty. But I cherish every moment now so much more when I am with him. I am struggling with how to let him go when he's at his dad's but Dale is so wonderful that it eases the pain a little. I miss my old life. I miss being happy. I miss being complete. I'm working on it. One day at a time....maybe I will get back there soon.

Anyway, I will try to write more! I have so many good topics I've been working on.... We'll see.

Leaving you with some love.

SEVEN

Canyon is almost seven years old. It hit me today that my baby is NOT a baby anymore. That scares the HELL out of me. I mean, he will be in SECOND grade. He has his own personality. He has his own way of doing things. He has his own mind (for sure) even if he acts just like me....which scares me even more. Most of all, it worries me. The world is such a shit place these days. I worry for him. I know it's normal as a mom to worry but I don't think you guys realize...I am a compulsive worrier. I worry constantly about EVERYTHING. Most of it is from my anxiety, which I have been taking steps to get under control. BUT not all of my worrying stems from that. Some of it is just me freaking myself out. I think my son may get this from me a little (worry and anxiety).








Last night, Canyon was jumping around and being a boy (wild) and he hurt his foot. Today, I had to take him to the doctor for an x-ray to make sure it wasn't broken....almost seven years without a broken bone....and counting (thank God). Well, he was a nervous wreck. When we got there, we exchanged words. Ex: Canyon: " I'm not going in there." Me: "YES, you ARE." Blah blah blah. Finally, we are in, papers are filled out, and we are waiting. He is turning white, can't talk. I swear, I thought he was going to puke. Then, we are called back. We are waiting, again....and then the nurse comes in and BAM...he's fine. It's the anxiety that makes him sick with worry. I hate that for him because I know EXACTLY how he feels and it's terrible.


L


iving with anxiety (severe anxiety...like mine) is MISERABLE. It's an all-day, everyday thing. Tight chest, tense muscles, just a bunch of BS. I choose to deal with mine on a more emotional level and not take medication for it (even if I probably should). Whatever.






I have no reason for this post. The end.






XOXO,
B

Holy 2014

It's been over a year since I've hit the keyboard to update you on my life. Crazy how time flies!


I'll say 2013 was a pretty OKAY year, not fantastic, not terrible. I started and completed a course to become a Medical Biller/Coder. You have NO idea how proud I am of myself for starting something and FINISHING IT! I am a VERY indecisive person and I tend to start things and get bored ( I get it from my daddy.)


 I am still unemployed--with a Medical Coding job. I still got my #serverlife job. HOLLA.




 But it's all water under the bridge now. I am actively looking for a job and hope to find something by May-June. I am also going to be completing my Bachelors degree online (for Business). It's not something I need to do to get a job but rather for myself. I would never be satisfied with just a certificate. It's just not in me to settle when I know I can do better and accomplish so much more. I have one life to life. I have one chance to do everything I want to do. I have one chance to show my son that anything is possible. After all, he is the reason I do everything I do.


Canyon: Where do I even begin? He is HUGE. He will be SEVEN in May. SEVEN?! Wtf balls? I cannot believe it. I'm aging. He's super smart and super smart ASS. He get it from his momma.


We are nearing the end of the school year and also starting our third and final year (THANK GOD) of T-ball. I am so ready for big boy baseball.... LSU is in our future. He's legit people.


Here's a concern. My son attends a smaller private school. They do not have a sports program. I love the school. I love the teachers. I love the location. I love everything about this school and would recommend it to anyone. However, Canyon is very active. He states that he wants to be involved in sports. So, my question is, when do I make the transition to a new school with the same values and education with the addition to a sports program? I don't want to do it too soon and I don't want to wait to long. I worry that a new school may discourage him. Now, my son is not shy at all. He can walk up to a kid at the park and be best buds in seconds but that's him choosing to do that on his own. Us moving him to a new school is almost forced and I don't know how he will react.


The joys of motherhood. Worry, worry, and more worry.


I can't possibly update you on every detail of my life nor everything that has happened in the last year. So, I'll just leave you with this for now and work on some more interesting topics later.


We are still here. We are still kicking. We have a lot to do this year. We are happy. We are healthy. We thank God for all we have. We make choices. We live with the results. We are brave. We are honest. And we are BLESSED..




XOXO,


B

Changes!

Working moms. 

Let me just say this..... I stayed home with my son for the first 10 months of his life. Every single day, I spend the entire day doing NOTHING but taking care of him. I cooked, cleaned, folded laundry, changed diapers, watch a million and one episodes of Bunny Town and I love every minute of it.

Now, that being said, I am NOT the stay at home mom type. I love to work. Call me crazy, whatever!

I like the feeling of being independently financially secure. Women are too reliant on men. I hate it. I mean, if your husband has a good job and you two have discussed you staying home to be the primary childcare provider, that's all fine and dandy. But if your husband is working his ass off and having to tack on some overtime to make ends meet while you sit at home on your ass all day, that's only going to cause more problems in the long run. Helping out isn't that hard. Get a part-time job. Find someone to keep your child in their home OR in your home! People do this ALL THE TIME.

You need balance. You need ADULT time. For me, work is my adult time. I don't go out partying or take time away from my son when I have him. I choose to be with him when I am supposed to be with him. That simple. 

I have all respect for mothers in general (and fathers). Being a parent is HARD WORK. In a two-parent household, mothers just seem to do more. In a single parent household, the parent that has the child does all of the work. In my case, I do the work when I have him and his dad does the work when he has him. We work together on everything. I am blessed.

Now, at the end of 2012, I made the decision to go back to school. I quit my job, signed up for school, and found a job as a waitress. I WORK MY ASS OFF. I stay tired. BUT I have a 4.0 and I manage just fine. AND I AM DONE in NOVEMBER of this year.

I am proud of myself.

I am here to tell you that if you have a dream or a goal, it can be accomplished. I am also here to tell you that it WILL NOT BE EASY. It will require dedication and LOTS of coffee.

I hope that by writing this blog, I can encourage just ONE person to make a change. Do what you want. You get one life.

XOXO, B

P.S. Canyon is doing ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. My son amazes me everyday. He is why I do what I do. He is why I work my ass off and he is why I choose to make things happen for myself. He deserves the best life possible. I plan to give him that. 

Explaining Death To A Five Year Old

Yes, that's right. How on earth do you explain death to a five year old?

Well, you do the best you can based on what you believe in, which is exactly what I did.

Recently, on of my son's classmates passed away due to a tragic accident. Now, obviously, prayers are VERY welcome for the family of this little girl. I cannot begin to imagine the emotions they are experiencing but I do know that PRAYER in numbers is a very powerful thing. So, please PRAY!

Canyon is a very tender-hearted child. He cries when the ASPCA commercials come on or if his feelings are hurt. It breaks my heart. So, when I heard of this tragedy, I immediately began preparing for what I would tell him about death and heaven and everything else that goes along with that. He goes to a private, Christian school, so I knew they would be discussing the matter in class and Canyon would have questions. We have tried to keep him sheltered when it comes to death because he worries, like me. (Unfortunately, he got his worrying/anxiety from me.)

He deserves to have a childhood and not be aware of what a terrible place the world is becoming, or so I believe. Well, this threw a big ole wrench in my plan to keep him unaware. But you know what? I'm glad. Canyon is a very compassionate and caring child. He was with his dad the first two days after learning about what happened. I knew when I picked him up Wednesday from school that I better be prepared. I WAS!

He got into my car, buckled his seatbelt and immediately asked me if I had heard about what I happened.

I replied, "Yes, buddy, I did. Are you okay?"

Here's where the tough part comes in....

He said, "I am. But can you tell me what happened?" 

I said, "Why don't you tell me what your teacher told you."

He did. It was what I'd hope that they would tell a five year old.... That she was in Heaven with Jesus and she was happy that she got to see her two PawPaw's again. He asked what Heaven was. I explained my version of Heaven. He was happy with my answer and told me he was sad that she wouldn't be at school anymore. Then, he changed the subject. I let him. You can't keep bringing it up.

Later, while passing a cemetery near our house, he says, "I think that's where *SHE* is." 

I had to explain that she would be near her mommy and daddy so they could visit her all the time.

He seemed to get it but then his little voice cracked and he looked at me with his innocent little eyes and asked, "Why won't you take me to go see her? My teacher said we need to have our parents take us to go see her."

Now, I didn't know what to say. I am not taking my son to a funeral. I'm just not. People can say whatever negative things they wish. It's not happening. So, we plan to visit her grave soon because he wants to bring her sunflowers. I won't deny my son to visit her grave because he specifically asked to do so. If it helps him, I am happy to do it.

Death is not an easy thing for me, and probably for anyone. But when your child hurts over death, over a death that is so sudden and terrible, you start to question the world. You start to question everything. Children are such a precious gift and so innocent and sweet. They should not be faced with something like this. 

My heart goes out to this family and I wish there was a way to take their pain away. I will continue to pray for them, daily. I will also pray for my son, for him to better understand death and Heaven, and Jesus.

WHAT A WEEK. 

XOXO,

B

Back At IT!

Hello to all of my BEAUTIFUL readers. Love you.

I am back. Back again. <--Those from my generation will get this reference to a terrible song. Haha.

Anyhow, let's talk BEHAVIOR in school and at HOME. We are struggling. Big time.

My son is five. FIVE. And he is ALL boy. He is wild, energetic, and full of life. He is also extremely smart. And you know, I must say this.....your kids intelligence reflects how well you are doing with sticking to work with them. We (as in his dad and I) work with Canyon regularly. We have since...well, since birth. LOL He is super smart. <-- This is why I think he is getting into trouble at school. He's bored. WHAT to do about that? NO CLUE. I am just a mom, taking things one day at a time, figuring it out...probably much like YOU.

But...I am honestly at a loss. Here's my dilemma.

My son has had notes sent home recently that state he is wrestling at school. I mean, I honestly think that is NORMAL behavior for five year old boys. Right? However, there's this kid in his class who seems to be a BAD APPLE. He's already been sent to the office and PADDLED for wrestling. I stress to Canyon to just stay away from him. Apparently, that doesn't work. I am not there to witness what happens exactly but Canyon comes home with a new story daily. I know how "well" his memory is but I also don't want to NOT believe him. That's a battle in itself. How much trust do you instill in a five year old? Wow. Next blog!

Anyway, so here we are. Funny thing IS, he and this kid were SITTING AT THE SAME TABLE in class. It took almost a month before he came home and said, "I sit at a different table now." FINE BY ME. Hello!!!! If you have kids disrupting, SEPARATE THEM. Am I wrong? My kid is well-adjusted to LIFE. Move him. I won't mind, I promise. So, when he said he had been moved, I was happy. Well, that just made the wrestling at recess worse. What can I do? I've punished him. I made him pack all his toys away for a week. I've made a chore chart, a behavior chart. I have done it ALL. BUT he is an ANGEL child at home or when he is in public with us OR even when he is playing with other kids, at the park, etc. 

So, the problem STEMS from SCHOOL. I cannot keep dealing with these little notes: 

"Please speak with Canyon about his wrestling." Um, no...now I am at the point of....either fix the problem at school...or deal with it. Seriously. It's borderline ridiculous. I'd love feedback on this. EVEN if it is terrible. Haha.

Also, he says that this kid....is MEAN to other kids...and Canyon has gotten into trouble for standing up for these other kids. HOW do you even begin to explain that one? I will not punish my kid for standing up for kids that are scared to stand up to a BULLY...because that is what this kid is. A BULLY. I witnessed it myself....while in carpool to pick my son up.

The solution I have come up with...Parent-teacher conference. Next week. I really am a nice, understand mother that will take responsibility and accept when my child's behavior is unacceptable to the teacher...BUT, I feel the problem is deeper than just that. I will go in with an open mind...but I won't let her BS me either. Should be interesting. Be expecting a blog about this meeting. 

;) 

Whoa...that felt GOOD to blog. I feel better already. Thanks to all my loyal readers. Life has been crazy. I'll be filling you guys in slowly. LOTS of exciting things to come. Stay Tuned...and Stay Beautiful.

XOXO,

B

As My Kid Says..."What THE?!?"

I don't get it.

HAPPY FRIDAY!


I just don't get it.

My kid is five.

He is in kindergarten.


I should be seeing "Good job!" on his papers, not...."Dots too big" or "Please color animals appropriate colors."

WTF!?

Are you kidding me?

Canyon is an extremely bright kid with a wonderful personality and very vivid imagination..

SO FREAKING WHAT...he colored a turtle ORANGE.


Ask him what color a turtle is, he will say GREEN...duh.

WHY are we not teaching these kids to express themselves when they are coloring a coloring sheet. That should be what kindergarten does! Why aren't we encouraging them to use their imagination?

This bugs me.

I am annoyed and I don't get it.

I'm not bragging. BUT...my kid is too smart. He catches on to things and NEVER forgets something.


They have to learn a bible verse every week and recite it to their class on Friday's.

My kid knew it Monday night. He said he was going to go to school on Tuesday and tell his teacher.

He loves his teacher and really, so do I... I don't love the negative remarks on his "take home" papers.

I really hope she is using postive remarks in the classroom and not correcting these kids every two seconds. That's going to end in a parent-teacher conference, with THIS momma.

Moving on.

My kid hates after care. This is going to be an intersting transition over the next few weeks.

I shall document.

On to other news, I am making a trip to Kohl's in T-minus 30 minutes. I need clothes. They have clothes...and I don't spend a fortune. Wish me luck!

I started selling Avon. I love it.

Check out my website! Order some goodies! :)
www.youravon.com/bhutchinson

New campaign starts TOMORROW...LOTS of great items for Fall.

Xoxo (I'm sipping a LARGE vanilla latte--Nope, it's not skinny),
B

WTF!?

What a mother freaking week this has been. Really, the last two weeks have been sort of ...WILD? Intense? A mixture of those two.

My son is currently attending his fourth day of Kindergarten. I've been so nervous about his transition and how well he would really do with it. He loves it. I am relieved to say the least.

HOWEVER, I will say this...the excitement of getting up early to go to SCHOOL lasted all of ONE day. Lucky me...and lucky Dale (his daddy). Haha

He is NOT a morning person. I mean, I'm not the nicest in the morning, but once I force myself out of bed, I am pretty excited about the day. I loveeeeeeeeeeeee mornings on the weekend or days when I have nothing to do...Oh, wait....That's NEVER.

Anyway, I've tried to establish a routine at my house...his dad is doing the same. So far, it's working for us.

Here is what my handsome man looks like when I wake him up! (Haha)

And this is what he looks like all dressed for his new school:

Gosh, it really is amazing how much I love that little guy. I cannot believe he is as big as he is.

XOXO,
B

Hello, Hello!

Hiya!

I am in a fantastic mood today! :) I have dropped a whopping SIX pounds in a week! Oh, I love my life.

Now, I have also been working my ass off, so that helps! I am looking forward to hitting the gym today! Then, 30-day shred starts tomorrow.

I've been doing random workouts at home the past week and I love it.

I'm learning to let things go. Like, really let them go. There's no reason to sit and analyze every little thing in life. You gotta hold your head up high and move on. That's how I like to live.

I'm an overly anxious person with a severe worrying problem. I struggle.

I have a WHOLE lot going on in my life right now and I am taking it all one day at time.

Maybe I will have some NEW, exciting news in the near future. We'll see.

;)


Hope you guys are seeing wonderful results. :) Work it out hard!


My baby starts school NEXT WEEK. I feel the anxiety just thinking about it.

ONE.DAY.AT.A.TIME! There will be a whole blog and lots of pictures next week!

My baby boy is starting a new journey. It's bittersweet.


**Got a new outfit the other day...a size smaller than I was before...and I curled my hair because the weather was making it curly anyway...It just needed to be TAMED. Strange combo. I don't look like myself here.

YES, it is a mirror picture. I don't have random people take a picture of me. Weird.
And, yes..I can be prissy at times. :)

I must say, I feel great about myself. :) That's the BEST feeling ever.

XOXO,
B

Chick-fil-A VS. The Gay Community (My Opinion)

Okay, today I am sharing a PERSONAL opinion. If you don't like what I have to say, there's a button at the top, right of the screen (a red "X"), hit it and you shall be relieved of your reading duties.

My news feed on Facebook has be BLOWING UP with information about Chick-Fil-A.

Why? Because EVERYONE has a freaking opinion, which I find to be absolutely hilarious.

Now, before I got into my little rant, let me say this:

Race, religion, weight, hair color, OR SEXUAL PREFERENCE ...it doesn't freaking matter to me. If I like you as an OVERALL PERSON, then...well, I like you. Every person is put on this earth to live THEIR life--and it's extremely sad to me that no one is able to do that without judgment.

There are so many judgmental people on this earth that it has come to be quite fascinating.

When did everyone assume they have the right to judge others?

Don't get me wrong, I sin. Everyone does. EVEN THE MOST PERFECT PERSON SINS.

It's life. But, I can tell you this....I don't sit around worrying myself with other people's lives. I have my own life to live, my own shit to deal with. I don't have the TIME or energy to judge what someone else is doing with their life. Take that how you want.

I am a Christian. I love God. I believe that when the time comes for me to go, I will go to Heaven. I have my OWN type of relationship with God. He and I, we do alright together. I pray, DAILY. I also talk to God as if he were sitting next to me (which I like to think he is)...I talk to him mostly in the car. And you know what? I am a good person. I make decision in my life to better myself. I know that God loves me UNCONDITIONALLY. That's my story. That's my way of doing things. No, I don't go to church every Sunday. And, honestly, most of you probably wouldn't be able to handle my opinion on church. So, I'll save that one for later.

My point is, only YOU can know and be secure in your relationship with God. And you know what?

If I was gay, my relationship with God wouldn't change ONE BIT. I know what the Bible says, I've read it. It's also 2012 people. And I also know that I wouldn't stop eating at a restaurant because they didn't support my lifestyle. That-to me- is childish. I know people who say "I can't eat at Chick-fil-A because they don't support gay marriage" THINK they are making a difference, but I can tell you, you really aren't.

I'm a single mother. I had a baby and I wasn't married. I know what it's like to be judged. But....it's life. I don't get all pissed off about it and start freaking out. I hold my head up and I continue to stay PROUD of the fact that I have an incredible son who loves me. If Chick-fil-A all of a sudden started saying they didn't support single parents, I wouldn't stop eating there. I like their freaking chicken sandwich and so does my kid. It's food people. If I like it, I'm eating it. End of story. Plus, it's not like they freaking stand at the door saying, "We don't like gay people." Get real. They are friendly to every single person that comes in and they serve every single person the same. There are no judgmental looks or harsh words. The company, as a whole, has a right to believe/support what they want.

Just like YOU have the right to believe/support what YOU want.

No matter what happens, Chick-fil-A will not change how they do things. Just like they CHOOSE to be closed on Sunday's. They gladly pay a fine for that. That's their choice. Give them a break. They keep being thrust into the spotlight for what they believe. That's just not right, in my opinion. They don't support gay marriage. Big deal! There are sooooo many people/companies in the world that don't. Why do we have to keep making it a big issue over and over?

I know that people don't choose to be gay; it's a way of life. I get it. I love gay people. I have absolutely no opinion about their lives. It's who they are. But, I also don't have an opinion about straight people either. The media has a way of getting people all bent out of shape over OLD news when they have nothing else to report-which is the case here. Chick-Fil-A doesn't support gay marriage. That's just a fact.

I don't agree with the media lashing out at Chick-fil-A....just like I don't agree with the media lashing out at gay people. I think gay marriage should be legalized. What does it really hurt? I mean, come ONNNNN.... people. This argument is getting OLD. Everyone should have the right to choose who they marry. Right? YES. Simple as that.

If everyone would stop worrying SO much about things like this, we might have a chance to rescue our ever-failing economy and worry about more important worldly things. The level of importance on these types of things is completely BACKWARDS. It disgusts me.

There are so many points I could argue...but the facts are there:

Chick-fil-A supports "“the biblical definition of the family unit.” (Which can mean SO many things!)

Gay people are pissed.

I like Chick-fil-A and I like gay people.

Let's move on.

XOXO,

B

30-Day Shred. Bring it Jillian

I am starting Jillian's BEAST of a workout, 30-Day Shred TODAY! Should be fun.

I hope I don't die.

Haha.


I hope you guys are staying on the wagon. I fell off. I'm human. It happens.

I went to Taco Bell last night.

It was delicious. I regretted it immediately.

Damn it.

Today, I started off with a BIG, fat COKE. Regular coke. I needed it. Or so I thought.

I felt like shit before 9 AM.

I am now drinking a freaking amazing smoothie from Smoothie King.

GLADIATOR. I add strawberries and banana to mine. Delish.

Try it.

Here's to starting the freak over. Again.

Foodie Wednesday?!

I am lazy this week. REALLY lazy...

I'm giving you all a recipe today...Even though it is WORKOUT WEDNESDAY and not FOODIE FRIDAY.

First let me say this, I have been using my crockpot a whole lot and I love it. This recipe is not a crockpot recipe though. More of those to come.


This is:

Cheesy Rotel Chicken Pasta

Ingredients:
4 Boneless, skinless chicken tenders, chopped
1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup feta cheese crumbles
1 can rotel
1/2 meduim sized yellow onion, diced
1 c cooked pasta, any kind
1 TBSP garlic, minced

1. Cook your noodles. :)
2. Sautee your chopped onions and garlic in a tablespoon olive oil.
3. Once soft, add the whole can of rotel.
4. Once the liquid is almost cooked out, add your chicken.
5. Let cook until chicken cooks through.
6. In a baking pan, combine chicken/rotel mixture with noodles and cheese, mix.
7. Sprinkle cheese on top and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

ENJOY!

This recipe was delicious.

Holler!

Good morning people!

I am having a pretty crazy week at work! So, the blogs are lacking! I apologize.

I'll make up for it next week. There will be BLOGS and lots of new crap...pictures and such.

I am meeting my fitness goals, are you? If not, get your ass off the coach and get to it. Enough is enough. Do it!

Canyon comes to my house tonight and I am sooooo excited about getting some MOMMY HUGS and kisses. I love that boy more than life itself. He is simply amazing. I thank God every single day for giving me the opportunity to be his mommy.

I'm FINALLY starting to work on his baby book and his yearly books. I will post pictures of that too once I get going. I have a HUGE box of pictures, art, etc. to go through...Seriously, no joke.


Life is good. I have no complaints right now. I'm looking forward to the future.

But, I do wonder, what the HELL some people are thinking sometimes-with soooo many things. I'll go into more deal next blog, so look for it.

Also, I am GOING OUT this weekend. Interesting? YES. Very. I plan on shaking some ass and introducing myself to whoever walks past me. There comes a point in life when you just have to take a leap...and build your wings on the way down.

Game on, LIFE.


XOXO,
B

Have a great day peeps!

Happy Friday, Peeps!

TGIF, right? Being off on Wednesday (HAPPY LATE 4th) made the rest of this week almost unbearable. I am exhausted.

I have been to the gym everyday this week.

Weight=141. Still. I need to up my cardio. EVEN THOUGH, I know my weight hasn't moved because I cheated a little (food-wise) this week. It was a holiday and my mom and dad bbq'd. Give me a break! I needed it.  ;)

BUT....that's okay to slip every now and then. It's human nature. You can't be completely satisfied when you are maintaining a healthy lifestyle if you don't allow yourself to have goodies occasionally.

I found a recipe on the lovely pinterest and I am trying it out! I am making it healthy by using fat free beans, and 2% cheese...and of course, whole wheat tortillas.

Last night, I got the ingredients to recreate this recipe: http://pinterest.com/pin/267893877804976065/


All I know is, this morning when I took the cooked meat out of the Crockpot, it was so tender and delicious (I tasted it)...So, that's what is for supper tonight at my house...along with some yummy treats for my kiddo...We are having movie night. :)


Let me just say this...I found a STANDING Ab video by the famous JM (Jillian Michaels) on Pinterest and it is BRUTAL. Seriously, check it out here: http://pinterest.com/pin/267893877804975591/


Just remember, as much as you do NOT want to get off your ass and work it, you will regret it if you don't. So, JUST DO IT. I almost flew past the exit where my gym is yesterday. But, I somehow managed to click my blinker on and exit. I knew I needed to go and it was the worst 3 1/2 miles I have done at the gym yet. But, I did it. I felt better (still just as tired). But, I felt accomplished...just knowing that I went even though I'd rather just catch the stomach flu and drop a few pounds that way. Oh well, life.


I'll leave you with this little bit of encouragement:

XOXO,
B

Motherhood Monday

I.Am.Beyond.....STRESSED....

Wow! What a WEEK!

First, let me say that my grandmother is doing amazing and is on schedule (fingers crossed) to go home TOMORROW! Whoo HOO! The power of prayer is amazing. I must give props to the big man upstairs! LOVE!

Now, I found out just how WELL-behaved my child really is this past week. After having to be at the hospital almost daily, he sat and played his game and listened to me well. I don't know if he could sense the anxiety or if he is JUST that good...but whatever! He did awesome and I am so proud to be his mom. I miss him like crazy when he is with his dad. I mean, LIKE CRAZY. I hate it. I cry, A LOT...and I just feel an ache in my heart. It's not how it should be.



I weighed 141.5 this morning. I'm okay with that. I will be in the 130's this week though. I am determined.

I joined the gym and I love it (suprinsingly). I thought I would never go but I am going and I am actually looking forward to it. It's nice and relaxing. I am also doing incredible with my meal prep! Are YOU?

It helps, just sayin'.....

I am putting away a CRAZY amount of water a day and it is making me feel refreshed.

I took my mom grocery shopping yesterday and forced her to jump on my "health nut" bandwagon. Let's hope she sticks with it!

Let's see....this week has been wild and crazy and I apologize for being MIA. I really do.

But, as we all know, with me--FAMILY comes FIRST. ALWAYS.

My kid is starting school in a MONTH. Mini-panic-attack. Holy crap!

I must go freak out in private now.

XOXO,
B

QUICK!

Hey guys,

Sorry about not posting a WORKOUT WEDNESDAY this week..

My grandmother is in the hospital, which is where I have been the last few days.

She had to have bypass surgery yesterday (5 total) along with some major artery reconstruction.

I will start fresh blogging on MONDAY.

Please send up a quick prayer for her! Thank you!

XOXO,
B

Motherhood Monday

Morning peeps,

It's been a rough weekend/re-start to this diet.

143.5 this morning.

Signing up for my gym membership TODAY!
WHOO!

I am actually really excited about this...anyway, more on that WEDNESDAY!


My son absolutely LOVES the beach. He could sit and build sand castles ALL DAY if I let him. I try not to let him because he is allergic to sunscreen. (shitty)

Anyway, he had a fabulous time at the beach and our little weekend getaway. I needed it.

I'll post pictures later tonight.

He has been feeling under the weather though so that caused some dely while at the beach...just trying to get him in high spirits so he could enjoy himself.

I don't know about other moms, but when my baby doesn't feel well, my heart breaks.

I hate it.

We are so exhausted from our trip but it was worth it.

Pictures coming soon.

XOXO,
B

Foodie Friday [ONE DAY EARLY]

I don't know why this didn't post on Thursday!



Here's what I wrote:

I am blogging today instead of tomorrow because...well, tomorrow I will be RELAXING on the beach.

Jelly, I know.

Trust me, this is MUCH-NEEDED with all I have going on in my life.


So, are you super busy in mornings and don't really have time to make breakfast. I have a healthy alternative for you.

I found this RECIPE while putting in my usual time on PINTEREST (duh)....

Check it out for an easy, on-the-go BREAKFAST idea! I will be trying it for SURE.

XOXO,
B

HUMP DAY!

Yes, finally WEDNESDAY...today and tomorrow full of WORK and then off to the BEACH for the weekend with my little guy.

141 this morning. I'm okay with that... I haven't been pushing myself as hard as I should.

Workout Wednesday is going to be a day where I talk strictly about working out. BUT, I might throw in some goodies on Wednesdays too!       

I have noticed that I have several new readers. Welcome! Feel free to comment, introduce yourselves, or whatever you want. It's what I am here for.

I am REALLY trying to get a routine going. It seems like if I set my alarm for 4:45-5, I sleep through it and wake up at 6:30, which means...LATE. This has happened the last three days.

I want to workout in the MORNING. It makes me feel better. Plus, after the kind of days I have, I do NOT want to go home and run/workout. I just don't. But...that seems to be the routine I am getting myself into.

I am slowly going to train myself to get up, run, shower, dress, work. Then, RELAX when I get home. That's how I'd like it to be anyway. Haha.

My RUN workout consists of ....Running/Walking/Jogging (depends on the day) TWO MILES.

My workouts consist of the workout plan mentioned HERE!

Now, I have been LAZY lately and skipped a few days. That's why I am lingering at 141.

But, you know what? Come Monday morning, I WILL BE UP AT 5, running my little heart out. PICTURES WILL HAPPEN for you guys.

All I know is, if I can do this, YOU can. Hell, you could do it anyway. All anything in life takes is DEDICATION and HARD ASS WORK.

You got this.

The beach will more than likely be a HUGE wake-up call for me and I am hoping that next week or the week after, my ass will be in a GYM running on a freaking treadmill and doing weight training. This will be where my life changes.

I don't need a trainer... like I thought I did. I have everything I need. I just need an attitude problem when it comes to working out...then, I am set. And, well, I definitely have an attitude problem. ;)

Working out is NEVER easy. Or at least, it NEVER SHOULD BE EASY.

If you are exhausted, physically, mentally, and emotionally after a workout, you didn't do as well as you should have. You didn't push yourself as hard as you should have.

Along with the gym, me and Jillian are going to be forming a nice love/hate relationship....As soon as I can manage to get to WAL-MART. Boo.

Oh, and here's a treat.....we all know eating healthy is EXPENSIVE. I have a plan.

Couponing.

Yes, I will be a couponer from here on out. I actually clipped some yesterday. So, once I get going, I'll share my tips here.

I need HELP. I need new running shoes. ANY ADVICE, comment or email @ bhutchinson401@gmail.com I'll be shopping for them on SUNDAY. Thanks RUNNERS.

Now, off to enjoy some oatmeal and coffee at my desk!

:)



Peace & Love Bitches!

Xoxo,
B