Life By Nadine Lynn - Page 208 of 339

Victory Equals Motivation

Yesterday after I hit publish on my post, I went to finish getting ready for work. I had been standing in the bathroom checking out my “abs” in the mirror before pulling my dress over my head. I thought, hey…there seems to be a little more definition here today. I then looked over at the scale in the corner and winced. Dare I? Dare I step on that scale only to be disappointed to see the same fucking number that has been staring me in the face for almost a year now?

You see, about a month ago I told myself no more. I am not going to step on that scale for a long time because I cant handle the defeat. I work out too hard to let that scale define me. But yesterday morning, I had an extra moment and all the fear seeped back in. I looked in the mirror again, sighed heavily and stepped on the scale.

As it was registering the numbers I said to myself, well if that number is higher there is a good reason for it. I tend to weigh a little more this week than any other week in the month. I had considered stepping off before I saw the number but too late. I looked down and I could see something register. But wait. This cant be? I stepped off, waited for it to clear and stepped back on.

Wow. I stared down at the number until it disappeared. It has been a month since my last defeat. A month of side eying that scale every time I pass it to grab my make up in the morning. In that month of not knowing. That month of not letting a number define me. In that month…I lost 7 pounds. I finally. FINALLY. got over that plateau.

I feel more motivated now than ever to continue pushing on. I am not done yet. And you know what, the scale and I….we will meet again in a few weeks. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But in a few weeks. Because checking that number every day does no good. Checking that number every day holds me back.

I say all of this to say, keep going. This isn’t just a weight thing, but a life thing. Sure, you might not be getting what you want right now. But if you continue to believe that you deserve it and you can achieve it, then it will be yours. Just take it a day at a time, and after a few weeks or months have passed take a look at your progress. You may be pleasantly surprised.

May 21, 2015 by Nadine

confessions

Confessions

–When your legs start shaking DURING your leg day work out, there really is no hope for tomorrow, is there???

–This past weekend our side yard needed cut. I used the excuse that it was supposed to rain Sunday to skip out on it. It didn’t rain until like 7PM Sunday and now our side yard looks like a fucking jungle and mocks me when I pull into the drive way every night. I need to look in to some goats…

–Last night I had a dog handling class at the humane society and we walked through the puppy block. I really REALLY just wanted to take them all home with me. Gracie and Mac could use some more siblings, right???

–I have been raging lately at all the comments that have been thrown around about pregnant people and babies. I have several friends that are expecting right now, and a few of them have been bothered by the fact that people have told them they look way too small to be this far along and that they need to be eating more. Or that they can’t believe how much they are showing at this stage and jokingly say..are you sure that isn’t twins. Some random stranger told one of my friends that she is going to forget all about her dog when the kid comes. Or that the way they plan on doing something is the wrong way.

Whoa whoa whoa. Who in the hell do these people think they are to say these things and pass judgement?? There is no right or wrong way to do anything. As long as you are healthy and your kid is healthy, what does it matter if you dress your little girl up in bows and glitter? Or you son wears a shirt that says “handsome like my daddy”. Or that you plan on having your kid sleep in a crib from day one, or you want to co-sleep. It all goes back to, if you don’t have anything nice to say…then don’t say anything at all. There is more than one way to play the game of life.

–Clearly I had some pent up ranting and wrote a novel up there.

Confessions in ecard

I really need to get these cards for some people that work in my building!!!

Happy Wednesday, folks!

May 20, 2015 by Nadine

about me

I Believe

I can fly. I believe I can touch the sky. I think about it every night and day…

Can you honestly say I believe and not follow up with the lyrics? I think not. There are so many things that I believe in. These are just a few…

I believe in puppy breath.

I believe in treating people the way that you want to be treated.

I believe in second chances.

I believe that a trip to Sephora can cure the blues.

I believe that your mom can be your best friend.

I believe in love.

I believe laughter is the best medicine.

I believe that hearing an audible dog yawn may be my favorite noise.

I believe in iced coffee.

I believe in smiles.

I believe that you should not judge others.

I believe in girls night.

I believe in game night.

I believe in binge watching TV shows.

I believe getting lost in a book is a great activity no matter your mood.

I believe in looking at the stars.

I believe in a hug after a rough day.

I believe that lavender or eucalyptus smelling things can greatly reduce stress.

I believe in pushing through even when you want to give up. (Hello, running.)

I believe in real moments over staged photos.

I believe if you don’t have anything nice to say, then you probably shouldn’t say anything at all.

I believe that only you control the power of your actions.

I believe in retail therapy.

I believe in you.

I believe in myself.

What do you believe?

May 19, 2015 by Nadine

weekend shenanigans

Weekend Shenanigans

Oh, hey there Monday. You sure do have a tendency to sneak up on us, don’t you?

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! Ours started Friday evening after work for a quick trip over to Chris’s parents house. His brother was in town, so we all met up over there for a little while. Chris and I avoided the pizzas that they ordered and came home for some hot aired popcorn and Chicago PD instead.

Saturday morning I cleaned the house and then we set out to hit up a few thrift stores. We didn’t really find much there. We went to La Paz for a late lunch, delicious! If I am going to have a cheat meal, it is going to be Mexican.

Lunch Gordo burrito with black beans and rice

We then decided to check out Game Stop, where Chris hit the mother load. They had Xbox360 and PS3 games on sale 4 for $10. He basically caught up on 3 years of gaming.

The guys that worked there were happy because they didn’t have to move all those games at the end of the night after the sale! We grabbed some BBQ from Landmark on the way home and settled in for an evening of more Chicago PD and Grimm.

Sunday I meal planned and did the grocery shopping. I also stopped by TJ Maxx for shampoo and conditioner. I scored both for the price of one normal shampoo!! I mean, check out the size of that conditioner bottle, I wont need any for months!!

I did some multi tasking while cooking lunch yesterday and made Steph’s No Bake Power Balls for snacking and Turkey Taco Soup for my lunches this week. I also got to read a little more of my book and I signed if for Audible. My first book on tape, Yes, Please!! I started listening to it on my way to the store yesterday and I was already LOL’ing just in the preface. Amy is awesome at narrating, as you could imagine.

What is your favorite book on tape? Or type of book you like to listen to? This week is going to be a busy one. Besides regular work, I have a dog handling class tomorrow evening and a meeting after work on Wednesday. I don’t like to schedule myself for too much during the week. I hope everyone has a great one!!!

Linking up with Biana.

May 18, 2015 by Nadine

beauty, friday favorites

Friday Favorites

Favorite Song: We are Tonight by Billy Currington has been on repeat for me basically every day. I just love this song!! I actually enjoy running to it too, surprisingly. Usually I go for EDM-ish music to run to. Or Lady Gaga. 🙂

Favorite Beauty Find: I was perusing Walgreens last week for something to alleviate my allergies. While I was standing in line for the pharmacist, I happened to see a display with a picture of Elsa from Frozen that caught my eye. Wouldn’t you know, Orly came out with a frozen collection of polishes and they are super awesome and pretty and ON CLEARANCE!!!! Obviously I needed a few. I made a deal with myself to not grab any pink since I have a million different pink colors. Check out this pretties. Watch out or Else is more purple than pink. I haven’t had a chance to paint my nails yet this week, but I hope to this weekend and will share.

Favorite Surprise: Laura went up to Pennsylvania to visit family and while she was there, she went antique shopping. Being the super thoughtful friend that she is, she grabbed these Tom and Jerry glasses to add to my ever growing collection of character glasses!!! Little did she know, I LOVE Tom and Jerry. And even more special than that, my grandma’s name was Jerry.

Favorite Snack : I love salt and vinegar potato chips. Love love love. I needed to find a better snacking alternative for those days you want something salty and satisfying. Enter Planter’s Sea Salt and Vinegar peanuts. You guys. You guys. I freaking love these things. Sure, raw almonds are the healthier option…but sometimes you gotta go with flavor! These may or may not have been gone in like 3 days. Oops.

Favorite Treat: I am not a cake person in the least bit. In fact, most cakes I actually hate. I much prefer cookie cake and no longer waste calories on something I do not like, even if I feel sort of obligated to consume at parties and such…I am able to just say no thanks now. I knew Chris was my soul mate when I discovered he’d rather have cookie cake too. (Well, that isn’t the only reason. Ha!!) Yesterday I had stopped on my lunch to pick up a slice for each of us to celebrate his birthday with!!! I figured a slice is just the right amount of indulgence 🙂

I had picked a blue one for Chris, obviously!

Favorite Dog Sightings: Every time I look out on our deck when the dogs are out, I see this. They are just so damn cute!

The picture above looks oddly familiar from this past weekend right? About 90% of the time, Mac has his head resting on the railing guarding the city. Our house sits on a hill and he can see half of our neighborhood from his perch!