Uh, yeah- so, I don't know how to spell Schnauzer and didn't feel like looking it up...but I just realized blogger spellchecks for ya. Hot damn!

Today's blog is dedicated to my son. My furry, fur ball of joy- Brady. You all need to be officially introduced, because he's the coolest.

Brady came to me (and my family) through a Soldier who was going off to Iraq. He has a little daughter and her mother wouldn't let her keep the Chihuahua. At the time I lived with my parents. It was a year after I graduated college and I was still trying to find my niche and jobby-job. They already had a rat terrier named Daisy, and being the dog people that we are- just couldn't say no to Brady.

He was named after Tom Brady- Not because any of our family loves Tom, but because me and Dad are Patriots fans (have been for years and years and years), and Brady was the easiest, shortest team member name.
He was tiny. So tiny in fact that we could barely see him scurrying across the floor beneath our feet. This led to a scare one evening, when my mom came in the front door and Brady was excited to see her- got under her feet and hurt his little skull. Poor thing. We were all scared- we immediately drove to the vet and learned he had a slight concussion, but would be just fine.

Brady sleeps in bed with me, and one night he slid between the wall and the bed. I could sense he wasn't beside me anymore and panicked for a second and scopped him out from his tiny alcove of terror!! He was still asleep....Yeah. LOL

When I moved 4 hours away, Brady came with me. he kept me company when I felt lonely and sad to be away from my friends and my family. He brought me joy when I'd see him at the top of the steps greeting me when I came home from work, and he'd lap up wine from my wine glass. Yeah, I admit it. So what? It was a tiny sip. hahaha

He came with me to DC, and lived in the city for awhile- Not a fan, Brady. He didn't really like not having grass and friendly neighbors.

We're both now settled in out first home together- Brady has his own little yard out back, fenced in, where he can play all day. He loves to sunbathe and bark at kitties (egged on by me..."Get 'em Brady. Get those bastards!"). He still uses pee pads when I'm away at work (good boy), but knows the real bathroom is outside.

He's stingy and wants all of the attention, especially when I get on the phone. He wakes me up with kisses and by standing on my shoulder staring down at me, wagging his tail- He wants his morning dog biscuit. Or his belly rubbed.

I don't know what I'd do without him. Brady is such great company and the sweetest little boy you'll ever meet....He's my baby boy. :-)

The title says it all. The video is semi-long, especially long when you're just watching a Chihuahua attack a Styrofoam cup. The ending is especially funny though, so you can just fast forward.

Does anyone else hate the way their voice sounds on recordings? ;-)

My very first fitness/weight loss blog!

I'm so excited!

Ok, so technically I do some light blogging on my myspace account...mostly about what's happening in my life, sprinkled with small stories about my fitness journey--but for the avergae Joe, reading about how long I ran on the treadmill or how I almost busted my kneecap at the gym doesn't really interest them.

I've always been a lurker on weight loss blogs, jotting down other people's tips and recipes, but never wanting to take the time to set up an account. :-) Sure, I can be lazy-I admit it. Just a few days ago, however, I stumbled upon Fitting Back In's blog. I started reading and found her writing to be so fun and motivating--then I saw her photo and realized I recognized her and that we had mutual friends! SMALL WORLD! I mean--from just a random weight loss blog search? Really?

Therefore--I'm HERE and ready to share my angst/happiness/pain/struggle/success with you all.

I'd like this first post to be an introduction of sorts...I find numbered lists to be easiest and satisfies the perfectionist inside me. HA!


1. I love to write--it is, after all, my profession, so I may tend to babble and blog randomly about nothing or everything!

2. I'm 25 years old. Born and raised in Alabama. Do I have an accent? Not really. I guess the most reasonable explanation is that I lived near an Army base so growing up I was exposed to so many different people.

3. The love of my life at the moment is my Chihuahua, Brady.



4. The title of my blog may raise a few eyebrows and lead you to believe I'm...conceited, possibly? Not so. It seems my entire life I've been told I had "such a pretty face". You ALL know the saying--in other words, "You have a great face--lose weight". As a child I was slightly more overweight than my peers and to be honest I'm just made big! LOL Of course at that time, all I saw was a fat girl in the mirror and not reality. I won't overuse the term "big-boned"--even though I AM, in all honesty. I have broad shoulders, natural muscle tone, long legs (I'm 5'10!) and am quite sturdy, my friends. In high school I was never the girl boys wanted to date, because I wasn't the gorgeous, thin ninny (who are all now overweight and lazy. Odd isn't it?) Around my senior year of high school and my college years I began getting fit, working out regularly, eating right...Which has led me to where I am now. Grown into my own skin and overall happy with who I am and what I look like. Nowadays, I'm not afraid to tell my weight. Who cares?! I try not to bother with the scale--as great of a tool it is, it can cause some slight depression! LOL...especially after a big carb slip-up. Most people are shocked to learn my true weight anyway. They're usually off my about 20 pounds. Hey! I'll take it! :-)

Instead of weighing everyday, I weigh myself every week or two weeks and take my measurements religiously! That, in my opinion, is the best source of tracking weight loss. Oh, that and body fat analysis. Here at work, we have a "life center" trainer who will gladly take our body fat percentages for us. It's amazing to see those numbers reduce over time.

5. My main purpose for this blog is to have a tool where I can easily track my workouts and what I eat...and of course mingle with everyone and share ideas. So please feel free to share anything. (Especially recipes! I LOOOOVE getting new recipes! Preferably low carb *hint hint*)

Check back later for a blog with my current photo, my lowest weight photo and heaviest photo. As well as my current diet and workout routines. YAY!!