Weight Loss Challenge- Blue Plate Special

As a reminder I am in a weight loss challenge with my friend and fellow blogger Mushy Mamma to see who can lose the largest percentage weight within 90 days. You know the saying "it's the little things that counts", well I decided to use that as my motto towards a healthier lifestyle and to win this challenge! Here is one little change that can potentially make a BIG difference.


Of course we all know and have heard that eating off a smaller plate in general will help control your portion size. The recommended size is a 9 inch plate instead of the now standard dinner size of 11-12 inches. But, have you heard that eating off a blue plate can aide in losing weight. I did a little research and found some info on ColorMatters.com that upheld this theory. Apparently blue is the least appetizing color and thus acts as an appetite suppressant. The main reason being that it is rare to find a food in nature that is the color blue. Probably like you, when I read that I tried to think of some blue food, but only came up with blueberries (which tend to look violet in my opinion). They even suggest putting a blue light in your refrigerator and even more extreme dying your food blue. Now I don't know if I would be willing to do the latter, but I can certainly buy a new plate.  

So for the past week I have been eating all of my meals off smaller blue plates instead of my over-sized white place settings. My portion size has definitely decreased and I haven't had a desire to go back for seconds. Maybe there is something to this Blue Plate Special!!!

Goldfish, Raisins and Water

As a mother you always want better for your children than you had. And I am no exception. I must say that I may be a bit obsessed with my children eating healthy. Being a person who was overweight as a child and now as an adult,  I will do all I can to prevent the same for happening to my sons. When we are out and about I often get comments about the fact that the drink of choice for my boys is water. In fact the hubby and I haven't bought juice in several months due to it's low nutritional value and high sugar content. We also give the boys free reign over the water dispenser to encourage them to drink water.

Water Break!!!

While Goldfish is still their snack of choice, they also enjoy a cup of yogurt or a cut up apple. In recent months I had introduced them to fruit snacks because every other mother around me was caring them, but I have since had a change of heart and have began supplementing fruit snacks with dried fruit ie. raisins, cranberries and pineapple which they love.

What's your child's favorite healthy snack?

Weight Loss Challenge- Water Water & More WATER

I was visiting with a friend and fellow blogger Mushy Mamma and the all to familiar topic of weight loss came up. Throughout the course of the conversation we decided to enter into a weight loss competition. At this point we have both weighed in and at the end of 90 days whomever loses the largest percentage of weight wins an awesome prize furnished by the loser. It's on!!!

With that said I have been doing some research to maximize my weight loss efforts. I came across a very helpful list of 100 weight loss tips from none other than Dr. Oz. Tip #9 Don't confuse thirst with hunger. Drink a glass of water when you feel hungry to see if that's what you're really craving. I decided to implement  this tip right away particularly after viewing a video post from my fellow competitor entitled Meet My New Drinking Buddy. Drinking MORE water is a simple thing that anyone can do despite of there physical ability. 


I would love for you to join me on this journey as I share tips and my experiences along the way.


Let me go cause Mr. H20 is calling me.  

Date Night on A Budget!

So many relationship counselors and those who claim to know how to make a relationship work advise that you make an appoint to date your spouse. I know your thinking easier said than done, well I found an easy and cost effective way to insure we have our date night monthly and on a fixed budget.
The first big obstacle to overcome was of course childcare you can easily spend upwards of $50 towards date night on childcare alone and like most Americans we are watching our finances closely and couldn't justify the expense. So we developed an agreement with our very good friends to swap babysitting services. It works out well because our children are of similar age and play well together and because of our personal relationship I feel confident that they will be well taken care of.

The biggest cost saving thing we do is to utilize daily deal websites where we save no less than 50% off our date night experiences. That's not to say that every deal you come across is going to be 50% off we just don't use them unless they are. Also with every deal comes stipulations so we make sure to read the fine print as to maximize our experience and it makes for a more relaxed evening if you've done your research before going out. These deals not only aide in us saving a buck or two, but we have been able to experience things that we generally wouldn't even think to do.

Making an effort to incorporate date night into your relationship does not have to be a burden on your wallet, but it can definitely help to lift the burden of your daily life and put a little spark in your relationship!!!

WISE Choices- The Sit Down

So last week I was thinking about all the major accomplishments in my life and the people who helped me get there. The "help" came in so many different forms from emotional support, encouragement and financial assistance. So as I pondered all of this and struggled with my current challenge that I must overcome it hit me I can't do it alone and I have to lean on my support system. So I turned to my husband who has become, and rightly so, my primary support system and let him know that I needed his help in order to lose weight and overall lead a healthier life. Before I could get my complete thought out, he let me know that he was all in and promptly put a plan in motion for our family to live a more active and healthier lifestyle.


Asking for support when I needed it was my WISEST choice of the week. 

Shaping My Hair!!!

Who thought it was a good idea to leave me unsupervised with scissors? Would you ever cut your own hair? Leave me a comment and ENJOY!!!

Curly Afro Inspired by Chicagolicious

My name is Yolanda and I'm addicted to my hair. I can't even watch television without being inspired to do my hair. So thanks to Style Networks new show Chicagolicious and it's cast member that stole to show, Miss Valincia and her fabulous hair, I give to you MY Curly Afro!!!

Bad Hair Day Turned Into A GREAT One!!!

I had my hair in medium sized twist for about a week and a half. I must admit I didn't take very good care of them i.e. not wrapping my hair at night and not sleeping on my silk pillow case. So by the time I took them down they NEEDED to be taken down and this video shows me transforming my raggedy twist into a GREAT hair day. ENJOY!!!

The Politics of Black Hair

I was pleasantly surprised to see the discussion of the Politics of Black Hair on MSNBC Melissa Harris- Perry Show which my hubby and I watch every Sunday. It got me thinking more about my own hair evolution. Somehow I had convinced myself that the timing of me cutting all my hair off and going natural was just by happenstance. In actuality I had entertained the idea of cutting my hair off, to give to Locks of Love, several months prior to me actually doing it. Was it really by chance that I decided to cut my hair off within a week of turning in my two week notice. Once I knew that I would be a stay at home mom and wouldn't have to be in a professional environment for several years. I like to think the way I chose to wear my hair was not influenced by outside factors be it political or social, but indeed it was.

Comment and let me know your take on the discussion and if  the way you wear your hair has been influenced by political or social factors.

A link to the segment:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46979745/#47755433

Drop Dead Diva

I have recently become obsessed with the the television show Drop Dead Diva which runs on Lifetime on Sundays. It is  a comedic drama that tells the story of a shallow wannabe model who dies in a sudden accident only to find her soul resurfacing in the body of a brilliant, plus-size and recently deceased attorney, Jane.

The draw for me was the the main character  she has the qualities that any plus-size woman that you think of as absolutely fabulous. She is very light on her feet, seemingly gliding as she walks into a room. She is very up beat, approachable, brilliant and confident. And has impeccable style from her perfectly applied makeup to her tailored suits. The key in this character's case is actually having a skinny girl inside her , but what I would rather thin of as her inner beauty.

I must admit sometimes I loose sight of my own inner beauty and get to caught up in the emotions behind what I perceived as my flaws. I know it sounds silly but aside from the hour long entertainment I have received from this show I have chosen to use it as a weekly reminder to put my best foot forward at all times and to make certain that those who come in contact with me can see the smart, witty, charming, loving  and outgoing person that I actually am.

The shows star Brooke Elliott said it best when she appeared on the Wendy Williams show "it's about identity, figuring out who you are...it's actually not about weight it is about being who you are no matter what you weight."