So I didn't do it! UGH

I have learned accountability and consistency is key to being successful. That being said I have desperately lacked in that area this week. UGH! UGH! When such things happen I generally feel that excuses are the only thing that make the wrong right so here is my list of them.
1) I had a crazy busy week.
2) I had such low energy from running out of my (helper) pills
3) I just down right am lazy sometimes.
So all of those out of the way now I can elaborate on what I am referring to. I only went to the gym one time last week. Then this weekend I vegged out as though I hadn't eaten in a month. Disgusting I know. I have a lot of work to get back on track so we will see what happens next week.

All of that being said not all areas of my life were colossal disappointments. My cake decorating raised my self esteem dramatically. I was able to complete my first cake for another person this week. Both the mommy and the boy were very pleased with the outcome. I have found the Internet a very amusing tool to my success of this cake.

I posted pictures on Facebook for all of my friends and family to see and I only got compliments. Friday was the big boy's birthday and of course we got to go celebrate with them. First stop was a jump house for the kids. We were checking in and somehow the cake came up. Of course pictures then got shown and the lady at the counter told me I needed to bring some cards in for them to give to parents hosting a birthday party at the place. I was so excited. I can't believe that so many people actually think there is so much behind the cake. Maybe it has to do with the underestimating of my own ability however I didn't feel like it was all that much to do. I guess it could have a lot to do with the fact that I  ABSOLUTELY LOVE doing cakes. I hope this is a start to a whole new world for me. I want to do this for a career.

So my goals for the next week is to finish an Easter basket cake that I started on my last cake class and to get my rear back in gear and hit the gym running tonight and at least two more nights this week.

Really?

So I am going to admit it not only to myself but also the world. I am addicted. I have a problem and I need help. I am having a love affair with Diet Coke. It has been my beverage of choice for the last 8 years. I love it I crave it and I wanna drink it all up.
That being said I have a saying about this nasty little concoction often referred to as water. I have been highly allergic and it is my desire to not die by forcing its consumption. Now that all of you know of my fears of this potion, let me tell you over the last two weeks I feel that I have officially been cured of all evil that this liquid contains. I have been regularly consuming vast quantities of it and actually some what enjoyed it. Can you imagine me enjoying water! LOL!
Now I have been told by various sources that drinking water is a good way to flush the body of horrible toxins within it. I don't know if that is true. I have gained three lbs in the last week. I can only conclude that the culprit is this H20 Formula. I have been exercising consistently and eating smaller portions neither of which should lead to extra pounds. I am also not very happy about this current conundrum. It is disheartening to me. I feel like this must be stopped immediately.
Now that being said I have completed my first completely butter cream frosted cake. I have to say I was SUPER proud of it. It was not an easy task as I tend to be a perfectionist. This cake literally took me three hours just to accomplish the base coat. I have found that butter cream although ideal for decorating may not be my dressing of choice for the cakes I bake. Now as for the cake itself. I tried two different types one had a strawberry filling and the other was a good ole chocolate cake. Both of which were VERY moist and tasty however the chocolate got a sliver of a kick higher on the rating scales. The poll was conduct of course by an independent marketing company made up of one neighbor, a 5 year old, a 3 year old, and a very happy hubby: )

I have had challenges this week with both areas in my life. However the cake was conquered. That means only one thing as to will this weight gain be conquered. We shall see what next week brings. Its CUPCAKE week!

Cake and Weighloss do go hand in hand!

So over the last month I have considered the things that are important to me. I have needed to come to some conclusions over what to do.
See my youngest son will only be home for another year and after that I won't be needed for seven hours a day. What will I fill my time with? So while shopping in my favorite craft store a couple of weeks ago, my husband saw that they were holding cake decorating classes. I have to say I didn't really want to take the basics course as I already know a bit about cake decorating and my favorite technique is fondant. That being said they don't allow you to skip to the fondant course. So I ventured into it. I am very excited about the possibility to do this semi professionally. So I told my husband that I would like to take on this hobby as a possible way of having a career but also being able to be a mom still at every possible minute.
I want to be the mom that is in the car line picking her kids up from school. I want to be at every event for my kids. Nothing thrills me more than seeing them be active with other kids. So I set forth in taking the class seriously. I am learning the ends and outs of butter cream (that I personally dislike), cake filling, and straight forward icing.
My adventure was an introduction to icing tips. We practiced on sugar cookies. I was a little set a back as I wanted to do the frosting of the cake. In the past when working with canned frosting I was never able to get the frosting smooth and I really wanted to master that. However this week that is what class was about setting the frosting on the cake. I pretty much have that down however when it was time to add the decorations I realized that maybe last week I shouldn't have been so hasty to start the cake setting. I had a one track mind and only used one frosting tip and felt like it needed to have smooth lines in the top. It ended up making the cake not look very good. I know I should have changed the tips and let the work for me but I didn't. So lesson learned. EXPLORE EXPLORE EXPLORE! This week I will practice with my tips and figure out what the best way to do decorations is going to be.
Now back to the part of wanting to be a very involved mom. I also strive to be a type of mom that my children are proud of. Over the last five years I have gained a ton (a bit exaggerated). I have struggled to lose it so I set out with a new plan. I will lose this weight. I will be a skinny(er) mommy for my boys. I am proud of this goal and so far it has worked out well for me. I have lost 8 pounds in three weeks. I have been to the gym three times a week. Every time I have gone I have managed to increase my workout routine. The first time I was only able to do a mile in 16 minutes. Pathetic I know. However the last time I went I was able to run a mile in 12 min. I have to say I literally cried after I accomplished that. I asked God for the strength to endure it and I did. I was so proud!
So all in all I am on my way to a new career and a new look! Next year is going to be fabulous minus losing my oldest to the world of all day school!