So for all you girls who may have grown up in the south or for you girls who live in the north and know nothing about hockey...Let's get something straight. Sure, there is football, baseball, soccer, but the sport that really matters is hockey! 

The hockey playoffs are in full bloom and let me tell you --they are taking twists and turns and there is nothing more exciting than watching two teams compete to get to the hardest sports award to earn the Stanley Cup. 

If you know nothing about the sport...I'll break it down for you: There are five men on the ice, and they fight, they hit a puck and they try to get it into the net. However if that sounds boring to you..Take a look at some of my all time favorite hockey players, they'll have you ready to watch the playoffs. And have you wanting to maybe (possibly marry one)...A girl can dream right...They clean up nice too!

Hockey is the one sport, I get into with passion, I yell at the TV, I scream when my favorite team (the Chicago Blackhawks) make a goal, hockey can be a bit of a emotional roller coaster when you get really into it because the game is not over until the final buzzer sounds. Players make goals with 5seconds left on the clock and tie up the game.
The playoffs have been exciting, the second round has me nervous excited and ready to watch all the hockey I can.
Try it out! See if you like it! And if you don't like it...keep in mind there are really good looking guys who clean up really well!
Keep Calm and Hockey On!
xoxo
Melissa

Losing it

I know I have mentioned that I have been losing weight for the past 6 weeks and traveling down a new path of healthy.
HOWEVER.
If you have ever tried dieting, it can be difficult, because lets face it..you crave the good stuff, the chocolate, the cupcakes, the not so diet soda, the macaroni and cheese, and okay okay! I'll stop!
But over the past 7 weeks that I have lost about 17 pounds I have not stopped eating the good stuff.
I just eat it in moderation, and I get back on track to my healthy life style choice.
I have noticed that when I crave cake, I am better off eating it, and enjoying it...Than feeling guilty that I ate it, and then eat more cake..because its not that once slice of cake that makes me gain weight....its the other cake slice I eat after that, then the burger, then the cheesecake, then the goldfish. It's a build up.
Once slice of cake or one bowl of Mac & Cheese won't cause 10 pounds of weight gain.
I have not given up what I like...I still drink Starbucks every day...obviously the important factor to all of this.

I have made lifestyle changes....I have found that I eat healthier on auto pilot, some days I don't even think about the bad stuff. But I think one reason I don't have such crazy cravings is because when I want something I just eat it, and jump right back on track....the guilt is not there because I enjoyed it.

I work out on a every other day basis....even when I would much rather watch TV and sit.
I have noticed since I started losing the weight and making different habits, I have been happier, I've had more energy, and my self confidence has sky rocketed.

Here are some of the things that I have been doing:

• recording everything I eat
• I take Saturdays off and I eat whatever the heck I want...that burger with the bun and the cheese and the fries...YUM! 
• I work out and listen to pumped up music. 
• I think of my bathing suit. 
• whenever I get discouraged I tell myself this is a lifestyle change, not just something that I am changing temporarily and realizing that I will be healthier as I get older. 
• I eat every two...ish hours. 
• And whenever I want to quit I look at the picture  I took when I first started and realize that I don't want to look like that again.

It's never too late to start something to change your life that's what I've started to realize. 

So eat that cupcake or that mac and cheese, then just hop right back on track! 

Its a lifestyle change not a month change.
"Progress is impossible without change and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything" George Bernard Shaw

Keep calm and shed those pounds! 

xoxo

Melissa 

So with summer time right around the corner most of you girls most likely have a check list of all of the little things you'd like to get done before you hit the beach or the pool
For example
You may want to lose those extra couple pounds you put on during the (extended) holiday season.
You may want to get a couple new bathing suites.
Or
You may just want to go to happy hour at all the bars in your sundress and chat it up with whoever you please.

I am really looking forward to summer, I always look forward to the season changes because its a fun change.

I get to change my wardrobe from jeans, ugg boots, and sweaters to cute dresses, adorable flip flops and sandals, and my favorite cowboy boots with my cute dresses.
I also get to buy new bathing suites, I have 3 or 4 on my wish list whoever thought one bathing suite for the summer would be enough obviously did not know where to shop for the cutest ones.
I see one and I think "I'll buy this one." I then look at the next page and realize that I like three on that page and I end up having a shopping bag adding up to a weeks worth of pay. Because what are bills anyways?
Also, iced drinks from my love Starbucks, it's an exciting change you go from white cups, to red cups, back to white cups, then one day you realize its time to get a clear up with my yummy iced skinny caramel macchiato.
It's the little things in life that get me by...oh and the expensive things which can be little....like my latest want Kate Spade arm bangles.
I am so excited for spending days by the pool and drinking fruity drinks
Keep Calm and Carry On!
xox
Melissa