Try Running 26.2 Miles In This ?!?

Running a marathon is hard enough for most people. Some people, nonetheless, like to mix in some extra sweating and chaffing via elaborate "marathon costumes". Sometimes these costumes are just for fun, but often they are used to raise awareness and money for benevolent causes. Below are some of the most creative, hilarious, and uncomfortable marathon outfits ever witnessed

Ode to Lovely Friday . . . and updates

My Talking Bird

Originally uploaded by Little Miss Sunshine.

~Ode to Lovely Friday~

I am sooo very very glad you have arrived yet again. 

I look forward to you every week with anticipation and excitement.

Thanks for always being there for me Fridays!!!!

A HAPPY HAPPY FRIDAY to you all!

I hope you all have some good times planned for your weekend, as well as some sweet much-needed and deserved relaxing time:-)

I have been looking forward to today for a while

. . . Yeah . . .

so what if I only work 4 days a week, I work hard and long hours:-)

Today was a bonus day off and MUCH much needed!

The sun is shining brightly outside, and seriously there is a bird chirping right outside my window. AND I'm getting a lot done with my lil side business today

(which is much needed too lol).

~Updates~

I thought I would throw in some updates from former blog posts.  I know I can be all over the place and start a million projects at once! Ha ha my hubby teases me all the time about this.  It's because I want to do EVERYTHING and get so excited about things.

Silly silly girl I am:-)

So you guys inspire me to keep it all going!  Some of you lovely ladies have commented on these topics and it's only fair to my readers to keep it up:-)

(Thanks to all of my followers you guys ROCK!!!)

~Fitness Challenge~

I wasn't trying to just lose pounds, that's not important to me.  What I wanted to do was once and for all get rid of the Muffin Top that I've been carrying and hiding for ever it seems like:-) AND just get toned and develope great healthy habits.

Update: I have been hitting the gym FOUR TIMES a week (applause)

and am feeling fantabulous.  Also I try to get in small ab workouts every night. I've lost my holiday weight finally, BUT only like 1/4 inch out of the 2 inches I want to lose of my belly.  It's a process right? My problemo: SUGAR!

It's evil and addicting and I crave sweets like you wouldn't believe :-) I'm keeping on strong though, and will keep you guys posted (soon with some fabulous side ab workouts I've picked up! Also a great detox plan that helped me lose my icky added weight before)

To help and inspire me: any tips from you ladies???? 

~Spring Shopping~

I have snagged a few random items:

AND will post my Spring clothing/accessories wishlist next week!

***If you love Forever21 (cheap and cute)

THAN

You'll LOVE Go Jane***

Seriously crazy cheap, free shipping over $50 purchase, cute cute chk it out!!!

(My lovely friend Bekah found it: chk out her cute brand-spankin new blog, she's an AMAZING photographer and will be doing a shoot with me soon)

~Recent Sales~

I posted here about sending my items to 2 stores! Sooo I'm about to ship like 30 items out to my 1st TWO RETAIL LOCATIONS!!! Soooo excited! So they will now be avaiable in a retail store in Florida and Pennsylvania

Hollar!

I'M EXCITED!!!!

(can you tell?)

Other recent online sales:

So with that I leave you to whatever fun things you have planned this weekend!!!

Happy Happy Friday!

~Tamara Nicole~

My very own fitness challenge

So.  Some background about my "fitness". 

I have always been somewhat active. 

Back in school days (wayyy back in the day!) I was always playing sports year round.  I grew up as the skinny girl and could eat anything at all, no worries.  I think at lunches I ate pizza and fries (ewww yuck! Talk about healthy eating.  Now I'm a nut about it) with out a care in the world.

Then I stopped playing so many sports b/c I went through a phase that I was "too cool". Weirdo! Ha ha

So when I started going to college I was still in pretty good shape.  I've always had a gym membership since I was like 16.  BUT we all know that as we get older our metabolism slows. . . and it's not just over night, it's gradually. 

Like a thief in the night it snuck up on me.  I'm like 5'8.5" (yup gotta count every little bit! I used to round up but now I've come to terms:-).  I think over 4 years of college I had put on almost TWENTY pounds.  I wasn't fat at all, I didn't even notice any difference.  My jeans sure did!

eww

Sooo there's a happy ending!

Funny how things work out.  During that time, I was:

1)A little unhappy

2)In not-so-good relationships

3)Digging myslef deeper into debt

4)Going through the hard journey of finding myself

and

5)Working full time WHILE taking a full load of college courses at UW.

 We all know life can get hard at times, but it took a toll on my body.  Cramming for exams all night with coffee and sugar to keep me up.  No time (or $) to make healthy choices . . . or so I thought.

So . . . one day I decided to change things around.  I was unhappy in my bad relationship and decided I wanted more.  I joined with several ladies at the office in a "detox".  It worked GREAT! Not one of those dumb diets that you starve, and then gain it all back.  This detox jump-started my system. I lost 8 lbs the first 2 weeks.  Wooo hoo! So I continued for 2 more weeks, and then went back to a normal diet(with more healthy choices).  It taught me self control and some other important helpful diet pointers.

NEXT: I met Andy

Seriously like a month after my detox.  I swear that first 6 months of us dating flew by, I was on cloud 9.  It's funny how when you're happy; you don't need that extra serving of ice cream,  you don't need to snack while you're bored, you are more motivated to work out.  Hmmm funny.

So since then (geez it's been 2.5 years) I've dropped most of my fatty weight and have been back down to how I was in high school, you know like 9 years ago! Lol

Sooo yes I'm on the slender side, from super healthy diet choices, BUT I have this muffin top that I can't shake for the life of me!

THE GOAL

I took my measurements Sunday. My goal is . . . not to lose any weight . . . but to lose inches around my belly button.  To tone up. I hide it well so everyone thinks I am crazy, but come bathing suit season I finally want to be comfortable and not cover up my mid-section.  I am ready to be in the best shape of my life! Before we have babies I want to finally have that! Soo my motivation:

A NEW OUTFIT

and THIS cute jacket

and THIS tank

May be an expensive outfit (for me) BUT I'll deserve it once I get there!!!

I'll keep ya'll posted. 

Ready.

Set.

Go!!!