Victoria's Secret......FREE shipping tonight only and possibly FREE items!!!

Ok ladies (and gentleman that wanna impress your lady), tonight from 9pm-11pm EST at victoriassecret.com get FREE shipping on any order with code SHIPANY.  Also save $15 off a $100 order, $30 off $150, $75 off $250 and $150 off $500 with code FANTASY13.  This does not apply to clearance and several other items (for a complete list, click here).  From now through December 4th you also get a free Secret Rewards Card.  These cards have a minimum value of $10 but you could get lucky and get one valued at $25, $50, $100 or $500!!

Victoria's Secret has several items priced at $10.  If you purchase something for $10, it's as if you're getting it for free if you take into account the Secret Rewards Card you'll get in your order.  You only earn 1 Rewards Card per order so make several orders (they'll all ship free) to get multiple Rewards Cards!  Happy shopping!!

Veteran's Day Deals!

I want to start by saying THANK YOU to all that have served and all who are currently serving!!  You are some of the hardest working men & women out there and your service does not go unnoticed.  With that, the following discounts will be available for Labor Day for veterans, active duty members and (in some cases) spouses:

Applebee's - choose from a free signature Thank You Meal menu that includes some of Applebee's favorite items.
Bob Evans - free all-you-can-eat hot cakes.
Boston Market - free whole chicken with purchase of a family meal.
California Pizza Kitchen - free pizza from the menu (dine-in only). *Participating locations*
Carrabba's - free appetizer. *Participating locations*
Chili's - free meal from special Veteran's Day Menu.
Denny's - from 6am-2pm get free all-you-can-eat pancakes.
Einstein Bagels - from 5:30am-5pm get a free Signature or Classic Bagel & Shmear (or any other topping).
Famous Dave's - offers vary by location but include a variety of discounts & free meals.
Fox & Hound Tavern - free hamburger.
Golden Corral - free buffet and drink.
Hooters - free meal (up to $10.99 value) with the purchase of a drink.
IKEA - free entrée which includes a sandwich, hot dish or entrée salad (up to $9.99).
Krispy Kreme - free coffee & donut *Participating locations*
Little Caesar's - free crazy bread.
Longhorn Steakhouse - free appetizer from a list of 10 options.
Olive Garden - free meal from a special menu.
On the Border - free entrée from the Create Your Own Combo menu.  Also, if you bring in this Carry the Load flyer, OTB will donate 15% of eligible sales to Carry the Load.
Outback Steakhouse - free Bloomin' Onion & a free beverage.
Red Lobster - free Texas Tonion appetizer and a free non-alcoholic beverage.
Red Robin - free Tavern Double Burger & Bottomless Steak Fries.
Starbucks - free tall fresh brewed coffee (includes spouses). *Participating locations*
Texas Roadhouse - choose from a free special lunch menu, includes beverage & sides.
TGIFriday's - free lunch from 11am-2pm.
Tony Roma's - free 6oz sirloin entrée.
Twin Peaks - choose any meal from their menu for lunch or dinner.
Village Inn - free complimentary Buttermilk Pancakes, Belgium Waffle or 3 slices of French Toast.

Each location will require proper identification or you must be in uniform to receive any of the above.  This list does not include every place that may have a deal.  If you know of one that may benefit somebody, feel free to comment below.

If you or anyone you know serves or has served, please be sure to get something listed above, as we all know YOU DESERVE IT!!!

FREE photos at Target....starting 10/27

Beginning Sunday (10/27), 4x6 photos will be on sale for 10 cents each.  There is currently a Target store coupon available for $5 off 50 4x6 prints.  With the sale price and coupon, that's 50 prints absolutely FREE.  Keep in mind each computer allows two prints each for coupons so that's 100 photos FREE!!  Click here to get your coupon.

Amazing deal on Vera Bradley baby bags...this weekend only!!!

Vera Bradley is having an ahh-mazing deal on baby items this weekend only.  The Messenger baby bag, regularly priced at $118, and the Baby bag, regularly priced at $99, are both on sale for $49.99.  They have some oh-so-adorable patterns that would be perfect for a boy or girl.  Also, for any baby purchase, you score a FREE Bunny and Bear book ($8 value).  Not only that, but if you spend $50 or more in baby style items, you get 3 pairs of baby socks ($19 value) FREE.  Still not done.....spend $75 or more and receive FREE shipping AND an additional 25% off your order.  Here is an example:

Buy one Messenger baby bag - $49.99

Buy one Baby bag - $49.99

Get baby socks - FREE

Get 2 baby books - FREE

Get FREE shipping 

Get additional 25% off

Pay $74.98 total for 2 bags, 2 books & 3 pairs of socks!!  This weekend only!!

6 months of pure love and happiness...

So today baby T turned 6 months old.....half a year....ALREADY.  Where did the time go?  I found myself looking at his little hands and feet a bit longer today.  Studying his little ears and mouth and giving him extra kisses.  I can't believe my baby, the little boy doctors told us almost didn't make it, is growing so fast.  I caught myself tearing up as I thought back to how much joy, love and happiness this boy has brought to our lives.  I can't even begin to explain how lucky I am that I was chosen to be his mother.  So a big Happy (half) Birthday to my baby boy!  Mommy loves you to the moon and back!!

Please stop growing my baby boy.

 

 Family photo during the hubby's lunch break.

 

 This boy LOVES the camera!

 

I cannot believe how big he's gotten

Coupon for Lindt chocolate

If you're a fan of chocolate (I mean, who isn't?), head over to Lindt Chocolate USA's Facebook page and "like" it.  Once you've liked their page, look for the post marked by today's date with a link for how to get a $2 off 1 chocolate bar coupon (you have to watch a quick video to get the coupon).  You can also click on "photos" where you will find a picture that states "Save $2.00".  Click the photo and you'll see the link.  Now, go get your chocolate!!

Week 1 - Temptation, temptation everywhere...

Since deciding to start Operation Healthy Mom on Sunday, things have completely changed.  I've become very much aware as to what I'm allowing myself to put in my body, just ask the hubby.  Sunday was the day I had made the decision to finally make a change (if you haven't read about it, you can find it here).  That afternoon I planned out a shopping trip and made the decision of preparing my meals for the week.  Ha, so much for that idea.  The Broncos game was on and I couldn't leave to go grocery shopping during it (do you know who my hubby is?).  I didn't let this get me down though.  I headed to the store immediately afterwards and found a few goodies to begin this change of healthy eating.

 

From this... 

 To this.....these are my goodies!

Needless to say it was almost 9:30pm by the time I got home and there was no way I was going to spend the next several hours preparing meals.  I did, however, know while at the store that this wasn't going to happen and picked up a few salads for dinner, keeping it easy and healthy.  For dessert I had a single chocolate rice cake with a small amount of natural peanut butter, absolutely delicious!!  The hubby wanted something for dessert that I would've loved to have also, a good 'ol Snickers.  He even asked me if I'd be mad if he ate it.  I laughed and told him that I wouldn't be mad, although deep down I was actually jealous.  Temptation number one and.....Operation Healthy Mom gets a point.

Day one  proved to be even more challenging.  Who decides to go to the Food & Wine Festival at Epcot the day after deciding to take control of her life?  This woman right here.  Talk about temptations EVERYWHERE!  This was the first time I had ever been to this festival and I just wanted to try everything from everywhere.....BUT....I stuck to my plan.  For anyone that isn't aware of this festival, they offer different food "samples" (a small portion) of a certain country's authentic foods and wines, so you can only imagine how hard it was.  We were there during lunchtime and I was hungry.  I only tried 2 samples and was rather proud of myself.  I chose to have a beef empanada from Argentina and a spicy salmon and tuna bite (more like a mini roll) from China.  They were both amazing.  Although I debated getting a shrimp taco from Mexico, I resisted the urge.  This is saying a lot because my weakness is Mexican food.  To drink.....water!  You heard it right.  At a festival for wine, I drank water.  What's even better?  I brought my gallon of water with me & was drinking straight up.  Imagine the amount of weird looks I got, especially since I wrote "Drink Me" on it (a gallon of water a day is my goal).  We did a lot of walking around the park so by the end of the day, I didn't feel as guilty about what I ate. Temptation number two and.....Operation Healthy Mom gets (I'd say) half a point.

 Delicious spicy tuna & salmon roll from China 

Gotta stay hydrated!!

Later in the week good 'ol Aunt Flough came pounding on the door.  I wanted to turn her away but she was here and ready to tear my insides out and put cravings in my mind that were hard to turn away.  Is it too much to ask for a big fat chicken burrito with extra cheese and extra sour cream from Chipotle?  Well NOW it is....bummer.  Nothing says "I've got this" like resisting food cravings when the lady you want to punch the most, in her non-existent face, shows up.  Friday was a little bit harder to keep on track.  By now, we had run out of "healthier" food in the house and I was just too tired achy lazy to go to the store (I know, excuses excuses).  Needless to say I headed for leftovers that were in the fridge, baked ziti I made for Tom the night before.  Although I was satisfied afterwards, I felt sick later on.  I was so bummed that I actually ate it but knew it wasn't smart to beat myself up over it.  On Saturday the hubby and I had a date night while Grandma K watched baby T.  We went to the movies and OF COURSE I just HAD to have popcorn.  I only ate a small amount (okay, maybe a medium amount) but ate a chicken Caesar wrap with fresh fruit for dinner that night. 

Woke up to this from the hubby.  Love!

Now I know everyday will be full of temptations but it's all about the mindset that I CAN do this and I WILL do this.  Below is the list of everything I've ate this past week:
  

My everyday breakfast (banana, a mini whole

wheat bagel with less than a tablespoon of

cream cheese and two hard boiled eggs with

fresh cracked pepper.

Breakfast everyday (except Saturday/Sunday) consisted of what you see above - 2 hard boiled eggs, a banana and a mini whole wheat bagel with 1/2 tbsp. of cream cheese.  On Saturday the hubby, baby and I went to Mimi's Café where I resisted the urge of pancakes and waffles and chose a croissant sandwich with eggs, bacon and cheddar cheese (only eating HALF) and a cup of fresh fruit.  I ate the remaining half of this sandwich for breakfast on Sunday. 
Snacks this week I had either a serving of craisins (100 calories), lightly salted rice cake with a tsp of natural peanut butter or chocolate rice cake with either natural peanut butter or PB2. 
Lunches I ate mostly chicken (flavored with spices and hot sauce), brown rice and a veggie or lean ground turkey (spices & tons of cilantro), brown rice and a veggie.  One day I substituted a salmon filet (salt, pepper, garlic and lemon) for the protein. 
Dinners (except Saturday) it was pretty much the same, chicken or lean ground turkey, brown rice and a veggie (I've become addicted to asparagus).  Saturday was "date" night (thank you grandma K for watching baby T).  I'm sorry, but you just can't go to a movie without having popcorn (like I mentioned before) so for dinner I chose a chicken Caesar wrap with fresh fruit on the side.

When I look at this list and compare it to what I used to eat, I'm so proud of myself.  I've been measuring out my portions to ensure I'm not overdoing anything, something I've never done before.  Instead of starting every morning with a large cup of creamer topped off with coffee (just being honest), I'm starting it off with a NanoLean shake (you can find out about NanoLean here).  Everyone sing with me, "The best part of waking up, is Folgers Nanos in myyyyy cuuuuup".  I love it because I'm using 16 ounces of my daily gallon of water to mix with the packet which turns it into a fruity drink.  I've convinced myself it's like drinking a big, sugary glass of juice (without all the garbage in normal fruit juice) and think of it as a treat.  Drinking this about 30 minutes before my breakfast actually makes me feel fuller a lot faster, definitely a good thing. 

 Starting my day off right. 

The delicious finished product. 

The only changes I've noticed so far is feeling more "awake" throughout the day, probably because I'm fueling my body with healthy food instead of processed crap like before.  I cannot wait to see these changes happen and what the upcoming weeks have in store for me!

Week one I'd declare a SUCCESS!!  Bring on Week 2!!!