Hello there lovely people!
Since I switched to weekly weight loss posts, I feel like I am hardly posting anymore lol. It really feels like it has been ages! While I post pretty frequently on social media, blogging is where I really feel like I have a voice. I feel like I can connect with people from all walks of life. Some tell me I inspire them and some ( a lot actually) inspire me!

This past week has been crazy busy with events and appointments and figuring our rhythm of our school year. Plus planning for our trip this fall! We had our dentist appointments today and we were there for what seemed like forever! Thankfully, I love my dentists office so it wasn't that bad haha.

Plus, having done a  lot this week and falling behind schedule with posts and things, get ready for a flood of them! I'm starting August off right!

ps.. only one more month until PUMPKIN EVERYTHING!!

Anyway, so enough of the my life is so crazy routine! I gotta be honest, this week seemed like a bad week as far as working out and eating. I felt like giving up so many times and I even caught  myself trying to fall back in old habits. Thankfully, I have the constant pressure I have put myself under to do my best! But, I feel like I have actually gained weight this week! I have been drinking water my water and staying within my calorie goals. I can't tell if my body is shutting down or if I'm just not going hard enough. In the past 4 days, I have ran over 9 miles but I actually feel like I am gaining weight!

At first, I could see my body change because certain clothes were fitting differently, my clothes were getting looser and my shoes were even fitting differently. I'm not sure what is going on but I am already second guessing my weekly posts. I feel like posting daily allows me to see where I went wrong and where I need to improve.

All in all, I am not giving up and I know that this is not a race but a marathon... I'm just ready to cross that finish line already!

Have you ever gained weight while on a fitness journey? What did you do to change that? Let me know in the comments below!

Hello there my lovely people!

Today was a hot rainy adventure. between camp, errands and our daily lives now that school is in session, I am wore out lol.
So over the past few days I have been observing my Instagram, Facebook and blog and It seems as though I may have done an " overshare". Posting my journal everyday can at times be a little overwhelming, especially if I try to make it before a self set deadline. Part of me enjoys the thought of writing and sharing my journey with you everyday but I know that being consistent as a huge short coming for me.
For example,

I the beginning, I was posting my detailed workouts possibly a video) and then my daily intake. Honestly that's the hardest part! At times I forget to log all my meals or I have difficulty finding the exact food or nutritional value. So during the first 30 days, I decided to no longer post that and just stick with a more journal like entry. And so far so good!

Now...

As I was saying, setting imaginary deadlines is what plagues me. I have this imaginary boss that sits on my shoulders and tells me to " get ish done". Most of the time I do. It's the times I don't where I feel guilty the most! So... in order to keep my blog fun and not overwhelming with my what I ate today story.. I decided to now conceal my journal into weeks. So instead of a new post every day, I will do a journal entry on Sunday! This way, I won't get over whelmed, you won't get bored and By Brigette Danielle can get back to it's roots of sharing all things fabulous with you!

So really quickly, here is how Day 34-35 went!

I overslept Monday, it rained on Tuesday and our gym was closed for for three days so they could paint it the most hideous colors known to man! So, even though it was raining tonight, the gym was finally open and I was able to get in a good 3 miles!

Hello there lovely people!

These past few days have been a total blur! Between summer camps, book clubs and trying to get our super secret project done, I honestly have forgotten the days lol.  But none the less, I am still pushing forward!

So here is how Day 32-33 went!

Workouts:
I only worked out Sunday, because Monday I totally over slept and it was our first day of Apple Camp! But thankfully, I was able to gt in my 3 miles Sunday morning. Plus, not to toot my own horn but..... I got a new personal best run for my 5K! I was exhausted when I got home. But when I seen that notification, I gained my second wind!

Wake my butt up in the morning and RUN! :)

How was your weekend? What goals have you set for yourself this week? Let me know in the comments below!

Hello there lovely people!

Well I have officially made it through my first month of my weight loss journey! I couldn't be happier for several reasons and let me tell you why..

1, they say if you do something for 21 days it becomes a habit... this must be true because I feel weird when I don't workout. Also, I have built the willpower to say no to things I used to swoon over. The other day, I was starving while running errands, and instead of grabbing junk to eat, I waited until I was home to make a very good choice (as told by my veggie friend) by eating a veggie burger and sweet potato for dinner. The old me would have said " oh well, I gotta eat". But this new person, this new me... is constantly looking for better options. I still have yet to have wine too!

2, I know I am on the right track! During the end of my second week and beginning of my third week, several people gave me a much needed confidence boost! A lady from my church was walking next to me and she said, "You're loosing weight and you look amazing!". That totally made my day. Then a few days later some family members also mentioned that they could tell. When you work hard and people notice... it really changes the game!

3, I'm getting better. Not only am I making better choices but I am getting faster, stronger and better stamina. I could't see myself running three miles every Sunday and an extra day throughout the week but now, I look forward to the challenge!

4, I lost 10 lbs in 30 days! While some may look at that as a low number, I'm reminded of what my old trainer would say. " Fast or slow, progress is progress". I try to remind my self that every time I step on the scale. And while I wish that number was bigger, I remember than my goals have gotten bigger. It's just baby steps.

So! This go round, I'm going to take it up a notch! Work out harder and eat smarter, something simple but challenging. I know that if I made it this far... I can keep going!

Cheers to 30 more days!

Hello there lovely people!

Is it me or has there been like a gazillion weddings and baby showers this season?! I'm constantly seeing people tie the knot of showcasing their lovely newborns all over social media! Honestly it is great to see. There is so much negativity in the news and around the world that seeing people happy really brightens my day!

Toady was a super eventful day. My family and I got to spend time with my adorable nephews and with my cousin that is expecting a baby this Fall. It truly was a blessing to be around my family that I don't get to see that often.

Baby showers are one of those events where you never really know what the dress code is lol. Should you dress up in a nice sundress or romper or should you just keep it casual in shorts and sandals. There really is no way to know unless you ask the MTB or you know what her ideal shower will be.
I personally like to try and look my best whenever I attend an event but not be the oddball out by over, over dressing!

Today, I was inspired to wear a dressy casual look since it was just a family event! So, if you need a little inspo, try something like this!

my prince charming! ♥

in my natural habitat! ♥♥♥

This look is super comfortable and casual, but dressy at the same time!
This top is one of my absolute  favorites! It was on a $5 rack at Target and it is so light or comfortable! You can dress it up like I did here or go for that athleisure look with a pair of  workout tights (like I have ;) ). This necklace and watch were also from Target!

My blazer is from Forever21 Plus and it matches the blush color in the watch and the necklace. It's like they were made for each other!

My jeans are from Lee and they are amazing! You can read all about them over on this post about them HERE!

My shoes are these super comfortable booties from Madeline. My rose gold mirror aviators are from Amazon!




Well folks, what do ya think?! Would this be something you would rock to a baby shower? What is your staple "event item"? Let me know in the comments below!

Hello there lovely people!

Happy Thursday, soon to be Friday! Today was one of those days where your body just does not want to cooperate lol. I ended up taking a much needed rest day so I could try and get myself back on track and ready to work even harder this next month!

Tomorrow is Day 30, cheat day and Friday! I mean how lucky can one girl be lol?! I will be doing my 1 month weigh in and posting a progress photo as well!

Today's meals were also pretty inconsistent and I'm not sure why. I haven't really been craving sweets like I usually do, but I am getting hungrier more than normal. NO, I'm not PG so we can forget about that as an answer lol. I honestly think my body has been working harder than normal so it is craving all these extra nutrients to keep it going. I try to remind myself that portion what I actually eat are key and not just hitting the gym. So if you follow me on Pinterest, get ready for a whole lot of pins on filling foods lol.

Tomorrow, we will be off on a nature walk to collect items for an upcoming art project as well as hitting some stores for birthday and baby shower gifts! This weekend is looking to be a spectacular weekend! Now... if only I could wake up to a bouquet of peonies my life would be grand lol!

Any who.. tomorrows the big day so check back for the official lbs lost and progress photos! Have a great weekend!

Hello there lovely people!

Can you believe it is time to start thinking about school?! I mean where did the time go? I honestly feel like I was just out picking up school supplies not that long ago! In all truth, we still have some of that school supplies left!

Last year was our first year homeschooling and I had no clue what I needed. I wasn't sure how much paper we needed, if I needed separate notebooks and if markers were a must... which they always are. So, I found myself scouring through ads, craigslist and Facebook marketplaces for deals on school supplies and all types of learning staples.

Shop Back to School at Target.com!

So this, year as I get ready to pick up a few more items for our school year, I will definitely be hitting up my local Target to take advantage of their "Back to School" sales. Now each state, city and county are different, so before you go, check the local ads to make sure that these sales are the same in your area!

SUPER SAVING ITEMS

• Mead paper notebook in wide or college ruled  

• Up & Up 2-pocket portfolio 


• Elmer’s 2-ct. glue sticks 

• Up & Up 2-ct. pink erasers 

• Up & Up™ 100-ct. 3"x5" index cards 
 

• Up & Up 8-ct. wood pencils 

• Up & Up pencil sharpener 

• 24-ct. Crayola crayons (my family's fave)


Last year we purchased 6 packs of the flash cards and they have been utilized more than it cost to get them lol. I used them for addition flash cards and sight words. I also found some rings to place them on to make flipping through a lot easier.

I purchased 4 packs of crayons, colored pencils and markers that were all marked down to $.50. One thing I wish I would have purchased more of were pencils! Trust me... you WANT to stock up on those! I also tend to grab a ton of erasers as well!

AWESOME DEALS
The Texas Instruments 30XIIS scientific calculator is on sale for only $8! We are getting close to the ages where this calculator will be a life saver!
Target also has 30% off select character back packs as well as $15.00 backpacks!






All of these items are essentials when getting ready to head back to school! Make sure you rock the shop and they rock the year!
What are your "Back to School" must haves? Let me know in the comments below!

Also, don't forget you can get up to 50% off on select clearance items on Target.com!!

The links in this post contain affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.

Hello there lovely people!
It is officially Friday-eve and I couldn't be more excited! Not only did I have a busy week, but this weekend is going to be busy as well! I finally get to see my sisters, niece and nephews, celebrate a new cousin coming into the world and I will officially be one week in to our school year! But more about that later!

So here is how Day 27-28 went!

Workouts:
So yesterday was another event and I took that opportunity to get my workout in by using the stairs. I went up and down about 15 steps 13-14 times last evening so I knew my butt was going to feel it in the a.m. This morning, after probably the worst sleep I ever had lol, I got up, headed outside and ran my mile! Not sure if it was the lack of sleep or hardly anything to eat yesterday, but I had no energy lol. I'm shocked I made it up that hill!

But I did!

Meals:
Breakfast- Greek yogurt, egg, toast
Snack- String cheese, turkey, crackers
Lunch- Chicken breast, sweet potato
Snack- Turkey sandwich
Dinner- Turkey sandwich

Since I was heading to the movies tonight, I knew I was going to be out later than normal. So I saved a lot of my more filling meals for right before and after. The worst thing is going to a movie and smelling all the goodies on an empty stomach lol. By time it was over and I stopped by the store for a few items for tomorrow, I was famished! So the best option the grocery store had this late at night was a turkey sandwich lol. So that's what i had!

Any way, I am getting more and more excited for my weigh in this week! just 4 more days and  Iam ready to kick it in over drive! A lot can happen in 4 days!

What is your goal for the week? Let me know in the comments below!

Hello there lovely people!

Day 25 is a wrap and it has been one full of family time! Baltimore is feeling much better and acting like himself. Phoenix is back over for the week and we start school tomorrow! Everything seems to be working hand and foot today!
I will say this... yesterdays late night run may not have been the best idea lol. I don;t think my body had enough time to recover to run a 5k today, but it did it's best.

Here is how Day 25 went!

Workouts:
"Just Do It Sunday" was not my best, but I kept going and I at least finished it. There were times were I wanted to turn around and head back home. But I told myself that I needed to do it... for me! So I did. Another 5k in the bag!




Meals:
Breakfast-Phat Fudge
Snack- String cheese, turkey breast
Snack- Protein Bar
Lunch(super late)- Turkey sandwich
Dinner- Chicken breast, sweet potato, broccoli
Snack- Remaining Halo Top from yesterday.

Goals: 
Get more sleep
Drink a tad more water

I have been pushing the water and today I actually feel satisfied with my intake! I think about 16 more ounces and I will be solid! This week I will be stepping on the scale to give y'all my total weight loss for the month! Possibly pictures as well. I know it can be hard to see the changes so I don't really want to take them and post them to avoid any disappointment lol.

Now, on to enjoy the rest of my weekend and hopefully get up on time in the a.m!
What do you do to get ready for Monday!? Let me know in the comments below!

Hello there lovely people!
It is the end of a not so great Saturday.... but you know what? I have been feeling really negative and overwhelmed by stuff and I am sure that it has came out in either my posts, lack their of, my workouts and definitely my eating habits! And for that my loves, I truly am sorry!
I'm about to get real here for a second...

I am an emotional eater.. I already mentioned that in this post "a new beginning". But one thing I probably didn't mention is that I am emotionally fragile as well. I allow things to bother me in ways that they have no business doing! And it's the littlest things that can take a toll on me. And for the past 2 days I really have allowed myself to be consumed by circumstances.

Friday my  baby boy  little man had surgery on a hernia. I know it may not seem like a lot but when this is the 5th surgery you have had to witness one of your children having... it weighs heavy. Thankfully I had an amazing support system and his sisters were there for him every step of the way.

But that wasn't the only thing.. I felt ashamed because I hadn't hit a new goal, upset because I screwed up my diet, TWICE and I felt awful because I am sitting here constantly complaining about how bad or how tired I was throughout my day. I felt like sadness in the movie, "Inside Out". constantly raining on all my readers parades.

Well I decided enough of that! If I want to do better I have to be better and that starts with my mind set and demeanor!

I truly do appreciate everyone that reads, comments or takes the time to tell me good job or that I am motivating them!

Soo.. basically day 23 was non existent due to the fact that we were busy all day at the hospital, pharmacies( yes more than one) and trying to entertain two little girls that were phenomenal at the hospital, the Sabbath came around VERY, VERY quickly!

Here is how Day 24 went!

Workouts:
Even though it was dark outside, I mustard up the courage and faith to run outside downtown. Yea downtown on a Saturday night is crazy! But I got in my 3 miles and now I am ready for "Just Do It Sunday"!

This top is from Forever 21 plus. Even though you are probably thinking "long sleeves in summer" This top is so light and airy that it doesn't even bother me. My shoes are one of my favorite pairs and they are from Kenneth Cole :) Super comfy and go with just about anything!

Hello there lovely people!
It's Thursday and I am awaiting this bitter sweet Friday. On one hand, it will be a much needed Sabbath and on the other my poor baby will be having surgery tomorrow afternoon. I have been praying it will go quick and he will recover even quicker.
So, if you could keep my family and I in your thoughts and prayers they would be greatly appreciated!

So here is how Day 22 went!

Workouts:
I felt like I needed to pick up slack after Tuesday and yesterday. So I ran my mile and did 15 minutes on the elliptical. Then I hit the weights and focused on my arms and shoulders. I did ladder style (up then back down) sets. And right now, my arms are super sore!



My goals have been seeming a lot more maintainable since I started resting one day a week. I have been able to run faster and for longer periods of time which for me is a huge deal! I have always struggled with running even though I enjoyed it. My legs just couldn't go fast! I think my thighs were slowing me down lol.

What do you have planned for the weekend? Let me know in the comments below!

Hello there lovely people!

Ok, so when I said I was ready for the week had in store, I may have said that prematurely lol. After I woke up EARLY Tuesday morning, I had an idea as to how my day was going to go. IT DID NOT GO AS PLANNED! It was extremely crazy and totally underestimated.

So here are how Day 20-21 went!

Tuesday: Planned to hit the gym in the afternoon but I was still busy cleaning and prepping for an event that night. Once I got to the event, there were many issues going on that were out of my control. So long story short... I ended up running up and down stairs all night from 6-11 pm. Needless to say that was my workout and it kicked my but!
I don't even remember the food that I ate that day but I'm sure it started with egg whites lol. By the end of the night my feet were aching and I didn't go to sleep until about 1:30-2:00 a.m.

Wednesday- Early morning again and literally ran errands all day! Baltimore had his follow up appointment for his concussion and I had an appointment right after. I was hoping to hit the gym after dinner but I fell asleep on the couch! I woke up 2-3 hours later still tired lol. So I decided I was just going to listen to my body and take a break! Constant errand running this week, Dr. appointments and prepping for events has ran me to the ground these past two days!

So... tomorrow, after I am well rested, I will be back at it in full strength! I am still pretty proud of myself and for the things I have accomplished so far. I am able to control my cravings, make healthier choices when I am out and about and also my water intake has continued to skyrocket! I am really looking forward to these next few days and getting back 100% on track!

How has your week been going? Let me know in the comments below!

Hello there lovely people!
The weekend is over and tomorrow starts a glorious new week! For us we are starting our first day of school and having a play date at the water park!
Today was an awesome day! We went to a huge Lego convention and it's Sunday sooo ... Smoothie King had their $6 smoothies!!

Here is how Day 18 went!

Workouts:
JUST DO IT SUNDAY! Today I headed outdoors in the humidity and hit the ground running.
I completed 3.11 miles and I added another achievement to my Nike profile!




Tomorrow is Monday! What is one goal you have set to accomplish this week?! Let me know in the comments below!

Hello there lovely people!

I know in a previous post, I marked it as day 17... well actually this is day 17! Whoops!
Today was a restful and much needed Sabbath! I feel rejuvenated and ready for my 3rd Just Do It Sunday! If you haven't already, download the Nike + Running Club app! It is awesome and FREE! I use it to track all of my runs, hear positive motivation from their coaches and use their individualized plan for running. It really is great!

So here is how the real day 17 went lol!

Workouts:
Since I am getting ready to do the 5k tomorrow, I decided to focus my cardio in a less body stressing manner. I did 2 miles on the elliptical ( based on Nike not the machine). and I did this great upper body work out

Happy Friday lovely people!
I am so ready to enjoy my weekend! Even though for a lot of people this was a short work week, it felt just as long as any other week. (moms never rest!)
So today, I felt like a million bucks! I finished all but a small (too small) load of laundry, re organized my room, caught up on some work and even half a movie lol! Needless to say, I am super ready for this Sabbath!

So here is how day 16 went!

Workouts:
Getting dressed to head out the door my husband stops me and advises me that it was starting to rain. There were a few clouds out our windows but it was apparently coming from the opposite side of the building. So I headed down to the gym to do my 3 miles. The treadmill was finally acting right thankfully! Not gonna lie... when I first started out I could feel the energy and success flowing through me. Once I got to a little over 2 miles, I was ready to quit. I did't though. I knew that the tiredness and pain were only temporary so I kept on pushing.

Hello lovely people!

Today was a complete nightmare! I won't go into too much details due to the length of time, but it was insane! I literally have been doing laundry since 9:30 this morning! Given 6 bathes, sanitized 3 rooms and I am still currently doing laundry. Not to mention I still have a crap load to put away.
I am so thankful this day is over and I will finally be able to enjoy my Sabbath!

So here is how today went!

Workouts:
Today (amid the crisis) I wan't able to hit the gym and I over slept. But I had to make a quick run to the store for some shampoo. We live right by a CVS so I decided to run there in order to get my mile in. It took me longer than normal because I had to wait at what seemed like every red light downtown!




Meals:
Breakfast- Egg whites, sausage, toast
Snack-Granola
Lunch- Tuna lettuce wrap
Snack- Protein roll up
Dinner- House salad w/ Chicken

Goals: 
Run a consistent 3 miles

So tomorrow is my cheat day and I am definitely giving it to my new addiction! Halo Top Ice Cream! Yummy! What is your favorite cheat day meal? Let me know in the comments below!

Hello there lovely people!

Day 14 is a wrap! After a very long extensive day of grocery shopping and errand running, I decided that today will be a rest day! My body has been needing one for the past two weeks! SO I thought hey it has been two full weeks, why not take a rest day?! So I am. I am going to go to bed here in about an hour so I can get ready for tomorrow!

Tomorrow starts a new school year for us and we already have tons of stuff  planned.... this break was definitely needed.

So here is how day 14 went!


Workouts:
REST DAY BABY

Meals:
Breakfast- Water, Strawberries
Lunch- 1/2 of my kids left over hot dog from Sam's
Snack- Granola bar
Dinner- Breakfast burrito( egg whites, sausage)
Snack- Protein shake w/ banana, strawberries, almond milk

Goals:
Drink more water
Kill my workout tomorrow

LBS Lost:8
I am pretty proud to have lost 8lbs in two weeks considering I am only running and doing light weights. I know it takes time and focus.... and I am ready!

So, today was a really crazy day! I was literally in 5 different stores today.  I left the house around 9:15 a.m. and did not get back until almost 2:30... talk about a long morning! Honestly, I'm pretty proud of what I did today. Normally I would have had a whole hot dog myself or grabbed something in between stores. Seriously.. what is it about grocery shopping that makes you not want to cook lol. You buy all this food and you end up ordering out hahaha. I don't get it!

Thank you so much for following my weight loss journey!

Hello there lovely people!
Happy 4th of July! I hope you had a wonderful time with friends and family. Honestly today was not as bad as I thought it was going to be! I was so concerned with the city smelling of bbq and alcohol that I thought I would stay in the whole day lol. But, fortunately today it rained! It stormed this morning, and we had a few scattered showers/ sprinkles through out the day. But the rain clouds have cleared just in time for me to write this post and get ready to see some fireworks!

So, here is how the day went!

Workouts:
I did 3 miles OUTSIDE! I was so proud and excited this morning. Of course I did not run the entire time because ya know... I need to run more lol. But I finished run/jog/walk 3 miles.




Meals:
Breakfast- Oatmeal, strawberries, banana
Lunch- Tuna, 1 cup of carrots, slice of wheat bread
Snack- Apple, pb
Dinner- Breakfast burrito( egg whites, sausage, salsa)
Snack - Apple, pb

Goals:
Drink more water
Run full 3 miles





I normally wouldn't eat a breakfast burrito at night, but my body was in dire need of some carbs! I couldn't help it! Plus check out this photo of my breakfast.. I was originally going to keep it on Instagram but I thought it was just too pretty lol!

Have a great 4th y'all!