Do Something For YOU

A Facebook friend of mine posted this on her wall and I felt it was important to share. I still remember the moment in September 2009 when I realized that I was fat. And if I was being totally honest with myself, I was not just fat, but according to my BMI, I was obese.

I used to try to hide myself. I'd tie a long sleeve shirt around my waist to hide my bottom half. I'd wear baggy clothes, hoping that I'd look more shapeless. I'd wear only black so that I would not draw attention to myself. I was embarrassed of my own body.

So you're probably wondering why I didn't choose to lose the weight sooner. I never really ate much. My mom always said that I "ate like a bird". My family thought I had a thyroid problem or that I was diabetic. My doctor ran those tests. They came back normal. The problem wasn't the amount of food that I ate in a day. It was the choices that I made. I never ate breakfast. I skipped lunch and would snack on potato chips. Sometimes, I would even skip dinner for a bowl of ice cream with pretzels to dip in it.

My husband bought an electronic scale for himself around September 2009. I didn't actually know how much I weighed. I had an idea, but that was it. I avoided the scale for a couple days then decided I needed to know. I stepped on the scale. I weighed about 30 pounds more than I thought I did! I was 55 pounds away from a healthy weight for my height!

The "sticker"/photo/saying that I posted at the top of this post reminds me of the internal conversation that I had with myself when I decided to lose the weight. I made the change for myself. I no longer wanted my weight to determine my happiness, my self worth, my future.

Losing weight is hard. Keeping it off is hard too. BUT feeling good about yourself is priceless.

When One Door Closes...

Another Opens.

Being a Stay At Home mom is a sacrifice. I knew that when I agreed to quit my job and raise our child. I would have no income until she went to kindergarten. Five years of being a "one income household". Things would be tight, but it would be well worth it to have that time with my daughter, to teach her, to watch her grow.

Well, unfortunately, some debts can only be deferred so long. Student Loans, for instance. I will have to start repaying them in 2012. So I have about three months to come up with extra income for us.

As much as I enjoy making jewelry, it is not a lucrative business venture. I have sold items, but it is not a steady means of income. Plus you have to spend money to make money. I just don't have the extra money to spend.

My husband works shift work so his schedule is never consistent and can change with a moment's notice. I have to be the available parent at all times. So you can see why I need something that I can do from home.

So I thought about things that I love:
my kid, my hubby, cats, knitting, halloween, candles, reading, writing, the beach and.... WAIT!!! Candles! That's it! I love candles.

I have been obsessed with candles for over a decade now. I have floral scents, seasonal scents, comfort food scents, aromatherapy scents and clean scents. I've burned regular old candles and soy candles. I've used tart warmers, candle warmers, and reed diffusers. I've even taken candles on vacation with me!

To sell something, you have got to LOVE it. So today, I signed up to be a Scentsy Consultant. I'll be selling candles!

I'm really hoping that this will be the beginning of a successful new chapter in my life!