My weight has been up and down for the majority of my life. In 2014, I lost over 40 pounds and felt the best I have in my entire life. In 2015, while it was one of the best years of my life my weight skyrocketed and my health was not a priority. I let the stress of finishing college, moving 3 times and starting a brand new job in a brand new state be an excuse to eat junk and stop working out. Honestly, it happened and it's okay, I think those were good excuses at the time but now I am done making excuses.
So I have decided to go back gluten-free (because I have a gluten intolerance and it is actually really toxic for my body), no soda, and home cooking 6 out of 7 days of the week (everybody needs a treat meal, my preferences are a burrito bowl from Chipotle or Grilled Nuggets from ChickfilA). In the last two weeks I have lost 10 pounds so I am off to a great start.
I was caught browsing YouTube the other day and Fabletics reviews came up. Fabletics is Kate Hudson's brand-new line of activewear. They offer sizes from XXS to XXL!!!!!!! It is a subscription service, that you can shop or skip every month, just decide between the 1st and 5th of every month. I loved the idea of shopping when I want and skipping when I want. The amazing deal they have going right now is join as a VIP at no cost and you get your first outfit for$25 ONLY!! The outfits do range in price about $50-$100 for 2 or 3 piece outfits, I don't want you to be shocked when you see that. I spend $60 on VSX Leggings so $60 for a quality pant, sports bra and top is a WIN in my book. So what did I have to lose! Check it out HERE
For the last couple years I have been shopping for active wear at Victoria Secret. While it is quite pricey, their sport bras keep everything in and supported and their pants are thick and nothing shows that shouldn't haha. That is why I loved this Fabletics commercial and decided to give them a chance.
My Review:
I ordered three items:
1. Salar Legging in Black Paint: I am absolutely in love with this print and legging material. I have been wearing these all weekend. They are a thick material. You can not see my skintone throught the white paint spots and it doesn't stretch to make the print look awkward. I am looking to purchase a matching sport bra this month. Highly recommend this print!
2. Ginger Pullover in Pop Coral: Love the color and the gorgeous cutout in the back, but I like my tops to be looser for workouts so I would recommend getting a size up on this. I am also absolutely in love with the thumb holes in this. I do think that because I am in Arizona and the temperatures are quite high I don't feel like this is a top I will be working out in in the next couple months but because of how fashionable it is I could see me strolling to the grocery store in it during these cool, dry nights.
3. Salar Capri in Black: I will be honest this came free with my purchase. And... HALLELUJAH!!! I have been dying for a good pair of black capris to wear to softball practice especially. While capris are just a few inches shorter than full leggings, there is something refreshing about that during these warm months ahead. The biggest issue I face with capris and crop active pants are that they start to cut off my large calves but these are PERFECT. Who couldn't use another pair of black active pants! I love these so much I am about to start buying them in every color, that is when you really know you are in love with something!
So to sum it up: Fabletics is the bomb dot com. I also know how difficult it is for plus size women to find good, comfortable and fashionable active wear, well I have found it! Here is the link if you want to check it out! http://www.fabletics.com/invite/98789692/
I am not one to post much about my spiritual/religious or political views. Not because I am unsure or uncomfortable but in a world where things get twisted and misinterpreted so much, sharing my values and ideas that are close to my heart is difficult for me. Please know that this is my story, I am in no way comparing my trials of life to anyone else's.
But after hearing this song by Big Daddy Weave "My Story" and crying every single time, I have been feeling this overwhelming need to share MY Story!!
"If I told you my story,
You would hear HOPE that wouldn't let go,
And if I told you my story,
You would hear LOVE that never gave up.
And if I told you my story,
You would hear Life, but it wasn't mine."
I was born to two amazing parents, both of different faiths, one Catholic and one a Latter-Day Saint. If I told you growing up in that household was easy, I would be lying but honestly what family doesn't have trials. While I have some difficult memories, I also have some wonderful ones. One thing I have come to know as I have grown older, is that while both parents have found their relationship with their Savior through different faiths, they are true examples to me of the type of person I would like to be. I want to share my story of struggle and heartache because it is the way I have come to acknowledge and love my Savior with my full heart.
My childhood troubles would be nothing compared to my trouble outside my parents home. In my family like many others there is a history of addiction and mental disorders, and I was no exception to this. I do not speak about my struggles very openly but I feel like it is about time. I was a great kid, honor roll, athlete, and focused. I had no idea the dark and deep rock bottom that was ahead for me. I made horrible choices, I would fall and pick myself up and try again, till I couldn't anymore. Towards the end of my first year in college, I was lost and had never felt such hopelessness to the point of seriously thinking of walking in front of a car. After that year, I moved back home, and seeked help from my mother. I can never put into words the love and hope that returned to my heart after letting her into the darkness I was in. A dark, sad moment of truth, on the floor of her bathroom in May of 2009, was the first time I could feel and imagine the love my Savior has for me because of the understanding and love my mom showed for me in that moment. Did it probably almost kill her to know my failures shortly after leaving her house? Was she disappointed? I am sure. But even through all of that she wrapped her arms around me and never let go. Light entered that room as well as my heart and mind for the first time in a long time. It was a journey getting back to a healthy place but I did it.
"If I should speak then let it be
Of the grace that is greater than all my sin
Of when justice was served and where mercy wins
Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in
Oh to tell you my story is to tell of him."
If you thought my struggles ended there you are mistaken. I would do well for 6-8 months before retreating to horrible habits and dark places. The next big one was when I was half way through my last year of college. I suffered with sickness that sent me into deep depression hiding in the basement of the house more days then getting out and attending class. This time it wasn't just darkness, I completely lost who I thought I was. If you asked me to tell you one good thing about myself, good luck, I was in a mindset that I was a waste of space. Smiles and laughing were extinct. I decided once again to leave school early and return home, which ended up in a recovery time that lasted almost 2 years. This time I was blessed to find an AMAZING counselor, who saw me once a week or every other week for months!! After a few meetings, I was driving home one day and I started making a mental list of all of the things that I loved about myself. It started with that I love my eclectic taste in music (I know that is an odd thing to start with, but once I started it kept growing). I started to remember what happiness was, smiling and laughter, I would begin again to dance like a crazy white girl to music with the windows down, feeling like there is nothing better.
"If I told you my story
You would hear victory over the enemy
And if I told you my story
You would hear freedom that was won for me
And if I told you my story
You would hear Life overcome the grave."
Almost 2 years later, I went back to school, graduated, received a teaching job shortly after and moved to a brand new state. Through all of this I felt my Savior once again, with His arms wrapped around me. Proud as can be at my graduation and pointing a flashing green arrow in the air at this job I was reluctant to apply for almost a month. Once I started listening to His direction, it was like everything started to fall perfectly into place. So when I heard this song come on and when it gets to "If I told you my story, you would hear Life but it wasn't mine... To tell you my story is to tell of Him." Every dark hole I have come out of, every mountain climbed, every success has been because of Him. There is no time in life that I could have overcome without the grace and mercy of my Savior. He gave me hope, love and life. I will always be indebted to Him and that is why I feel this strong need to share my story with you!
Will I struggle again? I am pretty sure there is a 100% guarentee of that it just will be a different struggle. But that is OKAY!! Because the Love of Our Savior isn't for the perfect but for the broken, for the struggling. It is for the addicts, the depressed, the lost, the hopeless, the anxious. The Atonement was not for the purpose of beating ourselves up every time we fall, but to give hope to the hopeless, love to those that feel empty, direction to the lost, life when we are 6 feet under, and freedom to us when we are chained by sin. He is never the one that leaves, we are the ones that leave Him. May we always know that no matter how flawed you feel your life is, the Savior by your side will make you flawless. Never give up, because the Lord is on your side.
Someday I hope we all can share our stories, not to judge but to love, support and encourage one another through this roller coaster of life!
It has been a while since I have done a monthly favorites blog but I absolutely LOVE sharing all the things I am obsessed with for the month or longer! This one for March is running a bit behind but better late than never!
1. Tartelette in Bloom Palette
I bought this palette as a Christmas present for myself. I started using it sporadically but in March it was by far my go to palette every time I did my makeup. It has 12 gorgeous, neutral, matte and shimmer shades. Neutrals are the perfect when on the go and putting together a quick, professional look. Highly recommend this palette. Check it out HERE
2. Dr. Lip Bang Lip Freak in Sin O' Mint
HOLY BUZZ!! I have tried all kinds of lip balms/chapsticks (babylips, eos, fresh sugar, etc.) and none of them can compare to this one!! It tingles almost to the point buzzing haha. I feel like my lips have become healthier and even more plump! I saw they came out with new scents, so I am going this week to get the Berry and Cherry ones and I will report back with how the compare to the Mint. Check it out HERE
3. Harvest Snaps Snapea Crisps in Wasabi Ranch
These are amazing!!! At first I was a bit caught off guard at first but after eating a handful I almost ate the whole bag!! I get mine from Walmart right between produce and bakery section.
4. Private Practice: All six seasons are on Netflix and I have watched the first 4 this month! I highly recommend this show, especially if you were/are a fan of Grey's Anatomy, since it started from Addison Montgomery on GA. It is a great medical show that deals with a small practice. I have laughed, cried and have been left stunned. It is a great show and Shonda Rhimes is a fabulous writer!
(Here is a little trailer it isn't fantastic but you will get the concept!)
5. Garden: My Aunt came out to visit the first weekend in March and while she was here she got me all set up with the most beautiful patio garden!! We planted green onions, romaine lettuce, sweet red onions, beat greens, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, early girl tomatoes, green peas and a Hibiscus and Lantana flowers. It has been so fun to nurture these plants and watch them grow day after day! Home Depot has been my favorite store for the entire month of March
I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE I HAVE BLOGGED!! WHERE HAVE I BEEN??
Well I graduated college with a degree in Family and Child Development and Art with a minor in Biology. My family and friends were all there and it was an absolutely perfect, beautiful day! Shortly after, my parents, brother and I traveled to New York with my family, which was by far one of the best trips!! Museums galore, hotel right next to Times Square, Statue of Liberty, and meeting some wonderful people I get to call family!
Then, I spent about a month living in Virginia with my best friend, we had a blast tanning by the pool, walking the dogs, and talking about all the wonderful things of life. She even convinced me to take a leap and apply to a teaching job all the way in Arizona. After my first interview, I packed up and headed back to Texas. I still remember not wanting to leave, tears streaming down my face, but it was good I left when I did, because within a week of returning to Texas I accepted a job to be a 4th grade teacher in Queen Creek, Arizona.
My dad and I took a road trip after to visit Arizona on our way to California. I flew back to Texas after 4th of July and packed up a U-Haul with my entire life in it and was on the road once again with my mom. Both of my parents helped me get settled in my very own apartment, with beautiful furniture and the start of unpacking. After they left, two weeks of training began.
And to rap up the last 8 months, I have been teaching one of the best group of 4th graders in the world and coaching softball to a phenomenal group of Junior High and High School girls. We now have 2 more months to go and my plans for the summer are still undecided.
I hope to visit and be visited by a couple friends and family, a much needed trip to California, my cousin's wedding in Utah, trip home to Texas and I hope more work on my place and adventures around this beautiful Grand Canyon State!
I plan to blog much more since sometimes my words and thoughts need a place to go and this has always seemed to be a great outlet for me! Maybe one day I will be able to make YouTube videos, but something about putting it all out there and mean people makes me hesitate. I just know I enjoy giving my opinion on beauty and lifestyle items as well as DIY!! Well you never know! :)
Most people already know I am a huge dog lover and was inspired by my dog Mr. Cudddles to pay tribute to dogs through photography. I decided to make dog treats for all the dogs that were in my Senior Show (and plan to make some for all the other dogs that endured all my picture taking but sadly didn't make it to the final 8). If you would like to see the final 8 pictures check out my blog post titled Senior Show.
Anyways, I found a recipe on Pinterest editted it a little and thought I would share it with everyone, since it was highly approved of by Gus and Moo, the two dogs I currently live with and also subjects for my Senior Show.
Ingredients Needed:
2/3 cups pumpkin puree
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
Dirrections:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl.
2. Sprinkle flour on wax paper to prevent from sticking and roll dough out on waxed paper. Use bone shaped cookie cutter and place each bone about an inch apart on cookie sheet.
3. Bake treats in oven for 25 minutes or until hard.
4. Let cool.
5. Give treat to dog, and let them thank you with kisses for the deliciousness!
This recipe makes about 10-12 treats if you use a medium sized cookie cutter.
Sorry the pictures aren't that clean but when I bake it gets messy!
It has been 7 years since I first started my college adventure and on May 7th, 2015, I FINALLY graduated college. I am now a Southern Virginia University alumna. I received my Bachelors of Arts in Art and will also receive my Bachelor of Arts in Family and Child Development in August; ( I also minored in Biology). I took a very unexpected two year break from college from January 2013-December 2014. That break was exactly what I needed at that time in my life, I grew more than I could have ever imagined. Even with all the progress I made, coming back to school was not an easy road.
That two year break taught me many things but there are two things I would like to share. 1) Just because you took a break from reaching a goal or chasing a dream, and just because you didn't reach milestones exactly when you thought you would doesn't mean you still can't hit that goal, live your dream, or reach that milestone. Don't ever give up on yourself no matter how hard it may be. 2) Don't forget life doesn't always happen exactly the way you planned it. Things don't happen in your time frame but in the Lord's. There are trials to go through, opportunities for growth, and perfect timing (the Lord's timing) in meeting all the amazing people in your life. If I didn't listen to the prompting to take two years off, myself and my life would be completely different and I know they would not be good different. The Lord loves me He guided me to go home for two years and He guided me to climb this uphill battle to finish school!
Blogger Cheers to not giving up on myself, accomplishing a goal, and gaining the knowledge in knowing without Heavenly Father none of it would be possible.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
This semester, I completed my Art major by completing a series of work as my final Senior Show project. All 8 completed pieces are currently hanging on campus and will remain up until the afternoon of May 7th.
While I hope to get a photography page up within the next couple months just to showcase my growth and improvement in this skill I have become extremely fond of and passionate about. And while this is not the ideal way to display my work online I still wanted to post that the digital photographs from my Senior Show are for sale:
6 of the 8 are still available
They are all 11x14in. prints framed with white mat board in 16x20in.
black frames.
"Simon"
AVAILABLE
"Gus"
SOLD
"Massimo 'Mimmo'"
AVAILABLE
"Rocko"
AVAILABLE
"Bones"
AVAILABLE
"Moo"
SOLD
"Luke"
AVAILABLE
"Kida"
AVAILABLE
For purchase or other inquiries, please email me at Amanda.otto@students.svu.edu of contact me through my Facebook page.
Artist Statement and Inspiration
Mr. Cuddles, my first dog, served as the inspiration for my show. Cuddles saved not only myself from loneliness and heartbreak but he helped my mother in her darkest times of physical and spiritual need. His spirit showed us the way to light and hope. He was more than a dog, he was an eternal blessing from Heavenly Father.
President Joseph F. Smith said, “Men cannot worship the Creator and look with careless indifference upon his creations. The love of all life helps men to the enjoyment of a better life. Wisdom and virtue come from the animal… which carries with it a spiritual as well as a material blessing. Nature helps us to see and understand God. To all His creations we owe an allegiance of service and a profound admiration.” Through the use of color theory and these beautiful dogs. I hope my digital photographs will portray at least a fraction of the joy, love, peace, strength, and hope these spirits have brought into the lives of their loved ones.
1. Salar Legging in Black Paint: I am absolutely in love with this print and legging material. I have been wearing these all weekend. They are a thick material. You can not see my skintone throught the white paint spots and it doesn't stretch to make the print look awkward. I am looking to purchase a matching sport bra this month. Highly recommend this print!
2. Ginger Pullover in Pop Coral: Love the color and the gorgeous cutout in the back, but I like my tops to be looser for workouts so I would recommend getting a size up on this. I am also absolutely in love with the thumb holes in this. I do think that because I am in Arizona and the temperatures are quite high I don't feel like this is a top I will be working out in in the next couple months but because of how fashionable it is I could see me strolling to the grocery store in it during these cool, dry nights.
3. Salar Capri in Black: I will be honest this came free with my purchase. And... HALLELUJAH!!! I have been dying for a good pair of black capris to wear to softball practice especially. While capris are just a few inches shorter than full leggings, there is something refreshing about that during these warm months ahead. The biggest issue I face with capris and crop active pants are that they start to cut off my large calves but these are PERFECT. Who couldn't use another pair of black active pants! I love these so much I am about to start buying them in every color, that is when you really know you are in love with something!
