the short list

well hello again:

i haven't been much of an angieinpink blogger
these days 'cause i been too busy:

*enjoying arizona's spring
*organizing my healthy blog
*giving up pepsi
*teachin' & workin'
*making messes
&
*livin' la vida loca

hope you're having a
{happy week!}

angieinshape.blogspot.com

It's up & runnin' folks!
I'm {so} excited 'bout this!

If you still wanna join the party...it's never too late!
Just email me! {angieinpink@gmail.com}

If you signed up, and for some reason aren't on there...lemme know.
{I'm sort of an airhead.}

Happy double blogging to get rid of my double chin{s}!

Anyone in??

Okay, so was anyone else so completely & utterly inspired by this?

I was. I cry like a baby every single episode.

And she won. Go cute her.

Go everyone that participated, I say.

I’ve got chills. {They’re multiplyin’.}

***

Since we all know I live my life as an open book on this here blog, I’ll let y’alls in on a little secret:

I’m really jealous her. And so very inspired by her glowing look of health. Her confidence. Her victory over addiction & bad habits. Her totally rock-star-ness.

I am the very first person in this world to say that the inside is what matters. I believe whole heartedly in loving yourself & others for their spirit, their smile, their hearts…and nothing else. I don’t believe that being skinny is everything. I cringe at what an emphasis being thin is to young girls around the world. I feel this constant urgency to speak out against all the pressure to be a size 2 & this certain mold-of-a person society has set as the standard. Ask all that are close to me: I feel very passionately about this topic & if you ever wanna ruffle my feathers, just make inappropriate comments about someone’s weight in front of me. {and then watch your back, hehe.}

That being said: I desire a healthful life for myself & my lil family. I desire to feel comfortable in my own skin. I want to feel like I am taking the upmost care of the amazing temple that God has blessed me with. I have oodles of confidence in the fact we are all children of God with purpose & direction…and I want that light to shine as bright as it possibly can from the inside, all the way out.

But! I really like pepsi. And hydrogenated fat. And being sort of lazy & ordering take out. And prioritizing my to-do list where exercise is below something like “re-paint the baseboards”.

So here’s the deal.

I’m kicking off my own "Biggest Loser" of sorts.

And it shall be called: well, I'm not sure yet.

It begins Monday morning, 6am mountain standard time.
{I don’t even know what that means, but I just wanted to say it, to feel important.}

ALL that want to join the movement are welcome & absolutely free to participate!
{Even if I barely/don’t know you!}

I'm doing it no matter what...but I thought I'd let whoever's interested in on the party, if you wanted! (:

I will be starting a new blog, in addition to this one, completely dedicated to my/our endeavors.

It will be a place for me to post inspirational thoughts, quotes by awesome people, daily encouragement, healthy recipes, and my random life’s drama through my lil weight-loss ride. It will be a blog where comments are welcome to assist each others’ success as we endure along & pick each other up when we “accidentally” take a generous-sip from Myron’s Route 44.

It does not matter if you have 5.8 lbs or 150+ lbs to lose.
This is all about being a healthier & happier version of yourself.

I’m really excited about {conquering} bad habits & achieving goals.
Together, I & whoever wants to participate...can all ROCK!

BTW, this is all way out of my comfort zone.
I realize that this is a private issue for most people, including myself.
But I am willing to try something new, for a fun & rewarding experience.

A wise man once said…

“"Where performance is measured, performance improves. Where performance is measured and reported, performance improves dramatically.
Where performance is measured and reported publicly, performance improves exponentially."

–Thomas S. Monson (:

So…

If you want to, send me a picture…it can be just a head shot, whatev…

and then include a short phrase of why you are takin’ on the challenge to live a healthier life.

For example:

*Angie Dunn: to be the healthiest & happiest I can be.

Don’t worry, *your current weight, goal weight, goals, all of that is for your own personal business. I’m just going to post photos down the side of the blog all of the cool peeps that have made a commitment to hop on the bandwagon!

After 12 weeks, I will have y’alls submit your success stories! And one lucky recipient will win a *special-snail-mail package* from yours truly. It definitely won’t be worth 250K, but it’ll be bright, happy, fun & filled with things that I totally love.

But most of all, in 12 short weeks, we will be well on our way to living in complete confidence in who we are & what we can achieve!

Sound cool?

K, email me your pix:

angieinpink@gmail.com

Oh, and have a happy week, k?

PS: stay tuned next week o’ angieinpink for lots of tags…i’ve been “it” for quite sometime….

cupcakes & gratitude

i spent the majority of this afternoon feeling slightly off.

i was just feelin' overwhelmed by the trials of life, and the heartache & struggles that myself, friends & family, & fellow-humankind go through. there is so much hardship in the world; so many bad things that happen to good people.

my heart was heavy & hurting.

and on top of all that...i was *st-ressed to the max* about these dang cupcakes that i had to make for activity day. nothing earth shattering, just the usual angie drama...wanting everything to match & be aesthetically pleasing: 'cause i'm obsessive like that.

well, after much hurry & crazy-ish moments, the cupcakes have been baked & activity day has come & gone.

for our lil "lesson" we focused on President Monson's recent messages at conference. each of our girls read something that was meaningful to them.

one of the cute girlies read this amazing quote by the newly sustained Prophet of my church:

"Mortality is a period of testing, a time to prove ourselves worthy to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. In order to be tested, we must sometimes face challenges and difficulties. At times there appears to be no light at the tunnel’s end—no dawn to break the night’s darkness. We feel surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of shattered dreams, and the despair of vanished hopes. We join in uttering the biblical plea “Is there no balm in Gilead?”

We are inclined to view our own personal misfortunes through the distorted prism of pessimism. We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone. If you find yourself in such a situation, I plead with you to turn to our Heavenly Father in faith. He will lift you and guide you. He will not always take your afflictions from you, but He will comfort and lead you with love through whatever storm you face.

With all my heart and the fervency of my soul, I lift my voice in testimony today as a special witness and declare that God does live. Jesus is His Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer; He is our Mediator with the Father. He loves us with a love we cannot fully comprehend, and because He loves us, He gave His life for us. My gratitude to Him is beyond expression."

***

and as she was reciting that in her adorable little 10-year-old voice, I felt a calming peace come over me. a clarity and freshness eased my mind & mismatching cupcakes certainly didn't seem all that important, afterall.

i believe President Monson's words. i know with every ounce of my heart that there is a mindful God in heaven who is our cheerleader & friend. i believe in a Savior, Jesus Christ who overcame not only sin, but disappointment, grief, depression, and any pain we might be facing.

tonight my heart is heavy with gratitude.
gratitude for life & experiences that help us to "make weak things become strong."

***

have a
happy happy happy
tuesday!

hijacked by a two year old

dear bloggers,

thanks {so much} for all the happy birthday wishes. i had a really fun b-day week & my relatives/friends spoiled me so, so much. being 2 is "awe-thum," as i would say.

my mom wanted me to tell you that she feels like her blog is getting really boring.
she's gonna try to kick it up a notch in the near future...but she can't make any promises. (:

until then,
*sleep tight & don't let the bed bugs bite.

oh, and if you can't fall asleep 'cause your mom is trying to take away the binky....
just scream super loud, until she gives in.
{it totally works.}

hugs & kisses,
chloe

Couldn't have said it better myself, Martina.

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see

She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the
world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me
strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand
around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart
has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daugter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me

For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

***
{Happy Thursday!}

my cup runneth over.

'nuf said.

{happy wednesday}

2

this week we celebrate our sweetest chloe.

i thank my lucky stars every single solitary day, for this two-year-old blessing.

it for reals feels like {just yesterday} that i was great with child & anticipating her arrival.

i was oh-so nervous.
and so very excited.
and had wicked cankles.

never could i have known the treat i was in for...

the contentment...
the out-of-control joy...
the utter perfection...
the insane amount of love i was about to expirience...


thanks for choosin' me, sweets.
i love you to the moon & back.

happy 2.

♥, mom

what-up{date}

*back from cali & had a fabulously refreshing time with my awesome friends.

*busy, busy, busy...catching up on playtime with my fam, preparing for {the happiest class on earth} tomorrow, & devouring my dvr'd conference sessions.

*blogger.com didn't let me post pics today or thursday. what is up? a big { so sorry} to those of you who are waiting to peak @ my layouts from class last week, &/or for class in the morn.

*be back tomorrow...cross your fingers that the picture thingy will be workin' so my blog-life can be more visually pleasing. {thanks.}

happy monday.

april fools, shmapril shmools.

fer real.

why you ask?
well.
'cause i'm 97.3% gullible.

thus me=fool {pretty much} all day.

so i thought that in honor of a lil april-fools-bahumbug, i'd post a list of legit facts you may or may not be wondering about me. {no april fools-ing allowed.}

fact: we sold the truck this weekend to a cute blogger's son that's gonna fix 'er up. and i visit the garage about every 10 minutes to make sure it's not a dream. i'm ever-so grateful to the new owners.

fact: i sorta feel like rapunzel in this picture 'cause my hair is passed my ear lobes.

fact: me and 3 million 12 year olds have a crush on dread-lock-boy aka jason castro. {it's true}

fact: every time i think of my little brother{s} randomly quoting rescuers down under a couple weeks ago..."mmm, pea soup"....i die laughing for about 5 minutes. {maybe you just had to be there}

fact: me & george {forman, that is} made really dry chicken for dinner tonight.

fact: my little sister holly is everything i wish i was in junior high.

fact: i'm not pregnant; just really chubby.

fact: before bed-ish is my new blogging/email time.

fact: my upstairs is always dirtier than my downstairs, which can be kinda scary.

fact: i'm runnin' a lil 4-miler in two-ish weeks with r-dawg & myron. actually, i might be walking.

fact: my daughter is ghandi. she won't eat.

fact: i'm leaving for a cali-roadtrip this weekend!

fact: i'll post after pics of the scrapbook room/previous black hole once i get my act togetha & finish up.

fact: my activity day girls are so sweet & smart & fabulous. i just love them.

fact: i've watched 'dan in real life' three times this week.

fact: i'm headed to wally world after this, need anything?

fact: it's been a pretty fab-ish day.

{hope yours was the same}

happy tuesday!