Pinterest.com and 32 truths!

I ran across this picture on www.pinterest.com (my new favorite thing in the world)- Random interjection about pinterest- its a place where you can save all kind of awesome stuff like recipes, clothes, sayings, dresses, ect.  I mean anything you can think of.  I am not doing justice, so you have to just check it out!  Its awesomeness.  Check out my pinterest boards here.  AND... its invite only. Only for awesome people!  hahahaha! If you are interested I will send you an invite!  Trust me you want to.

Anyway, I saw this and I HAD to share the awesomeness with you.

Tell me, which one is your favorite??  For me its #11, #16, # 22, and 29.

Engagement rings

I just read a post about Kim Kardashian's new engagement ring and wanted to vomit chunks.  Its 20.5 carats and it cost 2 million dollars.  ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!  Some girls might swoon at the idea of such a thing, but I am not impressed.

Love is not determined by the size of the rock on your finger.  You don't multiply the size of the rock to find out how long you will be married.  And when shit gets rough...that rock will not hold you together.

Errrrrrrrrrrrrrr----

Hit the breaks real quick though.  Now I am NOT saying that I don't want some pretty little tidbit on my finger.  Every girl has walked past the 2 or 3 carat and fallen in love at first "Try- on -even-though-you-know-you-not-buying-it".  I mean, that princess cut solitaire is always calling my name.  I would be lying if I said it didn't.  But at the same time, I would happily accept a ring pop, or an empty box with an IOU inside.  Why?  Because when the mood to ask me for my gorgeous hand strikes, I don't want the absence of a ring or the lack of money for what is deemed a "sufficient" ring, to postpone it.

If you know me, you know I like to be fly.  I like the flyest shoes, the hottest clothes, the most unique make-up and the prettiest jewelry.  EVERYONE knows this.  But in this case, I think a little differently.  When it comes to love, I prefer things straight from the heart- a letter, a home made card, an oven because I am obsessed with baking- those things matter.  At the end of the day, those are the things I will remember, not how much he spent on it.  The Tiffany necklace that I love an adore so much was almost completely outdone by the poem he wrote on the card.  I had to just remind myself of which holiday it was, but I remember the card word for word and it still makes me giggle like an infant.

I want a ring with a story.  Maybe it is surrounded by Jade because green is my favorite color.  Maybe it was in an antique store and it belonged to some old couple.  Maybe it was the only one he thought I would like.  Stories matter.  Love matters.  Carats don't.

I hate this obsession with the materialistic side of marriage.  People are always saying such negative things about marriage but maybe if they focused on the things that actually matter BEFORE they got married, the divorce rate wouldn't be so high.

Maybe I am just a hopeless romantic...

Scale Junkie

I check out a number of weight loss blogs, magazines, and journals so that I can stay abreast of new information and changes that are occurring in the world.  Not to mention that I like to get my motivation from different avenues.  One of the blogs I read posted something about "stepping off the scale".  She talked about how much a woman's body can fluctuate on a day to day basis and how mentally taxing it is to see the scale go up and down.  She also discussed the fact that for most people, the number on the scale is a direct reflection of self worth, how hard you've been working, and how close you are to your goals.  At the end of the post, her point was quite clear; stop weighting yourself everyday.

Hmmmm let's discuss this shall we?

Things I already know
I thoroughly agree that weighing yourself everyday can be a serious problem for your self esteem because of the consistent state of change occurring inside a womans body. I can attest to this first hand, and even as we speak I am trying to remind myself that these 6lbs I put on are due to TOM and not reflecting a truth.  I know that the scale is a hijo de puta.  I know that muscle weighs more than fat and you can be going hard and losing fat but the scale doesn't reflect that.

I also know, for me personally, getting on that scale everyday puts me in check.  I know that the number on that little machine can determine if its going to be the cream chicken or the salad.  I have reaped the benefits of weighing myself everyday and seeing the numbers go down consistently (big motivator).  Contrarily, I became super sized because I wasn't conscious of my weight everyday and how different foods affected my body.

My final thoughts on it
While not weighing everyday sounds good in theory, the problem is, I didn't get into this weight loss and fitness thing to be healthy and make better choices; those things were picked up along the way.

Its not about healthy, its about skinny...

Sad to say, this was and is STILL my philosophy about my personal journey.  Now I know that all the weight-loss gurus and ex-fattys will go on and on about how making healthy choices and changing your lifestyle should take precedent.  Yea Yea Yea.  Tell it to someone who doesn't know the truth.  EVERYONE who starts on these massive weight-loss journeys has one thought in mind; Looking damn good (with the exception of people who are in danger because of their health).

With that said, my working out everyday and eating right could go to hell for all I care.  Whats important to me is getting to the weight and size I want.  Period.  Two pieces, belly shirts, skin tight dresses!  Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that I am running and biking for hours and kicking some ass with my level of physical activity, but its all for the end result- BUILT-NESS-ITY (thats my goal, builtnessity).  SICK-BODIED-NESS.

I think this is why I am obsessed with the scale.  Trust me, I wish I wasn't.  I wish I was one of those people that were content with just KNOWING they were doing the right thing, but I'm not.  I like to see it.  I know the downfalls.  I know body fluctuations.  I know water retention.  I know PMS.  I know women's bodies suck.  Yea, I know all of that.  But I also know that I am weak when to comes to food, and MR. Sonofabitch scale keeps me from falling victim to gooey goodness or salty satisfaction.  I don't lie and try to pretend that I am not still mentally fat.  I will take a cheeseburger and fries over something relatively healthy any day!  I know staying away from that stuff is due self control and not the scale, but the two are somewhat intertwined in my world.

While everyone might not need to be a scale junkie, I do.  In a relationship you have to accept the ups and the downs.  For better or for worse right?

"Do you Shaina take this scale to be a huge part of your weight loss?  Do you accept the fact that some days he will bring you up, and some days he will bring you down?  Some days he will allow you to dip your hand in the chip bag, and some days he will tell you that only lettuce is allowed?  Sometimes he will lie.  Sometimes he will ruin your entire day.  But he is one of the best things that will happen to you.  Will you honor and obey?"


"I do"


So, What do you think?  I would love to hear opinions on this.  To weigh or not to weigh... That is my question???  

Tranquilo

Hoy fue un dia muy estresante.  No me gusta hoy.  Queria martar a todos.  Los ninos, mis amigos; todas.   Pero...yo tenia recordar...TRANQUILO.

As is usually the case, the days before my time of the month (hitherto referred to as TOM) find me being unable to fall asleep at night.  I have no idea why but it happens.  I lie in bed trying to fall asleep and nothing happens for hours.  Once I finally fall asleep, its about 4 am and the idea of waking up sounds murderous.  "iewuhfisdfnfnj"-- that might as well be what my Korean alarm sings at 7 am telling me that it is time for a workout.  I was livid.  I didn't even hit snooze, but dared the alarm to go off again- and it didn't (because I didnt have the snooze on lol but I like to think I am a bad ass).

At this point, the idea of a workout sounded like nails on a chalk board.  I could barely open my eyes.  I thought for sure that TOM would rear his head today but no such luck.  Waiting for that bastard is mentally worse than the physical pain I feel when he arrives.  The visual is important so that one can feel release from the madness that PMS (or PMDD in my case) brings.  Maybe tomorrow.

I made it through the day and managed not to step on anyones toes too much but I still had a foul attitude that I could do nothing about.  It definitely doesn't help that those 6lbs haven't disappeared yet either.  That has been on my mind.  So as promised, when I got home, I ventured to the gym with Ben.  Clothes on, shoes on, mp3 at the ready, only for me to get there and have them say that they don't do one month memberships.  Shaina is going to be in Korea for less than 30 days.  Finally, she would allow the one month for $80.  Get the F*** out of here lady.  So, a very disappointed and pissed off Shaina went home.

Now I sit here trying to fight tears- pointless tears might I add.  I am overwhelmed with thoughts like "my face is breaking out" "I wouldnt have gained weight if I had self control" "You must be weak if you let these TOM emotions get to you" "What do you mean you have no energy" and several more that are even worse.  I swear I wish I was a man.

Anyway.  Now I go and take a steaming hot shower, shave something (ANYTHING) so I feel sexy, get in a nice facial, pick out something decent to wear for tomorrow, and relax.  

Manana sera mejor......Anoche, es el tiempo de traquilmente. 

Stomach Bile and Potato Chips

Well hello my darlings!  I know I have been kind of AWOL but not to worry, that is all about to change.  My fingers have yearned for you.  And the title will make sense later.

Well, this past weekend was interesting to say the least and it resulted in me gaining 6 lbs!!  Impossible you say?  Well not so much with Mrs. Fatty McButterpants over here.

Friday was the going away party for Ciara, Christian, and I and it was at a Buffet.  A huge Buffet.  I wish I could say that's where most of the damage occurred, but unfortunately it was not.  While I definitely showed my ass in there, it was only the tippy top of the crack.  The real problems came later; with the alcohol.

In my quest to be more social and stop concentrating so much on losing weight, I decided to give a huge middle finger to all things healthy.  Not only did I act a fool at the buffet, but then I continued to define the word by getting butt booty drunk at Buzz.  It was NOT a game.  And about 30 minutes before I could get myself back to my apartment I was praying to the toilet Gods and coming face to liquid with stomach bile.  Real sexy Shay.

I love this Bob Marley shirt!

Ridiculous buffet-ness

Don't ask

Drunk

Drunker

Drunnker...

Drunkkkerrr

Phillip fits right in at Cheongju English Center

Epic Ted and I at Buzz

As you can imagine by looking at the pictures, Saturday was truck loads of fun (insert sarcastic face here).  I awoke to the memory of calling Rob and professing my undying love for him; Lord have mercy on my drunken soul.  And since I am hard core, I didn't even take it back when he brought it up! THUG LIFE!!  

Saturday was full of carbs as I went and had the most fabulous pasta bread bowl at Noriter which is in Shinnae. 

Hey you see that salad on the side???!! Heck yea

As if that wasn't enough, I then went to see Pirates 4 and had a wonderful bowl of popcorn and apple pies from Burger King.  Then I went home to try to sleep off some more of the hang over which didn't work.  Later, I went to Pearl Jam and had dinner and tried to wait for Jess's going away party to start, but I could not sit there for an hour.  The longer I sat there, the more sickly I felt after the monstrous philly cheese steak and fries.  FML.  So I went home and watched a movie and fell asleep at 11:30 :(

Sunday was a movie day for us Globalvillers, so after I had a nice huge bowl of sugary cereal I went and bought 3 different kinds of chips to mix with poporn for the movie marathon.  Thats right ...THREE.  And washed it all down with 4 slices of pizza.  

O

M

G

Needless to say, I am back on the right track but I now have to get off the counterproductive lbs.  But...its was a helluva weekend...

Waist Trimming Chili- High protein!

So for everyone who has (or will) join me in the Slow Carb (AKA "I hate life") diet,  here is a new recipe.  After the most recent breakdown about being tired of the same food and literally wanting to reach inside and yank my intestines out and jump rope with them, I decided I should try some other recipes.  Sean told me about how he likes to make chili so I began to ponder.  This recipe is low-carb diet approved and quick not to mention!  Without further adieu..


Waist Trimming Chili
What you need: (other than yours truly in your kitchen bwahaha):

• 2 cans of tomatoes with Chiles (don't drain)
• 2 cans kidney beans 
• Sausage
• Chicken
• 1 large onion
• 1 large green pepper
• Red Chile peppers to taste (I used a jar)
• 1 garlic clove

Pour cans of tomatoes into a pot and heat on medium.  Once they start to bubble, throw in both cans of kidney beans.  Simmer.


In a sauce pan, cook sausages.  I used old chicken so I didnt need to do anything other than throw it in the pan for reheating once the sausages were close to being done. Slice onion, green pepper, and garlic and toss in pan with sausages and chicken.  When veggies start to soften, empty everything into the pot with tomatoes and beans. 

While chile is simmering, crush some red peppers in.  Be careful because a little goes a long way, but I like my nose running when I finish eating.  If you do not have anything close to a Jamaican pallet then tread carefully. 

Thats it.  It was very good and I had that wonderful feeling of full but not stuffed.  One thing to remember though; DONT RUB YOUR EYE WHEN YOU ARE DONE EATING!!!  I am so dense sometimes.

Slow Carb diet week 2a

So I have been doing this slow carb diet for almost 3 weeks now with some pretty decent results.  However, I AM SO TIRED OF THIS BULL!  Man Veggies, Meat, Eggs, and Beans???  I don't know if I can do this.

So far about 3 pounds down in total. Right before I started I had gained back 2 but then lost a total of 5 since week 1.  I am now sitting at 207 (well I was until I had a major melt down today).  I would really like to get rid of at least 15 more lbs before I leave for England but I am not sure if I can maintain this diet.  I feel deprived and my mouth always tastes like yuck.  I cant have fruit and that is probably the most taxing to me.  I think I may continue the diet the way it is but add in fruit.  That might be the only way to hold it together.  As it stands right now, I am almost ready to quit.  If you know anything about me, you know I don't quit things, especially when it comes to weight loss. This country makes it very difficult to lose weight while trying to do a low carb diet.  No good salad places, no healthy restaurants, no good spices, no good NOTHING!  FUCK YOU WITH A POTATO STUFFED WITH RICE KOREA!

So I have 5 weeks to get rid of 10-15 lbs.  Hmmmm.  I am putting on my thinking cap and trying to figure out what to do to drop these last lbs.  A great body is made in the kitchen, so meal pans that I can handle are optimal.  I don't want more melt downs that end at "Fry Pan".  I would have been by myself crying over my chicken if Sean didn't text me that he wanted to join.  

I would like to avoid as many tear soaked chicken tenders as I can.  But if I see one more damn egg, or bean, or fucking piece of grilled chicken I am going to go on a mass killing spree starting with everyone in Dunkin Doughnuts!!!!! I just want a bowl of cereal!

White Ain't right (especially when its supposed to be black)

I always joke with my white friends that "white ain't right and black don't crack".  I am far from the "soul sista with the fist raised" when it comes to being a black woman and I try not to take to heart the blatant preference for lighter skin over darker skin, however, I can not let this slide.

Do you remember this adorable clip from sesame street about the little black girl that loved her hair in all different fashions?  Please watch!

It was cute and adorable, and black women everywhere were proud to be recognized in such a way and especially if they had daughters who could see it.  So of course, this wonderful pride had to be capitalized on.  This would not be a problem except for the fact that this is how FOREVER 21 chose to present her.

The original

Forever 21's shirt

WHAT THE HELL????  Do you notice a problem here?

The girl in the video that so many people identified with has been bleached to be more mainstream and TO LOOK MORE WHITE!  Its my damn blog and I do NOT have to be politically correct!  WTF is this shit?  High yellow girl with blue eye shadow is NOT how she was presented.  I would have been first in line to buy this shirt if it was actually a BLACK girl.  DARK SKIN!  CAN WE HAVE ANYTHING?  And look at the person modeling it!  Can you expect me to believe that SHE is rocking a frock of curly locks?  No ma'am.

If you know me, you know that race is not an issue for me.  Even as I have always been the token in my honors classes, deans lists, college classes, and professionally, I like black jokes, white jokes, gay jokes, straight jokes, (all except Christian jokes...leave my Jesus out of this) and anything else that you can dish out, but I hate feeling like I am not being represented in the world.  Fashion statements and boldness are two things I pride myself on and I would have loved to have this shirt to jazz up with heels and jewelry.  They ruined it for me.  Maybe I am over reacting and it isn't that serious but I am truly disappointed.

What do you think about this?  I would love to hear from all races about this.  Am I overreacting?