Who Leaves a Shopping Cart two Blocks Away?

So I spot this gentleman loading groceries into his red truck.  The Harris Teeter is two blocks away.

Is he going to take the Harris Teeter shopping cart back at least one block away?  Well, Nope.

He just drives away.  I always wonder who leaves buggies on the outskirts of where they belong?

Now, I have the idea that it can be be anyone!

Solution:  I  personally use a rolling cart to wheel my items far distances.

These carts may not hold everything, but it helps to keep the neighborhood looking neat.  

They are also retractable for easy storage.

Losing Weight while Eating Out!!!!

Tuna Salad plate from Groucho's Deli - Huntersville, NC- under $10

Salmon Hibachi with Broccoli and Steamed Rice from Sushi Star - Huntersville, NC - under $12

Grilled Seafood Combination from Pho Ginseng Vietnamese - Huntersville, NC - under $17

McDonald's - under $6- Artisan Grilled Chicken sandwich- 350 calories.

Whole Foods Groceries - Hot Bar - price based on weight.

June 2015 - I am still focused on winning at weight loss!

HerbaLife meal replacement solutions, Green Giant Steamers, and Smart Restaurant Choices can keep weight loss and/or weight maintenance on track!  Another Great check-in!

The Monopod versus the Tripod

The monopod is called a selfie stick.

The self portrait stick is portable, and operated by Bluetooth technology.

I was able to take this body picture with a monopod.  The weight of the camera phone made holding the "selfie stick" a little hard to hold steady. I had to practice balancing the stick under my wrist and strategically placing my finger on the "capture" button on the monopod handle.  It beats taking body pictures in the mirror!

Inedible Organic Apples

I started buying organic apples because the wax coating used on many of the conventional apples did not blend/chop well for my smoothies.  Unfortunately, the last few organic apples that I purchased from Harris Teeter grocery store seemed great looking on the outside, but the flesh inside was inedible.  I then decided to try Publix grocery store, and they too had great looking organic apples.  However, they too were inedible.

Harris Teeter refunded my money for my bad apple, but I could not find my receipt to return this apple pictured to Publix.  In the picture, this organic apple was cut a few days prior to its picture taking.

There is perfect outer skin on the organic apple.

However, the flesh of the organic apples have been soft and/or grainy.

Averaging $1.49 per pound for pricing, organic apples, according to my research, may be frozen from a previous season.  This may explain why it looks good on the outside but "rottening" on the inside.

My Memorial of My Uncle

Dear Uncle,

After two decades, I finally held your hand again.

I was overwhelmed over the spark in your eyes,

 when I shared with you

 who I was.

I did not initially recognize you

 without your brother

pointing you out to me. 

Eventually, I started to see you 

how I remembered you.

I saw your fight, 

and your willing to exist.

I am so sorry that our healthcare system failed you.

I am so sorry that our family distance failed you.

Please know that your brother loved you so much.

I felt the helplessness that he felt

 as he had no say

 in your continued care.

I was so happy to intervene 

to help him understand 

what was being done and 

what has to be in done in the future.

My dad began to make peace

within himself, and

I found comfort that

the heaviness that we both felt was given over

to a Higher Power.

Often times, I find comfort 

in knowing that my loved ones exist.

So when I find out that they exist no more, 

it hurts.

This world will pass 

so rest in peace until

we meet again.

With love,

Forever,

Your niece. 

Winning at Weight Loss!

Drumroll Please.

I am back at my August 2012 weight.  Yayyyy!!!!  No more seatbelt extension for airplane travel.  I was about one inch away from buckling the regular seatbelt back in January 2015 for my California trip.  It was the first time that I ever had to ask for a seatbelt extension on a plane.  What a rude awakening to the fact that I had gained weight!

So I joined an HerbaLife two week weight loss challenge.  What a rough two weeks!  After HerbaLife shots, shakes, teas, over 10 hours of walking, lots of water, diet restrictions of pork and beef, and consuming a lot of Green Giant Steamers,  I WON the challenge!!!!

Five pounds lost.  Second place was 4.8 pounds lost.  Soooo Close!!!

Thank you Green Giant!  Many of their "Steamers" are Weight Watchers endorsed.  They taste great, and they curve my hunger.

So HerbaLife and Green Giant Steamers are helping me to win at weight loss!!!!!

On a separate note, I have worked with personal trainers over a 20 year period.  I have participated in LA Weight Loss and Weight Watchers programs over a 20 year period.  I have experienced 10 pounds a month weight loss before.  So I am not new to weight loss nor weight gain, but because I am barely 5'3" with a short torso, people are going to see my body change with every pound up or down.  I am especially proud that People magazine put a size 22 plus size model on their  June 1, 2015 edition.  Tess Holliday is 5'5" and 280 pounds according to the article.  She is also age 29 with gorgeous hair and shape.  

Plus size is finally getting some respect that is long overdue. I am happy to have experience being plus size because I got to see how invisible one can be in the real world.  I got to see the rudeness.  I got to see the disrespect.  It has been eye-opening, but in a world with so much unrest, fast mobility is going to be important as  the world continues to be at war.  I want to be ready to survive, and less weight will be faster speed.  Thanks for checking out my journey.

Selfies (Self Portraits) Rock!!!

Photo credit: usmagazine.com

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson just set a record for the most selfies in three minutes.  I am quite fond of the "Rock" because he was on the cover of the Ebony magazine issue when I was chosen as one of Ebony Magazine's Super Single Sisters of 2001.  I also love taking selfies or self portraits myself!

Camera phones today are great for recording police brutality and capturing aerial views, but I find them horrible when amateur people are taking pictures of other people.

Group pictures

I hate when I see a group picture where everyone has their bodies in awkward positions "squeezing" to fit all the heads into the frame like the old days when the person taking the picture takes a aerial shot from the floor to the ceiling fan.  Pictures like that look too raw.

Hair/Makeup Shots

I have had to submit shots for hair and makeup print consideration, and it never fails that 75% or more of the picture is a full body shot with the skyline included whenever I get a friend to take them for me.  I always have to crop and zoom just to get the actual hair and makeup shot.  Of course, in my mind, I am thinking what a waste of time.  I could have taken selfies, and I could have gotten even better angles.

Snapshots

I hate snapshots for the same reason.  Often times, you are entering or leaving the scene with items in your hands. I usually am not trying to do a full body pose, but again, the amateur picture taker takes an aerial shot versus a head and shoulder shot exposing a very raw image.

Bad shots

I remember touring a replica of the Air Force One plane.  I wanted a window and Presidential seal shot which should have included mostly an upper body shot.  Because there was a long line to take pictures in the space, I did not check the shot that my friend took of me until later, and I was so disappointed.  She barely captured the Presidential seal nor the window, it was mostly a picture of me slightly reclined in the chair.  My thoughts were you can take a full body picture of me anywhere - I was really trying to capture the image of me flying in Air Force One. 

So I have vowed to always pose for a full body shot when anyone is using their camera phones to take pictures and/or I will give full directions of what I need in the shot.  When all else fails, then you can always rely on the selfie!

June 2015 update:  The new Selfie Sticks are an awesome solution!

These monopods use Bluetooth technology. The mobile phones can make the stick heavy to hold using only one hand, but it allows for more full body pictures without being in a mirror.