Saturday News

To begin today, the Lord keeps reminding me to live today...not worry about tomorrow. To not fear.....to just embrace Him today....to open my heart to Him today. So I want to challenge you all with me on that. Do you ever find it hard in your circumstances to just be still and trust? I am living that now. I am in the process of rediscovering my passions, my dreams, my interests. I am definitely in a season of life I will always remember. In that, I want to jump out and take on things...but I feel a gentle nudge reminding me to pray first, respond later. I know this heart that the Lord gave me is unique and from Him. I know the desires in them are from Him. So while I try to balance the "waiting" and the "stepping out" I will not fear, I will trust Him today. Tomorrow will happen tomorrow and then I will trust Him tomorrow. So if you think about praying for me in this, I would love it. In return, I would love to pray for you. You can always email me privately...go to my profile page to do it...or you can email me at fudgyfrosting@gmail.com I know prayer works, and I can give you many examples. I am thinking about having a special day on my blog dedicated to testimonies of prayer. I would love feedback on that.

So, today, Saturday is basketball day. Lily has one at 1 and Tripp has one at 10. I LOVE watching my kids play. I love watching them in general. They are so whimsical and child-like, and care-free. Do you remember a time back when you were that way? My Bible teacher, Denise has encouraged us this week to reflect on that....so I am. I love love love the child-like faith and spirit. I miss that. I miss being care-free and child-like...so I am gonna be more like that.

Speaking of that.....Lily had 3 girls sleep over last night for her 11th birthday....the sweetest girls. We went to Pie in the Sky Pizza, and then I had made appointments for manicures for us all. They loved that. I just loved driving them and listening to their 11 year old chatter....singing at the top of their lungs a Taylor Swift song....I sang too. I got the cute little flowers on my nails too. They said, "Mrs. Norvell....you are awesome!" I replied back, "I am" I love these girls like they are my own. We came home, opened presents, and camped out in the bonus room to watch Confessions of a Shopoholic.....(I just LOVE the books by Sophie Kinsela. I can so relate to her in so many ways...more of the past Shelli...who loved to shop and racked up debt. Now the more responsible Shelli doesn't do it....cash for it all. And I don't have the "sickness" I used to though.)

I love these girls like they are my own...because my sweet Lily loves them. Last night, I felt like the Kool Aide mom and it was fun. It took me back to my days of middle school. I think I was blessed just as much as Lily.

Tonight we are going to an 80's party...fun fun. My husband and I were thinking about dressing up like JR and Sue Ellen. But my week got away from me and I didn't get outfits. I think I am gonna wear a denim jacket with lots and lots of Duran Duran buttons on them....and poof up my hair.

Have a great Saturday!

Boot Camp Friday...Judgement Day 2

Today, I want to talk to you about a person who inspires me. Now, many people inspire me...so if you are not the woman I name....don't get your feelins hurt...I may talk about you another day. But today is the day I want to applaud my friend and sista....drum roll pleeeeez..........

TERA!!!!!!

Now, Tera is my friend who joined boot camp two weeks after me. She has been doing it for 6 weeks and lost 8 lbs. She has been so committed to eating well....much better than me. She is working out like a maniac...and taking me along for it. I will get a text almost daily saying, "you wanna work out?" So not only is she my boot camp buddy...she and i work out a lot together. But the thing about Tera that inspires me even more than her drive to be committed in her clean eating and her working out, is her strength in spirit. Her strength in the Lord. She has encouraged me so much lately. On the days I don't want to get up at 5:00 am to go to boot camp, she is calling me or texting and letting me know she will pick me up. Today in particular, I know I wouldn't have gotten out of bed at all, had she not texted me the night before.

Tera, I am so proud of you and your hard work. I am proud you are my friend and my sister. You have been so good to help me stay focused when I am getting a little loafy. So, thanks.

Now, about weigh in, unlike Tera, I didn't do it. I chose to live in denial. I know I hadn't eaten as well and taken too many cheat liberties. I also know that my fragile state of emotions this day would not allow me to take a hit on it...so I decided to wait. I may wait til Monday...I may wait til next month. I haven't decided yet.

It was a great workout today. Joey worked us hard. My heart rate stayed high the entire time...yet, at the end of the hour, I had only burned 337 calories....that just stinks! but it is 337 more than I would have burned had I not gone at all...thanks to Tera, for picking me up with her car with the awesome fanny warmers....

xoxo

a better day

Boot camp today was a little easier. Now if I could coordinate my new watch and my excises so I could get an accurate reading of my heart rate and calories burned. Here is the thing that stinks. The better shape I get in....the less calories I burn in a workout. I am only burning about 300 calories in these boot camps. CRAZY! It feels like I am burning about a thousand!
I went to the 5:30 am class. I think I have said before that I have to do that on Wednesdays cuz of my Bible study, which by the way was AMAZING today. I will have to get to that one later...still processing.

But we did those TRX bands again today. And yes, Angel was right, it was a little easier...so I am hangin in there. We did lunges, squats, all kinds of arms, and in between cardio.. I definitely feel like I worked hard. I sweated alot. The cool thing is that I am not that sore the next day and not having to take any ibuprofen.....I think it is the new nutritional supplement I am taking. I have been on it for a month and it has helped my recovery for sure. It has also helped me sleep better. I haven't slept this good since I was in college. And, I don't NEED coffee anymore.....like every morning, I NEEDED coffee to survive.....I don't anymore. It is called MaxGXL.....if you are interested in it.....let me know. Or go to www.max.com AMAZING....

I honestly am in denial about my weigh in on Friday. I guess I have to face the music. I am not thinking it is gonna be good news. My eating is good, til about 3 lately...and I crave some stuff I shouldn't. In fact, I had a protein shake this morning, then a great raw veggie salad that my buddy Tera made me after Bible Study...it was spinach, peppers, squash, a little bit of turkey.....and zucchini. I ate it all raw with no dressing. Felt so proud. Thanks Tera. Then I got home and my MOM sent a cookie cake to my daughter for her birthday.....plus, there is still leftover chocolate fudgy frosting that I dipped into. It wasn't bad...but just a taste. Then I had an apple and a handful of almonds. Tonight for dinner, I just had a cup of tortilla soup from Chuys, my fave Mexican restaurant.....I didn't eat but like 3 chips in all...I was so proud.... Maybe I should keep a food log with you guys......what do you think?

Well, til tomorrow, Have a great day, great workout..

Bootcamp Bites (sometimes)

So today's boot camp left me with a discouraged feeling. But before I tell you what happened, my buddy, Angel reminded me that when we do something different, it shocks our muscles, and it is harder...but that is a good thing cuz before I talked to her, I wanted to go home and slather some peanut butter on some chocolate graham crackers and down it with some milk. So thanks Angel! Instead, I went home and had water and a hot shower!

Back to boot camp. Well, today, it was the first day in the new studio Temple Fitness. I must say it is sooooo nice. I love it! You have got to come check out the studio for sure! Boot camp was so hard. It was a huge leg workout anyway for the first 30 minutes and I was already tired. Well then Kelly pulled out the TRX bands....from the ceiling. Everything is done by gripping the bands (for dear life!) and resistance comes from our body weight. We did squats, lunges, flys, lateral raises, all using our body as resistance against this suspended band from the ceiling.....HARD! HARD...are you listening to me! HARD!!!!! Plus, I have weak hands and that made it harder. The hardest thing was when we had to put our feet in the band handles and do planks and push ups with our legs suspended in the air. I couldn't do a push up because once I got down, I couldn't get back UP! So I was mad...at myself...Discouraged too. I left a little down.

But Angel helped me. So now, I will take on those TRX bands again darnit....and I will get stronger. People, I have to say, my eating aint been as clean as last month. I wont be surprised if I didn't lose any weight. I gotta get back into the clean eating for sure. At 40, it aint so easy getting in shape......it is mainly eating for me. On the flip side, I am noticing my arms and shoulders are looking much more toned. So that is good.

So, there is my honest boot camp day. If I could encourage ya'll, in whatever you are doing, I would say, stick with it....and keep up the hard work. Press on my friends, Press on.

xoxo

my sabbath

My Bible Study Teacher.....encouraged us last week to take time to rest...to observe the sabbath. I have several friends that really took that to heart. Me? I was kinda busy...but doing for my daughter today...not for myself. And I really enjoyed it. I enjoy my time with my kids. Lily's birthday is Tuesday, but we are celebrating on Monday night due to a very very busy Tuesday. So today, I baked her a cake...I made it extra special by making it a four layer cake and my special homemade fudgy frosting that the kids die for! While doing that, my sweet kids washed my car. It was dirty......so they took awhile.

Then, I did something I thought I wouldn't do for a bit, but I did it.....I bought a box of color and highlighted Lily's hair. For her birthday. She has friends that have iPhone, mac laptops, highlights, and the top of everything. Lily knows that we will NOT be indulging her with the latest technology....she is just now 11! But, I don't have a problem treating her to her highlights (just real light ones too) and I did let her get her ears double pierced too this weekend...all in the name of her birthday. I just feel like we need to choose our battles and I am standing firm on the technology, but I can give a little on the other. She likes being a girl, and I can relate to that. So we spent 2 plus hours with me pulling her hair thru a cap and then putting on all the solution and then waiting.....you know the drill. To be honest, I was really nervous about how it would turn out...I had NEVER done it before, much less my own daughter! But I wasn't about to spend over 100 dollars letting her do this at the salon. So I prayed for the best....and she loves it. It does look good.

Now tomorrow I am gonna have to make 48 muffins for her Team NCM mentoring meeting. I signed up to be snack mom for Tuesday...her actually birthday. Ambitious, I know. Birthday's come once a year, and they are special.

So my sabbath was busy, but I loved it. I didn't work out. So that was relaxing. I spent it with my family, doing things I love. I hope your day was restful and relaxing.

Love,

Shelli

Let the Waters Rise by Mikeschair

This song really touches me. I love it. It just totally goes along with my frame of mind.....

Let The Waters Rise lyrics

Don't know where to begin
Its like my world's caving in
And I try but I can't control my fear
Where do I go from here?

sometimes its so hard to pray
When You feel so far away
But I am willing to go
Where you want me to
God, I trust You

There's a raging sea
Right in front of me
Wants to pull me in
Bring me to my knees
So let the waters rise
If You want them to
I will follow You
I will follow You
I will follow You

I will swim in the deep
'Cuz You'll be next to me
You're in the eye of the storm
And the calm of the sea
You'll never out of reach

God, You know where I've been
You were there with me then
You were faithful before
You'll be faithful again
I'm holding Your hand

There's a raging sea
Right in front of me
Wants to pull me in
Bring me to my knees
So let the waters rise
If You want them to
I will follow You
I will follow You
I will follow You

God Your love is enough
You will pull me through
I'm holding onto You
God Your love is enough
I will follow You
I will follow You

Ohhh

There's a raging sea
Right in front of me
Wants to pull me in
Bring me to my knees
So let the waters rise
If You want them to
I will follow You
I will follow You
I will follow You

Ohhh

You know, sometimes, life just aint great. Sometimes there is hurt, pain, heartache. A lot of times it is distraction from the enemy. There are days I just wanna quit and stay in bed...or you just wanna be BAD...whatever BAD looks like in your life. For me it varies from eating a HUGE bowl of ice cream, to going out and having too many drinks to numb it up...or even more drastic, like ending a friendship or a marriage.. Stuff is hard sometimes. But I choose to follow God, I choose to press in to Him always. The Bible says in

Isaiah 43:2:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze

We do have that promise as Christ followers. He will never leave us. He is right there the entire time. When we are feeling like we are gonna drown or be consumed, or walkin through a fiery trial and we don't think we can bear any more. He wont ever give us more than we can handle...ever, He promises that in his holy scriptures.

I encourage you to find that song and listen to it...just reading the lyrics doesn't do it justice.

Love,

Shelli

Zumba Video

Okay, no I am not obsessed with Zumba. Some people don't know what it is...so here is a video....check it out. Then for anyone who knows me...picture me as one of the girls in the back trying to figure it out.....but make sure you have an empty bladder first!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf0q6qtThF4

Today, I read in Ephesians 1 thru 3. I am concentrating on some of the prayers Paul prayed....I encourage you to do the same. More on that later.

Love,

Shelli

Zumba!

Zumba was so fun. I stink. I stayed in the back where no one could see me....but then no one watches anyone...cuz they are all trying to figure out what the heck is going on. Anyway...I am sooo uncoordinated. It is fun. I really really want to get better. I think I could get a good cardio in if I could get the steps. You know who I thought would be so great at Zumba and love it? My mom!

My mom can dance! I remember at weddings and parties her gettin out there and doing all that stuff...the jitterbug and swing....she is a great dancer. She would love it. So mom, if you read this...you have got to check this Zumba thing out and do it. You will love it.

It makes exercise fun. I just hope that I can get better. I got so intimidated. It was fun with Lily with me. She actually got out there and tried a few songs....it was sooo cute. There is still hope for that child...she is just 10 almost 11...it is a skill to learn....I know she can pick up...she is learning hip hop in her Team NCM mentoring program. She is gonna get it. Me? That remains to be seen. I think I need a tutor????

Need Help

If you know anyone who can help me do a blog makeover....I would love it...I wanna put music on it, and change the look. Cupcakes isn't very motivating for a boot camp girl now is it. I would love some names. Thanks friends...

Love,

Shelli

Zumba, Bootcamp, and Clean Eating

Today, is Saturday, February 13. This month has absolutely flown by and I can't believe I haven't written in almost 2 weeks. That is a red flag to me that I am getting too busy. I have got to slow down a bit. My kids activities are keeping me going. So before they get home from school, I need to be more organized for sure.....I am saying it out loud.

Boot camp is great. I am always glad I go. I hurt...but I go. Friday, I went at the 5:30 am time...and it is just torture getting out of bed that early! My friend Tera knows how much of a morning person I aint. I roll out of bed with my exercise clothes ON and all I have to do is brush my teeth and put on my shoes. I just don't function well.....so when she texted me at 5:10 am and said, "I am leaving, want me to come get you?" I texted back a simple "yes " ANYTHING FOR HER HEATED SEATS!

Joey does this early one and he always makes me nervous. I like him for sure, but he always seems to come around me when I am doing it wrong, or just about the time I have to toot.....Its the jumping....I promise...I am not a flagellant girl! We did this kettelball thing where you squat down and the kettleball goes through your legs and you are keeping your arms strait out the whole time...the thing is is that that darn kettleball going through my legs on the squat kept slamming against my bootie...and it hurt. Then Joey came and told me I was doing it wrong....a little embarrassing, but then I got better. It works EVERYTHING! My core, back, glutes, quads.....that was a hard and good one....

I have to say my least favorite exercises, yet most affective is the frog jumps......I HATE them! They are killer! You have to squat down low, then use all your energy to jump out as far as you can go forward, land in a squat again and jump all over.....like a frog. It is a burst for your quads! I hate it. It is killer! The last time I did it, I was so into my form and doing it write that at one point when I went from my squatting to burst forward, I instead teetered backwards and fell on my bum! This is common, I usually fall once a class! I am so uncoordinated!

So in my uncoordination, I began to act goofy and with some good 80's music playing at the end, I began to pull out all my Michael Jackson moves. It was fun...I free in myself to act silly...I love that. Which brings me to my next point....ZUMBA.....Yeah, sister don't zumba. I got NO natural talent for it. I get embarrassed. Last time I did a zumba class, I was the one in the back of the room rocking in the corner in the fetal position.....But seriously....almost! But, this is my new year for adventure, stepping out, and going outside my comfort zone a bit....so today, I am going to a Zumbathon. All my best buddies are going....and it is for a good cause...sodium rec center, a Christian center going up......so, I am going and will learn some things I am sure. I hear Zumba is sooo fun, and a good workout....so here I go!

Now I have to confess. My eating is not great. Not bad, but not great. I need help and encouragement here. I am taking more than one cheat liberty a week. Prob. more like 3. I gotta get back into it. 70% of weight loss is eating clean......and that has got to get better. last night at Otters, before we took Tripp and his buddy to the movies, I had a grilled chix sandwich, half the bun....and FRIED dill pickles. I didn't eat em all.....but they did taste yummy. No, I didn't get popcorn or coke. So that is a victory for sure. I do need encouragement and prayers here.....so anything you say, I would love.....leave a comment.

I hope ya ll have a great day....stay tuned to hear about my Zumba class...

xoxo

its my birthday...its my birthday!

Well, today is my 40th Birthday. I really don't feel 40. I don't feel like I look 40. So there. It has been a great day. My husband showered me with gifts....but what meant the most is so silly, but it meant alot tome. He (for the very first time EVER) put a bow on my wrapped gift. Now I know that sounds funny, but I love the present that is beautifully wrapped and complete with a bow. It shows that the extra mile was taken to make it special. It could be a razor blade wrapped in a beautiful wrapping and a big bow and I would LOVE it for the presentation. For 13 years, I have gone after Michael and put bows on the boxes he has wrapped for me. He doesn't do bows....unless they come with a sticker you peel and stick...and that is really going the extra mile for him. Anyway, today......he wrapped a gift and YES, there was a ribbon tied around it and it was in a bow! I knew he was wanting to make it special....and I made sure he knew I noticed. It was sooooo sweet!

Well, I still went to boot camp. Kids in tow. School out again for frozen streets. I am stepping it up...I took my 8 lb. weights today....no more of those 5 pounders....I have to say, I do feel stronger....my pushups and planks arent as hard as they were.....I am still not doing real boy pushups....I am gonna lose even more this month. NOT because of any of the fudgy frosting I made that is for sure. I finally had to throw out the sheet cake I made myself. I was just diving in with a spoon to eat the frosting off the cake....leaving the cake behind. Girls, you know what I am talking about.....a few of you....you know you do it too. So, I had to just pitch it. I know I am only allowed one cheat MEAL a week...but I think today, with the frosting.....and lasagna tonight that my sweet sista in law is making for me....it may just have to be a Cheat day. I will do extra tomorrow.

I am heading to my Brother's house in a bit....they are cooking and celebrating. This is the first year ever, since I have left Orlando..(22 years ago) that I have gotten to have any portion of my extended family with me on my Birthday! I am happy. It is the simple things...

Family is everything...It is all you have....I am thankful for all of my family. I miss my sister back in Orlando and can't wait to see her soon too. I know it is hard on her, missing my brother and all.....I hope they can come soon. Love you Shannon!