The Past Few Months

Hello my dear friends!!! 

It's been way too long. I definitely plan to change that and will be posting more often.  I've just come through a very, very busy season and I can see things leveling out enough to be able to post regularly.  That's why I love Rosalie so much - she posts every day regardless of what she has going on!! 

I plan to weigh-in and post my meals every Sunday like I use to. I love that accountability and it really seems to help. I've tried writing my meals down but it's not as motivating to me when no one else is looking at it.  So here we go.  Starting this Sunday, I'll post what I ate this week. Feel free to give me any feedback or ask any questions that you might have.

So - you're wondering how I'm doing with my weight loss, right?  Yikes!! I'm embarrassed to say that I've actually gained weight!!  Yep. It's sad but true.  Actually, I have learned even more about what worked and what didn't.  Let's just get the number out there, ok - This morning I weighed 149.4. 

I hate posting that number - but it's the truth. Now let me tell you how I got there and what I plan to do about it.

If you recall, we took a cruise in May. I actually lost weight on it because I had 24-hour access to grilled fish and chicken and lots of veggies. I had already been eating clean for 4 months so these were the foods that I desired!  Mentally, I never struggled to stay away from the desserts.  That was never, ever an issue for me.  If I remember correctly, I think I took a bite or two of a dessert once or twice and had a piece of cheesecake the last night, but that was it.

Then we took a driving trip through the Midwest.  I still did very well considering eating out every meal for a week.  I gained about 2 lbs. and weighed in at 140.  I wasn't really concerned much about that. I continued working out and eating clean and then got ready for our next vacation.  This time, we drove to my parents house in California stopping at the Grand Canyon on the way.  This trip is what spiraled me out of control. Let me tell you how and why.

I use to fear trips.  I mean really fear them. I hated the weight gain that always seems to come with them for me.  I not only use to go on vacation from our home, but also would take a vacation from eating well.  Know what I mean? So, before I took the cruise, I mentally prepared for it.  Instead of focusing on the desserts and unlimited food, I was going to continue eating clean and just view it as enjoying someone else cooking the same foods for me. It worked!  Then we took a driving trip and ate out for a week.  I still did pretty well because I continued to order grilled meats and veggies when eating out. 

Our third trip was different yet again, because this time we were staying with my parents.  I realized on this trip that's it's really, really hard to lose weight when I'm staying at someone else's house.  My mom and dad are totally accommodating and would never mind if we bought our own food and ate what we wanted.  That works for breakfast and lunch but not for dinner. I can't go to my mom's and make a separate dinner.  I would feel rude doing that.  Therefore, we eat what everyone else is eating.  Hot dogs, goulash, etc..   My mom did always have the fixins available to make a salad but I was totally lacking in protein.  In fact, when I eat grilled chicken, fish and lots of veggies, my body does so well and the weight drops off.  Needless to say, I gained over 5 lbs on this trip.  I came back at 146 - ugh!! (and that's from being gone for 12 days)!! :(

I'd held steady at that weight for the past 10 weeks.  I re-committed to working out again and went to the gym last week. I am so sore I can barely move - but I know it's a good thing.  I just wish I hadn't quit working out but it was really hard to do this summer (that will be another post).  I even wanted to participate in a few online challenges but it was harder this summer being gone so much so I didn't end up doing them.

Anyways, whenever I start working out again, I always gain a few lbs.  Then, the next week, it drops back off and those muscles start firing up my metabolism. I'm so ready for that again and I'm feeling very positive about my weigh-in this coming Sunday.

I wanted to share that about a month ago I realized that I wasn't craving the good, healthy foods any longer. A few months ago, I loved eating my grilled meats and veggies and that's where I need to get back to. I had no cravings for sweets and carbs. I actually craved the good stuff.  Now I'm craving the carby, starchy foods.  There has definitely been a mental change in me. I think the 12 days on vacation when we didn't really eat well, was just long enough to break my good habits.

I allowed the processed, high-carb foods back in ad thought that I'd get back on track when I got home---- but it was just long enough that it was too hard to get back on track for me. School was starting two weeks after we got home so I told myself it would be easier than but it wasn't.  Let me tell you that homeschooling was far, far easier (for me at least) than sending the kids to school.  I mean, back-to-school nights, paperwork, homework, meeting with teachers, fundraisers, more homework, pre-ordering lunch, and more homework - then add on the sports, student council, NHS, birthdays, company in town, homecoming, doctors appointments, a broken dryer for over a week, etc... I could go on and on.  Needless to say, it has been a rough past 10 weeks and I never got back on track - until now.  I think I was afraid to start and then get side-railed from the get go. I had to wait until things settled down a little bit and I could exhale. Last week I hit the gym and I am so excited to get back into shape.  I (and you) can do this.  If you are looking to get back on track, let's do it together - TODAY!!!

Who's in??   Let's get over the hump together and get back on the road to good, clean eating.  The first step is the hardest, right?  I know I'm going to hate today and tomorrow, but come Wednesday or Thursday, I bet I'll be feeling better. I'm prepared to feel a little tired as my body detoxes but that's a good thing too.  I'm determined to not cave so I may have to complain for a day or two here to get it out!  If I can do this (and I know I can), so can you. I will let you know how I did and felt tomorrow, okay?  I'll just have to fake it until I make it - but I just know I WILL make it!! :)

If you're looking for something to get started, I have always loved the Body for Life program. That's what I did this May when Heather's program ended. You can do it at home.  Just go grab yourself a few different size weights.  I have done this program completely at home with just my weights and a weight bench.  If I didn't have a weight bench, I'd figure something else out.  I think the concept really works.  Let me know if you do it and have any questions and I'll try my best to help you out.  I'll share with you this week, which program I'm going to be doing for the next 12 weeks.

In the meantime, please go visit my friends on the sidebar who have lots of wisdom and good information to share.

I'll leave you with a few photos of what we've been up to the past few months (they're not in the exact right order but I couldn't move them for some reason):

My Dad, Mom, Sister, Me & my Brother :)

 

First Day of School for Morgan, Ryan, Tanner & Grant (Brooke starts pre-school 2 weeks later)
 

Morgan's Sweet 16th Birthday slumber party with 21 sweet girls
 

Low-Country Boil - Dad and Mike made this for Dad's birthday
 

Celebrating Mom's birthday with homemade pizza

Happy Birthday Nana!!
 



Took this picture the weekend that we (Colorado) got all of our rain and flooding.  The kids were getting cabin fever and had to get out of the house since all the roads out of our town (except one) in every direction were closed.

 

Grant getting ready to play some flag football
 

Brooke's 1st Day of Preschool

At the Grand Canyon

My Mom and Brooke on the teacups at Disneyland (I can't do this ride - it makes me too sick)

Dad blowing out the candles at his birthday party :)

 

The kids standing by my brother and his surfboard

Summer Vacation Part I (Trips 1 and 2)

Hello Everyone!!

All I can say is that summer got off to a running start and it hasn't slowed down yet.  You know how we (well, atleast "I") always expect to slow down in the summer; knock out a few items on the "to-do list"; meet up with friends we haven't seen in months, etc, etc.  Ha!! Who am I kidding?  Summertime is never slow and lazy for us. Since my last post we have had company, did some deep cleaning in the house and taken two vacations (and have one more coming up).

Our first trip was the week of my last post.  We flew in to Boston and took a cruise to Bermuda.  This trip was taken to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of my in-laws.  I know I've mentioned this before, but I originally started the Belly Fat Cure in the fall of 2010 in preparation for a cruise we were taking. I did lose weight but then went a little crazy on the cruise and gained about 8 lbs and came home very discouraged. 

I was not going to let that happen this time around so in January,  I started "Clean Eating" and strength training.  To date, I've lost 16 lbs. and feel wonderful!  So here's the funniest thing about the cruise we just took.  I actually lost weight on it!!!  I lost somewhere between 3-4 lbs.  I've been on several cruises and almost from the moment the trip is booked, I'm thinking about the food that will be available 24/7.  I mean isn't that what cruises are famous for?  OK, maybe not, but that's what I use to think. 

So anyways, in mental preparation for this trip, I told myself that I was going to continue to eat clean and it was going to be wonderful because someone else would be doing the cooking for me.  I went into this trip with a totally different mindset.  It wasn't hard to find a protein, complex carb, and veggie at meal and snack times.  I continued to eat 5-6 times a day.  For breakfast I usually ate oatmeal with fruit and nuts and a few eggs.  For lunch, usually a salad, fish and veggies.  Mid-day snack was usually more salad, a hamburger patty or another piece of fish and sometimes a few sweet potato fries.  Dinner was always either salmon (it was the best I've ever had), chicken, or steak, and a salad and veggie.  I only ate two partial desserts on the entire cruise and they were not even that good.  I have to be honest, the first few days were the hardest when everyone was enjoying dessert with every meal and pastries at breakfast.  But as the days went on it got easier.  I felt great and had lots of energy (and felt great in my clothes!!!).  I weighed in when the ship  got to Bermuda and the scale said 135.  It was a different scale but my clothes did feel really loose.  On our way home from the airport we stopped at a diner and I finally allowed a "cheat meal" which was a hamburger, a few fries, and 1/2 of a chocolate malt.  The next day I weighed 138 which meant I did lost a few lbs on the cruise.

Before I move on with the next trip, here are a few photos from our cruise:

We were home three weeks and then set out on our first driving trip.  Drove to South Dakota to visit some friends who bought a KOA last year.  Of course, we couldn't drive to South Dakota without stopping at Mount Rushmore (which is about a 4 1/2 hour drive from our house).  In addition to Mount Rushmore, we stopped at Wall Drug, and spent some time hiking around Badlands National Park.  This park is so cool.  You can hike anywhere.... no place is off limits. Some say it resembles the surface of the moon.

After a few days we left South Dakota and spent the 4th of July in Nebraska in my mother-in-law's hometown.  Mid-west, small town 4th of July parades and festivities are the best!  Everyone seems to come home to celebrate.  Sleepy little towns come alive and are so fun! Here are a few pictures from that trip:

We got home this past weekend and have a few weeks at home before we head home to my parents house in Southern California.  And then.... school starts.  All of my kids will be going to school this year.  I homeschooled our three youngest this year (and all 5 of them previous to this year).  It was my 9th year and we loved it but it's now time for a change - it just feels right.  Everyone is excited (and a little nervous)... but more excited than anything else! 

Last summer we didn't take a vacation.  We had an exchange student from Denmark for three weeks so we did things locally with him.  We're trying to get some of these "driving" trips in before our oldest daughter graduates high school in two years.  Our kids have been on many driving trips and do pretty well as long as we don't push them more than 7-8 hours in the car (that's about their limit).

Well that's about it for now.  My weight was 140.6 this morning so I'm holding steady.  Feeling a little "flabby" in areas since I caught a cold a week before the last trip (and still have it) so I put working out on hold.  Resumed weights on Monday so I'm hoping to tone up.   

Here are a few photos I've taken this summer around the house at my favorite time of the day... SUNSET!  Have a great week and let me know if you have any questions about Eating Clean :)

My Recent Blood (Cholesterol) Tests

Hello Everyone!!



Dawn (this week)

Late afternoon (this week)

Yikes - I didn't realize it had been 3 weeks since I last posted!

I was really good about posting on Sunday after my weekly weigh-in along with what I ate all week when I was participating in Heather's Bobmshell Transformation Program (I'm linking you here to her new blog.  She has an EXCELLENT cardio/sculpting workout and also has a post showing you how to put together your own workout - a must read)!!

We entered all of our food into an online program and it was easy to copy and paste it here.  But since the program ended,  I've tried My Fitness Pal but it was too much work to enter all the veggies that I was eating (ie salads, etc..).  I've been super busy the last few weeks but when things settle down, in the weeks to come, I may start logging my food there again.  Someone was once curious if with Clean Eating we counted calories so I was curious myself as to how many I consumed each day.  While logging into My Fitness Pal I noticed that my daily calories were all over the place.  From 1100 to 1800.  I don't count calories but I do watch my portion sizes.  I've found that overeating is never a problem because I'm eating so often.  I'm rarely ever very hungry and never, ever "starving"!  Super happy eating like this - it feels so normal and natural and I couldn't ever imagine eating any other way.  I can also eat like this no matter where I am (restaurants/buffets, parties, etc..).  I just love it! 

I've been keeping my Sunday weigh-ins updated on the right side bar.  This morning I was 139.8!!!  I haven't seen the 130's since before I was pregnant with our 2nd son and that was almost 13 years ago!!!!  When I got pregnant with our 2nd child, I weighed 127.  I gained 70 lbs and went up to 197.  After I had him the lowest I ever got before getting pregnant again was 140.  I was also 140 when I got pregnant with our 4th and was 150 when I got pregnant with our 5th. So, as you can imagine, I am ecstatic about this! :)  My weight loss has "averaged" out to just about 1lb per week. I just finished week 17 and have lost 16.2 lbs.

Anyways, my husband and I had to get some blood tests done since we're switching life insurance companies.  I wanted to share with you my blood test results since my cholesterol went down - yeah!!  The first set of numbers listed were my numbers from last summer  (which were already lower from the year before from doing the BFC) and the next set are from April 28th of this year.  What a difference 3 months of Eating Clean and exercising can make!! 

July 2012 / April 2013

Total Cholesterol: 224 / 190

Triclycerides: 123 / 109

LDL (bad cholesterol): 150 / 111

HDL (good cholesterol): 50 / 57

In other news, we have been busy with end-of-the-school-year activities and programs.  School ended for our two oldest kids this past week and the ones that I am homeschooling have about another week.  I still plan to work with all of my boys on spelling and writing throughout the summer since all three will be starting at the same school that my daugther goes to this fall.  It's pretty rigorous and I don't want them to fall behind from the get go.  Brooke will also start preschool two days a week this fall (at the same school) and I may either take a pre-requisite for the nursing program while she's at school or I may just stay and volunteer in her class (if they'll let me).  Not sure yet.  I just know that I won't like the quiet around my house :(   I would have homeschooled forever, and actually planned to homeschool them all they way through high school, but it just felt like it was time.  You just know when it is.  Our daughter has LOVED high school. She is in 10th grade and has loved every minute of it (except the late nights she spent doing homework).... but, atleast she'll be more prepared for college ,right? :)

I hope everyone has a fabulous week!  Love (and healthy eating) to you all! XOXXO



A Few More Challenges You Might Be Interested In

Did you know that I grew up in Southern California and was spoiled with 75 degree weather almost every day of the year???  Then twenty-five years ago I transferred from Long Beach State to Colorado State and moved to Fort Collins, Colorado.  I love the change of seasons, the mountains, the fresh air, etc... but this weather has been so crazy lately!  Sunday we cleaned out our garage and I got a sunburn with the little bit of time that I was actually in the sun..... it was 80 degrees. But then yesterday the temps dropped 50 degrees, we got 5 inches of snow and school was cancelled.  Crazy, hu??  What's the weather doing where you live?  Has it been a little strange this year?  Oh, and we're still waiting to hear if the track meet is cancelled today... uhm... I think I'll make other plans. :)



Wednesday Morning



Thursday Morning

Are any of you looking for a challenge right now?  If so, I wanted to bring to your attention a few that are starting soon.  I have not participated in any of these so I am listing them for your information and if you are interested you can check them out to see if they are right for you. So far, I have never entered a challenge to win, I know that may sound strange, but it's true. I like challenges because they push me when I want to stop. They have an end date and I know that I can do anything that has an end in sight.  I LOVE learning and so I sign up for challenges that I can learn from.....hoping that the good stuff I learn will become a lifelong habit.  I'm really interested in information relating to clean eating recipes & menus and fitness. I listed a few challenges that I was considering doing in a recent post but wanted to list a few more here that I have recently come across.


1. Skinny Mom 14-Day Challenge: Star Studded Slim Down
& here is the Skinny Mom Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/skinnymom#!/skinnymom

*This challenge is FREE, begins May 6th, and is only 14 days long!  Once you sign up they will email you the preview and the meal plan for week 1.  The list of fitness and nutrition consultants is amazing for this program - seriously - go take a look (ie Rita Catolino, Cassey Ho from Blogilates, and many, many more) !!  I'm sure Clean Eating and nutrition is the basis of this program so it will fit right in with what I've already been doing. I signed up for this one, honestly not to win, but to get as much information as I can from these incredible women! 

2. Challenge Loop
This site is full of different challenges.  If you're needing that extra "push" to get going, or just like challenges in general, there's something here for everyone! 

I wanted to list these because sometimes we just need a little information, and a gentle push, to get going.  If you have any questions for me, feel free to ask away. :)

What I've Been Eating (Week 14) & Starting Kelsey Byer's Labrada Challenge

Good "Sunday" Morning All!!

Brooke's 4th "Fairy" Birthday Party

So I decided to join the Kelsey Byers Labrada Challenge. 

The difference between this one and Heather's is that Heather gave us an exact workout schedule every week.  With this program, Kelsey gives us a list of which muscle groups to work out each day of the week along with a list of exercises (with photos) that we can pick from for each muscle group.  You just have to put it all together.  It never changes throughout the 12-weeks which muscle groups get worked on which particular day so it makes it easy to remember once you get the hang of it. 

There's no cost for the program, although you do have to purchase 2 full-size products from Labrada that you can either purchase directly from Labrada or elsewhere (I've read that they sell them at Walmart).  You just have to save your receipts to submit at the end of the program to be eligible to win.  My sister will be joining me in this program... anyone else want to join us?  I'm not sure how much time I will have to get to the gym so I'll just make sure the exercises that I select can be done at home with my dumbells.

I decided that this would be good for me since, eventually, I'll have to put my own exercise program together, right?  Alot of the gals have posted that they are going to be using Jamie Eason's Live Fit Trainer exercise program in conjunction with the challenge.  I don't think it matters as long as you Eat Clean, exercise, and see a difference in the end.  I love the fact that Kelsey responds to all FB questions, she posts daily, and you can tell that she really has a desire to help others get healthy. 

During these 12 weeks I will be celebrating my birthday, 4 other family member's birthdays, my Anniversary, Mother's Day, Father's Day, the 4th of July and taking a cruise as well as two other vacations.  So I know what I am getting myself into before I even jump in.  I LOVE this way of eating and exercising and I know that I can do it no matter what life throws at me or how many celebrations are coming up.  There's no amount of junk food that could feel as good as being able to fit into my clothes feel.  I'll be very careful to choose my indulgences. Here's to a great 12 weeks!!! :)

I am going to use my Sundays to prep my food for the week (especially the protein for my lunches (ie. bake chicken and fish, steam veggies, etc...).  I weighed in on Tuesday ay 144.8. so that is my starting weight for the program.  This morning I was 143.0. 

I am so excited to be joining another accountability group, although it's very large (1,000+ members).  I really like getting ideas from others (recipes, exercise tips, etc..) but it's too large of a group to most likely get to know anyone individually.  I'll be posting my thoughts and weekly results along the way.  Heather's forum will eventually go away so I will no longer be posting my daily meals there.  Not sure if I will post them elsewhere online or write them down so I'm not sure if this will be the last week of posting everything that I eat.  If you still want to know what I eat, let me know, and I'll find a way to make it work.

Anyways, here is what I ate last week:

WEEK 14 (4/22/13 - 4/27/13) - Lost 1 lb

Monday 4/22/13 *I always enter my meals the same day I eat them. I entered this day and on Wednesday, this day was gone (but Tuesday was still there) ? Can't remember anything I ate that day except dinner*
B: (7:00am) My Morning Shake

(9:45am) Worked Out

S: ?

L: ?

S: ?

D: (4:45pm) Baked ham (just ham - no sugary topping or anything); 1 heaping serving spoon of homemade potato salad (Ate at my parents)

Tuesday 4/23/13
B: (7:00am) My Morning Shake

(9:40am) Worked Out

S: (10:30am) Chocolate, banana and peanut butter protein smoothie

L: (1:30pm) Sunflower seeds and 1 "cutie orange"

S: Didn't have one - ate dinner at 4:30pm

D: (4:30pm) 1 piece of baked fish, 1 piece of rotissere chicken, green salad with lettuce, bellpeppers, broccoli, mushrooms, kidney beans, cottage cheese and a little drizzle of ranch dressing (went to a buffet with my parents)

Wednesday 4/24/13
B: (7:00am) My Morning Shake

(8:45am) Worked Out

S: (10:00am) Chocolate, banana and peanut butter protein smoothie

L: (1:00pm) Scrambed eggs - (1 egg + 2 egg whites) scrambed with mushroom and onions; 1/2c oatmeal with about 1/4c almond milk and 1T natural peanut butter

S: (4:00pm) 3 Ak-Mak crackers with salsa; lean roast turkey

D: (6:30pm) Turkey patty topped with pesto; mushrooms, and onions; side of lettuce and tomato



Thursday 4/25/13
B: (6:15am) My Morning Shake

(8:40am) Worked Out

S: (9:30am) Greek yogurt with 1 scoop protein powder, 8 almonds and 1 Kashi Dark Almond Mocha granola bar crumbled over the top

L: (12:00pm) Turkey breast, 3Ak-Mak crackers, hummus & cucumber slices

S: (2:00pm) Sunflower seeds & cucumber slices

D: (7:15pm) Hamburger patty with 1/2 whole grain bun with lettuce and tomato; 8 small french fries
**Waited way toooo long to eat. So here's what happened: Worked at a fundraiser and I knew that I would not be allowed to eat for the 3 hours that I was working (from 2:30pm - 5:30pm). I had planned to meet the rest of family at my son's track meet afterwards and then go eat so I didn't have a back-up snack. For some reason, they added my son to an event that didn't end up running until 6:45pm so my next meal wasn't until 7:15pm. I was really hungry and should have ordered the chicken, or a salad, but at this point the burger sounded good (and at Smashburger they are good)!! Was proud of myself, though, because I ordered the multi-grain bun and only ate about 8 very fries).**

Friday 4/26/13
B: (6:45am) My Morning Shake

S: (9:00am) Cucumber slices and sunflower seeds

L: (12:00pm) Greek yogurt with 1 scoop protein powder, 8 almonds and 1 Kashi Dark Almond Mocha granola bar crumbled over the top

S: (3:00pm) 3 Ak-Mak crackers and hummus

D: (5:30pm) Steak, 1/2 of a sweet potato, grilled asparagus

Saturday 4/27/13
B: (7:00am) My Morning Shake

S: (9:45am) Cucumber Slices, hummus, 2 Ak-Mak crackers

L: (12:45pm) Tilapia topped with 1T pesto; 1/2 of a sweet potato

S: (3:45pm) 1/2c low-fat cottage cheese with 1 'cutie' orange cute up and mixed in

D: (5:30pm) 1 piece baked flounder; 1 piece rotissere chicken; salad with lettuce, mushrooms, onions, bellpeppers, garbanzo beans, hardboiled egg, sunflower seeds and about 1 1/2 tsp of fat-free ranch dressing (our family went out to a buffet with my parents)

Have a great day and Eat Clean - it really makes a difference!!

My Shopping Trip to the Goodwill

Yesterday my mom, sister and I decided to go to the Goodwill to look around.  We love doing this together.  The Goodwill in the next town over, Ft. Collins, is really big and clean and I can always find something to buy there :)   I always find tons of  name brands (Talbots, Ann Taylor, Gap, Chico's, Eddie Bauer, Coldwater, etc..).  I've never cared what name brand the clothes are, nor have my children, but if we can score good quality clothing at a fraction of the price that's a huge bonus)!

Usually when we go there I look for clothes for our 5 kids and we usually go on one of the two Saturdays each month when everything is 1/2 price.....but those days are super crowded.  This time I was actually going to look for myself!!  Very few of my dress pants are fitting right now.  Most of them are size 8-12 and although I can still wear the 8's, the others just don't look good in my legs or bottom any longer.... they're too baggy.

Also, in tops, I'm still not use to the fact that I have moved down from wearing Large and X-Large to Small and Medium (mostly mediums but some smalls).  As I was trying on the tops yesterday I wanted to cry....happy tears!!  I couldn't believe that these tops were fitting. I'm not use to that feeling and it always takes me by surprise.   What??  Show my arms?  I can't believe I can do that now.  They definently need more work but I'm comfortable wearing sleeveless tops now. :)

I ended up buying 19 tops, 3 pair of pants, 1 skirt, 1 formal dress (for our cruise this summer), 1 purse, and 2 pair of shoes. I know that sounds like a lot of tops but I need to replace the XL tops in my closet that don't fit any longer and I honestly didn't realize how many tops I had put in my cart to try on.

  So this is what I do.... if I bring home 3 tops, I try to come home and take atleast 3 tops out of my closet to bag up and take back to the Goodwill the next time I go.  Otherwise, we seem to accumulate tooooo much!  And with 7 of us in this house, we can accumulate alot if we don't make sure to donate our clothes back to the Goodwill or to someone who can use them.

All of the items that I bought were $1.99-5.99 (with most of the tops being $3.49) and I have the Blue Card which takes an additional 20% off. (the Blue Card costs NOTHING to get. You just sign up at the store or online when you get home and everytime you buy at least $25 worth of merchandise, they take an additional 20% off)!  You just can't beat these prices.  Not sure if the Blue Card is a Colorado perk or a national one, but if you ever shop there, it would be worth it to check it out.  I mean, look at what I bought below... all for less than $100.00 (minus a top and pair of pants that I left over at my mom's house): 

Everything's washed and ready to wear.  Now, I just need to spend some time today cleaning out my closet and getting a bag ready to give away.

On a side note, my sister saw a huge bucket of hotwheels for $25.00 so she put the bucket in her cart.  A man came up to her and wanted it and she told him she was buying it (I mean it was in her cart???).  He followed her around the store and then came up to her later and asked if she still wanted them.  She was afraid to take her eyes off of her cart the rest of the time we were there.  But.. it was so worth it.... my boys are going to love playing with them. :)

I hope you all have a great day! :)