Skinny + Spiked Nog #SweetNLowStars

This week I made my Sweet’N Low Skinny + Spiked Nog as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #SweetNLowStars.

You can't celebrate the holidays without having a delicious drink.  I've gotten pretty good about coming up with my own easy low calorie and low sugar drinks that you can make at home using Sweet'N Low.  Not only will you save big bucks, but you save room in your waist line.  Lawd knows I need to be counting every calorie.  I'm still going hard on the eating from Thanksgiving.  I know you've noticed on my pictures but just act like you didn't.  I found a way to make the guilt free drink of the season, Eggnog.

2 Weeks to a Whiter Smile Before + After

Growing up, dental care was not a priority in my household.  My mom worked twelve plus hours a day to take care of us, so the last thing she was going to do was stay on top of my dentist appointments.  Besides the “required” school visits that was all I got.  Gross huh?  By the grace of God, I grew up to have straight and off white teeth.  I've noticed the older you get, the more that “white” starts to look like beige.  Instead of racking up a crazy dentist bill, I took the two weeks to whiter smile challenge with Crest 3D White Whitestrips Luxe Supreme FlexFit. 

Skinny + Spiked Hot Chocolate #sweetnlowstars

I made my Sweet’N Low Spiked and Skinny Hot Chocolate as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #SweetNLowStars. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Temperatures have dropped to the low 30's in Georgia!  Hotlanta is now Coldlanta!  I broke out my fuzzy socks, hoodies and fleece pants.  All I need now is a warm drink.  Everyone and their mama is excited about these pumpkin drinks that come out in the fall.  I don't get what all the fuss is about, I don't care for them.  Plus, they are packed with unnecessary sugar and calories.  I created my own tummy warming drink with a twist using Sweet’N Low.

Trina's Skinny Birthday Cocktail

I made my Sweet’N Low cocktail as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #SweetNLowStars. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

To celebrate my birthday today, I created my own guilt free skinny cocktail!  I may be on a mission to drop a few pounds but I will not let this birthday pass without toasting with something delicious!  So I created the Trina's Skinny Birthday Cocktail using Sweet’N Low.

Diet Diaries: 7 Day Low Carb Challenge

I know it's been a while since I've posted about my diet diaries but this is an EMERGENCY update.  I'm happy to report that I'm still working out at least 3 days a week.  My eating has been so-so.  I do good on Monday and Tuesday and crash and burn the rest of the week.  I was talking with a friend at work on Friday and we decided we would eat right for 7 days straight with no cheating.  We are going to ditch the bread, starch, sugar, candy, even wine!  I don't know if I'm going to submit to the wine part just yet.  That will be a long 7 days!  I posted on Instagram that I was doing this and a lot of you were down for the challenge as well so I knew I had to post something ASAP!

Oprah's Life You Want Notes +Takeaways

Oprah and her posse took over Atlanta (aka Olanta) last weekend for the Life You Want Weekend.  I’m still all in my feeling after attending Oprah’s Life You Want Weekend.  I just want to hug everybody, well not everybody but you know the feeling.   With work and mommy duties, I wasn't able to attend the kickoff events that Friday.  I got my butt up super early Saturday morning to make my way to hang with Oprah for the day.   I’m not going to go into crazy details about the event other than it was AMAZING.  But I do want to share my some of my “Aha!”  moments with you.  

Low-Cal Oreo Milkshake #SweetNLowStars

I made my Sweet’N Low milkshake as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #SweetNLowStars. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

I know summer is just about over (Yay fall!), but I love my milkshakes all year long. I’m not a big plain ice cream in a bowl eater but hand me a milkshake and watch me go HAM! Milkshakes at restaurants don’t have my best interests or waistline at heart. I was challenged with the task of making my own low-cal milkshake that will satisfy cravings and save my closet at the same time. Using Sweet’N Low, I created the guilt free Oreo milkshake!

The Diet Diaries: Fabletics

You guys thought I fell all the way off on my weight loss plan didn't you?  Well, I kinda did but not completely.  After gaining back the weight I lost after Mister's birthday, I was a little sad (pissed).  I had to have a talk with myself.  Just because I have a few setbacks doesn't mean I have to give up completely.  After reevaluating what I was doing wrong (and eating a few chicken biscuits), I'm in a good place.  I also got some new workout clothes from Fabletics that have me excited to hit the gym.

Skinny Sangria #SweetNLowStars

This week I made my Sweet’N Low Skinny Sangria as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #SweetNLowStars.

The kids are heading back to school. Time to celebrate with a new drink recipe! I won't judge you if you make this drink after putting your kids on the bus. Better yet, invite the other moms in the neighborhood to join you in celebratory back to school toast with this guilt free Skinny Sangria!

The Diet Diaries: Prepare or Prepare to Fail

I figured out the secret to weight loss success!  The secret is to PREPARE!  It’s that simple.  Well, preparing is not that simple but if you do it you will lose weight.  I never realized how important being prepared is when you are trying to lose weight.  It makes all the difference.

Low-Cal Strawberry Amaretto Freeze #SweetNLowStars

This week I made my Sweet’N Low Strawberry Amaretto Freeze as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #SweetNLowStars.

I may be on journey to loose a few several pounds but I won’t be giving up my “mommy” drinks for nobody.  I conveniently forget that the most delicious cocktails are packed with sugar.  My so-called solution is drink water all day and save my calories for cocktails.  That sounded like a plan but I was still consuming way too much sugar.  I knew there was a better way.  I created my first guilt-free, low carb drink using Sweet’NLow.

The Diet Diaries: A Change is Gonna Come

There is so much I want to share with you guys!  I'm down 5 pounds *does the MC Hammer* and then the *cabbage patch*.  I can't believe it! I'm so happy I stuck with it after being in a dark place (here) two weeks ago.  I guess I just had to make it over that hump.  Losing weight is so not easy!  I'm over here crying about losing 20 pounds when some folks goal is to lose 100 pounds or more.  At the end of the day, it's not easy to lose 5 pounds or a hundred.  We can all do it if we make up our minds to  Just Do It.  Today I'm showing you what my progress looks like after three weeks of eating right and working out. Nothing major but these pics motivate me to keep going.

The Diet Diaries: Workouts + Change of Plans

Slight change of plans.  I've been going hard working out and eating right for the last two weeks.  I waited till Friday morning to get on the scale.  I was 3 pounds heavier.  I was devastated and immediately went to pick up a chicken biscuit and hash browns.  I was upset all day.  Everyone I shared this devastating news with would tell me “It’s because you’re gaining muscle, just stick with it”.  BS!  I've totally changed how I was eating, cooking every day (I hate) and working out 4 times a week.  Last thing I need to be doing is gaining.  I might as well have sat home eating French fries.   I was in a dark place.  I felt like I had wasted two weeks.  I was sure I would be down 3-5 pounds by now, instead I’m going up.  Even though I didn't want to hear my friends try to justify my weight gain, the fact that they cared enough to listen kept me encouraged.  Saturday, woke up in better spirits and decided to keep pressing forward.  I knew I had to make more changes.

The Diet Diaries: What to Eat?

Last week I shared my diet and fitness struggle with you.  The struggle is real out here!  The hardest part for me is eating right.   On top of eating right, I don't like cooking.  Plus, I don't have the time.  I wish I could afford a chef or a fresh meal delivery service.  I would loose this weight in not time.  Unfortunately, I don't have it like that.

The Diet Diaries

A diet can mean two things. The kind of food a person eats or a special course of food to which one restricts oneself, either to lose weight or for medical reasons.  I need to change my "diet" in order to loose weight and to prevent life threatening diseases.  I figured I would start health and fitness conversation on the blog.  I'm not going to tell you how to lose weight,  what to eat and what workouts to do.  I plan to share what I'm doing to reach my goals and my ups and downs getting there.  I think putting it out there will hold me accountable and maybe help someone else.

Mothers living with HIV #StopHIVTogether

Becoming a mother is a beautiful thing.  But it may not feel so beautiful if you found you were pregnant and HIV positive at the same time.  Both Michelle and Masonia share their story of living with HIV and being a mother.  Please listen to these brave mother's stories on they live their lives with HIV.

My Motivation for Grinding #McCafeGrind

This post is brought to you by McDonald’s®. I have partnered with them to spread the word about McCafé® Coffee.

People don’t grind for no reason at all.  No one just wakes up and say, I’m going to “Go hard today” with no motivation behind it.  Yeah, we got bills to pay, gotta keep the lights on and eat.  But what is the real motivation?  I could easily say Peyton motivates me to keep grinding.  She does motivate me to a certain extent, because I want her to have the best life possible.  But person that motivates me the most is my Mom. 

Beach Ready Without Working Out #TENways

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #TENways  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

I think it’s safe to say that spring has arrived.  I’m about to head to the beach and I’m not ready!  I need at least 30 days to get my life together, eat better and work out.  I was doing well with my weight loss plan earlier this year.  I lost weight but the snow storms came, stores were closed and I ate whatever I could get my hands on.  

Don't laugh at my big bathing suit bottom. 

Rise + Grind with Free Coffee #McCafeGrind

Some driven people say “You’re never too busy.  You can make time”.  I am too busy! And I don’t have time.  In addition to running this beautiful blog that you love : ), I work full-time outside the home, take care of my amazing daughter, attend and host events, cook (on occasion) and try to look put together while doing it.  Oh wait, I have a husband too!  Mister needs his quality time and “medicine”.  I’m tired just thinking about it.  Every day is a grind!

Peyton’s Favorite Snacks: The Good Bad & Ugly

I’m amazed by how picky and opinionated kids can be about what they eat.   When I introduce a new healthy snack, I feel like I’m walking into my boss’s office to ask for a raise.  Not really, but almost.  It’s either yay or nay with this little one.  Mostly nay.   When I was a kid, I was happy to get any snack offered to me.