San Francisco love...

I cannot believe that my handsome and I have already surpassed the first year of marriage! While I must say that at times we found it hard, I can only be thankful for those times because we have honestly grown so much this year! It literally started off with a BANG! when we lost my car, but we were able to thankfully have supportive parents who helped us get a new car on their credit and of course, us as co-signers! We decided to head up to our favorite city thus far, SAN FRANCISCO! We stayed at the Westin in Downtown. We only went for basically one day, we left saturday at around 5 am and arrived in the middle of a St.Patty's day Parade! We were greeted with a party and ironically, the street we stayed on was Stevenson St. Talk about being well greeted! We had a blast exploring the city right away, we wasted no time walking around and going to places we had heard were great! Here are some of my favorite moments!

We  absolutely fell in LOVE with the city, we're already planning another trip out there soon, maybe at the end of may before the June wedding (Greg&Bea) 

Anywho, 

Life is amazing, I am extremely happy with my marriage, the love that he has for me is unlike any other, I love that he is so sincere and when we disagree, we talk it out. We are definitely both thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives, although we are not perfect and may struggle here and there, we are constantly working out our "kinks."

with much love,

xoxo

Mayra 

a little bit of this...

Hello! It's been a few weeks since i've last posted on here so another update is due! There has been so much positive this year I'm just so happy things are going the way they are now! I feel like things are well and in balance and if you know me, that equals a very happy Mayra. I'm one of "those" people who need a million things to do at one time in order to feel like i have a life, if not i feel so bored and stuck. So last month i finally got a 24hr fitness pass and i've been going at least 3 times a week! (insert claps here) hahaha! but i've finally been able to shed another 3 pounds and finally get down 10lbs since january. Man is losing weight HARD! I think one thing for me is that I give in to unhealthy food often so i need to stay disciplined if I really want to reach my 140 goal by the end of summer!

Work has been good! I finished by training last month and now waiting to really get to put my skills to work! I love how nice some of my customers are, I really enjoy building relationships with people, It's great to really get to know people and who they are specially when you're only having 3 minute interactions with them. I'm really thankful that people can feel comfortable with me helping them succeed financially.

On a last note, I'm an aunty once again! My cousin(s) had their babies this weekend, one of who'm i have yet to meet (the baby i mean). Daniel Xavier Gonzales was born on April fools, no i am not kidding. I was able to take some adorable pictures of him today, he is so adorable and so tiny! I bought a cannon rebelXS from my cousin last month so i was finally able to take some legitimate pictures. here's a sneak peak of what will hopefully one day be more "mayra stevenson photography" photos!-And might I add that if I did ever go into the photography business which has always been a DREAM, I would definitely specialize in newborns and babies, talk about baby fever!

Isn't he the cutest? It was so much fun to take pictures of his adorable little face! Last night-because i'm totally catching up on this post that I started last wednesday, my cousin Jimmy and his gf Eileen had their baby shower! That's the 3rd baby shower on my moms side and the 5th one in my family in general THIS YEAR, yes, 2013! Talk about baby boom and married "whens your baby coming?" pressure! Haha! But it was a fun night, full of family laughter, babies dancing and one VERY adorable niece called Alyssa, she had me CRACKING UP on the dance floor with her ganaam(sp?) style moves and silly faces, reminded my of my bestie Alyssa! well here are a few pictures of last night! 

xoxo

Mayra S

healthy lives start somewhere

Since I can remember, I have always fought a battle with my self esteem and weight. After gaining some extra pounds this past year I told myself that I would restart the new year and do my best to begin a healthy lifestyle opposed to just going on a diet. I don't like that word,diet, i don't like feeling that i CAN'T eat something because i'm on this so-called diet.so that word is not in my vocabulary any longer. I decided, why not change my lifestyle to a healther one. I had started to notice in november that some of my shirts and work pants were fitting snug, and I wasn't liking how I looked in pictures anymore. It just wasn't a place I like to be in,ever. I remember stepping on the scale one morning only to be greeted to an ugly extra 10 pounds and thinking to myself, wow, I've never been this heavy. So the motivation started then, but after a few failed attempts at insanity and dieting, I would give up after a week. I could't do it anymore. I told myself around christmas time that after the holidays I would start eating healthier which gave me the excuse to eat everything in sight. I think we went through a pack of oreo cookies in one night during one of those weeks. I remember feeling gross after eating, drinking soda like it was water and mcdonalds on a daily basis. I was starting to even feel kind of sick and my fingers would hurt from the swelling after so much sodium intake it was almost unbearable. I was too ashamed to ever say a thing though, I was hoping no one would notices. After New Years came and went, my eating habits didn't that first week. I was still heading to mcdonalds for 2 cheeseburgers, fries and a coke so that next sunday after feeling disguisting after looking at pictures from the Rose Bowl, it was time to change. I remember only eating oranges and grapes with a small piece of chicken that entire day. I said I wouldn't drink any more soda either so I didn't even open up the bottle that was sitting in the fridge. The next day I decided to start meal prepping so that I wouldn't be tempted to eat any junk during lunch that week so I made chicken with bell peppers and tomatoes. I also made yams and just dressed them with a little bit of cinnamon and forbidden rice (so yummie, so low in calories). Now, a month later I have continued to meal plan on a weekly basis, sometimes biweekly. I only drink maybe a sip or two of coke a week, if i let myself. I decide what I eat, and if I indulge, then its definitely just a one time thing. I am down 8 pounds in 1 month which is exciting! I have yet to start working out so that is what i'm hoping to begin this month. The only thing holding me back is the cold nights and the financial inability to afford a gym membership currently.  I can tell i've lost weight and inches specifically around my stomach and thighs. It isn't dramatic but its something! My ultimate goal is to be down at 140, hopefully by august or september. My current plan says i'll be there as early as june in I can contain my calorie intake, but we shall see! Here are some fun fat girl photos, you can barely tell any difference but hey, its me at 184 first and then me at now, 176!

                                                                   Before week #1

my birthday, 5 days in, for the record, i didn't 

even have a piece, i was totally dedicated.

                                                               2 weeks or so ago..

                                                        1 week ago..

christmas.

                                                                   
                                                                       Super Bowl
                                                                           Sunday

                                                                             with love, 
                                                                       
                                                                             the mrs.

Dear January,

You were great! not only did I begin a healthy life style this month, I LOST all of 7 pounds! February is already jealous. I got to see my family and nieces and spend my birthday with my husband and celebrate my nephews and my sisters birthday! I was greeted with a JOB promotion one random monday so february is excited to begin that adventure. 26 is looking good, all i need is a good color and cut, these extra frazzles on my head aren't the business. Saw an engagement! what a charming proposal, literally, in front of a castle ;) Well January, you were great! see you next year!

xoxo
Mayra S.