Week 1 before and after pics

    Today is the end of week one on my eating plan. I'm down 7.6lbs. To be honest, I'm not to happy with that number. Wanted to lose at least 8.4 this week, but I guess it could be worst! In the last couple days I have only lost 1.4 ounces and I had been averaging a pound a day. This week, I am going to up my exercise. Because I'd love to equal or beat this weeks weight loss during week 2.
    I wasn't happy that is, until I compared day one to day 6 pictures. I actually can see a difference!!!! Woow! As I told you in the first video on youtube, my stomach is the last place I gain weight so it would probably be the first place I lose. Looks like I was correct. There is a major difference in my stomach!!!!!
    Today, I started checking measurements, which I probably should have done on day 1 because I am dissappointed in the numbers. If I have learned one thing though, looking at the pictures, it is the numbers may not be that important. What do you look like and Im liking the difference so far picture wise.

What do you all think?!? Day 1 on right, Day 6 on left

If you would like to see the youtube videos first hand, check them out here!

Youtube Videos

Ok, so Im chicken! I didn't have the courage to post the videos directly to the blog! At least not until I drop a few more pounds! But, I am going to post the link to the videos on youtube. If you actually go to youtube, then you need to see them! lol! As soon as my stomach looks like I want, Ill start putting them on here! lol



There are currently 2 video's posted. One from Christmas and the other from Wednesday. In 4 days, I lost 6.2lbs. I will be updating the videos every Wednesday and Friday with Friday being the full body views. I must warn you, the full body will be with swimsuit bottoms and a bra, so you can really see all that hangs! Lol! If this doesn't motivate me, I don't know what will!
My weight loss vlog is here

What am I eating?

Someone on youtube sent me a message asking what types of food Ive been eating in the last 4 days. Oh yeah, Ive lost 6.2lbs so far! I haven't changed my diet to much, only watching my portion sizes and completely eliminating soda's! Ive been dropping a minimum of a pound a day! Lets see if I can keep it up!
Here is a pic of a dish I ate today. Lemon Buttered Tilapia over sauteed Spinach with onions garlic and capers. It was delish and quite filling!

When wanting something sweet, I go to old fashioned peanut or cashew brittle. Yeah, its sugar, but one piece is so sweet and hard that by the time you finish chewing, you are satisfied! lol! Here's a picture of the size that I eat daily. Only 1 though!

Any questions? Feel free to email me at theurbanhomemaker@yahoo.com

Ok, Ive been gone for about 2 weeks

As you know, Christmas just passed and with all the shopping and preparing for the holiday, I haven't taken the time to update the blog. Christmas is over and its time to get back on top of things.


As you all know, I'm a natural hair consultant, but besides that, I am a personal chef and caterer and have been for many years. I help people learn to prepare meals both healthy and unhealthy! lol! It finally hit me though, that I help other people learn to cook healthy alternatives and teach about portion control, but I don't practice what I preach! I've been teaching clients for years how to lose weight quickly, but I won't adopt the principles! What a hypocrite! So, on Christmas day, I started my new lifestyle. Eating the things I love, only prepared a little healthier and smaller portion sizes. I'm documenting everything on youtube to have someone to be accountable to as well as to have something to look at to actually see the changes in my body. I must admit that I am embarrassed at my starting weight, and frankly, embarrased about the way I look in the videos, but thats why I'm making the lifestyle changes I have chosen to make during the holidays. If I can lose during Christmas and new year, as much as I like to eat, anyone can. This is sooooo hard for me, to know that family and friends will be reading this blog and watching the videos. Its one thing to know a complete stranger see's them but someone I actually know? They are going to look at me like Im pathetic for getting to this point! But ok, here goes.
Omg! You guys dont know how I feel!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nothing better on a cold day!

Its the easiest chili ever and oh so good!!!!!

1/2 lb ground sirloin
1 can tomatoes diced
1 medium onion chopped
1 can of pinto or kidney beans (I love kidney)
1 tbs minced garlic
1tbs chili powder

Garnish:
cheddar cheese
green onions
sour cream



Saute onion, garlic and sirloin together until sirloin done. Add remaining ingredients. Let cook for about 30 mins. Top with shredded cheddar, green onions and a dollop of sour cream!
Instead of crackers, I love my chili served with large Texas toast croutons!!!!

Cranberry Madness

Keeping in the spirit of the holiday season, I would like to dedicate the month of December to fruit and recipes that have some sort of fruit in them. For Thanksgiving as always, I make homemade cranberry sauce which left me with a bag of leftover cranberries. The solution? Cranberry Upside Down Cake. As soon as you taste this cake, you won't be able to stop taking bites!


Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

• 1 1/2 stick (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, divided
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 3/4 cups fresh cranberries
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 2 eggs, at room temperature, separated
• 1/2 cup whole milk, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350° F.
In an 8-inch cast-iron skillet (***see note), cook 4 tablespoons butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the butter melts and starts to bubble. Remove pan from the heat and allow to cool.

In a small saucepan, cook the cranberries and orange juice until the cranberries just start to pop. Remove from the heat and pour evenly over the cooled caramel.

In a medium bowl add the flour, baking powder, and salt and whisk to combine.

In a bowl or stand mixer beat the remaining 8 tablespoons butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in the two egg yolks, one at a time. Stir in vanilla extract. When mixed well. add the flour mixture alternately with the milk, starting and ending with one third of the flour. Stir just until the flour is incorporated.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until they hold soft peaks. Fold one third of the egg whites into the batter and then gently fold in the rest.

Pour the batter over the cranberries in the pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the pan and invert the cake onto a serving plate.

***If you don't have n 8-inch cast iron skillet, you can melt the butter and brown sugar in a regular skillet and then pour it into an 8-inch cake pan and continue with the recipe from there.

Try it! Its super simple and oh so delicious. And yes, it is okay to have a little sweet every once in a while!

Well... Looks like this is my first post

Ummmm not exactly.... Im not new to blogging..not at all. A lot of people know me as Queen Natural Beauty, or the founder of Southern Soul Life... But with a brand new focus on life and the things I want out of life, I figured it was best to start with a new blog.. new readers... and a fresh new perspective. No matter what you have, you CAN have a beautiful home, great food and a permanent smile! And I'm going to prove it. Join me, an out of work real estate marketing professional as I smile my way through life taking on new challenges in this urban jungle. Eat with me, drink with me and laugh with me as we enjoy life!!!!! Lets go!