That’s how my mom signs off on every e-mail. And though she usually uses the short-hand version (BSBWAAABH), I know what she means and love it every time I see it. They’re words to live by.

Going along with my mom’s mantra, this is a picture my hubby took of me this weekend in Spring Lake, NJ … one of the most beautiful places along the Jersey shore and NOT someplace you’ll ever see chronicled on the lovely reality show 😉

Spring Lake is an upscale seaside town comprised of mansions and B&Bs and beautiful surf … it’s just incredible and was a perfect setting for a family wedding!! 🙂

In this picture, I feel happy … no other adjectives can do justice to it. What’s ironic is shortly before it was taken, we were fighting with the GPS and had gotten lost but the moment my feet touched the sand and I inhaled the ocean breeze … suddenly, all was right in the world! I felt safe, well and happy. My mom (had she not been home sick with a debilitating stomach virus) would have been proud!

I think it’s interesting that, in spite of all the anxiety and stress this pregnancy has added to my life (and it’s been a lot … more than I always let on here on the blog, mostly because I don’t want to bore you guys with medical speak) I’ve NOT relented back to my old coping mechanism: chewing and spitting.

Sure, I have done plenty of emotional eating  — I’m the first to admit it — and my willpower for cravings is minimal … but all in all, it’s been since March 2009 that I’ve chewed/spit — and I couldn’t be prouder.

I feel like in many ways, I’ve become a more “normal” eater, too. It’s like my parents taught us growing up — no foods are truly off-limits; we can have whatever we want … in moderation. Eating, say, a salad at every meal might “sound” healthy but it’s not necessarily … especially if what you really wanted was the fajitas. Then you’re deprived and miserable that you can only eat lettuce.

And I am definitely someone who, when I deprive myself of what I REALLY want,  ends up over-eating stuff I don’t need. So it’s better to quell the candy craving with a Reese’s from my dear friend’s candy bucket at work than to go out and buy a bag myself that I’d only chew/spit my way through way back when.

That said, I’ve been on a massive sugar-bender for months and I have to be honest, it’s not getting any better. All the extras I’d say “no” to when on WW … I’ve definitely given into. I literally have no willpower right now. One could argue if ever there’s a time to indulge a little, it’s now … but I need to be sure I’m eating the good stuff, first!! So after the month of October qualified as a complete Sugar Overload … I do need to buckle down. I’m 33 weeks/2 days now and I want Maya to be well-fed … and try as I might to convince myself chocolate is a food group … it’s not 😉

Today I leave you with my mom’s mantra, and I hope you’ll take it to heart: Be Safe, Be Well, & As Always, Be Happy!