All The Things: 2012

"I'm Aubrey and I lost 70 pounds on Weight Watchers"

My trip to New York City was one I will never forget.

At the beginning of this year, when I made it to my goal weight, I submitted my story to Weight Watchers Success Stories. After anxiously waiting several months, I finally got a call from one of the editors at Weight Watchers (WW) and she told me the good news that I was chosen to be a success story and that they wanted to fly me out to New York for a couple days for a video and photo-shoot!!!! I was beyond thrilled and didn't hesitate to say YES! I booked my flight and still couldn't believe it. I felt so honored that they chose me. Besides, I'd never been to NYC! My mom (after squealing with excitement) booked her flight to go with me! And so begins a short trip of a lifetime!

My first afternoon in New York City! Feel free to click on the pictures to enlarge them!

My first experience of NYC was something else! I had never been surrounded by such huge buildings and PEOPLE EVERYWHERE! And the roads looked like a parking lot for taxis! I was so grateful to have a half a day to site-see! I had my first Philly Cheese-steak, bought a painting from a guy who painted it for me right on the spot, went to Times Square, including Hard Rock Cafe, the Wax Museum and M&M world!

Times Square! in real life!

Wasn't kidding about the "taxi parking lot"

This is where I had my very first Philly Cheesesteak

Such a talented artist, I love my painting I bought.

M&M World!

I met Morgan Freeman. No big deal.

Hard Rock Cafe

I really liked all the buildings with the fire escape stairs. Just like you see in the movies!

After site seeing during the afternoon like true tourists, we went out for dinner and back to time square to check out the night life! It's true what they say, this city never sleeps!

Dinner where I had some of the best pizza ever, complete with none other than NEW YORK style cheesecake :)

Unlike NYC, my mom and I went to sleep. The next day was the big day..... The photoshoot!

The morning of the shoot had finally come! Everything that I had been anxiously waiting for was about to happen. I was so excited as we pulled up to the studio. It was busy at Canoe Studios right off New York Harbor, models, fashion stylists, and all around "important looking" people were walking around. I was so excited to walk past studios where Vanity Fair, and Tommy Hilfiger shoots were going on. It all felt so unreal! I was greeted with open arms into the shoot and they wasted no time with getting my outfits chosen and hair and makeup done! I felt like a celebrity. My mom was instructed by her photographer daughter to capture any and everything that she could of the "behind the scenes" of the whole shoot, and boy did she make me proud!

Let the shoot begin!

The shoot was everything that I ever imagined it would be and more. Once I got in front of that camera, I didn't need any help smiling. I was truly *happy* I have never felt so good about myself, it was an experience of a lifetime. The thing is, it would have been amazing if it was just the shoot for Weight Watchers, but it being in the heart of New York City made it that much more amazing. It absolutely felt like a dream. If you would have told me 2 years ago that I would be in FRONT of a camera in a size 4 dress, I would have never believed it.

All in all, as fun as it was to be so "fussed" over and in the spotlight, I have to remember what this all was for. To share my weight loss story with those who can be inspired. It was such an honor to be chosen and I couldn't have asked for anything more from this experience.

A very special thanks to my Mom for being there for me throughout this whole experience of being in New York. AND not to mention being the most supportive Mom I could ever ask for with all the trials and hard times that life brings, she always believed in me that I could do it! Couldn't have done any of it without her. XOXO

I've wanted a tattoo for a long time. So for my 21st birthday present to myself, I decided to get one! During one of our infamous late night chit chatting sessions, Erin told me the quote "You can turn off the sun, but I'm still gonna shine" I immediately fell in love with it and felt like it would be the perfect thing to make into a tattoo for me!