Happy Friday + Sleep Training

Hi! I love the weekends! I'm a SAHM but I love the weekends because the husband is home (for me to kiss and squeeze on) and my Mom and sister are off of work (so we can go do something fun). This week has seemed really long to me. Tuesday night we had family dinner at my sister's house and that was great! Anytime I get to cook with her is a good day. We made my favorite pancake recipe and everyone loved it. Obviously. Wednesday I had my yearly physical at the doctor. She was pleased with all my labs and the fact that I'd lost 14 lbs since January. Honestly I'd wanted it to be 20 lbs...but alas it was 14 and I'm going to be happy with that. I've been feeling a little off track with the weight loss stuff. I gained 1 lb last week and have stayed off the scale since. Now believe me, I haven't been downing Big Mac's this week, not even CLOSE. I've been eating healthy food for every meal, and working out too (took yesterday off though). I just don't feel it. It's hard to describe. I've been eating healthy and working out and I STILL don't feel "in the zone". So who knows what kind of funk I'm in but I DO know that I'm going to continue eating well and exercising no matter what the scale says because when I don't do those two things I turn into a bear. A grumpy, sourpuss, angerball bear.

In other news, we've decided to sleep train Rylie.

Just the thought of this makes my heart race...not in a good way. Yes yes, we should have done this sooner but we didn't. She's always been a good sleeper...as in if and when I get her to sleep, she will normally sleep 11-12 hours straight. I started out rocking her at 2 months because it worked (hello? You're in survival mode at that point). Our normal routine is bath, bottle, bed. Here's the problem. At 15 months she doesn't NEED a bottle but it's part of her routine and she's crazy about it. She only get's a bottle for a nap or bedtime but this has to stop. Plus the rocking. I don't mind rocking her, my Mom rocked my sis and I until we were 5 years old, but I also remember having a hard time getting to sleep at a young age and to this day I still have sleep anxiety (thank God for sleep meds). I don't want Rylie to have to take them to sleep like I do. The method of choice is The Sleepeasy Solution . I'm hoping and praying that she'll respond to this method and that in a week or two we'll have an easy bedtime routine. Bath, book, rock and sing (a minute or two) and bed. This would cut out about an hour a day I spend rocking her with a bottle for nap and bed. I am dreading this like a root canal...but I needs to be done for her and for us. And please remind me with the next kid why this is so important. I finally understand my Mom saying to me plenty of times "this is for your own good". Parenting is hard! Thank God I have such a great husband to support me. Have a great weekend folks! Pray for us please?

P.S. Look at this girl in her glasses! She's so deliciously cute!

Happy Earth Day!

Hi! It's Earth Day! Today our little family spent a little time planting an herb garden. Nothing major, just our fun way of celebrating Earth Day. We're interested in doing what we can to help make Earth a better place to live and we're always looking for ways that we can do better. Here are a few things we do everyday!

No paper plates, paper towels or napkins! Who needs em'!

No bottled water! We have a Brita pitcher and the water tastes amazing! I like it better than any bottled water I've ever had!

Re-usable containers. We're trying to reduce the amount of plastic bags, tin foil and saran wrap we use. We got a great set at IKEA for$4!

Turn off the lights! Open every window possible. Saves money and energy!

Re-usable bags! This is a hard habit to get into but we're remembering more and more!

Recycle! Unfortunately our city only takes in a limited variety of items but we recycle anything that they'll take!

Most of these things are easy and small things add up to make a big difference! I'd love for Rylie to love the environment and all of God's creatures, so we're starting early! This is us planting a small herb garden. This kid LOVES to be outside!

Now for food/fitness! I was a complete grump yesterday because I didn't workout. I was busy, didn't want to make time for it and by 7pm I was just ill. Today I decided to take charge. Planned to get a decent run in while Rylie was asleep. Well, that didn't happen. I was getting angry. Panicking. I decided to calm down and eat lunch...it would happen, just not how I planned. I got her down at 2 and got on the treadmill. I checked the baby monitor when I reached the 5K mark in my run and I could tell she was awake. I was a little sad that I couldn't push it and do 4 miles, but I did get a workout in. Being a parent is interesting. I get SO mad if my expectations aren't met....I just need to realize it's OK. My reality often looks different from my expectations. It's OK.

Here are some recent eats.

Here I am in workout gear with my Green Monster. Energy in a cup.

Best lunch ever. Salad with balsamic and a sweet potato with vegetarian baked beans. Salty/Sweet goodness.

Perfect spring snack. A huge bowl of melon and apple to share with Rylie

Tomorrow night we go out to eat with my grandparents. Yay! Other than that, no plans this weekend! Yay! Don't you just love weekends?

Thinking about being healthy vs. being skinny (dieting)

When I was 22 I lost alot of weight. Not Biggest Loser style LOTS of weight, but on my 5'3" frame, 60-70 lbs is lots of weight. It came out of a little competition and turned into passion. Deep down there was an unhealthy tone though. I religiously counted calories and agonized over going over my thought limit. I didn't participate in social functions that didn't have acceptable food for me. I sometimes alienated myself from family gatherings because, let's face it, we're in the south...we love unhealthy food. I learned a great deal about nutrition and exercise and looked great. Deep down I was white knuckling it the WHOLE time though.

Thankfully in the midst of this I realized I love to cook! I quit college and became a Personal Chef with my sister. We had a decent client list and I met my husband. My amazing, beautiful inside and out husband. I relaxed a bit. I had more to worry about than counting calories all day. I got moarried and needed a REAL steady paying job so I went back to what I know. Schools. As a para professional in kindergarten there is NO stopping. I had no time to workout, I tried to eat ok but there seemed to be no time. And cupcakes. The amount of cupcakes that come through a kindergarten class should be ILLEGAL! That summer I became pregnant. I lost 9 lbs immediately because in a day, the only thing that sound OK to eat was a cup o' noodles or chicken fries from BK. Gross I know, but I wanted carbs. I was SO sick until week 12 and then I felt amazing. I ate whatever I wanted for once in my life (and really didn't gain much weight). I felt like I had a golden ticket! 2 weeks after Rylie was born I was down to my pre pregnancy weight (but about 15 lbs more than my good healthy weight). Fast forward to Rylie's first birthday. What happend? Since I got married I'd gaind 22 lbs! What? How!?

After seeing a pic of myself on New Years Eve I knew something had to change. I didn't feel like me...I didn't LOOK like me. Back to what I knew. Calorie counting and lots of exercise. The weight started coming off. I really do think it's good to know calories. I like to have a good guesstimate of how much I'm eating because it's just science folks, calories in vs. calories expended. You have to make a deficit to lose weight. As time goes on though, I'm feeling a shift. Health. When I focus on health instead of crunching the numbers constantly, I lose weight (maybe at a slower pace, but I still lose). It's less pressure. If I focus on the fact that I want to put nutritious things in my body vs. I WANT a CUPCAKE because I "can't" have it, I always do better. No pressure. No constant number crunching. Just living. Healthy! It's so much fun!

Think about what's going in your body. Workout because it feels great to move your body! That's what it was intended to do...move! LIVE. I want to be the best example for Rylie that I can. Love your body, love good food and taking care of your body by putting good things in it (and cupcakes too, on occasion). I really feel like I've turned a corner...and I'm loving what I see on the horizon!

Thanks Rylie...you've helped Mama see the bigger picture. Healthy living > dieting

Hi! I'm now 29

It's odd for me to say...but I'm now officially in the last year of my 20's. It's gotten me thinking about all kinds of things. What are my goals? Am I creating the life that I want to live? What's my part in this world? How can I contribute and what do I want to put my time and effort in? I'm not completely sure of the answers to all of these questions, but I've got the wheels spinning. One thing I've realized lately is that I'm so excited and passionate about being healthy and spreading the healthy spark and becoming less of an impact on the environment. I get lots of flack from my friends and family that are very right wing and religious about being green and I'm not sure why? I don't want it to take over my life or focus. I just want to do what I can to be a good steward of my little piece of the planet. What's so wrong with that? I tend to be more right than left...but I want to be as green as possible. Is it an oxymoron to be green republican? Anyways. Moving on.

I had a birthday yesterday! We decided on Thai House for our birthday dinner and it reminded me of my first birthday with Jason. We ate at Thai House on that night too...we were engaged and kid free. We had low-pressure jobs. We were planning a wedding. Life was SO different. I didn't think I could love him anymore that I already did....I was wrong. I love him SO much more today! Anyways, here is my beautiful Bug.

I'm so lucky I get to share my birthday with my twin sister. She's the most beautiful person inside and out. You know when you meet people that are SO pretty and you come to find out that their outsides don't match the insides....not this girl! She's generous, kind, of good virtue and SO strong. I want to have her heart when I grow up.

Here she is with her Matt. They're great.

Look at my piece of cookie cake! I tried to eat it all...my eyes were bigger than my stomach. I ate half. Now I'm wishing I'd brought it home. SO divine!

Did I mention my husband? He is the best guy in the world! He got me Jillian Michaels' book In The Cut (tons of exercise circuits and recipes in there), Bethenny Frankel's Skinnygirl Dish (SO many great recipes) and The Biggest Loser's Weight Loss Yoga (I did that today). Oh and 1/2 lb of my favorite flavored coffee, Southern Pecan. Here we are:

Have I also mentioned how much I love my girl? She and I had a good day yesterday. We went to Target and just looked around. Bought a few things, window shopped for a few other things. She was a good shopper and I just adore her.

So, like I mentioned, I got Weight Loss Yoga. Yoga is such a different change of pace for me. I usually feel like unless I'm doing aerobics, circuit training or running that I'm not working out. This was a decent workout! I wouldn't do it everyday, but I think it will be a great addition for once or twice a week. I'm entertaining the idea of planning my workout week ahead of time. I am a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl so I'm trying to wrap my brain around it. I think it'll help me schedule my weeks and I'll feel accomplished.

Ok, Miss Rylie is waking up...time to get going.

What lights your workout fire?

It's my birthday. Regardless...I need to workout today. I started my birthday waking up at 4:45ish. Creeped through the hallway and the baby woke up. OMG. Baby up at 5. Realized I woke up with the same outrageous headache that I went to bed with. My delicious husband made me a cup of Southern Pecan coffee (a birthday present!) and gave me a card. I am so crazy about him. I had another yummy green monster this morning. I tasted the flax meal a little too much today...maybe I'll add less tomorrow. I did add 4 strawberries though...it was tasty. Put the baby down for a nap at 8:30. Now I need to workout...but wait! Nooooo.

How do you light your fire to workout when you're tired, pressed for time, just being lazy or just plain don't feel like it? I need to find my workout mojo today. Or figure out how to workout while the baby is awake. I wanted to do No More Trouble Zones today...but since that's a 40 minute circuit I may try to do it while she's awake. I doubt it'll flow as fast as I like...but it may be possible. I think the key is to change my expectations. What lights your workout fire?

Vacation and Green Monsters...Oh MY!

Last week was vacation. Whoohoo! I got to spend Monday through Thursday with my Mom, sister, Mamaw, Aunt Pam and Aunt Jenny (and Rylie too!). We went to our favorite vacation spot in the world! Pensacola. This year we stayed in a new spot and it was amazing. RIGHT on the beach....which was good for my Mamaw. At 85 years old, she really couldn't make it down to the beach, but she layed out on the back porch and felt so close to the beach. Rylie did good the first 2 nights...the last night was awful...but at least she napped good. I don't know if it was the ocean air or what?!

Just look at this view!

Rylie didn't love the beach. The first day she got sunblock in her eyes and was nearly blind for an hour or two! Poor baby!

She played on the beach for awhile though. She loved the wind!

I did miss my husband something fierce though. Thank God for Skype! I don't know what was wrong with me. I tried not to stress out about the eating down there. I usually eat generally healthy though. I indulged in sharing a few desserts with everyone and I stuck to grilled fish when we went out to eat. YUM. We had amazing fish tacos at Surf Burger!

At the food co-op in Pensacola I scored some healthy finds. Spicy roasted pumpkin seeds, Ezekial wraps, Pirate's Booty chips, quinoa, Lara Bars on sale and some cool baked goods. When I got home I made a egg white/kidney bean omlette and put it on an ezekial wrap. YUM.

I also HAD to make a Green Monster. I've been reading about them on this website: Oh She Glows . I was skeptical. 2 cups of spinach in there and you don't taste it? It's supposed to give you amazing energy and make your skin and hair glow! It tasted AWESOME! Mine had a frozen banana, 2 cups spinach, 1 cup vanilla almond milk, 1 tbsp flax meal. I paired it with a Clif Mini SO filling and yum.

This blended into this:

Well, I have a grumpy baby that needs to be changed. Today's plan is to workout, clean up a bit and wrap my sister's b'day present. Oh, and I turn 29 tomorrow! How'd that happen? I feel so young! I wanna stay in my 20's forever! I leave you with this image on Monday...this is how I feel about turning 29!

Have a great Monday!

Make these pancakes! I command you! Please?

My husband is hard to please when it comes to pancakes. He likes them healthy but he doesn't like them to taste healthy. He likes them fluffy but not too cakey. He likes them packed with flavor. After tons of trial and error I came across these Whole Wheat Flax Pancakes. I added a tsp of vanilla and some cinnamon and I found a winner. Make them soon. Plus they have flax in them! It's good for you...just google it! Plus it tastes good!

Whole Wheat Flax Pancakes

Ingredients

1/3 c whole wheat flour

1/3 c ground flax seed

1/3 c white flour

1 large egg

3/4 c milk (soy, almond, regular..whatever you like)

2 tbsp canola oil

1 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp brown sugar

3 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Cinnamon (however much you like)

Directions

Beat the egg with the milk. Add the sugar, vanilla and canola oil and mix.

Mix all the dry ingredients together. Add to wet ingredients and mix until well combined.

Cook at medium heat on a skillet. Flip after a few minutes, or when the bubbles do not reclose around the edges.

Makes about 8 4-5" pancakes.

Number of Servings: 8

Easter!

Things are getting a little hectic around here. We have a near epic weekend ahead of us and then I leave for Pensacola, FL on Monday. I'm SO excited to get to spend time with my Mom, sis, Aunts, cousin and Grandma...but I am not liking 2 things. 1. NO clue how Rylie will do in her pack-n-play because she hasn't slept in it in months. 2. I have to be away from my best friend from Mon-Thurs! I'm so totally in love with my husband and I'll miss him! Thank God for Skype =) Pensacola is my favorite vacation spot in the world. I've been going there since I was a baby and it just feels like my vacation home away from home. I'm trying not to stress out about the sleeping situation...she'll sleep *some* right? Plus I have LOTS of help. I wouldn't be so stressed if it wasn't for the fact that Easter weekend is here and I have to fit in family time, church, packing, working out, getting a pedicure, buying some last minute items to pack....the list goes on.

As far as working out and eating goes I'm a little down. I'm stuck between the 12-13 lbs loss mark on the scale. I keep going up and down in that range...I just want to get over the hump and keep losing. I'm sure vacation isn't going to help. All I can do is try to make the best choices I can, workout if I can and enjoy. It's vacation for goodness sake!

Here are a few things I've been eating.

Breakfast: 1 cup water, 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 tabspoon almond butter, 1/2 banana. Off the chain delicious!

White Chicken Chili. SO yum. I had it for dinner last night and lunch today.

On of my favorite snacks. Strawberry Oikos (only 110 calories and tons of protien), 1 cup sliced strawberries. I always have to share this with my baby because she LOVES it too!

One last pic. Rylie in her Easter Bunny dress. I hope everyone has an awesome Easter! Can't wait to dye Easter eggs tonight!

Happy Easter!~

Spring is here!

I'm finally feeling like Spring is in the air! We've had beautiful weather this week...the kind that makes kids at school stir-crazy and the kind that makes you just want to be outside all the time! My azaleas are blooming, the birds are chirping and I'm pulling out all the short sleeved shirts I own. My weight loss efforts are sort of stalling out a little. While I've been eating right and exercising I'm just sort of not into it this week. I realize though, that no matter what, I'm being healthy. So what if I eat a WHOLE Lara bar. They have like 2 ingredients in them...it's a vegan bar...sure it's higher in calories...but I was hungry and it's good for me. I get down on myself if I don't drink enough water or eat twice as much fruit as I intended for my snack because I know it's more calories. I'm trying to shift my thinking from calorie nazi to super healthy girl who is losing weight anyways because she's focused on eating REAL food and moving her body most days. It's a hard shift....but I'm working on it.

Here are a few things that I've been eating (that I've remembered to take pictures of).

This is my all time favorite breakfast. Whole wheat english muffin, 1 tbsp almond butter, 1/2 a banana. It doesn't make sense how good this is. I have it with coffee. Obviously.

One of my favorite lunches. Romaine, english cucumber, carrot, bell pepper, salt/pepper, 1 can of chunk light tuna in water and 2 tbsp low fat dressing (on this day it was Ken's Low Fat Sundried Tomato Vinagarette). I love salads! I often make this same salad but just change the protien (tuna, chicken or beans of some variety).

I know I know. Again with the almond butter. This is a great snack though. 1/2 whole wheat pita and 1 tbsp. almond butter. Something about the chewiness of the pita makes this snack SO good and filling.

My girl, she LOVES to be outside. So we've been spending some serious time out in the yard. The front yard is attracting a fair amount of bumble bee's this year though (any idea how to make them go away). Since I'm allergic to them...we've been in the back yard alot.

Something about here here...from the eyes down looks JUST like Jason to me.

Don't you just want to kiss this luscious little cheek?

I couldn't resist taking pics of her in the bath last night...she's SO freakin cute!

I start making my lists for our trip to FL today...and I'm in for a run on the treadmill too! Have a good day!