Okay, so I watched most of the royal wedding. At first I made many, many jokes about it and I really didn't care but then I realized...
We NEVER get to see live weddings. Unless we are there of course.
And I do love weddings, and dresses, and fancy ceremonies and big parties...and all that. It makes me sad that, that part of my life is over. Like SERIOUSLY sad. While watching the royal wedding I had flash backs to that time of my life and now it almost seems like a lifetime ago (and it is only almost 4 years ago).
I feel the same thing when I hear about one of my friends who is pregnant with their first baby. That level of excitment is unmatched by anything else in life (atleast I think). I was excited to have my second little one..VERY excited. But it certainly wasn't the same "unknown" excitment of our first.
I am pretty sure we are going to have one more child. So I know that I will feel the joy again. But I sometimes get borderline depressed that so many wonderful things have come and gone. I already know that whne I am packing up our last babies "baby" things I may just have a melt down.
Of course deep down I know there will be plenty of wonderful things to come. I cannot wait until our children have so many of their firsts (first day of school, first dance, first loves, etc., etc.)
But I just cannot believe that so many "big" things have already passed me by.
Don't Blink!!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Thursday is almost Friday
I'd say I'm doing pretty good. I had a few days off from life in general when I had a horrible stomach bug...but otherwise I am happy about my healthy living.
My current weight is 135 lbs. This is 10 lbs less than the day I got married. When I got pregnant with both kids I weighed 145 exactly. 135 certainly feels much better.
Sadly my body is not what it was even when I was 10 lbs heavier. Thanks you small children. I think every woman wishes she could be in a bikini forever, but I guess I will take my two healthy, happy babies over my formerly flat and cute belly
I am still loving the gym. I am getting there about 4 mornings a week. I wish I could go more, but I have to share with the hubby. My gym is brand new and the equipment is really nice. I am especially psyched about the 2 arc trainers, one of the only cardio machines I believe can get me to burn about 300 calories in 30 minutes.
I wish I had some new recipes to post, but I have been lazy and making the same things. I will get on that soon.
The final thought that I will leave you with is:
What happened to our society?
I remember that when I was a kid, moms could really focus on raising their chuldren. Now I cannot think of even one friend that I have that can afford to take off any time from work to raise their babies. Now not only do we need to raise our chidren, but we need to work long hours in high pressure jobs just to survive. I wonder if all of this pressure on me to do a million things all of the time will somehow hurt my children. Sometimes I feel like I am juggling and I just don't want all of my balls to come crashing to the floor.
My current weight is 135 lbs. This is 10 lbs less than the day I got married. When I got pregnant with both kids I weighed 145 exactly. 135 certainly feels much better.
Sadly my body is not what it was even when I was 10 lbs heavier. Thanks you small children. I think every woman wishes she could be in a bikini forever, but I guess I will take my two healthy, happy babies over my formerly flat and cute belly
I am still loving the gym. I am getting there about 4 mornings a week. I wish I could go more, but I have to share with the hubby. My gym is brand new and the equipment is really nice. I am especially psyched about the 2 arc trainers, one of the only cardio machines I believe can get me to burn about 300 calories in 30 minutes.
I wish I had some new recipes to post, but I have been lazy and making the same things. I will get on that soon.
The final thought that I will leave you with is:
What happened to our society?
I remember that when I was a kid, moms could really focus on raising their chuldren. Now I cannot think of even one friend that I have that can afford to take off any time from work to raise their babies. Now not only do we need to raise our chidren, but we need to work long hours in high pressure jobs just to survive. I wonder if all of this pressure on me to do a million things all of the time will somehow hurt my children. Sometimes I feel like I am juggling and I just don't want all of my balls to come crashing to the floor.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
A good deal, for real.
You may recall my love for this bathing suit.
I really wanted it. But in my mommy world, spending 100 dollars on myself isn't very realistic. I end up feeling so much guilt when I spend money.
But I kept coming back to look at this one. I really wanted it, plus I really needed a new one.
So, for some reason ebay popped into my head. I rarely use ebay, but something brought me there.
Well guess what...as soon as I typed in athleta bathing suit one of the first things to pop up was this exact suit, size medium, in brown (one of the colors I debated) for $29 NEW.
It came from China and had a slight defect in the stiching of the bottoms. I am guesssing it is a reject off of the line where the manufacture them. However, you cannot notice it at all and it is perfect.
I got it today and tried it on and it is everything I ever dreamed of. Seriously, I looove it.
My frugal self is just so happy. I got what I wanted for such a great price.
I really wanted it. But in my mommy world, spending 100 dollars on myself isn't very realistic. I end up feeling so much guilt when I spend money.
But I kept coming back to look at this one. I really wanted it, plus I really needed a new one.
So, for some reason ebay popped into my head. I rarely use ebay, but something brought me there.
Well guess what...as soon as I typed in athleta bathing suit one of the first things to pop up was this exact suit, size medium, in brown (one of the colors I debated) for $29 NEW.
It came from China and had a slight defect in the stiching of the bottoms. I am guesssing it is a reject off of the line where the manufacture them. However, you cannot notice it at all and it is perfect.
I got it today and tried it on and it is everything I ever dreamed of. Seriously, I looove it.
My frugal self is just so happy. I got what I wanted for such a great price.
Relapses, illness and good books
I will start with the positive. I just finished a really good book, The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry
I had this one for a while and didn't think I would like it based on the description, but it was sooo good.
Check it out here
Book description
"Every gift has a price . . . every piece of lace has a secret.
Towner Whitney, the self-confessed unreliable narrator, hails from a family of Salem women who can read the future in the patterns in lace, and who have guarded a history of secrets going back generations. Now the disappearance of two women is bringing Towner back home to Salem—and is bringing to light the shocking truth about the death of her twin sister."
On a negative note I have just recovered from another bought of stomach bug or food poisoning. It is so weird. I haven't had a stomach bug in years and in the past 2 months I have had it 3 times! I keep wondering if I am poisoning myself with something. It is awful and it throws off our schedule of life. I am falling so far behind in housework and we have no groceries.
We went on a family trip a few days ago to a really cool farm/ inn. The place is really all about kids. There are tons of activities (cow milking, smore making, arts and crafts, etc.) and lots of animals to visit with and feed. We stayed for 2 nights. You pay a flat rate and get all of your meals included. This is where the relapse comes in....
They had huge amounts of all of the things I try to avoid. Especially homemade baked goods at every meal. AND they served dessert at every meal. It was sooo good, but soooo bad. As I have mentioned before I will not give up eating that is an experience, and this was a true experience. So I say it was worth it. But now I must get my act together and get some clean, healthy good in the house...bewteen the trip and my illness..we are falling behind and need to get it together.
I had this one for a while and didn't think I would like it based on the description, but it was sooo good.
Check it out here
Book description
"Every gift has a price . . . every piece of lace has a secret.
Towner Whitney, the self-confessed unreliable narrator, hails from a family of Salem women who can read the future in the patterns in lace, and who have guarded a history of secrets going back generations. Now the disappearance of two women is bringing Towner back home to Salem—and is bringing to light the shocking truth about the death of her twin sister."
On a negative note I have just recovered from another bought of stomach bug or food poisoning. It is so weird. I haven't had a stomach bug in years and in the past 2 months I have had it 3 times! I keep wondering if I am poisoning myself with something. It is awful and it throws off our schedule of life. I am falling so far behind in housework and we have no groceries.
We went on a family trip a few days ago to a really cool farm/ inn. The place is really all about kids. There are tons of activities (cow milking, smore making, arts and crafts, etc.) and lots of animals to visit with and feed. We stayed for 2 nights. You pay a flat rate and get all of your meals included. This is where the relapse comes in....
They had huge amounts of all of the things I try to avoid. Especially homemade baked goods at every meal. AND they served dessert at every meal. It was sooo good, but soooo bad. As I have mentioned before I will not give up eating that is an experience, and this was a true experience. So I say it was worth it. But now I must get my act together and get some clean, healthy good in the house...bewteen the trip and my illness..we are falling behind and need to get it together.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Best dieting advice ever
Is to eat!
Seriously. This is something someone neglected to tell me in my early 20's. The best way to keep your metabolism healthy and active is to eat several small meals in a day and to never let yourself feel hungry.
Why do woman feel like starving themselves is ever going to lead to a healthy weight? Eating lots of good, healthy food is working for me. I wish someone had mentioned this to me 10 years ago. They also probably should have mentioned that vodka and Bucsh light is not a food group.
Live and learn.
Seriously. This is something someone neglected to tell me in my early 20's. The best way to keep your metabolism healthy and active is to eat several small meals in a day and to never let yourself feel hungry.
Why do woman feel like starving themselves is ever going to lead to a healthy weight? Eating lots of good, healthy food is working for me. I wish someone had mentioned this to me 10 years ago. They also probably should have mentioned that vodka and Bucsh light is not a food group.
Live and learn.
Interesting clean eats
First I must report on my gym goings: It is FABULOUS and I am really enjoying it. I went Mon, Wed, Fri and Sunday and every workout was pretty good. Every muscle in my body hurts and it was great to have some me time.
On the clean eating front, we are still doing pretty well. I did endulge in a bag of whole wheat tortilla chips and have been eating it with a fabulous raspberry salsa, and my neighbor did bring over warm chocolate chips cookies of which I ate 3...but otherwise we haven't cheated much.
My lovely and talented sister in-law has been trying some new recipes and she just shared an interesting one with me. I tried it tonight and it was pretty good.
I'll call in Fake Alfredo
If you like Alfredo sauce, but hate the HORRIBLE fat content and the stomachache it gives you to eat straight up cream..this is an inteersting substitute.
The original recipe was:
IngredientsTofu, firm, 1 block Do NOT drain!
Parmesan Cheese, grated, 1/2 cup
*Onion powder, 1 tbsp
Garlic powder, 1 tbsp
Directions
DO NOT DRAIN TOFU! Puree all ingredients together in a blender until well mixed. Add additional water to mixture to reach desired consistency. Let sit about 2 hours to absorb flavors. Heat over low heat in a heavy saucepan until warm. Serve over favorite pasta.
**Upon my sister inlaws suggestion I sauteed fresh galic and onions instead of powder and added more than suggested.
I also added some seasalt, black pepper and some ground red pepper.
It was really good. It didn't have the richness that real alfredo has...but it was tasty. I really liked adding the red pepper, but we like spicy.
My sister inlaw also suggested a VERY clean idea of putting it on spaghetti squash instead of pasta. I thought this was brilliant. I used to eat spaghetti squah as a pasta sub. all the time and had sort of forgot about it.
I love spaghetti squash because it has a lot of great vitamins AND you can cook it in the microwave.
I served my fake pasta and fake alfredo with a nice piece of haddock to which I added lemon, pepper and a light coating of wheat bread crumbs.
Not a bad combination. My only complaint is that I was still very hungry afterwards. I think I didn't have enough calories today. So I had a banana with melted peanut butter...YUM!
On the clean eating front, we are still doing pretty well. I did endulge in a bag of whole wheat tortilla chips and have been eating it with a fabulous raspberry salsa, and my neighbor did bring over warm chocolate chips cookies of which I ate 3...but otherwise we haven't cheated much.
My lovely and talented sister in-law has been trying some new recipes and she just shared an interesting one with me. I tried it tonight and it was pretty good.
I'll call in Fake Alfredo
If you like Alfredo sauce, but hate the HORRIBLE fat content and the stomachache it gives you to eat straight up cream..this is an inteersting substitute.
The original recipe was:
IngredientsTofu, firm, 1 block Do NOT drain!
Parmesan Cheese, grated, 1/2 cup
*Onion powder, 1 tbsp
Garlic powder, 1 tbsp
Directions
DO NOT DRAIN TOFU! Puree all ingredients together in a blender until well mixed. Add additional water to mixture to reach desired consistency. Let sit about 2 hours to absorb flavors. Heat over low heat in a heavy saucepan until warm. Serve over favorite pasta.
**Upon my sister inlaws suggestion I sauteed fresh galic and onions instead of powder and added more than suggested.
I also added some seasalt, black pepper and some ground red pepper.
It was really good. It didn't have the richness that real alfredo has...but it was tasty. I really liked adding the red pepper, but we like spicy.
My sister inlaw also suggested a VERY clean idea of putting it on spaghetti squash instead of pasta. I thought this was brilliant. I used to eat spaghetti squah as a pasta sub. all the time and had sort of forgot about it.
I love spaghetti squash because it has a lot of great vitamins AND you can cook it in the microwave.
I served my fake pasta and fake alfredo with a nice piece of haddock to which I added lemon, pepper and a light coating of wheat bread crumbs.
Not a bad combination. My only complaint is that I was still very hungry afterwards. I think I didn't have enough calories today. So I had a banana with melted peanut butter...YUM!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Freeench Friiiiiies
My confession of the day is that I LOVE french fries. I really wish I could be one of those girls who could say "ewww, how could anyone ever eat fast food." And trust me, when I really think about what I know is in a french fries, it does gross me out (Dr. Oz refers to them as cancer sticks). But I freaking love the taste of a greasy, salty, crunchy fry .It also doesn't help that I really love ketchup..and what is better with ketchup than fries???
French fries are what I put in the category of trigger food. Trigger food are food I do not allow myself to have. I am not against most things in moderation. If I am at a party and there is the best looking baked good I have ever seen, I will have some of said baked good because most are not trigger foods. Trigger foods are foods that I have no self control with. Trigger foods are foods that are responsible for any unhealthy weight gains I have ever had. Trigger foods are BAD.
Other trigger foods are: cheez-its, girl scout cookies, potato chips, Italian bread, french onion dip........
So, what have I done about the hole in my soul that has been left by cutting out the glorious fry from my diet? I have made my own sweet potato fries. This fills that hole about 3/4 of the way, which is pretty good.
Recipe:
Preheat oven to 450degrees
Hand cut 2 med sweet potatoes in fry like strips ( I think it tastes better to leave the skins on)
In medium bowl combine: 1/2tsp cumin, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (pepper is optional and will make them spicy) and 1 tablespoon olive oil*
Coat strips in mixture
Place strips on sprayed baking pan and put on medium rack of oven
*I have used just ground sea salt and it is almost just as good. I am sure you could experiment with spices. I also have seen people use coconut oil instead of olive oil, I will try that soon.
Cooking time is around 15 minutes and I usally flip them once around 7 minutes. It may take more or less time depending on how thin your strips are. They are done when they are cooked thru and brown on edges.
YUMMMMMM.
....My sister in-law literally just sent me a recipe on zucchini fries, I know what I will be trying next (I'll let you know)
French fries are what I put in the category of trigger food. Trigger food are food I do not allow myself to have. I am not against most things in moderation. If I am at a party and there is the best looking baked good I have ever seen, I will have some of said baked good because most are not trigger foods. Trigger foods are foods that I have no self control with. Trigger foods are foods that are responsible for any unhealthy weight gains I have ever had. Trigger foods are BAD.
Other trigger foods are: cheez-its, girl scout cookies, potato chips, Italian bread, french onion dip........
So, what have I done about the hole in my soul that has been left by cutting out the glorious fry from my diet? I have made my own sweet potato fries. This fills that hole about 3/4 of the way, which is pretty good.
Recipe:
Preheat oven to 450degrees
Hand cut 2 med sweet potatoes in fry like strips ( I think it tastes better to leave the skins on)
In medium bowl combine: 1/2tsp cumin, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (pepper is optional and will make them spicy) and 1 tablespoon olive oil*
Coat strips in mixture
Place strips on sprayed baking pan and put on medium rack of oven
*I have used just ground sea salt and it is almost just as good. I am sure you could experiment with spices. I also have seen people use coconut oil instead of olive oil, I will try that soon.
Cooking time is around 15 minutes and I usally flip them once around 7 minutes. It may take more or less time depending on how thin your strips are. They are done when they are cooked thru and brown on edges.
YUMMMMMM.
....My sister in-law literally just sent me a recipe on zucchini fries, I know what I will be trying next (I'll let you know)
Sweetness is...
Both kids in bed by 7pm on Saturday night. Thank you lord.
Now it is time for the couch. One of the best parts about going to the gym consistently is that you can have snacks and sit on the couch without guilt.
Now it is time for the couch. One of the best parts about going to the gym consistently is that you can have snacks and sit on the couch without guilt.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Gym update
So it has only been 2 days..so giving a full report is probably silly...but this blog is the only thing I am accountable to in terms of working out, so I feel a report is in order.
Day one at the gym was fabulous. It is much easier to get up when it is not the dead of winter. I did 15 minutes on the elliptical, 15 minutes on the stair stepper (I love to do this at a high level to get a good, intense sweat inducer. The stair stepper may sound a little 1980's..but it is one of the hardest cardio machines and is great for the rear). I then went on to core work and lunges and squats in various circuits for 30 minutes. It was really nice to have access to all of the equipment I always loved to use. I especially love the roman chair (my abs are killing me today), the Reebok balance board for squats and my all time faves for circuit training..kettle balls in all shapes and sizes.
This morning was my husband's morning to go to the gym, but I knew I still needed to get up and exercise so I made it through 30 minutes on our elliptical . We have a freakishly hard eelliptical.. For some reason if you use the random hill climb setting it is INTENSE (in a good way). I was pretty proud of myself on this one because my daughter woke up right before I was about to start.Ii had to feed her and rock her back to sleep and was glad I still squeezed in something.
Tomorrow is my morning..wohoo. I am so excited to get to go again. Getting 60 minutes of your own time is really a huge deal when you have two kids and a full time job.
The best part is I have 18 months already paid for and can rest assured I will be able to go for at least this long. Now when I was 22 years old this might not have guaranteed that I would stick with the gym...but now this over worked mom would NEVER give up already paid for time to myself.
Day one at the gym was fabulous. It is much easier to get up when it is not the dead of winter. I did 15 minutes on the elliptical, 15 minutes on the stair stepper (I love to do this at a high level to get a good, intense sweat inducer. The stair stepper may sound a little 1980's..but it is one of the hardest cardio machines and is great for the rear). I then went on to core work and lunges and squats in various circuits for 30 minutes. It was really nice to have access to all of the equipment I always loved to use. I especially love the roman chair (my abs are killing me today), the Reebok balance board for squats and my all time faves for circuit training..kettle balls in all shapes and sizes.
This morning was my husband's morning to go to the gym, but I knew I still needed to get up and exercise so I made it through 30 minutes on our elliptical . We have a freakishly hard eelliptical.. For some reason if you use the random hill climb setting it is INTENSE (in a good way). I was pretty proud of myself on this one because my daughter woke up right before I was about to start.Ii had to feed her and rock her back to sleep and was glad I still squeezed in something.
Tomorrow is my morning..wohoo. I am so excited to get to go again. Getting 60 minutes of your own time is really a huge deal when you have two kids and a full time job.
The best part is I have 18 months already paid for and can rest assured I will be able to go for at least this long. Now when I was 22 years old this might not have guaranteed that I would stick with the gym...but now this over worked mom would NEVER give up already paid for time to myself.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Gym time
Well, I am officially the proud owner of a new gym membership.
I haven't have one in 4 years. I used to be a total gym rat. I worked at gyms and just loved being in a gym. Then I had kids and moved to a place where the gyms are expensive and pretty crappy, actually really crappy. I was spoiled. Before I moved here to be with the hubby, I lived in the city and worked short shifts at the gym. It was a crazy expensive gym, but since I worked there I had a free membership. They had top of the line equipment, the best classes and were just clean and new and nice. Not so much here.
I also just couldn't part with the money. I was basically pregnant for 2 of the past 4 years and breastfeeding for the other 2, and both of those things do not make working out easy. But I just feel like I need something for myself. My husband goes to the gym almost every day AND takes a 2 hour kick boxing/ martial arts class 3 nights a week. So needless to say, I had envy. I think if things are not balanced in a relationship, it can lead to once person feeling resentment. I wasn't resentful yet, but I could feel it creeping up.
So we scrounged up the money and I am starting tomorrow. I am mostly excited to have an hour to myself where I focus just on me. I love my kiddos, but I also know I am important too. I have to share with my husband..so we will work out a schedule where we alternate morning. This means waking up at 4:30a.m., which is worth it.
So yay for my new gym membership.
My next goal is to buy this bathing suit What do you think? I think it is a good balance between young and fun and mama of two and teacher of many students who frequent the beach (a.k.a strutting my stuff in a bikini is not gonna happen)
I haven't have one in 4 years. I used to be a total gym rat. I worked at gyms and just loved being in a gym. Then I had kids and moved to a place where the gyms are expensive and pretty crappy, actually really crappy. I was spoiled. Before I moved here to be with the hubby, I lived in the city and worked short shifts at the gym. It was a crazy expensive gym, but since I worked there I had a free membership. They had top of the line equipment, the best classes and were just clean and new and nice. Not so much here.
I also just couldn't part with the money. I was basically pregnant for 2 of the past 4 years and breastfeeding for the other 2, and both of those things do not make working out easy. But I just feel like I need something for myself. My husband goes to the gym almost every day AND takes a 2 hour kick boxing/ martial arts class 3 nights a week. So needless to say, I had envy. I think if things are not balanced in a relationship, it can lead to once person feeling resentment. I wasn't resentful yet, but I could feel it creeping up.
So we scrounged up the money and I am starting tomorrow. I am mostly excited to have an hour to myself where I focus just on me. I love my kiddos, but I also know I am important too. I have to share with my husband..so we will work out a schedule where we alternate morning. This means waking up at 4:30a.m., which is worth it.
So yay for my new gym membership.
My next goal is to buy this bathing suit What do you think? I think it is a good balance between young and fun and mama of two and teacher of many students who frequent the beach (a.k.a strutting my stuff in a bikini is not gonna happen)
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