How yummy!!

My sweet mini makes my heart so full it's like it will explode!  She has been my little coach during my workouts, has been making sure I make time for them and today wanted to reward Momma!

As I write this, she and the hubs are making cookies.  Not just any cookies, but Dadoo's special chocolate chunk chip cookies.  My favorite!!!

I have already been told I need to workout today...and now I know I will be well rewarded.  I just heard her say "Wait till Mommy sees how yummy."

Totally worth the calories!!!!  I will just push a little harder in tonight's workout!  

Live Laugh Love

I feel amazing today!  I mean, seriously, AH-MAY-ZING!!   I have mentioned before how the hubs and I started up with The Biggest Loser workouts.  They are great!  There is something about watching actual people (not trainers and the elite super fit) doing the same workouts as you and seeing them struggle along with you that inspires you to try harder.  When I do something like P90X or Insanity, as awesome as the workouts are, I always feel inferior to the peeps in the videos.  I know I shouldn't but when you are struggling to get through...it's hard to see them do it with ease.  You know what I'm saying. 

Anyways, last night we decided to try The Biggest Loser Cardio Max workout, and I have to admit, I said I hated it.  My arms and legs were feeling like jell-o about halfway through, I had to stop for water breaks, I was feeling like a bum.  It was great!  By the end though, I felt good.  Was I sore?  Yes.  Was I tired?  Yes.  Was I sweaty nasty mess?  Heck yeah!  But my heart was pumping and I KNEW I had gotten in a great workout.  Afterwards I drained  a glass of water, took a shower, read and tucked in my mini and by the time that was all done and I snuggled up on the couch with the hubs for our nightly Netflix fix of Breaking Bad (my newest obsession) I was so sore I didn't know how I was going to make it to work today.

Fast forward to this morning.  I.  FEEL.  GREAT!  I can't believe it.  Sore?  Yes, but also so energized and strong.  I feel ALIVE!  There have been lots of pages that I follow through bloglovin and Facebook talking about a word for the year...and that is mine.  Without a doubt!  ALIVE!  I am going to live, laugh and love my way through 2014.  I am going to try and carry that positive note with me everywhere.  No doubting, no excuses.  I even agreed to my first 5K (something I've been wanting to don for a long time).  ALIVE!!!

What is your word?

Feeling Alive!!

Over the past several weeks I have felt sluggish!  Actually more like a sleep deprived lump!  I now my sleep patterns are erratic (thank you fitbit), but even with that, with 7+ hours of "not so great" sleep, I was feeling just blah.  Cutting back on the gluten has helped some...but it wasn't quite the surge I had hoped for.  So, as we sat enjoying Thanksgiving dinner I announced that we would begin exercising again the following day.  No more excuses! 

Everyone at the table agreed.  So we enjoyed out delish dinner (my husband does an ah-may-zing job with the turkey), and this year it was a more "shared responsibility" turkey day which I loved!  usually the hubs takes on the brunt of the cooking, but we spent the better part of the early day enjoying the kids laughter as we worked side by side in the kitchen!  My fav turkey day to date!

While others were battling the crowds to shop deals on Black Friday, we went to the library and got some workout DVD's to try, some more gluten free books and a juicing book (our next possible morning adventure).  I have to say, I am excited about these videos.  We opted for a few of The Biggest Loser workouts.  There is something inspiring about seeing others who are fighting the same good fight as you as opposed to a group of trainers working out.  We have done three days in a row, and I feel GREAT!  My energy is back up where it used to be, I don't feel like I am going to nod off at 6 or 7pm anymore.  It's great!  And because you can customize the workouts we can go anywhere from 25 minutes-an hour!  Loving them so far.

We have done:

LOVE them all so far...the boot camp kicked my butt some, but its great!  My hubs put it the very best way I could think of the other night when he said, "I'm sore, but my muscles feel alive!"

So true!  Alive!!

Getting Rid of Gluten

We have been bouncing all sorts of ideas around in our house on what might be the best diet life-style choice for us.  Back in September I posted about feeling the need to do Something but not knowing what or where to start.  I made the decision after some research and documentary watching to cut dairy milk from my diet and the mini's diet.  We are still enjoying cheese (a lot of goat cheese though instead of cow), but we are drinking almond milk exclusively.  I know I have mentioned on here before the frustration the hubs feels from working out and working out and working out and not seeing any results on the scale.  Yes, the exercise is great for him and brings on lots of NSVs, but sometimes you just need the gratification of seeing the numbers slide down and away.

It has really made us look at all sorts of factors and what could be holding him us back?!?!  I have the same issues at times where I bust my butt and see no numerical results.  It's hard to stay motivated when that happens.  Both the hubs and our oldest are lactose intolerant.  In doing some research I have found 1 constant...gluten. I have been feeling like gluten could be a culprit for a while, but needed to find something more concrete before poo-pooing a MAJOR component of our everyday diets.   I have found that gluten intolerance goes hand-and-hand with lactose intolerance for a lot of people.  I have found that hypothyroidism and hashimoto's can be helped with eliminating gluten.  I am not a medical doctor...but I think this may be worth a shot. 

With the holidays coming up (and a full pantry) we have decided to gradually scale back the gluten until we can cut it (without being wasteful).  So I have decided to start experimenting.  It sounds so scary at first, gluten free, but then when you really research it there isn't THAT much that you have to give up.  You have to be smart about reading labels, and we can SO do that!!!  So, in the spirit of proving to my hubby that this will not only be doable but yummy...I decided to make a completely gluten free dinner last night!  Thank goodness I had my little chef to help.  We decided to make chicken strips with roasted veggies. 

how stinking cute is my helper?!?!?!  Love her SO much!!!!!

First we assembled our ingredients (well most of them).  We bought fresh, free range boneless, skinless chicken breasts, rice chex (did YOU know they are gluten free), fresh brussel sprouts (my hubs fav) and we had some fresh taters our friend Jack grew and gave us.

(sorry they are blurry...chef on the move)  My little chef went to work on smashing up the rice chex for our chicken coating.  This was FUN.  She smashed and danced and laughed...my own little iron chef in the making.

While she smashed I cut up and prepped the potatoes and brussel sprouts.  Those also went into large Ziploc bags with a little extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper and a touch of garlic powder on the potatoes.  Once in the bag and ready, my sous chef mixed them all up to make sure they were all coated.

We laid them out on a baking sheet with the veggies separated (little chef is not yet a fan of the brussel sprouts), and put them in a 400 degree oven with the timed set for an hour.  Then we moved on to our chicken.

I we sliced up the chicken taking the small amount of excess fat off, and put them into nice bite sized pieces, put through an egg wash and rolled them in the chex mix (which we added a little more salt, pepper and garlic too).  Then the chicken was added to the same 400 degree oven for the last 45 minutes

The completed meal was delish!  The hubs and I had a brussel sprout/potato mix with our chicken bites, while the little chef opted for just taters, chicken and applesauce.  I am always over the moon if I make something new (especially with no recipe) and the hubs likes and this was a definite hit. 
Delish, nutritious and completely gluten free! 

 

What are some hints, tricks, recipes you do to keep out the gluten?!?!

Friday Flex

I am SO excited!  I don't know about other parents, but I find it hard sometimes, ok all the time to remember that I am allowed to spoil myself too.  It seems like the girls always need something, or the critters, or the house.  My hubs and I both tend to neglect ourselves and what we want or need to make sure everything else is good and happy.  So for my birthday this year when my mom asked what I wanted I said, "Oh, lets just go shopping."  That way I HAD to get a few new things and wouldn't feel TOO guilty...because lets me honest...Mimi will buy for the granddaughters too if and when she feels like it. :)

So my bday was back at the end of September and we just haven't had time together to go and shop (one of the many yucky things with living an hour away from my parents).  So I am sitting on the computer cruising through my feeds on bloglovin when I opened one from Jen over at Jen's Journey that she titled A Fitbit Family.  I started thinking maybe the hubs would like the new force.  He has been wanting a heart rate monitor but maybe this would work for tracking his calories burned etc.  That's when it hit me.  DUH!!  I have been wanting a fitbit for what feels like forever, but due to my inability to allow myself to get stuff I want I STILL hadn't ordered it. 

With my "a-ha" moment hitting after reading Jen's post, I was then scanning facebook and Fitbit had a link for a refer a friend.  I quickly posted it on my facebook page asking if anyone wanted to earn a refer a friend credit.  Mariana from over at Project Unfluff sent me the link and I talked to my mom and I am excited to say that a fancy new pink breast cancer awareness Fitbit flex is en route as I type this! 

What a good ending to a not so great week...PLUS tomorrow night is our much anticipated DATE NIGHT!!  I am looking forward to a fun evening out with my most favorite fella!  Possibly with a new "accessory" on my arm!!!

What are your weekend plans?!?!?

Bright horizons

I know I have been very delinquent on my posts...things have been crazy busy and I have a really great opportunity on the horizon...more details to come...fingers crossed!!!

Speaking of opportunities, have you entered for your chance to win a Polar RC3 GPS monitor yet?  FitFluential is doing a giveaway.  I hope to win it for my hubby for Christmas!!

Warm, toasty and inspired





mini me modeling her new scarf made by momma

I'm not sure why the cool weather inspires me so much, but it just does.  Once the weather starts to cool off, I feel the need to ramp up my arts and crafts time.  Luckily for me, this year it hit earlier then most so when I felt the urge to bust out my knifty knitter and its only mid-October rather than late November it means...I may have started early enough to finish stuff the kiddos want AND do some holiday gifts as well.  I have been wanting to attempt an afghan for my mom for the past few years and think maybe this will be the year I can actually do it??!?!

 





I know the knitting ideas crop up due to the temps, but fall is just inspiring all around to me.  I start doing more painting projects, I really get a lot more stock made for our little home business, and my workout schedule seems to get going in overdrive.  The hubs brought home some adorable wooden pumpkins made from fence posts for the girls to paint...can't wait to get those done to show you all.  I have my new silhouette cameo which I have finally taken time to sit down and figure out so there are LOTS of signs to be made this weekend and over the next few weeks. 

I am proud to say that adding more walking back in this week has paid off...a full pound less on the scale this morning!  Woot woot...you can't see it, but I'm doing my happy dance.  All the colors and beauty of fall inspire me.  I know I should feel more like this in the spring, when everything is in bloom and bathing suit season is literally around the corner...but I am generally in better shape in the cooler months under my layers of warm and comfy clothes then I am all year.  The beauty of autumn is my catalyst for greatness I suppose.  I'm not going to question it, just embrace it.

another pic of the scarf with the new coat for winter

 

What are you inspired to change with the changing of the seasons?



Food and Fitness Fun (+ a lil FMM)

Okay, so I have been talking a lot lately about how I want to and have been trying to change how I eat and get back on track with my workouts. If you have been reading my blog for a while now (thanks) you also know that I feel like there are many times that the universe sends me signals, many more since crossing the "mid thirties" line and the great metabolic slow down.  So I started this weekend of with some worry.  Despite all the miles I have been tracking with the old pedometer, I knew it was going to be tough.  We had Friday night cocktail festivities for the hub's bday with some of our closest BFF's, then we had the cake and yumminess festivities with just the girls Saturday which ends with leftover cake goodness Sunday, Monday...you get the picture.

So I basically hid like a coward from MFP and the scale all weekend.  It was cowardly I know, but at the same time ok.  I enjoyed not thinking about the scale at least.  So, last night my big kid was out playing with friends and the little one was stir crazy, so I asked her if she wanted to hit the playground.  OF COURSE!!  Duh mom, right?!?!  So I asked the hubs to go with but he actually made us some homemade (aka YUMMY with a capital YUM) bread and needed to let it finish baking and then do a cooling process.  So I went to get the mini me ready and he says that he wants to work out.  Awesome!  Whenever her gets motivated and started he is SO good about staying on track and he tends to motivate me.  SO, good wife that I am, I say well I will take mini to the playground and she can ride her bike there and back (she needs to practice her pedaling) and that will take some time then I can give her a half an hour at the playground so he should all in all that should take about 45-60 so he should be able to work out while we are gone.  And like that, it's a plan!

So mini me and I grabber her shoes and helmet and were off.  now this may not seem like a big deal, but my sweet little bear generally pedals up and down the drive way and then calls it quits, so the fact that she agreed to ride all the way to the playground is pretty fantastic...the fact that she DID it was off the charts awesome!  She did great by the way!  She was so proud of herself for doing it.  I'm so proud of her too!  She did about a .75 mile ride in her own sweet time (and I got the benefit of the walk since I was beside her in case she fell or needing help steering-which she hardly needed). 

When I got home hubby had worked out and showered all ready (guess we were gone longer then I realized) then he quickly took mini me for a bath and started dinner with the prompt "You're turn."  So, feeling motivated already by his good example, I got in a GREAT workout!  It was painful, sweaty and gross...but felt SO good!

I also took this weekend as an opportunity to try something new and good for me food wise.  While at Earthfare on Saturday, I saw almond milk on the shelf in the dairy case.  I have been reading a lot about the health benefits of choosing almond milk over cow milk and have been wanting to try it, but didn't want to get a full sized carton for fear of it been "yucky."  So while at the store the hubs and the big girl found me this:

How cute is this little single serving sized almond milk!  It was perfect for a taste test...and guess what...Momma likey!  My hubs tasted it and was not as impressed, he will stick with the very vanilla soy milk that we buy for him and the big kid...the big kid refused to try therefore the little kid refused to try.  I have a feeling though that I can get the little one to try it with me when we are alone!  :)  Baby steps to better health!

What are some foods that you have switched to on the quest to better health?

 

 

A few more DC pics to enjoy:

and now some Friend Making Monday!!

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: http://www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

School Days

1.  What was your favorite subject in school?  I always loved English, although history was a very close second.

2. Did you attend elementary school and high school in the same town? No, I did K-2 in a bigger city and then we moved the summer between 2-3, but from grade 3-12 I was in the same town.

3.  Are you still friends with anyone that you met during school?  I still have a few people from grade school that I am close to.

4. What activities were you involved in as a student? I was in wind ensemble, was a majorette, soccer, track and dance.

5. Did you bring your lunch, or did you get it at school?  I bought my lunch every day.  We actually had a cute little salad bar and I hit that most of the time.

6. Did you enjoy shopping for clothing and school supplies?  I loved it…still do, it’s a whole new experience doing it as the parent.

7. Name a song or a band that reminds you of high school.  Toad the Wet Sprocket. <3

8. Did you like school?  I loved school, I work for a university now and love that!  I plan to go back and get my Masters at some point! 

9. How long have you been out of school?  Do I have to admit this????

10.  What did you like most about school?  What did you dislike most about school?  My high school was very small so I guess at times I disliked that…everyone knows you and knows your business…at the same time I loved going to a small school and have a hard time wrapping my head around how big the district is that we live in now for my own kids experiences.

 

 



Introducing....a few new things at W&M

I am excited to write today's post.  I have been working on some ideas of new things that I want to incorporate into my blog.  The response to last weeks blog of my friend Suzanne's story has been so overwhelming, that it got me thinking (dangerous I know).  One of the goal's I have for myself is to grow this little blog into a NOT so little blog.  I jump started this idea with the introduction of the Waits and Measurements facebook page, but how can I keep building....think, think, think!  Well there is Friend Making Monday over at All the Weigh that gives us bloggers a chance to share and reach a bigger audience (thanks Kenlie)...what else can I do?  That is when the idea struck!  I have found some great blogs out there, some on my own and some on the recommendation of others...so why not start showcasing some of the great finds?  So without further ado.....<insert drumroll> I bring you...

 

For my first installment of Blog of the Week I have chosen Project Unfluff!  I love reading PU postings and the facebook updates are awesome too!  You know how sometimes you read or hear something and you think...wait did I say that because its something SO right up your alley?  Hello Project Unfluff...its like reading the musings that I think in my own crazy head sometimes.  I laugh, I empathize...it's one of my newest fav finds and I hope you take a sec to go over and check it out!  Also, when I talked to PU about featuring her on W&M, she was AWESOME and offered some great advice to help jumpstart W&M!

 

So as if BOTW wasn't enough...how about a little Friend Making Monday too...

 

 

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Let's Talk About TV

1.  Share your current "Must-See" TV shows.  Drop Dead Diva  and Pretty Little Liars (I now, how old am I with the PLL) are the two I am recording and making sure to watch right bow.  SO happy DDD came back…I was getting antsy.

2.  Do you prefer reality shows or sitcoms?  With the exception of Food Network/Cooking I prefer sitcoms and drama to reality TV. 

3. Who is your favorite talk show host?  Hmmmm…we watch a lot of Fallon and Coco, I should give my vote to Fallon though since one of our dear friends works for him.  Although I do like Jim Cantore…

4. Which network(s) do you turn to for news?  The Weather Channel…anything else on the news is to sad or horrific.  See also #3 JC

5. Do you have Tivo or DVR?  If so, which programs do you have set to record?  I record Drop Dead Diva, PLL, and Grey’s Anatomy and I have recently come back to Criminal Minds.

6. Have you ever started watching a show simply because you heard so much about it on social media?  If so, which one did you watch?  We did just DVR the TV movie Sharknado after hearing so much about it on FB.  J

7. List any TV series that you own on DVD.  None.

8.  Do you have a subscription to Netflix, Hulu, etc?  We used to have Netflix but canceled it.  We are thinking of getting it again since they have worked out some sort of deal where they are showing lots of Disney movies.  Not sure…may have to try Verizon streaming first with Red Box…

9.  If you could star in a TV show that already exists, which one would you choose? Hmmmm maybe Criminal Minds, how cool would it be to work for the BAU?!?!

10.  If you could bring back one TV show that is no longer on the air, which one would you choose?  Friends.  I <3 Friends. 

Now it's your turn to answer this week's questions!  Don't forget to come back and link up in the comments, and don't forget to take a little time to welcome some of our new FMM friends!  Happy Monday everyone!

 

Keep Going and a little Friend Making Monday



 



I was at my daughters soccer game yesterday and had the nicest most satisfying compliment ever!  One of my dear friends came in, took a look at me and said "Damn girl, you are looking skinny."    Now, truth be told, the numbers on the scale have not really changed all that much but I do feel that I am making a dent (a very small one, but still a dent).  What was so great about her words were that it made me feel like the small little changes I thought I was starting to see in the mirror (a little toning here, and little tighten there) aren't just wishful figments of my imagination.  It also made me feel good about not letting the scale get me down. This is a topic that my hubby and I go back and forth on CONSTANTLY when we are working out.  I have been doing a lot of muscle conditioning classes lately.  They are great (I'm actually doing one today).  A little cardio, a little strength training...the benefits are amazing.  Did you know that exercising (including the ever important strength/weight training) can help prevent osteoporosis?!?!

 

So the hubs has done all sorts of crazy intense workouts (P90X, Insanity), I actually really like the P90X workout, but anywho...he does these workouts and doesn't see his weight drop and he gets SO frustrated.  I understand...its maddening right?!?!  But I see the difference in his overall appearance.  I see the toning, and I can feel when I hug him how much more overlap there is with my arms.  So to have someone else validate what I was hoping was an accurate look in the mirror...to notice, say something and for me to BELIVE it is HUGE!!  Luckily I'm not feeling HUGE right now :)

 

And now...a little Friend Making Monday!



 

 

Now it's that time...If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

Getting To Know Each Other

1. What is your favorite color? I stay close to black and dark gray mostly, but do love red and purple.

2. Share one or more of your talents.  I am craftier then even I give myself credit for.  I am currently working on setting up my Etsy site....so stay tuned for details!

3. If you were spending the day getting to know someone new, where would you want to go?  Good question, probably a coffee shop, coffee relaxes me and makes me happy...but not Starbucks.  I have issues with Starbucks, the coffee always tastes burnt to me. 

4. What is your favorite meal? My hubby makes so many great things, but I'd have to say his bruschetta.  I LOVE IT!!!

5.  Do you prefer to text or talk?  Depends on the person.

6. Share something about yourself that might surprise someone that you're getting to know.  I have been on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries (and no, I did not get to meet Robert Stack).

7. Do you color your hair? When I have time and energy....if you saw me right now you'd know I was lacking in both as my silver "sparkles" are showing through. :)

8. Do you wear glasses or contacts?  Both, of course not at the same time...that would be overkill :)

9. What is your favorite breakfast food?  I have oatmeal most days during the week because I can make it quickly at work, but I love eggs!!!

10. Would your friends say that you're sarcastic?  Without a doubt, yes!

11. Do you prefer salty or sweet?  I am a salty girl (this seems to crossover to my personality as well most of the time).

12. What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?  The first thing I notice about ANYONE is their teeth.  I wore braces and appreciate all the time and money that people put into a nice smile (I am also spending that $$ right now on my oldest).  As for the opposite sex...after teeth, eyes...most definitely.  My hubby has the most gorgeous caramel mocha eyes. <swoon>

13. What is the last movie you watched?  Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure, we watched it (again) yesterday.

14.  Are you religious?  I believe in God and have my own sense of faith, but don't feel that I can be boxed into one sect, nor do I think we should be.

15. Are you a neat freak, a slob, or somewhere in between? I used to be a complete freak...like Monica styled from Friends about cleaning...now its more clean as we go and power clean when company is coming.  The kids make it hard sometimes.

16. Share something from your bucket list that you hope to do someday.  I really want to go to Europe.

17. Are you a risk taker, or do you prefer to play it safe?  Hmmmm I'd like to think that I'm a risk taker, but am in reality more close to the cuff.  I would do ANYTHING for family regardless of the risk if they were in need...but that's a different story. 

18. Have you ever worn braces?  Yes.  Two years, 1 month and 17 days...not that I was counting.

19. Would you rather spend an evening at a theater or at a club?  Hard one...I used to work in theatre, and the hubs still does....so at times it can be overload.

20. If you could have three wishes, what would one of them be?  Not sure I could narrow it down...too many things I want for my kiddos and family.

 Now it's your turn to answer this week's questions.  Don't forget to come back and link up in the comments!  Happy Monday!