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Naked And Afraid – The Before Photos

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Tonight I did something that was at the highest level of anxiety, pit in the stomach, REAL.

I finally got up the courage to take the #BeforePic.

Mentally, we see ourselves so different than the camera does. Subconsciously, I think our brains leave out the dimples, bumps and flaws. Our brains delude us into thinking our 3 Bedroom figure is a studio apartment and we never really get that feeling of what our true canvas looks like.

Tonight I did. Tonight I cried.

I was hit with a harsh reality that I deep down knew existed. If I’m really going to be successful…If I’m going to transform myself to the way, in my heart I feel I need to be, then it needs to be done 100%. These photos were sent to two of my closest fitness friends. Friends who I know won’t judge and will help motivate me. Most of all, they will keep me accountable to the results I’m striving for. This was the single hardest thing I’ve done. I allowed someone else into my reality.

Well, it’s time to change that reality. It’s time to be the woman I know is hiding behind the curtain of bad decisions, eating habits and laziness that shrouds my body. Time to let the Strong Beast that’s inside this skin, out.

Seeing yourself through the lens…is terrifyingly enlightening.

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Pinterest, Printables and Parenting: The Three P’s of Timothy’s 3rd Birthday

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In the words of another mom tonight, “OH MYLANTA”.  It’s been so ding danged long since I’ve posted on this site. I feel like I should rename it Won’t Post Ever.  ugh.  But tonight, I’m waiting for my husband’s pants to dry before I hit the sheets so here I am.

IMG_0333Timothy just turned 3 on Friday and we even threw together a last minute dinner with Family tonight.  My In-laws were here, as were my two best friends and the best neighbors we could ask for.  My mom was unable to make it, and it felt empty without her.  Maybe that’s why, as we were getting the house ready today, I started to feel guilty that I didn’t plan a big party; no balloons, no theme, no big cake.  It was just a dinner.

Well, let’s just say the “Free Printables” I found on Pinterest and my trusty printer came to the rescue.  We still didn’t have a theme, but I did print off a Curious George Party Hat and a couple little things to make it a little more festive.  We had a cupcake with 3 candles and I pulled out the table cloths from last year’s birthday.  To top it all off, I still had balloons from last birthday as well, and working in radio, we always have helium at the ready, so I ran into work to blow up a couple balloons.  BOOM. we’ve got a “party”

It wasn’t much, it didn’t all match and no I didn’t make the salads from scratch, but it was great company and Timothy was so tired in the end that I thought he’d be sleeping with his cupcake rather than eating it.

IMG_0353I don’t know why we get so caught up in everything being “good enough” for our children.  I mean “good enough” is 100% in the eye of the beholder.  There were no invites, no goodie bags, no running like crazy to coordinate, just family and friends and laughs.  Honestly, I think that’s more than enough.

Fixing my Marriage…and self …one Pinterest project at a time.

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Finding my path to health and wellness has not come easy to me.  I can see, plain as day, what I need to do, but the motivation to do so, is another ordeal entirely.

Stress from work, home, family, money, blah blah blah…has really put a damper on my spirit as of late and I’m looking for outlets to bring back my vigor, my creative, fun nature and my drive.  I may have found it.

Charlie working 1My husband and I have started “projects”.  The kind of projects that either fill our house, are gifted to others, or sold for a little extra cash.  There is something lively and electric about the search for the perfect pieces to our masterpieces.  Sometimes it’s a simple drive to the Home Depot or Thrift Store, other times it a 30 min drive to get wooden pallets from a friends farm.  It’s always an adventure and always a challenge.

When we get the products, it about how we can do it better than the last time, improve it, get MORE creative and Charlie and I just gel during these!

Projects_workingWe get so caught up in our crazy lives that Charlie and I tend to nit-pick at each other for the dumbest things.  When we are creating together, however, it’s like a new spark, a new journey and it’s so refreshing.  It’s like craft time for adults!

Someday, we’ll teach Timothy how to use the saws, hammers and more to create for himself, but for now, Pinterest has become the catalyst to our “date nights” and I’m so grateful!

Chalkboard_joy to the world Chalkboard_joy wreath Chalkboard_little things
Pallet Art_Framed Monograms winerack_1 winerack_2

 

Overnight Oats & Weighing in on the Weekend

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SELF_3lbs week

3LBS BOOM!

Last week was my first week in over a month that I was able to make it to all three of my training sessions.  It was glorious!  As of Friday, my birthday, I was down 3.0 lbs from Monday.  I’ve set a minimum of 2.5 lbs per week goal til my Nashville Trip.  That will at least put me 10lbs down, and although I will still be far from my goal, I’ll be 10lbs lighter in my step.  After an awesome workout and a little extra cardio on Friday, I headed home.

Everyone kept asking me what I was doing, where I was going, how drunk I was going to get.  Truth be told, none of the above.  Other than a super tight budget due to paying for our upcoming trip to Vegas, I wasn’t about to take those 3 pounds and just put them back on with night of drinking which inevitably leads to a late night trip through the Taco Bell Drive through and a day of Carbs licking my liver’s wounds the next day.  I was surprised at everyone’s reaction to this.  They felt sorry for me.

Well, they were the only ones feeling sorry for me.

FOOD_PB&JInstead of the normal Mexican Village or other restaurant free meal or dessert, I opted for something that wasn’t totally naughty, but also wasn’t on plan.  Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich.  Let me tell you.  After a week of eating Chicken, Broccoli, brown rice, Oatmeal and Whey Protein..this sandwich was like a flavor explosion consisting of winning the lottery, getting a pony and fireworks over the lake all wrapped into one.

Saturday my husband took his 1970 John Deere Snowmobile to the antique Snowmobile Ride In in Waconia and I got to spend the day with Timothy.  We never left the house once.  We made Valentine’s Day Window Clings to send to family and made our first finger painting masterpiece.  Then we read a couple books, napped and laughed a lot.  I’d say it was a pretty awesome day.

Sunday was a day to plan.  If there is one thing that I’ve noticed, eating clean is not always cheap. Especially when you have a 17 mos old and a husband to feed as well.  So, planning this week on a tight budget was insane. After 45 mins of coupon clipping, Target Cartwheeling and sale shopping, I took a load of Groceries that rang up at $112 and the coupons brought it down to $72.00. BOOM!  #SuperShopper.

I decided to try an overnight Oats recipe I found on Pinterest.  I’m really digging it, but next time I’ll make this variety without the maple.  I don’t know why I put it in there.  I loathe oatmeal with cinnamon, maple or brown sugar varieties.  I’ll eat brussel sprouts before those. That’s saying alot.  Brussel Sprouts are like ipecac for me.  So I used Blueberries and Almond milk.  They turned out great, just weird to eat them cold, but that’s easy to get over 🙂

1st week official weigh in today at 2:30 pm.  Excited and nervous all at the same time.  Let’s keep this Train rollin’!

FOOD_Overnight Oats 2

Best Picture I could get…I scarfed these before I took it..whoops.

Overnight Oats with Blueberries & Maple

  • Small 1/2 pint canning jar with lid/ring
  • 1/4 c Old Fashioned Oats
  • 1/4 c Greek Yogurt
  • 1/3 c Unsweetened Almond Milk
  • 1 Tbl Flax Seed / Chia Seed /or mix
  • Blueberries to fill
  • Tsp Maple Syrup
  1. Put the Oats, Milk, Yogurt & seeds into the jar.  Cover and shake til mixed.
  2. add Maple and fill the jar with Blueberries.
  3. Cover again, shake til mixed then put in fridge overnight.
  4. Enjoy Cold or hot the next morning.  (evidently this keeps for up to 3 days)

(Adapted from this Post)

Living, Laughing and Losing (34 goals for 2014)

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Who's late on their Resolutions? This Chick. That's Who.

Who’s late on their Resolutions? This Chick. That’s Who.

January 24th will be my 34th birthday.  Yikes. 34!?! seriously. Last time I looked I was 23. Now, I’m going to be 34 with a 17 mos old, a husband, a playful labrador, a mortgage and just about anything else “grown-up” you can think of.

I find that having a baby will change you in ways that most people don’t mention.  When I was pregnant I was definitely nesting for pretty much the entire time.  I planted plants, cleaned, discovered and created new projects, went to church more, laughed a lot, napped a lot and just did more things at home.  As soon as Maternity leave was over, it was back to the trenches and like a sad Disney Movie, all those pretty “home” projects withered away.  I found myself stressed, tired and always running behind again.

I don’t think my bun in the oven gave me super powers, but I do believe it helped me to focus on what really matters: family and laughter.  Sure I wasn’t always the happiest of preggo ladies, but dang it, I loved having the excuse to put my feet up and read a book or sew pillow covers or just think about ways to improve our home, lifestyle and more..all on a budget mind you.

So for 2014, I want to lose the baby weight, I want to set a bunch of goals that will help me to spend more time with family, get out and be adventurous and just plain be happy.  Here goes nothin’…

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