The Chemo Bag: Update

Almost a year ago, I was able to support an amazing charity, The Chemo Bag. You may remember this from my post back in March 2014 but all of the proceeds from my team in the month of March/April last year went directly to benefiting this worthy cause.

I just received an email with a thank you attached from someone that personally received a gift on her first day of chemotherapy treatment. I wanted to share this note of thanks with all of you, since it was due to your purchases and support that this gift was made possible.

Thanks for helping out and being a light in the world!

Meant for More?

Here are some questions that I'd like you to consider:

Ever feel like you were meant for more? Do you have a desire to HELP people? What about to create FINANCIAL FREEDOM for your family? Make more friends? Have more fun? Work from home and be your own boss and create your own hours? Want to grow and develop into a leader and gain confidence in yourself? Do you have a love of health and fitness? Or do you desire to get healthy and fit and finally hold yourself accountable to your goals and resolutions, but you need the support of a team to get you there? Are you motivated? Driven? Caring? Compassionate? Energetic? Enthusiastic?

If any of these questions or words resonated with you, then you might be the person I'm looking for! If you're reading this, then I want to invite you to join me LIVE for a presentation that will explain what it is that I do all day and how I make money while creating a life I love and having fun, too!

The LIVE webinar will cover topics such as:

-What is coaching, anyway?
-How can I earn money as a coach?
-What if I'm not at my goal weight/body yet?
-What if I don't have a lot of time right now to devote to a business?
-What if I don't know anything about leading a team?

and much, much more! ...and a bonus! This virtual presentation is hosted by my coach, Beachbody's top coach 2013, Lindsay Matway!

To get on this call, Click this link at 9pm EST tomorrow, Tuesday, February 24th!

Comment below or get in touch with me on Facebook afterwards and let me hear your questions and what you think! Also, if you're ready to join my team, please click here to apply!

Run A Race

A 5k race might not seem like much to some avid runners, but for me, running a 5k is no small feat. I had to work my way up to this achievement, one step at a time. I never used to consider myself a runner. I never would have said, "I like to run for fun!" But in recent years, and over time, I have grown to love running as a sport and an exercise I enjoy. 

Why? My reason is simple. When I run, I get a break from my life. I get to be alone with my thoughts. I also get to exert some energy and flood my body with endorphins. When I finish a run, I feel better than good- I feel great! I use my time running to:

-Listen to music

-Think out a solution to a problem 

-Plan and organize my day (by organizing my thoughts and prioritizing my activities)

-Pray

-Thank God for the wonderful day He has made. I always take a minute to admire nature and give thanks when I'm outside running in the fresh air

-Listen to an audiobook and develop myself and grow my leadership skills/abilities

-Chat with a running buddy (if I run with a friend that day)

-Increase my time and distance and get better at running

-Train for a future race that I have a goal to run

Setting a running goal is important to me because it keeps me focused on why I'm running in the first place. My first goal was always to run a 5k. Just this past weekend, I ran one and had my best time! I came in somewhere around the 27/28 minute mark. My goal was to be under 30 minutes. I pushed myself to sprint at the end, and it felt good! I have ran a few other races in the past- some straight 5k races and others fun, obstacle-course-type races that feel great when done with a team. I highly recommend running a mud run, a Spartan sprint or a Color Run! Lots of teamwork and a ton of fun! 

I also recommend that when you set a goal, and you achieve it, that you set your next goal immediately. I ran a 5k. I increased my time. My next goal is a 10k and then a half marathon after that. If I set smaller goals and meet them one step (or mile) at a time, I know I can achieve my bigger goals. For myself, I know that signing up and commuting to a race is the next step to encouraging myself to keep training towards my next goal. Once I decide to do it, and commit to doing it, I know I can succeed! The body achieves what the mind believes, right?!

So I encourage you to run a race. Do a 1 mile fun run. Then run a 5k! Sign up with a friend and practice 3-4 times a week until you're ready to run. I guarantee when you come across that finish line, you'll be hooked and looking for your next race! The best thing about these races is that they usually donate their profit to worthy causes, so find something worthy you believe in and go support their cause! You won't be sorry!

And of course, come back and comment below with how you did! I would love to hear back from you what you think about running and this great way to stay in shape and develop your kind, body & soul.  

3 Day Refresh Results

My 3 Day Refresh results are in and I'm SO EXCITED! These are great results. In just 3 days I was able to lose weight, gain some energy AND lose some inches! Woohoo! I was expecting only half the results that I did get, so this was a crazy surprise. The best part: it wasn't hard at all to stick with it! I was able to eat real food while doing a cleanse! Crazy right? But possible! If I can do it, so can you.

Check out this video for my results and my experience during the 3 Day Refresh:

And of course, some more info. about the Refresh:

If you're interested in trying the 3 Day Refresh out for yourself, feel free to ORDER HERE or contact me via Facebook or email (use the tabs at the top of this page) or comment below :) I would love to add you to my next challenge group and help you start seeing results in just 3 days! Like I said, if a busy mom of two like me can do this (all while still cooking and feeding her family and running around as usual), so can you! 

Busy People! Do you have 5 minutes?

Who here is busy? No time to workout? Well, I have a solution! Start small. Sometimes the overwhelming feeling of starting something new can discourage us and cause us to run away in fear. We lose out on some of life’s greatest benefits by fearing what we think could happen instead of living our lives. This fear ends up controlling us. Well, I say no more! Slap your fear in the face and let it go. Take one step forward at a time and start with something small.

 Is clean eating something you want to try but you feel overwhelmed by the whole process and so you fear failure and even getting started? Try cutting out soda and fast food to start and increasing your water intake. Once a week goes by, you may feel ready to start adding in more fresh fruits and vegetables and cutting out anything from a box. Eventually, and before you even realize it, you’ll be an expert clean eater!

 The same holds true for exercise. If you fear starting because maybe you don’t have enough time, you’re out of shape and will feel winded or you have joint pain that you don’t want to exacerbate, I challenge you to get rid of those excuses! At least for 5 minutes a day for a week. When the week is up, increase your exercising to 10 minutes, and then 15, and before you know it, you’ll be exercising through a 30 minute program like a master!

 If you’d like to start scheduling time to eat right and of course, workout, then start small and make the decision to make the change today.

Join me starting tomorrow for my 5 Day/5 Minute Workout Challenge. Contact me on Facebook by clicking the Facebook button above and I will add you to the private group! It’s free and quick! What do you have to lose?

What can COACHING do for you?

How would it feel to change lives? To inspire others to be better and achieve their dreams? To be an encourager, a motivator, a friend, a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and a stick to kick butt with when necessary?

I will tell you how it feels: AMAZING!

To have message after message come in with "Thank you's" and results keeps my heart warm and my joy filled.

I also enjoy:
- the new friends I've made in this business- surrounding myself with like-minded people ROCKS!
-the paychecks (they don't hurt haha)
-the accountability for myself (I can't inspire others and create change if I'm not holding myself accountable to my workouts and nutrition)
-the confidence I help create in others and the confidence-boost I've received
-the new learning and growing I'm doing each and every day
-the opportunity to help others reach for and achieve (and exceed) their dreams!
-offering others the ability to create financial freedom for themselves

The list can go on and on...

If you'd like to see what this is all about, watch this recording:

and then APPLY HERE for my team. I'd love to have you join us on this wonderful journey!

Venison Chili Recipe

Have any hunters in your family? Got deer meat that you don't know what to do with? Make my quick & easy Venison Chili recipe. It's tasty and should satisfy any member of your family!

I served mine with a kale & craisin salad topped with shredded white cheddar and apple cider vinaigrette made from EVOO, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, s&p, and agave nectar. (For all my 21 Day Fixers- this equals one orange (dressing), 1/2 blue (cheese), and 1 green (kale). You can also sub out the craisins and add apples and make it 1/2 purple container...).

Here's the chili recipe! I hope you enjoy. And if you make it, please comment below with your feedback. Note: You can also add red wine to this dish! AND, I adapted mine from one of Emeril's recipes.

Fixers, this is: 1 red, 1 yellow, 1/4 green and 1/2 purple (make sure to count 1/2 blue if you add cheese!)

Clean Eating Chicken & Veggies

Roast Brussel sprouts (halfed), red bell peppers (cut into bites), and baby carrots tossed in EVOO and sprinkled with tumeric, black pepper, garlic powder & ground ginger on a baking sheet in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-35 minutes. 

In the meantime, marinate chicken breast in EVOO and roasted garlic and herb seasoning such as this one below or make your own:

Bake (I like to elevate mine by taking a cooling rack and setting it over top of a baking sheet and placing the chicken on the rack so it cooks evenly- be sure to spray with non-stick cooking spray of you choose this method!) at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. 

This yields an easy, clean dinner that's delicious! Note: I prefer to use organic ingredients as much as possible, especially for my veggies! 

Insanity Max 30

Shaun T.- creator of Insanity and Focus T25- has done it again! He’s come up with another tough workout that will pack a punch with great results for your body. The new program is called Insanity Max 30 and it launches on December 2nd. Check it out here! I am looking forward to ordering this workout as soon as it comes out and you can too! Follow this link and sign up to get an email reminder when it’s available!

It’s Okay to Fail

Before I ever jumped onto the fitness band-wagon, I had a ton of concerns. Like most people, I was concerned with the cost of Beachbody programs vs. a gym membership or hiring a personal trainer (the programs were WAY CHEAPER! and I found out that I get better results <--WINNING). I was also concerned that I would not be able to handle the intensity and that I would quit. Simply put, I was afraid of failure. I lacked the confidence in myself to finish the workouts- I didn’t want to spend the money if I wasn’t going to actually complete the programs...but thankfully, I found a coach who built up my confidence and made it seem like anyone could do this because she was there to provide support and she reassured me that it was okay to mess up occasionally...I think sometimes people just need to know that it will be okay if they fail at times...and that’s what I needed. Once I got past that, I was unstoppable! Sure I mess up occasionally, but that’s OKAY! I get back up and try again and keep going because after all, "we are what we repeatedly do" and I’ve decided that I am a winner not a quitter. How about you?

My Ultimate Reset: Week 3!

Ok! The results are in! The wait is over! My husband and I have completed all 21 Days of the Ultimate Reset. This was a whole-body makeover...a detox/cleanse that allowed us to eat whole foods and not be hungry. It helped us kick bad habits that were forming- I am no longer drinking coffee in the mornings and my husband has been waking up BEFORE his alarm! If you know him, this is UNHEARD of behavior! Our favorite recipes from this last week have definitely been these two paired with the Mediterranean Roasted Beets that I shared from week 2! It's a delicious dinner that we will be eating often in our home.

And now for the good stuff! I'm sure you want to see our results, right?! You're thinking...enough about the FOOD! How did you do?! How many inches did you lose? Where did you lose those inches? Well, here are our results, folks. I hope they inspire you to try this at least once in your life. It's definitely worth it. And now, I am holding myself accountable to my nutrition and fitness goals from here on out...because I had to work hard to get back to a place I had already come close to before (and with moving I'd let that slip away...) but I am fully committed now to keep going. Brian lost a total of 16.75 inches and 17 pounds! Here are his details:

I lost a total of 5 inches and 10 pounds! Here are my detailed results:

Simply put, the challenge group model held me accountable, having my husband as an accountability partner solidified my success and I am happy with my results and cannot wait to do this again in the spring!!!

My Ultimate Reset Week 2

At the end of week 2 of the Ultimate Reset, I ended up down 8 pounds total! I am super excited because I did have a couple slip-ups (I may have acted in a moment of weakness and stolen a few bites of my daughter's macaroni and cheese). However, overall I have been feeling really great and have thoroughly enjoyed my meals this week. My favorite recipes from this week:

Sweet Potato and Roasted Red Pepper Bisque  Ingredients: 
1 sweet potato (aka garnet yam)
¼ red bell pepper
1 cup vegetable broth or water
1 tsp. finely grated peeled ginger root
1½ tsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp. miso paste, diluted in 1 tsp. hot water
Tamari or Bragg® Liquid Aminos
Himalayan salt
herbal seasoning (to taste)
Directions: 
Peel and cube sweet potatoes. Cook in boiling water until tender. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, roast a whole red bell pepper on gas stovetop or grill, turning frequently until evenly charred on the outside OR in your oven at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, turning every 10 minutes or until skin is charred. Put pepper in bowl and cover with towel for 10 minutes to steam. Clean off skin and seeds by running under cool water. Remove seeds, cut in quarters, and chop one quarter into ½-inch cubes. (Set remainder of pepper aside for another use.) Place sweet potato, pepper, broth or water, ginger, oil, and miso in blender. (If you want chunky soup, set aside some chunks of pepper.) Blend thoroughly, adding more liquid to achieve desired soup consistency. Transfer to a pot and gently heat on low until hot. Add tamari or aminos, salt, and seasoning as desired. Serves 1.
 Nutrition 220 calories 7 g fat 1 g saturated fat 0 mg cholesterol 530 mg sodium 35 g carbohydrate 6 g fiber 3 g protein 509 mg potassium And of course...beets! I knew I liked them, but now I LOVE them!

As always, I hope this has been helpful. My journey hasn't been easy, but it's been worth it!!! I cannot wait to share with you my results and fav. recipes from week 3! If you'd like to order the Ultimate Reset, check it out HERE!

Post-Halloween Planning

Halloween is fast approaching and we all know what that means...CANDY! I don’t know about you, but once my kids hit the streets for trick-or-treat, my house will be loaded with chocolatey goodness that is nearly impossible to resist. I can already feel the pounds packing on as I think about the chocolate that I will probably consume. This is an especially hard temptation right now as I am in the middle of The Ultimate Reset and have had no sugar since the start) and it ends on the 30th. So what is my plan of action? I plan to minimize the damage that I will do from eating candy and keep my results from the reset by doing the following: Step 1: Eat some candy (hey! Ya have to live a little). Step 2: Start a new support challenge group November 3rd to get back on track. Step 3: Stay accountable and motivated by focusing on helping my challengers reach their goals. This 3-step strategy is really all I can do! And since I mentioned that step 2 is starting a new challenge group, I would like to extend an invitation for YOU to join me! If you’ve been eating poorly and want to get back into healthier habits...if you have a few pounds (or maybe 15 or more?) you want to lose...if you’re tired of being tired ALL THE TIME and want to get your energy back before the real holidays come knocking...and if you’re ready to look your best this holiday season...then JOIN my online support group and you will get yourself back into gear and ready to take on the world! Apply here: Fill out my form! and let’s do this! I can’t wait to hear from you and help you get started!

My Ultimate Reset: Week 1

Week one of the Ultimate Reset has been great! I have been on this journey with my husband and today is day 7. I must confess, my husband is doing the full-on reset and I am doing a modified version. Since I am still breastfeeding, I cannot take the supplements. Detoxing will release toxins into my breastmilk (yuck) and so I can’t nurse Sophia AND take the pills. I will do the reset WITH supplements once she is done nursing. For now, I am sticking to the exact schedule as far as food and water intake and following all other instructions. I believe it is still working to rid my body of the junk that has been building up and I am leaving behind bad habits, which is my ultimate goal. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ***Let’s talk SCHEDULE: The Ultimate Reset is demanding! Plain and simple- you need time each night (or a whole day on Sunday) to prep your meals for the week. The recipes are easy, but they are complicated because they require multiple steps and a lot of chopping veggies and fruits and measuring things. You have to be precise on the reset and you can’t “eyeball” your measurements. This is a change for me since I’m so used to just dumping stuff in and then tasting as I go when I cook. In addition to the food prep, you need to be able to set yourself up for success. My husband and I set our phone alarms to go off when we need to drink water (and he needs to take the supplements). These are precise times because certain supplements need to be taken a half hour before a meal, two hours after a meal, etc. You also need to make sure you are getting in enough water each day- about a gallon for me a day! And, the water needs to be DISTILLED water! I found gallons of distilled water at Target for 88 cents a piece, so that’s not bad since I need 21 of them and my hubby needs more PLUS we need some for cooking! ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ***Let’s talk FOOD: You will eat strange foods. Period. You may or may not have heard of all of the foods on the grocery list they provide- but be open-minded and give them a shot! I am now a fan of so many new foods and I now have an arsenal of recipes that I plan to make regularly even after our reset is over. My husband, who grew up a meat-and-potatoes guy, is also surprised at how many of the recipes he likes. I am now a huge fan of tempeh and plan to incorporate it into my dishes beyond the reset. I will also be adding in a “meatless Monday” to my life after the reset because that will give me a chance to eat my favorite dishes from this program regularly. Here’s a pic of some of the food I’ve been eating this week:

I also want to share my favorite dressing recipe and my favorite recipe from week 1. Check them out!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ***Let’s talk MOTIVATION: Believe you can and you will! You CAN do this and you can be successful. If my husband can stick to this, without cheating (even on his BIRTHDAY!), then so can you! No excuses. This is going to be so great for our health, we already feel so AMAZING, I am going to be raving about this for a while. That is motivation enough! Trust me ;) However, if that’s not enough, Beachbody provides an Ultimate Reset private Facebook group for all participants to help each other with questions and encouragement. You also can sign up for daily emails explaining information about the phase you are in and get support through the online portal they’ve created. It’s literally AMAZING support! PLUS, there are plenty of YouTube videos to help with questions, reset cooking tips, etc. These are GOLD! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Let’s talk CONFESSION: Bless and release. It’s a good motto to have...and during the reset you need to let go of any anxiety and negative feelings you are holding onto towards yourself and others. Also, if you slip up (it happens- I slipped and had a bite of a cookie and a sliver of birthday cake), you can’t freak out and beat yourself up about it. I felt bad, but I realized that what’s done is done and I need to move forward. I am pledging to no more slip-ups from here on out and I KNOW I will succeed because of the support I’m getting and the determination I have. Also, I have to say, I have lost my taste for those treats anyway. When I ate the sliver of cake, the aftertaste was HORRIBLE. It tasted like CHEMICALS! I could immediately tell it was highly processed and full of preservatives and toxins and I DO NOT want that going into my body ever again. In fact, after the reset I will probably be making my own desserts from here on out and only using clean ingredients (the blog Chocolate-Covered Katie has some great recipes for this if you want to check it out!) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Let’s talk about YOU! If you think this is something you want to try because you want to experience these benefits, feel free to find me on Facebook and shoot me a message, or email me, or just order now HERE! I would love to help you through this amazing experience!

My Grocery Staples and Upcoming Reset

My husband, Brian, and I are planning to start Beachbody’s Ultimate Reset on Friday. If you haven’t heard of this program, you are missing out on something serious for your nutrition! The Reset is a way to detox your body without starvation (I can think of a few other detox/cleanses that require you to eat literally nothing for days...this isn’t the same thing!). It is a three-week long program and it’s intense because it requires that you eat at certain times, drink distilled water at certain times and also take supplements at certain times to reset your body back to it’s natural, “factory” settings (<-- haha). While some people might find this to be crazy (I mean, what’s the point, right?), I find it to be exciting. I am excited for the benefits of this program- I am basically promised better sleep, better eating habits moving forward, possible weight-loss during the reset, and increased health among other benefits. My current eating habits aren’t too far off from the foods that I will be eating during the reset, other than the fact that I normally will allow myself a treat (none for the three weeks of the reset!) and I eat meat (on the reset, I won’t be after the first week). This will be something new for me, but I am looking forward to how I am going to feel once I am eating vegan. I have a suspicion that I will feel a lot better. Here’s a look at my current grocery list staples that I always seem to get:

A lot of these items will be allowed to stay on my list during the reset, so I’m excited about this! I also know that I will be adding new items to my list like seaweed, so that will be something different- but I am open to change and experiencing new things! Here’s to hoping that my reset shopping experience goes well tomorrow and prep equally well on Thursday. I will keep you updated and blog about my reset experience during my 21 days.

My First Year as a Coach

In high school, I was a cheerleader and also played soccer. I thought of myself as an athlete and I tried to work out on a regular basis so that I stayed conditioned to play. Then, when I went to college, I became somewhat lazy. I played lacrosse for my first semester and then quit in favor of getting a job on campus. Instead of staying active (I occasionally used the fitness center, but let’s face it, not often enough), I partied instead and ate junk food late at night. I gained more than my share of the dreaded freshman fifteen. After college, I managed to lose some of the weight again. Then I gained it back. Then, I used Weight Watchers to take it off yet again. It became a vicious cycle for me. My futile attempts at going to the gym weren’t working because I wasn’t consistent enough and I wasn’t focused on my nutrition and so it ended up being a waste of money. I wasn’t happy with what I was doing, but I couldn’t see a better way. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Then, I found my salvation- I was introduced to the world of Beachbody and having a coach by accident! I stumbled upon my coach while looking up fitness people to follow on Facebook. I fell in love with her enthusiasm and willingness to help. I decided to join one of her groups to get the support I needed to start and finally finish a program (I had tried in the past and failed). This time, my WHY was strong- I wanted to lose the baby weight from both of my kids and get back to the weight I was when I got married. Well, it worked! I lost more than I thought I would have and gained so much more- a group of people that I now call my Beachbody family. We all support and motivate each other...it’s priceless in my book! I lost 35+ pounds and gained a family and knowledge to last a lifetime. I wouldn’t trade it for the world! _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Today marks my one year anniversary of posting that I was joining the Bombshell Dynasty and becoming a coach. Over this past year, I’ve learned so much and helped a lot of people. When I get messages from people telling me how I’ve helped them lose weight or achieve a goal they set for themselves or even just helped them stay motivated to finish a program or get into a shirt they’ve wanted to purchase in a smaller size, it makes me grin from ear to ear! I love what I do and I just wanted to share. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Looking back at all that I’ve been able to do this year, I’m pretty pleased. Year two is going to be even better!!!

Thanks for reading :)

Sometimes You Just Have to Eat Well

Sometimes, you just have to eat well, ya know? This week my aunt and I hung out for a movie and dinner night. At the movies, I ordered this kids box which came with a super small popcorn, fruit snacks (which I saved for the girls), and a small drink. I shared a little bit of my popcorn, mixed in some raisinets, and enjoyed the movie (The One Hundred Foot Journey- I highly recommend it if you have not seen it. It's clever and has a ton of food porn in it! I was starving afterwards). When the movie let out, we headed over to a local restaurant that serves an amazing menu of seafood, among other things. This place does not disappoint! What did I order that was so fabulous? You ask. Everything! Especially the beet salad. I would and could eat it every day of my life and be extremely content and happy. As if that weren't enough, I tried some shrimp with biscuits, asparagus soup, bread dipped in olive oil and sundried tomatoes, and then my main course was a portobello mushroom ravioli in a goat cheese cream sauce served with roasted asparagus and carrots. It was to die for and I did not regret a second of it. Nor do I regret the glass of champagne and glass of wine that I consumed. 

___________________________________

Usually I am conscious of what I order when I am out. I try to eat clean and healthy most of the time; but ya do have to live a little, ya know?! What I am trying to say is love your life; be healthy, but still live your life! 

And now that my night out is over, it's back to eating clean and exercising and not making a one-time indulgent dinner turn into a bad habit. 

Staying on Track

I am not going to lie. It's been really hard to stay on track while on vacation. I'm not saying that you should give in to every temptation and throw in the towel while away, but I also know that your body can sometimes use a break. Do your best and forget the rest as Tony Horton says. Try to make good choices when eating out to minimize damage and travel with your own snacks. Bring along a workout you can do in your hotel room or utilize the gym or the pool at your hotel. Choose to walk everywhere if you can instead of driving. Drink plenty of water...but above all else, have fun! 

I went to the Fort Worth Water Gardens today. Walked around in the heat and worked up a sweat...it was a good reminder to stay active and healthy but have fun as well.

Cheers and enjoy the rest of your summer! 

Cat Poop. Kid Poop. Baby Puke: My Glamorous Life

The life of a stay-at-home mom is not often as glamorous as some people may think. Contrary to popular belief (well, at least to my husband’s belief), I do not sit around eating chocolate and watching TV while the kids play quietly and safely in another room. Even if that scenario sounds amazing, it’s not reality. Today, Sophia (she’s almost 15 months) decided that it would be interesting to try and see what the litterbox was like to WALK IN! I was brushing my teeth and helping Abby (my 4-year-old) get her teeth brushed, too, when I looked over and saw Sophia sitting on the floor and there was poop smeared on her foot, on the bath mat, and of course, on the bathroom floor. I was confused as to where the poop came from (aliens or ghosts, perhaps?) for a few seconds, until it dawned on me that we keep our litterbox next to the toilet in the bathroom (tip: this usually works out well as I scoop right into the toilet and flush!). That’s when I realized it was CAT poop. Gross! I immediately checked her hands to make sure she hadn’t touched it (she hadn’t! Victory!) and then sat her on the edge of the sink and washed her feet and also her hands for good measure.

Poop-1 Mom-0

After this lovely fiasco, I decided to not let it bring me down and to meet up with another mommy friend at the park. We played for a couple hours, picnicked, and enjoyed the sunshine before deciding to take the kids out for a special treat. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM! Well, froyo for me, anyway...that’s when disaster decided to strike. With only a porta potty in sight, I raced Abby to the bathroom. We were too late and didn’t make it in time. Of course, I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to stop somewhere for a real bathroom since we had been out all morning/afternoon, but of course, hindsight is 20/20 and that’s how Abby ended up leaving there in just her shirt and bathing suit bottoms.

Poop-2 Mom-0

Fast forward to the evening. I had a lovely dinner with my grandparents and my aunt and I was about to go with Sophia to the mall. Abby opted to stay with my grandparents instead of coming along, which turned out to be a blessing! Sophia and I left and arrived at the mall fairly quickly. I hopped out of the car and moved to grab her so we could go inside and pick up what I needed. Just as I was reaching to get her out of her car seat, I remembered I left my wallet in the front seat and went back in the front to grab it. Unfortunately for me, this was my fatal mistake. My one knee was on my driver’s seat and I was leaning over into the passenger seat to grab my wallet when I heard it. Loudly and clearly, I heard it. I tried to pretend that I didn’t hear correctly, but of course I had! I moved quickly to Sophia but it was too late, her dinner was in her lap and all over her car seat. I had forgotten our new “favorite” thing to do- get car sick! If I don’t wait long enough after a meal to put Sophia in the car, then her guts will be in my car as well pretty quickly. Hopefully, I will learn this lesson sooner rather than later, as I would rather not have to deal with the smell and mess again. Because there I stood, in the parking lot of the mall, trying to clean puke out of a car seat and strip down my one-year-old to her diaper, put her in a new outfit, and try not to sympathy puke all over the whole darn mess! It worked. I cleaned it up without adding to it and was able to get in and get out of the mall in record time.

Poop/Puke-3 Mom-0

The rest of the night was spent doing my nails...oh wait...nope...it was spent giving my kids a BATH! Even though it was past their bedtime...I didn’t care. They smelled and they were dirty and needed a bath. I needed a glass of wine, but I didn’t get one (there should be an emergency stash around at all times...I haven’t learned this lesson yet either). Anyway, what do you think? Am I living the glamorous life or what?! HA!

Being Active During The Summer Heat

There are a lot of reasons to lay around and do nothing during the summer...especially if you are a stay-at-home mom like me. Children might be whiney due to heat, i.e.: "Moooooommmmmm, I don't want to play outside. It's too hot. Can't we just watch tv all day?! Puh-lease?!"   and you may have no motivation to argue with them. You may also want to avoid crowds at places like the amusement park, the zoo, or the playground or public pool. With all of those factors going up against you, it's hard to fault you for staying indoors and lounging around doing nothing. However, if you do decide to get off your rear and make your days more exciting (and more calorie-burning), then by all means, follow these suggestions: 

1. In the morning when it's cooler, go jogging with your kids in the jogging stroller or if they are old enough, on a bike.

2. Set up a sprinkler in your yard and run through it with your kids.

3. Mid-week, take a day trip to places like the local zoo or even to the Crayola Factory. You will walk a ton and have a lot of fun playing with your kids. Also, it will be less crowded than on a weekend.

4. Find some friends and take a trip to the beach! But don't just lay around getting burnt in the sand...walk they boards and look for some fun food finds. 

5. Go hiking! It's cooler in the mountains and you will get to see some more of te beautiful nature that God has surrounded us with.