Austin 3.5 years old!

What on earth is going on? How did this baby go from this….

to 3.5 years old?

Austin is kind, caring, smart, funny, imaginative and has the most contagious laugh. His current likes are dinosaurs, transformers rescue bots, paw patrol, puzzles and books. He is still a super picky eater- he would eat snacks all day and no meals ever, if he had his way. He is sleeping SO much better...finally. We are in the midst of dropping his nap but it depends on the day! He is 98% potty trained. He loves having his friends over or playing with neighbors outside and loves spending time with his cousins. 

We are so blessed by him and his sense of humor. The full conversations we can hold with him and learning from him is amazing. 

I am so lucky to be his mom. 

-STATS-

Height: not sure

Weight: 35lbs

Shoe: Little boy 9/10

Clothes: 3T/4T

-LIKES-

Playing with Daddy

Helping feed Ghost

Playing with friends and neighbors

Transformers, Paw Patrol and Dinosaurs

Playing chase with McKenna

Being outside (when it is warm)

-DISLIKES-

Eating full meals and vegetables 

Being woken up

Sun in his eyes

 

 

Can I educate you?

If you're like me you want to do what is best for your body, want to provide healthy options for your kids and want to feel good. Being healthy and living a healthy lifestyle has always been super important to me BUT I have just been scratching the surface! 

In the past few months, I have found myself reading more and more about natural healing and living. I am questioning things that I never had even thought about in the past. Finding answers and yet, not knowing where to begin to make the changes. 

Have you heard of Candida Yeast? No, it isn't a way to make wheat bread and it isn't baking yeast. Candida yeast is a fungus that we carry in our body and it is needed in small amounts. However, given the proper environment it can multiply out of control.

More commonly known candida infections are thrush, vaginal yeast infections and diaper rash. BUT what happens when the candida in our belly is given an environment to multiply and take over??

CANDIDA YEAST OVERGROWTH

What causes this?
The healthy or ‘good’ bacteria in your gut typically keeps your Candida levels in check. However, the Candida population can get out of hand if a round of antibiotics kill too many of those friendly bacteria, you have a diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugar (which feed the yeast), high alcohol intake, are taking oral contraceptives, or any number of other factors including a high-stress lifestyle. Even a diet high in beneficial fermented foods like Kombucha, sauerkraut, and pickles, can feed Candida causing an overgrowth.

Here are some symptoms...

Let me say this...I am ALL for modern medicine. I use it when needed and understand the time and place. However, it seems to me most docs treat the symptoms so we feel better for a time being, but not the root cause. Getting to the root cause of issues like this takes time and intentional effort! 

So NOW what? Do you see symptoms that you struggle with? I sure did!   So what to do? 

Changing your diet can help tremendous. Eating foods that don't add to the candida growth and repopulating your gut with good bacterias.  (Candida Diet)

Plexus can also help. The entire premise of the products is to heal the gut. The unique blend of the Slim, Biocleanse and ProBio5 (Triplex) is geared to weed your gut of the bad, seed your gut with healthy good bacterias, feed those bacterias and protect! The side effects of healing the gut are all those symptoms above start to go away. It isn't a miracle...it is the way God designed our bodies to work!

Join me and get a healthy gut in 2018!

Information found:
Here and Here 

This Home- Organize

I mentioned in a previous post that I am on a mission to organize my home. Our storage room in our basement is overflowing. We have stuff stored in our garage and every which where in between. So, I am working slowly. I showed you our kitchen junk drawer a while ago and now I am showing you my work space. 

I spent about an hour going through and filing all the paperwork I had been collecting, going through each drawer, cleaning and organizing my work space so I have a clean space to focus. 

BEFORE

Paperwork!

AFTER

My collection of fun pens.

I can't say it lasted like this for that long. Life happens and things get put down. Having the time to get back to them and put them away is the challenge. I am trying to follow the "one touch rule"- I can't recall where I heard about it but it makes total sense. Just put it away in one touch. Don't put it down or somewhere it doesn't belong....put.it.away.

Making sure everything has a place and a home so that it can all be cleaned up allows me to free space in my brain to deal with other things. So getting the house organized and in order is one of my goals for early 2018. I will keep you updated. :) 

12 weeks with Plexus!

I can't believe it has been 12 weeks already. It feels like a so long ago and yesterday all at once. 

Months and months ago I felt a tug to get myself back into the health and fitness field. I wasn't sure what that meant but I knew I wanted to do something while I am home with the kids. So I explored blogging and tried to figure out how to monetize my blog...well, it would have taken years! So I asked questions about teaching fitness classes but found that I'd have to spend hundreds to get certified and wasn't guaranteed a job- we didn't have money to gamble like that. 

So I prayed and my heart slowly changed. You see, I had said NEVER WILL I EVER do a marketing company. I judged and wasn't educated. I didn't want to annoy others or sell to family/friends. So I knew if my heart was going to be in the right spot, I'd have to do some hearty research. I also knew we couldn't invest much because we didn't have it. 

Enter Plexus. I had two friends from separate areas of my life posting about it. I knew NOTHING but my heart said to listen. So, I asked questions, listened and learned. I learned about gut health - which was some on my radar due to McKenna's constipation issues. I knew probiotics worked (I also knew there were many to chose from). I asked about the business and compensation plan. I asked about the investment amount. 

I was BLOWN away. I went home and said to Dan, "this is the one we have to do! This may be the real deal, and if it isn't we can get our money back!" 

I can't stop. I don't want to stop... 12 weeks later..the products helped me clear the post-pregnancy fog I have been living in, they helped me not rely on coffee and have energy to workout everyday! They helped me lose inches and pounds and to sleep soundly. The helped my moods and decreased my sugar cravings to almost none (I still like chocolate and coffee, don't get me wrong)!! 

The business is one in a million. In less then 3 months I have been able to build a small but growing team. I have happy customers who feel better and have energy or are just starting to see results. It has covered my and dans supplements plus vitamins for our kids! It also has allowed me to give to others this Christmas season and to pay some bills down! These guys in the picture below are why I do this!

The experience in 12 weeks has been so incredible that I can't seem to handle what a year down the road may look like. I pray daily that since God opened these doors that he would bring the right people in. He would allow someone who is silently struggling to read a post and find hope. Someone who needs a little help financially to see a way. Or someone who just wants to feel better to know it is an option!  

Please continue to follow me. Or ask me questions. Or join me. You honestly have nothing at all to lose and maybe SO much to gain! 

Thursday Thoughts

I have been working very slowing at organizing every drawer, every closet and each space in my home. We have so much nonsense that has accumulated and the clutter makes me feel overwhelmed. From the bins of kids clothes, to the bins of mommy's clothes in pre-baby, maternity, immediate post baby and post, post baby. :) The toys...ALL THE TOYS. The junk drawer(s). The closets. Under all the sinks! You get the idea.

So here is what I worked on recently...our kitchen junk drawer.

BEFORE

AFTER

Makes me feel much better now when I open this drawer and can actually see what I am looking for. On to the next area in desperate need of organization.

Monday I took Austin up to the hospital for his eye check up post surgery. His eyes are doing fabulous. I am thrilled with our doctor and so excited to continue helping him! Glasses are still needed but his eyes are not crossing at all anymore (praise!).

So the experience was a new one for me...you see, McKenna threw the most monumental tantrum in the hospital lobby. She got upset about the muffin I bought them to share. She wailed. She flung her body to the ground and she screamed. Oh, so loud. (Austin was NEVER like this, hence, the new realm of parenting). She got muffin all over the place and she unleashed her new talent of the ability to make all her bones and muscles go to jello. I struggled to pick her up, to get her in the stroller and to get out of there as fast as I could. Embarrassing. To think...all because I broke the muffin in half to share between them. (Dear Lord, please help me when she enters puberty.)

The hospital story continues to after his appointment, I had walked the uphill football field out to the visitor parking lot and had loaded up the stroller and McKenna in to her carseat when Austin mutters, "I have to go poop". (SERIOUSLY!) Picture this...mom of 2, double stroller, backpack diaper bag bouncing on my back, running in boots the 100+ yards back into the hospital lobby (scene of the tantrum), praying no one is in the only stall large enough for my stroller, telling him to hold it.

By the grace of God, we made it without an accident. To say I was proud of him is an understatement. I always have clothes to change if needed, but it would have just been adding insult to injury.

Doing a giveaway for a 7 Day Slim Challenge! I mean it is FREE. So pop over to my Facebook and comment on my video & maybe you'll win. Then you can see why I love it so much!

Cyber & Meal Planning Monday

Truth is I post these on Monday but I do all my planning over the weekend as I prep for my Monday grocery trip. I am an odd one who actually enjoys grocery shopping…without kids (doesn't happen often). I kinda hate it when they are with me but we survive.

Do you have your Christmas decorations up yet? We started the day after Thanksgiving and its beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here. Poor Austin told his teachers at childcare that it was Christmas. Sweetness…he got a bit confused when the North Pole threw up in our house. 








On to some meals!!

Monday: Shrimp and Broccoli with rice <--- was supposed to be had last week but we had so many leftovers we waited. Such an easy simple, yummy meal.

Tuesday: Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet
We went through a period a few months ago where we had this once a week. Then we got sick of it. Do you do that? So bringing it back because it is so simple and very tasty.

Wednesday: Huge chopped steak salad with all the fixings
Lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, pepper, artichoke hearts, olives, blue cheese,

Thursday- Chicken Brushetta Bake
Simple is the theme this week, I have made this before and we liked it. I do plan to add some more spices and flavors this time around.

Friday- Veggie Packed Turkey Burgers and Balsamic Butternut Squash

Saturday- Quiche and Homemade waffles

Sunday- Homemade Pizza and Salad

If you read this and have some simple, non time consuming, recipes that are healthy…please pass them along. I would love to try! 

  

So today is the LAST day to try my favorite pink drink with $25 off! It is the BEST sale on these all natural supplements to date and I am LOVING how I feel! Please shoot me a message or email if you want details. Must be ordered by 5PM EST today.

McKenna 18 month check in!

This little girl has quite the personality. She is smart, stubborn, strong-willed and hilarious. She keeps us all on our toes. From climbing all the things, her thinking that going into the street is a game, stealing food from her brother, screaming high pitched screams when she doesn't get her way…she keeps life interesting. 

-STATS-
-26lbs
- Height tbd 

- process of giving up morning nap has taken a while but almost done completely! (November 12)

- Still loves her bottles (morning, nap and bedtime)
- talking more. Says daddy, baba (bottle), papa (my dad), icky (mickey), donna (donald duck), cheese (when her picture is taken)

-LIKES-

-loves any food 

- giving raspberries on any skin showing 

- loves being chased around the house, giggles endlessly

- loves to steal things from Austin so he will chase her

- loves climbing on beds 

- brushing her teeth

- loves her friends/teachers at the gym
- dogs and babies

-DISLIKES-

- being told what to do

- being in the car for to long

McKenna girl…You are so much fun and such a blessing. Your curiosity and exploring gets you into trouble but I love that you want to know and learn everything. Smart doesn't even begin to sum you up- you know whats up and whats going on. You understand it all. You make me laugh, smile and a little crazy BUT I wouldn't have it any other way! LOVE YOU, sweet girl!

Meal Planning Monday & the start of my 36th year!

The sound woke us both up. Banging of some sort. Both in the daze of being awaken from a good solid sleep, Dan got up and went downstairs to check on Ghost who was spending the night in the indoor crate (due to temps being so cold). Five minutes later he comes up and says, "Rach, you have to get up and come see this. He ate his way out of the crate."

WHAT?

This dog doesn't like change. He doesn't like his schedule changing, or the car he goes to work in changing, or us changing his sleeping area. He was pissed and decided to eat his way out of a metal crate. He then had free reign over our basement for who knows how long before his clawing at the door woke us up.

All in all he didn't do that much damage considering the electronics that could have been destroyed. 

He also ate his leather leash and some scotch tape. So at 2ish in the morning poor hubby had to go to the vet. They did X-Rays and made Ghost throw up (which got up most of the leash). They were most concerned about internal bleeding and the mesh from the blue laundry basket not passing and causing a block. They were sent home and had us monitoring him (hoping for pooping out the mesh from the laundry basket). SO…we monitored him. 

My amazing husband, who was operating on 3 hours of sleep, allowed me to keep my hair appointment(despite my offering to cancel so he could sleep) for cut and color (which ladies, you know, takes hours). The rest of the day was low key. My sister-in-law came for a visit and we all went out to dinner. 

Dinner out with a 17 month old sucks. I am not sure why I even chose this option over ordering in. I just wanted to get out of the house for a bit. Never ends the way it should, or the way I'd like it to. McKenna was a handful. She wanted to just walk around the restaurant and wanted nothing to do with the highchair. So, bright side, it was nice not to have had to make dinner. 

Life with two littles doesn't stop for a birthday. It doesn't make the sitting down for dinner challenges less challenging. It doesn't make potty training accidents less gross. K9 police dogs don't stop their antics to celebrate. Full nights of sleep don't happen. BUT the blessings, the laughs, the hugs, the "I wuv you's", the happy birthday wishes…they all make it easier. They all make it worth it. Excited for my 36th year of life! 

Now onto some meals..

 Holidays weeks are hard for me to get motivated to cook, especially knowing all the cooking Wednesday and Thursday entail. We have been doing so well healthy eating and meal planning that I am sticking to it and planned healthy, light evening meals for the beginning of the week. 

Monday- Crockpot Buffalo Chicken & Sweet Potato
This is a must try! Special thanks to Erin for sharing with me.  We actually just use crumbled blue cheese on top and it is just the right balance of flavors. This is one of Dans favorites! 

Tuesday- Shrimp and Broccoli over Rice

I love this meal. It is full of flavor and leftovers are just as yummy. 

Wednesday- Grilled Chicken Salad

Our favorite salads include romaine hearts, cucumber, carrots, blue cheese, hard boiled egg, olives, artichoke hearts, peppers and sunflower seeds. I make my mom's homemade italian dressing and we top off with grilled chicken (or another protein). They are delicious and a staple around here! 

Thursday- THANKSGIVING

To say I am excited is an understatement. Turkey, Mashed potatoes, stuffing, pies…YES! 

Friday- Taco Bar

Looking forward to time with friends and a yummy taco bar with all the fixings.

Saturday- Leftovers

Sunday- Homemade Pizza & Salad


Don't forget your fitness this week! Most gyms are closed on Thursday so get that cardio in another way. Maybe sign up for a Turkey Trot or get out for a long walk before chow time. Here is a fun treadmill workout I found on Pinterest and enjoy doing. 

Happy Monday!! 

Sleeping past 6 AM

So if you have been reading this for any amount of time, you know that recently Austin had his tonsils and adenoids removed due to mild sleep apnea and bad snoring. That was back at the end of September. The surgery went well and he recovered like a champ.

Until about a week ago he was still waking up earlier and earlier and I was getting gray hair due to it, as well as, exhausted and getting sick due to not getting enough sleep myself. We also had Day Light Savings time to thank for royally messing up any progress we had made.  But then…a light bulb went off in my brain. 

SUGAR. 

Kids love sugar. My kid was no exception. I have been reading gut health info out the wazoo and honestly, I am convinced it plays a role in all aspects of our life. Well if I am taking such care and concern for myself…shouldn't I be doing the same for my kids?!

So, with my husband backing me, we decided to cut out any straight sugar food/candy/snack, any foods with a lot of sugar (juice, snacks, some fruits) after nap time. He gets up around 3PM usually and asks for a snack. Before, I honestly wouldn't have thought twice of mixing up some watered down OJ and some higher sugar snack..he just woke up, right?! Well no, because it was causing a high and then a crash. 

Now, he gets water and goldfish (less then 1g sugar) or some other low sugar snack. He doesn't argue about it because he isn't craving the sugars…because for the most part they have been cut from his diet!

PEOPLE…he has been sleeping until 6:30/7AM. I can tell you for a fact that in the 3 1/2 years of his life he has only slept that late when he was sick. (His bed time hasn't changed.) The only other noticeable change has been the addition of a new vitamin/probiotic to his daily routine.

Parts of me, my mom guilt, say that I should have figured this out sooner. The other part of me says, it is never too late. So, one of my new favorite hobbies is to research yummy low sugar snacks. There is so much out there! I am hopeful that we are on our way to new sleep routines for him. Also genuinely excited about helping balance my kids blood sugar and cravings by giving them more whole foods. (Lord willing they eat them!) :) 

Happy Friday!! Enjoy your weekend! 

Wednesday Confessions!

Trying real hard to get this one written and posted on Wednesday this week. Seems like it has been hard to find time to sit down. 

I confess…

-one-

Going Live on Facebook makes me want to puke. Maybe you knew this about me, maybe you didn't…

 In college I graduated with a degree in Communications. I wanted to work in sports broadcasting. I did internships in Philadelphia with television stations and covered major sports teams. I laugh now because FB Live makes my stomach turn-- I would have be a stress bucket had I decided to really pursue that career. Now you know! 

-two-

I have lost all control and hope [in myself] when I have given up and allowed him to mix all the play dough colors. Oh well. One less thing to worry about! Luckily, you can't see the playroom floor in this picture. McKenna choice of play… walk around the room and dump the bins out. 

-three-

Reigniting my passion for health and fitness has been just a breath of fresh air. Not that it went away completely but it was pushed aside when babies, nursing, sleepless nights, diapers, poops, feeding etc etc etc took over.

I am not one of the girls that fit back into her pre-pregnancy jeans 3 months later. In fact, I am not sure when I will fit back into them, but I will. It is taking hard work. Dedication. Consistency. Healthy eating. Exercise. 

Just a reminder that fat takes up so much more room then the muscle. And muscle burns fat! 

And for heavens sake, DRINK WATER! 

Meal Planning Monday

Happy Monday party people! 

Crazy few weeks. I was solo while Dan went to North Carolina and picked up Ghost. My days were spent just surviving! Which sadly meant most of everything else faded away…I washed, dried, folded and put away 5 loads of laundry in the last 24 hours. Lord, have mercy!

We've got our new family member, Hub's K-9 partner, Ghost. We are so happy that this position opened up and that Dan was chosen. Police work is rough these days and this position is breathing a breath of fresh air!

With the changed in position comes a change in work schedule and he will be home in the evenings for the next few months! Yay! Also means I can be more deliberate in meals knowing I will have someone here to help while I cook.

So here is the plan for this week! 

Monday: Homemade waffles, quiche and fruit salad

Tuesday: Chicken Taco Salad w/ Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing

I have loved her other recipes I've tried. So excited to dive into this one!

Wednesday: Grilled Turkey Burgers, Baked Garlic Green Beans and Smashed Potatoes

Thursday: Steak Salad 

Friday: Healthy Baked Chicken Parm with Roasted Veggies

Saturday: Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Sunday: Homemade Pizza and Salad

Yum, my mouth is watering looking at this delicious food. 

In 2 weeks we will be having a 7 Day Challenge where you can try Slim (pink drink) and utilize a community of support and encouragement! It is a perfect way to get a taste (pun intended)! Enter my giveaway on Facebook today to get the 7 days worth at my price (wholesale)! It could change your world- it has changed mine! 

Enjoy your Monday and take care of yourself…spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally!