11.27.2017

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.




11.26.2017

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!




11.20.2017

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!! 

11.17.2017

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!