Try this again

Okay so I am at it again.. what you ask?  Trying to lose weight.  This time it is a life style change.  I finally have my husband on board with me so this changes the game a bit.  He holds me accountable to working out each day and eating right.  I do the same for him.  Trying to cook one way for the family and one way for me just wasn't working.  So that fact we are on the same page is great.  Don't let me deceive you, the struggle to over come the food addiction is no less hard.

We started the journey about 8 weeks ago.  The first week I was uncomfortable, frustrated, had a headache, cranky, depressed all at the same time.  I couldn't stand my own self.  I really just wanted to jump out of my own skin.  My husband ordered the T 25 workout and the first night we started was a Monday night.  Some of the movements take coordination, which I don't have, so that was fun to do (not) while working out in front of my husband and kids.  My coordination is so bad that a video of me working out could win top prize on America's Funniest Home Video.  I digress, after that first night I would have given up but my husband stayed up waiting for me to finish to ensure I would do this.  I kept thinking "go away" but now I couldn't be more thankful that he did that.  Now I have self motivation to keep going or even just get started without that push.

The first week or two was so hard trying to wrap my brain around what there was to make for meals.  I think because this was a life style change it made it harder for me to figure out.  I mean I have done this diet thing a million times, I should have this down.  This is different because I had to factor in my kids as well.  Remember, I am not cooking separate meals for kids and adults.  This isn't Denny's.  All I have to say is "thank goodness for Pinterest".  There are so many recipes that are healthy and flavorful for the entire family to enjoy.  Also, talking to co-workers asking them what they do for meals.  Good old fashioned idea sharing has helped.

I will continue to share my struggles, triumphs, heart ache, frustrations, as I go through this journey in the hopes it helps lead someone else to a healthy and balanced life style.

Small projects around the house

I like doing small projects around the house.  So today I organized a linen closet.  I have stuffed it full and never really took time to organize things.  Plus, the kids are in there pulling old sheets and such to build forts so it is a mess. Today was the day to purge, fold, wash and put it all back nice and neat.  Oh it feels so great.  I bought the kids a new shower curtain that is not so "little kid" looking since my son is getting older and let's face it the other curtain was five years old so it's done it's time.   It's a bunch of letters that look kinda like graffiti..  Anyhooo, it was on clearance at Target for like $3.00.  Side note:  My entire house is taupe brownish so I wanted to put some color at least in the kids space.  I bought some sample paints at Lowe's last night and painted some stripes where the toilet is.  Then because we have a boy and a girl I added some sticky butterflies I have had on hand from IKEA to add some girlishness to it.

Not sure if anyone else has painted stripes on their walls.. We have an orange peel texture on our walls so the tape does not get in every nook and cranny and the paint bleeds a bit.  Does anyone have any tips on that?

                                         Bathroom Wall

Shower Curtain.. Target $3.00 bargain

Behind the toilet with the butterflies.  Oh, the basket was painted also with left over paint.  

Get your workout on!

Real quick... YouTube has some good workouts and they are free so you can mix up your workouts as you feel the need to.

I found one that is 10 minutes focused on the abs.  This is a major problem area for me.  I carry all my weight in my stomach and to make matters worse; I have had three major surgeries that have cut open my abdomen so it's hard find workouts that are gentle enough but also work those muscles.   Click the link below if you are interested.  Good thing it's 10 minutes so it doesn't take up much time.  I even used my smart phone, set it the couch and was able to follow the workout.

10 min. Booty Shaking Waist Workout

Best meatballs I have ever made...

Happy Memorial Weekend... Thank you to all who have served to protect our GREAT country...

Now on to food, my favorite topic.  I found this great blog with many exciting recipes,   http://www.kayotic.nl/blog/.  More specifically I found a recipe for Mahogany Meatballs.  I followed the recipe loosely by using all the same ingredients but I put the sauce in the crock pot with the uncooked meatballs and set on low for two hours.  They were perfect.  I personally I am not a huge fan of cooking my meatballs first then adding them to the sauce.  To me the meatballs absorb the flavor of the sauce a bit more if they cook in the sauce.  Also, this recipe calls for a small amount of apple cider vinegar.  I seem to think this is the key for juicy and tender meat.  (Maybe some of you more experienced cooks have already noticed this)...

While you are relaxing in the sun with a cocktail, please take a moment to visit http://instacanv.as/desert_oasis on Instagram and enjoy his beautiful desert photos.

So Clean

I swear the floor to my shower seems like it is cleanser resistant. Nothing has been working to clean my shower as I like it.  Thanks to an idea on Pinterest I mixed equal parts Dawn dish soap and Heinz white vinegar and watched the magic happen. Soap scum melted away and the floor looks brand spankin' new.  I am not sure why I never thought of the idea myself. I use vinegar to clean my floors and use it in my dishwasher in place of Jet Dry. The floors are a lot cleaner.  Your feet literally squeak on the floor.  It also makes the glasses come out clearer and same with my Tupperware.

Tomorrow is Monday. Make it a successful week!

Simple Home Updates

Just a quick update...  If you are looking to do something to spruce up the house but not spend alot of money.  Think about changing out your current door knobs.  We had these brass looking door knobs in our house and we changed them out with "aged bronze" door knobs by Gate House.  You can buy them at Lowes for under $15.00, about fifty percent cheaper than Kwikset.  I figured since they are indoor door knobs I can go cheaper.  They update the look of the door and kind of looks like we repainted the doors too.

Looking forward to Friday to get the weekend started.  Hope it's a good one for everyone!

• Before

•  After

What to say?

Last night after dropping her cousin off at home my daughter asks me "what do our souls look like?" I did a double take and asked "Huh?"  She asked again, mama "what do our souls look like?"  I felt like I had to be quick in my response, I didn't want to keep her hanging.  I said that our souls are round like the sun and are bright like the sun.  She accepted that.  Then she followed with, mama "why does God take our souls to Heaven?"  I again feeling like I needed to give her an answer said, "because God turns our souls into angels.  I explained we are humans here on earth and we are turned into
angels in Heaven to spend eternity with our loved ones who are also angels."  It was a pretty intense conversation for a 6 year old.  Who am I kidding, it was an intense conversation for a 38 year old.

Anyone else have had their kids ask them similar questions??  How do you answer them?