Five on Friday: Sneak Peeks

This winter weather is crazy!!! I won't complain though because it gives me extra time with my little Snickerdoodle and allows me to accomplish things that I might not otherwise get done. I'm excited to share some of these things with you in today's Five on Friday! Don't forget to browse other Five on Friday participants here!

[one]

I thought I'd share a couple sneak peeks of things to come. The first is a sneak peak of G's Valentine's Day dress. I was super excited to get it done on our unexpected Snow Day. While it's nothing fancy, I think it's absolutely adorable and I can't wait to get her in it!

[two]

The next sneak peek is also Valentine's Day related. I'm starting to put together items needed for G's Valentine goodies for her friends at the sitter.

[three]

On Tuesday we kept hearing about the winter storm spreading flakes of joy havoc winter weather across the southern states, the Carolinas and southern sections of Virginia. There was little excitement predicted for those of us nestled in Central VA. In fact, we were told to expect some flurries and in some areas, a light coating. Flurries were happening in the area all throughout the day. They continued into the evening. As the sun set, the snow became heavier. By the time I went to bed that night, we had more than just a "dusting" and by morning we had about an 1 1/2-2 inches. Snow Day!



[four]

For those who have not had a chance to hear or read my post, I am excited to announce that I am down 12.8lbs. I began this journey at the end of December. Check out my update and photos here!

[five]

I've got two fitness events coming up in the next couple of months. The first is my Fitness Minutes Challenge with my Spark Team for the month of February. If you're interested in joining in, stop by DONE at SparkPeople to get more info. The other event that I have coming up is the Run for Mercy 5k. This was supposed to take place last October, but was postponed until this Spring. I'm still waiting for the date but it is on my list of fitness goals this year. This race is taking place in several cities across the country so if you are interested, check them out!

About Mercy Ministries: Mercy Ministries provides a free-of-charge, voluntary Christian residential program to young women aged 13-28 who have been victims of physical and sexual abuse, including sex trafficking, as well as those who face life-controlling issues such as eating disorders, self-harm, drug and alcohol addictions, depression and unplanned pregnancy (this information can be directly found here).

I'm also considering doing the Camp Holiday Trails 5k in March, but I do not want to commit without knowing the date for the Mercy Run. I don't know much about this particular race so if anyone has any info, I'd love to know a little more about it.

I wish I could say I love to run...but I don't. My 5ks consist of a walk/jog alternation. I do try to push myself to run for longer periods each time. I just struggle with endurance. I did a few 5ks prior to my pregnancy but have done none since. Wish me luck!

Finding Calm in the Kitchen

Oh Thursday. I forgot to set my alarm...thank goodness for an early rising daughter. I got her dropped off by dawn's early light and headed to work. I was trying to figure out just what I was going to do considering we missed another day of school yesterday. It's always an adjustment when we miss school.

I was preparing to begin the day with my students and suddenly became really sick. The school nurse found someone to fill in so that I could leave. I left and went straight to our family doctor. After checking my blood pressure and blood sugar (which were fine) she decided to run a full blood work up. I haven't gotten any results yet, but I'm praying all is well and this was just a crazy fluke. I came home to rest and then later on picked up G from the sitter.

After getting her home and getting in some snuggle time, I decided I needed to just take tonight to really relax. While I feel guilty for neglecting the treadmill tonight, I know deep down this is what I need to do this evening.

In the midst of crazy, there are a couple of ways that I find solace. One is the outdoors and the other is in the kitchen. Since the weather is still pretty bitter I opted for the kitchen. When it comes to food, I dare not type cast. I can always find a way to make various foods work for any meal. Cupcakes for breakfast! Why of course! Chicken is another food that is often overlooked as a potential breakfast item. One of my favorite breakfasts is that of Chicken and Waffles...and after a conversation with my mom who was eating out at I-HOP, my mind was made up. I took a slightly different route however. I made some tasty French toast and decided I'd come up with a yummy chicken component. I had already thawed some drumsticks...what to do, what to do? The end result?

 

Finger-licking Brown Sugar Chicken!

 

 

Hear me out (and don't turn up your nose just yet). One of the best parts about Chicken and Waffles is the merriment of the chicken with the golden maple syrup (and if you are not a fan of C&W, I feel so sorry for you!). Now, it remains important that I monitor my sodium intake and I'm determined to find healthier versions of the things I love when possible. These two things are what spurred the following recipe:

 

 

Finger-licking Brown Sugar Chicken

 

Ingredients:

4-6 chicken legs

4tbsp butter

1tbsp brown sugar

 

 

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 400.

 

Melt the butter, combined with the brown sugar in a microwave bowl.

 

 

Pat the chicken dry and dredge through the butter mixture, making sure every square inch is covered in the golden goodness.

 

 

Place it in a baking dish (I always line mine with foil for easy clean up). Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the chicken is golden, the meat is no longer pink and the juices run clear.

 

 

Pair with whatever you'd like...may I suggest French toast or waffles? Enjoy!

 

 

Per Serving (2 drumsticks): 275 calories, 5 carbs, 23 fat, 20 protein, 481 sodium, 5 sugar (Nutrition Information determined by MyFitnessPal)

 

I hope you'll join me in tomorrow's Five on Friday. I've got some fun things in store! For now however, I'm heading to bed early, praying my test results come back A-Okay and that tomorrow will be uneventful.



Monthly Weight Loss Update with Pictures

Okay...here I go! This is my first ever weight loss blog post that includes pictures. I have always been super self conscious but I know that eventually these pictures will serve as motivation. I hope to some day look at these posts and think "I can't believe that was me!"

Eventually I hope to get to where I'm posting my weight, but until then I'll be posting the amount of pounds I've lost.

I began this journey on December 29th. This was spurred by a doctor's visit that resulted in post-pregnancy hypertension (crazy since up until my pregnancy I had never had blood pressure issues). Weight loss should help ease my high numbers, both blood pressure and BMI. This will also hopefully help as we begin thinking about adding another tiny human to our family. It has also been suggested that weight loss will help ease my PCOS symptoms. And if nothing else...I'll be able to fit into my clothes again...and hopefully add some fun, confident items to my wardrobe (I've been making a list)

Thanks to a lot of support from my hubby and close friends I'm making progress. I joined a January Fitness Minutes Challenge with SparkPeople (and have already signed up for the February challenge). I've also been faithfully tracking my food and exercise with the MyFitnessPal app. This has been almost painful at times as I see my food choices. It really helps me see what I'm eating. I've gained a much better grasp of portion control over the last few weeks. Weight loss is not easy but it can be done!

Okay. Enough. Here are this month's numbers...

From December 29-January 29 I have lost

January 2014

This was a picture of me in October 2013, 6 months postpartum. I know you can't tell by my face (or maybe you can) but those jeans were cutting off my oxygen. In fact, every pair of jeans I owned were really tight and uncomfortable. I could have lived in yoga pants. I'm proud to say that my jeans fit and button easily these days.

 

I've already encountered many difficult days that include some emotional eating (which I am also gaining control of) and some nights that I excused (made excuses for) myself from exercise. I find that when I am not constantly giving my portion control, contentment and exercise routine to the Lord that I quickly begin falling into old habits. Fortunately, God is always there to help me pick right back up...I hope that you too will look to Him for encouragement along whatever journey you may be traveling.

A Recipe for My Little Redhead

G has been eating more solid foods lately and I've been trying to expose her to new tastes and textures. I made some squash tonight so she'll experience that tomorrow after church. I've also been trying new ways to incorporate fruits and veggies in with some whole grains aside from my standard oats combination. With that in mind, I began browsing Pinterest and ran across this recipe for Toddler Muffins. It's similar to a muffin recipe that I have made in the past using just bananas. I decided to utilize her idea of combining fruits and veggies into one muffin. Here is my personal version...

Redhead's Muffins

 

Ingredients



2 eggs
1/4c water
1c whole wheat flour
1c old fashioned oats
2 bananas
1/4c applesauce
1/2tsp cinnamon
1tsp baking soda
1/2c butter, softened
1c sweet potatoes, mashed

Directions
Preheat the oven to 375.

In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, bananas, and applesauce together. Add the eggs. Mix in the flour, oats, cinnamon, and baking soda. Add the potatoes and water. Combine well.

Spray a mini-muffin pan with baking spray. Fill each cup 3/4 of the way with the batter. Bake for approximately 15 minutes. Let them set for 5-10 minutes, remove from the pan and place on a cooling rack to finish cooling.

These freeze well and will last a couple of days in the fridge.

Makes 48 mini muffins. Feel free to vary the types of fruits and veggies...you could even add puréed/finely minced proteins such as chicken.




















I'd say they were a big hit!

She's becoming my little kitchen helper more often these days. Maybe she'll have my love for cooking and baking!

Why It Works: 5 Must Haves in a Good Marriage

A picture from our anniversary session celebrating three years!
Big thanks to Shay White Photography

Prior to getting married we were given ample amounts of "advice". I remember someone telling us that the first 3 years of marriage will either make or break us...really? Looking back now, I wish I would have had the sense to have a conversation with that person. 3 years? Other people have said "the first year will be the hardest" or "watch out for the seven year itch"...don't those sentiments warm you all over? While my husband and I have only been married 5 years (which I hope is just a drop in the bucket of many, many years), we've lately been discussing what we feel makes our marriage work. We've watched many couples who have maintained beautifully blessed marriages and we believe we've tapped into some of the most foundational.

1: The Lord is our foundation. C and I were both Christians prior to ever knowing one another. In fact, it was our love of Christ and our love of children and the great outdoors that brought us together. We met at a Christian summer camp where we both were counselors. We were able to get to know one another without any pressure. In fact, when you work at a summer camp, it's likely the other person will often get to see you at your stinky, dirty, exhausted worst. As a dating couple, and continuing on through our marriage, we remain adamant that Christ stay the center of our relationship. He is Who brought us together and He is Who will keep us together.

2: Divorce. Say what?! Divorce is not an option. In fact it is not even in our vocabulary. Leaving is not a choice. Quitting will never be the answer. It is not used as a threat when life gets angry or hard. While divorce is often the end result as evidenced by The American Psychological Association and its reported 40-50% marriage failure rate, we refuse to become part of that statistic. As a child of divorce, I know the impact a failed relationship has on the children and all involved. We have made "until death do us part" the objective of our marriage, and while we pass no judgment on those who choose this option for whatever the reason, we also believe that God is bigger than anything we are facing. We also know that He can make beauty from ashes and we can have redemption through His grace in our circumstances, no matter what choice is made.

3: Dating. As a new, young couple, we had a distant dating relationship. While he lived in Virginia, I was away at college in Alabama. Over 500 miles separated us. We didn't really have the opportunity to date in the traditional sense. So...when we got married in 2008, we decided to make up for lost time, we'd spend the rest of our lives "dating" one another. This concept has become more challenging since the birth of  our daughter last Spring, but we still aim to keep it a part of our marital life. Our dates may consist of dinner and a movie or a night in with pizza by candle light. We used to take romantic weekend trips and hope to get back to that again soon. Dating does not have to be expensive or luxurious. It can be just as romantic and spontaneous without any major cost. Some of our favorite dates are picnics at some of our favorite outdoor locations, hikes, and revisiting areas that hold special memories for us.

4: Little things. Don't neglect the little things. I can't begin to describe how happy my heart gets when I come home after a long day to find the dishes washed or the laundry folded. The nights when he offers to give the baby her bath and put her to bed so I can have a little me time is treasured. Likewise, I love bringing him home his favorite treat (he's a huge fan of peanut m&ms) or cooking him his favorite meal. We take turns picking movies and we share the remote. Compromise is not a skill that is valued by the world but it is essential in a marriage.

5: Love and War. The last 'must have' I'll mention is the necessity of working through your problems. Communication is essential. Don't assume your spouse knows how you feel. Don't fool yourself into thinking he/she can read your mind. It doesn't work that way. Talk it out. Never go to bed or leave the other person while you hold anger in your heart. Above all, say "I love you." Those three little words can be overrated in a society that "loves" everything which is why it is so important to verbalize what it is you love in the other person. What do you value in your spouse? Does she know that you love the way she lights up a room? Does he know you love the way he holds you? The love between a husband and wife goes beyond the fancy frills and monetary things. It is a love that clings to the core of the heart.

When things get hard, remember why you fell in love with that person in the first place.

What types of things keep joy and stability in your marriage? What advice would you give to an engaged couple? May I suggest avoiding the seven year itch comment?

Five on Friday: Let It Snow!

This week was much shorter than anticipated thanks to the welcomed winter weather. The snow was gorgeous and with every flake, I was transported back to my childhood in northern Indiana...and while the amount we ended up getting was no where near the depth of that from my yesteryear, it did provide an opportunity for many fun activities. Please join me, Darci and others for this week's Five on Friday.

 

 

[one]

The week began with a lot of excitement. G finally got to experience snow!!! On Sunday we took a drive about 15 minutes from the house to show her some "good" snow. And then, much to our delight, we received snow on Tuesday! What fun! 

 

 

 

[two]

G had her 9 month well visit on Monday. She is growing like the cutest weed you've ever seen. Our doctor gave me advice on how to begin the transition from formula to more solids. We gave it our first true go on Tuesday. She did really well and did not seem to be hungry or miss her bottle as I had anticipated. She seems to be handling the transition well and is balancing her formula bottles well with her solid food and Sippy cup. She had her first bite of pasta...she's a fan!

 

 



[three]

Tuesday was a wonderful day to just hang out. My hubby was home and G was in bright spirits. I thought it would be great fun to work on a little art project to send to her Granna.

 

 

[four]

Yay for Friday! The first gathering of God's Girls at my church is happening tonight! I am thrilled to join an amazing group of Godly women leaders to work with this special group of young girls. There will be food, fun, a devotion, discussion and other wonderful things that you'd expect at an all girls' lock-in. (I can't stay for the lock-in but will definitely be there to hang out for a while...Woohoo!)

 

 

[five]

G's first Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and I've been searching for a simple idea to send with her for the other kids at the sitter's house. I ran across this idea from Cupcake Cutiees. I'll adapt it to meet my design taste but I love the sweet sentiment. So cute!

 



A night for Mexican Rice

It's been a long couple of days battling G's fever. It comes and goes and the only other symptom beside sleeping more is her runny nose. I took her to her 9 month well visit with her pediatrician today. She is healthy and looking good according to the doctor. There was no concern over her fever and just like most things at this age, this too shall pass.

I treated myself to Chick-fil-a (which I LOVE) and have not had in ages. I've been staying away from fried foods and haven't had any in quite some time. While the food was delicious, it felt heavy and not as satisfying as I once knew it to be. (Let me be clear, this is no reflection on the food...it was GREAT...it just goes to show that my body knows the difference now between what I should be eating and what I want to be eating.)

I opted for something lighter for dinner. It's really yummy and while it's not Taco Tuesday, I enjoyed a little ethnic flair anyway.

Mexican Rice

2 1/2 servings

1c. cooked rice (I used brown but you could use white)
6oz ground beef (I used venison), browned and drained
2 cloves of minced garlic
1tbsp EVOO
2tbsp tomato paste
1tsp cumin
1tbsp lime juice
1/8c low sodium chicken broth

Cook your rice as directed and set aside. Sauté the garlic in the oil. Add the meat. Cook until browned and then drain. Add the tomato paste, broth, and cumin. Mix well. Stir in the rice. Add the lime juice and mix well. Enjoy!

This is the first time I have tried this recipe. It was scribbled on a notepad so I'm not sure where it came from exactly. Next time I believe I'll add some red and green peppers, black beans and some corn for some additional color and flavor. Overall though, it was pretty good and has a lot of potential.

Just for Fun

While G does not sit and "watch" a lot of television, we do enjoy the music of DisneyJr. The Henry Hugglemonster theme song continues to be her favorite. I can break out in the chorus and she is bouncing, smiling and moving to the beat. I do end up singing it all day long...it's that catchy!

9 months and then some

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.

James 5:15a

 

 

Baby girl is sick yet again. Although I know as her mother I have done what I can to keep her well, this is a season we must go through. I just keep telling myself that by the time she enters elementary school her immune system will be so prepped that she will not miss a day of school due to illness. Her stomach seems to have settled this morning and her 101+  temperature is back down, so now it's just a waiting game to see if the fever stays at bay.

 

I'm thankful for the above verse this morning. I continue to pray for healing in our home as we've had various illnesses pass through. The Lord is faithful to answer our prayers and He continues to pour down His goodness. So, as for this morning, we'll rejoice and worship the Lord with our daughter and then catch up on some snuggles and enjoy another episode of Doc McStuffins.

 

Today is also a special day in our home. G turned 9 months old at 1:33a.m. I cannot believe she is this old! Her milestones are so bittersweet.

 

 

 

I've been doing pretty well with keeping up on her "favorites" and various milestones to include in her baby book and her 1st year photo album. In celebration of today, I thought I'd list 9 things about her 9th month!

 

1. She is becoming quite the carrot top! Her red fuzzy head sets off her beautiful blue eyes.

 

2. She has mastered the backwards crawl...and can slither forwards if she really thinks about it.

 

3. She loves the song "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes".

 

4. She is beginning to clap!

 

5. She is doing a lot more "self feeding" and loves her Puffs. The only food she has refused is beets (and I don't blame her but we thought we'd try.)

 

6. Her two best friends are Bella the Moose and Baby (her baby doll).

 

7. She is teething again.

 

8.  She says "da-da".

 

9. She "talks" non-stop and loves it when Daddy, Granna or Aunt KK talk to her on speaker phone. (hmm...I wonder where she gets that from)

 

She has already achieved so many firsts. As much as I miss some of the other things, I know it will only get better from here. Speaking of firsts, her first Valentine's Day is coming up. I'm really excited to make Valentine Day cards with her for her friends at the sitter. I'm also excited about the jumper that I have planned to make her...fingers crossed I get it done in time!

 





Five on Friday: Mini-Goals



I don't know if there is scientific evidence that a full moon changes the behavior of children, but based on my classroom (and mommy) experience, I'd say there appears to be a strong correlation...

::via::

With that being said, I'm grateful it's Friday and I'm excited to be joining Darci and many others for Five on Friday!

 

 

I decided to dedicate today's five to my current weight-loss mini goals. I'm really excited about aiming towards and achieving the personal goals that I have set before myself. I'm off to a good start and I can only hope that my discipline will pay off. The current mini-goals provide incentives for each amount of weight lost. I'm well on my way and I'm excited to say that I've already met my first goal!

 

[one]

10lbs down earned me The Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook! I can't wait for it to get here!

[two]

15lbs down (almost there) earns me this tree charm necklace. It will have pretty much what you see. A "G" for my daughter and a crystal to represent her birth month.

 

[three]

20lbs down will get me this ADORABLE Tervis Owl water bottle. I've been eyeing it for a while but did not want to dish out the cash...so why not treat myself! I am really excited about this one!

 

 

[four]

At one time I was down 25lbs and I can't wait to get there again. For this mini-goal I'll be earning a new set of Ginsu knives. I've been wanting a good set of knives for a while now, especially with all of the mincing and dicing I do.

 

 

[five]

Eventually I hope to hit 30lbs down, and while I'll still have a bit more to lose, I'll be in a much better place. When this weight loss goal comes around I'll be completing my set of Noritake dinnerware. We have most of the set from our wedding (five years ago) and I'd finally like to complete it.

 



 

Have a fabulous weekend!

Finding the will power...

Since Monday I feel like things have been an uphill climb. I've been told in the past that "when everything is going wrong, you must be doing something right." Satan hates anything we do to become better examples for Christ...and caring for myself is no exception. I think of all the times when I have not been at my best and he has used those times to drag me down.

Despite obstacles this week, I am determined to do my best. I've gotten in cardio Sunday, Tuesday and tonight. While browsing Pinterest for some inspiration,  I ran across the following quote:

 

 

Drawing on the strength of the Lord to further my discipline is essential. Those three little words, "Change me, Lord" can have monumental effects when you truly let go and let God. As I've mentioned before, this is not an area of my life that I have ever readily given over to the Lord. The time has come. Over the last three weeks I have been asking Him to change me...and change me He shall. I hope you too will find the Source of Encouragement and move forward against whatever challenge you are facing.

Going Stir Crazy!

I can't believe I have been inside this house since Thursday!!! Between fighting a sinus infection, the hazardous weather and my sick daughter, I had no reason leave and really no where to go. I'm actually welcoming the work week tomorrow!

A lot of my energy is coming back, which is also welcomed. I've felt so lethargic over the last week that having some pep back in my step is nice. Today I got motivated and began cleaning out my kitchen cabinets (I still have a lot to do), painted my nails, got my sister-in-law's  birthday gift together, made lunch, moved some tubs down to the basement, began some laundry, walk/jogged for 20 minutes and I have every intention of cleaning the bathroom and my daughter's room before going to bed. I may regret all of this activity tomorrow but I'm tired of being stagnant.

My exercise ambitions begin tomorrow. I got a head start today by reconnecting with my treadmill. I was pretty impressed with what I accomplished. I signed up for an exercise challenge through one of my Spark Teams on Sparkpeople. The challenge requires me to get at least 30 minutes of exercise (not including everyday things like cleaning) at least 6 days a week. I'm still trying to decide how I want to approach this but one thing I do know is that I am going forward. I am going to do my best! I'm already looking at my week. I have a dinner at my in-law's tomorrow night and a meeting Tuesday evening. This may make things a little tricky with everything else that is still required of me but I can't let those things be excuses.

I'm really proud of how I've taken control of my eating. I am seeing great results. Over the last 3 weeks I've made it down almost 12 pounds!!! This has happened through a lot of prayer, good choices, discipline and conscious eating habits. I can't wait to do my official Weight Loss Check In blog post at the end of the month.

::via::

 

With this in mind, I've been trying to find some things that I can make for various occasions and events. Every Tuesday my first grade teacher team meets to discuss, plan and review various items for the school year...and of course there is food! I'm known for my baking and always try to please...however, baking goodies does not necessarily lend its hand to tempting treats (I can't bring myself to making brownies out of beans...tried it once...epic fail). I discovered this recipe for Healthy Cinnamon Roll Scones. I'll be making these for Tuesday...I hope they taste as good as they look!

 



 



I LOVE this!!!
::via::

Needs vs Wants

It's a rain drenched day in the countryside and we're home on the mend. The meds I was given for my sinus infection seem to finally be kicking in...I can taste more of my food and breathe a little better. The best part is that most of the pressure in my sinuses has been relieved. Thank you Jesus! G is still a snotty mess, continuing to run a low grade fever. The doctor said it's just a cold and like all things, this too shall pass...we just have to wait it out. Poor baby.

I've been doing really well with my sodium intake and portion control. I can't wait to do my weekly weigh in on Monday (I've never looked forward to that haha). I've been learning an important, long awaited lesson over these last few weeks: need the food you eat. I know you're thinking, duh, we NEED food to live. Yes...but do you need to eat pasta multiple times a week? Do you have to submerge everything in a tasty cream sauce? Do candy and other sweet things have to be a staple in your home? No.

Needs vs Wants is a topic that I teach in my first grade classroom. It's funny because I've never really applied it to my eating habits but it totally goes! Do I need another helping or do I just want one? When I want something sweet, do I need a handful of Rolos? I'm learning to accept substitutes. Substituting seems so much better than completely denying myself. If I want something sweet, instead of a handful of Rolos, I opt for an apple and peanut butter. Every once in a while I'll indulge, but I'm proud to say these sweet treats are becoming the exception instead of the norm.

I'm learning what my body needs. This is not to say that I do not occasionally enjoy a white fudge Oreo or a delicious creamy Alfredo, but I'm learning and embracing the idea of giving my body more of what it needs instead of what it wants. (And I'm told in time my body will begin to actually want what it needs...yippee!) I'm expanding my nutrition horizons. This week I ventured into the world of kale. This resulted in a go to "healthified" version of one of my favorite soups, Sausage, Potato and Kale, a BBQ Chicken and Kale pizza and a Sausage and Kale breakfast casserole. Yum!

I'm also learning how to balance the things I eat and portion control. A lot of prayer has also gone into this. I continue to give this "getting healthy" part of my life to the Lord. I honestly feel like this submission has been one of the biggest reasons I've felt so successful over the last 3 weeks. When I get the urge to go against my discipline, I feel that gentle pull bringing me back to what I know I need to do instead of what I want to do. I also believe this is a major reason why I'm feeling more content when eating. Just three weeks ago I would not feel "full" if there was food left on my plate or extra left on the stove. I would just have to have an extra helping! Now I feel content after eating. If I'm hungry a little while later I have healthy snacks just in reach. God is good and evident in all things.

This healthy way of life has also challenged me in my cooking. I'm finding healthy alternatives to many things I use...primarily sodium. It's amazing how many low sodium/sodium free options there are! (Thank goodness!) Tonight I'm treating us to a tasty Balsamic London Broil. It's a new recipe so I'm hoping it turns out well. I'll probably pair it with some brown rice and green beans.

This next week, since my illness seems to be subsiding (fingers crossed) I'll be beginning the exercise component of my health goals. Woohoo!

P.S. I'm so proud of my bestest for making it to the gym this morning! You rock!

Five on Friday!

This is not a week I would personally want to relive...so I am glad to say that it's time for Five on Friday!

I've been doing a bit of reinventing, reorganizing, readjusting, etc. around here lately. With the intention of living a more purposeful life, I've been simplifying, de-cluttering, and embracing things within my control. I thought I'd share some of the things I've been utilizing to make these ambitions become reality.

[one]

I've been diligently working on ways to get into better health. This has not been easy since I've been struck down with sickness over the last couple of weeks. (I'm currently working through a sinus infection-blah.) It's as if my body is retaliating against my healthy choices. I will not be defeated! This week I ran across a blog that gave me great inspiration. I'd like to introduce you to Amy at Simply Amy! She and I have battled the life long haul of weight loss and good health. A lot of her story resonated with me and I felt instantly connected to her blog. I love the recipes she posts, her advice, and the positive outlook that she shares.

[two]

A few months after my daughter's birth, I attempted to get back on the weight loss wagon. I had only a couple baby-weight pounds left to go and really wanted to rid myself of them. The new routine and demands in my life threw me for a loop and I put myself pretty low on the priority list. At the start, I began using MyFitnessPal. It is an app that allows me to account for all of my nutrition, track exercise, set goals, etc. I love the Nutrition monitoring, especially since I have to be very aware of my sodium intake at this point.

[three]

Another resource that I've been using for a few years now is Spark People. I used to use it for the same purpose as MyFitnessPal but I now primarily use it to stay connected to the people I've met along my journey and it also has a wonderful recipe library.

[four]

My need for organization does not stop in the home. I've also been trying to keep a handle on my classroom. I've developed a pretty good system that allows me to stay ahead on lesson plans and copies. I've known for a while that I've needed to get together sufficient emergency sub plans. Honestly, after making my maternity plans last Spring, I was over sub plans. However, the reality is, an emergency could happen at any time and I need to have things in place for my students as well. I created a Sub Tub that now houses emergency lesson plans, procedures, and anything else necessary should I have an unexpected absence. I thought I had a picture...oops! I'll try to post one soon :)

[five]

Finally I wanted to share an update on my Plan.

1. Set goal-lose 10% body weight

2. Make a plan-eat more cleanly, focus on portion control, lean on my accountability partner, exercise 15-30 minutes 5 days a week.

3. Get to Work-as of today I am gaining a firm grasp on portion control and cleaner eating. I'm making more low sodium choices and putting more thought into my food choices. I'm working developing a plan for incorporating exercise into my week. I'm hoping to jump into this very soon (the knee is still on the mend and this sinus infection impacts my overall functionality.)

I hope to take Amy's idea of posting monthly on my weight loss accomplishments, no matter how big or small.

Happy Friday!

*I provided favorable recommendations for several products in this post...all of which were done without compensation.*