Monday, August 31, 2015

Weekend in Review- Staycation Edition

This weekend we enjoyed a staycation at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. We had won a stay there for Father's Day and wanted to use it during summer and this was the weekend that worked out for us. The weekend started off with a 7 mile run with my sisters. I am finally feeling a little better running post-Whole 30. It is still sooo hot but I am happy with my 9:28 pace. We had bagels at my sister's house after and then headed back to the resort to go swimming. They resort really is a very beautiful property. The pool has a lazy river and water slide. Our room was kind of far from where we parked but it did overlook the pool area. The kids had a lot of fun at the pool. It was hot but the water felt good. Cameron and Everly even got to go down the water slide on Saturday even though they technically weren't tall enough. Sunday, they wouldn't let Everly go but she surprisingly handled it well. By the end of the weekend Everly wanted to know why we were going home and not back to the hotel, haha. Luckily we have a little trip to Palm Springs coming up in a couple of weeks so she will get her hotel fix again (although, it won't be quite as nice as this hotel!). Some pictures and a video at the end of our pool time!

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so sweaty!
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All the babies at breakfast and Mae sleeping poolside.
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after eating some of her sisters pb and j sandwich
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grandma with her boys and baby Mae
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the littlest girls
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clean baby and poolside baby
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splashpad life
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missing the weekend already!

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Signing Time Concert

Last weekend we attended a Signing Time Concert. The concert was put on by DS Network of AZ. If you are not familiar with Signing Time, it is a series of videos to help kids learn sign language. My sister has been using them for years with Cameron as he is mostly non-verbal, but they are great for kids of all levels and abilities. Everly loves them and was so excited to go to the concert. You can check out the videos on Netflix as well as your local library. I need to start having Aspen watch them because she is signing a couple of things now (milk, more) and they have a baby series. Here is a little video from the concert:


Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Whole 30 Review

Yesterday Justin and I finished our first Whole 30! I can't tell you how nice it feels to be done. It is this unexplainable freedom that I feel now. I know that is weird because no one was making us do it but that's how I feel. I first wrote about us doing it here. We started July 27th and ended August 25th. I think the biggest miracle for me was that I did not consume any tortilla chips, ice cream or beer for 30 days (along with a ton of other things). We learned a lot more about what is in foods. Some of my non-scale victories include: clothes fitting better, new recipes, better habits, flatter stomach, leaner appearance, more defined muscle tone, more confident in my appearance, healthier relationship with food, fewer cravings and learning to not blow all my hard work on the weekends. I must be clear though: my cravings for sugar did not go away. I don't know if they ever will. Maybe I needed to do a Whole 45, 60, or 90? While I do still crave sugar, I have definitely learned that I have the will power to abstain from it. I previously never thought I would be able to give up dairy and sugar for that long. When I nursed Everly I almost had to give up dairy for a bit and I couldn't comprehend that. Even when I gave up ice cream previously for lent, I still had it occasionally on Sundays. So it is definitely a nice boost in my ego to know that I am capable of finishing something that a lot of people find difficult. As I said before, I don't have any sensitivities to food and because of that I am not strictly following the recommended reintroduction program. I am not going all out today or tomorrow or anything but I chose to end the program this way. This morning I had a whey protein shake after my workout and I feel fine. It is so convenient to be able to do that again!

Now to the good stuff! Justin lost about 17 lbs and I lost almost 11. For both of us, that is a lot of weight. I can see the most progress in Justin's profile and in how much more my waist and hips are
defined from the back. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone wanting to make some changes to their food habits, especially if you have sensitivities to food.

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obviously, he wasn't a big guy before which makes 17 pounds even more amazing
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glad to be done! 
Here are my biggest tips if you are wanting to do the program:
 
1. There will never be a perfect time to start, but do yourself a favor and try not to schedule it during really, really important food/drink related events/holidays. 
 
2. Find what you like and stick with that. While it is nice to try new things, don't plan a week of 5 completely new recipes. Keep some safe items in there that you know you will be happy with. For us that was shredded buffalo chicken, anything with bacon, lemon rosemary chicken, and hot dogs.
 
3. Go to Costco. We loved Costco for mini guacamole packs, butter lettuce, chicken, ground turkey, fruit (sometimes), almond and nutzo butter eggs, and oils.  
 
4. Plan to make extra dinner to have for lunch leftovers. So much easier this way!
 
5. Follow Whole 30 instagram and pinterest accounts for inspiration and ideas.

Here are some things we ate:
 
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Eggs every day, even in the car. This turkey from the deli at Target is compliant and great for quick lunches.
 
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I love almond butter but also really like this nut and seed butter from Costco and those guac packs made boring chicken more interesting.
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Whole 30 salad bar (on sale day) is awesome. Bring your own avocado and the lemon herb dressing is compliant and delicious. Leftover buffalo chicken turned into a salad with homemade paleo ranch on the go. I inhaled that lunch.

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hot sauce is my bestie
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We also appreciate better coffee when we have to drink it black!

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Weekend in Review

Last weekend was a busy and full one. It started off with Katy's home opener at GCU on Friday night. NAU tends to be a big rival for them and the school did a great job of hyping up the game. The game was packed and it was a fun atmosphere and I think it helped pump the girls up. There were times when they looked really good and they actually came from behind to win in overtime (which they have struggled with in the past). Katy played the full game and assisted the winning goal so we are very proud of her! The kids love being out there, although I can't wait until it is cooler! Saturday morning we headed back to our old house. We sold it (finally) and actually close today, but Justin had to change some light bulbs and air filters and we wanted to take advantage of the pool one last time. My sister and the boys met us there. It was my first house and so I do get a little bit sad, but I will not miss being a landlord one bit! Saturday afternoon we went to a Signing Time concert that was put on by DS Network of AZ. I really liked it and I think the kids did too. They all love signing time. I took some video so hopefully I can get to editing that soon. After the concert we went over to Tempe Marketplace and let the kids splash for a bit and then ate some yummy Smash Burger. It was a busy day and we didn't want to cook. Sunday morning I met my sister for a 5 mile trail run before grocery shopping. It always feels good to get that done early! My nephew came over to swim and play and Everly and Ted had a blast. Sunday night we celebrated my brother-in-laws birthday as they got back into town earlier that day. Ted and Ev loved the trick candles and Aspen had a trial run with birthday cake. She inhaled it so we don't have to worry about the big day coming up soon. It was a great weekend and I can't wait for our staycation this upcoming weekend!!!
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Go Lopes!
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Go Katy!
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Katy's fan club
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Cheese ball
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4 little fishies
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My girls <3
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Signing Time Concert
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Post-concert
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splashpad bikini babe
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Trail running
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Ev to Ted, "Ted, how many am I? How many am I?"
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Lots of Summer left here!
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Mae is eyeing that cake!
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we barely introduced grains last week but she has had no issues (not that cake is really a grain)

Monday, August 24, 2015

We're famous!

Okay...not really, but Aspen and I were on TV a couple of weeks ago. The owner of my gym sent out an email looking for moms with babies to join her for a pre/post natal segment on Fox 10. I took the morning off so Aspen and I could go. It was really cool to see the news from behind the scenes. Surprisingly there are a lot fewer people working then you would think. In the room where the morning show was filmed, it was the two hosts and one camera man. That's it. Kinda crazy. Aspen and I helped show an exercise you can do with your baby. She did great and was smiling during it.  The segment was right before she was due to eat so it could have gone bad but she was an angel. I had a lot of fun spending a little extra time with her in the morning. To be honest, I never workout with my kids because I do it while they are still asleep. I think we still set a good example though because Everly knows when we have come back from a run. She has also seen me play soccer and finish races. For me, working out with my kids just doesn't fit our schedule but for other people I know it is the only option so do what you gotta do! We also recorded it so Everly could watch it that night but here are some pictures from the morning:

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Getting ready and the Simpson's statues in the lobby
 
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See what I mean??? Not a lot of people behind the scenes. 
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A clip Justin took.
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Thursday, August 20, 2015

Weekend in Review

Last weekend was technically our last weekend of Summer as Everly started school on Monday although summer is far from over here in AZ. It was almost too hot for the pool at nighttime so that should clarify how it was. Friday I had a soccer game and then Saturday we took Everly to get her first real haircut. She actually had a tiny trim before my sister's wedding at about 18 months but this was a couple of inches off. The boys get their haircut all the time so we tagged along and even Mae joined...and we got a picture of all the kids! We ran some errands on Saturday and Justin worked on making our new farmhouse table and then my sister came over that night to swim in the bathwater pool. On Sunday I got up early to run with my sisters. They ran farther but I did get in a 10k so I am not mad at all. We ate at my sisters house Sunday night and although we had some good Whole 30 meals last weekend, I really wanted a tortilla chip! We have a busy weekend coming up tomorrow and it is our last weekend of the Whole 30 program so we are really in the home stretch!

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First Haircut!
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Before and After
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All the cousins!
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our new favorite Whole 30 meal: buffalo chicken!
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it's too hot...even starting at 4:45 AM
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Shopping with my girls and Justin's table progress! 

Weekend in Review

Summer is basically here and we are already in full on pool season. On Friday I had the day off so I spent some time with Aspen and took he...