Goodbye 2011.. (review of recent past)

2011 - What a year it's been! My husband likes to call 2011 our "re-building" year. See, we went through some major tough times the past few years. Here's a recap: In 2008, I decided to quit my job to go to school full time. I had a few more semesters of graduate school left, and my husband was doing pretty well in real estate so we thought we'd give it a go on the one income. (With school loans to help of course). Bad idea.

Later on that year, guess what happened - the great economic crash of 2008. We had no clue that was going to happen. The housing market tanked, my school loan was denied for renewal, and then I got pregnant in 2009. Whoa. My husband had to go get a regular 9-5 (which he despised), our debt skyrocketed, and the dreaded collection calls began. This continued into 2010, and once my little guy was born, we were at the highest point personally (overjoyed with the birth of our son), but at the lowest point emotionally and financially.

Then in August 2010, I finally got my Master's degree and things were looking up. By November 2010, I got back into the work world and we started to feel better, but we had a lot of digging out to do in terms of our finances. Cut to 2011 - our rebuilding year. What were some of the hilights?

- My son became a toddler, and started walking, talking (sorta), and developing an amazing little personality.

- We moved from the city to the suburbs onto a quiet street on the 2nd floor of a house. (no more bad neighborhood or mean tenants!)

- I got a raise halfway through the year which helped us out a lot.

- My husband decided to go back to school full time, and thanks to his service in the U.S. Navy, his schooling is completely paid for and they also give us a housing allowance.

Looking back on 2011, it wasn't the best year we've ever had, but we're on our way (Thanks be to God). We paid off 3 out of the 7 debts we currently have, which doesn't seem like much but to us it means the world. See, this year was the first year in awhile that we paid our rent on time every single month, and paid all of our bills on time without "robbing Peter to pay Paul". We finally have a debt plan that seems to be working and we're sticking to it!

Of course, 2011 brought some rough patches between my husband and I, but with God's help, things will get better. And my weight of course CONTINUES to be the bain of my existence. (My new year "weight loss" post is on it's way) I gained 15 lbs this year, mostly weight caused by work-related stress. But I'm looking forward to making some positive changes (job-wise, marriage-wise, and health-wise) that should make 2012 that much better.

Happy New Year, friends. May this coming year bring lots of love, prosperity, and more amazing memories for all of us. God bless!

Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Grief

It's almost 10pm. I'm sitting here in the living room. Big M is sleeping. Little M is sleeping. It's quiet. Peaceful. Yet there isnt much peace going on in my head. I'm grieving a loss. No, thankfully not of any loved ones particularly. It's more of an idea. An expectation. I'm grieving the loss of how my marriage used to be, or what I thought marriage was always going to be like. Yes I still love my husband and of course love my little son but I miss that very first year of marriage. I miss the "getting to know you" stage. And since we did everything traditionally (as Christians), we really were getting to know each other in many ways. Now, four years later, we spend hours every evening sitting next to each other, but not being present with one another. We tap on laptop keys side by side. Comment from time to time about a funny show that's playing on the TV, play with our little one on the carpet next to each other...but still feel like there's an ocean between us. The fact is, having a child changes things. It's the most rewarding thing to ever happen to a person, but at the same time, you aren't the same people that you once were. I miss our spontaneous midnight White Castle runs, romantic vacations, or even just our lazy Saturday mornings where we slept in, then (you know the rest). Now it's more of a 5:30am daily wake up by a screaming toddler - "Hi mama! Hi dada!" blasting in our ear drums. And while I love walking into my baby's room and seeing his toothy/gummy smile... I miss my husband.

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…
■ Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
■ Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
■ Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
■ Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
■ Go visit http://allthingsfadra.com/ and link up and comment on other’s posts

Random Facts About Little ol' Me!

Hey bloggy friends,

I got this great idea from my son's future mother-in-law Mama Marchand (Yes, he's betrothed at 21 months old - don't judge.) Here are 15 questions and answers about my wacky life. :) Enjoy !!

#1. What's a nickname only your family calls you?
My family calls me Fannie. It took me awhile to accept because in elementary school I would get teased by other students and called "Fanny pack!" or "Fannie has a big fat Fanny!" *rolls eyes*

#2. What's a weird habit of yours?
I guess it's not that weird but I bite my nails. Oh, and I also play with my nose ring often, which looks like I'm picking my nose - but I'm not! HONEST!!

#3. Do you have any weird phobias?
I HATE the sound of bare hands rubbing against certain surfaces, such as a school text book or coffee table.. ughh! I can't explain it, but it's the equivalent to some people's hatred for nails on a chalkboard!!

#4. What's a song you secretly LOVE to blast & belt out when you're alone?
Recently I've been listening to old Nsync songs.. ya baby.. I totally was going to be Justin Timberlake's wife when I was 17! "Bye Bye Bye!"

#5. What's one of your biggest pet peeves?
Hate to put the hubby out there but I'm very particular about our toilet bowl. The seat has to be down and there cannot be any "evidence" of someone's recent tinkle... HMPH!!!!

#6. What's one of your nervous habits?
I smile a lot, which makes me look like a dorky kid. Hey, at least I'm not like my brother. He laughs when he's nervous.. for minutes at a time!

#7. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
The right.


#8. What was your first stuffed animal & it's name?
I had a little stuffed snoopy doll called "Snoopy".

#9. What's the drink you ALWAYS order at Starbucks?
I'm more of a McDonald's McCafe kinda gal. And right now I totally L-O-V-E the Peppermint Mocha. YUM-O!

#10. What's the beauty rule you preach.. but never ACTUALLY practice?
I would say, don't sleep in your make-up. And I pretty much do 4 days out of the 5 day work week. Yikes, that sounds really gross after typing it out. I'll have to change that right away.

#11. Which way do you face in the shower?
I face towards the water.

#12. Do you have any 'weird' body 'skills'?
Um. I could probably be fresh with this answer but I won't. (Hey I'm married! LOL)

#13. What's your favorite 'comfort food'/food thats 'bad' but you love to eat it anyways?
I have too many to count, but what I love the most is going to a Chinese Buffet and taking out a huge platter for myself. Then eating it in my car while listening to the radio. It's probably not the healthiest thing to do but I get some major "me" time and feel a lot better afterwards.

#14. What's a phrase or exclamation you always say?
"What the!" and "For Crying Out Loud!"

#15. Time to sleep - what are you wearing?
I wear one of my husband's "junk" shirts (as we like to call them) and his flannel sleep pants... er.. I think I need to go shopping cuz I'm totally bumming off the hubby!

Happy Thanksgiving! This is by far my most favorite holiday! There's something about the food, the family, the fun... It's a time that is completely dedicated to spending time with loved ones, not just how much you can buy them or what you receive.

And this year my little guy is going to be able to REALLY enjoy the food! This morning I made our first annual Thanksgiving Day breakfast which was: scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes, toast, and fruit. YUM! Then this afternoon we're headed over to my mom's house for the big feast! Last year my son was only 8 months old and I had to make him homemade mashed potatoes while we all gorged ourselves with everything else. But now he's 20 months old. And with all those new pearly whites he's got (ya and they seem to want to pop out at 3am causing his blood curdling screams) he can actually partake in all that Thanksgiving has to offer! So what's on the menu?

-Turkey
-Ham
-Stuffing
-Rice
-Sweet Potatoes
-Yams
-Macaroni Salad (I make this!)
-Green Salad
-Homemade cheese cake
-Store bought apple & pumpkin pie

Mmmmm!!! *unbuttons pants*

I definitely need to remember to bring my tupperware. Yup, leftovers are just as good - especially for a midnight snack. But don't fret, I'll be back to my DIET DIET DIET obsession tomorrow. :) I'll be starting the Paleo Diet again. I'm trying to drop 15 lbs by December 25th. Wish me luck! But for now... GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE!!!!

That's it - This Family is Going Organic!

I just finished reading "Master Your Metabolism" by Jillian Michaels. Wow. Let me just say that at first, all I read it for was to find a new diet regime. I'm a bit of a serial dieter, so pretty much every month I move on to the next new thing. But after reading this book, it opened up my eyes to what's more important than just being a yo-yo dieter: Being HEALTHY.

The book really goes in depth into how our hormones play a huge role in why some of us hold onto weight more than others. If you are the kind of person that will only lose 2 lbs after weeks of working out 5x/week and eating very little calories, you may have an imbalance with the hormones in your body. Many people have thyroid issues and don't even realize it. What's even more interesting, is that many of the hormone imbalances that we have are caused NOT by genetics, but by the type of food we put into our body and the timing that we eat throughout the day. So our bodies are going hay-wire, trying to regulate hormones that shouldn't be in the body, which slows everything down - including weight loss! Ahh!!

The beef that we eat comes from cows that were given estrogen hormones to fatten them up about 3 lbs per day. This is for obvious reasons. More meat = more money. The problem is that the saying rings true - YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT. If your beef has been injected with hormones, the beef on your plate has those very same hormones, and the milk that comes from those cows have those very same hormones.

Milk?? What the, what?! Mamas.. need I say more? If you are giving your toddler regular milk, thinking that it's benefiting them, it really isn't. There are such high levels of estrogen in our milk (cow and soy) that there is research showing young boys growing up with issues with their sex organs, as well as young girls getting their period too early and developing breasts too soon. Yikes! And you know how there are more diagnoses of ADHD in America? Well research has been starting to link these cases with the crap in our food. And what do our doctors do? Just give our poor kids medications that just screw up their chemical/hormonal levels even more. Ugh!

I can go on and on about it - and maybe I will in a later post. Needless to say, I went food shopping yesterday and pretty much changed everything in our fridge and cupboards, from organic eggs, peanut butter, and pasta, to organic milk, juice, and snacks for my little guy (and big guy too). By the way, it wasn't much more expensive than buying regular groceries and eating healthy now will save us money in the future w/ reduced medical costs later! In total, we spent $150. The norm is about $120, but we also were doing a total overall and purchasing things that we won't be buying every week. So it's well worth it.

Oh, and guess what? My son didn't even notice the change in milk, and I think he enjoyed the organic milk even more! I tell you, it feels great to be able to confidently give your baby food that you know has no preservatives, no hormones, no funkiness at all. :) And if hubby and I lose weight in the process, it'll be an added bonus!

Let's not Assume

After working diligently with a family for 3 months, they successfully completed the family therapy program today. This was a kid who smoked marijuana daily, ran away often, barely went to school, and the mother had a history of being physically aggressive. Now, the family is communicating well, handling their conflict appropriately, and the teen is looking forward to starting 10th grade this week.

Interestingly enough, though this family is a success, I never really got a vibe from the mother that she liked me very much. She often disagreed with my therapy techniques, and there were times where I could have sworn I saw a scowl on her face when I came by the house for our weekly session. She was fairly quiet in general, and only seemed to speak up when she was arguing with someone in the family.

So here I am, saying my goodbyes, handing the family their certificate, when the mother blurts out, "I'm sad." I ask her why, and she looks at me, smiles sheepishly and says, "I feel like I'm losing a friend." I was speechless. And touched. I stammered something about keeping in touch and always being available for support but I really was in shock. It's funny how we can perceive a situation (or person) one way, and the reality be totally different. I thought her final words to me would be "Don't let the door hit ya, where the good Lord split ya!"

That experience led me to think about how many times we all make assumptions about people and maybe treat them unkindly because of it. Of course I always treat my clients with the utmost respect and kindness (even the challenging ones), however, what about other people in our everyday lives?

What about the homeless man on the corner? "Oh, he probably is gonna use this dollar for drugs so I better not give it to him." What about the mother in the grocery store with the toddler having a meltdown? "Wow, she's not parenting properly. Look how she's enabling that kid to have a fit in the middle of the aisle!" What about the ex-con who's applying for a job? "Hmm. It's best not to hire him 'cause old habits die hard. He probably can't be trusted." Meanwhile the homeless man was hungry, the toddler's mom was tired, and the ex-con was reformed.

We should always try to give people the benefit of the doubt. If someone cuts you off on the road, ya they could be a terrible driver, OR they could be on the way to an emergency situation. We should always treat others the way we would want to be treated, and I'm sure you'll agree that we all want to be cut some slack sometimes. How we treat others should solely be based on our desire to show love and kindness, not how we expect to be treated in return. And that's a lesson that we can all use for many different relationships in our lives.

Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Post Pregnancy Weight Loss is Tough!

I'd just like to say that, yes, I was told that my body would change after pregnancy, but I had no idea what I was in for. Before Baby (B.B.) I was round-ish, but comfortable with my body. I would wear tank tops that would show off my arms, and my stomach was fairly flat - just with a little padding. I think I was about a size 10-12, and at 5 foot 7, I felt good about it. Now, After Baby (A.B.) I'm pushing size 14 and dare I say size 16 in one God-awful pair of Kohl's jeans that I'd like to cut up and burn in effigy. What the heck! I know that I'm about 10 lbs heavier than what I was B.B. but the way it sits on my body, I might as well be 30 lbs heavier. My boobs are bigger, and a bit saggish. I feel like I should be singing, "Do your boobs hang low, do they wobble to and fro, can you tie 'em in a knot, can you tie 'em in a bow..." My little monster would love mama singing that tune. I can see him clapping now, with his little chiclet grin. And let's not talk about my belly. I swear I still look 4 months pregnant. I look like a half deflated basketball. Gee, I know what I can be this Halloween. Pass me some orange paint and a black marker. In any event, I can't give up on getting my old body back. Or at least a healthier and toned version of the body I have now. I am very proud of what my body has done to birth and nourish my son. I just don't want my body to look like it's been through war either. So I press on. I will continue my journey through A.B. weight loss. I can't imagine having a 2nd baby at this starting point. They may just have to roll me into parent teacher's conferences in a wheel barrel!

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…
■ Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
■ Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
■ Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
■ Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
■ Go visit http://allthingsfadra.com/ and link up and comment on other’s posts

Fit Mama Club - Week 7

I did a lot better this week with my eating! I started reading about the Paleo Diet again. (I discussed this diet HERE.) I still don't have a new scale yet, so I have no idea whether I gained or lost. I definitely will get one this Friday! Here's my update:

After my update, I'll share this week's Fit Mama Club challenge. If you wanna join up, leave a comment or tweet me @joonluv630.

Last Week's Weight Loss: No clue because I have no scale
Total Weight Loss: Not sure yet
Last Week's High: I got back on track with my eating!
Last Week's Low: I found it hard to say "no" when people offered me treats out of kindness. Such as my hubby making me waffles in bed, or my mom having an impromptu BBQ.. (I'm so glad summer's over by the way. And the overload of BBQs is one of the many reasons.) I also did log my eating into my Fitness Pal app. Tsk tsk tsk!
Plan For This Week: I will continue working on my low carb Paleo Diet eating plan. Which leads to this week's Fit Mama Challenge!

Fit Mama Challenge: Only eat healthy carbs such as fruits and vegetables. Stay away from the bad carbs like white bread, pasta, rice, etc. You can have 3 "open meals" this week, which means you can have some of those carbs.. just don't binge! So c'mon Fit Mamas! Are you up for the challenge?

Fit Mama Club - Week 6

I'm sooo totally off track! Well not totally, I actually started reading a book called "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman and it talks all about how the less chicken, beef, and pork you eat, the better. It's healthier and you can lose up to 20 lbs the first 6 weeks of the plan. The problem is, though my mind says this is the healthy way to go. My heart (and my stomach) tell me that it's too drastic of a change! Ahhh! Anyway, here's my update:

After my update, I'll share this week's Fit Mama Club challenge. If you wanna join up, leave a comment or tweet me @joonluv630.

Last Week's Weight Loss: 0
Total Weight Loss: 0
Last Week's High: I worked out 3 times (20 minutes each) which is a great improvement from my total lack of cardio in the past.
Last Week's Low: My beloved Scale is dead. R.I.P. It stopped working. No matter who gets on it, me, my hubby, my little monster, it displays all of these weird characters and doesn't give the weight. So now I'm going nuts until I can purchase a new one! (next payday)
Plan For This Week: I work out 3 times again this week but increase it to 30 minutes each time. I will stick to my calorie limit (which I am keeping track with by using the wonderful Fitness Pal app!) I will also complete the Fit Mama Challenge!

Fit Mama Challenge: Only have meat (i.e. beef, chicken, pork, or even fish) once per day. So no turkey sandwich for lunch then chicken for dinner! Try to get used to eatin gmore fruits and veggies!! So C'mon Fit Mamas! Are you up for the challenge?

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But the Greatest of These is Love

It's an interesting phenomenon being a working mother. You feel guilty when you're at work for not being home enough for your family, then you feel guilty when you're at home for not focusing hard enough on work. You're in this not so comfortable limbo of not fitting completely in either life and just barely getting by.

Many a times I have fallen victim to what some call "Stinkin' Thinkin'". It's when all you can think of is what you aren't doing right. You only made dinner once this week. You didn't get a chance to scrub the ring around the tub. You didn't pay enough attention to the hubby today. You forgot to write that progress note at work. You didn't get back to your client in time. Tsk tsk tsk! And before you know it, you're in this whirlwind of a pity party because you "just can't do anything right".

The other day, in my self-induced pity party of one, I was thinking about how UN-domestic I am, yet not completely career driven like some of my co-workers either. I felt like the maladjusted middle-child, not knowing where I belonged, and feeling like a terrible mother to boot. But that's when God snatched me up by the collar and shook me out of the pool of lies I was allowing myself to drown in.

I realized that I'm doing the best that I can and my little guy loves me like crazy regardless of whether there is a cheerio (or 4) left on the living room couch. And what's more important anyway? The bit of cat hair on the carpet or the "tickle monster wars" that happen in that very same spot? Love covers over all those minor imperfections. That's what we as mothers need to think about. "...whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

My mother was a hard working single parent, and though I had my fair share of frozen fish sticks and happy meals, the memories I cherish most are the special "mommy and me" trips to the library on the weekends. The side-splitting laugher we shared over the silliest of things. The times she let me hop into her bed and cuddle - and didn't complain when I tinkled a time or two. Those are the things that fill my heart with joy, and my little monster will feel the same.

There was a study done of two groups of baby monkeys. One group was given food and water, but no interaction with their mama. The other group was given food and water and allowed to cuddle up to their mama, nurse, and interact with her freely. At the end of the study, the group of monkeys that did not feel the love from their mama failed to thrive. They were sickly, violent, and anti-social. The ones with their mama ended up just fine. It's all about LOVE. As long as we make our times with our little ones count, there's no need to sweat the small stuff. LOVE. That's what our children need. "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13) Give your children extra hugs when you can. And while you're at it, give your hubby extra kisses too. ;)

Stream of Consciousness Sunday: My Husband's Guest Post

I told my hubby about Sunday Stream of Consciousness and he thought that it was a pretty nifty thing to be a part of. So I asked him to be my guest blogger for this week's exercise and he jumped at the opportunity. Let the record show, I did not pay my hubby, in any way shape or form (in the bedroom or out), for what he decided to write about. :) Enjoy!

My wife asked me to be a guest on her blog. At first I didn't really know what to write about. She told me to just say anything that comes to mind.

I would have to say I'm very proud of my wife. She's an excellent companion, mother, and a very thoughtful person altogether. Some may seriously regret being married. I can honestly say I do not regret it. I do develop the occasional twitch when she gets on my nerves. Ok, perhaps I'm embelishing a tad. The truth is we've had our share of troubled times.

I guess you could say I'm the type of person who wears his heart on his sleeve. Yes, I'm quite emotional at times. She says she loves that about me. But just because I am emotional, doesn't necessarily mean I cry. But it doesn't mean I'm not stressed out. More recently I've been going through a legal battle with my former boss Isaac. He is an unscrupulous, self centered... ooppps, I promised I wouldn't lash out here. So why did I bring this up? Great question! The good that this has brought out is I am remembering to pray over my family more often. I'm remembering the basics of what any good christian home should include. It sounds simple but my wife has been a rock through this. She has been standing by me and praying with me.

My wife is my other half and I'm so blessed to have such a woman be my partner through the good times and the bad. I just hope there are more good times than bad ones. With the help of God I think its safe to say that we'll be ok.

Yes ladies, I am grinning ear to ear...

This was my [husband's] 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

■ Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
■ Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
■ Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
■ Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
■ Go visit http://allthingsfadra.com/ and link up and comment on other’s posts

FIt Mama Club - week 4

Sadly it was a big Fit Mama Club fail last week. I totally got caught up in emotional eating and went to town. I actually gained the 2 lbs I lost the first week. :( BUT I can't give up. I know I won't be at the weight I would like to be by the end of the summer, but my new goal is to lose 25 lbs by December 31st to start the new year off as a lean mean healthy machine! Here's my update:

After my update, I'll share this week's Fit Mama Club challenge. If you wanna join up, leave a comment or tweet me @joonluv630.

Last Week's Weight Loss: 0
Total Weight Loss: back to 0
Last Week's High: If I count today as part of last week - me, my hubby, my little one, and my mom went to the beach. It was the first time that my little monster felt sand between his little toes and salt water in his curly baby 'fro. It was an amazing feeling to watch it all.
Last Week's Low: My major Fit Mama crash and burn ::sigh::
Plan For This Week: I will work on eating only when I'm hungry and stop eating when I'm full. I will also complete the Fit Mama Challenge!

Fit Mama Challenge: Only drink 8 oz of juice per day (4 oz in the morning, 4 oz in the evening), and the rest of the time, drink good ol' H20! (Yes, one cup of coffee per day is an acception.)

Baby #2 Bucket List

So I was reading a fellow super mama's blog, and she had a post that was pretty cool. She created a bucket list - you know, the things you need to do before you ____ . This particular bucket list was created listing the things she needs to do before she and her husband have a second baby. When I read that, I was like YUP! I need to create one of those too! You all read here that I have been having the baby itch as of late, but I've been trying to remind myself that it's not the right time just yet. So this was a perfect way to share it visually.

MUST HAPPEN BEFORE BABY #2
-Get my counseling license and find an office job (no more field work!)
-Save $3,000 for a baby fund
-Lose 25 lbs to get down to the weight I was when I got married
-Hubby needs to get his Associates Degree

WOULD LIKE TO HAPPEN BEFORE BABY #2
-Lose 35 lbs (that would be a dream!)
-Have $5,000 in savings (in addition to the baby fund)
-Save up for our first house

FUN STUFF BEFORE BABY #2
-Go on another cruise(Norwegian Cruiseline is the bomb!)
-Go on vacation to St. Maarten and/or Antigua
-Hubby and I going away for a few days for a little one-on-one romance (Poconos anyone?)
-Hubby and I getting matching tattoos (on our ring fingers <3)
-Get myself a cute little nose ring (cheeyahhh babyy!!)

So that's the plan! What do you guys think? Any more suggestions??

Waiting for Change

Yesterday during a therapy session, I sat with a family who were fighting like cats and dogs. When I was able to get their attention, I pointed out that it seemed like they were all waiting for the next person to change before they decided to treat that person kindly. I suggested that they treat each other kindly first - which would lead to the changes in behavior their seeking. That didn't resonate too deeply with them but it was a Eureka moment for me.

We all have people in our lives- friends, spouses, siblings etc that tick us off. It's almost as if they know us so well for the sole purpose of getting under our skin. And we hold them to a higher level of accountability because we expect more from them. But what I've come to realize over time is that we only have the power to change our own behaviors, and waiting for the other party to change when they have no motivation to do so will have you waiting 'til kingdom come.

I once read in "The Power of a Praying Wife" by Stormie Omartian that we should treat our spouse as the person we want them to be, not the person they are at this point in time. The idea is that this will give them the motivation, confidence, and feeling of respect they need to grow into that person. And as we treat them kindly, we pray. We. Pray.

Pray for the ability to trust God in that situation. Pray for the removal of our unforgiveness. Pray for the other party to accept our kindness and open their heart. Pray for the relationship to be healed. And through this kindness, through this respect, through this hope, comes the rebirth of a relationship better than before.

So let us not wait for someone else to change. Let us become an active role in the change process by being kind, forgiving, and supportive. Before you know it, the other person will see the err of their ways and thank you for not giving up on them.

Fit Mama Club - Week 3

Okay so last week was a Fit Mama Club fail *insert funny cartoon noise - womp womp womp* Halfway through the week, I let my emotional eating get the best of me, and struggled the rest of the way through. But this week is a new start. A new chance at making a difference in my health and weight. So let's go!

After my update, I'll share this week's Fit Mama Club challenge. If you wanna join up, leave a comment or tweet me @joonluv630.

Last Week's Weight Loss: 0
Total Weight Loss: 2.4
Last Week's High: LiL Monster had a wonderful week at daycare! He's finally starting to get used to it, and actually has fun! He still cries when we drop him off, but from what I hear, he stops as soon as we leave, and he starts playing with the other kids.
Last Week's Low: Still didn't work out last week. What is my malfunction!!
Plan For This Week: I will stick to 26 WW points each day, drink 4 glasses of water per day, work out twice per week, and complete the Fit Mama Challenge!

Fit Mama Challenge: No eating out for one full week. Not only will that help as far as our health goes, but it'll also help our pockets! So c'mon ladies! Time to go grocery shopping! ;)

Stream of Consciousness Sunday: The Baby Itch Attacks

Yup. I've got it. I've got the baby itch. At first I thought it would pass, but it's been a few weeks and I still feel the need for another little one! I'm a total nut because at this time, lil monster is a handful as it is. Plus work is tough, and i'm still working towards my counseling license. And we're still trying to rebuild our finances. We don't own a home, we rent. So it's just not the right time. But i can't help but miss the "new baby" smell. The newborn cry. The breastfeeding (yes ladies, I kinda miss that too). I miss having a little one that I can cuddle for an hour straight and baby being in total bliss over it. Lil monster is just growing up too fast. And I think that is the major reason why I'm feeling this way. He's such a little person now. With his own personality, his own decisions... ::sigh:: and he'll keep growing and growing from here! Next thing you know he'll be saying "C'mon ma, you're like sooo embarrassing!" arghh... I am not in a rush for that to happen. I just have to take a step back and make sure that I'm feeling these things for the right reason. I've mentioned my thoughts here and there to the hubby, but he hasn't really taken me seriously. I mean, he knows that it's definitely not the right time for us. But I can't help but dream of our baby #2 (maybe a little girl, woop!). I can't wait to see how lil monster treats his lil sibling. It's funny cuz I was helping in the Nursery at church today, and holding the little infants made this mama itch for a baby even more! And you know what MY little ankle biter did? He tried to push the 6 month old outta my hands, and even went as far as to pull her little hair! I was mortified. Very. In any event, it was nice to be around the little babies, even if only for 2 hours. It definitely confirmed that having more children is in my heart, but now if my finances and busy schedule could hop on board - that would be awesome!

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

■ Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
■ Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
■ Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
■ Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
■ Go visit http://allthingsfadra.com/ and link up and comment on other’s posts

Ignore the Label Please!

Sometimes I worry that I'm labeling my little one way too soon. He's only 16 months old and my husband and I, as well as a few family and friends have already labeled him as The Strong-Willed Child. Of course there is some tiny truth to that assumption. He does need to be told numerous times NO (as many toddlers do) and sometimes will swat the person who is keeping him from his prize. Yes, afterwards, he'll slowly sneak back to the scene in question and try to repeat the offense when no one's looking. Let's not forget the occasional (well a little bit more than that) temper tantrum where if he can't have that special something, he'll flop on the floor and roll around screaming with arms flailing. But how much of his future personality are we shaping by passing his normal-ish toddler behavior as a hard and fast personality trait?

See, I'm a Family Therapist and study people for a living. And all too often, I see members of families pigeon-holed into a role such as the: Smart One, Trouble Maker, Sensitive One, Bully, Scapegoat.. the list goes on. I've often wondered, how much of the label comes from true character traits or from kids living up to what they've been hearing all of their lives?

When counseling youth displaying delinquent behaviors, almost always they tell me, "I'm the black sheep! I'm the problem!" And likewise from the parents, "They've been like this since birth! Causing us all grief!" Of course I then suggest that the kid hearing this for years may have shaped their behavior - or at least their motivation to make more positive decisions. Needless to say it takes a few sessions before the parents are willing to chew on that tasty little morsel.

So that brings me to my questions to you, dear readers. Do you feel you were labeled as a child? How much of that do you think may have affected your life decisions? How can we as parents choose our words wisely to give our children a fair shot at growing into their own true selves?

Just Not the Natural Order of Things

Sometimes I wonder how things would be if I were still a stay at home mom. I stayed at home for the first 8 months of my son's life and towards the latter part of those months, I felt like I had lost my identity. Between nightly wakings, dirty diapers, nursing, cooking, cleaning... I felt like a robot. I believed so deeply that if I only found a job, then I would feel like myself again. Many of us mamas know how tough motherhood is and as much as we love our little ankle biters, they change our lives DRAMATICALLY. And after awhile, all you want is to get back to some level of normalcy. So I prayed and prayed and prayed...

And God answered my prayer. So I started working, and at first I felt revived. This is how its meant to be, I thought. Now I'm me again. Now I'm whole. Except, no - I was actually leaving a part of me at daycare. Not whole at all. And like that, discontentment reared its ugly little head again. All of a sudden I felt like I was missing out on all the wonderful moments in my little guy's life. Working felt like it was sucking the life out of me. Robbing time away from my husband and son. I work evenings (cuz that's all I can find right now) so my husband gets to put lil monster to bed all week. He gets all the goodnight hugs and kisses. The most I get is the 11pm diaper change where I quietly steal kisses as he snores and wiggles his little toes.

And that's where I'm at right now. I prayed so hard for a job, and now that I have what I wanted, I feel just as lost as I did before I began. It just doesn't feel like the natural order of things. But what really does?? If I could have a happy medium, part time work and part time home, would I then be content? Or would I just move on to the next thing that's not "fair" about my life?

So many questions, and not enough answers. I can go around in circles thinking about my situation. But I have to leave it in God's hands. My parting thought is from Scripture, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:33-34). Easier said than done, but I'll always keep trying.

Fit Mama Club - Week 2

How are you all doing! Here's my Fit Mama Club update for Week 1! After my update, I'll share this week's Fit Mama Club challenge. If you wanna join up, leave a comment or tweet me @joonluv630.

Last Week's Weight Loss: 2.4
Total Weight Loss: 2.4
Last Week's High: I took three days off - very much needed!
Last Week's Low: One of the families that I counsel is not doing well and I won't be able to close the case next week as planned... and I didn't work out last week. AT. ALL.
Plan For This Week: I will stick to 26 WW points each day, drink 4 glasses of water per day, work out twice per week, and fulfill the Fit Mama Club Challenge!

THIS WEEK'S FIT MAMA CLUB CHALLENGE

How many of you eat the correct amount of vegetables per day? According to the USDA Food Pyramid, we're supposed to be having 3-5 servings per day. To be honest, I'm lucky if I get 5 servings a week, let alone per day. That's why I felt it was important for this week's challenge to be a Veggie Challenge!



One serving of Vegetables is equal to:

* 1 cup of raw leafy green vegetables
* 1/2 cup other vegetables (cooked or raw) or
* 3/4 cup vegetable juice

And what are the benefits of following these guidelines?

1) Substituting fruits and vegetables for higher-calorie foods can be a great part of a weight loss strategy. They are low in calories, high in volume and high in critically important nutrients. They fill you up, without loading you up with fat and calories. And when your stomach is filled up with high volume, low calorie food, there is less room for other bad stuff.

2) Plant-based foods help to control food cravings and overeating.

3) Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.

4) Fruits and vegetables are a natural source of energy and give the body many nutrients you need to keep going. They are a great "on-the-go" snack.

5) When your body is getting what it needs, you are going to feel better physically and emotionally. The absolute best vegetables to help speed up weight loss are green vegetables- Collard Greens, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbage.

CHALLENGE: Eat at least 3 servings of vegetables per day for 7 days.

Who's with me?? All you have to do is share your progress each day on twitter with the hashtag #fitmamaclub, and post every Sunday morning with last week's successes and this week's goals. Comment or tweet for more info!

Water Challenge - Hit and Miss

Overall, the Water Challenge went pretty well! I did have a few set backs though:

1) One evening, the hubs decided to cook dinner and brought out a plate and drink for me.. the drink was fruit punch. And without batting an eyelash, I drank it all down - THEN was shocked and realized, holy moly I'm on a water challenge! Thankfully it was only a 1/2 a cup, and I drank two cups of water right after.

2) My best friends took me out to an Indian Restaurant last night for my belated birthday gift, and I HAD to have the Mango Lassi drink since I haven't been to that Indian restuarant in like 2 years. Uh.. I also had a glass of soda... hey it was a celebration!!

Other than those two incidents, I did pretty well and I think it helped to add to my total week weight loss! But more on that tomrrow when I do my weekly Fit Mama Club post! See you then!

The Return of the Water Challenge

I LOVE doing water challenges. A water challenge is choosing to drink nothing but water for 5-7 days (minus the morning coffee). I have to admit, when I begin a challenge I feel lousy, but once I get over the initial sugar withdrawal, drinking just water for a week does wonders for my body and mind. I wrote all about the benefits of water HERE. It's also a great way to detox and start a healthy eating plan on the right foot. And since I'm all about the Fit Mama Club, I thought it was time to get the party started right!

So who's with me!! It'll be tough in the beginning but you'll lose excess weight, help your digestion, and feel a lot more clear-minded! Water Challenge, here I come!

Fit Mama Club - Here we go!

It is time to get fit! It is time to get fab! It is time to join the Fit Mama Club! Hi all, many of you know me as joonluv630 and I am a mother to an amazing 16 month old little monster. As much as he brings joy to my life, he's also brought a little extra poundage around my mid-section... okay as well as many other places. And yes I do realize that the extra weight I now carry on my frame isn't just from having a baby, because I always was on the curvy side. It's just gotten wayyy harder to come off. I gained 40 lbs during my pregnancy and only lost 20, so now I'm 20 lbs heavier than the pre-pregnancy me (which wasn't so thin to begin with y'all) So I decided that the only way I can get motivated to lose the weight is to start a movement!

So here's what I'm gonna do. Every week I'm going to blog about my weight loss journey, and report back w/ my successes and my notsomuch's. I'm going to do my weigh-ins Sunday morning, and blog about it. On a side note, there's something about starting a healthy eating plan on Sunday that I'm drawn to. Still haven't figured it out yet but it's probably because I have a long history of over-eating on Saturday and feeling the urge to start fresh the next day! (Ya the over-eating has got to stop.)

My healthy eating plan will be a cross between watching my Weight Watchers points, and reducing my carbs. I'll start every post with:

Last Week's Weight Loss
Total Weight Loss
Last Week's High
Last Week's Low
Plan For This Week

SO HERE WE GO!

Last Week's Weight Loss: ZERO
Total Weight Loss: ZERO
Last Week's High: It was my birthday on Tuesday and Anniversary on Thursday!
Last Week's Low: I ate like a maniac due to said special occassions..
Plan For This Week: I will stick to 26 WW points each day with 35 flex points to use throughout the week (or on a designated cheat day). I will drink 4 glasses of water per day, and reduce my carb intake. I will also work out twice this week.

So that's the plan ladies! I'd love some company, so who's in??? Post me on here, or tweet me on twitter (@joonluv630) and I'll send you my amateur banner (be kind!) to put up on each of your posts as well. :) We can tweet our progress using the hashtags: #fitmamaclub or #fmc I'm pumped you guys!! I can feel the pounds melting off already!

What Do You Get a Man Anyway??

Today is our 4 year wedding anniversary! Yup, I've been tied to the ol' ball and chain for 4 whole years and together for 7 in total. Wait, isn't the wife supposed to be the ball and chain? Oh well. Anyway the thing is, every year that passes, it gets that much harder to find a gift for big monster.

This year I got him two pairs of shorts, two DVDs, and a card. Over the years I've gotten him cologne, candy, shirts, watches, shoes, video games, gift cards, etc. What the heck am I gonna do for the next 50 years?! Not to mention that with the added holiday of Father's Day, there's even less to spread around.

Women are so easy to shop for. We want the flowers, the chocolate, the occasional lingerie - you know, the timeless gifts that keep on giving. But for men? Forget it. I get more nervous watching him open his gift than actually opening mine!

We keep saying that we want to start not giving gifts and just go away on a romantic vacay as a mutual gift. Unfortunately, every year money is an issue so we have to deal with the gift giving fiasco all over again.

So what do you gals think? What gifts have you given your men that have been major winners? Please share cuz this wifey is running outta ideas!

Birthday Blues Be Gone!

What is it about birthdays that cause us to frown, scoff, and want to hide under our covers? It wasn't always like this. Remember when birthdays represented growth, fun, and surprise? Now the only growth I experience is around my mid section. Or the surprise of an old poopy diaper hidden under the couch.

But seriously, I remember when turning 13 was such an accomplishment. Then my sweet 16 was all I could think about. Oh and turning 18 meant I was officially an "adult". What was the last exciting birthday? 21? Oh boy, now I was REALLY legal and could order a drink if I wanted. (which to this day I'm not really into.)

After those birthday milestones, birthdays for me didn't really feel any different than any other day and it wasn't until this year - today turning 29 - that I actually wanted to skip it all together! Upon analyzing, I realized that yes part of it is feeling like I'm old (only one more year til the big 3-0!) but the bigger part is unrealized dreams and aspirations.

We all create plans for ourselves, about where we want to be at age such-and-such, and when you aren't quite in the place you dreamed of, it does throw you for a loop. It's almost as if you wish you could have a "do-over" button and fix certain things that you're unsatisfied with. Your favorite phrase becomes "What if I had..." and you lose sight of all that has gone right.

But you'll all be happy to know that after much prayer this morning, I came to realize that it's not about my will but God's will in my life. And His will is so much sweeter than what I could ever conjure up. I just need to be patient (as hard as that may be) God reminded me that I originally had 3 goals to accomplish by age 30 - get married, have a baby, and be a licensed Mental Health Counselor. Hey, 2 outta 3 ain't bad and I still have one more year to get my license so praise God. What happened was, along the way, I added tons of sub-goals to my original 3 (like losing 40 lbs, going to Europe, living in a mini-mansion, meeting Michael Jackson *RIP*) that clouded my appreciation for all that God has given me. I have a loving God, a loving family, big monster (hubby) and little monster (baby), a job, caring friends (online and off)...

It's crazy but as I'm sitting on this crowded train, a homeless man just said to everyone that he just got out of prison, he's HIV positive, he's hungry, needs a little money, and he doesn't want to go back to jail. I immediately started tearing up. I couldn't say no to that. And how timely was it to strengthen my resolve even more that I should be thanking God for another healthy, happy, and blessed year on this planet.

Philippians 4:12 says, "I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." In other words, Paul was saying that he learned through experience the importance of being content w/ your situation - whether in abundance or when struggling. We may not be happy every waking moment but we can still be joy-filled through Christ.

Oh and by the way, the hubby made this birthday extra special by getting me a kitten! I named her Pinky!

Happy Birthday to me!!

My Weight Loss Journey Continued - The Paleo Diet

Being busy busy busy does NOTHING for your health. Between taking care of little monster, trying to spice things up with my Mister, and working nonstop, I have managed to gain 7 lbs on top of the leftover baby weight that has been plaguing my existence since March 1, 2010.

I've done Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers. good ol' fashioned calorie counting, you name it - I've tried it. Nothing has really worked for long and sadly I've felt deprived in some form or another with all of them. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that deprivation = failure. Not cool. But I still trek on. I can't give up. I have gained 40 lbs since meeting my husband and it's done nothing for my self esteem. And now with summer finally hear. I'm DREADING the oh-so-terrible bathing suit shopping. NOOOOOoooo!! (insert echo)

In any event, I have learned about yet another diet (or healthy eating plan) called THE PALEO DIET. This diet is based on how the "cave-men" ate back in the day during the Paleolithic period. Before the McDonalds' and Krispy Kremes, there was a simpler, healthier way of eating.

According to Dr. Loren Cordain, our ancestors ate lean meats, vegetables, and fruits. Period. Grains weren't introduced until generations later, and once they were, so was a reduction in health. So the bad carbs we love so much - bread, rice, cereal, pasta, etc cause a lot of our health issues today - including obesity. I know I know, this sounds just like all of the other low carb diets out there. The main difference is that this diet doesn't forbid you to eat fruit. Also, it even allows you 3 cheat meals per week to keep sane and motivated! The idea is that if you're eating well the majority of the time, having cheat meals won't harm you (as long as you aren't bingeing!).

This diet seems more of a fit for me because if I do decide to treat myself within reason, I don't have to be guilt ridden for the rest of the week. Phew! So I've been reading the Paleo Diet book and it sounds good so far. The eating plan seems realistic and the recipes are great. So I'll keep you all updated! *fingers and toes crossed*

I'm Baaaacckkk!!!! (again)

Hey out there in blogger land!! It's been forever since my last post. And rightly so! Right after my son's 1st birthday, work started to get hectic (and still is), married life started to get hectic (and still is), and mommy life... well you all know the deal so I don't have to say it.

Despite all of the chaos, I've still been feeling like I need an outlet - to get my feelings out and share my journey - so here I go blogging again. The difference is, now I'm typing out my post on the train ride into the city and actually posting it later when I get a (rare) free moment - and wifi.

So what's new? Well little monster is almost 16 months old and practically RUNNING around the apartment. He still looks like a drunken sailor while doing it but who cares, that's what makes it extra cute right? He doesn't talk much yet but understands a lot. He follows commands (sit down, come here, pick that up, etc) He also can point out tons of stuff on his body. He loves that game! He loves it so much that the other day when he was crying, I asked him to point out his nose to distract him, and he pointed while continuing to cry lol Picture a sobbing baby pointing to his nose over and over. That was priceless. He also can say mama, dada, hi, and cat (which sometimes sounds like car but we know what he means).

On to the next thing. Work. Work has been kicking my patoot. Working evenings doing family therapy in homes in the Bronx = stressed out chick who is a therapy session away from an ulcer. The pay is pretty good though so I feel like I'm stuck. Until I get my mental health counseling license that is (but that's a year and a half away)

Then there's the marriage - which has gone into a not-so-lovely mundane roommate type of situation. I feel like we're that typical "old married couple" which makes no sense since we've only been married for 4 years! Alas, little monster definitely had a big part in that, along with stress from work, finances, over-tiredness, etc etc.

And how do you turn that around? Ya ya ya, date nights and all that. Listen, we go out to eat by ourselves once a week but for some odd reason, even the conversation during those times circle around little monster. Or Real Estate, which is my husband's passion. Or my hatred for my job. Fun.

We keep saying that things will change but we don't ever take action steps to do it, which annoys the crap outta me. I mean all I do each day is listen to people's problems and help them put plans together to change their situation, yet I feel powerless to change my own. Isn't it ironic. Don't ya think? It's kinda like that heart surgeon who smokes like a chimney. Weird.

In any event, I guess I'll just keep trying, and praying, and hoping. Oops, gotta go or else I'll miss my stop. Loovvve NYC transit!! (insert sarcastic tone) ;)

Water Challenge Victory!

I did it! I went 7 days drinking plain old H20! I started off doing well, midway through I wanted to throw in the towel (but I didn't), and now on the 7th day, I feel victorious! And guess what?? I lost 2 lbs and I wasn't even dieting or exercising! Yes, I know I should have been, but I just wanted to see what changing one bad habit would do to my body. And now, I actually crave water when I'm thirsty. I also lost those initial srong cravings for juice, soda, and sugar in general. Will I do this forever? Well no. Ha! But I am thinking of making the water challenge a weekly event, where I drink solely water Monday thru Friday, then drink juice on the weekend. All in all, it was a great experience. I proved to myself that I am NOT a slave to my cravings! WOOP WOOP! WOOP! *Arsenio Hall fist pump*

Day 3 of Water Challenge - withdrawal symptoms begin...

So it's Day 3. I NEED JUICE. PLEASE! ORANGE JUICE. APPLE JUICE. ANYTHING! The first two days weren't so bad. But today, everything I ate seemed to beg for an accompaniment of sugar. Eggs in the morning? How bout some OJ. Hot dog for lunch? What about some diet coke? Lowfat spinach dip for a snack... hmm... my mind was going crazy for a sweet treat! ::sigh:: I knew it couldnt be as easy as I was hoping but still. Right now, all I want is a nice warm cup of hot cocoa, but I know that it would go against the challenge so I must abstain. I know it's for good reason. I heard that it takes 21 days for a habit to form, so maybe after the 7 day challenge I can move up to 21 days?? Uhh... can't think that far ahead.

Some of you may be asking, why can't u have diet coke or flavored water? Well for one thing, pure water is the best for cleansing purposes. And besides that, for me sugar is a trigger. Even FAKE sugar is a trigger. So I know myself enough to know that having a diet coke really is only a gateway drug into wanting more sugary things. So pure water it is! How are my fellow water challengers doing? Any withdrawal yet???

Water Challenge Revisited

Remember my September Water Challenge? Well that was a big flop. I don't even remember what derailed me but the challenge was just too challenging for me I guess! In any event, I've been feeling so sluggish lately, like I need a detox or something. So that's why I wanna TRY to give the challenge another shot for this coming week. NOTHING BUT WATER FOR 7 DAYS.. I can't even imagine what kind of withdrawal my body is going to go through from the lack of sugar.

I'm assuming I'll go from this:


TO THIS!


Wanna join me? Let me know! I'm going to aim for 42 glasses of water in 7 days
(six glasses per day). Can you do it? Do you think I can?

My Moose and Zee 1st Birthday Party Thoughts

Mikey LOVES Moose and Zee. He usually ignores TV otherwise, but as soon as Moose and Zee pop up on the boob tube, he drops everything, mouth wide open, drool spilling for all too see:



So I decided that this would be a great theme for his 1st birthday party! But do a quick google search and there is practically NOTHING out there for a Moose and Zee theme. NickJr has stuff you can print out, but I was hoping that there was a party favor sight that I could just get everything from. I'm looking for a caketopper, wall decals, and maybe those decorations that hang from the ceiling. I'm going to get light blue and yellow helium balloons to float around everywhere too. Hmm.. if anyone has any other ideas, let me know. I'm not going to go completely nuts about it because I'm a firm believer that HE WILL NOT REMEMBER a lick of any of it so why stress myself out? Of course I'm going to try to make it cute, but it'll just be a small gathering, with a few family members, friends, food, and fun. I'm sure he'll be more concerned with the cake we're going to let him taste that day! And earlier that day he'll have his Baby Dedication at our church as well, so it'll be a wonderful occassion. Can't wait!!



- UPDATE - (one year later)

The party was a huge success! I never got around to sharing the info - the party was simple, but perfect for a 1 year old. We printed our decorations from www.nickjr.com then purchased laminate to gloss the decorations, then we hung them up. We also put up light blue and yellow balloons, and our son's godmother made Zee cupcakes! We created goody bags filled with stickers, bubbles, candy, and we created moose and zee cookies to put in the bags as well. (We made sugar cookies, wrapped them in cellophane, then decorated the outside of the cellophane with moose and zee eyes, ears, etc. Here is a quick snapshot of our fun time:

We are currently planning his 2nd birthday and the theme is Disney's "CARS" movie. He hasn't even seen the movie yet but is obsessed with the toys, and clothing that we've purchased for him from the movie. So we're planning on getting yellow and red balloons, and "Cars" decorated cups, napkins, cake topper, the works. They have a lot of great "Cars" inspired party supplies on www.amazon.com I'll link back to this post with pictures after the party!

Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred - Day 1

CALORIES BURNED: 167

Okay. I started the 30 Day Shred. AGAIN. Usually I never seem to be able to get past day 3, I have no idea why.. Okay yes I do. It's called LAZINESS. NOT GOOD! In any event, if at first you don't succeed - well you know the rest. So last night was Day 1. Can I just say, ouch! I was so out of breath and tired and whiney and blecchhhh!! I finished the 20 minutes, but I really don't think I did it with as much effort as I should have. But my body was creekin and crackin! Arghh!

I'm glad I did it though. I didn't enjoy the actual exercise one bit, but I did enjoy the after-endorphins and the feeling of accomplishment I felt aftwards. So I'll keep plugging away. I PRAY that I learn to love exercising... or at least learn to tolerate it and make a habit out of it.

Oh, and I think I'm going to buy a Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) because I'm tired of guessing how many calories a certain exercise is burning. From what I hear, a HRM would tell me exactly how many calories I'm burning at that exact moment. So if anyone has a HRM recommendation, please comment!