Coke Cola Brisket SHHHHHHHH this is a secret….

Do you have a recipe that has been passed down in your family? You know one that you swear your great, great great, grandma made? Well I do as well! Mine is Coke Cola Brisket. Now we are not sure who started it, but slowly it got passed down, and added to. It started out very simple, but as the times have changed so has the recipe. So here I am about to break all the family secrets and share it with you. You just have to promise one thing that when you make it, you say you have no clue where you got it from .

Coke Cola Brisket

Ingredients:

• 4lbs beef brisket
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoon paprika
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste (I use about 1 to 2 tablespoons.)
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup (8 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1 cup coke cola (not diet)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a roasting pan with foil.
Rub brisket on both sides with the olive oil. Sprinkle both sides with paprika, salt, and pepper. Place brisket fat-side up in the prepared roasting pan. Top with  onion, carrots and celery.
Whisk together tomato sauce, cola, Pour over the top of the vegetables on the brisket.
Cover with foil and roast 2-1/2 to 3 hours, until very tender. Baste with pan juices every 30 minutes.
Let rest 10 minutes. Slice against the grain and serve with pan juices.
The brisket may be made a day in advance, sliced, and refrigerated. Reheat in the gravy.

Coke Cola not only tenderizes this brisket, it also makes a fabulous gravy along with garlic, onion, celery, tomato sauce, and dry onion soup mix. You will not taste the cola, and it is not overly sweet at all. The gravy is awesome over mashed potatoes. This is a comfort food favorite. And in my family something we look forward to! I can not tell you how many times I have made this dish and how many times my family and friends think I have slaved away in the kitchen, Who would of thought that something so simple as a can of Coke a Cola would make a dish so good!

So I ask you again what is a recipe you make all the time? Is the one that you love and that your family ask you to make over and over again? If so guess what you are starting your own family traditions today!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Coca-Cola® blogging program. If I am one of the first 100 blogs received by SocialsMoms, I will receive a $25 gift card. For more information on the program,click here.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Mamavation Monday

You got to love Mondays! I mean it is a time where we look at what we did all week right. This week was so crazy! Kids sick, trips to doctors, new medians, and so on. I am just glad to have support of my family and others to get through everything! I am on this crazy new med. I have a thyroid problem. I have a mass on my right thyroid, it is not little mass, but a huge ass one! No thank goodness it is not cancer, but we are trying to stink it and this med is kicking my trash! It is causing me some not nice weight gain. As you can see right here.

yep that’s right it is a 3 lbs weight gain! I knew it could happen, and I am ok with it, because I am not going to let it get me down! This is just a set back, but I will be able to get the weight back off and get to my goal.

I wanted to be honestly with you ladies and show you that this could happened, but I am ok! My next goal is to lose 16.8 lbs and get down to 170! I know I can do it, so starting now I am redoing what I did as a mamavation mom. Thinking of Mamavation moms if you have not go read there post get to know them and please go support them!

This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn.

How would you like to alter your family’s nutrition and eating habits? Do you have a plan to do this?

When became a mamavation mom last campaign I wanted to have my family get more fiber and whole grains, I had no clue how to do this. Alysa taught me that fiber was everywhere! In foods we where already eating! I am now making my own breads, and meals. I also have cu out sugars and proceed foods!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mamavation Blogging Carnival for a chance to win an Orville Redenbacher’s Very Important Blogger Gift Basket.”

Mother’s Day

Looking at this picture you may not know it, but this little boy made my day on Mothers Day last year. I have this picture right now on my desk. He is my first boy, and his story is very touching to me because he was born looking like this:

Here he is at 4 pounds. He wanted to come early and join us almost two months before his time.

Now back to why Logan made my day last Mother’s Day. I was pregnant with my second son last year. I was was hot, tried, and honestly feeling under the weather last Mother’s Day. My wonderful Husband got me some Gerber daisy my favorite flower! Logan was walking them to me when he fell and the flower pot fell to the floor and broke! I started to cry when he ran got his flower hat and said “Momma I’m your flower now.”  The tears tuned into kisses and smiles.

Tiny Prints was able to take my special picture of my and turn into an picture sitting onto my desk! 

This year I am making Mother Day cards for all the grandmas! 

Share your appreciation and love this Mother's Day with Tiny Prints Mother's Day Cards.They offer cards suited for all sorts of moms in your life - mom friends, moms, mothers-in-law. Tell her she's doing a great job and "Happy Mother's Day" to make her day special to her. Check out their selection of customizable cards ready to personalize with your own special photo.
Whatever the reason, Tiny Prints has a card for it!

May 8th will be here before we know it!  It is not too early to pick out the perfect cards today.

* Disclaimer -  This opportunity was made possible by Global Influence and Tiny Prints. I was provided with a gift code in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own. No monetary compensation was received.

Changing

I want to show you something that is very scary to see are you sure you are ready ok here you go:

this picture is not someone else’s but mine taken back in Jan. 2011. and here is my picture:

Here I am in all my fatness! I am fat, and unhappy! Look at my face, the way I am holding myself, it’s not pretty at all. I wanted to change the way people where looking at me, so in Jan. of this year I started to change the way I was eating, exercising, and more then anything my attitude about myself! So slowly the weight started coming off. I learn that I only need 1250 calories a day to eat! I worked out for 45 mins at least and before I knew it I was here:

This is me now! I am 183 lbs I have lost a total 31.4 lbs! This is my big change! I did this for not only myself, but for these people as well:

My family! These right here! My change may not seem like a lot to some, but to my family it is so much. I am able to run after my boys, I am able to play outside with them. I am able to be out in public and not feel like everyone is staring at me. These are little changes in my life.

Changes can be big or small, but one thing I have learn is that changes are to be about your life, your family, and you! Changing is a great thing! Changes are something that can happened everyday and all the time if you let it. So I ask you what have you done lately to change your life? Was it a hair cut, or maybe it was a new car, or maybe it was something big like losing weight! Whatever the change is I know that you deserved it!

I am so glad that I took the leap to change my life, because now I have shown myself that I can change my life. I know that one day, when my  son’s come to me and ask me how to change something I will be able to help them because I was not scared to change. So one more time I say take a look at these pictures here.

I know that this picture here:

is no longer me!!!!!

But this picture here is:

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Cottonelle blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Wordless Wednesday

mamavation monday

Hi everyone this is going to be a quick post as Logan is sick with Bronchitis and Spencer is now getting sick. Things this week have been off track and the reason has been because I have let sickness get in my way. I know what I am to do and what I need to get done in order to stay on track, but I let myself slide this week. I know that and I am not blaming anyone but myself. As you can see here from my scale pic I have stayed the same.

 

I am glad the number did not change, for the worst, but it could have.

I am so excited to see who makes the next Mamamvation moms!!!! I know that whoever it is that you will rock it! I am so excited to be your mentor! I am here for you 125% . Know that you will be able to do it! To the others you will be able to rock the Move it and lose it! Till tonight when we party see you then!

It’s a PARTY!!!!!

Hello to all my readers out there! I am so excited to be able to party with you all this year. This is my first year going out on my own! This is my own blog, I am my own boss, my own writer. So I am here to offer you the chance to party with me and the rest of the blogs at the 2011 Ultimate Blog Party!

I am a stay at home mom of two boys, who are the love of my life! They make me completely insane some days, but honestly what kids don’t!

Here’s my little family! My husband Stephen, Logan my oldest, and Spencer my youngest.

So here you see my little family, yes my life revolves around boys! But come on how lucky am I never have to worry about fight for the bathroom!

In January of 2011 I was able to be a Mamavation mom. Many of you who follow me on twitter, know of my weight struggles. I have been trying for a long time to get weight off of me and did not know how. But in January I went from 215 lbs looking like this

 

to going to 187 lbs and looking like this

Having an active life style is now part of my life and you will see that on my blog! I love to cook as well, and also do scrapbooking.

These are just a few things about my life and now on to the good stuff!

*GIVEAWAY*

I am so excited that I am able to provide my readers with a free date night on me! I am not able to get away at all my my husband so I want you to get to the movies for FREE! I have one $25.00 Fandgo gift card up for grabs!

HOW TO ENTER:

1: Tell me what movie you want to see so bad if you win! (Yes I know, but honestly I am living through you!)

2: Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect GFC

3: Follow my on twitter (don’t worry I will follow back)

4: Tweet about this contest (psst you can use the retweet button)

5: Like this post on facebook

That’s it’s sounds easy right, It is! And because I am feeling very very nice I am throwing a $20.00 money card to eat on!!!!!!!

A happy family has a happy home

Take a look here does these two boys look happy or sad?

I would say HAPPY right! Here you see my two boys, who are the joy of everything I do as a mother. My life is not always filled with two more who are happy. I have a two almost three year old and a 4 month old so I am sure you understand that they cry. As you can see in the picture my son is yes holding my I-Phone because well he needed to play Angry Birds or less we was going to have a fit!

Here’s the thing little things make us happy! How many times have you walked into you your favorite store and saw the best sell going on? Or maybe it was that parking space up close to the store that made you happy! For me as a mother it is when I see this:

My littlest learn to roll over to his belly and hold his head up!

Or this:

My son being so happy because he went potty on the toilet!

Having a happy family makes your life easier. You know what when our family is happy we get naps, eat dinner at the right time, we do not watch to much TV. These are just a few little things, but honestly they make our life so much better! Example my wonderful MIL come down this past weekend we has a blast but for three days my son did not get his nap! He was not happy at all, and you know what our house was not a happy home! When you family is happy your whole house is happy, but when your family is happy you feel it in your home!  We play outside, we play cars, we do so many things that keep us happy! My son loves to come to me and say momma why are you sad? He then places his hands on my face and say momma be happy! Two simple words be happy! So I say to you all BE HAPPY!

So I ask you think what makes your family happy? Really think about this next time your little one cry's, or your are having a bad day! I want you think about this: When your family is happy, your home is happy!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Farm Rich blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Wordless Wednesday

Easter can you smell the chocolate???

Easter and I go way back (ok maybe not way back only 28 years) but I have always been a huge fan of Easter. It is the time of year where you are seeing flowers on the ground, birds singing, trees blooming, and my Favorite chocolate coming in from everywhere. (yes I said I love chocolate!) When I was a little girl Easter was about hutting Easter eggs, dyeing them all different colors and your hands of course, and the fun dresses. Now that I am a mother Easter is so much more. Just take a look at my son last year and how much fun he had at Easter.

This is the same boy who hated getting anything on him, but Easter brought out something in him that made him want to get dirty! He even asked for more colors! Yes that is a whisk in a cup!!! That is the best thing ever if you want to dye eggs with little kids. Take your hard boiled eggs put it in the middle of a whisk and let your kid dye there egg!

 

Easter is also a time where flowers are starting to bloom. I have a little boy who loves flower so much that he picks the little purple weeds and will bring them to me and say here mommy for you! They may be weeds to some but to me they are beautiful flowers.

But the one thing that Easter really reminds me of is Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ reminds me of my boys! I am now blessed with two wonderful boys who I love so much. They truly remind what the true meaning of Easter is. Which to me is family, love, and friends. Yes the chocolate is great, and yes so is hutting eggs, but what I love is sitting around the table having dinner. Talk to a family member who is faraway that is what makes Easter so special! So I ask you what make Easter so special for you? I know that this year as we dye those Easter eggs, do a big egg hunt, and even have more chocolate then we should I will be so happy because I am with my family. My husband, my two boys make life so special for me! Easter really can bring people together if you let it! I know this to be true with all my heart.

So go on buy you some eggs, go dye them, get some chocolate, but remember one thing that family comes first always!

 

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hop blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Mamavation Monday

This week has been so much fun! My MIL come from Az, and we where everywhere this weekend. I loved being able to just be outside and walking! It was so nice having weight off of me where I did not feel so tried all the time. I can remember always feeling tried before and I hated that, but now I am not tried I have more energy and honestly I feel 110% better. Am I where I want to be nope not yet, but I am getting there and I know I will get there with the support of the sisterhood, my family and my friends.

I want to say congrats to @miacupcake, @NcCarterFamily, @notimemom, @justheather, @pawf1067, @elenka29 for making it into the top six. This week I have been there in your shoes I know how you feel what you are going through! Please reach out to reach other for support and to the other member of the sisterhood we are all here for you. I know only two of you will make it as a mamavation mom, but I promise you that if you stick to the move it or lose it you will gain and learn so much about yourself. And to @gracegives @salemmomma @homemom3 @creativebug@kuvees @ihavetohaveyou, know that there is always next time I did not get in the first time I applied, stick with mamavation, and do the move it and lose it! We are all a team here supporting each other. Together we can reach our goals!

Thinking of goals it was time for my weigh in this week, I honestly did not want to weigh myself because I feel stuck but I did and stepped on and was surprised at the number.

 

HEY LORI I LOST 1LBS!!!!!!!

I honestly believe it was all the walking we did! but hey I will take the one pound! Thank you all for your support!

 

Where will your feet take you this year? Any plans for a big hike, race, or just a lot of walking?

My feet are taking me first to fitcation11 in Austin, then to a 5k race in Jay, Ok, next to a wedding in July in Utah, followed by family retion in AZ, blogher in Aug. I also walk everyday, and now I am running well learning to run. My feet are now more active! I am loving how active my feet and I are now best friends!

This week’s Mamavation Monday blogging carnival question is sponsored by Earth Footwear. By participating, I am entering to win a a pair of shoes donated by the sponsor. No money or other compensation was received.

#Nutellaparty

Who doesn’t love Nutella? I can tell you when I first meet my husband all he would talk about was how good nutella was. At this point I had no clue honestly what nutella was so I would nod my head and smile. Now I am a huge fan! Last week I have a huge party where so many of my family and friends came over to try out new ideas for nutella. Did you know that nutella was good for breakfast as well??? If not then you are in for a treat! I am not a big breakfast person at all, but I sure do love my smoothies so I made banana and nutella smoothies so yummy! This was so easy:

2 whole bananas

1pint of greek yogurt

1/2 cup of nutella

fill with ice and blend!

 

I know you really want to try this smoothie now! and if that wasn’t enough I also made Nutella Granola I know right! This was so yummy and a huge hit with my sisters!

Nutella Granola
4 c rolled oats
1/2 c wheat germ
1/2 c dry milk
1/4 c ground flax seeds
1/2 c Nutella
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c vegetable oil
1 1/2 c dried fruit (I used raisins)

Combine dry first four ingredients in a bowl.

Heat the nutella, brown sugar, and oil in a bowl in the microwave until they can be easily stirred together (about 30 seconds).

Pour nutella mixture into dry ingredients and combine well.

Spread into large baking pans and cook at 250 F for about 45 minutes to an hour, stirring every 15 minutes.  If you don't stir it, it could burn, and there is little more tragic in the kitchen than burnt granola.  Consider yourself warned.

Once the granola is well toasted, let cool and stir in dried fruit.

Transfer to an air tight container and enjoy!

See I told easy enough and so so good!

Now you can see there are so many different way to use nutella, but I had to make at least one dessert right? Of course I did! As I was sticking to a breakfast theme I made Banana, Strawberry, and Nutella Pastry Cup. These where again very easy to make and so yummy!

Banana, Strawberry, and Nutella Pastry Cup

1 Pepperidge Farm puff pastry sheet

9 T Nutella hazelnut spread

8 oz strawberries

2 bananas

1 T confectioners sugar

1 can whip cream

9 t chocolate sauce

Hazelnut (optional)

Cut one sheet of nearly room temperature pastry dough into 9 squares (3 x 3). I use a pizza cutter, which seems to work best.

Stretch each square out just enough to fit into an ungreased muffin tin. Fold the corners that are exposed into the tin and press until evenly covering the inside of the tin. Repeat for remaining squares. Bake for about 10-15 minutes at 350 until lightly golden brown.

While pastry is baking, cut bananas and strawberries into bite sized chunks. Lightly coat with confectioners sugar to give a bit more sweetness to the fresh fruit.

Remove the pastry from the oven when it is a light golden brown. It will puff up filling the inside of each muffin tin. While it is still warm, press gently around the inside with a spoon to open up each pastry forming a “pastry cup”. (I did not do this for the first batch in time and it will not work unless they are still warm)  Remove muffin tin from oven, and while still warm, press a spoon into each pastry to open them up. Spread a spoon full of Nutella into each pastry and spread evenly around the inside of the pastry.

Also while still warm, spread the Nutella into the inside of the pastry cups. It is much easier to spread when the warm pastry melts the Nutella.

Viola! Top each pastry with a heaping spoonful of the banana and strawberry mixture, a swirl of whip cream, a drizzle of chocoate sauce, and a shaving of hazelnut (optional).

So as you can now see Nutella is amazing and not just for plain bread anymore. I hope I have helped inspire you to out and buy some nuttella today and have your own party!

*Disclaimer - I was selected by MomSelect to host this party on behalf of Nutella and sent product and supplies to facilitate the party and giveaway to my guests. No monetary compensation was involved. All opinions are my own.

look forward

This week as been for me a week of looking forward to new changes in my life and to changes to the others in my life. Moving forward and not backwards has been huge for me! This week I went to the doctor's the first time sense becoming a mom and he honestly could not believe how much weight I lose in a healthy way! Now let me say that again HEALTHY WAY! His words was this, I would suggest Leah Segedie Mamavation program to anyone who is trying to lose weight the healthy way! That really touched me because it showed how much the Mamavation program works! See this is looking forward he told me my next weight goal is 170 I said deal! My first was getting under 200 which I did and now 170 is the next goal. I love having a doctor who is so willing to help me with my goals in life. The thing is he has great goals he has are good ones, ones I can look forward to. I can see now things in front of me, I see such a bright future now. This is something I did not see before, yes it was something I wished for, but not something I honestly saw. Looking forward I see a healthier me, someone who is able to do more stuff. I am excited to run my first 5K that is something I would of not said before. As i look forward I see myself running after my two boys playing with them. These are the things I see when I look forward to, silly things like wearing a bathing suit once again, shorts, and even dresses! I am so glad to have these things to look forward to. So I ask you what do have to look forward to? What are you looking forward to? Is it that pair of jeans in the back of your closet that is calling your name? Or maybe its just 5lbs what do you look forward to? Think about and answer it and put it somewhere you can see it everyday and look at it, that is what I am doing looking at my answers and looking forward! 

Thinking about looking forward here is my scale pic this week.

That's right HEY LORI I LOST 2.4 LBS THIS WEEK!

See things I am looking forward to! one more picture is this one of me in a dress I never thought I would be able to wear again!

so now I know that you can look forward and see things you hope for and know they are possible!

Are you a sweet or savory snacker?  What do you look for in a healthy snack?

I have to say I am both! It all depends on what I want, but I do have to mix my sweet and savory snacks together! Like chocolate and popcorn I know crazy right. This is why it gets me in trouble! For a healthy snack I am learning that string cheese, air popcorn, and fruit are great to have around. Also they are low in calories and make a great snack!

rain, sweat, tears, kids, treadmill, WHAT.....

I am a mom, I get puke on, pick at, yell at, peed on, even sometimes walked on, but thats ok because its the job as a mom I signed up for. I spend my day running after a almost 3 year old and 4 month old. ok so the 4 month old doesn't run, but you get the picture I am a mom. By the time my husband comes up I am so read for mommy time, the time where mommy can relax and enjoy well mommy. Right now my mommy is also kid time, and hubby time, there is no mommy time! Yes there is a lock on the bathroom door, but the kid-o still gets in, and yes I could go outside, but hello its cold! Mommy needs this time!!!!! Mommy ( I ) am trying to become healthier, which involves eating right, and daily exercising. I have done tons of thinking and I know that if I had a treadmill, I would be able to get healthier for not only myself, but for my kids as well.
 Being overweight stinks! I do not like getting tried after a little running around chancing my kids. I want to be able to run after them, and I mean RUN! Just yesterday my little boy asked me to chase him, and how sad is it when mommy can not chase him far. I am aware that I am overweight, I know it, I let myself go. I did this to myself. I know that a treadmill will not change myself unless I am willing to make the right changes! So I want you to know I already have started those changes, I am now watching what I eat. I had no clue how bad I ate! Did you know just because it says fat free does not mean it is good for you??? Well I always thought it did! I have changed my cooking for my whole family. My husband and I take time to workout with the Wii every other night. Its so much fun, and now my littlest is joining in with us. I am training for a 5k in July and this treadmill would be perfect for it!  These are the little things I am doing now to change my life. I know that know that it is not a diet, but a lifestyle change. That is also how I feel about getting fit, I know it is a lifestyle change. I want to be able to look back and say I did this I made the choices now to make a new change!
So back to why I want and need a treadmill it is as simple as this, a mom is the glue of a family. We all know this to be true, even if we are not a mom, we have a mom and can remember what all she has and is doing for us. If the I as a mother is making the choice now to be healthy, it will stick! I know that if I had this wonderful treadmill it would be used, and I do not mean as a clothes dryer, but as a treadmill! I can promise you that I will use this treadmill 5 to 6 times a week! I am willing to vlog about it, well I would vlog about it no matter what! I can promise you that this treadmill would help this mommy with the much needed mommy time, and honestly can you think of a better mommy time then working out.


I wrote this blog post while participating in the Bookieboo and Hayneedle Treadmill blogging program, making me eligible to win a treadmill. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Here are the two boys who keep me going!

The next seven weeks

So my seven weeks are over with I am done right: WRONG!!!!! I am only just starting again. So here I am week one yet again. But this week one was different in so many ways. First I knew what I was doing this time, my food choices, my workouts, and honestly I had a better knowledge of positive thinking. But here's the real deal this week was not easy just because of all of this. On Sunday last week I started my wonderful period, I knew it was coming I saw all the signs, I thought I was prepared now. I mean come on I know what healthy foods to eat, what to avoid, and that working out is key! Well I had no clue for the pain and hell this past week would bring me. I started the week at 186.6 so happy so great slowly I started gaining all this weight! I was so confused as I was doing my workouts, eating right, getting in my steps and water so what was wrong! I knew something was off by Thursday so I headed to the doctor and after much talking to him found out some nice news about how my body for the next six months, I may gain up to 5 lbs every period as my body is trying to learn how to have one without the full cycle. Never did I think getting my tubes cut would be so bad! So I knew I was gaining weight when I woke up morning to put on pants and they fit perfectly not big, or lose like normal. I did not want to step on the scale until weigh because I already knew what I have gained at the doctors I was 190.5 there for a total of 4 lbs weight gain. I was so upset, I could not believe that this happened! Here it is I lost all this weight to only have to gain 4 lbs in one week!! Well my doctor told me before I left to just keep working out, eating right, and I would drop the weight again. So here I am about ready to show you my scale picture. 

So here I am in all my glory on Sunday yes there is a weight gain a little .04 gain, but heres the thing I am so fine with it! Yes I know it is .04lbs but I worked so hard to make sure that it was not more! *update* I am now 186 this morning Monday* 
I know you may be thinking but Amanda this is a gain, and your right but heres the deal I know I will be able to lose this weight because I know now what I need to do. I am now aware of how my body works. For the next six more months and periods it will be hard, but I am so willing to do this! I have a goal and I will lose the next 47 lbs! I am in a size 14, yep I have dropped from a size 18 to a 14 in seven weeks, see these are things I see and I am am so happy for! Positive thinking is a must and that is what I am doing. I thank you all for your contest support the last seven weeks. I am so excited for the next seven weeks!


Campaign 8 is now happening for all you who are applying or thinking of applying you can read my post on what I have learned the seven weeks I was a Mamamavation Mom. Also ask me anything by email, skype, dm, I am here for you!. Know that this time is hard, I get it, but know that it is worth it! Watch @bookieboo for hazing and @fitmomtraining  Also remember that @bookieboo is watching you right now so work your ass off!


SOTW: Congrats to my mentor and friend Shelly for being Sister of the week! She is an amazing women and has helped me so much! Make sure you give her props!


Question: What time of day works best for you to be active?  How do you make sure you stick to those planned workouts?
First off as a mom of two young boys I have to honestly plan my day. My youngest gets up anywhere between 6 to 7 am and I workout after that for 30 to 45 mins until my oldest wakes up, then at nap time 1 to 2 I work out again. Now I also have found that late at night is best for me after 9 to 10 pm. I make myself stick to this workout plan because of my husband he calls me and text me and makes sure I am working out! I am so glad that I have him because without him there is not way that I would still be working out. 




“This post is sponsored by SEARS FitStudio and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation and sponsored by Sears.”

Earn Free Movies From Redbox

Redbox is offering a wonderful chance for you to earn free movie and game rentals from your local Redbox kiosk!

From now until March 17 you will earn a free first night's rental every time a friend of family member uses your special link.

First you need to sign up at Redbox here: www.redbox.com/luckymoms

When you sign up you'll be able to see what kiosks are near you and reserve your picks for any time until 9pm the next day!

Rebox will email you a personal web address link after you sign up.  Share the link with family and friends via email, facebook, twitter, etc.

Every time they reserve a movie online through your link you will get a credit for a free first night DVD rental added to your account!

Your friends will also get their first night free.  It's win-win!

Spread the word and share the and share the luck!

Got Luck?

As I sit here writing this, I can think of many times where someone has come up to me and say "Amanda you are so lucky." I giggle to myself, because if they really knew me they would know how untrue that was. In the whole 28 (I know so long) years I have been around and alive I honestly can count on my hand the number of times I would truly call myself "lucky". So this made me think what is luck?

If you look up the word luck you see this

Now where do I fit in that luck part. For all of you reading this and saying "Amanda really come on your so lucky" I will have to sure you my true side to luck.

At 16 I was so luck to be cast in the Sound of Music. I always wanted to be in a Musical and here was my chance. Who would of thought someone who was 16 going on 17 would get the role! Out of the 128 people who tried out I got it lucky right, well read on. I went through five count that right FIVE meal leads and ended up with a 28 year old man playing my 17 year old boyfriend. If that wasn't lucky enough I lost my voice two weeks to opening night! Opening night came and I was so nervous but was told that it is normal. My first big screen dim the lights and here we go. I steep on stage said all my lines started to sing when I felt the bottom half of my dress slipping off. What was I too? Did I stop the show yell wait my skirt is falling off, or did I go on. So as the statement says the show must go on! I kept singing as I stepped out of mt skirt and prayed my slipped stayed on. The laughs came and I was so upset. Yes again I say I am so lucky! Honestly think who does this happened to. Now I thought that one time would be enough that I would never have to worry about something on stage happening again. Well I was so lucky the first time, why not be lucky the second! In college I was cast in the musical Oklahoma. I was so excited as I was from Oklahoma and I knew all the lines! That was what Luck! Everything was going great, opening night came and i said this time nothing will happen, but I had this horrid feeling in my belly something would. Well guess what....... I got lucky nothing happened that night! Cue closing night here I am on cloud nine because every night has gone so good, we all where so lucky! Well thats when my lucked changed I was so into my song "I'm just a girl who can't say no" when I did not notice that they moved the platform of the stage by one foot, one foot was all it took for me to fall off the stage and land in a tuba! Lucky again! 

Now I know you may be thinking Amanda this is to be about luck, well hang on there is more. ;)

I meet my husband in my ballroom dance class, that to me was luck! There was so many things that tried to stop us from getting married, but guess what I become one of the luckiest people. Now I want to show you a picture.

Here is my family today, may not be the best picture of us all, but guess what I feel so lucky to have each one of those boys in my life. I will say boys because it is luck I have two sons, I know one day I will be lucky because I will never have to share a bathroom with a daughter, or worry about her stealing my shoes! I am so lucky because look at the face of my husband he got two hours of sleep that day, but he still got up to go to church and bless our new son. I am so lucky to have been able to carry two wonderful boys, one who came way before full term but look at that Blond hair boy today you would never know. I am so lucky to know great people who support me in my efforts to become healthy, and now you can see why I am LUCKY!

So the moral of this story is yes I have had tons of very unlucky moments, but looking at this picture shows me what real luck is. Luck is nothing more what you make it, and I am making my own luck now!

Amanda

Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post while participating in the Bookieboo and "Earthies Wants You to Feel Lucky" blogging program, making me eligible to win a pair of Earthies shoes and American Express Gift Cards. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Would my kids even miss me????

In honor of the March 11th release of "Mars Needs Moms," SocialMoms wants to know the  top ten things I think my kids would miss about me if I was abducted by aliens.  I thought about this A LOT!!!!! In my most copy cat David Letter man voice I give you my Top ten:
Number ten: Superman I have a two 1/2 year old who is in love with superman, I am not talking just about the superhero as I am the being able to have mommy roll onto her back, put my legs up in the air and have my son so proud think he is flying while I try to balance him on them. Not only does he love it, but its a great workout for me. I hear it all day long momma superman please!
Number nine: A clean room! I honestly do not think that my son's would ever see a clean floor again if I was to leave. I know that because just last night as I was in their room check up on them I stepped on a hot wheel car, that was just one think of what it would be like momma was gone! :)
Number eight: Bubble Guppies!!!! Right now the DVR records one show and one show only that is Bubble Guppies. My poor son would not have that if momma was abducted by Aliens because dear daddy does not know how to do it right :
Number Seven: SkippyJohn Jones in the Doghouse book. I am the only one in the whole house who can do an Spanish accent. Enough said!
Number Six: Cookies! My wonderful husband does so much but one thing he can not do is make cookies, which is Logan all time number one treat. Those would be missed before momma (maybe) ;)
Number five: Chocolate milk I know you are wondering anyone can make chocolate milk and it is not that, it is the 3:00 am crying and coming into momma's side of the bed with the big blue eyes and saying choco milk please momma, because daddy is snoring again.
Number four: Hugs and kisses, having two boys one who is almost 3 and one who is almost 4 months we give tons of hugs and kisses. Anytime we get hurt it is momma I need a hug or momma I need a kiss. Even yesterday bear got hurt and needed a momma kiss. There is just something special about a momma hug and kiss.
Number three: McDonalds I know it is bad for you, but let me tell you he would sure miss getting that happy meal if momma would leave!
Number two: Car rides when you become a mom you know that your life will never be the same and that your car will never be your car again. Even now my son is in charge of telling me where we are going!
and the number one reason is....
Cuddle time. Those moments when they need momma to come and comfort them to place her arms around them and say its ok. To just lay in bed and watch tv on Saturday morning to sitting on the couch reading a book. These are the moments that will last forever in the hearts of my boys.
As I sat here and wrote this post it made me think back to when i was a child and how much I would miss my mommy if she was to get abducted by Aliens, there really are just some things daddy can not do. 
Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Mars Needs Moms Movie Trailer - Rated PG, Walt Disney Pictures, In Theaters 3/11/11

About Mars Needs Moms
Produced by the team behind “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” and “The Polar Express,” “Mars Needs Moms” showcases nine-year-old Milo’s (Seth Green) quest to save his mom (Joan Cusack) from Martians—a wild adventure in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D that involves stowing away on a spaceship, navigating an elaborate, multi-level planet and taking on the alien nation and their leader (Mindy Sterling).

Like Mars Needs Moms on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MarsNeedsMomsMovie

Walt Disney Pictures on Twitter: http://twitter.com/disneypictures

Yoplait Fiber One Blueberry winner

CONGRATS TO THE LUCKY WINNER NUMBER 22

Katie you have 48 hours to get back to me or I will chose a new winer!

Share some Happiness...

Valentines day has been here, but that doesn't mean that we are done with love. Love is everywhere. Just like the great song say ALL WE NEED IS LOVE! It is so true! Everyday as a mother I am able to look at my two boys and know that love is there. My two and 1/2 year old is now starting to show my husband and I everyday what real love is. Yesterday I was working out and said I am hot, he went into the bathroom and came out with a tiny cup if water and said "momma for you" A simple act of kindness of a little two year old part. So it made me think how do I share happiness? I am in the process of losing weight it is something that needs to be done for my health. As Valentines day is all about chocolate I was not looking forward to it, but my wonderful husband surprised me with fresh fruit! Yes fresh fruit! He knew I was unhappy so he got me fruit! That little act spread happiness to my day, and I passed it on to others. I was in the store just today and saw a dear friend who mother passed away, she is having a hard time dealing with it, she also has a two year old. He was not listening to her at all, so I told her I would follow her home and watch him so she could sleep, watch a movie or just cry! She looked at me and broke down in tears and said thank you!
Happiness random acts of kindness are everywhere! You see if you are willing to look. I love seeing the and finding way to make others happy. It is not about being the one becoming happy, but for me it is so nice to help other be happy! So I will ask you this what are you doing to spread happiness? Share you stories and thoughts! and more then anything share a little happiness today!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hershey's blogging program, for a gift card worth $25 and some product. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Yoplait Fiber One review and giveaway

Fiber you hear the word so much all the time. But are you getting enough Fiber? When I hear the word Fiber I think of something that taste like cardboard. No taste at all. I was so excited to try Yoplait Fiber One yogurt. I was really surprised to find that Fiber One tasted so good! Yoplait Fiber One has only 50 calories, 5 grams of fiber and 0 grams of fat. Yoplait Fiber One Blueberry yogurt is a perfect solution, packed with real fruit and the great taste of blueberries that you’ll love. As an added bonus, the deliciously creamy yogurt also contains vitamins A and D and is a good source of calcium. Yoplait Fiber One is the perfect snack for anyone who is looking to get more fiber in their diet. 

As someone who is trying to lose weight I know of the importance of getting in my daily fiber. But like most of you out there I do not want to be eating something that tastelike cardboard in order to get my fiber. Have you given up dieting or eating Fiber due to the way it taste? If you have you are not alone. Yoplait surveyed men and women and found they are fed up with flavorless, boring snacks – and claim they are a contributor to diet failure.  

Lisa Lillien, best-selling author of Hungry Girl 1-2-3 agrees, “Boring snacks are a surefire way to sabotage any eating plan - but it’s not always easy to find low-calorie snacks that actually taste good and satisfy your cravings.  Available in four delicious flavors and with 5 grams of fiber in each cup, Yoplait Fiber One yogurt is one of the most delicious calorie bargains around.”

I was so excited when my box of goodies showed up at my door from Yoplait. Inside was a Blue food journal, a blue pen, a blueberry stress ball, A blue Fiber One sweat towel, A blue Fiber One water bottle, and a coupon to try my own Fiber one yogurt. I have to tell you all I love this yogurt! It has real pieces of fruit in it.  Yoplailt Fiber One comes in a four pack where I was able to find it at my local super Wal-Mart very easily for only $2.59 a pack. I find this a great deal because as I have said before each cup of Fiber One contains only 50 calories.

One of my lucky readers is going to be able to receive their very own Fiber One pack.

**WIN IT**

Please tell me what time of day you would you eat your Fiber One yogurt? 

**EXTRAS**

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I want to add more Fiber in my diet with @YoplaitYogurt giveaway from @beeacutie2 http://tinyurl.com/6xzewuc

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Contest ends on Feb. 13th Open to US and Canada

Amanda

Disclaimer: Yoplait and Fiber One, through My Blog Spark sponsored this review and giveaway, by providing me with a Yoplait Fiber One give pack. My review is an honest opinion based on my own option, and is not reviewed or edited by MyBlogSpark, Yoplait or Fiber One.