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.