Our house is a very, very fine house

     Happy Spring! We had some nice weather recently, however, I am going to ignore that my car thermometer said 28 degrees this morning. There's no snow and it will warm up again. Right outside my window, I see a tree with some green buds just starting to show. Spring is near, despite the cold today.

     Self Challenge: I'm back on track and going strong this week. I had a very lenient last week, with all the birthday celebrating going on...

     ...and what a great birthday it was! I am happily 39, content with where I am in my life. My thirties have been very good to me. The first couple years were rough but led me to a great crossroads in my life. Some good things resulted from some the bad, and for that I am thankful for the lessons I learned. It led me to my wonderful husband, with two healthy and spunky kids, living in a nice home in the suburbs. I think the only thing we're missing is two cats in the yard. Frankly, I've always asked why two cats would be in the yard anyway? The lyrics to that song should be kids, and those I have. :)

     Lydia has decided that ballet AND tap were too much. She said she was "tired" and only wanted to do ballet. The next session for ballet is full so we're going to try a tumbling class instead. If she likes tumbling, we'll stick to that, otherwise, we'll go back to ballet, and I'll make sure we get registered early enough this time!

     Jonathan is the proud owner of four teeth now. I think he's grown a few inches too. It truly seems like he added a couple of inches overnight. Last night Pete and I were marveling at how long he is now. We swore he was going to jump his way right out of his jumperoo. He is making a lot of sounds, discovering squeals and screeches. He even does this fake cough that he thinks is pretty hysterical.

     Easter is around the corner so the Easter festivities have begun. I still have to get the house decorated this weekend. Lyds is very impressed that the "Easter Bunny comes at night, when we are sleeping, just like Santa!" This evening we have a mommy group Easter party at one of the bouncy places. Bouncing, pizza, and an Easter egg hunt. What could be more fun? Tomorrow we have another egg hunt at one of the local parks. Hopefully it warms up a bit for it. Lydia also has a "Safety First" (stranger danger) seminar to go to. She is one busy girl.

Healthy living is all about balance

     I'm having a hard time with people telling me not to lose more weight. I am 141 and my goal, which is reasonable for my height and bone structure, is 130. I seem to take that comment personally. I lost this pregnancy weight (Lydia) the first time around with Weight Watchers, and while I was eating fairly healthy then, I am actually eating healthier now, incorporating more whole foods and eating less processed food. I stopped buying "diet" foods because most of those have added sugar and chemicals in them, which mess up your metabolism. Do I eat processed foods still? Yes, I am human after all. 

     I have yo-yoed with my weight since my early twenties. I remember seeing a photo of me when I first realized I had gained about 20 pounds. I did the gym, I dieted, and up until I started Weight Watchers, I probably wasn't that healthy about it. At the same time, I never really ever lost the weight. I just lost, gained, lost, and gained. I had a nice thin period that I call the divorce diet, but that didn't last once I met my current husband and became happy again. (Thanks a lot honey.)

     Since I am currently "dieting," I work on teaching my children about being healthy so they can have a good relationship with food and exercise.  I hate the word diet and I push "being healthy" at home. Lydia knows that she has to eat healthy food before she can have junk food. She actually prefers apple slices to fries with her happy meal. Yes, we eat at McDonald's. She likes to "workout." On occasion, she will eat a Boston Cream doughnut with mom at the kitchen table. We share the love for the same doughnut. It really is all about balance.

     So now, I'm on my last venture to lose weight (thanks Jonny) and I intend to keep it off this time around. Weight Watchers gave me the tools to know how to do it successfully this time. I have read a few books that gave me insight to how food choices affect your body, which has taught me how to make better choices with what I do eat.  I can ensure you that I do eat. I eat three balanced meals a day, with snacks. I don't eat like a bird. I eat real meals. Trust me, my non-breakfast eating friends can tell you how I tell them breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Do I count calories? Yes, loosely, so I can make conscious decisions about my food. I try not to eat mindlessly. I have a nice balance at the gym. I go most days of the week, but I'm not a freak about it. I'm at the gym for an hour or so at a time. I don't feel like I'm a failure if I don't go. I learned that it is key for me to workout in the morning if I intend to make it to the gym that day.

     So for those that tell me I don't need to lose any more weight~ Thank you for thinking I look good, but really, when you say that to me, I feel that you are saying that you don't think I am healthy and you don't think I have a handle on my weight loss. Ironically, I am healthier than I've ever been in my life. I don't think of myself as being on a diet. I am exercising and making healthy balanced food choices, all within a very reasonable calorie range. I know what my body is capable of and what I can maintain in lifelong terms. I promise you that I intend to annoy you with healthy living tips for a very, very long time.

Next weeks project

     I think I found a project for myself in the next week. I have the perfect wall in the kitchen, with a great view from the family playroom to make this great chalkboard! Lyds, and eventually Jon, will just love this. I like the chair rail boarder too. This is a fun blog to follow too. She has some really creative home projects!

The Self Challenge Progress

     I will get a workout in today. Working out is NOT optional. I have a treadmill at home so if I can't use the fitness center at work later today, I can use my treadmill and weights at home. I will get a workout in today. Working out is NOT optional. I have a treadmill at home so if I can't use the fitness center at work later today, I can use my treadmill and weights at home. I will get a workout in today...

     Food has been going well. I'm reading The Beck Diet Solution...the cognitive approach to weight loss and maintenance. It's has some good tips, especially if diets have failed you in the past. It's not about the diet, it's your approach. It's a good read. Go check it out from your local library...and while you're at it, also check out Master Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels. I haven't had diet soda since reading that book. It has certainly changed my view on "diet" foods. I won't be following the plan exactly as the book described, but it will change my approach to my food choices and the things I put in my body.

     I'm also giving myself a 6-week challenge to get buff arms. A fellow blogger developed her arms after a leg injury that kept her from her regular workouts. I want buff arms too. I had them once, I'll have them again. I just need to dedicate some strength training to them. Six weeks brings me to mid-April which is just in time for some nice springy arm showing shirts!

29 for the next 20 years

    
     Good lord this has been a long week. I was going to say, "Another week gone," thinking that I hadn't written since last week (excluding the photography entries), but it's only been three days.  I guess that must mean it really has felt like a long week.

     Self Challenge: Still going strong. I'm logging my food and workouts. I need to get my mornings together and get to the gym earlier so I can include the strength training. I'm having trouble getting my strength in because I'm only getting to the gym early enough to include my one hour of cardio. My food has been mostly good. I'm staying on track better than I had been. I think this challenge was the kick in the pants I needed to lose the final weight. 

     Jonny: Still teething like a mad, cranky babe. 

     Lydia: Still wants to be 16. "Mom, when I’m 16 I can take a school bus, but that's a long, long time away." She said this as she spotted a yellow school bus on the drive to preschool. I had to giggle to myself because I'm thinking, "When you're 16, you won't want to take the school bus anymore because you'll want to drive." Lydia wants to picnic in the park this weekend. Yes, she wants to picnic in the snow. I'm thinking we'll have to find a compromise. Eating in the snow does not appeal to me. Perhaps I can convince her, a picnic in the family room, to be good enough.

     Petar: Going snowmobiling this weekend. Hopefully it stays cold enough so the snow doesn't melt on him.

     Me: I have another "Mom's Night Out" tonight! Guitar Hero. Ha. That should be a funny sight. I'll have to remember to get a photo or two. I am not musically inclined and I will pretty much stink at it. Four of the girls I usually hang out with will be going. It should be a fun night! 

     I had an eye exam earlier this week. I have a new prescription so I ordered a new pair of glasses and sunglasses. I was really ready for new style sunglasses so I'm excited. They're ready to pick up today. I'll have to take a few pictures of the new glasses. They actually told me I needed a mild bifocal for reading. Yikes. They did say that I could wait on it since it is so mild so I did. Boy, do no-line bifocals add to the cost of your lenses! They want to see me every year now, instead of every two.

     We have an incredibly busy week next week~ dance, car appointment, pediatrician for shots, a play date, and a hair appointment and massage (my birthday gift). 12 more days until my birthday. I think I'm the only one my age that still acts like they're two when it comes to their birthday...and I'll be 39 this year. Happily, I am not someone that turns 29 for the next 20 years.

Jonny's slide show is complete!

Just when you thought I was done with photos...

http://www.cyndifarrareimages.com/index2.php#/proofing/

Go to the link and put in Bojlevski for the password. (It is case sensitive.) She really has a nice gig here. You can view the slide show and order directly on the site. Very convenient!
Nice work Cyndi!

Most are photos you've already seen but there are a few new ones in the slide show.

More of Jonny's 6 month professional photos!

Here are a few more from Jon's photography session last week! I love them! I will be a tough decision choosing which photos to order.

Her blog link is below if you wanted to visit her blog or get more info on her photography or comment on any of the photos!
If you decide to have some photos done with her, please use my name as a referral. What's really nice is that she comes right to your house to shoot the photos. Her prices run similar to the last photographer I used, which seems to be the typical rate for photographers with  this style.

http://www.cyndifarrareimages.com/blog/?p=135

A Snowy Day

 

    Jonny's second tooth is starting to break through which has made for some long days and nights with an unsettled boy. Poor little guy. I thought we were golden since he really didn't fuss when the first one broke through, but it looks like we are not so golden with this particular tooth. I am very tired today.

     It's March! Woo hoo. My birthday month. I won't make my goal weight by my birthday--it was a lofty dream, but I have lost 3 pounds since starting the Self Challenge. I am motivated because there are still a few pieces of prepregnancy clothes that are a wee bit tight. I will get there, just not by March 17th. The good news is that I will get there before the warm weather strikes!

     Speaking of warm weather...Pete was all excited with the snow that we had last week, only to be disappointed with the above 30 degree weather that followed. He got back into a bit of snowmobiling this winter. I was excited for the snow because we had two snow days out of it! Seriously, teachers get just as excited as students about snow days.

     Lyds and Grandma Lenga made Lydia and Jonny snow people this weekend. They were very, very cute. Lydia always has a grand time with her grandma.

Best ofThe Past: Trainer Tells All – What I Have Learned About Health and Fitness

This is an excellent read! There are some really great tips and suggestions in the article.

Best of the Past: Trainer Tells All – What I Have Learned About Health and Fitness

http://www.fitnessspotlight.com/2010/03/01/trainer-tells-all-what-i-have-learned-about-health-and-fitness

Jonny's 6 month photos~ sneak peak

Go here to see a sneak peak of Jonny's 6-month photos. She is an amazing photographer! Be sure to comment on her blog!

http://www.cyndifarrareimages.com/blog/?p=124

As soon as the other proofs are posted, I'll be sure to blog the link!

When I'm 16...

 

     Last night in the car I was drinking a coffee. Lydia asked if she could have some. I told her when she's older she can have coffee. She said, "When I'm 16, I can have coffee?" I said, "Sure, when you're 16, I'll make you a big pot for your birthday and you can drink it with all your friends. She said, "But they won't be old enough." "Sure they will," I said, "They will be 16, just like you." She said, "Oh, well that's a long time from now. When I'm 16, I can use a knife myself to open up my Tinkerbell present." "You sure can," I said. (My sister sent a gift in the mail and we opened it earlier that afternoon.) Then she hollered, "And when I'm 16, I can help you drive, right Mom?!"

And you may be wondering why Lydia is hung up with the age 16...

"I'm 16 years old! I'm not a child anymore!" 

 (Ariel, The Little Mermaid)

The busyness returns

    I've been able to stick closely to the food end of the Self Challenge, but the gym time is escaping me. I didn't allow myself enough time to get to the gym on Saturday and Sunday a cold caught up with me. Jonny has a mild case of bronchitis and I decided I had better get him into the doctor, Sunday morning. This morning, I got to the gym but only managed 25 minutes before the cold medication and vitamin decided they didn't like to be combined together on an empty stomach. Dummy Carrie. Tomorrow, I'll be smarter and eat something before doing that again.

   We had a fun weekend.  It was a nice way to end the relaxing school break. Saturday we headed to The Children's Play Museum in Utica. Lyds had a blast. She took a long nap on the way home, even though she'll tell you she just "rested her eyes." That evening we went to a sledding party thrown by one of my girlfriends. Lydia was very perplexed that we were going to be sledding in the dark.  Daddy took her out on the hill while Mommy stayed inside with Jonny. She lasted about 30 minutes and lost her glove and came inside to eat the yummy party food. I made a nice fruit parfait. I wanted to make something healthy and on plan. The parfait was yummy and Lyds liked eating it as much as she liked making it with me.

     Tonight Lydia has dance class and tomorrow we're having a play date at the house. The regular busy schedule is back in full force!

Self Challenge 2010, Week 1

     Let the challenge begin!!

     Well I didn't make it to the gym this morning. Nice start to the challenge, huh? I didn't get a ton of sleep on Tuesday night so I think it caught up to me and I needed the extra rest. I went to bed at 8:30 last night and woke at 7am this morning. It was nice. The exercise portion of my challenge starts tomorrow.

     I probably won't follow the exercise portion to a T because I like my running. I do work out with a heart rate monitor and tend to work out at the high end of my HR. It does look like 300 total cardio minutes for the week so that would break down to an hour of cardio, 5-days a week. That part I will commit to. I'll check out the strength slides. That should be easy enough to do since I do about 15 minutes of strength after most of my workouts. The hour of cardio will demand that I actually get to the gym by 5am. That will be my biggest challenge and requires me to have my act together in the evenings--all bags packed for the kids and myself, clothes pressed and put out for myself and the kids. Lunch packed. As you can see, the husband is all on his own. :) 

     The food portion of the plan looks good and I'll just continue to follow my WW version of it. I have my own WW recipes that I like, but I imagine I'll find a new recipe from that challenge that I will try. I'll stay within my WW point (calorie) range.

     If I'm diligent and actually stick with the challenge consistently, I will rid myself of the final 15. 

Carrie's Challenge Tip: If you're out and about and can't immediately log your food in your challenge log, use your cell phone to take a photo of it!! That way, when it's time to log your food, you won't forget anything!

The 2010 Self Challenge

 
   I'm participating in the 2010 Self Challenge. Go sign up and send me an email to be your friend at Self.com. I think this will give me the boost that I need to lose those last 15 pounds and get back to where I was. I'll be updating here with my progress.
     Look at those arms. I want those back! (Photos: May 2008)

Another running skirt giveaway!

Go here to win this!

http://enduranceisntonlyphysical.blogspot.com/2010/02/running-skirts-saturday-giveaway-3.html

Undiscovered Talents

  
     It was a great weekend! It started at 6am on Saturday when on a whim decided to try on a pair of size 6 Levi's from the "skinny clothes" bins being stored in the basement. I honestly didn't expect them to fit comfortably but they did! 

     From there, wearing the skinny jeans, I got on the road to head to PA to visit some friends. Outside of being run off the road by a crazy driver in a Coca Cola van, the drive was uneventful and boring. I spent the day with friends visiting Hershey's Chocolate World and the Chocolate Lab where I became a master truffle maker. We went to dinner and oddly enough, it was my salad that took the longest to make. Who knew? Everyone was just about finished with their dinner before my salad even made it to the table. An evening of chatting and Wii games ensued. I found out that I am not only master truffle maker, but I am also the champion at the Wii beanbag toss game. I had no idea that I had so many undiscovered talents.

     After breakfast on Sunday, I headed home for a family Valentine's Day. We had our traditional Valentine pizza dinner. Lydia was born a week before Valentine's Day so that year we just stayed home, ordered pizza, and rented a movie. That has since become our annual tradition and I think it will continue until the kids are old enough to start complaining about it because they would rather be on their own dates.

     This week is February break, so we're home. Pete is working, but I'm home with the kids. Lydia is going for just the preschool hours this week. We have to pay for it regardless, she enjoys it, and it gives me a couple of hours each morning with Jonny. I don't get much alone time with him, so this is nice. We have no big plans this week, other than an afternoon play date at the house tomorrow. It should be a relaxing week.

Baby Denim

   The alfredo sauce was pretty good. I added some peas and prosciutto to my sauce. I think the next time I'll try it with some shrimp. 

     I didn't make it to the gym this morning. I had boatloads of laundry to put away so I worked on some of that instead. I have my usual good intent of getting my workout in this evening on the treadmill at home, but we know that typically does not happen for me because I'm easily distracted by other things in the evening. 

   Lyds, Jon, and I are headed to a play date at one of the local bouncy places. Lydia LOVES going, but really, did you expect anything different from this girl?? Last night she told me that her Valentine's Day party (at preschool) was at 10:00. She asked me if I were going. With a breaking heart, I told her that mommy had to work. Just to check in with her this morning, I asked her what time her party was again, and she said 10:00. I was certain she just threw an arbitrary time out there, but I guess I was wrong! One of these days, I'll have to take a half day and go to one of her pre-k parties. 

     Jon is stinkin' cute as ever. I am in the process of switching out his clothes from 3-6 months to 6-9 months, hence, the boatloads of clothes to put away. This morning he had on the cutest pair of denim overalls. I wish I had taken a photo. If you know me well, you know that I love to put my babies in denim as much as I possibly can. I actually saved Lydia's first pair of denim overalls. Baby Gap lined with pink and white check soft cotton. (photo above) She wore that outfit to her first doctor's appointment. 

     It's almost time to go pick up the kids. I can't wait to hear how the party at pre-k was.

 
  

Low-Fat Alfredo Sauce

Low Fat Alfredo Sauce

 

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup light cream cheese
• 1/4 cup skim milk
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan Romano cheese
• White pepper to taste (optional)
• 1 clove minced garlic
• dash of nutmeg 

Preparation:

• Combine cream cheese, 1/4 cup milk, and flour in a small mixing bowl. Beat until well blended. Slowly pour in remaining 1 cup milk and beat until smooth.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large, nonstick sauce pan over medium heat.
• Add garlic, nutmeg, and white pepper.
• Add the milk mixture and continue to heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce has thickened (about 4 minutes).
• Stir in grated Parmesan Romano cheese.

Serves 6. This recipe makes 2 cups of sauce.

Weight Tracker

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

	27.5  LBS

 Last Recorded Weight: 144.5 lbs on 2/9/2010
 Weight tracking day: Tuesday

Poundage left to go: 14.5 

 

I thought that made for a pretty picture. : )

Now I'm off to the store to pick up some fresh parmesan for a low fat alfredo sauce I want to try. That just doesn't sound right, does it? If it turns out well, I'll post the recipe.

                                                                                                                          

Healthy Attitudes

     My newest loves: my scale, today's run, and the stepmill at the gym. I had a great run this morning. It was the first one that I felt really good about since I was sick with that cold. I felt strong. I also love the powerful workout of the stepmill. Apparently the stepmill is doing its job because I was able to go up and maintain a more difficult level and the scale is continuing to move down. Whoopee! Now I just have to work on getting my arms more toned.  Even though it's only 17 degrees today, summer really isn't that far away. I think it's time to do another sweep of the closet to get rid of the clothes that are too big. These are clothes I won't be sad about letting go.

     Jonny continues to get his workout groove in the jumperoo and with floor time. His favorite times to jump are early morning and late afternoon. During floor time, he rolls over and then gets mad when I put him back on his belly. This will last a few times before he gets quite angry with me. He likes his fruits better than his veggies. He eventually will eat the veggies after a few choice expressions and he realizes that there is not going to be any fruit in that next spoonful.

    Lyds is funny about seeing me exercise. Often times when I return from the gym, she'll ask, "How was your run mommy?" She tells me she goes to the gym(nasium) at preschool and runs. Lyds is pretty good about food. I have taught her about healthy and unhealthy food. I want her to have a balanced approach to what she chooses to eat. She does know that she does have to eat something healthy (dinner) before she even has a remote chance at a snack after dinner. Sometimes she'll even ask me if a particular food is "healthy" or "unhealthy."

     I do hope that I am instilling good habits in my children. I hope that exercise becomes the norm for them and never becomes something that they have to do to control their weight. Hmmmm, I wonder if I'll be running when I'm 60, and I wonder if my kids will be running with me. I hope they are.