Prepping for Fresh March

So, we've been eating fairly well for quite a while, but we wanted to do something a little different, a little better.  So, I invented Fresh March.  During the month of March, my family is going to eat only fresh, clean foods.  Nothing processed, nothing boxed, nothing canned, all homemade.

So, here are the rules that we're going to be following.  Everything must be made from fresh ingredients, nothing can be store-bought. Breads, pastas, etc. will be all made in my house.  We will not be making anything with added sugar.  Everything will be made from fresh or frozen vegetables.  Meats will be just meat with no added fillers.  Dairy products will be just that, no added sugars or preservatives.

I am allowing my family 1 weekly dinner out, but it can't be at a dirty chain. It must be at a place that cooks everything in-house.

So, I'm making the kids snacks (granola bars and all).  I'm making the breads for their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (oh and I'm making the peanut butter and the fruit spread too). All ingredients in our dinners will be all "clean".

I'll keep you posted throughout the month.  The key things will be my sanity and how I will be able to do the extra work to keep this up.  The next key will be how we feel.  Does all the extra work make us feel better?  And the final key thing will be how much does this cost?  Is buying and make from scratch cheaper or more expensive?  Wish me luck!!!

The completely full 5th birthday party

I have never, ever had a party where every person who was invited attends. It's just unheard of.  But, my daughter's 5th birthday party was just that.  Every single person she invited came.

Last year, since we had just moved, we decided to do a "special day" for her instead of a party.  Yes, she loved it, but from the day after that special day, she has been planning her party.  She knew who she wanted to invite and what she wanted to do.  And, so it was.

She invited her entire class, plus 3 friends from her school that are in different classes.  18 kids.  Every single one of them came.

We decided to hold her party at Artworks, a local art studio that she loves to go to open art at.  They let you pick 10 stations to set up for the kids and they get to have fun creating whatever they want.  And, they get to take it home when the party is done.  Fun, huh?!

She wanted white cupcakes with blueberry filling and blue frosting.  So that is what she had.  She loves rainbows, so I made a fruit tray with a fruit from every color of the rainbow (strawberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, green grapes, blueberries, and purple grapes).  And, we ordered cheese pizza.

She painted a beautiful portrait in the free paint station and she painted a completely black picture.  Then, the opened the play dough room.  She spent the rest of the part rolling out the dough and cutting them into cookie shapes for all her friends.

She had a blast, and I think every one else did too.

The canceled 2nd birthday party

I spent weeks planning for my son's 2nd birthday party. I planned.  I prepared.  I created signs and decorations and all kinds of things.  I spent hours upon hours getting ready, making cupcakes, etc.  Then, the day of the party comes, and it is 33 degrees and raining.  All of our guests, except one, cancel on the drive down, as we pass by closed roads and off-ramps.

We get down to the Children's Museum and ask what we can do to cancel, and they were great.  They offered a full refund. I highly recommend them as a birthday location.

Well, he one guest that didn't cancel was my daughter's friend.  So, we stayed and let them play for a little while.  They are so cute together.  She says he is going to marry her when they get older.

So, no party.  The good news, he's only two, and so he doesn't know any better.  He had fun and got to have a cupcake after lunch, so he is perfectly happy.  He doesn't know what he missed.

So, here are pictures of what I had planned.  It was going to be so cute.

Pork leftovers

so, for new years, i made pulled pork and there was tons of leftovers, so This is what I did with leftover pulled pork for a week. (In reverse order)

Pulled pork and baked beans salad

Barbecue pork and spinach flat bread

grilled cheese and pork with raw slaw

Pork tacos

Pork quesadillas

Stuffed sweet potatoes with pork, jicama, peppers, and spinach

My workout progress

With the new year and everyone talking about making their resolutions to lose weight, I wanted to talk about my progress over the past year.

In April, I joined the YMCA and started consistently working out at least 3 times a week.  It was rough going in the beginning because Maxwell wouldn't let me work out for too long.  But I stuck with it and I am still going to workout every single week, at least 3 times each week.  Here is a picture of what I've gone through.

On 4/11, I was 199 pounds.  My last measurement day on 12/22, I was 185 pounds.  That's 14 pounds in 8 months.  Here is a chart of how my body has changed.

waist	40.5	37.5
hips	46.75	44
arms	13.5	12.5
thighs	26	21
chest	43.75	39.5

It has been slow going, basically only losing 1 1/2 a month, and I haven't changed clothing size yet. I'm still stuck in size 16, but I the numbers don't lie.  There is progress, even if I don't feel it.  I will keep at it (starting with a boot camp workout tomorrow).

My husband says I don't do a lot.  I'm not truly hardcore with a workout every day.  I do 1 day of just cardio. I do 1 day of body weight training. I do 1 day of a mix of the two.  But, for me, this is what I have time to do (with 2 kids and a household to take care of). I will keep it going.  I am not weak and I will reach my goals!  I hope you will too!

New Years Eve!

I might like New Years Eve better than Christmas these days.  We have some really fun great traditions and my kids aren't all selfish and wanting presents all day long.  It's a really great family day!

We wake up and have a great breakfast.  Then, we head down to the Children's Museum for their kid's countdown.  The kids get to have a great new years celebration that ends at noon.  They make noise makers and confetti poppers and hats, dance and play, and then they count down to noon.

We come home after lunch and do naps.  After naps, we have dinner and then sit by the fire making s'mores and drinking hot chocolate, watching a good kid-friendly movie until they get too tired to stay awake anymore.

My little one goes to bed around his normal time.  This year, my big girl is going to try to stay up until the ball drops.  She's so excited!  She says this is her "best day ever."

So, do you see any reason why Christmas is better than this?  For now, when they are too young for me to really ingrain in them the spirit of giving, this holiday is definitely better.  When we can make Christmas a giving holiday and not a getting holiday for our kids, then Christmas will be back in the running for the best holiday. But, for now, New Years Eve is way better!

Christmas Eve

It is an hour and a half from Christmas Eve, and there are a few very excited people in this house.

My daughter, 4 years old, is very excited.  The girl lives with the "best day ever" attitude with every day that greets her.  With tomorrow being Christmas Eve, it is definitely going to be the best day ever, until Christmas, of course.

My son, 1 year old, is very excited.  He sees the number of presents under the tree growing.  He sees his big sister telling him that the big one is for him.  He wrapped the present he got for his Papa, and he can't wait to help him open it.  He is waiting for his best day ever and hoping that Santa brings him a woo-woo truck.

Me.  I love the look on my kids faces when they are excited.  I love making a big meal for my family.  I love trying out new recipes. I also love that there will not be any more elf on the shelf posts on Facebook for another year.

My puppy, 1 year old, is very excited.  Why wouldn't she be, though?  She's getting presents and laps to sit in.

My husband, is very excited, for Christmas to be over.  I think the stress gets to him more this time of year than any other.  Hopefully in future years, he'll be better because we won't have just moved.

So, with the excitement bubbling over in our house, Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!