Travel Nook: Bits + Pieces of Salt Lake City

This is a tale of 2 girls who ventured off on their own, on a plane to a land far, far away…Salt Lake City! Night before was rest, pack, and rest.

Check!

Although the plane ride was under 2 hours, it was still hard without hubby. But we still managed to have a little fun!

I had no idea what a beautiful place Salt Lake is. The temps were 70-80s, everything was bright green, the mountains were so beautiful they looked out of a movie scene, everything was so crisp and clean and the houses were amazing with loads of character. I can understand why it’s easy to fall in love with the area.

But we were not there to be tourists. We were there to see 4 very special people: my fast-as-a-super-hero nephew and my cheeky-smiley niece…and my brother and his wife of course They  are moving later this summer so this was my last chance to cram in a visit to Salt Lake!

This was a weekend for kid songs, play parks and play dates! And oh man, did we get those in!!!! Here are a few Bits + Pieces of our weekend.

My brother, the music man, entertained as always by singing the classics to the kiddos…Raffi classics that is!

The best park I’ve ever been to was in Salt Lake, Liberty Park. It had a great sprinkler area, multiple jungle gyms and ponds with lots of rock climbing!

I was shattered from the weekend! My nephew is 4…did I ever have that much energy at 4? It was go-go-go-go all day. I couldn’t believe when 9:30 would hit and I wanted nothing but to be in bed!

I missed hubby worse than ever but it was worth it to reconnect with my brother and his family. Even though our visit was short, there’s so much I’ve learned from watching them parent and asking them questions and learning how I can not only be a better parent, but a better person as well.

Nutrition Nook: What I ate Wednesday

Rewind to Tuesday. The family fun run was HAILED out! Can you believe it!

Thank goodness we found shelter immediately. No one was harmed.

Those few minutes were crazy, yet amazing to watch!

Ok, back to Wednesday. (source)

Brekkie was an amazing concoction of a homemade oat bar from THIS recipe (try it, it’s awesome, natural, and quick) topped with almond butter, chobani vanilla yog, and sprinkles of chia seeds and organic raspberries! Delicious, healthy and filling

Snack attack moments were fulfilled with a banana at 11am and an apple during a snalk (snack + walk) at 1:30

A simple lunch at 1pm was brought to you by local organic greens (from a farm by 1880 Town), black beans, cheese, sunflower seeds all topped with salsa.

There are beans in there, I swear.

Pre-work snack (after my full-time job, I go to my former job on Wednesday’s for a few hours to help out) consisted of an 8oz triple berry Herbalife shake.

Wednesday was date night after work for hubby and I! We were both craving wings.

A Fat Tire, 6 parm and garlic wings traditional style for me, oh and a veggie basket as well and a Bud Light and 18 for the hubby…well he did share one with me!

And that’s my day for What I Ate Wednesday! Cheers

What defines a good workout?

After taking Sunday off from working out to focus on my sick little bug, not working out was NOT an option. Today was definitely a Motivation Monday! May it be a motivation Monday for you as well…and Tuesday and Wednesday and so on AND if you fall off the wagon and eat a bit of crap covered in cheese, chocolate and wine, have no fear. Just give yourself a little pep talk, have a mini workout and plan better for next time!

Speaking of planning. I have been back to planning most of my meals as well as little bugs and I must say it feels SO good. My Saturday night plan, after working out, I had a little living room picnic/date with myself, Black Swan and a nice healthy supper of sauteed spinach, roasted red cabbage (it was yuck, but I ate it anyways) and sardines….don’t ask about sardines, it never liked them until the past few years. Oh, and red wine, I can’t forget about the wine. As a type-A crazy Virgo, meal planning erases a lot of stupid stress; after all it’s just food, why get so stressed and obsessed! Tonight though I made these healthy, easy, natural chicken nuggets! YUM. Best I’ve had and made! I omitted the parm cheese and baked them in the oven to make the nuggets healthier and less messy.

If you aren’t interested in the recipe, at least read some bits on her blog. If you are a health junkie or want to find motivation to be one, the lady is really inspiring. After living in Spain for 4 years and becoming terrified of US meat products, it was nice to read about someone else who feels the same way as I do about certain meat and food issues.

The other best thing about these nuggets is that little bug ate them! She’s not a big chicken lover yet and so I was very proud when she kept going for more Victory Momma! We burned off all the calories by partaking in our ritual pillow fight/jumping on the bed!

So I have this theory that if I don’t workout the second I get her in the crib, I’m afraid the couch monsters will capture me and I’ll be useless the rest of the night. Tonight’s workout was a double header. First I completed the Insanity Cardio Plyometric workout as well asFriday’s workout on BodyRock.tv.

But…guess who wasn’t tired?

Her coughing made me worried that there was going to be more puking instances so little bug joined in the last 10 minutes of Insanity…”as long as she stayed on the couch.“

It’s hard to see because I kept the lights low but she kept her promise by staying on the couch She was too adorable, I couldn’t get upset that she was still awake!

What defines your version of a good workout? Is it the time on the clock. The miles logged. The sweat dripping down your _________ (fill in the blank)? Is it when your heart is about to explode out your chest? Does your definition of a good workout not defined until the next day when you are unable to walk or unable to put your shirt on? Is it when you are yelling some version of the Lord’s name at the television/trainer/instructor?

I’m pretty dang sure this is my definition. It can’t be describe. It can only be felt, it can only be shown.

Get off your booty and find out what your definition is!

Baby Nook: Little Bug at 22 Months

My little rockstar, my little bug, my baby, you are now 22 months old. By the look of your cheeks and the length of your hair, I might as well call you a toddler. Your favorite foods are sweet potato, quesadillas, hotdogs (dispite my thoughts on them), and bananas. You had your first jelly bean, which turned into me hiding them after 3. Your favorite stuffed animal is a bunny that daddy gave you before Easter. Your favorite book this month was Boo Hoo Bird and Dad’s Birthday. Your newest trick was putting on your white sandals and then proudly standing up and twirling to show your progress. Your newest word was “Tee-ya” for your cousin Tia. You skinned your knees for the first time and truly learned what a “boo boo” was. And that same week you had your first fever. Grammy and Papa bought you your first Barney video and you learned all the dance moves in a matter of days. You continue to amaze us every day. You are such a cool little baby, and you’re ours!!

I wrote this on Friday. Today, Sunday, her actual day of celebration has been anything but for our little bug…who has a stomach bug. 8am I wake her up in a bit of nasty dried throw-up. Fun. 20 minutes after brekkie it all came back up on our living room carpet and her PJs. Nice. Then in the parking lot of Walgreens to get something for little bug’s tummy, there she did it again. In her car seat. On her car seat. All over herself. NO diaper bag was in the car, meaning no wipes were available. Let’s just say that she was just wearing a onesie in Walgreens and I bought some wipes. Yuck, yuck and eeww! The pharmacist luckily didn’t give me death glares and recommended a natural tummy soother from Gentle Naturals made from chamomile and ginger. I’m guessing it’s my fault this all happened. I think the pasta sauce was past it’s due despite me testing it. Poor little bugger; this was the first time she’d throw-up. I was punished by karma by having to scrub the heck out of her car seat. I put this above cleaning the bathtub on “least favorite things to do.” But it’s been 5 hours since any “happenings” and I hope dry toast, water and banana will keep her tummy calm.

Baby Nook: Are we ready for another?

When is it time for another…baby?

Is it when you feel your biological clock ticking?

Is it when you hold your friends new-born baby?

Are you ready for baby number 2 when you feel you’ve recovered from the first?

Is it when baby number 1 is potty trained and in a big kid bed (source)?

Is it when you realize you would be almost 50 when baby 2 graduates from high school?

When is the right time?

Is it when your little one doesn’t fit into your arms quite right?

Or when you simply miss having a “little one” around?

Are you ready for another baby when your income is lined up?

Is there ever a “right” time? Or is it just something inside that says, “We are ready.”

No, this is not an announcement, it’s just a thought.

Little bug is almost 2 and almost ready to train for big girl undies and almost ready for a big girl bed. So, hubby and I are almost ready to start trying again. Almost ready to add on. Almost ready for breastfeeding, sleepless nights, sleep training. Almost ready to experience the awesomeness of pregnancy again (but this time in America). We are not ready. But almost.

So…bring on ridiculously hard workouts that make my heart pound out of my chest, the summer fun of the Black Hills, vacation in Spain and many, many Hot Summer Nights!

Bringing out the Fitness Nerd

Today’s workouts were epic. Epic in the fact that I crammed in a whole lotta stuff.

Here are my fav ways to workout these days:
Zumba
Running
BodyRockin’
Insanity

Today, I somehow managed to do them all! As a fitness nerd, this was a great day of working out. Between the 2 coffees from Seattle’s Best and mini workouts all day, it was like pixie sticks and Red Bull were fed to me through IV!

AM workout:
5 minute warm-up from the Insanity series
12 minute BodyRock TV workout here
5 minute Zumba cooldown here

PM workout 1:
Stroller/buddy run with little bug and Molly: 4 miles when all said and done!

Totally bummed this photo op didn’t turn out. We were both actually looking! The little one was awesome on the run and rewarded greatly with some time at the park!

PM workout 2:
Zumba warmup
BodyRock TV workout here (the second video)
Stretch

If you are rolling your eyes and gagging, this probably means you are not as fitness-nerdy as you think you are

This weekend marks a 4-day Easter weekend extravaganza! Lil’ bug and I are heading to the Sioux Falls and Vermillion area to see one of my besties and her NEW BABY BOY and then to Vermillion to stay with my brother and his family!!! I’m thrilled to get away for a mini-break, but not so thrilled that hubby will be absent from the trip

Tonight, I’m prepping for the 5+ hour car ride.
1. Pack clothes and personal items

2. Prepare snacks, drinks and meals

I save a fortune packing meals and snacks for these types of trips. I would LOVE to go out to all my favorite places but I’m pretty sure my tummy, hubby and bank account wouldn’t be as impressed! Here are some of the things I pack for us.

Wraps, homemade hummus, sweet potato, prepared sweet potato, prepared butternut squash, oatmeal, yogurt, milk for 2 tastebuds, graham crackers, whole wheat saltines, apples, bananas, cereal, organic bunnies, Herbalife shake mix (for momma), cheese cubes, raspberries

3. Pack travel toys/entertainment and bedtime supplies which does include a DVD player that comes out 4 hours into the trip which is at Mitchell. I figure, she’s earned it by then. Other items include magna-doodle, beads, basket with little bits and pieces, books and more books. Musical entertainment is 72 of Raffi’s greatest hits and a new Mickey Mouse CD.

4. Lay out travel clothes (I’m very excited about a new comfy maxi skirt)

5. Relax. Smash. Wine. Hunger Games. Done.

Happy Long Weekend!

I worked out for 15 minutes so now I’m fit!

5:15 - home from work

8:30 (sometimes 9pm if I’m being selfish) – tuck little bug into bed

That leaves just over 3 hours for cuddles, playtime, story reading, and all-things-fun with my little one…not to mention supper at some point.

Because I sit all day…8 hours of “chair-butt”…I SO look forward to working out. In the perfect-weather world — 75, sunny with a slight breeze — I would get in a stroller run to and around the park so I’m not cutting into mommy-daughter time. Unfortunately South Dakota weather doesn’t accomodate my needs and by the time 8:30 hits…I have a mountain of laundry/dishes/cleaning/blah/blah/blah/yada/yada/yada that needs attention as well has the hubby, but yet I want to workout and blog and surf pintrest and this and that.

Sound familiar to anyone? If I am lucky, which I’m usually not these days, I get in about 45 minutes of hardcore working out through my Insanity workouts (more on them some other time). Lately though it’s been 15 minutes here or even 5 minutes there (which was the case this morning at 6:30).

For crazy days like this, I highly recommend BodyRockTV.

Since about Christmas time, I’ve been a major fan of their hard, sweaty quick workouts. I said QUICK, not quick and easy. You earn every bead of sweat that accumulates. First off, the instructor lady is like “CRAZY- you make me jealous of you abs -FIT;”

…second, she has a British accent…ok, in case you didn’t know, my hubby is British so I’m all for the accent and third, the workouts usually take about 12 minutes (with little or no equipment). I add a 5 minute warm-up and a good stretch at the end as well. There are days when I do just half the workout so I’m getting at least something in.

If you are looking for quick workouts that are motivating and effective, definitely visit this site here!

In the mean time, I’ll leave you with some British dictionary education. Did you know…

The term “fit” in England is not quite the same as “fit” in the US.

USA, “I need to workout, I’m so un-fit.” “He’s fit as a fiddle.” — Translation: In shape

England, “Check her out mate, she’s well fit.”  — Translation: Hot, good looking.

There’s your international food for thought today!

Baby Nook: Bits + Pieces from a sick lil’ bug

this weekend, i was sick. not pukey sick but runny-nose sick. not wanting to go out of the house-sick. wanting to watch TV all-day-sick. medicine every 4 hours-sick. no eat-y sick. glossy eyes sick. endless coughing sick. fever sick. no running or playing sick. weak sick. stumbling around sick. i was plain ol’ sick! and everytime i thought i was better, i was wrong. i tried going to a party but ended up with lots of owies from tripping. food was icky. my nose was icky. i made my mommy and daddy worry. that’s no fun. what was fun was watching lots of zippy and cuddling with mommy and daddy and sleeping in and reading lots of books from the library! i especially like boo hoo bird and hands finger thumb.

now that the weekend is over, i’m baaaack to my ol’ self! i jumped on the bed. i played with my puzzles. i ran circles around mommy during bedtime story time, that was funny!  i even washed my hair like a big girl!

too bad mommy and daddy have to go back to work. oh what fun we could be having!

Pintrest Projects

I love Pintrest…like LOVE, LOVE pintrest; Pintrest is my savior for home decor ideas, easy d.i.y, recipe inspiration, fashion combos, motivating quotes, oh and so much more.

Then there’s the flipside to it. Will I ever make the cookie cups on my day off?

Will I ever take the time with make this with my child?

Will my sit in front of the TV each night and make one of these?

Will my kitchen look fun and bright like this?

Do I sew well enough to make a ruffle sham?

Can I head to Pottery Barn and pick up this AND collect enough random crap that has  little to no purpose like in this photo?

Pintrest can also make me feel less creative and lazy! Does anyone else feel the same way?

But I’m not only ”pinning” and “liking” crap here and there and everywhere…and I AM acutally doing some of them! Yes…I am actually making, cooking, creating some of the ideas I’ve pinned. Out of 389 pins, I’ve done 5! Not bad hun?

Here are a few pintrest inspired projects/recipes I’ve done so far.

I’m so not kidding when I say that it looked like this photo when I was done! Easy and delish…an easy staple to add our recipe list! Recipe here

Staying on the MexAmerican theme…this was AWESOME! And I would recommend making 2 and freezing one. Mine didn’t look anything like the photo but the flavor was everything I love about Mexican food! Recipe here

Do not underestimate the power of a good hummus recipe. In 2 weeks I’ve made it twice. Instead of cheese, cream cheese or mayo on your sandwich, use hummus and use THIS recipe!

Ahh, the endless cork projects! I need to watch my pins on this topic or my house will be covered in corks and have cork furniture!

We bought this pre-painted “W” at HobbyLobby for $4.5 (on sale). I wasn’t sure that I would like that it was prepainted and glittered but now that we’ve started gluing the corks on, I like the effect it has with the bit of blue peaking through.

Another little thing we do with our corks is write the date and occasion, it’s a great way to remember special events.

I saved the best for last! This was part of my anniversary gift to hubby.

We have a unique story since we met in Spain, married in England and live the US.

I already had a heart stamp so this only cost $15 for the frame and paper.

The decals were put on by a local scrapbook shop owner for free!

Oh, I love you pintrest, please don’t ever go away! (source)

Nutrition Nook: Lunchbox Love…in the raw

I had a full-on nerd moment at Breadroot Monday!

Collard greens the size of my foot, perfect for lettuce wraps…oh yeah..

…almond butter which might last until Friday; sugarsnap peas — how have I forgotten you; organic yams that were practically given away and a Raw food bar that I’ve been dying to try!

I love what this bar stands for. Raw, organic ingredients which are all pronounceable!

Unfortunately it was just not my cup of tea. I was so sad. I tried so hard to enjoy it but that feeling did not come Have you ever had that with anything? Brussel sprouts comes to mind here!

This week’s lunches have consisted of a lot of raw foods. Not by choice, not by accident…more by laziness if anything.

8am I-just-got-to-work-and-was-too-lazy-to-make-breakfast has been a banana and some almond butter for dippage. Yes, I know, I need to eat a bigger brekkie. I more than make up for it at supper though!

11am snack is the never boring Green Monster shake. Because the measuring cups stay in the cupboard for my shake making (this is the laziness part of me not wanting to wash the measuring cups), my green monster’s never taste the same.

Baby handfuls of spinach, organic apple, chobani yog in vanilla, organic 2% and a few berries…same as last week.

2pm lunch concoction: beans, red onion, green pepper, banana peppers, garlic, balsamic vinaigrette and sunflower seeds.

I spread 1/2 the mix in a collard green to make a little lettuce wrap. It could use a little humus or cheese, but still crunchy and satisfying!

5pm drive home snack: backup fruit and organic sugar snap peas…I don’t think I’ve had these since pregnancy 2 years ago

I am in love with going to the local co-op, Breadroot. Knowing where my fresh goodies come from makes my heart feel all warm and fuzzy and because I did buy a few shares, I get a discount on the packaged stuff as well. Yay for local support!

On the family side…little bug’s been a bit ill. Poo. Cuddling is 1st on her favorite list right now as opposed to Zumba with mommy We took advantage of a warm and breeze-free evening by doing a stroller run to and around the park. 45 minutes of fresh air does wonders for her soul…mine too!

Get well soon little bug.