An attempt at a crafty mom

So, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. I am working with the kids on making heart collages as placemats for dinner. Since the hubbs is working, dinner will be with MIL and her Mom - and of course my wonderful girls.

We already made the jello, that we will cut out with heart shaped cookie cutters that will become dessert with a little cool whip. MIL is bringing over lobster tails she has in her deep freeze. I will make some sausage for my little ones as they cannot/will not eat lobster. I will also make some mashed potatoes and veggies since the girls like them a lot. I will also make up the jiffy rolled biscuits and cut them out with heart shaped cookie cutters.

Banana oatmeal muffins are in the oven now for breakfast tomorrow morning. Of course the muffins are in heart shaped muffin pans as well.

Of course, lunch will be heart shaped grilled cheese sandwiches. :o) I figure I should attempt to do these things while I am a SAHM and have the time. Hopefully these jestures are making memories for my girls.

It's all about me!

I think as a Mom, nothing is ever about YOU.

Especially as a SAHM, very little in life is all about YOU.

Well, here is one thing that I am doing for me.

The last 24 days I have half-heartedly attempted to lose a few dress sizes. I would like to go from a (gulp) size 12-14 to a size 10-12. I know realistically that any smaller than a 10 is probably not going to happen. I was an 8 when I graduated high school, a 12 graduating college, an 8 when I got married.... lets shoot for a 10 after 3 kids.

So, in 24 days I have lost about 4 pounds. Not bad, 1 pound a week. Not great either. I am not a patient person. I do not have much self control when it comes to food. I enjoy cooking and enjoy eating probably more.

Well, the last 2 days I have gotten motivation to try monitoring my food choices. First, and probably hardest is that I am limiting carbs. I am not cutting them out - but if I am hungry, I choose to eat fruit, veggies or dairy instead of my typical go-to snack of carbs. So far, so good. I am a champ at working out. I can work out all day. However, I will not beat myself up if I and the kids have a bad day and I doin't get my miles in.

I have 16 pounds to lose (current weight -181 - goal weight 165) and 14 weeks to do it - by my birthday May 4th. My current BMI is 26.1, which over 25 is considered overweight. At 165, that would take me to 24.5, within the healthy weight for my height.

New Me progress report

Well, the new me is off to a good start. I can workout. I am good at exercising. If I got time away from the kids, I can run, walk, hike with the best of them. I have been alternating doing the eliptical for 30 minutes, running a mile and going Jillian Micheals 30 day shred - which I am now enduring level 2.

Food continutes to be my weakness. Isn't it everyone's?! Really, we are not animals that kill another for dinner. We do not graze on the grass for nutrition. Food is not merely energy to us, it is an art form to create in the kitchen. My food downfall is probably sweets the most. I can do without the salty chips but give me a treat and I am all over it!

Another issue that I have with food is limiting my portions. I will never be a small woman. I am 5'9" and need adiquate caloric intake to fulfill my body's function. I am also a nursing Mom, so that is what another 500 calories a day? I have never really been a salad person. Really, a salad for lunch or dinner? Guess what I have been eating for lunch? Yep, a salad. Rich, dark leafy greens, sunflower seeds, avacado slices, tomatoes, green onions, bacos, mushrooms minced, feta cheese and smoke salmon. When it is arranged like this - it sounds more like a feast than punishment. I still probably use entirely too much dressing....

Well, today is what day 12 of the new year? I have now worked out for all 12 days of the year. Opps, I just looked and it is the 13th! :o) I have worked out 13 days of the New Year! I need to keep it up and keep drinking lots of water and before you know it those 12 & 14's will be jumping out of my closet and the 10's will be floating in.....

New Year, New Me.

Well, it is now 2011. For the New Year, I am not going to say it is a resolution. My goal is to lose at least 20 pounds, if not 25 by May. That is about 16 weeks away.

I got a gift card for Christmas to buy a new pair of jeans (because really, how can anyone pick that out for you?), however I said that I have to wait until at least February to buy them so I will be skinnier.

I will wake at least on Wade's work days, to work out before the kids wake. We'll see how this goes because a lot of the time Dylan wakes at 5-6 am and only goes back to sleep snuggled up next to me.

So, I will eat smaller amounts, healthier food choices and work out daily.

Thanks Santa!

Well, there goes another Christmas season coming and going... I think the anticipation makes it so special. Gathering with family and friends to enjoy the season. Looking at Christmas lights, enjoying too much candy, finding the perfect gifts. This year I feel that we are truely blessed by what we recieved. I have the best husband ever. He is awesome on gifts!! The kids enjoy thier presents and have been mostly good while enjoying them. Now that Christmas is over, what do we look forward to? Camping??

Christmas gifts

So, the pic of my kids on my blog. Remember me posting about taking them? Well, we did Christmas with the husband's family, well immediate family on Friday. I gave the hubby a framed phot because I was giving his Mom the same pic. He was really surprised that I got the pic taken and that we all kept it a surprise for so long. However, I think that I was more pleased than him. I like to do gifts like that - sentamental ones. Because I would prefer to receive those. Like the year I had Alex, my sister gave me an album filled with pics of her and I growing up. From birth through college. I cried. That was my best gift that year. She had sister and girly quotes through out as well as personal notes on each page. I am a sucker for that stuff. Give me a sweatshirt and it'll keep me warm, but the photos warm my heart.

DIY baby legs!!!

So a few days ago my friend sent me this link. It is for DIY baby legs. I am in love. I did buy Dylan 3 pairs of knock off baby legs from Target- and 3 pairs of real ones for Christmas... here are the DIY ones.Here is Dylan this morning in her fur trimmed, Christmas legs.

Good thing she is a skinny baby or thick fur on her thighs may give her a complex!

Outfit is complete with her Christmas dancing socks!

Okay, not an outift... I was trying them on after I made them.

I am excited that I got her a pink dress for Christmas that will look good with these ones!

She has light pink danicing socks on in this picture... hard to see though!

These may look black, but they are charcoal grey. I bought them to match the grey in this dress. Of course notice her dancing socks - my other fettish!

Here are the three girls for our Christmas at Grandma's the other night.
Dylan is wearing more homemade baby legs!!

I guess I thought I made 5 - but I also have black and white, so I made her 6 pairs (socks were $2 a pair!!).