Real Food: Week 2

Before I get into this week's challenge, I wanted to talk about how Week 1 ended. The challenge was to eat 2 fruits and/or vegetables at every meal. That totals to 42 servings of fruits/veggies. And I am proud to say I ate 39 servings! I only missed 3 during the whole week!!! Given the week before I maybe had 1 or 2, I'd say this was a HUGE success. My sister and several friends worked to increase their fruit and veggies this week, and I definitely loved having the texts and pictures and calls to keep my goals in my mind.

Now the 'rules' of the challenge say to do this anyway you want - build on the weeks, do them individually, survive 1 day. Whatever it takes to eat better. Well, for me, since this is a hopeful lifestyle adjustment, for the most part I intend to build upon these weeks. Some of the challenges will not be possible to maintain 100% {like this week's}, but I do hope to still see improvements over my current habits.

With that said...onto Week 2: Real Beverages: Beverages will be limited to coffee, tea, water, and milk (only naturally sweetened with a little honey or 100% pure maple syrup). One cup of juice will be allowed throughout the week, and wine (preferably red) will be allowed in moderation (an average of one drink per day).

This is going to be really tough for me. I remember a long time ago talking about drinks with my friend, Kelly. She said she never wanted to waste calories on drinks and was happy to drink water only all day. Not me! I am all about drinks. Chais, hot chocolate, kombucha, even {embarrassingly} coke. GASP! Yes, I know that is a ton of sugar and horrible for me {well, not the kombucha}. So this is not a challenge I intend to maintain for life, but if I can get from 4 chais a week to 1 or 2, I'll call it a success!

Anyone up for trying this one with me?

This Girl

*5 weeks of on/off sickies*

*not sleeping*

*diarrhea* 

{sorry baby girl...you will hate me one day for my oversharing}

*busy, busy, busy*

*did I mention not sleeping?*

Couldn't love her more...but mama is tired!

Fashion Police: Emmy's 2013

It's awards season!!!! Yippee!!! Allison and I have vowed to see all the Best Picture Oscar nominees again this year, but I have yet to see a movie in the theater in 2013, so I have a long way to go...eek!

Luckily for me, the Emmy's are up first which is all about TV. Most of the shows that won I don't watch and my fave {Downton Abbey} got majorly snubbed. The fashion, however, never disappoints!

Light/Nude

January Jones - SO boring - her hair is blah, the dress makes her body look blah
Julie Bowen - E! fashion police dogged this, but I thought it looked so much better than some other dresses I've seen her wear
Julia Louis Dreyfus - she is in her FIFTIES people - WOW

There is a way to do lace and a way not to do lace.

Lena Headey - I mostly love this for some reason. I normally don't like lace dresses but maybe just because it fits her so good?
Aubrey Plaza - just awful, she has beads or something sewed all over it and a collar? What?
Julianne Hough - we get it, you are a dancer.

There was a lot of black and white on the red carpet. A LOT.

Couples

Just the ladies

Merritt Wever {yeah, I didn't know who she was either} - her acceptance speech was the best ever
Kate Mara - this has majorly grown on me as I look at it. I think I wish her hair was a little softer as the dress is kind of harsh, and I don' t like the shoes but I really like.

The Deschanel sisters

Zooey definitely looks better, Emily's dress looks too big? But I love that they are kinda color-coordinated.

Caliente!

Sofia Vegara - this is the shape she always wears - but if it ain't broke...
Michelle Dockery - I just love her.
Heidi Klum - the collar is just too big

Emeralds

Sarah Hyland - is it me or is something weird about her face here?
Anna Chlumsky - #1 - she is my age, #2 - she JUST had a baby in July, wow.
Mayim Bialik - This is by far from best dressed, but it is by far the best SHE has looked, love it!

Jewel(ish) tones

Snooze, snooze, snooze, I do like the color on Mindy Kaling and how Alyson Hannigan looks.

Girls

 I don't watch this show...but wow... Allison Williams {on the left} looks amazing but Lena Dunham and Zosia Mamet are so so so beyond bad.

And now onto my favorite bad looks.

Connie Britton - is she wearing a rug?

Anna Faris - her hair with her PALE skin but dark eyebrows and lipstick and BRIGHT dress...just too much

Nathan Fillion - how HUGE is he compared to her? Like freakish.

 Kerry Washington - Could you make this dress busier?

Paula Abdul - just too awful for me to write anything, I just stare at this.

Why is Will Arnett SOOO tan? Like distractingly tan!

Some most improveds...

Kaley Cuoco usually looks a hot mess. I liked her this year.

Christina Hendricks - she usually dresses her body SO bad but I think she nailed it here.

Best Dressed

Best Dressed in a Suit - Jane Lynch looks awkward when she wears a dress {take a note Lena Dunham}, but she looks amazing in this tux!

Most people won't agree with me, but I thought Tina Fey just looked amazing. She has come so far in the last few years, and I thought she looked perfect.

Sarah Silverman - This is Brent's favorite because he says you can guarantee no one dressed her and she looks great. {I love his celebrity input after he's had a few beers!}

Worst Dressed

Claire Danes - it hurts my heart to name her worst dressed but this is just horrid. It does not fit AT ALL and her hair is so bad. I loved the bottom half of the dress but the top half just did not fit at all and was so sick. 

 So spill...What did you think??

Eating It Real: Week 1

As I mentioned last week, I am undertaking a weekly challenge over the next 14 weeks to improve my eating habits. If you read the blog I am following, the main goal is to just do what you can to make better food choices - whether you follow the challenge for a week, a day or even just 1 meal. My goal is, for the most part, to layer these weeks onto each other. There are a few that I know won't be sustainable for me long-term, but I know I can do the majority of this overall for a healthier lifestyle! I also love that these are baby steps, as I have a LOT of bad habits to break!

This week's challenge is: Two fruits and/or vegetables per meal.

In some ways, I think this will be easy, and in other ways, it will be SO HARD. I like fruit enough {but don't seek it out} but veggies are awful. There are so few I like, but I hope by the end of this challenge, I've found a few extras I can stand. Luckily I can pick between fruits OR vegetables, so that should help!

I know my sister is doing the challenge with me {yay!}, so if anyone else wants to join in, leave a comment, and we can encourage each other to better eating!

Check back tomorrow for Emmy's fashion!!

Deep Thoughts

*When driving home from downtown: I sure wish the floo network was real. {Any Harry Potter fans out there?}

*Is a second alcoholic beverage worth pumping and dumping?

*Texas country music is better than Nashville country music.

*Overheard at dinner: There will always be someone skinnier and prettier than me, but there will also always be someone uglier and fatter than me. {My new mantra! HA!}

*I hate nursing bras with a passion.

*When I had a 'curb check' with my brand new tires: Well, that didn't take long.

And yes, I have 2 college degrees and a CPA license. {grin}

{Real} Food

So I need to be honest here.  Back in June, I blogged about wanting to eat better. That lasted for all of a few days. Sigh. 

I'm so embarrassed and mad at myself. 

I consume information about our health. I am learning every day about natural ways to treat my kids' illnesses, I am no longer using shampoo, I make my own handsoap, use special detergents/cleaners {or make my own}...yet I eat terrible.

I believe that food is fuel for our body. I believe that food is medicine. If we are eating right, our bodies are strong. Right now, my body is sad. I am tired and lethargic. I use sugar, fat, and {somewhat} caffeine to keep me going. Bad food is my crutch. Now...to be fair to myself...I am going on 8+ months of not good sleep {or maybe just to give myself an excuse}. And sugar and crap food make me happy, ha. #sadbuttrue

I believe that processed food/sugar is so addictive, and I am an addict. I believe GMOs, preservatives, additives, etc. are poison and are making our country sick and fat. Yet I knowingly put them in my body everyday. It is a sickness.

Drew is eating 90% organic food. She is eating {so far} only fruits, vegetables, and eggs. {Except for that 1 Annie's bunny cracker she got off the floor.} Yet I eat candy, cookies, cake, soda, chais, crackers in front of her. What am I teaching her impressionable little mind? We are finally making progress with Trent's food battles, but it has been such a huge mountain to climb. {Yesterday I celebrated him eating 4 baby carrots.}

So...enough bashing of myself and onto my new plan. I am going to take the 100 Days of Real Food pledge by doing their mini-challenge which consists of 14 weeks of mini-pledges. I am going to blog each week what that week's pledge is and my plan. Then I will be accountable for my actions and tell y'all how I did. 

I think part of my problem is it seems so simple yet so overwhelming. I am so scatter-brained normally and 2-kids-husband-job-house-living is just kicking my butt right now. But I think with these mini-goals and some prep I can do it. 

So check back on Monday for my first mini-challenge. I promise I will be honest about how it goes - good, bad or ugly. {grin}

Anyone interested in trying it with me?

And because these guys are so much more fun than my mindless ramblings...

Blackmail

Can't. Stop. Laughing.

Just love these kiddos SO much!!

Book Review: Downton Abbey Style

In honor of Downton Abbey returning on Sunday {albeit only in the UK...us unfortunate Americans have to wait until January}, I wanted to blog about 2 books I read related to Downton. Yes, I'm a nerd. I believe we've already established that!

To Marry an English Lord
Plot: From the Gilded Age until 1914, more than 100 American heiresses invaded Britannia and swapped dollars for titles--just like Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham, the first of the Downton Abbey characters Julian Fellowes was inspired to create after reading To Marry An English Lord. Filled with vivid personalities, gossipy anecdotes, grand houses, and a wealth of period details--plus photographs, illustrations, quotes, and the finer points of Victorian and Edwardian etiquette--To Marry An English Lord is social history at its liveliest and most accessible.

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey
Plot: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey tells the story behind Highclere Castle, the real-life inspiration and setting for Julian Fellowes's Emmy Award-winning PBS show Downton Abbey, and the life of one of its most famous inhabitants, Lady Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon. Drawing on a rich store of materials from the archives of Highclere Castle, including diaries, letters, and photographs, the current Lady Carnarvon has written a transporting story of this fabled home on the brink of war.
    Much like her Masterpiece Classic counterpart, Lady Cora Crawley, Lady Almina was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, Alfred de Rothschild, who married his daughter off at a young age, her dowry serving as the crucial link in the effort to preserve the Earl of Carnarvon's ancestral home.  Throwing open the doors of Highclere Castle to tend to the wounded of World War I, Lady Almina distinguished herself as a brave and remarkable woman.
    This rich tale contrasts the splendor of Edwardian life in a great house against the backdrop of the First World War and offers an inspiring and revealing picture of the woman at the center of the history of Highclere Castle.

Review: I really had no clue about this period in American or British history. So it's been a lot of fun learning about this period of time. What I liked best about both of these books was learning about the different rules of society and how these estate houses operated. It is insanely different from my upbringing that it boggles my mind. Both books got a little slow in parts but overall I really enjoyed reading them. Especially as it gave me more insight into my favorite show!

Mommy Brain

I don't know if it's from not having a good night's sleep in over 8 months. Or having a full-time job, a husband, and 2 kids. Or just me being me. But this week has been a doozy in terms of me forgetting stuff.

• On Wednesday, I forgot Trent's lunch. I made it, so at least I didn't forget that part too?
• On Wednesday, I also forgot a work conference call. That got rescheduled specifically for me.
• On Thursday, I forgot the nipples for Drew's bottle. Too bad she couldn't just drink her milk straight out of a cup, huh?
• Then I got to work and realized I had forgotten my hands-free pumping bra.
• I forgot to print a picture for Trent's 'show and share' - this week they are supposed to share a family picture and talk about their family. {and it bums me out that I couldn't eavesdrop on that part of his day, I would love to hear what he said about his family}

Luckily Brent has been able to help with several of my mistakes {although he just looks at me like I have 2 heads when I have to explain my latest forgetful episode}. And I haven't actually forgotten a CHILD yet, so there's that?

Thank God it's Friday!!

Out of Doors

I am trying to pretend that fall is almost here. We are so, so, so close. We're doing a lot more stuff outside as the highs are only 98 instead of 104. It's a start, right?

Trent went with me to the farmer's market and got to ride a pony.

We walked to the playground in our neighborhood.

Trent rode his tricycle for all of 10 feet and wanted me to push it. 

Um, no, I am carrying your sister.

Said sister trying not to melt. This day it was 100, ha.

Hence why she isn't wearing pants.

 Our first joint wagon ride! I see a lot of these in the evenings this fall.

Straight up gangsta on a Daddy wagon ride {wearing hearts and grinning}

Come on, fall! I want to enjoy more time outdoors with my family!

How We 'Cured' an Ear Infection

I mentioned that Drew got her first ear infection. After talking with the pediatrician and deciding to 'wait and watch' {due to her being above 6 months of age and not having fever above 102 degrees} and hitting up Peoples, we did the following:

• Alternated breastmilk and garlic/mullein oil drops in her ear
• Saline {xylitol} nasal spray
• Teething tablets, belladonna and Ibuprofen for pain and fever
• Humidifier when sleeping
• Continuned our Probiotic, Omega 3, Vitamin D and Immuno PRP regimen 

And...we beat it! 

I worried a lot {ask B...I think he was ready to smack me a time or two} that I wasn't doing the right thing, but by Saturday {48 hours after diagnosis} she wasn't running fever, her runny nose was clear, and she wasn't nearly as fussy. 

I read several interesting articles that referenced studies that showed 80% of ear infections will clear up on their own and a lot about the science of why garlic and breastmilk help. All very cool stuff.

Point being - I trusted my gut, watched Drew very closely, sought advice from people I trust and avoided the antibiotic! {Sidenote: I am not anti-antibiotics, but Trent is allergic to amoxicillin, so D was already being prescribed something stronger that I knew would tear up her stomach and kill all her good bacteria too - making her MORE susceptible to an illness, and I wanted to avoid that if we could.} 

We had our follow-up today and was told her ears looked 'perfect'. I was so happy to hear that and so proud that I followed my instincts and let her body heal naturally. It should make any future infections easier to treat and be easier on her. I'm really loving more and more all the natural stuff I find out. I have exciting stuff lined up to share soon. {grin}

Baby Beau!!

Drew is beyond excited to announce the arrival of her future BFF.

Beau Christine

September 8, 2013

7.2 pounds, 19 inches

Already beyond loved.

Casting Call [Nerd Alert]

This has been a busy week in 'casting lead actors for books made into movies'. Hugely popular books being turned into movies seems to polarize people...well, if we're being honest...women. 

First up... 50 Shades of Grey. If you'll remember correctly, this book will hold a special place in my heart forever. {grin} 

There has been a lot of buzz about who should play Christian Grey. He has to be hot and buff but look great in a suit. Matt Bomer, Ian Somerholder, Ryan Gosling, etc. were names thrown around. I knew there was no way a big name was going to sign up for this role because it's pretty crazy. I knew some up-and-coming star would see it as his big break. [Same for Anastasia]

Introducing...Charlie Hunnam as Christian Grey

I personally think he is perfect! He currently stars on FX's Sons of Anarchy so you can see lots of pictures of him looking a little rough around the edges. Yum.

Anastasia. She needs to be pretty but not beautiful and super feminine. Again, names like Alexis Bledel and Nina Dobrov...not going to happen people.

Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele

I think she's another one who will be perfect in this role. The pictures I've seen of her show that she can be pretty or stunning.

My current obsession would definitely be the Outlander series. I'm currently in book 5 of the series and still think they are AMAZING books. The shortest book has been over 700 pages, so this series is a big undertaking. And you totally fall in love with the characters. The book club member {Jennifer} who picked Outlander says {and I concur} that Jamie is the best male lead she's ever read in a book.

I had a hard time imagining Jamie because he's supposed to be gorgeous but a rugged, wild Scottish Highlander. I kept picturing Hagrid from Harry Potter which is so not right. I kept thinking he should look like Chris Hemsworth but just kept seeing Hagrid. Ugh. Haha. When I saw the casting, I knew they'd nailed Jamie.

Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser

Claire has yet to be cast, but I'm sure she'll be amazing.  Can't wait!

Bring on the movie making!!!

Drew's Baptism

Saturday, August 31, was a special day for our family. Drew was baptized! It wasn't intentional, but Trent and Drew ended up both being 8 months old when they were baptized. {Trent's baptism is here.} 

My mother-in-law made Drew's Baptismal gown {seriously, it is to die for} and also bought her bonnet. Y'all. The bonnet. You pull apart the strings on the back and it becomes a handkerchief for Drew to carry down the aisle when she gets married. Seriously. I want to die.

Both our children now also have the same Godparents, Schuyler and Kristen. Lots of pictures of them this week. {grin} It was important to me that the role of Godparents truly be people who will help our children grow in faith, and Kristen has done that so much for me that they were once again the obvious choice. I joked that they better not get sick of Gurley children because if there are more, they are stuck being Godparents again!

Picture overload, but I just can't help to share! Forgive my cheesy grin in most of the pictures too...I was seriously so happy.

Lots of good times with this group. And more to come!

{See what I mean about the dress and bonnet. I can't stop dying of the cuteness.}

Love my family so much.

Blessings

Cutest niece ever.

She didn't make a peep when the water was poured on her. That girl has always loved water!

'Aunt Kristen, I'm getting a little bored here. Mind if I play with your bracelet?'

We had a hard time coordinating a date for Drew's baptism between showers for Kristen, MBA school for Schuyler, family vacations, etc. We had one date picked that we had to change at the last minute. Then Kristen started having early contractions a few weeks back, and I panicked a little and was like 'Y'all we have to get this done.' So we agreed on a date, and it happened to be the day of UT's first football game. #wifefail

Flirting with Fr. Jim

One loved little girl

Blessings for baby Beau

And of course it isn't a party without me baking a cake. {grin}

It truly was a very special day for our family. Technically for Drew, but she won't remember it, ha. If you made it to the end of this post, thanks for sticking it out!