BOOM!

Cue my victory lap! Warm up the band! I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

{Results and my thoughts on how I survived to come}

Life Lately

Lots of random pictures that didn't really fit anywhere else, so I thought it was high time for a Life Lately post!

A super cute picture from Drew's teacher - look at those Montessori kids folding!

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE the kids' school?

I bought the kids house shoes just for fun. 

Trent picked a girl pair {owls} and Drew picked a boy pair {bears}.

Trent was sleeping in them the day we got them, too cute.

[Sidebar - so dumb there was a distinction in the store of boy v. girl for house shoes]

Hey kids! Smile! [or not...stinkers]

I told a story last week about Drew falling asleep in the car.

Here is the pic - with her hand caught in her hair and everything!

With help, I learned how to use our outdoor grill {thanks Patty and Brent!}

So we had the Patnodes over for dinner.

The babies having fun!

Drew was having a meltdown about something...typical these days.

Love LOVE love that Trent is so caring towards her.

T reading to D at bedtime.

It was funny because he got tired of reading and was just making up the story!

Playing together in Drew's bed consisted of T wanting D to jump on him!

He is under that blanket!

This about half of the laundry I folded this weekend. SO MUCH LAUNDRY.

Then Drew 'helped' me by carrying all her clothes to her rocking chair.

Don't they still look so organized? :/

Trent is so funny and will secretly tie knots in our tennis shoes.

I sent this picture to Brent {he went to visit a friend who just moved to Dallas}.

His response: I love his mind. {grin}

No pictures please! {Oops-the flash blinded her!}

Eating breakfast while we wait on Bubba to get up for school!

Bedtime hugs. Mommy heart exploder every time!

Drew's teacher put this on FB. I immediately asked if it was Drew, and it was!

Do I know my girl and her constant assigning of babies to people? Yup!

Whole 30 - Week 4

I'm almost done, I'm almost done! I can't believe it, I'm almost done!

Timeline for Week 4

• Days 16-27: Tiger Blood {see last week for definition} - I definitely have more energy and better concentration at work and overall feel REALLY good. I still can't seem to motivate myself enough to workout regularly which I know would help here even more...but I will take how I'm feeling any day!
• Day 28: 28 is as good as 30...right? I guess this is a point where people are ready to give in because you are sooo close. Well, I'm fully committed to my 30 days, so I have no plans to stop!

Random Facts:

• I bought a Kombucha last weekend at the store {totally compliant} but haven't had it yet. I can't decide if it is a gateway drug for me back to sugary drinks, so I am saving it.
• Lazy meals, lots of lazy meals - the best part is I finally feel really confident with food to be able to make some random meals and think they are delicious. I'm experimenting more with recipes and trying stuff I wouldn't have tried even a few weeks ago.

Skillet-made hamburger patty, sweet potato with ghee, bell peppers, and a pear

The cupboards were BARE but this was YUMMY!

• I have been meaning to try coconut aminos since I read about them but didn't get them until this weekend and WOW are they amazing. It tastes almost exactly like soy sauce but actually really good for you {the amino acids are considered the building blocks of protein blah blah blah healthy blah blah vitamins blah blah neutral pH blah blah...read more here}. I am definitely going to be replacing soy sauce with this FOREVER!

• One thing I was worried about was getting bored with food, but I am not. Sure I am spending more time prepping, more time cooking, more time washing dishes, and all of that is annoying, but the food I'm eating tastes SO GOOD and I feel SO GOOD - it's worth it!

Homemade chicken salad {with whole 30 mayo} on a salad with coconut aminos

• I'm starting to think about reintroduction - because Brent and I have a weekend away planned in a few weeks, I want to follow the reintroduction plan in the book to see if I do have any food sensitivities before we go away and then my plan after a fun weekend is to get right back to good eating. I'll be able to determine if I can have cheese on a regular basis! Interestingly enough I don't really care about having bread/pasta again - maybe rice on occasion?
• I am REALLY getting curious about the scale and my measurements. I hope to see results {and I know I will based on how my clothes are fitting}, but I know even if they aren't miraculous {I would love to have lost 10 pounds but realistically think I'll see 5}, I am committed to continuing this journey!

So here's to seeing how the last 2 days go, how the scale and tape measure treat me and what I learn from reintroduction!

Fall TV - What We'll Be Watching

Fall TV is here! Brent and I kept busy this summer binge watching Mad Men, finishing shows we missed after we moved, starting True Detective {we haven't finished it...still on the fence}. But now we have a whole new season of shows!

What We'll Watch Together:

Law & Order: SVU

Brent and I've been watching this together for years. He complains about the unbelievable story lines every week and makes fun of my irrational love of Mariska Hargitay, yet he keeps watching it with me. {grin}

Empire

This was Brent's new one last season, and I quickly got hooked. This show is FIERCE. My favorite character is {#shockingnotshocking} Cookie. The season premiere didn't disappoint with some bad-A activities by Papa Lyon.

Breaking Bad

While we patiently {or not} wait for the last 7 episodes of Mad Men, our next binge watching show is going to be Breaking Bad. Yes, we are years too late to this party, but we both want to watch it!

I have a list of other shows I want to convince Brent to watch with me.

Bloodline

I have heard Bloodline is awesome. And you guys know how I feel about Netflix shows!

Vikings 

I watched the first episode and decided I wanted to convince Brent to watch this one with me. We'll get there I think...eventually!

Then I have a whole list of shows I haven't been able to convince Brent to watch.

Once Upon a Time

I have a love-indifference relationship with Once Upon a Time, but season 4 ended really strong, and I'm excited for season 5!

Downton Abbey

This show will probably go down in history as one of my all-time favorite shows. I asked Brent if he would watch the first 5 seasons with me before season 6 starts, but he turned me down. Boo. I am equal parts super excited for and dreading January - I don't want this to be the last season!

Game of Thrones

I am behind on this show, so I need to watch season 5. I've read the first 2 books and plan to get to both. I enjoy both a lot, but they are a commitment!

Grace & Frankie

I don't know when this will come back on Netflix, but I can't wait!

Modern Family

This is definitely one of the funniest shows on television! I love the dynamic between all the family members and love how each episode is funny and witty all at once.

Outlander

I don't think this will come back until the spring, but I can't wait to see one of my all-time favorite book series continue on the screen. To be fair, book 2 was my least favorite of all the books, so I'm curious how it will play out on screen.

Lastly I have a few I'm on the fence about. {And yes, I'm wondering where all this time will come from to watch everything!}

The Bastard Executioner

The creator of this show created Sons of Anarchy. That alone should speak volumes. Sons of Anarchy was one of my obsessions last year, but it was so terribly dark. I'm kind of scared of this show!

Grimm

I used to watch Grimm but found my interest waning...but now I'm kind of curious what has been happening, so I might pick it back up again...eventually!

So that's my very long, probably very unrealistic TV watching plan! What are you excited about? Anything else Brent and I should be watching?

Whole 30: Week 3

Y'all. I am in my final week of Whole 30. I am in shock at that fact! So let's recap how Week 3 went!

The timeline for this time period covers the whole period and is called Tiger's Blood. It means I should be feeling pretty damn good.

For some (generally people who came to the program eating well, exercising regularly, and feeling pretty good to begin with), Tiger Blood means someone flipped a switch and turned on the awesome. Energy is through the roof, cravings are under control, clothes are fitting better, workouts are stronger.

For others, this Tiger Blood stage feels more like a real sense of self-efficacy. It doesn’t mean things are perfect (or even easy), but you’re proving to yourself that you can do this, things are getting better, and you’re seeing improvements (small or large) almost daily. Your energy is steadier, you’ve got a firmer handle on the cravings, and you’re experimenting with new, delicious foods.  You may notice that your ability to focus is keener, your body composition is changing, your moods are more stable, you’re stepping up your exercise, or you’re just plain happier these days.

I would definitely agree with this - especially the part about self-efficacy. I definitely didn't come into the program taking care of myself, so I love how I feel overall.

Random facts about Week 3:

• Snacking is not illegal, but it's frowned upon if you are using it as a crutch. I have been snacking a little more, so I need to watch that!
• I am really jonesing for something to drink that is sweet. Plain tea isn't really cutting it. I bought a kombucha {#whole30approved} but haven't had it yet. I want to drink it when it sounds good but isn't because I am craving something. If that makes sense?
• EPIC bars are amazing!
• Hardest part for me is still food prep. I think part of why I ate bad before was sheer laziness. I have a lot of quick lunches {quick for Whole 30} I make but they still take longer than eating a piece of butter bread, ha.

One of the times I didn't prep.

• I've given up on eggs and just eat a regular meal for breakfast. Might be bacon or might be leftovers from the night before.

The 3rd fried egg attempt...added Chalula sauce - still didn't like it!

• I miss cheese. I'm surprised that I miss cheese more than carbs.
• I am definitely noticing changes in the way my clothes fit and how I look. I'm curious what the scale and measurements will say.

So let's get to the last week!

Emmys Fashion 2015 - My Favorites!

Just as much as I can see a dress and hate it, I can also see a look that I just go 'Ooooh' all breathless. 

Elisabeth Moss

I love her hair, her make-up, the color of this dress. 

She looks the best I've ever seen her, and her best is amazing!

January Jones

I love this. The color, the fit, the pendant, it's all so cool!

Jessica Pare

And it's a Mad Men trifecta! Don't want to sound like a broken record...

The color! The fit! Everything! LOVE.

Sarah Hyland

I love her short, sassy hair and make-up.

Her jewelry is so fun, she just looks flawless.

Sophie Turner

Another awesome pants outfit!

Tituss Burgess

How cute is he? He just looks great!

Tituss plays my favorite character on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Emmys Fashion 2015 - Worst Dressed

You know when you see a dress or a look and you just think 'No. Just no.' I just see a look and instantly hate it. These are those looks.

Claire Danes

With Claire, I either love it or hate it. This - I hate.

The fabric, her hair, her make-up, the CHAINS {why all the chains?}...Yuck.

Heidi Klum

There aren't enough words. There's nothing redeeming about this.

Julianne Hough

It's like a Halloween costume.