This Unfamiliar Road

I hope we have all been keeping up with January's fitness goal of drinking more water! It's a new month, which means adding in a new goal. Remember, the whole point of this series is to change habits little by little. So keep drinking that water, and now add February's goal of...

Eating Breakfast!


This one is easy for me because I've always been a breakfast eater. However, if you need some motivation, here are the top reasons why YOU should be eating breakfast:

 1. Weight Control. It's a common misconception that skipping breakfast=reducing calories. The truth is that people who skip breakfast make up those calories later in the day, usually because they are so hungry that they make poor food choices when snacking or eating other meals.

2. Energy Boost. Your body needs food for energy, so you can't expect it to go from dinnertime to lunch the next day with no fuel! Rather than relying on that 3rd cup of coffee to give you a morning boost, try eating something for breakfast. This also affects cognitive function and memory!

3. Nutrient Intake. To achieve the recommended daily intake of nutrients and vitamins, you should rely on breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a healthy snack. It would be very difficult to get the proper nutrients out of only 2 meals!

4. Immune Response. Your white blood cells, which are responsible for fighting infection, need some fuel too! Studies have shown that breakfast eaters have a decreased incidence of cold and flu.

So, what's the best thing to eat for breakfast? A variety of foods is ideal, to include fruits, veggies, whole grains, and a lean protein.
-Grab 'n Go options include:

• Whole wheat toast or English muffin with natural nut butter
• Whole wheat English muffin with egg white sandwhich
• Protein Shake or Smoothie (also ideal if you skip breakfast because you don't have a morning appetite!)
•  Hard boiled egg & fruit
• Low Fat Yogurt & fruit

My personal favorite for breakfast? My protein shakes that are a part of my nutritional rebalancing program. These shakes offer everything I need in a meal and they are delicious and fast! Just what I want to be sure that I stay on target to eat breakfast daily!

What are your favorite breakfast foods?

  Info source

This week's lovelies...

PediaCare Gentle Vapors. When you've been dealing with illness for years weeks, this little plug in unit is a lifesaver. No humidifiers to empty and clean- just a plug in with a little vapor pad. This thing is strong and truly helps the baby sleep better when she's all congested.


NuMe Wand. I've been considering a curling wand, but definitely didn't want to pay the premium! Thanks to IG, I got this one for $36 (regularly $139) SCORE!!! Now who wants to show me how to use this thing?
Daddy Boot Camp. Some fun new things on the horizon for the husband. And no...it's not what you're thinking. Stay tuned!



New Hair. My appointment is next week and I can't wait! I still have no clue what I'm going to do but I'm ready for a big change! Perhaps a little more red? I love this color and these waves.



 Storage Unit. Ben and his Dad built an awesome storage unit for our playroom. I am in love with it! There's hanging space for dress up clothes, and tons of areas for bins and other toys.

What are your faves today?

Hey y'all! I'm joining in on a fun new monthly series: "Currently". I love checking in with bloggers to see what they are 'currently' doing!

Currently....

Realizing: My kiddos are growing up way too fast. I've been flipping through some old photos and I can't believe how quickly time flies. It's bittersweet for sure!

   
Watching: American Idol! Yes, I'm still a fan and I'm so sad this is the last season. The judge panel is finally the perfect mix of people and I will miss their antics.


Meeting: My January fitness goal of drinking more water! I hope you are too :)

Drinking: Delicious shakes packed with awesome nutrients that are actually helping me lose weight. Whaaaaat?! I love it!

Creating: Baby books for the girls. I've been slacking in this department but I want to capture every detail before they are off to college!

What are you currently realizing, watching, meeting, drinking, and creating?

We got a very light dusting of snow in North Georgia, but for a 3-year old it was a "snow storm!"
Unfortunately, I've been battling a sinus infection for a few days, but the husband (with his Michigan roots!) took Peyton out to play in it.





OK, now that we've had our "snow day", I'm ready for spring!
Stay warm friends

What I'm loving today!

New Microwave. Our old one had been on the fritz and when the repairs cost more than a new one, we decided it was time. We went with stainless steel and I just love it!


Sister Love. There are a few moments a day when these two get along and show love. Mickey Mouse doesn't hurt the situation.


New Blog. One of my buddies is starting out on her blogging journey. I love her post "Why Diets Don't Work"- This woman speaks the truth y'all!


Broccoli Recipe. I found a new recipe for broccoli and YUM! It's perfectly roasted in the oven with the most important ingredients-garlic and cheese!




PSA. Get your lady bits checked out everyone! I know we're getting a little personal here, but preventative care is so important. Schedule those check-ups y'all!!


Happy Friday!

We all know that it's difficult to get into a routine of being healthy. One of my goals for 2016 is to be more mindful of my health and fitness. Obviously this goal is not exactly measurable, so I decided to find a better way! Thankfully eHow has already put it out there for me!
I love how this article breaks things down into manageable sections-by month!

So...the fitness goal for January: Drink More Water!

1. How Much? Many factors affect your water requirements but on average men need 13 cups of fluid and women need 9 cups daily (per The Institute of Medicine).
-Consider other factors like weather conditions, exercise, illness, pregnancy, and breastfeeding!

2. What Counts? Foods like fruit and vegetables can offer the body trace amounts of water while caffeinated beverages can cause dehydration. The best bet? Good ole H2O!

 3. How To?  (Drink enough)

• Buy a pretty water bottle-preferably one that keeps up with your measurements!

• Use a straw
• Add fresh fruit or cucumbers
• Chug it! A nurse practitioner I work with says it's best to drink several ounces at once-like a "bolus" of water

Enjoy :)

Becoming a parent for the first time comes with a fair share of lessons: How do I sleep train? When do I start solids? POTTY TRAINING?!

Being a parent to 2 children comes with a completely different set of lessons. Life lessons. Here's what I learned in my first year as a mother to two:

1. Let it Go. With one child, it's still possible to keep a clean house, plan healthy meals, and enjoy a little down time. Add a second child and it's just not feasible. There's no use in struggling to do it all either. So just embrace the mess!



2. This Too Shall Pass. Teething/Sick/Fussy baby that wakes up every. hour. of. the. night. Clingy baby that will not let you put her down. Toddler that suddenly refuses to eat anything.
These things can send a first time parent over the edge! But know that it is just a phase and will be over soon. You have lived through it once before and you can do it again!

3. Do Your Best. Stop agonizing over every decision you make for your child. Some choices will be right and some will be wrong. Very wrong. Accept it, learn from it, and move on. Parenting is not easy but you're doing the best you can!


4. Cherish the Moments. Everyone tells you "they grow so fast" and you know it, but it's still hard to really appreciate it. Probably because you're worried about keeping up with the house, stressing over baby's newest phase or agonizing over the parenting decisions you've made! Take some time out and enjoy your children! Play with them.

5. Take Care of Yourself. How easy it is to lose yourself in all of the wonders of parenthood. Find your identity in something besides being a parent. Take some time out for you- a hobby, a pedicure, go to the gym. If you don't take care of yourself first, you cannot give your best to your family.