For vegetarian meals!  I know, that sounds crazy, but, y'all, I have been eating really unhealthily lately, and I need to fix that.  I know for a fact that Mike and I do not get enough veggies in our diet, but there is an (over) abundance of meat.  We are such carnivores!  Here's the thing, though, I don't want anything that's too carb-heavy either.  I want meals that have some carbs and/or some meat, but the biggest part of it is veggies.  Does anyone have any good suggestions for websites?  Whole Foods' advanced recipe finder is okay, but I'm only finding some stuff on there that fits my bill.  Help!

It's been a few days since my last post and that's not because I haven't been putting in the time but more because I'm tired from everything I have been doing.

I stepped up my efforts in my weight loss and healthy journey and I am enjoying every sore moment of it.

It also helps that the hubs has started working out. Not with me. We do jot workout together, but usually right after I'm done he'll start. I will usually stay for bit to encourage him but usually that's when I head out for a run.

How many of us bought the wii fit with the balance board? We did and we didn't use it for about 3 years. Yay for using crap you buy!

Anyways we found a website that generates wii fit routines based on criteria that you input so we've been doing that for the last 10 days. I will say though that I have about 5 routines that I rotate through and he, well it was an accomplishment to get him to try one of my routines. I am proud of him though. He's done so well with sticking with it do far.

Anyways so I haven't lost anymore weight. I'm still hovering where I have been, but I have noticed things starting to tone up more. Some of my routines involve boxing which I am thoroughly enjoying and its helping with the turkey arm.

Oh and yesterday I ran my fastest 5k yet. 40:37! Woot!! Today I also did three miles and my average mile was under 13:00/mile. Another woot!!!!

Well I'm going to enjoy some rest time now. See y'all later!

Some may think that I'm a horrible parent for the next sentence but I just can't help myself.

I cannot run with my oldest anymore. I know. I know. It's only our second run, but in all honesty it was probably one run to many.

Here are my problems:
1) he doesn't run. Not at my pace at least, which is totally fine but I need a good long run to detox from being a mom. Especially this week.... It's just been one of those weeks.

2) he doesn't have the stamina. Don't get me wrong, he went further than I thought he would and I'm so proud of him for that. I just want to go farther like a total of 2 or 3 miles not one.

3) I have to be more aware of everything. He's my kid and I have to protect him. Especially on the route we take. It's not a busy road but it's curvy and if a driver is not paying attention it could be dangerous. So I have to have my guard constantly up. I can't lose myself in the run.

Now don't get me wrong, we had some good times during our outings. We saw birds and got to see plants and I got to explain to him about various flora and fauna. Like when we watched a cardinal fly through the underbrush and trees or when I explained what poison ivy was. I wouldn't trade those for anything in the world, but with all of the time I spend with my kids - I just need to reclaim my runs and me time. To be able to lose myself in my run while listening to music that I can't listen to when my kids are in the room.

Well that's all I've got for my ramblings tonight. G'night all!

For a very long time I have wanted to add some animal print to my home decor, but the hubs was not on board. So I did what any good crafter would do, I pulled out a blank lampshade and some puffy paint.

I drew some faint zebra lines on my lampshade and the spent a couple of days filling in my design.

I used white metallic puffy paint and I just say that I really like the effect of the metallic white against the white of the shade.

So here's the beauty right now. I love her!

Oh and when I explained my plan and then showed the hubs my creation he asked where it was going and if I thought it was too fancy. I guess if he thinks it's fancy then I did a good job.

Well I think I've finally developed a workout routine that works for me. The only hitch..... Going to bed at 1:15 in the morning is never a good idea when you have to be up at 7:30 to feed, dress and prepare the kids and you for the day. 7:30 gives me exactly 1 hour to do all of that. I really need to discipline myself to go to bed before midnight. It's just hard because the kids are in bed and it's quiet and it's time I get to spend with my hubby. Or taking a nice luxurious soak in the bath tub. Either way not enough sleep was had last night. Maybe one of these days I'll learn.

In other news, Devlin finally joined me on a run and we ran about 1.25 miles. I'm so proud of him for getting out there and running with me. Oh and I started a routine on the wii fit so I can add some new things and I'll tell you what..... I can feel it. All. Of. It.

That's good though. Anyways I have lunch waiting and I'm starving.

See ya later!!

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted anything up.

I feel a little bad because I do have stuff to share. It's just been hard to motivate myself. Well motivate myself crafty wise. I've been trying to focus on me and the other journeys we're on.

So anyways I wanted to share the yarn orbs I made along with where my dining room stands right now.

There are tons of yarn orb tutorials out there so I'm not going to share the how-I-did-it's. My problem is now what to do with them. I've wanted them hit I did not give much thought to what to do with them after I made them. Oh well. Not a bad problem to have.

I've also added some new color to the walls but I do t think it's the color in going to go with. I think I'd like to go a hair darker. The color up there is "Weekend in the Country" it's a color by valspar. I think I'd like to try "City Chic". Its a smudge darker but also with some purple in it, which I think will play well off of the browns, reds, and yellows that will be going in the room.

I'd also like to update the ceiling of the dining room. I want to go with a darker color up there. I really like the color "Shoe Polish" by valspar. It's exactly what you think it is. A nice ruddy brown and since my dining room has 10 foot ceilings the dark color will have no problem being above our heads. I also want to beef up the moulding on the ceiling.

Well that's all I have for right now. Tomorrow I'll share a lampshade redo that I'm really loving.

Linking up to:

I decided this morning that I was not going to go to the gym, instead I was going to run outside and enjoy the fabulous weather that has graced the area.

Best. Idea. Ever.

I went out after the school rush, and it was so nice and peaceful. I tried to push myself, work the hills and I'm feeling the work in my calves now, but totally worth it.

I wish all my runs could be as nice as this one.

Oh yea, today was supposed to be my rest day but because I slacked off  this weekend, I decided to just go for it. Tomorrow is a 3 mile day. Hopefully I'm able to get  outside and run that one too. :)

3 tbsp butter
1 tbsp regular or GF AP flour (If you're using GF AP flour, I'd recommend just a little less than a tsp of cornstarch to help thicken it if necessary)
1 1/2 to 2 cups milk (depending on how thick you like it--I used 2 cups)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 large pinch of salt

So today I decided that I didn't want to venture out to the gym, but I am trying very hard to keep to my training schedule and instead of resting today I'm going to rest tomorrow and then run a couple of quick miles over the weekend.

So I loaded my small fry up into his stroller, and headed out for a quick run around  the neighborhood. The run was nice, but running with the stroller was a different experience. Obviously, I figure my form would be different, but I didn't expect to feel the run so differently. I had to keep reminding myself not to lean to heavily on the stroller and to keep my back straight.

I also couldn't get up a decent gait  because every time I did  the stroller would shake, a lot. I don't have a jogging stroller, and now I'm thinking that if I continue to go running with my small fry then I might want to invest in one, but then again I didn't really enjoy running while pushing the stroller. My form was the biggest issue, I couldn't get comfortable.

It didn't help that the last third of the run was directly into a strong head wind, and I was struggling against the wind with the stroller. I mean I'm kind of glad for the extra resistance, because it definitely made me work harder, but again it wasn't a completely natural for me.

Anyways, I'm not displeased with the run, just I don't know that its something I'd be regularly doing.

So here's my partner at the end of the run.  I'm definitely a little jealous.

Today was a wonderful day!

School was back in session!!!!!!!!!!  I know I was more excited about this fact than Devlin was. In fact, he told me this morning that he didn't want to go to school. Too bad!!!!!

This Momma needs a return to normalcy and that includes my big guy going back to school, so I can then head off to the gym with the small fry and I can get some me time.

Being as it was spring break last week, not much got done. I still haven't taken pictures of what I have gotten done, and well, at least that gives me stuff to post about tomorrow.

Today, I'll share some pictures from Easter and spring break.

Random afternoon watching Disney Channel. Too cute a pose not to snap.

Easter morning with his new shades.

Everybody got new shades from the Bunny-Man!

In their Easter best! Thanks to my mom for making their adorable outfits!

So that's a small view of our fun adventures last  week. Tomorrow I'll bust the camera out and show off some of what  I have gotten done. :)

After taking a week off from the gym, I was very glad to see my scale read 261 this morning.

Don't you just love it when you solve a major problem.  You feel like you just really accomplished something, beat an adversary even.  My adversary these last few weeks was gluten...or Celiac.  I mentioned recently that Mike has been diagnosed with Celiac disease.  Since then, I've been working, reading, researching, and experimenting (poorly).  But then I had a victory, a day of victory actually, and I finally feel like I'm over the hump.

My new routine is not going well. I probably shouldn't have started a new routine days before sprig break started. I've been to the gym once. For zumba. Getting there on time was an exercise. In patience.

The boys have not stopped arguing. They're at it all the time and I cannot wait until school is back in session. Next Tuesday.

Oh well. I haven't gained any weight. So thats the good news.

See y'all later.

So I'm almost to painting the vanity, and I can't decide what to do!

Its one of those cases where there are simply too many good ideas.

So I started a poll on the facebook page.

Here's the link!  Vanity Paint Poll!

Please go give me your input! BTW, its pinned at the top of the page, so hopefully there are no issues in finding it.

In other news.....Well there is no other news. Nothing is done. :)

Did you ever have a craft that you really wanted to do? Did you get it done? Maybe after a couple of tries?

Did you ever get it right and then have absolutely no idea what to do with it?

I have! I have! I have!

Its happened right now.

I made yarn orbs, after two attempts I got them right.

Now I have way too many ideas, and I don't know which one to use my orbs for.

Sigh.

Maybe I'll figure it out tomorrow, but for now I'll take suggestions!