Friday Funny

Here are a few things out of my girls' mouths this last week that might make you laugh because they made me laugh! 

Lauren after seeing a commercial:  "Hey Mommy, when I grow up I want to wear bras and get big boobies like you!" 

Kaelin:  "Ice Ice Baby do do do do do do doo doo" - In tune and all..

Lauren followed me in the bathroom while Aunt Flow happened to be in town:  "Oh No, mommy! Do you need a bandaid?!"  -- She was legitimately concerned. 

Kaelin to her dad:  "Pull my finger...toot"  - I swear he taught them that! 

During Bedtime prayers: 
Lauren:  "I am thankful for a door, a window and a forehead"
Kaelin with her finger in her nose:  "I got boogers"

My weakness...

Do you all have a weakness for a certain food?  Ya'll have heard me say before that I LOVE food but there is one food in particular that I absolutely LOVE.  For some people (ahem my husband..)  that food is ice cream or pizza but for me it is DOUGHNUTS.

  Yummy, delicious, homemade doughnuts.  Not just any doughnuts.  I mean really good doughnuts.  Oh and I have been known to down a bag of Hostess Donettes too in my pregnancy days. 
Don't get me Walmart or Kroger donuts.  Get me fresh, homemade, sweet, salty, crispy warm donuts.  I would take a warm Krispy Kreme or three too! 

I think my obsession started at this place!

photo credit

Pfaff's Bakery in Pontiac, IL
Looking at the picture, I can almost taste my chocolate long john. Oh but my favorite was the "ZIT"  If you've been there, you know the amazingness of the Zit.  Yes, it is called a zit and yes it was cream filled and no amazingness is not a word but it was full of amazingness.  Just sayin'   Pair that with a Prairie Farms Orange "juice" drink and I was in heaven. 

Fast forward to 2011.  Living in Kansas and the only place to get decent doughnuts was Casey's.  We tried every grocery store in town, nothing was fresh or yummy.  That was until Varsity Donuts opened in downtown Aggieville.  Then this puppy completely changed my life!  Yes that is bacon on that donut.  (Donut or doughnut?..I'm getting lazy so it's donut from now on)
ANYWAYS.  It looks strange and weird but OMG ahhhhhh the angels are singing.  It's so delicious, and  rich.  One is plenty or you will need to be wheeled out of there. 

 

photo credit

Now living in Washington, you can bet we've already found our favorite donut shop.  It is local and fresh homemade rolls daily and CHEAP!  WAAAYY cheaper than Varsity Donuts, which is always a plus.  The cake donuts at our new favorite shop are to die for.

  Can you tell I like am obsessed with donuts?  It's probably why my butt is so big.  The end.

Weekly Weigh in

209lbs


Down 1.2lbs from last week.  I made it to the gym 4 out of 7 days again this week. I had originally set a goal for 5 days this week but didn't make it this weekend.  I wish the gym opened earlier on the weekends.  I am usually up by 6:30 am but the gym doesn't open until 8.  By that time the kids are up and I'm making breakfast and what not. I try to let Kevin sleep in on weekends since he's up at 4:45am everyday during the week.  I could have easily gone to the gym the rest of the day Saturday but I sure enjoyed my time just relaxing with my family. Oh yeah, I also went grocery shopping.  I would consider fighting the crowds at the commissary somewhat of a workout :) 

Anyways..I still plan on trying to make it this week 5 times.  Keep me accountable! 
I am still struggling with weighing myself everyday.  In a way it keeps me on track but sometimes it makes me disappointed.  I saw my weight this week as high as 211 and as low as 207.6 and we settled this morning at 209.  I was happy to be down a pound since we made homemade pizza last night for supper and I did not hold back.  A pound is a pound is a pound.  That is my goal per week, so I am happy. 

Starting weight:  222
Today's weight:  209
Total weight loss:  13lbs
Goal:  170lbs
Pounds to lose:  39

Kaelin's 2nd Birthday

We started out the day with our tradition birthday doughnut!  She was so excited!  We found an awesome locally owned donut shop about 10 minutes from here and it is so much more delicious and WAY cheaper than our favorite place in Kansas!  We have yet to get there though when they have their Maple/Bacon bars out.  They are out every time! Bummer!

 
She wasn't much for vocalizing what she wanted for her birthday this year except for "chocolate cake"  That's all she would ever answer when asked what she wanted for her birthday or what she wanted on her cake.."just chocolate" .  That was until the day before her birthday.  She decided she wanted a Minnie Mouse cake.  We searched for a pre-made one at the Walmart bakery but no luck.  We settled on a two layered chocolate-chocolate fudge cake and I added the Minnie Mouse ears that I made out of cardstock and just taped to a popsicle stick.  It was perfect and she loved it.  We used what we had for decorations and it turned out really cute!  Just goes to show you don't need to spend ANY money on decorations. Besides the 97cents on the balloons and 97 cent (2pack) table cloth, I didn't spend anything else on decor. I used what we had to make banners and what not.  I think so many people get caught up in spending a ton of money on their decorations and popularity contest to show who had the best party.  All I care about on their big day is that they know it's special and they are loved.  I'd rather put that money towards presents!

They day was laid back and just perfect because they 4 of us were together.  She loved all over her toys.  Her favorites were her bubble machine (which they still play with daily) and her princess horse and carriage.  I can't believe that my little bug is already 2 and still growing.  She keeps us on our toes and is seriously a hilarious kid.  Her sound effects and voices that she uses are just too funny.  She is just full of personality and is a wild child but is the best snuggler ever!  We love you, Kaelin Deborah! 

Weekly Weigh-In 210.2

So today is my first Monday weigh-in.  I have to say already that I like it better than Friday weigh-ins even if my weekend habits weren't exactly the best.  This week I made it to the gym on 4/7 days.  I am happy with that. 

On Friday I made a huge accomplishment (for me)  and ran a mile without stopping.  This may not seem like a lot to some of you but when I started back in June, I could only run 30 seconds at a time before having to walk.  So, running for 13 min 30 seconds was HUGE for me.  It was more of a jog but still I did not walk.  I woke up yesterday morning, however, with the worst knee pain.  I could bend my knee but extending it back out was very painful.  It was weird because I was fine on Saturday and then Sunday morning is when it began hurting.  I am wondering if I just over stressed my knees because they weren't used to running that long. 

See, I have slowly worked my way up to that long but not at a gradual pace.  Before I ran the full 13:30 the most I had done was 7 minutes.  Maybe my knees were just shot, maybe I need new shoes, or maybe I need to work on my stride and how my feet push off.  Kevin's already corrected me on that and when I push off correctly it feels good but I can't keep it going for very long without getting shin splits and I feel like I'm running on my tippy toes. 

I went to the gym yesterday and tried to run again and after about 4 minutes my knee was done for.  I still did intervals of walking/running and finished the mile in 15 minutes which wasn't bad for stopping 3 times to walk.  After that I did a 5.5mile bike ride and called it a day.  I could barely get down the stairs to leave the gym and stepping up into the Expedition was not fun! 
I took some Ibuprofen last night and called it a day. 

This week my goals are to find other ways to get my heart rate going without straining my knee.  I am doing to do more elliptical and bike, and maybe take a stab at the row machine. 

I am also going to try to do THIS  arm challenge via Skinny Ms. Fitness.  Who is with me?? 

Starting weight:  222
Today's weight:  210.2
Total lost:           11.8
Goal               :   170
Need to lose    :   40.2

Just for fun!

2 years. Same shirt
  39 weeks pregnant with Kaelin (left) 
Kaelin's 2nd birthday (right) 
My thighs look deceivingly good.  It must be the mirror because anyone in my family knows we do not have nice thighs! LOL! 
Have a great weekend everyone! 

Happy 2nd Birthday Kaelin Deborah!

I can't believe my baby girl is 2 years old today. These last 2 years have seriously flown by. Especially the last year.  We can't wait to celebrate with her today.  My heart seriously swells with happiness knowing Kevin has FINALLY been home for birthdays with both of his little girls.  Kaelin's only request is chocolate cake, chocolate cake and more chocolate cake!  I'll post more pictures after the day is done.  Happy Birthday Kbug!! We can't imagine our lives without you! 

Furniture Redo

 2 weeks ago, Kevin and I got a wild hair up our butt to refinish our dining table and chairs. 
2 years ago we had purchased a new dining set from Slumberland furniture.  It was counter height and only comfortable sat 4 people. It was fine for the first year or so but then the girls because climbing EVERYTHING and it made us very nervous with them being so high up on the table.  There was just no way to keep them down off of it.  Also, it did not have a leaf and although we had 6 chairs to go with it, 6 people around the table was a joke!   I had decided on a whim to list it online one day and within the first 10 minutes someone wanted to buy it for full price.  And within 2 days we were left with an empty kitchen and only a folding table and chairs.  We searched in stores for a nice "forever" dining set but knew we just couldn't afford it right now.  I was so bummed because it just didn't feel like a "home"  with a card table and folding chairs.  Then one day I found this (below) table and 6 chairs online listed for only $50 more than what we had sold our set for. AND it had a leaf that could be put in and seat up to 10 around the table! 
Kevin wasn't completely sold on it but we got it anyway.  The top was worn, as were the chairs.  As time went on I started to regret my $300 purchase and wished I would have just saved that money to put towards a new set. 
It finally got to the point where we had to do something.  We were tired of looking at it.  The top was so dingy and never seemed to get clean either.   We did some research on the best ways to refinish it and decided to go the paint route this time.  Deciding on colors was the hardest part. We probably spent an hour online looking at different color combos and then another hour in Home Depot doing the same.  We finally decided on doing a two tone combo of dark top and lighter base and chairs.  The outcome was better than we expected. I absolutely LOVE  how it turned out.  I feel like my entire kitchen is brighter now.  The total cost of supplies was around $250 but that included EVERYTHING 3 cans of paint, 2 cans of primer, a paint sprayer, drop clothes, rollers and tray.  Not bad considering we did we refinished a dining table, 6 chairs, 2 dressers, a bed, and a night stand.  That's right around $50 per piece of furniture.  While it seems like a lot right up front, it is WAY cheaper than purchasing new furniture.  Also, we have plans to use the sprayer on 3 other tables/t.v. cabinet and other crafts in the future, so that itself has already paid for itself too.  

 Kaelin's bed and dresser.  Paint color:  Hint of Violet. 
This color was perfect for her bed set.   When Kevin first painted it outside, it looked white but when held next to something white, I could definitely see the "hint of violet"  It seemed to get even more purple in her room with all of the bedding and curtains up.  I love it and I know we'll keep this for many years to come.  This bed and dresser were purchased at a garage sale for $75 when Lauren was a baby.  A fresh coat of paint makes it look brand new even though it's at least 30 years old! The bedding and curtains were hand me downs from my little sisters room.  Well she's not so little anymore since she's 25.  It just goes to show you that "old" can still be cute and look really well if taken care of. 

 Lauren's dresser came from Kevin's parents house and we took it with us when we moved to Kansas.  It is a nice solid wood dresser, just had a lot of imperfections was pretty scratched up.  Nothing a fresh coat of paint couldn't fix.  We used the same paint on this dresser and night stand below that we used on the top of the dining table.  Last minute I decided to paint the drawer pulls with some pink acrylic paint that I had in my craft room. It was the perfect touch.  I do need to take them off and seal them since acrylic on metal tends to be easily scratched off. 
Lauren's night stand below came from my parents house. It is as old as me, I'm sure. I don't remember a time that we didn't have it.    It was in fantastic shape, we just wanted it to match Lauren's dresser since we use it as her night stand. 
The brown color matches perfectly to her bedding that was passed down from my mom.  Pink & brown are perfect for a little girls room and unlike a "princess" or "Dora"  themed room, both of my girls rooms should not be outgrown for years to come.  Which means, less money spent on decorating in the years to come. 

Sorry I just had to show you my dining table again because it's so beautiful.  My husband and his skills rock! 

Tasty Tuesday

BBQ Chicken Pizza 

I can't take credit for this because I got the recipe from Pioneer Woman, but man oh man is it delicious!! 

We are still searching for a perfect pizza crust.  We used the recipe from the Pioneer Woman and it was good but just not "perfect".  At least not for us.  We are going to try it again though for good measure. 
*We left off the cilantro because we didn't have any and we used block mozzerella because we didn't have fresh. We thought it was still delicious and I imagine if you follow her recipe exactly it would be Scrumptious!  Enjoy! 

Recipe: CPK’s BBQ Chicken Pizza

Prep Time: 2 Hours  |  Cook Time: 15 Minutes  |  Difficulty: Easy  |  Servings: 12

 

Ingredients

• 1 whole Recipe For Pizza Crust (mine Makes Two Crusts)
• 2 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
• 1/2 cup Barbecue Sauce
• Olive Oil, For Drizzling
• Salt For Sprinkling
• 16 ounces, weight Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, Sliced Thinly
• 1/2 whole Red Onion, Cut In Half And Sliced Very Thin
• Chopped Cilantro, to taste

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Salt chicken breasts on both sides, then place in an ovenproof dish. Pour BBQ sauce over the breasts and turn them over to coat. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until chicken is done. Remove from oven and cut into a fine dice. Set aside.
Increase oven temperature to 500 degrees.
Roll/stretch out one pizza crust. Lay it on a sheet pan drizzled with olive oil. Drizzle a little olive oil on the crust, then sprinkle on a little salt.
Spoon a couple of tablespoons of extra BBQ sauce on the crust and spread it evenly. Top sauce with half the sliced mozzarella. Sprinkle on half the diced chicken and thinly sliced red onion.
Sprinkle again with a little salt, then bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and toppings are bubbly.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle on plenty of chopped cilantro. Cut into squares and serve immediately. Repeat with other crust and other ingredients, or save for another time.

Recipe: Basic Pizza Crust

Prep Time: 5 Minutes  |  Cook Time:  |  Difficulty: Easy  |  Servings: 12

 

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon Instant Or Active Dry Yeast
• 1-1/2 cup Warm Water
• 4 cups All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
• 1/3 cup Olive Oil

Preparation Instructions

Sprinkle yeast over 1 1/2 cups warm (not lukewarm) water. Let stand for a few minutes.
In a mixer, combine flour and salt. With the mixer running on low speed (with paddle attachment), drizzle in olive oil until combined with flour. Next, pour in yeast/water mixture and mix until just combined, and the dough comes together in a sticky mass.
Coat a separate mixing bowl with a light drizzle of olive oil, and form the dough into a ball. Toss to coat dough in olive oil, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and set it aside for 1 to 2 hours, or store in the fridge until you need it.
Note: it’s best to make the dough at least 24 hours in advance, and 3 or 4 days is even better.
When you are ready to make the pizza, grab HALF the pizza dough (recipe makes 2 crusts) and squeeze the dough toward the bottom to form a nice, tight, pulled ball. You can roll out the pizza with a rolling pin if you’d like, but sometimes it’s just as easy to throw it around and pull and stretch till it feels right. And when the crust is nice and thin, lay it on an oiled baking sheet or pizza pan. Drizzle a little olive oil on the dough and spread it with your fingers. Very lightly sprinkle some salt on the crust.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Top your crust with your toppings of choice. Then bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and toppings are bubbly.

*Note these are NOT my recipes, just wanted to share the greatness that is Ree Drummond!  If you haven't checked out her blog yet, go now! www.thepioneerwoman.com 

Selectively Lazy

I have been slacking off greatly with this blog lately and honestly I am just not into it as much as I used to be when Lauren was a baby.  My life has been much busier with two toddlers and quite frankly I enjoy my time just loafing on the couch when I do have some free time.  So to say that I have been "selectively lazy" with certain things in my life would be a true statement.  Also, I feel like 95% of my readers are already friends with me on Facebook.  Therefore, they've already seen the pictures, status updates, and funny quotes from the kids.  I feel redundant when I come on here and writing once again about what we've been up to. 

As far as my weight loss, it's has it's ups and downs.  It's different not having the "in person" accountability during my first weight loss journey last year.  Also, my cousin Annette who is also my accountability partner is my facebook friend and we message back and forth on there.  She has requested though that I keep up my blog as well and I am going to try my best to do so!!  Another change I am making is what day of the week I will have be my weigh in.  I have been blogging my weigh-ins on Fridays but that just isn't working for me.  I feel like I work really well Monday-Thursday and then weigh in on Friday and let loose on the weekend, then what happens is I gain 1-2+lbs back over the weekend and come Monday morning I am disappointed because I have to lose that weight PLUS the 1-2lbs a week that I am wanting to lose for my goal that week anyway.  So Fridays are no more and Mondays will be my new weigh-in day.  It's when I weighed in last year and it worked well for me.  I love starting out the week with a bang and a goal to work for and I feel like this will help me stay more on track on the weekends as well.

Food:  Oh Food.  I have come to realize that I have a very bad relationship with food.  I LOVE food.  I swear if I didn't love food so much, I'd have lost 3x the amount of weight.  My goals from now on are to eat to survive.  Right now, I eat out of boredom, eat to celebrate, eat when I'm stressed, etc.  You get the picture. This is especially true on the weekends when Kevin is home, because he loves food more than me!  The thing with him though is that he workouts out everyday at work and it doesn't affect him as much as it does me. 

SO today, I am starting fresh.  I am going to be 100% honest on here from now on and I plan to use this as my journal to vent my frustrations as well along this journey.

Today's weight:  212lbs
Starting weight:  222lbs
Last weeks weight:  210.2 (up 1.8)

Total weight loss to date:  10lbs

Goal:  52lbs (170lbs)

Just to put it into perspective. If I could lose 52lbs total this time around that would put my weight at 170lbs.  That would be 100lbs lost since the day I had Kaelin.  100lbs!!!!  How amazing would that be!  So 42 more lbs to go! Let's do this. 

These are my pictures from last years weight loss journey and I plan to take more this time around. 



  November 2010: 250lbs (Down 20lbs post partum) 

March:  2011  225lbs

May 2011:  210lbs  Approx where I am right now.