19 Questions for My Girls...

I have seen this idea float around for quite some time and never took the time to do it.

Until today. All of the girls plus me are sick with the worst cold in the history of colds. It has been a miserable few days over here. I took this as a plus--we were going to do 19 questions!

I saw this on Pinterest and loved her list of questions-I modified a few for my girls and we had so much fun giggling over their answers. I hope to ask my daughters these questions each year--it will be a fun way to see how they grow and change.

1. what is something mommy always says to you?
Bella: take a Bath
Maddie: Minnie Mouse

2. what makes mommy happy?
Bella: to clean up
Maddie: dinosaurs

3. what makes mommy sad?
Bella: when you get hurt
Maddie: sad

4. how does mommy make you laugh?
Bella: when you make silly faces! that makes you funny.
Maddie: dinosaurs

5. what was mommy like when i was a little girl?
Bella: you liked to play with us!
Maddie: Minnie Mouse. (anyone else sensing a pattern?)

6. how old is mommy?
Bella: 4
Maddie: little snake

7. how tall is mommy?
Bella: really tall!
Maddie: *claps and plays with toys*

8. what is mommy's favorite thing to do?
Bella: eat
Maddie: drink

9. what does mommy do when daddy takes you all out to the park or to lunch?
Bella: you sit at home.
Maddie: *has totally lost interest in this game*

10: if mommy was to be famous, what would it be for?
Bella: me, me, me!

11. what's mommy really good at doing?
Bella: picking up the stuff in the living room

12. what's mommy not very good at doing?
Bella: i don't know.

13. what does mommy do for a job?
Bella: you read to us.

14. what is mommy's favorite thing to eat?
Bella: chicken

15. what makes you really proud of mommy?
Bella: when we pick up you get really happy.

16. what is mommy's favorite tv show?
Bella: you watch the news.

17. what do you and mommy do together?
Bella: we play games.

18. how are you and mommy the same?
Bella: I'm 4 and you're 5.

19. when we leave the house, what is mommy's favorite thing to do?
Bella: shop!


I had a blast with my girls doing this little activity. Some of their answers really made me laugh--I can't wait until next year when we do this again!

8 at 8

This little cutie is now 8 months old (as of Saturday):

And because I love writing about my girls more than anything, I figured why not create a little list for her to see what she has been up to?

1) She is infatuated with clapping and waving. It's adorable and melts my heart every single time. She's a heart melter, this one.

2) Still in love with cat/dog food although cat food is her nibble of choice. I have now resorted to moving said bowls, although I'm sure me chasing her around has been a huge help in my weight loss.

3) She tried homemade chicken noodle soup last night and LOVED it. She may or may not have also tasted a homemade oatmeal cookie for dessert after her dinner.

4) Story time is one of her favorite times of the day. She snuggles up with her older sisters and just listens to me read to her.

5) Speaking of sisters, when they wake up after she and I do? Her face breaks out in the biggest of smiles. The amount of love that she has for Isabella and Madelyn is enormous and I love it.

6) Still no teeth. I can feel her bottom two--but they haven't made an appearance as of yet. Maybe by 9 months? We shall see.

7) She loves beans. Not green beans, but homemade by her mommy or daddy pinto beans from the Crock-Pot. She cries for more--and she usually gets more.

8) She is loves standing up everywhere that she can--in her crib, at the couch, at the windows. If she can hoist herself up she makes sure to do it.

I cannot believe that my Brynlie is already 8 months...I mean, really--she will be 1 year in less than 4 months! Mind blowing and knowing how quickly time passes I make sure to soak up all of my time with her. It doesn't bother me one bit to rock her to sleep, move her into bed with me to nurse during the night. I want to enjoy every sweet moment with my baby girl.

Counting Calories Really Does Work. Huh, Who Knew?

When I was in the Air Force I taught nutrition. Counting calories. Good foods. Bad foods.

You get the picture.

After I rang in the new year I knew that something had to give. I've started and stopped multiple fitness routines. It's hard to find some sort of workout with three little ones at home, one who never naps and the other two rarely nap at the same time. We don't have an elliptical/treadmill/etc so those are out.

The husband leaves for work at 6:15 in the morning and typically doesn't arrive home until 6:00 or even later.

I've tried the workout videos. I stuck with them for awhile, but I had my teenage stepdaughter here at the time who would watch the girls for that small window of time (which, by the way, she was an AMAZING help!).

Nothing worked out for me. Every time I "failed" at some sort of fitness routine I would eat even more. Baking is my weakness--and let me tell you I love nothing more than a warm chocolate chip cookie straight from the oven. They are therapeutic and make me feel good. Until I have to weigh myself and see the number steadily rising instead of lowering.

I woke up one day and started utilizing my food diary app on my phone (MyFitnessPal). I decided that it was time to accept that I need to lose weight.

I have been on a strict calorie routine for two weeks now. In that two weeks? I've lost 7 pounds.

7. freaking. pounds.

Amazingness, really. I cut out a ton of crap from my diet. I no longer eat cookie after cookie.

I smile now when I weigh myself. Granted my numbers aren't where I would love them to be, but they are getting there. I'm eating in a way that adapts to my lifestyle--not some fad diet that is a temporary fix.

And the biggest shock? Seeing what equals out to my allowed number of calories. I truly have to wonder how many damn calories a day was I eating?! It's insane. I told Leo I want to go for a day in my old ways to count how many a day I had been consuming...

I'm not going to lie, the first few days were excruciating for me. I thought I was going to die without some form of refined sugar hitting my lips. It was as if I was having sugar withdrawals (which I'm sure I was...). If there is a cookie and we are out I will allow myself one and it gets recorded on my app. I am holding myself accountable for what enters my mouth.

Are you trying to eat healthier or lose weight? What's your weight loss goal?


*We are hoping to pay off another credit card and then save for an elliptical. Until then I'm just walking the 3.4 miles on our local bridge on Leo's weekends off.


**I am still eating an adequate amount of calories in order to breastfeed. 

My Personal Beauty Resolutions

Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://www.discoverbeautywithin.com/.

With a new year comes new resolutions. I always hear people talk about the weight they are determined to lose or that this year will be the year to kick the tobacco habit once and for all. But one resolution that I don't hear about as much would be in terms of beauty. 

After thinking about my beauty routine (or lack thereof in some areas) I have vowed to do more for my body on the beauty side of things. 

First, I need to wash my face more. I know, I know. I am in my early 30's and I still don't have a nightly regimen down for cleaning my face. I do wash my face with warm water...but I am thinking I need to add a cleanser to my lacking routine. My skin is sensitive so I have to be super careful to what I place on my skin. My top pick for cleaning my face? The Neutrogena Liquid Facial Cleanser (Fragrance Free). 

My second beauty resolution is to take better care of my nails. Before I had my daughters I was always getting a mani. But now that I am a mom? Not so much. My favorite polish brand is Essie. I love their entire line. I've been eyeing the Essie Disappearing Trick Conditioning Cuticle Remover for some time now. I think I will add this to my list of beauty resolutions for 2012.

My final beauty resolution for the year is to always, always, always wear sunscreen on my face. I'm good at remembering it on my arms, legs, feet. I need to remember that my face needs protection from the sun and its harmful rays, too. The easiest way for me to remember to do this is to use a moisturizer with an added SPF included. I moisturize my face daily so it would be a two-for-one. I want to try out the Cetaphil Daily Face Moisturizer w/Sunscreen SPF 50. It looks to be something that will moisturize and not irritate my skin.

Do you have any beauty resolutions for the new year? I would love to hear what you plan on doing for yourself in 2012!