What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Did you miss me?? Well, I have been M.I.A. for a while because, suddenly my Dell laptop (our only computer other than an iPad) died!! So for Christmas I received a brand new laptop! An Apple Mac Book Pro!!!! This girl is HAPPY!!!! Y'all, this computer is cool and waaay smarter than me! I can text from it, has retina display, I mean I'm not sure what all it can do, but probably everything! So, I guess you don't have to guess that I am really, truly loving this!!!

Also, I got a 5qt. Kitchen Aid mixer! It's about time I am catching up with the times and ditch my hand held mixer! Isn't she a beauty? I can't wait to mix up some good grubs! I got a shredding/slicing attachment from the Hubs too! I've wanted one of those! FYI- I am not one of those women that hate "practical" gifts such as things around the house, I LOVE it! A vacuum, a blender or mixer...I will gladly take. People, I ASK for these kinds of gifts!

It took me forever to find this through Blogger!

This year Zane was really into presents and toys! It was amazing and so fun to watch! I taught him exactly what to do with presents, shake them!! You say the word "presents" to him, and he will pretend to shake an imaginary present! One thing I have come to really realize as a parent is they do mimic what they see you do a lot. So, I guess I clean a lot more than I thought. Zane will go get my mop from the "mop spot" and from across the room I see what looks like a floating mop handle, you know, think of the Disney movie Fantasia. Well I got him a mop and broom and vacuum (that has a dust buster attached) of his own. And with all the Elmo crap he got this year, his favorite toys are the cleaning supplies! Ladies, I am doing something right because this kid has been doing nothing but vacuuming, sweeping and mopping non-stop! Sometimes he will do all 3 at the same time!! Don't think for a second I won't soak his mop in cleaning solution while I am mopping too, lighten my cleaning load, don't judge, he likes it!

And folks, guess what...after 12 Christmases together, the Hubs went shopping all on his own and picked me up these gems. He knew I have had my eye on these and he remembered and went to get them all on his own! He kept them in his truck for about 2 weeks since because I'm a major snooper!!!

Nate Berkus for Target, I die!

Plus I got my favorite bath scrub and lots of jewelry, his sister helped him out in the jewelry department!

This is the best scrub ever! It's not in the least bit oily, so you won't bust your behind in the shower or junk up your tub! Places EVERYWHERE used to be sold out of this stuff by Black Friday (did I really just capitalize those words like it's a real Holiday?) It was on Oprah's Favorite Things years and years ago, and finally it's more available, but it really is the best!!

These aren't about Christmas, but some of my new faves.  I had been using Bare Minerals make-up for a long time now, ever since it became "the thing" but lately it has begun to make my face itch! No bueno!! And my face is dry and breaks out more than it used to! So, a few months ago I went to the Derm, he said Bare Minerals is the best, but I disagree! Sephora and our best Dallas mall, NorthPark has a store for this brand called Make Up For Ever. It has the best coverage I've ever seen! It is some what pricey, but what good make-up isn't? All I had to buy was the liquid foundation and compact powder. I don't even need concealer, and I have dark under eye circles! This make-up makes my face look flawless (and trust me, it's not!) and it makes it look as smooth as Zane's booty! Oh, did I mention it's waterproof?

And I also picked up THE BEST MOISTURIZER EVER!!!!! Also made by Philosophy and you can buy a small jar at Sephora for $15 that will probably last you a good long while! Hope In A Jar! It exfoliates as it moisturizes. Seriously, my face has never felt better!!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!! And don't think I am a huge spoiled brat...I am spoiled I must admit because I have such a generous, loving family that I don't deserve, but I love them ALL so so much!! I am a blessed woman! What all are you all loving?? Linking up with Jamie @ This Kind Of Love.

Eating Right!

When it comes to eating well and being a mommy, it's not the easiest job in the world! Eating healthy means preparation, and lots of it! You have to plan ahead what meals you're going to cook for the week and plan what exactly what get on your grocery shopping day, unless you want to go back and forth several times a week-I DON'T! Especially with a baby, that's madness! Then each day you have to remember to thaw out your meat so it's ready to cook in time for hubby to be home. I am only talking about dinner, folks! Meals inbetween (what are those) ha! I am busy enough during the day feeding my tot and making sure that's healthy too! Tired yet? I am!! But luckily I have found quick, healthy things for me to eat.

This is my new favorite!!! I just happened to stumble upon this one day. It's 250 calories and super

tasty!!! A great breafast option.

 I make a big batch of this green smoothie and refridgerate it so I can have it on the go. It's spinach, kale, a cut up pear, a whole banana, 1 cup of Chobani yogurt and some Almond milk (I just eyeball it).

Then you saw yesterday how I made several omelets and froze them for quick heating and eating. Get the instructions HERE!

Check out this nifty gadget! I got this on Amazon for $8, really! And it takes all the guess work out of portion control. There is even a line inside the holes that are for 1/2 a cup and filled up is 1 full cup. Cool huh?



For dinner, one of my quick "go to" meals is Skinny Taste's Turkey Meatloaf.  I found the recipe off Pinterest and it's Husband Approved! Steam some broccoli and whole grain rice and voila!



This shows you how to make several mini loaves, but I make it all in one.

Have you guys heard of Hungry Girl? You can sign up here for free emails and daily healthy recipes. There is also a cookbook which I have. It's got this great Crock-pot pulled pork recipe!! Zane loves it!! I will get some more good recipes up here for yall in the near future, you know me, I love to cook!!

  

Omelet Anyone?

I'm not sure what got me into the "omelet mood" but I have been! It's a yummy, healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner! I think I had my first omelet on our honeymoon...7 years ago. You can put anything you want in it! Here's how I like mine:

 I use spinach, mushrooms and green onion and tomatoes

My cut up tomatoes and green onions

First spray your pan with a non-stick spray, I use Smart Balance because there is zero fat and calories!

Then I saute the spinach and mushrooms!
It looks like alot of spinach, but it will cook waaaay down!

Got my tupperware dishes all set out and ready to go, for quick and easy freezing!

See it cooks down!

Add the tomatoes and onion and saute a little bit.



Add your eggs, or egg whites or I use egg beaters.



After it cooks and firms up a little bit I roll the uncooked eggs around the edges to cook, this makes it easier to fold later!

With a wooden spoon, fold edges.  It's important you use a non-stick pan.

Folded over and ready to eat! Yum

Linking up with My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Gettin' my sexy back!

Well, in all my blogging days I have purposely avoided this...the "get fit" topic. No more, my friends!! I guess since giving birth recently 18 months ago, I am finally at a point that I'm completely sick of how I look and feel in clothes! I miss my old body and the joy of running, really! My biggest problem is food, and portion control. Well actually, unhealthy food as well. When you have a husband who doesn't have to really watch what he eats, it makes it hard and also easy to say "ok yeah get me some Whataburger too!" I am tired of unhealthy food, I guess I finally got my fill!!!

Before I was pregnant I was fit people! And I ate very well!! I kept candy and junk food in the house (for the hubs) and I wouldn't touch it. Will power like crazy! I had this routine, I'd get to work, drink my coffee and maybe have some oatmeal. At lunch, I'd eat my sandwich with a side of fruit and on my way home eat a snack. I'd come home, change into my workout gear and hit the gym. When I got home I'd cook dinner. Same thing everyday! Monotonous, perhaps but it worked for me! I rarely ever ate fast food or sweets, I was not a fan of sweets, truly. That changed! I rarely had soft drinks and was obsessed with calorie counting and burning! I was 115, and my belly was flat as a board!

Honeymoon, 2006

Really skinny me @ Warrior Dash 2010

There was a time before I got into fitness that I had gained some, not fat just not happy with my body. It happened after marriage of course, and I was about 125. Then I got the fitness bug and got so addicted to running I'd run on my lunch breaks if I knew I couldn't make the gym after work. My family still gives me a hard time that I used to literally run to the gym to run and then I'd run home! I'm not even kidding!
 

Daytona, 2010 Washboard, I tell ya!

Out of the blue, going about my usually routine, I found out I was pregnant! I was happy, elated and felt incredibly blessed! But you have days when you don't feel great and cravings and you want to eat whatever you darn well please!! I did!!! This is when I got hooked on sweets!!! I'd eat what I wanted when I wanted and didn't feel bad about it. Of course, there were days I ate healthy too! But this started a terrible habit for me that, just now I am starting to break. My husband loved it though, donuts on Sundays, pizza, frozen yogurt...all this I craved! Then after the baby came, I'd eat what was convenient and hunger would just suddenly hit me where I had to eat now and didn't care what! AND let me say, I DID NOT BREAST FEED!! Big one that could have helped me but, oh well I was tired, it was a pain and I didn't produce well! But now, I still haven't been able to get into the running habit again. My routine these days are anything but a normal, same thing everyday! My gym doesn't offer daycare, so this poses a problem. I wait for the hubs to get home and by then, often I'm tired and it feels nicer just sitting on the couch and relaxing. Or other things would come up that I couldn't fit a workout in, yeah I know it's called life! 

9 mos preg, May 2011

So, here I am nearly 28, and need to lose 15lbs! I miss running, it makes you feel great and accomplished! I sweat like a pig and I feel great after, well after a shower! The best part, I sleep great!! Which now, I could really use! Becoming a parent, there is so much going on and so many things to worry about that I just can't shut my mind off at night! One other thing, I actually enjoy healthy food! It's crazy how crappy, crappy food makes you feel, really!! I have tried the workout DVD Insanity, took before pics, pulled my groin and never finished. I've had a personal trainer, and have tried Advocare! All these I just did, but didn't take seriously. I truly believe you have to whole-heartedly be ready in mind and body! I hope I am now and I hope that since I broke my "blogging rule" this will keep me (and all you readers) motivated and hold me accountable for sticking to it! I know I can do it, I've done it before. It's time to quit being lazy and get going!! Do I have your support??

Me now!

While I get my butt in gear, I'm going to link up to some of my inspirers, go check them out too:

Mama Laughlin

Stronger Than Yesterday

InstaFriday

Since I LOVE me some instagram, I thought this would be a fun weekly post! You will probably see alot of repeats because I am not a photographer, so to make my pictures look better I break out my Instagram app! I know photographers are laughing at my attempt to make my pics look edited, but I could give a rip! I don't have time or patience to mess with Photoshop, nor do I have that expensive software! Besides, everyone is doing photography now, I can think of atleast 5 people who I know that are photographers or trying to get started in the business, who needs one more haha! I don't think I know how to use all the features, however, so how do y'all make a collage thing??

Some of my pics on Instagram lately...

Every time I went in for a sono when I was pregnant with Zane, his ankles were always crossed!! He still crosses them constantly!!

 This is one of my favorite pics right now! Me and my boy goofing around Christmas shopping!

I LOVE this one of my boys eating suckers!! My husband would give them to Zane for teething! Big mistake, we had to hide our candy dish!

My new, GORGEOUS Nativity scene!! This is a must Christmas piece! Jesus is the reason for the season!!!
I need to get better taking Instagram photos, but y'all follow me on there ok? lesward311
Linking up with Life Rearranged

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

So many things to love right now! 

I really love this Christmas season since Zane is old enough now to really enjoy it! He loves our tree and all our decor, and I cannot wait to buy him tons of presents!!!!!

My mantle!



Isn't my Nativity gorgeous??



This is the 1st time we have ever put lights on our house!

Fun shopping with my little man!!

I cannot live without these things! They wipe up any little thing and disinfect! With a toddler in the house, it's very important!



It's finally cooled off here in the great state of Texas and I'm really loving it!!!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE being a mommy to this little boy! He's so hilarious and cute and sweet!!!!

I'm linking up with http://littledaisymay.blogspot.com/, http://thecurvylife2011.blogspot.com/, http://abcoulter.blogspot.com/, http://kalmikla.blogspot.com/

We have a winner!!

And the winner of the Christmas card giveaway is.....Tracy Howard!!!!!! Congrats!  Let's email and get this thing personalized for ya!! And a special thanks to my friend Amy at Bleu Print Shoppe!!!!

And the award goes to...

Well I am excited! Heather (my SIL) nominated me for the Liebster Award!  I was not sure what in the heck this was! But I'm super glad I do now and I was honored to be awarded!!! Isn't this button cute?? What is it you ask, read on...

This award is given to new or up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers! The award is then passed on to other bloggers in the same category to help spread their names around and support one another! I'm so excited since I have been trying to get lots of new followers!!!

If you receive this award, there are a few rules that you must follow...

•  Each blogger nominated must post 11 things about themselves.
• Then answer the 11 questions the tagger has asked.
• Blogger must then create 11 questions of their own to ask the bloggers they decide to nominate.
• Then they must choose 11 bloggers with less than 200 followers to nominate and link them on their blog post.
• Finally, the bloggers must be notified of their award! 
• Oh, and there are no tag backs. 

11 Random Facts about ME!

1) I am a serious neat-freak!!
2) But I HATE doing dishes!
3) My dream is to have a house in the mountains!!!
4) I have broken 3 cameras all in one year
5) I used to be addicted to running! I actually used to run to my gym, just to run and then run home!
6) I am pretty knowledgable in medicine and anatomy, I made A's in Biology in college, it just clicks with me.
7) No one knows this...but, sometimes I think I could have been a doctor, because of the above question, but I hate school.
8) I love reality shows, not the Bachelor kind of stuff, but like Teen Mom, The Voice, Giuliana & Bill, and yes The Kardashians!!
9) I hate tea.
10) I have always lived by the railroad.
11) I have a major crush on Ian Kinsler, he plays 2nd base for the Texas Rangers


Questions from Heather:

1) Dogs or Cats? Dogs for sure! Cats, to me are nasty! But I love their craziness!

2) Pink or Purple? Tough one, but still pink!

3) Do you like pulp in your OJ? Heck no!!

4) What is your favorite color? I don't have just one! I love turquoise, green, red, blue, you name it! 

5) If you could eat only one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?  And not get fat or have health problems, it'd have to be

6) What was your first concert? I think Travis Tritt

7) Do you own cowboy/girl boots?  Does a dog lick his behind?? Yes, I have cowboy boots, I live in Texas!

8) Dr. Pepper or Coke?  If I HAD to choose, I guess DP

9) What is your favorite city to visit? New York!!

10) What is your biggest pet peeve? Liars, hands down!

11) Do you prefer Summer or Winter?  um, Spring!

My Questions for my super cool nominees:
1) Are you right or left handed?
2) What's your favorite restaurant?
3) What is your favorite vegetable?
4) What size shoe do you wear?
5) What brand of laundry detergent do you use?
6) Mustard or Mayo?
7) Favorite band/singer?
8) Best Christmas gift you ever received?
9) Cooking appliance you could not live without?
10) Favorite pizza topping?
11) Who do you most admire and why?

And my nominees......

Grace and Pearls

It's Me Again Margaret

Keeping Up With Kayla

Just A Small Town Girl

Simple Bliss

Fantastically Average

ABC: Alphabet of Our Lives

Everything's Hunky Dorey

Doe Loves Buck
Somethin Bout a Truck

Deviled Megs