Lauren - isms

When it comes to singing Lauren is all her father, make up the words if you don’t know them and everything you say sounds better to some sort of tune!  We will be driving down the road and she will bust out into some sort of some that I recognize the tune but she is completely making it her own.  I love it and wouldn’t have it any other way!

 

"Row row row your busy gently down the street. Lauren Lauren Lauren. Life's a bottom dream."

 

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

 

"You can eat off the Spiderman plate but that doesn't make you spider man for real because you are a mom."

 

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

 

"When I grow up I am going to name my baby Unicorn."

 

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

 

"Holy moly casser-ole"

Book: Mercy

Ok. where do I start? This book had everything from lying and cheating, to murder. In the end it was a good book, I felt relieved to finish it. But it took me almost a quarter to half of the way through before I felt like I "wanted" to finish it rather than I "had" to finish it.

It's set in a small close nit town that is rocked when a man from a nearby town confesses to killing his terminal wife all because she asked him to do it.  It takes you through the days leading up to the murder as well as the trial and the decision by the jury.

 That wasn't really the story that captivated me though. What got me was the story line between Cameron MacDonald and his wife Allie. A devoted wife shocked to discover her husband cheating on her right under her nose. Honestly it pissed me off to no end!  Picoult paints Cam as this wonderful, handsome man who would do anything for his family and his wife Allie as completely devoted to her husband who would do anything for him. I was utterly disgusted with the lying and cheating that went on behind his wife's back! I hate reading about cheating spouses. It really gets my blood boiling!

Mercy a concept woven into each and every story line in this book. What would you do for someone you love? Would you take their life if they were terminally ill and asked you to? Would you forgive them of lying and cheating?

Silhouette III

 

 

 

It’s been quite a while since we took our family pictures.  BACK IN OCTOBER!!  But I still had more silhouettes that I wanted to share. 
The kids had so much fun with Brian throwing them up in the air!

I think the one above might just be my favorite!  I love the sunburst right there in the middle of it all.

Behind The Name

Several weeks ago I tweeted asking if my blog title Ladybugs, Butterflies and Boxing was too long for a custom URL.  I have been contemplating changing the address for the blog and maybe even the title.  Katie replied to my tweet saying that she didn't even know the story behind my blog title and it got me to thinking...no one does really!  I am pretty sure I have never posted why I chose Ladybugs, Butterflies and Boxing as the title for my blog. 

It all started three years ago when I was just getting into the blogosphere.  I had been reading a few for a while and wanted to start commenting.  Most blogs like you to have some sort of ID so I signed up for blogger and decided I may even give this blogging thing a try.  The day I decided to start my blog it was almost on a whim and I really hadn't thought it through.  It asked me what I wanted my URL to be and I hadn't even decided on a name for the blog so I just used our last name, now in retrospect, I should have waited until my creative juices were flowing and I decided what my little place on the Internet was going to be called. 

It took me several weeks to decide what name I wanted.  I thought of several and turned to trusty old google to see if anyone else had that same name or a similar name, many of the ones I wanted were taken.  So I got to thinking about my family.  At the time Lauren was one year old so it was just the three of us.  I wanted something that represented my family but not using our name. 

Ladybugs - my nickname from my mom has always been ladybug among several other things she has called me over the years but this one has stuck.  My kitchen is decorated in ladybugs and in fact I have two tattoos that both have something to do with ladybugs.

Butterflies - when we were decorating Lauren's nursery the bedding and wall decorations we picked out have butterflies on them. 

Boxing - this one is for Brian.  Long before Lauren was born Brian began training with a friend of his to become basically a UFC style of boxer/fighter.  He would train several hours a day, most days of the week and he really wanted to do some amateur fights.  When Lauren was born he decided that it was really more of a hobby to him rather than something he wanted to do professionally.  {thank goodness!!}

And that is how Ladybugs, Butterflies and Boxing was born.  Obviously since I have started blogging things have evolved and we have had another child.  I have been toying around with changing the name but nothing really has jumped out at me.  I do really want to change the URL though, something to incorporate the title of the blog but it just seems so long.  I am open to suggestions for both!  :)

Teaching Grace

We are at that point in Lauren’s life where we are trying to teach her grace, understanding and sportsmanship. I firmly believe that we shouldn’t “let” her win all the time or really even at all. When we play games I of course don’t set out to beat her but I do want her to learn to be a good teammate and to handle not winning with grace. I know that it is good for her self esteem to win but I think it is better if she wins because she’s earned it.

She loves to race. We race getting dressed, heading to the car, buckling the car seats, all sorts of things and often times she beats me and often times I beat her. I have found that she likes to declare a race when she is way ahead or already done. This presents Brian and I with the challenge of teaching grace.

When we play a game and she gets upset because she is losing I always make sure to tell her it’s ok to not win every time that it is still fun to play the game and to be happy for the person who is winning. Plus you never know, you could come back and win in the end!

This morning as I was taking them in to daycare she says to me “It’s a race and I need to get ahead of you before we start because it’s my race!” I responded with “Hey that’s not the way it works, we have to start from the same place in order for it to be a fair race.” She immediately stopped, came back to where I was and then said let’s race! I couldn’t have been more proud of her. I think she may be starting to get it. I know that really this is a lifelong lesson that every person has to learn however I hope that by starting on it early with her it will benefit her down the road.

How have you taught your children this life lesson? Or how have you learned this yourself?

The Vow

On Friday Brian and I were lucky enough to have a date night!  It was much needed.  We went to see "The Vow"  not only was Channing Tatum nice to look at but it was a great movie.  A beautiful love story and very thought provoking. 

Incredibly this movie was based on a true story.  Two people fall in love and then are in a major car accident where the woman loses her entire memory for the last 5 years...their whole entire relationship.  The movie is about their journey back to one another.

I will admit that I cried more than once during the movie and I thought about it the whole way home.  It brought up alot of questions about love and life in general.  Leo, Channing Tatum's, character not only has to go through "losing" his wife because she can't remember him but the challenge of trying to make her fall in love with him again.  It was beautiful to see how he navigated through life after the accident, how he loved her so much that essentially he had to let her go.  It reminded me of that saying "if you love something let it go. If it comes back to you, its yours forever, if it doesn't, then it was never meant to be."  or another version "If you love something, set it free; if it comes backs it's yours, if it doesn't, it never was."  Those quotes ran through my head several times during the movie.




I get goosebumps watching the trailers!  I can't wait for this to come out on DVD, it is definitely a movie worth watching a second time!

During/During

These aren't true before and after photos 1 because I started this journey a long time 46 pounds ago and 2 because I have a long ways ahead of me about 30 pounds left to go.  So these are my during/during photos.  Someday I will go through my pictures of 46 pounds ago and show you this journey from the beginning!

If I would have thought about it I would have taken my first shot on Day 1 of the 17 Day Diet but I forgot and started on Day 3.

Then Day 9

and Day 17.  There isn't as much of a change from day 9 to 17 as there was from day 3 to day 9 but I had the flu so what can I say!

I am so proud of what I accomplished on the first cycle of the diet.  I have moved into cycle 2 and am adding some natural starches back into my diet, I am back at exercising a little more each day, and I have already lost almost 2 more pounds! 

17 Day Diet - Day 17!!!!

Day Seventeen Recap

Starting Weight 180.4

Current Weight 171.4

Total Weight loss for the 17 Day Diet 9 pounds!

Breakfast

• 1/2 cup cottage cheese
• cup of green tea

Snack

• none 

Lunch

• fajita veggie salad
• cup of green tea

Snack

• none

Dinner

• turkey burger steamed asparagus
• cup of decaf green tea

Exercise

• 20 minutes on the elliptical

Overall I am pleased with the 9 pounds that I lost in the last 17 days.  I have no doubt had I not gotten sick it would have been more but 171 pounds is a milestone and one of my mini goals.  That is what I weighed BEFORE I got pregnant with Lauren!!!  Plus I am so close to throwing away my fat jeans it isn't even funny.  A couple more pounds and my soon to be regular jeans will be just right.  :) 

I am going to continue onto Cycle Two of the 17 Day Diet but I will not be posting every day, probably more like once a week.  I still have about 30 more pounds that I want to lose.  If you have any questions please feel free to ask!

17 Day Diet - Days 15 & 16

I didn't get yesterday's post up and really there was nothing to report so I am combining it with today's.  Yesterday I got up, got ready for work and headed out in the snow.  I got to work, felt like crap, attended a meeting, did a few things and left.  I could barely hold my head up.  This awful ear thing is just sticking around.  I went back to the doctor and my ear is infected.  He said he was pretty sure that I am still contagious, ordered me off work until Thursday, assured me that rest and finishing my medicine was all that would help.  COME ON!  Like I wasn't planning on finishing my medicine.  Seriously!  I want this to be over.  I need to get back to work and I need to get back to exercising.  Anyways I am trying to get my ear to pop.  I think that will help. Nothings working!  When I talk I feel like it is all in my head and I can't hear very well from that ear.  But I guess the good news is I have no appetite and I really can't taste the food I am eating all that much. 

Day 15
Breakfast

• apple

Lunch

• a couple of cups of popcorn. {not on the diet, just trying to keep it real}

Snack

• none

Dinner

• cup of noodles left over from the chicken and noodles my mom made the other day. {again not on the diet, seriously I am grasping at straws with what is left in my refrigerator.  I haven't been to the store and I am at the mercy of Brian and my mom who has been so nice to help out with the kids AND cook for me.}

Exercise

• none

Day 16
Breakfast

• smoothie

Lunch

• baked chicken with green beans

Snack

• none

Dinner

• Lightened Up Bang Bang Shrimp...a little Valentine's Day Splurge

Exercise

• 10 minutes on the elliptical {gotta start back somewhere right!?!}

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! 

This year we are going to camp out on the couch more than likely due to this stupid flu!  Even though I am feeling better today, best day since this whole thing started, I don't feel like going out. 

Last week I wrote a guest post for Project Marriage about Valentine's Day...go check it out!  I talk about Brian and I's first Valentine's Day and how we don't need a special day to remind us of how much we love each other.

This year I told Brian nothing fancy, I just wanted him to plan something.  If he wanted to go out then I wanted him to find a sitter and do all the details.  However that was BEFORE I got sick!  Last night he came home from work, scared me to death because I was asleep, as he hurled a white box at me.  I had asked him to take in my Lauren necklace and get it fixed because the chain had broke.  Well my Lauren necklace is now my Colton necklace too.  He had Colton's birthstone added to the necklace along with Lauren's birthstone.  It is beautiful!!!

I hope that you all have a lovely Valentine's Day.  Hug that special someone, whoever it may be. 

17 Day Diet - Day 14

I am almost at the end of the 17 days and part of me wants to call it quits. I mean I've been sick since Thursday and feel like its been such a waste. However I have come too far to stop now. I still have three days, right!?! RIGHT! Breakfast

•  smoothie with almond milk, strawberries and yogurt

Lunch

• egg drop soup

Dinner

•  turkey chili 

Exercise

• none

I'm feeling much better today and looking forward to getting back on track tomorrow. This flu sure has kicked my butt!

17 Day Diet - Day 13

Nothing new to report.  I am feeling much better than yesterday.  Much less like I have been ran over by a truck and more like I was just hit by a bicycle.  I have been in bed all day again but have been feeling decent enough to sit up and watch some TV.  My fever broke in the middle of the night which was tremendous! 

Breakfast

•  1/2 container of yogurt

Lunch

• chicken broth

Dinner

•  1 cup of chicken and noodles, not on the diet but ulitmate comfort food made by my sweet mom. 

Exercise

• none

17 Day Diet - Day 12

I woke up this morning feeling worse than last night even though I took some medicine that helped me sleep.  My fever was higher so I called into work and have spent the whole day in bed with the exception of going to the doctor,  And just as I suspected I have a sinus infection and influenza on top of that. I have spent all day alternating between freezing and sweating. I'm super sick. I'm praying that Brian and Colton do not get this and that Lauren already being on an antibiotic will prevent her from getting it asian.

Breakfast

•  nothing

Lunch

• egg drop soup brought to me by my loving husband {not on the 17 day diet}
I only ate about a cup of it.

Snack

• none

Dinner

• none

Exercise

• none

Show Us Your Life - Working Mom

Today I am linking up with Kelly from Kelly's Korner Blog once again for Show Us Your Life.  Today's topic is working moms.  I think that all moms are working moms.  Just because one chooses to stay at home with her children doesn't mean she doesn't work!

I have written several posts on my thoughts about being a working mom.  I treasure the time that I spend with my child but I do not regret for one minute my choice to work outside the home.  I did at first, when I first went back to work after Lauren was born I so badly wanted to stay home but as she got older and I saw her interaction with her teachers and her classmates I knew that we had made the right decision.  Lauren is such a social butterfly and thrives being around her friends.  Then Colton came along and going back to work was much easier than the first time around.  I know that the daycare teachers love my children almost as much as I do.  They cry when my kids get a boo boo, they rejoice when they hit a milestone and during Colton's harness wearing days they were unbelievable supportive and caring. 

I am thankful for Kelly doing this topic today so that us working mom can lend support to one another.  Whether you work outside the home or stay at home motherhood is not easy and we should be there for one another every step of the way! 

17 Day Diet - Day 11

Breakfast

•  pineapple
• Vanilla Greek yogurt
• cup of green tea 

Snack

• apple

Lunch

• salad topped with cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, zuchinni, and two hard boiled eggs
• cup of green tea

Snack

• none

Dinner

• turkey chili
• cup of decaf green tea

Exercise

• none

Wouldn't you know it, when you don't want kids to share they do.  I am pretty sure that Lauren has shared with me her sinus infection and bronchitis.  I started feeling horrible in the afternoon and was running a fever by bed time.  I hate losing my momentum of working out but I had no energy!

17 Day Diet - Day 10

Today is my uncle's birthday and last night I stayed up late baking him a cake. A delicious angel food type cake, layered with custard and topped with a marshmallowy type icing.  Yes I know I shouldn't be baking cakes while on a diet but I did MUCH less taste testing than I usually do.

 Tonight we went out to dinner to celebrate and went to the local Mexican restaurant. Mexican just so happens to be my favorite cuisine so it was tough, but I steered clear of the chips and salsa and opted for a chicken taco salad instead of my normal higher calorie favorites. When it came time for cake I took a couple of bites, I soooo could have eaten a whole piece, it tasted so good, but I thought really hard about it and chose not too.  I could have eaten the cake.  I am sure I had some calories left over to spare but it wasn't in my plan and I don't need any set back.  I feel like I am getting to the point again where it is so much easier to say no because I know those things will not be beneficial.

Breakfast

•  1/2 cup cottage cheese
• 1 cup pineapple
• cup of green tea 

Lunch

• salad with broccoli, cauliflower, onion and two hard boiled eggs
• cup of green tea

Snack
none

Dinner

• chicken taco salad. I splurged and are the cheese but made sure to skip the sour cream. I also couldn't resist eating a bit if the shell.
• cup of decaf green tea

Exercise

• 50 minutes on the elliptical

17 Day Diet - Day 9

Everything is moving right along. Lauren is feeling better today and will be going back to daycare tomorrow.  Brian stayed home with her and I went back to work.  Playing catchup from missing a day kept me really busy! 

Starting Weight 180.4

Current Weight 173.6

Total Weight loss for the 17 Day Diet 6.8 pounds!!

Breakfast

•  2 hard boiled eggs
• orange
• cup of green tea 

Lunch

• stuffed pepper left overs
• cup of green tea

Snack

• Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Dinner

• stir fry consisting of cabbage, spinach, green bell pepper, onion, carrots, broccoli, ginger, garlic adn low sodium soy sauce along with sliced grilled chicken
• cup of decaf green tea

Exercise

• 31 minutes on the elliptical

Cherry Coke Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting

As promised here is the recipe for the delicious cupcakes I made for Lauren's party. I may have ate a dozen or so of these all by myself. You think I am kidding...why did I gain 5 pounds in January!! They are just that good!

I adapted the recipe from several that I found on line combining here and there, taking out and adding ingredients. They turned out superb!



I did them two ways.  The cupcakes are cherry coke cupcakes with a marshmallow frosting and a cherry coke glaze.  Some of the cupcakes I put the glaze on top of the frosting and the others I put underneath the frosting.  I don't know which way was better because they both were scrumptious.



Cherry Coke Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting and a Cherry Coke Glaze

For the Cupcakes
recipe adapted from Food Network

Ingredients

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup cherry coke, warmed in microwave for 1 minute
• 2 tablespoons Maraschino cherry juice {you can also add chopped cherries for more cherry flavor}

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners.

In a large bowl using an electric mixer on low speed, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the eggs, half-and-half, oil, and vanilla and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in the warmed cherry cola until fully combined.

Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full with batter and bake until the cupcakes spring back when touched with your finger, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool in the pans for a few minutes, and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the Marshmallow Frosting
{warning the recipe that follows tastes exactly like Marshmallow fluff and is HIGHLY addictive}

Ingredients

• 8 egg whites
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Place the egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in a heat-safe bowl over a saucepan with boiling water. Whisk constantly over the heat for 1 to 3 minutes. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from the heat and beat with an electric mixer on high until stiff peaks have formed, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the vanilla extract

For the Cherry Cola Glaze

recipe adapted from Confessions of  Cookbook Queen

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Cherry Coke
• 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 4 Tablespoons butter
• 2 ounces white chocolate, chopped {or white chocolate chips}
• 2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
  

Directions
Melt the butter and white chocolate in a small pan over medium low heat. Once the butter is melted, add the cocoa powder, Cherry Coke, and cherry juice, whisk well. Once the mixture just begins to boil, remove from heat and whisk in the powdered sugar. Spoon the glaze directly onto the cupcake before adding the marshmallow icing or over the iced cupcakes.

17 Day Diet - Day 8

Day 8

Breakfast

•  Vanilla Greek Yogurt
• 1 cup of sliced strawberries
• cup of green tea 

Lunch

• salad with 3 sliced button mushrooms, cilantro, 2 hard boiled eggs, Walden Farms Asian dressing
• cup of green tea

Snack

• none

Dinner

• Stuffed green peppers, filled with ground turkey, onion, spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, and a red bell pepper
• cup of decaf green tea

Exercise

• 30 minutes on the elliptical

Today was a rough day.  Lauren has not been feeling well at all and both she and Colton were up throughout the middle of the night for a couple of hours.  Least to say I didn't get a whole lot of sleep! I stayed home from work and took her to the doctor. She has bronchitis and a sinus infection like I suspected.  Then this afternoon I started not feeling well.  I thought it might be a touch of the stomach flu but I have been okay since this afternoon so I am not sure what was up!  AGH!  Anyways Brian is staying with Lauren tomorrow and I am back to work.  Here's hoping she kicks this thing and fast!  Poor thing is miserable. 

Party Time

I guess its about time I got around to blogging about Lauren’s birthday party.  It was over two weeks ago!  She had a wonderful day.  We had her party at one of those blow up bouncy house places.  This was the second year in a row.  It makes it so easy.  There is plenty to entertain the kids and I don’t have to clean up after!!!


Colton LOVED the slides.  He was going down them right along with the big kids.  Even head first!     
We had two kinds of cake.  This adorable Dora doll cake that my mom made. 
and these Cherry Coke Cupcakes that I made.  Recipe coming soon! They were amazing!!!!     
Lauren is so blessed to have so many people that love her.  She got tons of presents!     
Afterwards we went to Red Robin.  A yummy burger place.  I knew that she would be all about them singing to her so when they brought her a balloon “hat” she freaked!  She LOVED it and wore it home that way.     
     
Birthday sundae.  YUMM!!!

A rare shot of me and my princess.  The dress was a gift from my grandma and it lights up. 

17 Day Diet - Day 7

Okay it is confession time.  When Brian and I went out last night I caved and cheated!  We split and order of fried pickles and you know what they were delicious.  I love fried pickles!  I did feel slightly guilty while I was eating them but really they weren't packed with that many calories.  One of the girls was laughing at me because even though I was eating something off my diet I chose to technically eat a vegetable!  Even still the scale is going down!!

Starting Weight 180.4

Current Weight 175.0

Total Weight loss for the 17 Day Diet 5.4 pounds

Breakfast

•  1 smoothie made with 1/2 cup of almond milk, 1/2 vanilla yogurt, 1 cup of fruit
• cup of green tea 

Lunch

• turkey burger
• side salad with 1 green onion, 2 sliced button mushrooms, and drizzled with a dressing I made with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, minced garlic, 1 tablespoon of lime juice and cilantro.
• cup of green tea

Snack

• Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Dinner

• Mock Chinese Fried Rice
• cup of decaf green tea

Exercise

• 35 minutes on the elliptical

17 Day Diet - Day 6

Good Saturday to ya!!  Today I am so thankful for Colton taking two naps and allowing me to get some things done.  I am also thankful that my mom watched him while Lauren and I went to the store and that she is also watching them tonight while Brian and I go out!

The new eating habits are moving right along.  I am doing really well and I feel great!

Day Six Recap

Breakfast

• 3 scrambled egg whites
• 1 cup of pineapple
• cup of green tea

Snack

• apple 

Lunch

• grilled chicken with baked zucchini and yellow squash
• cup of green tea

Snack

• Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Dinner

• turkey burgers with grated carrot, zucchini, and diced mushrooms inside the meat.  This will give the turkey some juice since it normally tends to be dry.
• cup of decaf green tea

Exercise

• 33 minutes on the elliptical

Tonight is date night.  Brian and I are going out with my coworkers to celebrate a new position one of my employees has accepted.  My plan is to eat before hand and drink water for the night.  I don't want to ruin my diet by indulging.  I can do this.  I have a goal and I am headed in the right direction.  There is no need to derail my plan, even if it is just for one night. I completed my exercise early in the day so there would be no excuse when we got home that I was too tired or that it was too late.  I also went grocery shopping for the upcoming week.  It feels so good to stay on the parameter of the store for the majority  of my items! 

Thanks for joining me on this journey.  I hope you aren't sick of these posts yet.  I don't think that I am going to post my meals daily once the 17 days are over.  I think you all get the jest. 

17 Day Diet - Day 5

Erin at Bless This Nest asked me a question about the diet earlier today on Twitter so I wanted to make sure I addressed it for her properly.  She asked me why so much green tea.  I am a natural tea drinker so I didn't really think too much about it when the book suggests it with every meal.  I responded by saying that green tea is full of antioxidants and the warm liquid aids in digestion.  But don't just take my word for it, this article on WEBMD also explains all the wonderful health benefits that green tea has to offer.  It also states that green tea has lots of cancer fighting agents and has been shown to lower obesity and cholesterol.

In the 17 Day Diet book Dr. Moreno writes about green tea, stating, “Certain natural chemicals called catechins in green tea increase fat-burning and stimulate thermogenesis, the calorie-burning process that occurs as a result of digesting and metabolizing food."


So that pretty much sums it up! 

I will say that I do not drink plain green tea for all three cups throughout the day and for the evening cup I drink decaf.  I have found lots of different brands that are flavored so I can mix it up a bit!

Day Five Recap

Starting Weight 180.4

Current Weight 176.4

Total Weight loss for the 17 Day Diet 4 pounds

Breakfast

• 2 hard boiled eggs
• 1 cup of pineapple
• cup of green tea

Snack

• I did not eat my morning snack.  I am so bad about that!  I am just not hungry usually until lunch time and I don't like eating if I am not hungry. 

Lunch

• salad of baby spinach leaves, romaine lettuce, 1 green onion, 4 sliced button mushrooms, crumbled low fat feta drizzled with 1 tbls of olive oil and 2 tbls of balsamic vinegar
• cup of green tea

Snack

• Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Dinner

• grilled chicken steamed carrots and steamed asparagus
• cup of decaf green tea

Exercise

• 30 minutes on the elliptical

17 Day Diet - Day 4

Ah!! I feel so great.  This diet is going really well and I can see a difference not only on the scale but also in my mindset.  I know that I can eat something that I want but I choose not to because it is not beneficial to me and it will not help me reach my goal.  I follow Lysa TerKeurst on twitter and she tweets often for Made To Crave, this one is sticking with me all week, "I am a Jesus girl who can step on the scale, see the #s as indication of how much my body weighs - not indication of my worth"  Even as that scale goes down I repeat that to myself! 

Breakfast

• smoothie 1 cup light n fit yogurt 1 cup strawberries 1/4 cup almond milk 1 tablespoon flax meal
• cup of green tea

Lunch

• Large green salad topped with chicken. {drizzle with 1 tbls of olive oil and 2 tbls of balsamic vinegar}to the lettuce I added one chopped green onion, 3 button mushrooms sliced, and a little bit of cilantro.
• cup of green tea

Snack

• Vanilla Greek yogurt

Dinner

• eggplant parmesan
• cup of green tea

Exercise

• 30 minutes on the elliptical 

Lauren - isms

"Daddy guess what! I was sitting on the toilet eating a strawberry"

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

"I want to change the calendator"

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

"Can you put my dress back on the hooker?" {hanger}

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

"My tummy is going to grow really fat because I am going to drink too much rootbeer."

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

"Grandma, this is called a chocolate baby." {baby ruth candy car}

17 Day Diet - Day 3

This morning when I woke up I was so anxious to weigh myself.  I know that it has only been a couple of days but since this diet claims rapid weight loss I went ahead and stepped on the scale, looked down and said goodbye to the 180s.  I lost 2.4 pounds!!! EEEK!!!

Today I got thrown for a loop. I had a meeting outside of my normal schedule and I walk into the room and there is a display of muffins, orange juice and bananas and many other delictible breakfast treats. Oh and did I mention muffins! Thank goodness I ate breakfast at home. The meeting ran into lunchtime and before I left for work this morning I was good and packed my lunch and all my snacks for the day.  But when my boss asked me to lunch I still felt bad turning down the invitation. So we went to the restaurant I scanned the menu and picked out a grilled chicken salad that would fit my diet. They were all laughing at me when I ordered it with no cheese, dressing on the side, no eggs, and I picked the croutons off. BUT I stayed steadfast and remind myself of my goal. I left the restaurant feeling refreshed I'm proud of myself for not giving in to temptation. Even though they ordered my favorite cheese dip in the whole wide world! Then when I get back to my office one of my employees brought me a Frosty from Wendy's.  Seriously people what are you trying to do to me!?!?!?!  I politely declined even though I am sure I may have hurt her feelings. 

Day Three Recap

Starting Weight 180.4

Current Weight 178.0

Total Weight loss for the 17 Day Diet 2.4 pounds!

Breakfast

• 2 hard boiled eggs
• apple
• cup of green tea

Snack

• I did not eat my morning snack.  I was in a meeting that went all the way up to lunch time. 

Lunch

• grilled chicken salad, no dressing
• cup of green tea

Snack

• Vanilla Greek Yogurt

Dinner

• grilled chicken steamed carrots and steamed asparagus
• cup of decaf green tea

Exercise

• 30 minutes on the elliptical

Birthday Recap

I know Lauren's birthday was last week.  I am behind on posting.

She woke up around 4am excited to get her day started.  We had to hold her off for quite a while because most of the days events weren't till afternoon!

She got her hair cut for only the second time and she did so amazing!  She sat in the chair so stoically.  It was kinda funny! She stared straight forward and hardly moved a muscle.  I was so proud of her for sitting still and not crying and throwing a fit.

Next we ran some errands, went to the bank and deposited her birthday money, and went shoe shopping since it was a special request by the birthday girl.

After that we headed to the movies to see Beauty and the Beast in 3D.  Lauren was very excited for it to start but since she had been awake since 4am she was getting sleepy and was pretty antsy.  She made it through about half of the movie and then needed to get up and go potty and then she didn't want to come back and sit down until the movie was almost over.

For dinner we went to the local Mexican Restaurant for a fiesta!  She loves it when people sing and give her attention so it was the perfect choice.