Keeping it real....

I made a few changes to my blog. You see, I had set up an appointment to fancy up my blog a bit.... well then I backed my car into our RV in my drive way. So I decided I have no business paying to polish up my blog. Maybe i should pay to polish my backing ability.. ehem. Anyway.. with 2 cars in need of repair I had to decide to love my blogs imperfectness. So I played around on blogger to make it look new, to me! I even taught myself a few new tricks. Maybe some day I will get her some work done... but for now I must be content, which I am here... but everywhere else.....

Today is suppose to be WIWW. I am really struggling with this lately. I have put on 25 pounds this past year.. (This past year has had some really stressful moments!) I have been having a terrible time getting dressed, don't want to go buy new clothes because I am fat and am not loving pictures of myself. I think I really just noticed the past few weeks how much I gained... I guess I knew, I don't know... I'm sad because I have never been this heavy and I don't even recognize myself. Plus I see all these cute women in their cute clothes and it honestly depresses me.

With all that said... I won't quit. Yet. I have started exercising, I'm doing the 45 miles in July challenge and usually exercise makes me feel better. But somehow right now it is overwhelming me... because I already do not have enough hours in the day. Trying to find time to do it as well is stressing me out. I need new running shoes.. but oh wait... I wrecked 2 cars... so, yeah, I will wait.

Eating right is stressing me out just because I am stressed out, and when I'm stressed out, I eat... it's a vicious cycle. My house is in a shambles, my laundry is outa control and I feel behind in every area.  I backed my own car in to my own RV. Are you kidding me? I know it is because I feel so undone. But it just makes things worse.... I feel horrible about the trouble and cost of my stupid mistake.

I feel like I am always behind and I feel out of control. I feel like this is a pity party. I feel bad that you are reading it.

I honestly do try to see the joy and the good in my life but for some reason right now I feel like I can't. But I must. I want to be the mom my kids deserve and I said it last week.... A happy mom has happy kids. So I better get a grip. I think complaining is so unattractive... but well, sorry, I feel unattractive. I will be back to my happy self... I promise, I just need to get things into perspective.

Then a friend texts me with a great compliment about how sweet and polite my son is. A buck walks through my yard. Scott pulls me in close next to him while we watch TV. Maddie tells a silly story, in a way only Maddie can, that makes me smile. Doyle the dog gives me that look, that he understands and loves me... dog owners know the one. And I realize how silly I am being. How out of perspective I have gotten myself this week. How sweet and wonderful my life is and how I'm wasting it by being depressed about my weight. Yes, I weigh more than I'd like and more than I should. Yes I will stop feeling sorry for myself and get off my @$$ and do something about it.

First off I will get my house in order. I do know that if my house is undone I feel like my world is undone. I will keep exercising too.. I said I would and I can't let myself quit.  I need to establish some routine. I need to breathe deeply and focus on the big picture. I will relax and enjoy the rest of my summer, knowing soon fall will be in full swing... school, homework, soccer, cross country. I will miss these summer days.

So I don't have anything I wore this week.... The pictures were fuzzy and I put very little effort into WIW anyway, I know it would make me feel better if I did, so I will start again... 25 pounds and all.

Thanks for letting me rant... "talking out loud" always makes me feel better. It also helps me to see things clearer. I'm off to clean something, fold something and do some mileage. To breathe deep and put a stinking smile on my face!! ;)

I hope I haven't scared you all away.... I will be back... with something HAPPY tomorrow... promise.

Weight Watchers Ginger Lime Chicken ~Salad~

I started Weight Watchers... again... and found this amazing recipe in one of the hand outs.  It's easy, super flavorful and delicious. I will definitely add it to my menu again. I turned our leftovers into a salad for lunch the next day and it was amazing.

Ginger Lime Chicken (5 points per serving)


1/4 c. low sodium soy sauce
3 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lime juice
2 tsp. minced lime zest
2 Tbsp. minced ginger root
2 medium minced garlic cloves 
1 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. chili oil
1/4 c. chopped cilantro divided
4 4oz chicken breasts
2 Tbsp. minced scallions 


 (directions were adapted by me, to follow the WW directions exactly click on the red link below.)


I large glass bowl mix together soy sauce, lime juice, lime zest, ginger, garlic, honey, oil, and 2 tablespoons of cilantro: mix well. Add chicken to the bowl, tossing to coat and allow to marinate (20 min-4 hours depending on how well you plan ahead.) Preheat broiler to high. transfer chicken and marinade to a flameproof baking dish. Broil chicken 4-6 minutes; flip and broil another 4-6 minutes. 


Remove chicken from pan (discard marinade) and sprinkle with chopped cilantro and minced scallion.

                                                                         {via}


OR 


Serve diced with your choice of lettuce, diced mango, veggies (I used carrots, radishes, cucumber)  scallions, cilantro, boiled egg and chow mien noodles. (noodles not in picture... they were an after thought!)   Top with white balsamic vinegar. 

cold leftovers... turned into...

delish filling salad.

For any point counters out there..... I figured my salad at 8 points for 3 oz chicken, 1 boiled egg and 1/4 c. Chow Mien noodles.  I added the egg only because I had a super low point, crazy, busy morning breakfast (a string cheese!) so I was starved.

Enjoy!

Farm Fresh Eggs

 My neighbor  has about 30-40 chickens and whenever we need eggs I send one of the kids over with money and our egg basket. The other night I walked over with Maddie to get eggs for breakfast. There is something simple and almost peaceful about going and collecting your own eggs.

It was a beautiful night...

The barn..

She also has a huge, beautiful garden

Meet a few of the girls....

The black and white ones are my favorites.

this girl is busy..

Maddie and I collected eggs. I was so impressed at how she moves around that barn, she owns that place. I think she is a wanna be cowgirl like her Momma! She knows exactly what to do in there and isn't the least bit intimidated.

                                                               simple and beautiful...

We took them all to the office and did a tally..

We  collected 34 eggs. I should have brought my big egg basket!!

We left our $4.00 and left with a dozen fresher than fresh eggs!!

I know some of you are gasping that we spend $4.00 a dozen on eggs. Let me tell you, these are no ordinary eggs. The come from the chicken to my kitchen.

 You can see and taste the difference. Fresh organic eggs have a clearer white and a bright orange yolk. The taste is amazing. They are fresh, I know that the chickens have adequate space, clean environment, are feed well and cared for. I would purchase organic eggs at the grocery store for around $3 and they would not be as fresh as these. I buy all my animal products organic. Milk, eggs and meat always, most of my dairy is organic but cost wise I can't do it all. I do make sure my dairy is from cows not treated with the rBST hormone. "They" say it makes no difference, but... I don't want any artificial hormones in my families diet if at all possible.

I'm sure it grosses some people out that my eggs are just left in a basket on my kitchen counter. Let me explain.... 

Eggs stay fresher if you don't wash them at all. When hens lay eggs, there is a natural coating on them called the "bloom" that helps keep out bacteria. When you wash eggs, you drive some bacteria in through the pores of the shell, so you really shouldn't wash them at all. If the nests are clean, your eggs should be clean.  I do wash our eggs right before using. 

Fresh eggs don't even need to be refrigerated if they're going to be used soon. They can be kept at room temperature. Refrigeration will keep them fresher longer, but we eat our eggs rather quickly.

I make the kids eggs most mornings before school and we always have boiled eggs in the refrigerator for my salads, Conner and I eat boiled eggs for snacks or a quick breakfast. I do keep boiled eggs in the refrigerator.

Thanks for visiting the farm with me today! ~Shelby

Buttermilk Pancakes and my 80-20 Rule

 I am a big fan of making things from scratch. Yes, I love to cook but mostly I like to know what is going in our bodies. I guess I have sort of created an 80-20 rule when it comes to food. If 80 percent of the time we eat real food, prepared in my kitchen and aren't eating the weird chemicals put in processed food then I don't have to feel too bad about the 20 percent we do eat. Realistically we all know our bodies weren't created to handle the chemicals we have in so much of our foods. Convenience foods have their place, even in my home... I just don't think they should be the base of our diets.

Artificial flavors, colors and preservatives are put into everything! Which is where I decided the 80-20 was a good ratio. My family wants to eat Doritos now and then. I will occasionally buy treats like frozen corn-dogs or grosser than gross... handi snacks (seriously that cheese smells like vomit.) I don't think depriving kids is the answer. Nor is depriving yourself, (I could learn to deprive myself a bit more but that is another story!) I put coffee-mate in my coffee every morning and until I find and alternative that tastes as good I'm going to continue to do it! 

We go through periods of time, usually when our schedules are off as well, when we (I) allow more fake foods into our diets. Then I have to reel it in. I allow more sugar and treats and then have to reel it in. We are back at a reeling in faze at our house. I have to get our schedules back on track and our diets. 

I clear out the cupboards and get back to real life, real bedtimes, real TV limits and real eating. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These pancakes are pretty much as easy as a mix. You need to measure 5 dry ingredients... how much longer will that take you? We love breakfast for dinner I will sometimes double or even triple this and freeze the pancakes for a quick breakfast, they are also great for a snack with peanut butter on them.

Buttermilk Pancakes


1 c. flour
1 TBSP. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 beaten egg
1 c. buttermilk
2 TBSP. oil

 whisk together dry ingredients and add to wet ingredients. mix well. pour batter on to coated (pam spray or butter) griddle, fry until edges start to bubble, flip and finish other side. Serve with real maple syrup or fresh strawberries and whipped cream for a special treat.


* if you do not have buttermilk you can make your own by combining just under 1 c. milk and 
   1 TBSP. vinegar or lemon juice. Add milk to measure 1 full cup. Sit about 5 minutes. That's it!

Yep, that is spray whipped cream, that's where the 20 % comes in. That stuff is FUN and is a special treat.

Happy Monday! ~Shelby

Update

Good Friday morning!!

Thought I'd give an update on my quest to get back in shape.

So, I have been hitting the gym like I promised myself. I'm so glad, I just hate it when I let myself down, don't you? Any way I have been getting in some great work outs and just maybe.... I will do the body pump class next week... we'll see!

This quote has been running around in my head~

                                                                             via

Yep.
I'm kinda in some serious like with my new socks...

both my kids want some, so I guess they might be cool! ;) I got some new work out clothes too, Ross and TJ Maxx are great for work out clothes. Going to the gym is easier for me if I am wearing cute work out clothes. No,  I am not the lady next to you that's wearing perfume, and has her hair and make up done at 9am. I brush hair and teeth, grab a small bite get my babies to school and get to it. I get cute after! ;)

I have been OK drinking my water, It's not my favorite thing, lemon and orange slices help. I'm trying.

Yes.. I know I am a killer of the environment! But my kids always seem to take the good water bottles! Maybe I will go get a Momma only water bottle today.

Pandora is my work out buddy, I prefer to go to the gym alone. I go when it works for my schedule and leave when I feel I'm done. I like to follow my own little routine. Chat just slows me down. I like to go with my husband but he doesn't want to chitty chat while he works out either, so we make a good team.

Trader Joe's cut up mango and pineapple is my new love, delish!! And those low fat ginger cat cookies, amazing! Popcorn is my afternoon snack. I need hand to mouth when I hit that 4:00, "seriously it's not bed time or even dinner time yet." It gets me through the homework hour! {I hate homework}

I will say since actually getting exercise into my day, real sweaty exercise, I have more energy in the afternoon. Plus I feel better, and  it makes me a calmer more patient person. Happier too.

Besides the few chocolate Easter eggs I found floating around here that somehow made it into my mouth and a half a bag of those darned cute corn chips I have done quite well food wise. Down 2 lbs!! :) Yay Me!!
*The tasty beverage I had with those chips doesn't count ;)

 I'm off to the home show and lunch with a hot date,don't worry I'm married to him! ;)
Have a fabulous weekend!!~ Shelby

These are the days... and a challenge

Good morning!

I had big plans for getting posts done this week... but I haven't really gotten it together. Having my kiddo's home for Spring break has thrown me off a little.

We made a trip to Seattle to see family, we did paint ball, laser tag, ate way to much, went to the beach and got our baby girl fix! I have 4 great nieces under 4 and I adore them! We miss those sweet little girls like crazy!

No trip is complete with out a stop at Pike Place Market

Flowers for my table...

a crumpet for my little girl

And although I took no new pictures, we always pick up Scallops but they must be from the place that throws fish!

Here is a picture of Conner on our last trip catching a flying fish!

Isn't my bubba the cutest!!  ;)

On another note...

I am totally disgusted with my weight!
So I will be sharing a bit about my quest to get these 20 pounds off, maybe if I share my journey here it will make me more accountable. I am going to challenge myself to get my body back.

My plan is to eat less, eat better, and get my booty to the gym. I am also going to plug my food into the calorie counter on my phone, (I use the calorie counter by FatSecret) and drink more water.

Sounds simple right? I know exactly what I need to do, I just need to do it, and I'm afraid I have hit my breaking point. 20 extra pounds at 5'1 is not a good look.

So here I go! Join me, won't you?

Because I need them....

 You know how you can be reading a quote and some days, more than others, you get that "ah ha- moment" and you aren't even sure why?

Here are a few quotes that caught me this morning.

So,  what wrong with me today?..... I guess I just am having one of those days..... It seems like sometimes so many emotions hit me at one time... I don't know what to do with them.... I'm not able to see what is really bothering me because it's nothing and everything all at the same time.

 With that said.... I'm making this post short so I have treadmill time, it makes everything look better... 

It's way cheaper than therapy. ~ Shelby

lessons learned

Today is the day!  My treadmill will  be graced by my presence more regularly. I do love to exercise... it is getting the habit started that I struggle with. No more excuses... I have got the tools and the time.

I can no longer let life get in the way of my life. I let the stress of 2011 take over. I did a lot of soul searching for sure and learned so many valuable lessons about life and myself.

I learned...

I am worth the time. If I don't take care of me, I am worthless to everyone else.

So, while my heart and my mind have made extraordinary changes mentally, it is now time for my physical changes to begin. I know I will feel better, inside and out.



On another note.... I  learned a valuable lesson this weekend regarding teenagers.. Conner is soon to be 13 and Maddie is weeks away from 11. The teenager-ish changes are well underway.
 
 It still amazes me how quickly my little ones have gone from this...

to this, in no time flat....

 While most of the time Conner is still that sweet, silly hearted guy I know and love... sometimes this surly, disagreeable, grouch comes out. A different type of child than I have ever known. Maddie, who has always been pretty easy going, has become easier to upset, storming off in tears over the slightest thing. I totally get that they can't help themselves, and hardly even know they are doing it. It is still exhausting. This teenager stuff is all new to me. I felt so confident as the mother of little ones. This, not so much, so I must learn, make mistakes and figure out what the heck I am to do with these "new" people. I'm getting there, day by day.

Over the weekend my sweet little man had a teenager moment. My first instinct is to punish him when he acts like that. I have, and it makes everyone feel bad.  This weekend I did just that and it hit me. If I had  remained calm and went about our business, I would have stayed in control and he would have snapped out of his mood faster.
Instead of just giving in to his moodiness, trying to prove a point (that he totally didn't get anyway) and becoming part of the problem, I should have remained calm but matter of fact and stuck to the plan. I am willing to bet he would have sulked for a bit and then returned that fun guy we love to have around.

Growing up and changing is hard, on them and on us. The lesson I learned is this...

The less of a battle we make it the easier it is on all of us. I need to lead by example. Remain positive and light hearted. If I do that I know they will follow.

and yeah, I already knew this, it is true with all age kids, but I think it takes experience to be able to put these lessons into play in the stages we are in at the time, sometimes it takes doing it the wrong way to realize how to do it right. ~S