I always fall for FALL........

It's been awhile.....I've been trying to get back in the swing of things since school started.  With new school schedules, fall softball, football, and girl scouts, it makes it somewhat difficult to keep things current.  I will do better.  This week is my birthday week.  A friend of mine used to celebrate the entire week, so the first week of October should now be celebrated as "JennieGras".  Therefore, I thought I would post some of my favorite fall things.  

1) Colors of Fall

2) Tyler Candles

3) Football

4) Soup

5) Halloween 

Hopefully, I will get back in the swing of things and be able to update more often.  Until then, remember to NOT fall on your goals of staying skinny.  

The S.K.I.N.N.Y on my 12 week plan

Tomorrow marks my first day of my own Cinch Transformation to (re)dedicate myself to my health journey. I figure if I start this week, I will be finished right before Thanksgiving and I can enjoy the holidays more. I will try to post weekly updates, so you can follow my progress. I want to commit to planning all my meals and workouts for the week, because this will help eliminate excuses. It will be somewhat of a challenge for me, so I'm gonna need you guys to hold me accountable. If possible, you should start your own plan. It doesn't have to be elaborate, but plan to add or subtract things from your life in hopes that skinny will happen to you! For example, eliminate carbonated drinks, fast food, snack before bed, or go for a walk, play your favorite sport again, but pick something that you will stick to. 

 

Here is your motivation:

S.K.I.N.N.Y                                         

S: Start with yourself

K: Keep a journal

I: Involve Friends/Family

N: New Habits

N: Never look back

Y: You CAN do this!

 

Check back later for this week's plan of chaos......

 

 

 

Summer Snackin'

Summer just started, and I noticed that the kids are wanting to snack all day long!  I started researching ways to portion out healthy snacks, and I ran across this idea.  My kids love the freedom of getting a snack when they feel like they need it.  In fact, I did a pantry overhaul last winter, and I only included healthier snack choices.  The problem is that this works great for grabbing one snack per day, but not an ALL day summer solution. 

I want my kids to have the freedom to choose their snacks, but they need to have them portioned out, so they can "snack" healthy all day.  My son is the more frequent snacker, and I have noticed that he has put on a few from all this unportioned/unnecessary eating.  Don't get me wrong, I want my kids to be kids.  I want them to enjoy choosing foods they like, but there needs to be some control on HOW MUCH they are consuming.  Therefore, I am going to pick up a couple of these ice trays, and I will fill them with better snacking ideas.   Below, I have listed some favorites in our house that I accept as better than normal snacks. 

Kid's Snacks

Grapes

Frozen Yogurt Bites

Carrots

Apples

Pretzels

Annie's Fruit Snacks

Goldfish/Cheezits

Blue Corn Chips

I am sure there are many more, but these are the choices that I know they will eat.  I want it to be fun for them, because it won't work otherwise.  What other snacks do you recommend for this new approach?  

Many firsts this summer!

So, I need to do a better job at taking the time to write this blog.  I really do enjoy it, but it usually get pushed back in my day due to workouts, lunch, pool, books (just finished Fifty Shades Trilogy), or just spending time away from puter.

Since school let out, we went to our favorite beach with friends,  E attended summer camp, and went on our 1st annual Father's Day Family camping outing (future updates).  It has been extremely busy, but we are all healthy and happy. 

< ------------------------I saw this on Pinterest this morning, and it rings true for our summer so far.  I continue to stand tall (well, as tall as I can) and proud of my exercise accomplishments (slacked off a little), I've been out on a limb several times allow many firsts (finished a book, camping), remember where I can from and visit places that shaped who I am (lake), drinking plenty of water (Need MORE), am remembering to be content with natural beauty (even the sweat breakouts), and I enjoy the view everyday that I wake up with my family. 

Happy Summer everyone!

School's out for summer!!!

Today marks the last day of the school year for my almost 2nd grader.  She has had a fantastic year.  She has become quite the reader, math machine, and spelling bee queen.  We were blessed with a fantastic teacher this year that was kind, patient, open, and most importantly good at what she does.  Thank you Mrs. Woods.

1st day of Kinderten

As I drop her off this am, I can't help but think of her first day of Kindergarten and how much she has grown.  Everyone knows that time moves quickly, so I am looking forward to enjoying every day of the summer. 

Emma's Summer To Do List:

1) Paint in Art Classes

2) Plant more Flowers

       3) Swim, and more Swim!

As I look over this list, it seems pretty reasonable, but I am sure we will find a few more things to add to the list as the days go by.  Until then, I like this simple plan. 

Last day of 2nd Grade

Summer is comin', Summer is Comin'

May 1st, the day when I go into panic mode about being in a bathing suit.  I have come along way in a year, but I decided to "re"dedicate myself and go after a new goal.  Even though I am NOT a fan of the scale, I have decided to see how far I can go with my weightloss.  Right now, I am one size away from highschool, but I want to see how "fit" I can get! 

Yesterday, I took little man to the park and got creative with some workouts.  I thought I would share the pics as my official "before" pics.  I will post later on the items that I plan to use to make it through the summer!  For now, enjoy this!
 
Park Workout

14 Sprint Intervals (30 second on, 30 second off)
Bench Step Ups
Tricep Dips                                  PlankWalkouts         
50 lb (kid) leg presses
50lb (kid)  chest presses

  



 All in all, good sweat and pretty cute workout partner to help motivate me. 

Be weird. 

Just get it in whenever you can! 

April to me....

Hey guys, it has been  awhile since my last post, so I thought I would take time to focus on the month ahead by talking about what April means to me.  April is the 4th month of the year, and the significance of this number has been part of phone numbers, addresses, softball number, wedding anniversary, daughter/son's sports number, etc. My prediction is that April will also hold some significance for me each year.  Wonder what it will be this year??

 My father's 58th birthday would have been on April 4, and it seems unreal that he won't be here to celebrate it.  As with anything, he wasn't much on celebrating anything or making a fuss about holidays and birthdays. In fact, I remember last year, there was severe weather that prevented me from visiting him on the last birthday he would ever see. It didn't bother me at the time, but I wish I had been more insistent about coming to see him.  The picture on the right is one of the first visits with Ms. Emma when we brought her home from the hospital.  You can see by his expression how proud he was to hold her. 

Emma was born in the 4th month too, and the significance of her being born a Aries has proved to be true.  Emma was given the tenderness of her Mimi's heart, but her personality came from her Grandpa.  Both Aries, they tend to be very independent, confident people, also very STRONG WILLED.  For the most part, this is a good thing.  It is my job as her mom to teach her what to do with that strength and watch her excel at whatever it is that she wants to do.  I dedicated this month completely to my baby girl, because it has been such an incredible feeling to be her mom.  After all, my journey was inspired by being a daughter to an strong willed father, and this post was inspired by having such an extraordinary Emmers.

So, what do I plan on teaching her?  I read this quote from Brian Henson (Jim's son), and it summed it up better than I ever could. 

 I guess I learned everything from my father. There was guidance from him throughout. He taught me to identify a person's talent, nurture that talent, and encourage them to look to themselves for solutions. That's probably what he taught me more than anything - a mind-set, a work ethic. -Brian Henson

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