Some of my Goofy Health tips

Since it's the new year and all, I know a lot of us have fitness and weight loss goals. I'm all about goals, but I don't really do the New Year's resolution thing. That being said, I definitely do need to get back on track after the holidays so I thought I'd share some of the health tricks that have worked for me along the way. Most of them are silly and may only work for me, but what the heck, I'll share them anyway. :)

1. My "Magnet Motivation Mama"
This is silly, but it's my own little visual/illustrated version of my hypothetical "Before" and "After". The chubbier "Before" version is five magnetic strips. I get to pluck off a strip after each workout, slowly revealing the more fit "me". Some weeks I only workout 2-3x a week, but it's still rewarding to SEE evidence of your efforts, however small they may be.

2. Color Note Smart Phone App
This is an ultra-simple, stripped down app for your to-do lists. There is something very satisfying about checking off your to-do list - so much so that I sometimes jot down things I've already completed just to check them off. So how does this app relate to health and fitness? Every evening I try and create a detailed to-do list for the following day to keep me organized and on task. For example, I try to plan all of my meals at least a day in advance...that prevents me from eating out as much.

3. MyFitnessPal website & app
I LOVE this app and use it almost every day. It really is eye-opening to see your daily nutritional intake broken down. For example, when Eric and I first got our Vitamix, we were making these fabulous fruit smoothies nearly every morning and patting ourselves on the back for being so healthy. One day, I decided to plug all of our smoothie ingredients into MyFitnessPal, and was shocked by all of the high numbers (sugar, carbs, cals). It may be natural sugar, but it's still sugar! As a result of this handy tool, we've learned to minimize the fruit and use more veg. And it's helpful for me throughout the day so I can keep control of my calories and balance my nutrients. It also keeps track of your exercise for the day and calculates your burned calories as well which is very handy.

Here's a screenshot example of a breakfast:

4. Hydrate!
This one is HUGE and might just be the single most important health decision you make all day. When I find myself getting tired/lazy and making poor food decisions throughout the day, it's often because I'm not getting my water in. I think we underestimate the benefits of drinking lots of H2O. Luckily, I love water, and this one isn't too hard for me. I just have to remember. In addition to drinking throughout the day, I try to have 16 ounces BEFORE each meal. That really helps control my hunger. You feel bloated and need constant access to a toilet, but trust me, it's worth it.

Benefits to drinking water:

• Fights fatigue
• Lowers blood pressure
• Improves skin health (fights wrinkles, discoloration, blemishes, etc.)
• Lowers cholesterol
• Helps digestion
• Removes toxins
• Fights constipation
• Helps with weight loss
• Keeps you looking young

Here's an awesome infographic on water. Definitely check this out: Why Dehydration is Making You Fat and Sick

5. Get plenty of Zs
I'm terrible at this! Eric and I often don't go to bed until midnight or later. BUT, I always have good intentions, and I really am going to make an effort to improve on this one.

Benefits of getting adequate sleep:

• Sharpens your mind
• Improves memory
• Sharpens your attention
• Helps with weight loss 
• Reduces stress 
• Less depression
• Decreases anxiety and irritability 

6. Eat BEFORE hunger strikes
I often wait until it's too late. You know that point where all of the naughtiest food in your house seems to be scream, "Eat me!", and the next thing you know you're covered in candy wrappers and regrets? It's better for me if I stick to a schedule when possible. If I know that a 2 o'clock lunch would be pushing the food lust and hunger pains, then I'll aim for 1 o'clock instead.

7. "Thinspiration"
Don't laugh, but sometimes it just helps to think back to thinner days when you felt more confident in your skin. For me, it just serves as motivation to know I've been there before, and I can get there again, and I know I'll feel better about myself if I do. Or, I also browse Pinterest, etc. for extra inspiration + motivation.

8. Stay busy, find distractions
Being a stay-at-home mom, this can be helpful for your sanity as well as your eating. When Scout sleeps, I work. Or read. Or find a project (scrapbooking, etc.). Or, on the really great days, nap. When she's awake, we like to get out of the house and go for a walk, run errands, visit family or friends, etc.

9. MapMyRun App
I don't run, but I use this app whenever Scout and I go for our walks. I mostly use it for tracking distance, but you can also use the app to record your routes for future reference, and search for other fun routes in the area.

10. Find non-food rewards
For a lot of us, we eat to reward ourselves for surviving a long, hard day. We feel like we've earned it and deserve to treat ourselves, right? To get out of this mentality, I've tried to come up with non-food rewards. Granted, there may still be regrets afterward, but they'll have more to do with your wallet than your waistline. These will be different for everyone of course, but the key is to have a little something to look forward to (that's not a piece of cheesecake).

Some examples:

• Vacation (even a mini roadtrip)
• A concert or play (Wicked in April!)
• A fun date night
• Music for your i-Pod
• Book
• New hair style
• Jewelry
• Pedicure
• Makeup
• Shoes
• Before and After photos (results!) 
• New clothes. Or, if you're working toward a weight loss goal, maybe some workout clothes. I even enjoy "window shopping" - browsing online for that perfect outfit or swimsuit or whatever it might be, to purchase AFTER you lose x amount of weight.

11. Remove the temptations

Have chips and chocolate hidden away deep in those cupboards? Toss 'em! If you're anything like me, you're going to have rough days when you're desperate for some treat therapy. Actually, even if I'm having a great day, I have a hard time resisting scrumptious snacks if I know they're there for the taking so I have to remove them completely. I know it would be better to strengthen my self-control and learn to resist that box of Girl Scout cookies Eric just bought, but let's face it, that's not going to happen anytime soon so Eric can just keep those delicious thin mints safely in his office. I'm not unrealistic though; I still have the occasional cheat treat. I just try and reserve them for when we eat out or special occasions like birthday parties, etc. Then, I keep a few healthier treat options in the house (ie. Dreyer's sugar-free fruit bar popsicles, Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches, etc.)

12. Keep dinners SIMPLE
Thankfully, healthy meals don't have to be complicated. In fact, they're usually really simple. I try to just do a lean meat with veggies. We typically rotate between chicken, salmon, tilapia, shrimp, and sometimes pork, halibut, or steak. Then I just add a simple veggie side like salad (spring mix, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and Bolthouse yogurt dressing), broccoli, zucchini, asparagus, etc. To Eric's dismay, I try to lay off of the carbs when I can (that means skipping the potatoes, pasta, rice, dinner rolls, etc). Trust me, I LOVE my carbs, but once I get in the habit, I really don't miss them that much. Plus, when I do have them, it's a yummy treat.

13. Food as fuel 
I'll be honest, I'm a big fan of food, and I love eating out and trying new foods. In  my own mind, I'm a foodie. :) However, I tend to do best when I view food as serving a function - the function of fueling this here body of mine and providing the nutrition I need to get through the day.

These are just a few things that have helped me; I don't pretend to be an expert by any stretch, but it's always fun when you find something that actually works. Now the trick is actually doing it! If any of you have any health tips, I would LOVE to hear them!

Where to Print Your Pix

Ok, I'm not a photographer, but I'm still interested in quality prints. And, I'm guessing some of you have wondered about the different options out there as well.

Thanks to social media, I came across these great comparison images.
(I don't own these images. I'm only posting them for comparison's sake)

From AmandaJackson'sPhoto.com

From AmandaJackson'sPhoto.com

From FeatherBluePhotography.com

I knew they were bad, but I didn't know they were THAT bad. In fact, I did an earlier post where I did a mini experiment myself comparing Walgreens, Shutterfly & Mpix, and I was actually pleasantly surprised with Walgreens (mail ordered matte prints), and I wasn't overly impressed with Mpix. However, I was only comparing a couple of photos, and I know most photographers recommend Mpix so I'm not going to argue that! Plus, looking at the Walgreens photos above, yikes!

I will, however, put another plug in for Persnickity Prints. I haven't directly compared PP's photo quality to any of the other companies, but I was just impressed overall with the print options and value. They're one of the few companies that offer 12x12s ($1.99ea). And that's not all; they also do a bunch of unique print sizes, including various square sizes for your Instagram pix. P.S. The metallic prints are pretty dang cool.

Another company that I have not yet tried myself but that I've heard is pretty stellar is White House Custom Colour. I think I may use them next. I'll let you know what I think.

14 months (+ a few Holiday shots)

Dear 14-month-old Scout,

You can say Mama/Mom, Dada/Dad, Doggy/Dog, and Bye-bye. You can snort like a pig and bark like a dog. You can sign for milk. You're not quite walking yet, but you can go just about anywhere with a little support, and you can free stand for about a minute at a time. You love music. Your current favorite song is Beyonce's Single Ladies, and whenever it comes on, you shake your head and wag your finger along with the chorus. You love the Baby Genius videos/songs, especially B-i-n-g-o. You love dogs in general. You're a dream sleeper. You go to bed around 6:30/7 and typically wake up around 8am. On Christmas Eve, you slept in until 11:00! You love the sound of your own echo and can often be found howling into hollow objects. If anyone is clapping (including people on TV), you immediately join in. Your favorite thing to do while eating is anything but. While in your high chair, you especially like peek-a-boo, and of course flinging your food and sippy cup across the room. You also love to "cheers" your sippy cup with Mom's water cup which is very cute until you do it unexpectedly when Mom is mid-drink. You've got this strange habit of hitting yourself - with your toys, your sippy cup, or your own hand. You also like to bonk your head against things. You enjoy crawling up the stairs and then celebrating your accomplishment at the top by diving into a pile of laundry, rolling over and waiting for the tickle monster to attack. You're a serious wiggler, and you're resistant to being held for any period of time. You've got a soon-to-be-naughty dead giveaway glance. You always turn on the charm for strangers and make their day by flashing your big smile and then playing shy and nuzzling your face in Mom's shoulder. You're very generous with your kisses. You refuse to wear socks. You like to nod at everyone for no apparent reason. You already have 8 teeth - 4 top, 4 bottom and 4 more on the way. Splashing around in your bath is the favorite part of your day, and you hate when it's over. You're a clever little thing, and you're constantly trying to close the drain while Mom tries to empty the tub. Every morning, before your nap, you like to be tossed into Mom and Dad's comforter and pillows and then dive in yourself, face first.

Your little personality is getting bigger and bigger, and we adore everything about you.

See pictures below to see some of Scout's December.

Scout meets Santa (Meridian Village). It only took two hours of waiting in line out in the cold.
But maybe it was worth it for this look. She was absolutely enchanted.

Scout's non-Christmasy Christmas PJs!

Earlier this month, this is how I found Scout in her crib. Apparently, she's turning into a PJ escape artist...
either that or a fashionista who prefers the one shoulder look.

NYE with this cute little one. You can't tell from the picture, but today was Scout's first time getting a haircut and my first time giving one. Just the back. I didn't do a very good job, but it's not easy to cut a squirrely girl's hair. Hopefully, it's still an improvement over the baby mullet.

Classy Crafting

When my lovely sister-in-law asked me to share some of my "crafting" secrets on her fabulous blog, I wasn't sure if I was the right person for the job. I'm not a "crafter". I've never embroidered my favorite quote on a couch pillow, I've never knit myself a turtleneck dickie, and I don't fancy snowmen made out of styrofoam balls. I don't like "cutesy", and I don't like crafting for the sake of crafting. I do, however, like to create things or (hopefully) improve things where I see the opportunity. I'm a graphic designer who loves decorating and new creative ideas so, per Amy's request, here are a few tricks I've picked up along the way...

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Faux Luxe

I know people don't typically think of spray paint as a way to class things up, but it's actually a pretty clever option for making cheap things look a little luxe.

Like porcelain? Try high gloss white spray paint. Gold? Metallic spray paint. Easy as that. See examples below.

I wasn't particularly fond of the bronze/brown speckled look of this owl so I thought he was a
perfect candidate for a fake porcelain makeover.

For a gold look, I used Valspar's Metallic Gold which I was happy with. I like more of an antique gold tone.
(The pears look a little brassy here, but I think that's because of the harsh overhead lighting in the photo)

Click the pic below for a great blog post from Chris Loves Julia comparing four different gold spray paints.

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That's a Wrap
I'm one of those weird people who actually enjoys wrapping gifts, and I'm always looking for fun new ways to do it. This year, I decided to add a personal touch to my gifts...(Don't judge my rusty doodling skills)

Black butcher paper or Kraft paper with white bistro chalk marker doodles.

You should be able to find these kraft envelopes at your local paper or craft store or on Etsy.
I have an Illustrator file with all of my contacts' addresses, then I just run the envelopes through the printer.
For me, it's much easier (and much tidier) than handwriting them all.

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A Wee Calendar

You can get this great calendar template from Paislee Press, comes with a 4x6 or 5x7 option. Originally, I planned to have mine bound, but I thought it might be nice to let the person you're gifting it to choose how to display it - bound, one at a time, etc. One year, I printed them all together on a poster and framed it. Or - you can use a small acrylic standing frame and display one month at a time, or I've also seen people just slide the current month under their glass desk topper.

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Digiscrapping

It didn't take much convincing for me to make the switch to digital scrapbooking several years ago, and I think most of you, if you're not already there, are going that direction as well. With that being said, I just wanted to share a couple of my favorite digiscrapping secrets.

1. I LOVE two page layouts and Simple Yin templates. I take a lot of pictures and Simply Yin has this magical way of organizing the chaos and making your pages look more deliberate and polished.
2. Like the rest of the world, I typically print my photobooks with Shutterfly. The quality is decent and the price is competitive. Especially if you take advantage of their 40-50% sales (usually around holidays). However, I recently did a post bound album as a gift, and I was actually really happy with the final product. I bought a nice $30 12x12 flat-lay album at Hobby Lobby, $15 after 50% off (black leather look), and then I printed my 12x12 pages with Persnickity Prints at $1.99/pg. I've heard people recommend Costco, but $3.00/pg is a little steep for me. I was really happy with Persnickity Prints - quality, price & speedy shipping! They also do small square prints for your Instagram shots! So, now I'm torn as to how I'm going to do my next album. There are advantages to both. The photobook is thin and sleek, but the sheet protectors in the album are nice for saving your pages from little busy hands, and they also allow you to easily add keepsakes (letters, cards, ribbons, drawings, etc.). The album is also nice because you can easily add and remove pages.  

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And those are a few of my secrets. Hopefully, there's an idea in there somewhere that you can use! 

Happy crafting!

Not your typical pumpkin, ladybug, bumble bee kind of baby

Scout was born just a few days before Halloween last year so this was our first official Halloween. We decided to brave the crowds on the historical Harrison Blvd in downtown Boise, and I'm glad we did. The colorful tree-lined street was gorgeous as always, and it was so fun to see all of the clever costumes and decorations, and everyone was so friendly. A lot of people confused Scout as a koala bear or raccoon, but that's all right. She was a lemur sillies, and the cutest lemur around! Ok, the only lemur, but still!

Ghost Rider. Loved it. Scout, on the other hand, wasn't so sure.

Have you ever wanted to cuddle a lemur more in your life?

What I want to know is who carved all of these pumpkins?

All in all, it was a nice Halloween. Because our townhome is gated in, we never get any trick-or-treaters so we've learned to not buy any candy...which is nice because then we don't eat it all ourselves and suffer the next-day regrets. Instead, we swapped the Halloween candy regrets for chocolate chip cookie regrets.

Saturday we get to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day with our British family where I'm sure we'll consume all sorts of tasty regrets.

Happy birthday baby girl

Dear Scout, 

You've added "Dadda" to your vernacular. You still get giddy when Mom or Dad enter the room. You're still very generous with your kisses, and you've started making kissy sounds/fishy faces when we're at a distance. Whenever you hear the word "yay" or hear anyone clap (including people on TV), you immediately get excited and join in the applause. You've started nodding your head yes and shaking no. "No" is adorable because you sometimes throw in a cute little finger wag, but "Yes" is our favorite because it requires more effort and you can't nod without raising and lowering your eyebrows at the same time. You're not a snuggler, but sometimes when I'm holding you and a stranger approaches, you get sheepish and nuzzle your face into my neck which I secretly love. You're not quite walking on your own yet, but you get around pretty well with support. It's impressive to watch you walk around furniture because you're always on your tippiest of tippy toes. Every second I turn my back, you're racing up the stairs. You've started to get a little sass, and you're more clingy. Very recently, you tend to get a little fussy if you're not in my arms. You're not licking as much anymore, but you still put everything in your mouth. We can't put you down in the grass without finding a leaf, a twig, or a handful of grass in your mouth within seconds. When you hear upbeat music, you get a big smile and start to bounce on your bum. Your dad sneaks into your room almost every night and snaps a cell picture of you while you're sleeping because he doesn't get to see nearly enough of you during the day and you're just so sweet and peaceful.

We just adore you and every single thing about you. My heart hurts a little that you're no longer my little baby and suddenly a toddler, but it's also so fun to see your little personality develop. 

We just can't wait to see where your those sweet baby toes go.

Scout was very dainty and controlled with her "Cake Smash". Part of me wanted her to dive in face first and part of me was relieved that she wasn't really interested. (By the way, that big chunk that's missing from the cake? That was Dad.)

My first two-layer cake! :) Not perfect, but I was still pretty proud of myself

Taking a moment of reverent silence for the twelve months passed.

12 months

We made it! It took a bit of work orchestrating these monthly shots, but now I can finally say it was totally worth it! I just love seeing how much she's changed. As parents, of course, we've always been biased about her cuteness factor, but I swear she just keeps getting cuter!

I do have to apologize now though to our subsequent children who will most likely...no, most definitely, not have as many pictures. Sorry, just one of the perks of being the first.

You can see this pretty clearly in her twelve month collage below, but Scout has definitely gone from short and chubby to long and lean. Apparently, we're going to have to start feeding her cheeseburgers. Check out her measurements from her 12-mo wellness visit in comparison to her 9-mo visit below. At 3-months, she was 70% in weight and 10% in height. :)

AT HER 12-MO APPOINTMENT: 

Weight: 18lbs 5oz (30%)

Height: 29 ½" (70%)

Head Circumference: 43.25  (15-20%)

AT HER 9-MO APPOINTMENT:   

Weight: 18lbs 10oz (65%)

Height: 27 ½" (50%)

Head Circumference: 42 ½ (25%)

First set - Months 1 thru 12

Second set.
Because I'm indecisive.

11 Months

Your first word was "mama". You actually started saying it a couple of months ago. Your dad's not entirely convinced you know what you're saying, but he's just silly and jealous.

You still lick things...mostly cool things like the wood floor, chrome, leather, porcelain (yes, porcelain. ie. toilets). You're still very happy and easy going. You can also be mischievous. We have to keep a close eye on you because we never know what you might be putting in your mouth or getting into. As soon as we open a door to a room that's off-limits (ie. pantry or bathroom), you immediately come crawling full speed to try and weasel your way in. You find great joy in biting your dad's finger and watching him squirm.

We had a few sad nights when you woke up hysterically crying and there was nothing we could do to calm you. This was strange because you've been a 12+ hour sleeper for several months now. After doing some browsing, we think it may have been night terrors...which is so hard because you get so upset and we feel so helpless. Fortunately, it only lasted 3 nights.

You love your baths, you love to play, and you seem happiest when we're out in the fresh air on our lovely walks.

You love sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, rice, greek yogurt, and Gerber cookies. You like bananas, whole wheat bread, turkey, cheese, and pureed apples & pears.

You can pull yourself up and stand when you have support. You can clap, wave, give wet kisses, and you're working on your high fives/hand hugs.

Lots of things make you laugh - peek-a-boo, tickles, raspberries, being tossed in the air, nuzzles, funny noises & sometimes absolutely nothing at all. (Listen to sound bite below)

Holy moly, those eyes.

This expression is sort of fantastic.
Now that the weather is cooler, you get to wear your fleece footies,
and you're even more snugly than usual! I think we'll just wear these everyday until spring.

Beware: this picture is not for the faint of heart. 99% sure that that is a bug's leg on her tongue. Protein?

Scout's new thing: She randomly breaks out in this great laugh/cackle.
It's hilarious. Listen to sample below.