Make better choices!

Ok, starting Monday I am going full speed into a healthy summer. I'm going to eat very similarly everyday and cut back to 1000-1200 calories a day. I really need to focus on drinking way more water too. 10lbs to go by the end of July. Week day eating: Special k with soy milk and half a banana or a breakfast smoothie for breakfast Balsamic vinegar spinach salad with either a 1/2 turkey whole wheat sandwich, nuts , or grilled chicken, and a big piece of fruit, for lunch 400 or less calorie dinner... Whatever I want :) Snacks: special k bars, crisps, cracker chips, raw fruits and veggies, dried fruits, Quaker rice snacks, popcorn, pickles, Gonna join a gym when this arm quits hurting too :)

It ain't easy being green :)

From 2006 to the end of 2009, I really considered myself a Greenie. I purchased 90% organic food, 100% plant derived cleaners/detergents, we cut out bottled water all together, and made a conscious effort to eat naturally and balanced. Uhhh what the heck happened in the last two years? Oh yeah, I remember. GRACE. When she was a baby I did really well, she only got organic food, even her formula was organic. Her soaps and lotions for naturally derived and I didn't even buy baby bottled water (we just filtered). So I can't figure out when it all changed... I think it started slow and now we are more than gone. I've got Tide detergent sitting in my laundry room, and send my kid to school in the morning with a YOPLAIT yogurt (omg) and a half of a honey bun. I am officially ashamed of myself. I'm going to try to do better starting this summer. :) I've also got a few lbs to lose.... maybe its all the junk in my house! ha.

Summer Goals

1. INTENSE workout 3 mornings a week, MODERATE workout 2 times a week
- 7 to 10lbs lost, a couple of inches, and tone up!
- jog 2 miles without stopping.. (I HATE TO RUN)
- run with Mike without complaining-- HA

2. Eat whole natural foods 2 meals a day (not fast or packaged)

3. Encourage my daughter to eat more of the RIGHT calories..well just to eat more period.

4. Cook a natural, healthy meal 4 nights a week

I think these are do-able! I'm going to do another cooking marathon when school gets out, and I'm joining a gym next week :)

Ladies and Gentlemen... Introducing the WORLDS PICKIEST CHILD!!

Lord help us I think Grace could be considered in the Guinness Book of World Records for the worlds pickiest eater. I am sure of it. I mean.. who doesn't like mashed potatoes?

I am beyond frustrated lately. Not that this is new... feeding this child has been nothing but a struggle since I stopped nursing. When she was around 5 months old she would go a whole day on 4 oz of formula, refusing to take a bottle from anyone but me. We had to sneak a bottle in her mouth while she slept. THEN at 10 months she refused formula all together and whole milk made her vomit, she ate a handful of items, mostly yogurt, pasta, cereal, and applesauce. At 2 she started eating chicken in small increments and a few raw fruits (apple, strawberries, watermelon). At 2 1/2 I thought "WOW she's been eating really well!!" trying new foods and eating more enthusiastically. We even shot up a few inches and gained a few lb's. THEN all of a sudden... BAM! The appetite is gone... the milk sensitivity is back (which includes a gag reflex and projectile vomit). She isn't eating ANYTHING we pack for lunch, and I'm resorting to calorie rich foods like mac-n-cheese and honey buns just to get her some calories.

OK I have to tell myself I'm doing everything I can. I am trying everything. She will drink V8 splash, and I make sure she gets about 4-6 oz of that every other day. She has a yogurt based fruit smoothie every morning, and she loves those fruit puree pouches that hide good things like  omega-3s, quinoa, chia, yogurt, spinach, and lots of other things. She'll eat dried fruit. She LOVES real cheese (not american) and she likes wheat bread and tortilla's.

We are just tired... so if there are any other moms out there with stubborn eaters, let's share our tricks. Here are a couple of mine. These are weekly staples for little miss Grace Guess.

1. the PIZZA sandwich
- pita bread
- baby food green veggies (green beans, spinach, peas)
- pizza sauce
- fresh mozzarella

Mix greens with pizza sauce, spread inside pita pocket, throw in some cheese, grill in a pan like a grilled cheese, VOala! Pizza sandwich!

2.  Squash-a-roni-and Cheese
- any recipe mac n cheese
- baby food yellow colored veggies (carrots, squash, cauliflower )

easy easy... and she'll eat it.

This has been a rough food week for us. I know it will get better. I just wish she would say "hey mom, can I have some veggies and meat for dinner? ":) A mom can dream right?

Jill is GRADUATED and Mothers Day!

Grace showing us what different emotions looked like.. I think this was her CRAZY face :)

The HENDRY bunch :)

Sweetest face I know!

You'll have to excuse my looks, we partied a little hard last night.. HEY your little sister only graduates ONCE :)

Grace and her Cha-Cha

She loves her DeeDee :)

This is Grace and My Mamaw, Her Great-Grandmother :) 

My beautiful sister!!

 Sweet little beauty, all glittered and bling-ed!

So after graduation Jill and 2 of her friends had a HUGE party for all of their family. There were about 120 people who celebrated with us. We had a blast!

These are from friday night. We were setting up the pavilion and having a GREAT time, and of course Grace looked like a doll :)

Ok sooo we were supposed to be setting up from the party BUT we were distracted by the WOBBLE :)