Friday Flow: 17 weeks & Our Go-to Recipe

Happy FRIDAY y'all! Hope this week has flown by for you and you have some fun weekend plans! I'm sharing a few random things today...Pregnancy, my thoughts on the post baby #2 photo shoot (and some advice!), and an AWESOME recipe thats been a go-to this summer for us! Let's get to it!  

17 weeks Pregnant

No news is good news, right??! I don't have anything to report over here, except that I've had a great week of working out, moving and being active. I also had pizza twice. lol. hey, its called #balance.

Workouts: I'm still able to hover around 8:30 splits when I run, and am doing very low, low box jumps lifting wise ((those will probs end very very soon)). Everything is pretty much fair game in the weight room except I've started to put some of my upper body lifting exercises (benching, free weights) on an incline.

Sleeping has been hit or miss. Some nights I'm really restless and then I think it catches up to me and I sleep like a log after a few nights of average sleep. It's crazy how much bigger I am with this baby than the first 2, I feel like I was hardly showing with my first at this point in time!! I guess thats called muscle memory ha.  I've had some heartburn and I'm still squeezing into my "postpartum" regular jean shorts (a size or two bigger than I was when I got pregnant).

I am actually really looking forward to some cooler temps in September and LESS humidity. MY RINGS have been a serious issue! Its been so humid I feel like my fingers are already swollen! EEEK! Some days I have been going without which honestly makes me feel naked. Ugh. I'm kind of like..this is happening already? Really? I haven't even hit 20 weeks. ha. 

Also, last but not least, YES I have felt the baby move :) 

Names- we have no idea. Naming a third baby in the same sex is pretty difficult!!
Any suggestions??! 

Weight wise I'm still hovering around 11 or 12 lb weight gain! 

Photo Shoot

So..truth be told I'm gonna be blitzing your timeline on insta over the next month or so with my shoot that I did when I was about 6 weeks pregnant. Even though I was already pregnant...I am so dang PROUD of the photos (and thanks to my girl Kristy for her awesome work during the shoot). Its funny how in the moment you're always criticizing yourself and thinking "I'm not enough"...but I look back on the photos and I feel this overwhelming sense of pride- for achieving a goal, for getting a piece of me back ((even if it was for only a month or so lol)), for following through with something I wanted to so badly, for the sacrifice and discipline. For fighting through the moments of doubt, moments of hard, hard mommin'. Moments of looking at myself and not even recognizing who that was in the mirror, but believing if I persisted it would lead me to my goal. 

So...this is just a reminder to all of us-its HUMAN NATURE to always want more. Of course I could be more "fit" looking in those photos. And now, My baby bump could be smaller and so could my ass. But its OKAY. I am enough...and so are you. And if you have that yearning for more...go for it. But still respect the hell out of yourself and your body in your current state! 

 

Recipe: Ground Turkey Fajita Bowl

Okay..even though my nutrition has been not quite as disciplined as I normally would be, I am still loving some healthy meals and wanted to share this awesome meal that is not only healthy, but EASY and FAST!! This has been on our weekly meal plan every. single. dang. week. 

Things I love about this recipe- awesome flavor, quick and easy, no cutting of meat (ground turkey #ftw!!), you can buy most of these ingredients pre-cut if you don't have time to prepare (or lets be honest don't feel like it ha) , its lower carb, and you don't need to know how to cook to make this!! 

Ingredients:

Green, Orange, Yellow Pepper Sliced
1 small onion sliced
1 Poblano Pepper sliced
Mushrooms (optional)
Simply Organic Fajita Simmer Sauce
Lettuce (cut)
1 Avocado pitted and sliced
1 lb Ground Turkey
 

Directions: 
1. Slice Onion, Peppers. Cut mushrooms if already not sliced. Heat oil in pan. Warm onion, until starting to brown. Add mushrooms, brown. Add peppers. Sautee for 4-5 minutes until softened. 

2. Remove vegetables from skillet. Add oil if pan is dry. Cook turkey. While turkey is cooking, slice lettuce and prepare avocado as a garnish. 

Ground turkey cooking...above is the boys fajita that we made for them for dinner!

3. When turkey is cooked, add Fajita sauce. Add vegetables. Stir an cook for 3-5 minutes. Let cool. Place in bowl with salad and avocado. Enjoy! 

Hope you guys all give this one a try! Have a great weekend! 

xo

Alex

Family friendly Breakfast & 16 Weeks Bumpdate

Happy Friday! I'm rocking in today at 4 months pregnant...I can't believe it! Hope you all have some fun plans for this summer weekend :) 

Guilt free Family friendly Breakfast:

I wanted to share with all of you an awesome breakfast that is great for the whole family! I know that sometimes it is such a struggle to make only ONE meal for the whole family..especially when you are trying to eat healthy ((hello fellow moms of picky eaters!)).

Introducing...Kodiak Cake Buttermilk Pancakes. The macros (Protein, fat, carbs) on these bad boys are AWESOME, and they taste great. Our boys love them and we usually top them with syrup or honey for the kids. Right now ((because I'm a little bit of IDGAF about nutrition sometimes ha)) I usually top mine with syrup too haha #pregnancyprobs. A healthier more clean option would be to top with either Walden farms sugar free syrup ( I haven't tried, I've seen a lot of people use though) or a nut butter- Peanut butter, almond butter, etc. 

These are literally IDIOT proof to cook (I am a decent cook but for some reason pancakes aren't on the top of my list of great meals I can cook), and you can play up the protein content with adding milk and egg. YES- that means the mixture needs NOTHING else. So, those days that you have nothing left in the house (read: no eggs), you can still make these suckers. 

I get mine at Wegmans but I'm sure you can snag them online. 

BumpDate: 

16 weeks pregnant! Boom! Another month and we will be halfway there. I've had a killer week of workouts and can't wait to have a day off tomorrow and rest my body! Weight gain is staying steady at 9 pounds. I have my anatomy scan scheduled in a few weeks before we go out of town, so fingers crossed everything is okay. I've started to stock up on maternity basics (short sleeve and long sleeve tees, leggings, etc.) for the upcoming months. By mid September I think I'll be hard pressed to find too much of my closet that fits properly! Ha! I'll be doing a post on my maternity must haves and brands I love for fit, comfort, and quality so keep an eye out for that! 

Hope you all have a great weekend! xo

Alex

4 Tips to Survive the 1st Trimester and Stay Active!

Hey hey everyone..

Happy August! I feel like stores every year push the "back to school" thing earlier and earlier and this year is no exception!! I'm super excited for August, another month of outdoor time with the family, and we have a vacation planned at the end of the month in Hawaii with all of my in-laws. We are SO so excited to really "getaway" and meet up with everyone. Anyone who has family that lives overseas knows the struggle and we are so looking forward to spending some time together in such a beautiful place! And yes, the boys are coming with us so I will be sure to keep you posted on how that travel goes Ha #RIPtous on that long flight. 

As I mentioned in my last post, the first trimester is finally over with and I've had a great first couple weeks of the second trimester! I've managed to stay active, and have more energy for sure! Unfortunately I have come down with a cold the last week so that's been a bit of a buzz kill. I swear that I can't have a pregnancy without getting sick at least once lol. The. WORST. 

Other than the breaking news that we are having another BOY (LOL!!), all my scans have come back great so far (which is amazing considering last pregnancy..what an emotional rollercoaster!) which is more important than anything else. 

Bumpdate

I won't bore you guys with the weekly "bumpdate" questions that sometimes you see, but I will give you the basics. I'm definitely closing in on maternity clothes (I'll be sharing my faves with all of you). Right now I can still fit into some of my "looser" clothes and shorts/pants that I bought during my "nursing and still losing weight phase" lol. Weight wise I've gained the same as the last two- I'm right around 10 or 11 lbs. I know to some people that might seem like a lot for 15 weeks but thats just how my body rolls! Cravings wise I always crave bad foods regardless of pregnancy haha. But some things I have been randomly loving more than usual are chicken sausage for breakfast, omelettes with tomatoes and cheese, parmesan cheese on pasta (I've definitely had more pasta than I normally do!), and I want cereal in the WORST way guys. I've only allowed myself to buy it once or twice because honestly I finish the whole dang box in about 2 days so...yeah those carbs are going straight to my thighs, not my baby!! 

Pregnant and working out

When I first got pregnant with my first I was so curious as to how other people felt working out: did they feel good? uncomfortable? Did their times/weights drop? Were they out out breath? I was coming off being a pro athlete and everything in my life was based around my workouts up until that point. Clearly...that all changed getting pregnant ha but I still wanted to stay active because it was such a big part of my life.

Basically, I wanted to know: Did they feel as bad as I did? Because I felt like total shit sometimes. Granted, that wasn't every day, but the bad days were tough. 

All of this was unchartered waters for me, so It was so reassuring to me to read articles where Olympians were being interviewed that they struggled at times with their mileage, times, and some didn't even run through their whole pregnancy. They had good days, and bad days...but staying active was so worth it was the overlying message!

I'll be sharing my workouts throughout my pregnancy (and hopefully some video as I continue on throughout the pregnancy) for those that are interested/curious and hopefully this helps someone who could be struggling with their workouts while pregnant! Remember, one day at a time and listen to your body! 

A lot of people are amazed at times how active I'm able to stay during pregnancy, and the first trimester is no exception! So many hormones and the fatigue is so fricking real.

I wanted to share some tips that helped me through my 3 pregnancies first trimesters in staying active!

4 tips to staying active and surviving!

1. Go to bed early: I would have to say this is my number 1 tip. Honestly, DVR the TV shows and catch them another time. Your body will thank you for it. I am always so tired by the end of the day and going to bed early always helped me be super productive a majority of the following day! I also have 2 boys that are early risers (like, 6 am wake up) so I *have* to bed in bed early!

2. Drink tons of water: I know this might seem super obvious, but a lot of times when I felt slightly nauseous or sick, water , fresh air and a little movement always helped me. Being on the go makes it hard to hydrate sometimes so remind yourself! Make sure you are drinking tons of water to help hydrate yourself! Lack of water can cause so many things including headaches and fatigue..

3. Stay the course: Try to stay as disciplined as you can with working out. I know its tough, especially when you don't feel good, but honestly getting moving is the BEST medicine. Sometimes it was like pulling teeth getting myself downstairs in my gym, or on a run, or having the discipline to workout at the fitness gym I go to, but I ALWAYS felt better after. You better bet I was taking longer rest breaks, lifting a lot less/running a lot slower, but I WAS THERE. Moving. Sweating. Endorphins. All the good stuff. And if you can't get yourself to do the "hard things", just walk. I walked soooo much this first trimester. 

4. Listen to your body: Nobody knows your body like you. I know myself and when I really need a "rest day" and when I'm just being lazy! If you need the rest, take it! But listen to you heart- it will tell you what you really "need." Take that nap or rest day if your body is asking for it! Being honest with yourself is so important to living a healthy and active lifestyle whether you are pregnant or not. 

I was actually about 9 weeks pregnant in these photos!

First trimester Workouts:

Week 8: No weight gain, horribly tired. 

Sun: 3 miles: 7:58, 7:36, 7:20- felt awesome! Monday: Lower Lift. Tuesday: Off. Wednesday: Upper and HIIT with sled. Thursday: Home workout. Friday: Lower Lift. Saturday: off

Week 9: 1 pound weight gain, feeling more bloated. Tired AFFFFF!!!!!

Sunday: Run @ soccer tournmaent I coached- 7:55, 8:26, 8:10 (was literally 90 degrees...so hot!). Monday: LOwer Lift. Tuesday 2.75 miles 8:18, 8:28. Wednesday: Sled HIIT and upper lift. Thursday: Lower Lift. Friday: off. Saturday 3 miles with stroller: 8:40, 8:03, 8:00. 

Week 10: +2 pound weight gain. Starting to show a little especially at night! 

Sunday: home workout. Monday: lower Lift. Tuesday: off. Wednesday: 3 mile run, very very slow. Thursday: Upper lift and sleds. Friday: lower lift. Saturday 5 400's with strength in between: squats, pushups, lunges)

Week 11: +3 pounds 

Sunday: home lift, Monday: off (glute was bothering me). Tuesday 2 mile run. Wednesday: Home lift. Thursday: 3 miles- 8:08, 7:53, 7:50, Saturday: Off. 

Week 12: +3 lbs

Sunday: 3.25 miles, 8:19, 8:04, 8:29. Monday: Lower Lift. Tuesday: 1 800, 2 400s, 4 200s, 6 100s @ track. Wednesday: soccer workout. Thursday: Upper lift and HIIT sleds. Friday: Lower Lift and soccer workout. Saturday off. 

Week 13: +5 lbs 

Sunday: home workout. Monday: lower lift. Tuesday: 3 miles: 8:17, 8:13, 8:37 (died at end!). Wednesday off. Thursday Upper Lift and HIIT sleds. Friday: lower Lift. Saturday 3 miles 8:20, 7:48, 7:49

Week 14: +7 lbs

Sunday: off. Monday: 4 800s, 400 m job inbetween. Tuesday Home lift. Wednesday Lower Lift. Thursday Soccer workout. Friday: upper and HIIT workout. Saturday: off. 

Have a great weekend loves!

xo

Alex

I guess 3 was meant to be....{{Pregnancy thoughts}}

Wow. What a crazy couple of months. I feel like I was getting into a great rhythm in LIFE..work, working out, family time, independence...also with my blog posts, and managing everything...and then BAM. Surprise! Baby #3 on the way, and RIP to me getting anything. done. ever. Ha. 

I guess thats the way life is sometimes, once you get the hang of something, it changes. 

I've always been really upfront and transparent as a person, and thats carried over onto this blog. We are super excited to add to our family, but it was definitely unexpected. I had so many mixed emotions finding out, the first being a little bit of shock. A little  bit of...I'm not sure if I can do this again. A little bit of I just started to get a little more independence...and SLEEP.

But you can be sure there was a lot of excitement in my heart wondering if it was a girl or boy, and knowing this baby would fully complete our family. 

I think deep down I knew I wanted to have one more child, I was just wrapping my head around actually doing it ALL over again. After all, I just stopped breastfeeding Seb in March.

Let's just put it this way: Since September of 2013, I've been breastfeeding or pregnant for all but 6 of those months. You guys...that is FIVE freaking years. I really wanted to enjoy the summer and just be me. Not breastfeeding. Not pregnant. Just me.

Thinking about a pregnancy, weight gain, and the stress/anxiety of expecting a baby and hoping everything goes smoothly...., and then when the baby actually arrives the sleepless nights, breastfeeding/pumping, and just adjusting to a completely different family dynamic. I just coulden't wrap my head around it. 

Family of 4 was just so easy in my mind- we were pretty much through the tough part. Seb is 2 in October, starting preschool. Max is super independent. Traveling gets easier every time, and when my husband is home we are man for man. I feel like we can give them enough attention. I enjoy the one on one time I have with each of them. And most importantly, we have two HEALTHY, beautiful, happy boys that I almost feel greedy wanting more.

But there was always a longing feeling inside of me feeling so heartbroken to not snuggle another baby, breastfeed again, and completely watch another human being change our lives and hearts.  You never hear people regret having their last child. You always hear people say "I wish I would have had more kids."

So, here we are. 14 weeks pregnant this week!

Real Talk: Let's talk 1st trimester, because it is OVER. Thank you Lord! I found out around 6 weeks, and within a week I felt like I had contracted the boubonic plague. Having 2 littles and one on the way in the first trimester was ROUGH, y'all. I can't even explain the fatigue. My nutrition was absolute shit. I had no energy, and tbh you're supposed to limit caffeine? Well caffeine did not do a thing for me those first 6-8 weeks. I needed some sort of AED to give me life!!

I had the worst food aversions. Basically everything that I would normally eat (read: clean) was not going to happen. I've eaten far too many pieces of grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, and pizza the last month or so than I would care to share. I tried to eat the best I could (I'm prob not giving myself enough credit..but guys..the struggle was so so real) and I guess I've done a decent job? because I'm only up 5 or 6 lbs at almost 14 weeks. This is a little less than pregnancy #1 and #2 {{probs bc I never. ever. sit. down. with 2 toddlers lol}}. 

Other than the lack of energy and nausea here and there, I've felt good and have been really active. The great weather has certainly helped keep me active, and even when I was struggling for energy, I knew a workout would never make me feel worse ((it usually gives me more energy)) so I think being consistent with my daily activity (steps, walking) and workouts has really helped me. 

I'm feeling SO much better now, and excited to share my last pregnancy journey with you all!(yes, this will be our last :P) 

Thank you ALL for your sweet messages and love over the last week or so! We are so blessed to have baby 3 on the way and all of you in our lives!

xo

Alex

Transformation Tuesday

Nothing worth having comes easy. 

20 long, long months. 

But I made it. And it feels so, so good. 

I'm here to show you that it can be done, if you want it.  I'm not a mom that "bounces" back and loses all her baby weight in 3 weeks ((Clearly)). Or has a flat stomach within 6 weeks ((see photo)). It takes time. Lots of time. Making the right choices, over and over again. Sometimes when you don't feel like it. Sometimes when you're just going through the motions. But every single one of those choices count. The little choices that at the end of the day make the difference.

I spend a maximum of 2- 3 hours at the gym ...a WEEK. Any cardio is mostly done with my kids (walking or running) and any other workouts I get in are in my basement with 3 sets of kettlebells and some bands. Do I watch what I eat? Of course. But I also don't turn down ice cream, pizza, or any other treats with my boys, family or friends. Balance. And when its time to knuckle down, I'm smart about fueling my body at the right times (and yes, that means carbs!!). 

My biggest tip? Start small. Make small changes. For example, my first step after Baby 2 was cutting out granola and replacing it with berries or greek yogurt with protein powder before bed. Once I conquered that, then I started working on my habits during the day. Committing to doing some meal planning, adding more vegetables, not sneaking bites off of the kids plates, eating more protein, etc. It all adds up and everything...EVERYTHING is a habit. 

Fitness and being healthy has always been a passion of mine due to my background and love of a sport. Now, its a passion of mine because I'm a good role model for my kids..because I'm healthier and feel strong and confident...and at the end of the day I'm holding on to the pieces of ME for those few hours a week.

I'm not just Max and Seb's mom.

Is being their mom the most important part of my life right now? Yes. But at the end of the day, and quicker than I think, they're going to grow into their own lives. And while I'm holding on tight to my fleeting moments with them, I'm also holding on to Alex. Just a little bit. Because I don't want to lose her in the midst of raising my littles and wonder where she went 15 years from now. 

Have a great day everyone!

xo

Alex

Fashion Friday: Summer Vaca Packing List

Happy Friday friends! I hope you have all had a great week. The week started off AWESOME when I found out my laptop was not dead after spilling Advocare Spark on it..! let's just say the computer gods looked after me BIG TIME.

We have spent the last couple of days in florida enjoying some family time. My MIL is here so its been nice to have a little getaway while she's here. Its hard for us to unplug when we are at home! A majority of our time has been spent at the beach, in the pool, or at the local playground! Chill & low key. We are headed to Orlando for a few nights before we head home and I'm looking forward to some shopping and having a little bit more around us to do :P

I thought I would share a few items that were made it into my suitcase for the trip down here as I am sure so many of you are hitting the roads (or the air!) for a trip over the summer and are looking for some new vacay style! Obviously I packed more than this (haha I'm a total overpacker) but some of my MVPs that didn't make this list were my birkenstocks, some comfy nike's, and this fun one piece swimsuit from amazon. 

1. These Z Supply tanks are super comfy, and a great basic to travel with. They are also currently 50% off on shopbop! Runs TTS. 

                                                                   Target Bikini

2. I got this bikini last minute at target..when I was supposed to be getting an ipad case!! Haha! I coulden't resist the gold/white combo! 

3. We are so active and on the go that its important I pack a good pair of light athleisure shorts to wear on the go with the kids in hot weather. These lululemon shorts are perfect and are a fun coral color. 

4. The Shoreline converse are a little bit unique with the slipon and ruching in the back of the shoe. Comfy and versatile. 

5. Believe it or not, I actually got these Paige denim shorts at TJ Maxx for $40! Denim is a must on the packing list and these don't disappoint. I would def size down in these.

                                                       Z Supply Tank, Paige Denim, Birks...

6. This madewell striped tank is a staple. Runs TTS.

7.  I am OBSESSED with these Siwy Mickey Mouse shorts. I love the high waist and the fun graphics. These are also on major sale, so if you're a disney lover....don't pass these up! Runs TTS. As seen in my photo above. 

8. I wore a plain Disney graphic tee with the Mickey shorts, but I like this fun cropped tank to wear with it in the hot temps! 

9. I recently purchased this Becca floral bikini. I really like the colors and the ruffles add a touch of femininity. Runs TTS, 

10. Some of you saw my fun travel outfit- these Camo overalls from asos! Run TTS.

11. Last but not least, this Ruffle one piece is sooo cute and flattering! Also, its 40% off. Runs TTS. 

Hope you all have an awesome Memorial Day weekend with Family and friends! 

xo

Alex

Monday Meal Plan: Breakfast

Hi friends!

Ok, so…lets get to it. I’ve gained and lost 135 lbs over the last 6 years so I have a little experience in getting your body back after baby. I always get questions about what I eat! Today I’m focusing on breakfast.

Breakfast has always been one of my favorite meals. I truly believe it is so important to have a good breakfast and set yourself up for the rest of the day. .

So, whats the best thing to eat?

Stay away from:

-Anything sugary, high refined carbohydrate (a lot of cereals, bagels, donuts, muffins, pastries have these high refined carbs etc.) This will avoid you having sugar crash and energy lull.

What you SHOULD eat:

Eggs, omelette, egg whites, Turkey Bacon, Chicken Sausage, Oatmeal, whole grain toast (I never have toast any more but its definitely better than muffins/other carbs!), nut butters, yogurts, fruit. All of these are excellent choices!

Intermittent Fasting

I do want to say that I have done intermittent fasting in the past, but I came back to eating breakfast because I just feel better eating it! I do try to give myself 12 hours between eating the night before and eating the next morning. So, if I snack at 8:30 pm, I’ll wait until 8:30 am to eat breakfast! According to some researchers, fasting for 10–16 hours can cause the body to turn its fat stores into energy, which releases ketones into the bloodstream. This should encourage weight loss. This is why I do the 12 hours!

Breakfast Favorites

Last week's Meal Plan Monday was my go-to in the morning for breakfast- Peanut Butter Oatmeal.

Oatmeal is a great slow burning carb to start the day with! I also make sure that at every meal I have 20-30 g of protein so today I'll be sharing what I've started to really enjoy in the morning with my oatmeal! 

I'll talk more about my "macro" goals and what I focus on at a later date to lose "the baby weight" as well as different supplements I use, but I always find that hitting your protein goals for lunch, dinner and snacks is relatively easy. There are tons of different recipes and and foods that you can make.

Breakfast on the other hand...meh. I feel like I have fried eggs. Or an omelette. Or Scrambled eggs. And occasionally some chicken sausage. It gets REAL old, fast. 

Last week I tried something completely new and its rocked my world. Honestly, it is something SO simple and I don't know what took me so long to try it! 

Turkey bacon and Egg sandwich. Bingo. This is so easy and fast to make and you NAIL your protein breakfast game with 24 grams! This keeps you full for the morning and starts your day out right. You can use any kind of turkey bacon, I just buy the Wegmans organic but you could find a flavored bacon if you like that.

I throw them on a frying pan, let them cook for 2-3 minutes and crack two eggs right on top. Then just flip them when the eggs have reached your desired level (I like mine a little runny). Something about the two combined tastes SO SO good and you don't have to force 3 or 4 eggs down in the morning! 

Have a great week everyone! xo

Alex

3 things I love about being a Mom & Gift Ideas for your Mom

I love the month of May- more sunshine, longer days, outside time, and the smell of the spring air. Its also a fun holiday month with Memorial Day at the end of the month kicking off summer and of course, Mothers Day! 

Today I'm sharing 3 things I love about being a mom and some gift ideas for your amazing mom! I'm pretty sure we are all highly indebted to our mother's before we are even out of the womb because lets be real: pregnancy isn't for the birds and labor? Yeah, there's no gift or money in the world that can pay someone back for that ish lol. #speakingfromexperience #stillhavePTSD

Then you have the sleepless nights, toddler tantrums, the 80358 messes a day, late night homework sessions, cheauffering to soccer practice...I could go on for hours. Mom's are the real MVP. Bottom line. 

When they say being a mom changes everything, you never fully understand what they mean until you actually hold your little one. And even though your life seems to be turned upside down almost instantly in every way possible being a mom is one of the most amazing experiences ever. There are moments that you laugh until your cheeks hurt, and moments where you cry ugly Kim Kardashian tears and think you can't go on another minute. But growing little humans from the lows of the low, to the highs of the highs is the most rewarding job you'll ever do. Here are 3 things that come to mind when I think of what I love about being a mom: 

1. Appreciation: I felt like I was pregnant for 40 years, not 40 weeks. Labor was horrible, and my first baby was colic. Within the first 2 weeks of having my first, I was legitimately convinced my mom was some sort of SUPERHERO for having 3 tiny humans. Of course I've always appreciated what my mom has done, but I think until you go through it yourself you never really fully understand. Becoming a mom has completely put a new perspective and appreciation on what my mom has sacrificed for me, and honestly makes me love her even more! 

2. Fulfillment: Its funny how before winning soccer games was the "be-all end all" for me, or my workouts would make or break my day. Being a mom has given me such a greater purpose beyond who I am as an individual. Seeing the boys face light up at the smallest things, or teaching them something new is more fulfilling than anything else could ever be! Knowing that I get to help shape their character and impact on the world makes me not sweat the small stuff at work and gives me true purpose. 

3. Home: I've heard the saying “Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.” This coulden't be more true, and honestly scares me thinking of when the boys gets older and they're on their own.

But at the end of the day, what gives me peace is you'll always be HOME to your children. Where they go for all the basic necessities of life when they're babies: milk, warmth, touch. Where they go when they're toddlers and are shy, are hurt, or want cuddles. And where they'll go for advice, comfort, money(lol), and a home cooked meal when they are off in college. Nothing fills my heart more knowing I'm HOME for my boys. 

Alright, back to Mother's Day. Below I've rounded up some great gifts that I think any mom would love at all different price points. And remember, the best gift you can give your mom is your time! Get her a great gift, and spend some time together, and love on her! She deserves it! 

1. Ugg slippers: Worth the hype and these are on sale for $65! 

2. Barefoot Dreams Cardigan: This cardi is my favorite to wear around the house. So soft but not too bulky or thick. The material is literally dreamy, and its has pockets. 

3. I love this Bezel and Bytes Chunky Chain for your Apple Watch. A great alternative to dress up mom's apple watch!

4. Birkenstocks: You guys know how I feel about these! Anyone can pull them off, even if they are just a "casual" sandal, they're so comfortable, mold to your feet and last forever. 

5. If your mom is active, the Apple Watch is an awesome gift! That has some amazing features if its in your budget. 

6. Lush Bath Bombs are a nice treat for any mom at the end of a long day.

7. The Sprocket is a really unique gift which allows you to print smaller photos from your phone! I love that you can throw these in your wallet, on your fridge or in your office. 

8. These Venus Roses are AMAZING. Yes, they are pricy ((super pricy)) but they really do last a year, and the smell is incredible!! Someone has actually bought these for me before, and I loved them! They have every color you can imagine and are a great gift. 

9. I know that getting a vacuum isn't a luxurious gift, but for me a gift that makes me more efficient with my time is a WIN. This Dyson is cordless, light, and sucks everything up in sight- Perfect for mom and pet moms! No more lugging around a huge vacuum or a broom. Also, you can use a 20% off coupon at Bed Bath and Beyond to get it discounted! 

10. Yankee candle has super cute personalized candles for Mothers Day. You can pick your scent and add a photo. I think this is a great inexpensive, thoughtful gift for Mother's Day. 

11. The Clarisonic Mia is a must have for any woman! 

12. This may seem ridiculous, but I've heard these Sonicare Diamond Clean are literally the best toothbrushes ever created. Your teeth are something people see everyday, so this might be worth the splurge for your mom if she's been wanting one. (Again, use the 20% off coupon at BB and beyond)

Hope some of these ideas help! Have a great day everyone! 

xo 

Alex

Meal Plan Monday & snacks I'm loving

Anyone else have a sunshine hangover? Can we all just skip work today and celebrate SPRING and no more snow?! Kidding...{kind of} Hope you all had a great weekend and are ready to get after this week!

Today I'm sharing a unique recipe... Pork is not something I have in my usual meal rotation but this meal is actually super tasty, healthy, and even kids like it because its more sweet than spicy. The Hoisin sauce I use to flavor this meal is pretty low in sugar and carbs which makes me love this recipe even more.

Pork Stir fry with Snow Peas

Pork Tenderloin, cut into cubes
4 cloves garlic
1 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled & minced (2 tablespoons)
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
2/3 pound Snow Peas
1/2 Red & Green Pepper, chopped
Mushrooms
3 tablespoons Hoisin sauce
1/4 cup water
Rice

1. Toss the pork with half the garlic, half the ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes. 
2. While pork is marinating, start cooking the rice. Heat a skillet over high heat and add olive oil.  Add the remaining garlic and ginger until fragrant. Add mushrooms and peppers. When mushrooms begin to sautee/peppers soften (3-4 mins), add sugar snap peas. Cook for 2-3 mins. Remove into a separate bowl to cool. 
3. Heat the same skillet used for the vegetables and cook the Pork mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Return the vegetable mixture to the skillet when Pork is nearly cooked through. Add the hoison sauce and soy sauce to taste, cook until juices thicken. I like to add 1/4 cup of water as the juice thickens- I think it makes it perfect to spread over the rice! Totally up to you though. 
4. Serve over rice and enjoy!! 

Snacks I'm loving

Also, I wanted to share a few snacks that I've been loving for me...and a few for the kids. My boys love the Nature's Bakery fig bars. I just saw today that they have an Organic Oat and Honey option so I snagged it and they LOVE them. I like how there is no high fructose corn syrup, that they're organic, and not too messy!

Strangely enough,  Neither of my boys like cow's milk. I don't really force it because I'm not super sold on cow's milk anyway...so we try to get their dairy through almond milk in their oatmeal, yogurt (Seb really isn't feeling it at the moment..hopefully that changes!) and various cheeses. These Horizon cheese stars are Max's favorites. I think he likes the taste as much as the different shapes :) These I have only been able to find at Target. Just what I need, another reason to "force" me to go into target..ha. 

I've completely overhauled my diet the last 3 weeks and cut out all sweets so finding alternatives for my sweet tooth has been a challenge to say the least. I've been loving the thinkthin Cake pops lately though. My favorite flavor definitely has to be the chocolate. Low sugar and it hits the spot after dinner when I crave something sweet!

Last but not least... is this Buff Bake Peanut Butter spread. GUYS. This is so freakin good. Not nearly as good as Nutella, or Peanut Butter Company  {{these are clearly off limits at the moment}},  but it certainly satisfies and packs some extra protein. Beggars can't be choosers at the moment so I'll take what I can get,  I love how these two treats are somewhat guilt free and help me satisfy that sweet tooth that never seems to disappear! 

Have a great week everyone! 

xo

Alex

Meal Plan Monday #2: No Bean Chili

How is it already Monday?! This weekend literally flew by and I think I need an extra day just looking outside! This weather...smh.  I'm looking forward to the temperatures warming up and the ability to get outside later on this week...this never ending winter has been brutal. The recipe on tap today is actually perfect for these RIDIC temps/ice storm we have right now! 

I wanted to share a meal I made last week that I think some of you will enjoy. To be honest, I've never been a huge chili fan. A couple of years ago I started to make it in the crockpot but I mostly made it because it was easy, convenient, and relatively fast to make. I'm always looking to make meals that are healthy but that there's no drop off in taste and flavor. Ones that I actually look forward to eating lol. Who's with me on that? Nothing better than coming home from a long day at work and having a yummy meal to look forward to!

After making several different chili recipes, I've pieced together my favorite version of this staple! 

Sweet Potato Chili

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time 30-40 minutes

Ingredients:
Ground Turkey
Red Pepper
Green Pepper
2 tomatillos or a can of diced tomatillos
1 large sweet potato (or 2 smaller sized ones)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Diced tomatoes
1 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup onion
Cilantro to taste
Cayenne, paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder

Directions: 
Dice onion, green and red pepper, and tomatillos (if needed).  In a large saucepan, heat oil. Add onion, and sweet potatoes. Cook for 8-10 minutes. Add green and red peppers. Cook until soft. Remove from heat. Use same pan and heat oil (if pan is dry) and cook turkey. Add vegetables to turkey along with the tomatillos, vegetable broth, 1/2 cup of water and tomato paste. Sprinkle with desired amount of spice blend. Let simmer and thicken for 10-15 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy!

You can honestly use a different pan if you want to cook the turkey at the same time that the veggies are cooking-that saves a little time. I mostly do it in the same pan to get the extra flavoring thats in the pan after the veggies cook. Also, if your chili is "too thick" you can add more water, or more paste if not thick enough. This is all down to what you like. 

This is a great recipe because you can play around with the ingredients- if you want it really spicy or just mild just adjust you spice levels. Keep in mind that spicy food does kick the metabolism up a little! #winning #givemealllllthespice

I LOVE the sweet potatoes as the carb vs the beans personally! Sweet Potatoes are one of the best slow burning carbohydrates and are great fuel for anyone!

In addition if you don't want it as "tomatoey" (if thats a word ha) then you could use 1 cup of water instead of the crushed tomatoes. Also Diced tomatillos are such an awesome way to add flavor and they are super easy to cut up and find in the grocery store! 

I have 3 sunbasket meals on tap for this week which I am SO looking forward to. This past week got a bit monotonous with salmon and chicken! 

Have a great week everyone and enjoy! 

xo

Alex
 

MealPlan Monday: The best healthy Sweet Potato fries

Hi everyone! Happy Monday!

I plan on sharing more recipes on the blog moving forward and I thought I would start today because, why not?!

For those of you who don’t know, I did the Advocare 24 day JumpStart after Max weaned and I had amazing results. It was definitely really challenging for me from a diet/nutrition standpoint but it opened my eyes to what works for my body now that I'm getting older/being a mom. Its completely changed my nutrition (for the better) over the last 2 years!

Like anyone else I definitely loosened up my nutrition while pregnant. I mean who doesn't, amirite-its the least we can do when we are waddling around and can barely sleep. Postpartum I worked out and eat pretty healthy, but I FOR SURE have a SAVAGE sweet tooth that kills some of my gains ha.

I'm super excited to get back on the wagon now that I'm done nursing and have no more excuses ("I can't lose weight while nursing,..my body holds onto the fat lollll" ) and getting serious with this 'ish!

I'm always trying to find great recipes that still taste good. I love eating clean, feeling good and looking good...but you will not find me eating fish and asparagus every day! I LOVE food! The below recipe has lots of flavor but it is as healthy as can be. I am obsessed with these sweet potato fries...and so is my hubby and youngest son (I just don't put the spice on the boys portion)

Here we go...Recipe of the week: 

Paul Prudhomme's Chicken with Baked zucchini and Sweet Potato fries

Paul Prudhomme's Poultry magic is of my favorite poultry spices- it is fantastic. They don't sell it here in upstate NY anymore but they do in Florida, and I bought mine online at vitacost.com. It is actually a really great meal prep spice to use if you are making chicken in bulk. It definitely has a little bit of a kick to it which I love because well..we eat alllll of the chicken when meal prepping lol! Also it is so EASY and FAST to use with plenty of flavor so I'm all for it! 

Ingredients: 
Chicken as desired
Paul Prudhomme's Poultry Magic spice
2-3 Zucchini
1-2 Sweet Potato
1 egg white
cayenne pepper
Garlic powder
Salt, Pepper, Olive Oil

Heat oven to 450 F. (Keep the pan in the oven while it heats) Wash and Peel sweet potato. Cut lengthwise and then again into quarters so you have "fries". Pour egg white into small bowl. Sprinkle cayenne, garlic, salt and pepper as desired in egg white. Dip fries into the egg white mixture. Place on parchment paper (make sure they do not touch). Drizzle with olive oil if desired. Bake on one half of the baking sheet for 10-15 minutes, then flip. Cut Zucchini in half, then into half moons. Place on other half of baking sheet with olive oil, salt and pepper when you flip the fries (so halfway through). Cook for 10 minutes or until soft.

                                                                     Ingredients

While the sweet potato fries are cooking, Cut the chicken in small pieces (or leave as a breast if desired..I usually find diced is best because you can throw the leftovers really easy in a salad!). Warm oil in pan. Place chicken in oil, and shake desired amount of spice onto chicken. Stir While chicken is cooking. Serve and enjoy :)) 
 

                                                           Spread out on the pan

                                                           The finished product :) 

 For those who are interested in anything Advocare or want to know more about the Jumpstart...just DM me at @alexsahlen2 on instagram, or email me at peanutbutterblondie@gmail.com.

Have a great day everyone and enjoy! 

xo

Alex

5 Tips for for better Fitness/Wellness

Hi everyone! Hope you had an awesome holiday  with family and friends. I am slowly coming out of my candy coma! As most of you know, I weaned Seb a few weeks ago and I thought it would be perfect timing to start the Advocare 24 day Kick start the day after Easter! I knew I was going to splurge a little and it would be ideal to start the day after!

For those of you who don’t know, I did the Advocare 24 day challenge (what it was called back then, it’s since changed) after Max weaned and I had amazing results. It was definitely really challenging for me from a diet standpoint but honestly it was the best thing that happened to me. It showed me how much my body has changed postpartum and what works for me.. and what doesn’t- not only to feel good, but to look good! 

I’ll be sharing a lot of my recipes and what I’m eating over the next 3 weeks but for now I’m going to share 5 tips to getting healthy and fit and that I'll be living by! 

1. Commit yourself: This is probably the biggest one of all. You really have to be in the right state mentally and physically. For me, I’m always going to be busy so it’s more of a mental commitment and discipline for me that I need to focus on. If you aren't ready or committed for YOURSELF you won’t be successful. 

2. Meal prep: this is almost as important as #1. I usually try to prep all my lunch food at the beginning of the week and it sets me up for success. This includes preparing / having good snacks on hand! Some of my favorites are hard boiled eggs, nuts, protein bars (quest and Rx bars are my favorite) :) If I don't stay on track at lunch, it usually leads me to being overly hungry at nighttime...which is never good. lol. 

3. Drink lots of water: enough said! Water is so important to your health and it honestly can curb hunger too! 

4. Move more: This might seem super obvious....but its not! I know firsthand how hard it can be to get workouts in with commitments like family, kids, work... I honestly just vow to move more - whether that’s a walk with the kids or parking a little farther away in the parking lot, or standing/ moving at work when I’m on conference calls. I only get to the gym 2-3 days a week so the rest of the week it’s on me to try and get my 10,000 steps a day. That makes a huge difference in your overall wellness! You WILL see more of a difference if you can get workouts in, but know that just moving more and being spot on with your diet will still get you great results! 

5. My last piece of advice is one I’ve really lived by when getting my body back after baby #1: you will never remember the moments that you turned down that piece of candy, that piece of pizza, etc.  But if you have goals, you will always regret it! Discipline is choosing between what you want NOW and than what you want MOST!!! I honestly cannot tell you one time that I “missed” out on a moment because I said “no” to a food.

Keep in mind, I definitely splurge and live life.. but there are times where you have to be a little more strict to get what you want! That’s just life! If it were easy everyone would be fit. 

Have a great day everyone! 

Xo 

Alex

Documenting the lasts....Weaning

Hi friends..

I've been trying to write this post for a few days now and wasn't even really sure where to begin because this is something so dear and important to my heart. But I knew I had to share this because I know there are other mamas struggling with this decision every day and I hope that at the very least I can help them with the process, or at the very least, give them comfort that what they are feeling is normal. So, here I go. 

We always document the firsts. First smile, first tooth, first step, first word, first day of school. 

But the lasts? We rarely know when those have passed us by. 

I’m not sure if it’s worse to know it’s your last time- or have that fleeting moment pass you by quickly. 

My heart feels like it’s in pieces because our nursing relationship is over. A part of me has been waiting for this moment for months. Waiting for this independence. Waiting to actually sleep. Waiting to have my body back. But on the other hand, the snuggles. the closeness. The moments I cherish would be over. For those of you who did breastfeed (and enjoyed it), you know that your nursing defines your relationship with your child for so long, and without it, you feel lost. It's like home. 

My oldest weaned himself at 13 months and almost without warning which was hard- never “knowing” it was my last time with him. I always wished I knew and could have savored that last time. This time around, I was the one to slowly start the process and it sure wasn’t easy. In any way- mentally, physically, emotionally. I loved those moments where it was just him and I. Even though I was exhausted, I already miss those middle of the night snuggles; where the world stopped and it was just him and I, in our chair. 

It’s so crazy how there is so much information and help “how to” breastfeed.. but when it comes to weaning?  I felt so lost- and I know other women are in this boat. My hope is that there are breastfeeding mamas out there, even just one, that reads this and gains something out of it- even if its just a moment of relief that your feelings are completely normal. 

Motherhood is this crazy balancing act of trying to hold on to each and every moment, but also celebrating any milestone in which you gain an ounce of independence back into your life. And its hard. Really. Really. Hard. 

Why

I'm sure you're all wondering why I would wean if I was so attached to it, and am so torn up inside about it.

Seb is slowly approaching 18 months and I first and foremost am exhausted. I loved my nighttime snuggles and miss them but 18 months is a long time to go without real solid sleep.

Secondly...actually do I really need a second reason? lol #sleeptrumpseverything 

In all seriousness, Reason 2 is Seb and I have a pretty deep bond ...for obvious reasons. I think its been hard for my hubby to get time with Seb because he's always wanting me at night, before naps, bedtime..and a lot of the time it was spilling over into the day which wasn't fair to anyone in our family, including Max.

Additionally, I’ve been chomping at the bit to really get my body back 100%.  I’m glad I was patient with the nursing and took my time because I would have regretted weaning him a few months earlier. I know in big scheme of things, a few months is just a blip on the radar. But...its time. 

Lastly, the older he gets the more difficult it’s going to get to wean because everything is a routine in life including breastfeeding, and  I didn't want to be in a situation where it’s really really difficult emotionally for him to wean.

How

I had a trip planned with just Max down to Florida with my parents and my niece who is 9 months older than Max. It took me awhile to commit to the trip because I was so torn leaving Seb behind for 5-6 days. But in the back of my mind I knew this would be the perfect opportunity for him to bond with my husband, wean him (if I could), and also have me some one on one time with Max. As I'm sure some of you know, you spend SO much time with your new baby the first year or so that your time with your oldest gets to be so limited. I knew I HAD to take this trip. 

2.5 weeks before I left, I started dropping feeds. This really didn’t go very well. I started with the morning feed and every morning for almost 10 days straight he asked for “night night”. I tried to distract, distract, distract as much as I could with juice, vitamin gummies, etc! I think it was hard for him because he didn’t understand why I wouldn’t feed him in the morning but I would before nap, and at night. This is when I realized this trip would be perfect and drawing it out (weaning slowly over a 3-4 months period time) would almost be harder on both of us. I don’t want to say to go “cold turkey” as advice  because I didn’t exactly do that-but like I said -I feel like he was confused and started wanting it more when I started dropping feeds. Going quicker (over a 3-4 week period) worked better for my baby and I. 

I left the house the 2 days prior to leaving for my trip during his nap time and had someone else put him down so that eliminated the naptime feed. Cue to me leaving the house, and bursting into tears in the car because well, #allofthefeels. 

My last time nursing Seb I tried to take in every second and bottle up the memory. I stayed with him a little longer than I would normally and just savored my time with him. I left for my trip on the Friday night and the first night he cried quite a bit, which was to be expected. I honestly had probably missed 15 nap/ bedtimes in 18 months! My husband comforted him as best as possible but as you know a change in routine is hard for anyone, especially a toddler. Each night it got better and by night 3 he wasn’t waking anymore. 

I pumped twice a day at the start of the trip and then dropped down to once. When I got back home from the trip, before I put him down for a nap he asked for it and cried out a little for me when I left the room but he went to sleep which was a relief. 

The hardest moment was that night- the first night I was back and put him down to bed without our nursing session for the first time. I felt so empty inside. Its so hard to explain but my heart literally hurt. But I knew it was the right time.  He called my name for 3-5 mins.( tbh he does this sometimes after nursing anyway) He eventually fell asleep after a few minutes and slept through the night. 

The Aftermath

Once I got home, after my first night back, he asked for "night-night" 3 more times and hasn't looked back since. I still miss it, but its been great to have anyone put Seb down to bed/naptime and I definitely think Seb was able to bond with his father in ways that he woulden't have been able to otherwise. Also, we all sleep much better and everyone is more healthy when we are rested, including Seb :) We've settled into a routine and I think we are all adjusting pretty well.  

From a physical standpoint, I was looking forward to weaning and getting the "surge" of energy I got after Max weaned. I think because I did more of a "mother led weaning" approach this time, the hormones really hit me hard. I felt like I was pregnant again (I'm not..lol!)..I felt so tired..like the debilitating 1st trimester tiredness. I finally am starting to feel much better now thankfully! 

All in all, I feel so blessed to have had so many amazing moments with my boy breastfeeding and while this chapter has closed, I'm excited to see what the next one will bring....

love to you all and Happy Easter

xo

Alex

Easter Basket Ideas

Hey friends. Hope you are all doing well and ready for Easter! YES y'all. Easter is under 2 weeks away. I know nobody has even THOUGHT about easter because...snow...but its going to be here before we know it. I am down in Florida with Max for a few days and this warm weather has got me feeling ALLL of the Easter things. 

Ok. So. Real talk...How many of us are running around the day or two before the "easter bunny" hops to our house scrambling to get little items to fill it? This is so me...so I thought I would make a little guide for those of you who are going to get 90% of your gifts from amazon Prime (like me lol)..This also helps me get my act together and be more organized :) 

Here are some of my favorites that I picked out with everything on amazon, most of it prime. I mean how did our moms exist without prime?!! #itsamystery #theyarerockstars

These 3 Easter books: Mickey, Llama Llama, and Elmo! 

Play-doh is always a fan favorite

My husband goes crazy with the crayola bath markers but this I think makes the bath fun without as much cleanup as the markers! Crayola Bath Dropz

Calling all boy moms! These eggs filled with small construction vehicles are sure to be a hit! 

I love these sidewalk chalks veause they have a holder and nobodys hands will get super chalky! 

I love anything from Melissa and Doug- they are so great working children's creativity. Here they have bracelets to make (girls) and this decorate your own airplane (boys). In addition, they have Water reveal pads for Bible stories. I love this because it reinforces the bible during craft time!

My oldest boy is obsessed with Paw Patrol, so I'll be getting him these Paw Patrol Bath Toys. This one is rubble! 

For a more practical gift, you could throw in these Playtex Sippy Cups. They are the best and never ever leak! 

Every kid growing up has had an etch a sketch! Here's a fun one from Amazon with great reviews

Crayola is a lifesaver when it comes to their "mess free" products. These are two of my favorites:

Mess Free Markers & paper

Mess Free Paint

Here are a few more ideas: 
-Sunglasses
-A new summer hat
-Water toys
-DVDs
-Stuffed animal bunny
-Hair ties or headbands for girls
-new flipflops or sandals
-Movie passes
-Gift card to local ice cream or fro-yo place
-a new ball of the sport they love
-Puzzles
-Jump Rope

I also recommend hitting up your local dollar store for things like Coloring books, stickers, fun kleenex (like frozen or paw patrol), and wall klings! 

Hope this helps you brainstorm for your little bunnies :) 

xo

Alex

2018: Don't wait for the perfect moment, take the moment and make it perfect

Hi Friends! 

Happy New Year! I hope you guys had an awesome time with family and are enjoying a relaxing day today! 

I know it might sound cliche, but I always love the New Years celebrations. I love what it stands for; starting new and fresh. That doesn't necessarily mean I set the stereotypical resolutions, but I think goal setting and self evaluation are crucial in life. Looking back at the year: what went well, what didn't, and what you want to work on as an individual whether thats in your personal or professional life. 

I've always been a Type A, goal setting, and "in-control" type of person. This is probably one of my greatest strengths, but also a weakness. A weakness because I wait. Waiting to have total focus and "the time I need to finish." Waiting to deliver perfect, look perfect, professionally or personally. This applies to anything: cleaning my closet upstairs at home, organizing my stacks and stacks of photos, mapping out new ideas within our businesses, attacking projects, or scheduling a photo shoot/writing more blog posts, my quest for perfection and control, lol, holds me back. 

Not being able to start and complete something all in one shot (which as all of us moms know, is virtually impossible) is something I really need to LET GO of. Plugging away at things piece by piece, minute by minute, and in little segments is OKAY. As they say, "Don't wait for the perfect moment, take the moment and make it perfect." 

Of course I have other goals in the back of my mind (including some fitness based ones of course), but I know that this is something I really want to work on. Do you have anything that you want to improve upon for 2018?!

Happy New Year all!

xo

Alex

30 minute meal: Chicken Arugula Salad

Hey guys! I thought I would hop on here real quick and share one of my favorite recipes!  Now that I'm a mom I try and find ONE meal I can cook for the whole fam. There is nothing worse than cooking two different dinners....Who's with me on that???!! And lets be honest we can't be eating the same four meals that our kids eat LOL. This meal is SUPER easy to make and fast and changes things up!! 

Ok..so whenever I go out to dinner I am such a sucker for Chicken Arugula Salad. I love the balsamic, fresh tomatoes and the fact that it has some greens in it. So freaking good. Its definitely a "healthier" option when eating out. However, I don't love the fact that its made in the frying pan...so I thought to myself..hm. I can totally make this at home. Just without the extra grease!

The trick is that I throw it in the oven which gives you crispy chicken without the oil! WIN! And...you can give the kids the SAME crispy breaded chicken. I mean, who doesn't love breaded chicken? You can enjoy your Arugula salad...and Give the kids some ketchup, BBQ, or hot sauce (if they're old enough to like sauces, my two toddlers just eat it plain) and bingo...you have a meal for the whole fam. If you want extra credit, you could honestly cut the chicken into smaller pieces for the kids so they look like nuggets! Steam some veggies on the side for them and donezo. You have dinner in 30 mins...and a majority of the time its in the oven which means time to do something else..like play with the kids, clean up, un -wind from work..whatever it may be. 

Ingredients: 

Chicken Breasts (however many you need)
4 cups Arugula
Breading:
1 cup Breadcrumbs or Panko breadcrumbs (I like Edward and Sons)
1 egg
2-3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

Topping:
1/2 tomato (the firmer the better)
chopped onion
Balsamic Vinegar to taste
Olive Oil to taste

*I've been pretty loose with the amounts of the above only because everyone is different in terms of how much they prefer. If you love onion, use a 1/2 of an onion. If you don't like it as much, use a 1/3 or 1/4 of an onion. Same with the parmesan cheese, balsamic vinegar(I'm obsessed..so I use a ton), and olive oil. 

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Pound the chicken breasts so they are flat (this is super important. It cuts down on the cooking time). Put a sheet of parchment paper on a oven safe baking sheet. 
2. Crack the egg and whisk in a bowl. Place the breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese in a separate deep dish or bowl. 

3. Dip the chicken in the egg, then in the breadcrumbs making sure the breast is covered with the crumbs. Place on the parchment paper on baking sheet. Repeat until all breasts are on the baking sheet. Cook for 10-12 mins per side. Flip when they reach your desired "crisp level."

4. While the chicken is cooking, rinse the arugula. Chop the onion and tomato. Place all three in a large bowl. 
5. When chicken is complete, take out of oven to cool. Add your balsamic vinegar and olive oil to the salad. 

6. Serve Arugula salad over the chicken. Enjoy :) 

xo
Alex

Doing Disney with Toddlers

Hey guys! Happy November! Hope you guys all had a great halloween!  The dust has finally settled after our trip and I thought I'd write a little post on hitting up Disney with two little ones. 

Staying at Disney hotels vs off site: 

Whenever we travel now with the boys it is a must to find a hotel with a kitchen and ideally separate bedroom from ours. Seb still wakes up most nights so we don't want him disturbing his older brother so we usually put Max in with us and Seb in a room on his own. I think by next year the boys can be in their own room on their own. We like to have some space to ourselves and not feel forced to go to bed at 8 pm :) 

Last year we stayed at Disney's Old Key West which had two bedroom and a kitchen when my mother in law came with us. I loved it. We ended up getting it around $350 per night which is actually a great deal for the hotel. I've stayed on disney properties before so I wasn't surprised by how nice it was and this time was no different. There are several positives to staying at Disney: Transportation to/from the parks, luggage transportation from the airport, ability to buy tickets and book park events at concierge, and the all around "ambience" of Mickey mouse :)

So naturally, when we first booked the trip to Florida, Disney hotels was my first stop to look for hotel prices.. but it was OUTRAGEOUS. It was over $600 a night. So, I started looking around and found a really nice Marriott 2 bedroom/full kitchen about 15 mins from Disney for $175/night. Yes, $175 a night. 1/3 of the price of the Disney Old Key West or any other of their villa hotels. so, needless to say we booked! 

All in all, we had a great experience at Marriott Harbour Lake. They had numerous pools (with tons of slides, kiddie pool, and numerous spas), a craft room for the kids,  a playground, a soccer field, basketball courts, and a very good gym. Rooms were really spacious and service was awesome. We were a short 12-15 mins from Disney parks. It was also 1 mile from Sea World. 

Would I stay at Disney again? After this experience I'm not sure I would until the boys are older. Yes, the atmosphere is second to none and service is fantastic. I think if you have older kids and don't mind sleeping all in one room and eat out (we prefer to cook a majority of the time for the kids with how old they are-eating out is a mission at the moment.) it could work. Also, with older kids 8 or 9 years and up, the buses make more sense (and you don't have a bunch of stuff (stroller, etc.) that you're lugging on the bus with 439820 other people). Keep in mind IMO the transportation from the Disney park took about the SAME amount of time as it did from our off site hotel just due to waiting for the buses and all of the stops the shuttle/bus had to make. So jury is out how beneficial the transport from disney hotels to parks really is...

Disney has decent priced 1 room hotel rooms to stay in but if you're going the route where you want a kitchen, etc. and you have babies/pre schoolers finding off site is the way to go! 

Stay all day or go back to your hotel for a siesta? 

We've done both. We've powered through the day and skipped naps, and we've also gone home for a nap and come back. I would 100% recommend getting up early, hitting the park for a few hours and then coming back for a nap. Disney allows you to leave and come back so that is a non issue, and your parking rate is for the day.

 I think the kids are always super fresh in the morning making it easy for everyone to enjoy themselves. Also, the heat of the day is between 1-4 pm which you miss if you head back for a nap. The nap allows everyone time to recharge, regroup (including mom and dad) and gives you another 3-4 hours (or more) at the park at night. It is completely worth the 45 min treck (by the time you leave the park, take the ferry, etc. get to the parking lot and get home) to get back both ways. 

Disclaimer: If you have angel children that sleep in their strollers with no issues...I say power through!!

                    Awesome aquarium when you get off of the "Nemo" ride at Epcot

Park Hopper vs Single Park? 

I feel like I come from the days where there wasn't as much of a difference between the single park and the park hopper pass in terms of price so I actually love this feature and remember hopping on the monorail from MK to Epcot when I was a kid..

While its super nice to be able to hop from park to park, I woulden't recommend spending the extra $50 pp unless you are going with adults or older kids who can really utilize both parks. 

Other Tips on surviving Disney with Toddlers: 

1. Lower Your standards. Did you lower them? Now lower them again. lol. Have one thing on your list, and accomplish it. Anything above and beyond that is #winning. Examples: meeting mickey/any other character, or another big ride that they enjoy. The smaller your kids are, the less ground you're going to be able to cover. Thats just the reality of it! 

2.. Download the App: The My Disney Experience App allows you to view information about the parks, see wait times for rides, make reservations for meals, or order food ahead of time. You can also update and select your fast passes on the app (see #3 for fast pass.).
 

3. Fast pass that shit: Log on and fast pass the important things you want to do. Fast pass means you basically don't have to wait in line, and now that Disney seems to be busy all year long (read: 45 min waits *everywhere* ) it is the way to go.

Some popular ones for Pre-K would be Meeting Mickey, Its small world, the old fashioned cars, Dumbo, Nemo (at epcot), to name a few. I'm sure girls love the princess meet and greet so if you have girls I would fast pass that also. You can only do three for each person so choose wisely. Once you use them up you can select different ones (this is another reason why coming back at night is better, a lot of times the fast pass windows will be between 5-8 pm which I am not sure you would make unless you have a nap).

If you know what day you're hitting each park, try and fast pass it in advance. Also: sometimes it will say one of the rides is "no longer available for fast pass". KEEP REFRESHING!!!! This happened to me twice now with Meet Mickey and I refreshed about 8 times and then it popped up. 

4. Snacks, Snacks, and more snacks: Snacks are like the holy grail of surviving Disney. Pack enough snacks for a 3 day trip. Trust me. Bars, crackers, fruit, raisins, PB & J, and tons of water. Disney lets you bring in everything so use that to your advantage! 

5. Get there early: Beat the heat and the crowds by getting there when the park opens or shortly after, It'll be worth it. Everyone is fresh in the morning and do your "prep" work the night before (packing snacks, laying clothes out, etc.) to make your morning less chaotic. 

Enjoy! 

 xo
Alex
 

Sebby's 1st Birthday Party/1 year update

Hey everyone! Happy friday! Hope you had an awesome week. 

Last week was super hectic preparing for Seb's 1st bday party and then heading out 3 days later for vaca! I knew the timing wasn't going to be ideal but with our work schedules is was really the only weekend that worked. 

I decided to do a Peter Rabbit theme after seeing some supplies on zulily and thought they were super cute. He has a Peter Rabbit themed nursery so I thought it would kind of come full circle.

The weather has actually been really amazing lately so we had it outside at our house. Menu included your party favorites: veggie tray, snacks, pizza, subs, cake, and ice cream. I feel like its hard enough to prepare for a party but to cook too for it is really stretching it with 2 little ones so we just ordered out. 

                                                                                                             Fun with our cousins!

I got some really awesome Etsy decorations: center pieces, high chair "I'm one" decoration, a Peter Rabbit crown, Peter Rabbit water bottle stickers, Peter Rabbit, garland, paper plates, napkins, cups, a Peter Rabbit onesie, and my mom made some super cute descriptive food labels with Peter Rabbit on them. Etsy is literally the shit. They have everything you could want. Oh. and the cake. was. seriously. amazing. 

We had a decent day but the wind was blowing at 20 + mph in the morning which made setup really tough. The table cloths were blowing everywhere and it made setup slightly stressful haha. The party was super fun all in all and the kids all had a great time. 

Remember...when planning kids birthday parties:
1. ETSY and PInterest all the way for theme ideas, invites, and for specialized party supplies.
2. Dollar store for basic supplies, balloons, etc. 
3. Plan and order early, early, early. For instance, I ordered Seb's onesie and they sent a green one...so thankfully I had enough time to send it back and have them send a new one in baby blue! 
 

                                                                                      This cake though....Had to post an up close photo. 

My one year old:

As for Seb, he is a full blown toddler now! He is super mobile, walking everywhere (and trying to run), eating everything in sight and exploring and getting into everything. Unlike his brother, he could care less where I am and just takes off running! I'm gonna be that mom that has their kid on a leash at Disney next time haha.  He's also started to be super crazy with screaming. Max never really did that so this is new...he screams to get attention, when he doesn't get what he wants. I don't even understand it and it drives me crazy. His brother will then start screaming at the same time to be funny so...our house is super loud ! Also he is starting to stomp his feet. Soooo like I said, a toddler ((yikes)). The good thing is he's still pretty goofy and happy most of the time so hopefully this is just a phase he's going through until he learns how to talk.

SLEEP He's still up once a night but every now and again he will sleep through the night( he's done it twice while we have been on vacation...score!)Part of me wants to just completely night wean him but I think I'm holding on a little because I'm not sure we will have another. So for now its okay, I think he will wean himself on his own time. 

Nursing Still nursing before naps (so morning and afternoon), when he wakes for the day and before bed. If he wakes in the night he will nurse then and sometimes that takes the place of his morning nurse. So 4 times a day usually. I haven't tried to give him milk yet and I haven't really decided if I'm going to. Max hated it so we just give him yogurt and lots of cheese. So we will see I guess. 

Brother It amazes me how much he learns from his brother and how he feeds off energy from his brother! The next year will be tough but I think when Seb is around 2 yo they will be able to play more together :) 

Likes:

-trucks, cars
-balls
-food! 
-screaming

Dislikes: 
-face being cleaned
-nose being wiped
-being confined anywhere
-the word NO. lol
-sitting still

Hope you guys have a great weekend :) 

Alex

Birthday weekend & Helicopter Tour in NYC

Hey everyone! Happy friday. Hope you had an awesome week!! And hello October and fall :) Its going to be a busy couple of weeks with Seb's 1st birthday party and a family vacation but I'm totally looking forward to it! This weekend is going to be chaotic grabbing last minute items for the party but it will be worth it. 

About 2 weeks ago we headed to New York for 36 hours without the kids to celebrate my birthday (a few days in advance). We have honestly left the kids only once before and it was similar- I think for even less time (24 hours) so this was long overdue! It is always hard to leave them behind but I think its super important to get away and spend some mommy/daddy and "me" time. Self care and time for your relationship is super important and 36 hours in the big scheme of things isn't a lot of time especially if you don't do it often...(thats what I keep telling myself anyway)

               A little birthday love 

Travel

Because we have had the worst luck with flying and I have legit anxiety when we are both gone and the kids are with someone else, we decided to fly there and drive home. This way we would definitely get home on time..or at ALL.I seriously have had to drive back all night long twice already due to flights being cancelled..so..i just can't even deal with the stress. It totally isn't worth it especially with both of us being gone. At least if I'm on my own I don't worry as much, hubs is holding down the fort with the boys. 

 I go to NYC a lot so my go-to is definitely Jet Blue. Its a quick flight and the service and price is pretty good. Also, getting to the JFK air train and the subway is fairly easy from terminal 5. I've taken a few other airlines before and it definitely wasn't as easy.  Whether you take a cab (at least 45 mins depending on traffic, could be up to 2 hours ) or the subway (90 mins) just getting in/out of Manhattan is tough. And of course security, etc at the airport it is such an ordeal! And then tack on any delays or cancellations and its an all day affair.

So anyway, we drove home. The drive home was pretty smooth (6 hours) with no real worries. Best part of driving back had to be no limits on baggage back. Ha Ha!! 

Hotel: The Peninsula

We actually booked the trip pretty far in advance and I had been looking for good hotel deals for awhile but nothing really caught my eye. I consider a good deal to be a hotel room for $200 or less near the (central) park. My favorite spot to stay is around columbus circle to 5th along central park south. I normally stay at the Manhattan Club (they have fridges in the rooms for my milk haha ) or the Park central (both at 57th and 7th). Looking at their prices it was about $275 or so...which made me hold off.

One night I was looking up hotels and Hotwire popped up. I'd never used it before but thought I would play around with it. I selected 5 star hotels and it gave me several options but they were "mystery hotels" until I purchased. It gave me some information like location and what hotel line it COULD be but not much more info than that. I tried to put the search in a couple times to see if I could get any clues. I got one hint saying "Hurry, the last person that booked this got Hotel Peninsula". I quickly looked up the Peninsula and was like..DANG. I need to snag this deal ASAP.

For those of you who don't know, the Peninsula is a 5 star on 5th and 55th- it is gorgeous. Beautiful rooms, great location and the price was literally 70 % off on hotwire. It was a little risky (because there was no guarantee) but we went for it and got it! I was so stoked, I'm such a sucker for a deal. I'm that girl who you tell "i like your shirt" and I immediately respond with "thanks...got it at ____ for ____" haha.

So we ended up getting the room for $315 vs $800/900! Amazing! The hotel was great and I would definitely recommend it. Service was top notch, rooms were great and like I said location, location, location!! 

Helicopter Ride

The highlight of our trip for sure had to be the helicopter ride we took over manhattan (although actually going to the bathroom on my own for a whole day came in a second close haha #momproblems).

We barely made the ride on time just because our flight was delayed getting down to NYC (of course). We had a beautiful day for the ride and we were with 4 other people. Everything we had heard people said to go mid afternoon which is what we chose. We had these parachute things we had to put on and also had to watch a safety video prior to. I've never been on a helicopter ride so I was super excited. The most amazing areas of the city to see where no doubt Central Park, lower Manhattan, and midtown. 

                                                  Flying directly over the Brooklyn Bridge! 

We went with the NYC Helicopter Tours (very original name, lol) and we got on in lower manhattan. I know there are tons of options and some you can get on from Jersey. I didn't really want the hassle of getting over there so thats why we went with the one downtown. There is also one that looks pretty amazing where your feet are hanging out of the helicopter..I was definitely not ready for that but maybe someday haha. We selected the "VIP Manhattan tour" and it was 30 minutes. I think depending on your budget going for longer is definitely worth it if you can. 

It was definitely crazy how windy it was with the chopper going as we were getting in but it was super FUN. The views were amazing and it just gives you a great perspective on the city itself. There were one or two nervy moments ..like when the pilot flew DIRECTLY at the brooklyn bridge and steered away at the last section (on purpose of course)!! Anyway, heli ride over NYC is a must see and should be on your bucket list if you haven't already done it! 

The one thing I would def change if I had to do it again was force hubby to get on the heli first. Because I went on second and "was the smallest" I ended up sitting bitch for the ride. Total buzz kill. I was leaning over both sides to get photos which was super annoying. 

Other than that we did some shopping, went out to eat, and enjoyed a run in central park. It was a quick trip, but totally worth it and much needed! 

Have a great weekend everyone xo

Alex

10/11 Month Sebby

Hope you guys all had an awesome weekend! We had a great weekend with some fall festivities and definitely enjoyed the warm weather! I missed sending out Seb's 10 month update so I'm going to combine it with his 11 month and call it a day :) 

So the big news would have to be we have a walker! Little man officially took his first steps just after he turned 10 months and he's fluently walking now.  It's definitely a bitter sweet moment! Hard to believe that I'm planning for his first birthday...

I definitely feel like this stage is where you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can actually read to him and he's interested, he can play independently, I somewhat sleep, he's starting to walk, and he's still nursing but he's eating real foods so not as much is on me! Bingo! 

SLEEP

Is so much better. He is up usually once a night to nurse and then goes right back to sleep. He sleeps about 7:15/7:30- 6:15/6:30 am. Some days (rarely, but it happened last night) I am lucky and he sleeps through the night. Its funny because no matter how much sleep I get I still feel exhausted when I wake up! Which is totally crazy because I am getting so much more rest than I was like 4 months ago. Anyway I think its probably because the 4 am wake up is a total buzz kill and its hard to fall back asleep after being woke up that early. 

BREASTFEEDING/FOOD

Nursing wise he is still feeding about 4-5 times a day. His nursing is becoming more and more ninja like. I swear his legs are kicking everywhere and he grabs my mouth and face lol, We dropped his late afternoon feed and replaced it with some yogurt and moved his dinner up now that he is eating real dinner with us. Last week I had the worst week. I was totally sick from nursing-I had a clogged duct and it was so painful. I was achy, had the chills. Brutal. I feel like I've had a milk blister now too after the clogged duct. I know its from Seb eating less and less milk :( ughhhhh. Its so hard to get rid of the blisters and ducts when they are only nursing a few times a day. I know the end is near and I'm curious to see when he naturally drops his feeds. If I remember correctly it was just after Max's 1st birthday that he dropped his before nap feeds. 

His chewing has gotten so much better but I swear mealtime is like the longest. thing. ever. He clocks in at about 55 minutes to finish his dinner! He's pretty good with most foods except he doesn't really like eggs? Everything else we have given him he likes but of course his favorites are the standard kid foods like mac and cheese, grilled cheese, fajita, PB & J, pizza...He does eat what we eat though and has been doing pretty good with salmon, chicken and veggies. 

 

BROTHER

I still can't leave the boys in a room together but they do play side by side a bit better now! I'm trying to teach Max that if Seb takes one of his toys, to give him a different one rather than grabbing it back which almost always results in tears from his little brother. He's always trying to show his little brother things which is super cute and I'm excited for when Seb can walk and run to play with Max.

PLAY

Seb pretty much loves any toy that is in our playroom thats Max's. He loves anything that he can push (mower, walkers, etc.).I would have to say his most favorite thing for sure though would have to be balls. He throws them and chases after them. Its so funny.. now when I tell him to kick he kicks the ball :) 

Likes
-Balls-chases them all over the house! 
-grilled cheese, fruit, yogurt, O's
-the walker
-sleeping with his lovey
-swimming
-bath time
-any toy that he can’t have
-talking
-reading

Dislikes
-being changed-he moves everywhere
-face being wiped
-being confined
-eggs

Until next month...when my baby is 1 (((omg)))

xo 

Alex