Happy Halloween 2012!!

Happy Halloween Everyone!  I plan to spend the day leading a Dementia Group (were decorating cupcakes and painting pumpkins!), then going to help out with our church's 1st ever "Trunk or Treat" and annual "Fall Festival".  This should be fun...I think I love holiday's so much because they create the best memories!  While we celebrate, lets remember everyone that was affected by Hurricane Sandy in our prayers.

Hope everyone has a great Halloween:)

The Mr, Me, and Penny

Pregnancy Fitness/Clean Eating Challenges

The more I read about the benefits of clean eating, the more interested I become in adopting this lifestyle.  But let's face it- interest and commitment are two VERY different things.  My problem?  Interest has never turned into a commitment.  Sure, it has turned into healthier choices from time to time-and an occasional platform for my conscience to whisper, "Don't eat that!" But... I have never made a lifestyle change.  SO...even though I am pregnant...I think this is a great time to make gradual steps toward this ultimate goal.  Each week I have decided to change something about my diet that will eventually lead to a clean lifestyle by the time baby boy gets here (healthier for me, healthier for him-double whammy!).  But first things first...let's pin point what has been preventing me from making this change from the beginning...

I want to eat carbs, carbs, and more carbs!  There is nothing more satisfying and “belly-soothing” than these little devils!  I think I would rather have a piece of bread over anything in the world...:/
                    

Not a big fan of meats right now (a staple to eating clean)…especially during the first trimester.  But I am warming up to them again.

                     

I am sooooo tired, and trying to squeeze a workout into my hectic schedule is so hard sometimes!  The bed/couch looks so nice…

It can also be a little nerve-wracking choosing which exercises to perform during pregnancy...no one wants to hurt the baby!

                                   

Its getting close to the holidays!  This is ALWAYS a challenge for me! Sugar, sweets, and good eats oh my!  However, let me just make something clear right here...I have decided that life is too short to never have another processed/sugary treat again-just on special occasion.  So what is the first rule I have decided for myself and this lifestyle?  I can indulge in such foods BUT ONLY on New Years Eve, Valentines Day, My Birthday, Easter (Cadbury Egg anybody?), The 4th, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve/Day.  This gives me something to look forward to throughout the year and prevents me from setting unrealistic (and not to mention boring!) rules that probably won't be successful.

                                           

Sugar is my best friend.  I have always had a sweet tooth, but here lately its been hard to go a day without some type of sugar.  But ya know…I came to this conclusion today: Sugar is an addiction.  Yep that’s right!  Just like a drug.  This made me want to kick this addiction.  Hey... if I can kick a Diet Pepsi the way I have for baby boy, I can kick ANY bad habit!

                                           

Well, I may think of more the more I ponder on this subject, but these are definitely some of the biggest challenges I face in making this change to my lifestyle.  

What am I going to change this week?  

*I am going to eliminate candy from my diet.  Yep from here on out...unless it is Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve/Day...this girl is going to be candyless!  

Side Note: Yes...I know tomorrow is Halloween

I will report back next Tuesday to tell you how I do!  Wish me luck:)

17 Weeks

This is Week #:  17

Total Weight Gain:  0 this week, Total…2 lbs.

What I am wearing:  My jeans, sweaters, leggings, and boots!

Favorite accessory/piece of clothing:  Warm Vests!  I am thinking I need to invest in some more to keep little man snug.

Body woes:  This week I am feeling pretty good about everything except this cold!  Im itching a lot to which can kinda be a pain!

Best part of week:  Two days of not going anywhere.  Yea I was sick but it was SO niceJ

Feel anything in there?  Yes… I think it may be him.  Little flutters but nothing that says for certain that it’s him.

Gives me the Creeps:  I have a love hate relationship with greek yogurt…somedays it works…and others…it’s the enemy.

I miss:  Coffee anytime anyplace…it would really help me get some of my work done too!

Zzzzz Pattern:  0 sleep this week…thanks to the cold I have picked up! 

Gender:  Baby BoyJ

Belly Button Metamorphasis:  Turning into an “outie” more everyday.

I’m Craving:  Soups, Anything hot!  We are maybe (crossing my fingers!) expecting some snow this week so I am all about seasonal warm dishes.

Working Out Regimen:  Did terrible this week!  One day:/  But it was Jillian so at least she kicked my butt for that one day!

Mood (s):  Ummm…I guess I had a mixture of emotions this week.  Mainly exhaustion I guess.

I can’t wait for:  Thanksgiving Break…3 more weeks!  And for baby’s first set of art work for nursery to arrive!  I am planning his room as hard as I can!  

Our little guy is the size of a:

Baked Potato

     

    

                                         

How Did You Decide To Share the News?

When we first found out we were expecting, we had NO clue how to share it with everyone else...ESPECIALLY our family!  Emphasizing the fact this little boy was very unexpected and unplanned.  Well...I happened to have a little Pinterest board stored away for future events so I ended up going there for inspiration. What would we do without Pinterest???

There were lots of cute ideas...

Our 3 furry children wouldn't be able to hold this pose long enough for a pic...but this is adorable!






























LOVED this, but Cade was a little too impatient to schedule a "photo shoot"...lol


So unique...but once again my husband was not patient for this announcement! ;) lol



Our choice?  A little personal touch to this cute shoe concept:)


Wah...lah!  Thanks Shutterfly!

Week 16-Gender Check!

                  

This is Week #:  16

Total Weight Gain: Fluctuating between 1-2 lbs.

What I am wearing:  I actually fit into my jeans pretty good this week…as long as they are low rise and don’t come above my belly.

Favorite accessory/piece of clothing:  my bootsJ  It’s finally getting cold enough to wear them!

Body woes:  It is VERY hard to get used to this belly

Best part of week:  Having time off and finding out that Baby A is a…(BOY!!!)

Feel anything in there?  Sharp pains in my sides which we found out were probably round ligament pains…via google…what would we do without google?

Gives me the Creeps: hmmmm does the thought of going back to school tomorrow count?

I miss:  My full throttle work out’s

Zzzzz Pattern:  I’ve been dreaming about food…Red Lobster…Ice Cream…etc. 

Gender:  And Baby A IS….A BOY!!! We are so excited:)  That was my gut feeling

My intuition tells me it’s a…I was feeling the boy.

Belly Button Metamorphosis:  It’s definitely STILL lookin’ deformed!

I’m Craving:  Chili and Broccoli and Cheese Soup!  The hot stuff…and did you see where I had a dream about cookie dough and birthday cake ice cream in a sprinkle cone?  UH OH…I have GOT to be careful! lol

Working Out Regimen:  Modified Jillian, Lindsey Brin, & Dancing with The Stars Toning segment (about 4 days this week)

Mood (s):  Happy, happy, happy!

I can’t wait for:  shopping for clothes and decorating Little Guy’s Room!

The Journey to the Gender...

After the doctor...Pick up the cupcakes from Gigi's! ☑

Remain very anxious and excited (taking SEVERAL peeks at the cupcakes until all family/guests arrive)...☑

Pick a great restaurant (Thanks Calhoun's of Knoxville, TN) and jot down everyone's prediction before slicing those cupcakes open...☑

And then it's time...slice those babies OPEN!

ITS A BOY!  JUST as I suspected:)

This was such a fun and memorable experience I will never forget...

Here's to our little guy!

Let's Set The Mood for Fall!

Since yesterday was the official start of Fall Break...I decided to set the mood!  Anyone that knows me, knows that I mean business when I decorate for my favorite times of the year -ahahheeemm- Fall and Christmas!  It doesn't take much to make walking into your home the coziest place to be...I'll show you!

Let's begin outdoors...

                    Even when you pull into your driveway, have something to
                                        draw attention to the season!

Deck the porch out with fall colors and pumpkins!

       And now step inside our humble abode...

Bring your carved pumpkins indoors and actually enjoy them!

Wait until Halloween night to sit them out on the lonley porch...

This is my favorite pumpkin!  

I just love owls...this is so easy to make!

Just hot glue some sunflower seeds around the eye and on toothpicks to

create the feet and ears!  

Place little accents everywhere!  Even Penny is amazed...

The Island is a great place to stick a little accent too!

AND on top of the refrigerator:)  Maybe it will scare

you away from food when you shouldn't be snacking! Hehehe...

The window is also a great place to accent-

and it serves as a great reminder to look outdoors anyway:)

And the fireplace shelf...I always stick my seasonal DVD's beside a cute

little stuffed holiday critter to set the mood.

Ahhh my Pottery Barn shelves (did I mention I am a PB ADDICT:/ )...they are

 one of my favorite places to decorate for the seasons.

It is so easy to switch it up and is an excellent place to display some of my favorite pictures and knick-knacks.  

Any time the weather turns chilly...you ALWAYS need a

warm fuzzy blanket and a corner to snuggle SO create one!

You can even spruce up the ottoman with candles, leaves, and pine cones!

Our dining room center piece screams Fall!

The rug is from the Dollar Store, Candles-Home Goods, and fall accents-Walmart!

Not too shabby for decent priced items:)

Our entryway is also one of my favorite things to decorate...

because HEY...it IS the first place people see in your home!

Make it count!

Penny LOVES her Fall sweater collection...

get your furry friends in on the holiday action too

And See?  She also thinks our home is a cozy place to be

this time of year ;)

Well, I guess that is it for today!  I hope I inspired you to create a fall wonderland inside your own home...Now it's off to finish some fall cleaning chores and maybe squeeze in a little school work if I am feeling REALLY good...Have a great evening!

XoXo

Week 15

 

This is Week #:  15

Total Weight Gain: Well every now and then the scale fluctuates between 1-2 lb weight gain...but as of weigh-in this morning- 1 lb

What I am wearing:  My normal clothes…but trying to make sure they are larger on top to conceal the small bump that is beginning to develop!

Favorite accessory/piece of clothing:  my bootsJ  It’s finally getting cold enough to wear them!

Body woes:  It is VERY hard to get used to this belly

Best part of week:  Fall break began TODAY!

Feel anything in there?  I thought I felt a flutter for the first time this week

Gives me the Creeps: Shrimp

I miss:  My Diet Pepsi’s :,(  BUT my clean eating lifestyle change is NOT going to allow those anyway so I have to GET USED TO IT!

Zzzzz Pattern:  okay…just have to pee…A LOT, and Penny lunges for my pillow every time I get up <pillow thief!>

Gender:  Next Friday!  The cupcake will reveal!

My intuition tells me it’s a…can’t put my finger on it but something tells me it’s a boy…What do you think it is??:)

Belly Button Metamorphosis:  It’s definitely lookin’ deformed!

I’m Craving:  Nothing yet!

Work-Out Regimen:  I worked out 4 days this week, a mixture of modified Jillian Michaels, Carmen Electra, Lindsay Brin, and Dancing with The Stars

Mood (s):  Well my mom says I’m hateful…:/

I can’t wait for:  the gender reveal!:)  And the week at home

                                 Baby A is the size of an apple!

                                 

Oh Fall, I Love You So!

Wow!  I feel like I am in one of the most beautiful places in the world when I experience Fall in the mountains of North Carolina each year.  It is truly breathtaking.  Somedays, I just wish time would stand still so I could sit outside on our porch with my (one small "measly") cup of coffee for the day and enjoy what I like to call "God's coloring book."  It truly is the small things (and often those that don't cost a thing) that make life beautiful...

View as I was walking out of our building to my car (Western Carolina University Health Sciences Building)

So throw on those cozy UGGS, dust off that fleece, and grab a cup of apple cider and go outside and enjoy this day!

View from our porch

Happy Fall Yall!