Help Me Rhonda

If you've never heard of The Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond)...you must have been living under a rock. I'm not quite sure how I came across her blog about a year and a half ago, but ever since I have I've LOVED it! Not only is Ree a blogger...but she's also written a cookbook and a novel (both of which are wonderful!).

Well, yesterday me, April and our friend Kathlyn drove up to Atlanta to go to meet Ree at a book signing for her book Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. Now, I must say we had a great deal of fun before the main event even started! We shared tapas for lunch, drank more coffee than I probably should've and browsed Phipps Plaza for a few hours (who can actually afford the stores there??)

Me, April, Rowan and Kathlyn waiting in the looooong line!

When it was time for the signing we ventured back to Borders to get in line (we'd gotten wristbands to make sure we even got a spot in line earlier in the day). Have you ever wondered who stands in line and waits and waits and waits...to have a cookbook signed? Yeah, I have too. But that'd be me. It was totally worth it though. When we finally got to have our books signed Ree was just as precious and warm as she could be. She took time to chit chat with us and take a picture with us...and I couldn't be happier about it!  

There she is!

Now that's a bunch of red-heads! =)

We also got to see her husband and two little boys who came with her to the signing. If you've ever read her blog (or her book), you know how much she LOVES her husband and calls him her Marlboro Man. As soon as people started to realize that it WAS in fact Marlboro Man they kind of swarmed him...wanted HIM to sign their books and take pictures with them. Probably NOT something most cattle ranchers encounter on a usual basis! We were definitely too shy to ask for a pic with him...but we did take one on the sly =)

"Marlboro Man" and their 2 sons...before they got swarmed!

I really missed my sweet Elliot all day long (he was WELL taken care of between my Nana, Matt's Granny and eventually Matt), but I had such a great time. I got to spend time with two of my fave ladies (and Rowan!), eat great food and meet someone I really admire! Can't beat that!

(In case you didn't catch it, the title is a reference to The Pioneer Woman...and exclamation she uses from time to time)

March Madness goal update + Fun Friday

It's Wednesday...which means a little update on my March fitness goals. Overall they've been going great! I've hit all of my workouts and walks with my sis so far. The water consumption IS getting better...but right now while it's still a little cool outside- my coffee intake still threatens to takeover. Definitely making better food choices and trying to cut back on the portion size when I do have a high cal choice...but folks I do love food. I've started to follow more healthy living blogs and that's helping me find inspiration for sure. My last goal was to get rid of my all or nothing attitude. I always turn to my sister or husband to help me that one. They both get texts like: I should still workout even though I ate a brownie for snack right? To which they usually both say- of course! I hate working out when I feel like I'm working off what I just ate...feels like punishment for indulging and I'm not into that, yo. So bring on week two!

So what's going to make this Friday a Fun Friday? Me, April and our friend Kathlyn are going to Atlanta on Friday because Ree Drummond a.k.a.- The Pioneer Woman is doing a book signing! If you've never visited Ree's website do it now! It's fantastic. She's also the author of a cookbook and a novel (both of which are outstanding). And while I'm completely excited to have a day of fun, out of town for a bit...I'm also a little sad to leave my boy. He'll be in great hands between my grandmother, Matt's grandmother and eventually his Daddy...but i'm going to miss my boy so much! How could you NOT miss this face?

Oooh, Also- this week I signed up for a sewing e-course and hope to start it this weekend. So very excited!

Hope ya'll are having a fabulous week!

March Madness

This morning I was doing a little Google Reader catch up...like I usually do when I have a few spare minutes with my coffee, and I ran across this post on a wonderful blog I follow. In case you don't feel like following the links, the post is about making some fitness goals for March, writing about them on your blog, updating on progress and sharing them with other bloggers that are taking the challenge as well. As soon as I read this I knew I had to take part. Two things I need to keep me on target with my fitness goals are accountability and motivation and I think this is a good way to handle both! So on Wednesdays, throughout the month of March, I'll be updating ya'll on my progress towards my goals. 

Because I'm just now getting back into working out since having Elliot, my goals may seem meager...but I'm still trying to figure out things like- how to work out in the living room while Elliot naps without waking him up. Me doing jumping jacks and plyometrics on hardwood floors isn't quite as quiet as I'd like =( I'll figure it out though...so here are my goals:

1- Do at least 3 workouts per week. These will most likely be The 30 Day Shred, Jillian's- Burn Fat, Boost Metabolism, one of my many Tae Bo dvds, a run if Matt gets home in time to watch Elliot for me.

2- 2 walks with Elliot (and probably April and her kiddos).  I don't care how few calories you might think just walking around the neighborhood burns...but you add a 15 lb baby in a Snugli and you've a little bit more of a challenge! Plus the weather's been great lately...and we enjoy it =)

3- Up my water intake drastically! No matter how much I think I can survive off coffee alone, I cannot. I'm going to be keeping my Brita water pitcher and my Tervis tumblers busy!

4- Make better food choices. With a husband thats 6'7" and slim and can eat anything...I can't just keep lettuce and whole grains in my house. SO, I'm going to have to eat the good stuff and leave the rest for the occassional treat. I used to use the 80/20 rule. Eat really healthfully 80% of the time and leave the more indulgent stuff for the other 20% of the time. The past few months i've been closer to 50/50...no good. 

5- Defeat my "all or nothing" attitude. If I can't make the workout really good and finish it completely I don't want to do it at all. If I'm going to a fast food place I just get whatever looks tastiest, not even trying to make a healthy choice...it IS fast food afterall. What's the point? That thinking gets you nowhere. ALL of the tiny good decisions I make WILL add up! I have to believe that!

So those are my goals. A year ago, keeping these goals would've been a piece of cake...but that's back when I was the boss and not him:

I've already gotten 1 of my 3 workouts in this week and 1 walk with Elliot, woo-hoo! Workout #2 is scheduled for this afternoon while my "boss" is napping =)

Have a great Wednesday everyone and if you want to join in on the March Madness please do right here!

~Amy~

My Day Friday

So it's Friday and I'm joining the party again! Time to post a pic of ME. This is the picture that came to mind this week:

This was taken almost exactly two years ago. March 1st, 2009. A rare snow day in Columbus! At the time me and Matt had only been married about 8 months. We lived in a 1 bedroom apartment not too far from where we live now and both had the day off...so we spent it out in the apartment complex parking lot...playing in the snow!

Here are 2 bonus pics taken the same day as the pic above...

My sweet Lucy...she wasn't a huge fan of the snow!

And my husband attempting to start a snowball fight with me

I can't even tell you how glad I am that I think this kind of weather is nowhere on the horizon for us right now...and boy am I glad!

Have a great weekend everybody! And if you want to link up to my friend Kathlyn's My Day Friday post you can visit her blog here. 

~Amy~

Wordless Wednesday

Just a few pics from the past week...

Enjoying the "jump jump" (even though it IS a bit of sensory overload!)

This is the face I make when I "talk" to Mama

Early morning milk stupor =)

Happy Wednesday ya'll!

~Amy~

Un-fun

There are alot of fun things about having kids...sleep training is NOT one of them!

However, It was time. The rocking was WAY out of control. Hours a day in that chair and then he'd fight me like a bear when we did rock. Then I'd lay him down and he'd be asleep for 45, 20...sometimes just 5 minutes. NOT good for anyone! 

Yes, it's rough. I lay him down and then question myself - Is he tired enough? He's only been awake for an hour and 20 minutes (even though yes- he was yawning, fussing and generally unhappy). How long is too long to cry? Maybe he's hungry? When Matt gets home I ask him all of these things and he says- "I don't know...I trust your judgement". WHAT!? Well thanks, but I don't even trust MY judgment or I wouldn't be asking YOU. 

Why do we constantly question ourselves as mothers? How badly do we think we're going to mess our children up? I've seen some REALLY terrible people turn out some wonderful kids...how bad can I really do?

I have realized something thru this process though. I'm NOT the only one. I've reached out to my friends and family that are mothers for support during this and have felt SO very encouraged. Sure, I can sit in my house and wonder if I'm the only one to go thru this...OR I can ask for advice, prayers, encouragement. Stay strong and consistent and it will get better is what I'm told...and THAT is what I'm holding to!

So...I'll leave you with a picture of what I'm currently seeing alot of...

Well that and him tossing, turning, flailing his arms and crying...but who wants to see a picture of that?

Please keep us in your prayers! He really isn't doing too terribly so far =) For now I'm going to attempt to JUST rock him after his bath and last feeding before bed. If that is slowing our progress (or confusing him why I will rock him then, but not at naps), then we'll stop the rocking all-together but I really hate to!

Thanks for your support/prayers/advice everyone!

~Amy

Forgotten Cookies...Remembered

We all have things that instantly take us back to our childhood. Certain songs, t.v. shows, even recipes. Forgotten cookies definitely take me back! First of all they're delicious. They're simple meringue cookies with chocolate chips...but when I was little the taste was the second best thing about them. My favorite thing about them was that we always made them before bed and woke up to cookies! Because they are meringues, you basically turn your oven on to preheat, put them in and turn the oven off and forget about them for at least 6 hours (good luck with that, i've never forgotten about cookies in the oven!). 

So in an effort to get really good at making these before Elliot gets big enough to remember them...I set out to make them this morning. I planned on making them last night...but quickly decided that running the mixer on high right after putting the baby in bed could be a bad idea. I didn't have the recipe my Mama uses...so I googled it and found this one. The only thing I did differently was that I didn't put peanuts in mine. We never did when I was little...so I omitted them and just did another cup or so, (I eyeballed it) of chocolate chips. I'm not going to detail the instructions since I linked to the recipe...BUT here are a few pics...

Here are the ingredients...and my beautiful mixer

Elliot wanted to "help"...which i guess meant- hang out in his Moby wrap...asleep =)

On the cookie sheet and ready to hang out in the oven for 6 hours

The finished product

I must say- they were all I remembered them to be. Basically chocolate chips encased in a crunchy/chewy cloud. Try them, you'll love them! 

What are some recipes that "take you back"? I'd love to try them out! Happy Saturday Ya'll!

~Amy~