FatBetters

Well it's back to reality around here. The kids were off last week, and I took off Thursday and Friday. I had a great 4 day weekend! Of course I had a garage sale, cleaned the house, laundry etc... so it's never really a vacation but it was still nice.

A new motivator...I have a friend that I went to school with from elementary all the way through high school who posted a weight loss challenge on her Facebook this weekend. So I jumped on the chance to keep myself motivated. She has set us up for a 6 week challenge on Fatbet.com. We all entered our weight, our target weight, and will put $5 or $10 into the "pot" and the winner gets the money.

Last night I picked out an outfit, printed it off the computer, and I posted it to my bathroom mirror to remind me of my goal. I also sat down to map out my C25K program. I put it on sticky notes in my planner and I will finish up my first 5K in less than 8 weeks on my birthday! Another great motivator seeing it mapped out and knowing I can do this by my 33rd birthday.



This is my planner for the month of October. It's quite scary when I look at the whole calendar of everything that everyone has going on...but when I break it down by the week it doesn't seem so bad.


I will do the C25K plan 3 days a week and on those days I will do my 30 Day Shred since they are both 20 minutes long. Then on my non running days I got Jillian's Trouble Zone workout that is 40 minutes long. My plan is to take every Saturday off. But that is why I put my workouts on sticky notes so I can move them around if I need to.

Now to get my menu planned...

New shows week!

Tonight one of my favorite shows started again. And since I have already started my 30 Day Shred (finished day 3 and going strong)with my favorite trainer Jillian I was already getting in the mood for some change! This week I have been making some really great food and tonight was no exception. Excuse the not so great picture...taken on my phone since I can't load my pictures to our computer w/ the virus.

Chicken Primavera (440 calories for the whole dinner)
So many yummy sauteed fresh veggies and it was delicious! Zucchini, squash, carrots, green beans!

Workout update:
Sunday- 30 Day Shred and 30 min. walk/run (Day 1 of C25K)
Monday- Shred and 1 hour Zumba class
Tuesday- Shred and 30 min. elliptical
Wed will be - Shred and 30 min run/walk (Day 2 C25K)
Thursday-Shred and 1 hour Zumba class
Friday-off
Sunday-Shred and 30 min walk/run (Week 1 Day 3)

This week I hit the jump start because after this week it's back to baseball every night. So, I am going to do Shred during nap time each day and try to get my run in at least 3 nights a week. I may have to start waking up early to fit it in.

And I'm proud to say I haven't had a Diet Coke since Sunday! Feeling great and wishing I could bottle up this energy for those days I know I'm going to really have to motivate myself.

A new "Teen Mom" is on in less than an hour!
Happy Tuesday.

Looking for the silver lining

Trying to find the positive in a bit of a rough time...bullet form.

*Running your own business has it's down falls...and there isn't a consistent income. This year I lost 4 of my daycare kids and have only been able to replace one. All were for good reasons, but all the children on my waiting list have found other care. Needless to say I'm making half of what I was making last year. But guess what? The bills haven't cut themselves in half...so I'm searching everywhere to find things we can cut out...which isn't much.

*I have found Dave Ramsey in the hopes he gonna help us! And I'm learning to tell my kids "no" which I apparently haven't done enough of in the past. We've never been on a budget like this...even when I wasn't working and was going to school. Of course we didn't have this many kids at that time.

*Over the summer I gained back all my weight that I worked so hard to lose...but I had a great summer!

*I've got my "groove" back and am currently working my butt off...hopefully literally...but man am I sore.

*Running, Zumba, and the 30 Day Shred have helped tremendously clear my head this week.

*I'm also excited that I have been able to find time to read lately.

*I've realized I spend a lot of time waisting time. I love to read blogs and read about other peoples lives. I'm super nosey and love to see the way other people live. Things they do with their kids, their workouts, and all their accomplishments...but keep telling myself "I just don't have time to do that with my kids or for myself". So I've decided to set aside a certain time each day to read blogs and FB once I have done things to better MY life.

*One of my new favorite shows is "Quints by Surprise". Casey and Ethan Jones are some of the Joneses that I want to keep up with! Their house is always clean, they never say a cross word to each other, they work together even when super stressed, and they seem so absolutely happy! I prayed last night for that kind of strength and patience.

*Our main computer has a major virus and is at risk for crashing...so I can't upload any of our fun pictures! This is hard b/c I love sharing my pictures.

*There aren't many part-time jobs out there to supplement our income until I can fill my open spots. Especially for a mom of 5 with very little time. My husband and I both work 50-55 hours a week, he coaches 3 of the boys baseball teams, and it would cost more to pay someone to watch our kids if I were to find a night time job.

*The school system isn't hiring. So glad I have a college degree that really isn't helpful right now...who would have ever thought that teachers wouldn't be able to find jobs!

*Our kids are healthy, happy, and aren't lacking anything! And for that I am more than grateful!

*Okay off to Craigslist and E-bay to sell things we no longer need. And to prepare for a garage sale for this weekend.

Holy Crap!

I'm outta shape! And though I like to believe my scale is bi-polar I truly know it's going up, up, up, up because I'm not consistent with my workouts. However, I have been pretty consistent with eating a lot of CRAP lately!

Apparently Salt n Vinegar chips are extremely addicting. And if you sit on the couch with your husband nightly...like 10:00 each night...your scale can go up too. After several bags...like I don't know maybe 10 or maybe more...I finally told him NOT to bring them home anymore. Like at all. Or there would be harsh consequences.


Anyway, when I woke up today I knew it was going to be a good day!

And after spending the whole day with the kiddos doing extremely fun things (post and pictures later) I put tucked them all in tightly and immediately put on my running shoes.

I began the C25K program (again). W1D1 went great! Very tired, but so energized that I came home, drank some water, and put on the 30 Day Shred DVD. I took pictures (which won't load) and can't wait to compare my end results.

Anyone out there want to join my Shred challenge with me? I'm printing my calendar off and will check off each day when I complete it. I'm so excited. My plan is 10 days level 1, day off, 10 days level 2, day off, 10 days level 3. I will also run 3 days out of the week so I can complete the C25K program.

After all if I have 20 min. and 30 min. segments of my day to spend being nosey reading about other peoples lives on their blogs I certainly owe it to myself to get my workouts in and get this body back in shape!

So here goes!

Show Us Your Life Friday

I am so glad Kelly is doing Show Us Your Life Fridays again! I'm one of those nosey type people (you know the ones that follow the fire truck through the neighborhood to see what's going on...). So of course I love to look at other peoples houses. On my nightly walks I'm always wondering what the inside of my neighbors houses look like (and mostly how their family runs things).

So this week is living rooms. I'm linking up to show mine off too...



My husband built our entertainment center and it really pulls the room together. I bought the picture above the mantel for $5 at Kirklands (in LOVE with this store). This is the best couch we've ever owned because all 7 of us can fit and watch T.V. together.

And of course right this minute my living room is not this clean. Being that I run an in-home daycare my house currently has 5 toddlers ranging in age from 22 months to 36 months...therefore, there are many random toys, puzzles, shoes, and magnet letters all over my floor. My ottoman is currently housing many un-read magazines, 2 magnadoodles, and my bill binder full of bills waiting to be paid. But seeing these pictures brings me a sense of calmness:)

Happy Friday!

A New Day

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."

Sometimes I just need to stop and listen...and take it in..and stop trying to change everything.

Enjoy a little more the life I have.

Because He has my plan...and I must learn to be patient.

Where do my 24 hours go each day?

Baseball games have officially started. We have 6 games this week alone! That means I'm:
**spraying, soaking, and washing uniforms
**planning dinner and preparing by 4:30
**homework for 4 children has to be done by 5:00 (and btw kindergarten sure does have a lot more homework than ever these days!)
**oh yeah running a daycare for 10 hours of my day
**busy creating a new blog for my daycare families so they can stay informed about all of our exciting adventures and projects around here
**cleaning the bathroom every 5 min. b/c we're doing lots of potty training
**picking up shoes, socks, random toys, locating missing DS's
** dishes, cleaning the kitchen
** making and playing play-doh, drawing in the sand, painting the sidewalk, singing and dancing, teaching letters, colors, #'s, blowing bubbles
**signing lots of agendas and school notes, writing checks for picture days, and Boosterthons, checking teacher websites for newsletters and updates
**making lunches
**laundry- and lots of it!
**Various other time consuming tasks that only I seem to remember need to be done each day...you know like taking out the trash, paying bills, bathing children, cleaning out the car, cutting coupons, grocery shopping, walking and feeding the dogs, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, and being taxi mom...

And the list goes on...and sometimes I even manage to sneak in a trip to the bathroom all by myself and if it's a good day I get to SHOWER..ALONE!!!


Whew! I'm tired...naptime anyone?

An award? For me? Yay thanks to Kelly for surprising me today with this Sunshine Award. I've been feeling little dumpy lately so this was a great way to help kick start my day.

So here's what I have to do...

1) tell you 10 things about myself
2) spread the Sunshine to 10 other blogs
3) let you know you've been awarded!

#1 I always knew I wanted a big family. I grew up an only child so I was determined to have more than one for sure. Originally 3 seemed like the magic number. But when Kyle turned 2 I longed for another sweet squishy smelling good baby. So along came Ryan...and same thing happened again when he turned 2. Well you guessed it baby Chase is 2 1/2 and that same feeling is coming again...I want to smell a yummy little baby...but since we haven't won the lottery I will just have to keep washing his hair in baby shampoo and baby wash.

#2 I want to live in the country with chickens, horses, and a huge garden.

#3 I want to be able to wake up early and go for a run before starting my day. But since Chase has recently decided he doesn't like sleeping through the night anymore it's really difficult to want to get up at 5:00...which leads to the next thing.

#4 I really wish I didn't have to work. I want to be able to do more and spend more time w/ my family. I want to give them everything and not be so worn out each day. It leads to a cranky mommy when I don't get my own time and I am working so hard to give to others.

#5 I have always wished I went to nursing school. I would love to deliver babies!

#6 I am super proud of all of my children and I feel so lucky that I was chosen to be their mom. They are truly to BEST children in the whole wide world. They are so well behaved, super smart, and I get compliments all the time about them. I try to keep those compliments in the front of my head instead of the ones like "are they ALL yours", "are you done?", "you have your hands full"...and so on and so on.

#7 I am always trying to lose those same 10-15 pounds...but I truly think I look pretty good for having 5 kids. And my husband tells me all the time I look great so I guess that's most important.

#8 I hate cleaning, but LOVE a clean house! It puts me in a great mood when it smells good in my house and I love to open the windows and the fresh air comes in.

#9 I leave secret messages for my kids around the house. If they are struggling with something or having a bad day I will leave little post-it notes about how special they are and to let them know they can do anything. I write on the chalk board in our kitchen each morning w/ a little quote for them to see right before they leave for school.

#10 I am not very organized and really wish I could afford for someone to come professionally organize my house...I can keep it that way if I could just get it together.

Oh and just for fun a few secrets...I'm secretly excited about Eminem being on the VMA's tonight b/c I'm a closet fan. I LOVE the Jersey Shore (my darn husband got me hooked). But there is also a movie on Lifetime about a student being in love w/ her hot male teacher. And I should really be reading a lot of books I have stacked on my night stand.

So now I have to send this award to some other bloggers who bring me Sunshine!

Kelly - Even though she was already awarded I wanted her to get it from me too b/c she completely inspired me when she had to be a single mom after her husband was transferred and they couldn't sell their house. She had to raise her 2 children by herself while not getting to see her husband except for the weekends.

Melissa - her weight loss journey is so inspiring! She has helped me to become a runner and her eating tips have helped keep me on track even when I wanted to cave. She works so hard at her job and raising her kids and can still keep her journey going.

Tyly I have recently found Tyly through another blog reader. I am inspired by here because she has finished the 30 Day Shred, she teaches 2nd grade, and and has goals set to lose 29 pounds before her 29th birthday. I'm excited to read more about her life.

Tami - Tami inspires me b/c she is setting out to set such a good example for her daughters through her healthy eating and awesome workouts. And she is super funny and the stories about her daughters crack me up!

Happy Sunday everyone!

Wordless Wednesday

Yep school has started back! 4 of 5 kiddos are sick...3 bronchitis and 1 pneumonia

Wordless Wednesday (with a little explanation)

Little Monkey has been potty training. He gets a sticker when he goes. However, he frequently sticks his stickers where ever he feels like. Tonight he and I were dancing in the kitchen and when I turned around to stir the food and keep cooking he began sticking them to my butt. I continued to dance and make dinner forgetting that he put the stickers there. Well, Jenna came in and asked me why I had stickers on my butt. Then she began laughing hysterically...and this is why.



Great! I guess it's time to get out Jillian's Shred and let her start kicking my butt..literally...again.