advocare cleanse {day 1}

Matt and I started the Advocare 10-Day Cleanse today!!
 {I'll be blogging about all 10 days of our experience for my documentation so that if we ever 
decide to do this again I'll have record of how we did it the first time.}

I have always wanted to do some sort of a cleanse, but I knew if I was going to do it, Matt would have to be on board with me.  He came home from work a few weeks ago and said, "We need to do a cleanse." I couldn't believe my ears. It was his idea so I ran with it.  He got the idea to do a cleanse because a Rangers guy he follows (Jamey Newberg) had just done one.  I looked into the one the Jamey Newberg had done but I hadn't really heard anything about it.  I had heard about the Dr. Oz 3 Day Cleanse and the Advocare Cleanse.  However, one of my friends said the lunch shake was practically inedible and my blog designer tried it but said they tasted like warm applesauce that didn't taste good.  I knew that if we did a cleanse it would have to be one that involved food.  I can't do just shakes or liquids for an extended amount of time.  I like to eat!!!! The Advocare Cleanse seemed like a good fit for us and totally doable.  I have a friend that sells it and I also know quite a few people that use their products, so I felt good about choosing to use Advocare. 

While we will probably lose a few pounds doing this cleanse, this is not the reason we are doing it.  We are doing it to literally cleanse our body of all the toxins its full of.  By eliminating all the waste, we are preparing our bodies for optimal nutrient absorption.  Losing a little weight and kick starting a healthier diet are just benefits of doing this cleanse. 

To prepare for our cleanse, we stalked our fridge with lots of fresh veggies and REAL food!  We are supposed to avoid soda, alcohol, creamy sauces, high calorie salad dressings, sugar, candy, fried food, processed food, white flour and partially hydrogenated oils while doing the cleanse.  Advocare's products are just part of the cleanse.  It doesn't work unless you eat right as well. 

I wouldn't say that we eat terrible, but when it comes to breakfast and lunch we both just usually eat something quick and easy.  And lately, I've even gotten kind of lazy with dinners.  I've been cooking unhealthy casseroles and eating out quite a bit.  These next 10 days I'm really going to have to give myself extra time each evening to prepare and pack our breakfasts and lunches and cook good healthy dinners.  Even though I don't work, I'm packing my lunch like I do so I don't have to think about it during the day.

 Today before breakfast we had a Spark drink.  For breakfast we had a fiber drink and mixed berries and for a Mid-morning snack we had a handful of almonds.

Lunch was Lemon Pepper Chicken Salad & a Cutie. 

 {Mixed Greens, Grape Tomatoes, Avocados, Lemon Pepper Chicken, 

w/ Olive Oil, Lemon Pepper Seasoning & Garlic Salt }

Matt usually has a coke for lunch and I usually have a coke everyday at some point so by late afternoon we both had headaches.  Hopefully our bodies will get used to no caffeine since we won't be having it for 10 days.   Thankfully a mid-afternoon snack made my headache go away. 

 For a mid-afternoon snack Mommy & Daddy had carrots and hummus while this little guy got to enjoy pita chips and hummus.  I tried carrots with him but he won't touch them.  

 For dinner we had whole wheat spaghetti pasta with ground turkey meat sauce (no sugar added) and mixed veggies.  

I could seriously eat a whole plate of these veggies.  I mix broccoli, zucchini, yellow bell peppers, sugar snap peas, and cook with olive oil, garlic salt, and pepper.  I cook them on medium for about 10 minutes covered but stirring often. 

I had hoped to get a workout in today but it just didn't get around to it.  I was busy running errands and doing things around the house while Pearson was at school.

Before I sat down to blog and watch TV with Matt I spent about a hour in the kitchen prepping our breakfast, lunches, and even dinners tomorrow.  We both have a very busy day tomorrow so I had to get it all done.  I'll even be eating my dinner on the go tomorrow.

1 day down.......9 more to go!

meal planning monday

Monday: Cranberry Chicken, Salad & Roasted Brussel Sprouts

10 Day Advocare Cleanse

Tuesday: Turkey Meatsauce, Spaghetti & Mixed Veggies

Wednesday: Crockpot Salsa Chicken & Spanish Rice

Thursday: Tilapia, Pineapple Rice & Brussel Sprouts

Friday: Oven Baked Fajitas & Black Beans

Saturday: Crawfish Boil @ The Roberson's 

Sunday: Grilled Chicken, Quinoa, & Asparagus

**I will be posting throughout the week about our Advocare Cleanse including recipes, tips & suggestions as we go along!! 

cruisin' with mickey

I'm so excited because in just a few weeks we will be crusin' with Mickey & Minnie!!!

Even though Pearson is a "Mee-Me (Mickey) Lovin' Boy", he won't be joining us on this trip. Our 5 year anniversary is coming up on October 11th, so are celebrating a little early without our little man!!  Someday we would love to take Pearson on a Disney Cruise and/or Disney World, but this time just Mommy and Daddy are going.  I'm sure he'll still have a ball while he stays with Lolly & Pops for a few days and then with Grammy & Grandaddy for a few days.

Our cruise will be stopping at Castaway Cay (the Disney island in the Bahamas), Disney World, and Key West, Florida.  We are sooooooooo excited about the stop in Disney World.  We'll be able to spend a full day at Disney World with a Park Hopper Pass.

I've been to Disney World 3 times.  I went with my family twice, once when I was 3 or so (I don't remember) and once when I was in 6th grade.  Then I went again as a high schooler with my club volleyball team while we were at a tournament in Orlando.  Matt has been once when he went with his church choir in 8th grade.   Although we both remember our latest trips, we still feel pretty lost going.  And I'm a little overwhelmed that I don't have much time to research and plan.  So if you have been to Disney World, I would love your help!!!

After a little survey on my Facebook page, we have pretty much decided that we want to spend the bulk of our day, or possibly even all of our day at Epcot.
But I've got lots of questions for you.......

What are the must see, must do, must eat things we need to hit while at Epcot?

Is it reasonable for us to be able to hop to another park in just one day?
If so, we are thinking of going to Hollywood Studies for a little bit?
If we do, what are the things we must do there?

Should we get a FASTPASS?
Is is worth the money?
Are they good at all the park?

Do you have any good book, blog or website recommendations with tips for Disney World?

Any other tips you have for a quick one day trip to Disney World would be appreciated!!

bluebonnets

On Monday I set out to continue our Bluebonnet Picture tradition.  With it being our state flower and having a beautiful field in our neighborhood, we just have to make it a tradition.  Plus last year's pictures were just so cute, I wanted to get updated pictures of my baby boy!!  

My Dad told me about a new field that was even better than the field in our neighborhood so we had to go check it out!  He was right, it was beautiful!!  Pearson, however didn't think so.

He was terrified of them.  He just scream and screamed until we came to rescue him. 

He would not let go of me or my Mom. 

Since taking bluebonnet pictures were clearly a disaster this year, I just decided our screaming picture was all we were going to get  My Mom suggested that we just try the hill in our neighborhood because it was right by the road and Pearson would be able to see the truck and cars drive by.  I'm so glad we decided to take more pictures because I think we got some pretty cute one.  We didn't get any of him smiling like we did last year, but these just show his little serious personality and his love for anything that moves.  If he's pointing in a picture it's because he sees a car, truck, fire truck, tractor, school bus, big truck, or police car!!!

And because I love a good comparison picture......

 Pearson is even wearing Carson's hand-me down shorts and sitting on the same bucket!

Oh my! Love this crazy kid!!

pearson {22 months}

Oh buddy boy! It's a good thing you are cute, because we have had some rough days this month.  You have just been a little grumpy pants this past month.  But thankfully we have more good days than bad days.  I'm just learning that you need lots of fun activities planned throughout the day to keep you happy!! You normally play so well independently but this month you have need lots of one on one special attention (which I don't mind giving to you).  You are so incredibly smart, sometimes too smart for your own good, but we love it.  We watching you play and learn and grow.  You bring so much joy to our hearts!!

Measurements:  ????? (I always forget to do this!!)

Clothes:

• shirts/onesies: 24 months & 2T
• shorts/pants: 24 months 
• pjs: 24 months & 2T
• diaper: Size 5
• shoe: size 5's & 6's

Sleeping: You have been taken great naps this months, usually 3 hours from 12:30-3:30.  For some reason this month (maybe because of your long naps) you have been going to bed at 8pm and waking up around 6:30-7:00.  I don't mind you waking up 7am, but I refuse to get you out of bed any earlier than that!

Eating: You drink 3 sippy cups of milk and eat 2 snacks and 3 meals a day.  You love any kind of cracker, cheese, almost all fruits, especially blueberries, salad, homemade mac n cheese,  & pizza.  You've been a little more pick this month.  You pretty much won't touch vegetables......except salad and avocado.  You just don't try things like you use to.  You decide you don't want it before you even take a bite.  Some days I think you fill up on milk, goldfish and fruit.

New Tricks: You are learning motions to songs.  You are learning different kinds of truck big trucks (big rigs), fire truck, jeeps, trucks, cars, police cars, SUV's etc.

Words: I kept record this month of all the words you learned this month, although I'm sure there are more that I am forgetting.  You literally say something new every day.  You are still not really stringing 2 words together.  Occasionally you will say, "Go Bye-Bye", "Go Ou-Sigh", "Daddy's Car", "Shoe-On"

Da-De (Daddy), Go (when he waves), Doh (dog), Da ("dat"), Woah (hello), Mommy, Duh(Duck), Wah (Water), GoGoGoGoGoGo (when we mention going somewhere), Nuh (milk), Ah-Oh (when he drops something), Di-Dle (Bible), Ca-Ker (cracker), Go-Go (anything with wheels), Doo (Peek-a-Boo), Shhhuh (Shoe), Cah (car), Nih-Nih (Night, Night) Trac-Ker (tractor), Na-Nuh (Banana), No, Gee-Suh (Jesus), Nack (Snack) Di-Da (Diaper), Bye-Bye, Sha-Ta (Shasta-my parent's Dog), Izz-oo (Izzie), Jo (Joseph), A-Tal (Apple), Truh with a rolled "r" (truck), Woooaaah (Wow), Yah (Yay), Buh (Book), Coh (Cow), Pah (Pops), Trac-Ker (also train) BeBe (Blueberry) Bo (Boat) Too-Too (Choo-Choo) Ba-Be (Baby), Uh (Up),  Eeeee (Eat), Pappi (Paci)  Ba-Tuh (Bathtub), Yo-Yo (Yogurt) Yo-Ya (Lolly), Cah-Se (Carson), Cuh (Cup), Boh (Ball), Soh (Sock), Coh (Coat), Pee-Suh (Pizza), Tuh-Dle (Puzzle), Cuh-Cuh (Color), A-see (Aisley), Ah-Yi (Alice), Mi-Mi (Naomi),Sho (TV Show) Mi-Mo (Mickey Mouse, Mi-Mi(Minnie), Chee-uh (Cheers...on Mickey Mouse), Ya-Yi (Lolly), Cha (chair), Moo (moon), Chuh (church), Shah (Star), tuh-tle (turtle), su-cle (circle), o-ful (oval), Hah (heart), tee (teeth) No (nose), eye, Mummy (tummy), elbow, knee, Am-ba (Amber), Essie (Lexi), Teet (feet), ah nuh (all done), Buh (Book), Be-Bo (belly button), Waaayyyy (yay!), Ah-she (Ashley), Yi-Bia (Olivia), Ou-Sie (outside), Bubu's (bubbles), Ah-noo (airplane), Ugh (up), Ha (hat), Ho (help), Tee (teeth), Tee-Tee (Potty), mow (mouth), A-Mee (amen) Owl, Pih-see or Pee-Pee (Pearson), Wa-yee (wagon) New this month: Suh (sun), Cwows (clouds), Pway (play), Bweh (Bread), Cuh doo doo doo (Cock-a-doodle-doo), ti-soo (tissue), Ah-Ye-Guh (Alligator), Swi (Slide), Scoo-buh (School Bus), Ta-key (Taxi), Tees (keys), Jee (Jeep), Ah-Gah (All Gone), Ah Duh (All Done), Ah-Noo (Airplane) Ah-you (Balloon), Cwok (Watch or Clock), Bee-Truh (Big Truck), Gu-Tah (Guitar), Wok (Walk), Uck (Stuck)

Teeth: 16 (eight top/eight bottom) Your bottom left canine came in the month.  I'm hoping that your 2 year molars are coming in because you have been chewing on your fingers alot lately and have been such a grump and that is totally not like you.

Likes: Books, trucks, Mickey Mouse, Playing outside, Taking Walks, Snacks, Being with his cousins, Seeing his Grandparents, singing songs, Going to the park, Playing with my iPhone, Wearing your shoes, your new wagon.

Dislikes: When we have to come inside, when Mickey Mouse is over, when we make you do something you don't want to do, getting in your carseat, getting dressed after a bath.

Other Random Things:

• You can actually jump and get a teeny tiny bit of air.  You love it when we say "1, 2,3 JUMP!"
• You tell us that you have gone poo poo.  You point to your crotch and say "Poo-Poo". (You say poo poo so funny though, you barely pronounce the P and its like you just blow air out of your mouth. It's so funny!
• You absolutely love being outside.  You throw a big fit when we have to come in, so most of the we have to bribe you with another option like dinner, a bath, Mickey Mouse, or a snack.
• You are starting to associate certain things with each other.  For example the other day you saw a pizza cutter and immediately said "pee-suh".  You found the griddle plug in the pantry and ran to Daddy's outlet where he plugs his phone in and tried to plug it in.  (eeek!) Anytime you see a door you point to the handle and say "key".
• When we ask you to find your belly button you always lift your shirt up, then you proceed to lift up everyone else's shirt to find their belly button. 
• You have started to give me big wet open mouth kisses. 
• You are obsessed with closing doors.  I am terrible about leaving closet doors open and you are always behind me to close them.
• You know all of the Disney Character.......Me-Mow (Mickey), MiMi (Minnie), Doo-Fee (Goofy), A-See (Daisy), Too-Doh (Pluto), Dah-oo-Duh (Donald Duck), Pete.
• We are still sportin' the paci at naptime.  Since you are taking 3 hr naps right now we are planning on taking it away anytime soon. Mommy needs a break so we aren't messing with naptime!
• You do not like us to put our feet on the coffee table.  Mostly because you like to use the coffee table as a road for your cars, but even if you aren't playing, you push our feet off.
• You pretend to go night night all over the house.  You will just lay down on the ground and say "Nigh-Nigh".

And this picture was just too cute not to share!!

Look how you've changed

a relaxing weekend

Ahhhh this weekend was just was just what we needed.  

We had absolutely no plan on Friday or Saturday and I couldn't have been happier about that.

It seems like the last few weekends we have been going and doing all weekend long.

And it looks like the next few weekends are pretty busy for us too, so I'm glad we got to rest a little this weekend!

We started off Friday with a fun little meal. I made Shrimp & Grits.  

It was sooooo good!!

 It was such a beautiful night, so we spent a good hour after dinner playing outside.  I'll just spare you the details of the massive meltdown Pearson had when we had to come back inside.  Not pretty.  

 Goodness......they are so good looking!  How did I get so lucky??

I just love watching my boys together.

 On Saturday Pearson spent the morning watching Daddy mow.  I know Matt can't for the day that Pearson can get out there and help him.  Yard work help......one of the perks of having a boy!!

 We also busted out the water table on Saturday.  My sister in law gave it to us last year during the summer, but it was too hot to even play with it at 8am in the morning.  We tried to play with it again when the weather cooled down in the fall, but he wasn't really that interested.  He must be the perfect age for it now because he played with it on Saturday for almost an hour!! 

Last night, we had one of my favorite MOPS events of the year.  My sweet Titus Mom (mentor mom) hosted a MOPS Date Night.  Their house is beautiful is Ms. Gayle and her husband are so hospitable.

The event planning girls did an amazing job planning this Mexican Fiesta Date Night full of wonderful fellowship, awesome decorations, yummy food and even a fun photo booth!

We absolutely adore our little guy, but it sure was nice to drop him off at the church from 5-8 while we got to eat a nice meal with friends!!

I met Kara last year at this exact same table!! I was so good to sit with her and her husband again this year, especially since they will be moving soon.  :(

We also sat with a sweet couple from our ABF.  Jennie is another SAHM in our ABF so it's been fun to get to be in MOPS with her this year. 

Such a fun night!!  I'll be sad when MOPS is over for the year in month.  I seriously look forward to MOPS Mondays every (other) week!!

And the best part to our weekend was that we just booked a vacation to celebrate our 5 year anniversary!!  Yipee!! I can't wait to have a week away with my hubby!!