End of week 1... Paleo challenge and a little LuLu

   Ok... Daily blogging is a little exhausting... so I think I will just update once a week about this Paleo challenge. I started tuesday and tomorrow will make the end of week #1. So far I am down 4lbs... which is a HUGE accomplishment for me!
   We had a baby shower this weekend and it took every last ounce of my will power to not devour the rice crispy treats... chocolate cupcakes... or chocolate ghramcrakers with chocolate chip frosting (are you kidding me!? Dream come true.) I am really proud of myself for staying strong!
   I already feel like I have more energy through the day, and I haven't felt fatigued at all. I still use my chocolate almond milk as a crutch... hopefully I can kick the addiction soon. HAHA! However, I have moved up a little and am now having fruit as a dessert. (who thought THAT would EVER be satisfying... but you know what? It IS!)
   Look out 30 day challenge... i'm taking you on!


OK now about LuLu! Everyone keeps telling me she is a toddler.. I refuse to acknowledge that since she is still my little baby!

We went to Bucks Lake the last weekend in July, secretly keeping our fingers crossed that she may like the lake more than the ocean. We started with no luck... but by the second day she started to get a little more adventurous. She loved throwing little rocks into the lake, and even getting her toes wet! We are making big strides here people! :) 

We bring this portable high chair with us EVERYWHERE. It's so awesome because it attaches to any chair and the tray comes off and it becomes a booster seat. (who can beat it for $10!?) She is getting SO big that the tray is too low now, and I am finding I use it more for a booster seat than a high chair. (Wahhhhhahahahahhhhhh *tear*)

Her new favorite thing (15mos old) is to eat a banana "all by myself". She gets so excited when I show her a banana, and loves to gobble the entire thing down as quickly as possible. I now have to break it in half so she doesn't eat it so fast! haha! 

She loves her little buddies, and gives ALL little kids hugs. It's the cutest thing ever and melts my heart to see my baby being such a sweet little girl. 

We still have "Bun-Bun" as a front runner for all naps. She would take him everywhere if she could. I guess it's better than a blanket since it's too small to drag on the ground. Her auntie S just found her a "PINK Bun-Bun" so we are now trying to get her to use both in case (God forbid) we ever lose the real Bun Bun. 

I think thats a pretty good update... for now! :) 

XOXO 

ANG

Paleo 30 Day Challenge: Day 3

I actually didn't go to bed starving! Looks like I needed to just increase the amounts of food I was already eating. Don't get me wrong, i'm still no Paleo lover just yet... in fact, I don't think I have ever wanted chocolate chip pancakes, ice-cream, popcorn etc. more than I do now! ha ha ha! 


This is what I ate... 


Day 3


Weight: 153! (down 3 1/2 lbs...no joke!)


Breakfast: 1/2 grapefruit, 1C iced black (yes black) coffee 


Snack: avocado with lime juice 


Lunch: Organic tomato basil chicken sausage, green salad, grilled eggplant and zucchini 


Snack: smoothie: berries, almond butter, banana, coconut milk


Dinner: 2 scrambled eggs, left over sausage, avocado and salsa




Let's see if I can actually make it 30 days... wish me luck!! 

Paleo 30 Day Challenge: Day 2

Ok.... I am not going to lie... I went to bed kind of starving last night. 


I think I need to increase my quantities of each food during each meal. I am so used to just having a granola bar, or cereal, or mini bag of popcorn, or ANY carb that helps fill me up. This is proving to be more of a challenge then I expected. 
Day 2 I am going to eat way more and see how I do... 


Weight: (1lb down) 155 


Breakfast: 3 Eggs, 1 Zucchini, 2 Shitake Mushrooms, 1 Sundried tomato chicken sausage, (all sauteed and made into a scramble) topped with 1/4 fresh salsa and some tapatio sauce. 
           1 (ok I had 2) 8oz cup black coffee with a splash of almond milk. (I am not prepared to have no "cream" in my coffee just yet) 


Snack: grapefruit 


Lunch:  Mixed green salad, tuna fish, celery, tomatoes and oil/vinegar dressing
        8oz water 


Snack: Almonds 


Dinner: cod fish with papaya mango salsa, and side green salad with oil/vinegar dressing 
        8oz lime carbonated water


Snack/ Dessert: 1C chocolate almond milk. 
                 *heres the thing... I'm not sure if paleo allows that.. but cutting out sweets cold turkey has not been easy. I need a little something to help me along... and if thats the worst thing I had all day... is that so bad? 




                             XOXO! 
                                 Ang

                  Day 1: Paleo Diet 30 Day Cleanse 
                       Have you heard of this? 




   I think I have officially lost my mind, but here goes nothing. Two very good friends of mine swear by this "eating lifestyle"(lets be honest- "diet" is the more appropriate word) I figured it's only 30 days, and who knows, I may end up liking it. 
   From what I understand so far its pretty much eating like our ancestors. High in meat, fish, fruits, veggies, nuts and potatoes. No grains, oats, sugar, or dairy. (which I am pretty sure is my entire diet right now..) Above is a photo of my grilled fish filet with spices and dill, and sauteed veggies in olive oil. I am going to try and blog about this for the next 30 days, (the good, the bad and of course.. the ugly.) 
let's see how it goes! 


8/2/11


Weight: (ugh)156.4lbs


Breakfast: 3/4c Almond Milk, 1c water, 1C mixed Berries,1 banana, and ice blended. 


Snack: 1/2C Macadamia nuts


Lunch: White Cod fish with papaya mango salsa and olive oil. 
       Mixed green salad with oil/vinegar dressing 
       Water with lime juice/garnish 


Snack: Banana


Dinner: Grilled Eggplant, Zucchini and Squash. Small bowl of Sweet potato soup


Dessert?... haha! I wish! 

XOXO 

Ang 

Spring cleaning for the fall?

                                                                    I love change!
 Maybe a little too much {as my husband would say}. When you change little things in your life {house, diet, wardrobe, makeup, hair, exercise...} its like a fresh start. It's new & exciting, and what could be better than that!? 


Our house right now could best be described as "Coffee house". Lots of reds, browns, greens, cherry wood, black wood, some blue accents. I love the color scheme, but lately have been itching for a change. The picture above is really where I'm going with this whole idea. I love the yellow/ white/ green color scheme. It feels so clean, and fresh. I of course would have to opt for another couch color since white + Baby isn't always the best combination. My favorite part is the book case and drapery... that alone could get me to sell my stuff on ebay... {ASAP!} 

B-A-N-A-N-A Bread!

I love homemade banana bread- it's delicious, makes your house smell good.. and never fails to make you feel like a fatty when you finish the entire loaf (by yourself). I made two loafs the other day and gave one as a gift (both to say thank you.. and also to not tempt me into eating two loafs.) 


I got this recipe from my friend, who very nicely wrote out how to mix the "dry/ wet ingredients separately" etc. I personally am a fan of the "dump it all in a bowl and mix" baking tactic. I don't see the difference if I sift my dry ingredients before the wet ones (except a lot more to clean up in the end). I mean, it all goes in the same place eventually right?? 


I wanted to share the recipe because it is so delicious and will make you go B-A-N-A-N-A-S for Banana Bread! 

~ Enjoy! 

Ingredients: 
2C Flour~ 1tsp Salt~ 2tsp Baking Soda~ 1C Butter~ 1C White Sugar~ 1C Brown Sugar~
4 Eggs~ 1tsp + splash Vanilla~ 4 VERY ripe bananas~ 1tsp Cinnamon

Directions:
1. My favorite part: Dump all ingredients in a bowl and mix (Do not over mix)
2. Pour into 2 greased 5x9 loaf pans
3. Bake 350 for about 35-40minutes
4. TRY to share! :))

Summer Love

Doesn't this picture just melt your heart!? 

We just got back from a trip to Laguna Beach which was a lot of fun! We flew down, which was only a 1 hour flight... nothing compared to the 12 hour flight we took with LuLu to Europe in march! This was a piece of cake compared to that trip! The flight wasn't full, so she got her own seat both times! (DEF the way to go! haha!) 

Scarlett HATED the beach. I think it was way too overwhelming, and boy did she hate the feeling of sand! We tried everything- with little luck. The last day I got her to take ONE step on the sand... I guess that's progress? 

We also lucked out and had our good friends, The Andersons, come for a visit! Complete with classy Black Velvet cocktails of course! We wish they lived closer.... so sad to have such a short visit! We miss them already! Looking at this picture I think you can tell who lives in SoCal and who lives in NorCal! hahahahahahaaha!! 

Looking forward to our next trip down in November... maybe we will have better luck at the beach!