Mamas Need Motivation Too

As all of you know I had beautiful baby #2 about five months ago, and since then I've devoted much of my time to baby snuggles & devouring cinnamon rolls. I've been a little slower to get myself and my body back into shape, partially because I don't have the motivation like I did before. After I had Owen I was determined to have a bangin' body in my dress, and so every single day I was grinding it out and eating chicken breasts and broccoli. But this time, I've been kind of complacent and unmotivated, so I decided to reach out to a fellow mama in my community. Rachael Morris is a health and fitness coach, and a really great resource and all around person to go to. I'll be the first to admit I know nothing about true healthy habits, but I want to make sure I do it the right way this time, and truly make it my lifestyle.

I don't like the sluggish exhausted feeling that I sometimes struggle with now having two kids, and I know I'm not alone. But after working with Rachael and participating in a 7 day clean eating challenge, I knew I wanted to share her story. She's been through the trenches, just like the rest of us, and has made it out alive and well - better than ever. So of course, I asked her some questions so that you guys could see for yourself!

Why now in your life?

I started getting the bug to live a healthier lifestyle after my son was born. I wanted to lose the mommy weight and get back that confidence I used to have. But I realized that in order to get to where I wanted to be, it had to be a lifestyle change. So I started researching healthy recipes and what to eat and when, in order to maximize my metabolism while still giving me energy to keep up with my son. I then started to incorporate exercise as a daily practice, which not only helped with my results, but helps with my stress and anxiety we can all get as working moms. But once I started looking at it as being healthier all around, the weight came off and I fell in love with the lifestyle.

What gave you the motivation?

My motivation began from wanting to lose the baby weight. But what has kept me going is how I feel. When I started cutting out the processed foods, and started eating healthier, my energy level changed, my face cleared up, my mood was better all around, and the weight fell off. The biggest motivation to live a healthy lifestyle now would be my son. I want to be the mom that can keep up with him and run around and play. (And boy moms know how much energy they have) But I also want to teach him how to live a healthy life.

As a mother, how do you make time for this kind of lifestyle?

One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was, "Schedule your workouts like meetings with yourself, and boss's never cancel," and that's exactly what I do. The day before I think about my schedule and all I have going on, and figure out when I can fit in that workout and just make myself do it. If I need to get up 30 minutes early to do a workout DVD or make it to the gym, I just make sure I do it. Working out for me first thing in the morning is key, because it gets it out of the way and I won't have to worry about making excuses or being too tired after work. Also, I think food prepping on Sundays is so important. I always say "Fail to plan, plan to fail." If you make healthy snacks and plan your meals on Sunday, you don't leave room for grabbing unhealthy options later in the week.

What advice would you give post-partum moms that feel exhausted with the new addition?

Don't stress about losing the baby weight. Eat healthy whole foods that are going to give you the energy you need (healthy carbs are key), make sure you hydrate, and start slow. Start with walking and slowly work your way up. When you stress about losing weight your body releases cortisol, and when your body releases cortisol, it holds on to fat. So enjoy your new baby, rest as much as you can and don't stress!

Can working moms be successful too?

Absolutely! When I first started my healthy lifestyle I was working 40 plus hours a week in a corporate office. So it definitely can be done. I think scheduling/planning is huge here. And just focus on your goals and remind yourself why you are doing this. Get an accountability partner (a friend, husband, Facebook group) to keep you motivated too!

You know I have to ask, what's your favorite recipe to cook around a busy schedule?

Crockpot Italian Turkey Chili, because I throw everything in a crockpot in the morning and come home to a delicious healthy meal.

Ingredients (Serves 6)

• 1 medium onion chopped

• 1 medium green bell pepper chopped

• 1 medium red bell pepper chopped

• 2 cloves of garlic

• 1 lb. of lean ground turkey

• 2 cans of organic kidney beans

• 1 can of tomato sauce

• 1 cup of red wine

• 1 cup of chicken broth

• 1 Tbsp. of chili powder

• 1/2 tsp. of salt

• 2 tsp. of pepper

• 1 tsp. of garlic powder

• 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro

• 8 tsp. of goat cheese crumbles

Directions

• Add onion, bell peppers, garlic, turkey, beans, tomato sauce, wine, chicken broth, chili powder, salt, pepper & garlic powder into a crock pot.

• Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 6-8 hours

• Top with cilantro and goat cheese crumbles

If you need some motivated or just want to learn more about Rachael, I encourage you to go visit
rachaelmorrishealth.com 

Oh, and while you're there you can thank her for your dinner plans tomorrow night!

Back-To-School For Babies

While my back-to-school shopping list might not consist of construction paper, pencil bags or notebooks just yet, I do have a list of things I stock up on. I am a part-time teacher at a church in our community for 3-year-olds, and we are fortunate enough to have my littles spend the day at "school" in the same program. It's exciting but also very nerve-racking as Sawyer will be in the little Lamb classroom this year. To prepare I have put together a list of some basic necessities and some of my favorites for children who attend daycare, pre-school, or any other similar program.

J.CREW Band-Aids
Owen has an obsession with putting a band-aid on anything and everything. The second his knee even touches another surface, he needs a band-aid. If your child is anything like mine, then these are a perfect solution & even better toddler fashion statement.

Minted Waterproof Name Labels
I can't tell you how many labels I've gone through that have claimed to be "waterproof", but these take the cake. They don't fade, they don't peel & they don't give you a headache. The only downside to these Minted labels is that there are so many amazing designs to chose from - I want them all! These labels are the best for bottles, sippy cups, and other lunch box accessories that go in the dishwasher.

Dr. Brown's 8oz Lavender Bottles
Whether you're sending your baby off with breast milk or formula, these bottles are perfection. We've tried a few and right now these work great with Sawyer. I personally love the limited edition lavender ones from Babies R' Us, they're such a pretty color.

GAP Kids Camo Backpack
Other than the precious finger paintings and macaroni necklaces that Owen brings home, there really isn't a need for a full-size backpack. What I love about this one is that it's the perfect size for a toddler, not too big and not too small.

Ryan and Rose Paci Clip  & Engraving
We've all heard the stories from the mom who went to pick up her baby only to find someone else's paci plugged in their mouth. I can rest assure you that probably won't happen with a pacifier clip. These are beyond perfection - they're literally an accessory to your babies outfit while playing important roll. The best part about purchasing one of these cutie clips from Ryan and Rose is that you can have it engraved with you child's name/initials.

Innobaby Stackable Containers
Absolutely love these stackable containers, they're so easy to use and even easier to clean - dishwasher safe! These are perfect for Sawyer going into the Lamb room to pack her first finger foods as they can hold 1/3 a cup of snacks or 8 oz. of formula.

PB Kids Mackenzie Classic Lunch Box
This PB Kids lunchbox is one of our favorites. They come in fun patterns, and a perfect handle for Owen to carry. We especially love the outside drink holder.

Foogo by Thermos Stainless Steel Bottle
Packing a nutritious lunch is very important, and that includes a healthy drink. This thermos literally keeps liquids cold for up to 8 hours and is so easy for toddlers to use independently. If you've ever had any hesitation about sending cold milk to school with your child, this bottle is the answer.

Wildkin Nap Mat
We've tried a few nap mats, but always end up going back to a Wildkin. They're insanely easy to clean and roll-up. What I love is that the pillow and blanket are attached, and there is a carrying strap that even Owen can hold onto.

What are some items you & your little ones love for back-to-school?

Attention Please

Have you heard? There's a new baby in town, and she might be disturbing the peace.

The other night was the first real time that I saw the "first child fangs" come out. I was doing the dishes (like the perfect little house wifey - HA) and Reed was playing with Owen, when Sawyer started to cry. He went over to grab her and give her attention - and in the blink of an eye Mt. Owen erupted.

When people say every child is different, they're not lying. My two babes couldn't be any more different, and yet they share a lot of the same qualities. He was a chill little baby, never making a peep. Owen could just sit in his swing or bouncy seat forever and be perfectly content. While Sawyer is also a good baby, she likes to be held. When you're not holding her, you're in trouble. She too enjoys her activity center and other things, as long as you're right there playing with her. Maybe it's a girl thing, but she enjoys being the center of attention. But for Owen, that attention needs to be on him.

It's so crazy, when I look at pictures of Owen right before Sawyer came into our lives, he looks so little. Now that he's a big brother I look at him in such a different light. He's such a big boy, and so self sufficient it makes my heart melt sometimes knowing that he's not the baby anymore. I think adding the second kid is definitely an adjustment, and it's important that you make special time for your first born. I remember literally crying while I was pregnant with Sawyer (those hormones were off the charts), thinking how could I share all of the love I have for Owen, with another child? And If I did share it, then would Owen feel as loved as the other baby? It's ridiculous to even think that way, but in the end it all works out.

My advice to anyone embarking on the beautiful journey of expanding the family, is to make an effort to plan and set aside your special time for the first little one. I bet your thinking, "Duh Summer, I was already planning on it," but let me tell you, that extra attention will slip away from you real quick. There have been special times where I will leave Sawyer with Reed, and take Owen to the grocery store with me, or even to a mommy-son date at the Dinosaur Exhibit (which by the way I thought he would LOVE, but it was a little too Jurassic Park-esque). He just feels so special knowing that he's the only child there getting all the hugs, hand holding & lovin' in the world.

While you might think that your new baby has more needs and therefore requires more attention, think again. All children have needs, they just might be different needs. I encourage you to make special time for all of them, and focus on giving your undivided attention to both of them individually. I promise your big guy or girl will warm up so much quicker to the fact that there's a new baby in town, and you'll feel so much better about sharing the love (not to mention save yourself from some major meltdowns).

Behind The Lens

When Owen was born I knew that I wanted to have lots of pictures of him. Well, between life and the wallet getting in the way, I didn't manage to get many quality pictures throughout his first two years of life. Most of the collection of photos we have are from the iPhone - which I guess isn't too bad if you have one of the newer models (who am I kidding it sucks). When I was pregnant with Sawyer I told Reed I had to have a good camera this time around, and it was then I got my first DSLR.

I've been learning the ropes, and doing lots of practice shooting around the house. The other night I had the pleasure of working with Kayleigh Kannady, of Kayleigh Kannady Photography. From being the Major of our high school drill team to a talented artist behind the camera, she's definitely someone I have always looked up to. Kayleigh is such a genuine person and truly loves what she does - which makes her not too shabby of a mentor either.  We were lucky enough to have her photograph our last family of three pictures right before Christmas. Every time the camera comes out I hope my pictures turn out half as decent as hers do when I shoot.

One thing I have noticed is that the more pictures I post of my family, the less I see of me. Nobody ever sees the person behind the lens, and quite frankly it's sad! There are so many more pictures of just Reed with the babies, you would think he was a single dad. I can't be mad at anyone else for it though, as it's partially my fault. I have this vision in my head of how I need to look, and those last few pounds of baby weight are just kind of lingering, which means I don't put myself in pictures. But I will tell you, Owen is 2 years old and Sawyer is already almost 5 months old and I'm regretting it - BIG TIME. Don't wait until you feel comfortable for pictures (it might take longer than you expected) because when you and your family look back it'll be sad when mom is nowhere to be found.

Throughout this learning process there is one thing that I am sure of - I never want miss the moments. The silly dance parties in the bedroom or fort building in the living room, those "when you least expect it" unposed & unplanned pictures always turn out the best. I really enjoy taking pictures of my kids, and capturing those still frame memories that will last forever. Who knows, maybe one day I'll even venture into doing the same for others! *wink wink*

(the one time I'm in front of the lens & I wasn't even ready)

Tie-Dye Tuesday

Literally the last time I tie-dyed was in college for a sisterhood, it's been so long. One day I was walking down the craft aisle and spotted the colorful array of Tulip Tie-Dye kits and just had to have them! But then I thought...it would be a little boring if I just sat outside dying articles of clothing all by myself, so I invited some friends over & we made a play date out of it! Reed even helped me with fun snacks like rainbow goldfish & fruit kabobs. I'm so sad I didn't get as many pictures as I would like, but when you're the hostess and you're trying to make sure the kiddos are happy, things don't always go as planned. That's ok, we had fun!

This sounds silly, but whenever we do a craft project that is going to need a lot of space and get messy, I always go to Walmart and stock up on the $2.00 waterproof shower curtains. They're so much cheaper than using the real deal paint protectors from Home Depot, and so much bigger than using a trash bag. I keep lots on hand for those pretty days to take outside and do fun messy projects with - we just toss them when we're done.

 The cool thing about tie-dye is that you can literally dye anything - and trust me we were. There were baby bows, baby headbands, onesies, shirts, leggings, dresses, shorts, and more. And it doesn't have to be all white either. For example, Allie did a cute white shirt that had a glittery image on it, and it turned out so cute. Another one of my favs were the Aden + Anais (the best) swaddle blankets, they turned out insanely dreamy.

Everyone's pieces turned out SOO good, I'm slightly obsessed. Some of mine kind of look like one big blob of color (like Owen's tank) but still - it's a one of a kind. I even went back and dyed a few more things after it was over. What other fun things would you tie-dye?

Tulip Tie-Dye: we used the carousel, neon & ultimate kits // Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets: solid white pack