Adelynn loves family visits

Last weekend my parents, Marc and Jennifer, came down to VA for a quick visit from Montreal, Canada. My brother, who goes to school to New York, happened to be in Washington. We took the opportunity to all get together for a quick bite to eat so Eric could meet Addie!

This weekend Jon's parents, Bill and Leslie, came down to visit from Sterling, MA. Saturday morning we ran a 5K race benefiting orphan children in Sierra Leone. Jon pushed Adelynn in her stroller, it was her first 5K! Pop's won 3rd place in his division and his prize was a hand carved elephant from Sierra Leone!

Here are some snip-its from our weekend visits! 

Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce

Jon was definitely skeptical about trying this one! He was a good sport and dove right in... now I can't get him to eat regular pasta! It is a great alternative to having regular pasta, not to mention a wonderful way to increase your intake of vegetables. It is low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals. Try it! I dare you :)

Enjoy!

- Kim

P90X week 1 update

Bean Salad over Brown Rice

Jon had some of his buddies over this weekend for a poker night. One of his friends had tried my cocoa bites recipe and loved it! He even brought some to poker night! He suggested I give his bean salad recipe a try and yum!! It was delicious, fast and healthy- just the way i like it! I played around with it a little to make it into a dinner.. here is the final product. Give it a try and let me know what you guys think!

Bean Salad over Brown Rice

Ingredients:

- canned black beans
- canned corn
- canned diced tomatoes (i like fire roasted)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 1/2 chicken breasts (or two cans of chicken breast)
- brown rice

Boil or use crockpot to make pulled chicken. Place all ingredients in a oven safe dish. Warm up in oven and serve over brown rice.


Make healthy choices!

- Kim

A day in the life ~ Adelynn 8 wks

I loved getting all these great moments on camera! I hope you guys enjoy watching Adelynns day unfold...

And a special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my little sister Emilie!

- Kim

Healthy Chicken Nuggets with Butternut Squash

I am loving these 4-5 ingredient dinners that take less than 30 minutes to whip up. Between fitting in our P90X workout, feeding, bathing and getting little Adelynn ready for bed and spending some time catching up with how Jon's day went, there is no time left for a big fancy dinner with it's big obnoxious clean up!

Jon had an exam this morning so he was busy studying last night on the computer- reason this post is coming to you now! He might as well be learning Chinese.. I can't believe the stuff he remembers and learns.

This recipe is a fun one! A healthy twist on a food item that is usually on the no-no list.

Healthy Chicken Nuggets with Butternut Squash

Ingredients:
- 3 chicken breasts
- 2 eggs
- panko bread crumbs
- butternut squash
- olive oil
- salt and pepper if desired

Cut chicken into small nugget sized pieces. Dip in egg and then in bread crumbs. Place on baking sheet.

Peel and cut butternut squah. Place on baking sheet.

Bake both on 375 F for 25 mins. Leave chicken in for 3-5 minutes longer on broil to get your nuggets golden and crunchy!  

Serve with a green veggie and you've got a delicious, fun and healthy meal!

Enjoy, and remember to make healthy choices!

- Kim
 

New blogging goals!

         It may be because it was the first day of Autumn yesterday, but I'm setting myself some new goals! A friend of mine, Marie, who also has a blog, posted about using this space as a journal, a way to document what you're up to so you can always look back and remember all the wonderful things that you've done! I loved that idea and have decided to set myself the goal of three blog or vlog posts a week. One would focus on fitness and my P90X journey (getting back into shape after giving birth!), the next on my family life as Adelynn's mom and Jon's wife and the last would touch on my love of healthy foods! I want to push and challenge myself in those aspects of my life and I think it will be fun and certainly motivating to do it with you.. as it is easy to sometimes let yourself down but with others supporting you I think you can really achieve some awesome things! 

         Jon and I decided to do the "Classic P90X" workout. We wont be following the nutrition plan that they provide because.. as some of you may know, I'm breastfeeding and so I don't want to restrict my nutrition in any way that could be harmful to Addie.. We won't be taking the supplements that they offer either. I'm really looking to push my physical limits but still keep a lifestyle that I think is realistic. Here's the breakdown in case you were interested!

 

CLASSIC P90X Workout

PHASE 1 - 1st month

Week 1, Week 2, Week 3

• Day 1 - Chest and Back, Ab Ripper X
• Day 2 - Plyometrics
• Day 3 - Shoulders and Arms, Ab Ripper X
• Day 4 - Yoga X
• Day 5 - Legs and Back, Ab Ripper X
• Day 6 - Kenpo X
• Day 7 - Rest or X Stretch

Week 4

• Day 1 - Yoga X
• Day 2 - Core Synergistics
• Day 3 - Kenpo X
• Day 4 - X Stretch
• Day 5 - Core Synergistics
• Day 6 - Yoga X
• Day 7 - Rest or X Stretch

Phase 2 - 2nd month

Week 5, Week 6, Week 7

• Day 1 - Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps, Ab Ripper X
• Day 2 - Plyometrics
• Day 3 - Back and Biceps, Ab Ripper X
• Day 4 - Yoga X
• Day 5 - Legs and Back, Ab Ripper X
• Day 6 - Kenpo X
• Day 7 - Rest or X Stretch

Week 8

• Day 1 - Yoga X
• Day 2 - Core Synergistics
• Day 3 - Kenpo X
• Day 4 - X Stretch
• Day 5 - Core Synergistics
• Day 6 - Yoga X
• Day 7 - Rest or X Stretch

Phase 3 - 3rd month

Week 9 and Week 11

• Day 1 - Chest and Back, Ab Ripper X
• Day 2 - Plyometrics
• Day 3 - Shoulders and Arms, Ab Ripper X
• Day 4 - Yoga X
• Day 5 - Legs and Back, Ab Ripper X
• Day 6 - Kenpo X
• Day 7 - Rest or X Stretch

Week 10 and Week 12

• Day 1 - Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps, Ab Ripper X
• Day 2 - Plyometrics
• Day 3 - Back and Biceps, Ab Ripper X
• Day 4 - Yoga X
• Day 5 - Legs and Back, Ab Ripper X
• Day 6 - Kenpo X
• Day 7 - Rest or X Stretch

Week 13

• Day 1 - Yoga X
• Day 2 - Core Synergistics
• Day 3 - Kenpo X
• Day 4 - X Stretch
• Day 5 - Core Synergistics
• Day 6 - Yoga X
• Day 7 - Rest or X Stretch 

Tonight I'm making chicken nuggets with a super healthy twist! I think you'll love them. Since this post is more fitness oriented, tomorrow will be my recipe! 


Have a great night! And remember to make healthy choices!


- Kim

Adelynn Grace

Photo Card

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DIY peanut butter jar soap dispenser

 

I got inspired to make this craft after seeing a DIY mason jar soap dispenser post on pinterest! I didn't have a mason jar and did not want to have to spend anything to make this, so I got creative with what we had around the house. I am so happy with the final product! It works great and looks adorable in our bathroom!

 Using an old peanut butter jar and the pump from an old soap dispenser I had purchased from the dollar store months ago...

 

... a little hot glue (wonderful, can't- do- without crafting tool) and my husband's drill I was able to get busy crafting!

First clean out your jar and drill a hole in the middle of the top large enough to slip the pump through.

Once you slip the pump through the top, use your hot glue to create a seal. I put the glue on the inside of the pump's cap so I couldn't see it once assembled. 

Fill it up with your favorite soap. I added some raffia and an old key I had in my craft stuff to add some bling- and there you go! You're done!

Cocoa Bites

Want a chocolate fix without the extra guilt? Here is a recipe for you!
 

Cocoa Bites

1 cup pitted dates
1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup cocoa powder
dash of water

Blend all dry ingredients together in a food processor.
Add water slowly until desired consistency.
Roll into bite sized pieces.
Place in freezer for 5 to 10 minutes.
Store in refrigerator until eaten!

Yum!

Cloth Diapers for Newborns

 

*This is what we have purchased for our newborn*

34 Green Mountain Diapers or GMD Prefolds

- 12 Cloth-eez® Newborn orange edge (12"x13" when new) 11" x 11" when fully shrunk in white. Fits newborn to about 6 weeks, or fits about 5-10 pounds, 4-8-4 ply. Orange edges. Made in Pakistan, 100% "Indian" cotton. $24/dozen

- 12 Cloth-eez® Small Yellow edge (14"x15.5" when new), 12.5" wide x 13.5" long when fully shrunk. Fits 10 pounds to about 6 months old or about 15 pounds or so but this varies a lot. Fits in most size small covers. 4-8-4 ply. Yellow edges, made in Pakistan. 100% "Indian" cotton. $28/dozen

- 10 Cloth-eez® Workhorse™ Diapers are prefold diaper fabric in fitted diaper shape.

Note: The preemie or newborn size can be used a doubler later on

Note: Prefolds "quilt up" after washing

Note: Fitted diapers need covers

What is "prefolded" about "prefolds"? They have a thick center panel. Non-prefolded diapers are huge one-layer old fashioned diapers, which need to be folded many times to get them into a cover or onto a baby. We are going to Tri-fold our prefolds.

6 Snappis (You probably only need 1 or 2 snappis)

Great option to fasten a prefold

Made of a stretchy polyurethane and have grippers

Packaged individually, size 1 or size 2 also known as Toddler size.

Note: Most babies will only need size 1 from birth to potty training

$3.95 each size 1 single pack or $7.55 each size 1 triple pack

 6 Thirsties Duo Wrap covers (aplix hook and loop/ snaps) $12.25

          size one:
          6-18 lbs (3-8 kg)
          0-9 months

size two:
18-40 lbs (8-18 kg)
9-36 months

            1 Litewrap Newborn 7 to 10 lbs $8.00

            2 Bumgenious Newborn all-in-one $12.95

            1 Planet wise Pail liner in Seaspray $16.50

            1 Happy Tushies wet bag

            1 Wet bag Munchkin $5.99

            1 Handmade wet bag from online tutorial

            Cj’s Butter 8oz $13.97

            Detergent Rockin Green $14.95

            Wipes and wipe solution

Also available:

Sized Thirsties covers (aplix hook and loop/ snaps) $11.50

x-small:
6-12 lbs (3-5.5 kg)
0-3 months 

small:
12-18 lbs (5.5-8 kg)
3-9 months 

medium:
18-28 lbs (8-12.5 kg)
9-30 months 

large:
28-40 lbs (12.5-18 kg)
30-42 months

Note:  Cloth Diaper rentals are also an option

We bought our diapers from these websites:

http://www.sweetbottomsbaby.com

http://www.greenmountaindiapers.com

http://www.abbyslane.com

http://www.cottonbabies.com