Date with Mommy

Elizabeth and Daddy went on a date to see "Toy Story 3," so Will and I had a date as well. We went to South Coast Plaza, rode the escalator 2 times, hit a great sale at Pottery Barn, went on the carousel, and had lunch at the Corner Bakery. Both parties were entertained - a key ingredient for a good date.

As I sat next to my son and he ate his peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I realized that he is already two. Two. Two years have passed since I gave birth to him and he entered our lives. I remember life before Will, when it was just Mike and Elizabeth and me, but I cannot imagine life without him. He is such a character right now, parroting everything he hears, running everywhere he goes, cracking himself up at who knows what. He literally brightens my day when I see him running towards me. It's sometimes the best part of my day.

Mike and I have been having regular date nights this summer, but date nights with kids are just as important. They make us focus on the other person and appreciate the little things about them. I'd love to hear your ideas about dates with kids. What do you do?

Summer Lovin'

Here are the things I love about summer:

• Sleeping till 7 am!




• Being with my kids from when they wake up until they go to sleep




• Playdates with great friends




• Getting stuff done around the house




• Bike rides with the family




• Picnic lunches with the kids in their "fort"




• Barbeque dinners outside




• Date nights with my husband




• Watching movies that come in from Netflix




• Writing in my blog




• Reading books I've waited until now to read




• Catching up with girlfriends I dearly love

Happy Summer everyone!

Elizabeth Singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"

I have now tried for over an hour to post the video of Elizabeth singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" to my blog, and I am sad to say I have been unsuccessful. So, I'll do the next best thing. Here is the link to the video on YouTube. (Hey, at least it got me to finally go on YouTube and sign up as a user!) Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XBaxrO6cGY

Bruin Woods 2010

We spent our second week of summer at our all time favorite vacation spot...Bruin Woods! Now, as a Cal grad, I must state that my allegiances are always to my alma mater. However, when it comes to a fantastic, relaxing, and enjoyable family vacation, Bruin Woods takes the cake. We had a fabulous week of swimming, eating, and clapping (the 8 clap, that is). Elizabeth was in the Teddy Bears Group, and she had a wonderful time experiencing the freedom that Bruin Woods allowed her. She also performed in the family talent show by singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and totally stole the show (if I do say so myself!) Mike and I both noticed how much our kids had grown just in one week, socially and developmentally. Will started speaking in complete sentences and made friends with all of the student staffers. We felt so blessed to have these amazing UCLA students not just befriend, but seriously love on our kids and make them feel so special. This was our second year going, and we are so glad this has become a family tradition for us. What a great way to start the summer!

I'm Back!

Hi all! Well, I've decided that since I've quit Facebook and the summer's here, I'm going to try blogging again. Plus, my dear friend Natalie is blogging about her experience in London this summer, so I'll be logging on to blogspot.com more frequently. I can't promise long entries, but I will try to update photos and share where I am in life right now. To all who have awaited my return, thank you. I will try not to disappoint!

3.2

Weight Loss this month (yes, it's been that long since I've blogged): 3.2 pounds
Weight Loss to date: 14.8 pounds

For those of you who worried that I had fallen off the wagon, not to fear! I haven't. I've just been busy. My weight loss is not what I had hoped for so far, but at least I am losing and not gaining. I think to really lose the weight I want to in the time I want to, I'm going to have to step up the exercising. I am exercising at least three times a week, but I think it is now time to up it up to 5 days a week. And now that report cards and conferences are over, I have no other excuse!

Not that I don't have any motivation. The designer jeans are still looming out there. And so is my closet full of clothes that has been stationary for the past year and a half. And then there's Elizabeth...yesterday when I was tired from a long week of work and was very close to wimping out of Tae-Bo, she nearly had a meltdown that we were NOT going to do Tae-Bo. So I got off my sorry butt, and worked out with her. She might just be better than I am at some of the moves.

So my goal for this week is to workout five days this week and to track my food in my food journal (I'm still on Weight Watchers, but I've been lazy and have been keeping track of my points in my head. Not the best when it's late at night and I'm trying to figure out if I have enough points for a Skinny Cow.)

My recipe for the week has become our new favorite. If you love jambalaya, you'll love this one. Enjoy!

Shrimp Jambalaya

2 tbsp. margarine
2 medium-sized onions, chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
3 ribs celery, chopped
1 cup chopped, cooked lean ham
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 1/2 cups uncooked minute rice
1 1/2 cups fat-free low sodium beef broth
28 oz. can low-sodium chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp. chopped parsley, fresh or dried
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 lb shelled, deveined, medium-sized shrimp

1. One half hour before assembling recipe, melt margarine in slow cooker set on high. Add onions, peppers, celery, ham, and garlic. Cook 30 minutes.
2. Add rice. Cover and cook 15 minutes
3. Add broth, tomatoes, 2 tbsp. parsley, and remaining seasonings. Cover and cook on high 1 hour.
4. Add shrimp. Cook on high 30 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed.

Makes 8 servings. 3 points per serving.

Accountable

I don't want to write this post tonight. I have put it off for the past 12 hours. I have been very good this week. I stayed within my points. I resisted the donuts from Henry's on Friday in the lounge, as well as other goodies throughout the week. I exercised HARD for 3 days. And yet, when I got on the scale this morning, I was 1.2 up from last week. I don't know how this is possible, and I don't know why. But I am, and as much as I didn't want to admit this to all of you who read my blog and keep me accountable, I must remain true to the commitment I made 2 months ago. I will blog about my weight loss, good or bad, every Saturday. So here I am.

I'm not going to get upset about it. I know from previous weight losses that this happens every now and then. My body will plateau for a while and then suddenly I will lose again. I just need to remain consistent and steadfast. I still want to lose another ten pounds before my son's first birthday, and I will passionately work towards that this month.

In an effort to spice up my blogs (no pun intended), I thought I might share a recipe a week that has helped me in my weight loss. Most of my recipes will be crock-pot recipes (since that is how I am cooking lately), but all of them will be yummy, I promise. This week's recipe is for Chicken Tortilla Soup (only 6 points per serving!)

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cans of black beans, undrained
2 cans of Rotel tomatoes
1 cup salsa
1 4 oz. can of chopped green chilies, undrained
1 14 1/2 oz. can of tomato sauce
Baked tortilla chips
2 cups grated fat-free cheese

Combine all ingredients except chips and cheese in large slow cooker. Cover. Cook on low 8 hours. Just before serving, remove chicken breast and slice into bite-sized pieces. Stir into soup. To serve, put a handful of chips in each individual soup bow. lade soup over ships. Top with cheese. Makes 8 servings.

Enjoy!