Herbs

Look at my green thumb!  I know it's not much, but it's a start.  William and I have big plans for a garden one day, so we are starting small.  We've grown herbs before but not from the seed.  We've always started with the plants.  This year, we are attempting growing dill, parley, basil, and cilantro.

Wills helps me water them every day, and it helps!  He reminds me (a lot) to water them saying "mommy flowers."  Thanks, buddy, for being so persistent. :)

Reset Day Two

Breakfast was a 1/2 cup of oatmeal, blueberries, coconut slivers, and 1/2 cup of organic plain yogurt sweetened with Grade B maple syrup.

Lunch was a large Greek salad with my leftover salmon.

Again, I snacked on an apple and almond butter.

For dinner, I had brown rice vegetable sushi and a Japanese cucumber salad.  I switched my dinners around a bit, just for convenience.  I have all intentions of learning to make sushi, but for this week, with all the other new recipes, traveling to Atlanta, and William's work schedule, I went ahead and bought brown rice vegetable sushi from Publix.  It worked just as well.

Here is what I used for the cucumber salad.  I made the dressing and let it marinade for a few hours.  

It wasn't my favorite, but it was fresh and filling.

Reset Day One

Day One is in the bag.  Today was a pretty easy day for me, until my sister and Wills starting eating brownies and ice cream.  Overall, I felt great.  I did miss my morning coffee and a glass of wine in this gorgeous weather.  But, I keep telling myself it's only 21 days; I will take it one day at a time, and adjust when needed.

The ultimate reset is a 21 day total body reset to get us healthy on the inside.  It's goal is to remove toxins, chemical additives, preservatives and pesticides and teach us to eat in a way that is renewing and helpful to the functions of our bodies.

It is described as "a no-starvation, multifaceted, life-changing, cutting-edge, this-is-the-real-deal, inner-body tune-up."

I love how my yogi friend Becca calls it such a "gift" to your body.

Breakfast was two eggs scrambled in EVOO, sauteed spinach, and one piece of whole grain toast.

Lunch was a huge salad of baby mixed greens, cucumber, tomato, red pepper strips, shredded carrots, sprouts, and toasted pumpkin seeds.  Plus a delicious, home-made vinaigrette dressing.  

Mid-afternoon, I snacked on an apple and almond butter.

Dinner was amazing and filling.  Salmon in a marinade of fresh herbs, EVOO, garlic and lemon juice, steamed asparagus, and boiled new potatoes.

I am most excited about learning new recipes, using new ingredients, and hopefully, feeding my family this way in the long run.  Although, William will be a challenge as I bought him salt and vinegar chips, yesterday.  Oh well.  I will say, he has made a lot of changes in his diet since marrying me...switching to whole wheat bread, eating a lot of sweet potatoes over white potatoes, drinking more water, and limiting his red meat intake from every other day to once or twice a week.  Baby steps. :)

Gearing up for the Ultimate Reset

Wills has been a little under the weather, so although it was his daddy's birthday weekend, he didn't do much celebrating.

After a bluegrass music festival on Saturday, William golfed on his birthday on Sunday, and I prepped for my Ultimate Reset challenge that I am completing with 5 other girls.  I will give more details as we go and explain more about the reset.

Reading up on the plan. 

See you tomorrow for a recap of Day One!

Poppyseed Chicken with The girls

Wow!  I can't believe I haven't written in a week.  Sorry.  I guess I've been dreaming about this place and got a little distracted.  It's almost summer time for me!  Yay!

Some of my best girlfriends came over last night.  Samantha was in town from Birmingham to let Hardy meet his favorite aunts, minus a few. :)  Becky joined us from Sandersville, and Jenni and I made appetizers and dinner for the evening.

Earlier in the afternoon, I put together Poppyseed Chicken and waited, like a little girl on Christmas morning, for my girlfriends.  I was excited!

Here's what I used.

All mixed together.

And added to the boiled chicken breast.

For the top, I used 1/4 cup of melted butter and a sleeve of crushed Ritz.

Baked on 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Ugh.  Pictures.  What is wrong with my phone?

We let Sam sit back and enjoy her wine while we enjoyed passing Hardy around.

Not to get too sappy, but I could not have asked for a better night!  A lot has changed for all of us, as it always does - jobs, moves, marriages, and now babies.  But, I am beyond thankful, that our friendships have stayed the same.  It was like we were sitting upstairs in the Hardy's upstairs loft, chatting about boys, baking cookies, and making our summer beach plans.  At one point last night, I couldn't figure out what I was trying to say in regards to our elementary school days; Sam knew.  Of course she did.  She always does.  Cheers to those kinds of friends.

On another note, what do you do the next day after too much wine and a creamy casserole?

Make a fresh salad for lunch.

And drink a shake, asap.

Feeling amazing already. Now, if I could just get to my yoga studio. :)

By the way, someone was extra chipper and silly this morning.  He must know his daddy is coming home tonight!

What I Ate Wednesday

My morning started with a larabar and an orange.

Lunch was an egg, cheese, and arugula sandwich on an everything bagel thin with strawberries on the side.  It was so good!

My sister came over for a little afternoon yoga.  I promised her (and the growing baby in her belly) a green monster when we finished.

Frozen strawberries, blueberries and a banana plus vanilla almond milk and a splash of OJ.

And a heaping handful of spinach.

It made enough for all three of us to share.

Wills' dinner was simply smart chicken nuggets, peas, grape tomatoes, and strawberries.  He ate all of the strawberries and chicken nuggets and picked at the veggies.  I keep offering them in hopes that he will one day eat something other than green beans. :/

Dinner was the pioneer woman's chicken spaghetti (I made three casseroles this week, took two to sweet friends with a new baby and a lost love one, and saved one for us) and a spinach, strawberry, red onion, smoked almond, and pita chip salad with a strawberry vinaigrette. 

Mother's Day Weekend

What a great Mother’s Day Weekend!!! I’m feeling extra blessed this Monday morning after a gorgeous weekend full of family and friends.  The only bad thing about this post is the poor quality of pictures.  I don't know what is going on with my iPhone, but I guess I need some photography lessons and a new camera, one day.

My sister, Wills and I took my mom out to lunch on Friday for a Mother’s Day treat. We had a YoPizza and shopping date just the four of us.

On Saturday, my sweet yoga friends and I threw Anna a surprise baby shower. I’m so grateful for these friendships and community we are creating through our yoga studio and teacher training. Yoga gives people a lot of gifts – flexibility, strength, clear mind, presence to life, freedom from medication, joy…but for me, more than anything, it’s given me a group of incredible girls (and a few guys :)) to call my friends. For that, I will always be thankful for my yoga practice and studio.

My boys made Sunday extra special for me on Mother’s Day. It started with cards and roses before church with my family, continued with a gorgeous boat ride on the Savannah River (thanks Sissy and Tony!), a nice visit with Dot, and ended with a delicious filet dinner that William cooked just for us.

Almost twins. :)

I am so blessed, beyond words, for the most amazing mom; she truly is the best. And I'm overwhelmingly thankful for my little boy; he made me a mom, and that is by far the greatest gift, unsurpassed best job, and most rewarding challenge of my life.