Kids are Good for Your Self-Esteem. Not!

It is not the first thing I notice when I look at myself. In fact until very recently I didn't even notice them.

Yesterday Caitlin drew a picture of the whole family. This is the picture she drew.



I never felt self conscious of the lines on my forehead till Caitlin showed me how prominent she thinks they are.

I think I'm going to start wearing a lot of hats or maybe wear my hair like this:

Weekly Winners

These were my favorite shots this week.

Be sure to go to I am Lotus to check out more weekly winners.

Blech!

Husband was away on business. Kids were normal but blood pressure raising kids. The house was a mess. I'm still feeling sluggish. This is the sad list of reasons I let the reigns go on my diet. I totally half assed it this week. I snacked more and stop tracking my calories before the day was over. My only saving grace is I did my workouts.

I did gain again this week. I didn't think I deserved a gain last week, but this week I earned it for sure. There is good news this week. After one month on this program, I checked my measurements again. Jillian suggests that you measure your bust, chest, waist, hips, each thigh, and each arm in Making the Cut. I was surprised to see that I've lost 10 inches between all those measurements. I've only lost 3 lbs but I know I'm stronger and looking better.

Next week I vow to myself to start eating healthy again. No more half ass-ing it. No more eating like my parents are out of town. I am the parent. If I make my kids eat healthy, now I need to do it too.

Here is one good thing from this week, I have discovered a great onion ring recipe from Hungry Girl by Lisa Lillien. These things are delicious.

Ingredients:
1 Large Onion
1/2 cup fiber one bran cereal
1/4 cup liquid egg substitute
Dash of salt
Optional: additional salt, black pepper, oregano, garlic powder, etc.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cut the onion into 1/2 rings.

Use a blender or food proscessor, to grind Fiber One to a breadcrumb like consistency. Dip the onion rings into the egg substitute and then coat with breadcrumbs (add any additional spices to the bread crumbs before dipping.)

Place on a baking tray and cook for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping rings halfway through.
(FYI I shorten her directions to save bloggy space.)

My daughter, who hates to try anything new, tried these rings. She liked them so you know they are good.

Skywatch Friday

Go to Skywatch Friday to see skies from all around the world.

Sweet Treats and a Movie

Here is my 2nd post out of 52 for Shoot Me. It isn't the most flattering photo since I was holding the camera while I took it. Note to self: Have someone else take photo or set the tripod up. Anyway the kids and I enjoyed free Frostys and watched Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. I found 10 coupons for free Frostys from Halloween. They expire on 2/1. Can I justify 10 frostys this week? As you can see from the photo, the kids would love it.


Join the year long challenge of getting yourself in the photo at Forever in Blue Jeans. You won't regret it.

Peanut Butter Jelly Time

Don't you lick your sandwich before eating it?

He is so darn cute even with the jelly all over his face.

Check out 5 Minutes for Mom, Momspective, and Wordless Wednesday for more wordless photos.

He is going to hate these photos when he is a teenager, huh?

Don't forget to head over to see what all the other cool kids are wearing at Heathen Family Revival.

Taglines for Caitlin

If Caitlin had a blog these could be her tag lines:

• 4 going on 14.
• If it is not pink, I hate it.
• I need my quiet time. Seriously you don't want me to miss it.
• Tattling is bad except when I do it.
• So cute that you forget my mischievous ways.
  

Check out my Secret Mom tag lines and Davey's tag lines too.

Got Ginseng?

I did not go to the store with a list of things to buy. I did not leave without the most important item. I did not go back to the same store later that day to get that same item. The store greeter did not recognize me from my two trips. I was not embarrassed. I did not again leave without said item. I am not completely losing my mind. I am not going to buy some ginseng to hopefully improve my memory, if I can remember it.

Before I forget this post is part of the fun of Not Me Monday. It is a time to admit to somethings you might want to forget. MckMama is our host at My Charming Kids . Go over there to see what other people are not doing this week too.

The Reason Why I Stayed in Bed This Morning

It is hard to get out of bed when you have these guys to cuddle with.

Be sure to go to I am Lotus to check out more weekly winners.

One Step Forward and One Step Back

I have felt like I'm getting a cold for about a week now. I feel low on energy and a little headachy. Fortunately I haven't actually gotten a cold. I've found it hard to push my workouts this week. I actually missed on of my Jillian workouts last Saturday. I thought I was getting sick and due to a time crunch I only had time to workout or walk the dog. The dog won out. He doesn't get walked enough since he was attacked on Labor Day and I won't walk in our neighborhood anymore. I did do 4 of the 5 Jillian Michaels' workouts and an extra day of cardio on the elliptical machine. I have stuck to the diet portion pretty well but have had a couple of Hershey kisses each day. Damn that Christmas candy is still around.

I'm hoping I get out of this funk soon and have more energy. Isn't exercise suppose to increase your energy levels?

Well I actually gained 1.5 lbs this week. I'm not totally sure how that is possible. I think I stuck with sensible eating all week and kept in my calorie allowance all week with maybe one day exception. That exception was not worth 1.5 lbs. I think that it may just be water retention. I guess next week will tell me if that is true or not. I'm not getting discouraged yet. I'm proud of myself for sticking with this challenging routine for 3 weeks.

Skywatch Friday

Go to Skywatch Friday to see skies from all around the world.

Busting a Move and Trying Something New.

I think it is time to stop doing the Then and Now Thursday posts. I was hoping it would catch on as a meme but it really has not. I think it required too much work with scanning old photos and such. I may post every now and then (like the play on words) but not weekly. Thanks to everyone who did take some time to play along. I appreciate it. I really do.

Now I think I'm starting to participate in Forever in Blue Jeans' Where's Mom Challenge. The goal is take a photo of yourself with your kids once a week for 52 weeks. You know so that they know you were really around and capture some nice memories. I'm always behind the camera so this is a great meme for me to try.

My kids love to have dance parties in the living room. Here we all are busting a move.

Waiting for the birds and lots of stripes.

Caitlin isn't looking at my car. She is watching the bird feeder she made at pre-school. (It is hanging on the light post.) She watched it for a 1/2 hour the day we hung it. She watches everyday. So far no birds have come to eat. I moved it to the bush hoping a little more shelter will help.

Check out 5 Minutes for Mom, Momspective, and Wordless Wednesday for more wordless photos.
When Caitlin got her self dressed this morning, I knew that I needed to post this for Wardrobe Wednesday. She told me she wore all the stripes to because super heroes wear stripes. Don't forget to head over to see how all the cool kids are dressing at Heathen Family Revival.

More Taglines

I came up with some taglines for myself/blog last week. I had so much fun I thought I'd come up with taglines for the whole family. Today's taglines are for my 2 1/2 year old, Davey.

• Davey: One serious little guy (in this photo anyway).
  

• Davey: More movement than a hummingbird on speed.

• Davey: Tormenting older sisters since 2007.

• Davey: Constantly eating. Seriously all day.

• Davey: Planes, trains, and automobiles. If it has wheels, I love it.
  

Weekly Winners-Photo Session

Despite the fact the Davey sat still for about 38 seconds, I got a couple of shots of the kids that I like. I'm going to try to do a portrait session once a month to help improve my photography skills. I'm going to try some other subjects too. Maybe someone who will sit still for 39 seconds.

Be sure to go to I am Lotus to check out more weekly winners.

If it was easy, I would have done it already.

If it was easy, I would have done it already. This has been my mantra this week. I've finished my second week of Jillian Micheal's Making the Cut plan. It was definitely tougher this week to motivate myself. Those workouts are tough. I just have not looked forward to all that hard work. I usually workout by getting on the elliptical machine and workout for 50 minutes at a moderate pace. I either watch a tv show or read a book. In other words I get to zone out. These workouts are too intense to zone out during. I can barely even do scorpion push ups and back kicks with shoulder press yet alone daydream.

Scorpion push up.

Back kick with shoulder press.

Sticking to my calorie allowance has been harder this week too. It really isn't hard to hit the mark if I choose healthy choices. It is when I indulge in those 100 calorie packs of cupcakes instead of the apple that I find myself hungry. (Those 100 calories packs of cupcakes are so not on the list of allowed foods.)

So this week, I've had to remind myself why I want to do this. I want to be healthier. I want to feel strong. I want to have more energy. I want to stop carrying the extra weight. So I am continuing to do the workouts and stick with the healthy eating even if it is hard. I am not giving up.

All the hard paid off this week with a 4 lb. loss. Woo hoo!

Then and Now Thursdays-Playdates

Welcome to the Then and Now blog carnival. This meme is a chance to look back at how life has changed over the years. Hope you'll join us. Click here for more info on this meme.

Then: I met some fabulous mommies at our local library's story time. We formed a playgroup. It started out with 4 mommies and 4 babies. It was so nice to sit around and talk while the itty bitty babies laid on the floor playing with their toes. I became friends with these moms.

The original kiddios.

Now: Our group has grown to 8 mommies and 17 (soon to be 18) kids. The playdates are no longer just for the mommies. The mommies play referees and kid wranglers most of the time. There is less time for the mommies to talk but the kids have really become friends. They ask when they will get to see each other. They make drawings for each other. It is wonderful but I sometimes miss the old playgroups. It just means we need more "mom nights out."

The whole group minus one family.

Please share how things are different Then and Now. Click here for more info on this meme. Remember you do not need photos to participate. Be sure to visit other participants' posts and leave some comment love.

Another Example of Sibling Love?

Loving embraces or something else?

Check out 5 Minutes for Mom, Momspective, and Wordless Wednesday for more wordless photos.
One more photo to show off Caitlin's cute outfit. Don't forget to head over to see how all the cool kids are dressing at Heathen Family Revival.

i Heart faces-Best Face

i Heart faces is celebrating their one year birthday with a best face theme this week. The photos entered needed to be recent. This photo is from today.

Please Vote For Me!

Someone nominated me for babble.com's top 50 list of Mommy Bloggers! I am so excited!

I am way down the list (272 last time I checked) but it really is cool to be nominated. I still would love you (even more) if you would take a minute and click here, then scroll down till you see Secret Mom Thoughts and give me a thumbs up. Thanks so much. Smooches!

Taglines

Inspired by this post by Wellington Road, I thought I could come up with some taglines for me/Secret Mom Thoughts.

• Secret Mom Thoughts: I should be cleaning.
  

• Secret Mom Thoughts: Chocolate can motivate me to do almost anything.

• Secret Mom Thoughts: Proud to be a mom of 2 and still somewhat sane.

• Secret Mom Thoughts: Wants a time out. Seriously 5 minutes in my room by myself sounds awesome.
  

• Secret Mom Thoughts: Needs at least 2 more hours in the day, preferably with the children asleep.

• Secret Mom Thoughts: Avoiding housework like it is H1N1.

• Secret Mom Thoughts: Over sharing again.

• Secret Mom Thoughts: Shhhh...Don't tell the in-laws.

Weekly Winners-The Better Late Than Never Edition

I wasn't going to post a weekly winners this week. I didn't have any photos I liked but I took Maximus for a walk and got inspired.

Shaking.

Pretty Tower.

Pretty Sky.

Snowy Pumpkin.

Snow, Rocks and Water.

Pretty Church.

Be sure to go to Sarcastic Mom to check out more weekly winners.