Wellness Wednesday 5-30-12

Okay, so I’m a day late with this post. Better late than never, right?!

My baby boy turned 11 months old yesterday. How is he so big already, and where did the last 11 months go?! I am getting so excited to have his birthday party. I think the theme I picked will be a fun one! Onto the reason for this post…

I have unfortunately not lost any weight this week. I have been exercising more faithfully; however, I think I’ve been eating more than I need to. I seriously think I play mind games with myself and convince myself that I should eat more for dinner because I worked so hard exercising. I wouldn’t want to starve myself now, would I?! Yeah, that would be the reason the scale didn’t move, and the one thing I plan to focus more on this next week. Portion control is my biggest challenge by far. So, for the next week, I want to cut my portions in half, try to be content with 1/2 of the food I’m currently consuming, and see if it’s enough to nourish my body while dropping some weight.

I recently downloaded the Kindle version of this book, and I’ve been reading it on my husband’s iPad. The title caught my eye, and it’s contents sounded interesting. While I started this journey to wellness in order to lose weight, I also started it with the wellness of my whole family in mind.

For some reason, the French culture interests me. I am not very far into the book, but what I’ve read so far is helping to shape my view of health and wellness. I’ll plan to share more on my blog as I get further into the book. For today, I’ll share two things I’ve learned and/or been challenged by.

1) French families eat REAL food.
Amen to that! While I want to be healthy and lose weight, I am not willing to do it by eating sugar-free jell-o, low-fat yogurt, and non-fat milk. French families eat rich desserts with real sugar, full-fat cheeses with fresh baguettes, and buttery croissants. The key? They eat MUCH smaller portions.

2) French families make a BIG deal about dining. Eating a meal is not just about stuffing some food in your mouth, only to hurry on to your next appointment. Quite the opposite. In France, eating appears to be more of a ceremony. According to the author of this book, a French family will rarely eat on an “undressed table.” The dinner table is usually “dressed” (as they call it) with a tablecloth, real dishes, and candlelight. This sets the mood for the family to fully enjoy each other’s company as they partake of their meal. The people surrounding the table are more important than the food on the table, and the meal should be lingered over and enjoyed together.

Now, I’m not naive enough to think that with three small children we will have enough time to linger over long drawn-out meals. The reality at our house around dinnertime is that everyone is hungry, getting tired, and somewhat grumpy. However, I plan to implement some of these things to help calm the atmosphere so we can enjoy our meals together more as a family.

On this dreary, rainy night, I plan to “dress” the table with some of our nicer dishes, light a candle, and enjoy some homemade pancakes drizzled with real maple syrup served along with some farm-fresh scrambled eggs (made with real milk and real cheese!) And, I plan to only eat 1/2 of what I normally would. Here’s hoping it works!

Blessings!

Emily

Friday Favorite-Spray Paint

Happy Friday!!!

It’s finally raining here, and I’m enjoying the gloomy day. Some people like to bake on gloomy days, others like to watch movies and take a nap. Me? I decided to spend part of the gloomy day spray painting in my garage.

I thought it appropriate to do a “Friday Favorite” post about my favorite spray painting things. In my world, there is NOTHING that can’t be spray painted! I’ve painted so many things…most of which have turned out really well. I love the transformation that a cheap can of spray paint can make! It’s likely that you’ll be able to find remnants of paint lingering on my hands most of the time!

Here are a few of my favorites:

*Favorite Brand- Rustoleum Painter’s Touch. I love the finish that this brand gives. It gives the smoothest finish of any spray paint I’ve ever tried. *Favorite Place to Purchase- I usually prefer Home Depot, but for spray paint, Menards takes the cake. Nobody beats their selection and price for Rustoleum spray paints.

*Favorite Tool- Rustoleum’s Spray Grip. This $3 tool seriously rocked my world when I found it! I wish I’d have found it years ago. No more paint-filled fingertips from the paint nozzle. No more sore finger from pressing the nozzle forever on a big project. I.Love.This.Thing!!!!! *Favorite Technique- I love the distressed look of pretty much everything. While I’d prefer the real deal, sometimes it’s cheaper and easier to re-create the look of a vintage find. For many of my projects, I’ll first prime the item with a colored spray primer (available at Menards), and then top coat it with my desired spray color. A little sand paper at the end of the project, and it looks amazing!

I’ll post pictures of my current project as soon as it’s done. I think it’s turning out well!

How about any of my readers? Any spray painting tips to share?

Have a great Holiday Weekend, everyone!

Wellness Wednesday 5-22-12

BIG week at the Archer household!

Monday-We celebrated our last day with all of my childcare kiddos for this school year. We had a pizza party at a local park, and it was so fun! It’s emotional to think that I won’t see many of these kids next year, as they’ll be attending Ankeny’s newest elementary school.

Tuesday-LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!! I can’t believe that I now officially have a second grader-to-be! We celebrated with ice cream, and ended the night with Little House on the Prairie. I’m definitely looking forward to many fun days ahead this summer!

Today is the first official day of summer break. The pool opens on Saturday, and I’ll soon have to put on a swimsuit. That makes me want to cry. I’m not ready yet for swimsuit weather, but ready or not, here it comes.

Thankfully, my pre-pregnancy swimsuit now fits thanks to the 10 pounds I’ve recently lost. I’m super grateful for those 10 pounds gone, even though deep down I wish it had been more by now. But, I’m still pluggin’ away!

I have been a lot more consistent with exercise lately. Thank you to everyone who commented on my last post about my foot problem. I had no idea so many other people had experienced the same thing! Your comments have been very helpful, and my foot is feeling much better.

My current plan is to alternate days between cardio and a muscle strengthening DVD that I have. I think I’ve realized that almost more than needing to actually lose weight, I need to tone my muscles. My current weight is actually within a healthy range for BMI…it’s just that after three kids, things just aren’t as “tight” as they used to be. My goal is to lose another 15 pounds, even if it comes off super slow like the first 10 have. I’ve also got another goal to tone my muscles. While I’ll never be hulk-like, maybe I can at least have some definition to my arms instead of seeing them jiggle!

 

Birthdays and Milestones

My heart is full of thankfulness and celebration on this gorgeous May morning! While I have been MIA in the blog world lately, it is for good reason. Yesterday was spent celebrating my birthday. My family and friends made my day so special, and I feel so blessed to have been given so many gifts….not gifts wrapped in pretty paper and fluffy bows. Gifts much deeper and more important than those.

The GIFT of another year to love my family and serve the Lord.

The GIFT of a gorgeous, picture-perfect weather day on my birthday.

The GIFT of my husband who loves me deeply, even when I am not very loveable.

The GIFT of three healthy and beautiful children.

The GIFT of my family and friends who love me despite my flaws, and who are always there to encourage me along the way.

The GIFT of salvation through Jesus Christ. He alone is the reason I am able to give thanks!

Along with those priceless gifts, I was also blessed by very generous people with some fun presents. I enjoyed smelling some gorgeous floral bouquets that were given to me. It looks like I’ll be sporting a fun new necklace, enjoying several cups of coffee from Starbucks, shopping at Pier One and The Attic, and using some birthday money to purchase this fun thing that’s been on my mind lately:

Anybody want to join me for some flavored tea on my deck after I purchase this beauty?!

This morning my mind is re-living what happened one year ago today. My birthday last year was a bit heavier as we anxiously awaited news from my mom’s biopsy report. The day after my birthday one year ago she received the call we all dreaded…she did indeed have breast cancer. Nothing and no one can prepare your heart for news like this.

What followed was a year full of surgeries, doctors appointments, and plenty of tears. One year can change a lot, and this year has certainly changed each of my family members. We have been reminded in a very real way about how fleeting this life can be, and how much we don’t want to take it for granted. I’ve been reminded what a strong mom I have, and what a faithful God we serve. He has been gracious through it all, and we’re praising Him that mom is cancer-free and healthy today! I cannot tell you what good it does my heart to see this: Three weeks after my mom’s double mastectomy, Titus James entered the world, and it made my heart ache to see his “Nanny” not be able to cuddle him like she cuddled my daughters when they were born. This photo is near and dear to my heart, and I love the story it tells. One year changes a lot, and I’m so thankful she’s strong enough to snuggle my big, energetic boy!

I love you, Mom! Always have. Always will. Probably more than you’ll ever know.

Ramblings

Good morning! (probably afternoon by the time I actually post this. ) Today I feel like blogging about some random happenings around the Archer household. If that interests you at all, keep reading.

Amidst a busy day yesterday, I missed my “Wellness Wednesday” post. There’s not a whole lot to update about in that area. My weight loss is very comparable to the speed of a turtle. I’ve lost just under 9 pounds, for which I’m thankful. However, it’s just going so much slower than I had anticipated. Still thankful, though, that my pants now require a belt, and that shopping for a smaller size is hopefully right around the corner.

One thing that could be slowing down the weight loss process is my self-diagnosis of plantar fasciitis, which is making it hard to exercise. Have any of you experienced this? It’s a pretty severe foot pain at my heel and into the arch of my foot. Most likely brought on by years of barefoot and flip flop days, I have nobody to blame but myself. Warmer weather is here, and the thought of not wearing sandals all summer just about kills me! Does anyone have a good recommendation for a quality supportive line of sandals? I need to go shopping.

I’m meeting with a gal this morning to talk about the possible start of a new business for me. Hopefully more to come on that one soon. I’ll keep you posted…

I found a really cool barnwood item sitting by someone’s trash at the curb this morning. My mind is spinning as I consider what to do with it.

My backyard is SCREAMING for attention to make it more attractive. Seriously, it’s looking pretty bad these days. I have a dream that the guy from that show Yard Crashers might show up one day and make my backyard amazing. Then I wake up and realize I have to do the work myself. Give me the interior of a house, and I can make it look wonderful. The outside? That’s not really my expertise, and it’s kinda overwhelming.

My dad, brother, and I recently converted an old piece of wood into a beautiful coat rack for my front entryway. I am IN LOVE with it!! It started out as a 7 1/2 foot long, 2 1/2 inch thick piece of wood my dad gave me. I snatched it up when he offered it to me, knowing that underneath its ugly weathered look was something beautiful! My dad sanded it for me, I coated it with three coats of polyurethane, and Tony helped me figure out a way to hang this mammoth beast on our wall. I added a few vintage-looking $2 hooks, which I found on sale at Hobby Lobby. We now have a one-of-a-kind beautiful and functional decoration in our entry-way. It’s so special to me, as it was a fun project to do with my dad and brother. I love it! Remember those quinoa patties I posted about a few weeks ago? If you haven’t tried them, you should. They’re pretty much amazing, and I’ve been eating one for lunch each day. YUM!

I’m sure there’s more ramblings I could write about, but for now, that’s it. I’m off to enjoy the sunshine with my little sunshines.

God Bless!

Multitude Monday 4-30-12

Happy Monday!

What a fantastic weekend! Here’s what’s on my mind and heart this morning…just a few of the multitudes of things for which to be thankful.

1) Hopefully, as of noon today, we’ll be the owners of an ’03 Camry. We’ve had only one vehicle for 2 months, and it will be so nice to have two vehicles again!

2) My baby boy is 10 months old today. He is an adorable bundle of energy, and he keeps me on my toes! I’m so thankful for the joy he has brought to our family. I love you, little man!

3) My dad and siblings and I surprised my mom with a party on Saturday. We celebrated the fact that she’s CANCER-FREE and done with all her surgeries. She was so surprised!!! It was a great day to celebrate with friends and family, and to be reminded once again of the blessings God has bestowed upon her. She’s an amazing woman, and I am so thankful to call her my mom. I love you, Mom!!4) I got to see ultrasound pictures of my new baby niece or nephew last night. He/she looks a lot like his/her sister Avery! The ultrasound tech said baby looks healthy, and we’re excited to add another niece/nephew to the family! I do know if baby is a boy or girl, but I can’t share yet….I’ll leave that up to Crystal and Mark to share the good news.

I hope this Monday finds you all well and thankful for your blessings! God bless!

Multitude Monday 4-16-12

Happy Monday!

Once again, I’ve been MIA from blog-world lately. My littlest one and I have been sick with a nasty head cold, and amidst the sleepless nights and runny noses, I haven’t been in blog mode.

Monday…Multitude Monday. I do have multitudes of things for which to be thankful. Here’s what’s on my mind today:

*I’m thankful that our 90-foot tall tree was safely taken down last week. This momma’s heart was a bit nervous as the crane lifted each chunk of it OVER our house ABOVE my sweet baby’s bedroom. Lots of what-if thoughts went through my head that day…what IF that crane broke and dropped that massive trunk on my house?!
*Thankful that summer vacation begins in 5 weeks!! Who wouldn’t be excited to spend all day with these three beauties?! *Thankful that Tanner’s work schedule allows him to get off at 3PM, meaning this little clan of 5 will have ALL afternoon and evening this summer to swim, eat ice cream, and relax together! *Thankful for the opportunity to take care of this adorable little cutie. We all love him dearly, and he brings smiles to my heart! *Thankful for projects. Seriously, I know I might be alone on this one, but I love a good project. It is therapeutic for me, and this last weekend’s project was just what I needed to have a little alone time…just me, sandpaper, and a can of spray paint! Here’s what I started with: a little $2 dresser from a garage sale last year. I removed the junky knobs, sanded everything down, added a coat of primer and then paint, and gave the whole thing a distressed finish. The addition of vintage-looking numbers added some fun charm.I tried something totally different and new, and replaced the ugly knobs with sisal rope knots. The sisal rope was only $2 for a large roll at Menards, and I love the unique look it gave to the dresser.

For well under $10, I love the look this little dresser gave to the landing at the bottom of our main floor stairway. This just happens to be the designated “time-out” spot at our house, so I envision this dresser holding some of the items we use during our chats after “time-out”…a Bible, some books, ect. I have found a FANTASTIC tool to use for this purpose, but I’ll blog about that at another time.

The kids are fed, and we’re going to go soak up some sun before naptime this afternoon. Happy Monday, everyone, and have fun counting your multitude of blessings!

Wellness Wednesday 4-4-12

Yes, I’m still alive! It’s been a while since I’ve blogged, but for good reason. I was busy last week helping my dear friend decorate for what turned out to be the most memorable wedding I’ve ever attended. I enjoyed using my love of decorating to help make her day special.

I’m back at it today with another Wellness Wednesday post. Several things I want to “chat” about, so here we go:

1) Deep down inside, I know there’s a skinny girl just begging to come out. I would imagine she looks something like this photo I took of Titus the other day…he was dying to get outside, as his smashed face against the glass door shows.

Okay, so maybe I just wanted a reason to share that picture, because it cracks me up!

2) I have found a new favorite recipe, thanks to Pinterest. Those of you who have read my blog before know that I love quinoa, so I had to try quinoa patties. SO GOOD!

http://monicanelsonfitness.com/blog/meals/quinoa-patties/

3) Sometimes, going for a jog pays off in ways you don’t expect. Sometimes you might just find good stuff on the side of the road waiting for the garbage truck. Thank you to whomever put out this awesome little shelf…your trash has become my treasure! 4) Even though it was only $10, the homemade ice cream maker I bought last week may not be what I needed in my attempt to lose weight. However, it was what we needed last night for some family fun!

5) The scale hasn’t moved in the last week, which is frustrating. I am thankful, however, that I haven’t gained any weight. Time to buckle down and try harder.

Well wishes to you all on this Wednesday. My first cup of coffee is done, and it’s time to make breakfast for the kids. Enjoy your day, everyone!

Friday Favorite

Happy Friday!!!

It’s been a great week at the Archer household as we’ve enjoyed our Spring Break. I’m not quite sure how it went so quickly!

Today’s Friday Favorite: baby chub!! I LOVE me a chunky baby!!! What is it about my cute “little” man that makes me smile every time I think about him?! So many things make me love him to pieces…the fact that he’s got some serious chub makes it that much better!

Just curious…do the following two pictures bear any resemblance to one another?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All joking aside, I really do love my healthy baby boy, and I’m so thankful that he’s thriving. We had him weighed yesterday at the doctor. He surprised us all at a whoppin’ 24.5 pounds! No wonder my back always hurts. We’ve all determined he’ll make an excellent linebacker.

Apparently, he’s quite brave, too. Not one tear shed during his vaccine yesterday. All he did was give the nurse a nasty look as if to say, “Why on earth did you do that?” That’s my big, brave boy!

Now, if only I could think of a way to find my chubbiness as cute as his!

Happy Friday! Enjoy the weekend!

Wellness Wednesday 3-21-12

How can it be Wednesday already?!

The following picture shows me that I’m setting somewhat of a better example for my kiddos lately. Apparently, they think my new exercise video is fun. Me, on the other hand? I’m not thinkin’ it’s so fun right now. While it might not be fun, I do enjoy the feeling of accomplishment after I’ve done it. Hopefully I’ll start to see results soon!