For Moose..

My quest for getting healthy is not completely selfish. I mean sure, I would love to be comfortable in a bathing suit again and I would love to go out and buy cute, trendy clothes, but ultimately, my drive, my motivation is Moose.

I want him to see me as an active mom. I want to be able to run and chase him without having to take a break to catch my breath. I want him to think it's normal to pick up and go for a run, to eat veggies and lean meat. I don't want him to think that McDonald's and Dunkin Donuts is a staple in a normal diet. I don't want him to make healthy choices, I want the healthy choices to come naturally for him.

I have been on the heavier side most of my life. It's a difficult way to go through life (always wondering if people are watching what you eat, hearing the whispers "isn't she too heavy to wear that?", the assumptions "When are you due?"), I don't want him to deal with any of that.

I'm not ranting, I'm not pushing my beliefs on you. I am mainly giving myself a reminder as to my motivation. I have been sick the past few days and have been able to run or work out (believe it or not, I do MISS it) , and I know how easy it is to fall out of a routine.

Every time I look at him, I need to remember that it's all for Moose.

To the moon and back,

Run, Forest, Run

I mentioned a few posts ago that I am working towards my goal of running a 5K. While that goal has been a little delayed because of our move, I am happy to report that I am working towards it full force now and have been for about 3 weeks or so. My friend, Lacey and I have decided to tackle the goal together. It always makes it nice to have an accountability partner. We even signed up for our first 5K race at Epcot. It's the Disney Royal Family 5K at the end of February. I plan to run (ok, realistically, jog) the whole way. No walking. I don't expect to win, just finish.

I want to prove I can do it and I want to be a good role model for my son. See the thing is, I have issues with following through with things for myself. I have great ideas and lofty expectations, but after about 2 weeks, I'm done. Now, if I am working for someone else, I have great follow through and will put my whole heart into it (makes no sense, I know). I want to make this goal the exception and the start of finishing things for me!

Now, back to running, I have to say, I am enjoying it much more than I thought I would. I mean, 3 weeks ago I was dying after jogging for 30 seconds and today I ran 5 minutes straight and a total of 16 minutes with short walking breaks between. I know I still have a way to go to reach 5k status, but I'll get there.

I have heard that exercise is a natural anti-depressant, but I have never experienced it for myself. I have exercised on a regular basis and besides weight-loss, I can't say that I noticed anything else. If you have read some of my previous posts, you know that I have struggled on and off with postpartum depression. There are days when I am great, and others when I am not so much. I have also been diagnosed with PMDD (which is terribly embarrassing, but since I'm using this as my therapy, it's ok!) which is a monthly struggle. HOWEVER... since I have been running, I have felt GREAT. Seriously, I wouldn't have believed it if I wasn't experiencing it.

From the day I had Moose, all I have said that I just want to feel normal mentally again (back to my old self) with out forcing everything and I am happy to say that running has brought that back for me. Don't get me wrong, I have an AMAZING God, hubby, son, family and friends who have all helped tremendously, but the running has given me that final boost. I can't really explain it but my mind is clearer, I am more at ease and way less stressed out.

I can't thank my hubby enough for supporting me and helping out more so I have time to run, and Lacey for darn near killing me by pushing me to my limits when we run together.

All in all, I am super excited about the 5K next month and I will definitely write about my experience... that is, if I survive...

Plus, if I am ever going to have a second child, I need to get this goal out of the way and hopefully it will help me be in the best shape ever!

To the moon and back,

Low-Cal Enchiladas

So, in an effort to save money and calories, I have been cooking more. I really do love to cook, especially when I can make stuff up off the cuff. My hubby says I have a knack for it. I love the challenge of looking into my fridge/cabinet and coming up with something unique and tasty with stuff I have on hand.

Tonight, I decided on my version of enchiladas, which were of the venison persuasion. Now, if you aren’t a fan of bambi (as my hubby calls it), you can substitute extra lean ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken.  I choose venison, one because it’s a lean meat and two because my brother-in-law blesses us with a ton of meat every hunting season. I have a very southern upbringing and come from a family of hunters, so I am not fazed by it. In fact, my mom raises a cow every year and takes it to market so she has a freezer full of fresh, hormone free and antibiotic free beef (all cuts-ribeye, ground beef, roast, stew meat, etc…)

Anyway, on to dinner…

4 Huge Servings (Less than 400 Calories Each)!

Venison Enchiladas

1 Can Low Sodium Black Beans (15 oz)
4 Cups Stewed Tomatoes
½ Cup Chopped Onions
1 Can Ro-Tel - Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies (if you aren’t a fan of heat, skip these)
1 Cup Frozen Spinach
8 oz Ground Venison
4 Ole High Fiber Low Carb Tortillas
2 Oz Cabot - Cheddar Cheese 50% Reduced Fat
1 tbsp Argo - Cornstarch
2 tsp Chili powder

Salt & Pepper to taste

Pre heat the oven to 350. In a skillet brown the ground meat with the onions, salt and pepper. In a separate pot, heat the stewed tomatoes, Ro-Tel tomatoes, spinach and chili powder until boiling. Once the meat is browned, drain any grease and then add the black beans. Now that the tomato mixture is boiling, mix the cornstarch with a little water until it's blended. Slowly stir the cornstarch into the tomato mixture.  Take half of the tomato mixture and add it to the meat mixture. In a 9x13 pan spoon in a layer of the tomato mixture to cover the bottom. Divide the meat mixture in to four and fill each tortilla shell equally then place in the pan. Pour the remaining tomato mixture over the enchiladas and then top with the cheese. Bake until cheese is browned.

Super yummy! I added a little guacamole to mine. I served mine with a side of veggies, you could also top it with some shredded lettuce and a few chopped raw onions.

Enjoy! I shall now relax and enjoy my peppermint mocha flavored coffee.... Ahhhh....

To the moon and back,

Breakfast Muffins

So, I have been MIA lately. I know, get off my back...

But now I'm back, from outer space, I just walked in to find you here, with that sad look upon your face... Oh wait, that's not right.

Anyway, I'm back baby! We have had quite a lot going on what with moving, holidays, ER visits, renovations, working, and so on, and so on...

It's now a new year and I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year. Hubby, Moose and I are back to healthy. I am training for a 5K in February and hubby has been biking and running and we have all been eating better.

I am always looking for healthy meal ideas and can across an interesting on one Pinterest. I am horrible about breakfast and when I saw a recipe for a sort of breakfast muffin, I thought, "I can do that!" So... here is my creation. It is mighty tasting and less than 200 calories!

Breakfast Muffins
1 Can Reduced Fat Crescent Rolls
8 Egg Whites
8 Precooked Turkey Sausage Patties
1 Cup Diced Onions
1/2 Cup Skim Milk
3oz 50% Reduced Fat Cabot Cheese (Finely Shredded) Save a little to top each muffin
Black Pepper
Red Pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Line a muffin pan (not a cupcake pan) with one crescent roll per muffin hole. In a bowl, scramble the egg whites, milk, onions, peppers, and cheese. Once it is mixed well, pour equal amounts of the mixture in each muffin hole. Dice the turkey sausage patties and top each muffin with equal portions. Finish off by topping each muffin with the reserved shredded cheddar and then bake until the cheese on the top begins to brown.

Feel free to add more veggies (spinach, mushrooms, green peppers, broccoli, etc...)

They are great reheated for a quick breakfast or good for a brunch get together! Enjoy!

To the moon and back,

Too close for comfort...

Last night at 11:30pm, the phone rang. Generally, by nature, a phone call at that time is not good news and this one was no different. It was my mom. She had taken my dad to the ER because he had lost sight in one of his eyes. She said he felt fine and wasn't in any pain and that the doctors said it was a stroke of the eye. She said they were going to run some more tests before they sent him home. I heard him joking in the background "Tell her to get me an eye-patch for Christmas." I told mom to tell him that he isn't funny.

Long story short, he's doing good (we think, he has more tests on Thursday), but he will most likely never regain his vision in that eye. He said it's like looking through frosted glass with a few clear spots that never seem to be in the same place.

In the past few weeks, I have had a few friends that have lost their fathers, and this brought it very close to home for me. I can't begin to comprehend what they are going through, but last night as I laid in bed after hanging up with my mom, I was terrified that I might find out.

The doctor told my dad that if the piece of plaque from his vein had gone to his brain instead of his eye, he could have had a real stroke. There is still a possibility that he might need surgery, but I pray that he doesn't.

I don't think my dad will ever realize how much I love him and how grateful I am to have him and my mom for parents. I gave him a pretty hard time (attitude-wise) when I was a teenager, but he never held it against me and always loved me, even at my most unlovable moments. I tell him I love him, but the words just don't seem to convey it properly.

I can thank him for my fondness of movies and my eclectic taste in music. I can thank him for my love of all things food, he always made me try something new. I pretty sure my creative side (graphic design) came from him, too. Lord knows it wasn't my mom, if it doesn't involve Mahjong or solitaire, she couldn't care less about it.

I am so thankful that he is ok, I hate that his vision is impaired, but it could have been so much worse. I pray that everything goes well on Thursday. I pray that this was a fluke. I pray that I don't have to deal with losing a parent... ever... Can't they just live forever? I can't imagine life without my parents. I know that day will come, but I hope it's long after I am old and gray.

I love you daddy...

It's Coffee Season!

That's right! It's that time of year when the weather is crisper (or at least a little less humid here in FL) and the days are shorter (it always seems more appropriate to drink coffee in the dark). By now, you should all know that coffee makes me happy, so this is my favorite time of year.

This is also the time of year when all of the "seasonal" creamers come out, which I love, but I do feel as though they are only teasing me because those flavors are only around for a short time. So it goes like this... I try a new creamer, I fall head over heels in love with it, and in two months its gone, never to return again (at least not til next season, if it went over well enough). Then January comes and there I will sit, broken hearted over my most recent love lost. What ever will I do? Will life go on? WHAT IS LEFT TO LIVE FOR (ok, besides my beautiful child and wonderful husband)??? Yes, I get this emotionally attached to ridiculous things such as creamer. (You think I'm bad? Ask my husband about the broken electric razor and that 1980's era digital clock radio that we just could not get rid of no matter what).

So annnnywhhheeerre (as Moose would say)... back to my dreamy, delectable, creamy, coffee enhancements. My favorite thus far this season? Oh, how do I limit it to just one? Can you choose a favorite child? Wouldn't that hurt the feelings of the other children? I mean, there are so many tasty one's out there right now. You all know my fondness for anything pumpkiny, so Coffeemate's Pumpkin Spice is up there. However, I came across a new one this year that I hadn't seen before, Brown Sugar Maple Latte. Whoa... A-MAZ-ING! The maple-ness comes through, but isn't over powering, it sweet, but not overly so. Ahhhh... it's just so good. I also have to say that I have always been a bigger fan of Coffee-mate's creamers (as opposed to International Delight's brand. Don't get me wrong, they have some flavors that are alright, but they all seem to have the same unpleasant aftertaste to me) and they didn't disappoint with this one. It's definitely on my list to remember for next year.

I am still looking forward to trying the Gingerbread Latte, the Sugar Cookie and the Pepermint Mocha ones. I am, however, not at all a fan of Eggnog, so that one will not be on my list, but, hey, that's just my humble opinion (as influential as I am) take it or leave it. My husband like the Eggnog one, but he's not right in the head, either.

To the moon and back,

Out of touch...

So here I sit, on my couch in my new living room, typing this blog from my phone because I am I still out of touch with the "real Internet" until Monday. My belly is full with a delicious meal that I was able to cook. First time that I have really been able to cook in about 3 weeks. "Why?" you ask? "Oh, also, where on earth have you been? Well, let me tell you...

We have been moving... After 10 years of living in the same place, we moved. The house we moved into is great but has needed a lot of cosmetic work prior to moving in. It's taken a while, and there is still so much to do, but we are at least sleeping here. We still have a few more trips to make to the old house (ok, if you count Jon's garage, it's probably about 100 trips) and then we just have to get all settled here.

I hope to be here more frequently, but most like I won't until we get our UVers set up.

To the moon & back,
Jen