4th Picture

I was "told" that the rules are to go to your pictures (in your computer) and post the 4th picture from the 4th folder. So, sorry that this is such an incredibly boring one. But, hey...I'm just following the rules, right Danielle?



This is a picture that I took of our bedroom at our old house. It appears to be neat & clean because this was part of the group of pictures that we used when we listed the house last November. It is definitely a boring picture for you readers, but for me it is surely reminiscent. I was dying to get out of that house, and I am loving my new house, but for the record....I do miss the old one a bit. There are a lot of memories, like Nixon sleeping in an old school bassinet right next to that bed. In all the 6 years we lived there, the arrangement of the bedroom never once changed. So anyway...look how shiny the hardwood floors are...it was the only time they looked so fantastic!

-Mel

Day 3 & The Arrival

Today is day 3 of eating healthier. I am hungry (or am I?). Eating differently (pretty drastically differently) can make you wonder if your losing your mind. I'm always thinking to myself "I'm hungry again, no- I'm not, I just want to eat....no, wait, I am hungry....no, I'm not after all". I have had some slightly disturbing moments these past three days, moments that I think have had my husband wondering if I'm secretly detoxing from heroine. On the up side, my smoothie making skills have drastically improved....add splenda & it's much better. I have also discovered that, prepared the right way, I really like salmon! For once, all the fruits & veggies aren't just sitting in the fridge starting to rot like they usually do...so that's a good feeling.

Today also marks the arrival of my cure. The miracle cure to my food issues. It's going to work, probably immediately, and easily....I'm sure of it. I'll probably be a spokesperson for the brand O Organic by the end of the year, or maybe a contributor to Health magazine. Right?

This book is a culmination of everything I need! It's a book that is going to tell me that I am naturally thin, and all I have to do is want to let the thin me thrive, it's also written by a Bethenny Frankel who is a reality tv star, from Bravo's show The Real Housewives of NY. What more could I ask for? A FREAKIN' BOWL OF ICE CREAM, that's what!

-Mel

Smilebox! This is so easy to use, and they have tons of options too! Love it. -Mel

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Sunday

Last Sunday morning we took Nixon to a new park (new to us) in Chehalis...our new stomping ground. It was a really nice park! Big, newer, clean for the most part, and full of kids to play with. Nixon had a great time, and didn't want to leave. Ever.

Since we did eventually have to leave the park, to make it up to Nixon, Norm took him for a short ride on the dirt bike later that day. You'll notice in the pictures that the helmet is way to big, and yes I am aware of it....but he had SO much fun, as did Norm.

-Mel

A true masterpiece

Nixon got new sidewalk chalk today, and we both played outside for a while with it. Don't you think he would qualify for space in a gallery? It's amazing really, just look at the detail and love that went into it.

-Mel

Puke

This morning Nixon was sleeping so soundly, not a peep, even when I was unloading the dryer and turning lights on when it was time to get up. As I was walking down the hall, ready to get him up, I told Norm I smelled puke. So, I looked all over the hall and in the bathroom, assuming that our dog Macy had barfed somewhere...nothing found. So I went in to get Nixon up, and the smell was getting stronger....he had thrown up all over himself and in this bed. It was dry, so he must have done it much earlier in the morning, and not even started crying or called for us! Sad, and also a bit scary.

Poor little guy. It was matted up in his hair, stuck all over his Jammie's, and covered the pillow he was resting his head on. I grabbed him up and felt his head, a little warm but nothing crazy. I told him we had to get cleaned up and put new Jammie's on....but he wasn't having it. He told me that his Jammie's were warm and NOT to take them off. Clearly, he was feeling better than when he puked, because his instruction about not removing Jammie's were like an order from a drill Sergeant. Not wanting to put him in our bed since he was covered in puke, I offered up a bubble bath- something he normally LOVES....wasn't having that either. He said, No mom, just wanna watch toones in yer bed, and DON'T take off me Jammie's. Very cute.

Unfortunately for Nixon, I didn't follow his command and the disgutoid Jammie's were removed, and his smelly body was cleaned with a warm washcloth. He's feeling better, but on his second pair of fresh Jammie's today, because his stupid pull up leaked and he peed through the 1st pair of replacement Jammie's!

Ahhh...all before 8 a.m.

-Mel

Fruit Smoothies

This morning I made fruit smoothies for myself, Norm & Nixon, as a part of our new promise to live and eat healthier. I finished my smoothie, and really did try to enjoy it. It wasn't bad really, but I'm so used to processed foods, and salt, that it just tasted so different. Norm, on the other hand, was dying. His face looked like I had just squeezed lemon into his mouth and then slapped him. He was scouring the kitchen for a packet of splenda, since I told him he couldn't add sugar. No splenda to be found, so off he went, smoothie in his to go cup for work....who knows if he finished it or stopped off at the gas station for a delicious bbq burrito for breakfast. Nixon, flat out refused to even try his smoothie, he could barely look at it- he just kept saying "eeeew, gross mom". So, Nixon polished off a fiber one muffin that I had baked yesterday morning, and had a couple bites of banana. This is still a healthier breakfast than he's used to....so I suppose mission accomplished for the first hour of the day.

As you may already know, we as a family (Norm & I) have got some real issues with food. We LOVE it. Processed, salted, sugared, filled, stuffed, fried, deep fried, frozen, home-made.....if it's edible and not too good for us....we'll eat it. And we have, many times, in too large of portions I might add. Everyone who knows me, knows that I am a foodie. I just have a love for good tasting stuff! But, I feel like we have had our share of the bad foods and need to make an effort to enjoy the good foods.

So, I am abandoning my beloved weight watchers diet (which really does work when you put the effort in), and beginning a new routine of eating whole foods. Something, I've done quite a bit of reading about lately & talked with Nixon's pediatrician about. Oprah has done her fair share of convincing through Dr. Oz too. I may just be buying into another diet, but I don't think so. I'm really making a promise to my family that we will all be healthier. So, I'll keep you posted....and hopefully we can make it through lunch and dinner today!

Oh, in case you were wondering....

My recipe for the *delicious* smoothies is as follows:

1/2 cup each of frozen blueberries & raspberries
1/2 cup plain yogurt low fat
1 small banana
splash of non fat half and half

Mmmmm....aren't you just drooling thinking about it?

Oh, and we're trying to go all organic too...should've seen my grocery bill this week!

1st Post

This is a brand new adventure for me, and a very intimidating one as well. My great friend Jessica Ackley has an awesome blog that I follow, and I also follow a few of her friends blogs. The reason I decided to start blogging, came from Jess's friend Kaylee's blog. She made mention about how her blogging was such a great way to record/remember her kids and all the funny things they do. So, I am going to attempt blogging. That's it!

Mel