What I Ate Wednesday!

I used to do these posts all the time when my blog was mostly fitness centered and I would love to bring them back. People ask me ALL the time what I eat. I have found over the years of my health/fitness journey that the hardest thing for people to understand is nutrtion. I try to keep it pretty simple. I try to eat pretty "clean" but also balanced!

Keep in mind I am still a breastfeeding mama. My goals when it comes to nutrition is to fuel my body for my workouts, breastfeeding and my day as a busy mom.

Meal #1- Meal replacement shake. I am in love with the ease and convenience these shakes bring to my life! These shakes are about as clean as it gets. It's like blending up chicken, sweet potatoes, veggies and healthy fats but in shake form. Nothing artificial either! ummm yes, please!! A full meal: 240 calories and a balance of healthy fats and carbs. I feel satisfied for hours after chugging down one of these. This is often my breakfast and lunch. I am busy and NEED convenience in my life but also great nutrition. I am so thankful for this tool.

Meal #2- Sausage, fried cage free egg, arugula and watermelon.

Meal #3- 2% greek yogurt, a couple sliced strawberries and a sprinkle of Annie's Organic frosted flake cereal (also a favorite of Noah's)

Meal#4- Shake post workout

Meal #5- Tostadas! I used the baked tostadas, shredded chicken in the instant pot and Mrs. Dash taco seasoning. I layered fat free refried beans with green chiles and chicken topped with a mixture of tomatoes corn and black beans and cheese! So good!

Super simple. Minimal cooking and meal prep. You don't have to spend hours in the kitchen to eat well! My meals vary from day to day because I am all about intuitive eating, but I do like to get in plenty of protein! I hope this gave you some ideas!!

How I Keep My House Somewhat Tidy Without Losing My Mind

Have you ever just put off the house duties and continued to put it off until you look around and you don't even know where to start?? Yeah, this has been me way more often then I would like to admit. I was usually waiting until one day of the week to just clean the whole joint, and boy is it exhausting and frustrating when it doesn't stay that way.

I feel like I have come up with a pretty good system after the last few weeks to help the house stay somewhat tidy without losing my mind. I don't want to spend all day cleaning and with it being Summer time and wanting to spend all our time outside it is easy to just put it off. I don't know about you but I don't want to cringe with embarrassment if an unexpected guest shows up. HAHA! and I have soo been there.

The first thing I recommend is to start with a decently clean slate. Get it mostly cleaned up so you can start fresh with a new schedule. I have given myself daily tasks to get done throughout the week as well as everyday things to help keep things in order.

My DAILY tasks include: 

• dishes...blah I hate dishes. Especially since we lived in Italy without a dishwasher for over 3 years, I am just over it but they gotta get done. I am trying to quickly clean up after each meal and utilizing the dish washer. Load em up and get them out of your sight. 
• kid's toys. We spend most of our days in the playroom/dining area and the kids can get crazy with the toys. If I put this off I am feeling overwhelmed and it looks like crap. So a few times a day I quickly clean up the toys. I try to get Noah to help as well. 
• Wipe down the counters in the kitchen and kitchen table. Can't tell ya how many days I have had food stuck to the table haha. 
• Clean up after yourself. This means put shoes away where they go when you get home etc. 

 WEEKLY tasks:

I have this cute chalk board hanging in my kitchen to remind me of the tasks I want to get done. You can customize your list to fit your home! I give the floors a good scrubbing once a week as well as the bathrooms. When you get those daily tasks in then the big things aren't so bad and don't take a long time to get done. 

Laundry was one that was out of control for me and I had to dedicate a WHOLE weekend with the help of my hubby to get it in order. I had gone weeeeeeks without putting away our laundry so we were grabbing out of baskets and piles. YIKES. My husband works nights and is sleeping in our room during the day so it was hard to get up there to put stuff away w out waking him. We had a ton of folding to do but got it all done and put it away (insert praise hands emoji). I had decided to start the laundry on Thursday and get it folded on Friday so I could put it all away on Saturday or Sunday when my hubby is off work. I have felt SO much better since getting the laundry in order. 

MONTHLY tasks: 

A few times a month I deep clean a few areas of our home to just stay on top of things. That might look like dusting the blinds or the baseboards etc. Figure out what those items those are for you and work them in. 

EXTRA tips:

• Get yourself a hand vacuum! This has for real been a game changer for me! I would clean the floors really well once a week and be pissed when 5 minutes later they were covered in cracker crumbs from the kids. I have been loving having the hand vacuum to quickly vacuum up any crumbs or dirt that I see between weekly cleanings of the floor. Also great for the couch.
• If you are overwhelmed with your home at the end of the day then set a timer for 20 minutes and just do WHATEVER you can for that time and when the timer is done be done. It is amazing how much you can get done when focused! My sister gave me that little tip and I love it! I sometimes set it for just 10 minutes so I stay focused. 
• Give yourself GRACE. Remember that your version of clean is often times different than the next persons,  and you are doing a better job than you think!! 

It might seem silly to some to have a schedule for cleaning but it has made my life so much easier!! Let me know if you have any tips and tricks for cleaning and keeping it under control!! 

Siena August Rose | 9 month update

NINE months, people. I can hardly believe it, but sister is over here just blowing us away with his "big girlness" that it seems right at the same time!! Siena turned 9 months on the 3rd and life has just been crazy busy, and this mama is tired!! I need to get this all written down before I forget!!

STATS.

I am slacking and still need to get her well baby visit done so I can update her stats as far as weight and height, but she is in 9 month clothing and has 2 bottom teeth so far!

EAT.

Siena loves to eat! She has the appetite of a teenage boy, no joke. I swear she eats as much as Noah does these days. And she WILL let you know if you have something she wants or if Noah is eating something that she also wants.
She is starting to prefer the "real" chewable foods over purees more and more!! It is so much fun trying new foods with her too. She is becoming a healthy eater as well as she loves all fruits and veggies she tries. She does enjoy cookies and things too because more times than not Noah is sharing all his goodies with her. It is crazy how we waited SO long to introduce any of those things to Noah and now because of Noah, Siena is trying it all. HAHA! Gotta love having a big brother lookin' out for ya.
She tried strawberries this month as well as pineapple and mandarin oranges (she can go ham on some oranges).
She tried out a popsicle and loved it!! She cried when it was gone.
She is still nursing and I haven't tried a bottle on her lately. She nurses 4 times a day, but sometimes isn't interested in the second feeding of the day.
She has solids 3xs a day and sometimes some snacks too!
Breakfast consists of fruit, yogurt, pureed fruits, toast, waffle, pancake or cereal (not all of these things obviously, but a combination of a few). She may only have 2 teeth but she can chew like a seasoned professional!
She likes the applesauce pouches for snacks. She also like the baby gold fish, graham crackers or any other cracker typer thing.
Dinner is usually a pureed meat and fruit, but lately she's had whole fruit like oranges or strawberries and the meat. Tonight she actually had all of our dinner! Tiny bits of grilled chicken, green beans and strawberries! She seriously LOVES food!!

SLEEP.

S still sleeps awesome! She wakes up around 7/7:30 am then takes a nap 2 hours later. She also takes an afternoon nap. She is obsessed with her bunny luvie and it is the cutest thing. She has to have it to sleep. White noise on for naps and bed time as always! Bed time is 8pm. We put Noah to bed first and then I nurse her to sleep and in her crib she goes. She wears a muslin sleep sack to bed at night. She has been doing well with holding out for bed until brother goes down since I do bed time solo on the nights Robbie works. I think it helps that she sleeps all night and then naps well. She will catch a nap in daddy's arms from time to time and he totally loves it!!

WHAT'S NEW?

More like what isn't new?! haha. But for real, miss thang is SO busy trying to be big. She took her first steps just a few days after she turned 9 months! She is walking along everything and anything and will even walk if you're holding just one of her hands. She went to the splash pad for the first time (in her first swim suit...seriously almost died from the cuteness) and LOVED it and bear crawls like a champ whenever her knees are bare. I actually think that's why walking is coming so easily. She is used to being on her feet bear crawling that that led to her standing up and balancing, and next thing we know she is taking a step or two before falling. We found an awesome park close by and she rode on the swing for the first time!!

FAVORITES.

• Her Bunny!!
• Food and trying new foods!!
• Bathtime and anything with water. Little girl is a fishy!!
• Being outside. Siena LOVES being outdoors and if Noah is in the backyard without her she is at the back window watching his every move. It's pretty funny!  And if I am out there with out her then she is at the back window throwing a fit. haha
• Nursing. 
• Standing up and balancing! 

Each month her personality develops more and more, and the sassiness is becoming so apparent. She usually shuts down our kisses by literally putting her hand over our mouth. haha, stinker! She is starting to bat away the spoon if she doesn't want any more food or just spit it out. Again, stinker. She is into everything and we officially have a gate up in the hall way to keep her out of the family room. She will haul butt to get down then and even stop to look back at you with a grin like "yep, I'm about to be naughty". We are still waiting for the BIG belly laugh. It's crazy since Noah was laughing his head off at this age, but she growls and squeals and shows her delight in other ways. She will laugh from time to time tho. I just need that intense belly laughing session! One day! 

She fell asleep in her high chair for the first time the other day and it was SO funny!! It was even better bc Noah also did that at this exact age! That was the one and only time that happened for him from missing a nap. What can I say, my kids are creatures of habit and routine! 

 Brother hugs!!!

MISS SIENA AUGUST ROSE.

Oh girlfriend, how I love watching you grow. You are determined and on the go and I love it, because you are unstoppable! It makes me so excited to see the little girl you are turning into. I love the bond we have, but also the one you have with your daddy and brother. You say "mama" when you are upset so I know I can soothe you well. I love when you cuddle into me. But you yell "DADA" all day long. it is pretty adorable!! You put up with your brother's "abuse" well and you two are starting to play together more and more! He will say "sister like me!" and he says "I be nice to sister". Makes my mama heart so happy to have you two!!