These are a few of my favorite things....

Time for a new favorite things post!!  Yay!!!  This time I'm going to focus on food because...well, duh...I love food!  I'm Italian!  I was BORN to love food!!!  This quote pretty much sums up my attitude regarding food:

Yes, I love to eat....but the key is eating well.  Your body needs foods that help fuel it and keep it healthy.  I am not saying it's not ok to splurge (have you ever SEEN me eat chips and salsa??  HELLO!  It's honestly a joke among my friends) but you mustn't splurge every single meal...or even every single day.

That being said, I've found the best thing to do is FIND healthy foods you LOVE!  Then you don't feel like you are depriving yourself of anything.  I decided I would share a few of my favorites with you.

Tazo Chai Latte

I am not a coffee drinker, but I looooove warm drinks.  Sometimes I drink tea (it would be an even healthier option)....but sometimes I want something a little creamier.  I started ordering chai lattes at Starbucks years ago.  After awhile I noticed the brand they use is called Tazo.  Soon after that I realized I could buy it at the grocery store!!  Honestly, it tastes the exact same and you save a TON of money doing it yourself.  I usually make myself a mug of this day as a snack.  For those of you that may be curious...it is about 115 calories for a standard mug made with skim milk.  It also contains no artificial sweeteners (just pure cane sugar) which is music to this mama's ears!

Ezekiel Bread

Oh man have I become an addict of this bread.  It tastes great....but soooo much more.  Ezekiel is different for many reasons.  To put it simply, this bread is produced the same way bread was produced years and years and years ago (we're talking Bible times, hence the name) which is a LOT healthier than the way bread is produced now.  Long story short, it does not contain anything on the label that I can't pronounce or don't recognize (can't say that about pretty much any breads in the traditional bread aisle).  It does not contain sugar.  It is kept in the FREEZER section of your grocery store because it does not contain all the harmful preservatives that other breads do.  For those of you that may be curious...it's about 80 calories a slice.  I usually eat it for breakfast toasted with a little peanut butter on it before a morning run.  

Terra Chips

I was first introduced to these chips when my mom, sister, and I took a little vacation to the Mi Amo Spa in Arizona.  The thing I loved about Mii Amo is that their whole focus is on wellness...spiritual wellness, physical wellness, emotional wellness, etc.  They have top of the line chefs and an exhibition style kitchen where guests can watch (and learn) how to make nutritious meals during their stay.  Healthy food is an important and large part of the atmosphere at Mii Amo.  Anyway....while we were there we often would order lunch by the pool.  Our salads or sandwiches often came with a side of Terra chips.  One bite and I was hooked.  These chips are made from vegetables (normally root vegetables) and use 100% natural ingredients.  Each ounce contains an entire serving of vegetables...the problem is stopping at once ounce.  I have to lock mine in the cabinet so I don't eat the whole bag.  Just kidding....kind of.  For those of you that may be interested, these chips are about 150 calories a serving.  I usually eat them as a snack!

PB2

This is a new favorite....and I'm completely head-over-heels-I-want-to-eat-it-every-day in love with it.  I had heard about this odd powdered peanut butter before but had honestly never checked it out because I assumed it contained ingredients/chemicals that may SEEM healthy....but were no good for your body.   I finally picked up a jar of it and looked at the ingredients....OH MY WORD!!!  3 ingredients:  Peanuts, sugar, salt.  Oh, but it gets better...soooooo much better.  It contains a FRACTION of the sugar regular peanut butter contains AND it contains 85% less calories!!!  On top of that, it tastes GREAT!  I literally sit around thinking about what I can put it on or dip in it (mix it with a little water and it turns into a traditional peanut butter consistency).  For those of you that may be interested, 2 tablespoons is 45 calories and I looove to use this in a smoothie!

Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate Squares

I am not someone that has much of a sweet tooth, but every so often...when the kids are in bed....when the day is done....when I'm ready to relax...I just want a little treat.  One square of Ghiradelli dark chocolate is perfect.  I take small bites and let them melt in my mouth.  The key here is that it is DARK chocolate - MUCH MUCH healthier than other forms of chocolate.  For those of you that may be interested, they are 50 calories a square.  

There you have it my friends!  A few of my favorite things I pick up at the grocery store!  Feel free to share some of your favorites too!

Xoxo...

Jamie

You Know It's Been A Long Winter When....

We've had a looooooong winter in our neck of the woods.  We normally get quite a bit of snow, but this year it just didn't let up.  Blizzard after blizzard after snow storm after snow emergency....it just didn't stop.

I holed up all winter with my little crew.  We really didn't get out much.  I started doing most of my errand running on-line so there was really no reason to even run out to places like Target.  I know, those of you that know me probably think I'm lying now....but it's true!  I don't think I went to Target for a span 2 months this past winter!  Crazy, I tell ya.  

We normally venture out to dinner once or twice a week.  We didn't really do that either.  We stayed home and I cooked or we occasionally ordered dinner in.  

We had the type of weather where you just want to STAY PUT.

All of that being said, I am starting to see the aftermath of staying home so much in our youngest little one.  At nearly 2 years old things are pretty black and white for him.  Here is what I've noticed lately:

 Toddler Signs That It's Been a Long Winter

Every time I put clothes on Greyson he says, "Bye-Bye??"

(because when it's -15 outside there is really no reason to leave the house...or get dressed)

The word "BRRR!" often follows the word "outside"...or as he says it "Out-yide"

(As in, "Out-yide?  Brrrr!"normally said 4-5 times in a row)

When the snow actually started to melt and we could see grass Greyson would point to it with a completely baffled look on his face.

When I tell Greyson that we are going bye-bye he immediately says, "Hat??!" and goes to put his on.

(which will be hilarious this summer with a pair of shorts and a T-shirt on)

Oh, and these are just a few.  Every day I notice little things he does that confirms the poor kid has been cooped up waaaaaay too long.  The good news is that the weather is FINALLY breaking.  We are getting outside more and more every single week.  Just in the past week we've been able to take a walk, play ball, and ride bikes/scooters/etc.  

Greyson LOVES being "out-yide" and when it is finally time to call it an evening, pick up our toys, and head indoors he now stands at the glass door crying and saying, "Out-yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide!!!!!"

Yep buddy, I love being "out-yide" too.

Communication.

I thought I would share something special I do with my little girl...

Eva is growing so fast.  At 9 years old, she's heading full force into the preteen years.  It's important to me that I do everything I can to keep the lines of communication open between us.  This takes time and must be intentional.  

It means when she shares things with me I stop what I am doing and listen....even if I am busy. 

It means that I carve out time just for the two of us to spend time together.  Special mommy-daughter dates. 

It means making sure that I listen whole-heartedly and not judge - or even comment - at times when she is sharing with me.  

I want her to know she can always be honest.

I want her to know she can tell me anything.....ANYTHING.

Something I started about a year ago to help this communication process is a simple notebook....but to us it isn't simple.  It's OUR notebook.  Eva and I use this notebook to write each other.  Sometimes the notes are very simple and non-specific.  Sometimes the notes are very deep and very serious.  

I remember when I was younger I could WRITE about how I felt sometimes better than SPEAKING about how I felt.   I've found the same is true with my little girl.  The notebook allows us to discuss things that can be tough to talk about.....or put adequate thought into something before responding to it.

It's honestly been an amazing tool in our little relationship.

"Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what.  If you don't listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won't tell you the big stuff when they are big....because to them all of it has always been big stuff"

--Catherine Wallace

Snow Day. Again.

To say we've had a few snow days this winter would be an understatement.  I don't EVER remember as many snow days as we've had.  I also don't remember a winter quite as hard as this one has been either....mother nature has NOT let up.

We woke up this morning to - yet another - winter storm.  This one was a doozy and resulted in another snow day for the kiddos.  We decided to make the most of it and allll the neighborhood kiddos headed outside to enjoy what is (hopefully) our LAST snow day of the year.  

The whole crew.  These kiddos have stuck together since they were babies....and look at them now!

This mama can't get enough of the giggles.  It's sweet music to my ears!

This little guy was PUMPED to have another day off school!

This little girl lives for the cold weather....so today was heaven to her!

Greyson looooooves to be outside!!  We have spent a lot of time out in the snow together!  He loves to watch the big kids sled....but isn't ready to tackle the hills himself yet.

Eva and Tay....neighbors AND friends.  I love watching these two together!

 He was FLYING down the hill!!!  He cracks me up!

My baby boy...

 I think it's fair to say that as the youngest in our little corner of the neighborhood, Greyson gets a lot of love from the older kids!

"Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's seasons"

--Unknown

Early Morning Runs.

Early mornings.

VERY early mornings.

My alarm goes off at 5:30 in the morning and the treadmill calls my name. 

Some days I just want to pull the covers back up over my head and fall back to sleep like the rest of my family....but I made a commitment and I'm sticking to it.

I sit up, rub the sleep out of my eyes, and pull on my running shoes.  

I tiptoe down the stairs careful not to wake a soul.

This is my time with me. 

I'm not a wife.

I'm not a mommy.

I am a runner....and only a runner.

I stretch.

I do a few jumping jacks to get my blood moving.

Then I step on the treadmill and begin running.

Some days my run seems easy.  I am breathing good.  I feel good.

Some days I feel like I have cement boulders tied to my feet.  My breathing is off.  I struggle....but I force myself to push through.  On these days I tell myself over and over and over, "Your mind is giving up, but your body is just fine."

Mind over matter.

Keep going.

Keep going.

Keep going.

Sometimes I finish my run and I feel relieved.  

Relieved that I finished.  

Relived that I pushed through and accomplished my goal.

Sometimes I finish my run and I feel energized.

On days like that I often do an extra 1/4 mile.

I call it my Victory Lap.

"Take THAT!" is what plays in my head.

I add a few punches into the air to really make my point.

Those are good days.

I am learning to like the early morning....and I'm learning to love running.

"You will never find time for anything.  If you want time, you must make it"

--Charles Buxton

Snuggles.

Someone was snuggling his Daddy while taking a shower this past week.  I couldn't help but snap a picture...

"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need of a father's protection"

--Sigmund Freud

Moments...

Mommy's Little Helper...

I know people talk about the "Terrible Two's"....but this age (18 months to 3 years) has always been one of my favorite ages with each of my kiddos.  They have so much to learn and are so eager to help.  It takes a little more patience, but the result (and memories created) are so worth it.

  I just savor each little moment.

"I love these little people; and it is not a slight thing that they, who are so fresh from God, love us"

--Charles Dickens