sattaday

in addition to solids 2 or 3 times a day, Dego is still requesting the breast 3 times (or more) a day as well.  so yep, breastfeeding is still in full swing over here.  my trainer reminded me that nursing is just like mini workout sessions, which is such an awesome analogy.  breastfeeding has become so routine i have to stop and wonder WHY i'm so hungry in between meals sometimes!  eating more food to keep up with his demands and to keep my supply strong has never been a problem though; i certainly don't mind, haha!  s/n: i should make Chiso park his bike in the garage from now on, wow. sometimes you don't see things in the background until after you take (and post) a pic. whoops. anyway,  i trained a 6 Pack USA client of ours after heading out that day, then hit my gym for some HIIT.

[wpvideo LC9IpcKW]

i've done these two moves separately before, but never together. i'm definitely incorporating this one into my TCX (Total Conditioning Extreme) class!

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sooooo, my brother was supposed to hop back on a plane headed to Afghanistan this past saturday (to finish up the last of his contract) but he chose not to. WOO friggin' HOO. it is finished!

we had a small family lunch the day before he was supposed to leave with Sonny's younger brother and wife (who is having her first mini me! it's a girl!)!  i admire his decision to stay and i'm elated he will be around to watch his 2nd nephew take his first steps.

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we had a birthday party to attend saturday evening!  no surprise there!  they have become our new normal.  i sat in the back seat a lot with my first-born for obvious reasons, but i admit, i have bouts of second child syndrome with Dego every now and then.  hadn't been back there in a while, so it was fun hanging out with him on the way to see The Rat.

even did a mini vlog:

[wpvideo JcW1AYGy]

we made eeeeet!

pizza, cake, games, tokens, tickets, kids running around screaming, playing, crying... you know the drill!  Happy 3rd Birthday, Bria!  Sonny went to high school with Bria's father, Mike, and coincidentally, i went to elementary and middle school with his wife, Tashone,  on the opposite side of town. small world. 

City Centre Gap was having a fantabulous 40% off sale this weekend, so i found this cute grey dress on the final sale rack! i know it's too big but i couldn't pass up the 20 buck price.  my IG friend Alisa suggested i belt it. i agree. i suck at accessorizing.  i have been asked about my sandles a lot too- they are like 3 or 4 years old and from Urban Outfitters.  one of my fave pairs!  can't wear them without a fresh pedi though. Dego's fit is from Baby Gap; there's a camera icon on the front that says 'smile' underneath it. 4 bucks! #HammyMcHamster

Chiso doesn't eat the crusts of his pizza slices (did this child really come from me?!) so i took care of them for him lol.  other than that, no pizza and cake for this girl.  i was speaking to a 6 Pack USA client of ours recently about celebrating the small, daily victories during our ongoing fitness journeys.  she said she went to a get together recently that had WINGS (her fave), cake, and all kinds of good ol' party food, but she stuck to her guns and did not deviate from her meal plan.  she said she didn't even drink the water there lol!!!! BRAVO, Reshema! i get it though. i've been there. i usually eat way more than i plan to in social settings cause usually there is such an abundance of food.  but whenever i pass (cause we always have a choice, right?) or at least exercise some moderation instead of going crazy, i walk outta there feeling like a BOSS. a disciplined boss. and my tummy always appreciates it later. no bloating, no sugar cravings.  we stopped by Whole Foods on the way home and i hit up the hot bar for my dinner. lean grilled herbed chicken, roasted bell peppers, artichokes, and lima beans agreed waaaaay more with my tummy than that pizza and cake would have. take it one day at a time, y'all, and those small victories DO count! may they propel you to keep going and making healthier choices.

le

hiit & core + zoodle cajun lobster pasta

if ya haven't seen my HIIT & core vid from tuesday on my YouTube channel then check eeeeet:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL5lIVKrm0o&w=560&h=315]

clearly i'm going to start using the Sony cam Sonny bought me on my birthday last year- those black bars are not hot and i recently found out i can't do a thing about them since i recorded the vid vertically with my cell. oh wells. we used my Sony cam last night to film us making banana ice cream so i'll be uploading that vlog soon, bar-free. OK, on to this BANGIN' Cajun Lobster Pasta recipe i posted to IG recently! if you're staying indoors on V-Day next saturday, WOW your significant other with this incredibly tasty, healthy, savory dish.

so this was my first time EVER cooking lobster at home. using some kitchen shears, i 'parted the red sea' by cutting a center line straight down through the top of the shell, exposing the meat. then i just pried it on outta there without cutting myself. yay.

Cajun Lobster 'Pasta'

the stuff: (source)

• 1 lb lobster (you can use claw meat too), roughly chopped into bite size pieces
• 3 strips Applegate turkey bacon, chopped
• 1 red, golden, or orange bell pepper, chopped ( or a combo of all three)
• 1 cup portabella mushrooms, chopped
• 4 stalks green onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup low sodium chicken, or seafood broth
• 3/4 cup coconut cream (canned from Sprouts Farmers Market)
• 2 tbsp Smart Balance Light Buttery Spread
• 1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
• 1 tsp Cajun Spice Mix
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp lemon pepper
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• pinch of cayenne pepper
• sea salt & cracked black pepper to taste
• fresh parsley, for garnish
• 3 large, raw, zucchini, spiralized

do this:

1. spiralize those zucchini's! i have a Spirooli (pictured below)

2. cook up bacon in skillet over medium heat until done; remove from pan

3. add butter, garlic, bell peppers, mushrooms to pan; saute for 2-3 min

4. add half your green onion mixture and cook 1 more minute

5. chop bacon and throw it into your pan along with your broth

6. add all your spices now: cajun, old bay, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon pepper, oregano, and S & P

7. turn up the heat; once almost simmering, reduce heat and add lobster meat. cook 3-5 more minutes

8. finally, add the coconut cream and fresh zoodles, and remaining green onion

9. toss, turn, and coat the entire pot of goodies until the zoodles cook down a bit to your desired texture (maybe 2-3 minutes). sprinkle with fresh parsley.

*tip* you might need to run a knife through the zoodles once or twice to shorten them because they can get so long, you know? this will make it easier to plate the dish.

isnt' it sexy!? make this! and do that workout up there too:)

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Q: have you ever made lobster at home yourself? WHAT did you make?

le

take care + toffee chip roasted banana ice cream

<<rewind<<

to last wednesday.

missed my super early cycle class but i still made it to the gym with enough time to get it in on my own that day. i have been putting my best foot forward about hitting the gym super early every single day as opposed to only when i teach my classes.   my body just operates better in the early morning.  as the day goes on, my desire to workout decreases dramatically.  i was able to record a HIIT & abs video i will be uploading to my YouTube channel for ya asap!

i came back home and had one of those breakfasts i could eat every day: whole wheat toast, eggs, avocado, and fruit. i wonder how many pics i have of this plate on my blog already, jeez.  i fueled up so i could head right back out though; i had a hot date planned!

ok, the boys came with me.  ok, it was actually a playdate, haha.  we loaded up the truck and went to spend some time with my BM (baby mama), Marguerite.

she had this beauty, Callie, back in August '14 so Dego was in great company!

i even brought my meals with me so i could stay on track for the day: seasoned chicken breast chunks, sautéed kale, and roasted sweet potato. nothin' fancy!

transforming is fun...and needed.  since leaving the IT industry 2 years ago, i normally only 'dress up' and do something with myself for church and special occasions/events. other than that, i'm in gym clothes and sneakers.  running errands with the boys... ha. i get home from the gym, get them ready, and head right back out most days.  so, i have become accustom to looking a hot mess often.  and i'm ok with it. until i see somebody i know!!! anyway, it's fun to get girly and put more effort into my appearance.  just a little goal of mine that was set at the start of this year along with taking better care of my hair. moms often take care of everybody else and end up with a lack of time for themselves!  make no mistake though; taking time for yourself doesn't mean you must spend hours in the mirror. it means taking and making (15, 20, 30 min or so) every single day to do something for YOU, mentally, emotionally, and physically with NO GUILT. pick a few from this list:

• reading your bible, praying, and meditating. every day.
• working out...especially the sauna or steam room to clear your mind
• learn how to say no, then do it
• get a pedicure
• read a little bit of a GOOD book every day
• take a class (cooking, pottery, painting, YOGA!!!!, etc)
• a long bubble bath soak
• watch the sunrise, solo
• a quiet, daily walk
• dance without music
• sleep in
• go get some fro-yo
• lay down in the middle of the grass and look up at the sky
• a kid-less trip to the store
• schedule a monthly massage
• catch up with friends via a real phone conversation or meet for lunch
• pause, breathe, inhale, exhale, repeat.

i sure do feel better when i'm put together (hair combed, dressed, face made) and looking my best.  my top and bottoms are from H & M! i exchanged the heels for flats before i left though. comfort over style ova heeeere! things have changed.

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my Ninja blender is the BOMB!  what a useful, blessing this Christmas gift is.  the next flavor i whipped up was Toffee Chip Roasted Banana Ice Cream but the roasting part is actually optional. tastes fantabulous either way.

 above was the soft-serve stage and i wanted to devour the entire bowl right then!!! readyyyyy?

Toffee Chip Roasted Banana Ice Cream

the stuff:

• 3 frozen bananas
• 1 cup coconut cream (i get mine canned from Sprouts Farmers Market)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup dairy-free chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup toffee pieces

do this:

1. if roasting, do this step the day before or 2-3 hours prior: place bananas in baking dish, drizzle with vanilla, bake for 40-45 min on 375 degrees.  toss them halfway through baking.  transfer bananas to a freezer safe container and freeze 2 hours minimum or overnight for best results. jump down to #3, add your coconut cream, and continue.
2. if not roasting, add frozen bananas to your Ninja along with the coconut cream and vanilla.
3. blend until smooth. it will eventually get super-duper creamy, don't worry! just keep scraping the sides down and blending.
4. dump creamy soft-serve into your bowl and add mix-ins (chocolate chips, toffee, optional nuts, etc.)
5. eat a few spoonfuls!!!!
6. stir it just a few times to incorporate the mix-ins then put it back in the freezer.
7. after 2 hours or so, it's all yours.

the sauce is melted down diary-free chocolate chips.  some walnuts would actually set this off but i didn't have any.  if you do, throw'em  in!

what does your 'me' time consist of?

pedicures and bubble baths keep me sane.

le

4 weeks pp + Dego's 1 month mark

last night i said i was going to get up at the crack of dawn this morning and not just get my treadmill interval workout in, but to pop up on my 5:30am class to say hi while i was at it! i made me some hot coffee and headed out, Beats and ipod in tow.

i kinda forgot to factor in feeding my newborn before leaving though so i arrived way after class started.  it was SO good to see old and new faces all across the studio when i peeked my head in the door!  i caught up with some of my regulars after class finished and they only made me more anxious to put that mic on again.

cardio killaaaaa. i was hoping to be cleared to lift this week, but my OB's schedule is jam packed!!! huge bummer. still crossing my fingers to be worked in somehow. else i'll just wait 'til next week.

Chiso woke up and requested pancakes, so he got'em.  i made him a stack of my WW Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Birthday Cakes complete with dolphin sprinkles and he almost finished the stack by himself!  i gladly killed the rest. remember, you can also sub blueberries for the chocolate chips.

who's 1 month today? that guy! i asked Sonny does 4 weeks make it one month, or will July 17th make it one month... idk and too lazy to Google. close enough.  also up until today, smiles from Dego were only reserved for Chiso. i finally got mine :)

our God is an awesome God.  i make an effort to praise Him for all things, both great and especially small.  after receiving and reviewing Dego's newborn screening results in the mail a few days ago i began to thank Him repeatedly.  i was instantly reminded of the time in my life when my thoughts consumed me and convinced me that i was unable to bear any children, ever.  God has blessed us with healthy baby boy #2, and for that we give Him all the glory.

this is so funny because i actually remember doing this to my mom.  putting my face on the floor to see her feet while calling her name over and over again and everything.  well it's payback time!  who am i kidding... once Chiso doesn't give a flying hoot about my whereabouts i'm gonna have a mommy moment...

grilled sirloin steak and taters for dinner tonight.  we've been outta sweet taters and they are exactly what i need to keep me feeling fuller longer between meals.  the steak was marinated in some Annie's balsamic vinaigrette, pinch of sea salt and black pepper before i tossed it in my grill pan.  that delicious sauce is just Grey Poupon mild and creamy mustard (which is calorie free, sugar free, and fat free) sauteed with white mushrooms. it's bananas!

Q: how do you like your steak cooked?  

blood = no bueno. can't do it. well done, please.

le

friday fun - what NOT to say to a preggo woman

it's fridaaaaaaay!

 i subbed a 10am Total Conditioning class (it's now called Total Conditioning Extreme or TCX)  for a Lifetime Fitness instructor friend this morning and it was AWESOME teaching my fave class ever in the real day time, lol!  it's still dark when my tuesday and thursday classes are over at 6:30am. i had so much more energy too since i'm unable to drink coffee in the early mornings anymore :lol:

a 6 month sweaty mess.

soooo since my little man and i were in the area, we hit up Ruggles Green for lunch and ordered what we always order:

the Atlantic Salmon Salad for me, a fire-grilled cheese pizza for him (he couldn't wait for the pic but at least he prayed first) and some organic roasted butternut squash that i'm hoping Chiso will eat a spoonful of ONE day!! until then i'll gladly continue to kill it myself. i'm enjoying this solo time with Chi as much as possible before baby #2 arrives in less than 4 months. 4 months. whoa.

for kicks:

stuff not to say to or ask a preggo woman!

1. wow, you sure were hungry! translation: you just ate enough to feed a small city. of Jabba the Hutts.
2. omg are there twins in there?! translation: you're huge.  however far along you are.
3. sleep all you can -- NOW. well thanks for the reminder!
4. do twins run in your family? translation: did you use fertility drugs? does it matter?
5. how much have you gained so far? i personally don't mind this one and will share that unknown number just before i deliver.
6. if cavewomen gave birth without drugs so can you. it's a personal choice.
7. can i rub your belly? some people don't even ask! another one that doesn't bother me one bit. #imatroll #rubmybelly #itsalllove
8. i was ripped from end to end. omg! i had an episiotomy too but i would never be that graphic and scare another mom-to-be, ROTFL
9. are you still with the father? really, REALLY personal... like best friend personal. however if they're your BFF then they should already know that answer :shock:
10. Moooooooo. 

comment below and add to the list!

le