Baby Kosi's Sprinkle + Cool Modern Mom Newborn Stuff

my sweet sorority sisters threw Kosi & i a Baby Sprinkle (isn't that adorable?!)unisex decor :)i think i had about 36 of those cheese cubes and even took some to-go for my boys. we looooove us some cheese.yes you are, baby Kosi.heeeey, baby Nat! my niece, Natalie is as obsessed with balloons as Dego.lil' bit of everything, please. hard at work making play-doh babies!  i told my hostesses i'm not really a game person, buuuut this one ALWAYS always turns out hilarious.my mom has been referring to baby Kosi as "she" and "her" since we found out we were expecting, haha.  i dunno, Mommy... we shall see ;) my gorgeous, talented, sisters-in-love. grandma Willie!  at my age she was already 9 kids in, y'all.  she had 12 total and doesn't have to worry about me attempting to break her record :Dopening our unisex gifts.love you ladies dearly!! grateful for your presence and love. #SkeeWeei have been eyeing this Skip Hop diaper bag for weeks and snagged it using the Sprinkle gift cards i received!  also, the Ergo Infant Carrier Insert (center) is a great newborn item until baby is plump enough to fill out the car seat solo.

gimmie all the compartments!!!

love everything about this bag, especially the size and and the cuteness factor.

what i'm bringing to the hospital this time around:

• cozy, comfy, cute postpartum lounging clothes (for pictures! hair is already done, woo hoo)

• nursing camisoles (instead of just nursing bras for visitors, guests, etc.)

• socks with the grips underneath

• my toiletries / ID's 

• portable snacks, games, etc. for my 5 & 2-year-old while they wait with family

• car seat & unisex newborn outfit for heading home

• granny panties

• breast pads / Lasinoh nipple cream

• phone & laptop chargers

• Thank You cards/gifts for the nurses & caregivers 

• Sonny's bag cause he always waits till the very, very last second to pack!

then there's this amazing product taking social media by storm: the Milk Snob 2 in 1 infant car seat / nursing cover. i need it in like 5 more patterns!! this one is Milky Stripe.

share your fave, most useful baby item below.

K E E P   U P   W I T H   U S !

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this is.... thirty fo'

and another one! 

y'all know by now my hubby puts it down for special occasions!  he revealed to me that he had a weekend getaway planned for my bday (April 7th) buuuut he forgot all about my weekend fitness classes and clients. bummer.  he recovered nicely though and we enjoyed a memorable, kid-free, staycation instead.  instead of IGing the play-by-play of the entire weekend like i planned, i decided to put my phone down and unplug for a lil' bit and truly live in the moment.  the big day! thursday morning i woke up at 4:15am full of energy (enough energy for a douchebag selfie LOL..it's been a good while...allow me this one), threw on my birthday fit, and hightailed it to the gym to teach my Lifetime Fitness class.i could not wait to wear this! both the top and bottoms are on sale right now!i go grab a kiss from my hubby before i leave in the mornings and he had these in his hands, sitting in the dark #creepy.  hurray for no more silent cardio!  i told him to find me a new pair (after snapping my old pair in half over Easter weekend) and he came through for ya girl and even upgraded me to wireless.

 seriously... the gifts and all the extra hoopla... those things are nice and added blessings no doubt. but this is what makes my heart happiest.  being with my lil' family.  

they serenaded me with the cutest munchkin voices and i blew out my candles.  Chiso almost cried he wanted to know my wish so bad, lol!  Chiso also wanted some cake before school so we all enjoyed a lil' bit right then. next, we dropped off the kiddies with family and went straight to check into The Westin Galleria!  i love staycations.  still feels like i'm in another city.  we drove down the road to iPic Theaters after that to catch Batman vs. Superman. we've heard so much about this place!  the movie was already pretty lengthy (2.5 hrs), and we were super comfy, soooo it was basically a nap trap.  i mean they give you a pillow and blanket for crying out loud! i ordered the chicken wrap salad with the dressing on the side, and Sonny ordered the fish tacos. birthday hair transformation!  i never thought i would go from wearing my hair straight ALL the time to only having it straightened a few times a year.  going natural is a TON of work for me but it was definitely worth the switch.  this is the healthiest my hair has ever been!

i actually bought a cute cocktail dress from H&M for my birthday earlier that week but saw this jumper as i was leaving out of the store. i got home and couldn't stop thinking about it!  so i went back and exchanged my items. i love this thing! my sunglasses  and earrings are from there as well.       would you look at the size of this bathroom!? Sonny wasn't telling me to hurry up and stop selfying, haha, he was only saying that a fridge was all somebody needed to live up in there. i agreed!  i'm still getting used to community bathrooms though...... what are your thoughts on them? you could say i was excited about dinner!  because we stayed in town, Sonny asked a few close friends and fam to join us for dinner at Quattro.  also, so much shoe LOVE!  i adore them too and had to have them! unfortunately they are in-store only, but this similar pair is apart of Aldo's current spring sale, and this new arrival is just as cute IMO.

i enjoyed the chilean seabass with baby potatoes, carrots, olives, cooked in an acqua pazza broth, and of course i ate off of Sonny's plate of gulf wild snapper, dried tomato and olive crust, broad bean cream, and asparagus. suuuuper yummy! it was last-minute, so i was extremely grateful for those who came and happy to spend time with my fam.y'all... the next morning i slept till like 10am. haven't slept that late in years. no kidding. no tiny elbows or feet were there to slap me in the face and interrupt my sleep :) .  apparently i needed that! i actually did join Sonny in the gym for about an hour, but i did zero cardio and lifted 'pretty' (basically i barely sweat) so my hair wouldn't frizz up so fast.cleaned up, dressed, and ready for day 2! i've had this springy, Urban Outfitters dress for a while now.  as soon as i sat down in the truck though, my left strap popped right off! i was ready to eat... so we did just that first #FoodOverEverything. i tucked it in and rocked it with 1 shoulder like nobody's business. off to brunch!we all have those nostalgic treats we order that just make us 100% happy.  this is one of mine!  hot cocoa with whipped cream from Le Peep.  it will always make me feel like a big kid no matter how old i get.our protein plates! basically... Sonny has a photo shoot in a few weeks and when he's on his best food behavior, so am i. we headed back over to the Galleria H&M and i found this super similar 17 dollar slip dress in like 3 seconds flat. 

next, my first pedi of 2016. i think! i don't even know, smh

 by recommendation, we went to The Palm for dinner.  Thanks again, Jerry! all he had to say was lobster mac & cheese though.everything was incredible, especially the service!  Sonny ordered their 28oz steak with sautéed spinach, and i got the lobstaaaaaaaa! the waiter explained that the cheesecake was New York style but it wasn't as creamy as i anticipated.  that didn't stop me from take it with me and eating the rest in the hotel bed. good times!  after another night of restful sleep, it was time to check out. we went straight to Lifetime so i could teach my class there (Sonny took it too!), then to my prenatal fitness class so i could put my Preggo Patties through a saturday afternoon cardio workout.

 grateful to God and to Hubs for another wonderful birthday spent with the people i love!

thanks for reading!

K E E P   U P   W I T H   U S !

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, PINTEREST, AND SNAP CHAT (FITFOODIELE).

happy birthday, Papa! #August6th + making healthy choices while dining out: IHOP edition

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priorities ;) ! after teaching my early morning Barbell Strength class, i sped over to Whole Foods Market and picked up a birthday cake for Sonny!

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eeeerrrrrmygash! it was a gorgeous, layered vanilla cake on the inside. italian cream icing. almonds. sugar infused strawberries.

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happy birthday, papa!!! from your little minions <3 i found the boy's shirts @ Target.

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i told Sonny to get up and get dressed, pack an overnight bag, and to make it snappy. a kid-free trip is what i had planned, but after my sitters and backup sitters fell through we ended up bringing the boys!

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1st thing on my agenda-- FOOD.  we headed to lunch and i totally did my research on this place beforehand. Sonny wanted to stay as close to his meal plan as possible but enjoy his special day, and boy did we! Jerry Built takes pride in their all natural, organic, antibiotic-free, hormone-free, grass-fed chicken and beef, they don't use trans fat or hydrogenated oils, and the produce is organic and/or local.

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they get brownie points from me for presenting the food just like it's displayed on the menu and online!  Sonny got the super tasty Saint Arnold burger on a baked, toasted, whole wheat bun, and swapped out the french fries for a caesar salad.

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i ordered this beauty-- Jerry's Cobb.  the cashier asked me immediately, 'and would you like to add grilled chicken?' which is what i planned to do. i guess that is a popular menu combo there.  yall, the flavors in this thing were POPPIN'!

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Chiso was very happy with his nitrate-free, angus beef hotdog, fries, and chocolate milk.

there was a giant, kid friendly chalk board towards the front of the room that Chiso wanted to leave his mark on. way cool!

neeeeext, we hit the road.

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 40 minutes later we arrived on Galveston Island, but not before stopping by Kroger to get baby Dego some baby Ambesol!  about halfway to G-town, he let out a cry both Sonny & i had never heard before.  he was in so much pain from teething and i am honestly glad the kids were with us at that point.

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after some Abesol, a diaper change, and some nursing, he did a complete 180. whew.

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this pic is hilarious to me because my face looked like the minion's face on the drive there, haha!

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our view from the San Louis Resort!  i sent Sonny to the spa for his pedicure while the boys and i relaxed and did a Periscope vid.  i've been saving them via katch.me for the past few days so they aren't gone forever anymore. kinda glad the first few vids i did are though lol.

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after he finished, we hit the beach.  but not before grabbing something to eat downstairs at Grotto.  i had plans for a nice dinner later that evening but no way we could have waited that long to eat.  hunger attitudes kill good vibes every time.

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Chiso was beyond excited for his first time at the beach!

i cannot WAIT to see his reaction when we go to Disney World, then!

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he told me his favorite part of the day was this moment right here...making sand castles with papa.

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we took a dip in the hotel pool on the way back to our room.

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afterwards,  we changed and got ready for dinner.  we traveled about 12 minutes away from our hotel to Rudy & Paco. it was an excellent suggestion by my sister-in-law Kara!  birthday boy got steak and spinach, i got the salmon & sautéed sugar-snap peas, and from the 'off the menu' kids menu, Chiso requested a grilled cheese sammich and fries.

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 the owner was extremely warm, welcoming, and stopped by to chat with us and to wish Sonny a happy birthday.

back to z hotel!  12 minutes away and everybody was asleep when i pulled up to the valet.  we're familiar with co-sleeping at home now and then, so 4 in 1 bed was nothing new. we got up the next morning, checked out, and headed to breakfast at IHOP.

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this boy ate good the entire trip, right!?

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sampler platter for Sonny,

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and i stuck to IHOP's Simple & Fit selections which were all under 600 calories.  how can you make healthier choices while dining at IHOP? here are some of my tips:

1. read the entire menu.  there are sometimes specialty diet sections (gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, etc.) or sections with healthier/lighter options. All meals in IHOP's Simple & Fit section are 600 calories or less, and contain lower sodium options as well.
2. peruse the kids menu. the portion sizes are sometimes perfect for adults. at IHOP, all the Just For Kids options are 600 calories or less. they are usually smaller versions of the adult plates, so you still get a bit of everything without going overboard. 
3. switch your syrup. IHOP uses Carey's sugar-free syrup, but you have to ask for it!  most likely the syrups already out on your table are 110 calories (or higher) and 28g sugar per 1/4 cup. and who uses 1/4 cup of syrup on their pancakes!? also, nix the butter.
4. use your swaps.  my meal actually came with potatoes but i swapped them for fruit.  you can also swap turkey bacon for pork bacon. fresh fruit is now the default side for the lunch and dinner meals instead of french fries.
5. Stevia to the rescue. bring your own all natural, zero calorie Stevia to sweeten your coffee and tea with.  the artificial packets already on the table will never compare nor will they do your body any good: Splenda - yellow, Equal - blue, Sweet N' Low - pink.
6. IHOP's nutritional stats are finally listed online and are updated frequently (they were one of the last restaurant chains to release this info), so take a peek ahead of time or while you're waiting to order your food. utilize your resources; the info is right there for you!
7. chiiiiiiiill. don't stress or get apprehensive about dining out. chances are there is something on the menu for you! even if the menu is set, you can simply ask for your dish to be made your way.

best picks: 600 cals or less (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

• Simple & Fit Spinach, Mushroom & Tomato Omelette w/ fresh fruit (330 cals, 12g fat, 690mg sodium)
• Simple & Fit Veggie Omelette w/ fresh fruit (310 cals, 12g fat, 750mg sodium)
• Simple & Fit Banana & Brown Sugar Bowl (260 cals, 5g fat, 35mg sodium, 5g fiber, 20g sugar, 7g protein)
• Simple & Fit Fresh Fruit & Yogurt Bowl (320 cals, 3g fat, 45mg sodium, 73g carbs, 7g fiber, 19g sugar, 25g protein)
• Simple & Fit Fruit Bowl (130 cals, 0g fat)
• Simple & Fit Blueberry Harbest Grain 'N Nut Combo (560 cals, 23g fat, 1040mg sodium, 64g carbs, 8g fiber, 21g sugar, 25g protein)
• Simple & Fit Turkey Bacon Omelette (420 cals, 20g fat, 720mg sodium, 25g carbs, 2g fiber, 17g sugar, 38g protein)
• Simple & Fit Whole Wheat French Toast Combo (490 cals, 15g fat, 930mg sodium, 56 carbs, 5g fiber, 23g sugar, 33g protein)
• Simple & Fit Two-Egg Breakfast (350 cals,  9g fat, 44g carbs, 25g protein)
• Simple & Fit Two X Two X Two (400 cals, 12g fat, 1450mg sodium, 48 carbs, 3g fiber, 10g sugar, 25g protein) 
• Simple & Fit Grilled Balsamic-Glazed Chicken (440 cals, 22g fat, 940mg sodium, 25g carbs, 8g fiber, 13g sugar, 39g protein)
• Simple & Fit Grilled Tilapia (489 cals, 23g fat, 1270mg sodium, 27g carbs, 8g fiber, 14g sugar, 49g protein)
• Simple & Fit Take Two Combo w. Half Turkey Sandwich & Fresh Fruit (290 cals, 18g fat (nix the mayo!!!)
• Simple & Fit Mixed Greens House Salad w/ Reduced Fat Italian (40 cals, 1.5g fat, 120 mg sodium, 6g carbs, 2g fiber)

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if you didn't katch our Periscope vid explaining some of the above info, watch it here.

thanks for reading and HAAAY MONDAY!

Q: have you ever ordered from the Simple & Fit section @ IHOP?

le

starter grocery list + Paleo Roast Pork with Apple Chutney & Butternut Squash

'i want to be healthier.'

you do? ok, read!

first off, breathe. don't over-complicate things.  this process does not go from 0-60 in 3 seconds and you won't either. it's a gradual thing. a lifestyle thing.  one that you will see and feel the effects of if you just stick with it.  little by little, a little becomes a lot.  we know by now that proper nutrition and physical fitness is a package deal. can't have one without the other.  i will be focusing on the nutrition part of the equation for now as this is where your journey begins:

here is a staple starter grocery list to save, print out, and take with you to the grocery store.  i go into detail about each section below and provide some of my favorite brands and where to get'em. keep reading.

key:

WF = Whole Foods

SFM = Sprouts Farmers Market

WM = Walmart

TG = Target

TJ = Trader Joes

HEB = HEB Pantry (local)

K = Kroger (local)

ALL = available at all listed stores

grains / cereals / breads

• Ezekiel brand breads and tortillas WF, SP
• Ezekiel cereal varieties WF, SP, WM, K, HEB
• Alvarado Street Bakery brand bread WF, SP
• La Tortilla Factory tortillas & wraps WF, SP, WM, K, HEB
• Nature's Own Double Fiber Wheat Bread WM, K, HEB, TG
• Sara Lee 45 Calories & Delightful brand bread HEB, WM, K, TG
• Trader Joe's whole grain breads TJ
• Sprouts Farmers Market whole grain breads SFM

i find that rolled, quick oats, oat bran, rice, quinoa, and couscous are cheapest when bought in bulk.  whip out your calculator and do the math if you must and compare the price per lb to whatever way you previously purchased these items.  yeah, those Uncle Ben's single serving rice pouches are DELICIOUSLY easy to prepare and taste so good, but they just aren't cost-effective and you know it! buy your rice in bulk and season it yourself.

flours / nuts / oils

• Bob's Red Mill flour varieties  WF, SP, HEB, K, WM, TG
• flours & nuts from the bulk bins of WF, HEB, or SP
• choose unrefined, virgin, and cold-pressed oils ALL
• roasted & unsalted mixed nuts (almonds, pistachios, cashews, pecans)  in bulk WF, SP, HEB

starchy veggies 

• fresh & frozen are best. if you must do canned, look for a low/no sodium option. these are veggies that are carbohydrate rich, higher in sugar content, have an adverse affect on blood glucose levels, and load you with energy. any on the list above will do; pick your fave. if unsure about how to classify a particular veggie, use this helpful list of starchy veggies. ALL

non-starchy veggies

• fresh & frozen are best. if you must do canned, look for a low/no sodium option.  these are veggies that contain fewer calories and carbs, lower sugar content, and have little to no effect on blood glucose levels and are loaded with essential vitamins, minerals. any on the  list above will do; pick your fave. if unsure how to classify a particular veggie use this helpful list of non-starchy veggies. ALL

fruit

• fresh & frozen are best.  beware of packaged and canned fruit which can contain crazy high amounts of sugar. read your labels!  don't forget avocado is a fruit and high and good fat. we know fruit is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and natural sugar, but the sugar content does vary per fruit, so choose wisely.  here's a chart of some of the most popular and available fruit choices that gives you an accurate depiction of the sugar content for a 1 cup serving. ALL

here's a more detailed list:

dairy

• Lactaid brand milk & cottage cheese ALL
• Greek yogurt brands: Fage, Chiobani, Oikos, Trader Joes ALL
• Laughing Cow Spreadable Cheese Wedges ALL
• Mini Babybel light cheese ALL

non-dairy

• Blue Diamond, Silk unsweetened vanilla and original almond milk ALL
• Lisanatti Almond Cheese (cheddar, pepper jack, mozzarella) WF, SFM
• Tofutti non-dairy cream cheese spread WFM, TJ, SFM, HEB, K
• Trader Joe's canned light coconut milk TJ

meat / seafood  / protein

• boneless & skinless turkey and chicken breast ALL
• 97-99% extra lean ground turkey, chicken, and beef ALL
• choose  cuts of beef with the least marbling
• leanest beef cuts: eye of round, sirloin tip and steak, top & bottom round roast & steak ALL
• shellfish: scallops, mussels, lobster, shrimp, crab ALL
• choose low sodium canned beans and rinse beans under cold water before cooking: navy, kidney, black, lima, chick peas, pinto, black-eyed peas. ALL
• HEB & Crystal Farms egg whites ALL, HEB
• fish: cod, salmon, tilapia, flounder, trout,  halibut, mahi mahi, perch, snapper, sole, tuna (canned and packed in water) ALL

seasonings / sauces / sweeteners

• Bragg's Liquid Aminos WM, WFM, SFM, K, HEB
• Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar WM, WFM, SFM, K, HEB
• all fresh herbs (sage, cilantro, oregano, basil, dill)  ALL
• any salt-free standalone spice or seasoning blend (Mrs. Dash, McCormick, Trader Joes, Generic brands ALL
• use fresh lemon / lime just for natural seasoning, flavoring & marinating ALL
• liquid smoke WM, TG, K, HEB
• Heinz low carb ketchup ALL

so do you just go buy the entire list at once? no! remember, i spoke with Tiara in HEB the other day and here's that grocery shopping advice i gave her in a nutshell: 'depending on how ambitious you feel, pick 2, or 3 recipes you know you'll be making in the next 2 weeks or so and do your grocery shopping based on those ingredients.  else, there's a good chance you may not use everything you purchased and have to throw it away.  we know some items have longer shelf lives of course, but the majority of what is thrown away is spoiled produce.' i try to limit my store visits to 2-3 times a month.  i make large batches of a recipe at a time, and we have those meals/leftovers for the next 2-3 days before switching to something new.  sometimes i'll cook two large batches of two different recipes at a time and alternate those meals for more variety.

 grocery shopping tips:

1. buy fresh AND frozen produce
2. only buy produce in-season and on sale to save $
3. make a list first and stick to it
4. don't shop when you're hungry
5. set a monthly or bi-weekly budget and don't go over it
6. buy meat in bulk and freeze what you don't use immediately
7. buy generic brands whenever possible
8. shop the perimeter of the store (fresh meat, bread, produce, dairy).  processed foods tend to rule those isles.

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Q: questions?  FIRE AWAY!  what would you like to see MORE of? what wasn't covered or covered in enough detail?  i need your feedback. email me or comment below.

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my featured FITzee meal of the week:

Paleo Pork Roast with Apple Chutney and Butternut Squash

all natural, dairy-free, gluten-free, Paleo friendly & smells and tastes like FALL.

place your FITzee Foods order to be shipped right to your doorstep now.

le