35 Weeks: Maternity Photoshoot Prep

what this past friday afternoon looked like for us.just taking a moment on the floor like we often do.  Dego & i had just gotten home from training clients and a trip to the Nike Outlet for our family maternity shoot outfits.  Chiso was fresh from school and ecstatic about being homework-free.  my hair was halfway done, and i still didn't really know how things would come together with our shoot the next day.my sis-in-law, Kara, told me exactly where to go for big, bold, crazy affordable jewelry; Harwin!  if you're a Houstonian then you are prolly familiar with this area of town.  i figured with goddess locs i might as well go for a goddess look. lol, i don't know!  i need soooo much help with putting outfits/accessories together (maybe this is why interior design is not my thing either, sheesh) and i was so looking forward to getting together with Kara to shop and eat. we couldn't get our schedules together before shoot day so i did my best!saturday morning glaaaaam. a huge thank you to makeup_byMeagan for taking my face on! she did an amazing job.  i am so not used to wearing dramatic, heavy makeup though; it always takes me some getting used to my own face.  as always, my sis, Ogechi, hooked my hair UP.family fitness shoot DONE. omg. we shot the pics inside The Core Gym and once the boys walked in and saw all the toys equipment, their little brains started going 8000 miles per minute!!!  i truly hope the chaos was captured perfectly!  afterwards, i really wanted to just change and go do my individual shots immediately, but Sonny intervened and said we all needed to go take a break, sit down, and eat. i didn't argue! our photographer, Christin, said she was prepared to be with us until we got all our ideas in so of course we kept her well fed. hoping to get the maximum amount of cooperation out of Chiso during the shoot (cause once that window is closed, usually it's a wrap :| ) i told him he could pick where we ate for lunch afterwards.  he excitedly screamed Jason's Deli!  Sonny just knew i persuaded his decision ;) but it was definitely the free soft serve. Christin swore to me she and Chiso would be BFFs by the end of the day but this guy literally ran and jumped in her arms after lunch!Sonny kept the boys company while we shot a few individuals but they naturally made their way into some of them so Christin took advantage.  i wore 3 different Sew Trendy Accessories gowns.dinner time!  and lookie there, lol.Christin could not believe we were about to eat again, haha! Whole Foods Post Oak was a few doors down and perfect cause even the pickiest of eaters can find something tasty there.i went with eggplant parmesan, baked hoki w/ a roasted red bell pepper sauce, sweet potato crunch, a few roasted brussels sprouts, and some sautéed kale.  my cheese obsession never really went anywhere! been going strong all pregnancy.   i also got a few scoops of some unpictured chocolate covered salted caramels from the bulk section for our trip home.  i shared. a little.Papa Gwuat! thank you for chauffeuring us around all day, de-stressing me to the best of your abilities, and for being so patient.  it's a wrap, 35 weeks! i could not wait to whip those lashes off and just get in my bed (after a soak in the tub of course)!  thankful this day is finally behind us; i don't even want to think about holiday photos right now though!! maternity pics coming soooon :)

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).

wait, i've known you for how long!? + 29 weeks

say hello to our little 29 week acorn squash-sized baby! i seriously wish i had done this week by week with the boys. heck, i'm in the grocery store often enough to make it happen.  they both now know what the heck acorn squash even is plus i love having hands-on fun with learning when food is involved. who doesn't!? so guess what else went down during my 29th week of pregnancy!?  Mr. Egwuatu and i celebrated 9 years of marriage together!  meeting him on campus at UH back in 2000 happened yesterday.  yall hear me? yesterday *sobs uncontrollably* :( anyway,  around this time last year we were in Maui frolicking on the beach, but this year we stayed local for a change.  not only cause of the current zika threat, but cause of other current financial obligations, a new full-time kindergartener, and because Lord willing, we plan to do it BIG next year for #10 (and take that family Disney vaca before Dego turns 3...CAN NOT WAIT).  it's saving season for us.  so, we found some local things to do and enjoyed our special day together, just the two of us.

we <gasp> started with a 530am workout, whoop!  Sonny joined the #5amWorkoutClub for a day and was front and center for my Barbell Strength class.  he is clearly not one of us, haha. 

(he was really just taking a quick breather)

"A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance, and tenacity. The order varies for any given year."

can't argue with that. season after season, we come out stronger, wiser, and closer....only by the grace of God. 

happy number 9,  Milk Dud Sonny.  <3

 we took our time, laughed, joked, and enjoyed our lifting session together.  no rush whatsoever.  usually our boys are in the child center so we have to get it in before the time limit is up and the staff comes to hunt us down!  this was needed.

and so was this!  Sonny found the cutest, yummiest little cafe for our post-workout breakfast.  

then we went home to.....REST! oh and clean up our house before hurricanes Chiso & Dego returned.

matchy, matchy!  we dined at Caracol for our anniversary dinner.  i have been wanting to try this place since my birthday this past April!  i was looking for a nice restaurant back then and one of my Lifetime Fitness class members suggested we go there.  weeell, Sonny had already made plans so this occasion was perfect for checking it out.  our taste buds were in HEAVEN! YUM!  

• i started with an unpictured salad (Lechugita Orejona)
• we split the Taquitos Tronadores de Carnitas (top left)
• Sonny ordered the biggest hunk of protein on the menu per our waiter (Bistec con Moras)
• i finally stepped outside of my box and ordered the scrumptious  Callo de Hacha (bottom left)
• we split the Piña Rostizada (and coulda used 2 more scoops of ice cream!)

then, it was on to sing and rap our faces off with P. Diddy at his Bad Boy Reunion Tour Concert!!! we don't do concerts often..in fact this was our very first one together! pregnancy narceolpsey didn't take me out and we were literally up and on our feet for most of the performances reminiscing and jamming.  great show!

---

remember this lil' lady!? she was born on our anniversary last year and we met her via Skype while in Maui.  we are another year older and she is now one.  happiest of birthdays, baby Natalie!

basically, September 15th ROCKS ;)

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).

disaster recovery

 we got back from Vegas monday morning at 6am and went straight to work from the plane.  didn't sleep a wink on the flight or the night before.  however, Chiso did get some good sleep and snoozed the entire way home, WHEW.   you bet it was a long day that day.

while i attempted to catch up on rest, i neglected our empty fridge for two days!  i hadn't grocery shopped on Thanksgiving eve in a really, really long time.  HEB's parking lot was filled to capacity as expected, but as you see, they had every single lane open to accommodate the crowd.  take note, Walmart!!!!!!!!  AND, *big cheese* i happened to meet one of my readers in the store that night! i didn't want to scare her off, so i screamed on the inside :lol:  shout out to Nneka from Austin! *waving*

 i had just hauled my cart up to the belt when she quietly stepped behind me with her hand basket.   of course i told her to go ahead of me since she only had a few things (don't you appreciate when someone does that!?) which is when she introduced herself.  just goes to show how you never know who knows you or who's watching-  treat others how you want to be treated at ALL times.

soooo, how was your TG 2K12?!

mine started bright and early at the crack of dark.  i left Chiso and Sonny slobbering and snoring to run the annual Houston Turkey Trot 10K.  i love that the free t-shirt this year is long sleeve; that's rare.  i have not run long distance in forever, smh, but my cardio @ the gym definitely helps keep my endurance up.

before i hit the road, i made and devoured these babies:

coconut caramel pistachio pancakes.

 i used the base recipe for my banana pancakes and added the toppings- raw unsweetened coconut flakes, chopped bananas, Walden Farms caramel sauce, and crushed pistachios.

racing fuel!

might as well call these dessert pancakes- they were off the chain.

 over 12k people laced up their running shoes and showed out on Thanksgiving morning.

i was standing around and counting down to start time and noticed the people around me had on such cool colorful running shoes!

   i don't like the front or the very back, but the middle serves me just fine!  i was about two minutes or so from the starting line.  and yes, i ran with my phone in my hand the whole time. i need a fanny pack.

finished around 50 minutes or so.

   just wanted to support the cause and get some exercise... didn't care about breaking or making any PR's.

forgot to stop my watch immediately afterwards as usual, but i burned somewhere in the high 600's. which was only like half of one of my Thanksgiving plates :lol:

my heart rate really got up there! normally when i do HIIT, i top out around 176 before my HR starts to decline.  when i heard a lady shout  'last mile!!!' i turned my burners on and sustained my HR above 180 until i crossed the finish line. my legs and chest were on FIRE.

post race, you can find me by the food.

they gave out some flavored vitamin water, bananas,

and chewy granola bars.  chocolate chip, peanut butter, and a smores flavor.

 i met up with my friend Nichola post race- she competed in Vegas for Fitness America Weekend as well!  always posing;)  and sorry Nichola, no donuts at the post race party LOL

by now i am almost sick to my stomach of seeing plates of Thanksgiving food on Instagram so i'm gonna chill on sharing mine.  i will, however, share my 5 ingredient dump cake recipe!  indulgent, um yes.  so you should prolly stick to making this on holidays only.

1. canned cherries. i was über happy to see this 'no sugar added' variety of cherry pie filling, but was bummed that it was still sweetened with Splenda. womp, womp. however i got it anyway cause the original stats were just way too high. i couldn't do it.  i'm a changed woman.

2. pineapple chunks.  the 'skinny fruits' caught my eye like the manufacturers intended, but that big Splenda stamp ruined it again.

so, i grabbed what i always use- dole.  a little higher in the calories and sugar vs. the Libby's, but it's still all natural and no sugar added.

dump the can of cherries into a pan

followed by the pineapple chunks, juice and all.

3. box of yellow cake mix. it's not pictured, and any brand will do.  pour it on top of the cherries and pineapple.

4. stick of butter :shock: yeah, those are pads of butter.  they melt into the yellow cake mix when baking and form something so incredibly delectable and Paula Deen approved.  i mean you don't have to use the entire stick though, and you could very well substitute it with a lighter whipped butter, Earth Balance, or Smart Balance spread instead.

5. pecans. sprinkle them on top before popping the whole thing in the oven for 1 hr on 375-400 deg.  no stirring required! hence the name, dump cake.

so............how many times have you admired your Thanksgiving food baby in the mirror today?

do NOT let that or food guilt completely ruin the happy, positive memories of  Thanksgiving 2k12.  you ate those delicious foods cause you wanted to and you've been waiting all year for them.   you may have woken up with a tummy ache and the need to make a mad dash to the rr like i did this morning lol, but that's OK.  like most people, i ate a lot of carbs  and white sugar: pie, cake, dressing, rolls, etc, so i did cut some of my carbs today to balance my intake, but i did not cut them out.  do this:

• get back on track with your clean diet - do NOT starve yourself.
• physical activity...asap.  hit the gym for your routine as normal, or go outside for a walk, jog, or run.   you'll feel a lot better, instantly.
• drink plenty of water  and green tea with each meal as it speeds up digestion.
• let the food guilt GO.
• chunk the leftovers or give them away.  if the temptation is too much, stop torturing yourself and get rid of them. liquid soap to the rescuuuuuuuue :shock:

i slept in this morning but i made my way to the gym eventually for some cardio and light leg work.

20 minutes of HIIT on the stairmaster (60 rest rate / 90 work rate), legs, then 40 minutes of steady state cardio .  yep, put in a little extra work to combat yesterday's feasts.

i bought some chicken drumsticks a few weeks ago cause i could not pass up the sale price, so i went ahead and made them for dinner for the weekend.  we have been eating only chicken breast for........a really long dang time!!! 

it's nice to eat a different part of the bird for a change. smokey chipotle paprika drumsticks.

 i do hope your Thanksgiving was filled with family time, memories, lots of good food, and fellowship.

if i had ten thousand tongues, i could not thank the Lord enough!!!!!!!

le