French Onion Dip

I love chips and dip! My grandma always makes french onion dip every Christmas Eve and it is one of the things I look forward to eating each year.

This year I tried making it the healthy-tasty way and I was not disappointed. I paired it with baked potato chips and it made a tasty treat.

French Onion Dip

16 oz fat free sour cream
1 packet Lipton French onion soup mix

Mix together. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Enjoy!

The best part is that technically this dip is a 0 points plus food. It takes 4 Tablespoons to equal 1 point. Wow! Snack away!

Christmas Break

This week I'm on Christmas break. I'll be popping in from time to time but mostly I'm going to be hanging out with my kids and family, watching Christmas movies I was too busy to watch before Christmas, and just plain resting and relaxing.

I hope your Christmas was wonderful and meaningful and you are able to take a break this week, too!

Merry Christmas Coloring Sheet

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/merry_christmas_coloring_page.htm

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Our Christmas Tradition ...

by Sara Waltz

My mom used to spend money and time making gift tags for each gift placed under our Christmas tree.  Then one year, the tradition changed and has stuck with our family ever since.  

Each family member has their own Christmas wrapping paper.  This began when my brother and I were younger and has continued on to my children.  

The kids help pick out their wrapping paper, or they help pick out each other's.  This eliminates the need for tags and prevents gift tags from being "lost."  It also helps younger children know which gifts are theirs.  Even when Eliana was a year old, she knew which gifts were hers simply by looking for her "special" wrapping paper.
 
We have continued the tradition at our house as well.  My husband has his own wrapping paper, and Nolan and Eliana have theirs.  Now, if I can just convince my husband to find some fun wrapping paper for me :)

Eggs Romano

"Eggs Romano is a dish that John’s family has had on Christmas morning for the past several decades. It is delicious. Especially if you like your eggs over easy/poached. YUM!" - Becky Boggio

Eggs Romano

2- 28 ounce cans diced tomatoes
2- 29 ounce cans tomato sauce
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
Grated Cheese (any type – pecorino Romano, Romano, parmesan)
Eggs

Place first four ingredients in Dutch oven. Bring to boil, and then reduce heat to high simmer. Poach eggs in tomato mixture.
Serve eggs on plate and include some of sauce mixture on side. Sprinkle with grated cheese.
Delicious with any breakfast accompaniment – bacon, sausage, toast/bread.


Thanks, Becky, for sharing your recipe and Christmas tradition with us!

Breath of Heaven

Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant

Are You Leaving a Residue?

by Becky Boggio

My son asked me the other day why our drinking glasses, although clean, look cloudy? I told him that it was just hard water residue on them. Our water softener exploded several years ago and we never replaced it. The word residue stuck in my head. Residue is defined as “something that remains after a part is removed”. Residue can be good or bad. Cloudy glasses isn’t a bad residue, it just doesn’t look nice. I was thinking that as we raise our children to be followers of God, are we leaving a residue? What are we leaving behind when our children aren’t with us?

They say it takes 27 days to develop a habit but I believe this is a focused change of behavior. As parents I have heard/read that we will say something to our children one million times before it may actually trigger them to do said action (i.e. close the door behind you, chew with your mouth closed, use your manners, etc). Leaving a residue seems easier.

We are leaving a residue with every word or action our children see us say or do. Do you ever overhear your kids say something and immediately know where they heard it? Yep, from my own mouth usually. I cringe when I hear myself say things that my mother said to me. And while on occasion there is evidence of bad residue, I rejoice when I see evidence of good residue, God following residue. I teach my daughter’s Girls Club class at church each week and I love to see or hear her apply the things I am teaching in class to our lives at home. Last week one of the girls brought up something from a unit we studied last year, during the first month of the season. How awesome to find that residue, over a year old.

I believe that as parents we try to guide our children and give them the tools to make their life decisions when they are grown up. This includes their decision to accept Christ as their Savior and living their lives to glorify Him. Let our prayer be, when we speak with our children or they see us doing things, that we are a leaving a residue that glorifies God and is perceived a good residue so when we are removed from our children they will seek God and His direction in their lives.

Stocking Coloring Sheet

http://www.calvarywilliamsport.com/cm7.htm

What I Ate: Surviving the Holidays

Surviving the Holidays

This is my last What I Ate post for the year. My last chance to be your cheerleader for the holidays. 

So here goes:

 Ok.
 
Give me a U ...

YOU can do it! YOU can make it through the holidays without eating yourself sick. Concentrate on what the holidays mean and are for, instead of the food. 

God sent His son as a baby for YOU! Because He loves YOU! Because YOU're worth it. YOU are worth the sacrifice. The sacrifice of His only son. The sacrifice YOU are making with YOUr new eating habits. YOU are worth it!

It's ok to enjoy food. It's ok to consume food. It's not ok to let food consume you. 

That's what I did for years. Food was on my mind a lot. I was always thinking of what my next meal was going to be. I was thinking of what food was going to cheer me up when I was sad or lonely, relieve my stressed day, celebrate my happiness. The sad thing was that my emotions were still there after I ate. The food did not take them away. 

Sorry, I got off on a tangent ... 

Give me a P ...

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times, make a plan. Go into your day knowing what choices you are going to make. Make your plan as specific or generic as you want. Try not to rely on spur of the moment decisions - they'll almost always steer you wrong. 

Give me a B ...

Bring food with you, if you can. Either something healthy to share with everyone or something of your own to eat. Having that little bit of control will help you make healthy choices. 

Give me an H ...

Have fun! Food does not equal fun. Don't make the food the focus of your celebrations. Focus on your family, your friends, your blessings ... 

Play games, watch movies, make crafts, have fun!! 

What does that spell? ... Well, nothing, but hopefully it will be the cheer that gets you through the next couple of weeks! You can do it. I have faith in you. Every small healthy decision you make is a big step toward a new, healthy you!!

Have a very Merry Christmas and a blessed and healthy New Year!!

January Playdates

Our first playdate in January will be Friday, January 13 at Sarah H's home. I will send out an email with her address and directions to everyone interested in attending.

The second playdate will be Monday, January 30 at 9:30 am. We will be meeting at Kids in Motion 14135 W Greenfield Ave New Berlin, Wi 53151. The cost is $6.00 per child. *Parents and children under a year are free. It is a socks only facility for parents and children in the winter.

Check out their website for more information : http://kidsinmotionwi.com/

It looks like a fun time!

Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

This is seriously the best soup you will ever eat. (We are planning on serving it at REFRESH - yum!)

I wasn't feeling well a couple of years ago and my dear friend, Stephanie, blessed my family with a meal of this soup. She blessed my life further by giving me the recipe. (Thanks, Stephanie!)

I was a little scared to figure out the points for this recipe. Anything that tastes this good, must be awful for you, I thought.

Well, I am happy to say that I lightened the recipe up a little and found out that it is not high in points at all!! Even better, it is just as delicious the healthier way as the original was.

Make it, try it, LOVE it, too!

Cream of Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

6 cups chicken broth (I used Swanson's)
2 cups water
9 oz cooked, boneless chicken breasts, small cubes
1 1/2 cup chopped carrots
1 small onion, chopped
1 6 oz package Uncle Ben's quick cooking long grain and wild rice with seasoning packet
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup flour
1/2 cup light butter (Land O Lakes makes it in sticks)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cup whole milk

1. Open rice, pull out seasoning packet and set aside.

2. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, and flour. Set aside.

3. In a large pot over medium heat, combine broth, water, chicken, carrots, and onion. Bring just to boiling, then stir in rice. Cover and remove from heat.
4. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir contents of seasoning packet until mixture is bubbly. Reduce heat to low, then stir in flour mixture by tablespoons, to form a roux (it will be very dry).

5. Whisk in cream, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Cook until thickened, 5 minutes.

6. Stir cream mixture into broth and rice. Cook over medium heat until heated through, 10 to 15 minutes.

8 oz = 5 points plus


-photo courtesy of Kelly :)

O Come All Ye Faithful

O Come All Ye Faithful by Toby Mac

REFRESH 2012

Join us for Refresh 2012: A Day of Renewal for Moms!
January 28 2012, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Located in the Higher Grounds Cafe at WFA
 
Are you an exhausted mom? Are you constantly taking care of others and are in need of refreshing yourself?

This day is set aside just for you! There will be time for fun, laughs, crafts, and connection - both with other moms and with our Heavenly Father. God yearns for us to be still and wait upon Him. As a mom of a busy household, quiet time is a rare and precious gift. We want to provide this opportunity for you to rejuvenate and renew your strength.

Please come to this unforgettable day of renewal and refreshing! You deserve it!

The cost is $20.00 which includes a welcome bag, morning snacks, lunch, and a craft to take home.
 
For more information you can pick up a brochure in our lobby or download it here.
 

More information about REFRESH is now available on the Waukesha First Assembly website.

Check it out at: www.waukeshafirst.org

Hope to see you there!

Preparing My Heart

I thought this post that I read on the Chosen Families blog was so appropriate for how I was feeling and thought you might benefit from it also.

Preparing My Heart
December 11, 2011 By Lynn at Chosen Families

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given….he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

Recently, the truth of “let every heart prepare Him room” from “Joy to the World” penetrated my heart, soul and spirit.

I love Christmas and celebrating the birth of our Savior, but not necessarily everything that comes with it.  Those of us caring for loved ones who are not neuro-typical are often overwhelmed by daily life and sometimes Christmas just feels like adding MORE to my already stretched life.

I don’t think it is uncommon for Christians, affected by a hidden disability or not, to be extra stressed during this season. It is ironic though, while we are celebrating the arrival of the Prince of Peace.

I struggle each Christmas with worry and anxiety over our finances and buying presents for friends, family, teachers and members of my daughter’s therapeutic team.  Every year the list of whom I wish to express my gratitude grows and my finances remain the same at best.  So I try to be creative and find meaningful, less expensive or even homemade gifts, but that tends to only increase my stress!
A few years ago, while in the process of finding a new church following a move, we started the tradition of making an advent wreath.  We found advent readings online to read each Sunday and used the advent Daily Bread for daily readings.  We printed out coloring pages for my daughter to color while we read and made a children’s nativity set available for play. It was the first year that I felt I had truly prepared my heart to more fully celebrate the birth of Jesus.  My husband and I both agreed it was such a meaningful Christmas and pledged to continue the tradition.

We were a few days late making our advent wreath, readings and coloring pages this year and I was already in full worry mode.  But that first night we gathered around the table to light the candle and pray, “Come, Lord Jesus, fill our hearts with hope,” I felt the stress and worry melt away.

Of course the battle to remain focused on Jesus continues as the calendar is full with special Christmas events and extra items on my to-do-list, but I can honestly say that as we take time to focus on the true meaning of this sacred season, I experience the peace and joy that we as followers of Christ are meant to experience in the midst of our busy lives.  It takes some work and intentional planning, but it is such a blessing.

May you and your family find practical ways to “prepare Him room” this Christmas season so that you are filled with the peace and joy that comes from knowing and being in the presence of the Prince of Peace Himself.

In His peace,
~Lynn
 
http://chosenfamilies.org/blog/

Nativity Coloring Sheet

http://www.calvarywilliamsport.com/cm12.htm

What I Ate: Holiday Party Edition

Holiday Party Edition

This one month is probably the most difficult time of the year to be watching what you eat. There are SO many delicious foods brought out in December.

There are lots of parties to go to and what is at these parties? Food, food, and more food. 

We need a plan. What are we going to do? Avoid the parties? And miss out on the fun? No way. Eat to our heart's content? No, that's not an option, either. 

What to do ... 

First, do a self-evaluation. You know if you are the type of person who can eat before you go and be ok with choosing one small snack or dessert to eat at the party. Or maybe, you know that you are unable to resist partaking of the party food and should eat lightly all day in order to compensate for the slight indulgence later. 

As long as you stick to your points, you can do what you want. You can choose the plan that works best for YOU!

But please, make a plan! You have a better chance of sticking to your plan if you actually have one, right?

If nothing else, make better choices this year than you did last year. It's all about the journey. Even baby steps will get you there eventually. 

Set your mind on victory! Focus on the people and activities of the party. 

Try to avoid your typical pitfalls you fall into. Don't stand by the food table while you're talking if you are a muncher. Pop a piece of gum into your mouth as soon as you've finished your plate if you normally head for seconds.

You can do it! Make it a game. Reward yourself with a non-food reward if you make it through the party and stick to your plan. A bubble bath before bed, yes please!

There will always be more parties. If not this year, then next year they'll all be back. This will not be the last time you'll ever get a chance to eat a piece of fudge or fruitcake. Skip it this year, you'll never miss it. 

I know how it feels to have food call your name! Don't listen! Thinner feels way better than a bite of any food on the planet. A taste lasts all of maybe 15 seconds; thinner lasts a lot longer. 

Foods that are your best bet at a party:
Fruit (yeah, baby)
Veggies (another obvious one)
Shrimp cocktail
Gingersnaps
Salsa with baked tortilla chips
Baked potato chips with dip made from fat free sour cream

Contribute to the food table to ensure that you have one healthier option to eat. 

Party on!  

Mommy's Christmas Wish List

Christmas Cookie Exchange

Today is our Mommy Years Christmas cookie exchange! I am posting my favorite Christmas cookie recipe, Sandtart Cutout Cookies.

Please add your recipe as a comment. If you are unable to post comments, email me with your recipe and I'll post it for you.

I can't wait to see all of your favorite cookie recipes!!


Sandtart Cutout Cookies

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 Tbl buttermilk
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour

Cream sugar and butter. Add egg. Add buttermilk and baking soda (mixed together). Add the rest of the ingredients.
Roll thin.

Bake 375 for 6-10 minutes.

Buttercream Frosting

1/3 cup crisco
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/4 tsp vanilla
3 cups powdered sugar
1 Tbl + 1 tsp whole milk

Cream crisco, butter, and vanilla. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Add milk and beat on high speed (scraping sides of bowl occasionally) until light and fluffy.

Frost cookies and enjoy! Oh, yum!!

One Child

One Child by Mariah Carey

The Story of St. Nicholas

Hundreds of years ago, Nicholas lived in a seaside town named Myra, which is in the country we now call Turkey. Ever since he was a small child, Nicholas loved God more than anything. He studied hard, prayed often, and followed Jesus by helping the poor.

The people of Myra loved Nicholas so much that when their old bishop died, they immediately elected Nicholas to replace him. He served them well for a long time.

Nicholas was loved for one reason. He loved. He loved God and God's people so much that he would do anything for them.

Here is a story about Nicholas that has been passed down through many generations.

There was a man living in Myra who was very poor. This man had no wife, but he had three grown daughters who lived with him.

In those days, when a young woman got married, she had to bring money or property with her into the marriage. This is called a dowry. If a woman didn't have a dowry, she would never marry.

This man was so poor that he had no money for his daughters' dowries. And he didn't have enough money to support them either. He had, he believed, only one choice: to sell his daughters into slavery. Nicholas heard about this terrible situation. Late one night, Nicholas crept to the man's home and threw something through the window. It was a bag of gold—enough to pay the dowry for his oldest daughter.

The man was overjoyed, and his daughter was too. She married, but her father was still left with a problem. Two, to be exact. What about the two younger daughters? Sadly, he prepared to send them away.

Nicholas returned one night and again threw a bag of gold through the window. The father rejoiced. But he wondered who was helping him and why.

Of course, Nicholas didn't want the man to know. He knew that it's best to help others without letting them know we're helping them. If we help others in this way, we help because we truly want to and not because people will praise us for it.

But the father was determined. He had one daughter left and no money for a dowry. He certainly hoped he would be helped again, especially because he wanted to find out who was doing it. So he locked the windows and watched out the door.

Nicholas still wanted to help, but he didn't want to be seen. So, in the back of the house, far from the father's sight, he dropped the bag of gold for the third daughter right down the chimney!

The bags of gold are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas. 

-taken from http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/st-nicholas-welborn/

A Work in Progress ...

I started typing out our usual Monday devotion and realized it was a devotion written for husbands.  I decided to skip that devotion and was going to move on to the next one. However, God gave me something else instead to share with you. Next week will be business as usual. 


As I was doing my enormous (I'm not even kidding) mountain of laundry, I thought, Will I ever catch up on this? It's a work in progress.
 
Then I got to thinking and discovered my whole life is a work in progress.
 
The state of my home? A work in progress. 
The training of my children? A work in progress.
My weight loss? A work in progress. 
My quest to be more like Jesus? A work in progress.
 
Do I have anything completely together? Nope. I can honestly say I have not perfected one area of my life.

Is this frustrating to me? Sure. I always think, Well, I'll do that once this is done or Once I'm finished with this, I'll have time for that. I've noticed however that I'm never really finished. If it's not one thing, it's another. I'm never caught up ... It just keeps going. I'm a work in progress.   

But God chose to give this work in progress a BIG idea. Was it because I was the smartest? The hardest worker? The most qualified? No way!!

Maybe it was because I listened. I was willing. I chose to obey.
 
Has God given me other ideas that I chose to ignore. I'm most certainly sure. Do I regret that? Definitely! It was my loss. God's plan was still accomplished, just not by me. If I'm not willing, He'll find someone else.

I've been feeling overwhelmed lately with the work involved with REFRESH. I've been overwhelmed with the thought that God has entrusted me with this big event and see it to completion.  In my mind, this whole thing is out of my league and much more than my meager abilities can handle. Thankfully, I don't need to depend on my abilities to accomplish this. God will compensate for my shortcomings and create the event He wants. 

I honestly don't know why He chose me, but I do know that I want to see His will done. I'm thankful for this opportunity to reach out to other moms and I will work to the best of my ability to make it happen.  

God has big plans for ALL of us. He wants to do amazing things through each and every one of us. You don't have to be perfect or capable. You don't have to know everything or have it all together. God will use a work in progress. 

Just listen for God's voice. He'll tell you what to do. He loves you and has a plan for your life. He wants to lead and guide you, let Him. 

Be willing. Be willing to do what God tells you to do. Tune out the voice of the enemy filling your head with doubts. God wouldn't ask you to do it, if He didn't plan to take you each step of the way. 

Choose to obey. Make the choice to follow through with God's plan despite your feelings of inadequacy. No one is truly adequate enough to fulfill God's plans but that doesn't matter to God.  Look at David and Goliath, the odds were clearly against David but he was victorious in the name of the Lord.    

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."   1 Samuel 16:7

Listen.  Be willing.  Choose to obey.   

My Life as a Mom Dealing With Postpartum Depression

Today, I am happy to introduce my friend, Sara, as our guest blogger. Sara is a great mom and a great friend. Her story today was a difficult one for her to write but I know that healing will come from it - for her and others struggling as well.

*******************************************
As one of the older "mommies," you feel an unfounded responsibility to have some tidbit of "wisdom" to share with those around you. Then one day you wake up and realize that you are all in the same boat, traveling down the stream of "mommy" life together. There is no instruction manual, no "how to be a mommy in 3 days or less" type of book to quickly skim through while changing diapers. But as we look around us, there is so much to be shared, so much to be learned from our fellow friends, moms, grandmas, and even those who mentor us through this season of our lives.

On May 21st, Jeff and I welcomed our first baby into our family. Eliana Marie was born at 0704 am (after a night of no sleep) and weighed in at a whopping 9 lb 9 oz. We were so excited to be parents! What could be better? Well, two and a half years later we welcomed a second little one into our family. Hello Mr. Nolan Charles! I thought that Eliana was big at birth; I was so NOT prepared for the 10 lb baby boy that entered our family. What fun to have one of each. What two TOTALLY different children!

After the birth of both our children, I entered a season of life that I was not prepared for. This season of life threw both my husband and I for a bit of a surprise. You read all about postpartum depression and you think to yourself: I know all the symptoms, I will know what to watch for, and I will know how to handle this. What a shock! My depression after Eliana was mild and stemmed from one main factor: she was one poky eater! I could sit and feed her for an hour and a half and then, because she was losing weight, Jeff would give her formula. She would consume 4-6 oz of formula within minutes and then be hungry again an hour later. What frustration, what disappointment. I had such high hopes of feeding my baby and now she was a "starving" baby to my way of thinking. There were nights of little sleep and many tears. There were many happy memories and time spent enjoying her. I must admit that things became easier once she turned six months and was able to start on cereal and baby food. The pressure was off and I felt that life was back to "normal." I still had my ups and downs, but was on the mend. This season of my life was behind me. When we found out that we were pregnant with Nolan, I remember asking for prayer regarding my time postpartum. I know that people prayed for me, but I also know that I was not prepared. I can honestly say that I did not pray about it. Well, it seems that boys and postpartum depression are a bit different! I experienced awful mood swings. I felt overwhelmed with the simplest tasks. It was a season of life that was one I wish had not visited me. I am not saying that every day was bad, but I can say that there were more bad days than good days. I am sad to say that the only person who probably knew about it was my husband. I did not tell anyone about it, even though I am sure that some may have guessed. I was so disappointed in myself for not being strong enough to overcome this. But through it all my husband was extremely supportive and I love him more for it knowing what he had to endure during those months. But for as much as my husband supported me, I wish that I had talked it out with a friend, a fellow woman, and a fellow mom. I never realized how many moms struggle with this. Whether it is mild or severe, postpartum depression can be a season of life that leaves you feeling alone and disappointed. You are not alone in this! Find a fellow mom, friend, or sister who you trust and tell them how you are feeling. Have a talk with your doctor; medicine can help. I am convinced that God is with you during this time in your life. He is struggling with you, loving you, and holding you close to His heart during this time. I am convinced that I would not have made it through this season of life if others had not been praying for me. I am so thankful that this season of my life has slowly faded from view.

Seasons come and seasons go, but our God is faithful; He will never leave you or forsake you.

***************************************************

Amen! Thank you for sharing that with us, Sara! I pray that lives are touched by your story.

Sara will be leading a craft workshop at REFRESH next month. Look for her there!

Christmas Tree Coloring Sheet

http://christmas-coloring.com/pages/tree/003-christmas-tree-kids.html

What I Ate: Breakfast Edition

Breakfast edition

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day - we've all heard it. 

There are some days when breakfast does not happen for me until 9:30 or 10:00 am. I try to eat as soon as I can, though, to get my body (and metabolism) going. 

I've mentioned before that I typically eat a 4 points plus meal for breakfast. That number just seems to work for me. Everyone's different, though, so I suggest finding what works best for your lifestyle and going with it. 

Here are my most favorite breakfasts:
-1 cup plain Cheerios with banana and strawberries and 1/2 cup skim milk (4)
-Walmart brand regular yogurt with fresh fruit (4)
-1 package instant oatmeal (pretty much any kind) made with water (4)
-3/4 cup Life cereal and 1/2 cup skim milk (4)
-2 frozen waffles with fresh fruit and a squirt (or 2) of light whipped cream (5)

These are my go-to breakfasts. But there are so many other options: egg white omelet, toast using light bread, pancakes, the list goes on and on. 

Figure out what you love, what you have time for, and what makes sense. My small list is perfect for me. They are all easy to fix, I enjoy eating them, and I usually have the ingredients on hand. 

That's not to say that every once in a while I don't partake in a yummy, delicious bowl of Cocoa Puffs or Frosted Flakes to spice things up ... But the beauty is - I can. It's all about choices. Will I get more cereal if I pick plain Cheerios? You betcha. Do I sometimes just need to be adventurous and have a bowl of Fruit Loops? Oh, yeah.

Keep it real, people. It's the only way to stick with it. If I told myself I would never again eat ___________ (fill in the blank), I would go crazy and start obsessing about that one thing I couldn't have. When I tell myself, it's ok, I could have it if I really want it, there is no obsessing. 

It's weird, but it works. 

Happy breakfasting!! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JdfiJ60DNg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Newsboys "Breakfast Song"
It's a crazy song but here's a piece of trivia for you: at the end of the song, when there is a crowd of people singing, I was in that crowd. They taped that at a concert I was at many, many years ago ... Could you hear me? ;)  

Mommy Years Cookie Exchange

Next Thursday, December 8th I will be hosting a cookie exchange here on The Mommy Years.

I will post a recipe for my favorite Christmas cookie. It will definitely not be healthy-tasty. ;)

In the comments, please post your favorite Christmas cookie recipe, too!

If you are unable to leave comments, email your recipe to me and I will post it for you!

This will be so much fun!

Sparkling Christmas Punch

Trop50 makes great juice that is only 1 point plus for 8 oz. I recently bought a new flavor - pineapple mango orange juice. That's when my inspiration struck - this would make an awesome (healthy) punch! 

Sparkling Christmas Punch

2 liter Diet cranberry splash Sierra Mist
1.75 L Trop50 pineapple mango orange juice
Frozen fruit (I used strawberries)

Pour soda and juice into a punch bowl. Float fruit on top. 
Enjoy!

16 oz = 1 point plus

Elf on the Shelf

This is Nick. Nick is an elf. An elf on the shelf. 

He comes every December 1 and stays through Christmas, with a nightly jaunt back to the North Pole to report good and bad behavior. 

Every morning, he ends up in a different spot "high up" in our house. The kids excitedly try to find him when they wake up.  

We started this tradition a few years ago and have had great fun with it. 

If you come over, see if you can spot him. But beware, he is watching ... ;)

Christmas Shopping Mistakes

Top 10 Christmas Shopping Mistakes
By: Dave Ramsey


We've all paid the "stupid tax," making costly decisions with zeros on the end. And a lot of those decisions happen when we're caught up in the emotion of the Christmas season and procrastinate a little too long. Make this year different than before!

Here are the top 10 Christmas shopping mistakes and how you can act differently:

1.    Not prioritizing.

Instead of getting stressed out with all the parties, baking and shopping in addition to your normal daily life, set some priorities before you're bombarded with a million requests. Think about what things are "must do" and which are "would be nice to do." It's all right to say no to keep yourself sane. Shopping for gifts is more fun when you're not completely stressed out.

2.    Not having a budget written down.

Before you make a gift list and head to the mall, set aside a reasonable amount of money for gifts. Make a commitment that you won't add $20 to the fund just because you saw something cute that your niece would love.

[Money Saving Gift Planner]

3.    Using credit cards.

Once you have your budgeted amount of money, stay away from credit cards! You will still spend 12-18% more if you use plastic and you'll be paying it off come next year! Doesn't paying with cash and going on about your day sound more relaxing than having a credit card balance looming over your head through the holidays? You betcha.

4.    Buying for everyone.

Do you really need to buy gifts for every family member and friend you have? That can get overwhelming and expensive for everyone. Talk with them about this and work toward an agreement to draw names for gifts or donate money to a common cause.

5.    Not listening.

Listen to the hints your loved ones drop about what they need or want this year. Maybe your Aunt Sally mentioned in July that she would love someone to help her in the garden or cousin Bob keeps losing guitar picks. A thoughtful gift like this will mean a lot to the person.

6.    Not having a thought-out list on paper.

If you think you can spend time in "Christmas retail world" and not get distracted by all the shiny toys, you're in for a big surprise! You'll be more likely to buy impulsively if you do it that way. Write down what each person you're buying for would like and stick to the list. Stay focused!

7.    Not shopping around.

"Shopping around" doesn't mean you have to spend 24 extra hours running from store to store to save 10 cents. Take a look at your gift list and do some comparative price-checking online before you head out into the retail and traffic madness. This will save you money, time and stress!

8.    Waiting until the last minute.

Giving the gift of procrastination is not the most appealing gift out there. Don't find yourself stressed out on Christmas Eve just because you didn't invest a little bit of time to plan.

9.    Forgetting to plan for next year.

Be on the lookout for outrageous sales on things your loved ones will need throughout the next year. If you time the sales just right and clip some coupons, you could land a major discount on something you were going to buy in a few months for a birthday or wedding gift. Remember to have a list and budget for this, too.

10. Forgetting why we celebrate.

If this season becomes all about shopping and gifts, you've missed the whole point. People—not things—matter. The miraculous birth of a baby who changed the world is what matters.

-iMOM.com

Give Thanks Coloring Sheet

http://www.coloring-pages-book-for-kids-boys.com/images/22_Thanksgiving_quote_we_give_thanks_at_coloringkidsboys.gif

What I Ate

So, how did you do? Thanksgiving went well for me. I had my plan and pretty much stuck to it.

I dished up my food and was somewhat disappointed at the little amount on my plate but I felt so good later that I didn't pig out and make decisions I would regret.

No matter how your Thanksgiving went, it is in the past. You can't change anything that happened but you can decide to make good decisions today.

This next month is going to be tough and full of temptations but just take one day at a time and make a plan. No matter what, determine to make better choices this year than you did last year. It's all in the baby steps.

What I Ate on Thanksgiving:

Breakfast
8 - cinnamon roll with icing (oh, yes, I did)

Snack
1 - WW string cheese
0 - banana, strawberries, raspberries

Lupper (we ate around 3:00 pm)
1 - punch (recipe coming soon)
4 - 4 oz turkey
3 - gravy
4 - stuffing
3 - mashed potatoes
0 - green beans

Dessert
6 - 2 pieces of pumpkiny pie

You can see where my priorities were but that's what I chose. :) It's all about the choices ... That's what makes it work in real life.

Come On, Christmas

Come On, Christmas by Matthew West

Recipe for a Grateful Heart

Recipe for a Grateful Heart

by Greg Asimakoupoulos
November 28, 2002 


I've discovered a fail-proof recipe for a grateful heart. 

First, crush a bunch of sour grapes for all the times you've felt someone else got credit for something you deserved. Drizzle in a drop of spilled milk for every remembrance you have of something you wish you could undo (no need to cry over it). Even though you may be tempted to, refrain from adding the "whine" you keep in the cellar for those pity parties you occasionally throw for yourself. 

To this rather unattractive concoction, sift in some flavorful thoughts that come to mind of times when God was kind and bailed you out. You know the times I mean: when you were in real hot water and had real doubts if you could stand up to the heat.

Then, while this mixture is sitting at room temperature, take some "thyme" alone and thoroughly measure out your blessings. Make sure you add in the plain vanilla ones (like health, shelter, employment, family, enough to eat and a good night's sleep). 

Don't forget to spoon up some sweet remembrances of happy days gone by. With your honey at your side, go to a quiet part of the house and pour out what's on your mind. If necessary, ask for forgiveness.

While bringing the ingredients to a boil, combine a cup full of contentment, all the while skimming off any envy or greed that surfaces. Blend well.

Let the aforementioned batter rise until it occupies a place of prominence in your thinking. Preheat your heart to the point where it takes on a pliable consistency. While your will is warming to the idea of thanking God (instead of blaming him) for where you are at this time in your life, sprinkle the mixture in question with a dash of determination to do whatever it takes to honor God with your attitude.

Then bake the combined ingredients until they are well done. While it is still warm, serve yourself the "peace" you've anticipated, all the while chewing on God's goodness while swallowing your pride.

Well, there you have it. Even though you haven't seen this recipe demonstrated on the Food Network, it's a keeper. A grateful heart is guaranteed. 

You don't need to be a Galloping Gourmet in order to serve up an aroma that will be pleasing to the Lord. All that is required is that you dismount from your high horse of self-centeredness and sit in the presence of the One from whom all blessings flow. As Israel's greatest king is credited with having said, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." (Psalm 34:8)



***Happy Thanksgiving!***
    

Thanksgiving Postcard From God

By Cheryl and Bob Moeller
http://www.marriagevine.com/
http://www.momlaughs.blogspot.com/


It was 10:00 a.m. the day before Thanksgiving. In just a few hours the doors to our inner-city church would open, and we would host our urban neighbors, many of whom were Native Americans, to a free Thanksgiving dinner.

We were making last-minute preparations when we heard a loud knock at the front door. Another interruption, we thought as we trudged toward the door. When we opened the door, we were greeted by two delivery men from Sears.

"Will you sign for this?" one of the men asked as he shoved a clipboard our way.

"Sure, what is it?"

"A freezer," he answered.

"We didn't order a freezer."

"Someone did," he said. With that, he and his burly partner pushed past us and wheeled a full-length deep freeze up the steep steps and into our church.

As we studied the invoice, we discovered a sister church, New Hope Church in Crystal, MN, had purchased the appliance for us. That's strange, we thought. They never told us it was coming.

Our minds returned to the Thanksgiving dinner. Within a few hours, the first flakes of snow started coming down. In Minnesota in late November, that can mean anything from a dusting to three-foot snow drifts. On this particular day, it meant the worst. By 4:00 p.m., the flakes had turned into a major-league blizzard. The timing couldn't have been worse. By that late hour, all the food for our dinner had been prepared—a dozen turkeys, nearly a hundred pounds of mashed potatoes, and scores of piping-hot pies.

But we had no one to eat any of it. All our food and effort was about to go to waste.

That's when we remembered the gift we had received only hours earlier. We wrapped the food and carried it upstairs to our new storage freezer. One week later we held the postponed dinner and served a hot Thanksgiving meal to a church packed with grateful neighbors and needy friends.

Looking back, we realize we received more than an appliance from a department store that day. We received a postcard from God.

What's a postcard from God? It's one of those providential, serendipitous events that appear in our lives, marriage and family—a reminder that God has not forgotten us. For us, it's like receiving a short note that reads, "Dear Cheryl and Bob, I was thinking of you today. Just thought I'd let you know. Love, Your heavenly Father."

The ways in which he sends these timely postcards are as unpredictable as they are amazing. The net effect seems always the same: to encourage and strengthen us, often when we need it the most.

Piles of unwanted junk mail are delivered daily. As catalogs, sales brochures, newspapers, and a host of other materials accumulate on our desks, our goal is to dispose of the piles as quickly as possible. In the same way, our lives, our marriages, our families, and schedules can become cluttered with carpools, shopping, taking care of kids, exercising, committee meetings, weekly deadlines, and urgent calls to make. Our goal can become simply to get through the day.

In the midst of sorting through such clutter, it's easy to overlook the simple notes our heavenly Father sends to remind us of his love. When we take the time to sort through "coincidences" of my life, we discover simple but much-needed messages reminding us, "I love you. I haven't forgotten you."

Signed, Your God.

Letters of Thankfulness

At Waukesha First Assembly, Pastor Todd has been doing a series on "Thanks Living." It has been so good and really put things into perspective for me. 
 
On Sunday, he shared some wonderful ideas on how to have a grateful heart during his sermon. One idea was to start a book and have everyone in the family take a page and write what they are thankful for in it every year.

Another was to write letters to your children each Thanksgiving telling them that you are thankful for them and why.  He said to give one copy to your child each year and put another copy in a book. They both reminded me of my "mom book."

I've never been very good at being meaningful over the years. This year I have really seen the importance and have been trying to do some meaningful things for others. This is another great way to do that. 

I'm going to write letters to my kiddos this year. I feel bad that my daughter had to wait 10 years before I started this but I plan on continuing until they are parents and grandparents themselves. 

I am so thankful for my children and I think it's time they know it. Who knows what a difference this could make in their lives? Or my life? 

I encourage you to start meaningful traditions with your children, too. The newest video game or Barbie doll is great but your time and words of affirmation are priceless. They truly are the gifts that keep giving. 

Pilgrims Coloring Sheet

http://www.thecoloringbarn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Thanksgiving-10.gif

What I Ate

THANKSGIVING EDITION

Thanksgiving is coming! Are you ready?

This is the first BIG holiday I'll be celebrating since I've joined WW. I need a plan of attack.

I'm determined to stay within my daily points and I'm hoping not to dip into my weekly points. I do realize, however, that this is a special occasion and if I use a few of my weekly points, it will be ok. It's good to treat yourself once in awhile - as long as you don't go overboard and give yourself permission to overindulge.

I think my plan is going to be to eat a light breakfast with some fruit and vegetable snacks in order to save the majority of my points for the big meal. In our family, we typically eat one big meal about 3:00 pm, so that will work out great.

For those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving more than once in the same day, God bless you. That will be a challenging day.

My biggest piece of advice is to have a plan.

If you can, try to find out what they will be serving ahead of time. If you are bringing a dish, bring something that is points-friendly. For example, a vegetable dish or a lightened up dessert. Make sure it is something you like, so that you'll know there will be one thing there you can eat with little guilt.

Plan out your meals ahead of time. I use to do this everyday when I first started WW. Every morning I would plan out what I would eat for the day. Then I stuck to it. When you are constantly making food decisions all day, your resolve can wane and temptation can hit. If it's already mapped out, you don't even have to think about it. Dish yourself up and ENJOY every bite.

Don't try to make your plan too strict. If Aunt Bernice makes a to-die-for dessert every year, incorporate it into your plan. Try to figure out the points or guesstimate if you have to. Realize your portion may not be what it was in years past. Then make it work. Skip the mashed potatoes. Omit the gravy. Do what you can to still enjoy your meal and end with your heavenly dessert.

Lastly, realize that the progress you've made so far, is going to feel so much better than a full-to-bursting stomach. It's worth it. It's worth giving up the stuffing to fit into those pants you haven't worn for a year or ten. It's worth feeling good about yourself because you made wise decisions and didn't let the turkey talk. You are worth it! Don't forget that. You are worth the sacrifice, the hard work.

A couple of miscellaneous tips:
Chew gum. When you aren't eating your meal or as soon as you're done, pop a piece of gum in your mouth.
Find someone to talk to - away from the food, preferably.
Go for a walk. Grab cousin Mary and take a walk. You'll get your exercise in, you'll get away from the food, and you'll catch up with your beloved relative.

Here is a list of Thanksgiving foods and the points WW has assigned for them (figuring out your own points plus value is best but if you truly don't know, use these values to plan your meal):

*Stuffing - 1/2 cup = 5
*Gravy:
cream - 1/4 cup = 4
canned turkey - 1 cup = 1
brown - 1/4 cup = 3
*Roast turkey - 4 oz = 4
*Mashed potatoes - 1/2 cup = 3
*Candied sweet potatoes - 1/2 cup = 5
*Green bean casserole - 1 cup = 6
*Cranberry sauce - 1/4 cup canned = 3
*Pie
pumpkin - 1 slice = 8
apple - 1 slice = 11
pecan - 1 slice = 14

Here are some yummy recipes I've posted previously on my blog if you are looking to make a lighter dessert:

*Pumpkiny Pie
*Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins
*Pumpkin Bars
*Caramel Apple Tart


Happy Thanksgiving!!

Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart

This song is a throwback to my youth and has been running through my head this week. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought it was very appropriate.

This one's for you, Kelly ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtxmSAqMtDA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Caramel Apple Tart

Ingredients:
1 Pre-made Pie Crust
4 large Granny Smith Apples
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup Sugar
1 TB Butter
Cinnamon
1 TB Caramel Topping

Instructions:
1. Place oven rack in lowest position & preheat oven to 400ºF. Place cookie sheet in oven on rack.

2. Place pie crust dough in a 10-inch round cake or tart pan. Work top edge into a decorative scallop. Chill for at least 20 minutes.

3. Peel, core and slice apples into 1/8-inch-thick slices; place in a bowl as you work and sprinkle with lemon juice.

4. Arrange apple slices in pan in circles starting on the outside rim; apple slices should overlap tightly.

5. Sprinkle sugar over tart, adding a pinch of cinnamon and dot with tablespoon of butter.

6. Bake on heated cookie sheet until apples are tender but not mushy, about 40 to 45 minutes.

7. Remove tart from oven to cool. Drizzle caramel over tart and serve.

1/6 of tart is 5 points plus

-courtesy of Kelly S.

For Your Turkey Table

Thanksgiving is next week! Can you believe that?!

Thankfully, I do not have to host a Thanksgiving dinner at my house (thanks, Mom!), but in case you do, here are some cute decorations I found for your table. Click the link under the picture to go to the tutorial and/or print the pdf.

Happy Turkey Crafting!



http://www.vintageimagecraft.com/thanksgiving-napkin-rings.html




http://www.vintageimagecraft.com/thanksgiving-place-cards.html




http://familycrafts.about.com/od/thanksgivingprintables/a/prthnksplcds.htm




http://familyfun.go.com/thanksgiving/thanksgiving-kids-table-fun/thanksgiving-printable-activity-pages/activity-placemat-807114/


************************************************

With the busiest time of the year quickly approaching and a lot of my time being taken up with REFRESH 2012, if any of you would ever like to do a guest post, I would be so THANKful!!

This is such a fun time of year. You could share a favorite recipe you like to make (it does not have to be healthy-tasty ;) or a new one you've just found.

Maybe you are working on a fun, holiday craft and would like to share a tutorial with us.

Or you could share a favorite tradition that is special to your family.

It could be anything!

Don't let yourself think that you do not have anything to share or no one would be interested, because you do and we are!

Think about it. Let me know if you are interested!

I'm excited to hear from YOU!!

(PS Just like in school, if there are no volunteers, I will be calling (on) people. I always wanted to be a teacher ... ;)

REFRESH 2012

Save the date!

Please join us for Refresh 2012 ... a day of renewal for moms on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at Waukesha First Assembly.

This one day retreat will rejuvenate you with a time for coffee and worship, fun, crafty workshops, a special speaker, lunch, mentoring from wise moms of grown children, and a special quiet time! Be watching for more details to come!

~ But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31) ~

Horn of Plenty Coloring Sheet

http://www.activity-sheets.com/coloring_page/fall/fall-16.htm

What I Ate

As I mentioned last week, being prepared and thinking ahead really helps in those "help, I'm hungry NOW!" situations.  I keep a stock of snacks on hand and in my purse for those times when I want to reach for a candy bar or bag of chips or anything within reach.

Without much fuss, I can eat one of these snacks and calm the hunger raging inside or just tide me over until the next meal.

Snacks are a necessary part of dieting.  When you wait too long between meals, your empty stomach can take over your head causing you to overeat or choose unwisely at mealtime.  So, snack away!  Don't feel guilty if you are choosing healthy, low-point foods.

Here is my list of low-point, yummy, go-to snacks:

*fruit (you can't go wrong with 0 points plus)
*Special K 90 calorie fiber bars - 2 pp (chocolate and chocolate pretzel are my favorites)
*Kellogg's caramel coconut fudge fiber bars - 3 pp (think Caramel Delites girl scout cookies - yum!)
*100 calorie PopSecret kettle corn - 3 pp
*10 Special K multigrain crackers with a WW string cheese - 3 pp
*10 Snack Factory garlic parmesan pretzel crisps - 3 pp
*14 baked tortilla chips with salsa - 3 pp
*yogurt - 4 pp (I eat the non-diet variety but it is worth every point in my book)
*1/2 cup cottage cheese with raspberries or pineapple or canned sugar free peaches - 3 pp


A day of What I Ate:

Breakfast
5 - 2 frozen waffles with strawberries and cool whip free

Snack
2 - fiber bar

Lunch
5 - Smart Ones fiesta quesadilla 
3 - 14 baked tortilla chips and salsa

Snack
0 - apple

Dinner
13 Cousin's cheesesteak sub

Dessert
3 - Skinny Cow Heavenly Crisp peanut butter candy bar

December Playdate

It has been decided! By an unanimous vote, our Christmas playdate will be on Friday, December 9. (We'll miss you, Juliann and kiddos!) 

It will be at my home at 9:30 am. Let me know if you can come and I'll send out an email with my address and directions. 

Come for a Christmas-y time and bring a friend to join in the fun, too!!

Pumpkin Bars

I had been meaning to try these bars for a while now but knew I needed something else to give them some pizzazz.

I found the sugar-free cheesecake pudding mix and decided to give it a try. I was looking for a cream cheese-like frosting and I think it did the job well.

I love how moist the bars are and am completely intrigued by the wonder of canned pumpkin.

Pumpkin Bars

1 box of Spice cake mix
15 oz can of pure pumpkin

Frosting:
1 4-serving sugar-free instant cheesecake pudding mix
1 cup skim milk
oz. Cool Whip free

Mix cake mix and pumpkin together. Spread in a greased 9x13 pan (with cooking spray). Bake according to directions on box but reduce baking time by 1-2 minutes.

Cool completely.

Stir pudding mix with milk until it starts to thicken. Add Cool Whip and stir until completely blended.

Spread on top of cooled bars.

1/12th = 4 points plus

Give Thanks ... His love endures forever

Psalm 136

 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. 
            His love endures forever. 
2 Give thanks to the God of gods. 
            His love endures forever. 
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: 
            His love endures forever.
 4 to him who alone does great wonders, 
            His love endures forever. 
5 who by his understanding made the heavens, 
            His love endures forever. 
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, 
            His love endures forever. 
7 who made the great lights— 
            His love endures forever. 
8 the sun to govern the day, 
            His love endures forever. 
9 the moon and stars to govern the night; 
            His love endures forever.

 10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt 
            His love endures forever. 
11 and brought Israel out from among them 
            His love endures forever. 
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; 
            His love endures forever.

 13 to him who divided the Red Sea[a] asunder 
            His love endures forever. 
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it, 
            His love endures forever. 
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; 
            His love endures forever.

 16 to him who led his people through the wilderness; 
            His love endures forever.

 17 to him who struck down great kings, 
            His love endures forever. 
18 and killed mighty kings— 
            His love endures forever. 
19 Sihon king of the Amorites 
            His love endures forever. 
20 and Og king of Bashan— 
            His love endures forever. 
21 and gave their land as an inheritance, 
            His love endures forever. 
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel. 
            His love endures forever.

 23 He remembered us in our low estate 
            His love endures forever. 
24 and freed us from our enemies. 
            His love endures forever. 
25 He gives food to every creature. 
            His love endures forever.

 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. 
            His love endures forever.

********************************

What if you woke up this morning and had only the things you thanked God for yesterday?
                          - Max Lucado via Twitter
 

Countdown to Christmas

Whether I want to admit it or not, Christmas is right around the corner.

Christmas CAN be the most wonderful time of the year. The hustle and bustle can damper my spirits, though, and if I'm not prepared and organized, I can be a real Grinch.

I received my iMOM email yesterday and they provided a 7 week planner to keep things organized and flowing smoothly at this most stressful time of the year.

I thought I would share it with you all, too.



http://www.imom.com/downloads/color-pdf/imom_7_week_holiday_planner_color.pdf

The link to the iMOM website is on the sidebar to the left. They have some great tips and resources. Check it out!

May you have a stress-free, enjoyable holiday season!

Turkey Coloring Sheet

http://www.free-coloring-pages.com/page/thanksgiving-22.html

What I Ate

This week I thought I would give you a quick overview of how WW works and little things I do that make it easier for me.

When you go to WW, they weigh you (big surprise) and then give you your points plus daily number depending on your weight, height, and age. This number is how many points plus you should eat in a day. (Eating less doesn't encourage weight loss; in fact, usually it slows it down.) In addition to your daily points, everyone is given 49 extra weekly points to use how they want during the week. It is your choice to use these points, if you want. You can also earn extra points by being active. They give you a chart to use to figure that out. (That definitely encourages exercise!) Every food has a points plus value and you can buy a nifty calculator to figure out this value using protein, carbohydrate, fat, and fiber information off of the packaging. All fruits and most vegetables are 0 points plus (Hallelujah!).

That is pretty much it in a nutshell.

As for myself, I try to never use my weekly points. Just knowing that they are there, oddly, is enough to keep me satisfied. But tell me I'm restricted and then that's all I think about. You can definitely use the extra points, but you will lose the weight at a slower pace. For now, my desire to drop weight quicker has outweighed my hunger or cravings. That may change.

Also, when I do exercise (I'm trying to be better at that!), I don't typically give myself extra points. Once again, my goal is to lose weight as quickly as possible. Besides, I'm not doing all that much physically, so I can't really justify it. Someday, maybe ...

I stick to my daily points target and try to eat all of my points everyday. It's not that hard to do, but there are just some days where the points really stretch and I find myself not eating them all up. Those days are few.

One other thing I try to do concerning my points is to keep myself in a similar rhythm everyday. I eat about 4 points of food for breakfast, about 8 for lunch, and leave about 12-15 for dinner (and dessert - can't forget dessert!) with some snacks in between. I am not able to do this everyday but it helps on most days to keep me on track and remembering how much I have eaten and what I have left. I started out tracking on my iPod (WW has a great app) but now just track in my head. (I'm a numbers person so this isn't all that hard, but staying with the same pattern everyday helps a lot, too.) Otherwise, I would be the type of person who eats 75% of her points for breakfast without realizing and then I would basically starve the rest of the day. I need to pace myself.

I also try not to eat past 7:00 pm. There are occasionally days when I end up eating a late supper but I really try to cut myself off by 7:00 pm. Most days I have my little dessert after dinner and that is like my grand finale for the day. After that, I know I am done eating for the day (and what a way to finish - yum!)

Planning is really the key. Have a plan of attack. Know what make really great low point snacks and keep them in the house, or wherever you are, to eat when you need something. Snack. Don't let yourself get too hungry or you will binge when you get the chance. Eat a little now to keep yourself from eating a lot later. Find meals that you like and are lower in points and keep the ingredients in the house for those days when it's 6:00 pm and you're thinking "what are we going to eat?" It will save you from the drive-thru.

I'd better stop or I will be all out of incredible insight (yeah, right) come next week.

Just know that YOU CAN DO IT! If I can, seriously, anyone can. I believe in you, now believe in yourself.


Here is a day of What I Ate:

Breakfast
3 1 cup regular Cheerios with strawberries and bananas sliced on top
1 1/2 cup skim milk

Snack

Lunch
5 Smart Ones mini cheeseburger
3 10 Pretzel Crisps
1 single serving cauliflower with cheese sauce

Snack
0 apple
1 WW string cheese

Dinner
10 4 Stuffed Shells
3 New York ciabatta garlic bread with cheese

Dessert
4 Pumpkin bar (recipe coming soon!!)

My Life as a Mom with PCOS

Today I am happy to introduce my friend, Aimee, as our guest blogger. I have known her all of her life (I'm just a tad bit older ;) and she is a faithful friend. She signed up right away to share her story with us and I'm so glad she did. Take it away, Aimee ...

**************************************************

To begin, you should know that I have been struggling with how to write this and where to start.  So, with that said I suppose I will start at the beginning, of how I became a mom.

My husband and I struggled for about four years trying to get pregnant.  At first, it wasn’t a big deal but as time passed, I couldn’t understand why.  I kept thinking “is there something wrong with me?”  I would frequently have irregular periods which sometimes would last for up to two weeks.  I never really knew if I was ovulating and as time went on I was getting really frustrated.  After three years of trying to have a baby I finally found out that I have a condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS.)  In talking with my doctor, I had come to find out that some of the symptoms of PCOS are irregular periods, weight gain and, sadly, infertility.

Once we discovered that I had PCOS I couldn’t help thinking to myself that if maybe I had found out sooner, we could possibly have had a baby by now.  At the time, it was really hard for me to see all of my friends having kids, and it hit me especially hard when my sister-in-law gave birth to my niece.  I hate to admit, but I was jealous because I felt everyone was having a baby but me.  I just knew that someday we would have a child and it would all be in God’s timing.  I really had to trust Him because He knew when we were supposed to have a child.

Getting back to infertility; upon the discovery of my PCOS, my OB referred me to a fertility specialist.  My husband and I met with him and he shared with me me some things I needed to do that would help us have a child.  For starters, he told me that I needed to walk two miles a day to help me lose some of the weight I had gained from the PCOS.  Additionally, I was put on a drug called Metformine which is actually a drug used for diabetes, but is also known to help with infertility caused by PCOS.  I began to do all the things my fertility doctor had told me to do, walking two miles a day, working on losing weight, and taking the medication.  After eight months, however, it seemed like the new regimen was not helping.   As time went on and I kept not getting pregnant, it was the opinion of my fertility specialist that our next steps would likely need to be some more drastic treatment, like IVF.   At this point, after some frustration, my husband and I decided I should take some time off from taking the medicine.  We wanted to spend some time praying for God’s plan.  About a month and a half later, I got pregnant!

Finally getting pregnant was a miracle from God.  He is the only one who knows when the time is right. Somehow, Russell knew I was pregnant before I even knew for sure.  I was so excited when I found out (shocker, I know.)  It was a Friday and I had just gotten home from work and decided to take a pregnancy test.  My father-in-law was at our house replacing the sink in our bathroom, so I had to take a test after he left to get some parts at the store.  As soon as I saw the positive result of the test, I texted Russell.  He was in a meeting giving a presentation, read the text and told his boss “sorry but I’ve gotta go!”  He showed his boss the text, gave him a high five and left.  When Russell got home, we went to get my blood drawn and we received the positive news the following morning.  As soon as we knew it was a positive blood draw we went straight to tell our parents.  It was really hard not to tell our friends right away, but I wanted to wait until we saw the Dr.

After a few weeks, we finally got to go to the doctor and see our little baby’s heartbeat.  What a miracle our baby was, and I don’t know what my life would be like today if he was not here.  A few months later, we found out this child growing inside me was a boy, and we were both overjoyed. 

The only part of the story that is missing is how we came upon the name Cullen Matthew.  Cullen means “handsome” and Matthew means “gift from God.”  He truly is our handsome little gift from God!  Cullen means more to me than anything in the world and I thank God every single day for the life he has entrusted me with.

I hope this will give hope to those who have may have similar trouble with infertility.  Always remember, if you put your faith and trust in God ANYTHING can happen.  I am glad that I can share my story with you!

Love,

Aimee

************************************************

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Aimee! We are so glad God blessed you with little Cullen Matthew!