A day late and a dollar short.

Make that a week late.

Cause who doesn't love a good holiday recap post.

Especially one that's late to the party.

Oops.  My bad.

I'll make it short and sweet!

We colored eggs!

Thankfully only 8.  Because they're all still sitting in my fridge.

What can I say, we aren't big egg eaters around here.

They sure did look good though!

The bunny brought more swag than Santa.

This was just the basket from mom and dad.

There were THREE others between all the grandparents.

Can you say spoiled?!

The theme of the year was definitely CARS!

If it had Mater or Lightening McQueen on it, he got it.

Oh.  And fruit snacks in his eggs.

HUGE hit!

My dad baked the cutest Easter egg nest cupcakes.

From scratch.

Just call him Betty Crocker!

We may or may not have put the leftover buttercream frosting on our waffles for breakfast.

Let's just say I didn't count points that day! 

 We headed over to the Country Club where Uncle Matt works to meet the Bunny.

Compared to last year where Jamie wouldn't come within 5 miles of him, I'd say it was a huge improvement!

While we waited for the big hunt to start, I managed to get our annual family picture!

Not our best, but believe me, compared to Easter's past.....definitely not our worst!

 Jamie hunted eggs like a pro.  Seriously.  I had to do a double take as I watched him skip through the grass collecting his eggs.  Like he's been doing it for years.  Who is this big kid?!

  We ended the day eating lunch with some family friends.....eating more candy.....hunting more eggs....and running around pantless, cause when you're 2 1/2, apparently anything goes!

 

Happy {ridiculously belated} Easter!



Project MILF: 30 Day Shred {Part 3}



 

Well folks.

I did it.

I completed Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred.

And I lived to tell about it!

So many people told me how much they loved level 2

How it was their favorite level.

While in the thick of  it, I couldn't for the life of me figure out why.

All those plank moves.  And that third strength circuit just about killed me.

Well then I moved onto level 3.

{womp womp}

Kind of a let down.

There was much more focus on strength and a little less on cardio.  I was so used to practically dying and being sweaty and out of breath by the end that this last level didn't feel like as much of a workout.  I'm not sure if level 3 seemed so easy because I was stronger, or it really was just a step down.  I think it was a combination of both.  Either way, I finally understood the level 2 love!

Now for my confession.

I weigh pretty much the exact same thing. The first two weeks I stayed the same. The next week I had a big loss only to follow it up by gaining it all back the next week putting me right back where I'd started. To say I was pissed would be the understatement of the century.  For over a year I consistently lost weight doing nothing but changing my eating habits.  I finally start working out hoping to watch those last few pounds just fall off putting me at goal and instead I lose nothing for 30 days??  I busted my ass for weeks and the scale did nothing??  I was doubting the program and for the first time in 14 months wanted to quit and just be done.  I was feeling pretty defeated.

Not to mention all this intense working out flared up the bulging disc in my lower back.  {I know, I'm an old lady}

By Day 25 I couldn't do one more day without potentially injuring myself further.

So I took 2 days off to rest and recoop.  Both physically and mentally.  I needed a break.

Honestly?  I thought rest was an important part of working out and was always a little shocked they didn't build any off days into the program.  Then again, I'm no trainer, what do I know.  But I was smart enough to listen to my body and say enough.  Besides, 28 days out of 30 is nothing to be ashamed of!  And I'm pretty pleased with the results!  Further proof that just because the scale isn't moving, your body is still changing! 

 Not to shabby for 30 days if I do say so myself!

Am I "shredded?"  No.

Do I have a 6 pack or big guns?  No.

But the wasn't the point for me.

I wanted to get into a regular workout routine and start toning some of my trouble spots.

Mission definitely accomplished!

Now if only I could figure out to get rid of those dimples on my ass.

Damn cellulite.

So what's next?

I've definitely caught the workout bug!

Finally!  Only took 14 months!

I have THREE more Jillian DVDs on the way and I can't wait to try them out.

One is similar to the Shred, quick 20ish minute workouts perfect for days I work or am short on time.

The other two are longer and I'm looking forward to building up some endurance.

I'm not going to go all balls to the wall and workout so many consecutive days.  My body needs a little rest thrown in.  So does my sanity.

Andplusalso?  When the weather finally warms up I'm going to start the couch to 5K program.  I never pegged myself as a runner, but I at least want to give it a try. See what I think.

In the meantime, I'm going to pray mother nature gets with the program so maybe I can rock that swimsuit somewhere other than my bathroom!

TGI{almost}F

Project MILF: 30 Day Shred {Part 2}

Has it already been another 10 days??
This is flying by!
As of Sunday I'm 2/3 through my 30 Day Shred Challenge!
Can I get a hell yeah?!
{chest bump}
Level two was no joke.
Jillian does NOT mess around.
I remember being so excited to be done with level one and those stupid bicycle crunches.
LOL.  Jokes on me.
The first day I did level 2 I spent a good portion of it just starting at the screen with my mouth open.
You want me to do what?!?
During one of the ab moves, I actually CHOSE to do the bicycle crunches instead of the torture move she was suggesting.
As the days went on though, just like with level one, I found the moves easier and easier.
By day 10 I could {almost} make it entirely through the workout with out any pauses.
Those stupid plank jacks at the end got me every time.
I felt like this level got my heart rate up alot more than level one.
I was usually pouring sweat and gasping for breath by the end.
Good news is?  My muscles weren't jelly and sore for days this go around.
Probably means I need to step up from my wimpy 2lb weights!
Here's how things are shaping up after day 20:

I haven't noticed as drastic as a difference body wise between Day 10 and Day 20 as I did in the first 10 days..
Oddly enough, I actually had a {very slight} gain during level one when I saw more inches lost.  By the end of level 2 however, I had finally broken through my 2 week plateau with an almost 4 lb loss and hit my 100 pound mark!  Just proves that even though the scale isn't budging your body can totally be changing!  So don't get discouraged and stick with it!
Bring on level three!!
 

Obligatory Bloglovin Post

 

 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

 

By now I'm sure you've all heard that Google is shutting down their reader as of July 1st, 2013.

So along with what seems the vast majority, I've made the switch to Bloglovin.

Click on the link above if you don't want to miss a beat.

Hope to see you all tag along!

Friday Confessional

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.mrandmrseyecansee.blogspot.com" title="The Juice is Worth the Squeeze" target="_blank"><img src="http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg287/emsrdh03/confessionsbutton2.png" alt="The Juice is Worth the Squeeze" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

I'm not working today, but sent Jamie to school anyways.  He's transitioning into Preschool this week so we had to pay for all five days.  Might as well use them!  I think I'm going to get Starbucks.  And a pedicure.  And aimlessly roam the aisles of Target for hours.  I.cannot.wait!  MOMS DAY OFF!

I get really geeky excited when I come across an adult man who goes by Jamie.  Sure Jamie is really James....and people just assume when he gets older, he'll go by that.  But I secretly hope he stays Jamie forever.  He probably always will to me.

Speaking of names.  I keep a running list of potential baby names on my phone.  You know, for that future baby I'm not even pregnant with.  At the moment, they're all boy names.  As hard of a time as we had agreeing the first time around, I figure if we start now we *might* have it narrowed down by the time there's an actual human involved.

Last week when the new Twilight movie was released, we totally watched it.  I don't even like Twilight but I had to see how it ended.  Kind of like a train wreck, I just HAD to look.

If I sub at an office that has nice toothbrushes, or some toothpaste I haven't tried yet.  I always take some.  Pretty sure I haven't actually paid for a toothbrush since college.

I still have a snowman plate sitting out in the kitchen.  Along with St. Patty's Day AND Easter decor.  My house is horribly confused as to what holiday we're supposed to be celebrating.  Quite frankly, so am I.

I found Jamie snacking on dog food.  Again.  And before I stopped him, I took a picture.  Priorities people.  I needed photographic evidence of this for future blackmail.

I got some of those Tide laundry detergent pod things and they're awesome.  I seriously sniff my clothes every time I get dressed now.  You know you're officially old when a new detergent excites you.

I bought fruit snacks for Jamie to share at school for Valentine's Day.  NEVER AGAIN!  I don't care if he thinks I'm a mean mom.  Since then all he does is whine and cry for fruit snacks.  They're like glorified gummy bears and he bounces off the walls like a kid on crack after he eats them.  Hell no.

I feel like everyone is busting a nut over Mumford and Sons.  Their music is ok.  I don't hate it.  But I don't get the obsession.

When I was getting married, those sexy Boudoir Pictures were all the rage.  I thought they were stupid.  Probably because I didn't feel sexy enough to ever do them.  Well folks, I'm eating my words now.  A Groupon came up in my inbox and it was an offer I couldn't refuse.  So when I finish the 30 Day Shred and reach my goal I'm taking it all off.  But I'm not doing it for my husband.  I'm doing them for me.  If he's lucky, I'll let him sneak a peak.

All right folks.
Off to enjoy my CHILD FREE 80 degree day off!
Happy Friday!

Tasty Tuesday: Red Velvet Better Than Sex Cake

I feel like all the recipes I post are main dishes,

which is great and all, but I thought I mix it up with a little dessert.

Cause who doesn't LOVE dessert?

Best part about this one?  It won't ruin your waistline.

And? 

 It's ah-mazing. 

So amazing that I made it one week to take to a friends house and the husband promptly requested that I make it again the following week.

Yep.  It's just that good.

Is it better than sex?  Well....I'll let you be the judge of that!

 

Photo Courtesy of No Thanks to Cake.com

 

Red Velvet Better Than Sex Cake

original recipe found here

what you need

1 box red velvet cake mix

1 can diet coke

2 boxes Sugar Free Fat Free Cheesecake pudding

4 cups skim milk

1 tub cool whip (lite or fat free) thawed

10 oreos

 

what you do

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare a 9x13 baking dish using cooking spray made for baking.

 

2. Combine red velvet cake mix and diet coke using a mixer.

 

3. Cook the cake per the box instructions, testing it with a cake tester upon removing it from the oven.  Remove the cake to a wire cooking rack for a few minutes.

 

4.  In a separate bowl, mix the pudding and milk with a wire whisk.  Mix until it begins to thicken, but do not allow it to completely set.

 

5.  After removing the cake from the oven, find a wooden spoon to use to create holes in the cake.

 

6. Pour the pudding mixture over the cake and fill in all the holes.  Place the cake in the refrigerator to cool completely and for the pudding to set.  All it to cool at least 2 hours.

 

7.  Shortly before you are ready to serve the cake, remove it from the fridge and add the cool whip on top of the pudding mixture.

 

8.  Place the oreos in a back and crush the cookies.  Sprinkle on top of the cake.

 

9.  Cover and return to the fridge until you are ready to serve the cake.

 

Makes 18 servings

4 point plus per serving

Bon Appetite!

When's my turn?





Right after Jamie turned two I got the fever.

The baby fever.

Bad.

Real Bad.

But we decided it wasn't time.

We still had a few ducks to get in a row.

So we picked March as the go time for Baby EyeCanSee 2.0

It gave me plenty of time to get to my weight loss goal.

Jamie would be 2 1/2 and moving into the preschool room {hello HUGE price break!!}

During open enrollment I signed up for short term disability so I could actually take 12 weeks off {PAID!!!} this time around instead of the 6 unpaid weeks I got last time.

We'd have some more big bills paid off so we could swing two in daycare.

It meant having a winter or spring baby so I wouldn't have to be SUPER pregnant during the summer again.

Most importantly...

We were ready.

Ready to expand our family.

Everything seemed to be falling into place.

All I had to do was patiently wait a few more months.

And then the hammer fell.

I lost my job.

And everything went out the window.

And now here it is.

March.

And let it be known there will be no attempted baby making going on this month.

I'd be lying if I said my heart wasn't broken.

Of all the crap that's come with unemployment,

this probably stings the most.

I'm trying to put my focus into something else.

If letting Jillian Michael's kick my ass for the next 30 days keeps my mind off it?

So be it. 

I'm trying to be excited that I will get to enjoy my new skinny physique this summer instead of trying to dress a growing bump.

I'm trying to listen to my husband who says it's not the end of the world.

That we will get our time.

But I just can't shake the no baby blues.

I feel like the clock is ticking.

I'm not getting any younger and we had a plan!

Well, you know what they say.

When you make plans, God laughs.

Well He's having a good chuckle up there over this one then.

I sure wish I knew what His plan was.

Maybe it would help put my mama heart at ease.

It doesn't help that it seems the entire world is pregnant.

Or recently had a baby.

Each announcement that comes my way is one more reminder that won't be us anytime soon.

I can't help but sit here and wonder....

when's it going to be my turn?