Why are you on a diet???

This weekend was jamm packed full of activites.  There was a goodbye party, a kids birthday party, a housewarming party, and to top it off it was a 3 day weekend!  I'm still on the cleanse so I didn't want to attend these parties.  I knew there would be lots of food and adult beverages, the temptation would be too much.  I dint trust myself to go and be good.  So I opted out of ALL the activites.  Since I sidn that I couldn't make it to all of them, I started getting questioned about not going.  I told everyone thr truth , I'm eating clean for 24 days and I really want to stay on tract.  Many people tried to talk me into it, mentioned that I didn't have to drink or eat, said I should just stop by, but the biggest question I got was "why are you on a diet?"  

I'm totally aware of what I look like. I know that for someone to just look at me , me saying that I'm on a diet is pretty laughable.  What everyone doesn't know is how unhealthy I was.  I would constantly drink coke, I hate vegetables, I eat whatever, I snack all the time, and have I no regarard for nutrion. I needed a lifestyle change.  How could I teach my kids too eat well if I didn't practice the same things?  That's when I decided to do a clean eating "diet" for 24 days.  It is strict, however I think it's the jump start I need to make a lifestyle change.  In the week that I have been doing this cleanse I see so much has changed.  Even just going to the grocery store, I read more labels and find myself generally only shopping on the perimeter of the store.  

My meals over the weekend were mostly the same.  I tried a couple new things.  I did buy a NuWave infrared oven!!  We've been trying it out with a couple recipes.  One of my faves was some sweet potato fries.  Even the kids liked them!  So easy and quick to make.

:: New Toy::

:: sweet potato fries | seasoned with cinnamon, ginger, and coconut oil ::

* ketchup was there for the kids :)

So long to my roaring 20s....

It happened! I turned 30!  Geeze, when I was young it felt like 30 was 2 lifetimes away.  Now it's here....it's really here.  I'm really thankful for this birthday.  First off, thankful I made it to this age.  Tomorrow is never gauranteed so another day is another blessing.  I'm thankful to have a wonderful husband who is loving, helpful, and that provides a comfortable lifestyle that gives me the opportunity to stay at home with our children.  I'm thankful for my 2 beautiful and healthy kids.  Some days they make me want to tear my hair out, but they always find a way to melt my heart. 

Life is good.  I'm at a good place and I'm loving life.  During my 20s. I learned a lot.  I changed so much from 20 to 29!  A lot happened...I learned a lot.  I lived in Washington state, we bought our first home, we short sales our first home, I had Amelia, I moved to Japan, I had Nolan, changed my last name, got into credit card debt, got out of credit card debt, traveled to Hokkaido, traveled to Thailand, traveld to the states, and many more experiences I can't think of.  If you asked me 10 years ago how i thought my life would be at 30, I would haven't even been close to where I am now.   Here I am a full fledge adult!  I understand it's all the rage these days. Haha. I'm really looking forward to the next 30 years of my life.  If time keeps flying at this rate I'm sure it won't be long.

Well the plan for my birthday was pretty low key.  I just wanted to go out to dinner with Morgan and then the night after a dinner out with the ladies.  So I went to my friend Melliza's house to drop off the kids for her to babysit and there it was a SURPRISE PARTY!!!  All our friends were there.  I was so shocked, I didn't expect anything like this.  I even was tearing up.  I'm such a sap.  I had an awesome time, couldn't have asked for more.  It was a great way to bring in my 30s.  

Elf on a Shelf

This was the first year that we used the elves.  The local exchanges don't sell THE elf on a shelf so we bought ours from someone else.  I was interested for a long time but thought Amelia was too young.  She is 4 now and I thought it would be the perfect time to start.   We got the elves, one boy for Nolan and one girl for Amelia.  We got the movie and watched it the night before they made their debut.   It was defiantly a challenge to set them up nightly.  MANY times we forgot and had to think of a quick placement .  I think she loved it though.  Every morning she would race around the house and look for them.  She even cried when she had to say bye.  So final verdict, we are keeping them as a family tradition.  It's fun and who doesn't love elves?