Holiday Bucket List

So, my friend Erin (fellow b/g twin mom life, love and lagniappe) posted this awesome holiday bucket list last year for her almost 2 year olds. After reading it, I could NOT WAIT for this year so I could steal her idea ;) I LOVE this time of year and wish it lasted longer than a month :( So because I'm tired and a little lazy, I literally copied and pasted the bucket list from the Ortuzars!

Holiday Bucket List

This year since the bambinos are two, I wanted to try and do as many holiday / winter things as we could this Christmas season. I want to start creating some family traditions and it is SO fun to see their little faces get all excited about something new and magical. I found a Winter Bucket List on pinterest that I thought could be a start for some fun and exciting things to do with the kids. I've added a few of my own ideas on it. Here are some things that we are going to try to get to before Christmas gets here (which is fast approaching, by the way).

1. Elf on the Shelf. I LOVE this tradition. If you don't know this story, you can check it out here. Now, I'm not sure if the kiddos will really get into it this year, but we'll see. 

2. Bake and decorate Christmas cookies

3. Go to see Santa.

4. Decorate the Christmas tree as a family.

5. Go ice skating

6. Make / decorate a Gingerbread house

7. Give a gift / toy to a child in need.

8. Go for a carriage ride.

9. See the Nutcracker

10. Make fireplace s'mores.

11. Watch Christmas movies

12. Write a letter to Santa

13. Make Reindeer Food

14. Leave cookies and milk out for Santa.

15. Go look at Christmas lights.

16. Drink hot chocolate with marshmallows

17. Go to a Christmas program / play

18. Get new Christmas jahmmies

19. Go see a live Nativity

20. Read the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible.

I'll be posting some pictures and stories of our adventures of our Bucket List!

 

Much Love,

Candice

Max & Emma: A Year in Photos

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Well hello there 120's, it's been a while!

That's right folks... I am officially in the 120's again (129, but still)! It's been over 5 years, maybe even longer since I have been able to honestly say that! Super pumped about it! While I am proud of myself for reaching this "goal" (I use this term lightly as I am not really concerned with the number on the scale as I am with the reflection in the mirror), I still feel like I have a ways to go. I don't think I have an unhealthy body image or unrealistic expectations, but there is definitely a certain way that I hope to look (flatter stomach, thinner legs, less cellulite, blah blah blah, same as every woman in America, right?!) Here is a side by side comparison from when I started Ripped in 30 two weeks ago, and today (just completed week 2).

 

 

 

It's hard to really see a difference, but when you compare it to where I started back in June, you can definitely see the changes.

(still shudder when I look at these - yuck!)

I love seeing my body change and feeling it get stronger and knowing that I am breaking through barriers and setting personal bests, it's very empowering! I wasn't sure if I would really be able to do this whole half marathon thing, but low and behold I ran 6.2 miles the other day (granted it was on a treadmill b/c it was raining), but I couldn't believe it when I moved the towel and saw that I had ran 1.2 miles more than what I had set out to do! (on a side note, in case you were wondering, I always put a towel over the treadmill tracker b/c seeing the time and distance always psychs me out) And the really incredible part was that I could have kept going! I know, right! But alas, I had been running for 68 minutes and needed to go pick up my babies, or believe me I would have kept going just to see how far my legs would take me! I may be slow as all get out, but at least I am running the.whole.time! I am thinking about running a 10K before I take on the half - we'll see. In the meantime, my goal is to work up to 10-11 miles before the half (never knew this, but apparently you don't actually run a bunch of half marathons to train for the half), I've been told 10-11 miles is all you need to work up to, and on the day of the race, your adrenaline and body will carry you the rest of the way to the finish - I sure hope so!

Anyways, I attribute good music on my run mix to being able to "just keep running", but am always looking for more songs to add to the playlist and would love to know what your favorite running/workout songs are? What's on your playlist?

Keep Calm and Run On :)

ABCs at the Miksovskys

So, since Max and Emma have been out of MDO for nearly 6 weeks, things started to get a little boring around here. It's been too hot to go outside (for longer than 20 min), not to mention the mosquitos, and I'm not crazy enough to take them with me by myself to places like the zoo, or arboretum, ect - I did mention that they are almost 2 right?! Heck, we don't even go out to eat anymore b/c it's become such a beat down! Please tell me we are not the only ones dealing with this wonderful independant, attention span of 2 seconds, phase of life x 2!

Anywho, through the joy of Pinterest and numerous blogs and website out there, I took it upon myself to do a little toddler school at home. At first, we started off with colors, and nature walks, and talking about Jesus and God and all the things God made. Then I decided to start doing a letter a week, with coordinating books and crafts - why not right?! So about 4 weeks ago, we started with A, then B, and C, and you get the picture. Here's some of what we've done:

 

Fun times with balloons

 

 

 Painting crabs

 D is for dog

 

Walk to the park to feed the ducks

 

 

 Making ducks (we ended up gluing on the feathers that we collected on our walk)

 

 

 Drum Jam Session

 

And here are some of the books we read...

 

 

We also threw in a couple Bubble Guppie episodes that cooresponded to the letter of the week (they freakin love that show!)

 

 

we watched:

 

Gup Gup and Away (Airplanes)

Build me a Building

Have a Cow

Happy Clam Day

The Spring Chicken is Coming

The Cowgirl Parade

Can you Dig It?

Ducks in a Row

We Totally Rock (Drums)

 

 

We also learned the Baby Bumblebee song, the chicken dance, marched around the house while singing the ants go marching, watched funny dog, cat, and baby videos on you tube, predended to be dinosaurs, cats, dogs and ducks and looked for airplanes and clouds in the sky, and had a dance party :) We also attempted to learn the signs for the letters, but a was pretty much the only one they could do. They have had a lot of fun going to the library every week, coloring and playing "school" at home. We are on E this week (last week we left for Wimberley on Thursday and they started real school, so we didn't get around to doing anything). Gotta love Pinterest and amazing websites with great ideas, cause if it was up to me to come up with all this stuff, it probably wouldn't happen!

 

 

 

 

Ripped in 30 - Week 1 Down!

That's right - I not only suffered through the 30 Day Shred, I have also made my way through week one of Ripped in 30, and I gotta tell ya, that Jillian isn't messin around! Whew! Here are the pics from day 1:

Here's the deets:
weight - 133 lbs
arms - 11"
belly - 34 1/2"
booty - 38"
legs - 22 1/2"
under boobs - 29 1/2"
boobs - 38"

*all measurements were taken on the left side and at the widest point.

Now I have to tell you, I kind of went balls to the walls Thursday through Sunday (drive to Wimbo, floating the river, eating at the Gristmill, complementory hot bfast at the hotel, wings and fries and aggie football, only to be followed by beer, beer, nachos, beer, and more football at the Texas State game, oh and who could forget the Buc-cees beaver nugs! ), whew! Needless to say, my body was in no way used to the crap that I was putting in it, it's a wonder I survived the weekend! Anywho, all that to say that I don't really want to weigh myself at the moment or take any pics, but I did start week 2 of Ripped today and plan to post a pic after week 2 :) I did however weigh myself on Friday and was super pumped to see I was at 130.4! Soooooooooo close to the 120s I can taste it - although probably not quite as close anymore! But hey, I had fun! Here's to a week of getting back on the wagon and kickin week 2's butt! Oh and I move on up to 5 mile runs - thank God for the cooler weather that blew in! Here are some fun pics from the weekend...

Alyson and I at Sean Patricks for some pre-game grub

 

Alumni tent

Eat 'em up cats!

Why does my head always seem so small in pics?

 

I know Jason has more pics on his phone so, I will edit and add more pics later,

 

A work in progress...

Soooo, I have officially completed Step 1 of MM and the 30 er 35 day Shred (I may have skipped a day here and there, what can I say, I'm not perfect!). Here are my before stats and pics:

Start of MM - June 25
 weight - 148 (didn't take measurements)

Start of 30 Day Shred - July 24
weight - 144
arm - 11 1/2"
pouch (under belly button baby pouch) - 37"
booty - 40"
leg - 23 1/2"
boobs - 38 1/2"
under boobs - 31 1/2"

*all measurements were taken on the left side and at the fattest widest part.

End of Step 1 and 30 Day Shred - Aug 27 (although I am continuing with Step 1 through Sept. 5)
weight - 132.5
arm - 11"
pouch - 34 1/2"
booty - 38"
leg - 22 1/2"
boobs - 38"
under boobs - 29 1/2"

That's a total loss of 11 1/2 lbs. and 8 1/2"! I'll take it!

 

As I mentioned above, I plan on staying on Step 1 of MM until Sept 5th, because I know I slipped up here and there over the course of Step 1 and we will be leaving for Wimbo/San Marcos on Sept 6th and I have NO intention on being on any kind of diet while I'm down there - I envision delicious food from the Gristmill, mouth watering cheese enchiladas from Herberts, juicy hamburgers and fries from the Tap Room, stadium/tailgating food at the game, and of course we can't forget the beer, I'm sure I will have my fair share of that as well! So, when we return on Sept 10th, I will do a 10 day detox in Step 1 and start Step 2 fresh on Sept 20th (which I plan to be on indefinitely). Since I completed the shred, I am going to start the Ripped in 30 workout today (gotta love Jillian), so stay tuned for progress pics of that - I think I am going to take one weekly. Can't wait to see the 120s again - I'm so close!

You may also remember that I started the C25K a while back and am now running 3-4 miles on the regular about 4 days a week! I used to hate running outside - heck I hated running period, but now I love the way I feel after running - even if I still hate it for the first mile, every.single.time! But I did run a whoppin 4 1/2 miles last night - woot woot! I'm a work in progress. I have apparently inspired Jason to start workin on his fitness as well, and grrr I just hate men sometimes! He works out for a week and is already all firmed up - guys have it so easy! I want to run in my first 5K, but think I may wait until it gets a little cooler less hot outside. Then I think I may try and work my way up to 5 miles, then a 10K, and maybe even a half marathon in December- we'll see. If Mama Laughlin can do it, then so can I right?!

DIY Play Kitchen

Lately I have really been channeling my inner Martha Stuart, June Cleaver, and Betty Crocker in an attempt to try and master this whole "stay at home mom" business that I'm in. We can all thank Pinterest for simultaneously making us feel less about ourselves while at the same time fueling our creativity and motivating us to achieve more, do more, and create more, be it skinny dinner recipes, decadent desserts, or diy projects for the home. I really should show you some of the failed attempts sometime, it is really something to behold! Here is my latest (and subsequent greatest) Pinspiration achievement, behold the DIY Play Kitchen...

Jason and I really are quite proud of our little labor of love here! I knew I wanted to get the babies (hmm, I guess at some point I have to stop calling them that, after all they are almost 2!) a play kitchen, but A) couldn't really find one I really liked and B) they are freakin expensive yo! So... enter the awesome power of Pinterest. I typed in play kitchen, and photo after glorious photo popped up with the most elaborate and amazing DIY play kitchens, all with step by step instructions. So, I picked one I really liked and that would fit nicely into our home and went from there. Here was the "Pin"spiration:

Click here for link to see this inspirational kitchen

I really tried my best to copy it, and overall, I think I came pretty close - what do you think? After everything was said and done, I think we ended up spending about $65 on it - much better than the $300 Potterybarn kitchen! Here are a couple pics of the evolution of the play kitchen:

$15 TV Stand found on Craigslist

Chopped off the top

Sanded it all down (thank you Jesus for electric sanders!)

Jason cut a hole for the sink and I pained on some oven burners

Painted everything (we used paint we already had)

Microwave door - I used stickers for the numbers and slapped on some Mod Podge to make sure little hands didn't peel them off or scratch up the paint!

She's just about ready to be all assembled

Jason got the sink and handles all glued in place

We screwed the stove knobs and attached the doors and shelves

stocked the shelves with some kitchen ware goodies

and voila!

Now we just had to hope that Max and Emma would like it...

Max just happen to be in a "mood" for the reveal :(

Nailed it! :)



My Little Miracle...

No, for once I'm not referring to one of my precious babies! So, I was reading through my daily blogs one afternoon in June and came across this little post on one of my fellow mom of multiples' blog:
Stacee's Pieces Blog - Metabolism Miracle

And OMG - I felt like she was writing it for me! I had to know more info, so I went on Amazon, pretty much immediately, and ordered the book and the cookbook. A few days later they came in the mail and I read that sucker cover to cover and was floored by all the information and how closely it seemed to resemble my issues. In the words of Suz, have you ever found something that just “works” and you want to shout it from the rooftops?…
I believe I have found “that thing” that works for me.

Take a look at these photos of me from the end of May (just before starting MM) and one from today (after 7 weeks on MM - please don't make fun of me, I know I'm fat, that's why I'm doing this):

(Ugh, must tell the hubs not to include my face!)

Some of you know that I have been struggling with my thyroid for a little over a year (I was diagnosed with post-pregnancy hypothyroidism about a year ago), and my doctor finally found the magic amount of Synthroid that works with my body and has kept me in the "normal" range for about 5 months now! What that means is that my hormones will start to level out and my metabolism will speed back up, and theoretically, I should be able to lose the weight I gained from this whole thing. However, I started to get frustrated that what I was doing, and what had always seemed to work in the past (calories in/calories out - working off more calories than you take in) was not working, and it wasn't until reading Diane's book that I finally realized why!
Over the past 7 weeks, I have adjusted my eating patterns based upon the guidelines in the book: The Metabolism Miracle~ written by Diane Kress, RD, CDE, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator.
I have had some amazing results--- more than just physical changes---I FEEL better all around (more energy, no cravings, happier)!

Here are some of the KEY phrases that jumped right out at me and slapped me in the face:

• fatigue & tire easily (like tired all the time, even after getting 7+ hrs of sleep)
• gain weight easily and find it difficult to lose (only since the babies were born) 
• diets that have worked in the past fail you (not that I'm a "dieter" but the standard calories in calories out application was not working)
• people around you can eat more and yet weigh less than you (ah-hem, Jason) 
• mild depression, anxiety, irritability, short fuse (super fun to be around~ tee hee)
• cravings for sweets, candy, bread, pasta or chips
• midline fat around the waist regardless of your efforts (again, I thought this was because I carried twins around for 8 months)
• decreased libido
• you feel an energy slump late in the afternoon
• have trouble sleeping
• have racing thoughts
• often forgetful and worry about your short-term memory
• bright light or headlights at night bother you
• have frequent dull headaches
• infertility issues
• hypothyroidism

If you have the majority of these symptoms, then you likely have something the author calls Metabolism B or Met B (which is different from “normal” peoples’ metabolism).

“Individuals with Met B will never succeed at following a traditional weight-loss diet because their alternative metabolism follows a different set of rules than those of the standard metabolism.”

It is something that you are born with---45% of those struggling to lose weight were BORN with the genetic predisposition to Met B. (Update: The present day percentage has increased from 45% to 55%! YIKES!)

Health conditions that are linked to Met B:
(I have the ones in bold)

• ADD or ADHD
• anxiety or panic attacks
• elevated cholesterol
• chronic fatigue
• mild depression
• prediabetes
• type 2 diabetes
• gestational diabetes
• fibromyalgia
• GERD (gastric reflux disease)
• high blood pressure/hypertension
• hypoglycemia
• hypothyroidism
• infertility related to hormone imbalance
• metabolic syndrome
• midline fat deposits (a roll around your middle) and increasing weight without increasing food intake
• osteoarthritis
• osteoporosis (I have low bone density - a precursor to osteoporosis)
• PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
• sleep apnea
• sleep disturbances

If you or a relative currently has or has had several of the medical conditions listed above, then you likely have Met B. Crazy, huh?! Is this hitting home with any of you??? Especially those of you who had trouble getting pregnant. It sure did for me.

I actually cried the first time I was reading this book. For the first time EVERRRRR, I felt like someone actually GETS ME! I just kept telling Jason all the things I was reading. Once I understood what was going on inside of my body (the relationship between my liver & pancreas…how my pancreas overreacts and releases excess insulin) it all made perfect sense. You’ll have to read more about it…Diane explains it beautifully in the book. I think my mom and dad were both pretty skeptical, but when they saw me a few weeks ago after having been on the MM plan for only 4 weeks, they sure noticed a definite difference in my overall appearance.

So, about the plan:
There are 3 steps with The Metabolism Miracle. I am currently in step 1 (Until Sept. 5th).

STEP 1
8 wks~ A low-carb period to rest your overworked pancreas and liver while shrinking fat cells. Your energy will soar and you’ll feel content. You will lose weight and your belly fat will slim down. Cholesterol, trigylcerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure all decrease. Oh, and I LOVE that you do not weigh yourself for 8 weeks! So liberating. I AM NOT DEFINED BY A NUMBER ON SCALE, amen?! (I should also note, that I inadvertently made a few mistakes with some food choices and had 2 planned slip ups and subsequently had to tack on extra days to my step 1 phase.)

STEP 2
8 wks or longer until you reach your desired weight~ Reintroduce healthy carbohydrates in the proper amount and at the right time, to promote continued fat burning and weight loss. Gently restart your rested pancreas and liver.

STEP 3
Lifetime weight maintenance~ Opening your diet to more carbohydrates, including the treats that you may have been missing on Steps 1 & 2. Keeping your health and energy levels in tip-top shape and maintaining your weight loss permanently.

Other things that I LOVE about this way of life:

~ EXERCISE: Intense exercise isn’t necessary! 30 minutes of increased activity (it can be broken up throughout the day), 5 days a week. A light bike ride, walk around the neighborhood, swim in the pool, etc. I actually decided to start the 30 day shred (again), but fully intent on finishing it this time, I am currently half way through it! I also went to my first Zumba class the other day, and have also been working on endurance running. I can currently run about 3 miles before I completely die! I'm thinking of starting the Insanity workout once I am finished with the Shred.

~ SLIP UPS: For a specific party or special occasion (a one time thing), don’t change anything during the day to compensate for the party. Enjoy the party, eat what you want and then return to your plan by eating an appropriate snack before bedtime that very night! (no more than 1 slip up a week) I did this for my dad's 60th birthday last month and just had to add on 3 days to my step 1.

For a long weekend, holiday, or vacation~ eat what you want and then as soon as you get home, go through a quick 10 day detox (Step 1), followed by 10 days of reprogramming (Step 2). SUPER EASY and you don’t have to feel guilty. The trick is PLANNING for the slip up, and planning for the clean up afterward as well.
TOTALLY doable, right?!

~ HEALTHY FOODS: I don’t have to buy any expensive diet shakes or weight-loss products. It is a rounded diet full of healthy veggies, protein, good fats, good carbs, etc.

My fav things to eat on Step 1:

• nuts (more specifically, Emerald Cocoa Roasted Almonds, OMG YUM-O!)
• cheese
• veggies (you will not believe the versatility of cauliflower and/or spaghetti squash!)
• meats
• salads
• low carb bread and tortillas (no specialty store needed, Sara Lee and Mission made 'em!)

You can also have diet sodas, coffee, liquor and wine! I bought The Metabolism Miracle Cookbook that has tons of recipes. I NEED MY SWEETS and I always make sure to have plenty of the peanut butter cookies on hand. I also joined the Miracle-Ville website, which has been INVALUABLE! There are women (and men I'm sure) that are full of support, advice, tips, recipes, etc! Even if you just joining for 1 month, it will be SOOOOOOO worth it!

By following the steps in this book, I have seen remarkable improvements in my physical, emotional, and mental health~ and I am just beginning! Maybe Suz wasn't trying to necessarily lose weight, but I was, and I wanted to BE HEALTHY and feel better, ya know? Have more energy. Get that twinkle back in my eyes, some life back in my face. The weight loss and shrinking waistline are just an added bonus.

I hope that some of you reading this post will be able to relate to my situation and know that this plan can help you too! It will change your life. I promise.

Photo Bomb 18-21 months

In no particular order, here's what Max and Emma have been up to the last 4 months...

MDO School Pics 2012

Summer fun in the backyard

Just a day in the life

Birthday Party Fun

Chillin at the pool

First time at the beach!!!

My Emma Princess :)

Ft. Worth Children's Museum

Making a bday present for Gram

4th of July Parade

My sweet handsome boy :)

Water table and pool fun in the backyard!

 SAY CHEESE!