Same Journey...New Format

HI EVERYONE!  Yes...it is I, Donna, back from the depths of...well, trying to keep up with my now happy & giggly 10-month oldJ

It feels like 12 years ago since I posted about the adjustments of having a newborn, but here we are:  planning a 1-year old's birthday party and still adjusting DAILY.  I've wanted to get back to blogging for awhile, but couldn't really fathom taking time away from Katie, who changes every single dayJ  So I thought I'd change up the format here a bit and see how things go.  I thought I'd post more of a 'daily eats' type posts vs. the 'cooking dinner' posts, which I'm HOPING will translate to MORE pictures and LESS chatter...becausssseeee the chatter part tends to take up a bit too much time, and I thought this would be easier to post, as well as for you guys to read!  I figured it all leads to the same results, which are:

• Giving you an idea of HOW we try to stay healthy...at least MOST of the timeJ
• And to give you ideas for meals, snacks & exercises to keep your days interesting and keeping you on the 'healthy path.'

I've also updated my weight loss page with my pregnancy 'journey' to give you an idea of where I'm at right now and that I'm on the same page of 'trying to make it all work' as the rest of you.  (I've also updated my Cooking, Travel & Food Finds page as well!)

So here's hoping you like the new format....and since my little buddy has become quite the little chowhound lately, I thought I'd make a little "Katie Corner" to show you all of her noshes...ya know, if you're interested in that sorta thing.  If not for anyone else, I know this will THRILL my Mom, so I'll probably be sharing a lot (Hi Mom!).

SHEESH!  I had a lot of chatter today....let's get on with it, shall we????

8:00am:  Hot lemon water

Here I go....chattering already, but I've GOT to share this with you guys!  Soo...wanna hear the craziest thing??  I've read that drinking a glass of hot water with the juice of 1/2 a lemon first thing in the morning aids digestion, weight loss and all sorts of health benefits (read about em here!), but the main reason I drink it?  IT ACTUALLY KILLS MY CRAVINGS!!!!  Like, DEAD FLAT!  Ya know those weeks where you could KILL someone for chocolate around 2pm??  Well...let me tell you: if I have lemon water in the morning = I couldn't care less.  Did you hear me??  Couldn't. Care. Less.  For chocolate!  For salt!  It's insanity.  For whatever reason it's the thing that makes me PAUSE and ask myself "Do I REALLY want that" before I actually indulge.  Don't ask me why this is true...but I hope it works for you as well as it does for me!  It's not 10000% EVERY time, but it DOES work a good 96% of the time...and those are good enough odds that I'll buy stock in lemons all my live-long daysJ

9:00am:  Coffee with skim & 2 teaspoons honey

9:45am:  Breakfast- "Biggest Loser Oatmeal/Protein Pancakes" with 3 teaspoons peanut butter & a drizzle of maple syrup

These 'cakes are a base blend of oats, egg whites & cottage cheese but give you that carb-y, satisfying feel of pancakes while not weighing you down AND filling you up.  They ACTUALLY taste more like french toast than pancakes...but really, who's going to complain about that?J

10:30-11:45am:  POWER YOGA!

1:00pm:  Lunch- Green Monster Smoothie

• 1/2 cup unsweetened light coconut milk
• Coconut flavored Yoplait Greek yogurt
• 1 banana
• 1 tablespoon Chia seeds
• 2-3 cups of spinach
• 4 ice cubes 

2:45pm: Snack- 2 Trader Joe's Graham Crackers with lite cream cheese

Probably should have had an apple, but this was just what I was wishing for and it kept me full until dinner.

And speaking OF...

6:00pm: DINNER- Toasted Orzo chicken soup 

 Warm, comforting & cozy...just what was needed on the chilly night that was Wednesday in NJ!

I loved the pulled chicken & how light it all tasted with the veggies & broth.  My only swap was to use whole wheat orzo (although that's tough to find some times) & the 2 tablespoons of butter used to toast said orzo seemed a bit much.  Less than a tablespoon would definitely have been enough.  Besides that, it was perfectly winter-y appropriate.

8:00pm:  DESSERT- 2 Vanilla Joe-Joe's

10:00pm:  

• 12 of each: bicep curls, lateral raises, tricep extensions, overhead press, chest fly
• "Booty Blast": 12 standing leg stretches to the right, 12 to the back, 12 squats.  Repeat on the left side.
• 30 side leg raises on each side

Anddddd in "Katie's Corner"....we have all of the soup veggies that I broke up for her and she scarfed down...even the garlic slices...hehehehehheeJ 

• carrots
• zucchini
• pulled chicken
• whole wheat orzo
• onions & garlic

 And I even managed to whirl up the leftovers of the soup...

...into 5 days worth of lunch!  Weeeeeeeeeeee! 

Soooo, how do you like the new format?  I'm hoping to keep it interesting with different tidbits in case things get too repetitive.  I'll try my best to keep it simple, so I can keep it consistent!

Have a great Thursday, everyone!