Amazing Salad

We are on Day 5 of the 24 day Challenge and so far its going great!!!! I would eb lying if I told you that I dodn't have any cravings, I sure do.. number one being coffee!! We have gotten the change to try so many new things that we have never made before, and overall I feel so much better, no sluggish afternoons, no upset stomachs... and my skin is looking better!!! Tonight we made a super fab salad that was so tasty, and healthy.. check it out, and if you try it let me know what you think!!!

BBQ Chicken Salad

Bowl full of shredded romaine & spring mix

1 cucumber peeled and sliced then slices cut into quarters

3 eggs boiled then sliced

1 avocado cut into bite sized pieces 

2 grilled chicken breasts cut into strips

sun dried tomatoes cut into slices- the kind in oil ( I LOVE the ones in the Giada line) 

about 1/4 cup slivered almonds

1/2 cup sweet BBQ sauce I use a pineapple BBQ sauce blend 

Toss and serve!!!! 

Just sharing

My favorite Birth Photo I took last year..

This sweet baby girls first time with daddy.

started

This morning we started the Avocare 24 day challenge... We took measurements, stepped on the scale and pulled out the schedule. A typical day looks like this...

wake up
1 cup of spark
2 capsules of catalyst
--wait 30 min
1 fiber drink
followed by 8oz water
then a breakfast of protein and fruit

2.5-3 hours later snack of fruit

Lunch protein, veggies, fruit, nuts

2 caps catalyst
2.5-3 hours later snack

1 cup of spark

Dinner

pack of pills with amino acids

snack

packet of cleanse pills right before bed

ENT check up

Today we had a check up with the ENT for Emmalines tubes.. I get a bit nervous before these appointments for a few reasons.. 

ONE.

The Doctor we see, while great at his job and wonderful with children, is ALWAYS running behind. This worries me at the fact that I have to come up with ideas to keep the 2.4 second long attention span of my daughter while we wait in a room with nothing but chairs, and magazines.

TWO.

Obviously its an age related thing but, E is not fond of anyone with a stethoscope or a lab coat at this point of her life.. tears, tears, and more tears, are usually how she greets them.

THREE.

We went through more then I would ever wish on anyone in the 7 months leading up to her surgery involving her ears, that I always get nervous the doctor will have bad news like they did so many times in the past.

This appointment however, was much better then I could have ever imagined....

We only waiting in the waiting room for about 15 minutes {which to a 16 month old is a pretty long time but much better then it has been before}, then once in the exam room the doctor came in within 10 minutes, he checked her ears, there was of course lots of crying.. and hugs needed. 

But,

Her ears/tubes looked fine!!!! Hearing is still good.. no concerns at the present time. 

I am so thankful for my sweet girl, that God helped us through the trying times with all the hospital and doctor visits while dealing with reflux and ear infections... and Its an answer to prayer to hear.. ALL IS WELL with your child!!!

We do not have to go back to see him for another 6-8 months which is exciting.. they did fit her for new ear plugs but just like we though she has not grown enough to need the next size plugs, she is such a tiny peanut!!! 

My last week to eat fo' real

So the kit for the 24 day challenge has been ordered, and meal planning has started...

basically the rules are:

NOTHING WHITE.. no bread, pasta, sugar, potatoes, you get the picture
NO drinky-drinks.... only water
nothing fried, no desserts

mostly we will be eating lean protein and fruits and veggies...

The first 10 days are the cleanse and then the results phase for the following 16.. I have seen some before and after pics and they are amazing.. so I will be sure to post them.


Oh yea... did I mention..... NO COFFEE..... I.... MAY...DIE

She's Back

It's been way to long, and since my last check in LOTS of changes around the F household... Starting with a return to blogging... this time things will be a little bit different.. I will blog for me, about what I like, regardless of who reads....

the changes... well.....

WE ARE MOVING!!!!

The move date is Feb 20th and I am seriously counting down the days.. we will be moving from a 900 sq. ft condo into a 3 story 2,200 sq ft townhouse in a self contained community featuring huge pools, dark parks, running trails, lots of park, and a retail center coming soon!!!!! I will be updating with photos as we accomplish our plans for each room!!!!

I LAUNCHED MY BUSINESS 

While some of you already know this from following me on twitter and those I keep in contact with through email.. last summer I started getting really into it.. and I am halfway through jan 2012 and booking photography sessions well into june... you can check out my work at www.sarahmichelephotography.com

HUBS AND I ARE TRAINING FOR 1/2 MARATHON

Yep you read that right.. lots of running, meal plans, protein shakes, recovery bars, and fitness charts have made their way into the F house.. and I will be blogging about them, esp something I will be starting around the 20th called the 24 day challenge from Avocare!!!

VENDOR SHOOTS

Recently through my photography business I have been doing vendor shoots for different large companies, and small businesses alike.. It has been going fantastic, I have gotten to see lots of new items, photograph them, and meet others in which to network with.. and I might just share a few of these companies with you, their sales, and new products.. but only now and then.

BUDGETING 

A whole new budget has unraveled here, lots of new things to save up for, lots of things to cut back on!!!! I will be sharing some money saving tips we have found... as well as recipes I have been making since.. we had to cut out the eat out budget down to an on occasion status for now.

LITTLE MISS

You didnt think I would end all of this without an update on E did you??? She is an giggly, happy, full of energy TODDLER... she keeps me laughing, and busy all day long!! She is talking up a storm including a few of her favorite words like "Puppy" "kah-ka" cracker "bathies". She loves animals.. and is still just as picky of an eater as the day she started solid foods.. but you do what you can right?? For those wondering she is still on reflux medicine, and it flares up once in a blue moon, and has not had another ear infection much less a cold since having her tubes put in when seh was 7 months old.... Speaking of months.... she is 16 months crazy right.... I know what your thinking and the answer is NO... we are not ready for another!!!

Here is an updated photo is my Sweet Emmaline taken yesterday while we watched the Baltimore Ravens bring home a WIN!!!