My attempt at Healthy- introducing Shrek Shakes

I like (okay LOVE) reading blogs and getting a glimpse into other peoples lives and what they do and don't do. Yes maybe its stalkerish but hey... if they put it out there then they must want SOMEONE to read it and maybe that SOMEONE is me. (someone being said in that tone of voice where its kind of drawn out more like sooooomeone...just a sidnenote).

Anyways- in my various blog readings I came across Jenny Vest (who is now Hatch). I don't know if she ever reads my blog but I read hers. We were in the same church together when I lived in Texas and she was a year older then me- awesome gal- awesome family. Anyways she shared on her blog this green smoothie which she calls (along with others in the blogsphere) a SHREK SHAKE. Now I normally am not a health nut by any means but Jenny claims that drinking these shakes and giving them to her children was "the best things she has done for her children health wise" (or something like that). So I was interested.

I am getting large with child.

I like to eat "not so healthy things".

I am getting large with child.

My lovely Mema told me on the phone that I need to eat more fruits and vegatables. So I sold. I am going to try the Shrek Shake.

I followed the recipe that Jenny shares here and my did not turn out green. It was more of a sludgish brownish redish color. It didn't taste fabulous but it did have alot of good stuff in it- Fruit, Spinich, Collard Greens (whatever those are) and Flax seed. I drank it and went on with my day.

Then next day... I made another Shrek Shake (really its a smoothie so I think I will call them Shrek Smoothies) and again it did not turn out green. I took some fruit out and added more spinich. Tasted okay and went on my day.

Today I made this beauty.

Its Green and it tasted SUPER YUMMY. So here is my recipe- a little different then Jennys but I am hoping to work up to hers.

2 Bananas

1 Tablespoon of Flax Seed (bought at Sprouts)

Blend that up

Add two large handfuls of raw spinich

Blend that up

One squirt of Agave Nector

5 ice cubes

and a little water

Blend that up.

MMMMM.... tasty.

I didn't really drink it in this class- just wanted you to see how beautifully green it was.

So here is the great things about the smoothie that I can testify to after 3 days.

I feel better.

I have more energy- who needs that 5 hr energy drink??

I feel semi Popeyeish

and it has helped some of my not so pleasant bathroom issues I have had since I have been pregnant

(okay probably TMI but just want to give the facts)

 I am getting alot of nutrients that I wouldn't otherwise... who eats 2 large handfuls of spinich a day??

So try it out- just once. Promise you will likey.

Also- Google Shrek Shakes if you want more information- apparently its pretty popular amongst the healthy crowd (which I am not part of but maybe will be if I continue with my smoothies).

Baby Baking

Golly it has been a while since I have blogged. I feel like a schmuck because I always have lots to say but apparently can't sit down to write it out. I figure I also should chronicle life for my future child.

So I did write that we are having a baby. I should probably go back and check what I last wrote... please hold. Okay I am back-

So it was like a week after I last posted so I was 14 weeks along and magically woke up one day and felt great. I had energy. I wasn't sick and boy I was hungry. I did lose close to 20 lbs while being sick. I hated being sick but definitly needed to lose 20 pounds so I guess there is a positive there.

We had an ultrasound at 17.5 weeks and here is what we saw.

The ultrsound tech had a hard time because our baby was being stubborn and the umbilical cord was between the legs so it was hard to tell but she did tell us it was a girl. Now I always thought I would be the mother of lots of little boys. So when I found we were having a girl I was excited but a little shocked. I had already named our baby Kai (which is a boys name) and picked out a baby room that I liked (which was a boys room) but at the same time I have three girlfriends that just had baby girls so I imagined having fun tea parties and dress up parties and lots of fun "girly" things.

We also got to see this cute picture of our little one.

The babies head looks kinda funny but thats the placenta. I love 3D pictures though. They are so fun.

Because of the babies position, we were scheduled to go back in two weeks so I would be at 19.5 weeks to do the anatomy ultrasound. It was then that we got this picture.

So at this ultrasound the babys weiner came out from behind the umbilical cord. During the ultrasound I said to the tech, "well it looks like the baby is still a girl" and she was like "uh...I can't confirm that- it looks like a boy to me". I made her check and check again but apparently we are HAVING A BOY!

Here is another picture of our little boy sucking his thumb

Kai Frederick Beaudoin

He is measuring right where he should be and they said everything looks good.

We are super excited.

His name Kai is Hawaiian for "The Sea". The Hubbs and I really wanted something unique for a name

something that was different and he liked Hawaiian names because my grandfather (mom's dad) was Hawaiian.

Frederick is Brians grandfather (mom's dad) name and Brians middle name.

Its kinda funny but right when we first looked at names- Kai stood out to me. Even when we thought we were having a girl I kept saying, this baby is supposed to be named Kai but because it is more of a boy name I looked for other options (she would have been named Skye)

So all in all... we are super excited. Feeling good and excited to meet our little buddy.

Here is a picture of me getting large with child.

Me at 20 weeks

Its been a LONG time since I have posted on here. I have been out of commission for the last 6 weeks or so. So I will catch you up without boring you with tons of details.

I am pregnant- 13 weeks on Sunday. The first couple weeks were like "deer in headlights" because we were not really trying or thinking we would get pregnant so soon after the miscarriage we had a couple months prior. The hubbs was really really sick the month we got prego and lets just say... there was not alot of baby making going on. But I guess it only takes once. Because of the miscarriage, we were reluctant to get excited. Didn't really talk a whole lot about it and sorta just waited out the first couple weeks.

So pregnancy was ALOT more difficult then I imagined. My chest was always sore, I was moody, and super tired. But that was nothing to when I started to get sick. I have always had a "stomach reflux type" problem that would happen when I would throw up. One time to the bathroom to throw up would end up being spending a day in the ER get rehydrated and medicated. I always hoped that pregnancy would change that, but I was wrong. Every week for the last 6 weeks I have been sick at least 3 days. Usually spending one day nautious as all can be, one day vomiting all day long, and one day trying to recoop from the day of vomiting. Now mind you... If I am not able to get medication in me, I am vomitting all day everyday until I think I am going to die. The doc put me on Zofran meds which is supposed to be best and only meds that you can get for morning sickness. That didn't help so then they put me on a Zofran pump which is basically a tube connected to my stomach that gives me a constant flow of meds. I have to poke myself with needles every other day and its really NO FUN. Even with that... I still get sick once or twice a week. I am hoping it starts to get a little better soon. I did lose close to 20 pounds- which was good because I had well over 20 to lose but I was so concerned about the baby getting nutrients and whatnot. All the ultrasounds show the baby growing so that is good. We have an appt this coming Thursday so I will keep you posted and maybe I will take a picture of my fancy pump I get to carry around. I know you are jealous.

bLAH bLHA bLAH!

i REALIZED i DIDN'T EVEN SPELL bLAH RIGHT BUT i DON'T CARE BECAUSE tHAT Is eXACLtLY HOW i FEEL. blah blah blah.

I will be back in a couple days. I promise. Right now I am in a state of "maintaining".

Happy Mothers Day

 My mom is one of my besties. I love spending time with her.

Its amazing how different our relationship is as I have gotten older.

I love talking about everything under the sun. I love crafting with her. I love her willingness to help me with projects I get myself into. I love thrift store shopping with her. Yesterday as my mom and I went out shopping, I was walking through the mall thinking about how much my parents have sacrificed for me throughout the years.

A couple years ago (right before I met the Hubbs), my mom and I went to New York together just the two of us. What perfect timing for a girlie trip because right when I got back, I met the Hubbs and as wrapped up in dating, engagement, and marriage.

That New York trip was a blast so on this Mothers Day, I am going to share some of the pics from New York. I love you Mom.

(i wish i was that skinny again... i look good there- sidenote: i got my mothers good looks and her confidence in those looks... semi-kidding)
If you wanna read about the amazing Grandmothers in my life as well....
go here

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (or Ice Cream)

Right before I entered into high school, my mom got a promotion with her work and as a result my family moved to Grapevine, Texas. I was extrememly sad to leave all of my friends but went along with it anyways. Did I really have a choice at 13?? ummm NOPE. So the journey began in Texas. Life was interesting there. Going from a school where I knew everyone, had lots of friends, lots of boyfriends (or whatever you call them at 13) to a place where I knew NO ONE. I met lots of wonderful people and got some amazing friends there but it wasn't Phoenix. So right before my senior year, my parents took me to Phoenix for a vacation because we still had alot of family here. I met up with my friend Ashley and we went over and hung out with some of the guys I knew before I left. It felt like I never left. These friends were the types that you could not see for a couple years and it did not even matter. I loved it. I loved it so much... I went back to my grandma's house where I was staying and woke my parents up in the middle of the night and told them that I wanted to move back to Phoenix. I would live with friends, live with grandma, figure it out but I wanted to graduate with the same people that I went to 1st grade with. They sorta shrugged me off (since it was like 2 in the morning) but then when they got up in the morning I told them again. I wanted to move back to Arizona. See the thing is... Phoenix was HOME. So my parents said, "okay we will figure it out". My mom was staying in Arizona for something but dad and I were driving back to Texas. On our way out of town, we stopped at Arizona Public Service (where he used to work) and he went in to see about jobs. They offered him a job on the spot and told him he could start in TWO WEEKS and he would be making more money. Its crazy how when something is meant to be... everything aligns. I remember that feeling when my dad got back into the car from meeting with the APS people and he just looked at me and said, "can you be ready in two weeks". Just thinking about it brings a little tear to my eye. My parents were making my wish come true. Senior year in Phoenix graduating from Greenway High School with all of my friends. It was an amazing senior year.

.

Now fast forward to last night... Ashley and I thought it would be fun to get a bunch of the girls from high school together. Its been YEARS since I have seen some of the girls. With the help of Facebook we all kinda keep in the loop of things but still we have not been in the same room all of us since high school (11 years ago). It was so much fun seeing everyone and catching up.

Domestic Tips and Tricks

I am FAR FROM DOMESTIC... but I try. I recently had to teach a RS class on cleaning and organizing. As I was searching for various subjects I came across two awesome ideas that REALLY WORK and I love them.

Making your own WIPES... like those clorox sanitizer wipes that you stock up on because they are so convienient. Basically... you cut a roll of paper towels in half and put them in a food saver container. Pour 1 szcup of pine sol and 2 cups of water. Let them soak overnight and then you can use.

They work AWESOME and its so much cheaper then having to buy those Clorox wipes all the time.

Check out http://www.organizedhome.com/ for more recipes to make Glass Wipes, Heavy sanitizer wipes.

Another great idea... THAT WORKS. Instead of using bounty dryer sheets (WHICH I L.O.V.E), Take an old rag or washcloth and soak in fabric softener. (I didn't really soak it since I used a big rag but made sure it was covered) then let it air dry. When doing laundry, keep that fabric softener rag in the dryer. It makes your clothes smell fresh. I also have those AS SEEN ON TV dryer ball things that work great to get all the static out.

Here is my towel. I have used it in like 20 loads and it still smells good and works. I was a huge fan of the dryer sheets but I realized that I was using two sheets a load to get a fresh smell so I tried this and I think I will stick with it. I use Downy fabric softener in my wash loads so I always have some on hand and really it only takes like one capful to make the rag have it on it.

A day in the sun...

I love Arizona weather on days like today. It was a great day to be outside so that is what the hubbs and I (and my brother Blake) did. We went down to Tempe Beach Park (its not a Beach since there are no oceans in Arizona but a Lake Beach)... anyways- it was My Nanas Salsa Challange Day. I tasted over 50 different types of salsa. It was awesome.

After a little lot of salsa eating, I came home sunburnt, burnt tongue, and super full. I packed Mia (my super cute pooch) up and headed over to the parents.

Check out Ashleys baby quilt that I finished. Love it. Love the colors. Love the back. Love it love it love it

I love my parents backyard. They spend so much time back there working on it. Its peaceful and extra beautiful on days like this.

My other new absolute favorite thing... Sonic Diet Cherry Lime-aids. YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY

I LOVE MY LIFE

Sickness

This last two weeks at my house has been filled with snotty noses,  pains, late night coughing, throwing up, fevers, headaches, backaches, neck aches (and all the other aches you can think of). The hubbs and I have both been sick this last week. I had previously planned to take two days off work just so I could "hibernate" in the crafice and quilt my little heart out before Ernie went to my moms (we have joint custody of the sewing machine), but I ended up getting sick last week and it still is bugging me to this day. The hubbs has tons of problems as well- he was diagnosed with rhuemtoid arthritis this last week (he has not been able to feel his fingers for some time and after lots of tests thats what they say it is), he has a UTI, had the stomach flu and a horrible cold (AT THE SAME TIME). Poor guy. He has been a trooper but definitly can see it all over him that he feels like poo. I hate when we are both sick because we just sorta whine to each other but don't really feel bad for the other because we each feel like crap.ol.a. So I finally got around to whining to you- the blogging world. So thats my story. Wish I had something exciting to post. Maybe tomorrow.

What I did realize this week though however....

Some of my newest favorite things.

And I finally used one of my Christmas gifts and I loved it...

Meetings...

I am Mormon (or LDS- whichever you prefer). Mormons like meetings. We have meetings to plan meetings about other meetings. It seems like there are always meetings to attend, meetings to plan... you get my point.

Last night I had a meeting to plan a meeting at my house for an upcoming RS (womans group) meeting. The subject- Cleaning, Organizing, and being a good homemaker. uhhhhh.... (silence fills the room).

I am attempting to be domestic. I am newly married (well semi newly). I have no kids. I clean when I have something on my mind and I organize when I am frustrated (usually). If I organize something it becomes UNORGANIZED within a couple days. Me teaching on that subject- hmmmm?

So I was looking up some cleaning articles and whatnot and realized that my storage room full on "ONE HIT WONDER" products is useless.

Check out this site http://www.organizedhome.com/ (I would link but for some reason my posting section is wierd) it has some amazing TIPS AND TRICKS and great ideas. For me and for my meeting.