A time to reap and a time to sew...in other words IT'S PLAY TIME!!!!

ok - so most of you have heard - we are going for a family vacation this week, and not just any vacation - but the FIRST one since our honeymoon 9 years ago! So what did we think would be an appropriate destination?
- why our honeymoon spot (of course) Disneyland!!!!!!

I know what you're thinking, Disneyland - for your honeymoon? Heck ya!!! I'm not one of those laze around the beach kinda gals, first off I HATE to wear a swim suit (seriously, can't we bring back the ankle-length one piece?) and if I wanted to lay around on a vacation, I'd just stay home and lay on my comfy couch. NO - I will go and experience something, try something new, or (in this case) ride every attraction in the park!!! YAY - Sorry for the outburst of elation, but we've been saving for this trip since 2005.... that's right no debt for us - every single thing is paid for before hand!!!

So I have already written some fun posts for this week; and I have some crazy awesome guest posters coming on to fill in the gaps - but don't you fret my friends out in blog land - when I return, I will read ALL of your blogs and reply to all comments!!!

But right now I'm just curious to know.... what's you ideal vacation? Family or Romantic, Adventure or Relaxation? If I gave you a blank check to get away ANYWHERE in the world... (heck lets think big) Universe - where would you go?
(oh and who would you take - my favorite part of a getaway is the company :)

tabata..... I think I hate... um I mean.... love you

so here's the new workout to keep things fresh.....

WARNING - THIS IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peLFTePbfDQ

I used no weights and this killed me.....
(steve this one's for you)

try it - and tell me if you can have a good workout in just 4 minutes.... :)

focus on the goal and the path will present itself...

ok... um I have to share that the decision to share that most unflattering pic with all of you was a last minute decision last night. I really wavered back n' forth on that one. BUT I finally decided I had to be completely honest about where I am today in order to move forward.

I know I have mentioned this all before but I really have spent a lot of time contemplating who I want to be at the end of this whole experience... who is my ideal self?

Who is your ideal self? What do they do, think, say? How do they react to a dissapointment? How do they attack their goals? How do they interact with their family? What do they fill their time with? I could go on and on.....

I think this has given me a new energy, instead of focusing on what I should do or not do, I ask myself "what would my ideal self do?"

I promise I won't beat a dead horse with this, but I just want to share this amazing feeling with you guys, I want to shout from the roof tops ... I want you to feel it too!

the new me

Sorry about the hiatus, I have been fighting a killer staph infection (MRSA) since may and it just laid me out this weekend. I can feel the energy draining from me as it flares up again, (a little gift from the hospital when I delivered my daughter.)

However, on Sunday I took the most amazing stroll (about 3.4 miles)and re-connected with nature and myself. I realized that even though it has been increasingly difficult to workout, or stay on an eating schedule - sleep schedule etc. I HAVE to do this for my family, for myself!

Every family has a foundation and my husband and I make up the base for ours. I KNOW without a doubt that when I am not healthy, not focused, not in complete control of myself and my actions I jeopardize that foundation. I weaken my family, because I weaken myself.

I also am learning that you must prove you can not just 'handle' what you currently have but excell where you are; before God, the universe, Karma (whatever you call it) can trust you to handle more. It's just the natural order to things. I think the reason why we have not been successful in moving on from this stage of life is because we haven't proven (not even to ourselves) that we are above it. That we have masterd this level and are ready for the next... I think this is true in all areas of our lives.

I know that I am getting better at all of this; and not because I'm focusing on the goals either, but because I'm seeing myself as more. As above it, and naturally am begining to shift over into a healthier more balanced life.

Sure I mess up, and yeah it's still hard to get my workouts and meals in - BUT the new me can handle it all. She is confident and possitive about her future and KNOWS that when the opportunity to move beyond this comes.... she'll be ready :)

well gotta go - the new me is getting to bed tonight before 10:30pm... no matter what! :)

new post tomorrow

hey guys... sorry I'm pretty sick, so I'll try to post again tomorrow. I'm hoping to get better before our first ever family vacation scheduled for next week. so hopefully we'll all be feeling better soon :)

lots of luv - natalie

another recipe.... not necessarily low in fat

So in an effort to be nice to my sweet hubby I made him a classic favorite today... but wished I knew how to make it lighter...any thoughts?

Brown Butter Pesto Ravioli's with marinara sauce

3-4 tbs of butter

3-4 tbs of pesto (fresh or store bought is fine)

1 lb bag of frozen ravioli's (I like the cheese filled)-anyone know of a good whole wheat one?

2 cups (or so) marinara sauce (fresh or store bought)

First Boil your water - in the meantime start browning your butter in a saute` pan

Put your marinara in a sauce pan on med heat to heat thoroughly

When your butter begins to get brown (a stainless steel is best for this) add in your pesto, salt, and finely ground pepper.
In the meantime your water should be ready for your raviolis - boil about 3 minutes

Remove the cooked pasta and drain. Add drained pasta directly to brown butter sauce cook on both sides for a minute, coating completely with brown butter sauce. pasta will brown slightly.

note - you will not fit them all at once, this has to be done a little at a time.

Plate your pasta as it is finished and top off with a little marinara sauce and some freshly grated Parmesan....yummy, not necessarily low in fat

this makes about 4 servings

my sweety loved it and so did my kids - and I have to admit, I had a tasting as well (only about 5 ravioli's so not too bad.) I really love that my whole family is healthy and fit and they don't have to worry about their food, but it does make it harder for me, I wish I could take the dishes I know they love and 'health 'em up' to make them suitable for all of us to eat together. I hate having a separate meal...

today update:

sleep: in by 11:30 about 6 hours - not too bad

exercise: not much just a walk , about a mile

water: at least 50 oz and still drinking :)

food: well today was a bad one for me in this area - but what I really wanted was a hot fudge sundae so I did ok... I guess

9am Kashi Go Lean crunch with Almonds

12pm 5 brown butter raviolis

3pm an apple (this is when the sweet tooth started)

6pm Taco soup and half a turkey sandwich on wheat

8pm 4 squares of dove dark chocolate (trying to curb the sweet tooth- didn't work)

8:30 baby sized frozen vanilla yogurt

9:30 pumpkin bars (3) with cream cheese frosting

yeah, needless to say my attempt to avoid a rich dessert just made me eat more I think, because the substitute wasn't 'enough'....hmmm, gonna have to watch that

Hot 100 friday check-in

I always think "I'll be better at ____ when ____" like now, for instance, I keep thinking, "when we have a bigger place, it will be easier to workout" "or sleep" etc. but I'm learning to find peace now - and work harder to be the person I expect... even though my enviroment isn't ideal I still need to up my game, improve, grow.

I have found that lately (maybe because of the serious lack of sleep) I'm more irritable than usual, and short tempered - but equally I have seen a downturn in my motivation... is sleep really this detrimental? I have got to find a way to slip it in more often, or deeper, with a newborn, a 3 year old, and a hubby on swings....any ideas?

I won't give up though - every goal or change comes slowly with ups and downs - so I will continue to look for answers and plug along... even if it feels like a snails pace at least it's still forward :)

In fact this week I've made some great changes, I am holding a 5 minute devotional (if you will) in the morning with my family before we send our oldest off to school - nothing impressive we just read 2 scriptures and say a little prayer - wow what a difference it has made, already I have seen my dispostion improve and my patience level increase. It's funny, I never realized how my desire to get healthier has really expanded in all other areas of my life.

I have also been working harder to connect with my sweetheart, I have tried to do something nice for him each day - so even though my 'health' goals aren't so impressive - overall I still feel really good about my growth over the week - stand back I'm just getting started :)

this weeks goals:

sleep - major improvement needed - I'd like to average 7 hours

exercise - getting it in 3 times - I'd like to do it more though but we'll do that when I have mastered these othergoals

water - averaging about 50oz/day it should be more like 100

food - I need to watch this, I was doing well, but I have slipped back into old routeins where I only eat 2 times..big meals..not a good combo