Hale Lake

Yesterday, our little family of three went to Brazos Bend State Park (or what my brother and sisters and I used to call the "Alligator Park" when we were growing up) and walked the trail around Hale Lake. It was so exciting to see there was a Hale Lake- so of course we chose that trail!

It was a gorgeous day yesterday, and after an entire week of being sick and stuck at home, it was just what we all needed. Carson still isn't feeling better, poor baby, and you can see his red eyes and runny nose in all these pictures. But he was tired of being cooped up at home too, so we took advantage of such a pretty day and drove down to the park. Despite being sick, he was a trooper. He loves to be outside!





I absolutely love how he crosses his feet when he's relaxed. And I love those chubby legs!!

We stopped for a bit at the turn around point on the trail (Hale Lake is a small oxbow lake) and let Carson stretch his legs. And point things out to us. He wants to make sure we don't miss anything!











The wildflowers are in bloom around Houston, and in our yard we have azaleas and some other little annuals that I don't have a name for... so Carson has learned the word "flower." (His vocabulary has exploded lately- but his favorite word is "car." He is a true boy. He LOVES cars!!) After Daddy handed him this clover blossom, his "walking" was cut short. Flowers are distracting!!





He then decided he must hold a flower, or "wow-wa," as we started walking again (never mind that they're protected by the state of Texas and we shouldn't have picked them... oops.)



The trails were absolutely gorgeous. Everything is green again and there was honeysuckle everywhere! The whole trail smelled sweet!





We had such a great time. It brought back lots of memories of walking those same trails with my family years ago. And now we're making some of those same memories with our son. Precious.

Whole 30: Day 16

I've made it half way! And that's with baking cakes for three different occasions, and well as cupcakes just about an hour ago because my mom was here and wanted to eat the leftover buttercream in my fridge. It was a no-brainer. We don't let buttercream go to waste round here. So I just sent her home with three dozen cupcakes. We also don't do anything half-assed round here.

It hasn't been terrible going lately. I haven't been crazy craving carbs or anything (except when I leveled the almond cakes Monday afternoon. OMG. People. The aroma. Just, OMG.)... it's just getting a little old. I know in 14 days I'm gonna get to treat myself (I already have a bottle of Chardonnay in the fridge chilled and waiting) so I'm just ready to be done already.

I've been thinking a lot about what I'm going to do after this... I mean, I don't want to gain back the weight I've lost (and it's fairly considerable at this point. I don't have a number because of the stupid Whole 30 rules, but I'd say it's noticable) but I also don't want to eat such a restrictive diet forever either.

I guess I have two weeks to figure it out. Will keep you posted.

Love. This. Cake.

Love the pretty ribbons.



Love the white icing and little pink and blue polka dots.



Love how my kitchen smelled like almond heaven while it was baking.



But best of all, I love that inside this pretty exterior was PINK cake that told the world one special little baby GIRL will be here in just a few months! Congratulations, Broome family! I am thrilled to have been a little part of your big announcement!

I'm not only doing the Whole 30...

I'm also busy with some other, much more fun things!

Carson was invited to a birthday party yesterday, and we had to have a gift for the sweet little Maci, so I made her a little reversible, open-back dress and ruffle bloomers to match. And, of course, a little flower barrette, because every little girl needs one of those. I used a Tie Dye Diva pattern for the dress and bloomers and used this free tutorial from Wisecraft for the flower barrette. Both the patterns and the tutorial are great- clear directions and pictures. I would definitely purchase from Tie Dye Diva again- I've made the dress and bloomers in three different sizes now and they've all turned out perfectly.



Unfortunately, Carson had a serious meltdown at the party. The cutest little girl, possibly in the whole world, just happened to pull at his shirt a little, and he lost it. I have never seen him just totally freak out like that, and it was sooo embarrassing. I had to give him a paci to settle him down (and the only one I had with me was pink. awesome.) and he would start crying again whenever he saw the sweet girl! It was crazy!

And, apparently as a divine test, I was asked to bake a cake and cupcakes for a baby shower during the midst of my Whole 30 no sugar eating extravaganza.











Neither Sean nor I ate a single taste of the stuff... and it wasn't always easy. Sean threw a little baby fit while the cupcakes were baking and filling the house with chocolate goodness. Poor guy. He got over it. Today is day 14!!! Two weeks... and tomorrow we're half way there!

Whole 30: Day 10

and days 6, 7, 8, and 9. Whew! I haven't updated in a while!

No, I haven't quit, if that's what you were thinking! Although I almost quit about 100 times this past weekend. FOOD EVERYWHERE. And I'm partly to blame for that seeing as I made cookies and cake for our visiting Uncle Jeff and his wonderful, adorable, awesome girlfriend, Catie. (I really like her, Jeff. Please keep this in mind as my opinion is, of course, the most important.) I wasn't tempted to eat the cookies- although they were cute if I do say so myself... but the chocolate cake was REALLY hard not to eat. I cried.

The heart is for Houston, you know, so Jeff would remember how much he loves Houston and that he can't wait to live here again. At least live in Texas again. Or the US. I'm not picky. I didn't take a picture of the cake... probably because I couldn't steady the camera in the midst of my sobbing.

I survived the weekend, however hard it was, and the last couple of days haven't been bad. I'm almost afraid to say this... but maybe my carb withdrawal is over?? I hope so. I have been in a good mood since Monday. I've been waking up without feeling groggy. I have been more patient with Carson.

"Car! Car! Car!"

This picture was taken at Dr. Pielop's office yesterday. He sure enjoyed watching the traffic below... and that's probably because he had no idea he was waiting for the second half of his flu shot. Poor baby! He took it like a champ, and was a fun, happy guy the rest of the day. I'm a lucky mommy.

And, I can honestly say that I have lost weight. Hallelujah! I don't know how much, because stupid Whole 30 says you can't weigh yourself until the 30 days is up (you're supposed to be focusing on your health, blah, blah, blah). I almost weighed myself anyway, and my rule-following husband stopped me. Whatever. I guess I'll wait. I can at least fit into three more pairs of pants that have been sitting in my closet- so that's a plus!

The food we've been eating isn't bad at all. My new favorite breakfast has got to be scrambled eggs smothered in avocado and salsa. YUM.



And I'm obsessed with almond butter. But only this kind...



This stuff is SO GOOD. With celery, with apples, off a spoon straight out of the jar... I love it.

Whole 30: Day 5

Oh my. I want a glass of wine. No. No, I want 3 glasses of wine.

Day five sucks. When is all this amazing energy supposed to kick in?!? Huh? How long does carb withdrawal last?

Of course Carson picked today to freak out and fuss all. day. long. My mom is here now, and I usually feel guilty doing this, but I'm totally letting her do it all and I'm sitting on my butt watching a kid movie. I'm so tired. And just plain pissed off.

I almost quit today, but Sean convinced me the first week is the hardest. He better be right. And I better lose weight. This better work.

Whole 30: Day 4

First of all, I'm pretty impressed with myself for actually blogging about this for four straight days.

OK. Day 4. I must say today was a HUGE improvement from yesterday. That's thanks to Lauren and Barbara and their sweet daughters for coming over and hanging out with Carson and me. Even though every child had a meltdown (Valor was the winner with Carson a close second), and we had a poopy incident (poor Barb. Potty training twins can't be fun) it was SO GREAT to see them!

I've been getting a few questions about this Whole 30 thing... it's really surprised me how people are interested in it, and not just thinking I'm a crazy loser. Here are a few common ones- and my answers. PLEASE keep in mind that this is only my fourth day- and there are some great testimonials on the website.


1. Is it hard?

Well, yes and no. It hasn't been hard to give up the junk (at least not yet). I haven't been dying to eat cake or drink wine. It's been a big help that we've planned ahead and made sure we have lots of good food in the house so when I'm hungry- I can eat. And, if you eat the good stuff, you can eat as much as you want. So, I'm not really feeling crazy hungry either.

I think what's hard is just the side effects of not eating the sugar, grains, etc. and my body cleaning house. I've been feeling tired and grumpy and not quite myself. I'm hanging in there because I know that can't possibly last long. A week or two max.

Plus- it's only 30 days. Come on. When you're pregnant you have to give up wine and sushi and tons of other stuff for at least nine months- longer if you're nursing. So, what's 30 days? I survived months of sleeping no more than two hours at a stretch- how hard can it be to focus on taking care of me for 30 days?


2. Are there side effects?

Sure- at first you feel pretty crappy (headaches, irritablity) but no worse than giving up caffine- and I'm still drinking my two cups in the morning- just without the milk and sugar!


3. Do you think you'll actually last 30 days?

Hell yes!


4. What have you been eating?

Eggs, lots of veggies, meat, fruit, nuts and good fats.

Here are a few pictures...

Carrot and Spinach Juice

Salad Stuffed with Veggies and Eggs, dressed in Olive Oil and Lemon Juice

STEAK!!! Sweet potatoes and Green Beans

Add to those pictures lots of snacks (almonds, celery and apples with almond butter, baby carrots, oranges, pears, berries) and lots of water and some coffee and tea, and you're pretty much looking at a day's worth of food.