Tuesdays Look {mint}

 

 

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{Monday mornin' thought} going out...

Wanna know something about me?

first off, are you a stay at home or a going out type of person?

I'm most definitely a going out..

and i am talking about eating.

I like to eat at places.. not grab it & go.
I do the drive-thru thing but only when i'm in a hurry or by myself..

anyways, what sparked this little thought was the fact that eating out at places creates memories for me,
places remind me of special people and times
Chipotle, Hogi Yogi, etc... he has too many to name - Ty
Mosa Bistro - my mom
Arby's, Chikfila, Bajio, Chili's, Krystals, etc... - my sister, we had our certain lunch dates that we had often when we lived by each other!
Mill Hollow - Less
Craigos, Fazoli's - Bre

i seriously could go on & on...
give me a friends name and I will tell you a certain places that remind me of them, and I will tell you the exact store i picture too!

tyson used to prefer going & getting food and bringing it back home but he has gotten much better about eating out at places.. I just feel like eating out somewhere brings in a new environment and creates more memories..

Sundays are different... a homecooked meal with the family is perfect! In Idaho Tysons grandparents had us over almost every Sunday for dinner.. and out here my parents have done the same! I think I get a little spoiled on not having to cook! But it too, is creating memories & i love it!

I pinned these whole grain pancakes with berry cream syrup a while ago and the ingredients looked like it got a little complicated.. so I suggested it for Sunday Dinner... and so we had ourselves breakfast for dinner and my amazing mother whipped it all up!! I did help but all credit goes to my sweet mom for sure!!

whole grain pancakes with berry cream syrup

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they were delicious and it was definitely worth going and buying the extra ingredients!! We really liked the berry cream syrup.. I forgot to bring the fruit spread so we swapped it out with just some grape jelly and tasted just as good! The fruit spread is sugarless... so its basically trying to save you on all the sugar of regular syrup.. any way you do it I'm sure is just fine!

*don't forget to go enter this weeks giveaway*

Bucket Toyz Giveaway

Remember last week when i posted about me & lexi's latest fun find?? 

Well Bucket Toyz is going to giveaway one of their 

Bucket Toyz -123 Primary Numbers 

to one of Pillow Thoughts lucky readers!! 

value of $28.00 

perfect toy for the little ones, perfect birthday gift, perfect baby shower gift

perfect for learning your primary colors and numbers!

 

REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER:

{1st Comment} Like PILLOW THOUGHT on FB

For Additional Entries:

{2nd Comment } -make "i <3 pillow thought" as your facebook status tagging Pillow Thought in your comment! (to tag just type in @pillow thought as you type it in your status)

{3rd Comment} Follow me along on Pinterest

Winner will be announced next Monday!

Friday's Film {i won't give up}

how sweet is this fridays film? such a good little message with the world we live in now days.. seriously i hear about a celebrity divorce every other day... i was watching the Today show the other morning and they were talking about all the divorces happening and Kathy Lee & Hoda (both being divorced) even recognized that about 1/2 of those celebrity marriages could be salvaged if they just would have tried.. people call it quits to easy! Things are never always peachy people! We all struggle..

When things get rough, ride it out!

Give it all you can, that's all i'm saying!

my happy place

no thursdays tip today..  just me.

 

this is one of my happy places.

somewhere really pretty just taking pictures.

the picture above was taken when I was pregnant visiting my sister in Portland a couple years ago we decided to go visit their Japanese Gardens and as soon as we got there it started pouring down rain! Luckily it let down and we were able to enjoy the rest of the day and enjoy sister bonding moments!

today it is also pouring down rain and i am stranded in the house with no vehicle

but i was able to get my 1 mile run in while lex was down napping thanks to an extra treadmill laying around at the parentals.. ty lugged it up our stairs for me & i have officially taken advantage of working out while lex is napping two days in a row! and that makes 4 days in a row running a mile. 

can i just say that i am proud of myself. i dont stick to these kinda things and I get kinda down on my self when i think sheesh i have to do this for like 4 more weeks??? 

so i think blogging about it has helped me.

I have some projects I want to start doing but having no car kinda puts a little damper on that..

so hopefully next Thursday there will be something fun to share!

fun find {bucket toyz and blueberries}

This morning has consisted of breakfast, playing with lexis new bucket toyz, watching toons, and lexi becoming a blueberry.

I found these super cute little bucket toyz off of etsy.. and they came in the mail just yesterday.. so I opened it all up and let her play with them this morning! She loves "cleaning up" putting them in and out of the bucket & i'll start trying to teach her, her numbers soon. She keeps surprising me with what she is learning. I sometimes forget that she is "ready" to learn..  and that I am the one that she will gain all of her knowledge from so it is kind of a heavy burden if ya know what I mean!? so these little bucket toyz seemed too cute to help her start!

I am so not even kidding when I say she has probably eaten half of the carton of blueberries that we just bought last night! She is obsessed with blueberries to say the least!

 

this is her whining "more, more" face.. she says please now too which kills me, 

because how can you say no to a polite 18 month old???

seriously, this was the third and last bowl of blueberries for this girl today!

Tuesday's Look {14 steps to be healthy}

{first off, here's a little something from me}

the one who sucks stinks at working out and eating healthy. 

{my goal}

let's start with a little intro to this post..... I have a goal in mind, and I am hoping to stick with it for the next 30+ days. I am not going to lie, I am possibly the worst eater/worker outer and I have no concept of the nutrition value in food. And I want to lose my baby belly that never really went away.. actually a year ago (a year post baby) I actually looked slimmer than I do now.. and that is how I knew ok i BETTER do something before I start to lose myself and I never feel the way I used to.

so that, along with the fact that me & ty are lucky enough to go to Cabo in the beg. of March... I am bound and determined to change my eating/exercising pattern for the next 30+ days.  

and i better be ready to get into a bathing suit.

i hope!

i literally have not stuck to a workout since high school which was forever ago!  I played sports year round in high school (soccer & track) and going to practice & games was all i needed. I have struggled since high school making it a point to go to a gym, I have always started the "oh i am going to work out" but i never stick with it longer than a week. 
sooo thats my goal, to stick with this 30 day challenge

ok so I am not worried about losing weight.. I am worried about losing the nasty belly I have that makes me feel like I look like i did when i was 20 weeks prego! Ok, so if any of you are thinking you look fine.. you have not seen me naked. period. not arguing with anyone on this.. I think it is perfectly normal to want to maintain the best you. whatever that may be.

and that is why I choose to lose my belly that has no longer allowed me to wear tight fitting shirts.. I still love my slouchier style tops.. but when your old t-shirts are hugging on your midsection.. that didn't use to... that might be when you have a problem.

and that is my problem... 

{what i'm changing/doing}

ok so I am a little naive on healthy foods.. that has been my goal to try and figure out what to eat.

so I have a family friend who is doing weight watchers..

so I thought hmm weight watchers that seems perfect.. they literally tell you how many points you can have per day and you abide by that little rule.

i'm pretty sure I am a snacker.. I like to snack a lot. I like sugar. I like carbs. 

ok so I didn't give the whole weight watchers thing a try.. but I did try to take some of the rules and apply it to my eating style this past week so I  got on a kick of trying to figure out whats good to eat.

ok, so the whole concept of weight watchers was too confusing for me. 

I need a personal nutritional trainor or a calculator right there next to me everytime I grab a piece of food. it seems like for me, I would basically be starving myself if i tried to stick to weight watchers.

After eating dinner I want a treat.. some kind of dessert to satisfy that craving..

I'm pretty sure all points would have been used up by that mid afternoon..

ok so anyways I'm getting side tracked.. I just watched this little intro video on Beyond Diet

it STRESSED

if you can eat the right foods 

you can eat ALOT!

ok so this seems like the path I am going to go.

I still need to figure out what the "right" foods are.. 

it gave me a little jump start of ideas.. 

but basically thats my goal as of now!

{how i'm exercising}

I have started the Body Rock 30 day challenge

i kinda wing it.. i'm not too hard core but I figured whatever i can do off of her workout is better than nothing! I have continually had sore muscles so I figured it's whatever I manage to do from it, helps! 

if you want to attempt it.. i would highly suggest it.
i'm currently at week one day 4

it gives you good suggestions on workouts that you can do in your living room with out any equipment! I just now started introducing running last night. just a mile. but I am happy with that.

and i am doing all her workouts in my living room while lex is down napping.

each day they tell you to have a motivational word..

here are some tips from Womens Health if you are interested in getting fit...

14 easy ways to burn more fat

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1.
Don't Diet

The Women's Health Diet isn't about eating less; it's about eating more—more nutrient-dense food, to crowd out the empty calories and keep you full all day. That's important, because restricting food will kill your metabolism. It sends a signal to your body that says, "I'm starving here!" And your body responds by slowing your metabolic rate to hold on to existing energy stores.

What's worse, if the food shortage (meaning, your crash diet) continues, you'll begin burning muscle tissue, which just gives your enemy, visceral fat, a greater advantage. Your metabolism slows further, and fat goes on to claim even more territory.

2.
Go to Bed Earlier

A study in Finland looked at sets of identical twins and discovered that in each set of siblings, the twin who slept less and was under more stress had more visceral fat.

3.
Eat More Protein

Your body needs protein to maintain lean muscle. In a 2006 article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers argued that the current recommended daily intake for protein, 0.36 grams per pound of body weight, is woefully inadequate for anyone doing resistance training and recommend that women get between 0.54 and 1 gram per pound of body weight. (If you want to lose weight, use your goal body weight as your guide.)

Add a serving, like 3 ounces of lean meat, 2 tablespoons of nuts, or 8 ounces of low-fat yogurt, to every meal and snack. Plus, research shows that protein can up postmeal calorie burn by as much as 35 percent.

4.
Go Organic When You Can

Canadian researchers report that dieters with the most organochlorines (pollutants from pesticides, which are stored in fat cells) experience a greater-than-normal dip in metabolism as they lose weight, perhaps because the toxins interfere with the energy-burning process. In other words, pesticides make it harder to lose pounds.

Of course, it's not always easy to find—or afford—organic produce. But in general, conventionally grown items that you peel—avocado, grapefruit, bananas—are fine. But choose organic when buying celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, sweet bell peppers, spinach, kale and collard greens, cherries, potatoes, and imported grapes; they tend to have the highest levels of pesticides.

5.
Get Up, Stand Up

Whether you sit or stand at work may play as big a role in your waistline as your fitness routine. Missouri University researchers discovered that inactivity (4 hours or more) causes a near shut- down of an enzyme that controls fat and cholesterol metabolism. To keep this enzyme active and increase your fat-burning, break up long periods of downtime by standing up—for example, while talking on the phone.

6.
Drink Cold Water

German researchers found that drinking 6 cups of cold water a day (that's 48 ounces) can raise resting metabolism by about 50 calories daily—enough to shed 5 pounds in a year, with essentially zero additional effort. The increase may come from the work it takes to heat the water to body temperature.


7.
Eat the Heat

It turns out that capsaicin, the compound that gives chile peppers their heat, can also fire up your metabolism. Eating about 1 tablespoon of chopped peppers (red or green) boosts your sympathetic nervous system (responsible for your fight-or-flight response), according to a study published in the Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology. The result: a temporary metabolism spike of about 23 percent. Stock up on chile peppers to add to salsas, and keep a jar of red-pepper flakes on hand for topping pizzas, pastas, and stir-fries.

8.
Rev Up in the Morning

Eating breakfast jump-starts your metabolism so it's no accident that those who skip this meal are 41⁄2 times as likely to be obese. The heartier your first meal is, the better. In one study published by the American Journal of Epidemiology, volunteers who got 22 to 55 percent of their total calories at breakfast gained only 1.7 pounds on average over 4 years. While those who got zero to 11 percent gained nearly 3 pounds.

9.
Fight Fat with Fiber

Research shows that some fiber can fire up your fat burn by as much as 30 percent. Studies find that those who eat the most fiber gain the least weight over time. Aim for about 25 grams a day—the amount in about three servings each of fruits and vegetables.

10.
Eat Iron-Rich Foods

Iron is essential for carrying the oxygen your muscles need to burn fat. Unless you restock your stores, you run the risk of low energy and a sagging metabolism. Shellfish, lean meats, beans, fortified cereals, and spinach are excellent sources.

11.
Get More Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for preserving muscle tissue. Get 90 percent of your recommended daily intake (400 IU) in a 3.5-ounce serving of salmon. Other good sources: tuna, fortified milk and cereal, and eggs.

12.
Drink Milk

There's some evidence that calcium deficiency, which is common in many women, may slow metabolism. Research shows that consuming calcium through dairy foods such as fat-free milk and low-fat yogurt may also reduce fat absorption from other foods.

13.
Eat Watermelon


The amino acid arginine, abundant in watermelon, might promote weight loss, according to the Journal of Nutrition. In a laboratory study, adding this amino acid to the diet of obese mice enhanced the oxidation of fat and glucose. Snack on watermelon and other arginine sources, such as seafood, nuts, and seeds, year-round.

14.

Stay Hydrated

All of your body's chemical reactions, including your metabolism, depend on water. If you are dehydrated, you may be burning up to 2 percent fewer calories, according to researchers at the University of Utah. Drink at least eight to twelve 8-ounce glasses a day.

ok back to me again, here are some of my rules i made for my self for the next 30 days

1. no pasta
2. no dr.pepper & cokes
3.  Eat more fruit - and try to eat some vegetables
4. cooking more food my self- if you have been following me on pinterest I have been pinning a lot of food ideas on my workout tools board.
5. drink more water.. my friend Bre introduced me to that water bottle above & love it! (target has them)

and I did take a before picture of my midsection.. just for my own motivation

ok, sorry if this post doesn't apply to you what-so-ever

this is whats going on in my life as of now so I am posting it!

Mondays Recap {me time}

My mom and dad were sweet enough to watch lex for me most of Saturday.. I was meeting an old but good friend for lunch for her bday and she was running a little late so I went next door and got a much needed manicure.. I did the shellac nail polish.. they don't have tons of options, so I decided to stick with a Valentine's look... red/pink with shimmer sparkles in it. Looked all pretty for our date night!



I think everyone needs to splurge a little every once in a while in life.. it keeps things fun i think! We went to Texas De Brazil before we headed to the Grizzlies game.. it's pretty expensive but it tasted soo good! Not sure I eat enough food for the price but it was a nice little treat!



I am so not a cook, nor do I ever sit there and make time to fix me a nice little breakfast because ty normally doesn't eat it.. but I made sure to this weekend and it was quite good! I was able to get "me" time in, thanks to my parents,  and it was greatly appreciated!! Hope you all enjoyed your weekend!

Friday's Film {a thousand years}

I'm looking forward to a real date night this weekend.. we are heading to the Grizzlies game Saturday and most likely dinner downtown beforehand... my parents are watching Lex and can I just say how nice it is to be living near them!! It's been so nice! So we are "taking advantage" this Saturday and taking a night out on the town for just the two of us! I'm pretty sure we never have just us time. I can't even imagine if we took her to the game, I'd be chasing her off the court I'm sure!  

But she will be getting lots of mimi & papi loves i'm sure!!

I also made some valentine decor this week..  and I printed out some of my prints at kinkos on textured paper and hung them on bakers twine with mini clothes pin, loved how it turned out!!

Thursday's Tip {Pinterest, hit or miss?}

First off,
One of my good friends Less, made a funny little post right before Christmas about Pinterest Hits & Misses.. I thought it was pretty clever because quite frankly we all see these amazing tips and think holy moly this is such a good idea!

So I'm going to share my latest flop of my own but I'll start with an intro of  Leslie's post...

Here is the deal. I LOVE Pinterest.  There are a lot of amazing clothes, DIY's, recipes, crafts, you name it.  People have some serious talent.  Where do they think of these things? It is nice that people are willing to share their ideas so that others can experience the same joy. But I am going to be honest with you, I have tried several things on Pinterest that have been a total FLOP.  Most of them are recipes.  So I am going to share with you my successes and flat out failures.

FLOP  #1

Don't these cookies look sooooo delicious and moist?

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Well mine turned out looking like flattened poop. They pretty much tasted like it too.

In the recipe it says to add between 2-4 egg whites. Okay, there is a BIG difference between 2 and 4 whites. Just give it to me straight! I added 4 and they were waaaaaaay too runny.
Note to self: add egg whites and then assess the batter consistency.

Flop #2....

Delectable Yogurt Covered Pretzels.

Mmmmmm...
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The recipe calls for three ingredients. Yogurt, powdered sugar and pretzels. Well, when you mix together the yogurt and powdered sugar it is way too runny to stick to the pretzels. I think whoever posted this is forgetting the fourth ingredient: ALMOND BARK. Whoever posted this recipe needs to get punched in the face. I will accept fault for the chocolate cookies, but these....not my fault.

I dipped one pretzel into that watery mess and decided to call it quits. Hence, no picture.

Next time I am saving myself the headache and going to Sprouts.

 I sure feel better now that I shared it with you. All I can do is laugh.
-Leslie

Ok, so back to me  (Lindsey)

So living in an apartment for three months our walls are pretty bare.. and I have been itching to start some photo projects.. well I started on one & finished with a major flop! 

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Ok, so I did use a different gloss medium so i'm technically not sure if that made a huge difference.. quite possible?! but I was VERY disappointed with my little project (less than $20). 

What went wrong?
i did two different 11x14 canvases.. and each i did differently.. but both had end results with scuffs & tears - wondering if its the gel medium I used? I bought it from Archivers (scrapbooking place) and the one in the tutorial blog I saw it off of used Liquitex gel medium.. which was quite a bit more expensive and I had a much harder time even finding it in stock at Craft Stores.. I'm thinking if I do try the whole canvas & print thing I might try mod-podging it instead of the transfer!

I found 11x14 canvas at Hobby Lobby 2 for $3.99? and printing a b&w on LASER printer (imp. to use laser- b/c inkjet will bleed) but that was under $5 for two.. NOW if you want bigger size like 16x20... price increases quite a BUNCH! so I did 11x14.

both of my canvases looks like crap in person.. so those will unfortunately not be making their home on our naked apartment walls!!

If you have had a flop and you want to share or the links do so in the comment section! I would love to hear about your pinterest, hit or miss!