Intense InTents: Nassaus Gone Camping

Both my husband and I grew up camping. There were no trips to Walt Disney World, Europe, or even Hawaii in either of our childhoods. We went to Hawaii together for the first time when we were 29 years old! Hubby didn't get a Passport until he was gearing up for our honeymoon, and mine is about to expire. Disneyland was between the towns we were raised in so we both went there a bunch, but the main activity we hold most dear to our hearts as children was good ol' fashioned camping.

Camping is a simple way to bond. You get to (or are 'forced to' if you're a disgruntled teenager) spend every moment together and sleep within inches of each other. You wouldn't dare wander off for alone time because there are always bears, at least where we camp, so you must bond with your fellow campers wether you like it or not. You have to use your creativity and imagination typically because campsites don't provide entertainment...and you may not be able to leave your tent for days depending on the bear situation.

Actually, I believe in the power of camping so much that I suggest couples camp together before committing to each other. Camping brings out your true colors (and smells). For better or worse, it will all be exposed when camping. Dirt + bugs + burying anything that comes out of you + uncomfortable heat or cold - running water - showers - electricity = you in all your natural glory. I've heard folks can get cranky, irritable, and straight up angry when camping. If your prospective mate doesn't like what's exposed, move on.

As a kid I camped with my dad on the beach at Camp Pendleton. I camped with my mom, dad, brother, and sister a ton in our early years up and down the California coastline. My mom took the three of us kids camping any chance she got. We camped in the backyard when we couldn't really go camping. I camped in Mendocino and all over Northern California with my dad, stepmom, brother and sister. As a junior higher I camped with friends at San Onofre. Then I started High School and camped with friends everywhere and anywhere- on Lake Oroville, in country backyards, at parties, at random spots we'd off-road to in the mountains, all along the Fort Bragg area and private beaches that we'd hike into, at swim meets, on rivers surrounding Chico and Paradise, at Lake Almanor, 'Beer Beach', High Lakes, and at music festivals. Then along came my husband and we camped everywhere together along with our friends- mainly Mammoth plus Tahoe, Yosemite, Sequoia, Joshua Tree, Santa Cruz, and many more. Then there were our epic backpacking trips around San Gorgonio, and that one time we went from Mammoth to Yosemite. We REALLY like to camp.

Then along came our baby and we failed to get a camping trip in until just after his first birthday! Bless their hearts, our friends Jon & Stephanie invited us along on Jon's annual birthday camping trip. By the looks of our car you'd think we had five children and would be gone five nights, somewhere five hours away. Of course we have one child and and we're going for one night to a spot about one hour away. But we were super prepared!

We roll up to the campsite and are the only parents amongst almost 20 hipsters. But no worries, our adorable 13 month old charmed the socks right off our friends and friends of friends. We had a blast, the baby had a blast, and our friends had a blast. We played at the beach all day and gathered around the campfire all night. I tried a sip of moonshine and my husband got to smoke his tobacco pipe with the guys. Best of all, we got to stay up late chatting with friends while the baby snuggled off to sleep in the Ergo Baby carrier. Although it was only one night we brought the smell of the campfire back with us in our hair and every article of clothing to remember the wonderful weekend after we'd arrived back home.

Posted are a bunch of family pictures. For some reason no one else was up at 5:30am when we took a walk to the beach.
San Onofre, CA June 1-2, 2013

Walk This Way

Our lives just got a lot more interesting; we're really in for it now! Not five minutes after my husband got home from work was Ari walking for us! Literally 'for' us and not really 'to' us- he was completely showing off and cracking himself up. He hopped up and took two solid steps. He was giddy with excitement and so were we. He proceeded to do this again with a giant water bottle in hand as well, which kind of freaked Dad out but I think it was helping him stay balanced. He did it for Sammy, the cat, then he scampered off down the dark hallway and did it some more.

He is most secure and able to walk best when he's gotten up on his own, unassisted. We've never been into holding his hands up to 'help' him walk. Both my hubby and I didn't naturally feel led to do so, and we didn't want him using 'walkers' or walking aids. He's always been so good at exploring on his own and we want to allow him to develop at his own pace, which seems to actually accelerate things. When we step back, he steps it up! This is true with pretty much everything for Ari.

This is a special night 'cause we aren't typically awake when Dad comes home from work. Ari must've been super excited for our family time and taken the opportunity to show off his new skill. We are so excited to have both been present!

He actually took his first steps yesterday though, supposedly. I really believe he's been practicing behind our backs for awhile, that stinker. His first steps were, where else, but at the gym! That's quite fitting for our family. He walked to Nick, one of the Childcare workers at The Belmont Athletic Club, just a few days after turning 11 months.

We hope and pray that we can continue to keep up with Ari! We pray he'll always have the confidence needed to move forward in life and that he'll step out in faith in all he does. We want him to know the safety and security of having us to fall back on whenever he needs or wants us. But mainly we want his confidence to come from knowing he is created with great purpose and loved and cared for by God.

The title of this post is a little something my dad has always said. His knees would give out while walking and, being the silly guy he is, he'd make fun of himself with this expression. It's always been a favorite of mine because it reminds me of him. Now with my baby son walking and exploring new territory I find myself only caring that he walk one way- toward love.

Here's a picture of Ari on the day he walked- Wednesday April 3rd, 2013.

Sneak Peak Into My Eats

What does a real-foods eating, chocolate craving, recovering life-long vegetarian eat to slim down, stay energized, and be well? There are no rules other than to consume ingredients that I deem ok/safe/healthy based on my own current food beliefs (which are always evolving as I learn more and try things out for myself). Although this isn't Paleo, vegan, GAPs, etc. I've limited the dairy, grains, and legumes and am only having sugar in the form of fruits and vegetables. Foods are mainly local, organic, and seasonal. Here's a list of my current go-to foods:


Helpers
I don't endorse any brands/products and prefer my supplements to just be extra nutrients and minerals not taken in pill form. This list of nutrients mainly gives me that extra boost, wards off sickness, helps me feel full (fats) and keeps sugar cravings in check
Prenatal Vitamin while nursing- I alternate between a few to mix it up
Fermented Foods/Probiotics: kimchi, sauerkraut, any vegetable I've fermented- so cheap and easy!
Apple Cider Vinegar- great for getting sugar cravings in check
Coconut Oil
Ghee
Raw Butter
Duck Fat for cooking when not using butter/ghee
Macca
Chia
Chlorella
Spirulina
Egg Yoke
Garlic
Ginger
Turmeric

Breakfasts
Fruit
Veggies
Eggs- I just found local farmers who don't feed their chickens corn!
Quinoa mixed w/ anything (I'm going to reintroduce quinoa into my diet starting today)
Homemade bone broth- so nourishing at 4:30am!
Leftovers
Whole Yogurt (typically goat)

Lunches
Shakes & Smoothies (no boxed 'milks' with carrageenan, otherwise anything goes)
Leftovers
Loaded Salads- veggies, meat, egg, beans, avocado, fermented veggies
Tuna Salads
Egg Salads

Dinners
Rice Pasta- occasionally
Brown Rice occasionally w/ toppings- kimchi, veg, meats
Quinoa w/ Avocado or other veggies/stir fries
Cauliflower 'Rice' w/ toppings
Spaghetti Squash w/ mix-ins as a pasta dish
Sweet Potato Hash w/ Egg
Roasted Whole Chicken
Organ Meats- mainly liver which I buy extra of for super cheap
Wild Salmon- FYI, Alaskan is always wild and Atlantic is farmed
Beans
Stews
Lots of Veg- roasted cauliflower, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, chard, spinach, squashes, kale
Polenta- might start using

Snacks/Random
Avocado- this should be in every single food category as we eat it anytime with anything
Bananas- not local but a big food staple in our house
Nut Butter (raw cashew & almond) w/ Celery 
Raw Nuts
Jicama
Oranges & Grapefruits from the in-laws and Mom's trees
Fresh Fruits
Sliced Veg
Dips- garbanzo, lentil, black bean, tzatziki and other concoctions we make in the blender
Roe
Olives
Seaweed

Treats
Kombucha
Cocoa

Substitutes for Vices
Switch out latte & pastry break for a walk to the beach break
Switch out snacking on sweets at work desk for sipping water with added fruit
Switch out snacking on chocolate at home for taking walks, cleaning, and reading

We do have more food than this in the house. My hubby's staples are flat bread for his spicy dips, sourdough bread, cereal, oats for his smoothies, granola, coffee, and dairy in the form of milk, cheese, and yogurt. He would also love to have the fridge loaded with hot dogs, sausage, bacon, "luncheon meat", beer, and every type of hot sauce and mustard known to man. He's got some crafty friends that make beers and hot sauces which are the ultimate gifts you could ever give him :)

The baby eats what I eat. He just turned 10 months and his current favorites are chicken, avocado, strawberries, egg yoke, carrot & cucumber sticks, and Daddy's fruit purees.

I hope you've enjoyed this sneak peak into my kitchen. Please share some of your favorite food staples with me!

Hott Mama's 12 Week Challenge

And so it begins. I've submitted myself to a weight loss challenge. I'm not a fan of weight loss challenges because I strongly encourage clients, friends, family, and even perfect strangers not to focus solely on weight and, instead, find additional indicators of health and vitality. But with that said I'm actually super uber duber excited for this challenge! It's a 12 week challenge with a bunch of Facebook strangers and one friend- the "Hott Mama's" group dispersed across the USA. We pay $10 via PayPal, submit our before photos, measurements, and goals/plan and then weigh-in weekly. At the end of the 12 weeks we each get three votes on our favorite transformation and one winner takes all!


Here are the two main reasons why I'm excited about the challenge
1) Encourage other moms and be encouraged by them, and maybe make a few friends along the way as we get to know each other via Facebook over the next 12 weeks. I've seen pictures of these moms in their underwear- the least we could do is 'friend' each other on Facebook now and strike up some conversation.
2) I'm using it to kick-start my new journey away from just 'Fitness Professional' and into 'Wellness Coach' since my passions lie not only in helping others workout but also in helping them create clear paths to overall better health and wellness. So I will use myself as an example. This isn't just a weight loss challenge but a chance for me to transform my life in many little ways that will add up to one big healthy overhaul.
3) When this is over, rocking a pair of bright pink workout capris I just bought for $9.99 at Marshall's as well as the super cute shorts worn in the before pictures which fit loosely a month into pregnancy and now are so tight.
4) Going to Lululemon with Nicole and picking out fun new clothes for our transformed bodies!

For now I'll share with you my goals and action plan. Check back in 12 weeks and you'll see me in a sports bra and booty shorts 'cause at the end of the challenge I'll share with you the before and after pictures, weights, and measurements!

Goals: Decrease body fat (maintain nursing), tone arms/abs/legs to feel good in bikini/shorts, improve shoulder acne + redness on back of arms
Plan: Eat real food + increase activity

It's really this simple. Clients are always encouraged to elaborate on their goals and action plans, being as specific as possible to account for 'life stuff' and not leave any room for interpretation (excuses) along the way. But I've chosen to keep my plan as simple as "eat real food and increase activity" because I believe those two things will address all my goals.

Please leave your comments, stories, and encouragement in the comments section. I'll share some progress reports along the way and post the before & afters after May 24th.


Stay tuned!

Amanda
PS- Regarding the attached picture: you can notice changes in your body well before 4 weeks! And please don't hang in there for 12 weeks just for the sake of  others noticing, do it for yourself first and foremost ;)

Staycation & Sunshiny Winter Ride

It's been too long since I've posted in the 'good ol' fashioned fun' category! My hubby and I each took a long weekend off work to go on a big trip with friends. Well, we last minute decided what this family really needs is a 'Staycation' to enjoy time together. I REALLY struggle with taking time off work even though I have the time, so it's a challenge to be home and not working. But, we're just part way into the weekend and we're having a blast.

Nani came over to watch the babe while Ryan and I saw a 3:30 movie. That's right, 3:30. Had we gone to the next showing at 7pm I would've fallen asleep in that stinky theatre and missed the sewage scene of Les Miserables. I thought we'd be the only dorks in there on a Friday afternoon but it was packed.

Now I had put on a cute summer dress and lip gloss since my mom encouraged us to go to dinner after the movie- fancy! So here we are 8 1/2 months into parenthood, it's only our 2nd time out sans baby, we're looking good, and I'm so ready to go home right after the show to see Baby Boy!!! We quickly pick up dinner to-go and get home to our little angel. He's having a blast learning baby sign language with Nani and could care less that we rushed home to be with him.

Now it's Saturday and we got to sleep in until 6am! Ryan and I got up all excited like it was Christmas morning. But this is even better- Opa is coming over to watch Baby Boy so we can go for a ride together! It's gorgeous out and I've not been on a good long bike ride since July 2011. We hit the road and enjoyed the sun beating down on us as we rode down PCH. We didn't go too far, but I'm more for quality over quantity. It was fun dodging traffic on PCH through Long Beach, Seal Beach, and Huntington Beach then having coffee together on Main Street before turning back. We arrived home to a happy boy and his grandpa- perfect :)

I'm so grateful for all this special time with Ryan. I can't remember the last time he was home on a Friday evening. Just to sit and watch TV with him before he passed out on the couch was magical and rare. And for us to both not work on a Saturday and get to enjoy the day as a family was priceless.

Cheers to the rest of our Staycation!

Phone Call With A 5 Year Old

My silly nephew Hank turned a whopping FIVE years old today! Five years ago we weren't sure he'd even 'make it' as he was born two months early while his parents were on vacation in Arizona. He was in hospital there a long time before being flown to Las Vegas to continue living in a hospital in his hometown while he gained weight and got stronger. But Hank's a fighter and has grown to be a healthy happy kid. I wouldn't say 'normal' kid 'cause my Dad always says there's no fun in being normal, but Hank sure is as bright and skilled as a little guy of his age should be.

I kept trying to call and wish him a happy birthday but first he was at McDonalds for hours playing with Nani, then he was napping, then I tried to call my brother but he was at work. So when I finally reached Hank on Nani's cell he had a heck of a lot to tell me about his birthday!

He had chicken mcnuggets for lunch and an ice cream. He got a bloody nose playing at McDonalds but Nani took good care of him. He asked what I had for breakfast and I told him 'yogurt and fruit' and he excitedly proclaimed 'I had yogurt today too! And I love fruit!' I told him we're coming to his birthday party tomorrow and we have a present for him and he asked if Ari was coming too? And he told me he likes his new house but there's no grass in the backyard, just rocks and stuff.

I don't remember much about being five, but I'm sure Hank will 'cause the kid literally remembers everything. He has one of those super recall memories like his mom. I bet he'll remember that Nani was there, his dog Dracula and his Mommy and Daddy, his Uncle Ryan & Auntie Amanda and Cousin Ari, and Aunt Aspen and all his little friends.

Five years ago my world changed when my brother became a dad (a darn good dad!) and little Hank entered our lives. He brightens my life with his huge grin, infectious laughter, and sweet demeanor. We can't wait to visit him this weekend and laugh and play with him.

Happy Birthday Hank!

Revelations

As we drove home from the El Dorado Nature Center today and I played with my son in the backseat I was reminded of a little incident that occurred a few days back while my son was in my care. I revealed this little incident to my husband who, in turn, had a revelation of his own that occurred while our son was in his care at the ripe age of one week old. So it turns out neither of us are perfect parents, but we'll just keep on keepin' on and be sure to laugh at our own and each other's mistakes along the way.

I wish there was some good ol' fashioned fun to report on from the Nature Center, but baby boy slept in his stroller throughout the entire walk. The hubby and I enjoyed the park through the eyes of our friends' two year old child, we saw lots of turtles in the feaux lake, and climbed a few tree stumps.

All in all a good, and humbling, day!