A month in summary: May 2015

May was full of mushrooms, flowers, sunshine, and lots of fresh air. The weather in Wisconsin has finally been warm enough to wear shorts consistently and I've been taking full advantage of it. Layla and I have been playing outside alot. She especially loves collecting rocks, playing in the water, and 'helping' in the garden. Meanwhile Mike is mourning the end of Morel mushroom season and catching bass in shallows warmed by the may sun. He is also eagerly anticipating the start of hen of the woods and chicken of the woods mushrooms.  I'm just happy to have our full garden planted. Mike helped install a tall deer defense fence to protect the tiny sprouts. I'm so proud to watch them grow and to eat my own produce in a few months.
I hope may treated you all just as well. Feel free to share your May accomplishments with me.

Slow living weekend

Sometimes the best weekends are unplanned.
Our weekend started with a slow, rainy saturday. We were supposed to go up north to a family get together but the brakes on our truck broke suddenly. So Mike and I stuck close to home for the whole weekend instead. After we ran a few errands in the morning, we spent most of the day baking cookies, eating junk food, napping and sitting on the couch. Our main goal was to spend time together and not worry about bills and money. (We received a sizable medical bill earlier in the day but refused to let it, or the car troubles put us in a bad mood.)
When rain stopped in Saturday evening, we seized the opportunity to put up a new garden fence. We have to protect our newly sprouted beans and peas from the hungry deer that we sometimes catch munching on our garden late at night.
Sunday went just as well. With no vehicle and few responsibilities I was finally able to take Layla on her first bike ride this year. Rather I biked and she rode in the pull behind cart. Unsurprisingly,  she decided to take a nap. Once we were home, I let her sleep and planted some tomatoes nearby,  in containers on our patio. Mike and I plan on making lots of salsa this year with them and all the peppers we put in our garden.
Sunday dinner was just as relaxed as the rest of sunday afternoon. I packed a simple picnic lunch and we at it next to a creek in the woods. Then we went fishing until just before dark. I had alot of bites but nothing big enough to keep.

No Regrets Diet

I've been working less for the past two weeks and have the day off today. It's the first time since before I was pregnant that I've gotten a consistent eight hours of sleep for two weeks. I've been enjoying having more free time by getting up earlier, organizing the house and taking more walks with Layla.
When I had Layla I was my body would bounce back quickly, within six months,  especially since I was breastfeeding. I pushed myself and excersized too soon, which only made the painful healing process worse. On top of being too active, I tried to watch what I ate. Somthing I believe to be one of the reasons breastfeeding failed for me by six months. I'm pretty hard on myself and, needless to say, my body didn't bounce back like I had planned.
Mostly I blamed it on my job, and sure that was part of it. A hectic schedule and eating too much cheese (remember I worked at a cheese factory) are enough to prevent anyone from becoming fit.  Naturally I was confident that after the holidays, when I stopped working at the cheese factory, the weight would melt off. Maybe I did lose a pound or two, but it wasn't quick enough. So in January I cut my calories down to 1750 a day.  But the results weren't been what I had hoped for either.
Theoretically 1750 calories and daily cardio should have been effective. But it wasn't.  Why? Probably because I was literally starving. I would eat "good" all week than eat three times as much on the weekends. For example, I would eat my dinner, plus half of Mike's and dessert. I won't call it binging because it wasnt "bad" it was just a normal reaction to not eating enough. I wasnt gaining any noticable muscle and barely lost weight. All I was, was "skinny fat". Then one day, a few weeks ago, May second to be exact.  A switch just flipped for me. I decided to no longer worry about what I eat. I mean I still try to balance the healthy and non healthy but I no longer have anxiety about if I eat somthing or regret afterwards. Its only been a week so it's kind of soon to tell results but I've noticed I've eaten less calories, haven't overeaten at all, and consume less fat in general. Yes I still keep track but calorie counting always has been more of a guideline than a rule for me. I listen to my body more. Maybe it needs to eat a little extra fat sometimes. I am an ice cream addict after all. Do I want a glass of chocolate milk occasionally with my lunch? Sure! And the pre-period chocolate cravings? Probably a sign I need more iron and chocolate is a delicious way to get it.
So what does the scale say?
I really don't know, I dont own one. It prevents me from obsessing over a number. Hopefully Layla will grow up and not feel like she has to obsess either. The example starts with me. I do weigh myself occasionally, but mostly im focusing on other goals.  Like how my clothes fit and building upper body strength so I can do a handstand. Mentally I feel better because I have one less thing to worry about.  I stress less about food, and get more rest as a result.
And no, Im not worried about going overboard.  In fact, I think about food, especially junk food, alot less because its no longer "forbidden".  When I decided to eat without regret suddenly I could stop after one and not eat three. One cookie is enough. Two is good. Three is just too much for my belly. Or maybe I don't really want any cookies at all.
Now I'm not trying to set myself up as a fitness idol here, I'm just sharing my truth. Layla is nearly a year and a half old and most of my pre - pregnancy jeans still don't fit. I've only been following my #Noregretsdiet for two weeks but  I'm happier with myself than I have been for probably like two years. I'll keep you updated with my long term results.

Mother's Day Weekend

You know it's mushroom season when you see morels when you close your eyes to sleep.

This Mother's day weekend started with a cool saturday morning mushroom hunt. Mike and I, plus his brother Pat, spent hours trudging through the woods on a cushioned carpet of moss and pine needles with little result. The scent of pine needles and the previous nights rain was in the air so it was pretty peaceful until a cute little chipmunk ran out in front of me and making me scream. Twice. Please don't judge me.
We had much better luck after lunch.  Mike and Pat picked up a few sub sandwiches and enjoyed them picnic style by the lake. After that, we set out with a refreshed outlook. Our searching was much more successful.  the three of us found a couple of pounds of morels and even more pheasant backs. Which are a recent favorite by the way. We wrapped up our mushroom hunt by late afternoon.  In time to stop in and wish our mothers a happy Mother's day and spend a relaxing night at home.

Then, early Sunday morning, I woke up to the sound of Mike's creaking footsteps going down the stairs to run some 'secret' mother's day errands. I got out of bed to start my day but when my husband returned he scolded me to get back into bed. Apparently I ruined all of his breakfast in bed plans by waking up an hour too early. It was a sweet gesture so I went back to bed until my scrambled eggs and french toast was ready. After breakfast, Mike was nice enough to do the dishes. He even helped Layla pick a bouquet of lilacs for me. We wrapped up our day with plates full of Mike's home made spaghetti with cheesy garlic bread and lounged in front of the tv.

Mushroom Hunting on a Warm Spring Day

Mike and I had the day off yesterday. He needed to have a procedure done at the hospital because of his recent Crohns flare up. Fortunately, we were done by noon, leaving plenty of time to check our favorite morel mushroom spots.  Mike searched all the thick, thorny areas of the woods while I stuck close to the path and kept an eye on Layla. She was happily gathering sticks and collecting rocks. The weather was perfect, over eighty degrees and sunny. We weren't the only mushroom hunters taking advantage of the nice day. Despite the competition,  we still found about two dozen mushrooms.

Happy Birthday Dad

Growing up, we would have iced cream every night for dessert. My dad would get out a gallon pail of plain, economical, vanilla and we would slather it with peanut butter, honey, or malt powder.   He always said that there is room for ice cream after dinner because it "filled in all the cracks".
So naturally,  the family celebrated his birthday by taking him out for ice cream. We met at my favorite local parlor.  I ordered  salted caramel,  pistachio almond,  and sweet cream. All stacked nicely inside a chocolate waffle cone. Their salted caramel is one of my all time favorites. If they have it available I have to get it. The same with their sweet cream,  but only if its the first scoop on the cone. So I can savor its simple flavor before the other more colorful scoops.  What's your favorite flavor?
P.s. If you weren't already hungry, here's a picture of my cone.

My Favorite Cupcake Shop

My favorite cupcake store is closing in less than a week. Every time I go there I try a couple different flavors and they rarely disappoint. Today I picked lemon, hazelnut, and salted caramel (not pictured because I ate it before I could take a picture), plain chocolate and vanilla for Mike, and a root beer float for Layla (who also couldn't wait until after I took a picture). I'm going to miss them when the shop closes. I guess I will have to find a new favorite bakery or learn to make them myself.