My Picky Eater

            Jackson's eating History: Jackson used to be a great eater and very much enjoyed eating lots of veggies and fruits. Specifically great beans, peas, bananas, mashed potatoes, Mac and cheese, eggs etc. Then at around 2.5 he suddenly stopped eating all of these things plus a few other healthy foods that he used to devour with no problems!

          The only things he seems to be willing to eat are peanut butter and jelly, fruit cups, apple sauce, yogurt, raisins, bananas and strawberries, basically just fruit items. The only veggies I am able to get into him are in the form of little pouches that are basically like little mixed veggie smoothies.

          I got onto Google and Pinterest and began doing some research. I've managed to compile a good amount of information and several fun ideas that I plan to implement. I'm planning on revisiting this topic often on the blog so everyone can view any positive progress or to let you guys know what ideas just didn't work out for us. 

          If you are in the same boat I'm in with this situation I hope you follow along and I hope this information can be helpful. Please give me any feedback, pointers or tricks that have worked for you :-) So here's my game plan:

Serve all meals at one designated area

For us that is the kitchen table

Offer a variety of different options

Even if he doesn't eat them or seems not to be interested, continue offering. From what I've read it can take 10-15 times of seeing and or tasting a food before a toddler acquires a desire or taste for any specific food

Don't offer the same things during every meal

Mix it up throughout the day :-)

Spread Meals apart throughout the day

About 2.5-3 hours offering only water in between. This includes snacks. And only offer other fluids midway through the meal so they fill up on food instead of liquids.

Serve at least one food they prefer at each meal

This is to ease them into the idea of trying new the new foods on his plate. That way they aren't overwhelmed by things they don't recognized.

Don't offer desserts or sweets every time

This is just to teach kids to enjoy eating rather than just assuming they get a treat every time they do.

Prepare foods different ways

This is to help determine any texture aversions they may have and to let them explore how fun it can be to eat different versions of foods. Think Smoothies, raw veggies mixed foods etc

Make meal time a joyful and positive experience

Getting them excited about meal time and sitting down together at the designated area seem to be what are the suggested methods

Don't give in

If they don't eat what they are offered try not to just go back and cook their go to meals. If they are offered a good variety at meal time they will get hungry and eat what is in front of them. (This is also why we try to serve at least one thing we know they will eat)

Have your toddler help you cook

I LOVE this idea. Jackson LOVES helping me make his meals and I notice he definitely gets more excited about eating when he is more involved.

            I am by NO means a professional. This is just a game plan I put together for myself based on things I've read online, in books (yes I go to Target and look up information in their books) and my Parents magazines. Please do what works best for you. I'm a firm believer in the fact that parents know what will work best for their own kids.

            Please keep checking back as I continue to update how things are working out. Hopefully I'll start seeing my good eater again in a few weeks.

        

Head Stand Gamer

Slowly but surely!! Please follow my inspiration, my friend and my favorite Yogi @laviebohemeyogi on Instagram Or Namaste Fit On Facebook! Progress not perfection <3

Life on Life's Terms

         

             Most people who know me personally know that I'm normally a very positive person. I spend most of my time looking at the beauty of any ugly situation. When someone needs help or advice I am known for reporting the good news that comes with the bad. Need a PEP talk? I'm your girl. I apply this insight of positivity in every aspect of everyone else's lives. I cannot seem to do it for myself. When something goes wrong for me, it is devastation and I go from joyful to completely defeated in 0.5 seconds.
            Today is one of those days. Its a day where the rut doesn't feel temporary. The rut is starting to ask for a mortgage payment. I've gone through so much in my life, I've made it through, I've succeeded with so many chapters of triumph. Yet its always so hard to get through it again. 
             I know it will be ok. It has to be. I guess once in a while we all just get tired. I'm going to take a day of rest today. Reflect. Watch movies that make me smile. Give Jackson enormous amounts of hugs and kisses and get back to my positive zone. 
            I really hope that everyone knows that it always gets better, as hard as it is to believe (especially on days like today for me) but it will always be ok. God never puts anything in front of us that we can't handle, its always part of our growth and our journey.

Current mood: 

             

Parks, Car Rides and Happy Meals!

This is the first in the series of Vlogs and other videos I plan on adding to my blogs and to my YouTube Channel! The quality and content will get far better as I get my new equipment soon! Any ideas for fun videos? Please let me know <3

 

 

Chipotle inspired Chicken Burrito Bowl

This is a delicious recipe that is Chipotle inspired. Very easy, feeds the entire family and is great as leftovers!Pulled ideas from http://www.number-2-pencil.com and added my own SaritaChakita flare <3 Hope you enjoy this recipe! Try it out and let me know how yours turned out! xoxo

Ingredients

1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1/2 Diced Yellow or Red Onion

1 Jalapeno 

2 Cloves Garlic

1 Cup Uncooked Long Grain or Brown Rice

14.5 oz Can Diced Mexican Style Tomatoes

1 15 oz Can Black Beans -Drained-

1/2 teaspoon Garlic Salt

1/2 teaspoon Chili Powder

1 teaspoon Cumin

2.5 Cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth

Kosher Salt and Black Pepper

2 Cups Your Choice Cheese (Colby, Chedder Pepper Jack)

Freshly Diced Tomatoes

Green Onion

Other toppings of your choice: Cilantro, Guacamole, Sour cream etc..

PREP

1)Remove Seeds from Jalapeño and Dice 

2) Dice Garlic

3) Dice Onion 

4) Dice Chicken

5) Dice Tomato and Green Onion

5) Grate Cheese

Instructions

1) Saute onion, Jalapeno and Garlic in 2T Olive Oil with a pinch of Salt on Med-High heat until they begin to soften.

2) Add diced Chicken to Pan. Season with Salt, Garlic Salt and Black Pepper. Cook until Chicken begins to brown. It does not need to be cooked all the way through at this point as it will continue to cook with the rice.

3) Move Chicken to one side of the pan. Add 1T olive oil to empty side. Add Rice and cook for about 2 minutes. Rice will begin to toast. Stir altogether with Chicken.

4) Add Chicken Broth

                 5) Add Canned Tomatoes, Black Beans, Cumin and Chili Pepper. Stir together                                                                     

 6) Reduce to Med-Low heat and let simmer for about 20 minutes or until Rice is tender.

 

7) Season to your liking with additional Salt and Pepper. Pour into serving dish and sprinkle Cheese. Let melt.

8) Add Diced Tomato and Green Onion. (And any additional toppings you like)

Serve and Enjoy!

<3

Be sure to post/send pictures of your finished product! Cant wait your results and how you liked the recipe! xoxoxo

Mommy needs a Time-Out!

       The week has been a great one. I've filled my days with positive thoughts and activities. The support I've felt from so many friends and family has given me a great confidence that I hadn't felt in quite some times. So thanks again for being a part of yet another chapter of my life... There have been many.

           That being said I feel like it sets the tone for a blog that I can just talk about my feelings of the day. Whats happening in my brain world ;-). Its not terribly exciting but today felt like a good day to get some of my life thoughts out and possibly vent. We'll see where this goes together.

           I've been reading Amy Poehler's book 'Yes, Please' lately and last night was a chapter (34) about the love she has for her two little boys (Archie and Abel). She describes moments quietly cuddling in bed with them and smelling their hair and sniffing their little necks (which sounds very odd until you become a parent). She describes that its a love that feels like it can split your chest in half, a love thats scary and its so very true.

           I bring this up because it was exactly what I needed to read for my emotions lately. I've felt so much anxiety over Jackson growing up so quickly. Suddenly I looked over and he's doing or saying something completely grown up and I can't help but feel my chest tighten up and tears pour down my cheeks. I know its a good thing in my head, but my heart wants to burst. Its a mix between sadness and an incredible overflow of love for the little person he's becoming. Independent, sweet and strong. He's not my little baby anymore. The little infant who relied on Mommy for absolutely everything. His independence is so empowering and proves my little Motherhood successes . It also reminds me to drink in every single second of these young years.

         If you have a chance to grab Amy's book, please do. Its hilarious, honest and sweet. Or if you're at the store, read the beginning of Chapter 34, have a tissue ready Mommies. Let me know your opinions.

           I just wanted to share my thoughts as I woke up this morning and smelled Jacksons hair and watched him running around feeding Mommy and Grandma his grapes yelling "Mmmmmm Delicious grapes!" I just love him <3

          Let me know some of your favorite Mommy and Daddy moments. I love hearing all the special moments we share with our little ones. It warms my heart.

           Today I'll be making a delicious take on a Chipotle burrito bowl which I will post the recipe and procedure for on the blog tomorrow for everyone to try! So check back in for that tomorrow. I have lots of plans for fun blogs including fun DIY's with Jackson, Recipes, Possibly some collaborations, so I hope you continue to check back or subscribe by entering your email address down below <3 You are all the greatest!

I can decide on a husband faster than I can decide on a hairstyle.........

          Last month was the first time I had had my hair professionally cut and colored in a proper salon since before Jackson was born, and holy CRAP was it nice. Unfortunately my hair was outrageously damaged from all the torment I had put it through by self coloring and constantly strapping up in buns. 

           Luckily my hair stylist knew her shit. I came in with all of these ideas for what I might want to do and she said, "ya, no. We need to get this healthy again before we do ANY type of bleaching or intense coloring". She rocks. We did a healthy cut and she chose a gorgeous color (because I'm not ready to see all my grays yet). End result:

              I was beyond pleased with the results. My hair is still soft and healthy. I stopped putting it up so much (especially when wet) to help reduce breakage and have been treating it with vitamin oils as. I realized while talking with her that I really didn't take care of my hair at all and rarely even thought about it since having Jackson. Now I'm so happy with the look and feel of it just from taking simple steps to keep it healthy.

           So all that being said, I have been trying to decide on a new look... I was thinking of cutting it and doing a bit of a bob look but then I remembered back to 3 years ago when I chopped all of it off and immediately regretted it! So I'm planning on growing it out again like it was before Jackson was born.... 

            I really like a lot of the hair trends I'm seeing for 2016. So many fun ideas and colors. For me, I think I'm looking for something a little bit more conservative at this point (being 32, being a mom etc.....) Here are some gorgeous looks which I think offer a really fun change while still feeling chic and classy. I hate to seem boring but I just feel like my super experimental hair days are behind me... for now ;-P

              I also really like these looks that have a subtle tinting of blue and I really like the charcoal look but not sure if I could pull it off lol What do you think?

               The look I've been leaning toward is the Balayage. It offers a more natural look while still showing a bit of uniqueness in color. I love the appearance of depth so that my hair won't just look flat even when it's not styled. Opinions? Ideas? Have a look:

                  The last look I want to talk about is the Babylights look. Another option I've been somewhat leaning toward that offers a bit of dimension. My hair is a bit thin right now (I lost a LOT of hair after Jackson was born and it has just started growing back within the last year) so I thought this might be a valid option for the look I'm hoping for. Yay? Nay?

              So those are the ideas that have been swishing around in my brain lately. I could definitely use opinions/ideas/direction lol What trends are you guys liking for yourselves? 

              You guys are the best!!! xoxoxoxoxo